Resources are stretched thin during a crisis of this magnitude, and we encourage our global community of philanthropists to engage in this effort. Give2Asia, a US-based international philanthropy nonprofit, announced the launch of a fundraising campaign to fight the coronavirus outbreak. Corporate and individual donors pledged a combined US$1,000,000 in the first 48 hours of the campaign. Donations will provide protective equipment, food, shelter, and training for frontline health workers in China. "Give2Asia is honored to offer donors in the US and Hong Kong SAR PRC an opportunity to support the health workers and hospitals responding to the coronavirus crisis," said Birger Stamperdahl, President and CEO of Give2Asia. "Resources are stretched thin during a crisis of this magnitude, and we encourage our global community of philanthropists to engage in this effort." To deliver services in China, Give2Asia is partnering with trusted Chinese nonprofits, including the Chinese Red Cross Foundationone of the nations highest rated NGOsand the Hubei Red Cross Foundation, which operates in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak. "We are grateful to regulators for affirming our efforts to respond quickly," said Carol Yang, Give2Asias Chief China Representative. "Our Beijing team will closely monitor the implementation of all projects we manage to steward donor funds." Give2Asia has received special permission from Chinese authorities to raise expedited funds for the coronavirus outbreak response. As one of the few international organizations registered to operate under Chinas Overseas NGO law, Give2Asia is uniquely positioned to rapidly deliver aid where it can have the greatest impact. Prospective donors can learn more and donate to support the coronavirus outbreak campaign on Give2Asia's website. About Give2Asia Give2Asia is a trusted nonprofit partner for international philanthropy and the leader in donor-advised grantmaking to the Asia-Pacific. Since 2001, Give2Asia has facilitated more than $342 million of charitable grants across 23 countries. Give2Asia has an extensive track record of funding trusted NGOs in China. The organization played a significant role in fundraising for the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake and other disaster events in China. Give2Asia is a registered 501(c)3 organization in the United States. Give2Asia Foundation Limited is a tax-exempt organization in Hong Kong SAR PRC under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Hong Kong IR File Number 91/11865). To learn more about Give2Asia, visit https://give2asia.org. BANGKOK - British Airways halted all flights to China and American Airlines suspended Los Angeles flights to and from Shanghai and Beijing as efforts to contain a new virus intensifies. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A Japanese chartered plane carrying evacuees from Wuhan, China, is parked after landing at Haneda international airport in Tokyo Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) BANGKOK - British Airways halted all flights to China and American Airlines suspended Los Angeles flights to and from Shanghai and Beijing as efforts to contain a new virus intensifies. The coronavirus has now infected more people in China than were sickened in the country by the SARS outbreak in 2002-2003. The number of confirmed cases jumped to 7,711, surpassing the 5,327 in mainland China from SARS. The virus has killed 170 people. The British and U.S. carriers on Wednesday joined several Asian carriers that are either suspending or significantly cutting back service there as fears spread about the coronavirus. Air India and South Korean budget carrier Seoul Air are also halting all flights to the country, and Indonesias Lion Air plans to do the same. Other carriers including Finnair, Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific, and Singapore-based Jetstar Asia are slashing service. Beyond disrupting travel, the move is heightening concerns about the broader economic impact of the virus outbreak. Hotels, airlines, casinos and cruise operators are among the industries suffering the most immediate repercussions, especially in countries close to China. The crisis has also begun to ripple through U.S. companies with operations in China. In a conference call Tuesday, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company's suppliers in China have been forced to delay reopening factories that closed for the Lunar New Year holiday until Feb. 10. Isaac Larian, CEO of MGA Entertainment, the maker of the popular LOL dolls, said he's nervous that many workers won't come back to factories and they may close. "I'm very concerned about all consumer goods and retail business in 2020," Larian said. Starbucks shares tumbled 2.5% Wednesday after the company said it will take a financial hit from store closures in China. The Seattle-based coffee giant said more than half of its 4,292 stores in China are now closed. China represented 10% of Starbucks revenue during its most recent quarter. FILE - In this Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, file photo, a poster warning about coronavirus is seen as passengers wear masks in a departure lobby at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea. British Airways and Asian budget carriers Lion Air and Seoul Air are suspending all flights to China as fears spread about the outbreak of a new virus that has killed more than 130 people. British Airways said Wednesday it is immediately suspending all flights to and from mainland China after the U.K. government warned against unnecessary travel to the country. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File) By contrast, McDonalds shares were up 2% Wednesday after the company said the financial impact so far has been minimal. McDonalds President and CEO Chris Kempczinski said the Chicago-based company has closed several hundred restaurants, including all of its properties in Hubei province. But 3,000 remain open elsewhere in the country. China accounts for 4-5% of McDonalds revenue, he said. British Airways said it was immediately suspending all flights to and from mainland China after the U.K. government warned against unnecessary travel to the country amid a virus outbreak. The airline operates daily flights from London's Heathrow Airport to Shanghai and Beijing. It took the measure a day after Britain's Foreign Office updated its travel advice on China, warning against all but essential travel to the mainland, not including Hong Kong and Macao. The U.S. has not put into place travel restrictions, though Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said its important to not take anything off the table, when he was asked about that potential. American Airlines said Wednesday it will suspend flights between Los Angeles and both Shanghai and Beijing from Feb. 9 through Mar. 27. The airline cited the significant decline in demand for travel to and from China. Flights from Dallas-Fort Worth will continue, the airline said. China has cut off access to the central city of Wuhan, epicenter of the outbreak, and 16 other cities to prevent people from leaving and spreading the virus further. That has trapped more than 50 million people in the most far-reaching disease control measures ever imposed. The outbreak has infected more than 6,000 on the mainland and abroad. Online flight notice boards for the Beijing and Shanghai airports showed numerous cancellations for both domestic and foreign airlines on Wednesday: -Air Seoul, a budget airline, became the first South Korean airline to suspend its fights to mainland Chinese destinations apart from Wuhan, stopping its flights to the cities of Zhangjiajie and Linyi. -Indonesia's Lion Air said it has cancelled more than 50 flights to China well into February. The flights are from five international airports in Manado, Surabaya, Jakarta, Batam and from Denpasar, in Bali, to 15 airports in China. The suspension will be phased in gradually and continue until further notice. -Hong Kong airlines are cutting the number of their flights to the mainland by about half through the end of March in response to government virus-control efforts. -Cathay Pacific Group said flights to 24 mainland destinations would be reduced to 240 weekly. The company owns Cathay Pacific Airways, cargo carrier Air Hong Kong, Cathay Dragon and Hong Kong Express. -Air India is suspending Delhi-Shanghai flights, which operate six times a week, from Friday until Feb. 14. -Finland's Finnair, which has actively promoted its position linking Asian and Western destinations, said it was cancelling three weekly flights to Beijing Daxing International Airport through late March, as well as its twice-weekly flights to Nanjing. -Jetstar Asia will temporarily suspend flights to the Chinese cities of Hefei, Guiyang and Xuzhou starting Thursday through the end of March due to a drop in demand. -South Korea's second-largest carrier, Asiana Airlines, will temporarily suspend flights to the Chinese cities of Guilin, Changsha and Haikou starting next month. -Korean Air, South Koreas biggest airline, said it is also considering grounding some of its flights to mainland China as passenger demand drops. Korean Air had operated four flights a week to the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, before suspending them on Jan. 23. -Taiwans Eva Air announced a partial cancellation of flights to and from mainland China for two weeks starting Feb. 2. In addition, the airline also has stopped providing towels, magazines, table clothes, and is limiting use of blankets and pillows on its flights. 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. -Kazakhstan, which shares a long border with far western China, announced Wednesday that it plans to suspend all flights, train and bus traffic and to halt issuing visas to Chinese nationals. Before the Wednesday's suspension, there were 24 flights a week from Kazakhstan to China, including a daily flight to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang. -Japan's JAL said it had not changed its flight plans, while German carrier Lufthansa said it was monitoring the situation very closely" and would if necessary make changes in consultation with the authorities. -Dutch carrier KLM is cutting a number of flights to Chinese cities for a month because of a drop in bookings. As of Thursday it is suspending direct flights to Chengdu and Hangzhou. Flights to Xiamen will be suspended from Friday. The carrier also is reducing the number of flights to Shanghai from 11 to seven per week. -Air Canada, the country's largest carrier, is temporarily suspending all direct flights to Beijing and Shanghai. Flights will be suspended until Feb. 29. Air Canada operates direct flights to Beijing and Shanghai from Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. ___ Associated Press writers Niniek Karmini and Edna Tarigan in Jakarta, Indonesia, Jan Olsen in Copenhagen; Daria Litvinova in Moscow, Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo, Tong-hyung Kim in Seoul, South Korea, Penny Wang in Bangkok, Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi, and Joe McDonald in Beijing contributed to this report. AP Airlines Writer David Koenig reported from Dallas. ORANGE COUNTY, Calif., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MediPines Corporation announces its selection as a top medtech innovator at the Emerging Medtech Summit 2020. The event takes place February 18-20th, 2020 at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel and features top strategists, investors, and innovators. MediPines CEO and founder, Steve Lee, will address the summit on February 18th in the afternoon and is meeting with institutional investors throughout the duration of the event. MediPines will highlight its first commercially available respiratory medical device, the AGM100. The AGM100 is the first portable and noninvasive respiratory device that measures pulmonary gas exchange, which is the primary function of the lungs. The device measures the degree of impaired gas exchange, along with other established respiratory parameters, within a few minutes, using an exhaled breath sampling method. The clinical applications and provider value are broad and promising. The device received FDA clearance in 2019, and it is currently utilized in a variety of clinical settings, including hospitals and outpatient clinics. Over 30 million Americans, globally 350 million, suffer from respiratory illnesses such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and new emerging respiratory diseases. There are increasing healthcare shortages and over 70 million baby boomers retiring at a rate of 10,000 per day, many of whom suffer from respiratory illness due to aging and environmental factors. "Our hope is that the technological advances we are making can help address these rising healthcare challenges," stated Lee. About MediPines MediPines Corporation, based in Orange County, California, is a pioneering medical device company established to advance respiratory medicine. MediPines was launched in 2015. The MediPines portable gas exchange monitor, AGM100 is the first FDA 510(k) cleared, commercially available portable respiratory medical device that measures oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange within the lungs. For more information, visit https://medipines.com/. Corporate Contact: Carissa Drews Marketing and Communications 949.398.4670 [email protected] SOURCE MediPines Related Links https://medipines.com The Prosecutors Office of Bulgaria explained why Oleksiy Levin, the suspect of the organization of the murder of Ukrainian activist Kateryna Handziuk, was not detained by the law enforcers during the entrance to the country. The Bulgarian Prosecutors Office provided the report on the process of detention of Levin, as BTA reported. The Ukrainian citizen ( Levin, - 112.international) was not detained upon his entry in Bulgaria through the Durankulak border checkpoint, because Interpol's Red Notice was issued at a later date, the Bulgarian prosecutors stated. Levin was arrested following the assistance of the Ukrainian services and undercover observations of the Bulgarian police. He changed his appearance and walk not to be caught. Before the arrest, the Ukrainian delegation headed by deputy prosecutor general of Ukraine came to Bulgaria and held the meeting with Chief Prosecutor of Bulgaria Ivan Geshev. The Bulgarian prosecutor invited his Ukrainian college to the meeting aiming for the improvement of the cooperation between the prosecutors offices of both countries. Levin is on the red list of the Interpol on the accusation of the attack with the acid, which led to the death of Kateryna Handziuk. He is banned from leaving Bulgaria. The authorities of Bulgaria have started the procedure of his extradition. On January 24, the law enforcers detained Oleksiy Levin in Bulgaria. Levin was arrested in absentia. The investigators consider him to be the organizer of the crime. Levin was detained in Europe in August 2019, questioned on the polygraph and released. The Security Service of Ukraine could file the request on his extradition but did not do it. On November 4, 2018, it became known that Kateryna Handziuk died at the age of 34. She was doused with sulphuric acid in July this year. According to preliminary information, her death was caused by blood clot's detachment. Besides, the doctors specified the cause of death; it was due to multiple organ failure and chemical burns. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 21:59:12|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MOSCOW, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Five former Russian policemen will face criminal charges for planting drugs in a backpack belonging to investigative journalist Ivan Golunov, the Russian Investigative Committee said Wednesday. The committee said in a statement that the five ex-policemen were detained after an investigation showed that they falsified the results of operational-search activities. The narcotics planted on the journalist were previously illegally acquired, stored and carried by the former policemen, it said. A reporter with an independent media outlet, Golunov was involved in exposing corruption cases among Moscow officials, was detained on the street in June and charged with carrying illegal drugs, facing up to 20 years in prison. Golunov was freed and the charges were dropped shortly after three major newspapers ran a similar front page expressing solidarity with the journalist, while hundreds of his colleagues took to the street to protest. Five policemen involved in Golunov's detention were relieved of their duties. The deadly coronavirus has hit the world hard. And Wuhan, the Chinese city at ground zero of the outbreak, is cut-off from the world to contain the spread of the virus. A group of Indian students in Wuhan have appealed to Indian government to make all possible efforts to rescue them at the earliest as they were running short of food and water in their dormitory due to the continued shutdown in the city. Due to the coronavirus outbreak in the city, we have been advised to stay indoors. Hence we are stuck in our dormitory (on the campus). We are being allowed to go out for only two hours a day to buy essentials but there is a lockdown in the city. All the shops and transport systems are closed. There is a shortage of essentials and we will soon run out of food and water, an Indian student Gaurav Nath told news agency ANI on Tuesday. Also Watch | International SOS explains few coronavirus symptoms, advice on traveling The 22-year-old is among the group of eight students who have pleaded the Indian government for help. He is pursuing Material Science and Engineering from the Wuhan University of Science and Technology. The Indian embassy in China is in constant touch with us for the rescue. We appeal to the Indian government to rescue us at the earliest, Nath, who is from Assam, further told ANI. The stranded students belong to Assam, Delhi, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir. Apart from these students, a group of 58 Indians on a training programme in Wuhan have also appealed to the Indian government and to the Indian embassy in Beijing to evacuate them from Wuhan. The group has been in Wuhan since August, 2019, to attend a training programme organised by a reputed Chinese electronics company based in Shenzhen in the province of Guangdong in China. One of the trainees from Andhra Pradesh told HT that they were supposed to return to India in the third week of February but now want to advance the departure because of the outbreak. The 58 Indians comprising 47 men and 11 women have been stuck in their dormitory in the Hongshan district to Wuhan, which is at the epicentre of the novel Coronavirus outbreak. We have not been able to step out of our dorm since the lockdown of Wuhan last week. We are not allowed to go out, said the trainee. The trainee said that they have send their details to the Indian embassy in Beijing but yet to hear back. The stranded group has read about the planned evacuation of Indians from Wuhan but arent aware of when or how it will be done. We want to leave, the trainee told HT over phone from Wuhan. Facing the unprecedented crisis, the residents of Wuhan have asked fellow residents to be strong. The residents are exchanging a message on popular app WeChat to do their collective bit to lift sagging spirits. The message asked residents to open their windows sharp at 8 pm and shout Wuhan, come on to spread the spirit of cheer around the city. The message in Chinese asked residents to shout Wuhan, Jia You or Wuhan, add oil - a popular phrase in China used to encourage people, egg them on or to exhort them to stay strong. Thousands did. Many then sang Chinas National Anthem; some sang old patriotic songs. Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday approved a special Air India flight to Wuhan for the evacuation of Indian citizens, ANI reported. An Air Indian Boeing 747 has been kept on standby for the evacuation. Our embassy is in contact with the Chinese government. We are trying to evacuate people, most of whom are students, from Wuhan city by sending a plane. Efforts are on. I can assure you that the central government is working on it and very soon, some solution will be found, foreign minister S Jaishankar said. At least 132 people have died of the rapidly spreading coronavirus in China, while nearly 6000 people have been infected so far, national health officials said on Wednesday morning. The virus has also spread to some other countries including France, where three cases have been reported so far. Many countries, including India, are screening travellers from certain parts of China for symptoms of the virus at airports. Tens of millions of people are under a lockdown in several cities in the central Chinese province of Hubei including its capital, Wuhan, where the outbreak first began possibly in December, in a bid by authorities to contain the infection that has since spread to other cities and to other countries as well. London (AFP) - The day after Brexit, "Global Britain" was meant to regain the buccaneering spirit of imperial times past and adopt a new vision for foreign trade. Reality has proven messier. After its divorce from the European Union takes effect on Friday night, Britain will be free to negotiate its own trade pacts for the first time since joining the bloc in 1973, and will take an independent seat at the World Trade Organization. For now, until a transition period expires on December 31, Britain will remain inside the EU's customs union and single market, which takes nearly half of all British exports including cars, meat and pharmaceuticals, accounting for millions of jobs. "We are passionate believers in free trade. The UK has been for a long time," finance minister Sajid Javid said in Davos last week. He vowed that a new deal with the EU itself "absolutely can be done" before the transition period ends, but also warned anxious British business chiefs to prepare for the two sides to diverge in their regulatory regimes. Prime Minister Boris Johnson insists the deadline will not be extended, and envisions "a Global Britain running a truly global foreign policy", shorn of its EU shackles and profiting from its world-class financial services, technology and creative industries. But Irish premier Leo Varadkar laid bare Britain's dilemma this week, warning it will have to concede a "fish for finance" compromise in the EU talks, allowing foreign boats in UK waters in return for unfettered access for its all-important financial sector. - 'Second after midnight' - That would undermine one of the promises by Brexiteers in Britain's 2016 referendum campaign. And the picture with the rest of the world doesn't look much more promising. "Doing multiple trade deals at the same time is like playing three-dimensional chess," according to Jill Rutter, senior research fellow at The UK in a Changing Europe, a think tank in London. Story continues "There are difficult trade-offs. Ministers seem notably reluctant to acknowledge that," she told AFP. Former international trade secretary Liam Fox said in 2017 that Britain could easily copy and paste all 40 of the EU's external trade deals "the second after midnight" on Brexit day, which was then set for March 2019. Three postponements later, as Brexit Day finally approaches this week, the government concedes that only half that number will be ready, covering a single-digit proportion of Britain's overall trade. Britain will look to craft brand-new deals with bigger partners such as the United States, China and Japan. If history is any guide, those could take years, although the US administration is talking up prospects for an agreement in 2020. Fox's successor, Liz Truss, said in parliament last week that the aim was to forge agreements with countries accounting for 80 percent of British trade within three years. "This is clearly unrealistic, because it would require signing agreements with more than 12 countries within a time-scale which has rarely been achieved for a single agreement," the British Trade Policy Observatory at the University of Sussex wrote. - Choices, choices - Enacting multiple new deals will be a particularly tall order for a country that, since 1973, has outsourced its trade negotiations to Brussels. Japan, which in the 1980s chose Britain as its carmaking hub inside the EU, is reportedly keen on a rapid deal to maintain some stability. "Since Britain wants to show results after Brexit, it is likely to speed up trade talks with many countries. There is the possibility that Japan will be the first major country reaching an accord with Britain," said Mitsuo Fujiyama, senior economist at the Japan Research Institute in Tokyo. Speaking alongside Javid in Davos, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Washington was "disappointed" not to be first in line. The two sides are also at odds over Chinese telecoms firm Huawei and Javid's plan to impose a digital tax on tech companies. The United States represents less than 12 percent of Britain's foreign trade, a distant second to the EU share. China is next with about five percent and Japan has less than two percent. Other nations, such as Britain's former colonies Australia, Canada and India, have made clear they will drive a hard bargain. One hard-fought area will be immigration. For all the talk of Global Britain, the government faces a politically unpalatable decision between competing regulatory blocs, the EU and United States, with China also a looming presence. "There's always a mismatch between the rhetoric versus the reality," Rutter said. "You have to choose." By Trend Despite that the 50th World Economic Forum was held on Jan. 24 in Davos, Switzerland, where international issues were discussed, it is still in the focus of attention of world politicians, economists and political scientists, Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party Ganja city organization, MP Nagif Hamzayev told Trend. The MP said that during more than 400 open and closed sessions of the Davos Economic Forum, more than 2,000 politicians, academics, businessmen, and representatives of non-governmental organizations discussed "Stakeholders in a cohesive and sustainable world." Like every year, Azerbaijan was highly represented at this important event, and President Ilham Aliyev's meetings with some of the world's most prominent politicians and heads of major transnational companies wrote a new page in the relationship between Azerbaijan and the World Economic Forum. He also noted that today Azerbaijan is one of the key factors in the global energy market. The forum, now considered a global platform, has a significant impact not only on the modern world economic policy, but also on international relations. The Davos Economic Forum has once again demonstrated that the world supports the visionary ideas of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the global energy market. At the World Economic Forum 5 years ago, the country's president took the initiative to unite and work together with the member countries of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and oil producers that are not members of OPEC. As a result of the joint efforts of the OPEC + coalition of OPEC and non-OPEC countries, the price of black gold today is around $ 55-60 / barrel. When the balance of supply and demand is disturbed, OPEC + countries, including Azerbaijan, react immediately. At the 50th Davos Forum, OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo stated that the foundations for cooperation in the OPEC + format were laid only at the invitation of the President of Azerbaijan, saying that this is the first time in history. Thanks to your leadership and your vision, we have done it, Barkindo added. We will never forget this, Mr. President. This is very important for us, and, as you mentioned, we have worked very closely with Azerbaijan over the past five years, and Azerbaijan adheres to all decisions made. The most noteworthy point is that the Davos Forum is not only a great platform for presenting the realities of Azerbaijan to the international community, but also to represent Azerbaijan as one of the fastest growing parts of the world economy, said Hamzayev. Undoubtedly, the basis of this is the transformation of Azerbaijan into a security island, thanks to the multi-vector policy of the head of state and great political will. New Jerseys pension fund for state and local government employees on Wednesday reported a 16.4 percent return on investments in 2019. New Jersey Division of Investment Director Corey Amon told the State Investment Council Wednesday the preliminary returns for the calendar year have been unequivocally strong." The State Investment Council oversees New Jerseys $80 billion public-worker pension fund. Global stocks, which make up nearly half of the funds portfolio, were the best performing asset class, up nearly 27 percent last year, Amon said. Global stocks led the way in a very strong return environment. With nearly half the portfolio in global stocks, that was the key driver of calendar year returns in excess of 16 percent for the pension fund, he said. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, the pension fund has so far recorded a 4.93 percent return. The public pension fund is among the worst-funded in the U.S. but has been improving as the state increases how much money it contributes each year. Investment earnings play a big role in the health of the fund, as well. The public pension system assumes the fund will return 7.5 percent over the long run. It closed out the last fiscal year on June 30 at 6.27 percent. And the annual return over the past 15 years is 7.06 percent, according to the Division of Investment. Private equity, U.S. stocks and real estate have routinely performed best for the pension fund in recent years, Amon said. Want more pension news? Enter your email address to be the first to know: Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter@samanthamarcus. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Despite the capital city reeling in biting cold, the political climate in Delhi is heating up. Elections to the 70-member assembly are scheduled for February 8 and the contenders have drawn the battle lines. The polls are apparently bipolar contest between the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party government and the BJP. The Congress, which finished last, having won zero seats in the last assembly elections, is contesting to improve its tally in its erstwhile bastion. While incumbent chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is looking to get re-elected, BJP and Congress have not declared their chief ministerial candidates. The BJP has, however, mentioned that the elections will be fought under the leadership of PM Modi. The months ahead of polls had seen many dramatic events unfold in the city. Here are some of the issues that the Delhi elections will be fought on: CAA protests Although protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) have been happening across the country, Delhi has garnered special attention on two accounts the protests in Jamia Millia Islamia University and Shaheen Bagh. Read Also: Shaheen Bagh protest: 24x7 sit-in, Dabang Dadis and a resolve to protect the Constitution Anti-CAA protests in Jamia had taken a violent turn when Delhi Police had barged into the campus and allegedly assaulted students, even those who were in the library or at the mosque at that time. Excesses by the Delhi Police were condemned by students across the country and even abroad, including those belonging to the Ivy League. Shaheen Bagh, on the other hand, is a peaceful sit-in, with women protesters persevering against the cold conditions in the city but refusing to budge from their demand of withdrawing CAA and abandoning a nation-wide NRC (National Register of Citizens). The dharna has caused traffic snarls in the city, with several seeking the courts intervention to displace the protest. Delhi saw violent protests in other areas too, including Seelampur, Jafrabad, Daryaganj and other pockets in east and south-east Delhi, where protesters set vehicles ablaze. Meanwhile, Jama Masjid in the Walled City saw a massive turnout for candle-light vigils against CAA. Bhim Army chief and Dalit leader Chandrashekhar Azad was also present during a protest at Jama Masjid, and was later detained by Delhi Police. From a political perspective, the BJP has claimed that AAP and its supporters are fomenting tension on the ground and misleading people over CAA. However, AAP has condemned the violence and claimed to have spoken to the Ministry of Home Affairs on alleged excesses by the Delhi Police, which falls under the Centres purview. Experts believe that the result of the election will show the mirror on the political significance of CAA. Read Also: Kejriwal's 'subdued' response to CAA-NPR-NRC, Jamia-JNU violence 'smacks of opportunism': Sibal JNU impasse Students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) have been protesting against a hike in the hostel fee since late October last year. They claim that the Vice Chancellor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar has not paid heed to their demands and are seeking his ouster. However, on January 5, masked miscreants barged into the university campus and attacked students and teachers alike; vandalising the premises. JNU Students Union (JNUSU) president Aishe Ghosh was seriously injured in the attack. The incident has polarised the youth, with the administration naming students belonging to the Left parties for vandalism, while JNUSU accusing RSS-backed ABVP of orchestrating the attack. Read Also: JNU students not alone in protesting against fee hike: Here are varsities missed by national media Lawyers vs Delhi Police Law and order had gone for a toss in November last year, with lawyers and Delhi Police embroiled in clashes over a parking squabble. While the lawyers claimed that the police thrashed one of the advocates inside a station, the police denied those charges and said that they were attacked first. The lawyers had gone on a three-day strike, with the Bar Council condemning the violence. Viral videos of lawyers attacking policemen had emerged on social media, following which, the Delhi Police led an unprecedented protest from the police headquarters at ITO. Kejriwal had met the lawyers who were injured in the clashes, which he said was an unfortunate event while emphasizing on good relations between the two. He even said that the Delhi government will bear all the medical expense of the injured lawyers. While AAP named Delhi Police the armed wing of BJP, Delhi BJP chief appealed to both parties to resolve the dispute amicably so that anti-social elements or terrorists cannot take advantage of the situation. Onion Prices Prices of onion had sky-rocketed in the last couple of months because of shortage in of the crop after a delayed and erratic monsoon. The essential ingredient, which is sold at an average of Rs 30-40 per kg, had shot to Rs 120-150 per kg in various cities, including Delhi. Onion prices have had the power to dethrone governments, and hence was used as fodder by AAP against the saffron party. Kejriwal alleged that the Centre was not giving onion at a controlled price to Delhi, while BJP alleged that the AAP government cancelled an order of four truckloads of daily onion supply to the capital. Read Also: When onion made India cry | How onion price rise affects politics, business and the common man When the ruling government in Delhi declared that it will sell onion at a subsidised cost by cracking down on hoarders, BJP claimed that it was buying onion for even cheaper from the Centre. Toxic Air Delhi, yet again, witnessed bouts of toxic air quality days post-Diwali with the Air Quality Index crossing 500 in certain areas. In what might seem like a natural phenomenon pronounced by cold and most air with slow wind speeds, air pollution was heavily politicised by both AAP and BJP. While Kejriwal rolled out the Odd-Even scheme in an attempt to reduce vehicular traffic, BJP leader Vijay Goel was seen openly flouting the norms and paying the penalty. Later, AAP accused the saffron party for not attending the parliamentary debate on the topic, while BJP accused Kejriwal of not doing enough to curb pollution. Meanwhile, BJP MP from Delhi Gautam Gambhir was caught in cross hairs for skipping a key parliamentary meet on the deteriorating air quality in the capital. This election, both parties have promised better air quality in their poll promises. Water The AAP government provides free water (conditional) to Delhi and has promised to continue to do so if re-elected. However, weeks ahead of elections water had become a contentious issue in the capital, with Union Minister Prakash Javadekar claiming that Delhi has fared the worst in water quality. He cited a BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) report to back his claims. Read Also: People are 'terrified' to drink water supplied in the city: Manoj Tiwari to Arvind Kejriwal However, Arvind Kejriwal refuted Javadekars claims, saying water was fit for consumption as per the guidelines of WHO (World Health Organisation). He cited an extensive report by Delhi Jal Board which said that only 1.43 percent of the over 1.55 lakh water samples collected from across the city were unsatisfactory. Both parties have promised 24X7 supply of piped water. Will the BJP's reliance on PM Modi be able to capitalise on the anti-incumbency against the ruling AAP government; and/or will Congress emerge as a surprise winner much like Jharkhand the questions will be answered on February 11, when results to the much-awaited capital contest will be declared. JERUSALEM - The Mideast peace plan announced by President Donald Trump on Tuesday supports the Israeli position on nearly all of the most contentious issues in the decades-old conflict. Where previous presidents tried to cajole Israel and the Palestinians into compromising on thorny issues like the borders of a future Palestinian state, the status of Jerusalem and the fate of refugees, Trumps Mideast team largely adopted the Israeli position. As a result, the Palestinians have angrily rejected the plan, and the international community appears unlikely to rally around it. Here is a look at the key points of the 50-page proposal: BORDERS The peace plan says Israel will have to make significant territorial compromises and that a Palestinian state should have territory reasonably comparable in size to the territory of the West Bank and Gaza pre-1967, when Israel seized those territories, along with east Jerusalem, in a regionwide war. The plan provides for mutually agreed land swaps. But a conceptual map released with the plan shows a disjointed Palestinian state, with Israeli and Palestinian enclaves linked to their respective states by what the plan calls pragmatic transportation solutions, including bridges, tunnels and roads. The Jordan Valley, which accounts for around a fourth of the West Bank, will be under Israeli sovereignty. ___ JERUSALEM The peace plan would leave most of annexed east Jerusalem, including its Old City and holy sites, under Israeli control while allowing the Palestinians to establish a capital on the outskirts of the city outside Israels separation barrier. It said Jerusalems holy sites, sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, should be open to worshipers. The understandings governing the flashpoint holy site known as the Al-Aqsa mosque compound to Muslims and the Temple Mount to Jews would remain in place. ___ SETTLEMENTS The plan allows Israel to immediately annex virtually all its settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are viewed as illegal by the Palestinians and most of the international community. It would freeze settlement construction in areas earmarked for the future Palestinian state during the period of negotiations, but those areas are already largely off-limits to settlement activity. Not a single settlement will be evacuated, Netanyahu told reporters. Itamar is equal to Tel Aviv, he said, referring to a Jewish settlement in the heart of the West Bank. ___ SECURITY Under the plan, Israel will maintain overriding security responsibility for the state of Palestine, which will be fully demilitarized. The Palestinians will have their own internal security forces but Israel will control the borders and monitor all crossings. A Crossings Board made up of three Palestinians, three Israelis and a U.S. representative will oversee the crossings and resolve disputes. Israel will only implement its obligations under the plan if the Gaza Strip, which is currently ruled by the Islamic Hamas movement, is transferred back to the full control of the Palestinian Authority or another entity acceptable to Israel. Hamas and all other militant groups in Gaza must disarm and the territory must be fully demilitarized. ___ REFUGEES Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were forced out of what is now Israel during the 1948 war around its creation. Those refugees and their descendants now number around 5 million and are scattered across the region. The Palestinians believe they have the right of return to former properties, something Israel has always rejected, saying it would destroy Israels Jewish character. The peace plan says there shall be no right of return by, or absorption of, any Palestinian refugee into the state of Israel. It says refugees can live in the state of Palestine, become citizens of the countries where they live or be absorbed by other countries. It says the U.S. will try to provide some compensation to refugees. 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. MUSCATINE Three people were injured in a crash on Iowa Highway 38 at 180th Street in Muscatine Tuesday afternoon. The names of the victims have not been released pending notification of their families. According to a report from the Iowa State Patrol, a 2005 Mercury Sable was traveling westbound on 180th Street at 7:39 p.m. Tuesday when it failed to obey a posted stop sign and collided with a 2010 Chevy Silverado traveling southbound on Iowa 38. The crash remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol. Muscatine Ambulance transported two injured parties to UnityPoint-Trinity Muscatine and one to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. The report said they were all wearing seatbelts. The Iowa State Patrol was assisted by the Muscatine County Sheriffs office, Muscatine Ambulance and Wilton Fire Department. Love 0 Funny 4 Wow 2 Sad 9 Angry 0 WEST PALM BEACH, Florida, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Praxsyn (OTC:PXYN, the Company) is pleased to announce that it has signed two new rep groups with multiple reps, in multiple states, to bring new sales to our wholly owned subsidiary, Praxsyn Capital. The new rep groups will assist us in developing training materials in order to allow us to expand our sales staff nationwide Praxsyn is also exploring the development of computer-based training (CBT) systems to train new reps on how to source new portfolios, and other CBT systems to train providers in onboarding portfolios for more rapid funding. Finally, Praxsyn is exploring the development of CBT Continuing Education (CE) software to help doctors and lawyers learn about the benefits of financing portfolios for their patients and clients. About Praxsyn Corporation Headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida, Praxsyn Corporation works to realize the vision of medical professionals to improve the lives of their patients. Additional company information can be found at www.praxsyncorp.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to many risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with developing new products or technologies, regulatory approvals, unexpected expenditures, the ability to raise the additional funding needed to continue to pursue Praxsyn's business and product development plans and overall market conditions. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and Praxsyn assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements. We may use terms such as projects, believes, estimates, anticipates, expects, plans, intends, may, could, might, will, should, approximately, or other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained herein, we caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. As a result of these factors, we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this press release will prove to be accurate. Investor Contact: TEN Associates LLC Tom Nelson 480.326.8577 iFood logo In Brazil, lunch is often considered the most important meal of the day, said Bruno Henriques, VP of Growth and AI at iFood. With Loop, we deliver not only food that Brazilians eat every day, but we provide high quality food thats even healthier and well balanced at the right time and cost." Latin America's leading foodtech company, iFood, unveiled the details of its new Loop offering and its plan to expand the new program rapidly during 2020. Born as a project developed in iFoods AI Academy, an R&D lab opened last April, Loop introduces the delivery of healthy, fresh, affordable lunchtime food at a cost low enough theres no reason to shop and cook it at home, or even leave the office to buy marmitas (traditional Brazilian fare) from street vendors selling outside popular workplaces in Brazil. iFoods logistics engine, powered by AI and machine learning, is core to the significant cost savings passed onto consumers. It provides the ability to offer quality lunchtime meals for about $3 using virtual kitchens during idle time (9am to midday) and batching orders so iFood delivery partners are able to take up to 18 orders at once with them on delivery runs. As a result, the cost of delivery decreased by 50 percent and order frequency jumped by more than 78 percent, based on data collected during a recent 28-city pilot. In Brazil, lunch is often considered the most important meal of the day, said Bruno Henriques, VP of Growth and AI at iFood. With Loop, we deliver not only food that Brazilians eat every day, but we provide high quality food thats even healthier and well balanced at just the right time and at the right cost. We designed it so its a no-brainer for consumers to use Loop because its so convenient, saves time and the food we deliver is better for you. Ordering a Loop meal is very simple: the customer accesses the app, clicks on the iFood Loop category, chooses one dish at daily menu options, and schedules the delivery. For more convenience for consumers, orders can be scheduled from 2pm to the next day, or placed during the day up until 12:30pm. The app auto-updates users on the current availability of dishes in stock, and lets them choose one of the 30-minute delivery windows to receive meals (11:00am-11:30am, 11:50am-12:20pm, 12:40pm-1:10pm). The iFood Loop meals are delivered in a special, sealed package with information from the restaurant that produced the dish. With more than 26.6 million orders per month and 131,000+ restaurants registered on the iFood platform in 912 cities, the companys leadership has fully embraced and invested in AI to continue achieving its aggressive growth goals and to drive more operations efficiencies. Weve been laser-focused on logistics improvements using AI so our delivery partners can arrive at iFood providers locations at the exact moment that food is ready, navigate through Brazils crowded cities and diverse neighborhoods quickly with our own mapping system, and bring in more revenue, said Fabricio Bloisi, CEO and Founder of iFood and Movile. Our goal is to serve more than 50 million Brazilians as rapidly as we can. We believe reducing food and delivery costs will boost our iFood Loop meals and popularity with customers quickly. The iFood meals are prepared only by restaurants that strictly follow the requirements of quality and hygiene, which guarantees the high quality of dishes offered by Loop. During the recent pilot for iFood Loop, more than 650,000 meals per month were delivered in the programs first 28 cities. Many restaurant partners reported that the new offering has already doubled their business. These incremental orders are prepared mostly during less busy times when participating restaurant kitchens would otherwise remain idle. iFood also offers a specialized consultancy that guarantees healthy, fresh, affordable lunchtime food by the Loop restaurants. Our iFood customers order through the app, and iFoods logistics takes care of the management and distribution so we can simply focus on the production of great food, said Claudia Carrasco, an iFood Loop provider during a recent video interview. The advance orders and planning lets us guarantee quality, keep costs low, and provide better customer service. For more information about the new Loop program, please visit: http://www.ifood.com.br/loop. A video overview of iFood Loop (here) is now available for viewing or embedding into news stories. About iFood iFood, one of the world's most innovative foodtechs and a leader in online food delivery in Latin America, has 26.6 million monthly orders in Brazil. After eight years in the market, the company of Brazilian origin is also present in Mexico and Colombia. It works with partners and initiatives that bring together business intelligence and management solutions for more than 131 thousand restaurants registered in 912 cities throughout Brazil. iFood has key investors such as Movile - the global leader in mobile marketplaces - and Just Eat - one of the largest online ordering companies in the world. Media Contacts Brazil: Manuela Cherobim +55 11 99310-1519 manuela.cherobim@ifood.com.br United States: Chris Knight (415) 786-9226 c. chris@divinogroup.net London, Jan 29 : The year 2019 represents the highest level of democratic discontent on record, according to a new study by University of Cambridge researchers on Wednesday. Across the planet, from Europe to Africa, as well as Asia, Australasia, both Americas and the Middle East, the share of individuals who say they are "dissatisfied" with democracy has jumped significantly since the mid-1990s - from 47.9 per cent to 57.5 per cent, according to the report. Dissatisfaction with democratic politics among citizens of developed countries has increased from a third to half of all individuals over the last quarter of a century, it added. For the study, the research team from the university's new Centre for the Future of Democracy used a unique dataset of more than four million people. It combines over 25 international survey projects covering 154 countries between 1995 and 2020. "Across the globe, democracy is in a state of malaise," said the report's lead author Roberto Foa, from Cambridge's Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS). "We find that dissatisfaction with democracy has risen over time, and is reaching an all-time global high, in particular in developed countries," Foa added. The research revealed that the downward trend in satisfaction with democracy has been especially sharp since 2005, which marks the beginning of what some have called a "global democratic recession". Just 38.7 per cent of citizens were dissatisfied in that year, but this has since risen by almost one-fifth of the population to 57.5 per cent. Many large democracies are now at their highest-ever recorded level for democratic dissatisfaction. These include the UK, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, as well as the US - where dissatisfaction has increased by a third since the 1990s. Other countries that remain close to their all-time dissatisfaction highs include Japan, Spain and Greece. However, researchers uncovered what they call an "island of contentment" in the heart of Europe: Denmark, Switzerland, Norway and the Netherlands are among nations where satisfaction with democracy is reaching all-time highs. "We found a select group of nations, containing just two per cent of the world's democratic citizenry, in which less than a quarter of the public express discontent with their political system," said Foa. Other regional "bright spots", where levels of civic contentment are significantly higher, include Southeast Asia, and to a lesser extent the democracies in South Asia and Northeast Asia. "For now, much of Asia has avoided the crisis of democratic faith affecting other parts of the world," said Foa. The research team found that shifts in democratic satisfaction often responded to "objective circumstances and events" such as economic shocks or corruption scandals. "The 2015 refugee crisis and the 2008 financial crisis had an immediately observable effect upon average levels of civic dissatisfaction," said Foa. Following the onset of the global financial crisis in October 2008, for example, global dissatisfaction with the functioning of democracy jumped by around 6.5 percentage points - an increase that "appears to have been durable", said the researchers. President Akufo-Addo has said he expects an economic turn around within the Obuasi Municipality and other host communities where the Anglogold Ashanti operates. The President indicated that the commemoration of the first gold pour of the Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi Mine after it suspended operations five years ago must be of great benefit to Ghanas Mining sector. The shutdown of the mine brought in its wake severe levels of hardship to a community whose major preoccupation is mining. Employees, both direct and indirect, felt the brunt of the closure, with equally devastating effects to several actors along the value chain, be they mine support service companies, security and telecommunications providers or financial institutions. So, I congratulate the promoters and management of the mine for this major milestone, and I expect the first gold pour to mark also a 'Year of Return' to winning ways for not just Obuasi and AngloGold, but for the mining sector in Ghana as a whole. As I have said before, I am counting on this mine to pull the adjoining communities out of poverty, and enable them to reflect the wealth that their soils have generated. He also tasked the management of the mine to work closely with stakeholders to pull the host communities out of poverty. The President said the company will contribute two dollars per ounce of gold produced into a community trust fund to facilitate development projects in the local communities. Ahead of the commencement of gold production by the company, a contribution of 250,000 dollars has been paid into the fund of which part of the amount has been used for some infrastructural projects. The President speaking at an official ceremony to commemorate the first pour of gold by the Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi Mine, said the government will work closely with the company to address all social and environmental issues in the companys operations. The Company says it expects the Obuasi Mine to produce 400,000 ounces every year for the first ten years after its first pour. The initial capital injected for the turn around of the Obuasi Mine according to the company is between $500 million and $550 million. The company says it has adopted a modern way of mining which will be solely mechanized. Speaking at the same event, Chief Executive Officer of AngloGold Ashanti, Kelvin Dushnisky says the company will prioritize local content. ---citinewsroom Mitch McConnell says he lacks the votes necessary to block attempts to introduce new witnesses in Donald Trump's impeachment trial, according to reports. Republicans hold a 53-seat majority in the Senate and can't afford more than three votes to peel away from the Senate Majority Leader's attempts to bring the trial to a close. The president's legal counsel delivered its closing arguments on Tuesday. Mr McConnell's closed-door announcement arrives after former national security chief John Bolton, in a leaked manuscript of a forthcoming book, confirmed that the president froze military aid to Ukraine in an attempt to pressure the country's president to investigate Joe Biden's son, at the core of the abuse of power charge against Mr Trump. Following his departure from the administration, Mr Bolton also said he would be willing to testify. 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 Several Republican senators have indicated that they would be interested in his testimony, following the publication of the manuscript. Senators who are undecided about whether to call witnesses will likely face intense scrutiny over the next several days. The White House blocked members of the administration from testifying during the House investigation. In defence against a charge of obstruction, the president's legal team has argued over the last several days that Mr Trump exerted his executive privilege by denying requested documents, and Mr Trump also has expressed national security concerns over high-ranking officials like Mr Bolton appearing as witnesses. An open door for impeachment trial witnesses could allow Republicans an opportunity to subpoena Hunter Biden, who sat on the board of a Ukrainian energy company that the president's counsel has argued was engaged in corruption, while Democrats pursue a testimony from Mr Bolton. A mechanism will be worked out before the next meeting for search works with the involvement of international organizations. The Trilateral Contact Group on Donbas settlement has agreed to resume the search for missing persons in the Donbas warzone. The statement came from Darka Olifer, a press secretary of Ukraine's envoy to the TCG, former president Leonid Kuchma. "The humanitarian subgroup continues its work toward mutual release of [held] persons, which saw success on December 29, 2019. An agreement has been reached to resume the search for missing persons: before the next TCG meeting in Minsk, relevant proposals will be processed on the mechanism for organizing this work with the participation of international organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross," the statement reads. Read alsoOSCE Chairperson-in-Office: "Long road ahead to lasting peace" in Donbas Also, Olifer said that today's meeting of the TCG was the last one attended by Martin Sajdik, who handed his powers of OSCE special representative in Ukraine and the TCG to Heidi Grau. "The TCG once again thanked Ambassador Sajdik for his work and congratulated Heidi Grau on the beginning of her service, the spokesperson said. It will take less than a week. A 34,000 square metre hospital built in the middle of an epidemic. Marshalling all of the compulsory and voluntary labour a one-party state can muster, the Fire God Mountain Hospital in Wuhan is touted to open by Saturday, adding 1000 beds to a city that has had its hospital system overrun. Before and after: A symbol of China's rapid response, albeit delayed, has been the speed at which workers in Wuhan are erecting a pair of field hospitals to accommodate virus patients. Credit:Getty A second will follow. Nearby, the Thunder God Mountain Hospital is scheduled to add another 1300 beds by Monday. Intensive care units, supply warehouses and ambulance washing rooms will soon fill the steel frames. SPRINGFIELD - City firefighters on Tuesday night extinguished a blaze that caused an estimated $10,000 in damage to an industrial laundry facility on Main Street in the citys South End. The fire at 56 Main St. was reported at around 9:15 p.m., said fire department spokesman Capt. Brian Tetreault. Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the rear of the building. Once they entered the building, they found the fire confined to a large industrial dryer. They were able to extinguish it and keep if from spreading throughout the building, he said. There were no injuries. An investigation by Springfield Arson and Bomb Squad determined the fire was caused by the dryer overheating and igniting some linen, he said. The building is home to Service Matters, a supplier of floor mats, towels, and janitorial supplies to businesses in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York. Tunisias announcement late last year that it would introduce sex education starting at the primary school level was welcomed as a trailblazer in the Arab world. But the implementation has faced challenges, from a watering down on subjects considered taboo to political turmoil. Introducing sex education into the school curricula is rarely an easy task across the world. So, in December 2019, when Tunisian authorities announced they would introduce a sex education programme for primary and high school students, it was hailed as yet another example of the North African nations leading womens rights in the Arab world. The move marked the first time an Arab country would be introducing sex education to primary school students as young as five-year-olds. It would also make Tunisia the only Arab nation to provide sex education in schools after Lebanon scrapped its programme for 12-to-14-year-olds in 2000 over concerns it would provoke perversions. After several years of studies, surveys and polls across the country, the programme introduction was finally triggered by sexual violence and harassment revelations that shook Tunisia. A March 2019 case of a paedophile teacher, who assaulted and raped 20 children in a village near the western city of Sfax, served as a wake-up call on the need for sex education. In the aftermath of the case, Tunisian Education Minister Hatem Ben Salem stressed the need to raise awareness among children and promised to introduce sex education classes in schools. The new programme was set to be launched in 12 areas around the capital, Tunis, by end-December, followed by a nationwide rollout as early as January 2020. But the plan has been running behind schedule. We are in the process of finalising the document before the experimental phase is launched in 13 regions," Elhem Barboura, inspector general at the ministry of education, who is piloting the project, told FRANCE 24. No trainers, no government When asked about the reasons for the delay, consultants involved in the development of the project mentioned a staffing problem. "Everything is ready: the frame of reference has been drafted, the pedagogical tools printed, the objectives have been defined. But now we have to find the right trainers," admitted Ines Derbel, vice-president in Tunis-based of the Tunisian Society of Clinical Sexology and a consultant who has been working on the programme for five years. Part of the problem is also political. Tunisia is experiencing political turmoil, which could jeopardise the programme. The country has not had a government since the October general elections failed to produce an outright winner. Earlier this year, parliament rejected a new prime minister-designate amid a tussle for power between parties over political appointments. Story continues A new prime minister, Elyes Fakhfakh, was then tasked with forming a government. But differences between the countrys president and the largest party in parliament, the moderate Islamist Ennahda, indicate that Fakhfakh faces an uphill battle to come up with a coalition government in Tunisias fragmented political landscape. "We don't know if the current education minister will stay on his role and he has been in charge of the sex education project since the beginning. At the moment, everything is on standby," admitted Derbel, who hopes to have the courses up and running by the start of the 2020-2021 academic year, at the latest. Shock-free sexual health education Its not the only obstacle confronting the ambitious project. Convincing a broad spectrum of society across class, regional and ideological divides is another challenge. "Changes like that take time," explained Derbel. In January 2018, Yamina Zoghlami, an Ennahda party parliamentarian, electrified the country with a remarkable speech to parliament. "There are young Tunisians who consider the body to be haram [forbidden in Islam]. The ministry of education is very outdated on this subject, young people must be taught scientific sex education so that they can protect themselves and others," said the veiled mother of three children. Convincing parents is another challenge in a country where sociological studies show sexual issues remain taboo and are difficult to address within families. Tunisia has long been a trailblazer in womens rights in the region, thanks to a large extent to the countrys first president, Habib Bourguiba. Just months after the country gained independence from France in March 1956, the Tunisian lawyer-statesman promulgated a historic personal status code outlawing polygamy and granting women the right to divorce and vote. But conservatism has also been on the rise in Tunisia following the 2011 Arab Spring uprising, with religious leaders becoming more influential as the state fails to address major economic problems, including soaring youth unemployment rates. Over the past four to five years, we've been consulting Tunisians, from the north to the south of the country, training imams, talking to parents and children to see what the needs and demands are, and adapting them to Tunisian society," said the clinical sexologist. The "adaptations" include avoiding controversial subjects, such as sexual orientation -- homosexuality is still taboo in Tunisia -- and anal sex, which is still forbidden by law. The new programme was also given a title change from sex education to "sexual health education". "At the onset, we didn't want to shock people to ensure the programme wouldn't be rejected," explained Derbel. Moreover, the programme will not be an academic course by itself, but will be rolled into physical education and life and earth science (LES) courses in Arabic. This makes it less of a "sex education" course and more a lesson on the body, the biological differences between genders and an introduction to children's rights, adapted to each age group. From the ages of 5-to-8 years old, children will study the notion of intimacy and prohibitions (who has the right to touch a child's body or not). Older children in the 8-12 and 12-15 year brackets will be made aware of puberty and physiological changes. Young people want to try everything "A whole section of the programme is focused on protection: learning how to better protect yourself [from assault], how to say no, how to respect yourself and how to provide comprehensive sex education," said sexologist Karim Cherif, who helped develop the programme. "We have a generation of young people who are not afraid, and want to try everything. Our role is to give them the tools they need to have a fulfilling and responsible sexual life," says Cherif. Other issues include tackling more "technical" subjects like sexual diseases, contraception and unwanted pregnancies. Abortions have been legal since 1965, when Tunisia became the first Muslim country to legalise abortions for women who had five or more children, within the first trimester and with the husbands consent. In 1973, the law was liberalised to include any woman, without spousal consent. These topics, Cherif explained, can be addressed for older students. But above all, they are already being taught in high schools in Tunisia". Outside schools, Tunisias vigorous civil society is widely mobilised on sexual health issues. Workshops on sexual risks have been available for young people since the 1990s. "For years now, education sessions have been offered on risky behaviour, unwanted pregnancies and STD [sexually transmitted disease] prevention," the National Office for Family and Population (ONFP) informed FRANCE 24. But these workshops mostly reach young people in big cities. "By integrating sex education into the school curriculum, it will be accessible to everyone, from the north to the [more traditional] south, without socio-cultural disparities. It will be systematised and multidisciplinary," says Cherif. When, that is, its finally taught in Tunisian schools. This article has been adapted from the original in French. The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) changed the over half century traditional deer season opening day from the Monday after Thanksgiving to the Saturday prior amidst strong opposition. To someone not familiar with the dynamics of this weekend, this change might seem innocuous, but that would be a poor analogy. Economic losses were identified from 10 business contacted exceeding $360,000.00, statewide impacts are likely in the several millions. Opposition to this change came from 65 percent of our hunters who were surveyed by the PGC. Eighty-one percent of approximately 1300 hunters who contacted the agency opposed the change. Even the agency staff tasked to research the PGC commissioners reasons for making this change came back with data that did not validate their thought process. Opposition of this magnitude toward any issue should be concerning, particularly when the decision-making body, The PGC board, is required to educate themselves with this information as a primary source in their decision making. Why did the majority of hunters oppose the Saturday opener and why the economic losses? The Thanksgiving holiday complicated the new Saturday opener. Thanksgiving condensed countless hunter preparations and traditions previously done throughout the weekend following the holiday, into only one day-- the Friday after Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is the most travelled holiday of the year identified by AAA and TSA, this made it difficult for many hunters to clear their schedules due to visiting family members or related scenarios. Taking away 2/3 of the pre-opener time in this weekend, upset many hunters, especially those that hunt from camps, seasonal homes and non-resident hunters. These hunters travel for hours to open and warm their camps and have dozens of pre-hunt preparations to complete before daylight the next morning. The traveling hunters recognized the Saturday opener as a bigger problem, but the overall research evidence and hunter outcry identified statewide negativity. For over half a century hunters anticipated this labor of love steeped in tradition. Lee Dechant, owner of Route 66 Sporting Goods, Shippenville, Pa., may have said it best referring to the PGC board, what a mess they made of this! The Saturday opener was unfolding like a bad dream for many hunters, and ended up a nightmare for rural businesses. Putting Thanksgiving to bed and just having enough time to get ready for a pre-daylight Saturday hunt, eliminated long standing traditions and hunt preparation, but also took the hunter patronage out of countless Pennsylvania stores that weekend, almost completely! The Saturday opener reduced an over half-century raging stream of hunter dollars to a trickle in dozens of counties and thousands of businesses. In many northern rural areas, this weekend sales surge from hunters would be the last big sales weekend before the dead months in winter. Dollars made here were stretched until spring when trout season brings sportsman back into these areas. A good indicator of this circumstance was evident in the feedback from sporting goods stores that specialized in hunting supplies, license sales and firearms. The owners of 10 stores from throughout the state indicated their losses were stunning. Some were already writing letters to the PGC! These 10 businesses ranged from very large to medium to mom and pop variety. They identified losses directly attributed to the Saturday opener totaling in excess of $360,000! With these stores racking up such losses, one can only imagine the overall impact to all types of small businesses. These 10 owners stated many neighboring businesses experienced losses never before seen in this weekend. Their claims were validated with historical sales analysis of this weekend. They also identified Saturday opener opposition from their hunting customers was running as high as 90 percent. The data shows most hunters do not like the Saturday opener. The PGC commissioners were actually recalled to Harrisburg last spring to reconsider their vote by The House Game & Fisheries Chairmen Keith Gillespie and Bill Kortz, in response to hunter opposition. This PGC board was given ample reason and chance yet they refused. Now we have a severe economic impact hurting many small businesses, combined with the hunting related woes. When small businesses identify they depended on the sales from the opener weekend to carry them through winter months, and now question how to pay their utility bills, this is not an innocuous situation. When some even threatened with closing, it is time for someone to look at the facts and guide this ship of PGC hypothetical reasoning back to the port of reality and accountability! Several legislators have expressed their opposition to the Saturday opener, and we need other legislators to push for return to the Monday deer season opening. Furthermore, hunting license sales still declined, its clear the change didnt work. Randy Santucci, of Mckees Rocks, Pa. is past president and current SW Regional Director for The Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania. He also is former Member of Governor Corbetts Advisory Council for Hunting Fishing and conservation. Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion curated for you. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Delhi Police put out 69 photos of suspects in Jamia Nagar violence, seek help The Delhi Police has identified 69 people, suspected of being involved in violence and rioting during the protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA in Jamia Nagar in the national capital last month. The images have extracted from CCTV footages and video captured during the alleged rioting, the police said. Read more 2 killed in anti-CAA protest in West Bengals Murshidabad, protesters claim Trinamool workers attacked them Two people were killed and at least three others sustained bullet injuries when some locals opened fire and hurled crude bombs on a group of protesters demonstrating against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA and National Register of Citizens (NRC) in West Bengals Murshidabad district. Read more India vs New Zealand: How Rohit Sharma clinched 3rd T20I for visitors in Super Over Rohit Sharma was the star performer for India once again as the right-hander slammed two massive sixes in the super over to guide the visitors to a historic win over New Zealand in the third T20I encounter in Hamilton on Wednesday. Read more Anurag Kashyap says he was in the web space even before OTT: They were downloading my films illegally With the kind of cinematic sensibilities he possesses dark, deep and deranged it doesnt take much for him to stand out from his contemporaries. Take, for instance, his films Black Friday (2007), Dev D (2009), Gulaal (2009), Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016) filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has always explored a world thats not too easy to fit in. Read more Narayana Murthy touches Ratan Tatas feet during event. Best thing on Internet says Twitter Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy is winning netizens hearts after he sought blessings from business tycoon Ratan Tata at the annual TiECon (The Indus Entrepreneurs) event in Mumbai. Murthy was on stage to honour Tata with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution towards the Indian business landscape. Read more Sara Ali Khan, Disha Patani, Janhvi Kapoor show how to wear front tie crop tops Thanks to the return of 90s fashion trends, crop tops have been having quite a moment in the fashion world, not just for Bollywood and Hollywood celebrities, including the likes of Sara Ali Khan, Janhvi Kapoor, Alaya F, Ananya Panday, Suhana Khan, but also in the wardrobes of most of us, fashion-conscious or not. Read more Samsung Galaxy A51 launched in India: Price, specifications Samsung on Wednesday launched its first Galaxy A-series phone in India this year. Samsung Galaxy A51 is priced at Rs 23,999 for the base model. Samsung had first launched the Galaxy A51 in Vietnam last month along with the Galaxy A71. Read more GENEVA, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The person-to-person spread of the new coronavirus in three countries - Germany, Vietnam and Japan - is worrying and will be considered by experts reconvened to consider declaring a global emergency, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking to a news conference in Geneva on return from China, said of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping: "I was very encouraged and impressed by the President's detailed knowledge of the outbreak and his personal involvement in the outbreak, this for me is real leadership". Tedros, asked about an international team agreed to be sent to China, said it would be composed of WHO staff and countries should make "bilateral arrangements" to send their own experts. He would like to reform the current system for declaring international emergencies to have a three-phase system. (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; editing by Emma Farge) Around 7.5 million workers with no savings are being urged to put money aside every month in a new industry initiative. As a nation, we are saving less. In the last quarter of 2019 we put away just 5.5 per cent of disposable income, down from 6.8 per cent in the previous three months. The figure has more than halved in the past decade. Ten years ago, before savings rates hit rock-bottom, it stood at 12.9 per cent. In the last quarter of 2019 we put away just 5.5 per cent of disposable income, down from 6.8 per cent in the previous three months. The figure has more than halved in the past decade The Government-sponsored Money and Pensions Service hopes to persuade millions more people who struggle to save to put money aside on a regular basis. With its latest Agenda for Change: Nation of Savers, it wants them to build up a cash reserve for short-term emergencies. It is in talks with banks, building societies and credit unions about how best to do this but says it is crucial products are simple and easy-to-understand. One idea is 'automated savings', where money is taken directly from your salary. Then you won't miss it. It hopes to have schemes in place next year. Trade body, the Building Societies Association, also says it aims to target one million savers through its Savings Taskforce scheme in the next five years. Mike Regnier, chairman of Savings Taskforce and chief executive of Yorkshire Building Society, says: 'We know that a buffer of savings for emergencies can help households deal with events that might otherwise put them into financial difficulty. 'We will look to work with employers across the country.' The building society has already set up a regular savings plan for its own employees and works with 100 other companies. Last year, it signed up 135,000 people to start saving through workplace schemes. Savers can choose how much to put away each month. The cash goes into an easy-access account with Yorkshire BS paying 0.75 per cent. Other members of the Taskforce include Coventry, Principality, Beverley, Hinckley & Rugby, Mansfield and Nationwide building societies along with Capital Credit Union. Other options are schemes where regular monthly savings from your salary are split between an emergency pot and your pension. Shoe repairers Timpson was the first firm to offer this so-called 'sidecar' arrangement to its 5,600 employees last year. The Government launched its own Help to Save plan in September 2018, which doubles savers' money. The maximum saving is 50 a month. The scheme is open to some claimants of Working Tax Credit and Universal Credit through the gov.uk website. sy.morris@dailymail.co.uk It was a hectic beginning of the week for Dr Reddy's. The United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) was busy inspecting the company's active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) unit at Srikakulam, the last of the units facing the US regulator's warning letter. Meanwhile, Dr Reddy's stock touched a 52-week high on the Bombay Stock Exchange. The high came despite the company reporting a net loss in its third-quarter financial results on account of one-off impairment charge taken on a few products. According to analysts, the company posted "a good set of numbers, especially from the point of margin performance" for the third quarter. As for the USFDA inspection, the current inspection gains importance given that it is last of the pending warning letters awaiting clearance. USFDA had issued a warning letter to Dr Reddy's on November 5, 2015, over deviations with current Good Manufacturing Practices at its API manufacturing facilities in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh and Miryalaguda, Telangana, as well as over violations at its oncology formulation manufacturing facility at Duvvada, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Of these three manufacturing facilities, API manufacturing facility at Miryalaguda and oncology formulation manufacturing facility at Duvvada received Establishment Inspection Reports from the USFDA in June 2017 and February 2019, respectively. However, the API manufacturing facility at Srikakulam is still under audit. At a press meet to announce the financial results of Dr Reddy's for December quarter, CFO Saumen Chakraborty said he could not say anything at the moment and would have to wait for the inspection to conclude to share the outcome. He, however, pointed out several positives that the company was able to achieve in the third quarter. ALSO READ: Dr Reddy's Laboratories share price hits 52-week high despite Rs 570-crore loss in Q3 On EBITDA margin, Chakraborty said, "We are closer to 25 per cent, something that we have been aspiring to get to." Despite the impairment, he said, "It has been a very healthy quarter with healthy gross margin and now we have moved to a net cash surplus of Rs 414 crore as on December 31, 2019, something that the company has not had over several quarters now." On what the net cash surplus can be used for, Chakraborty said, "As a company, we believe we cannot take much financial risk but then having net cash surplus is also not good, in a sense. Inorganic growth is an integral part of our strategy and there are specific spaces where we will have more priority of achieving inorganic growth. So, some of the cash surplus could possibly be used to fund this." GV Prasad, the co-chairman and managing director of Dr Reddy's, said: "The current quarter performance has been good across all our businesses and we achieved strong EBITDA margins. The profits were impacted due to trigger-based impairment charge taken on a few products including Nuvaring. We continue to focus on execution and have made significant progress on quality systems and operational efficiencies". Chakraborty said, revenues from emerging markets showed year-on-year growth of 19 per cent, and those from India grew annually at 13 per cent. "Compare us with us two years ago, today, we have much more sales with lesser cost," says Erez Israeli, CEO of the company. Even dependence on the United States is steadily reducing, Business Today learnt from company officials. It constitutes around 35 per cent of total sales, as against around 50 per cent a few years ago. India's contribution to total sales increased to 18 per cent during this period from 13 per cent. ALSO READ: Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-owned Ion Exchange stock hits all-time high on record Q3 net profit Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif on Tuesday called the Middle East plan unveiled by US President Donald Trump as a "nightmare for the region". "The so-called 'Vision for Peace' is simply the dream project of a bankruptcy-ridden real estate developer. But it is a nightmare for the region and the world," Zarif tweeted, adding "hopefully, a wake-up call for all the Muslims who have been barking up the wrong tree. #LetsUniteForPalestinians" The Middle East plan unveiled by Trump on Tuesday proposes for the creation of a Palestinian state with a capital in eastern Jerusalem and with double the territory currently under their control. At the same time, under the plan, the US would recognise Israeli sovereignty over its settlement in West Bank area, with Jerusalem remaining the undivided capital of Israel. Palestine has rejected the plan, with its President remarking that his people's rights are "not for sale". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Global Dental Market, By Discipline, By Consumable, By End-User by Forecast 2023. Dental Industry is expected to expand at the high compound annual growth rate (CAGR) With Analysis by Size, Share, Growth Factors, Top Leaders, Latest Updates Dental Market Overview: The global dental industry market is making healthy progress and an impressive CAGR of 7.6% is on the cards for the duration covering 2019 to 2025. This time frame has been marked by Market Research Future (MRFR) as the forecast period. Latest Free Sample PDF Available @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/7637 The report is focusing on several factors that can impact the global dental industry market. For instance, a high number of geriatric population is a major traction-provider. The inclusion of 3D technologies has made the dental industry more sophisticated owing to which people are now getting more and more interested in the field. Rising per capita income and better technological support are providing ample tailwind to the dental industry market. An increasing number of oral disease cases across the globe is also triggering the growth of this market. An issue with the gum can lead to dental problems, which is a major factor for the market. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Burden of Disease Study in 2016 revealed that oral diseases have affected half of the global population. This can create a better growth opportunity for the market. However, low dental insurance coverage can deter the market from having a smooth growth. This can get a further boost from a lack of technological expertise and the inclusion of counterfeit products. Dental Market Segmentation: The global dental industry market has been studied in the report by MRFR on the basis of segments like consumables, discipline, and end users. These reports are full of insights received from a detailed analysis of various factors that can ensure a better reading of the market and the implementation of practical tactics. By discipline, the market report on the Dental Industry can be segmented into periodontics, endodontics, restorative dentistry, orthodontics, prosthodontics, and oral surgery. By consumables, the global dental industry market report includes whitening material, dental burs, gingival retraction material, dental biomaterial, dental syringe, dental anesthetic, and endodontic supplies for a better assessment of the market. The dental biomaterial segment further comprises dental bone graft, dental cement, and regenerative tissue material. The gingival retraction material includes gingival retraction cord, gingival hemostatic agents, and gingival retraction paste/gels/cap. The dental anesthetic encapsulates studies of injectable anesthetic, topical anesthetics, and non-injectable anesthetic. The dental syringe includes disposable syringes/ safety syringes and non-disposable syringes. The endodontic supplies can be segmented into files and cement. By end-user, the market report on the dental industry can be segmented into dental institutes & dental academic, dental hospitals & clinics, and research institutes. Dental Market Regional Analysis The Americas has the chance to dominate the global market for the dental industry. This market would gain remarkably from the huge patient pool that has recorded several oral issues, including demand for the domestic cosmetic industry, the presence of various market players, easy inclusion of technologies, better scope for investment, infrastructural backing, and others. The US and Canada are going to launch significant changes in the coming years and are also going to inspire growth by changing several issues. In the US, the number of patients seeking help from dental experts is quite high. Europe is expected to retain its second position as the hike in the geriatric population, increasing tobacco consumption, problems in the gum, and others can back the market growth. Also, better investment capacity and technological inclusion can assist the market in registering better growth. For instance, Hungary is now getting acknowledged as a dental tourism hub, which is an inspiring surge in the dental industry numbers. The Asia-Pacific has the promise to score the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. With countries like China, India, Japan, and Australia, the regional market for the dental industry is slated to score high. Increasing investment in the healthcare sector and changes made in the infrastructure can ensure a hike in the growth rate. In the Middle East & Africa, the growth would not permeate much due to the presence of economically poor countries. It would take place mostly in countries like Qatar, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and others. Dental Market Competitive Landscape: Hu-Friedy Mfg Co., Henry Schein Inc., Nakanishi Inc., Ivoclar Vivadent AG, Dentsply Sirona, Patterson Companies Inc., Young Innovations Inc., Ultradent Products Inc., 3M Company, Zimmer Kangda Medical, Biomet, and others have been noted in the report by MRFR and their recent actions have been assessed to understand how well the market is going to perform in the coming years. This would also facilitate better strategic moves from the players. In January 2020, the Pacific Dental Services (PDS) Foundation announced that their Mobile Dental Clinic operated in collaboration with The Smile Generation and provided USD 342,234 in donated dentistry to 502 patients who were in need during its 2019 tour. OBTAIN RESEARCH REPORT DETAILS WITH TOC @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/dental-industry-market-7637 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 [January 29, 2020] NASA TV to Air Landing of Record-Setting Astronaut Christina Koch, Crewmates WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA astronaut Christina Koch, who has spent more time in space on a single mission than any other woman, is scheduled to return to Earth on Thursday, Feb. 6, along with two of her International Space Station crewmates. Koch, along with station Commander Luca Parmitano of ESA (European Space Agency), and Soyuz commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos will depart the station Feb. 6 in a Soyuz spacecraft that will make a parachute-assisted landing at 4:14 a.m. EST southeast of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan (3:13 p.m. Kazakhstan time). Live coverage of their return will begin at 9 p.m. EST Wednesday, Feb. 5, on NASA Television and the agency's website. Landing coverage will begin at 3 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 6. Koch, who launched in March 2019 with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin, is wrapping up a 328-day mission on her first flight into space. Koch's extended mission will provide researchers the opportunity to observe effects of long-duration spaceflight on a woman as the agency plans to return to the Moon under the Artemis program and prepare for human exploration of Mars. Koch will have spanned 5,248 orbits of the Earth a journey of 139 million miles, roughly the equivalent of 291 round trips to the Moon. She conducted six spacewalks during her 11 months on orbit, spending 42 hours and 15 minutes outside the station. She witnessed the arrival of a dozen visiting vehicles and the departure of another dozen. After landing, she will have completed the second longest single spaceflight by a U.S. astronaut after retired astronaut Scott Kelly, placing her seventh on the list of American space travelers with the most time in space. Parmitano and Skvortsov will land after 201 days in space, having launched with NASA's Andrew Morgan last July. Morgan will remain on the station until his return to Earth on April 17. Parmitano and Skvortsov will have completed 3,216 orbits of Earth and 85.2 million miles at landing. Completing his second mission, Parmitano will have logged a total of 367 days in space, more than any ESA astronaut in history. Skvortsov is completing his third mission and a total of 546 days in space, good for 15th place on the all-time spaceflight endurance list. After preliminary medical evaluations, the crew will return to the recovery staging city in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, aboard Russian helicopters. Koch and Parmitano will board a NASA plane bound for Cologne, Germany, where Parmitano will be greeted by ESA officials before Koch proceeds home to Houston. Skvortsov will board a Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center aircraft to return to his home in Star City, Russia. At the time of undocking, Expedition 62 formally begins aboard the station, with NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Morgan as flight engineers and Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos as station commander. They will remain on board the orbital outpost until early April, when NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy and Russian cosmonauts Nikolai Tikhonov and Andrei Babkin will launch to the station. Full NASA TV coverage is as follows (all times Eastern): Wednesday, Feb. 5: 8:30 a.m.: Space station change of command ceremony, during which Parmitano will hand over command to crewmate Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos 9 p.m.: Farewell and Soyuz hatch closure coverage (hatch closure at 9:25 p.m.) Thursday, Feb. 6: 12:15 a.m.: Soyuz undocking coverage (undocking scheduled for 12:50 a.m.) 3 a.m.: Soyuz deorbit burn and landing coverage (deorbit burn at 3:18 a.m. and landing at 4:13 a.m.) Watch Koch's most memorable moments from her record-breaking mission at: https://go.nasa.gov/36E40MZ Get breaking news, images and features from the space station on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-tv-to-air-landing-of-record-setting-astronaut-christina-koch-crewmates-300995661.html SOURCE NASA [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] We're not very far into 2020, but Apple is starting the year off with some strong financials. The company's Q1 2020 earnings release just crossed the wire, and the numbers here are significant: Apple reported a total of $91.8 billion in quarterly revenue, setting new all-time quarterly record in the process. As usual, iPhone sales ($55.9 billion) and Apple's services ($12.7 billion) were among the most notable contributors to the company's growth, but it's worth taking a closer look at what worked in Apple's favor going into 2020. After all, Apple published an unusually harrowing earnings report around this time last year. iPhone sales had tanked mostly thanks to weak demand in China, which prompted the company to dial down its revenue guidance down around $5 billion. (The last time Apple had to pull off that maneuver was about 15 years ago.) Sure, the company still generated a total of $84.3 billion, but it was still a notable miss considering Apple was obviously hoping for another record-breaking quarter. So, what was different going into 2020? iPhone 11 Pro Better iPhones The iPhone XR, XS and XS Max were good phones, but the 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max wound up being more potent upgrades than we had expected. Battery life improvements, faster performance improved cameras all of these contributed to devices that were likely easier to move than the models that came before it. As of November 2018, Apple no longer discloses how many iPhones (not to mention iPads and Macs) it sells in a given quarter, so it's difficult to get a sense of how many iPhone 11-series devices the company sold compared to other models. Still, CEO Tim Cook cited "strong demand" for the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro as the biggest reason for this earnings win, so these new models clearly blew the old ones out of the water. In fact, Apple reported the most iPhone sales revenue since in a holiday quarter since the iPhone X launched over two years ago, thanks mostly to the standard iPhone 11. Story continues The rest of Apple's hardware story this quarter was a mixed bag: Its combined Wearables and Home segment surged 37 percent year-over-year, presumably fueled by the Apple Watch and the company's slate of wireless headphones. (While it gets lumped into the same basket as those other devices, it's hard to imagine the HomePod making much of a financial dent this time.) Meanwhile, Mac and iPad sales sagged this quarter -- looks like the pricey revamps and refreshed basic models didn't move the needle much during the holidays. That's fine, though: Apple's success still hinges on the iPhone, and the company's work on those 2019 models clearly paid off. Other markets making up for China As mentioned, China was Apple's biggest sore spot last year, but the sales situation there seemed to stabilize over time. It's still not quite what it used to be, though: The Greater China region accounted for $13.58 billion in this quarter, which really isn't that much more than it generated for Apple during last year's bum quarter. Instead, more established markets like the Americas and Europe did the lion's share of Apple shopping over the past three months -- the people in former spent more than $4 billion more on Apple products than it did the year before, while folks in Europe spent about $3 billion more. While that shopping shift worked out to Apple's benefit for now, you can bet that it won't give up on currying favor with Chinese consumers any time soon -- the upsides are just too good. With all that said, we might see Apple's economic relationship with China remain tense because of a hot news topic. A Nikkei report published this past October suggested Apple was leaning on manufacturing partners to ramp up production of the iPhone 11 and a new, lower-cost iPhone expected to debut this Spring. Those plans, however, might be derailed by a troubling coronavirus outbreak that prompted the Chinese government to enact travel bans and quarantine millions of citizens. The impact on these infections on China's economy, and particularly its manufacturing sector, remain to be seen. What about services? As mentioned earlier, Apple's fortunes still rise and fall because of the iPhone, but it's working on becoming less reliant on smartphones for success. Tim Cook noted in the earnings release that Apple's services business also hit an all-time record, raking in a total of $12.7 billion. He also added on the customary earnings call that just about every Apple service, from iCloud to the App Store saw double-digit growth. In other words, Apple's work is working... if perhaps not as fast as the company would like. At this point, it's hard to say what -- if any -- ceiling to expect for Apple's services revenue. That's especially true when you consider that one of the company's flagship offerings -- Apple TV+ -- isn't fully represented in today's results. The streaming service costs $4.99/month, but Apple offered a year's worth of access for free to anyone who purchased a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod Touch or Mac beginning in 2019. The company could be looking at a significant uptick in services revenue once those free accounts convert into paid ones that is, unless streaming fatigue sets in and people cancel Apple TV+ before their free years are up. In any case, Apple's earnings call is happening right now, so stay tuned for updates as Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri dig deeper into today's news. A U.S. Joint Forces bearer team carries the casket of Harry Reid into the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. (AP) The former Senate majority leader was remembered as a pragmatic dealmaker who became a political force across two presidencies. In Andy Stanleys recent sermon on politics, one statement really stood out. He said, I have found it very difficult to stay away from the topic of religion in church, but I have found it very easy to stay away from the topic of politics in church. How can pastor Stanley find it easy to stay away from the topic of politics in church, but I find it extremely difficult? In my opinion, failure to recognize diverse gifts may explain why many people are divided on the issue of religion and politics. For instance, Jack Graham, John MacArthur, James Dobson, James Robison, Franklin Graham, Jack Hibbs, etc. have different ministries, but all fall under the umbrella of Christian service. God creates, within each of us, varying desires, talents, and levels of interests. If God has called a man to preach and teach His Word, that will be his passion. If God has called a Christian to pursue politics, that will be his or her passion, and so on. Problems arise when we become judgmental and fail to respect our differences. Activists should not expect everyone to share their passion for politics, and those who believe Christians should stay out of politics must understand that God clearly calls some Christians to the political arena. God established the concept of government, why would He not desire godly leadership? Granted, there will always be a moral divide in America, but this should not deter us from making a difference. It took years for America to reach this state of moral decay; it may take years to recover. But on the flip-side, I have noticed that many mega-church pastors seem to be more concerned about not upsetting the status quo. The question all pastors need to ask is, Are we pleasing God or men ... are we watchmen or cowards? As we prepare sermons, are we tip-toeing around difficult topics or hitting them head on? Our job is to love as well as convict. I believe that America is in the state we are in today because of the silent pulpit. Gone are the days when Alex de Tocqueville visited America and saw pulpits aflame with righteousness. Here is a sermon clip that Fox News picked up about this very thing. As I often say: There is a very troubling trend in the evangelical church as a whole. Today, the truth is often neglected, watered-down, or avoided altogether in the hope of not offending members and building a large audience. Judgment is never mentioned; repentance is never sought; and sin is often excused. We want to build a church rather than break a heart; be politically correct rather than biblically correct; coddle and comfort rather than stir and convict. When we fail to proclaim Gods Word faithfully, we run the risk of encouraging sin and perverting the words of the living God (cf. Jeremiah 23). Students of Scripture understand that God uses governmental leaders to accomplish His purposes and plans. We cannot remain silent. The silent pulpit is not Gods pulpit. Here is a recent message I gave on abortion, When the Weak are Destroyed by the Powerful. We are not voting for parties or people but for principles. What direction will those running for office take us? is the question we all should be asking. Our leader is to protect, administer justice, defend the nation, and allow religious freedom. The church is to care for the people, guard the Word of God, and serve as the conscience of the nation. You may want to commit this paragraph to memory before 2020. Granted, activists should not expect everyone to share their passion for politics, and those who believe Christians should stay out of politics must understand that God clearly calls some Christians to make a difference in Washington. God established the concept of government, why would He not desire godly leadership? Although my primary calling is preaching, I thank God for Christians who are involved and who influence Americas political climate. I wish that there were more. As the moral and cultural war rages between our shores, the need to be awakened from our spiritual slumber has never been greater. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is tested (attributed to Martin Luther). This battle is for the very soul of our nation. Its our choicestand or fall. Ive mentioned these points before, but we need to revisit them often: 1. The Moral Majority (1980s) forever linked the church to the Republican Party. We vote for principles, not a particular party. We need to be principle-driven rather than party-driven. He who rules over men must be just (2 Samuel 23:3). We need more humble, God-fearing leaders. Humility does not mean that leaders become passive pawns, but that they live in total surrender to God; theyre more concerned with Gods opinion than opinion polls. 2. Christians are always against something. Christians are not magnifying certain issues at the expense of others; we are underscoring the enormous importance of them. All issues cannot be equal. If everything is a priority then nothing is. Those who are bold and strongly contend for biblical truths are often seen as always against something. But if were for marriage between a man and a woman, then we must be against gay marriage. If were for the sanctity of life, then we must be against abortion. If were for equality, then we must be against the slave/sex trade, and so on. Speaking the truth in love often results in being against some controversial things. This cant be prevented, nor should it be. We are called to make the truth popular but to make it clear. 3. Politics is bad, offensive, and divisive. We dont have to abandon our ethics or compromise our principles to be involved in politicswhat good is salt left in the shaker, or a light that is hidden? Politics is not a bad word. In simple terms, politics refers to governing or leading a group of people. Politics wont save America, but in order to implement change, honor God, and help others, we must take action; hence the political process. 4. The church and the state are to be separate. The Courts have used the infamous separation phrase to ban religious activities, primarily those promoting Christian principles. Sadly, many believe that separation of church and state appears in the Constitution, when, in reality, the phrase does not appear anywhere in the Constitution. Be very clear on this point, especially if you are a student in a public school or university, or even a Christian university. Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, used the phrase in 1802 in a private letter written to the Baptist Association of Danbury, Connecticut. The Baptists feared that the government might someday try to regulate religious expression. Ironically, we are seeing this today. His statement was intended to protect religious expression by building a wall of separation between the church and the state; solidifying the fact that the federal government could not strike down religious freedoms. The government cannot establish a national religion, but it can openly and unapologetically acknowledge the sovereign hand of God. Acknowledgment is not establishment. 5. The Gospel doesnt allow for politics; its not our mission. This is really just an excuse against action. Granted, the No. 1 problem in America is not a political problem, but rather a spiritual problem called sin. The primary goal of the church is not to become a political movement, but a spiritual influence. Politics wont save America any more than a dumbbell will save someone drowning. Nevertheless, we cannot ignore our God-given civic responsibility and the enormous impact that politics has on our society. Tell the millions of babies who have been slaughter that the gospel prevents you from being involved. Gods Word says to confront, confess, and turn from sinpolitical hot buttons cannot be avoided. Many argue, We shouldnt say or do anything political. All we need to do is preach the gospel. Be careful here, although the gospel is our primary focus, this shouldnt be an excuse against action. God has blessed and sustained America because of our spiritual foundation. Should we now neglect it? Watch Fox News clips below: Are we a Christian Nation Can you be good enough? Facts about gay-marriage Photo courtesy: Thinkstock Shane Idleman is the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Southern California and the WCF Radio Network. More can be found at ShaneIdleman.com, including free downloads of his eBooks. Visit him on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to his new podcast, Idleman Unplugged. You can also follow Pastor Shane on the new free speech platform Parler. Foot-tapping music and soulful classical renditions reverberated at Vijay Chowk on Wednesday as the Republic Day celebrations culminated with the Beating Retreat ceremony in New Delhi with 26 performances by the bands of the armed forces and central and state police contingents. From "Abhiyan" to "Nritya Sarita" and "Ganga Jamuna", Indian tunes were the flavour of the Beating Retreat ceremony. Here are glimpses of the event. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo Principal conductor of Beating the Retreat ceremony was Flying Officer Rupachandra, while Army Military bands conductor was Risalda Major Rajender Singh. Navy and Air Force band conductors were Master Chief Petty Officer Vincent Johnson and Junior Warrant Officer Ashok Kumar respectively. The function began with President Ram Nath Kovind arriving at the venue in his ceremonial motorcade.. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's carcade arrives at Vijay Chowk for the Beating Retreat ceremony. Modi is welcomed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on his arrival during the Beating Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk. The Army, Navy, Air Force, state police and Central Armed Police Force bands performed over two dozen tunes. Indian Air Force band performs during the Beating Retreat ceremony. There were 25 tunes composed by Indian musicians, including "Madhumari", "Marhapeka", "Jauna Solti" and "Vijay Bharat". Christian hymn ''Abide With Me'', a favourite of Mahatma Gandhi, drew loud cheers from the gathering. There was uncertainty over its inclusion at the ceremonial event this year. This year, 15 military bands, 16 pipes and drums bands from regimental centres and battalions participated in the ceremony. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his wife Kyoko Jaishankar are seen during the Beating Retreat ceremony. As the bugle was sounded for the retreat, the Raisina Hill complex lit up in a riot of colours, the illumination provided by LEDs rather than the traditional incandescent bulbs. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane, Air Force Chief Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria and Navy Chief Admiral Karamvir Singh were present on the occasion. The ceremony held on January 29 every year marks the culmination of the four-day-long Republic Day celebrations. Indian national flag is lowered as President Ram Nath Kovind and Tri-service Chiefs pay their salute. President Ram Nath Kovind waves at the spectators as First Lady Savita Kovind looks on after the Beating Retreat ceremony . The event came to a close with the ever-popular tune 'Sare Jahan se Acha'. Beating Retreat marks a centuries old military tradition dating from the days when troops disengaged from battle at sunset. As soon as the bugglers sounded the "retreat", the troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms and withdrew from the battlefield. It is for this reason that the custom of standing still during the sounding of "retreat" has been retained to this day. Colours and standards are cased and flags lowered. By Madeline Chambers BERLIN (Reuters) - Historians in Germany have released previously unseen photos of the Nazi Sobibor death camp, including what they believe are images of John Demjanjuk, who was sentenced in 2011 for his role in the killing of about 28,000 people there. Ukraine-born Demjanjuk, who had been No. 1 on the Simon Wiesenthal Center's list of "Most Wanted Nazi War Criminals", was deported to Germany from the United States in 2009, where he had spent much of his life as a car worker, to face trial. The photos, described by historian Martin Cueppers as a representing a "quantum leap in the visual record on the Holocaust in occupied Poland", had belonged to Johann Niemann, once deputy commandant of Sobibor. Between March 1942 and November 1943, some 1.8 million Jews were murdered as part of a Nazi scheme called "Aktion Reinhard", mostly at the extermination camps Belzec, Sobibor and Treblinka. Few photos of Sobibor, which was razed before the end of World War Two, have survived so the pictures offer new insight into how the camp worked and into the individuals involved. "It was a breathtaking experience for me to see these pictures of Sobibor," said Jetje Manheim, 72, from the Netherlands whose grandparents were murdered at the camp where Jews were killed with exhaust fumes in gas chambers. "For the first time I saw what my grandparents glimpsed at the end of their exhausting 72-hour train journey. On that day, their lives ended," she said at the presentation, at a museum on the site of the former SS and Gestapo headquarters in Berlin. The newly discovered photos, made available by Niemann's descendants, have helped keep alive the memory of her relatives. Some pictures showed Niemann himself, including one of him posing on a horse on the ramp where deportation trains arrived. Others are of Trawnikis, non-Germans enlisted to work at the camp, often as guards. Two prints probably show Demjanjuk who was transported to Sobibor in March 1943, said Cueppers. Story continues The historians approached police to help them identify Demjanjuk. "The conclusion that it is probably John Demjanjuk was a combination of the most modern police methods and historic research," said Cueppers. Demjanjuk's son said the photos proved nothing about his father. In a statement emailed to Reuters, he said it was ridiculous to draw conclusions from blurry photos showing many similar faces. "The photos are certainly not proof of my father being in Sobibor and may even exculpate him once forensically examined," John Demjanjuk Junior said. Demjanjuk was found guilty of being an accessory to the murder of about 28,000 Jews at Sobibor although he denied he was there. He died in 2012 but the landmark verdict in Germany opened the way to more trials as it allowed a conviction on the grounds that presence in a camp alone was sufficient evidence of guilt. Sobibor was razed after a prisoner uprising in October 1943 in which Niemann was killed. The collection has been handed over to the archives of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington. (Reporting by Madeline Chambers; Editing by Alexandra Hudson/Mark Heinrich) LANSING, Mich., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Michigan Chamber of Commerce today announced an Executive Leadership Transition Plan as the Chamber prepares for the future and long-time President & CEO Rich Studley begins to prepare for retirement in December 2021. "For over 60 years, the Michigan Chamber has been a leading voice for business," said Steve Mitchell, Chairman of the Michigan Chamber Board of Directors. "Our tradition of excellence and leadership is based on a foundation of outstanding volunteer leaders and experienced Chamber professionals who work together every day to plan for the future and keep Michigan moving forward." "The Executive Leadership Transition Plan announced today is part of the Michigan Chamber's ongoing strategic planning process," noted Mitchell. "This transition plan will position the Michigan Chamber for continued growth and effectiveness as the leading voice of business in Michigan." "The plan will also provide for a seamless transition to the next generation of Chamber professionals who will lead the organization on a daily basis," added Mitchell. The key elements of the Chamber's Executive Leadership Transition Plan are as follows: Wendy Block is promoted to Vice President of Business Advocacy and Member Engagement. She will continue her leadership role with the Chamber's Business Advocacy Team with an added focus on increasing member engagement in a wider range of Chamber programs and events. Block joined the Chamber staff in 2004. Bob Thomas will continue to serve as Chief Operating Officer with broader responsibilities for Chamber growth, membership development and retention, and providing Chamber members with new, innovative and high-value products and services. Thomas joined the Chamber staff in 1997. Jim Holcomb is promoted to Senior Executive Vice President of the Chamber. Holcomb joined the Chamber staff in 2008 and most recently served as Executive Vice President & General Counsel. Jim will continue as the Chamber's General Counsel. Over the next two years Jim will be increasingly involved in leadership and management of the organization as he prepares to become the President & CEO of the Michigan Chamber on January 1, 2022. Studley, who is now one of the longest serving state chamber executives in the country, will continue to lead the Michigan Chamber as President & CEO until his retirement on December 31, 2021. Studley joined the Chamber staff in 1981 as Manager of Taxation and Labor Relations. From 1997 through 2004, he served as the Chamber's chief lobbyist and Senior Vice President of Government Relations. Studley was promoted to Executive Vice President in 2005. On July 1, 2008, Studley became only the third President & CEO to lead the Michigan Chamber since 1959. The Michigan Chamber is a statewide business organization representing nearly 5,800 employers, trade associations and local chambers of commerce who employ over one million Michigan residents. It was established in 1959 to be an advocate for Michigan's job providers in the legislative, political and legal process. SOURCE Michigan Chamber of Commerce Related Links http://www.michamber.com [January 29, 2020] Bloomberg Law's Docket Key Now Provides Coverage For All Federal District Courts ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloomberg Law today announced that Docket Key, its proprietary docket filing classification system, now provides coverage of all federal district courts. Docket Key, which identifies and classifies entries on a docket sheet, improves efficiency by enabling users to focus docket searches on specific entry types. Docket Key utilizes machine learning to pinpoint the type of filing from among 20 different categories, including motions, complaints, notices, briefs, and orders. In addition to making docket searches more precise, the innovative tool can also help identify exemplar documents to assist in drafting filings such as complaints, briefs, and motions. To date, Docket Key has classified over 210 million docket entries, with additional dockets being classified daily. "Our ongoing commitment to our custmers is that we will continue to invest in our content and our technology to help them do routine tasks such as finding items within dockets more efficiently," said Joe Breda, President, Bloomberg Law. "The expansion of Docket Key's coverage is but one of the many enhancements to Bloomberg Law's litigation resources that our customers can expect in the coming months." For more information on Bloomberg Law's AI-powered litigation resources, please visit http://onb-law.com/bdgE50y8byo. About Bloomberg Law Bloomberg Law helps legal professionals provide world-class counsel with access to actionable legal intelligence in a business context. Bloomberg Law delivers a unique combination of practical guidance, comprehensive primary and secondary source material, trusted content from Bloomberg BNA, news, time-saving practice tools, market data and business intelligence. For more information, visit https://pro.bloomberglaw.com/. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bloomberg-laws-docket-key-now-provides-coverage-for-all-federal-district-courts-300995511.html SOURCE Bloomberg Law By Park Jae-hyuk Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) CEO Yoon Jong-won finally attended his inaugural ceremony Wednesday, 27 days after he was appointed to lead the state-run lender. The new chief executive said he will organize a taskforce for "innovative financing" as part of efforts to improve his company's competitiveness. "As Bill Gates said, banking is necessary, but banks are not. Banks that refuse to change themselves will disappear," Yoon said, promising to speed up his company's decision-making process and improve its flexibility. The CEO also emphasized "ethical management," saying: "Even if a company is the world's best, customers will turn away from it if it violates the law or conducts unethical behavior." He mentioned credibility, ability, people and systems as necessities to achieve these goals. Yoon also said IBK should accept experts from outside the company. During the ceremony, IBK union leader Kim Hyung-seon apologized to Yoon, promising the union will support his reform drive. IBK union members had blocked Yoon from entering the bank's Seoul headquarters over the past three weeks, denouncing him as a "parachuted bureaucrat" without any practical experience in the banking industry. After Yoon guaranteed an improvement in working conditions Monday, the CEO could finally enter his office, applauded by 400 employees, including the union leader. After the ceremony, Yoon told reporters he feels both pressured and honored, because he is now able to do the job of supporting small and medium enterprises, which he has regarded as an important task since he was a government official. On the same day, Yoon visited IBK's Guro branch in southwestern Seoul and the IBK ChangGong Guro, an office space the state-run bank has offered to startups. He also visited ALLT, a nuts and bolts supplier supported by the IBK's startup accelerator program. BRUSSELS The European Union grudgingly let go of the United Kingdom with a final vote Wednesday at the EUs parliament that ended the Brexit divorce battle and set the scene for tough trade negotiations in the year ahead. In an emotion-charged session at the session in Brussels, lawmakers from all 28 EU countries expressed their love and sadness, while some, notably from Britains Brexit Party, their joy. Some even cried and many held hands during a mournful rendition of the Auld Lang Syne farewell song that contrasted sharply with hard-headed exhortations that Britain wont find it easy in the talks that will follow the countrys official departure on Friday. We will always love you and we will never be far, said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Britain will leave the EU after 47 years of membership. It is the first country to leave the EU and for many in Europe its official departure at 11 p.m. London time on Friday, Jan. 31 is a moment of enormous sadness and reduces the number in the bloc to 27. With just two days to go until Brexit day, the legislature overwhelmingly approved Britains departure terms from the EU 621 to 49 in favor of the Brexit deal that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson negotiated with the other 27 EU leaders in the fall of last year. The deals passage follows last weeks backing by the U.K.s Parliament. The parliaments chief Brexit official, Guy Verhofstadt, said that this vote is not an adieu, adding that it is only an au revoir. Though the deal on Britains divorce terms has cleared its hurdles, there are still huge uncertainties around the future relationship. After Britains departure on Friday, a so-called transition period will begin during which the U.K. will remain within the EUs economic arrangements until the end of the year though it wont have a say in policy as it will not be a member of the EU anymore. Thats it. Its all over, said Nigel Farage, who has campaigned for Brexit for two decades. On departing the scene, the man who arguably did more than anyone else in the countrys decision to vote for Brexit in the June 2016 referndum, waved Britains Union Flag. EU countries are preparing for the possibility that talks on a new trade deal with Britain could collapse by years end, and no-deal contingency planning for a chaotic end to the transition period is necessary. Britain is seeking to thrash out a comprehensive trade deal within 11 months, a timetable viewed as ambitious by many observers of trade discussions, which can often drag on for years. We will not yield to any pressure nor any haste, French President Emmanuel Macron said in Paris. The priority is to define, in the short, medium and long term the interests of the European Union and to preserve them. The EU has said such a timespan is far too short and fears remain that a chaotic exit, averted this week, might still happen at the end of the year if the transition ends without any agreement in place. Von der Leyen said the precondition to granting the U.K. advantageous entry into its single market of almost half a billion consumers is that European and British businesses continue to compete on a level playing field. We will certainly not expose our companies to unfair competition. And its very clear the trade-off is simple. The more the United Kingdom does commit to uphold our standards for social protection and workers rights, our guarantees for the environment and other standards and rules ensuring fair competition, the closer and better the access to the single market. Sticking to EU standards however is anathema to the Brexiteers who wanted to be free from any constraints imposed by Brussels. ___ Follow APs full coverage of Brexit and British politics at: https://www.apnews.com/Brexit The audience, that comprised students, must have expected words of inspiration and advice from the speaker, who was a senior minister in the Uttar Pradesh government. The minister, instead, virtually demeaned education and said that the leaders did not need to be educated and that, those, who were educated, created ''bad environment'' in the society. The shocking remarks were made by UP minister of state for jail Jai Kumar Singh while addressing a gathering of students at an inter college in the state's Sitapur district, about 90 kilometers from here, on Tuesday. ''Neta ko degree ki jaroorat hi nahin hai...usko padhne likhne ki avashyakta nahin hai....main jail mantri hoon par mere paas sachiv hain....jail adhikari hain...woh jail chalayenge,'' (the leaders do not require any degree...they do not need to be educated...I am the minister of jail but I don't have to run the jails...I have secretaries...jail officials), Singh was heard saying in a video, that went viral on the social media. The minister went on to say that the educated people were creating a bad environment in the society. ''Often the IAS and IPS officers are heard saying that the politicians are uneducated...in fact, the educated people are bad for the society,'' he remarked. While the students were visibly shocked by the remarks of the minister, the teachers declined to offer any comment perhaps fearing action. ''It is really shocking that a minister makes such kind of statement and that too while addressing the students....what message will the students get?,'' said a former faculty at Lucknow University here on Wednesday. Singh's remarks come close on the heels of the statement by union minister Sanjiv Baliyan that the students from western UP would set right the 'tukde-tukde' gang of JNU, Jamia and AMU if ten per cent reservation was given in these varsities to the students from the region. Victoria Derbyshire has live tweeted her followers from the BBCs staff presentation on news cuts which are expected to result in the axing of her programme. The broadcaster is making cuts to the news division as part of a cost-cutting drive. Plans to axe Derbyshires BBC Two programme have already been leaked, with the host saying she is absolutely devastated. Head of Internal Comms jst said to us all, enjoy and relax https://t.co/sIs2msVXyY Victoria Derbyshire (@vicderbyshire) January 29, 2020 As the BBC prepared to release details of the cuts, Derbyshire posted an image of a screen from the presentation, entitled Modernising BBC News, which she said was being streamed to staff elsewhere in the BBC. She told her followers: Head of internal comms just said to us all, enjoy and relax. And she wrote of the BBCs director of news and current affairs: Fran Unsworth arrives. Cheery music in room like you hear when youre your put on hold.. Fran Unsworth arrives. Approx 130 in the room. Being streamed to staff elsewhere in BBC. Cheery music in room like you hear when youre your put on hold.... pic.twitter.com/1b4H1GHlMl Victoria Derbyshire (@vicderbyshire) January 29, 2020 Flagship BBC shows like Newsnight as well as radio bulletins are expected to face cuts. Video of the Day BBC News has to save 80 million as part of financial pressures on the corporation, including paying for free TV licences for over-75s on pension credit. Google is temporarily closing its China offices and restricting travel amid the outbreak of the coronavirus, a spokesperson confirmed to CNBC. The shutdowns, first reported by The Verge, will affect Google's offices in Hong Kong and Taiwan. The company has also placed temporary travel restrictions on workers flying to China and Hong Kong. The shutdown comes as other U.S. companies including Facebook and Apple limit work as it tries to mitigate the risk of the virus that's killed more than 100 people and infected more than 6,000. At least five cases have been confirmed in the U.S. The municipal government of Shanghai issued a notice Monday ordering companies not to resume work after the Chinese New Year holiday until Feb. 3, instead of Jan. 31. The outbreak is already said to affect Apple's supply chain and products expected to launch in the first half of 2020. Google has at least four offices in China's mainland and five in Taiwan, according to Google's website. The offices in mainland China focus on sales and engineering for its advertising business. It is also telling employees from other areas who are in China to return home as soon as possible, and to work from home for at least 14 days following their departure. Google.org has also issued a $250,000 grant to the Chinese Red Cross and launched an internal fundraiser, which has already raised $500,000. The company has faced complications in trying to do business with China. It withdrew its search operations in China in 2010, pulling out of an enormous market. It considered re-entering the market in 2018 but abandoned those conversations after facing backlash from employees, and eventually politicians, who criticized it for wanting to provide a censored search engine. Watch Now: Powell: Coronavirus likely to cause disruption in China and globally A 32-year-old under-trial accused was found hanging at Central Correctional Centre located at Bishalgarh in Tripuras Sepahijala district, nearly 35 kilometers from capital Agartala on Tuesday leading to demands for a judicial probe into the death. Sanjib Das, the deceased, was arrested on August 26 in 2019 for his alleged involvement in an attempt to murder case. After arrest, he was kept in custody at Bishalgarh Central Correctional Centre, while the case was under trial. Tripura Police says Das death was suicide before adding that the case was being investigated. We got to know about the matter from the correctional centre. This is a case of suicide. The body was with the Agartala Government Medical College for post mortem. The case is under investigation, said an on-duty officer from Police Headquarters. This is the second such case in Tripura this month leading to the CPM demanding a judicial probe into the latest incident. This is a case of unnatural death. A similar incident happened in the earlier part of this month. We demand judicial inquiry for this case, CPM state office secretary Rakhal Majumdar said. Two weeks ago on January 12, a 38-year old accused in ATM hacking case was also found hanging inside the police lock-up at West Agartala Police Station. The BJP hit back at the CPM and said while several people had died in the central jail during the erstwhile Left regime, none of them had been investigated. The CPM always maintains double standard. During their regime, many persons died in jails but none were investigated. Why are they demanding inquiry this time? said BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharya. The British travellers flying back from Wuhan aboard a repatriation flight deserve plenty of sympathy. Most of them have been living and working in the city where the new coronavirus outbreak occurred. As their normal routines gradually shut down, they found themselves locked into a city where a rapidly spreading virus has claimed more than 130 lives. They have been told that a British government evacuation may happen quickly and with short notice and were told to register by 11am local time, if they want to be part of the airlift. I understand that an Asian airline will be contracted to operate the flight, which will land at a London airport sometime on Thursday. The returning traveller, potentially (and inadvertently) infectious, can expect to be taken to and through the airport under armed guard. Scenes from real life will emulate the spookily prescient 2011 film Contagion. 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 More checks will be carried out prior to boarding a plane where every member of the crew from the captain down is likely to be wearing a face mask. But it is the passengers who need to be wearing face masks not for self-protection, but to reduce sharply the risk of spreading Wuhan Coronavirus. I trust there will be industrial quantities of antiseptic wipes onboard, as keeping hands scrupulously clean is the best defence against picking up the virus. Once the tensest flight in recent history arrives, the aircraft will be parked in a distant corner of the airport while medical staff assess the new arrivals. Then they will be taken by bus under police escort, we think, to a specially prepared military camp somewhere in southern England. Another health assessment awaits, before the hapless passenger is checked into the glass-walled room that will be their world for the next fortnight. My admission to Crawley Hospital with meningitis was not so dramatic, but it did provide an opportunity to preview what awaits the unfortunate arrivals. They and their loved ones, talking to them through the glass on a phone link, will naturally be very worried at the prospect that they are incubating the virus. But the physical, as opposed to emotional, isolation experience is relatively comfortable. Imagine a budget hotel where you are occasionally visited, prodded and fed by a succession of staff wearing hazmat outfits, and you get the general idea. You wont get a massage on the NHS, but on the plus side you wont get a lumbar puncture (one of the fun aspects of meningitis) either. Since this is the 21st century, you will be able to be in constant contact with loved ones and able to consume media as you wish. It wont be a holiday. But if, as I pray, most people are found not to be infected, it will be a pause in life that will provide a story or two in later years. A passenger worried about the deadly coronavirus outbreak has worn a motorbike helmet on-board a flight from China to Australia to fight off infection. The man's attire was reported by others on the flight from Shanghai to Perth on Wednesday morning as the death toll in the Asian country rose to 132 from 106 in the space of a day. Those who landed in Perth about 9.30am on the nine-hour China Eastern flight also had to stay in their seats while officials sprayed around them, one passenger said. Scroll down for video Those on-board a flight to Perth from Shanghai reported one passenger wearing a motorbike helmet (pictured) to stop infection from the deadly coronavirus 'When I transferred in Shanghai I did not see anyone in the airport without a mask,' passenger Marina Jambrina told The West Australian. 'There was one guy wearing a [motorcycle] helmet,' another passenger John Fu said. Mr Fu said he had to make sure his son did not remove his mask as he kept trying to take it off during the flight. As has become the norm for flights arriving in Australia from China, passengers were also given information sheets detailing the ways they can keep themselves safe from the virus. Chinese authorities confirmed on Wednesday the death toll had increased by 16, and the number of confirmed cases had increased to 5,974 from 4,515. Authorities in Australia meanwhile fear another 16 people, including a two-year-old, could have contracted the virus in New South Wales alone. Passenger wearing protective face masks are pictured after arriving in Brisbane on Wednesday The China Eastern flight (one of the airline's planes pictured landing in Sydney on January 23) was also sprayed down by officials on arrival in Perth, according to one passenger All 16 people who are believed to be carrying the virus are in isolation awaiting their test results. More than 600 Australians trapped in China could also soon be evacuated following the outbreak. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Wednesday the government is preparing a 'plan' to provide some assisted departures for vulnerable Australians stranded in Wuhan. 'We're preparing a plan for an operation to provide some assisted departures for isolated and vulnerable Australians in Wuhan and the Hubei province,' Mr Morrison said. 'This will be done subject obviously to working closely and with the authority and approval of the Chinese Government... I stress that this will be done on a last in, first out basis. Christmas Island will be used as a quarantine centre to house and treat people transported under the plan. They will be kept on the remote island for at least 14 days. That is significant because the Thwaites, along with the Pine Island Glacier and a number of smaller glaciers, acts as a brake on part of the much larger West Antarctic Ice Sheet. Together, the two bigger glaciers are currently holding back ice that, if melted, would raise the worlds oceans by more than a meter, or about four feet, over centuries, an amount that would put many coastal cities underwater. The coronavirus outbreak in China has the markets spooked, with businesses across the world advising against travel to China and airlines suspending flights to and from the country. According to economic research firm AdMacro which was quoted by CNBC, global markets have been complacent in their reactions to the sudden outbreak of the virus, which the research firm called a potential "Lehman-type" moment for the global economy. However, even as the deadly virus infected global stock markets and stocks that have exposure to China in particular, there are some healthcare stocks and those of pharma companies that have soared due to the impact of the coronavirus. One such stock is that of a Japanese mask-maker Kawamoto Corporation, which saw an almost five-time jump within the current month. This company, which manufactures masks and other medical products, saw its share price go up from JPY 447 on December 30, 2019 to JPY 2,591 on January 29, 2020. In percentage terms, the price of the stock zoomed by 479 percent in a month. Image credit: Reuters terminal 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 Demand for face masks and hand sanitisers has been on the rise in the affected region, with mask-making companies reportedly working round-the-clock to increase production to cope with the sudden rise in demand. Earlier last week, the municipal government of the Chinese city of Wuhan made wearing face masks mandatory in light of the recent spread of the coronavirus infection. Retailers in the US are also quickly running out of masks amid panic buying from consumers after five confirmed cases came to light in the country. Azearth, a company involved in the making of protective clothing, also saw its scrip value go beyond double from JPY 593 to JPY 1,451 during the same period. With the death toll following the coronavirus outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan having gone beyond 130, the World Health Organisation has also stepped in and advised countries against the relocation of their nationals from China. A 55-year-old Malaysian woman, who was on a tourist visit, died apparently due to cardiac arrest in Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district on Wednesday, police said. Vanaesa was brought to Manali civil hospital where doctors declared her brought dead, Kullu Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh said. Based on preliminary investigation, a police team found that she had died due to cardiac arrest, the SP said. Police came to know that a group of 19 people comprising four men and 15 women had arrived in Manali from Malaysia for a visit on January 27. They were staying in a resort at Kanyal and were to leave Manali for Amritsar in Punjab at 4 am today, he added. They could not go to Amritsar as Vanaesa's health suddenly deteriorated. She was taken to the hospital where she was declared brought dead, Singh said. Vanaesa's family members have been informed about her death, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A student looks at a notice of temporary closure of a lecture building at Yonsei University's campus in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap Fears over the new Wuhan coronavirus appear to be spreading to university campuses in South Korea as a large number of Chinese students return from winter vacation. Amid growing concern about the new virus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, South Korean university students, particularly those with Chinese roommates, are growing restless as their Chinese fellows return to campus ahead of the spring semester. According to Statistics Korea, the number of foreign students studying in South Korea as of last April last was 160,165. Of them, nearly half 71,067 were Chinese. A student of Ewha Womans University urged authorities at her school to take appropriate quarantine measures, while a Seoul National University (SNU) student living in a campus dormitory stressed that face masks and hand sanitizer should be supplied to the dormitory. "My dormitory has a shared bathroom and shower," the student said. "The school needs to thoroughly question all Chinese students about their trips home this winter." A cancelation notice of all Korean classes for foreign students at Korea University in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap Brazil approves Boeing-Embraer strategic partnership Boeing and Embraer on Tuesday said the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE)'s General-Superintendence (SG) in Brazil has given unconditional approval of their strategic partnership. The decision will become final within the next 15 days unless a review is requested by CADE Commissioners. The partnership has now received unconditional clearance from every regulatory jurisdiction with the exception of the European Commission, which continues to assess the deal, the two companies said. "This latest clearance is yet another endorsement of our partnership, which will bring greater competition to the regional jet marketplace, better value for our customers and opportunities for our employees," said Marc Allen, Boeing's president of Embraer Partnership and Group Operations. "Brazil's approval of the deal is a clear demonstration of the pro-competitive nature of our partnership," said Francisco Gomes Neto, president and CEO of Embraer. "It will not only benefit our customers, but also allow the growth of Embraer and the Brazilian aeronautical industry as a whole." Unconditional clearance has now been granted in Brazil, United States, China, Japan, South Africa, Montenegro, Colombia, and Kenya. Boeing and Embraer have been in discussion with the European Commission since late 2018, and continue to engage with the Commission as it proceeds through its assessment of the transaction. Boeing on Monday said it remained confident of getting approval from the European Commission, the last hurdle to the transaction. The European Union has set a 30 April deadline to decide on the deal. "We have been productively engaged with the Commission to demonstrate the pro-competitive nature of our planned partnership, and we look forward to a positive outcome," Boeing's Allen said. "Given the positive endorsement we've seen from customers across Europe and the unconditional clearance we've received from every other regulator who has considered the transaction, we look forward to securing final approval for the transaction as soon as possible." The planned strategic partnership between Embraer and Boeing comprises two joint ventures: one joint venture made up of the commercial aircraft and services operations of Embraer (Boeing Brasil Commercial) in which Boeing will own 80 per cent and Embraer will hold 20 per cent; and another joint venture to promote and develop markets for the multi-mission medium airlift C-390 Millennium (Boeing Embraer Defense) in which Embraer will own a 51 per cent stake and Boeing will own the remaining 49 per cent. Boeing has offered to pay $4.2 billion for 80 per cent of Embraers commercial jet division, which builds passenger jets in the 70- to 150-seat segment. That puts it in direct competition with next-generation jets designed by Bombardier Inc and acquired by Europes Airbus SE, which rebranded them the A220 programme. Embraer is the leading manufacturer of commercial jets up to 150 seats and the main exporter of high value-added goods in Brazil. The company maintains industrial units, offices, service and parts distribution centers, among other activities, across the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe. Boeing, which is still embroiled in the crisis stemming from two crashes of its 737 Max planes, is excited about the development. Boeing appears to be watching a new turboprop in the planning at its likely future joint venture partner Embraer with some interest. A global aerospace company headquartered in Brazil, Embraer has operations in commercial and executive aviation, defense and security and agricultural aviation. The company designs, develops, manufactures and markets aircraft and systems, providing services and support to customers after-sales. Since it was founded in 1969, Embraer has delivered more than 8,000 aircraft. On average, about every 10 seconds an aircraft manufactured by Embraer takes off somewhere in the world, transporting over 145 million passengers a year. Billings lawmaker Rep. Dale Mortensen has died. Montana House Speaker Greg Hertz on Wednesday confirmed Mortensen's death. The Billings Heights lawmaker, first elected in 2014, would have turned 54 this year. The cause of death is undetermined, said Yellowstone County Coroner Cliff Mahoney, though suicide and foul play have been ruled out. A full toxicology report has been ordered, with results not expected for several weeks. Mortensen's death was a surprise to fellow lawmakers. Heights Sen. Roger Webb said he visited with the fellow Republican two weeks ago. Mortensen was upbeat, though he was struggling with medical issues. His weight was down about 50 pounds. "He had some medical issues that were very hard to overcome, but he was upbeat," Webb said. "I asked him if he was going to run again and said to let me know if there was anything I could do help." It was Mortensen who carried the bill to create a satellite state crime lab in Billings. Webb said Mortensen's 2015 legislation was probably the most significant thing the three-term lawmaker did for Billings and Eastern Montana. Law enforcement in the eastern part of the state had long complained that the Montana State Crime Lab in Missoula was too far away to be useful. But an Eastern Montana satellite lab wasn't an easy sell. Some lawmakers argued that expansion of the Missoula lab would produce better results. Mortensen wouldn't give up on the lab, said Sen. Doug Kary, a fellow Billings Heights Republican. "Dale sprearheaded that and did a nice job," Kary said. "He also was always a Second Amendment push, as a former law enforcement guy. He was the kind of guy who was very active in the National Rifle Association and the track club." Kary said Mortensen had recently been in inpatient physical rehabilitation for back problems and was fighting a spinal infection. Mortensen was also missing his nose as a result of a 2018 accident and needed extensive cosmetic surgery. There were days when Mortensen was upbeat, Kary said, but the physical challenges the lawmaker faced could be discouraging. Both Kary and Webb said Mortensen had also gone through a divorce, which was rough. Mortensen was absent from the Montana Legislature for undisclosed medical reasons for about a month in 2019. In May 2019 Mortensen told The Gazette he was still recovering his health, but doing well. He declined to specify out of privacy concerns what the medical issue was. He said at the time his absence from the legislature had been unforeseen and due to getting sick. Mortensen was a believer in public service, said Hertz, a Polson Republican. Hertz had served with Mortensen for the past three sessions. Mortensen was a member of the Montana House of Representatives committees on agriculture, judiciary and natural resources. He served in 2015, 2017 and 2019. "We are all keeping Rep. Mortensen's family in our thoughts and prayers," Hertz said. Yellowstone County Republican chairman Timothy Stark said Mortensen was a great resource because of his background with law enforcement and his activity in Republican politics, dating back to former U.S. Congressman and Montana Lt. Gov. Denny Rehberg. His background in law enforcement also made him a good fit for the House's Judiciary Committee, Stark said. Mortensen's House seat will have to filled. The Yellowstone County Republican Central Committee will forward three names to the Yellowstone County Commission, which will select a replacement legislator. Stark said Republicans will call for interested candidates to fill Mortensen's House District 44 seat until 2021 when the winner of the 2020 general election takes office. Because Montana's Legislature meets in odd numbered years, the time requirements of the replacement representative are minimal. Stark said interested replacements will be interviewed. There is already an HD 44 Republican candidate in the 2020 election. Former council member Larry Brewster, filed Jan. 22 to run for Mortensen's seat. The committee will also look to the City Council and Heights Task Force for input, Stark said. "We want this to be an open, transparent process," Stark said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 4 Angry 0 Budget carrier GoAir became the latest to join the bandwagon of airlines that have banned political satirist Kunal Kamra from availing their services. Netizens are wondering why they didnt adopt a similar approach for Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sadhvi Pragya Thakur. In less than 24 hours after Kunal Kamra tweeted about the episode that unfolded inside an IndiGo flight, where he was travelling with Arnab Goswami, Editor of Republic TV, he was admonished publicly on Twitter by Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Offensive behaviour designed to provoke & create disturbance inside an aircraft is absolutely unacceptable & endangers safety of air travellers. We are left with no option but to advise other airlines to impose similar restrictions on the person concerned. https://t.co/UHKKZfdTVS Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) January 28, 2020 Soon, one airline after the other, starting with IndiGo, suspended the comedian for heckling the journalist while he was travelling. Twitter, however, is raising questions over the partial approach, whereby no action was taken by any regulatory authority or airlines when the BJP MP engaged in a squabble with flight attendants and delayed a flight. Last year, Pragya Thakur had irked fellow travellers who were onboard a SpiceJet flight, by refusing to vacate an emergency row seat, which is not allotted to passengers on wheelchairs. While no action was eventually taken against her, SpiceJet was among the Indian carriers that banned the comedian from travelling. @flyspicejet Request you to also ban Pragya Thakur from flying with you. She has been a ruckus & inconvenience to passengers by throwing tantrums on flights causing 45 mins+ of delay. @DGCAIndia Please take an action. Shruti Chaturvedi (@adhicutting) January 29, 2020 but did you suspend sadhvi pragya who actually caused a ruckus on YOUR OWN plane? https://t.co/u4xR7sew0Q Comered Comadare Comerd Kanal (@RootKanal) January 29, 2020 When is @HardeepSPuri banning terror accused Pragya who created a huge nuisance on a flight and inconvenienced all passengers? Or the man who heckled @kanhaiyakumar? RT if you want the minister to issue advisories banning both. Rohini Singh (@rohini_sgh) January 28, 2020 you suspended Kunal Kamra for talking to a passenger on ANOTHER flight but only issued an apology when Pragya Thakur inconvenienced the passengers and delayed your own flight, what a hill to die on https://t.co/Rsr4BpIvuk x (@krownnist) January 29, 2020 Mr Puri, I am extremely impressed with your swift action. Just wondering why no action was taken against terror accused, MP from your party Pragaya Thakur Singh? She disrupted a flight https://t.co/7cywS1d8eI Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) January 28, 2020 Did @flyspicejet take a similar action on Pragya Thakur when the flight was "delayed" for 45 mins due to her misconduct? I guess that's more of an unacceptable behaviour. https://t.co/hcIATsd320 Saniya. (@ShitSaniyaSays) January 28, 2020 You missed tagging terror-accused Pragya Thakur. Surely youd take action against her for delaying your flight, causing inconvenience to all other passengers on board and not paying heed to your crews instructions. https://t.co/4Y2LSbSTnJ Trisha Shetty (@TrishaBShetty) January 29, 2020 Wonderful, @flyspicejet. Please tell us why you took no action then against Pragya Thakur for disrupting and delaying a flight for 45 minutes. Go ahead and suspend her now if you take the safety of your passengers so seriously.https://t.co/WN498wooby Nilanjana Roy (@nilanjanaroy) January 29, 2020 Let's take a look at how the internet reacted to this: Former Andhra Pradesh minister Kollu Ravindra and former MP K Narayana Rao were arrested and later released by the police on Wednesday for taking out a motorcycle rally against the abolition of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council. Responding to a call given by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the two leaders had come to the party office here to start the two-wheeler rally. However, the rally was stopped by the police as no permission was given for it. The police, led by Machilipatnam DSP Mehboob Basha, arrested the TDP leaders, who were released subsequently. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PR-Inside.com: 2020-01-29 09:30:15 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 617 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 The sponsorship sees HostScore, a property of WebRevenue, listed as a Silver Sponsor of Let's Encrypt.LABUAN, MALAYSIA / ACCESSWIRE / January 29, 2020 / HostScore has announced its sponsorship of Let's Encrypt. The move comes as part of its on-going commitment to support companies and technologies that help make the Internet a better place.The sponsorship sees HostScore, a property of WebRevenue, listed as a Silver Sponsor of Let's Encrypt. HostScore which was introduced in 2019 offers users the unique opportunity to leverage on the benefits of Big Data for more accurate web hosting performance statistics.With the rapid expansion of digital technologies, the worldwide web continues to grow at unprecedented paces. The result has been an explosion in the number of websites coming online from 900 million in 2016 to over 1.7 million today.Along with the growth has come a pressing need for heightened security needs to protect the data of both website owners and visitors. Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificates are an integral part of those security options that come in to play.Let's Encrypt offers website owners an opportunity to benefit from free SSL certificates, helping make the web a safer place for all. The HostScore sponsorship of Let's Encrypt in part support for that effort as well as recognition of the key role that Let's Encrypt plays in the ecosystem.More information can be found here https://www.hostscore.net/choose/free-ssl-hosting-with-lets-encrypt-integration/ "With so many elements present in the WWW ecosystem we have to recognize data security needs to be implemented for the safety of all netizens. Let's Encrypt is a vital lynchpin in the mechanism that helps to do this, and we fully support their efforts to provide every website with free SSL," said Jerry Low, Founder of HostScore.With the increased number of websites coming online, Low recognized that it was also getting more challenging for users to obtain accurate information. This has been especially trying where products and services are concerned.The HostScore ideal is the presentation of accurate information based on collated data in the simplest forms possible. This aims to help users make more informed decisions in their web hosting choices, allowing them to save time, money, and effort on their web endeavours.Since its launch last year, HostScore has seen success and gained the recognition of multiple web hosting companies and accolades from users. The system has proven resilient and presents a more accurate profile of the speed and reliability that web hosts display - over any given period."We've seen the frustration and large amounts of money users spend on web hosting only to face more challenges than should be right. By presenting them with unbiased and accurate data that is easily understandable, HostScore hopes to resolve these challenges quickly," said Low.More than just the name of the website, HostScore is the proprietary scoring model developed by Low and his team to challenge the static web hosting review model. When most web hosts are reviewed, data obtained during tests are static and depreciate over time, making those reviews less accurate.By tracking the uptime and speed of web hosting servers as an ongoing process, HostScore gets updates at regular intervals. This essentially means that anytime you are looking at a HostScore result, it is going to be as close to current as possible.Scores are adjusted with input from HostScore's Editor as well as the input from users of the web hosts in question. This presents a well-rounded and entirely holistic view of the performance profile of any web host under review.Contact Info:Name: Jerry LowEmail: Send EmailOrganization: WebRevenue, IncAddress: Financial Park Labuan, Wilayah Persekutuan, 87000 LabuanPhone: +60 87 451 688Website: https://www.hostscore.net/ SOURCE: HostScore The U.S. Air Force is moving forward with plans to purchase a new F-15 Eagle fighter jet, initiating its first fourth-generation fighter program in more than 20 years. In a presolicitation notice recently posted on the government's acquisition and awards website, beta.sam.gov, the service announced it will sole-source two contracts, one for the F-15EX and the other for its F110 engines. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center "intends to award a sole source indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract to The Boeing Company for a refresh to the F-15C/D fleet and augment the F-15E fleet," one solicitation reads. The Defense Department expects a response from Boeing by Feb. 7. The center also intends to award another ID/IQ contract to General Electric Aviation "to provide F110 propulsion systems to meet the F-15EX weapons system requirement," according to the second notice, which has the same response due date. Related: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program Saw Record Production, Big Hurdles in 2019 The Air Force wants at least eight new F-15 "fourth-plus" variants in its inventory. Boeing has said the fighter will be equipped with better avionics and radars and could carry more than two dozen air-to-air missiles. In December, Congress signed off on the plan, but with a caveat: The Air Force requested $1.05 billion for eight aircraft, but lawmakers are limiting the buy to just two at first, according to the fiscal 2020 defense appropriations bill. "Of the funds provided in Aircraft Procurement/Air Force for the remaining six F-15EX aircraft, no more than $64,800,000 for long-lead materials may be obligated until the Secretary of the Air Force submits a report" regarding the program's strategy and future schedule, the bill stated. The Air Force expects to keep a well-rounded mix of fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft through the 2030s, including the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-22 Raptor, A-10 Thunderbolt II and F-15 Eagle/Strike Eagle, officials have said. Then-Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson told reporters at the annual Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium last year that the service needed to boost its fighter inventory to stop the average age its aircraft inventory from increasing. The service has estimated it needs to buy 72 new aircraft per year to replace those old planes; officials just didn't expect to do so with the F-15EX. "Our budget proposal that we initially submitted did not include additional fourth-generation aircraft," Wilson said Feb. 28, 2019, adding that supplemental decisions must support the "overall presidential budget." The Air Force has been on a quest to replace its aging F-15C models. Officials in 2017 voiced concerns about the aircraft's longevity. "We are already having serious problems with that airframe, with metal fatigue within the longerons on the side of the aircraft," Wilson said during a forum last May. Senior defense officials with the Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation office told reporters that they arrived at the Boeing-made F-15EX decision because the aircraft would help keep a "robust industrial base" and provide "a higher-capacity" combination alongside Lockheed Martin's F-35. "One of the considerations was the diversity of the industrial base," a senior defense official said at the Pentagon on March 22, 2019. "Maintaining a diverse industrial base is in the best interest of the Department of Defense. The more diversity, the more competition ... and the better prices we have," the official said. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Read more: Spec Ops Culture Sets Conditions 'Favorable for Inappropriate Behavior,' 4-Star Says Liana Silva, a public school teacher, had a running joke with friends during last years mayoral election: If she ever ran for the position, her platform would focus on affordable housing for teachers. I feel like it should move beyond the joke stage and a candidate should officially take it up, she said this week during her lunch break at Cesar Chavez High School, where she teaches 12th grade English. Housing is getting more and more expensive. Silva, a single mom who lives with her fourth-grade daughter at friends house in the greater East End, is among the countless Houstonians who struggle to find housing they can afford. These include public school teachers, hospital workers and early-career police officers and firefighters who make too much to qualify for rental assistance but not enough to afford apartments or homes without roommates or in neighborhoods near their jobs. Houstons struggles with housing affordability worsened as the citys economy boomed in the years following the Great Recession. But its problems have been overshadowed by those of higher-priced markets where the affordability crisis has become so acute that major employers are grappling with their role in finding a solution. In Silicon Valley, Google, Facebook and Apple have pledged at least $1 billion each to build affordable housing. In Denver, one hospital has begun building housing for both low-income employees and homeless patients. In the Permian Basin, officials in New Mexico have suggested building housing specifically for teachers and their families in Carlsbad, where the fracking boom has led to a housing shortage. Houston, long trumpeted for its affordable housing costs, has not been immune from the squeeze. According to Zillow, the median rent for a Houston-area apartment would take up 44 percent of a starting teachers salary, well above the rule of thumb recommending households spend no more than a third of their incomes on housing. The starting salary for a teacher in the Houston Independent School District is $54,369 annually. As home price growth outstrips wage growth, occupations such as teachers, first responders and restaurant workers struggle to afford to live in the communities they serve, real estate listing company Trulia wrote in a recent report about housing costs. On HoustonChronicle.com: East End is roiled as mixed-income housing plans advance Silva would like to own her own home on the east side, but prices are rising quickly and shes not ready to buy. She knows the suburbs are an option but dreads the idea of a long commute. When she took her teaching job in 2016 she was living on the west side of town and it took her 45 minutes to get to work in the morning and sometimes more than an hour and a half to get home at night. As a single parent, it was a quality of life issue, Silva said. I was picking up my daughter at 6 p.m. Everybody was cranky and tired. It was a hard year. Market opportunity To landlords catering to working Houstonians with moderate incomes, residents like Silva are hot prospects. The owner of the Hammerly Oaks apartment complex in Spring Branch recently started offering a 5 percent discount to teachers, nurses, police officers, firefighters, students and veterans. The promotion could amount to more than $550 per year for a two-bedroom unit. Renters arent the only ones to benefit. From an apartment owner standpoint, you want to pull in a good quality resident. Those people have good, stable jobs, so its a win for both sides, Bruce McClenny, president of Houston-based ApartmentData.com. While Houston has a generous supply of so-called Class C apartments generally considered to be properties built within the last 30 years with limited amenities and original appliances and fixtures demand for these units has risen, especially in urban neighborhoods where developers have demolished older, more affordable complexes for new, upscale buildings. For example, in the urban area encompassing Montrose, the Heights and Highland Village, renters paid an average of $1.71 per square foot per month, 45 percent more than the overall Houston average, according to fourth-quarter data from the commercial real estate firm CBRE. In such neighborhoods, affordable apartment complexes are growing harder to find. On HoustonChronicle.com: As Greenspoint revival takes hold, worry that residents will be left behind The dynamic has led investors to buy portfolios of aging apartments with low rents, betting that the demand for such housing will outpace supply. Many are renovating those properties and raising rents. To understand the powerful boost renovations can have on rents, just look across the street from Hammerly Oaks, the apartment complex with the discount for educators and first responders built in 1983. There youll find Zocalo, a two-story complex built in 1978. But while Zocalo is older than its neighbor, it was recently renovated and units rent for as much as $1,325 for a two-bedroom. Hammerly Oaks, on the other hand, charges $625 to $1,050 for one- and two-bedrooms, according to Apartments.com. Its happening every day where companies are buying that type of product and saying were going to refurbish it and raise rents $70 to $100, McClenny said. Its better quality housing, but theyre paying more for it. While workforce housing can be a sound investment, for Swapnil Agarwal, the owner of Hammerly Oaks, its personal. When he moved to Houston from India as a teenager, his family lived in apartments on his fathers blue-collar salary. He launched his business in 2014 specifically to buy and renovate older multifamily complexes with the aim of improving options for families such as his own. Karya Property Management, which he also runs, operates the buildings. The company now has 66 properties across the country accounting for roughly 20,000 units. In Houston it is offering the 5 percent special at all of its 42 complexes with a combined 12,000 units. The average rent across all of its properties is $850 a month. Developers take note Workforce housing has become a hot commodity in part because most multifamily construction has focused on luxury apartments. While the number of high-end apartments has boomed, the pool of housing considered affordable for workforce housing has shrunk to its lowest level in 20 years nationally, according to Marcus & Millichap, a commercial real estate firm. It expects workforce apartment rents to increase 4.3 percent over 2020, compared with 3.3 percent for higher-end apartments, the company wrote in a multifamily investment forecast released last week. The focus on luxury, however, is starting to fade. On HoustonChronicle.com: Looped In, a podcast all about Houston real estate Today, investors are not wanting us to build the nicest, most expensive properties, Stan Levy, chief operating officer of apartment developer Morgan Group, said this week at an annual meeting of the Houston Apartment Association. What they want is an attractive basis allowing more people to afford the rents. The company recently purchased a multifamily property near the Texas Medical Center that it is converting to a mixed-income complex though a program with the Houston Housing Authority. Half of the units will be reserved for people who earn no more than 80 percent of the area median income or $61,050 for a four-person household. We feel like were doing something good for the city, Levy said. Its important that people with mid-level incomes can live close to where they work. Similar developments adding to Houstons workforce housing stock are under way. In the shadow of downtown, where tens of thousands of new units have sprung up in sleek new towers, a Cleveland-based developer recently started construction on a 300-unit complex that will have 50 percent of its units set aside for renters making between 60 percent and 80 percent of the area median income. Theres a lot of demographics covered there, but firefighters, teachers, police, city workers, county workers, nurses are really your core workforce group that tends to fall in the 60 to 80 percent range, Alastair Jenkin, NRPs vice president of development, said. In Houston, a starting firefighter makes $43,528 a year, 67 percent of Houstons median household income of $65,394. On HoustonChronicle.com: Raveneaux Country Club, long a lure for Champion Forest, faces a water hazard NRP has developed low-income housing in Houston with the help of tax credits, but this is its first mixed project, which is also being developed in partnership with the Houston Housing Authority. Grass greener in Houston While workforce housing has grown tight in parts of Houston, it could be worse. McClenny of Apartmentdata.com, which tracks market trends in cities throughout the southern United States, said Houstons workforce housing supply isnt as low nor are its units as expensive as many other markets. In Austin, for example, the average rent for a Class C unit is $1,131. In Houston, its $807. Across the Houston region, workforce apartments make up around 31 percent of the market and have a 9 percent vacancy rate. Thats almost 18,500 units that could be occupied at what we would consider an affordable level, McClenny said. Class C rents were flat last year, too, while the more expensive Class A and B rents were up 2.3 and 3 percent, respectively. And Nitya Capital is not the first or only company to offer discounts to public workers. McClenny, whose company also tracks landlord specials and promotions, said just over a third of the 2,830 apartment complexes the company surveys reported offering discounts to teachers, police and fire personnel. Some of those deals though are limited to police officers in exchange for working off-duty shifts at their complex. While McClenny isnt overly concerned about a workforce housing shortage for Houston on the whole, he recognizes that its gotten harder to find moderately priced housing in neighborhoods close to downtown. If you work there and are looking for affordability, he said, its rare. nancy.sarnoff@chron.com twitter.com/nsarnoff rebecca.schuetz@chron.com twitter.com/raschuetz Almost all renters in Dublin's Docklands are now coming from abroad to work in the capital, largely in the technology and banking sectors. Irish tenants make up just 8pc of those who rented a home in the high-cost area during the past year, according to a new report. 'The Docklands Residential Report 2020' is published today by the Owen Reilly Estate Agency which specialises in selling and renting homes in the area. Its data shows many workers are increasingly being priced out of the busy business hub by surging rents, which now stand at an average of 2,479 per month. This is 20pc higher than the Dublin average and expected to go up by 4pc this year. A total of 52pc of tenants who rented there in the last 12 months are from other EU countries with increasing numbers now also coming in from the USA and India. In addition, executives coming from abroad to work at international tech and banking firms based locally are generally on far higher salaries. The report states the average salary of a tenant in the Docklands is now 127,618, up 8pc on a year ago. The average salary at the upmarket Grand Canal Dock is higher again at 147,000. Overall, 55pc of renters in the Docklands work in the technology sector with firms including Google, Facebook and Twitter. The Docklands is also home to the IFSC, with dozens of international financial operations in situ. In all it makes for a particularly high concentration of workers paid in the top 10pc salary segment. Most Docklands tenants work in the immediate area (within 20 minutes walk) with just 28pc needing parking spaces. Matching the area's sudden rise in affluence, big funds like Kennedy Wilson and Opus have recently tailored a series of ultra luxury rentals at Capital Dock and at the Opus complex. Rental yields for those buying investment properties in the Docklands have risen to 6.2pc. However at the same time the sale prices of properties in the location are down by 3.85pc to an average of 623 per square foot. But smaller and cheaper docklands homes priced under 400,000 actually rose in value by 2.4pc in a year. The concentration of transient high earners hasn't been lost on the big investment funds which have acquired much property in the area and are predicted to buy every apartment block which comes to completion this year. While Private Rental Sector (PRS) funds - commonly called 'cuckoo funds' - feature as the strongest buyers of new properties, more than 75pc of those selling homes and exiting the Docklands are traditional small landlords. Owen Reilly describes this as "a worrying trend" and that it will negate the supply of affordable rental properties in the Docklands. "Given the increased regulation, the rent pressure zone regulations and high taxation, it is not surprising that small landlords are selling," he said. Funds recently acquired 268 apartments at Dublin Landings (acquired by Greystar) and 72 homes at the Benson Building (bought by Patricia). A total of 56 apartments at Ropemaker Place were sold to the German fund Realis. Mr Reilly predicts that in 2020 "it's likely that all new developments in the docklands will be sold by the block". In contrast, when it comes to purchasers of second-hand properties, 62pc of buyers are Irish - although this is down from 73pc on a year ago. Of the remaining nationalities acquiring second hand homes in the area, 16pc are from Europe and 14pc from Asia. Overall 53pc of buyers of second hand homes are owner occupiers, up significantly from 47pc a year ago. First time buyers account for 60pc of purchases of second hand homes priced up to 400,000. Owen Reilly also reports increased interest from the UK where buyers are increasingly realising the value of the location in relation to Brexit. A Dutch man has been sentenced to 40 hours community service for insulting Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, after branding her the 'daughter of a murderer'. The 63-year-old from Utrecht, made the comments last October in front of police officers, despite their warnings that insulting the Queen is illegal. During an angry rant, he called mother-of-three Maxima - who was in Tokyo at the time - 'cancer w****' and the 'daughter of a murderer', according to local media. Maxima's father Jorge Horacio Zorreguieta served as Minister of Agriculture in the 1976-83 military dictatorship of General Jorge Rafael Videla in Argentina. A Dutchman has been sentenced to 40 hours community service for insulting Queen Maxima of the Netherlands (pictured in November 2019), after branding her the 'daughter of a murderer' Jorge, who died in August 2017, denied knowing anything about human rights abuses committed under the junta. However, he was kept away from his daughter's 2002 wedding to the now King Willem-Alexander because of the Dutch government's concern over his participation in the dictatorship. He died in Buenos Aires in August 2017 from cancer at the age of 89, survived by seven children and 12 grandchildren. Despite Maxima not being present when the man made his comments, he was still arrested and charged for insulting the monarch. Maxima's father Jorge Horacio Zorreguieta (pictured) served as Minister of Agriculture in the 1976-83 military dictatorship of General Jorge Rafael Videla in Argentina Queen Maxima of the Netherlands' father Jorge Horacio Zorreguieta Queen Maxima of the Netherlands' father Jorge Horacio Zorreguieta was born on 18 January 1928 to a wealthy farming family in Argentina. He later served as Minister of Agriculture in the 1976-83 military dictatorship of General Jorge Rafael Videla in Argentina. It is estimated that between 7,000 and 9,000 political prisoners disappeared under Videla's charge, many of the bodies simply dumped en masse into the Rio Plata from airplanes. Videla died in prison in 2013 and among the various crimes of which he was convicted were 66 murders, 306 kidnappings, 93 cases of torture and a number of child kidnappings, whereby babies of political opponents were taken from their mothers and given to supporters of the junta. Videla's regime, known as the 'Process of National Reorganization,' fought against armed leftist guerrillas, but these movements were already weakened and nearly destroyed at the time of the coup. The junta soon pursued political opponents, union members, student activists and social workers, rousting people from their homes and torturing them in clandestine detention centers. Known as a technocrat while heading the Agriculture Ministry, Jorge was one of the longest-serving civilian Cabinet ministers during the regime. But he denied knowing anything about human rights abuses committed under the junta. The wealthy landowning Argentinian was later shamed but not convicted for his role within the cabinet. Meanwhile, Videla said he knew about everything that happened under his rule because 'I was on top of everyone.' Jorge was kept away from his daughter's 2002 wedding to the now King Willem-Alexander because of the Dutch government's concern over his participation in the dictatorship. In fact, the royal couple were only allowed to marry after the Dutch parliament investigated Maximas father past and concluded that she knew nothing of the dirty war atrocities, having been at primary school during the junta years. Jorge was also unable to attend Willem-Alexander and Maxima's investiture as King and Queen in April 2013, after the abdication of Queen Beatrix. But despite not being able to attend these events, he was present for the christening of Maxima's three daughters princesses Catharina-Amalia, Alexia and Ariane. This was because the Dutch government considered those a private, rather than a state matter. The former politician died in Buenos Aires in August 2017 from cancer at the age of 89. He is survived by seven children, having married twice. Advertisement According to the court report, the man was currently on probation for a similar offence and the public prosecutor had demanded a prison sentence. However, the magistrate decided it would be too harsh a punishment and instead sentenced him to 40 hours community service for 'insulting a civil servant in office' on Friday. The man made the comments when he was out with a group of friends, one of whom was issued an on-the-spot fine for another offence. But dissatisfied with the situation, the man started swearing about his Queen in front of police officers, who were then forced to arrest him. When later questioned by police, the man reportedly denied offending Maxima, saying he only remembers insulting her father, according to local media reports. Democrats prepared to accuse Republicans of a cover-up if they do not vote for witnesses pounced on Mr. Sekulows remarks about Mr. Bolton, saying that his reference to unsourced allegations proved their point that the Senate must subpoena him to clarify his precise account. Once again, the presidents team, in a way that only they could, have further made the case for calling John Bolton, Representative Adam B. Schiff of California, the lead House manager, told reporters during a break in the proceedings. Proponents of calling Mr. Bolton also got an unexpected bit of support late Monday from John F. Kelly, the former White House chief of staff, who told an audience in Florida that he believed Mr. Boltons account and supported the Senate seeking direct witnesses. I think some of the conversations seem to me to be very inappropriate, but I wasnt there, he said, according to The Sarasota Herald-Tribune. But there are people that were there that ought to be heard from. Republican leaders appeared to be slowing down what had been a breakneck trial schedule to allow for fuller consideration of the matter. They were hopeful that by putting distance between the emergence of Mr. Boltons account and the vote on witnesses, tensions would cool enough to hold a majority intact. Were trying to get everyone on the same page, said Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas. Beginning Wednesday, senators will have up to 16 hours over two days to question the prosecution and defense teams. Much of that time will probably be used to allow the two sides to respond to each others arguments, but Democrats and Republicans were also preparing pointed questions intended to highlight soft spots in the respective cases. We just returned from our bi-yearly pilgrimage to Billings for doctor appointments, traveling that dear old road, U.S. Highway 191 that runs from Canada down through Lewistown and many points beyond. Have you been lucky enough to travel from Malta, Montana, to Zortman, Montana? If not, you are missing out on a real experience. No shoulders, square unfriendly borrow pits, narrow with dangerous curves, and rougher than a cob. I believe this particular 39-mile section of road was completed in 1949, and except for minor repairs, is pretty much original. Truck traffic is phenomenal, and it is not unusual to meet several bull racks as they haul cattle to Billings, or Interstate 90, and points beyond. Have you had the unfortunate luck of having to drive this particular wagon trail? I doubt this letter will do any good, but after traveling many nice highways in Montana, that are much less traveled than this road, it makes you wonder what the reason is for punishing the people that live up on the Hi-Line. Supreme Court of India on Tuesday gave approval to the reintroduction of Cheetas in India from Africa on an experimental basis. In 2013, the Court had rejected the proposal of the Environment Ministry to import the animal saying that there was no scientific study to back the move. To see if it can adapt However, on January 28, the court ruled that the worlds fastest mammal could be imported from Africa to see if it can adapt to the Indian environment. The court set up a three-member committee to guide the National Tiger Conservation Authority on the issue, a news agency reported. Read: Cheetah Climbs Atop Tourist's Jeep During Safari; Video Trends Online Read: 'No They Aren't': Kriti Sanon Disputes Netizens' Argument Over Selfie With Friendly Wild Reserve Cheetah Following the decision, Indias former Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, who had initiated the move ten years ago, took to Twitter to express his happiness over the ruling. He wrote that Cheetah derives from Sanskrit Chitra and is the only mammal which was hunted to extinction in modern India. Historial reports show that the Asiatic Cheetahs were in abundance during the Mughal rule with evidence suggesting that Mughal Emperor Akhbar kept hundreds of cheetah as his hunting companions. Delighted that Supreme Court has just given OK to reintroducing cheetah from Namibia. This was something I had initiated 10 years ago. Cheetah which derives from the Sanskrit 'chitra' (speckled) is the only mammal hunted to extinction in modern India. Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) January 28, 2020 The cheetah is considered vulnerable under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, with a declining population of less than 7,000 found primarily in African savannas. A small Asiatic population is also found in Iran where it is critically endangered. Conservationists have been divided on the introduction of the foreign species into India. Some say it diverts time and resources from other endangered species in the country, while others believe it could aid the cheetah's long-term survival. Read: Tiger Woods Finds Out About Kobe Bryants Death In Heartbreaking Fashion Read: Five-minute Recipes You Can Prepare In A Jiffy: Chicken Quesadilla, Cheesecake, And More Delhi Police on Wednesday called Mohammad Luqmaan, the owner of the gun that was brandished at Shaheen Bagh yesterday, for questioning in the matter. Arguments erupted between the demonstrators and a group of men, who had gone to Shaheen Bagh on Tuesday to talk to the protestors, after which a person brandished a pistol to the protestors. According to the police, the pistol belonged to Mohammad Luqmaan but was brandished by another person at the protest site. The pistol was seized by the police and a case has been registered in the matter. Further investigation is underway. Protests have been going on at Shaheen Bagh since December 15 last month against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), due to which the Kalindi Kunj road has been shut for traffic movement. A petition was also filed in the Supreme Court last week seeking appropriate directions to the police to open the Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch contending that the road closure is causing huge inconvenience to people. The amended citizenship law grants citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, who came to India before 2015. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 23-year-old man who wept giving evidence as he apologised for killing fellow drug user Robert Molloy-Jones was cleared of murder - but convicted of his unlawful killing. Jordan Snoddy always denied murdering Mr Molloy-Jones in June 2018 and claimed he'd acted in self-defence after the deceased punched him then tried to steal a bag of diazepam. The 30-year old father of one was found lying in the Parkmount Street area of Belfast's Tigers Bay area by his girlfriend, who'd described the scene as "very distressing". In a trial at Belfast Crown Court which spanned two weeks, the jury of eight women and four men were told that the two strangers encountered each other on the street on the evening of June 28, 2018. Snoddy was invited into Mr Molloy-Jones's Mountcollyer Avenue flat where they both smoked some cannabis, and when Snoddy was leaving a short time later to obtain a bag of diazepam, Mr Molloy-Jones accompanied him. After the bag of 50 'blues' had been obtained and as the pair were walking along Parkmount Street, the fatal altercation occurred. Snoddy - who gave evidence during the trial - said that as they approached a set of steps, Mr Molloy-Jones punched him to the back of his head which caused him to stumble, then he tried to take the bag of tablets. Expand Close Tragic: Robert Molloy-Jones Photopress Belfast / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Tragic: Robert Molloy-Jones The Co Antrim man, whose address is the subject of a reporting restrictions, said he reacted by striking Mr Molloy-Jones three times in the face, which caused him to fall back. In the immediate aftermath, Snoddy ran to a friend's house and asked him to call an ambulance, before returning to the steps and putting Mr Molloy-Jones in the recovery position. Death was caused by a bleed to the surface of the brain caused by a rupture to the vertebral artery, which runs from the spine to the brain. Senior pathologist Professor Jack Crane said the damage would most likely have been "as a result of a blow somewhere in the region of the ear area". Snoddy was arrested later that night, but was deemed unfit for interview until the following day. Crown prosecutor Richard Weir QC said Mr Molloy-Jones was subjected to a "concerted, extensive and murderous attack" by Snoddy, whose claim of self-defence should be rejected due to the nature and number of injuries sustained by the deceased. From the witness box, Snoddy broke down in tears and said it was never his intention to kill Mr Molloy-Jones. He also apologised to both the victim's family as well as his own. During the trial, the jury heard Mr Molloy-Jones was a heavy drugs user who had particular issues with diazepam. The jury also heard that prior to the fatal attack, Snoddy had consumed beer and taken six Lyrica. Before they deliberated, the jury was told by Judge David McFarland that they could consider a charge of manslaughter as an alternative to the murder charge levelled at Snoddy. Part of their consideration, the Judge said, should be whether or not Snoddy intended to cause really serious harm to Mr Molloy-Jones. The deliberations started on Monday afternoon, and at lunchtime on Wednesday the foreperson delivered a majority 10-to-two verdict of "not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter". Judge McFarland then thanked the jury for their diligence and told them Snoddy will be sentenced at a later date. The Judge said that ahead of sentencing, he wanted "statements as to the impact Robert's death has had on the people who loved him - his family". He said he also required reports on Snoddy, including a probation report and a psychological report, and added "obviously there was a drugs aspect to this, so these reports can focus on that." Judge McFarland then addressed Snoddy and told him: "You have been acquitted by the jury of the offence of murder and convicted of the offence of manslaughter in that you unlawfully caused the death of Mr Robert Molloy-Jones. "I am going to remand you back into custody now and you will be produced on the March 4 to receive your sentence." The Indian Railways, through RRC Eastern Railway, Kolkata, has called for online applications from eligible and interested candidates for filling 2,792 Apprentice vacancies in multiple trades comprising Fitter, Welder (G&E), Mechanic (DSL), Mechanic (Motor Vehicle), Blacksmith, Machinist, Carpenter, Painter (General), Lineman (Gen), Wireman, Refrigeration and AC Mechanic, Electrician, MMTM, Electronics Mechanic, Turner, etc. through direct recruitment to be posted in various Eastern Railway divisions. The registration-cum-application process towards the same starts from February 14, 2020 and closes on March 13, 2020 by 6:30 pm. CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Apprentices Organisation RRC Eastern Railway, Kolkata Educational Qualification Class 10/Matriculation in 10+2 examination system with minimum 50% marks (aggregate) with an ITI certificate in relevant trade Experience Freshers can apply Skills Required Physical and Medical Fitness Job Location Kolkata Salary Scale As per the Apprenticeship norms Industry Railways Application Start Date February 14, 2020 Application End Date March 13, 2020 Age Criteria And Fees Candidates interested in applying for Apprentices post through Eastern Railway Recruitment must have attained 15 years of age as on March 13, 2020 and not have exceeded 24 years of age (Gen/UR), 27 years (OBC) and 29 years (SC/ST) respectively as specified in the notification. Candidates must pay a specified amount of Rs. 100 as application processing fee through online (debit card/credit card/netbanking) mode only. SC/ST/PWD and Women applicants, however, are exempted from paying the application fee. IRCON: Apply Offline For 76 Graduate And Technician Apprentice (Civil, Electrical) Posts Division Wise Vacancy Details Division No. Of Vacancies Howrah 659 Sealdah 526 Malda 101 Asansol 412 Kanchrapara 206 Liluah 204 Jamalpur 684 Total 2,792 Educational Criteria And Eligibility Candidates applying for Apprentices post through Eastern Railway Recruitment must have passed Class 10/Matriculation under 10+2 examination system with minimum 50% marks (aggregate) with an ITI certificate in relevant trade from NCVT/SCVT recognised Board/Institute as specified in the notification. Selection And Pay Scale The selection of candidates to Apprentices post through Eastern Railway Recruitment will be done based on the percentage of marks obtained by the candidates in their Matriculation as well as ITI examination in the concerned trade. Candidates selected as Apprentices through Eastern Railway Recruitment will be paid a monthly stipend as per the Apprenticeship norms. Indian Air Force Recruitment 2020 Rally For Airmen (Non-Tech), IAF Police And Auto Technician Posts How To Apply Candidates applying for Apprentices post through Eastern Railway Recruitment must register themselves on the official RRC Eastern Railway website at http://139.99.53.236:8080/rrcer/notice_board.html from February 14, 2020 onwards, and submit their applications on or before March 13, 2020 by 6:30 pm at http://139.99.53.236:8080/rrcer/index.jsp Read the detailed notification about Eastern Railway Recruitment for Apprentices post here US senators unveil bill to impose sanctions against Russia EU wants to help Lebanon avoid economic collapse CSTO to approve Kazakhstan peacekeepers withdrawal order German president calls for thorough discussion on mandatory vaccination Andranik Hovhannisyan elected UN Human Rights Council vice-president Aliyev: Peace treaty with Armenia not a guarantee for avoiding war Russian Foreign Ministry: Further NATO enlargement involves risks Barcelona name their starting lineup 7 main causes of metabolic disorders Aliyev not to let OSCE deal with the Karabakh conflict Ex-Mayor of Yerevan invited to police Real Madrid name their starting lineup Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Roma midfielder set to join Getafe Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart OSCE Chairman-in-Office speaks on situation along Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iran cancels travel ban on common borders Zayn Malik is on WooPlus now! CSTO defense ministers council special session to be held Thursday Foods that may be bad for skin Dollar loses value in Armenia Which NGOs, extra-parliamentary forces to be included in Armenia Constitutional Reform Council? PSG intend to sign Paul Pogba 4,391 foreign nationals visit Artsakh in 2021 China calls on US to immediately close Guantanamo prison State Department says more progress must be made to salvage nuclear deal Measure ensuring implementation of law on addendum to law on Armenia state border is approved Davit Minasyan is sworn in as new mayor of Armenias Parakar enlarged community World Bank: Armenia economic growth expected to be 4.8% in 2022 and 5.4% in 2023 Azerbaijani Defense Minister receives new commander of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh Kanye West rep denies reports on cooperations with Azerbaijani president ex-son-in-law Biden names Kamala Harris as US president during Atlanta speech Ombudsman: Azerbaijan is launching provocations in Armenia territories where it earlier invaded Russia-NATO Council meeting kicks off in Brussels Serdar Kilic is appointed Turkey special representative for Armenia 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 Eric Cantona: I don't really care about the next World Cup Turkey defense minister expresses support for Azerbaijan in another military aggression against Armenia Pochettino in talks with Manchester United 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 Atletico Madrid not extending Luis Suarez's deal 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 BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan.29 By Tamilla Mammadova Trend: In 2019, Georgia exported goods worth $131.8 million to the US, which is $28.1 million less compared to 2018, Trend reports referring to Georgian National Statistical Office (Geostat). Reportedly, in 2018, the value of goods exported by Georgia to the US amounted to $159.9 million. The decline in Georgias exports to the US in 2018 was due to a decrease in ferroalloys exports. In particular, in 2019, Georgia exported 94,843 tons of ferroalloys to the US in the amount of $116.6 million, Meanwhile, in 2018 Georgia exported 114,466 tons of ferroalloys worth $143.8 million to the US. Last year, wine exports from Georgia to the US increased and amounted to 475,743 liters worth $2.9 million. Export of fruit and vegetable juices amounted to 1,337 tons worth $1.79 million. Export of pipes and hollow sections from non-ferrous metals from Georgia to the US amounted to 1,447 tons worth $1.3 million. In addition, in 2019 Georgia exported to the United States 1.84 million liters of mineral and fresh water worth $1.3 million. Export of mineral and refined, sugar-containing waters amounted to 621,855 liters worth $361,600. Compared to 2018, in 2019 the export of goods for plastic packaging increased by 143 tons and amounted to 221 tons worth $674,500. In 2019, the export of furniture from Georgia to the US amounted to 288 tons worth $422.4 million. The export of ethyl alcohol from Georgia to the US decreased by 80 percent and reached 9,374 tons in the amount of $329,800. Last year, the export of cheese and cottage cheese from Georgia to the US reached 34.2 tons in the amount of $289,600. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Mila61979356 A team of scientists in Australia has become the first to grow coronavirus in a laboratory outside China a move which will help researchers study the pathogen which has killed at least 130 people. Scientists from the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne grew the Wuhan coronavirus from a patient sample, and described the success as a game changer. The virus isolate, which was grown in a cell culture, will provide international laboratories with crucial information to help combat the spread of the deadly illness. Chinese officials released the genome sequence of this novel coronavirus, which is helpful for diagnosis, however, having the real virus means we now have the ability to actually validate and verify all test methods, and compare their sensitivities and specificities it will be a game changer for diagnosis, said Dr Julian Druce of the Royal Melbourne Hospital. The virus will be used as positive control material for the Australian network of public health laboratories, and also shipped to expert laboratories working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Europe. 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 Doherty Institute-grown virus is expected to be used to generate an antibody test, which allows detection of the virus in patients who havent displayed symptoms and were therefore unaware they had the virus. Dr Mike Catton, deputy director of the Doherty Institute said: An antibody test will enable us to retrospectively test suspected patients so we can gather a more accurate picture of how widespread the virus is, and consequently, among other things, the true mortality rate. It will also assist in the assessment of effectiveness of trial vaccines. The virus was grown from a patient sample that arrived at the Royal Melbourne Hospitals Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) at the Doherty Institute on Friday, 24 January. Weve planned for an incident like this for many, many years and thats really why we were able to get an answer so quickly, said Dr Catton. He also credited the success to Australias network of laboratories and public health authorities effectively working together. We are very pleased at how it has come together and are glad we were able to respond quickly, which we will continue to do so. Meanwhile, Russia and China are working to develop a coronavirus vaccine and Beijing has handed over the genome of the virus to authorities in Moscow, a Russian diplomatic mission in China said on Wednesday. The death toll in China from coronavirus rose to 132 on Wednesday with the number of confirmed cases now at almost 6,000. Russian and Chinese experts have begun developing a vaccine, the Russian consulate in Guangzhou city said in a statement. It was not clear if Russian and Chinese scientists were working together or separately, according to Reuters. Russia, which has not had any confirmed cases of the virus, on Tuesday began screening all Russian tourists returning from China, the countrys national consumer health watchdog said on Wednesday. The Chinese side handed over the virus genome to Russia, which has allowed our scientists to rapidly develop express-tests that make it possible to identify the virus in the human body within two hours, the consulate said in the statement. Moscow has been in talks with Beijing about evacuating Russian nationals from Wuhan and Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak, the consulate said. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin ordered Russias consumer safety watchdog to draw up and present a plan to the government later on Wednesday on ways to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Russian authorities have closed some land border crossings to China in the Russian Far East until 7 February. Additional reporting by Reuters Terming the Agriculture Price Commissions latest recommendation to the Centre to review the minimum support price (MSP) policy a serious threat to Punjab farmers, state Congress MPs on Wednesday urged chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh to approach the Prime Minister and urge him not to consider any such review. At a meeting convened by the CM to discuss budget proposals for the next fiscal and various issues pending with the Centre, the MPs of both Houses decided that the CM should press upon the PM the dangers of accepting the Agriculture Price Commissions recommendation. Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa, who has been openly criticising the functioning of the Captain Amarinder Singh-led government for failing to fulfil promises made during 2017 polls, also attended the meeting and exchanged pleasantries and shook hands with the CM. Another Rajya Sabha MP Shamsher Singh Dullo also attended the meet. Though Bajwa raised key issues concerning the state, he avoided any direct comment on the CM and his governments functioning. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Bajwa said he raised issues which were critical of the government but in a polite way. I dont have any personal enmity with Amarinder. If he fulfils the pre-poll promises, I will stand by him. But if he fails to do so, I will oppose him, said Bajwa. Briefing the MPs on the status of the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal case, the CM asked the MPs to push for amendment to proviso of Section 12 of the Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill, 2019, to protect states water resources. It was decided at the meeting that officials would be deputed by the state at Punjab Bhawan in Delhi to coordinate with and brief the MPs on issues concerning Punjab. During the discussion on the MSP and procurement, it also came to light that the state is facing an acute space crunch, which will impact delivery of rice in coming months and procurement of paddy in the next season. A total of 34 issues, including the settlement of 31,000 crore of cash credit limit (CCL), were listed for discussion at the meeting as part of the agenda that the MPs have been directed to take up with the Centre. State Congress chief Sunil Jakhar said all MPs should take up in Parliament the issue of delayed SGPC elections to break the control of the Akalis on the religious body. The tenure of the current SGPC ended in 2016. NEED FOR EQUIPMENT TO CHECK PAK DRONES The meeting also underlined the need for high-end precision detection equipment to check the use of drones by Pakistan to smuggle long-range weapons across the border. The CM expressed concern over the increase in spate of activities by the ISI along the Punjab borders in the wake of growing pressure in Jammu and Kashmir. Amarinder said he had already flagged the issue with the Centre and had written to the ministry of home affairs in August 2019 when the first of instance of use of such drones came to light. The meeting was attended by Lok Sabha MPs Amar Singh, Jasbir Singh Gill, Chaudhary Santokh Singh, Preneet Kaur, Manish Tewari, Gurjeet Singh Aujla and Mohd Sadique and Rajya Sabha MPs Shamsher Singh Dullo and Pratap Singh Bajwa. The Middle East peace plan announced by US President Donald Trump supports the Israeli position on nearly all of the most contentious issues in the decades-old conflict. Where previous presidents tried to cajole Israel and the Palestinians into compromising on thorny issues like the borders of a future Palestinian state, the status of Jerusalem and the fate of refugees, Mr Trumps Middle East team largely adopted the Israeli position. As a result, the Palestinians have angrily rejected the plan, and the international community appears unlikely to rally around it. Here is a look at the key points of the 50-page proposal: Borders The peace plan said Israel will have to make significant territorial compromises and that a Palestinian state should have territory reasonably comparable in size to the territory of the West Bank and Gaza pre-1967, when Israel seized those territories and east Jerusalem in a region-wide war. Although the plan provides for mutually agreed land swaps, a conceptual map released with the plan shows a disjointed Palestinian state, with Israeli and Palestinian enclaves linked to their respective states by what the plan calls pragmatic transportation solutions, including bridges, tunnels and roads. The Jordan Valley, which accounts for around a quarter of the West Bank, will be under Israeli sovereignty. Expand Close Anti-Trump demonstrators with Ireland and Palestine Solidarity campaigners protest the US president in Dublin (Liam McBurney/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Anti-Trump demonstrators with Ireland and Palestine Solidarity campaigners protest the US president in Dublin (Liam McBurney/PA) Jerusalem The peace plan would leave most of annexed east Jerusalem, including its Old City and holy sites, under Israeli control while allowing the Palestinians to establish a capital on the outskirts of the city outside Israels separation barrier. It said Jerusalems holy sites, sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, should be open to worshippers. The understandings governing the flashpoint holy site known as the Al-Aqsa mosque compound to Muslims and the Temple Mount to Jews would remain in place. Settlements The plan allows Israel to immediately annex virtually all its settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are viewed as illegal by the Palestinians and most of the international community. It would freeze settlement construction in areas earmarked for the future Palestinian state during the period of negotiations, but those areas are already largely off-limits to settlement activity. Not a single settlement will be evacuated, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters. Itamar is equal to Tel Aviv, he said, referring to a Jewish settlement in the heart of the West Bank. Security Under the plan, Israel will maintain overriding security responsibility for the state of Palestine, which will be fully demilitarised. The Palestinians will have their own internal security forces but Israel will control the borders and monitor all crossings. A crossings board made up of three Palestinians, three Israelis and a US representative will oversee the crossings and resolve disputes. Israel will only implement its obligations under the plan if the Gaza Strip, which is currently ruled by the Islamic Hamas movement, is transferred back to the full control of the Palestinian Authority or another entity acceptable to Israel. Hamas and all other militant groups in Gaza must disarm and the territory must be fully demilitarised. Expand Close Palestinian protesters wave their national flag during a demonstration against the peace plan (Adel Hana/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Palestinian protesters wave their national flag during a demonstration against the peace plan (Adel Hana/AP) Refugees Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were forced out of what is now Israel during the 1948 war around its creation. Those refugees and their descendants now number around five million and are scattered across the region. The Palestinians believe they have the right of return to former properties, something Israel has always rejected, saying it would destroy Israels Jewish character. The peace plan said there shall be no right of return by, or absorption of, any Palestinian refugee into the state of Israel. It added refugees can live in the state of Palestine, become citizens of the countries where they live or be absorbed by other countries. CANBY, Ore., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- HawkSoft Premier Book Roll service arrives today for P&C insurance carriers looking for a way to standardize the agency book roll process. Book rolls are costly to insurance carriers because they require knowledge of standardizing data from different data sources. HawkSoft Premier Book Roll service leverages the company's 15-year history converting data from different management systems into a standardized format. HawkSoft can build a book roll engine customized to deliver standardized data in the custom format preferred by insurance carriers. Phases of the Book Roll Premier Book Roll Unique approach to book rolls Unlike other book roll services, HawkSoft offers a premier white glove service where a customized data model is built for each insurance carrier before any agency book rolls take place. Each carrier approves their standardized data and output format, after which HawkSoft's Book Roll team handles each book roll the carrier sends. Unique approach to book roll pricing HawkSoft is taking a different approach with book rolls. Instead of a per-policy charge that other services use, HawkSoft Premier Book Roll is a fixed subscription fee based on the number of agencies the carrier will book roll. This makes it easy for insurance carriers to accurately predict and budget the annual cost of book rolls. This pricing methodology also scales - the more books being rolled, the lower the cost per agency for the carrier. Mathew Brauer, Director of Strategic Accounts, shares why this unique approach to book rolls is loved by insurance carriers. "Carriers are experts with data formats that they know and understand. When it comes to converting data from other data sources, carriers don't typically have the bandwidth to dedicate man-hours or build custom systems to handle each type of data source or management system that agencies use to store client and policy data. HawkSoft, on the other hand, has worked with hundreds of data sources for many years. We have designed proprietary systems to convert data from these hundreds of sources. We are now making our tried-and-tested systems available to our carrier partners." For more information about HawkSoft Premier Book Roll, please visit https://www.hawksoft.com/book-roll . About HawkSoft Since 1995, HawkSoft is a leader in management systems for independent insurance agencies that want effective workflows and a delightful experience for staff and policyholders. Created by independent agents, HawkSoft continues to evolve as a cutting-edge system that powers thousands of agencies. HawkSoft offers the following promise to insurance agents: your investment in HawkSoft will pay for itself in the first year. Learn more about HawkSoft's unique father-and-son story at www.hawksoft.com/story . Media Contact: Rushang Shah VP, Marketing 866-884-4680 [email protected] SOURCE HawkSoft, Inc. A herd of wild elephant search for food in a forested area near a railway track at Panbari village, on the outskirts of Gauhati. Wild animals stray into the villages in search of food. Wildlife activists say human encroachment in the forests of northeast India has forced elephants out of their natural habitats, triggering conflicts with locals. (Image: AP) Vautrots Cajun Cuisine has returned after being devastated in Tropical Storm Harvey, but its reopening is about more than the resurgence of a multi-generational restaurant. Martha Vautrot, an owner of the restaurant and matriarch of the family, said part of bringing the Cajun staple back was about letting people know Bevil Oaks cant be kept down. Were survivors here and well keep coming back as long as we can, she said. This place has had a hard time. Weve lost a lot of the older people in the community. But were here to let people know Bevil Oaks is still open. The Vautrots moved to the area from Louisiana almost 30 years ago, bringing their familys cooking style to a market desperate for more Cajun food options. Two years later, their first restaurant was damaged in a 1994 flood that swept Beaumont and Bevil Oaks. They rebuilt and weathered two more hurricanes and a fire in 2009 before the impact of Harvey in 2017 closed the restaurants doors for more than two years. Martha Vautrot described her family as a Cajun phoenix, taking each new disaster and using it as an opportunity to return anew. The new Vautrots is at the same spot, just at the entrance of Bevil Oaks proper on Texas 105, but is moved farther back from the road and elevated on a 3-foot foundation. Inside, the interior should look familiar to the scores of frequent customers Vautrot said shes seen grow and make families over the years. The old wooden walls, rafters and even the rustic metal paneling all made their way into the interior of the restaurant thanks to Nicholas Vautrot. He has helped plan the new look for the restaurant along with helping direct food truck operations while the building was being restored. Nicholas Vautrot said he believes they captured the spirit of the old spot, but with a few tweaks along the way. At a glance What: Vautrot's Cajun Cuisine Where: 13353 Texas 105, Bevil Oaks Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays; closed Sundays and Mondays Online: facebook.com/vautrots See More Collapse Its the same kind of feeling, we just hope its a little bit luckier than the last building, Nicholas Vautrot said. The only real causality was Fluffy, a large mounted alligator that greeted customers on the porch. Nicholas Vautrot said he was working on a successor to Fluffy that would likely find a home on the new patio being built out back. Martha Vautrot said she wanted the restaurant to give people a place to relax and feel at home, whether they are fighting off a hurricane or just going about their daily lives. At the grand opening on Tuesday, plenty of people showed up to show the family how glad they were to have their home away from home returned. Servers, mostly family and community teenagers who call Martha Vautrot Mama V, carried out platters of fried fish or beef tips over rice to customers as the matriarch hugged patrons streaming through the door. She has had many different careers, including hairdresser, farm hand and sheriffs deputy, but she said feeding others has always been her calling. As a part of the restaurants resurgence, she said she wanted to make sure her children felt the same before they invested in another building. I asked them if this is what they wanted to do, because Im not going to be here 30 years from now, Vautrot said. This is going to be for them now. jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/jdickjournalism Media coverage of protests against citizenship law generally promotes government views, say press freedom advocates. Media coverage of the protests against a controversial citizenship law in India has ranged from being neutral to avowedly pro-government, say press freedom advocates. The law puts citizens from three neighbouring countries on a fast-track to obtaining citizenship, but discriminates against Muslims. And that has done a disservice to Indias viewers. Al Jazeeras Anchal Vohra reports from New Delhi. On January 31, the United Kingdom will leave the European Union. For a short time that nation will enter a transition period in which its laws and customs regulations align with the EUs until a more permanent trading arrangement can be negotiated, but after this week it will no longer be a member state, it will not be part of the political project. Even as I write, the last cohort of the United Kingdoms ministers to the European Parliament most of them Brexiteers are giving sassy farewell speeches. Leaving the European Union is a momentous act precisely because it breaks a political spell. For decades, a powerful intellectual clique has insisted that the gradual erasure of borders and the enfeeblement of national governments was the natural next course of human enlightenment. Often it was implied that some iron law of history drives this trend. The moral progress of mankind, or the exigencies of markets, somehow, demands it. A kind of sour, smirking Whiggish mind came to believe that human hatreds could be extinguished, that it would just require ditching national and local loyalties. A mind possessed of powerful illusions and messianic dreams like this is disenchanted only with a great struggle. Since the vote in 2016, columnists have won awards for portraying Brexit as an act of suicidal self-harm by a patient who was suffering psychosis. That these columnists switched between accusing the patient of being a parochial Little Englander and an imperial nostalgist mattered not at all. Institutional and constitutional brinkmanship aimed at stopping Brexit, by the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Supreme Court, were esteemed as brilliant in the press. A small number of elite supporters of remaining in the European Union admitted frankly that they were becoming Remaniacs people who brooded constantly about the subject ever since the 2016 referendum that Brexiteers won. A mythology began to grow up that the Brexit campaign was helped by you guessed it the Russians. Story continues In actual fact it was the haughtiness, sneering contempt, and unwillingness to compromise from European integrationists that caused Brexit. Angela Merkel offered David Cameron no compromises he could sell ahead of the referendum, no token to show that the United Kingdom had as much sway as a France or a Germany. Alongside that myth grew another, that the Brexit campaign was won on lies. In a recent column George Will referred to one of the supposed untruths of the campaign, the famous Boris Johnson bus ad that said the United Kingdoms membership cost it 350 pounds a week, money that could otherwise go to the National Health Service. This, he strangely suggested, is what inspires secessionists in Spain and other democratic publics who dont vote for classical liberals to swallow a soup of fictions and paranoia. While the amount of money that membership costs has been disputed as both too small and too large since the campaign, the truth is that Johnsons government is massively increasing the budget for the NHS. But I think it is worth remembering that in fact it was the Remain campaign that served a soup of fictions and paranoia. Lets review some of it. In the 2016 campaign, the U.K.s chancellor said that a vote for Brexit just the vote itself would send the United Kingdoms economy reeling, that taxes would immediately have to be raised, and that an emergency budget would have to be passed. None of that happened. Predictions of imminent recession and economic contraction were instead met with uncertainty-fed expansion, though on a slower pace than expected. We were told by former prime ministers Tony Blair and John Major that the peace process of Northern Ireland was at risk from Brexit. In fact, the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement fell into dysfunction and disuse in 2017 owing to an environmental credits scandal and disagreements over an Irish-language act favored by Irish nationalists. And one of the first acts of Johnsons government was to help restore the power-sharing arrangements of the Northern Irish executive. The Union of Great Britain itself was under threat, we were told. And in fact the Scottish Nationalist party came roaring back in 2019. However, it is unclear whether this bounce is due to a marked increase in secessionist sentiment or reflects both the more general collapse of the Labour party and the emergence of the SNP as Scotlands party of the Left. And of course the departure of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland from the EU means that Scot secession is a much taller task. Do Spaniards want to encourage the secession of Catalonia by rewarding Scotland for the breakup of the U.K.? How does Belgium tell Scotland yes while telling Flanders no? And what currency would Scotland use while it is waiting for accession? If you thought the Irish border posed a problem for Brexit, what does the border of England mean for Scotland? David Cameron said that Brexit risked war. Can we be so sure that peace and stability on our Continent are assured beyond any shadow of doubt? he asked. Is that a risk worth taking? I would never be so rash as to make that assumption, he answered. But thats hardly the most extravagant prophecy. European Council president Donald Tusk said the risks were much worse than war, As a historian he said, I fear Brexit could be the beginning of the destruction of not only the EU but also Western political civilization in its entirety. One is tempted to answer that a civilization that cant survive an alteration to a 40-odd-year political arrangement isnt worth saving. But why grant the premise? This month the International Monetary Fund, normally a staunch friend of the EU, released its economic forecasts, which put the U.K.s growth ahead of Germanys and the eurozones. It doesnt quite sound like civilizational destruction to me. Also, has anyone noticed that in fact the Brexit result strengthened traditional parties and quieted the populist ones in the United Kingdom? Perhaps there are lessons for other European countries. While everyone was predicting certain doom and political unrest as punishment for the United Kingdom, it is France that has been rocked by massive protests and afflicted with a terribly unpopular and illiberal government. It is usually a dirty rhetorical trick to say The sky didnt fall as a taunt to those who lose a political argument. After all, human history is marked with regrettable decisions and the sky has never fallen on the guilty. Brexit is not the beginning of a utopia. The United Kingdom, like everywhere else, will suffer from recessions, political miscalculation, and, yes, it is likely that war will be a terrible feature in the future as it has been in all of human history. But I think its worth remembering that the Remain campaign was an endless barrage of lies, bullying, paranoiac demagogy, and fraud. We should celebrate that it lost, and that a free, sovereign, independent, and democratic government will continue to prove its case against Remain. More from National Review Some argue if Israel becomes a binational state it could one day be forced to choose between remaining a democracy or securing a Jewish majority by denying Palestinians the vote The number of Jews and Arabs between the Mediterranean Sea and Jordan River is at or near parity, figures cited by Israeli officials show, raising questions whether Israel can remain a democracy if it keeps territory where Palestinians seek a state. The population statistics were mentioned in an Israeli parliamentary statement on Monday summing up legislators questioning of an official of Israels military-run civil administration (COGAT) that coordinates government activities in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and in the Gaza Strip. Demography is studied closely on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict because of its potential implications for both societies as they weigh possible solutions as Israel celebrates its 70th anniversary next month. With over a two-state solution frozen since 2014, some argue that if Israel becomes a binational state through annexation of land seized 51 years ago, it could one day be forced to choose between remaining a democracy or securing a Jewish majority by denying Palestinians the vote. We estimate the (Palestinian) population in Judea and Samaria at between 2.5 million and 2.7 million, Colonel Uri Mendes, COGATs deputy director, using Israels term for the West Bank, told a session of the Knessets Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee. He noted that a Palestinian census put the figure even higher, at 3 million. Avi Dichter, the committees chairman and a former head of Israels Shin Bet security service, responded that with the addition of Gazas 2 million Palestinians, that meant there was now a total of about five million Palestinians living in the two territories that fell to Israel in the 1967 Middle East war. Taking the higher end of the Israeli figures cited and adding them to the 1.84 million Arabs living inside Israel, according to Israels Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), would bring the total number of Arabs in Israel and the Israeli-occupied territories to around 6.5 million. This is around the same number of Jews living between the Jordan Valley and Mediterranean, according to the CBS. Jewish settlements in occupied territory Palestinians seek for a state have also dimmed Palestinian hopes of a viable and contiguous country of their own with East Jerusalem as its capital. Palestinians also fear their quest for statehood suffered another blow when U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israels capital in December. SETTLERS DISPUTE DATA Israeli settlers immediately disputed the population figures, citing one study that put the number of Palestinians in the West Bank at 1.8 million. The slanted publication about Arab demography in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley relies on data from the Palestinian statistics bureau which are not true or accurate. They (Palestinians) have an interest in inflating the numbers, settler spokesman Yigal Dilmoni said. But Ahmed Tibi, an Arab legislator in the Israeli parliament, described the figures as accurate and well known to us for a long time. Without the creation of a Palestinian state, Tibi said, Israel will be headed toward a one-state solution embracing either apartheid or an Arab-Palestinian prime minister. Ofer Shelah, a committee member from the opposition centrist Yesh Atid party, said it is clear the Jewish majority between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean is precarious. From a demographic perspective, if Israel does not part with the Palestinians then there is real danger to realizing the Zionist dream of a Jewish and democratic Israel, Shelah told Reuters. Sergio DellaPergola, a demographer and professor emeritus at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said one state taking in two nations was not viable. The answer is separation, the answer is manifestly separation. Two countries for two people, which of course has to be negotiated, said DellaPergola. Underlying political dynamics, he said, are more important than exact population percentages. Search Keywords: Short link: ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 29th Jan, 2020) Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the Federal National Council, FNC, separately met with Ni Jian, Ambassador of China, Jan Reinhold, Ambassador of Estonia, Samuel Tan Zi Tse, Ambassador of Singapore, and Andrei Luchenok, Ambassador of Belarus, at the headquarters of the FNC in Abu Dhabi. The meetings were also attended by Dr. Omar Al Nuaimi, FNC Secretary-General. During the meetings, all sides discussed ways of reinforcing their bilateral cooperation, especially how to strengthen the cooperation between the FNC and the parliaments of the respective countries, stressing the importance of exchanging expertise and knowledge and coordinating on issues of mutual concern. The FNC is keen to help create a safer and better future while highlighting the key role of parliaments in supporting the relevant efforts to ensure a better future for the worlds peoples, Ghobash said. A Ukrainian-born associate of Rudy Giuliani who wants to testify at the Senate impeachment trial was given tickets to the proceeding by Sen. Chuck Schumer's office but will not be able to go after a federal judge denied his request to remove his ankle monitor. Lev Parnas, who is under indictment in the Southern District of New York for campaign finance fraud in a case that crosses with Giuliani's efforts in Ukraine on behalf of President Donald Trump, is under house arrest in Florida and wears a monitor, though he's been given prior travel permissions. Giuliani is one of Trump's personal attorneys. Parnas's attorney, Joseph Bondy, said in a letter to U.S. District Court Judge Paul Oetken that he got an email Tuesday from Amy Mannering, Schumer's director of operations, "informing that my request for tickets to the trial had been granted." The tickets were granted for a window of time at the trial on Wednesday. The Senate's spectator gallery rules have a long list of prohibited items - including all electronics. Parnas's pre-trial services officer told Bondy that Parnas would have to get to New York to have his court-ordered GPS ankle monitoring bracelet removed before going to Washington for the trial in the time slot they were given from 12:30 to 2:45 p.m. Bondy proposed that he and Parnas "return to New York at the end of the proceeding to have the GPS device replaced." Oetken said in a two-sentence ruling that Parnas could go to Washington, but "to the extent that [the request] seeks the removal of the GPS monitoring device, the request is denied." Bondy later wrote on Twitter: "Although we couldn't arrange to have Lev Parnas watch the trial with us because his GPS ankle monitor is not allowed, Lev will join us in DC tomorrow to show support for a fair trial, with witnesses & evidence." Bondy had submitted his ticket confirmation email to the judge which included the lengthy "Rules of the Senate's Public Galleries." Schumer's office said each Senate office has tickets to dole out for spots in the gallery. "Like many other New York constituents, Mr. Bondy reached out and asked for gallery tickets, and we said yes," a Schumer spokesman said in an email response to a request for comment. Bondy and Parnas have been on a media blitz in recent weeks, doing a number of media interviews in which the indicted alleged fraudster said Trump knew the full extent of his and Giuliani's efforts regarding Ukraine. He has been pushing the #LetLevSpeak campaign, insisting he is a valuable resource to the process, and is handing over documents requested by subpoena, while Parnas's co-defendant Igor Fruman has refused to do so. The Senate is considering whether to remove Trump from office for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The president allegedly demanded that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announce a probe into former vice president Joe Biden and his son Hunter, who held a lucrative board position at a Ukrainian energy company. Trump allegedly also withheld a White House meeting for Zelensky should he not announce a Biden investigation. MANCHESTER, N.H. - A man accused of shooting a New Hampshire church pastor and bride during a wedding pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that he attacked his own lawyer, who was hospitalized with head injuries. Dale Holloway, 37, of Manchester, was indicted this month on six assault charges. He was accused of striking his public defender in the face and head, causing him to suffer a hemorrhage and a broken nose. The two were meeting in a jail interview room Oct. 21. Holloway had been arrested in connection with the shootings at the Pelham church Oct. 12. Holloway denied assaulting the lawyer, Michael Davidow. No one was watching them. WMUR-TV reports that in court Wednesday, Holloways new lawyer, Donna Brown, had questions about the assault charges, many of which were similar. Its hard for me to say what hes actually facing, Brown said. It seems the state is bringing alternative theories. They definitely have brought indictments that would run afoul of the double jeopardy clause. Brown said she is seeking clarification. Prosecutor Brian Geklek-McKeon said the charges are subject to change. He said two first-degree assault charges allege that Holloway caused the hemorrhage and broken nose. He said the second-degree assault charges are based on alternative theories of what happened. The judge said Holloway, who is in jail, would only get a bail hearing if new facts come to light. In the church case, Holloway faces charges attempted murder, assault, and being a convicted felon with a firearm. Hes pleaded not guilty. Stanley Choate, 75, the presiding bishop, was shot in the chest. Claire McMullen, 60, was shot in the arm. Authorities said the groom is the father of a man who was charged with killing Holloways stepfather. A couple of weeks ago, I penned my usual monthly column for Jancis Robinson, focusing on the dire threat to the US wine industry posed by a set of proposed tariffs on European wine. That article covered a hearing in Washington, DC in which many members of the wine industry spoke with passion and conviction about the damage the proposed tariffs would do to their livelihoods and the industry in general. Eight days after that article was published, news broke that Trump and Macron had reached something of a detente, and that the tariff question was postponed to at least 2021. There was a huge sigh of relief around the world, and both the news media and members of the wine industry began to publish stories and social media posts about how the wine industry dodged a bullet, and how we can now rest easy. Theres only one problem. All those people are dead wrong. You see, there are two tariff disputes in existence between the USA and the EU. Dispute #1 An objection to the DST Digital Services Tax that France has imposed on Google, Amazon, Facebook etc. In response to this, Trump and the Office of the US Trade Representative threatened up to 100% Tariffs on a bunch of things including French sparkling wine, handbags, etc. Dispute #2 An objection to the long-standing illegal Airbus subsidies in Europe. A 25% tariff in response to this dispute was already imposed in October on all European wines under 14% alcohol (but not Champagne, sparkling wines, Hungarian Tokaj or Italian wine. Sales of imported wine immediately fell off a cliff. On top of those 25% tariffs already imposed, the Trump administration recently proposed an additional 100% tariff on ALL European wines no matter the alcohol level. Its vitally important that everyone in the wine world understand: when the news broke that Trump and Macron had agreed to a de-escalation and postponement of the tariff it that agreement ONLY covered Dispute #1 above. Dispute #2 is still very much a threat. A really big threat. No agreement has been reached regarding that dispute, and frankly, of the two tariffs contemplated by this administration, its this second tariff that would be truly devastating one that will crush the industry. It can be applied and in force as soon as mid-February. The hearing I wrote about in my column covered only the first dispute, which is why if you read that article, the committee constantly had to redirect the peopel testifying to focus on Champagne, as that was the subject of the tariff under discussion. But presenter after presenter from the wine world couldnt help themselves from expressing the true danger they feared: the second tariff. And that second tariff is still a threat. We didnt dodge a bullet. In fact, the barrel of the gun is still resting against our temple. And the scary thing is that we really have no idea what the man holding that gun is going to do. Which is why we all need to be continuing to pressure our representatives, and in particular our senators (despite their current distractions) to push hard against this proposed trade action. How can you help? By calling your members of congress and senators. Heres how to find out the contact info for your congresspeople. You should say that you are calling to warn them of the disastrous loss of small businesses and thousands of jobs that the current Section 301 Airbus Dispute threatens by proposing a 100% tariff on European wines. If levied, this tariff will shut down hundreds of importers, distributors, and retailers, resulting in loss of jobs and loss of valuable state tax revenues. We are not nearly out of the woods yet, friends. Thats despite news this morning that Airbus is planning to settle the bribery charges against it. And we all need to keep up the pressure on our government. Thank you for whatever you can do to help. Prime Minister Boris Johnson granted Huawei a limited role in Britain's 5G mobile network on Tuesday, frustrating a global attempt by the United States to exclude the Chinese telecoms giant from the West's next-generation communications. Defying Britain's closest ally in favour of China on the eve of Brexit, Johnson ruled that "high-risk vendors" such as Huawei would be allowed into the non-sensitive parts of the 5G network. Whilst such high-risk companies' involvement will be capped at 35%, they will be excluded from the sensitive core, where data is ... Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's have taken free range eggs from a farm suspended by the RSPCA off their shelves after an animal rights group published footage of rotting corpses, bleeding hens and filthy conditions at the business. Hoads Farm near Hastings, East Sussex, has faced visits from investigators today after pictures were also distributed that showed an egg packing machine surrounded by piles of smashed eggs. The major supermarkets, which sell eggs from the farm for around 2 for a box of six, are waiting for the outcome of investigations by themselves, the RSPCA and others before deciding whether to permanently withdraw Hoads Farm eggs from sale. Scroll down for video Hoads Farm near Hastings, East Sussex, has been suspended by RSPCA investigators after rotting corpses, bleeding hens and filthy conditions at the farm were revealed (pictured) In response, Tesco (pictured), Sainsbury's and Asda have stopped selling eggs from the farm while a full investigation is carried out Asda, along with the other major supermarkets, said it had stopped selling eggs from the farm while it investigates the footage Sainsbury's also decided to withdraw eggs from Hoads Farm from sale until an investigation had been carried out In a statement to MailOnline Tesco's said it was 'deeply disturbed' by the 'unacceptable images' of chickens at the farm. 'We expect all brands sold at Tesco to uphold high animal welfare standards and will closely review the results of the investigations into this farm,' a spokesman said. Sainsbury's said in a statement: 'The welfare of our animals is extremely important. We are investigating these allegations.' Asda has also confirmed that it has temporarily removed eggs from Hoads Farm from its shelves as it takes animal welfare 'very seriously'. All three list eggs from the farm as 'unavailable' on their websites. Morrisons, which also sells eggs from the business, is yet to comment. MailOnline understands that visits to the business were carried out by DEFRA, the RSPCA and the British Code of Practice for Lion Egg today. Supermarket representatives are expected to visit in the coming days. They also photographed an egg sorting machine left surrounded by cracked eggs and their contents. RSPCA Assured, which made the decision to suspend the farm, said it was 'shocked' and 'appalled' DxE activists held a protest at the farm on Monday to draw attention to the conditions. They filmed chickens eating smashed eggs while they visited A chicken was filmed eating the yolk of a smashed egg at the farm yesterday RSPCA Assured, which runs the charity's free range certification scheme, said it was 'shocked' and 'appalled' by the apparent state of chickens at the farm. A shocking clip shared exclusively with MailOnline by animal rights group Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) after they entered the farm yesterday, shows birds at the farm eating their own eggs after they have been cracked on the floor. And a heartbreaking seven-minute video published last night by the group shows partially decomposed corpses on a barn floor and lying on racks, dirty living spaces and hens with bleeding vents, from which they lay eggs. One scene shows a bird with a bloodied head and back standing in a corner, while another shows piles of eggs and chicken corpses inside a trailer. An egg packing machine was also filmed by the group surrounded by smashed eggs with egg yolk spilt across the floor. Animal rights activists from Direct Action Everywhere filmed dead and partially decomposed birds lying on wire and the floor inside the farm At least 150 activists from Brighton-based animal rights group Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) stormed the farm this morning. They are pictured here surrounded by chickens Gordon Alexander, Manager at Hoads Farm, told BBC South East tonight that the machine had been filmed during 'turnaround' and when there were no chickens at the farm. He added that the farm was 'unable to verify' whether all the footage was filmed at the premises, which has been disputed by the investigators. 'We created very high welfare for the standards for the welfare of the birds', he said, 'so we are horrified that our name is linked with this'. Hoads Farm produces around 30,000 eggs a day on several premises, including the one filmed by animal rights activists. Yesterday, at least 150 activists from Brighton-based animal rights group Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) stormed the farm after publishing a video of conditions there, and demanded action from the authorities. The activists sat inside chicken enclosures wearing protective gear and were later filmed carrying 50 birds out of the farm. The birds have now been sent to animal sancturies. Footage of the grim conditions inside the farm was captured by DxE activists during a six-month investigation, which involved several visits, they said. A dead and decomposing chicken photographed at the farm near Hastings, East Sussex DxE said they visited the farm several times over a six-month period to investigate it. Pictured above is a mostly decomposed body of a chicken inside one of the barns Chicken corpses and piles of eggs inside a trailer were also photographed by activists Hens missing feathers were also seen crammed on perches in the barn while they slept Photos of birds from the farm, published on Monday night, also show a hen with difficulty walking, another with a deformed face and a third with a curled foot. RSPCA Assured, which oversees the charity's certification of free range egg farms and made the decision to suspend the business from the scheme, said yesterday: 'We are shocked and appalled by this footage and we understand why people are upset. 'Any allegations of poor welfare issues on RSPCA Assured certified farms are taken extremely seriously, which is why we have suspended the farm's accreditation while we urgently investigate.' The RSPCA said it had 'very serious concerns' about Hoads Farm after viewing the footage. 'On any farm, it's important that any sick or injured animal receives attention quickly and that if any birds die their bodies are removed promptly. 'We would encourage anyone with concerns about animal suffering to report it to us at the time so we can take swift action.' During their protest activists took 50 free range layers out of the farm in Hastings One bird taken from the farm had a facial deformity (left) while another struggled walking (right), posts of birds taken from the farm on social media revealed A third bird taken from the farm and pictured online had a deformed foot Describing their visit to the farm, a DxE spokesman said: 'One night we found a hen huddled in the corner, motionless and shaking. 'She had blood all over her head. She was in clear pain and shock and hadn't received any medical attention.' DxE added that every time they visited they found 'piles of dead birds in the walkways among living hens' and hens with bleeding cloacae that they claim were 'visibly infected'. Police officers arrived 30 minutes after the activists protested at Hoads Farm was reported but, according to activists, did not intervene. As well as a protest inside the farm, six other activists locked themselves into heavy chains on the farm's driveway and were surrounded by more protesters. The remains of a chicken at the farm. This image was taken by activists. When asked, Hoad Farm said that it complied with high welfare standards Protesters pictured sitting inside the free range hen house at Hoads Farm in Hastings At 11am on Monday protesters entered a Sainsbury's store in Hastings and held up images of the conditions at free range Hoads Farm. Many members of the public appeared disgusted, they said, but a group of youths responded by throwing chicken nuggets at the protesters. Hoads Farm claims on its website that it ensures 'high welfare standards' using the British Egg Industry Council 'Lion' Code. 'We are constantly striving to ensure that we suppl the freshest and tastiest free range eggs to our customers,' they said online. 'This not only means adhering to highest industry standards, but also implementing our own unique standards of quality control.' Hoads Farm told MailOnline: 'We are both shocked and saddened at the recent imagery linked to Hoads Farm and have launched a full investigation into all the allegations. 'The imagery is by no means reflective of the hygiene and welfare standards on any of our farms, in which we are held in high regard. We question both the validity and integrity of the images portrayed. 'We have had a fully qualified poultry vet visit the site yesterday and raise no concerns, apart from the consequences of the protesters actions. 'We have also requested an audit from the RSPCA Freedom Foods, which has now been completed and stated "the birds are in good health, with good feather cover".' CNN anchor Don Lemon Shahar Azran/WireImage Donald Trump lambasted CNN anchor Don Lemon as the "dumbest man on television" after a Saturday show during which the president's supporters were mocked. The conversation with panelists Rick Wilson and Wajahat Ali centered on State Secretary Mike Pompeo's heavy-handed interview about Ukraine and Marie Yovanovitch with NPR host Mary Louise Kelly. Lemon laughed uproariously while Wilson and Ali used accents to paint a picture of Trump supporters as people who are uneducated and can't find places on maps. Wilson called Trump's base the "the credulous Boomer rube demo." Social media users are torn: some believe that Lemon and his guests only pointed out the obvious, while others say this snobbery only reinforces their belief in Trump. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. CNN anchor Don Lemon laughed until he cried during a Saturday show that featured panelists Rick Wilson, a former GOP strategist, and New York Times columnist and CNN contributor Wajahat Ali who mocked President Donald Trump's supporters Wilson going so far as to call them "the credulous Boomer rube demo." The topic at hand? State Secretary Mike Pompeo's tense interview about Ukraine and Marie Yovanovitch with NPR host Mary Louise Kelly, after which she said he yelled the f-word at her. "[Pompeo] also knows deep within his heart that Donald Trump couldn't find Ukraine on a map if you had the letter U and a picture of an actual physical crane next to it," Wilson said, prompting Lemon to burst into laughter. "He knows that this is, you know, an administration defined by ignorance of the world. And so that's partly him playing to the base and playing to their audience. You know, the credulous boomer rube demo that backs Donald Trump." By then, Lemon was laughing too hard to speak so Wilson continued in a mock Southern accent, apparently imitating people who voted for the president: "Donald Trump's the smart one any y'all elitists are dumb!" Story continues Ali joined the mockery with: "You elitists with your geography and your maps and your spelling!" And then the pair went back and forth, while Lemon chortled, dabbing his eyes with a tissue. "Your math and your reading!" Wilson said. "Your geography, knowing other countries, sipping your latte," Ali added. "All those lines on the map!" Wilson exclaimed. "Only them elitists know where Ukraine is," Ali said as Wilson laughed as well. He then apologized and said jokingly, "You know what, it was Rick's fault. I blame Rick." Lemon, who was at this point nearly out of breath from laughing, asked the pair to "hold on," adding, "That was a good one. I needed that." When Trump heard about the panel discussion, he took to his social platform of choice to castigate Lemon. Ivanka Trump also entered the fray, calling the conversation "disgusting." Donald Trump Jr. surfaced a sexual assault charge that a former Hamptons bartended brought against Lemon. And Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo) deemed the conversation a new "low, even for CNN." Congressman Ken Buck (@RepKenBuck) January 28, 2020 For their part, Twitter users are split. Some, including Steve Krakauer, an ex-CNN digital producer, were critical of the trio, saying such instances fuel Trump's base and reelection chances. Others believe what CNN said to be true. They noted too that Trump supporters are quick to judge, but can't handle being on the receiving end of such comments. Bree Newsome Bass (@BreeNewsome) January 28, 2020 Ali was among them and he stood by his comments, while the vitriol poured in. Wajahat "Some Muslim...I've Never Heard Of" Ali (@WajahatAli) January 28, 2020 Wajahat "Some Muslim...I've Never Heard Of" Ali (@WajahatAli) January 28, 2020 Wajahat "Some Muslim...I've Never Heard Of" Ali (@WajahatAli) January 28, 2020 Wajahat "Some Muslim...I've Never Heard Of" Ali (@WajahatAli) January 28, 2020 Wajahat "Some Muslim...I've Never Heard Of" Ali (@WajahatAli) January 28, 2020 Meanwhile, actress Mia Farrow joined others who pointed out that Trump ridiculed Lemon, while it was Wilson who actually made the jokes. Read more: CNN's Don Lemon says the biggest terror threat to the US is white men Secretary Pompeo yelled the f-word at an NPR host following a tense interview about Ukraine and Marie Yovanovitch Mike Pompeo accused a veteran NPR reporter of 'lying,' being 'unhinged,' and misidentifying Bangladesh for Ukraine on a map New documents show Trump officials laid the groundwork for Ukraine's aid freeze the night before his call to Zelensky Read the original article on Business Insider Washington Terming India's amended Citizenship Act as anti-minority, a group of eminent human rights and social activists, including Magsaysay Award winner Sandeep Pandey, has claimed that the freedom of expression is under threat in the world's largest democracy. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed in December last year, prompting protests across India. According to the CAA, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014, following religious persecution there will get Indian citizenship. During a US Congressional briefing on the 'Implications of India's Citizenship Law' held at the Capitol Building on Monday, eminent human rights and social activists claimed that the freedom of expression is under threat in India. "In 27 years of working as an activist, I have experienced unprecedented curb on fundamental rights of freedom of expression, to assemble peaceably and to move about anywhere within India over the past six months," Pandey said. The Uttar Pradesh Police last week booked rights activist Pandey for allegedly making inappropriate comments against Hindutva ideologue Vir Savarkar while addressing anti-citizenship law protestors at the Aligarh Muslim University. The briefing was organised by the Indian American Muslim Council, the Hindus for Human Rights, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and American Muslim advocacy body Emgage Action. However, there was no panellist to represent the perspective of the other side. Pandey alleged the present dispensation has become the enemy of people who participated in protests against the CAA and the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC). The NRC exercise was conducted in Assam on the directions of the Supreme Court. Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month said his government has never discussed the NRC since coming to power for the first time in 2014 and it was done only in Assam. Harrison Akins, policy analyst (South Asia) from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), claimed the recent events in India have sparked great outrage not only by governments and international organisations, but also from citizens of all faiths across India who have been bravely exercising their democratic right of peaceful protest against the CAA. Indian officials have maintained that the CAA is a matter entirely internal to the country and the law was adopted through democratic means after a public debate in both houses of Parliament. Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday said his government brought in the CAA to correct "historical" injustices and recalled the Nehru-Liaquat pact to assert that the law fulfills India's "old promise" to religious minorities in the neighbouring countries. Speaking at the Congressional briefing, Akins alleged that in recent years, conditions for religious minorities have "deteriorated precipitously" in India. "From instituting more aggressive bans and stricter punishments for cow slaughter and religious conversion activities, minorities are increasingly marginalised and discriminated against," he claimed. Francisco Bencosme, Asia Pacific Advocacy Manager of the Amnesty International USA, demanded that the Indian government should "repeal the CAA" and "stop cracking down on protesters". "We ask here today for the Modi government to repeal the CAA and stop cracking down on protesters and ensure that its citizens have the right to peaceful assembly," he said. John Sifton, Asia Advocacy Director of Human Rights Watch, and Waris Hussain, adjunct professor, Howard University School of Law, also spoke at the Congressional briefing. In recent weeks, there have been a series of rallies organised across the US both for and against the CAA. The European Parliament on Wednesday postponed voting on a joint motion tabled by its members against India's Citizenship Amendment Act, in a boost to the Indian government's efforts against such a move. IMAGE: Muslim women stage a protest against CAA and NRC near the Ghantaghar in the old city area of Lukcnow. Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo However, the joint motion, combining five different resolutions tabled by Members of the European Parliament, has been placed on the final agenda for debate at the Plenary session in Brussels on Wednesday. "Following a decision by MEPs at the opening of today's Plenary session in Brussels, the vote on the resolution on India's Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 has been postponed to the March session," the European Parliament said in a statement. The debate on the motion is to go ahead as scheduled on Wednesday evening, it said. One of the groups behind the motion, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, said that the reason for the postponement was the legal process relating to the CAA in India. "As the Supreme Court in India will rule in the coming days linked to this issue and, as such, the law may be adapted, it was considered better to vote on the resolution in the European Parliament when there is full clarity on the situation," a spokesperson said. The motion takes note of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights statement last month, which described the CAA as "fundamentally discriminatory in nature", and also of other UN as well as the European Union guidelines on human rights as it calls on the Indian government to "repeal the discriminatory amendments". The debate on CAA on Wednesday will follow the European Parliament's historic ratification of the Brexit bill, under which the UK is set to formally leave the economic bloc on Friday. "While the CAA's stated goal of protecting persecuted groups is welcome, an effective national asylum and refugee policy should be just and holistic in nature and apply to all those in need," notes the motion, which describes the CAA as "discriminatory in nature and dangerously divisive". The Indian government has maintained that the CAA, which was passed by the Indian Parliament last month, is an internal matter of the country and stressed that the goal is to protect the oppressed minorities of neighbouring countries. It has been extremely critical of the move in Brussels, which the European Commission the executive arm of the economic bloc has sought to distance itself from. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday wrote to European Parliament President David Maria Sassoli over the resolutions, saying it is inappropriate for one legislature to pass judgement on another and the practice can be misused by vested interests. "As members of Inter Parliamentary Union, we should respect sovereign processes of fellow legislatures, especially in democracies," Birla said in the letter. The European Parliament motion is critical of any protection being denied to Muslims and that even though India also shares a border with Bhutan, Burma, Nepal and Sri Lanka, the CAA does not bring Sri Lankan Tamils under its purview, who form the largest refugee group in India and who have been resident in the country for over 30 years. "Amnesty International India has pointed out that the CAA does not bring under its purview other persecuted minorities, including Muslim populations such as the Rohingya in Burma, Ahmadis in Pakistan, Hazaras in Afghanistan and Bihari Muslims in Bangladesh," it notes. There is also a reference to the Indian government's "push" for a nationwide citizenship verification process, the National Register of Citizens, which it says "aims to strip Muslims of their citizenship rights while protecting those of Hindus and other non-Muslims". The motion combines the separate resolutions tabled by the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D), Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) (PPE), Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance (Verts/ALE), Renew Europe Group (Renew) and European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) Group, representing around 560 of a total 751 MEPs. A sixth group, the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR), had withdrawn its resolution and references to the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in some of the resolutions have not found their way into the final motion. Such a move, which has been characterised under the "Relations with Asian countries" section by the economic bloc, are used as a basis for engagement of EU member countries with specific nations. If it is passed during a vote, now scheduled in March, it will be formally sent to the Indian government and Parliament as well as to the European Commission chiefs. While EU officials are keen to highlight that the motion reflects individual views of MEPs and does not reflect an EU-wide stance, the impact of the motion is likely to resonate with the EU-India relationship as the motion notes that the Strategic Partnership between the European Union and India is based on the shared values of democracy and respect for human rights. The external fund manager backed by Berkshire Hathaway's Charlie Munger, Li Lu, makes no bones about it when he says 'The biggest investment risk is not the volatility of prices, but whether you will suffer a permanent loss of capital. So it seems the smart money knows that debt - which is usually involved in bankruptcies - is a very important factor, when you assess how risky a company is. Importantly, Public Joint Stock Company Moscow City Telephone Network (MCX:MGTS) does carry debt. But should shareholders be worried about its use of debt? Why Does Debt Bring Risk? Debt assists a business until the business has trouble paying it off, either with new capital or with free cash flow. If things get really bad, the lenders can take control of the business. However, a more usual (but still expensive) situation is where a company must dilute shareholders at a cheap share price simply to get debt under control. Of course, the upside of debt is that it often represents cheap capital, especially when it replaces dilution in a company with the ability to reinvest at high rates of return. The first thing to do when considering how much debt a business uses is to look at its cash and debt together. View our latest analysis for Moscow City Telephone Network How Much Debt Does Moscow City Telephone Network Carry? You can click the graphic below for the historical numbers, but it shows that as of June 2019 Moscow City Telephone Network had 1.52b of debt, an increase on 489, over one year. But it also has 17.0b in cash to offset that, meaning it has 15.4b net cash. MISX:MGTS Historical Debt, January 29th 2020 How Healthy Is Moscow City Telephone Network's Balance Sheet? We can see from the most recent balance sheet that Moscow City Telephone Network had liabilities of 35.9b falling due within a year, and liabilities of 20.6b due beyond that. On the other hand, it had cash of 17.0b and 7.41b worth of receivables due within a year. So its liabilities outweigh the sum of its cash and (near-term) receivables by 32.2b. Story continues Of course, Moscow City Telephone Network has a market capitalization of 174.2b, so these liabilities are probably manageable. But there are sufficient liabilities that we would certainly recommend shareholders continue to monitor the balance sheet, going forward. While it does have liabilities worth noting, Moscow City Telephone Network also has more cash than debt, so we're pretty confident it can manage its debt safely. In addition to that, we're happy to report that Moscow City Telephone Network has boosted its EBIT by 49%, thus reducing the spectre of future debt repayments. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But you can't view debt in total isolation; since Moscow City Telephone Network will need earnings to service that debt. So when considering debt, it's definitely worth looking at the earnings trend. Click here for an interactive snapshot. Finally, a company can only pay off debt with cold hard cash, not accounting profits. While Moscow City Telephone Network has net cash on its balance sheet, it's still worth taking a look at its ability to convert earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to free cash flow, to help us understand how quickly it is building (or eroding) that cash balance. Over the last three years, Moscow City Telephone Network actually produced more free cash flow than EBIT. That sort of strong cash conversion gets us as excited as the crowd when the beat drops at a Daft Punk concert. Summing up Although Moscow City Telephone Network's balance sheet isn't particularly strong, due to the total liabilities, it is clearly positive to see that it has net cash of 15.4b. The cherry on top was that in converted 106% of that EBIT to free cash flow, bringing in 10b. So is Moscow City Telephone Network's debt a risk? It doesn't seem so to us. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. However, not all investment risk resides within the balance sheet - far from it. Take risks, for example - Moscow City Telephone Network has 2 warning signs (and 1 which is a bit concerning) we think 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. Uttar Pradesh Minister for Jail, JK Singh Jaiki said that it is not necessary for a minister to be educated in order to govern. He asserted that there are secretary and staff under a Minister to get the work done. "Minster doesn't need to be educated. I am a minister and I have Secretary and staff working under me. I don't have to run the jail. The jail officials who are sitting (to do the work) and the jailor have to run it," said the UP Minister during a speech at Seth Ram Gulam Patel Memorial Intern College on Tuesday. He also said that educated people in society are creating a wrong perception about the uneducated people. "When educated professionals like doctors and engineers sit beside each other, they often talk about a high school-educated politician, who doesn't know much about running the things (political system). They also say that uneducated people dictate educated people," he said. He further said that nobody asked to take him the leadership role during his high school days and that he was clear that he wanted to pursue politics. "Nobody asked to take the task of leadership. I always did on my own will. I use to look for a solution for any problem that emerged because I was clear in my head that I wanted to pursue politics," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Israel to vote on Trump plan Tuesday Netanyahu 'to extend Israeli law to settlements, Jordan Valley' (ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, JANUARY 29 - Israeli prime minister Benyamin Netanyahu is determined to extend Israeli law to settlements in the West Bank and the Jordan Valley, as envisioned by a Middle East peace plan unveiled Tuesday by US president Donald Trump. Reports on Wednesday were by the daily newspaper Israel Ha-Yom, which said that the cabinet is expected to vote on the matter the following Tuesday. Cabinet meetings are usually held on Sunday but Netanyahu prefers to postpone the session for a few days to be able to prepare fully for it. (ANSAmed). NEW HANOVER More than three hours of detailed discussion Monday did little to make the fate of a proposed 779-unit development any clearer. About 100 people turned out for the joint meeting at the township recreation center on Hoffmansville Road with the developers, R.P. Wynstone, the township supervisors and the township planning commission. The project calls for the construction of 779 dwelling units, some apartments, some townhouses and some single-family homes, along with 171,000 square feet of commercial space at least as currently proposed. The New Hanover Town Center, as its officially named, has gone through numerous variations over the years and has been revised five times just since 2017. The latest plan calls for 189 single-family homes; 290 townhomes; 103 atrium homes; 94 twin homes and mixed-use buildings with apartments over commercial space. The single-family homes will be marketed as prices ranging from $420,000 to $450,000, developers said in October. Town Center is proposed on 209 acres bounded by Swamp Pike in the north, Route 663 in the east and Township Line Road to the west. According to the phasing plan the developer has put together, the first two phases to be built would construct a total of 351 homes, as well as much of the infrastructure for the commercial portion, which includes a big box space for a supermarket, or similar large store. Although the evenings agenda was focused on the 28 variances being sought by the developers, many had hoped to hear more about big picture impacts on issues like traffic, stormwater and school taxes. That became evident after an irate exchange between audience member Ben Lanyon and Planning Commission Chairwoman Susan Smith. How many of you have come? Do you see that pile of papers? I have listened, this is a process. I sat through meetings until midnight, Smith thundered. Could you please let us go through a process? Could you please? Im new to this township. I care about this township. Im sorry, I havent been here since 2000 to sit here until midnight, Lanyon replied. I have a family. Its Monday. I dont want to sit here till midnight on a Monday talking about mailboxes. Im not going to sit here until midnight without one question about the community that this benefits, or hurts, he said. Questions from the audience were taken around 11 p.m., when the crowd had diminished considerably. Buchert Road resident Keith Bardman said the quality of his well water has diminished since more development has been built in New Hanover. He said Route 663 and Swamp Pike cannot handle the traffic. Resident Barb Carman thanked the township officials for their efforts and, in a reference to the Boyertown School District said just remember this project affects 10 townships and 100 square miles. We acknowledge this will have an impact far beyond the borders of New Hanover Township, said Garner. President in the audience Monday night was at least one Boyertown School Board member, as well as officials from neighboring Douglass (Mont.) and Upper Pottsgrove townships. The complaint from the audience was not the only source of tension Monday night. As the explanation for each of the 28 variances being sought by the developer were raised, Township Manager Jamie Gwynn steadily questioned nearly each one, asking the developers why they need a variance rather than follow the applicable ordinances. In most cases, the answer was either, more expense, or an attempt to keep in the spirit of the traditional neighborhood in a compact setting, as attorney Marc Jonas called it, set out in the zoning. Most of the variance requests had to do with making narrower roads, with less straight-on intersections and allowing homes to be closer to intersections than ordinances allow. Smith earned applause from the audience when she said the plan is a convoluted rabbit warren created because you are attempting to squeeze as many units as possible and you want this panel to approve all those changes. Bill Moyer, the townships fire chief as well as a police sergeant, described the concept like bringing half of Boyertown and dropping it on the airport. The location for the plan was previously the New Hanover Airport. He supported the township staffs request for a wider turning radius in some of the alleys and streets to make it easier to maneuver fire trucks. He said from an emergency services standpoint, this represents a high-density and high-risk environment. Public safety in regards for this complex is going to be huge for us. Other variance requests dealt with stormwater resulting from the project. We have a lot of stormwater issues in our township, we have flooding issues in our township, said Gwynn. We just want to make sure when Town Center is built, that there are not flooding problems there. Im glad were talking about flooding, said Moyer. We had eight water rescues on July 11. I dont talk about 100-year floods anymore. The new norm in Montgomery County is not massive fires, its water rescues. Garner said a challenge faced by the township is the fact that the plan was provided preliminary approval by the supervisors in 2007 under ordinances enacted in 2005, which are the ordinances that need to be applied for the project to remain active and move forward. However, he and Gwynn suggested more than once that the developers seemed inclined to cite the earlier ordinances when it was to their advantage, and to apply newer ordinances at other times. Can you cite specifics when you talk about liabilities Jamie, instead of just throwing around terms like that just because its a crowd-pleaser, Jonas responded heatedly. The meeting wrapped up around 11 p.m. with no votes and no decisions. Garner assured Jonas the supervisors would take up the variance requests after receiving review letters from the townships engineering, legal and traffic consultants. That could happen as soon as February, he said. Hamas movement chief Ismail Haniyeh called Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ahead of the U.S. announcement of its Middle East peace plan. The sides stressed the importance of confronting the U.S Middle East peace plan, calling for unity in order to topple the deal, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported. Haniyeh told Abbas that his movement rejects the plan, highlighting that the Palestinians should be united to protect their national rights. Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the "deal of the century" - a plan for Middle Eastern settlement on the basis of the two-state solution. Special attention is focused on the status of Jerusalem, border issues, security guarantees, a free trade zone, prisoners and refugees, and the rules for further negotiations. However Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, according to the plan. Maharashtra, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/28/2020 -- JRE Pvt. Ltd stays significant in the Indian flexible hose market for its massive engineering prowess, technology-driven processes and commitment to market needs. Founded by JL Mehta in the year 1981, the company operates two full-blown business vectors to support every sector requiring flexible connections. The first wing dedicatedly manufactures marine loading arms, hoses and systems, API couplers, bellows, PUHB saddles, hose movers, hose rack, folding cages and stairs. The second vector is responsible for introducing some of the top European brands into India. Both wings comply with the highest standards in quality and customer satisfaction. The spokesperson at JRE Pvt. Ltd recently stated, "For close to four decades, JRE has been the leader in the Indian flexible connections market, helping it to grow and evolve. We know the market and project requirements inside-out, which speaks for our extensive product portfolio. Our coupling selection features Ground Joint Couplings, Quick Release Couplings (QRC), Quick Camlock Couplings, Chicago Couplings, Food Industry Couplings, and more. With such a vast selection, we keep every application across every sector covered. Likewise, we offer hoses in an equally impressive variety of options, such as rig hoses, composite hoses, hydraulic hoses, utility rubber hoses, specialized rubber hoses, stainless steel hoses, FDA hoses, and PTFE hoses." JRE has state of the art manufacturing footprint in Mumbai compliant to ATEX, CE, ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 18001 quality standards. The focus is on manufacturing high performance, safe and near-zero defect products for LPG, Hydrocarbons, Offshore, Chemicals, Cryogenics, Cement, Utility, Paint, Food, Potable Water, Hydraulics and other sectors. The company has been generously investing in R&D to deliver innovative solutions for evolving requirements. JRE is also dedicatedly representing CPV, Eaton, Wiese Europe, Finn Power, DITEC, TODO, DESTEC, SOPAT, KOMPAFLEX, DELMECO, STRAUB, HOSEBUN, CAVMAC, SUBITEC, FITTO Fittings, AKVOLA, MATEC, TS Fasteners, and other specialised equipment brands from Europe. On Utility Rubber Hoses, the spokesperson further stated, "When it comes to Utility Rubber Hoses, JRE is the only stop needed. That's because we offer extensive variety, impressive quality and great savings. Plus, we are ready to customise the order to meet project requirements frontally. On the variety front, we offer Utility Rubber Hoses in four options, viz. Heavy-Duty Air/Water Hose, Rock Drill Hose, Pneumatic Tool Hose, and Steam Hose. Our hoses are impeccably designed to perform across applications and conditions without compromising safety. We charge competitively across all products to help clients realise hefty savings." JRE Heavy Duty Air / Water Hose is designed for general purpose air & water application in industries and irrigation. The hose features a lining of natural & synthetic rubber blend while the cover is made of natural rubber with good ageing properties. It's reinforced with synthetic yarn with a high level of retentively to make it all the more durable and application-friendly. The Hydraulic hose fitting can endure temperature ranging from -40C to + 80C and 12-bar working pressure. About JRE Private Limited Operating out of Mumbai, JRE Private Limited is at the forefront of the flexible connections sector. The company manufactures couplings and hoses for a wide variety of industries and represents top specialised equipment brands from England, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany. Whether one is looking for rubber hose manufacturer or hose cutting machine manufactures, JRE is the leading source available. Contact Information JRE Private Limited 35, 3rd Floor, Mistry Building Above Allahabad Bank, 635 J.S.S Road (Metro Side) Mumbai - 400002 India Tel: 91-22-66368931 / 91-22-66368932 Fax: 91-22-66368933 Email: info@jreltd.com Website: www.jreltd.com 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. On the evening of January 25, the Baghramyan police station received an alarm according to which there were armed persons at the Yervandashat-Bagaran station in Armavir Province. The police officers of the Baghramyan police station, officers of the National Security Service of Armenia and of the border guard unit of the Russian Federation found out that the 25-year-old and 27-year-old residents of Yervandashat village had entered a controlled area with illegal rifles and guns for illegal hunting. When they were noticed, they left the weapons and escaped. The police detected the guns and seized them for future operations. The young men were apprehended from the turnpike and taken to the Baghramyan police station, presented to the territorial investigative division and arrested. A forensic ballistic expert examination has been designated, and preliminary investigation of the instituted criminal case continues. Remember that Trivago Guy? A very familiar face in all Trivago ads, who was often trolled and found annoying by some, Abhinav Kumar now crops up in Paytm ads. The former Country Manager of Trivago joined Paytm as Vice President - Product Marketing in September 2019. Kumar features in Paytms latest campaign that seeks to position their one QR code for merchants business to resolve customer confusion at a dukaan. Business ke liye ! @Paytm Karo pic.twitter.com/8Wwh6kHxFT Abhinav Kumar (@singhabhinav) January 27, 2020 The ad shows the shopkeeper and his wife recognising Abhinav Kumar from TV. This is because Kumar is instantly recognisable as the Trivago Guy, who was a quintessential part of all Trivago campaigns in 2017 and 2018. Trivago was one of the top 10 most advertised brands on television for 2018 as per BARC data for the period January 1, 2018 to December 22, 2018 and from December 22-28, 2018, with 536,908 and 11,557 ad insertions, respectively. Following the advertising blitz, the character of the Trivago guy became a well-known face to viewers. (Sourced from various media reports) Communications Consultant Karthik Srinivasan opined, Paytm is not looking at this campaign from a B2B perspective, but rather leveraging the broader awareness and familiarity of the Trivago guy, which obviously came from the media spends of Trivago. Srinivasan applauds the move by Paytm, because Abhinav Kumar has equity in the minds of the audience and had generated media attention when he switched jobs to Paytm. There are a few examples in India where there is a spirit sequel of a thought, where one brand uses the familiarity of another brand for their own benefit, he added. He cited the example of Peloton ad, seller of exercycles and treadmills in the US, which launched this commercial the month before Christmas. While a lot of it may have been hyperbole, The Gift That Gives Back creative was widely criticised on social media for being sexist and dystopian. It certainly came across as inauthentic to audiences. Despite the negative press or perhaps because of it the ad and the woman featuring in the ad were widely recognisable to the public, a fact which was leveraged by actor and marketing stuntman Ryan Reynolds to promote his brand, Aviation Gin. Brand Haier found itself in hot water when they released a campaign mocking the famous Mr Murthy character prominently featured in Voltas AC ads. Since both brands compete in the same category, Voltas actually took Haiers creative agency Zero:Zero Creative Solutions to court for disparaging their ad. Paytms tongue-in-cheek campaign is also mocking in its tone, but it is not brand Trivago that it is making fun of. It is for the advertising fraternity to know that Paytm has leveraged the Trivago guy, but what about the larger subset of the population the campaign is intended for? asks Vinod Kunj, Founder & CEO of thought blurb. He remarked, This is an interesting character. If you do a dipstick around the Trivago guy, there is a uniform reaction to him. Kunj observed that people are likely to say He is so irritating; Hes got such a nasal voice. The Trivago guy represents a new phenomenon of a dysfunctional brand ambassador. I call him the meme man. A whole lot of WhatsApp memes are shared mocking the original Trivago ads, making the character popular. He further felt, The Trivago ads have nothing. There is no creativity, art direction, performance; one would think the entire ad is dysfunctional. With his nasal tone and denim and ill-fitting jacket, the Trivago guy appealed to certain segments in Tier 3 and Tier 1 audiences who are creating memes. Somewhere he struck a chord. While that may be true for the Trivago ad, Kunj believed that Abhinav Kumar has matured as an actor and the creative execution of the Paytm ad is far better. Here are some memes featuring Trivago guy. Trivago guy at the age of 50 pic.twitter.com/PfSAEgGgFN (@CrazyThakare) July 27, 2017 What can be better than @singhabhinav on these custom T-Shirts.https://t.co/znROnhwQJZ Branded Cloths @ Good Price.https://t.co/uNEJiJBEdY pic.twitter.com/JG9ZhoJh52 GrabAf.com (@grabaf_official) July 25, 2017 pic.twitter.com/61ohJWnEjs Angoor Stark (@ladywithflaws) July 17, 2017 #DontForget we have seen a trivago ad with this random guy in an oversized coat: pic.twitter.com/llqNIHmI9c Rohan (@rohansonalkar) June 30, 2017 It helped that Abhinav Kumar is prominent and active on his social media handles on Twitter and LinkedIn. He often engages with people who tag him in memes on Twitter. The Trivago guy was someone the audiences loved to hate. His appearance in the Paytm ad makes it stand out, otherwise it would just have been one of those payment ads, said Ricardo Vaz, Associate Creative Director Copy, Enormous Brands. He added, The style of delivery in the Trivago ad was very instructional, which works in the Paytm ad which is targeted towards the merchant side. Vaz opined that since the ad is interesting, even if the viewer doesnt know who the Trivago guy is, they might be compelled to search for him on Google since there is a heavy reference regarding his appearance on TV. Near the end of the Paytm ad, the Trivago guy tells the dukaandar and his wife that they will also appear on TV, hinting that perhaps Paytm may roll out a TVC at a later date. While experts agree that leveraging the Trivago guys equity was a good move by Paytm, they might want to wait and watch the reception on social media before they launch a larger TV campaign. At the time of filing this report, the advertisement posted on the personal LinkedIn handle of Abhinav Kumar has gone viral and opened to a positive reception. BURLINGTON, VT--What do we really know about reasons attributed to the success or failure of wildlife management efforts? A new study originating out of UVM suggests a disquieting answer: much less than we think. A new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences finds that ecological systems might contain a lot of inherit randomness that makes them difficult to manage. One of the most difficult parts of managing an invasive species or a fishery is determining whether or not the management strategy was effective. If a management strategy failed to reach some goal, was this because it was the wrong strategy or because of inherit randomness in the system? Perhaps, that particular management strategy would have been the right choice 9 times out of 10 and managers were simply unlucky. Led by Dr. Easton White from the University of Vermont, in collaboration with scientists in California and Colorado, the study used mathematical models to first demonstrate that there could be high levels of variability in species management outcomes. They then tested these ideas with an experimental invasive species, the flour beetle (Tribolium confusum). "In nature, we might only have a single study site we are concerned with managing," White says. "This means we typically only have a single replicate under study, making it difficult to determine the ultimate cause of management success or failure. The combination of mathematical models and laboratory experiments provide replication and a measure of ecological management variability." The team also found that the highest levels of management variability occurred at intermediate levels of management effort. In other words, unless a large amount of effort is used to control a system, we are likely to fail or succeed simply by chance. This is concerning for real systems where we have limited budgets. "Our results suggest that much of ecological management is bound to succeed or fail simply because of good or bad luck," notes White. "In our experiment we were able to control the laboratory conditions precisely, reducing variability caused by the environment. Thus, we might expect that managing natural systems might lead to higher levels of variability." The team also investigated the combination of different management strategies. To control the invasive species, they tried direct harvesting and controlling the beetle movement. They found that combinations of strategies, as opposed to only using a single strategy, were often more effective. ### The study can be found at: https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2019/10/25/1911440116 You can read more about this, and related work, at Easton White's website: https://eastonwhite.github.io/ SPRINGFIELD Local reaction to Gov. J.B. Pritzkers State of the State address Wednesday fell along political lines. State Sens. Rachelle Crowe, D-Glen Carbon, and Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, were joined by state Reps. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, and Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, in applauding Pritzkers message. In contrast, Bristows November challenger, Amy Elik of Alton, said Pritzker and other Illinois leaders are tone deaf to calls for fiscal responsibility. And state Rep. Chris CD Davismeyer, R-Jacksonville, said Illinois greatly needs ethics reform. The fact that Illinois continues to rank last in fiscal stability is unacceptable and the governors tax-and-spend agenda fails to offer commonsense solutions to get us back on track, Elik said. The people of our community need a courageous fighter who will ask tough questions and demand responsible solutions that do not burden taxpayers. Davidsmeyer said Illinois needs to nd government corruption and get spending under control. Illinois Democrats answer is more taxes and zero spending reform. Their tax increases keep pushing people out of the state, he said. We must rein in our spending and cut property taxes to stop our population loss and grow our economy. The governor stated, Illinois is great because our people are great, he added. Illinois government has to get out of their way and let them do great things! Bristow applauded Pritzkers speech, stating that while work remains, Illinois has made great strides during the past year. Last spring, the legislature passed several measures that helped put Illinois back on the right track and support middle-class families in the Metro East, she said. This year, we need to continue our work across the aisle and stand firm on passing a balanced budget that will pay back old debts and provide funding for our schools, senior care, and other vital services like breast cancer screenings and domestic violence shelters. While our state faces many obstacles, Republicans and Democrats have made tremendous progress over the past year through bipartisan collaboration, she said. We need to continue to work together in order to put middle class families first in Illinois. Stuart also was proud of Illinois progress but, like Bristow, said more work must be done to build a stronger Illinois. I am committed to passing policies that lift up middle-class families by continuing investments into job training programs to train the next generation of skilled laborers, passing a balanced, bipartisan budget to continue to improve Illinois financial standing and fighting for affordable health care for our families, she said. Manar said what he found most significant was Pritzkers bold commitment to transform the way we think of and deliver early childhood education in Illinois. The governor and I share the belief that the benefits of child care and early childhood education should be extended to every family and student in all corners of our state, he said. It matters who leads. These bold goals wont be achieved overnight, but we have the momentum, vision, and bipartisan will we need to create a stronger Illinois. Crowe applauded Pritzkers vow to fund education and get rid of corruption in Illinois. Investing in our children early will undoubtedly improve their future opportunities, and I commend the governor for echoing his commitment to investing in early childhood education, she said. I also agree with Gov. Pritzker that we must change the culture of corruption in Springfield. By requiring more transparency in the legislative process, were creating a state government more people would be willing to trust. Element FCU expects to become the first credit union in this state to serve the medical marijuana business. And, it expects to be the key to the growth of medical marijuana businesses here. Element FCU has been selected by the state of West Virginia as the financial institution that will support the states Treasurers office as it works with companies approved for licenses to sell medical marijuana. Element CEO Linda Bodie told CUToday.info the state was seeking a bank or credit union to fill the role after a bank backed out. We passed medical marijuana legislation over a year ago but the program has not yet started because the state Treasurers office banking partner backed out, said Bodie, who explained the bank that withdrew its support did so because of concerns over working with marijuana businesses. Aryaman Tandon Indian startups received 25 per cent of the total $21 billion capital raised from private equity investors in India in 2018. Between January 2014 and November 2019, close to 550 Indian startups in the B2B (business to business) space raised $16.6 billion. These figures highlight the fact that the Indian startup ecosystem is a hotbed of interesting ideas with the entrepreneurial energy of Generation X and Y. The ecosystem is benefiting by Indias improvement on the ease of doing business index. However, access to capital is still an opportunity owing to the NBFC (non-banking financial companies) and NPA (non-performing assets) issues. To support the existing and next wave of entrepreneurs and transform the Indian startup ecosystem, here are five opportunities for all the stakeholders. Large workforce but lack of skills: India has one of the largest working age populations in the world, but the problem is lack of skills and training. Due to low employability of Indian graduates, startups often end up investing significant resources in training new employees. The government is working together with educational institutes and industry bodies to create a talent pool through schemes such as Skill India. Improving education: The education system can also be made more agile in terms of regular syllabus updates as demanded by todays fast-changing technological and business environment. Autonomy and industry academia collaboration is already reaping benefits in some of the premier Indian institutes such as the IITs and the IIMs. Considering these institutes as part of a successful pilot study, the changes can now be introduced in all the institutes pan-India. Targeted online education: Even though most of the startups in India are tech savvy, certain areas need expert interventions such as customer service, marketing and the like. Promotion of online education can be an effective way to bring in the required intervention and create a large-scale impact. Visa for attracting global talent: Although India offers high business prospects, the lengthy visa approval process for entrepreneurs and investors acts as a deterrent. Therefore, simplified visa processing can be a small but first step to attract global talent. Business models: Additionally, Indian entrepreneurs often find themselves trapped in the habit of copying western business models which are often outdated and need localisation to succeed in India. High ingenuity with low R&D spend: Indian entrepreneurs are well known for their ingenuity regarding cost-effective and innovative solutions. However, apart from the cases of ingenuity displayed at a small scale, in general, Indian companies lay lower focus on innovation and R&D capabilities. This is reflected when we look at the low number of annual patent filings by India as compared to China, Japan, or the US. High ingenuity with high R&D spend: The government can leverage the inherent innovation trait in Indian entrepreneurs by scaling up various schemes under the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) to address indigenous problems. Funding to startups: Lack of funding and profitability accounts for closure of nearly half of all startups in India. Indian startup and business environment is facing lack of funding issues due to NPAs and aftereffects of the NBFC crisis of 2018. The government has already improved the recovery rate for creditors through IBC (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code). This coupled with the promotion of priority lending to startups can create confidence among entrepreneurs. Tier 2 cities are catching up: While most of the PE-VC (venture capital) deals and funding go to Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai, there is a lot of on-ground activity in tier 2 cities. Most of these cities have high quality education institutes and therefore provide easy access to talent. In addition, they offer lower commuting and travel times, lesser operational cost, and a lower attrition rate than tier 1 cities. They also have access to mentorship through organisations like TiE (The IndUS Entrepreneurs) having presence in these cities. There can be more collaboration with startup accelerators to support the ecosystem. Additionally, through schemes like Startup India, the government is expanding focus to widen the population ambit by involving all states and tiers. For example: o T-Hub in Hyderabad, Telangana, is the largest incubation centre in India set-up on the PPP model. Customising taxation: Commonly, startups in the B2B space often receive payments on a delayed basis from their customers and business partners, which lands them in a liquidity crunch and therefore, they are unable to file tax on time. In such cases, avoiding hefty penalties and allowing extensions to file taxes can help the sector. Contract enforcements: According to the World Bank, it takes 1,445 days to resolve a commercial dispute in India, almost three times the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) average. While Indias overall rank in ease of doing business is 63/190, it ranks 136 for starting a business as the process is still cumbersome and time-taking. Closing a business is even more difficult. Therefore, there is a need for India to improve contract enforcement. The scope of improvement can be highlighted by the fact that China ranks 5th globally on this parameter on the World Banks ease of doing business index. Easing FDI norms: Since improving FDI (foreign direct investment) regulations has direct impact on startups in terms of raising capital, the government has been helping ease these regulations. In 2019, it liberalised FDI norms for more than 21 sectors that will also benefit startups. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were introduced for FDI proposals. Startups are now allowed to issue convertible notes to foreign investors. In fact, startups can raise up to 100 per cent of funds from foreign VCs by way of issuing both equity and debt. Today, barring few sectors, nearly 90 per cent of the total FDI inflows are through the automatic route. To make startups more competitive, the government can remove restrictions like the requirement of local sourcing. Helping Indian startups go global: With over 25 percent of entrepreneurs exporting their goods or services, India is an exceptional performer among large population economies i.e. China, the US and Brazil as a result of the governments efforts to push exports. The latter can further provide support to startups on competence building, technology support, and cloud computing which can help acquire global customers with increased customer comfort in evaluating and purchasing over the internet. Startups can also be assisted in finding an opportune time to go global. They can be guided on meeting tough market regulations e.g. while expanding in the EU (European Union). Indian startups can also be guided on securing capital for global branding. o Other emerging hubs include Ahmedabad for financial startups, Chandigarh for IT-based ones, Chennai (software), Jaipur (operations and IT), Pune (analytics) and Raipur across sectors. Government as a customer B2G i.e. Business to Government Relaxing B2G eligibility criteria for startups: For example, the minimum 5 years of balance sheet criterion sometimes does not make startups even eligible to work with the government. Improving the payment terms: There is a need for restructuring and customizing the payment terms while availing of products and services from startups as they are generally cash constrained and are very sensitive to receiving trade receivables on time. The Election Commission now displays real-time election results on mobile app The Coffee Board uses technology solutions to automate coffee brewing patterns The Andhra Pradesh government has secured digital land records of 1 lakh farmers Governments in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan are conducting Hackathons to crowdsource solutions in healthcare, sanitation, technology, and transportation The Maharashtra government has set up diagnostic machines to monitor haemoglobin This is one area where the government can have direct impact on the startups that it partners with. It will also help the government see and understand the startup world from up close: what works, what are the unique challenges that startups face and so on. A few things to note here are:The Indian government has actively started collaborating with startups in business and professional services like data driven new-age management consulting firms on several business opportunities, especially in agriculture, citizen services, healthcare, and sanitation. The government is expected to welcome innovative startups in infrastructure and e-governance. While all the above superstructure policymaking solutions would help startups in India, the importance of microstructure policy implementation solutions i.e. active monitoring of on-ground execution cannot be overemphasised. A joint effort by various industry bodies and the government in the above-mentioned focus areas will help create a promising and sustainable startup ecosystem in India. New Delhi, Jan 29 : A court here on Wednesday sent self-proclaimed JNU student Sharjeel Imam, arrested by Delhi Police from Bihar in an alleged hate speech case, to five days in police custody. Sharjeel was presented at Patiala House Court where Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Purushottam Pathak sent him to five-day police remand even as the SIT of Delhi Police wanted longer custody. Sharjeel's medical examination was conducted before being taken to court. Following the check-up, he was presented before the CJM around 6 p.m. on Wednesday. "The SIT will first check the video with him wherein he is seen making 'anti-India' comments," DCP Rajesh Dev, head of the SIT of Delhi Police's crime branch told IANS while confirming that the court ordered five-day custody considering the seriousness of the case. Is Sharjeel also a suspect in the December 2019 Jamia Millia Islamia, Zakir Nagar and New Friends Colony violence? Responding to this, DCP Dev said: "There will be an enquiry. Right now, more priority is being given to the controversial video clips wherein he talks of splitting the country." Will a 5-day police remand be sufficient for probing the controversial video and the Jamia Zakir Nagar riots? On being asked, the DCP, Crime Branch, said: "Our teams will try to find as many facts as possible. If necessary, the police will again request the court to extend the remand of Sharjeel Imam." An official of the Delhi Police Crime Branch told IANS, on the condition of anonymity, that there are many questions Sharjeel would be asked, and a list has already been made. "Most of the questions are based on scientific and factual evidence. Most of these questions are answered yes or no. Therefore, the police will not work hard now, the accused will have to put in more effort in answering the questions accurately," the officer said. Is the "evidence" that has come out against Sharjeel so far be enough to prove him guilty? On being asked, an officer of the Delhi Police Crime Branch investigating the Jamia riots told IANS: "Yes, there is a lot of evidence and witnesses. It is important to prove them scientifically. But interrogation of the accused is also very important. Therefore, he was taken on remand." Sharjeel was caught on Tuesday afternoon from Kako in Bihar's Jehanabad district when he was trying to flee in a car. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi Police had filed cases against Sharjeel under various sections including sedition, ever since he went missing. The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police registered a case on Sunday against Sharjeel for delivering a provocative speech on January 13 -- the video of which went viral on January 25. Delhi Police also conducted searches at various places to nab him. In a video, he is seen talking about splitting the northeast from India to block the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). "We know how Muslims are being treated in Assam. We have to save people from the NRC. The only way to do this is by cutting off northeast from India." (Sanjeev Kumar Singh Chauhan can be contacted at sajeev.c@ians.in; Ananya Bhatnagar can be contacted at ananya.b@ians.in) A former child actor who was in '90s children's movie classics The Mighty Ducks and Heavyweights was arrested in northern California in connection with a home break-in, police said Tuesday. Shaun Weiss, 41, of Van Nuys, was taken into custody on Sunday at a Marysville home, police said. Officers arrived at the residence around 7 a.m. Sunday after the homeowner spotted an intruder in his garage. Officers spotted Weiss inside a vehicle parked in the garage. He shattered a passenger-side window to get into the vehicle, police said. Officers asked him to get out of the vehicle and arrested him. Weiss displayed symptoms of being under the influence of methamphetamine and said he did not reside at this residence. Weiss also said the vehicle he was filtering through was not his, police said in a news release. Weiss was booked into Yuba County Jail on charges of burglary and being under the influence of meth. His bail is set at $52,500. Weiss played goalie Greg Goldberg in the 1992 Disney movie "The Mighty Ducks" and in the two sequels. He also played Josh Burnbalm in the 1995 movie "Heavyweights" with Ben Stiller. Weiss last acting role was in 2008. - Proceedings are currently underway in President Donald Trump's impeachment trial - The United States of America is awaiting the outcome that may strip their leader of his position - YEN.com.gh explores what comes next in the long-awaited hearing PAY ATTENTION: Read the best news on Ghana #1 news app. Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana United States President Donald Trump's impeachment trial has concluded opening arguments. YEN gathers that senators will now be allowed to ask questions, but this portion of the impeachment will be unusually quiet, with questions submitted in writing. This portion of the trial is expected to continue for two days, giving lawyers on both sides the opportunity to make their final points before the next portion of the process gets underway. Questions must be submitted to the presiding officer, Chief Justice John Roberts, who will then read them aloud and request an answer. READ ALSO: Ghana ranked 5th best country in Africa The aim of this is to keep the proceedings quiet, allowing for a jury-like silence as senators deliberate on the matter. READ ALSO: Actor Will Smith's son Jaden Smith confirms he's gay, gushes over boyfriend Senators will be asked to vote on whether or not to listen to witnesses and, eventually, whether or not to boot Trump from office. Senator Chris commented that an 'obvious question' is whether or not the transcript at the heart of the trial is a full transcript. IOL reports that a July phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelenskiy is a full transcript. During the call, the US President asks Zelenskiy to investigate Democrats, while the White House has released a transcript of the call, it isn't transparent what was omitted. This is what makes 4-year-old Nii Omanye aka Kwame Nkrumah the smartest child in Ghana| #Yencomgh READ ALSO: Apple rakes in big cash in first quarter of 2020; wearables shoot revenue over GHc5 trillion Want to be featured on YEN.com.gh? Send us a message on our Facebook page or on Instagram with your stories, photos or videos Source: YEN.com.gh BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 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. 29, Trend reports. 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. A father-son duo was killed and seven others, including children, were injured after their car rammed into a stationary police patrolling van in the eastern suburb of Ghatkopar, police said on Wednesday. The incident occurred at Ramabai Nagar near Eastern Express Highway in the early hours of Tuesday, when the victim Sachin Vishnu Damale (38) rammed his car into a stationary police patrolling van belonging to Pantnagar police station, an official said. While Vishnu Baban Damale (62) died on the spot, Sachin succumbed to his injuries at civic-run Sion Hospital, he said, adding that seven injured family members were rushed to Rajawadi Hospital. "The Antop Hill residents were returning to Mumbai from Nashik after attending a wedding. The deceased was driving his car in a rash and negligent manner and none of our police officials were injured in the accident," senior inspector Suhas Kamble of Pantnagar police station said. An offence has been registered against the deceased under sections 304A (causing death by negligence), 279 (rash driving) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Motor Vehicles Act, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rushing to get ready for work in the mornings, its not unusual for a husband or wife to have to wait their turn for the bathroom. But when Tracy Hannington saw husband Tony was about to go in before her, she punched him so hard he was left with a bleeding lip and a loose tooth. Then without a word, the 57-year-old, a carer in an old peoples home, walked in and slammed the door behind her. Horrifyingly, this was normal for much of their five-year marriage. Tony, 56, the director of a transport business, was subjected to weekly violence at their Kent home that included being doused with hot tea and having a kitchen knife held to his throat. He suffered in silence, believing domestic violence was only taken seriously if the perpetrator was a man. As domestic attacks carried out by women increase, men such as Tony Hannington, 56, from Kent, whose wife Tracy (pictured) was jailed for two years, share their experience There is no question that violence against women is a big problem. About 8 per cent experience domestic abuse every year, according to official figures or about 1.6 million women. But while domestic abuse charities, such as Womens Aid, treat this as a gendered crime because females are far more likely to be sexually assaulted, abused over longer periods and murdered by partners or former partners that isnt the whole story. Last week, data obtained under the Freedom of Information act revealed that the number of domestic attacks carried out by women more than tripled in a decade. Between 2009 and 2018, the number of cases reported to police grew from 27,762 to 92,408, according to The Sunday Telegraph. Police data also showed women were the aggressors in 28 per cent of all reported cases in 2018, up from 19 per cent in 2009. However, experts fear most cases of domestic abuse are never reported. In the year ending March 2019, an estimated 786,000 men suffered domestic abuse, Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show. Growing research suggests males may be abused in the same numbers as females but are three times less likely to tell anyone. The reasons are bound up in societys views of mens and womens roles. Fear of not being believed, of being accused of being the perpetrator and of being seen as less of a man were key reasons why men did not seek help, Bristol University researchers found last year. Alex Skeel, 24, from Bedfordshire, was forced by his partner Jordan Worth (pictured) to sleep on the floor in addition to being assaulted with hammers, knives and scalding water A glance at social media comments made about Love Island presenter Caroline Flack, who has pleaded not guilty to hitting boyfriend Lewis Burton, highlights age-old prejudices. They include: How much damage can a woman really inflict on a larger, stronger man? and Surely if a woman strikes her partner, it must be in self-defence? Mr Burton is standing by his famous girlfriend and does not support her prosecution. Tony Hannington says he might have agreed with some of these preconceptions before he found himself in a physically abusive marriage. I only fought back once when i thought she really would kill me - Tony, 57 He recalls: Id been single for a couple of years and met Tracy on a dating site. She was a real livewire, attractive, with a wicked sense of humour. We hit it off and three weeks later she moved into my flat. After six months they married at Canterbury Register Office. But within months, things began to change. Tony says: Tracy would have huge mood swings. Shed ring me up at work, wanting to know where I was, why I was seeing my friends and calling me names. She was extremely house-proud. At home, whenever I sat down, shed shout at me for not helping with the housework. If I did so much as put a spoon in the sink, instead of straight into the dishwasher, shed have a go at me. At first, it was every weekend. Then her tempers became virtually every night, so I dreaded going home. Research reveals that 73 per cent of domestic killings are of women, Tony (pictured) recalls Tracy putting a knife to his throat for not doing enough to help around the house She was a Jekyll and Hyde. Shed hit me, then act like nothing had happened, or say Id made her do it. Tony tried not to respond, but this seemed to enrage his wife even more, especially when he moved into the spare room to avoid her. Shed kick me or square up to me when she was having one of her meltdowns. Once, as we were unloading the shopping, she hit me on the head with a can of baked beans. On another occasion, she hit me in the face with the head of the vacuum cleaner. If I didnt get up when she wanted, shed punch me or pour a jug of water over the bed. She also dug her nails into his windpipe, he says. Tony insists he never defended himself except when Tracy put a knife to his throat for not doing enough to help around the house. Believing she was prepared to kill him, he tried to move the knife away and was left with a badly gashed hand. Tony says: People may find it hard to believe a man of 6ft 1in didnt defend himself against a 5ft 5in woman. But I was always taught that you never hit a woman. The 56-year-old (pictured with Tracy) said his wife would spit in his face and call him a 'pathetic excuse for a man' Tracy made it plain she could do what she liked and get away with it. If I said Id go to the police, she said shed just tell them I started it. So I felt I had no option but to protect my face or get away from her. There was another reason Tony didnt fight back Tracys controlling psychological abuse, typical of women who attack male partners. Research has found attacks on a mans self-worth may be especially debilitating as they view being a victim as weak. Tony said: If I told Tracy shed hurt me, shed say: What kind of man are you? Shed spit in my face, and say repeatedly that I was a spineless, pathetic excuse for a man. One reason domestic abuse of women is seen as more serious is that more females are murdered by their partners 73 per cent of domestic killings are of women. Yet abused mens lives are lost in another way. The ONS Crime Survey found that 11 per cent of men abused by female partners try to kill themselves, compared with 7.2 per cent of women who are abused by male partners. Tony says that suicide often crossed his mind: Tracy isolated me from my family and friends, questioning my need to see them and telling me who to be friends with on Facebook. Tony (pictured) who was urged by his sister to report Tracy's abuse, was told by a centre for domestic violence victims to capture her tirades on his phone and take it to the police She told me no one would miss me if I killed myself and suggested I find myself a quiet corner and hang myself. As she wouldnt leave the flat, I had nowhere to go and couldnt see a way out. I started to think seriously about suicide. However, just as Tony reached his lowest point, his niece asked for his help moving house. It prompted him to get back in touch with her mother (Tonys sister) and tell her of the abuse. She suggested he visit a centre for domestic violence victims, and they suggested he record the abuse on his phone and take it to the police. Over three weeks, Tony captured three of Tracys harrowing tirades in which she talked of hitting him for months, complained he would never hit her back and told him she wanted to put him in a six-sided box or coffin. Last October Tracy admitted a charge of actual bodily harm and controlling and coercive behaviour, and was jailed for two years. Tony found the courage to speak out, but many male victims stay silent for the simple reason that they are desperate not to be separated from their children. Huw Jones, 47, from Pembrokeshire, secured a conviction against his former partner for assault but has since struggled to get access to his two children (file image) Huw Jones, 47, a teacher from Pembrokeshire, is one of them. His ex-partner, a university educated language tutor, became violent after their first child was born. Despite police being called to a string of disturbances over three years in which his partner punched him, whipped him with a belt and kicked him, he says officers automatically assumed he was at fault. He believes his partner carried on as she felt she was above the law. Huw says: At first I tried to make excuses, thinking it was post-natal depression. In one incident, I was holding the baby while she was punching me and saying, Ow, Ow, Ow to the police over the phone, so theyd think I was hitting her. When Id ring and tell them she was threatening to burn the house down with me and the children in it, theyd say: She probably doesnt mean it. As there are just 36 hostel beds for male victims only in the UK, Huw ended up sleeping in his car. He said: If I did talk to friends about it, theyd make comments like, No woman would ever hit me like that or Cant you defend yourself? But I couldnt leave because I was worried Id never see my children again, and about what might happen if I wasnt there. Huw did secure a conviction against his former partner for assault and battery after recording an attack, but has since struggled in a Family Court to get access to his two children, aged six and eight. Until recently he had not seen them for six months. Alex Skeel (pictured) had his possessions taken away and was forced to change his number by his partner, Jordan Worth Despite his ex-partners conviction for violence, Huw is devastated that the Family Court still awarded her majority custody of their two children. Its been horrific and the hardest thing I have ever been through, says Huw. She was convicted of assault, yet the courts listen to her. I often find I get a better hearing from a female judge as they know what other women are capable of. Such experiences of domestic abuse against men are not unusual, says Elizabeth Bates, senior lecturer in applied psychology at the University of Cumbria. She has heard from male victims who were laughed at or dismissed by police. One mans female partner got a boxers break on her finger from punching him too hard. Yet, when they went to the doctors surgery for treatment, the GP asked if she wanted to press charges. Dr Bates says: The dominant stereotype in domestic violence portrays men as perpetrators. But the research increasingly shows that the prevalence is the same for both men and women. The reality is that men dont seek help as much. Thats partly because society strongly condemns violence against women but has few sanctions for womens aggression towards men. Research is finding that women may use more emotionally controlling or bullying behaviour coercive control than men. It is this that can lay the groundwork for physical abuse. Jordan (pictured with Alex) who became the first female in the UK to be convicted of coercive behaviour, was jailed for seven years in 2018 A 2014 University of Cumbria study found women were more likely than men to be aggressive and controlling towards partners. Dr Bates says: For years, coercive behaviour has been talked of as a tool men use to control women. But in my research, men reported experiencing significant coercive control. They often described themselves as walking on eggshells. This has a significant impact on their physical and mental health. Furthermore, while studies suggest men use more physical strength in domestic attacks, Dr Bates found men reported their female partners using weapons. They also spoke of being attacked when vulnerable, such as when asleep or in the shower. Research published in the journal Justice Quarterly found that 82 per of women abusers use weapons in their assaults, versus 25 per cent of men. This is probably because of the typical disparity in physical strength between the sexes. Such behaviour was highlighted by the case of 24-year-old Alex Skeel, from Bedfordshire, whose partner, Jordan Worth, a fine art graduate, became the first female in the UK to be convicted of coercive behaviour. She was jailed for seven years in 2018. As well as forcing him to sleep on the floor and taking away his belongings, Jordan forced Alex to change his phone number. She also set up a Facebook account in his name from which she sent abusive messages to his friends and family to isolate him further. Jordan also set up a Facebook account in Alex's (pictured) name from which she sent abusive messages to his friends and family to isolate him In addition, she assaulted him with hammers, knives, laptop chargers and scalding water. Police arrested her only after neighbours heard his screams. Mark Brooks, chairman of Mankind Initiative, which runs a helpline for male victims of domestic violence, says stigma means men find it hard to admit the truth. Instead its often concerned sisters, mothers, friends and colleagues who make contact on their behalf. Every year Mankind deals with more than 2,000 calls. Mark says: The average age is 42, and the men who need our help cut across every profession, from bankers to GPs and policemen. They ring us because they want to talk to someone who will listen without judgment. As a result, Mark believes there needs to be a shift in how we view domestic abuse. We need to look for the same potential signs of domestic abuse as we do in women: physical injuries and changes in behaviour such as becoming introverted. As well as more services for men, we also need more awareness campaigns aimed at male victims to encourage them to get help, as well as better training for police, council workers and NHS staff. Above all, we need to challenge this traditional idea that women cant be violent and men cant be victims. Yet while domestic abuse against men is being talked about more now, its also important that the issue is kept in perspective, says law lecturer Adrienne Barnett of Brunel University. Tony (pictured) who is still attempting to rebuild his life since Tracy's jailing, revealed he felt guilt that his marriage hadn't worked out She says: Both women and men can perpetrate domestic abuse, and both can be victims. But substantial research and statistical evidence shows the violence is more common, persistent and severe when its inflicted by men against female partners. Six months on from Tracys jailing, Tony is still attempting to rebuild his life. He has set up his own company (which Tracy told him he would never be capable of) and redecorated his home to try to erase the bad memories. When he was stripping wallpaper recently, he found the words I love you scribbled underneath. He had written them for Tracy soon after she moved in. Tony says: I started weeping. It was a mix of: why did the woman I loved do this to me?; guilt that my marriage hadnt worked out; and the relief of finally being able to feel safe in my own home. It was as if I had been in a dark room and I didnt realise how bad it had been until I stepped outside and into the light. Nowadays, we rightly want equality, and that should apply to domestic violence, too. Id like my story to illustrate that what happened to me shouldnt happen to anyone woman or man. Huw Joness name has been changed. Male victims of domestic abuse can call the Mankind Initiative for confidential help on 01823 334244. Attorney General William Barr announced charges against 30-year-old Tiffany Harris on Tuesday who was accused of slapping three people in one of a series of apparently anti-Semitic attacks reported throughout New York during Hanukkah. A federal criminal complaint details how Harris slapped the women on the back of the head and shouted expletives at them, while noting they were Jewish. The women were walking down the street in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Crown Heights, which has a large Orthodox population at the time of the alleged assaults. Attorney General William Barr, pictured, announced charges against 30-year-old Tiffany Harris on Tuesday who made headlines in New York after she was accused of slapping three women Three charges were filed against Tiffany Harris, who confessed to police she targeted the women in late 2019 because they were Jewish Dalia G Shusterman, pictured, was one of the three women who was assaulted and verbally abused during the December attack They were also wearing clothes that made them 'identifiable as Jewish,' according to the criminal complaint. Her case drew headlines in New York City after she was released without bail and then arrested again a day later in connection with another assault. In the second case, police allege she slugged a woman in the face. She was later re-arrested after missing an appointment with social workers and was held for a psychiatric evaluation. Harris' attorney did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment. Rich Donoghue, the U.S. attorney in Brooklyn, said the charges had been under seal for several weeks and pointed to the case as an example of the federal governments low tolerance for anti-Semitic crime. He said federal officials would step in to prosecute cases amid a debate over New Yorks new bail reform law. Attorney General William Barr, center, shakes hands with Rabbi Eli Cohen, right, at a meeting with Jewish leaders. Rabbi Chaim David Zweibel, left, and Rabbi David Niederman, second from right, also took part in the meeting Barr said at the meeting in Brooklyn that he has been 'extremely distressed by the upsurge in violence' in Jewish communities, including in New York City 'We are going to respond if we feel that the laws that they are putting in place do not sufficiently address the local needs,' Donoghue said. 'These are the kinds of cases that maybe in the past would have been treated locally but I think it's important for the federal government to plant its flag and show zero tolerance,' Attorney General Barr told the religious leaders in Brooklyn. 'This will not be an isolated case. We will move aggressively if we see this kind of activity,' he said. 'I'm extremely distressed by the upsurge in violence hate crimes committed against the Jewish community,' Barr continued, noting the entire country is seeing a 'marked increase of this violence.' Barr's visit came a day after the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp in Poland, where survivors warned of rising anti-Semitism worldwide. Barr directed U.S. attorneys' offices to ensure they have a specific point of contact to handle outreach to the Jewish community and someone responsible for reporting hate crimes. He said he was also working with FBI Director Christopher Wray to create a national plan to combat anti-Semitic violence. . Jewish communities in the New York City metro area have been on edge after a shooting rampage at a northern New Jersey market in December and an attack at a Hanukah celebration in Monsey, New York that left five people stabbed Rabbi David Niederman spoke during a meeting with Attorney General William Barr at the Boro Park Jewish Community Council on Tuesday in New York. 'I cannot tell you how much it means to us when you say our federal government will have zero tolerance towards hate,' he said Barr ordered federal prosecutors across the U.S. on Tuesday to step up their efforts to combat anti-Semitic hate crimes Allen Fagin, executive vice president at the Orthodox Union, said Barr was met with a resoundingly grateful response from the local Jewish community representatives who attended. 'Not only a recognition of the problem and a resolve to bring the resources of the federal government to bear, but the very fact that he came to Brooklyn to do that and brought with him senior representatives of local law enforcement, I think conveyed a very powerful message,' said Fagin. 'I cannot tell you how much it means to us when you say our federal government will have zero tolerance towards hate,' Rabbi David Niederman, who said three of his relatives were killed by Nazis during the Holocaust, told the attorney general. Jewish communities in the New York City metro area have been on edge after a shooting rampage at a northern New Jersey market in December that killed six and an attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Monsey that left five people stabbed. The Local Government Service is a public institution established under the Ministry of Local Government Ghana. The primary mandate of the service is to ensure smooth service delivery by the government. It also aims at providing proper organization and governance of the decentralized local governments in Ghana. Image: instagram.com @governmentofghana Source: UGC Who is the current Minister of Local Government in Ghana? Well, it is headed by none other than Dr. Nana Ato Arthur. Under the motto of the body, it states that the main goal is to ensure that the citizen receives value for money in the aids the citizenry receives. As always, the administration needs checks and balances that ensure there are equality as well as growth across the expansive republic of Ghana. In that regard, the ministry of native administration comes into play as the body that oversees all aids offered to Ghanaian. Contact details Office of the Head of Local Government Service P.O. Box MB 396, Ministries -Accra Tel: 0302-677929 Fax: 0302-662799 Email: ohlgs@lgs.gov.gh Location: OHLGS is adjacent Afua Sutherland Childrens Park, Gamel Abdul Nasser Road Local government structure of Ghana What is the local government structure in Ghana? The local administration, Ghana, is made up of structures and bodies that work together to offer a common purpose. The Minister of Local Government Ghana heads it, and below him is the local administration service council. Others include the head of service, chief executive, and seven other bodies below them. Under the chief executive are seven other executives leading seven units, which are, policy planning and budgeting, management and human resources management, human resource development, financial management, statistics and information management, and finally executive and general assistance. The mains structure of the body is: The Local Government Service Council The Head of Service The Chief Director Directorates Policy Planning, Budgeting, and Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate (PPBMED) Management and Technical Service Directorate (MTSD) Human Resource Management Directorate (HRMD) Human Resource Development Directorate (HRDD) Financial Management Directorate (FMD) Statistics, and Information Management Directorate (RSIMD) Administration and General Services Directorate (AGSD) READ ALSO: Ghanaian 'lovers' in Germany exchange heavy blows after break-up in viral video Roles The roles include: Policy and planning directorate The executive in charge is responsible for policy formulation, planning, budget preparation, and other aids. The person in charge of this body reports to the chief executive on all matters under the directorate. Management and technical services directorate Oversees all matters on performance management, professional aids, organizational development, and quality assurance. In addition to these aids, the directorate also executes all roles given to them by the chief executive. Human resources management directorate Oversees all matters H.R. planning, recruitment and selection, and salary administration. Besides, the executive also undertakes all roles assigned to them, including local government Ghana vacancies management by the chief executive. Human resource development director Oversees all matters around the training of staff in the council, such ministry of local government Ghana recruitment, career development of staff, and performance management of the committee. Financial management directorate Facilitate donor support and undertakes all financial matters within the council. In addition to these roles, the executive also oversees all functions assigned to them by the chief director. Research statistics and information management directorate: performs all roles assigned by the chief director in addition to research and statistics, information management, library documentation, and IPPD. Administration and general aids directorate: performs all roles on civic governance, conveyance, procurement, storage, recording, estates, and security. Local government service recruitment Recruitment is one of the roles under the Ministry of Local Administration of Ghana. Under this role, the body ensures there are equality and fairness in the distribution of labor. Further, it also ensures that the labor force is able to provide the necessary labor required to enhance efficiency and progress in administrations. Apart from ensuring a sufficient supply of labor through recruitment, it also ensures the quality of the labor. For those intending to work with the administrations, then the first step is checking the provisions of the ministry. Second, ensure compliance by adhering to the terms and conditions as stipulated under the ministry website. The head of administration aids in; ensuring efficient management, and organization of the service on a day to day operation. Besides, he also gives leadership advise on the most-productive and efficient performance of the local government, Ghana. The following are the roles in accordance with the government Act 2016: Head of the Office of the Head of the Local Government Service and other responsibilities assigned by the council. Responsible for the efficient management and organization of the service. Assign the various roles of the work place to an officer in charge of that particular service Ensure the organization and proper development of effective training programs consistent with the sectorial necessities of the service. Institute vital structures of inter-service and sectoral collaboration and co-operation between the service providers and other civic aids to harmonize programs and avoid repetition. Head of the Local Government Service is the Secretary to the Council To find out the duties and responsibilities of the local administration, visit the Ministry of Local Government Ghana website. Minister Image: instagram.com @ghanagovt Source: Getty Images Just like any other ministry in the administration of Ghana, the Ministry of Local Government is also led by the minister. The individual holding this position is Dr. Nana Ato Arthur. The Ministry of Local Government Ghana ensures all services are offered effectively as per the Act of Constitution in 2016 and is headed by the Minister of Local Government. This ensures smooth running of the country. READ ALSO: Useless Akufo-Addo ministries Mahama says he will scrap Source: YEN.com.gh A documentary film will be shown Wednesday in San Francisco about the life of Nichelle Nichols, who may be better known as Lt. Uhura on Star Trek, according to the San Francisco Independent Film Festival. The film titled "Woman in Motion" will screen at 8 p.m. at the Victoria Theatre at 2961 16th St. at the festival, which runs through Feb. 13. It's the 22nd year of the festival and Wednesday is opening night. A person was shot to death Tuesday night in East Palo Alto's first homicide of 2020, police said. Officers responded at 8:06 p.m. to the 900 block of Mouton Circle after someone reported a gunshot. Officers arrived and found a person with a gunshot wound, according to police. Paramedics were called immediately to provide aid but the victim died where he was found. San Francisco's public works director and a restaurant owner have been charged in an alleged scheme to bribe a San Francisco International Airport commissioner in 2018 for help in obtaining a restaurant concession, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday. Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru, 58, of San Francisco, and Lefty O'Doul's restaurant owner Nick Bovis, 57, of San Mateo, were each charged with one count of honest services wire fraud in a federal criminal complaint filed Jan. 15 and unsealed on Tuesday. The charge is defined as participating in a scheme to defraud the public of the honest services of public officials, and using a telephone call to further the scheme. The airport commissioner is not named in the complaint and the alleged scheme never came to fruition, according to the complaint. The two men were arrested on Monday and were each released on a $2 million bond by a federal magistrate in San Francisco on Tuesday. They are due to return to court on Feb. 6 for a bail review. Ground broke Tuesday on a five-building, 143-acre commercial project with light industrial, warehouse, distribution, e-commerce "fulfillment" and light manufacturing that one local official hailed as a regional "job magnet." The Contra Costa Logistics Center, a 2-million-square-foot project to be built on land that from 1955 until 1998 was home to a DuPont chemical plant, is being built by Kansas City-based NorthPoint Development. An undisclosed tenant that will occupy one full building has already been secured, and that business could be up and running by summer, according to Jed Momot, NorthPoint's chief strategy officer. City and county officials are optimistic this development will eventually host 1,900 full-time jobs, in addition to almost 500 expected jobs from local supporting businesses and another 725 construction jobs. Plans call for the NorthPoint project to take up 143 acres along the southwest portion of the site; an additional 232 acres would remain open. Those money numbers include an estimated $388,400 in new revenues annually at full buildout to Oakley's general fund, as well as a contribution of $420,000 per year in revenue to the East Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. The fire district has been in tenuous financial condition for several years, and welcomes the infusion. The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved a plan to establish a homeless task force and a plan to address the region's housing insecurity crisis. "It's (the task force) critical from a humanitarian standpoint," Supervisor Dave Cortese said in an interview Tuesday. "Obviously we have a lot of people living in creeks and underpasses, and 700 of them are veterans. It's shameful." The task force - which is to be called the Unhoused Task Force - will work on serving homeless people in the county and helping them transition into temporary and permanent supportive housing with increased funding for mental health services, increased shelter beds countywide and more publicly available storage and hygiene services for unhoused people. "It's costing us about $521 million a year to deal with the in-and-out recidivism of unsheltered people landing in different places in our system, whether it's at emergency rooms, whether it's jail, whether it's in and out of courtrooms, case work, behavioral health offices," Cortese said. A pedestrian died last Thursday following a collision with a pickup truck the previous week in San Jose, police said Tuesday. Jose Sepulveda, 85, of San Jose, died following the collision Jan. 14 at East San Antonio Street and Lynette Way. Officers responded at 4:51 p.m. to that intersection where an investigation revealed that a 2015 Toyota Tacoma was traveling west on East San Antonio Street when it hit Sepulveda. Sepulveda was taken to a hospital and was there until he died. Police were told Tuesday of Sepulveda's death. The man driving the Toyota stayed at the scene and cooperated with police. According to police, neither alcohol nor drugs appear to have played a role in the collision. A Sonoma County Superior Court judge Tuesday sentenced a Petaluma man to 100 years to life in prison for molesting two girls under 14 years old, Sonoma County prosecutors said. Pedro Ibanez, 46, was convicted in November of four felony counts of child molestation. The molestation began in 2008 when Ibanez's wife began taking children into her home for daycare. The first victim was between 1 and 2 years old at the time, and she testified Ibanez showed her pornography and molested her in his bedroom on several occasions. The girl reported the molestations to a school counselor when she was 11 years old, prosecutors said. The second victim was molested at Ibanez's home when she was about 4 to 6 years old. The victims, now 12 and 13 years old, testified at Ibanez's trial before Superior Court Judge Bradford DeMeo. The life sentence includes enhancements alleging there were multiple victims under 14 years old. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and other city officials on Tuesday opened another set of community cabins aimed at addressing the city's growing homeless crisis. The new set of 19 cabins at Oak and Sixth streets, near the Chinatown and Jack London Square neighborhoods, is the seventh such site since the city launched the cabin program in December 2017. Caltrans has leased the property to the city for $1 a month. Each cabin has two beds so the new cabins will be used to house a total of 38 people. The new cabins bring the total number of cabin beds throughout the city to 232. Past cabin communities were paid for by large donors such as Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health, but the new site received contributions from more than 170 individual Oakland residents. Wednesday will be partly cloudy. Highs will be in the upper 50s. Northwest winds will be 5 to 10 mph, before becoming west winds at 10 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows will be in the upper 40s to mid 50s. Northwest winds will be 10 to 20 mph. Thursday will be mostly cloudy in the morning, then becoming partly cloudy. Highs will be in the upper 50s to mid 60s. West winds will be 10 to 20 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. Description GIS - 29 January, 2020: Inclusion, as reiterated in the Government Programme 2020-2024, is the driving force behind the transformation of the whole education system which is adapted to the needs of all students including Special Education Needs (SEN) learners, said the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, today, at the opening of a one-day workshop at the Gold-Crest Hotel in Quatre-Bornes. Inclusion, as reiterated in the Government Programme 2020-2024, is the driving force behind the transformation of the whole education system which is adapted to the needs of all students including Special Education Needs (SEN) learners, said the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, today, at the opening of a one-day workshop at the Gold-Crest Hotel in Quatre-Bornes. The workshop, an initiative of the Ministry and the SEN Authority, focuses on the validation of the norms and standards governing the SEN sector. Several managers and heads of SEN institutions as well as other stakeholders will contribute their views and ideas to the aspects presented prior to validating the document. The Vice-Prime Minister recalled that the SEN Authority (SENA) was set up with the view to cater for the needs of children with disabilities and provide for a new institutional framework that will encourage their holistic development. The primary objective, she stressed, is to promote an inclusive and equitable education system to all learners and ensure equal access to relevant and quality education and training, in line with Sustainable Development Goals as well as the Nine Years of Continuous Basic Education Programme. A number of actions and initiatives, she stated, have been established as part of the furtherance of the goals set: increasing free access for all learners to educational institutions; access to learners with physical disabilities; infrastructural works in various primary and secondary schools; and scholarship for learners with SEN to pursue their post-secondary studies, amongst others. She also underlined that a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with the Government of India to assist in the supply of the Braille Notes to visually impaired students. With regard to quality services, Vice-Prime Minister Dookun-Luchoomun, underlined that it is important to promote capacity building and the professional development of the teaching staff and personnel working in SEN institutions, adding that they are major determinants for creating a safe, secure and conducive environment for learners and that efforts should be guided towards achieving these desirable outcomes. For her part, the Chairperson of the SENA, Mrs Savritree Oogarah, underscored that the Board has a keen determination to improving the education of the children with SEN. She emphasised that with the expertise, experience and the governing criteria for the SEN sector, the SEN Authority and different institutions will be able to implement effective action plans and spearhead appropriate programmes for the children. Marriott International, Inc. has announced that it has signed an agreement to open a St. Regis in the New Administrative Capital of Egypt, just outside of Cairo. In the second quarter of this year, The St. Regis Almasa is expected to occupy an existing luxury hotel at the entrance of the up-and-coming city that is slated to become the administrative and financial hub of Egypt. We are delighted to be working with the National Authority for Management & Investment on this exceptional conversion opportunity to bring St. Regis to Egypts New Administrative Capital, said Jerome Briet, Chief Development Officer, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. This signing further enhances the St. Regis brand portfolio in Middle East and Africa and underscores the tremendous momentum that our luxury brands have in the region. Speaking on the occasion, Colonel Waleed Samy Salama, CEO, National Authority for Management & Investment commented, The National Authority for Management and Investment is pleased to start a relationship with Marriott International. The St. Regis Almasa will be positioned as the luxury hospitality hub in the New Administrative Capital and with the largest state-of-the-art convention center in Egypt, the hotel will be the ideal host to the countrys largest events, conferences and summits. We are confident that this deal signing will play a vital role in the development of tourism in Egypt. Also present during the signing ceremony were General Mohamed Amin Ibrahim Nasr, Advisor to the President of Egypt for Financial Affairs and Liam Brown, Group President Europe, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. With the population of greater Cairo expected to double in the next few decades, the government in Egypt announced plans to build the New Administrative Capital. Almasa Royal Palace, which the owner has operated for the past two years, is located adjacent to a 42,000-square-foot convention center that hosts official government conventions and events, as well as official foreign presidents visits. The hotel consists of 270 rooms, 90 suites, 60 apartments and 14 villas. Other facilities include outdoor and indoor swimming pools, a gym, spa, club house and 20 food and beverage outlets. When it opens, The St. Regis Almasa is expected to encompass the hallmarks of the brand such as its rich traditions and rituals, and signature St. Regis Butler Service. Through a phased approach, areas across the hotel will undergo a refresh to deliver an on-brand experience in New Cairo whilst remaining open to guests. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires The government has warned Britons not to travel to mainland China as UK citizens trapped in the coronavirus-hit province of Hubei prepared for evacuation. The Foreign Office has yet to confirm any details of how and when they will pull people out of the landlocked province, however a British teacher living in the city of Wuhan revealed UK nationals were being given details of impending flights. The woman, who asked not to be named, said a number of Britons she was in contact with had arranged to return home on a flight scheduled for 7am on Thursday. Those stuck in Wuhan where the virus is believed to have originated and surrounding areas have been urged to contact the British consulate before 11am on Wednesday if they wish to leave. The British embassy in Beijing warned transport to get UK citizens out may happen quickly and with short notice. 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 Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, said the government was working urgently to finalise plans for an assisted departure from Hubei province for British nationals this week. He added: [We] are in contact with people in Hubei to ensure they register their interest and that we can keep them updated. Officials have estimated up to 200 British citizens currently in the area will want to return to the UK. It came as the Foreign Office strengthened its travel advice to warn against all but essential travel to mainland China. People wear protective facemasks at train station in Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday (AFP/Getty) (AFP) It advised UK nationals in China to make decisions based on their own personal circumstances over whether to leave but warned it may become more difficult to get out. China has imposed travel restrictions between its major cities, while the countrys ministry of culture and tourism has suspended all tour group companies activities to prevent further spread of the virus. The teacher in Wuhan said she had been told by British authorities that while she could return to the UK, her husband, who has a UK visa, would not be allowed as he is a Chinese national. It is understood that this was a result of restrictions imposed by China, rather than the UK. Hong Kongs leader Carrie Lam announced all links to mainland China would be cut from Friday and flights would also be reduced. Hubei, along with other provinces, has been in lockdown for several days as China seeks to contain the deadly flu-like illness. More than 132 people have now died in the country, with confirmed cases in China surging to more than 9,239 on Tuesday. The Department of Health and Social Care said 97 people have been given the all-clear for the virus in the UK, although scientists predict it may have entered the country. It comes as the UK expert developing a vaccine against coronavirus said it has a very good chance of being effective. Professor Robin Shattock, head of mucosal infection and immunity at Imperial College London, said he plans to start testing the vaccine on animals by the middle of February, and then on humans in the summer if enough funding is secured. He warned there could be a second wave of coronavirus across the globe next winter. Cases have also been confirmed in Germany, theUS, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Nepal, France, Canada, Australia and Sri Lanka. Stephen Barclay dodges Andrew Marr's coronavirus airlift question 4 times Four people who work at the same company in southern Germany have been infected with the coronavirus, after one of them contracted it from a Chinese colleague who was visiting their workplace. In one of the first known cases of person-to-person transmission outside China, the 33-year-old man reportedly contracted the virus during a training session last week, before three of his colleagues later fell ill. Coronavirus is an airborne virus and can be spread by coughing and sneezing, through close personal contact, or by touching an object or surface with the virus on it. Chinese health minister Ma Xiaowei has said the virus can be infectious during its incubation period before symptoms show which ranges from one to 14 days. On Monday, Matt Hancock, the health secretary, urged any Britons who have recently visited the city of Wuhan to quarantine themselves for a full 14 days. Agencies contributed to this report. 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. A flight chartered by the State Department evacuated 210 U.S. citizens from China, the origin of the deadly coronavirus outbreak, and touched down in Alaska on Tuesday night. The passengers, which include U.S. diplomats and their families, were medically screened at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and all were cleared to continue on the flight to March Air Reserve Base near Riverside, California, where they were expected to touch down at 8a.m. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will work with local officials in California to ensure these people can get back home and not put anyone at risk, according to Dr. Cameron Kaiser of the Riverside County Department of Public Health. The flight left from Wuhan, where the coronavirus first erupted. The State Department has issued a travel warning for Wuhan, saying Americans should avoid travel to the city while the virus is spreading. The virus, a respiratory illness, has already claimed 132 lives in China and spread to 5,974 people. The virus causes symptoms similar to pneumonia, although many cases are as mild as the flu. The U.S. has identified five people in the U.S. who have been infected with the virus, all of whom recently traveled to Wuhan. Another 73 people are being observed for suspect symptoms. The CDC and airport officials will coordinate to clean the Anchorage airport terminal that received the flights passengers. For many of us directly involved, this has been a moving and uplifting experience, Alaskas chief medical officer, Dr. Anne Zink, said. The whole plane erupted in cheers when the crew said, Welcome home to the United States.' About 1,000 Americans live in Wuhan, but the State Department prioritized the return of those most at risk of being sickened by the virus. Meanwhile, people who never visited China have contracted the virus in Germany, Japan, Taiwan, and Vietnam. More from National Review Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 29) President Rodrigo Duterte said he was withdrawing "his" police from areas affected by the Taal Volcano eruption and leave law enforcement to local authorities. Duterte made the revelation in his speech Wednesday, during a speech at the founding anniversary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. "I'm withdrawing my police. They have been there for so many weeks already, puno na yung lungs nila ng abo. Kaawa naman. So kung ayaw talaga sila... I'd leave it to the mayor and the police, yung pulis talaga na naka-assign doon. Sila na. I'd leave it to them to enforce the law as mandated by the authorities upstairs," he said. [Translation: I'm withdrawing my police. They have been there for so many weeks already, their lungs are full of ash. It's pitiful. So if they don't want them...I'd leave it to the mayor and the police, the police who are assigned there. They can take over. I'd leave it to them to enforce the law as mandated by the authorities upstairs.] Duterte did not say who "the authorities upstairs" were. He also did not specify what led to his decision, but he did mention that members of the military and police are those who physically bar people from returning to danger zones. "We can only do so much. 'Pagka pumilit 'yang tao, and the government enforcement guy bars him and he has to do it physically, alam mo ang physical contact can sometimes result in an ugly situation, kasi magpipilit, e. Tapos yung sundalo pati pulis, e masapak talaga kung ayaw...then it becomes a conflict now. Ang problema nito, it is always the government man who is the guilty culprit," said Duterte. [Translation: We can only do so much. If the person insists, and the government enforcement guy bars him and he has to do it physically, you know physical contact can sometimes result in an ugly situation because people can be stubborn. And then the soldier or the police can really get ht...then it becomes a conflict now. And the problem is it is always the government man who is the guilty culprit.] In a statement Wednesday, the Public Information office of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said PGen Archie Francisco Gamboa has "immediately directed for the pullout of the 2,000 strong NHQ PNP RSSF (National Headquarters PNP Reactionary Standby Support Force) from Batangas effective tonight, with all members to report back to their respective units tomorrow and return to normal duties" in compliance with the President's orders. The statement added, "Local police units and the PRO4a (police regional OFFICE 4A Search and Rescue unit under PBGen Vicente Danao will continue to provide security and assist in the relief operations in all areas in Batangas affected by the Taal volcano eruption in coordination with the Local Government Units." In his speech, Duterte lauded the efforts made both by troops and members of the DSWD, saying they were the first responders in any tragedy befalling Filipinos. "Baka hindi niyo alam kung gaano talaga kaimportante ang trabaho niyo sa Pilipino," he said. [Translation: You may not realize how important the work you do is for Filipinos.] The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology lowered Taal's alert level to 3 (the highest being 5) on Sunday, and residents in several areas were allowed to go back home after weeks of staying in evacuation centers. However, there were still some areas on lockdown, specifically the villages on Volcano Island. However, despite a ban that has been put in place preventing people from returning to these places, residents are still attempting to visit their residences to retrieve animals and whatever they can take with them. Because they want people out of the island at once, some Coast Guard personnel have been helping residents salvage what they can, in the hope that they will not return after. For now, the Coast Guard can only call out people who insist on going to the Taal Volcano island, it has yet to be determined whether there is a need to arrest or accost them. The Telangana government has urged the Centre to provide requisite medical kits for conducting tests for coronavirus in Hyderabad itself in case its severity increases and there is a possibility of it spreading to the state also. The samples are presently being sent to the National Institute of Virology at Pune. The state government is taking all precautionary measures, state Health Minister E Rajender said on Wednesday. "We urge the Centre, in case the severity (of the virus) increases and if there is a possibility of it spreading in our region also, that we can conduct the tests (for determination of virus) here itself..instead of sending it to Pune,if you can provide the concerned kits to us," he told reporters here. He said the Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) and two government hospitals in the city are equipped with latest lab facilities and felt that it would be possible to conduct the tests for nCov determination. Diagnostic tests for swine flu and other viruses are already being conducted in the city, he said. There has been no positive case of nCov so far in the country, according to him. Passengers are being screened at the international airport in Hyderabad as part of precautionary measures, he said. Isolated special wards have been set up in three government hospitals in the city, the minister said, adding 100 beds have been readied in the three hospitals and the number of beds can be increased further. The government is also looking at ways to help students from the state, who are said to be pursuing medicine in China, in coordination with the Centre, he said. According to official sources, two samples have tested negative so far, while results are awaited for three samples. Sources said on Monday three people, who had travelled to China but did not have nCov symptoms, were under medical authorities' observation. The three had approached authorities in view of spread of the virus in China and were admitted to the state-run Institute of Tropical Diseases (Fever hospital) in the city. However, two of them have since been discharged after being advised to stay put at home, they had said. The sources also said two samples sent earlier had tested negative. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A young woman is being tested for coronavirus in Tasmania, but heath authorities say it is unlikely she has the deadly disease. The woman, in her 20s, reported feeling unwell after a recent trip to China and is being tested at the Launceston General Hospital. Tasmania's director of public health Dr Mark Veitch said the woman was being tested. 'While coronavirus is not strongly suspected, health authorities are taking a precautionary approach,' Dr Veitch said. A woman in her 20s is being tested for the Coronavirus in Tasmania (stock image) CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA NEW SOUTH WALES: 4 Four people in NSW have been diagnosed with coronavirus, including three men and one woman. January 25 Three men aged 43, 53, and 35 who had recently travelled to China are confirmed to have contracted the disease. Two flew in from Wuhan while the other arrived in Sydney from Shenzhen, south China. They are being treated in isolation at Westmead Hospital and are in stable condition. January 27 A 21-year-old woman is identified as the fourth person to test positive for the illness in NSW. The woman, a student at UNSW, flew into Sydney International Airport on flight MU749 on January 23 and presented to the emergency department 24 hours later after developing flu-like symptoms. She is being treated in isolation at Westmead Hospital. VICTORIA: 4 January 25 A Chinese national aged in his 50s becomes the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in Australia. The man flew to Melbourne on China Southern flight CZ321 from Wuhan via Guangzhou on January 19. He is now in quarantined isolation at Monash Hospital in Clayton in Melbourne's east. January 29 A Victorian man in his 60s is diagnosed with the coronavirus. He became unwell on January 23 - two days after returning from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak. The man was confirmed as positive on January 29 and was subsequently seen by doctors at the Monash Medical Centre. He was assessed as being well enough to stay at home. January 30 A woman in her 40s falls ill with the coronavirus. She was visiting from China and mostly spent time with her family. She is being treated at Royal Melbourne Hospital. February 1 A Melbourne woman aged in her 20s is at home recovering. She returned from Wuhan on January 25 and fell ill two days later. She was not infectious on the flight, and has remained in isolation since being tested. QUEENSLAND: 2 January 29 Queensland confirms its first case after a 44-year-old Chinese national wass diagnosed with the virus. He is being treated at Gold Coast University Hospital. January 30 A 42-year-old Chinese woman who was travelling in the same Wuhan tour group as the 44-year-old man tests positive. She is in Gold Coast University Hospital in stable condition. SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 2 February 1 A Chinese couple were placed in isolation in a public hospital. The man and a woman both aged 60, were from Wuhan and visiting relatives in South Australia. SA Health said the pair isolated themselves at home when they developed symptoms and awaited the results of the coronavirus test. Australia has raised the travel alert level to 'do not travel' for the city of Wuhan - the epicentre of the outbreak - and for the entire Hubei province. Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy says unless people have contact with someone who is unwell and has come from that part of China, there is no need for current concern. Advertisement Health authorities tested another male in Tasmania over the weekend in Hobart but the test returned a negative result. The man reported feeling well after having visited Wuhan in China earlier this month. The Tasmanian Department of Health is working with national health authorities on its approach to managing the risk of coronavirus in the state. There are no confirmed cases in Tasmania, but four positive cases in New South Wales and one in Victoria. Australia's Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said the five people being treated in Australian hospitals are all in a stable condition. Meanwhile Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt warned the viral outbreak has the potential to become a 'pandemic' in Australia. 'There are a number of cases being considered in each of the states and territories, those numbers will literally change by the hour because some will be cleared and others will be tested,' he told Sky News. 'We do believe that there is a potential for further cases to be identified and therefore, to be announced. Testing is underway at the Launceston Hospital (pictured) for a woman in her 20s who reported feeling unwell after travelling to China 'At this stage, the latest advice is that all five patients are being treated in isolation and all are stable and being well cared for. 'We have some of the strongest border protection measures in place around the world and we have biosecurity officials boarding all planes from China looking for symptoms.' On the west coast several suspected cases have now been ruled out by health authorities. Emergency personnel are seen in full hazmat gear entering Peppers hotel on the Gold Coast after a suspected case of Coronavirus The Western Australia state government confirmed four adult patients who were being closely monitored had tested negative to the virus on Tuesday. There are no further suspected cases. In Queensland, paramedics were called to a suspected coronavirus case at a Gold Coast hotel resort after receiving reports a guest was showing symptoms of the virus. In Queensland, paramedics were called to a suspected coronavirus case at a Gold Coast hotel resort after receiving reports a guest was showing symptoms of the virus An ambulance source said the patient had recently returned to the Gold Coast from China and was displaying symptoms, The Gold Coast Bulletin reports. Queensland health tested a further six people across the state for the illness on Tuesday, all of which came back negative. In New South Wales, a family of four and six others were who were being tested for coronavirus were cleared on Tuesday morning but six new cases are under investigation. A 21-year-old UNSW student became the fourth case in NSW and fifth in Australia after she tested positive on Monday. Paramedics wearing Hazmat suits arrived at Peppers, on Elizabeth Street, Broadbeach, to reports of a suspected coronavirus case on Tuesday The woman flew into Sydney Airport on Thursday on the last Australian-bound direct flight out of the central Chinese city of Wuhan. The student and three men who previously tested positive are being treated at Sydney's Westmead Hospital. All four people had either travelled to Wuhan or had contact with someone diagnosed with coronavirus in China. The family of two adults and two children were taken to Westmead Hospital in western Sydney on Monday afternoon after showing symptoms of the disease. The family was cleared Tuesday morning but six new cases are under investigation Passengers arrive at Sydney International Airport on January 23, 2020 in Sydney, Australia Proper structures must be instituted to ... Heard of Europes Green Deal? No? That may not be surprising, as it was only announced last month. While it sounds like the latest fruit and veg special offer at your local supermarket, it is likely to be one of the most profound policy changes to hit Europe since the formation of the Common Agricultural Policy or the creation of the Euro or so says Nick Butler, chair of the Policy Institute at Kings College London, writing in the Financial Times this week. The Green Deal was announced by new European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and in brief, is a commitment by the E.U.s 27 member states to achieve zero net carbon emissions by 2050. In the U.S., at least outside of California, we are used to rather hollow commitments to carbon reduction. There is a lot of talk even a proposed U.S. Green New Deal but relatively little action; there isnt likely to be any under a Trump presidency. The Europeans, however, are dead serious about it. While there are big questions still to be answered about how it will be funded, the probability is they will achieve it, with profound consequences for many industries, trading partners and trading patterns. The Green Deal envisions a power sector based largely on renewable sources, the rapid phasing out of coal, decarbonization of gas and a focus on energy efficiency, Butler writes. The strategy will affect many established businesses, particularly those working in the eastern Europe coal market, and trading patterns, as Europe needs less oil and gas in its move to renewables. Related: 5 Niche Energy ETFs Youve (Probably) Never Heard Of The most substantial loser will be Russia, Butler suggests, currently the largest single supplier of European energy imports in the last two years. Russia may succeed in gaining an even greater share of the European gas market by building new pipelines. However, within a couple of decades these could become redundant as Europe embraces its green future, unless the holy grail can be found of gas being decarbonized at a competitive cost. How it is to be paid for is of less interest to those outside the bloc. Much water needs to pass under the bridge before it will be clear how the estimated $100 billion of E.U. support funding not the cost, that will be many times that figure is to be met. Diversion of existing regional funds is the most likely source of the majority of funding but, more to the point, maybe the change in trade practices the new policy provokes. The approach is inherently protectionist, Butler writes, with policy implemented through regulatory enforcement, but those outside the bloc that do not observe the same standards are likely to see trade penalties as Europe seeks to ensure it is not disadvantaged by its drive toward zero emissions. The Green Deal is yet another example of what is becoming increasingly obvious. It doesnt matter whether or not you believe in climate change, global warming and mans impact upon this planet, because enough of the rest of the world does to impact your business, your lifestyle and your future opportunities and threats. Believe it or not, we are all going to be impacted by the movement to reduce emissions. By Stuart Burns via AG Metal Miner More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: (Alliance News) - Sanne Group PLC said Wednesday it expects to report double-digit revenue growth for 2019, on strong growth in Asia Pacific & Mauritius and in North America. The FTSE 250 fund administrator also announced an agreement to acquire Inbhear Fund Service Ltd and Inbhear Management Services Ltd, collectively a fund administration platform, for up to EUR14.4 million. The total price includes an upfront payment of EUR6.6 million, and an earn-out over the next three years capped at EUR7.8 million. The acquisition is conditional on regulatory clearance, and is expected to be completed on March 1. Once completed, Sanne said it expects to benefit from a physical presence in the Cayman Islands, and an enhancement in its existing Dublin capabilities. For 2019, Sanne expects to report 16% revenue growth, driven mainly by Europe, Middle East & Africa, Asia Pacific & Mauritius, and North America. For 2018, Sanne reported revenue at GBP143.0 million. The annualised value of new business wins is set to remain flat at GBP24.5 million in 2019, but with good momentum running into 2020 and significant wins falling into the new year. In addition, Sanne said it expects to report an underlying operating profit margin in line with expectations. Looking ahead, Sanne's strategic review of its Jersey-based Private Client business is ongoing, and is now at an advanced stage. Sanne will publish its annual results on March 19. Shares in Sanne were down 0.7% at 596.00 pence on Wednesday in London. By Dayo Laniyan; dayolaniyan@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 29 : The proceedings of the Kerala Assembly on Wednesday were marred by unsavoury incidents, wherein opposition members raised slogans against Governor Arif Mohammed Khan who later in his speech aired the state government's views on the CAA but not without first registering his reservations. As he arrived to address the Assembly, Khan was waylaid by the Congress-led opposition members on the House floor. The opposition MLAs stopped him in the Assembly well amid sloganeering. Khan throughout maintained his cool, wearing a smile, and greeted the protesters with folded hands. As he waited for things to cool down, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan standing next to him had a grim face. It was only after a few minutes of sloganeering that the watch-and-ward staff of the Assembly descended on the spot to escort Khan to the podium. But as soon as the Governor began his address, the opposition members walked out. No Governor in Kerala has faced such protests on the Assembly floor in the past. Then it was the turn of Khan to create a new precedent -- Before speaking on the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act mentioned in his written speech, the Governor said that even though he "disagreed" with his government's views, he would still read it. In the past, whenever a Governor was not in agreement with any statement incorporated in his address to the Assembly, he simply avoided reading out that portion. "Before I read it, I will say I have my reservations although I hold the view that this is not part of the policy or programmes of the government. I honour the wish of the Chief Minister, though I don't agree to it; but I will read it," the Governor remarked and read out the Pinarayi Vijayan government's opposition to the CAA. Just before entering his vehicle to return to Raj Bhavan, Khan told the waiting media: "I have seen much bigger protests than this when I was in the Assembly." Later, speaking to the media at the main gate of the Assembly where the opposition staged a sit-in, Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said that "it's a shame that Vijayan had to fall at the Governor's feet, as was evident from the developments". "What Vijayan should have done was to support my resolution that seeks to withdraw the Governor from the state. Khan is an agent of the RSS and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Today, Vijayan has succumbed to them as his SNC Lavalin corruption case is coming up for hearing in the Supreme Court next week. The other day, he organised a human chain to protest against the CAA but in the evening was seen in Khan's company. We feel ashamed over the actions of Vijayan," said Chennithala. State Parliamentary Affairs Minister A.K. Balan told the media that the Governor and the state government had done a good job in meeting a constitutional requirement. "It was a good decision on the Governor's part to read out the portion, though it was earlier planned to be omitted. The opposition conspiracy has fallen flat and the Kerala people will not accept waylaying of the Governor," said Balan. In a controversial remark, Industries Minister E.P. Jayarajan alleged that the opposition behaviour showed as if some mental issues were involved. Ukrainian ex-Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin has demanded that the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) open criminal proceedings against former U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden for illegal influence on him as the prosecutor general of Ukraine. "I ask you to register a criminal offense against me in the Unified Register of Pretrial Investigations by a U.S. citizen, Joseph Biden, which happened on the territory of Ukraine and abroad, namely, interference with the activities of a law enforcement officer, the responsibility for which is provided for in Part 2 of Article 343 of Ukraine's Criminal Code. Immediately start a pretrial investigation and give written instructions to SBI investigators," Shokin said in a statement to the acting SBI director delivered by Shokin's lawyers. Shokin said he agreed to resign as prosecutor general of Ukraine due to Biden pressure. "During the last months of 2015 and the first of 2016, Joseph Biden, using his official position, personally paid official visits to Ukraine several times with the aim of holding negotiations with the state leaders on my removal from my post. As a result, he curtailed an objective investigation criminal proceedings on the facts of unlawful activities of persons associated with the company Burisma Holdings Limited (Cyprus), including the son of the specified high-ranking official," Shokin said. Shokin said Biden demanded that he be fired in exchange for the unhindered provision of Ukraine with a U.S. state guarantee in the amount of $1 billion. Shokin said Biden's actions can be considered as pressure according to the scientific and legal conclusion of the International Law Association of April 18, 2017, provided by Doctor of Law, Professor [Oleksandr] Merezhko, currently Vice President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Facts about Biden's illegal influence against Shokin are confirmed by the results of an independent international journalistic investigation, named "UkraineGate," conducted and published by the French Internet publication Les-Crises.fr. PR-Inside.com: 2020-01-29 07:30:13 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 443 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Jadesan Capital Investments held a celebration at the Grand Hilton Hotel in Seoul, South Korea, to commemorate their official launch in the Asia-PacificSEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / ACCESSWIRE / January 29, 2020 / On the 5th of January 2020, Jadesan Capital Investments held a celebration at the Grand Hilton Hotel in Seoul, South Korea, to commemorate their official launch in the Asia-Pacific.Jadesan Capital Investments, a leading financial services firm that specializes in fund management activities in Europe and the United States, has officially expanded their services into the Asia-Pacific region, beginning with the largest financial market in the world; Forex.Jadesan Capital Investments' expansion into the Asia-Pacific following a hugely successful 2017 and 2018 in western markets, comes as no surprise as many industry observers believe it is a natural progression for the financial company.Asia is home to 4 of the top 8 financial centers in the world; located in Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai and Tokyo (the other 4 global financial centers being New York, London, Zurich and Toronto). Asia also consists of the largest number of Forex traders in the world with 3.2 million active traders daily.However, despite these impressive statistics, there are still a number of developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region that have are lacking in modern technology, such as fast internet access, sophisticated computers and mobile banking. These communities are expected to be the source of huge growth in the global Forex industry in the coming years.The huge event was attended by approximately 1000 members from China, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia and Singapore, and included government officials, financial dignitaries, investors and shareholders. The exclusive event was graced by VIPs and keynote speakers, CEO Mr. Adam Slipstone, and Asia Pacific Chief Forex Consultant, Dato Jimmy Wong.Jadesan Capital Investments has engaged the services of well-known Forex expert Dato Jimmy Wong, CEO and Co-founder of JF Lennon, a firm specializing in Forex activities in Asia, as an external Forex consultant to aid in their expansion into the Asia-Pacific region.CEO, Mr. Slipstone spoke about the 2020 Asia-Pacific roadmap for the firm, "We will continue to establish Forex Institutions around Asia that will better educate individual and institutional clients. We also aim to create increased awareness in all our Asian markets through effective marketing campaigns." He continued, "This year, JCI will focus on customer satisfaction for all our current members, with more efficient b2c processes, heartfelt customer loyalty programs and enhanced payment gateways." The one-day exclusive private event included key note speeches, performances, lucky draws, award presentations, and ended with a 5-course grand dinner.Contact Info:Name: Jadesan Capital Investments (JCI)Email: Send EmailOrganization: Jadesan Capital Investments (JCI)Website: https://jadesan.capital/ SOURCE: Jadesan Capital Investments CARLISLE An IED explosion in Iraq back in 2006 is what permanently injured David Ott. But it wasnt until Wednesday 14 years after he was wounded in combat -- that Ott was officially awarded his Purple Heart. Im happy and it finally brings closure to something that was a long time coming, said Ott, who was deployed with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard when he was injured. Im kind of sad, too, because this is the last time I will be getting an award from the military. It took years of effort on the part of his friend and retired member of his unit, Keith Holdren, who had to keep applying and filing missing paperwork and reapplying, but after all of that effort and all of the years in between, the Purple Heart just showed up one day last summer at Otts home. In the mail. While it was nice to have the award, getting it the mail just didnt feel quite right for Ott. And it didnt feel right for Rick Olson, either. Olson is the commander of the VFW Post 477 in Carlisle, and he wanted to do something special. (Otts) wife called me and said, my husband got his Purple Heart in the mail, and no paperwork or anything, just a medal, and it just doesnt feel right, Ott explained. And I said I totally agree. Well fix that for you. So, at the Old Warriors luncheon the post hosts periodically for the areas World War II and Korean War veterans, Olson and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael J. Carden of the Carlisle Barracks officially presented Ott with his Purple Heart. Carden, himself a Purple Heart recipient, said this is not the medal anyone wants. It is awarded to those who are wounded or killed in combat. But it is the nations oldest military honor, dating back to George Washington, and it is perhaps one of the highest honors one can receive. During his career, Carden has bestowed many awards on service members, but he said Wednesday was an extra special day to be able to give Ott the long-deserved award in front of the older generations of veterans. I was glad to see him get it after all these years, said Harry Pace, a Carlisle resident and World War II Navy veteran. The long road to getting the award was an amazing story, said Pace, who enjoys attending these lunches so he can meet other veterans, like the VFWs newest member Ott. Ott served for 23 years in the military, both active duty and in the Army National Guard. Back in January 2006, he was a combat medic as part of a Quick Reaction Force when a roadside bomb went off, hitting him with the concussive blast. It started as a mild brain injury, he explained. At first, he found he was dizzy and suffered from nausea and night terrors. But he still stayed in Iraq and finished out his tour. Two months after he got home, though, what seemed like a mild brain injury suddenly became severe. On a trip to Disney World with his family in August 2006, he went stiff as a board, and dropped to the ground. He fell into a six-week coma and was on life support with internal bleeding and swelling in his brain, he said. To this day, he takes medication to fend off seizures. His memory is affected, too. But he has the support of his family, and he gets around with the help of a service dog , a black lab named Sarge. Despite his injuries, and despite the time it took to be awarded the Purple Heart, Ott, a retired Allentown police officer, still looks back at his 23 years of military service fondly, and said I miss it every day. One silver lining in getting the award so late, though, is that he made some new friends at VFW in his new home of Carlisle. And he plans to spend time with both his new friends at the post and with his family, which now includes two granddaughters. As for the VFW, Olson was just happy to do it for Ott and for all of the veterans. I think hes very appreciative of us being here for him, Olson said. In my mind, thats what the VFW is all about. Serving our veterans. 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. ADAMS The national commander of the American Legion, James W. "Bill" Oxford, will speak at the American Legion in Adams on Feb. 17. As part of a tour of southern Minnesota, Oxford will visit American Legion Post 146 in Adams for an 8 a.m. breakfast on Feb. 17, and talk with veterans, community leaders and citizens about the critical role that the American Legion plays in being a voice for veterans. He will then proceed to Waseca and Albert Lea for lunch and dinner before moving on Feb. 18-19 to other locations across the region. Oxford leads more than 2.4 million members of the American Legion worldwide who belong to more than 14,000 posts. "We are honored to showcase patriotic citizens throughout southern Minnesota," said American Legion Minnesota Commander Mark Dvorak. "The post-9/11 veterans are our future, and we have seen many of them join the American Legion as a way to continue serving their country." ADVERTISEMENT Oxford will discuss the priorities, challenges and strategy for The American Legion to build a foundation for the future as the organization enters its 101st year of existence. Members of the public are welcome and can RSVP to Adams Post 146 at 507-582-3266. Washington, Jan 30 : US President Donald Trump signed into law on Wednesday, a measure to implement the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), intended to replace the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). "Today, we finally end the NAFTA nightmare," Trump said during a signing ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House. The roughly 400 invited guests included business leaders, Republican lawmakers and two top officials from Mexico: Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard and Economy Secretary Graciela Marquez, Efe news reported. But the President declined to invite any Democratic members of Congress, even though the version of the USMCA signed was the result of talks between the administration and Democrats in the House of Representatives. The US Senate ratified the USMCA by a vote of 89-10 on January 16, about a month after the House approved the text. Mexican lawmakers already gave their assent, so the only remaining hurdle is ratification by Canada's Parliament, scheduled to return from recess at the end of this month. Washington, Ottawa and Mexico City initialed the USMCA in November 2018 after more than a year of negotiations spurred by Trump's demand for a new pact to replace NAFTA, which he described as "one of the worst trade deals in history." The Democrats, who took control of the US House of Representatives in January 2019, demanded stronger environmental and labor provisions in exchange for their support. On December 10, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced an agreement with the Trump administration on modifications to the USMCA and the revised text was signed hours later in Mexico City by Mexican lead negotiator Jesus Seade, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. "We have replaced a disastrous trade deal," Trump said Wednesday. "This is something we really put our heart into. It is probably the main reason why I chose to live this crazy life." "This is a cutting edge, state-of-the-art agreement that protects and defends the people of our country," the president said. In a report released last April, the US International Trade Commission estimated that enacting the USMCA would boost US gross domestic product by 0.35 per cent and lead to the creation of 176,000 new jobs. A key change in the USMCA is a requirement that 75 per cent of cars be made in North America, up from 62.5 per cent under NAFTA. Additionally, between 40 per cent and 45 per cent of a vehicle's content must be produced by workers who earn at least $16 per hour, a stiffer requirement that could lead to more cars being manufactured in the US and Canada, as opposed to low-wage Mexico. The deal also offers US dairy farmers greater access to the Canadian market and includes new provisions regarding e-commerce and intellectual property rights. For the second year in a row, Lebanon hosted the Oregon Pain Summit, drawing doctors and other specialists the field to the Boulder Falls center for two days of presentations. Veronica Moresi, a physical therapist at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital, was one of the lead organizers for the event, along with fellow physical therapist Sharna Prasad. Moresi said there are few topics that are more important to patients than pain, but it is not a subject which always receives the necessary attention. "I think a lot of us, when we were in school, didn't get the kind of training that's applicable for this. I've been out of school for six or seven years and this was new to me coming out of school. People come to me, most of the time, because they have pain. They come to physical therapists because they have pain," Moresi said. There are many contributing factors to pain and research continues into the best way to address pain. It is now understand that thoughts, emotions and sensations all play a role in the complex experience of pain. That means two individuals can have vastly different experiences of a similar sensation and will require different treatment. Dr. Ed Junkins, an associate dean at the Western University of Health Sciences, COMP-Northwest in Lebanon, gave the keynote address on Friday. His topic was the impact of childhood trauma on chronic pain management. Studies have shown that children who experience trauma experience changes in their brain's response to stimuli. These individuals see threats earlier than others and their systems respond more aggressively to these threats and sensations. Because of their past experiences, their bodies will release more cortisol and endorphins, which serves to heighten their response. "The brain sees threat earlier and reacts more aggressively," Junkins said. "It's an aggressive threat appraisal, very aggressive, very advanced, very sophisticated threat appraisal, driven by uncertainty and anxiety." Treating pain in these individuals is not as simple as writing a prescription. These patients need help understanding how their past experiences have shaped their current response. Perhaps of even greater importance is providing help to young people who have experienced trauma while they are still maturing. Schools, clubs, churches and other organizations can all play a role in identifying those who have experienced trauma and assisting them in getting the help they need before they grow into adults who live with chronic pain. "If there can be one person in that child's life, that angel in the nursery, that can make a difference, one person, just one safe, caring individual," Junkins said. Moresi said Lebanon is the right setting for the conference and not just because of the convenience of having Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital, the COMP-Northwest campus and Boulder Falls in such close proximity. "There's been a lot of progress specifically in Lebanon with chronic pain treatment and things like that," Moresi said. Love 0 Funny 0 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. The new US plan for a Middle East settlement, called the 'deal of the century,' can include thePalestinians' proposals, senior adviser and son-in-law of US President Jared Kushner told CNN. "The terms are not final terms. This is an opening offer and if the Palestinians come -- and they have some adjustments, they want to move the line, they want to change one of the sentences, they want to negotiate on different thing -- there'll be flexibility," he said. "What you've seen today is that President Trump has built a lot of trust with the state of Israel. He's done a lot of great things that have made Israel more secure and the relationship between America and Israel stronger," Kushner said in an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour. "It's a big opportunity for the Palestinians and they have a perfect track record of blowing every opportunity they've had in their past, but perhaps maybe their leadership will read the details of it, stop posturing and do what's best to try to make the Palestinians' lives better," he said. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump, along with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, announced at the White House key provisions of the plan for a Palestinian-Israeli peaceful settlement, based on the mutual recognition of the two states. Jim Himes is, and has been for as long as I have been aware of him, a remarkably effective and responsible guy. He has consistently championed and pushed for issues and accomplishments that benefit us here in Connecticut sensible gun control, jobs, infrastructure, education, the environment and election security among many others. He is a real advocate for seniors. He is also here and visible, a real part of our community with real active participation. He holds Town Hall meetings, workshops and roundtables. His constituent assistance offers real help with cases and issues involving Social Security, immigration and veterans affairs. But culture begins at the top, with the United States political leadership. When Trump complains, as he did in a tweet last year, We train our boys to be killing machines, then prosecute them when they kill! he risks undermining commanders work on accountability. Even worse is when he seems to condone Gallaghers attack on the SEAL commander for conducting a peer review of Gallaghers SEAL status. I would have torn him apart, says one retired four-star general of Gallaghers behavior. That was insubordination, pure and simple. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit Kuala Lumpur next week to placate Malaysia after he skipped a major summit of Muslim nations reportedly under pressure from Saudi Arabia, according to a media report on Wednesday. Khan had confirmed Pakistan's participation in the December 19-21 summit hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, but skipped the event at the 11th hour due to pressure exerted by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - key financial backers of the cash-strapped country. The summit in Kuala Lumpur was seen by Saudis as an attempt to create a new bloc in the Muslim world that could become an alternative to the dysfunctional Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) led by the Gulf Kingdom. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan even visited Islamabad last month to convey the Saudi leadership's gratitude to Pakistan for not attending the summit. The Express Tribune on Wednesday reported that Khan is scheduled to travel to Kuala Lumpur on an official visit from February 3-4. After pulling out from the event, Khan spoke to his Malaysian counterpart over phone and offered him to visit after the summit. It is believed that Khan will use the visit to explain Prime Minister Mohamad the reason of Pakistan's pull out from the summit, the report said. Pakistan is also making efforts to reach out to Turkey after it blamed Islamabad of pulling out of the summit under threats from Saudi Arabia. The report said that the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayab Erdogan in February to Pakistan would help remove any mistrust between the two countries. Pakistan tried hard before the Kuala Lumpur summit to bring all Islamic countries on one platform. However, those efforts could not make any headway because of time constraints, the report said, adding that it would continue to strive for unity in the Muslim world to face common challenges. Khan's visit to Malaysia is part of those efforts, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As many of our readers will be well aware, Avro Lancaster B.VII NX611 Just Jane is under restoration to airworthy condition with the Lincoln Aviation Heritage Center at former RAF East Kirkby in Lincolnshire, England. We have been reporting on their progress periodically, and we thought that our readers might like to see their most recent report, reproduced here with permission The Rivet Club Newsletter 96 by Andrew Panton This week we have dispatched a quantity of ribs, intercostals and spars from the wingtips off to Mark Cole and Cunningham Aero while also bringing back the leading edge ribs, some formed skins and some ribs. The mammoth trip to the south coast and back in a long day also saw a diversion to Cambridge to collect the two coolant radiators and two oil coolers that had just been finished. We received the new aluminium sheet which has enabled Jack to start on the production of the bulkhead plate (from the rear turret mount) which was quite heavily corroded. There is also an intercostal to make with this 16 gauge material. The extrusion for the wingtip has arrived from Capalex. The two different styles have been cut to size and sent off to Cunningham Aero (along with the originals) for them to be shaped. They will then be sent back to Capalex to be heat-treated. Incidentally, we are also producing a set for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight as they work on their wingtips this winter. So the extrusion that we have had made, costing 11,000, has given us two aircrafts-worth of extrusion for the wingtips and corresponding outer wing attachment face, as well as the T-section, which is located at the root end of the wingtips as a strengthening longeron. The same T-section is also used in the tail planes/horizontal stabilizer. We also have an order in for the fuselage stringer extrusion with an American company, and we hope soon to learn when that should be completed as well. We had to use an American company, as no one in the UK could make it in the required length. Jack and Martin have removed the corrosion and old paint remnants from the rear fuselage skins up to the last former, where the turret shroud starts. We will now be able to paint this area for next season, before we strip all of these skins off next winter. The new steel alloy for the rear turret ring has been sent to the Test House for evaluation. Their technicians will take a sample of this material and test it to destruction to produce the necessary data regarding its mechanical properties. We will then be able to compare these data with those from the original WWII alloy. This is a necessary, if costly, way of proving that the material we will use to fabricate the new turret ring has the appropriate properties we will need, since the original steel alloy is no longer available. All of these data will go into the modification paperwork for the change of material to the part. Interestingly, the rear turret ring is spun, rather than press-formed during its manufacture. This is an incredible method of shaping metal over a wooden former. A video demonstrates this technique HERE. I will try to get some photos or videos of the front and rear turret rings being spun. Weve had an army of riggers working on the production of a multitude of parts for the wingtips. The wingtips are a very clever design that enables them to use a very thin aluminium alloy that is around 22 gauge that is just 32 thousands of an inch thick! They are made somewhat like a jigsaw puzzle, as the ribs and intercostals actually interlock. This means that the central box has to be built up first, and in a certain order, to enable all of the other parts to be interlocked very much a mind-bending puzzle! Jim has joined us again on his busmans holiday from Canada and Bill the Australian is back with us after his Christmas break with his UK family so were ticking the multi-national boxes with this project! There are lots of hidden costs with a huge project like this. For example, the wingtip jigs have cost us in the region of 4,000. All being well, we will only ever use them this winter. What do we do then? It would be foolish to scrap them, but then weve got to store them! We have a plan in the making which would hopefully see them used for an extremely good purpose, but we cant release more information on that just yet. Gerbs, Gary, John and Brad have been progressing with their work on Tony Agars deHavilland Mosquito NF.II HJ711 while weve been waiting on some Lancaster parts to be returned. The Mosquito is progressing nicely as we mop up some of the ongoing jobs left over from the initial assembly at East Kirkby. Thanks for your support! Andrew Panton Thats all for this particular update. We hope that you have enjoyed reading it. As can be seen, a lot of work remains to be done, but the aircraft is well on the way back to flying condition. It is being done in a methodical and careful manner in order to keep the aircraft available for ground-running operations during the summer months. For those interested in helping support this important project, please click HERE Be sure to check out their store HERE as well There are many cool items to buy which will help get Just Jane back in the air! New Delhi, Jan 29 : Facing the financial crunch over Rs 50,000 crore outgo as pension to more than 15.5 lakh former railway employees, the railways has asked the Finance Ministry to set up the pension fund, a senior official said on Wednesday. Chairman Railway Board V.K. Yadav said, "About 25 per cent of the railways' earnings goes into paying the pensions to the former railway employees. And this amount shoots over Rs 50,000 crore. Thus we have requested the Finance Ministry for the pension fund." The Chairman said the railways also pays salaries to its 12.5 lakh employees, which takes a major chunk of the railways' earnings. The chairman also accepted the railways this year is feeling the heat of the operating ratio and it would not be able to control it by 97 per cent. Last year, the operating ratio for the railways was 97 per cent, while this year it has gone up to 98.44 per cent. Yadav said: "No doubt the railways is facing financial challenges. To meet the financial crisis, the railways is doing a lot of things. Things will start improving in the next few months," he said. The Indian Railways recorded an operating ratio of 98.44 per cent in 2017-18, the worst in the last 10 years, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) said in its report tabled in Parliament on December 2 this year. According to railway officials, the operating ratio is a measure of expenditure against revenue and it shows how efficiently the national transporter is operating and how healthy its finances are. An operating ratio of 98.44 per cent means the Railways spent Rs 98.44 to earn Rs 100. The government auditor also highlighted that since 2016-17, the revenue surplus of the national transporter has been falling, which is indicative of failing financial health of Indian Railways. "During 2017-18, the net revenue surplus decreased by 66.10 per cent from Rs 4,913.00 crore in 2016-17 to Rs 1,665.61 crore," it pointed out. The CAG also said that the factors mainly attributable to meagre surplus were increase in working expenses (8.14 per cent) and negative growth rate of sundry earnings (16.20 per cent). "Staff cost, including pension payments, constituted the bulk of working expenses," the CAG said. Speaking on the merger of eight services into one IRMS service of the railways, the Chairman said, "During our discussion with the rialway officers, the officials from the accounts, traffic and personnel department objected to the idea of cadre merger. However, their objections were clarified." He said the group B officers of the railways have in writing supported the cadre merger of the railways. On the restructuring of the Railway Board, which currently has eight members, Yadav said, "The post of two members is lying vacant and one of the board members is set to retire on January 31. So we will be retaining most of the Board members and reallocate them the new charges in the next one month." He said he had held talks with the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for the new cadre merger. On December 24, the Union Cabinet approved the organisational restructuring of the railways through the unification of the existing eight Group A services into one central service called the Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS). After changes in the railway officials' structure, the Chairman, along with four members responsible for infrastructure, operations and business development, rolling stock and finance, respectively, will form the Railway Board. The Chairman will be the cadre controlling officer responsible for Human Resources (HR) with assistance from a Director General (HR). Three apex-level posts will be surrendered from Railway Board and all its remaining posts will be open to all officers regardless of the service to which they belonged. The Board will also have some independent non-executive members, who will be highly distinguished professionals with deep knowledge and 30 years of experience, including at the top levels in industry, finance, economics and management fields. (Anand Singh can be contacted at anand.s@ians.in) The new viral menace of novel coronavirus has managed to infect more people that the 2003 SARS outbreak had affected in China. There are 170 feared killed after having contracted the virus in China say the latest reports. There have been thousands of new cases of the virus infection from China and several from other nations as well. Total number of infected individuals from China is now over 7,711 say reports with over 11,000 feared infected by the virus and not yet confirmed with diagnostic tests. Countries, territories or areas with reported confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV, 29 January 2020 Health authorities in China early this week conducted extensive tests and investigations to find the origin of the infection and local animal markets have been suspected. Exotic meats sold at these local markets could be the source of these infections says officials with many of the samples coming back positive for the viral RNA. Chengdu, Sichuan / China - January 23 2019: travellers all wear mask at airport to prevent infection from coronavirus. The virus has caused emergency situation during Chinese New Year. Image Credit: B.Zhou / Shutterstock There have been two cases reported in Germany and one in Japan seen in persons who had not travelled to China or consumed contaminated meat but were in contact with persons who had returned from Wuhan region in China. In these three individuals the transmission is suspected to be human-to-human say experts. One of the Japanese men infected is a bus driver working near Wuhan and another is a resident of Wuhan who travelled to Japan. Both are stable and hospitalized. The German man infected in this manner was in contact with a Chinese colleague who had returned possibly with the infection. For others the transmission seems to be animal-to-human explain the researchers and health authorities. The World Health Organization has also confirmed a case in Vietnam that probably from transmitted from another human. Hong Kong has announced cutting off rail and transport links to mainland China and all the flights from China are being restricted and monitored stringently. The United States government too is flying out diplomats and consulate members from Wuhan and this plane would be flying to Ontario at anchorage and passengers would be screened before landing on US soil say authorities. France, Indonesia, United Kingdom and Mongolia too have been sending in planes to central China for evacuation of their officials. In Australia, six people have been confirmed to be infected with the virus. Victorias chief officer Dr Brett Sutton said, The man was mostly at home and had isolated himself when unwell but he had gone out to a restaurant called The House of Delight for a short period of time. That restaurant has been followed up with and those who were there at the same time, whose contact details we have, we are following up with. But obviously that restaurant is okay to go to now. People dont need to avoid that area or indeed anywhere else people have been, even if infectious at the time, he added. United Arab Emirates has also confirmed one case of corona virus said the UAE health ministry. UAE thus becomes the first Middle Eastern nation to have a case of this infection. Meanwhile to curb the spread Wuhan and 16 other cities in Hubei province have been cut off completely in terms of transport. Over 50 million people are trapped as a result of this lockdown say authorities. There has also been a blanket ban on sale of animal meat at the local markets. Face masks are being flown in, two large hospitals are being constructed at rapid pace to meet the growing needs of the disease. Experts have said that surgical masks not as thick as the P2 mask is adequate protection against the virus. For health care workers collecting samples from patients and general practitioners working with patients with suspected symptoms, this could provide protection. Tibet, in China is the latest part of the nation to have reported a case of corona virus. A 34 year old male from Wuhan has been detected with the virus in Tibet say health authorities. Malik Peiris, chairman in virology at the University of Hong Kong and adviser on the World Health Organisations coronavirus emergency committee assured that the spread outside China is small and stringent measures could stop further outbreaks in other parts of the world. There have been reported confirmed cases in United States, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore and Sri Lanka. 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 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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 Sexual harassment is found to occur more frequently in field research and might be affecting undergraduate recruiting in STEM fields. Studies have demonstrated that sexual harassment occurs more frequently during field research than in a traditional classroom setting. University of Arkansas archeologists Emily Beahm and Carl Drexler will help address this problem by contributing to a multi-institutional research team awarded $300,000 by the National Science Foundation. "As a discipline, we require students to participate in a field-based course, and we know that field work is where sexual harassment is more likely to occur," said Beahm, research station archeologist with the Arkansas Archeological Survey. "Unfortunately, our discipline has done little to understand what field directors do to prevent sexual harassment, or if they can improve current practices. This grant will enable our team to provide recommendations that can improve archeological learning." Beahm is part of group led by Carol Colaninno, research assistant professor at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville STEM Center and principal investigator for the project. Other team members include Drexler, research assistant professor at the University of Arkansas and station archeologist with the Arkansas Archeological Survey; and Shawn Lambert, assistant professor at Mississippi State University and research fellow at the Cobb Institute of Archaeology. Colannino said this issue plagues academic disciplines dependent on field-based research, such as biology, ecology, geology and archeology. Research has shown that students who have been historically underrepresented in science, engineering and technology - including women, minorities, LGBTQ-plus members and those with diverse abilities - have an increased likelihood of harassment compared to individuals outside these groups. The NSF award supports research designed to prevent sexual harassment during undergraduate field-based courses. The research team will develop evidence-based practices and policies that field school directors can implement to prevent sexual harassment and make field schools safer and more inclusive for undergraduate students who aspire to become archeologists. The researchers emphasize that sexual harassment might be one factor contributing to fewer undergraduate students among underrepresented groups in field-based sciences, technology, engineering and math, the STEM fields. "If students, particularly those who identify with groups underrepresented in STEM, are harassed or assaulted, they may decide to leave the scientific community altogether," Drexler said. "When this occurs, science loses the diversity of intellectual thought and personal experiences that these students have brought to the field, and their potential to serve as role models and mentors to the next generation of diverse scholars." During the three-year grant period, the researchers will conduct landscape analysis, work with field directors and students to develop recommended practices, and help implement these practices by documenting how they help create a safer and more inclusive field learning environment. Beahm is research station archeologist at the University of Arkansas-Winthrop Rockefeller Institute Station, and Drexler serves as station archeologist at the Southern Arkansas University research station. Field directors interested in the project can find more information at siuestemcenter.org/safe-field-schools. ### The rule of law and pluralism are at the heart of the Indian society and both India and the Netherlands share these values, President of the Dutch Senate Jan Anthonie Bruijn has said. Addressing a gathering at a reception here to celebrate India's 71st Republic Day, Bruijn praised the country as the largest democracy in the world. The values of democracy, rule of law and pluralism are at the heart of the Indian society and both India and the Netherlands share these values, a statement issued by the Indian Embassy here quoted Bruijn as saying at the event on Monday. He said India has become a global player in information technology and Indian migrants -- which include students, entrepreneurs and IT professionals -- to the Netherlands have doubled in numbers. Bruijn said many innovations in the medical field are coming from India and there is a growing interest in traditional medicine system of India in his country. "Yoga enthusiasts from all over the Netherlands filled the DAM Square on the International Day of Yoga last year," he said. The Dutch Senate President was the guest of honour at the reception hosted by India's Ambassador to the Netherlands Venu Rajamony. He also described the book 'India and the Netherlands- Past, Present and Future', authored by Rajamony as a strong testimony to India-Netherlands friendship. Dutch dignitaries, Ambassadors of various countries stationed in The Hague, senior officials of the Dutch government and prominent members of the Indian community were among the 250 guests who attended the reception, the statement said. Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi was also among the guests, it said. The reception was held at the historic Grote Kerk, one of the oldest buildings in The Hague dating back to the 14th century. The celebrations included a dance and vocal performances by Indian community members in The Netherlands. The guests also enjoyed exhibitions on the 'State Visit to India by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima' and 'Snapshots from India-Netherlands Relations' at the event. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. City of Shasta Lake, Calif.- The city of Shasta Lake is turning to the state for help with affordable housing. City officials met Tues. night at the Shasta Lake Community Center to provide more information about the city's decision to revitalize the downtown area. Community members were invited to attend the public forum to ask questions and provide input. Both the City of Shasta Lake and the agency, K2 Development Company, will seek funding from the California Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program to remodel the city's center. The name of the project is being called Boomtown Center. People in the community are hopeful that the project proposal will become a reality. " I think it's a good idea, I think it would pick up our economy and building those apartments would help get some people off the streets and it might be afforable for them," says Rachel Ochoa, a woman who's lived in Shasta Lake for more than 20 years. "I think it will be a good thing for the city and bring tourism here," says Sally Paoli, a woman who's lived in Shasta Lake for 18 years. The city will be applying for a state grant in hopes of making the the project a reality. If they get the grant, major changes could be coming to the downtown area. According to the city, those changes could include building forty-eight affordable housing units, retail space, building a solar-power parking area, fixing streets and improving walking trails. The city is also pushing towards more sustainable transportation which would include making upgrades to sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways. If the city is awarded the grant, improvements would be taking place over the next five years. West Virginia governor Jim Johnson. Photo: Chris Jackson/AP/Shutterstock In a partnership that befits our deeply stupid time, Governor Jim Justice of West Virginia has teamed up with Jerry Falwell Jr., Liberty University president and Florida hotelier, to advance a new project. Both men have come out in support of Vexit, an effort to expand the state of West Virginia by convincing some parts of Virginia to secede. According to Justice, Virginians unhappy with their Democratic state government ought to join their counties to West Virginia, where the GOP still holds sway. If you are out there, no matter where you may be, Virginia or wherever you may be, as an individual or as a business or whatever, West Virginia is waiting for you with open arms, he said. A charming proposal! Falwell, meanwhile, mostly seems concerned about his universitys bottom line. In his remarks, he singled out a legislative proposal that would, in his words, end public aid to thousands of online students attending private colleges, while increasing aid for more affluent resident students. As Religion News Service noted in a piece on the press conference, online students make up a massive portion of Libertys overall student body, and a reduction to their numbers would have significant financial consequences for the university, and for Falwell himself. Obviously, there is a lot going on here, and it is all bad. As a product of southwestern Virginia, I do not regard our brothers and sisters across the border with any sort of hostility. West Virginia is a beautiful state with a proud history of militant labor action a lot to celebrate! But Vexit itself is best understood as the symptom of a broader reactionary backlash to Virginias new status as a blue state. Ill explain: Why Is This Happening Now? Republicans in the West Virginia legislature have introduced two separate resolutions encouraging Virginians to secede. As reported by the Richmond Times-Dispatch, one resolution resurrects a 158-year-old invitation to Frederick County in northwestern Virginia. Another, which awaits further action by the House of Delegates, encourages Virginians at large to vote to make their counties West Virginian territory. Vexit draws on real history. Before the Civil War, the two states were actually one. After Virginia seceded, West Virginia split off in order to remain in the Union. But now West Virginia Republicans are capitalizing on pockets of regional hostility to the Virginias Democratic-controlled state government. In rural, predominantly white areas of Virginia, President Trump remains extremely popular, and recent proposals to tighten state gun laws have provoked outrage. In an interview with Glenn Beck recounted by the West Virginia MetroNews, Gary Howell, a West Virginia delegate who backs Vexit, described these areas as natural extensions of his state. If you look at a lot of the people in the Shenandoah and the Blue Ridge and even the south side of Virginia, theyre very similar culturally, demographically, and a lot of the geography is the same, Howell said. Put more directly, Vexit is a plea for Herrenvolk democracy, a territory where one ethnic group and one ethnic group alone holds power unchallenged. Do West Virginians Want This? Obviously some of them do, but most Vexit supporters seem to serve in the state legislature or occupy the governors mansion. West Virginia is not home to a mass movement calling for the expansion of its borders. The last time West Virginians organized en masse, it was to demand fair pay and better benefits for public school teachers. The priorities of the voting public thus appear to be at odds with those of Governor Justice. Do Virginians Want This? At least two: Falwell, and right-wing activist Rick Boyer, described by the Times-Dispatch as an attorney and former elected official. But support hasnt spread to the state Republican party. Emmett Hanger, a Republican state senator, asked the Richmond paper if Vexit supporters were performing a comedy routine. The idea could be popular with some voters. The sense of alienation some Virginians feel in relation to state government is not new, and there is some validity to the sentiment. Communities in western Virginia like the one I grew up in are often markedly poorer than those in northern Virginia. The decline of the coal industry left the states westernmost counties, which border West Virginia and Kentucky, in particularly dire shape. But that doesnt mean the people who live there are ready for Vexit. Though there is no polling on the matter, the lack of any mass movement again indicates that most people prefer to remain part of Virginia. A few may want separation of some kind, but they tend to have more creative suggestions. As one gentleman commented on the Facebook page of my hometown news station, Id make the cut off line right up to the outskirts of Roanoke County and push the rest of the state boundaries into parts of DC and parts of Maryland and there you go, a 51st state to govern as Demo-comunistic [sic] as you please! Leave Virginia and the original laws and amendments alone! Vexit may yet catch on in some extremist circles, especially online. Weve seen something similar with Calexit, a proposal to make California its own independent country, and with the New California movement, which the Guardian recently described as a far-fetched initiative to have rural conservative counties declare independence from the rest of the state. Neither effort can boast much popular support. Virginias urban-rural divide is significant, and Democrats should be worried about bridging it. But theres no reason right now to think that rural Virginians are ready for a clean break. Is Vexit a Good Idea? Absolutely not. I could get down with, say, the Peoples Republic of Greater Appalachia. But that project requires some consultation with our friends in Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia. And it shouldnt be a white homeland, which is what goblins like Gary Howell seemingly want. A thumbs down for Vexit. Goblins out! T he mother of three children found dead at their home in south-west Dublin has been charged with their murder. Deirdre Morley, 43, of Parsons Court, Newcastle, was remanded in custody today, after the bodies of Conor, 9, Darragh, 7, and Carla, 3, McGinley were found on Friday evening. Morley did not speak during her brief hearing at Dublin District Court this afternoon and offered no reply when she was charged on three counts of murder shortly before 3pm. She will remain in custody for one week, and will undergo a psychiatric assessment, Judge Paula Murphy ruled. Deirdre Morley, 43, and Andrew McGinley with their three children, nine-year-old Conor (second left), seven-year-old Darragh (centre) and three-year-old Carla (far right) / PA The 43-year-old was found by a taxi driver near her house shortly before the childrens bodies were discovered. She was subsequently taken for treatment at Tallaght University Hospital. The childrens father, Andrew McGinley, arrived home at the same time as gardai (Irish police) and paramedics. They went inside where they were confronted by the tragic discovery. Morley was arrested on Tuesday evening and detained at Clondalkin Garda station under section four of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. The bodies of the three children, all aged under ten, were taken away by ambulance / PA Todays court hearing comes a day after Mr McGinley spoke of his grief, saying all three children had beautiful, bright futures ahead of them. In a statement issued through the Gardai Andrew McGinley said: There are no words. There is only devastation, grief and anguish. Every breath is a struggle. Conor, Darragh and Carla are adored. They all had beautiful, bright futures ahead of them with family, friends and a community who love them. The three children, all aged under 10, were found at the house in a quiet corner of Dublin / PA To all parents, cuddle your children whenever you get a chance. Tell them how much you love them as often as you can, spend every spare minute with them reading, playing and enjoying their wonderfulness. The future has now become our enemy but we will battle it every day to keep the memory of Conor, Darragh and Carla alive. The bodies of the children were removed from the semi-detached home by ambulance at around 10am on Saturday. (Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc. issued a wider-than-usual sales forecast to reflect what Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook called uncertainty caused by a virus outbreak thats cutting retail traffic, shutting stores and prompting the company to limit employee travel in China, one of its most important markets. The company is also taking steps to make up for production shortages, particularly in Wuhan, the central Chinese city where the coronavirus originated and home to some of the companys suppliers, Cook said on a conference call discussing recent results. Sales in the current period will be $63 billion to $67 billion. While thats higher than analysts predicted, its also a wider range than the company tends to forecast. We do have some suppliers in the Wuhan area. All of the suppliers there are alternate sources and were obviously working on mitigation plans to make up any expected production loss, Cook said. We factored our best thinking in the guidance that we provided you. With respect to supply sources that are outside the Wuhan area, the impact is less clear at this time. The CEO has led Apple to a remarkable comeback in the past year, reviving iPhone sales, dodging the worst of a U.S.-China trade war and creating a new gadget hit with AirPods. The companys holiday-quarter revenue surpassed Wall Street expectations, with double-digit percentage sales growth from iPhones, wearables and services in mainland China. Read more: Apple Supply Chain Braces for Disruption From Coronavirus However, the deadly, spreading coronavirus is a new challenge for the company, which has most of its hardware made in China. Discussion of the virus was one of the few dour notes during an otherwise upbeat earnings call with analysts on Tuesday. Authorities have placed strict limits on travel, and airlines are suspending flights to China, taking a toll on businesses across the region. Almost 6,000 people have been infected in mainland China, and at least 132 have died. Story continues For now, supply chains for smartphones seem OK, but that can change in a flash, said Neil Mawston, executive director of the global wireless practice at Strategy Analytics. If any lockdown spreads and extends well into February or even March, then supply chains could start to get tight. For more on Apple results, click here for our TOPLive blog. Smartphone factories typically hold two to eight weeks of component or device inventory, so there will be some buffer, at least in the short-term, he added. After an extended Chinese Lunar New Year Holiday, Cook said factories are reopening on Feb. 10, rather than at the end of January. Apple has tried to account for this delayed start up through its wider sales forecast, the CEO said. On Wednesday, main iPhone assembler Foxconn Technology Group confirmed all of its facilities will resume full-scale production starting Feb. 10. Beyond potential production disruptions, the outbreak threatens to dampen sales in its largest market outside of the U.S. just as iPhone shipments globally are bouncing back. Apple has closed one retail store in China and some that are still open have reduced operating hours. The company is deep cleaning stores and has begun checking employees temperatures, Cook said. Last week, it also began limiting employee travel in affected areas to business-critical situations, he added. Revenue from greater China, which includes Taiwan and Hong Kong, climbed about 3% to $13.6 billion in the holiday quarter. The company ended the year ranked fourth among smartphone makers in the mainland overall, up one notch after reversing a decline in market share, according to research firm Canalys. Given the industry is heading full speed to displace 4G with 5G phones, consumers are likely to pause phone replacement to future-proof devices, said Nicole Peng, Canalys vice president of mobility. The iPhone 11 series is bucking the trend and was the best-selling 4G device in the China market. (Updates with Foxconns statement in the eighth paragraph) --With assistance from Vlad Savov and Debby Wu. To contact the reporters on this story: Mark Gurman in San Francisco at mgurman1@bloomberg.net;Ian King in San Francisco at ianking@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Tom Giles at tgiles5@bloomberg.net, Alistair Barr, Mark Milian 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. T he EU's chief negotiator Guy Verhofstadt has said Brexit had been a difficult divorce as Brussels met for a final vote on Boris Johnsons deal. The European Parliament was due to meet on Wednesday afternoon to set the seal on Britains departure from the EU. MEPs were expected to overwhelmingly back ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement, paving the way for the UK to leave on Friday. It comes after the Withdrawal Agreement Bill completed its passage through Westminster last week. The instruments of ratification for Brexit being delivered / POOL/AFP via Getty Images Mr Verhofstadt tweeted: The EU and the UK will always need each other. We have gone through a difficult divorce. Our main task is now to stay friends and hopefully we come back together in the future. The UKs ambassador to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow, delivered a document called Instruments of Ratification to Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen, the Danish secretary-general of the European Council. Sir Tims Twitter account posted: This step ensures that the UK has fulfilled its legal obligations regarding our exit from the EU. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said it would be a historic moment and added: It is the start of a new chapter for an independent, sovereign Britain, looking forward to a decade of renewal and opportunity. Whether we are reducing trade barriers between nations, tackling climate change, or improving lives around the world, our vision of a truly global Britain will be a force for good. The agreement was signed by the presidents of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in Brussels and Mr Johnson in Downing Street. It settles the terms of Britains departure, including future citizens rights, arrangements on the Northern Ireland border and the UKs payments. It also allows for an 11-month transition period, during which the UK will continue to follow EU rules while talks take place on a free trade agreement. Mr Johnson wants a deal by the end of the year, but senior EU figures have warned that reaching such a wide-ranging agreement will not be possible within such a tight timetable. Will make Assam govt party to case against CAA in SC if voted Congress to power: Gaurav Gogoi EU to debate anti-CAA resolution, voting delayed till March India pti-PTI New Delhi, Jan 29: In a diplomatic victory for India, it was decided that there will be no voting on the European resolution on the Citizenship Amendment Act on Thursday, government sources said. Six political groups of members of the European Parliament had moved a joint resolution against India's citizenship law, calling it discriminatory. The sources said friends of India prevailed over those of Pakistan in the European Parliament on Wednesday. "Strenuous efforts of outgoing British MEP Shaffaq Mohammad to have a resolution passed by the European Parliament against India on the penultimate day before Brexit were defeated," a source said. The government has been maintaining that CAA is a matter internal to India and it was adopted following a due process through democratic means. We expect that our perspectives in this matter will be understood by all objective and fair-minded MEPs, the sources said. The reason behind the postponement of the vote is unconfirmed but will come as a boost to the Indian government's efforts against such a motion being voted on by the European Parliament. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday wrote to European Parliament President David Maria Sassoli over the resolutions, saying it is inappropriate for one legislature to pass judgement on another and the practice can be misused by vested interests. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu had also reiterated India's stand, saying there is no scope for outside interference in the country's internal matters. Alan Dershowitz, one of Donald Trump's lawyers, argued in his Senate trial on Wednesday that any action taken by the president to benefit his re-election is in the public interest and therefore not impeachable. 'Every public official that I know believes that his election is in the public interest, and mostly you're right. Your election is in the public interest, and if a president does something which he believes will help him get elected in the public interest, that cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment,' he said during the senators' question and answer period. It was astonishing argument for sweeping executive power made by the famous law professor. Alan Dershowitz, one Donald Trump's lawyers, argued any action taken by the president to benefit his re-election is in the public interest Dershowitz gave an astonishing argument for sweeping executive power for President Trump Adam Schiff called Dershowitz's argument 'very odd' The assertion was interpreted any action taken by a president in pursuit of his re-election campaign would not impeachable and nothing a president did would be an abuse of power, which is one of the articles against Trump. Adam Schiff, the lead Democratic impeachment manager, called Dershowitz's argument 'very odd.' 'If you say you can't hold a president accountable in an election year where they're trying to cheat in that election, then you are giving them carte blanche,' he said. 'All quid pro quos are not the same. Some are legitimate and some are corrupt.' The query about quid pro quos and their legality came after Republican Senator Ted Cruz asked: 'As a matter of law, does it matter if there was a quid pro quo? Is it true that quid pro quos are often used in foreign policy?' Dershowitz answered for the president's team, his first time speaking on the Senate floor Wednesday. 'The only thing that would make a quid pro quo unlawful is if the quo were in some way illegal,' he said. 'It would be a much harder case if a hypothetical president of the United States said to a hypothetical leader of a foreign country, unless you build a hotel with my name on it and unless you give me a million dollar kick back, I will withhold the funds. That's an easy case. That's purely corrupt and in the purely private interests,' he noted. Democrats moved quickly to give Schiff an opportunity to respond, which he used to throw out a hypothetical situation regarding former President Barack Obama. 'In every criminal case and I would assume in every impeachment case, yes, you have to show that the president was operating from a corrupt motive, and we have,' he said. He then argued if Obama asked a foreign government to investigate Romney, his opponent in the 2012 election, he would have been impeached. 'That's the parallel here. And to say, well, yes, we condition aid all the time. For legitimate reasons, yes,' Schiff said. He reminded senators of the weight of future elections on their shoulders, pointing out they were deciding if future candidates could ask for foreign help to win public office. 'And the argument will be made, nope, Donald Trump was acquitted for doing exactly the same thing. Therefore it must not be impeachable,' Schiff said. Senators used these cards to ask their questions to the prosecution and the defense Schiff argued that if Barack Obama tried to get a foreign government to investigate Mitt Romney he would be impeached Senators Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz turned Schiff's scenario back around on him Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Cruz later turned around Schiff's scenario and asked the House managers: 'In Mr. Schiff's hypothetical, if President Obama had evidence that Mitt Romney's son was being paid $1 million per year by a corrupt Russian company and Mitt Romney had acted to benefit that company, would Obama have authority to ask that that potential corruption be investigated?' Their implication was directed at Hunter Biden, the son of Joe Biden who President Trump and his allies charge benefited financially for work abroad while Joe Biden was vice president. Schiff responded: 'First of all, the hypothetical is a bit off because it presumes that in that hypothetical that President Obama was acting corruptly or there was evidence he was acting corruptly with respect to his son.' He added: 'The reality is for a president to withhold military aid from an ally or in the hypothetical to withhold it to benefit an adversary, to target their political opponent is wrong and corrupt, period. End of story. And if you allow a president to rationalize that conduct, rationalize jeopardizing the nation's security to benefit himself because he believes that his opponent should be investigated by a foreign power, that is impeachable. Now, if you have a legitimate reason to think that any U.S. person has committed an offense there are legitimate ways to have an investigation conducted. There are legitimate ways to have the Justice Department conduct an investigation.' 'It's remarkable to me that we even have to have this conversation. In our own FBI director has made it abundantly clear, and it shouldn't require an FBI director to say this, that if we were approached with an offer of foreign help we should turn it down,' Schiff said. Trump's private attorney Jay Sukelow struck back at Schiff's argument, pointing to the FBI's counter-intelligence of the 2016 Trump campaign and the infamous Steele dossier, which made the unproven claim Russia has black mail material on Trump, which the president has denied. Schiff 'talked about it would be wrong if the FBI or if the Department of Justice was starting a political investigation of someone's political opponent, and I'm thinking to myself, but isn't that exactly what happened?,' Sukelow said. 'The president and Justice and the FBI engaged in an investigation of the candidate for president of the United States when they started their operation called cross fire hurricane. He said it would be targeting a rival. Well, that's what that did. He said it would be calling for foreign assistance in that. Well, in the particular facts of cross fire hurricane, it has been well-established now that, in fact, Fusion GPS utilized the services of a former foreign intelligence officer, Christopher Steele, to put together a dossier and that Christopher Steele relied on his network of resources around the globe, including in Russia and other places to put together this dossier, which then James Comey said was unverified and salacious, but yet it was the basis upon which the department of justice and the FBI obtained FISA warrants, and this was in 2016, against a rival campaign. So we don't have to do hypotheticals. That's precisely the situation,' he added. Trump's impeachment trial entered a new phase on Wednesday as senators got their turn to talk, posing questions to the prosecution and the defense amid turmoil over whether or not to call additional witnesses. Senators started their question and answer session Wednesday against the backdrop of a fight for additional witnesses to testify in Trump's trial. Democrats went straight to John Bolton, the president's former national security adviser they want to testify in the trial. Republicans focused on the legal and technical aspects of impeachment in their first questions. Democrats made the case for John Bolton to testify in Donald Trump's impeachment hearing President Trump's legal team warned calling additional witnesses would drag the trial out for months Both in their questions and in the House impeachment managers response, Democrats made the case over and over again to hear from Bolton. Bolton turned the trial on its head when The New York Times published revelations from his forthcoming memoir, 'The Room Where It Happened,' that claimed Trump was with holding nearly $40 million in U.S. aid to the Ukraine until the country agreed to investigate the Bidens. Trump has denied the charge. But Democrats repeatedly argued senators have a chance to hear from a fact witnesses if they call Bolton. Democrats need four Republicans to join them in voting to hear from additional witnesses. Deputy White House Counsel Patrick Philbin said he could not point to a specific instance where President Trump mentioned concern about corruption in the Ukraine before Joe Biden got into the 2020 presidential race. I can't point to something in the record that shows President Trump at an earlier time mentioning specifically something related to Joe or Hunter Biden,' he said. He did offer a timeline of events, noting Rudy Giuliani was the president's personal lawyer who was working to fight corruption in the Ukraine. 'Mr. Giuliani, the counsel for the president is looking into what is going on in Ukraine and anything related to 2016 and other things related there and he is given information and tips about this and he starts to pursue that as well. He is digging into that in January of 2019,' he said. He added: 'We know that Mr. Giuliani is the president's private counsel and so I cannot represent specific conversations they have, because they would be privileged, but we know from the testimony that the president said in a May 23rd oval office meeting with respect to Ukraine, talk to Rudy. Rudy knows about Ukraine, and so the president is getting some information from Rudy Giuliani. And months before Joe Biden announced the candidacy, he is interviewing people and getting information about it.' But Democrats argued senators need to hear from Bolton. 'The important thing is that you can get a witness who talked to the president firsthand about what the president thought he was doing,' Rep. Zoe Lofgren reminded senators during the proceedings. Schiff reminded senators if they 'have any question about the president's motivation' in with holding U.S. aid to the Ukraine, to subpoena Bolton. 'Don't wait for the book,' he told senators, 'to find the answer for your question.' He also argued President Trump 'identifies the state as being himself.' 'You're not a king,' Schiff said to the president. 'That argument may be thought of with favor by various presidents over history, it has never been supported by any court in the land.' Rep. Hakeem Jeffries reminded the lawmakers that 'the Senate in its history has had 15 different impeachment trials. In every single trial, there were witnesses, every single trial. Why should this president be treated differently, held to a lower standard, at this moment of presidential accountability? And in fact, in many of those trials, there were witnesses who testified in the Senate who had not testified in the House.' But Trump's legal team warned calling witnesses would drag the trial out for months, leaving senators trapped as a court of impeachment and unable to conduct its legislative business. White House deputy counsel Patrick Phil told senators if they called witnesses, the Senate would be 'effectively paralyzed' for months. 'It's not just a question of, should we hear one witness,' he said. 'That's not what the real question is going to be. For this institution, the real question is what is the precedent that is going to be set for what is an acceptable way for the House of Representatives to bring an impeachment of a president of the United States to this chamber, and can it be done in a hurried partisan fashion? They didn't even subpoena John Bolton below or try to get his testimony. Now to say this body will become the investigative body, that this body will have to do all the discovery and this institution will be effectively paralyzed for months on end, because it has to sit as a court of impeachment, while now discovery is done.' JOHN BOLTON'S KEY REVELATIONS John Bolton makes a series of bombshell claims in his book, according to the part of the manuscript seen by the New York Times. They are: Trump told Bolton in August 2019 that he would not release military aid to the Ukraine until they investigated the Bidens and claims of trying to intervene in 2016 in favor of Hillary Clinton Mike Pompeo privately admitted that Rudy Giuliani's claims Marie Yovanovitch were corrupt were baseless - and that he suspected they were being made to help other Giuliani clients Bolton warned White House lawyers that he feared Giuliani was using his work with the president to help his private clients Mick Mulvaney, the acting chief of staff, was present at least once when Trump and Giuliani discussed Yovanovitch. Mulvaney has told 'associates' he stepped away from such conversations Pompeo told Bill Barr that he was mentioned in the July call with Zelensky. The Justice Department claims Barr did not know until mid-August Trump railed about Ukraine trying to 'damage' him in May 2019 when he met Ron Johnson, a Republican senator who was going to Zelensky's inauguration. And Trump also mentioned the conspiracy theory that Ukraine had a hacked Democratic server Bill Barr expressed concerns about Trump doing personal favors for autocrats including China's Xi and Turkey's Erdogan when Bolton raised the issue with him Advertisement He also pointed out it would drag out because in addition to Bolton, President Trump would want witnesses of his own. The president has said he'd like to hear from Hunter Biden and the whistleblower. 'It's not a question of a lot of people talk right now about John Bolton, but the president would have the opportunity to call his witnesses, just as a matter of fundamental fairness. And there would be a long list of witnesses if the body were to go in that direction. It would mean this would drag on for months and prevent this chamber from getting its business done,' he said. He also argued the president needed the confidentiality of his advisers so he could get the best, most candid advice, arguing executive privilege should be respected. 'The president has to be able to be sure that those who are speaking with him have the confidence that what they say is not going to be revealed, that their advice can remain confidential. If it's not confidential, they would temper what they're saying. They wouldn't be candid with the president, and they wouldn't be able -- the president then would not be able to get the best advice,' he said. He added that presidents should be able to talk 'candidly and openly, not with the feeling that the first thing they say is going to be on the front page of The Washington Post the next day.' He went on to add: 'Bolton was the national security adviser to the president. He has all of the nation's secrets from the time that he was the national security adviser, and that's precisely the area, the field, in which the Supreme Court suggested in Nixon versus the United States there might be something approaching an absolute privilege of confidential and communications with the president. The field of national security and foreign affairs. That's the crown jewels of executive privilege. And so to suggest that the national security adviser, well, we'll just subpoena him. He'll come in and that will be easy. There won't be any problem. That's not the way it would work. There's a vital constitutional privilege at stake.' Philbin peppered his argument through the proceedings with warnings about the future of the Senate, telling Senators they could end up a permanent impeachment court. 'It's vitally important for this chamber to consider what it really means to start having this chamber do all that investigatory work, how this chamber would be paralyzed by that, and is that really the precedent? Is that the way this chamber wants everything to operate in the future? Once you make it that much easier, and we've said this on a couple of different points, both in terms of the standards for impeachable offenses, but also in terms of the process that's used in the House. You make it really way too easy to impeach a president, then this chamber's going to be dealing with that all the time,' he said. But Philbin stumbled when asked when the White House received a review copy of Bolton's manuscript. Bolton submitted to the National Security Council for review, which he was required to do as a former employee with a security clearance to ensure no classified information was revealed. 'At some point, I don't know off of the top of my head the exact date,' Philbin said. Trump also has said he hasn't seen the manuscript. Schiff warned more information could come out after the Senate trial ended, specifically pointing to the March 17 publication date for Bolton's memoir. And he went back to Philbin's answer on Bolton's manuscript. 'I listened carefully to the answer of the question and maybe you listened more carefully than I did, but what I thought that I heard them say about the manuscript and when did they know it, the statement was precisely worded. The NSC unit reviewing the book did not share the manuscript, and that is a different question than whether the White House lawyers found out what is in it, because you don't have to circulate the manuscript to have someone walk over to the White House and say, you do not want John Bolton to testify,' he argued. 'So it is a very carefully worded one. I don't know what the White House lawyers knew and when they knew it, but they did represent to you repeatedly that the president never told a witness that he was freezing the aid to get Ukraine to do these investigations. And we know that's not true. You know that from the witnesses that we have heard from, but we also know at least if the reporting is correct and you should find out if it is that John Bolton tells a very different story,' he added. Philbin was asked about the point Schiff made and denied the president's lawyers had an early warning of what was in Bolton's book. 'No, no one from inside of the White House or outside of the White House told us that the publication of the book would be problematic for the president. I think that we assumed that Mr. Bolton was disgruntled and we did not expect that he was going to be saying a lot of nice things about the president, but nobody told us anything like that,' he said. The first question went to moderates in the Republican Party - submitted jointly by Senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Mitt Romney Chuck Schumer asked the first question for Senate Democrats Bolton dominated the early questioning on Wednesday. Additionally, both sides asked questions to let the prosecution and defense refute previous answers from the opposition. Senators also asked questions to help the two sides summarize and repeat points made during their long opening arguments. Democratic senators all had thick binders placed on their desks while Republican lawmakers' had mainly empty desks although a few had pieces of paper to take notes. The first question - chosen by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell - went to moderates in the Republican Party - submitted jointly by Senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Mitt Romney. Chief Justice John Roberts read the questions - which were submitted in writing by each side, taking turns from Republicans and Democrats to pose their inquiries. 'If President Trump had more than one motive for his alleged conduct, such as the pursuit of personal political advantage, rooting out corruption and the promotion of national interests, how should the Senate consider more than one motive in its assessment of article I?,' was Collins', Murkowski's and Romney's question. Philbin answered for the president's defense, arguing a mix motive meant the case should be dismissed. 'Once you're into mixed motive land, it's clear that their case fails. There can't possibly be an impeachable offense at all. Think about it. All elected officials, to some extent, have in mind how their conduct, their policy decisions will affect the next election. There's always some personal interest in the electoral outcome of policy decisions. There's nothing wrong with that. That's part of representative democracy,' he said. 'The bottom line is once you're into any mixed motive situation, once it is established there is a legitimate public interest that could justify looking into something, just asking a question about something, the managers' case fails and fails under their own terms,' he added. Adam Schiff took the lead in answering questions for the House impeachment managers Deputy White House Counsel Patrick Philbin took the lead on answering questions for the defense The first Democratic question came from that party's Senate Leader Chuck Schumer. He asked about the Democrats desire to call Bolton, acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, and others as additional witnesses. 'Is there any way for the Senate to returned a fully informed verdict in this case without hearing the testimony of Bolton, Mulvaney, and the other key eyewitnesses or without seeing the relevant documentary evidence?,' was the question. Schiff answered on behalf of the House managers. 'The short answer to that question is, no. There's no way to have a fair trial without witnesses. And when you have a witness as plainly relevant as John Bolton, who goes to the heart of the most serious and egregious of the president's misconduct, who has volunteered to come and testify, to turn him away and to look the other way, I think, is deeply at odds with being an impartial juror,' he said. Schiff also addressed the question from Senate moderates. 'I would also add in response to the last question, that if any part of the president's motivation was a corrupt motive, it was a causal factor in the action to freeze the aid or withhold the meeting, that is enough to convict under criminal law,' he said. Democratic Senator Ed Markey asked the House impeachment managers to put on the record as to whether or not the House asked Bolton to testify during their investigation. Schiff confirmed they did. 'Senators, the answer is, yes, of course we asks John Bolton to testify in the house, and he refused,' he said, adding they didn't pursue him legally because they knew it would take months in court, using the example of House Judiciary's ongoing legal battle to get former White House Counsel Don McGahn to testify. 'The answer was, you serve us with a subpoena and we will sue you, too. We knew, based on the McGahn litigation it would take years to force John Bolton to testify,' Schiff said. The first questions from Democrats were on former National Security Adviser John Bolton Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein had the next question: 'The president's counsel stated that quote there is simply no evidence anywhere that President Trump ever linked security assistance to any investigations, end quote. Is that true?' Colorado Rep. Jason Crow responded for the impeachment managers: 'The president's counsel is not correct. There is in fact overwhelming evidence the president withheld the military aid directly to get a personal political benefit to help his individual political campaign.' Conservative Senator Mike Lee asked: 'The House managers have argued aggressively that the president's actions contravened U.S. foreign policy. Isn't it the president's place, certainly more than the place of career civil servants, to conduct foreign policy?' Philbin answered by making the case it's the president who makes foreign policy and Trump cannot defy executive agencies since he heads those agencies. 'It is definitely the president's place to set U.S. foreign policy, and the constitution makes this clear,' Philbin said. 'So he sets foreign policy, and if staffers disagree with him, that does not mean that the president is doing something wrong. And this is a critical point because this is one of the center pieces of the abuse of power theory that the House managers would like this body to adopt, and that is that they are going to impeach the president based solely on his subjective motive,' he added. 'They say that the president defied and confounded every agency in the executive branch. That's a constitutionally incoherent statement. The president cannot defy the agencies within the executive branch that are subordinate to him. It is only they who can defy the president's determinations of policy. And so what this all boils down to really is it shows that this case is built on a policy difference, and a policy difference where the president is the one who gets to determine policy because he's been elected by the people to do that,' Philbin noted. Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen asked: 'The president's counsel has argued that the alleged conduct set out in the articles does not violate a criminal statute and thus may not constitute grounds for impeachment as high crimes and misdemeanors. Does this reasoning imply that if the president does not violate a criminal statute he could not be impeached for abuses of power?' Rep. Sylvia Garcia responded for the House managers. 'The simple answer is that a president can be impeached without a statutory crime being committed,' she said. 'Offenses against the constitution are different than offenses against the criminal code. Some crimes like jaywalking are not impeachable, and some forms of misconduct often both offend the constitution and the criminal law. Impeachment and criminality must therefore be assessed separately even though the president's commission of indictable crimes may further support a case of impeachment and removal,' she added. Sen. Kamala Harris greets Legal Counsel for President Donald Trump, Alan Dershowitz Demonstrators protest outside of the Capitol during the impeachment trial Democratic Senator Tom Udall asked the House managers to 'please address the president's counsel's argument that House managers seek to overturn the results of the 2016 election and that the decision to remove the president should be left to the voters in November.' Schiff responded the managers weren't trying to overturn the 2016 contest. 'We're not saying that we had to hurry to impeach the president before the election. We had to hurry because the president was trying to cheat in that election, and the position of the president's counsel is, well, yes, it's true that if a president is going to try to cheat in an election, by definition that's prior to their re-election, by definition that's going to be proximate to an election, but you know, let the voters decide even though the object is to corrupt that vote of the people. That cannot be what the founders had in mind,' he said. Capitol police form a line as protesters gather near the Capitol during the trial Protestors outside the Capitol during Trump's trial Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell reminded both sides to keep their answers to five minutes or less to keep the time moving. Senators had to sit in silence during the six days of opening arguments in the trial, not allowed to speak. Before the lawmakers got started, the president issued a warning about witnesses, after Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell informed his party he doesn't have the votes to stop additional witnesses from being called. 'Remember Republicans, the Democrats already had 17 witnesses, we were given NONE! Witnesses are up to the House, not up to the Senate. Don't let the Dems play you!,' Trump wrote on Twitter. As the witness debate is carried on behind the scenes, in front of the cameras senators will get 16 hours spread over two days to ask their questions about impeachment. Chief Justice John Roberts will read questions from the senators aloud President Trump issued a warning to senators on Wednesday about calling additional witnesses Their inquiries are be submitted in writing and Chief Justice John Roberts reads them aloud, directing them to either the House impeachment managers or the president's lawyers. Members of both parties could also ask friendly questions to their respective sides to help counter elements that come up through the day. Leadership on both sides will coordinate the questioning - weeding out duplicate inquiries and rejecting outside-the-box ones. The senators will submit their inquiries on a tan-colored card to Roberts that include their questions, names, signatures and the side they want the question directed to. Questions will alternate between Republicans and Democrats. Senators cannot ask each other questions. There will be breaks after every 10 to 12 questions. Wednesday's session could go late into the night and will resume on Thursday if the time is needed. After the Q&A period, the Senate will debate whether to call additional witnesses. McConnell on Tuesday warned there aren't the votes to block witnesses from being called. His warning came immediately after Trump's lawyers rested their defense, as party leaders stood firm on the question of keeping out impeachment trial witnesses. His acknowledgement came during a closed-door meeting with senators Tuesday and was reported by the Wall Street Journal. Senate Republicans huddled after Trump's lawyers made their final arguments that the president's conduct wasn't impeachable using only half their allotted time in a chamber the GOP controls with a 53-vote majority. Senate Majority Whip John Thune of South Dakota said Bolton's revelations which prompted a political battle over whether he should be believed don't matter. In this image from video, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks during the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. Later, he told fellow Republicans the votes 'I don't think anything he says changes the facts,' Thune said. 'We're kind of confident' the Trump impeachment trial won't extend beyond Friday, he added. 'The consensus is that we've heard enough and it's time to go to a final judgement,' Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming told The Hill. Utah Sen. Mitt Romney says he wants to hear what Bolton has to say, and Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska have said they want to hear from witnesses. Democrats only need four Republican senators to vote with them on calling more witnesses. A small number of Republicans have either expressed potential support for hearing from witnesses, or said they were holding out until the end of the week. McConnell's comments is certain to focus minds and potentially bring more outside pressure from President Trump, who has called the trial a hoax and wants it to end. Senators acknowledge there is no deal yet on how to proceed, after Bolton's revelations prompted a series of potential proposals including deals to pair witnesses for each party, or efforts to subpoena his manuscript without putting the witness himself under oath. But with several key holdouts saying they are still waiting to make up their minds, Senate Majority Mitch McConnell is telling colleagues he doesn't have the votes to dispense with witnesses. Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, told Capitol reporters he won't make up his mind until the Senate spends Wednesday and Thursday taking written questions from senators. 'Then I'll make a decision about whether we need more evidence,' he said. One Democrat, Dianne Feinstein of California, appeared to hedge on whether she wold vote to remove Trump from office, only to issue a clarification via Twitter. Trump's defense team concluded its opening arguments Tuesday by taking a hit at Bolton's upcoming book, claiming it is 'unsourced' and insisting the manuscript of the memoir would not be admissible in the trial. The combined number of filings with 1933 Act claims in federal and state courts reached unprecedented levels. This was driven in large part by the activity in state courts. - Cornerstone Research Senior VP Alexander Sasha Aganin Securities fraud class action filings accelerated in 2019, according to a report released today by Cornerstone Research and the Stanford Law School Securities Class Action Clearinghouse. The report, Securities Class Action Filings2019 Year in Review, finds that filing activity remains elevated well above historical levels by several key measures. For the third year in a row, plaintiffs filed more than 400 securities class actions. In 2019, there were 428 securities class actions across federal and state courtsthe highest number on recordwith 268 core filings and 160 M&A filings. This marks a historic high for core filings, surpassing even 2008 when class actions peaked in response to financial market volatility. Market capitalization losses in 2019 eclipsed $1 trillion for the second consecutive year. The likelihood of core filings targeting companies listed on U.S. exchanges was also at its highest in 2019. This measure reached new levels due to the record number of filings, as well as an extended decline in the number of public companies over the last 15 years. The impact of the U.S. Supreme Courts 2018 decision in Cyan Inc. v. Beaver County Employees Retirement Fund continues to reverberate. The report, which includes expanded data on state court filings from 2010 to 2019, found that Securities Act of 1933 claims in state courts rose to 49 in 2019, a 40% increase from the previous year. Almost half of these had parallel actions in federal court. The combined number of filings with 1933 Act claims in federal and state courts reached unprecedented levels. This was driven in large part by the activity in state courts, said Alexander Sasha Aganin, report coauthor and Cornerstone Research senior vice president. The significant increase in state actions following Cyan indicates plaintiffs are modifying their approach, and we will continue to monitor the trend. The increase in state court Section 11 filings under the 1933 Act has caused a sharp jump in the cost of D&O insurance for companies going public, said Joseph A. Grundfest, director of the Stanford Law School Securities Class Action Clearinghouse. Many IPO issuers have adopted rules that would move this litigation back to federal courts where these claims have traditionally been resolved. The enforceability of these provisions, however, has been challenged, and the IPO market is awaiting a decision by the Delaware Supreme Court that will likely define the contours of federal securities fraud litigation for years to come. That decision will likely be handed down before the end of April. Key Trends Both Disclosure Dollar Loss (DDL) and Maximum Dollar Loss (MDL) decreased in 2019. DDL fell by 14% to $285 billion, and MDL by 9% to $1,199 billion as the size of the typical filing decreased. Combined core federal filings in the Technology and Communication sectors grew by almost a third from 2018 and have more than doubled since 2017. Second Circuit core federal filings increased to 103, the highest number on record. The Ninth Circuits core federal filings decreased by 25% to 52 filings. Core federal filings against companies headquartered outside the United States increased to 57, the highest total on record. The likelihood of a core federal filing against a non-U.S. company increased from 4.8% to 5.6% from 2018 to 2019. Beginning in the latter part of 2018, companies with connections to the cannabis industry were increasingly the target of federal class action filings. There were six such filings in 2018 and 13 in 2019. Cyan Inc. v. Beaver County Employees Retirement Fund In March 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion allowing plaintiffs to assert claims under the Securities Act of 1933 (1933 Act) in state courts. Under the 1933 Act, Section 11 allows investors to pursue damages for alleged misrepresentations or omissions in securities registration statements. It is generally believed that the ruling will lead to more securities class action filings in state courts based on this claim. About Cornerstone Research Cornerstone Research provides economic and financial consulting and expert testimony in all phases of complex litigation and regulatory proceedings. The firm works with an extensive network of prominent faculty and industry practitioners to identify the best-qualified expert for each assignment. Cornerstone Research has earned a reputation for consistent high quality and effectiveness by delivering rigorous, state-of-the-art analysis for more than thirty years. The firm has over 700 staff and offices in Boston, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and Washington. See Cornerstone Researchs website for more information about the firms capabilities in economic and financial consulting and expert testimony. http://www.cornerstone.com Twitter: @Cornerstone_Res About the Stanford Law School Securities Class Action Clearinghouse The Securities Class Action Clearinghouse is an authoritative source of data and analysis on the financial and economic characteristics of federal securities fraud class action litigation. The SCAC maintains a database of more than 5,590 securities class action lawsuits filed since passage of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The database also contains copies of complaints, briefs, filings, and other litigation-related materials filed in these cases. securities.stanford.edu Advertisement Harvey Weinstein blasted that 'it's bulls**t' as he left court Wednesday and was quizzed by reporters about the testimony of his accusers from earlier in the day. As the disgraced mogul hobbled out of the Manhattan courtroom with the help of his walker a reporter asked: 'Did you tell Dawn Dunning about Charlize Theron and Salma Hayek?' He replied: 'That was complete bulls**t.' Former aspiring actress Dunning, 40, had earlier told the jury Weinstein demanded she have a threesome with him and his assistant in exchange for movie roles, while claiming that he made stars of Charlize Theron, Salma Hayek, and Uma Thurman. She said he screamed at her 'this is how the industry works' as he met her for a 2004 business meeting at a New York City hotel wearing nothing but an open bath robe. Dunning was one of two accusers to take the stand Wednesday. Another aspiring actress Tarale Wulff, now a 43-year-old model, told the jury how Weinstein invited her for an audition then allegedly raped her in his New York apartment and told her 'don't worry, I've had a vasectomy'. Weinstein then offered her free beauty treatments at a spa where he knew the owner. She also said on an earlier occasion he masturbated in front of her while she was working as a cocktail waitress at the upscale New York restaurant Cipriani. Harvey Weinstein leaves Manhattan Criminal Court Wednesday. As the disgraced mogul hobbled out with the help of his walker a reporter asked: 'Did you tell Dawn Dunning about Charlize Theron and Salma Hayek?' He replied: 'That was complete bulls**t.' Former aspiring actress Dunning, 40, had earlier told the jury Weinstein demanded she have a threesome with him and his assistant in exchange for movie roles, while claiming that he made stars of Charlize Theron, Salma Hayek, and Uma Thurman. He's seen above leaving court Wednesday Weinstein cornered a cocktail waitress, who was an aspiring actress at the time, in a Cipriani hallway and allegedly begged her to wait 'one second' as he masturbated in front of her, his rape trial heard today. Weinstein pictured grinning arriving to court Wednesday Former cocktail waitress Tarale Wulff claims Weinstein masturbated in front of her at upscale New York lounge Cipriani's and raped her at his apartment in 2005. Wulff kept her eyes down as she arrived to court Wednesday Tarale Wulff (center in yellow turtleneck) took the witness stand at Weinstein's trial today. She claims he allegedly masturbated in front of her at the Cipriani's club in New York and on a second occasion allegedly raped her at his apartment The masturbating incident allegedly took place at Cipriani Downtown (above) where Wulff was working as a cocktail waitress. The upscale club is known to be frequented by celebrities Weinstein had walked into court Wednesday with a grin on his face, but became stoic as the jury heard two dramatic testimonies by Wulff and Dunning who claim he assaulted them in the 2000s. The two women are so-called 'Molineux' witnesses who testified about the producer's 'prior bad acts' at the high-profile trial in New York that's considered a milestone for the #MeToo movement. But, Weinstein isn't facing charges in those cases due to the statue of limitations and other legal issues. Prosecutors are using their testimony to bolster their case against the embattled producer. The charges he faces come from the assault allegations of Mimi Haleyi, who accused him of forcibly performing oral sex on her in 2006 and who testified Monday, and Jessica Mann, who is yet to testify and claims Weinstein raped her in a New York hotel 2013. Party like it's 2005: Weinstein is pictured with David Viglino and Naomi Campbell during Campbell and Giuseppe Cipriani's holiday party on December 5, 2005 Harvey Weinstein, parties with Naomi Campbell and Camilla Alfayed at Cipriani in December 2005 Weinstein looked to be in good spirits as he arrived at court on Wednesday. The jury heard two dramatic testimonies by Wulff and Dunning who claim he assaulted them in the 2000s The charges he faces come from the assault allegations of Mimi Haleyi, who accused him of forcibly performing oral sex on her in 2006 and who testified Monday, and Jessica Mann, who is yet to testify and claims Weinstein raped her in a New York hotel 2013 Aspiring actress tells how she met Weinstein when working as a cocktail waitress at his famous stomping ground Cipirani and he pleasured himself in front of her Wulff was an aspiring actress working as a cocktail waitress at the members-only lounge of New York's upscale club Cipriani's when she met Weinstein in 2005 and he offered her career help. Later that night Weinstein approached her while she was by the bar and he 'led me by my arm' through a door to a back area and up some stairs. She thought they were seeking a private area to talk about her career. He had on an (untucked) white shirt and I noticed his shirt started moving, and I realized he was masturbating under his shirt. I froze for a second, threw the towel (she was holding) and then ran past him Tarale Wulff testified Wednesday 'At some point... I noticed that his shirt started moving,' she testified. 'He had on an (untucked) white shirt and I noticed his shirt started moving, and I realized he was masturbating under his shirt. I froze for a second, threw the towel (she was holding) and then ran past him.' Assistant District Attorney Hast asked if she actually saw his hand. Wulff said: 'I saw the motion on his shirt and his hand was directly under his shirt and I saw the motion going up and down.' Hast asked if Weinstein said anything and Wulff said he told her: 'Give me a second.' Hast asked if Wulff expressed any interest to Weinstein 'romantically or sexually in any way?' Wulff said: 'No.' Afterwards she said she returned to her work station and asked someone else to take over her duties. She didn't explain why and did not report the incident to her manager. 'It was embarrassing' she said. This isn't the first time the film producer has been accused of masturbating in front of someone. In 2017 Fox reporter Lauren Sivan accused him of cornering her and masturbating in front of her into a potted plant at New York's Socialista restaurant in 2007. Image of the inside of Cipriani Downtown in New York City in 2005 above Tarale Wulff pictured left at a gala in at the Plaza Hotel in New York City in October 2008 Tarale Wulff modelling in Times Square in October 2009 (left) and right at the Ring Card Girl tryout at Mendez Boxing NYC event October 2013 'Thats when my red flag finally went up. I told him I cant. He said dont worry, Ive had a vasectomy. I just froze,' Wulff testified Wednesday as Weinstein watched on Wulff revealed some time after that incident Weinstein's assistant called her and asked her to come in for an audition. She went to his office and received a script but then was told 'Harvey wants to see you' and there was a car waiting for her outside and she was driven to the mogul's apartment. 'He seemed like he was distracted and busy getting ready,' she said, noting she entered the bedroom because Weinstein was moving in and out of the room getting ready for something during their conversation. 'At some point...he took me by the arms and turned me around and put me on the bed and leaned on top of me,' she said. 'Thats when my red flag finally went up. I told him I cant. He said dont worry, Ive had a vasectomy. I just froze,' she added. When asked what ran through her mind at that point, Wulff struggled to get the words out and said she wanted to 'get through this' and that she was 'numb'. She said: 'At one point he put himself inside of me and raped me and I just remember getting up (afterwards).' 'He was heavy, he was certainly bigger and heavier than me,' Wulff said when asked to describe Weinstein. Hast asked: 'Did he ask you if you wanted to engage in sex with him?' Wulff said: 'No.' She said when Weinstein layed on top of her she was 'afraid'. When asked if she remembered anything about his body she said that when he opened his shirt she saw a scar on the side of his body. Afterward the alleged assault, Weinstein took Wulff back to his office in his car. 'I remember him saying I know the owner of that beauty spa. You can go in and get whatever you want,' she said. When Wulff arrived to the office, an assistant told her 'come back when you're ready to read' for the part. Wulff never did and never auditioned. She said she didn't tell anyone because, 'I just wanted it to go away.' She next saw Weinstein some time after at a fashion show and felt as 'scared and small as the last time'. Defense questions why Wulff went to see Weinstein after masturbating incident Weinsteins lawyer Donna Rotunno cross examined Wulff on behalf of his defense and asked why she agreed to leave her audition to meet with him. 'You got into a car with a stranger to go and see somebody youd just had a fairly unpleasant experience with?' Rotunno asked. Wulff said: 'Correct.' Rotunno asked: 'You had no idea where that car was taking you?' Wulff said: 'Correct.' Rotunno asked if it was correct that in her interview with prosecutors she told them that when Weinstein held her down on the bed she 'asked him to put on a condom.' Wulff said: 'I dont recall saying that.' Rotunno asked if it was correct that after her initial interview with prosecutors in October 2017 they told Wulff that her memories were 'too fragmented'. Wulff said: 'Thats not exactly what was said.' Wulff agreed that the district attorney gave her a referral to see a psychiatrist Rotunno said: 'They told you to do that so you could have more memories, correct?' Wulff said: 'No.' However, Wulff admitted that since she began seeing the psychiatrist she had met with prosecutors four or five times, each time lasting an hour and a half. Wulff is questioned by lawyer Donna Rotunno as she testifies during Weinstein's trial on Wednesday Former aspiring actress Dawn Dunning, 40, took the witness stand and broke down as she recounted how Weinstein invited her to a hotel for a business meeting and allegedly opened the door wearing an 'open bathrobe' and asked for a threesome Weinstein boasted that he made actresses Charlize Theron, Salma Hayek, and Uma Thurman the stars they are today, Dunning said in her testimony. Weinstein and Hayek pictured together in 2003 Weinstein claimed he launched the careers of Hayek and Charlize Theron (above). Theron has previously said she was sexually harassed at the beginning of her career by a 'famous director' Dawn Dunning claims Weinstein slipped his hand up her skirt during a business meeting and offered her movie roles in exchange for a threesome Dunning, wearing a camel colored suit and black top, only looked at Weinstein to identify him during her explosive testimony. Through tears she said, 'This is the worst and hardest thing I've ever done.' Dunning said she first met Weinstein working as a waitress at a Manhattan nightclub called PM in 2004 when she was 24 years old. She told him she was an aspiring actress and gave him her number. To her surprise his assistant called soon after and arranged a screen test at Miramax, his production company. Dunning and Weinstein met for several meetings and he got her and her fiance tickets to movie premieres and industry events. During these encounters Weinstein 'made comments about my body but it wasnt any worse than anything Id had' before, she said. Things seemed mostly professional before two 2004 incidents. Then in the spring of 2004 he invited her to what she thought was a business meeting at a SoHo hotel, which he was using as his production officer during film nearby. He allegedly ended up putting his hand up her skirt and inserted a finger into her vagina in that meeting. 'I was talking with Harvey and he led me into the other room and I sat down on the bed. I was wearing a skirt and he put his hand up my skirt,' she said through tears. 'There were people in the other room. So I didnt think anything of it.' 'He sat down first and I sat down next to him and he put his hand up my skirt. It was just a few seconds but I just froze for a minute and stood up. He told me dont make a big deal out of it. He apologized and said it wouldnt happen again.' 'I was in shock. I just wasnt expecting it. He was talking really fast, he was like its not a big deal. Dont make a big deal about it,' she added. 'He said it wouldnt happen again.' Dawn Dunning pictured right sobbing as she was questioned by Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast as Weinstein looked on at Wednesday's trial. She accused him of offering to sign her for three movies if she conceded to having a threesome with him and his assistant The movie giant, 67, hunched over his walker as he hobbled into the Manhattan criminal courthouse on Wednesday The movie producer clutched onto a staircase railing with both hands as he entered the Manhattan courthouse Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast asked if Weinstein actually touched her vagina when he put his hand up her skirt. Dunning said: 'Slightly, not all the way'. Hast asked: 'Did you indicate in any way you were interested in a sexual interaction with the defendant?' Dunning said: 'No'. She said she did not tell anyone about the incident because she was humiliated. 'It was embarrassing. I wanted to pretend like it didnt happen. I didnt want to be a victim,' she said to the jury. ...He got really angry and started screaming. He said youll never make it in this business! This is how the industry works! This is how these three actresses got to where they are Dawn Dunning testified Wednesday Then a few weeks later Weinstein's assistant called and asked her to meet him at a cigar bar near Park Avenue. Dunning thought they'd be meeting at the hotel restaurant. When she arrived she was told that Weinstein was in a hotel suite at the Intercontinental Hotel in Midtown upstairs. That's where she found the movie mogul in his bathrobe and when he allegedly propositioned her for sex asking for a threesome with his assistant. 'There was a coffee table and I noticed three stacks of paper... He cut to the chase and said heres three contracts for three films. I will sign them today if you have a threesome with me and my assistant,' Dunning told the jury. 'I thought he was kidding. When I started asking (about it) he got really angry and started screaming. He said youll never make it in this business! This is how the industry works! This is how these three actresses got to where they are,' she continued. 'For some reason the tone - something just seemed different from when Id spent time with him in the past. He was more serious,' Dunning told the jury. When asked to name those actresses Dunning said: 'It was Charlize Theron, Salma Hayek and I believe Uma Thurman.' The two actresses are not apart of the trial but in 2017 Hayek published an op-ed stating she had been harassed and abused by Weinstein during the production of Frida, which was made in 2002. Theron has previously said she was sexually harassed at the beginning of her career by a 'famous director'. Dunning said she looked at his assistant, who was still in the room, and she had a 'blank' expression on her face. Weinstein was a 'big guy and he was towering over me and I was really scared,' she said. Frightened she ran out of the door and 'heard him screaming as I was leaving'. Dunning didnt call the police because 'I didnt know what he did was illegal', she told the court. After that hotel incident, she abandoned her plans to be an actress. Today she works in creative services for advertising brands. Defense questions Dunning's intentions in coming forward with Weinstein allegations Under cross-examination by defense lawyer Arthur Aidala, Dunning said that one of the lunch meetings she had with Weinstein was at Robert De Niros restaurant in Tribeca. During the seven months she knew him, Dunning and her fiance also had dinner with Weinstein and his ex-wife Georgina Chapman. Weinstein got her tickets to see the Broadway show The Producers and one year Whoopi Goldbergs birthday. Aidala questioned her motives behind coming forward and accused Dunning of going on a 'media tour' that began in Fall 2017 with the New York Times and include NBC Nightly News, MSNBC, Sky News, and CNN. In all the interviews Dunning only talked about Weinsteins proposition for a threesome. It wasn't until July last year that Dunning told the Manhattan District Attorneys office about the previous incident where he allegedly touched her up her skirt. Dunning agreed that was correct. At the end of her examination Hast asked Dunning 'Are you getting anything from this?' in an effort to have the jury hear if she was benefiting in any way from going public with her story. 'No,' Dunning said choking on tears. 'If anything, Im losing. Im spending money, Im spending time. Its the hardest thing Ive ever done. I wouldnt wish this on anyone.' Weinstein was in good spirits in court on Tuesday. When a reporter asked him if he was afraid of Chihuahuas, Weinstein laughed and replied, 'Do I look like Im afraid of chihuahuas?' In an exclusive interview with DailyMailTV last year, Dunning said she was terrified to see the shamed Hollywood executive in the flesh again. 'I have thought about what would happen if I ran into him again over the years. And I just do not want to see him. I do not want to interact with him, I do not know what I would to say to him. It is still pretty emotional and it would be really hard to be face to face with him again.' Weinstein later offered her the opportunity to read for a potential acting role and Wulff went to his apartment for it. There Weinstein allegedly pushed her onto a bed and raped her. Weinstein, 67, is accused of five felony counts including rape and predatory sexual assault. Those charges stem from the alleged assaults of former Project Runway production assistant Mimi Haley in 2006 and aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013. The movie mogul has pleaded not guilty to those charges and his defense team is honing in on his accusers' continued contact with Weinstein after the alleged assaults. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 28, 2020 / IC Capitalight Corp. (CSE:IC) ("Capitalight" or the "Company") announces the completion of a shares for debt settlement whereby the Company has settled a total indebtedness of $44,636 by issuing 892,707 common shares at a price of $0.05 per common share. This was completed pursuant to certain employment agreements that contain provisions for the issuance of shares as part of the annual compensation of the employees. All common shares issued in connection with the shares for debt settlement will be subject to a minimum four-month hold period as required by Canadian securities laws. The Company has obtained conditional approval from the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") for the listing of all common shares and is subject to receipt of final approval of the CSE. About IC Capitalight Corp. IC Capitalight Corp. is a merchant bank that pursues value-based investment opportunities in accordance with its internal investment policies. The Company's focus is to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth by investing in a portfolio of undervalued companies, assets, or investment vehicles within the mineral resource and other sectors. The Company currently holds a portfolio of debentures, owns mineral exploration properties in Quebec, and owns 100% of Murenbeeld & Co. Inc., which operates a subscription research business. For further information, please contact: Brian Bosse CEO and Director P: 866.653.9223 Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the debentures; (ii) the mineral exploration properties; and (iii) the operations of Murenbeeld & Co Inc. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause 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 and social uncertainties; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; and other risks outside of the Company's control. Additional risk factors are included in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis, available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except as required by applicable laws, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. SOURCE: IC Capitalight Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/574424/IC-Capitalight-Completes-Shares-for-Debt-Settlement Teens get so much information from their screens, both vetted and not, and need training to identify misinformation, writes Alan C. Miller of the News Literacy Project. Read more Passing a note in class was once the best way for students to share information, though not without its perils. But today, they communicate with taps on a touchscreen, and the stakes are much higher. As technology has changed how we share information, the need to equip students with the skills to separate fact from fiction has never been greater. Thats why the News Literacy Project, the nonprofit I lead, is partnering with the E.W. Scripps Company for National News Literacy Week, which began Monday. Our goal is to raise awareness of news literacy as a fundamental life skill through a national campaign that provides educators, students, and the general public with simple tips and tools for becoming news literate. Young people may be digital natives, but studies have shown that they find it difficult to separate factual information from the vast amounts of misinformation and disinformation that appear on their smartphones, tablets, and computers. What should be a digital golden age, with valuable and credible information more readily available than ever before, has been turned against us. We saw examples of this when Russia spread false and disparaging information on social media to mislead and divide Americans in efforts to influence the 2016 election. We must take steps now to prevent it from happening again. One way to do that is to ensure that the next generation knows how to navigate this challenging landscape in a way that can unite us around verifiable, agreed-upon facts. Legislation that would require media literacy education in grades K-12 was introduced last year in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives; similar bills, equally worth attention, have been introduced in the New Jersey Legislature in previous years. At the News Literacy Project, our focus is on a subset of media literacy: news literacy, defined as the ability to determine what is credible and what is not, identify different types of information, and use the standards of authoritative, fact-based journalism as a measure in deciding what information you can trust. Being news literate also means recognizing the critical role of the First Amendment and a free press in a democracy, and interacting with news and other information in ways that promote meaningful participation in our democracy. I started thinking about this topic in 2006, when I spoke to my daughters sixth-grade class about my work as a reporter. Although I left the newsroom two years later to found the News Literacy Project, my reporting background has informed our work. For example, our Checkology virtual classroom features diverse journalists from respected news outlets who serve as virtual teachers in highly engaging lessons, using real-world examples of information true and false that students encounter every day. Students are taught, among other things, how to discern news from opinion, advertising, and propaganda; they examine how bias their own and others can affect their perceptions of the news; and they learn the standards of quality journalism. Since Checkology was released in 2016, educators from every state, the District of Columbia, four U.S. territories, and more than 110 other countries have registered to use the platform. We also teach educators about news literacy through NewsLitCamps daylong events that bring teachers and librarians into a news organization for engaging professional development, led by journalists and NLP staff. The educators return to the classroom not only with tools and resources for teaching news literacy but also with connections to local reporters and editors. In addition, these sessions result in a greater understanding between journalists and teachers including an appreciation of the realities that both face in playing a vital civic role with increasingly scarce resources. (We are working with The Inquirer to host a NewsLitCamp later this year.) These offerings, and more, are facets of a comprehensive news literacy curriculum that will give students the skills they need to be well-informed. As your state legislators consider how to build these kinds of skills in your schools, we hope our approach can help guide them. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that news literacy is embedded in middle schools and high schools across the country. We hope the citizens of Pennsylvania and New Jersey will join us in achieving that goal. Alan C. Miller is the founder and CEO of the News Literacy Project, a national nonpartisan education nonprofit, and the winner of a Pulitzer Prize in 2003 as a Los Angeles Times reporter. We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tom Solomon (The Jakarta Post) - Wed, January 29, 2020 14:53 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2061852da 3 Health coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,wuhan,Wuhan-lockdown,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,WHO,outbreak Free The World Health Organizations decision to not declare the novel coronavirus outbreak in China a public health emergency of international concern, or PHEIC, will surprise many. The number of reported cases and deaths is doubling every couple of days, and patients have now been reported from many Asian countries, as well as the Middle East, Europe, Australia and the US. You might wonder how bad things have to get before this is deemed to be a global public health emergency. But such declarations by the WHO are not taken lightly, as Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization (WHO) explained in the press conference. The concept of the WHO declaring global public health emergencies first arose after the 2003 Sars coronavirus outbreak. As with the current outbreak, it started in a live animal market where the spread of infected excrement to humans allowed the virus to cross the species barrier. But unlike the current situation, the Sars epidemic was growing for many months in China before authorities admitted they had a problem. By the time the Sars outbreak was brought under control, there were over 8,000 cases and 700 deaths in 37 countries. The WHO decided that declaring a PHEIC, introduced as part of the 2005 International Health Regulations, would help manage these situations. Previously, under legislation that was 150 years old, cholera, plague and yellow fever were contained by quarantine and embargoes at a countrys borders. The 2005 legal framework focuses on containing an outbreak at its source, with an emphasis on preparedness. It requires countries to maintain necessary core capacities, such as the ability to diagnose infections and isolate infected patients. And rather than only being able to report specific known diseases, they can report unusual public health patterns, for example an unexpected increase in patients with severe respiratory symptoms. A PHEIC is declared when there is an extraordinary event which is determined to constitute a public health risk to other states through the international spread of disease. Such a declaration raises levels of international support, enhances diplomatic efforts and security, and makes more money available to support response teams. The reason for caution is that declaring a global public health emergency can unnecessarily affect trade and tourism and imply that a country cannot control the disease on its own. But given the Chinese response of quarantining 41 million people in 13 cities, this hardly seems like a consideration here. To date, there have been five such public health emergencies declared by WHO: the 2009 H1N1 swine flu pandemic, a 2014 declaration following the resurgence of wild poliovirus, the 2014 West African Ebola epidemic, the Zika emergency of 2015-16, and, after much deliberation, the 2018-19 outbreak of Ebola in Kivu. As Tedros emphasised, even without the declaration of a PHEIC, there is already a coordinated international health response to the current coronavirus outbreak. And in some ways, this looks like a model public health response with concerted action underway. The Chinese have been quick to report the outbreak in Wuhan and share all the information they have. This early release of data has allowed modellers to predict that the total number infected is already probably in the thousands. Scientists in China rapidly sequenced the new virus to determine its genetic make up. Their immediate publication of this information allowed others around the world to develop their own diagnostic tests. The Chinese authorities quarantine moves underscore their determination to do everything they can to control the spread. Though whether it is possible to isolate so many people and whether at this stage it will help control the epidemic is uncertain. In the UK and other countries, passengers on flights coming directly from Wuhan were undergoing some health screening and being given information about what to do if they feel unwell. Such flights have now stopped, but these measures may need to be extended to flights from other parts of China. Unanswered questions Several questions, however, remain unanswered, some of which will be key to the WHOs further deliberations on a PHEIC declaration over the next few weeks. It is clear that human-to-human transmission is happening the infection has spread from patients to healthcare workers and other close contacts. What is not yet clear is how infectious the virus is. How much ongoing transmission will there be from the second patient to third, fourth and fifth contacts? And can people spread the virus before they even have symptoms? Scientists use the term Ro to describe how easily a virus spreads, and the higher it is, the greater the chance of the outbreak spreading further and more quickly. The disease severity is also important. As of January 26, 56 (2.8%) of 2,014 confirmed cases have died. For Sars coronavirus the case fatality rate was nearly 10%. If the new coronavirus spreads rapidly but has a low case fatality rate, there will be less concern. Chinese scientists are conducting tests to determine which of the animals in the wet market in Wuhan might have been the source. There will also be questions about whether regulations to keep humans safe were being followed. After the 2003 outbreak, temporary rules were imposed to stop the sale of exotic animals, such as civet cats, which transmit Sars coronavirus. But wet markets, which are usually crowded spaces selling live poultry and other animals, are popular with shoppers in Asia. About 600 people die in the UK every year from flu alone, and around the world there are hundreds of thousands of deaths. So while the emergence of a new virus will always cause alarm, the current response of public health officials and scientists in China and around the world, which incorporates everything we have learnt since Sars, should reassure the public, regardless of whether or not the WHO eventually declare this a global public health emergency. --- Tom Solomon, Director of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, and Professor of Neurology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool 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. Two fishermen and a Macomb County deputy pulled Korisa Miller out of the icy water after she slipped and fell in while fishing in Harrison Township, Michigan, on Monday. The fall occurred after Miller tried to stand up and lost her footing, and she plunged into the icy waters of Lake St. Clair around 3:20 p.m EST. According to a Facebook post from Macomb County Sheriff's Office, one of Miller's friends, Melissa Kovlowski, was only one dock away and looked over to see her struggling after hearing the fall. She tried to pull Miller up but was unable to, as her body had gone numb. "I just kept screaming at her," Kovlowski told WXYZ-TV Detroit. "I said you gotta stay up, you gotta stay up, you gotta keep your head up." Korisa Miller was in the water for about 15 minutes before being rescued. (Facebook / Macomb County Sheriff's Office) Two other fishermen in the area came to help after hearing her cries, but they were also unable to pull her back onto the pier. The fishermen instead held her arms up to prevent her from drowning until the deputy arrived. By the time the deputy made it to the scene along with the Harrison Fire Department, Miller had already been in the icy water for 15 minutes. Miller was wearing a hoodie at the time she fell in, which had ended up floating around her neck, and the officers had to remove it so it would not choke her as she was pulled out of the lake. Miller's body had gone numb, making it impossible for her friend to pull her up. (Facebook / Macomb County Sheriff's Office) Body camera footage from the deputy shows him rushing to the pier where Miller had fallen. After he arrives, they were able to quickly pull her out of the icy water. According to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Paul Walker, the temperature in the area the day and time of the fall was around 35 degrees Fahrenheit, but because of 17-mph winds coming from the southwest and slight snow and freezing drizzle in the area, the RealFeel Temperature was most likely in the high teens. In Detroit, about 26 miles away, the RealFeel was 19 F. Story continues CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP The Facebook post said the water was 36 F that day; however, Walker said it may have actually been in the upper 20s, which he said was "something you don't want to expose your body to." "You wouldn't want to be in the water with these temperatures," Walker said. "You could suffer from hypothermia very quickly." Miller was "doing better" by the next day, according to the sheriff's office. "Thank you everyone who had been praying for me and asking if I am okay," Miller posted on Facebook on Tuesday. "I am just bruised and sore but I am okay." She went on in the Facebook post to respond to people who had body-shamed her after the video was released, and explained that "the reason why I gave permission to show the video is to show awareness on how dangerous fishing can be. I am glad I am alive and share my story. This isn't going to stop me from doing what I love. I am now keeping rope and life vests near me. So the Haters are going to hate and it isn't going to get me because of my story someone will not make that mistake." Miller's fall took place while she was fishing in Lake St. Clair. (Youtube / WXYZ-TV Detroit) The sheriff's office advised people who may end up in a similar situation not to panic and to get as much of your body out of the water as possible, stay close to the area rather than swim away, search for a personal floatation device in nearby water to put on if not already wearing one, leave clothing on and form a fetal position to reserve as much body heat as possible. If you fall into water in a group of people, huddling together will help retain body heat and make the group more visible to rescuers, the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post. They also recommend making very minimal movements if swimming is necessary so as to conserve energy and be prepared to flag down any potential rescuers passing by. After, they advise seeking immediate medical help. Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios. Incredible footage captures neurosurgeons using their mobile phones as torches while removing a tumour after the lights failed during a power cut. The operation took place at Hospital Barros Luco Trudeau in San Miguel, Chile, and was later shared on Facebook where it has been viewed 412,000 times. It was reported a 34-year-old patient was undergoing the brain surgery for a tumour when the video was filmed. Neurosurgeons at Hospital Barros Luco Trudeau in San Miguel, Chile, were forced to use their mobile phones as torches as lights went out after a power cut hit the area Health official Arturo Zuniga told local media the automatic system for the generators was not activated when a power cut hit the area. He added: 'The generators do work, and if the power cuts again there will not be a problem.' Mr Zuniga also explained the hospital facilities are in the process of being updated, but vowed to open an investigation into the incident to provide the patient's family with all the facts. He said family members were informed of the incident after the operation was finished, and also credited hospital staff for working well under difficult conditions. Health official Arturo Zuniga told local media the automatic system for the generators was not activated when a power cut hit the area, but vowed to open an investigation into the incident The patient's sister, Paulina, claimed that he had to undergo another operation several days later after suffering a haemorrhage, according to local media. Reports said he is still being treated in the intensive care unit, with the team of neurosurgeons refusing to carry out any more operations until the minimum standards are guaranteed by the hospital. Local media said the patient's family are planning on suing the hospital. The investigation is ongoing. U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal on Wednesday touted the possibility that a new $760 billion infrastructure plan by Democrats could bring broadband internet to rural Western Massachusetts and frequent Springfield-to-Boston rail travel. Neal, the Democratic chairman of the powerful House Ways & Means Committee, has been talking a lot lately about his support for east-west rail including on Friday, both publicly and privately with Republican Gov. Charlie Baker. Neal, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, and Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Frank Pallone, D-New Jersey, appeared at a Wednesday morning news conference with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat. #MovingForward invests $86 BILLION in broadband access to unserved & underserved rural, suburban & urban areas. That's huge for western MA! It'll connect Americans, create strong small businesses, more jobs & strengthen economies in communities that have been left behind. pic.twitter.com/5UWP1wpZkP Rep. Richard Neal (@RepRichardNeal) January 29, 2020 Their Moving Forward infrastructure framework could create an estimated 10 million jobs by spending the $760 billion over five years on the nations roads, bridges, transit systems, railways, airports, ports, inland waterways, wastewater and drinking water systems, brownfields, and broadband. Neal was also expected to detail his plans for the legislation at a Capitol Hill hearing Wednesday afternoon. Democratic lawmakers said their proposal would fight the climate crisis while creating good-paying clean energy sector jobs and providing relief to American families on their energy bills. A final report from a state-sponsored study of east-west rail isnt due until spring. The advisory committee has a Feb. 6 meeting in Springfield. Wednesdays announcement came as President Donald Trump signed a new trade pact with Canada and Mexico. Neal, as Ways & Means chairman, negotiated the Democratic portion not only with the Trump administration, but with the Canadian and Mexican governments and with members of his own party opposed to free trade. In the past few days, there has been a heated debate on Judiciarys dispensation of justice, with many Kenyans castigating the institution for allegedly discriminating against the poor and kowtowing to the rich and influential Kenyans. A powerful line in Kenyas national anthem says, Justice be our shield and defender, which emphasises how much this value is key for a civilised nation. READ ALSO: If William Ruto thinks he is mature enough, let him resign - Junet Mohammed Embakasi East MP Babu Owino when he appeared in court during a past hearing. Photo: Daily Nation Source: UGC READ ALSO: Irungu Kang'ata ashinikiza seneti kumtimua Waititu mamlakani kufuatia tuhuma za ufisadi Many Kenyans have been up in arms since Milimani courts chief magistrate Francis Andayi granted Embakasi MP Babu Owino a KSh 10 million cash bail to be paid in four instalments of KSh 2.5 million each. Babu was charged with attempted murder after he allegedly shot Felix Orinda alias DJ evolve. After Andayis ruling, Kenyans online revisited Joseph Irungu alias Jowies case in which the latter has been denied bail after he pleaded not guilty to murder charges in October 2018. Jowie was charged alongside journalist Jacque Maribe. The two were accused of murdering businesswoman Monica Kimani. Maribe was granted a KSh 2 million bond with an alternative bail of KSh 1 million but Jowie failed to convince the court why he should be granted temporary freedom. The rage by Kenyans, no matter how genuine and as populist as it could sound, was ignorant to the law, specifically Criminal Procedure Code (CPC). Joseph Irungu alias Jowi (right) and Jacque Maribe (left) when they appeared in court. Photo: Citizen Source: UGC READ ALSO: Have mercy: Governor Waititu pleads with senators during impeachment motion Comments by a significant number of protestors insinuated that Babu was freed and declared innocent by the court but this is not the truth. Babu was only released on bail which is simply an agreement by accused persons, their sureties and the court that the individual facing charges will attend court as required. In Kenyas Constitution, Article 49 states arrested/accused persons have the right to be released on bond or bail, usually on reasonable terms so as their case can be handled while they are outside remand. This right however, is not absolute and can be denied if there are compelling reasons. Article 49(2) also states that a person shall not be remanded in custody for an offence if the offence is punishable by a fine only or by imprisonment for not more than six months. READ ALSO: Kenya ranked 70th best place for women to live in 2020 global survey Lawyer John Swaka clarified to me that there are compelling reasons which could make a judge or magistrate to deny one bail. These reasons he said, depend on the strength of the prosecution case, likelihood of accused interfering with witnesses or being a flight risk, failure of accused person to observe bail or bond terms, seriousness of the offence and punishment, whether accused person is employed or not and public order peace or security. Jowies case is murder thus a serious case in High Court. Babu Owino is facing attempted murder which is a lesser offence before a magistrates court, Swaka explained. The lawyer argued that Babu was an MP hence a public figure who could not easily run away from Kenya or attending court unlike Jowie. According to the evidence in court, Jowie did not have a permanent residence of gainful employment. He has all the reasons to disappear since he has nothing to fall back and could choose to abscond court, Swaka observed. The lawyer opined that Jowies image made him look dangerous as he had posed with guns despite not being a licensed gun holder and would be perceived a threat to witnesses. Babu on the other hand was a legalised gun holder who used it wrongly for the first time. In his ruling against Jowie, Justice James Wakiaga concluded the accused person had no permanent residence and depended on women making him a candidate of disappearance if granted bail. Concerning Babus bail terms the lawyer observed every magistrate or judge has the right to tailor terms according to the merit of each case. There is no law compelling one to pay bail in a one off payment. The court could be inconsiderate and order Babu to pay bail and not help the injured complainant but the magistrate had consideration for the victim's life, Swaka weighed in. His view was that the court had chosen to even have all the bail money go to the victims treatment rather than keep it. "The suspect is not guilty and could win the case. Even if the victim wins the case how easy would it be for him to get compensation. The court simply stopped going round and round to help the family to avoid the strain, Magistrate has power to develop bail terms to keep in touch with suspect and victim and in this case the victims welfare was considered and the court should not be castigated, Swaka said. The debate by Kenyans over issues of bias in the Judiciary is healthy but would only be better and helpful if it were anchored on truth and existing legal provisions. All these cases have been happening in public courts and even lawyers of the accused persons agreed with the magistrates and judges decision. A bail is not a fine, Babu Owino is not yet a free man. He has a constitutional right to be granted bail so long as he can adhere to the terms of the bail, Julius Miiri, a budding lawyer said. It is time Kenyans get their legal knowledge right and turn the energy they are using to bash judges and magistrates to push the executive that has been trampling on court orders setting precedence for a lawless state. The writer, Michael Ollinga, is an editor at TUKO.co.ke, a poet and essayist with inclination towards human rights, democracy and religion. He is a professional journalist with over seven years experience. The views expressed in this opinion article are his and do not represent the position of TUKO.co.ke. 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. Source: TUKO.co.ke Flint Hills ranch life topic of new book from Chapman Center Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 Patrick Sauble on his egg farm, known as Pat and Mary's Cackleberries, in this photo from the 1960s. | Download this photo. MANHATTAN A new book from the Chapman Center for Rural Studies at Kansas State University is a history of life on a prominent Flint Hills ranch through the years. "Sauble: Stories from the Flint Hills" is co-authored by Patrick Henry Sauble, a longtime rancher and a K-State alumnus, and Bonnie Lynn-Sherow, K-State associate professor of history and director of the Chapman Center in the College of Arts and Sciences. It was published in 2019 by Mennonite Press in Newton. It is the third book by the center. A three-year project, "Sauble: Stories from the Flint Hills" is a collection of short stories and some tall tales told by Patrick Sauble over his lifetime as a rancher near Cedar Point. Sauble was born in Newton in 1921 to rancher John Sauble. His grandfather, David Sauble, was one of the earliest settlers in the Flint Hills, having ridden to Kansas with his friend Pete Hoover in the 1850s. The friends worked cattle across south central Kansas, knew trailblazer Jessie Chisholm and hid from Indians in a dugout on what became the Sauble ranch. Today, the DS Ranch is the oldest continuously operating ranch in Kansas and among the oldest in the United States. Sauble grew up hearing the family stories of his father, grandfather and extended family members. He started retelling the stories himself while still a boy on the ranch. Sauble attended K-State, then called Kansas State Agricultural College, from 1939 to 1942 before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force as a pilot. He had learned to fly while a student at K-State, taking flying lessons for $20 at the old municipal airport. He went on to fly for the next several years, transporting troops from one end of the country to the other as World War II wound down. In 1946 he returned to the ranch and took over from his father. When the ranch was threatened by condemnation for flood control from the 1940s to the 1970s, Sauble became an outspoken conservationist. He was recognized by the governor with a Water Legacy Award in 2017 the only recipient ever given the award for preventing a water project instead of promoting one. Together, with his daughter and son-in-law, Sauble managed the DS Ranch right up until his death at age 98 on Dec. 7, 2019, the 79th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Lynn-Sherow was encouraged by Sauble's family and many friends to record his stories for a potential book. "As soon as I met Pat, I knew this was something I had to do not just for him, but for everyone who loves the Flint Hills," Lynn-Sherow said. "Pat was a rare treasure and incredible ambassador for rural Kansans and their ties to K-State." Lynn-Sherow said her students were excited about the book so it became a collaborative effort and, in many ways, a race against time. "This project ticked all the boxes for our work at K-State," she said. "We were able to highlight the flavor of rural life in Kansas while providing undergraduates with research and transcription experience and digital training as we scanned and saved a major archival collection." The project also involved deep engagement with the residents of Chase County who provided information for the book, Lynn-Sherow said. In keeping with the Chapman Center's mission, "Sauble: Stories from the Flint Hills" will soon be made available for purchase at the Pioneer Bluffs Ranching Heritage Center near Matfield Green, with all proceeds going to Pioneer Bluffs. It is also available now from the center by contacting 785-532-0380 or chapmancenter@k-state.edu. More information on the center also is available on Facebook at facebook.com/chapmancenter/. Flint Hills rancher Patrick Sauble is featured on the cover of the October 1976 issue of The Kansas Farmer-Stockman for his conservation efforts. | Download this photo. Dear editor, The new coronavirus, also known as the new China flu virus, is frightening the world and looms as the next health disaster. The good news is that at the World Economic Forum, the Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunization (GAVI) is celebrating its 20th anniversary as the forum celebrates its 50th anniversary. Among other good news is that in the 20 years of GAVI, vaccine coverage went from 60 percent to 80 percent and averted more that 13 million deaths. We should do something about diseases we can affect to reduce mortality. At the same time, South Korea announced last year that it would increase its financial support to GAVI from $4 million a year to $5 million an amazing 25 percent increase. However, as we brag about being the world's 12th-biggest economy, we should be supporting at least 1 percent of the GAVI budget and that would be about five times the current amount. South Korea is having a difficult time economically and the government is stretching to supply the variety of benefits to its citizens now that the parliamentary election is due in April. But also, we definitely should seize the opportunity to make the biggest difference in benefiting the youngest most vulnerable population of the planet. After all, South Korea was on the receiving end of other countries' goodwill soon after the Korean War. Sunnie Kim Gangbuk-gu Seoul A Rohingya Muslim family waits for transportation in front of the U.N. refugee agencys transit center in Bangladeshs Coxs Bazar district, Jan. 28, 2020. Bangladeshi authorities had relocated at least 17 Christian Rohingya families, officials said Tuesday, after machete-wielding Muslim Rohingya men attacked a community of Christians in a refugee camp and wounded at least 12 people. The attack took place Monday at the Kutupalong refugee camp in Coxs Bazar district, one of the victims and a Christian group told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. But police said only four Christians and one Muslim were wounded, and described the violence as an ordinary law-and-order incident. The Christian Rohingya families have been taken to a UNHCR transit camp, Mahbub Alam Talukder, the refugee relief and repatriation commissioner, told BenarNews on Tuesday. He said the refugees would be given temporary shelter at the U.N. refugee agencys transit camp for their security and would be taken back to their makeshift homes at the Kutupalong refugee camp when the tense situation is over. If we think they can live at the old camps without danger, they will be going back to the old camps, he said. If they do not feel secured at the old camps, they can be shifted to other camps. One of the alleged victims, Saiful Islam Peter, a Christian Rohingya, said the attackers had destroyed victims homes and stolen their ration cards, computers and documents. He also repeated allegations in an interview with BenarNews that members of the militant group Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) had perpetrated the attack. The Muslim terrorist group ARSA destroyed our homes and church. They were armed and they looted all of our household goods, he said. Saiful said that out of the 25 families living in the Christian community, 17 families had taken shelter at the UNHCR transit camp. Mostafa Mohammad Sazzad Hossain, the UNHCR spokesman in Dhaka, declined to comment on the relocation of the refugees at the agencys transit camp, saying the issue was sensitive. A BenarNews correspondent was also blocked from entering the U.N. refugee agencys office in Coxs Bazar as he sought comments from officials related to the incident. No arrests The ARSA insurgent group, which claims to be fighting oppression of Rohingya Muslims, carried out attacks on police and army posts in Myanmars Rakhine state in August 2017. In response to the militant attacks, Myanmars security forces launched a crackdown that drew global attention after more than 740,000 Rohingya fled their homes and crossed into neighboring Bangladesh. On Monday, police in Ukhia, a sub-district of Coxs Bazar where the Kutupalong camp is located, brushed aside the allegation that ARSA was involved, and said that Saiful himself had initiated the communal clash following an argument. Selim Adnan, another Christian Rohingya, told BenarNews outside the UNHCR transit camp in Ukhia that the attack injured at least eight Christian refugees. The Rohingya terrorists suddenly attacked us, he said, adding that they had informed the police but they [police] did not take any action. Mohammad Abul Mansur, the officer-in-charge of Ukhia police station, rejected allegations that the security forces took no action after the attacks. None has filed any case regarding the attack on the Christians. So, we havent arrested anyone, Mansur told BenarNews. We will take action if allegations have been registered. Iqbal Hossain, an additional superintendent of police in Coxs Bazar, dismissed reports that militants attacked the Christian community. This is a crime of ordinary nature, he said. The situation at the place of occurrence is in total control of the police. Bangladesh officially denies the presence of Rohingya rebels in the refugee camps, but government and police sources have privately acknowledged arresting several of the insurgents in recent months. Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. By Douglas Busvine BERLIN (Reuters) - Britain's decision on whether to allow Huawei to supply equipment for 5G mobile networks comes at a delicate time, with debate raging in European capitals over the security implications of reliance on Chinese technology. In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel's preference for applying the same rules to all equipment vendors faces growing resistance from lawmakers in her own party, who back U.S. calls to ban Huawei outright. Even as Britain prepares to quit the European Union, the finishing touches are still being put on a bloc-wide framework to address risks in networks that will become faster and more ubiquitous in the 5G era. Europe's leading telecoms operators, who are all Huawei customers, are lobbying against an outright ban. At the same time, they are removing the Chinese company's gear from the "core" of their networks. The core routes traffic and manages data and is thus more sensitive than the peripheral radio network. Here's an explainer on the current state of play: GERMAN BACKLASH In Germany, lawmakers across party lines are challenging Merkel's pragmatism. They agree with the Donald Trump administration's arguments that Huawei can't be trusted because it is beholden to the Chinese government. Huawei denies this. Merkel has called for a time-out on the domestic debate ahead of a March EU summit, reinforcing a feedback loop that Brussels sources say has already slowed efforts to reach a bloc-wide consensus and delayed the 5G framework, dubbed the toolbox. Concerns expressed by Germany's powerful car industry that a Huawei ban could provoke trade retaliation from China - its largest export market - have influenced the thinking of Merkel and senior aides. WHAT'S AT STAKE? Operators Deutsche Telekom , Vodafone and Telefonica are all Huawei clients. They warn that replacing its kit could cost billions of euros, on top of heavy outlays for German 5G spectrum at auction last year. More broadly, Europe has emerged as a battleground in the technology 'Cold War' playing out between China and Washington. Huawei's European competitors, Ericsson and Nokia , would become a supplier duopoly should the Chinese company be shut out. Story continues Huawei leads the global telecoms equipment market with a 28% share, according to U.S. consultancy Dell'Oro. Nokia is second on 16% and Ericsson third with 13%. Its share is higher in Europe and it is banned in the United States. WHAT ABOUT THE TOOLBOX? The proposed toolbox, due out this week, will create a framework to analyze and address network security but it will go only as far as making recommendations because EU rules stipulate that security policy is a matter for national governments. There would be no up-front bans, but European Commissioner Thierry Breton, of France, has made it clear - in a coded message to Huawei - that the EU will assert its status as a sovereign space when it comes to telecoms networks. EU countries should assess the risk profile of suppliers on a national or EU level and apply restrictions to high-risk suppliers including necessary exclusions to effectively mitigate risks for key assets, the draft document says. THE FRENCH EXCEPTION In France, market leader Orange , which is partly state owned, does not use Huawei for its domestic network. It does, however, rely on Huawei in Spain and Poland. Rivals Bouygues Telecom and Altice Europe's SFR are both Huawei customers, which raises potential uncertainty as France prepares to sell 5G spectrum early this year. PRAGMATISTS AND SCEPTICS Across the EU, no government has yet imposed an outright ban on Huawei. Attitudes range from welcoming to sceptical, reflecting diverging risk perceptions and attitudes towards Washington and Beijing. At the friendly end of the spectrum, there has been scant debate in Spain about any risks that Huawei might pose. Hungary has welcomed Huawei, saying it sees no evidence to support U.S. claims about security risks. Among the sceptics, the Czech Republic's cyber-security watchdog has issued a warning to all critical network companies, identifying risks of equipment from Chinese vendors Huawei and the smaller ZTE. Elsewhere, the Netherlands and Italy have talked about retroactive mechanisms for removing Chinese equipment should it be found wanting. Poland might impose stricter security requirements on elements of the network core that route traffic and handle sensitive information. Taken as a whole, Europe appears to lack the appetite for outright bans, and any consensus reached on a standards-based toolbox would represent a big win for Huawei. That would not, however, eliminate the risk that it is kicked out of individual markets at a later stage. (Reporting by Douglas Busvine; Additional reporting by Foo Yun Chee, Elvira Pollina, Isla Binnie, Toby Sterling, Anna Koper, Jan Lopatka, Gergely Szakacs and Radu Marina; Editing by David Goodman) The UK is moving forward with Huawei after debating a national ban. Despite national fear over Huawei participation in 5G, its security risks are manageable, a security expert says. Huawei security risks for 5G network manageable There is risk in using Huawei the point is managing it, said Cyber Advisory Director and former GCHQ Intelligence Officer Malcolm Taylor said in a GlobalData interview. Taylor recognizes that Huawei is a security risk because of the report from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). The NCSC says the company is a serious security risk. The report from the UK debate regarding Huawei is that the country can keep Huawei out of the core components of its 5G network. Huawei can still participate, though it will have greater scrutiny in this new 5G era. Advertisement Taylor states three reasons why Huaweis security risks are manageable. First, the UKs security apparatus says that Huaweis security risks arent uncontrollable. Next, Huawei has large international scrutiny already. Last but not least, there is no proof that Huawei has ever committed global espionage. These reasons seal the deal for Taylor. Apparently, hes not alone. A recent GlobalData reader poll shows that 53% of respondents agree with him. How manageable are security risks? Taylor is correct. There is no direct evidence that Huawei has committed digital espionage on behalf of China. There is no evidence that Huawei is behind Chinese hackings in the past. And yet, Huawei isnt without suspicion. Advertisement First, the company is quite active in cyber imperial expansion, planting surveillance cities in the African governments of Uganda and Zaire. If Huawei can spy on political opponents on behalf of African governments, why not commit British espionage? Its not so much that Huawei would get away with it but that Huawei wouldnt hesitate to please its sponsor. Next, there are the security loopholes in Huawei software and hardware. The Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre (HCSEC) says that Huawei is not fixing its security vulnerabilities despite the knowledge that there are problems. With all this evidence of security risks and Huaweis infamous potential, how does one manage them? The UK, like Taylor, says it can keep Huawei out of core components of its 5G network. However, doesnt it seem a bit strange to allow a risky company to still have a hand in building a strong 5G network? If a state builds a prison to guard criminals, does it make sense to then build a weak fence whereby criminals can easily escape? Advertisement To let Huawei participate while keeping them out of the core components of the UKs 5G network is akin to building a strong fortified prison with a weak fence. Why does the criminal care about the conditions of the prison if he can go out for some fresh air and escape without trouble? Huawei in 5G network despite security risks: the real reason The British Government wants to manage the Huawei risks on its 5G network, but theres one reason behind it: technological. As of May 2019, Huawei owns 15% of all standards-essential global 5G patents. The company is at the forefront of 5G networks. Global 5G wouldnt be possible without Huawei, seeing that no other company matches its technological muscle in that area. Huawei owns more 5G patents than the US and even Android OEMs such as LG and Samsung. Of all Huaweis 5G clients, half are European. So European countries, including Britain, feel the sting of preventing Huawei from a field over which it has great dominance. Huawei not only holds a large number of global 5G patents but also undercuts its competition in hardware pricing. Its no secret that Huawei has such a hold on the US market that the Federal Government is finding it difficult to replace Huawei in the US. Last Fall, President Donald Trump requested that Cisco and Oracle join the networking gear race to alleviate American dependence on Huawei. The Federal Government is also considering subsidies for small wireless providers to upgrade their Huawei equipment. Abandoning Huawei in the 5G race isnt as easy as it sounds. Advertisement And, as the old adage says, money talks. Britain doesnt want to be out of step with the rest of Europe. Its desire to see financial profit from 5G networks is what motivates the country to play nice with Huawei despite the risks. Samsung plans to launch a new foldable smartphone, tentatively-named the Galaxy Z, later this year, according to IT website TweakTown. It can be folded in a "z" shape, hence the name. China's Xiaomi and TCL have already unveiled prototypes of similar phones. Samsung's current foldable smartphone can only be folded inward, but leaked photos suggest the new phone can be folded both ways. Once unfolded the Galaxy Z will have a 10 to 11-inch screen, almost as big as a tablet PC. Samsung filed a patent application for "z-folding" technology in August last year. The exact release date and price remain under wraps, but industry insiders believe the phone will hit stores in the second half of this year. Luis Berrios was shot during a botched robbery last year. He forgave his shooters but he can't forgive whoever stole and cashed a much-needed check from the Victims Compensation Assistance Program. Read more Wait until after the holidays, Luis Berrios was told. Call the District Attorneys Office. Call police. All of which hes done and none of which has gotten him any closer to a desperately needed victims assistance check that he believes was stolen. In 2018, Berrios was shot and left for dead during a botched robbery outside of his Philadelphia home. The states Victims Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP) awarded Berrios about $15,000 to be doled out in several installments that would help him pay his bills while he was out of work and recovering. The first two checks showed up at his house without any hiccups. A third check due in June for $4,502.73 didnt arrive as scheduled. He alerted everyone he could think of, and then boarded the bureaucratic merry-go-round of do-nothings. And now, almost eight months later, Berrios is in the same place he started. Exactly nowhere. I was making the rounds on his behalf this week when I remembered Id been here before. In 2013, it was a group of ex-offenders who had been cheated out of paychecks they earned 10 years earlier by a politically connected businessman with millions in city contracts who figured no one would care if a bunch of bunch of guys with records got stiffed. He was mostly right. It took many months and columns, but the men finally got paid. Apparently doing your job, or the right thing, is still something that doesnt come naturally to some. Even if youre paid to do so. No matter how many times I write about victims getting revictimized, there is still a small part of me that thinks that surely, when presented with valid information, people who are supposed to help will see the error of their ways even if it takes a little shame to get there. And yet, VCAP has yet to give Berrios any indication of his checks status. To me now, and when I wrote about his case last year the agency cites confidentiality issues, although Berrios has given permission to share information with me. Theres also been nothing from Fulton, the bank from which VCAP draws its checks. One of the excuses used for not reissuing the check was that VCAP had to be refunded by the bank first. The Police Department told me Berrios had to contact East Detectives for a status of his case, which hes done, several times, starting with the time VCAP sent him a letter with a copy of the check, and the location where it was cashed. Berrios followed the address to a check-cashing store on North Fifth Street and gave all the information to police, including a photo of the man not him who cashed the check that hed gotten from an employee there. Maybe someone should just deputize Berrios and let him work his own case? Berrios is beyond thankful for the readers whove donated to his GoFundMe. He was recently denied disability benefits, a decision hes fighting. I was honest when we talked: Im not giving up, but Im also not sure who out there might actually help as opposed to just saying they will. Berrios is not giving up either, but hes rightly frustrated and angry. He forgave his shooters, but he cant forgive those who call themselves advocates for turning their backs on him and other victims. Hes been thinking a lot lately, he told me, about people who give up because its just too hard to fight, because theyre ignored. (Im starting to believe some victim advocacy groups bet on that.) He doesnt want to be one of them. Everyone gets paid off your pain lawyers, judges, doctors, he said, while those who suffer just sit and wait. What a cycle. 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 (Natural News) With coronavirus infections having leapt nearly 30% in one day in mainland China, U.S. health officials are rolling out a parade of lies about the risks the United States might face. The number of fatalities attributed to coronavirus have already surpassed those of SARS, and the number of infections and deaths is increasing at an exponential (parabolic) rate (see chart below). Hundreds of commercial air flights from China continue each day, delivering potentially infected Chinese citizens to large cities around the world, including New York, London, Miami, Los Angeles and Toronto. The transmissivity of the virus is so high that every one person who carries it even when they show no symptoms can transmit the virus to two or three other people. This results in an exponential growth rate that quickly cascades out of control. According to a study published in The Lancet, this coronavirus strain has a 15% fatality rate and an 83% infection rate for those exposed. The roughly 8-day incubation period is characterized by high contagiousness combined with a bizarre lack of fever symptoms in some carriers, further contributing to the spread of the virus by allowing stealth carriers to bypass airport screening. China is burning through 100,000 full body health hazard suits each day, providing a strong hint about the real scale of this pandemic, despite the official figures released by the communist Chinese government. That government, by the way, has gone out of its way to artificially limit the supply of diagnostic kits in order to suppress the number of people confirmed to be carrying the virus. Heres a chart from just two days ago, showing the parabolic rise in infections. Note that the real numbers are now nearly double whats shown in this chart: Now, the government of China has issued harsh warnings to silence social media postings from users who are trying to survive the quarantined cities, which now encompass over 56 million mainland Chinese. As The Epoch Times reported earlier today: The outbreak of Wuhan coronavirus has made many mainland Chinese realize that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its media mouthpieces do not tell the truth or tell the whole story. Social media users in Wuhan, especially doctors and nurses, share their experiences and post videos on social media to alert everyone of the true situation, which the authorities find embarrassing. People who tell the truth online are accused of spreading rumors just like in the USA Individuals who dare to report the truth about the lack of supplies or the true numbers of coronavirus infections are accused of spreading rumors, a tactic that smacks of Big Tech censorship in the United States. As The Epoch Times reports about this warning from the communist Chinese regime: A variety of unsubstantiated comments posted to the internet constantly stir up public panic, the notice read, All those who spread fake news and thus disturb social order will face up to three years in prison, detention, or disciplinary action. Those who have caused serious consequences will be given 3-year to 7-year prison terms. Thats right: Prison sentences for anyone who questions the official lies of the corrupt government. Sounds a lot like the way the tech giants operate in America when it comes to vaccines and chemotherapy: Anyone who questions the dogma of the corrupt establishment is immediately condemned as a menace to public health. China, it seems, is borrowing Big Techs playbook to deal with inconvenient truths they dont want the public to hear. The first casualty of every pandemic, never forget, is the truth. China mirrors Google: All pandemic news FORBIDDEN unless it comes from official sources Following in the footsteps of Google, which forbids all news sources unless they are official sources (i.e. fake news from the corrupt establishment), China has also announced that all pandemic news is forbidden unless it comes from official sources. Via the same article link above: A leaked document from Cyberspace Administration of China also stated that starting on Jan. 26, all social media groups are forbidden to publish any news about Wuhan pneumonia that are not from official sources. The police will arrest all those who spread unconfirmed news. As a result of these policies, Chinese citizens are now supposed to pretend that coronavirus isnt causing people to drop dead in the streets or that infections and deaths are not taking place right in front of their own eyes. This is much the same sort of twisted delusion thats required of Americans, too, who are demanded to pretend that Joe Biden isnt a corrupt grifter or that Hillary Clinton isnt the head of a political mafioso that eliminates political enemies as a routine operation. In China, citizens who have run out of food, medicine and fuel in quarantine areas are ordered to imagine they are living bountiful lives with an abundance of everything they need, for to contradict the communist partys official stories is to risk ending up in an organ harvesting prison (which also may not be mentioned without fear of being sentenced to death). In the United States, its not much different, either: The corporate-controlled media, corrupt CDC and Big Tech monopolists also conspire to not just silence independent sources who question the official lies; they also go out of their way to destroy the reputations of the persons who dare to ask such questions. Its not quite the same as being thrown in a gulag, but its still a character assassination with significant long-term damage. Government threats against citizens prove the pandemic is only getting worse and no government has it under control, not even the U.S. government The fact that Chinas communist regime is now threatening its own citizens with seven years of prison time for reporting rumors about the pandemic only underscores the sheer desperation of the government itself. If the pandemic really isnt spreading, then why worry about social media posts? If people really arent dying, then why does the government have to threaten people with prison time to try to shut them up? If the coronavirus is under control, why are only official news sources allowed to be quoted? And if its all just fine, then why are 56 million Chinese under quarantine right now? The answer is obvious. Just as in America, the government is lying to the citizens. The coronavirus is far, far worse than what any official source is reporting. As usual, you are being lied to, and the more official the source, the bigger the lie. In this important podcast, I explain why both China and Trump are deliberately downplaying the true severity of the coronavirus pandemic: Brighteon.com/ee8790ee-49bf-403d-bff0-f4442ec09b82 Best guess: Minimum 100,000 infections in China, and at least 500 in the USA right now My sense right now, based on all the information Im reading and studying, is that coronavirus infections in China are, at the very moment, probably in excess of 100,000 patients. In another week, that number will likely double to 200,000. At some point the number of sick and dead Chinese will be too much for even the communist regime to deny. And if the numbers get large enough, the regime itself may be threatened with overthrow from a disgruntled population tired of being lied to about everything. Thats the real threat to China here: Not the pandemic but an uprising and a revolt against the communist regime. For the situation in the USA, my best guess is that there are at least 500 carriers in America right now, most of them oblivious to the fact that they are infected. These are individuals, mostly at universities, who came into contact with infected Chinese students or who shared commercial air flights with them. These numbers wont become apparent for several more weeks, however, as the CDC is far behind on its sample testing. The CDCs current claim that it is observing somewhere around 110 individuals in America holds about as much credibility as China saying only 130 people have died so far. Both of these numbers of pure fiction presented by corrupt, criminally dishonest regimes that have long histories of deceiving the public and withholding vital information from the public. Brighteon.com/da14f5c9-09d2-4a89-9eec-d51020d6d549 Stay informed. Dont trust lying governments or lying media fake news factories. The only real news comes from real people like the ones who run The Epoch Times, InfoWars or Natural News. We are the real news, and we will tell you the real truth that may just help save your life if this pandemic spins out of control. Georgetown bans Papaya Workshop abortion demonstration on campus Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Georgetown University, the oldest Catholic university in the United States, has thwarted a student groups attempt to hold a first-trimester abortion demonstration on campus. Organized by the New York-based Reproductive Health Access Project, the Papaya Workshop features an abortionist who shows students an example of how vacuum aspiration abortions are performed by using a papaya as a uterus model in which the inner pulp and seeds are suctioned out by a suction machine. The event was originally planned to be held at Georgetowns Intercultural Center. However, University officials intervened and compelled the campus student group hosting the RHAP abortion workshop to move it off campus. The university said in a statement that the abortion workshop wouldn't be allowed on campus because it conflicts with the academic institutions religious identity. Consistent with our Catholic and Jesuit identity, Georgetown University does not support or allow for the demonstration or training of abortion procedures in any classroom or reservable space on our campus, Georgetown administration said, according to The College Fix. The student organizers of this event were notified that the Papaya Workshop is not permitted to take place in reservable campus spaces. The liberal student group H*yas for Choice, which was organizing the RHAP abortion workshop, denounced the university's decision as a violation of Georgetown's Free Speech Policy and their recent timing as a deliberate action to prevent us from providing information about reproductive health to the student body. We will be addressing this further with the administration, but in the meantime we will not allow them to prevent this event from happening, they added, moving the workshop to the Advocates for Youth's headquarters in Northwest Washington, D.C., on Jan. 22, the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. The workshop will be led by a doctor and abortion provider from the Reproductive Health Access Project who will debunk common misconceptions about abortion and perform a demonstration of the procedure on a papaya, explained the Facebook event description. "Pizza will be provided! In response, the conservative Catholic group TFP Student Action launched an online petition calling on Georgetown University President John J. DeGioia to cancel the event. I respectfully urge you cancel the Papaya Workshop at Georgetown University, which demonstrates how Manual Vacuum Aspiration abortions are performed, stated the petition, which got over 19,000 signatures. This class is a direct attack against the 5th Commandment of the Law of God and has no place on a Catholic campus. In 2016, Georgetown gained headlines and much criticism from pro-life activists when they invited then Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards to speak on campus. As part of the response, the pro-life student group Georgetown Right to Life invited former Planned Parenthood clinic director and anti-abortion activist Abby Johnson to speak on-campus on the same day as Richards. Customers look at products in an Apple store in Beijing on December 11, 2018. A deadly spreading virus is now worrying some of the world's biggest companies. The word "virus" or "coronavirus" was mentioned by 27 different S&P Composite 1500 companies on earnings calls this week, according to CNBC's screening using FactSet. The Wuhan virus has infected more than 6,100 people in China, topping the number of cases from 2003's SARS virus. The coronavirus has killed more than 130 people and continues to spread throughout Asia and the U.S. The virus is scaring Chinese citizens out of leaving their homes, pushing governments to consider or enact travel bans, and forcing investors away from stocks that rely on Chinese consumers. Now, the virus is worrying management at big U.S. businesses, including Apple, Starbucks and McDonald's. Despite Apple's blowout earnings on Tuesday, Apple's range of guidance for next quarter is wider than typical. CEO Tim Cook attributed this change to uncertainty caused by the deadly coronavirus, which has shut down travel in parts of China. "We've currently closed one of our retail stores and a number of channel partners have also closed their store fronts. Many of the stores that remain open have also reduced operating hours," said Cook. "We're taking additional precautions and frequently deep cleaning our stores as well as conducting temperature checks for employees. While our sales within the Wuhan area itself are small, retail traffic has also been impacted outside of this area cross the country in the last few days." Apple said it is working with its suppliers in the Wuhan area to mitigate any production loss. The world's largest coffee chain Starbucks has closed more than half of its Chinese locations as the country battles the spread of the virus. Starbucks said the number of stores and the duration of closures are the two primary drivers of business impact. Executives said the Chinese locations that are still open have seen sales slow down, compared to historical numbers, sending the stock down 2.1% on Wednesday. Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Bangalore South constituency Tejasvi Surya greeted all on Twitter alongside pictures of him performing advanced yoga poses at a mountain peak. BJP's Tejasvi Surya looks quite proficient doing the Akarna Dhanurasana (Archer pose). In his caption, he wrote, Yoga! The only way you achieve union with the cosmos. The 29-year-old was snapped doing the yoga postures with the beautiful backdrop of a clear blue sky, lush green mountains and a flowing river. The BJP MP clicked in the Dhanurasana (Bow pose). We may not be experts at yoga, but it appears that the BJP MP has pretty good form. Surya, the youngest BJP MP, is known to be very active on social media, and regularly comments and shares his opinions. Surya displays good form while doing the Vrikshasana (Tree pose). He made his political debut in 2019 general election and defeated Congress' BK Hariprasad by a massive margin of over three lakh votes, becoming the youngest MP to represent the BJP in the parliament. Tejasvi in the Lolasana (Pendant pose). Photographs: Tejasvi Surya/Twitter Anyone who films a partner during sex without their consent is guilty of voyeurism, Appeal Court judges have ruled. It comes as a man convicted of the sexual offence failed to overturn his conviction for filming two prostitutes yesterday. Tony Richards, 39, from Cardiff, had appealed against his conviction for filming two prostitutes on the grounds that the sex workers could not expect privacy from him if he was there legitimately. Jon Rees QC, representing him, told the court that despite the two women not consenting to be filmed, they did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy if Richards was entitled to be in their rooms. Richards had hoped to have two voyeurism charges under section 67 of the Sexual Offences Act dismissed because his lawyers argued that he'd committed no crime. Tony Richards (left) had his appeal dismissed, which could have a knock-on effect for other cases, including that of Emily Hunt (right) who alleges that a man filmed her naked while she slept. The CPS previously decided not to prosecute the suspect But Lord Justice Fulford, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb and Mrs Justice Foster unanimously dismissed his appeal. Richards was jailed for 15 months after being found guilty of two counts of voyeurism over secretly filming himself having sex with prostitutes and admitting three counts of possessing indecent images of children. Dismissing his appeal, Lord Justice Fulford said those he filmed had a reasonable expectation of privacy and that Richards required consent to film them even if he'd already secured consent to have sex with the women. The decision could have ramifications for other cases, including one in which another man filmed a naked, sleeping woman. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided not to bring a prosecution against the man, who is said to have filmed Emily Hunt naked and unconscious without her consent in May 2015. Ms Hunt launched a legal challenge last year against the CPS over the decision, raising money to fund her case through the CrowdJustice website. But the Centre for Women's Justice (CWJ), which represented Ms Hunt, said the CPS will no longer oppose her challenge and will review its earlier decision, following a Court of Appeal ruling in a different case on Tuesday. Ms Hunt said in a statement that she now has hope the man who allegedly filmed her will 'see justice and consequences for his actions'. She added: 'It has taken nearly five years to fight to get to this point. It should not take connections, education nor wealth to get justice. 'This decision was the clear, obvious and common sense answer to a question that no-one else was asking: is it illegal to video someone naked without their consent? Because the answer is obvious: yes, yes it is. And today the court agreed.' Ms Hunt was given permission by the court to intervene in the case after the CWJ learned that the CPS would be opposing Richards's appeal. Ms Hunt's solicitor Kate Ellis said: 'We welcome today's decision and trust that the CPS who have fought this for so long will finally bring this man to justice.' CWJ director Harriet Wistrich said: 'We would like to know why the CPS chose to argue opposite points in two separate cases. 'As a publicly funded body, they have a duty to act consistently and in the public interest. 'In the context of significant reductions in the number of sexual offences prosecuted by the CPS, it is disappointing that they put limited resources into fighting cases for the sake of an argument where complainants have suffered significant trauma and deserve their cases to be put before a jury.' A CPS spokesman said: 'What constitutes a 'private act' for the purposes of the offence of voyeurism had never been conclusively defined by a higher court until today. 'The CPS does not make or decide the law - that is the remit of Parliament and the courts respectively. 'Now that this new authoritative judgment has clarified this point of law, the CPS will review its position in the judicial review brought by Emily Hunt.' A federal jury has convicted two San Antonio family members for their roles in a scheme to steal more than $1.8 million worth of oil from companies operating in the Eagle Ford Shale. Jurors returned guilty verdicts against Luis Valencia, 49, and his nephew, Mauricio Valencia, 34, on Monday following a three-week trial in Senior U.S. District Judge David A. Ezras court. Luis Valencia was convicted of all charges filed against him 10 counts of theft from interstate shipments, 10 counts of wire fraud, 10 counts of money laundering and four counts of transportation of stolen goods. Jurors convicted Mauricio Valencia of 15 counts, but found him not guilty on 19 others. He was convicted of 10 counts of theft from interstate shipments, one count of wire fraud and four counts of transportation of stolen property. Both men were taken into federal custody after the verdicts. They are scheduled to be sentenced in late May. We were all shocked, said San Antonio attorney Donald Flanary III, who represented Luis Valencia. Because they didnt commit a crime. The Valencias were accused of working with others to steal about 33,000 barrels of crude oil over a period of more than two years, from September 2013 through February 2016. An indictment said the stolen oil was sold to unsuspecting third-party companies for financial gain. The victims included EP Energy, Sable Environmental and other companies. Luis Valencia and others used Houston company Andra Energy LLCs Cotulla location to serve as a collection point for oil stolen from nearby oil storage facilities, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Texas said in a press release. Luis Valencia served as Andra Energys vice president and accountant. On ExpressNews.com: Three agree to plead guilty in Eagle Ford Shale stolen oil case Payments made to Andra Energy for the stolen oil were issued mostly through bank wire transfers, the indictment noted. False documents were filed with the Texas Railroad Commission to make it appear the stolen oil was obtained from legitimate transactions. The indictment accused the Valencias of directing others to create false run tickets to claim the oil sold by Andra Energy had been purchased rather than stolen. Some of these tickets claimed Andra had obtained the oil from legitimate companies. Upon investigation, it was discovered that not only did these companies not have the required permits to deliver oil, the companies had never heard of, nor had (they) ever done business with Andra, the indictment stated. These falsified run tickets were submitted by the schemers to the Texas Railroad Commission. Three other defendants in the case Romeo Garcia Jr., Ricardo Guevara and Ricardo Sanchez Jr. each pleaded guilty in 2018 to one count of theft from interstate shipment and one count of wire fraud. All are awaiting sentencing and remain free on bond. Theft from interstate shipment carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in federal prison. Wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, while money laundering and transportation of stolen goods each call for up to 10 years. Attorneys for both of the Valencias believe they have solid grounds to appeal. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio attorney defends client by challenging legality of Trumps appointment of acting attorney general Flanary said Luis Valencias appeal will challenge the federal governments authority to prosecute the case, claiming President Donald Trump didnt have authority to appoint Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general. Whitaker was serving in that role at the time that superseding indictments were returned against the Valencias. Flanary raised this issue before trial. Flanary noted the appeal also will allege the stolen oil did not leave Texas and therefore doesnt amount to interstate commerce another issue he raised before and during the trial. In order for the federal government to have jurisdiction and to charge a federal crime - in this case, the oil the property has to be in interstate commerce, and it wasnt. It was in a tank in Cotulla, Texas, Flanary said. San Antonio attorney Shawn Brown, who represented Mauricio Valencia, agreed. We believe (prosecutors) did not show any evidence whatsoever that the oil was being transported in interstate commerce, Brown said. Brown noted he filed a motion Tuesday asking that his client be released on bond until his sentencing. Federal prosecutors declined to comment until the Valencias are sentenced. Assistant U.S. Attorney William F. Lewis Jr. served as the lead prosecutor. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the IRS criminal investigation division and the Texas Attorney Generals Office. Peggy OHare reports on the census, demographics and occasionally crime and general assignments in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pohare@express-news.net | Twitter: @Peggy_OHare Imagine a new way of solving complex problems. No deep thought in front of the screen, no number crunching or data analysis. Instead, people who wouldn't ordinarily have the opportunity to convene come together to generate groundbreaking ideas and solutions. Experts in history, anthropology, and cellular biology. Screenplay writers and novelists. Physicians and astrophysicists. This is a tactic called "Mixed Tables" I have used successfully to address vast, complex problems such as how to restore our nation's respect for veterans after the Vietnam War and help US troops overseas detect roadside bombs. A similar approach led to the government's counter terrorism approach post 9/11. Businesses can utilize it to navigate our unpredictable society. In today's specialized world, we are encouraged to have a laser focus on our individual area of expertise. But when every member of a team has homogenous experiences and expertise, there is a high risk of falling into groupthink and overlooking creative solutions. Mixed tables, convened over a series of dinners, can change this. But it takes more than a good meal to spark the magic of mixed tables. Below are the steps used to hold successful mixed tables outlined in my new book, The Renaissance Campaign. Identify your question, and hypothesize the outcome you want. Yes, your outcome may shift, but it's important to understand before heading in: What are you trying to figure out? What is your ideal outcome? What is your challenge, and what are the questions around it? These questions will help you determine whom to invite. Hold a panel with these questions in mind. Include three types of individuals: creative thinkers, subject-matter experts, and thought leaders. Ideally, the creative thinkers will be professionals because they are likely to be comfortable with creative work on a tight timeline. The subject-matter experts typically come out of your organization and have in-depth knowledge of the issues. The thought leaders should include diverse people from a variety of backgrounds who are insightful and have already accomplished amazing feats. They're there to provide unexpected insight. Hold your mixed table over dinner for three consecutive evenings. The first night, guests meet one another and mingle. A mini-TED talk-style presentation introduces the problem at hand. Then, participants break into groups; each group answers a sub-question, then shares their outcomes. Everyone should agree to discretion, and everyone present must participate. The second night provides a deeper dive. Revise questions from the previous night and have subgroups delve into specific challenges. Alternatively, use this night to deal with parallel applications. For instance, if the overarching subject is ending hunger in a specific country, the second night might tackle the outbreak of a deadly flu strain in the region. Distribute examples before the meeting. Close the evening with sharing and debating. On the third night, the groups should reach an outcome and define a path forward that can be translated into action through a campaign. Everyone should provide feedback. What did they learn? What did they like or not like? Sometimes, after a mixed table, we create a private website so participants can stay in touch and continue the conversation, fostering an exchange of information. Bringing together diverse thinkers to solve problems is not new. In 15th-century Italy, the famed Medici family consulted painters, architects, financial experts, poets, and playwrights to create a vision for the city of Florence that many historians credit for ushering in the Renaissance. Mixed tables can lead to mini-Renaissance epiphanies today. In the mid-2000s, my team used mixed tables to work out the complex question of how to detect roadside bombs in Afghanistan and Iraq. Around the same time, I convened mixed tables on behalf of the Medical Research Command at the US Army to bring together scientists who wouldn't otherwise meet to develop a moonshot plan to cure Parkinson's disease. The results of that effort occur in labs today. YEREVAN, JANUARY 29, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Avet Adonts held a meeting on January 29 with Ambassador of China to Armenia Tian Erlong to discuss the coronavirus outbreak in China. Ambassador Erlong underscored Chinas readiness to continue closely cooperating with Armenia in the direction of solving the various problems associated with the coronavirus spread, the foreign ministry said. During the meeting the sides comprehensively addressed the problems faced by Armenian citizens who are currently in Chinas Hubei province the epicenter of the outbreak and the steps to address these problems. Deputy FM Adonts said that the Armenian Embassy in China is in constant contact with the nearly 400 Armenian citizens who are currently living in different provinces in China and who are registered at the embassy, 7 of whom are currently in Hubei. The Armenian Embassy is also taking all possible measures in the direction of responding to the Armenian nationals questions and problems. Adonts added that the Armenian foreign ministry and the Armenian Embassy in China are maintaining continuous contact with the Chinese authorities and other partner countries and their embassies regarding the issue of evacuating the Armenian nationals. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan A 20-year-old man has been charged over the alleged stabbing of another man while travelling on a Gold Coast bus last week. Police will allege the Mermaid Waters man robbed and stabbed another 20-year-old bus passenger on January 20 before making further threats against the bus driver. The passenger was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Detectives have now charged the man with armed robbery and threats. He was expected to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court today. Fine Gael was the most talked about political party on Twitter in the first full week of the election campaign. There were over 30,000 tweets mentioning Fine Gael, with Sinn Fein the second most referenced at 23,000 and Fianna Fail in third place with over 16,000. Fine Gaels election hashtag #LookForward outperformed Fianna Fails #AnIrelandforAll with 3,600 mentions compared to almost 2,100 for the latter, according to research by media marketing firm Sprout Social. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was the most talked-about party leader on Twitter, followed by Sinn Feins Mary Lou McDonald, and then Fianna Fails Micheal Martin. Takeaway 2 Green Party leader Eamon Ryan must have choked on his evening salad while watching Tuesdays Prime Time. The partys Mayo candidate, Saoirse McHugh, bluntly told the programme that a carbon tax isnt going to nudge you anywhere except to turn off the light and turn off the heat and sit in the cold. The Greens manifesto proposes increasing the tax annually until it reaches 100 per tonne. But Ryan, at a transport launch today, seemed indifferent, saying members could have different views. So much for red lines. Takeaway 3 What a fickle and superficial little nation we are. Leo Varadkar released a video of the most googled questions about him. Set to happy cheery music, a de-jacketed Leo sits on a stool not answering questions about important policy matters of State. Have you ever googled a question about me? If so, you might find your answer here:#LookForward pic.twitter.com/DZ1g9WgO8W Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) January 29, 2020 Top of the list was Where is Leo Varadkar from? He replied with Castleknock, but not from the expensive end. I do not live in Dublin 4 even though people think I do. Another tough question asked Does he have any brothers or sisters? To which he replied, Two sisters. I am the only boy and the youngest just in case that wasnt obvious already. Who said hes not human? Well said Put your flags away, youre leaving... and take them with you... goodbye! - To loud applause, acting chair Mairead McGuinness delivered this barb to the Brexit Party MEPs after they broke out into an ad-hoc rendition of Auld Lang Syne. Good day Tanaiste Simon Coveney had to concede people are sick to the teeth of talking about Brexit. But yet he still insisted on taking over a childcare briefing and talking for almost an hour about it. But thankfully the message is hitting home. Bad day Mary Lou McDonald and her partys 22bn manifesto lay in tatters as all other parties dismissed it as dangerous and deeply damaging to the economy. - President Rodrigo Duterte said that he is not keen on banning the flights between the Philippines and China - He mentioned that it would be difficult since China has not yet suspended flights in their country - President Duterte mentioned that the government is preparing for the worst given the situation - The health department also said that China might question it if the government will impose a ban on travelers PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed! President Rodrigo Duterte has maintained his perspectives on banning flights between the Philippines and China even if there is an on-going 2019 novel coronavirus scare. KAMI learned that Duterte also mentioned that the government is ready to repatriate Filipinos in Wuhan amid the outbreak. In a report by CNN Philippines (authored by Janine Peralta), the President explained that the government cannot easily suspend flights. "Mahirap 'yang ano, sabihin mong you suspend everything because they are not also suspending theirs and they continue to respect the freedom flights that we enjoy," the President said. "We are always conscious of our citizen their health and if they are going home, we are ready to ferry them back to the Philippines but all precautions must be in place, Duterte added. President Duterte mentioned that the government is preparing for the worst amid the coronavirus outbreak. We are just preparing, maybe for the worst, President Duterte said. PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! The Department of Health (DOH) is eyeing to ban travelers from China. However, they said that China might question it. If we do this, then the concerned country China in this case might question why we're not doing the same for other countries that have reported confirmed cases of novel coronavirus," Duque said. As previously reported by KAMI, the health department said that Japan would be helping the Philippines in testing people suspected with novel coronavirus. POPULAR: Read more news about President Rodrigo Duterte here! Please like and share our amazing Facebook posts to support the KAMI team! Dont hesitate to comment and share your opinions about our stories either. We love reading about your thoughts and views on different matters! Source: KAMI.com.gh PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pallas Capital Advisors, LLC ("Pallas Capital") is pleased to welcome Christopher Ayer to the firm's expanding team of experienced wealth advisors and client relationship management professionals. Mr. Ayer, previously a Financial Advisor and Managing Director at Ameriprise Financial Services, will also head the new Portsmouth, NH office. "Chris is the perfect fit for Pallas Capital. We seek to affiliate with advisors who share similar visions and practices. Chris shares in the vision that the independent model empowers Pallas Capital to more effectively navigate the complex and evolving needs of the marketplace, deliver on the growing demand for holistic planning, and help clients achieve their end goals," said Pallas Capital Co-Founder and Managing Director, Charles Evangelakos. Mr. Ayer brings with him nearly two decades of industry experience. Most recently, he established his business serving a select group of business owners, CEOs, corporations and other high net worth individuals at Ameriprise Financial Services. Prior to that, he was an advisor at UBS Financial Services and Smith Barney. Mr. Ayer focuses on tax, estate, and generational wealth planning. "The wealth industry is quickly changing, as are the needs and expectations of clients. Pallas Capital provides the perfect opportunity to leverage a fully independent, fiduciary-driven model, which we believe minimizes much of the inherent conflict often found at the large wirehouses," Mr. Ayer said. With Mr. Ayer's transition to the firm, Pallas Capital has decided to move into the Portsmouth, NH space. The move illustrates a long-term growth initiative by the firm. "The decision to open a Portsmouth, NH branch came naturally as we looked at the growth opportunity. We have worked diligently to create a high-tech, high-touch customer experience. The move into the Portsmouth market allows us to be where our clients, and the advisors that serve them, need us to be. We are excited and confident that this will be the first of many new offices and further exemplifies our commitment to provide financial planning services to clients across the nation," Greg Boyle, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Pallas Capital, said of the move. About Pallas Capital Advisors, LLC Pallas Capital Advisors, LLC is an independent financial planning and investment advisory firm affiliated with Registered Investment Advisor, GWM Advisors, LLC. Based just south of Boston, Pallas Capital Advisors, LLC is led by Founders and Managing Partners, Richard Mullen, Greg Boyle and Charles Evangelakos. The firm is committed to delivering strategic financial planning, investment management and family office services to a diverse group of high net worth clients across the nation, including entrepreneurs, corporations, families, endowments, and foundations. For additional information, please visit www.pallascapitaladvisors.com. Important Disclosure Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advice offered through GWM Advisors, LLC, a registered investment adviser. GWM Advisors, LLC. and Pallas Capital Advisors, LLC. are separate entities from Triad Advisors, LLC. Media Contact & Interview Requests: Christie Fitzgerald Director of Marketing & Business Development 781-971-5041 [email protected] SOURCE Pallas Capital Advisors Related Links http://www.pallascapitaladvisors.com Holly Willoughby's make up artist has revealed the star's affordable beauty look [Photo: Getty] 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. Holly Willoughby is the queen of wearing affordable high-street fashion, meaning we can all join in on the glam. And it turns out that shes got a similar ethos when it comes to beauty, as her makeup artist for the National Television Awards (NTAs) revealed. Taking to Instagram, Patsy ONeill uploaded a gorgeous shot of the This Morning star before she headed out to the star-studded ceremony. And though you might think that achieving this high-end, glowy look would involve lots of expensive products, the makeup the MUA helpfully tagged below the image are generally more high-street. You know what this means? That to look like a star, you neednt spend like a star. Hurrah! Weve picked out the five key affordable products behind Hollys look so that you can recreate that youthful red carpet glam yourself - even if youre only nipping to the supermarket. 5 beauty products behind Holly Willoughbys NTA look Delilah Time Frame Future Resist Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF20 | 34 from Look Fantastic This SPF foundation will help you achieve a flawless complexion without having to completely cake your face in base. Its lightweight, so doesnt feel irritating or uncomfortable, and can be easily built up to provide extra coverage as needed. The formula blends seamlessly into your skin to create a velvety texture that will keep you feeling a million dollars all day long. Kate Somerville Daily Antioxidant Moisturizer | 55 from Kate Somerville Kate Sommerville is well-known for her award-winning skincare. However, this daily moisturiser has flown somewhat under the radar - until now. Its uber hydrating formula helps restore your skins texture and elasticity while the Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Botanical Antioxidants packed into the cream work to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. The dream combo, right? Story continues BECCA Under Eye Brightening Corrector | 21 from ASOS If you were wondering how Holly managed to wake up early to co-host her hit ITV morning show and still look full of energy for the evening do, then this product might have a little something to do with it. The soft, creamy formula is resistant to movement, so it doesnt crease throughout the evening, and brightens and tightens the area under your eyes to make you appear wide awake and luminous at all times. In short, its a miracle worker. Suqqu Moisture Rich Lipstick | 30 from Harrods If you want to pucker up like Holly, then youll need to be quick as this Suqqu shade is from a limited edition range. The super-hydrating lipstick works like a balm, so it doesnt dry out your lips while creating brilliant radiance to make your pout really pop. The natural colour creates a subtle illusion and will highlight blushed cheeks and a darker smokey eye. Giorgio Armarni Eyes to Kill Stellar | 31 from Look Fantastic Its back to the eyes for our final product pick, with this super pigmented Armani eye shadow. Its Hollywood glitz and glamour in a pot, creating a shimmery, silky look on your eyelids and helping to create the illusion of bigger eyes. Holly wore a shade five, but you can find the makeup product in five other, equally as sparkly, colours too. Best of all, you dont need to invest in a makeup brush to apply this - simply dab your finger in and spread over your eyelid. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo Style UK: DUBLIN, Jan. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Respiratory Care Devices - Market Analysis, Trends, and Forecasts" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Respiratory Care Devices market worldwide is projected to grow by US$9.4 Billion, driven by a compounded growth of 7.1%. Therapeutic Devices, one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 7%. The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over US$16.7 Billion by the year 2025, Therapeutic Devices will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth. Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 6% growth momentum. Within Europe, which continues to remain an important element in the world economy, Germany will add over US$328.9 Million to the region's size and clout in the next 5 to 6 years. Over US$285 Million worth of projected demand in the region will come from the rest of the European markets. In Japan, Therapeutic Devices will reach a market size of US$898.8 Million by the close of the analysis period. As the world's second largest economy and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 10.4% over the next couple of years and add approximately US$2.6 Billion in terms of addressable opportunity for the picking by aspiring businesses and their astute leaders. Presented in visually rich graphics are these and many more need-to-know quantitative data important in ensuring quality of strategy decisions, be it entry into new markets or allocation of resources within a portfolio. Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces will shape growth and development of demand patterns in emerging countries in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East. All research viewpoints presented are based on validated engagements from influencers in the market, whose opinions supersede all other research methodologies. Competitors identified in this market include: 3B Medical, Inc. Medical, Inc. Acare Technology Co. Ltd. Allied Healthcare Products, Inc. Becton, Dickinson and Company Chart Industries, Inc. Draegerwerk AG & Co. KGaA Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Ltd. Hamilton Medical AG Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. Invacare Corporation Masimo Corporation Medline Industries, Inc. Medtronic PLC Philips India Ltd. ResMed Corporation Rotech Healthcare, Inc. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/gkd6n3 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 They simply do not give objective assessments of the constitutional history, Dershowitz said. Professor Tribe suddenly had a revelation himself at the time when [Democratic President Bill Clinton] was impeached he said, Oh, the law is clear; you cannot charge a president with a crime while hes the sitting president. Now we have the current president. Professor Tribe got woke, and with no apparent new research, he came to the conclusion, Oh, but this president can be charged while sitting in office. Thats not the kind of scholarship that should influence your decision. A College Station man was arrested Monday after authorities said he solicited a middle school student for sex in April. According to College Station police, a 14-year-old girl told authorities on April 15 that Dayden Cole Lane, 22, was making sexual advances toward her. The girl told authorities that she had met Lane through a friend at a College Station middle school. Shortly after they met, he began messaging her over the social media app Snapchat and asking to meet up for sex, a police report notes. Authorities requested a search warrant for Lanes Snapchat account, and in September were able to gain access to his history. They found messages that referenced the girl as well as sexual messages to the victim, authorities said. A warrant was issued for Lanes arrest, and he was apprehended Monday. He is charged with online solicitation of a minor, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and $10,000 in fines. He was released from the Brazos County jail on $10,000 bond. Photo: Jesse Richmond/Flickr Here's the most recent top news you may have missed in Oakland. CHP: Targeted shooting on I-580 in Oakland leaves 1 injured Officers are investigating a targeted freeway shooting in Oakland that left a man injured Monday morning, authorities said. Read the full story on KTVU Fox 2. Oakland opens new cabins for homeless, funded by community donations The newest "community cabin" site on Oak and 6th streets will shelter homeless residents in Chinatown and Jack London Square. Read the full story on East Bay Times. 1 injured, 6 displaced in East Oakland house fire An 18-year-old woman who was hospitalized for smoke inhalation was among six residents displaced after a fire at their East Oakland home late Monday night, officials said Tuesday. Read the full story on East Bay Times. Violent armed robbery at Oakland apartment complex prompts community meeting Neighbors in the northeast Oakland neighborhood of Ridgemont are taking safety into their own hands after a violent gunpoint robbery at an apartment complex last week. Read the full story on CBS San Francisco. 'Rats as big as chihuahuas': Some homeless applaud Oakland's efforts to clean up encampments Oakland is taking action this week to clean up some of the homeless encampments around the city as the mayor opened up a new so-called "cabin community" of tiny homes for displaced residents. Read the full story on ABC Bay Area, KGO. 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. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is seeking applicants for the 73rd Alice in Dairyland, a communications position serving as an Agricultural Ambassador beginning June 1. Applications will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. Feb. 3 at datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Growing_WI/BecomingAlice.aspx. Qualifications for the position include considerable knowledge or work-experience with Wisconsin agriculture, three years of experience, education or training in communications, marketing or public relations, public speaking experience and a willingness to attend an extensive number of work-related events on evenings and weekends. Applicants must be female Wisconsin residents at least 21 years old. The one-year, full-time contractual position starts June 1, 2020. The position is headquartered in Madison and travels extensively throughout the state. The salary is $45,000 annually and includes holiday, vacation and sick leave as well as use of a vehicle for official business. Reimbursement is provided for health insurance as well as travel expenses for official purposes. Questions regarding the position or application process can be directed to Debbie Vine (Gegare) at 608-224-5116 or Debbie.Gegare@wisconsin.gov. Love 0 Funny 0 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. Sanders campaign has been one of many to deploy this line of thinking. Former presidential candidates such as Sens. Kamala Harris of California and Cory Booker of New Jersey, both of whom are black, had hoped to unlock support in South Carolina through strong Iowa finishes. At the end of her stump speech during her campaigns final months, Harris would tell Iowans about coming to the state during Obamas first run and implored them to help her re-create that historic moment. Twin Falls County prosecuting attorney announces drug-free scholarship contest TWIN FALLS Applications are being accepted for the Twin Falls County Prosecuting Attorneys Drug-Free Scholarship. The scholarship is open to Twin Falls County graduating high school seniors. The application requires an essay on the topic: What can be done to reduce the use and sale of illegal drugs in Twin Falls County? I am very excited to be able to help further the education of a deserving Twin Falls County student, and, at the same time, give them a forum to educate their fellow students and the community about the dangers of illegal drugs, Twin Falls County Prosecuting Attorney Grant Loebs said in a statement. Based on oral presentations and on the essays and applications of the finalists, a full-tuition scholarship will be awarded to the College of Southern Idaho for the 2020-2021 academic year. The second- and third-place finalists will each receive a CSI one-semester tuition scholarship. Applications are available at any Twin Falls County high school and at the Twin Falls County Prosecuting Attorneys Office. The deadline to submit the completed applications is March 2. For more information, contact the prosecuting attorneys office at 208-736-4020. TIMES-NEWS Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Chinese citizens say that the new coronavirus outbreak is spreading quickly to other parts of the country outside the epicenter of Wuhan City, the capital of Hubei Province. Residents in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing report that hospitals are filling up with patients. They believe the situation is far worse than Chinese authorities portray, and that they are not disclosing the true number of infections and deaths. Authorities claim that the virus has infected thousands in mainland China and killed scores of patients. However, experts believe actual numbers are likely far greater. Meanwhile, local governments are still scrambling to contain the virus with emergency measures. The central Chinese city of Wuhan admitted to a new viral pneumonia outbreak on Dec. 31, 2019, weeks after the first patient exhibited symptoms. The virus has since spread to Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, the United States, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, and other countries. Chongqing Chongqing is just to the west of Hubei. The city has many transport connections to Wuhan, with a population of roughly 31 million, according to official statistics. Prior to Wuhan authorities decision to implement a transportation lockdown, 30 high-speed trains ran between Chongqing and Wuhan every day, according to the Wuhan Railway Bureau. In the first 22 days of January, about 22,000 passengers flew from Wuhan to Chongqing, according to government statistics. Most other localities in Hubei have since also initiated lockdowns. Chongqing locals told the Chinese-language Epoch Times by phone that the situation in their city is very severe. Mr. Li is a pharmacist at a state-run Chongqing hospital. He said many people from Hubei have arrived in Chongqing in past weeks. Most of them are either farmers who make a living in Hubei and live in rural areas of Chongqing, or wealthy Hubei people who have residences in Chongqing. They came to Chongqing after their cities were quarantined. Li said its hard to tell the true number of people who have died from the virus in Chongqing. But at his workplace, a significant proportion of diagnosed patients need to be treated in the intensive care unit (ICU). He surmised that far more people have died than what government authorities are reporting. The government data is hugely distorted, he said in a Jan. 25 phone interview. Mrs. Hong, a resident of Jiangbei district in Chongqing told the Chinese-language Epoch Times that she knew of a five-member family who recently returned to the area after visiting Wuhan. Four of them were diagnosed with the virus. She also heard cases of people diagnosed with the virus who suddenly died at home, but their deaths werent reported on the authorities patients list. The Chinese regime doesnt take care about Chinese peoples lives, Hong said. Mr. Yuan, a resident of Nanan district in Chongqing, said that ever since the government placed the city on lockdown on Jan. 25, people have been on edge. I stocked enough food to last for two months, he said. Wartime Authorities in other regions are trying drastic measures to contain the disease. On Jan. 28, Chinas ministry of public security, which oversees the countrys police force, requested all police bureaus in the country to begin wartime preparations, meaning police must help each local government to maintain social stabilitya euphemism for controlling public speechand control the disease. Chinese authorities have detained netizens for spreading information about the illness online. The health commission of Tianjin City, in the north of China, then announced that the city will start wartime preparations. 47 hospitals will set up a big general hospital, to be led by the commission. The agency will reorganize all medical staff in the city into 500 teams. To date, all Chinese provinces and regions except Tibet have confirmed cases. To stem the virus, Tibet authorities closed all tourism sites in the region on Monday. Virality Feng Zijian, vice director of Chinas Center for Disease Control and Prevention, indirectly admitted to the severity of the illness during a Jan. 28 interview that aired on state broadcaster CCTV. He said the new virus was spreading at a rate faster than SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) during its peak. The 2002 to 2003 SARS outbreak killed nearly 800 people worldwide after first emerging in southern China. On the same day, Wuhans Civil Affairs Bureau posted on the city governments official Weiboa platform similar to Twitterthat the authorities would pay the cremation costs for any coronavirus patients who died, beginning Jan. 26. To improve the capacity of transporting and dealing with the bodies, the city government and Hubei Provincial Civil Affairs Ministry have dispatched vehicles, staff, and protective gear to each funeral house [in Wuhan], the post said. About an hour later, the post was edited, with the sentence about the new resources deleted. But many netizens had already screenshotted the post and began circulating it. Meanwhile, the state-owned newspaper Xiaoxiang Morning Post reported about Hu Ming, the director of the ICU at Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital, on Jan. 28. Hu told the newspaper that his ICU has been full of coronavirus patients since the beginning of January. In order to care for the patients, he and his colleagues have not slept at home. Hu also said that one of his patients has infected more than 10 other people, including doctors and nurses. A day earlier, Yang Yunyan, vice governor of Hubei province, said that the whole province has arranged for an additional 100,000 hospital beds to accommodate coronavirus patients. Estimation Experts say actual numbers of infections are likely much higher than what Chinese authorities have disclosed. Hong Kong Universitys school of public health estimated that about 43,590 have been infected in Wuhan alone. The peak period of the virus would be April to June. The study projected that the second most serious outbreak would be in Chongqing, with more than 150,000 new cases every day in April. The research team estimated that as of Jan. 27, Chongqing has 145 to 570 potential infections, Beijing 72 to 260, and Shanghai 62 to 224all higher than what authorities are currently reporting. From The Epoch Times By Rakesh Sood The Iran nuclear deal, formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), appears headed for an untimely demise as both the U.S. and Iran engage in competing strategies of "maximum pressure" and "maximum resistance," respectively. After protracted negotiations between the P-5, Germany, EU and Iran, the JCPOA was concluded in July 2015 and unanimously endorsed by the U.N. Security Council. Iran ended its uranium enrichment program and accepted an intrusive verification regime implemented by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); in return, sanctions relief for Iran commenced four years ago on Jan. 17, 2016. U.S. President Donald Trump had been critical of the JCPOA from the outset, not because Iran was cheating on its obligations but because JCPOA did not constrain Iran's missile program or its involvement in regional conflicts. In May 2018, the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA and as part of "maximum pressure" strategy, imposed enhanced economic sanctions in the expectation that this would bring the Iranian regime back to the negotiating table or better still, bring about a regime collapse. Trump's decision has been criticized by all other JCPOA parties; Europeans (France, Germany, the U.K. and the EU) promised Iran that they would set up a mechanism to mitigate the effect of sanctions but the Instrument for Supporting Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) has remained ineffective. For a year, Iran continued to abide by the JCPOA. Since May 2019, it has taken a number of graduated steps every two months, diluting its commitments. On May 8 last year, Iran announced that it would no longer observe the stockpile limits of 130 kg of low enriched uranium and 300 metric tons of heavy water. In July, the enrichment limit of 3.67 percent was exceeded; in September Iran resumed work on advanced centrifuges and in November, it commenced enrichment work at the underground facility at Fordaw. The last announcement came Jan. 5 discarding the limit on the number of centrifuges to be operated. However, Iran has reiterated each time that it is still party to the JCPOA and each of these steps can be reversed if the JCPOA promised sanctions relief is restored. Simultaneously, a series of incidents have raised tensions between Iran, the U.S. and its regional allies. There have been unclaimed attacks on commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf area. A missile attack on Aramco's Abqaiq-Khurais facilities last September was claimed by the Houthis in Yemen though the U.S. and Saudi Arabia blame Iran for it. A U.S. contractor was killed in late December by an Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah. The U.S. retaliated Dec. 29 with airstrikes killing two dozen Iraqi militia sparking anti-U.S. protests in Baghdad and Tehran, with the protesters outside the U.S. embassy reviving eerie memories of the 1979 siege. The killing of Maj.-Gen. Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Kataib commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in a U.S. drone attack Jan. 3 significantly escalated tensions. Iran retaliated with missile strikes at two U.S. bases in Iraq from where the drones had operated though there were no casualties reported, pausing the escalation cycle. Iranian messaging has been at three levels to its people that it will resist U.S. pressures, to the Europeans that they need to make good on their assurances because Iran will not wait indefinitely, and to the U.S. that new negotiations will not take place under sanctions pressure. Amid reports that U.S. officials had threatened European automobile sector with 25 percent tariffs, on Jan. 14 France, Germany and the U.K. invoked Article 36 (Dispute Resolution Mechanism) of JCPOA. This provides a finite time for resolution after which the matter goes to the U.N. Security Council leading to a snapback of sanctions. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif called the European step a "strategic mistake," reminding that Iran had invoked the mechanism in May 2018 when the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from JCPOA. On Jan. 20, he cautioned that if the JCPOA issue came to the UNSC, Iran could consider quitting the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Iran is a party to the NPT and has maintained that it is not seeking nuclear weapons and considers them un-Islamic and "haram." The NPT is described as the cornerstone of the nuclear nonproliferation order and all but four countries (India, Israel, Pakistan and North Korea, which quit in 2003) are parties. The five-yearly review conference of the NPT is scheduled for April-May this year. P-5 countries have traditionally worked together to preserve their privileged status as nuclear-weapon-states in the NPT. Iran's latest warning is a reminder that the nuclear nonproliferation order is shaky, partly because the P-5 have failed to deliver on their promises on nuclear disarmament, partly because the U.S. Russia and China have ambitious nuclear modernization programs to make them more usable, and finally, because Trump's policy of unilaterally discarding internationally negotiated instruments will create a backlash. French President Emmanuel Macron and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have attempted mediation but failed. Russia and China are happy to see growing trans-Atlantic differences. The continuing U.S.-Iran brinkmanship not only destabilizes West Asia but also jeopardizes the nuclear nonproliferation order. Rakesh Sood is a former diplomat of India who served as prime minister's special envoy for nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. He is currently distinguished fellow at Observer Research Foundation (Delhi) and a member of the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (APLN). His article was published in cooperation with the APLN (www.apln.network). In an unusual departure at Tuesday nights UK National Television Awards ceremony in London, Adi Roche, one of Irelands leading humanitarian activists, accepted the award for Best New Drama won by the TV mini-series Chernobyl. It is a fitting recognition by a powerful industry of the contribution she has made through her charity, Chernobyl Children International. The Mayflower's historic voyage that brought the Pilgrims to the U.S. 400 years ago significantly shaped America's founding story with the fate of the Native Americans becoming a tragic chapter in history. Four centuries on, the United States is now preparing to commemorate the moment the Mayflower made its historic crossing from the U.K. to Massachusetts back in 1620. The Pilgrims' landing at Plymouth, Massachusetts and the subsequent interactions between the British and the Wampanoag tribe significantly shaped the birth of America. The Mayflower Pilgrims were significant to American history for a number of reasons, including establishing the New World, a founding documents and the tradition of Thanksgiving. But the arrival of the British Pilgrims all those centuries ago had a devastating impact on the Native Americans - the effects of which are still held today - who have inhabited Massachusetts for 12,000 years. The United States is preparing to commemorate the moment the Mayflower made its historic crossing from the U.K. to Plymouth, Massachusetts 400 years ago. Pictured above is a replica of the Mayflower that underwent renovations for the historic anniversary MAIN EVENTS FOR 400TH COMMEMORATIONS April 24: Plymouth 400 commemoration opening ceremony at Plymouth's Memorial Hall. June 27-28: Official maritime salute in Plymouth Harbor including replica ship that carried Pilgrims in 1620. August 1: A Wampanoag Ancestors Walk to honor the original 69 villages of the Nation, which is now known as Massachusetts. September 14: A State House Ceremony at Massachusetts State House will honor the Pilgrim forefathers and Native people who are immortalized in the historic founding of Plymouth Colony. September 19: A huge Embarkation Festival is scheduled to take place on the Plymouth waterfront that will honor the traditions, cuisine and music of the original settlers and the Wampanoag people. October 29-November 1: A conference at Bridgewater State University will address the legacy of colonization experienced by Wampanoag and other Native people. November 20-25: Series of events in Plymouth in the lead up to the Thanksgiving holiday. Advertisement For the 400th anniversary commemorations, Native Americans - particularly the Wampanoag tribe - have played a huge role in shaping the events being held. The 400th anniversary commemorations have been years in the making with a replica Mayfair ship undergoing million dollar restorations in anticipation for the events. The non-profit, Plymouth 400 Inc., was established back in 2011 and has been planning the American commemorations of the Mayflower voyage and the founding of the Plymouth colony. Those planning the U.S. commemorations have also been working in conjunction with the U.K and the Wampanoag tribe to plan the historic events. There are seven main events being held from April through to November that range from a replica voyage and an ancestral walk to honor the Native tribes. 'In name, Plymouth 400 calls to mind a singular place but the history of Plymouth colony is integral to the founding of Massachusetts and the Nation,' said Dusty Rhodes, Plymouth, Massachusetts 400th Commission Chair. 'The cultural contributions and American traditions that began with the interaction of the Wampanoag and English peoples have significantly shaped the building of American and continue to provide lessons for our future. 'Further, the inclusion of the Native American perspective is one of the truly unique aspects of this commemoration as, historically, this perspective has been mishandled and misrepresented.' The Pilgrims' landing at Plymouth, Massachusetts and the subsequent interactions between the British and the Wampanoag tribe significantly shaped the building of America The arrival of the British Pilgrims all those centuries ago had a devastating impact on the Native Americans - the effects of which are still held today - who have inhabited Massachusetts for 12,000 years The Mayflower story began when a small group of separatists fled England for Holland. Fearing a pending war between Holland and Spain, they arranged to sail on the ships Mayflower and Speedwell to the New World. After two false starts, the Speedwell was left behind and the journey began from England to the United States. Upon arriving in America, the meeting between the Mayflower Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Tribe was an encounter that would go on to shape the history of the U.S. The Wampanoag people inhabited the land known as Patuxet, now known as Plymouth, for more than 12,000 years. They had a form of sovereign governance, which influenced the structure of the modern U.S. government, and a network of 69 villages across what is now Massachusetts. The Pilgrims arrival in Plymouth began years of coexistence when the Wampanoag people assisted them in planting, hunting and protection. The Pilgrims allied with the Wampanoag to protect against opposing tribes. It was a three-day festival, to celebrate the harvest after the first winter, that became the basis for the American Thanksgiving holiday. Historically, the agreement they had for more than a half century was the only evidence of an alliance between colonists and Native people on record. This agreement disintegrated as more and more colonists arrived and imposed English law and acquired their land. It was these actions that resulted in the King Philip's War. After this period, the fate of Native Americans became a tragic chapter in history and the effects are still felt today. For the 400th anniversary commemorations, Native Americans - particularly the Wampanoag tribe (pictured above) - have played a huge role in shaping the events being held. A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MAYFLOWER SHIP The Mayflower was a three-masted ship, most likely between 90 and 110 feet long, that carried the people who came to be known a Pilgrims from England to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620. The ship sailed from London to Southampton in July 1620 to begin loading food and supplies for the voyage - much of which was purchased at Southampton. The Mayflower left Holland on 31 July 1620, joining the Speedwell in Southampton, England, for the voyage to America. The two ships sailed on 15 August but returned because of the leaky condition of the Speedwell. The Speedwell was eventually abandoned. On 16 September, 102 passengers and crew aboard the Mayflower finally sailed from England. The voyage itself across the Atlantic Ocean took 66 days from their departure on September 6 until Cape Cod was sighted on 9 November, 1620. The Mayflower followed the land-exploring party and sailed into Plymouth harbor on December 26 where it remained until houses could be built for the new settlement. Source: Encyclopedia.com Advertisement Here is an overview of the seven signature events happening this year to commemorate the 400th Mayflower anniversary: Plymouth 400 Commemoration Opening Ceremony The Plymouth 400 Commemoration opening ceremony will take place on April 24 at Plymouth's Memorial Hall. It will include a procession through the town involving local, national and international participants. A legacy time capsule will also be created with the first items being placed inside by the dignitaries and special guests invited. President Donald Trump, former U.S. presidents, state and federal officials, as well as representatives from the U.K. and the Netherlands have all been invited to take part in the opening ceremony. Official Maritime Salute to the 400th Anniversary A maritime salute will be held on June 27-28 to commemorate the voyage the pilgrims made on board the Mayflower from Plymouth, England to Massachusetts four centuries ago. The Mayflower II, a replica of the ship that carried pilgrims to the New World in 1620, will take part in the salute. The full-scale replica ship was built in England in the 1950s as a gift to the U.S. for support in World War II. It underwent a $11.2 million restoration in preparation for the commemorations of the 400th anniversary. The original Mayflower sailed back to England in April 1621. It was later sold in ruins and most likely broken up. A regatta of wooden ships, yachts, work boats and official vessels are expected to also take part in the event. Wampanoag Ancestors Walk The Wampanoag Ancestors Walk will be led by the Native American Wampanoag tribes of Massachusetts on August 1 in Plymouth. Those who take part will carry placards with the names of the original 69 villages of the Wampanoag Nation, which is now known as Massachusetts. They will also pay homage to Massasoit and King Phillip and will stop at designated sites to bless the spots where Wampanoag ancestors walked. After the pilgrims landed in Plymouth, they coexisted with the Wampanoag tribes for half a century. The Mayflower pilgrims had initially agreed to a peace treaty with the Wampanoags. It started to disintegrate, however, as more colonists began arriving in America - imposing English law and acquiring the land. Historically, the agreement they had was the only evidence of an alliance between colonists and Native people on record. The Mayflower II, a replica of the ship that carried pilgrims to the New World in 1620, was built in England in the 1950s as a gift to the U.S. for support in World War II The replica ship underwent a massive $11.2 million restoration in preparation for the commemorations of the 400th anniversary Official State House Salute to the 400th Commemoration The State House Ceremony on September 14 at Massachusetts State House will honor the Pilgrim forefathers and Native people who are immortalized in the historic founding of Plymouth Colony. The General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Pilgrim families, and Wampanoag families will be in attendance. The Governor, state and federal legislators and representatives of the U.K., and the Netherlands have also been invited. Embarkation Festival A huge festival is scheduled to take place on the Plymouth waterfront on September 19 that will honor the traditions, cuisine and music of the original settlers and the Wampanoag people. Invited dignitaries will include heads of state, celebrities and students from around the world. Indigenous History Conference and Powwow Hosted by Bridgewater State University from October 29-November 1, this conference will address the legacy of colonization experienced by Wampanoag and other Native people in the New England area. Illuminate Thanksgiving There will be a series of events taking place in Plymouth in the lead up to the Thanksgiving holiday. The events will span from November 20-25 and will be youth orientated, including parades and concerts. MINI has arrived in Kochi with its first-ever MINI Urban Store in India by EVM Autokraft. MINI Urban Store presents the iconic MINI in a unique environment that includes a showroom and Cafe. The new MINI facility is located adjacent to the BMW and BMW Motorrad Showroom at Angel Plaza, 23/649 A1 NH 47, South Kalamassery, Kochi and is headed by Sabu Johny, Dealer Principal, EVM Autokraft. The new MINI Urban Store concept with an integrated Cafe brings to Kochi a unique destination and a new gastronomic experience for the progressive millennials of the city. Customers and MINI fans can unwind, relax and explore the iconic MINI in an inspiring and interactive space with a curated gourmet selection of Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. Rudratej Singh, President and Chief Executive Officer, BMW Group India said, "MINI has always been more than a car. It's a mover. It epitomises an iconic style, a unique personality and creativity. The MINI Urban Store concept is a reflection of MINI's spirited attitude to life. It is a one-of-a-kind urban space designed to inspire the creative class and create unforgettable moments amidst revolutionary cars and endless excitement. We are proud to bring the first-ever MINI Urban Store concept to the vibrant city of Kochi for our progressive customers to experience the legendary Go-Kart feeling against the unique backdrop of alluring aesthetics and gastronomical delights." "MINI is a unique brand and we are thrilled to launch the first-ever MINI Urban Store in Kochi. This new concept reiterates our commitment to introducing unparalleled experiences to our customers in Kerala. We are certain that the MINI Urban Store will become a choice destination for our discerning customers and fans," said Sabu Johny, Dealer Principal, EVM Autokraft. "With our deep understanding of the luxury automotive market as well as hospitality in the region, we are confident to play a significant role in the growing success story of MINI in India," Johny added. The first-ever MINI Urban Store is an amalgamation of functionality, creativity and authenticity. The creative use of space combined with the use of natural materials is true to MINI's progressive and inventive spirit. A simple yet contrasting ambiance creates a sense of design and exclusivity. The exciting range of MINI cars along with the urban cafe environment facilitates engaging conversations between people and creates an energetic atmosphere. The menu at the Cafe offers a wide range of hot and cold brews, all-day breakfast options and a selection of Italian and Mediterranean cuisine. The MINI showroom features a four-car display, an integrated Cafe, customisation options with MINI Accessories as well as the latest MINI Lifestyle Collection. The facility delivers extremely high-quality standards in all processes of Sales, Service, Spare-parts and Systems to ensure that customers receive best-in-class ownership experiences. As with every other MINI dealership, EVM Autokraft has provided intense training to its staff, ensuring professional management of all processes. The sales and service teams have also been trained at BMW Group India's training center in Gurgaon. MINI has successfully established itself as a premium small car brand in India. Presently, the MINI model range includes the MINI three-door Hatch, MINI five-door Hatch, MINI John Cooper Works Hatch, MINI Convertible, MINI Clubman and the locally-produced MINI Countryman. MINI has established nine authorized dealerships in India - Bird Automotive (Delhi NCR), Bavaria Motors (Pune), EVM Autokraft (Kochi), Gallops Autohaus (Ahmedabad), Infinity Cars (Mumbai), Krishna Automobiles (Chandigarh), KUN Exclusive (Chennai), KUN Exclusive (Hyderabad) and Navnit Motors (Bangalore). This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (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 Wed, January 29, 2020 10:54 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20617644a 4 News Sriwijaya-Air,travel,flight,new-route,Airlines Free Private airline Sriwijaya Air is set to relaunch its flights to Makassar, South Sulawesi, early next month, after shutting down the route for several years. According to the carrier's air vice president corporate secretary, Adi Wili Hanhari Haloho, the move is aimed at accommodating passenger demand. The service in question includes return flights from Makassar to Denpasar [in Bali], Makassar to Balikpapan [in East Kalimantan], Makassar to Luwuk [in Central Sulawesi] and Makassar to Surabaya [in East Java], Adi said as quoted by tempo.co on Tuesday. Read also: Sriwijaya Air in talks with several investors to boost operation The Makassar-Bali service will be available every day and is scheduled to depart from Makassar at 7 p.m. local time and from Bali at 9:35 p.m. Meanwhile, the Makassar-Balikpapan service will be available on Monday, Friday and Sunday; leaving Makassar at 2:25 p.m. and from Balikpapan at 4:25 p.m. Adi also said that the Makassar-Luwuk flight would be available every day, departing from Makassar at 9:30 a.m. and Luwuk at 11:30 a.m. Lastly, the Makassar-Surabaya service will be available twice a day; departing from Makassar at 1:35 p.m. and 7:10 p.m., and from Surabaya at 6 a.m. and 8:35 p.m. (dpk/kes) Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/29/2020 -- HTF Market Intelligence released a new research report of 73 pages on title 'Turkey Cards & Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2023' with detailed analysis, forecast and strategies. The study covers key regions and important players such as Ziraat Bankasi, VakifBank, DenizBank, Yapi Kredi, Halkbank, Garanti BBVA, Isbank, Akbank, QNB Finansbank, Visa, Mastercard, American Expresss, Turkcell Request a sample report @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/2463577-turkey-cards-payments #Summary: Turkey Cards & Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2023 GlobalData's 'Turkey Cards & Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2023' report provides detailed analysis of market trends in Turkey's cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including cards, credit transfers, and cheques during the review-period (2015-19e). The report also analyzes various payment card markets operating in the industry and provides detailed information on the number of cards in circulation, transaction values and volumes during the review-period and over the forecast-period (2019e-23f). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including market shares of issuers and schemes. The report brings together GlobalData's research, modeling, and analysis expertise to allow banks and card issuers to identify segment dynamics and competitive advantages. The report also covers detailed regulatory policies and recent changes in regulatory structure. GlobalData's 'Turkey Cards & Payments: Opportunities and Risks to 2023' report provides top-level market analysis, information and insights into Turkey's cards and payments industry, including - - Current and forecast values for each market in Turkey's cards and payments industry, including debit and credit cards. - Detailed insights into payment instruments including cards, credit transfers, and cheques. It also, includes an overview of the country's key alternative payment instruments. - E-commerce market analysis. - Analysis of various market drivers and regulations governing Turkey's cards and payments industry. - Detailed analysis of strategies adopted by banks and other institutions to market debit and credit cards. Scope: - Credit card usage for payments will be further accelerated by revised credit card regulations introduced in June 2019. As per the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency's (BRSA) new guidelines, credit card purchases can be made in up to 18 monthly installments depending on the product type. The BRSA also made amendments to monthly minimum payments based on card limits. For credit cards with a limit of up to TRY15,000 ($2,836.35) the minimum payment remained unchanged at 30%. For cards with a limit of TRY15,000 to TRY20,000 ($3,781.80) the minimum payment was reduced from 35% to 30%. For cards with a credit limit of over TRY20,000 the minimum payment was reduced from 40% to 30%. - To encourage contactless payments, the Interbank Card Center (Bankalararas? Kart Merkezi [BKM]) increased the cap on contactless payments from TRY90 ($17.02) to TRY120 ($22.69) effective from August 1, 2019. According to BKM, the volume of monthly contactless transactions increased by 30% to reach 1.3 million in June 2019 compared to March 2019. Meanwhile, monthly transaction value increased by 26% to reach TRY1.3bn ($245.82m) over the same period. Contactless technology is gradually being extended to public transport. In May 2019, Kahramanmara? Metropolitan Municipality and ticketing solutions provider E-Kent implemented new payment solutions allowing commuters to make fare payments using the KahramanKart mobile app and contactless debit cards. - To increase competition in the Turkish payment card market, BKM introduced domestic card scheme Troy in April 2016. Troy partnered with 29 banks to offer Troy-branded debit and credit cards in the country. Troy's processing fee is lower than its competitors, making it more viable for small retailers to accept cards, boosting overall card acceptance in the process. For international acceptance of Troy payment cards, BKM partnered with Discover Financial Services in November 2017. The agreement enables Troy payment card holders to conduct transactions globally over the Discover Global Network. The agreement also enables acceptance of Discover and Diners Club payment cards in Turkey at all locations where Troy is accepted. Buy this report @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=2463577 Reasons to buy: - Make strategic business decisions, using top-level historic and forecast market data, related to Turkey's cards and payments industry and each market within it. - Understand the key market trends and growth opportunities in Turkey's cards and payments industry. - Assess the competitive dynamics in Turkey's cards and payments industry. - Gain insights into marketing strategies used for various card types in Turkey. - Gain insights into key regulations governing Turkey's cards and payments industry. Companies Mentioned: Ziraat Bankasi, VakifBank, DenizBank, Yapi Kredi, Halkbank, Garanti BBVA, Isbank, Akbank, QNB Finansbank, Visa, Mastercard, American Expresss, Turkcell Get customization & check for discount @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/request-discount/2463577-turkey-cards-payments Table of Contents: Card-based Payments Merch ....Continued View Detailed Table of Content @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/2463577-turkey-cards-payments Thanks for reading this article; you can also limit the scope to only few countries or any specific regional level analysis. A couple in Oyo state has been arrested by the states Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for torturing their 10-year-old daughter. The husband, Olawale Taofeek, a carpenter who lives at No 43 Olupo, Amuloko area of Ibadan and his wife, Romoke, tortured their daughter, Abibat, by tying her hand to the ceiling and placing fire under her, over a theft of N3,000. Read Also: Discipline Is Different From Child Abuse: Naira Marley Advises Parents Mr Olawale, it was gathered, accused his daughter of taking N3, 000 from the house and the money, according to him, belongs to one Rukayat Trimisiyu of the same community. During the search, N600 was found in Abibats bag and after a while, she brought out the remaining N2,400 from where it was hidden in the house. The child is still recovering at the hospital. PORTLAND, Ore. - Two men who were fatally stabbed and a third who was severely injured in an attack on a Portland, Oregon, light-rail train likely did not know the man charged in the case was holding a small folding knife when they confronted him, a prosecutor said in opening statements Tuesday. Prosecutor Don Rees told jurors that no one on the train realized Jeremy Christian had pulled the 4-inch knife from his pocket during a shoving match with the victims. Other passengers on the packed commuter train at rush hour thought the men had gotten into a fist fight until they saw blood spurting from the victims necks, Rees said. One woman thought it was raining inside the train before she realized the spray was blood, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. Christian, 37, is charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Ricky Best, 53, and Taliesin Namkai-Meche, 23, in the 2017 attack that shook this liberal city to its core. He is also charged with attempted first-degree murder in the serious wounding of a third passenger, Micah Fletcher, who was 21 at the time. Christian, of Portland, also faces lesser charges of intimidation for what prosecutors have called a hate-filled tirade against two young black women who were riding the train, including one who was wearing a Muslim head covering. Court documents in the case say Namkai-Meche and Fletcher were trying to stop Christians ranting and protect the two teenagers when a fight broke out. Best then tried to intervene and all three were stabbed in the neck. Christian has pleaded not guilty to all charges and defence attorneys have signalled they may argue he was acting in self-defence after Fletcher began to shove him toward the train door. A mental health evaluation conducted for the defence said Christian showed signs of post-traumatic stress disorder from stints in prison, as well as anxiety and social dysfunction. In his interview with the mental health evaluator, Christian said he wasnt a white supremacist and that he barely noticed the two women. He said he reacted violently because he felt he was about to be beaten up, just as he had been attacked in prison. He has also repeatedly insisted during court hearings that he has a right to free speech, no matter what the topic, and frequently lashes out in open court. Tuesday was no different: As he entered the courtroom, he blurted out, You guys ready to smash Portlands fairy tale? ... Hate crime? Rees, the prosecutor, displayed graphic still frames from on-board train surveillance video for the jury that showed the instants that both Fletcher and Namkai-Meche were stabbed. It happened so fast, Rees said, referencing a still frame. As you can see, Taliesin is still looking at his phone as the blade goes into Micah Fletchers neck. An instant later, Rees showed jurors a photo of the blade entering Namkai-Meches neck, piercing his carotid artery. The shock on Namkai-Meches face as his body shrinks away from Christian is apparent. At that instant, Best stood up from his seat and was stabbed, severing his artery. Christian stabbed Namkai-Meche and Best repeatedly in the neck and face, with force so powerful that one of Bests molars broke, Rees said. The evidence will show Mr. Best wasnt really doing anything, Rees said. He wasnt saying anything. He wasnt moving. He wasnt waving his arms. He was just standing there. Defence attorney Dean Smith, however, countered that all three men confronted Christian about his rant before the stabbings. He told jurors that Best was wrestling with Christian before he was stabbed. When you are defending yourself against three attackers, you cannot successfully defend yourself with hands, Smith said. The trial is expected to last up until the end of February. Andrew Caballeiro, a one week old male, is thought to have been taken by his father, Ernesto, in Miami on Tuesday: @MiamiDadePD Police are searching for a missing baby after three women were found dead on Tuesday in a South Florida home. Investigators believe the newborn boy, called Andrew, is with his father. Police have named him on Twitter as Ernesto Caballeiro, 49. Miami-Dade police spokesman Chris Thomas said that they werent immediately calling the man a suspect in the slayings. A search is under way in a southwestern Miami-Dade County neighbourhood. An amber alert has been issued with authorities asking people to look out for a 2001 White Chevy Express, with Florida licence plate HETY13. The vehicle also has a decal on the side that reads: Nesty School Services. PLEASE SHARE! #FLAMBER Alert for Andrew Caballeiro, 1 week old male, last seen Miami. May be w Ernesto Caballeiro, 49 yo male, 5'7", 240lbs. 2001 White Chevy Express, FL tag HETY13. DO NOT APPROACH. Contact law enforcement immediately. Call Miami-Dade PD at 305-471-2400 or 911. pic.twitter.com/FIJxjubR1T FDLE (@fdlepio) January 29, 2020 Officials have not yet released the names of the victims. A family member discovered the three women dead inside from apparent gunshot wounds. It is also not yet known how the were related to the one-week-old child. The incident began when officers were called to a home in the 21900 block of Southwest 187th Avenue at 4.30pm on Tuesday. A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Bwari on Wednesday dismissed a suit seeking the sack of the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege. The suit was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Patriotic Youth Organisation of Nigeria. The group had alleged that Mr Omo-Agege is an ex-convict. Defendants in the suit are Mr Omi-Agege, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) respectively. In the document seen by PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday, they wanted the court to determine among other questions whether Mr Omo-Agege did not provide false information in his INEC Forms CF001 relating to whether he has been under a sentence of imprisonment or conviction for an offence in the United States of America. Upon the determination of those questions, the group urged the court to make, An order of Injunction restraining the first defendant, by himself, agents, servants, privies or howsoever described from further parading or in any other manner whatsoever holding out himself as been qualified to contest for election into the Senate of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and from exercising any power or function pertaining to the office of the Deputy President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Also the group wanted an order compelling INEC to prosecute the Deputy Senate President for offence of perjury. But in the courts judgment on Wednesday, Justice Othman Musa ruled that Mr Omo-Agege has never been convicted by any court of law in the United States of America. Justice Musa stated that the case against the Deputy Senate President in the U.S. was a disciplinary matter, which he challenged in the US Supreme Court and won. He held that in view of that, there was no basis for Mr Omo-Agege to disclose such information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)s Form CF001 that he has been convicted of any offence. The judge held that as such, the deputy senate president has not committed any perjury as canvassed by the claimant. The court thereafter dismissed the suit and awarded the cost of N1 million in favour of Mr Omo-Agege. FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The European Central Bank has reappointed Roland Straub as Counsellor to ECB chief Christine Lagarde, extending the mandate of a key aide to former ECB President Mario Draghi. Straub, who was appointed Draghis counselor in early 2017 and was seen as a key player in constructing many of the ECBs policy moves, will serve another three years in the role. Lagarde, who took over the ECB on Nov. 1 has not made a change in any of the key posts atop the bank, suggesting continuity with Draghi era policies. In her first several meetings at the bank, Lagarde also reaffirmed Draghis controversial September policy package, heightening market expectations that policy will not change for most of this year. Reporting by Balazs Koranyi; Editing by Sandra Maler Sinn Feins plan to spend an additional 22bn by 2025 have been branded as dangerous and highly irresponsible by leading economists and political opponents. The partys spending plans for the next five years are more than double the 11bn that the Department of Finance believes will be there to spend. Sinn Fein proposes that, if elected, it will give away 2.4bn in tax reductions every year, and raise 3.8bn in tax increases every year. The party also says that it would run a surplus every year, reaching 3.4bn by 2025. It insists that the costs of its proposed measures have been approved by the Department of Finance. However, the department clarified that it did not cost the totality of the Sinn Fein package but rather it costed individual items and there was stinging criticism of the partys spending plans. Economist Jim Power said any party proposing additional spending within the 11bn ceiling is prudent but moving beyond that is highly risky. Any party going beyond that ceiling are dangerous and fiscally irresponsible, Mr Power said. He said many of Sinn Feins planned tax increases on financial institutions and wealthy individuals fly in the face of a growing economy. He also questioned the legality of the partys intention to end the tax break being used by the bailed-out banks to avoid paying corporation taxes due to losses accumulated during the crash a decade ago. Leading UCD economist Colm McCarthy said Assumptions that there is a big, jewel-crested chest in the Department of Finance containing the 11bn are misguided. It is merely a projection of what budgets will look like. There is no guarantee the money will be there. If tax revenues hold up and there is control of spending, then the 11bn could be there. But there has not been control on spending. There has also been sharp criticism from Fianna Fails finance spokesman Michael McGrath, who said Sinn Feins manifesto is the stuff of Santa Claus. He said the big lie of the manifesto is that the party is seeking to introduce 4bn in additional taxes and saying it will not hurt anyone. Where is the money coming from? This manifesto is dangerous and highly irresponsible and it narrows the tax base which is the very thing we should not be doing, he said. Launching the manifesto in Temple Bar in Dublin, party leader Mary Lou McDonald said Sinn Fein would give workers and families a break, put money back into peoples pockets and fix the housing crisis. The manifesto also including plans to abolish the USC for incomes under 30,000 and also abolish the local property tax. Victims of Mondays deadly Scottsboro boat fire include a mother and her five children, family members have confirmed. Another of the eight victims was leading special needs children to safety when she perished in the tragedy, according to her family. On Wednesday, Jackson County Coroner John David Jordan identified the eighth victim as Yancey Farrell Roper, 54. Jordan said the causes of death will not be released at this time. Our office would like to thank all agencies involved in this difficult situation and would like to join our community and beyond in extending our sincerest condolences, Jordan said. Family members of those who died in the fire are sharing their stories of that tragic early morning fire that destroyed some 35 boats and sent people jumping into the icy water for safety. Six family members -- Grace Annette Watson Miles, 40, and her children, Christopher Zane Long, 19, Bryli Anniston Long, 16, Traydon Dominic Miles, 10, Kesston Damien Miles, 9, and Dezli Nicole Miles, 7 -- are among the dead. The father, Joe Miles, was rescued from the water with burns. Here is AL.coms complete coverage of the Jackson County boat dock fire Kayla Wormsley, Joes sister-in-law, has established a GoFundMe to support the family. Annette Miles and her children were among the 8 people killed when a blaze broke out at a dock at Scottsboros Jackson County Park on Jan. 27, 2020. The father, Joe Miles, was rescued from the water with burns. The vessel the family was on became engulfed in flames after an attempt to escape, and their father, Joe Miles was rescued from the water with burns. He has lost his home, everything he owns, everything was replaceable, except for his family, Wormsley wrote. Donations can be made at First Southern State Bank in Higdon, Alabama or via GoFundMe. Efforts by AL.com to reach Wormsley for comment were not immediately successful. Another of the victims in Mondays fatal fire was leading special needs children to safety when she perished in the tragedy, according to her family. Amanda Foster (Garrard), 38, of Oak Grove, Mississippi, was in the area visiting her boyfriend, her family said. [I] was told she was trying to help gets some special needs kids off and didnt make it herself, her stepmother, Clara Garrard, said on her Facebook page Tuesday. The guy she was with survived and told me the story. It was not immediately clear Tuesday if the children Garrard had been trying to rescue were the same five children killed in the fire. Amanda Garrards step-sister, Monica Pascale Howard, said she took comfort in her step-sisters last Facebook post just minutes before the fire was called in to authorities. It featured an image of a candle with the text Always help someone. You might be the only one who does. I kind of felt like it was Gods way of letting her family cope with her death," Howard said. When I saw that post and I saw the time frame, that just shows you the extent of her character. Thats just who she is. Howard said her step-sister was living in Hattiesburg to take care of her grandmother, who was recovering from a broken collarbone. She said Amanda Garrard was also there to give advice to her when her first child was born. Now, Howard is consoling the four children Amanda Garrard left behind. She said she told Amanda Garrards 17-year-old son, One thing you can hang your hat on is that your momma tried to be a hero. Howard established a GoFundMe effort aimed at helping her step-sisters son, Grant, pay for college next year. Grant has never left his mothers side throughout struggles of single parenthood, throughout good times or bad, he was always with his mom and now she is gone. Not only is he suffering a tremendous loss, now he is concerned with how he will be able to attend college," she wrote. "Grant will he graduating in May and would like to attend college but the grants will not cover his tuition for four years in a university. The GoFundMe page can be found here. Clara Garrard could not be reached by AL.com. Australia Increases Border, Biosecurity Measures as Coronavirus Cases Spread By Phil Mercer January 28, 2020 At least five people in Australia have tested positive for the coronavirus. The latest is a young Chinese student diagnosed in Sydney. Australia is increasing its border and biosecurity measures. Medical authorities are warning it is likely there will be more confirmed cases in Australia of the potentially deadly coronavirus. School children in New South Wales state have been told to stay away from class for two weeks if they have been in contact with a confirmed case of the disease. Symptoms of the virus include fever, difficulty breathing and coughing. The coronavirus causes severe respiratory infection and there is no cure or vaccine. Most of the deaths have been of those with pre-existing respiratory problems, or the elderly. Doctors in Australia are being urged to wear protective face masks when seeing patients who potentially carry the coronavirus. It is thought to have originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province. Australia's chief health officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, says, "We are starting to look at people who have come from parts of China other than Hubei as potentially at risk, although our focus still remains on that Hubei province of China, which is the epicenter and which is the only place where human to human transmission has been identified," said Professor Brendan Murphy, Australia's chief health officer. Australia is also bracing for a slump in visitors from China, its biggest international tourist market, because of restrictions put in place to try to stop the spread of the disease. The Australian government does not know how many of its citizens are caught in the vast quarantine lock-down area imposed by authorities in China. Reports have suggested that 100 Australians, including children, could be unable to leave. Coronavirus cases have also been confirmed in several countries including Germany, Japan, South Korea, the United States and Canada. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) descends an escalator at the U.S. Capitol after the Senate impeachment trial adjourned for the day in Washington on Jan. 28, 2020. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) Feinstein Disputes Report That She Was Leaning Toward Voting to Acquit Trump Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) disputed a report that claimed the senator suggested she might vote to acquit President Donald Trump in the Senate impeachment trial. If true, Feinstein, 86, would have been the first Democrat to suggest a vote to acquit Trump. A Los Angeles Times article stated, Feinstein suggests she is leaning toward acquitting Trump in the impeachment trial. The article was widely circulated before Feinstein issued a statement on social media disputing the report. The LA Times misunderstood what I said today. Before the trial I said Id keep an open mind. Now that both sides made their cases, its clear the presidents actions were wrong, Feinstein stated. He withheld vital foreign assistance for personal political gain. That cant be allowed to stand. The LA Times misunderstood what I said today. Before the trial I said Id keep an open mind. Now that both sides made their cases, its clear the presidents actions were wrong. He withheld vital foreign assistance for personal political gain. That cant be allowed to stand. Senator Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) January 28, 2020 Feinstein also shared a post by Alayna Treene, a reporter with Axios. I think the @latimes has this story backwards. I was the reporter who asked @SenFeinstein these questions. She told me she was initially going to vote against impeachment before this but when I asked her to clarify, she said shes changed her opinion, Treene wrote. Treene released a transcript of Feinsteins remarks to reporters, including where Feinstein said that she was going to vote against it. Asked what she was going to vote against, Feinstein said: Impeachment. Before this. But the problem with it is, it is such a window that opens you to the thinking of the man in charge. That is rather profound, that he could do this, and pick up the phone and call the head of another country, in a war, and we supported that other country with almost $400 million, and the other countrys Russia, and this country is Ukraine, and theyre an ally, and what does that say? she added. Here is the transcription of audio. Definitely a remarkable conversation with Senator Feinstein, but my interpretation is not that she is leaning toward acquitting the president pic.twitter.com/NpAhFHRukA Alayna Treene (@alaynatreene) January 28, 2020 Asked to clarify what she meant about being prepared to vote against impeachment, Feinstein said: Nine months left to go. The people should judge. We are a republic. This is based on the will of the people, the people should judge. Thats my view and it is still my view. But she said shed changed her opinion as the impeachment trial unfolded. Pressed on whether shed vote against impeaching Trump, Feinstein demurred. Youll see when we vote, Feinstein said. Treene called it a very confusing back and forth. The Los Angeles Times updated its article to say that Feinstein suggested that while she had serious concerns about Trumps character, she is still weighing her ultimate vote on whether to acquit him. Feinstein said in a statement her office released on Tuesday that the Senate needs to hear from ex-National Security Advisor John Bolton. Right now, some senators suggest there isnt evidence that President Trump withheld aid to Ukraine for the purpose of influencing the 2020 election. This is why John Boltons testimony is so important, she said. Bolton is potentially a firsthand, corroborating witness to information that has been placed in evidence based on his direct interactions with the president. Goose Creek expanded its budget by $1.4 million on Tuesday to cover the creation of a new municipal electric utility, but city leaders say taxpayers won't be footing the bill. Nearly all of the costs associated with the city's planned entry into the power business is expected to be covered by Century Aluminum, the nation's largest aluminum smelter. The Chicago-based company is the main reason a special referendum was held last month to get Goose Creek residents to approve the creation of a new city-run electric company. Century's Mount Holly plant off U.S. Highway 52 would be the sole customer of the special-purpose utility. Goose Creek residents will continue to get their power from Berkeley Electric Cooperative. Century believes a city-run utility will be able to purchase power at a lower cost than what it pays state-run Santee Cooper for the same service. The aluminum company has also suggested the switch could allow it to restart an idled production line at the Berkeley County plant. In turn, Goose Creek leaders plan to annex the aluminum smelter into the city limits, with the expectation that it will boost tax revenue by about $1 million. Mayor Greg Habib said the $1.4 million that was added to the budget this week was procedural and that Century has promised to pick up the tab for any current or future costs related to the new utility. Dennis Harbath, plant manager for Century, declined to comment Wednesday. He referred questions about the ongoing costs of setting up the utility to city officials. Those expenses, Habib said, will include a number of items, suhc as energy consultants who are advising City Council, fees for permits that are required to transmit electricity across the grid and legal costs. The only expense city taxpayers are expected to pick up, Habib said, is the cost of the referendum that was held Dec. 3. That low-turnout election with roughly 7 percent of eligible voters casting a ballot cost $12,422. The terms of the other financial agreements between Goose Creek and Century could not be independently verified. The Post and Courier requested that Goose Creek release the finalized agreements it has in place with the company, but city officials said the documents are exempt from the S.C. Freedom of Information Act. "The citys negotiations with the company may result in significant investment and FOIA recognizes the importance of such efforts," said Frank Johnson, a spokesman for the city. "Thus, certain documents and materials particularly those that involve efforts or activities to attract and induce businesses and industries to make investments in South Carolina should be and are exempt from disclosure." City Council met twice in January to discuss matters related to Century and the planned utility. Most of the discussions took place behind closed doors in so-called executive sessions. The agendas for those meetings only noted that elected officials were discussing "Project Lightning Rod," the code name they gave to the proposed electric utility. Habib says the council is trying to "be as transparent as possible," while also dealing with legally sensitive negotiations. Were never in a hurry to do the wrong thing," he said. "Were going to take our time and make sure the city is protected. The $1.4 million budget change now sets the city up to hold several key votes next month related to the municipal electric utility. City Council is expected to certify the results of the referendum, vote on the annexation of the Mount Holly plant and surrounding property and finalize a new agreement with Century that will hold the city harmless if it is sued. That is important because Santee Cooper, which currently supplies Century with electricity, argues it has a right under state law to provide power to the smelting plant. Santee Cooper already won court fights in the past when Century attempted to buy its power from other sources. This time, Century's executives and Goose Creek officials think the results will be different. [January 29, 2020] Denenchofufutaba Gakuen, NTT Group Start a Joint Study to Create Smart Campus Solutions NTT Group (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (Hereinafter, NTT), NTT DATA Corporation, NTT COMWARE Corporation, NTT Communications (News - Alert) Corporation, NTT Ltd., Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corporation (Hereinafter, NTT East)) will begin a joint study with Denenchofufutaba Gakuen in order to develop smart campus solutions that will provide safety and security at schools. NTT Group implements technology of public safety solution that will draw on the proven implementation for the City of Las Vegas. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200128005916/en/ Solution Overview (Graphic: Business Wire) 1. Background In recent years, there have been several crimes and incidents involving students in school facilities, and resulting in requests to improve safety measures in addition to crime prevention activities by national and local governments. Furthermore, with the introduction of new educational guidelines, the workload of teachers is increasing, and there is a growing need for efficient and effective safety measures according to those in the field of school education. In order to respond to such needs, NTT Group aims to develop smart campus solutions that contribute to the strengthening of school safety with Denenchofufutaba Gakuen. This will leverage ICT solutions based on the system integration and application development capabilities of the public safety experience gained by providing smart city solutions*1 to the City of Las Vegas, in the United States. 2. Outline of the Joint Study This joint study aims to build a data aggregation infrastructure that enables situational awareness of danger in the school by using high-resolution video cameras, audio sensors and IoT devices, analyze and predict dangerous events for students, and verify the solutions that contribute to strengthening school safety measures. (1) Solution Features The first step starts with the implementation of a system to monitor and report the traffic of vehicles and establish a system to ensure the safety of students when they move between school buildings. Through the operation of this system, the future needs of safety measures and solutions are studied to create new solutions that enables situation analysis uses AI, machine learning technology and 5G related technology. The data aggregation infrastructure is built on the architecture of NTT's innovative Cognitive Foundation *2, which enables the remote creation, management, and operation of ICT resources, from devices and networks to the cloud. (2) Points to be verified through Joint Study Based on the operation of the above solution, the following will be developed with Denenchofufutaba Gakuen. 1) Identification of safety measures in school facilities 2) Identification of technical issues in system integration and operations 3) Creation of solutions using ICT technology 4) Feasibility study as a repeatable campus solution (3) Period and location of implementation - Period: Start from February 2020 - Location: Denenchofufutaba Gakuen Campus (4) Role of each company NTT Group NTT Overall supervision and coordination among group companies NTT DATA Joint planning, environment set-up and solution implementation Support for deployment and technical support of smart city solutions as per the City of Las Vegas implementation NTT COMWARE Multi-Orchestrator delivery and technical support NTT Communications Provision of cloud environment and technical support, Support for Multi-Orchestrator installation NTT Ltd Support for deployment and technical support of smart city solutions as per the City of Las Vegas implementation NTT East Provision of access network, support for network related technologies Denenchofu Futaba Gakuen Joint study planning support (Providing issues and needs) 3. For the Future In the future, with the learning from this joint study with Denenchofufutaba Gakuen, NTT Group will contribute to the enhancement of school safety by creating new smart campus solutions in the second quarter of 2020. *1 (press release) About the smart city solutions available in Las Vegas, USA https://www.ntt.co.jp/news2018/1812/181208a.html *2 "Cognitive Foundation" is a registered trademark of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation in Japan. About NTT NTT is a Global Technology (News - Alert) and Business Solutions Provider. We help clients accelerate growth and innovate new digital business models of the future. We provide business consulting and technology services for global networks, cybersecurity, managed IT and applications, workplace, datacenter and cloud services all supported by our deep industry expertise and innovation. As a top five Global IT Services provider, our globally diverse and inclusive workforce supports clients in 80+ countries and regions. This includes 85% of the Fortune Global 100 companies and thousands of other clients and communities. With a 120-year heritage of service, innovation and social responsibility, we always advocate and act for our clients and a sustainable future. For more information on NTT, visit www.global.ntt/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200128005916/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 29, 2020] Cogeco makes the prestigious Forbes ranking of Canada's Best Employers 2020 MONTREAL, Jan. 29, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - Cogeco (TSX: CGO) is proud to announce that it has been named to the prestigious list of Canada's Best Employers 2020, as determined by Forbes magazine and the Statista research firm. This ranking highlights the Canadian employers who are most likely to be recommended by their own employees, and those best perceived in their respective industries. "We are very pleased to be part of this Canadian ranking. At Cogeco, we do everything we can to provide a distinctive and innovative employee experience," said Liette Vigneault, Vice President, Talent and Employee Experience. "Our employees are among the main pillars of our success, thus we are committed to fostering growth and fulfilment by promoting a culture built on respct and teamwork. This approach also enables us to attract and keep the very best talent in Quebec and throughout Canada." Cogeco's President and Chief Executive Officer, Philippe Jette declared, "It's a great honour for us to make the list of Canada's Best Employers. This recognition speaks to our unwavering commitment to our employees, who have been the foundation of our success for more than 60 years." Canada's Best Employers' ranking is an annual competition based on an anonymous independent survey that gathers answers from 8,000 Canadian employees working for companies with over 500 workers. Participants are asked how likely they would be to recommend their own employer to others, and to evaluate other employers in their respective industries. The 300 companies receiving the highest scores are awarded the title "Canada's Best Employers 2020". ABOUT COGECO INC. Cogeco Inc. is a diversified holding corporation which operates in the communications and media sectors. Its Cogeco Communications Inc. subsidiary provides residential and business customers with Internet, video and telephony services through its two-way broadband fibre networks, operating in Quebec and Ontario, Canada, under the Cogeco Connexion name, and in the United States under the Atlantic Broadband brand (in 11 states along the East Coast, from Maine to Florida). Its Cogeco Media subsidiary owns and operates 23 radio stations with complementary radio formats and extensive coverage serving a wide range of audiences mainly across the province of Quebec, as well as Cogeco News, a news agency. Cogeco's subordinate voting shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CGO). The subordinate voting shares of Cogeco Communications Inc. are also listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: CCA). SOURCE Cogeco Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] (GETTY) A Canadian exchange traded fund provider is winding down its two cannabis offerings as shares of publicly-traded pot companies continue to slump. Toronto-based Evolve Funds Group announced on Monday that it has asked the Toronto Stock Exchange to de-list its Evolve Marijuana Fund (SEED.TO). Our outlook on the cannabis market has changed significantly over the past twelve months, chief investment officer Elliot Johnson said in an email to Yahoo Finance Canada. Over-regulation in the Canadian market has stifled cannabis sales, and dampened the entrepreneurial spirit that originally attracted so many investors. Evolve said it will also shut down its Evolve U.S. Marijuana ETF (USMJ.NE), which trades on the NEO Exchange. Effective Feb. 26, no further subscriptions for units of the funds will be accepted. The firm set a termination date of March 30. Evolve said to the extent reasonably possible, it will convert the funds assets to cash after making provisions for liabilities, and distribute the assets to unit holders of record on the termination date. The Evolve Marijuana Fund had $5.9 million in assets under management as of Jan. 24. Canadas largest cannabis companies, including Canopy Growth (WEED.TO)(CGC), Aphria (APHA.TO)(APHA), and Tilray (TLRY), are among the funds largest holdings. The Evolve U.S. Marijuana ETF had $2.3 million in assets under management as of Jan. 24. Its main holdings include Green Thumb Industries (GTII.CN), Curaleaf Holdings (CURA.CN) and Canopy Growth. Johnson said health concerns related to vaping have added to a climate of regulatory uncertainty in the United States, countering political support for federal legalization in that country. Without a clear path to federal legalization, it will be an uphill battle for producers to build their business on a state-by-state basis, he added in the statement. As a result, we have made the decision to fully remove our products from the market, rather than be forced to play out a highly volatile cycle. Story continues A one-year look at the Evolve Marijuana Fund on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Jan. 27, 2020. (Yahoo Finance Canada) Toronto-listed shares of the Canadian fund have fallen about 60 per cent since the funds all-time high last spring. Shares fell 2.91 per cent to $11.69 at 10:33 a.m. ET on Monday. Other ETF providers have made adjustments to cope with the tough times in the cannabis sector. In late December, Horizons ETFs Management Canada dropped seven underperforming stocks from its $485 million Marijuana Life Sciences Index ETF (HMMJ.TO), including Zenabis Global (ZENA.TO), 48North (NRTH.V) and Radient Technologies (RTI.V). The performance of the Marijuana sector in Q4 was quite disappointing. As a result, the market capitalization of a number of HMMJ's holdings fell below their minimum inclusion threshold, leading to their removal from the index and the ETF, Steve Hawkins, president and CEO of Horizons ETFs, said in a Dec. 30 statement. Within HMMJ's portfolio, this has resulted in the survival of the fittest. Purpose Investments recently expanded its cannabis activity with the launch of a European-focused fund in partnership with London-based HANetf. The Medical Cannabis & Wellness UCITS ETF debuted on Germany Deutsche Boerse XETRA exchange on Jan. 14, and recently started trading on the London Stock Exchange (CBDX.L). Purpose also offers its actively managed Purpose Marijuana Opportunities Fund (MRJOF), which has increasingly shifted focus away from Canadian licenced producers towards cannabis opportunities in the United States. Evolve also announced Monday that it will be terminating its Evolve North American Gender Diversity Index Fund. SYRACUSE, N.Y. New York State Police today are using a sonar tool to search the floor of Onondaga Creek in hopes of finding the body of Syracuse University student Allan Gonzalez. Gonzalez, 22, a senior at SU, slipped and fell into Onondaga Creek near Walton Street in the early morning hours of Jan. 19, according to surveillance video that police reviewed. Since then, local and state agencies have been searching the creek in hopes of finding him. Today, a special New York State Police team is methodically searching the creek between Walton Street (Armory Square) and the Inner Harbor, dipping a three-foot-long sonar device into the water, said trooper Don Will. Its about a 1.1-mile section of creek troopers are focused on today. This is the sonar device troopers are using. The device scans on either side as the raft moves at 3 mph, creating a grainy, green-and-gray image of the textures, shapes and contours invisible to the human eye. Its how troopers have found other victims of accidents as well as evidence. The same technology is used to find century-old shipwrecks. Will showed how the device works while he stood on the shores of the creek under the West Genesee Street overpass on Wednesday mid-morning, just before putting the tool to use. Troopers yesterday rode on a raft and searched the banks and surface of Onondaga Creek, removing debris that could be a hazard or impair the search. Today, troopers planned to ride down again, this time using the device. The device sends images of the floor of the creek to be reviewed a laptop in the raft. Onondaga Creek is a man-made channel, so the creek floor and sides are smoother and have fewer false positives than natural bodies of water. The raft left from West Genesee Street and headed upstream to Walton Street, before heading back down toward the Inner Harbor. Troopers head south up Onondaga Creek on Wednesday. While the creek floor is mostly free of hazards, Will said a couple of eddies could complicate the search and require state police divers to search more closely, including one near Spencer Street. Will said investigators do not believe Gonzalezs body is in Onondaga Lake, but troopers will plan to expand their search there in the coming days if they dont find him in the creek or Inner Harbor. That will require a longer and more methodical search to cover the wider area. 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. Our Divisions Copyright 2021-22 DB Corp ltd., All Rights Reserved This website follows the DNPA Code of Ethics. Romania, exported, in the first ten months of 2019, cereal worth 2.145 billion euro, by 16 pct more as compared to the similar period of last year, shows data centralized by the National Institute of Statistics (INS). On the other hand, imports of cereal and processed cereal-based foods amounted to 325.8 million euro (plus 18.2 pct), resulting in a 1.82 billion euro surplus.Wheat and meslin exports totalled 1.016 billion euro, representing 47.36 pct of the total cereal exports, while maize accounted for 955.66 million euro (45,55 pct of the total).Of the total cereal exports in the mentioned period, 764.5 million euro worth of shipments were bound for EU states, mainly for Spain (183.4 million euro), Italy (152.9 million euro) and the Netherlands (93.8 million euro).In what regards imports from EU countries, they totalled 305.2 million euro and came mainly from Bulgaria (cereal imports worth 144.7 million euro), Hungary (102.4 million euro) and France (29 million euro).Romania obtained last year a production of 16.99 million tons of maize kernels, a drop of about 9 pct (1.67 million tons) over 2018, when it reported 18.66 million tons, although the cultivation area was larger by 240,000 hectares.According to data from the Ministry for Agriculture and Rural Development, the production obtained in wheat, rye and triticale recorded an increase of 2.51 pct, by 255,399 tons, from 10.172 million tons in 2018, to 10.427 million tons last year. The best yield for wheat was obtained in Giurgiu - over 5,800 kg/ha, Satu Mare - 5,700 kg/ha, Braila and Dolj - 5.300 kg/ha each. AGERPRES The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has allocated over 4.4 billion yuan (about 640 million U.S. dollars) To support the battle against the novel coronaviruses (nCoV) in China. The ministry also stated that it included an additional 500 million yuan fund for central China's Hubei Province, which was hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak, Xinhua reported. Last week, the MOF had also allocated 1 billion yuan to Hubei to combat the spread of the virus in the province. The virus, which was first reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has killed 106 people in China alone, while more than a dozen other countries have reported cases so far. 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-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A pensioner has uncovered an ancient amulet of a dog that had been gathering dust for years in his garage - and it could be worth a staggering 3million. When Alfred Correya, 66, discovered the tiny jade jewel in a chest of drawers he had no idea of its tremendous value. Mr Correya's father was an Indian gem dealer and emigrated to Britain in the 1960s. When he died aged 96 in 2002, the amulet was left in a treasure chest in his son's garage and forgotten about. Mr Correya discovered the gem by luck when he was rummaging through the drawers but had no idea just how much it would be worth. It is believed to be between 4,000 and 5,000 years old, and experts said they can trace it back to Stone Age China. Alfred Correya, 66, discovered the tiny jade jewel in a chest of drawers at home in Taunton, Somerset, but had no idea of its value It is believed to be between 4,000 and 5,000 years old, and experts said they can trace it back to Stone Age China Asian art expert Alexander Clement at Halls Auctioneers in Shrewsbury confirmed the amulet's estimate age and that the amulet was made from jade The discovery echoes an episode from Only Fools and Horses where Del Boy and Rodney Trotter sell an old watch from their garage, becoming millionaires in the process. Mr Correya told The Sun: 'My dad acquired all sorts of pieces but this dog was seen as a trinket. He seems to have been somewhat mistaken.' Asian art expert Alexander Clement at Halls Auctioneers in Shrewsbury confirmed its estimate age and that the amulet was made from jade. He valued it at between 2million and 3million. The London School of Oriental and Asian Studies also said the amulet may have originated from South West China. Mr Correya has conducted his own research and believes the amulet was buried with its owner before being stolen by graverobbers before eventually being sold to his father. The proposal is not perfect, but it will improve transparency, accountability and public responsiveness in the redistricting process and prevent politicians from drawing lopsided, aggressive gerrymanders. If the General Assembly approves this amendment and sends it to the voters for final blessing, it will set an exemplary precedent, showing that well-meaning politicians really will sacrifice some power to improve the quality of the election system. However, if Democrats who control the General Assembly reject redistricting reform, the partisan cycle will continue, and we will all come to regret it. Alex Keena is an assistant professor of political science at Virginia Commonwealth University. Contact him at: keenaja@vcu.edu Michael D. Gilbert is the Martha Lubin Karsh and Bruce A. Karsh Bicentennial Professor of Law at the University of Virginia School of Law. Contact him at: mgilbert@law.virginia.edu Rebecca Green is the Kelly Professor for Teaching Excellence at William & Mary Law School and the co-director of the Election Law Program. Contact her at: rgreen@wm.edu Also contributing were Elliott Fullmer, associate professor of political science at Randolph-Macon College; Nicholas Goedert, assistant professor of political science at Virginia Tech; Deborah Hellman, David Lurton Massee, Jr., Professor of Law, Roy L. and Rosamond Woodruff Morgan Professor of Law at the University of Virginia School of Law; and A. E. Dick Howard, the Warner-Booker Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Virginia School of Law. Politics might seem to be even more polarizing than usual these days. It's difficult for people to find a candidate to trust. This applies to candidates of pretty much any kind of political view. A town in Vermont is taking something a different approach. For the position of mayor, they've gone against humans altogether. And it's not the first time town residents have decided to do so. A choice between a goat and a dog Fair Haven, located in western Vermont, is having a unique mayoral election. For the second year in a row, a goat and a dog have been put forward as candidates. The incumbent is an Anglo-Nubian goat called Lincoln. In 2019, she was elected by less than five votes. The dog she was competing with was a Samoyed named Sammie. This time around, a different dog with a similar name is in the running. A German Shepherd named Sammy is a candidate this time around. As reported by KXXV, Sammy is also a member of Fair Haven's police force. According to NBC, the election is being used to raise funds for a local playground. People who want to vote are to pay a small fee. Unlike many other elections, both candidates are exceedingly popular with voters. Even the Fair Haven police chief, who put forward Sammy as a candidate, has high praise for Lincoln. He said she 'has done a great job' and 'has represented the community well.' Neither Lincoln nor Sammy have any particular affiliation with a political party. It's true that whichever candidate wins the race for mayor would have some expectations. However, much of the day-to-day responsibilities would be handled by the town manager. Not the first non-human candidate to be elected Lincoln's election as mayor was far the first instance of this sort of thing in the United States. In Idyllwild, California, a dog named Max II was elected mayor for life. Discuss this news on Eunomia Every elected mayor of Rabbit Hash, Kentucky, has been a dog. All members of the village council of Omena, Michigan, are animals. Other recent animal office-holders include Duke, a Great Pyrenees dog. Duke won four terms as mayor of Cormorant Township, Minnesota, before he passed away in 2019. Another was Stubbs, a cat who was mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska, for 20 years before passing away in 2017. Stubbs was also a write-in candidate during Alaska's U.S. Senate race in 2014. In 2014, a Maine Coon cat named Hank was nominated for the U.S. Senate in Virginia. Hank actually got a significant amount of support, tallying almost 7,000 votes. Though he still fell short of two humans, Tim Kaine and George Allen. International animal political candidates include Cacareco, a rhinoceros. Cacareco received over 100,000 votes for the city council of Sao Paola, Brazil, in 1958. That was the most of any candidate, but officials did not recognize Cacareco's election as legitimate. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled their Middle East peace plan on Tuesday. While its more substantive than many expected, it doesnt amount to a peace plan at all. First, the fact that the Palestinians played no role in negotiating or vetting the document means, by itself, that this is an impositionsomething like the surrender terms handed down by a victorious armyrather than an accord reached by two parties. Second, it declares the existence of a Palestinian state with a capital on the outskirts of east Jerusalem and the prospect of a U.S. Embassybut it also prohibits this state from forming an army, meaning it is not really a sovereign state after all. Advertisement Third, it freezes the expansion of Israeli settlements for the next four yearsbut it sanctifies all the settlements erected to date, allows more houses to be built on land already held, and annexes most occupied land, including all the holy sites in all of Jerusalem, to become officially part of Israel. If any other state pulled such a move unilaterally, it would be widely denounced as a violation of international law. Until Trump, every U.S. president since 1967Republican and Democrathas refused to recognize the occupied territories as part of Israel: in part for moral reasons, in part to nudge Israel into a treaty that would involve trading space for security. However hard to reach, that is the precondition for a lasting peace, and it is now off the table. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finally, it hands this Palestinian not-quite-state $28 billion for economic developmentbut only if it takes the deal. Yet without real control over the state and a formal surrender of territory, without reciprocation, no Palestinian leader could take this deal and stay in power. No doubt Netanyahu and Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who led the U.S. team on this project, are well aware of these limitations. Its quite likely they dont care. In their eyes, the Palestinians are no longer the force in Middle East politics that they once wereand, from a realpolitik perspective, theyre right. Years ago, the common slogan held that peace in the Middle East runs through Jerusalem: In other words, the region wouldnt be peaceful until Israel and the Palestinians reached a two-state settlement. Advertisement However, even back then, the Arab leaders didnt really care much about the Palestinians. As Malcolm Kerr argued in his classic book The Arab Cold War, they used the Palestinian struggle against Israel as a cover for their own domestic troubles. Now, with the Sunni Arab nations all but aligned (at least informally) with Israel in opposition to their common enemy, Iran, the cover is shed and the theatrics are over. Several of these nations released statements on Trumps plan, ranging from mild criticism to outright enthusiasm. Advertisement Kushner and Netanyahu might believe or hope that, once the Palestinians realize they have nowhere to go, no allies to rally for solidarity, theyll swallow hard and take the deal. As Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group, sums up the calculation: Theyll come on board, once they realize they have no one else to turn to. Advertisement Advertisement Or, as Kushner himself put it, in an interview with CNNs Christiane Amanpour, the plan is a great plan, and if the Palestinians reject it, theyre going to screw up another opportunity, like theyve screwed up every other opportunity that theyve ever had in their existence. Advertisement Advertisement Fine words to coax an alienated people on board a plan thats not of their making and that few of them could possibly desire. Kushner has been at this since his father-in-law became president. At his inauguration party, Trump thanked him for his help in the campaign and promised him a diplomatic portfolio, saying, If you cant produce peace in the Middle East, nobody canan odd declaration since Kushner, then 35, had no experience or qualifications for such a heavy task, except that he was Jewish and his parents were longtime friends with Netanyahu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why is this plan rolling out now, three years later? Probably because Trump and Netanyahu are both facing electionsTrump in the wake of an impeachment, Netanyahu in the wake of a criminal indictment. They both hope that a big peace banner, even if it signifies little, will boost their prospects. (Netanyahus main political rival, Gen. Benjamin Gantz, showed up at the celebration too, suggesting that, in Israeli politics anyway, the calculation has some validity.) Motives aside, what is likely to happen next? The Palestinians wont accept the plan. The Arab neighbors will look the other way. The Israelis will act as if the plan is a done deal. Theyll announce that all of the occupied territories are now part of Israel, the United States and maybe a few other countries will recognize the annexation, and the trends in Middle Eastern politicsthe thickening alliance between Israel and the Sunnis, the sharpening tensions between the Sunni and Shiite powers, and the continued presence (and, with this, possibly the intensification) of Hamas and Hezbollah militias in the contested territories, with occasional eruptions of violencewill continue. This is not a peace plan. Its a power playfor domestic and regional politicsand the plans drafters know it. Domestic telecom gear makers seek a Rs 10,000 crore line of facility from the government in the upcoming budget to bring them at par with foreign competitors, according to a wishlist submitted by the telecom committee at PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The industry body has also demanded up to 75 per cent quota for locally-made telecom equipment to reduce imports. "Foreign vendors are able to provide their countries export line of without sovereign guarantee to Indian telcos. Therefore, even if our prices and equipment are good to buy, we are not able to supply to Indian telecom service providers, as they are always short of funds for procurement. Initially we request a Rs 10,000 crore domestic line of facility," PHDCCI said in its submission to the telecom ministry. The industry body has suggested the government to impose custom duties on imported 4G and 5G equipment and declare sales under 'preference to Make in India' scheme as deemed exports. The recommendation said that the share of investment in Digital India (Telecom) is approximately Rs 3.2 lakh crore, out of which the approximate funding by the state and central government is about Rs 2.5 lakh crore. "We request that provisions be made in the budget to ensure that wherever central, quasi or state government funds are used, PMI and preferential market access policy of the DoT, may be implemented in the right earnest to get the maximum impact of this expenditure on GDP growth and GST generation," PHDCCI recommended. It said that at 20 per cent of government expenditure, MSMEs should get business worth Rs 50,000 crore under existing policies. A judge has barred prosecutors from telling jurors about a former astronauts drunken driving conviction during his upcoming trial over a wreck that killed two young sisters in rural Alabama. Tuscaloosa County Circuit Judge Allen May issued the ruling Tuesday in the reckless murder case against retired NASA space shuttle pilot James Halsell, 63, who has pleaded not guilty. Halsell is set to go on trial in early March in a car crash that killed two girls and severely injured their father and a woman in 2016. May agreed with defense claims that prosecutors shouldn't be able to use evidence of Halsell's 2014 DUI conviction in California since tests showed no alcohol in his system after the Alabama wreck. But Halsell refused to voluntarily submit to a blood test after the Alabama crash, prosecutors wrote in a court document. That resulted in a delay in testing while authorities sought a court order to allow a test that eventually showed no alcohol in his system, they said. "He should not now be allowed to have this information excluded," prosecutors said in written arguments. Halsell, who lives in Huntsville, retired from NASA in 2006. He was convicted of drunken driving in December 2014 following a wreck in Los Angeles months earlier, and a test measured his blood-alcohol content at .12%, prosecutors said. The defense in the Alabama case has said it plans to argue that Halsell had an adverse reaction to the sleep medication Ambien and was involuntarily intoxicated when his car struck another vehicle, killing 11-year-old Niomi Deona James and 13-year-old Jayla Latrick Parler. Their father was driving. Authorities plan to show jurors evidence that Halsell drank a bottle of wine in the hours before the wreck and have an expert testify about the estimated amount of alcohol in his system when the wreck occurred, prosecutors said in documents. Halsell, who is free on bond, flew five shuttle missions before retiring from NASA. He worked in the private aerospace industry before the crash. Victorian Liberal preselectors will choose from just four candidates for the seat in State Parliament left vacant by the resignation of Mary Wooldridge, with party insiders stunned by the small field for such a plum spot. The ranks of female Liberal MPs are almost certain to shrink again with only one woman among the contenders at close of nominations on Wednesday, and she is not considered to be among the frontrunners. Victorian Liberal political hopeful Nora Lamont. Credit:Maroondah Council At stake in the contest is the number one spot on the Liberals upper house election ticket in their Eastern Metropolitan heartland, a position that virtually guarantees the holder a long-term parliamentary career. Of the four nominees for the position, two unsuccessful candidates from the 2018 state election, Emanuele Cicchiello and Asher Judah, have emerged as front runners with strong factional backing or demonstrated support among the party delegates whose votes will decide the contest, probably in mid to late February. Passengers wear protective masks to protect against the spread of coronavirus as they arrive at Los Angeles International Airport on January 22, 2020. Australian and U.K. citizens repatriated from coronavirus-hit Wuhan are to be quarantined for up to two weeks, the governments of both countries announced Wednesday. This follows a similar move by the French government who said Sunday that its citizens would spend 14 days in quarantine upon their return from the Wuhan area. Those departing Wuhan city and Hubei province in China on any flight arranged by the Australian government will be flown to Christmas Island, where they will stay for up to 14 days as a condition of their assisted departure. According to the government announcement, just over 600 Australians are currently in the area at the center of the coronavirus outbreak. Christmas Island is an Australian territory in the Indian Ocean, and until 2018 was home to a controversial detention center used to hold migrants who attempt to reach Australia illegally. In February last year, the current government announced plans to reopen the center. Speaking at a press conference in the Australian capital Canberra on Wednesday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Australian government would initially provide "some assisted departures for isolated and vulnerable Australians" such as young people and the elderly, with help from Chinese authorities and airline Qantas. "Anyone who under this plan is transported to Christmas Island would be there, we envisage, for up to 14 days, which is the advised period of quarantine for the patient of this virus," he said. "But that will be subject to the medical advice we receive, and that will obviously be a condition of those who would seek to take part in this arrangement." "I want to stress that we cannot give a guarantee that this operation is able to succeed, and I also want to stress very clearly that we may not be in a position if we're able to do this on one occasion, to do it on another occasion," Morrison added. Chinese state media confirmed on Wednesday that the number of coronavirus cases in the country had exceeded 6,000 and the death toll from the disease has risen to 132. Other governments are also scrambling to bring their citizens home from China's Hubei province. Hundreds of British citizens being flown to the U.K. from Wuhan on Thursday will be quarantined for two weeks, the BBC reported Wednesday. Around 200 people are expected to be returned to Britain, where they could reportedly be kept in quarantine at a military base. Meanwhile, around 200 American citizens landed in Anchorage, Alaska, on a chartered flight from Wuhan on Tuesday evening. According to Alaska's Department of Health and Social Services, those onboard the flight were screened multiple times for signs of respiratory illness prior to their departure from China. Upon landing in Anchorage, the passengers were screened again in a closed area of Ted Stevens International Airport's North Terminal. Passengers were then scheduled to be flown to Ontario, California, according to NBC News, but were diverted to March Air Reserve Base southeast of Los Angeles. The European Union has also outlined plans to repatriate citizens from China. On Tuesday, the EU announced that it would co-finance air travel to bring Europeans home from the Wuhan area, with the first aircraft leaving France on Wednesday morning to collect around 250 French citizens. A plane carrying 206 Japanese nationals from Wuhan landed in Tokyo on Wednesday, according to media reports. Germany announced Tuesday that after months of deliberation, the ministry of defense has decided to forego its initial efforts to install a new reconnaissance system on Northrop Grummans Triton drones and will instead fix the eavesdropping sensors to Canadian firm Bombardiers manned Global 6000 jets, according to the Associated Press, Trend reports citing Sputnik. While Germany had initially planned for the Persistent German Airborne Surveillance System (PEGASUS) to be installed on the drones, recent financing headaches combined with concerns over European airspace regulations have led to the plans undoing. A spokeswoman with the ministry told Defense News that the estimated $2.5 billion Triton option, which was approved by the US State Department in April 2018, had grown significantly more expensive when compared to earlier assumptions and would not be delivered until 2025. Additionally, opting for a manned aircraft provides Berlin with the ability to not worry about meeting European Aviation Safety Agency guidelines concerning the safety of operating unmanned aircraft alongside conventional air traffic. Germany previously ran into a similar issue during its Euro Hawk project, which intended to acquire five RQ-4 Global Hawk derivatives but was ultimately scrapped in May 2013 due to cost concerns and the certification process regarding European airspace. Germanys announcement comes shortly after the US Navys Seventh Fleet issued a Monday press release confirming two MQ-4C Tritons had arrived at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam the night prior. According to the service, the UAVs will assist other intelligence assets, such as the P-8A Poseidon and P-3 Orion, in maritime patrol and reconnaissance efforts in the Western Pacific. WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pending home sales fell in December, taking a step back after increasing slightly in November, according to the National Association of Realtors. Each of the four major regions reported a drop in month-over-month contract activity, with the South experiencing the steepest fall. However, year-over-year pending home sales activity was up nationally compared to one year ago. December 2019 Pending Home Sales NAR Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun (PRNewsfoto/National Association of Realtors) The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI),* www.nar.realtor/pending-home-sales, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, fell 4.9% to 103.2 in December. Year-over-year contract signings increased 4.6%. An index of 100 is equal to the level of contract activity in 2001. "Mortgage rates are expected to hold under 4% for most of 2020, while net job creation will likely exceed two million," said Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist. While he noted that these factors are promising for the housing market, Yun cautioned that low inventory remains a significant longer-term concern. "Due to the shortage of affordable homes, home sales growth will only rise by around 3%," Yun predicted. "Still, national median home price growth is in no danger of falling due to inventory shortages and will rise by 4%. The new home construction market also looks brighter, with housing starts and new home sales set to rise 6% and 10%, respectively." Pointing to data from active listings at realtor.com, Yun says the markets where listing prices are around $250,000 an affordable price point in most markets nationally are drawing some of the most significant buyer attention, including Fort Wayne, Ind., Burlington, N.C., Topeka, Kan., Pueblo, Colo., and Columbus, Ohio. "The state of housing in 2020 will depend on whether home builders bring more affordable homes to the market," Yun said. "Home prices and even rents are increasing too rapidly, and more inventory would help correct the problem and slow price gains." December Pending Home Sales Regional Breakdown All regional indices were down in December. The Northeast PHSI slipped 4.0% to 92.4 in December, 0.1% lower than a year ago. In the Midwest, the index dropped 3.6% to 98.8 last month, 1.3% higher than in December 2018. Pending home sales in the South decreased 5.5% to an index of 118.1 in December, a 7.4% increase from December 2018. The index in the West fell 5.4% in December 2019 to 93.1, an increase of 7.0% from a year ago. The National Association of Realtors is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.4 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. *The Pending Home Sales Index is a leading indicator for the housing sector, based on pending sales of existing homes. A sale is listed as pending when the contract has been signed but the transaction has not closed, though the sale usually is finalized within one or two months of signing. The index is based on a large national sample, typically representing about 20% of transactions for existing-home sales. In developing the model for the index, it was demonstrated that the level of monthly sales-contract activity parallels the level of closed existing-home sales in the following two months. An index of 100 is equal to the average level of contract activity during 2001, which was the first year to be examined. By coincidence, the volume of existing-home sales in 2001 fell within the range of 5.0 to 5.5 million, which is considered normal for the current U.S. population. NOTE: Existing-Home Sales for January will be reported February 21. The next Pending Home Sales Index will be February 27; all release times are 10:00 a.m. ET. Information about NAR is available at www.nar.realtor. This and other news releases are posted on the NAR Newsroom at www.nar.realtor/newsroom. Statistical data in this release, as well as other tables and surveys, are posted in the "Research and Statistics" tab. SOURCE National Association of Realtors Related Links http://www.realtor.org San Antonio International Airport saw a record 10.3 million passengers pass through its terminals in 2019, up 3.2 percent from the previous year, city aviation officials said Tuesday. The increase is part of a larger national trend more people are flying than ever before. Federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics estimates U.S. airlines transported 925.5 million passengers globally in 2019, up 4.4 percent from 2018. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport saw an even bigger spike in passenger traffic. Airport officials said more than 17 million customers used the airfield in 2019, according to preliminary data, up an estimated 9.6 percent from the previous year. While the San Antonio airports growth rate in 2019 was less than a third of Austins, it beat the passenger growth that airport officials are projecting over the next two decades no more than 2 percent a year. Domestic traffic at San Antonio International increased 2.7 percent last year from 2018, officials said in a statement, despite challenges faced by the worldwide grounding of the Boeing 737 Max. Both Southwest Airlines and American Airlines have suspended some service out of San Antonio because of the grounding. In a hopeful sign for Mexican travel, the airport reported international carriers passenger traffic increased 12.6 percent in 2019 from 2018. Three airlines, Volaris, Interjet and AeroMexico, currently fly nonstop from San Antonio to Mexico on a year-round basis. United Airlines serves Cancun on a seasonal basis. Southwest resumes seasonal service to Cancun in November, but just once a week. It flew to the beach designation seven days a week in 2018. The airline also had a direct flight to Mexico City, but that service ended in 2016. Mexico is the only international designation at San Antonio International with direct flights. Air Canada suspended service in April to Toronto because of a lack of customers. Randy Diamond covers aviation, 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 As part of his party's anti-CAA protests in Kerala led by MPs and MLAs, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will spearhead a "Save the Constitution March" on Thursday at Kalpetta in Wayanad district. Gandhi, who represents Wayanad in Lok Sabha, will lead the 2 km march, being held on the eve of Martyr's day, from SKMJ high school to the new bus stand at Kalpetta, party sources said. The former Congress president, who would reach Kannur late Wednesday night, will also address the party workers after the rally. Congress in Kerala has been organising protest marches across the state against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) under the leadership of its MPs, MLAs and local leaders since the past few days. While the Save the Constitution march will be held in Wayanad, in the other 13 districts of the state the Congress- led United Democratic Front (UDF) will be organising a "human map of India" with the participants making formation of the country's map. Senior party leaders, Oommen Chandy, K C Venugopal, Opposition leader in the state assembly Ramesh Chennithala and KPCC President, Mullapally Ramachandran will also be joining Gandhi in the rally at wayanad. Congress Working Committee member A K Antony will participate in the "human map" event in the state capital. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Wednesday accused the government of ignoring RBI and ECI objections on the electoral bondsscheme. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged that the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in issuance of electoral bonds has come under the scanner as the SBI has been caught lying. "BJP gets 95 pc of Rs 6,128 Crore worth Electoral Bonds issued up to March 2018. BJP Government ignores objections of RBI and ECI," Surjewala said on Twitter. "PM's role in issuance of Electoral Bonds comes under scanner. State Bank of India is now caught lying" he alleged. "Media is 'mum'? No noise, No debates," he added. While there was no immediate reaction from the BJP on Wednesday to the Congress' allegations, the party had earlier rejected the Congress' criticism of electoral bonds. The BJP has been saying that these bonds curb black money in electoral and has asserted that the Modi government had addressed concerns of various institutions over the issue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Washington D.C., Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thousands of trophy hunters from around the world will gather next week in Reno, Nevada (February 5 through 8), for Safari Club Internationals annual convention, which will feature approximately 870 exhibitors showcasing and selling trophy hunting opportunities and wildlife parts and products from animal heads to hides. In addition, trophy hunter Donald Trump Jr. is scheduled to speak at the event on February 8. Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, said, This annual event is the largest meeting in the world of people who celebrate the senseless killing, buying and selling of dead animals for bragging rights. As our planet suffers an extinction crisis, it is business as usual for the trophy hunting industry and SCI, who continue to revel in spending millions of dollars every year to destroy imperiled wildlife. The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International have analyzed the products promoted for sale and auctions of trophy hunts by exhibitors attending the upcoming 2020 convention. Among those are more than 300 trophy hunts in the U.S. and abroad whose starting bids range from $1,650 to $100,000 each. These hunts will kill at least 860 animals of over 50 species, including black bears, wolves, leopards and elephants. The auctions are expected to bring in more than $5 million to SCI. One of the hunts up for bid is a black-tailed deer hunt with Donald Trump Jr. in Alaska for $17,000. Jeff Flocken, president of Humane Society International, said, The trophy hunting industrys conservation claim is shattered by SCIs promotion of and profit from killing rare and imperiled animals. Trophy hunting is unethical, ecologically devastating and inflicts tremendous cruelty on wild animals. Its time that we move beyond a colonial pastime and celebrate wild animals in their natural environment. In addition to Donald Trump Jr. speaking at the event, the Beach Boys and Charlie Daniels are scheduled to perform at the convention. The group REO Speedwagon had been scheduled, but they pulled out of the event and HSUS and HSI applauds their decision. According to reports, Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi is slated to attend this years convention to accept an award. Last year, the government of Botswana lifted a ban on elephant hunting in the country, for which he received SCIs praise, despite local and international backlash and opposition from elephant experts. The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International are urging the public to ask the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to deny any authorization for Trump Jr. to import the trophy of an Argali sheep he killed in Mongolia last year Photos/video from the 2019 SCI convention. -30- Founded in 1954, the Humane Society of the United States and its affiliates around the globe fight the big fights to end suffering for all animals. Together with millions of supporters, the HSUS takes on puppy mills, factory farms, trophy hunts, animal testing and other cruel industries, and together with its affiliates, rescues and provides direct care for over 100,000 animals every year. The HSUS works on reforming corporate policy, improving and enforcing laws and elevating public awareness on animal issues. More at humanesociety.org. Subscribe to Kitty Blocks blog, A Humane World. Follow the HSUS Media Relations department on Twitter. Read the award-winning All Animals magazine. Listen to the Humane Voices Podcast. Humane Society International and its partner organizations together constitute one of the worlds largest animal protection organizations. For more than 25 years, HSI has been working for the protection of all animals through the use of science, advocacy, education and hands on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty worldwide on the Web at hsi.org. Attachments A Jaipur man who was feared to be infected with coronavirus, tested negative for the deadly infection on Wednesday. The man, a medical student in China, had returned from Wuhan on January 12. He was kept in an isolated ward at Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur on suspicion of having coronavirus infection. His sample was sent to the Institute of Virology in Pune. The patient was kept in the isolation ward at the hospital. Coronaviruses (nCoV) 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-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). Coronavirus is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, the infection can cause 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.) Demonstrations in Asia, Europe, North America and Australia. Members of the Pashtun ethnic group are demanding the release of Manzoor Pashteen, the charismatic leader of their movement arrested on charges of sedition. Lawyer: "Speak up and be counted, your life means nothing if you don't have the freedom to disagree." Islamabad (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Pakistani authorities this morning released a lawyer from the Pashtun movement arrested yesterday during a demonstration in Islamabad. Mohsin Dawar arrested by the police while participating in a rally of activists calling for the release of the charismatic leader of the movement, Manzoor Pashteen confirmed he had been let go. Meanwhile protests by human rights defenders continue throughout Pakistan as a further 23 people remain behind the prison doors on charges of sedition. Yesterday demonstrations in support of the leader of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (Ptm) were held over 20 cities in the country - Islamabad, Karachi and Peshawar, to name a few - in Afghanistan and other parts of the world where the Pasthun diaspora is present (Europe, North America and Australia). Thousands protested against Pashteen's arrest two days ago in Peshawar. He is currently located in Dera Ismail Khan, a remote location in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Instead the 23 people arrested yesterday in the capital, in front of the national press club, were taken today to Adiala Jail, the central prison of Rawalpindi. The arrest of the young PTM leader sparked protests from civil society and organizations that share the demands for greater democracy and freedom of expression in Pakistan. Pashteen was indicted on charges of sedition, conspiracy and incitement to public disorder for a speech deemed offensive against the state delivered on January 18. In reality, the group he leads and various international associations believe that the arrest is a revenge by the military for his criticism of army power and the forced disappearances of the members of the ethnic minority to which he belongs. On his Twitter profile, the lawyer Dawar complains that in the meeting in Islamabad "there was not even an episode of violence" and highlights the "peaceful" nature of the demonstrations. However, he continues, "the state reminds us once again that our rights don't matter that much, since they didn't even deign to create inconsistent grounds for our arrests." "Because our freedoms are narrowing - he continues - silence is not an option. The struggle to regain our right to dissent is a common cause that transcends ethnicity and belief. " Finally he exhorts: "Speak up and be counted, your life means nothing if you don't have the freedom to disagree." The PTM represents the tribal minority in the region known in the past as "Federally Administered Tribal Areas, FATA", later annexed to the province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. In recent years the area has experienced intense infiltration of Taliban militants from Afghanistan, followed by the government's military counter-offensive and attacks by US drones. The group organized numerous protests to denounce government responsibilities in killings outside the courts, enforced disappearances and mine victims. Efforts to keep Tay brocade alive VNS/VNP The image of Tay women sitting beside looms to weave brocade used to be a familiar sight in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang.The group was well-known for the colourful patterns which were passed down from generation to generation.But now, Luong Noi is the only village in Ha Quang district that preserves its ancient weaving techniques and tools, and the only area that still retains this traditional brocade weaving of the Tay people. The village is part of a cultural heritage site in the Non Nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Global Geopark. This area allows tourists to learn about the culture, history, faith and traditional practices of local people.Deep passion for the craftWe visited the house of Tay artisan Nong Thi Thuoc in Luong Noi village on a morning when bright sunlight was dancing everywhere. Thuoc is the fourth generation of her family to carry forward traditional brocade weaving, and she was the first among the Tay people to be awarded the title "Golden Award for a Traditional Craft Family" by the Vietnam Craft Association in 2016.Her house is simple with walls made from red clay. The sound of wooden looms clattered and then melodies (Tay singing) came from Thuoc's mobile phone. Her house was full of brocade products with colourful, eye-catching and traditional patterns."Our traditional brocade weaving skills include spinning yarn, framing, creating patterns and weaving fabric," Thuoc said. "All these stages require patience, meticulousness and creativity."Stunning patterns"Each pattern is a combination of bright, dark, warm and cool colours placed harmoniously against an opalescent background. This makes the brocade created by Tay people in Cao Bang province different from Tay people in other locations, and distinct from other ethnic minority groups," Thuoc said.According to Hoang Thi Nhuan, a researcher on Cao Bang culture, Luong Noi villagers began weaving brocade about 500 years ago. Their products quickly became famous nationwide. In the old days, they grew the cotton themselves."The main materials for brocade weaving are indigo-dyed cotton yarn and dyed silk," Nhuan said."There are six colours used by the Tay people: blue, red, yellow, purple, white and black. The patterns vary, resulting in special products," Nhuan added.The colour scheme is very important in brocade. There are embossed patterns in vivid colours which stand out against submerged patterns representing the Earth. The colourful embossed patterns symbolise all things found on Earth. That's the way the Tay people perceive the universe.There are 20 different patterns used in their brocade including images of plum, peach and apricot blossoms, rare wild flowers, animals and birds, which are mixed with clouds in the sky, mountains and rivers."As a deep-rooted tradition, Tay girls have to learn brocade weaving to make their own wedding dresses," Thuoc said."We start learning when we are very young, so weaving clothes, blankets, mosquito nets, pillows and mattresses is a normal thing that everyone can do."The patterns have evolved, and while we're working in the fields, we think about creating new flowery patterns - how the threads should be arranged and how many threads and colours should be used," Thuoc said.The Tay women weave brocade to make blankets, slings, sheets and traditional costumes. They construct the looms themselves, and the designs are stored in their heads, not on paper."Each weaver has to think of the number of threads and colours needed to produce the desired patterns. Some patterns need 20 bamboo sticks to create a frame. Others might need as many as 100," Thuoc said.According to researcher Nhuan, traditionally, the flower patterns had eight petals. Now the design has changed to meet different modern demands. But no matter how much the products have evolved, they still reflect the Tay people's culture. Their embroidered brocade products have stunning patterns with various meanings, reflecting the cultural lives and beliefs of the people.Preservation desireThe traditional brocade weaving craft in Luong Noi village has been around for centuries. Many artisans in the village like Nong Thi Thuoc, Nong Thi Duyen, Hoang Thi Le, Nong Thi Iu and Dam Thi Sui have devoted their lives to creating more and more unique products, contributing to preserving their cultural values.According to artisan Nong Thi Duyen, there are only a few brocade households left in the village. They do it to satisfy their passion, as well as to hand the craft down for their next generations, and to create jobs in their spare time."Although our products are special, we are unable to mass produce because they are all handmade," Duyen said."Another thing is that there are only a few artisans left, and most of them are old. Not many youngsters want to get involved in the craft. That makes it difficult to train our children and hand the craft down," Duyen added.According to head of Luong Noi village Hoang Van Tin each brocade household earns about 30 million VND (1,300 USD) per year. He hopes provincial authorities will come up with measures to preserve and develop their traditional craft and cultural values. UPDATE: 2:10 p.m. Police have confirmed the TD Canada Bank on the corner of Kelowna's Leon Avenue and Ellis Street was robbed Wednesday afternoon, and the suspect, or suspects, are still at large. The incident occurred shortly after 1 p.m., and it's unclear how much, if any, cash was stolen. The TD Bank is currently closed as police investigate. Police quickly swarmed the downtown core, appearing to focus on the building at 549 Lawrence Avenue. Several officers searched the roof of the building, while others looked around the building. An employee at the nearby Picture Perfect said officers had asked him if he had seen anyone suspicious looking. An RCMP helicopter circled the downtown core for close to an hour at low altitude. UPDATE: 1:50 p.m. The downtown Kelowna branch of TD Bank on the corner of Leon Avenue and Ellis Street has been locked down. Police are inside the building, and a sign on the front door advises customers the branch has been temporarily closed due to an emergency situation. While it's not yet known if the police action in the downtown core was the result of a bank robbery, officers did appear to be searching for someone. The RCMP helicopter was circling the downtown core, and staff at nearby Picture Perfect on Lawrence Avenue say they were asked by officers if they had seen anyone suspicious. ORIGINAL: 1:30 p.m. Kelowna RCMP were out in force in the downtown area Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. Officers appear to be centred around a building at 549 Lawrence Avenue. Our reporter on the scene indicates officers are on the roof with what appears to be a hand-held measuring device of some sort, and the RCMP helicopter is circling the downtown area. This is a developing story and we will have more information as soon as it becomes available. That 15 percent threshold is crucial. Campaigns must reach it in congressional districts to win delegates in them, and there are some warning signs for Biden, who was at only 11 percent in the San Francisco Bay Area, according to the poll. The story of Sanderss lead in California is centered on young voters. He got 54 percent among those under 29, and about two-fifths of those in their 30s. Here are the full results: Sanders: 26 percent Warren: 20 percent Biden: 15 percent Buttigieg: 7 percent Bloomberg: 6 percent Klobuchar: 5 percent Yang: 4 percent Steyer: 2 percent Trump hits the stump in New Jersey The president held his first rally in New Jersey since taking office, packing the town of Wildwood with supporters many of whom camped out in frigid temperatures. He was there to stump for Representative Jeff Van Drew, the anti-impeachment Democrat who, you might recall, flipped parties last month and pledged his undying support for the president. Our colleague Katie Rogers was on the ground. Heres her take: Ukraine is an important country in Europe, which shares common values with the EU and works to reform itself, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis has said. He said this at a press conference following a meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk in Brussels on Tuesday, January 28, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. "Ukraine is an important country belonging to Europe. It has an important role to play on our continent. Brexit, instability and conflicts at the EU's borders make Ukraine an even more important partner for the EU - as a country that shares all values and works to reform itself in order to become an ally and a modern European country," Dombrovskis said. Honcharuk, together with Ukrainian ministers, visited Brussels on January 28 to attend a meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council. op Regarding Vape shops scrambling as S.F. ban approaches (Page 1, Jan. 27): Whats at stake is public well-being, especially that of young people versus the interests of the sellers of a harmful product, still not vetted for safety by the Food and Drug Administration. Beverly Hills and Manhattan Beach have banned the sale of all tobacco products. If San Francisco follows suit, which will likely happen sooner or later, the smoke shop owners will have to find a new source of income, anyhow. If we want to reduce the 480,000 annual tobacco-related deaths in the U.S., we need to tackle the issue from every angle, including the supply side. Most smokers want to quit and appreciate measures that make it harder for them to continue. Its not OK for people, corporations and governments via tax revenue to be making a profit off a product that causes misery. Naphtali Offen, San Francisco Location of injection sites Concerning Theres a way to cut drug OD deaths but S.F. balks (Jan. 28): Im concerned about the prospect of San Francisco opening safe injection sites as a way to reduce drug overdose deaths from fentanyl and/or heroin. Where would such sites be located? Since my two grandchildren walk to school every day, I would be greatly concerned about this issue. Also, shouldnt more drug treatment facilities and outreach to addicts be the main priority of City Hall? Without that focus, opening a series of safe injection sites is, in my opinion, just a modern-day version of the opium dens that existed in Chinatown back in the 19th century. Dorothy Van Horne, San Francisco Never forget the Holocaust Given the increasing amount of hate crimes and anti-Semitism in this country, I wish that the news story Survivors mark 75 years since Auschwitz freed (Jan. 28) had been placed on The Chronicles front page. Too many younger people are growing up without knowledge of the Holocaust, and the tragedy of over 1 million mostly Jewish people (out of an estimated 6 million victims) having been killed by Nazi Germany forces at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp during World War II. Ten of my maternal grandfathers siblings perished in these death camps back in the 1940s, and he was haunted by this loss for the rest of his life. Seventy-five years after the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, we must continue to educate our younger generations about the Holocaust. As philosopher George Santayana once said, Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. Ezra Steindler, San Francisco Shame on Amazon As someone who supports free speech, Im angered to read in Workers criticize Amazon on climate despite risk to jobs (Business, Jan. 28) that this online retail giant might fire employees who publicly criticize its enormous use of fossil fuels for package deliveries. My hope is that these same employees will attempt to unionize and establish workplace protections through collective bargaining. So long as Amazon attempts to restrict the ability of its workers to speak out against its large carbon footprint in this time of climate change, I will publicly refer to its multibillionaire CEO and founder as Jeff Bozo (instead of Bezos). Raneesh Patel, Redwood City Wouldnt be surprised Regarding John Boltons insistent testimony (Editorial, Jan. 28): Even though former national security adviser John Bolton could provide damning testimony at President Trumps Senate impeachment trial of his direct knowledge of a quid pro quo between his former boss and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, I wouldnt be surprised if Trumps lawyers denounce Bolton as unreliable and motivated to fabricate information as part of a lucrative book deal; and Trump suddenly tweets Bolton? I hardly knew the guy. Gordon Golt, San Jose Congress makes the decision Regarding Central question: Were Trumps actions criminal? (Jan. 27): Whether Trumps abuse- of-power allegations constitute high crimes and misdemeanors and are criminal or criminal-like conduct is irrelevant. High crimes and misdemeanors are not defined in the Constitution, and as impeachment is solely a power of Congress, there is no judicial review and, thus, no court precedent for what constitutes high crimes and misdemeanors. It is whatever Congress decides it is. A majority of the House decides if there are impeachable offense(s) and if so, forwards the articles of impeachment to the Senate. If two-thirds of the senators vote to convict, Trump is removed from office. Otherwise, Trump will be acquitted. In 1926, the House Judiciary Committee impeached U.S. District Judge George English. In its report on the matter, it reviewed the authorities and concluded: Thus, an official may be impeached for offenses of a political character and for gross betrayal of public interests. Also, for abuses or betrayals of trusts, for inexcusable negligence of duty (or) for the tyrannical abuse of power. Ergo, no criminal or criminal-like conduct is required to impeach. Ralph Stone, San Francisco Bring streetcars to Oakland To improve public transit to the proposed Oakland As ballpark at Howard Terminal, could the 12th Street BART station be moved to Eighth Street? Not only would this bring BART four blocks closer to the ballpark, but it would create a single station servicing all the East Bay BART lines, which currently doesnt exist. In addition, could the Oakland streetcar project proposed a decade ago be reconsidered? Historic streetcars in San Francisco and many other cities have been a successful, fun transit option. Richard Kurylo, San Francisco Despicable defense In watching the Republican impeachment managers defense of President Trump, and listening to our Republican senators comments on the hearings thus far, I am reminded of a phrase so important at another critical moment in American history: Have you no shame, senator? The trip would take place during his first visit as the EU's top diplomat to the Eastern European country. Josep Borrell, the European Union's foreign policy chief, has said he wants to visit the front line in the war zone of eastern Ukraine. The trip would take place during his first visit as the EU's top diplomat to the Eastern European country, Borrell said at a news conference in Brussels during a break in the EU-Ukraine Association Council meeting on January 28, RFE/RL wrote. "I would like to visit a more significant part of the country from the point of view of foreign relations," he said. "I would like to visit Donbas, the border where, as I know, hostilities are taking place in order to get a feel for the situation on the ground. We must make the most important efforts to stop killing people." Read alsoDonbas war update: 12 enemy attacks, two injured soldiers on Jan 28 The EU's top diplomat mentioned the outcome of the meeting in December between the leaders of France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine in Paris aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the Donbas conflict. A cease-fire, the 21st since the war started in April 2014, was agreed to and Kyiv promised to prolong a special status law for the territories in eastern Ukraine it doesn't control. Borrell emphasized that "the outcome of the last meeting in Paris should be implemented on the ground." More than 13,000 people have died in the conflict and 11 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in January so far. He said the EU could provide Ukraine with humanitarian assistance, help with removing mines, and assess the state of infrastructure in order to help with reconstruction. The Spanish diplomat also mentioned the importance of ensuring the free movement of vessels in the Azov Sea. "We will continue to support the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine," Borrell said. Thespian Sanjna Kapoor was awarded the French honour of Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres' (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) on Tuesday for her outstanding contribution to theatre. Kapoor, who currently runs the Mumbai-based theatre company 'Junoon', was felicitated by Franck Riester, the French Minister of Culture, who was on a state visit to India. "It is a great pleasure to be able to show France's recognition of your outstanding artistic journey. A passionate woman of theatre, you completely throw yourself into making artistic productions accessible to the greatest number. "Whether on stage, in front of the camera, or at the helm of the organization you run, you show the same infectious enthusiasm for championing the place of art in our societies," the minister said. Born to Bollywood star Shashi Kapoor and British actor Jennifer Kendal, Kapoor (52) debuted as an actor in Aparna Sen's "36 Chowringhee Lane" (1981). She was also the leading lady in "Hero Hiralal" (1989), and appeared in Mira Nair's "Salaam Bombay" (1988), but eventually went on to dedicate herself completely to theatre. She acted in numerous plays, and also took up the job of reviving Mumbai's Prithvi Theatre, which was founded by her parents. In 2012, she co-founded 'Junoon', an organisation that works towards to increasing the reach of theatre and the arts to wider audiences through innovative initiatives. The Order of Arts and Letters, instituted in 1957 by the French government, is conferred, regardless of nationality, on people who have distinguished themselves by their creativity in the fields of art or literature, or for their contribution to promoting the arts and literature in France and throughout the world. Some previous recipients of the award from India include Shahrukh Khan, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Aishwarya Rai, Raghu Rai, Ebrahim Alkazi, Habib Tanveer, Upamanyu Chatterjee, Wendell Rodricks and Aruna Vasudev. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Turn this small-time indie project into reality by supporting the Kickstarter here , watching the trailer on YouTube here , and visiting the brand new Steam page here . Indonesian airlines Lion Air Group recently announced that it will suspend all its flights to China from next month onwards. The announcement comes amid the escalating dread of Coronavirus which has claimed the lives of 132 and infected over 6000 people across China. Already suspended six routes The Jakarta based airlines has already suspended six flight routes from numerous Indonesian cities to China and is expected to suspend the remaining from February. According to the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, 243 Indonesians are currently in Hubei, with 100 of them are in Wuhan. Chinese authorities have quarantined the province and banned travel into and out of the region. Several Indonesian students have already expressed their desire to return home, international media reported. Read: UK Asks Those Returning From Wuhan To 'isolate' Themselves To Prevent Coronavirus Outbreak Read: Coronavirus Outbreak: IndiGo Suspends Flights On Delhi-Chengdu And Bengaluru-Hong Kong Routes Meanwhile, Indias IndiGo airlines said on Wednesday that due to the novel coronavirus outbreak in China, it has decided to suspend its flights on the Bengaluru-Hong Kong route from February 1 onward and on the Delhi-Chengdu route from February 1 to February 20. The low-cost carrier said that for now, it will continue to operate the Kolkata-Guangzhou flight which it is "monitoring on a daily basis". "Due to China travel restrictions, we have seen a high number of cancellations from China on our Delhi-Chengdu route and vice versa. Therefore, we are suspending our flights between Delhi and Chengdu from February 01, 2020 until February 20, 2020. We are also suspending our Bengaluru- Hong Kong flight effective February 01, 2020," the airline said in a statement. Read: Coronavirus: Three People From Puducherry Kept Under Home Quarantine On Return From China Read: Vermont Becomes First State In US To Allow Emojis On License Plate In the US, the White House has been holding daily meetings about the deteriorating situation in China, reported International media. The White House has also considered that the flights in and out of China are a real source of concern and could possibly contribute to the spreading of the infection. For now, the White House has decided against suspending flight to the country. Airlines across the world have already reduced flights to China amid growing fears of the infection. Finding that todays internet is full of pornographic content, a new bill in the Hawaii state legislature would require any free WiFi network operated by the state to include filters that block access to porn sites for state employees, according to a report Monday by the local news site Honolulu Civil Beat. The billactually two nearly identical bills, one in the states House and one in the Senatewould prevent state employees from checking out porn sites on the job, or any time that they get online through a state government-run network. Both bills are part of a package of legislation proposed by Hawaiis Womens Legislative Caucus. Language included in the text of the legislation claims that online porn often involves women or children being coerced or treated brutally during sexual intercourse. However, as AVN.com has reported, recent studies have contradicted claims that online porn is becoming increasingly violent, and that there is any link between viewing porn and increased sexual aggression. Nonetheless, the legislation has received broad support in the Hawaii legislature from male and female lawmakers alike, as well as from both Democrats and Republicans. The House bill is supported by 23 of the states 51 House members, on a bipartisan basis. The Hawaii Senate has only one Republican, who does not support the bill. But 19 of Hawaiis 25 state senators have already pledged their backing for the anti-porn bill, according to Civil Beat. A Senate hearing on the legislation is set for Thursday of this week. In February of last year, Hawaii State Senator Mike Gabbardfather of current Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbardintroduced a bill that would block porn sites for everyone in the state, unless they forked over a $20 fee to lift the filters. Kansas and Arizona have also introduced their own versions of the one-time $20 porn tax. In New York state, legislators last year introduced a bill that would force internet users to pay a $2 fee to the state for each individual porn download. None of the state "porn tax" bills have yet received votes in their respective legislatures. Photo By Defenseimagery.mod.uk / Wikimedia Commons JDU leader Ajay Alok on Wednesday dubbed party vice president Prashant Kishor as 'Coronavirus', and added that the poll strategist is not a trustworthy man. "This man is not trustworthy. He could not win the trust of Modi ji and Nitish ji. He works for AAP, talks to Rahul Gandhi, sits with Mamata didi. Who will trust him?" Alok told ANI. "We are happy this coronavirus is leaving us, he can go wherever he wants to," he said. Coronaviruses (nCoV) 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-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). The death toll from novel coronavirus in China skyrocketed to 106 on Tuesday with cases being reported in many other countries like US, Vietnam, Japan, etc. On Tuesday, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, in reference to Kishor, had said people are free to remain in the party or leave if they want. "Someone wrote a letter I replied to it. Someone is tweeting, let him tweet. What do I have to do with it? One can stay in the party (JD-U) till he wants. He can go if he wants...Do you know how did he join the party? Amit Shah asked me to induct him," said Kumar, while responding to a media question on Prashant Kishor.Kishor has more than once made his differences with the party known on the issue of the amended citizenship Act. JDU had supported the legislation in both the Houses of Parliament.Last month, Kishor had told ANI that it is only the Bihar Chief Minister who can tell under what circumstances the party supported the Citizen (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A hoard of gold-encrusted 17th century wine bottles are set to go to auction with a guide price of 20,000 after being dug up by accident at a building site. The seven 'extremely rare' black glass curved bottles were unearthed from the clay during construction last November and carry the seal of the Earl of Coventry. The Earl lived at the nearby Croome Estate in Worcestershire in the late-1600s and it is thought they belonged to him. The eight-inch tall vessels, which are almost completely intact, are thought to date between 1650 and 1670, around the time of the reign of Charles II and the civil war. A workman in a JCB who was digging at a site near Kinnersley, Worcestershire, spotted the bottles glistening in the sun during routine excavations. Scroll down for video The bottles likely date from between 1650 and 1670 and will now be offered at a BBR auction They will be sold off by BBR Auctions of Elsecar, South Yorkshire, next month. 'Wine bottles which date from 1650 to 1670 are extremely rare and for these to be discovered with their seals so they can be attributed to the Earls of Coventry is very special,' said Alan Blakeman, auctioneer at BBR Auctions. 'Back then, you had to be filthy rich to have your own wine bottles made, with the seals providing an extra status symbol. The gold encrusted bottles carry the seal of the Earl of Coventry who lived at the Croome Estate, which is less than a mile from the building site The Earl of Coventry was a title created for George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham (1592-1628) and was passed down to his glass-loving son of the same name (1628-1687) The principal building at Croome, Croome Court, had been the home of the Coventry family since the 16th century, though the building in its current form was started in 1751 'The workman was digging a trench for footings with a JCB when he found them and it is remarkable that they have survived in such good condition.' It's thought the bottles were made for George Villiers the second Duke of Buckingham and the second Earl of Coventry (1628-1687). Villiers owned three glassworks houses and was interested in glassmaking. He was granted an exclusive patent in 1663 for plate and mirror glass at Vauxhall glassworks in the area now called Glasshouse Walk in London, according to Antiques Trade Gazette. The Earl of Coventry was created for the Villiers' father of the same name, the first Earl of Coventry, who was also a favourite and possibly lover of King James I. The bottles are valued at 20,000 and will be sold over the course of three auctions, with the first sale taking place on February 2. The National Trust-owned mansion Croome Court was the seat of the Coventry family from the late 16th century. The building in its current form was started in 1751 for the 6th Earl of Coventry. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 05:48:00|Editor: yan Video Player Close RABAT, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Morocco and Portugal vowed on Wednesday in Rabat to diversify their strategic partnership and boost cooperation in different levels. The two countries are eager to develop their relations into a multidimensional and diversified strategic partnership, Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita told the press following a meeting with his Portuguese counterpart Augusto Santos Silva. "Our economic relations have witnessed, over the past years, a good development. Morocco is Portugal's second trading partner in Africa and the first partner in the Maghreb region," Bourita added. For his part, Silva said Morocco is a strategic partner, and Portugal will work to bolster the relations between Morocco and the EU. He added that the launch of studies of the project of electric interconnection between the two countries will open up new opportunities for the trading of energy assets between Portugal and Morocco which have ambitious objectives in terms of renewable energies. He also praised the important role that Morocco plays in preserving stability in the Mediterranean, the Maghreb and Africa, noting that these regions present "strategic and geopolitical" challenges for both Portugal and the European Union. Kolkata, Jan 29 : Known for his penchant to kick up controversies, BJP West Bengal chief Dilip Ghosh has wondered why none of those protesting against the CAA and NRC under the open sky in the bone chilling cold at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh have fallen sick or died. Ghosh also sought to know the source of funding of the Shaheen Bagh protests as also those on sit-in at Park Circus in Kolkata. Hundreds of women are on a sit-in protest at the Shaheen Bagh since December 15 against the CAA. People from nearby areas have also been visiting the protest site from time to time. Speaking to mediapersons here, Ghosh said: "Women and children holding a sit-in protest against the CAA, are sitting under the open sky in these cold winter nights in Delhi. I wonder why none of them has taken ill. "Why is it that nothing is happening to them? Why has not a single protester died there? Describing the entire thing as "totally absurd", he wondered whether the protesters have "ingested some sort of nectar that nothing is happening to them." He asked where from the Shaheen Bagh and Park Circus protesters are getting the money to sustain their sit-ins. On January 7, taking a page out of the Shaheen Bagh gathering, some women from the largely muslim neighbourhood Park Circus started a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, a proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens and the National Population Register exercise, as also the "state repression" on the anti-CAA protesters in Uttar Pradesh. The protest has continued with a large number of people belonging to all sections of people joining in. "I wonder where the money is coming from. In the coming days the truth regarding this will certainly be known," Ghosh said. Earlier this month, Ghosh had threatened to "beat up" and "shoot" those protesting against the CAA. He also dubbed intellectuals protesting against the legislation "creatures", "devils" and "parasites". In the past, Ghosh had drawn flak after he termed Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen as "spineless" and claimed that people like him "can be purchased and sold". Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 07:07:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Flamengo have secured striker Gabriel Barbosa from Inter Milan on a permanent deal, the reigning Brazilian and South American champions said on Tuesday. Barbosa, who spent 2019 on loan at the Rio de Janeiro club, signed a five-year contract after Inter Milan reportedly agreed to a 17 million-euro (18 million U.S. dollars) transfer fee. "You can celebrate, Flamengo fans. He is staying," read the opening line of a statement on the club's official website. Barbosa scored 43 goals in 59 matches across all competitions for Flamengo last year, helping them to their first Brazilian Serie A title since 2009 and just their second Copa Libertadores crown. Gabigol, as he is known in Brazil, was considered one of the world's most promising young forwards in 2016, when he joined Inter for 30 million dollars from Santos. However the 23-year-old's stock fell after he scored just once in 10 matches for the Italian club and then had an equally unsuccessful six-month loan spell at Benfica. He returned to form while on loan at Santos in 2018, scoring 27 times in 53 matches. British Airways has suspended all flights to and from mainland China following Foreign Office advice over the coronavirus (Steve Parsons/PA) British Airways has suspended all flights to and from mainland China as the Government finalises urgent plans to bring Britons back from the coronavirus-hit province of Hubei. The airline, which operates daily flights to Shanghai and Beijing from Heathrow, said it was halting the flights with immediate effect after the Foreign Office warned against all but essential travel to the country because of the virus outbreak. A British lecturer stranded in Wuhan city, who described the streets as deserted, said UK officials have confirmed a flight will take citizens back to England, while others said this would be on Thursday. A teacher whose grandmother is stuck in Wuhan told the PA news agency she had been offered a seat. But he criticised the fact she will have to make her own way home to Lancaster from London once she arrives in the UK. The deadline for those stuck in the city of Wuhan and surrounding areas to contact the British consulate expressing their wish to leave passed at 3am UK time (11am local time). In a statement on Wednesday morning, British Airways said: We have suspended all flights to and from mainland China with immediate effect following advice from the Foreign Office against all but essential travel. We apologise to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority. Customers due to travel to or from China in the coming days can find more information on ba.com. It comes after the Foreign Office updated its advice on Tuesday to warn against all but essential travel to mainland China, saying it may become more difficult for British nationals in other provinces to leave. Up to 200 UK citizens are expected to want to fly home from Hubei province. They are being told by the Government to self-isolate for 14 days after they arrive in the UK, but there are no plans to forcibly quarantine them. Kharn Lambert, whose 81-year-old grandmother Veronica Theobold, has been stranded in Wuhan with a dwindling supply of medicine for her lung condition, said she was booked on a flight on Thursday. He told PA: Were not sure what time the flight will leave yet. She got a seat almost straight away because of her condition. She is relieved, so am I, but shes frustrated with the restrictions being put in place. She can only take 15kg of hand luggage and she came here with about 30kg of stuff. She also has to make her own way from the airport in London to Lancaster and then self-isolate for 14 days. Thats after she potentially comes into contact with hundreds of people on her way it is ludicrous. Lecturer Yvonne Griffiths, who is currently in a hotel in Wuhan, said she received news in the early hours of Wednesday morning that there is to be a flight from Wuhan airport to England. She told BBC Breakfast that Stansted is a possible destination, but that has not been confirmed and timings had not been been firmed up either. And weve to be on stand-by so that we can go to the airport very early, she said. Weve to be there six to seven hours before the flight leaves, and we would have a screening from some health people here in Wuhan, and if we are not showing any symptoms then well be able to board that plane. If we were to be suffering temperature or any other symptoms, breathing problems, then there seems to be a possibility of quarantining at this end. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) The lecturer told the programme: It has been frustrating up until today. I think the lack of certainty about the time of this flight isnt so worrying as long as we know that its going to happen. Prior to that, we had quite a long period of silence from the UK Government about whether there was going to be any contingency plan to get people home. A British teacher living in Wuhan, who asked not to be named, told the PA news agency that a number of other Britons she was in contact with had arranged to return home, with some scheduled on a flight at 7am on Thursday. The death toll in China from coronavirus has risen to 132, with confirmed infections surging to nearly 6,000. Four cases have been confirmed in Germany, making it the second European country to report cases, after France. In Australia, officials unveiled plans to evacuate its nationals from Wuhan and the surrounding Hubei province, with plans to quarantine them in the Christmas Island immigration detention centre. The Department of Health and Social Care said on Tuesday that 97 people in the UK have been given the all-clear for the virus, although scientists predict it may have already entered the country. Due to increasing travel restrictions & public health situation, we now advise against all but essential travel to China. UK govt is urgently working to finalise arrangements for an assisted departure from Hubei Province for British nationals this week https://t.co/jfgE4TDxlp Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) January 28, 2020 Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said officials are working urgently to get Britons out of Hubei province. He added: Due to the increasing travel restrictions and the public health situation, we now advise against all but essential travel to China. The Foreign Office has said UK nationals in China should make decisions based on their own personal circumstances over whether to leave other parts of the country. Following the latest Foreign Office travel advice, consumer group Which? said people with trips to China planned should be covered for cancellations by their travel insurance. Adam French, from the organisation, said those already in the country should be entitled to be flown out or be compensated for any changes to their itinerary. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddys cousin has moved the high court seeking a CBI probe into the death of her father YS Vivekananda Reddy in March last year. In an embarrassment to Jagan, her cousin Sunitha Narareddy has questioned in her petition before the court why the Chief Minister was not handing over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), though it had been eight months since he assumed office. Jagans uncle, and former state minister and MP, Vivekananda Reddy was found murdered at his residence in Kadapa on March 15, a couple of weeks ahead of the 2019 Assembly elections. Sunitha said she suspected the conduct of her cousin and Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy and his father YS Bhaskar Reddy in the matter. She said that shifting of police officials investigating the case and slow pace of probe also gave credence to her suspicion. Sunitha said that Jagan, who was the Leader of Opposition then, had demanded the CBI probe, submitted a memorandum to the Governor, and even filed a petition in the High Court. But the case hasnt been handed over to the CBI, she said. Sunitha also questioned the Chief Ministers move to set up another Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the crime. The petitioner alleged that the SIT ended up interrupting the investigation and its conduct gave rise to doubts about polices intentions in implicating innocent people, so as to allow the culprits go scot-free. The High Court, which heard the plea on Tuesday, asked the government to reply as to why it has objections to a CBI probe and posted the matter for hearing on February 6. Vivekananda Reddy, the 68-year-old former MP, was alone at his house when unidentified persons barged in and killed him, hours before he was to launch YSR Congress Partys election campaign in Kadapa. Jagan Mohan Reddy had then demanded a CBI probe and blamed then ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for the killing. Jagan claimed that TDP leadership was aware of the conspiracy whenever a death occurred in his family. Two groups clashed during a 'Bharat Bandh' against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in north Maharashtra's Dhule district on Wednesday, while sporadic violence was also reported in Yavatmal, Aurangabad and some other places. The police fired four rounds in the air and lobbed six tear gas shells to disperse a violent mob in Dhule, an official said. The incident took place on Hundred Feet Road in the limits of the Chalisgaon Road police station on Wednesday afternoon during a rally against the CAA and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). A large number of Muslims participated in the rally, the police officer said. A group from the Hindu community also gathered at the spot and started shouting slogans in support of the CAA and NRC, which was followed by a clash and stone-pelting from both sides, the officer added. To disperse the mob, police fired four rounds in the air and lobbed six teargas shells, he said. The situation was under control and police personnel have been deployed in large numbers in the area, he added. Besides Dhule, there were incidents of 'Rail Roko' (blockade on railway tracks) at Balapur in Akola district and stone-pelting in Washim and Yawatmal districts of the state, the police said. At Yavatmal, police used baton-charge to disperse the mob after two groups clashed. In Aurangabad district, a civic-run bus was pelted with stones at Harsul while a state transport bus was attacked near Himayatbag. In Palghar near Mumbai, ten persons were detained for trying to enforce the shut-down. Protesters also tried to block the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway near Vasai. In Thane district, impact of the shut-down call was felt mainly in Bhiwandi, Mumbra and Ulhasnagar. At Ulhasnagar, the police detained some persons for trying to take out a protest march in defiance of prohibitory orders. The suburban train traffic in Thane district was not affected, the police said. Multiple organisations, including Bahujan Kranti Morcha, had called for Bharat Bandh in protest against the recently passed CAA and the proposed NRC. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) by Melynda Fuller , January 28, 2020 Late last year,announced its op-ed team would experience a makeover come February 2020. Today, Opinion chief James Bennet, along with op-ed editor Jim Dao and deputy editorial page editor Kathleen Kingsbury, explain how those changes will affect the section and strategy at large. This isnt about shrinking the team. Quite the opposite. Its intended to support the growth weve seen in Opinion and support growth were hoping for in the future, they wrote. While the section is organized around the last two pages in the A section of the print newspaper, with teams producing each and one editor overseeing both, it has been enhanced. We took out a blank sheet of paper and asked ourselves how wed organize the department if we were starting from scratch, the editors wrote. And what weve decided is that we should organize around the two basic ambitions of our journalism: To drive debate about questions that matter day in and day out, and to deliver enterprising Opinion journalism that supplies groundbreaking reporting and thinking, sharpening that debate or elevating questions that our readers arent thinking about but should be. advertisement advertisement Under the new structure, one deputy, Jim Dao, will be responsible for anticipating and reacting to news, while Katie Kingsbury, also a deputy, will lead long-range enterprise. The graphics, video and audio teams will report to Kingsbury, as well. In addition, two new roles will be added to the department: a cover stories editor, Honor Jones, will join the enterprise team and a managing editor to oversee operations and administration, such as the copy desk, audience team, Letters, the print hub, assistants and fact-checkers. One goal of the restructure is to [interweave] the editorial board with the Op-Ed team. To achieve that, the department will organize writers and editors into five verticals, including politics, international, business and technology, culture and science. Members of the editorial board will work as Opinion writers within the verticals, weighing in under their own bylines. They are the writers that our editors will often turn to first along with our columnists when major news breaks, the editors explained. The Times Alex Kingsbury will take on the role of editorials editor on the enterprise team, leading the The Times editorial board as they meet to debate positions we should take in unsigned editorials. The editors says they prefer to use the institutional voice in reaction to news only in instances of great importance (such as impeachment) and otherwise to place it on an enterprise footing, to increase the originality and value of the institutional contribution. The husband of Meghan Markle's best friend Jessica Mulroney has been forced to step in to defend his wife amid an attack by militant fans of the Duchess of Cambridge. Supporters of Kate were quick to criticise the Canadian fashion stylist, 40, after she shared an Instagram story encouraging others to 'spread stories of incredible people' on their social media platforms. She added: 'Pretty pictures are pretty pictures. Strive to use your platform for good and spread stories of incredible people striving to make this world a better place.' It seemed like a perfectly reasonable and generic comment, but it was seized upon by increasingly militant fans of Kate as a dig at the Duchess, following the release of her portraits of Holocaust survivors earlier this week. In response, one Kate fan wrote: 'This was Jessica Mulroney's IG post today after the Duchess of Cambridge's Holocaust photos were released. Jessica you should be ashamed. You constantly whine about being bullied, yet it turns out you are the bully.' It prompted Jessica's husband, Ben Mulroney, 43, to defend his wife, insisting her post was referring to efforts to raise money for Canadian families bereaved by Flight 752. The attack on Jessica is another example of the ongoing social media war between super-fans of Meghan and Kate, known as stans, who go to great lengths to defend their chosen favourite. Meghan Markle's best friend Jessica Mulroney (pictured together in 2016, left) has been accused of throwing shade at the Duchess of Cambridge and her photographs of Holocaust survivors in a recent Instagram story (pictured right) Jessica said: 'Pretty pictures are pretty pictures', which was seen by some as a dig at Kate Middleton, 38, following the release of the royal's Holocaust portraits. Pictured: The Duchess of Cambridge with Yvonne Bernstein, who she photographed The vicious online rivalry between Meghan and Kate super-fans By Giulia Crouch for the Mail On Sunday Once, being a Royal super-fan meant building an enviable collection of commemorative plates, or perhaps at its extreme camping out overnight before any wedding and christening. But today the murky world of online super-fans is decidedly less wholesome. On Instagram, Twitter and across blogs there are two distinct and opposing tribes those who support Kate, and those who back Meghan. And never has their rivalry been more intense, or the insults more vicious. The news that Harry and Meghan were stepping down as senior Royals has caused widespread rejoicing among Kate's online champions who have been campaigning for 'Megxit' for some time. Meghan fans, meanwhile, are redoubling their efforts to flood the internet with positive praise for their idol, while portraying Kate as a creepy goody two shoes. The online super-fans, known as stans, are emboldened not just by anonymity but by the sheer volume of people who share their views. To be Royal super-fan now means not just wholehearted devotion to a single Duchess, but a vehement rejection of the other. Put simply, if you love Meghan, you must hate Kate and vice versa. The result is a vicious keyboard war on blogs and social media, with harmless banter escalating behind the scenes into cyberbullying, harassment and even death threats. Advertisement Taking to Twitter today, he said: 'Yesterday, my wife posted a call on her Instagram to raise funds/awareness for the families of the victims of Flight 752. 'It was accompanied by an Instagram story that conveyed that actions trump thoughts and prayers. Shame on anyone who has tried to twist it into anything else.' Flight 752, a Ukrainian International Airlines Boeing 737, came down just minutes after take-off from Tehran, Iran, on January 8, killing 176 people including 63 Canadians. Yesterday, Jessica shared a video from the Canada Strong Campaign, set up by the founder of Paramount Foods, Mohamad Fakih, to raise funds for the families bereaved by Flight 752. But Jessica's husband, Ben Mulroney (pictured together in 2018), 43, a TV host and the oldest son of former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, rushed to his wife's defence following the harsh accusations She wrote: 'This is what matters. Helping families pick up the pieces after devastation. Mohamad Fakih is just about the best Canadian around. 'He is trying to raise money for the families who lost their loved ones on flight 752. Link in my bio to help him reach his goal. Please support She accompanied it with an Instagram story that read: 'Pretty pictures are pretty pictures. Strive to use your platform for good and spread stories of incredible people striving to make this world a better place.' However despite her husband's insistence that it was to encourage more action, loyal fans of Kate's accused Jessica of throwing shade at the duchess' Holocaust Memorial Day project - which saw the royal photograph Nazi death camp survivors. Taking to Twitter today, Ben said: 'Yesterday, my wife posted a call on her IG to raise funds/awareness for the families of the victims of Flight 752' But loyal fans of Kate's (pictured) accused Jessica of throwing shade at the duchess' Holocaust Memorial Day project - which saw the royal photograph Nazi death camp survivors One person wrote: 'Who believes that? She is Meghan Markle's lapdog, she was throwing obvious, nasty shade at Kate. There is the shame.' Another said: 'Here is her IG story. Where does it mention action over thoughts and prayers? And why give anyone shade on how they choose to honour anything?' However, other Twitter users were keen to stick up for Jessica as they said her comment was in no way about Kate. 'This is absolutely nuts,' one person wrote. 'Why would Jessica share anything about Kate? These haters want validation so bad. Jessica should start reporting and blocking them instead of giving them the attention they crave.' 'This is sad,' another said. 'These internet haters are going too far. This is to shine a light on others, you are not hurting Jessica. Thank you Jessica.' A third said: 'People who don't have anything good happening in their own lives will find anything to criticise about others. 'They twist your words. We're not having it. It is a distraction. Thank you Ben Mulroney for being Jessica Mulroney's champion.' MailOnline has contacted Jessica Mulroney for comment. Realty firm Tulip Infratech will develop a luxury housing project in Gurugram by investing 275 crore. The project will come up at 8 acres of land and the company plans to construct 780 apartments. Tulip Infratech is expected to soon start the construction of luxury housing and the project is likely to be completed in next four years, news agency PTI reported. The real estate firm said that have150 apartments for people belonging to economically weaker section (EWS) will also be a part of the project. Tulip Infratech said it has joined hands with a local landowner for the Gurugram offering. The price of the project has been pegged at 5,100 per sq ft. The initial price of an apartment has been fixed at 96 lakh. Parveen Jain, chairman and managing director of Tulip Infratech, said funding of the project would be carried out through internal accruals and the companys debt stands at zero, the report added. Tulip Infratech was founded in 2015 since then it has executed several projects in Haryana and other places. Till now, it has successfully completed around 12 projects comprising over 5,000 apartments. In 2019, the real estate company launched two ambitious projects Tulip Yellow and Tulip Leaf in Gurugram. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An hour before the polls closed, both Democrat Eliz Markowitz and Republican Gary Gates were at the Cinco Ranch Branch Library with their supporters encouraging people to vote. Rain and chilly temps on Jan. 28 didnt deter people from going to the polls to elect a District 28 state representative. More than 30,000 voters cast their ballots in the runoff giving Gates a victory and keeping the Republican district red. The 10 p.m. results from the Fort Bend County Elections Administration show Gates with 17,457 votes compared with 12,617 for Markowitz. Gates will serve until December, the remainder of the two-year term left when incumbent state Rep. John Zerwas retired Sept. 30. Gates and Markowitz could have a rematch in November as they run for a full two-year term. Shes the sole Democrat for the District 28 seat in the March 3 Democratic primary. Gates is opposed in the Republican March 3 primary by Schell Hammel. After his Jan. 28 victory, Gates spoke at his election night watch party in Richmond about his victory. When I began this campaign, I decided I was going to knock on doors and get to know the people in this district, Gates said. As a candidate, Gates set a goal of to knock on 150 doors a day. Ultimately, he managed to knock on a total of 17,650 doors before the election. In the end, he said his hard work paid off. Thats what made the difference, he said. In addition, Gates said many people volunteered to help with his campaign by block walking and in other ways and that team work was also key to his campaigns success. Markowitz couldnt be reached for comment Wednesday morning. During his campaign, Gates said rising property taxes were among the top concerns he had heard when he talked to voters. In this district, which has grown rapidly with the prices of homes rising so rapidly, property taxes were probably the No. 1 issue I heard from voters, he said. Gates said he had talked to many retired homeowners now on a fixed budget paying increasingly high property taxes on a home where their value had doubled in recent years. Often, these homeowners told Gates they were being forced to sell their family home because they could no longer afford the property taxes. I heard that a lot, he said. Texas has the third highest property taxes in the country. We fund everything through property taxes and maybe we need to spread that out a little more because it puts the burden on property owners. Its not right that people should have to sell their home because their property taxes have doubled. Another priority as a lawmaker would be to help foster a business-friendly environment, Gates said. Understanding the needs of small business owners as well as larger companies is a skill Gates said he developed because of his personal experience. When he was 18 years and his father died tragically, Gates said he was called upon to take care of two younger sisters and provide for them financially. I started my own company fixing up houses and then expanded to apartments, he said. Over the years, Gates continued growing his business to become a successful company with over 500 employees. What I want to keep in Texas is the ability for entrepreneurs to grow their businesses. With government regulations, thats getting tougher and tougher and tougher. But, that type of opportunity and our state economy has made Texas the envy of the country. Texas by itself is probably has the 10th largest economy in the world and I want to be able to keep that going. I think my business experience gives me that background. As a state lawmaker, another priority would be creating opportunities for younger people. Gates said he and his wife adopted 11 children and have a total of 13 children in their family. What I would like to do is try to bring vocation training back to our educational system. Many times, kids not going to college graduate from high school without the skills needed in todays job market. And, many businesses are hurting to hire plumbers or carpenters or welders, and these are jobs that pay $50,000 to $60,000 a year. Providing opportunities for young people would be beneficial to the wider community as well, Gates said. If everyone is able to be productive, that will reduce our crime rate. It would have a domino affect, he said. Gates said he was grateful to voters for supporting him as a candidate. I appreciate this victory tonight. There was a lot of hard work by a lot of people and thinking back to knocking on all those doors, I plan to represent the people of this district with the same intensity it took to win this election. An hour before polls closed both candidates were optimistic. Markowitz said, Regardless of what happens, weve established a movement for change here. I think whatever happens tonight is going to carry forth through November not only in Fort Bend County and HD 28 but across the state of Texas and hopefully the country. And I think thats incredibly powerful. This election is on record to have the highest special election runoff turnout in the history of Texas. So, thats pretty exciting. I think that says something to the excitement surrounding this race and everybodys drive to see some change around here. And Gates said, "Weve done a great race. I like where were at." Early voting gave Gates the lead. He received 10,707 votes or 58.93 percent of the total compared with 7,461 votes or 41.07 percent for Markowitz. The Cinco Ranch Branch of the Fort Bend County Libraries drew the largest totals each day of early voting from 1,239 to 2,358 voters. The library drew a total of 6,792 voters during the four days of early voting. The next highest polling site was Tompkins High School where turnout ranged from 620 votes to 1,407. Four days of early voting at five polling sites drew 16,332 voters to cast their ballots. Other early polling sites were held at Bowie, Four Corners and Fulshear. The district represents northwest Fort Bend County. The Fort Bend County Elections Administrator also received 2,716 requests to vote by mail. By Election Day, 1,635 people had returned their ballots. Markowitz and Gates faced off after being the top vote-getters in a Nov. 5 special election. In the campaign that followed, both were endorsed by state and national elected officials to be the successor to Zerwas,who served a dozen years in the Texas House. After his retirement, he accepted an appointment as the University of Texas Systems vice chancellor for health affairs. Zerwas won a two-year term in November 2018 receiving slightly more than 54 percent of the vote compared with nearly 46 percent for Democrat Meghan Scoggins. That election sparked Democrats interest to take advantage of what appeared to be their growing support. South Korea said Wednesday it will foot the bill for fighting the Wuhan coronavirus in the country and treating infected patients. Under the rules on countermeasures for new infectious diseases, the state will pay for all expenses related to the screening of suspected cases and treatment of those infected, which includes costs associated with isolating a person in a negative pressure room, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. "The state will pay for everything from the moment a person is admitted to a medical facility until he or she is discharged, with the only exception being if the person gets a checkup for other, non-virus related illnesses," it said The ministry did not say how much the move will cost taxpayers but said the DNA testing needed to determine if a person has the China coronavirus costs over 100,000 won ($85), with drug treatment, hospital beds and the special equipment needed to monitor an infected person likely to run into the tens of millions of won. The state funding to cover costs associated with fighting infectious diseases is common practice around the world and can help prevent the spread of illness because sick people won't be afraid of reporting their condition to related authorities. By Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea will impose a one-month quarantine on all foreigners arriving from China in a bid to prevent the spread of a new coronavirus, the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang said on Tuesday. The North Korea Foreign Ministry's protocol department provided the notice in a message to the embassy on Tuesday, the Russian mission said in a post on its Facebook page. North Korea has not publicly reported any cases of the new strain of virus, which has killed at least 106 people in China and infected more than 4,500 as of Tuesday. Although no fatalities have been reported outside China, the growing outbreak has sparked international alarm because there are still many important unknowns surrounding the virus. It can cause pneumonia, which has been deadly in some cases, but it is still unclear how dangerous the virus is. Tuesday's notice identified several hotels in North Korea as potential quarantine locations, depending on where the foreigners enter, the Russian embassy said. The protocol department said the measures were to protect the staff of international organisations and diplomatic missions in North Korea, as well as prevent an outbreak, according to the embassy. North Korea is taking "high-intensity" measures to prevent the spread of the virus, including distributing hygiene manuals to medical clinics, increasing production of anti-viral medications, and stepping up quarantine efforts in border regions and at airports and sea ports, the ruling party's newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported on Tuesday. The country is also sending health ministry officials to vulnerable regions, and identifying pneumonia patients in local communities to test and isolate them if necessary, the newspaper said. Last week Pyongyang informed tour companies that it would be indefinitely banning foreign tourists, which are a major source of hard currency for the sanctions-strapped regime. (Reporting by Josh Smith. Additional reporting by Hyonhee Shin and Sangmi Cha; Editing by Kim Coghill) WEST SPRINGFIELD - Police have completed a throughout search of Mitteneague Park for a missing resident so people can now return to the park. But officers did not find Kevin Kimball, 38, who was reported missing on Sunday by his family and believed to be in the area of the park, said Police Sgt. Joseph LaFrance. For the past two days local police assisted by the Massachusetts State Police troopers have been searching the area off Route 20, for Kimball. The State Police Air Wing also assisted with a helicopter on Monday, he said. Police were asking people to stay away from the park on Monday and Tuesday to avoid interfering with the search. A thorough search by West Springfield and State Police was conducted (Tuesday). We did not locate him or develop any other leads in the case, he said. Anyone who has seen Kimball or has any information about his location or disappearance is asked to call the Police Department at 413-263-3210. I t is enough to make Punxsutawney Phil turn on his tail and refuse to emerge ever again. Just four days before the Groundhog Day celebrations at Gobblers Knob, Pennsylvania, animal rights activists have called on the Seer of Seers to be replaced with a robot. The demand came in a letter from Peta president Ingrid Newkirk to Bill Deeley, head of the top hat-wearing Inner Circle which runs the ceremony. Ms Newkirk said: Being in close proximity to the public causes these animals great stress. When Phil is dragged out of his hole and held up to flashing lights and crowds, he has no idea whats happening. Groundhog Club co-handler John Griffiths, left, holds Punxsutawney Phil / AP She said the creatures, which have been forecasting the length of winter every February 2 since 1887 and were immortalised in Bill Murrays hit movie Groundhog Day, should be replaced with an animatronic groundhog with artificial intelligence (AI) that could actually predict the weather. CELS Group, a top provider of solutions in events, decor and lighting, has acquired 100 per cent shares of First Christmas by Rosenau GmbH one of Europes leading festive decoration company along with its GCC branch, Retail Emotions. First Christmas was founded in Hamburg, Germany, and has over 20 years of experience in creating spectacular holiday and seasonal decorations, digital installations and special events for shopping centres, airports, hotels, cities and retail chains around the world, and has won over 20 International Council of Shopping Centre (ICSC) awards, including European and worldwide marketing gold medals. With the acquisition of First Christmas/Retail Emotions, and combined with Afkar Lighting, its in-house original festive lighting, handcrafted decorations and multimedia settings firm founded in Italy and based in the Gulf region, and with offices in Dubai, Doha, Milan, Riyadh, London and now Hamburg, CELS Group is now the largest festive light decor company in the Middle East and can offer a wider set of decor solutions and opportunities to its clients in Europe with First Christmas and in the Middle East with Retail Emotions (both offering customised design solutions) and Afkar Lighting (offering rental and installation solutions). With the growth of CELS Group a new umbrella company has been created, known at CELS Lights & Decor to consolidate the three festive light decor solutions. First Christmas/Retail Emotions is valued at $5.55 million, with a total turnover of $14.45 million. The acquisition is also poised to boost CELS Groups turnover from $20 million to $31 million, with a target of $35 million in 2020 and $44 million by 2022. Alessandro Gaffuri, founder and CEO, CELS Group, said: CELS Group, together with First Christmas/Retail Emotions and Afkar Lighting will light up the world. Lighting tells stories. It is a brilliant way to express a brand and its identity. At CELS Group we believe there is nothing more powerful than light when it comes to inspiring visitors. We craft bespoke lighting experiences that reflect a brands values and strengthen the brands bond with the community. We specialise in creating original festive lighting, handcrafted decorations, and multimedia setups. Over the years we have delivered numerous customised lighting experiences for shopping malls, hotels, leisure hubs, cultural attractions and public venues. Together with Afkar Lighting, CELS Lights & Decor will now leverage First Christmas/Retail Emotions to completely adapt to clients needs in terms of design and production while having the capacity to produce in Europe and also locally, in order to secure and fulfil last-minute clients requests. TradeArabia News Service Just imagine Donald Trump re-elected and unchastened by the events surrounding his impeachment by the House of Representatives. Sycophants like Attorney General William Barr and Rudy (Trumps Poodle) Giuliani will feel emboldened and likely embark on prosecuting critics of the Trump regime, including journalists and other members of the media, who dont accede to Trumps unquestioned authority. Lock her Up wont just be a mindless chant at some deranged Trump rally - it will be a real threat with real consequences. The obsequious religious (evangelical) zealots who support Trump in a cult-like manner will continue their efforts to turn the country into a theocracy. Republican collaborators who have basically abdicated their Constitutional responsibility to oversee the executive branch will continue to kowtow to Trump in order to obtain more (unqualified) right-wing federal judges and tax cuts for their rich patrons and multi-national corporations. There is no doubt that autocrat Vladimir Putin, president of the Russian Federation, will be given carte blanche at the White House and Kim (Rocket Man) Jong-un will continue playing Trump like a fiddle. Trumpism is an existential threat to the country, our democracy and the Constitution. It must be exorcised from our body politic. (Jeremiah OLeary Jr. is a St. George resident.) TEMPE, Ariz. Arizona State University has issued a travel restriction to China days after a case of a new virus was confirmed in the community near Phoenix. The ban is effective immediately for students, faculty and staff traveling on behalf of the university and will last until the outbreak is contained, university President Michael Crow said Tuesday. No institution-related travel, such as study abroad or other academic program visits, to China will be authorized or approved by the university. This travel restriction is similar to restrictions many businesses and organizations across the U.S. have implemented, the advisory said. University spokesman Jerry Gonzalez told The Arizona Republic that the policy does not apply to personal travel. The announcement comes after the state Department of Health Services diagnosed a person under the age of 60 in the university community with the virus Sunday and follows a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention against nonessential travel to China. Health officials said the person does not live in university housing and has been in isolation since returning from Wuhan, the central Chinese city thats the epicenter of the new virus that has sickened nearly 6,000 people and killed 132. Its a type of coronavirus, which includes those that can cause the common cold and more serious illnesses such as SARS. The person in Arizona had close contact with five people since returning, and those people also are being monitored closely, officials said. Chris Minnick of the state Department of Health Services said Tuesday that several samples have been sent to the CDC for testing. The samples are from people who have shown symptoms or came in direct contact with the confirmed patient. A representative for the CDC did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Employees at stores near the Tempe campus told other outlets that they were running out of face masks, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes, the Republic reported. University officials are working closely with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health and the Arizona Department of Health Services to monitor the situation, officials said. Some students have started an online petition, which has collected more than 18,000 signatures, to cancel class until areas are properly disinfected. Classes will not be canceled, university officials said. Patricia O'Connor's daughter denied that her account of what happened on the night her mother was allegedly murdered was a "web of lies", a jury has heard. Louise O'Connor told gardai that she never saw her mother's body wrapped in blankets at her house, and her daughter Stephanie "didn't dress up as my Ma" to pretend she was still alive. She was being interviewed after she was arrested on suspicion of murdering her mother. Four people are on trial at the Central Criminal Court over Patricia O'Connor's death in 2017. Louise O'Connor's then-partner, Kieran Greene (34), is charged with murder, while Louise (41), her daughter Stephanie (22) and Louise's ex- partner Keith Johnston (43) are accused of impeding the investigation. They all deny the charges. Patricia O'Connor (61), a grandmother-of-seven, was allegedly murdered on May 29, 2017, at the house at Mountain View Park, Rathfarnham, she shared with family including her daughter, granddaughter Stephanie and Mr Greene. Her remains were found scattered in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains between June 10 and 14, that year. Stephanie O'Connor is accused of disguising herself as her grandmother on May 29 to pretend that she was still alive, while her mother Louise allegedly agreed to this. Gardai showed Louise O'Connor CCTV footage from outside her house on May 29 as they interviewed her on September 2 and 3. She said this showed her mother leaving with a suitcase at 9.34pm, after a row. She, her daughter, Mr Greene and the children were in the house and went to bed after her mother left. Her father Gus O'Connor came home at 10.23pm. However, a person was seen coming in the back door at 10.05pm carrying a bag and Ms O'Connor did not know who this was. "Houdini or someone," she said. She agreed that a black suitcase found in the house was "identical" to the one seen at 9.34pm but said it was maybe "one of a set". Gardai put it to her that the person leaving the house was her daughter Stephanie wearing Patricia's jacket. "That is not Stephanie," she said. "That's ridiculous. That's my Ma." The person was not wearing a dress, but she said "she obviously got changed". Louise was shown fabric found in the shallow grave in Wexford where her mother was initially buried and was asked if it was her mother's dress. She said it looked like it. Earlier, Patricia was seen coming in the back door at 6.35pm and a person was seen closing the curtains at the back of the house at 6.52pm. Louise agreed this was Kieran Greene. A clip from the front of the house showed Louise and children going to the park at 6.53pm. She was asked if her mother was dead when they returned. "How could a dead woman walk out?" she said. Gardai asked if Mr Greene "managed to do this in secret". "What, kill me Ma? Yeah," she replied. "He's a f**king nut." She went to the park "to get peace from my Mam", she said, but denied it was "permanent peace" and "my Mam was alive when we walked out". Louise denied discussing killing her mother with Mr Greene, Stephanie or her father. She said again she did not know what happened until two weeks later. "That is a web of lies for you and your family," a garda put to her. "I know what I seen and heard," she said. "Stephanie didn't dress up as my Ma." Stephanie O'Connor was also arrested on suspicion of murder and the jury is hearing continued evidence of her interviews. By Trend The Azerbaijani Food Safety Agency decided to impose a temporary ban on the import of livestock, animal products and seafood from China, as well as wild animals for zoos, to protect against infectious diseases that may disseminate in Azerbaijan from other countries, Trend reports on Jan. 28 referring to the Agency. To strengthen the control measures an appeal was made for the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee to take appropriate measures at customs checkpoints in connection with vehicles coming from China or transit vehicles. In accordance with the WHO information, coronavirus 2019-nCoV which has been recently revealed in China is spreading in several countries. Coronavirus was transmitted from animals to the first infected people. In this regard, WHO recommends toughening control on the import of live cattle, animal products and seafood from the countries where this virus has been revealed to other countries. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 01:09:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held phone talks with Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marise Payne on Wednesday at the latter's request, discussing the situation about the epidemic of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in China. Noting that the Australian government firmly supports the Chinese government and people in their fight against the new coronavirus epidemic, Payne expressed appreciation to China for sharing information in time and actively communicating with the international community in an open and transparent manner when dealing with the epidemic. Australia is willing to continue to keep close communication and coordination with the Chinese side and provide necessary assistance, so as to help China overcome the epidemic, Payne said. For his part, Wang said the Chinese government and people are making every effort to fight the epidemic, noting that a nationwide mechanism has been established and decisive measures taken, so as to push forward the epidemic prevention and control in a scientific, orderly and precise manner. Given the current situation, the epidemic is generally preventable, controllable and curable, Wang said, adding that China has the confidence and ability to win the fight against the outbreak. The Chinese government, in an open, transparent and responsible manner, has been promptly releasing information about the epidemic situation to the public and the international community, responding to concerns of all sides and strengthening international cooperation, Wang said. Wang noted that during the recent visit to China, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), fully recognized a series of strict and effective measures taken by China to combat the new virus epidemic, and expressed his confidence in China's capability to prevent and control the epidemic The WHO, from a professional perspective, disapproves of making people move in haste at this moment, he said. The Chinese side will make all efforts to safeguard the health and safety of all Chinese and foreigners in Wuhan, Wang said, adding that China is ready to maintain communication and coordination with Australia to jointly safeguard global health security. A man is in custody for allegedly sexually assaulting an intellectually disabled woman earlier this month in her The Woodlands home after he told her he was selling magazines, authorities say. Benjamen Bruce Gilbert, 37, of Houston, is being charged with sexual assault, a second-degree felony. The unknown assailant approached the intellectually disabled 48-year-old woman at her apartment door trying to sell her magazines in the 4500 block of South Panther Creek Drive. The two spoke momentarily and took a seat at her sofa and when, she told deputies on Jan. 6, he sexually assaulted her, according to a press release from the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office. She went on to tell her family of the alleged incident, the sheriffs office stated. BREAKING NEWS UPDATES: Get your Houston breaking news alerts delivered to your Inbox Detectives with the sheriffs office found that on Jan. 2 the agency received a call about an aggressive male selling magazines door-to-door in The Woodlands area. A resident called after the man, who fit Gilberts description, reportedly became agitated and she thought he was trying to enter her home. Deputies at the scene identified Gilbert as the supposed salesman but he was not taken into custody on account no criminal offense had taken place, according to the news release. On Jan. 8, investigators determined Gilbert was the sexual assault assailant and an arrest warrant was issued. Sheriffs patrol deputies were dispatched to a suspicious person at West Laurelhurst Circle in The Woodlands where they apprehended Gilbert. As of Tuesday afternoon, Gilbert is being held on a $250,000 bond at the Montgomery County Jail, according to jail records. jose.gonzalez@chron.com twitter.com/jrgzztx What you need to know: Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 Subscribe to get this free newsletter, Good Morning, Pennsylvania, delivered to your email inbox at 6 a.m. weekdays. Weather High: 43, low: 21. Partly sunny. Photo of the Day Pennsylvania's Capitol grounds will soon become the first in the nation to have a monument commemorating the U.S. constitutional amendments that gave African American men and women the right to vote, as well as pay homage to those Harrisburg residents in the Old Eighth Ward, where the Capitol now sits. Food and drink Craft beer: How long will it take before the craft beer boom in Pennsylvania goes bust? See what small breweries are doing to get ahead. Read more. More chicken: Chicken, its now whats for breakfast at McDonalds as it lobs its latest salvo in the fast food chicken wars. Read more. In politics Primary importance: Theres a chance Pennsylvania could play a bigger role in the 2024 presidential election - but only if the legislature agrees to move the states primary to March. Read more. Pay raise?: Gov. Tom Wolf renewed his call to raise Pennsylvania's minimum wage to $12 an hour, with the goal of $15 an hour by 2025. He has called for it every year since taking office in 2015. Read more. In sports Cut short: Kobe Bryant was an intelligent and complex man who was set to grow into a diversified influence around the globe long after his hoops life had ended, Dave Jones writes. Read more. Praise for Miles: Miles Sanders closed his standout rookie season with the Philadelphia Eagles with praise from an All-Pro linebacker. Read more. In brief Second WGAL reporter announces departure | Fired teacher loses second bid to get job back | Woman IDd in suspicious death investigation | Developer criticized over lack of affordable housing | Pa. Senate OKs tougher penalties for repeat DUI drivers | Cop, wife sentenced to prison for dog abuse | Antonio Brown announces public workout | Simon Lalong, governor of Plateau state, has ordered the arrest of Fulani leaders and community heads following recent attacks in some parts of the state. Gunmen raided Kwatas village in Bokkos local government area of the state during the weekend, killing more than 15 persons. During an emergency meeting of community leaders and stakeholders on Tuesday, Lalong ordered the arrest of the Fulani leaders, saying it is no longer business as usual. He said, I have changed, it is no longer business as usual, people cannot continue to die and we do nothing about it. Arrest all Ardos-Fulani leaders, community heads until they produce the killers. How can they say that people are killed and there is no arrest? Are those killing others spirits? I dont think you can kill 15 human beings and claim you are spirit and there is no arrest. Read Also: Deji Adeyanju Reacts To Herdsmen Attack On Plateau Community, Says Buhari Is A Complete Failure All community leaders should be in cell. Arrest them now, nobody is above the law. If they dont produce the killers keep them in cell. Nobody has immunity except me and the Deputy Governor. This is my charge today, that all Ardos in the affected communities must be in cell. Lalong added also that, Since I have been in the state since February, no event of this magnitude has happened. We have been investigating the incident in Mangun and then this. We cannot continue in this situation in the state. The security agencies have resolved that those people killing must be arrested no matter how highly placed. Peace must return to this state as we cannot continue in this situation. They should not sleep in their houses. By the time they are arrested, we will solve this problem. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Orezone Gold Corporation (TSXV:ORE) (Orezone or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced bought deal equity financing (the Offering). A total of 37,595,900 units (the Units) of the Company were issued at a price of C$0.54 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of C$20,301,786. Each Unit is comprised of one common share of the Company (each, a Share) and one half of one common share purchase warrant of the Company (each whole warrant, a Warrant). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share of the Company at a price of C$0.80 per share at any time on or before January 29, 2023. The Offering was co-led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. and PI Financial Corp. and included CIBC World Markets Inc., Raymond James Ltd., Cormark Securities Inc. and Paradigm Capital Inc. (collectively the Underwriters). The Underwriters received a cash commission equal to 6% of the gross proceeds of the Offering. The Units were offered by way of a short-form prospectus in each of the provinces of Canada, except Quebec. Resource Capital Fund VII L.P., which has a pro rata right pursuant to the terms of an investor rights agreement dated March 23, 2018, exercised its right in full and, as a result, following closing of the Offering, owns 19.99% of the total issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. Mr. Patrick Downey, the Companys President and CEO stated, Completion of this financing has significantly strengthened our balance sheet and provides the flexibility to continue all critical ongoing activities to advance Bombore towards production. We are also very pleased that RCF has demonstrated their further financial commitment in the Company and project. We intend to use the net proceeds from the Offering to fund the completion of the Phase I resettlement plan, ongoing detailed engineering and construction works, and general corporate purposes as we advance our project financing efforts towards securing binding debt commitments later this year. The Warrants issued under the Offering have been conditionally approved for listing on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) and are expected to commence trading on the TSXV on January 31, 2020 under the trading symbol ORE.WT. The warrant indenture governing the Warrants provides that a holder of Warrants may not exercise warrants to acquire Shares that would result in such holder holding 20% or more of the issued and outstanding Shares without prior approval of the TSXV and the consent of the Company. The closing of the Offering included the issuance of 495,900 Units as part of a partial exercise of the over-allotment option granted by the Company to the Underwriters. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein in the United States. The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to the account or benefit of a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) or a person in the United States absent an exemption from the registration requirements of such Act and in compliance with all applicable state securities laws. Orezone Gold Corporation Orezone Gold Corporation (TSXV:ORE) is a Canadian exploration and development company which owns a 90% interest in Bombore, one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in Burkina Faso. Bombore hosts a large oxide resource underlain by a larger, open sulphide resource, and will be developed in two stages. Patrick Downey, President and Chief Executive Officer Vanessa Pickering Manager, Investor Relations Tel: 1 778 945 8977 / Toll Free: 1 888 673 0663 info@orezone.com / www.orezone.com 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 INFORMATION AND FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (together, forward-looking statements) are frequently characterized by words such as plan, expect, project, intend, believe, anticipate, estimate, potential, possible and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions may, will, could, or should occur. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the use of proceeds of the Offering, the listing of the Warrants, completion of the Phase I resettlement plan and securing binding debt commitments. All such forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by management in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management and the qualified persons believe are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, all forward-looking information and statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, the failure of parties to contracts to honour contractual commitments, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; unexpected failure or inadequacy of infrastructure, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, accidents and equipment breakdowns, political risk, unanticipated changes in key management personnel and general economic, market or business conditions, the failure of exploration programs, including drilling programs, to deliver anticipated results and the failure of ongoing and uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, and other factors described in the Company's most recent annual information form and management discussion and analysis filed on SEDAR on www.sedar.com . Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release. Genghis Khan. Thats about the only connection most people make when they hear of Mongolia. But I knew there had to be more to the country that just that, and I wanted to see for myself. What follows are 10 fascinating things I discovered about Mongolia during my visit. A view of the capital, Ulaanbaatar. (saiko3p/Shutterstock) 1. The Capital Is Ulaanbaatar Its pronounced: Ooohh Laaaan Bahhh Tour. It was a quick 1.5-hour plane ride from Beijing, China. At first, I was surprised to see how developed the city was, with large skyscrapers, a Subway restaurant, and a distinctly modern vibe. However, when I learned that 45 percent of Mongolias entire population lives there, it made a lot more sense. I was as equally taken aback by the beauty of the people. The Mongolians seem a perfect mix of Chinese and Eastern European facial features, often with high, bubbly, and truly adorable cheekbones. I spoke to a number of foreigners in the capital, and most are in the mining business, which accounts for 80 percent of Mongolias exports. My most memorable adventure in the big city was a trip to the local bookstore at the multi-story shopping mall, where I bought my first Learn Mongolian textbook. Statue of Genghis Khan, Ulaanbaatar. (Maykova Galina/Shutterstock) 2. Mongolian Uses Cyrillic While Genghis Khan implemented the Uyghur script as Mongolias alphabet, under Russian influence in the 1940s, the country used Latin (no joke) for a short period and then transitioned to the Cyrillic alphabet. Today, the country uses whats known as Mongolian Cyrillic, which is virtually the same as the Russian alphabet with the addition of a couple of letters. 3. A Long History With China Aside from a short history with Russia during the Cold War period, Mongolia also has a long history with its neighbor to the south. Was China once part of Mongolia, or was Mongolia once part of China? The best answer, I think, is both. Although Ghenghis Khan founded the Mongol Empire, it was his grandson, Kublai Khan (of Marco Polo fame), who conquered China in 1279 to establish the Yuan Dynasty. So the Mongols ruled China for about 100 yearsuntil they were kicked out. However, in the 1500s, the tables turned as Tibetan Buddhism began to spread to Mongolia. Soon, the Qing Dynasty in turn absorbed Mongolia, which became a part of China for about 200 years. Finally, in 1911, Mongolia established independence from China. However, the Buddhist influences remain, even to this day. A lone horse back rider, riding through a vast Mongolian landscape. (Max Power Photo/Shutterstock) 4. More Than Half of the Population Is Buddhist So strong was the Tibetan Buddhist influence on Mongolia that today, a majority of the 3 million population is Buddhist. The rest of the population is mostly non-religious, with a spattering of people who follow other religions. 5. Theres a Huge Rock Shaped Like a Turtle In Gorkhi-Terelj National Park, also referred to as the Terelj tourist district, theres a big turtle. A huge turtle. All made of rock. And apparently, completely forged by Mother Nature. Its a sight to see. Its 79 feet high, and yes, it looks exactly like a big, lazy turtle, walking across the plains. The turtle, as well as Tereljs natural beauty, is an hours ride from the city. I took a cab, for the express purpose of finding the riding stables that I heard were nearby. The Aryabal Temple in Terelj National Park. (RPBaiao/Shutterstock) 6. Mongolia Reminded Me of a Marriage Between Switzerland and Iraq While in the cab heading to Terelj, I couldnt help but think of my time living in Switzerland and also my time with the U.S. Army in Iraq. Switzerland had the rolling hills, big mountains, beautiful rivers, and lots of cows. Iraq had sprawling deserts, fascinating architecture, and lots of sheep. Well, put that together, and you have Mongolia, a truly beautiful sight to see. Its also home to one of the oldest remaining nomadic cultures in the world. As I was pondering all this, suddenly I saw it: the turtle! And nearby, horses! 7. Yes, You Can Gallop Across the Mongolian Plains After youve found the turtle, if youre eager to feel what it was like to be an ancient Mongolian warrior, you can go on a horseback ride adventure across some plains and into the woods, and pass a Buddhist temple up on a mountain as well, all on the back of a Mongolian steed. Its a memorable adventure, and worth the one-hour cab ride there to Terelj. You can even have lunch in a yurt. 8. Yurts Stand Next to Skyscrapers Just to be clear, yurts look nothing like skyscrapers. They just like to hang out together in Mongolia. You see, yurts are the Mongolian version of tents, and they remain one of the mainstays of the Mongolians historically nomadic way of life. On your way to Terelj, youll see many of them along the side of the road, in clusters of 20 or 30 at a time, maybe more. However, curiously, youll also see them in Ulaanbaatarright next to modern skyscrapers. Why? While there is a push in the city to become more modern, there is still a strong connection to the historical past. Further, as you can imagine, those who live in yurts arent likely to be able to afford to live in a skyscraper. Housing is one of the issues the city has been facing in recent years. Turtle Rock, Gorkhi Terelj National Park. (wonderlustpicstravel/Shutterstock) 9. Mongolia Holds Some World Records The most curious fact about Mongolia is that it has a huge landmass, but is sparsely populated. In fact, it is the worlds most sparsely populated sovereign state in the world. All of Mongolia has a population of just 3 million (about a third of the population of New York City) and yet, it has the landmass of all of Western and Eastern Europe combined. This makes Mongolia the 18th-largest country by landmass and the worlds second-largest landlocked country behind Kazakhstan. 10. Americans Dont Need a Visa Back in 2014, there were only a handful of countries that had such no visa arrangements with Mongolia. Today, there are about 20. If youre an American, or a passport holder of one of these 20 no-visa-needed countries, you can just get on a plane and go to Mongolia. And yes, you should go to Mongolia. I absolutely plan to visit again in the future. If youre in Asia, make sure you add Mongolia to your itinerary, and if you have time, also check out the Gobi Desert, which is yet another of Mongolias marvels. ! = Have a good trip! Attorney Monroe Mann, Ph.D., MBA, is the founder of the worldwide not-for-profit friendship community BreakDiving.io. Hes the author of Successful New Year, Time Zen, and T.R.U.S.T. He travels, codes, and studies languages. For more info, see MonroeMann.com and Youtube.com/monroemann The US has filed lawsuits against five companies and three individuals allegedly responsible for making hundreds of millions of fake to American consumers from abroad, mostly from India, and causing massive financial losses to the elderly and the vulnerable. Seeking a restraining order against such call centers and robocalls, the Department of Justice in its class action lawsuit alleged that the companies were warned many times not to place fraudulent including government and business-imposter calls yet they continued to do so and facilitated foreign-based fraud schemes targeting Americans. "The calls, most of which originated in India, led to massive financial losses to elderly and vulnerable victims across the nation," it said on Tuesday. One case has been filed against Ecommerce LLC d/b/a TollFreeDeals.com; SIP Retail d/b/a sipretail.com; and their owner/operators, Nicholas Palumbo, 38, and Natasha Palumbo, 33, of Scottsdale, Arizona. The other case has been filed against Global Voicecom Inc, Global Telecommunication Services Inc, KAT Telecom Inc., aka IP Dish, and the owner/operator Jon Kahen, 45, of Great Neck, New York. In each case, the Department of Justice sought an order immediately halting the defendants' transmission of unlawful robocall traffic. A federal court has entered a temporary restraining order against the Global Voicecom defendants. " are an annoyance to many Americans, and those that are fraudulent and predatory are a serious problem, often causing devastating financial harm to the elderly and vulnerable members of our society," said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt for the Department of Justice's Civil Division. According to federal prosecutors, Americans have experienced a deluge of robocalls over the past several years. Many of the robocalls originate from abroad. Recently, foreign fraudsters have used robocalls to impersonate government investigators and to provide Americans with alarming messages. The calls facilitated by the defendants falsely threatened victims with a variety of catastrophic government actions, including termination of social security benefits, imminent arrest for alleged tax fraud and deportation for supposed failure to fill out immigration forms correctly, the justice department said. "Each of these claims is a lie, designed to scare the call recipient into paying large sums of money. "Social Security imposters, IRS imposters, and tech-support schemes (in which callers impersonate legitimate technology companies) have proliferated in part because of the ease with which robocalls can reach millions of potential victims every hour," it said. In the cases announced on Tuesday, the US alleges that the defendants operated voice over internet protocol (VoIP) carriers, which use an internet connection rather than traditional copper phone lines to carry telephone calls. Numerous foreign-based criminal organisations are alleged to have used the defendants' VoIP carrier services to pass fraudulent government-and business-imposter fraud robocalls to American victims. The complaints filed in the cases specifically allege that defendants served as "gateway carriers", making them the entry point for foreign-initiated calls into the US telecommunications system. According to the Department of Justice, they carried astronomical numbers of robocalls. For example, the complaint against the owners/operators of Ecommerce d/b/a TollFreeDeals.com alleges that the defendants carried 720 million calls during a sample 23-day period, and that more than 425 million of those calls lasted less than one second, indicating that they were robocalls. The complaint further alleges that many of the 720 million calls were fraudulent and used spoofed (fake) caller ID numbers. According to allegations in both complaints, the defendants ignored repeated red flags and warnings about the fraudulent and unlawful nature of the calls they were carrying. "We are using all available tools and resources to stop foreign call center scammers and for the first time their US-based enablers from conning elderly and vulnerable victims in New York and throughout the United States," said US Attorney Richard Donoghue. Protecting individuals from schemes that result in catastrophic losses to the victims is a priority of this Office and the Department of Justice, he said. "Today's events are the culmination of months of hard work, and a critical step in holding these and other companies accountable for being the link between overseas scammers and their victims, said Social Security Administration Inspector General Gail Ennis. He said the US will continue to pursue those who exploit the country's telephone system and allow scammers to deceive consumers using the good name of Social Security, Ennis added. Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has accused ministers of being 'blindsided by billionaires' after a rescue deal for airline Flybe. In an extraordinary letter to Chancellor Sajid Javid, the outspoken chief executive claimed Flybe was 'doomed' and criticised the Government's support. He suggested deep-pocketed backers such as Sir Richard Branson should have rescued it. Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary claims Flybe was 'doomed' and criticised the Government for bailing it out 'Clearly your government is being blindsided by these billionaires,' O'Leary told the Chancellor. 'If Richard Branson and his mates won't lend 100million to Flybe, then why should the hard-pressed British taxpayer rescue them?' Ministers agreed a support package this month following reports that the loss-making airline was on the verge of going bust. Flybe is Europe's biggest independent regional airline and competes with British Airways, Ryanair and Easyjet on some routes. In exchange Flybe owner Connect Airways, a consortium made up of Branson's Virgin Atlantic, Cyrus Capital and Stobart Air, agreed to pump 20million in. Downing Street insisted all support would be on 'commercial terms'. The tragedy of this summers bushfires commands our attention, and after aiding and supporting the victims it is important to learn from the event. The scale and ferocity of the recent fires are unprecedented since European settlement of this country. They arrived at the end of a year with the lowest average rainfall and the highest average temperatures ever recorded across Australia. Climate change has arrived, and without significant action greater impacts on Australia are inevitable. A line from the letter: "The message is clear: the situation is becoming ever less manageable as extreme-fire-risk weather becomes more common." Credit:Nick Moir While many factors have contributed to the bushfire crisis, the role of exceptional heat and dryness cannot be ignored. Temperatures nearly everywhere on Earth have been rising for decades, a clear result of the build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere from fossil fuel use and other human activities. The increasing variability of rainfall across Australia, bringing more dry years, is a consequence. These outcomes were predicted decades ago. We should listen to the voices of not only our scientists, but also those who are on the frontlines fighting fires. The message is clear: the situation is becoming ever less manageable as extreme-fire-risk weather becomes more common, while conditions suitable for controlled burns to reduce fuel loads are becoming less frequent. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 03:51:34|Editor: yan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- A United Nations spokesman said Tuesday that the humanitarian situation in Mali continues to deteriorate due to increased violence, and over 200,000 people are currently displaced, compared to 80,000 people a year ago. During this year's lean season, from June to August, 1.1 million people are expected to face severe food insecurity in the country, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said at the daily news briefing. He added that humanitarian access challenges have significantly increased. However, access remains possible for humanitarian organizations who rely on community engagement, principled delivery of aid and the use of local implementing partners to reach people in need. This year's Humanitarian Response Plan for Mali will reach 20 percent of the country's population, 3.8 million people, and will require 390 million U.S. dollars, Dujarric said. Photo: Sheila Sund/Flickr Here's what you need to know about what's happening in Denver. Mom jst pls report me mom some guys have me; police searching for missing mother of 4 Denver police are searching for a missing woman who was last seen on Sunday at Terreno Macizo nightclub. Read the full story on WNCN. Denver's progress on air pollution has stalled, report finds The Denver metro area experienced 131 days of poor air quality in 2018, according to a report released Jan. 28 by advocacy group Environment America. Read the full story on DenverWestword. How Denver is going after alleged brothel owners Al Capone-style Denver District Attorney Beth McCann sees her approach to prosecuting two alleged brothel owners as innovative but it's actually so old that it's new again. Read the full story on DenverWestword. Regis University in Denver paid ransom in cyberattack A ransom was paid to the hackers responsible for a cyberattack on a Denver college with hopes to restore their incapacitated systems, university officials said. Read the full story on MySanAntonio. Finally! Denver sees first snow, precipitation in nearly a month For the first time in nearly a month, Denver officially saw measurable rain and snow on Monday, snapping a 30-day snow- and precipitation-free streak in the city. Read the full story on Denver Post. 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. A bill passed in the Vermont State in the US will reportedly allow the citizens to fix emojis on their license plate. According to the reports from a local affiliate to the media, the legislation was proposed in the Vermont House of Representatives that allows the drivers to personalize their license plates with selected emoticons. Drivers can select one of the six emojis The bill was reportedly introduced by democrat Rebecca White (D-VT) with a clause that the owner of the vehicle should be able to select one of the six emojis proposed by the government in addition to the standard letters and numbers recommended by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. Read Billie Eilish's Grammy-winning Song 'Bad Guy' Was Inspired By A Traffic Signal Read Bus Crew, Toll Staff Clash On Highway; Traffic Hit Queensland first for emojis license plates Therefore, the drivers will only get an opportunity to accent the status quo of the license plate and cannot have a plate abound in emojis only, suggest reports. The bill also makes Vermont the first state in the United States to approve the bill, making it the second state in the world after Australias Queensland that makes emojis license plates for $335, as per the reports. Internet users have sparked a discussion in favour of the bill expressing their interest in an emoji license plate. Some already want to move to Vermont to be able to avail the opportunity of flaunting an emoji on their car. Some of the hilarious reactions have popped up on Twitter by the people gearing up to embrace this new Traffic Act. Honestly Im American and I didnt get the trump joke. The license plate thing though that made me laugh. Can you imagine a high speed chase with a cop yelling COW FACE EMOJI, EGG PLANT, PIG FACE EMOJI, 3, 8, A! RaineJK Decalcomania (@RaineWithLuv4JK) January 29, 2020 my emoji license plate would be andrea (@chicosbangtan) January 29, 2020 vermont is lucky i want an emoji on my license plate erica seokjin lockdown (@singularijoon) January 29, 2020 Im in pursuit of a white Chevy Equinox, license plate 6 9 Eggplant emoji thumbs up bryan von (@miscellanymag) January 28, 2020 Read Report: Iran Dismantles Drug Trafficking Ring And Executes Its Leader Read China: Authorities To Restrict Car Traffic In Wuhan From Sunday The organising committee of the Dubai International Wood and Wood Machinery Show has wrapped up a successful roadshow in Saudi Arabia. More than 1,000 Saudi businesspersons and visitors from all over the kingdom will attend the 15th edition of the leading wood industry show to be held from March 16 to 18, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, in Dubai, UAE. On the final leg of its tour, the committee finished a fruitful trip to Saudi Arabia, where they met key Saudi stakeholders, including businessmen, industry professionals and investors, who were introduced to major opportunities and facilities offered to participants at the three-day event, as well as to the shows most important exhibitors. The delegation met with Khalid Al Omar, assistant secretary general for Corporate Communication and Marketing at Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and a number of the chambers members. The Dubai delegation also met with Abdul Rahman Abdullah Al Wabel, secretary general of Asharqia Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The delegates discussed possible ways to strengthen cooperation with their Saudi counterparts. The trip to Saudi Arabia also aimed to promote economic ties and explore new avenues of cooperation between the two sisterly nations and peoples who enjoy deeply rooted historical relations and fraternal ties. The three-day B2B event is expected to draw more than 10,000 industry experts, exhibitors, investors and traders, providing them a perfect platform to showcase their products, innovative technologies, wood accessories and woodworking machinery industry to key players in the wood industry. The show, which will be held with the participation of exhibitors and visitors from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Pakistan, is the regions premier destination for wood industry experts and the only dedicated B2B platform for the wood and woodworking machinery industry. The show offers a perfect opportunity for exhibitors and buyers to network with top industry leaders, experts, manufacturers and suppliers, as well as with representatives of government bodies interested in this sector. The show is an ideal place for industry professionals and stakeholders to keep abreast of the latest technologies in the wood industry and alternatives to natural wood products, in keeping with the sectors approach towards sustainability and environmental protection. Dawood Al Shezawi, president of strategic marketing and exhibitions, the organisers of the show, said: Through the roadshow tour, the committee aimed to explore new opportunities for joint cooperation with the investment community in Saudi Arabia and attract more investment into the UAE market. Over the past 15 years, the show succeeded in achieving a leading position as the regions only dedicated platform for the wood industry. It has also managed to gain the trust and interest of traders, exhibitors and buyers from different countries across the world, thanks to investment and economic opportunities it offers for stakeholders in the global wood sector, he added. Al Shezawi noted that the show helps facilitate the exchange of experiences, knowledge and expertise between local and foreign participants, while boosting opportunities for cooperation. It also offers a unique podium for wood manufacturers to learn about state-of-the-art technology used in the sector as well as to showcase international products, contributing to increasing the competitiveness of local products with global products in the local and international markets. The show coincides with the remarkable growth experienced by the global wood market, which is estimated at $137.1 billion in 2018, is expected to reach $2012.2 billion in 2025, growing at a CAGR of 6.4 per cent, Al Shezawi said. He referred to certain facilities that will be provided for participants such as activating a smart app that will enable the attendees to identify participating exhibitors and arrange meetings with them, thus contributing to increasing the percentage of sales and striking more trade deals. The show is a perfect place meeting for concluding on-site trade deals with buyers, as well as for the showcase of products to an international audience in a way that makes their brands more visible to the international business community, Al Shezawi emphasised. TradeArabia News Service Solodkyy says Kozak's appointment demonstrates that Russia's approach to the settlement of conflicts has not changed. First Deputy Director of the New Europe Center Sergiy Solodkyy has said the resignation of Russian President Vladimir Putin's aide Vladislav Surkov and his replacement with Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Dmitry Kozak in matters concerning Ukraine will not change the Kremlin's aggressive policy since the new Donbas supervisor specializes in a "special approach" to conflict resolution. Read also"Putin to surrender Donbas": Ex-lawmaker explains Surkov's resignation "So far, there is no reason to believe that Russia will somehow change its approach to Ukraine. Moreover, we could talk about Moscow's desire to further pursue its interests in Ukraine. Russia is not interested in resolving conflicts in the post-Soviet space. These conflicts are tools of influence for it. Kozak is the personification of the immutability of Russian approaches to conflict resolution. His name is closely linked to unsuccessful attempts to resolve the Transnistrian conflict on controversial Russian conditions," Solodkyy told the Segodnya newspaper. The expert says the replacement of personalities does not always lead to a change in policy in interstate relations, especially when it comes to replacing a person in a state with an established system and clear interests. The Gujarat government has put in place a screening facility at Ahmedabad airport to detect possible cases of coronavirus and also set up an isolation ward in a civil hospital here to treat patients suspected of contracting the infection, officials said on Wednesday. The state government said it has stepped up efforts to bring back students from Gujarat, who are currently studying in China, following their appeal to the authorities to evacuate them at the earliest. While no case of suspected coronavirus infection has been found in Gujarat so far, the state health department has said that 10 persons from different parts of the state, who had recently visited China, have been kept under observation. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani had said on Tuesday that around 100 students hailing from Gujarat had expressed their desire to come back from China due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus. "The Gujarat government is in constant touch with the Centre over the issue of coronavirus. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani also spoke to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday when he was in the state," Gujarat Education Minister, Bhupendrasinh Chudasama said on Wednesday. "We have been informed that the students will be brought back in a special plane," he said. "Bringing these students back is our top priority. Both Centre and state government is working together to make sure safe return of our students from China" said the minister. His assurance came at a time when several such students in China have made appeal to the government to evacuate them. In a video message, one Mit Mordiya of Bhavnagar and two of his friends, urged the Centre and the Gujarat government to evacuate them from Nanchang, the capital city of Jiangxi Province in southeastern China. "Three of us are studying in a university here. Though we are not infected with virus, we were not allowed to board a flight to Delhi, from where we were supposed to come to Ahmedabad. We were sent back from the airport, claiming that our body temperature is higher than the prescribed limit," Moradiya said in the video. One Samir Bavaliya, a resident of Botad town, also urged the government to evacuate him at the earliest, as he lives in Wuhan, a city which has been under lock-down following the outbreak. "I am studying MBBS in Wuhan. I have not stepped out from my hostel since the last one week. The situation is very serious here. I appeal the government to immediately find a way to evacuate us from here," Bavaliya said in a video message he had sent to his family in Botad. The state health department has said 10 persons from different parts of state, who had recently visited China, were kept under observation. Fortunately, they are out of danger as doctors haven't found any symptom of coronavirus, a government release said. As a precautionary measure in the wake of the outbreak of deadly coronavirus in China, a screening facility has been set up at Ahmedabad airport. "If someone complains of fever or cough on their arrival here, the immigration officials will bring him to our mini-clinic at the airport. We also have a thermal scanner to check the body temperature. If doctors find a positive case, we will shift them to the civil hospital in an ambulance, which has been put on standby at the airport," a senior official said. Notably, an isolation ward with all the required medicines and equipment has been created at the civil hospital, which has been designated as the 'base hospital' by the department to treat coronavirus cases. Since ships from China also arrive at some major ports of Gujarat, such as Kandla, the health department has decided to create such screening facilities at all the major ports to screen the crew members, the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In an Aug. 17, 1938 file photo, architect Frank Lloyd Wright, center, is surrounded by four apprentices who work and study under his direction at Taliesin, his estate at Spring Green, Wis. The apprentices are, from the left; Eugene Masselink, Benjamin Dombar, Edgar Tafel and Jack Howe. It was announced on Jan. 28, 2020 that the School of Architecture at Taliesin, which encompasses Wright properties in Wisconsin and Arizona, will shutter in June. (AP) Dali Yang, an expert on Chinas politics and governance at the University of Chicago, said the government appeared to be content to let blame fall on lower officials as long as people did not question the basic legitimacy of the party or its bureaucratic culture. And authorities seemed even to be allowing a rare degree of dissent and debate about government transparency, he said. The New Orleans Inspector Generals Office said Tuesday that the Hard Rock Hotel collapse is now part of its ongoing investigation into corruption within the citys Department of Safety and Permits. Inspector General Derry Harper acknowledged the investigation into the Oct. 12 collapse in a letter seeking to stop the New Orleans City Council from holding a meeting Wednesday to start the process of looking into the disaster, which killed three workers and injured dozens more. In calling for the council to stand down, Harper joined Mayor LaToya Cantrell, who once again Tuesday urged council members to abandon their fact-finding expedition and said her staff would not participate. "Your decision to move forward with a special council hearing, in an effort to provide a forum for the public to air its frustration with the Hard Rock Hotel collapse, is ill-advised at this time and puts the timely demolition and the ongoing investigation of the site at risk," Cantrell said. The inspector general's investigation into the Department of Safety and Permits predates the Hard Rock's collapse and, so far, has not publicly tied the hotel development consortium, 1031 Canal Street Development LLC, to any corruption within the department. Described as a wide-ranging probe into permitting and inspections, the investigation has resulted in one former worker who was fired in 2015 pleading guilty to a federal corruption charge after admitting he took $65,000 in bribes for favorable inspections in the fall. Construction on the Hard Rock began in 2016. A representative for the developer said Tuesday he had not seen Harper's letter and could not comment on it. Two other Safety and Permits Department workers have since been suspended and resigned in connection with the investigation. Neither Cantrell nor Harper seems to have dissuaded the council, which was spurred to action last week by public outrage that the bodies of two workers remain trapped in the wreckage and that no one has yet been brought to account. The hearing is still set for 3 p.m. Wednesday, when council members are expected to approve the creation of a special committee dedicated to probing the Hard Rocks collapse. In his letter, Harper warned that the councils actions could imperil his own investigation. "It is understandable there is a public outcry surrounding the Hard Rock site and the complications surrounding its demolition," Harper wrote. "However, any separate investigation by the City Council will interfere with the long-standing law enforcement procedures this office and its state and federal investigative partners routinely take in long-term investigations." In an interview later Tuesday, Harper declined to provide additional information about the state of his agencys probe, citing a policy against commenting on ongoing investigations. He also would not comment on what he feared the councils hearings would do to complicate his efforts. Councilman Jason Williams said Harpers opposition would not stop the council, however. There appears to be this anxiety about this hearing shifting into the Spanish Inquisition, Williams said by text in response to Harpers letter. Our hearing will fall squarely within the authority established in the City Charter and will in no way encumber the efforts of any other body or branch of government. 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 Harper's letter is the first public acknowledgement investigators are looking into whether issues in the Safety and Permits Department may have played a role in the collapse. The department is responsible for reviewing construction plans then inspecting projects as they are being built. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also probing the collapse and is expected to issue its report in April. The council is scheduled to get an update on that investigation Wednesday. Cantrell has repeatedly cited the ongoing investigations in her opposition to council hearings. On Tuesday, she opened a new line of argument: that legal agreements needed for the implosion of the dangerously unstable building, which is expected to occur in March, are close to being signed and could be jeopardized by public scrutiny. "A public examination of sensitive private contracts between the owner, its insurance company, the demolition company, its insurers and the like, prior to the finalization of these agreements, may cause some of the necessary parties to not participate in this complex recovery and demolition project," she wrote in a letter to the council. "In fact, one of the insurers may have withdrawn due to the negative publicity surrounding a council members comments last week." Earlier in the day, Cantrell did push back against comments made Monday on Newell Normand's show on WWL Radio by Kerry Miller, an attorney for 1031 Canal Street, suggesting that the development team was not responsible for the collapse, even though the developers are ultimately in control of a project and one of the three members of the 1031 Canal team, Denzel Clark, owns the construction company working on the project. The other two developers are Mohan Kailas, the leader, and Todd Trosclair. "The sole responsibility of this project, of its construction, is the ownership of the site, and that is 1031 Canal, Cantrell said. Theres no way that I see the ownership being able to distance themselves from their property, from their project and the liability associated with it. Cantrell said she understood public frustration with the slow pace in bringing the building down and recovering the remains of the workers trapped inside. I dont think anyone is more frustrated in this process than the families that are tied to this tragedy and, not only that, but I would even add me to that, Cantrell said. But she warned the council investigation would be a problem. "So I would say if you cant help, dont hurt," she said. "Dont hurt the investigations that are going on right now that are going to move us closer to the real justice that the employees and the families deserve." Council members said critics of the hearings misunderstood their plans. In an appearance on Normand's show, Williams said the council's goal is to provide information to a public frustrated by a lack of concrete information or progress on the site. "The goal is not to turn the heat up on something thats already hot," Williams said. "It's actually to turn the release valve and release some of that pressure by letting the public in on whats been going on, whats the status of affairs and whats next going forward." And Councilwoman Helena Moreno said the public should have patience as the council seeks those answers. "If someone is coming tomorrow to find out the answer to every question out there and find out who to blame, thats not going to happen tomorrow," she said. "Not in one day," Williams added. UTICA, N.Y. -- St. Mathews Temple Church of God in Christ, in Utica, has been named in a lawsuit filed under the Child Victims Act, which extends the statute of limitations for child sex abuse charges. Warren Curtis, of South Carolina, filed the suit. Curtis is accusing clergy and volunteers at Church of God in Christ of raping him and forcing him to perform sexual acts on other boys from 1974 to 1978, when he was 12 to 16 years old. St. Matthews is named as one of the defendants in the case. The lawsuit names three churches, including another in New York and one in Tennessee. Two local pastors are also identified in the lawsuit, but are not named because they have since died. St. Matthews has not yet responded to NEWSChannel 2s request for comment. An Adelaide man who killed his friend in an 'utterly senseless', drug-fuelled car crash has been jailed for three years. Hayden John Pepe, 19, was driving on a suspended licence when an unmarked police car began following him at Para Hills, north of the CBD, in December 2018. Pepe was pursued for 30-40 seconds while driving at speeds of up to 120km/h before he oversteered and vaulted across a gully, slamming into large trees and bushes. Hayden John Pepe was jailed after pleading guilty to aggravated death by dangerous driving over the crash that killed 19-year-old Phillip Frith (Frith pictured with a friend) His silver Ford plunged down a gully less than two minutes later, hitting several trees His passenger, Phillip Frith, 19, died at the scene, while Pepe was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Sentencing him in the District Court on Wednesday, Judge Barry Beazley said a sample taken after the crash revealed Pepe had a high level of cannabis in his blood. He acknowledged Pepe had not intended to kill or harm his friend, but said his actions had devastating consequences. 'It was utterly senseless and, in my view, can only be properly explained by your immaturity,' he said. 'Mr Frith was undoubtedly loved by his family and friends... a court cannot do justice for the pain and anger of any family members.' Judge Beazley said Pepe's attempt to escape police, his disqualification from driving and the cannabis in his system made his actions particularly serious. Family members of Hayden Pepe leave the Adelaide District after he was sentenced for the aggravated death of Philip Frith by dangerous driving in Adelaide on Wednesday Hayden John Pepe, 19, was driving on a suspended licence when an unmarked police car began following him at Para Hills, north of the CBD, in December 2018 'Young people... think they're bulletproof, nothing will happen,' he said. 'In your case, while your escape from a pursuit was spontaneous, it made it infinitely more dangerous.' Pepe, who pleaded guilty to aggravated causing death by dangerous driving, was jailed for three years with a non-parole period of two years, five months. The sentence was backdated to January 2018, when he was first taken into custody. Pepe will also be disqualified for driving for 10 years after his release from prison. The quick consideration of the mercy petition and swift rejection thereof cannot be a ground for judicial review of the President's order rejecting the mercy plea of Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case convict Mukesh Kumar Singh, the Supreme Court said on Wednesday. A three-judge bench headed by Justice R Banumathi and comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and A S Bopanna dismissed the petition filed by the convict challenging the rejection of his mercy petition by the President. "The quick consideration of the mercy petition and swift rejection of the same cannot be a ground for judicial review of the order passed under Article 72/161 of the Constitution. Nor does it suggest that there were pre-determined mind and non-application of mind," the apex court said in the order. The court said that it shall keep in mind that where the power is vested in very high authority, it must be presumed that the said authority would act carefully after an objective consideration of all the aspects of the matter. One of the death row convicts, Mukesh Kumar Singh had moved the Supreme Court challenging the rejection of the mercy petition by the President of India and sought commutation of his death sentence to life imprisonment. "As pointed out earlier, the note put up before the President of India is a detailed one and that all the relevant materials were placed before the President of India and upon consideration of the same, the mercy petition was rejected," the Supreme Court said. "Merely because there a was quick consideration and rejection of the petitioner's mercy petition, it cannot be assumed that the matter was preceded with the pre-determined mind," added the top court. The court said that delay in disposal of mercy petition may be a ground calling for judicial review of the order passed under Article 72/161 of the Constitution but added that it does not find any such ground in this case. It noted that while the petitioner has alleged that he was put under solitary confinement for eight months and nine days, in violation of the principles of the Sunil Batra, the Centre and Delhi government have refuted the claims. In his affidavit, Director General, Prisons, has denied the averment that the petitioner was kept in solitary confinement. Four people -- Mukesh Kumar Singh, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Vinay Kumar Sharma, and Akshay Kumar Singh -- are facing execution on February 1 in the matter. The case pertains to the gang-rape of a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus on the chilling night of December 16, 2012, by six people including a juvenile in Delhi. The woman had died at a Singapore hospital a few days later. One of the five adult accused, Ram Singh, had committed suicide in the Tihar jail during the trial of the case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan on Wednesday said that no one should underestimate the resolve of the people and the armed forces of the country to effectively thwart any aggressive action, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed Islamabad for waging proxy wars against India. Addressing the National Cadet Corps in New Delhi, Modi on Tuesday also said the Indian armed forces won't take more than a week-10 days to make Pakistan bite dust. In a statement, the Foreign Office said that Pakistan "completely rejects" these remarks, which are "another reflection of India's incurable obsession with Pakistan and the BJP Government and leadership's desperate attempts to divert attention" from domestic and international criticism of their policies. "No one should underestimate the resolve of the people and the armed forces of Pakistan to effectively thwart any aggressive action," the FO said, citing the Balakot incident. The statement also urged the international community to take cognizance of the "Indian leadership's continuing belligerent rhetoric and aggressive measures, which pose a threat to regional peace and security". "We hope steps would be taken to facilitate peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute for durable peace and stability in South Asia," it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that China has full confidence and capability to win the battle against the outbreak of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Xi made the remarks when meeting with visiting World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The Chinese people are now fighting a very serious battle against the epidemic, said Xi, adding that the people's safety and health always come first, and thus the prevention and control of the outbreak is the country's most important work for now. Xi said he chaired a special meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on the outbreak on Saturday, the first day of this lunar new year. He said the comprehensive deployment has been made for the containment and mitigation of the epidemic, and a central leading group on battling the virus was established. "The epidemic is a devil. We will not let it hide," said Xi. Chinese government has released information about the epidemic in a timely, open, transparent and responsible manner, responded to concerns of all sides actively, and enhanced cooperation with the international community, Xi said. Hailing the WHO's important role in coordinating global public health affairs, Xi said China attaches great importance to the cooperation with the WHO. The WHO is welcome to participate in the epidemic containment, Xi said, adding that WHO experts have visited Wuhan in central China where the virus first broke out. China is ready to work with the WHO as well as the international community to safeguard regional and global public health security, Xi said. Xi said he believes that the WHO and the international community will assess the epidemic situation in an objective, just, calm and reasonable way. China has the full confidence and capability to win the battle against the virus with concerted efforts, scientific containment and targeted policies under the strong leadership of the CPC, said Xi. Tedros said it is admirable that the Chinese government has shown its solid political resolve and taken timely and effective measures in dealing with the epidemic. President Xi's personal guidance and deployment show his great leadership capability, Tedros said. He said that China has released information in an open and transparent manner, identified the pathogen in a record-short time and shared the genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus in a timely manner with the WHO and other countries. China's measures are not only protecting its people, but also protecting the people in the whole world, he said. Hailing the high speed and massive scale of China's moves are rarely seen in the world, Tedros said it showed China's efficiency and the advantages of China's system. The experience of China is worth learning for other countries, he said, adding that he believes the measures China has taken will effectively control and finally prevail over the epidemic. The WHO firmly supports China's measures against the epidemic and stands ready to enhance cooperation with China and provide all necessary assistance, Tedros said. He said the WHO will make assessment based on science and facts, and opposes overreaction and groundless accusations. The WHO speaks highly of China's major role in and great contribution to the cause of global public health, and is ready to further conduct strategic cooperation with China, said Tedros. Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi received on Wednesday a phone call from German Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss the latest developments following the US proposal for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to a statement issued by Egyptian presidency spokesman Bassam Rady. The two leaders agreed on the importance of opening channels of dialogue to resume negotiations under the auspices of the US and present both sides' visions to reach a consensus and achieve a comprehensive and just peace, restore all the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, and support stability and security in the Middle East. The two leaders also discussed the Libyan issue and the developments following the Berlin Summit, and agreed on supporting UN efforts to implement the results of the summit to reach a comprehensive solution to the Libyan crisis and restore stability. El-Sisi praised the efforts by the German chancellor to settle the Libyan crisis, stressing the necessity of implementing the outcomes of the Berlin Summit. The German chancellor praised the positive role the Egyptian president has played in working to resolve the Libyan crisis and his active participation in the Berlin meetings. Merkel stressed Germany's keenness to coordinate with Egypt concerning various regional and international issues of common concern. Amol Agrawal RH Patil would be smiling somewhere in his heavenly abode. His contribution to Indian financial markets was underappreciated during his lifetime, but there is some appreciation post his sad demise in 2012. The NSE (National Stock Exchange) started the RH Patil memorial lectures in 2016 and the annual series has already seen two Economics Nobel Laureates grace the event. The 2018 lecture was given by Robert Merton (MIT, Nobel in 1997 for his work on financial derivatives) and the 2019 one was given Robert Engle (NYU, Nobel in 2003 for his work on financial volatility). Merton spoke on designing financial products to help the ageing society. In this article, I review Engles lecture which is addressing an equally important challenge. Engle touched on the subject of geopolitical risks and impact of these risks on financial markets. Geopolitical risks basically mean all the risks which arise due to political tensions between two countries/regions on all kinds of aspects: trade wars, terrorism, military and the like. These risks, which ideally should remain within the conflicted regions, spread across the world financial markets, especially if conflicts involve the United States and oil-producing regions as is often the case. For students of finance, geopolitical risks are hardly new. Most analysts often attribute the changes in prices of various financial assets they track to geopolitical risks. In fact, the joke is if you cannot find a reason for sudden changes in financial assets, just say geopolitical risk. In the lecture, Engle pointed out that he and his team have developed a measure for estimating geopolitical risks named GEOVOL which is updated regularly. In sets of slides with fascinating graphs and tables, he adds how this GEOVOL is positively correlated across equity markets across the world. The positive values imply that that geopolitical risks impact all markets similarly. If markets were random, then we should see some markets showing negative values, but this is not the case. This again refutes the efficient markets hypothesis on which much of theory of finance is based. In addition to GEOVOL, Engle spoke on another measure named SRISK, which stands for systemic risk. Systemic risk has become a widely popular concept, after the 2008 crisis. Financial firms may have low risks when analysed individually, but the financial system as a whole may have high risks if business models of the individual firms are similar. The GEOVOL could be one of the reasons for rise in the SRISK as we see above that geopolitical risks impact all markets positively. On the ranking of 40 countries, markets in France are impacted the most and Pakistan the least. Indian markets are not high on the list and are third last. Engle also showed more measures that capture geopolitical risks, saying each has a different dimension and is important. For instance, Blackrock has a geopolitical risk dashboard and is updated regularly as it is valued by its clients. The SRISK shows how much capital banks need due to several risks over time. For instance, in the 2008 crisis, globally banks would have needed around $3.7 trillion of capital, which declined to $2.5 trillion as the crisis eased. In the European crisis, the banks would have needed $4 trillion. The levels had declined since then, but have moved upwards of $4 trillion lately. This shows risks have risen significantly due to ongoing tensions between the US and China. Actually, if we look at the US and China separately, we see Chinese banks being more undercapitalised than the US. China tops the list in the SRISK rankings ($1.1 trillion of capital) with India at the 11th place ($100 billion). If we normalise and compute the SRISK as a ratio of total assets, Japan tops the list with 5.5 per cent followed by Korea at 5.2 per cent levels. China drops to the sixth position with a ratio of 4 per cent. In the ratio ranking, India moves higher to the ninth position (3.5 per cent). In India, not surprisingly, the SBI contributes the most to the SRISK followed by the PNB and the Canara Bank. However, as all three are State-owned, we need not worry about their impact. Yes Bank, which is making headlines for all the wrong reasons, is eighth on the list. In terms of policy measures, bankruptcy reform is one of the ways and India has recently activated the bankruptcy law. China has also established bankruptcy court of late and it has to be seen whether the country can make progress on this front. Overall, the lecture was useful and timely, given importance of geopolitical and systemic risks in the financial system. Academicians in economics are often attacked for not really focusing on the current economic problems. Engle clearly does not belong to the list and its interesting to see him address and answer questions from an audience which mainly comprised market participants. Engle is an academic who thinks about new problems of financial markets. In a way, this lecture was a perfect tribute to Patil who also thought about similar problems affecting Indias financial markets, though he did it as a practitioner with an academic mind. Jaipur, Jan 29 : Rajasthan's Udaipur saw tension on Wednesday when protesters, calling for a shutdown against the CAA, clashed with traders, who refused to pull down the shutters of their shops. The situation turned violent and police carried out a baton charge to control the situation. Around 10-12 people have been detained and cases registered in three police stations - Hathipol, Surajpole and Bhupalpura. Police officials said violence erupted in different parts of the city on Wednesday between anti-CAA protesters and shopkeepers. They said that a few organisations had given a call for a shutdown against the CAA and called for the markets to remain shrt. The protesters gathered at the Town Hall, raising slogans against the CAA and the Central government, and then took out a procession towards the Delhi Gate. But as the protesters crossed the Bapu Bazaar where the shops were open, they tried to get them shut and started pelting stones. This created tension and police baton charged to disperse the mob. Superintendent of Police Kailash Chandra Bishnoi did not respond to phone calls from IANS, while local police officials said that they are busy with panchayat elections and hence, complete details about the incident are not available with them. Ivanka Trump stood out in a bright red Carolina Herrera coat and dark sunglasses as she watched her father, President Donald Trump, sign the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement on Wednesday. The 38-year-old first daughter was seen arriving on the South Lawn of the White House with her husband and fellow White House senior adviser, Jared Kushner, ahead of the ceremony. The temperature was in the low 40s, and Ivanka kept warm in her fit-and-flare double-faced coat with a scarf, which she paired with sheer black tights and black patent leather heels. First daughter duties: Ivanka Trump watched her father, President Donald Trump, sign the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement on the South Lawn of the White House on Wednesday Lady in red: The first daughter donned a bright Carolina Herrera coat, which she paired with sheer black tights and black patent leather heels All done up: The 38-year-old's blonde lob was styled in loose waves, and her dangly pearl earrings peeked out from underneath her hair The mother of three added a touch of glamour to her look by sporting a pair of dark, oversized shades that shielded her eyes from the sun. Her blonde lob was styled in loose waves, and her dangly pearl earrings peeked out from underneath her hair. For the second day in a row, Ivanka had on her large, square, cushion-cut diamond engagement ring. The former businesswoman has mostly steered clear of ostentatious jewelry since she started working as a White House senior adviser, and she rarely wears the 5.22-carat jewel that is rumored to be worth over $500,000. Political partners: Ivanka was seen arriving on the South Lawn of the White House with her husband and fellow White House senior adviser, Jared Kushner Accessories: Ivanka added a touch of glamour to her look by sporting a pair of dark, oversized shades that shielded her eyes from the sun Patriotic: Ivanka's cherry-colored coat perfectly matched her husband's red striped tie Wednesday's ceremony also marked the second time she was photographed wearing her Carolina Herrera coat. Ivanka was first seen wearing it in October when she walked her three children to their local synagogue to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret. Throwback: Ivanka was first seen wearing the coat in October when she walked her three children to their local synagogue to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret Meanwhile, Jared, 39, sported a navy wool coat over his standard navy suit, though he jazzed up his signature work outfit with a blue and red striped tie. The couple may have been going for a patriotic look, as Ivanka's cherry-colored coat perfectly matched her husband's tie. The first daughter left her Washington, D.C. in a Secret Service vehicle straight from her garage on Wednesday morning around 10:30 a.m. three hours after Jared stepped out the door. Always an early riser, Jared was seen leaving their front gate with his coat and black work bag in his hand around 7:30 a.m. The couple later reunited at the White House and attended the signing ceremony together while showing their supporter for her father. President Trump is eager to show off a big policy triumph during his impeachment trial by signing into law a major rewrite of the rules of trade with Canada and Mexico. Trump made renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement a priority during his 2016 campaign, although trade experts say the impact of the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will be modest. Last-minute chat: Ivanka stopped to talk to someone at the signing ceremony before it started Proud: The first daughter was all smiles as she stood behind her father on stage Planned? Ivanka also matched her dad, who changed up his look by wearing a red tie with navy stripes Canada and Mexico already represent the top two export markets for U.S. goods. But the pact, along with the signing of a 'phase one' agreement with China, dials down trade tensions that contributed to slowing economic growth globally. The leaders of the three nations signed the new pact in late 2018. Legislation implementing the North American deal received overwhelming, bipartisan support in Congress after several months of behind-the-scenes negotiations between Democratic lawmakers and the Trump administration. Still, it appeared that prominent Democratic lawmakers were left off the White House guest list for Wednesday's event. The snub came after the Democratic-led House impeached Trump. 'What the president will be signing is quite different from what the president sent us,' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Wednesday. 'We were able to make vast improvements. If we weren't, we would not have been able to pass the bill.' Goal: President Trump is eager to show off a big policy triumph during his impeachment trial by signing into law a major rewrite of the rules of trade with Canada and Mexico On the go: Ivanka left her Washington, D.C. in a Secret Service vehicle straight from her garage on Wednesday morning around 10:30 a.m. First out: Always an early riser, Jared was seen leaving their front gate with his coat and black work bag in his hand around 7:30 a.m. Rep. Richard Neal, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said it only passed Congress because of how the Democrats forced changes in Trump's original proposal. 'They voted for it for one reason, is because of how we shaped and altered the president's proposal,' he explained. Trump has billed the agreement as 'a new model of trade for the 21st century.' Speaking to supporters at a New Jersey rally on Tuesday night, Trump said: 'Tomorrow we will replace the NAFTA nightmare, one of the worst trade deals ever in history.' NAFTA, which took effect in 1994, tore down trade barriers between the three North American countries and commerce between them surged. But Trump and other critics said NAFTA encouraged factories to leave the United States and relocate south of the border to take advantage of low-wage Mexican labor. Support system: Ivanka watched her father, President Donald Trump, unveil his plan for peace in the Middle East in the East Room of the White House on Tuesday Focused: Ivanka had a serious look on her face ahead of the announcement Bling ring: The White House senior adviser had her hands clasped together, revealing her diamond engagement ring, which features a large, square, cushion-cut diamond Trump threatened to leave NAFTA if he couldn't get a better deal, creating uncertainty over regional trade. The independent U.S. International Trade Commission last year calculated that the U.S.-Mexico-Canada deal would add 0.35 per cent, or $68 billion, to economic growth and generate 176,000 jobs over six years not much of a change for a $22 trillion economy with 152 million non-farm jobs. It's been a busy week for Ivanka and Jared, who were also on hand to watch the president unveil his plan for peace in the Middle East on Tuesday in the East Room of the White House. The first daughter looked somber when she arrived at the event wearing a black collarless suit jacket and a matching skirt. Trump released the plan before a pro-Israel audience at the White House with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by his side. In the latest turn of a dramatic and winding court saga, a naval appeals court has released a split decision finding that a Navy retiree was properly court-martialed and convicted for a crime committed after he had left active duty. The en banc decision was published Jan. 24 by the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals, with four judges agreeing with the final decision and three others dissenting. The matter concerns retired Chief Petty Officer Stephen Begani, who pleaded guilty to attempted sexual assault and attempted sexual abuse of a child in December 2017, after corresponding and making plans with a Naval Criminal Investigative Service undercover agent pretending to be a 15-year-old girl. Begani had already transferred to inactive status in the Fleet Reserve following 24 years on active duty at the time of the crime, and appealed his conviction on the grounds that it was unconstitutional to court-martial active-duty retirees like him when retired reservists were not subject to court-martial. In an Aug. 9, 2019, decision described as a "bombshell," the NMCCA agreed with Begani, overturning his sentence of 18 months' confinement and a bad-conduct discharge. Related: New 'Bombshell' Legal Opinion Says Military Retirees Can't Be Court-Martialed The victory, however, would be short-lived. In October, the appeals court withdrew its opinion, setting up conditions for reconsideration and an overturn, which came four months later. Begani's attorney, Navy Lt. Daniel Rosinski, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the development and whether he plans to appeal the reaffirmation of his client's sentence. Delivering the majority opinion of the court, NMCCA Judge Marine Lt. Col. John Stephens wrote that the decision was based in part on Begani's membership in the Fleet Reserve, where, although functionally retired, he continued to receive some "retainer pay" and base privileges. Members of the Fleet Reserve and the Marine Corps equivalent are enlisted and have more than 20, but less than 30, years of service; they are transferred to the retired list and receive retired pay when they hit the 30-year mark. The Air Force and the Army don't have comparable retired Reserve contingents. The Defense Department's interest in maintaining authority over this group is tied to its need to be ready to fight in case of a major crisis or catastrophe, Stephens wrote. "It appears plain that Congress intended for Fleet Reservists to be among the first 'retired' Service Members to be drawn from," he said. "No declaration of war or national emergency is required by Congress. No other legal precursors are required. The Secretary of the Navy can return Appellant, and any other members of the Fleet Reserve, to active duty with a mere signature." Court-martial power is also connected to this contingency, he wrote, noting that the government would need the authority to prosecute any who refused to return to service. Retired pay, too, comes with strings attached: While typically viewed as a pension, its reality is more complex. "While the Supreme Court has viewed, for tax purposes, this salary as deferred pay for past services, the salary such retirees receive has generally been viewed not as a mere pension but as 'a means devised by Congress to assure their availability and preparedness for future contingencies,'" Stephens wrote. By contrast, he noted, regular reservists are not subject to court-martial when not drilling or performing other duties, and do not receive retired pay before the age of 60. "Members of the Fleet Reserve, like Appellant, have typically been career active duty enlisted Sailors. That means they have been on continuous, salaried active military service for at least two decades, and subject to the UCMJ throughout that entire time," Stephens said. "Their transfer to the Fleet Reserve is but an extension of this continuity, in terms of salary, readiness requirements, recallability, and jurisdiction." In a concurring opinion, two of the court's judges took issue with the fact that Begani claimed his court-martial was improper only in the appeals process, and after pleading guilty. "Appellant's failure to lodge this claim with the court below leaves us thin means in the record to address such a weighty constitutional claim of first impression," wrote Judge Navy Capt. Arthur Gaston. But three judges, including the court's chief judge, Navy Capt. James Crisfield, dissented, maintaining that Begani was wrongly court-martialed in his retired status. Crisfield wrote the court's original opinion overturning Begani's sentence. "I acknowledge that there is little case law to guide our determination of whether these groups of retirees are similarly situated for equal protection purposes," Crisfield wrote. "I nonetheless feel confident determining that members of the Fleet Reserve, Regular component retirees, and Reserve component retirees are similarly situated because there is no meaningful distinction, legally or factually, between the groups that is relevant to good order and discipline in the armed forces." Military retired pay, he wrote, "is not contingent on ... continued military usefulness or employability. [Retirees'] actual ability to contribute to the accomplishment of a military mission is completely irrelevant to their status." Most importantly, the dissenting opinion noted, "the fact that retired reservists are subject to immediate recall into active service under certain circumstances runs counter to the argument that they have no military status whatsoever." Zachary Spilman, an attorney who specializes in military justice and is a major in the Marine Corps Reserve, first reported the case development on his military appellate court blog CAAFlog. Spilman, who had previously predicted that the original appellate decision would be overturned and Begani's sentence approved, said that, for him, the case came down to receipt of military pay. "You are being paid for your service, and with your service comes jurisdiction," he said. Reserve retired pay is treated differently than active-duty retired pay, he noted, and is entirely separated from membership in a continuing military status. While Begani could petition the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces to review the case, Spilman noted the facts and circumstances might make it a poor test case with which to overturn current law. Among those facts: Begani had continued to live near the Okinawa military base where he had served at the time of his crime, and he pleaded guilty to the grave criminal offense of which he was accused. The issue of whether military retirees should be court-martialed may soon be revisited, however. Last March, Marine Staff Sgt. Steven Larrabee filed a federal lawsuit in the District of Columbia, asking the court to find that his court-martial conviction on charges of indecent recording and sexual assault while a member of the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve was unconstitutional. Larrabee sued after the Supreme Court decided not to hear his case in February 2019. A decision on the lawsuit is still pending. Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correct the name of the judge delivering the opinion of the court. It is Lt. Col. John Stephens. -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. Read more: 41-Year-Old Medal of Honor Hero Now Faces His Hardest Fight on a New Battlefield Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 02:37:45|Editor: yan Video Player Close RAMALLAH, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stressed on Wednesday that the announced U.S. Middle East peace plan, also known as the "Deal of the Century," must be confronted and won't be allowed to pass. Abbas' remarks were made during a telephone conversation with his Lebanese counterpart Michel Aoun earlier on Wednesday afternoon, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported. The news agency's report said that Abbas informed Aoun that he rejected the U.S. peace plan and is sticking to the international legitimacy as the only way to solve the Palestinian question. The report said that Aoun explained to Abbas that Lebanon is fully supporting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. "We back any position you take to protect your rights," Aoun was quoted as saying. Aoun expressed to Abbas his hope that all Arab countries would make a decisive and unified position that supports the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump officially declared his 80-page plan for peace in the Middle East with the presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The new U.S. plan outraged the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, who demonstrated and clashed with Israeli soldiers against the plan. At least 40 demonstrators were injured all over the West Bank, according to medics. Demonstrators and political leaders have largely opposed the U.S. plan, saying that it ruined their dream of establishing a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. A Delhi court on Wednesday sent Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Sharjeel Imam, arrested on sedition charges, to five days of police custody. Imam was arrested from his village in Bihars Jehanabad by a joint team of Delhi and Bihar police on Tuesday, three days after a case of sedition was registered against him in Delhi for his allegedly inflammatory and instigating speech. Police in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Manipur had filed FIRs after a video of his purported speech outside the Jamia Millia Islamia during an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protest on December 13, 2019, calling to cut off the Northeast surfaced. Following his arrest, the Delhi Police had said they will also probe his role in the three cases of violence and vandalism at Jamia Millia University and New Friends Colony on December 13 and 15. He has been booked under sections 124A (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity between religious groups) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code. Former JNU Students Union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar who also faces a sedition charge said there are enough laws to arrest someone for an offensive speech. If someone gives an instigating speech then FIR can be registered against him under various sections...But if sedition laws are misused then it is not right for the unity and security of our country, ANI quoted him as saying. The JNU Teachers Association has also criticized the sedition charge against Imam. it has been persuasively argued by legal experts that these remarks do not warrant a charge of sedition and there are other reasons behind the sedition law being invoked, it said in a statement. JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh also issued a statement saying what is to be noted is how the sedition law of the colonial era has been used time and again to target and witch-hunt political voicesmain agenda is to de-legitimise the democratic protests going on throughout the country led by women and youth against CAA-NPR-NRC. She also criticized the police saying, The urgency shown by Delhi Police on this matter and being totally absent during the 5th January shows clearly on whose line the police are working. On January 5, teachers and students in JNU were attacked by a masked mob. More than three weeks since the attack, the Delhi Police is yet to make a single arrest. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Assembly Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan has made it clear that the resolution moved by Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala under Rule 30 seeking to recall the Governor is legally admissible. But he also hinted that a face-off between Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and the state government is unlikely in the budget session, saying the action to be taken upon the resolution will be decided in consultation with the Chief Minister and business advisory committee of the assembly. Addressing a press meet in the secretariat on Tuesday, he explained that as per the rules and procedures and conduct of business in the Assembly, the resolution moved under Rule 30 is legally admissible. Since no date is fixed for the discussion of such motion, it shall be immediately notified in the Assembly bulletin with the heading no-day-yet-named motions. Further, Rule 136 allows the Speaker to allot time for the discussion of any such motion after considering the state of business in the Assembly and in consultation with the leader of the house or on the recommendation of the Business Advisory Committee, he said. Citing the technicality, he gave the impression that the business advisory committee and leader of the house, i.e. the Chief Minister, would take a final call on this matter. In short, it would be a political decision whether to allow or not the resolution moved by the Opposition leader for discussion in the House rather than precedence. The LDF leaders have conveyed in the last two days through their public discourse that they would not take the bait of the Opposition leader, saying the resolution was politically motivated and intended to widen the rift between the state government and Raj Bhavan. Meanwhile, the Speaker has announced that the 18th session of the assembly would begin on Wednesday with the policy speech of the Governor. The 10-day session will conclude on February 12. The budget for the financial year 2020-2021 would be presented in the assembly on February 7, while the bill seeking to increase the number of wards in the local bodies would be tabled in the house on February 6. In the 10-day session, three days each are allotted for the debate on the motion of thanks and the budget discussion. From this session, e-niyamasabha concept would be started and the policy address of the Governor would be made available in digital format. The state-level inauguration of the 'democratic campus' (janathipathya kalalayam), a programme devised to take the concept of niyamasabha to campuses, will be held at MES College and implemented in at least one campus in every constituency, he said. OTTAWA, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Optiwave Systems Inc., the leading provider of optical component and system design tools, today announced the immediate availability of its OptiSPICE plugin for Tanner. As a result of a collaboration between Optiwave and Mentor, a Siemens business, OptiSPICE optical models supporting Tanner GPIC PDK are now available. The seamless integration of OptiSPICE optical models into the Tanner photonic flow helps enables the simulation of complex optoelectronic circuits from schematic and/or mask layout. Time and frequency domain simulations with experimentally or numerically verified electrical and optical models can now be launched from an S-Edit schematic and evaluated using a single simulation engine, T-Spice. With the addition of OptiSPICE optical models, Mentors Tanner photonic flow can offer an excellent environment for optoelectronic circuit designs with highly nonlinear components, control circuits and feedback loops. A co-simulation interface with OptiSPICE and T-Spice has been co-developed by the two companies. This helps enable simulation between the optical domain and the transistor domain to validate that the PIC works in conjunction with the interface circuitry, said Greg Lebsack, General Manager, IC Design Solutions at Mentor, a Siemens business. The photonic and interface designs now can be validated simultaneously via cross domain simulation. For information on news and updates on this software integration package: https://optiwave.com/resources/latest-news/optispice-tanner-plugin/ About Optiwave Systems Inc. Optiwave (www.optiwave.com) is a leading provider of engineering design software products for photonic, biophotonic, and system design engineers. Optiwave provides a comprehensive variety of optical component and system design tools to hundreds of leading high-technology businesses and academic institutions. An established community of engineers and scientists in over seventy countries supports Optiwaves hallmark of achievements in Canadian business for 25 years. Optiwave is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada with an established distribution network throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. To download a free evaluation license, please visit Optiwaves online resource centre at www.optiwave.com . Note: A list of relevant Siemens trademarks can be found here . - The budget deficit of the United States of America is likely to reach over $1 trillion for the first time since 2012 - Increase in government spending has been identified as the key reason for the increase in the level of deficit - This however comes in the wake of steady growth in the economy but there are reasons to believe it could reach about $31 trillion in the next decade Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in YEN.com.gh has learned that the United States of America (USA)s deficit for the year 2020 is likely to be over $1 trillion. This, per reports available, is projected to be the highest since the year 2012, when the country was pursuing stimulus measures to help the nation recover from the Great Recession. Businessinsider.com reports that such the increase in the deficit is as a result of the US government spending more than it is able to accrue as revenue, despite a steady growth in the economy. Source: businessinsider.com Source: UGC READ ALSO: Wearables shoots up Apple's 2020 first quarter revenue According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office on Tuesday, January 28, 2020, the budget deficit is projected to hit $1.02 trillion in the fiscal year that started on October 1, 2019. It has however been determined that borrowing is likely to continue over the next decade and could hit an unprecedented $31 trillion. In other news, France has expressed fears about the possibility of the United States of America (USA) reducing its military activities in West Africa. Of greater concern to France is the likelihood that the USA may cut down support for its (France) military activities in the sub-region. This follows a shift in the list of priorities of the U.S with regard to defence in West Africa. YEN.com.gh understands that there has been a shift in the focus on counter-terrorism to competition for power. Per a report by cfr.org, USs Department of Defense has been mulling over a reduction in its assets in Africa, especially West Africa. In Frances opinion, this would be a mistake, as there are still trouble spots in the region with regard to terrorism. Information available shows that there has been an exponential rise in terrorism in countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad. Frances president, Emmanuel Macron, has intimated that his country would only stay at the request of the governments in the region. At a meeting with five francophone heads of states in early January 2020, they reaffirmed their desire for the French to stay. READ ALSO: Ghanaian soldier leads 'jama' session on wedding day; video drops Read the best news on Ghana #1 news app. Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana Ghanaian Traders Share Thoughts on Sales During Christmas | #Yencomgh Use the comments section below to share your views on this story. Do you have a story to share or you have information for us? Get featured on YEN.com.gh. Message us on Facebook or Instagram Source: YEN.com.gh [January 29, 2020] IndiaNivesh Appoints Premal Doshi as Managing Director - Investment Banking MUMBAI, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- IndiaNivesh, one of India's fastest growing financial services firms, has appointed Premal Doshi as Managing Director - Investment Banking. With over 25 years of rich and diverse experience in the banking and financial services industry, Premal is a renowned industry veteran and a leading expert in public market capital raising. During his long career spanning over more than two decades, he has held senior positions across several organizations in the banking and financial services sector. Prior to joining IndiaNivesh, Premal was at the helm of the Equity Capital Markets of IndusInd Bank as its Executive Vice President, where he played an instrumental role in initiating the Public Equity Markets business for the bank. Prior to IndusInd Bank, Premal held leadership positions at several leading financial services firms such as Ambit Corporate Finance, Antique Capital Markets, Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors, Lazard India and J P Morgan. On assuming the new role of Managing Director - Investment Banking at IndiaNivesh, Premal said, "IndiaNivesh is strengthening its Investment Banking Service offerings with a clear focus on taking this business to greater heights. Having a state-o-the-art infrastructure and a robust platform already in place, the emphasis will now be to service mid-tier corporate clients as well as promoters across sectors. IndiaNivesh with its Equity Capital Markets offerings and other services like Wealth Management, NBFC and Private Equity, will now complete its service offering bouquet and be able to function as a 'one-stop-shop' solutions provider for mid-tier corporates and others. I look forward to the being a part of these exciting times and contributing in the growth story of the company." Speaking about the appointment, Mr. Rajesh Nuwal, Founder & Managing Director, IndiaNivesh said, "With Corporate India taking a lead towards the $5 trillion milestone by 2024, primary market activities will likely see a spurt. The growing need for the industry to raise risk capital in keeping pace with the economy will also fuel public fund raising activities in the coming years. Clearly, there will be exciting times ahead and an opportunity to build a targeted growth story for IndiaNivesh's Investment Banking business with an industry veteran like Premal on board. We welcome him to the IndiaNivesh family and wish him all the best in his new role." About IndiaNivesh: IndiaNivesh is a full-fledged financial services company into stock broking, PMS, Wealth Management and having reputed clients that include Government Institutions, Public Finance Institutions, Foreign Institutional Investors, Domestic Institutions (Mutual Funds, Insurance Companies), HNI's, Corporate Houses and SME enterprises. The IndiaNivesh group is a member of the RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, BSE, NSE, MSEI, NCDEX, MCX, CDSL, NSDL and AMFI. The brand's motto: 'Trust, We Earn It' ensures effective solutions for customers with a strong emphasis on long term wealth creation and protection. To know more visit: www.indianivesh.in For media queries / information, please contact: Rovina Adenwalla Vice President - Corporate Communications Email: [email protected] [email protected] Arundhati Kursange [email protected] +91-7304992471 Account Manager Prose Integrated [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] London, Jan 29 : British Airways announced on Wednesday that it has suspended bookings on its website for direct flights from London to Beijing and Shanghai until March, after warnings over travel to China due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. BA.com, the UK flag carrier's website, shows no direct flights to China were available for January and February, the Metro newspaper said in a report. In a statement, British Airways said: "We have suspended all flights to and from mainland China with immediate effect following advice from the Foreign Office against all but essential travel. "We apologise to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority." An airlines spokeswoman said that the company was "assessing the situation". BA operates daily flights to Shanghai and Beijing from London's Heathrow Airport. On Tuesday, the UK Foreign Office advised against "all but essential" travel to mainland China due to the coronavirus outbreak. Urgent plans to bring Britons back from the coronavirus-hit Chinese province of Hubei were being finalised by the government, the Metro report said. However, the deadline for those stuck in the city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, and surrounding areas to contact the British consulate expressing their wish to leave passed at 3 a.m. on Wednesday. Flights taking Britons back home could begin as early as Thursday, according to a British teacher in Wuhan city who said UK citizens were being given details of forthcoming flights. The death toll in the country has risen to 132, with confirmed infections surging to nearly 6,000. Four cases have been confirmed in Germany, making it the second European country to report cases, after France. EKF Diagnostics, the global in vitro diagnostics company, announces that it is supporting the reduction of anemia in developing regions of South America through the use of its point-of-care (POC) hemoglobin analyzers, as highlighted in a recent International Symposium. EKFs Hemo Control hemoglobin analyzer has been helping the reliable screening and monitoring of anemia to fight chronic child malnutrition by South American public health programs for a number of years. In Peru, one such program has reduced chronic malnutrition in children under 5 years old from 28% to 13% since 2006. The significance of this achievement has been recognized by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. EKF Diagnostics Hemo Control hemoglobin analyzers can be used reliably to assess anemia in challenging environments. Image credit: EKF Diagnostics The ongoing Peruvian program was a focus of the International Symposium: Advances in Anemia which focused on hemoglobin testing and malnutrition prevention organized by Diagnostica Peruana SAC. With expert presentations given by senior figure in the Peruvian Ministry of Health, Dr Juan Carlos Noguera and from Mexicos National Institute of Medical Science and Nutrition Salvador Zubiran, nutritionist Marti Yareli Del Monte, the Symposium discussed how chronic child malnutrition is reduced by raising awareness and scaling up health and nutrition interventions in South America. Within Peru, this is achieved via a network of nutritionists and nurses from the Ministry of Health who routinely use EKFs robust Hemo Control analyzer in remote areas throughout the country for hemoglobin testing. Malnutrition is one of the major causes of anemia, so hemoglobin measurement using Hemo Control provides a reliable screening tool for the effectiveness of ongoing nutrition and health programs. The Symposium provided an ideal opportunity for the participating health workers to learn from the experts, and also meet and share their experiences and best practice for anemia screening programs which form an integral part of the larger nutrition programs, such as the Peruvian Programa Articulado Nutricional. The health workers using the Hemo Control highlighted its reliable use in extreme weather conditions; for example, in Peru there are approximately 8,600 of these point-of-care analyzers in action. They are being successfully deployed from coastal regions with temperatures over 35C; to the mountains, at more than 4,500 meters above sea level and far lower temperatures; and the jungle, with its humid, hot climate. However, due to its robustness and versatility the device works reliably to deliver simple, accurate and reliable hemoglobin and hematocrit test results whatever its location. Examples of Hemo Controls reliability were discussed at the Symposium. For example, in recent times northern Peru suffered damage due to the El Nino phenomenon. Many health facilities were flooded, including Cura Mori, in Piura: "The Hemoglobinometer case was floating in the water and I thought it was broken," said a nurse, But, thanks to its hermetic carry case, our Hemo Control is still working and fully supporting our efforts to fight against child malnutrition in Peru. The reliability of Hemo Control in adverse climatic conditions was also noted by other health workers from Andean cities such as Cerro de Pasco with very low annual average temperatures. The same positive results were obtained in Huancavelica, another high-altitude city regularly experiencing intense cold. The health workers also commented on the portability and excellent battery life of their Hemo Control devices. For example, Luis a nurse in the Huacavelica province of Perus Andean region, must walk for hours to reach otherwise inaccessible remote mountain villages for the anemia screening program. The ease of use, reliability and portability of the Hemo Control are essential for the success of my work. By having immediate, accurate hemoglobin results whatever my location, means I can assess and deliver the necessary nutritional supplements and fortification to prevent malnutrition in children wherever they live. Luis, nurse in the Huacavelica province of Perus Andean region EKF Diagnostics Hemo Control delivers quantitative, lab quality hemoglobin results from 25 seconds, it also calculates haematocrit. It uses the well-established photometric azide methemoglobin method ensuring reliable results with a high precision (CV <2%). Due to its backlit screen, soft-load cuvette holder and integrated rechargeable battery, it is the ideal analyzer for stationary use and mobile settings. The point-of-care analyzer also features a bi-directional interface using a public standard protocol that allows direct integration with third party software. Karen Hopkins died after choking inside Brewers Fayre in Ebbw Vale, Wales. (Wales News) A mum shouted "I'm going, I'm going" before she collapsed and died after choking on a mixed grill dinner at a restaurant, an inquest has heard. Karen Hopkins, 47, called out in desperation when she got into trouble at Brewers Fayre in Ebbw Vale, Wales, while out with her 27-year-old daughter Rhiannon. Ten minutes into their evening meal on 23 August last year, care assistant Karen, of Tredegar, Gwent, began to choke on a bone. In a statement, Rhiannon described how she battled to save her mums life. Karen Hopkins choked on a bone in her mixed grill. (Wales News) Rhiannon said: "I asked her if she was OK and she shook her head, she was unable to speak because she was choking so I slapped her back. "Someone came over and did the Heimlich manoeuvre on her two times. This worked and some frothy brown liquid came out. "She tried to put her hand to her mouth as if she was trying to grab something and she said 'I'm going, I'm going' before collapsing to the floor unresponsive. "I screamed 'someone call an ambulance she's choking'." Karen Hopkins daughter Rhiannon, 27, desperately tried to save her. (Wales News) Gwent Coroner's Court heard that an ambulance arrived but that 25 minutes later Karen was pronounced dead. A post-mortem examination found residual food bones in Ms Hopkins' larynx. READ MORE YAHOO UK NEWS HERE: Teenager fined for shouting 'is it a boy or is it a girl' at transgender PCSO Gunman jailed after forcing police officer's head underwater in 'grotesque' attack Police sniffer dog helps man find wedding ring he threw out after row with wife Senior Gwent coroner Caroline Saunders gave a conclusion of accidental death. She said: "Karen Hopkins died on August 23, 2019, in Brewers Fayre in Ebbw Vale after choking on a meal. "Her airway became obstructed and she died from the hypoxic effect of airway obstruction." Voters in Deptford and five other New Jersey districts on Tuesday were considering spending proposals totaling $110 million for repairs, security and additions in their public schools. Read more Voters in two South Jersey school districts on Tuesday appeared to have narrowly approved proposals for new spending to beef up security, add classrooms, and make building repairs, while a third district rejected two bond proposals. In unofficial results from the Gloucester County Board of Elections, voters passed bond questions in Deptford and Woodbury Heights, and rejected two proposals in Mantua. Provisional and mail-in ballots were pending. Those were the only districts in the area that asked voters to consider a school bond on Tuesday. Deptford proposed a $37.6 million bond issue to build an addition to Monongahela Middle School that includes 16 classrooms, two science labs, a music room, and a central district office space with a public meeting room. It also wants to add security vestibules to the main office. Deptford High would get a new HVAC system for the band and choral rooms. READ MORE: Voters in six N.J. school districts considering $110 million in construction projects With turnout unusually heavy in a special school election, the measure appeared to have passed by 1,243 to 1,079. The tax impact on a home assessed at the township average of $180,000 is $17.38, according to the countys website. The state would contribute $8.8 million. In Woodbury Heights, voters approved a $2 million bond proposal by 156-148. The measure calls for building an addition that includes a new main office and a security vestibule, converting classrooms for small group instruction, and replacing the gym floor. The bond would add $87.58 annually to the tax bill of a home assessed at the borough average of $177,707. The state would contribute $378,957. In Mantua, voters rejected two sequential questions to fund improvements at the three district schools. The first, for a $9.6 million bond, called for building new kindergarten classrooms, replacing a gym floor, and upgrading a security vestibule. Voters rejected it, 770-722. The measure would not have impacted taxes, the district said. By a 806-684 margin, voters rejected a second $1.3 million proposal to build handicapped-accessible bathrooms for pre-K and upgrade playgrounds at two elementary schools. Approval for the first proposal was needed for the second to pass. The second question would have increased taxes $9.87 annually for a home valued at the township average of $205,881, the district said. The state would have picked up about $2.4 million of the project costs. The district is scheduled to make its final payment on a current bond in March. Statewide, voters in six districts Tuesday considered school construction totaling $110 million. Some qualify for state funding to cover some of the costs. Tuesday was one of the five times during the year that school boards may propose a bond issue or special question to pay for school projects. The next date available for a special election is March 10. His mom, Sandy Arnold, told local news outlets she cornrows her sons hair and helps him tie it up and away from his ears, eyes and collar so it doesnt violate the student handbook, which reads: Male students hair will not extend, at any time, below the eyebrows, or below the ear lobes. Male students hair must not extend below the top of a T-shirt collar or be gathered or worn in a style that would allow the hair to extend below the top of a T-shirt collar, below the eyebrows, or below the ear lobes when let down. Hitting out at Union minister Anurag Thakur for his alleged "Desh Ke Gaddaro Ko, Goli Maaro Saalo Ko" statement at an election rally in Delhi, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) spokesperson Sudhindra Bhadoria demanded action against Thakur by the Central government. "I am quite sure this Central government should also take action against such Minister for using such language and he should be shown the door," saidBhadoria while talking to ANI. The Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi said in a report to the ECI on Tuesday that Thakur raised the slogans 'Desh Ke Gaddaro Ko, Goli Maaro Saalo Ko' many times while addressing a public meeting here in Rithala on January 27. "I think the statements which are being made by a very senior leader in the BJP are highly objectionable and condemnable and are against the law of the land, " said Bhadoria. "To ask people to shoot those who do not agree with them only incites violence. It creates a condition where people will become blood-thirsty. I think this kind of language should be treated seriously by the law and order machinery and the election commission," the BSP spokesperson said. Reacting on the arrest of JNU student Sharjeel Imam, Bhadoria said, "I think the law and order machinery is there. We as a nation and all citizens who live here have to function within the framework and the parameter of the Constitution of India." "There is a law and order machinery and the Judiciary which will examine each and every issue. I must say that this government is acting on lines that is creating division among people," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage along with other MEPs wave British flags ahead of a vote on the Withdrawal Agreement at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium January 29, 2020. REUTERS/Yves Herman IRISH MEP Mairead McGuinness shut down Nigel Farage's flag-waving during his final speech at the European Parliament. The European Parliament on Wednesday gave its final approval to Britain's divorce deal from the bloc, paving the way for Brexit to take place on Friday. Farage was greeted by cheers and the waving of union jack flags by his party's MEPs as he declared Britain was "never coming back". But McGuinness, a member of Fine Gael and the parliament's vice president, said: "If you disobey the rules, you get cut off. Could we please remove the flags? "Please sit down, resume your seats, put your flags away - youre leaving - and take them with you." In his final speech to the parliament, Mr Farage insisted there could be no turning back once Britain was out. "This is it, the final chapter, the end of the road, a 47-year political experiment that the British frankly have never been very happy with," he said. The Brexit Party leader said he hoped Britain's departure would start a debate across the rest of Europe about the EU's future. "I'm hoping this begins the end of this project. It's a bad project, it isn't just undemocratic, it's anti-democratic." Boris Johnson said the UK will make a "dignified" exit from the European Union and embark on a new chapter. Expand Close Nigel Farage in the parliament chamber at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. Photo: Yui Mok/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nigel Farage in the parliament chamber at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. Photo: Yui Mok/PA Wire The British Prime Minister said Brexit at 11pm on Friday would be a "moment of hope" for the country. But with the country still deeply split following the 2016 referendum, Mr Johnson said he would be celebrating in a "respectful" manner. Answering questions on Facebook, Johnson said: "What I will be doing is, in common with everybody else, I will be making a dignified exit from the European Union. "I will be celebrating in a way that I hope is respectful of the scale of the event, that does justice to the astonishing feat that Britain has accomplished but also is mindful of everybody's feelings about what we are doing. "It is a great moment for our country, it is a moment of hope and opportunity but it is also, I think, a moment for us to come together in a spirit of confidence." The prime minister will deliver an "address to the nation" an hour before the UK's departure from the bloc. Government buildings in Whitehall will be lit up in red, white and blue to celebrate Brexit, while Parliament Square and Pall Mall will be festooned with British flags. A light display, featuring a countdown clock, is also planned for Downing Street, while three million 50p coins will mark the occasion bearing the words "Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations." With additional reporting from PA Annie Perkins SHIFT Communications has named Annie Perkins managing director East, leading client teams and operations in Boston and New York. Perkins was previously senior vice president consumer and healthcare at the firm. Before coming to Shift in 2011, she worked at PAN Communications and Hearthstone Realty Corporation. In her new post, her focus will be on deepening client relationships by cultivating cross-network collaborations and creative integrations. SHIFT has also promoted human resources manager Kara Armit to chief of staff and named Sarah Babbitt transitions to vice president, marketing. Mike Dabadie Heart+Mind Strategies has named Mike Dabadie CEO of the company. Dabadie, a founding partner of Heart+Mind, had previously been serving as co-CEO with Dr. Dee Allsop, who will be on 18-month sabbatical, returning in early 2022. Dabadie will work closely with Mark Wirthlin, who continues to head the company's executive leadership as president/COO, as well as with the rest of his leadership team. Before helping to startup Heart+Mind, Dabadie was managing director, North America at London-based consulting firm Promise Corporation. He has also served as president, brand & strategy at Harris Interactive. Michelle Edelman New Orleans-based marketing and communications PETERMAYER has promoted EVP and chief strategy officer Michelle Edelman to agency president. Before joining the agency as vice president and strategy director in 2013, Edelman was president and director of communications planning at NYCA, a boutique firm in San Diego. She has also served as managing partner/director of planning at Ogilvy & Mather and SVP/director of planning at Leo Burnett. Petermayer owner Mark Mayer has shifted into the role of CEO and chairman, and co-owner Josh Mayer will continue as the agencys chief creative officer. Googles chief executive officer has left no doubt about how important he thinks artificial intelligence will be to humanity. AI is one of the most profound things were working on as humanity. Its more profound than fire or electricity, Alphabet Inc. CEO Sundar Pichai said in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday. Alphabet, which owns Google, has had to grapple with its role in the development of AI, including managing employee revolts against its work on the technology for the U.S. government. In 2018, a group of influential software engineers successfully delayed the development of a security feature that wouldve helped the company win military contracts. Google has issued a set of AI principles that prohibit weapons work, but doesnt rule out selling to the military. It has also pledged not to renew its Project Maven contract, which involves using artificial intelligence to analyze drone footage. Pichai, whos led Google since 2015, took control of Alphabet after founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin stepped down from day-to-day involvement last month. AI is no different from the climate, Pichai said. You cant get safety by having one country or a set of countries working on it. You need a global framework. Current frameworks to regulate the technology in the U.S. and Europe are a great start, and countries will have to work together on international agreements, similar to the Paris climate accord, to ensure its developed responsibly, Pichai said. Technology such as facial recognition can be used for good, such as finding missing people, or have negative consequences, such as mass surveillance, he said. Keith Enright, Googles chief privacy officer, also spoke about the potential of artificial intelligence and machine learning to continue developing new technologies and services using a minimum amount of customer data. Were right now really focused on doing more with less data, Enright said at a data-protection conference in Brussels 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. Powerful new European Union rules took effect across in May, giving privacy watchdogs the power to fine companies as much as 4% of annual global sales for serious violations. Google has come under scrutiny many times in Europe, with one probe in France resulting in a 50 million euro ($55 million) fine under the new law. Pichai had also stopped by Brussels on his way to Davos, giving a rare public speech, where he called on regulators to coordinate their approaches to artificial intelligence. The European Union is set to unveil new rules AI developers in high risk sectors, such as health care and transportation, according to an early draft obtained by Bloomberg. With assistance from Natalia Drozdiak. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics InsurTech Europe Data Driven Photo: Glacier Media The Bank of Canada launched its public consultation Wednesday on the next $5 bill. That means you can now vote on the new face of the fiver. Nominations will be accepted until March 11 via bankofcanada.ca for candidates who: Are Canadian by birth or naturalization who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, achievement or distinction in any field that have benefitted Canadians. Have been deceased for at least 25 years (before March 11, 1995). Are not a fictional character. Earlier this month, when the Bank of Canada governor spoke in Vancouver about changing the image of Sir Wilfrid Laurier on the $5, an online campaign sprung up to have Port Coquitlam hero Terry Fox on the bill to recognize his cancer research legacy. Terry Fox Hometown Run organizer Dave Teixeira suggested having Fox on the bank note would be an appropriate design this year given the annual run in his name marks its 40th anniversary in September. And Mayor Brad West said he plans to write a letter to the Bank of Canada in support of having Fox on the $5 bill. This open call for nominations is another great opportunity to highlight the many stories of heroes, sometimes unsung ones, who have helped shape the Canada we live in today, Governor Stephen Poloz said in a press release. I hope this process sparks conversations and encourages us all to learn more about our great country and its remarkable people. The new $5 bill is expected to be in circulation in three or four years. The first compensation payments to victims of historical institutional abuse are planned to be made this spring. Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service David Sterling revealed the time frame while giving evidence to the Executive Office scrutiny committee at Stormont on Wednesday. Legislation was passed at Westminster last November to allow victims to receive redress. Mr Sterling said he hopes the first payments will be made from April/May. The intention is that the application process will be open by the end of March at the latest, and that the first redress panel will be in place in April to begin to considerDavid Sterling Responding to questions by committee chairman Colin McGrath, Mr Sterling said the department had recognised that this was one of the areas that would most keenly feel the absence of devolved government, and he decided to make it a top priority. He said since the legislation completed its passage through Westminster, civil servants have been working very hard with victims and survivors to put structures in place to allow redress payments to flow as quickly as possible. The first redress board is essentially in place, there are rules the redress board need to adopt which are reaching conclusion, there is also an application process which will need to be constructed, he said. The intention is that the application process will be open by the end of March at the latest, and that the first redress panel will be in place in April to begin to consider. Alongside that, we need to put in place a commissioner for survivors of institutional child abuse, that process begins shortly. Mr Sterling said a global communications campaign will be developed to ensure anyone affected will know about the redress scheme. He added: I have said that we need to do this at the fastest pace possible that avoids any risk of things not being done properly, and I think that is where we are at the moment. Mr McGrath said the committee will hold him to those timescales. Expand Close The independent Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry sat in Banbridge, Co Down (PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The independent Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry sat in Banbridge, Co Down (PA) The compensation scheme was among the recommendations in the final report of the Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) Inquiry. It examined allegations of physical, emotional and sexual abuse of children in residential institutions in Northern Ireland between 1922 and 1995. Mr Sterling was also asked about pressures on finances at the newly restored Stormont by DUP MLA Trevor Clarke, and whether he is confident the British Government will cough up more money. He told the committee: You will know the Finance Minister had meetings in London last week, I think he was quite positive about how they went. Its a matter of record that the Department of Finance is doing further work to identify the cost of the various commitments, the challenges that are facing us and to go back to Treasury with a strong case for additional resources. I wouldnt want to make a judgment on the likelihood of that leading to significantly more money but I hope it will. There will need to be political discussions about priorities. I have indicated that I plan to go at the end of August, yesDavid Sterling, Northern Ireland Civil Service Ulster Unionist MLA Mike Nesbitt asked Mr Sterling about his previous indications that he planned to step down from the role in August. I have indicated that I plan to go at the end of August, yes, Mr Sterling told the committee. The process (to appoint a successor) will be one that will obviously need to be agreed by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, discussions around that are to begin shortly. Mr Nesbitt suggested that there may need to be some urgency to getting a process under way. Absolutely, Mr Sterling responded. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images Promoting his long-awaited peace plan on CNN on Tuesday, White House senior adviser Jared Kushner did not bring his diplomatic A-game, if his goal was to convince both Israel and Palestine to come together to consider the Trump administrations deeply flawed vision of a new Middle East. In an interview with Christiane Amanpour, the presidents son-in-law did not share much empathy for the Palestinian people, a signal he might need to boost for his conceptual map to become a reality. Encouraging critics to divorce yourself from all of the history and focus on the deal on the table, Kushner lamented the current state of the Palestinian National Authority: You have 5 million Palestinians who are really trapped because of bad leadership. So what weve done is weve created an opportunity for their leadership to either seize or not. If they screw up this opportunity which again, they have a perfect track record of missing opportunities if they screw this up, I think they will have a very hard time looking the international community in the face, saying they are victims, saying they have rights. This is a great deal for them if they come to the table and negotiate I think they can get something excellent The Palestinian leadership have to ask themselves a question: Do they want to have a state? Do they want to have a better life? If they do, we have created a framework for them to have it and were going to treat them in a very respectful manner. If they dont, then theyre going to screw up another opportunity like theyve screwed up every other opportunity that theyve ever had in their existence. Jared Kushner, senior adviser to the President, says the White House's Middle East plan is "a great deal" and if Palestinians reject it, theyre going to screw up another opportunity, like theyve screwed up every other opportunity that theyve ever had in their existence. pic.twitter.com/ABAI3gKjig CNN (@CNN) January 28, 2020 In addition to his apparent claim ignoring Palestinian rights under international law, the presidents son-in-law is overlooking the Trump administrations decision to block Palestinian input at every step of the process. 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 last week. But [Trump] is not doing this to help us, but to help his friend Netanyahu. As New York contributor Heather Hurlbert notes, Palestine doesnt really have an incentive to consider Kushners deal: Trumps plan breaks with those decades-long expectations no evacuations of settlements, Palestinian presence in Jerusalem limited to the eastern outskirts, Palestinian diaspora not just barred from returning to Israel but limited in its ability to immigrate to Palestine. The territory proposed for Palestine is considerably less than what has been offered in the past. The deal doesnt include a path to statehood but rather talks of a future State of Palestine after, among other things, the Palestinian armed group Hamas (which currently controls the Gaza Strip, along with a significant portion of Palestinian territory and population) disbands. Israels security is to come not from its full, equal, unstinting inclusion in the community of nations as well as its national power, but from national power alone. Kushner also offered a strange critique of the Palestinian National Authority, considering his father-in-laws composure when things go south for him. Right now, whats Palestinian leadership? he asked. Youre talking about them like theyre great diplomats what are they calling for? Theyre calling for a day of rage. Who do you know that runs a state that when they dont get what they want they call for a day of rage? The answer might be coming from inside the White House. Just last year, the president ranted about not being able to do whatever he wants regarding the Fed, and grew frustrated when he faced any pushback on his belief that the Constitution allows him to do whatever I want. And the day of rage called for by Palestines leading Fatah Party involving physical resistance though no immediate reports of injuries appears to be more politically warranted than Trumps frequent calls for violence against his detractors. Sign Up for the Intelligencer Newsletter Daily news about the politics, business, and technology shaping our world. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Terms & Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. Following a petition by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a mother and son were arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi Lagos. The anti-graft agency preferred against Damilola Ahmed Adeyeri (son) and his mother, Alaba Kareem Adeyeri a four-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of $82,570. One of the count reads: that you, Damilola Ahmed Adeyeri, Alaba Kareem Adeyeri and Karen Russell (still at large) sometime on the 21st day of June 2017, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of the court conspired to fraudulently impersonate the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of American Cranes Manufacturing Company with intent to gain monetary advantage in the sum of $82,570 (Eighty-Two Thousand Five Hundred and Seventy US Dollars) and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 (1) (b) and 22 (3) of the Cyber Crime (Prohibition Prevention etc) ACT, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (1) of the same Act. Another count reads: That you Damilola Ahmed Adeyeri, Alaba Kareem Adeyeri and Karen Russell (still at large), some time on the 19th day of July 2017, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court dishonestly represented yourself as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of American Cranes Manufacturing Company thereafter you sent an email from personal@managements-securemail-office-portal.online with intent to gain advantage to yourselves and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 (1) (a) and 22 (3) of the Cyber Crime (Prohibition Prevention etc) ACT, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (1) of the same Act. Read Also: Nigerias Ranking By Transparency International Baseless: EFCC The sitting judge, Justice Chukwujekwu Anek after hearing the four-count charges sentenced them to three years each for individual counts, thus making it 12 years for the duo who initially pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against them. Tony Orilade, the Acting Head, Media & Publicity of the anti-graft commission, said investigation commenced after receiving a petition from the FBI against Damilola Adeyeri and others now at large on an alleged case of conspiracy, obtaining under false pretence, money laundering and computer-related fraud. The petitioner [FBI] reported that there was a syndicate of fraudsters who defrauded many companies through business mail compromise and obtained millions of dollars from American citizens, Idi Musa, an investigator with the EFCC testified in court. The mother was arrested after she went to withdraw money from the bank when she heard that the EFCC was investigating her son, who was arrested on September 6, 2019. The court also ordered that all properties procured with the illicit fund and monies recovered should be forfeited to the federal government. Personal experience Ambassador Hugo de Zela holds a degree in International Relations from the Diplomatic Academy of Peru. He has studies in Economic and Administrative Sciences at the Universidad de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay, as well as doctorate studies in Political Sciences at the Universidad del Salvador (Argentina). A career diplomat with 42 years of service, he has served as permanent representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), Peru's Ambassador to Brazil and Argentina, Peru's national coordinator in the Rio Group, as well as a member of Peru's delegation in border negotiations with Ecuador (1997-1998). He has also served as chief of staff of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States on two occasions (1989-1994 and 2011-2015). From April 5, 2018, to April 21, 2019, he served as Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister. Since April 22, 2019, he is Ambassador of Peru to the United States. KYIV -- Mike Pompeo's clash with a reporter in Washington, which the journalist said set off a foul-mouthed tirade in which he questioned whether Americans care about Ukraine, caused an uproar in his home country. But when the U.S. secretary of state arrives in Kyiv on January 30 for the highest-level visit in 2 1/2 years, it seems likely to cause less of a stir -- and he may be greeted as though nothing was ever said at all. "Pompeo will pretend that he didn't say anything and his Ukrainian counterparts will pretend that they didn't hear anything," said Alyona Hetmanchuk, director of the New Europe Center, a Kyiv think tank. Why? Because of Ukraine's reliance on U.S. support, experts say. The stakes are simply too high, they suggest, for President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his government to spend much time worrying about the incident -- despite the questions some in Kyiv say it raises about the strength of the U.S. commitment to Ukraine. Instead, they are likely to focus on the expressions of solidarity and support that Pompeo is expected to bring for Ukraine, which is in the sixth year of a war with Russia-backed separatists who seized parts of two eastern regions after Moscow occupied and annexed Crimea in 2014. Pompeo, who is expected to meet with Zelenskiy and other officials on January 31, will "highlight U.S. support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the State Department said in a statement ahead of his visit, the second stop on a trip also taking him to Britain, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Elected nine months ago, Zelenskiy is already accustomed to taking U.S. developments that involve Ukraine in stride. About two months after he was sworn in, he had a telephone conversation with President Donald Trump that is a central focus of the impeachment trial now under way in Washington. The first of two articles of impeachment being addressed in the U.S. Senate trial accuses Trump of abuse of power, arguing that the Republican president used the authority of his office to solicit Ukraine to announce investigations into his political rivals -- chiefly former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, a front-runner for the Democratic nomination to challenge Trump in the November 2020 presidential election. Among the evidence cited by Democrats seeking Trump's conviction and removal from office in the trial -- which seems almost certain to end in his acquittal by the Republican-controlled Senate -- is his request in the phone call that Zelenskiy "do us a favor" and pursue probes that could bring him personal political benefit by undermining Biden and the Democrats more broadly. Trump says he has done nothing wrong. 'Don't Rock The Boat' Zelenskiy, a comedian and political novice who was elected in a landslide by voters weary of war and corruption, has weathered the storm of attention thrust upon him and his country by the U.S. political turmoil with little direct damage to his popularity. He wants to keep it that way. Lyubov Tsybulska, a political analyst at Ukraine Crisis Media Center, a communications group promoting Ukraine internationally, said that Pompeo's reported comment about whether Americans care about Ukraine was "very discouraging for Ukrainian civil society because America has been considered a reliable and very important ally." Just days after the State Department announced Pompeo's visit, he was accused of shouting at National Public Radio (NPR) reporter Mary Louise Kelly, "Do you think Americans care about Ukraine?" after she questioned him about the country and his treatment of former U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovich, who was abruptly removed in April. Like Hetmanchuk, however, Tsybulska said she expected both Zelenskiy and Pompeo to hide any awkwardness behind wide smiles and handshakes when they meet -- behavior in line with how Kyiv has reacted to Trump's impeachment and the surrounding debate. Throughout the process, Ukrainian officials have been "very careful and self-controlled," Tsybulska said. "I don't expect any changes in their behavior." Zelenskiy and his foreign minister, Vadym Prystayko, who will also meet with Pompeo, have said little more than they have felt "no pressure" from the Trump administration. Their near-silence on the subject has raised eyebrows, but there is good reason for keeping quiet, experts say: Put simply, Ukraine can't afford to anger Washington. "They are aware of [Ukraine's] dependence on American aid," said Ihar Tyshkevich, an analyst at the Ukrainian Institute for the Future. The country relies heavily on U.S. financial assistance to carry out crucial economic and judicial reforms, and counts on diplomatic and military support from Washington as it fights the Russia-backed separatists in the region known as the Donbas, where more than 13,000 people have been killed since the conflict broke out in April 2014. Since then, the United States has provided more than $3 billion in assistance to Ukraine, including $1.5 billion in security aid with everything from medical kits to Humvees, counterbattery radar systems and Javelin anti-tank missiles. Trump froze nearly $391 million of such aid to Ukraine just before his July 25 phone call with Zelenskiy. He later released it, but the decision to withhold it -- which the Government Accountability Office, a nonpartisan U.S. watchdog, said was illegal -- is part of the impeachment case. Despite the controversy surrounding Pompeo's reported outburst, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said in a statement to RFE/RL, "a clear message that we hear from Washington is that the U.S. policy regarding Ukraine remains unchanged." "We highly appreciate Secretary Pompeo's personal leadership in maintaining a firm U.S. policy of support towards Ukraine," the ministry said. "We have enjoyed this support for years, and hope it will only grow in the future." Accentuate The Positive Volodymyr Fesenko, a political analyst at the Kyiv-based Penta Center, said that it is just not worth it for Zelenskiy to dwell on Pompeo's reported remarks. "We shouldn't quarrel with senior U.S. officials, especially over such a minor incident," and risk jeopardizing much-needed support, Fesenko said. Officials and others in Ukraine, he said, "are much more concerned about the statements of Trump," who has made remarks that critics say show he favors Moscow and has little sympathy for Kyiv. Trump denies this and contends his administration has been supportive of Ukraine and tough on Russia, citing the military aid for the former and persistent sanctions against Moscow for the latter. But after Pompeo's reported remark and previous comments purportedly made by Trump -- who former special envoy Kurt Volker said described Ukraine as "a terrible place," where "they're all corrupt, they're terrible people" -- the top U.S. diplomat's visit marks an important chance for the United States to signal that Ukraine is indeed an important and strategic partner. Both Volker and William Taylor, the former U.S. charge d'affaires in Ukraine, wrote opinion articles in support of a strong alliance between Kyiv and Washington in the run-up to Pompeo's visit. While Taylor made a case for Ukraine's importance to the United States, directly answering the question that Pompeo reportedly raised with the NPR reporter, Volker laid out several things he hoped the secretary of state would accomplish in Kyiv. Pompeo will be the most senior U.S. official to visit Ukraine since the start of the impeachment process and the first secretary of state to visit since Rex Tillerson did so in July 2017. In addition to Zelenskiy and Prystayko, Pompeo is scheduled to meet Defense Minister Andriy Zahorodnyuk and the head of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epiphaniy, as well as members of civil society and the business community. He will also visit at the U.S. Embassy, where State Department investigators reportedly interviewed diplomats and local staff last week about the possible surveillance by Trump allies of former Ambassador Yovanovitch. Svyatoslav Yurash, a lawmaker in Zelenskiy's party and a member of the parliament's Foreign Policy Committee, told RFE/RL that meetings with Pompeo would focus solely on strengthening the countries' relationship and suggested they would steer clear of controversial remarks and discussions surrounding the impeachment process. "America's scandalous business is its scandalous business and we don't want to get involved in that," he said. US Health Officials Urge More Cooperation from China on Virus By Steve Baragona January 28, 2020 U.S. health officials are urging China to share more information on how the novel coronavirus that emerged in Wuhan is spreading. The virus has sickened more than 5,974 people in 18 countries, mostly in China. Chinese health authorities announced an additional 26 deaths Tuesday, bringing the total to 132. Chinese experts have reported the virus can spread from patients who are not showing symptoms. But U.S. health officials say they are withholding judgment. "CDC has not been given the opportunity to review that data," said Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield at a press conference Tuesday. "The Chinese believe they have that data. This is our hope, to be able to review and be more definitive." If patients are spreading the virus without showing symptoms, that calls for different screening procedures, added National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease Director Anthony Fauci. Fauci said asymptomatic patients are unlikely to have much impact on the spread of the disease. "In all the history of respiratory borne viruses of any type, asymptomatic transmission has never been the driver of outbreaks," he said. Health officials have identified five cases in the United States and no person-to-person transmission so far. Redfield said the risk to Americans currently is low, but he expects more cases are coming. Ready, willing and able The United States has offered to send experts to China to assist with the outbreak, but Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Beijing has not accepted the offer. "CDC experts are standing by, ready, willing and able, to go to China either on a bilateral basis or under the auspices of the World Health Organization," he said. WHO announced in a statement Tuesday that the organization "will send international experts to visit China as soon as possible." "The posture of the Chinese government, levels of cooperation, and interaction with us is completely different from what we experienced in 2003," when officials covered up the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a disease that killed nearly 800 worldwide, Azar said. "I want to commend them for that." However, he said, "we are urging China, more cooperation and transparency are the most important steps you can take toward a more effective response." Countermeasures There is no approved treatment for coronavirus infection, but Fauci said several are under study, including drugs that have shown some effectiveness against Ebola and HIV. A vaccine is in the works, as well. Fauci hopes to begin initial tests within the next three months. He cautioned, however, that "going into a Phase One trial does not mean that you have a vaccine that's ready for deployment." It will take several months to determine whether the vaccine is safe and can proceed to further tests. He noted that by the time results came in from a Phase One SARS vaccine trial, the outbreak was already under control. Health officials are now screening travelers from China at 20 U.S. airports. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address WASHINGTON: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that a US peace plan envisages the proposed Palestinian capital be located in Abu Dis, a neighbourhood on the outskirts of Jerusalem. After US President Donald Trump presented his peace plan, Netanyahu told reporters the United States recognises Jerusalem as Israels undivided capital, by which I mean, within its fences," an apparent reference to municipal boundaries. The right-wing leader, who faces a new election in March, said he would bring a proposal for applying Israeli jurisdiction to the Jordan Valley, the northern Dead Sea and West Bank settlements for Cabinet approval at its next session, probably on Sunday. Israel is offering the Palestinians, at the end of the process, conditional, limited sovereignty," Netanyahu said. Palestinians were absent from Trump`s announcement and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the plan the "slap of the century." King Mohammed VI has granted pardon to 201 African inmates, who had been convicted by Moroccan courts for various offenses. King Mohammed VI, Commander of the believers, granted an exceptional royal pardon to a group of 201 African inmates, condemned by the various Courts of the Kingdom, said the Ministry of Justice in a press release. The royal pardon was granted for humanitarian reasons and benefited elderly prisoners or those suffering from sickness, the press release said. The royal pardon is also an encouragement to inmates who demonstrated good conduct while in prison, respected the laws and regulations in force, and responded positively to rehabilitation and reintegration programs. All necessary measures have been taken to facilitate the repatriation of the released inmates to their countries, the Justice department said. In China, people have every reason to fear the coronavirus. Americans ought to be thinking about influenza. Read more Theres 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 last 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, theres just no comparison, said 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 7,000 illnesses and more than 170 deaths. The World Health Organization on Thursday declared the outbreak a global emergency requiring a coordinated international response after the number of cases spiked sharply over the last few days. But officials warn much remains unknown. In the United States, at least six cases of the virus have been reported, including the first case of person-to-person infection. Public health workers are monitoring dozens of additional patients. Influenza rarely gets this sort of attention, even though it kills more Americans each year than any other virus, said 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 hasnt even peaked. In a bad year, the flu kills up to 61,000 Americans. Worldwide, the flu causes up to five million cases of severe illness worldwide and kills up to 650,000 people every year, according to the World Health Organization. And yet, Americans arent 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 arent afraid of the flu, perhaps thats 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 its new, its 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 Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. Measles in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has killed 5,000 people in the last 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 theres 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 havent 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. Officials warn much remains unknown, but 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 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, South Koreas Samsung Medical Center in 2015, a single emergency-room patient infected 82 people 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 of a threat to the United States. Only two patients in this country 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 havent been immunized against it, he said. And many were previously healthy. If youre worried about your health, get your flu vaccination, Hotez said. Its not too late. Liz Szabo: lszabo@kff.org, @LizSzabo READ MORE: Why the flu shot can't give you the flu READ MORE: Another wave of flu could be on the way for Pa., N.J. And we were: I stopped taking my kids to indoor playgrounds or crowded malls or delicious but densely packed neighborhood Beijing restaurants. Out of an abundance of caution we canceled a family vacation to Cambodia though my fear was less about catching SARS on the flight than that one of the kids would have a fever from an ear infection upon our return at a border screening, and would be stuck in a prolonged quarantine in China. We instead took a vacation within China, where we carried masks with us but didnt use them except on a short domestic flight. In time, during the SARS outbreak, the government shut down theaters and schools in Beijing, as it is doing now in many Chinese cities because these viruses are more easily transmitted in such crowded places. But there was also a lot of irrational behavior: Entering a village on the way to a hike near the Great Wall, our car was stopped by locals who had set up a roadblock to check the temperature of all passengers. They used an oral thermometer that was only minimally cleaned after each use. What a great way to spread a virus. The International School of Beijing, where my children were students, was one of the few in the capital perhaps the only one that stayed open throughout the SARS outbreak, though the classes were emptier, since so many kids had departed to their home countries. It was a studied but brave move, since a parent at the school had gotten SARS at the very beginning of the outbreak on a flight back from Hong Kong. She recovered fine, but it was close to home and families were scared. The school instituted a bunch of simple precautionary policies: a stern note to parents reminding them not to send a child to school who was sick and warning them that students would be screened for fevers with ear thermometers at the school door. There was no sharing of food at lunch. The teacher led the kids in frequent hand washing throughout the day at classroom sinks, while singing a prolonged hand washing song to ensure they did more than a cursory pass under the faucet with water only. If a family left Beijing and came back, the child would have to stay at home for an extended period before returning to class to make sure they hadnt caught SARS elsewhere. With those precautions in place, I observed something of a public health miracle: Not only did no child get SARS, but it seemed no student was sick with anything at all for months on end. No stomach bugs. No common colds. Attendance was more or less perfect. The World Health Organization declared the SARS outbreak contained in July 2003. But, oh, that those habits persisted. The best first-line defenses against SARS or the new coronavirus or most any virus at all are the ones that Grandma and common sense taught us, after all. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. STEPHANIE Pemberton has a missionto nurture the next generation of the middle class. And not just in T&T. But in the Caribbean. The way to do that, she reasons, is through the development of entrepreneurs. So she established an entrepreneurship development company, Planting Seeds, which focuses on growing/promoting small and medium sized businesses (SMEs). The NPP UK women's wing has honoured President Akufo-Addo for fulfilling his campaign promises. Speaking at the event which was held at the Landmark hotel in London, the UK women's organiser Ms. Shirely Kyei congratulated the president for his work such as the implementation of the free Senior High School initiative, restoration of the Nurses trainee allowance amongst others which has had direct impact on women. Presenting the citation, Ms. Shirely Kyei stated 'Not only did you fulfill your campaign promises to us, but you have shown that the plight of women is among your topmost priorities and we salute you Mr. President'. Present at the event was the Ghana High Commissioner Papa Owusu Ankomah, Deputy Chief of Staff Francis Asenso Boakye, Mr. Yofi Grant the CEO of Ghana Investment Promotion Center, Alex Dadey Board member of GIPC, Stephen Asamoah Boateng the Director-General of State Interest and Governance Authority, Henry Kokofu, Board member of Forestry Commission, party executives and members of NPP UK branch. The women's wing pledged their support to the president's second term bid in the 2020 general elections slated for December 7th. The event was an opportunity for the president to familiarize himself with Ghanaians and party sympathizers in the diaspora. ---citinewsroom It would be beneficial even if all you did was take the money and put it in the bank and didnt spend it, Romer told the state Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, adding that the tax creates an economic disincentive that would undermine the monopolies that control all of the information about what we do. Stock Market Symbols GIB.A (TSX) GIB (NYSE) cgi.com/newsroom Q1-F2020 results and year-over-year highlights Revenue of $3.05 billion , up 3.1% year-over-year or 4.8% in constant currency; , up 3.1% year-over-year or 4.8% in constant currency; Adjusted EBIT of $474.1 million , up 8.0%; , up 8.0%; Adjusted EBIT margin of 15.5%, up 70 basis points; Net earnings of $290.2 million , for a margin of 9.5% and diluted EPS of $1.06 ; , for a margin of 9.5% and diluted EPS of ; Net earnings excluding specific items* of $334.9 million , for a margin of 11.0% and diluted EPS of $1.23 ; , for a margin of 11.0% and diluted EPS of ; Cash provided by operating activities of $465.3 million , up 18.8%; , up 18.8%; Bookings of $2.75 billion for book-to-bill of 90.0% and 101.3% over the last twelve months; and, for book-to-bill of 90.0% and 101.3% over the last twelve months; and, Backlog of $22.29 billion or 1.8x annual revenue. *Specific items in Q1-F2020 include: $16.5 million in acquisition-related and integration costs and $28.2 million in restructuring costs, both net of tax; Specific items in Q1-F2019 include: $3.2 million in acquisition-related and integration costs, net of tax. Note: All figures in Canadian dollars. Q1-F2020 MD&A, interim condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes can be found at cgi.com/investors and have been filed with both SEDAR in Canada and EDGAR in the U.S. To access the financial statements click here (PDF) To access the MD&A click here (PDF) MONTREAL, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - CGI (TSX: GIB.A) (NYSE: GIB) reported Fiscal 2020 first quarter revenue $3.05 billion, representing growth of 3.1%, or $90.8 million year-over-year. On a constant currency basis, revenue was up 4.8% as foreign exchange fluctuations negatively impacted revenue by $52.6 million. On October 1, 2019, the Company adopted IFRS 16, which sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases. The change recognizes lease agreements on-balance sheet and, as a result, the Q1-F2020 consolidated statement of earnings now presents a decrease in the cost of services, selling and administrative expenses, partially offset by higher net finance costs with a non-material impact to the net earnings. These changes and their impact on capital structure ratios and cash from operations are noted below and detailed in the MD&A and financial statements. Adjusted EBIT was $474.1 million, an increase of $34.9 million from Q1-F2019, of which $9.7 million relates to the adoption of IFRS 16. EBIT margin of 15.5% improved by 70 basis points compared to the same period last year. Net earnings were $290.2 million in Q1-F2020, down $21.3 million compared with the year ago period, impacted by $44.7 million in one-time restructuring costs and integration expenses. Earnings per diluted share, as a result, were $1.06. When excluding the specific items, net earnings in Q1-F2020 were $334.9 million, representing a margin of 11.0%. On the same basis, EPS expanded by 9.8% to $1.23 per diluted share, up from $1.12 from the year ago period. "I am pleased with this quarter's results of continued profitable growth and strong cash generation as we successfully execute our build and buy strategy," said President and Chief Executive Officer, George Schindler. "We are experiencing strong demand for our end-to-end services and remain an active consolidator through mergers and acquisitions." Bookings were $2.75 billion in Q1-F2020 and $12.36 billion over the last twelve months, representing 90.0% and 101.3% of revenue, respectively. At the end of December 2019, the Company's backlog stood at $22.29 billion. Cash provided by operating activities was $465.3 million, or 15.2% of revenue, representing an improvement of $73.7 million compared with Q1-F2019. Of this amount, $39.2 million resulted from the adoption of IFRS 16. In millions of Canadian dollars except earnings per share and where noted Q1-F2020 Q1-F2019 Revenue 3,054.7 2,963.9 Growth 3.1% 5.2% Growth at constant currency 4.8% 4.5% Adjusted EBIT 474.1 439.2 Margin 15.5% 14.8% Net earnings 290.2 311.5 Margin 9.5% 10.5% Net earnings excluding specific items* 334.9 314.7 Margin 11.0% 10.6% Diluted earnings per share 1.06 1.11 Diluted earnings per share, excluding specific items* 1.23 1.12 Weighted average number of outstanding shares (diluted) 273,121,586 281,568,097 Net finance costs 26.7 14.6 Net debt 2,810.6 1,738.7 Net debt to capitalization ratio 27.7% 19.1% Cash provided by operating activities 465.3 391.5 Days sales outstanding (DSO) 49 54 Return on invested capital (ROIC) 14.4% 14.5% Return on equity (ROE) 18.0% 17.3% Bookings 2,749.3 3,030.8 Backlog 22,292.4 23,337.9 *Specific items in Q1-F2020 include: $16.5 million in acquisition-related and integration costs and $28.2 million in restructuring costs, both net of tax; Specific items in Q1-F2019 include: $3.2 million in acquisition-related and integration costs, net of tax. At the end of December, net debt stood at $2.8 billion, representing a net debt-to-capitalization ratio of 27.7%, up from 19.1% last year. When excluding the impact of adopting IFRS 16, the net debt to capitalization ratio would have been 20.9%, slightly higher due to the investments made in metro market mergers. Normal Course Issuer Bid The Company's Board of Directors authorized earlier this morning the renewal of its Normal Course Issuer Bid, which, subject to approval by the Toronto Stock Exchange, allows for the purchase for cancellation of up to 20.1 million Class A subordinate voting shares over the next 12 months, representing approximately 10% of the Company's public float as of the close of business on January 22, 2020. The current program will terminate on February 5, 2020 and purchases of Class A subordinate voting shares under the renewed program may commence on February 6, 2020. For further information, please refer to the Company's press release regarding the renewal of its Normal Course Issuer Bid. Q1-F2020 results conference call Management will host a conference call this morning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time to discuss results. Participants may access the call by dialing 1-800-377-0758 or via cgi.com/investors. For those unable to participate on the live call, a podcast and copy of the slides will be archived for download at cgi.com/investors. Annual General Meeting of Shareholders This morning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time, the Company will hold its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders at The Centre Sheraton Montreal. The meeting, as well as the question and answer session that follows will be broadcast live via cgi.com/investors . About CGI Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world. With approximately 77,500 consultants and professionals across the globe, CGI delivers an end-to-end portfolio of capabilities, from strategic IT and business consulting to systems integration, managed IT and business process services and intellectual property solutions. CGI works with clients through a local relationship model complemented by a global delivery network that helps clients digitally transform their organizations and accelerate results. With Fiscal 2019 reported revenue of C$12.1 billion, CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). Learn more at cgi.com . Non-GAAP financial metrics used in this press release: Constant currency growth, adjusted EBIT, net debt, net debt to capitalization ratio, bookings, book-to-bill ratio, backlog, DSO, ROIC, ROE, net earnings and diluted EPS excluding specific items. CGI reports its financial results in accordance with IFRS. However, management believes that these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors regarding the Company's financial condition and results of operations as they provide additional measures of its performance. Additional details for these non-GAAP measures can be found on pages 3 and 4 of our MD&A which is posted on CGI's website, and filed with SEDAR and EDGAR. Forward-looking information and statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other applicable United States safe harbours. All such forward-looking information and statements are made and disclosed in reliance upon the safe harbour provisions of applicable Canadian and United States securities laws. Forward-looking information and statements include all information and statements regarding CGI's intentions, plans, expectations, beliefs, objectives, future performance, and strategy, as well as any other information or statements that relate to future events or circumstances and which do not directly and exclusively relate to historical facts. Forward-looking information and statements often but not always use words such as "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "anticipate", "foresee", "plan", "predict", "project", "aim", "seek", "strive", "potential", "continue", "target", "may", "might", "could", "should", and similar expressions and variations thereof. These information and statements are based on our perception of historic trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other assumptions, both general and specific, that we believe are appropriate in the circumstances. Such information and statements are, however, by their very nature, subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, of which many are beyond the control of CGI, and which give rise to the possibility that actual results could differ materially from our expectations expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include but are not restricted to: risks related to the market such as the level of business activity of our clients, which is affected by economic and political conditions, and our ability to negotiate new contracts; risks related to our industry such as competition and our ability to attract and retain qualified employees, to develop and expand our services, to penetrate new markets, and to protect our intellectual property rights; risks related to our business such as risks associated with our growth strategy, including the integration of new operations, financial and operational risks inherent in worldwide operations, foreign exchange risks, income tax laws, our ability to negotiate favorable contractual terms, to deliver our services and to collect receivables, and the reputational and financial risks attendant to cybersecurity breaches and other incidents; as well as other risks identified or incorporated by reference in this press release, in CGI's annual and quarterly MD&A and in other documents that we make public, including our filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators (on SEDAR at www.sedar.com) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (on EDGAR at www.sec.gov). Unless otherwise stated, the forward-looking information and statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and CGI disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information or forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. While we believe that our assumptions on which these forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are based were reasonable as at the date of this press release, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking information or statements. Furthermore, readers are reminded that forward-looking information and statements are presented for the sole purpose of assisting investors and others in understanding our objectives, strategic priorities and business outlook as well as our anticipated operating environment. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Further information on the risks that could cause our actual results to differ significantly from our current expectations may be found in the section titled "Risk Environment" of CGI's annual and quarterly MD&A, which is incorporated by reference in this cautionary statement. We also caution readers that the above-mentioned risks and the risks disclosed in CGI's annual and quarterly MD&A and other documents and filings are not the only ones that could affect us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial could also have a material adverse effect on our financial position, financial performance, cash flows, business or reputation. SOURCE CGI Inc. Related Links www.cgi.com Iran's Zarif slams US plan as 'nightmare' for region, world Iran Press TV Tuesday, 28 January 2020 10:46 PM Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has lashed out at the US's so-called peace plan for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying the initiative is a "nightmare" both for the region and the world. Zarif said in a tweet on Tuesday that the US President Donald Trump's "so-called 'Vision for Peace' is simply the dream project of a bankruptcy-ridden real estate developer." The Iranian foreign minister added that the plan was a "nightmare for the region and the world and, hopefully, a wake-up call for all the Muslims who have been barking up the wrong tree." Zarif also called for unity in the international community for the Palestinian cause, saying the so-called peace plan was considered as "sleepwalking into catastrophe." Ilan Goldenberg, the chief of staff to the lead US negotiator in the last failed attempt under former US President Barack Obama, also took to Twitter on Tuesday and described the ideas put forward in the 80-page US document as "non-starters." Earlier in the day, Trump repeated his highly controversial endorsement of occupied Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel's "undivided capital" as he outlined his administration's self-styled plan for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which Palestinians have already dismissed. Defying international outcry, Trump announced the general provisions of the plan he calls "the deal of century" at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his side. He endorsed his contentious recognition in December 2017 of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel's "capital," a move he took in the face of Palestinian demands that the holy city should serve as the capital of their future state. He said the plan envisages the city as the Israeli regime's "undivided capital." The so-called peace plan is widely expected to take the US's pro-Israeli brinksmanship to a whole new level, with various reports warning that it seeks to lay the groundwork for Israel's annexation of about half of the West Bank, which the regime occupied in 1967, including most of the Jordan Valley. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address This article is part of David Leonhardts newsletter. You can sign up here to receive it each weekday. Andrew Cuomo, New Yorks Democratic governor, presents himself as a criminal justice reformer. Hes vowed to create a more just, more fair and more compassionate New York. Specifically, he signaled in 2015 that he wanted to begin granting clemency to more prisoners deserving of a second chance. Clemency is a crucial part of criminal justice reform, because it can help minimize past wrongs. Tens of thousands of Americans, including an unknown number who are innocent, are locked up today because of cruelly long sentences. Unfortunately, Cuomos actions on clemency havent come close to matching his words. After he encouraged prisoners to apply to have their sentences ended or reduced, many of them did so. A single law school at the City University of New York received 1,800 requests to help with clemency applications, according to Steven Zeidman, a professor there. Cuomo has ignored or rejected almost all of them. The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up several States and Union Territories for failing to set up "Gram Nyayalayas", as per an Act passed by Parliament in 2008 to ensure access to justice for the rural poor. A Bench headed by Justice NV Ramana imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the government of Assam, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Odisha, Punjab, Telangana and West Bengal for not filing their responses in the apex court. The top court asked the State and union territories to notify setting up Gram Nyayalay within a month. Justice Ramana observed that some States and UTs have not taken any initiative and no notification has been issued in the matter. The court granted the States and UTs four weeks' time to do the same. The Supreme Court had on September 2 issued notice to the government at the Centre, States and UTs on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by NGOs Federation of Societies for Fast Justice and Society for Fast Justice. The plea said that directions need to be issued to all the States and UTs to notify and establish Gram Nyayalayas as statutorily provided for under the Gram Nyayalays Act, 2008. The PIL said that only 208 Gram Nyayalayas are functioning in the country as against 2,500 estimated to be required by the 12th five-year plan. It said so far only 11 states have taken steps to notify Gram Nyayalayas. For the purpose of providing access to justice to citizens at their doorsteps and to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of social, economic or other disabilities, an Act was passed by Parliament in 2008, provided for the establishment of 'Gram Nyayalayas' at the grass-roots level. Sections 5 and 6 of the Act provide that the state government in consultation with the High Court will appoint a Nyayadhikari for each Gram Nyayalaya, who will be a person eligible to be appointed as a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) You are here: World Flash Islamic Hamas movement, ruler of the Gaza Strip, rejected on Tuesday U.S. President Donald Trump's announced peace plan for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, saying Jerusalem must be the capital of the future Palestinian state. New Delhi: In the episode, Rakhi comforts Sarla by saying that Luthras will not trouble her family anymore. Meanwhile, Kareena decides to host a bash for Mahira's mother Ramona on her birthday. Karan finds an excuse to head straight to Preeta's residence. On the other hand, Sherlyn takes the edited video and goes to the police station and proves that Preeta tried to kill Mahira. Both Karan and Preeta share a romantic moment together. Watch the latest episode here: In tonights episode, Rishabh takes Sherlyn to his room and asks her the reason behind sending Preeta to jail. Sherlyn says that she knows Preeta is guilty. Rishabh refrains her to think that way. Rishabh also says that he trusts Preeta more than her. He says there will be problems in their marriage if she tries to target Preeta again. Karan wants to know why Preeta cares for him so much. Preeta says it is because Karan is her husband, then she also mentions about caring for everyone. Karan wants to know why he is not angry with Preeta. She tells him that he needs to answer that question by himself. Mahira comes to Karans room because she is missing him. She decides to call him. Sarla asks Karan to join them in cutting a cake because Preeta is out of jail. As people are about to eat the cake, police enter Preetas house to arrest her. Mahira overhears the police asking for Preeta and realises that Karan is at the Arora house. The police arrest Preeta and mention that no can get her out on bail because they have proof against her. Mahira gets upset as Karan is with Preeta. Sherlyn says that once Preeta is arrested, Karan will come back to Mahira. Karan thinks about how people try to make Preeta the villain, whereas she always tried to save his family. He realises that Preeta is not guilty and accompanies her family to the police station. Will Karan decide to save Preeta? Find out tomorrow. Watch the latest episodes of Kundali Bhagya, now streaming on ZEE5. THE Philippine National Police (PNP) explained on Wednesday, January 29, that former Ozamiz City vice mayor Nova Princess Parojinog's trip to the Medical City in November 2018 was sanctioned by the court. Following the conduct of investigation, PNP spokesperson Brigadier General Bernard Banac said that on November 12, 2018, Parojinog was allowed to leave the PNP custodial center to go to the Medical City in Pasig, where she underwent a panoramic dental X-ray at her own expense. Banac said Parojinog, who is in jail on illegal drug charges, was under guard by custodial security escorts. Parojinog sought court approval for the trip to the hospital. As a matter of procedure, the chief of the Custodial Service Unit rendered a written report to RTC Branch 95 on November 13, 2018 detailing compliance to the Order of the Court, Banac said. It should be understood that the same Court granted a separate motion for furlough filed by detainee Parojinog to visit her detained brother Reynaldo Parojinog Jr. at the Metro Manila District Jail Annex 5 in Bicutan, Taguig City on December 23, 2019, he added. Earlier the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 228 ordered the warden of the PNP Custodial Center to explain why Parojinog was allowed to leave her detention cell without the permission of the court where she is charged with possession of illegal drugs. Nova Princess and her brother Reynaldo Jr., children of the late Ozamiz City mayor Reynaldo Sr., were arrested during a 2017 police raid. Their parents and 13 others were killed during the said operation which was part of the administrations crackdown on illegal drugs. President Rodrigo Duterte had linked the Parojinog clan to the illegal drugs trade. (SunStar Philippines) The Department of Foreign Affairs has updated its advice in the light of the coronavirus outbreak and is advising Irish people to re-consider travelling to China. It comes as several airlines, including British Airways, have suspended flights to China as the coronavirus threat escalates. The message from the Department of Foreign Affairs is: In Hubei, where the situation is still developing, increasingly strong containment measures are coming online. Travel within the province has become tightly controlled and all tourist facilities have been closed. Under these circumstances, travellers are advised against visiting the province of Hubei. Regarding the remainder of mainland China, the situation remains very fluid and it is likely that increasing containment measures will be deployed by the Chinese Government. In this environment, the advice of the Embassy of Ireland is to reconsider non-essential travel to and within China at this time, as citizens may be affected by increased containment measures, which can include a ban on movement within and between cities in China. If you feel that you may want to leave China soon, you should consider making plans to do so before any further restrictions may be imposed. Travellers and residents should be aware of delays and checks when entering or leaving China, or large cities within China, and when travelling from China to other countries, particularly at airports. The risk of delay or cancellation of travel is particularly heightened if the person travelling exhibits symptoms of fever, respiratory illness, and coughing, and we would advise against travel to or within China under these circumstances. Irish people who are stranded in the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan and want to leave are expected to benefit from a move by the European Commission to start helping repatriate Europeans. The Commission has activated its EU Civil Protection Mechanism, under which it will co-fund two planes to bring EU citizens back from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the virus outbreak. France had requested assistance to provide consular support to EU citizens in Wuhan. "This is a first request for assistance and others may follow in the coming days," the commission said. The Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin has indicated its officials were exploring options, including commercial options, for helping Irish citizens to leave the region if needed. A small community of at least six Irish nationals is living in Wuhan and several are settled with families or partners and will not be leaving. Countries around the world are planning to evacuate diplomatic staff and private citizens from Chinese areas hit by the coronavirus, which is spreading rapidly in China. A small number of cases has been confirmed elsewhere. The EU will co-finance the transport costs of the aircraft, the first due to depart France today and the second due to leave later this week. People who choose to return here from Wuhan will have to undergo medical assessment to determine if they have symptoms or could be incubating the virus. Expand Close Ambulance crew members in protective gear walk with workers at a community health station in Wuhan (Chinatopix via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ambulance crew members in protective gear walk with workers at a community health station in Wuhan (Chinatopix via AP) It may mean that they will have to self-isolate for about two weeks before getting the all-clear and getting confirmation that they do not have the virus. The cases raise concerns about the spread of the flu-like virus that broke out in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of last year and has killed 132 people and infected more than 6,000. It spreads in droplets from coughs and sneezes and has an incubation period of up to 14 days. Following an advisory from the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) is recommending that customers avoid travelling to the Hubei province of China entirely, and reconsider travelling to the rest of China unless it is absolutely essential amid the outbreak of coronavirus in a number of Chinese cities. The ITAA is also advising affected holidaymakers in the country to follow the advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Chinese local authorities and accommodation providers. More than 1,000 riders gathered recently in the Kyrgyz region of Kara-Suu to contest the ancient sport of Kok-boru, where competitors on horseback fight to drag a goat carcass over a goal line. The event was massive, chaotic, and (as far as anyone can remember) unprecedented. / -- Sai Life Sciences, one of India's fastest growing Contract Development & Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs), today announced that it has initiated the recruitment of 300+ scientists for its upcoming integrated Research & Technology (R&T) centre in Hyderabad, India. This will result in doubling the full-time equivalents (FTEs) in the areas of discovery chemistry, process chemistry and analytical chemistry. Making the announcement, Krishna Kanumuri, CEO & MD, Sai Life Sciences said, "We are at a very exciting point in our journey and are looking to expand our team of highly-motivated scientists. This will help us better serve our customers by accelerating their projects involving complex chemistry and next generation technologies." The current expansion is part of Sai Nxt, an organization-wide initiative aimed at transforming the company into a new generation CDMO, with investments of over US$150 million during the period. Scheduled to be functional by May 2020, the upcoming R&T facility in genome valley, Hyderabad, will have 83,000 sq. ft. of lab space and house state-of-the-art research capabilities with advanced technology platforms. The facility adds to the company's growing range of capabilities and facilities across drug discovery, development and manufacturing. Over the past few months, Sai Life Sciences has added 172 KL cGMP API & Intermediate manufacturing capacity, opened a Biology Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, and is setting up a Process R&D Lab in Manchester, UK. The company is looking to on-board top-notch global scientific talent with M.Sc./ Ph.D / Post Doctorates in synthetic organic / analytical chemistry from reputed academic institutions, and experience in global pharma R&D of up to 20 years, for various roles across levels in discovery chemistry, process R&D, analytical R&D as well as in Biology, DMPK, Toxicology among others. The list of open positions are available on the careers page of the website. About Sai Life Sciences Sai Life Sciences is a full-service CDMO driven by a vision to support the launch of 25 new medicines by 2025. It works with innovator pharma and biotech companies globally, accelerating the discovery, development and manufacture of complex small molecules. A pure-play CDMO, Sai Life Sciences has served a diverse set of NCE development programs, consistently delivering value based on its quality and responsiveness. Today, it works with 7 of the top 10 large pharma companies, as well as several small and mid-sized pharma & biotech companies. Sai Life Sciences is privately held and backed by global investors, TPG Capital and HBM Healthcare Investments. www.sailife.comLogo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1044186/Sai_Life_Sciences_Logo.jpgPhoto: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1083556/Sai_Life_Sciences_Hyderabad. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. 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Digital Editor General Motors has a grand, visionary concept vehicle up its sleeve that could replace Henry Ford launching the Model T but where will it be legal to drive? Cruise, GMs self-driving vehicle division, last week launched the Cruise Origin, developed with Honda Motor Co. The large white, boxed minivan with an orange roof will be autonomous and designed to carry groups of passengers and the vehicle will lack a steering wheel or brake pedal. It will bring together a self-driving car with competitive, affordable shared-ride services. The autonomous taxi will give ride-hailing giants Uber and Lyft another rival, Cruise CEO Dan Ammann said during the vehicles introduction in San Francisco. GM is putting all its AV efforts into the Cruise unit these days, and giving the business space to work with competitors like Honda, which became an investor in October 2018. Thats helped Cruise move more quickly to develop a self-driving electric vehicle platform. GM created the platform and Honda contributed to the engineering and production of the vehicle. The big question remains: Will it be legal to operate out on public roads? GM is waiting for an exemption from the Federal Motor Vehicle safety standards that would allow Cruise to test vehicles without these manual controls. If that gets approved, GM can deploy up to 2,500 robo-taxis a year that can be hailed via a smartphone app. States are being more ambiguous about legalizing autonomous vehicles and allowing automated shared-ride services. GMs Cruise said it has been allowed to test a ride-share service in San Francisco, using employees, and that those cars have traveled a million miles. Alphabets Waymo operates a ride-sharing service using its autonomous Chrysler Pacifica minivans in Arizona that it says has 1,500 monthly active users in the Phoenix metro area. Competitors have projects in the works. Last year, Volkswagen AG said that it would invest $2.6 billion in the self-driving car startup Argo AI, which is majority-owned by Ford Motor Co. Related: The Fight For Venezuelas Oil Is Heating Up Companies like Waymo, Apple, Uber, Lyft, GM, Ford, VW, and Tesla, want to see the federal government and states resolve the legal and liability issues over autonomous vehicles cars and commercial trucks, and allowable passenger ride services. Thats the case in other markets in Asia and Europe where self-driving vehicles are being tested and promoted. Experts on the technology say that will all be taking much longer than originally expected a decade or more. Consulting company PwC says autonomous vehicles used in robotaxi operations will not reach roads in any significant presence until after 2030. A Deloitte study launched earlier this month affirms the mixed feelings out there. Nearly half of US consumers (48 percent) of the respondents believe that fully autonomous vehicles will be unsafe; and 58 percent arent willing to pay more than $500 for AV technology. As for the Cruise Origin in its present phase, inside the van, theres room for up to six passengers three people sitting on one side and three on the other with empty space in between. But for now, the seats are uncomfortable, something like thin cushions that cover ironing boards. The automaker is likely to present a more comfortable, consumer-friendly vehicle when it rolls off the assembly line. However, it will only be available to transport passengers through its planned ride-hailing service competing with Uber, Lyft, and other mobility companies. Passengers are given data to watch during the ride, such as how long it will take to reach their destination. Two computer displays hand from the ceiling to inform riders. Cruise wouldnt give details such as when or where its new ride-sharing service would debut. As for now, the federal government has been stating that its taking a hands-off approach to regulation on the national level. Elaine Chao, the US transportation secretary, spoke on this question at the CES show earlier this month in Las Vegas. Cho said that this was going to be left to the companies developing these vehicles to self-regulate. Automakers have their own debates going on internally and with each other about which way is best to go. GM and a few competitors want to see fully autonomous vehicles launched soon, while Toyota and other companies are taking a more cautious, safety-based approach. By Jon LeSage for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: 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. Mumbai, Jan 29 : The Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-Bombay) has banned what it terms "anti-national activities" and all types of activism on its Powai Campus here, and also sought good manners from its students. Students at the IIT-Bombay campus were stunned to receive the 15-point circular from the authorities on Tuesday, which some have labelled as "restrictions" on their freedom and rights. The directive No. 10 has virtually spooked the students: "Residents shall not participate in any anti-national, anti-social and/or any other undesirable activities." When contacted, an IIT-Bombay spokesperson said that the circular was sent by the Associate Dean (Student Affairs), and "these are not new rules, but were in the statutes". Incidentally, three weeks ago, IIT-Bombay had frowned at the personal statements made by some people as attributed to it, and reiterated that it was a non-political institution. It has also dissociated itself from an active group called "IIT-Bombay for Justice" saying it was not an officially recognised body. The January 28 circular has banned distribution of any posters/leaflets/pamphlets in the hostel without the permission of the Dean of Student Affairs (DoSA). Also 'strictly prohibited' are speeches/plays/music or any other activities that disturb the peace of hostel environment, even if the faculty is part of the gathering, but matters approved by the DoSA will be permitted. It also warns the students against screening pirate/unauthorised/unlicensed movies, not move around furniture and fitments, and refrain from defacing walls, doors, windows, shelves from inside or outside. On the good behaviour list is: all students shall be courteous and fair with everyone, inside and outside the hostel, carry their I-cards and produce them on demand, not smoke, drink or take drugs anywhere on the IIT-B campus, nor enter the premises in any intoxicated state. Besides a reminder that "Ragging is a criminal offence", the circular has doled out some moral behaviour requirements, like, prohibiting the overnight stay of any person of the opposite sex, whether a guest or otherwise in the hostel, after 10 p.m. While blood relatives like parents, brothers and sisters are permitted to stay in the hostel, even overnight, but only after DoSA permission, and up to a maximum of seven days, though this may be relaxed under medical cases. Hostellers are also barred from using any four-wheelers or two-wheelers on the lush green 550-acre campus, which houses around 10,000 students plus faculty, besides around 18 hostels, including three for female students. When a U.S. Air Force jet crashed on January 27 on a remote plain south of Kabul, killing at least two crew members, it was initially described by the governor of Afghanistan's Ghazni Province as a civilian passenger plane. Since then, international media have variously described it as a "modified private business jet," a "spy plane," an "electronic surveillance" aircraft, and a hub for "WiFi in the sky." So what exactly was the role of the Canadian-built Bombardier E-11A aircraft that crashed some 150 kilometers from the Afghan capital? Richard Aboulafia, vice president of analysis at the Virginia-based aviation consultancy Teal Group, tells RFE/RL that the plane was much more significant than an ordinary surveillance or communications aircraft. It was one of just four Bombardier E-11As that were purchased by the U.S. Air Force and "outfitted with a suite of signals intelligence and signals transfer capabilities" known as the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN), Aboulafia says. The BACN is a multimillion-dollar communications system that translates and relays real-time battlefield communications between ground troops and aircraft used by the U.S.-led international coalition forces in Afghanistan. It is able to relay voice communications, video, photographic images, and other data between aircraft and ground troops that are often using different types of communications networks. 'High-Value Asset' Aboulafia says that made the E-11A a "very high-value asset" that would have performed "command-and-control battle management" functions as well as communication, electronic warfare tasks, and surveillance. From an altitude high above the range of any Taliban weaponry, Aboulafia says the E-11A would have carried out "a combination of battle-management functions, communications functions, and a little bit of signals intelligence -- which does involve some surveillance." "Basically, 'WiFi in the sky' is one way of looking at it," he says. "But when you are a signals intelligence plane, there are a whole host of applications for that." Designed to fly at an altitude "way above 40,000 feet," Aboulafia says the E-11A is not a go-to plane for monitoring Taliban radio or cell phone communications. He says that task would usually be carried out by smaller planes that conduct "lower-level signals monitoring," including turbo-propeller aircraft. But, from their position high above the battlefields and mountains of Afghanistan, Aboulafia says the E-11A's crew would have received and relayed intelligence that had been obtained from Taliban communications by lower-flying surveillance aircraft or ground monitors. "The E-11A collects signals intelligence," Aboulafia explains. "There might be people on board analyzing it, disseminating it, transferring it -- everything like that. There is a whole host of work involved with signals on the battlefield." "The idea is to pick up as many signals as possible -- anything from radios to cell phone calls -- and transfer that information," he says. "It also transfers communications between friendly forces. It's a kind of giant signals processor." Technically, calling the E-11A a "modified private-business jet" also is correct -- but leaves out significant details about the plane's mission. The air frame of the E-11A is an adaption of "one of the most expensive private-business jets you can buy -- a very high-altitude aircraft that typically seats eight to 12 people" known as the Bombardier Global Express, Aboulafia says. Some countries have modified the plane for use as a military air-ambulance, a cargo-transport plane, or for specialized military-surveillance missions. Battlefield Disaster GlobalSecurity.org, a U.S. based security think tank, says the U.S. Air Force developed the E-11As BACN payload in response to "communications shortfalls" that led to a 2005 battlefield disaster for U.S. forces in northern Afghanistan. Operation Red Wings -- a joint mission involving U.S. Navy SEALs, U.S. Army Special Operations Forces, and U.S. Marines -- was meant to target Taliban fighters in the Pech district of Kunar Province. But the mountainous terrain prevented a four-man Navy SEAL reconnaissance team from establishing reliable communications with their command center. Within hours of their arrival, the team of U.S. Navy SEALs was attacked by the Taliban. Three were eventually killed. A Taliban rocket-propelled grenade then struck a Chinook helicopter as it attempted to land an extraction team -- killing 16 more U.S. special forces. Marcus Luttrell, the only surviving member of the initial Navy SEALs team, described the events in detail in his 2007 book Lone Survivor. A Hollywood film adaptation of Luttrell's book was released under the same title in 2013. "Due to Afghanistan's mountainous terrain and lack of existing communication infrastructure, serious communication challenges prevented the four-man SEAL patrol from effectively establishing contact with their combat operations center, leaving them vulnerable to the attacks that claimed the lives of 19 U.S. special operations service members," GlobalSecurity.org says. The U.S. military has rejected Taliban claims that its fighters shot down the E-11A in Ghazni Province, saying the cause of the crash is still under investigation but that there is no sign it was shot down. Aboulafia says video footage of the wreckage posted on a Taliban website shortly after the crash supports that Pentagon statement. Crash Landing? Rather than a widespread field of debris, the footage shows the plane's upright fuselage still connected with the tail section -- suggesting it had made a crash landing rather than being downed by a rocket or antiaircraft fire. The footage does show the top of the plane completely burned away. But there are few signs of fire on the underside of the plane. That reinforces a statement by an Afghan provincial government official who said the plane caught fire only after it hit the ground. Aboulafia says it is unclear whether the plane burned because of the crash or if one of its crew members engaged a self-destruct mechanism after the landing to ensure that the high-tech equipment would not fall into the hands of Taliban fighters, several of whom were near the scene shortly after the crash. But he said it would be a top priority for the Pentagon to prevent the BACN system from being transferred to Iran or Russia, where jamming mechanisms could then be developed to disable its vital battlefield communication links between U.S. ground troops and their command centers. Two burned bodies are seen in the video footage near the wreckage. The Pentagon said on January 28 that helicopter-borne U.S. forces recovered those remains and the plane's flight recorder a few hours after the crash. In a statement, the U.S. Defense Department added that those U.S. forces also destroyed the remnants of the aircraft. Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said on January 28 that Taliban fighters on the ground counted six bodies at the site of the crash. Unidentified U.S. officials initially were quoted as saying the plane was carrying fewer than five people when it crashed. Later, U.S. military officials said the entire crew consisted of the two people who were killed and retrieved. Britain's ambassador to the European Union handed documents formalising Brexit to a senior EU official on Wednesday, hours before European lawmakers are due to sign off on a deal that will see Britain finally quit the bloc on Friday. Three-and-a-half years after Britons voted to leave, a smiling Tim Barrow passed over a dark blue leather file embossed with the emblem of the United Kingdom, against a backdrop of British and EU flags at the bloc's Brussels headquarters. The European Parliament is due to give its final consent to the EU-UK Brexit deal at 1700 GMT, after which lawmakers will throw an "Au Revoir" party for their 73 departing colleagues. After protracted and often tortuous divorce talks, the UK will leave the club it joined in 1973 at midnight Brussels time (2300 GMT) on Friday, when British flags will be removed from EU offices and the EU flag lowered on the British premises there. With a status-quo transition period running only until year-end, fresh talks -- covering everything from trade to security -- will begin soon on a new relationship. Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier told envoys of the remaining 27 members that a loose association agreement like the EU has with Ukraine should serve as the basis for relations, diplomatic sources briefed on the closed-door meeting said. He said Brussels would seek to continue applying its state aid rules to Britain to avert the risk of dumping and identified fisheries and trade as areas where consequences could be severe if no deal is clinched. "We will not give ground on issues that are important to us," Barnier said, according to the sources. SMILES AND TEARS On his last working day as a member of the European Parliament, leading Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage told reporters there was "no going back" once the UK leaves. "The UK didn't fit, we'd be better off out," he said, describing euroscepticism as a settled view in the UK, where the 2016 referendum was won by a narrow 52 to 48 percent margin. While Farage was beaming, his compatriot Jude Kirton-Darling, a socialist member of the Parliament, held back tears. "It's probably the saddest day of my life so far. Brexit is something that attacks the very foundation of our identity," said Kirton-Darling, who plans to stay in Brussels with her Belgian husband. Barrow will become Britain's foreign ambassador to the EU and the UK's Permanent Representation, or UKRep, will become a foreign mission -- already dubbed "UKmissEU" by some. Attacking the Centre for handing over the probe into the sensitive Elgar Parishad case to the NIA, the on Wednesday invoked federalism in the country and accused the Modi government of "interfering" in the affairs of "non-BJP" Questioning the sudden move, the Sena, which heads the Maha Vikas Aghadi government comprising the NCP and the Congress, asked whether the Centre wanted the "truth" in the case to remain uncovered. "India is a union of states. Every state has its own rights and pride. The Centre forcing its way is inviting instability," the Sena said in an editorial in its Marathi mouthpiece 'Saamana'. The Centre recently ordered the Investigation Agency (NIA) to take over the probe into the Elgar case which has been probed by the Pune Police for suspected naxal links. Police are investigating whether provocative speeches were made at the conclave held on December 31, 2017 which allegedly led to caste violence around Koregaon Bhima village in Pune district the next day. Police had first used the term 'urban naxals' during the investigation after arresting nine activists and lawyers, including Telugu poet Varavara Rao and Sudha Bharadwaj. Questioning timing of the Centre's move, Home Minister and NCP leader Anil Deshmukh had last week alleged that the state government was reviewing the investigation. Accusing the Centre of doing "vengeful politics" in the editorial, the Sena questioned its 'selective' approach towards Maharashtra, a state ruled by Opposition parties. "The has intervened in Maharashtra, but several such incidents are taking place in the states being ruled by the BJP. Why the Centre didn't interfered there? This doesn't augur well....."it stated. The Sena, a former ally of the BJP, termed it as a "shocking and suspicious" move. "Given the way the Centre handed over the probe to the NIA, did it not want the truth to come out?" it questioned. The Sena said it was told by the previous BJP-led government in the state that the Elgar Parishad--Koregaon Bhima episode was a "political and conspiracy", and that there was a "secret plot" to bring down the " power" and harm Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. The Sena was the main constituent in the erstwhile BJP-led government in "The previous government had cited unnamed letters and e-mails as the evidence to drive home its point (of conspiracy theory in the case). However, people have not yet understood exactly what was the conspiracy to bring down the power of the country," it stated. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party further said the Centre "turned restless" after NCP chief Sharad Pawar called for reviewing the investigation into the case. Webjet has published details of how it generates online bookings in a rebuttal of what it called "factual inaccuracies" in an analyst report that had warned investors the business was vulnerable to Google's approach to monetising travel listings. Webjet shares were trading at $14.39 last Friday, but by Tuesday had dropped 14 per cent to $12.33 after a Morgan Stanley report cut its 12-month price target for the stock to $10 and raised concerns that the company could end up paying more to boost its position in search engine listings. Webjet managing director John Guscic is fighting "factual inaccuracies". Credit:Arsineh Houspian The note pointed to US giants Tripadvisor and Expedia, which have both recently highlighted that search engine algorithms were creating headwinds. These operators pointed to investment in Google-owned modules like Google Flights as well as other paid search options having an impact on their costs by siphoning search traffic that travel companies used to get through free links. Morgan Stanley analysts had argued Webjet would be the most vulnerable in the Australian market due to the level of control businesses like Google have when ranking bookings sites. A father and his 11-year-old son hadn't been seen for weeks before they were gassed to death when their holiday of a lifetime turned into a horror camping trip. Nigel Warman and his youngest son Liam died after their gas-powered fridge sprung a leak inside their tent on a remote Western Australian beach. The family dog, a black labrador named Ava, also died while Mr Warman's wife Lou was rushed to hospital but survived. Friends discovered the family camped about 8km from popular holiday spot Wedge Island, about 150km north of Perth, and had to be counselled by locals. Nigel Warman and his youngest son Liam died after their gas-powered fridge sprung a leak inside their tent. Nigel's wife Lou was rushed to hospital but survived. They are pictured with their older teenage son who was not on the trip The family dog, a black labrador named Ava, also died from toxic poisoning near popular holiday spot Wedge Island, 150km north of Perth The couple married on August 5, 2000, and have two older children - an adult daughter and teenage son - who were not on the trip. Ms Warman was originally from Stockport, near Manchester, England, and proposed to Nigel on Great Yarmouth island in 1999. Paramedics said Ms Warman was both starved of oxygen and suffered toxic poisoning consistent with a gas leak. She was airlifted to hospital in a serious condition but has reportedly been discharged. WA Police Minister Michelle Roberts said the tragedy was caused by a gas leak from a faulty fridge the family kept inside the tent. WA Police Minister Michelle Roberts said the tragedy was caused by a gas leak from a faulty fridge the family kept inside the tent (pictured) The family are pictured with Ms Warman's parents and the older teenage son. Mr and Ms Warman also have an adult daughter who was not on the trip The family were staying on the mainland of Western Australia near to Wedge Island 'I understand there may have been some kind of gas leak from a fridge that was being used in the tent,' she said. 'Unfortunately that's resulted in the tragic deaths of two people and their dog and I understand the mum is in a serious condition.' The trio, who were camping with two other families, are believed to have woken up feeling dizzy and feeling unwell, according to the West Australian. Emergency services were called when Liam stopped breathing, and he and Mr Warman were dead by the time help arrived about 11am. Leslee Holmes, the president of the local Shire of Dandaragan said the local community were all campers and boaties, so the tragedy had hit hard. 'Our whole community is rocked,' she said. The couple married on August 5, 2000, after Ms Warman, originally from Stockport, near Manchester, England, proposed to Nigel on Great Yarmouth island in 1999 The bodies were found at a campground near Wedge Island, 90 minutes north of Perth, at about 11am on Monday The family was not supposed to be camping on the beach as it is part of an army firing range, but is 'heavenly,' Ms Holmes said. 'They where a long way from anywhere,' she said. Neighbours told The West Australian the family had left with their car packed for the believed camping trip about one or two weeks ago. The neighbours said they have not seen the family or heard their pet dog since. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services attended to help safely remove the equipment and the family's belongings. A nurse takes the temperature of a woman in the reception area of the First People's Hospital in Yueyang, Hunan Province, near the border to Hubei Province, which is under partial lockdown after an outbreak of a new coronavirus, in China January 28, 2020. (Photo : REUTERS/Thomas Peter) Hong Kong researchers have already developed a vaccine for lethal Chinese coronavirus. However, scientists need time to test it, according to infectious diseases expert Professor Yuen Kwok-Yung. Scientists in mainland China and the United States were also separately hurrying to supply a vaccine for the new virus that killed hundreds of people and infected thousands of others. Yuen, chair of infectious diseases at the University of Hong Kong, and his team discovered that they are working at the vaccine. Without giving a particular time body on when it might be provided to the patients, Yuen told SCMP they have already produced the vaccine. However, the chairperson said the vaccine needs protracted time to be tested. He stated it might take months to test the vaccine on animals and at least another yr to conduct scientific trials on humans before it was matched for use. HKU researchers primarily based the test on a nasal spray influenza vaccine previously invented by Yuen's group. Researchers altered the flu vaccine with coronavirus' antigen. The modification, according to the researchers, could prevent influenza viruses as well as the new coronavirus, which causes pneumonia. The vaccine, if correctly tested, might be the answer to a disease that infected more than 4,000 people worldwide and killed hundreds in mainland China. Hong Kong had confirmed at least eight cases. More than 70 people with suspected cases were reported as of midday Tuesday. More than 100 humans are currently isolated in public hospitals. As mainland media quoted Chinese infectious diseases professional Li Lanjuan on Monday saying that the vaccine focused on the coronavirus was being developed and could be created in a month, Yuen expressed doubts. Yuan explained the only being developed in the mainland is probably an inactivated virus vaccine. The "inactivated vaccine," according to Yuan, is made of a virus grown in a culture that had its contagiousness destroyed by chemicals or radiation. According to Yuen, the vaccine needs to be injected into an animal to test if it creates a terrific immune response. He added that the vaccinated animal would then be exposed to the virus to look if it is protected. The scientist explained that the vaccine would undergo medical trials on people if it appears to be stable and secure in several animal species. Yuan added the test would take at least one year to be fully used. Yuan expressed his worry that the approach would be taken away by the mainland side to broaden a vaccine could lead to more complications. He said this type of response for coronavirus had been recorded in some reports. Coronaviruses are a vast family of viruses causing respiratory illnesses starting from the common cold to more complicated diseases which include Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars). Meanwhile, Xinhua said that the Shanghai East Hospital of Tongji University had urgently accepted a venture for the improvement of a vaccine concentrated on the novel virus. The vaccine might be co-advanced by the health center and Stemirna Therapeutics, a Shanghai-based totally biotechnology company. No more than 40 days would be needed to manufacture vaccine samples, according to Company CEO Li Hangwen. The samples would then be sent for tests brought to clinics as soon as possible. "This year we are awarding $50,000 in grant funds to five different research institutions for projects dedicated to deeper discovery into the influence of chocolate on global heritage and culture," said Gail Broadright, Director Sponsorships and Mars Family Properties. "We were excited and inspired by all of the grant submissions. We believe these winners will provide immersive educational experiences that bring these chocolate stories to life for the public, and preserve them for future generations." Mars Wrigley and AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate awarded grants for the following: The Fort Ticonderoga Association: ( Ticonderoga, NY ) The Fort will soon begin culinary history programming within the historic fort as well as in the newly restored 1826 National Historic Landmark building, the Pavilion. The grant will fund its hands-on chocolate culinary experience that will go beyond period cooking demonstrations. Guests of all ages will engage interactively with how chocolate was supplied to troops and tourists at the fort, global trade and economics and the real taste of chocolate through the centuries. For more information, please visit: https://www.fortticonderoga.org Stratford Hall : ( Stratford, VA ) Once the family home to generations of the Lee Family, Stratford Hall will use its grant to support its research, publications, programs as well as an exhibit related to the production and consumption of chocolate at the historic plantation. Stratford Hall has a unique story to tell and this chocolate exhibit will use multimedia to share the exotic ingredients, delicate skills and start of America's love of chocolate at the plantation. For more information, please visit: https://www.stratfordhall.org Friends of Lower Fort Garry: ( Saint Andrews, Manitoba ) The Friends of Lower Fort Garry plan to use its grant to fund experiential programming that investigates the food histories of British Columbia forts with a focus on chocolate. Visitors will learn the history of chocolate in medicinal usages, desserts and historic menus, celebratory toasts and drinks as well as recipes during the fur-trade era. The grant will also support the creation of an historic and artistic reproduction of the Made Beaver coin using HERITAGE Chocolate. For more information, please visit: https://folfg.com Michigan State University Extension: ( East Lansing, MI ) Michigan State University Extension will use its grant to create 15 Chocolate Culture and Creativity kits. Each kit will contain lessons, activities, and supplies for over 12 hours of chocolate education for over 50 youth. Additionally, the grant will reach over 750 youth in the 4-H SPIN (special interest) club format by funding the enhancement and expansion of Michigan 4-H's current Chocolate, Culture and Creativity programming. For more information, please visit: https://www.canr.msu.edu/outreach/ George Washington's Mount Vernon Ladies' Association: ( Mount Vernon, VA ) This grant will be used to create professional development workshops and field trips designed to reach 40 teachers and 600 students in the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). A unit entitled Chocolate and Trade: The Americas will be developed in collaboration with DCPS to support and enhance the current 6th grade social studies curriculum. Students will learn the history of chocolate, 18th-century trade routes, historic chocolate making techniques as well as George Washington's chocolate consumption. For more information, please visit: https://www.mountvernon.org/preservation/mount-vernon-ladies-association/ Last year's grant winnersSmithsonian Museum of American History, The University of Wisconsin, The New York Historical Society, The Betsy Ross House and the Office of Historic Alexandriamade presentations during the annual meeting highlighting the details and results of their grant funded programs. Mars plans to continue to award grants on an annual basis and the submission period for the 2020 awards begins in the summer of 2020 at www.AmericanHeritageChocolate.com . AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate is a line of artisanal chocolate products developed from ingredient lists from the 1750s. Developed by Mars Wrigley, AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate helps illuminate the stories of our collective history - from chocolate's Mesoamerican roots, dating back over 3500 years, to its place in the lives of European and Colonial American families, to its role in popular culture today. While its rich history provides context for this intriguing global narrative, it is chocolate's future, and its story of connection, that brings people together, spanning cultures, time and place, that inspires the Forrest E. Mars, Jr. Chocolate History Research Grant to push the boundaries of discovery. About AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate: The AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate brand was developed in 2006 by Mars Chocolate North America (now Mars Wrigley) to help educate consumers about the history of our multicultural nation through the engaging story of one of our most beloved foodschocolate! With a flavor profile drawn directly from the archives of chocolate's historic past, AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate provides an artisanal, versatile way to eat, bake or drink a sweet taste of history. Rainforest Alliance Certified, 57% cacao and made with no preservatives, AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate currently comes in four NEW unique formats: Tasting Squares, Tablet Bars, Finely Grated Baking Chocolate for baking/drinking and Gourmet Hot Cocoa. AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate is sold in over 200 fine gift shops at historic sites, museums and historic inns across the USA and Canada. The brand can also be found on Amazon.com, at M&M's World in New York City and Las Vegas, and at the Ethel M chocolate store in Henderson, Nevada. Learn more about AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate at www.Facebook.com/AmericanHeritageChocolate , on Instagram at @AmericanHeritageChocolate, Twitter @ Choc_history , Tumblr @americanheritagechocolate.tumblr.com, and on Pinterest @Chochistory. About Mars, Incorporated Mars is a family-owned business with more than a century of history making diverse products and offering services for people and the pets people love. With almost $35 billion in sales, the company is a global business that produces some of the world's best-loved brands: M&M's, SNICKERS, TWIX, MILKY WAY, DOVE, PEDIGREE, ROYAL CANIN, WHISKAS, EXTRA, ORBIT, 5, SKITTLES, UNCLE BEN'S, MARS DRINKS and COCOAVIA. Mars also provides veterinary health services that include BANFIELD Pet Hospitals, Blue Pearl, VCA and Pet Partners. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom inspire its more than 100,000 Associates to create value for all its partners and deliver growth they are proud of every day. For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Contact: Valerie Donati Brand Building Communications [email protected] SOURCE Mars Wrigley Select the Somerset County Athlete of the Week for Jan. 3-7 BEATRICE More than nine years after 19-year-old Tyler Ty Thomas disappeared on a chilly, two-block walk to her Peru State dorm room from a party, Joshua Keadle, the guy who lived across the hall from her, finds himself on trial for her murder. After a flurry of texts early Dec. 3, 2010, telling friends she was lost, the Omaha woman, who led the schools dance team and signed up for classes for the next semester, never was seen or heard from again. For her to not communicate with her family just didnt happen, Assistant Nebraska Attorney General Doug Warner told a jury Tuesday in opening statements of what is expected to be a three-week trial. What started as a missing-person investigation turned into a criminal investigation. The man at the center of it quickly became Keadle, who had spotted Thomas as he returned to campus with friends after a late movie in Nebraska City. At about that same time, campus security cameras had captured Thomas walking unsteadily, without a coat and holding her phone at 1:06 a.m., then 1:08 a.m. Friends drove around town until 5 a.m. looking for her, concerned because she was drunk and said in texts she was lost. But they came up empty, Warner said. Investigators kept going back to Keadle, one of the last four people to see Thomas, asking him first to make a written statement, then to come in to talk. For four days, Keadle claimed the last time he'd seen Thomas was on campus, drunkenly walking toward her dorm, until he fessed up, as his attorney Jeff Pickens put it, that she had gotten into his Ford Explorer as he headed to go smoke pot near a boat dock along the Missouri River. We believe that, when the trial is over, you will decide that when Mr. Keadle left Tyler Thomas at the river, she was alive, Pickens said. Keadle, now 38, says Thomas refused to let him drive her back to campus, angry that he backed out on giving her a ride to Omaha in exchange for a sex act. According to Keadle's version of events, Thomas threw her phone at him, and he grabbed her arm to keep her from hitting him. Then, Keadle says, Thomas said she was going to say he had raped her. They argued, he said, and when he went to leave, she wouldn't get in his vehicle. So, Keadle said, he drove off. Pickens said Keadle didnt originally tell investigators because he had become concerned that, if something had happened to Thomas, he could be held criminally liable for it. Keadle later admitted to investigators he had done a Google search if you can get fingerprints off a body in the river. In every trial, there are bad facts on both sides. And weve got some bad facts, the attorney said. Pickens told jurors they also would hear evidence about what was going on in Thomas life so they can decide if she had reasons to "voluntarily disappear" or harm herself or whether she died as a result of a crime. There was no body. There was no autopsy. There is no way to determine with scientific or medical certainty how she died if shes dead, Pickens said. That night, Thomas had been falling-down drunk, he said, kicked out of a party after getting into an argument with her best friend and kicking a hole in a wall. She had said she was going to Omaha, even if I have to walk there." Keadle said he later returned to the river, where he told officers hed left Thomas, to look for her, even going into a grove of trees that hed pointed to, saying Omaha was "that way. Warner, the prosecutor, said investigators found a series of smooth marks, suspected drag marks, that head to the river. To him, what happened is clear. Its now been nine years. Shes dead, he said. "She was killed at the river, dumped in the river. Family members, who were among the first to testify, described Thomas as happy-go-lucky, even bubbly, but also a typical teenager who sometimes got sad or had anger issues. But she was excited about a dance team she had just gotten started at Peru State. It was something she had accomplished on her own. She was so happy, said her mother, LaTonya Thomas of Omaha. Her daughter was declared legally dead in 2013, and her body has never been found. Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSpilger Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A painting of the Saigon Central Post Office in District 1 is one of many Tam's works that was published a book called "Canh Sac Pho Thi Saigon - Cho Lon" (Urband Landscape of Saigon-Chinatown). According to the book, the artist is from Phu Nhuan District and taught himself how to use oil, lacquer and watercolors. Susan Jeffers, a Caldecott Honor winner and New York Times bestselling illustrator, died on January 22 after a brief illness. She was 77. Jeffers was born on October 7, 1942 in New Jersey and grew up there, noting in a 1977 interview with Bookbird that her art career had its humble beginnings in a tiny school in Oakland, N.J., when I was chosen to paint a history mural with the usual Egyptians harvesting in muddy tempera fields. She additionally credits her artistic and very kind mother with teaching her about perspective and how to mix paint, skills that encouraged her to later choose Pratt Institute for her art education. Jeffers graduated from Pratt in 1964 and worked in the childrens art departments of three different publishing houses, including Macmillan, doing everything from repairing type and pasting up illustrations to designing books and jackets. But her work on other illustrators books further fueled her passion to create a book of her own. With that goal in mind, she shifted into freelance work so she could focus on her own projects. Around that same time, in 1968, Jeffers began an art studio with fellow illustrator Rosemary Wells, where they largely did book and jacket design. Jefferss first book, published in 1967, was not a success on any level, she recalled in a 2013 interview with website Equitrekking. Next came The Buried Moon by Joseph Jacobs, published by Bradbury Press in 1969, which did not make any money either, she told Equitrekking. But, in the meantime, Jeffers had begun work on adapting and illustrating Three Jovial Huntsmen, based on a Mother Goose rhyme, also for Bradbury. However, once she finished the illustrations, she and her publisher made the joint decision not to go to press, as the work wasnt strong enough. Jeffers then took a break from her own illustration and accepted a job as an art teacher. Luckily, Bradbury phoned her about a year later, asking if she might want to take another run at Three Jovial Huntsmen. The resulting book was released in 1973 and earned her a 1974 Caldecott Honor and also won the Golden Apple Award, Biennale of Illustrations Bratislava in 1975. Jeffers went on to create more than 47 books for children, including Brother Eagle, Sister Sky! The Words of Chief Seattle by Chief Seattle, illustrated by Jeffers (Dial, 1991), and a number of collaborations with Wells. The pair teamed up for Lassie Come-Home (Holt, 1995); Rachel Fields Hitty: Her First Hundred Years (S&S, 1999), and their series about McDuff the dog, published by Hyperion between 1997 and 2005. Jeffers had a great love for horses, which she was able to depict frequently in her illustrations, most pointedly in the picture book My Pony (Hyperion, 2003), My Chincoteague Pony (HarperCollins, 2008) and Black Beauty by Anna Sewell, adapted by Robin McKinley (Random House, 1986). She also enjoyed painting landscapes in her spare time and often took art classes, calling those pursuits her busmans holiday. Longtime collaborator and close friend Wells offered these words of tribute: Susan Jeffers was a marvelous painter of wildlife, animals, and flora. She could look at something and draw it. I never could. She taught me over and over how to let something enter your eyes, then run down your arm into your fingers and your pencil. She taught me how to compose a jacket image. I tried to convey to Susan the art of telling a story in pictures. We worked together, always trying to compensate for the others weaknesses and to amplify the others strength. It worked so well. We shared many a book and 45 years of friendship. Susans legacy is her wonderful library from Hitty to McDuff and many more. All of them have been in the hands of thousands of children and they have benefited. What a terrific life! Barbara Lalicki, who retired in 2013 as senior v-p and editorial director at HarperCollins Childrens Books, and currently teaches picture book courses at the Pratt Institute, worked closely with Jeffers, and she shared this remembrance: The way Susan strove for excellence made working with her an adventure. For instance, after going to the Lincoln Center bookshop to see what caught our eyes, she created the stunning jacket for The Nutcracker. Susan wanted her books to create a shared experience for parents and children. An excellent painter as well as an author-illustrator, she was an outstandingly generous person, always ready to help aspiring artists. Martha Rago, executive creative director at Random House Childrens Books, was Jefferss designer and art director at Henry Holt and later at HarperCollins. Rago recalled Jeffers as a a joy to collaborate with and to know as a friend. Having been a designer herself, she was appreciative and respectful of what I could bring to the equation and I was happy to meet her high standards. Beyond our bookmaking we would chat about gardening, her love of horses, a current art exhibit, or her latest personal project. Susan approached her job, and most things, with exacting care and thoughtfulness. She created sensitive illustrations of animals and the natural world, as in Lassie Come-Home, and also nuanced portraiture, like the exquisite cover of The Nutcracker (Harper, 2007). She could draw anything, really, and her mastery of painting shows skill and a degree of control few can achieve. Yet she always raised the bar, a lifelong student, challenging herself to improve and study from people she admired. It was she who I admired." Countries with citizens in the central Chinese city thats the epicenter of a viral outbreak are planning evacuations as the number of illnesses grow, and China takes drastic measures to try to stop the spread of the virus. A look at steps being taken: CHINA: The government cut transportation links to and from the city of Wuhan on Jan. 22 and has since expanded those controls to several nearby cities. Anyone traveling from Wuhan is required to register and quarantine themselves for 14 daysthe viruss maximum incubation period. Hong Kong barred entry to travelers from Hubei province and told Hong Kong residents returning from the area to quarantine themselves at home. Dr. Khamis Hassan Bakari of Tanzania shows an image of an empty street in Wuhan, China on Jan. 27, 2020. (Khamis Hassan Bakari via AP) JAPAN: Chief government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said 560 Japanese citizens are confirmed living in Hubei, and chartered evacuation flights are preparing to leave as soon as possible. The Japanese Embassy in Beijing said the initial evacuation is limited to those in Wuhan. Evacuees are expected to include employees of Honda Motor Co., Tokyo Electron, Aeon Co., and other Japanese companies operating in Wuhan. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his Cabinet would designate the new coronavirus as an infectious disease subject to forced hospitalization and isolation. Such preventative measures appear to be in preparation for the evacuation. UNITED STATES: The U.S. Consulate in Wuhan plans a charter flight to Southern California for its personnel and some other Americans. The State Department said the flight would leave Wednesday morning for Ontario, California. The plane will refuel in Anchorage, Alaska, where the passengers will be rescreened, according to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. An airport officer walks past international travelers arriving at Los Angeles International Airport on the first day of coronavirus health screenings for people coming from Wuhan, China in Los Angeles, Calif., on Jan. 18, 2020. (David McNew/Getty Images) FRANCE: Health Minister Agnes Buzyn said French citizens who want to leave Wuhan would be flown directly to France in the middle of the week, and then held in quarantine for 14 days. France has some 800 citizens in Wuhan. French automaker PSA, which produces Peugeot and Citroen cars, said it was evacuating its expatriate employees and their families from Wuhan and quarantining them in another city. It didnt elaborate. SRI LANKA: The embassy in Beijing has applied for a Sri Lankan Airlines plane to be allowed to land at the Wuhan airport to airlift home 32 Sri Lankan students and their family members. The foreign ministry also said it was working to bring back all other Sri Lankan students throughout China. About 860 Sri Lankan students are in China. A health official scans the body temperature of a passenger as she arrives at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia on Jan. 22, 2020. (Tatan Syuflana/AP Photo) GERMANY: Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that his country is considering evacuating its citizens from Wuhan. A government crisis response committee will soon meet with medical experts to evaluate the situation. He said the number of German citizens in Wuhan is in the double digits. The foreign ministry currently advises Germans to refrain from or postpone non-essential travel to China. EUROPEAN UNION: Portugal says it has joined with other smaller European Union countries to organize a possible evacuation of their citizens from Wuhan. Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva said 14 Portuguese have asked to be evacuated from the city. Santos Silva says other EU countries with low numbers of potential evacuees are considering a joint operation and have approached Chinese health authorities about gaining clearance for it. He did not identify the other countries. French health official Jerome Salomon says France may take non-French people on the flight its trying to arrange. Tourists wear face masks as they visit Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Jan. 24, 2020. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) THAILAND: Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha said his countrys Defense Ministry was ready to evacuate its citizens from affected areas in China but hadnt yet received permission from the Chinese government. The Thai Foreign Ministry says there are 64 Thais in Wuhan and 18 elsewhere in Hubei province. AUSTRALIA: Foreign Minister Marise Payne said her government is exploring all opportunities to help evacuate the Australians reportedly in Wuhan. She didnt elaborate. Australia doesnt have a consular presence in Wuhan. By Mari Yamaguchi SPRINGFIELD - While loansharking defendant Anthony Scibelli attempted to ease the conditions of his pretrial release, federal prosecutors pushed back to tighten them up following the release of a potential witness list against him. Scibelli, 51, of Springfield, was in July arrested and charged with collecting extortionate loans after being caught on video and audio recordings allegedly beating a debtor in broad daylight. His attorney has said the unnamed debtor, Victim 1, owed money to someone else, not Scibelli, though no one else has been charged in the case. Victim 1 had been cooperating with the FBI and Massachusetts State Police organized crime unit, according to court records. The assault took place on June 19 in the parking lot of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Society, a social club that occasionally doubles as a default meetinghouse for organized crime figures. Scibelli was arrested and charged on July 2, after he allegedly went to the home of Victim 1s relative and threatened to beat the man with his wifes walker. Scibelli pleaded not guilty to a charge of making extortionate collections in U.S. District Court in July, and was held behind bars until convincing a judge he could be released on certain stringent conditions. Those included house arrest and electronic monitoring. However, defense lawyer Nikolas Andreopoulos recently filed a motion to have the house arrest lifted. Its pretend to try to envision a scenario where hes going to try to make some illicit contact with the individual whos accused him in this case, Andreopoulos argued to U.S. District Judge Mark Mastroianni. Its clear to me that this supposed victim is not afraid of my client. Marianne Shelvey, a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice organized crime and gang unit, countered that -- not only should the judge deny the motion to lift the house arrest -- but Scibelli should be fitted with a GPS bracelet. This just got very real, Shelvey said, telling Mastroianni prosecutors released a full list of potential witnesses against Scibelli to the defense just minutes before. Some of them may be surprising that are on this list, or potential witnesses they may have not have known about. Its a different ballgame, if you will, she argued. The list was filed under seal; Andreopoulos is bound by a court order not to share the list with anyone else but his client. Scibelli, in turn, cannot share the contents of the list either. Andreopoulos voiced concern over his clients obligation under the court order. These people all know each other; they have for some time. If someone on this list approaches him, is he supposed to say Im not allowed to talk to you? the defense lawyer asked. Yes, hes to say I cant talk to you because of my pending court case, Shelvey responded. The judge ordered Scibellis pretrial conditions remain in place and to have him fitted with a GPS bracelet. Mastroianni was expected to set a trial date in the case yesterday, but Andreopoulos asked for time to continue reviewing accidental recordings made by Victim 1. Wait, did you say accidental? the judge asked. Andreopoulos confirmed the alleged victim in the case wore a hot mic for more than a day at a time because he -- or someone -- forgot to turn off the recording device. Ive found them to be really valuable, he told Mastroianni. The judge set a further pretrial conference for April 2. The Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lamahas suggested the Chinese to chant Taara mantra to stop Coronavirus from spreading. Recently, a group of Chinese devotees had requested Dalai Lama for his advice on Facebook for the life-taking virus called the Coronavirus in Wuhan. To which he advised the Chinese followers and the Buddhist monasteries across China to chant the mantra, as according to him, it will help in containing the epidemic from spreading. BCCL He suggested that people impacted by the virus should chant Om tare tuttare ture Soha and will help in maintaining peace of mind and also enable them to push away all the worries. The death toll in China has crossed 130 people in China and it is only increasing every day. According to TOI, 1300 new cases of the virus have been reported in the past twenty-four hours. Coronavirus includes viruses that lead to illnesses like common cold to respiratory syndromes. India is one of the 30 countries that have the risk of the virus spreading due to frequent air travellers wholl commute from China to India. Researchers from the University of Southampton compiled a list of countries that are on a high risk. According to the researchers, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, the US & UK are other countries that are on high risk list apart from India. Bravo is making history with its new reality series Family Karma, which will be the first US reality series to feature an all Indian-American cast. The first trailer for Family Karma was unveiled on Tuesday by Bravo, offering the first glimpse at the seven Indian-American friends who were raised in Miami. While they were all raised with traditional Indian customs, all of these adult children are finding themselves drifting more towards the 'American way.' New cast: Bravo is making history with its new reality series Family Karma, which will be the first US reality series to feature an all Indian-American cast The trailer begins with a glimpse at Brian, 27, described as, 'a playboy whose parents have always wanted him to settle down with a nice Indian girl.' He's seen with his parents as they're getting camera ready, when his mother scolds him for being on his phone. 'You want me to find a nice girl, so I'm gonna be on my phone and find a girl,' Brian retorts, adding, 'You want me to give you a grandkid?' Brian: The trailer begins with a glimpse at Brian, 27, described as, 'a playboy whose parents have always wanted him to settle down with a nice Indian girl' Phone's allowed: 'You want me to find a nice girl, so I'm gonna be on my phone and find a girl,' Brian retorts, adding, 'You want me to give you a grandkid?' 'Abso-frickin-lutely,' his mother replies, which causes both father and son to crack up laughing. Anisha, 34, who recently moved back home with her parents after spending 10 years in the New York City fashion industry, states, '20 percent of the world is Indian, so we're here. There's a lot of us.' Vishal, 32, a self-admitted man-child who lives at home despite being engaged for three years, states that none of their families are from America, and their families, 'all migrated to Florida.' Anisha: Anisha, 34, who recently moved back home with her parents after spending 10 years in the New York City fashion industry, states, '20 percent of the world is Indian, so we're here. There's a lot of us' Vishal: Vishal, 32, a self-admitted man-child who lives at home despite being engaged for three years, states that none of their families are from America, and their families, 'all migrated to Florida' 'Our parents basically founded this community. They had arranged marriages, we had arranged friendships,' Vishal adds. Monica, a 27 year old tech specialist and aspiring Bollywood choreographer, adds that they all grew up, 'doing temple classes as kids.' Anisha adds that they're, 'going to be friends always, like the Babysitters Club,' as they're all seen taking photos together. Temple: Monica, a 27 year old tech specialist and aspiring Bollywood choreographer, adds that they all grew up, 'doing temple classes as kids The trailer shows one scene where Anisha's mother asks her to get the ladder, but then asks how the ganesha statue looks on a glass shelf. When Anisha says it looks fine, her mother says she can take the ladder back, much to the dismay of Anisha. Brian's mother complains about all of his things on the floor, and he says that, 'I'm just a little behind,' as we see a shot of his messy room. Messy: Brian's mother complains about all of his things on the floor, and he says that, 'I'm just a little behind,' as we see a shot of his messy room Amrit, 32, surprised his family at 25 when he came out as gay, and now he's returning home to Miami after a stint in Chicago, as he tries to grow his Chicago law firm's business in his home town. Amrit reveals that, 'Indian families live together, so you have mom, dad, grandmother, the maid, the maid's mom.' Another scene shows Brian telling his mother that he understood if he was to stay in this house, 'it's partially mine,' which causes his mother to crack up laughing. Amrit: Amrit, 32, surprised his family at 25 when he came out as gay, and now he's returning home to Miami after a stint in Chicago, as he tries to grow his Chicago law firm's business in his home town Laughs: Another scene shows Brian telling his mother that he understood if he was to stay in this house, 'it's partially mine,' which causes his mother to crack up laughing Monica adds that all of her friends' parents are like her, 'second moms and second dads' while Anisha reveals they all 'go to happy hour and talk about us.' The trailer also shows hints of the drama that will unfold, including a tease of a previous relationship between Anisha and Vishal while Amrit calls out Vishal for something else that he did, 'out of spite.' The trailer ends with a number of explosive confrontations between the group, with the series slated to debut Sunday, March 8 at 9 PM ET on Bravo. Happy hour: Monica adds that all of her friends' parents are like her, 'second moms and second dads' while Anisha reveals they all 'go to happy hour and talk about us' Arrest of a salesman: Benjamen Gilbert, 37, has been charged with sexually assaulting a special-needs woman while pretending to be a magazine salesman A man has been arrested in Texas for allegedly raping an intellectually disabled woman while pretending to be a traveling magazine salesman. Benjamen, Gilbert, 37, was apprehended on January 8 and charged with second-degree sexual assault, a felony, stemming from an incident that took place two days earlier in The Woodlands. According to a press release from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, at around 6pm on January 6, deputies responded to an apartment in the 4500 block of South Panther Creek Drive after receiving a report of a sexual assault. The officers were met by a 48-year-old woman suffering from an intellectual disability, who told them that earlier that day, an unknown man had arrived on her doorstep selling magazines. The incident took place at the victim's apartment in the 4500 block of South Panther Creek Drive in The Woodlands, Texas, earlier this month After speaking with her for a few moments outside the apartment, the man came inside and the two sat on the couch. The victim said the bogus salesman sexually assaulted her and then left, prompting her to alert her family members. In the course of the investigation, detectives have determined that on January 2, the sheriff's office got a call about an aggressive man selling magazines door-to-door in The Woodlands area. 'During this incident, the citizen called after the suspect became agitated and felt the suspect was attempting to gain access to her home,' the press release stated. Deputies were dispatched to the location and identified Gilbert, but he was let go at the time because no crime had taken place. The 48-year-old victim told deputies Gilbert (left and right) arrived at her home offering magazines for sale. After chatting on the doorstep, he went inside the apartment, sat on the couch with the woman and allegedly assaulted her A few days prior, another person called the police to report an aggressive door-to-door salesman, but Gilbert was let go at the time In the wake of the January 6 incident, the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office asked a judge to issue a warrant for Gilbert's arrest. Two days later, at around 3.30pm, patrol deputies were dispatched to a call for service concerning a suspicious person in the area of West Laurelhurst Circle in The Woodlands. Upon arrival, the responding deputies tracked down the suspicious man and identified him as Gilbert, who was arrested on the outstanding warrant. Gilbert is being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $250,000 bond. The jail roster reveals that Gilbert's last known residence was in Houston, but social media posts from last year suggest that he previously lived in Cleveland, Ohio. Lehigh University on Tuesday halted most Greek life activities on campus amid renewed concerns about excessive drinking, hazing, and drug use. In an email to the university community, president John D. Simon and Ricardo Hall, vice president for student affairs, announced a suspension of all new member activities. They also prohibited contact between existing members and new members, and any events that are not business-related. That means no parties or purely social events. They also ordered that all houses remain alcohol-free, including individual rooms in the houses. A hard-alcohol ban had been in place, but Lehigh now will prohibit beer and wine, too. The pause on Greek social life, as Lehigh calls it, comes amid intensifying concern about behavior, despite a 10-point plan for improvement instituted by the university last year and commitment from Greek life leaders to work toward change. It also comes as membership has been falling in fraternities and sororities at the Bethlehem campus, long known for its vibrant Greek life and large fraternity houses on a hill. READ MORE: Greek life is at a crossroads on some campuses We have received reports from parents, new members and anonymous sources centered around excessive alcohol consumption, drug use, and hazing, Simon and Hall wrote in the email. Several chapters have been disciplined, others have been warned, and all have been told in unequivocal terms that this behavior is unacceptable and antithetical to all that we aspire to as a university. The email did not offer specifics about the behaviors or name the groups affected. Lehigh posts behavior infractions on its website. In the last week, five organizations have faced allegations, according to the site. The university placed the Delta Chi fraternity on temporary suspension Monday, pending the outcome of an investigation into an incident in which police found 200 students, all wearing similar clothes, leaving the house. The floor was soaked with beer and strewed with garbage, according to the report, and a student alleged that the chapter offered cocaine to a new member. Also suspended last week was Theta Xi fraternity after an investigation into members who returned to campus intoxicated after a recruitment event and got into a fight. Other allegations included alcohol-related infractions at Delta Upsilon fraternity and hazing, and intentionally furnishing false information to university officials at Alpha Phi and Gamma Phi Beta, both sororities. READ MORE: Colleges grapple with the deadly combination of drinking and hazing Sororities at Lehigh already have welcomed new members this semester, but fraternities were just about to send out bids for new members, said university spokesperson Lori Friedman. That process has been stopped, she said. The university said the pause would not be lifted until Greek life leaders come up with a detailed and realistic plan for improvement. Vincent Albanese, president of Lehighs Interfraternity Council, issued a statement on Wednesday. The Interfraternity Council agrees that the health and safety of students must be a top priority," said Albanese, a senior from Oradell, N.J. "We are committed to working with the university and all parties to create a plan to improve our community. Wrongdoers should be held accountable but we must respect the rights of those who are living up to the standards of fraternal excellence. The North American Interfraternity Conference also weighed in Wednesday, asserting that blanket action regarding the Greek system is not the right step. Among other concerns, they disincentivize following the rules and taking care of each other, since responsible students are treated just like their peers causing problems, said Todd Shelton, chief communication officer. Blanket actions also erode trust between campus partners and students, alumni and inter/national organizations, because these actions come off as unilateral, lacking basic principles of due process. Although the university has stopped certain activities in the past, Tuesdays action marks the first time such a widespread pause had been instituted, Friedman said. The pause could further erode membership in Greek life on campus. In spring 2015, fraternities claimed 983 members roughly 37% of the male student body. By last spring, membership had fallen just shy of 660. Sorority membership fell, too, from 1,009, or 46% of the female student body, to 834. Simon and Hall said they had deep concern about the safety and well-being of the students who are in Greek life or are trying to join. Despite repeated warnings, infractions have not stopped, they said. If anything, the offensive and unhealthy behavior has intensified, indicating a blatant disregard for the rules and a disrespect for those groups and organizations who do abide by them, Simon and Hall wrote. Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon gave us a cinematic classic in 1991 with the release of Thelma & Louise. And 29 years after the movie's release, the stars were honored Tuesday at the Museum of Modern Art's Women In Motion screening of the film. Davis, 64, sizzled in a black lace number as she reunited with Sarandon, 73, on the red carpet of the New York City event. Ride or die: Geena Davis sizzled in a black lace number Tuesday as she reunited with Susan Sarandon at the Museum of Modern Art for a Women In Motion screening of Thelma & Louise She donned an off-the-shoulder black mini dress, featuring a lace overlay, which continued into long sleeves. The look was completed with a pair of dangling silver earrings and some strappy black chunky heels. Davis played Thelma in the 1991 movie, a housewife who escapes her abusive husband with the help of her best friend Louise. Sarandon hit the red carpet in an androgynous chic look, sporting a classic black pantsuit with a white blouse. Classic: Davis played Thelma in the 1991 movie, a housewife who escapes her abusive husband with the help of her best friend Louise (Sarandon, left) Sizzling display: She donned an off-the-shoulder black mini dress, featuring a lace overlay, which continued into long sleeves Thelma vibes: The look was completed with a pair of dangling silver earrings and some strappy black chunky heels. Davis played Thelma in the 1991 movie, a housewife who escapes her abusive husband with the help of her best friend Louise Androgynous chic: Sarandon hit the red carpet in an androgynous chic look, sporting a classic black pantsuit with a white blouse Thelma incarnate: The ensemble was finished with gold safety pin earrings, a matching arrow bolo clip and black leather pumps, as she carried a black alligator clutch. She starred in the movie as Louise, a tough-as-nails waitress who takes her pal Thelma on a cross-country road trip On the run: But when Louise shoots and kills a man who tried to rape Thelma, they end up on the run from the law Leading ladies: The film won the Oscar for Best Screenplay, as Davis and Sarandon were both nominated for Best Actress The ensemble was finished with gold safety pin earrings, a matching arrow bolo clip and black leather pumps, as she carried a black alligator clutch. She starred in the movie as Louise, a tough-as-nails waitress who takes her pal Thelma on a cross-country road trip. But when Louise shoots and kills a man who tried to rape Thelma, they end up on the run from the law. The film won the Oscar for Best Screenplay, as Davis and Sarandon were both nominated for Best Actress. Diane Kruger brought a splash of color to the event in a fuchsia number by Prabal Gurung. Gorgeous: Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon gave us a cinematic classic in 1991 with the release of Thelma & Louise; the duo pictured in character Throwback: Geena played Thelma (R) and Susan played Louise (L) Pretty in pink: Diane Kruger brought a splash of color to the event in a fuchsia number by Prabal Gurung Criss-cross: The sleeveless taffeta dress featured a criss-crossed front trimmed in ruffles for a padded shoulder aesthetic Babe in blue: It came with a cutout that revealed her taut midriff above a billowy ruffled tiered ankle-length skirt. She finished the look with a pair of mismatched pearl earrings, strappy neon blue pointed stilettos and a matching blue structured book clutch Little black dress: Padma Lakshmi stunned in a long-sleeve black mini dress, featuring a black-on-black polka dot print Black velvet: She completed the look with a pair of diamond stud earrings and some black velvet Mary Jane stilettos The sleeveless taffeta dress featured a criss-crossed front trimmed in ruffles for a padded shoulder aesthetic. It came with a cutout that revealed her taut midriff above a billowy ruffled tiered ankle-length skirt. She finished the look with a pair of mismatched pearl earrings, strappy neon blue pointed stilettos and a matching blue structured book clutch. Padma Lakshmi stunned in a long-sleeve black mini dress, featuring a black-on-black polka dot print. She completed the look with a pair of diamond stud earrings and some black velvet Mary Jane stilettos. Christine Baranski went bold in a grey houndstooth pantsuit with a shimmering finish, paired with a satin champagne blouse and a pearl necklace. Nina Garcia sported a black pantsuit with a matching blouse and a pair of black stilettos. Shimmering finish: Christine Baranski went bold in a grey houndstooth pantsuit with a shimmering finish, paired with a satin champagne blouse and a pearl necklace Black as night: Nina Garcia sported a black pantsuit with a matching blouse and a pair of black stilettos Flower girl: Arianna Huffington cut a classic look in a black dress, trimmed at the hem in white floral embroidery with a matching jacket Serving looks: Candace Bushnell rocked a fun look in a cosmo pink pantsuit with sparkling silver stiletto booties. Radhika Jones served an avant-garde display in an asymmetrical black and white wrap dress with red and yellow stripes Date night: Bee Shaffer paired a midnight blue leather duster with a bright red dress, as husband Francesco Carrozzini matched in a blue double-breasted suit jacket with grey slacks Black nylon: Michael Stipe sported a black nylon bomber jacket with navy blue pants, featuring red stripes down the sides Two's company: Padma Lakshmi and Susan Sarandon were seen catching up at the bar Radiant: Diane looked ravishing in her pink gown as she chatted with Michael Stipe Ladies who lunch: The glamorous women seemed in good spirits as they chatted away That's a wrap! Geena wrapped up in a yellow padded jacket that kept her warm in the NYC chill Arianna Huffington cut a classic look in a black dress, trimmed at the hem in white floral embroidery with a matching jacket. Candace Bushnell rocked a fun look in a cosmo pink pantsuit with sparkling silver stiletto booties. Radhika Jones served an avant-garde display in an asymmetrical black and white wrap dress with red and yellow stripes. Bee Shaffer paired a midnight blue leather duster with a bright red dress, as husband Francesco Carrozzini matched in a blue double-breasted suit jacket with grey slacks. Michael Stipe sported a black nylon bomber jacket with navy blue pants, featuring red stripes down the sides. Kenyas Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture, Peter Munya, has said the government is running out of pesticides to combat desert locusts devastating farms and grazing fields in different parts of the country. The Minister attributed the shortage to the long procurement procedures and the rapid spread of the locusts. However, we have moved to resolve this so more chemicals should be on the way, he said at Kilimo House on Monday when he flagged off vehicles for the Kenya Climate-Smart Agriculture project to the counties. The government is currently using fenitrothion 96% ULV and malathion 95% ULV that are procured through the Food and Agriculture Organization. At the same time, experts have advised that Kenya needs advanced drone technology to contain the locusts. Dr Muo Kasina, the chairman of Entomological Society of Kenya, said the aircraft deployed by the Ministry of Agriculture to conduct aerial spraying are being overwhelmed by the large swarms. GENEVA - Sophisticated hackers infiltrated U.N. networks in Geneva and Vienna last year in an apparent espionage operation that top officials at the world body kept largely quiet. The hackers' identity and the extent of the data they obtained are not known. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet speaks an update on the situation of human rights in Venezuela, of the Human Rights Council, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. (KEYSTONE/Martial Trezzini)/Keystone via AP) GENEVA - Sophisticated hackers infiltrated U.N. networks in Geneva and Vienna last year in an apparent espionage operation that top officials at the world body kept largely quiet. The hackers' identity and the extent of the data they obtained are not known. An internal confidential document from the United Nations, leaked to The New Humanitarian and seen by The Associated Press, says dozens of servers were compromised including at the U.N. human rights office, which collects sensitive data and has often been a lightning rod of criticism from autocratic governments for exposing rights abuses. Everything indicates knowledge of the breach was closely held, a strategy that information security experts consider misguided because it only multiplies the risks of further data hemorrhaging. Staff at large, including me, were not informed, said Geneva-based Ian Richards, president of the Staff Council at the United Nations. All we received was an email (on Sept. 26) informing us about infrastructure maintenance work. The council advocates for the welfare of employees of the world body. Asked about the intrusion, one U.N. official told the AP it appeared sophisticated with the extent of damage unclear, especially in terms of personal, secret or compromising information that may have been stolen. The official, who spoke only on condition of anonymity to speak freely about the episode, said systems have since been reinforced. Given the high skill level, it is possible a state-backed actor was behind it, the official said. It's as if someone were walking in the sand, and swept up their tracks with a broom afterward, the official added. There's not even a trace of a clean-up. The leaked Sept. 20 report says logs that would have betrayed the hackers' activities inside the U.N. networks what was accessed and what may have been siphoned out were cleared. It also shows that among accounts known to have been accessed were those of domain administrators who by default have master access to all user accounts in their purview. FILE - In this June 18, 2014, file photo flags fly outside the United Nations building in Vienna, Austria. An internal confidential document from the United Nations, leaked to The New Humanitarian and seen by The Associated Press, says that dozens of servers were compromised at offices in Geneva and Vienna. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak, File) Sadly ... still counting our casualties, the report says. Jake Williams, CEO of the cybersecurity firm Rendition Infosec and a former U.S. government hacker, said the fact that the hackers cleared the network logs indicates they were not top flight. The most skilled hackers including U.S., Russian and Chinese agents can cover their tracks by editing those logs instead of clearing them. The intrusion definitely looks like espionage, said Williams, noting that the active directory component where all users' permissions are managed from three different domains were compromised: those of United Nations offices in Geneva and Vienna and of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. This, coupled with the relatively small number of infected machines, is highly suggestive of espionage, he said after viewing the report. The attackers have a goal in mind and are deploying malware to machines that they believe serve some purpose for them." The U.N. is known to have been trying to patch its myriad IT systems for years, and Williams said any number of intelligence agencies from around the globe are likely interested in infiltrating it. The hack was not severe at the U.N. human rights office, said its spokesman, Rupert Colville. We face daily attempts to get into our computer systems," he said. "This time, they managed, but it did not get very far. Nothing confidential was compromised. Clearly concerned that word of the hack could have a chilling effect on people reporting human rights violations to it, the office said in a statement issued later that it wanted to assure all concerned parties no sensitive information was compromised. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said earlier Wednesday that attack was serious, compromised "core infrastructure components and was contained. T he earliest activity appeared to have come in July and was detected in August, he said in response to emailed questions. He said the world body does not have enough information to determine the author but added that the methods and tools used in the attack indicate a high level of resource, capability and determination. FILE - In this April 9, 2019, file photo Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, attends a press conference at the Cultural Center of Spain, in Mexico City. An internal confidential document from the United Nations, leaked to The New Humanitarian and seen by The Associated Press, says that dozens of servers were compromised at offices in Geneva and Vienna. Those include the U.N. human rights office, which has often been a lightning rod of criticism from autocratic governments for its calling-out of rights abuses. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte, File) Dujarric noted that the U.N. "detects and responds to multiple attacks of various level of sophistication on a daily basis. Peter Micek, general counsel of the digital civil liberties non-profit AccessNow, said U.N. leadership made a terrible decision from an information-security standpoint by denying staff information about the breach. It's best practice to alert people, let them know what they should look out for (including phishing attacks and social engineering) and inform them of what steps are being taken on their behalf, he said. Otherwise, you are compounding the threat, and a missed opportunity for a teaching moment becomes an example of intransigence and obfuscation, which is unfortunate, said Micek, who works with U.N. human rights workers to shore up their cyber-defences. The internal document from the U.N. Office of Information and Technology said 42 servers were compromised and another 25 were deemed suspicious, nearly all at the sprawling Geneva and Vienna offices. Three of the compromised servers belonged to Human Rights agency, which is located across town from the main U.N. office in Geneva, and two were used by the U.N. Economic Commission for Europe. The report says a flaw in Microsoft's SharePoint software was exploited by the hackers to infiltrate the networks but that the type of malware used was not known, nor had technicians identified the command and control servers on the internet used to exfiltrate information. Nor was it known what mechanism was used by the hackers to maintain their presence on the infiltrated networks. Security researcher Matt Suiche, the Dubai-based founder of the cybersecurity firm Comae Technologies, reviewed the report and said it appeared entry was gained through an anti-corruption tracker at the U.N. Office of Drugs and Crime. The report mentions a range of IP addresses in Romania that may have been used to stage the infiltration, and Williams said one is reported to have some neighbours with a history of hosting malware. Technicians at the United Nations office in Geneva, the world body's European hub, on at least two occasions worked through weekends in recent months to isolate the local U.N. data centre from the i nternet, re-write passwords and ensure the systems were clean. Twenty machines had to be rebuilt, the report says. The hack comes amid rising concerns about cyber espionage. Last week, U.N. human rights experts asked the U.S. government to investigate a suspected Saudi hack that may have siphoned data from the personal smartphone of Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder and owner of The Washington Post, in 2018. On Tuesday, the online civil rights sleuths at Citizen Lab published a report on the attempted hack of the T he New York Times's bureau chief in Beirut, Ben Hubbard, about the same time by a Saudi-linked group. The U.N. human rights office is particularly sensitive, and could be a tempting target. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet and her predecessors have denounced alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and in places as d iverse as Syria, Venezuela, Myanmar and Saudi Arabia. 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. Richards, of the U.N. Staff Council, complained of uncertainty over the safety of U.N. networks. "There's a lot of our data that could have been hacked, and we dont know what that data could be, he said. "How much should U.N. staff trust the information infrastructure the U.N. is providing them?" Richards asked. "Or should they start putting their information elsewhere?" ___ Bajak, an AP technology writer, reported from Boston. ___ Follow the APs coverage of technology at: https://apnews.com/apf-technology Los Angeles, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/29/2020 -- The global Activated Carbon Fiber market is deeply analyzed by QY Research analysts with a major focus on future trends, market outlook, future prospects, consumption, production, revenue, volume, and various other factors. The report on the global Activated Carbon Fiber industry is just the resource that players need to strengthen their overall growth and establish a strong position in their business. 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Top Competitors within the Activated Carbon Fiber Market: Toyobo, Kuraray, Unitika, Gunei Chem, Evertech Envisafe Ecology, Taiwan Carbon Technology, Awa Paper, HP Materials Solutions, Sutong Carbon Fiber, Jiangsu Tongkang, Anhui Jialiqi, Nantong Senyou, Kejing Carbon Fiber, Nantong Beierge, Nantong Yongtong, Xintong ACF, Nature Technology, Hailan Filtration Tech, Sinocarb Carbon Fibers, Nantong Jinheng, Zichuan Carbon Fiber Have Queries? To request a sample report template or speak to an expert click here: https://www.qyrconsulting.com/request-sample/7866 In the segmentation section of the report, the authors have elaborately presented key driving factors for different segments of the global Activated Carbon Fiber industry. The report offers a detailed research study on product type and application segments of the global Activated Carbon Fiber industry. The segmental analysis provided in the report is expected to help players and investors to identify lucrative growth pockets of the global Activated Carbon Fiber industry. As part of the geographic analysis of the global Activated Carbon Fiber industry, the report digs deep into the growth of key regions and countries, including but not limited to North America, the US, Europe, the UK, Germany, France, Asia Pacific, China, and the MEA. All of the geographies are comprehensively studied on the basis of share, consumption, production, future growth potential, CAGR, and many other parameters. Global Activated Carbon Fiber Market: Segment Analysis By Product Pitch Based Activated Carbon Fiber Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) Based Activated Carbon Fiber Viscose Staple Based Activated Carbon Fiber Others By Application Solvent Recovery Air Purification Water Treatment Catalyst Carrier Other The report addresses the following queries pertaining to the Activated Carbon Fiber Market: How has the growth of end-use industry 1 impacted the dynamics of the Activated Carbon Fiber Market? Why are region 1 and region 2 anticipated to witness the highest growth over the forecast period? Why are consumers leaning away from purchasing products that are manufactured using traditional techniques? Why are the sales of product 2 higher than that of product 1? Is there any scope for innovation in the current Activated Carbon Fiber Market landscape? Get a Complete Market Report in your Inbox within 24 hours at https://www.qyrconsulting.com/checkout/7866 Table of Contents Introduction: The first part of the report includes an executive summary where the scope and major highlights of the study on the global Activated Carbon Fiber industry are presented. Segmentation: Here, the report offers a thorough study on all-important product type and application segments of the global Activated Carbon Fiber industry. Regions and Countries: The analysts authoring the report have shed light on rewarding opportunities in important regions and countries covered in the study. Drivers and Restraints: Besides drivers and restraints, key trends and opportunities in the global Activated Carbon Fiber industry are broadly explained in this section. Companies: Here, the report provides information on all leading companies operating in the global Activated Carbon Fiber industry. Consumption and Sales: This section includes accurate forecasts for production, consumption, and sales in the global Activated Carbon Fiber industry. Other Forecasts: Here, CAGR, revenue, and volume forecasts for the global Activated Carbon Fiber industry are provided. All of the forecasts are highly accurate, verified, and reliable. About QYR Consulting QYR Consulting established as a research firm in 2007 and has since grown into a trusted brand amongst many industries. Over the years, we have consistently worked toward delivering high-quality customized solutions for a wide range of clients ranging from ICT to healthcare industries. With over 50,000 satisfied clients, spread over 80 countries, we have sincerely strived to deliver the best analytics through exhaustive research methodologies. Children's organisations are urging the Assembly to follow the lead of Wales and introduce a ban on smacking Children's organisations are urging the Assembly to follow the lead of Wales and introduce a ban on smacking. The Welsh Assembly passed a bill which removes the defence of 'reasonable punishment' in common assault cases involving parents and their children by a majority of 36 to 14. Critics of the bill argue it could lead to the criminalisation of parenting and the state stepping into the private lives of families. Northern Ireland Children's Commissioner Koulla Yiasouma said: "I am delighted that children in Wales are being given full protection against all forms of violence, including physical punishment in the home. "Children in Scotland have also recently received this same protection, and the Republic of Ireland has had legal protection since 2015. "Northern Ireland has been left behind and there is absolutely no justification for children here having a lower standard of protection. "I believe it is only right the law is changed in Northern Ireland so that children are protected in the same way as adults from all forms of assault, including hitting and smacking." The Welsh Assembly bill was passed with the support of Labour and Plaid Cymru. However, Conservative Janet Finch-Saunders said she was unconvinced that removing the defence was "right or fair". Pauline Leeson, chief executive of Children in Northern Ireland, an umbrella body for several rights groups, backed calls for smacking to be banned. "The introduction of a ban is based on scientific evidence that physical punishment harms children in the long-term," she said. "We warmly welcome the introduction of a ban in Wales. This will amend a very archaic law that didn't fully protect the smallest, most vulnerable members of our society. "Changing the law here will ensure that children in Northern Ireland enjoy the same protections from assault as adults." The NSPCC said the Welsh ban "closed an outdated loophole and finally gives children in Wales the same legal protection from assault as adults". "Wales is the second UK nation to protect children from legally sanctioned physical punishment, which in turn puts a very stark focus on the lack of equal protection for children in Northern Ireland," it added. The day after Brexit, "Global Britain" was meant to regain the buccaneering spirit of imperial times past and adopt a new vision for foreign trade. Reality has proven messier. After its divorce from the European Union takes effect on Friday night, Britain will be free to negotiate its own trade pacts for the first time since joining the bloc in 1973, and will take an independent seat at the World Trade Organization. For now, until a transition period expires on December 31, Britain will remain inside the EU's customs union and single market, which takes nearly half of all British exports including cars, meat and pharmaceuticals, accounting for millions of jobs. "We are passionate believers in free trade. The UK has been for a long time," finance minister Sajid Javid said in Davos last week. He vowed that a new deal with the EU itself "absolutely can be done" before the transition period ends, but also warned anxious British business chiefs to prepare for the two sides to diverge in their regulatory regimes. Prime Minister Boris Johnson insists the deadline will not be extended, and envisions "a Global Britain running a truly global foreign policy", shorn of its EU shackles and profiting from its world-class financial services, technology and creative industries. But Irish premier Leo Varadkar laid bare Britain's dilemma this week, warning it will have to concede a "fish for finance" compromise in the EU talks, allowing foreign boats in UK waters in return for unfettered access for its all-important financial sector. That would undermine one of the promises by Brexiteers in Britain's 2016 referendum campaign. And the picture with the rest of the world doesn't look much more promising. "Doing multiple trade deals at the same time is like playing three-dimensional chess," according to Jill Rutter, senior research fellow at The UK in a Changing Europe, a think tank in London. "There are difficult trade-offs. Ministers seem notably reluctant to acknowledge that," she told AFP. Former international trade secretary Liam Fox said in 2017 that Britain could easily copy and paste all 40 of the EU's external trade deals "the second after midnight" on Brexit day, which was then set for March 2019. Three postponements later, as Brexit Day finally approaches this week, the government concedes that only half that number will be ready, covering a single-digit proportion of Britain's overall trade. Britain will look to craft brand-new deals with bigger partners such as the United States, China and Japan. If history is any guide, those could take years, although the US administration is talking up prospects for an agreement in 2020. Fox's successor, Liz Truss, said in parliament last week that the aim was to forge agreements with countries accounting for 80 percent of British trade within three years. "This is clearly unrealistic, because it would require signing agreements with more than 12 countries within a time-scale which has rarely been achieved for a single agreement," the British Trade Policy Observatory at the University of Sussex wrote. Enacting multiple new deals will be a particularly tall order for a country that, since 1973, has outsourced its trade negotiations to Brussels. Japan, which in the 1980s chose Britain as its carmaking hub inside the EU, is reportedly keen on a rapid deal to maintain some stability. "Since Britain wants to show results after Brexit, it is likely to speed up trade talks with many countries. There is the possibility that Japan will be the first major country reaching an accord with Britain," said Mitsuo Fujiyama, senior economist at the Japan Research Institute in Tokyo. Speaking alongside Javid in Davos, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Washington was "disappointed" not to be first in line. The two sides are also at odds over Chinese telecoms firm Huawei and Javid's plan to impose a digital tax on tech companies. The United States represents less than 12 percent of Britain's foreign trade, a distant second to the EU share. China is next with about five percent and Japan has less than two percent. Other nations, such as Britain's former colonies Australia, Canada and India, have made clear they will drive a hard bargain. One hard-fought area will be immigration. For all the talk of Global Britain, the government faces a politically unpalatable decision between competing regulatory blocs, the EU and United States, with China also a looming presence. "There's always a mismatch between the rhetoric versus the reality," Rutter said. "You have to choose. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Late in 2019, Boeing was awarded a $265.2-million contract modification for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense anti-ballistic missile system (GMD). This award shows a strong commitment from the federal government to upgrade and continue funding the only technology available to protect American citizens from a long-range missile attack. The emerging threat coming from Iran shows the need for upgrading the last line of defense to a potential nuclear missile attack targeting American cities. The Trump Doctrine, as it relates to Iran, is simple. According to President Donald J. Trump, speaking on Jan. 8, 2020, "as long as I am president of the United States, Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon." The president recognizes through his actions and words that a strong missile defense system is the last line of defense to protect American citizens on American soil if, in the future, Iran does acquire a nuclear weapon beyond his presidency. The GMD program is the only technology that can protect the homeland from intercontinental missile attacks with either a conventional or nuclear payload. It is important for Congress and the Pentagon to continue support for further deployment of these defenses now with the threats coming from rogue nations North Korea and Iran and traditional adversaries Russia and China, which are clearly in possession of nuclear devices of varying sophistication. On July 1, 2019, the International Atomic Energy Agency announced that Iran exceeded its limit on its stockpile of enriched uranium, putting concerns about an Iranian nuclear weapon back in the headlines. Iran then proclaimed that it had enriched uranium to about 4.5% purity. Since then, Iran has announced numerous other accelerations of its nuclear program that specifically exceed the provisions of the Iran nuclear deal and shorten the time it would take to build a nuclear weapon. For these, and other reasons, President Trump withdrew the United States from the unratified agreement with Iran that was designed to limit their nuclear progression. Couple this with Iran's recent ballistic missile attacks in the region and the need for continued GMD funding becomes apparent. Despite the new contract, GMD is not in good shape. Barely one percent of the U.S. military budget is spent on missile defense, and only a fraction of that goes to defense of the homeland. GMD is facing challenges in assuring the reliability of its interceptor missiles and preserving the supply chain for essential parts as the system ages. As it grows older, the sole defense of America against a long-range missile attack is gradually degrading. This is in no small part to a handful of bureaucrats at the Pentagon who have undermined the program and the Trump efforts to strengthen our national defense infrastructure. Earlier in 2019, an effective pause was placed on the GMD putting millions of Americans and our national economy in jeopardy. Despite the pushback, many elected politicians disagreed with the unelected bean-counters at the Pentagon. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) argued on January 17 of last year, "Missile defense is vital to securing our homeland, our forces abroad and our allies, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future." He made the case that the Trump administration was going in the right direction with the release of the Pentagon's Missile Defense Review, including "smart and strategic policies that will guide our missile defenses and posture to counter our adversaries through an increased focus on advanced technology." These are laudable goals that have not yet been met. It is time for the bureaucrats to catch up to the president's rhetoric and promises to do more to protect America from Iran, China, North Korea, Russia, and any other nations, or non-state actors, who want to fire a missile at American citizens. American citizens cannot afford 13 days, or 13 minutes, of nuclear threat. Phil Kiver, Ph.D. is an Army veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. He received his doctorate in strategic studies at Henley-Putnam University. Image credit: U.S. Missile Defense Agency via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. When high-wealth families around the globe are looking for causes to support, education is at the top of their list. A new survey found that more than one quarter of charitable giving by these families goes to education causes, from early childhood to postsecondary. Those investments in education far outpace the next largest area of support, health, which receives 14 percent of philanthropic dollars by these families. The third largest area, arts, culture, and sports, accounts for 10 percent of the charitable giving conducted by these families. The survey of 201 families whose average net wealth is $1.2 billionwas conducted by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and Campden Wealth. Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors guides donors in their charitable giving; Campden Wealth provides networking services for high-wealth families. The survey also revealed a growing interest among donors in time-limited giving. Families are drawn to that form of giving because they want to see results of their donations during their lifetimes, create a narrower focus for their giving, or prefer transfer their wealth to charitable giving sooner rather than later, according to the survey. Amir Pasic, the dean of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University, said the surveys findings matched his institutions research. Religious organizations are the largest beneficiaries of charitable giving overall, but after that, its education, he saidthough noting that much of that giving is to colleges and universities. But education overall is a powerful draw, Pasic said. What were seeing is the issue of making an impact on society through education, to educate the future leaders, future citizens, future workers of the world, Pasic said. Education can be a transformational experience. Sense of Urgency The growing interest in time-limited giving is also something Pasic has seen, in contrast to organizations that have long outlived their original funders, such as the Rockefeller Foundation, The Carnegie Corporation of New York, and the Ford Foundation. Currently, theres been a whole new crop of very wealthy people who have a certain sense of impatience and a sense of urgency, Pasic said. They feel that they can deploy their smarts and others they bring to the table to tackle issues today. Many billionaires have also signed on the Giving Pledge, a nonbinding commitment to give away at least half of their net worth over their lifetimes or upon their deaths. Bill and Melinda Gates and Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan are among the signatories to the pledge; both couples have been deeply involved in K-12 giving through their family foundations. Among other signers of that pledge is the Omidyar Network, created by Pierre Omidyar, the founder of eBay, and his wife Pam. The network recently spun off its education investments into a new global organization, Imaginable Futures. As part philanthropy organization, part investment firm, Imaginable Futures will donate money to groups and well as invest in for-profit entities that support learning, said Amy Klement, the managing partner. The appeal of supporting education quite simply, is humanity, Klement said. Its children. Its the future. Theres fantastic organizations out there doing transformational work, and it only takes a spark to have multigenerational impacts. Wonderschool and All Our Kin, two organizations that help families start in-home preschools or day-care programs, are among the programs supported by Imaginable Futures. Beyond K-12 Philanthropy That early-childhood focus is part of a trend. On the domestic front, a growing number of funders are looking outside the K-12 system to focus their giving, said Celine Coggins, the executive director of Grantmakers for Education, a consortium of philanthropists focused on supporting learners of all ages. That means focusing on children before they start school as well as postsecondary education, rather than the K-12 space specifically, she said. And it also means examining education and its connection to other concerns. Education is increasingly being seen as an intersectional issue. Theres the issue of education and mental health, education and criminal justice, education and the arts, Coggins said. Grantmakers for Education conducted its own research on education philanthropy in the United States in a report released last year. What we saw in our recent study was that members were more thinking about the whole learner and moving away from just thinking about the academic standards, she said. Working outside the boundaries of the K-12 system is seen as a way to have more impact, as well as more freedom from governmental controls. The Donnell-Kay Foundation, created to improve public education in Colorado, is an example of a charitable organization that is moving away from trying to influence education at the K-12 level, said Tony Lewis. Once known as the executive director of the Denver-based foundation, Lewis said he eliminated staff titles about a year ago, to create a more egalitarian structure in the organization. Over the past five or six years, weve gotten frustrated with the lack of progress in improvement in the K-12 system, Lewis said. Weve tried hard, and our partners have tried hard and everyone is still trying hard. The results have been disappointing at best. Thats a Colorado story and its a national story. Lewis said the organization has pulled back from areas such as school performance frameworks, district accountability, and turnaround schools because the gains have been minimal. The organization is also less involved in supporting new charter schools and in early-childhood education than it was several years ago. Instead, Donnell-Kay is now taking a closer look at the out-of-school space, including afterschool and summertime. Thats where children spend most of their time, he said. We keep layering more and more work on schools, reading, math, STEM, nutrition, mental health, Lewis said. I dont think loading more onto the school day is actually the answer any more. But, he continued, What if you really intentionally maximize the time in the out-of-school space? You can make a huge difference in both academics and in life skills. Iker Pou making the first ascent of La Nave de los Locos 9a on the island of Mallorca in Spain, January 2020 Photo by N. Colom Iker Pou making the third ascent of Action Directe in Frankenjura, Germany in 2000. Freed by Wolfgang Gullich in 1991, the route was first repeated by Alexander Adler Photo by Iker Pou archive Iker Pou celebrates 20 years of climbing 9a 29.01.2020 by by Planetmountain 42-year-old Basque climber Iker Pou has made the first ascent of La Nave de los Locos on the island of Mallorca in Spain. With this ascent he celebrates 20 years of 9a climbing, after sending his first in 2000, Action Directe freed by Wolfgang Gullich in the Frankenjura, Germany. The youngest of the Pou brothers, Iker Pou, is currently celebrating 20 years of climbing 9a thanks to his recent first ascent of La Nave de los Locos on the island of Majorca in Spain. The 42-year-old Basque climber impressively entered into the realm of the upper extreme at the start of the new millennium, with his repeat of the 9a par excellence, Action Directe in Germanys Frankenjura. At the time the route freed by Wolfgang Gullich was still considered one of the most difficult in the world and only Alexander Adler - taking advantage of the fall of the Berlin Wall a few years earlier - had managed to repeat it in 1995. Pous repeat came about after his first 8c in 1996 and his first 8c+ in 1998, and in the ensuing two decades he has continued to plough his way through the grades, excelling above all on explosive routes where fingers of steel are required to power past impossible single finger and two-finger pockets. In the last twenty years routes that stick out in particular are Bain de Sang (9a) at Saint Loup in Switzerland in 2003, Demencia Senil (9a+) at Margalef in Spain in 2010, Nit de Bruixes (9a+/9b) at Margalef in 2012, Big Men (9a+) on Mallorca in 2015 and Artaburu in 2018. The latter is located at Margalef and according to Pou it is his hardest sport climb to date, checking in at around 9b/+ and still awaiting confirmation. These are important names and numbers, but only represent one side of the Ikers coin as with his elder brother Eneko he has established and repeated routes in many of the worlds most famous and inhospitable mountains. The duo have traveled from Patagonia to Peru, from Siberia to Baffin Island, from Mont Blanc to Naranjo de Bulnes and Tre Cime di Lavaredo, from El Capitan in Yosemite to the Trango Towers in the Karakorum. Noteworthy ascents? Silbergeier, Eternal Flame and Supercanaleta to name just three. Listing them all after 20 years of continuous climbing at the highest level would be almost impossible. Link: FB Hermanos Pou, La Sportiva, Petzl, The North Face CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A 24-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound after he attacked another man on the street Tuesday afternoon in the citys Slavic Village neighborhood, police said. Cleveland police made no arrests in the case, but surveillance video showed that the injured 24-year-old man sparked the incident when he attacked the shooter from behind, according to police. Fifteen gunshots were fired in two separate rounds of shooting. The incident happened about 3 p.m. on Broadway Avenue and East 65th Street. The 24-year-old jumped out of an SUV and punched the other man in the face from behind, according to police. The two men wrestled to the ground. A woman got out of the SUV and kicked the other man while he was on the ground, according to police. The man who got jumped fired several shots at the 24-year-old man in self-defense, hitting him in the arm, according to police. He walked away, but the 24-year-old man and woman got back in the SUV and followed him, according to police. The man opened fire on the SUV. The SUV reversed course and drove in the opposite direction, while the gunman got in a car and sped away. Police have not identified the man firing the shots. The 24-year-old man ended up in a doorway of a cellphone store in a strip mall on Broadway Avenue. Paramedics took him to University Hospitals for treatment. The man told police at the hospital that he was too drunk to remember what prompted the shooting. He added that if he did attack someone, its because he did something to me," according to police reports. To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments page. Read more from cleveland.com: Man found dead with hands bound in Cleveland was reported missing Christmas Eve Mother, daughter accused of attacking student at John Marshall High School in Cleveland 70-year-old Cleveland veteran killed man who took him in off the streets, family says Bahujan Kranti Morcha members vandalised a shop here on Wednesday and created a ruckus while forcibly trying to shut down shops during a protest against the amended Citizenship Act, police said. Five policemen were injured in the ruckus that ensued when the protesters gathered outside the collectorate, they added. "They vandalised one shop and forced the shopkeepers to participate in the bandh. They later assembled in front of the collectorate and created a ruckus. Some of them also injured five policemen," Additional SP (Udaipur) Gopal Swarup Mewara said. They also forced shops in Dhan Mandi, Delhi Gate and nearby areas to shut down, he said. Mewara said police had to resort to cane charge to disperse the unruly mob. "Cases are being registered," he said, adding that no arrest have been made so far. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) * "Most Popular Intellectual Property Law Blawg" of all time according to Justia rankings , January 2022. * "Most Popular Copyright Blawg" of all time according to Justia rankings , January 2022. * PermaKat Eleonora Rosati listed as one of the World Intellectual Property Review's "Influential Women in IP" of 2020. * PermaKat Eleonora Rosati listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2018. * IPKat founder and Blogmeister Emeritus Jeremy Phillips listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2005, 2011, 2013, and 2014. * Recommended by the European Patent Office as reading material for candidates for the European Qualifying Examinations, 2013. * Listed as "Top Legal Blog" in The Times Online, March 2011. 2010 ABA Journal 100. * One of the only two non-US blogs listed in the Blawg100. * Court Reporter Top Copyright Blog award winner, November 2010. * Number 1 in the 2010 Top Copyright Blog list compiled by the Copyright Litigation Blog, July 2010. * Selected by the United States Library of Congress for inclusion in its historic collections of Internet materials related to Legal Blawgs as of 2010. * Top Patent Blog poll 2009: 3rd out of 50 in the "Favourite Patent Blog" poll and 2nd out of 50 in the "Most-read" poll. Blog of the Year, 20 August 2008. * ComputerWeekly IT Law and Governance, 20 August 2008. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings Inc. (AAWW) confirmed that Atlas Air Inc. and Southern Air Inc. have prevailed in dismissing two legal actions brought by their pilot union, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The union had filed lawsuits last summer, seeking to vacate the management grievance decisions issued in favor of the companies by arbitrators Richard Bloch and George Nicolau, respectively. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia's order upheld the companies' position that the merger provisions in both the Atlas Air and Southern Air collective bargaining agreements apply. The merger provisions provide for a defined period of bargaining followed by binding interest arbitration for any unresolved issues. As per the court order, the union must provide an integrated seniority list of pilots to the companies, will enable negotiations to proceed more expeditiously in reaching a new, competitive pilot contract. 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. Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) leader Kem Sokha (C) arrives at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for his trial in Phnom Penh, Jan. 22, 2020. Opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) President Kem Sokha on Wednesday urged court authorities to allow testimony from representatives of the countries he is accused of colluding with to topple the government as the third week of his treason trial kicked off, saying they will exonerate him. Kem Sokhas lawyer, Pheng Heng, told RFAs Khmer Service that the defense team asked the court to allow foreign government representatives to testify, saying they will dispute claims by prosecutors that the opposition chief committed conspiracy with foreign powers, including the U.S., in a case that could see him jailed for up to 30 years if convicted. Please find the alleged foreignersif you say that I colluded with the U.S., please summon [representatives of] the U.S., Pheng Heng quoted Kem Sokha as saying during Wednesdays proceedings at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. If you investigate and find that the U.S. government or its agents [were involved], please question them, he said, citing the CNRP leader. Another member of Kem Sokhas legal team, Chan Chen, said that Kem Sokha told the court that the U.S. would back up his claims of innocenceclaims he has maintained since his arrest more than two years ago. The presiding judge did not provide a response to Kem Sokhas request, his lawyers said. Prosecutors have cited as evidence of Kem Sokhas treason a video that was recorded in 2013 and shows him discussing a strategy to win power at the ballot box with the help of U.S. expertsthough the U.S. Embassy had rejected any suggestion that Washington was interfering in Cambodian politics at the time of his arrest. The U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh did not comment Wednesday on whether it would take part in trial proceedings against Kem Sokha if summoned by court authorities. Chan Chen said the trial will resume on Thursday with discussions of Kem Sokhas role as the head of Cambodias Human Rights Party from 2007 to 2012, which the lawyer said he had established to serve the people, not foreigners. The trial, which convenes on Wednesdays and Thursdays each week, has been dogged by allegations of political motivation and a lack of judicial independence, while rights groups and media watchdogs have been critical of restricted access to the proceedings for NGOs and journalists. On the eve of the first day of the case, New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) called Kem Sokha the victim of a staged trial on completely bogus treason charges, while London-based Amnesty International suggested Kem Sokhas non-existent crime was politically manufactured to further the suppression of the opposition party. Cambodia shunned Two months after Kem Sokhas arrest in September 2017, Cambodias Supreme Court dissolved the CNRP for its role in the alleged plot and banned 118 of its officials from political activities. The move to dissolve the CNRP was part of a wider crackdown by Hun Sen on the political opposition, NGOs, and the independent media that paved the way for his CPP to win all 125 seats in parliament in the countrys July 2018 general election. In the aftermath of the election, western governments have shunned Cambodia, including that of the European Union, which has called for Kem Sokhas release and a host of improvements to Cambodias human rights situation ahead of a February decision on whether to withdraw the countrys tariff-free access to its markets under the Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme for developing nations. On Nov. 12, the EU warned in a preliminary report that Cambodia has not taken enough measures to prevent a withdrawal of its EBA status, noting the countrys further deterioration of civil, political, labor, social, and cultural rights since the launch of a review process in February last year. Cambodia is the second-largest beneficiary of EBA trade preferences, accounting for more than 18 percent of all imports to the EU market under the EBA scheme in 2018. EU imports from Cambodia totaled 5.3 billion euros (U.S. $5.8 billion) that year, nearly all of which entered the EU duty-free, taking advantage of EBA preferences. Clothing and textilesa crucial industry in Cambodia that employs around one million peopleaccount for around 75 percent of EU imports from the Southeast Asian nation. Color revolution On Wednesday, National Police Commissioner Neth Savoeun lumped potential protests calling on the government to maintain EBA status into a group of other activities that he equated with a color revolution aimed at overthrowing the government, and said authorities will shut them down. Cambodia is facing attacks from inside and outside the country, especially those inciting villagers to protest over land disputes, human rights, democracy, and the EBA and GSP, he said, referring to the EUs Generalised Scheme of Preferences that includes the EBA as one pillar, and which may be suspended in case of serious and systematic violation of principles, according to the GSP Regulation. [They] incite workers to hold demonstrations to provoke national instability and social order, he added, without elaborating who is responsible for such attacks. Neth Savoeun said he had requested support from Cambodias Ministry of Interior, including the provision of additional forces and equipment. Minister of Interior Sar Kheng on Wednesday said that he agrees with Neth Savoeuns proposal for support, suggesting that the CNRP is behind a plot to destabilize Cambodia and end the countrys EBA status. Ive already prepared to help [the police] get good results, as expected, he said. Targeting critics The CNRPs chief in Phnom Penh, Morn Phalla, condemned Neth Savoeuns statement, saying the authorities are treating the governments critics as enemies. He said Hun Sen had created the problems that will lead Cambodia to lose the EBA and that his government should resolve the issue. This police plan risks splitting the country and causing chaos, he warned. Am Sam Ath, senior investigator for local rights group Licadho, expressed strong reservations over the plan, saying it will provide the authorities with an unwarranted excuse to take legal action against the opposition. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. New Delhi/Islamabad, Jan 29 : Four Pakistani students studying in the Chinese city of Wuhan have been tested positive to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) which has killed 132 people and infected over 6,000 people in China. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on health Zafar Mirza told the media in Islamabad on Wednesday that a large number of Pakistanis lived in China and over 500 students were based in Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak. Four Pakistani students were confirmed to have the coronavirus, he said adding that their condition was improving. The new virus is believed to have originated in a wild animal market in Wuhan, where it was caught by humans. Eleven million people of Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei province, have been placed under a lockdown as China is struggling with the rapid spread of the epidemic. In South Asia, Sri Lanka and Nepal have confirmed one case each. This was Iowa caucus night back in the mid-1970s. And these are members of the national media covering the voting. It was so unusual to see national media in Iowa back then that people actually paid to watch them. The Democratic Party charged $15 a head for people to watch the media watch the people. See, in previous years, Iowas caucuses just hadnt attracted national attention. There are 3,000 frozen media members in downtown Des Moines Just over a decade later, Iowa is the place to be. Its Iowa caucus night. Lets party. [shouting] The caucuses are now a key part of the presidential election cycle. Bush, 57. Theyre the first chance to see what kind of support candidates have among voters. So how did we get here, from caucuses that only Iowans seem to care about to the national spectacle we see today? Turns out, a lot of it was accidental. For most of Iowas history, its caucuses were dominated by political insiders. There was little room for input from rank-and-file members. An historian writing in the 1940s put it like this: The larger number of party voters were deprived of a voice. But the old ways start coming to an end in 1968. The countrys in turmoil, and so is the Democratic Party, mostly over the Vietnam War and civil rights. Basically, the party establishment wants to handle things one way, and many rank-and-file members have other ideas. All this comes to a head as the Democrats hold their national convention. Protesters gather outside. So do police. Inside, the mood is also tense. All this division leads the Democratic Party to rethink the nomination rules to include the voices of all party members in the process. This is how we come to the moment when Iowa becomes key to electing a president, basically by accident. First up, how Iowa became first to hold a presidential contest. It starts with new rules to give everyday members more of a say. So by 1972, winning Iowa now involves four stages. Iowans choose their top candidates, first at the precinct level. These are the caucuses at the heart of this story. But technically, theres further voting at the county, congressional district and state levels. The new rules make things a lot more inclusive, but this creates new delays. Committees need to be formed, and everyone needs to have up-to-date party materials. The problem is, the state party only has an old mimeograph machine to make copies of all this. Its really slow. So because of an old machine and a bunch of new logistics, the party decides it needs at least a month between each step to do it all. The national convention is set for early July, so youd think that the state-level convention would happen about a month before, in June. Except, the party cant find a venue thats available to hold everyone. That little detail helps push everything earlier in a chain reaction. See whats going on here? The precinct caucuses now have to happen early in the year. The party chooses a date that makes Iowas the first presidential contest. The New Hampshire primary has been the first kickoff contest since the 1950s, but Iowa Democrats arent necessarily looking for national attention. They just think itll be fun to be first. Still, attention is what they get. The story begins with George McGovern. People didnt know much about the Iowa caucuses. As a matter of fact, there wasnt a great deal of interest in them. Hes the long-shot candidate. Hes been at the bottom of national polls. He often walked the campaign trail alone, little known by the voters. Most people think this guy, Edmund Muskie, is going to be the big winner in Iowa. That challenge is great, but we can meet it. Then comes caucus night. As the people vote, state party officials gather at their headquarters. Richard Bender is one of them. And we had about 10 or 12 press people show up. These press people included one guy, Johnny Apple. Johnny Apple, a 37-year-old political correspondent for The New York Times. Iowas Democrats arent ready to publicize the results right away. They hadnt expected much demand. According to Bender, only Johnny Apple asked for them that night. I happen to be fascinated with such things, so I made it my business, beforehand, to understand it. Bender sets up a phone tree to gather results from across the state. He adds them up himself with a calculator. And the next day, Apples article helps swing the national spotlight onto the caucuses. Hes got quite the story to tell. Muskies won, but just barely. Not the runaway win people were expecting. And McGovern comes in a strong second. No one expected that, either. The reformed caucus rules helped a long-shot candidate rise to the top. And because this is happening so early in the election now, and because Apples article gives the results national coverage, something else happens. That got picked up by some of the national news shows. The Democratic front-runner has been damaged in Iowa. And wow, all of a sudden, we were being paid attention to. McGovern eventually wins the Democratic nomination. I accept your nomination with a full and grateful heart. He loses the presidential election, but some havent forgotten what those early caucuses did for McGovern, including Georgias former governor, Jimmy Carter. Three years later There was a major headline on the editorial page of the Atlanta Constitution that said, Jimmy Carters running for what? [laughter] And the What was about this big. [applause] Im running for president. Carter heads to Iowa before any other Democratic candidate. Hes got no national profile. He didnt have hordes of press following him around. It was a very lonely campaign. Washington pundits call his candidacy laughable. I remember when we couldnt find a microphone. Jimmy Who? becomes a catchphrase. Carters own campaign film plays it up. Jimmy who? I dont know who he is. But as long as Iowans come to know him and like him, Carter bets that the media will start paying attention, just like with McGovern four years earlier. Carter campaigns as locally as possible. One day, he learns that hes been invited on a local TV show. And I said, that is great. I cant believe it. I said, What are we going to do? He said, Do you have any favorite recipes? And I said, What do you mean, recipes? He said, Well, this is a cooking show. Well, they put a white apron on me and a chefs hat. That was my only access to TV when I first began to campaign in Iowa. His opponents are in Iowa, too, but they spend far less time there. Carter wins. Surprisingly top of the class after his win in a somewhat obscure race in Iowa against the others. You cant tell until we go to the other 49 states, but its encouraging for us. A year later I, Jimmy Carter, do solemnly swear he becomes the 39th president. Now we need to head to 1980 because we havent talked about the Republicans yet. Heres the states Republican chairman that year. Hes asked why Iowas caucuses have become so important. I think because Jimmy Carter got his start in Iowa in 1976. The Republicans in Iowa are keen to copy the Democrats success, and one candidate in particular gets inspired by Carters underdog win: George H.W. Bush. Hes running against Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole and others, and hes near the bottom of the pack. Your name isnt really a household word, but Ronald Reagan can But Bush goes big in Iowa. He gets a surprise win. Its a far cry from just months before. I was an asterisk in those days. And my feelings got hurt. And now, Im no longer an asterisk. Bush is now the third underdog to get a boost from the caucuses. The next morning on CBS, he distills the essence of this new Iowa effect. We will have forward, Big Mo on our side, as they say in athletics. Big Mo? Yeah. Mo momentum. Bush loses to Reagan, but becomes vice president. And the desire to capture the Big Mo from Iowa has only grown, thanks in large part to Iowas embrace of being first, and the media storm that descends every four years. Thats despite the fact that most candidates who win This is a job interview. dont become president. Plus, many point out that the states overwhelmingly white population doesnt reflect the countrys diversity. I actually think that we can find places that represent that balance of urban and rural better. But the race to get the Big Mo out of Iowa persists because its the first chance to upend expectations, and put political fates in the voters hands. The Brexit endgame is under way today as the European Parliament prepares to approve the historic divorce deal. With just two days to go before the UK is finally due to leave the EU, MEPs in Brussels are due to ratify Boris Johnson's Withdrawal Agreement in a highly symbolic moment. British politicians have been clearing out their offices to depart for home, with distinctly varying emotions. Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage, who has campaigned for decades to escape the shackles of the EU, said he would miss 'playing the villain'. But other MEPs have made no secret of their dismay, with some vowing to sing 'Auld Lang Syne' in Parliament this evening and remaining members saying they will 'leave a light on' for when the UK rejoins. The vote this evening, which is expected to be passed by a big majority, is the final formality before Brexit happens at 11pm on Friday night. Legislation cleared Westminster last week, and the deal has already been signed by European Council chief Charles Michel, Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, and Mr Johnson in Downing Street. The UK's representative to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow, this morning hand delivered the document notifying the bloc that ratification on this side of the Channel is complete. Europhile MEPs have made no secret of their dismay over Brexit, with some vowing to sing 'Auld Lang Syne' at Parliament this evening. There was a show of solidarity in Brussels last night as remaining politicians said they would 'leave a light on' for when the UK rejoins The UK's representative to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow, this morning hand delivered the document notifying the bloc that ratification on this side of the Channel is complete Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage, who has campaigned for decades to escape the shackles of the EU, said he would miss 'playing the villain'. He is pictured clearing out his Brussels office last night Mr Farage told the BBC's Today programme: 'I will be leaving here very happy that I achieved my political goal. 'There are things that I will miss... but we are absolutely doing the right thing.' Mr Farage said he still thought the deal put together by Mr Johnson was 'shocking', but added: 'I am going to trust the PM to keep his promises. If he does that it will be Brexit.' The agreement settles the terms of Britain's departure, including future citizens' rights, the arrangements on the Northern Ireland border and the UK's divorce settlement. It also allows for an 11-month transition period, during which the UK will continue to follow EU rules while talks take place on a free trade agreement. Mr Johnson has said he wants a comprehensive deal - covering all aspects of Britain's future relationship with the EU, including security - by the end of the year. He has been adamant that he will not contemplate any extension of the transition period beyond the end of 2020. However, senior EU figures have repeatedly warned that reaching such a wide-ranging agreement will not be possible within such a tight timetable. They have cautioned that the UK cannot expect to enjoy the 'highest quality access' to European markets if - as Mr Johnson is insisting - it refuses to align with EU rules after Brexit. Boris Johnson formally signed the Withdrawal Agreement in Downing Street last week The final official stages of the Brexit process are being completed ahead of the UK'ss departure from the EU on Friday night Following the vote in the European Parliament, there will be a farewell ceremony for the British MEPs leaving for the last time. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the depositing of the legal instrument to leave would be a 'historic moment'. 'It is the start of a new chapter for an independent, sovereign Britain, looking forward to a decade of renewal and opportunity,' he said. 'Whether we are reducing trade barriers between nations, tackling climate change, or improving lives around the world, our vision of a truly global Britain will be a force for good.' (Natural News) Thanks to the rapid spread of the Coronavirus, which originated in the central city of Wuhan, production at Apples China-based slave labor factories where workers are paid the U.S. equivalent of less than two dollars per day could tank. As reported by Bloomberg News on Tuesday, nearly all of Apples iPhones are made in China and primarily by Foxconns Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. These are manufactured at the firms so-called iPhone City in Zhengzhou, as well as by the Pegatron Corp. at a site near the city of Shanghai. Each of these locations is more than 300 miles from the epicenter of the epidemic in Wuhan, but the plants could nevertheless feel the effects as the disease spreads throughout China. I cant imagine a scenario where the supply chain isnt disrupted, according to industry analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy, in an interview with Bloomberg. If theres one major hiccup in the raw materials, fabrication, assembly, test, and shipping, it will be a disruption. Another analyst, Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities, told the financial news services that the technology behemoth could be in big-time trouble if Foxconn employees as well as workers at other manufacturing hubs are quarantined or otherwise restricted from travel. If the China outbreak becomes more spread it could negatively impact the supply chain which would be a major investor worry, Ives said. As of today, Apple has roughly 10,000 employees in China across retail and corporate entities, Bloomberg reported. Its supply chain partners employ a few million more individuals whose job is to manufacture products including the iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch, Breitbart News added. Foxconn and Apple are both said to be monitoring the situation with the spread of Coronavirus and are following all recommended health policies and practices. We can confirm that we have measures in place to ensure that we can continue to meet all global manufacturing obligations, the company said in a statement to Bloomberg News. (Related: China engaging in massive cover-up of Coronavirus deaths while the world edges closer to plague-like catastrophe.) China likely underreporting the casualty figures Breitbart noted further: Apple implemented a redundancy policy in 2011 requiring that major components be dual-sourced both in terms of geography and vendors, Bloomberg reported. The policy was put in place following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan. But since the majority of its assembly work is done in China, Apple could experience a direct impact on shipments if there is a shortage of workers. As of Tuesday, the Chinese government said that officially Coronavirus infections had reached 4,500 people, with 106 deaths. But its becoming clearer that the government is underestimating the actual number of infections and, perhaps, deaths. The Epoch Times reported, The outbreak of Wuhan coronavirus is far bigger than the official figures released by Chinese public health authorities who cover up the severity by limiting the number of diagnosis kits to Wuhan hospitals. The news organization cited an anonymous independent journalist, who in turn received information from a Chinese government insider, that Beijings health authorities are only providing diagnostic kits to qualifying hospitals, and only then in extremely limited quantities. As reported by Natural News founder and editor Mike Adams, the Health Ranger reports, that means the official numbers from the Chinese government are likely just one-tenth the actual numbers. A team of researchers from Hong Kong University made an even more dire prediction this week: That by May of this year, its possible that Chinese health officials will face a staggering 150,000 new cases of Coronavirus each day. That number of infected would obviously overwhelm every laboratory, hospital, and health care clinic in the entire country, Adams noted. Already, the Chinese government has ordered schools closed until March to prevent the virus further spread. If the disease begins to affect Apples production, that means the virus will inhibit the production of other goods, lending itself to a cascade effect that could spell the end of the worlds economic order. Sources include: Breitbart.com NaturalNews.com TheEpochTimes.com NASA is bidding goodbye to a premier space telescope, one that let scientists peer into the dusty corners of the universe. The infrared Spitzer Space Telescope launched in 2003, kicking off a 2.5-year primary mission. Instead, it continued operating for a total of 16 years, gathering its final science data yesterday (Jan. 28). All that ends tomorrow (Jan. 30), when NASA will send the spacecraft its final commands . NASA spent about $1.36 billion on the project from start to finish. But no one can say that Spitzer didn't live up to the science goals with which it was launched. "It was just exquisite, the type of data that Spitzer allowed us to observe," Farisa Morales, an astrophysicist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, told Space.com. "It unveiled the universe: the old, the cold and the dusty." Related: Gallery: The Infrared Universe Seen by Spitzer Telescope Over the 16 years it operated, Spitzer's science work let astronomers stretch across time and space alike, thanks to its unique talent of observing the universe in infrared light . "[Spitzer] senses cool objects, so we can see through dust: We're lifting the cosmic veil on the universe," former mission manager Suzanne Dodd said during a NASA news conference held Jan. 22. "There's just a cornucopia of astrophysics objects out there that we can observe: nebulas, supernova, dying stars, stellar nurseries, the list goes on and on and it's really remarkable." Perhaps Spitzer's most iconic work in a field that was not a part of its initial portfolio, no less was characterizing the seven exoplanets orbiting a star called TRAPPIST-1 . Scientists using the observatory were able to tease apart the complicated orbital dance of those worlds to understand that all seven are about the size of Earth and three may be the right temperature to hold liquid water on their surfaces. Spitzer's work has made the TRAPPIST-1 solar system one of the most familiar to exoplanet scientists and space fans alike. "It's the best-characterized solar system outside of our own," Mike Werner, project scientist for Spitzer, said during the news conference. An artist's depiction of NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope at work. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) Werner also pointed to the importance of lower-profile exoplanet research, like that in which Spitzer allowed scientists to analyze planetary systems around white dwarf stars that can pull shreds of debris into their atmosphere. "It's a very solid but somewhat roundabout way of studying the composition of extrasolar planetary systems, which really can't be done any other way," Werner said. "That's just one of several little gems that I followed with great delight over the years. White dwarf stars are quite old, but much of Spitzer's stellar work focused on younger stars as scientists tried to understand the life cycle of such objects . "We can't ever put a star in a lab and watch it start to finish," Luisa Rebull, an astronomer at the NASA Infrared Science Archive at the California Institute of Technology, which hosts Spitzer's data, told Space.com. "The only way that we can understand how stars form," she said, "is by trying to study as many as possible and then statistically trying to say, 'OK, well, there's a lot that look like this, there's a lot that look like that,' and then trying to piece together the timescales and the story." Spitzer let scientists do just that. Spitzer data produced this image of baby stars in the Orion nebula. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/STScl) The observatory also gave them enough data to conduct similar statistical work on stars surrounded by dust and debris , as Morales has done. "This is really nature talking to us," she said. "What we found with Spitzer for the first time is that there's a great number of stars around the solar neighborhood with dust in the terrestrial-planet zones, and that was very interesting, confirming that there is enough material to form terrestrial bodies like the one you and I evolved in." In general, Morales is most interested in the ways Spitzer has shown us that our solar system isn't so special after all. She's struck by the similarities between our neighborhood and those studied by the observatory. "There's structure: there's belts, there's gaps, and likely baby planets may be forming within them," she said. But Spitzer's observations have also directly informed our understanding of our solar system, since the telescope spent plenty of time observing our neighbors. In Spitzer's data, scientists discovered an extra ring for Saturn , with a massive circumference and tiny particles. An artist's depiction of the massive faint ring around Saturn that Spitzer identified. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Keck) Spitzer also partnered with other missions. In 2005, when NASA deployed a spacecraft called Deep Impact to collide with a comet, Spitzer was ready, watching for the drama. "It was the first look at the primordial material buried beneath the crusty outer surface of a comet," Werner said of those observations. And the telescope's legacy isn't just about science: Spitzer is responsible for plenty of stunning images of the universe around us. Those masterpieces are laborious compilations of numerical data, translated into colors the human eye can see. As usual, astronomers have one comfort to see them through the end of a mission: the massive archive of data that Spitzer will leave behind. "There's so much more stuff, so many more things that are lurking in there for us to find," Rebull said of that data. "We're going to be learning things from Spitzer for decades." Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook . Looking for work in the medical field? Well, you don't have to look far if you are in San Antonio. A host of hospitals and other organizations have recently posted job openings in the medical field for the San Antonio area on job-hunting site Glassdoor. A 30-year-old man allegedly raped a minor girl repeatedly for the past few days whenever her parents went outside for work. The accused is identified as Jahangir, who allegedly lured the 13-year-old girl before committing the heinous act. According to Panjagutta Police, "On the intervening night of January 28 and 29, we received a complaint from women stating that her 13-year-old daughter was raped by their neighbor." The victim family resides in the MS Maqta area in the limits of Panjagutta police station. "Since the past few when the parents of the victim went to work the accused Jahangir lured the minor girl and committed rape on her for five to six times," police said. A case under section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 5, 6 of POCSO Act has been registered and the victim girl has been sent for medical examination. Teams have been deployed to nab the accused persons, police added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Channel Seven's First Dates is known for its awkward, embarrassing, and cringe-worthy blind dates. And Tuesday's season four premiere did not disappoint. Two diners shocked waitstaff when they discussed the option of ordering animal genitalia from the menu. 'No, penis is not on the menu': First Dates star shocks waitstaff during hilarious moment she confuses spatchcock for an animal's genitalia Scarlette and Colby, both 18, had innocently confused the spatchcock offering for something far less enticing. After thinking a Jerusalem artichoke was a fish, Scarlette asked the waitress: 'Is it [a spatchcock] some like penis part of an animal?' Waitress Isabelle was taken aback by the suggestion, laughing as she confirmed: 'No. It's actually a chicken. A small chicken.' 'Is it [a spatchcock] some like penis part of an animal?' Scarlette and Colby, both 18, had innocently confused the spatchcock offering for something less enticing 'No. It's actually a chicken': Waitress Isabelle (above) failed to contain her laughter as she had to inform the couple that a spatchcock was simply a small chicken/game bird However, Scarlette still seemed confused: 'Oh, a chicken penis?' 'No, not a chicken penis! It's just a chicken. The penis is not on the menu,' Isabelle told the pair. Elsewhere in the episode, one female diner choked on her salad after messily eating her leafy greens, and another couldn't control her loud cackle. Messy: Elsewhere in the episode, one female diner choked on her salad after struggling to eat her leafy greens Dining with the stars: At the start of the night, the red carpet was rolled out for Logie award-winning TV legend Paula Duncan, 67 At the start of the night, the red carpet was rolled out for Logie award-winning TV legend Paula Duncan, 67. The Young Doctors actress has since been on more dates with Jeff, 78. A selection of other celebrity diners have also been teased for future episodes in the fourth season. Gossip reporter Richard Reid, 51, Biggest Loser's Ajay Rochester, 50, and Geordie Shore's James Tindale, 29, are among the other high-profile diners. First Dates continues on Seven from 7:30pm on Wednesday Patna, Jan 29 : JNU student Sharjeel Imam, who was booked for giving inflammatory speeches and is being brought to Delhi from Patna on a transit remand on Wednesday, spent the Tuesday night in a police lock-up here. Sources said he spent the night awake and demanded tea and water several times. According to sources in Patna police, Imam was given roti, daal and some vegetables but he ate very little. He kept on asking for tea and water, sources said. Delhi Police, who arrested Sharjeel Imam in Jehanabad on Tuesday and brought him to Patna, also questioned him in the lock up. Sources said that the he was about to escape in a car when the police caught him. Imam evaded most of the questions, sources said while the police seized his mobile phone for investigation. Imam had been booked for sedition on January 26 after a video of his comments on Assam, shot on January 25 in Delhi, went viral on social media. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, besides Delhi Police had registered cases against him under various sections, including sedition. New Delhi, Jan 29 : The BJP appeared delighted as the JD-U booted out Prashant Kishor and Pavan Verma on Wednesday. This comes days before a joint show of strength between Nitish Kumar and Amit Shah in Delhi. Speaking to IANS, BJP's Amit Malviya said, "What happened to Pavan Verma and Prashant Kishor is an internal matter of the JD-U. However, it proves all their utterances so far did not have the sanction of JD-U top brass. All NDA allies are on the same page when it comes to national issues." Furthering the bond, on February 2, the Bihar Chief Minister and the Union Home Minister will be sharing the stage in Delhi. At noon that day, both will hold a joint rally in Delhi's Burari. The same day, at 4p.m., Kumar will share the stage with BJP President JP Nadda. The JD-U and the BJP are fighting the Delhi poll together. BJP has allocated two seats to its Bihar ally. Earlier, Verma questioned this alliance by writing a letter to him and posting it on his twitter timeline which angered the Bihar CM. Verma sought 'moral clarity' from Kumar citing his support for the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act. Prashant Kishor has been vocal against both CAA and nationwide NRC. On Tuesday, the JD-U held a meeting without him and later Kumar said anyone is free to leave the party following which Kishor called it a "great fall" for the JD-U chief. In a face-to-face context, when we meet someone for the first time, we very quickly make an assessment as to whether we like them, trust them, want to work with them or want to do business with them. Research highlights that we have somewhere between seven and 15 seconds to make a first impression face-to-face. This is based on what is known as thin slicing. Professor Frank Bernieri of Oregon State University found that we assess people relatively quickly without a lot of data. This assessment is made on a raft of factors. It might be a glance, their handshake, what they wear, their demeanour, whether they maintain eye contact and how they smile. As much of our lives now play out on social media, the same holds true, albeit in a different way. A statement or comment that only takes a few seconds to post will be attached to your reputation forever. While that action might not represent your whole perspective on an issue, it will shape how people see you and how they assess your character and reputation. One you, one brand In an article for Fast Company, Tom Peters wrote, All of us need to understand the importance of branding. We are CEOs of our own companies: Me Inc. To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketer for the brand called You. In a digital world, there is no separation between a personal brand and your professional brand. What you post in your personal life on a private Facebook or Instagram page will impact how you are seen professionally. Your reputation is one of your most important career assets, so it pays to treat it as such. You might invest in building up your educational qualifications and your leadership skills, yet not consider how to develop and maintain a social media profile that enhances your career. To do that effectively goes beyond just taking care of what you say and do online. Its important to know your values and what you stand for so you actively take charge of your online reputation and make sure it aligns with what you want to be known for. When you own your reputation, you actively seek to understand how others see you and how you see yourself. This includes identifying where there are gaps between your desired and actual reputation and then setting about consciously constructing a positively and sustainably developed reputation that works for you in the long term. Maintaining a positive and progressive reputation requires work daily and it isnt something you can take for granted. Think long-term With the rapid changes happening in the workforce now and into the future, a persons career can go in many different directions. For example, those entering the workforce now are likely to have at least 17 different employers and five different careers during their lifetime. Consequently, this heightens the importance of taking a long-term view of your reputation. In an era where you can never be entirely sure where your career will land, you dont want to find your ambitions thwarted by something you did many years ago when you werent paying close attention to your reputation. Your reputation is a vital ingredient in having a long-term, successful and sustainable career, and so it pays dividends to treat it carefully. Michelle Gibbings is the founder of Change Meridian and works with leaders and teams to help them get fit for the future of work. She is also the author of Step Up: How to Build Your Influence at Work and Career Leap: How to Reinvent and Liberate your Career. For more information, visit michellegibbings.com. This conflict in the east of Ukraine was created to make conflict between Russia on one side, and Western Ukraine from the other side," Geraman MEP said The initiative of Chairman of Opposition Platform For Life Party and MP Viktor Medvedchuk is the only hope for peace in Ukraine. Member of European Parliament from Germany Maximilian Krah said this after the meeting between Medvedchuk and Bundestag parliamentarians when they discussed Parliamentary estimation of Normandy Format. The initiative of Viktor Medvedchuk is now the only hope, as peace, according to the Minsk agreements and Normandy Format is the only opportunity to realize, as Ukrainian parliament now does now have the will to implement these aspirations for peace in the Ukrainian laws and Viktor Medvedchuk is the only one who supports the gradual realization of these efforts, he said. This conflict in the east of Ukraine was created to make conflict between Russia on one side, and Western Ukraine from the other side, everyone interested in this conflict in Ukraine, influence to obstruct the realization of this peace process. That is why, all who aspire for peace, as I do, are interested that the friends in Ukraine help the realization of peace. This conflict, unfortunately, only enflames the internal conflict in Ukraine. It is also a driver, a method to create tension between Western Ukraine and Russia and impose economic sanctions. Those who want this in Ukraine can influence. That is why, those who, like Viktor, want peace, brought those in Europe who also want peace on their side, Krah added. Earlier, Viktor Medvedchuk discussed Parliamentary dimension of Normandy format with Members of Bundestag. He also spoke about the problems Ukraine faces on the way to peace. Clay County Commission provides funding for sheriff's office KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Ending a months-long legal battle , the Clay County Commission unanimously agreed to provide funds to the Clay County Sheriff's Department. A judge ordered the commission to transfer nearly $1 million to the sheriff's department in August to make up for "arbitrary, capricious or in bad faith" manipulation of the sheriff's office budget by county staffers. Northland political debate that newsies dutifully document but have trouble deciphering given that the drama is mostly personal and a pastime of political hobbyists and consultants bulking up billable hours. Checkit: I can dispel all concerns, if were talking about some conspiracy theory. There can be no other conspiracy than the Turkish-Azerbaijani conspiracy, period. This is what ex-defense minister Seyran Ohanyan told reporters at the National Assembly today, touching upon Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyans previous statement that the Russian Federation knew about the Four-Day Artsakh War. There are no unrevealed episodes of the Four-Day Artsakh War. By going deeper into the issue, the probe committee has added to all that existed. They reminded me of some things, and we complemented each other during the discussion. This will help make the committees work effective, he said. As for another statement by Nikol Pashinyan according to which Serzh Sargsyan had negotiated to hand over territories, Seyran Ohanyan said the following: As I have said before, if anything happens to Artsakh, we Armenians need to fight for every piece of land. The issue of concessions is not a topic for negotiations today. If there is any talk about documents, the only reason for their existence was negotiations. As far as handing over territories is concerned, nobody has ever talked to me about that. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 30th January, 2020) Russian Ombudswoman Tatiana Moskalkova told Sputnik she would meet with the Council of Europe's Human Rights Commissioner Dunja Mijatovic in Strasbourg on Thursday and plans to discuss difficulties faced by Sputnik Estonia and other issues related to press rights. "Yes, there is a meeting with Dunja Mijatovic on my agenda," Moskalkova said, when asked about a possible meeting on Thursday. "We have so much to discuss in terms of protecting human rights that it is hard to list all of it. But, of course, protecting the rights of journalists. I want to raise the issue of Sputnik Estonia," the Russian ombudswoman said. The staff of the outlet had been told by the local authorities that they could face criminal cases unless they stopped working for Sputnik by January 1, 2020. Tallinn cited EU sanctions imposed in 2014 as the justification for its actions. However, those restrictions did not target Rossiya Segodnya agency, of which Sputnik is a part, but its Director General Dmitry Kiselev. WASHINGTON - President Donald Trumps legal team on Tuesday concluded its three-day presentation as they started it arguing that the Democrats case amounted to partisan politics that would undo the results of the 2016 presidential election and drive Trump from office. Trumps lawyers argued forcefully against calling former national security adviser John Bolton as a witness, saying his yet-to-be-published manuscript contains unproven allegations that would be inadmissible during a typical trial. As the defence used less than half its allotted 24 hours of argument, White House counsel Pat Cipollone said the impeachment trial should end now, as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, Democrats and some moderate Republicans pressed to call Bolton and other witnesses as the case headed to the phase of questions and answers. Highlights of Tuesdays session and whats ahead as senators conduct just the third impeachment trial of a president: LEAKS AND ALLEGATIONS Wrapping up the White House defence, attorney Jay Sekulow said Boltons forthcoming book said to contradict a key defence argument about Trumps dealings with Ukraine was inadmissible. Impeachment is not a game of leaks and unsourced manuscripts, Sekulow said. The argument was aimed at Republicans who are considering witnesses including Bolton, who writes that Trump told him that he wanted to withhold military aid from Ukraine until it helped with investigations into Democratic rival Joe Biden. Sekulow stressed that much remains unknown about Boltons book, set for publication in March. Explosive allegations in a leaked manuscript have been disputed by Trump, the Justice Department and Vice-President Mike Pences chief of staff. The White House denies that the president directly connected the withheld military aid to investigations of Biden and his son Hunter, a former executive at a Ukraine energy company. TRUTH TELLER OR DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEE? In a twist, some Republicans said they dont trust Bolton, a fierce conservative and a darling of conservative media when he left the White House last year. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., called Bolton disgruntled and said he was seeking to make money off his White House service. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said, I dont think it sheds any new light on the facts. Democrats accused Republicans of protesting too much. I dont think, frankly, that we could have made as effective a case for John Boltons testimony as the presidents lawyers, said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the lead House prosecutor. One of Trumps former White House chiefs of staff, John Kelly, weighed in from Florida, telling an audience in Sarasota that he believes Bolton. WHATS IMPEACHABLE? Several Republicans said they were impressed by an argument from Trump attorney and retired Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz, who said that nothing in the manuscript even if true rises to the level of an impeachable offence. I thought Dershowitz did a good job, said Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind. When I listened to his sound logic and constitutional context, he said without equivocation that Trumps alleged action linking aid to investigations, if true, does not rise to the level of impeachment. Voters in his state want the Senate to move on, Braun said. Most legal scholars dispute the idea that the Founding Fathers ever intended for impeachable offences to require proof of a crime. A DEAL ON WITNESSES? Republican Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, meanwhile, floated the idea backed by South Carolinas Lindsey Graham to subpoena Boltons book manuscript so senators can see the evidence themselves in private. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called the proposal absurd and noted that it would prevent Bolton from testifying in public. Other Republicans, including Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, suggested a trade that would bring in Bolton or another Democratic witness in exchange for one from the GOP side such as Hunter Biden or even Joe Biden. Were not bargaining with them, Schumer said. We want four witnesses ... then the truth will come out. VOTE NOT LOCKED DOWN The flurry of ideas came as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told senators privately he does not yet have the votes to block new witnesses. McConnell convened a closed-door meeting of GOP senators shortly after Trumps legal team made its closing arguments. A Republican familiar with the meeting was not authorized to describe it by name and requested anonymity. The GOP leader faced a handful of potential defections and put off a vote on potential witnesses until later in the week. Fifty-one senators are needed to call more witnesses or include more documents. With a 53-47 majority, Republicans can only afford to lose three Republicans on such votes. WHATS AHEAD With opening arguments over, the case moved toward written questions, with senators on both sides getting 16 hours to pose them. A vote on witnesses was expected as soon as Friday. Republicans were warned that even if they agreed to call Bolton to testify, the White House would seek to block him, a response certain to spark a lengthy court battle over executive privilege and national security. ___ AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report. A 23-year-old man was sentenced to federal prison Tuesday for his role in two armed Tuscaloosa robberies. U.S. District Judge L. Scott Coogler sentenced Ladarius Maurice Watson to 15 years in prison, according to a joint statement by Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Jay Town and ATF Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson. Watson pleaded guilty in July 2019 to Hobbs Act Robbery and carrying and brandishing a firearm during a violent crime. Watson was one of three suspects charged in the crimes. Quartaius Deandrew Rodgers, 24, pleaded guilty last year and was sentenced to nearly eight years in federal prison. Jemarkus Vonsha Thompson was convicted in October 2019. He is set to be sentenced in February. The robberies happened Nov. 26, 2017. According to evidence presented at trial, Thompson was the driver of the suspect vehicle used to rob the Quick Stop Tobacco and Snack and the Subway on Old Greensboro Road. Testimony showed that Rodgers and Watson robbed the two stores at gun point using an assault-style rifle, while Thompson remained in the vehicle. Cell phone tower information placed Thompson at the scene of both crimes. The trio was stopped by Tuscaloosa police minutes after the robberies, where evidence of both crimes where found in their possession, including money receipts and the firearms. The safety of many innocent people was threatened during this string of armed robberies in Tuscaloosa, Town said. These crimes are far too prevalent in the Northern District and thus our local, state and federal law enforcement agencies will remain the phalanx to not only police violent crime but defeat it. Mayor Jim Kenney listens during the 11th annual Tourism and Hospitality Industry Outlook event at The Met. Read more Tourism officials and the mayors office touted growth in city hotel revenue on Tuesday, as Visit Philadelphia outlined new plans to bring more visitors to the city through a focus on women travelers, Canadians, and people who like to eat. Center City hotel revenues climbed to $707 million last year, a 4.3% increase from 2018 revenue figures of $678 million. Higher room rates propelled that revenue growth, hospitality groups said. The citys average daily rate went up about $10, from $191.40 in 2018 to $202.41 in 2019, thanks to several factors, including a strong convention year and more options for high-end rooms. Four hotels that opened in Philly last year added 491 rooms to the market. Overall, city hotels sold 3.49 million room nights in 2019, from a supply of 4.58 million room nights. The rate of demand surpassed the overall five-year average by 4.5%, according to the figures released by the city and Visit Philadelphia, along with the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) and the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association. This constant stream of visitor activity generates tax dollars and supports family-sustaining jobs for our residents, Mayor Jim Kenney said in a statement Tuesday. "Thats hugely beneficial to our city and region. This year, Philadelphia will welcome 20 large conventions or events, the most in a decade, the PHLCVB announced last week. These large gatherings, known as citywides, will generate 335,000 hotel room nights and bring about 400,000 people to Philadelphia. Eight of those groups are either coming to the city for the first time ever or coming back for the first time in more than 10 years. They include gatherings of the Pediatric Academic Societies, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., and the American Statistical Association. Meanwhile, Visit Philadelphia is rolling out initiatives aimed at leisure travelers, the vast majority of Phillys visitors. In 2018, the tourism group said, 88% of 45 million visitors came to the region to have fun. To that end, Visit Philadelphia outlined a new partnership with the James Beard Foundation to make it easy for travelers to support delicious, diverse and sustainable food." For instance, Philly chefs will take over the James Beard House in New York for four culinary events in 2020. And in August, the partnership will produce a week of restaurant collective events in Philadelphia. Another strategy will focus on marketing the city of (ahem) sisterly love as a getaway destination for women traveling with family or friends. Visit Philadelphia said it will promote a year of events and programming around art, food, fitness, wine, music and history, including the centennial of womens right to vote. Tourism officials are also looking north very north. Canada is Phillys biggest market for visitors from abroad, and sent nearly 500,000 of the regions 1.22 million international visitors last year. Visit Philadelphia said it will expand its Canada-intensive PR efforts over the coming decade to better capture Philadelphias share of Canadian visitors against direct competitors such as New York, Chicago, Boston, Florida, Houston and the Caribbean. Oh, and yes: a Philly-themed travel podcast is coming, though it will have a video component to make it stand out from other podcasts. It makes its debut Feb. 29, Visit Philadelphia said. Id always pictured myself having one or three children. Not two. One or three were the admittedly illogical magic numbers. So when I agreed with my husband that we should have a second baby, in my head I was agreeing to a third as well. What happened instead was a personal mental health crisis. More support would help more women feel they can handle having more kids. Credit:Shutterstock I was diagnosed with postnatal depression after my second baby, most likely a continuation of undiagnosed depression and anxiety after having my first. It became eight years from baby one through to the preschool years of baby two that I experienced these mental illnesses, ranging from manageable levels (when I could convince myself I was "fine") to the severity of suicidal thoughts. That third baby? My husband, and others close to me, urged me to forget the idea. They were sure I wouldnt survive having another child and, while I had to grieve the child who would never be, I agreed with them that my own health had to be the top priority. SPRINGFIELD Citing a relationship that has been deepening for almost three years, the CEO of the Main Street Hospitality Group which owns Stockbridges historic Red Lion Inn said Wednesday that her company is exploring an opportunity to transform 101 State St. into a new hotel in partnership with MGM Springfield. The project is in addition to Main Streets partnership with the New England Farm Workers Council on a modern boutique hotel as part of the redevelopment of the Paramount Theater and Massasoit House. Timothy T. Sheehan, the citys chief development officer, said Monday that Main Street and MGM Springfield were in talks on the State Street project. Sarah Eustis, CEO of the Main Street Hospitality Group, affirmed the companys commitment to both projects in an email Wednesday. Developing and managing unique hotels in shared markets is something we are experienced with in Western Mass, and there are synergies and scale that are possible should both projects be realized, Eustis wrote. We believe that there is an opportunity in Springfield to offer more independent lodging options that can add value to the fabric of the re-emerging city. The Paramount is roughly a half mile walk north on Main Street from 101 State St. and the MGM casino. The eight-story building at 101 State St. a corner building also known by the address of 1200 Main St. was built in 1908 by MassMutual as its headquarters. It was Springfields first skyscraper. MGM bought it, along with neighboring 85-95 State St., from C&W Realty Inc. for $8.4 million in 2015, in the run-up to the construction of the nearly $1 billion casino project. Today, 101 State St. houses the offices and headquarters of Focus Springfield, the citys public-access television operator, and other tenants. Eustis praised the building. "101 State is a beautiful building that is well suited for hotel use," she said. "We are still working through feasibility and planning." There is no timeline for construction, she said. Saverio Mancini, MGM Springfield spokesman, said MGM had no further comment on the project. MGM has offices next door at 85-95 State St., and both buildings are now tied in with the casino buildings. MGM Springfield already has its own 240-room, six-story hotel. When the resort was in its design stages, MGM said it kept the hotel deliberately small in order to send business to existing Springfield hotels and get visitors moving around the downtown. In her statement, Eustis said the proposed hotel at 101 State St. would support the ongoing development of the south end of Main Street and the lodging demand from the convention and casino constituents. Main Street Hospitality owns or operates historic hotel properties around New England, and they tend to be clustered geographically. The companys portfolio includes the Porches Inn at Mass MoCA in North Adams, Hotel on North in Pittsfield, Briarcliff Motel in Great Barrington and Race Brook Lodge in Sheffield. Main Street Hospitality will manage the Hammetts Hotel in Newport, Rhode Island, scheduled to open this spring, and will grow its presence in that state with the addition of the Beatrice Hotel in Providence later in 2020. Eustis is the granddaughter of Jack and Jane Fitzpatrick, who bought the Red Lion Inn in 1968. The $38 million rehab of the Massasoit House and Paramount Theater includes an 85-room hotel in the old Massasoit House, which dominates a Main Street block not far from the recently renovated Union Station. The hotel dates to 1843, when the railroad first came to Springfield. By Steve Holland, Dan Williams and Arshad Mohammed WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday proposed creating a Palestinian state as part of a Middle East peace plan, drawing Palestinian condemnation for imposing strict conditions and agreeing to let Israel maintain control of long-contested West Bank settlements. Trump announced his plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace at a White House event with embattled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu standing at his side. It includes what Trump called a four-year freeze by Israel on new settlement activity. Although Trump's stated aim was to end decades of conflict, the plan he advanced favoured Israel, underscored by the absence of Palestinians from Trump's announcement. It seemed unlikely to immediately advance Israeli-Palestinian talks that broke down in 2014, but the plan was called "an important starting point for a return to negotiations" by the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia and Egypt also offered encouraging statements. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, however, mocked what Trump has called the "deal of the century," describing it as the "slap of the century." Palestinians have refused to deal with the Trump administration in protest at pro-Israel policies such as moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the eastern part of which is sought by the Palestinians. Trump set in motion a four-year timeline for Palestinians to agree to a security arrangement with Israel, halt attacks by the Islamist militant group Hamas and set up governing institutions in order to establish a Palestinian state with its capital in Abu Dis, a part of east Jerusalem. That too poses a potential problem for Palestinians. Abu Dis is a West Bank village just east of the Israeli municipal boundaries for Jerusalem. Palestinians living in Abu Dis are cut off by a high concrete Israeli security wall and checkpoints. Palestinians reject any proposal that does not envision a Palestinian capital in all of East Jerusalem, which includes the walled Old City. Story continues Trump's plan says that barrier should serve as a border between the capitals of the two states, adding that Jerusalem should remain Israel's undivided, sovereign capital. "My vision presents a win-win opportunity for both sides, a realistic two-state solution that resolves the risk of Palestinian statehood to Israel's security," Trump said. 'JERUSALEM IS NOT FOR SALE' Abbas, speaking to reporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, said: "Jerusalem is not for sale, our rights are not for sale and are not for bargain and your deal, the conspiracy will not pass. White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, one of the architects of the plan, told Reuters Television the Palestinians "look quite foolish" for immediately rejecting the plan and should take some time to consider "a very strong opening offer." "If we feel like there is a good-faith chance or a desire on their side to come with a counter-proposal, we'll figure out the right forum to engage in it to bring about a solution," he said. Before the Trump announcement, thousands of Palestinians demonstrated in Gaza City and Israeli troops reinforced positions near a flashpoint site between the Palestinian city of Ramallah and the Jewish settlement of Beit El in the West Bank. Critics say both Trump and Netanyahu have been intent on diverting attention away from domestic troubles. Trump is going through an impeachment trial, while Netanyahu was formally indicted in court on corruption charges on Tuesday. Both men deny any wrongdoing. Netanyahu also faces a difficult election in March - his third in less than a year. He is locked in a battle with Blue and White Party chief Benny Gantz, who also expressed support for the Trump plan. Netanyahu said the Trump plan offered Palestinians a pathway to a future state but that it may take them "a very long time to get to the beginning of that path." "If they agree to abide by all the conditions you have put forward in your plan, Israel will be there. Israel will be prepared to negotiate peace right away," he said. Trump said he had sent a letter to Abbas asking him to study the deal. "I explained to him that the territory allocated for his new state will remain open and undeveloped for a period of four years. During this time, Palestinians can use all appropriate deliberation to study the deal, negotiate with Israel, achieve the criteria for statehood and become a truly independent and wonderful state," he said. Under Trump's proposed Middle East peace plan, the United States will recognise Israeli settlements on the occupied West Bank. The White House document said Israel agreed to a four-year "land freeze" to secure the possibility of a two-state solution. But a senior Israeli official later played down the notion of a settlement freeze in the West Bank. U.S. senior administration officials said they expected initial Palestinian scepticism over the plan but hoped they would agree to negotiate over time. It places high hurdles for the Palestinians to overcome to reach their long-sought goal of a state. "Strip away the domestic and Israeli political considerations that determined the timing of the plans release, and the message to the Palestinians, boiled down to its essence, is: 'Youve lost, get over it,'" said Robert Malley, president of the International Crisis Group and a former U.S. National Security Council official. The U.S. plan represented the most detailed attempt to break the deadlock between Israel and the Palestinians in several years. Trump has endorsed a proposed map outlining the two states, U.S. officials said. The Palestinian state would be double the size of land that Palestinians currently control and would be connected by roads, bridges and tunnels, they said. Israel will also take steps to ensure Muslim access to al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and respect Jordan's role regarding holy sites, the U.S. officials said. Trump's plan calls for Palestinian refugees to settle in a future Palestinian state and creates a "generous compensation fund" for them, one of the officials said. (Reporting by Steve Holland, Dan Williams and Arshad Mohammed; Additional reporting by Ali Sawafta in Ramallah, Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem and Dan Williams, Steve Holland and Arshad Mohammed in Washington; Editing by Howard Goller, Alistair Bell and Peter Cooney) SACRAMENTO After a year of heated debate, state Sen. Scott Wieners bid to boost housing construction in California faces a critical deadline this week. SB50, which would clear a path for denser housing around public transit and in wealthy suburbs, must pass the Senate and advance to the Assembly by Friday to stay alive. The bill has received strong support from Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, who used her position to maneuver it around a committee roadblock and onto the Senate floor Monday. But its fate is far from settled. With opposition mounting from local governments and affordable-housing groups, despite amendments that Wiener made to appease their concerns, legislators are sharply divided about whether the bill is the right approach to address the states severe housing shortage. Im very happy that the full Senate will get a chance to weigh in on an important bill regarding the most pressing issue facing our state, Wiener, D-San Francisco, said after the measure was moved to the Senate floor. I look forward to making the case to my colleagues. What will the Senate be voting on? The goal of SB50 is to increase the supply of housing, particularly where it could reduce peoples reliance on cars. It would do this by raising height limits around transit lines, allowing denser development in high-income areas, and effectively opening up the entire state to multifamily residences. Under the bill, local governments in counties with more than 600,000 people could not block apartment and condominium projects of at least four or five stories within half a mile of rail stations and ferry terminals, provided those projects meet other local design standards. In the Bay Area, San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Mateo counties meet that population threshold. The measure would also remove density limits and reduce parking requirements within a quarter-mile of stops on bus lines with frequent service and in high-income census tracts with lots of jobs and good schools, regardless of their proximity to transit. In smaller counties, including Marin, Sonoma, Solano and Napa, cities with more than 50,000 people would have to allow up to 15 extra feet of height for buildings within a half-mile of transit stops. A streamlined process to convert vacant plots and homes in residential areas to apartment buildings of up to four units would essentially eliminate single-family zoning in California, except in small coastal communities and areas at high risk of fire. Changes that Wiener introduced in January would give cities two extra years, until 2023, to come up with alternative plans that could accommodate the amount of new housing that the bill would require. Communities at risk of gentrification would have five years to come up with neighborhood plans that combine the development requirements with antidisplacement protections. Cities that did not produce plans would fall under the measure. Housing bills highlights Main provisions of SB50, San Francisco state Sen. Scott Wiener's bill designed to increase multifamily housing in California: It would prohibit cities in counties with at least 600,000 people from restricting small and medium-size apartment buildings within a half-mile of rail stations and ferry terminals and within a quarter-mile of stops on bus lines with frequent service. In smaller counties, cities with more than 50,000 people would have to allow up to 15 extra feet of height for buildings within a half-mile of transit stops. It would direct the state Department of Housing and Community Development to identify "jobs-rich areas" - higher-income census tracts close to employment opportunities and good schools. These communities would fall under a zoning preemption for density limits and parking requirements, regardless of whether they are near transit stations. Cities would have until 2023 to come up with alternative plans for achieving housing goals. Those that failed to do so would fall under SB50 rules. See More Collapse New apartment buildings and condominiums approved under the relaxed standards have to set aside 15% to 25% of their units for low-income families. People already living nearby would have priority. What are the bills chances? The pressure is on to get SB50 out of the Senate. In addition to Atkins, Gov. Gavin Newsom has expressed his desire to pass some version of the bill this year. Labor unions, business groups, the construction industry and even some environmentalists have lined up in support. But the measure faces stiff resistance from local governments worried about losing control over how their communities grow. The League of California Cities said it is unclear whether the alternative planning process in Wieners amended bill would give communities enough flexibility. Negotiations between Wiener and groups representing affordable housing developers and low-income communities reached an impasse last week. More than two dozen organizations, including the Western Center on Law and Poverty and the San Francisco Council of Community Housing Organizations, came out against the bill, saying it wouldnt generate enough affordable housing or protect against gentrification. Several Democrats representing suburban or coastal districts, which would potentially see the biggest changes, have already said they plan to vote against the measure. That means Wiener may need help from Republican colleagues, some of whom voted for the bill in committee last year. But they all opposed bringing it to the floor Monday because the amendments had not been reviewed in a committee hearing. What comes next? If SB50 clears the Senate, it heads to the Assembly, where the process begins again. The measure would have until the end of August to pass the full house, plenty of time for further negotiations and amendments. Eleven members of the Assembly have already signed on as coauthors, including Democrats Phil Ting of San Francisco and Buffy Wicks of Oakland, as well as one Republican, Kevin Kiley of Rocklin (Placer County). But its prospects there are no clearer than in the Senate. Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood (Los Angeles County), has largely stayed quiet about the measure. One powerful member, Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, said on Twitter this month she was falling out of love with this bill quickly because the changes would let more cities off the hook for longer. Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff The British royal family is constantly on the move. Between the Queen and Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Camilla, Prince William and Kate Middleton, and now to a lesser extent, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the royal family is a bunch of busy travel bees. And all that travel comes at a serious price. According to a 2019 analysis by GoBankingRates, the royal family spent about $6 million on both personal and professional travel in 2017. And that number seems to only be growing. %image1 The most expensive trip on the list was Prince Charles and Camillas 2017 jaunt to Italy, Romania, and Austria. During the nine-day tour, the couple took several very expensive charter flights between Bucharest, Pisa, Naples, Rome, and Vienna. All that came to a cost of $203,609. Next on the list was Prince William and Kate Middletons official Foreign and Commonwealth Office visit to India and Bhutan, which cost an estimated $129,187. According to GoBankingRates, the hefty bill was once again largely due to their transportation, which included flights from London to Delhi and back, along with charter flights to different destinations. Two trips tied for third place on GoBankingRates list. One was a trip to Israel taken by Prince Charles, which cost $96,958. That visit was specifically to attend the funeral of former Israeli president Shimon Peres. However, this trip came with a bit of a personal bonus, as Prince Charles also visited the grave of his paternal grandmother while in Jerusalem, GoBankingRates reported. Charles and Camilla rounded out the list with their trip to Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. That trip cost just over $96,000 as well. It, too, was costly, thanks to the chartered flights from Royal Air Force Brize Norton to Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Bahrain. If the above taught us all one thing, its that Charles and Camilla are the biggest spenders. As Travel + Leisure previously reported, the couple spent more than any other royal family member on travel in 2018, too. It was then that they racked up a bill of about $530,000 for their massive tour through the Caribbean. However, it seems as though they really got their moneys worth on that one, as the couple took part in more than 50 engagements on 10 different islands during their stay. It was also the first royal visit to Cuba. The Conservative Party has rolled out 'I got Brexit done' merchandise including fridge magnets, mugs and tea towels ahead of Britain's exit from the European Union. Brexiteers can get their hands on the items for as little as 5. The products have been made available on the Tory party's website through its official shop. The items will not be dispatched until February 10 - two weeks after Britain is set to withdraw from the EU. A Brexit mug screaming 'I got Brexit done!' will set Brexiteers back 15 while a magnet is 6 and a tea towel featuring Bojo and the words 'Got Brexit Done' is 12. I got Brexit Done! Merchandise with the date of the UK's exit from the EU has been printed on mugs which are for sale on the conservative website Some of the items which are on sale include a tea towel which is 12 (left) and a magnet which costs 6 (right) Also available are 5 lapel pins and a 15 'Victory' mug, which the website states was 'printed in the UK'. A description of the mugs reads: 'Were you part of the majority of people in the UK who voted to Get Brexit Done? 'Then buy a limited edition Got Brexit Done mug to celebrate our departure from the EU. 'People like you who lent us your vote allowed us to make good on our promises, and deliver on the 2016 referendum. A small lapel pin will also be available for Brexiteers to buy, retailing at just 5 Another mug on offer includes one which states the amount of votes which were counted on 12th December The items celebrate leader Boris Johnson's 'Brexit victory' and include his famous catchphrase 'So buy with pride to mark a new chapter in our country's history, or buy as a gift to a friend - while stocks last! PROUDLY printed in the UK.' It then added: 'Please note: delivery of our Got Brexit Done collection will begin week commencing 10th February.' MailOnline has contacted the Conservative Party. The release of the merchandise comes as leader Boris Johnson put out a video to answer the UK's top Brexit questions. The Prime Minister tried to address the most searched internet questions about Britain's departure from the EU ahead of Brexit actually taking place at 11pm on Friday. In the video posted on his personal Twitter page, Mr Johnson tackled questions relating to the NHS, blue passports, foreign students and fishing. He kicked off the video by reminding people about the timing of Brexit before trying to reassure holidaymakers that their plans will not be disrupted. The Allahabad High Court on Thursday directed the state government to file an affidavit and apprising it of the status of investigation in an alleged fake encounter case. The Bench comprising Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice S S Shamshery passed the order on a petition filed by Shivangi Yadav, the widow of Pushpendra Yadav, who was allegedly killed in a fake encounter on the intervening night of October 5 and 6 last year. Alleging fake encounter by the then Moth SHO Dharmendra Singh Chauhan, the petitioner contended that it was a fit case for the transfer of investigation to an independent agency. The police on the other hand rejected the allegations, saying they had fired in self-defence. According to the petitioner, Chauhan had taken Rs 1 lakh from the deceased for releasing his truck. She alleged that her husband was killed after he demanded the money back as the truck was not released. Pushpendra was called by the SHO at an unknown place where he was killed, Shivangi Yadav alleged. The petitioner sought that either the case be transferred to the CBI or the state government be told to form a special investigation team. After the encounter, police had claimed that three motorcycle-borne men, including Pushpendra Yadav, had accosted a team by the SHO on the Kanpur-Jhansi highway near the Bamrouli crossing. According to them, Pushpendra Yadav fired at Dharmendra Singh and took away his car. Later around 3 am, police claimed to have spotted the trio with the SHO's car near Garotha and killed Pushpendar Yadav in an encounter. The court has fixed February 19 as the next date for hearing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The new House NASA funding bill is full of cost-plus contracts for Boeing. The new bill talks about Mars in 2033 but does not dedicate funds towards that goal. The White House Artemis Program pushed for the Moon as a cornerstone of human exploration for the next decade or two and to develop a lunar base. The White House program at least tried to include SpaceX and Blue Origin and other companies. The Artemis program still kept the wasteful Boeing Space Launch System. The Senate bill is in line with the NASA-White House Artemis moon program. The House and Senate bills will have to be reconciled. The Senate and White House approach is wasteful. They do not cut the Boeing SLS program. The House bill is even more wasteful as they want to delay going to the moon from 2024 to 2028 and to keep SpaceX and Blue Origin out of the NASA funding. SpaceX needs to just get the Super Heavy Starship working and land on the moon with it by 2023. SpaceX also needs to generate tens of billions from the Starlink satellites so they will move funding and resources than NASA by around 2025. Clearly, the US space funding system will remain broken. Boeing will continue to abuse cost-plus contracts for many billions of dollars. Nothing was delivered for over twenty years from SLS. The House Bill has authorized to be appropriated to NASA for fiscal year 2020, $22,629,000,000 as follows: (1) For exploration, $6,017,600,000, of which $1,406,700,000 shall be for the Orion multi-purpose Crew Vehicle, $2,585,900,000 shall be for the Space Launch System, $590,000,000 shall be for Exploration Ground Systems, and $1,435,000,000 shall be for Exploration Research and Development. (2) For space operations, $4,140,200,000. (3) For science, $7,138,900,000, of which $1,971,800,000 shall be for Earth Science, $2,713,400,000 shall be for Planetary Science, $1,306,200,000 shall be for Astrophysics, $423,000,000 shall be for the James Webb Space Telescope, and $724,500,000 shall be for Heliophysics. (4) For aeronautics, $783,900,000. (5) For space technology, $1,100,000,000 C oronavirus has hit the UK with the Department of Health confirming that thousands of people have been infected. Public Health England said anyone with Covid-19 symptoms should self-isolate for seven days. If someone in a household develops symptoms, the rest of the inhabitants need to self-isolate for 14 days. The first British person to die of Covid-19 was confirmed to be on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan on February 29. Here's everything you need to know about the virus - including symptoms and NHS guidance. Sneezes should be caught in a tissue / PA What is coronavirus? Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars). The strain that has recently emerged is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. The respiratory disease has been named Covid-19 by WHO. It is thought to be transmitted in droplets from coughs and sneezes and can survive for a limited time on surfaces. What are the symptoms of coronavirus? According to the NHS, the main symptoms of coronavirus are having a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath. New research suggests loss of smell and taste may also be symptoms of the disease. People with the virus will typically show flu-like symptoms, including a fever and a cough, that can progress to severe pneumonia. This can then cause breathing difficulties. The World Health Organisation has also stated that some patients may also experience aches and pains, as well as nasal congestion, a runny nose, sore throat or diarrhoea. Who is most at risk? Those with weakened immune systems, the elderly or those with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease are more at risk. What measures should you take to protect yourself? Simple steps go a long way to helping people avoid catching and spreading germs, such as coronavirus. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds Comply with lockdown rules of staying at home and only leaving the house for infrequent shopping trips and for exercise Catch sneezes and coughs with a tissue, then bin it immediately, making sure you wash your hands afterwards or use antibacterial gel Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands Avoid those who are unwell Before and during Coronavirus lockdown - In pictures 1 /44 Before and during Coronavirus lockdown - In pictures AP Buckingham Palace AP Piccadilly Line tube AP Big Ben AP Millennium bridge AP Wembley Stadium AP St Pancras International train station AP Downing Street AP Victoria Station AP Regent Street AP The Mall leading to Buckingham Palace AP London's National Gallery in Trafalgar Square PA Edinburgh's Royal Mile PA Barry Island, South Wales PA Bath PA Bath PA London's Waterloo station PA London Bridge PA London's Canary Wharf Jubilee Line platform PA London's Canary Wharf Station PA London's Buckingham Palace PA London's Tower Bridge PA London's Leicester Square PA London's Millennium Bridge with St Paul's Cathedral PA London's Criterion Theatre PA London's Palace Theatre PA London's Phoenix Theatre PA London's Canary Wharf Station PA Bournemouth beach PA Bath PA Bath PA Barry Island, South Wales PA Bournemouth beach PA Hand washing advice: Public Health England launched an advertising campaign to encourage Brits to wash their hands more effectively. The Government said this will help slow the spread of the virus. The nation should wash their hands after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing and before eating or touching food. You should wash your hands for 20 seconds each time, using soap and water or hand sanitiser. Health secretary Matt Hancock said: "Washing hands regularly is the single most important thing that an individual can do." Is there treatment available? As the infection is relatively new, there is no specific treatment for coronavirus at this time. Medics try to relieve symptoms and keep the infected alive. The UK has become the largest contributor in the international effort to find a coronavirus vaccine and Boris Johnson announced a 210 million donation during a virtual summit with G20 leaders at the end of March. The Prime Minister said the money will help the whole word fight the Covid-19 strain and urged other countries to step up and help defeat the virus. During a daily press briefing, Cabinet member Michael Gove said thousands of ventilators will be distributed to hospitals across the nation. How to self-isolate and NHS guidance on calling 111 The latest NHS guidelines state that you should not go to your local GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital if you are displaying signs of coronavirus. If you have symptoms like a fever or a continuous cough, you are advised to stay at home for 7 days. You should only call 111 if you feel you cannot cope with the symptoms, you do not get better after 7 days, or your symptoms worse. If you are staying at home you are advised to do the following: Try to keep at least 2 metres from other people, particularly older people or those with long-term health conditions Ask friends and family and delivery services to deliver things like food shopping and medicines but avoid contact with them Regularly wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds Try to sleep alone if possible Stay away from older people and those with long-term health conditions Drink plenty of water and take painkillers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, to help with your symptom Itinerary for first-timers: Focus on exploring Sicilys connection to ancient Greece and Rome. The 2,700-year-old city of Syracuse and the adjacent island of Ortygia offer windows through the centuries; sites include the Greek theater, Roman amphitheater, Temple of Apollo, Altar of Hieron II, Ear of Dionysius and the Archeological Museum. And dont miss Ortygias lively street market and the Piazza del Duomo with its Baroque cathedral. In the Agrigento area, the Valley of the Temples is a must, offering an array of incredibly well-preserved ancient Greek structures. About 90 minutes east of Agrigento is Villa Romana del Casale, showcasing stunning Roman mosaics. In the Palermo area, connect with Sicilys Norman history at the Cathedral at Monreale and the Norman Palace; the city also offers several street markets for foodies. Break up the serious sightseeing with a tour of the active volcano Mount Etna and shopping in the seaside town of Taormina. Newark Liberty International Airport has joined other U.S. ports of entry in stepping up screening for the deadly novel coronavirus virus, officials said. The virus, which emerged in China and has spread to more than a dozen countries, has killed at least 132 people and sickened more than 6,000 around the world, officials said Wednesday. Two people in New Jersey suspected of having the virus have tested negative. As more cases of coronavirus spike across the globe, we must do everything we can to protect Americans here at home," U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez and Cory Booker, both D-N.J., said in a joint statement issued Tuesday. "That starts by ensuring all passengers traveling from the affected regions are properly and thoroughly screened upon arrival in the U.S. It is only prudent that any robust and comprehensive public health response include stepped-up efforts at each of our countrys major ports of entryincluding Newark Liberty International Airport. Booker and Menendez called on the federal government to include Newark airport in the screenings last week as the virus continued to spread. Newark Liberty is the nations fifth-busiest airport in the U.S. and among 20 which now have enhanced screening for the coronavirus. John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Philadelphia International Airport are also on the list. The 20 airports handle about 90 percent of passengers coming from China. There have been five confirmed cases in the U.S. as of Tuesday - a man in Washington State; a woman in Chicago; a patient in Los Angeles County, California; a man in Orange County, California; and a patient in Arizona. The results of tests on 73 more people suspected of having the virus are pending. The CDC is expected to release another update later Wednesday. While there is no vaccine for the virus, health officials advise people to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds and to avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. More health news: Fear the coronavirus? Another virus poses a bigger threat to N.J. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. Harry Brown strolled down the aisles of the new H-E-B in Meyerland, gazing in awe at the rows of kosher beef, salmon and yogurt lining the shelves. Nearly three years ago, the Meyerland resident lost his home, his synagogue and his local H-E-B to Hurricane Harvey, which devastated the neighborhoods tight-knit Jewish community. Harvey inundated Browns home with four feet of water, forced the demolition of his orthodox synagogue and shuttered the H-E-B Pantry store where Brown used to shop for kosher food. H-E-B Meyerland Market, which opens Wednesday in Meyerland Plaza, represents a long-awaited and welcome sign of recovery for Brown. The life insurance agent and his family, who have been living with friends and in apartments while their home was being rebuilt, moved back into their Meyerland home last month -- a few days before Hanukkah. On HoustonChronicle.com: Harvey-damaged synagogue faces demolition After everything Meyerland has been through, its a great rebirth for the entire neighborhood, Brown, 52, said while touring the new H-E-B on Tuesday. A lot of people have left Meyerland. Something like this will bring them back. Harvey devastated rich and poor, black and white, Hispanic and Asian. But the storm had an outsize impact on Houstons Jewish community, many of whom live in Meyerland. About one out of every 13 Jewish families in Houston flooded during Harvey. The storm damaged three of the citys largest synagogues, which had a combined membership of 3,900 families. The Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center took on 10 feet of water. Flood water inundated the Jewish senior home, the community resource center and the Beth Yeshurun Day School. Since the August 2017 storm, most synagogues, Jewish community centers and day schools have reopened. However, Harvey still casts a long shadow on Meyerland. Homes still sit vacant, as families have moved away. Many who have stayed are still rebuilding. Last year, Three Brothers Bakery in Bellaire lost its kosher license on the eve of its 70th anniversary, because its owners were forced to remain open during the Passover holiday to pay back its Small Business Administration loans incurred after Harvey. On HoustonChronicle.com: Three Brothers Bakery loses Kosher license after 70 years Beldens, a Meyerland institution for more than a half century, closed earlier this month, in large part because of Harvey. Sales since the storm have plunged as residents have moved away and stopped shopping at the independent grocer, which carried a wide assortment of kosher food. Promised return H-E-B Meyerland Market intends to fulfill the grocers promise to return to the neighborhood and to fill the void left by Beldens closure. The 95,000-square-foot store, 4955 Beechnut, replaces a 18,000-square-foot H-E-B Pantry store off Braeswood and Chimney Rock, which opened more than 25 years ago but closed in 2017 after flooding three times in as many years. Scott McClelland, H-E-Bs president, said the company never wavered in its commitment to Meyerland. He and a team of 100 H-E-B employees went door-to-door after the Memorial Day flood of 2015, the Tax Day flood of 2016 and Harvey in 2017, giving away thousands of $25 gift cards to Meyerland residents. On HoustonChronicle.com: Beldens to close, leaving void in Houstons Jewish community Meyerland has been good to us when we didnt have the best store, McClelland said. So well stand with the Meyerland community when times are tough. The San Antonio grocer negotiated for years with Meyerland Plaza owner Fidelis Realty and anchor tenants Target and JC Penney to turn an empty parking lot into a two-story supermarket, expected to be a major traffic driver to the outdoor mall. Although Meyerland Plaza did not flood in recent storms, the H-E-B store has three natural gas-powered generators that can keep it operating indefinitely. As part of its commitment to the neighborhood, the new Meyerland H-E-B features the largest selection of kosher foods in the chain. The grocery store features seven different kosher departments serving meat, seafood, coffee and sandwiches, sushi and baked goods. A pareve bakery bakes fresh kosher bagels, scratch bread and tortillas daily. There are nearly 1,000 food products on store shelves made by kosher vendors from around the world. The Meyerland H-E-B, which is certified kosher by the Houston Kashrut Association and the Mehadrin Kashrut of Texas, is overseen by three full-time mashgiach, who ensure the laws of kashrut are upheld. The store has separate kosher meat, deli, bakery and juice-processing sections, which feature separate white-colored utensils and can only be accessed by employees trained on kosher cooking. Blue signs denoting kosher food dot the shelves around the store. We want this to be a one-stop kosher headquarters for the community, said Levy Donin, H-E-B Meyerland Markets manager in charge. International offerings Rabbi Chaim Lazaroff, a co-director of the Chabad of Uptown along with his wife Chanie, said the H-E-B Meyerland store represents major milestone for the Jewish community, which has long sought a grocery store built from the ground up with kosher food in mind. Over the years, Jews in Houston have shopped at independent kosher stores as well as major supermarket chains such as Albertsons and Randalls that offered kosher food sections. During the 1970s, when there was a lack of kosher options, Lazaroffs father, Shimon, ordered a truckload of kosher food from New York every six months to help the local Jewish community keep kosher. Lazaroff said he remembers milking cows with his father, overseen by a mashgiach, to ensure his fellow worshippers had access to kosher milk. On HoustonChronicle.com: Hanukkah comes to city where Harvey flooded 1 in 13 Jewish families Keeping kosher is not a lifestyle option for us, Lazaroff said. This store is huge for us. Maybe more people can keep kosher now. The new store will also stock a wide assortment of international foods to serve the diverse community in the southeast Houston area, including Asian, Latin American and European foods. There are Salvadoran cremas, Caribbean sauces, Israeli Bissli snacks and Brazilian Guarana soft drinks. The location has the second-largest wine section in the chain - more than 2,000 varieties spanning from a $3 Spanish Chardonnay to a $1,700 bottle of French Bordeaux, said Winell Herron, H-E-Bs group vice president of public affairs, diversity and environmental affairs. This really is a store for everyone, Herron said. paul.takahashi@chron.com twitter.com/paultakahashi BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 By Elchin Mehdiyev Trend: The appeal of Azerbaijan's Rey Monitoring Center, as well as the joint appeal of the French Opinionway Institute for Social Research and the Human Rights in XXI Century - Azerbaijan Foundation were considered at the meeting of the Central Election Commission (CEC) on Jan. 29, Trend reports. These organizations are willing to conduct exit polls in early parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan scheduled for February 9. CEC Deputy Chairman Rovzat Gasimov stressed that the "Rey" Monitoring Center conducted exit polls during the previous elections in Azerbaijan and has great experience in this sphere. This time, the Monitoring Center intends to conduct polls at the exits in 1,080 polling stations on 118 constituencies. As a result of the vote, both appeals were accepted. As scientists race to find a vaccine for the deadly Wuhan virus, the Indian government said Wednesday that ancient homeopathy and Ayurveda remedies could hold an answer. The ministry that promotes the country's booming yoga, naturopathy and homeopathy sectors released an advisory listing herbal oils to be rubbed into the scalp to purportedly ease the symptoms. It also suggested ingesting Arsenicum album-30, a homeopathic treatment. "The dose should be repeated after one month by following the same schedule in case coronavirus infections prevail," the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homoeopathy) said in a statement" The ministry also issued general advice on maintaining personal hygiene to prevent the spread of the virus. The advisory came as the Dalai Lama, in exile in Dharamsala in India, said on Facebook that followers concerned about the virus should chant a mantra that would be "helpful" in dealing with the situation. India claims to have natural remedies for everything from cancer to the common cold. The government in recent years has launched a drive to promote traditional remedies as it seeks to cash in on the multi-billion dollar global market for holistic medicine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a yoga practitioner, has said he wants the world to make Ayurveda "a way of life". Ayurvedic medicine -- which means the "science of life" in Sanskrit -- treats the physical and mental sources of illness through, for example, prescribing herbs in conjunction with yoga or massage. The ministry said that homeopathy, the treatment of diseases with alternative medicines prescribed in minute doses, is the main source of healthcare for some 10 percent of India's 1.3-billion population. The Unani system is a mix of traditional medicines from Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Persia, India, China and other Middle East countries, according to the ministry. Apart from the recommended Ayurvedic, homeopathy and Unani treatments, the ministry also advised Indians who fear they have been infected to "wear a mask and contact your nearest hospital immediately". New Delhi family physician Sanjiv Zutshi told AFP the recommended course of action for patients suspected of having the virus was for them to be tested and treated in hospital. No cases of the virus have been reported in India. Properties in some of Sydney's best suburbs have registered six-figure price drops in the past year, according to a new report. A weak start to 2019 led to median house price falls of $501,887 in Woollahra in the city's eastern suburbs and $486,000 in Cremorne on the lower north shore. The suburbs were among a handful ranked in the top 30 for liveability in Sydney to record significant drops - including trendy Paddington in the inner-east. Trendy Paddington (pictured) in Sydney's inner-east is among the most 'liveable' suburbs to record six-figure price falls in the year to December A giant price drop of $501,887 was also recorded in Woollahra (pictured) in Sydney's affluent east The affluent suburb, which is ranked 15th in terms of liveability according to Domain's Liveable Sydney Study, had a price drop in the year to December of at least $228,000. The same fall was recorded in the lower north shore's Northbridge and Mosman according to the property website's House Price Report, while the median drop in Cronulla in the city's south was $477,000. The most liveable Sydney suburbs with six-figure price drops Woollahra (ranked 12th in liveability out of 569 suburbs) $501,887 drop Cremorne (28th) $486,000 Cronulla (39th) $477,000 Paddington (15th) $228,000 Mosman (17th) $228,000 Northbridge (24th) $228,000 Sutherland (18th) $100,000 Caringbah (98th) $100,000 Gymea (64th) $119,000 Kogarah (95th) $175,188 Mortdale (91st) $166,835 Advertisement In good news for home buyers, 11 of the suburbs ranked in the top 100 for liveability sat below Sydney's median average as of the quarter leading up to December. Property market economist Trent Wiltshire said the dramatic falls in median house prices can be credited to a weak beginning to 2019. He said the period coming before Liberal's decisive election victory, easing lending restrictions and cuts in rates were all factors in the price drops. Other top 100 suburbs for liveability to record price drops were Parramatta in the city's west and Kogarah in the south. Southern Sydney median drops were also stark for apartment prices, with Warwick Farm flats falling 20.2 per cent to $94,925 and Sutherland falling $62,570. In better news for homeowners, house prices in inner-city suburbs across some of Australia's biggest cities were predicted to see by double-digit margins in 2020, in figures released earlier this month. Real estate investment experts are predicting house values in areas near the central business district will skyrocket by 12 per cent this year - in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Northbridge, Paddington and Mosman saw a drop in property prices of at least $228,000 The median drop in Cronulla in the city's south was $477,000 - a suburb ranked 39th in Sydney out of 569 in terms of liveability Median prices at St Peters, in Sydney's inner-west, were expected to surge by $140,649 from $1.172million, despite being a construction site for the WestConnex motorway. In 2019, Sydney and Melbourne were Australia's best performing housing markets, CoreLogic data showed. Since June last year, house and apartment prices in Sydney and Melbourne have been increasing every month - partially reversing the effects of the record downturn since 2017 in those cities. By Kevin Freking And Paul Wiseman Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump on Jan. 29 signed into law a major rewrite of the rules of trade with Canada and Mexico, celebrating the fulfillment of one of his top campaign promises while declining to share the moment with Democratic lawmakers whose support was essential to getting it over the finish line. Trump said renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement was probably the No. 1 reason that I decided to lead this crazy life that Im leading right now. Today, were finally ending the NAFTA nightmare, Trump said in a ceremony on the South Lawn. The event featured hundreds of business and farm leaders from around the country and scores of Republican officials. No Democratic members of Congress were on the White House guest list. Impact Trade experts say the impact of the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement will be modest. Canada and Mexico already represent the top two export markets for U.S. goods. The independent U.S. International Trade Commission last year calculated that the deal would add 0.35%, or $68 billion, to economic growth and generate 176,000 jobs over six years. Thats not much of a change for a $22 trillion economy with 152 million nonfarm jobs. Its a blip, said Syracuse University economist Mary Lovely, who studies trade. The main thing is what it isnt: It isnt a continuation of uncertainty, and it isnt a major disruption to business. The new pact, along with the signing of a phase one agreement with China, dials down trade tensions that have contributed to slowing economic growth globally. The leaders of the U.S., Canada and Mexico signed the deal in late 2018. But it still faced a long road to ratification. Legislation implementing it received overwhelming, bipartisan support in Congress after several months of behind-the-scenes negotiations between Democratic lawmakers and the Trump administration. NAFTA background NAFTA, which took effect in 1994 under President Bill Clinton, tore down trade barriers between the three North American countries and commerce between them surged. But Trump and other critics said NAFTA encouraged factories to leave the United States and relocate south of the border to take advantage of low-wage Mexican labor. Trump threatened to leave NAFTA if he couldnt get a better deal, creating uncertainty over regional trade. His trade negotiator, Robert Lighthizer, pressed for a revamped pact designed to bring factory jobs back to the United States. The new agreement, for example, requires automakers to get 75% of their production content (up from 62.5% in NAFTA) from within North America to qualify for the pacts duty-free benefits. That means more auto content would have to come from North America, not imported more cheaply from China and elsewhere. At least 40% of vehicles would also have to originate in places where workers earn at least $16 an hour. That would benefit the United States and Canada not Mexico, where auto assembly workers are paid a fraction of that amount. Lighthizer worked behind the scenes to strike an agreement that ended up being endorsed by the AFL-CIO and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Democratic victories Democrats successfully pushed to strike language allowing countries or companies to avoid sanctions simply by refusing to participate in dispute-settlement panels. They also insisted on ensuring enforcement of provisions intended to protecting workers from intimidation and violence, and they pressed for a committee that will monitor Mexicos labor reforms. The Democrats also won a significant concession from the administration on drug prices. Gone is what Democrats considered a giveaway to the pharmaceutical industry: a provision that offered expensive biologic drugs, which are made from living cells, 10 years of protection from cheaper knockoff competition. Lighthizer noted that trade agreements since NAFTA generally have passed with increasingly narrow majorities and often along party lines. He thanked Republicans and Democrats, who worked so hard on this agreement. The House voted 385-41 for the bill, with 193 Democrats among those supporting it. The margin in the Senate was 89-10. Critics include environmental groups concerned that the agreement does not address global warming. Some conservatives say the agreement will make cars and other products more expensive for consumers. Associated Press writers Andrew Taylor and Deb Riechmann contributed to this report. With four Indian airlines banning stand-up comic Kunal Kamra from flying with them for allegedly heckling journalist Arnab Goswami onboard an IndiGo plane, aviation regulator DGCA on Wednesday said the action by the carriers is in complete consonance with its regulations. While SpiceJet, Air India and GoAir have banned Kamra "till further notice", IndiGo has suspended Kamra from flying with it for six months. In a statement on Wednesday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said, "This is to reiterate that the action taken by the airlines is in complete consonance with Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section-3, Series M Part VI on Handling of unruly passengers." "Now the matter is to be referred to the internal committee as prescribed in para 6.1 of the said CAR. Further, as per para 6.4 of the CAR, the internal committee is to give the final decision in 30 days by giving the reasons in writing, which shall be binding on the airline concerned. Punishment for different type of unruly behaviour is also prescribed in the same CAR and the internal committee has to adhere to the same," it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) HHHunt SVP of Spring Arbor Senior Living Richard Williams and K4Connect CEO Scott Moody expand partnership over breakfast at the same restaurant table they did at the start of the relationship in 2017 K4Community has brought tremendous value to our senior living portfolio. Our residents and staff truly value it, and weve seen tangible operational ROI... - Richard Williams, HHHunt SVP of Spring Arbor Senior Living K4Connect, a mission-driven technology company that creates solutions that serve and empower older adults and individuals living with disabilities, announced today the further expansion of its partnership with HHHunts Spring Arbor Senior Living, operator of Spring Arbor assisted living communities across the Mid-Atlantic. Throughout 2020, HHHunts Spring Arbor Senior Living plans to expand its technology offering with new voice technologies, while adding additional communities to its K4Connect-enabled portfolio of communities. This expansion comes three years after HHHunt signed on as K4Connects very first customer to implement K4Community, the companys flagship technology solution designed for senior living, in 2017. Over the years, hundreds of residents and staff have benefitted from responsive environments enabled by smart home automation, more connected experiences through digital content and communications, and improved engagement with community activities, staff, family and fellow residents. The technology has also helped improve the organizations overall occupancy, sharpened its market differentiation and positively impacted operational costs. The addition of leading-edge voice assistant technologies will now give Spring Arbor residents and staff voice-activated control of smart home features, community content and daily activities. K4Community has brought tremendous value to our senior living portfolio. Our residents and staff truly value it, and weve seen tangible operational ROI including, as an example, a meaningful contribution to a 15 point vacancy decrease at one of our communities, said, HHHunt SVP of Spring Arbor Senior Living, Richard Williams. Were committed to continuing to leverage innovative technologies like voice to provide great experiences for our residents and staff with K4Connect, which is why were planning to extend the K4Community solution from todays 10 to 13 Spring Arbor communities, while expanding our original agreement from two years to four more years. Voice technology has proved more than a novelty for assisted living residents, including easing access and engagement for those with visual and mobility impairments, and in communities voice-enabled to date, seeing over 70 percent daily adoption rates. Spring Arbor will introduce voice through Amazons Alexa across all of its K4Community-enabled assisted living communities this year, providing voice-activated community content, automated home features and K4 Alexa Skills customized to community needs. And residents are already seeing the benefits, as one Spring Arbor of Crofton resident said, The fact that it can call the front desk is very beneficial. We firmly believe the future of senior living is in Smart Senior Living Communities, and HHHunt is a prime example of that journey. When we first worked together, voice-first technology wasnt even on senior livings radar. Now, were bringing this technology to hundreds of residents using the same extendable system we implemented three years ago, K4Community, said K4Connect CEO and co-founder F. Scott Moody. Were excited to continue our innovative partnership and for whats to come in 2020 and beyond. K4Connect is the leading provider of enterprise-grade technologies for senior living communities, currently serving more than 28,000 residents at over 120 premier continuing care, independent living, assisted living and memory care communities across the nation. The companys patented (28 US patents to-date) operating system, FusionOS, on which K4Community is built, is the first and only of its kind in senior living. To learn more about K4Connect and its solutions, visit us at http://www.k4connect.com. About HHHunt HHHunt is a diversified regional real estate development and management company with residential communities in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Maryland. HHHunt, with primary offices in Blacksburg, VA, Richmond, VA and Raleigh, NC, employs over 1700 people in the areas of community development, home building, apartment living and senior living development and management. About K4Connect K4Connect is a mission-driven technology company that creates solutions that serve and empower older adults and individuals living with disabilities, together with the people, communities and organizations that support them. K4Connects solutions integrate the latest in Smart Home, Smart Wellness and Smart Living technologies into a single easy-to-use solution designed specifically for and with those they serve. The Companys premier solution, K4Community, is currently being used by tens of thousands of senior living residents and staff across the country. For more information, please visit http://www.k4connect.com. Joe Flaherty is a man very much with the political bit between his teeth. Opinion polls or no opinion polls, Longfords Fianna Fail general election candidate is all too aware of the spoils on offer in a little over a weeks time. Arm outstretched, he shakes the hand of a passer by while out on the canvass trail in Longford town last Thursday. Its very important we get a TD elected to Longford, came the warm greeting, whilst clutching a deluge of election paraphernalia in his other hand. Its a far cry from the heady days of September 2017 when the father of three made his entrance onto the political stage after his landslide victory at Fianna Fails Longford convention. A little over two years on, the Lanesboro native is fully focused on reinstating his partys presence on the national stage and ending a near decade long barren spell without a Fianna Fail TD in Longford. Shadowed by a couple of party supporters and an entourage from The Irish Times, Flaherty soon claps eyes on a figure making his way up Killashee Street. Meet the Longford /Westmeath General Election Candidate: Joe Flaherty This is Brendan Ward, affectionately known as happy because he is always known as happy, he tells the assembled media present. In pausing to reveal how he had also acted as a judge on a past Strictly Come Dancing fundraiser, Brendan caused more than a stir when asked to give the Fianna Fail candidate his number one. Thanks for the one point you gave me, he told the Longford councillor. I didnt, I gave you ten points, replied a smiling Cllr Flaherty. Ah ha, you cheated, interjected Brendan for a second time. A short stroll down to Brigids Terrace sees the Fianna Fail group leader knock on his first batch of doors. One of those to answer was grandmother of nine, Ina Reilly. Look at you, Flaherty grins somewhat impishly. Sure you have your hair and all done. Shes waiting here for two days for the media to come. Fighting back a combination of mild embarrassment and nervous laughter, you got the impression it was an exchange which certainly won over the Wexford born woman. One hundred per cent, she said, when asked as to the importance of a Longford based TD. We need somebody to fight for us. Yes, I think he is very honest and straight and he (Flaherty) tells you how it is. Being a general election candidate and very much in the glare of the public eye is a political cross not everyone is willing to bear. You get the impression its an undertaking the Fianna Fail hopeful is very much relishing. And hes not afraid either to deal with the pressing issues of health and homelessness when the situation presents itself. WATCH| Fianna Fail leaderMicheal Martin visits Longford With the almost incessant ring tone of his mobile phone going off in his pocket, a mother of two challenges him about the need to move to a bigger house to cater for her school-going children. Pen in hand, Flaherty scribbles down a couple of key contacts for the woman to contact before telling her to call into his office should those lines of approach come up short. Moments later, the Iconic Newspapers managing director makes a bee-line for a member of staff inside a local pharmacists. Imagine, she is going to China instead of voting for me, he laughs. And if I happen to lose by one vote, shes not to feel too bad, sure shes not. Politics is a game of fine margins and one vote or 1,000 votes, none of that matters. For Cllr Flaherty the only outcome that matters is that of February 8 and the tantalising prospect of ending nine sterile years of Fianna Fail marginalisation in Longford. Read next: Micheal Carrigy determined to win a Dail seat for Longford I said youre probably sick of Davos but one last update. On Friday a major announcement affecting all of banking and finance globally seeped out under the radar. I spotted it. Did you? Here it is World Economic Forum Announces Global Consortium for Digital Currency Governance Today, the World Economic Forum announces the first global consortium focused on designing a framework for the governance of digital currencies, including stablecoins The Global Consortium for Digital Currency Governance will aim to increase access to the financial system through innovative policy solutions that are inclusive and inter-operable Opportunities for financial inclusion will be only unlocked if the space is regulated properly and includes public-private cooperation across developed and high-growth markets. Davos, Switzerland 24 January 2020 Following extensive consultation with the global community, the World Economic Forum announced today the Global Consortium for Digital Currency Governance. Digital currencies are often cited as a tool for financial inclusion, but this opportunity can be realized only when paired with good governance. This is the first initiative to bring together leading companies, financial institutions, government representatives, technical experts, academics, international organizations, NGOs and members of the Forums communities on a global level. To tackle the challenge ahead, an international, multistakeholder approach with the public and private sectors working alongside civil society is needed. This consortium will focus on solutions for a fragmented regulatory system. Efficiency, speed, inter-operability, inclusivity and transparency will be at the heart of this initiative. It will call for innovative regulatory approaches to achieve these goals and build trust. A set of guiding principles will be co-designed to support public and private actors exploring the opportunities that digital currencies present. Digital currency, a cross-cutting topic that requires input across sectors, functions, and geographies, is a key area of interest for the Forum, said Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum. Building on our long history of public-private cooperation, we hope that hosting this consortium will catalyse the conversations necessary to inform a robust framework of governance for global digital currencies. Any evaluation of digital currencies should consider both policy and business objectives, as well as the unique circumstances that face different economies around the world, in order to fully evaluate their risks and benefits, said Lesetja Kganyago, Governor of the South African Reserve Bank. Bringing together diverse perspectives through this consortium will allow for this holistic review. In order to achieve this, we need the public and private sector to collaborate. While digital currencies offer wide possibilities, these have to be assessed against the fundamental objectives of economic advancement and shared prosperity, said Patrick Ngugi Njoroge, Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya. Global governance of the diverse initiatives provides greater assurance of this outcome. Governance is the core pillar of any form of digital currency, said Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England. It is critical that any framework on digital currencies ensures security, efficiency and legitimacy of payments while ensuring fair and open competition. We welcome the World Economic Forums platform to help develop a robust governance framework for inclusion through digital currencies. We are exploring the potential that properly-regulated digital currencies hold for cheaper and faster cross-border payments, financial inclusion, and rooting out illicit finance, said Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Senior Minister, Singapore and Chairman, Monetary Authority of Singapore. This dialogue between public and private sector players is now essential, so we find the right roles for each in realizing this potential. We are watching closely as digital currencies increasingly become an area of focus around the world, said Eric Parrado, Chief Economist, Inter-American Development Bank. They may unlock new opportunities for efficiency and inclusion, but this can only happen with the appropriate infrastructure and guardrails. The release of digital currencies will have far-reaching implications, from domestic financial stability to international trade, said Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, Egypt. As such, it is imperative that efforts to regulate digital currencies are well-informed, collaborative, and global in nature. Building on our collaboration around the World Economic Forums Central Bank Digital Currency Toolkit, we are eager to continue exploring the pillars of well-informed approaches to digital currency through this consortium, said Rasheed Al Maraj, Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain. Having witnessed firsthand technology leapfrog East and West African financial markets forward over the last decade, we are excited that this initiative will bring leaders from around the world to share best practices and will work on truly global policy recommendations, said Elizabeth Rossiello, Chief Executive Officer of AZA Finance. We welcome the dialogue the World Economic Forum is facilitating about digital currencies, said David Marcus, Head of Calibra, Facebook, Libra Board Member. We agree that good regulation is important for the success and safe adoption of digital currency platforms and are looking forward to continue to engage in this constructive conversation. Digital currencies have the potential to improve access to financial markets, but proper oversight and governance are required, said Rob Heyvaert, Founder and Managing Partner of Motive Partners. The World Economic Forum is uniquely placed to bring together the private and public sectors to discuss these issues and tackle the challenges ahead. Digital currencies are a tremendous opportunity to make the financial system more accessible and fair, said Neha Narula, Director, Digital Currency Initiative, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Creating an inclusive, integrated global digital currency system requires dialogue across stakeholders ranging from finance ministers to open source developers, and the World Economic Forum is in an ideal position to facilitate this important conversation. Trust is needed in this space now more than ever, said Joseph Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of AID:Tech. Creating new economic opportunities and a paradigm shift in how technology is used can benefit all societies. What we need now is multistakeholder cooperation that is anchored in principles of social justice. Its rare that such an important global organization takes into consideration the context of developing countries in the application of Fourth Industrial Revolution technology to achieve the SDGs, said Maria Antonia Arroyo, Principal of the Ignite Impact Fund. Stablecoin is an important development that, if properly implemented and responsible to the concerns of civil society, will be effective at universal financial inclusion. New technologies, like blockchain, have helped catalyze a revolution in the mechanics of money, said Joseph Lubin, Founder of ConsenSys. We applaud the efforts by the WEF in actively researching digital currencies, including those that are blockchain-based, as a means to foster innovation but also ensure that central banks can maintain their role as stewards of the economy. The future of money is digital and central banks and the public sector have a crucial part to play in ensuring that this future is sustainable, inclusive and positive for society. For more information contact: Amanda Russo, Public Engagement, World Economic Forum +1 415 734 0589 Amanda.Russo@weforum.org; Aylin Elci, Public Engagement, World Economic Forum, +41 22 869 3621 Aylin.Elci@weforum.org Posted on: January 29, 2020 One storm with rain and snow will sideswipe the coastal Northeast on Saturday, and even though a blockbuster event is not anticipated, slippery conditions will still develop in some areas as a second storm sweeps in from the west. AccuWeather meteorologists believe a storm from the Gulf of Mexico no longer poses a threat for heavy snow for most of the northeastern United States. There are some key definitive factors that are likely to eliminate the chance of a big snowfall in the Northeast. The snow drought is expected to continue in the mid-Atlantic region, and the pair of storms this weekend is not likely to bring much in the way of snow to southern New England and the central Appalachians. Temperatures will be near or above freezing in most areas that would have the best chance of snow on the western fringe of the storm in the mid-Atlantic and in southern New England. In order for a big snowstorm in the Northeast to materialize, cold air must hold its ground to allow the storm system to crank out snow instead of rain or a mix of rain and snow. However, an area of high pressure sliding eastward from Quebec looks poised win out this weekend. In the case of the weekend storm, the air is not that cold to begin with and it appears as though it will retreat. As the Gulf of Mexico storm begins to shift northeastward late this week, rain will first gather in the Southern states on Friday. The rain can be heavy enough to slow motorists down in the South. During Friday night to Saturday morning, rain will then roll northeastward and extend to the lower part of the mid-Atlantic region. For a time during Friday night and Saturday, it is still possible that precipitation will reach far enough to the northwest to allow a little rain and wet snow mix or wet snow that would generally melt on roads and sidewalks in the swath from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston. Only if the storm were to strengthen quickly and jog a bit more to the west might the upper mid-Atlantic coast and southeastern New England receive a period of accumulating wet snow. Currently, that scenario looks unlikely. Story continues A pocket of dry air that develops west of the storm is expected to prevent accumulating snow in much of the region from the Southern storm. At nearly the same time, a second storm is forecast to rotate southeastward from the Great Lakes region spanning Saturday to early Sunday. It is this storm that will help to kick the coastal storm out to sea and prevent a heavy amount of snow along the majority of Atlantic Seaboard. CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP In lieu of a big East Coast snowstorm, snow associated with this second storm from the Upper Midwest will still bring some issues. Once again, marginal temperatures will be a factor in limiting the amount of snow that accumulates, especially on paved surfaces during the midday and afternoon hours. This second storm, although weak, has the potential to bring up to a few inches of snow on grassy and elevated surfaces from the central Great Lakes to the central Appalachians. However, a coating to an inch or two of snow is more likely. Where the snow falls at night to the start of the day Sunday, mainly over the central Appalachians, roads can become snow-covered. There is a good chance that snow will be falling or will have just finished on Sunday morning when Punxsutawney Phil is pulled from his den to make his famed prognostication for the rest of the winter. A period of snow, perhaps mixed with rain, can extend all the way to the mid-Atlantic coast late Saturday night to Sunday morning. People venturing out in the Interstate-95 mid-Atlantic corridor may have to sweep some snow off their vehicles and watch for slippery spots on their travels first thing Sunday morning before sunshine returns. The second storm from the Midwest is likely to miss New England. The takeaway for the weekend outlook is that rather than one big blockbuster storm, pieces of storms will be scattered about the region with some wintry impacts on travel here and there. Rather than one storm hitting a home run in terms of snowfall, two storms will take swings and hit foul balls. By the way, MLB pitchers and catchers report for spring workouts spanning Feb. 10-14, and a warmup is forecast to follow the weekend storms during early next week. However, it is too early to write off winter and big snowstorms just yet -- AccuWeather has the scoop on Punxsutawney Phil in this early spring preview. Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios. More than three-quarters of people bank with only one provider, leaving them particularly vulnerable to being financially cut off during an IT meltdown, Which? said (PA) More than three quarters of people bank with only one provider leaving them particularly vulnerable to being financially cut off during an IT meltdown, according to Which? Some 77% either have just one current account or more than one current account, but all with the same provider, the consumer group found. And three in 10 (29%) never or rarely carry cash potentially leaving them at risk of finding themselves stuck if their account provider suffers online and mobile banking hitches. We found that the vast majority of people only have one payment option, leaving them especially vulnerable to being shut out of payments by IT outages that hit bank customers almost every day.Jenny Ross, Which? More than two thirds (68%) have just one bank card (debit or credit), or multiple cards with the same payment scheme, the survey of 1,500 people across Britain found. This means a scheme failure, such as Visas large-scale June 2018 crash, could potentially leave them unable to make card payments, Which? said. It added that Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) data shows that in the past year, the main UK banks suffered 265 IT shutdowns that prevented customers making payments up from 228 the year before. Which? said banks and card schemes must prioritise working towards more reliable services, while providing greater support to the many people who need additional help if they are to adapt to new banking systems and payment methods. It also said cash should be protected by law for as long as it is needed with this payment method also acting as a crucial backup while IT systems go down. Jenny Ross, Which? money editor, said: We found that the vast majority of people only have one payment option, leaving them especially vulnerable to being shut out of payments by IT outages that hit bank customers almost every day. If the industry wants to encourage people online then banks must demonstrate that their systems are up to scratch by drastically reducing the number of outages that customers endure. Its clear the Government should introduce legislation to protect cash not just for all those reliant on this payment method but as a vital backup when digital systems fail. The Chinese collusion monster rears its ugly head again. Shenzhen OEM Huawei is guilty once more of collusion with Chinese intelligence in the latest German report. Huawei accused of Chinese intelligence collusion in German report The German daily business newspaper, The Handelsblatt, alleges that Huawei colludes with the Chinese government. The German report says it obtained this knowledge through US intelligence officials at the end of 2019. The former Android OEM denies the German report. Huawei Technologies has never, and will never, do anything to compromise the security of networks and data of its customers, the company said in response. Advertisement Huawei and Chinese Collusion: the reasonable nature of the German report This isnt the first time Huawei is linked to Chinese collusion. The company itself is a tool of the Chinese state, with Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei owning a mere 2% of the company. Various employees own the remainder of the company. Huawei says that its business is employee-owned. And yet, Huawei government officials appear whenever the company sells one of its digital safe cities to a client, such as Uganda. The companys name is Chinese for the advancement of China.A Many of Huaweis employees are ex-military, from CEO Ren Zhengfei on down. Zhengfei worked in telecommunications while serving in the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in China. Of course, the PLA works hand-in-hand with Chinese intelligence. This is no different than the US Army working with the Federal Government. When Huawei employees submit technological research papers, they place the Huawei logo on such papers as some kind of authentication. Advertisement Huaweis infamous track record with rogue countries It wasA discovered months ago that Huawei has worked with Chinese intelligence on at least ten projects. Additionally, the company has also built 5G networks for rogue countries such as North Korea, Sudan, and Syria. Britain is allowing Huawei access to the peripheral 35% of its 5G network. The EU agrees with Britains decision about Huawei. For some time now, the US has been warning its allies not to do business with Huawei. Germany has been on the fence, but this just may tip the scales in the USs favor. Huawei has telecommunications knowledge and skill. The company belongs to employees. Beijing officials attend Huawei functions and events. Its employees come from military backgrounds. They write technological research papers for the military using the Huawei logo. Huawei says that it is doing nothing wrong, but it is the suspicion that matters. Huaweis past actions reveal that the company can work with the Chinese government, whether such partnership is mandatory or voluntary. And the companys secrecy about who owns it only adds to the suspicion. Advertisement Illegal smuggling, criminal partnerships, and government subsidies: it all adds up Huawei reveals through its partnerships with sanctioned countries, and its law-breaking activities such as phone smuggling into the US despite the ban, that it will not play by the rules. A company that will not play by the rules will break them, regardless of customer impact. The company says it will not put its customers at risk, but if the loss of Chinese government subsidies is at stake, it will. Of course, its not surprising that Huawei denies receiving government money, too. YEREVAN, JANUARY 29, ARMENPRESS. There are no laboratory tests yet for diagnosing new type of coronavirus in Armenia and the region in general. However, if any suspected case is detected, Armenia will send samples to the partnering laboratories of Europe, head of Department of Epidemiology of Special Dangerous and Airborne diseases at the Healthcare Ministry Liana Torosyan said during todays press conference, adding that there hasnt been such a necessity yet. Armenia is not considered a risky country in this respect. But we have the whole laboratory capacities to diagnose the atypical pneumonia due to a novel coronavirus and the Middle East respiratory syndrome also conditioned by coronavirus. As for the new coronavirus, this is not available for some countries yet. If a case is detected, we can send the sample to the limited number of laboratories in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), which have the opportunity to diagnose it, she said, adding that there are three such laboratories in the European region where the sample can be tested. She added that a targeted examination is needed. Liana Torosyan said the new coronavirus doesnt have any extraordinary symptom, mainly the existence of pneumonia hints the specialists about the possibility of coronavirus. Torosyan said Armenias healthcare ministry is closely cooperating with a number of structures and is holding discussions on the topic. Based on the results of the discussions held with the Food Safety Inspectorate a decision was made to ban the import of goods from China to Armenia starting from January 26. The foreign ministry together with the tourism committee has developed a memo which suggests the citizens of Armenia to avoid organizing tourism visits from China to Armenia for the upcoming two months. The specialists of the healthcare ministry visited the border checkpoints of Armenia to provide professional support to the representatives of the Healthcare and Labor Inspectorate. According to the latest data published by the World Health Organization, number of people infected with new coronavirus reached 4357, and the number of those killed is 106. But according to the information of the Chinese healthcare authorities, nearly 5997 cases were detected, and the death toll reached 132. Cases were also detected in 15 other countries. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan Medical staff in protective outfits wait at the entrance of a clinic for fever patients and patients from Wuhan (Chinatopix via AP) Britons returning from coronavirus-hit Wuhan in China will be put in quarantine for 14 days. Officials are looking at taking passengers to a military base once they arrive home, the Department of Health said. A flight is due to leave Wuhan in China on Thursday. It will carry passengers from Wuhan city and those from Hubei province who want to return to the UK. Health Secretary Matt Hancock will also chair a meeting of the Governments Cobra emergency committee on Wednesday, Downing Street said. We are working hard to get British nationals back from Wuhan. Public safety is the top priority. Anyone who returns from Wuhan will be safely isolated for 14 days, with all neccessary medical attention. Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) January 29, 2020 Downing Street said the Britons returning from Wuhan had agreed to be placed in assisted isolation. A source said: We are expecting about 200 British nationals to be on board, there is capacity on the flight for everybody. On arrival passengers will be safely isolated for two weeks with all necessary medical attention. Number 10 refused to confirm where the Britons would be taken following the civilian charter flight to airlift them from the region. Mr Hancock tweeted: We are working hard to get British nationals back from Wuhan. Public safety is the top priority. Anyone who returns from Wuhan will be safely isolated for 14 days, with all necessary medical attention. Expand Close A information board in the departures area of Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport with a cancelled flight from Shanghai showing (Steve Parsons/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A information board in the departures area of Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport with a cancelled flight from Shanghai showing (Steve Parsons/PA) The move comes after Britons returning to the UK expressed fury after being told they must self-isolate while also making their own way home from the airport. Previous advice from Public Health England (PHE) was for those returning to stay at home for 14 days. But Britons due to board the flight back from Wuhan said they had been told by authorities to make their own way through the city to Wuhan airport, and once they land on British soil they are expected to make their own way home, potentially coming into contact with hundreds of people on the way. Experts in China have said there is evidence that people could transmit the virus without showing any symptoms, although UK experts think the risk is low. I wont leave without my wife, so essentially the Government are leaving three British people here for the sake of one seat on a planeNick House, a Briton living in Wuhan Kharn Lambert, whose grandmother Veronica Theobald, 81, from Lancaster, is booked on a flight leaving Wuhan on Thursday, told the PA news agency: We are not sure what time the flight will leave yet. She got a seat almost straight away because of her condition. She is relieved, so am I, but shes frustrated with the restrictions being put in place. She can only take 15kg of hand luggage and she came here with about 30kg of stuff. The family has not been given exact timings for the flight or details of which London airport Mrs Theobold will arrive at. Mr Lambert has decided not to return, and will stay in Wuhan, but said his grandmother had been told previously she would have to get from London to Lancaster on her own. Nick House, a British national living in Wuhan with his Indonesian wife and two British children, told Sky News: We would like to be out of here. The man on the other end of the phone said, Yes, you are on the list, but unfortunately your wife probably wont be able to get on the plane because she doesnt have a visa at the moment. I wont leave without my wife, so essentially the Government are leaving three British people here for the sake of one seat on a plane. World Athletics to postpone World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 2020 to March 2021. : https://t.co/0ihe7yGj4m pic.twitter.com/IjqrCR6bSY World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) January 29, 2020 The World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, have been postponed until March 2021 due to the outbreak, World Athletics announced on Wednesday. It said that while China was doing all it can to contain the new coronavirus, its medical team had advised that no-one should be going ahead with any major gathering that can be postponed. The Foreign Office updated its advice on Tuesday to warn against all but essential travel to mainland China, saying it may become more difficult for British nationals in other provinces to leave. On Wednesday, British Airways announced it was suspending all flights to and from mainland China with immediate effect. The airline, which operates daily flights to Shanghai and Beijing from Heathrow, said: We apologise to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority. Customers due to travel to or from China in the coming days can find more information on ba.com. Virgin Atlantic said its flights between Heathrow and Shanghai will continue to operate as scheduled, although passengers are able to re-book or obtain a refund free of charge. Chinese airlines which serve UK airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester including Air China, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines and Tianjin Airlines all appear to be operating flights as normal. Lecturer Yvonne Griffiths, who is in a hotel in Wuhan, said she received news in the early hours of Wednesday morning that there was to be a flight from Wuhan to the UK. She told BBC Breakfast that Stansted is a possible destination but that has not been confirmed, and timings had not been been firmed up either. Weve to be on stand-by so that we can go to the airport very early, she said. Weve to be there six to seven hours before the flight leaves, and we would have a screening from some health people here in Wuhan, and if we are not showing any symptoms then well be able to board that plane. It has been frustrating up until today. I think the lack of certainty about the time of this flight isnt so worrying as long as we know that its going to happen. Prior to that, we had quite a long period of silence from the UK Government about whether there was going to be any contingency plan to get people home. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) The death toll in China from coronavirus has risen to 132, with confirmed infections surging to nearly 6,000. Four cases have been confirmed in Germany, making it the second European country to report cases after France. In Australia, officials unveiled plans to evacuate its nationals from Wuhan and Hubei province, with plans to quarantine them in the Christmas Island immigration detention centre. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the latest indications are that one in five cases of coronavirus are leading to severe disease, such as pneumonia, or were causing death. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) The Department of Health and Social Care said on Wednesday that 130 people in the UK had been given the all-clear for the virus, although scientists predict it may have already entered the country. Following the latest Foreign Office travel advice, consumer group Which? said people with trips to China planned should be covered for cancellations by their travel insurance. More often than not, the Trump Administrations reaction to intellectual scrutiny is to attack the messenger, then dive behind a rhetorical wall built with artifice and bluster. It is a practice often used by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who last week responded to probing and pertinent questions from an NPR journalist with a juvenile freak-out that exposed his own deceit and cowardice, and then by banning another NPR journalist from his plane for his upcoming trip to Europe. That is standard Trump media policy: Ask a question that challenges them on an issue in this case, a Ukraine policy that is the diplomatic equivalent to a runaway oxcart and face retaliation. This is what authoritarians do. We have a president who encourages his followers to ignore facts and distrust the media, which allows them to lie without consequences. Its time to get back to where this isnt the norm. Pompeos burlesque act occurred Friday, just as he tried to portray his department as a happy and efficient machine: The nonpareil Mary Louise Kelly of NPR mentioned career officials who had resigned because of mismanagement and lack of support, and when the Secretary rejected these as allegations as anonymous, she reminded him that they were made under oath by a senior officer, Michael McKinley. Then she asked Pompeo whether he owed an apology to former Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch for her ouster, and for his refusal to defend her for the crime of being an anti-corruption zealot and getting in the way of Rudy Giulianis shadow foreign policy. The remarkable part is that Kellys interview management was flawless. She pre-approved the subject through emails with Pompeos aide, and asked calm, fair, informed questions to which Americans deserve answers. And her subtext of Pompeos fairytales on the fly were done respectfully, giving him multiple opportunities to walk back his lies, which he would not do. Instead, he chose to do what Trump acolytes do: dodge, bully, and lie some more. He ended the interview, and then summoned Kelly into another room and profanely berated her. He also tried to belittle her by demanding that she point to the location of Ukraine on an unmarked map. That bombed: Kelly is a Harvard and Cambridge-educated scholar in European studies and spent much of her life living abroad. Thoroughly humiliated, Pompeo also fired off a torrent of F-bombs and shrieked, Do you think Americans care about Ukraine? Here is our full interview with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. It's worth a listen. https://t.co/3BQh3Q7lWV Mary Louise Kelly (@NPRKelly) January 24, 2020 Two days later, he had NPRs Michele Kelemen dropped from the press travel list. Just to recap: The countrys top diplomat the individual who is supposed to be a symbol for democratic values throughout the globe decided that press freedom is optional when he cant handle the truth. The irony is not lost on Sen. Bob Menendez, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: Punishing a credible U.S. news outlet by kicking their reporter off of the Secretarys plane is something we would expect from an authoritarian dictator, Menendez said yesterday. Instead of sending a message to the rest of the world that the U.S. remains committed to fundamental democratic freedoms, it is completely unacceptable for the chief diplomat of the United States to imitate President Trumps penchant for treating the press like the enemy. For the record, Pompeos harangue pleased his boss. Aside from occasional disagreements about Russia and various dictators, the secretary is a loyal soldier. That loyalty extends to zero tolerance of critical coverage, and granting most of the access to cable networks staffed by well-coiffed bootlicks who traffic in propaganda and boosterism. One of the last things John McCain wrote was how Trumps effort to undermine the press is being closely watched by foreign leaders who use his words as cover as they silence and shutter one of the key pillars of democracy. Yes, this is what authoritarians do. And its now commonplace here. This is not something we should ever grow accustomed to. - Harekala Hajabba, a fruit seller, has received one of the biggest prizes in India for helping children get an education - With his very meagre savings from hawking fruits, he was able to set up a school for 28 kids in his village in 2000 - Hajabba saw the need for good education during an encounter that left him in want of how to communicate in the English language Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in An Indian orange seller, Harekala Hajabba, has been rewarded by the government for his effort in helping to educate children in his village. According to New18, he was given an honorary Padma Shri Award, an honour that is thought of as one of the biggest in the country. An interesting thing worthy of note is that the fruit seller who comes from a village called Newpadapu around Mangalore has no formal education at all. The news was first shared by a Twitter user who goes by the name Parveen Kaswan. He said the news about the award reached the fruit seller when he was standing ''in a line on a rotation shop when authorities informed''. READ ALSO: Beautiful traditional wedding photos drop as Ghanaian couple marry in grand style Having suffered due to his inability to communicate in the English language, he took it on himself to help children in his village learn the language. His village was only able to get a school in 2000 after he had scraped together his savings to build one. With an income of around GHC12 daily, Hajabba did not have much help. His determination to ensure education, however, helped him to set up a school with 28 students. Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh earlier reported that a Nigerian lady on Twitter who goes by the name Amarachi Osuji narrated a moving story of how she dumped medicine for engineering. Making the academic change did not come easily as she dithered for three years before she gathered the strength for the pivotal step. The need to switch to engineering started after her first semester in Hungary. She pushed on for five semesters. By that time, the scholarship she was on was dealt a blow by government negligence. After bouts with depression of what-comes-after, she called home and told them about wanting to leave medicine. Her family did not take it lightly as she got many calls from them trying to dissuade her. In other stories, YEN.com.gh reported that having successfully attained a significant milestone in his life, a young Ghanaian man in an interracial relationship shared cute moments with his ''Chinese queen'' during his graduation ceremony. Justin Amoafo with Twitter name, @justinamoafo, shared adorable photos of himself with his Chinese girlfriend styled in the finest Ghanaian Kente. The proud young man who appears to be caught up in a loved-up romance with his girlfriend posted photos showing him in his graduation gown while he hugging his girlfriend in one of the images. READ ALSO: Proud son takes graduation photo & certificate to his mum after she missed the ceremony 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! Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page. Source: YEN.com.gh Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, who are the most admired people in America? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices The demand by BJP candidates for Union minister Anurag Thakur to campaign in their constituencies has increased, leaders in the party said on Wednesday, even though the Election Commission has ordered to remove him from the party's star campaigners list. The leaders said Thakur is slated to campaign in more than a dozen constituencies over the next few days. Earlier in the day, the poll panel issued a show cause notice to Thakur and his party colleague Parvesh Verma for their controversial remarks during recent election rallies. Thakur and Verma can still canvass for their party but the candidates will have to bear the campaign expenditures. A political party bears the expenses of canvassing by star campaigners. But the candidate has to show expenses of organising meetings and rallies by other campaigners in his/her election expenditure accounts. While political parties have no limit on the amount they can spend for electioneering, candidates can spend a maximum of Rs 28 lakh for campaigning in Delhi assembly polls. "The election commission's notice has hardly done any dent to Anurag's popularity among BJP workers and candidates. On the contrary, his demand for campaigning in assembly elections in the national capital has increased," a source in the party said. Thakur (45), who served three consecutive terms as BJP's youth wing president, enjoys good rapport with several candidates and party workers in the national capital, which works in his favour, the sources said. "Demand for campaigning by him has been received from many constituencies," a party leader said, adding that he is slated to campaign in over dozen constituencies over next few days. Thakur, who is the Union Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs, has his hands full during election season. Alongside discharging his duties as a minister during the busy Budget preparation exercise, he has also been holding midnight meetings with BJP cadres. Thakur, known for his gentle tone, has been very aggressive in his campaign rallies under the directions of the top party leadership. He has been raking up the Shaheen Bagh issue in his speeches. He was recently also in the for cementing the BJP's ties with his neighbour and JJP founder Dushyant Chautala in Haryana. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The defense minister invited me as a colleague, and I went to participate. This is what former defense minister of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan told reporters at the National Assembly today, touching upon his participation in the events dedicated to the 28th anniversary of Armenian Army Day in Vardenis yesterday. When asked about his relations with the incumbent authorities, Seyran Ohanyan said Armenians should have normal relations with each other and that he is collaborating with the authorities within the scope of the committee for probe into the circumstances behind the Four-Day Artsakh War of April 2016. When told that Armenians shot at each other on March 1, 2008, he said the trial over the events of March 1, 2008 would give the answers to all the questions. Trips to museums are part of many childrens education in the United States. The American Alliance of Museums says museums receive about 55 million visits each year from students in school groups. Many U.S. school systems are most concerned about students performing well on required math and science tests. Because of this, administrators and teachers might not see the value of art-related museum field trips. This is where Jay Greene comes in. He is a professor of education policy at the University of Arkansas. He and his research team are studying how attending cultural events help a students education. The National Endowment for the Arts supports part of their research. Greene told VOA that his team wanted to learn how a single trip to an art museum affects a student. For this study, he and his team looked at 11,000 students. ...And we found that students who visited an art museum were more tolerant, more empathetic, and also learned a lot of content about the art they saw and developed stronger critical thinking skills about art. Greene explained that after one visit to the art museum, students averaged an eight percentile improvement on tolerance and empathy. He calls that a moderate effect, but impressive, considering that it was after just one visit to the art museum. Marissa Reyes is with Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. The museum has been involved with Greenes studies. Since 2012, the museum has had nearly 300,000 students come to visit. It also sends teaching artists to local classrooms. Reyes said she agrees with Greenes findings on the effects of museum trips. She added that the greatest effect appears to be for students in rural areas, minority students and those who attend high-poverty schools. Greenes researchers also examined how going to a live theater performance can affect students. This study involved a small number of subjects about 1,500 students from 40 schools. The students were also older. They all lived in northwest Arkansas. Green said his team found that students who saw a live performance experienced improvement in tolerance and empathy. A different group of students watched a movie version of the same play. Greene said they did not experience the same results as those who went to the live theater. The students who saw the live performance learned the story and related vocabulary better than those who watched the movie version, he said. So we think that there's something special about in-person cultural experiences that are different than simply digital experiences of those of those same stories. Greenes team is now carrying out longer-term studies, in which they are following students over many years. He has already seen some promising results among students who have been visiting the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Our most surprising result is that we saw improvements in math and reading test score performance for students in Atlanta after they went on multiple enriching field trips. We think that again that has to do with improving their motivation. Greene says that the fact they did well on the tests suggests that motivation is a very important part of success in school. This is true for students of all ages. Students behavior in school also improved. Greene thinks part of that may be because they were doing something fun in school. Because if the school doesn't do it for kids from more disadvantaged backgrounds, then it's possible these kids won't get much exposure to the arts at all. And that, he says, may hurt their future. Combining the arts and STEM fields Some museums, like Crystal Bridges Museum in Arkansas, are looking for ways to offer new programs for schools. Marissa Reyes said that, in addition to their usual arts field trips, the museum also offers STEM-based tours. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathareas of great concern to many schools. Reyes explained that these tours look at connections between art and science, art and math, and art and architecture. She said, these experiences complement learning goals in both the arts and the STEM categories." Im Anne Ball. Anne Ball wrote this story. Ashley Thompson was the editor. What do you think of this story? Do you like to go to the art museums in your city? Write to us in the comments section below. Quiz - Do Field Trips Help Students with Learning? Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story museum n. a building in which interesting and valuable things (such as paintings and sculptures or scientific or historical objects) are collected and shown to the public tolerant adj. willing to accept feelings, habits, or beliefs that are different from your own empathetic adj. showing an ability to understand and share feelings of another percentile n. one of 100 equal parts that a group of people can be divided into in order to rank them digital adj. using or characterized by computer technology multiple adj. more than one enriching v. to improve the quality of something or to make something better motivation n. the act or process of giving someone a reason for doing something-- the act or process of motivating someone exposure n. the fact or condition of being affected by something or experiencing something architecture n. the art or science of designing and creating buildings categories n. plural a group of people or things that are similar in some way Salman Khan being moody is not something new, but the actor recently took it a notch higher by snatching a fans phone at the Goa airport, for allegedly trying to click a selfie with his favourite star. Even in his worst nightmares, the fan would have never imagined Salman doing something like this. Well, the video of an irate Salman snatching the phone has been trending on social media and has now gone viral. Interestingly, this has left people divided. While some are contemplating if the star was within his rights to do so as his privacy was invaded, some slammed the actor for his rudeness towards the fan. Some social media users expressed that celebrities are also human beings and are entitled to their privacy, and further suggested that the fan should have asked Khan for the selfie rather than just trying to take a picture without his permission. Instagram/Manav Manglani Instagram/Manav Manglani Instagram/Manav Manglani Instagram/Manav Manglani After the video went viral, Salman received flak from the students' wing of Congress, National Students' Union of India (NSUI). NSUI has urged Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to ban Khan from entering Goa if he does not apologise publicly. "I request your kind authority to look into this matter with utter seriousness and demand an apology from the actor on public platform since it was a disgrace to the fan publicly, failing which such violent actors with a bad track record should not be allowed to visit Goa in the future," Goa NSUI President Ahraz Mulla said in a letter to Chief Minister Sawant. The Goa BJP has also condemned Khans behaviour. "Being a celebrity, people and your fans will take selfies in public places. Your attitude and behaviour are most deplorable. You have to tender an unconditional public apology @BeingSalmanKhan," Sawaikar tweeted. What do you to have to say about his behaviour? President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday urged Nigerias neighbouring countries to exercise some patience and bear with country over the closure of her land borders. Buhari who was responding to the pleas by the Ghanaian President, Mr. Nana Akufo-Addo, that Nigerian borders should be reopened, told his Ghanaian counterpart that the closure goes beyond issues of food smugling. Addo had told Buhari that the closure was having a negative economic effect on neighbouring countries, particularly Ghana. A cording to a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the Ghanian President met with Buhari in London where the border issues was discussed. Adesina said Buhari had explained that the border was not closed just because of smuggling of food items but mainly to fight against influx of hard drugs, arms and ammunition into Nigeria. Buhari explained that he was only trying to save Nigerian youths from the use of hard drugs as well as security measures. He said that most of the vehicles coming with rice and other food items have always been discovered to be carrying cheap hard drugs and small arms. He disclosed that it had been discovered that the Sahel region was saturated with small arms, a development he described as a major security challenge to Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria. According to him, Nigeria remains the biggest victims of these arms movement. He said he will only reopen the borders when the Committee set up on the matter submits its final report leading to a decision taken on it. He said, We will get things sorted out. Our farmers, especially those who grow rice, now have a market and are happy and we are also concerned about hard drugs and weapons. Once the committee comes up with its recommendations, we will sit and consider them. The two leaders are attending the UK-Africa Investment Summit 2020 in the United Kingdom. Today, 29 January 2020, marks the first day of school after the Chinese New Year break in Singapore. Despite growing fears amid the rise of Wuhan Virus cases here, the Ministry of Education (MOE), following consultation from medical experts said delaying schools reopening is not necessary. Photo: iStock Decision To Delay In Reopening of Schools Unnecessary: School Reopens After CNY Break Despite Hong Kongs implementation of delaying of schools reopening, experts here have concluded that it is not necessary to do so in Singapore. Reason being at present, there is no evidence of community spread of the virus in Singapore, media reports said. Besides, it is unlike in Hong Kong where it is of proximity to mainland China and closer to the epicentre of the Wuhan virus outbreak, according to the ministry in a frequently asked questions (FAQ) post on its website on Wednesday. The ministry had also assessed that there is a manageable number of Singapore students and staff returning from China recently, and cannot be compared with those returning from China to Hong Kong. The MOE had stepped up on precautions whereby staff and students have to adhere to a 14-day leave of absence from schools after their return from China. 14-day Leave of Absence: More Targeted Move 800 students are expected to be affected by the move, and to engage in home-based learning instead. According to MOE, this move is more targeted, while allowing schools to open and life to carry on as normally as possible, which is an important aspect to safeguard in an emergency situation. Photo: iStock It does not seek to restrict students and staff on leave of absence to be isolated all the time by staying home. MOEs intention is to urge individuals to be socially responsible and comply with it to prevent possible transmission of infections. Story continues The move applies to those in MOE kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, special education schools, as well as junior colleges and polytechnics. It includes Millennia Institute and the Institute of Technical Education, according to MOE. Those who have close contact with people on leave of absence should closely monitor their health and adopt good hygiene practices. Those who feel unwell should seek medical assistance. School reopens after cny break: It is important to maintain proper hygiene during this crucial period. | Photo: iStock Get daily updates about our top stories when you follow us on Telegram at https://t.me/theAsianparentSG. Also READ: MOE Steps Up On Wuhan Virus Precaution In Every Singapore School The post Wuhan Virus: Experts Say Delay In Schools Reopening After CNY Break Unnecessary appeared first on theAsianparent - Your Guide to Pregnancy, Baby & Raising Kids. China postpones school semester amid novel coronavirus outbreak People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 11:10, January 28, 2020 BEIJING, Jan. 28 -- China's Ministry of Education (MOE) announced that the 2020 spring semester for schools will be postponed due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. The MOE did not give the exact opening dates of the new semester for colleges and universities under the ministry but indicated that the decisions should be made depending on their localities, according to a circular released by the ministry late Monday. The MOE suggested that colleges and universities under the central government's other ministries or departments also postpone school semester accordingly. The new semester opening dates for universities and colleges under local authorities' administration, middle and primary schools, as well as kindergartens, should be decided by local education authorities. The ministry warned that students who had left campuses for the Spring Festival holiday should not return without approval before the new semester. All schools should guide students to stay at home, avoid gatherings and mass activities during the winter break, the ministry said, asking schools to keep those students who stay on campus away from infections. The ministry also urged schools to draw up epidemic prevention and control plans and overhaul campuses to prepare for the new semester. In China, most schools have two breaks in a year. The winter break, roughly one month, usually comes around the time of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, allowing students to return home for this most important festival for the Chinese. To control the novel coronavirus outbreak, the Chinese government had extended the seven-day Spring Festival holiday, scheduled to end on Jan. 30, to Feb. 2. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Oil slipped back to near a three-month low, ending a brief surge when Yemens Houthi rebels said they attacked an oil facility in Saudi Arabia. Prices had jumped above $54 U.S. a barrel in New York after the rebels said they launched missiles and drones at Saudi Aramcos Jazan plant in the kingdoms south. Airports in the region and the Khamis Mushait base were also targeted, Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said on television. The rally soon subsided amid skepticism about the claim. Aramco didnt immediately respond to questions about the report. In June, the Houthis announced a missile strike on a power plant in Jazan, but Aramco subsequently said its facilities were fully operational. Futures remained about 14 cents up for the day, mostly supported by U.S. industry data showing a drop in crude inventories and a broader rebound in commodities and equities as traders assessed the impact of Chinas coronavirus outbreak. Jazan is the site of a 400,000 barrel-a-day Aramco refinery but the city, near the border with Yemen, isnt home to crude oil production facilities or major export terminals. The refinery and petrochemical complex there isnt yet operating at its full capacity, but is expected to do so in the second half of 2020, Aramco said at the time of its initial public offering last year. West Texas Intermediate for March delivery was at $53.66 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange as of 9:11 a.m. local time. The contract settled 0.6 per cent higher on Tuesday. Brent for March settlement advanced 41 cents to $59.92 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. With assistance from James Thornhill. Read more about: Hundreds of farmers will descend on London in March urging the government to back British farming as post-Brexit trade negotiations are set to commence. Farmers across the country will gather in the capital to join the NFU in a rallying call to the government. The aim of the rally is to underline how any future UK trade policy should not allow imports of food produced to standards that would be illegal in the UK. It will bring together farmers, consumer representatives and experts in animal welfare and the environment, in a show of unity backing the future of British farming. The mass rally seeks to underline the role farmers play in supplying the nation with safe, traceable and affordable food and protecting the countryside. Those in attendance are in agreement that British farmings high standards must be safeguarded in future trade deals. The event will take place on March 25 at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster, London. NFU President Minette Batters said this year is 'absolutely pivotal' for the future of British farming and food production. Nothing will determine this more than how the government shapes trade deals with the EU and other countries around the world. This event is about bringing together people from across British business who acknowledge and value the importance of food and farming, she said. They are crystal clear that the government must hold the line that they will uphold British farmings high standards in trade deals, and crucially they must hold imports entering the country to that same standard. Failure to do so risks undermining British food production and our own domestic farming industry. It comes as over sixty industry groups, including the NFU, RSPCA and Soil Association, recently urged the prime minister for UK food standards to be protected after Brexit. The joint letter was sent on Monday (27 January) to coincide with the the passing of Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which has now had Royal Assent. The death toll in China from the recent coronavirus outbreak has climbed to 132, as confirmed cases globally have risen to more than 6,000, health officials said Wednesday. Deaths due to the virus jumped from 106 on Tuesday and the number of overall patients with the illness increased from 4,593 to 6065, a World Health Organization spokesperson wrote in an email to MassLive. Five patients in the U.S. have tested positive for the 2019-nCoV strain of the coronavirus since Jan. 21. More than 100 additional patients from 26 states are being monitored, 32 of whom tested negative for the illness. Seventy-three people are awaiting results, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions website. The confirmed cases were reported in Arizona, California, Illinois and Washington state. WHO has been working with Chinese authorities and global experts from the day we were informed, to learn more about the virus, how it affects the people who are sick with it, how they can be treated, and what countries can do to respond, the organization said in a statement. Patients with the illness were reported in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Thailand, the Republic of Korea, Vietnam and other Asian countries. More cases are likely to be identified in the coming days, the CDC said. Boston Logan International Airport joined a number of U.S. airports Tuesday in screening passengers for the coronavirus. The CDC will begin enhanced public health screenings for the virus at all 20 ports of entry it oversees, according to the CDC. The outbreak started in Wuhan, China, with many early patients reporting links to a large seafood and animal market. While the illness may have initially spread from animals to people, a growing number of recent patients have not had exposure to animal markets, indicating that a person-to-person spread is occurring, the CDC said. A warning was issued by the CDC on Tuesday against all nonessential travel to China. Chinese officials have also closed transport near Wuhan and other cities in the Hubei province. Two people in New Hampshire are being tested for the coronavirus, though the risk of infection in New England is very low" due to the regions distance from airports that receive flights from near the Hubei Province of China, where the outbreak started, said Sarah Haessler, an epidemiologist at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. The coronavirus can cause coughing, difficulty breathing and feverish conditions. Infected people have shown a range of symptoms, though. Some patients have suffered little sickness, while others have suffered serious illness and death, according to the CDC. The 2019-nCoV falls under the larger umbrella of coronaviruses common among multiple species, including camels, cattle, cats and bats. Animal coronaviruses, which rarely transmit to people, can spread from person-to-person through MERS and SARS. No vaccine to prevent the coronavirus currently exists. The CDC has recommended preventive measures, though, including frequently washing ones hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoiding contact with people who are sick, staying home if ones ill, covering ones cough or sneeze with a tissue and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces. Related Content: Vodafone Group CEO Nicholas Jonathan Read said on Tuesday that his company will continue its investments in Egypt after selling its 55% stake in its Egyptian unit to Saudi Arabia's largest telecom STC, according to a statement by the Egyptian cabinet. The company said in a statement Wednesday that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Telecom Company (STC) to sell its 55% stake in its Egyptian unit for $2.392 billion. The sale is in line with the global company's strategy to focus its operations on Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa, Read said in the statement. "It will reduce our net debt and unlock value for our shareholders." Vodafone Group will continue to provide other services in Egypt, the CEO said, citing the company's data centers business and its work in Egypt's comprehensive health insurance system. STC said in a message sent to Ahram Online that the final value of the deal "will be set upon the signing of the final...agreement." "The potential acquisition of Vodafone Egypt is in line with our expansion strategy in the MENA region," STC CEO Nasser al Nasser said. "The transaction, which is still subject to detailed due diligence, confirms STC's eagerness to maintain a leadership position" in the region, he said. Vodafone Egypt started operating in Egypt in 1998, formerly under the name Click GSM. It has the biggest share of Egypt's mobile market by customer numbers, with over40 million subscribers. State-owned landline provider Telecom Egypt owns the remaining 45% stake in Vodafone. It said earlier this week it had no intention to sell its share. Search Keywords: Short link: WESTPORT A recent water quality study, which included testing rivers in Westport and Weston, has yielded some alarming results. The 2019 Fairfield County River Report, released in December by Harbor Watch, the water quality research program based out Westports Earthplace, monitored 16 rivers in 16 towns for bacteria like E. coli and Enterococci bacteria that can indicate sewage pollution in freshwater and saltwater systems. Of the 123 unique sampling locations that were monitored 10 times among the rivers, 77 percent exceeded either one or both of the state criteria for acceptable levels of bacteria. Muddy Brook and Pussy Willow Brook in Westport, and Sasco Brook (Westport, Fairfield, Easton) were among a five-way tie for having the most sites that failed in the study. Of the test sites conducted at Muddy Brook, Sasco Brook and Pussy Willow Brook, each one failed in terms of bacteria levels. The Saugatuck River, which had test sites in Westport, Easton, Weston, Norwalk, Danbury, Ridgefield, Bethel, Redding and Wilton, had a failure rate of 56 percent, while the Norwalk River (New Canaan, Norwalk, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Wilton) posted a failure rate of 73 percent. Quantifying bacteria in our waterways and locating potential sewage pollution sources in the Long Island Sound watershed is critically important for the health of both the people and the enviorment, said Dr. Sarah Crosby, the director of Harbor Watch. We are grateful for the support of our municipal partners in Greenwich, Stamford, Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk, Westport, Fairfield, Stratford, Bridgeport, Wilton and Ridgefield as we we work jointly with them to find and fix these pollution sources. Besides testing each river for bacteria, Harbor Watchs research team tested the waters for dissolved oxygen, temperature and conductivity. Dissolved oxygen is a significant water quality indicator, since numerous aquatic species rely on it to survive. Conductivity measures how easily the water can carry an electrical current; temperature is a key aspect for aquatic species, which can move from a certain location, if the temperature is too high, or too low. Muddy Brook is of particular interest to Westport, since it discharges into the Sherwood Island Mill Pond a popular destination for swimmers and fishing, especially shellfishing. Six sites were monitored by Harbor Watch from May until September and each one exceeded at least one of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protections E. coli criteria. The DEEP geometric mean for E. coli rose in five of the six sites from 2018. Regarding the dissolved oxygen test, none of the six sites at Muddy Brook failed. Sasco Brook, which discharges into Long Island Sound at Southport Beach, also had six sites tested, all of which failed the DEEP E. coli criteria. However, the bacteria levels in three of the sites decreased from 2018 and all sites at Sasco Brook passed the dissolved oxygen test. The Norwalk River, which is about 20 miles long and discharges in Norwalk Harbor, has been monitored by Harbor Watch for more than 20 years. Of the 10 sites tested, eight failed the states criteria for E. coli, and all but one site passed the dissolved oxygen study. With a watershed of approximately 38,704 acres, the Saugatuck River has been monitored by Harbor Watch for more than a decade. The study indicated nine of the 16 sites tested failed the states bacteria criteria. None of the sites failed the dissolved oxygen criterion. The report notes two sewage spills in the harbor, which were reported by Westport in August, may be the cause of elevated Enterococci bacteria levels in the Saugatuck River early on during the monitoring process. Pussy Willow Brook, situated entirely in Westport, was tested by Harbor Watch from May through September last year for the first time since 2011. Previously, the brook was monitored outside of the May-September season. All five sites exceeded the E. coli criteria in 2019, but dissolved oxygen values met the minimum criterion at each site. Other Fairfield County rivers tested included Belden Hill Brook (Wilton), Bruce Brook (Stratford, Bridgeport), Comstock Brook (Wilton), Deep Brook (Newtown), Farm Creek (Norwalk), Horseneck Brook (Greenwich), Noroton River (Stamford, Darien, New Canaan), Pequonnock River (Monroe, Trumbull, Bridgeport, Shelton, Newtown), Pootatuck River (Easton, Monroe, Newtown), Rippowam River (New Canaan, Ridgefield, Stamford), and Silvermine River (Norwalk, New Canaan, Wilton). Each river was visited twice a month by Harbor Watch from May to September. Belden Hill Brook and Silvermine River had the lowest percentage of sites that failed the bacteria criteria, at 50 percent. Each of the rivers sites passed the dissolved oxygen test. The Saugatuck River was next with a 56 percent failure rate (bacteria criteria), followed by the Pequonnock River (63 percent). Cleaning up these rivers and streams is a priority for the leadership and residents of these towns, Crosby said. We look forward to expanding our research to work with our impacted towns. While these data show that there is much work to be done, I am optimistic that we will see improvement in many of these watersheds through the committed work of local residents and the municipalities to fix these problems. dfierro@greenwichtime.com North Korea Cancels All Air China Flights to Pyongyang, Beefs Up Precautions Amid Coronavirus Fears Sputnik News 11:33 GMT 28.01.2020 The newly identified deadly strain of coronavirus, known as 2019-nCoV, has been detected in over a dozen countries across Asia, Australasia, Europe and North America, and has infected over 4,500 people in China, North Korea's neighbour to the north. All North Korea-bound Air China flights have been canceled for the month of February, the Russian Embassy in North Korea has confirmed, citing a statement by the Chinese airline's Pyongyang office. The fate of flights by North Korean flag carrier Air Koryo is also in question, according to the Embassy, with only two Beijing-bound flights scheduled so for next month, and future flights contingent "on the development of the situation related to the spread of coronavirus." According to the Russian diplomatic mission, for the moment, twice weekly flights between Pyongyang and Russia's Vladivostok will continue as planned. North Korea closed its borders to foreign tourists last week amid fears related to 2019-nCoV, or the so-called 'Wuhan coronavirus', which has already claimed over 100 lives in neighbouring China, and affected some 4,515 people across the Asian country. Four cases of the virus have been reported in neighbouring South Korea, with cases also confirmed in Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, Taiwan, Australia, France, Germany, Canada and the United States. In addition to the cutting down of incoming air traffic, North Korean officials have taken steps to inspect passenger Pyongyang-bound passenger trains hailing from China, with reports that even persons with mild symptoms such as colds are being quarantined in Sinuiju, western North Korea, as a precautionary measure. North Korea took similar preventative measures when dealing with the SARS and Ebola outbreaks in 2003 and 2014, quarantining North Korean nationals including two high-level officials in Sinuju for 21 days during the latter outbreak. North Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun confirmed Tuesday that health authorities had been dispatched across the country to promote good public hygiene, with quarantine efforts said to have been stepped up at land borders, ports and airports "to prevent the new coronavirus from entering our country." The Asian nation has yet to report a confirmed case of the virus, but is said to be working on efforts to produce reserves of anti-viral drugs to treat it just in case. Air China and other international airlines have offered refunds on flights to mainland China over the past week as concerns over the new coronavirus continue to spread. Last week, Russia's Rospotrebnadzor consumer rights watchdog urged Russian nationals against traveling to the country until the epidemiological situation can be stabilized. First reported in Wuhan, China in December, the new deadly coronavirus has led to a health emergency in the country, including the cancellation of traditional Chinese New Year celebrations and multiple measures to deal with the crisis, including the construction of a brand new hospital to treat patients. On Sunday, Chinese health authorities reported that the new coronavirus has an incubation period of between one to 14 days. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police are investigating a bank robbery on Forest Avenue in Port Richmond. The incident was reported around 11:30 a.m. at the Northfield Bank at 1481 Forest Ave., according to emergency radio communications and police. A man entered the branch and passed a note demanding cash, according to very preliminary information supplied to a spokeswoman for the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. He was given an unknown amount that did not include a dye pack. He fled the location in a light-colored sedan, police said. The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, possibly in his 40s, who was wearing a black hat and black jacket, the police spokeswoman said. Cops at the scene are telling customers the branch is temporarily closed due to a robbery. Im a customer of the bank, but when I went to walk in, the police officer told me it was robbed and closed, said Joseph Burtner of Port Richmond. I guess you got to be careful these days. Its worrying. The incident has prompted a level-one mobilization, indicating a large police search, according to emergency radio communications. The incident at Northfield is the third bank robbery or attempted heist on Staten Island in little over a week. No arrests have been made in any of the three heists, according to police spokeswomen. Police previously asked for the publics assistance to locate an unidentified man sought for questioning in connection with a bank robbery Saturday in Grasmere. Police responded just after 1:30 p.m. to Santander Bank at 1320 Hylan Blvd. where a white male had reportedly approached a teller and passed a note demanding cash, according to a written statement from the office of the NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. The suspect -- described to be in his 40s or 50s, wearing a camouflage jacket with a black hooded sweatshirt underneath -- fled with $600 from the Santander heist in Grasmere, police previously said. Police seek this man for questioning in connection with a robbery on Saturday, January 25, 2020, at about 1:34 p.m. at a Santander Bank located at 1320 Hylan Blvd. in Grasmere. (Courtesy of NYPD Police also previously asked for tips in an attempted bank robbery on Jan. 21, at about 1:30 p.m. at the Santander Bank at 1850 Victory Blvd. in Castleton Corners. A suspect passed two notes demanding money through a chute at the drive-up teller window. There was no money passed or removed and the individual fled the scene on Victory Boulevard in a red Ford truck, according to a previous police statement. The annual conclave of the rich and powerful this month in Davos, Switzerland, put the longstanding debate about the social responsibility of corporations front and center by proclaiming its official theme as "stakeholders for a cohesive and sustainable world." By using the word "stakeholders," the World Economic Forum confirmed that it's taken sides in a debate rekindled last year by the Business Roundtable, a lobbying group representing chief executives of major U.S. corporations. The Roundtable had issued a statement highlighting a "fundamental commitment to all of our stakeholders," including shareholders, clients, employees, suppliers, and communities, thereby situating itself in opposition to the view of corporate responsibility made popular half a century ago by the economist Milton Friedman. Friedman had famously stated in a 1970 New York Times magazine essay that business executives who diverted corporate assets toward social goals were betraying their obligations to shareholders. Yet the debate between Roundtable supporters and Friedman supporters, a main topic of panels and unofficial conversation at Davos last week, missed five key points. - When Friedman was writing, the consequences of his view were more modest than they later became. In the 1960s and 1970s the regulatory state was often more interventionist than it is today - especially in industries such as transportation and telecommunications - and social norms were different. Before the deregulation wave of the 1970s and 1980s, arguing that a business executive should focus only on maximizing shareholder value thus may or may not have been wrong theoretically, but the practical impact was less significant. Whether business leaders pursued a narrow or broad definition of their responsibilities didn't matter as much because government regulation constrained the consequences. - In no small part because of Friedman's influence, an extreme definition of capitalism has become dominant. By this definition, only perfectly competitive markets with minimally interventionist governments and business executives who maximized shareholder value should be considered capitalist. It's a strange argument. I doubt that anyone would have said during the 1940s, 1950s or 1960s that the U.S. wasn't capitalist, but somehow the qualification standards seem to have changed. I heard one person argue at Davos that regulating or even taxing carbon would be "anti-capitalist." That's nonsense. Virtually the entire range of policy options for more or less government action on climate change would not, if enacted, affect whether an economy remains capitalist. - As Friedman's worldview as taught in introductory economics classes became more dominant, policymakers emphasized the effect of incentives and individual skills. Economists focused on assessing how much more productive an individual could be if she faced a lower marginal tax rate or had more education. Studying, instead, how much more productive an individual could be if she worked at Company A instead of Company B, or lived in City X instead of City Y, went out of fashion. And yet the evidence over the past few decades shows the importance of the place-based perspective, with growing differences in productivity and wages for otherwise similar individuals working at different firms, growing differences in returns on capital across firms, and growing differences in upward mobility for people living in different cities. - The evolving view of government's proper role and the emphasis on individual-based policy instead of place-based policy coincided with fundamental changes in the global economy, especially a substantial expansion in the effective global labor supply, and the evolution of the computer era. Over roughly the same period, the U.S. experienced a disproportionate rise in political polarization, as a new analysis from the National Bureau of Economic Research shows. The authors of that article argue that diverging views among elites (which is plausibly about the role of government, though the authors don't make that argument) may be the cause of the rapid rise in broader polarization relative to other countries. At the very least, it's interesting that the country that has most forcefully adopted the Friedman-inflected approach to policy has polarized the most. - Some people who want businesses to adopt a broad view of corporate responsibility argue that companies have to fill a gap left by the diminishing effectiveness of government. (They might not realize that Friedman addressed that issue in his 1970 essay.) Like the old saw about the child who murders her parents and then complains about being an orphan, however, the dominant paradigm of the past several decades has plausibly produced a dramatic rise in inequality and polarization, and that polarization in turn has made the government unable to function effectively. In other words, we have basically done this to ourselves. So what is the best pathway forward? There is no easy fix, but I like many recent ideas about making public investments and regulatory adjustments to encourage creation of business ecosystems like technology hubs, as has been done in Palo Alto, California, Austin, Texas, and Boston. That would require more government action than is likely in the near term. But as Friedman's success in altering the dialog demonstrates, a first step is to be clear about what we should be doing, even before we're capable of doing it. And an approach to policymaking focused more on where we work and live seems vastly more promising than what we've tried over the past few decades. - - - Peter R. Orszag is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is the chief executive officer of financial advisory at Lazard. He was director of the Office of Management and Budget from 2009 to 2010, and director of the Congressional Budget Office from 2007 to 2008. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 02:22:44|Editor: yan Video Player Close FRANKFURT, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Frankfurt will not host the next International Motor Show (IAA) in 2021 as the city is no longer on the shortlist for the final host city, the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) said Wednesday in a statement. Seven German cities competed for the new host city after the contract between the Frankfurt trade fair location and VDA, the motor show's organizer, expired at the end of 2019. The VDA said in the statement that it decided Wednesday that the finalist should be chosen among Berlin, Hamburg and Munich. In addition to Frankfurt, Cologne, Hanover and Stuttgart are also out of the race, it said. The final decision on the location for IAA 2021 will be made in the next few weeks, it said. The VDA said that the decision to not include Frankfurt "was not an easy one". "The metropolis was the city of the IAA for almost 70 years; internationally, this became clear from the frequently used term 'Frankfurt Motor Show'. The VDA thanks the city of Frankfurt and Messe Frankfurt for this long, very good and trusting partnership." After the IAA 2019 in September, the VDA said the biennial motor show will develop a new concept in 2021 and may go beyond the format of a traditional trade show. "Today we are limiting ourselves to the trade show grounds, but tomorrow we want to take new mobility to the citizens on a wider scale," it said in a previous statement. The lie did not hold up for long, and when it fell apart the public lashed out with remarkable fury. But the regimes reflexively dishonesty was rendered no less significant by its ineffectiveness. The mullahs have a long history of more successful deceptions. In the 1990s, it succeeded in convincing Western governments to designate the leading Iranian opposition movement as a terrorist organization. That designation would eventually be removed after court cases in both the US and Europe revealed no evidence for the allegations levied against the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI-MEK). But the damage was done, and the regime eagerly absorbed the lesson about the potential value of its propaganda. The January 8 airline disaster is a testament to the fact that deception has become such an ingrained part of the regimes identity that it will now attempt it even when its absolutely clear that the lie wont hold up over the long term. The mullahs are presumably not so stupid as to think that Western intelligence agencies wouldnt detect the signature of the missiles fired at Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, or that no one at all would have filmed the plane erupting into flames before it hit the ground. Yet they still insisted for three whole days that the crash had been the result of a technical problem. It may be tempting to think that Iranian officials are just so egocentric that they can convince the public to accept their lies by sheer force of will. That is one way of interpreting their decision to arrest the person who shared one of the videos that ultimately confirmed the missile strike. Although that footage helped to compel the regime to admit the truth, the authorities may believe on some level that they can still force an entire population to go along with their fanciful stories, no matter how easily they can be proven untrue. But its also possible that the alleged arrest of the videographer is just a bit of petty revenge, and that the real purpose of the lies regarding the airline disaster was simply to promote a small measure of doubt while buying time to develop a longer-term strategy. In that case, the strategy came into focus the Friday after the incident, when authorities acknowledged the IRGCs culpability, and activists in roughly two dozen cities began publicly condemning the authorities. Those same authorities responded with live ammunition and tear gas, effectively re-enacting the crackdown that they initiated in November after frustration with unexpected gas price increases turned into a nationwide uprising against the clerical regime. The earlier protests came on with little warning, and the regime had to kill 1,500 people to bring them under control. The January demonstrations were no doubt anticipated, and so they were disrupted much more efficiently. The earlier protests also brought the Iranian regime much closer to the brink of overthrow. Participants chanted slogans like death to the dictator which had previously come to prominence in December 2017, at the start of another mass uprising. The message of both movements was an explicit endorsement of regime change, and the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI-MEK) was a driving force behind both. In January 2018, Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei admitted that the MEK had planned for months to facilitate nationwide demonstrations and popularize the anti-government slogans. And in the wake of that begrudging acknowledgment of reality, the nationwide uprising spawned what NCRI President Maryam Rajavi called a year full of uprisings. This, in turn, led inexorably to the renewed uprising, and the resulting bloodshed, in November 2019. A great deal of the past two years unrest can be attributed to the regimes simplest acknowledgment of the truth about an opposition movement, the MEK, that the mullahs have been working for four decades to defame. This stands in contrast to the lies and deflection that allowed Tehran just enough time to prepare for the unrest in January. And together, the two phenomena show that lies are an essential tactic in the regimes efforts to maintain its survival, while the truth is a powerful weapon against it. Khameneis mistake in 2018 was acknowledging the truth of his own accord. Its not a mistake that hes likely to make again. But the truth or falsity of his public statements doesnt much matter if theres no one listening to the lies. When Flight 752 was shot down, unfortunately, some international media outlets repeated the regimes claims uncritically, thereby sowing the seeds of doubt and giving it time to prepare its strategy. Even more, unfortunately, some of those same outlets still repeat the regimes lies regarding its hold on power and the status of organized opposition. Those lies need not survive over the long term in order to have an impact. It is bad enough that the world listens to Tehran long enough to be deceived. In the wake of the airline disaster and the ongoing unrest in the Islamic Republic, the international community should know better than to give any credence to the regimes claims. Doing so only gives it power. But casting aside Iranian propaganda gives power to the Iranian people and allows them to take action to change their government before the mullahs have time or opportunity to prepare. Actor Akshay Kumar on Wednesday reached Mysore to join British adventurer Bear Grylls in his shoot for 'Into the Wild with Bear Grylls'. The show is inspired by the enormously popular show 'Man Vs Wild' which also featured Grylls. Akshay and Grylls will commence filming for an episode at Bandipur National forest on Thursday. Discovery has also signed Rajinikanth to feature in the first episode of a new format series called 'Into The Wild with Bear Grylls'. The show marks the television debut for Rajinikanth, admiringly addressed as Thalaiva, who has gained cult status for being a humane superstar - simple, humble, generously loved - and adored by millions for more than four decades. The British adventurer also shared a picture with Rajinikanth which was clicked during the shooting of the special episode of his television show in Karnataka. 'Into The Wild with Bear Grylls' is produced for Discovery Communications India by The Natural Studios and Banijay Asia, where Grylls, Delbert Shoopman and Deepak Dhar are executive producers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [January 29, 2020] Fidelity Simplifies Investing Again With Launch of Real-time Fractional Shares Trading for Stocks and ETFs Fidelity Investments, the largest online brokerage firm with more than 23 million retail brokerage accounts, today announced availability of real-time fractional shares trading of stocks and ETFs (also known as dollar-based investing). This simplified way of investing, which is being rolled out to Fidelity's retail customers beginning today and will continue over the next several weeks, allows investors to trade as little as 0.001 of a share using Fidelity's Mobile app for iOS and Android (News - Alert)TM. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005422/en/ Images are for illustrative purposes only. (Photo: Business Wire) Fidelity is the only brokerage firm to offer zero online commissions for stock and ETF trades, zero account minimums, zero account fees for retail brokerage accounts, a higher cash sweep rate versus the other largest online brokerage firmsi regardless of investable assets1, and continues to forgo payment-for-order-flow from market makers for stock and ETF trades, helping facilitate industry leading price improvement for customers. Fidelity will execute all fractional trades in real-time during market hours, meaning customers will always know the share price, unlike some firms that execute fractional trades at the end of a trading day or wait for multiple orders to add up to full shares. Fractional share or dollar-based trades, which must be market or limit order types and are good for the day only, are available in eligible Fidelity retail accounts, including brokerage, HSAs, IRAs, and self-directed brokerage accounts via a workplace retirement plan. "Investing at Fidelity just got easier, and more accessible, with dollar-based investing," said Scott Ignall, head of Fidelity's retail brokerage business. "Leveraging Fidelity's award-winning mobile apps and brokerage platform, customers can now own a piece of their favorite companies and ETFs based on how much they want to invest, independent of the share price. "Fidelity's size, private structure, and leading positions across various marketplaces (including retail, institutional, and intermediary) are unmatched in our industry and put us in a unique position to deliver greater value to our customers," continued Ignall. "In addition, customers have access to unmatched stock and ETF research to confirm or generate new investing ideas." How Investrs May Benefit from Dollar-Based Trading Based on customer feedback, we expect investors to use dollar-based trading in a variety of ways, including: A customer saves $500 to begin investing in several high-priced companies they have been following for their diversified portfolio. With this new capability the price of a single share is not a concern, and the investor buys $100 worth of shares in five different companies, potentially helping with diversification. A customer may implement dollar-cost averaging, a strategy in which an investor divides the total amount to be invested across periodic purchases of a stock or ETF to help reduce the impact of volatility. With zero online commissions and the ability to buy in fractional shares or dollars, a customer could set up an automatic deposit from their paycheck or bank account into a Fidelity brokerage account and easily make multiple purchases of a stock or ETF over time, e.g. $50 each month, and pay nothing in commissions. Dollar-Based Trade Ticket on Fidelity Mobile: Dollar-based trading will be rolled out on Fidelity Mobile apps for iOS and Android, available in the App Store and on Google Play. About Fidelity Investments Fidelity's mission is to inspire better futures and deliver better outcomes for the customers and businesses we serve. With assets under administration of $8.3 trillion, including discretionary assets of $3.2 trillion as of December 31, 2019, we focus on meeting the unique needs of a diverse set of customers: helping more than 30 million people invest their own life savings, 22,000 businesses manage employee benefit programs, as well as providing more than 13,500 financial advisory firms with investment and technology solutions to invest their own clients' money. Privately held for more than 70 years, Fidelity employs more than 40,000 associates who are focused on the long-term success of our customers. For more information about Fidelity Investments, visit https://www.fidelity.com/about. $0.00 commission applies to online U.S. equity trades and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) in a Fidelity retail account only for Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC retail clients. Sell orders are subject to an activity assessment fee (from $0.01 to $0.03 per $1,000 of principal). Other exclusions and conditions may apply. See Fidelity.com/commissions for details. Employee equity compensation transactions and accounts managed by advisors or intermediaries through Fidelity Clearing & Custody Solutions are subject to different commission schedules. Zero account minimums and zero account fees apply to retail brokerage accounts only. Expenses charged by investments (e.g., funds, managed accounts, and certain HSAs) and commissions, interest charges, or other expenses for transactions may still apply. See Fidelity.com/commissions for further details. Fidelity, Fidelity Investments, Fidelity Investments and the pyramid logo are registered service marks of FMR LLC. Investing involves risks, including the loss of principal. Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Member NYSE, SIPC 900 Salem Street, Smithfield, RI 02917 Fidelity Distributors Company, LLC 500 Salem Street, Smithfield, RI 02917 National Financial Services LLC, Member NYSE, SIPC, 200 Seaport Boulevard, Boston, MA 02110 914835.1.0 2020 FMR LLC. All rights reserved 1 Competitor bank sweep retirement product is eligible for FDIC insurance. Fidelity sweep investment not FDIC insured; may lose value; consider each product carefully. i Comparative Yields: When you open a new retail Fidelity Brokerage Account, we automatically put your uninvested cash into the Fidelity Government Money Market Fund with a seven-day yield of 1.22% as of 01/22/2020 (unless you choose another cash option). The Fidelity fund yield is compared to: Schwab Default Sweep APY of .06% as of 01/22/2020 for the Schwab One Interest for retail and Bank Sweep Account for retirement; TD Ameritrade Default Sweep APY of 0.01% as of 01/22/2020 for the TD Ameritrade FDIC Insured Deposit Account Rate-Core; and E*Trade Default Sweep APY of 0.01% as of 01/22/2020 for the Extended Insurance Sweep Deposit Account. Yields may vary due to market conditions. See Fidelity.com/cashvalue for current yields. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005422/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] NEWBURY (dpa-AFX) - British telecom major Vodafone Group Plc (VOD.L, VOD) announced Wednesday that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to sell its 55 percent shareholding in Vodafone Egypt to Saudi Telecom Co. The companies have agreed for a cash consideration of $2.39 billion or 2.17 billion euros for the stake. This is equivalent to an enterprise value for 100 percent of Vodafone Egypt of $4.35 billion or 3.95 billion euros. The companies intend to enter into definitive agreements in relation to the transaction following completion of due diligence on Vodafone Egypt by Saudi Telecom The transaction is expected to close by the end of June 2020, subject to regulatory approval. The companies further agreed the basis for a long-term Partner Market Agreement. This will include use of the Vodafone brand, preferential roaming arrangements, access to Vodafone's central procurement function, and a range of other services. This agreement will ensure that Vodafone Egypt will be able to continue to offer its business and consumer customers world-class services and innovations. 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. As cars come into the parking garage, drivers have to stay alert, looking for residents walking up the ramps from the lower levels of the garage to the elevators. Its the late afternoon on Jan. 8 and the stairs have been closed off. Long queues form at the bottom of the building while people wait for a single elevator that is working to take people up the 34-story building. From October to mid-January, only one elevator was available to residents at Skyview Downtown, says Rowna Bravo, a resident of the once luxury building that has been plagued with issues in recent decades. In 2019, the high-rise apartment complex in downtown Springfield formerly known as Chestnut Tower, was renamed Skyview Downtown, but residents in the building still refer to it by its former name. On a recent ride up to her apartment, fellow residents talked of the issues they have with the renovations going on in the building. One elderly man on the crowded elevator pointed out that he has been having issues with the building since 2002. Rennovation work is still ongoing and many of the floors still look like a construction site. This has been ongoing for many months and leaves a layer of dust in peoples apartments. (Douglas Hook / MassLive) In 2015, MassLive published a series of stories about the issues residents of the 34-story apartment building have faced. Five years later residents are still complaining of similar issues during renovations. When working elevators get down to just one, residents of the 240-unit building are left waiting in a kind of interior rush-hour traffic: a line just to get into the elevator in the hours when people are headed to and from work or school. When the elevators are operating, residents have safety concerns. Since October only one elevator has been working at Chestnut Towers says apartment building resident Rowna Bravo. (Douglas Hook / MassLive) A video shot in the building on Jan. 9 shows residents trying to open the elevator doors after they were stuck closed. The doors wouldnt close so we had to push the door outward from the inside for the elevator door to close," Bravo said. MassLive reached out to the company that owns the apartment building for comment regarding safety concerns raised by residents on Jan. 10. That evening, Related Companies issued a statement to MassLive in reaction to the issues highlighted by residents and changes were made to the building. Guess what, a resident texted a MassLive reporter when she arrived home later that day. She said a second elevator was now working. Construction material and debris left during renovations in common areas were cleared away as well. The entire building is being renovated and received $10.2 million in affordable housing funds for renovations, then-state Secretary of Housing and Development Jay Ash said at a press conference on Aug. 1, 2018. The funding will supplement a $45 million investment by the propertys management, Related Companies, said Jeff Brodsky, the companys vice-chairman. Related Companies, a New York City real estate company, took over management of the beleaguered Chestnut Tower housing and retail complex in 2017 intending to improve it while keeping it as affordable housing. Chestnut Tower was originally built as luxury apartments, but by the late 1980s, as Springfields downtown declined, so did the quality of the building and the interest from middle-income people to live in it. Its now occupied by a mixture of low to middle-income residents. For a one-bedroom in the apartment building the monthly rent costs $1,059, a two-bedroom $1,271 and a three-bedroom apartment is advertised at $1,468. Overlooking the city, Chestnut Towers dominates the skyline. (Douglas Hook / MassLive) "We will make initial structural improvements to the building and parking garage, then aim at broader improvements," said Jessica L. Scaperotti, vice president of corporate communications for Related Companies in 2017. "And then we will work with both the city and the state to make Chestnut Towers more attractive while keeping it affordable and to enhance the entire community." Related Companies has had an ownership stake in the complex since 1996, but was not managing it. Chestnut Park Apartments was in dire need of refurbishment when we acquired it just over one year ago and we are now mid-way through a complete renovation of the entire complex. While nearly half of residents now live in newly renovated apartments, we are still in process of upgrading the common areas and elevators, said a spokesperson of Related Companies to MassLive. We appreciate our residents patience during this time. According to papers filed at the Hampden County Registry of Deeds Dec. 12, 2018, the apartment complex was sold by Related Springfield Associates Limited Partnership to Chestnut Park Preservation LLP for $12 million. Both are parts of the same parent company, Related Companies. The views are incredible according to resident Rowna Bravo. It's the only reason she wanted to move into the tower. (Douglas Hook / MassLive) Theyre trying to make it more upscale, said Bravo who pays $1,275 a month for her apartment, who said she questions the cost compared to the amenities of the building. Bravo is relatively new to Springfield, having moved to the city this past summer. When she wakes up each morning, she checks to see if the elevators are working. This will determine if she has to leave early or on time. The building renovations are being conducted by general contractor ETC Companies LLC, of New Jersey. Last May, more than 100 union members held a demonstration outside the apartment tower protesting Related Companies use of a New Jersey-based general contractor and out-of-state workers for the renovation. This is a private company making a significant investment in the city of Springfield, and particularly for the residents of 489 units. It is not a public works project," said Springfield lawyer Melinda M. Phelps, who was representing the real estate company at the time of the demonstrations. She also added that 87% of the subcontractors are from the Springfield area, 92% are from Massachusetts, and 86% are union contractors. Janette Hernandez shows the notice that is left on her door after the construction workers entered her apartment without permission. She said that they often leave her apartment door wide open. Hernandez isn't the only resident with this complaint. (Douglas Hook / MassLive) As the renovations are ongoing, some tenants expressed concern about work within their apartments. Janette Hernandez issued a complaint about the renovation of her apartment with the city in the fall. The tiles are lifting and by the window there is a draft," said Hernandez. People can often be seen using the ramps to walk to their apartment from the parking garage due to the stairs being closed off. (Douglas Hook / MassLive) From 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. the stairs from the parking garage to the elevators are closed off due to renovations. This means that residents of the towers have the choice of walking around the block to the front door on Chestnut Street or to use the ramps in the parking garage to walk from their car which is shorter and covered from the elements when it rains and snows. Since Bravo moved to the apartment building this has been the status quo. It is possible to walk around the block to get to the elevators, but many residents take the ramps to avoid the rain and snow in the winter. Drivers and pedestrians alike have to be vigilant not to cross each others paths. Its not safe, said Chestnut Towers resident Wanda Rodriguez. Guys are always speeding up the ramp. In the heart of Springfields city center, Chestnut Towers was originally built as luxury apartments. (Douglas Hook / MassLive) MassLive approached Mayor Domenic Sarno with the residents concerns regarding the building. "As always, the residents and proper communication to the residents by the management/ownership of this or any other building is my first priority, Mayor Sarno said. 35 Chestnut Towers- 2020 Related Content: The coronavirus that started in Wuhan, China, has hit hard the Macau casino business during the peak holiday season of the Lunar New Year. That has led one gaming industry expert to say the ripple effect of the virus and fears of a pandemic, including quarantines and travel warnings and restrictions, should be a "wake-up call" for the Chinese government and casino interests throughout Asia that it is time to legalize online gambling. Jason Ader, managing partner at SpringOwl Asset Management and a former board member at Las Vegas Sands, said the most interesting observation he has had as the coronavirus situation evolves is how the virus has pushed gamblers to illegal online gambling and the one market in Asia where online gambling is legal: the Philippines. "Daily online gambling is up 90% over the Lunar New Year holiday compared to last year," Ader told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Tuesday. "That's an unbelievable number, and it raises the issue of should land-based operators be converging around the world with online operators. That's really the growing trend," he said. Online gambling is mostly unregulated in Asia and illegal in China. "Asia is still very much the Wild West, it's very unregulated, but [the land-based operators] are not getting any business. The online operators and Philippines licensees are picking up most of these players," said Ader, who was a top-ranked gaming analyst at Bear Stearns for more than a decade. "I think it's a wake-up call, not just in Asia but in the U.S. ... The European companies are in leading positions." Radisson Hotel Group has announced plans to open three more hotels in Turkey this year. Two of these hotels will be in Istanbuls touristic and historic locations, and the third in Aliaga, Izmir. Radisson Hotel Groups investment in Turkey continues to grow as the group prepares to open three hotels during 2020. Radisson Hotel President Beyazt Istanbul and Radisson Hotel Istanbul Sultanahmet will open in the second quarter of 2020 in two of Istanbuls major touristic locations Beyazt and Sultanahmet, respectively, with investor Pantur Turizm ve Ticaret A.S, while Radisson Hotel Izmir Aliaga will open in Turkeys third-largest city Izmir, with investor Elif Intro Otelcilik. Radisson Hotel Istanbul Sultanahmet will feature four restaurants. While Radisson Hotel President Beyazt Istanbul will offer a spa as well as a ballroom and various restaurants. Both Radisson Hotel Istanbul Sultanahmet and Radisson Hotel President Beyazt Istanbul have prime locations in proximity to the Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia and Topkap Palace. Elie Younes, executive vice president and chief development officer, Radisson Hotel Group, said: Radisson Hotel Groups strong commitment to the Turkish market continues to grow with over 30 properties in Turkey. Radisson Hotel Group is the largest operator in the upper-upscale segment in Istanbul. We pride ourselves with the quality of our people, partners and brands. Radisson Hotel Izmir Aliaga, located in the key industrial area of Aliaga led by the oil and gas industry, will feature F&B facilities as well as meeting areas and spa and fitness facilities. - TradeArabia News Service Najat Naanaas face beamed as she invited people to donate to her local mosque during a recent community gathering in Toronto. You couldnt tell she was raising money for the site of one of Canadas worst massacres. Or that she was the widow of one of its victims. For the mother of three, supporting the mosque community her husband died trying to protect is her way of coping. Azzedine Soufiane was among the worshippers who gathered for evening prayers three years ago today when a lone gunman stormed the mosque, killing him and five other men. Many more were injured. Now, January 29 is a bloody Sunday engraved forever in my memory and that of my children, wrote Naanaa in her victim impact statement, read aloud on her behalf by the prosecutor during the killers sentencing hearing last February. The attack against the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec continues to symbolize the very worst manifestations of racism, social marginalization, and toxic online culture. Three years on, little has changed to assure us that no other community will ever again be targeted based on religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic. In Quebec, divisive rhetoric and law are being used to justify the second-class treatment of religious communities. Bill 21 is the contentious legislation that prevents some people from holding certain government jobs because of their religious clothing. Now, a group called Mouvement laique quebecois (MLQ), granted intervener status in one of the legal challenges to the bill, is calling for its expansion to cover all public servants, not only teachers, police officers and crown prosecutors. The Quebec government is also nonsensically moving to abolish its Ethics and Religious Culture course in primary and secondary schools. We are in a context right now, both in Quebec and globally, of rising xenophobia around the world and rising far right movements, pointed out Robert Green, a Westmount High School teacher during a radio interview. The only way we can counter those kinds of attitudes is to teach children the truth about these different religions. A pluralistic society should be creating more opportunities for participation and mutual understanding, not less. I was hoping that this terrible attack on the mosque would change things, says Quebec community member Rachid Rafah in a documentary now streaming on CBCs Gem titled The Mosque: A Communitys Struggle. Unfortunately, its the contrary. The mosques are still in danger. In Quebec, people cannot admit that there are problems in this society. I dont know why. There is racism. A society that does not admit its own problems, has a problem. Its not just most Quebecers who are in denial. An Ipsos poll recently found that 49 per cent of Canadians dont believe racism is a problem. This while a joint study by the Angus Reid Institute and Cardus found that 41 per cent of Canadians consider the presence of Islam damaging to Canada. Clearly we still need to foster stronger relationships in our own neighbourhoods and in our schools, advocate for better mental health policies and stronger gun controls, and call on our law enforcement agencies to do more to combat hate and white supremacy, including to more aggressively prosecute those who promote violence online. Federal and provincial governments must enact legislation similar to Ontarios Anti-Racism Act. This entrenches policy commitments, something currently missing from Canadas Anti-Racism Strategy, says the advocacy group Colour of Poverty, Colour of Change. While some provinces and municipalities have stepped up to condemn Bill 21 and have passed motions to designate Jan. 29 as a National Day of Remembrance and Action against Islamophobia, the federal government has yet to convincingly do either. It took 30 years for the massacre of 14 women at Ecole Polytechnique to be recognized as an anti-feminist attack in a commemorative plaque rather than described solely as a tragedy. Will it take that long for Canada to officially recognize the massacre on Jan. 29 for what it fully represents the most dangerous form of Islamophobia imaginable? Its one of many actions still left outstanding. A mother-of-four criticised for 'overpacking' her children's lunchboxes with sandwiches, chips, lamingtons, pretzels and fruit, insists it is to ensure they don't go hungry. The Australian mum shared a photo of their school lunches on Facebook before she was inundated with judgmental comments. She was forced to defend the meals she packed for her two high schoolers and two primary school kids who she said don't waste a bite and aren't 'overweight'. The woman, who remained anonymous, then revealed the reason she didn't skimp on school snacks was because as a child she often 'starved'. An Australian mum shared a photo of the food haul on Facebook before she was inundated with comments and had to defend the food she packs for two high schoolers and two kids in primary school 'Clearly some have their knickers in a twist... There is variety because even if your child enjoys eating the same food everyday, mine don't and honestly, neither do I,' she said. 'There really is not a lot of food there. It is because of the variety of foods that people must be confused. This is for four children in total.' Poll Is this too much for school lunches? Yes No Is this too much for school lunches? Yes 963 votes No 1867 votes Now share your opinion To further explain her choice, the mother broke down what one of her children in primary school would receive on an average day. The child received one sandwich, a handful of grapes and blueberries, 12 pretzels, one lamington finger, five crackers with five slices of cheese, a packet of chips and occasionally, a slice of watermelon. 'It really isn't a lot,' she said, before saying that one of the school principals has made a remark about the size of their lunchboxes before. 'He asked me if the kids had any room in their bags after putting in their "three lunchbox lunches." Yeah, we managed to fit a drink bottle and a hat as well,' she said of the exchange. Other mothers were quick to judge the sheer size of the lunch saying that they pack far less for their own children. 'The lunchbox with the sandwiches is about as much as I have ever packed... a sandwich, a piece of fruit and two other small snack items (maybe a muffin or some cheese and crackers) is the max I've done,' one woman said. 'How do they have time to eat and play too,' another said. A third added: 'My kids wouldn't eat all that in a week.' To further explain her choice, the mother broke down what one of her children in primary school would receive on an average day The original poster of the photo said if it seems as though she's overpacking their lunchboxes it's because as a kid she was always 'starving'. 'I was lucky to get even three food items. I do this to ensure they don't get hungry. If they have leftovers they will eat them when they get home instead of an afternoon snack.' According to nutritionist Lyndi Cohen, the most important thing when it comes to school lunches is to avoid over-complicating things. 'While ideally we would mix up our children's lunches every day, if you know that your children eat cherry tomatoes, grapes, Babybel cheese and eggs, then give them those things,' she said. 'A child is unlikely to try something for the first time when it arrives in a lunchbox.' Ms Cohen recommends packing a balanced mix of slow-release carbohydrates, healthy fats and protein. THE GOOD LUNCHBOX GUIDE * SLOW-RELEASING CARBS: Grainy bread, pasta salad and wholemeal wraps all work well here, according to Lyndi Cohen. They help with energy levels hugely. * PROTEIN: Protein is so important for kids' growth. Whether it's Vegemite and cheese, egg mayonnaise in a sandwich or chicken, it's key to balance out the carbs and help kids to feel full. * HEALTHY FATS: Healthy fats are also important. * SNACKS: Your children will need snacks throughout the day, and so you need to be prepared with healthy things they can eat. Air-popped popcorn is great, as is fruit, a little bit of cheese or a small yoghurt. Stick to whole foods where possible and you won't go wrong. Advertisement Tips and tricks: From what to put in it to the importance of colour, FEMAIL spoke to leading Sydney-based nutritionist, Lyndi Cohen (pictured), about the perfect lunchbox 'It's so important to have a slow-releasing carb like a wholemeal wrap of grainy bread,' she said. 'The combo of the carbs, fat and protein will give kids enough energy to actually function.' One of Ms Cohen's tricks is to mix up your vegetables with a pasta salad in order to increase the chance that your kids will eat them. 'Putting things in separate zip lock bags is fussy, and hugely increases the chance that they come home uneaten,' she said. Amid go back sloganeering and attempts to block him, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Wednesday read the policy of the left front government in the state assembly, but made it clear he did not agree with observations against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The House witnessed uproarious scenes as the Governor entered the hall. Angry Congress-led opposition legislators blocked his way, raising slogans and placards. With his entry blocked, he stood there for ten minutes. When Speaker P Sivaramakrishanans repeated pleas failed to deter them, security personnel forcibly removed agitating law-makers to make way for him. The Governor later read out the policy of the government but with a rider. Mid-way through his speech, he said he did not agree with some observations but he will read them as requested by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. I am going to read this para (against CAA) because the Chief Minister wants me to read this, though I hold the view that this doesnt come under policy or programme. The CM has said this is the view of the government and to honour his wish I am going to read this paragraph, he said, before reading a paragraph which was critical about the CAA. He also said the CM had sent a letter to him requesting him to read the full text. Later he read out the paragraph that was critical of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, and explained again this was not his view. Our citizenship can never be on the basis of the religion as this goes against the grain of secularism which is part of the basic structure of our constitution. The august body unanimously passed a resolution requesting the central government to abrogate the Citizenship Amendment Act which my government believes goes against the cardinal principles of the constitution, said the Governor. By reading the paragraph critical of the union government, the Governor has saved the government from a major embarrassment. Many in the government feared he would skip the paragraph and CM and others were seen much relieved after he finished the text. Later the Governor said he has seen many such protests and blamed the media for terming such incidents as unprecedented. But the opposition Congress said it was the darkest day in the history of the assembly. It proved beyond doubt the government is supporting the Governor who day in and out criticises the assembly. It seems Pinarayi Vijayan has entered into an agreement with the Modi government to save him from the Lavalin graft case, said opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala. SNC Lavalin hydel projects agreement case is pending before the apex court. Vijayan was power minister when the agreement with Canadian power giant was inked in 1994 in which kickbacks were alleged. Chennithala asked the Speaker to take up his notice for a resolution requesting the President to recall the Governor immediately. Both the government and the BJP have criticised the opposition. It shows the Congress will stoop so low for some publicity, said Law Minister A K Balan. The opposition leader has no right to continue in his post. He betrayed the people who elected him to the house, said BJP leader and former Governor of Mizoram, Kummanam Rajasekharan. Former secretary general of Lok Sabha PDT Achary said what the Governor did was right but his explanation was not necessary. It is the constitutional obligation and practice. It may not be his personal view at all. Even if he skips some paragraphs, which has become a practice these days, they will be on record. His observations wont be there even in the footnote of the speech, he said. Earlier, the Governor had openly expressed his dissatisfaction over the state assembly passing a resolution against the CAA last December and also questioned the move to file a suit in the Supreme Court against it. He had said house resolution was unconstitutional and had no legal validity and it was sheer waste of time upsetting many legislators. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Bismarck Human Relations Committee did the right thing on Monday when it moved forward on the Humanitarian Award. Dr. Robert Roswick was selected for the award and the Bismarck City Commission unanimously approved the choice. There apparently was some controversy after the selection was approved. Roswick, a family practice physician, filed a federal lawsuit against Mid Dakota Clinic in March 2017 alleging he was wrongly fired in 2016 for speaking out against alleged racial discrimination against an Indian-American doctor at the clinic. Roswick won more than $2.1 million in the lawsuit. After Roswicks selection for the award was announced, the clinics CEO and attorney met with two committee members and three city staffers to provide them with information. The clinic didnt ask for any specific action to be taken. A patient of Roswicks nominated him for the award and in the nomination letter said the doctor put his career and reputation on the line to speak out, stand up and defend a fellow colleague. The Tribune editorial board believes awards should be based on merit, not on who might be a safe or popular recipient. By its nature, human rights awards might create some debate. Defending an individual or a cause usually doesnt generate support from everyone. In fairness to Mid Dakota Clinic, it didnt ask the committee to take action, it just shared information. However, Mayor Steve Bakken told the Tribune he had been involved in discussions about asking the committee to reconsider the award. He said he didnt initiate the talks. Bakken also said There wasnt a good amount of due diligence done on the part of the Human Relations Committee. He wouldnt go into detail about his comment and Krista Rausch, committee chairwoman, declined comment on Bakkens statement. The city commission has a responsibility to review material that comes before it. The commission is expected to do more than rubber stamp its agenda. Bakken said he read the material provided by the committee and he voted for the nomination. As mayor, Bakken cant ask the commission to reconsider the motion to approve the committees recommendation. The Tribune would hope that no commissioner would do so. Several other commissioners told the Tribune they havent been involved in any discussions to repeal the award. The committee recently moved to revise its mission statement, which was expected to be discussed at the city commission meeting Tuesday night. "The mission of the Bismarck Human Relations Committee is to create an atmosphere of inclusion, equality and accessibility through education and outreach to recognize the value of a diverse community." We believe thats what the committee was doing with the Humanitarian Award to Roswick. Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 New Delhi: Top Bhojpuri bombshell Aamrapali Dubey is known for her hit movies and chartbuster tracks. The actress has a huge fan following and is adored for her blockbuster movies. A quite popular celebrity on social media, Aamrapali recently posted a picture from the sets of her next shoot. And she looks ravishing in a shining red co-ords with golden pattern. She captioned the picture as, "Sunkissed a bit #songshoot" Her picture has been liked by many and received appreciation from fans. The photo has been clicked from her song shoot. Aamrapali's recent picture has been liked by 28,740 users so far. The actress has worked with almost all the A-listers in the Bhojpuri film industry. And she is also reported to be one of the highest-paid actresses in the movie business. Her on-screen pairing with Dinesh Lal Yadav aka Nirahua is loved by the audiences. UT Southwestern Medical Center(ARLINGTON, Texas) -- A principal in Texas proved that age, gender and race are no obstacles when it comes to fulfilling a life-saving good deed. Sarah Schecter, head of lower school at The Oakridge School in Arlington, donated her kidney to Nate Jones, a parent whose three children attend the school and who was in dire need of a transplant, according to ABC News Dallas affiliate WFAA-TV. "You think of a thousand reasons why you shouldn't do it," she told WFAA. "But it just couldn't be avoided." The educator said being generous, kind and brave are all "a big part" of what the school teaches its students, along with talking to them about character. Jones told WFAA that he noticed a change in his eyesight in 2018 that progressed quickly and prompted a visit to the eye doctor. Jones went to a retina specialist who urged him to see his primary care physician right away, and WFAA said they sent him to the ER, where he was diagnosed with acute renal failure and informed that a transplant was his only option. "How do you go from being healthy with no headaches, no nothing -- and now you need a transplant?" the father of three questioned. His wife, Amenze Jones, told WFAA, "He just didn't have any symptoms -- no symptoms at all." While the family said they kept their situation largely private, Jones' wife said she mentioned his diagnosis to their children's teachers and the principal in case it distracted them from their studies in class. William Jones is in third grade, his older sister, Sydney, is in fourth grade, and the oldest brother, Aaron, is in eighth grade. "Very shortly after she told me -- like within days or maybe even hours -- I felt a heavy burden," Schecter said. "I didn't want to be the person to give a kidney -- who wants to go into surgery and do something crazy like that?" She continued, "To think they could lose their dad when they're just kids in school, I just want them to have their dad." After several months, the school head told Amenze Jones that she wanted to be tested to find out if she could be a donor for her husband. The mother of three said, "No one was surprised that she would do something like this, and that just goes to show you the type of person she is." "I know it's the right thing to do but, am I still scared? Yes," Schecter told WFAA six days prior to the big procedure. "I'm usually a very thinking kind of person, but on this -- it's just something I'm determined to do." Schecter was a perfect match and the transplant operation was successfully completed on Jan. 13 at UT Southwestern Medical Center. The medical center captured a video of Schecter and Nate Jones when they saw each other for the first time post-surgery. The pair embraced in a tearful moment of relief and gratitude. "Bless you. Bless you. Bless you," Jones said through tears. "I never thought this day would come." While he pondered how he could ever "pay her back" and said that "words aren't enough," Schecter reminded him that now he should live out his life. "There's something bold for you to do. God will give it to you," she told him. "You've got a good kidney now. Just go forward and do what you need to do." Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Thats a very real concern, not the least of which is because its expensive to have outside counsel come in, Carter said. The (Attorney General or office representative) comes up, and we have to divert our resources for a third of our cases, plus he or she is going to want an office to work out of. Digital surveillance is one of the most debated subjects. We have seen instances of government agencies snoop on a person of interest. Now it is alleged that US colleges are forcing students to install an app that would let the authorities track students. Apparently new students studying at the University of Missouri are being forced to install the SpotterEDU app. The report by Kansas City Star claims that students dont have a choice of whether to install the app. The app makes use of Apples iBeacons to ascertain whether or not a student is in the room. As expected the news has stirred up controversy and has compelled university spokesperson to issue a statement. The official claims that the app is meant only for athletes and the college is piloting the app for less than 2% of students. Furthermore, they also claim that its completely optional. In its defense, college insists that no GPS tracking is enabled and the app will not be able to track students outside the school. Interestingly, SpotterEDU is being tested across 40 schools. The authorities claim that it has been effective in improving students attendance. A Syracuse professor told Washington Post that classes have never been so full and attest that attendance has improved by 90 percent. However, the professor also claims that an earlier version of the app came with GPS and shared coordinates with students. Digital Surveillance is undoubtedly on the rise. Some schools in India took flak for using CCTV cameras for monitoring students. Typically, institutes are using WiFi networks and Bluetooth beacons to track students and further use the data to monitor their performance. Our Take Digital Surveillance in schools and other educational institutions is borderline creepy. It is not a good idea to micromanage students. Increased surveillance in school will also prep students to accept government tracking in the future, which is not a good thing. Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang Manu has commended President Akufo-Addo for delivering on his promise of supplying ambulances to all the 275 constituencies in the country. He says he can now have a good night sleep. Mr. Agyemang had been chastised over developments in the health sector including a promise by government to procure ambulances for every constituency. A lot of Ghanaians took on the Minister especially when the original date for the distribution of the 307 ambulances was postponed. Mr. President, I want to assure you that tonight, I will sleep and I will beg for permission to be late tomorrow, he said while speaking at the commissioning of some 307 ambulances for the country on Tuesday. According to him, he was on the receiving end of the angst and queries by the media and the general public after his ministry launched the use of the drones for the supply of blood and other medicines. Speaking at the commissioning of the ambulances, the Health Minister said many accused him and the government of having misplaced priorities at the time. He was however happy that, despite the criticisms, President Akufo-Addo was able to fulfil health-related promises he made to the good people of Ghana. During the deployment of the drones, I took a lot of bashing from the Parliament and other media platforms who complained that we dont have ambulances but we are deploying drones to fly blood and other medical supplies. But I kept on telling people that the President will deliver on his promises. Mr. President, you have justified my explanation, an elated Health Minister said. President Nana Akufo-Addo on Tuesday, January 28 2020, commissioned the 307 ambulances procured by the government for distribution to all constituencies in the country. The ambulances are fitted with advanced life support equipment and tracking devices. In his address, President Akufo-Addo announced that 112 would now be the new number for all emergency services. The Police Service, the Fire Service and the National Ambulance Service all had emergency response numbers. I am happy to announce that thankfully, we have merged all emergency numbers to one number which is 112, he said. President Akufo-Addo also indicated that, 145 new ambulance stations will be created to give Ghana a total of 275 stations. President Akufo-Addo further appealed to the public to desist from abusing the emergency service number with prank calls. citinewsroom Newshub reports: Despite starring in an air force rock video that has clocked up almost a million views online, Tim Costley hopes his legacy lies not in music but in politics. Costley, a former aide to Prince William, is Nationals candidate for Otaki. The turn to politics comes after a 20-year career in the Air Force and follows an announcement last year that current National MP for Otaki, former Minister of Primary Industries Nathan Guy, would not be seeking reelection. Costley admits that he didnt quite know the effect the video which can be found on YouTube under the title Jet Pilot music video would have. New Delhi, Jan 29 : The European Union Parliament's move to bring and pass resolutions against the Central government over Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and reorganization of Jammu & Kashmir is no big deal if past resolutions are any indicator. Two days ago, 559 members from five groups of the 751-member European Parliament moved resolutions against the CAA, calling it "fundamentally discriminatory in nature" and "dangerous shift" in the citizenship criteria in India. The EU members fear that the CAA will create the "largest statelessness crisis in the world causing immense human suffering". The resolutions will be put to vote on January 29 and 30. Though in its response, government officials have been saying that the CAA, which was passed by the Indian Parliament, is an internal matter, the EU has moved such resolutions earlier too. As per official records, the EU passed resolutions on other internal issues of India including the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and the 2012 gang-rape and murder of Nirbhaya in New Delhi. In the Delhi gang-rape case, the EU Parliament passed a resolution in 2013 with an expectation that India, "being a democracy and having significant relations with the EU, to ensure respect for democratic principles, fundamental rights and human rights, in particular the rule of law and the rights of women". In 2013, the EU Parliament also passed a resolution condemning the execution of Afzal Guru "in secret" at Tihar Jail in New Delhi. Though capital punishment is prevalent under Indian law, the EU Parliament criticized the Manmohan Singh government for the execution acein opposition to the worldwide trend" in favour of abolition of death sentence. The resolution also expressed its regret that Afzal Guru's wife and other family members were not informed of his execution and burial in time. The EU called on India to "adopt legislation introducing a permanent moratorium on executions, with the objective of abolishing the death penalty in the near future." Sources said the resolutions over CAA and Kashmir have been pushed by Parliamentarian, Shaffaq Mohammed who is a British citizen of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) origin. Shaffaq is a member of the British Liberal and represents Yorkshire and the Humber constituency in the EU. He shares a good relationship with the government in PoK and Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been campaigning against India around the world ever since India launched airstrikes against Pakistan terror camps in Balakot last year. "The EU Parliament resolutions will have no bearing on India's relationship with the EU," an official in New Delhi said. An ANZ customer service worker has been sacked for deliberately disconnecting conversations and staying silent on the phone until the caller gave up. The former staffer lost his bid of unfair dismissal after the Fair Work Commission rejected his claims 150 'dumped calls' over a three-month period were the result of a technical fault. The man's role in the company was to confirm the identity of customers and he had worked at the bank for more than 15 years, Australian Financial Review reported. He was fired after his manager learnt many of his phone calls would go for less than one-minute and customers were forced to repeatedly say 'hello' without a response. An ANZ customer service worker has been sacked for deliberately disconnecting conversations and staying silent on the phone until the caller gave up (stock image) The man, who received a warning over dumping calls 18 months earlier, blamed 'tech issues'. He was left without an explanation when his bosses asked why he didn't report the alleged errors earlier. The employee then allegedly faked a telephone error a few days later in front of his manager. 'Hello, hello, I can't hear you,' the man said loudly into the receiver as his manager sat across from him. Phone records from the time of the alleged call revealed he had not received any short calls at the time and there were no disconnection issues, the bank's technical department said. The man said he did not understand how someone could fake a call when the bank alleged him of the fabrication. The former staffer lost his bid of unfair dismissal after the Fair Work Commission rejected his claims 150 'dumped calls' over a three-month period were the result of a technical fault FWC Deputy President Alan Colman slammed the staffer's 'improbable naivety' while rejecting the unfair dismissal claim. 'The obvious potential motivation for a team member not to answer calls would be to avoid doing work, an end that could just as easily be achieved by walking off with the phone left in automatic mode as by 'active' call dumping,' he said. Mr Colman described the claims of a telephone fault as a 'crude hoax'. 'It was in my view with guileful agility that [the employee] sought to conjure a way out of the evidentiary cul-de-sac in which he found himself.' It was determined that ANZ's decision to fire the man was 'well-founded'. Olivia Deeble's family isn't exactly pleased with her new haircut. The former Home and Away star, 17, debuted a shoulder-length long bob (or 'lob') on Wednesday - and while she was delighted with the results, her siblings weren't. She said on Instagram: 'My sister says I look 30 and like a store manager. My brother hates it... so yeah, no regrets.' Scroll down for video Why Olivia Deeble's family is furious over her 'Karen' haircut: The actress, 17, debuted a much shorter 'do on Wednesday (left), and her siblings aren't happy. Right: Olivia on Home and Away Olivia, who played Raffy Morrison on the popular soap between 2016 and 2019, added that she'd already been mistaken for a woman twice her age. 'I was picking up my brother from school today and someone asked if I was his mum,' she confessed. Olivia's new haircut is certainly stylish, but shorter women's hairstyles are unfortunately associated with the 'Karen' stereotype. A bad decision? 'My sister says I look 30 and like a store manager,' Olivia said, adding that strangers had already mistaken her for a woman twice her age Whoops: Olivia's new haircut is certainly stylish, but shorter women's hairstyles are unfortunately associated with the 'Karen' stereotype. Pictured: Kate Gosselin, who is considered a typical Generation X 'Karen' 'Karen' is a millennial and Gen-Z insult for a Generation X woman who is short tempered and often asks to 'speak to the manager'. American TV personality Kate Gosselin's hairstyle is often considered synonymous with 'Karens'. Meanwhile, Olivia recently returned from Toronto, where she had been filming the Disney+ film Secret Society of Second Born Royals. Farewell to Summer Bay: Olivia filmed her last episode of Home and Away in September Famous role: She played Raffy Morrison on the popular soap between 2016 and 2019. Pictured with her co-star James Stewart, who plays Justin Morgan She filmed her last episode of Home and Away in September. At the time, she told her Instagram followers: 'After three years and almost 1,000 episodes, I have completed my journey in the Bay.' Olivia now has her sights set on an acting career in Hollywood, following in the footsteps of Chris Hemsworth, Tammin Sursok and others. The world is her oyster: Olivia now has her sights set on an acting career in Hollywood, following in the footsteps of Chris Hemsworth, Tammin Sursok and others On Wednesday evening, British Airways announced it was suspending all flights to and from mainland China. In response, Qantas said they were monitoring the situation but for now, services would remain as scheduled. The government's top medical committee advised on Wednesday new evidence had emerged revealing the virus could transfer between humans without them showing symptoms. Mr Morrison said Australians wanting to leave Hubei had to decide quickly if they wanted to board the flight that would take them out of Hubei to Christmas Island detention centre for quarantine. He said infants, the elderly, and others without long-term support in the area would be prioritised. Consular officials arrived in Wuhan on Wednesday from Shanghai and began the task of assessing which Australians are in the most need of being evacuated. "I stress there is rather a limited window here and we are moving very, very swiftly to ensure we can put this plan together and put the operation together," Mr Morrison said. "This will be done on a last in, first out basis." Loading There are now more than 6000 cases worldwide of the flu-like disease. Up to 5970 of those have been in China, with 132 deaths. A dozen cities in Hubei province are now in lockdown, isolating 35 million people. In a series of meetings on Wednesday afternoon, Qantas and the government grappled with the operational hurdles to get the Australians out of the city. Qantas has never flown to Wuhan and it will need to receive clearance from the closed airport to put up to 400 Australians on a Boeing-747 the largest plane it has available. The design of Christmas Island's runway, which is not grooved, also means it can not land on the island with a full passenger load. The airline is considering landing the larger plane at an airport on the Australian mainland and then seeking government co-operation to transfer passengers onto smaller aircraft to the detention centre. Mr Morrison said he could not guarantee the operation would succeed or that Qantas would be able to make multiple trips. Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy said those who took the flight would have to consent to going to Christmas Island as part of being transported. Minister for Health Greg Hunt, Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne announce that evacuees from Hubei Province in China will be sent to Christmas Island for quarantine. Credit: AAP Former Hubei resident Cheng Chen said the Christmas Island quarantine could deter those trapped in Wuhan from seeking help. "It's going to be very hard for them to return to normal life. I doubt many people will get on the flight but it depends on how desperate they are," said the head of the Hubei Association of South Australia. Mike Yang, who has more than a dozen family members in Wuhan, said the situation was deteriorating on the ground as supplies ran short. He said transferring Australians to Christmas Island could exacerbate a tense set of circumstances. Loading "They appreciate what the government is doing. People would prefer to be transferred to the mainland but they accept that this might cause concerns and panic among the general public," he said. "Even if they could be transferred to a nearer island to the mainland that would help emotionally and mentally." Christmas Island resident Philip Tubb feared the detention centre did not have the facilities to cope with hundreds of people being quarantined. "We are sending a large number of people, some of whom might become seriously ill on a tiny little island in the middle of the Indian Ocean that has quite limited medical facilities and putting them behind razor wire," he said. Between Jan. 20 and 26, more than 129,000 people were displaced a number that includes some who have been displaced multiple times from southern Idlib and the western Aleppo countryside, according to data from the United Nations local partners shared with The Washington Post. The United Nations estimates that almost 400,000 have been displaced since Dec. 1, said David Swanson, spokesman for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Leva Hotels & Resorts has signed an agreement with the Golden Group Holding to manage two hotels in Muscat, marking the debut of the Leva brand in Oman. While the 85-room Safeer Continental Hotel will be reflagged as a four-star Leva Hotel, the 61-keys Safeer Plaza Suites will be operated under Levas three-star Ekono brand. Making the announcement, Sheikh Salim bin Ahmed Al Ghazali, chairman, Golden Group Holding, stated: We are delighted to welcome the Leva and Ekono brands to Oman and believe these are the perfect fit for our properties. It will allow us to diversify our brand portfolio while offering a new experience to guests. JS Anand, founder and chief executive officer of Leva Hotels & Resorts, said, We are proud to collaborate with the prestigious Golden Group Holding and thrilled to launch both Leva and Ekono brands in Oman with two fantastic hotels. Being a young hospitality group, it is a momentous milestone for us and will bolster our expansion across the GCC. We are confident the signing of this strategic agreement will open unprecedented opportunities for us as we see enormous potential for growth in the country in the upscale and mid-market sector. Both the properties will offer business and leisure travellers a unique hospitality experience with great value. Anand revealed: Though the hotels are still in great condition, prior to rebranding, the rooms and facilities will be fully refurbished to maximise the appeal. Our plan is to create inspired and thoughtful spaces in keeping with the Leva spirit to connect with modern travellers. The two hotels enjoy outstanding location within walking distance to each other in the Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos district merely 15 minutes away from Muscat International Airport, 10-minute drive from Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and Royal Opera House Muscat. The famous Qurum Beach and Muttrah Corniche are also in close vicinity to the properties. Oman has distinguished itself as a unique tourism destination with a wide range of responsible, eco, cultural and heritage attractions on offer. Tourism arrivals to the country are expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of five per cent until 2023 to reach 3.5 million. This growth is supported by the recently opened Muscat International Airport expansion as well as strategic investment from the government as it turns to tourism to diversify its income streams. Hotel supply in Muscat is dominated by the upper-midscale segment of the market, with four-star properties currently accounting for 32 per cent, five-star properties accounting for 24 per cent and three-star properties accounting for just 14 per cent. - TradeArabia News Service TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Sen. Rick Scott of Florida injected himself into the 2020 presidential race, airing an ad in Iowa days ahead of a crucial caucus by attacking the Democratic-led impeachment trial against President Donald Trump and accusing former Vice-President Joe Biden of corruption. The ad buy by the wealthy and politically ambitious Republican U.S. Senator was not just a volley into the current race, but also further signalled his ambitions for 2024 when he is up for re-election or free to pursue higher political ambitions. In his 30-second ad, Scott thanks Democrats for botching this impeachment charade. The real story here is the corruption Joe Biden got away with, Scott says in his ad. Trump and his Republican allies accuse the former vice-president of using his office to help his son Hunter in his business dealings, including for his work in Ukraine. As a U.S. senator and former governor of Florida, Scott would have instant name recognition in his crucial battleground home state. But Floridas current governor, Gov. Ron DeSantis, a close Trump ally, may also have his eyes on the White House and is widely seen as a likely front-runner, should he decide a run. Regardless of the outcome of the November presidential election, Republicans will have to line up a candidate for 2024 to succeed Trump, should he be reelected, or to recapture the White House should a Democrat prevail this fall. Biden campaign spokesman Bill Russo accused the Florida senator of peddling the same disproven lies that has become part of the presidents narrative. So why is he airing an ad this week in Iowa? Simple. We are less than a week from the Iowa Caucuses, and President Trump is getting worried that the failed smear campaign that got him impeached isnt working, Russo said in an emailed statement. An AP Fact-check published last month found the presidents accusations against Biden without merit. Last year, a whistleblower alleged Trump tried to pressure Ukraines leader to investigate the Bidens. Those allegations are now at the centre of the impeachment trial underway in the U.S. Senate. The U.S. House impeached Trump last month, saying he solicited the interference of a foreign government, Ukraine, in the 2020 United States presidential election. In his ad, Scott refers to himself as a juror in the U.S. Senate and accuses Democrats of spending so much time in a coverup for Joe Biden. The senators spokesman, Chris Hines, discounted speculation of a potential 2024 bid. The message in the ad speaks for itself, Hines said. His goal is to get his message at a time and place where he can get peoples attention and right now its Iowa, he said. Susan MacManus, a former University of South Florida political scientist, said Scott is clearly trying to grab attention. Hes trying to grab the attention of Republicans nationally, not just in Iowa, she said. While the 2024 election is still far beyond the horizon for most, MacManus acknowledged, he has got to start expanding his name recognition nationally. At a Wednesday morning news conference, DeSantis, who frequently touts his close relationship with Trump, declined to take questions from reporters. Medical staff members wearing protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus which began in the city, arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan, China, on Jan. 25, 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) Wuhan Resident Openly Criticizes Local Authorities Response to the Coronavirus Outbreak Wuhans city officials released a public statement on Jan. 22 to address the outbreak of the Wuhan pneumonia that sent fear and panic across the city. But one resident openly criticized the authorities in a letter that went viral on Chinese social media, expressing indignation over the way theyve been handling the crisis. The local health commission discovered in December a new type of coronavirus, also referred to as Wuhan pneumonia, and there is no cure. However, according to insiders, the health commission decided not to alert the public when the disease got out of control. Ever since a new coronavirus was discovered in Wuhan, a battle against the disease has been launched. Presently, a citywide disease control and prevention campaign has been deployed in an orderly manner. However, the overall situation of the disease is very serious. Everyone must share the responsibility to prevent the virus from further spreading, the public statement read. A local woman responded to the statement in a letter, which was later posted on Chinese social media by an internet user. I am an ordinary citizen of Wuhan who loves this city very much. I work here and I am willing to contribute as much as I can to this city. However, I was appalled by the letter that Wuhans municipal Party Committee and municipal government wrote to the citizens. I believe I have the right to express my indignation. The woman criticized the authorities for calling the outbreak a natural calamity and pointed out their lack of oversight in wildlife animal trade, which is driven by demand for exotic delicacies and ingredients for traditional Chinese medicine. In your letter you said we cannot prevent the occurrence of a natural calamity. However, is it really a natural calamity? The culprit is the Huanan Seafood Marketit was in operation for a long time even though it ignored the rules and regulations. For how many years has the market been selling wild birds and mammals openly? Why is that you officials failed to spot what ordinary citizens get to see all the time? Why didnt the Administration of Industry and Commerce perform its duty? What was going on with the public health commission and the inspection and quarantine department? China prohibits the trafficking of a variety of wild animals, or requires special licenses, but the regulations for commercially farmed animals is less stringent. Authorities say the coronavirus emerged from illegally traded wildlife in Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan. The market has been temporarily shut down since Jan. 1. The origin of the new coronavirus is the wildlife sold illegally in a Wuhan seafood market, Gao Fu, director of China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told a briefing. Some experts believe the virus was passed on to humans from snakes. But Chinese government medical adviser Zhong Nanshan has also identified badgers and rats as possible sources, The Associated Press reported. Chinas wildlife markets has also been the source of outbreaks of other infectious diseases in China and southeast Asia, including the virus responsible for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which killed nearly 800 people worldwide in 2003, according to The Associated Press. The woman accused the authorities of covering up the outbreak, which resulted in the spread of the Wuhan pneumonia. At the beginning of the outbreak of Wuhan pneumonia, you [the authorities] claimed that it would not spread from human to human, and it later turned out to be very wrong. You claimed there were no deaths, and that was also wrong. You claimed there was not a single case of medical personnel being infected, which turned out to be wrong again! Dont you feel ashamed? Is it really that difficult to tell the truth? All supervision departments failed to perform their duty. These are the very reasons that the disease is getting out of control. Why should we citizens pay the price for their illegal practice and dereliction of duty? Because of other peoples wrongdoing and negligence, we ordinary citizens now have to cancel our trips, and spend a lot of money on protection gear. Our lives have been put at risk! Why do you expect us to bear the consequences? You [authorities] are very clever in trying to fool the people by blaming others and making excuses. You say were all in the same boat and in this together. But you wont be able to get away with it. I am demanding an explanation from you! Censors have been monitoring the internet and detaining people who post information about the outbreak. The Chinese communist regime has been ruling China with an iron hand. It is uncommon for an ordinary citizen to directly challenge the authorities. Officials locked down Wuhan, a city of roughly 11 million in central China, on Jan. 23. Public transportation and airports were shut down. Residents were told not to leave unless they had special circumstances. So far, altogether 13 cities have been locked down, affecting 41 million people. Beijing and Shanghai both suspended trans-provincial inbound and outbound buses. Dramatic footage has captured the moment day turned into night when a huge blaze engulfed firefighters. Crews from the Dunmore RFS were at Tomerong on the New South Wales South Coast earlier this month when a sudden change in wind caused a huge firestorm to sweep through area. Within just three minutes, the crews were plunged into darkness, quickly fleeing the area as the inferno from the Currowan bushfire began to close in. Flames were seen flying through the sky and razing the grass that firefighters were standing on just moments before. Firefighters had arrived at the area just before 7pm on January 4 to receive supplies from other units. The high winds had arrived ten minutes earlier than forecast. Around five minutes later a southerly wind began to sweep through the area. The firefighters said they were then hit with an 'ember attack' after winds reached highs of 100km/h. 'Extreme ember attack, spot fires and overrun hits our crew and truck,' Dunmore RFS wrote on Facebook. Slide me In under four minutes, crews from the Dunmore RFS were plunged into darkness after the Currowan Fire began to close in Firefighters were then seen rushing to get into the truck before driving away from the mass inferno. 'The crew continues for another nine minutes on the ground bringing a massive positive outcome, with a complete safe crew, protected truck and property saved,' Dunmore RFS said. 'This is why it is extremely important to have a bush fire survival plan, and make sure you make a decision early on what you will do if threatened by fire,' NSW RFS said after sharing the video. After firefighters fled the area, strong winds brought the flames into the area in Tomerong in New South Wales's South Coast Embers are seen flying through the sky in the area that minutes earlier was calm The Currowan bushfire that started in December ripped through large areas of NSW's South Coast for several weeks. It tore through Batesmans Bay, Ulladulla, Nowra and other areas in the Southern Highlands and South Coast. Conjola Park was also hit with around 50 properties being destroyed by the fire. Homes were also destroyed from the blaze in Bundanoon and Wingello. Flames are seen razing the grass that firefighters were standing on just moments earlier The repercussions of being homeless as a child younger than 6 can be lifelong, and the strain often shows in their speech, behavior, development and health, according to child-care workers and experts. They may be nonverbal, or act out. Theyre often sick, but may not have a pediatrician. They may not even know how to brush their teeth. The impact on these young children is gigantic, said Darcy Lowell, chief executive of Child First. Based in Trumbull, the agency provides counseling and practical help to families in their homes, and in homeless and domestic violence shelters. About 1,660 Connecticut families with children under age 6 sought help in obtaining stable housing in 2018, according to state figures. There arent state statistics on the total number of young children who are homeless or in unstable housing situations. Many people remain under the radar and dont seek help for a variety of reasons, such as hiding from domestic violence; fear that the state will take their children from them; or fear that a family they are staying with may be deported, advocates say. Now, the state, childrens advocates and housing organizations are participating in an initiative that focuses specifically on pregnant women and children under 6 who are homeless or housing unstable. The three-year, $1 million collaborative intends to prevent homelessness and collect data, with the hope of avoiding lifelong problems and costly remedies. We will now have evidence about whether diverting children from shelters will have both short- and long-term outcomes, which is fantastic, said Richard Cho, executive director of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness. Tania Rodriguez lived in homeless shelters with her children from June to December. In the end, who suffers the most? Its the kids, she said. Her 3-year-old daughter, Charlotte, got so thin in the shelters that her pants wouldnt stay up on her waist, Rodriguez said. Charlotte was continuously angry, distracted, crying and not interested in eating. The family, which also includes Caroline, 7, moved to a West Haven apartment in December. The childrens appetites have improved, and they are calm, although Caroline still gets chest pains believed to be stress-related, Rodriguez said. For the Peaslee family of Vernon, housing insecurity has also taken a toll. Colton, 6, has angry outbursts, is hyperactive, constantly seeks attention, has difficulty following directions and often looks like he isnt listening, said his mother, Rachel Peaslee. Colton lived with his mother and sister in a homeless shelter for three months. Before that, the children split a year living with an aunt, then a day-care worker while their mother was in drug rehabilitation. Being in an unstable situation, its a horrible thing, Rachel Peaslee said. Families in unstable housing can seek help from the state collaborative by calling 211, the United Way hotline. Assistance includes money for one-time expenses, such as car repairs, unpaid sick days or a security deposit, so they wont be short on rent money. Over the next two years, housing programs will receive financial incentives for keeping families with a child younger than 6 out of homeless shelters and for offering help to children, such as developmental screenings. The project is a collaboration of the state Office of Early Childhood, the Connecticut Department of Housing, the University of Connecticut School of Social Work and CCEH. Preventing lifelong consequences like adult homelessness and alcohol and drug dependence also is a goal, Cho said. Kathryn Parr, assistant research professor at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work, is collecting data for the project. She anticipates periodic interviews with about 400 families over 12 months. In 2016, Parr estimated that costs of services for homelessness can reach $122,450 per family, compared to about $1,000 per family for homeless diversion programs. A 2015 state study of homeless children estimated a broad range between 3,000 and 9,000 homeless families with young children in Connecticut. More specific numbers havent been determined. Parr said little research has been done on the physical health of very young homeless children, but that studies of those between the ages of 5 and 10 found more asthma, ear infections, lead toxicity cases and emergency room visits. A major concern is brain development, said Elena Trueworthy, director of the Connecticut Head Start Collaboration Office. She said homeless children are given priority for placement in Head Start preschool programs, where they bond with caregivers, eat nutritional food, make friends, and nap comfortably, all of which enhance brain development. While children are attending Head Start, parents get time to deal with their housing issues. In 2018, a total of 487 homeless pregnant women and children younger than 6 attended Head Start programs, Trueworthy said. Charlotte Rodriguez is now in a Head Start preschool. Joan Neveski, clinical manager of Youth and Outpatient Clinical Services at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington, said more services are needed. There arent a lot of higher levels of care for these children, she said, adding you have to create a village around the family. Rodriguez, the West Haven mother, is being helped by such a village. She said she was a physician in Cuba before she moved to the U.S. 11 years ago seeking political asylum. But, here, she cleaned houses and worked in retail and fast food jobs. She now attends school to become a certified nursing assistant. Under the state Rapid Re-housing program, she was connected with New Reach, a nonprofit that focuses on housing stability. New Reach helped her with her lease and apartment inspection, administers state subsidies that pay a portion of her rent, and helps her obtain other services such as state-funded van transportation to the childrens schools so Rodriguez can get to her classes. Out of the shelters, the children have changed a lot, Rodriguez said. Their faces, their eyes, their look. They are happy now. This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team ( c-hit.org ), a nonprofit news organization dedicated to health reporting. Members of the Thai Airways crew disinfect the cabin of an aircraft of the national carrier during a procedure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand, January 28, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha Reuters The mysterious coronavirus spreading around the world poses a "substantial" risk to global air travel and the aerospace sector, an analyst for Canaccord Genuity is warning, and the effects are already being seen in flight cancelations. However, the long-term financial impact of the outbreak could be less severe. Ken Herbert, an analyst at financial-services firm Canaccord, said in a research note that although it's "very early into the current coronavirus outbreak," several other outbreaks in recent years provide a framework that can be applied to the current situation. The note mentioned that although the current outbreak appears to be spreading faster than those past viruses, it has been less deadly so far. Herbert said an average revenue drop of 13% has been observed over past outbreaks, citing data from the International Air Transport Association, an airline trade organization. "However, we believe that all things considered, traffic tends to recover relatively quickly after a pandemic outbreak," Herbert said. The brunt of the impact is expected to be borne by Chinese airlines that service Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak particularly those like China Southern, China Eastern, and Air China. International airlines that fly to the region are likely to see an impact as well. For instance, United Airlines announced on Tuesday that it would cancel 24 flights to and from China in early February, as customer demand has plummeted due to the coronavirus outbreak. Story continues "Due to a significant decline in demand for travel to China, we are suspending some flights between our hub cities and Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai beginning February 1 through February 8," a spokesperson for the airline said in a statement. "We will continue to monitor the situation as it develops and will adjust our schedule as needed." Past outbreaks as 'an economic sledgehammer' The current virus has drawn comparison to the severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, outbreak in 2003, a natural connection because both are caused by a coronavirus. SARS had a higher fatality rate about 10%, compared to 3% from the current virus which made it "an economic sledgehammer to airlines in the Asia-Pacific region," the Canaccord report said. As a result of SARS, which ultimately infected around 8,100 people, the report said revenue per passenger kilometer otherwise known as RPK, and also measured in revenue per passenger mile, or RPM fell by 35% at the worst of the outbreak, and led to an 8% decline in RPKs in the region for all of 2003. The 2015 Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, outbreak also led to a strong impact. Although the infection only reached 1,300 people in the Middle East and South Korea, the report cited an unusually high 38% fatality rate led to a 12% dive in RPKs in the South Korean market for the first month of the disease's spread, although passenger volumes recovered within two months. In the past, the size of the total infected population seemed to have more of an impact on airline revenue than the lethality of the disease. The 2005 Avian Flu outbreak in Asia had a staggering 52% mortality rate, but only about 116 people were infected. Regional RPKs only dropped 2%, and recovered quickly. Read the original article on Business Insider Russian gas giant Gazprom may have inadvertently saved the Ukrainian gas market, namely Naftogaz. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. For years, Naftogazs top leadership has been grappling with corrupt government officials, trying to explain to them the benefits of becoming a more modern, open market energy system in line with EU standards for the oil and gas trade. So while Naftogaz CEO Andriy Kobolyev may very well be the unsung hero in all this, battling for nearly six years against one of Russias most important and powerful state-controlled companies, it was Vladimir Putins insistence that Gazproms return to Ukraine being dependent on Ukraine getting its act together in line with European norms for the energy market that may have changed everything. Thats what Janez Kopac, Director of the Energy Community, an EU body that designs the regulatory framework for local energy markets involving non-EU players, said in Davos on January 23. Kopac spent years trying to get the Ukraine state-run gas firms, of which Naftogaz is a part, to unbundle its dysfunctional transmission business, among other things. Kopacs Energy Community served as advisor, a policeman, and mediator in numerous gas market reform discussions in Ukraine since 2014, he said. It was not easy. There were a lot of dirty stories behind the scenes, but its over, he said, without explaining further. In the last month, the biggest push for European oriented gas market reforms in Ukraine came from Gazprom because Putin said that if Ukraine would comply fully with European rules they will sign a transit contract, Kopac said. Ukrainian authorities adopted all those measures; measures that were not done for years. Back in 2014, corruption and an overbearing Russian influence came together to upend Ukrainian politics. It was ground zero corruption some have called it that blew up the government of Viktor Yanukovych and tore Ukraine from Russias age-old sphere of influence. It has been orbiting lost ever since, not quite with Russia anymore, and not quite in Europes either. In Washington, its like a one-hit-wonder: good for military sales and sources of foreign intrigue, but thats about it. U.S. companies might be invested more in Kazakhstan than in Ukraine. Their fight has been an ugly and bloody one. Much of its origins can be traced to Gazprom and Naftogaz as Putin offered Yanukovych a subsidized gas deal if he rejected a broader economic deal with Europe. That seems to be one of the bigger sparks that set off the revolt against the Yanukovych government some seven years ago. Ukraine is still reeling from that crisis, as is Russia. In an odd way, the rift between Russia and Ukraine made European policy makers pay more attention to Ukraine and to reconsider its dependence on Russian natural gas. There was a sense that Russia could use natural gas supplies as a weapon against Europe, which it never did nor threatened. Gazprom has, however, withheld deliveries to Ukraine on numerous occasions, something the Russian state-owned energy giant has blamed on Kyiv incompetence, corruption and contract breaches. Russia then moved to partner with Turkey and Germany to build two new pipelines; pipelines Ukraine and Washingtons Eurasia diplomatic corp and think tank fellows all considered to be anti-Ukraine projects. Sanctions ensued, and remain. Despite the new Nord Stream 2 pipeline connecting Russia to Germany via the Baltic Sea, now nearing completion, Europe is reducing natural gas in its energy matrix. Russia remains a key foreign supplier of natural gas, but countries from the U.K. to Germany are just using less of it. Naftogazs deal with Russia returns Ukraine as a transit route into southern Europe. This is good news for both the company and the country. The December settlement of a years-old court battle between the two also forced the Ukrainian Gas Transmissions Systems Operator to remap how they transmit energy, making it more of a European-style system. Kobolyev said that new Naftogaz contract with Gazprom following the settlement would not return Ukraine to previous delivery volumes, but that it was acceptable. He also told a crowd in Davos that the deal allowed the removal of transmission bottlenecks with Europe. Ukraine, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia can now freely exchange gas flows through Ukrainian territory. Kobolyev said corporate governance reform needed to make improvements, too, before Ukraine becomes a place where European energy companies want to invest, or, at the very least, want to store natural gas. Ukraine has many underground storage facilities that are largely untapped and can be used for Europe, eventually, if the reforms and the trust are there. Over the years, there have been numerous attempts to reverse energy reform in Ukraine and that kept the country beholden to Gazprom. But recent moves to unbundle transmission operations could turn Ukraines energy market into less of a den of political backstabbers and out of control, often spiteful oligarchs, and make it more reliable to new investors and customers. Naftogaz has been out of the Russian gas market for the last five years due to the political crisis between Kyiv and Moscow. We all know the problems with Ukrainian gas legislation and we all know the issues that are unresolved still, Kobolyev said. He did not go out of his way in Davos to throw a bone to the Russians. For many in official Kyiv circles, Russia is a sore spot. From the point of view of Gazprom, some of those issues were damaging to them so it was a good excuse for them to stay away from Ukraine, he said. When those issues are fixed, I think you will see more investment here...and it starts with Russias Gazprom. Read the original text at Forbes.com. A teacher has been suspended from a Connecticut school after casting two children of color as slaves in a school play, in which they would be whipped by other children as part of their role. Carmen and Joshua Parker, the parents of a fifth-grade biracial 10-year-old girl, are furious that their daughter was cast as a slave in a school play at West Woods Elementary School in Hamden. 'I was trying to make sense of the whipping of the children, the children were going to be whipping the slaves ,' said Joshua Parker, the girl's father. A poster shows the play that the 10-year-old student was to appear as a slave in at West Woods Elementary School Carmen and Joshua Parker (pictured) are the parents of a fifth-grade biracial 10-year-old girl, who was cast as a slave in a school play at West Woods Elementary School in Hamden The girl's mother, Dr Carmen Parker, added: 'The scene starts with nameless slaves one and two getting pushed towards the ship by the slave owner and a child is acting as the slave owner.' She added that the script directs the slave owner to 'crack a whip at our children'. The teacher involved was suspended from the school in light of their complaint but the couple feel it's not enough. They said they are hoping for a 'plan of action' as they feel the school district doesn't respond appropriately to racist incidents. Video courtesy FOX 61 Dr Carmen Parker can be seen talking during a meeting of the Hamden School Board last night, where she asked for a plan of action with regards to addressing racism in the district A leaflet for the play is titled, 'A Triangle of Trade: The Colonial Slave Trade', and features an image of rowers transporting slaves on a canoe boat towards European ships. The 'triangular' trade is a term used to describe the movement of slaves, raw materials and manufactured goods between Britain, the Caribbean and Africa before British Abolition. Dr Parker said her problem was not with the play itself, but hoped the board would recommend diversity training for all educators. She added that using a play to explore the issues of colonialism was misguided, as was to cast two of the slave characters with black children. 'That's not how you teach about civil rights,' she said. After the discovery that their 10-year-old had been cast as one of the slaves, they took the issue to the school principal. They said all the help he gave was a four-minute phone conversation. Many teachers present during the board meeting applauded and pledged support to the couple. Minister for Education Peter Weir said the money was needed to address a teachers pay dispute, among other issues (Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA) Northern Irelands under-pressure education system needs at least 400 million a year extra, a minister has said. Education Minister Peter Weir told members of his Assembly scrutiny committee that the money was needed to address a teachers pay dispute, improve special needs provision, bolster schools operating budgets and finance a planned childcare strategy. He said while the executive was expecting a considerable increase in the block grant in the forthcoming budget, it would not be enough to meet the demands of all Stormonts different departments. Certainly several hundred million (pounds), maybe somewhere in the region of about three to four hundred million at least that would need to be increased in terms of the budgetPeter Weir, Education Minister So its how much of that cake that we get, he added. The minister, who was addressing the committee for the first time since the restoration of powersharing, said there was a need for a step change in the level of funding given to his department. The Department of Educations budget is around 2 billion a year. Certainly several hundred million (pounds), maybe somewhere in the region of about three to four hundred million at least that would need to be increased in terms of the budget, he said. Mr Weir told the committee that an agreement between teacher unions and management to resolve an industrial dispute over pay covering the period 2017-19 was oven-ready and just needed the money to finance it. We are estimating in terms of pay roughly about 150 million maybe needed to cover all those aspects in terms of pay not just the settlement (2017-19) but if were looking at potentially what could be settlements for 19/20 and 20/21 and for the non-teaching side of it, he said. Mr Weir said around 75 million was needed to improve special needs provision. On the issues many schools were facing to cover their day to day budgets, the minister said: To essentially get it to the point where the head is above water, ideally we need at least 50 or 60 million on that side of things. The deal that restored powersharing includes a commitment to develop a childcare strategy. Mr Weir said if the executive moved to a model that would see the provision of 30 free hours of childcare a week, it could cost between 40 million to 90 million a year. He said the Executive wanted to move quickly on the issue of childcare but cautioned that a new system would not be ready in the forthcoming financial year. The minister said he was committed to implementing reforms within his department that could deliver cost-savings. But he warned that reforms alone could not plug the funding hole. You can do all the reforms in the world and it will not come anywhere close to filling that level of gap, he said. By BETSY HAMMOND Tech entrepreneurs Christine and David Vernier have given Portland State $4.5 million to help remake its 50-year-old science building into a modernized and lively hive for hands-on science and technology education, the university announced Wednesday. The Verniers gift, one of many they have made to the downtown Portland university, represents 60% of the money the university would likely need to raise to qualify for $75 million from state borrowing for the science building update. The Legislature is expected to give serious consideration to awarding about $300 million in bond proceeds to Oregons seven public universities to remodel and expand aging campus buildings. Under a proposal vetted and endorsed by Oregons Higher Education Coordinating Commission, PSUs science building would be the largest beneficiary. This building, known by the exciting name Science Building One, dates to 1967 and is slated for a major modernization and expansion.Portland State University Opened in 1967, the hulking seven-story building houses classrooms, labs and offices for biology, chemistry, environmental science, physics, electron microscopy and nanofabrication. It is located near the west end of the downtown campus on Mill Street. If the renovation and expansion happen as planned, the building will also house a new center devoted to helping Latino, black and Native students and students of all backgrounds whose parents and grandparents never attended college to thrive in the sciences. Christine and David Vernier, founders of Vernier Software & Technology, have given another multi-million dollar gift to Portland State University.Courtesy of Portland State University The plan is to rename the building, which currently goes by the exciting name Science Building One, the Vernier Science Center, in honor of the couples decades-long commitment to the urban university. Neither of them attended Portland State, but Christine Vernier has served for years on its board of trustees. The couple made their money by founding and running an eponymous Beaverton-based company that manufactures scientific instruments, software and sensors. Portland State officials said the building redevelopment could be a boon to the Oregon economy because more than 80 percent of Portland State graduates in the fields of science, math, engineering and technology remain in Oregon. In a statement, the universitys associate dean for research predicted more innovation and discovery would result from the upgraded laboratories and learning spaces. We know a culturally competent state-of-the-art science center will help students nurture their curiosity and develop the skills and confidence to empower discovery, Todd Rosenstiel said. Diversity of thought and experience is the foundation of real innovation and discovery. David Vernier, also in a written statement, shared that prediction that more PSU students will try and stick with science. We are thrilled that our contribution to new PSU classrooms and research spaces will improve the teaching and learning experience for instructors and students alike and help give students from every background a great opportunity to learn science, he said. If lawmakers approve bond funding for the package of building upgrades the higher ed commission has endorsed, the second largest pool of money -- $57 million would go to upgrade a similar-looking early 1970s science building at the University of Oregon. Note: This article has been updated to reflect the higher education commissions updated estimates for how much in bond proceeds the PSU and UO buildings should receive and how much matching money Portland State would need to receive from donors. -- Betsy Hammond; betsyhammond@oregonian.com; @ChalkUp Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. File image: Congress leader P Chidambaram BJP leaders have "bid goodbye" to civilised political discourse as they are facing "imminent defeat" in the Delhi assembly elections, Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram today said. He hit out at Union minister Anurag Thakur and other BJP leaders such as West Delhi MP Parvesh Verma and party's West Bengal president Dilip Ghosh, saying the language used by them is "appalling" and asked why the prime minister and the BJP chief are not admonishing them. "The language used by Minister Anurag Thakur, BJP MP Parvesh Verma, BJP State President Dilip Ghosh snd BJP Karnataka Minister CT Ravi is appalling. "It seems that, faced with imminent defeat in the Delhi elections, the BJP leaders have bid goodbye to civilised political discourse," Chidambaram said on Twitter. "Why are the PM and the BJP President not admonishing these leaders," he also asked. BJP MP Verma on Tuesday raised the spectre of Shaheen Bagh's anti-CAA protesters in their lakhs entering homes to rape and kill women, provoking opposition outrage as the Delhi election chief submitted a report on his remarks to the Election Commission. Verma also said what happened in Kashmir with Kashmiri Pandits could happen in Delhi too. In another election rally, Union Minister of State for Finance Thakur egged on the crowd to raise an incendiary slogan -- "shoot the traitors" -- after he lashed out at anti-CAA protesters. Coming out in support of Thakur, who is facing flak for his 'provocative' slogans, Karnataka Tourism Minister Ravi has said anti-nationals should get bullet and not biryani. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel announced the planned vote on Tuesday, just as President Trump unveiled a long-awaited peace plan that would make Jerusalem the undivided capital of Israel without requiring the country to uproot any West Bank settlements. The annexation would establish what the countrys leaders have coveted since 1967: a permanent eastern border for Israel along the Jordan River, recognized by the United States. Thats certain to further inflame Palestinians. Context: Mr. Trumps plan offers the Palestinians the possibility of a state with limited sovereignty and essentially dismantles 60 years of bipartisan support for a negotiated process between Israelis and Palestinians. Response: The Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, immediately denounced it as a conspiracy deal, and none of the United States Arab allies formally endorsed it. Another angle: The announcements by Mr. Trump, who is fighting impeachment charges, and Mr. Netanyahu, who is under indictment, seemed designed to bolster their domestic political fortunes, our national security correspondent writes. Funding for the Penlink Road and bridge from Whangaparaoa Peninsula to Redvale is included in a package of Government investment in infrastructure announced by Minister Phil Twyford today. The funding provides $411 million, enough to fully fund the building of a two-lane road, and brings the projected start date forward from 2025 to late 2021. A public private partnership, long thought of as the way to get the build to happen, is no longer needed. Labour List MP based in Rodney, Marja Lubeck says the road will be future proofed for four lanes. She says the funding announcement is fantastic news for the people and businesses of Whangaparaoa Peninsula, Silverdale, Millwater, Dairy Flat and Wainui. Mayor Phil Goff described the funding as a wise investment in Auckland, providing infrastructure that will help the city cope with growth. Other transport projects included in the package are: Mill Road corridor ($1.3 billion, starting late 2022); third lanes in each direction from Papakura to Drury ($423 million, starting late 2020); Third main heavy rail trunk line from Quay St/Britomart station to Wiri Station ($315 million, starting late 2020); Electrification of Papakura to Pukekohe line ($371 million, starting late 2020); Two new train stations in Drury ($247 million, starting 2023);Skypath and Seapath ($360 million, starting 2021). January 24, 2020 On January 24 (local time), 2020, Mr. Makihara Hideki, State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, attended a Ministerial Meeting on the World Trade Organization (WTO) Negotiations on Electronic Commerce, held in Davos, Switzerland, as a co-chair, and exchanged views with other participating ministers concerning the expected progress of future negotiations. Overview On January 24, 2020, State Minister Makihara and Mr. Wakamiya Kenji, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, together with H.E. Mr. Mathias Hubert Paul Cormann, Minister for Finance, Australia, and H.E. Mr. S Iswaran, Minister for Communications and Information, Singapore, hosted the Ministerial Meeting on WTO Negotiations on Electronic Commerce in Davos, Switzerland. At the meeting, participating ministers exchanged views concerning approaches to building up the momentum in the WTO negotiations on Electronic Commerce into and beyond the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12) as well as other issues. Moreover, ministers agreed to develop a consolidated negotiating text by MC12. Participating countries stated the need for smooth advancement of discussions for developing commercially meaningful, high-standard rules for further expansion of the digital economy and expressed expectations for the further advancement of negotiations. State Minister Makihara expressed that Japan, upholding the Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT) concept, intends to promote international discussions on the digital economy under the Osaka Track, a framework launched at the G20 Osaka Summit meeting. This is hoped to make a positive impact on progress in the negotiations on electronic commerce. He called on participating countries to accelerate the negotiations on electronic commerce aiming to make high-standard rules with as many member countries as possible. After the meeting, three co-chairs countries announced a joint media release. Related Document Division in Charge Multilateral Trade System Department, Trade Policy Bureau White House Told Bolton That Manuscript Included Top Secret Classified Information The White House told former national security adviser John Bolton that his manuscript included significant amounts of classified information, according to a Jan. 23 letter made public on Jan. 29. Bolton has a book scheduled for a March release; parts of the book were leaked to the media, which published some of the details. The letter was sent to Boltons lawyer, Charles Cooper, from Ellen Knight, the senior director for records, access, and information security management for the White House National Security Council. Based on our preliminary review, the manuscript appears to contain significant amounts of classified information. It also appears that some of this classified information is at the TOP SECRET level, which is defined by Executive Order 13526 as information that reasonably could be expected to cause exceptionally grave harm to the national security of the United States if disclosed without authorization, Knight wrote. Under federal law and the nondisclosure agreements your client signed as a condition for gaining access to classified information, the manuscript may not be published or otherwise disclosed without the deletion of this classified information. The council was still reviewing the manuscript, Knight added, adding that she would be in touch soon with additional, more detailed guidance. The manuscript remains under review in order for us to do our best to assist your client by identifying the classified information within the manuscript, while at the same time ensuring that publication does not harm the national security of the United States, she wrote. We will do our best to work with you to ensure your clients ability to tell his story in a manner that protects U.S. national security. President Donald Trump speaks ahead of signing the United StatesMexicoCanada Agreement, known as USMCA, during a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House on Jan. 29, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) In this image from video, the Senate chamber during the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 28, 2020. (Senate Television via AP) Details from Boltons book, The Room Where It Happened, leaked to media outlets this week. Bolton denied coordinating with the media while National Security Adviser Robert OBrien said that he was pretty confident that the leak didnt come from the National Security Council (NSC). The details, which include the claim that Bolton was told by President Donald Trump that a hold on congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine was to pressure that country into investigating former Vice President Joe Biden, led to fresh calls for Bolton to be subpoenaed in the Senate impeachment trial. Dont wait for the book, House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the lead House impeachment manager, told senators during the trial on Wednesday. Several Republican senators have posited having the NSC release the manuscript to the Senate and have senators view the book in a secret room since the manuscript contains classified information. Another idea is having Bolton hold a press conference and say what he wants about what allegedly happened. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called the proposal for the book to be read in the Senates sensitive compartmented information facility absurd. To what extent are some of our Republican colleagues going to twist themselves [into an] entire pretzel to avoid the truth? he said at a press conference on Tuesday. Our view is simple, we want four witnesses, four documents. Photo: CTV News Health authorities are warning of the spread of misinformation as the deadly coronavirus spreads. The first confirmed case of the virus was announced Tuesday but there has also been unconfirmed talk on social media about infections in New Westminster, Richmond, Burnaby and more, CTV News reports. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, who also fought against Toronto's SARS outbreak in the early 2000s, says unverified rumours are more harmful than anything. "These rumours can lead to discrimination, inappropriate discrimination against people," says Henry. "And I think we need to take all those rumours with a grain of salt and recognize that they are just that rumours." Health officials are the best source of truthful information despite the growing distrust in public institutions on social media. "We are very much open here," says Henry. "We will tell you, as we have today, immediately if we know that somebody is positive for this coronavirus. We are assessing a variety of people on an ongoing basis every day in this province, and that is expected to last for the next few weeks." A popular rumour about the coronavirus is that it is spreadable in people who are not yet showing symptoms. Henry says that health officials have not found any evidence suggesting asymptomatic shedding is occurring. "That's reassuring to us, and that's certainly in line with other coronavirus infections that we've seen in the past like SARS," says Henry. Henry, the man with B.C.'s first case is not in hospital, but is in isolation in his own home after returning to Vancouver from Wuhan, China. More information is available here. with files from CTV News Vancouver WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that the Trump administration can implement its divisive public charge rule, which seeks to withhold citizenship from immigrants the government deems likely to rely on public benefits like Medicaid and Section 8 housing. In the 5-4 vote, conservative-leaning justices voted to grant the administration its request to stay a lower court injunction on the rule while the merits of the case continue to be debated in the lower courts. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor and Stephen G. Breyer voted against the stay. The order is the latest in which the high court has intervened in hard-line immigration cases that have been halted by lower courts and issued rulings allowing them to move forward. In his concurring opinion, Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, a Trump appointee, railed against nationwide injunctions. The rise of nationwide injunctions may just be a sign of our impatient times, he wrote. But good judicial decisions are usually tempered by older virtues. Advocates quickly called out the justices reasoning as hypocritical. The minute a Democratic president starts issuing regulations that the conservative members of the Supreme Court disagree with, watch them suddenly drop all opposition to nationwide injunctions, Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a policy analyst at the American Immigration Council, said on Twitter. Under the public charge rule proposed last August by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Trump administration expanded the criteria deeming green card-seeking immigrants as public charges if, by their metric, these people were considered likely to use a wide range of benefits such as food stamps, Medicaid and housing assistance in the future. The rule traces back to 19th-century language that state and local governments used in cases of emancipated slaves or to bar poor or infirm immigrants. Dozens of advocacy groups and immigration experts have denounced the rule, which garnered more than 200,000 public comments on its Federal Register notice. Democrat Rep. Judy Chu of California also took up the issue by introducing legislation to prevent any federal funds from being used to implement the rule, which she said would increase xenophobia and bigotry. Numerous federal judges ultimately intervened and blocked the rule from going into effect as scheduled on Oct. 16. A pair of appellate judges later lifted injunctions by two of the federal judges, but a third temporary injunction that was upheld in early January by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court continued to remain in effect across the country. The Justice Department filed an emergency appeal earlier this month asking the Supreme Court to lift that injunction. Experts have pointed out that not only will the rule disqualify poor immigrants in the United States from becoming citizens, it also would scare away immigrants eligible for public benefits from claiming them for themselves or their U.S.-born children. According to the Migration Policy Institute, an estimated 27 million citizens and noncitizens could be spooked away from enrolling in benefits when this rule goes into effect. In addition to immigrant advocates, the rule also drew widespread criticism from the tech industry. More than 100 companies including Twitter, Microsoft and LinkedIn filed an amicus brief on Jan. 16, saying that Trumps public charge rule creates substantial, unprecedented, and unnecessary obstacles for individuals seeking to come to the United States or, once here, to adjust their immigration status. The companies argued the rule would negatively impact the U.S. economy and cause drops in the enrollment of health services including the Childrens Health Insurance Program. Immigrants will receive fewer public benefits under the Rule, they will cut back their consumption of goods and services, depressing demand throughout the economy, the group wrote in its brief. Amnesty International USA called the Supreme Court ruling shameful. The so-called public charge rule is nothing more than a repackaging of demonstrably false and harmful stereotypes about migrants, said Charanya Krishnaswami, the organizations Americas advocacy director. By allowing it to proceed, SCOTUS is allowing the administration to weaponize xenophobia. In Oregon, the rule applies to multiple programs, including non-emergency Medicaid for adults over 21, food stamps, housing choice vouchers, the Oregon Health Authority said Tuesday. The rule does not apply to Medicaid for youth younger than 21 and a variety of other programs for children, the agency said. The federal government may consider these programs when deciding if someone is a public charge, potentially making it more difficult for that person to get a green card: Non-emergency Oregon Health Plan (i.e., Medicaid) coverage for non-pregnant adults 21 and older; Medicaid-funded long-term care; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; Supplemental Security Income; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; Section 8 rental assistance. Some of the programs that the federal government wont look at to decide if someone is a public charge:" Oregon Health Plan coverage for people younger than 21; Oregon Health Plan coverage for people who are pregnant including 60 days after giving birth; Oregon MothersCare; Emergency Oregon Health Plan coverage for people of all ages; Oregons Cover All Kids; Special education services funded by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; Early Head Start and Head Start/Oregon PreKindergarten; Employment Related Day-Care child-care reimbursement; School based health services for school-aged children; Free and reduced School Lunch Program (exception: the new rule would consider this if there was a referral to this program through SNAP); Women, Infants, and Children supplemental nutrition program; Commercial health insurance premium subsidies through Oregons Health Insurance Marketplace; Oregon Food Bank programs; Older Americans Act programs; State-funded programs to aid older adults and people with disabilities; Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy. Fedor Zarkhin contributed to this report. -- The Associated Press Boeing recorded operating cash flow of ($2.2) billion and paid $1.2 billion of dividends. "We recognise we have a lot of work to do," said Boeing President and chief executive officer David Calhoun. "We are focused on returning the 737 MAX to service safely and restoring the long-standing trust that the Boeing brand represents with the flying public. We are committed to transparency and excellence in everything we do. Safety will underwrite every decision, every action and every step we take as we move forward. Fortunately, the strength of our overall Boeing portfolio of businesses provides the financial liquidity to follow a thorough and disciplined recovery process." Operating cash flow was ($2.2) billion in the quarter, primarily reflecting the impact of the 737 MAX grounding as well as timing of receipts and expenditures. During the quarter, the company paid $1.2 billion of dividends. Cash and investments in marketable securities totalled $10.0 billion, compared to $10.9 billion at the beginning of the quarter. Debt was $27.3 billion, up from $24.7 billion at the beginning of the quarter primarily due to increased commercial paper borrowings. Total company backlog at quarter-end was $463 billion and included net orders for the quarter of $13 billion. Commercial Airplanes fourth-quarter revenue was $7.5 billion, and fourth-quarter operating margin decreased to (38.1) percent reflecting lower 737 deliveries and an additional pre-tax charge of $2.6 billion related to estimated potential concessions and other considerations to customers related to the 737 MAX grounding. The estimated costs to produce 737 aircraft included in the accounting quantity increased by $2.6 billion during the quarter, primarily to reflect updated production and delivery assumptions. In addition, the suspension of 737 MAX production and a gradual resumption of production at low production rates will result in approximately $4 billion of abnormal production costs that will be expensed as incurred, primarily in 2020. Commercial Airplanes delivered 79 airplanes during the quarter, including 45 787's, and captured orders for 30 737 MAX aircraft at the Dubai Air Show and 2 777 freighters for Lufthansa. The 787 programme also booked 36 net orders in the quarter. As previously announced, the 787- production rate will be reduced from the current rate of 14 airplanes per month to 12 airplanes per month in late 2020. Based on the current environment and near-term market outlook, the production rate is expected to be further adjusted to 10 airplanes per month in early 2021 and return to 12 airplanes per month in 2023. The first flight of the 777X was completed on January 25, and first delivery is targeted for 2021. Commercial Airplanes backlog included over 5,400 airplanes valued at $377 billion. Defence, Space & Security fourth-quarter revenue decreased to $6.0 billion primarily driven by lower volume across the portfolio as well as the impact of a Commercial Crew charge. Fourth-quarter operating margin decreased to 0.5 percent due to a $410 million pre-tax Commercial Crew charge primarily to provision for an additional uncrewed mission for the Commercial Crew programme, performance and mix. NASA is evaluating the data received during the December 2019 mission to determine if another uncrewed mission is required. Additional Financial Information At quarter-end, Boeing Capital's net portfolio balance was $2.3 billion. Revenue in other unallocated items and eliminations decreased primarily due to the timing of eliminations for intercompany aircraft deliveries. The change in earnings from other unallocated items and eliminations is primarily due to higher deferred compensation expense and increased enterprise research and development investment. Interest and debt expense increased due to higher debt balances. The fourth quarter 2019 effective tax rate reflects a $371 million tax benefit related to the settlement of state tax audits as well as the impact of pre-tax losses. The 80th WCO Fellowship Programme, intended for French-speakers, was launched in Brussels on Monday 27 January 2020. This Programme forms part of the WCOs initiatives to develop the management capacities of Member administrations in support of Customs Reform and Modernization programmes. It is designed to provide promising young managers from Member administrations with access to and further familiarization with WCO and international standards, tools and instruments, but also with training in supervisory and management techniques, so as to help them carry out reform and modernization within their respective administrations in a dynamic and sustainable manner. This latest Programme brings together 12 participants who were welcomed on the 27th by Mrs. Brenda Mundia, Deputy Director Capacity Building, World Customs Organization. This introduction serves as a prelude to a round-table session with by Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General, World Customs Organization and to a series of conferences given by WCO experts, as well as to the eight-day Leadership and Management Development Workshop, facilitated by experts from France and the WCO. The participants will remain at WCO Headquarters until 21 February 2020 in order to prepare an in-depth study on a technical subject of their choice, under the supervision of a WCO tutor, and to make recommendations to their respective administrations for possible subsequent implementation. Lastly the participants will spend a fortnight in one of the Programmes partner Administrations (the Republic of Korea, France or Japan) to round off their study trip. The French-speaking Fellowship Programme is funded by the Customs Administrations of Japan, France and the Ministry of Strategy and Finance of the Republic of Korea. List of countries participating in the 80th Fellowship Programme: Algeria, Benin, Burundi, Central African Republic, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia and Turkey. There is a warning that Rent Pressure Zones can be legally abused by landlords when they charge additional fees. A house in Dublin has been advertised for a 6,600 upfront payment, broken down into separate charges such as a deposit, rent, management fee and car space. The letting agent says the landlord wanted 1,600 in management fees, and over 2,000 for a car space. CEO of housing charity Threshold, John-Mark McCafferty, said it just shows the powerful position property owners have in the current market. He said: "If they begin to introduce things like management fees, the fees are then added on as additional management fee, car park space, which are rare enough, that may suggest that the landlord may be attempting to get round those rent pressure zone rules by seeking an income over and above a compliant rent and a compliant deposit level." Mr McCafferty said it comes down to greed: "It's a grey area, it's not necessarily illegal for a landlord to levy a management fee or a car space, but that can be challenged at the Residential Tenancies Board. "The imposition of new management fees or a car space on a place that has been let for years without those fees can be an attempt by a landlord to try and get round a rent pressure zone." No wonder illegal dumping remains too common in New Jersey. There are plenty of crackdowns, theyre just not effective enough. This months new law grew out of the State Commission of Investigations Dirty Dirt II report in June detailing loopholes in solid waste laws. That followed its original Dirty Dirt report in 2017. The SCI held a public hearing on the problem in 2016, and first started reporting on the issue in 2011. The states 2015 crackdown on dumping, called Dont Waste Our Open Space, yielded 62 enforcement actions in a little more than a year. Motion-activated cameras were deployed and a free smartphone app was offered to the public to immediately and anonymously report a dumping sites location, size and type, as well as include a photo of the debris. (Its available at stopdumping.nj.gov.) That was an excellent effort, but five years later its clear it wasnt nearly enough. Illegal dumpers are gaming the system. They know that enforcement is inconsistent and that the penalties are usually tolerable if they are among the small percentage of violators who get caught. 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. The death toll from a new coronavirus in China rose sharply to 132 on Wednesday with nearly 1,500 new cases, heaping pressure on Beijing to control the disease as US officials said the White House was weighing whether to suspend all flights to the country. The White House is holding daily meetings on the outbreak and monitoring China-US flights as a likely source of infections, sources briefed on the matter told Reuters, though it had decided against suspending air traffic on Tuesday. Two US officials said the administration had not taken any options off the table, however, ... Two teens in Massachusetts have been charged in relation to damage caused by the viral TikTok 'outlet challenge' as police nationwide continue to warn of the dangers of the social media phenomenon. The high school students, aged 15 and 16, charged with 'attempting to burn a public building' join a growing list of teens facing charges of criminal damage because of the dare. Also known as the penny challenge, the viral trend involves plugging the brick part of a phone charger partially into a socket and sliding a penny onto the exposed metal prongs. Whitman-Hanson Regional High School identified two students responsible for the damage The prank involves placing a penny on the exposed prongs of a partially inserted charger The contact with the penny can create a spark so strong that it can start a fire, damage the property's electrical system and harm those by the outlet. Police were called to Whitman-Hanson Regional High School in Massachusetts on January 23 after two students who caused damage to multiple outlets were identified. 'This is not just a harmless prank that kids are doing,' Hanson County police chief Michael Miksch told Boston 25 news. 'Causing an outlet to short circuit this way can cause serious injury and could potentially start a fire. Not to mention the damage it can do to a building's electrical system, along with hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of damage. We are taking this issue seriously and anyone identified doing this will be charged criminally.' The students can not be named but police say they are both male, aged 15 and 16. They have been charged with attempting to burn a public building and malicious destruction of property. School officials noticed that several electrical outlets around the school had short-circuited, concluding that the damage must have been caused by the challenge. No injuries were reported. Two males at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School have been charged with criminal damage Placing a penny on the exposed prongs can cause a spark that could start a fire Fire departments have warned parents and schools that serious damage can be caused Hanson County Police added to the calls of many police and fire departments across the country asking parents to speak to their children on the danger of the viral challenge. The 'Outlet Challenge' comes after the 'Tide Pod Challenge' and the 'Hot Water Challenge' alerted parents and the authorities to the dangers of social media dares. While TikTok is meant for those 13 and older, the site does not verify the age of its users. 'We urge parents to talk to their children about this serious issue and the dangers that can occur to themselves and others by doing this,' Hanson County Superintendent Jeffrey Szymaniak said. 'Thankfully no one was hurt and no major damage was done. Although, we did have power outages with some of our SMART boards and classroom lights and had to replace the damaged outlets.' The lastest TikTok viral dare the 'Outlet Challenge' can cause fire and serious property damage Another Massachusetts student also faces charges of burning a building, property destruction and disorderly conduct after causing significant damage at the Westford Academy, a high school in Westford, Massachusetts. The whole school was forced to evacuated on Friday, Januray 17, when smoke started coming out of an electrical socket in one of the classrooms. WCVB report that $700 worth of damage was caused. A video of the challenge being performed in the school quickly emerged after the evacuation. 'Most kids aren't thinking about criminal charges or having to pay for the damage when they attempt these challenges,' Lt. Marja Stowell with Tacoma Fire Department in Washington told KOMO News. Schools in that district have also reported signs of the 'Outlet Challenge'. 'Most of them probably don't think they could die from this either.' Massachusetts Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey has issued a statewide alert to departments about the social media craze. 'It's almost like an explosion. The electricity propels the charger and the coin the coin is molten metal at this point outwards,' Plymouth Fire Chief Edward Bradley told WHDH after another incident of the challenge was reported in Plymouth North High School. 'It does not take much to be electrocuted fatally. Just by an outlet in a wall socket.' Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 13:51 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20618049d 1 City Bekasi,police,cctv,sexual-harassment Free Bekasi Mayor Rahmat "Pepen" Effendi says the satellite city is mulling over a plan to install more CCTV cameras to suppress the crime rate amid rising sexual harassment in public. "I've talked with the city police chief [Sr. Comr. Wijonarko]. I've told him we should have at least 1,000 CCTV cameras in strategic spots. I think we can do it," Pepen said on Tuesday, kompas.com reported. Pepen said the cameras could be procured through corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds from major companies. The newly installed cameras would then be connected to the Bekasi Police monitors. "We have a lot of them [major companies in Bekasi], such as hotels on Jl. Mayor Hasibuan, other hotels, Metropolitan Mall," Pepen said. "Do it with CSR [schemes]. They should install [the cameras] and we will connect them [to the Bekasi Polices network]," Pepen said. However, the cameras would most likely be installed in strategic locations such as major roads, whereas sexual harassment in public often occurs in less crowded area such as housing complex alleys. Several cases of sexual harassment in public have been reported in Bekasi. On Dec. 20, 2019, a man flashed his genitals at a vocational high school student on Jl. Raya Pasar Kranggan, Jatisampurna, Bekasi. Then on Jan. 15, a middle aged woman was groped on her breast by unidentified men in an alley in Kaliabang, North Bekasi. A man also reportedly carried out an exhibitionist act on Jl. Raya Ahmad Yani, South Bekasi, on Jan. 23. The police had only been able to uncover the Kaliabang case because of CCTV footage used to identify the perpetrator and his vehicle. The suspect, identified as Denny Hendrianto, 22, was arrested by the police on Jan. 17. (ami) A bill foreseeing the introduction of value added tax (VAT on services of nonresident companies providing electronic services online, like Google, Facebook, Apple, Adobe, and Netflix, has been registered in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. As reported on the website of the Ukrainian parliament, bill No. 2634 on amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine regarding imposing value added tax on electronic services delivered by nonresidents to individuals, the place of delivery of which is located in the customs territory of Ukraine was submitted to the Verkhovna Rada on December 19, 2019. The author of the bill is MP from the Servant of the People parliamentary faction Danylo Hetmantsev. In an explanatory note to the bill, Hetmantsev said that the provision of electronic services by nonresident companies to individuals who do not have the status of a business entity does not allow for the effective implementation of VAT taxation rules, which leads to losses in the national budget and creates a non-competitive environment for resident payers. "In turn, the establishment of special rules for the taxation of VAT on electronic services is becoming common practice in foreign countries, for example, in the countries of the European Union, Australia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and other countries," the author of the bill writes. As a result, this bill proposes: to determine the list of electronic services; include nonresidents in the list of VAT payers; establish rules for determining the place of delivery of electronic services (B2C), the form and the specific procedure for sending a tax notice to a nonresident and complaints about such a decision. In addition, it is proposed to define a simplified procedure for the remote registration of nonresident suppliers as a VAT payer in electronic form on a specially developed web portal and to free them from the obligation to register tax invoices. Hetmantsev said that electronic services include the supply of images or texts, electronic books and magazines, audio, video, games, gambling, software, as well as the provision of advertising services and access to information, commercial, educational and entertaining electronic resources and cloud technologies. FAIRBANKS, Alaska - A man convicted of killing a Fairbanks, Alaska, police officer in 2016 has been sentenced to 119 years in prison. Superior Court Judge Michael McConahy on Tuesday sentenced Anthony Jenkins-Alexie, 32, for the shooting death of Sgt. Allen Brandt, an 11-year veteran of the Fairbanks Police Department, Fairbanks television station KTVF reported. Current and former law enforcement officers, along with former Fairbanks District Attorney Gregg Olson, packed the courtroom for the sentencing. The shooting occurred as Brandt responded in his patrol car to calls of shots fired and a man yelling in a neighbourhood east of downtown Fairbanks. Brandts dashboard camera recorded him driving slowly as Alexie-Jenkins approached on the sidewalk. As the patrol car stopped, Alexie-Jenkins, moved his right hand toward his coat pocket but continued out of the picture. Seconds later, Alexie-Jenkins, gripping a silver handgun with both hands, ran around the front of the car and started shooting, the video shows. Brandt opened the drivers door and took cover but was hit. He fired back but fell. He was struck six times: twice in the right leg, once in the left leg and once in the right foot. One shot grazed his right knee. Body armour stopped a shot to the chest, but at least two bullet fragments entered his right eye. As Brandt lay on the ground, prosecutors said, Jenkins-Alexie approached and took the officers gun from his hand. He tried removing ammunition from Brandts duty belt and stomped on Brandts head. Jenkins-Alexie then got into the patrol car and drove off. A rear tire was flat and he abandoned the car two blocks away. Police arrested Jenkins-Alexie a few days after the shooting. When police searched his home, they found a confession written on notebook paper in which he referenced a previous police shooting of a close friend. Brandt had been expected to recover from his wounds and he appeared at a city council meeting. However, in followup surgery, Brandt died of complications from the attack. Jenkins-Alexie was convicted in April of first-degree murder. The jury made a special finding that he had killed a uniformed police officer, which carries a mandatory 99-year sentence. Jenkins-Alexie at the sentencing apologized to his family and said he should have known better. Today I am letting everybody know here in this courtroom, the citizens of Fairbanks, Alaska, throughout Alaska, and across the nation, I own up to the assault one, the vehicle theft and etc. but not to any murder or attempted murder, Jenkins said. The Italian government said Wednesday it was sending a plane to evacuate citizens from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of a deadly SARS-like virus. The foreign ministry said the aircraft, which will be carrying a medical team, would depart Thursday "once all the necessary authorisations have been obtained from the Chinese authorities". It did not say how many Italians would be airlifted out, or whether they would be placed in quarantine, though those transported home would have to follow "a protocol laid out by the health ministry". Between 60 and 70 Italians are currently in Wuhan according to media, though the Corriere della Sera and Repubblica dailies said that not all of them wanted to be evacuated. The Italian foreign ministry advises against all travel to Hubei province due to the ongoing coronavirus epidemic, which has killed 132 people and infected around 6,000. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form Justin Bieber is opening up about his relationship with Hailey Bieber. On Jan. 28, he stopped by The Ellen DeGeneres Show where he talked about their whirlwind romance and engagement. Bieber admitted that he initially had doubts about marrying Hailey and shared why he was scared to pop the question. Justin Bieber and Hailey Bieber on the red carpet in January 2020 | Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images A look back at Justin and Hailey Biebers relationship Their love story began in 2009 when Hailey met Bieber at a fan event. They went on to become friends and often spent time together. The two first sparked dating rumors in 2014 after they were seen hanging out on multiple occasions, but Hailey shut them down in an interview with E! News. Ive known him since I was so young since I was like 13 and weve just been good friends over the years, she said. We have just stayed close and theres nothing more to it than that. But things became more and more serious. Although they tried to avoid putting a title on their relationship, both Bieber and Hailey admitted to having feelings for each other in 2016. The same year, they had some kind of falling out. Hailey told Vogue in an interview published in January 2019: Negative things happened that we still need to talk about and work through. She described their fallout as a very dramatic excommunication. Hailey added: There was a period where if I walked into a room, he would walk out. Justin and Hailey Bieber moved on and came back together Bieber moved on with Sofia Richie and then Selena Gomez, whom he dated off-and-on over the years. He and Gomez dated for about four months before breaking up for good in March 2018. After the split, Bieber rekindled things with Hailey. Four months after his split from Gomez, Bieber popped the question during a trip to the Bahamas. In September 2018, Bieber and Baldwin secretly wed at a New York City courthouse. A year later, they had a larger ceremony for all of their family and friends. Justin Bieber opens up about their relationship to Ellen DeGeneres Bieber admitted to Ellen that he was extremely nervous to propose and settle down with Hailey. In the past, we talked about me asking the question and I felt like she would say yes, so I wasnt really nervous about the saying yes, he began. But I think I was more nervous about: Am I going to make this commitment? Bieber continued. Am I able to make this commitment as a man and be able to honor what I say? Because thats a serious commitment when you say youre going to love someone for better, for worse and be faithful. Thats huge. Am I able to do that? So I think that is really what I was battling with. But he said he came to realize how much Hailey was worth it and how he truly wanted to be married. I finally was like, You know what, Im going to make the decision and follow through with it, Bieber continued. Be a husband. This is what Ive always wanted. Im going to just choose this woman and just do it. He added that he is glad it worked out because she is an amazing, amazing, amazing person. She really is. Shes super precious. I enjoy spending my life with her. Aww! Heres wishing them a lot more joy and happiness. BAGHDAD - Iraqs president has given rival political blocs a deadline to select a prime minister nearly two months after the outgoing premier resigned under pressure from mass demonstrations, his office said in a statement Wednesday. Violence continued for a second week in Baghdads Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the popular protests, with security forces using pellet guns to disperse protesters. It was the first time the weapon has been used in the four-month movement in which police have killed demonstrators with live rounds and tear gas canisters. President Barham Saleh asked parliamentary blocs to select a candidate to replace outgoing premier Adel Abdul-Mahdi by Feb. 1. If they dont, he said, he will select a candidate himself. I call on you, as parliamentary blocs concerned with the nomination of the prime minister to resume constructive and serious political dialogue in order to agree on a new candidate, his statement said. If political blocs are not able to meet the deadline, the statement said, I see an obligation to exercise my constitutional powers by assigning those whom I find most acceptable to parliament and the people. Abdul-Mahdi resigned in December after Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraqs most powerful religious figure, withdrew support for his government amid mass demonstrations. His candidacy was based on a provisional alliance between rival factions Saeroon, lead by influential cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, and Fatah, headed by Hadi al-Ameri. Neither bloc has been able to select a consensus candidate to replace the outgoing premier. Several protesters were wounded amid ongoing clashes in Baghdads central Khilani Square where security forces also used pellet rifles to repel demonstrators, an Associated Press photographer witnessed. Blood streamed as paramedics were on site to remove pellets from protesters foreheads. Most had taken direct shots to the head. At least 500 protesters have died under fire from security forces who have used live bullets and tear gas since the mass movement began on Oct. 1. Thousands had taken to the streets to decry corruption, endemic unemployment and poor services. Forces loyal to Libya's UN-backed unity government arrive in Tajura, a coastal suburb of the Libyan capital Tripoli, on April 6, 2019, from their base in Misrata. Mahmud Turkia | AFP | Getty Images Libya has seen its oil production slashed by 75% in just one week as warring factions within the country attempt to use the key commodity to seize control. Output from Africa's third-largest oil producer has plummeted from around 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) to just over 320,000 bpd, its state oil company said an estimated loss of $256 million in revenue. That's thanks to pipeline closures and blockades of export terminals last week by rebel groups under the command of rogue general Khalifa Haftar, whose militias are battling the U.N.-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli to take control of the Libyan capital. Fighting in Libya resurged over the weekend, torching a cease-fire brokered by Russia and Turkey in early January. Who is rebel general Khalifa Haftar? The move is a power play for Haftar, the charismatic leader whose fleet of Libyan militia groups, collectively known as the Libyan National Army (LNA), launched an assault on Tripoli last April that's taken thousands of lives and displaced more than 140,000 people. The rabidly anti-Islamist Haftar is seen as the strongest power player within Libya whose nearly decade-long conflict now involves several international powers and his militias control the country's east and much of its south. The east is home to the lion's share of Libya's oil facilities. The output drop in the OPEC state sent the price of Brent crude spiking last week and could be devastating for the Libyan economy. But regional analysts are calling it a quick leverage grab and questioning how long it will last, while noting that ample global crude supply and fears over China's coronavirus are keeping a heavy lid on oil prices. Retired Libyan Army general Khalifa Haftar speaks during a press conference in the town of Abyar, 70 km southwest of Bengahzi, on May 17, 2014. AFP | Getty Images The 76-year-old commander, who is credited with a major role in defeating Islamic State militants in 2016 alongside U.S. airstrikes, also happens to be an American passport holder. A rival of longtime Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, Haftar lived in the Virginia suburbs for several years while working as a CIA asset to plot against the former leader. After the Arab Spring, he apparently spent several years back in Virginia to "enjoy his grandchildren," he told the New Yorker Magazine in a 2015 interview. So Haftar poses a massive headache for the U.S. A former ally, they can't exactly sideline him; but his violent assault for power stands in the way of a democratic Libya that Washington had hoped for after its NATO intervention helped topple Gadhafi in 2011 during the Arab Spring. 'The new Syria' Nine years after a U.S.-led coalition toppled Gadhafi, Libya remains a fractured state, ravaged by civil war and terrorism. And a vast array of competing foreign interests have entered the Libyan arena, including Turkey, Russia, Qatar, France, Italy, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt. The lack of stability and outside influence has led some to call it the new Syria. Russia has deployed a few hundred mercenaries from the paramilitary Wagner Group and others into the country to back up Haftar, while Turkey has sent in a few hundred military advisors to support the GNA. The UAE is carrying out airstrikes in Libya, also to help Haftar. "We want to avoid Libya becoming the scene of proxy wars," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in early January. "Libya cannot become a second Syria and so we need rapidly to enter a political process, an agreement on an effective cease-fire and an arms embargo." Russia is interested in any mechanism that allows it to undermine NATO and promote disunity within European bloc Libya is perfect. Jalel Harchaoui Netherlands Institute of International Relations The major players don't seem to be listening. Haftar is now directing renewed fighting in Libya's west after a German-brokered conference in Berlin last week ended with external nations calling for a cease-fire and pledging to end their interference in the war-torn country of 6.4 million. The meeting concluded with Hafter storming out before making any agreements, and Haftar and GNA Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj refused to be in the same room. With fresh violence and foreign fighters spilling into the country in the last week alone, the pledges of non-involvement appear to be falling apart. Russian mercenaries and Emirati airstrikes: Who is backing who in Libya? Libya has become a near free-for-all for competing international powers: myriad countries are backing the disparate groups fighting on the ground to further their own ideological and financial interests. Turkey, and to a lesser extent Qatar and Italy, support the U.N.-backed GNA to the extent that Turkey earlier this month began deploying its own advisory troops to the country at Tripoli's request. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also flown some 2,000 mercenary fighters into Libya from the Syrian conflict, which are known to include radical Islamists, to combat Haftar's forces. Turkey's support, analysts say, is tied to Ankara's desire for access to Eastern Mediterranean gas drilling. "Because Berlin didn't manage to declare a ceasefire or deliver any substantive result, what seems to be happening is Erdogan has every intention to increase that number (of mercenaries) to way beyond 2,000," Jalel Harchaoui, a Libya expert at The Netherlands Institute of International Relations, told CNBC via phone. Meanwhile the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, France and more recently Russia back Haftar. The UAE and Egypt oppose the GNA which they see as a hotbed of Islamism and Muslim Brotherhood affiliates, something that's anathema to their own governments and have sent weapons and special forces troops to support Haftar's fighters. Experts name the UAE as the most powerful foreign player in the country. In early 2017, Russian mercenaries began appearing in Libya to support Haftar as well, mostly in logistical, support and intelligence roles. For Russia, the move is viewed as a continuation of Moscow's expansion and leverage over diplomatic channels in the Middle East and Africa. "Libya was always looked at (by Moscow) as the perfect passageway to Africa," Harchaoui said. "Russia is interested in any mechanism that allows it to undermine NATO and promote disunity within European bloc Libya is perfect." No end in sight Bengaluru, Jan 29 : In the backdrop of the provision of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the Karnataka High Court has granted bail to Bangladeshi Christian woman accused of being an "illegal immigrant". A single judge bench of Justice John Michael Cunha observed there is prima facie material to show since 2002, the woman has been residing in India. And as a result, she deserves bail in the light of the amended Section 2 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 through the CAA, 2019. The High Court noted that the definition of "illegal migrant" under Section 2 of the Citizenship Act has been renewed after the new citizenship law was passed. As per the amendment, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan will not be treated as illegal migrants under the Act. It was alleged the woman obtained the Indian passport through fraudulent documents. The court noted these allegations of fabrication and manipulation of IDs such as Aadhaar and PAN would have to establish by the prosecution in the trial. The petitioner told the court that in 2003, she came to India to pursue higher education. Later she married an Indian resident and obtained a passport by furnishing valid documents. In 2019, the petitioner and her son were detained by an Immigration Officer at Kolkata airport, but were released later. After this incident, the Regional Passport Office issued a notice for the revocation of her passport, and then local police arrested her, following a complaint lodged by the Assistant Passport Officer in Bengaluru, and then remanded in judicial custody. The FIR registered against her cited Sections 465, 471, 468 of the Indian Penal Code; Sections 5, 12 and 14 of the Foreigners Act, 1946 and Section 3(1)(c) of the Citizenship Act, 1955. The lower court denied her bail, and then the woman moved the High Court. The woman in defence pointed out the police had failed to produce the chargesheet in the matter within time and she was entitled to bail given that she has been in judicial custody since November 7, 2019. The High Court observed that government's counsel did not deny the petitioner could avail the benefit of the amended Section 2 of Citizenship Act, 1955. The High Court directed the woman to furnish a bond of Rs 2,00,000. The court also imposed a few conditions: She shall not tamper with evidence; she shall cooperate in the investigation and shall appear before the Investigating Officer when called; She shall not leave the jurisdiction of the trial court concerned without prior permission; and she shall mark her attendance on the 1st and 15th of every calendar month between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. for a period of two months. As the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump headed into what could be its final three days, following the completion Tuesday of the White House defense team's presentation, the proceedings increasingly underscored the reactionary character of both warring factions within the ruling class. The Democrats have allied themselves ever more directly with the notorious war criminal John Bolton, centering their efforts in the Senate on demands that he be allowed to testify in the trial of Trump. On Sunday night, on the eve of the White House lawyers' main defense presentation, the New York Times published an article citing leaks from Bolton's upcoming book in which Trump's former national security adviser reveals that Trump rejected appeals that he lift his hold on $391 million in military aid to Ukraine and said he intended to hold the aid until the Ukrainian government announced a corruption investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. This first-person revelation from Bolton, who left the Trump administration last September after clashing with the president on Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan, Venezuela and Ukraine, contradicts White House denials of a "quid pro quo" linking a Ukrainian investigation of Biden, deemed at the time Trump's likely opponent in the 2020 election, and release of the military aid. The Democrats have made this charge the center of their impeachment drive, accusing Trump of undermining US national security, jeopardizing an ally at war with Russia, and soliciting foreign interference in the 2020 election. Trump tweeted angry denials of Bolton's claim and Trump allies on the right such as Brietbart News denounced Bolton as a disgruntled former officeholder seeking to build up sales of his book, scheduled to be published in March. On all of the disputed issues, Bolton opposed Trump for being insufficiently aggressive. He objected when Trump pulled back at the last minute in the summer from a missile attack on Iran, opposed Trump's diplomatic maneuvers with North Korea, fought against the opening of peace talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan, pushed for a military intervention to overthrow the elected government in Venezuela, and pressed to reverse Trump's temporary hold of weapons to the right-wing, anti-Russian regime in Kiev. The bitter character of the political warfare in Washington, and the sharpness of the conflict within the state and even among current and former members of the Trump administration, was expressed not only in Bolton's de facto lining up behind the Democrats impeachment drive, but also the statement yesterday by Trump's former chief of staff Gen. John Kelly that he believed Boltons account. Kelly threw his support behind Democratic demands that the Republican-controlled Senate call Bolton and perhaps other witnesses to testify in the Senate trial. Speaking at an event in Florida, he said, So I think there are people that could contribute to this, either innocence of guilt I think they should be heard. The White House and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are seeking to block witness testimony and the submission of documents requested by the Democratic House managers and wrap up the trial by the end of the week. Following a closed-door meeting Tuesday afternoon of the Republican caucus in the Senate, it was not clear whether the Democrats would succeed in winning the four Republican votes they need to secure a majority for calling Bolton and perhaps other witnesses. The current schedule calls for two eight-hour sessions, Wednesday and Thursday, during which the senators will submit written questions to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who is presiding over the Senate trial. Roberts will read out the questions, directed to either the White House defense or the House prosecution. The two days of questions will be followed Friday by four hours of debate on whether or not to subpoena witnesses and documents, followed by a vote on the question. If the Democrats fail to gain a majority of 51 votes, the Senate will proceed to vote on Trump's conviction and removal from office, or acquittal. Given the fact that a two-thirds vote is required to convict, the outcome does not seem to be in doubt. Bolton is so notorious a proponent of war and regime change that President George W. Bush had to install him as US ambassador to the United Nations in 2005 while Congress was in recess, because Bolton was unlikely to win confirmation in the then Democratic-controlled Senate. Fifteen years later, his incendiary foreign policy has been largely adopted by the Democratic Party. An architect of the 2003 invasion of Iraq as director of the Project for the New American Century, Bolton has advocated wars for regime change in Iran, Syria, Libya, Venezuela, Cuba, Yemen and North Korea. He opposed financial reparations to Japanese Americans held in World War II concentration camps, was implicated in the 1980s Iran-Contra affair, and was a protege of the fascistic North Carolina Senator Jesse Helms. In the face of a crisis of bourgeois rule without precedent since the Civil War, driven in large part by the growth of working-class resistance both in the US and internationally, Trump, the personification of the financial oligarchy, is seeking to whip up far-right and fascistic forces entirely outside of the constitutional framework. On Tuesday night, he gave the latest in a series of campaign speeches, this one in Wildwood, New Jersey, in which he invokes fascistic slogans and tropes and, in some cases, directly incites violence against his political opponents. Just last Sunday, Trump denounced the lead House manager, Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, tweeting, Shifty Adam Schiff is a CORRUPT POLITICIAN, and probably a very sick man. He has not paid the price, yet, for what he has done to our Country! On Tuesday night, after claiming that American workers are enjoying the bounties of the best economy in US history, Trump boasted of assassinating ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Iranian Gen. Qassem Suleimani. Turning to the impeachment drive, he declared, While we are creating jobs and killing terrorists, the congressional Democrats are obsessed with demented hoaxes, crazy witch hunts and deranged partisan crusades. He proceeded to denounce globalist politicians for stealing American jobs; attacked the Democrats as far-left radicals and socialists; baited the fake news media; lavished praise on the military, the police and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) anti-immigrant enforcers; boasted of having allocated over $2 trillion for the military (passed with the votes of a large majority of Democrats) and secured a new anti-Chinese trade war pact with Mexico and Canada (also backed by the Democrats); attacked abortion; bragged of securing funds (provided by the Democrats) to build his border wall with Mexico; lauded gun rights activists (including thousands of armed militia members who paraded last week in Virginia); and hailed school choice, a code phrase for the dismantling of public education. As usual, he reserved his most violent rhetoric for attacks on immigrants. On Friday, in advance of Trump's appearance in New Jersey, the Justice Department joined a lawsuit brought by two counties in the state seeking to overthrow a year-old state directive limiting the cooperation of local law enforcement with federal immigration agencies. Both counties are in the district of Representative Jeff Van Drew, a right-wing freshman congressman who was elected as a Democrat but recently switched to the Republican Party after voting last month against impeaching Trump. Trump paraded Van Drew on the stage Tuesday night and presented his defection as a preview of a Republican takeover of the House in the November elections. Washington Democrats have thoroughly betrayed the American people on the issue of immigration, Trump declared, denouncing radical Democrats for supporting so-called sanctuary cities, which he characterized as a scheme to allow criminal immigrants to prey on American citizens. Once set loose these criminal aliens are free to kill innocent Americans, he said. He went on to praise ICE thugs for dealing with immigrant packs, saying they go right into a pack and start swinging. Alongside this extraconstitutional, fascistic appeal, Trump's lawyers in the Senate trial are advancing a legal case for a virtually unlimited expansion of presidential powers, free of any real restraints by Congress or the courts. On Monday night, Harvard law professor and Trump ally Alan Dershowitz argued that the two articles of impeachment passed by the Democratic-controlled House were invalid on their face because, he claimed, there is no constitutional basis for impeaching a president for abuse or power or obstruction of Congress. After a fleeting cameo as Princess Sanyukta in 'Chali Kahaani' song from Ranbir Kapoor-Deepika Padukone's Tamasha, Arushi Sharma is all set to debut on the big screen as a leading lady in Kartik Aaryan-Sara Ali Khan's Love Aaj Kal. In a recent interview with Mumbai Mirror, the former engineering student revealed that she never planned to become an actor. Speaking about how she bagged a cameo in Tamasha, Arushi revealed, "I am from Himachal Pradesh, which doesn't have an active theatre scene," adding that Imtiaz Ali visited her college in Shimla for the recce of his film, Tamasha. She went on to audition for the part of Sanjukta and that's how she bagged the part. "Engineering colleges are usually boring. I became popular after working with Ranbir Kapoor," the actress told the daily. After this, she started sending recordings of her performances to casting directors. She received a call from Mukesh Chhabria's office in February. "I auditioned in Delhi and within 15 days, I was brought on-board Love Aaj Kal. The shoot was to begin within a month and suddenly, I had this huge mountain to climb." Arushi further revealed that she had to unlearn a few things and learn new things for Love Aaj Kal. To prepare for her role and understand the love from that era, she watched Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and Maine Pyar Kiya. She was all praise for her Love Aaj Kal co-star Kartik Aaryan and told the tabloid, "Even he is an engineer, it was like meeting an old buddy. He is an actor who is always trying to improve his craft and a good co-star who elevated my performance, too. He can stay focused even in chaos, I can't." While she doesn't have any scenes with Sara in the movie, they shot together for a track and Arushi said, "She (Sara) has a lot of energy, is involved in every aspect of filmmaking." When asked about her wishlist of actors with whom she would like to work, Arushi said, "I would love to work with Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor and Ayushmann Khurrana. Alia Bhatt, too, is a favourite." Directed by Imtiaz Ali, Love Aaj Kal is slated to release on February 14, 2020. Love Aaj Kal Song Haan Main Galat: Kartik Aaryan And Sara Ali Khan's Party Track Has A 'Twist' Love Aaj Kal Trailer: Who is Arushi Sharma Starring Opposite Kartik Aaryan? DALLAS, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB) today announced that Russ Torres has been named President, Kimberly-Clark Professional, effective March 9, 2020. Torres will lead Kimberly-Clark's business-to-business operations globally, which helps people the world over work better with a wide range of commercial products and services, including tissue and wipers, skin care, safety and do-it-yourself products. Torres will report to Mike Hsu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kimberly-Clark. "Russ is a respected leader with a proven track record. I am confident that his extensive experience, coupled with his great passion to win, will drive top- and bottom-line growth for our Kimberly-Clark Professional business," said Hsu. Torres joins Kimberly-Clark with more than 20 years' of deep experience within the consumer products goods industry, spanning a number of key senior leadership roles at Bain & Company, Mondelez International/Kraft Foods Inc., and most recently at Newell Brands, where he last served as Group President, leading five divisions, spanning 11 brands and nearly $6 billion in revenue in over 40 countries. Torres holds a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and a Magna Cum Laude high honors degree in physics from Dartmouth College. About Kimberly-Clark Kimberly-Clark and its trusted brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Fueled by ingenuity, creativity, and an understanding of people's most essential needs, we create products that help individuals experience more of what's important to them. Our portfolio of brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Neve, Plenitud, Viva and WypAll, hold the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in 80 countries. We use sustainable practices that support a healthy planet, build stronger communities, and ensure our business thrives for decades to come. To keep up with the latest news and to learn more about the company's 148-year history of innovation, visit kimberly-clark.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter. [KMB-F] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/648588/Kimberly_Clark_RGB_Blue_Logo.jpg SOURCE Kimberly-Clark Corporation Related Links http://www.kimberly-clark.com Voting in the European Union (EU) Parliament on draft resolution of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) been postponed to March, government sources confirmed on Thursday. The 30-minute debate ended with most MEPs positive or netural towards India, few negative and only one Pakistan-origin British MEP strongly negative. In a diplomatic victory for India, it was decided that there will be no voting on the European resolution on CAA. Six political groups of members of the European Parliament had moved a joint resolution against India's new citizenship law, calling it discriminatory. Sources informed that friends of India prevailed over those of Pakistan in the European Parliament on Wednesday. "Strenuous efforts of outgoing British MEP Shaffaq Mohammad to have a resolution passed by the European Parliament against India on the penultimate day before Brexit was defeated," a source said. The Indian government has been maintaining that CAA is an internal matter to India and was adopted following a due process through democratic means. "We expect that our perspectives in this matter will be understood by all objective and fair-minded MEPs," the sources added. READ | No Voting On EU Resolution On CAA On Thursday: Govt Sources READ | LS Speaker To EU Counterpart: Inappropriate For A Legislature To Pass Judgement On Another Resolution against CAA in European Union A total of six resolutions were tabled by political blocs within the EU across ideological lines. The resolution was against India's new citizenship law, alleging that it marks a dangerous shift in the country's citizenship regime. The resolutions urge the Indian authorities to "engage constructively" with those protesting against the law and consider their demands to repeal the "discriminatory CAA." "The CAA marks a dangerous shift in the way citizenship will be determined in India and is set to create the largest statelessness crisis in the world and cause immense human suffering," according to the GUE/NGL resolution. "Instead of addressing the concerns, offering corrective action, calling for security forces to act with restraint and ensuring accountability, many government leaders have been engaging in efforts to discredit, rebuke and threaten the protesters," it added. READ | European Parliament To Debate On Anti-CAA Resolution READ | 'Failed Forerign Policy':Kapil Sibal Targets Govt Over Scheduled EU Debate On CAA, Kashmir Attorneys for Lancaster County woman Debra Slaymaker-Walker have filed a motion to dismiss charges of involuntary manslaughter, homicide by vehicle and more, according to local media reports. Slaymaker-Walker, 63, of Mount Joy, is accused of driving erratically and speeding before she hit several vehicles, including a car full of Warwick High School Students on Oct. 26, 2018. Jack Nicholson, 16 and Meghan Keeney, 17, were killed while their classmate Ryan Beebe suffered severe injuries, police previously reported. WGAL reports that the documents filed in Lancaster Countys Court of Common Pleas ask for a dismissal of all charges because Slaymaker-Walker was having an epileptic seizure at the time of the crash. The documents cite medical records that show Slaymaker-Walker has a history of a seizure disorder, WGAL reported. WHTM reported that the documents say Slaymaker-Walker was not aware of and not in control of her actions during the crash. Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman previously said investigators were not focused on a specific theory of her motive or state of mind at the time of the crash and did not believe she was intoxicated. He called her actions sustained recklessness that led to the teens deaths. At the time of the crash, police said Slaymaker-Walker crashed into six other vehicles before the collision that killed the teens. They found no indication that she tried to break. Online court dockets show that sealed entries were the most recent filings from Slaymaker-Walkers attorneys, public defenders Jared Lee Hinsey and Christopher Michael Tallarico. The district attorneys office has 20 days to respond to the motion, WGAL reported. Slaymaker-Walker is scheduled to go to trial on the charges in May. Read more on PennLive: 894-703.com scored 41 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 8 Feb 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. The total number of people who shared the 894-703 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 894-703 homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if 894-703 has a Facebook fan page). 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Domain and Server DOCTYPE XHTML 1.0 Transitional CHARSET AND LANGUAGE Japanese UTF-8Japanese DETECTED LANGUAGE Japanese Japanese SERVER Apache (PHP/5.2.17) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux The language of 894-703.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Operative System running on the server. Character set and language of the site. 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 894-703.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 type of Facebook page. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The URL of the found Facebook page. The total number of people who like website 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. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND There was a big crowd in Wildwood on Tuesday night, just not as big as President Donald Trump claimed at his rally. We have tens of thousands of people outside. Trump told those inside the Wildwoods Convention Center. If anybody would like to give them your place, please let us know, he added. However, while authorities did not immediately provide a crowd size, NJ Advance Media reporters outside the convention center estimated several thousand watching a video screen at Fox Park and another few thousand at the video screen closer to the entrance. Officials said previously that the convention center had room for 7,400 for the presidents rally. And inside, the arena was packed. But many who waited outside in the cold, including some who camped out overnight, made it inside, while others did not. Jesse Konopka of Croydon, Pennsylvania, arrived at 7 a.m. Tuesday more than 12 hours before Trump began speaking but never made it inside. He said he would stick around to watch Trump on the video screen. Im looking forward to seeing his speech. We might as well see him do the speech before we leave, he said. Nancy Nicholls of Cranford didnt get in, despite arriving at 8 a.m. She recounted a disorganized scene, with overflowing portable toilets and lots of trash. We got no information about things," Nicholls said. When Trump mentioned supporting the Second Amendment, there were lots of cheers from those outside. Trumps mention of former Gov. Chris Christie, who was inside at the rally, drew a mix of cheers and jeers. A woman yelled out, traitor, when Trump spoke of former President Barack Obama. Linda Badie of West Wildwood arrived at noon and said she encountered a hectic scene. She said she saw a fist-fights, almost got knocked over at one point and that people were pushing past the line in an effort to get inside. Its the worst organized thing in the world, Badie said. Henry Ciezkowski drove from his Baltimore home and arrived in Wildwood at 10 a.m., but did not make it inside. He said he has seen half a dozen Trump rallies, and Tuesday was only the second time he got shut out. I didnt expect this many people to be here," said Ciezkowski, adding that he was going to leave, because of the cold, but was first going to buy some Trump gear. NJ Advance Media staff writer Rob Jennings contributed to this report. Amanda Hoover can be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Chris Franklin can be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cfranklinnews or on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Emotional scenes break out as UK representatives take part in their last session at the European Parliament. European politicians joined hands and tearfully sang Auld Lang Syne a Scottish song traditionally used to mark farewells following their final vote to accept the United Kingdoms departure from the European Union. After 621 to 49 MEPs voted to approve the Withdrawal Agreement on Wednesday, President of the EU Parliament David Sassoli held a farewell ceremony the UKs departing politicians, allowing them to make one last farewell speech in a reception space in the parliamentary building. Although mostly good-natured, there were shouts of shame on you and sore loser from the crowd as different MEPs took to the podium. Packing boxes had been placed outside the offices of British MEPs as the legislature took the final steps in a withdrawal process that has taken more than three and half years since the Brexit referendum saw a narrow 52-48 margin of victory for Brexiters. British MEP Nigel Farage, a hard right figure who led an unofficial campaign to leave the bloc, boasted of the benefits of populism before eventually being cut off in a pugnacious, flag-waving speech. He had earlier reportedly been forced to pack up his office only to unpack it again so he could pose with his boxes for photographers. Farage described the current global political climate as globalism against populism, adding: You may loathe populism, but I tell you a funny thing, it is becoming very popular. No more financial contributions, no more European Court of Justice, no more common fisheries policy, no more being talked down to, no more being bullied. In response to MEPs who expressed a hope that the UK would one day return to the EU fold, he said: Once we have left, we are never coming back and the rest, frankly is detail. He added: What we have proved is that the British are too big to bully, thank goodness. We dont need a European Commission, we dont need a European Court, we dont need EU institutions and all of this power and I can promise you that in UKIP and indeed in the Brexit Party, we love Europe, we just hate the European Union. Its as simple as that. I hope this is the beginning of the end of this project, its a bad project. Its undemocratic, in fact, its anti-democratic. It gives people power without accountability. Sit down, put your flags away - you're leaving, take them with you if you're leaving now. Goodbye. Deputy Speaker Mairead McGuinness to Nigel Farage Deputy Speaker Mairead McGuinness unceremoniously cut off his microphone, telling him: Sit down, put your flags away youre leaving, take them with you if youre leaving now. Goodbye. The European Parliament defended the blocs motivations, while honouring the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Europe rose with the intention never again to give quarter to absolute evil, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. It didnt start in Auschwitz. It started much earlier in peoples mind. It started with the weakening of the ability to be angry at the denigration that other people fell victim to. Europe rose with the firm will never again to give any quarter to absolute evil. Europe knows like no other continent, do not let it take root. Never, ever again. The EU Parliament building was packed with politicians, press and spectators before the final vote. Crowds of international news crews lined the walkways between the parliamentary buildings trying to flag down passing MEPs and diplomats for interviews. Belgium MEP Guy Verhofstadt added: Its a sad issue. Sad to see a nation leaving, a great nation that has given us all so much economically, culturally, politically, even its own blood in two world wars. Its sad to see a country leaving that twice liberated us, twice gave its own blood. A series of UK MEPs rose to make their farewell speeches, including Sinn Feins Martina Anderson, furious at Northern Ireland being dragged out of the Union against our will. Many said they expected the UK to eventually return to the EU fold, vowing to build a good relationship between the UK and the EU. The Green Partys Molly Scott Cato provoked the strongest reaction, receiving a standing ovation as she made a tearful farewell. Now is not the time to campaign to rejoin but we must keep the dream alive, especially for young people who are overwhelmingly pro-EU, she said. I hold in my heart that one day I will be in this chamber, celebrating our return to the heart of Europe. And Auld Lang Syne to finish. Scotland will be back. #leavealighton pic.twitter.com/ia7vxhFBRc Alyn Smith MP (@AlynSmith) January 29, 2020 Michel Barnier, the EUs chief Brexit negotiator, spoke to the chamber in French, saying: The UK had a referendum and the majority, democratically, chose to leave the European Union. Its something we have always been sorry about, something we continue to be sorry about but it is something we have to respect. He listed all the work that lays ahead before the eventual relationship between the UK and the EU is established, saying it must be conducted with patience and respect. Barnier, famous for his reluctance to speak in any other language but his own, finished in English with the words: In this new beginning, I would really and sincerely like to wish the UK well. The UK will officially leave the EU at 23:00 GMT on Friday. Canada learned a lot from the SARS crisis about how to deal with an outbreak of infectious disease, and it shows in how our public health officials are reacting to the coronavirus. So far they get high marks for reassuring the public that theyre on top of the latest outbreak. They have patiently spelled out the measures that health authorities are taking to track the spread of the disease and contain it once cases are confirmed in this country. Theyve been calm and consistent in delivering a reassuring message: the risk to the public is low, and theres no need to panic about a disease that as of Wednesday has recorded some 4,500 cases worldwide, with a total of three confirmed or suspected patients in Canada. Theres another risk, though, and the early indications arent as positive. Thats the risk that fear of coronavirus will spread faster than the disease itself, and that the fact it originates in China will rebound against Chinese communities in Canada. That certainly happened during the SARS crisis back in 2003, and the memory of the scapegoating that went on then is still alive among Chinese Canadians, and particularly Torontonians with a Chinese or Asian background. Many felt put under suspicion as possible carriers of the disease. Chinatowns emptied out as customers shunned restaurants. Entire communities were unfairly associated with the spread of a disease they had nothing to do with. Media portrayals of the SARS outbreak in Toronto had a lot to do with that. Already we see signs of a repetition of that kind of needless scaremongering. Theres plenty of negative stereotyping of Chinese communities on social media, and some parents seem to be overreacting, to say the least, about a possible threat to their childrens health. More than 9,000 people have signed a petition calling on the York District School Board north of Toronto, an area home to many people of Chinese descent, to ban students whose family members travelled anywhere in China in recent days from coming to school. We cannot be overly cautious in protecting our children, it says. Actually, yes, you can, and this kind of appeal feeds a generalized fear that isnt warranted by what the public health experts are telling us. The York board is right to push back, by saying that its vital to avoid any hint of xenophobia in reacting to the coronavirus. Alarmism can spread quickly. The Toronto Catholic District School Board received a message from a parent on Sunday worried that hundreds of Chinese teachers and students were to start at board schools this week as part of an exchange program. As it turned out, the program involved just four students and four teachers from China, and they didnt show up after all. Its important to correct that kind of misinformation right away. And its important to keep the coronavirus saga in perspective. So far the death toll from the disease is put at 106, and the Chinese government has taken dramatic measures to quarantine the city of Wuhan, where it originated. Compared to another respiratory illness that we live with every day, however, thats a paltry number. According to the World Health Organization, the flu claims between 290,000 and 650,000 lives each year. Yet we take news about seasonal outbreaks of the flu in stride; its even a struggle to persuade many people to get a simple shot that will protect them. We have to make sure we learn all the lessons from SARS not just the scientific and public health lessons, but lessons about how to treat our fellow citizens and how to be careful of our health, and our childrens health, without succumbing to panic. Chinese communities were unfairly scapegoated over SARS. Lets make sure that ugly episode isnt repeated as we deal with this latest disease. Last Friday, Parliament signed Boris Johnsons withdrawal agreement. This Friday, Britain will leave the European Union. . . . You read that correctly: Britain will leave the European Union. After all the chaos, rancor, and fearmongering of the past three years, Johnsons sizable majority will finally manage to get Brexit done as they promised. But its anti-climactic. Because Brexit is only beginning. At this point, it is worth recalling what all the fuss was about: The Leave campaign of 2016 was fought and won on a promise to take back control. This was in part a question of national identity. And also, one of sovereignty. After two failed attempts to do so, Britain in 1973 joined what was then called the European Economic Community (EEC). The condition of freedom of movement resulted in mass immigration, which, by 2010, saw the British population increase by 4.5 million people per decade. The failure of politicians to engage seriously with the problems associated with this offering only vague promises to do with multiculturalism alienated especially working-class communities. However, while much attention has been given to immigration, other political concerns have proved just as important. Anti-EU feeling had been growing for years, on both the left and right of British politics, and for a variety of reasons. After the Maastricht Treaty in 1993, the EEC became the European Union, the name change signifying the entitys transformation from an economic to a political body. Of course, one of the ironies was that it was unpopular on both the left and the right of British politics: the former suspecting the EU of peddling crony capitalism, while the latter was concerned it was really a thinly veiled socialist superstate. It is quite incredible, given these trends, that David Cameron was confident that Britain would vote to remain in the European Union. After losing that gamble, he resigned. The past three years of total shambles, much of it avoidable, has been the result. What should have happened is that a pro-Leave leader take over as leader of the Conservative party. Instead, Boris Johnson, betrayed by Michael Gove, spoiled his chances. Then, the unlikeliest leader of all, Theresa May, took over. May attempted to borrow the bombastic rhetoric of the Leave campaign with short-lived promises that Brexit means Brexit and no deal is better than a bad deal, but she had neither the conviction or the charisma to back it up. Story continues May was unable to rally even her own government. So its hardly surprising that in Brussels she failed to stand up for Britains interests. The European Union refused any negotiations before the triggering of Article 50, the clause of the Lisbon Treaty that would begin the two-year countdown to Brexit. Having triggered Article 50 in March 2017, May held a snap election in June of the same year. That proved to be the biggest mistake of her premiership. The polls were disastrously wrong, and the result was a majority hanging by a thread: the thread being the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland. That significantly altered Mays negotiating power, placing new emphasis on the way free trade (one of the key promises of Vote Leave) might affect the relationship between Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of the U.K. With additional pressure from the EU and Ireland, the issue of the backstop arose. How could the U.K., on leaving the customs union and single market, avoid the necessity of a hard border in Northern Ireland? One suggestion, approved by the EU and presented to the Commons by Theresa May, was that the U.K. could also be covered under a backstop, that there would be no regulatory discrepancy with Northern Ireland. That did not sit well the Brexiteers, since it severely restricted global trade, and especially since there was no indication as to when that arrangement would (or even if it could) end. Though May managed to withstand the resignation of dozens of MPs, as well as a failed leadership coup prompted by the European Research Group (which is ardently pro-Brexit), Parliament was in a total deadlock. Mays deal failed not once, not twice, but three times. She indicated her intention to resign in May. Owing to the quirks of the Tory leadership race, Boris Johnsons popularity at the grassroots ensured his takeover, and he soon sought then got a general election, which would deliver the Tories their biggest majority since Thatcher and break the deadlock. Naturally, the dynamics of the Irish problem changed as Parliament itself changed. Johnsons deal was markedly better than Mays, allowing for free trade and providing border checks in the Irish Sea to resolve the backstop issue. The EU provisionally agreed to this deal in October. And the new Parliament ratified the deal in January. But the petty squabbling is set to continue. Even the introduction of a new Brexit-themed coin has upset the metropolitan Remain voters. And, far more seriously, there are new concerns for the union. What will become of Northern Ireland? And what will happen with Scotland, where, in December, the number of Tory seats fell to six, from 13 in 2017, while the Scottish Nationalist Party secured 45 percent of the vote and gained 13 seats? It is no surprise that a new poll has found that three in five people are unhappy with Britains political system. After all, as the story of Brexit continues to unfold, the only real certainty is uncertainty. More from National Review Analysis finds that highly innovative drugs took longer to reach NHS patients than more conventional treatments Increasing numbers of cancer drugs are being licensed - but treatments are taking longer to progress through trials and approval Researchers warn whole system of drug discovery and development - including researchers, companies and regulations - is too risk averse Innovative drugs play an essential role in tackling cancer evolution and drug resistance - the biggest challenge in cancer research and treatment today Cancer patients have had to wait longer for innovative new cancer drugs than for more conventional treatments, suggesting the most exciting new therapies have not been successfully fast tracked, a new analysis reports. The researchers found that the higher the level of innovation of a cancer drug, the longer it was taking to pass through clinical trials, licensing and appraisal for availability on the NHS. Their study found that increasing numbers of drugs are being authorised - including rising numbers of highly innovative treatments. But it is taking an increasing amount of time for these new drugs to navigate the strict regulations on clinical trials and licensing, forcing patients to wait even longer for the latest treatments. A team at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, carried out the analysis as part of preparation for its pioneering new Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery, to help build the case for more streamlined regulations for the most exciting treatments. Innovative new treatments are designed to attack brand new weaknesses in cancer, and form a key part of The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR)'s strategy to overcome cancer's lethal ability to evolve resistance to treatment. The study is published today (Wednesday) in the journal Drug Discovery Today, and provides an overview of access to all drugs licensed through the European Medicines Agency (EMA) from 2000 to the end of 2016. The researchers assigned each drug to one of three categories of innovation - high, medium or low - with the high innovation category including drugs with a new target or mechanism of action, or representing a new class of treatment in an area of unmet need. The most innovative cancer drugs took 3.2 years longer to go from the filing of the patent through to NHS patients than low-innovation treatments - suggesting various initiatives intended to prioritise the most innovative drugs had yet to be effective. The researchers are calling for action to be taken to improve patients' access to the most exciting new treatments by streamlining regulations on clinical trials and licensing and more strongly incentivising innovation in drug discovery and development. Between 2000 and the end of 2016, the most innovative new drugs took 14.3 years to progress from patenting through to availability on the NHS - compared with 13.5 years for medium-innovation drugs and 11.1 years for the least innovative treatments. Much of the delay seemed to occur in the period from the start of a phase I trial through to EMA authorisation - which lasted an average of 8.9 years for the most innovative drugs compared with 8.7 years for medium-innovation drugs and 6.8 years for the least innovative. Among the highly innovative drugs to undergo delays, mifamurtide took 20 years to go from patent through trials and licensing to NICE approval for treating osteosarcoma, and it took trabectedin 22 years from patent to NICE approval for advanced soft tissue carcinoma. More recently, the EMA only authorised olaparib for breast cancer in April 2019, 15 months after the US Food and Drug Administration, and NICE has still not released its appraisal. The average number of drugs to be licensed by the EMA increased from a median of six per year from 2000-08, to 13.5 per year from 2009-16. But the average time from a drug's patent being filed to it being made available on the NHS increased over the study period - from 12.8 years for drugs first licensed between 2000 and 2008, up to 14.0 years for drugs licensed between 2009 and 2016. The time taken from the filing of the patent to setting up a phase I trial rose from a median of two years for those licensed from 2000 to 2008, up to three years for those licensed from 2009 to 2016. And as with the delays to approval seen in the most innovative new drugs, there seemed to be hold-ups in the period between the start of the phase I trial and EMA authorisation - which lasted an average of 7.7 years for drugs first licensed from 2000 to 2008, but 9.0 years for those licensed from 2009 to 2016. The researchers found that NICE had reduced the lag time between EMA authorisation and its beginning technology appraisals, from a mean of 21 months for drugs first licensed between 2000 and 2008, down to 6.5 months for drugs licensed between 2009 and 2016. But it was getting no faster at carrying out its appraisals, which took 16.7 months from 2000-08, and 16.0 months from 2009-16. There was evidence that NICE had not been prioritising the most innovative treatments, with only 38 per cent of highly innovative cancer drugs having received a positive recommendation at the time of the analysis, compared with 53 per cent of drugs classed as moderately innovative and 40 per cent of low-innovation drugs. However, this difference seemed to be because NICE had been less likely to start an appraisal for more highly innovative drugs - and it has since committed to appraising all new cancer drugs, which should address the discrepancy. Overall, the findings suggest that there is a need to build stronger incentives into the whole system of drug discovery and development to encourage companies to take forward innovative new treatments that can deliver major advances for patients. The study especially raises concerns over the regulation of clinical trials and drug licensing in the UK and Europe - and suggests that the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and EMA should adapt their approaches to regulation to make it easier to take exciting new treatments to patients. The study is published with the ICR now needing to raise less than 10 million for its new 75 million Centre for Cancer Drug Discovery, which will house the world's first drug programme to be dedicated to combating cancer evolution and drug resistance. Study leader Professor Paul Workman, Chief Executive of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: "Our study details the major progress being made against cancer, with the average number of drugs being licensed each year more than doubling over the last decade. But it also makes clear that our regulatory systems are not keeping pace with advances in the science. It is taking longer for new drugs to reach patients and, alarmingly, the delays are longest for the most exciting, innovative treatments, with the greatest potential to transform the lives of patients. "At the moment the whole ecosystem for drug discovery and development - involving regulators, researchers and companies - is too risk averse. It's crucial that academic researchers and pharmaceutical companies should feel that the regulatory systems for drug development support risk taking and innovation, rather than discouraging it and slowing it down. Our study raises questions in particular for the processes in the UK and Europe for regulating clinical trials and licensing, which need to do better at recognising and rewarding innovation. "As the ICR begins an exciting new 'Darwinian' programme of drug discovery to combat cancer evolution and drug resistance, we are calling on Government, regulators and industry to together reshape the cancer therapeutics ecosystem, so the best new treatments can progress to patients much more quickly." ### For more information please contact Ben Kolbington in the ICR press office on 020 7153 5359 or ben.kolbington@icr.ac.uk. For enquiries out of hours, please call 07595 963 613. Notes to editors The new research builds on previous findings published by the ICR in a report, From patent to patient - analysing access to innovative cancer drugs. The Institute of Cancer Research, London, is one of the world's most influential cancer research organisations. Scientists and clinicians at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) are working every day to make a real impact on cancer patients' lives. Through its unique partnership with The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and 'bench-to-bedside' approach, the ICR is able to create and deliver results in a way that other institutions cannot. Together the two organisations are rated in the top four centres for cancer research and treatment globally. The ICR has an outstanding record of achievement dating back more than 100 years. It provided the first convincing evidence that DNA damage is the basic cause of cancer, laying the foundation for the now universally accepted idea that cancer is a genetic disease. Today it is a world leader at identifying cancer-related genes and discovering new targeted drugs for personalised cancer treatment. The ICR is a charity and relies on support from partner organisations, funders and the general public. A college of the University of London, it is the UK's top-ranked academic institution for research quality, and provides postgraduate higher education of international distinction. The ICR's mission is to make the discoveries that defeat cancer. For more information visit http://www.icr.ac.uk On Jan. 10, 2020, children play on a hay farm where residents from the Indios neighborhood of Guayanilla, Puerto Rico, have set up shelter after earthquakes and amid aftershocks. A 6.4-magnitude quake that toppled or damaged hundreds of homes in southwestern Puerto Rico is raising concerns about where displaced families will live, while the island still struggles to rebuild from Hurricane Maria two years ago. Read more Millions of Americans are being systematically forgotten and mistreated by our government and its leaders on a bipartisan and daily basis, lost and left behind in the latest political controversy or policy squabble. Imagine if, God forbid, the state of Iowa was hit with two Category 5 storms in the span of a few weeks that would destroy essential infrastructure, cause billions of dollars in damages, and lead to an estimated 3,000 casualties within a year. Imagine just over two years later, while Iowa is still struggling to recover from those storms and facing a multi-year humanitarian crisis, the state gets jolted by a series of earthquakes, leaving thousands without homes, electricity, and drinking water. Imagine the current Republican administration delaying, then restricting, billions of dollars in lifesaving aid to Iowa, and the leading candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination never mentioning the state during a two-hour nationally televised debate. One would have to imagine these scenarios because this would never actually happen to the great state of Iowa and its population of three million people, six electoral votes, and its first-in-the-nation caucuses. It would be presidential political malfeasance to forget about Iowa, especially in a presidential election year. Iowas two senators and four House representatives would never allow for this to happen. Our social media and 24/7 news environment would hold our national leaders accountable and just as assuredly never allow this to happen. This should never happen in 2020. Yet it is happening right now to over three million Americans in Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricos population is roughly the same as that of Iowa. After suffering through two catastrophic hurricanes in 2017 that caused great destruction, Puerto Rico has recently faced an onslaught of earthquakes that further damaged an already devastated island. READ MORE: Lessons learned after Puerto Rican evacuees came to Philly: I dont think that we were necessarily prepared for that The Trump administration recently released a much-delayed and much-needed $16 billion of disaster relief and prevention aid package to Puerto Rico. However, the money came with a number of restrictions, including a bar from any amount being spent on the electric grid, despite years of rolling blackouts on the island. The funds were released after much public outcry and a series of earthquakes that crippled the islands already damaged infrastructure. On the other side of the aisle, the leading candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination recently held a nationally televised debate, where over the course of two hours and the discussion of numerous topics, the plight of Puerto Rico was never mentioned once. This is not to suggest that both sides of the political spectrum bear equal blame for inattention and inaction toward Puerto Rico at the national level. Rather, this is to suggest that too often, Puerto Rico is readily forgotten by our national leaders on a bipartisan basis. Puerto Rican Americans serve our country in all levels of government. They are civil servants and enlisted soldiers, congressional representatives and Senate staffers, assistant U.S. attorneys and a United States Supreme Court Justice. Yet for all that they give and sacrifice for our country, the Americans of Puerto Rico are so often ignored because they reside in a territory, not a state. American territories like Puerto Rico possess a second-rate political status relative to states. Puerto Rico does not have any U.S. senators, voting House representatives, or electors in the Electoral College, despite being more populated than 21 states. They are subject to American laws and regulations with little to no say over them. They fight and die on behalf of our country, but have no right to vote for their commander in chief. Our national leaders can do better by Puerto Rico and its people. We can remember them, account for them, and protect them like we do Iowans, Pennsylvanians, Californians, Floridians, and the citizens of all our states through our politics and policies. We can start by publicly acknowledging the serious problems facing Puerto Rico on the floors of power in Washington, D.C., as well as on the floor of a national debate stage. The Democratic Party should hold a debate or forum for its leading presidential candidates on the island to bring national attention to the issues facing Puerto Rico. We can and should provide much-needed funding, expertise, and other governmental support as quickly as possible to the island as we would if a humanitarian crisis was occurring in any of our 50 states. We can and should do better by the people of Puerto Rico, if for no other reason than the simple fact that they are our fellow Americans. And lest we need a cold political reason for doing better, we should remember that over a million former residents of Puerto Rico now live in Florida, a state with 29 votes in the Electoral College. Tom C.W. Lin is a professor of law at Temple Universitys Beasley School of Law and the author of a recent California Law Review study on the plight of Puerto Rico and the other American territories. A retired Army Major who was stuck in Dubai for five years after his passport was confiscated was later found hanged, a court heard today. Hugo Rosen, 40, trained at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst and went on to command the Coldstream Guards before retiring from the army and moving to the United Arab Emirates in 2010 - where he set up various business interests. Major Rosen was barred from leaving the country for five years after he got into financial difficulties - but after reaching a settlement with Dubai authorities he was allowed to fly back to the UK. He was unable to find work in Britain and returned to Dubai in June last year to set up a fencing company. Major Rosen was found hanged four months later. Assistant coroner Alison McCormick, investigating his death at an inquest in Reading, Berkshire, said that it appears the immediate circumstances offered by Dubai authorities indicate 'intentional self-harm by hanging'. Retired Coldstream Guards major Hugo Rosen (pictured above) was found hanged in Dubai last October Major Rosen had been mounted at Buckingham Palace in November 2006 when the Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, had travelled in State to the Palace of Westminster to open the session of Parliament. He also appeared in a video showing Buckingham Palace guards playing a medley of classic James Bond theme songs to coincide with the release of Casino Royale in 2006. As well as being a director of security firms set up in Dubai and operating across Asia, Major Rosen was also a director at Miro Commodities DMCC, which specialised in the global trade of commodities. In 2006 while with the Infantry Rifle Company, Major Rosen helped train the Afghan National Police in Helmand Province in counter narcotics operations. After leaving Mr Rosen worked as a private defence contractor alongside the US military in Iraq. It was not yet known what had happened in the days leading up to his death, as the Berkshire coroner's office continued to work to get more information from the Dubai authorities. However, the assistant coroner for Berkshire, Alison McCormick, told how Major Rosen, formerly from Windsor, had struggled financially in the years before he died on October 4 last year. She told the opening of an inquest into his death: 'Mr Rosen had previously served in the armed forces in the UK and then went into security work after leaving the military. Military veteran Hugo Rosen was working in security while living in Dubai 'He went to live in Dubai in 2010 and had various business interests in Dubai. He got into some financial difficulties as a consequence of which he had his passport seized by the Dubai authorities. 'A five-year travel ban was put on him, meaning he could not leave Dubai for a period of five years. 'Subsequently it appears he was able to achieve a settlement with the Dubai authorities and he returned home at some point prior to his death. He then subsequently was unable to find work in the UK. 'He decided to go back to Dubai in June last year. He went back out there and set up a company doing fencing work on building sites. 'It appears that the immediate circumstances surrounding Mr Rosen's death are that in terms of the cause of death offered by the Dubai authorities it is intentional self-harm by hanging.' The coroner added Mr Rosen had been identified by his wife Lucinda and a date for a full inquest into his death had not yet been set as the Berkshire Coroner appealed for more information from the Dubai authorities. A spokesman for the Coldstream Guards Association, Sunderland Branch, said: 'It is unfortunately my sad duty to inform those that knew him, that Major (Retd) Hugo Rosen has sadly passed away. 'I'm sure you will all join me in offering our sincere condolences to Hugo's family and friends at this terrible time. Rest in peace, gone but not forgotten sir.' NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif.Doc Johnson COO Chad Braverman made two podcast appearances last week: Bully and the Beast and Good Moms Bad Choices. Bully and the Beast is a raw, comedic podcast that gets tens of thousands of listens per episode and is hosted by Wax and Lorel. On his appearance, Braverman and Wax discuss a few of Doc Johnsons best-selling and classic items, such as a Main Squeeze Stroker, the Bullet vibe and the Tryst. Wax had a lot of fun with the Tryst, suggesting an out-of-the-box use for it that got Braverman cracking up. To hear all about it, listen on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, and all other podcasting platforms. Bravermans second podcast appearance of the week was with Good Moms Bad Choices, a podcast that describes itself as two uncensored sex-and-cannabis-positive parents challenging the stereotypes of single parenting and life. On the episode, Braverman talked about his childhood, why he thought his family was in the mafia before discovering the family business, and how the opinions on sex toys have evolved in the past few decades. The conversation was lighthearted and funny, discussing everything from favorite toys to the best settings for masturbation sessions. You can hear their thoughts and see whose opinions you agree with by listening on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, and all other platforms. For more, visit DocJohnson.com. Calaveras County Sheriff View Photo San Andreas, CA After a disturbing incident that triggered a brief lockdown, sheriffs officials are lauding efforts proactively taken to protect local students. As reported here, Calaveras County sheriffs spokesperson Sgt. Greg Stark told Clarke Broadcasting on Monday that deputies were involved in a foot chase towards Calaveras High around 11:20 a.m., which after being tipped off, quickly went into emergency shelter in place mode for about a half-hour. On Tuesday, Stark provided more details about the incident that resulted in the arrest of 52-year-old Darren Dowling of San Andreas about 30 yards from the high school campus. Filling in the story in the aftermath, Stark shares, The Sheriffs Office dispatched two deputies to a report of a male loitering on the property of the San Andreas Elementary School while school was in sessionwitnesses reported the male was holding and waving a survey stick like a weapon. A Standoff Between Headstones While the deputies attempted to engage Dowling near the end of Cemetery Avenue he took off into the graveyard and attempted to conceal himself behind some headstones. Stark says the deputies continued trying to communicate but he refused to follow their orders and was still armed with the metal object. The elementary school [administrators] saw what was happeningthey noted the suspects travel was headed towards the high school and notified them that there was a police action heading their way, Stark states, adding that high school officials promptly enacted the shelter in place protocol without any prompting from law enforcement. More deputies arrived to assist Stark says. He was extremely physically resistant. He tried to kick, bite and strike the deputies. He had to be forced into the vehicle for transportonce at the Calaveras County Jail, correctional officers and deputies had to forcibly remove him from the vehicle and place him into a solo cell where he could be evaluated. According to Stark, the suspect was not in a state where blood could be drawn for tests and that he remained in jail until he could cooperate with the booking process after which, some ten hours later, he was cited and released. He was charged with two counts of physically resisting arrest, two counts of battery on a peace officer, disrupting a school, loitering where children are present and damaging a patrol vehicle. Stark notes that the Sheriffs Office is thankful to all the involved school employees for their quick actions from the initial reporting of the suspicious activity to contacting the high school and enacting the proactive lockdown. It just shows that they take it that public safety is everybodys responsibility and dont hesitate to put the safety of the students first. Fifty American soldiers suffered traumatic brain injuries during the retaliatory Iranian missile strike on the US forces in Iraq, according to the Pentagon, revising the figure for a third time since the attack on January 8. Iran attacked Iraqi bases housing US soldiers in retaliation for an American drone attack that killed top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad on January 2, raising regional tensions. The Pentagon and President Donald Trump had initially said no service members were injured or killed in the Iranian missile attack. But last week, the Pentagon said 34 troops were injured in the attack. Earlier, the US Central Command said that 11 service members were treated for concussion symptoms from the attack. On Tuesday, it upped the figure of injured soldiers by 16 to 50 service personnel. "As of today, 50 U.S. service members have been diagnosed with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)," Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Thomas Campbell said in the statement. "Of these 50, 31 total service members were treated in Iraq and returned to duty, including 15 of the additional service members who have been diagnosed since the previous report. Eighteen service members have been transported to Germany for further evaluation and treatment. "This is an increase of one service member from the previous report. As previously reported, one service member had been transported to Kuwait and has since returned to duty," the statement added. Traumatic brain injury usually results from a violent blow to the head or body. It can have wide-ranging physical and psychological effects. Some symptoms may appear immediately after the traumatic event, while others may appear days or weeks later, according to experts. Last week President Trump said he does not consider potential brain injuries to be as serious as physical combat wounds, downplaying the severity of the injuries suffered by American soldiers in Iraq. During the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, Trump was asked to explain the discrepancy between his previous comments that no US service member was harmed in the 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 conference on the sidelines of the WEF. Meanwhile, an influential veterans group has asked President Trump to apologise for his "misguided" comments, CNN reported. "The VFW expects an apology from the President to our service men and women for his misguided remarks," William "Doc" Schmitz, Veterans of Foreign Wars national commander, said in a statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Testimony in the retrial of a Newark man accused of killing an aspiring Newark police officer in 2007 began Tuesday with the prosecution calling him a cold-blooded killer, who knowingly committed murder. In 2013, Fernando Carrero was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison for shooting and killing Jose Hall, 21, of Newark, in a Lyndhurst home in 2007 during a dispute over his girlfriend. Carrero was 17 at the time of the murder, and labeled the Baby-faced Killer." New Jersey appeals courts overturned Carreros convictions in 2016 and 2017, finding the judge at his trial did not provide the jury with an opportunity to consider provocation and a passion for a mitigated sentence. On Tuesday, lawyers made their opening statements in Carreros retrial, in Superior Court of Bergen County, with Assistant Bergen County Prosecutor Meredith Kunz telling the jury of 16 people that Carrero knowingly murdered Hall in a fit of jealousy and that he displayed a controlling and abusive nature toward his former girlfriend. He was a calculated, conniving, cold-blooded killer, Kunz said. Defense attorney Landry Belizaire (left) confers with his client Fernando Carrero Jr. in a file photo from Carrero's murder trial.George McNish | For NJ Advance Media Bergen prosecutors vied with Landry Belizaire, Carreros attorney, over Carreros nature and the circumstances of Nov. 7, 2007. Kunz and Assistant Prosecutor Danielle Grootenboer characterized Carrero as a controlling, abusive and jealous boyfriend who wanted to kill Hall. But Belizaire said there was no planning or premeditation and that Carrero was minding his own business when provoked into a deadly struggle after tensions boiled over due to a dangerous living situation. At the time of his death, Hall was visiting his friend Corey Hicks, who was living in the home of Kerri Lynn Lowenstein - Carreros girlfriend at the time and Hicks former girlfriend. While Kunz recounted testimony a week before Halls death, where Hall reassured Carrero that there was no intimate or romantic relationship between him and Lowenstein, or Hicks and Lowenstein, Belizaire said that the living arrangement was volatile. An ex-boyfriend and a new boyfriend should probably not be in the same environment, Belizaire told the jury. "That is a recipe for disaster. That is a volatile environment. That is not an environment that is conducive to peace and quiet. There will be problems. Along with telling the jury that Carrero had been minding his own business the night of the shooting, Belizaire told the jury that Carrero had no gun on him, and that Hall pointed the gun at Carrero to intimidate and shoot him. An ensuing struggle between Carrero, Hall and Lowenstein ended in the gun discharging, fatally injuring Hall, he said. Ladies and gentlemen, you will not see a murder here, Belizaire said. You will not see a monster. You will not see a calculated, cold-blooded killing. You will see an unfortunate encounter that happened which occurred by happenstance. By accident. Witnesses on the first day of the trial included two of the first Lyndhurst police officers to respond to the scene of the shooting, who recounted the moments they arrived at the Second Avenue home. When officers arrived, Hicks and Lowenstein, along with her parents, were frantic, screaming in front of the house on the dark Lyndhurst street, Sgt. Richard Holicki testified. They screamed that Hall had been shot and was inside the house, he said. Hicks was so distraught that he ran up and down the street, with police needing to restrain him and put him in the back seat of a patrol car, Holicki said. As the officers entered the house, there was still gun smoke in the air and the smell of a recently-fired gun, Holicki said. Both Holicki and Sgt. Eric Cerrito testified that when they entered the kitchen, they saw Hall lying angled on his left side, with his face looking down, right hand gripping the leg of a nearby stool. Police reports of Hall as facing down were disputed by Belizaire as the two officers testified Friday. When first responders moved Hall onto a backboard to load him into an ambulance, Cerrito was able to see what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the back of his head. Also called to the witness stand was Laura Mattia, Halls girlfriend at the time of his death, who recalled a caring, loving and funny man who wanted nothing more than to become a police officer and follow in his fathers footsteps. One time, Hall told Mattia he wanted to get guns off the streets, she testified. He always wanted everyone happy and smiling, Mattia said. The trial is scheduled to continue Wednesday. Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rodrigotorrejon. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Samsung on Wednesday unveiled the Galaxy Tab S6 5G, world's first tablet to support 5G, for its home market. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 5G features a 10.5-inch super OLED display, AKG acoustics and quad speakers with Dolby Atmos, enabling real-time 4K broadcast streaming, and AR content support, the official release notes. It comes with the improved Smart S Pen. Samsung is currently offering the Galaxy Tab S6 5G in Mountain Gray colour with 128 GB internal storage. It is priced at around USD 850 but is exclusive to the Korean market as of now. It will be available from January 30th. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Berkshire Hathaway, the conglomerate run by Warren E. Buffett, announced on Wednesday that it had agreed to sell its 31 newspapers for $140 million in cash. The buyer is Lee Enterprises, the publisher that has been managing the newspaper groups operations for the past 18 months. Among the organizations being sold are The Buffalo News and a collection of local papers that include The Richmond Times-Dispatch in Virginia. The deal ends Mr. Buffetts dalliance with being a news mogul. Berkshire had owned The Buffalo News since 1977 and within the past decade rapidly bought up other papers, consolidating them in a division called BH Media Group. In a letter to his newspaper publishers in 2012, Mr. Buffett described himself as a newspaper addict with designs on buying more papers. But he grew pessimistic about the business more recently because of drops in advertising revenue. In an interview last year, he said most newspapers were toast. A delegation of the Congress party on Tuesday moved the Election Commission of India (ECI) seeking a ban on campaigning by Union Minister Anurag Thakur and BJP MP Parvesh Varma for making "provocative statements" to incite "communal violence" and breaching the Model Code of Conduct ahead of the Delhi Assembly election. "We met and filed a complaint before the Election Commission. Our apprehension is that - facing an imminent defeat - the BJP is trying to polarise and communalise Delhi atmosphere leading to violence. ECI assured us and has called a meeting of officers on 31st," Congress leader Ajay Maken said in a tweet. Delhi Congress President Subhash Chopra was also a part of the delegation. The Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi said in a report to the ECI on Tuesday that Thakur raised the slogan 'Desh Ke Gaddaro Ko, Goli Maaro Saalo Ko' (shoot the traitors) several times while addressing a public meeting here in Rithala on January 27. The Election Commission has issued a show-cause notice to Thakur and has sought a reply by 12 pm on January 30. Meanwhile, Parvesh Varma had in a controversial statement said, "Lakhs of people gather there (Shaheen Bagh). People of Delhi will have to think and take a decision. They will enter your houses, rape your sisters and daughters, kill them. There is time today, Modi Ji and Amit Shah won't come to save you tomorrow..." The statements of both the BJP leaders have evoked sharp reaction from several quarters. The voting for the Delhi Assembly is scheduled to take place on February 8. The counting will begin on February 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the regional elections in the Italian province of Emilia-Romagna on Sunday, with 43.6 percent, the candidate of the extreme right-wing Lega, Lucia Borgonzoni, was clearly defeated by the former regional president Stefano Bonaccini of the Democrats (PD), who came in at 51.4 percent. Lega head Matteo Salvini personally made a massive commitment to the election campaign, declaring the vote to be critical for Italy. An election victory in the region around Bologna, which has been ruled for 75 years by the Communist Party and its successors, was to be the prelude to overthrowing the government in Rome and forcing new elections. First well send them home on Sunday, and then well kick out the government, Salvini had promised. On Monday, he would demand early elections. This has failed for the time being, but the rise of the right-wing extremists has not been stopped, contrary to what many media comments claim. The lifespan of the shaky government in Rome will perhaps be extended by a few weeks or months, but the policies of the two governing partiesthe Five Star Movement (M5S) and the Democrats (PD)are the main reason for the rise of the extreme right and will continue to strengthen it. When Salvini took over the leadership of the Lega Nord in 2013, it was a separatist regional party that had discredited itself in several governments as the junior partner of media mogul Silvio Berlusconi, and only managed to win 4 percent in the parliamentary elections. The technocratic and centre-left governments, which have governed since with the support of the Democrats, have brought about an unprecedented social disaster, cutting pensions, lowering wages and pushing unemployment to record European levels. Salvini knew how to make the most of this. He developed Lega into a national party to appeal to the anger and frustration of voters with chauvinist and xenophobic demagogy. His breakthrough finally came with the help of the Five Star Movement of comedian Beppe Grillo, which became the strongest party in the 2018 parliamentary elections with 33 percent. M5S, which had won support with their fierce attacks on the political establishment, formed a coalition with the most right-wing of all the establishment parties and made Salvini interior minister. Although Lega has only half as many members of parliament as the Five Stars, Salvini soon proved to be a strongman in government. While Legas poll ratings doubled, those of M5S halved. Last summer, Salvini quit the government in the hope that new elections would make Lega the leading party. But his manoeuvre failed because the Five Stars, fearing new elections, joined forces with the Democrats, whom they had previously described as their worst opponents. Since then, Salvini has benefited from the anti-working-class policies of the Five-Star/Democrats government. Of the 10 regional elections held since March 2018, Lega and its right-wing allies have won nine. In Calabria, where elections were also held at the weekend, the Lega-backed right-wing candidate Jole Santelli defeated the previous PD regional president by 55 to 30 percent. In the national polls, Lega leads with 33 percent, ahead of the Democrats with 18 and the Five Stars with 15 percent. In fourth place, with over 10 percent, is another extreme right-wing party, the Fratelli dItalia, which openly professes its support for fascism. The Democrats owe their electoral success in Emilia-Romagna primarily to the Sardines movement, which mobilised tens of thousands to protest against Salvini with appeals to anti-fascist sentiments and traditions. As a result, voter turnout rose from 38 percent in 2014 to 68 percent at the weekend, benefiting the centre-left candidate. PD leader Nicola Zingaretti expressly thanked the Sardines for their contribution to the election victory. The PDs coalition partner in Rome, the Five Stars, however, suffered a debacle. While they had received just under 33 percent of the votes in the parliamentary elections two years ago, they fell below 5 percent in the election for the Emilia-Romagna regional parliament. In Calabria, too, they received only 6 percent. The party is in meltdown. Luigi di Maio, currently still foreign minister, resigned from the Five-Star presidency four days before the election. Beppe Grillo, who still pulls the strings in the background, has announced a congress that will decide on the further course of the Five Stars in March after the regional elections in Marche, Campania and Puglia. At that point at the latest, the current government could be at an endunder circumstances that are very advantageous for Salvini. In a statement published on Facebook after the election, the Sardines celebrated the election result in Emilia-Romagna as a great success. Today we know that we can be not only against, but also better, they wrote, and we can do this by different means than the professional propagandists: free, human, creative and empathetic. The experience of Emilia-Romagna shows that the Sardines act like oxygen. In fact, the Sardines are nothing more than a fig leaf for the anti-working-class policies of the Democrats, which are paving the way for the right wing and fascists. The indignation about Salvinis fascist tirades, which brought many to the Sardines demonstrations, is undoubtedly genuine. But the Sardines are steering this outrage into a political dead end. They explicitly refuse to appeal to the anger and discontent of the working class, which is entering into fierce class struggles worldwide. In their announcements, there is not a word about social inequality, militarism and increasing the repressive powers of the state. Instead, they plead for a more civilized form of politics based on state institutions rather than on the antics in the social media; for a politics with less shouting, as one demonstrator said. Such appeals to placidity, humanity and reason cannot stop the advance of the ultra-right, which is taking place not only in Italy but all over the world. The ruling class is again resorting to the means of dictatorship, fascism and war, because otherwise it cannot suppress the enormous social tensions and international conflicts of capitalist society. Only a movement of the international working class that combines the struggle against fascism and war with a socialist programme to overthrow capitalism can stop this dangerous development. According to Kalata, the alleged punches occurred when the mother was upstairs caring for the other child, and that Albea called his girlfriend upstairs to tell her something was wrong with XZavion. The child was listless and unresponsive, and that despite assurances from Albea that he would be fine, Kalata said the mother insisted on taking him to nearby Vista West Medical Center immediately. Armenian prosecutors have paved the way for a trial of former President Serzh Sarkisian, formally endorsing corruption charges brought against him. A spokeswoman for the Office of the Prosecutor-General, Arevik Khachatrian, told RFE/RLs Armenian service that the indictment was sent to a court in Yerevan on Wednesday. Armenias Judicial Department said, though, that it has not yet received materials of the criminal case. The Special Investigative Service (SIS) charged Sarkisian in early December with organizing 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 indicted Barseghian and three former government officials. All five suspects deny the accusations. In a statement released last 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 when he spoke to RFE/RLs Armenian service on January 24. 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. Sarkisians Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) has also described 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 09:35:59|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close By Bambang Purwanto JAKARTA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The use of environmentally friendly oil or biodiesel in Indonesia is entering a new phase with the launch of B30 by President Joko Widodo on December 23, 2019. The campaign on using B30 which contains 30 percent biodiesel and 70 percent diesel fuel is authorized with the enactment of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry (ESDM) Regulation No. 12 of 2015, the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said here on Tuesday. B30, which has been sold at a number of state oil and gas company Pertamina's gas stations, has previously passed various comprehensive and systematic tests to ensure that it is safe to use, both for riders and car engines. The tests are also aimed at ensuring that the use of B30 does not damage the nature, but maintain the environmental quality. However, a number of people have complained about the formation of gel in the fuel tanks of their cars after using B30. In addition, some people said cars would be difficult to ignite in such cold areas as Dieng plateu in Central Java province, where the temperature could reach 10 degrees Celsius. In response to such an issue, the B30 technical team from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources contacted a number of car brand representatives, including PT. Isuzu Astra Motor Indonesia, PT Hino Motor Manufacturing Indonesia and the Indonesian Automotive Industries Association (GAIKINDO), to discuss the question. Prototype & Test Dept. Head of PT. Isuzu Astra Motor Indonesia Harmoko Setyawan said that until now there are no complaints from Isuzu consumers regarding the use of B30. Isuzu vehicle components related to fuel line have met biodiesel use standards since 2016. "We will coordinate more intensively with engineers in all Isuzu workshops to minimize the possible impacts," Harmoko said. He explained that the company does not worry about the impact of the use of B30 considering the results of B30 cold start-ability test in cold areas like Dieng had showed good results. Thus, people should be more confident that using B30 will not cause significant problems to their car engines. Meanwhile, Product License & Certification head at PT. Hino Motor Manufacturing Indonesia Andi Tauji has similar views, saying that so far there has been no complaints from its consumers related to the use of B30. An official at the UD Product Management, Catur Satyawira, noted that the use of B30 on UD Trucks does not change the maintenance schedule. To date there is no complaint from UD Trucks customers about using B30 in cold temperature areas. "In accordance with tests conducted jointly with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, UD Truck's engines have no problems," Satyawira said. Indonesia is the first country in the world to implement the use of B20 since 2016. The improvement of biodiesel content in diesel fuel from 20 percent to 30 percent is also followed by an increase in the quality of the biodiesel used. Japanese Evacuation Flight Brings Back Workers From Chinas Wuhan City TOKYOThe first group of Japanese evacuees from a virus-hit Chinese city arrived in Tokyo on Jan. 29, a dozen of them with cough and fever including two who were later diagnosed with pneumonia. Five of the 206 evacuees were taken to designated Tokyo hospitals specializing in treating infectious diseases, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a parliamentary session, adding that they were still checking if any passengers were ill with the virus. Two who had pneumonia were not yet linked to the new coronavirus, Tokyo city officials said. All five patients, being treated at two Tokyo hospitals, were stable, hospital officials said. Later on Wednesday, seven other evacuees who cleared an earlier screening on board were also found to have coughs and fever in a secondary screening and were hospitalized, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said in a statement. The remaining evacuees who had no symptoms were taken to a hotel where they will be quarantined. Japans government sent a chartered flight to pick up the evacuees, most of whom resided close to the Wuhan seafood market linked to the first cases of the new virus that has infected scores of people. We were feeling increasingly uneasy as the situation developed so rapidly when we were still in the city, Takeo Aoyama, an employee at Nippon Steel Corp.s subsidiary in Wuhan, told reporters at Tokyos Haneda airport while he waited for a bus to take him to a hospital for another health check. My uneasiness peaked when the number of patients started to spike, he said, wearing a mask that muffled his voice. I fell asleep as soon as I sat down on my seat (on the plane), he said. Other evacuees seated near him also seemed relieved but tired. Japan has eight confirmed cases, including what could be the countrys first human-to-human infections, a tour bus driver who served two groups of Chinese tourists from Wuhan on Jan. 8-16, and a tour guide who worked on the same bus. Takeo Aoyama, center left, an employee at Nippon Steel Corp.s subsidiary in Wuhan, China, and Takayuki Kato, center right, an employee at an information and communications technology company Intec, speak to journalists, all wearing protective face masks, after returning home by a Japanese chartered plane at Haneda international airport in Tokyo, Japan on Jan. 29, 2020. (Haruka Nuga/AP) Officials said about 650 Japanese citizens and their families in Wuhan and elsewhere in Hebei Province had sought to return home. Aoyama said there are more than 400 others still in Wuhan, including those working for a Japanese supermarket chain that has stayed open to serve customers who need food and other necessities and supplies. He said it was important to step up preventive measures in Japan, but I hope we can also provide support for the Chinese people, while we also help Japanese people who are still there. Another evacuee, Takayuki Kato, said that all those wishing to leave Wuhan had submitted their health inquiry form and had their temperature taken before departure. While on board, a doctor came to each passenger to take temperature again and check their condition, he said. Kato said he did not panic as he was able to monitor news online and via local media, but I was shocked when all transportation systems were suspended. Thats when the situation drastically changed. Aoyama and Kato, along with the rest of the evacuees who were not showing immediate signs of infection, were expected to be taken to the National Center for Global Health and Medicine for further checks and a virus test. Health officials said that evacuees will be sent home on chartered buses to keep them from using public transportation and stay home for about two weeks until their virus test results are out, though its not legally binding. Others who need to travel long distance home are asked to stay at designated hotels. Abes Cabinet designated the new coronavirus as an infectious disease on Tuesday, allowing hospitalization and treatment of the patients compulsory, but the measure is taking effect Feb. 7 because of the required 10-day notification period, causing concerns that it may be too late. Former Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told a ruling party meeting that if you abide by law and people die, its useless, Kyodo News quoted him as saying. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told the parliamentary session on Wednesday that the government would have to send two more flights to evacuate the rest of the people wishing to return home. Japans government said it will send another chartered flight to evacuate the others later on Wednesday. By Kaori Hitomi Photo credit: Milrem From Popular Mechanics The U.S. Army planes to use drones and AI to help keep tabs on the enemy. Drones will locate and identify enemy forces, then feed the data to an AI constructing a "big picture" of the battlefield. The AI will also interpret data to alert friendly commanders to possible enemy attacks. One of the most difficult of tasks on the modern battlefield is predicting where the enemy will attack next. Although the Army has plenty of ways to find the enemy, figuring out his intentions are something else entirely. Now the U.S. Army plans to use drones, target recognition, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to tell the colonels and generals where an attack appears imminent. The Armys Aided Threat Recognition from Mobile Cooperative and Autonomous Sensors (ATR-MCAS) program aims to operate autonomous air and ground drones throughout the battle zone, keeping a continuous watch on the enemy. The drones identify the enemy weapons systems, such as tanks or infantry fighting vehicles, then pass on the sightings to the AI. The AI will then, according to the Army, identify, classify, and geo-locate entities, obstacles, and potential threats, generating a common operating picture (COP) of the battle zone. Situational awareness, or the ability to know your position in relation to your surroundings and the enemy, is vitally important in wartime. A U.S. Army tank platoon slugging it out with their enemy counterparts may lose situational awareness due to the demands of combat. ATR-MCAS will allow those tankers to devote their attention entirely on the fight at hand, without the distraction of what is going on to the left and right of them. Once the battle is over, a quick look at the COP will get the platoon up to speed for the next fight. Locating enemy forces is nothing new, but its what ATR-MCAS does next that makes it next level. The COP data is, processed by an AI-enabled decision support agent, which can make recommendations such as the prioritization of the threats for Soldiers to utilize." For example, if it notices a dozen tanks proceeding down one road towards U.S. troops and four tanks proceeding down a parallel road, it might flag the larger number of tanks as a higher priority. Story continues ATR-MCAS will never take the place of the S-2, the human intelligence officer in an Army battalion. An AI is no match for a trained and experienced human eye, but what it can do is quickly analyze and prioritize information in order of likely importance. The AI can help make sense of dozens or even hundreds of sightings of enemy equipment on the battlefield, ensuring combat leaders and their staff avoid information overload while still bringing threats they might have missed to their attention. Heres an example of how it might be used: A U.S. Army armor battalion is defending a NATO ally from Russian attack. The commander, a lieutenant colonel, is trying to identify the Russian forces streaming towards him while ensuring his troops are properly armed, fed, and situated. In the chaos of war, with ground, air, unmanned, artillery, and long range missile attacks to contend with, the battalions leadership might miss clues that a Russian brigade is massing and preparing to attack. ATR-MCAS artificial intelligence would piece together the clues and alert the battalion commander of the impending danger. Source: DVIDS . You Might Also Like WASHINGTON After six days of carefully choreographed oral arguments, President Trumps impeachment trial is about to enter a volatile phase as senators are allowed to ask whatever they want of House prosecutors and White House lawyers. It is a moment of opportunity and peril for both parties, as 100 senators question the House impeachment managers and Mr. Trumps legal defense team in as many as 16 hours over two days that could shape the endgame of the trial. Senator Josh Hawley, Republican of Missouri, wants to ask the leading House manager about the whistle-blower whose confidential complaint about Mr. Trumps dealings with Ukraine touched off the impeachment inquiry, and about Hunter Biden, whom the president asked Ukraines president to investigate. Senator Angus King, independent of Maine, plans to question the defense lawyer Alan M. Dershowitzs criteria for impeachment. Senator Kevin Cramer, Republican of North Dakota, is seeking more information about the presidents personal lawyer, who played a central role in his pressure campaign on Ukraine. Im a little bit curious about Rudy Giuliani, Mr. Cramer said. The questions, which will begin Wednesday afternoon and could go late into the evening, will allow senators, who have been sitting restlessly in the Senate chamber for more than a week listening to dueling presentations from the two sides, the chance to participate in the proceedings, albeit indirectly. Under the arcane rules of impeachment, they are to submit written queries that will be read aloud by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who is presiding over the trial. Shevlin Sebastian By Express News Service KOCHI: On Wednesday morning, Faizal Nazar, a fifth-year medical student at Wuhan University School of Medicine got a call from the Indian Embassy in Beijing. Faizal, a native of Kerala's Karunagappally, was asked to send details of 56 Indian students who are still at the university. Without wasting time, he quickly collated a list since the Indian Embassy there wanted to evacuate the students as soon as possible. ALSO READ | Will provide necessary assistance for evacuation of foreign nationals from Wuhan: China 'There is a chance we might leave by Thursday afternoon,' said Faizal. 'But nothing is confirmed yet. The embassy people told me a Boeing 747 is getting prepared.' All the students are feeling scared and nervous. But they have been asked not to step out of the 20-acre campus by the Chinese government. The university, which is government-run, is providing free meals at all times. 'They are trying their best,' said Faizal. He says the students were amazed that the government built a 1000 bed hospital in six days at Wuhan. 'We cannot imagine a hospital being built so fast in India,' says Faizal. 'The reason is that they want to place all the coronavirus patients in one place. Otherwise, there is a risk of the virus mutating.' The university has announced that classes will begin only on March 1. But Faizal feels that this break will last till April. 'It is a grave crisis,' he says. The deadly coronavirus continues to wreak havoc in China with 25 new fatalities reported from Hubei province, taking the death toll to 132 and the confirmed infection cases to nearly 6,000. Wuhan, the hub of transport and industry in central China, was the epicentre of the fast-spreading Coronavirus. Jose Goertz and Lucas Brown are looking into the future. On Tuesday morning, the students at Bennington High School were in a Midland University classroom where they hoped to learn more about marketing. Ive always been interested in marketing and in the business field, said Goertz, whos also considering other career options. Browns interest in the field may be a little more homegrown. Im here because my parents are both in marketing and so I decided I should try it out because my parents are pretty good at it, Brown said. Goertz and Brown were among 1,065 sophomores from 13 different high schools in Dodge, Douglas, Saunders and Washington counties participating in the 2020 Career Day at Midland. The event included sessions where students could learn about different careers and gain information about resume writing, interviewing and even social media. Students began by selecting a career track such as marketing, agriculture, arts, government, health sciences or science, technology, engineering and mathematics. If they chose health sciences, students could learn about different career possibilities such as medical imaging, physical therapy or surgical various components of the health care system. They get to listen to all different specialists, said Karna Dam, 4-H and Youth Extension Educator in Dodge County. If students are technical sciences oriented, they visited different areas that Metropolitan Community College offers. Other students could attend two different morning sessions with information on various careers such as those in education or business management. A student might spend time in one session dealing with architecture and construction, then attend another on agriculture. After lunch, students could attend a young professionals session, which involved information on resumes and job interviews. It also had a section about what social media says about them. They are actually going to do a Google search of themselves, Dam said before that session. Students also could visit career booths with information from local businesses looking for potential employees. Motivational speaker and former Husker Defensive End Demoine Adams was set to give the capstone speech about careers and planning for the future. Dam believes students benefit by not only listening to professionals in a particular field, but also by having the opportunity to ask questions. In each of the rooms that are scattered around campus, we have a panel of three to five people who are professionals in those areas, she said. They will share their career story and then the students get to ask questions. The sessions can provide a unique learning opportunity. Its a good day for high school sophomores to learn about careers they may be interested in or some careers they may not even know exist, Dam said. Career Day started in 2007 with a career coalition consisting of Midland University, University of Nebraska Extension, Great Fremont Development Council, Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce and Nebraska Area Health Education Centers. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly 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. As countries across the world scramble to protect their populations from coronavirus infections, that originated in a Wuhan food market in China, researchers are warning that the worst is yet to come. The researchers, are predicting epicenters of self-sustaining epidemics in Chongqing, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen saying the outbreak could peak around April or May in these major Chinese cities. Chongqing is expected to have the largest epidemic, said Gabriel Leung, the chair of public health medicine at the University of Hong Kong. The number of people infected with the SARS-like form of coronavirus in Wuhan, China could already be more than 30 times higher the official tally, the researchers in Hong Kong have warned. Leung, said at a press conference that his teams research models show that some 44,000 people in Wuhan alonewhere the virus is believed to have originated in a seafood marketmay be infected as of last Saturday. Other estimates by researchers who have modeled the spread of the infectionincluding a team at Imperial College Londonhave also suggested infections are many times higher than official numbers, said Time. Leung said that his research had been sent to Hong Kong and Beijing authorities and the World Health Organization, warning officials across the world to prepare for the worst. We have to be prepared that this particular epidemic may be about to become a global epidemic, Leung said. This is not a certainty by any stretch of the imagination, but there is not insubstantial probability that this might happen. The death toll from the outbreak topped 100, with more than 4,500 cases in the mainland early this week. More than a dozen countries around the world, including Canada, have confirmed cases of the Wuhan virus, as authorities struggle to stop its spread. Across Asia, numerous countries have put in extra screening at airports and warned citizens to avoid travel to China. At press time, Canada, which has two confirmed cases of the virus and is investigating 19 more potential cases, warned its citizens to avoid travel to China's Hubei province, at the heart of the outbreak. As of early this week, Thailand and Hong Kong have each reported eight cases of infection; the United States, Australia, Taiwan, Singapore and Macau have five each; Japan, South Korea and Malaysia each have reported four; France three; Vietnam and Canada two each, and one each in Germany, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Cambodia. Asia countries are grappling with the potential economic hit of restricting Chinese tourists in a bid to protect their populations from coronavirus infections, with some imposing screenings for all incoming travellers while others have turned to deportation or an all-out ban on visitors from China. Malaysia and the Philippines have suspended visas for travellers from Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak, Thailand and Japan have vowed tougher screening at airports and called for Chinese travellers who felt sick to report immediately to authorities. India said that its flag carrier has kept one of its 423-seater jumbo plane ready in Mumbai for the evacuation of Indian citizens from Wuhan province in China in the wake of coronavirus The Philippines' Bureau of Immigration (BI) this week has temporarily stopped issuing visas upon arrival to Chinese nationals following the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak. Filipinos working in and around the epicenter of the mysterious new coronavirus who wish to come home will be placed in a health facility for monitoring, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said. Suspended flights, cancelled tours, temporary restaurant closures, and millions of people in lockdown amid an extended nationwide holiday are just some of the results of a contagious new coronavirus. The outbreak will hit Asia Pacific economies, particularly in retail, restaurants, conferences, sporting events, tourism and commercial aviation, said Rajiv Biswas, Asia Pacific chief economist at IHS Markit. The rapid rise in household incomes in China has triggered a boom in Chinese tourism visits abroad, which have risen from 20 million in 2003 to 150 million in 2018. Consequently the vulnerability of many Asia-Pacific economies to a slowdown in Chinese tourism visits has increased significantly over the past two decades, said Biswas in a note on Tuesday. Thailand, Japan and Vietnam are among the economies that will be hit by the new Chinese travel restrictions and sharp near-term slowdown in Chinese tourist visits, Biswas said. He said Thailand has been one of the most notable beneficiaries of the boom in Chinese tourism, with total annual Chinese tourist visits rising from 2.7 million in 2012 to 10.5 million in 2019. Chinese tourist spending in Thailand was estimated to have reached $17 billion in 2019. Japans services industry is also getting hit by a rash of trip and hotel cancellations, the Nikkei Asian Review reported. The country is a top vacation spot and IHS Biswas noted that total Chinese tourist visits to Japan hitting 9.6 million in 2019, accounting for 30% of total foreign tourist visits. Meanwhile, Chinese tourism arrivals accounted for one-third of international visits to Vietnam, and 15% of total international tourist visits to Australia. Biswas said governments in Asia Pacific are likely to respond with a range of fiscal and monetary policy stimulus to prop up near-term growth. The head of the World Health Organization said the agency would decide Thursday whether to designate the coronavirus outbreak as a global health emergency. His decision came as several nations evacuated their nationals from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the epicenter of the outbreak, and international airlines suspended direct flights to China. The continued increase in cases and evidence of human-to-human transmission outside China are, of course, deeply concerning, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters Wednesday at WHO headquarters in Geneva, a day after he visited Beijing. Although the numbers outside China are relatively small, they hold the potential for a much larger outbreak. Tedros said of the 6,065 confirmed cases of the respiratory virus, 99% are in China, while there have been 68 cases in 15 other countries. All 132 deaths have been in China. The number of coronavirus cases now exceeds the number of SARS cases in the 2002-03 epidemic that killed 800 people worldwide. WHOs International Health Regulations Emergency Committee decided last week that the outbreak did not constitute a public health emergency of international concern. The committee will meet Thursday afternoon in Geneva to review the latest data and reassess its determination. Tedros praised Beijing for its response. Chinas efforts to contain the outbreak at the epicenter have been essential for preventing the further spread of the virus, he said. China identified the pathogen in record time and shared it immediately, which led to the rapid development of diagnostic tools. Evacuations In the United States, White House officials reportedly told U.S. airline executives at a meeting Tuesday that the administration had not decided if it would impose a travel ban, but that it was continuing to assess the situation. A U.S. chartered jet evacuated about 200 Americans from Wuhan on Wednesday on a flight to Anchorage, Alaska, where they passed a rescreening before continuing to California. Another chartered jet flew 206 Japanese nationals from Wuhan to Tokyo's Haneda airport. Japanese officials told reporters in Tokyo that 12 of the passengers were taken to a hospital after complaining of feeling ill. Medical personnel were on board the flight to screen the passengers before takeoff and again when the plane landed. Japanese officials also said they were sending a second chartered flight Wednesday evening to evacuate more nationals. Australia, New Zealand, France, Russia and other nations also announced plans to evacuate their citizens this week. International flights suspended British Airways and Germanys Lufthansa said Wednesday that they were suspending all direct flights to and from mainland China. Hong Kong is halting all high-speed rail and ferry services from the mainland beginning Friday, while the territory and Malaysia have banned entry to visitors from Wuhan. Mongolia has closed its vast border with China. United Airlines, a major American airline, announced Tuesday that it was suspending flights to Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai from February 1 through February 8. A United Airlines pilot who will be on the last flight out of Beijing told VOA that he and other company personnel who will accompany him were taking precautions. The pilot said his food consumption in China would be limited to goods he packed in his suitcase, and that he and his colleagues would remain in their hotel rooms during their stay. Kazakhstan, which shares a border with China, said all flights to China would be suspended Wednesday and train service would be canceled Thursday. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned against nonessential travel to China. Authorities have imposed a virtual quarantine on Wuhan, banning people from traveling into and out of the city. Several other cities in Hubei province, of which Wuhan is the capital, are facing heavy restrictions on movement. Wuhan is racing to complete two new field hospitals to treat the growing number of patients. The virus is believed to have emerged late last year at a local seafood market illegally selling wildlife. 'Very good effort' Dr. Nathalie MacDermott, an epidemic response expert at Kings College London, applauded Chinas efforts to contain the virus. Its a very good effort and hopefully it will reduce the spread of the virus, but I think its not going to be feasible for China to quarantine every single one of its cities, MacDermott said in an interview with VOAs Mandarin service. And so we as a public health authority here in the U.K., and every public health authority, need to be prepared to deal with a case if they arrive in their country and to try and identify them promptly, and isolate them and treat them promptly to try and reduce ongoing transmission in their country. First case confirmed in Middle East The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday confirmed that a family who had recently arrived from Wuhan had been diagnosed with the new coronavirus, making them the first confirmed cases in the Middle East. The UAE has now joined a list of more than a dozen countries with confirmed cases, including Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. The World Health Organization said most of those affected were people who had a travel history in Wuhan, with several others having had contact with someone who traveled there. The virus hit China just as it was beginning celebrations to mark the Lunar New Year, resulting in the canceling or the scaling back of festivities for tens of millions of Chinese. Officials took an extra step Sunday to extend the holiday by three extra days to try to cut down on group gatherings. [January 29, 2020] The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz Announces Investigation on Behalf of Westpac Banking Corporation Investors (WBK) The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz announces an investigation on behalf of Westpac Banking Corporation ("Westpac" or the "Company") (NYSE: WBK) investors concerning the Company and its officers' possible violations of federal securities laws. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. On November 19, 2019, Westpc was charged by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre ("AUSTRAC") with over 23 million violations of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act (the "AML-CTF Act"). Among other things, AUSTRAC's Statement of Claim contends that the Company failed to distinguish money laundering or risky payments to and from Southeast Asia indicative of child sexual exploitation, despite Westpac senior management being "specifically briefed" in 2016 on how the bank's international digital payments service could be at risk for such abuse. On this news, the Company's share price fell $0.80, or over 4%, to close at $17.15 per share on November 20, 2019, thereby injuring investors. Follow us for updates on Twitter (News - Alert): twitter.com/FRC_LAW. If you purchased Westpac securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005768/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] On Monday evening, Leo Kelly went to bed as a normal 6-year-old boy who loves a good Shirley Temple. But on Tuesday morning he woke up an Instagram celebrity for his now-viral reviews of his favorite cherry-flavored soft drink. The Connecticut first-grader has been the self-proclaimed Shirley Temple King since he started ordering the drink when he was just 3 years old. He would order them all the time on vacations or ... we've taken him out to dinner with us, especially when he was an only child, all the time, Leos mom, Lisa Kelly, tells Yahoo Lifestyle of her eldest of three children. So he'd be at really nice restaurants and kid-friendly restaurants and all that, and he would just always order a Shirley Temple. This August, however, when Leo tried a particularly delicious version of the mocktail, he decided to take his love of the ginger ale, grenadine and maraschino cherries mix to a new level. The 'Shirley Temple King' is taking the internet by storm for his hilarious mocktail reviews. (Photo: Instagram) We were at Gurney's Newport [a resort in Rhode Island], and they had really good Shirley Temples. So then I was like, Dad, can I have a Shirley Temple? Then obviously ordered the Shirley Temple and then we tried it, Leo explains. And then as we were swimming, I was like, Maybe I could get an Instagram account. I told my dad and then planned it out. The little boy goes onto explain that his handle, @theshirleytempleking, seemed like the perfect name for the page. And since hed seen his mom and dad using Instagram before, he knew that they could help to execute it. As for the actual reviews and his presence in front of the camera, Lisa says its all Leo. He'd watch commercials and be like, Mom, I want that toy. But I could promote that way better, Lisa explains, adding that Leo has filmed fake YouTube videos on her phone since he was 3 or 4 years old. It's pretty funny. So he's just been a celebrity in his own right for quite a while. Story continues Still, Lisa says that she cant believe people outside of their family have gotten such a kick out of her kid. It's so funny to me because, you know, I've been living with this for the past six years and when it's your child, you always think it's cute and it's funny, she says. But to see that other people do too, it's like wow. Despite having 106,000 followers as of Wednesday morning exponential growth from his 22,000 follower count at the time that Yahoo Lifestyle spoke with him on Tuesday evening Leo is still most excited about his friends at school knowing about his account. Even my teacher does! he exclaims. Im gonna tell her that like a few nights ago I had 300 followers and now I got 4,000 something. After clarifying that he had 22,000 at the time, Leo adds, I can't even count 22,000! Leo now dreams of being a guest on The Ellen Degeneres Show and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. His mom says that regardless of what happens with this account and all of the attention, Leos education and happiness remain the familys priorities. Hes got big plans for himself, Lisa says. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Australia supported the grey-listing of Pakistan by the FATF and will make a fresh assessment as to whether it should be put on the 'Black List', outgoing Australian envoy Harinder Sidhu said on Wednesday. Pakistan was placed on the 'Grey List' in June 2018 by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an inter-governmental body established in 1989 to combat money laundering, terror financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. During an interaction with a select group of journalists, the envoy said that "from Australia's perspective, when we say as part of our Indo-Pacific strategy we want to work with strong democracies in the region, one of India's great strengths is its pluralistic democratic tradition". "We welcome that in India, we look to work with India as a partner in the region building on those traditions," she said. When asked about the Kashmir issue and the prevailing situation in India in the wake of anti-CAA protests, Sidhu said it is "never appropriate for an envoy from another country to comment on the internal dynamics of any country". On if she was asked to join the recent visit by envoys to Kashmir, Sidhu said she does not wish to comment on it. Speaking about the FATF, the outgoing envoy asserted that "a very technical approach" was taken by it to place Pakistan on the 'Grey List'. "We have continued to support the greylisting because our assessment on a technical basis has been that it has not met the requirements. "Our approach to the FATF has been to take a very technical approach, that is, in fact, the most objective way to assess to what we are trying to get to: we really want to have a good outcome, which means Pakistan complying with the requirements that are imposed on it," Sidhu said. "We have taken a technical approach, we assess Pakistan's progress in objective terms against where it has got to thus far," she said. Image credit: AP WASHINGTON The federal government does not know how much money foreign governments and entities have spent at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., according to testimony from Emily W. Murphy, head of the General Services Administration, which is in charge of leasing federal buildings. Murphy also said that she did not know if the Trump Organization is preparing to sell its lease to the Old Post Office, the grand building that houses the hotel, to a foreign entity. The only thing I know is what Ive read in the paper, Murphy said, speaking specifically of what foreign governments may have already spent at the controversial property. The Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Mark Tenally/AP) Democrats seized on her admission. This is a remarkable lack of curiosity on the part of GSA, said a plainly annoyed Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore. Murphy, who was appointed by Trump, also said she had not read the legal memorandums written by GSA officials about the propriety of the Trump lease. Those memorandums remain secret, as do financial records relating to the hotel. Rep. Dina Titus. (Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images) The Trump Organization is violating the law, and the Trump administration is letting them get away with it, Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., who chaired the hearing, told Yahoo News afterward. Its an obvious conflict of interest. The potential transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars into the presidents pocket creates even more legal and ethical issues that the Trump administration is desperate to ignore. The hearing was conducted in front of the House Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee, which is part of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The Trump Hotel is not part of the ongoing impeachment proceedings, which are focused on allegations that the president held up foreign assistance designated for Ukraine in order to prompt investigations that would benefit him domestically. But since the start of his presidency, Trump has also faced allegations that he has used his office to enrich the Trump Organization, his marketing and real estate business. Story continues Those allegations have crystallized into lawsuits alleging that Trump has violated the Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prevents him or any other figure in the federal government from making an income from a foreign government. GSA Administrator Emily W. Murphy. (Photo: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images) One of the emoluments lawsuits has been filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, a government watchdog group that opposes the Trump administration. Tuesdays hearing did little to allay concerns about potential corruption on Trumps part, said CREW policy director Jennifer Ahearn. GSA has repeatedly refused to acknowledge the Trump familys and Trump Organizations conflicts of interest in maintaining a lease at the Old Post Office building, Ahearn told Yahoo News. Her admission that GSA has not looked into whether the Trump Organization has done business with foreign governments is unsurprising, Ahearn continued, given GSAs inaction to address the ethics concerns that were clear before Donald Trump even assumed the presidency. Foreign governments have routinely booked rooms and events at the Trump International Hotel, which is just a few blocks from the White House. So have many Republicans. While observers like Zach Everson of the 1100 Pennsylvania blog have pieced together who stays and dines at the hotel from social media postings and calendar entries, no official record of comings and goings exists. Rep. Greg Pence arrives at the Capitol on Jan. 8. (Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images) The hotel also features in the impeachment inquiry. It is where former special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker had breakfast with Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who is now Trumps personal attorney. And an associate of Giuliani, Lev Parnas, recently provided congressional investigators with a secret recording from a dinner at the hotel at which Trump ordered the dismissal of Marie Yovanovitch, the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, whom he perceived to be hostile to his political interests there. Among the figures who have turned the Trump Hotel into a kind of clubhouse is Rep. Greg Pence, R-Ind., brother of Vice President Mike Pence. Greg Pence, who has spent some $45,000 at the hotel, happens to be a Republican member of the subcommittee before which Murphy appeared on Tuesday morning, and he used his opening remarks to downplay the significance of the hearing. He suggested that instead of bashing the president, the committee should focus on crumbling infrastructure. Pence characterized the investigation into the Trump Hotel lease as a partisan fishing expedition, echoing language Republicans have used to describe the impeachment inquiry, as well as the earlier investigation into Russian electoral interference. Democrats were unlikely to take the suggestion, since the Old Post Office, now emblazoned with Trumps name, is to them representative of the conflict of interest they believe to be endemic to the current administration. The lease was signed in 2013, when Barack Obama was president and Trump was two years from announcing a run of his own. In recent months, the Trump Organization has considered selling that lease. The company, which is now run by the presidents sons Eric and Donald Jr., could make as much as $500 million from that sale. The Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Alex Brandon/AP) Murphy was not at GSA when that lease was signed, but Democrats nevertheless see her as an all-too-willing accomplice in the ongoing matter. An attorney by training, she had previously worked for the Republican National Committee, and for Republicans on Capitol Hill. Last year she faced intense questioning about her role in keeping the FBI from moving its headquarters from its current location, on Pennsylvania Avenue across from the Trump Hotel, to the Washington suburbs. Trump wanted the FBI to rebuild its current headquarters instead of moving; Murphy told Congress that he had been uninvolved in the decision to keep the FBI from doing so, but according to a report by the GSA inspector general, Murphy and Trump did actually discuss the move. A spokesperson for GSA did not respond to a request for comment. In the course of Tuesdays hearing, a sometimes flustered Murphy offered Democrats few assurances if any at all that GSA was conducting the kind of oversight they were hoping for. In her opening remarks, for example, Murphy did not mention the Trump International Hotel by name, though she did reference her inability to reveal documents that are highly deliberative in nature and contain attorney-client communications. That was a reference to the hotel documents Democrats have long been eager to see. Murphys circumspection only deepened Democrats irritation as the morning went on. Initial proposals for offers on the Trump International Hotel lease were due to the Trump Organization last week. Under questioning from Titus, Murphy said she had not heard from the Trump Organization about potential buyers. Nor could she say how GSA would determine whether the buyer was a qualified transferee, which is one of the stipulations of the 2013 lease. A representative for the Trump Organization did not answer a question about the current status of the lease sale. Democrats fear that a government seeking to gain favor with the Trump administration could try to buy the hotel. Lets just say that Vladimir Putin or one of his oligarch friends decide to buy the hotel for an outrageous price, an irate DeFazio said in his opening remarks, referencing the Russian president, for whom Trump has routinely expressed fondness. Murphy was vague in describing what kind of review a foreign buyer would undergo, though by no means did she rule out such a review. She said merely that she would not speculate on hypotheticals. Democrats retorted that such a scenario was far from hypothetical. Rep. John Garamendi speaks on the House floor on Dec. 18. (Photo: House Television via AP) Murphy and Republicans on the subcommittee repeatedly noted that the original Old Post Office lease was signed by the Obama administration. The GSA inspector general report made public early last year found that agency unwillingness to address the constitutional issues surrounding the lease was improper. Like any other federal agency, it is not only appropriate that GSA address potential violations of the Constitution that arise with its activities, GSA cannot ignore them, the inspector general found. GSA did not fulfill that obligation. Democrats were angered by what they saw as Murphys apparent lack of concern for those constitutional issues. In a testy exchange, Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., asked Murphy to confirm that the GSA has no idea, whatsoever, as to how much spending by foreign governments accounts for the income and profits at the Trump Hotel. Thats correct, sir, Murphy said. So you have no idea about foreign expenditures at the hotel, correct? It was at this point that Murphy said that all her information about foreign spending at the Trump Hotel was based on whats been reported in the paper. I see, Garamendi said in response to that admission. Have you ever made an attempt to request information from the Trump Organization regarding foreign spending at the hotel? Murphy said she had not, because that was the duty of a subordinate contracting officer. Garamendi was unsatisfied with the explanation. We understand stonewalling well around here, he said sharply. He added holding up a copy of the document for her to see that Murphy should carefully read the Constitution of the United States and your oath of office, in which you said you would uphold the Constitution, including the Emoluments Clause. As the hearing concluded, Trumps impeachment trial began on the other side of Capitol Hill. Speaking to Yahoo News following the hearing, Garamendi did not want to say whether his committee could potentially recommend articles of impeachment based on the Emoluments Clause. He said he would not consider the matter until the current impeachment effort had run its course. A representative for Titus said much the same thing. This article has been updated with the proper name of the subcommittee in which the hearing took place, as well as with Rep. Pences role in that subcommittee. He is not, as a previous version of this article said, its ranking member. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Surgical Navigation System Market Research Report: By Technology (Optical, Electromagnetic, Hybrid), Application (Neuro, Orthopedic, ENT, Dental, Cardiac), End User (Hospitals, Clinics and Ambulatory Settings) -Industry Trends and Growth Forecast to 2024 Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05842966/?utm_source=PRN The growing popularity of minimally invasive surgeries (MIS), geriatric population, and incidence of neurological, orthopedic, and ear, nose, and throat (ENT) disorders are driving the usage of surgical navigation systems. From $770.8 million in 2018, the surgical navigation system market is expected to progress at a CAGR of 7.3% during 20192024 (forecast period), to reach $1,167.6 million in 2024. Such systems help surgeons during operational procedures, by displaying the internal anatomy of patients, via cameras or radio imaging techniques, on monitors. When segmented on the basis of technology, optical, hybrid, and electromagnetic are three divisions in the market. In 2018, the optical division held the largest share in the surgical navigation system market, in terms of revenue. Such systems are preferred during operations, owing to their better accuracy of images. This is why, optical navigation technologies, such as computed tomography (CT) and fluoroscopy, are being increasingly used, especially in ENT procedures. Based on application, the market is categorized into neuro, orthopedic, ENT, cardiac, and others. Among these, the neuro category led the market in 2018, and it is predicted to grow with the highest CAGR, of 7.6%, during the forecast period. This is attributed to the increasing usage of such equipment during brain and spinal procedures, during which the surgeon needs to know exactly where to operate, as even the slightest mishap can lead to serious consequences, such as localized or complete body paralysis or even death in extreme cases. Among the key trends in the surgical navigation system market is the integration of augmented reality (AR) in such equipment. Using the AR technology, virtual body parts, including blood vessels, soft tissues, and nerves, can be integrated into the actual parts, for real-time, high-quality visuals. If anything goes awry during the surgery, the doctors get visuals of what went wrong, and where, thereby helping them rectify the error in as little time as possible. The rising popularity of MISs is one of the most significant market drivers. As such procedures result in a decrease in hospitalization expenditures, as a result of shorter stay, less trauma, and faster recovery period, an increasing number of people are opting for these. In such surgeries, the operating site is not fully exposed, and only a small incision is used. In the absence of a clear view into where the surgeon is operating, the use of navigation systems becomes even more important. Another major factor helping in the surgical navigation system market prosperity is the growing incidence of ENT, orthopedic, and neurological diseases. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), 11.8% of all deaths in 2011 were due to neurological issues, and this number would increase to 12.2% by 2030. Further, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) reported after a 2017 study that one in every four people in the U.S. suffers from musculoskeletal disorders. As surgical navigation is important in corrective procedures for these disorders, their rising prevalence is driving the market. Geographically, North America has been the largest surgical navigation system market because of its advanced healthcare infrastructure and adoption of enhanced medical equipment. Even in 2024, the region is projected to dominated the global market, with a 38.4% revenue share. During the forecast period, Asia-Pacific (APAC) is predicted to witness the highest CAGR, as a result of the rising population, especially those of the elderly, chronic disease prevalence, and surging per capita income. Therefore, as the volume of surgeries grows, so would the adoption of surgical navigation equipment. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05842966/?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 Memo to MPs: You really can do better, Jan. 27 If Canadians take their eyes off the democracy ball bad things will happen. Your editorial, which springs from reference to the Samara Centre for Democracys newly released House Inspection report, should be required reading for everybody. We are already in a bit of trouble when, according to statistics, only two-thirds of eligible voters cast ballots in federal elections. That means that approximately one-third of Canadians take everything wonderful and terrific about our marvellous country for granted. Holding the feet of members of Parliament to the proverbial fire, to make them accountable, is one thing. We should also be enthusing Canadians to kiss the ground they themselves walk on and encourage them to take an interest in democracy. The Star has recently published stories about newly minted MPs, including Anita Anand and Adam van Koeverden. As a follow-up to those stories and in the spirit of You really can do better, I respectfully suggest that you check with the aforementioned MPs on the first, second and third anniversaries of their election and get them to confirm whatever they have accomplished on behalf of their constituents and fellow Canadians. Ribbon-cuttings and kissing babies wont count as accomplishments. George Czerny, Collingwood, Ont. As Upton Sinclair once observed, It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it. Similarly, when MPs owe their jobs more to their party than to the direct electoral support for them individually, it is unreasonable to ask them to think or act with any useful degree of independence, or to suggest that they need to somehow conjure up the courage to do so. If our electoral institutions were functioning properly, our representatives wouldnt need to find courage theyd have been empowered sufficiently by the voters to actually do the job we expect of them as individual MPs. What we have here is an analogue to the circumstances that prompted the authoring of one of the central initiating documents of modern democracy: the Magna Carta. The difference between then and now is that political power in a democracy derives from the people and their vote. We can match the achievement of 1215 by enacting particular, sufficient electoral reform that gets us as close as possible to the ideal where every voter gets a representative of their choice and every representative has the support of the same number of voters. Inclusivity and equality, we have a Charter for that. Lets convene in our own Runnymede meadow. At a time with upwards of $1 billion in road expansion happening along Interstate 95 in the Fredericksburg area, an intensive study of the corridor running northsouth through the state is calling for more of a multimodal approach that incorporates trains, buses and carpooling. That approach will soon turn into subtle changes along the interstate, along with other, more intensive long-term improvements, such as new lanes on I95, according to a presentation of the study Monday night at the Virginia Department of Transportation headquarters in Stafford County. While the Commonwealth Transportation Board approved projects recommended by the study earlier this month, it is considered interim, as officials believe another study is needed to determine how to address what are deemed to be up to $1.5 billion in improvements along the 179-mile corridor. The state is now studying Interstate 64. When that study is complete, the state plans to finalize the I95 findings. That way, the state will have data on Virginias three longest interstates in order to determine the best way to approach the primary problems. An earlier study of Interstate 81 spawned funding and projects on that interstate as well as others, including I95. Once the studies are completed, the state is expected to address issues along the interstates, which it will do by prioritizing the most important areas and projects. The I95 study identified problem areas and ways to address them. One option was to add a lane each way along 52 miles of the interstate from Thornburg to the Capitol Beltway. Doing that would cost more than $12.5 billion, something the study found returned little for the investment. The study recommends instead spending a similar amount on a multi-pronged approach: rail, bus, carpooling and operational changes, along with projects on the interstate and its interchanges, VDOTs project manager of the studies, Robert Mannell, told residents and the Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Monday night. The study prioritized 54 projects for a long-term approach that will cost an estimated $1.7 billion to $2 billion. In the short term, the states initial approach will involve low-hanging fruit improvements that can be implemented relatively quickly, Mannell said. The CTB approved more than $60 million for those projects. Mannell said state officials realize the work needed along the interstate exceeds what the state has budgeted. There is recurring funding dedicated to Virginias interstates ($40 million annually for I95) but more will be needed. The study recommends that the CTB establish a policy on allocation of dedicated interstate revenues. The study also took into account the major ongoing work along I95, including the Rappahannock River crossing projects and the express lanes extension. The crossing projects will cost a combined $264 million and add three lanes in each direction between U.S. 17 in Stafford County and State Route 3 in Fredericksburg. The express lane extension will take the toll lanes from North Stafford to U.S. 17 and cost $565 million. Mannell also noted the recent agreement in which the state will buy right of way for rail expansion, which will lead to more Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express train trips in the corridor. The I95 study pinpointed the Massaponax area as a primary area in need of improvements. Key projects identified in the study would add a lane in each direction on I95 between the Massaponax and Route 3 exits. Those additional lanes would run counter to the express lanes traffic. Mannell said there seems to be a need for more space during peak periods on each side of the interstate in that area. But he also acknowledged that the new lanes cant run in the same direction as the toll lanes without the state having to pay the operator, Transurban, under the agreement for the express lanes. The study also identified upgrades for the interchange in that area, with the possible return of previous plans to add a southbound I95 ramp to U.S. 17/U.S. 1, which will be widened along with having the overpass rebuilt. Any decision on such a project is undetermined and considered a long-term approach. Of the approved work, some will take about three years to implement while other changes should be in effect as early as the summer, Mannell said. The approved work includes adding closed circuit cameras to detect accidents and traffic backups, installing more changeable message signs and increasing safety service patrols and towing programs. Other, longer term changes will include variable speed limits and ramp metering, which uses signals to manage traffic merging onto the interstate. The study identified 14 interchanges for ramp metering, most in Northern Virginia. Locally, the Garrisonville/Aquia exit in North Stafford was one interchange identified, along with the Quantico/Russell Road exit at the Stafford and Prince William border. The study also calls for implementing variable speed signs along 62 miles from the Richmond area to Route 3. The variable speed signs will adjust according to road, traffic and weather conditions. Mannell said these signs help avoid abrupt speed changes, which often result in traffic jams. There also are plans to improve real-time commuter parking information, upgrade detour routes and plans and eventually the use of artificial intelligence systems. All of the measures are expected to reduce crashes and congestion. Calhoun said he's confident that the Max will eventually be able to safely return to service. "If we didn't believe we were going to field a plane that is safer than the safest demonstrated aircraft that is out there today, we wouldn't do it," he said in an interview on CNBC. He said that airline customers remain supportive of Boeing, although he said, "I would never describe our discussions today as cordial." "They just want us to get back on track," he added. He admitted that Boeing's reputation was hurt by the crisis, and by some of internal company communications made public earlier this month. In one an unidentified Boeing employee described the Max as "designed by clowns, who in turn are supervised by monkeys." Other Boeing employees agreed in a separate exchange that they would not allow their families to fly on the Max. "My stomach turned, just like yours would, just like anyone's would," he said when asked his reaction when he first read the communications. Trump said his concerns about NAFTA-triggered outsourcing had triggered his run for the presidency in 2016. United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a new North American trade agreement during an outdoor ceremony at the White House. While about 400 guests attended the event, key Democrats who helped secure congressional passage of the deal were not present. Trump is currently on trial in the US Senate on charges of abusing power and obstructing Congress. Trump welcomed Republican senators at the South Lawn event by name. Other guests included legislators from around the country, workers, farmers, and chief executives, as well as officials from Mexico and Canada, the White House said. The US-MexicoCanada Agreement (USMCA) will replace the 26-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement. It imposes tougher rules on labour and automotive content, but leaves $1.2 trillion in annual US-Mexico-Canada trade flows largely unchanged. Today, we are finally ending the NAFTA nightmare and signing into law the brand-new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, Trump told the crowd. Flanked by a group of American workers wearing hard hats, Trump said the agreement would bolster US.economic growth, benefitting farmers, workers and manufacturers. He said his concerns about NAFTA-triggered outsourcing had triggered his run for the presidency in 2016. A wide array of business groups welcomed the agreement, which must still be ratified by Canadas parliament before it can take effect. Mexico has already approved the deal. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, speaking in Ottawa, said his minority government would continue to answer questions posed by various industries and other groups. We have questions, and we have a process for ratification. I just look forward to getting, getting through it responsibly and rapidly because its so important for Canadians, he said. No Democrats Excluded from the event were House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal and other Democrats who were critical to the deals passage. The same Democrats who negotiated with the Trump administration for months to expand the pacts labour, environmental, and enforcement provisions and pave the way for its approval by the Democratic-controlled House were noticeably missing. Trump did not mention the work done by Pelosi or other Democrats on the trade pact, but US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, in his remarks at the ceremony, acknowledged the role that House leaders played in getting the deal done. The event came as US senators will start to pose questions in Trumps impeachment trial and before a key vote later this week on whether to allow the calling of witnesses like former National Security Adviser John Bolton. Trump lashed out against Bolton on Twitter on Wednesday after Bolton wrote in an unpublished book manuscript that the president told him he wanted to freeze $391m in security aid to Ukraine until Kyiv pursued investigations of Democrats, including former Vice President Joe Biden. Biden is a top contender for the Democratic nomination to face Trump in this years election. Pelosi told reporters that Democrats had ensured vast improvements to the USMCA before it was approved, despite their absence from Trumps White House event, adding, I hope he understands what hes signing today. Neal told reporters some Republican senators thought the deal was too Democratic. He said the final accord won stronger protections for workers, better enforcement of environmental provisions, and steps to prevent higher drug prices. Representative Rosa DeLauro told reporters in a separate teleconference that Democrats would remain vigilant on oversight of the improved trade deal and would fight for even better climate protections in future trade deals. The US Senate this month overwhelmingly approved legislation to implement the USMCA, sending the measure to Trump for signing into law. US legislators said it was unclear when the accord would take effect since Canadas main opposition Conservative Party had expressed concerns about aspects of the deal, and there was no exact timeline for ratification there. Even after Canada ratifies the accord, implementation could take several more months since the three countries must show they are meeting their obligations before the clock starts ticking on an effective date. [January 29, 2020] CTSI Invests in Expansion and a New Facility in Greater Baltimore-Washington CHANTILLY, Va., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Corbett Technology Solutions, Inc. (CTSI), a leading technology systems integrator in communications, security, audiovisual and collaboration systems, is pleased to announce further investment, relocation, and expansion of its Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan office. This new modern and flexible 11,000 square foot workspace supports day-to-day operations of the growing CTSI Baltimore Sales, Installation, Engineering, and Customer Care teams, housing over forty employees supporting hundreds of customers in the greater Baltimore area. CTSI's President & Chief Executive Officer Gino Ruta, states the branch has been a contributing source of rapid growth in the region. "CTSI is doubling down! Our investment in this new space enables expanded services for our clients while providing our employees an improved workspace to facilitate collaboration while delivering innovation in Systems Integration, Managed Services and CTSI Subscription Services (XaaS)." On Wednesday, February 19th, CTSI will host their grand opening and technology showcase in Baltimore, MD, from 1:0 pm to 5:00 pm. At the start of the event, employees, customers, and partners will enjoy a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony before getting their hands on next-generation technology solutions. This interactive showcase will feature industry leaders in Healthcare, Education, Security, Audiovisual, and Collaboration technologies. "We are excited to hear about CTSI's continued investment in Maryland. There's nothing quite like the technical knowledge and expertise that CTSI brings to a project," states David Kutcher, Baltimore County Public Schools. "Their ability to assess our needs and deliver a system that's designed and engineered specifically to improve our schools and offices is unparalleled. It's exciting to work with a partner that understands our mission and continues to prove they're in this for the long haul." CTSI's Baltimore Branch Office address is 1 Easter Court, Suite J, Owing Mills, MD. The main telephone number is 410-583-8900 and all other contact information remain unchanged. About CTSI Founded in 1969, CTSI is a technology and communications systems integrator specializing in high-impact technology design, installation, and support for Corporate, Healthcare, K-12 and Higher Education, Government, Houses of Worship, Senior Living, and Multifamily Housing. Over the past three years, CTSI has more than doubled in size, due to our continued customer focused innovation. From boardrooms and hospitals to classrooms and command centers, CTSI's solutions Engage, Inspire, and Deliver. Contact: Alan Rosenkoff 703-633-1464, [email protected] Connect with us: LinkedIn, Twitter or please visit www.ctsi-usa.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ctsi-invests-in-expansion-and-a-new-facility-in-greater-baltimore-washington-300995327.html SOURCE CTSI [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Either Shaw is the densest Republican in Lake County, which is doubtful for he is an attorney, or blind to the fact theres a lot of folks who actually abhor the president. Some members of that anti-Trump faction even live in the midst of Vernon Township. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 Trend: A delegation led by Head of the election observation mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Peter Taylor, which is in Azerbaijan to monitor the upcoming parliamentary elections, has met with Chairman of Azerbaijans Supreme Court Ramiz Rzayev, Trend reports with reference to the press service of the Supreme Court. At the meeting, Rzayev stressed that holding the elections in accordance with the requirements of Azerbaijans Constitution, the Electoral Code, international agreements that the country has acceded to and European standards is one of the main goals of the Azerbaijani state. Rzayev also spoke about the protection of electoral rights in the country and judicial practice in this area. In turn, Taylor noted that the OSCE ODIHR mission will monitor all aspects of the electoral process and evaluate the conduct of elections in accordance with OSCE standards, other international standards for democratic elections, as well as national legislation. The parties also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden had the chance to show off her arty side today, as she took part in a pottery class during a royal engagement. The future Queen of Sweden, 42, and her husband Prince Daniel, 46, took part in a pottery class while visiting three different businesses in Hoganas in Skane County earlier today. Victoria looked smart in a checked brown trouser suit as she arrived, but swapped her jacket for an apron as she got stuck in at the pottery wheel during the engagement, which saw her laughing and joking with Prince Daniel as they created their pots. They also visited two other manufacturing businesses in the southern town known for its ceramics. including Verkstad, a steel manufacturer, where Victoria took a tour of the premises. The Swedish princess, mother to Princess Estelle, seven, and Prince Oscar, three, had picked a statement suit in light brown for the day with a white tartan motif, which she paired with an off-white t-shirt. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, 42, and Prince Daniel had a blast during a pottery class in Hoganas today The Swedish royal seemed in a great mood as she worked the clay on a turning table during her day of engagement She looked relaxed and comfortable in the winter outfit, which she completed with light brown boots and a matching handbag. Her hair was neatly coiffed in a bun, which revealed a pair of drop earrings, teamed with her wedding band and a discreet silver bracelet. Her makeup was minimal, with just a dash of mascara and eye-shadow. She was in excellent spirits, bursting into laughter with the pottery instructor who was keeping an eye on her work and playfully showing her ball of clay to the photographers at the scene. Prince Daniel and Princess Victoria looked as close as ever today as they hopped from one engagement to the other Princess Victoria protected her off white t-shirt and tartan trousers with a grey apron as she took to the clay Prince Daniel, dapper in a navy suit, molded the clay expertly as Princess Victoria watched him (pictured) Prince Daniel looked dapper in a navy blue suit and light blue shirt as he dipped his hand into the clay, still wearing his wedding band and his watch. Both royals were donning grey protective aprons as they worked on their respective pots on the turning table. The couple seemed as close as ever during the day of engagements, exchanging confidences and knowing smiles. Earlier, the Crown Princess stepped by herself behind the scenes of the Verkstad company, where she donned a high vis jacket to observe the intricate work of steel welders. Princess Victoria was in excellent spirits and even made the pottery instructor laugh during the engagement In spite of her protective apron, the Princess got some of her clay on her trousers during the physical activity Princess Victoria opted for a statement suit in light brown and white and black tartan for her day of engagement Mother-of-two Victoria also took a look at how steel welders worked at the Verkstad factory, also in Hoganas After her busy day of engagements, the Swedish royal let out a small yawn during the Verkstad visit On Monday, Victoria travelled to Poland, where she joined more than 200 Holocaust survivors and foreign dignitaries in commemorating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi death camp. The Crown Princess looked somber during the event held in memory of the victims. Her European counterparts appeared equally solemn, as they stepped out in the dark shade to indicate a time of mourning. The royal lit a candle at the Monument to the victims at the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp. The biggest German Nazi death camp, KL Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated by the Soviet Red Army on 27 January 1945. The world commemorates its liberation by International Holocaust Remembrance Day annually on 27 January. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden (pictured) attended a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau today in Poland As US President Donald Trump unveiled the long-awaited peace plan alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on January 28, international reactions came pouring in. Soon after the announcement Iran issued a statement and called the peace truce as 'shameful' and also the 'treason of the century'. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abbas Mousavi not only denounced the peace plan, which according to Trump will put an end to one of the oldest ongoing wars, between Israelis and Palestinians but called it a betrayal to the Islamic community. The peace plan devised by Trump administration proposes to create the State of Palestine with its capital in east Jerusalem while acknowledging the sovereignty of Israel over important settlement blocs in the West Bank. However, Iran believed such plans are 'vicious' and are 'bound to defeat'. According to the official website, Mousavi said, The Zionist regime is a usurper and occupying regime, and the only way to settle the Palestinian crisis will be holding a referendum among the main inhabitants of the Palestinian land, and such vicious plans are doomed to defeat. Read - Saudi Arabia 'appreciates' Trump's Efforts In Israeli-Palestinian Peace Plan 'Sleepwalking into catastrophe' While the Israeli-Palestinian peace plan has been hailed by Jerusalem, Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif also tweeted an edited image of Trump's proposed 'future State of Palestine'. The US President denoted the map as 'vision of peace', however, according to Zarif it is 'sleepwalking into catastrophe'. Furthermore, according to Iran's Foreign Minister, the plan is a 'nightmare' for the Middle East as well as the entire world. The so-called "Vision for Peace" is simply the dream project of a bankruptcy-ridden real estate developer. But it is a nightmare for the region and the world And, hopefully, a wake-up call for all the Muslims who have been barking up the wrong tree.#LetsUniteForPalestinians pic.twitter.com/j2CJ9JaH9c Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 28, 2020 Read - Donald Trump Unveils Middle East Peace Plan Alongside Israeli PM Netanyahu However, Palestinian leaders who had dismissed the plan even before it was unveiled have reportedly called the long-delayed plan biased and deserving to go into the 'dustbin of the history'. Among other reactions, Saudi Arabia 'appreciated' Trump's efforts to devise a peace plan for the Middle East and also called for initiating direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians. The Gulf nation called for an agreement 'that achieves the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people'. Jordan has reportedly given a calm reaction to the peace plan, while Egypt which was the first Arab country to reach a peace deal with the Jewish state, has urged Israelis and Palestinians to carefully study the peace deal. The UAE's ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba issued a strikingly positive response to Trump's plan and called it a 'starting point' to return to negotiations. Read - US President Donald Trump To Unveil Middle East Peace Plan Amid Skepticism Read - Trump To Unveil Mideast Peace Plan Amid Skepticism In three days from now, India will know what finance minister Nirmala Sitharamans budget for the financial year 2020-21 has in it for every sector. Since it first came to power in 2014, the core area of focus for BJP-led Narendra Modi government has been a push for start-ups, which also led to the inception of Startup India initiative in 2015. From the budget that will be announced on February 1, startups by and large want and expect lowered personal taxes so that the disposable income is increased, meaning consumers will have more money in hand to spend, which in turn will lead to higher demand, thereby facilitating revival of the sliding economy and coming a step closer to realising the five trillion dollar economy goal. India continues to be the worlds fastest-growing economy, despite grim global projections in 2019 as per IMF, which also projected Indias growth rate at 7% in 2020. This bears testimony to its potential of spearheading global economic growth. Budget 2020 is, therefore, Sitharamans opportunity to make a difference not only to Indian but also to the global economy, said Shrenik Gandhi, co-founder and CEO, White Rivers Media, a Mumbai-based digital marketing firm. IF I WERE FM | What startups want from Nirmala Sitharaman in Budget 2020 According to Gandhi, the February 1 budget must enhance the net disposable income, which is directly proportional to the income tax cuts, affecting the demand for goods and services, finally snowballing into economic growth or slowdown. Budget 2020 should, therefore, focus on expenditure boost by lowering the personal tax rates, leading to higher savings, to pump the economy, he told hindustantimes.com. Sonam Shah, founder and CEO of Treize Communications, a Mumbai-based communications consultancy, highlighted the need to regulate delayed payments, thus further necessitating digitisation. With the economy in a dry state, the government should work towards ways to instill optimism and hope amongst small businesses and entrepreneurs. Delayed payments are a big concern for all businesses, be it MSMEs or entrepreneurial ventures or big companies. The government should come up with stronger actions within the existing regulations. This will not only ensure timely tax payments but also streamline processes and rotation, she said. Shah also wants the government to focus on the need for more sops to encourage and empower women entrepreneurs. With more and more women taking decision making roles and going the entrepreneurial way, more schemes and allocations should be made towards empowering women. A large number of women from low-income groups work in micro and small enterprises. If correct steps are taken, this segment has massive potential to help boost the economic growth of the country, she added. In an attempt to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and startups in the country, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) on January 21 also announced the constitution of National Startup Advisory Council (NSAC) which will advise the government on measures to foster a culture of innovation across all sectors. The panel, chaired by Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal, will also recommend ways to drive sustainable economic growth and generate large-scale employment opportunities. As on December 4 last year, 23,657 DPIIT recognised startups reported 2,85,890 jobs, according to a statement released by the ministry of commerce and industry. Last week, Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das called for structural reforms and more fiscal measures to revive consumption demand and the overall growth, saying the monetary policy has its own limitations to achieve these objectives, news agency PTI reported. He also batted for prioritising food processing industries, tourism, e-commerce and startups and making the domestic economy a part of the global value chain. All eyes are now on the finance minister Nirmala Sitharamans budget speech in Parliament, which will reveal the allocation of funds across sectors and determine the contours of the economy in the coming fiscal year. Godfrey Phillips India fell 5.57% to Rs 1296.30, extending yesterday's 4.59% slide amid concerns related to alleged corporate governance and disclosure violations. Jupiter Asset Management (Jupiter), which holds 9.37% in Godfrey Phillips India (GPI), on 7 January 2020, raised concerns over the company's corporate governance standards. Jupiter said that it has previously raised the "broader question of the group's corporate governance" with the company. "It is clear to us that a review of the group's governance would be beneficial, Jupiter said. One of trustees of KK Modi Family Trust, Lalit Kumar Modi shared the letter on Twitter on 28 January. GPI on Tuesday clarified that its promoter KK Modi-owned Modi Enterprises has no plan to sell its stake in the cigarette maker. The company also clarified that it is neither engaged nor privy to any such discussions on rumored potential transaction by its promoters". The clarification came after Lalit Modi, son of late industrialist KK Modi, said on Twitter that all assets of the group were up for sale. "Just to set the record straight Yes, all assets of the KK Modi group are going on sale. I mean all. The other three trustees wanted to continue running the business but I felt post my father passing away - the value will deplete. I voted for sale," Modi tweeted late on 27 January. GPI also clarified that it received a clarification from its "significant promoter" that there has been no decision to put the company's assets on sale. However, Modi reiterated on Twitter that he decided to sell all the family-owned assets in their entirety. Lalit Modi and his family own 47.09% stake in GPI, while Philip Morris Global Brands, the owner of the Marlboro brand, own 25.1%. On a consolidated basis, net profit of Godfrey Phillips India rose 56.23% to Rs 113.53 crore on 12.67% rise in net sales to Rs 709.40 crore in Q2 September 2019 over Q2 September 2018. Godfrey Phillips India, flagship company of Modi Enterprises, makes some of the most popular cigarette brands in the country like Four Square, Red and White, Cavanders, Tipper and North Pole. Godfrey Phillips India also manufactures and distributes iconic brand Marlboro under a license agreement with Philip Morris. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scientists have developed a bandage which helps diagnose bacterial infections by changing colour. The 'smart bandage' senses which bacteria are present in the body and releases medication to kill it in response. Researchers in China say their work could help pave the way for 'rational use' of antibiotics. Normally, antibiotics are dolled out as a precautionary measure until results come back, contributing to misuse. A colour-changing bandage which helps diagnose bacterial infections (stock) Test on mice with E.coli showed the bandage changed from green to yellow (top) when drug resistant bacteria were present. And when drug-resistant bacteria were present, the bandage turned red (bottom) Bacteria can naturally become resistant to antibiotics over time. However drugs' misuse in humans and animals is accelerating the process. Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health, with an estimated 700,000 deaths worldwide every year, according to The World Health Organisation (WHO). Official figures suggest 5,000 deaths are caused every year in the UK because antibiotics no longer work for some infections. Tools that help early detection of bacterial infections are essential for reducing 'guess work'. A team of scientists in China say each bacterial infection has a unique microenvironment of toxins, enzymes and pH level. WHAT IS ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE? Antibiotics have been doled out unnecessarily by GPs and hospital staff for decades, fueling once harmless bacteria to become superbugs. The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously warned if nothing is done the world is heading for a 'post-antibiotic' era. It claimed common infections, such as chlamydia, will become killers without immediate solutions to the growing crisis. Bacteria can become drug resistant when people take incorrect doses of antibiotics or if they are given out unnecessarily. Former chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies claimed in 2016 that the threat of antibiotic resistance is as severe as terrorism. Figures estimate that superbugs will kill 10 million people each year by 2050, with patients succumbing to once harmless bugs. Around 700,000 people already die yearly due to drug-resistant infections including tuberculosis (TB), HIV and malaria across the world. Concerns have repeatedly been raised that medicine will be taken back to the 'dark ages' if antibiotics are rendered ineffective in the coming years. In addition to existing drugs becoming less effective, there have only been one or two new antibiotics developed in the last 30 years. In September, the WHO warned antibiotics are 'running out' as a report found a 'serious lack' of new drugs in the development pipeline. Without antibiotics, C-sections, cancer treatments and hip replacements will become incredibly 'risky', it was said at the time. Advertisement Dr Xiaogang Qu and colleagues at the Chinese Academy of Sciences developed a material which can assess microenvironments. The researchers incorporated the material into bandages and tested them on wounds in mice. The mice were infected with either drug-sensitive or drug-resistant Escherichia coli (E.coli) bacteria. In the case of drug-sensitive E.coli, the bandage changed from green to yellow and released an antibiotic that killed the microbes. And when drug-resistant bacteria were present, the bandage turned red after coming into contact with an enzyme specifically produced by the resistant microbes. When the bacteria were detected, the researchers exposed the bandage to light, causing the material to release a chemical that weakened the bacteria, making them more susceptible to medicine. The researchers say that sensing and treating bacterial infections quickly could help improve patients' recovery as well curb the spread of antibiotic-resistant microbes. Writing in the paper ACS Central Science, the authors note: 'Sensing bacterial infections and monitoring drug resistance are very important for the selection of treatment options. 'This work develops a new way for the rational use of antibiotics.' The team see their bandages as a low-cost option to the 'common methods of sensing resistance'. Traditional methods are limited because they are time consuming and require expensive instruments. 'Given the low cost and easy operation of this point-of-care device, it can be developed for practical applications,' the team said. The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by one of the four accused in 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder case challenging rejection of his mercy plea by President Ram Nath Kovind. A bench of justices R Banumathi, Ashok Bhushan and AS Bopanna turned down the argument of the convicted Mukesh Singh that all the relevant records of the case were not sent by the Delhi government to the President, who could, therefore, not make an informed decision. The court noted that records -- including judgments of the trial court, the high court and the Supreme Court; details of the review and curative petitions filed by the petitioner and other co-accused; the present status and other details of the petitioner such as past criminal history, and economic condition of the family of the petitioner -- sent by the Delhi government to the President. It, therefore, concluded that the President took into account all relevant material before arriving at his decision. By perusal of the note, we have seen that all the documents were taken into consideration, and upon consideration of the relevant records and facts, and circumstances of the surrounding crime, the President has rejected the mercy petition, the judgment said. The court also observed that sufferings in prison, as alleged by Mukesh in his plea, cannot be grounds to challenge the rejection of mercy plea by the President. Mukesh claimed in his plea that he was sexually abused in jail and unlawfully kept under solitary confinement. The court also made it clear that merely because there was a quick rejection of the petitioners mercy petition by the President, it cannot be assumed that the matter was dealt with a predetermined mind. President Kovind rejected Mukeshs mercy petition on January 17, four days after it was filed the fastest decision ever on such a plea. Mukesh argued that rejection of his mercy plea by the President showed non-application of mind and reflected bias and a pre-determined mind. The court, however, held that while delay in disposal of mercy petition may be a ground for courts interference with the order of the President, quick consideration of the mercy petition, and swift rejection of the same, cannot be grounds for judicial review of the Presidents decision. Mukesh and three others, who were convicted for the gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old para-medic student in a moving bus in Delhi, were sentenced to death. They are scheduled to be executed on February 1. However, a senior lawyer said for that to happen, the convicts will have to be hanged separately. When there are more than one death row convicts in the same case, they can be executed separately (on exhaustion of legal remedies) provided separate death warrants are issued, said Supreme Court advocate Virag Gupta. This case is also an example of how judiciary has been affected by media hype. Initially, when media hype was there, investigation, trial and high court judgment all came within two years. After media hype subsided, Supreme Court took five years (to decide the case). After Hyderabad encounter in 2019, there was media hype again and the judicial process has been on overdrive since then, Gupta said. Earlier, the Tihar jail authorities had indicated that they intend to hang the four convicts together. HT reported January 13 that the jail authorities have widened the gallows so that the four can be hanged simultaneously. Before that, no more than two people could be hanged at the same time in Tihar However, none of them barring Mukesh have exhausted all their legal remedies. The four convicts, Mukesh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Akshay were convicted and sentenced to death by the trial court in 2013. Their conviction and sentence were confirmed by the Delhi high court in 2014 and the Supreme Court in May 2017. Subsequently, the review petitions filed by three convicts, Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta and Vinay Sharma against the Supreme Court judgment were dismissed in 2018 and the review petition by Akshay was dismissed in December 2019. Additional Sessions Judge, Patiala House, on January 7, 2020, issued a death warrant against four convicts and scheduled their execution on January 22. This left the convicts with two weeks time to file both the curative and mercy petition. Two of the accused, Mukesh and Vinay Sharma then filed curative petitions in the Supreme Court challenging the May 2017 judgment of the top court which had upheld their conviction and death sentence. The Supreme Court dismissed the curative petitions on January 14. Immediately after that, Mukesh had filed his mercy plea before the President which led to the execution date of the four convicts being postponed to February 1. One of the accused, Akshay, filed his curative petition in Supreme Court on Tuesday. The curative petition filed by Akshay will be decided by a five-judge bench headed by justice NV Ramana at 1 pm on Thursday. Another convict, Vinay Sharma, whose curative petition was dismissed on January 14 filed his mercy petition on Wednesday before the President. There was no immediately clarity on how this would affect the date of execution, though the law demands that all remedies are exhausted before a death row convict is sent to the gallows. The way the petitions are being filed by the convicts has come under criticism from several experts and the Union government, on January 22, filed an application in Supreme Court seeking changes in the manner in which the remedies can be exercised by imposing deadline for death row convicts to file curative and mercy petitions. Sen. Bernie Sanders has jumped to the front of the pack in New Hampshire new polling shows, as voters will head to the polls in the Granite State in just two weeks. A survey from NBC10, Franklin Pierce University and the Boston Herald has Sanders earning the support of 29 per cent of New Hampshire voters, with former Vice President Joe Biden now in second place with 22 per cent. Meanwhile, allies of the Vermont senator are incensed with the Democratic National Committee's decision to appoint two top Hillary Clinton supporters to important roles heading into this summer's Democratic National Convention. Sen. Bernie Sanders could be posed to win the New Hampshire primary again - as new polling shows that he's pulled ahead of former Vice President Joe Biden, who previously led the pack of Democratic 2020 hopefuls Sen. Bernie Sanders is leading the pack of Democratic hopefuls in New Hampshire, according to new polling. He won the state in 2016 over Hillary Clinton, in part because he represents neighboring Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' allies are grumbling over the Democratic National Committee choosing former Rep. Barney Frank (left) and John Podesta (right) for prominent roles, as the two are politically aligned with Hillary Clinton The two problem appointments are former Rep. Barney Frank and former Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta, whose emails were infamously leaked during the 2016 cycle. Some of those messages didn't say nice things about Sanders, who ran against Clinton for the Democratic nomination four years ago. She squeaked out a win in the first caucus state of Iowa, while Sanders won the New Hampshire primary, in part because of his neighbor status of representing Vermont. Allies of Sen. Bernie Sanders were not thrilled that two well-known Hillary Clinton (pictured) supporters were named to the Democratic National Committee's rules committee for the 2020 convention Frank, a former congressman from nearby Massachusetts, was so critical of Sanders during the 2016 cycle that it warranted a piece on Boston.com headlined: 'Barney Frank has a lengthy history of hating on Bernie Sanders.' That history, the story said, goes back more than a quarter century. Frank was named a co-chair of the rules committee and Podesta will sit on that committee. There will be 187 people total on that committee so those appointments represent a small fraction. Still, the DNC's decision was slammed by prominant Sanders surrogate Nina Turner, a former state senator. In an interview with Status Coup, she called the DNC's choice an 'embarrassment' and a 'slap in the face,' according to the Hill newspaper. 'If the DNC believes it's going to get away in 2020 with what it did in 2016, it has another thing coming,' Turner said. A number of Sanders supporters in 2016 claimed the DNC rigged the primary in favor of Clinton - including scheduling debates on nights when voters wouldn't be watching. This cycle, Sanders faced a medical emergency - a heart attack at the beginning of October - and has since mounted a comeback, boosted by high-profile progressive endorsements from 'squad' members including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The New Hampshire poll released Monday gives him a sizeable lead against Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who also represents the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. She's in third place with 16 per cent support. Rounding out the top five are former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg with 10 per cent and Sen. Amy Klobuchar with 5 per cent. Sanders increased his support share by 7 points since October. Back then he had been tied with Warren with 22 per cent support each. And Biden had led, earning 26 per cent support. The New Hampshire primary will take place February 11. 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, as multiple companies announced research into the disease. We can announce that we have three partnerships to develop vaccines against the novel coronavirus, said Richard Hatchett, chief executive of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, 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 summer, Hatchett said during the annual World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort town. A fourth company, Novavax, which has worked on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), said earlier it had also initiated development of a vaccine candidate. There is no vaccine or antiviral treatment against the novel coronavirus detected in China, which has killed 18 people so far and has now spread internationally. Hatchett said the three partnerships were with Inovio Pharmaceuticals and Moderna, two U.S.-based companies, and the University of Queensland in Australia. Moderna is working with the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a U.S. government agency. Shares in Inovio jumped 6.68 percent on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday, while Moderna stock was up 1.37 percent and by a total of 6.5 percent over two sessions. Shares in other biotech companies also rose in expectation of growing interest in a vaccine against the virus. Stock in Novavax jumped 11.42 percent after the firms announcements, while NanoViricides, which is conducting research into Ebola, rose 36.91 percent. Hatchett said that even if the virus had disappeared by the time a vaccine was developed, having one would still be very advantageous. If the virus doesnt disappear and it spreads globally, we will be glad that we made these investments today, he added. Stephane Bancel, chief executive of Moderna, told AFP his company planned to develop the vaccine at its plant in Boston with financing from CEPI. Bancel also said he was planning clinical trials by the summer, adding that normally, to develop traditional vaccines, the same process would take two or three years. What you can do protect yourself Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness, such as coughing and sneezing, the World Health Organization says. Other symptoms of this coronavirus include fever and shortness of breath. Severe cases can lead to pneumonia, kidney failure and even death. Scientists believe this coronavirus started in another animal and then spread to humans. So health officials recommend cooking meat and eggs thoroughly. Anyone with underlying medical conditions should avoid live animal markets and raw meats altogether, since those people are "considered at higher risk of severe disease," the World Health Organization says. But, in general, the public should do "what you do every cold and flu season," said Dr. John Wiesman, the health secretary in Washington state where the first US case of Wuhan coronavirus was confirmed. That includes washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you're the one feeling sick, cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and disinfect the objects and surfaces you touch. If you or your doctor suspect you might have the Wuhan coronavirus, the CDC advises wearing a surgical mask. PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday he had a "great discussion" with U.S. President Donald Trump over a digital tax planned by Paris and said the two countries would work together to avoid a rise in tariffs. The two leaders agreed to the truce after Paris offered to suspend down payments for this year's digital tax and Washington promised to keep negotiating toward a solution rather than acting on a tariff threat, French sources said. Specifically, Macron and Trump agreed to hold off on a potential tariff war until the end of 2020, a French diplomatic source said, and to push ahead with broader negotiations at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to rewrite the rules of international taxation during that period. "They agreed to give a chance to negotiations until the end of the year," the source said. "During that time period, there won't be successive tariffs." France decided in July to apply a 3% levy on revenue from digital services earned in France by companies with revenues of more than 25 million euros ($28 million) in France and 750 million euros worldwide. Washington threatened to impose trade tariffs on French Champagne, handbags and other goods in response. It complained the tax unfairly targeted U.S. internet companies, a claim Paris dismissed. French authorities have repeatedly said any international agreement on digital taxation reached within the OECD would immediately supersede the French tax. But concerned that the United States would snub the OECD negotiations and proceed with tariffs on French goods, France has offered to suspend until the end of the year down payments on its digital tax that would have been due in April. "What we're proposing is to give ourselves time and to show our goodwill, to postpone the remaining payments to December," a French Finance Ministry source said. Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are due to negotiate the details in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, the source added. The White House said on Monday both Trump and Macron agreed it was important to complete the negotiations successfully. Nearly 140 countries are to meet at the OECD at the end of the month to give their backing for the biggest rewrite of international tax rules since the 1920s, to bring them up to date for the digital era. (Reporting by Michel Rose and Leigh Thomas, additional reporting by Alexandra Alper in Washington; writing by Benoit Van Overstraeten and Leigh Thomas; editing by Angus MacSwan, Nick Macfie, Paul Simao and Larry King) A man uses a thermometer to check the temperature of a journalist covering a meeting between Tedros Adhanom, director general of the World Health Organization, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, on Jan. 28, 2020. (Naohiko Hatta/Pool via Reuters) WHO to Reconvene Emergency Committee to Reassess Global Coronavirus Threat The World Health Organizations emergency committee will meet again to assess the global threat from the new coronavirus, the organizations leader said on Jan. 29. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the committee would meet on Thursday to advise him on whether the coronavirus outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. He noted that most confirmed cases are in China but that three countries have recorded person-to-person transmission outside of China. This potential for further global spread is why I called the emergency committee, Ghebreyesus said in a statement. Most cases reported outside are in people with a travel history from China or have been in contact with people who have been there. But there are some signs of person-to-person transmission outside China. Tedros Adhanom, director-general of the World Health Organization, speaks during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, January 28, 2020. (Naohiko Hatta/Pool via Reuters) German officials said this week that a 33-year-old man got the coronavirus from a female colleague from Shanghai. Three other workers were later isolated. Taiwan and Japan also reported cases of human-to-human transmission among non-relatives. Other transmissions between people included a father infecting his son in Vietnam and the man possibly infecting his relatives, who were in Malaysia. WHOs emergency committee declined last week to recommend that the organization declare a public health emergency of international concern, citing the limited cases outside of China. Make no mistake. This is an emergency in China, but it has not yet become a global health emergency, Ghebreyesus said at a news conference announcing the decision. Since then, cases have popped up in more countries, with over a dozen now having at least one patient that tested positive. Some countries have seen a growing number of cases. Australia reported its sixth and seventh cases on Wednesday, and Singapore reported three new cases, bringing the total to 10. People queue outside a pharmacy to purchase a protective face mask, thermometer and hand sanitizer in Singapore on January 29, 2020. (Roslan Rahman/AFP via Getty Images) Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that infect animals and, in some cases, pass from animals to humans. In rare cases, they are transmitted from humans to other humans. China has also said it confirmed that asymptomatic transmission is taking place, but American health officials said they couldnt support the finding as of yet. Officials said at a press conference on Tuesday that theyre trying to obtain the underlying data from Chinese officials but also stressed that asymptomatic carriers typically dont drive epidemics. Asymptomatic transmission means transmitting the disease even if the carrier doesnt show symptoms. Even if there is some asymptomatic transmission, in all the history of resp-borne viruses of any type, asymptomatic transmission has never been the driver of outbreaks, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told reporters. The driver of outbreaks is always a symptomatic person. Even if theres a rare asymptomatic person who might transmit, an epidemic is not driven by asymptomatic carriers. From NTD Newsroom Stephanie O'Connor, Keith Johnston and Louise O'Connor are all accused of impeding the investigation into the death of grandmother-of-seven Patricia O'Connor. They all deny the charges against them. Patricia O'Connor's daughter denied that her account of what happened on the night her mother was allegedly murdered was a "web of lies", a jury has heard. Louise O'Connor told gardai she never saw her mother's dead body wrapped in blankets at her house, and her daughter Stephanie "didn't dress up as my ma" to pretend she was still alive. She was being interviewed after she was arrested on suspicion of murdering her mother. Four people are on trial at the Central Criminal Court over Patricia O'Connor's death in 2017. Louise O'Connor's then-partner Kieran Greene (34) is charged with murder, while Louise (41), her daughter Stephanie O'Connor (22) and Louise's ex-partner Keith Johnston (43) are accused of impeding the investigation. They all deny the charges. Disguising Patricia O'Connor (61), a grandmother-of-seven, was allegedly murdered on May 29, 2017, at the house at Mountain View Park, Rathfarnham, she shared with family, including her daughter, granddaughter Stephanie and Mr Greene. Her remains were found scattered in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains between June 10 and 14 that year. Stephanie O'Connor is accused of disguising herself as her grandmother on May 29 to pretend she was still alive, while her mother Louise allegedly agreed to this. Gardai showed Louise O'Connor CCTV footage from outside her house on May 29 as they interviewed her on September 2 and 3. She said this showed her mother leaving with a suitcase at 9.34pm after a row. She, her daughter, Mr Greene and the children were in the house that evening and went to bed after her mother left. Her father, Gus O'Connor, came home at 10.23pm. However, a person was seen coming in the back door at 10.05pm carrying a bag and Ms O'Connor did not know who this was. "Houdini or someone. I don't know who they are, I see a big splodge," she said. She agreed a black suitcase found by gardai in the house was "identical" to the one seen at 9.34pm but "maybe it was one of a set". Gardai put it to her that the person leaving the house was her daughter Stephanie wearing Patricia's jacket. "That is not Stephanie. That's ridiculous. That's my ma," she said. When it was put to her the person was not wearing a dress, she said "she obviously got changed". She was asked why they had a hood up when it was not raining. "I don't know why...maybe they have sore ears," she said. She was shown fabric found in the shallow grave in Wexford where her mother was initially buried and was asked if it was her mother's dress. She said it looked like it. Earlier, Patricia was seen coming in the back door at 6.35pm and a person was seen closing the curtains at the back of the house at 6.52pm. Louise agreed this was Mr Greene. A clip from the front of the house showed Louise and the children leaving to go to the park at 6.53pm. Gardai were suspicious that "something happened". She was asked if her mother was dead when she returned. "How could a dead woman walk out?" she said. Gardai asked if Mr Greene "managed to do this in secret?" "What, kill me ma? Yeah," she replied. "He's a f**king nut." It was put to her it looked like Mr Greene was talking to someone in the house at 6.18am after he came back from burying her mother in Wexford. Louise said she did not know, and "he's probably gone doolally". She went to the park "to get peace from my mam," she said, but denied it was "permanent peace" and "my mam was alive when we walked out". She said Stephanie was in the sitting room when Patricia walked out. Louise denied discussing killing her mother with Mr Greene, Stephanie or her father. She said again she did not know what happened until two weeks later. "That is a web of lies for you and your family," a garda put to her. She said: "I know what I seen and heard. Stephanie didn't dress up as my ma." The trial continues. PITTSBURGH, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- United Steelworkers (USW) International President Thomas M. Conway issued the following statement today after President Trump signed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). "The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was a disaster for American workers. As corporations outsourced jobs and production to Mexico, good, family-sustaining manufacturing jobs disappeared, hollowing out communities and dragging down middle-class wages. "The USW opposed NAFTA from the outset. Our members understand as well as anyone the devastating consequences of bad trade deals and have been among those hardest hit as greedy corporations shift their operations away from the United States and Canada. "The original USMCA, which the administration negotiated in 2018, was inadequate and left workers in all three countries vulnerable. "The labor community and its Democratic allies, especially Sens. Sherrod Brown and Ron Wyden and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, worked tirelessly to remedy the first version of the USMCA and were successful in addressing the most pressing concerns, including enforcement mechanisms to hold Mexico accountable to its new labor laws. "Thanks to the improvements we fought for and won, this USMCA is significantly better than the original, and the USW supports it. It was the product of compromise. It's far from perfect, but leaving the original NAFTA in place was not an option. "There is still a great deal of work to do, however, to ensure that corporations stop exploiting workers in their quest for larger and larger profits. For all who supported this agreement, the work is just beginning to ensure it lives up to all its promises. "Mexico must honor its commitment to improving labor conditions, which will require devoting proper resources and attention to enforcing its labor laws. The United States and Canada must also be vigilant in ensuring that workers' rights are a top priority. "The U.S. government must further support other policies that will combat rampant economic inequality and level the playing field for working people. This includes a commitment to affordable health care, retirement security, infrastructure investment, a healthy environment and stronger labor protections in the United States. "The new USMCA will only be an improvement if there is a shared commitment to helping workers in all three countries. While this deal does not erase the legacy of NAFTA, it offers us a new starting point in our approach to international trade. We will have to build on it to make certain trade agreements promote, rather than undermine, the interests of working people." The USW represents 850,000 men and women employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations. Contact: Jess Kamm Broomell, 412-562-2444, [email protected] SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW) Related Links http://www.usw.org The recent placement drive organized at IIM Lucknow for its 2018-20 post graduate batch saw 100 per cent placements. Among the major recruiters under this placement drive were e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart. The official statement issued by IIM-L read that the highest international salary offered was Rs 58.47 lakh and the best domestic salary offered was Rs 54 lakh. The mean and median salaries offered are Rs 24.25 lakh and Rs 23 lakh. Approx 140 domestic and international companies attended this placement drive to recruit 443 students of the 34 batch of the institute, according to the official IIM-L statement. Among the top recruiters were the e-commerce site Amazon, IT major Accenture, and top consulting firms such as Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). These top companies made 13 offers each whereas the Walmart owned Flipkart made 9 offers. "With this year's placements, IIM Lucknow has reinforced its presence among the top B-schools, and proven to be a preferred destination for organisations which select limited B-schools to recruit," Prof Rajesh Aithal, chairman of IIM-L students' affairs and placement wing told Business Standard. Strategy/consulting profiles had a maximum of 32 per cent job offers, followed by operations/IT at 24 per cent, finance 19 per cent,general management 13 per cent and 12 per cent went to sales and marketing jobs. The international job locations offered to the students were USA, Africa, Dubai and Qatar. Among more than 25 companies that attended the IIM-L placement drive for the first time were Bosch, FIITJEE, JCB India, Magicbricks, and state-owned ONGC. Also read: Fill up existing vacancies in a time-bound manner: Centre tells departments Also read: Debt increased by 71% in 5 years, address it in budget: Cong tells Modi govt Pro-Iran paramilitary groups protesting against U.S. air strikes in Iraq called on supporters to withdraw from the perimeter of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) umbrella group of mainly Shi'ite militia told them to move away from the compound on January 1 in response to an appeal by the Iraqi government. Earlier, U.S. troops fired tear gas to disperse protesters who were gathered outside the embassy compound for a second day. The State Department said diplomatic personnel inside were safe and there were no plans to evacuate them. The Pentagon said that in addition to Marines sent to protect embassy personnel, about 750 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division were being sent to the Middle East and that additional troops were prepared to deploy over the next several days. In 2015, the state of Montana instituted a policy that allowed taxpayers who donated to organizations providing students with private-school scholarships to deduct up to $150 from their state tax bills. The Montana Department of Revenue was charged with implementing the initiative and ensuring that it complied with the states constitution. While the program had no overt religious component, certain families used the scholarship monies to help send their children to religious schools. The Department of Revenue, concerned that this violated the state constitutions so-called Blaine amendment, which bars the provision of public funds to religious schools, issued a rule preventing any scholarship money donated under the program from going toward such schools. Three mothers who had sent their children to religious schools with the help of the program, and who saw their childrens scholarships withdrawn after the Department of Revenue issued its rule, subsequently sued, alleging that the states Blaine amendment violates the free-exercise clause of the U.S. Constitutions First Amendment. The women took their case, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, up through the state court circuit, and it eventually made its way to the Supreme Court. The opening arguments in the case, which the Court heard last week, were, in large measure, devoted to a debate over the application of two previous Court decisions Locke v. Davey and Trinity Lutheran v. Comer. Locke is an oft-cited First Amendment case from 2004, in which the Court weighed whether a Washington-state scholarship program that prohibited beneficiaries from using the grant on a degree in devotional theology violated the free-exercise rights of the plaintiffs. A seven-justice majority on the Court held that placing such limits on the use of publicly funded private-school scholarships was not unconstitutional, given what the Court called the play in the joints between the establishment and free-exercise clauses of the First Amendment. Story continues The respondents in last weeks oral arguments asserted that while Locke is not perfectly analogous to Espinoza one concerned ministerial training while the other concerns secondary education it is sufficiently so that the logic of the decision in the former case should be applied to the latter. Locke involved funding of the ministry, the respondents counsel conceded, but claimed that Espinoza did too, namely, the ministry of [religious school] teachers towards their students. Thats where the Courts ruling in the 2017 case Trinity Lutheran v. Comer comes in. In Trinity Lutheran, representatives of a religious school based in Missouri successfully argued that they were subjected to unconstitutional discrimination by the state government because of their religious beliefs. As NRs John McCormack described last week, the central question raised by Trinity Lutheran was whether it was constitutional for the state of Missouri to deny a neutral public benefit to a qualified religious institution solely on account of its status as a religious organization. The Court answered in the affirmative, citing its decision in the 1947 case Everson v. Board of Education, which held that a state cannot hamper its citizens in the free exercise of their own religion. Consequently, it cannot exclude individual Catholics, Lutherans, Mohammedans, Baptists, Jews, Methodists, Non-believers, Presbyterians, or the members of any other faith, because of their faith, or lack of it, from receiving the benefits of public welfare legislation. One objection raised by the respondents in the Trinity case and discussed by the justices in Espinoza is the argument that funding a religious schools secular functions indirectly subsidizes its sectarian activities. According to this argument, since giving a religious school a grant for secular purposes allows it to spend money it otherwise wouldve used for said purposes on its sectarian activities, an ostensibly even-handed treatment of secular and religious schools would still subsidize religion in a manner inconsistent with the establishment clause. This is true inasmuch as money is fungible. But its implication that no public funding whatever can flow to religious institutions on establishment-clause grounds raises much thornier questions. For instance: Should religious schools not be protected by taxpayer-funded police and firefighting services? The states provision of those basic services, after all, frees up dollars for proselytism. Ultimately, the Court in Trinity rejected the fungibility argument, a position that Justice Stephen Breyer reaffirmed in the opening arguments of Espinoza. The proposition, Breyer said, that the state will give police protection to all schools, all people, but no religious institution is a facially unconstitutional one. Lawyers for the mothers suing in Espinoza agreed, arguing that the revocation of their childrens scholarships was an unconstitutional exercise in religious discrimination: the denial of a neutral public benefit a scholarship to be used as they please because of their status as religious persons. Justice Brett Kavanaughs rejoinder to the respondents during opening arguments helps to explain the fundamental difference between Espinoza and Locke. While he conceded that funding religion, funding religious schools generally or training of clergy is . . . an establishment clause-concern, as argued in Locke, Kavanaugh claimed that Espinoza raises a separate issue when you set up a neutral-benefit program police, fire, or scholarships and allow people to use those things, allow religious institutions to obtain the benefits of those things on a non-discriminatory basis. Kavanaughs assertion reaches the question at the heart of Espinoza: Is it constitutional for a state to withhold a neutral public benefit here, a scholarship that parents can use at either a secular or religious private school because the recipient of that benefit might use it in furtherance of a religious end? The plaintiffs acknowledge that states do not have an obligation to subsidize private education. If a state decides to do so, however, it has a constitutional duty to treat all of its citizens, religious and non-religious alike, with an even hand. That duty is whats at stake here, and we wont have to wait too long to know the outcome: A ruling is expected this summer. More from National Review The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded Oregon $1.1 million to help identify sources of lead in drinking water in schools and child-care facilities. Ensuring access to clean drinking water and protecting children from exposure to lead are critically important to EPA, EPA Region 10 Administrator Chris Hladick said Wednesday in a statement. This funding will support our states efforts to keep children in schools and child care programs safe from the adverse health impacts of lead in drinking water. Washington, Idaho and Alaska together received an additional $1.1 million. Oregon received by far the largest lead grant of the four states. The Oregon Department of Education will use the money to provide funding, training and technical assistance to schools and child care facilities. Under state laws enacted in 2017, partly in response to news coverage by The Oregonian/OregonLive, all public schools and licensed child care facilities are required to test for lead in all water used for drinking or food preparation. Oregonians awareness that there might be lead in school water fountains and school kitchen sinks rose exponentially in 2016, when Portland Public Schools was revealed to have covered up lead in water testing results that showed elevated and even sky-high rates in some fountains and sinks. The Associated Press contributed to this report. -- Betsy Hammond; betsyhammond@oregonian.com; @ChalkUp Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Alan Ellis, attorney and founder of The Law Offices of Alan Ellis, recently had two articles publish in prominent legal publications. Published on January 9, 2020 on Bloomberg Insights, The First Step Act Earned Time Credits on the Horizon is the fourth article in a series by Alan Ellis. Co-authored by Mark Allenbaugh and Nellie Klein, the article reviews the new PATTERN risk assessment tool currently being rolled out by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) as part of the First Step Acts recidivism reduction efforts. PATTERN is intended to provide eligible prisoners the opportunity to earn time creditsnot to be confused with good conduct timethat can be used for expanded pre-release custody options, such as release to a halfway house or home confinement. The article notes some impediments to full implementation as well as criticism this new tool already is receiving. To read the article, click here. In High Court Should Restore Sentencing Due Process, published by Law360 last November, Ellis and Allenbaugh discuss two cases involving the use of acquitted conduct at sentencing now being considered for cert by the U.S. Supreme Court. It is expected that the Court, should it grant cert, will hold the use of acquitted conduct unconstitutional thereby finally overturning Watts. The articlea must readdiscusses the implications of such a holding on the use of dismissed and even uncharged conduct. Subscribers to Law360 can click here to read the article. About the Law Offices of Alan Ellis With offices in San Francisco and New York, The Law Offices of Alan Ellis is a federal sentencing, prison and post-conviction, appeal and 2255 motion law firm representing federal criminal defendants and inmates throughout the United States. Alan Ellis, a past President of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Fulbright Award recipient, is a criminal defense lawyer with more than 50 years of experience as a practicing lawyer, law professor and federal law clerk. He is a nationally recognized authority in the fields of federal plea bargaining, sentencing, prison matters, appeals, and habeas corpus 2255 motions with more than 120 articles and books and 70 lectures, presentations and speaking engagements to his credit. He is the author of the widely acclaimed Federal Prison Guidebook, now in its 11th edition. For more information visit, http://www.alanellis.com. Mike Pompeo US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visits London on Wednesday to salvage a post-Brexit alliance with an old friend whose defiance on China and Iran underscores Washington's diplomatic isolation. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been touting the prospects of a big new trade deal with the United States that can fill the void of Britain's departure from the European Union on Friday. But Pompeo's meetings with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Johnson on Wednesday and Thursday threatens to become a damage limitation exercise for the "special relationship". Pompeo had been doing his best to convince Johnson that allowing China's Huawei tech giant to help build Britain's next-generation 5G network introduced a long-term security threat. Britain approved a limited but still important role for Huawei on Tuesday. "The United States is disappointed by the UK's decision," a senior administration official said in a terse statement. And Johnson had been pushing Washington to send back the wife of a US diplomat who is using the cover of diplomatic immunity to avoid prosecution over the death of a teenager in a road accident in England last August. The United States rejected Anne Sacoolas's extradition to Britain last week. "We feel this amounts to a denial of justice," Raab said in response. "The UK would have acted differently if this had been a UK diplomat serving in the US." Disagreements about Iran and a US prosecutor's complaint that Prince Andrew was stonewalling an FBI investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein only add to the layers of tensions. Johnson might now simply be hoping "there are no precipitous statements from the US saying that's it, this love affair is at an end", said Ian Bond of London's Centre for European Reform. Bond pointed out that US officials had repeatedly warned how Huawei's inclusion in Britain's 5G rollout could force Washington to stop sharing intelligence with London. "It would probably be safe to say that the British have not taken those (threats) very seriously and now is the moment we will find out whether they should have taken them more seriously or not," Bond told AFP. Johnson may have got a sense of what comes next in a phone call with US President Donald Trump that followed his national security team's final decision on Huawei. Downing Street said Johnson "underlined the importance of like-minded countries working together to diversify the market and break the dominance of a small number of companies". Britain will cap Huawei's share of the 5G market to about a third in a bid to create space for new companies to step in. But Johnson's decision still tests the limits of his well-publicised friendship with the mercurial White House chief. Trump has been a big fan of both Johnson and Brexit. He dangled the promise of a new trade deal with Britain by as early as the end of the year. Those talks can formally get underway once Brexit takes effect on Friday at 2300 GMT. Any comprehensive agreement would need ratification in Congress and none is expected when most Americans' attention is focused on the heated presidential election campaign. But a bare-bones deal that lays the foundation for future talks could work in both Trump and Johnson's political favour. Some cyber security experts said Johnson's decision to keep Huawei away from the "core" elements of the 5G network should appease Washington's technical concerns. "Essentially what they've done is limit Huawei from large parts of the network," said the Royal United Services Institute think-tank's cyber research chief James Sullivan. "You would hope this would blow over in the next few weeks. Sixteen out of the 21 electoral area coordinators of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Sissala East constituency of the Upper West Region are kicking against the candidature of incumbent Member of Parliament(MP) for the area, Ridwan Abass. Addressing a press conference in Tumu today, Wednesday, the group declared their unflinching support for the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Issahaku Amidu Chinnia, alleging that he had lost touch with the electorates in the constituency. Secretary of the 16 electoral area coordinators, Braimah Witiirira Sumaila saidIt is an open secret the MP has lost touch with the people. He has no leadership and managerial skills which makes him a very bad product to sell. This can be verified amongst our constituency executives, polling station executives, patrons, party elders and the masses. We are doing this knowing that we have the backing and blessing of polling station executives in our various electoral areas. Every election has its dynamics. The aspirant we support and are campaigning for, Amidu Chinnia is the only candidate that can retain the NPP seat in Sissala East. Any other candidate will be a risk to gamble with. We the electoral area coordinators who are supposed to be lead campaigners do not see the MP as a good leader; period. In what could best be a dramatic turn of events in the Sissala East area, the 16 electoral area coordinators and some polling station executives, before the press conference first converged at the former constituency office of the NPP before moving to their current party office where they submitted a bank draft for 2,000 Ghana Cedis for the purchase of a nomination form for the Deputy Upper West Regional Issahaku, Amidu Chinnia to kick start the agenda rescue the seat mission. Braimah Witiirira Sumaila who presented the bank draft for the purchase of the nomination form told the constituency election committee that it was their personal contribution to ensure they get the right candidate for the parliamentary elections. Chairman of the Sissala East Constituency Election Committee of the NPP, Salia Mwangu, presenting the nomination form to the group after receiving the cheque admonished them not to engage in any act that will disunite the party. The electoral area coordinators later presented the nomination form to the campaign team of Issahaku Amidu Chinia. Chairman of the campaign team, Sulemana Benin said the team will run an ue-based campaign devoid of insults to ensure Mr. Chinnia wins the parliamentary primaries. The New Patriotic Party won the Sissala East parliamentary seat the first time in 2016 with Ridwan Abass beating his closest contender, Kingsly Kanton with a little over 700 votes. However Benin Sulemana who is a former Sissala East constituency Secretary of the NPP said the victory was as a result of some dynamics in the area which are not in favour of the sitting MP. The current dynamics in the constituency do not favour the incumbent and we are of the view that with your support we will retain the seat with Chinnia. Attempts to get the Member of Parliament, Ridwan Abass to comment on the issues went unsuccessful. ---citinewsroom Ex-bankrupt trustee of agro-corporation ordered to 4.5-year jail for $3 mln embezzlement flickr.com/ Tanel Teemusk 14:34 29/01/2020 MOSCOW, January 29 (RAPSI) A court in Russias Omsk has sentenced a former bankruptcy receiver of the Corporation Agro-Trust Vyacheslav Aleksin to 4.5 years behind bars for embezzling over 207.5 million rubles (over $3 million) from the enterprises bankruptcy estate, according to the press service of the Prosecutor Generals Office. Additionally, he has been fined 500,000 rubles (about $8,000). The defendant has been found guilty of embezzlement and illegal company formation. According to case papers, between 2014 and 2016, Aleksin covered sham transactions carried out with individuals and companies controlled by him on fictious agreements from Agro-Trust bankruptcy estate. As a result, he stole over 207.5 million rubles. A Chippewa Falls man will spend three years on probation for using a fake $20 gold coin to make a purchase at a store. Alex J. Kramer, 24, 203 Linden St., pleaded no contest recently in Eau Claire County Court to a felony count of forgery and unrelated charges of criminal trespass, carrying a concealed knife and heroin delivery. Judge Michael Schumacher also fined Kramer $2,485. As conditions of probation, Kramer cannot drink alcohol or have contact with known drug dealers or users. According to the criminal complaint: Police were called to Dollar General on Birch Street on Dec. 7 for a counterfeit case. One man attempted to make a purchase with a fake $20 gold coin and was denied by a cashier. A second man was successful in his attempt to use the coin with a second cashier. Using the stores surveillance video, police identified one of the suspects as Kramer. Kramer told police he didnt know the coin was fake and got it from the other suspect. Love 0 Funny 3 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 1 The Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, has announced that the 2020 edition of the State of the Nation Address will be presented by the President Nana Akufo-Addo on Thursday, February 20, 2020. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will address parliament to give an account of the current state of the nation. The delivery of the 2020 State of the Nation Address is in accordance with Article 67 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana and the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana. Article 67 of the Constitution states that The President shall, at the beginning of each session of Parliament and before a dissolution of Parliament, deliver to Parliament a message on the State of the Nation. Mr. Speaker, the House would also receive His Excellency, the President of the Republic in February 2020, when he attends upon Parliament in accordance with Article 67 of the Constitution to deliver a message on the State of the Nation, Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu said. The State of the Nation Address gives Ghanaian Presidents the opportunity to account for their stewardship. 2017 State of the Nation Notable in his 2017 presentation, President Akufo-Addo accused the Mahama administration of increasing the country's debt stock to about GHc122 billion from GHc9.5 billion in 2009. The President noted that the previous government missed almost all the International Monetary Fund targets, while leaving the country with a debt stock of GHc122 billion, including a $2.4 billion debt in the power sector. President Akufo-Addo also held that Ghana's economy was in a dire state because the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government had left the country with a GDP rate of 3.6%, which was the lowest the country had recorded in the past two decades. Among the government key interventions he outlined were the Free Senior High School policy, the restoration of teacher trainee allowances, restoration of nurse trainee allowances, the review of some taxes and levies, and also the review of some power agreements to protect the public purse. Among some of the critical targets met, the Akufo-Addo administration was able to roll out the Free Senior High School policy, restored both teacher and nurse trainee allowances, and ensured the review of electricity tariffs. 2018 State of the Nation Address The most recent State of the Nation address by President Nana Akufo-Addo, contained some projections and proposals, notably when he spoke on sanitation, the creation of new regions, the state of the eastern corridor road, among others. He also reiterated the efforts and strategies underway to put the economy on a sound footing, improve agriculture, enhance road network, revive the country's rail network, the health sector, as well as give real meaning to the fight against corruption. The President indicated that the debt accumulation, which, in recent years, had been as high as 36%, had declined to 13.6%, as of September 2017. On job creation, the President said the government had put in place structures to help small and medium scale enterprises and budding entrepreneurs go through the challenging start-up years. ---CitinewsRoom The Honda Amaze is the first BS6-compliant diesel model from the Japanese automotive brand in India. Honda Car India has launched the 2020 BS6-compliant version of the Amaze compact-sedan at a starting price of Rs 6.09 lakh, for the entry-level E petrol variant. The ex-showroom prices go all the way up to Rs 9.96 lakh for the top-of-the-line VX CVT diesel avatar. Compared to the outgoing BS4 variants, prices have gone up by around Rs 8,900-16,900 for the petrol-manual; Rs 8,900-11,900 for the petrol-CVT; Rs Rs 26,900-50,900 for the diesel-manual; and, Rs 26,900-29,900 for the diesel-CVT. Besides the re-engineering done to the power plant to meet the upcoming BS6 emission norms, there isnt any major change to the features or aesthetics of the outgoing BS4-compliant Honda Amaze. The second-generation model of the popular compact-sedan made its debut back in May 2018. Variants Petrol BS6 Ex-sh Diesel BS6 Ex-sh Honda Amaze E MT Rs 609,900 Rs 755,900 Honda Amaze S MT Rs 681,900 Rs 811,900 Honda Amaze V MT Rs 744,900 Rs 874,900 Honda Amaze VX MT Rs 792,900 Rs 922,900 Honda Amaze S CVT Rs 771,900 Rs 891,900 Honda Amaze V CVT Rs 834,900 Rs 954,900 Honda Amaze VX CVT Rs 875,900 Rs 995,900 Rajesh Goel, Senior Vice President & Director (Marketing & Sales) of Honda Cars India, shared that the Honda Amaze is the best-selling product from the brand and one of the main players in Indias highly competitive compact-sedan market. Furthermore, the updated Honda Amaze is the first BS6-compliant diesel product from the Japanese brand in India and boasts of best-in-class balance between performance and fuel-efficiency. Around 3.9 lakh Honda Amaze units have hit the Indian market ever since its very first introduction back in May 2018. Out of this, 1.3 lakh units are in its second generation which made its initial appearance at Auto Expo 2018. Auto Expo 2020 is right around the corner, but Honda Car India (and many other major brands) will not be participating in the biennial automotive event. Honda Amaze Petrol Diesel Engine 1.2L BS6 1.5L BS6 Transmission 5 MT / CVT 5 MT / CVT Power 90 PS 100 / 80 Torque 110 Nm 200 / 160 Mileage 18.6 / 18.3 kmpl 24.7 / 21.0 As mentioned before, the 2020 Honda Amaze BS6 model does not carry any major change other than in the engine compartment. The 1.2-litre i-VTEC four-cylinder petrol engine makes roughly 89bhp and 110Nm of torque while the 1.5-litre i-DTEC four-cylinder diesel mill is good for 99bhp and 200Nm of torque. Both engines are available mated to either a 5-speed manual transmission or a CVT. However, the diesel-CVT variant gets reduced output at 79bhp and 160Nm. Globally, Honda is a pioneer at making good CVT products and the Honda Amaze is the first car in India to feature a diesel-CVT combo. ARAI-tested fuel economy figures are quite impressive. The petrol variants return 18.6km/l and 18.3km/l in its manual and CVT formats, respectively. Meanwhile, the figures rise to 24.7km/l and 21km/l for the diesel-manual and diesel-CVT avatars. This is another reason for the compact-sedans appreciable success in the market dominated by the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Dzire. While the first-generation Honda Amaze was essentially a Brio hatchback with extended luggage capacity, the current second-generation model was developed entirely from the ground up keeping the needs and wants of the average Indian buyer in mind. The Honda Amaze is available in certain other Asian markets as well. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE New Mexico lawmakers raced Wednesday to approve new funding aimed at boosting participation in the 2020 census a particular challenge in a rural state that relieves heavily on federal spending. A bipartisan plan to make an extra $8 million available for census outreach won approval 39-0 in the Senate and now heads to the House. Sen. William Burt, an Alamogordo Republican and co-sponsor of the emergency legislation, said its critical for New Mexico to target hard-to-count populations such as people on military bases, working temporarily in oilfields or living in Native American communities. The state, he said, stands to lose $780 million over the next 10 years for each percentage point its population is undercounted. Census information plays a role in federal funding for Medicaid, highways, education and other services, Burt said. This census is what we benchmark everything on for the next 10 years, he said. State Demographer Robert Rhatigan of the University of New Mexico said people of color, children, Native Americans and rural residents tend to be undercounted in the census, which begins in March. We are historically the hardest state in the country to count, Rhatigan said. Wednesdays legislation, Senate Bill 4, would declare an emergency a move to free up the money quickly and send $8 million to the state Department of Finance and Administration to bolster census outreach efforts. The money would pay for public information campaigns and the hiring of workers who speak Spanish and native languages. It would also supplement local efforts in the states 33 counties. The states Complete Count Commission is working with immigrant rights groups, tribal representatives and others to help reach traditionally undercounted populations. Besides federal funding, the once-a-decade count also determines congressional and legislative representation. Senate Minority Whip William Payne, R-Albuquerque, suggested the influx of oilfield and energy workers in the Permian Basin might lead to more legislative seats in southeastern New Mexico. Senate Bill 4 is jointly sponsored by Burt, Democratic Sen. Liz Stefanics of Cerrillos and Democratic Rep. Susan Herrera of Embudo. By April 1, New Mexicans can expect to have received an invitation to participate in the census. People can respond online, by phone or by mail. Follow-up efforts for people who dont respond will begin in May. People who dont receive a census card in the mail can also participate by responding to the questionnaire. The speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has stated that the House under his leadership will amend the constitution to back various security interventions in parts of the country. The speaker made this known on Wednesday while delivering his welcome address at the beginning of plenary. The speakers comment is coming on the heels of debates regarding the formation of the regional paramilitary outfit in the South-west, Amotekun, to complement the work of the police. The governors of the region recently launched Amotekun on January 9, but the federal government afterwards declared it illegal, saying it was unconstitutional. The security outfit was launched by the six states of the South-west due to rising insecurity in the region. The federal government and the South-west states later agreed that the group should be organised to conform with the governments community policing model. LEGAL BACKING Speaking at the plenary, Mr Gbajabiamila said the idea of Amotekun and other security interventions are due to the rising security across the country. Too often, it has seemed to me that lost in these interactions is the hard, brutal and unavoidable fact that Amotekun and other such state or zonal interventions that already quietly exist in other parts of the country are a desperate response to the vile manifestations of insecurity that trouble the lives of citizens, depriving them of the peace and security that gives life meaning, he said. I do not know that Amotekun or whatever iterations of it may follow represents the ultimate or perfect solution to the problem of insecurity in our country. Nobody does that. The speaker said he believed the localised manifestations of insecurity across the different parts of Nigeria calls for unique and localised approaches that take those peculiarities into account. What I also know is that whichever approach we seek, we are obligated to work within the limits imposed by the constitution to which we all swear allegiance, he said. I am certain in the knowledge that doing nothing is not an option. We have a responsibility as legislators to support the best efforts of those who act with noble intent to protect our citizens. I, therefore, call on the Leader of the House of Representatives and the Minority Leader to take active steps to bring to the floor, appropriate amendments to the constitution that will ensure that these and other righteous interventions to protect the life and property of our citizens are firmly in compliance with the laws of the land, he said. India's potato production increased 51 per cent to 52.5 million tonnes (MT) in over a decade, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Tuesday. Its production had stood at 34.7 MT in 2008, the minister added. Tomar pegged the potato output to grow about 3 per cent annually till 2050. Addressing a Global Potato Conclave here, the minister said the production of potato rose 34 times in seven decades while the area under cultivation grew by 9.3 times. India is the second-largest producer of potato after China in the world. Together, both the countries contribute 38 per cent to the world's total potato production. He said the country also need to increase the crop's exports. Tomar expressed concerned over crop losses, saying the damage to the crop currently stands at 16 per cent that needs to be reduced. Moreover, experts and researchers will have to find a way out to develop high-quality and disease-resistant variety of potato seed which would consume less water and meet the challenges of global warming, Tomar said. He lauded the contributions made by the Shimla-based Central Potato Research Institute for the growth of potato production in the country, saying that it contributed to its development since inception in 1949. The area under cultivation grew from 2.2 lakh hectares in 1949, to 21.8 lakh hectares at present. Also, its production went up from 1.54 MT in 1949 to 52.5 MT currently, he said. To meet the growing demand, experts said potato production needs to increase 89 per cent to 711.5 MT by 2050. Gujarat has emerged as the second-largest producer of potato in India, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said. Besides, Gujarat is also the largest exporter of potato contributing to about 25 per cent of the total export at one lakh tonnes annually compared to the country's 0.4 MT, he added. The state also saw a sharp growth in potato production, growing six times from 0.61 MT to 3.7 MT in one-and-a-half decade, he said. Gujarat has also emerged as one of the leading states in processed potato sector, producing, the experts said. There are several potato processing units in the state already and more are coming. Area under potato cultivation also grew from 38,700 hectares to 1.18 lakh hectares in the same period, Rupani said. Trevor Eubanks, plant manager for Big Top Farms, shovels dried hemp as branches hang drying in barn rafters overhead at their production facility near Sisters, Ore. Draft rules released by the United States Department of Agriculture for a new and booming agricultural hemp industry have alarmed farmers, processors and retailers across the country, who say the provisions will be crippling if they are not significantly overhauled before they become final. Read more The U.S. Department of Agriculture this week announced it had approved Delawares plans to grow hemp in the First State. But is that a good thing? One analyst is warning of overproduction, onerous testing, and saturated markets. Delaware last year launched a pilot program that attracted about two dozen registered growers, according to Stacey Hofmann, spokesperson for the state Department of Agriculture. They were limited to 10 acres, she said. We had 26 registered growers, but only 18 actually grew. On Feb. 7, the state will release registration forms and regulations governing the program. Details will be posted at de.gov/hemp. Cultivators will be able to grow as much as they want, Hofmann said. She did not know what permit fees the state planned to charge. On Monday, the USDA approved hemp production for the states of Delaware, Nebraska, and Texas and for several Indian tribes. Earlier this month, the agency approved plans for New Jersey, Ohio, and Louisiana. Pennsylvania posted its growing guidelines and applications two weeks ago. Some of the nations largest industrial hemp-producing states have opted out of seeking federal approval, which is required for moving hemp across state lines. One of those opt-outs was Kentucky, where farmers were permitted to plant 42,000 acres in 2019, said Ian Laird of New Leaf Data Services, which publishes Hemp Benchmarks. Under the federal regulations, industrial hemp must contain less than 0.3% THC. Plants that contain more than 0.3% of intoxicating compound are regarded as marijuana. The federal government still considers marijuana to be an illegal drug on par with LSD or heroin. Most states previously only tested for delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive molecule in cannabis. Under the USDAs Interim Final Rules, however, the test now also includes decarboxylated THC-A, which converts to THC when heated, Laird said. "Under this test, known as Total THC, many of the newer high-CBD hemp strains will test hot and exceed the .0.3% limit, which means the plants will be considered marijuana and will need to be destroyed. " That, to the surprise of many farmers, has left the legal status of much of 2019s crop in doubt. Much of it may be unsalable under federal law. Under the federal program, all strains must be tested in DEA-approved labs 15 days before harvest to ensure they dont break federal law. And there are only 40 DEA approved laboratories across the entire country, Laird said. Many of those already are booked up doing state-sponsored testing, and will not have capacity for producer testing. That means potential bottlenecks. If farmers are forced to hold their crops for testing, desirable CBD compounds can break down before harvest. Farmers also may be scared off from planting hemp because of a lack of demand and opaque state laws that can make it difficult to discover how much of the crop is being cultivated across the nation. The abundance of hemp in the last year has led to unsold harvests in some states. Some farmers were slaughtered because they didnt know how much supply was there, Laird said. Previously, farmers expected to receive $30 to $40 a pound for CBD flower. But those that grew without contracts ended up getting as little as $10 per pound. If yields are about 1,000 pounds per acre, you only get to break even, Laird said. The green rush in hemp appears to be over, at least for the meanwhile. Now many farmers are experiencing the hangover. NEW HAVEN A Hamden man was sentenced to more than three years in prison Wednesday for supplying heroin and cocaine to an alleged drug trafficking operation run by the Island Brothers street gang. Jeffrey Brazier, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess and distribute crack cocaine, cocaine and heroin in November, according to judicial records. He was arrested in connection with Operation Fantasy Island in July. The total sentence imposed was 46 months in prison. According to a sentencing memorandum from prosecutors, Brazier was recorded speaking with Samuel Galberth, the alleged head of the Island Brothers drug trafficking operation, and Tommy Julius, an alleged close associate of Galberths, to set up drug transactions on multiple occasions. Police had tapped Galberth and Julius phones, as well as those of others associated with the groups, after investigators arranged for controlled purchases of narcotics from both men in early 2019, according to the prosecutors memo. Federal prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed Brazier proffered between 28 grams and 112 grams of crack cocaine, between one and three kilograms of cocaine and an unspecified quantity of heroin to the Island Brothers group, according to their respective sentencing memorandums. Both parties also agreed that sentencing guidelines that recommended that Brazier serve a sentence of 46 to 57 months in prison as a result. Prosecutors advocated that Judge Robert N. Chatigny impose a sentence of 57 months. As rationale, they noted that Brazier was previously arrested on multiple occasions, which demonstrated his respect for the law would not change dramatically, and said that, while he was not suspected of violence, he trafficked a significant quantity of drugs, which in itself destroys communities and perpetuates violence, even if not directly. More News Massive New Haven drug bust results in 25 arrests In light of these factors, the Government submits that a sentence at the top of the applicable Guideline range would be sufficient, but not greater than necessary to reflect the seriousness of the offense, promote respect for the law and provide just punishment for the offense, as well as, importantly, to deter future criminal conduct and to protect the community from future crimes by the defendant, prosecutors said in their memo. Defense attorney Andrew Marchant-Shapiro argued in his memo that Brazier should receive a sentence at the low end of the range, as he had readily accepted responsibility for a small, non-violent role in the conspiracy. He noted that Braziers phone calls with Galberth and Julius were infrequent, and that those with Frank Carr, another alleged supplier of cocaine, often were made to discuss other concerns, such as family members, cookouts, cars and car problems, funerals, and so forth. Marchant-Shapiro also said that Brazier is, at his core, a good person a loving father and son, a caretaker for his grandmother, a man of even temper who had made bad choices, spurred along, in part, by the winnowing of possibilities for his life after each of his arrests. Jeffrey Brazier was not a bad man freely making bad choices; rather, beginning with one bad choice, it became increasingly difficult for him to make good choices. How many 28-year-olds with five arrests have the opportunity to become computer programmers or attorneys? How many 37-year-olds with eight arrests become doctors? Marchant-Shapiro said. To be clear: This is by no means an I blame society argument. Jeffrey Brazier has accepted responsibility for his actionsfor his choices. The point is that as time went on, his choices were progressively circumscribed, and that Mr. Braziers presence here should not be read as the result of a bad person independently and freely choosing to do wrong. Marchant-Shapiro said in his memo that Braziers time in prison should be sufficiently long to allow him to identify a way past the patterns of behavior that had led him to prison, but not inappropriately lengthy, as it could end the story of his life before a final act is allowed to take place. Jeffrey Brazier is not a bad person, but rather a man who has over time found his choices constrained by his previous actions. He is an essentially good man, who is loved by and who in turn loves his family; who has accepted responsibility; and who accepts that in consequence, he has time to serve, said Marchant-Shapiro, in the memo. In the interests of that family, and of the future, Jeffrey Brazier requests that after considering inputs from all sources, the Court impose a sentence that is no greater than necessary. Brazier is the second person arrested in connection with Operation Fantasy Island to be sentenced. Eric Burress was sentenced to five years in prison earlier this month after also supplying cocaine for distribution by the Island Brothers. The cases against Julius and Carr remain in progress, according to federal judicial records. Galberth was killed in a shootout with FBI agents in a motel in Westchester, New York in June. He allegedly fled there after being determined to be the prime suspect in the killing of Tamika Jones, a New Haven woman found strangled in Fitchburg, Mass, prosecutors said in their memorandum on Brazier. During the course of the investigation, Galberththe leader of the Island Brothers DTO became the prime suspect in the May 2019 murder of his long-time girlfriend and DTO confederate Tamika Jones, who was found strangled to death in Fitchburg, Massachusetts in a car used by Galberth. Galberth and an associate disappeared and remained on the run for approximately three weeks, prosecutors said in the Brazier memo. Investigators obtained state and federal arrest warrants as well as cell phone location warrants, which enabled them to track Galberth to a motel in Westchester, New York. When law enforcement attempted to execute the warrants, Galberth engaged the officers in a shootout, which ended in Galberths death and the wounding of two officers. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com Just over a week out from voting in the general election, local councillors in the Ballinamore area decided to take aim and hit hard at their opponents. Sinn Fein Cllr Brendan Barry and Fianna Fail Cllr Paddy O'Rourke pushed aside local issues for a period at the Ballinamore Municipal District meeting in favour of a heated political debate. Chairperson of the municipal area Paddy O'Rourke told the meeting he has a duty to only allow factually correct motions on the table and Cllr Barry submission is not correct. Cllr Barry submitted a motion that Ballinamore Municipal District noted the failures of the current Fine Fael/ Fianna Fail Government to deal with the trolley crisis in our hospitals over successive years. It has got so bad, our hospitals cant cope and elective medical procedures have been cancelled in hospitals across the country as a result. The Irish people deserve and demand better. The trolley crisis was pushed aside as Cllr O'Rourke clarified Fianna Fail have not been in coalition with Fine Gael. In a coalition government cabinet posts are shared by the parties - going by this, your party is closer to coalition with Fine Gael. ORourke went on to say: Sinn Fein voted with Fine Gael to give Seanad seats to Gerard Croughwell, a former member of the British Army and Ian Marshall, a supporter of the DUP. He concluded: you cant argue with facts. But Cllr Barry did argue, he returned that voting in Seanad Eireann was not the same as agreeing three national budgets. He said FF and FG decided to protect the bondholder and burn the people. He said Sinn Fein want a united Ireland that benefits all communities, including unionists. He also alluded to the recent hike in rates locally by Leitrim County Council supported by FF and FG. He said both parties targeted working class people. ORourke did not let his bit go; Sinn Fein supported Minister Shane Ross and his drink driving laws which have led us to where we are with the closure of rural Ireland. Cllr Caillian Ellis backed ORourke on this point. The discussion did return to the trolley crisis, with all councillors agreeing more money and better management is needed. Fine Gael Cllr Enda McGloin called the HSE a noose around the neck for all governments. He added money is being spent, recruitment increased and beds coming on stream, but there is no short term solution. Cllr Caillian Ellis and Gerry Dolan called for management to be cut, while Cllr Ita Flynn said even recruitment of nurses is proving difficult. In one last political swipe, Cllr Barry reminded the meeting Micheal Martin set up the HSE. Also read: People caught on CCTV removing election posters in Sligo Leitrim Savers who placed their trust in Neil Woodford's fund management empire, many on the recommendation of broker Hargreaves Lansdown (HL), now know the scale of the damage done. The wind-up of the better, more liquid part of the portfolio will result in heavy losses. The best that can be expected is the return of 59p per share and some savers will get back just 46.5p. This is a calamitous outcome and puts into sharp focus the disgraceful 13.8million dividend paid to Woodford and his associates in the period running up to the crisis. Fallen fund manager: Savers who placed their trust in Neil Woodford's fund management empire, now know the scale of the damage done Just as contemptible are the supercharged profit margins made by HL on the back of hapless savers, and hopeless enforcement by the Financial Conduct Authority. Trust in HL has been damaged enormously by the fact that it managed to steer 300,000 of its 1.2m clients either directly or indirectly into Woodford funds. The probe into the collapse needs to look carefully into the complicity of HL and whether its relationship with Woodford, in effect, made it a related party, which would be an offence. There are also major questions to be asked about the flaccid oversight by Link, the authorised corporate director. As painful as the Woodford experience has been for savers (including this writer), it has dealt an extraordinary blow to the reputation of cult or 'star' fund managers and active management in general. People pay higher fees for active fund management so as to militate against the risk of directly investing in the stock market and for superior outcomes. Better returns might have been achieved on the 2.30 at Doncaster. Savers have been voting with their feet. Active funds experienced the highest outflows on record, haemorrhaging 32billion in 2019 in spite of healthy stock markets. Some cash has moved across to lower-cost tracker funds which saw inflows of 19billion. The main feature of these vehicles is that they follow the herd. Index funds buy when a share price has risen and sell when it has fallen. They are an echo of the deals of other players who, in many cases, will already have taken the cream off the milk. The Woodford affair has done enormous disservice to those individuals and big investors, such as Kent County Council, who put their trust in the fallen hero's record. It is a much broader blow to the whole savings culture. Speed limits Amid efforts to kill HS2 by a thousand leaks of cost overruns, the ultimate purpose of the high-speed link between London and the North is often forgotten. Shaving the travel time from London to Birmingham and beyond will have economic advantages. But the idea that the HS2 money could be better used improving existing Victorian infrastructure, and focused on connecting Northern cities, is ill-informed. As we disclose today Network Rail, which runs the tracks, takes an entirely different view. Existing lines between London terminals and the North are at almost full capacity, especially at peak times. Bottlenecks mean it is impossible to put on further traffic. The alternative to HS2, of an upgrade of existing lines, including bypassing the pinch-points, would be immensely disruptive. If engineering works were only possible when the system is down it could take up to 29 years to complete the upgrades all the way to Scotland. Moreover, current development of Northern Powerhouse routes is based on HS2 coming into service. To re-engineer them around existing lines could add up to 15billion to the present cost structure. As seriously, it would require redrawing the whole plan. HS2 is expensive and may have been gold-plated. But cancelling it would be the equivalent of removing the M6 from the motorway network. Corruption charter The idea that companies do bad things rather than the executives who run them is preposterous, yet the system of anonymised financial justice rolls on. The latest beneficiaries are present and past top bosses at Airbus. It has agreed to pay fraud authorities in Britain, France and the US up to 2.5billion in penalties to settle charges of corruption dating back more than a decade. A structure of more than 250 agents dishing out the cash to secure orders has been disbanded. But controlling minds, as the Serious Fraud Office calls them, escape untainted, with bonuses intact. A vessel in the Persian Gulf caught fire today, prompting a warning from British naval officials to 'exercise extreme caution'. Video footage reportedly taken near the scene in the UAE, showed thick black smoke coming from a tanker, although this has not been independently verified. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates were trying to extinguish the blaze on the Panama-flagged oil tanker off the coast of the emirate of Sharjah, the Federal Transport Authority said today. The tanker, which the FTA said was not carrying an oil cargo at the time, was undergoing maintenance when the fire broke out. The crew sent out a distress signal and have been rescued. 'The UAE authorities are working to put out a fire that broke out aboard an oil tanker 21 miles off the cost of Sharjah after receiving a distress message,' a senior UAE official said in a tweet, adding that an investigation was under way into the cause of the incident. Video footage purportedly showing a tanker on fire off the coast of Sharjah in the UAE The United Kingdom's Maritime Trade Operations said the huge fire struck a ship northwest of Sharjah. A spokesman for the US Navy Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain, which has been patrolling the Persian Gulf, said they are aware of the incident in Sharjah and are monitoring the situation. Officials with the US military similarly said they knew of the fire, but had no further information. The cause of the inferno or if anyone was injured on board the tanker is no yet known. It is unclear how many crew members were on board at the time but the vessel was manned and had been 'in the region for about a month', a representative from the UK Maritime Trade Operations added. He told The National: 'The UAE's coast guard has been assisting those on board.' Ships in the area were initially alerted through a separate advisory, which said an oil tanker was on fire. Thick black was seen coming from a vessel in the Persian Gulf today in footage said to be taken off the coast of Sharjah in the UAE Video footage showed a stricken tanker purportedly off the coast of Sharjah in the UAE 'This Advisory is not classified as a Maritime Security Event and has not been verified by UKMTO', the email with the report said. The United Arab Emirates did not immediately acknowledge the fire and officials did not respond to requests for comment. The blaze comes amid heightened tensions in the region after the US killed Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike in Baghdad and Iran fired ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases housing US troops. The US blames Iran for planting mines that exploded against tankers last year near the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20 per cent of all oil passes. Iran denied being involved, though it did seize oil tankers and shoot down a US military surveillance drone. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 23:39:25|Editor: yan Video Player Close DOVER, Britain, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Ever since Brexit became a probability, local freight agent John Shirley has been trying to sell his house in Dover and leave Britain altogether. Now that Brexit is happening, his house remains on the market without a buyer thanks to continuing uncertainties posed by Brexit. HOUSE SALE UNATTENDED Shirley, 57, is a well-known face and voice in the freight industry in Dover, one of Britain's main arteries for European trade. Having been in the freight industry for over 20 years, Shirley believes that Brexit, be it deal or no deal, will severely impact his business and his life. "We took the decision to sell the house back in October 2019, and that was a tough one because we really like this house," he told Xinhua. His house, a 17th-century Grade II listed building, still has "For Sale" signs dotted around its entrance. "We've got some friends nearby who have said: 'We can't understand why your house hasn't sold? It's a nice house, it's a good price.'" Shirley has been told that Brexit is partly to blame for the lack of interest in the building. If there is no offer on the house by June 2020, Shirley said he intends to lower the price which according to him, "would be a huge blow." FREIGHT BUSINESS WORRIES As the founder of John Shirley Ltd., an international freight forwarder situated in an old train station in the port of Dover, Shirley has been on the frontline of Britain's import and export industry. He has raised his concerns over the length of delays lorry drivers will face getting into and out of Britain after Brexit. Currently only 1 percent of the around 10,000 lorries that pass through Dover every day have to go through customs clearance. After Brexit, it may become compulsory for every lorry to be checked. "I started my own company in 1996, and I know the terrible delays that you can have ... so it's not to be taken lightly," he said, noting that the delay could take for days. Shirley said the British government has now devoted funds to the British freight forwarding community to train up more personnel to handle the customs clearance checks after Brexit, but he doesn't believe that the port of Dover has enough space to house the required amount of personnel -- which he estimates should be around 8,000. Adding to his fear is that delays within the freight industry will harm the wider British economy despite the government's pledge of a "Global Britain" after Brexit. WEIGHING OPTIONS Holding a majority of 80-seat in the House of Commons, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has secured Britain's departure from the EU on Jan. 31. However, any "leaving party" champagne celebrations will be short-lived as that "victory" is just phase one of a longer race -- reaching a trade deal with the EU by the end of 2020. If a trade deal is not agreed by then -- and without agreed extension -- it would leave Britain trading on World Trade Organization terms with the EU, with the likelihood of tariffs on imports and exports. Dover, inevitably, will be at the fore-front of the impact. Shirley has already ordered and received his grandfather's Irish birth certificate, waiting for some more documents to come through and then apply for Irish citizenship. A record number of British people have sought Irish citizenship since the Brexit referendum, using the Irish citizenship as a means of remaining within the EU. "I understand it will take around 14 months to process, as there's been a huge backlog of applicants from this country -- then we have to decide where we are going to live," Shirley said. Shirley has drafted a plan to move to France. He hopes within the next two years his business and house would have been sold, but there is still uncertainty on how his plan will fully materialize. Still he seems determined to leave the country. "I'm making preparations to emigrate, because I don't want to be here in a country that is so narrow-minded," he said. As this year marks the 175th birth anniversary of Kazakh poet Abai Kunanbaiuly, the country's president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has shared his thoughts about the relevance of the philosopher's ideas and thinkings in the modern and what people should still learn from them. In an article, Tokayev said that Abai left an indelible mark on the history of Kazakhstan as a scientist, thinker, poet, enlightener, founder of new national literature, translator and composer. "His poems and prose reflected national identity, life, worldview, character, soul, faith, language, traditions and the spirit of the people, which were later rated as a unique phenomenon, called the of Abai," he said. Quoting Kazakhstan's First President Nursultan Nazarbayev in his article 'Course towards the future: modernisation of Kazakhstan's identity', Tokayev said that the former emphasised the importance of renewing public consciousness. "The preservation of national identity and its adaptation to modern requirements has become a national issue. Because the modernisation of identity paves the way for the breakthrough development of the country in the 21st century," Tokayev said. "In this regard, I believe that the legacy of Abai is very useful. The works of the great poet are relevant today. Abai's ideas can always be spiritual food for all of us," he added. Moreover, a road -- 'Abai Marg' -- has been named in honour of the poet and is situated in Chanakyapuri, the diplomatic enclave of Delhi. The Kazakh President outlined that by looking at Abai's works, he always sincerely wanted the country to be promoted and prosper, and he fully magnified this idea. "Abai will forever coexist with his native people, invoking the people of Kazakhstan for centuries to reach new heights, which clearly indicates that the poet's legacy is valued as an eternal will," he said. Quoting the poet, Tokayev remarked, "Do not boast until you master science," thus he will not be at his best until he possesses knowledge. He said: 'We do not want to buy science for livestock, emphasising that for the prosperity of the country it is necessary to master science. We need to understand the instructive teaching of the Great Abai: Do not think about profit, think about conscience, strive to know more'. "These findings are relevant today. More important than ever. This is because in the 21st century we see that the goal of science is to strive for the top, to move forward," the Kazakh President said. Asserting that new challenges and requirements appear in each area every time, Tokayev said there should be a clear mind to keep up with the times. "This step requires the ability to combine the best aspects of civilisation with national interests. At such a time, we must abandon our stereotypes and habits. For this reason, Abai was dissatisfied with some of the actions and always criticised they do not seek deep thought, deep scientific knowledge, lying and gossip whipping like wool," he said. He underlined that knowing Abai is to know one-self. "Self-knowledge and continuous self-development of a person, giving priority to science and education - are an expression of perfection. This is the intellectual nation. In this regard, Abai's word should become the guiding force of the generation," the Kazakh President said. Tokayev outlined that Abai in his works exalted country goals and national unity, and the poet came up with the idea of creating a just society. He also spoke of populism, asserting that it has become global in nature as a negative trend. "The voices of groups that do not have a clear strategy and seek power with empty slogans are often heard all over the Speaking of such noisy people, Abai says: They are poisoning idle talk, they will leave us in the cold someday. In fact, this is a dangerous trend that undermines the development of any country and weakens the uniqueness of the nation," he said. Tokayev asserted that it is necessary to reveal the meaning of the ideas expressed in the poems and prose of Abai. He also said that such works should be translated into main languages of the world, preserving all its colours. "In his words of edification, Abai demonstrates that he has flourished and reached spiritual heights, praising the heritage of mankind. The foundation of his words of edification is humanity, culture and kindness. The letters of the French thinker Montaigne come to mind when we look for alternatives to the words of the wise Abai. However, if Montaigne thinks more about his personality and human nature, the main mission of the words of Abai's edification is to think, to let others think, to turn the goal into a principle. The words of edification of a great thinker are a very valuable work," he said. Tokayev outlined that personalities such as Lao Tzu and Confucius of China have made significant contributions in science and education and are recognised by universal thinkers. He also said that such a level should be reached when someone mentions Kazakhstan, the name of Abai should be remembered. "It would be a great honour if other people would greet us and say: The Kazakh people are the people of Abai. His instructive life and true creativity are a role model not only for the Kazakh people, but also for the whole world," he said. This year more than 500 events will be organised at the international, national and regional levels dedicated to the 175th birth anniversary of Abai. The main event will be the International Scientific and Practical Conference Heritage of Abai and World Spirituality, which will be held in August in Semey in collaboration with UNESCO. "Also in October, Nur-Sultan will host an international conference on the topic of Abai and issues of spiritual revival. These events will allow a comprehensive study of the personality and heritage of Abai and open the way to his work for the benefit of the new Kazakhstan of the 21st century," the Kazakh President said. One of the important projects is the translation and publication of the works of the great poet in ten languages. In particular, the work of Abai will be translated into English, Arabic, Japanese, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, German, Russian, Turkish and French. Several documentaries and the television series "Abai" about the life, heritage of the poet, his role in the development of Kazakh culture will be created. Tokayev also said that there are plans to create "Abai Centres" at the embassies of Kazakhstan in Russia, France, the United Kingdom and other countries. He asserted that these cultural events need to be organised without squandering. Moreover, the cemetery of the Kunanbai Oskenbaiuly dynasty in the village of Akshoky, East Kazakhstan Region, will be improved. "As part of the anniversary year, it is necessary to create favorable conditions for the public who want to decorate the sacred place of Abai - the famous Zhidebai and honour the spirit of the great poet," the Kazakh President said. "These and other large-scale events will be held to honour the spirit of the great Abai and glorify his rich heritage. Therefore, I urge all Kazakhstan people to take an active part in this noble initiative," Tokayev concluded in his article. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) LONDON, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Just Eat, the British takeaway delivery platform being bought by Takeaway.com , said it expected to report 2019 core earnings of about 200 million pounds ($263 million), towards the top of its guidance range of 185-205 million. The company also said on Tuesday it had agreed to partner fast-food chain McDonald's in Britain and Ireland. ($1 = 0.7608 pounds) (Reporting by Paul Sandle, editing by Sarah Young) Bangkok: British Airways halted all flights to China and American Airlines suspended flights to and from Shanghai and Beijing as efforts to contain a new and deadly virus intensifies. The coronavirus has now infected more people in China than were sickened in the country by the SARS outbreak in 2002-2003. The number of confirmed cases jumped to 5,974, surpassing the 5,327 in mainland China from SARS. The virus has killed more than 130 people. British Airways has halted all flights to China following the coronavirus outbreak. Credit:AP The British and US carriers on Wednesday joined several Asian carriers that are either suspending or significantly cutting back services there as fears spread about the coronavirus. Air India and South Korean budget carrier Seoul Air are also halting all flights to the country, and Indonesia's Lion Air plans to do the same. Other carriers including Finnair, Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific, and Singapore-based Jetstar Asia are slashing services. More of us are getting too little sleep, with surveys suggesting that around a third of the UK working population wants more. Our 24/7 culture and the move towards even more night-shift work is partly to blame one in eight UK workers now works nights, that's more than three million people (more than the combined populations of Birmingham, Liverpool and Nottingham). Research shows night-shift workers' body clocks don't adapt to their work patterns and, as a result, they experience a chronic lack of sleep and disruption to their body clocks. Meanwhile, the rest of us try to squeeze more into our daily schedules, sacrificing relaxation time and sleep. Research shows night-shift workers' body clocks don't adapt to their work patterns At the same time, and because we live most of our lives indoors, we have also become increasingly detached from the natural cycle of light and dark, leading to a mismatch between our body clocks and environmental time so that our bodies are not doing the right thing at the right time. This misalignment is having important consequences for our physical health, raising the risk of type 2 diabetes and other conditions, but also our mental wellbeing and, as I explain today, it is associated with the rise of depressive illnesses such as the so-called 'winter blues'. All of this is a relatively recent problem in human history. In 1800, most people in Europe and the U.S. worked outside and were exposed to the natural cycle of light and dark. Today, in the UK, just 1 per cent of the working population works in agriculture and fishing, which means most of us have become profoundly detached from environmental light. And as a result, we have lost one of the most important signals that regulates our sleep and wake cycle. The move indoors, and increased exposure to dim artificial light, particularly since the Fifties, is correlated with a rise in seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. The symptoms of SAD, and its milder cousin the 'winter blues', are persistent low mood, loss of pleasure or interest in normal everyday life, weight gain, feeling irritable, low self-esteem and feeling stressed or anxious. In most cases, SAD can be treated effectively with travel to a sunnier clime, or bright artificial light delivered by light boxes (available to buy online). It is worth emphasising that the artificial light needed to reduce the symptoms of SAD are high, requiring approximately 10,000 lux for at least 30 minutes in the morning on a daily basis. As to how light might help, it's still not clear. It could act by stopping the body clock 'drifting off' schedule during the winter when there is less environmental light to set it (this is a particular problem for those who commute in the dark during the winter). The light may also trigger the release of brain hormones such as serotonin that improve mood. A more benign and common version of this mismatch between our internal clocks and the day and night cycle is jet lag. TRAVEL ACROSS TIME ZONES RISKY The problem of long-distance travel affecting our body clocks and sleep is not just a very modern phenomenon. There is some evidence that 'boat' lag used to affect transatlantic passengers in the days of the large ocean liners. But the faster you cross time zones, the worse it is for most people, because our biological clocks cannot cope quickly enough with the change. Indeed, almost everyone who has flown across a few time zones has felt at least some of the symptoms of jet lag: fatigue, an inability to fall asleep in the new time zone, body aches, digestive problems and disorientation. It can easily spoil the enjoyment of a holiday during the first few days and make a work trip difficult but it's also potentially dangerous. A number of airlines warn passengers that the effects can be severe, with the ability to make decisions reduced by up to 50 per cent; communication skills by 30 per cent; memory by 20 per cent; and attention by a huge 75 per cent. There is little doubt this is down to the effects of both a misaligned body clock and a lack of sleep. If you need to make important decisions after crossing multiple time zones, try to go a few days early so your body clock can at least partially adapt to the new time zone. On average, it takes about a day to adjust for each time zone crossed: in general, the body takes around ten days to adjust from the jet-lagging effects of crossing ten time zones (from the UK to Australia, for example), but there are differences between individuals in response to jet lag. However, there are ways to speed up your adaptation to a new time zone. DARK SUNGLASSES WILL HELP While there are no guarantees, a truly effective way of minimising the problems caused by travelling across time zones is to use light to 'shift' the clock. As I have explained throughout this series, light exposure at different times of the day shifts our body clocks differently. Light around sunrise advances the clock so that we start our sleep earlier and go to bed earlier the next day. Light around sunset delays the clock, so we go to sleep and get up later the next night. When travelling across time zones, the principle is simple: in the new time zone, work out when it's dawn and dusk in the UK, then for the first few days after arrival, seek out or avoid light, either to delay or advance the body clock. The rule of thumb is that when travelling west you seek out light as soon as possible upon arrival in the new time zone to delay the clock. For instance, if you're flying from the UK to New York (five hours behind us), and arrive at 7pm UK time, that's 2pm New York time. So take a stroll outside in daylight when you arrive. When travelling east from the UK, you need to drag your body clock forward in time. To adjust quickly, you want to avoid morning light and seek out late afternoon light for the first few days. For instance, if you're flying to Sydney (11 hours ahead of the UK) and arrive at 5am to 7am, that's 6pm to 8pm in the UK if you've got light exposure then, it would delay your body clock and not advance it to the new time zone. But if you arrive later in the day in Sydney, say 4pm to 6pm, it will be will be 5am to 7am in the UK, and light exposure at this time will advance your body clock and help you adjust to the new advanced time zone. (There are also plenty of apps to help you work out when to seek out and when to avoid light.) A pair of dark sunglasses is the simplest means of dealing with the problem of inappropriate light exposure. If you fly across multiple time zones and have to function as soon as you arrive, then avoid alcohol on the flight and keep fully hydrated. Then, before the meeting, if you are able, take a short nap (no more than 20 minutes) and drink a strong coffee (to get the caffeine). During the meeting make sure the room is as brightly lit as possible, or sit by a window. All this will increase alertness. But be very careful: your brain will still be tired, less able to process information, be more impulsive, less reflective and less empathetic. So pause, and delay making any important decisions until you have had chance to sleep on the problem. Are MELATONIN PILLS worth it? Melatonin has been used extensively as a treatment for jet lag. However, for most people it brings only a minor or no improvement (I don't use melatonin myself). So why has it become so popular? Melatonin is often termed the 'sleep hormone', but this is misleading. In fact, this hormone doesn't so much trigger sleep as act as a marker for the body that it's night-time. What not to eat when you're tired People who are tired are more likely to seek out fatty, sugary foods. This is because a lack of sleep can affect both the way our bodies deal with sugar and our metabolism. Studies suggest it raises levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin and causes a decline in levels of leptin, a hormone that inhibits hunger signals to the brain. These changes may help to explain why shift workers have a higher risk of weight gain, obesity and type 2 diabetes and, to a lesser extent, why, when were all tired, we seek out the same sorts of high-sugar foods. But it is important to avoid these foods, and if you do feel hungry, make sure you choose protein-rich snacks (which help you feel full and dont cause spikes in blood sugar). This is especially true if you work night shifts. Sugar-rich foods or sugary beverages at the beginning of a night shift will produce a sugar rush, followed by a crash and increased tiredness. In addition, sugar consumed in the evening is not as easily absorbed by the cells of the body and remains in the blood for longer, increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes. Ideally, work canteens should help by providing snacks and easy-to-digest foods, with lots of protein available. This means soups, nuts and seeds, peanut butter, boiled eggs, chicken, and tuna. When I am tired, I tend to eat cashew nuts, and have a small emergency bag in the drawer. As discussed previously, if you are tired you should avoid too much caffeine on a routine basis, because this will increase your blood pressure and heart rate and can give you the caffeine jitters, making you anxious and irritable. Because caffeine causes sleeplessness, it may encourage you to use sedatives (e.g. alcohol and sleeping tablets) after work to reverse the alerting effects. This can lead to a cycle of increased caffeine use to drive alertness, followed by more sedatives to induce a state of unconsciousness, which prevents many of the benefits of natural sleep. Advertisement Melatonin is made mainly in the pineal gland, which is located in the centre of the brain and was considered by Rene Descartes, the French philosopher and scientist, to be the anatomical location for the soul. The pineal gland is regulated by the body clock to produce melatonin; levels rise at dusk, peaking in the blood at around 2am to 4am, and then declining around dawn. Bright light, detected by the eyes, acts to stop melatonin production. It's significant that while in animals that are active in the day such as humans, melatonin production occurs at night during sleep, nocturnal animals (e.g. mice and rats) also produce melatonin at night when they are active. And humans who do not produce melatonin for instance, because they take beta-blocker pills for heart conditions still have normal sleep and wake rhythms with only minor changes in sleep. So if melatonin is not a 'sleep hormone', what does it do? The master body clock, the suprachiasmatic nuclei in the brain, has receptors that detect melatonin and so the night-time rise in melatonin may provide an additional signal to set the clock that's already adjusted by light via the eyes (which detect sunrise and sunset). Melatonin seems to tell the brain how long it has been dark, reinforcing signals from the eyes. However, the melatonin signal is not very strong, and the body clock will always respond to light in preference to melatonin, which may explain why the pills have little impact. There are studies suggesting melatonin may help to reduce the time it takes to get to sleep and increase total sleep time, which is why it is sometimes prescribed on the NHS for sleep problems. Yet while these effects on sleep are significantly better than a placebo (or dummy pill), in the majority of studies the effects were relatively minor, reducing the time it takes to fall asleep by around seven minutes and increasing the time spent asleep by around eight minutes. And, of course, melatonin has been used as a treatment for jet lag. In most studies, but not all, melatonin was found to reduce the symptoms of jet lag in people crossing five or more time zones when it was taken close to the bedtime at the destination. As with sleep, the overall effects were moderate, possibly due to individual differences in both the sensitivity to melatonin and the effects of jet lag. The point is, for some people, melatonin is probably useful for jet lag and for others not at all. For this reason, and because melatonin can cause sleepiness in some sensitive individuals, the general advice is not to drive or operate heavy or dangerous machinery for four to five hours after taking it. There are other important caveats: you need to be very careful about when you take it as doing so at the wrong time may confuse the body clock even more. Potential difficulties with timing the dose is why long-haul pilots and crew (and others crossing multiple time zones repeatedly) are not advised to use melatonin. In addition, if you or a close relative suffers from a psychiatric condition or migraine, you're advised not to use melatonin as it may interfere with the mood centres of the brain and either exacerbate or trigger a mental health problem. Jacinthe Dupuis has dreamed of heading to Thailand with her partner for years. But with a five-month-old baby in tow and 14 cases of the coronavirus reported in the area so far, she said she felt the need to change her plans, especially because their flight included a layover in Shanghai. "We decided our better option was to change our travel plans altogether," said Dupuis. The family has decided to head to Mexico instead, but the decision didn't come cheapit cost them $1,400 in additional fees. "In an ideal context we would want to have our daughter meeting people and having fun, not being nervous because there's a virus spreading around." Jimmy Law, a manager of Voyages Orient Tours, said Dupuis isn't the only one changing travel plans. CBC News On Tuesday alone, the travel agency in Montreal's Chinatown received nine cancellations. Most of the flights the agency books to Asian destinations have a layover in Beijing or Shanghai. "No one wants to take the risk," said Law. Law has also received several calls from travellers in China who want to come back to Montreal sooner than planned. It isn't just vacations Montrealers are cancelling. I.C.T. Travel Agency, a Montreal company that books business trips abroad, said several people have called to cancel business trips into China and other parts of Asia. "If there's a meeting they can postpone or not attend, they've called us and asked for it to be cancelled," said Michael Ionescu, a manager at I.C.T. Ionescu said February and March are usually the months that see the most business meetings in China. If the coronavirus persists, Ionescu fears the agency will be hit with even more cancellations. "I hope it's a trend which will stop quickly," said Ionescu. Vietnam will stop receiving tourists from areas with confirmed outbreaks of the novel coronavirus (nCoV) and restrict the movement of Chinese visitors already in the country to prevent the virus' spread, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has said. The temporary ban on tourists from China takes effect from Wednesday as travel companies are asked to cancel tours to and from outbreak areas and closely follow the nCoV spread, VNAT said in a dispatch. The travel itinerary and health of Chinese visitors already in Vietnam should be closely monitored, and their movement restricted, during their stay in the country, the tourism administration asks. The same restrictions apply to tourists of other nationalities who had been to outbreak areas within 14 days before entering Vietnam. Vietnamese citizens are advised against traveling to areas with confirmed cases of nCoV infection. This is the third dispatch issued by the VNAT since the pneumonia outbreak, caused by nCoV - a new strain of the coronavirus family that also caused SARS and MERS, first surfaced in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019. Chinese health authorities on Wednesday reported the number of confirmed cases had jumped by 1,459 to 5,974, with 132 deaths. Representatives of travel companies told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper such measures to prevent the spread of nCoV are welcome to keep Vietnam a safe destination in the eyes of foreign visitors, despite them hurting Chinese arrivals. A hotel in Da Nang recently made a controversial decision to deny Chinese tourists service over nCoV fears to ensure safety for staff and other guests who are staying in the hotel. Chinese tourists accounted for around 30 percent of the 18 million international visitors to Vietnam in 2019, according to VNAT statistics. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to resign as Nigerias president. He made the call during plenary on Wednesday, while the Senate discussed a motion on national security challenges and the need to restructure the current security architecture. Mr Abaribe, who was the first to contribute to the motion, faulted the president for failing to tackle the security challenges in the country. He wondered why the president would claim to be surprised at the rising insecurity in the country. Mr Abaribe also called out a presidential media aide for referring to the Christian Association of Nigeria as a political party after the body condemned killings by Boko Haram. When I was coming, I saw a newspaper headline of THISDAY, the commander-in-chief expresses shock at the level of violent crime, in other words Mr president was expressing surprise, but, according to our rules Order 53(13), I will not go into that but I can only say in pidgin English this surprise, surprise me. I want to say, Mr President, if you didnt insist that we will not be partisan Id have called out the presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, who, when the CAN leaders complained about the killings of a priest, he turned around and said CAN was acting like a political party. Now that we are talking about it here, let me hear him say that all of us are acting like a political party when many are complaining about these incessant deaths in this country, he said. While stressing the need to get to the root of this matter, the lawmaker said, those who live by propaganda will die by propaganda. At this point, he was interrupted by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, who asked the Minority Leader to stick to the topic being discussed. But, Mr Abaribe continued: Boko Haram has been defeated, Nigeria is now safer, everything that was being done to make sure that the hard work that was supposed to be done in securing Nigeria was not done because certain people did not do their work but preferred to cover the eyes of Nigerians with propaganda and trying to find all these excuses for non-performance, have now come to stare us in the face. Nigeria did not elect the IGP, we did not elect the chief of staff, we did not elect the joint-chiefs or national security adviser. We elected the government of APC in 2015 and re-elected them in 2019. The reason we re-elected them is that they continued to tell us that they had the key to security. READ ALSO: When you want to deal with a matter, you go to the head, so we will go to government and ask this government to resign because they can no longer do anything, he said. He was again interrupted by Mr Lawan who warned him against being partisan. Let me remind you once again that Nigerians voted for APC in 2015 and because they saw improvement in their lives they voted APC again in 2019. I dont want to be partisan and advise against hate speech, the Senate President noted. Making his final note, Mr Abaribe said government even said if we dont perform, stone us, we are going with the stones to stone them now. This time, he was stopped. A Nasarawa senator, Abdullahi Adamu, stood up to condemn Mr Abaribes comments and demanded that he withdraw them. The deliberations are still underway. The lawmakers have set aside Wednesday to discuss security challenges in the country that have seen attacks by Boko Haram, kidnappers and so-called bandits increase, especially in the northern part of the country. On Tuesday, Mr Buhari said he was surprised at the growing insecurity, and said his government will be harder on bandits. PREMIUM TIMES has reported on the insecurity across the nation carried out by various armed groups and individuals. Advertisements These include resurgent Boko Haram attacks in the North-east and increased cases of killings and kidnappings across the country. In one of the latest incidents, 13 people were killed in a Plateau community. Amidst the insecurity, the presidency has said Nigerians have reasons to be grateful as the security situation is better than it was before President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office. We know what the situation was as at 2015 and we know what it is today. Despite the reversals in security, it is still not as bad as it used to be in this country, Femi Adesina, President Buharis spokesperson, said recently. SAO PAULO, Jan 28 (Reuters) - A Brazilian bank employees union said Banco do Brasil's plans to make it easier to hire and fire staff are "absurd" and will be resisted by the state-controlled lender's workers. "This is an attack against employees' rights and, thus, workers will not allow it to happen," Ernesto Izumi, a leader at the Sao Paulo-based union, said in a statement posted on the union's website late on Monday. The union, with 140,000 members, is the largest representing bank employees in the country. Reuters reported on Monday that Banco do Brasil was planning changes to better compete with private rivals, including weaker job protections for its 94,000 workers, according to sources, and was in talks with the Economy Ministry on job rules. The story also said the plan could prove to be politically tricky and face resistance from Banco do Brasil's staff. On its website, the union said that Economy Minister Paulo Guedes was planning "to destroy" Banco do Brasil, based on what had been reported. It is "absurd to say that Banco do Brasil is not competitive as it is one of Brazil's biggest banks and was built by its workers," Izumi said. (Reporting by Carolina Mandl Editing by Paul Simao) Mastercard has pledged to equip 2,020 girls in Dubai with the skills required for careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) through its award-winning Girls4Tech program. Announced during a Girls4Tech event hosted at Foremarke School in Dubai, Mastercard revealed that it will run a dedicated local program to support the initiative, which will run from January 2020 until the end of Expo 2020 Dubai. Mastercard first introduced Girls4Tech in the UAE in 2015 with the aim of inspiring and preparing young girls for careers in science and technology. The program has subsequently been rolled out to thousands of girls across the Middle East and Africa. Inclusion, opportunity, and the empowerment of girls and women are global priorities at Mastercard, and Expo 2020 gives us an unprecedented opportunity to leave a positive legacy for the future generation of technology leaders, said Beatrice Cornacchia, SVP, Marketing and Communications, Mastercard, Middle East and Africa. With our employees serving as role models and mentors, we hope to inspire girls to pursue careers in STEM fields as we strive to achieve greater gender parity through Mastercard initiatives like Girls4Tech. To us, thats Priceless. Schools are integral to the success and legacy of Expo 2020 Dubai. Weve already given thousands of children a glimpse into the future through our Expo School Programme in the run-up to Expo 2020. We will continue to inspire and empower the next generation to explore, create, and learn in a fun and immersive environment, and look forward to working with partners like Mastercard to create a more inclusive future, said Alya Al Ali, vice president Expo School Programme, Expo 2020 Dubai. As the Official Payment Technology Partner of Expo 2020, Mastercard also announced the launch of the Arabic version of the award-winning program, which is now available in 12 languages worldwide. The announcement follows Mastercards ongoing collaboration with Expo 2020 to scale up Girls4Tech through the Expo School Programme. The hands-on, inquiry-based STEM program has reached more than 500,000 girls in 27 countries, and Mastercard has further committed to reach 1 million girls globally by 2025. Girls4Tech incorporates Mastercards deep expertise in payments technology and innovation, and includes topics such as encryption, fraud detection, data analysis, digital convergence, cybersecurity and AI. It also emphasizes important skills such as collaboration, creativity and communication to enable young girls to apply their technical knowledge to solve real-world challenges. TradeArabia News Service Due to a significant drop in oil and gas pricing and the states implementation of a 3.5% property tax revenue cap, Webb County Commissioners Court is considering sending their proposed fairgrounds project to the voters in November rather than funding it with their existing revenue. READ MORE: Webb County Commissioners vote to allow access for border wall Martin Villarreal, chief appraiser at the Webb County Appraisal District, said theyre anticipating the county will lose approximately 30% of its oil and gas revenue in 2020, amounting to a $7-$8 million budget shortfall for the county this year. This is due mainly to the falling price of oil and especially natural gas. Production has been steady. The problem is the price, Villarreal said. Roughly 28% of the countys property tax revenue comes from oil and gas values, according to Webb CAD data. Last year that equated to over $26 million in revenue. It will be difficult for the county to recoup this cost, especially because their property tax revenue cannot increase by more than 3.5% this year, regardless of the volume of growth in property values. The Texas Legislature last year enacted a law that caps the rollback rate for cities and counties at 3.5%, whereas before it was 8%. If property values increase by 4%, for example, local government entities will have to lower the tax rate so that their revenue does not grow by more than 3.5%. This excludes the value of new properties added to the tax rolls. Webb County Commissioners Court at their Monday meeting were advised of this double constraint on their budget. Commissioner John Galo said the Legislature put them in a bad way and that taxpayers wont feel any relief from this tax relief measure anyway. Meanwhile, the county has been preparing to take on tens of millions of dollars in debt for several capital improvement projects: the detox center, the veterans museum and the expansion of the Villa Antigua Border Heritage Museum. Plus, theres the county fairgrounds project, for which the county has already taken out a $2 million bond for the design. READ MORE: Laredo airport to add direct flight to Mexico City The Commissioners Court has not yet narrowed down how much they want to spend on the construction of the fairgrounds. It could be anywhere from $40-$80 million in the first phase of the project, depending on how much they want to build. Currently the county spends about $7 million in debt service. Budget Officer Lalo Uribe said that if they take out a $50 million loan for the fairgrounds, it would lead to around $3 million in additional annual debt. The countys tax revenue pays for the entitys operations as well as its debt service. With the likely shortfall in oil and gas revenue and the 3.5% property tax cap, taking on more debt means taking away from operations. Uribe said taking money from the countys fund balance will be the last resort to supplement the budget, since it would likely affect their credit rating. Uribe is hopeful other county revenues will come in over budget, and he says they will have to look into cutting unfilled positions. Weve got to put a pencil to all that. And were not going to take on debt that will strap the countys cash flow, Uribe said. County Judge Tano Tijerina said it seems like everything is lining up for the voters to make the decision on the fairgrounds project. Their decision would be whether or not to raise the property tax rate to pay for the debt service. If voters were to turn it down, however, the county would not be able to bond any money for the project for three years, a risk for the Commissioners Court, which has developed this project over the last couple of years. The county has a few months to figure this out, since this wouldnt be on the ballot until the November election. United ISD Oil and gas revenue makes up an even greater percentage of income for United ISD: over $76 million in 2019, about 33% of their ad valorem revenue. And school districts are similarly capped by the state this year; they cannot increase property tax revenue more than the state value growth, explained Laida Benavides, assistant superintendent for business and finance at UISD. This year that is expected to be a 4% cap on revenue growth, she said. READ MORE: Taco Palenque offering 50 percent discount for Super Bowl Sunday But this also means the state, under the Foundation School Program, will guarantee a certain amount of funding per student. If their revenues go down due to this drop in oil and gas pricing, the state could make up the difference, Benavides said. Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com NelsonHall welcomes back Liz Rennie to strengthen its HR Technology & Services team and appoints Bailey Kong to bolster its Digital Transformation practice BOSTON, LONDON and PARIS, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NelsonHall, the leading global analyst firm dedicated to helping organizations understand the 'art of the possible' in digital operations transformation, is delighted to welcome back Liz Rennie to its global HR Technology & Services practice as a Principal Research Analyst. Liz will have responsibility for key HR research projects including Cloud-Based HR Transformation, Benefits Administration Platforms & Services, and The Future of HR. Liz has over 25 years' experience in the HR field, including extensive HR consulting and services experience at a global HR services provider, and deep knowledge of the contingent workforce market. She joins from Alight, where she built up its mid-market Workday practice and supported buyers evaluating its HR offerings. NelsonHall also welcomes new hire Bailey Kong, who joins NelsonHall's Digital Transformation practice, taking shared responsibility for digital transformation technology research, focusing on products that use machine learning and cognitive AI, including business process management platforms, process mining & discovery platforms, and virtual agents. Bailey previously held positions in applied research at Intel Corp., UtopiaCompression Corp., and the Center for Statistics and Applications in Forensic Evidence, where he built up a broad range of domain knowledge and analytical expertise. These appointments are the latest additions to NelsonHall's global team, which is expanding in response to market demand for its unique brand of rigorous and insightful research and advice. John Willmott, NelsonHall's CEO, said "I'm delighted to welcome Liz and Bailey to our global analyst team, which is continuing to grow as organizations look for primary fact-based analysis that cuts through the market confusion and hype. Liz returns to us with even greater experience in HR technology and services, and is a strong addition to our market-leading HR team. Meanwhile, Bailey brings distinctive experience in digital transformation technologies that will help drive our research in this vital area and deepen the insights we deliver to our clients." About NelsonHall NelsonHall is the leading global analyst firm dedicated to helping organizations understand the 'art of the possible' in digital operations transformation. With analysts in the U.S., U.K., and Continental Europe, NelsonHall provides buy-side organizations with detailed, critical information on markets and vendors (including NEAT assessments) that helps them make fast and highly informed sourcing decisions. And for vendors, NelsonHall provides deep knowledge of market dynamics and user requirements to help them hone their go-to-market strategies. NelsonHall's research is based on rigorous, primary research, and is widely respected for the quality, depth and insight of its analysis. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/968058/NelsonHall_Logo.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1083766/NelsonHall_Liz.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1083767/NelsonHall_Bailey.jpg We believe small business owners are the backbone of the local North Texas economy. North Texas Property Management, the best-in-class property management company in Plano, Richardson, Frisco, and environs at https://www.ntxpm.com/, is proud to announce a new post for local property owners. Larger property management companies may not accept investors with a small rental portfolio. Investors around the Frisco, Texas, however, area are never 'too small' for a locally-owned property manager. The new post addresses the importance of serving small property investors and single rental owners in Frisco, Texas, as well as cities such as Plano, McKinney, and Allen, Texas. "We believe small business owners are the backbone of the local North Texas economy. Whether it's an ice cream shop or a landlord, they deserve the same attention as any professional business owner," explained Jason Marasco, CEO of North Texas Property Management. "Our new post talks about the importance of serving local property owners to the fullest, no matter the size of the account, and touching on the opportunities in single home and residential properties." The new post from North Texas Property Management is available for Frisco, Texas. property owners at https://www.ntxpm.com/2020/01/05/do-you-just-have-one-property-to-rent-and-want-a-management-company/. Retired residents or non-Texas property owners could find it difficult to handle the day-to-day duties of property management. A family-owned property management team is ready to handle smaller rental portfolios. Townhomes, duplexes, condominiums, and single-family homes are all considered. To learn more details about property management companies for areas such as Frisco, McKinney, and Plano, Texas, please visit; https://www.ntxpm.com/management-services/. NO RENTAL "TOO SMALL" FOR ONE OF THE TOP FRISCO, TEXAS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES Here is the background on this release. A booming economy projected for 2020 can mean new opportunities for North Texas residents. Landlords in the Frisco, Texas, area might be ready to review property management companies to handle a humble, but lucrative rental portfolio. If a property management firm considers a customer 'too small to serve', it could hinder personal plans. A nearby professional property manager focused on supporting smaller rental portfolios could be the right fit. A Frisco, Texas local resident, could be ready to find help with managing a home rental. Larger property management companies could dismiss modest rental portfolios as a waste of time. One of the top family-owned property management companies will manage the needs of Frisco, Texas rentals, no matter how small. For these reasons, North Texas Property Management has announced a new post on these topics. ABOUT NORTH TEXAS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT North Texas Property Management Company is a top-rated property management company servicing the needs of rental property owners in the North Dallas area of North Texas. The company's property managers manage residential rental properties in Plano & McKinney and Richardson & Allen, as well as other communities in the North Dallas area, for real estate investors and rental property owners who want a property management company that will take the burden off of them of physically and financially caring for, maintaining, and managing their rental homes. Web. https://www.ntxpm.com/ Tel. 214-227-7669 WHO again weighs declaring coronavirus global public health emergency originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Patients from Germany, Japan, Taiwan and Vietnam have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus without having visited China, health officials said during a World Health Organization news conference Wednesday. Human-to-human transmission outside of China "worries us," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general at WHO. Partly because of human-to-human transmission outside of China and partly because of a continued increase in cases, the WHO said it will reconvene on Thursday to determine whether to declare coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern. The committee deliberated for two days last week, but ultimately decided against it. MORE: New coronavirus 'not spreading' in the US, CDC says Still, Tedros stressed, the vast majority of reported coronavirus cases, roughly 99% of the more than 7,700, have been in China. Among those, 20% have been severe and 2% have been fatal. All 170 deaths have been in China. WHO will send a group of international experts to work with the Chinese experts on the ground to develop a better understanding of the new coronavirus' severity and infectiousness. While there is no treatment or vaccine so far, scientists in Australia became the first outside of China to grow the new coronavirus in a laboratory. Sharing that data should make it easier for researchers around the world to develop diagnostic tests, drugs and vaccines. PHOTO: Confirmed Coronavirus cases (ABC News, CDC) Countries with Confirmed Coronavirus Cases (ABC News, WHO, CDC, NHC, Dingxiangyuan, Local Governments) In the meantime, airlines around the world have suspended routes to China. American Airlines announced that it would suspend two such routes on Wednesday, citing "significant decline in demand for travel to and from China." Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Shanghai Pudong Airport and to Beijing Capital International Airport will not run from Feb. 9 through March 27, the company said in a statement. Meanwhile, British Airways announced Wednesday that it has suspended all flights to and from mainland China "with immediate effect" as the country struggles to contain the outbreak of the new coronavirus. Story continues The United Kingdom's national airline, which operates daily flights from London to Shanghai and Beijing, said it made the decision "following advice from the Foreign Office against all but essential travel." MORE: Employers evacuate staff, restrict travel to China amid coronavirus fears "We apologize to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority," British Airways said in a statement Wednesday. "Customers due to travel to or from China in the coming days can find more information on ba.com." South Korean low-cost carrier Air Seoul and Indonesian budget airline Lion Air have also suspended flights to mainland China, while several other airlines have reduced the number of flights to the country. Other airlines suspending flights include Lufthansa Group, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Air Asia, Air India, Air Canada, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines and Korean Air. PHOTO: Passengers from China wearing masks to prevent a new coronavirus get checked for fever upon their arrival at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea, Jan. 29, 2020. (Yonhap via Reuters) The epicenter of the deadly outbreak is in Hubei province's sprawling capital, Wuhan, which authorities have placed on lockdown in an effort to stop the spread of infection. MORE: US not ready to declare coronavirus a public health emergency, HHS says Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam announced at a press conference Tuesday that train service to mainland China will be halted, starting at midnight Thursday. Lam said two train stations connecting the semi-autonomous Chinese city to the mainland also would be closed and some flights would be canceled. The new coronovirus causes symptoms similar to pneumonia that can range from mild, such as a slight cough, to more severe, including fever and difficulty breathing, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease has already spread overseas with cases confirmed in over a dozen other countries, including five in the United States. PHOTO: Medical staff in protective suits treat a patient with pneumonia caused by the new coronavirus at the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, Jan. 28, 2020. (China Daily/Reuters) A growing number of companies, including American firms, are evacuating staff from China or restricting travel there amid the health crisis. MORE: What to know about coronavirus symptoms The U.S. Consulate in Wuhan will evacuate its staff along with their families and some other Americans on Wednesday morning, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State told ABC News. That chartered flight will travel to California's Ontario International Airport, where everyone on board will be screened for symptoms at the airport prior to leaving. They'll also be subject to additional screening, observation and monitoring requirements by the CDC. The U.S. Department of State issued a new travel advisory on Monday urging Americans to reconsider traveling to any part of China due to the disease, rather than just to Wuhan and other affected areas. U.S. citizens are advised not to travel to Hubei province. ABC News' Joseph Simonetti and Mina Kaji contributed to this report. The Government has hailed a significant drop in homelessness after new figures showed the number of people in emergency accommodation fell below 10,000 for the first time since last February. The Department of Housing said there were 9,731 people homeless in December, down 717 on the figure for November. The news was welcomed by charities, although a senior figure in one organisation said "it's too soon to say we have turned the corner". The Department said December saw the largest decrease recorded over a single month since reporting began in its current format and that 2019 was the first year since reporting commenced in the current format that the overall homeless numbers were lower than the previous December. According to the figures, there were 6,309 adult individuals using State-funded emergency accommodation in December - down 5.78% on November and up 1.86% on December 2018. There were 1,548 families in emergency accommodation in December, down 8.13% compared to November 2019 and down almost 4% on December 2018. There were 3,422 homeless children last month, down 8.8% from November and a modest decrease on December 2018. Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy, said: "I know that this decrease is not enough and the number of people in crisis is unacceptably high, but the change in 2019 is a move in the right direction." Depaul CEO David Carroll said: We are happy to see a decrease in homeless numbers. We hope this illustrates a deeper change in trends when it comes to people presenting as homeless. "However, for any incoming Government Depaul's priorities remain the same. We need to see a large increase in social housing output and increased investment in health interventions for those who are experiencing homelessness. In particular those presenting with complex needs." Inner City Helping Homeless gave a cautious welcome to the drop. ICHH said: While we obviously welcome a substantial drop in the number of people that are homeless we would also air on the side of caution. Every year we see a decline in the figures in December as many families made homeless in December choose to stay with family or friends over the Christmas period rather than spend the holidays in emergency accommodation. "This has been a year-on-year trend and figures that come out in March usually see the spike begin again and by the summer the numbers continue to rise." The homelessness charity said its outreach volunteers helped 131 people on the streets of Dublin last night. It said: "We also cannot lose sight of the fact that people sleeping on the streets, in parks and squats are not counted nor are families in domestic abuse shelters, people in direct provision, people couch surfing or living in overcrowded family homes. "Beware of the false dawn with the general election a week away, until we see serious reductions month after month we cannot allow the department to gloss over the seasonal declines. "As long as the government rely on the private rental market and private developers to address homelessness this crisis will continue to escalate throughout 2020. Housing officials said while some of the decrease last month could be seasonal, with people staying with friends or family for the festive period, a more significant factor was likely to be an increase in available beds and the completion of housing units in the last quarter of the year. An accompanying Summary Analysis of Homelessness Quarterly Performance Reports - Quarter 4 2019, said: "During Quarter 4, a total of 1,582 adults and their dependents exited homelessness into tenancies. "This is a 14% increase on the comparable period last year when 1,383 exits were achieved. It is also the highest number of exits recorded in any single quarter since 2016." It also said there was a total of 5,971 exits from homelessness last year, up 16% on that achieved in 2018. These included 1,199 exits to local authority-owned properties, up 49% on the corresponding period in 2018, 954 exits to Approved Housing Body (AHB) lettings or Long Term Supported Accommodation, up 44%, and 3,818 exits to the private rental market, a 4% rise. The vast majority of those exits were in Dublin. The report also included data from the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) which said family presentations in the Dublin region had fallen by 11% last year and the number of families entering emergency accommodation had also fallen over the same period by 7.3%. "Of the families presenting to homeless services in the Dublin Region, 49.4% were prevented from having to enter emergency accommodation and 1,113 families have exited emergency accommodation into a tenancy, a 43% increase on the 778 family exits achieved in the Dublin region in 2018," it said. By the end of last year, 58% of those in emergency accommodation had been accessing it for more than six months, while 184 (16%) families and 443 (17%) of children had been homeless for more than two years. The figures came shortly after a Policy Brief on Affordable Housing published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development noted a 107% rise in homelessness in Ireland between 2014 and 2018. Washington/Beijing: The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that authorises financial and travel sanctions against Chinese officials who interfere in the process of selecting the successor to the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader based in India. Introduced by Congressman James P McGovern, Chairman of the House Rules Committee and the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, the bill was passed by a overwhelming vote of 392 to 22 on Tuesday. The bill, if passed by the Senate and signed into law by the president, will also prohibit China from opening any new consulate in the US until Beijing allows Washington to open its diplomatic station in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital. According to the bill, the succession or reincarnation of Tibetan Buddhist leaders, including a future 15th Dalai Lama, is an exclusively religious matter that should be decided solely by the Tibetan Buddhist community. Under the draft legislation, Washington would freeze any American asset and ban US travel of Chinese officials if they are found to be involved in "identifying or installing" a Dalai Lama approved by Beijing. Meanwhile in Beijing, the Chinese foreign ministry said the legislation "grossly interferes in China's internal affairs". It asked the US to do more to benefit mutual trust and cooperation between China and the US rather than the contrary. The Dalai Lama fled to India in early 1959 after a failed uprising against the Chinese rule. While Beijing views the Dalai Lama as a separatist who seeks to split Tibet from China, the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate says he only seeks greater rights for Tibetans, including religious freedom and autonomy. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the bill sends Beijing a clear signal that it will be held accountable for interfering in Tibet's religious and cultural affairs. The proposed legislation, she said, makes it clear that "Chinese officials who meddle in the process of recognising a new Dalai Lama will be subject to targeted sanctions, including those in the Global Magnitsky Act". The Global Magnitsky Act allows the US to sanction foreign government officials implicated in human rights abuses anywhere in the world. Pelosi said the bill deploys America's diplomatic weight to encourage a genuine dialogue between Tibetan leaders and Beijing. "It is unacceptable that the Chinese government still refuses to enter into a dialogue with Tibetan leaders...We are supporting the Tibetan people's right to religious freedom and genuine autonomy by formally establishing as US policy that the Tibetan Buddhist community has the exclusive right to choose its religious leaders, including a future 15th Dalai Lama," she said. Though introduced as a stand-alone piece of legislation, the bill serves as an amendment to the Tibet Policy Act of 2002, which codified the US position of support for the Tibetan people. "Our bill updates and strengthens the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 to address the challenges facing the Tibetan people. But perhaps as importantly, it reaffirms America's commitment to the idea that human rights matter. That we care about those who are oppressed, and we stand with those who are struggling for freedom," Congressman McGovern said on the House floor. "It should be clear that we support a positive and productive US-China relationship, but it is essential that the human rights of all the people of China are respected by their government," he asserted. Last year, the US Congress passed the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, demanding that American journalists, diplomats and tourists be given the same freedom to travel to Tibet that Chinese officials have to travel freely in the US. "The Dalai Lama should be commended for his decision to devolve political authority to elected leaders. The Tibetan exile community is also to be commended for adopting a system of self-governance with democratic institutions to choose their own leaders, including holding multiple 'free and fair' elections to select its Parliament and chief executive," McGovern said. The bill also mandates the US State Department to begin collaborative and multinational efforts to protect the environment and water resources of the Tibetan Plateau. "We are protecting Tibet's environmental and cultural rights: working with international governments and the business community to ensure the self-sufficiency of the Tibetan people and protect the environment and water resources on the Tibetan Plateau. It is really important to sustainability of our planet," Pelosi, a longtime advocate for Tibet, said. BUTTE COUNTY, Calif.- Flu numbers are up all over the country and health officials in Butte County are urging people to take precautions. According to The California Department of Public Health, flu activity is high throughout the state, there have been more than 100 flu-related deaths in California this flu season. This year, all regular dose flu shots are quadrivalent which means they contain four inactivated influenza viruses, two "Type A" strains and two "Type B" strains. Butte County Public Health Communications Manager, Lisa Almaguer says its not too late to get your flu shot. She says, "Even in years where it is proven to be less effective than in previous years it still reduces your severity of symptoms and can reduce complications of the flu and keep you out of the hospital." She adds that children, older adults and pregnant women are at more at risk. According to the Butte County Public Health Department, flu season occurs in the Fall and Winter, the exact timing and duration can vary but it often begins in October and can last as late as May. Washington, Jan 29 : US President Donald Trump's legal team has wrapped up their three days of opening arguments in the impeachment trial, saying the head of state should be swiftly acquitted on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. "It is time for this to end, here and now," White House counsel Pat Cipollone said in his closing remarks in the Senate on Tuesday. Cipollone has repeatedly criticized what he says is a dangerous "shell game" launched by Democrats to remove Trump from office, reports Efe news. Earlier Tuesday, one of Trump's personal lawyers, Jay Sekulow, argued that the case against the President was weak and that he had been impeached over mere policy differences, adding that if he was removed from office it would set a dangerous precedent. "Future presidents - Democrats and Republicans - will be paralysed the moment they are elected. Before they can even take the oath of office," he said. "The bar for impeachment cannot be set this low." The defence attorneys' brief final arguments contrasted with lengthy sessions last week in which House of Representatives impeachment managers (prosecutors) led by California Democrat Adam Schiff insisted there was overwhelming evidence of Trump's guilt. Now that both sides have concluded their opening arguments, the senators, who are serving as jurors in the trial, will have two days - Wednesday and Thursday - to present their questions in writing to either the prosecution or defence via Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who is overseeing the trial. A crucial day then looms on Friday, when the Senate will debate and then vote on whether to allow additional evidence and witnesses. Democrats say it is essential that new materials be introduced, while Trump's attorneys and his Republican allies in the Senate oppose the idea. The vote of a simple majority will decide that matter. Since Republicans have a 53-47 majority, that means that Democrats need the support of four Republican senators to prevent the trial from ending quickly with a vote on the two articles of impeachment. The focus now is on four Republican senators who may support additional evidence and witnesses: Mitt Romney (Utah), Susan Collins (Maine), Lamar Alexander (Tennessee) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska). One key witness who did not testify during the House's impeachment probe but has said he will appear before the Senate is Trump's former National Security Adviser, John Bolton. That testimony could be harmful to Trump because according to excerpts from Bolton's upcoming book - published onSunday by the New York Times - he said the President told him he wanted to withhold congressionally approved military aid for Ukraine as a means of pressuring that country to announce corruption investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter. The excerptdirectly concerns the "abuse of power" charge against Trump, who allegedly used the power of his office to solicit "the interference of a foreign government, Ukraine, in the 2020 US presidential election". The accusation stems from an allegation that during a phone call last July Trump sought personal political gain by improperly pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to publicly announce an investigation into the alleged interference years ago of Joe Biden, a leading contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, in a probe of his son's business dealings in Ukraine. The second article of impeachment accuses the President of "obstruction of Congress" for directing executive branch agencies, offices and officials not to comply with subpoenas seeking documents and testimony deemed vital to the House's inquiry. Trump is only the third US president to be impeached. Under the US Constitution, the approval of articles of impeachment in the House is to be followed by a trial in the Senate, where it takes a two-thirds majority to remove the president from office. Due to Republicans' control of that upper chamber, it is considered highly unlikely that Trump will be convicted. Andrew Seidman | The Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania doesnt hold its primary for three more months. But amid a fluid Democratic presidential race that might not be settled until well after Iowa begins early-state preference voting next week, billionaire Michael Bloomberg is blanketing the airwaves from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh with an unprecedented advertising blitz. In the two months since he entered the race, the former New York City mayor has already spent $10.6 million on television and radio advertising across Pennsylvanias six media markets, according to data compiled by the ad-tracking firm Advertising Analytics an average of more than $1 million a week. Thats 68% more than all the candidates in the 2016 Democratic and Republican primaries in Pennsylvania spent on television and radio advertising combined (about $6.3 million in todays dollars). And its 20% of the roughly $50 million Hillary Clinton, then-candidate Donald Trump, and outside groups spent on the airwaves in Pennsylvania in the general election. If Bloomberg keeps airing ads at this pace, as expected, his campaign would be on track to spend about $25 million in Pennsylvania alone. I cant think of this ever happening before, even in a presidential campaign, J.J. Balaban, a Philadelphia-based Democratic media consultant, said of the Bloomberg ad binge. For good measure, Bloomberg, who is funding his campaign entirely with his own fortune, has spent $317,000 on Facebook ads in the state, too. Hes also building a formidable ground game in Pennsylvania, with 35 staffers in the state already and plans to bring on more than 90. Few of his Democratic rivals are on the air in Pennsylvania, enabling him to pitch his candidacy here without having to compete for voters attention amid the cacophony of political ads they see on TV in a campaigns final stretch. The Bloomberg ads highlight his success as a businessman, and promote his plans to expand access to health care, combat climate change, and reduce gun violence. Trump features prominently. The ad the Bloomberg campaign has run most frequently in the last week 837 spots over five days is titled Defeat Donald Trump. The top programs where the commercial ran were Judge Judy, Good Morning America, and Today, according to Advertising Analytics. When Bloomberg jumped into the race in November, he made clear that he would not compete in early nominating states like Iowa, which holds its caucus on Feb. 3 and where his rivals have been campaigning for more than a year. Instead, hes betting that top-polling candidates like former Vice President Joe Biden, Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, and former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg will split the early states, giving Bloomberg an opportunity to make a splash in the March 3 Super Tuesday primaries. About 40% of the delegates in the Democratic nominating contest will be allocated in the states that vote that day. Altogether, the Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democrat has spent more than $250 million to date. He now stands fourth in the average of national polls compiled by RealClearPolitics, with the support of 7.7% of primary voters. If the race is still up for grabs after Super Tuesday, Pennsylvania and its 186 pledged delegates are likely to loom as a big prize on April 28. In addition, his ad buys in the Philadelphia market also boost his exposure to voters in Delaware and South Jersey. Delaware votes the same day as Pennsylvania, while the New Jersey primary is June 2. Its hard to imagine he wont get a significant percentage of the vote in Pennsylvania, Balaban said. That doesnt mean Bloomberg will win the state, Balaban said, but hell likely be in a position to pick up some delegates and stay competitive. The candidates know the Keystone State could end up being decisive in the primary, so Bloomberg likely wont have the airwaves to himself much longer, said John Brabender, a GOP ad maker and veteran of Pennsylvania elections. There's going to be a huge reset after Iowa, Brabender said, and then you might start seeing a lot more advertising in Pennsylvania. Trumps reelection campaign spent about $400,000 on broadcast ads in Pennsylvania in the fall but hasnt bought advertising here since then. Other Democratic candidates, like the billionaire hedge-fund manager Tom Steyer, have bought national ads that have appeared in Pennsylvania media markets. Bloombergs most expensive ad buy, a minute-long spot that aired for 11 days in January, contrasted Bloombergs record on health care with Trumps attacks on the Affordable Care Act. He did it as mayor, hell get it done as president, a nurse says to the camera. The campaign spent more than $2 million airing the ad. Mayor Bloomberg has committed to the process and to spend whatever resources are necessary to win Pennsylvania and to defeat Donald Trump in November, said Mustafa Rashed, a spokesperson for the campaign in Pennsylvania. There are limitations to the advertising strategy. Bloomberg will face any number of hurdles winning the nomination of a party that he only recently joined and that has moved sharply to the left in recent years. Progressives have long criticized his record as mayor on race relations and policing. Days before Bloomberg announced his candidacy, he apologized for the controversial stop and frisk policing strategy he championed in New York. Some self-funding candidates in lower-profile races have found success spending millions on television ads before other campaigns get on the air. In 2014, for example, Gov. Tom Wolf, then a relatively unknown businessman from York County, rocketed to the top of the polls in the Democratic gubernatorial primary by advertising for weeks before his rivals. But presidential campaigns are different. A presidential race is unlike any other race in the sense that the candidates are so often in the news, so often front and center, that ads become a bit less effective, Brabender said. In 2016, Trump showed the value of so-called earned media which refers to news media coverage generating so much publicity that he didnt need to spend as much on advertising. The leading candidates are well-known among Democratic primary voters and have plenty of opportunities to attract voters attention including the debate stage. Bloomberg isnt accepting campaign contributions and has therefore failed to meet a fund-raising threshold set by the Democratic National Committee required to qualify for the debates. Democratic primary voters, just like Republican primary voters, are very large news-watchers, whether it be cable news or in the digital space, Brabender said. As much as it seems Bloomberg has the airwaves to himself, he doesnt. Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly said Buttigieg is still the South Bend mayor. Frank Wasniewski, Hudson Countys last link to one of the countrys most historic events, has died. The World War II veteran passed away at the age of 100 at Christ Hospital on Jan. 21 after an illness. Wasniewski told The Jersey Journal in 2009 that he had been stationed with the 98th Coast Artillery at Schofield Barracks, some 35 minutes north of Pearl Harbor, but that fateful day he had traveled to the Navy yard to pick up ammunition. They bombed for two hours, the 90-year-old Jersey City resident said of the attack by the Japanese on Dec. 7, 1941, that claimed more than 2,400 lives and propelled the United States into World War II. A member of the greatest generation, Wasniewski was drafted March 26, 1941 and had planned to serve a year. He was sent near Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor and served four and a half years. Wasniewski always considered himself lucky to come home alive. It was brutal, he said. Frank Wasniewski was a true American hero who stood tall in our countrys darkest hour, and stood by his fellow veterans here at home, said County Executive Tom DeGise. We mourn Franks passing with his family, his friends, and his fellow vets, knowing that while our hearts are heavy now, they will be full of pride always that Frank Wasniewski called Hudson County his home. After the war, Wasniewski worked as a trailer-truck driver for the United State Postal Service for many years before retiring. He was a member of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association and a parishioner of St. Joseph R.C. Church. Wasniewski annually attended the Hudson County Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony, until he was too ill to make it. His niece, Geralyn Wasniewski Crawford, always seen carrying a large photo of her uncle, attended in his place the past few years. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph R.C. Church on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Interment with military honors to follow at Holy Name Cemetery in Jersey City. Russian President Vladimir Putin has granted pardon to Naama Issachar, an American-Israeli woman, jailed in Russia on drug trafficking charges, the Kremlin said in a statement. According to the statement, the presidential decree pardoning Issachar on "humanitarian principles" is effective immediately, CNN reported. The release comes ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Moscow. Netanyahu will fly to Russia directly after completing his White House visit. He has released a statement thanking Putin for granting pardon to Issachar. "I thank my friend, President Putin, on his granting of pardon to Naama Issachar," he said. "I expect we will meet tomorrow and will discuss the deal of the century and the recent regional developments," the statement read. It now appears certain that Issachar will fly back to Israel with Netanyahu, who announced his trip to Moscow only yesterday. Issachar has been in prison in Moscow since April when she was stopped at the airport for having 9.5 grams of marijuana in her checked luggage. She was subsequently convicted of drug smuggling and sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison. Since her arrest, Netanyahu has repeatedly pleaded Issachar's case with Putin, asking the Russian President to pardon her and allow her to return to Israel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Wednesday said that US President Donald Trump will visit the Sabarmati Riverfront during his visit to India in February. "The President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, will visit the Sabarmati Riverfront in Gujarat during his visit to India in February," Rupani said at an election rally here. On January 16, the Ministry of External Affairs stated that India and the United States are in contact through diplomatic channels over the proposed visit of President Trump. "Speculations have been made on this for months... When PM Modi met US President Trump, he had invited him to India... Both the countries are in contact over this. We will share with you as and when we get concrete information," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said during a weekly briefing in New Delhi. Kumar's remarks came amid reports that Trump is likely to make a state visit to India towards the end of February. During the 'Howdy Modi' event in Houston last September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who shared the dais with Trump, invited the latter and his family to India, saying it will give a new height to the shared dreams of the two countries. The Indian invitation to the US President was reiterated last month by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar when they called on Trump at the White House after meeting with their American counterparts Mark Esper and Mike Pompeo during the 2+2 ministerial dialogue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With each new outbreak, scientists typically have to start from scratch. After the SARS outbreak in 2003, it took researchers about 20 months from the release of the viral genome to get a vaccine ready for human trials. By the time an epidemic caused by the Zika virus occurred in 2015, researchers had brought the timeline down to six months. Now, they hope the joint efforts will cut that time in half. The morning after the Chinese scientists published their data earlier this month, Dr. Grahams team got to work checking the sequence and comparing it with what they already had for SARS and MERS. They wanted to focus on the spike protein, which forms the crown of the coronavirus and recognizes receptors, or entry points, on a host cell. If you can block the spike protein from binding to a cell, then youve effectively prevented an infection, said Kizzmekia Corbett, the scientific lead for Dr. Grahams coronavirus team. Dr. Corbett and others had studied the spike proteins on SARS and MERS viruses in detail, using them to develop experimental vaccines. The vaccines never made it to market because SARS was successfully contained with public health measures before the vaccine was ready and preliminary human trials for the MERS vaccine showed success last year. But the scientists had a method for developing vaccines that could help them fast-track production for the new coronavirus. They used the template for the SARS vaccine and swapped in just enough genetic code that would make it work for the new virus. I call it plug and play, Dr. Corbett said. Within a few hours, Dr. Corbett was able to prepare the modified sequence that the researchers needed. On Tuesday, Jan. 14, the team held a conference call to discuss the next steps with collaborators in labs across the country, and sent off the sequence to Moderna. Three days before this year's edition of the Queer Azaadi Mumbai Pride Parade, the Mumbai Police has denied permission for the event to be held at the historic August Kranti Maidan, which has traditionally served as the starting point of the march. Three days before this year's edition of the Queer Azaadi Mumbai Pride Parade, the Mumbai Police has denied permission for the event to be held at the historic August Kranti Maidan, which has traditionally served as the starting point of the march. Mumbai-based NGO Hamsafar Trust, along with the organiser of the parade, Queer Azaadi Mumbai (QAM) Pride 2020 March, had sought permission to hold the event at the August Kranti Maidan. Even though permission was initially granted, the organisers announced via Twitter that the authorities had rescinded permission in an official letter from Gamdevi Police Station, signed by senior police inspector Rajendra Mohite. The letter (see below) said that the police was withholding permission as it had received information that the rally would voice dissent against the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), apart from raising awareness about LGBTQ+ rights. The letter also stated that if the Pride Parade was held without permission, a case would be filed against the organisers. Apart from revoking permission, the letter also states that there are prohibitory orders in place in Greater Mumbai from 23 January to 6 February, banning assembly of five or more persons. Members of the queer community and allies expressed disappointment with the Mumbai Police for expecting the Mumbai Pride Parade 2020 to exist in a political vacuum, at a time when over 2000 transgender persons have been excluded from the list of National Register of Citizens (NRC) of Assam. "Queer lives are multidimensional. We exist not only in the forefront or on the margins, but also in intersections of caste, religion and creed. While securing permission, the police officials told us that there should be no talk of CAA-NRC at the march. However, there is no way to stop people from walking with banners as queer lives are being affected by the act. Are we going to police everyone who decides to voice their opinion at CAA-NRC at an event?" asked Harish Iyer, LGBTQ+ activist. Since the QAM began organising the Pride March in 2008 a decade before the Supreme Court ruling struck down parts of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code which penalised same-sex relationships the Mumbai Police has ensured the parade takes place peacefully each year. Their current stance therefore, seems particularly puzzling. Acknowledging Mumbai Police's cooperation in the past, Kanishka Chaudhry, a member of QAM, termed the current refusal an "undemocratic approach". Chaudhry added that the authorities are worried that there might be clashes at the rally due to differing opinions on CAA-NRC. "The Pride Parade has always been political. So, there would be voices both pro and against CAA-NRC at the march. But there is a dilemma here as even though the Mumbai Police wants to help us, they seem to be under pressure. Otherwise it would have been a clear 'no' from their end." While participants and members of the queer community empathised with the police force, they felt 'lack of safety measures' could not be reason enough for the march to be cancelled. "In a democratic country its our legal right to protest, assemble and march. And it's their legal duty to protect and enable us to do so. CAA-NRC are also queer issues. Hence, we cannot shy away from them. And cancelling the march in the name of our safety is definitely not the answer. Today its this, tomorrow it will be something else. In this fashion they will simply keep us in a corner of the city, in the name of our betterment," said Saakshi Juneja, co-founder, Gaysi Family. Police officials asked the organisers to move the march to an alternative venue Azad Maidan but were insistent that attendees refrain from expressing their views on CAA-NRC, no matter where they stand on the political spectrum. The organisers said this demand was not feasible considering how detrimental certain government policies, such as the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019, have been to the queer community. To not discuss issues that have disempowered a marginalised community, CAA-NRC included, would defeat the purpose of the march, they added. "It is a severe blow to freedom of expression. Their fear of the pride parade including protests about CAA-NRC is actually well-founded as they affect queer people for sure, especially persons who may not have their identity papers in place because they are in the process of transitioning. Their rights cannot be denied," said Sridhar Rangayan, filmmaker and activist. As for the venue, holding the march at Azad Maidan would reduce it to a "gathering", which it essentially isn't. The consensus among organisers seemed to be that there is no way to regulate views on CAA-NRC at the march due to its all-pervading effect "but march we will. No government can stop our annual pride parade". Even as Queer Azaadi March navigated the rigmarole of securing permission, holding the pride parade at August Kranti Maidan remains its priority; asking participants to not raise CAA-NRC related slogans is not a possibility. DENVER, Jan. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pie Insurance, an insurtech company that provides workers' comp insurance to small businesses, today announced it has been named one of the 100 Best Places to Work in Colorado and one of 50 Startups to Watch in 2020 by Built in Colorado. Each year, Built in Colorado , the online hub of the Colorado tech industry, selects the 100 Best Places to Work in Colorado based on data submitted by companies and their employees. The list reflects the state's companies that provide the best benefits, culture, and growth opportunities for Coloradans. "We're thrilled about this honor because it reflects our efforts to make Pie a great place to work," says Lauri Putt Needleman, VP of People. "We care deeply about building a fantastic culture and work environment, even as we grow incredibly fast." Pie fosters its unique culture in many waysproviding team members with benefits both inside and outside of the office walls. These include offering modern workspaces, comprehensive health plans, and a "piece of the pie" (equity) to employees. "One of the best things about working for Pie is how quickly we can go from ideation to delivery," says Mark Rogers, Engineering Team Lead. "There's not a lot of red tape, and my team has the opportunity to create solutions in an encouraging and innovative environment." Built in Colorado has also published 50 Startups to Watch in 2020 which lists 50 companiesfounded no earlier than 2017that it believes are on the brink of significant growth and development. Already one of the nation's fastest-growing insurtechs, Pie is rapidly expanding its headcount in Downtown Denver. The company, with almost 150 employees, plans to hit a 250 employee milestone by the end of the year. Pie is actively hiring for its engineering, underwriting, and customer care departments, among others. Interested candidates can see open positions and learn more about the company on Pie's Careers page. About Pie Insurance Pie Insurance provides workers' compensation insurance directly to small businesses and also partners with local, regional, and national insurance agencies to provide coverage to their clients. The company began offering policies in 2018 with a goal of helping small businesses experience true savings and an unmatched level of service. Pie operates as a managing general agency for Sirius America Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Sirius Group, offering A.M. Best "A" (Excellent) rated workers' compensation insurance. Pie's investors include SVB Capital, Greycroft, Aspect Ventures, Sirius Group, Moxley Holdings, and Elefund. SOURCE Pie Insurance Related Links https://pieinsurance.com On Saturday Arab foreign ministers are expected to meet at the request of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to deliver what the Palestinian Authority (PA) hopes will be a firm rejection of the peace proposal that US President Donald Trump put forward on Tuesday evening. Abbas has made no secret of his rejection of the proposal. He has repeatedly said the US plan is less about peace than eliminating Palestinian rights. Earlier in the week Abbas refused to take a call from Trump. And on Tuesday, just before Trump made his deal public, Abbas went way beyond the borders of diplomacy, calling Trump a dog and the son of a dog. On Tuesday evening, Middle East time, Trump unveiled what he said was the most detailed document ever, in 80 pages, with a conceptual map for a final peace settlement. Speaking in a White House room packed with American and Israeli officials as well as the ambassadors of Oman, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, Trump and acting Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu spoke about a deal that grants Israel control over large parts of the West Bank, allows it to annex the Jordan Valley and envisages Jerusalem as Israels undivided capital. Trump asked the Palestinians to work to earn statehood in the future, promising economic support to help create jobs and alleviate poverty. But for this to happen Trump said the Palestinians must end what he qualified as hostility and incitement against Israel. Netanyahu was more specific. He insisted on disarming Hamas and demilitarising Gaza. Trump said he had sent Abbas a letter encouraging him to work for peace at a time when Netanyahu was taking a major step towards peace. Prior to announcing a peace plan that reverses every previous initiative made by the US and which flies in the face of half a centurys worth of UN Security Council resolutions, Trump had held meetings with Netanyahu and with his challenger for office Benny Gantz. In press statements before his Monday meeting with Netanyahu, Trump said that he thought the deal would pick up momentum despite what he qualified as the expected initial Palestinian rejection. Netanyahu and Gantz both praised the proposal. On Tuesday Netanyahu described Trump as the best friend that Israel has ever had in the White House. We have had some very good friends here before but honestly nobody could even come close, Netanyahu said to a nodding Trump. Whatever the public pronouncements, it is far from clear that Netanyahu will be able to negotiate with the Palestinians on the basis of the US plan. Having failed to secure immunity from prosecution he is set to stand trial on corruption charges and it appears increasingly unlikely that he will receive a blanket acquittal. -There is no telling how long the trial will take, or if Netanyahu will emerge from forthcoming Israeli elections in a position to form a government capable of making decisions on a peace deal.His rival Gantz, leader of the White and Blue Party, insists no work can be done on the US plan ahead of the first week of March when elections are due.It is obvious both men wanted to accommodate Trump as he announced his deal, on the understanding this might help him domestically at a time he is facing impeachment, but what actually happens next is a much more complex calculation for any Israeli leader despite the incredible gains the plan offers Israel, commented a Cairo-based Western diplomat.The most sensitive part of the plan from the perspective of Israels wannabe prime ministers is that, despite meeting all of Israels strategic security demands, as Netanyahu bragged on Tuesday evening, it also broached the possibility of a Palestinian state, a red line for the increasingly dominant Israeli right.During his statement at the White House on Tuesday Netanyahu did not once use the word state.According to Cairo-based foreign diplomats, the way the deal is formulated and the praise Trump expects to garner from friends of Israel in Washington could secure him political support during his ongoing impeachment proceedings, even in the face of potentially explosive testimony from his former national security adviser John Bolton. What it doesnt do is open a door for Netanyahu, or any other Israeli leader, to enter into a serious negotiating process capable of enticing the Palestinians.They argue that, in fact, it closes the door to any serious attempts by concerned capitals, in the Middle East and Europe, to formulate a basis for the resumption of talks between Israelis and the Palestinians and end a decade-long stalemate. And in offering such a biased proposal the same diplomats say Trump has also closed the door on himself, should he be re-elected, as a credible peace broker.Trump has completely lost the Palestinians and there is no amount of Arab pressure that will persuade the Palestinians to work with this proposal, said one European diplomat.PA officials maintain Abbas told Arab leaders who privately advised him not to immediately reject the deal that what is being offered is impossible for any Palestinian leader to accept and should they wish him to engage with Israel on such a basis they must say so publicly rather than privately. Tellingly, no Arab leader has.On Tuesday evening the view in Cairo was that when all is said and done the Trump proposal may open a door for Washington to re-engage in Palestinian-Israeli talks. In a press statement the Foreign Ministry called on the two concerned parties to take time to look into the offer and to open channels for the resumption of negotiations with US mediation.As Al-Ahram Weekly went to press there were expectations of protests in Gaza and the West Bank. Diplomats who keep a close eye on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories say it would be foolhardy to discount the possibility that Trumps proposal could open the door to a popular show of discontent that might evolve into an intifada.Meanwhile, Arab capitals have been left wondering whether the Trump offer could force a change in the Palestinian leadership in the West Bank as in Gaza. It is an open secret that many Arab capitals feel the current leaders of the PA and Hamas have unrealistic expectations and some have been actively involved in trying to promote alternative leaderships more responsive to the realities on the ground. So far these attempts have failed.But having prompted a rare display of unity between Palestinian leaders across the board, Trumps deal of the century seems, if anything, to have made a change of Palestinian leadership more remote. *A version of this article appears in print in the 30 January, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: HUNTINGTON, Ind., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Northeast Indiana Bancorp, Inc., (OTCQB: NIDB), the parent company of First Federal Savings Bank, has announced that the Corporation will hold its twenty-fifth annual shareholders' meeting on April 28, 2020 at 1:00 PM local time. The meeting will be held in the boardroom of First Federal Savings Bank at 100 Frontage Road, Huntington Indiana. The holders of record date for the annual meeting will be March 11, 2020. The Company also announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.27 per common share. This cash dividend will be payable on February 27, 2020 to common shareholders of record on February 13, 2020. The book value of NIDB's stock was $34.25 per common share as of December 31, 2019. The last reported trade of the Company's stock at the close of business on January 28, 2020 was $41.00 per common share and the number of outstanding common shares was 1,206,327 as of the same date. The annualized dividend yield is currently 2.6% when annualizing the current quarter cash dividend of $0.27 per common share against the January 28, 2020 closing price of $41.00 per common share. Northeast Indiana Bancorp, Inc. is headquartered at 648 N. Jefferson Street, Huntington, Indiana. The company offers a full array of banking and financial brokerage services to its customers through its main office in Huntington and five full-service Indiana offices in Huntington (2), Warsaw and Fort Wayne(2). The Company is traded on the OTC Markets Group, Inc. (www.otcmarkets.com) utilizing the OTCQB platform under the symbol "NIDB". Our web site address is www.firstfedindiana.bank. SOURCE Northeast Indiana Bancorp, Inc. Related Links http://www.firstfedindiana.bank Steve 'Commando' Willis has revealed how he overcame his 'crippling' battle with depression. Speaking to WHO magazine before his split from Michelle Bridges was announced, the 43-year-old personal trainer said that meditation and yoga had been crucial to his recovery. 'I find that accepting yourself in the present moment helps calm things down and provides space in your mind and within your body,' Steve said. 'You have to accept yourself': Speaking to WHO magazine before his split from Michelle Bridges (left) was announced, Steve 'Commando' Willis (right) revealed his 'crippling' battle with depression. Pictured on October 16, 2019 in Sydney 'It's the space in which we can express ourselves, so when everything is full you feel quite tense and uptight and that's where your anxiety and stresses build.' He added: 'What comes from this is a lot of joy and happiness in the moment.' Steve said that being in the Army had taught him valuable lessons, including how to 'face fears', which he hopes to share with others. Keeping zen: The 43-year-old said that meditation and yoga had been crucial to his recovery His approach: 'I find that accepting yourself in the present moment, helps calm things down and provides space in your mind and within your body,' Steve said Steve first revealed his mental health struggles in 2017. He told Body and Soul at the time: 'Life is tough - we all have our own demons and I'm no different to any other human being. 'Pain and suffering and fear is real, but it's not unique. You might think that someone has the perfect life, but do they? I deal with the same struggles as anybody else.' Candid: Last year, Steve confessed that he used to train to 'hurt himself' rather than 'deal with his issues'. Pictured with Michelle in an undated photo Last year, he confessed to News.com.au that he used to train to 'hurt himself' rather than 'deal with his issues'. Earlier this week, it was revealed that Steve and his longtime partner, Michelle Bridges, had split. Michelle, 49, was caught allegedly drink driving on Sunday morning. She was over the limit with a child in the vehicle on New South Head Road, in the Sydney suburb of Bellevue Hill, about 11.25am. She reportedly returned a breath test reading of 0.086. Making headlines: Earlier this week, it was revealed that Steve and Michelle had split While describing her actions as 'inexcusable', she revealed in the wake of her arrest that she had been dealing with 'emotional turmoil' following her split from Steve, whom she met on The Biggest Loser. 'I would like to express my deep regret for breaking the law, this was a terrible mistake and an error of judgment,' she told The Daily Telegraph. 'This behaviour is inexcusable, and I am absolutely devastated and embarrassed to find myself in this position. It has been a very difficult time for me the last few weeks dealing with the break-up of my long-term relationship. 'This is by no means an excuse for my behaviour but I feel the emotional turmoil I have been going through has impacted my decision making. I am extremely sorry for my actions.' If you or anyone you know is struggling, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 By Trend The plane of Kazakhstan's Air Astana airline company has returned to Kazakhstan instead of landing in Baku city, a representative of Air Astana told Trend. According to the official, the reason for the plane's return to Kazakhstan was icing and it is not linked to coronavirus outbreak. "The plane implementing flight on Nur-Sultan - Baku route turned around while in the air due to the technical reason (failure in the anti-icing system)," the official said. The landing of the plane was carried out as usual. Established in 2001, Air Astana company is one of the largest airline companies in Kazakhstan. Currently, Air Astana operates a fleet of 34 aircrafts and over 60 domestic and international routes. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Brussels, 30 January 2020 - For the first time, global funding for neglected disease R&D grew for three consecutive years, reaching a record high of more than US$4.05 billion in 2018. Increases from both the public and private sectors drove a 7.9% ($290m) rise in total global funding compared to the previous year. Investment over the past several years has translated into a robust innovation pipeline with more than 500 candidates in development, though not all diseases are receiving the investments in R&D they need. This is according to the 12th annual G-FINDER report, which was launched today in Brussels by Policy Cures Research. G-FINDER is the world's most comprehensive survey of R&D funding for neglected infectious diseases, which disproportionately affect people in developing countries. "The positive impact of sustained, record-breaking growth in R&D funding for the world's most vulnerable people can't be understated," said G-FINDER's lead author, Dr. Nick Chapman. "The upward trend in investment driven by industry and the public sector provides hope for a future where no one lacks access to the vaccines, medicines and products they need to thrive. But at the same time, we can't overlook the fact that progress is uneven and funding gaps remain." Industry accelerates global investment The private sector made its largest-ever investment in neglected disease R&D to comprise 17% ($694m) of total funding in 2018. This growth represented a 20% ($118m) jump from the previous year and was solely driven by increased investments ($598m, up $132m) from multinational pharmaceutical companies (MNCs). The collective contributions of MNCs have significantly closed the gap between industry and philanthropy in global funding shares. The public sector also contributed record levels of investment ($2.59b) and remained the largest source of neglected disease R&D funding. Though strong growth from industry in 2018 led to a marginal decrease in the public sector's total share of funding, down to its lowest ever level of 64%, investment levels remained high. High-income countries provided the vast majority (93%) of public funding, and the top three funders all increased investment for the second year in a row. The United States provided 71% ($1.77b) of total neglected disease research funding, the United Kingdom provided 9.2% thanks to its largest-ever contribution of $230 million and the European Commission provided 5.4% ($134m). Funding from low- and middle-income country (LMIC) governments fell by 7.6% ($7.9m) to $95 million in 2018. However, this followed a year of record-breaking investment from India in 2017. Across all LMIC funders - including India - investments remain well above pre-2017 levels. In keeping with trends from previous years, India ($66m, 70%), South Africa ($13m, 14%) and Brazil ($12m, 12%) comprised 96% of funding from LMICs. The philanthropic sector saw a modest 6% increase ($43m) from 2017 with funding totaling $760 million. While the philanthropic sector's total share of neglected disease funding remained virtually unchanged, it reached its highest level of funding in more than a decade. The sector's two top funders continued to comprise the bulk of philanthropic funding (93%) with both the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome Trust increasing investments in 2018, by 6.5% ($36m) and 10% ($11m), respectively. Inconsistent progress, future potential The "big three" neglected diseases - HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis - saw increased investments, even as their global share dropped marginally to 69% ($2.79b) in 2018. Other diseases, such as hepatitis C (up $30m) and bacterial pneumonia and meningitis (up $16m) also saw significant bumps in funding. While funding increased for the majority of diseases, one group remains left behind. Investment in R&D for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) has flatlined, and even regressed, falling by 9.1% ($34m) over the past decade. Six diseases that have historically received the lowest amount of funding - including four NTDs (leprosy, Buruli ulcer, trachoma and leptospirosis) - received their lowest-ever share of global investments in 2018. Although basic and early-stage research continued to receive the largest share at 43% of the global total, investments in clinical development and post-registration studies spiked by 16% ($198m) to a record high of $1.40 billion. More than 70% ($422m) of this funding came from investments made by MNCs. "This year's G-FINDER report shows us how three years of increased research funding has translated into a pipeline of more than 500 promising drug, diagnostic and vaccine candidates," said Jamie Nishi, Director of the Global Health Technologies Coalition. "Even with this good news, it's critical to remember that we still don't have the level of investment needed to turn these breakthroughs into usable products. Stakeholders across all sectors will need to carry this momentum forward if we're going to fully realize innovation's lifesaving potential." ### The 2019 G-FINDER Report will be launched with a panel discussion on Thursday 30 January 2020 at Parc du Cinquantenaire, Brussels, Belgium. Tune into the livestream starting at 5:30pm CET here: https://www.politico.eu/event/fundglobalhealth/. For further information, or to request an embargoed copy of the report, please contact the Policy Cures Research team at +61 2 8218 2109 or email info@policycuresresearch.org. The full G-FINDER report will be available from 30 January at http://www.policycuresresearch.org/analysis. Also being launched alongside the 2019 G-FINDER report is the new G-FINDER data portal, which will provide open, intuitive and interactive access to all of the data behind the report at https://gfinderdata.policycuresresearch.org. ABOUT G-FINDER G-FINDER, now in its twelfth year, is the most comprehensive report on global funding of R&D for neglected diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, TB, sleeping sickness and helminth infections. The annual G-FINDER report is intended to help policy makers, funders and product developers better understand the global landscape for neglected disease R&D, where funding gaps exist, and how their investments fit into the global picture. The G-FINDER survey is conducted by the independent research group Policy Cures Research and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. ABOUT POLICY CURES RESEARCH Policy Cures Research is an independent, not-for-profit global health think tank providing research, information, decision-making tools and strategic analysis for those involved in the creation of new health technologies for neglected diseases. Its focus is on providing governments, funders, researchers and civil society organizations with the information they need to make optimal R&D policy and funding decisions for diseases of the developing world. The Spanish village of Deia. TOLO RAMON Nestled at the foot of the Tramuntana mountains on the west coast of Mallorca, in Spains Balearic Islands, Deia is a haven for artists and musicians and was home to the novelist Robert Graves before his death in 1985. Surrounded by hills, the village is at the heart of a municipality that covers 15 square kilometers and stretches five kilometers along a rugged coastline. With its narrow winding streets and stone-clad houses, Deia is one of the most visited spots on the island. While it has a meager 400 residents in the winter months, it triples its population in the summer, with day trippers swelling the numbers. In fact, while there are only 617 residents on the local census, there is enough authorized tourist accommodation for 1,126 visitors. People see a business opportunity and they have every right to take advantage of it Carlos Paredes, pharmacist The contrast between the deserted streets in winter and the crowds in summer has prompted the environmental association Terraferida to point out that the website Airbnb alone offers space in Deia for more people (618) than actual residents. Terraferida spokesman Jaume Adrover is asking Deias town council to freeze the number of licenses issued for vacation rentals. They should suspend them as soon as possible to curb land speculation and avoid an avalanche of applications for building permits, he says. The Mallorca Council, the islands legislative and executive body, has declared four of its five main towns to be at saturation point, meaning that a permanent residence can only be rented out to tourists for two months of the year. The excessive number of tourists has meant that during the high season, water has to be shipped in to these towns from Palma in trucks. In Mallorca you cant announce real estate development plans ahead of time; you have to approve them first and then make them public, otherwise they have a pull effect and end up being counter-productive, says Adrover. Diners at a beach bar in Cala Deia. Samuel Sanchez Deias mayor, Lluis Apesteguia, describes the situation as unsustainable both for Deias community and for its tourism. At this rate, Deia has little time left as a community: three generations, no more, he says. Apesteguia took over as mayor in the last elections, leading a leftist-green alliance that toppled the right from power for the first time. Among other issues, it is committed to reviewing the regulations concerning tourist properties in a bid to contain the phenomenon. While the reviews are underway, other measures are being implemented such as tax deductions for owners who offer long-term rentals at reasonable prices, as well as support for young people and students who want to rent in the municipality. The mayor insists that residents have to choose whether they want to be a real village or a resort, and favors setting some limits while keeping the significant role of tourism at the fore. We live from tourism, but not for tourism, he says. In Mallorca you cant announce real estate development plans ahead of time Jaume Adrover, Terraferida Apesteguia admits that it will not be easy to curb the trend, particularly given the amounts of money that exchange hands in the peak season and the obvious economic benefits for the owners of vacation rentals. There are villas on Airbnb going for more than 20,000 a week. The most expensive Deia property listed on the website costs 20.720 for six nights; it has 11 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms. According to Clara Castanyer, a real estate agent and Deia resident, there is a problem with access to housing, and not just because of the tourist rentals. She believes that the local council could do more to increase the social housing quota and is critical of the real estate tax (IBI). It is very expensive, she says. The towns average is around 1,000. In Deia, residents have been paying the legal minimum 0.40% of the propertys rateable value since 2014. The matter is being discussed in the community and there has been a change in mentality, says the mayor. The locals believe it would be advantageous to distribute the towns tourism more evenly throughout the year instead of being exposed to a tsunami of visitors in the three summer months. This would have very positive repercussions socially and economically, but is very difficult to achieve. Robert Graves in Mallorca. Getty But while there is an awareness that the town has reached saturation point and a certain level of control is being sought by residents, these same residents are also aware of the positive aspects of tourist rentals. Pedro Lopez, an electrician and native of Deia, is not against vacation rentals because these homes are empty in the winter. It is a pity that they are not rented out throughout the year, he says, adding that the problem lies in the overcrowding and madness of the peak season. Antonia Oliver, also a native of Deia and a lifelong resident, agrees that the real estate tax is very expensive and rents are exorbitant. She says that Deia cannot cope with the growth it has experienced in recent years. Preferring to remain anonymous because of the small size of the villages community, the towns shopkeepers have voiced different opinions; one owner of a grocery store favors a more even distribution of tourists throughout the year while another points out the benefits of accommodating a large number of tourists. The tourist rentals are very good for us, he says, though adding that more control in the summer months would not go amiss. The pharmacist Carlos Paredes says that homeowners should be able to do what they want with their own property. People see a business opportunity and they have every right to take advantage of it. English version by Heather Galloway. Top-line results expected end of 2020 WURZBURG, Germany, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- vasopharm GmbH, a privately held biopharmaceutical company focusing on novel therapeutics for the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases, is pleased to announce that enrolment into the pivotal European NOSTRA III (NOSynthase in TRAumatic Brain Injury) clinical trial is completed. vasopharm remains on track to deliver headline data by end of 2020. NOSTRA III is a 220 patient Phase III clinical trial assessing efficacy and safety of Ronopternin (VAS203) for the treatment of moderately to severely injured closed head traumatic brain (TBI) injury patients. The study is being conducted in 35 leading European trauma centres. In accordance with the study protocol which requires an evaluation of the extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (eGOS) six months post-trauma, the company anticipates last patient - last visit in June 2020 and full clinical data analysis by end of 2020. The full study protocol has been published in the peer-reviewed journal 'Trials'*. Frank Tegtmeier, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of vasopharm, commented: "We are extremely pleased to have completed enrolment into our pivotal study, NOSTRA III. Throughout the trial we have insisted on adherence to extremely rigorous inclusion-exclusion criteria which has resulted in slower recruitment than initially projected. I would like to thank the investigators and their teams in all of our study sites, for their huge commitment and dedication in helping us to reach this important milestone." Christian Wandersee, Chief Executive Officer of vasopharm, added: "We are delighted to have reached such a significant milestone. We look forward to delivering top line results which we hope will confirm the highly significant data seen in our NOSTRA II trial. This will allow us to deliver an essential therapeutic option to both physicians and patients who experience the devastating and life-long consequences of TBI, for which there is no existing drug treatment." Traumatic Brain Injury is the leading cause of death and disability among young adults in the developed world. Annually, within the US alone, head trauma is the cause of about two million emergency room visits, roughly 475,000 hospital admissions, nearly 52,000 deaths and approximately 80,000 cases of severe long-term disability (e.g. functional and cognitive disorders, learning disabilities). Direct costs attributed to the treatment of TBI exceed $10bn p.a. in the US alone. About vasopharm GmbH vasopharm is a drug development company focused on small molecule therapeutics for treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). vasopharm's lead drug candidate VAS203 (Ronopterin) is currently in the Phase III NOSTRA trial assessing efficacy and safety of VAS203 for the treatment of moderately to severely injured closed head traumatic brain injury patients. Current approaches to the treatment of acute TBI focus on short term patient mortality and have no significant impact on reducing long-term physical and cognitive deficits. VAS203 avoids unwanted side effects, combined with unprecedented clinical efficacy. The European regulator, EMA has granted the drug orphan drug designation for moderate to severe brain injury. vasopharm was founded in July 1998 as a spin-off from the University of Wurzburg Medical School by Harald Schmidt, MD, PhD, Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Ulrich Walter, MD, Professor of Clinical Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry. To date, the company has raised about Euros 50 million through several financing rounds from various Family Investment Offices and Venture Investors. See www.vasopharm.com for further details. About Traumatic Brain Injury Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. Every year, over 1,600,000 patients sustain a traumatic brain injury in the EU, and 70,000 of these die, with a further 100,000 being left disabled. Significantly, 75% of the victims are children and young adults, and TBI is the leading cause of disability in people under 40 years of age. Traumatic brain injury results in more lost working years than cancers, stroke and HIV/AIDS together. On a global scale, the number of life years lost due to traumatic brain injury is four times that of diabetes-related loss. Recent statistics show a steep increase in the incidence of TBIs, with an increase of 21% over the last five years - threefold greater than the rate of increase in population, at an annual cost of over Euros 100 billion. Despite this, TBI has been seriously under-represented in medical R&D efforts compared to many other, less significant health problems. About VAS203 VAS203 is an analogue of the natural co-factor tetrahydrobiopterin, which is involved in the generation of nitric oxide by the Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) family of enzymes. The mechanism of action of VAS203 is believed to confer selective down regulation of inducible NOS (iNOS) without significantly inhibiting the function of other NOS enzymes. It is believed that iNOS has a significant involvement in the cascade of damaging sequelae following a traumatic brain injury. Technical: VAS203 is (4-amino-(6R,S)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-L-biopterin dihydrochloride dihydrate) a structural analogue of (6R)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-L-biopterin, the natural endogenous cofactor of NOS and phenylalanine hydroxylase. About NOSTRA III NOSTRA III is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The study will enroll 220 patients who have suffered a moderate to severe TBI resulting in hospitalisation and who have received an intra-cranial pressure probe. Currently, 35 European neuro-trauma centres in Germany, Austria, France, UK and Spain are participating. The primary endpoint is the eGOS evaluated at six months after the injury. Secondary efficacy assessments include Quality of Life (QOLIBRI) as well as Therapy Intensity Level (TIL) over 14 days after brain injury. NOSTRA III is a registration trial which seeks to validate the data from the highly significant NOSTRA II trial*. The study aims to confirm the data from a Phase II trial in which VAS203 has shown a (2 point) improvement in the extended Glasgow Outcomes Score. *Efficacy of Ronopterin (VAS203) in patients with moderate and severe traumatic brain injury (NOSTRA phase III trial): Study protocol of a confirmatory, placebo controlled, randomised, double-blind multi-centre study. https://trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13063-019-3965-4 March Air Reserve Base in southern California will provide temporary housing for about 200 U.S. citizens evacuated from Wuhan, China, which is the center of a coronavirus outbreak. They are arriving aboard a chartered flight Wednesday, the Pentagon said. Military personnel will not have contact with the evacuees, who include State Department employees, dependents and other U.S. citizens. They will be cared for by the Department of Health & Human Services during an expected three-day quarantine. In addition, "evacuees will not have access to any base location other than their assigned housing," Alyssa Farah, the Pentagon's press secretary, said in a statement. The charter flight was originally scheduled to land at Ontario International Airport in Riverside County, but the State Department and the Centers for Disease Control decided overnight that the base, about 22 miles south of San Bernardino, is better suited to accommodate the passengers. Related: US Evacuees Departing China Amid Coronavirus Outbreak Diverted to Air Force Base There are no immediate indications that any of the passengers have the coronavirus, officials said. At a refueling stop for the charter flight in Anchorage, Alaska, on Wednesday, the passengers underwent two sets of health screenings and were cleared to continue to March. "A big cheer let out on the plane when we landed," passenger Patrick Stockstill, of Rhode Island, told ABC News upon landing. "I'm tired and exhausted mentally and physically, but happy to be back and just really grateful the United States government came through for us." The evacuation to March -- home to the 452nd Operations Group, which trains and equips crews for aerial refueling and strategic airlift -- followed delicate negotiations with the Chinese, who have put Wuhan, a city of about 11 million in central Hubei province, on lockdown. In the effort to contain coronavirus outbreak, Chinese authorities have also put 15 other cities on lockdown in what is believed to be the largest quarantine in history. Japan, Australia, Britain and other nations have also sent in aircraft to evacuate their citizens; British officials said that their returning citizens would be quarantined for two weeks. China's Xinhua news agency reported that President Xi Jinping had ordered China's military to join in combating the epidemic by assisting local authorities and contributing medical teams. The respiratory illness, which is marked by pneumonia-like symptoms, has killed at least 132 to date and infected nearly 6,000, according to Xinhua. There have been no reports thus far of any deaths outside China from the coronavirus, but the Centers for Disease Control has reported five cases of coronavirus infections in the U.S. among travelers returning from overseas. More than 10 other countries have also reported cases of infections. "Right now, there is no spread of this virus in our communities at home," Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the CDC, said at a news briefing Tuesday in Washington. The CDC is monitoring cases of possible infection in 126 people in 26 states, he added. At the same news conference, Health & Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said there is no basis at this time to declare a public health emergency but added, "I won't hesitate at all to invoke any steps we need to take" when appropriate. "Americans should know that this is a potentially very serious public health threat but, at this point, Americans should not worry for their own safety," Azar said. "This is a very fast-moving, constantly changing situation." There have been no reports of infections among U.S. military personnel worldwide, but American military authorities in Japan and South Korea issued precautionary warnings when local officials reported infections among civilians living near bases. At a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, John Rood, the Pentagon's policy director, said, "Obviously, the concern as we're seeing with the coronavirus -- what begins in one place can rapidly move to others." On Monday, U.S. Forces Korea put out a notice cautioning personnel to seek medical care when experiencing flu-like symptoms after South Korean officials reported a case of coronavirus infection in a man living near two U.S. bases -- Camp Humphreys and Osan Air Base. "There are no known cases where the virus is being transmitted from person to person in Korea," U.S. Forces Korea said, but "this is cold and flu season, and the coronavirus shares similar symptoms." Similar cautionary warnings were put out to U.S. military personnel in Japan. On its website, the Military Health System said that those contracting a respiratory illness shouldn't immediately fear that they may have the coronavirus. "It is far more likely to be a more common malady," such as influenza, MHS said. The website quoted Dr. (Lt. Cmdr.) David Shih, an epidemiologist with the Defense Health Agency, as saying that those experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness -- coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath and fever -- should avoid contact with others. "Don't think you're being super dedicated by showing up to work when ill," Shih said. "Likewise, if you're a duty supervisor, please don't compel your workers to show up when they're sick." Lacking specific treatment for coronavirus, "we must be extra vigilant about basic prevention measures: frequent handwashing, effective cough and sneeze hygiene, avoiding sick individuals, and self-isolating when sick," he said. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Read more: 41-Year-Old Medal of Honor Hero Now Faces His Hardest Fight on a New Battlefield There have been no violations of the ceasefire since Wednesday midnight. Russia's hybrid military forces on January 28 mounted 12 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, with two Ukrainian soldiers reported as injured. Read alsoHi-end jamming systems to be installed in Ukraine's Donbas to block separatist TV, radio stations "The armed forces of the Russian Federation violated the ceasefire 12 times on January 28," the press center of the Joint Forces Operation Headquarters said on Facebook in a morning update on January 29. The enemy opened fire from proscribed 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and small arms. Under attack were Ukrainian positions near the villages of Lebedynske, Berezove, Vasylivka, Novoluhanske, Orikhove, Novotoshkivske, and Troyitske. "Two members of the Joint Forces were injured in a booby-trap blast on January 28," it said. There have been no violations of the ceasefire since Wednesday midnight. Amid its outbreak of coronavirus that has killed over 100 people and sickened more than 4,500, China refused two direct offers from the US to send infectious disease experts to help fight the virus's spread, and a third made via the World Health Organization. It was only as US Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Alex Azar was disclosing this information to reporters in a Tuesday press conference the China at last acquiesced, telling the WHO it would welcome foreign assistance. Although the global public health community has widely praised China's quick - if 'Draconian' - work to address the ongoing coronavirus epidemic, the Communist Party run nation is haunted by its secretive handling of past outbreaks. And even as President Donald Trump has applauded President Xi Jinping of China, the nation's own citizens have widely criticized its leader and government for lack of transparency, using coded posts on social media to avoid censors. The WHO announced on Tuesday that China had agreed to let its international experts into the country to learn more about the coronavirus that's spread from the city of Wuhan to 15 other countries. The Chinese government has historically tightly controlled the narrative of outbreaks like that of the SARS virus in 2003. Although some have praised its efficiency in adressing the current coronavirus outbreak, others have wondered if officials there have resisted foreign aid in order to conceal the extent of the outbreak. Pictured: A possible patient being escorted to a Wuhan hospital Although extreme, measures like locking down the city of Wuhan where the outbreak began and disinfecting planes and airports (pictured) have garnered China praise for its efforts to contain the virus that's now struck over 5,500 people and killed an estimated 131 The virus has now infected thousands of people worldwide and killed more than 100 At last on Tuesday, the WHO announced that China would allow foreign experts into China to study the coronavirus outbreak and the global coalition's Director-General Dr Tedros (left) met with Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) It came as US HHS Secretary Alex Azar (center) revealed China had rejected three offers of aid from the US during a press conference with CDC representatives Dr Nancy Messonnier (left) and Dr Anthony Fauci (right) In a subsequent meeting, Director-General of the WHO Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (know widely as simply 'Dr Tedros') expressed confidence in China's efforts to contain the virus. He also tweeted: 'WHO appreciates the seriousness with which [China] is taking this outbreak & the transparency authorities have demonstrated.' But that cooperation didn't come so easily. In fact, it was rather awkwardly timed. HHS Secretary Azar said in opening remarks that the US had made multiple offers to send experts, but that that China had yet to him and other health officials up on those offers. The US, he said, urges China that 'more cooperation and transparency are the most important steps you can take toward a more effective response.' It was a second, not-so-subtle reminder to China not to let history repeat itself. Viruses have a habit of emerging in China. In the last quarter-century alone, China's been the origin of bird flu (H1N5) and severe acute respiratory syndrome - better known as SARS, and now known as a relative of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. In both instances, the Chinese government was panned for acting like an ally to the viruses. Military staff have been brought in to provide extra support to overrun Chinese hospitals Surgical-masked police patrolled limited Lunar New Year Festivals amid the outbreak in China State run media have shared pictures like this one of coronavirus pictures, but the reticence of the government to let in outside scientists has drawn suspicions Secrecy and attempts to downplay the severity of the outbreak slowed public health response-time, fueled the spread and likely led to more deaths than either epidemic would have otherwise caused. SARS struck more than 8,000 people and killed nearly 800 worldwide, reaching 26 countries before it was contained. As another coronavirus plagues the China, infectious disease and public health experts have remained wary but optimistic. Within a month of the first case of illness from an unrecognized virus (reported on December 9), Chinese scientists had sequenced its virus's genomes and shared that data globally, allowing other scientists to begin studying it, developing diagnostic tests and vaccines. Chinese officials have demonstrated willingness to share information that they maintain control over outward, but they have been less willing to let others into the country where observations might be less under narrative control. Riot police clashed with residents of a neighborhood in the Chinese territory of Hong Kong where resident protested the government's planned takeover of an abandoned housing project to house coronavirus patients on Tuesday It's a phenomenon the Chinese people are familiar with. On Chinese social media, citizens have used 'Trump' as a coded reference to President Xi and 'Chernobyl' for the coronavirus outbreak as a way to avoid detection by censors designed to weed out any critical posts about the Chinese government. Meanwhile, riot police clashed with residents of a neighborhood in the special territory Hong Kong where the government wanted to take over an unoccupied housing project to house coronavirus patients. But an hour after Secretary Azar's mention of that China had jilted the US's offer for aid, the government there chagned its tune at last. During the question and answer portion of Tuesday morning's press conference, a journalist informed Azar as well as CDC Director Robert Redfield and officials Nancy Messonnier and Anthony Fauci that China had told the WHO that it would allow international experts in to assist with the outbreak. She asked for an updated comment, and Azar laughed that he had been on the stage when that had happened, and knew nothing of it. 'Well I've been standing on this stage, so I didn't hear that, but obviously, if that is the case, delighted with that news and delighted and assume that the CDC would be part of that,' said Azar. Bangladeshi officials say they will expand educational programs for Rohingya children living in refugee camps. The hundreds of thousands of Muslim Rohingya children currently only receive basic lessons. The children fled with their families from neighboring Myanmar to refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. 400,000 children learning in refugee camps The United Nations Childrens Fund, or UNICEF, runs many of the more than 3,000 small learning centers in the camps. The centers offer basic lessons in subjects like English, Burmese, life skills, drawing and math. The lessons do not follow an official curriculum, however. About 400,000 children currently live in the camps. Some arrived as recently as 2017 or later. Others were born in the camps. The Bangladesh government has prevented learning centers in the camps from teaching children using Bangladeshs education curriculum. The new program is set to begin in April. The U.N. said the program will give the children a formal education using Myanmars plan of study, from grade 6 to 9. The U.N. says that 10,000 Rohingya children will take part in an experimental period of the program. Formal education in Myanmar's language Mahbub Alam Talukder is an official with Bangladesh's refugee commission. He said the government agreed with the U.N.s idea of giving the Rohingya children a Myanmar education. They will be taught in Myanmar's language, they will follow Myanmar's curriculum, there is no chance to study in formal Bangladeshi schools or to read books in the Bengali language, he said. He added that there is no plan for the refugees to stay in Bangladesh, so through this approach they will be able to adapt to Myanmar's society when they go back. Human rights concerns The U.N. and rights groups have welcomed the decision. Human Rights Watch released a report two months ago that criticized the Bangladesh government for not letting international organizations help provide a better education to Rohingya refugee children. More than 1 million Rohingya Muslims have fled violence in Myanmar, which has a largely Buddhist population. Over 730,000 Rohingya left Myanmar after a violent military-led campaign against them in 2017. U.N. investigators have said the military campaign was carried out for genocidal reasons. Earlier this month, the International Court of Justice asked the government of Myanmar to take emergency measures to stop genocide against the Rohingya. Im Jill Robbins. Julhas Alam reported on this story for the Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story basic - adj. forming or relating to the first or easiest part of something curriculum n. the courses that are taught by a school or college adapt v. to change your behavior so that it is easier to live in a particular place or situation What do you think of the situation of the Rohingya refugees? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. Photo: Dont expect the same Korean fried chicken restaurant at the new Dak & Bop in the Lazybrook/Timbergrove neighborhood. Owner Jason Cho quietly opened his second Dak & Bop last week in the former La Vista space at 1805 W. 18th. But while the restaurant bears the name of the original Dak & Bop in the Museum District, the new restaurant is a much more elevated dining experience. Yes, you can still get the crispy Korean chicken wings that drove Houston nuts when Dak & Bop opened five years ago. But the signature twice-fried chicken takes a back seat to an ambitious menu overseen by Chos new executive chef and culinary director Jordan Economy working with chef de cuisine Geoff Kimbro and sous chef Matt Wommack. Korean flavors such a gochujang (red chile paste), doenjang (umami-rich fermented soybean paste), jjajang (black bean paste), and kimchi dance across Economys menu of artfully plated dishes. Starters include Korean poutine of fries, cheese curds, bulgogi, smoked cheese and red eye gravy; garlic bread oozing with garlicy cream cheese and mascarpone; fried cauliflower laced with doenjang and the spicy Korean paste ssamjang; Seoul fries topped with braised pork butt, smoked kimchi, candied gochujang sauce and an egg; frilly fried Brussels spouts with a fish sauce reduction and shot through with chopped mint; and bruschetta smeared with black garlic ricotta and topped with smoked tomato salad. Also meant to be shared on the appetizer lineup: sliced scallop crudo with pickled blackberries, macerated strawberries and a doenjang and scallion vinaigrette; Korean dumplings (mandu) stuffed with braised pork butt; smoked kimchi pancake served with creamy gochujang honey; and a banchan flight of small Korean side dishes. TAKING WING: Super Bowl means chicken wings and we have our favorites in Houston There are sandwiches (beef cheek and ground beef kimchi burger; bibimbap burger on a crispy rice cake; and the Dak signature fried chicken sandwich with green cabbage slaw, bacon and a house pickles), flatbreads (topping include vegetables with fermented black bean paste; pork belly with Bloody Mary collard greens and smoked cheese; and bulgogi); and soups and salads including kimchi soup and a Cobb salad with smoked kimchi, blistered shishito peppers and a white miso dressing. Larger plate options include risotto flavored with soju (the distilled, low-alcohol beverage popular in Korean), wild mushrooms and jjajang; seafood yaki-soba made with octopus, shrimp, calamari and scallops; pasta with bulgogi ragu; a pasta carbonara made with pork belly, kimchi and egg yolk; and soy-marinated salmon on kimchi fried rice. The happy hour menu (served from 4 to 7 p.m.) includes oysters with smoked kimchi; smoked jalapeno and gochujang hummus topped with beef shoulder ragu; fried oyster and wonton nachos; kimchi pancakes; and scot egg served with scallion mustard and candied gochujang sauce. The full bar offers draft, can and bottle beer, top-shelf whiskey, and a list of playful house cocktails. Those cocktails include Night at the Noraebang (strawberry soju, strawberry cordial, lemon, and rose water); Timbergrove Tea (vodka, Midori, and melon, guava and coconut lychee juices); Honeymoon in Jeju (green grape soju, and elderflower liqueur); and Whats Kraken (spiced Kraken Rum, Thai tea, half and half and boba tapioca). Chos partnership with Economy (whose resume includes work at Boheme, Rudyards, Doris Metropolitan, Prohibition Supperclub, and Travelers Table) will extend to new projects Cho has in the works. By May he hopes to open Tom N Toms, a second location of a Korean coffee house concept at 5353 W. Alabama (adjacent to the project called Conservatory 2, modeled on the original Conservatory food hall in downtown Houston). And third quarter 2020 is the projected opening date of Karne, an upscale Korean steakhouse now under construction at 2805 White Oak. Karne has been described as an elevated take on a traditional Korean barbecue restaurant. Greg Morago writes about food for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter. Send him news tips at greg.morago@chron.com. Hear him on our BBQ State of Mind podcast to learn about Houston and Texas barbecue culture. A man accused of stabbing another man in Tauranga is yet to enter a plea on any charges. Elijah Wanoa appeared in Tauranga District Court on Tuesday charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He is jointly charged with Quentin Holt. The 20-year-old is alleged to have stabbed a person in the early hours of Sunday morning on The Strand. Wanoas lawyer Tony Balme applied for bail and sought remand without plea to obtain disclosure. Tony told the court the 20-year-old has had no previous convictions and the victim is unknown to him. Wanoa also suffered a stab wound to his left arm following the incident. Tony says the defendant was stabbed on the night and went to Tauranga Hospital for treatment. Police prosecution opposed the accuseds bail application, because it was a particularly nasty assault and investigations are still ongoing. Judge Michael Crosbie says the allegations before the court are serious because someone is still in hospital with three stab wounds to their stomach, and one slash to his neck following a fight. In terms of the nature of the offence, Im told the victim was attacked by two males with a knife, he was alone [and] didnt know his attackers theyve said, so its a serious offence. The knife used in the incident is yet to be located, says Judge Crosbie. At this stage, the evidence would appear sufficient to suggest that this defendant was at the very least present and involved in some way. Mr Balme says there is a real issue about the extent of involvement and the culpability and I accept that there may be further statements etc. that need to be assessed. The sergeant says there is still numerous enquiries to complete. Wanoa was arrested at a property on No2 Road Te Puke on Sunday evening where the Armed Offenders Squad and Police dog units attended. The judge says he has been told by police Wanoa and Holt are allegedly prospecting for the Mongol gang. Tony says his client has no gang connections or associations. Judge Crosbie remanded Wanoa on bail with a 24 hour curfew until his next court appearance on February 18. One slip up and youll be in custody, warned Judge Crosbie. TULSA, Okla. - A New Jersey man has been sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay $350,000 after he pleaded guilty to smuggling more than 1,000 box turtles out of Oklahoma. William T. Gangemi, 27, of Freehold, New Jersey, was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Tulsa after pleading guilty last fall. He was ordered to pay $250,000 in restitution to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and a $100,000 fine to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Gangemi was part of a syndicate of wildlife smugglers that exchanged three-toed and western box turtles back and forth between the United States and China, said Trent Shores, U.S. attorney for the northern district of Oklahoma. I cant say that I ever expected wed be announcing a turtle-smuggling prosecution, but Ive learned just how prevalent this criminal enterprise is globally, and the detrimental impact it has on our wildlife population in Oklahoma, not just today but for future generations. Gangemi was accused of violating a federal law against the sale or purchase of illegally collected wildlife with a market value over $350. He admitted in a plea agreement that he bought three-toed and western box turtles from people in Oklahoma, then sold them for a profit. Court documents said the reptiles were shipped via FedEx to New Jersey. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 23:59:27|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close Cambodian troops take an oath of allegiance in Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia, on Jan. 29, 2020. Cambodia sent the 10th batch of 184 peacekeepers, including 24 women, to join a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon on Wednesday. (Photo by Li Lay/Xinhua) KAMPONG SPEU, Cambodia, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia sent the 10th batch of 184 peacekeepers, including 24 women, to join a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon on Wednesday. The military engineering group would substitute the ninth batch, whose one-year term had come to an end, said Pol Saroeun, a senior minister in charge of sending troops to the UN peacekeeping missions. He said the event once again showed Cambodia's active contributions to maintaining peace, security and stability in the region and in the world. He advised them to strictly abide by the UN rules and disciplines, the Royal Cambodian Army's code of ethics, and the host country's laws. "It's necessary to create good relations with the host country and people and to respect their tradition and custom," he said during a farewell ceremony held at the Training School for Multinational Peacekeeping Forces here. Sem Sovanny, director-general of the National Centre for Peacekeeping Forces, said the peacekeepers will work on landmine clearance and construction of roads, bridges, shelters and pumping wells. He said the Southeast Asian nation first sent troops overseas on the U.N. peacekeeping missions in 2006. To date, the country has provided a total of 6,557 troops, including 338 women, to partake in the UN peacekeeping operations in nine war-torn countries, mainly in the African continent. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons office is not defending a state agency that is being sued for punishing a judge who refuses to officiate gay marriages. Its the most recent in a handful of cases in which Paxton, a Republican, has stepped away from one of the basic requirements of his job because the states actions conflict with his views of the Constitution. Just days after the 2015 Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage, Paxton issued a legal opinion arguing that Texas clerks and judges with religious objections could not be forced to officiate those marriages or process the paperwork. In the nonbinding opinion, Paxton, also pledged to "be a public voice for those standing in defense of their rights." That argument will be tested in Texas courts for the first time after Justice of the Peace Dianne Hensley of Waco sued the Commission on Judicial Conduct for issuing her a warning last year. Since 2015, the general practice in Texas has been that judges either perform all types of marriages or none, if they have religious objections to same-sex marriages. But Hensley argued she could continue officiating straight marriages while referring same-sex couples to others because of the conflict with her religious beliefs. The attorney general would have been expected to represent the commission as part of his charge to defend state agencies, putting Paxton in the awkward position of arguing against his 2015 opinion. For subscribers: Waco judge sues state agency over punishment for gay-marriage refusal Instead, the attorney generals office is not representing the agency. We believe judges retain their right to religious liberty when they take the bench, spokesman Marc Rylander said in a statement. Jacqueline Habersham, interim executive director of the Judicial Commission, has so far acted as counsel for the commission in the case. Habersham declined to comment. Paxton in 2018 also opted not to represent the Texas Ethics Commission, which regulates campaign finance in Texas, as it was sued by Empower Texans, political allies of his who sought to dismantle the agency in court. That same year, Paxton declined to represent the State Bar of Texas in a case questioning whether the body could spend attorneys dues on political activities they do not endorse and even wrote a brief siding against the agency. In 2016, he declined to represent the ethics commission when then-candidate, now state Rep. Briscoe Cain challenged a state law barring the use of audio and video produced by the Legislature in political ads. For subscribers: Indicted AG Ken Paxton seeks to move his criminal case to his home turf If the Judicial Commission ends up needing to hire outside counsel, taxpayers could be on the hook for a bigger bill. The ethics commission between 2014 and 2018 had to pay more than $400,000 out of its budget to cover the cost of outside counsel after Paxton declined to represent the agency. Paul Nolette, associate professor at Marquette University, said situations in which an attorney general passes on representing a state agency are rare but have slowly become more common over the past decade as attorneys general offices are increasingly politicized. A lot of times AGs would say, I dont necessarily agree with this law, but its my duty to defend it or I dont agree with what the agency is doing, but I have a duty to defend it, Nolette said. Since about 2008, 2009, the instances in which AGs have refused to defend state laws has really increased pretty dramatically, and I think thats a reflection of increased polarization both in American society in general, as well as amongst the AGs specifically. Renea Hicks, who served as solicitor general under Democratic Texas Attorney General Dan Morales in the 90s, agreed that it is unusual for the attorney general to veer away from his or her obligation to represent state agencies. Hicks said he recalls being in the position of arguing cases with which he personally disagreed. That came with the territory. Its just all politics, Hicks said. Im sure the attorney general would come up, someone would come up with an argument about why this has some legal question, but you can come up with that for any case. Hicks called it inconceivable that Paxton would have declined the Judicial Commission case if it had decided not to punish Hensley. For subscribers: Ex-members of Judicial Conduct Commission say Abbott ousted them over gay marriage case Rylander, the Paxton spokesman, said in his statement that the commission is an independent agency authorized to represent itself in legal proceedings, which it typically does. He did not respond to requests for further comment. But court documents show the agency has represented the commission at least three times since 2018. And Eric Vinson, who was the most recent executive director of the commission before Habersham, said he couldnt recall any instance of the attorney general declining to represent the agency during his tenure from 2015 to 2019. The laws of many states leave attorneys general with leeway in deciding which cases to take, Nolette said. Texas law simply says that the attorney general shall prosecute and defend all actions in which the state is interested. Often, Nolette said attorneys general will say their primary duty is to defend the state constitution, and that takes priority. Rylander used very similar language in 2018 when the office refused to represent the state ethics commission, saying: Our first obligation is to defend the Constitution and the basic rights it guarantees to each and every Texan. Paxtons decision not to take up this case might have been foreshadowed in December when he reiterated his opinion on judges and clerks right to religious freedom during an interview on The Chris Salcedo Show, a Fort Worth radio program. There is a First Amendment right to free exercise that is sort of standing alongside this newly minted right to same-sex marriage, Paxton said. The First Amendment doesnt go away just because the Supreme Court created a new right. Lord Lucans only son today rubbished claims the British aristocrat has been discovered living as a Buddhist in Australia after 46 years and told MailOnline: My father has been found many times over the years only to be wrong. George Bingham says he is 'very sceptical' about claims made by the son of his nanny Sandra Rivett, who was beaten to death in Lucan's basement in 1974. Mr Bingham, who became the 8th Earl of Lucan in 2016 after his father was officially declared dead, said he would not be urging Scotland Yard's cold case team to investigate Neil Berriman's claims made in the Daily Mirror today. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline from his London home, the current Lord Lucan said: 'Quite frankly I am very skeptical about this. I had seen the story and it does seem odd. It would not be the first time someone has made a mistake. My father has been found many times over the years only to be wrong. 'To be honest this is all ancient history. It happened in 1974 and now its 2020. I guess people will always go on looking and they are welcome to do so'. He also revealed that he had a child on December 30, Charles, who will become the 9th Earl of Lucan when he dies, and is 'more worried' about his newborn son's poor sleeping than reports his father is alive. He added that Met detectives had not been contact with him and he 'doesn't expect them to be'. George Bingham, the only son of the infamous British aristocrat Lord Lucan, pictured left with his wife, has dismissed claims made by Neil Berriman, whose mother Sandra Rivett was murdered by Lord Lucan, that the aristocrat is a Buddhist in Australia The father-of-two would later find out he was Sandra Rivett's (pictured) son, and 12 years ago began searching for Lucan Lord Richard John Bingham with his fiancee Veronica Duncan on the announcement of their engagement in 1963 Sightings of Lucan across the globe: Jungly Barry, a goat called Camilla and the riddle that has fascinated the world for A former Scotland Yard detective claimed in 2003 that an ageing hippy living in Goa, India, (pictured) was Lucan. Instead, it turned out to be Barry Halpin, or Jungly Barry, a well-known musician In the years since he disappeared, Lucan (who would now be 85) has been variously 'spotted' in Africa, India, Australia, Holland and living in a Land Rover in New Zealand with a goat called Camilla. There have been theories that the peer fled to West Africa and extraordinarily that his children were flown out there so he could see them. 'Lucky' Lucan's privileged gambling friends were also said to have spirited him out of the country so he could evade justice, and his estranged wife (who was his intended target when he killed the family nanny) has previously claimed that as a gambler he would never have committed suicide 'as gamblers always win the next hand'. In 1974 Australian police arrested a man they believed to be Lucan but it turned out to be Labour MP John Stonehouse who had faked his own death a month before. A former Scotland Yard detective claimed in 2003 that an ageing hippy living in Goa, India was Lucan. Instead, it turned out to be Barry Halpin, or Jungly Barry, a well-known musician from the 1960s folk music circuit. In 2004 Scotland Yard reopened the Lucan case and produced an image of what he would look like now. That same year it was reported that he had been living in Mozambique and was known by the name of John. An Englishman in New Zealand called Roger Woodgate, who lived in a Land Rover with a goat called Camilla, was accused of being Lucan in 2007. Woodgate admitted he arrived in the country the same year that Lucan went missing from the UK but said he was 10 years younger and five inches shorter. Other sightings include Lucan working as a waiter in San Francisco, at an alcoholics centre in Brisbane and at a hotel in Madagascar. There has even been speculation, started by Mr Aspinall, that Lucan committed suicide by scuttling the powerboat he kept at Newhaven. He said Lucan had killed the nanny by mistake and felt ashamed by his actions. Advertisement 'What they do is up to them', he said, 'I dont have say and will not be contacting them over this. He also revealed that he has had a child on December 30, Charles, who will become the 9th Earl of Lucan when he dies. He and his Danish wife Anne Sofie Foghsgaard have a three-year-old daughter Daphne. He said: 'Ive more important things to worry about such as sleepless nights. My son Charles is not sleeping very well. Thats of more concern now. He wasnt aware Sandra Rivetts son Neil had spent years trying to find his father. Lord Lucan said: 'Ive met him a couple of times but had no idea he was looking for him and had spent so much money. Its really up to him what he does'. He added: 'He isnt the first person to go to Australia looking. I remember the press went out there to try and find my father and instead found John Stonehouse who had faked his own death. He was found as someone heard his English accent.' The Met Police's cold case team will speak to Neil Berriman, whose mother Sandra Rivett was murdered by Richard John Bingham, the 7th Earl of Lucan, in November 1974. Mr Berriman, from West Sussex, says the man he claims is Lucan is housebound and awaiting a major operation after decades living Down Under - and has spoken to the Met who have reassured him they will look into his claims. He told the Daily Mirror: 'I believe I have tracked down the man, Lord Lucan, who murdered my mother. He has been alive all this time. Lying about who he is. Lying about it to his new friends'. Scotland Yard told MailOnline today that Sandra Rivett's case remains 'unsolved' and 'open' more than 45 years after she was bludgeoned to death with a length of lead piping and her body then stuffed into a mail-sack in Lucan's basement. A spokesman said: 'The inquiry into the death of Sandra Rivett remains open as is the case with all unsolved murders. It has never been closed. Any significant new information will be considered. We keep an open mind in relation to this case'. He added: 'Anyone with information should contact the Metropolitan Police on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111'. Lord Lucan's blood-stained car was found abandoned in East Sussex, but he was never successfully traced, and despite sightings in countries all over the globe the most likely theory was that he committed suicide by scuttling the powerboat he kept at Newhaven and jumping in the sea with rocks in his pockets. In 1975, an inquest jury declared Lucan to have been Ms Rivett's killer, and in 2016 a court issued a 'presumption of death' certificate for him, a ruling that cleared the way for the couple's son, George Bingham, to become the 8th Earl of Lucan. But today, in a quite extraordinary claim, Mr Berriman says he has located Lucan, who he says is now a Buddhist who turned 85 last month but is seriously ill. Mr Berriman claimed the peer originally lived in Perth after escaping to Australia, but moved to another part of the country after falling out with friends. Father-of-two Mr Berriman, who lives in West Sussex, with his wife Kim, only learned he was Ms Rivett's son in 2007. 29-year-old Sandra was an inquest ruled in 1975 most likely murdered by Lucan, whod mistaken her for his estranged wife, Veronica, with whom he was locked in a bitter custody battle. He said today: 'The people he lives with know he has a mystery past and what he tells them does not add up. They have had their suspicions for many years. 'They are fully aware he is a mystery elderly Englishman and not who he is claiming to be. 'Lucan is a deceitful conman and he is the man who murdered my mother.' After killing Ms Rivett (right) Lord Lucan's (left) blood-stained car was later found abandoned in Newhaven, East Sussex, but he was never successfully traced John Bingham, Lord Lucan is pictured with his wife Veronica Duncan in October 1963 John Richard Bingham, Earl of Lucan, and Veronica Duncan after their marriage Lady Lucan in 2017 (left) and with Lord Lucan before they married on November 20 1974 Lord Lucan, right, with his friend Sir James Goldsmith, father of Zac Goldsmith, in a rare colour photo of the fugitive. What happened to Lord Lucan, and is he still alive? The four most likely theories about his disappearance Theory one: Lucan drowned himself off Newhaven after murdering the nanny Lord Lucan's friend James Wilson, who gambled with him at London's Clermont Club, said five years ago he believes Lucan killed himself after murdering Ms Rivet. Mr Wilson said he filled his pockets with rocks and stones before jumping off his scuppered speedboat in Newhaven Harbour just hours after the killing. He told the Telegraph in 2015: 'I believe that when he realised he had killed the nanny, the remorse, guilt and panic led him to commit suicide. He must have realised he only had two options open to him; hand himself in or kill himself. Having lost the gamble he chose the latter'. In an ITV documentary before her death in 2017, Lady Lucan said she believed Lord Lucan had jumped off a ferry shortly after the killing. 'I would say he got on the ferry and jumped off in the middle of the Channel in the way of the propellers so that his remains wouldn't be found'. Theory 2: Lucan fled to Africa - and lived there quietly until he died in 2000 Shirley Robey, who worked for Lucan's casion owner John Aspinall claimed in 2012 she overheard conversations with Lucan's friend Sir James Goldsmith, father of Zac Goldsmith in the early 1980s. She said the pair said Lucan was in Africa, adding: ' I knew he was hiding, I knew he was in Africa, I knew we were hushing it up. I knew hed fallen out with his wife and I knew it was a major secret but for whatever reason I didnt appreciate there had been a murder until some years later. If I'd have known, I think I would have handled things quite differently. In fact I know I would have done'. She claims she heard he died in 2000, in his mid-60s. Theory 3: Lucan shot himself and was fed to a tiger called Zorra in a Kent zoo Philippe Marcq, another of Lucan's casino friends, told MailOnline previously that friends of the Earl disposed of his body at Howletts zoo near Canterbury, set up as a private zoo in 1957 by John Aspinall, another friend of Lucan's. Mr Marcq said he was told story by Lucan's friend Stephen Raphael. It is claimed a pistol was offered to Lucan who took it, went into a room on his own and shot himself dead and the friends removed his body. Mr Marcq said: I was stunned when Stephen told me this. But I believed what he told me 100 per cent'. Aspinalls mother, Lady Osborne, the grandmother of former Chancellor George Osborne, apparently told police: The last I heard of him, he was being fed to the tigers at my sons zoo. Police are said to have subsequently descended on Howletts, where a contemptuous John Aspinall told them: My tigers are only fed the choicest cuts do you really think theyre going to eat stringy old Lucky? Theory 4: Lucan didn't commit the murder - and was helped to flee by his circle Lucan's brother, Hugh Bingham defended the peer's innocence until he died in South Africa. He always claimed he in fact went into hiding after Rivett's death, which he was innocent. He said: 'I have always believed he didn't commit murder/ He had no choice but to flee in the face of cruel allegations. The police inquiry was compromised from the start. There is significant evidence of the existence of an unknown man at the scene is he known to police?' Advertisement Mr Berriman has already taken his extraordinary claims to Scotland Yard's Cold Case Unit and hopes officers will now investigate, adding: 'I know he's still alive.' Lucan's new friendship group - two young Englishmen and an Australian - confirmed to the Mirror that an elderly Englishman who looks like Lord Lucan does live at the house. They claim the quartet all take part in daily meditation sessions, while the man Mr Berriman believes is Lord Lucan, who has a carer, often sits on the veranda listening to distant trains pass. The man was said to know of claims he is Lord Lucan. The Mirror said it has chosen not to reveal his identity or exact location. Neil was born Gary Roger Hensby - Sandra Rivetts maiden name - in Southsea, Hampshire, in 1967 and was immediately put up for adoption aged six months. Neil believes that he was the result of a love affair between his mother, who already had an older son being brought up by her parents, and a married estate agent. Around 13 years ago Mr Berriman opened brown envelope left to him by his adoptive mother, Audrey, when she died, which revealed Ms Rivett was his birth mother. He then had to come to terms with the fact she was brutally murdered in the darkened basement kitchen of the Lucan familys Belgravia home. Since then he has been hunting for Lucan himself. Detectives believe the aristocrat - an abusive husband and heavy gambler nicknamed 'Lucky Lucan' - intended to murder his wife and killed the nanny by mistake. Lucan was never seen in public again, and his body was never found, leading to decades of fevered speculation about his whereabouts. Despite Lord Lucan being formally declared dead in February 2016, Mr Berriman claimed he acted on a detailed tip that he was still alive. He spent 30,000 of his own money on private investigations into Lord Lucan's supposed whereabouts. He said: 'He has been alive all this time. Lying about who he is. Lying about it to his new friends. 'They are fully aware he is a mystery elderly Englishman and not who he is claiming to be. 'The people he lives with know he has a mystery past and what he tells them does not add up. They have had their suspicions for many years. 'Lucan is a deceitful conman and he is the man who murdered my mother.' In 1975, an inquest jury declared Lucan to have been Ms Rivett's killer. The High Court declared him dead for probate purposes in 1999, but there have been scores of reported sightings around the world, in countries including Australia, Ireland, South Africa and New Zealand. In an ITV documentary in 2017, Lady Lucan said she believed Lord Lucan had jumped off a ferry shortly after the killing. 'I would say he got on the ferry and jumped off in the middle of the Channel in the way of the propellers so that his remains wouldn't be found,' she said, calling what she believed to be his final act 'brave.' Lady Lucan was found dead in September 2017 at her home in Belgravia where her husband Lord Lucan famously disappeared. Lady Lucan was one of the last people to see her husband alive. The countess was in the house watching TV in her bedroom that night when the 29-year-old nanny Sandra Rivett was killed as she went downstairs to the unlit basement to make her employer a cup of tea. The countess contends that she disturbed her husband after the fatal assault. He hit her four times with a length of bandaged metal piping before she grabbed his genitals. Lord and Lady Lucan with their son George, then aged 3, taken from Lady Lucan's photo album Recalling the attack she said: 'I'd started moving towards the cloakroom when someone rushed out and hit me about four times on the head with something hard. I screamed. 'A voice said: 'Shut up!' I just had time to register that the man was my husband when he thrust three gloved fingers down my throat. 'At this point, I started fighting back in earnest, but he switched tactics trying to strangle me and then to gouge out my eyes. I gasped: 'Please don't kill me, John!' Then, after she had persuaded her husband to get her a glass of water, she fled to a nearby pub and raised the alarm. She recalled: 'He told me, 'I'll go to Broadmoor for this'. [Our children] George and Camilla were seven and three when it happened, and asleep in bed.' Lord Lucan fled the murder scene in a car he had borrowed. His body has never been found. Over the years several fantastical theories about his disappearance have placed him in the Australian outback, as a hippy drop-out in Goa, and even fed to the tigers at his friend John Aspinall's zoo. Although a High Court judge granted a death certificate last year allowing his son to inherit his title, this has provided neither resolution nor a conclusion to the mystery. Lady Lucan remained closer to the truth than anyone and with her death, the possibility of her husband's disappearance being solved looked ever more remote. She believed that the note he left, with the poignant sentence, 'Please tell those that you know, that all I cared about was them [the children]', was proof her husband intended suicide. That night he called at the home of friends in a Sussex village, before leaving in the early hours. Lucan told them he had happened on an attacker hitting his wife as he passed the family home. His version of the story was that his wife had accused him of hiring a hitman to kill her and he claimed he was going to 'lie doggo' for a while. Three days later his borrowed car was found abandoned and blood-splattered with a section of bandaged lead piping in the boot at the cross-Channel port of Newhaven, East Sussex. Lord Lucan's life and grizzly legacy The Daily Mail from November 1974 as police hunt for Lucan's body at sea and his estranged wife Lady Lucan leaves a police station after saying he was guilty of the murder - and trying to kill her December 18 1934: Richard John Bingham is born in London into an aristocratic family with connections to Ireland. 1955: He got a job with a small merchant bank, William Brandts, for 500 a year. 1960: He retires having won 26,000 - around 600,000 in today's money - over two nights playing 'chemin de fer' at a gambling party run by John Aspinall. 1963 Marries Veronica Duncan - the couple have three children 1964 Becomes an earl after the death of his father, the 6th Earl of Lucan 1972 Their marriage collapses and Lucan moves out of the family home at 46 Lower Belgrave St, London. He loses a custody battle and accrues gambling losses November 7 1974 The children's nanny Sandra Rivett is found dead. At 9.45pm, Lady Lucan, in great distress, burst into the Plumbers Arms, the pub near her home in the exclusive area of Belgravia in central London. With blood streaming from several wounds on her head, she cried: Help me, help me, help me! Hes in the house! Hes murdered my nanny! Lady Lucan, who was estranged from her husband, told police her estranged husband had killed their nanny and tried to kill her. Police found the couples three children asleep in their beds, unharmed, and when they went to the basement they were greeted by a macabre scene. The basement lightbulb had been removed, but in the semi-darkness, officers made out a pool of blood with a mans footprint in it, a blood-stained length of lead piping and a mailbag containing a body. November 14 1974: Lucan's car is found abandoned near Newhaven and police begin seraching for his body at sea after his speedboat was found scuppered. June 1975 Lucan is named as Ms Rivett's killer at the inquest into her death. 1999 His family is granted probate over Lord Lucan's estate, but no death certificate is issued. 2016: A court issued a 'presumption of death' certificate for Lord Lucan, a ruling that cleared the way for the couple's son, George Bingham, to become the 8th Earl of Lucan. Advertisement 'Jungly Barry', a Labour MP and other 'sightings' By David Wilkes for the Daily Mail In the 46 years since he disappeared, there have been dozens of sightings of Lord Lucan all around the globe. They include: Runaway Labour MP, 1974 A month after Lucans disappearance, a man was arrested in Australia for immigration irregularities. It was in fact runaway Labour MP and former Postmaster General John Stonehouse, who had faked his own suicide. Because Lucan had a 6in scar on his thigh, the police asked Stonehouse to pull down his trousers to reveal no such scar. Saddam Husseins double, 1976 Lucan was claimed to be in Zimbabwe where he had a bank account, after which he also rapidly turned up in South Africa, Mozambique and in Brazil. Then he was spotted backpacking on Mount Etna, working as a waiter in San Francisco and even employed as Saddam Husseins double. Boilermaker called Ken, 1979 Australian police arrested a man for stealing from a burned-out car in the Outback, 200 miles west of Brisbane. He was briefly thought to be Lucan. But it turned out he was a boilermaker called Kenneth Knight. Asked to identify him, his ex-wife Ann, from Blackmore, Essex, said: Thats him all right thats my Ken. He never told me where he was going. Smugglers tip-off, 1982 Adventurer John Miller found a moustachioed man on a Caribbean island and falsely claimed he was Lucan. Miller said he met Lucan in Venezuela after a tip from a jewel smuggler. Jungly Barry, 2003 Former Scotland Yard detective Duncan MacLaughlin claimed the peer was in Goa, where he was known as Jungly Barry and ended up as a skinny, squalid drunk who played travellers at backgammon for cheap brandy until his death in 1996. The man was in fact Barry Halpin, pictured, a busker and former teacher from St Helens, Merseyside. Expat living in his car, 2007 Roger Woodgate, an eccentric British expatriate who lived in a Land Rover in New Zealand with a pet goat called Camilla, denied speculation from neighbours he was Lucan. The former photographer, who once worked for the Ministry of Defence, was ten years younger than Lucan and five inches shorter. Lady Lucan, prisoner of a macabre past she refused to relinquish: The last writer to interview her reveals how she foretold her own solitary death - and why she never healed the 30-year rift with her children by Frances Hardy for the Daily Mail Her words were both prescient and full of pathos; her own death was in the forefront of her mind as she turned 80. Just four months before she was found dead, Veronica, the Dowager Countess of Lucan told me that she did not fear a solitary end. Veronica, the Dowager Countess of Lucan (pictured in June 2017) told Frances Hardy last year that she did not fear a solitary end Bereft of loved ones, her greatest terror, she confided, was becoming reliant on others to care for her. 'I don't fear dying alone not at all,' she said. 'But I do fear dependency. I'd find that very depressing. It would be horrible to feel you were a burden. 'Your faculties start to fade when you reach 80, so I've been thinking about my death. I'd quite enjoy the rest of my life if I knew it was not going to end in something horrific. I've given it some thought, and I support the idea of assisted suicide.' Lady Lucan did indeed die alone last September in the mews house in Central London that had been her home for 40 years. It would be premature to suggest that she might have opted to take her life her son George Bingham, the 8th Earl Lucan, said she had passed away 'apparently peacefully' but I can attest that the idea was certainly in her mind when we spoke. I spent an afternoon with her in late spring and was the last journalist to interview her. Lady Lucan was last seen by neighbours when she answered the door to the postman. Police battered down her door after she had failed for three days in a row to turn up for a daily walk with a friend. It was the end she had wished for, and she had not become a burden. But Lady Lucan's old age was spent in frugal routine and quiet desperation. She remained obdurately alienated from her sister and three adult children. Yet after her death in September, they paid warm tribute to her. 'Although Veronica severed relations with her family in the Eighties, and continued to decline contact with them right up until her death, all of them remember her lovingly and with admiration,' according to the statement they released. 'She had a sharp mind, and when she spoke it, she did so eloquently. She was courageous and, at times, outrageous, with a mischievous sense of humour. 'She was, in her day, beautiful and throughout her life fragile and vulnerable, struggling as she did with mental infirmity. To us she was and is unforgettable.' Lady Lucan decorates a Christmas tree with her children Camilla, Frances and George in 1974 Lady Lucan was a woman who was both defined and imprisoned by a past she stubbornly refused to relinquish, even choosing to remain living in the same house she and her late husband, John Bingham, 7th Earl of Lucan, had bought as a guest house (close to the family home), during their ill-fated marriage. In November 1974, after 11 years together, Lord and Lady Lucan had separated. Lucan, a 39-year-old professional gambler and inveterate drinker, disappeared on the night of November 7, after visiting the five-storey family home in Lower Belgrave Street and bludgeoning to death Sandra Rivett, 29, his children's nanny, in the mistaken belief that she was his estranged wife. Lucan then violently assaulted Veronica. His body has never been found and the mystery of his disappearance one of the most compelling in recent history has given rise to myth and speculation, and continues to fascinate today. There seemed a perverseness in Lady Lucan's decision to remain so enmeshed in this lurid story, eking out a modest state pension with her dwindling savings. When we met, she described for the first time in such graphic detail the events of the awful night: how she disturbed her husband after he'd killed Mrs Rivett. How she was then set upon herself with a metal pipe before she managed to flee and raise the alarm, while her children slept in their beds. Portraits of her husband loomed over us as we talked in the home where Lady Lucan imposed reclusiveness on herself. Heavy curtains, closed to deter snoopers, had shut out any vestige of daylight for the preceding four decades. Tall, elegant and slender, her silver hair tied in a girlish ponytail, she sat ramrod straight in the fusty darkness of her airless home, among memorabilia that had remained preserved in time, like some parody of Dickens's Miss Havisham, repining a dreadful marriage but determined never to forget it. Lady Lucan, pictured with a portrait of her husband in 1976, had previously discussed assisted suicide if she had a terminal illness or a degenerative disease She told me why she had never left the area: she liked the familiarity of the place, the predictability of her routines a stroll in nearby Green Park preceded by a visit to Victoria library. It was around these humdrum activities that her life revolved. Lady Lucan affected not to care that her children, Frances, 52, George, 50, and Camilla, 47, as well as her sister Christina Shand Kydd distantly related by marriage to the late Princess Diana were estranged from her. She was blithely unconcerned too, that she had never met any of her five grandchildren. Neither did she express regret nor regard it as odd that she did not know the identity of her eldest daughter's husband. 'Frances didn't tell me she was married,' she told me, 'but she was, recently. I don't really know to whom, because I have no contact with them at all.' Was this alarming disregard for all those who should have been dearest to her genuine? Actually, I believe not. I think it was the bravado of a stubborn woman who was not prepared to capitulate. Her thoughts were very much focused on death and she revealed that she campaigned actively for assisted euthanasia, showing me a placard she had taken on a march, printed with the slogan Give Me A Choice Over My Own Death. Following publication of the interview in the Mail, we kept up a short correspondence. She wrote to me: 'I was happy about the article and especially for including my thoughts on death and disability.' It was a sentiment I am certain was sharpened by the fact there was no close family member she would have been willing to turn to if her health failed. So why did she never seek a rapprochement with her children? This is yet another of the abiding mysteries about the Lucan affair especially as she had fought so hard to keep them when they were young. Living apart from his family and on the brink of divorce, Lord Lucan had lost a ruinously costly and acrimonious battle for custody of his children and was mired in spiralling gambling debts when he tried to kill his wife. Frances was then nine, and George and Camilla respectively seven and three. A 1975 inquest jury at a coroner's court named him, in his absence, as Mrs Rivett's murderer he was the last person in Britain to be declared a murderer by an inquest jury (the procedure was later outlawed) although he was never convicted in a criminal court. Some have suggested a hired or unknown assailant was the nanny's killer, and indeed Camilla, a QC, and George, a merchant banker, have always insisted their father should not be assumed guilty of their nanny's murder. This enraged Lady Lucan, who regarded it as a betrayal, and it may be one of the reasons she refused to be reconciled with them. Neither did it help that in their teens, the children opted to live in the country with their maternal aunt, rather than their mother. Extravagant theories as to Lord Lucan's whereabouts persisted for years: one posited the idea that he had been eaten by a lion in his friend John Aspinall's zoo; another that he became a hippie in Goa; yet another that he'd disappeared into the Australian Outback. But Lady Lucan made clear to me she believed her husband had committed suicide. After fleeing the murder scene, he visited friends in Sussex. Then a car he had borrowed from a friend was found a length of bloodied lead piping in its boot abandoned in the port of Newhaven. 'He got on a ferry and jumped off mid-Channel, and was then chopped up by the propeller which is why his body was never found,' Lady Lucan told me. She said that as a powerboat racer, he had a detailed knowledge of propellers, and would have known precisely where to jump so his remains were destroyed. Theirs had been a sorry union, a joyless marriage she said, describing her constant anxiety over the vast sums he regularly lost at the gaming tables. She also recounted how, driven by loneliness her frequently absent husband was taciturn and remote she had sought solace in a platonic friendship with another man. When Lucan found out, the man was warned off and she fell into a profound depression and was prescribed powerful anti-psychotic drugs, the dire side-effects of which convinced her, and her family, that she was losing her mind. There was lacerating honesty, too, in Lady Lucan's admission that she had taunted her husband about his ineptitude as a lover and in the humiliating confession that he beat her for his own sexual gratification. Her husband, she said, insisted she was both mad and an unfit mother; two suggestions she fervently denied. Twice, she recalled, she was taken by Lucan to psychiatric units against her will and twice she escaped. The question that touched a nerve most acutely was whether she was a good mother. She wrote to me expressing regret that a newspaper article had suggested she neglected her children and accused her of spending too much time in bed. In fact, she countered, she was a conscientious parent; her children were always well turned-out and advanced in their schooling. She resolutely denied, too, that she was ever psychotic, though she conceded: 'I was pushed to the brink of madness. My husband manipulated me psychologically, so I began to think I was mad. 'He had a campaign to destroy me. I was a nuisance. He was an imposing character, an earl, and the doctors believed all he told them about me. 'I, in turn, just accepted what the doctors said. I had injections [of anti-psychotics] and their side-effects were horrible. I had hallucinations, restlessness I walked for miles and miles and the drugs induced Parkinson's disease.' Lady Lucan, there is little doubt, could be difficult, intransigent and self-serving. Yet there was something profoundly sad about her. She told me she was fit she took no medication now, endured no ailments and neither was she suffering from depression. Yet her existence, in a house that seemed to be suffocating her, was meagre and joyless. There had, she said, been lovers since her husband disappeared, but there were no more. All her friends from the old days when there had been money for servants, private hospitals, lavish holidays were dead. All that remained were her daily visits to the library, where she used the computer, and those walks in the park. The coffee she served me was instant, and the chocolate she offered a supermarket's own budget brand. She said she regretted proposals to end the winter fuel allowance for all but the poorest pensioners, and I wondered whether she was dreading the impending chill of another lonely winter. This cannot have been the future she envisaged for herself, when in part out of expediency she agreed to marry John, then Lord Bingham, in March 1963. They had met at a point-to-point the then Veronica Duncan was there with her sister, Christina, and her husband, businessman Bill Shand-Kydd, whose half-brother, Peter, would later marry Princess Diana's mother, Frances. 'There was John, standing against the rails and laying bets, looking like a caricature of a gentleman: baggy cavalry twills, tweed cap, moustache,' she said. He was a professional gambler, and she the daughter of an Army officer who'd won the Military Cross in World War I but died before she was two. Veronica's mother had married again, and from the age of 13, Lady Lucan grew up living in a pub in North Waltham, Hampshire, 'a typical country girl, obsessed with my pony and gymkhanas'. She conceded that she felt 'no chemistry' when John chatted her up, but fearing, aged 26, that time was running out for her to snare a decent catch as a husband, she agreed to marry him. It was not the most auspicious start to a relationship that descended into acrimony, recrimination and bitterness and ultimately attempted murder yet extraordinarily, when I asked Lady Lucan if she regretted it, she replied: 'I can't say that I'm sorry I married him because I would not have had three beautiful children, would I? 'I was never so happy in my life as when George was born.' George, she told me, had once proposed a meeting in a nearby hotel, but she had declined because she would have preferred a rendezvous at his home. They did not meet. Did she regret her obduracy? We will never know. Yet, Lady Lucan's family say they will remember her 'lovingly' despite the severing of ties. But surely it is part of this family's abiding tragedy that it was a love never returned while she was still alive. Is it justified to heckle a news anchor on a flight? Is this the first time such an incident has taken place? Did anyone take any action when BJP MP Pragya Thakur had delayed a flight for over 45 minutes over allotment of her seat? There are a lot of questions that people are asking on social media. Since the time comedian Kunal Kamra's confrontation with news presenter Arnab Goswami has gone viral, he has been facing repercussions. After Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri advised airlines to impose ban on Kamra, IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet have imposed a ban on him. Offensive behaviour designed to provoke & create disturbance inside an aircraft is absolutely unacceptable & endangers safety of air travellers. We are left with no option but to advise other airlines to impose similar restrictions on the person concerned. https://t.co/UHKKZfdTVS Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) January 28, 2020 Reacting to the same, here's what Bollywood stars have tweeted. Article 15 director Anubhav Sinha said that the comedian's act under "ordinary circumstances" should have been deemed "ridiculous". However, currently, the times are different. Of course what Kunal did is ridiculous under ordinary circumstances. But these are no ordinary times. These are times when a union minister instructs all airlines to ban a stand up comedian because he insulted Goebbels clan. So stop trying to sound proper please. Anubhav Sinha (@anubhavsinha) January 29, 2020 'If you Fuck with our man this is what will happen' Imagine YouTube Banning Kunal Kamra, or Airtel cancelling all his internet connections including his phone. Do you think this is impossible???? Why do you think Vistara has not banned him??? Dictatorship has arrived my friends. Anubhav Sinha (@anubhavsinha) January 29, 2020 Richa Chadha questioned why nothing happened when Pragya Thakur held up a flight because she wanted "first-class" seat. Genuinely asking in light of this... a flight was held up and an elected representative said first class is my right. Was she put on any no-fly list for causing a delay? Were co-passengers who asked her persistent questions banned ? Does ANYONE have more info? https://t.co/kbEB2XgzEa pic.twitter.com/uXhbBZXzsC TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) January 29, 2020 In a series of tweets, filmmaker Hansal Mehta said that he had "mixed feelings" to it. I did not like the way @kunalkamra88 heckled Arnab on a flight. I felt it was unnecessary and uncool coming from someone who usually criticizes with such sharp wit. But seeing the even more uncool response by airlines (with govt blessings) to his behavior I have mixed feelings... Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) January 29, 2020 Kunal Kamra's act now seems almost like the only option to expose an establishment and its stooges. He called Arnab out in a very crude way and the response was a vulgar show of authoritarianism. Kamra's protest still does not feel right to me but i almost feel it was necessary. Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) January 29, 2020 I used to know Arnab earlier - not exactly a friend but as someone passionate about news and debate. It is sad to see him becoming a preposterous, partisan and obnoxious servant of a dictatorial establishment. He symbolises the mostly comatose state of tv journalism in India. Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) January 29, 2020 Totally, you beat people on our behalf you wont be arrested, you lynch people , you will be let go and garlanded, you kill people in riots - they will let you off with social work .. the messaging sent out by this government is very clear.. https://t.co/RHMaCUNFgo Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) January 29, 2020 Here's what other celebs have tweeted. @kunalkamra88 how will you survive this devastating blow? https://t.co/VU5aZx5yXB Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) January 28, 2020 sarkar ki priorities https://t.co/pk907x6PD0 Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) January 28, 2020 Meanwhile, Kunal Kamra met with Arnab Goswami yet again on a flight this morning and here's what happened next. At the one-year anniversary of releasing a list of clergymen credibly accused of abuse, the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge has added two more priests who served in Ponchatoula to their list of those with credible claims against them. Diocesan officials announced Wednesday morning that they were adding two priests from religious orders who served in the diocese to their list, which has grown since its initial release a year ago. The additions of the Rev. Richard Raphael Archer, a Dominican friar, and Rev. Lawrence Dark, a Congregation of the Holy Cross priest, bring the total of Catholic clergy members who worked in and around Baton Rouge and were credibly accused of abuse to 45. +45 45 Baton Rouge-area clergy members on diocese's official sex abuse list: See names, more The Diocese of Baton Rouge has named 45 clergy members who they've determined to have been credibly accused of abuse within the diocese or in Both priests history of abuse allegations were first revealed by their religious orders over the past year, and both are already listed on the Archdiocese of New Orleans credibly accused clergy list as well. As other lists have grown, so has the list from the Diocese of Baton Rouge, which initially included 37 clergy members and has accumulated more based on lists from other dioceses and religious orders. Despite 178 dioceses across the country releasing names of more than 6,700 predator priests, it's often hard to track how priests moved from diocese to diocese amid allegations of abuse. Catholic officials have not coordinated their list releases with one another, meaning a diocese may not know if a priest who served there has been named on a list of abusive clergy members that another diocese particularly one that's distant releases. ProPublica released a national database this week to make it easier to search and cross-reference every clergy member included on abuse lists across the country, while the website Bishop Accountability has also long maintained a database that chronicles the movements and pastoral assignments of predatory priests. That kind of shuffling prompted national outcry last year involving Archer, a retired Dominican priest. The Dominican Province of St. Joseph reported that Archer was removed from ministry in 2002 after abuse complaints, but the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests last March exposed his residence at a Catholic priory connected to a school in New Orleans. Archer was assigned to a Metairie-based Dominican province when he was removed from public ministry, and a board that reviewed the Dominicans personnel files determined he was the subject of a credible allegation of sexual abuse of a minor. The Advocate's archives show that he worked at St. Josephs Catholic Church in Ponchatoula in the 1990s. At St. Dominic in Lakeview, Archbishop Aymond moves to boot priest suspected of child abuse Catholic Church officials asked the Dominican order Thursday to move an elderly priest out of his living quarters at St. Dominics Priory in L Its unclear when he is alleged to have committed abuse. Public records list him as also having worked at St. Elizabeth's Church in Elizabethtown, Tennessee and having lived with the Dominican Friars of Raleigh in North Carolina. After SNAP revealed his residence at St. Dominics Priory in Lakeview, New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond announced that he was telling the Dominican order that Archer would no longer be allowed to live there. 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 Archer is believed to still be alive at 89 or 90 years old, but attempts to reach him for this story have been unsuccessful. As for Dark, the Congregation of Holy Cross listed him in June of last year as having been credibly accused of abuse. The Archdiocese of New Orleans followed suit shortly after this newspaper reported on the Holy Cross list, adding Dark to its abusive clergy list. Dark was the chaplain at Warren Easton Senior High School in New Orleans and also served as assistant pastor at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. He also spent time in Santiago, Chile, where he was assigned to St. Georges College. But he moved closer to Baton Rouge as part of a mission to establish homes for wayward boys in Louisiana. He opened the Reynolds Institute in the 1960s in New Orleans, and then moved the growing facility to Albany in 1977. A few years later, the home grew again, to become the 60-acre Bill Anderson Boys Town in Ponchatoula. The Diocese of Baton Rouge referred to it as the William E. Anderson Memorial Boys Town in its list of Darks pastoral assignments. Saints say their advice to archdiocese in sex abuse case was to be 'direct' and 'open' Responding to a report by the Associated Press, the New Orleans Saints said Friday that team officials advised the Archdiocese of New Orleans While Dark was publicly promoting a mission to turn troubled boys into men, he was also allegedly abusing some of them behind closed doors. The Congregation of Holy Cross reported that the abuse allegations it received against Dark were based on his time in Louisiana in the 1960s and the 1970s. Holy Cross officials said they did not receive the allegations against Dark until after his 1984 death, however. Two years after he died, the Ponchatoula Times published a glowing recap of how Dark had built up a sprawling home to help boys aged 13 to 18 with nowhere else to go. The Reynolds Story, as it was titled, said Dark worked so hard over the past 31 years that he had neglected his health and died at 59. Today we are confident that we are providing an excellent program for our troubled young clients and have great future expectations and are full of enthusiasm, reads the Ponchatoula Times piece from Dec. 4, 1986. Our only regret being that Father Dark did not live long enough to see his efforts culminate in an objectively judged successful child treatment facility. Ten years after his death, the Congregation of Holy Cross reported receiving its first abuse allegation against Dark. The congregation received a second in 2008. Press Release 29 January 2020 Atlanta, GA. - The Allen Morris Company, one of the largest diversified real estate firms in the southeast, and Stormont Hospitality Group, a highly-acclaimed hotel developer, announced the formation of a new enterprise - AMS Hospitality (AMS). Advertisements AMS Hospitality will focus on the acquiring and building hotel assets, initially focusing on southeast U.S. markets. The venture will be formally launched with the closing of two new lifestyle hotel development projects in Atlanta. The 176-key Star Metals Hotel, scheduled for completion in Q4 2021, will focus on the local leisure and transient market. Star Metals Hotel is part of the transcendent Star Metals District in West Midtown, which includes Star Metals Residences, Star Metals Offices and a robust retail component. The 205-key Midtown Union Hotel, which will have a more corporate business focus infused with local art to celebrate the neighboring Woodruff Arts Center, is slated for completion in 2022. The hotel is being developed in partnership with MetLife Investment Management. AMS Hospitality has numerous additional hotels in its pipeline in Georgia, North Carolina and Florida, which are expected to be announced throughout 2020. Representatives from the Allen Morris Company and Stormont Hospitality Group will comprise the Board of the new AMS Hospitality venture, including Spencer Morris, Peter DiCorpo, Jim Stormont, and John Cooper. All former Stormont Hospitality Group employees have become employees of the new venture. "We are elated about formally entering the hospitality space with one of the industry's finest and most respected team of professionals," said W. Allen Morris, Chairman and CEO of The Allen Morris Company, and Principal of the new AMS Hospitality. "The new company will be working with all major hotel companies and their respective brands, while also developing a series of local independent boutique hotels." "The new venture is already a success with two extraordinary hotel projects in Star Metals Hotel and Midtown Union Hotel," adds Jim Stormont, co-founder of Stormont Hospitality Group, and President of AMS Hospitality. "The potential of the two organizations formally joining is extraordinary when taking into account the Allen Morris Company's financial capabilities and six-decade long reputation for developing first-class projects and our own capabilities in the hospitality space." AMS Hospitality will be located at 3350 Riverwood Parkway (Suite 2110) in Atlanta, with plans to relocate to Star Metals Offices, in West Midtown, upon completion in 2021. About The Allen Morris Company The Allen Morris Company is one of the largest real estate firms in the Southeast U.S. specializing in commercial, multi-family residential and mixed-use developments, leasing and brokerage as well as property management. With offices in Miami, Coral Gables, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Jacksonville and Atlanta, The Allen Morris Company has served its business and investment clients for over 60 years. For more information, please visit www.allenmorris.com., or follow us on Facebook at:www.facebook.com/TheAllenMorrisCompany or on Twitter @allenmorrisco. About Stormont Hospitality Group Stormont Hospitality Group is a comprehensive, turn-key developer with a proven track record of more than three decades of success in developing luxury and first-class hotels, conference centers and resort properties. Based in Atlanta, Stormont Hospitality Group and its principals have envisioned, partnered in, executed and launched more than $2 billion in prominent hotel properties, including some of the most successful public/private hospitality projects in the United States. Now, given its new venture with The Allen Morris Company, Stormont has expanded its reach and the new venture will leverage the skills of both firms. For more information visit: www.stormonthospitality.com. TalkTalk did not pay a female executive as much as her male colleagues because her role did not 'significantly influence' the firm, an employment tribunal heard today. Rebecca Burke, 43, of Yately, Hampshire, is suing the telecoms giant under the equal pay law after discovering she did not earn as much as her former male colleagues. But TalkTalk's lawyers claim at the tribunal in London that her pay was calculated using a clear methodology showing her role was less strategically important. Rebecca Burke, 43, of Yately, Hampshire, at the Central London Employment Tribunal today The Willis Towers Watson survey method is a 'market driven job levelling tool' that puts employees into bands then subdivides them into grades, the hearing was told. Ms Burke was not aware exactly how pay grades were set until her redundancy hearing, the Central London Employment Tribunal in Holborn heard. That was when she became aware that directors she considered her equals, Daniel Rynehart, Jonathan Ellison and Daniel Richardson, were on higher pay grades. Ms Burke was paid a basic salary of 110,000 as she helped lead the company's cyber security programme in the wake of a high-profile data breach. During redundancy talks she found three other programme directors had salaries up to 40 per cent higher than hers and received at least 50 per cent more in bonuses. Ms Burke was made redundant just 15 months after leading the company's pivotal cyber security programme in the wake of a catastrophic hacking scandal which cost the company up to 77million in lost business affecting 150,000 customers. Ms Burke's appeal against her redundancy on June 29, 2017 was not upheld by boss Derek Cheng (left, pictured today). The hearing was told Ms Burke became aware that directors she considered her equals, including Jonathan Ellison (right, today) were on higher pay grades Her appeal against her redundancy on June 29, 2017 was not upheld by boss Derek Cheng. The document reads: 'Your role has drastically reduced in size and complexity as clearly shown by the size of the relevant budget (now 2m) therefore not warranting a programme director anymore. 'Your role as Programme Director for Lightning (even in its previous form) was substantially smaller than the other Programme Director roles across the group and therefore materially different 'Other 4 programme directors are Band B employees and considered more senior while Rebecca (although shared the same job title) is a Band C employee.' Following that hearing she received confirmation of her redundancy on July 31, 2017 which she followed up with a grievance letter on August 8, 2017. The court was shown minutes from a 23 November 2017 meeting discussing this grievance between to discuss Chief People Officer Mark Dickinson, who could offer an 'unbiased and senior view on the remit of the roles'. TalkTalk has an average gender pay gap of 14.6 per cent and an average bonus gap of 31.6 per cent, according to the firm's 2018 Gender Pay Report. Pictured: Its offices in London in 2017 It reads: 'Charles Bligh [chief executive] explained that the roles performed by Dan Rynehart and Jonathan Ellison were operating programmes for established business units that were run by band A Exco members. 'The role RB performed had a smaller remit, overseeing a programme for a part of the business that reported into a Band B General Manager who is not an Exco member. 'Her role mainly involved overseeing projects that were clearly defined in the scope. Mark Dickinson asked Charles Bligh to explain which of the roles had a significant influence on functional strategy. 'Mark Dickinson asked Charles Bligh to concentrate on the key parts of the question - 'significant influence' and on the definition of a 'function'. 'Charles Bligh explained that the roles performed by Jonathan Ellison and Dan Rynehart were very influential in strategy and gave the example that Jonathan Ellison would influence customer contact channel mix - a fundamental part of how the group operates. 'Charles Bligh stated that it was very important to understand that was a project and Rebecca Burke's role was to shape it under direction - which he had personally been involved in setting. 'Charles Bligh stated that he was confident that these were vastly different jobs. He said that if there had been any unfair treatment he would want to face into that openly.' Ms Burke alleges she was blindsided with redundancy after running both the cyber security programme and a 20million trial project to bring fibre optic broadband to three million homes. Under the Equality Act 2010 (previously Equal Pay Act (1970), it is illegal to pay employees performing the same job or 'work of equivalent value' differently because of their gender. TalkTalk has an average gender pay gap of 14.6 per cent and an average bonus gap of 31.6 per cent, according to the company's 2018 Gender Pay Report. Ms Burke, who is a master of business administration (MBA), is suing for unfair dismissal and unequal pay discrimination. She has more than 20 years' experience in project, programme and portfolio management in technology, innovation, mobile, TV and telecoms. A TalkTalk spokesperson has said: 'We strongly refute these claims and we do not tolerate gender discrimination of any sort.' The hearing continues. Tata Sons has initiated the process of arranging funds to pay off the AGR dues of Tata Teleservices. Tata Teleservices is required to pay Rs 13,823 crore as AGR dues. It is very likely that TCS would be sourcing the funds to clear the dues. The conglomerate has started arranging for funds even as the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the modification petitions filed by telcos. The apex bank recently rejected the pleas by Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Tata Teleservices to review the verdict that widened the government's definition of adjusted gross revenue, leaving the three telcos with a massive bill of Rs 1.02 lakh crore. According to a report in The Economic Times, an official in the know told the daily that they realise the importance of having a payment plan in place. In the upcoming hearing if the Supreme Court allows the telcos to negotiate with the telecom department (DoT) then the deadline might get extended. However, if that is not the case then Tatas will have to cough up the AGR dues in a hurry. An official told the daily that the amount payable is "unreasonably huge" but also they aim to pay off every single due owed by the group companies. The holding company's finance team is handling the discussions on other possible avenues of raising funds to deal with the case. This tussle comes amid another legal battle between Tata Trust and the income tax department. Tata Teleservices, Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel filed review petitions against the AGR dues verdict, which was dismissed by the apex court. Vodafone has dues of Rs 53,039 crore and Bharti Airtel has Rs 35,586 crore respectively. Also read: Reliance Jio pays Rs 195 crore AGR dues to DoT; Voda Idea, Airtel seek more time Also read: India Ratings downgrades Vodafone Idea's Rs 3,500 crore debentures W armer weather conditions are expected on the final few days of January, giving respite from the snow and ice that has been causing disrupting in parts of the UK. The mercury is forecast to rise to 15C by Friday - some six degrees above average for the time of year, the Met Office said. The warmer weather is in stark contrast to the snowy conditions seen across Great Britain and Northern Ireland on Tuesday. Forecaster Alex Burkill said: "The weather is going to be markedly milder than it has been of late... Everywhere will see a jump in temperature." It comes after snow depths of 15cm were recorded at Tulloch Bridge in Scotland and motorists were stranded on the M74 for hours overnight into Tuesday. An official snow reading of 2cm was made at Lough Fea in Northern Ireland, and snow also fell in parts of Wales and England, mostly on higher ground. The polar maritime air mass which brought freezing conditions across the UK will be replaced by a tropical air mass, leading to higher temperatures. Wednesday and Thursday will see rainy spells, particularly in north-western areas, it has been forecast. President Donald Trump unveiled his long-awaited Mideast peace plan Tuesday alongside a beaming Benjamin Netanyahu, presenting a vision that matched the Israeli leaders hard-line, nationalist views while falling far short of Palestinian ambitions Washington: President Donald Trump unveiled his long-awaited Mideast peace plan Tuesday alongside a beaming Benjamin Netanyahu, presenting a vision that matched the Israeli leaders hard-line, nationalist views while falling far short of Palestinian ambitions. Trumps plan envisions a disjointed Palestinian state that turns over key parts of the West Bank to Israel. It sides with Israel on key contentious issues that have bedeviled past peace efforts, including borders and the status of Jerusalem and Jewish settlements, and attaches nearly impossible conditions for granting the Palestinians their hoped-for state. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas dismissed the plan as nonsense and vowed to resist it. Netanyahu called it a historic breakthrough equal in significance to the country's declaration of independence in 1948. It's a great plan for Israel. It's a great plan for peace, he said. He vowed to immediately press forward with his plans to annex the strategic Jordan Valley and all the Israeli settlements in occupied lands. Netanyahu said he'd ask his Cabinet to approve the annexation plans in their next meeting on Sunday, an explosive move that could trigger harsh international reaction and renewed violence with the Palestinians. This dictates once and for all the eastern border of Israel, Netanyahu told Israeli reporters later. Israel is getting an immediate American recognition of Israeli sovereignty on all the settlements, without exceptions. Given the Palestinian opposition, the plan seems unlikely to lead to any significant breakthrough. But it could give a powerful boost to both Trump and Netanyahu who are both facing legal problems ahead of tough elections. Trump called his plan a win-win for both Israel and the Palestinians, and urged the Palestinians not to miss their opportunity for independence. But Abbas, who accuses the U.S. of unfair bias toward Israel, rejected it out of hand. We say 1,000 no's to the Deal of the Century," Abbas said, using a nickname for Trump's proposal. We will not kneel and we will not surrender, he said, adding that the Palestinians would resist the plan through peaceful, popular means. The plan comes amid Trump's impeachment trial and on a US election year, and after Netanyahu was indicted on counts of fraud, breach of trust and bribery in three separate cases. The longtime Israeli leader, who denies any wrongdoing, also faces a 2 March parliamentary election, Israels third in less than a year. He hopes to use the plan, and his close ties with Trump, to divert attention from his legal troubles. The Palestinians seek all of the West Bank and east Jerusalem areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war for an independent state and the removal of many of the more than 700,000 Israeli settlers from these areas. But as details emerged, it became clear that the plan sides heavily with Netanyahu's hard-line nationalist vision for the region and shunts aside many of the Palestinians' core demands. Under the terms of the peace vision" that Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner has been working on for nearly three years, all settlers would remain in place, and Israel would retain sovereignty over all of its settlements as well as the strategic Jordan Valley. The Israeli military will continue to control the entire territory, Netanyahu said. No one will be uprooted from their home. The proposed Palestinian state would also include more than a dozen Israeli enclaves with the entity's borders monitored by Israel. It would be demilitarized and give Israel overall security control. In addition, the areas of east Jerusalem offered to the Palestinians consist of poor, crowded neighborhoods located behind a hulking concrete separation barrier. Trump acknowledged that he has done a lot for Israel, but he said he wanted the deal to be a great deal for the Palestinians." The plan would give the Palestinians limited control over an estimated 70 percent of the West Bank, nearly double the amount where they currently have limited self-rule. Trump said it would give them time needed to meet the challenges of statehood. The only concession the plan appears to demand of Israel is a four-year freeze on the establishment of new Israeli settlements in certain areas of the West Bank. But Netanyahu clarified later that this only applied to areas where there are no settlements and Israel has no immediate plans to annex, and that he considered the plan to impose no limitations on construction. Thousands of Palestinians protested in Gaza City ahead of the announcement, burning pictures of Trump and Netanyahu and raising a banner reading Palestine is not for sale. Trump said he sent a letter to Abbas to tell him that the territory that the plan has set aside for a new Palestinian state will remain open and undeveloped for four years. "It's going to work," Trump said, as he presented the plan at a White House ceremony filled with Israeli officials and allies, including evangelical Christian leaders and wealthy Republican donors. Representatives from the Arab countries of Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates were present, but there were no Palestinian representatives. President Abbas, I want you to know, that if you chose the path to peace, America and many other countries ... we will be there to help you in so many different ways," he said. "And we will be there every step of the way." The 50-page plan builds on a 30-page economic plan for the West Bank and Gaza that was unveiled last June and which the Palestinians have also rejected. It envisions a future Palestinian state consisting of the West Bank and Gaza, connected by a combination of roads and tunnels. It also would give small areas of southern Israel to the Palestinians as compensation for lost West Bank land. But the many caveats, and ultimate overall Israeli control, made the deal a nonstarter for the Palestinians. Netanyahu and his main political challenger in March elections, Benny Gantz, had signed off on the plan. Mr. President, because of this historic recognition and because I believe your peace plan strikes the right balance where other plans have failed, Netanyahu said. I've agreed to negotiate peace with the Palestinians on the basis of your peace plan." The Jordan Valley annexation is a big part of Netanyahu's strategy and a key promise meant to appeal to his hard-line nationalist base, which mostly applauded the Trump plan. US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of the plan's release, said they expected negative responses from the Palestinians, but were hopeful that Jordan and Egypt, the only two Arab nations to have peace treaties with Israel, would not reject it outright. Jordan gave the plan a cool reaction, saying it remained committed to a two-state solution based on Israel's pre-1967 lines. It also said it rejected any unilateral move by Israel, referring to the annexation plan. The reaction of Jordan, which would retain its responsibilities over Jerusalem's al-Aqsa Mosque under the plan, is particularly significant. Located next to the West Bank, Jordan also is home to a large Palestinian population. Egypt, the first Arab country to reach a peace deal with Israel, urged Israelis and Palestinians to carefully study the plan. The European Union also said it needed to study it more closely. Saudi Arabia, another key Arab country, said it appreciated the Trump administration's efforts and encouraged the resumption of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians under the auspices of the United States. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the United Nations supports two states living in peace and security within recognised borders, on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, according to his spokesman. The Palestinians see the West Bank as the heartland of a future independent state and east Jerusalem as their capital. Most of the international community supports their position, but Trump has reversed decades of US foreign policy by siding more blatantly with Israel. The centerpiece of his strategy was recognizing Jerusalem as Israels capital and moving the American Embassy there. He's also closed Palestinian diplomatic offices in Washington and cut funding to Palestinian aid programs. Those policies have proven popular among Trumps evangelical and pro-Israel supporters. But the Palestinians refuse to even speak to Trump and they called on support from Arab leaders. (TNS) When malicious actors carried out a cyberattack on Regis University last August crippling the Denver campuss IT network and downing phones, email and Wi-Fi university officials paid the hackers a ransom in hopes of restoring their incapacitated systems.Yet even after that payment, which Regis leaders publicly revealed for the first time to, the cyberattack still impaired day-to-day operations at the private Jesuit college for months. Regis officials had not previously acknowledged the attack involved ransomware, which can render computer systems inoperable until the target meets hackers financial demands.The attack hit us the morning students were moving back to campus, said Salvador Aceves, Regis senior vice president and chief financial officer. It was a rather precarious time for us That was certainly a time where just as were trying to have students settle in, we also had the unfortunate and needed reality of shutting down our systems. We were trying to ensure we had all the possible opportunities to restore or rebuild available at that time.Aceves declined to say how much the university paid the hackers. University officials also have not revealed how much theyve spent on recovery from the attack, which led them to distribute paper course schedules to students last fall and post signs on campus that read, Enjoy a break from the connected life.On Tuesday, Regis is holding a cybersecurity summit nearly six months after the universitys systems were hacked, gathering professionals from across the country to publicly talk about the ransomware attack and share what the institution and others impacted have learned, all in a bid to help prevent such incidents from happening again.The FBI was involved in investigating the Regis cyberattack along with a private data recovery company, Gillware, that combed through the system to try to figure out what happened, Aceves said.The thing we were most concerned about was making sure there was no compromise when it came to our data, Aceves said. Im happy to say, at this point, there was no evidence found that indicated that these malicious actors compromised our data.When attacked by ransomware, Regis University and a growing number of American institutions such as government agencies, health care systems and even entire cities are forced to fend off a digital kidnapper of sorts.Ransomware is a virus that encrypts most files or all files on a computer to the point that your computer is not usable, said Greg Williams, director of IT operations at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs and a cybersecurity professor.To initiate an attack, a hacker can shoot off an email to an employee, luring them to click a link or download an attachment that begins infecting the computer. That can quickly spread to linked computer and IT systems, devastating entire institutions or businesses, Williams said.In the case of the businesses that pay, its probably because they dont have backups to the things they need to continue running, Williams said, noting that UCCS was hit with a cyberattack in 2014, but declined to pay because the campus had good backup systems. Its basically holding your data hostage until you decide to either pay the ransom or not pay it.The ransom can be paid out in a digital currency like Bitcoin.Its happening quite a bit, Williams said. Its happening to every kind of business.To prevent such attacks, Williams said its important to educate employees not to open attachments or click on links when they dont know what theyre opening. Having a good digital security program, solid anti-virus software and keeping software up to date is also important, Williams.Further details of Regiss cyberattack werent made public prior to Tuesdays summit. But Shari Plantz-Masters, dean of Regiss College of Computer & Information Sciences, said the university wants to share its story to prevent other digital catastrophes.Tuesdays summit at the university features industry professionals including staffers from the Colorado Department of Transportation, which battled a cyberattack in 2018 talking about best practices in handling attacks and prevention.Even five years ago, an organization that was attacked wouldnt tell anybody, Plantz-Masters said. There was the idea that you cant publish what has happened to you because it shows youre vulnerable. Its become so prevalent that if you dont band together, youre going to have a real tough time combating this. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 14:09 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20618276b 1 National China,coronavirus,Wuhan-lockdown,evacuation,Indonesia,Air-Force Free The Indonesian Air Force has kept three aircraft and health personnel on standby to evacuate Indonesian nationals from the locked-down city of Wuhan in China, the ground zero of the coronavirus outbreak, and ready to fly at any time, awaiting instruction from the central government. Air Force spokesman First Marshal Fajar Adriyanto said the aircraft, comprising two Boeing 737 aircraft and an Indonesian military C-130 Hercules aircraft, had the capacity to transport over 200 people. "We are now waiting for confirmation from the Foreign Ministry [...] to decide whether or not we can go. But the Air Force is ready 24/7 to fly," Fajar said on Wednesday. The Chinese government has imposed lockdowns on at least 13 cities in Hubei province, including Wuhan -- where the novel coronavirus was first identified on Dec. 31, 2019 -- in an attempt to contain the spread of the fast-spreading pneumonia-like ailment. According to the Foreign Ministry, some 243 Indonesians currently live in the quarantined zone, around 100 of them residing in Wuhan. Fajar noted that operations to evacuate the Indonesian citizens from the virus-affected areas could not be launched just yet, especially as travel into and out of Wuhan was still prohibited. "We will proceed with the plan as soon as the Chinese government gives the green light," Fajar said. The government had prepared Sulianto Saroso Hospital in North Jakarta to be used as a quarantine facility to observe the inbound citizens once they arrived in Indonesia from China, he said. The United States and Japan are reported to be the first two countries to fly their respective citizens out of the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak. About 204 Americans left Wuhan on Wednesday, while at least 206 Japanese citizens arrived in Japan's capital of Tokyo on the same day. France, moreover, has confirmed that its citizens will be evacuated from Wuhan by midweek. Some other countries such as Russia, Spain and Thailand are asking China to allow their nationals to leave. As of Wednesday, the new coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, has killed 132 people in China and infected over 6,000 worldwide, AFP reported. Indonesia has no confirmed cases as of Tuesday, Jan. 28. In the wake of last months (December 2019) Normandy summit (see EDM, December 11, 12, 2019), and awaiting the same forums April 2020 top-level meeting, Ukrainian officials are airing proposals to revise the Kremlin-imposed Minsk accords of 2014 and 2015 In the wake of last months (December 2019) Normandy summit (see EDM, December 11, 12, 2019), and awaiting the same forums April 2020 top-level meeting, Ukrainian officials are airing proposals to revise the Kremlin-imposed Minsk accords of 2014 and 2015. The accords, designed to legalize Russias control of the Donetsk-Luhansk territory and to disrupt Ukraine farther afield, remain unimplemented to date thanks to the previous Ukrainian governments successful maneuvering and stalling. That work has made it possible for President Volodymyr Zelenskyys administration now to call for revising the Minsk accords. Whereas the former president, Petro Poroshenko, and the Ukrainian parliament had unilaterally introduced domestic legal barriers to the implementation of the Minsk accords, Zelenskyys administration proposes to revise these documents by negotiation with Russia, Germany and France in the so-called Normandy format. Kyiv launched its revision campaign in a stunning volte-face on the eve of the recent Normandy summit (see EDM, December 9, 2019), partly adopting Ukrainian civil societys red lines against a solution on Moscows terms. Zelenskyy, however, failed to make any headway with revisions at the recent summit. He is, moreover, trapped by his consent to negotiate a new special status law for Donetsk-Luhansk and his acceptance of the Steinmeier Formula, two commitments that the Ukrainian president confirmed at the recent Normandy summit. Nevertheless, Zelenskyys administration persists with its proposals in the Minsk Contact Group and in the public arena to revise the Minsk accords in Ukraines favor. The proposed revisions concern a common interpretation of certain key clauses, the sequence of their eventual implementation, and a reconfiguration of the Minsk Contact Group. The Ukrainian side is channeling these proposals through the Contact Group in anticipation of the next Normandy summit to be held in April, in Berlin. It introduced these proposals in the Contact Groups December 18 and January 16 sessions, marking the start to a hoped-for revision process (Ukrinform.ua, Hromadske.ua, December 18, 19, 2019 and January 16, 17, 2020). Donetsk-Luhansk Special Status: Ukraines presidential office is currently drafting constitutional amendments on the countrys administrative decentralization, which applies country-wide. Moscow wants the amended constitution to include a reference to Donetsk-Luhansks special status, as the Minsk agreements prescribe. However, the draft amendments latest published version (Ukraiynska Pravda, December 16, 2019) does not reference any special status for any territory of Ukraine. This version has, in the meantime, been withdrawn for reworking due to domestic political considerations unrelated to Donetsk and Luhansk. President Zelenskyy is committed to enacting the special status in a new lawone that would, moreover, incorporate the Steinmeier Formula. This is the high price that Zelenskyy agreed to pay for meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the recent Normandy summit. However, Zelenskyy plans an enactment by ordinary law, necessitating a simple majority in the parliament. Enshrining the special status into the constitution would require a two-thirds majority, forcing Zelenskyy into a deeply embarrassing collaboration with Viktor Medvedchuks pro-Kremlin party. Elections in Donetsk-Luhansk: The Ukrainian side calls for the right of internally displaced persons (IDP) to participate in these local elections as a precondition to such elections being held in this territory. The IDPs are those war refugees who moved to Ukraines interior (as distinct from those who moved to Russia). The IDPs return to participate in elections is a new precondition on Kyivs part. It is also a security issue, as are the disarmament and/or withdrawal of unlawful forces and the replacement of Russian control by some form of international control of the Ukraine-Russia border as prerequisites to any elections in this territory. Sequencing of military and political steps: The Contact Groups December 18 and January 16 sessions have seen Kyiv reaffirm the security first, elections afterward principle (see above). For its part, Russia maintains that the term unlawful forces in the Minsk accords does not apply to the Donetsk-Luhansk forces (let alone to the Russian military, which Russia claims is not present there). Similarly, Russia holds strictly to the letter of the Minsk accords, whereby Ukraine would not regain control of the Ukraine-Russia border in that territory even after the local elections there. Instead, under those 2014 and 2015 documents, Kyiv would merely begin negotiating with Donetsk-Luhansk about sharing control of that border. Kyiv considers, however, the possibility of accepting local elections in return for Moscows acceptance of international control of that border, as a transitional solution toward ultimate Ukrainian control. Working Group on Border Control: Ukraine proposes that the Minsk Contact Group create an additional (fifth) working group to deal with the status of the Ukraine-Russia border in the Russian-controlled territory. Under Kyivs proposal, Ukraine and Russia would delegate representatives of their respective border troops and customs services to begin discussing the procedures for transferring border control from Russian hands to international or Ukrainian hands, in conjunction with local elections (see above). Working Group on Political Issues: Ukraine proposes changing the composition of this working group within the Minsk Contact Group. This particular working group is mandated to discuss a special status for Donetsk-Luhansk and related issues such as local elections under the Minsk agreements. Representing Donetsk and Luhansk in this working group are the delegates of those two peoples republics. But Kyiv is now challenging their claims to represent this territorys population. Instead, President Zelenskyy and his envoy to this working group, Oleksiy Reznikov, propose empaneling a larger and more diverse Donetsk-Luhansk delegation, one half of whose members would be approved by Kyiv from among IDPs (see above) or local residents not connected to those peoples republics. Crimea: President Zelenskyy had promised more than once to raise the issue of Crimea at the December 9 Normandy summit. That promise was one of his justifications for seeking that summit as avidly as he did. He failed to bring up Crimea at the summit, claiming afterward to have run out of time and promising to bring it up at the next Normandy summit. Doing so would play well domestically and might also provide a smokescreen for concessions on the Donetsk-Luhansk special status and the Steinmeier Formula. But the Normandy format is only mandated to address the conflict in Ukraines east. Read the original text at The Jamestown Foundation. Foreign ministers from Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan gathered in Washington on Tuesday for last-ditch talks on the Renaissance Dam, which have led to bitter recriminations between Cairo and Addis Ababa. After several failed negotiations, the foreign ministers from Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan gathered in Washington on Tuesday for a last-ditch attempt to reach a final agreement on the Renaissance Dam. Ever since Ethiopia announced its intention to go ahead with the construction of the 145-metre-high, 1.8-kilometre-long concrete colossus in 2011, it has caused a rift between Addis Ababa and Cairo. Ethiopia wants the dam to boost its electricity supplies in mostly rural areas and revive the economy. Egypt sees the dam however as an existential threat, because it relies on the Nile for 90 percent of its water supply. The last meeting in mid-January, also mediated by the United States, ended with a draft deal on the filling and operation of what would be Africa's largest hydroelectric project. What is at stake now is how to nail down the technical details. "Im very optimistic," says Fadi Georges Comair, president of Unesco's Intergovernmental Hydrologic Programme. "Two years ago, the speeches that we heard from riparian countries was very tough," he said referring to Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan whose populations live along the Blue Nile River, a tributary that contributes 85% of the Nile waters. US mediation "This year, after the mediation of the United States, weve heard the riparian countries talk about applying a new vision of equitable sharing, we have never heard that before," he told RFI. In the draft deal, Ethiopia agreed that it would fill the dam in stages during the rainy season. The move was seen as a compromise on its earlier intention to start generating electricity as soon as possible. Cairo fears that if filled too quickly the dam could disrupt its drinking water. For years, critics have worried that the Nile basin countries could be drawn into a conflict if the dispute is not resolved. Story continues While, the talks in Washington have made notable progress, they have not yet solved the trickiest question over the Renaissance dam's impact on countries downstream like Egypt and Sudan. What is needed reckons Unesco's Comair is hydro-diplomacy. "We need water peace among transboundary basins and riparian nations. It means that one country cannot take 90 percent of the water and leave 10 percent for the downstream countries. So, they should work on equitable sharing," he said. Water diplomacy Comair is hoping that the success of hydro-diplomacy in defusing tensions in the Orontes basin, a perennial river in Western Asia that flows north from Lebanon to Syria and Turkey, will also end the Nile dam dispute. "We started with the Orontes basin ten years ago and we were able to achieve a win-win solution and conclude a very good accord between Lebanon and Syria and Turkey also," he comments. In that light, it is widely believed that building trust between the three countries and ensuring there is enough political, is a vital step in boosting transboundary cooperation and smoothing the waters. "I am very optimistic that they will seek a win-win situation between them because the world cannot go through anymore conflict. Water should be a link between people," Comair said. A final agreement is expected on 29 January. A refugee, by legal definition, is a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster. An illegal immigrant, again by acceptable definition, refers to the migration of people into a country in violation of the immigration laws of that country, or the continued residence of people without the legal right to live in that country. So, what do we do with Daisy Perez, age 42, who is carrying her two children across the Suchiate River that divides Guatemala and Mexico. She cites endemic poverty, increasing gang violence and a country in ruins. Daisy vows she will never return to Guatemala but the question is: Should Daisy be a refugee or an illegal alien? And what about the 4,000 or so who are with her and are trudging this very minute to the southern border of the United States a mecca to every disenfranchised people from all over the world? Tennessee Governor Bill Lee increased the legal arrival of refugees during his first year in office by a whopping 46 percent. Thats twice the amount of the other states that increased the welcome at 22 percent. Since his inauguration last January, 595 refugees have resettled in Tennessee. In Chattanooga approximately 70 new neighbors arrived in 2019. BREAKDOWN: Iraq 6, Sudan 15, Ukraine 4, Afghanistan 5, Chad 4, Columbia 27, and Congo 10. Since they arrive with little-to-nothing, they are totally dependent on the government (taxpayers) and here is how that works: * * * From THE FEDERATION OF AMERICAN IMMIGRATION REFORM At the end of 2016, the United Nations estimates that a record-setting 65.3 million people had been forcibly displaced from their homes due to conflict or persecution. Many of those people will seek refuge in the developed countries of the West, including the United States. Reflecting Americas long tradition of providing refuge to the oppressed, we have admitted over 3.5 million people since 1980 and 96,900 refugees just in the last year in 2016. As the nation considers what levels of immigration we can fiscally and environmentally sustain, it is important to understand the costs of resettling both refugees (people seeking refugee status abroad) and political asylum seekers (those applying for refugee status from within the United States). According to a new study released by FAIR, the annual cost to U.S. taxpayers is $1.8 billion and over five years, that financial burden skyrockets to $8.8 billion. Those figures are only estimates because refugees will access welfare and other government assistance at different rates and the number of refugees entering the U.S also changes from year-to-year. Using the most recent admissions figures, data on federal and state public assistance programs, and information from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), our analysis found: * -- The cost per refugee to American taxpayers just under $79,600 in the first five years after a refugee is resettled in the U.S.; * -- In 2016, the State Department spent nearly $545 million to process and resettle refugees, including $140,389,177 on transportation costs; * -- Of the $1.8 billion in resettlement costs, $867 billion was spent on welfare alone; * -- In their first five years, approximately 54 percent of all refugees will hold jobs that pay less than $11 an hour; * -- $71 million will be spent to educate refugees and asylum-seekers, a majority of which will be paid by state and local governments. * -- Over five years, an estimated 15.7 percent of all refugees will need housing assistance, which is roughly $7,600 per household in 2014 dollars. At present, the United Nations estimates that there are approximately 65.3 million people who have been forcibly displaced from their homes by conflict or persecution. Many of those people will seek refuge in the developed countries of the West, including the United States. America has a long tradition of providing refuge to the oppressed. We admit both refugees (people seeking refugee status abroad) and political asylees (people requesting refugee status from within the United States). And doing so is consistent with our history and our values. But the way in which we integrate refugees/political asylees into our society has changed drastically over the years. Most refugee/asylee resettlement expenditures come in the form of cash assistance, welfare programs and other social services. Federal welfare programs that refugees and asylees can access include the following: * -- Federal Budgeted Costs to Refugees/Asylees - $777,443,000 * -- Office of Refugee Resettlement - $316,747,000 * -- State Department - $460,696,000 * -- Welfare Costs for Refugees/Asylees $867,004,000 * -- Medicaid - $320,551,000 * -- SNAP - $127,769,000 * --TANF - $134,214,000 * --Supplemental Security Income - $224,518,000 * -- Refugee Cash Assistance - $18,593,000 * -- General Assistance - $41,359,000 * -- Education Costs for Refugees/Asylees $71,275,000 According to ORR, refugees earnings are meager throughout their first five years in the United States, increasing from $10.22/hour to $10.86/ hour only a 6.3 percent increase over five years, on average. This means they are unlikely to pay any federal income taxes, and could end up receiving a net credit from the federal government when programs like the Earned Income Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit are considered. CONCLUSIONS -- Based on the above data, refugees (including recipients of political asylum) cost American taxpayers nearly $1.8 billion, annually, or approximately $8.8 billion over five years. This totals $15,900 per refugee, annually, or just under $79,600 per refugee over their first five years in America. * * * EXECUTIVE ORDER SEPT. 26, 2019 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Purpose. In resettling refugees into American communities, it is the policy of the United States to cooperate and consult with State and local governments, to take into account the preferences of State governments, and to provide a pathway for refugees to become self-sufficient. These policies support each other. Close cooperation with State and local governments ensures that refugees are resettled in communities that are eager and equipped to support their successful integration into American society and the labor force. The Federal Government consults with State and local governments not only to identify the best environments for refugees, but also to be respectful of those communities that may not be able to accommodate refugee resettlement. State and local governments are best positioned to know the resources and capacities they may or may not have available to devote to sustainable resettlement, which maximizes the likelihood refugees placed in the area will become self-sufficient and free from long-term dependence on public assistance. Some States and localities, however, have viewed existing consultation as insufficient, and there is a need for closer coordination and a more clearly defined role for State and local governments in the refugee resettlement process. My Administration seeks to enhance these consultations. Royexum@aol.com Arriva will be stripped of the Northern franchise on March 1 (Danny Lawson/PA) Ministers faced calls to scrap the entire rail franchise system after finally confirming that services run by failed operator Northern were being brought under public control. In a strongly-worded statement Transport Secretary Grant Shapps ended weeks of speculation, announcing that Germany-based Arriva was being stripped of the franchise on March 1 five years early. The Government-controlled Operator of Last Resort (OLR) will take over the franchise, under the name Northern Trains. Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the TSSA transport union, welcomed the decision but urged the Government to accept that franchising of our railways, while stuffing the mouths of shareholders with gold, has completely failed. Mick Cash, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, predicted the action in relation to Northern will open the floodgates towards wholesale public ownership of the railways as other franchises will fall like dominoes or simply choose to cut and run. Mr Shapps recently hauled the bosses of TransPennine Express in for an urgent meeting to discuss the companys poor performance, while West Midlands mayor Andy Street has pledged to call for West Midlands Trains to be stripped of its franchise unless services improve. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) In a written statement to Parliament, Mr Shapps acknowledged that his announcement will inevitably raise questions about the future of rail privatisation. He accepted that change is needed and claimed the Government-commissioned Rail Review led by former British Airways boss Keith Williams will ensure customers are at the heart of the system. Beginning in April 2016, Northern is Britains fifth biggest rail operator based on passenger journeys. It recorded 106 million passengers in the 12 months to September 2019. The chaotic introduction of new timetables in May 2018 saw hundreds of Northern trains a day cancelled, and performance has continued to struggle. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) Industry figures show just 55% of Northern trains arrived at stations within one minute of the timetable in the 12 months to January 4, compared with the average across Britain of 65%. Mr Shapps warned that some of the problems faced by the operator, such as inadequate infrastructure, will not be quick and easy to put right, but he wants passengers to see real and tangible improvements as soon as possible. Among the pledges made by the Transport Secretary include: Extended platforms at 30 stations to allow for longer trains Deep-clean of all trains Northern Trains and Network Rail to draw up a masterplan to cut congestion in Manchester Mr Shapps insisted that the only differences passengers should notice when the OLR takes over is services gradually starting to get better. The OLR already runs trains on the East Coast Main Line under the LNER brand, following the failure of the Virgin Trains East Coast franchise. Chris Burchell, managing director of Arrivas UK Trains division, said: Largely because of external factors, the franchise plan had become undeliverable. He claimed the company had helped set strong foundations for future improvement on the network, but added: A new plan is needed that will secure the future for Northern train services. As such, we understand Governments decision today. Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram, mayors of Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region respectively, said bringing services under public control was a victory for passengers but urged the Government to commit to investing in much-needed rail infrastructure. The women protesters, whose indefinite stir against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in a south Mumbai locality entered the third day on Wednesday, said they want the Maharashtra government to pass a resolution in the Assembly against the new law as done by a few other states. Inspired by the ongoing women-led protest at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi against the new citizenship law, the protesters here have now started calling the site of their stir as "Mumbai Bagh". More than 500 women and hundreds of men have been sitting on a road in Nagpada area since January 26 night against the CAA, the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR). The protesters are occupying Morland Road outside Arabia Hotel in Nagpada, a Muslim-dominated area. Most of the women participants are residents of Madanpura, Jhoola Maidan, Agripada and Mumbai Central areas. Firoz Mithiborwala of 'Hum Bharat Ke Log' said, "Our 'Mumbai Bagh' protest, which is inspired by the Shaheen Bagh stir, has entered the third day. The total number of women, who take part in the protest throughout the day, is around one thousand. Besides, 300 men have also been taking part on a daily basis." "We are determined to continue with the protest until the Modi government withdraws the draconian and unconstitutional CAA, NCR andR," he said. "'Mumbai Bagh' has now become a symbol of communal harmony, peace and non-violent resistance. Women, youths and students have been taking part in the protest in large numbers," he said. Fatima Khan, a student of law, said, "We want the Maharashtra government to pass a resolution in the state assembly against the CAA. We are here because of the Centre's move and won't move until the government withdraws the new citizenship law, NRC andR." So far, Kerala, Rajasthan, Punjab and West Bengal have passed resolutions against the CAA. Another woman protester also made a similar demand. "As some other states have passed a resolution against the CAA, we want our state government to make a similar move," she said. (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 Anuradha Nagaraj (Reuters) Chennai, India Wed, January 29, 2020 20:03 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206194ec1 2 People Carolyn-Malsawmtluangi,India,trafficker Free An Indian schoolgirl who won a bravery award after she helped a child escape a trafficker, is to become the inspiration for a new anti-slavery campaign, officials said on Tuesday. Carolyn Malsawmtluangi, from the northeastern state of Mizoram, was honored by the government on India's Republic Day last week for "showing exemplary courage" after she stopped a human trafficker who had kidnapped a seven-year-old girl from a neighbouring village. Malsawmtluangi, 11, first spotted the trafficker when playing volleyball with friends in June last year but assumed they were a mother and daughter, and even asked if the young girl wanted to join their game. But after police raised the alarm over a trafficker the next day, Malsawmtluangi soon spotted the woman again and began talking to her before agreeing to take care of the girl while the woman ran an errand. It was then that both girls escaped - Malsawmtluangi carrying the child on her shoulders and running home while avoiding stones hurled by the angry trafficker. "If Carolyn had not stopped them, the trafficker would have disappeared with the little girl," said Khawlhrinj Lalhlupuii, a secretary at the Mizoram State Council for Child Welfare that recommended her for the annual award. "She was very brave to understand the danger to the little girl and save her," she said. "We plan to share her story in all schools and create awareness on trafficking and safety." Of the nearly 6,000 victims of human trafficking in India each year, about half were children, according to the latest data from the National Crime Records Bureau. Most are women and children from rural areas looking to escape poverty - lured to cities each year by traffickers who promise good jobs, but sell them into modern-day slavery. Read also: Female comic superhero fights India's sex traffickers, challenges stigma More than 60,000 children were kidnapped in 2018, the crime bureau added, with the majority trafficked for marriage, forced labor or into domestic servitude, and rarely reunited with their families. In Mizoram, anti-trafficking efforts have been increased in recent years in a bid to stem a rise in reported cases. "We are stepping up our efforts because young people are increasingly getting duped by fake agents promising jobs," said Vanlalruata, president of the Central Young Mizo Association, a charity that works on anti-trafficking programs. "This young girl will now inspire others and bring attention to the problem," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. The National Bravery Awards are given to around 25 children between the ages of six and 18 every year. The recipients, selected from across India, are given a medal, a certificate, a cash prize, and also receive financial assistance to complete their schooling. In the past, children have won awards for foiling robberies, fighting off armed intruders, rescuing people from drowning, saving lives in a stampede and putting out fires. "We are very proud and happy," said Lalsangzeli, Malsawmtluangi's mother. "The entire village will celebrate my brave daughter." Japanese society, known for its polite orderliness, is heavily dependent on unspoken understandings and behavior aimed at maintaining the wa the idea of social harmony. With Tokyo bracing for an influx of tourists for the 2020 Summer Olympics, here are some lesser-known tips for first-timers on avoiding faux pas and other cultural missteps while in Japan. No tipping required Attending the Summer Olympics in Tokyo will be an expensive undertaking for visitors, so it should be some relief to know that tipping is not customary in Japans service industry. While not necessarily seen as rude there is some argument that tipping is a slight against the proprietor tipping is not standard practice in the country, given that worker salaries come entirely from wages and the value placed on consistent, excellent customer service. Paying with cash? Use the small tray at the register, rather than handing money to the cashier A common sight in Japanese stores is a small plastic tray next to the cash register. If paying with cash, the common courtesy is to place ones money in the tray, rather than hand it to the cashier directly, with any change to be returned to the customer in the same manner. For shops without a tray, it is acceptable to hand your cash directly to the cashier. Georgia temporarily suspends direct flights with China to prevent the spread of coronavirus in Georgia, according to the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency. The suspension of flights will be in place until March 29, 2020. Chinese aviation authorities and the airline company China Southern have already been notified about the flight suspension, Agenda.ge reported. Direct flights between Georgia and China was also cancelled on January 25-27. A major provincial transit project could delay the construction of hundreds of affordable housing units through Mayor John Torys signature program in a clash that threatens to put two of Torontos most pressing needs in conflict with one another. At issue is 770 Don Mills Rd., a property that currently serves as a parking lot for the Ontario Science Centre. Its one of 11 surplus city-owned sites slated for conversion to mixed-income development under the Housing Now initiative that Mayor John Tory has framed as a key element of councils efforts to tackle Torontos housing affordability problem. But the site is now also along the path of the Ontario Line, the new $11-billion, 16-kilometre transit project Premier Doug Fords government has pitched as critical to delivering badly needed transit to the city. The property sits close to where the Ontario Line would connect with the under-construction Eglinton Crosstown LRT. According to a Jan. 21 report from city real estate agency CreateTO, the Don Mills housing project has been delayed for several years due to the planning work for the proposed Ontario Line. Metrolinx, the provincial transit agency overseeing the Ontario Line, said that since learning of the housing project the organization is exploring options to avoid any delay. A schedule CreateTO released last February showed construction for the housing development was supposed to start next year, with occupancy by 2023. The move-in date slipped to 2025 in a report released last April. In the January report, CreateTO states the timeline for the project is subject to Ontario Line requirements, and estimates construction wont start until 2023, with occupancy expected by 2026. The agency submitted a development application for the site in 2018, but the report says it will have to be revised, which CreateTO anticipates could be done by mid-2021. Once developed, 770 Don Mills is expected provide an estimated 1,389 new residential units, 931 of which would be rentals, and 465 would be affordable rental units. That represents almost 13 per cent of all the affordable units that would be built under the Housing Now plan, which council passed in December 2018. Mark Richardson, technical lead for the housing advocacy group HousingNowTO, which tracks the Housing Now plan, described the delay as disappointing but unsurprising. Read more: TTC reveals plans to spend billions in funding on transit improvements Torontos proposal for balanced budget needs $77 million from federal government Toronto is now paying the price for a decade of low property taxes, report says He said the Don Mills development has been in progress for years, and housing advocates have been asking how the Ontario Line would affect it since the provincial government unveiled the transit project last April. The province gave the city few details about the Ontario Line before the premier announced it would replace previous city-led plans for a relief line subway, which wouldnt have extended as far north as the Don Mills site. The citys been working towards this (housing development) for a number of years. Suddenly the Ontario Line gets dropped into the mix, without what would appear (to be) any advance consultation with the city, and it potentially delays or scuttles an in-flight project to create large amounts of affordable housing, Richardson said. He said he was concerned delays to the housing project will get worse if the Ontario Line falls behind schedule. The province has set a target date of 2027 for opening the line, but few experts believe thats realistic. Both CreateTO and the mayors spokesperson framed the delay as an eventual benefit because future residents will get improved transit. This will be a major transit-oriented development site, Susan ONeill of CreateTO wrote in an email. The inclusion of a major transit hub at 770 Don Mills will not only add value to the site, it will also provide better connectivity to the downtown core for the residents living within the Housing Now development. Ontario Line planning hasnt impacted any other affordable housing projects planned in the first phase of Housing Now, ONeill added. The Ontario government has the power to expropriate the city-owned property, ONeill said. However, we look forward to working with our provincial partners to advance this project to deliver a transit-oriented development on this site, she added. Don Peat, Torys executive director of communications, said integrating the city-owned site with the Ontario Line and Eglinton Crosstown LRT is the kind of transit-oriented affordable housing the mayor wants built. He expects CreateTO and city staff to get 770 Don Mills planned, developed and built as quickly as possible and in the best way possible. Metrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins said the organization will do what it can to ensure the housing project wont be delayed. Upon learning more about the proposed housing development at 770 Don Mills Rd., we began working on alignment options that will allow for both projects to move forward concurrently, she said. While more work needs to be done before finalizing the exact alignment in the area, the guiding principle is to protect for CreateTOs vision for the site, including the original proposed timelines. With files from David Rider 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: (TNS) The FBI is helping Belvidere, Ill., authorities investigate a cyberattack that struck dozens of computers at City Hall this week, leaving city employees without access to email and other programs on the city's network.Mayor Mike Chamberlain said the attack happened late Monday or in the early morning hours on Tuesday. City employees arrived to work to discover that they were locked out of their computers.Chamberlain stopped short of calling the attack a case of ransomware. No one has demanded a ransom from the city as a result of the cyberattack, he said.Ransomware is a type of harmful software that denies owners access to their computer systems or data until a ransom is paid. It's often spread through infected emails and websites. Rockford Public Schools is still recovering from a ransomware attack that struck the district in September."We have invited the FBI and they are checking because we think there has been a widespread attack," Chamberlain said. "Possibly there are other cities debilitated by this.""Until we determine how this occurred, I can't say how long it will be before we have everything back up and running," Chamberlain said. "All of our computers went down overnight. All of our computers are not working I'm going to guess 40 or 50 computers."The cyberattack hasn't crippled city services, the mayor said. Residents will still be able to pay water bills or pull a building permit, "but it might just take a few more minutes for us to help them because we may have to do some things manually," he said. A joint motion, combining five different resolutions tabled by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) against India's Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), has been placed on the final agenda for debate at the Plenary session in Brussels on Wednesday. However, an expected vote on the motion on Thursday has been postponed until the Parliament's Plenary session in March. "Following a decision by MEPs at the opening of today's Plenary session in Brussels, the vote on the resolution on India's Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 has been postponed to the March session, said a statement from the European Parliament, as it confirmed that the debate on the motion is to go ahead as scheduled later on Wednesday evening. The reason behind the postponement of the vote is unconfirmed but will come as a boost to the Indian government's efforts against such a motion being voted on by the European Parliament. The motion takes note of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) statement last month, which described the CAA as "fundamentally discriminatory in nature", and also of other UN as well as the European Union (EU) guidelines on human rights as it calls on the Indian government to "repeal the discriminatory amendments". The debate on CAA on Wednesday will follow the European Parliament's historic ratification of the Brexit bill, under which the UK is set to formally leave the economic bloc on Friday. "While the CAA's stated goal of protecting persecuted groups is welcome, an effective national asylum and refugee policy should be just and holistic in nature and apply to all those in need," notes the motion, which describes the CAA as "discriminatory in nature and dangerously divisive". The Indian government has maintained that the CAA, which was passed by the Indian Parliament last month, is an internal matter of the country and stressed that the goal is to protect the oppressed minorities of neighbouring countries. It has been extremely critical of the move in Brussels, which the European Commission the executive arm of the economic bloc has sought to distance itself from. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday wrote to European Parliament President David Maria Sassoli over the resolutions, saying it is inappropriate for one legislature to pass judgement on another and the practice can be misused by vested interests. "As members of Inter Parliamentary Union, we should respect sovereign processes of fellow legislatures, especially in democracies," Birla said in the letter. The European Parliament motion is critical of any protection being denied to Muslims and that even though India also shares a border with Bhutan, Burma, Nepal and Sri Lanka, the CAA does not bring Sri Lankan Tamils under its purview, who form the largest refugee group in India and who have been resident in the country for over 30 years. "Amnesty International India has pointed out that the CAA does not bring under its purview other persecuted minorities, including Muslim populations such as the Rohingya in Burma, Ahmadis in Pakistan, Hazaras in Afghanistan and Bihari Muslims in Bangladesh," it notes. There is also a reference to the Indian government's "push" for a nationwide citizenship verification process, the National Register of Citizens (NRC), which it says "aims to strip Muslims of their citizenship rights while protecting those of Hindus and other non-Muslims". The motion combines the separate resolutions tabled by the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D), Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) (PPE), Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance (Verts/ALE), Renew Europe Group (Renew) and European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) Group, representing around 560 of a total 751 MEPs. A sixth group, the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR), had withdrawn its resolution and references to the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in some of the resolutions have not found their way into the final motion. Such a move, which has been characterised under the "Relations with Asian countries" section by the economic bloc, are used as a basis for engagement of EU member countries with specific nations. If it is passed during a vote, now scheduled in March, it will be formally sent to the Indian government and Parliament as well as to the European Commission chiefs. While EU officials are keen to highlight that the motion reflects individual views of MEPs and does not reflect an EU-wide stance, the impact of the motion is likely to resonate with the EU-India relationship as the motion notes that the Strategic Partnership between the European Union and India is based on the shared values of democracy and respect for human rights. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Advertisement Human endogenous retroviruses (HERV) are part of the genetic code inherited from our distant ancestors during evolution. For the most part, this is the so-called junk or excess DNA, since the functions of its genes have not yet been established. Some researchers have pointed out the possible connection of this "genetic garbage" with various autoimmune diseases and other diseases including certain types of cancer. However, it has not yet been able to confidently confirm the existence of such a connection. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement In this case, we are talking about the unusual integration of the HK2 retrovirus (it is found only in 5-10% of people) when it is integrated into the gene that regulates the level of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is known as the hormone of pleasure. In small doses, it gives a person a pleasant sensation. However, this same hormone can cause addiction and the brain begins to require an increasing dose. Scientists investigated two groups of drug addicts in Greece and in Scotland who became infected as a result of their addiction to an infectious disease. It was HIV in Greece and hepatitis C in Scotland. In a control group, there were patients who had the same diseases but not due to drug use. A genetic test showed that the retrovirus HK2 was present in the genes of drug addicts 2-3 times more often than in the corresponding control group. According to the author of the study, Gikas Magiorkinis, this is a very strong correlation, although it does not allow us to state the presence of a direct relationship. Now scientists want to understand how this mechanism works: how the presence of the virus affects dopamine levels and increases the risk of addiction. This will not only help to better understand the nature of the disease but also suggest new methods of treatment or even help from national drug abuse hotline numbers: free addiction help 24/7. These are the main conclusions of the last and most ambitious study ever conducted in this area: scientists analyzed the data of nearly 600 thousand people who periodically drink alcohol and never call rehab numbers. The result of their work sounds peremptory: even in small doses, alcohol does not bear any benefit, and its harmful effects begin to appear already with 50 grams of alcohol per week - it's about two small glasses of wine or two cans of beer. How much do we really drink? People who rarely drink alcohol are pleased to think that they only strengthen their bodies in this way. A glass of wine at dinner is considered to be useful not only for digestion but also for the cardiovascular system. In Britain, for example, doctors recommend drinking no more than one and a half bottles of wine (or five pints of beer) per week without making any difference between men and women. But in Spain, this limit is 2.5 times bigger for men and 1.5 times for women. The results of a detailed analysis of 83 independent scientific papers aiming at studying the long-term effects of alcohol on the body (and our health in general) were published in the Lancet. In total, the data of 599, 912 people with no signs of cardiovascular disease from 19 countries with a relatively high average income were analyzed. Participants were divided into eight groups depending on the number of weekly alcohol amounts consumed. Other risk factors, such as smoking or diabetes, were also taken into account. Each subject was under long-term observation - from one and a half to 13 years. Over the years, more than 40 thousand participants of different ages died, more than 39 thousand were diagnosed with a particular disease of the cardiovascular system. Regardless of the specific cause, the likelihood of death shows an obvious (albeit non-linear) dependence on the amount of alcohol consumed. Moreover, life expectancy begins to decline already at a minimum level - less than 100 ml per week (there's over 100 ml of alcohol in a bottle of dry wine). Alcoholism treatment The consequences of alcoholism were suitable for medical research, even when pathological drunkenness was recognized as a sign of moral weakness rather than disease. However, when we learned more about biological factors that interacted with physical and social factors that stimulated abnormal drinking, doctors were more involved in the study of alcohol and medical procedures that could reduce its effects. The turning point was the emergence of the concept of alcoholism as a disease that was put forward by Professor Alvin Jellinek of Yale University in the 1940-1950s. In the framework of this concept, various types of pathological use of alcohol were considered as subtypes of a medical disorder called alcoholism. The first medical product for pathological drinkers (disulfiram) was invented in the 1920s but it was prescribed to patients much later. You can call drug help hotline to find out about treatment options for you. When taken daily, this medicine inhibits aldehyde dehydrogenase. This enzyme is responsible for breaking down alcohol molecules called acetaldehyde. If you take disulfiram and drink alcohol, a high level of acetaldehyde will accumulate in the body, and this will cause malaise. Disulfiram can be very useful in refusing alcohol if taken regularly, but many people do not benefit from it because they lose their course. Some patients, for example, stop taking the medicine when they want to drink after calling drug hotline number. However, this medicine can be very effective if family members or other close people monitor the pills. There are other drugs to treat alcoholism. Naltrexone blocks the action of opioids, such as morphine, and some believe that it reduces the beneficial effects of alcohol. Others suggest that it reduces alcohol consumption. Acamprosate is approved for the treatment of alcoholism in the United States, but its mechanism of action is not entirely clear, and this medicine did not show its effectiveness during the longest study to test this drug. The newer anticonvulsant drug, Topiramate, which has not yet been approved for use in the United States, is also promising. Other types of medications are used to relieve withdrawal symptoms. RAMALLAH, West Bank Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said a thousand nos to the Mideast peace plan announced Tuesday by President Trump, which strongly favors Israel. The Palestinians remain committed to ending the Israeli occupation and establishing a state with its capital in East Jerusalem, Abbas said in the West Bank city of Ramallah, where the Western-backed Palestinian Authority is headquartered. After the nonsense that we heard today, we say a thousand nos to the Deal of The Century, he said. The plan would create a Palestinian state in parts of the West Bank, but would allow Israel to annex its settlements in the occupied territory. The plan would allow the Palestinians to establish a capital on the outskirts of East Jerusalem but would leave most of the city under Israeli control. Trump also promised to provide $50 billion in international investment to build the new Palestinian entity and open an embassy in its new state. We will not kneel and we will not surrender, Abbas said, adding that the Palestinians would resist the plan through peaceful, popular means. The Islamic militant group Hamas rejected the conspiracies announced by the U.S. and Israel and said all options are open in responding to the Trump administrations plan. We are certain that our Palestinian people will not let these conspiracies pass. So, all options are open. The (Israeli) occupation and the U.S. administration will bear the responsibility for what they did, senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya said as he participated in one of several protests that broke out across the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Protesters burned tires and pictures of President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Abbas held an emergency meeting with other Palestinian factions, including Hamas, to discuss a unified response to the plan. Abbas had rejected the deal before it was announced saying the U.S. was hopelessly biased toward Israel. The Palestinians cut off all contacts with the Trump administration after it recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel more than two years ago and moved the embassy there. Late on Tuesday, Palestinian protesters clashed with Israeli forces on the outskirts of Ramallah, near the Jewish settlement of Beit El. Mohammed Daraghmeh and Fares Akram are Associated Press writers. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- At a time when it enjoys the most robust economy in its history and a thawing of relations with its Arab neighbors, Israel is increasingly treated as a pariah. Israels allies revoke the charity status of organizations that raise money for Jewish settlements. UN bodies such as the Human Rights Council focus on Israels treatment of the Palestinians, while some human-rights organizations pressure Airbnb Inc. to exclude listings from the West Bank. Goods sold abroad that originate there are labeled as such. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, when it won the territory from Jordan in the Six Day War. According to the United Nations, states that seize territory by force are not allowed to populate that territory with their own citizens. Israel has expanded Jewish settlements since 1967, on land that according to the 1993 Oslo Accords would make up most of a future Palestinian state. By most interpretations, those settlements are illegal. So are many other such occupations around the world, notes a new report from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Yet when was the last time you heard about a campaign to boycott, divest or sanction Armenia for its occupation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan? The report examines how international law is deployed in eight frozen conflicts where one state is occupying territory belonging to another and finds a double standard when it comes to Israel. The problem is not simply that the United Nations, United States, European Union, private corporations, and NGOs act in a highly inconsistent manner, it says. It is that their policies are selective and often reveal biases that underscore deeper problems in the international system. The example of Russia is instructive. In 2020, Russia occupies Ukrainian territory in Crimea and Donbass. It occupies the Georgian provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. It occupies the Moldovan territory of Transnistria. Story continues But Russia is really only paying a price for its occupation and annexation of Crimea, which has caused the U.S. and its European allies to sanction sectors of the Russian economy. Russia was initially sanctioned for its occupation of Georgian territory, but those sanctions were lifted in 2009 following a flimsy cease-fire agreement that Russian-backed separatists have since violated. The EU treats Transnistrian goods as if they were Moldovan. There are no restrictions on trade from the Georgian territory that Russia occupies. The EU, the report notes, has an exceptionally incoherent approach to protracted conflicts and trade. For example, it requires all goods exported from Israeli settlements to be labeled as coming from occupied territory. But it includes the Western Sahara region, which is occupied by Morocco, as part of Moroccos free trade agreement with the EU. Europe bans all trade with Crimea, but does not regulate trade with Abkhazia, South Ossetia or Transnistria. Part of the problem, according to the report, is that states which choose to occupy territory through proxy forces, such as the Turkish regime in charge of northern Cyprus or the Russian-backed separatists in the Donbass, are rarely treated the same as states that occupy territory with their own armed forces. Another problem is that some UN institutions are composed of states that have a political interest in demonizing Israel. That said, Israel is a unique case. It won the West Bank from a UN-recognized state in a war. But no one today argues that Israel should return that land to Jordan. Rather, Israel is expected to turn over the land it won to create a new state. That is the most important way that Israels occupation is different than the other frozen conflicts that receive such scant attention. Its important to note, though, that Israels occupation is not the primary obstacle to peace in the Middle East. Palestinian leaders have rejected past offers for statehood, and still insist that any two state-solution allow for the descendants of refugees created in the 1948 war to return to their homes. During Barack Obamas presidency, Palestinian leaders refused to meet with Israels prime minister, even after a partial settlement freeze. In this sense, the double standard about Israels occupation isnt just unfair, its counterproductive. The sooner the international community lets go of the illusion that it can force the Jewish state to create a Palestinian one, the sooner the hard work of compromise and negotiation can begin. 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. Apple prides itself on the iPhone's state-of-the-art security system, but researchers suggest that is what allowed for the attack on Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' smartphone. The tech giant controls the operating system and because nearly every iPhone is running on the same version, a sophisticated attacker finds a single vulnerability they can penetrate any phone even high profile individuals. Apple believes less visibility into the system means fewer bugs will be discovered, allowing it to stay more secure - so the firm is very secretive about the code. In Bezos' case, hackers likely exploited a series of bugs Apple had overlooked that let them bypass all the layers of the 'phone's considerable defenses', according to The Washington Post. Experts are now suggesting 'VIP and special people' trade in their iPhones for a custom Android smartphone, because although it may have more vulnerability, it allows professionals to find and fix them. Scroll down for video Apple prides itself on the iPhone's state-of-the-art security system, but researchers suggest that is what allowed for the attack on Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' (pictured) smartphone. In Bezos' case, hackers likely exploited a series of bugs Apple had overlooked make their was through all the layers of the 'phone's considerable defenses News surfaced last week that Bezos' iPhone X was hacked in 2018 after he received a malicious WhatsApp message from the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, months before the National Enquirer exposed his affair. According to forensic examination of the phone afterwards, the message was sent on May 1, 2018. Within hours, a large amount of data from Bezos' iPhone was extracted. Apple has long been against letting security researchers bypass security restrictions to peer into the operating system in order to sniff out vulnerabilities that may have gone unnoticed. However, security researchers are trying new ways to work around Apple's gridlock to determine whether iPhones have been hacked. News surfaced last week that Bezos' iPhone X was hacked in 2018 after he received a malicious WhatsApp message from the crown prince of Saudi Arabia (pictured), months before the National Enquirer exposed his affair. Within hours of the receiving the message, a large amount of data from Bezos' iPhone was extracted Zec Ops, a two-year-old cybersecurity firm, focuses on helping on companies and high-profile individuals. Customers are asked to hook their iPhone up to a computer or kiosk that uploads data logs to a server, so Zec Ops employees can see what is going inside the technology. HOW THE 'HACK' UNFOLDED September 2017: David Pecker, the publisher of AMI, reportedly meets Mohammed bin Salman April 2018: The crown prince attends a dinner in Hollywood hosted by producer Brian Grazer where he meets Jeff Bezos May 1: The video is sent from the prince's phone to Bezos' via WhatsApp October 2018: Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi is murdered by Saudi regime January 2019: The National Enquirer publishes its expose on Bezos' affair with Lauren Sanchez March 2019: Bezos' private investigator Gavin De Becker says he has proof Saudi Arabia hacked Bezos' phone - Saudi Arabia denies it January 2020: The Guardian reports that the prince's message was the source of the hack. A UN report comes to the same conclusion Advertisement Zuk Avraham, co-founder and CEO of Zec Ops, that to the untrained eye, the logs look like jumbled computer code. But for those proficient in the technology, it provides clues that a hacker may have left at the scene. After analyzing tens of thousands of phones, Avraham says he estimates 2 to 3 percent of them showed possible indicators of attacks. 'Apple is doing a relatively great job at securing those devices,' Avraham said. But breaking into one remotely 'is still within the capabilities of a talented individual.' Researchers are also using the process called 'jailbreaking', which requires them to physically install new software onto the smartphone. However, Apple has noted time and time again, that doing so violates a federal law known as the 'Digital Millennium Copyright Act.' Google, on the other hand, seems to believe the more the eyes the better. The firm has given the public access to its operating system, allowing them to look for flaws that may have otherwise never been found. It also allows researchers to use virtual Android devices. When researchers are able to penetrate an iPhone's iOS and find flaws, they actually hide their findings from Apple. When researchers are able to penetrate an iPhone's iOS (stock) and find flaws, they actually hide their findings from Apple. They are concerned that Apple will immediately 'patch' them' and prevent these experts from conducting further testing They are concerned that Apple will immediately 'patch' them' and prevent these experts from conducting further testing. The Washington Post also noted that the 'black market for iPhone bugs has flourished' and these individuals are offering their hacking abilities to the government, or anyone who is willing to pay. The United Nations issued a report last week suggesting that the malicious that malicious spyware created by Israeli company NSO Group may have been used by Saudi Arabia to hack Jeff Bezos' phone and steal his nude selfies. The UN high commissioner for human rights suggested that NSO Group's Pegasus spyware was the 'most likely' explanation for data that was stolen from Bezos' phone. The report notes that the Saudi Royal Guard acquired the Pegasus-3 spyware from NSO Group in a November 2017 contract. The U.N. experts said Bezos' phone hacking occurred during a period in which the phones of two close associates of Jamal Khashoggi were also hacked, allegedly using the Pegasus malware. Editor's note: This story for a very brief time said the results of this test were issued. This was incorrect information released by the city. The test result has not yet been released. NEW HAVEN There are no results yet on a coronavirus test done on a high school student who participated in the Yale Model United Nations weekend conference, according to the director of Yale Health. A test was ordered to rule out infection with the novel coronavirus, or 2019-nCoV, after the high school student from China who participated in the annual conference exhibited fever and cough and was evaluated in the Yale-New Haven Hospital Emergency Department over the weekend, Dr. Paul Genecin said in a statement Tuesday. Genecin said he would notify the community as soon as the result is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A Wesleyan student who had become ill tested negative for the coronavirus. The Wesleyan student is doing well, according to university spokesperson Lauren Rubenstein. While awaiting word from the CDC on the visiting high school student, Mayor Justin Elicker said Monday he and the citys Health Department are working closely with Yale New Haven Hospital, the state Department of Health and others to monitor updates on the outbreak. The Yale Model United Nations conference brought some 1,400 students to New Haven for the event that started on Thursday. The student from China tested positive for influenza. Genecin had previously said the student tested positive for influenza and that the test result suggests the student has influenza rather than 2019-nCoV, or coronavirus infection. However, out of an abundance of caution, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has asked that the student be tested for 2019-nCoV, Genecin said in a statement. Genecin said in his statement that Dean of Yale College Marvin Chun, in consultation with health experts, had requested that YMUN cancel all activities that had been scheduled for Sunday. Yale New Haven Hospital staff members are screening any patients with an acute respiratory infection to determine whether they have traveled to Wuhan, China, or have had contact with anyone arriving from the area, Dr. Richard Martinello, medical director for infection prevention at Yale New Haven Health, has said. More than 4,500 cases of the new viral respiratory illness have been confirmed since an outbreak began last month in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the Associated Press reported Tuesday. The CDC reports it is closely monitoring the outbreak of the respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (named 2019-nCoV) that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China and which continues to expand. Chinese health officials have reported thousands of infections with 2019-nCoV in China, with the virus reportedly spreading from person-to-person in many parts of that country. Infections with 2019-nCoV, most of them associated with travel from Wuhan, also are being reported in a growing number of international locations, including the United States. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has assured member states of the European Union (EU) that Ghanas 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections would be held in a transparent, free and fair manner. The Minister gave the assurance in her welcome address at the 2020 edition of the Ghana-EU Political Dialogue held on Wednesday, January 29, at the Obed Asamoah Conference Room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in Accra. The Dialogue provided an opportunity for Ghana and the EU to discuss matters of mutual interest under the theme Ghana and EU: Partners for the Future. In assuring the EU member states of a peaceful election in 2020, she noted that as we all know, elections are an important part of every democratic society. Their main purpose is to provide citizens with an opportunity to choose freely their political leaders and allocate power peacefully. She added that for a very long time now, Ghanas elections have been transparent, peaceful, free and fair, and this Government is determined to ensure that that enviable record of accomplishment is maintained in this years elections. Bound Together Turning attention to Ghana and the EU relations over the decades, she observed that Ghana and Europe have been bound together for centuries by their common history, thereby interlocking their cultures and resulting in their shared values. Indeed, she said, their long joint history is replete with fruitful partnerships, enhanced in recent times by an existing framework of a yearly political Dialogue which enables them to take stock of their cooperation and assess how it is benefiting their peoples. It is an opportunity to expand our engagement and to address any challenges that may exist, she said. My personal wish is that at this particular session, we make an honest appraisal of what the yearly Ghana-EU Dialogue has achieved, renew our commitments, and chart a courageous course for the subsequent years, she urged. Benefits The Minister revealed that Ghana continues to benefit from the prime position the EU occupies when it comes to global trade. The openness of the EUs trade regime, she said, has meant that the Union remains the biggest player on the global trading scene and also continues to be a major trading partner for Ghana. The EU remains the leading destination for Ghanas exports, offering free access to the EU market through the framework of first the Lome Convention, followed by the Cotonou Agreement, and now the interim Economic Partnership Agreement, she stated. The EU has indeed been an important bedrock for Ghanas development, according to her. That notwithstanding, she observed that in a fast-changing world with important transformational shifts, the EU is more than a key political, economic and development partner of Ghana. She explained that the EU is a safe anchor and vital link for a modern, forward-looking and sustainable Ghana. Our Dialogue today is therefore, not only to reaffirm the high premium we place on our relationship with the EU, but also to discuss ways and means to elevate it, going beyond our traditional development cooperation, she added. We are, indeed confident that within the ACP-EU framework and beyond, the EU will back the ongoing efforts by Government to invest in human development, research, and innovation which are the cornerstones of a modern economy and an inclusive society, she said. The Dialogue took place at a time the Government of Ghana has embarked on a number of initiatives aimed at consolidating the macroeconomic environment whilst transforming the economy. This is being done through flagship programmes, such as the One District One Factory, One Village One Dam, Free Senior High School Education, Planting for Food and Jobs and the 'Formalization of the Economy through Digitalization. These initiatives, the Minister said, are all geared towards creating jobs and economic opportunities for the youth in particular, whilst transforming the economy from over-reliance on aid to trade. Appeal For Support Mrs. Ayorkor Botchwey seized the opportunity to solicit the support of member states of the EU for Ghanas candidatures for the following positions: Dr. Edward Kwakwa for the Post of Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) at elections to be held in Geneva, from Thursday, 5th to Friday, 6th March, 2020, and Madam Hilary Amesika Gbedemah for re-election to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), at elections to be held in New York on Monday, 29th June, 2020. I trust that Ghana can count on the invaluable support of all of you in these elections, she appealed. Attendance List In attendance at the Dialogue were the Vice President of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia; Ministers and Deputy Ministers Present; the European Union Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Diana Acconcia; Heads of EU Member Countries, and the Chief Director and Directors of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and other Sector Ministries. ---Daily Guide Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 18:31 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2061920fc 1 Business omnibus-bill,omnibus-law,Sri-Mulyani-Indrawati,Jokowi,investment,taxation,income-tax Free President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has signed a letter to officially start deliberations of the governments omnibus bill on taxation in the House of Representatives, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said on Wednesday. The letter will be submitted to the House of Representatives along with the bill. We will submit the Surpres [presidential letter] that has been signed by the President and meet with the House leaders soon, said Sri Mulyani on the sidelines of an event in Jakarta. The government expects the deliberations to start soon as the bill has been included in the 2020 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas), said the former World Bank managing director. The Prolegnas lists four omnibus bills, including bills on job creation and taxation. If passed into law, the bills are expected to cut regulatory red tape to attract investment to help boost the countrys sluggish economic growth. We hope the omnibus bills will be submitted this week, depending on the Houses plenary session schedule and how the lawmakers complete the discussions of the bill on taxation, Sri Mulyani said. She did not elaborate on whether the bill on job creation would also be submitted this week. The governments planned tax reforms in the omnibus bill on taxation include relaxing income tax for Indonesian and foreign expatriates as well as eliminating dividend taxes, lowering the corporate income tax and imposing a new digital economy tax. Sri Mulyani and Coordinating Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto are scheduled to meet with House leaders on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the deliberation process. FILE PHOTO: Tanks of state-owned company Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) are seen at a storage facility, in Ciudad Juarez By Stefanie Eschenbacher and Devika Krishna Kumar MEXICO CITY/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Mexico is playing a risky game of hide and seek with the oil market. To frustrate speculators and contain an annual bill of more than $1 billion, Mexico is going to new lengths to mask its attempts to insure its revenue from oil sales against falling prices - no mean feat for a hedging program known as Wall Street's biggest oil trade. Getting the hedge right is crucial for Mexico as it offers stability at a time the government is planning to boost social welfare and security spending, the economy is stagnating and the country's credit-worthiness is under intense scrutiny. Once an enigmatic agreement between a handful of finance industry officials and Wall Street banks, the hedge is now the most anticipated deal in the oil futures market, making it harder, and more costly, for Mexico to arrange. For its 2020 hedge, however, Mexico has adopted a different strategy than in previous years, according to a Wall Street source with direct knowledge of the deal. This time, an estimated two-thirds of the options Mexico bought in financial markets were indexed to the international Brent crude benchmark, shifting away from the Maya oil Mexico mainly produces, according to the source. By using such a heavily traded contract as Brent, Mexico should have been able to cut costs by getting lower quotes for its trades and to place bets more unobtrusively to avoid prices shifting ahead of its moves, market sources said. But critics say the strategy creates new risks. By using international oil contracts based on a different kind of oil, the structure of the hedge may not fully reflect Mexico's export mix dominated by Maya, which is typically cheaper than Brent. SWEET OR SOUR "I would expect a divergence of prices over the long term. This pressure on Maya could move prices down faster than its hedge. This would cause a loss on the physical sale of Maya and minimal-to-possibly no benefit of the hedge," said Ryan Dusek, director at consulting firm Opportune LLP https://opportune.com based in Houston, who added that the trade could end up being "worthless." Story continues The Mexican finance ministry declined to comment on the structure of the hedge. The Wall Street source said the proportion of Maya crude hedged for 2020 was significantly lower than in previous years. For the 2009 deal, for example, Barclays, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley hedged 305 million barrels of crude using Maya and only 25 million with Brent, data obtained by Reuters through a freedom of information request showed. The Wall Street source said for 2020, Mexico had bought put options on Brent on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) at $54-$56 a barrel and hedged Maya at $42. Brent is trading at around $63 a barrel while Maya's official selling price for deliveries to the U.S. Gulf Coast is about $55, according to S&P Global Platts pricing data. The options give Mexico the right to sell oil at the predetermined price, so if the actual market price is lower, the options pay out and make up the difference - acting effectively as an insurance policy. But if the price of Maya, a heavy sour crude, falls faster than Brent, a light sweet crude - or Maya drops and Brent rises - Mexico could miss out on oil revenues without the hedge kicking in, analysts and market sources said. Mexico has had to contend with the potential divergence in Maya and Brent crude prices before but the risk is now greater as demand for heavy crudes globally is expected to slump. Reuters was unable to determine whether Mexico has taken additional steps to bridge any gaps between Maya and Brent. 'HACIENDA HEDGE' Mere rumors of Mexico's "Hacienda hedge," which gets its name from the country's finance ministry, can shift prices ahead of its anticipated deals and the government fears participants push up premiums when they suspect Mexico is about to trade. "Banks have become much better at accumulating information about it," said Victor Gomez, a former Mexican finance ministry official involved in the hedge until 2018. In part due to this, the hedge's cost has increased 10-fold in peso terms since 2001, even though the number of barrels hedged has barely changed, the data obtained from the freedom of information request showed. Mexico spent the equivalent of $212 million to hedge 200 million barrels in 2001 but in 2016, hedging 212 million barrels cost $956 million. In 2017, Mexico stopped disclosing the number of barrels it has hedged. Now, for the first time in at least 19 years, finance ministry officials have declined to reveal how much they're spending to protect 2020 revenue, saying the information would give speculators insight into their strategy and raise costs. "What we don't want is that they identify the moments that Mexico goes to the market, because that raises the costs of the premium," Gabriel Yorio, one of the main architects of the hedge under President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who took office a year ago, told reporters this month. The cost of the hedge has also risen because the peso has declined versus the U.S. dollar and because options have become more expensive since many commodity-oriented funds, which were natural counterparties to the deal, have closed. Officials have also declined to say how much of the 1.73 million barrels a day it produces they're protecting, nor to what extent they're using put options or a budget stabilization fund to guarantee government revenue. All they have disclosed is that the 2020 hedge guarantees an average price for Maya of $49 a barrel. (Graphic: Mexico oil hedge - https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/editorcharts/MEXICO-OIL-HEDGE/0H001QEEL6ZW/eikon.png) Since 2001, Mexico has received three payouts up until the end of last year: in 2009, 2015 and 2016, the data showed. Nevertheless, those three payments were so large the finance ministry could argue it was still ahead - at least before including the cost of the 2020 program. Mexico has also taken other steps to cover its tracks. In response to further questions in Reuters' records request, Mexico's transparency institute said additional information about the hedge had been sealed for five years. It cited the finance ministry as saying revealing details could increase costs, affect Mexico's monetary policy and financial stability and create systemic financial risk. "This is part of Mexico's strategy to leave banks and oil majors in the dark about what they are buying and how much they are paying," said Gomez. Asked about specifics at a news conference on Jan. 9, Mexican official Yorio highlighted the importance of the overhaul of the crude oil pricing formulas that underpin Mexico's oil exports. Last year, Mexico changed the pricing formula for Maya sales to the U.S. Gulf Coast to be based 65% on U.S. West Texas Intermediate in Houston - a light sweet crude which is the most traded U.S. Gulf Coast grade - and 35% on Brent futures. Before, it had been derived from West Texas Sour, Dated Brent and other grades that have become less traded markets. The formula also previously included fuel oil rich in sulphur, which has been hit by new rules requiring ships to use cleaner fuel. FUND OR OPTIONS Mexican officials involved in the hedge in the past said the government may be considering increasing its use of the stabilization fund to guarantee oil prices as a supplement to financial instruments. From the mid-2010s, Mexico started to lock in part of its target oil price with the fund to contain the costs of the options it buys from banks and major oil companies. For example, Mexico locked in a price of $79 for its 2015 hedge, with $76.40 guaranteed by options and the remaining $2.60 backed by the fund. In 2017, the last time the ministry released such information, $4 of its $42 hedge was covered by the fund. Gomez and Julio Ruiz, another former official involved in the hedge until 2018, said Mexico was expected to expand this strategy in the coming years but cautioned it would struggle to keep enough money in the fund to hedge oil exports fully. "They would have to accumulate a larger amount of resources in this fund," Gomez said. Nevertheless, those changes would do little to ease the concerns of some who believe Mexico spends too much on the hedge, said Ruiz, adding that guaranteeing oil revenue was still necessary given the pressures on Mexico and state-owned Pemex, the world's most heavily indebted oil company. "In congress, many will say they don't agree with how this money is spent, and that it shouldn't be spent on the oil hedging program," Ruiz said. "But Mexico's finances would become a lot more volatile without it." (Reporting by Stefanie Eschenbacher in Mexico City and Devika Krishna Kumar in New York; Additional reporting by Ana Isabel Martinez and David Alire Garcia; Editing by David Gaffen, Frank Jack Daniel and David Clarke) By West Kentucky Star & City of Paducah Staff Jan. 28, 2020 | 08:15 PM | PADUCAH Paducah/McCracken County is one of five Tennessee RiverLine pilot communities working to develop a continuous system of multi-modal trail experiences such as paddling, hiking, and biking along the 652-mile Tennessee River from Knoxville, Tennessee, to Paducah. The summit provided an opportunity for pilot community partners, members of the Tennessee RiverLine Partnership, and other key project stakeholders to celebrate and discuss the work completed over the past year. Paducah/McCracken County received an award in recognition of exemplary leadership and participation as a 2019 Tennessee RiverLine Pilot Community. River Discovery Center Executive Director Julie Harris received a special award to honor her work as a community partner. Harris says, It was very special to be honored by this group. It has been a great experience for me to be involved in such an exciting project from its beginning. While still in its early stages, I believe that once developed, the Tennessee RiverLine will have a positive impact on Paducah and our region." Paducah Main Street Director Katie Axt partnered with McCracken County and the River Discovery Center to coordinate the Tennessee RiverLine project for Paducah/McCracken County with the goal of building a dynamic riverfront experience. Axt says, The Tennessee RiverLine Summit celebrated the completion of the pilot program with the five communities. We had the opportunity to share knowledge among the communities of our opportunities and challenges. As we move forward, we will be working to determine ways to strengthen and grow our partnerships and connections as we develop this regional trail system and enhance Paducahs assets. The timing of the Tennessee RiverLine pilot project is advantageous as Paducah moves forward with the design and construction of the projects outlined in the BUILD grant. Paducah is fortunate to have received a $10.4 million grant to enhance the riverfront and build a riverboat excursion plaza. The Tennessee RiverLine work will enhance and inform our thinking in the design elements for recreation and waterfront activities as we move forward with the BUILD projects, adds Axt. The Tennessee RiverLine is considered to be North Americas next great regional trail system. In May 2019, the Tennessee RiverLine Partnership selected the Pilot Communities from a pool of 17 applicants. In August 2019, Paducah held a public engagement session at the River Discovery Center for the community to provide feedback on current river access and usage and input on developing the river from economic, social, and environmental aspects. The five Pilot Communities are as follows: Paducah/McCracken County, Kentucky; Roane County, Tennessee; Bridgeport, Alabama; The Shoals, Alabama (Florence-Muscle Shoals MSA); and Benton County, Tennessee. From its beginnings as an idea in the University of Tennessee School of Landscape Architecture, the Tennessee RiverLine has transformed into a project with more than two dozen partners including the National Park Service, Tennessee State Parks, and Tennessee Valley Authority. The plan is for the Tennessee RiverLine to serve as a catalyst for economic, social and environmental growth across four states while connecting communities and celebrating the history, beauty and diversity of the Tennessee River Valley. For more information, visit www.tnriverline.org. Paducah Main Street Director Katie Axt, McCracken County Judge Executive Craig Clymer, and River Discovery Center Executive Director Julie Harris represented Paducah/McCracken County at the 2020 Tennessee RiverLine Summit held recently in Knoxville, Tennessee. Qantas is preparing to fly into Wuhan to evacuate hundreds of Australians trapped in the epicentre of the deadly coronavirus, as the Morrison government turns Christmas Island into a quarantine station. Cabinet's national security committee signed off on an unprecedented evacuation plan on Wednesday morning to transfer Australian citizens from China's Hubei province to the immigration detention centre in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The rapid escalation will see Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) officers meet the evacuated Australian citizens on the island to treat and quarantine them over a 14-day period. The coronavirus has now killed 132 people. As of Wednesday morning, there were 6000 confirmed cases of the flu-like disease. More than 80 were located outside of China, while five have been confirmed in Australia. BOISE, IdahoBright, colorful lotus flowers rise out of thick mud each morning without getting so much as a spot of dirt on their petals. How they achieve this inspiring and miraculous-looking feat has baffled people for centuries and encouraged those facing trials to keep up hope and search deeper for the ability to rise above circumstances. Traditional culture itself has faced terrible trials in the last few decades, a fact that theatergoers Olga and Phil Kocham are well aware of and have personal experience with. They attended Shen Yun Performing Arts in Boise, Idaho, on Jan. 28, 2020, and were grateful for the groups effort to revive Chinas traditional culture in the face of pressure from the current communist regime. I would say the one thing that probably could topple the communist regime, the iron-fisted, crushing of, soul-crushing, right, would be that message, right? And I think it would resonate with traditional, with Chinese people. Its a very strong undercurrent, Phil said about Shen Yuns mission to revive Chinas divinely-inspired culture. It was not Olgas first time seeing the performance, and it would not be the couples last. Phil and his wife Olga own a real estate company and plan to bring their friends to Shen Yun next year. I grew up in the Soviet Union andit was pretty much same whats happens in China, Olga said, after seeing dances in Shen Yun that depict the brutal and ongoing persecution of spiritual believers there. They [the Soviets] at least prohibited, and the most prosecuted, people who were religious, Olga said, relating her own story about how her grandmother had wanted her baptized, but her parents who grew up under the atheist regime were against it because it was prohibited by the state. So yes, I can feel the pain and its great that [Shen Yun] can do it and bring the Chinese traditions here, she said. It was beautiful! Its fantastic. Yes, wonderful. Magical, Phil said about the connection between culture and spirituality he saw in Shen Yun. Ive seen many, many dancers but they [Shen Yun] are always completely synchronized, he continued. Usually you see dancers, theres always one that lags the other. The synchronization was perfect. And thats just dedication and repetition and really every person coming every day bringingtheir best performance. I saw it in Arizona first time, Olga said. It was beautiful. I was blown away. And now its my second time and Im amazed as well. Its a great, great performance. Just very high level and just breathtaking. Phil gave his wife a sweet, genuine kiss to thank her for bringing him to this, his first Shen Yun performance. New York-based Shen Yun was started by artists who had left China, wanting to present the traditional culture they could not under the communist regime. Since its inception in 2006, it has become the worlds premier classical Chinese dance company and seeks to bring the 5,000 years of divinely inspired culture to life through music and dance. Shen Yun Performing Arts curtain call at Boises Morrison Center for the Performing Arts, on Jan. 28, 2020. (The Epoch Times) Reviving Traditional Culture Phil, too, has had a personal run-in with the Chinese communist regime that left a lasting impression on him. A former college classmate of his was suddenly and unexpectedly forced by the Chinese regime to leave her child behind when she came to Oregon to become a physicist. After a year went by, Phil found her in tears at not being able to bring her child to live with her. After Phil learned about her predicament, he contacted his local political representative who stepped in and put pressure on China to release her child. It worked, and the two were united. Phil had deep thoughts and feelings about communisms detrimental effect on societies and on the world. He responded to the true stories of persecution in Shen Yun, where people are pressured into abandoning their consciences and carrying out evil deeds in the name of atheism and materialism. What they [communists] do is they separate us and them, and then create an enemy, right, that you must hate. And thats how they get us to give power to them. So the minute you realize that the egoic mind first separates, then either elevates or pushes down to create differences. And as soon as you resist that, they lose their power. You wont give someone power if you dont believe you have an enemy. So thats whats most important, I think, he said. Phil added his observation that when people abandon their faith in God and heaven, dark and hateful things come to fill that void, and youre left with a soulless, blank, terrible world, he said, a very different world than Shen Yun depicts on stage. Traditional Chinese culture, as most traditional cultures, believes in the divine. China was once known as the Celestial Empire, its culture believed to have been passed down from gods to humankind. For 5,000 years, people lived in accordance to keeping harmony between man, earth, and the heavens, and Shen Yun artists seek to live that in their daily lives as well. Olga and Phil wanted Shen Yuns artists to know how much they and their hard work are appreciated. Their dedication and their joy and their abilityits where; where it all meets and comes together, Phil said. Because they are obviously very talented and genetically disposed to that, but then the hard work, right, because if youre so talented, things come easy. But then they had to work so hard. So Im; its just; it warms my heart and its admirable. We really appreciate the effort and the passion and the idea they bring to people, Olga added. Its very noble and great goal and nice message theyre bringing to people. So it was very heartwarming and beautiful. We are definitely coming next year. Really appreciate the work. With reporting by Lily Yu and Brett Featherstone. The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time and has covered audience reactions since the companys inception in 2006. The parliamentary faction of the Bright Armenia Party doesnt understand why the authorities express lack of confidence in the entire judiciary, yet only touch upon the Constitutional Court. This is what deputy of the Bright Armenia faction Taron Simonyan told reporters during briefings at the National Assembly today. According to him, people in Armenia dont trust the judiciary because whenever they apply to first instance courts, the latter render court judgements that dont satisfy the people. In many cases, the people are right because, due to objective and subjective reasons, the countrys judiciary cant ensure effective implementation of justice. The entire judiciary is to blame, not just the Constitutional Court. We believe its not right to forget about this issue and only focus on one person, Simonyan said. Syracuse, NY -- A visiting judge Monday tossed a criminal indictment against a prolific Syracuse defense lawyer, ruling there wasnt enough evidence to take Robert Baska to trial on a charge of lying under oath. Baska, 61, of Kirkville, plans to sue Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick and his office, accusing them of malicious prosecution and ruining the livelihood of a courtroom adversary, said Baskas lawyer, Jarrod Smith. Theyve ruined my clients (law) practice, Smith said. There was nothing done wrong. Assistant District Attorney Caleb Petzoldt said his office will file an appeal seeking to overturn the judges ruling and reinstating the felony perjury charge. The DAs case, from the start, has hinged upon testimony from a repeat felon, Jeffrey Emmons, 51, who has since admitted lying under oath in the case involving his lawyer, Baska. Baska was charged as an accomplice to Emmons scheme to lie to a judge regarding a witness in a prior trial. But Judge John Crandall, a state Supreme Court Justice from Herkimer County, noted that the law requires corroboration to Emmons accusations. In other words, prosecutors cant simply rely on the word of the main criminal -- in this case, Emmons -- to establish that Baska was Emmons accomplice. In viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the People, the Court finds that the People have failed to present evidence sufficient to corroborate the testimony of Jeffrey Emmons, Crandall wrote in his decision. Crandall was brought in to handle the case because Baska has, for more than a decade, routinely appeared before Onondaga Countys judges in his dozens of cases representing people being prosecuted by the DAs office. In fact, Baskas office received the highest amount of taxpayer money in recent years from the countys program to provide legal assistance to the poor. In 2017, for instance, Baskas office was paid $246,415 to represent the poor. The assigned counsel program said that payout was for work done by Baska and an associate. It was more than $30,000 more than the second highest-paid defense lawyer on the list. After Baskas indictment in November, his defense work had to come to an abrupt halt. Now, his lawyer argues that the DAs office never had any intention of winning their criminal case against Baska; they simply wanted to ruin his career because he was doing a good job against them. Theres nothing else to call this but malicious, Smith said, adding later: They did it to hurt my client. And they did. Smith suggested that such a prosecution could have a chilling effect on all defense lawyers in the county: get on the DAs bad side, and theyll find some magical theory of criminal liability against you. Petzoldt, the prosecutor, said that his office disagrees with the judges decision. A review by the DAs office of the case cited by the judge actually supports the argument to uphold the indictment, Petzoldt continued. For now, Baska faces no charges and wont have to undergo a February trial that could have landed him in prison for up to 1 1/3 to 4 years. An appeal to the judges decision will take many months. For now, Smith said, his client plans to resume his law practice. 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. Editors Note: The following is the final installment of a three-part series adapted from David L. Bahnsens new book, Elizabeth Warren: How Her Presidency Would Destroy the Middle Class and the American Dream. Part I is here; part II is here. What if a self-proclaimed environmental advocate produced a radical and costly plan to save the environment . . . that actually harmed the environment? Elizabeth Warrens obsession with banning fracking, and other means and methods of energy that have played a key role in diminishing pollution, would accomplish precisely that. American electricity generation has gone from 50 percent coal-based to 28 percent in a decade and is projected to be just 17 percent in 30 years. This, of course, has been made possible by American production of natural gas, which has skyrocketed as a source of electricity generation. Renewables account for just 18 percent of electricity production. Even the most delusional, optimistic projections about the growth of renewables dont predict anything more than 35 percent of electricity needs being met by renewables for decades. With $6.7 billion a year of subsidies to renewables, wind and solar still remain completely uncompetitive from a cost standpoint, and of course their weather-dependent intermittent nature makes them undependable as a source of electricity. I oppose the $489 million of subsidies paid out to the fossil-fuel industry annually, but paying 14 times that amount to subsidize renewables has done exactly one thing: provide tax credits to reward well-heeled economic actors and distort the energy marketplace. Price discovery has long been absent from the renewable-energy space, as talented entrepreneurs endeavor to secure government tax breaks, not to innovate and, least of all, to create a profitable (sustainable) enterprise. Industries with long-term sustainability attract profit-driven actors; the players in industries reliant on government-crony handouts seek to game the system and have infinite incentives to delay the successful achievement of a goal. Story continues This argument must not be taken as opposition to renewables in Americas energy policy. On the contrary, the removal of government favoritism and distortion would allow for a truly flourishing sector, and would optimize cooperation with the most talented entities in the energy sector, those large corporations Warren loves to demonize, who clearly must play a vital role in the evolution of American energy policy. Renewables will grow when they are shown to be profit-generating, and that revelation cannot come when subsidies destroy price discovery. That revelation cannot come when subsidies incentivize suboptimal behavior. Renewables are being hurt by the best attempts of politicians to help them. A sensible and comprehensive national energy policy would seek a growing market share for renewables yet would recognize that we simply are in no position to see renewables meet anything more than 20 to 30 percent of our energy needsno matter what we do to hurt the fossil-fuel industryfor many, many years. Warren has voiced her opposition to nuclear power, as we previously covered. So where would a ban on fracking leave us? The immediate termination of natural-gas production in our country would mean one of two things: (1) A ghastly reduction of access to electricity for American society (not going to happen); OR (2) A reversal to coal as the source of electricity. This is not controversial. It is the reason true environmentalists interested in reducing carbon emissions have long seen natural gas as a friend, not a foe, in the cause of combating climate change. Warrens attack on domestic production cannot alter domestic demand, or global demand for that matter. American production of natural gas had been completely level for about 40 years before the fracking revolution began. The leading gas producer in the world from 1980 until 2010 was Russia (previously the Soviet Union). In 2011 the United States surpassed Russia in gas production, and today holds an annual advantage of 3 to 4 billion cubic feet of gas produced over our No. 2 rival. The increase in absolute production that created the relative superiority over Russia is entirely related to the miracle of fracking. Policymakers face a simply, binary question in terms of natural-gas production: cede power, control, and advantage to Russia, or maintain the American advantage via fracking. One would think that after the last several years no presidential candidate would want the appearance of a Russia-friendly policy agenda. It is ironic that for all of the shade thrown at the Trump administration regarding Russia (shade deserved after the presidents unforgivable performance in Helsinki), Senator Warren has made the centerpiece of her campaign the policy that matters more to Russia than almost anything else we could imagine: returning dominance of the energy sector to the oligarchs of Russia instead of the entrepreneurs of Oklahoma and Texas. Russia should be the obvious comparative focus in this story because of natural gas, and because of the suddenly restored opposition to Russia that seemed to resurface in the Democratic party right around 2016. But alas, it would be highly disingenuous to ignore the crude oil/Middle East part of this story as well. In September 2019, American news-watchers were stunned to hear that a drone attack had taken down 50 percent of Saudi Arabias oil-production capacity, a headline that would have put the world economy into a tailspin just ten years earlier. Instead, oil prices rose to the price they had been at just four months earlier, and world financial markets barely blinked at the story. OPEC oil production is hardly irrelevant, but no longer do U.S. policymakers feel held hostage to Saudi wants and demands, as the U.S. has the supply capacity to meet American oil-consumption needs, and the production capacity to sustain it, indefinitely. The U.S. economy has struggled since the financial crisis to achieve real growth in keeping with past trends. After the low-growth recovery years of the Obama administration, in which business investment lagged and capital expenditures were minimal, U.S. manufacturing, industrial production, and business confidence got a needed boost in the early years of the Trump administration. Corporate tax reform (repatriation of foreign profits, immediate expensing for capital expenditures, and a reduced marginal tax rate) as well as deregulation of financial markets played a significant role in this. But a more pro-growth, pro-energy framework led the way, as the energy sector geared up for exporting liquefied natural gas (particularly to China), and as countless energy-production and energy-transportation projects finally received federal approval. The trade war has recently taken back some of those gains in the business sector, but the Warren posture toward energy would put capital expenditures on hiatus. The Warren agenda would freeze the U.S. manufacturing sector. The heavily misguided Warren policies would take one of Americas most popular and needed products (natural gas) and eliminate our ability to produce it and the worlds ability to buy it from us. One does not need an advanced understanding of macroeconomics to see how detrimental these measures would be to the growth of the American economy. American carbon emissions have declined a stunning 14 percent since 2005, and there is absolutely no ambiguity as to why. The fracking revolution enabled a greater use of natural gas for American energy needs, and natural gas is by far the cleanest fossil fuel. Yes, coal extraction and crude oil production have become marginally cleaner processes over the last ten to 15 years (thanks to a combination of stricter standards and greater technological innovation), but it is the enhanced market share of the cleaner natural gas that is most responsible for the drop. The contribution of natural gas to carbon emissions relative to its share of U.S. energy consumption is 22 percent less than crude oil, and 85 percent less than coal. This measurable fact monitored year over year by the Environmental Protection Agency (and not disputed by leftwing environmental groups) is a by-product of the science of burning these respective fuels: natural gas releases 50 percent less carbon dioxide emissions than coal and 30 percent less than crude oil. These cleaner burning properties have made it the ideal choice for electricity generation but also a growing source for powering transportation fleets. Natural gas is cheaper than electricity as a power source in the home, and it is a cleaner source than coal as a means of producing electricity. Its price advantages are in direct proportion to our improved supply capacity, a supply capacity Warren is campaigning on ending. Elizabeth Warrens climate policy makes Barack Obama look like a Republican, and that is something every Democrat ought to consider. Her environmental agenda has not been as widely panned as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs Green New Deal, which Warren herself endorsed, but it is perhaps more dangerous. Cortezs plan represented the utopian fantasy of a freshman congresswoman elected by 14,000 people in her district. Warren is a Harvard Law professor with the potential to become the president of the United States. One of the tragedies for me in the Green New Deal and Elizabeth Warrens climate agenda is that I support an agenda of environmental stewardship and a sincere and aggressive focus on reducing carbon emissions. My opposition, unlike that of some of my conservative friends, is not driven by an apathy about global warming or disputes over climate science. I do not find all the data as unambiguous as many of my friends on the left do, and I certainly oppose the stringent and economically suffocating solutions many on the left offer; but I hope for a sensible environmental agenda that is realistic, economically productive, and scientifically cogent. Warrens proposals are not a step towards that agenda but many steps back. The radicalism of her policy plans will imperil the movement for environmental progress in profound ways. A serious, sober conversation about environmental stewardship does not start with first day executive orders. It does not start with transferring control of world gas production to bad state actors such as Russia and Saudi Arabia. It is driven by the art of the possible, the necessity of incrementalism, and the maturity of data-driven analysis. The desire to appease environmental extremists and youthful utopians gave us the Warren climate agenda. For the sake of our national security, our national sovereignty, our economy, and our environment, may it never see the light of day. More from National Review Karnataka Minister CT Ravi has extended support to Union Minister and BJP MP Anurag Thakur and stated that "anti-nationals should get bullet not biryani". In a tweet, the Karnataka Tourism Minister said: "Those attacking Union MoS Anurag Thakur for his statement against traitors are the ones who Opposed death to terrorists Ajmal Kasab and Yakub Memon; Supported Tukde Tukde Gang; Spread lies against #CAA. Anti-nationals should get bullet not biryani. #IStandWithAnuragThakur." The Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi said in a report to the Election Commission of India on Tuesday that Thakur raised the slogan 'Desh ke gaddaro ko, goli maaro saalo ko' (shoot the traitors) several times while addressing a public meeting in Delhi's Rithala on January 27. The Election Commission has issued a show-cause notice to Thakur and has sought a reply by 12 pm on January 30. Thakur, if found guilty, will become the second BJP leader to be pulled up by the ECI during the course of the campaign for the Delhi Assembly election. Earlier on January 25, the EC had placed a temporary ban on BJP candidate Kapil Mishra from campaigning for violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). Delhi Assembly election will be held on February 8. 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.) Devoid of any acerbic attacks on opponents and steering clear of controversy, the strategy of Arvind Kejriwal aims at strengthening the goodwill he already enjoys with the citizens. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was and continues to be a good student. Whether it was at IIT Kharagpur or as a civil servant in the past, he continues the trend as the legislative head of the National Capital. Kejriwal has taken two vital leaves out of the book of former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Like the latter declared himself as Mama (maternal uncle) of all the children in the state to good effect Kejriwal recently gave himself the status of Bada Beta the eldest son of all the families in Delhi. While seeking a repeat mandate in his rallies and public meetings, Kejriwal has changed the idiom of his election campaign by bringing in personal touch, with apparent sincerity. I consider myself as bada beta of every family in Delhi, whose responsibility is to pay the electricity bill, water bill, take patients to clinics for treatment and arrange pilgrimage for the elders of the family. And Im doing so and shall continue doing it in future as well, said Kejriwal in his recently held public meetings in south Delhis Kalkaji, Chirag Dilli and upscale Greater Kailash. Chouhan rose to popularity by assuring the younger generation in Madhya Pradesh that they need not worry about anything as their Mama was there to take care. Even before becoming the chief minister, he arranged mass wedding for girls and used to bear expenses on behalf of girls parents, which he continued even after becoming the chief minister. In a bid to win over the senior citizens, Chouhan was the first to launch a scheme that helped elderly people both Hindus and Muslims to go on free pilgrimage and Haj Yatra. Similarly, Kejriwal too started a pilgrimage scheme for senior citizens of Delhi Mukhymantri Teerth Yatra Yojna in 2018. Chouhan had succeeded to remain in power as the chief minister for three consecutive terms. Devoid of any acerbic attacks on opponents and steering clear of controversy, Kejriwals strategy aims at strengthening the goodwill he already enjoys with the citizens. This is rare in a country where election campaigns have increasingly turned vitriolic, marked by fierce allegations, mudslinging, personal attacks and nastiness. Besides Kejriwals personal touch, he and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have been appealing to voters to judge them by their accomplishment in the area of education, which is certainly a fresh and refreshing offering in electoral politics. AAPs arch-rival BJP and Union home minister Amit Shah have fired salvos at Kejriwal, highlighting poor education standards in Delhi government schools. The BJP leaders have also alleged that the AAP government has made tall claims of success despite poor infrastructure in government schools. On the other hand, Kejriwal has refused to take the bait. Without reacting to Shahs allegations, he countered in his public rallies, You (Shah) can accuse me, accuse AAP, but please dont demoralise our students, who strove hard and excelled. The Delhi government schools have registered 96 percent result in comparison to 93 percent by private schools. The government schools in other states in the country register 40-45 percent result. It had been possible only due to the hard work and efforts of 65,000 teachers, 16 lakh students and their parents. We just put the system in place. False allegations will be an insult to our hardworking students. However, Kejriwal has put a question to BJP Why BJP-dominated Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) schools couldnt perform? The field of education has hardly ever been in the centre of electoral politics in India. In fact, parties have steered clear of this subject for various reasons. But AAP has pegged its electoral campaigning on non-traditional issues such as school education, mohalla clinics and women empowerment, besides reaping the benefits of freebies like free electricity and water. In his Kalkaji rally attended by thousands, the Delhi chief minister cited Shahs visit to a BJP workers home where he also had a meal with the latter. Its good to know that our home minister visited a party worker ahead of the Delhi election. But, I would like to remind him that it was we (AAP government) who took care of the families of all the BJP workers in Delhi by providing them with free electricity up to 200 units, free water, quality education to their children and medical facility through mohalla clinics and our government hospitals. Our rivals have claimed that citizens wont get free electricity after 31 March, but I assure you all that you would continue to get it till Im here, assured Kejriwal. Kejriwals public meetings are highly interactive, as he asks voters to tell him about what they have got in five years and what they have not. He is also ready to face public scrutiny. In one of his rallies, he accepted that there were places where the residents got water supply once in two days and there were no pipelines in many areas as well. Clean Yamuna is another promise that AAP government has made in its 10-point manifesto. In all his rallies, Kejriwal assured the voters that in next five years, his government would make river Yamuna clean enough to take a dip, which at present is virtually impossible due to pollution and dirt. Giving a personal touch to this issue, he said, I assure you that along with you, I will also take a dip in the Yamuna. People visit river Ganga for a holy dip, but henceforth they will also take a dip in the Yamuna in Delhi. Taking forward his electoral campaign to the next level and getting closer to the families across Delhi through an innovative micro-level campaign Aapka Kejriwal Aap ke Dwaar, the Bada beta has launched a website under which he aims to talk to every household in the city that registers on this website on the governments achievements. One needs to visit the website or give a missed call on 7690944444, following which Kejriwal will appear on computer screens or smartphones. The doorbell rings and heres Kejriwal asking for permission to have a chat. An important highlight of this strategy is that AAP is steering clear of any controversy of the day. The Delhi chief minister has ensured that none from his party comments on the ongoing CAA-NRC protests and on Shaheen Bagh gathering. The AAP has tactically built its own agenda rather than falling into the trap of rivals. The activist-politician Kejriwal has taken the risk to chart his own course, unlike other politicians, by disengaging himself from controversies and focussing on work for the citizens of Delhi, as a responsible eldest son of a family. After all, according to his own admission, Kejriwal wants to make Delhi, a world-class city in the next five years and for which he needs the support of his larger family the Delhi voters. As a group of protesters tore down the iron gates outside the prime ministers office in downtown Beirut last weekend, battling riot police, water cannon and tear gas for the third time in a week, I wondered what would happen if the police simply stood back and let them inside. Would they bash through the ornately carved wooden doors of the 200-year-old Ottoman palace, spray painting its luxurious interiors with anarchist signs and graffiti cursing politicians mothers as they had done throughout the upscale downtown district? Would they shatter the stained glass windows and gilded chandeliers or stain its shiny Italian marble floors and fountains? Gutted by the civil war, the seat of government known as the Grand Serail was burned and looted, only to be restored in the late 1990s at a cost of millions of dollars. This came at a time when many Lebanese were still reeling from the war, waiting in long lines for water or sitting in the dark because basic infrastructure had not been repaired. Tarnishing this symbol of state power and elitism would surely help blow off steam having endured so much pain and suffering and police brutality. But then what? The last three months of street protests have been relatively peaceful, drawing women, men and children of all ages from towns and villages that had never before witnessed protests. But this has changed over the past two weeks as much smaller numbers of mostly young men have turned to rioting in central Beirut amid an uptick in police assaults and arrests. The masked protesters have destroyed ATMs, broken shop windows, and peeled granite tiles off the facades of buildings to crush and hurl them at police. But how will destroying public and private property set the country on a path towards a brighter future? Will it solve the problem of continuing electricity and water shortages, rampant poverty, pollution and high unemployment? Will it stem the rapidly devaluing Lebanese currency, alleviate a crippling national debt or lift capital controls issued by local banks that have prevented the average citizen from withdrawing more than a few hundred dollars per month? While the protests have already resulted in some important changes, it is increasingly difficult to imagine how all of their demands can be met. Beyond a reasonable call for a change in government leadership and a vague fight against corruption, these demands also include a far less realistic call for abolishing the countrys entire political system and preventing any previously elected political party from participating in government. Meanwhile, the increasingly violent tactics on the part of a group of a few hundred rioters whose small numbers pale in comparison to the tens of thousands that once filled the streets are clearly unpopular with many, if not most of the Lebanese people, as they remain at home, watching the destructive scenes unfold on television. In the first two weeks of the uprising, the fall of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri was a major victory. This came after hundreds of thousands of people filled public squares and blocked highways. It was an unprecedented euphoric moment in the history of Lebanon, where only political elites have had a say in who runs the country. The resignation proved that there was power in the streets, a power outside the political system that could compete in elections. This incredible new phenomenon was reinforced when crowds filled the streets once again after two well-connected businessmen were successively suggested as Hariris replacement and eventually forced aside. Now after weeks of delays, a new government has finally been formed consisting mostly of college professors, almost none of whom has ever served in government. Some have pointed out that at least half of the new ministers served as advisers or supporters of past politicians, mostly tied to the party of the president and his allies. But it would be a mistake to assume this latest government is no different than the previous ones. In line with protesters demands, it is one third smaller, contains far more women, no familiar faces and even a few ministers who have a proven track record of experience in their fields, a rarity in Lebanese politics. Nevertheless, some have responded to the formation of the government with the most popular slogan of the revolution, All means all!, ie any new government should be completely free from the influence of the dozen or so political parties that have ruled Lebanon for the past several decades, the only political parties the country has ever known. In their street rallies, protesters have lambasted the entire political class as thieves and thugs. Most Lebanese may partially agree with this sentiment out of frustration. But such sweeping generalisations also obscure the peculiar arrangement that is post-war power-sharing in Lebanon: a delicate no victor, no vanquished system where no party or administration is completely in control of the state. Owing to this arrangement, government projects and services are regularly halted, not just because of incompetence or negligence, but also due to ruthless competition and sabotage between rival parties over lucrative infrastructure contracts. They are left to battle each other in a vacuum of any central arbitration or regulatory organisation that would have a final say. This means Lebanon is not really a failed state, as many foreign observers like to claim, but barely a state at all. The argument that banning any person or party that has ever served in a countrys politics will alleviate its myriad of dysfunctions fails to address deeper structural problems. These include an unproductive economy that generates few products or jobs beyond services and tourism frequently beset by wars and instability; a lack of long-term planning due to the short-lived nature of Lebanese governments, often dissolved within a year over competing foreign interests; and broken, underfunded and understaffed state institutions never rebuilt after the war. The all means all mentality also discounts the views of a significant portion of the population that has repeatedly elected the current parties to power, dependent upon their well-established patronage networks that provide social services where the state is absent. The language many activists use in rallying against the corrupt and for the clean is not entirely new or revolutionary behaviour. It is similar to the zero-sum rhetoric of Lebanese politicians castigating their opponents on talk shows. What this superficial discourse and deliberate ambiguity always lacked were the details of a political alternative that could ensure meaningful accountability. Most of the young protesters battling riot police in the streets of Beirut today were born after the civil war. While some claim they are fighting to feed their families and pay their rent, others come from more privileged backgrounds, donning sophisticated gear and gas masks. They are just waking up to the difficult reality Lebanon has faced for its entire existence as a weak, post-colonial proxy state with few resources and very powerful, manipulative neighbours. They should know that the ruling parties they loathe also came to power through a belief in violent confrontation. Many of them were militia leaders who also saw themselves as revolutionaries. Many did not come from wealthy, well-connected families they seized what they felt was owed to them by the feudal landowning class or other militias. These parties now seem to be looking for a way to capitalise on the chaos in the streets. Some militant protesters have admitted that they have seen party loyalists join the confrontations. This is not to say that others have come of their own will and out of sheer frustration. But if protesters want to see meaningful political and social change, they should resist the urge to fall into simplistic explanations and demagoguery, which will only undermine the protest movement and its impressive gains. It is distressing to hear that some are willing to destroy all state structures to meet their objectives, which has led to the violent and tragic downfall of so many opposition movements across the region. It will take research and steady dedication to pinpoint problems and put forward concrete proposals to gain the support of the majority of the population. Some are already working on this and have been for years. Their efforts should be encouraged, not discarded as weak or even treasonous. One of the greatest assets of the revolution has been a renewed sense of defiance towards ruling elites and demands for their accountability. But who can be held accountable if there is no one in office? The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. As Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) continues to be under a lockdown enforced by the students protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the Vice-Chancellor is considering if shutting down the varsity is the only recourse left in the present circumstances. All academic activities at the AMU came to a halt on Wednesday as protesting students boycott classes and prevented others from appearing in examinations. Examinations did not take place at AMUs Zakir Husain College of Engineering and Technology for the third consecutive day as students continued to block the entrance to the venue. V-C Tariq Mansoor, in an open letter to the university community said there was no justification in keeping the university open if classes and examinations are prevented from being held. Some posters put up by student groups on the campus described the situation as a lockdown. The student groups are seeking the withdrawal of false cases against their fellow varsity mates who took part in protests against the CAA on December 15. A violent clash had taken place between cops and a group of AMU students who were protesting in solidarity with students of Delhis Jamia Millia Islamia University, who had accused the Delhi police of using a heavy hand against them while dealing with violence during an anti-CAA march organised in the capital. AMUs Bab-e-Syed Gate was damaged and several vehicles on the campus were vandalized in the clashes that both sides accused each other of starting. Several students had been booked by the state police that also released video footage to prove students involvement in the violence. AMU was shut down for the winter break after the clashes and students were forced to vacate their hostels. The protesting students are unwilling to take the blame for the academic activities coming to a standstill. The university was never closed by students, instead, it was Tariq Mansoor who ordered the closure of the university on December 15 and reopened it in a phased manner, said M Salman Imtiaz, former president of AMUSU. As the university reopened, students decided to boycott academic activities to press for their demand for accountability on December 15 police violence, he said. Salman said the VCs open letter suggesting he could close down the varsity if the students didnt relent was not going to deter the resolve of the protesting students. In case, sine die is ordered, no student will vacate the campus. We believe that the university is being vacated to intimidate students whose names appear in different FIRs. They may be arrested from their homes and homes of many students have been raided in the past week. We will resist any move to forcibly vacate the campus, Salman added. (With input from agencies) A fake coronavirus warning is causing panic after pranksters claimed eating noodles and going to the Sydney suburb of Newtown could give you the deadly disease. Australians have been warned not to fall for the hoax, after a viral post online claimed popular foods and even whole Sydney suburbs were infected. One viral post, claiming to be from the non-existent 'Department of Diseasology in Parramatta', warned against eating fortune cookies, Lipton ice tea or Wagyu beef. It claimed the deadly disease, which has killed 106 people in China, was 'spreading in the Greater Sydney region' - which it is not. Several Australians have been taken to hospitals as a precaution (pictured) but the disease is not 'spreading across Sydney' as has been claimed online The hoax Facebook post (pictured) was shared thousands of times online, but NSW Health officials have since dismissed its claims The hoaxer also said tests had found air was contaminated with coronavirus in Cabramatta, Burwood, Strathfield, Newtown, Chester Hill and Guildford. Not only does the department not exist, but diseasology isn't even a word. But that didn't stop thousands of Australian Facebook users sharing their concerns after reading the hoax. The NSW Health Department warned residents to be vigilant with what they read online, dismissing all the viral post's claims as a hoax. Increasing public fear over the virus, which has been traced to the Chinese city of Wuhan, has seen a series of bizarre, fear-mongering claims spread on social media. A Facebook user shared an email they had received full of fake, fear-mongering information about the coronavirus Viral hoaxes online claimed several Asian foods were contaminated with coronavirus in Greater Sydney (stock image) which is not true CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA NEW SOUTH WALES: 4 Four people in NSW have been diagnosed with coronavirus, including three men and one woman. January 25 Three men aged 43, 53, and 35 who had recently travelled to China are confirmed to have contracted the disease. Two flew in from Wuhan while the other arrived in Sydney from Shenzhen, south China. They are being treated in isolation at Westmead Hospital and are in stable condition. January 27 A 21-year-old woman is identified as the fourth person to test positive for the illness in NSW. The woman, a student at UNSW, flew into Sydney International Airport on flight MU749 on January 23 and presented to the emergency department 24 hours later after developing flu-like symptoms. She is being treated in isolation at Westmead Hospital. VICTORIA: 4 January 25 A Chinese national aged in his 50s becomes the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in Australia. The man flew to Melbourne on China Southern flight CZ321 from Wuhan via Guangzhou on January 19. He is now in quarantined isolation at Monash Hospital in Clayton in Melbourne's east. January 29 A Victorian man in his 60s is diagnosed with the coronavirus. He became unwell on January 23 - two days after returning from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak. The man was confirmed as positive on January 29 and was subsequently seen by doctors at the Monash Medical Centre. He was assessed as being well enough to stay at home. January 30 A woman in her 40s falls ill with the coronavirus. She was visiting from China and mostly spent time with her family. She is being treated at Royal Melbourne Hospital. February 1 A Melbourne woman aged in her 20s is at home recovering. She returned from Wuhan on January 25 and fell ill two days later. She was not infectious on the flight, and has remained in isolation since being tested. QUEENSLAND: 2 January 29 Queensland confirms its first case after a 44-year-old Chinese national wass diagnosed with the virus. He is being treated at Gold Coast University Hospital. January 30 A 42-year-old Chinese woman who was travelling in the same Wuhan tour group as the 44-year-old man tests positive. She is in Gold Coast University Hospital in stable condition. SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 2 February 1 A Chinese couple were placed in isolation in a public hospital. The man and a woman both aged 60, were from Wuhan and visiting relatives in South Australia. SA Health said the pair isolated themselves at home when they developed symptoms and awaited the results of the coronavirus test. Australia has raised the travel alert level to 'do not travel' for the city of Wuhan - the epicentre of the outbreak - and for the entire Hubei province. Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy says unless people have contact with someone who is unwell and has come from that part of China, there is no need for current concern. Advertisement Several childcare centres even re-posted the hoax on their social media pages. An official warning read: 'NSW Health has been made aware of a social media post that is being widely circulated warning people to not consume certain foods or visit certain locations in Sydney. 'This post has not originated from NSW Health or any related entity. Further, there is no such entity as the Department of Diseasology Parramatta. 'NSW Health would like to assure the community that the locations mentioned in this post pose no risk to visitors, and there have been no positive readings at train stations.' Some Australians have also reported receiving a badly-spelled email claiming to be from a laboratory. It advises bizarre methods of keeping safe from the disease, including 'keeping your throat moist'. The hoaxers recommended people drink 'warm water' and to 'not go to crowded places' until the end of March. It comes as official advice from the Australian government urged people to reconsider any travel to China. Officials also advised against any visit to Hubei Province as the country struggles to contain the deadly coronavirus epidemic. Emma Wei (pictured) and her two children, from Melbourne, are just three of 400 Australians trapped in Wuhan amid China's lockdown The outbreak sweeping through China has the potential to become a pandemic in Australia - where five cases have been confirmed and several more are expected to emerge. About 400 Australians remain trapped in the Hubei province, the epicentre of the deadly outbreak which has killed 106 people and infected more than 4,000. Government website Smart Traveller updated its travel advice for China early on Wednesday morning. 'Due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus we now advise you "reconsider your need to travel" to China overall and "do not travel" to Hubei Province,' the Smart Traveller advice read. Online pranksters claimed deadly coronavirus had been found in the air in the inner-Sydney suburb of Newtown (pictured) More than 11 million people are stranded and unable to travel in or out of the region as China stepped up preventive measures to limit its spread. The virus, which belongs to the same family as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), has spread to 17 countries. No deaths have been reported outside of China so far. Five people are being treated in Australian hospitals for the virus but Australia's Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said they were all in a stable condition. Health Minister Greg Hunt warned the disease is of 'pandemic potential' and the number of cases in the country is expected to rise as more are tested every day. Hoaxers online claimed Cabramatta (pictured), 30km south-west of Sydney's CBD, had been infected with coronavirus A mother has been charged with murdering her young daughter and two sons who were found dead in their home in Newcastle, Co Dublin last week. The bodies of Conor (aged 9), Darragh (aged 7) and Carla (aged 3) McGinley were discovered in their home at Parsons Court in Newcastle just before 8pm on Friday. Deirdre Morley, their mother, was today remanded in custody for one week, with an order that she would receive a psychiatric assessment while in prison. Ms Morley was found by a taxi driver near her house shortly before the childrens bodies were discovered. She was treated for days at Tallaght University Hospital. The childrens father Andrew McGinley arrived home at the same time gardai and paramedics reached the house and when they went inside they found the three children dead. Ms Morley, 43, a nurse at Our Ladys Childrens Hospital, Crumlin, in Dublin was arrested on Tuesday evening and detained at Clondalkin Garda station under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. She appeared before Judge Paula Murphy at Dublin District Court this evening. She had been charged with the murder of the three children at their family home in Parsons Court. Dressed in a green cardigan, blue jeans, navy top and black shoes, she sat silently alone on the defendant's bench, with her hands on her lap during the brief hearing. Detective Sergeant Dara Kenny told the court the woman was arrested at 2.06pm today at Clondalkin station and charged at 2.49pm with the three offences. She made no reply in response to each of the charges and was handed a copy of charge, he said. He applied for a remand in custody. The district court cannot grant bail in a murder case and Judge Murphy remanded the accused in custody to appear again on February 5 next. She will be held at the Dochas centre, the womens unit in Mountjoy Prison. Defence solicitor Jonathan Dunphy asked for necessary medical treatment to be afforded to Ms Morley in custody. He asked that specifically she would receive continuing psychiatric assessment and assistance. The judge agreed to make the order. She also acceded to a request to direct disclosure to the defence of copies of video interviews. It was unusual to make that request at this stage, he said, however, he explained it would be required in terms of her psychiatric assessment. Judge Murphy also granted legal aid after noting from Mr Dunphy that Ms Morley was not working and she was in receipt of no income. There was no garda objection. 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. Facebook named the first director of its $130million Supreme Court on Tuesday as Thomas Hughes - and even CEO Mark Zuckerberg will not be able to overrule him. The former executive director for freedom of expression rights group Article 19 will oversee the social media giant's independent oversight board, it was announced. Hughes will help in ruling on thorny content issues, such as when a Facebook or Instagram post constitutes hate speech. The board, which will grow to about 40 members, will be able to overrule Zuckerberg. It is part of the company's high-profile responses to criticism over how it handles problematic posts on their sites. Zuckerberg said in November 2018: 'The purpose of this body would be to uphold the principle of giving people a voice while also recognizing the reality of keeping people safe.' He added in September last year: 'The board's decision will be binding, even if I or anyone at Facebook disagrees with it.' Facebook Inc recommended rules on Tuesday for how its independent oversight board will work and said former human rights group director Thomas Hughes, left, will lead the board's administrative staff. Hughes will help in ruling on thorny content issues, and even CEO Mark Zuckerberg, right, will not be able to overrule him Facebook will name board members later in 2020, but announced that Hughes will oversee the boards administrative staff, whose first offices, completely separate from the social network, will be in the United States and United Kingdom. Brent Harris, Facebook's head of governance and global affairs, said the company had narrowed choices for board members down to 'a few dozen people' but no formal offers had been made. He said Facebook hoped the board, which will also be able to recommend policy changes, will start hearing cases this summer. Hughes said: 'The job aligns with what I've been doing over the last couple of decades which is promoting the rights of users and freedom of expression.' Facebook is under scrutiny ahead of the US presidential elections in November. Intelligence agencies have said that social media platforms were used in a Russian cyber-influence campaign aimed at interfering in the 2016 election - a claim Moscow has denied. In December, Facebook pledged $130 million to fund the board for about six years. The board's cases can be referred either by Facebook or by a user who has exhausted the appeals process. The proposed bylaws give a 90-day period for the board to make a decision and Facebook to act on it. For cases with 'urgent real-world consequences,' there will a 30-day expedited review. Initially, Facebook said users will only be able to appeal to the board when their content has been removed, though in future it wants the board to also handle cases where content was left up. Facebook will name board members later in 2020, but it announced that Thomas Hughes, right, former executive director for freedom of expression rights group Article 19, will oversee the board's administrative staff, whose first offices will be in the US and UK Facebook recommended rules on Tuesday for how its independent oversight board will work Evelyn Douek, a doctoral student at Harvard Law School who studies online speech legislation, told Reuters she was disappointed with this limitation. 'A lot of the really controversial cases in the past few years have been not take-downs but leave-up decisions, things like the Nancy Pelosi video, hate speech in Myanmar,' said Douek. 'And at the moment those aren't in scope for the board to review them unless Facebook itself refers them to the board.' Facebook, which has recently come under fire over its decision not to fact-check politicians' ads, also said that the types of content that the board can review will later increase to include ads, Groups and Pages. At least 47 protesters were arrested on Wednesday during a 'Rail Roko' (train blockade) at Kanjurmarg station in Mumbai during a Bharat Bandh called by some organisations against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. At least 100 protesters gathered on the tracks around 8 in the morning, affecting suburban services of the Central Railway briefly, the Government Railway Police (GRP) said. Thirty-three men and 14 women were arrested, the police added. As the protest took place during peak hour, angry commuters who were held up at Kanjurmarg station clashed with the protesters who had stopped trains bound for the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in south Mumbai. The protesters shouted slogans and waved the national flag before GRP personnel removed them from the tracks. Trains on the central line ran ten to fifteen minutes late, officials said. Multiple organisations including the Bahujan Kranti Morcha had called for a shut-down in protest against the recently passed CAA and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The House of Representatives on Wednesday called for the resignation of the nations service chiefs, amid widespread public discontent over growing insecurity in the country. The House urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the military commanders if they failed to resign. The resolution was reached following a motion of urgent public importance motion titled Need to Curb the Incessant Attacks of the Boko Haram Insurgents in the North-East Zone, and moved by the Chief Whip, Mohammed Mongunu, and 14 others. Mr Mongunu decried the recent surge in attacks by the Boko Haram insurgents in the North-east zone. He said that the successes earlier recorded by the security agents which led to increased economic activities within the North-east zone is gradually being eroded by the resurgence of the insurgency in Borno and Yobe states. Recently, the insurgents have forced the Nigerian military to close traffic on the Damaturu-Maiduguri road for some days. The Damaturu-Maiduguri road is the only access from Maiduguri to other parts of Nigeria, he said. Defence Chief Abayomi Olonisakin, Army Chief Tukur Buratai, Navy Chief Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, and Air Chief Sadique Abubakar, were appointed on July 13, 2015, by President Muhammadu Buhari. But he has kept them in office despite public outcry. Based on the Armed Forces Terms and Conditions of Service, the tenures of the defence and service chiefs expired on July 13, 2017. Also, Section 8 of the public service rules stipulates that the compulsory retirement age for all grades in the service shall be 60 years or 35 years of pensionable service whichever is earlier. In spite of this, each of the service chiefs has spent above the stipulated service years. Defence Chief Olonisakin, 57, has spent 38 years in service. Army Chief Buratai and Navy Chief Ibas, both 59, have been in service for 36 years. Air Chief Abubakar, 59, has 40 years of service to his name. Debate Abubakar Fulata (APC, Jigawa) of Birniwa/Guri/Kiri-Kasamma Federal Constituency said the security chiefs have failed on their mandate. He argued that doing the same thing over time without a tweak in tactic would yield the same result, and to expect something different is insanity. Whether their tenures have expired or not, they should resign, Mr Fulata said of the service chiefs. He also called for the withdrawal of all the security personnel serving in the North-east and their replacement with new personnel. However, Abdurazaq Namdas (APC, Adamawa), who represents Jada/Ganye/MayoBelwa/Toungo Federal Constituency, opposed the idea of changing all the military personnel currently serving in the area, saying the experience they have garnered over the years is still needed to assist new personnel. He said while the security situation as coordinated by the military is worrisome, there is a need to retrain and equip the police to properly handle internal security in the country. In like manner, the member representing Chibok/Damboa/Gwoza Federal Constituency of Borno State, Ahmadu Jaha, said his constituency is under the siege of insecurity. He said the call for the service chiefs to resign is a long process. Only the immediate replacement of the service chiefs by the president can assuage the situation, he stressed. To drive the points raised home, the Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta), urged the House to convene a meeting with the military heads. He said this would allow the House know what the commanders have been doing, their constraints and the position of the House. Resolution Following the debate, in a unanimous resolve, the members of the Green Chamber, 37 of them as of the time of adoption, agreed that the service chiefs have no fresh ideas to tackle insecurity in the country. Hence, they called for their resignation. Senators in the Upper House took the same position during the plenary on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the House also tasked its committee on defence to convene a meeting with the military commanders and President Buhari to further emphasise the Houses resolution. As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the bulk stops on the presidents desk. We should pressure the service chiefs, Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, said while reading the resolution. They (security chiefs) need to go. Let them come (for the meeting). We will hand them the resignation ourselves in case they said they did not hear. Advertisements The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected the petition filed by one of the Nirbhaya case accused, Mukesh Singh, who sought to challenge the President of India's rejection of his mercy plea. The judgment was pronounced by a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices R Banumathi, Ashok Bhushan and AS Bopanna. The Supreme Court said that there was no merit in the contention of the accused convicted for the 2012 Delhi gangrape case. "Alleged torture can't be a ground. All documents were placed before the President and he had taken them into consideration," the Supreme Court said. The court also rejected the contention that the mercy plea was processed at "lightning speed" which Mukesh's counsel argues was a ground to challenge the President's decision. Mukesh's counsel Anjana Prakash argued that there were procedural lapses on part of the state that led to the rejection of the plea by the President, as mentioned by Bar and Bench. She argued that two days after Mukesh's curative petition was rejected, the mercy plea was also dismissed. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who appeared for the state said that there were no procedural lapses and that he had supplied all the necessary documents needed. The apex court had reserved the verdict on Tuesday. President Ram Nath Kovind had rejected the mercy petition of Mukesh on January 17. The four convicts who are on death row are scheduled to be hanged on February 1. Also read: 'Justice finally served': How India reacted to death warrant against rapists in Nirbhaya case Also read: Nirbhaya case: Accused Vinay Sharma files for curative petition in Supreme Court 'Deal of Century': White House Reveals 'Vision to Improve Lives of Palestinian, Israeli People' Sputnik News 02:56 GMT 29.01.2020 US President Donald Trump on Tuesday unveiled his 'Deal of the Century', a plan for settling the long-lasting conflict between the Palestine Authority and Israel. The agreement - crafted almost exclusively by Tel Aviv and Washington - was immediately rejected by Palestinian officials. The text of the plan - published late on Tuesday by the White House - has already been denounced by a number of Arab states and politicians as risky, because the document, if implemented, could compromise not only regional security, but also the security of the United States, as Trump's touted "deal of the century" would likely unleash violent blow-back due to the imbalance on offer to the warring sides. The plan includes a sizable $50-billion economic stimulus package of infrastructure investment with a declared goal of more than doubling the Palestinian gross domestic product over the next decade, the creating of over a million jobs, and a halving of the poverty rate, while eliminating dependence on charity and foreign aid. Trump's initiative nonetheless heavily tilts toward Tel Aviv's positions on every pressing issue of Middle East peacemaking, including permanent border placement, the status of Jerusalem, the legality of Jewish settlements, the status of Arab refugees, and multiple security arrangements. 'Realistic Two-State Solution' The Trump peace plan is dubbed 'Peace to Prosperity. A Vision to Improve the Lives of the Palestinian and Israeli People' and sets out a two-state solution with a Palestinian state whose capital is East Jerusalem, and the United States providing legitimacy for Israeli settlements in the West Bank, an area seized by Tel Aviv during the 1967 Six-Day War. According to the so-called two-state solution, the IsraeliPalestinian conflict can be settled by the creation of an independent State of Palestine, alongside the State of Israel. The text of the "deal of the century" notes that the two-state solution "seems so far from reality. Gaza and the West Bank are politically divided", and claims that blame for this "failed" concept lies with the Palestinian Authority, whose "bad governance" makes it impossible for Palestinians to thrive. As an argument for its acceptance, the text of the document purports to "provide both self-determination and significant economic opportunity for Palestinians". "We developed a detailed economic vision for what the future for the Palestinians could be if there were peace. There has been a false notion that the lack of opportunity for the Palestinian people is Israel's sole responsibility. Solving the final status issues, in the manner described in this Vision, would create the necessary conditions for investment to start flowing into the region. We estimate that combining this political solution with the economic vision for investments and government reforms that we have laid out will lead to historic economic growth", the document reads. Issue of Jerusalem Jerusalem would become an undivided city and be accepted by Washington as the capital of Israel, according to the plan, and a suburban region outside the city and outside of Israeli security barriers would become the capital of Palestine. "Jerusalem will remain the sovereign capital of the State of Israel, and it should remain an undivided city", the plan offers. "The sovereign capital of the State of Palestine should be in the section of East Jerusalem located in all areas east and north of the existing security barrier, including Kafr Aqab, the eastern part of Shuafat and Abu Dis, and could be named Al Quds or another name as determined by the State of Palestine". The "deal of the century" envisages leaving most of Tel Aviv's annexed areas of east Jerusalem, including the Old City and various holy sites, under Israeli control, while permitting Palestinians to establish a capital on the outskirts of the city, outside of Israel's walled-in security separation region. The current understandings governing the Muslim holy site known as the Al-Aqsa mosque compound and the sacred Jewish Temple Mount would remain in place. Trump in 2017 recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, prompting fierce backlash in the Arab world. In 2018, the US president ordered the relocation of the US embassy, from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, drawing additional ire from the Palestine Authority, prompting the latter's categorical rejection of Washington's unilateral mediation efforts with Israel. 'Conceptual' Borders The Trump "Vision" boasts a section of a "conceptual map" describing possible borders for the Palestine Authority and Israel. The plan requires Israel to make "significant territorial compromises'' while the Palestinian state would receive territory "reasonably comparable in size to the territory of the West Bank and Gaza pre-1967", in reference to Israel's seizure of those territories, along with east Jerusalem, in a region-wide war in 1967. The plan provides for land swaps, but the "conceptual map'' shows a gerrymandered Palestinian territory, with Israeli and Palestinian enclaves linked to respective states by what the plan calls "pragmatic transportation solutions'', including bridges, tunnels and roads. The Jordan Valley, which accounts for about a fourth of the West Bank, "will be under Israeli sovereignty'', according to the plan. Palestinians are also offered access to the Israeli seaports of Haifa and Ashdod, as well as what are described as dedicated industrial, agricultural, tourist and free-trade zones, an option of compensatory land swaps and a high-speed rail connection between the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Settlements The deal does not, however, grant statehood to Palestinians, who would first be expected to implement a range of accepted political, social and economic reforms. Under the text of the document, the Palestinians are given four years to study, accept and implement the Trump plan, which offers them roughly twice more land than they already control, but much less than the 100 percent of the West Bank that they want to take back. Until the four years have passed, additional territories will remain "open and undeveloped". In addition, the plan immediately allows Israel to annex virtually all of its illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. The Trump "deal of the century" would also freeze settlement construction in areas earmarked for a future Palestinian state during the period of negotiations, but those areas are already largely off-limits to settlement activity. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who attended the White House ceremony on Tuesday and is returning home as early as next Sunday, is expected to bring a proposal to annex Jordan valley, the settlements and the northern Dead Sea for cabinet approval, media reported. Security Under the "deal of the century", Tel Aviv "will maintain overriding security responsibility" for the state of Palestine, which will be "fully demilitarized''. The Palestinians will be permitted an internal security force but Tel Aviv will control the borders and monitor all crossings. The plan also proposes the establishment of a special "Crossings Board'' made up of three Palestinians, three Israelis and a US representative to oversee the crossings and resolve disputes. Israel will implement its obligations under the plan if the Gaza Strip is transferred back to the full control of the Palestinian Authority or another entity acceptable to Israel. Under the text of the Trump plan, Hamas and all other militant groups in Gaza must disarm, and the territory must be fully demilitarized. Maps released by the White House depict prospective Palestine territory as a patchwork of enclaves encircled by Israel, cut off from neighboring Jordan and linked with roads and tunnels to ensure territorial continuity. A Palestinian state, according to the Trump plan, will be "fully demilitarized" and permitted only to have security forces capable of maintaining internal safety and preventing terror attacks against Israel, Jordan and Egypt. Israel will maintain an "overriding security responsibility", from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, though it would be called upon to reduce unnecessary frictions with the Palestinians. Refugees The plan allows Israel to keep all its seized West Bank settlements, home to hundreds of thousands of Jews, and annex the Jordan Valley, effectively denying any future Palestinian state access to the outer world. The Trump plan denies Palestinian refugees and their descendants any right to return to their seized homes and lands abandoned in what is now Israel. They are offered instead an absorption into a future State of Palestine, integration in their current host countries or resettlement to Organization of Islamic Cooperation member states, subject to those countries' agreement. The peace plan emphasizes "there shall be no right of return by, or absorption of, any Palestinian refugee into the state of Israel'', stressing that refugees can live in the state of Palestine, become citizens of the countries where they live or be absorbed by other countries. The document proposes, however, that the United States could provide ''some compensation" to refugees. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forced out of what is now Israel during the 1948 conflict surrounding the creation of the Jewish nation state. Those refugees and their descendants now number some 5 million and are scattered across the region. The Palestinians believe in their "right of return'' to their former homeland, a move Israel has always rejected. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has faced a severe funding crisis since 2018, after the United States under the Trump administration, previously its largest single donor, said it would halt annual contributions of around $360 million. Trump, while unveiling his Middle East peace plan earlier in the day, declared his "Vision" a "win-win" opportunity for both Israel and the Palestinians. "My vision presents a win-win opportunity for both sides, a realistic two-state solution that resolves the risk of Palestinian statehood to Israel's security", Trump said. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, slammed the Trump offer and said it would never materialize, vowing to throw it in the "garbage can of history". "Jerusalem is not for sale, the 'deal of the century' will not go through, and our people will send it to the garbage can of in history [...] We will not bow and we will not surrender [...] We are united in the face of all the extermination plans that our people will reject. We say 'no, no, no,' to the deal of the century", Abbas asserted. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Donald Trump has signed into law a major rewrite of the rules of trade with Canada and Mexico, celebrating the fulfilment of one of his top campaign promises while declining to share the moment with Democratic lawmakers whose support was essential to getting it over the finish line. Trump said renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement was "probably the No. 1 reason that I decided to lead this crazy life that I'm leading right now." Today, we're finally ending the NAFTA nightmare," Trump said on Wednesday in a ceremony on the South Lawn. The event featured hundreds of business and farm leaders from around the country and scores of Republican officials. No Democratic members of Congress were on the White House guest list. Trade experts say the impact of the new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement will be modest. Canada and Mexico already represent the top two export markets for US goods. The independent US International Trade Commission last year calculated that the deal would add 0.35 per cent, or USD 68 billion, to economic growth and generate 176,000 jobs over six years. That's not much of a change for a USD 22 trillion economy with 152 million nonfarm jobs. "It's a blip,'' said Syracuse University economist Mary Lovely, who studies trade. "The main thing is what it isn't: It isn't a continuation of uncertainty, and it isn't a major disruption'' to business. The new pact, along with the signing of a phase one agreement with China, dials down trade tensions that have contributed to slowing economic growth globally. It also gave the president a chance to at least briefly shift the focus in Washington, where Trump's impeachment trial has occupied center stage for weeks. "I keep my promises and I'm fighting for the American worker," Trump said. Still, Trump couldn't resist making a few indirect references to impeachment in his remarks. He noted, for example, that Sen Ted Cruz, R-Texas, was headed back to the Capitol to ask questions at the trial. "He's got some beauties, I'll bet," Trump said. The leaders of the US, Canada and Mexico signed the deal in late 2018. But it still faced a long road to ratification. Legislation implementing it received overwhelming, bipartisan support in Congress after several months of behind-the-scenes negotiations between Democratic lawmakers and the Trump administration. Trump made a point of praising Republican legislators for their work in passing the deal. He singled out one Republican lawmaker after another during the ceremony, those from farm states, those from battleground states in tight reelection races, and of course, GOP leadership. Trump did not mention the role of Democrats, but they said that even if they weren't at the signing ceremony, their influence was being felt. "What the president will be signing is quite different from what the president sent us," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. "We were able to make vast improvements. If we weren't, we would not have been able to pass the bill." Rep. Earl Blumenauer, chairman of a House trade panel, said inviting Democratic lawmakers to the ceremony would have underscored the inadequacies of the president's initial agreement and the fact that Democrats made the agreement possible. "It's a clear illustration of how Trump operates with division, hyper-partisanship, and childishness." said Blumenauer, D-Ore. The White House did not immediately respond to a question about whether any Democrats were invited to the ceremony. NAFTA, which took effect in 1994 under President Bill Clinton, tore down trade barriers between the three North American countries and commerce between them surged. But Trump and other critics said NAFTA encouraged factories to leave the United States and relocate south of the border to take advantage of low-wage Mexican labor. Trump threatened to leave NAFTA if he couldn't get a better deal, creating uncertainty over regional trade. His trade negotiator, Robert Lighthizer, pressed for a revamped pact designed to bring factory jobs back to the United States. The new agreement, for example, requires automakers to get 75 per cent of their production content (up from 62.5 per cent in NAFTA) from within North America to qualify for the pact's duty-free benefits. That means more auto content would have to come from North America, not imported more cheaply from China and elsewhere. At least 40 per cent of vehicles would also have to originate in places where workers earn at least USD 16 an hour. That would benefit the United States and Canada not Mexico, where auto assembly workers are paid a fraction of that amount. Lighthizer worked behind the scenes to strike an agreement that ended up being endorsed by the AFL-CIO and the US Chamber of Commerce. Democrats successfully pushed to strike language allowing countries or companies to avoid sanctions simply by refusing to participate in dispute-settlement panels. They also insisted on ensuring enforcement of provisions intended to protecting workers from intimidation and violence, and they pressed for a committee that will monitor Mexico's labour reforms. The Democrats also won a significant concession from the administration on drug prices. Gone is what Democrats considered a giveaway to the pharmaceutical industry: a provision that offered expensive biologic drugs, which are made from living cells, 10 years of protection from cheaper knockoff competition. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. BARRY COUNTY A man is dead and woman is in serious condition after a head-on collision involving two pickup trucks along M-37 Tuesday afternoon. The crash occurred at about 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28, along M-37, south of Lawrence Road, in Barry Countys Baltimore Township, according to a news release from the Barry County Sheriffs office. A 49-year-old man from Hastings was driving a Chevrolet Silverado north on M-37 and crossed the centerline, striking a southbound Chevrolet Silverado head-on, the release said. The 49-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene. Occupants of the southbound truck a 20-year-old woman and 4-year-old child from Dowling were taken by ambulance to an area hospital, the release said. The investigation into the crash is ongoing, the release said, and names of those involved are being withheld at this time. Also on MLive: Mother, child die in house fire 2 teens critically injured in crash after police end pursuit of speeding, erratic driver 2.1k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer said that there are 10 to 12 Republican Senators in play who could vote for witnesses at Trumps trial. Senate Democratic Leader Schumer said on MSNBCs Hardball with Chris Matthews: Well, look, I think there are 10 to 12 Republicans who are in play and these are 10 to 12 people who have never said a negative word about witnesses and documents so theres a real chance here to get more than 4. Theres also a chance to get less. Even if youre the single person who votes against Donald Trump for witnesses and documents, Mcconnell may forgive you, trump never will. You see these articles in states the hard-right Trump people say they better be with Trump or were not supporting them. Theres a lot of pressure on these folks, but I think some of them sort of realize the right thing to do at this moment in history and it weighs on different shoulders in different ways is to at least get witnesses and documents. That is only fair. Video: Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) says that there are 10-12 Senate Republicans in play who could vote for witnesses. pic.twitter.com/dgS1wku7ex Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 29, 2020 Mitch McConnell is admitting that he doesnt have the votes to block witnesses. Schumers assessment that there are up to a dozen Republicans who could vote for witnesses, along with a group of moderate Republicans who are trying to bring more than four members of their caucus along to break with McConnell and Trump all suggests that while Schumer was right. This is an uphill battle for Democrats to get witnesses, but thanks to John Bolton, they are close to having the votes that they need to turn McConnells sham into a real trial. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook The top management of public sector banks (PSBs) will now not bear any personal responsibility in cases where genuine banking decisions end up as commercial failures, as part of the government's latest move to protect commercial decisions taken by bank heads, an official said on Tuesday. "Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has repeatedly assured bankers that adequate measures would be taken to protect honest commercial decisions taken by them and distinction would be made between genuine commercial failures and culpability," a Finance Ministry statement said. The government has also separately directed banks to set up a committee of senior officers to monitor the progress of pending disciplinary and internal vigilance cases. "Every bank was also required to take steps to dispose of internal disciplinary and vigilance cases in a time bound manner so that such cases do not linger on account of procedural delay so as to avoid adverse impact on staff morale and reduce scope for harassment. "As part of this endeavor of the government, Section 17A was incorporated in Prevention of Corruption Act requiring prior permission before initiating investigation against a public servant", it said. This Committee of Senior Officers will monitor the progress of pending disciplinary and internal vigilance cases and will frame timelines to expedite the concluding of such cases. There will be compulsory examination of all non-performing asset (NPA or bad loan) accounts exceeding Rs 50 crore on whether fraud is involved, according to a Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) circular of January 15, 2020, whereby, all such cases of suspected fraud are to be initially referred to the Advisory Board for Banking and Financial Frauds (ABBFF). Considering the complexities involved in the commercial decisions of managers in public sector, the CVC has set up the Advisory Board for Banking and Financial Frauds (ABBFF) for a mandatory first-level examination of suspected frauds in excess of Rs 50 crore involving public servants equivalent in rank to AGMs and above, before enquiry or investigations begin, the statement said. The government has also modified its 2015 framework on large-value frauds, doing away with the personal responsibility of the MD and CEOs of PSBs for complying with various prescribed timelines. Powers have been delegated by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) to the board of public sector lenders to put in place a suitable mechanism for ensuring compliance of the various timelines laid down in the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and CVC circulars. Similarly, the instructions of DFS of 2015 regarding compulsory examination of fraud for all NPA accounts exceeding Rs 50 crore have been aligned with the CVC circular of January 15, whereby all such cases of suspected fraud are to be initially referred to the ABBFF. Industry transformations occur when the pain of staying the same is suddenly greater than the pain of changing, according to Karen White, CEO of RMS. The second thing that has got to be present for those transformations to occur is that technology actually has morphed and evolved enough to be harnessed to accelerate those changes, she said at the Reinsurance Symposium in Baden-Baden, Germany, held in October. The question is: Are we at one of those moments? White and other executives who participated in a panel discussion titled Is the Re/insurance Sector Ready for Industry 4.0? agreed that transformation is underway but isnt generally keeping pace with the evolving risk needs of clients. The key to unlocking Industry 4.0 is embracing data and technology, the panelists agreed. Other speakers on the panel included James Nash, CEO, International Division, Guy Carpenter (which sponsored the meeting); Ian Branagan, senior vice president and group chief risk officer, RenaissanceRe Holdings; Laurent Rousseau, deputy CEO, SCOR Global P&C; Chris Klein, panel moderator and former head of strategy management for EMEA at Guy Carpenter; Jon Hancock, director of performance management, Lloyds. Were now living in the age of intangibles, explained Nash. Today, some 90 percent of the S&P 500s market [capitalization] is intangible assets, whether thats data, intellectual property, or brand and reputation. He said this compares to just 17 percent around 35 years ago when he first came into the industry. This massive shift presents an exciting opportunity for both insurance and reinsurance companies, Nash said. Hancock at Lloyds cited a 2017 survey of risk managers who said that half the top 10 risks that keep them awake at night were uninsurablenot because they cant be insured or have prohibitively high premiums but because the industry hasnt thought of products or services yet to respond to them. How can the industry develop innovative, customer-focused products? The key is data and technology, agreed the panelists. Nash highlighted how technologies are transforming the ways that reinsurers and insurers develop new products, optimize underwriting and deliver operational efficiencies to the benefit of the end customer. Reinsurance will be an important part of the solution as the expertise, support and partnership on offer empower insurers to innovate and to grow. Robotics, artificial intelligence, ubiquitous sensors and the Internet of Things all have the potential to change how and what the industry underwrites, Nash said. Everything will be measured all the time, meaning that underwriters will, in theory at least, have access to real-time data for all lines of business. He asked the audience to imagine a world where network sensors, which are embedded in billions of products, devices or services, will report risk information to underwriters in real time. Risk uncertainties, and by its extension their associated loss costs, will decline. Over time, Nash continued, a greater level of underwriting insights could reinvent insurance by shifting its value proposition to not just protection from but also the prevention of risk. The quantity and quality of data associated with Industry 4.0 should enable more precise underwriting, which brings many opportunities to grow and innovate as well as to enhance risk understanding and increase efficiencies, Nash said. Harnessing Tech-Driven Innovation White said the industrys harnessing of technology-driven innovation is central to its ability to adapt to meet the demands of evolving risks and provide greater customer value, which is important as the world faces the impact of extreme weather, climate change, manmade disasters, a shift from tangible to intangible assets, and emerging risks. These kinds of market disruptions create new opportunities and open the door to new business models. The other side of that coin is that industry disruptions are often ruthlessly unkind to incumbents who dont embrace change, White continued. Hancock said, Data is key to a successful Industry 4.0 business model, and data analytics is a powerful tool to drive more relevant customer insight, better decisions and more innovative [products]. But industry participants have to be willing to accept change if the industry is to remain relevant to its customers. Hancock quoted Winston Churchill, who said: Time after time, history ran over the Luddites and romanticists, those who sought to restore the old and delay the new. And every time, history did it with faster, more reliable and more advanced vehicles. The challenge for the insurance industry is to find ways to meet societal demand in terms of risks covered, product and distribution, said RenaissanceRes Branagan. What do clients want? What does society want? Its the core activity that we must continue to explore in order to maintain the value proposition of our industry into the future. The types of risks, products and methods of distribution are constantly changing, Branagan noted. While that has been and will continue to be an evolutionary process, the speed of change has increased in the last few decades and will continue to do so. Our challenge for the insurance industry at all points in the supply chainis to meet that societal demand in terms of risk covered, products and distribution, he said. So for me, the first issue in this Industry 4.0 topic is that [the industry is] meeting demand and not declining our way to oblivion. He cited Nashs comment about the growth in intangible assets and the fact that the insurance industry covers less risk that people have today than it did 30 years ago. Nevertheless, Branagan was optimistic that the industry will be able to meet the challenges ahead but acknowledged there is much to do. The supply chain in our industry continues to be impeded by legacy inefficiencies, high costs, duplication, manual processes and poor integration. But I believe there is great potential for change. The industry has an opportunity to augment its value proposition to society by leveraging technology, data and the skills embedded in our people to understand, quantify and confidently take on new risks, new types of risks, wrapped up in new products, in new forms of distribution, Branagan continued. He summed up RenaissanceRes role as one of meeting client demand with the most efficient capital that we can find. We try to achieve this by holistically looking at the insurance supply chain. We believe our industry has an opportunity to enhance our collective and individual value proposition to society by working together and leveraging digitalization, data and underwriting expertise to meet this constantly evolving risk landscape and nature of consumer demand, he said. This concept of increased collaboration and increased coordination is critical to the success of that movement, he continued. Personally, at this moment, Im focused on the extent to which greater collaboration and industrywide standards adoption around data, flows of data, tools and systems to measure risk can lead to greater integration along the points of the [industry] supply chain. Challenges and Opportunities Hancock agreed that while the scale of the challenge ahead for the industry is enormous, it provides a massive opportunity. He pointed to the example of cyber risks, which has a global current gross written premium (GWP) of around $2 billion to $2.5 billion, of which Lloyds writes about one-third of the market. The good news is that many studies predict that will rise to about $20 billion GWP by 2025, Hancock said. If I were a betting manan insurance type rather than a casino typeI would say it will be a lot quicker than that. And yet cyber itself is still a relatively underdeveloped product, he affirmed. Our understanding of the potential exposures is incomplete. We dont have 350 years history of cyber cover like we do for wind or earthquake or fire cover. There are plenty of other examples of new and emerging products being developed to serve a new and emerging demographic in sectors such as the shared economy, he said, citing ridesharing and homesharing. Again, these products are very much in their infancy but quite reflective in the way people are running their lives and running their businesses. I could be using my car as a taxi in one moment and driving my family around in the next moment. I could be living in my house one day and acting as a landlord the next day. And new products are moving away from the traditional annual 12-month cycle for policies to on-demand coverage that can be switched on and off, he said. Customers quite rightly want products that can be arranged quickly and efficiently and products that reflect their lives, not the lives that we would like them to live. Hancock said its very good news that the industry is reacting to change, but I think we need to aspire to take things a step further and start creating products as the need evolves, not sometime after the need evolves. But the industry also needs to move beyond product innovation to product delivery, he said. Customers are also expecting us to deliver those products in new and different ways. Quite rightly, customers expect to find an insurance policy just like any other productin a digital, online, bespoke, flexible, trackable service. Hancock cautioned that a reluctance to embrace all things Industry 4.0 will have an impact on the people the industry hopes to attract and retain. Unless we manage it carefully, well face a talent crisis. A large number of longtime professionals are about to reach retirement, and theres currently a lack of new people coming in with the new skills we need for the future, he asserted. As a result, the industry will need a blend of new and traditional skills. We need data analysts as well as underwriters, Hancock emphasized. We need a different offering to attract those new skills and those people who come and bring those skills, he continued. For the younger generation, maybe, just maybe, insurance isnt seen as cutting edge, tech savvy or an interesting industry to work in, especially when were competing now with the likes of Google and Apple and Facebook for exactly the same talent. He said the industrys call to action should be that we all need to sell what a wonderful industry this is and show people what great opportunities they can have to really drive change and really do great things for society. What Wont Change in Industry 4.0 In his presentation, Laurent Rousseau, deputy CEO, SCOR Global P&C, said that some aspects of the industry would remain unchanged during this period of rapid transformation. What is not going to change for reinsurers is the need for greater sophistication and depth, he said. When I see reinsurance companies forgetting that, when I see reinsurance companies focusing purely on the transactional aspect of our business, I think they are losing sight of what really makes a difference, which is the ability to have our own in-depth view of risk, Rousseau added. What is also not going to change is that clients will continue to demand better prices and faster delivery, he confirmed. He said the industry should approach what it does in a client-centric way and focus its value proposition fully on the needs of clients. Lloyds Embraces Industry 4.0 Hancock discussed how Lloyds is embracing the Industry 4.0 concept, aiming to transform the market with its Future at Lloyds project. The blueprint for the project was rolled out in September 2019. Hancock said it sets out a plan to build the most advanced insurance marketplace, which will be achieved with six key initiatives that cover everything from a complex risk platform, to making it more efficient for capital, to encouraging innovative business, to driving down net costs, to improving the claims experience. Data and technology are absolutely critical to each of these initiatives, he said. For example, Lloyds claims solution will use technology and data to speed up processes and reduce costs. Hancock said Lloyds would like to get to the point where it knows its customers are going to experience a loss before they do, so we can actually help them prepare for an event that hasnt even happened yet. And when a claim does happen, you just pay it immediately. Thats the transformational aspect of Industry 4.0, which we absolutely have to harness and see the amazing impact it has on the world. Hancock emphasized that most of the technology being used is technology that already exists. We now have an opportunity to harness that technologyand offer a different joined-up solution. Every syndicate, every organization is different, as is every broker, insurer, reinsurer, loss adjuster and lawyer across the whole industry, Hancock affirmed. And everybody will approach things in their own way. One thing is for certain: Doing nothing is not an option. We have to change if we are to remain relevant to our customers and relevant to our employees of the future. And we will. If something as complicated as Lloyds can do it, anybody can, Hancock said. I think it boils down to this: Insurance will only change if we all change. Hancock offered one final quote from Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, who said: Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. Our challenge is to change our minds, he said in his concluding comment. This article was first published in the March/April print edition of Carrier Management, with the online version published on Jan. 27. Topics InsurTech Excess Surplus Tech Underwriting Reinsurance Property Casualty Market Lloyd's Passengers arrive at Heathrow Airport in London after the last British Airways flight from China touched down in the UK following an announcement that the airline was suspending all flights to and from mainland China with immediate effect (Steve Parsons/PA) Passengers on the last British Airways flight from mainland China before a suspension gets under way have expressed their relief at returning to the UK. On Wednesday the airline halted all flights to and from mainland China after the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advised against all but essential travel in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The last two BA flights from Beijing and Shanghai arrived at Heathrows Terminal 5 shortly before 3pm and 4pm on Wednesday. Jeffrey Wilkinson-Lough, an engineer from Yorkshire who arrived on a flight from Shanghai, told the PA news agency: There was a bit of a scramble to get onto flights out of Shanghai over the last couple of days. Expand Close Passengers wear face masks (Steve Parsons/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Passengers wear face masks (Steve Parsons/PA) There was a look on relief on peoples faces when they got on this flight. Finn Maunder, a 23-year-old English teacher in China who also flew in from Shanghai, said: It was all kind of a whirlwind and I decided actually it was probably a good idea to get out while I had the option but I didnt realise that I had played it quite so close. Other airlines including Virgin Atlantic as well as several Chinese airlines are continuing flights. None of the passengers who spoke to the PA news agency were aware that BA had ceased all flights. I didnt know that until I landed, until I switched on my iPhone and saw the breaking news, said Tina, a woman in her 30s who flew from Beijing. Many of the passengers on the final two flights arrived in the terminal wearing masks. Barrington Bryan, 81, from Bath, who flew to London from Beijing, told PA: Im relieved above all else, even though its cost me 500 to come back early. Expand Close A British Airways plane takes off at Heathrow Airport (Steve Parsons/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A British Airways plane takes off at Heathrow Airport (Steve Parsons/PA) My worry was if I became ill Id rather be ill in the UK than out there. Notices at the international arrivals gate warned passengers about the symptoms of the illness in both English and Chinese. Passengers said their flights were checked upon landing at Heathrow, and they were also given leaflets from Public Health England detailing the symptoms of the virus. Other passengers added the flights themselves had been checked but there were no individual temperature checks. Many of those on the flights had been tested coming into the cities of Beijing and Shanghai. Mr Wilkinson-Lough added: Everything is very slowly shutting down. I noticed in Shanghai last night that restaurants are now closing, shops are closing, and people are staying at home. Expand Close Flights have been suspended (Steve Parsons/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Flights have been suspended (Steve Parsons/PA) When you shut down 30 odd million people its a big deal. Some passengers said they had concerns about the information they received about the virus while in China. Mr Maunder told PA that English language versions of the Chinese social media site WeChat were filled with misinformation about the virus. He said: The foreign WeChat groups are filled with rumours saying oh its so much worse there than people are being led to believe. It is quite difficult to know exactly whats going on while youre over there because people on social media are saying so many different things and its hard to know what the truth is. The FCO updated its advice on Tuesday and added it may become more difficult for British nationals in other provinces to leave China. Singaporean budget airline Scoot announced Monday that it would offer two one-way flights to bring Chinese travelers stranded in Singapore to Wuhan. Photo: IC Photo As the number of cases of coronavirus continues to rise both in and outside of China, travelers from Wuhan are facing a tough journey home as airlines cancel their flights into the city at the epicenter of the outbreak. On Monday, Wuhans Culture and Tourism Bureau said 4,096 tourists from Wuhan remain overseas. The bureau urged airlines and other Chinese cities to help the travelers return home. The bureau didnt reveal where the Wuhan tourists currently are, but the most popular destinations between Dec. 30 and Jan. 20 were Japan, Thailand and Singapore, according to International Air Transport Association data on flights leaving the city. Singaporean budget airline Scoot suspended its daily flights between Singapore and Wuhan, capital of Central Chinas Hubei province, on Jan. 23. Prior to this, the subsidiary of Singapore Airlines operated two flights daily between the cities, each with a capacity of around 300 passengers. However, the airline on Monday announced that it would offer two one-way flights on Wednesday and Thursday to bring Chinese travelers stranded in Singapore to Wuhan. While the exact number of passengers on the two flights has not been announced, the Chinese Embassy in Singapore said it was in communication with Singaporean authorities about the number of Wuhan residents in the country. It also said the number of applications it has received to return to the city from Wuhan residents in Singapore was roughly equal to the capacity of the two flights. On Jan. 24, 116 travelers from Wuhan were among the over 300 passengers on a Scoot flight to Hangzhou, East Chinas Zhejiang province. All passengers and crew were placed in quarantine, and two of the passengers from Wuhan were found to be infected with the coronavirus. On Jan. 23, Wuhan imposed a massive quarantine in a step to halt the spread of the coronavirus that first appeared there. All bus, subway, ferry and long-distance bus systems in the city of 11 million people were suspended, and authorities asked residents to remain in the city. On Wednesday, U.K. flag carrier British Airways suspended all flights to and from the Chinese mainland, citing advice from the British Foreign Office about the dangers of the virus. We apologise to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority, the airline said in a statement. StrategicAero Research Chief Analyst Saj Ahmad said he expected to see every major blue-chip carrier you can think of re-evaluating their China operations given the inability thus far of China's health authorities to rein in the spread of the coronavirus. "I think the next day or two will be critical. If more cases are uncovered, then I am sure airlines will de-risk their exposure and start axing flights for an indeterminate amount of time. Several airlines, including Japans ANA, Russia Airlines and Singapore Airlines, have already offered to waive fees for rescheduling flights. On Tuesday, U.S.-based United Airlines announced the suspension of dozens of flights to Wuhan and three other Chinese cities between Feb. 1 and Feb. 8, citing reduced travel demand. The same day, executives from several major U.S. carriers were told by the White House that a temporary ban on China-bound flights is on the table, according to CNBC. The U.K. and United States have been monitoring flights arriving from China as a precaution to contain the fast-spreading virus. Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan all enhanced their precautionary measures by reducing transportation links with mainland China or imposing entry restrictions. Flights between Hong Kong and the mainland will be reduced by half and high-speed trains, tour buses and ferries between the two regions will be suspended from Thursday onwards, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said Tuesday. Macao advised visitors holding passports issued in Wuhan to leave voluntarily if they do not exhibit any signs of an infection. From Monday, visitors to Macao holding Chinese passports issued in Hubei and those with non-Macao-issued travel documents who visited Hubei within the last 14 days have been told to produce a doctors note showing they are not infected with coronavirus. Any visitor with a history of travel to Hubei within the last 14 days is barred from entering the regions casinos. As the number of confirmed infections in Taiwan rose to three, all mainland tour groups were ordered last Saturday to leave by the end of the month. Contact reporter Flynn Murphy (flynnmurphy@caixin.com) and editor Joshua Dummer (joshuadummer@caixin.com) BOSTON, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Jenzabar, Inc., a leading technology innovator in higher education serving the new student, today announced that it was named a Finalist in the Customer Service Department of the Year category in the 14th annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Jenzabar will ultimately be a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Stevie Award winner. The awards are presented by the Stevie Awards, which organizes several of the world's leading business awards shows including the prestigious International Business Awards and the Stevie Awards for Great Employers. More than 2,600 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry, in 48 nations, were evaluated in this year's competition. Finalists were determined by the average scores of more than 180 professionals worldwide, working in seven specialized judging committees. Jenzabar's Customer Service organization stood out among the submissions for its commitment to enabling success for higher education institutions through 24/7, on-demand support; highly targeted and accessible training and learning resources; and in-depth knowledge of the industry and its evolving technological needs. "We're incredibly humbled by the recognition as a finalist for this award, as it underscores our partnership with clients and our mission to ensure student success by supporting institutions with the technology and resources they need to be more agile and efficient," said Ling Chai, President and CEO at Jenzabar. "As the higher education industry grows increasingly complex, it will become even more important for institutions to work with proven, experienced partners like Jenzabar that can support their strategic initiatives in the long term." Maggie Gallagher, president of the Stevie Awards, commented, "Every Finalist nominee should be proud of the work they did over the past 18 months to be recognized by the judges. They should also be proud of how well they effectively communicated those achievements to the judges. We look forward to recognizing them all with Gold Stevie Award trophies and Silver and Bronze Stevie medals in Las Vegas on February 28." The Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie placements from among the Finalists will be revealed during a gala banquet on Friday, February 28 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. About Jenzabar Created out of a passion for education and a vision for technology, Jenzabar offers disruptive, innovative software solutions and services that empower students' success and help higher education institutions meet the demands of the modern student. Over 1,350 higher educational campuses harness Jenzabar solutions for improved performance across campus and a more personalized and connected experience for the student. For further information, please visit www.jenzabar.com or on Twitter @Jenzabar or LinkedIn. About the Stevie Awards Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 nominations each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at www.StevieAwards.com. SOURCE Jenzabar Related Links http://www.jenzabar.com For Immediate Release Chicago, IL January 29, 2020 Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: McKesson Corp. MCK, Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. CMG, Microchip Technology Inc. MCHP, Kellogg Co. K and CDW Corp. CDW. Here are highlights from Tuesdays Analyst Blog: Large-Caps Set to Soar on Earnings Next Week The fourth-quarter earnings season will be in full swing this week and earnings trends are showing improvement. Although corporate earnings growth was negative year over year in the first three quarters of last year, results were far better than initially anticipated. In line with improving earnings results, six large-cap stocks are poised to beat earnings estimates next week. Fourth-Quarter Earnings Results Improving As of Jan 27, just 87 S&P 500 members reported fourth-quarter earnings results. Total earnings of these companies are down 0.1% from the same period last year on 3.4% higher revenues. Of the total, 70.1% surpassed EPS estimates while 72.4% outpaced revenue estimates. As of Jan 27, fourth-quarter 2019 earnings for the S&P 500 Index were projected to be down 2.6% year over year on 3.7% higher revenues. This suggests an improvement from earnings decline of 3.2% from the same period last year on 3.5% higher revenues, projected at the beginning of the reporting cycle. (Read More: Tech Earnings Expected to Turn Around) 5 Large-Cap Stocks to Consider Ahead of Earnings Releases We have narrowed down our search to five large companies which will release their earnings results next week. Each of these stocks carries either a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and has a positive Earnings ESP. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Our research shows that for stocks with the combination of a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better and a positive Earnings ESP, the chance of an earnings beat is as high as 70%. These stocks are expected to soar after earnings release. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. Story continues McKesson Corp. provides pharmaceuticals and medical supplies in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: U.S. Pharmaceutical and Specialty Solutions, European Pharmaceutical Solutions, and Medical-Surgical Solutions. The company has an Earnings ESP of +0.63% for the third quarter (ended December) of fiscal 2020 McKesson has an expected earnings growth rate of 7.4% for the current year (ending March 2020). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved 1.3% over the last 30 days. The last four-quarter positive earnings surprise is 4.2%, on average. McKesson is set to release earnings results on Feb 4, before the opening bell. Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. The company has an Earnings ESP of +3.49% for the fourth-quarter. Chipotle Mexican Grill has an expected earnings growth rate of 29.1% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved 0.9% over the last 30 days. The last four-quarter positive earnings surprise is 16.1%, on average. Chipotle Mexican Grill is set to release earnings results on Feb 4, after the closing bell. Microchip Technology Inc. develops, manufactures and sells semiconductor products for various embedded control applications in the Americas, Europe and Asia. The company has an Earnings ESP of +1.33% for the third quarter (ended December) of fiscal 2020 Microchip Technology has an expected earnings growth rate of 16.5% for the current year (ending March 2021). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved 4.2% over the last 30 days. The last four-quarter positive earnings surprise is 3.6%, on average. Microchip Technology is set to release earnings results on Feb 4, after the closing bell. Kellogg Co. manufactures and markets ready-to-eat cereal and convenience foods. It operates through the U.S. Snacks, U.S. Morning Foods, U.S. Specialty Channels, North America Other, Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific segments. The company has an Earnings ESP of +1.33% for the fourth-quarter. Kellogg has an expected earnings growth rate of 3.6% for the current year. The last four-quarter positive earnings surprise is 7.9%, on average. Kellogg is set to release earnings results on Feb 6, before the opening bell. CDW Corp. provides integrated information technology solutions to business, government, education and healthcare customers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. It operates through three segments: Corporate, Small Business and Public. The company has an Earnings ESP of +2.34% for the fourth-quarter. CDW has an expected earnings growth rate of 9% for the current year. The last four-quarter positive earnings surprise is 9.1%, on average. CDW is set to release earnings results on Feb 6, before the opening bell. 5 Stocks Set to Double Each was hand-picked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2020. Each comes from a different sector and has unique qualities and catalysts that could fuel exceptional growth. Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >> Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press 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 CDW Corporation (CDW) : Free Stock Analysis Report Kellogg Company (K) : Free Stock Analysis Report Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Microchip Technology Incorporated (MCHP) : Free Stock Analysis Report McKesson Corporation (MCK) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research A student of Calcutta Medical College, Sayantan Mukhoti, said 'Even though Mr Maji has made such a cheap comment, we should not return it by making another crass comment. That is beneath our dignity.' Kolkata: West Bengal minister Dr Nirmal Maji courted controversy on Tuesday for describing medical students as "dogs" after facing their protest at the 186th Foundation Day programme of the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital. Alleging that Maji, the minister of state for labour, was not related to the institute in any way, students shouted "Go Back" slogans and waved black flags at him when he was about to enter the venue of the programme. The chairman of the Patients' Welfare Committee of the hospital, Maji, however, managed to get past them. During his speech, he gave a detailed list of his contribution to the development of the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital. While delivering his speech, Maji referred to the Hindi proverb "Hathi chale bazaar, kutte bhonke hazaar" (an elephant walks on without caring for barks of dogs in his trail) triggering further uproar among the medical students. A student of the institute, Sayantan Mukhoti, said "Even though Mr Maji has made such a cheap comment, we should not return it by making another crass comment. That is beneath our dignity." He said the student community of the medical college does not consider Maji as a part of their own fraternity and he is an outsider for them. Power Minister Shobhandeb Chattopadhyay, who was also present at the programme, said, "Elders should forgive students for small mistakes". Maji was embroiled in a controversy for referring a relative's dog for dialysis at the state-run SSKM Hospital in 2015. First it starts with concern. Then panic followed by paranoia. Until finally, it leads to widespread fear. Yes, it seems the world is in the grips of a new pandemic. Or at least, its shaping up to be that way. Coronavirus is on everyones mind, even if its just lingering at the back of it. A viral threat that could become a global killer. Markets and the media are certainly worried about that anyway. Every morning there are updates on new cases or the rising death toll. So far though, this disease is still largely isolated in China. Dont get me wrong. Im not trying to downplay the threat of this outbreak. Download your FREE report now, to discover Three Exciting Tech Trends and Three Small-Cap Stocks that could Explode in 2020 From what I understand weve got a fairly insidious problem on our hands. But, at least the spread has been limited so far. Having said that, the fact that this disease exists at all has perturbed many. After all, it bares many similarities to the SARS crisis of 2003. An event that many outside of China viewed as avoidable. Which will beg the question, could coronavirus also have been prevented? In my view, the answer is yes All China needs to do is close the wet markets Both SARS and coronavirus are being blamed on Chinas wet markets. A hub for trading all kinds of livestock and exotic animals. The key distinction though, is that some of these animals are still alive. Often caged up in squalor, they are waiting to be sold and slaughtered. From an outsiders perspective it can seem cruel and horrifying. In the Western world we are often sheltered from the grittier aspects of farming. Not in China though which is why it can appear more barbaric. Beyond the perception though, these wet markets are the perfect storm for disease. They lie dormant in the live animals, unaffected by symptoms. But when a human comes into contact with them, things turn deadly. Just like were seeing right now. As you may know, bats and civets are believed to have been the origin of SARS. Animals that were sold and likely eaten in Guangdong, China. Coronavirus has almost certainly followed a similar pattern. It is thought that the disease spread from bats to snakes, and then snakes to people. Another case of an interspecies outbreak. So, the solution is obvious. All China needs to do is close the wet markets. Right? Well, the LA Times certainly thinks so: If we want to forestall the evolution of ever-newer, and possibly deadlier, human-adapted viruses, live animal markets must be permanently shut down. Until the Chinese government outlaws these markets, until factory farms housing millions of animals are eliminated, until we take the inevitable logic of disease evolution into account, novel, and potentially deadly, human diseases will continue to arise. Again. And again. And again. Now, I dont disagree with this view. Ridding the world of live animal trading seems like a no-brainer to me. However, it is an argument made in bad faith. Artificial meat could rid China of live trade At the end of the day people have to eat. China, like any other country, has to feed its citizens. And they have more mouths to feed than any other nation on Earth. Because of this, wet markets are a vital part of the equation. It is how most Chinese actually buy their food. They prefer it to the Western supermarket. As food security researcher Zhenzhong Si notes: Actually, the Chinese government has been trying to convert many of the wet markets in cities to supermarkets. They tried this in 2002 but failed just because they were no longer able to provide fresh food at a cheaper price, so they lost their original customers. Getting rid of wet markets just isnt feasible. It is how the Chinese prefer to shop. So, we clearly need another alternative. And I believe there is one Artificial meat. By using plant-based or lab-grown meat, Chinas wet markets could do away with live animal trade. There would be no need to cage, sell, and kill animals for food. They could simply cultivate it from other sources. A safer way to feed the billion-plus people across the country. Better yet, as research continues, engineering lab-grown meat will only get cheaper and easier. It wont take long for it to overtake farming as we know it once the ball gets rolling. Were already seeing this trend emerge onto the world stage. Companies like Beyond Meat, Memphis Meats, and Tyson Foods are already upending the meat industry as we know it. Theyre transforming the way we think about food. And in time, they could transform what we all eat at the dinner table. Im not saying itll happen overnight, but it will happen. And it just might be our best shot at preventing another viral outbreak like the coronavirus in the future. Regards, Ryan Clarkson-Ledward, Editor, Money Morning PS: We believe these rapid fire market opportunities are a fantastic way to grow your wealth. Which is why youll find us talking about the big trends that can uncover them. If that is something up your investment alley, then click here to learn more. A 31-year-old woman, who took a flight to India via China recently, was put under observation after she came to the Hoshiarpur civil hospital with symptoms of flu. The patient, who landed in New Delhi on January 24, had a seven-hour stay at the Shanghai airport. She sought medical treatment for cough and cold at the hospital on Tuesday but when the doctors came to know that she had travelled through China, they became alert. Though the woman was allowed to go home, she was put under medical observation. Civil surgeon Jasbir Singh said the patient would be monitored for at least 28 days or till she leaves the country. We cannot call it a suspected coronavirus case as of now but since she had travelled to China it was necessary to keep a watch on her health, he said. He said the patients sample would be collected if she does not respond to general treatment. As of now, she has not shown any serious symptoms, the civil surgeon added. 28-bed isolation ward set up at Jalandhar civil hospital Jalandhar A 28-bed isolation ward for suspected coronavirus cases has been set up at the Jalandhar civil hospital. A separate flu corner is also in place to create awareness on the disease. Jalandhar civil surgeon Dr Gurinder Kaur Chawla said four beds had also been earmarked at the ICU, adding guidelines and directions had been issued for all staff. Deputy commissioner Varinder Sharma also presided over a meeting of the district health society. Medical post set up at Kartarpur Corridor Gurdaspur Civil surgeon Dr Kishan Chand said a special medical post had been set up at the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on the Indo-Pak border in Gurdaspur district to screen pilgrims. He added that rapid response teams, flu corners and isolation wards were in place in all blocks in the district. William C. Holman Correctional Facility, a 51-year-old prison with a violent history, is partially closing because of deteriorating underground utilities, requiring the transfer of more than 600 inmates in a prison system already holding 170% of the inmate population it was built for. ADOC Commissioner Jeff Dunn announced the move this morning. Alabamas death row and the states execution chamber will remain at Holman. Death row inmates will move into a section of the prison now used for restrictive housing that has independent power, water, sewage systems, Dunn said. Todays announcement adds strain to an overcrowded and understaffed prison system plagued by a level of violence that the U.S. Department of Justice alleged in April creates conditions that violate the Constitution. State officials and the DOJ have been in discussions about how to make the prisons safer to forestall a possible lawsuit by DOJ against the state. U.S. Attorney Jay Town said that the Justice Department first learned of the prison closure today from state prison officials. I am disappointed that we were not privy to the decision to close Holman at the time such a decision was being considered, Town said in a statement. "We will continue to forge ahead in our good faith negotiations. There are 166 death row inmates at Holman, including 21 who have already been moved from Donaldson Correctional Facility in Jefferson County as part of the realignment required by the closing of Holmans main facility. About 150 of Holmans low-risk inmates serving life without parole will move into a stand-alone dorm that has utilities separate from the main prison. They will continue to work at the prisons license plate and clothing plants. Fountain Correctional Facility, which is about a mile from Holman, will provide health, rehabilitative, and food services for the inmates who will remain at Holman. The prisoners who will move from Holman to other ADOC facilities include about 422 general population inmates and 195 restrictive housing inmates, Dunn said. Dunn said ADOC will not release details and timing of the inmate transfers for security reasons. ADOC will provide updates on its website every Tuesday at 11 a.m. for families of inmates, the media, and the general public. Inmate locations will be updated after inmates are moved. Dunn said the ADOC is modifying and realigning staff to other prisons to accommodate the additional inmates. He said staff no longer needed at Holman would be reassigned to nearby facilities and that nobody would lose their job because of the closure. Dunn said the need to partially close Holman illustrates the level of disrepair in the Alabama prison system which he has described to legislators and others for several years. Band-aid solutions to any problem of this magnitude are temporary at best and cannot fix the root cause of our collective problem -- Alabamas prison infrastructure is failing, Dunn said in a news release. Holman is the second prison to close in Alabama in two years. Draper Correctional Facility in Elmore County, which was 79 years old, closed in 2018 because of deteriorating conditions. 6 Holman Contraband Raid April 2019 Dunn said plans to close Holman have been in the works since August 2018. But he said the decision to partially close the prison immediately came just a few weeks ago because of increasing problems with the tunnel that houses the prisons electrical, water, and sewer systems. Dunn said daily repairs are required and that the conditions are hazardous for workers who enter the tunnel. Dunn said the decision to hasten the closing of Holman was solely because of the deterioration and not related to the level of violence at the prison. Dunn acknowledged to state legislators last week that the level of violence in Alabama prisons remained unacceptably high months after the DOJ report, which found that the number of assaults, sexual abuse, and prisoner deaths were excessive and that overcrowding and severe under-staffing exacerbated the problems. According to the ADOCs October 2019 statistical report, Alabama prisons housed 21,081 inmates in facilities designed for 12,412, an occupancy rate of 170%. The prison population has grown by about 1,000 inmates over the last year after several years of declines. Correctional officer staffing had dropped to as low as about one-third of recommended levels. The ADOC is under a federal court order to add 2,200 officers over the next two years. Dunn said last week that ADOC has added a net gain of 255 officers in the last year. The Legislature approved funding to increase pay and bonuses in an effort to hire more correctional officers. ADOC also created a new basic correctional officer position with a shorter training period to ramp up staffing more quickly. ADOC is requesting a $42 million increase in its budget next year. The ADOC and the Gov. Kay Ivey administration are seeking proposals from companies to finance and build three new mens prisons that the state would lease and operate. Dunn said the ADOC expects to receive proposals by the end of April. Preliminary estimates are for the prisons to cost about $900 million. This unavoidable issue reinforces the critical importance Governor Iveys transformative and necessary plan to build three new correctional facilities, Dunn said. AL.com staff writer Kyle Whitmire contributed to this report. This story was updated several times, including to add a statement from U.S. Attorney Jay Town and more information about the partial closing. No serious changes are predicted in regard to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict during the pre-election periods in Karabakh and Azerbaijan, and this is due to the full domestic political agendas. This is what Director of the Caucasus Institute, political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan told reporters today. According to him, the conflict is not in the stage in which we can expect major changes. As far as the elections are concerned, the results of the elections in Azerbaijan are more or less predictable, but it is harder to predict the results of the elections in Karabakh, he stated. Touching upon the upcoming meeting of the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Iskandaryan emphasized that if, based on the results of the meeting, it is stated that the talks will continue, it will be safe to say that the meeting was a success since we cant expect serious changes in this stage. The talks have been over the Madrid Principles since 1996-97. In any case, a meeting itself is positive, taking into consideration the fact that this helps form a path for cooperation between the sides, and the involvement of international players creates a stronger basis for maintenance of the status-quo. However, it is only up to the Armenians and Azerbaijanis to settle the conflict, Alexander Iskandaryan concluded. Sorry! This content is not available in your region AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitratech, a leading provider of legal and compliance software, today announced the acquisition of ClusterSeven Ltd. By offering their products alongside its existing governance, risk, and compliance solutions, Mitratech will provide the first-ever end-to-end solutions suite specifically aimed at elevating companies' data privacy and information governance efforts. By adding solutions from ClusterSeven to a proven family of products, Mitratech now supplies a full spectrum of the tools needed to ensure data privacy, empowering information governance, and satisfy regulatory oversight. ClusterSeven, based in London, U.K., provides a unique and innovative solution for discovering, managing and monitoring "Shadow IT" the hidden, sensitive End User Computer (EUC) applications, spreadsheets, data assets and other applications that lie outside of IT's control but that an organization relies upon. The new suite of solutions will give compliance teams capabilities to manage and mitigate risk: GRC teams will be able to manage obligations under thousands of ever-changing regulations. Translate obligations quickly and easily into policies and procedures they can rapidly create, review, communicate, and capture attestation to. Get visibility into the hidden, sensitive applications, spreadsheets, links, data assets and more that exist across a business but are outside of IT control. Collate, manage and mine data and business-critical content via a secure "single source of truth" central repository. Embed policy and information governance best practices in operational processes throughout the enterprise via workflow automation. "With this acquisition, we're able to offer our clients the most comprehensive and truly end-to-end suite of solutions available today in the risk and compliance management segment," said Mike Williams, CEO of Mitratech. "No other provider has this breadth and depth of a product portfolio. And no one else has a team behind its products that's anywhere near as experienced, capable, and committed to client success as the one we've assembled." Henry Umney, CEO of ClusterSeven, explained that "this is a case of the right alignment at the right time to meet the precise demands of the market. We've seen how regulatory complexities and the need to manage and mitigate financial, operational, regulatory and reputational risk by applying governance to a firm's EUCs and wider Shadow IT estate to maintain data integrity are driving companies to demand full-breadth technology offerings. Adding ClusterSeven to Mitratech's Enterprise Compliance Suite (ECS) range of solutions addresses that very real and pressing need." About Mitratech Mitratech is a proven global technology partner for corporate legal, risk, and compliance professionals, offering a proven portfolio of end-to-end solutions that spread operational best practices throughout the enterprise, standardizing processes and accelerating time-to-value. That helps legal and GRC teams rise to the challenge of serving the evolving needs of the modern, dynamic enterprise. For more info, visit www.mitratech.com. SOURCE Mitratech Related Links http://www.mitratech.com When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu withdrew his request for immunity on Jan. 28, he already knew that he had lost the battle and that he would not be getting immunity. Later that day, at 7:00 p.m. Israeli time, Netanyahu stood beside President Donald Trump at the White House and laid out his legacy for posterity. With that, he reshuffled the deck for the next round of Israeli elections in March. Trump's plan for resolving the conflict with the Palestinians which Netanyahu helped shape over the last three years and is commonly referred to the deal of the century has made history. Not only does it shatter the paradigm of the Oslo Accords, the diplomatic basis over the past three decades for everything done in this regard by successive Israeli governments and the United States. The plan also redraws Israels borders for generations to come, if only de facto and unilaterally. Trump gave Netanyahu the green light to immediately annex territory, and the prime minister doesnt plan on wasting time doing so. Netanyahu intended to bring his plan for the first stage in the annexation of the Jordan Valley and all the settlements to the government for its approval as early as Feb. 2. Tourism Minister Yariv Levin said on Jan. 29, however, that discussion in the Cabinet would be delayed for technical reasons. In any case, this is such an inconceivable development that its significance has yet to be fully understood. It could very well lead to a fresh outbreak of violence. The event occurred on the very day that Netanyahu became the first prime minister in Israels history to be charged with bribery while in office. The indictment against him was filed with the Jerusalem District Court soon after he gave up on his quest for immunity. The event at the White House was so surprising and monumental that it pushed the indictment to the farthest reaches of the days news. The events in Washington effectively reset the Israeli election campaign. Blue and White leaders never considered that the Trump plan would have immediate implications. As a result, they were caught without an immediate campaign response. Chairman Benny Gantz had a personal meeting with Trump on Jan. 27 and was presented with the plan. Nevertheless, senior Blue and White members claim that Gantz did not have as much as an inkling that it included the immediate annexation of large swathes of the West Bank. They believe that Netanyahu only managed to get the green light from Trump sometime on Jan. 28 before the announcement. Until then, Blue and White had been planning to turn the debate over Netanyahus immunity into the main issue of their campaign, thinking it would be around until election day. They had planned their opening salvo for the morning of Jan. 28, when the Knesset was scheduled to begin the debate that Netanyahu had tried so hard to prevent. Right before the planned debate, Netanyahu withdrew his request for Knesset immunity and retook control of the agenda. From that moment on, all eyes were on the White House, with the question of immunity pushed to the margins. Not even the unprecedented court filing of an indictment against an incumbent prime minister could distract attention from the White House. Blue and White is now caught in an intricate trap. The Trump plan and the diplomatic maneuvers now being advanced by Netanyahu will have dramatic implications for Israels security and the broader Middle East. Faced with that, Gantz and his fellow party members will have a hard time focusing the public's attention on the prime ministers legal issues and an even harder time attracting new voters from the right after Netanyahu delivered the plan of their dreams: not one settler will be evacuated from his or her home. Even if a new US president is elected in November, the facts will already be established on the ground, and it will be impossible for anyone to roll back Israeli sovereignty over the territory. Although surprised by the gravity of the White House event, Blue and White issued a statement positive toward Trump, calling him a true friend to Israel, to the Jewish people, and his plan. It was an important and historic speech by President Trump, the statement read. It aligns completely with the diplomatic and security principles of the Blue and White party. Given this situation, it is highly doubtful that Blue and White will vote against annexation of the settlements if the issue is be brought before the Knesset. The same is true of Yisrael Beitenu, led by Avigdor Liberman, who released his own statement congratulating Trump. In it, he also asserted, Part of his peace plan adopted the plan that I released in 2004, with its calls for a swap of territory and populations. Blue and White will try to return Netanyahus legal problems to the top of the national agenda, claiming that he cannot lead the country while standing trial on criminal charges. The problem is that recent developments will make that difficult for them. Instead, it is likely that they will have to reconsider and recalibrate their strategy. Meanwhile, Netanyahu will now operate on two tracks. On one, he will lead the Likuds campaign, which will once again be fashioned in his image in the hope that his right-wing-ultra-Orthodox bloc will win the 61 seats needed to form a government. Netanyahu will likely continue enjoying the absolute loyalty of the bloc even if he doesnt win 61 seats. Should Netanyahu fall short, Gantz will find yet again that he cannot form a government either. He made his situation worse with statements in support of annexing the Jordan Valley, which means he would have a hard time convincing the Arab's Joint List to support him. Netanyahu believes that given all this, the option of forming a unity government gains in relevance. The Trump plan could serve as the ground for its creation. On the other track, Netanyahu will work hard to shape his legacy as a historic one for generations to come. He is well aware of his complicated legal situation and knows that the Supreme Court could disqualify him from forming a new government, thereby bringing an end to his political career. That is why he must leave his mark on history. He will do that in the days and weeks ahead of the March 2 election. People used to say that even after Netanyahu's many years in government, he had no major achievement to mark his time in office. As the son of a historian, Benzion Netanyahu, he always had his eye on some sort of Churchillian, Ben-Gurion-like legacy and thought of himself in terms of greatness. It is no coincidence that in his speech at the White House, he remarked, This is a historic day. And it recalls another historic day. We remember May 14, 1948, because on that day, President Truman became the first world leader to recognize the State of Israel after our first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, declared our independence. Mr. President, I believe that down the decades and perhaps down the centuries we will also remember January 28, 2020, because on this day, you became the first world leader to recognize Israels sovereignty over areas in Judea and Samaria that are vital to our security and central to our heritage. History will yet judge Netanyahu. Given the current situation, the fact that he is a prime minister who has been charged with bribery will come knocking at his door in one way or another. Firefighters are working to rescue people inside a high-rise building in Los Angeles, where flames and black smoke billowed from a balcony and several blown-out windows on the building's sixth floor. Los Angeles Fire Department officials say eight people, including a three-month-old, were "impacted" by the fire from smoke inhalation or other injuries. Officials could not confirm the condition of the child. Another person is in "grave" condition. Six people were transported to area hospitals. Firefighters are now combing for others remaining inside after battling down the fire, which Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas says is being considered "suspicious". The cause of the fire is under investigation. More than 300 firefighters and four rescue helicopters were dispatched to the building this morning, making dramatic rescues as people were stranded on the building's roof. Firefighters were on the scene within minutes after the blaze broke out around 8.30am. Officials said the fire was "knocked down" by 10am. 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 A thick smear of smoke can be seen alongside the 25-story Barrington Plaza building on Wilshire Boulevard in Sawtelle. There were no sprinklers in the building to combat the fire, which spread from the sixth floor to the seventh. One man was seen climbing the side of the building, holding a two-inch surface after crawling out of a window. He was later rescued by a firefighter on a ladder truck. Fire officials initially reported that an undetermined number of people may have jumped from the building to escape the fire. Officials said that was not the case. Two people trapped inside the building were rescued by firefighter ladders. The building also was the site of a fire in 2013, when flames ripped through the building's 13th floor, injuring several people and displacing dozens others. Yves here. Im putting up this piece precisely because I find it to be frustratingly superficial and hope readers will come up with additional observations and ideas. Specifically, it skips over the various reasons why CEOs are so blinkered in their view of risks that they dont put climate change at the top of the list. Blaming that result on economics comes close to obscuring the problem. For instance, CEO thinking isnt driven by economics as practiced by either neoclassical or finance economists. It is unduly influenced by net present value analysis, which is at the core of most companies capital budgeting processes as well as Wall Street financial modeling. Companies and often the Street assign unduly high risk premia, which results in cash flows more than five or ten years out having close to nada impact on cash flow analyses. It isnt just the rise of neoliberalism and the promotion of the ideology of shareholder capitalism that led to the fetishization of cash flow models (which are just storytelling that too many take too seriously because spreadsheets). It is also that the rise of the personal computer suddenly made it vastly easier to prepare financial forecasts, greatly increasing their use as a managerial tool. And Ive seen again and again how users come to treat those models as more real than the conditions they represent. For instance, anyone who has prepared financial models has either on their own or under pressure tweaked model assumptions to achieve a preferred outcome by moving at least one of the assumptions into not terribly realistic territory. And thats before getting to other social factors like CEOs identifying less with their communities as corporations that were important to mid-sized cities were acquired by larger concerns covering much larger geographical areas. By Christopher Michaelson, Professor of Ethics and Business Law, University of St. Thomas. Originally published at The Conversation We live in a world threatened by numerous existential risks that no country or organization can resolve alone, such as climate change, extreme weather and the coronavirus. But in order to adequately address them, we need agreement on which are priorities and which arent. As it happens, the policymakers and business leaders who largely determine which risks become global priorities spent a week in January mingling in the mountainous resort of Davos for an annual meeting of the worlds elite. I participated in a global risk assessment survey that informed those at the Davos summit on what they should be paying the most attention to. The results, drawn from experts in a broad range of disciplines including business, happen to be very different from what company CEOs specifically see as the biggest threats they face. As a philosopher, I found the differences curious. They highlight two contrasting ways of seeing the world with significant consequences for our ability to address societal risks. AP Photo/Noah Berger Two Perspectives on the Biggest Risks The World Economic Forums Global Risk Report consolidates the perceptions of about 800 experts in business, government and civil society to rank the worlds most pressing challenges for the coming year by likelihood and impact. In 2020, extreme weather, a failure to act on climate change and natural disasters topped the list of risks in terms of likelihood of occurrence. In terms of impact, the top three were climate action failure, weapons of mass destruction and a loss of biodiversity. The specific perspective of corporate leaders, however, is captured in another survey that highlights what they perceive as the biggest risks to their own businesses growth prospects. Conducted by consultancy PwC since 1998, it also holds sway in Davos. Ive been involved in that report as well when I used to work for the organization. In sharp contrast to the World Economic Forums risk report, the CEO survey found that the top three risks to business this year are overregulation, trade conflicts and uncertain economic growth. Economic or Ethical What explains such a big difference in how these groups see the greatest threats? I wanted to look at this question more deeply, beyond one years assessment, so I did a simple analysis of 14 years of data generated by the two reports. My findings are only inferences from publicly available data, and it should be noted that the two surveys have different methodologies and ask different questions that may shape respondents answers. A key difference I observed is that business leaders tend to think in economic terms first and ethical terms second. That is, businesses, as youd expect, tend to focus on their short-term economic situation, while civil society and other experts in the Global Risk Report focus on longer-term social and environmental consequences. For example, year after year, CEOs have named a comparatively stable set of narrow concerns. Overregulation is among the main three threats in all but one of the years and is frequently at the top of the list. Availability of talent, government fiscal concerns and the economy were also frequently mentioned over the past 14 years. In contrast, the Global Risk Report tends to reflect a greater evolution in the types of risks the world faces, with concerns about the environment and existential threats growing increasingly prominent over the past five years, while economic and geopolitical risks have faded after dominating in the late 2000s. A Philosophical Perspective Risk surveys are useful tools for understanding what matters to CEOs and civil society. Philosophy is useful for considering why their priorities differ, and whose are likelier to be right. Fundamentally, risks are about interests. Businesses want a minimum of regulations so they can make more money today. Experts representing constituencies beyond just business place a greater emphasis on the common good, now and in the future. them. And while Im sympathetic to CEOs desire to run their businesses without regulatory interference, Im concerned that these short-term economic considerations often impede long-term ethical goals, such as looking after the well-being of the environment. An Uncertain World Experts agree on at least one thing: The world faces dire risks. This years Global Risk Report, titled, An Unsettled World, depicts on its cover a vulnerable earth in the shadow of a gigantic whirlpool. The cover photograph of the Global CEO Survey, which reported the lowest CEO confidence in economic growth since the Great Recession, shows an incoming tide beneath looming dark clouds, with the words: Navigating the Rising Tide of Uncertainty. Between the covers, however, the reports demonstrate a wide gap between two influential groups that need to be on the same page if we hope to resolve the worlds biggest threats. Last century, in the same year that World War II drew to a close, Bertrand Russell proclaimed that the purpose of philosophy was to teach us how to live without certainty, and yet without being paralyzed by hesitation. In the 21st century, philosophy can remind us of our unfortunate tendency to let economic priorities paralyze action on more pressing concerns. This is the glittering, 15million, 40-carat diamond at the centre of a bitter courtroom battle between two wealthy Russian businessmen. Dmitry Tsvetkov says his former business partner Rustem Magdeev walked into a chic Graff diamond boutique they jointly owned in Cyprus and simply took the valuable gem. Mr Magdeev then flew to Switzerland on a private jet and stashed it away in his bank vault, it is claimed. Two Russian businessman are fighting over this 'extremely rare' 40-carat diamond that's said to be worth 15m. Dmitry Tsvetkov alleges Rustem Magdeev took it as their business crumbled Dmitry Tsvetkov (left) came face to face with former business partner Rustem Magdeev (right), who is fighting for 8million he insists he is owned for investing in their company In dramatic testimony at Londons High Court yesterday, Mr Tsvetkov said he was out of the country at the time and was shocked when he went to the store and was told that it had been taken. He added: I arrived in Cyprus from Monaco. I was informed that Magdeev and his son Ernest had visited the Graff boutique the previous day and taken the pear-shaped diamond. They then took a private flight to Geneva. The precious pear-shaped diamond was bought jointly by Mr Tsvetkov and Mr Magdeev in August 2015 for 11.8m from exclusive diamond dealers Graff. Mr Tsvetkov says the former business allies had lined up a buyer willing to pay 15million for the glittering gem and they agreed to split the 3.2m in half. But to this day, the diamond remains unsold and Mr Tsvetkov is claiming half the profit he claims he should have got. Mr Tsvetkov, 38, (pictured in the light blue suit on the right), next to Francois Graff, at the opening of his high-end Graff diamond store in May 2015. Mr Tsvetkov opened the store in Cyprus and a Dubai-based diamond wholesale business with investment from Mr Magdeev Mr Tsvetkov also alleges that other valuable gems, watches and jewellery were also taken by Mr Magdeev from the Cyprus Graff store. The consequences of this was that the business was deprived of stock and I wasnt able to profit from the sale of the pear-shaped diamond, he added. The precious pear-shaped stone, which is of the highest quality of diamond possible, initially formed part of a Graff necklace that cost a staggering 25 million. Mr Tsvetkov is married to Elsina Khayrova (above), the daughter of a Russian politician The two millionaires have been locked in conflict since the fall of their diamond business empire. In response Mr Magdeev is counter-suing Mr Tsvetkovat tin he High Court for 8m, claiming that his former friend was responsible for their Dubai-based diamond wholesale company going bust in 2017. Mr Magdeev, who provided the bulk of the funding for the pear-shaped diamond, also insists that no agreement to split the profit from its sale existed. His lawyer, Stephen Robins accused Mr Tsvetkov of making up the story. Mr Robins said the two former business partners relationship broke down because of Mr Tsvetkovs lavish spending of company funds. Financial documents showed that he had hired private jets, limousines and once also bought a 30,000 Hermes crocodile skin bag for his wife on expenses. Mr Magdeev accuses him of mismanaging the company, which caused it to go out of business. Giving evidence last week, he claimed that he was enticed to invest because of Mr Tsvetkov's connections to the Graff family, which secured them large discounts on their diamonds and jewellery. Mr Tsvetkov had already told of his close relationship with Francois Graff, head of the chic Graff Diamonds group which enabled him to secure discounts on their gems and jewellery of up to 60 per cent, ensuring him large profits. Mr Tsvetkov owns this beautiful 22 million mansion in Surrey where he lives with his wife and their two young children Last year, Mr Magdeev lost another High Court claim against Mr Tsvetkov to try and recoup some of his investment relating to the now defunct Graff store in Cyprus, which closed in 2018. Mr Tsvetkov became a British citizen in 2010 and is the owner of a spectacular 22m mansion in Surrey. The impressive house boasts its own pool, spa, wine cellar and cinema and underground car park with enough space for ten cars. His model wife Elsina Khayrova is the daughter of Rinat Khayrov who earns 105,000-a-year as a member of President Putin's party. Graff Diamonds is a luxury brand and family business founded by Laurence Graff in 1960. And yet, I also know that when America puts something this detailed on the table, it cannot be ignored, at least in the near term. Netanyahu already announced that with Trumps blessings Israel will quickly move to apply its law (tantamount to annexation) to the West Banks Jordan Valley and all Jewish settlements in the occupied territory. It will be interesting to see how the European Union, which funds much of the Palestinian governing infrastructure in the West Bank, responds once its studied the plan, not to mention the reaction of everyday Palestinians and Arabs. (I dont expect much. This conflict seems to have passed its fix-by date.) O.K., despite the obvious political motivation for the timing of the release of this plan, not to mention much of its substance, is there anything in it that would impress me that the Trump administration is actually serious about promoting a two-state solution and actually has a strategy to achieve one? Yes, if our president did something hard. What would that be? It would be his telling Netanyahu that before Bibi extends Israeli law to all these West Bank settlements and the Jordan Valley, Trump wants one thing: an unequivocal public statement that Netanyahu accepts the fact that while Israel is getting East Jerusalem, more than 20 percent of the core West Bank, with all its settlements, plus the Jordan Valley, the remaining roughly 70 percent will become an independent Palestinian state, if Palestinians agree to all sorts of security requirements. Trump needs to say to Netanyahu: Bibi, you say that I am the most pro-Israel president to ever sit in the White House. This plan was written with your team. I have supported your maximum position absorbing all the Jewish settlements into Israel and all of traditional Jerusalem, and with no return of Palestinian refugees to Israel. Now I need to know, the Palestinians need to know, and the world needs to know, that this is not your new starting position. Will you agree right now that the remaining land will be a Palestinian state if the Palestinians agree to demilitarization and recognize Israel as a Jewish state? Will you agree right now to make no further claims ever to the West Bank and not build another settlement ever outside the areas that the Trump plan assigns to Israel? If Trump were to spend just a little bit of political capital doing that, I might start to take this plan seriously. But if Netanyahu is allowed to evade that question, or turns Trump down with no consequences, then this whole thing truly is a farce its just the new baseline for Netanyahus next West Bank land grab. (TNS) Democrats will renew their push for rural broadband expansion Tuesday when they unveil a new bill that aims to use $15 million in state funds to help expand broadband access across the state.Sen. Erin Herbig of Belfast, sponsor of the measure, will discuss details at a press conference before a 1 p.m. hearing by the Legislatures Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee. Nine other Senate and House Democrats have signed on as co-sponsors.The bill comes on the heels of a new broadband plan developed by the ConnectME Authority earlier this month.Jim Buckle, Owner of Buckle Farm in Unity and President of the Maine Farm Bureau, is expected to speak at the press conference. Funding broadband expansion has been a recurrent issue for the Legislature, which failed to advance a borrowing package to voters in 2019 that would have included funding for broadband infrastructure expansion.The bill before the energy committee on Tuesday would channel a $15 million appropriation from the states General Fund to the ConnectME Authority for use towards putting its plan in action. CLEVELAND, Ohio In China, where an outbreak of coronavirus has killed hundreds, wearing face masks in public is mandatory. But that probably will not happen here, doctors say. Masks are not recommended for general use in this country, said Dr. Kristin Englund, staff physician in the infectious-disease department of the Cleveland Clinic. The coronavirus, which causes a pneumonia-like illness, is becoming more widespread in China, but there are only five confirmed cases in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC doesnt recommended Americans wear masks in public, according to CNN. Health masks whether made of cloth or paper, or the sturdier N95 respirator masks arent recommended because the coronavirus infects people when they touch a contaminated surface, then touch their mouth or eyes, spreading the illness, Englund said. While coronavirus spreads through droplets in the air, scientists think that it is more virulent when picked up from a contaminated surface, she said. Wearing a mask is not the best way to avoid transmission [of coronavirus], Englund said. Hand-washing is a more effective way to prevent the spread of viruses, including influenza. Here is more information about face masks, coronavirus and effective ways to stay healthy: Who should wear a face mask? Hospitals ask sick people, and those who are in close contact with sick people, to wear masks, Englund said. The mask prevents sick people from spreading viruses. What is the difference between cloth or paper masks and N95 respirator masks? Disposable and loose-fitting cloth or paper masks are often worn by clinicians while treating patients. These masks prevent germ-laden droplets from escaping from the nose and mouth, according to Healthline, an online health site. Cloth or paper masks offer protection from large particles, but not smaller particles, such as viruses, Englund said. N95 respirator masks, certified by the CDC and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, can filter out 95% of airborne particles. They are considered more effective at preventing the flu virus than regular masks, and they protect against small and large particles, according to Healthline. Physicians and nurses wear surgical N95 respirator masks when dealing with highly infectious patients. Home DIYers can also buy a type of N95 respirator mask for home use. These masks do filter out small particles, but they need to be fitted correctly to ensure they fit snugly against the face, Englund said. How much do masks cost? Home Depot sells N95 respirators in a pack of five for $15. A single respirator costs about $8 at Walmart. Amazon lists a 100-pack of disposable woven face masks for $20. Which kind of mask is better? An improperly fitted N95 respirator mask wont work any better than a cloth or paper mask, Englund said. Surgical N95 respirators worn by physicians and nurses are regularly tested to be sure they fit snugly. Are stores running out of masks? Some major retail stores in Texas began running out of face masks after a potential case of coronavirus was announced, according to CNN. Seattle drugstores began selling out of surgical masks within hours of the first confirmed U.S. case of coronavirus, and large quantities of the masks are being sold in New York and Los Angeles, BBC reported. Discount Drug Mart has seen an uptick in sales of both N95 respirators and regular masks, leading to low inventory, said pharmacist Jason Briscoe, director of pharmacy operations. Some stores are out of respirators and masks completely, so calling ahead to see if your local store has them in stock is smart, Briscoe said. Are masks effective against flu? Some studies have shown that using a surgical mask can help prevent influenza, according to the Mayo Clinic. Pairing a surgical mask and an alcohol-based hand sanitizer was shown to reduce the number of influenza-like illnesses in a group of students living in a college dormitory even more than using a surgical mask alone. The best way to prevent influenza is to receive the flu vaccine. How should masks be disposed of? Its OK to throw them in the trash, but pull them off by the ear loops. Avoid touching the front of the mask, where germs lurk. Which is better: washing your hands properly and frequently, wearing a mask, or both? While masks do decrease the risk of getting sick, they arent a substitute for other protective measures, Briscoe said. These include: Being up to date with your immunizations for flu and pneumonia. Washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If using a hand sanitizer (when soap/water is unavailable), be sure it contains at least 60% alcohol. Avoiding close contact with people who are sick. Staying home when you are sick. Covering your cough/sneeze with a tissue, then discarding the tissue in the trash. Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces. Which is a bigger threat, the flu or coronavirus? Englund sees people who are not concerned enough about influenza, which can lead to deadly complications. The threat of coronavirus in the United States is low, but we are in the middle of a heavy flu season. Where can I go for up-to-date information about coronavirus? The CDC posts information and updates and prevention steps. Read more on coronavirus: Generally in our country, such people are elected to the President, who has no criminal case against him, he has not been arrested in any case, he has not been in jail. But today we are going to tell you about a President of the world who was arrested not once or twice but at least 20 times before becoming President. Nevertheless, he became the President of the country and ruled for a full four years. He is also known as 'The Island President'. The name of this president is Mohammad Nasheed. He has been the President of the island nation Maldives located in the Indian Ocean. He ruled the country from 2008 to 2012. He is known as the first democratically elected President of the country. He was expelled from the country in 2016. He was accused by opposition party President Abdulla Yameen of being involved in terrorism. These five countries who have no written constitutions Please tell that 52-year-old Mohammad Nasheed is a very educated person. He did his early education from the school in the Maldives, but after that, he went to Colombo, Sri Lanka for further studies. Then from there to England, then to Liverpool, where he completed his graduation. He then returned to the Maldives in 1990 and became the assistant editor of a new magazine, 'Sangu', which criticized the government of the then President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. After this 'sangu' was banned and Mohammad Nasheed was sentenced to house arrest. Then later that year he was imprisoned and kept in solitary confinement for 18 months. In 1992, Mohammad Nasheed was again sentenced to three years in prison, but in 1993 he was released. Nasheed then sought permission from the government to form an independent political party in the year 1994, but his request was rejected. Then in 1996, he was again sentenced to six months in prison, as he had written about the 1993 and 1994 Maldives elections in a Philippines magazine. After being released from prison, Mohammad Nasheed worked hard to get into politics for two years and finally, in 1999, he became a member of the Parliament of Maldives on behalf of the People's Majlis Party. However, his happiness did not last long and he was arrested again in October 2001 and the following month he was sentenced to two and a half years of exile in a remote island. Then in March 2002, he was expelled from the party too, because he had not gone to a single parliament proceeding for the last six months. However, in the meantime, he was released in August. The family of this person thought the dead was a grave, but something happened In September 2003, when riots broke out in Maldives capital Male after that Mohammad Nasheed left the Maldives and reached Sri Lanka. He returned to the Maldives again in April 2005 after living in Sri Lanka for almost one and a half years. Incidentally, in June the same year, the Maldives government passed a law allowing political parties to participate in elections, after which Nasheed launched a campaign to bring more and more democracy to the Maldives. However, after this, he was again taken into custody. He remained in the house arrest from 2005 to 2006. He benefited from all this in the presidential election held in the Maldives for the first time in 2008 and he managed to defeat the then President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and came to power in the Maldives. Mohammad Nasheed did a lot of work on climate change in his country as a president, after which he was recognized worldwide. Since the Maldives is situated at a height of just six feet from the sea, he held an underwater meeting to attract worldwide attention, given the potential danger of the country ever sinking. In November 2018, when the President of Maldives Elections were held, in which Mohammad Nasheed's party Maldivian Democratic Party won and Ibrahim Mohammad Solih became president. After this, on November 26, 2018, the Supreme Court of Maldives reversed Nasheed's sentence, saying that he had been wrongly accused, he should not have been tried. Nasheed was relieved after that and returned to his country again. 90-year-old woman starts her own business with help of her grand daughter (Natural News) Not long before Chinese coronavirus started making global headlines, The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, in partnership with the World Economic Forum and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, held a high-level pandemic exercise called Event 201 that seems to have been a predictive blueprint for whats now transpiring with the coronavirus outbreak. On October 18, 2019, representatives from each of the aforementioned groups descended on New York City to discuss how they would respond to a severe pandemic much like the one were now being told is spreading across China and into the West. The exercise illustrated areas where public / private partnerships will be necessary during the response to a severe pandemic in order to diminish large-scale economic and societal consequences, an official announcement from Event 201 reads. In recent years, the world has seen a growing number of epidemic events, amounting to approximately 200 events annually, the announcement goes on to explain. These events are increasing, and they are disruptive to health, economies, and society. According to the events organizers, a pandemic like the one we could be seeing form right now before our very eyes requires cooperation among governments, industries, and key international institutions the latter presumably referring to organizations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Is coronavirus yet another ploy to thin the herd and sell more vaccines? The timing of Event 201 is nothing short of suspicious in light of the fact that coronavirus is all the media is talking about right now. Its even eclipsing President Trumps impeachment proceedings in the Senate, with news about entire cities in China that are home to tens of millions of people being put under mandatory quarantine. Were also seeing headlines about coronavirus popping up in major U.S. cities like Seattle, Houston and Chicago, which is starting to generate panic here in our own country about how far this thing will go before either fizzling out a best-case scenario or spreading like wildfire. As Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, is now warning, the rapid adaptation or mutation of coronavirus suggests that this might be another weaponized viral strain that was intentionally unleashed for eugenics purposes. Mainstream reporting is admitting that coronavirus is constantly changing like some kind of self-replicating bioweapon, which is all too convenient considering that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded Pirbright Institute owns a patent on coronavirus for vaccine creation purposes. Was this whole outbreak engineered for the purpose of scaring the general public into accepting yet another government vaccine? Is it also about depopulating the planet as part of Bill Gates admitted efforts to use vaccination and health care as a means of reducing the worlds population by 10 to 15 percent? Time will tell what becomes of this latest public health scare, but one thing is for sure: Bill Gates and his eugenicist buddies are chomping at the bit to vaccinate the entire planet against coronavirus and any other disease they can conjure up as a deadly bioweapon. At the current time, the fatality rate associated with coronavirus infection is relatively low, around two percent. But that could very quickly change as the virus mutates and adapts to new environments, creating the horrific scenario predicted by Event 201. Experts agree that it is only a matter of time before one of these epidemics becomes global a pandemic with potentially catastrophic consequences, the Event 201 description ominously forebodes. A severe pandemic, which becomes Event 201, would require reliable cooperation among several industries, national governments, and key international institutions. To keep up with the latest news about coronavirus, be sure to check out Outbreak.news. You can also learn more about how many of these contagion scares are pre-planned, engineered false flag events at FalseFlag.news. Sources for this article include: CenterForHealthSecurity.org NaturalNews.com Patents.Justia.com NaturalNews.com An employee at the PT Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, takes the temperature of a Chinese worker, Jan. 28, 2020. A Chinese-controlled firm said Tuesday it had quarantined all 3,000 of its Chinese employees who work at an industrial complex in Indonesias Central Sulawesi province, amid fears that the new coronavirus could spread here after hundreds of new workers arrived from China last week. The workers at the plant in Morowali regency were being monitored for any signs of infection, said Dedy Kurniawan, a spokesman for the Chinese-owned company, the PT Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP). Chinas Tsingshan Holding Group holds the majority stake in the park, which produces nickel and stainless steel. When the news of the outbreak came to the fore, the management immediately implemented strict procedures, Dedy told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. To facilitate the examinations, 3,000 foreign workers have been quarantined. If they are found to be free from the virus, they will be released from the quarantine, he said, adding that so far, no one was found to be infected. Dedy said the move followed the arrival of 600 workers from China last week, including 15 from Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province in China, considered ground zero for the virus. The quarantine began on Jan. 25, the same day the company announced a temporary freeze on bringing workers from China. Production continues despite the quarantine of the Chinese workers who are housed in dormitories on the campus of the industrial park. The plant also employs 28,000 Indonesians, according to officials. While the government so far has confirmed no cases of the coronavirus in Indonesia, Central Sulawesi health chief Reny Lamadjido said her department was in touch with IMIP officials and that two local hospitals were ready to treat patients in case of an outbreak. Because there are thousands of foreign workers, the majority of whom are from China, the area is our focus. But we are also on alert in other places, Reny told BenarNews. Elsewhere in Southeast Asia, the Philippines was monitoring more than two dozen people but none had yet been diagnosed with the coronavirus, officials said. Malaysia and Thailand, on the other hand, had confirmed seven and 14 cases, respectively, as of Tuesday. Globally, there were at least 4,690 confirmed cases, including 80 in countries other than China as of Tuesday, according to a tracking map created by Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. The World Health Organization has classified the risk level of spreading the coronavirus as very high in China, where the government reported the death toll had reached at least 106. Stuck in Wuhan The Chinese government has imposed a lockdown on Wuhan, where public transportation and other services have stopped as authorities struggle to contain the spread of the virus. Indonesian students have urged their government to help them return from China. Government officials said 243 Indonesians were in Hubei province, including many in its capital, Wuhan. We really hope that the Indonesian government will immediately repatriate us, or at least get us out of Wuhan first, Siti Mawaddah, a student at Hubei University, said on Kompas TV. She said she and other Indonesians had been confined to their rooms for eight days because of a government lockdown. Being confined to our room is not good for our health. Every day we hear that the number of victims continues to increase, as if we were just waiting for our turn to be infected, she said. Meanwhile, about 50 Filipinos in Wuhan were seeking help to return home, government officials said. I wish to inform the public that the government will take care of you whether you choose to stay or return home. For those who choose to return, you will be taken care of in a health facility for monitoring and further medical management, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said. Thai officials reported that 54 students and 10 workers were in Wuhan, and none had been diagnosed with the virus. Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand In Manila, Philippine health authorities said they were monitoring people for possible coronavirus infections, as the government implemented tougher security at ports of entry. We now have 27 persons under investigation in the Philippines, Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo told reporters, adding they included Chinese, Brazilian, American and German nationals who had travelled to Wuhan recently. Of that total, several have been cleared and none have been found to be infected with the coronavirus. On Tuesday, immigration and coast guard authorities said two cruise ships from China carrying hundreds of tourists were allowed to dock in Manila, but were later turned back after pressure from local officials. The latest developments also forced immigration officials to take steps to slow the flow of Chinese immigrants, including indefinitely suspending flights between the Philippines and Wuhan. We are now temporarily suspending the issuance of visas upon arrival for Chinese nationals to slow the influx of group tours, Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement. On Tuesday, The Malaysian Ministry of Health confirmed three new cases of the coronavirus, bringing the nationwide total to seven. Among the most recent cases is the daughter-in-law of a 66-year-old Chinese man, who was the first to be diagnosed with the coronavirus in Singapore. The man, a resident of Wuhan, traveled to Singapore with his family on Jan. 20 and tested positive for the virus. Meanwhile, Thai officials on Tuesday confirmed new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 14. We found another six cases, all of whom are Chinese patients. Interestingly, these six are from Hubei, five are from the same family, and are between the ages of 60 and 6, said Dr. Sukhum Kanchanapimai, permanent secretary for the Public Health Ministry. Thai officials said the outbreak and subsequent travel restrictions could mean a loss of 50 billion baht (U.S. $1.6 billion) in tourism dollars from Chinese visitors. They estimate about 2 million fewer Chinese likely will visit the country this year. Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. Former Montgomery police officer Aaron Cody Smith was sentenced on Wednesday to 14 years in an Alabama prison. Smith faced murder charges in the shooting death of Gregory Gunn, who Smith chased, tased and beat in a west Montgomery neighborhood in the early hours of Feb. 25, 2016, before he was fatally shot. A Dale County jury in November ultimately found Smith guilty of manslaughter, a lesser charge, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years. Jurors deliberated for just a few hours after Smith's four-day trial. At trial, Smith's defense argued the cop feared for his life as a solo, young officer in a "high-crime" area, and that Gunn armed himself with a paint pole from a neighbor's porch, leading Smith to shoot him seven times. Prosecutors argued Smith, with no legal justification, escalated a consensual stop with Gunn to deadly force, shooting and killing the 58-year-old just feet away from the home he lived in with his mother. Hours after the verdict, 26-year-old Smith resigned from the Montgomery Police Department, where he remained on administrative leave during his case's winding and fitful road to trial. Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey said in November he disagreed with the citys decision to keep him on paid staff for the nearly four years he was accused of murder. Written by the Montgomery Advertiser. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) Hoisting a large leather Bible above her head, Bolivias new interim president delivered an emphatic message hours after Evo Morales fled under pressure, the end of a nearly 14-year presidency that celebrated the countrys indigenous religious beliefs like never before. The Bible has returned to the palace, bellowed Jeanine Anez as she walked into the presidential palace where Morales had jettisoned the bible from official government ceremonies and replaced with acts honoring the Andean earth deity called the Pachamama. The conservative evangelical senator, from a region where people often scoff at Pachamama beliefs, thrust the Bible above her head and flashed a beaming smile. While Bolivians of all walks of life are deeply divided on Morales' legacy, his replacement, a lawyer and opposition leader who wants to make the Bible front and center in public life, is reigniting deep-rooted class and racial divisions at a time of great uncertainty in the Andean nation, where 6 in 10 identify as descendants of native peoples. Its the same as 500 years ago when the Spanish came and the first thing they showed the indigenous people was the Bible, said Jose Saravia, a civil engineer from La Paz. It seems to me like the same thing is happening again. Like many in Bolivia, Saravia is a practicing Catholic who weaves in Pachamama beliefs passed down from this parents and grandparents. About 8 in 10 in Bolivia are Catholic, according to the most recent estimates. Saravia and his family were among droves of people who came carrying their immaculately dressed baby Jesus dolls to fill a massive Catholic church in La Paz to participate in Three Kings Day masses Jan. 6. As they slowly left the church, a Catholic priest splashed their relics with holy water. Just feet away from the church in a bustling plaza, parishioners stopped to have their dolls blessed by indigenous elders wearing their customary poncho sweaters and wool stocking hats in an act Bolivians believe shows respect for Pachamama and bring blessings in return. The men rang tiny bells as they placed the dolls in incense smoke billowing from small pots full of hot coals and special herbs, many ending the act with a sign of the cross and a kiss of a small cross. Story continues A symbiotic relationship has emerged over time. It allows Catholics and Pachamama believers to maintain both systems, said Mariano Condori Flores, one of the indigenous guides doing the blessings. Condori said the same type of relationship doesnt exist with evangelicals, who tend to take a hardline against mixing beliefs and account for about 7% of the population, more than double their size in 1970, according to a self-reported membership figures compiled by the World Christian Database. It doesnt seem like Anez understands that we exist, Condori said. For many upper-class conservatives in the capital of La Paz, and in outlying provinces where people grew tired of Morales heavy-handed campaign to increase visibility and prominence of the indigenous religious beliefs, Anez's reintroduction of the Bible is being celebrated. It was a demonstration of grand respect for Bolivian people. We are believers in God, said Karina Ortiz Justiniano, a psychologist from the province of Beni where Anez resides. The government of Evo Morales was way too aggressive, especially for those of us here in the oriental region that dont believe in the Pachamama. Sentiments like that provoke strong reaction from Bolivians who embrace their Incan heritage. They fear that the discrimination they felt under previous presidents of European descent will return to this South American country of 11 million people situated between Peru, Chile, Brazil and Argentina. Anez will likely only hold the office until May 3, when the country holds another election, but critics say she represents Bolivian archetype that flourished before Morales became the nations first indigenous president in 2006. Morales commonly railed against what he considered discrimination that dated back to the Spanish conquest in 1520, describing his presidency as the decolonization of Bolivia. Morales revamped the Bolivian constitution in 2009 to make the country a secular state, stripping special recognition previously given to the Catholic church. None of the presidential candidates for the May election mentioned rolling back Morales changes to the constitution. Anez declined to be interviewed by The Associated Press but told a Bolivian newspaper in December that she will respect indigenous beliefs. But she said if Christians like her had to endure the Bible being taken out of the presidential palace, now others should respect her devotion to God. Edwin Sanchez Mansilla, who owns a shop in La Paz called Question of Faith, to repair religious relics, said Anez celebration of the Bible returning ignited a spike in business as people felt compelled to connect to their religious roots. He said hes not worried that Bolivia will lose its indigenous culture. Weve had these customs for a long time, Evo Morales didnt invent them, Mansilla said. With or without Evo, well continue. We have strong roots. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Fashion types are always telling us to wear this or that difficult colour: last year it was either palest lilac or lime green. For 2020, though, the undisputed colour of the year is classic blue. What a relief! You would, of course, be forgiven for observing that we do not really need the Pantone Color Institute whose colour of the year is eagerly anticipated by the fashion industry each winter to tell us to wear blue. However, Pantone is all about exact shades. The system was set up in the Sixties to help with precise colour matching in the printing industry, and this years shade is that lovely, bright true blue that just about everyone looks good in. Anna Pursglove shared advice for embracing the trend for classic blue, pictured: Coat, 165, french connection.com; jeans, 54.95, gap.co.uk; boots, 59.99, zara.com; earrings throughout (unless otherwise stated), 60, astrid andmiyu. com Jacket, 245, and trousers, 155, thefold london.com; blouse, 69, marksand spencer.com; shoes, 19.99, zara.com; necklace, 22, orelia.co.u Its lively enough to be a statement, but flexible enough to work with plenty of other shades. It has no red tones to inflame pink complexions, nor any green or yellow notes, so you wont look ill if your skin tone is darker. Furthermore, given that fashion in 2020 is going to be all about buying less and buying better, this classic blue and navy work together like a dream. And who hasnt got something navy? You can forget that old adage Blue and green should neer be seen without a colour in between. Rubbish! Nearly all shades of green look fab alongside classic blue. Coat, 119, zara.com; dress, 179, tedbaker.com; roll-neck, 39, french connection.com; shoes, 97, lkbennett.com; earrings, 5.99, hm.com Dress, 229, whistles.com; shoes, 19.99, zara.com; ring, 68, branch jewellery.co.uk Coat, 89, marks and spencer. com; blazer, 172.50, and trousers, 170, essentiel- antwerp.com; shoes, 19.99, and bracelet, 7.99, zara.com If your hips are heavier than your top half, I would go for navy trousers or a skirt, and wear those with a classic blue sweater or shirt. Essentiel Antwerp is doing this shade particularly well, as is Marks & Spencer, which has a versatile, classic blue jumper (above far right). If you want to minimise a heavier bust, keep the classic blue below the waist. Essentiel Antwerps wide-leg trousers (also far right) are very of the moment, but be warned that they are quite long. If (like mine) your legs arent catwalk-model enough for this style, try the fabulous cow-print dress (centre) from Whistles. In 2019 Pantones colour of the year was coral lovely on some, but not of universal appeal. So Ill be making the most of the wearability of this years choice. After all, who knows what tonal challenges 2021 may brings? Top, 29, topshop.com; trousers, 150, lkbennett. com; shoes, 245, russelland bromley. co.uk SPOKANE, Wash. - The Washington House of Representatives on Tuesday released a trove of documents supporting a recent report that branded an arch-conservative state lawmaker a ``domestic terrorist and got him kicked out of the Republican caucus. The documents, which cover a period of Republican Rep. Matt Sheas activities from 2012 to 2018, were released by the chief clerk of the state House in Olympia. The documents included emails, news articles, press releases, law enforcement reports, audio recordings and other items involving Shea and his activities. The various items released were the basis for a 108-page report for the Legislature by The Rampart Group that was released in December and was highly critical of Sheas anti-government activities. The report prompted House Republicans to kick Shea, who is from Spokane Valley, out of their caucus. Democrats and Republicans have called for Sheas resignation, but he has refused. Republicans say it is up to voters to remove Shea from the Legislature. Shea, who rarely speaks to the press, did not return an email from The Associated Press seeking comment. But he posted comments on his Facebook page Tuesday that criticized many of the documents as raising more questions. ``Many of the exhibits are merely biased left wing opinion pieces, Shea wrote. ``The more the facts come out on this, the more it is clear this was a political hit job/label-lynching paid for by us taxpayers. In the past, Shea on social media has branded the report a lie and said he will continue to represent the people of his district. Jay Pounder of Spokane, a former Shea associate who now opposes the lawmakers views, said it was good to release the documents. ``Truth and sunlight are the best disinfectants, Pounder said Tuesday. ``Everything is out there now. The report commissioned by the state House was released in December and concluded that Shea helped plan, engaged in and promoted three armed conflicts against the U.S. government in Nevada, Idaho and Oregon in 2014, 2015 and 2016. In particular, Sheas work to organize and urge supporters to attend the 2016 standoff with authorities at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon was branded domestic terrorism by the report by the Rampart Group, a Seattle-based private investigation agency. Shea refused to be interviewed for the report. I have been falsely accused of being a domestic terrorist by a private investigator who never spoke to the principals involved in the incidents she described and relied instead on anonymous sources, Shea wrote recently. President Trump unveiled his administration's Middle East peace plan alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, just hours after Netanyahu was indicted on corruption charges. The two leaders touted the two-state plan as a "win-win" for Israel and Palestine. Trump promised $50 billion in international aid to build up the Palestinian state, which would house its capital in East Jerusalem, leaving Israel in control of a unified Jerusalem. The White House included a perplexing-looking map of the proposed solution, complete with a tunnel connecting Gaza and the West Bank. Trump's map. A Palestinian state on 75% of the West Bank more or less; Palestinians get "land swap" in the Negev and remote neighborhoods of East Jeruaslem; Tunnels and roads connect the whole thing. 15 settlements remain as enclaves, and so does the Israeli military. pic.twitter.com/e4xcwyGmrC Amir Tibon (@amirtibon) January 28, 2020 Many of the early reactions to the proposal were critical analysts like Nicholas Burns, a Harvard professor and former U.S. diplomat, anticipate a rejection from the Palestinians and even an escalation of tensions between the two sides since it does little to curb Israeli settlements in the West Bank in the long run. President Trumps Middle East plan is clearly good for Israel but not for the U.S. It forfeits any presence of fairness and consigns the Palestinians to live as stateless people on their own land. It will deepen, rather than resolve, this seven-decade conflict. https://t.co/57ysjbV6ww Nicholas Burns (@RNicholasBurns) January 28, 2020 Neighboring Jordan warned against the "annexation of Palestinian lands" in response to the plan, as well. But it does have at least one potential fan. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson reportedly said that after speaking with Trump earlier in the day, he thinks it could help pave the way forward. More stories from theweek.com It's 2020 and women are exhausted The 3 kinds of Republicans that Bolton's testimony would reveal The tragedy of Joe Biden Sharing a letter he had written to co-trustees of KK Modi Family trust ahead of a meeting of the board of trustees on 30 November, 2019, in which he proposed selling of various assets including family-controlled businesses, Modi termed clarification by Godfrey Phillips as 'a complete eyewash'. New Delhi: Cigarette maker Godfrey Phillips on Tuesday denied reports that its promoter KK Modi group was planning to sell its stake in the company evoking a strong rebuttal from Lalit Modi, who called the company "blatant lairs". In a regulatory filing, Godfrey Phillips clarified that it is neither engaged nor privy to any such discussions on "rumoured potential transaction by its promoters". "The company has also received a clarification from its significant promoter that there has been no decision to put its assets on sale," it said. Reacting to the company's denial, Modi, who is abroad, tweeted, "All I can say is they are blatant liars." Unfortunately I have decided post the passing away of my #father that all #assets owned by our #family should be sold in its entirety. The news somehow broke out in the #media today. So I had to react to the stories https://t.co/e515ZcDyWG Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) January 27, 2020 Sharing a letter he had written to co-trustees of KK Modi Family trust ahead of a meeting of the board of trustees on 30 November, 2019, in which he proposed selling of various assets including family-controlled businesses, Modi termed clarification by Godfrey Phillips as "a complete eyewash". "So, I am forced to respond with documents. All media knows I have always disclosed clearly every time. As has been the case in the past 13 years," he said. In a series of tweets, Modi further said in the meeting of the trustees, "We agreed to unanimously go forward. Which was the only item on Agenda. We did not reach unanimous decision. So, as per trust deed sale was triggered. I was asked to give them 30 days time to make me a proposal. I said sale goes on and if u (sic) convince me. Then we can meet to cancel." He had on Monday evening tweeted, "Just to set the record straight. Yes, all assets of the #kkmodi group are going on sale. I mean all. The other 3 trustees wanted to continue running the business but I felt post my father passing awaythe value will deplete. I voted for sale." He had said all companies, land, investments in any other companiesand assets listed of Modi Enterprises, including chemicals business Indofil Industries, would be on sale except for Colorbar, Ego, Beacon Travels and education businesses, which will be retained to be run by other family members, Samir, Bina and Charu. "The investment banker will have mandate to sell to the highest bidder. The banker will be assisted by the group ceo #rkmalhotra who will apprise the trustees headed by #Binamodi with Charu / Samir and me. process 4 sale laid strictly in the trust guidelines and no deviation allowed," he had tweeted. Lalit Modi, who is the son of late industrialist KK Modi, the family patriarch, had further said he did not approve of Bina Modi running the business empire "as she is not qualified to run such large corporation and will dilute our value". "Thus, the sale of all companies, properties etc, has been approved at the first trust meeting on 30/11/2019," he stated. Bina Modi, wife of KK Modi, took over as the chairperson of Modi Enterprises in November last year after his demise. Ask journalists why they do the job they do, and youll hear a range of answers. Heres mine: Not every day, but on the best ones, we get to put questions to powerful people and hold them to account. This is both a privilege and a responsibility. January has been an interesting month on this front. Ive had the opportunity to put questions, one on one, to the top diplomats of both the United States and Iran, in their respective capitals. Irans foreign minister, Javad Zarif, spoke to me on Jan. 7 in Tehran. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke to me last Friday, in Washington. Each man represents a nation in conflict with the other; speaking with them, I wondered what path either could see out of the situation. In both cases, I was allotted 10 minutes for questions. It turns out you can cover a lot of ground in 10 minutes. When Mr. Zarif sat down with me, on the sidelines of a big think tank conference focused on security in the Persian Gulf, it was just four days after an American drone strike had killed Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani. We started there. ST. CHARLES, Ill., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Merlin 200,000 Miles Shop of Glendale Heights is excited to donate a vehicle to a family in need. Franchise owner Muffadal Simba sought to help his community and families. As a father and husband, he understands how important family is. The Village of Glendale Heights recommended Bridge Communities as an organization helping Glendale Heights families in need. Car donations are one of the biggest challenges that client families in the Transitional Housing Program struggle with, as well as finding and retaining a good job that will support their families. "I am delighted that the Village was able to facilitate the connection of our local Merlin 200,000 Miles Shop and Bridge Communities," said Mayor Linda Jackson, Mayor of Glendale Heights. "The Merlin 200,000 Miles Shop has been in the Village of Glendale Heights for quite some time, and Simba continues to demonstrate his dedication to our community and our residents." One of the most significant barriers to finding and keeping employment is that of unreliable transportation. Many client families enter Bridge Communities' Transitional Housing Program with no car or cars that soon break down. Most of these cars are not worth the cost of repairing. There is limited public transportation in DuPage County, and owning a car is a real necessity for any family. Client families use donated cars to transport themselves to work and their children to school, childcare, and activities. "Bridge Communities provides an essential service assisting residents getting back on their feet via its many programs and housing opportunities," said Jackson. "The pairing of these two organizations and the donation of this vehicle to our resident shows the importance and value of public and private partnerships, along with greatly assisting our resident and her family." On January 29th, The Merlin 200,000 Miles Shop of Glendale Heights donated a vehicle to a Bridge Communities client family. "We are proud to be partnered with this organization and hope that this donation will help the family with their transportation needs," said Valerie Zabriskie, Merlin's Marketing Director. About Bridge Communities Bridge Communities is a dynamic, grassroots, non-profit organization committed to transforming the lives of homeless families through partnering with talented, resourceful individuals and groups in our community. Our program of housing, mentoring and empowering families focuses on moving them towards a goal of self-sufficiency. For more information, please visit www.bridgecommunities.org About Merlin 200,000 Miles Shops Merlin 200,000 Miles Shops offer a neighborhood approach to automotive service and provides both repair and maintenance services as well as tire replacement and tire services. Merlin's DRIVE FOR 200,000, the industry's most comprehensive and affordable maintenance program, supports vehicle owners thousands of miles beyond the usual manufacturer's maintenance requirements and has positioned Merlin as the leader in vehicle longevity. Founded in 1975, Merlin is headquartered in St. Charles, Illinois. In February 2014, Driven Brands, North America's leader in the automotive aftermarket, acquired Merlin 200,000 Miles Shops. For more information, please visit www.merlins.com Merlin 200,000 Miles Shops Bridge Communities 3815 E. Main Street, Ste. D 505 Crescent Boulevard Contact: Valerie Zabriskie Contact: Lisa Doyle (630) 513-8200 ext. 109 (630) 403-5092 [email protected] Bridgecommunities.org SOURCE Merlin Corp Related Links http://www.merlins.com U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during the open a regional counter-terrorism meeting at the police academy in Bogota, Colombia on January 20, 2020. Photo: Daniel Garzon Herazo/NurPhoto via Getty Images The United States Secretary of State has publicly warned the UK not to allow Chinese telecoms company Huawei to work on its 5G infrastructure. Mike Pompeo said in a tweet on Sunday night the UK faced a momentous decision that risked its sovereignty. Pompeo quoted a tweet from Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat, who warned that Britain would face a real cost to its sovereignty if Huawei was allowed to work on 5G. Tugendhat, who is seeking re-election as the chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said in a separate tweet the UK would hand control to Beijing if Huawei was cleared. British MP Tom Tugendhat gets it right: The truth is that only nations able to protect their data will be sovereign, Pompeo wrote on Twitter. READ MORE: UK officials formally recommend limited role for Huawei in 5G networks The public intervention by Pompeo extends a lobbying campaign by the US to prevent the UK working with Huawei. US officials are concerned Huaweis involvement in 5G could allow the Chinese government to spy on sensitive communications. The UK is part of the so-called five eyes intelligence sharing group, made up of the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Britain. The five countries share sensitive national security and threat information, leading to fears that any compromise within one member state could endanger the security of all parties. Huawei is thought to have close links to the Chinese state and US officials believe it could be easily compromised. US President Donald Trump described Huawei as a security risk at a NATO summit in December and officials presented a dossier of concerns to British officials earlier this month. The US placed Huawei on a sanctions list last years. If you look at the role of technology, it is critical that we have infrastructure that is protected, US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said during in a speech in London on Saturday. READ MORE: US-China battle on Huawei could lead to a 'splinternet' Story continues Despite the pressure, UK appears poised to approve a limited role for working on the 5G network, with a decision due on Tuesday. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the BBC earlier this month: If people oppose one brand or another, then they have to tell us which is the alternative? Home Secretary Priti Patel said Sunday during an interview with Sky: We are having discussions, and rightly so, and those discussions remain at the National Security Council level and within-Cabinet level. Former UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt raised concerns Monday, telling the BBCs Today Programme: I always wondered whether it was wise to allow ourselves to become technologically dependent on another country, whichever country, for something as critical as 5G technology. After IndiGo and Air India, SpiceJet and Go Air have banned stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra from flying with them until further notice after Kamra's video questioning Arnab Goswami onboard a IndiGo flight went viral Editor's Note: This article erroneously mentioned Jet Airways as one of the carriers that has banned Kunal Kamra. The airline is no longer operational. The article has been amended and tweeted again. We apologise for the oversight. *** After IndiGo and Air India, now SpiceJet and GoAir have banned stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra from flying with them until further notice after Kamra's video questioning Arnab Goswami onboard a IndiGo flight went viral on Tuesday. In an official tweet, the airlines said, "SpiceJet has decided to suspend (Mr) Kunal Kamra from flying with the airline till further notice." GoAir has suspended Mr. Kunal Kamra from flying with the airline till further notice @MoCA_GoI @DGCAIndia @HardeepSPuri @IndiGo6E GoAir (@goairlinesindia) January 29, 2020 So far, IndiGo, Air India, GoAir and SpiceJet have banned Kamra from flying with them. While IndiGo has suspended him from flying for a period of six months, others have banned him "till further notice". SpiceJet has decided to suspend Mr. Kunal Kamra from flying with the airline till further notice. @MoCA_GoI @DGCAIndia @HardeepSPuri @IndiGo6E SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) January 29, 2020 "In light of the recent incident on board 6E 5317 from Mumbai to Lucknow, we wish to inform that we are suspending Mr Kunal Kamra from flying with IndiGo for a period of six months, as his conduct onboard was unacceptable behaviour," the IndiGo airline said in a tweet while tagging Civil Aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri. "Hereby, we wish to advise our passengers to refrain from indulging in personal slander whilst onboard, as this can potentially compromise the safety of fellow passengers," it added. Hereby, we wish to advise our passengers to refrain from indulging in personal slander whilst onboard, as this can potentially compromise the safety of fellow passengers. 2/2@MoCA_GoI @HardeepSPuri IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) January 28, 2020 Replying to IndiGo's tweet, Puri also condemned Kamra's behaviour and advised other airlines to impose similar restrictions on the stand-up comedian. He said,"offensive behaviour designed to provoke and create disturbance inside an aircraft is absolutely unacceptable and endangers safety of air travellers". Offensive behaviour designed to provoke & create disturbance inside an aircraft is absolutely unacceptable & endangers safety of air travellers. We are left with no option but to advise other airlines to impose similar restrictions on the person concerned. https://t.co/UHKKZfdTVS Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) January 28, 2020 Following the minister's remarks, Vistara said it will "review and follow due process in such cases". Speaking to PTI, a Vistara spokesperson was quoted as saying, "Vistara stands firm with its zero-tolerance policy against any behaviour or act that compromises the safety, security and dignity of its customers and staff. We will review and follow due process in such cases". Kamra allegedly heckled Goswami, the editor of Republic TV, on IndiGo's Mumbai-Lucknow (6E5317) flight on Tuesday. His act, however, gained support from many Twitterati, including Congress MP Shashi Tharoor who, referring to Goswami, said that "it was time someone gave him a taste of his own medicine". The truth is that it was time someone gave him a taste of his own medicine. These are the words he regularly uses to berate his innocent victims, except he does so in a hectoring, bullying manner & at higher volume & pitch than @kunalkamra88 does in this video. https://t.co/e94B8WcEtj Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 28, 2020 In a video clip posted by Kamra on Twitter, the stand-up comedian can be heard demanding a reply from Goswami, asking him if he is a "coward or a journalist or a nationalist". However, Goswami does not reply to Kamra. I did this for my hero... I did it for Rohit pic.twitter.com/aMSdiTanHo Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) January 28, 2020 While Goswami can be seen sitting in the plane and watching something on his laptop with his earphones plugged in, Kamra is heard telling him, "Viewers want to know if Arnab today is a coward or a nationalist. Arnab, this is for national interest. I am part of the tukde-tukde narrative. You should deflate me. You should take the enemy of the states down. You should make sure that the country is in safe hands of Narendra Modi." "You should fight against dynasts like Rahul Gandhi, who I support, on 10 Tughlaq Lane. Arnab, you should have a reply, Arnab. Arnab, are you a coward or are you a journalist? Are you a coward or are you a journalist or a nationalist? Who are you, Arnab? Who are you?" he can be heard saying in the video clip. "You know, you do not deserve my politeness. This is not for you. This is for Rohith Vemula's mother whose caste you were discussing on your...show. I know this is not allowed. This is fine. It's fine if it is not allowed. I'd go to jail for this. But this is for Rohith's mother. And go...find time and read that 10-page suicide letter that Rohith wrote so that you have some emotion or some heart or you just become human. Do that. Do that you in your free time. You nationalist," Kamra is heard as saying. Later, Kamra in a statement explaining what happened onboard the IndiGo flight and said that he had apologised to all crew members, pilots, but expressed no remorse for what he said to Goswami. "I apologise to all passengers except one." Vemula was a PhD scholar at the University of Hyderabad. He killed himself in his hostel room on 17 January, 2016, which sparked widespread outrage. Opposition parties blamed groups affiliated to the BJP and the RSS for his suicide, and launched protests against the saffron party. The BJP, on its part, had accused the Opposition of deceiving and exploiting the sentiments of Vemula's mother for petty political gains. With inputs from PTI Boeing's new CEO, David Calhoun, told CNBC on Wednesday he's confident that regulators will permit the 737 Max to return to service by the middle of 2020. Last week, Boeing gave airlines and suppliers that same timetable, which was months later than the company previously expected. "Midyear is what we think we can do," said Calhoun, a longtime Boeing board member and former Blackstone executive, who took over as chief executive officer on Jan. 13 following the firing of Dennis Muilenburg. "We put together a schedule we think we can make," Calhoun said on "Squawk Box." He said the company does not plan to change the name of the jet. "I'm not going to market my way out of this," he said. "The Max has something attached to it today, but again, we believe this airplane is safer than the safest airplane flying today." live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Shareholders of IndiGo have rejected a special resolution, proposed by co-founder Rakesh Gangwal, to amend the airline's Articles of Association. In a statement to the exchanges on January 29, IndiGo said that 48.5584 percent of the shareholders voted for the resolution, and 51.4416 percent against it. "The Special Resolution... has not been passed as the votes cast in favour of the resolution are less than three limes the number of votes cast against the resolution," said the statement. The results came after the EGM, which was called by the RG Group, comprising of Gangwal, and his wife Shobha Gangwal. The RG Group holds 36.64 percent stake in IndiGo, the country's largest airline. Gangwal had called for the EGM to discuss deleting various Articles pertaining to transfer and acquisiton of the company's shares, including 'Right of First Refusal' and ' Tag Along Right', in the company's Articles of Association (AoA). The call had led to rumours that Gangwal perhaps wants to exit the company, after a running feud with his co-founder Rahul Bhatia, but doesn't want his partner to pick up the stake. A PTI report adds that one of the Articles that is sought to be removed pertain to each group agreeing not to acquire additional shares or voting rights of the company that might trigger an open offer requirement under Sebi's takeover regulations. Bhatia's InterGlobe Enterprises has about 38 percent stake in IndiGo. The feud between the promoters had come to fore in July 2019, after Gangwal wrote to market regulator SEBI alleging corporate governance issues at IndiGo. While that matter seemed to have been resolved, post a board approval, Bhatia soon filed for arbitration at London Court of International Arbitration. Now, after the shareholders have rejected his move to amend the Articles of Association, it remains to be seen what would be Gangwal's next step. Human remains found in an Arkansas field have been positively identified as a woman who was reported missing by her boyfriend on Jan. 17, officials confirm to PEOPLE. On Jan. 17, 42-year-old Christy Rooks was last seen leaving her boyfriend Earl Parks home in Hazen, Arkansas, according to local TV station WREG. He reported her missing and investigators began searching for her. Her mother, Nellie Rooks, told the news station she was frantic because it was unusual for her daughter to not call home. Im scared somebodys hurt her, Nellie told WREG. And then its been cold and Im thinking shes somewhere hurt and shes cold You think everything. You really do. 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. On Jan. 24, investigators received evidence, which allowed them to retain a search warrant for 725 acres of land outside of Hazen, according to a press release from the Prairie County Sheriffs Department. As a result, officials discovered Rooks body, which had been buried on the property, the press release stated. I just stumbled upon what looked like a grave and I told the guys I think this is it, and thats where we found her, Prairie County Sheriff Rick Hickman told WREG. This is the first homicide investigation in the county since Hickman became sheriff three years ago, he tells PEOPLE. As soon as he was alerted to the case, he says he was determined to find out what happened. When we get something big, we go after it, he says. We chased the leads and it worked for us. Earl Parks | Prairie County Sheriffs Department Parks, 47, was charged with capital murder, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and possession of a firearm. He is currently being held without bail. He will appear in front of a judge on March 16 when he will be able to enter a plea. It is unclear whether he has retained an attorney. Lucky is a 2-year-old red merle Australian Cattle Dog mix that loves the camera and can't wait to be in on your next family Christmas card. The rockstar pup is currently one of many loving pets looking for their forever home at the Harris County Animal Shelter. Shelter officials describe Lucky as a "smart fellow" who is well-trained. He knows commands such as "sit" and "stay," and is both housebroken and crate-trained. The pup was brought into the shelter after being surrendered by his owner. He is looking for a loving family that can bring him on long walks and take selfies that show off his camera-ready smile. Residents impacted by Fridays devastating explosion at a manufacturing company will gather Wednesday evening at a town hall to question elected officials and meet with service providers. Councilwoman Amy Peck, who represents the area, is hosting the town hall at the recovery center in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints set up by the Red Cross in the wake of the disaster. The Red Cross, Mental Health America and representatives from the city of Houston will attend, according to the release from her office. Qala-e-naw : , Jan 29 (IANS) Sixty two security personnel have been freed from a Taliban prison in Afghanistan's western Badghis province, a media report quoted a local official as saying on Wednesday. The Afghan commando unit raided a Taliban hideout, setting free 62 security personnel early Wednesday morning in Bala Murghab district, Shiragha Alokozay, said Xinhua. At least five militants were arrested and some of their equipment seized by the security forces during the early morning operation, the official added. The Taliban militants did not immediately comment on the incident. Bollywood star Deepika Padukone has spoken out about her battle with depression, calling for greater public discussion to help tackle the mental health crisis. Padukone, who is one of India's highest-paid actresses, said her experience during a seeming "professional high" revealed the illness' indiscriminatory nature and inspired her to campaign for other sufferers. "Mental illness crept up on me when I least expected it," Padukone said last week. "The perception and the general understanding was that I was at a professional high," she said last Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "But what I was also experiencing was this hollow, empty, pittish feeling ... I would just cry out of nowhere." Padukone was diagnosed with depression in 2014. The 34-year-old celebrity, who has over 30 movies to her name, said she considered herself lucky that her mother had spotted her symptoms and urged her to seek medical help. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 16:43:39|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army declared on Wednesday capturing the key city of Maarat al-Numan in the northwestern province of Idlib. The army captured Maarat al-Numan and several other villages and towns in the southern countryside of Idlib. The army stormed the city on Tuesday before declaring it fully captured Wednesday morning. The army statement said fight will continue until liberating all Syrian areas from terrorist groups. Capturing Maarat al-Numan is a key step towards securing the Hama-Aleppo road as part of an agreement reached in Russia's Sochi in 2018 that aims to secure the official road to Aleppo, which extends all the way south to the capital Damascus. Since the Hama-Aleppo road is under rebel control, people have traveled to Aleppo through another extension of the road. The army is now prioritizing the recapture of the entire road between Hama and Aleppo, which will enable the travel movement to return to its pre-war time from Damascus in the south to Aleppo in the north without rerouting to other roads. The number of confirmed deaths from Chinas viral outbreak has risen to 131, with authorities in central Hubei province on Wednesday reporting 25 new fatalities and 840 new cases. The latest figures from hard-hit Hubei, the epicentre of the contagion, would put the nationwide total of confirmed infections at more than 5,300, based on figures previously released by the central government. The new figures came as Japan airlifted about 200 of its nationals out of the city, and the US evacuated about 240 Americans by air. More than 50 million people have been locked down in and around Wuhan, the central industrial city where the outbreak first began, in a bid by authorities to stop an infection that has since spread to other cities in China and to other countries. France has also said it intends to fly its citizens out of the city in the coming days. Chinese President Xi Jinping called the virus a demon during talks on Tuesday with the head of the World Health Organization in Beijing, and pledged a timely release of updates about the crisis. Kerala Assembly on Wednesday witnessed high voltage drama with Opposition MLAs chanting "go back governor" and displaying anti-CAA posters against Governor Arif Mohammad Khan as soon as he arrived in the House to address the budget session that began today. MLAs of the United Democratic Front (UDF) displayed placards and raised slogans while blocking the governor's path and House marshals had to rush to escort the governor to his podium. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had accompanied Khan into the House when UDF MLAs blocked Khan's way as he arrived in the House. Only after he was escorted to his chair by Assembly marshals could the Governor begin his address. Several MLAs staged a walkout in protest as soon as he began his address. MLAs were protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state assembly. Congress and Kerala Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala had on Monday accused the Governor Arif Mohammad Khan of acting as an agent of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He further alleged that Khan was acting against the dignity of the state assembly. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The taxpayer footed a 3,700 bill for John Bercow to have a 'retirement' party when he stepped down as Speaker, it can be revealed today. The reception took place at Speaker's House shortly before Mr Bercow officially ended his controversial decade in the key role. Some 150 MPs and staff attended the event, which was disclosed by the Commons in response to a Freedom of Information request from MailOnline. Alongside the 3,696 bill for the party, the public purse also met 'cleaning and removals' costs. However, the authorities said they could not give figures or further information about the work because it could not be separated from other spending. A spokeswoman for the Speaker's Office said: 'It is usual practice for the House to mark the retirement of senior officials. 'In the case of the Speaker, a reception was hosted for him by the Clerk of the House on 23 October. It was attended by 150 Members and House staff in Speaker's House.' The 'retirement' party for John Bercow was held in Speaker's House in October (pictured) Mr Bercow pictured with guests including Jacob Rees-Mogg (centre) at a separate reception in Speaker's House John Bercow and wife Sally (pictured together in September) lived with their children in the Speaker's House residence at Parliament until November Mr Bercow finally ended left Parliament on October 31 last year after a controversial decade in the chair The details emerged after 57-year-old Mr Bercow - who has now taken up posts as a university lecturer in London as well as launching a lucrative after-dinner speaking career - came under fire for a spending spree in his last months as Speaker. More than 12,000 from his office budget was used to put on retirement parties for four senior Commons staff who had worked with him. A reception for the Commons 'Invitations Secretary' in February was 2,376, and in March, 3,187 went on an equivalent event for the Clerk of the House, David Natzler. Clerk 'will be able to criticise Speaker's decisions in future' Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle took a thinly-veiled swipe at his predecessor today - announcing the Clerk of the House will in future be allowed to notify MPs if he disagrees with a decision made by the chair. Sir Lindsay told MPs the procedure means the top official could publicly object to decisions that depart from convention. His announcement follows the departure of former Speaker John Bercow, who was criticised for over-ruling advice from the Clerk and allowing a vote on an amendment opposed by Brexiteers. Advertisement In May the Speaker's official account spent 3,696 on giving the Principal Clerk of the Table Office a send-off. And just days before Mr Bercow himself stood down, there was an invoice of 3,168 for a 'retirement' party for his close ally, Speaker's Chaplain Rose Hudson-Wilkin - although she has been appointed Bishop of Dover rather than retiring. Mr Bercow also took a 1,000 taxi from Westminster to Nottingham and back. He made the trip to deliver a speech at Nottingham Trent University about how Parliament should respond to the 'anti-politics age'. Aides said he was advised to take a taxi due to 'heightened security concerns'. But critics said Mr Bercow's costs defied 'common sense'. Mr Bercow finally left Parliament, quitting as an MP as well as Speaker, on October 31 last year after a controversial decade in the chair. When he took on the Speakership in June 2009, he pledged that he would only serve nine years. However, Mr Bercow then insisted he would stay on to oversee the Brexit process - despite fury from ministers and Tory MPs that he was biased towards Remainers. He is believed to have been nominated by Labour for a peerage, despite Conservatives refusing to follow the tradition that former Speakers are elevated to the House of Lords. However, he has faced renewed criticism over allegations of bullying of staff, which he has always flatly denied. Mr Bercow's time in Speaker's House (pictured) finally came to an end on October 31 France said it welcomed U.S. President Donald Trumps latest efforts to strike a peace deal between Israel and Palestine, and added that Paris would have to study the proposals closely. "France welcomes President Trumps efforts and will study closely the peace program he has presented," Reuters cited the statement as saying. The French foreign ministry also reiterated Frances desire for a two-state solution on Israel and Palestine. Yesterday, Trump proposed creating a Palestinian state as part of a Middle East peace plan, drawing Palestinian condemnation for imposing strict conditions and agreeing to let Israel maintain control of long-contested West Bank settlements. Zelensky and his team will do everything possible to avoid getting involved in the internal political strife of the United States on one side or the other, Buzarov said. Zelensky has two clear tasks to get continued United States support for Ukraine, no matter who is president of the United States or Ukraine, and to minimize the involvement of the Zelensky team in the internal political disputes of the United States. The death toll in Tuesdays auto-rickshaw-bus collision in Maharashtras Nashik district rose to 26 on Wednesday morning. Authorities called off the search operation after the rescue teams pulled out bodies of two 2-year-old children the youngest casualties in the accident. The rescue and search operation started soon after the accident near Umarane village at 3.30 pm on Tuesday. The Deola police, the regional transport office and local villagers joined in the 20-hour operation. A team of national disaster management team from Pune called off the rescue operations around 11.15 am on Wednesday. The last body of a two-year-old boy was pulled out half hour before. The death toll has reached 26, said Uttam Jadhav, regional transport office (RTO)inspector, Nashik. Thirteen women were among those killed when a state transport bus plying from Malegaon to Deola crashed into a six-seater rickshaw in a head-on collision. Both the vehicles plunged into a 60-feet well. There were 42 passengers in the bus and the auto was carrying 10 people. At least 32 injured persons are admitted at Deola rural hospital and Malegaon hospital. The police teams are coordinating with the family members of the victims, said an officer from Deola police station. The police have informed families of victims that all the bodies are at Deola hospital except for a 30-year-old woman who was rushed to Malegaon Hospital. Carnival is in the air, and so too is the threat of a killer virus. As the country prepares for the busiest time of the year, with thousands flying in for Carnival, every passenger from North America, the United Kingdom and Panama will be thermo-scanned and screened at Piarco International Airport for signs of the killer virus coronavirus, which has infected hundreds and caused six deaths in China. European Union Parliament has decided to postpone the vote on a draft resolution on Citizenship amendment law to last week of March, which the March II Part session on March 30-31st. The European People's Party group or EPP group in a move called for the delaying the vote. The move was voted on and passed with 271 in favour, 199 against and 13 abstentions. Government sources welcomed the development and said, "Friends of India prevailed over the Friends of Pakistan in the European Parliament today." Explaining further, the sources said, "CAA is a matter internal to India and has been adopted through a due process through democratic means. We expect that our perspectives in this matter will be understood by all objective and fair-minded MEPs." Live TV Interestingly, Shaffaq Mohammad, the Pakistan origin British MEP looked disappointed. Shaffaq has just 2 days more left as MEP since on Friday UK leaves European Union and with that, he will too have to leave the EU Parliament. Indian govt sources told WION, "Strenuous efforts of outgoing British MEP, Shaffaq Mohammad to have a Resolution passed by the European Parliament against India on the penultimate day before Brexit were defeated." Voting on the resolution will now take place post 13th March, the day when PM Modi visits Brussels for the India EU summit. The EU has already distanced itself from the developments in the EU Parliament on the 6 draft resolution on Kashmir/CAA. EU spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy, Virginie Battu-Henriksson, told WION, "Opinions expressed by the European Parliament and its members do not represent the official position of the European Union." MILL VALLEY (BCN) A suspect has been arrested in connection with an incident at Tamalpais High School involving a reported armed gunman on Monday, the Marin County Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday morning. Sheriff's officials declined to provide additional details regarding the arrest but said they wanted to inform parents of the development prior to the start of class Wednesday. A report about a person wearing a black mask and possibly carrying a rifle behind the high school in Mill Valley caused a lockdown and shelter in place Monday afternoon, police said. Officers responded around 1:50 p.m. to a report about a possible gunman wearing black clothes on Almonte Boulevard. Another person reported seeing a suspect wearing a mask and similar clothing near parked vehicles but a gun was not seen, police said. Police and sheriff's deputies checked the area for a gunman and a white car, and authorities issued a shelter-in-place order that included a lockdown of the high school and Mill Valley Middle School. Law enforcement agencies throughout the county searched the high school and surrounding area, and witnesses confirmed the suspect and vehicle left the area, police said. Mill Valley Middle School students were released at their regular 2:30 p.m. time, and after an extensive search of the high school, the lockdown and shelter in place was lifted there, 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. With Air India preparing to operate flights to evacuate Indians from Wuhan in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic, a pilots' union of the carrier on Wednesday said the airline cannot afford any mistakes and risk spreading the infection. In a letter to Air India chief Ashwani Lohani, the Indian Pilots' Guild (IPG) said the mission would be quite different from usual rescue and relief efforts, and presents new challenges as well as obstacles to overcome. "... due to the long incubation period of this virus, post mission support for all personnel and equipment involved in this mission is crucial well after the completion of a flight," it said. The union has around 600 members. Two flights are set to be operated to bring back Indian nationals from China's Hubei province, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the Chinese government has been requested for permission to operate these two flights. "Given the complex and dangerous nature of this situation, it would be best if the operating crew is accompanied by the ablest and most experienced members from relevant departments like engineering, commercial and medical to ensure the best on ground support to accomplish this mission safely," the union said. Noting that the airline cannot afford any mistakes and risk spreading the infection, the union said meticulous screening and isolation protocols at both ends of the flight are required. "All staff and operating crew involved in the exercise need to be given the best protective equipment available and training to keep all men and material safe during the flight," it added. As many as 132 people have died in China due to the outbreak and there are around 6,000 confirmed infections. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Supporters of a ballot initiative to protect LGBT Michigan residents from discrimination say theyll begin collecting signatures as soon as this weekend following initial approval from a state board. Michigans Board of State Canvassers voted to approve summary language and form of an initiative backed by Fair and Equal Michigan Tuesday, a procedural step that clears the group to begin printing and circulating petitions for signature gathering. The board doesnt weigh in on the substance of initiatives - members review a petitions language to determine whether its factual and that the summary accurately reflects whats on the petition. Launched earlier this month, the effort would re-define the word sex in Michigans Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, effectively extending those protections to LGBT people. It would also define religion to include the religious beliefs of an individual. Today was an important step in the 37 years weve all been waiting to be able to get to this point, Trevor Thomas, co-chair of Fair and Equal Michigan, said following the vote. We will start immediately this week distributing signatures. Were so fortunate that the LGBTQ community is fired up. The group has until May 27 to collect 340,047 valid petition signatures in order to be eligible for statewide ballot in fall 2020. Because the petition would amend state statute, the legislature would have 40 days to decide whether to adopt the measure before it goes to the ballot if the group obtains enough signatures. Thomas said Fair and Equal Michigan plans to use a combination of paid and volunteer petitioners to hit the requirements in time. The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which currently protects people from discrimination based on religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status, or marital status. The act protects people from housing, employment and other forms of discrimination. The initiative has backing from several businesses, including DTE Energy, Consumers Energy, The Whirlpool Corporation and Herman Miller. It isnt the first time an Elliott-Larsen expansion has been tried. In 2014, a Republican, former Rep. Frank Foster, introduced a bill to add sexual orientation to the list of protected groups, but the effort was unsuccessful. The next year, now-Attorney General Dana Nessel launched a ballot initiative that sought to amend the constitution to include gay rights. That garnered some bipartisan support, but ultimately proved divisive among LGBT activists who preferred a legislative route, and ultimately folded due to funding issues. Democratic lawmakers renewed their legislative push to include LGBT protections in the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act last year, although Republican lawmakers have said theyre not planning to take up the issue. The Michigan Civil Rights Commission, which investigates claims of discrimination against the groups protected by the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, has authorized investigations into LGBT discrimination by interpreting the laws protection based on sex to include sexual orientation and gender identity. Read the approved petition summary: An initiation of legislation to amend Section 103 of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, Public Act 453 of 1976, MCL 37.2103. The Act prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, public service, and educational institutions because of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status, or marital status. Section 104 of the Act does not define sex or religion. If enacted, the proposed initiated law would for purposes of the Act to define sex as including gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression; and would define religion as including the religious beliefs of an individual. Related: Michigan House Speaker not interested in expanding civil rights law to include LGBT protections Michigan gay rights ballot initiative planned by attorney who won marriage case Commission spurns Schuette opinion, plans to protect LGBT rights Lawmakers, Whitmer renew push to expand civil rights protections to Michigans LGBTQ residents Michigan LGBT rights ballot proposal effort folds over financial concerns Padma Lakshmi knows how to make an entrance. The 49-year-old actress turned heads as she arrived at the screening of Thelma and Louise at the Women In Motion Museum of Modern Art on Tuesday evening. Her ensemble was simple in just a simple black dress and heels as she posed for a couple of photos before heading inside. Stunning: Padma Lakshmi turned heads as she arrived at the screening of Thelma and Louise at the Women In Motion Museum of Modern Art on Tuesday evening The dress was a simple long-sleeve that cut just above the knees. She paired the elegant look with a pair of black high heels that had a thin strap around the ankle. The TV host appeared in good spirits as she worked the black carpet in the effortless style. So stylish: Her ensemble was simple in just a simple black dress and heels as she posed for a couple of photos before heading inside Her dress: The dress was a simple long-sleeve that cut just above the knees Details: She paired the elegant look with a pair of black high heels that had a thin strap around the ankle This appearance comes fresh off of the Top Chef star's return from her lavish vacation to the Dominican Republic. 'Feelin' fine at 49,' she said while rocking a tiny bikini just ahead of her 50th birthday in September. Chrissy Teigen even hopped on board the hot-body train writing on social media: 'I remember seeing you at a party in Miami like 10 years ago. Everyone was Miami decked out but you were in a long dress and barefoot with barely any makeup on, and just floating like you were on skates. I was like 'that. is my hero.' Details: The TV host appeared in good spirits as she worked the black carpet with the effortless style Padma is most famously known for her role on the famous television show, Top Chef. Just about 13 years ago, the star was diagnosed with endometriosis. This caused a wave of inspiration for the star who went on to co-found The Endometriosis Foundation of America and raise awareness for the disease. Friends: Padma and Susan Sarandon pose together at the event After months of hand-wringing over where to move the tax-funded Edwards Aquifer protection program to free up money for expanded public transit, the city might end up keeping the aquifer program after all, officials said Tuesday. Were going to explore every option, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. Its my goal that the aquifer protection program continues and does so with data informing the process. For months, Nirenberg has sought a new home for the aquifer protection program because he and other local officials want the $40 million raised by the 1/8-cent sales tax to instead go to fund better bus service and other initiatives at VIA Metropolitan Transit. Nirenberg has asked San Antonio Water System to take on aquifer protection, a request thats still in play. But on Tuesday, a new idea surfaced: The city would keep the program but pay for it with money it already gets from the San Antonio Water System, the city-owned utility. The idea is in its infancy, details are scarce and no decisions have been made, officials said. Also unclear is whether the program would be funded at its current levels. Ben Gorzell, the citys chief financial officer, just briefed Nirenberg on the possibility Tuesday morning, the mayor said. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio mayor navigating troubled waters over plan to reroute aquifer protection tax funding The city would use money it receives from SAWS under a revenue-sharing agreement to pay for aquifer protection. City Council voted last year to boost the citys take under that agreement from 2.7 percent to 4 percent to make up for various budget shortfalls, including a homestead exemption council members had approved months earlier. Under the agreement, SAWS gave more than $32 million to help fund San Antonios current $2.9 billion budget. Some of that money could be leveraged for bonds to pay for conservation easements to prevent development over sensitive areas that feed into the aquifer. City Council members will be briefed on options for continuing the program at their Feb. 19 meeting, City Manager Erik Walsh said. Its the latest development in Nirenbergs push to redirect money from the 1/8-cent sales tax, which funds aquifer protection, linear parks and creekways. San Antonio voters would have to determine in November whether to use the 1/8-cent sales tax for transit purposes. The sales tax for the aquifer, parks and creekways would expire and not be on the ballot. The utilitys CEO Robert Puente told SAWS board members earlier this month that the utility could adopt the aquifer program without raising water rates for its customers if the program is funded considerably less than it is now. SAWS board members have not voted on the matter. But SAWS officials and board members have questioned how much more land they would have to pay to protect and when the program would end. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio officials consider bonds to fund Edwards Aquifer protection, transit Among other ideas suggested was one from Suzanne Scott, San Antonio River Authority general manager, who proposed increasing that agencys property tax rate to help protect the Edwards Aquifer. But SARAs board rejected the move in November. The aquifer program has proven popular with voters, who have passed the sales tax that funds it by healthy margins four times since 2000. The sales tax generates about $20 million annually that pays for conservation easements on privately owned land in and around Bexar County. The other $20 million goes for linear parks and creekways. Francine Romero, who chairs the citys Conservation Advisory Board that oversees the aquifer program, remains wary of using funds that arent voter-approved and that later could be redirected for other purposes. That locked box characteristic is really important, Romero said, referring to the voter-approved sales tax. I think the voters really appreciate it. Joshua Fechter is a staff writer covering San Antonio city government and politics. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jfechter@express-news.net | Twitter: @JFreports The race to curb the spread of the new strain of coronavirus that has killed more than 100 people worldwide has triggered a massive public-health experiment in China that is being closely watched by health experts around the globe. Chinese authorities have indefinitely barred 50 million people from traveling and advised them to stay home to contain the rapidly spreading virus, known as 2019-nCoV. A quarantine of this scope is absolutely unprecedented, said Lauren Sauer, an emergency medicine professor at Johns Hopkins University. I cant think of anything that comes even remotely close. On Tuesday, as case counts rose, Chinese authorities agreed to allow the World Health Organization to send international experts to China to assist with research and containment of the virus. It is unclear whether or how that will affect the standing quarantine orders. The virus has so far infected nearly 5,000 people on four continents after it was first detected late last year in Wuhan, China. Five cases have been reported in the United States. Chinas containment measures could theoretically prevent infected people from introducing the virus elsewhere in the country or world, experts say. The virus is believed to be spreading from person to person through coughing and sneezing, though information evolves daily. But the lockdown orders were likely put into effect too late and could lead to food and medicine shortages that worsen the outbreak, said Lawrence Gostin, director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center on National and Global Health Law. Many experts also worry that the measures, which some consider inhumane, could stoke panic and mistrust in the government and ultimately impede prevention efforts. Theres reason to believe that this could backfire, Gostin said. In December, cases of a pneumonia-like illness began to mount in Wuhan, a major city in central China. Chinese authorities who sequenced the virus learned it had never been seen before but was genetically similar to severe acute respiratory syndrome, also known as SARS, which killed 800 people worldwide in 2003. In an attempt to contain the outbreak, Chinese officials last week began sealing off highways and closing bus and subway systems in Wuhan, a city of 11 million people. Lockdown orders have since been expanded and now apply to more than 50 million people across 17 cities. John McGory, 65, has been mostly confined for the past week to his apartment on a Wuhan university campus where he teaches English. He can leave the grounds through a single gate, if he is wearing a mask, but most friends are unwilling to meet up because of fears of falling ill, he said. Nearly 3,000 coronavirus cases have been in Hubei, the province of which Wuhan is the capital. Streets and stores in the usually bustling city, the seventh-most populous in China, are largely deserted, he said. Its just a ghost town now, said McGory, an American who has lived in Wuhan for six years. In public health lingo, quarantine typically refers to confining people who have likely been infected with a virus. Measures that limit the movement of large swaths of people, like entire cities, are called cordon sanitaire, a French term that has been adopted into English meaning sanitary barrier. Cordons were widely used to control the Black Plague during the Middle Ages. A cordon was implemented in West Africa in 2014 during an Ebola outbreak, prompting cries that it was inhumane to trap people in an infected area while waiting for a fatal disease to run its course. Though Ebola is far deadlier than this coronavirus, the people left in Wuhan and other cities are still likely to feel like theyre kind of being left as guinea pigs, Gostin said. And the most important thing in public health is maintaining the publics trust so they will cooperate with prevention measures, he added. It will provoke fear and panic, and people will not come into the hospital, and so youll drive the epidemic underground, said Gostin, a Georgetown University law professor. You might even amplify the epidemic. Little is definitively known about 2019-nCoV. Officials are unsure how likely people who get it are to die, whether it can be transmitted before people show symptoms, where it originated and when exactly it began circulating. Gostin added that the barrier was implemented too late to keep the disease from spreading beyond the region. When the cordon was announced last week, people in other countries had already been diagnosed with 2019-nCoV. There have also been reports that in the days before the quarantine was enacted, thousands fled their homes. Some experts hypothesized that Chinas response is an overcorrection to its handling of the SARS outbreak in 2003. Chinese authorities were criticized for not acting quickly enough, allowing the deadly virus to infect 8,000 people worldwide. People were very angry that they failed to share what was going on rapidly, said New York University bioethics professor Arthur Caplan. They definitely may be trying to look transparent or do the best they can. And if theres one country that could pull off these large-scale quarantines, its China, he said. In addition to being ruled by an authoritarian government, Chinese people tend to be more community-oriented and willing to do things for the greater good than Americans, who are more focused on their individual liberties and freedoms, Caplan said. Those values have muted some of the protesting and dissent that you might get if you tried to do it elsewhere, he said. China can clearly enforce. Caplan pointed out that telling people to stay inside the boundaries of a massive city is less restrictive than a traditional quarantine that forces people to stay inside their homes all day. Most people who live in Los Angeles, for example, dont leave the city on a daily basis. Still, any restrictions on freedom are touchy in the United States. Here, public health officials often refrain from using the word quarantine as to not stir backlash. When a nurse flying into Newark airport was quarantined because officials feared she had Ebola, she, with the help of the ACLU, later sued then-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. For that reason, U.S. officials opt for a different tack during outbreaks. During a swine flu pandemic in 2009, U.S. officials considered canceling public events, closing schools and recommending that people wash their hands, said Dartmouth College professor Dr. Elizabeth Talbot. We would almost certainly not do any quarantine on the scope that China is doing now, she said. We have a different cultural acceptance of restriction of our rights, and quarantine always bumps up against that. Currently in the United States, the risk of catching the coronavirus is extremely low, experts say. Anyone worried about falling ill should remember to wash their hands and take other routine prevention measures that will also protect people during flu season, which is ongoing and will run through May. Soumya Karlamangla of the Los Angeles Times wrote this story. 2020 Los Angeles Times Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Anyone who has studied public health emergencies knows that the only sensible strategy is to act from the very beginning according to the worst case scenario. Yet the Government's response so far to the escalating crisis over coronavirus is hardly instilling confidence. One of Britain's leading experts in the field, Jonathan Ball, Professor of Molecular Virology at Nottingham University, warned yesterday that 'the rapidity of this outbreak is startling and certainly much more rapid than severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)', which is caused by another coronavirus and killed 700 people in the early 2000s. Chinese people around the world have started wearing plastic containers and bags over their heads to protect themselves from the coronavirus Professor Ball added: 'The reasons for this are unclear, but clearly the larger the outbreak grows the more difficult it becomes to contain it using usual infection control measures.' This is not a man prone to hyperbole and with 132 deaths reported as of last night and more than 6,000 people infected don't forget these figures may be a serious under-estimate by Chinese health officials I for one take his concerns seriously. Others certainly share them. Today the World Health Organisation will again meet to decide whether or not to declare this outbreak of a new strain of coronavirus an international emergency. And while Health Secretary Matt Hancock will chair an emergency COBRA meeting today ahead of the repatriation of UK citizens from the city of Wuhan at the epicentre of the outbreak, I believe Boris Johnson and his ministers have been slow to respond in a way that best safeguards the public. Photographs have surfaced on social media which appear to show the desperate lengths people are going to to avoid catching the deadly disease which has killed more than 130 people already Reports of this mysterious infection began to appear in the first week of January. But the moment ministers should have realised the seriousness of the problem came nine days ago when the WHO reported medical staff had become infected after treating patients. Healthy medical staff trained in managing infectious patients nevertheless succumbed to the symptoms. Why wasn't the risk here upgraded then? With each day that passes, the public is increasingly worried. With the Foreign Office warning against all but essential travel to mainland China and British Airways cancelling all flights to and from China, it is no wonder. Ministers should have realised the seriousness of the problem when the WHO reported medical staff had become infected after treating patients. Pictured, medical staff treat a patient with the new coronavirus at the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan Yet the reaction of ministers has seemed fragmented and illogical, guided more by politics, appearances and sound bites than by the pitiless logic required to tackle a virus. In nervous times like these, governments need to appear resolved, determined and err on the side of caution. Their actions must be firm, decisive and logical because otherwise the public will see the flaws in their responses Call me cynical, but I suspect the UK rescue airlift announced yesterday owes more to stranded and desperate Britons telephoning in to BBC radio stations from Wuhan claiming to have been abandoned by the British Embassy than by any logical scientific thinking. Medics attending to patients at the Central Hospital of Wuhan on Saturday. An estimated 200 Britons stranded in Wuhan will be flown back on condition they sign a contract agreeing to be held in isolation for 14 days at a yet unnamed location To give just one example of the inconsistency: on Tuesday medical staff in Birmingham were photographed dressed in full hazard body suits after a resident who had returned from China complained of feeling ill. It was the sort of garb associated with outbreaks of the ebola virus in West Africa. Yet at the time those photographs were taken, Britons were still flying into London from China and being told to go home to 'self-isolate'. This was clearly fatuous. If the virus is sufficiently virulent and transmissible to force paramedics to suit up, how can it be safe for passengers who have visited a viral hotspot to fly home on a commercial jet, and return to their own towns and villages? Tomorrow, the estimated 200 Britons stranded in Wuhan will be flown back on condition they sign a contract agreeing to be held in isolation for 14 days at a yet unnamed location, presumably a military base kitted out with appropriate medical equipment. Medical staff wearing protective clothing to protect against the coronavirus arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan on Saturday But I worry the journey home is reckless in itself. We do not yet know exactly the means of transmission. Mixing healthy and potentially infected passengers in an aluminium tube for a long-distance flight is the worst thing to do. I also fear whatever pledges returning Britons make, some will be released, and this mercy flight home could prove a leaky sieve for transmission. I am alarmed by a case reported on Tuesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. A Chinese man with some health problems flew to Vietnam to visit his son. Four days later the father fell ill with the coronavirus. Three days later, the son, healthy and in his twenties, also tested positive. The case is alarming as the virus was transmitted from father to healthy son through casual contact. They had also travelled by plane and train through four Vietnamese cities, and at least 28 individuals with potential close contacts with them were identified. No one can know if any of those contacts has become infected. And this is just one example of a single traveller who left the virus hotspot. Similar cases are now being played out thousands or tens of thousands of times a day in China, wider Asia, and the rest of the world. It is a chilling thought. Ministers are poised to give the green light to the controversial 106billion HS2 rail project after Chancellor Sajid Javid came off the fence to back it. Boris Johnson will hold a crunch summit today with the Chancellor and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps on the future of the troubled project, whose estimated costs have almost trebled. Downing Street yesterday insisted the final decision on HS2 would not be made at today's meeting, with the Prime Minister expected to consult the Cabinet next week. Lined up: How the HS2 train will look. The final decision on the controversial 106billion rail project is to be made next week, after the Prime Minister has consulted the Cabinet, Downing Street insisted yesterday But one Government source predicted that a decision in principle was likely to emerge. The source said: 'Look at the cast list you have the PM, the Chancellor and the Transport Secretary. This is where the decision will be made. There may be some further process to go through before a decision is finalised, but the expectation is this is where it will happen.' Last night it appeared that opinion was moving in favour of continuing with HS2 after it emerged the Chancellor, who had been sceptical of the soaring cost, has swung behind it. Boris Johnson (pictured on December 13) is to hold a crunch summit on the on the future of the troubled HS2 project which has seen costs almost treble, on January 30. In the Commons, the Prime Minister said a decision on HS2 would be made 'very shortly' The Daily Mail understands that Mr Javid will attend today's meeting 'with a view to supporting HS2'. He has spent weeks studying the costs alongside potential alternatives and concluded that HS2 remains the best way to spark the 'infrastructure revolution' the Government wants to launch. Mr Javid is said to have returned to first principles and, while accepting that 'no project should go ahead at any cost', he believes the alternatives 'were either unworkable or did not produce the same benefits'. A highly critical report from the National Audit Office last week warned it was impossible to say how much the scheme would finally cost Mr Javid (pictured on January 28) is said to be attending today's meeting 'with a view to supporting HS2'. He has spent weeks studying the costs alongside potential alternatives and concluded that HS2 remains the best way to spark the 'infrastructure revolution' However, sources stressed that all options were still possible. The Cabinet is deeply split on the issue. Mr Johnson yesterday told MPs the Government was still 'looking into whether and how to proceed with HS2'. His chief adviser Dominic Cummings is among 'many' in No 10 said to be opposed to the project. In the Commons, the Prime Minister said a decision on HS2 would be made 'very shortly'. Ministers are reported to have considered scrapping the second part of the scheme, which runs from Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds, or using conventional rail, rather than high-speed, to reduce the cost. But a senior Tory source said it was 'politically untenable' for Mr Johnson to go ahead with phase one from London to Birmingham while cutting back the second phase to the North. The HS2 route would initially link London and Birmingham with the second phase of the project then heading north to Manchester and Leeds The insider said: 'The idea that a Prime Minister who has been elected on a mandate to boost infrastructure in the North is going to just scrap the northern part of a big infrastructure project is a non-starter. It's just politically untenable.' Meanwhile Mr Johnson and Mr Javid were last night reported to have demanded all Cabinet ministers draw up cuts of 5 per cent to their departments despite promising an end to austerity. Ministers have been told to do a line-by-line audit and identify ten projects that can be stopped altogether. Even 'protected' departments such health and defence are not exempt. Insiders said the Government wants to overhaul or abolish projects and quangos rather squeeze salaries or cut welfare. Coast to Coast Motors has a variety of used vehicles that are less than five-years-old. Customers seeking that perfect used vehicle that is less than five years old will have a better chance of finding what they are looking for at Coast to Coast Motors. Individuals that are searching for a used vehicle many times have to purchase a vehicle that is eight, nine, or sometimes even ten years old. When this happens, there are often added expenses due to parts beginning to wear out. Coast to Coast Motors has an incredibly diverse inventory that this is not the case. Customers seeking that perfect used vehicle that is less than five-years-old will have a better chance of finding what they are looking for at Coast to Coast Motors. In addition, the inventory that is five-years-old or newer has many driver-assist features. These will vary among vehicles. Some include a Pre-Collision System, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Monitor and many more. Vehicles that are sold at Coast to Coast Motors are not just put in the showroom immediately upon their arrival. There is a rigorous multipoint inspection that all of the vehicles go through. If a vehicle does not pass the inspection, then the dealership will not sell it to its customers. Finally, Coast to Coast Motors is a buy-here-pay-here dealership. This means that if individuals have been turned down for a loan because of bad credit or no credit, the individuals still have an option. They can receive financing right from the dealership. Interested parties that would like to learn more about the selection of inventory at Coast to Coast Motors that is less than five-years-old can view the dealerships online inventory at https://www.ctcautogroup.com/. Otherwise, the dealership can be reached by phone by calling 888-418-8517. Finally, those that wish to personally speak with someone can visit one of the dealerships locations in Houston, Conroe, Enid, Oklahoma City or Tulsa. Glenn Reynolds has an excellent column in USA Today on the re-segregation of American universities that is being forced by the Democratic Party and the Left: Segregation now, segregation tomorrow and segregation forever! Those words were thundered by Alabama Gov. George Wallace in his 1963 inauguration speech. But, in fact, the very next year, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act, which brought an end to segregation. Or did it? Wallace later repented of this phrase, but in 2020, the 1963 George Wallace seems to be getting some traction. Because all over America and even in Alabama universities and schools are promoting and endorsing schemes that divide and label students by race. Power Line readers are familiar with this story, but Glenn supplies chapter and verse. All across the country, colleges and universitiesall of them run by members of George Wallaces Democratic Partyare segregating the races, favoring some and discriminating against others. It was the argument of the old-time segregationists that the various races were too different to get along side by side. The best that could be hoped for was that each could stay in its lane and flourish on its own with minimal contact with the others. Thats sounding more and more like the sort of thing were hearing on college campuses, where each group is told that others cant understand its thinking because of its unique experiences, requiring its own safe space. This is an interesting point, too: Old-time segregationists prefigured the modern university in another way. Though they talked about separating the races, what they really meant was separating whites from all the others. The Virginia statute barring interracial marriage, struck down by the Supreme Court in the 1967 case of Loving v. Virginia, banned marriages between blacks and whites but allowed nonwhites to marry nonwhites of other races. Though the state said it was against race mixing, it was actually only against mixing whites with other races. Likewise, many of these university programs seem to lump all nonwhites except Asians, who, as sometimes happened under Jim Crow, often get thrown in as honorary whites into one category and whites in another. In todays academia, God help you if you are Asian. Your schools administration certainly wont. I am old enough to remember when people thought George Wallaces Segregation forever! was a retrograde slogan that would soon be relegated to the dustbin of history. Little did we know that more than 50 years later, the Democratic Party and the liberal educational establishment would embrace racial segregation as an ideal. FLORA, Ind. (WLFI) - People are continuing to rally behind Carroll Elementary Principal Amanda Redmon. As we previously reported, Redmon's contract was not renewed in December. She said she was told by Superintendent Keith Thackery the non-renewal was because of the school's ILEARN scores. Around 50 people showed up for Tuesday's school board meeting. There was no public comment, but supporters of all ages made their voices heard in a different way. Many held signs expressing reasons why they think Redmon is a great principal, others wore the black and white "I Stand with Amanda Redmon" t-shirts. There are also about a dozen "I Stand with Amanda Redmon" signs on front lawns along State Road 18 in Flora. People in support of Principal Redmon have started an online petition. They are hoping to reach 1,000 signatures by the next school board meeting. They are also asking people to email in to the school board members in support. School Board President Patrick Hickner confirmed that the school board members are receiving emails through the portal and that they do read them. Right now the Indiana House and Senate both have hold harmless bills that are making steady progress through the state legislature. These bills would prevent schools, administrators or teachers from being punished for ILEARN scores. Senate Bill 2 passed the House Committee on Education on Tuesday. State Representative Sheila Klinker is on that committee, and she voted in favor of it. Redmon now has a lawyer helping her through this process. "We are working with Amanda to try and make sure that she can continue as principal here at Carroll Consolidated Schools to hopefully help continue to educate the young people here and provide them with a quality education for many years to come," said her attorney, Joel Hand. He is advising Redmon not to speak to the press on the record at this time. He said they are exploring their legal options, but hopes they can avoid bringing this matter to court. The final vote on Redmon's contract will happen at the February 11th school board meeting. It will be held at 6pm in the Carroll Junior-Senior High School auditorium. News 18 asked the school board members and Superintendent Thackery for a comment at Tuesday's meeting. They did respond not. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 19:18:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has ordered Chinese military to keep its mission firmly in mind and shoulder responsibility to make contribution to winning the battle against the novel coronavirus epidemic. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a recent instruction to the military on the prevention and control of the outbreak of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus. President Donald Trump hinted he may return to New Jersey for another rally this summer in his speech Tuesday night at the Wildwoods Convention Center, igniting speculation about where he may next appear. You know they all say Republicans cant win (in New Jersey). Tell me why? Trump said to the thousands packed into the venue, and thousands more who couldnt get in who were watching him on a massive screen in the parking lot. They said, Should you move this to the Meadowlands? I said, No, I want to be in South Jersey. We want to be with our friends. But we could have filled up the Meadowlands arena two or three times, Trump said of the more than 150,000 ticket requests that came in to the campaign for a venue that holds 7,400. Maybe well do it during the summer. Should we do it during the summer? +8 Complete coverage of President Donald Trump's Wildwood rally President Donald Trump held a "Keep America Great" rally Tuesday night at the Wildwoods Conv The response was a deafening roar of approval. That didnt stop some from speculating Trump may visit Hammonton. A social media post Wednesday morning created a furor by saying Trump was coming to Hammonton on a specific date in September. A Hammonton Republican Club leader quickly said there was no visit scheduled. The biggest battery ever constructed in Queensland will be built over the next year, adding certainty to the power grid as it transitions towards renewable energy. The 100-megawatt battery has been commissioned by AGL Energy and will link to its Coopers Gap Wind Farm near Wandoan on the Western Downs. AGL chief executive Brett Redman said the battery would add certainty to the existing renewable energy sources by providing baseload power consistency. An artist's impression of the battery facility near Wandoan. Batteries will be pivotal to providing firming capacity when the sun isnt shining and the wind isnt blowing, and the market needs the capacity, Mr Redman said. Team Cymru expands its global footprint to deliver efficiencies in internet security monitoring to its clients. New York, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Team Cymru, an Internet security firm and leading provider of Internet threat intelligence, today announced that it has partnered with EdgeUno to implement the first international PoP for its new, global network backbone. The implementation will result in more efficient visibility into malicious internet activity within or traversing through Latin America. The first international PoP of Team Cymrus new, global network backbone will be in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and the company will continue to expand globally throughout 2020. Unlike many solution providers in the threat intelligence space, Team Cymru operates as an ISP, which enables more holistic visibility than other vendors can achieve relying on edge point devices to gather data. The goal is to gain efficiencies in our global monitoring of malicious internet activity and cyber threats, commented Rabbi Rob Thomas, Founder and CEO of Team Cymru. Our customers can expect us to be coming to a peering point near them, and this means they will the get threat intelligence they need faster. The move also means that EdgeUnos customers who depend on Team Cymru community services offerings, such as the Nimbus near-real-time threat monitoring or the ISP to ASN mapping services, will see improved speeds. Internet Security is an essential part of our business in Latin America said Mehmet Akcin, Founder and CEO of EdgeUno. We are big believers in the services and unparalleled insight Team Cymru has been providing to its global customers over the years. We are very certain with expansion into Brazil the insight users get will be even more comprehensive. We are very excited to be working with Team Cymru and look forward to be their one-stop Latin America help across the Americas. Mehmet Akcin is available for media interviews regarding EdgeUnos aim to expand the edge computing industry in Latin America and around the world. To schedule an interview, contact him at mehmet@edgeuno.com. Story continues About Team Cymru For more than 15 years, Team Cymrus mission has been to save and improve lives by working with public and private sector entities to discover, track, and take down threat actors and criminals around the globe. We do this by delivering comprehensive visibility into global internet traffic and cyber threat activity. We expose millions of facts per second in an actionable way, and over a 30-day period, our users have visibility into approximately 93% of global IP address space. The most advanced teams of cybersecurity analysts and investigators around the world rely on our solutions to uncover the who, what, when, where and why of malicious behavior. They also leverage this global visibility to identify and block malicious campaigns before they even reach an enterprises doorstep. Our data is incomparable, and our partners and clients use it to make the world a safer place. For more information visit cymru.com About EdgeUno: Co-founded in Silicon Valley by former Centurylink, Microsoft, Yahoo! and Equinix executives, EdgeUno provides unparalleled service making it easier for any size of company to enter Latin America. Whether you need support for your existing infrastructure or want to build a new one, we can help. Our infrastructure as a service is designed for Fortune 2000 companies, Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), Governments and large enterprises. EdgeUno has operations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Uruguay and Peru. More information can be found at www.edgeuno.com Erika Lee Team Cymru elee@cymru.com Mehmet Akcin EdgeUno mehmet@edgeuno.com 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 The Kremlin continues to analyze the Israeli-Palestinian settlement plan, presented by U.S. President Donald Trump and hopes to receive more information from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "We continue to analyze this information and study the plan prepared by the White House administration," Peskov said. "A meeting with Netanyahu will take place tomorrow, so we will have more of what is called first-hand information," TASS cited the spokesman as saying. Yesterday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the key points of the so-called Deal of the Century a plan of peaceful Israeli-Palestinian settlement, based on mutual recognition of both states. Netanyahu backed Trumps plan. The Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas decisively rejected the US Presidents plan. A team of experts has located the wreck of a merchant ship that vanished in the Bermuda Triangle in 1925, Fox News reports. The fate of the SS Cotopaxi has long been shrouded in mystery. On Nov. 29, 1925, the steam-powered vessel left Charleston, S.C. for Havana, Cuba. She never reached her destination and the bodies of the Cotopaxis 32 passengers were never recovered. Now, however, a group of underwater explorers and maritime archaeologists have located the ill-fated ship about 35 nautical miles off the coast of St. Augustine, Fla. The discovery will be featured in the first episode of Shipwreck Secrets, a new Science Channel Series that premieres on Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. ET. Subsequent episodes will air on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET In a statement, the Science Channel explained that marine biologist and underwater explorer Michael Barnette contacted British historian Guy Walters to help find the mysterious ship. Walters combed through ship records at the archives of Lloyds of London, who were the insurance brokers for the SS Cotopaxi, the Science Channel explained. There he discovered something previously unknown about the SS Cotopaxis voyage. The ship had sent out wireless distress signals with a position on December 1st, 1925, two days after it left Charleston. A shipwreck known locally as the Bear Wreck, which was found almost 35 years ago, is in that location. Armed with the new information, however, and working with diver Al Perkins and experts from the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, researchers realized that the Bear Wreck is actually the Cotopaxi. After discussing and evaluating all the available evidence, the team felt confident that the Bear Wreck is indeed the final resting spot of the lost Cotopaxi, explains the Science Channel, in its statement. On Tuesday, the Seattle-based coffee company Starbucks said it had closed more than half of its 4,292 stores in its second biggest market and said it would take a quarterly and full year financial hit. The full extent of the hit to the broader business world is not yet clear. Most of China had already been shut down since at least Friday for the annual Lunar New Year holiday, a weeklong nationwide hiatus. But with the outbreak showing no signs of slowing, many companies are already preparing for a longer slowdown. "Our members are dealing with varying degrees of disruption in their businesses, including supply chain issues, temporary closings of some retail outlets and factories, and other challenges," said Jake Parker, the senior vice president of the US-China Business Council, which represents major companies. "If travel restrictions and quarantines are expanded or the holiday extended beyond February 8, that will amplify these problems." China's importance goes beyond what it makes. Its consumers buy more cars and smartphones than anybody else. When they go abroad, Chinese tourists spend $US258 billion ($382 billion) a year, according to the World Tourism Organisation, nearly twice what Americans spend. Global companies were reconsidering their China strategies even before the trade war began. Its growth is slowing, its labour costs are rising, local companies are increasingly competitive and the government has become less accommodating. Still, its skilled worker base, extensive highway and rail systems and vast consumer market make China tough to quit. Many companies are now looking for temporary stopgaps. Pivoting quickly Tim Cook, the chief executive of Apple, said on Tuesday that the iPhone maker was looking for alternative suppliers to "make up for any expected production loss." Foxconn, a Taiwanese company with an extensive network of factories in China that make gadgets on behalf of Apple and others, said its factories would continue to follow the new holiday schedule. Apple is not the only company that has had to pivot quickly. Just last week, executives of US engineering company Honeywell travelled to Wuhan for a ceremony related to its plans to open an innovation headquarters. Two days later, Wuhan was put under lockdown by authorities. Honeywell has since restricted travel to certain parts of China. Wuhan in particular appeals to major companies because it is a major national transport hub. The auto industry, including General Motors, Honda, Nissan and many others have set up shop there, and many of their suppliers have followed. It is the home to more than one third of all French investment in China. Loading On Monday, PSA Group, the French automaker, said it had set up crisis communications between Wuhan and its Paris headquarters to determine the potential impact on production. The company employs about 2,000 people in Wuhan through its joint venture and was evacuating 38 expatriates. Swedish furniture giant Ikea, which employs 14,000 people in China, said on Wednesday it would temporarily close nearly half of its 30 stores in the country. Employees at the stores will be asked to stay home until further notice with paid leave. It is not clear how quickly businesses will bounce back. During the deadly SARS outbreak 17 years ago, which began in China and killed hundreds globally, some factories paid higher wages to bring workers back and get factories humming again. Right now, businesses do not know enough to make those kinds of plans. Ford, which does not have any operations in Wuhan, said several of its major plants would be idled until February 10. A spokesman declined to disclose further details. The factories in four cities churn out nearly half a million vehicles a year, or an average of 9,400 cars a week. Businesses in other countries are also trying to determine the impact. In Japan on Tuesday, Yasutoshi Nishimura, the minister of state for economic and fiscal policy, told a group of reporters that "if the situation takes longer to subside, we're concerned it could hurt Japanese exports, output and corporate profits." Chinese visitors account for about 30 per cent of all foreign tourists, and Chinese companies are major buyers of Japanese-made components, like semiconductors and lenses. In Thailand, Chinese sightseers spend nearly $US18 billion annually, totalling about a quarter of tourist spending. We survive the whole year because they come the whole year. Thai tourism operator Anan Buates PHOTO: Getty Images SINGAPORE When he was only 14 years old, he forced his stepsister who was only around four to five years old at the time of the offences to perform a sexual act on him. The male teenager, now 17 years old, pleaded guilty on Wednesday (29 January) to one count of sexually assaulting a person under 14 years old. Probation and Reformative Training reports were called for the teen, who will return to court to be sentenced next Wednesday. The court heard that the teen had watching pornography on his mobile phone in the kitchen toilet, on a day between June and September 2017. He was undressed and began masturbating with the door partially closed. About five minutes into the act, the teens stepsister opened the door and caught sight of the teen. The teen then reached for the childs hand and coaxed her into the toilet. When the girl refused, the teen grabbed her hand and brought it to his penis. He then tried to bring her head towards his genitals and asked her to perform a sexual act on him. The girl resisted until the teen said that he would give her chocolate as a reward. He forced himself on the girl for 10 seconds before letting her go. The girl then fled. The teen continued to watch pornography on his handphone afterwards. On 4 February last year, the girl was referred to the Marine Parade Family Services Centre for a counselling session. During the session, she revealed the sexual act committed by her stepbrother. The Ministry of Social and Family Development was alerted to the case and a Child Protection Officer brought the victim to the police to make a police report on 8 March last year. Other Singapore stories: Wuhan virus: Scoot cancels all Wuhan flights until end of March Probation for teen who offered sister BTS items for sexual act According to authorities, Hill has had past run-ins with police. Court records show Hill was convicted on an intimidation charge in 2015 for pointing a gun at a friend. Cunningham's family filed a federal lawsuit against the city last year, claiming Price's shooting was unjustified. An attorney for the Cunningham family claimed last year that Cunningham was only holding his drivers license and his wallet and not a weapon when officers approached the vehicle. However, a woman who dated Cunningham told The Times two days afterward that officers saw him holding a gun that he was legally licensed to carry and then shot him. The woman, Heather Fox, told The Times that Cunningham was doing nothing wrong when police inexplicably shot him. In the latest suit filed by Hill, Hill claims police issued no warnings before shooting, and Price's partner "was present and did nothing to intervene or prevent the fatal shooting of Rashad or the beating of Cornelius Hill," the complaint states. Price's partner allegedly ordered Hill to the ground, kicked, battered and stepped on his head, put a gun to his face, and threatened Hill, saying that he "should have shot" him in the face, too, the complaint claims. One of the best investments we can make is in our own knowledge and skill set. With that in mind, this article will work through how we can use Return On Equity (ROE) to better understand a business. To keep the lesson grounded in practicality, we'll use ROE to better understand Arterra Bioscience S.p.A. (BIT:ABS). Over the last twelve months Arterra Bioscience has recorded a ROE of 48%. That means that for every 1 worth of shareholders' equity, it generated 0.48 in profit. See our latest analysis for Arterra Bioscience How Do I Calculate ROE? The formula for return on equity is: Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) Shareholders' Equity Or for Arterra Bioscience: 48% = 1.4m 2.9m (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2019.) It's easy to understand the 'net profit' part of that equation, but 'shareholders' equity' requires further explanation. It is the capital paid in by shareholders, plus any retained earnings. You can calculate shareholders' equity by subtracting the company's total liabilities from its total assets. What Does ROE Mean? Return on Equity measures a company's profitability against the profit it has kept for the business (plus any capital injections). The 'return' is the amount earned after tax over the last twelve months. A higher profit will lead to a higher ROE. So, all else equal, investors should like a high ROE. That means ROE can be used to compare two businesses. Does Arterra Bioscience Have A Good ROE? Arguably the easiest way to assess company's ROE is to compare it with the average in its industry. Importantly, this is far from a perfect measure, because companies differ significantly within the same industry classification. As you can see in the graphic below, Arterra Bioscience has a higher ROE than the average (13%) in the Biotechs industry. BIT:ABS Past Revenue and Net Income, January 29th 2020 That's clearly a positive. I usually take a closer look when a company has a better ROE than industry peers. For example, I often check if insiders have been buying shares. Story continues The Importance Of Debt To Return On Equity Companies usually need to invest money to grow their profits. That cash can come from issuing shares, retained earnings, or debt. In the case of the first and second options, the ROE will reflect this use of cash, for growth. In the latter case, the use of debt will improve the returns, but will not change the equity. In this manner the use of debt will boost ROE, even though the core economics of the business stay the same. Arterra Bioscience's Debt And Its 48% ROE While Arterra Bioscience does have some debt, with debt to equity of just 0.40, we wouldn't say debt is excessive. The combination of modest debt and a very impressive ROE does suggest that the business is high quality. Judicious use of debt to improve returns can certainly be a good thing, although it does elevate risk slightly and reduce future optionality. The Bottom Line On ROE Return on equity is a useful indicator of the ability of a business to generate profits and return them to shareholders. Companies that can achieve high returns on equity without too much debt are generally of good quality. If two companies have the same ROE, then I would generally prefer the one with less debt. But when a business is high quality, the market often bids it up to a price that reflects this. 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 you might want to take a peek at this data-rich interactive graph of forecasts for the company. But note: Arterra Bioscience 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. By Express News Service VISAKHAPATNAM/VIJAYAWADA : YSRC national general secretary V Vijayasai Reddy has said none can stop Visakhapatnam becoming the executive capital of Andhra Pradesh. "It might get delayed, but will be done," the strongman in the ruling YSRC maintained. Speaking to mediapersons in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday, the MP said the State government had taken the decision on three capitals to ensure equitable development of all regions of the State and that there was no going back on it. "Whatever happens, executive capital will be set up in Vizag," the Rajya Sabha MP said. Stating that Opposition parties were politicising everything including development, Vijayasai said he was not aware whether the BJP-led government at the Centre was against the three-capital proposal or not. However, MP Sujana Chowdary was opposing it as he had invested in the capital region of Amaravati, he alleged and said both (TDP chief) Chandrababu Naidu and Sujana Chowdary (BJP MP) cannot stop the three-capital plan. Taking exception to the TDP plans for hindering decentralisation, Agriculture Minister Kurasala Kanna Babu said Naidu was trying to block decentralisation and politicise the Council dissolution move, as evident from his 'guidance' to his party MPs. Speaking to mediapersons in Amaravati, he said it was not the first time Naidu has asked his MPs to raise the issues in Parliament for political benefits. "Unlike the TDP chief, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy does what he says and never make a U-turn," he said and accused the TDP chief of instigating clashes in Amaravati only to protect his and his benamis properties. YSR Congress MLA Ambati Rambabu lashed out at the TDP for speaking against the Assembly resolution to seek abolition of Council and said it is in tune with thoughts of TDP founder NT Rama Rao. "If Naidu is so concerned over the Assembly resolution, why was he not present in the Assembly to make his point? It shows his lack of concern for the people," he said and advised the TDP chief to resign along with his MLAs and seek public mandate if he is so confident of public support. Taking exception to the personal attack on Jagan, government chief whip G Srikanth Reddy, MLAs D Raja and G Srinivas warned the TDP chief to mind his language. "We too can make such remarks, but our upbringing is preventing us from doing so. If it continues, we will not remain silent," they said. The identical twin brother of a man who has denied feeding his baby vodka despite a video emerging has criticised his sibling's 'extremely bad decision'. Footage appeared to show a baby in New Zealand being given a Long White, which is a vodka drink mixed with spring water, and was circulated on social media over the weekend. The infant propped up on a while pillow beside a man while a woman with a One Love music festival wristband appeared to pour alcohol down the baby's throat. The child's father has denied the child was given any alcohol in the video. Mana Fifita, whose brother is allegedly in the video, has taken to social media on Tuesday to explain the footage is not of him. 'I did not hear about or see this video until it was posted to the internet. When it was posted, my heart sank,' the 35-year-old said. Footage appeared to show a baby in New Zealand being given a Long White, which is a vodka drink mixed with spring water, and was circulated on social media over the weekend A man, believed to be the one in the video, has hit back at the social media outrage over the clip of his child and denied his child was given alcohol 'My twin made an extremely bad decision and I am disappointed in his actions.' Mr Fifita said he was living in Christchurch with his two daughters, aged seven and nine, and would never give up his time with them. 'While I understand everyone's outrage, please realise I am a twin and this was my twin's actions, not mine,' he said. 'I do not find any humour in this, nor would I ever joke about feeding alcohol to a child.' The tattoo artist said his business that he built from the ground up has also been impacted by his brother's alleged actions. Mana Fifita (pictured), who's brother is allegedly in the video, has taken to social media on Tuesday to explain the footage is not of him 'Please do not leave anymore negativity on my business accounts or my personal one as I do not have anything to do with this,' he said. 'I too am disappointed and hope he can make better decisions in the future.' He told the New Zealand Herald he called his brother when he saw the footage, who said two of his friends pretended to feed the baby alcohol in the video. Mr Fifita even had detectives arrive at his door to take a statement and were shocked to find out they had the wrong twin. The tattoo artist (pictured with his daughters) said his business that he built from the ground up has also been impacted by his brother's actions New Zealand Police's Detective Senior Sergeant Eddie Sutherland confirmed on Tuesday an investigation had been opened in regards to the footage. 'We understand that members of our community found this video extremely concerning and we want to assure them that we will work closely with Oranga Tamariki on addressing this matter,' he said. 'We are not in a position to comment further at this time.' Footage showed the infant propped up on a while pillow beside a man while a woman with a One Love wrist band pour alcohol down the baby's throat. Daily Mail Australia does not suggest the infant actually consumed any alcohol. The video clip has since been deleted. Mr Fifita's brother hit back at the social media outrage over the clip on Monday. 'I'm being threatened over a Facebook post [because] of the video about my baby,' the man wrote, according to the New Zealand Herald. 'Me and my wife and a couple of my mates were there and we [were] just joking around [with] her.' He said he would be an 'idiot' if he actually let his child consume the alcohol and that his child are 'his heart'. A second image, believed to be of the same man, showed a picture of a man holding a beer up to a baby's mouth at a bar with the caption 'her first Xmas eve and beer'. Authorities in New Zealand said they were distressed about the video. Authorities in New Zealand are distressed regarding the contents of the video Dr Harriette Carr, Deputy Director of Public Health, said the Ministry of Health were 'appalled' at the footage. 'The Ministry does not recommend babies or children be given alcoholic drinks,' Dr Carr said. 'Alcohol has been shown to be harmful for the unborn child, babies and children, particularly affecting brain development.' Meanwhile Oranga Tamariki, also known as the Ministry of Children, said the department is taking the incident seriously. 'We are aware of a video that has been circulating on social media, and will work with police as necessary,' a spokesperson said. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar urged the Centre to drop the new columns in NPR forms as they are not necessary and are leading to apprehensions in the minds of the people and the exercise be conducted as per the previous pattern Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday urged the Centre to drop the new columns in NPR forms as they are not necessary and are leading to apprehensions in the minds of the people and the exercise be conducted as per the previous pattern. The new columns in the National Population Register which are not necessary relate to parents' place of birth and Aadhaar number, he told newsmen after a meeting of workers of JD(U) of which he is the national president. "We have heard that these (columns) are not mandatory. But they are also not necessary. People fear that if they left these empty, it may be held against them if NRC is implemented," he said. He iterated that the ongoing census be caste-based and that officials concerned have been apprised of the unanimous resolutions passed in both Houses of the state legislature to the effect. He pointed out that fresh estimates of population of social segments other than religious minorities, SCs and STs were not available after the 1931 census. Expressing his opposition to NRC, which he had done earlier too, Kumar expressed satisfaction over Prime Minister Narendra Modi putting it on the backburner. He, however, went on to add, "Why at all ask people in NPR forms to state their parents places of birth? Even I do not know where my mother was born." "Also what is the point in seeking Aadhar numbers in the forms? These are already in government records," he added. "We have therefore decided that our (JD-U) leaders in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha will raise this issue. We will urge the government to remove these new columns. The exercise was conducted a decade ago and it can be done again on the previous pattern," he asserted. Kumar questioned resolutions passed against the Citizenship Amendment Act in many state Assemblies, saying that the law is a central one and states have little jurisdiction in the matter though all may be free to express differences of opinion. Asked to comment on the arrest of JNU scholar Sharjeel Imam from Jehanabad district in Bihar after being booked for sedition for his inflammatory speeches, Kumar said he ought to have an understanding of the country's law and its Constitution. "It is another thing to have an opinion on anything. But if anybody talks about Indias disintegration, who is going to accept this? No power on earth can split up India," he said. People like Imam did not represent the views held by a large section of the people, Kumar said. The chief minister said that Bihar Police, which had been conducting raids at Imam's house and questioning his family members prior to his arrest on Tuesday, had helped the Delhi Police in the job. Kumar, whose party had supported the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Parliament, acknowledged that there has been considerable unrest across the country in its wake and hoped that the situation would normalise soon. He also cautioned against too much agitation against the legislation. "The matter is before the Supreme Court. It will look into whether the Act violates the Constitution or not and take a decision. Having opinions and expressing these are fine. But there must be mutual respect and harmony," he pointed out. The JD(U) national president sought to make light of the defiant stance adopted by party leaders like Prashant Kishor and Pavan Varma with his tongue-in-cheek remark. "Our party comprises ordinary people, not great intellectuals. Though, of course, we respect all," he said. He was also heard muttering, "How many times do I need to speak on the letter when asked about Varma's two-page note made public by the latter despite it referring to conversations about alliance partner BJP in private." He also refused to be drawn into the controversy that has erupted over Kishor engaging in a "Twitter war with top BJP leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah". "He (Kishor) remains in touch in his professional capacity. I have learnt through newspapers that he is working for the Aam Aadmi Party (in Delhi). But then he remains in touch with so many people. I inducted him into my party on Shah's recommendation," Kumar claimed. "I will be happy if he remains in the party (JD-U). I will be okay if he chooses otherwise. But if he has to stay, he must do so respecting the party's structure," Kumar said replying cryptically to further queries. Referring to the 8 February assembly polls in Delhi, where the JD(U)'s tie-up with the BJP had riled Varma, Kumar said he might go to the national capital for election campaign after 30 January. He said that Tuesday's party meeting was aimed at spreading awareness about JD(U)'s policies ahead of the assembly election in Bihar, which is due later this year. A party workers' conference will be held at Patna's Gandhi Maidan on 1 March, like the one held exactly five years ago, he added. The IIT Bombay administration recently issued a circular, warning students against participating in anti-national activities or to distribute posters or leaflets/pamphlets within the campus following protests against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act The IIT-Bombay administration recently issued a circular, warning students against participating in "anti-national activities" or to "distribute posters or leaflets/pamphlets" within the campus following protests against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act and the violence against students of Jamia Millia Islamia and Jawaharlal Nehru University. Also banned within the IIT-Bombay campus, according to the circular, are any form of speeches, plays and music, even if faculty is part of the gathering, without the prior approval of the Dean of Student Affairs (DoSA). "Since recently there have been a bit of cooing in the campus with political overtones, I requested all to keep the campus completely apolitical and that no one should use IITB while expressing his or her personal opinion," Director of IIT Bombay wrote in a Facebook post. It is intriguing, thus, that at a time when campuses like JNU, Jamia, Jadavpur University, Aligarh Muslim University, among others have become a hotbed of dissent, and when movement such as the anti-CAA protests are largely credited to students rather than the Opposition parties, such a drastic gag order by India's premier institute didn't create much noise. But then IITs were never known to hold animated political debates. Traditionally, unlike other state and centrally-sponsored institutes of higher education, the Indian Institute of Technology had remained immune to the explosive political environment in the nation, but that has begun to change. The IITs were the premium institutes that gave the impression that students here were barely interested in politics and are too involved in the academic workload to give space to student activism. IITs were relatively quiet even when student politics was on the boil in the rest of the country when a former prime minister imposed National Emergency in 1976. However, in the last few years, whether it is to protest a ban on student body, or overruling restrictions like ban on eating beef, or to stand in solidarity with students of other varsities, IITians have time and again raised their voice to back a cause. One of the earliest incidents of protests in recent times was from 2015 when IIT Madras de-recognised a student group for using the institutions name to garner support for its activities despite lacking official permission to do so. The group, Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle, was Dalit students' attempt to organise themselves as a response to the largely upper caste campus. Around 200 protesters were detained and a large police force had to be dispatched in riot gear a rarity in IIT campuses as hundreds of slogan-shouting protesters blocked the roads to protest IIT-M's ban against the student group. After a week-long unrelenting protests, the IIT administration The ban was a result of a knee-jerk reaction by IIT administration to an anonymous complaint forwarded by the HRD ministry alleging that APSC members tried to mobilise backward community students against the NDA governments policy on Hindi and the ban on beef. The complaint stated that the group was fomenting hatred against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Hindus. However, a week-long relentless protest and considerable media coverage ensured that IIT-M reinstated the body unconditionally. At the time, the APSC had also cited presence of several right-leaning student in the campus, which were recognised and allowed to function inside IIT. But the controversy only brought the presence of such groups to the fore. Rift across ideological lines weer already present and the rise of such small student issue-based movements had already begun some time ago. In an article published in The Hindu at the time, members of APSC recognised the absence of political discourse in IITs and claimed that it was primarily because of the upper caste hegemony and their natural affinity to the right-wing. They said they started their group to fill that gap. Speaking about the reason behind forming the group, APSC members said, "Since most students on their campus were upper castes, a natural alliance seemed to be building between such students and the forces of Hindutva. The Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle was a reaction to such groups. We decided to have a group of our own and question them. We picked Ambedkar and Periyar because both offered a logical and scientific critique of Hinduism," they said. The second major instance to hit headlines also came from IIT-M in 2017, when the debate over Modi government's attempt to put a blanket ban on cow slaughter and beef consumption was on. A group of around 80 students from APSC decided to hold a beef festival, to register their protest against the Centre's move to ban sale of cattle for the purpose of butchering, thus imposing an indirect beef ban. Later, a group of right wing students assaulted a PhD student R Sooraj was attacked for eating beef . He sustained serious injuries to his eye in the attack, which led to protests from both circles. The students at IITs, again stood up in protests at a time when the debate on CAA was polarising the national discourse. While IIT Bombay students took out both pro and anti-CAA rallies in campus despite a gag order from the administration, IIT Delhi students had already raised their voice in solidarity with JNU students. According to reports, around 1,500 students took part in a rally on the eve of Republic Day in order to create awareness about the Constitution, whereas, on Republic Day, another march was held by students and faculty, called 'Reclaiming the Republic'. Several posters in support of women protesting at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh were seen during the march. On 6 January, at least 300 IIT-Delhi students and faculty members gathered on campus to condemn the violence on JNU campus, a movement which was replicated across IIT campuses in Madras, Bombay, Gandhinagar and Kanpur. In all cases, students chose not to seek prior permission from the campus administration. This change in the political activity and awareness at the campus is attributed to a gamut of factors. Firstly, the IITs have become more diverse over the years due to reservation policies and also the increase in the number of campuses across India. Furthermore, the arrival of post graduate students and research scholars, over the years, who have spent time on more politically active campuses, has also resulted in a much more diverse and aware student body. Otherwise too, the presence of right-wing thinkers and ideologues has directed the conversation and narrative on campus. As an article on The News Minute pointed out, the IIT campuses have a history of holding talks by "religious talking-heads, self-appointed priests and Vedic science experts." "RSS ideologue S Gurumurthy has delivered several lectures at IIT Bombay, on India, its glorious history, economics and the need to brand India in a particular way at the global forum. He has also lectured on Vande Mataram and nationalism at IIT Madras. BJP member Subramanian Swamy too has been a regular feature at IIM Bangalore, IIM Ahmedabad and IIT Kanpur talking about subjects such as Indian nationalism and spinelessness of Manmohan Singh, among others." This shows that even though student bodies affiliated to national parties are absent in the IIT campus, the debate around political issues have always existed on these campuses. It is also not unheard of IIT alumni joining bureaucracy or even politics, later in life. Polarising issues like imposition of Hindi in southern states, government's alleged attempts to homogenise Hindu religion, or a law that many claim tinkers with the basic secular fabric of Constitution, only act as a tipping point. A nursing home employee who claimed in a harassment and retaliation lawsuit that a supervisor presented her with a plate of food that resembled male genitalia and that another employee made crude gestures with a dishwasher part was paid $55,000 to settle her case. Geraldine A. Miller, a kitchen worker at Shady Lane Nursing Home in Gloucester County, alleged she was subjected to foul language, crude behavior and bullying by co-workers at the facility, which is operated by the Gloucester County Improvement Authority. The authority admitted no wrongdoing under the settlement deal, which was first reported by open public records advocate John Paff. Miller said a worker harassed her for not participating in a hoe-down activity for nursing home residents and for not going out drinking and visiting strip clubs with her colleagues, according to the suit filed in 2018. In one incident, a supervisor presented Miller with a plate of food that featured a hot dog protruding from the plate sitting between two round mounds of food suggestive of male genitalia, the suit alleged. In another incident, a co-worker used a part from a dishwasher as a phallic symbol and made crude gestures, Miller said. In an effort to bully her, co-workers allegedly told Miller they were gang members and that a supervisor had served time for murder. When she complained to management and human resources, they failed to act, Miller said in the suit. She was told by a boss that she needed to relax, fit in and have fun, the suit said. She was also told her work was second to none, but that she needed to seek help in dealing with her anxiety. Miller had recently lost her mother and suffered from mild anxiety, according to the lawsuit. After kitchen workers were required to watch a training video about sexual harassment in the workplace, which was an apparent response to Millers complaints, workers grew angry, the suit claimed. "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen," one kitchen staffer allegedly shouted at Miller. In February 2018, Miller was told she was considered paranoid and placed on paid administrative leave pending a mandatory fitness-for-duty examination, the suit noted. Under terms of the settlement, which was signed in December, Miller received $5,000 for alleged lost wages, $17,535 for attorneys fees and costs, and $32,465 for compensatory damages including alleged emotional injuries accompanied by medical treatment. The Gloucester County Utilities Authority, while not admitting fault, also agreed to restore 174 hours of Millers sick and vacation time. GCIA has denied and continues to deny all claims and allegations made in action, according to the agreement. 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. The United States is an innovative nation. The nations founders put a premium on inventiveness. They thought so highly of the role science and technology play that they wrote it into the Constitution, saying the government should promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts. That enterprising spirit served the nation well. Robert Fulton, Thomas Edison, Nicola Tesla, Steve Jobs, Enrico Fermi, Albert Einstein, George Washington Carver, and James D. Watson are but a few of a long list of scientists and innovators who were born or became Americans. We take it for granted that the United States will always be on top of the scientific heap, yet while we are among the worlds leaders, we are being eclipsed. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, China is now the leader in patent applications, with more than double the number of U.S. applications in 2018. The news for theoretical research also looks grim. According to the 2017 Nature Index, the U.S. still leads in foundational science, but we wont for long. Contributions to major scientific journals by American scientists are slowing as Chinas rise. If these trends continue, Chinas scientific output will overtake that of the U.S. by 2025. Americas innovation slide should cause our leaders to sound the alarm. Fortunately, the House Science, Space and Technology Committee this week is convening a hearing, Losing Ground: U.S. Competitiveness in Critical Technologies. According to a recent report by the bipartisan Aspen Cybersecurity Group, technological and scientific innovation isnt just an economic issue; innovation has national-security and geopolitical implications. Will America lead the technology that secures Americans? Lisa Monaco, co-chair of the Aspen group, asked Axios. Will American values be reflected in the technologies of the future? This is exactly the sort of question that Americas leaders should be asking. Actions the government took following World War II investments in research, human capital, and immigration allowed American innovation to thrive as the rest of the world rebuilt from the great war, the Aspen report says. Story continues But the very policies that helped America achieve technological leadership have been undermined. Americas competitors in innovation have also invested in their infrastructure since the end of World War II, and its easy to see why other countries are passing the United States. It doesnt have to be this way. The U.S. can maintain its technological and scientific leadership, but well need to double down on our bet on foundational research. Inventions such as the smartphone or immunotherapy drugs dont happen in a vacuum. They depend on foundational research that the private sector will not underwrite. Foundational research often has little application in the business environment or offers insufficient short-term benefits to maximize shareholder value in the minds of many investors. Research into DNA or radio waves may not look like it will turn a profit, but that research is the foundation on which the great inventions are built. Whether it is due to lack of vision or competing budgetary pressures, current leaders struggle to make the needed investments. While the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy is promoting visionary efforts as it convenes leaders in emerging areas such as AI, quantum computing, and 5G, our investments in foundational research are not keeping pace. China doubled its foundational-research funding in 2017. Japan, South Korea, Israel, and Finland all spent more than the U.S. on research and development when measured as a percentage of GDP. The United States became a global leader in R&D in the 20th century by funding nearly 70 percent of annual global R&D following World War II, but according to the Congressional Research Service, the U.S. share of global R&D funding fell to 28 percent in 2013. This is a trend that needs to be reversed, as the U.S. share should approach 50 percent, the nations average until the 1980s. Spending on foundational research isnt the only policy the government needs to change. We need to pay attention to the way education, immigration, and trade affect innovation. Our education and innovation priorities need to be aligned. Spending on education needs to rise, and not just for science, technology, engineering, and math. The wide availability of higher education relevant to the 20th-century economy was one of the reasons the U.S. economy flourished after WWII. Its a lesson we need to remember: Education is key. We should ensure that higher education is available to all Americans and made more relevant for the 21st century. In all the controversy that surrounds immigration, its easy for us to forget how important it has been for innovation. Einstein, Tesla, and Fermi were all immigrants to America, as are Sergey Brin, Elon Musk, and Pierre Omidyar. According to Stanford Business School, immigrants are responsible for more than 30 percent of American innovation since 1976. If America truly has an innovation manifest destiny, immigrants are a driving factor behind it. Our immigration policy needs to reflect that. To compete in the innovation marketplace with the rest of the world, we also must recognize the role open markets play. The U.S. needs to avoid protectionist policies that unnecessarily stifle trade and weaken the economy while ensuring that our valuable intellectual property is protected. The government also should ensure that export controls over technology do not disadvantage R&D and investment in the United States. We face a risky world. For the country to remain strong and safe, we need to recognize the role scientific research plays. National security isnt just about who has the biggest guns. Machine learning, for example, can enable high degrees of automation in cyber defense. Americas leaders today should remember the good advice of our founding fathers and reflect with smart policymaking that the U.S.s global competitiveness, national security, and economic growth and stability at home depend on our ability to maintain leadership in innovation. If we dont step up the pace, at the end of the next decade well find ourselves far behind. More from National Review Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. US president Donald Trump yesterday proposed the creation of a Palestinian state with a capital in eastern Jerusalem in an effort to achieve a peace breakthrough with Israel. However, it is unlikely to be accepted by the Palestinians as the United States will recognise Israeli settlements on the occupied West Bank. In exchange, Israel would agree to accept a four-year freeze on new settlement activity while Palestinian statehood is being negotiated. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has already declared "a thousand No's" to the plan. "Today, Israel has taken a giant step toward peace," Mr Trump said at a White House ceremony attended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Mr Trump added he had sent a letter about the proposal to Mr Abbas. "This is a historic day," Mr Netanyahu said, comparing the peace plan to former President Harry Truman's 1948 recognition of the state of Israel. "On this day, you became the first world leader to recognise Israel's sovereignty over areas in Judea and Samaria that are vital to our security and central to our heritage," he added, using the Biblical names for the West Bank. Mr Abbas said the Palestinians remain committed to ending the Israeli occupation and establishing a state with its capital in east Jerusalem. A senior Hamas official said the Islamic militant group rejects the "conspiracies" announced by the US and Israel and "all options are open" in responding to the American administration's plan, which it said heavily favours Israel. "We are certain that our Palestinian people will not let these conspiracies pass. So, all options are open. The [Israeli] occupation and the US administration will bear the responsibility for what they did," senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya said as he participated in one of several protests that broke out across the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Protesters burned tyres and pictures of Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu. Egypt urged Israelis, Palestinians to "carefully study" the plan, while Turkey's Foreign Ministry said "this plan is an annexation plan aimed at killing the two-state solution and stealing Palestinian lands". In Lebanon, Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah denounced "the deal of shame" announced by "the savage Trump administration". It added: "This deal would not have taken place had it not been for the complicity and betrayal of a number of Arab regimes, secretly and publicly involved in this conspiracy", in a reference to Gulf Arab countries. The plan would create a small, disjointed Palestinian state in the West Bank and allow Israel to annex nearly all the Jewish settlements in the territory. Jordan warned against any Israeli "annexation of Palestinian lands" and reaffirmed its commitment to the creation of a Palestinian state along the 1967 lines, including all the West Bank and Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem. The last Israeli-Palestinian talks broke down in 2014, and it was far from clear the Trump plan will resuscitate them. Palestinians have refused to deal with his administration in protest at such pro-Israeli policies as its moving the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Senior US administration officials said they expected initial Palestinian scepticism but hoped that over time they will agree to negotiate. "Strip away the domestic and Israeli political considerations that determined the timing of the plan's release, and the message to the Palestinians, boiled down to its essence, is: You've lost, get over it," said Robert Malley, president of International Crisis Group and a former US National Security Council official. Facing an election, Mr Netanyahu's hard-line nationalist allies called for the immediate annexation of Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Naftali Bennett, Israel's defence minister, said the proposal offers Israel "an opportunity to determine the territory of our country" and "include all the Israeli settlements in the land of Israel within the sovereign state of Israel". Mr Bennett, a hawkish member of the religious nationalist Yemina party, said Israel "cannot wait until after the elections, and won't be satisfied with partial sovereignty - take it all now". Ayelet Shaked, Israel's former justice minister and Mr Bennett's running mate, said Israel is at "a historic moment" and also called for unilateral annexation of West Bank land. "The dangerous part of the plan, that is the establishment of a Palestinian state or recognition of a Palestinian state, won't happen," she tweeted. Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 29 : The security of Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has been raised from 'Z' to 'Z Plus' category, said Raj Bhavan officials. They however clarified that this has got nothing to do with the recent developments associated with the CAA and the strong position that he has taken with the CAA. "This beefing up of the security is more to do with his visits outside the state especially when he is in Delhi. According to rules that if he is in the 'Z Plus' category while in Kerala, it will help him to get more cover, when he travels outside the state," said the official and added that this raise in cover was not asked, but came after the Kerala police made an evaluation. Consequent to this, security has been beefed up at his official residence Raj Bhavan and an additional three more commandos has been added to his personal security. Khan, has been in the news ever since the CAA became law and has confronted both the Kerala government's anti-CAA stand and also the Congress-led opposition, both having taken a strong anti-CAA position. Now all eyes are on the business advisory committee of the Kerala Assembly which meets on Friday to decide if the motion by Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala to recall Khan can be moved. HOLYOKE State Rep. Aaron M. Vega, D-Holyoke, is officially off the campaign trail and will finish his final term early next year as the 5th Hampden Districts voice on Beacon Hill. Vega, elected eight years ago, announced Tuesday he would not seek a fifth term. He said he wants to remain in the region to work in the public or private sectors. In an interview with The Republican, Vega, 49, said he would not run for mayor in two years when incumbent Alex B. Morses term ends. He encouraged others to pursue local and state offices. Its important to have good conversations, and its important to have choices and support people to step up, he said. His longtime legislative aide, Patricia A. Duffy, announced Tuesday evening that she would run for Vegas seat. Earlier in the month, Vega said, he and his wife, Debra, discussed his future in politics. Im very lucky thats shes been so supportive of me since I ran for City Council 13 years ago, he said. When we got married, I was a film editor who wore jeans and T-shirts to a job every day. Things changed a little bit. Vega worked on films including documentaries by Ken Burns. He and his wife are yoga instructors. From 2010-12 Vega was a Holyoke city councilor. Civic involvement runs in the family. His father, the late Carlos Vega, was an activist and executive director of the nonprofit Nueva Esperanza. Vega said he now wants to take what he learned over his legislative career, the relationships he built, and concentrate on issues and opportunities unique to Western Massachusetts. At the state level, we take on so many different issues, which is great and exciting at times. But being able to focus and dig in and follow through and see things come to fruition is what Im interested in doing now, he said. Vegas legislative agenda included higher education, economic and workforce development, and food insecurity and access, Holyokes ongoing struggles. Those were the kind of wheelhouses Ive done a lot of work on and continue to work on, he said. Vega said he was proud of the recently passed Student Opportunity Act, which directs an additional $1.5 billion over the next seven years to public education. That was something I was working on for the past three years, he said. A Breakfast After the Bell bill ensured public school students start the day with a full stomach so they are ready to learn. The legislation passed unanimously in the House and Senate. Vega served on the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy, formed after Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly supported a 2016 ballot question that legalized adult-use marijuana. Its not every day a legislator gets to start an industry. So that was an interesting experience to meet with all sides on that issue, he said. Health care access remains a top concern for Vega, as does keeping community hospitals operating across the state. I dont think were doing enough to preserve and save our last remaining community hospitals, particularly Holyoke Medical Center, he said. We still need to work on the price variance issue, which is a private insurance problem. We have to ensure the MassHealth reimbursement rates are supporting hospitals. Vega said community hospitals are critical to public safety and are economic engines. Without community medical centers, private hospitals would struggle with increased patient loads, he said. Its a very tenuous relationship thats needed to be fostered and strengthened. Last session, we had a health care bill that failed. Im hopeful well get something done this session, but its going to continue to be a big priority to ensure our community hospital stays strong, he said. Vega advised Holyokes next state representative to listen to constituents concerns, as they can lead to issues and opportunities that perhaps are not on the legislative radar. When I started as state rep eight years ago, I talked about education and economic development. Now Ive become a strong advocate for persons with disabilities and the foster care system, Vega said. He added, Those opportunities wouldnt have happened if I didnt get those first emails, visit those organizations, work in that sector, and meet with those families. You go into this with your ideas of what you want to work on. You got to find out whats important to your district. For the first time, the novel has been grown from a cell culture outside China, a "significant breakthrough" that may help combat the deadly virus which has claimed over 130 lives and infected thousands, Australian scientists said on Wednesday. The researchers from the University of Melbourne and the Royal Melbourne Hospital said the advance will allow accurate investigation and diagnosis of the virus globally. "Chinese officials released the genome sequence of this novel coronavirus, which is helpful for diagnosis, however, having the real virus means we now have the ability to actually validate and verify all test methods, and compare their sensitivities and specificities - it will be a game changer for diagnosis," said Julian Druce from The Royal Melbourne Hospital. "The virus will be used as positive control material for the Australian network of public health laboratories, and also shipped to expert laboratories working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Europe," Druce said. Doherty Institute Deputy Director Mike Catton said the possession of a virus isolate extended what could be achieved with molecular technology in the fight against this virus. The deadly has claimed 132 lives and nearly 6,000 infection cases have been reported in China. The grown virus is expected to be used to generate an antibody test, which allows detection of the virus in patients who haven't displayed symptoms and were therefore unaware they had the virus, the researchers said. "An antibody test will enable us to retrospectively test suspected patients so we can gather a more accurate picture of how widespread the virus is, and consequently, among other things, the true mortality rate," Catton said. "It will also assist in the assessment of effectiveness of trial vaccines," he said. The virus was grown from a patient sample that arrived at the Royal Melbourne Hospital's Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) at the Doherty Institute on January 24. "We've planned for an incident like this for many, many years and that's really why we were able to get an answer so quickly," Catton said. How does a coyote get into Central Park, anyway? It walks there, said Crystal Howard, a spokeswoman for the Parks Department, speculating that it came from another part of the city where coyotes have been reported. Still, that would require the animal to cross several Manhattan streets. Coyotes are nocturnal animals and are adept at avoiding people, Mr. Simon said. This coyote, he added, could have just as easily slinked through backyards before bolting down a street and into the park. I then asked Katie Stennes, a Park Slope resident who works as the programs and communication manager at Project Coyote a different group than the Gotham Coyote Project about how the animal got to Central Park. (Her group helps inform the Parks Department about coyotes.) I assume just walking along the street, she said. If a coyote is very close to you You should try to stay at least 150 feet away from a coyote, but if youre much closer, dont panic. Act big and loud, Ms. Stennes said, to remind it that youre not its friend. Coexisting with coyotes is pretty easy, she added. Just dont feed them, and pick up your trash. If you kill a coyote Killing a coyote might help increase the population of this pack animal, Ms. Stennes said. That might sound counterintuitive, but she explained: Usually, only the alpha male and female breed. But if you kill one of them, that breaks up the pack. When a pack breaks up, its former members spread out, looking for food and mates. Mr. Simon had one additional piece of advice: Dont befriend a coyote. It could lead to attacks. If coyotes constantly see people and think that doesnt pose a threat, it might encourage them to have closer contact with humans, he said. Once proximity is established, its inevitable that problems will happen. 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. Two men have been rushed to hospital after shootings in separate attacks in London this evening. Met Police were called at 2.44pm to Bravington Road, close to Queen's Park Station, in west London, following reports of a shooting. The victim, in his late 40s, was rushed to hospital, and his condition is life-threatening. Just hours later, emergency services scrambled to Alma Road, Enfield, in north London, at 6.16pm after what officers believe was an altercation between two groups of young men. Two victims, one suffering a gunshot wound and the other a knife injury, were found and taken to hospital - in another example of 'Wild West Britain'. Met Police say they were called at 2.44pm to Bravington Road, close to Queen's Park Station. Pictured at the scene The condition of the man with gunshot wounds is thought to be life-threatening. The knife victim's condition is not known at this time. Alma Road remains closed this evening. No arrests have been made in the incident in Queen's Park, or in Enfield. Earlier this evening in Queen's Park Met Police office used stop and search, or Section 60, powers are now in force following the shooting and as a result of intelligence of anticipated violence. A tweet from MPS Westminster read: 'A section 60 has been authorized until 04:00 on 30/01/20. The age of the victim is yet to be confirmed and police are yet to make any arrests. Armed officers and London's Air Ambulance also attended the scene. Forensics pictured A tweet from MPS Westminster read: 'A section 60 has been authorized until 04:00 on 30/01/20 Additional stop and search, or Section 60, powers are now in force following the shooting and as a result of intelligence of anticipated violence At 4.39pm the force said they were awaiting a condition update on the victim, urging anyone with information to get in touch 'This was as a result of a firearms incident which occurred on Bravington road and intelligence of anticipated violence.' The scene at Queen's Park is close to several schools, including a nearby nursery. Pictures from the scene show forensics services surveying the area and attending a property on the residential street. Labour councillor Rita Begum, who represents the Maida Vale area, is currently at the cordon and spoke to MyLondon. She said: 'Came to meet a friend at a cafe and it happened to be where the incident was. 'When I left the cafe apparently the shooting happened and my car is now parked within the cordon'. Labour MP for Westminster North tweeted that 'extra police and investment in prevention can't come soon enough.' New Delhi: Megastar Amitabh Bachchan couldn't keep calm after India beat New Zealand in Super Over in the third Twenty 20I at Seddon Park in Hamilton. The legendary star, who is an avid user of Twitter, took to the micro-blogging site and congratulated Team India for a nerve-racking win. Big B wrote, "T3425 - INDIA INDIA INDIA .. what a victory in the super over .. T20 3rd game vs NZ .. win series .. first time in NZ .. CONGRATULATIONS .. 10 runs needed in 2 balls .. and Rohit hits 2 sixes ...UNBELIEVABLE" T3425 - INDIA INDIAINDIA .. what a victory in the super over .. T20 3rd game vs NZ .. win series .. first time in NZ .. CONGRATULATIONS .. 10 runs needed in 2 balls .. and Rohit hits 2 sixes ..UNBELIEVABLE Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) January 29, 2020 Soon an ecstatic Amitabh Bachchan's tweet received a massive response from his fan army hailing Team India's win. In the Super Over, Martin Guptill and Williamson came to bat for New Zealand and posted 17/0 in an over bowled by Jasprit Bumrah. In reply, the Men in Blue notched up 20 runs in an over bowled by Tim Southee, including back-to-back sixes by Rohit on the last two balls, to emerge victoriously. Rohit Sharma was declared Man of the Match. India will now take on New Zealand in an inconsequential third T20I at Wellington Regional Stadium on January 31, 2020. Berlin: The "evil spirits" of racism and anti-Semitism are re-emerging, said the presidents of Germany and Israel, as they marked 75 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp, in Berlin on Wednesday. Speaking at a special parliamentary session in Bundestag, Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that Germans had a responsibility to never forget their Nazi past and to stop hatred from spreading. "The evil spirits of the past are presenting their ethno-nationalist, authoritarian thinking as a vision, as a better answer to the questions of our time," he said. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin echoed those concerns in his own speech, warning that the continent was being "visited by ghosts from the past". Rivlin told German lawmakers that ugly and extreme anti-Semitism was hovering over the whole of Europe. Both men were speaking after attending recently held high-profile anniversary events in Jerusalem and at Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland. The solemn occasions were dominated by fresh fears over the safety of Jews in Europe, more than seven decades after the Nazis murdered over six million Jews during the World War II. Sitting in the audience in Berlin were MPs from the far-right AfD (Alternative for Germany) Party, whose leaders have openly railed against Germany's remembrance culture and its ongoing atonement for the atrocities committed under Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime. Leading AfD lawmaker Alexander Gauland in 2018 had described the Nazi era as "a speck of bird shit" in German history. 'VERY NEGATIVE INFLUENCE' Rivlin was the second Israeli president to speak at the German parliament's annual remembrance event, after Shimon Peres in 2010. The president issued an emotional plea to bring the remaining perpetrators of Nazi crimes to justice. However, faced with a dwindling number of people who lived through World War II, attention is now shifting to ascertaining that the horrors of the Holocaust are not forgotten. On the eve of their Bundestag speeches, Rivlin and Steinmeier visited a centuries-old Jewish secondary school in the German capital. "We have the fourth, fifth and sixth generation after the Holocaust and World War II," Rivlin told students. "Now we have to find a way to let you, and to let your children know what happened, and prevent it from happening again," he said. Steinmeier urged young people to complement their history lessons with real-life "experiences" by travelling to Israel and visiting concentration camps like Auschwitz, where 1.1 million people were killed. The German president said that his speech at Israel's memorial event last Thursday, in which he urged Germans to confront their past, attracted an "unbelievable" amount of negative reactions on Facebook. 'MASS EXIT' OF JEWS? Alarm about anti-Jewish hatred has catapulted to the top of Germany's political agenda after a suspected neo-Nazi gunman tried to storm a synagogue filled with worshippers in the city of Halle in October. After failing to break down the door, he shot dead a female passerby and a man at a kebab shop instead. According to government figures, Germany recorded 1,799 anti-Semitic offences in 2018, an upward figure of nearly 20 percent from the year before. Of those, 69 were classified as violent attacks. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said this week that nearly one in two Jews has considered leaving the country. In response to the turn of events, Chancellor Angela Merkel's government has already taken steps to tighten legislation on anti-Semitic crimes and punish online hate speech. Germans "bear the responsibility of making everyone feel safe at home in Germany and in Europe," Merkel said recently. A Russian shop worker has been left with horrific burns after her ex-lover allegedly doused her in petrol and set her on fire when she ended their relationship. Appalling CCTV footage shows Tatiana Osokina, 39, being shoved into a staff room by a 41-year-old man who walked into the store in Solikamsk, Russia. He then doused her in petrol and set her ablaze, say reports citing law enforcement. Appalling CCTV footage shows Tatiana Osokina, 39, being shoved into a staff room and set on fire by a 41-year-old man who walked into the store in Solikamsk, Russia Ms Osokina sufered 35 per cent burns to her upper body in the attack and is in a 'grave condition'. Alexander Mazzherov (pictured with his wife) worked at the same store. He had reacted aggressively after she ended their affair, saying she loved her husband, said reports A female work colleague rushes out, then the man identified as married Alexander Mazzherov calmly departs. The terrified victim is then seen sprinting out of the room engulfed in flames. Ms Osokina's colleague doused the flames with a fire extinguisher, preventing her suffering far more serious burns, said reports in Russia. Security guard Mazzherov worked at the same store. He had reacted aggressively after she ended their affair, saying she loved her husband, said reports. He was detained by police soon afterwards. The victim suffered 35 per cent burns to her upper body in the attack and is in a 'grave condition'. Mazzherov allegedly shoved her into the staff room before dousing petrol over her and setting her on fire After Mazzherov calmly leaves the store, a terrified Ms Osokina is seen sprinting out of the staff room Ms Osokina's husband Alexey said: 'She called me herself saying a man set fire to her. 'I was on a business trip. The police have not called me yet. I do not know the suspect.' He was waiting at his wife's hospital but had not been allowed to see her, he said. Regional health minister Oksana Melekhova called it a 'flagrant crime'. 'Doctors are doing everything they can to save the victim's life,' she said. Mazzherov is under criminal investigation for 'attempted murder with particular cruelty'. If convicted he could face up to 15 years in prison. Civic Chamber member proposes to capture society role in Russian Constitution preamble RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 15:05 29/01/2020 MOSCOW, January 29 (RAPSI) The secretary of Russias Civic Chamber Lydia Mikheyeva believes it necessary to enshrine the role of civic society in the enacting clause of the Constitution. Public hearings of a draft law on amendments to the Russian Constitution began in the Civic Chamber on Wednesday. According to Mikheyeva, the working group during its meeting discussed a possibility of amending the Constitutions preamble. In addition to the role and place of civic society, the bodys secretary proposed to fix importance and admission of the public service in it. Director of the Institute of Legislation and Comparative Law under the Government of the Russian Federation Talia Khabriyeva in turn noted that the Constitutions enacting clause is addressed both to Russian citizens and international community. There is an important moment what a valuable catalog will be submitted to the world and Russians because many things changed after 1993 when the initial Constitution was adopted. According to the public figure, nobody thought that there would be such challenges as falsification of history and Russias victory in the Second World War. Khabriyeva believes that now these points could be fixed in the preamble. 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. OTTAWA - A new report on modernizing Canadas communications laws suggests the CBC/Radio-Canada gradually eliminate advertising on all platforms over the next five years, starting with news content. Among the many recommendations in the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review Panel report released Wednesday is transforming the public broadcaster into a public media institution with a singular focus on serving a public rather than a commercial purpose. To do so, the panel recommends the Broadcasting Act be amended to require the federal government to enter into funding commitments of at least five years with CBC/Radio-Canada, as opposed to annual funding. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission would oversee the performance commitments in that agreement and report annually to the minister of Canadian heritage, says the panel. The panel did not recommend a specific amount of funding, noting that figure would be based on negotiations between the two sides. If you look at dollars per capita for CBC/Radio-Canada compared to its OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) counterparts, CBC/Radio-Canada is well under-funded, Janet Yale, a former telecommunications executive and commissioner at CRTC who chaired the panel, said Wednesday. So we did not make a specific recommendation but we were conscious of the fact that in other OECD countries, the public media institution has higher funding on a dollars-per-capita basis. Currently CBC/Radio-Canada receives $34 dollars per Canadian, per year from the federal government. Watchdog group Friends of Canadian Broadcasting recommends that be increased immediately to $50 per Canadian, per year and then gradually increased to at least reach, if not exceed, the global average of $90 per person, per year. We have a public broadcaster that is ill-equipped to do its job while private media are dying all around them, Daniel Bernhard, executive director of Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, said in a phone interview. If we are going to have Canadian stories, if we are going to have Canadian news, we need to act now. In reaction to Wednesdays report, CBC/Radio-Canada released a statement but declined to answer questions. The panels report is an important contribution to the discussion about how to strengthen Canadian culture in the digital world. We will work with the government on the next steps to help build a media ecosystem that puts audiences first and serves all Canadians, the statement said. Commissioned by the federal government, the report is the final one from a six-member panel created in June 2018 to review Canadas decades-old Broadcasting, Telecommunications and Radiocommunication Acts. The report says CBC/Radio-Canada should be prepared to experiment and increase the diversity of its content while remaining committed to high-quality standards. Sally Catto, general manager of programming for CBC English Television, has said the CBC is a hybrid public broadcaster that not only relies on government funding but on advertising revenue. With that, the CBC has recently focused on programming that appeals to advertisers and sponsors, including Family Feud Canada and Battle of the Blades. The new report also recommends that CBC/Radio-Canada should reflect national, regional and local communities to national, regional and local audiences, and reflect Indigenous Peoples and promote Indigenous cultures and languages. Bernhard said he supports an ad-free CBC, noting CBC should not exist to deliver audiences to advertisers. It should exist to deliver democracy to citizens. He also feels long-term, stable funding is critical for CBC/Radio-Canadas independence and ability to deliver good, adversarial journalism right across the country. But with CBC/Radio-Canadas current licence set to expire on Aug. 31, the government should act immediately, he added. Legislative change is slow. The last time the Broadcasting Act was reformed, it took seven years to get through. But there are measures that can be taken right now, Bernhard said. There are things that can be done short of rewriting the entire Broadcasting Act. And I think the government will now be judged on whether it takes those recommendations seriously or allows the system to decay further. By Victoria Ahearn in Toronto. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2020. New Delhi, Jan 29 : Pro-Khalistan terrorist Harmeet Singh aka PhD, who was killed in Pakistan on Monday, was among the list of 15 pro-Khalistan activists active in the neighbouring country in the garb of making preparations for celebrating the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev in November last year. Singh was shot outside a gurdwara near the Wagah Border by some unidentified persons over some financial dispute. A leader of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), Singh was killed on Monday near Dera Chahal Gurdwara on the outskirts of Lahore. According to the Indian intelligence agencies, India submitted a 23-page dossier of 15 pro-Khalistani activists residing in Pakistan, containing events from the past four years, during the second round of Kartarpur Corridor talks between the two countries in Wagah in July last year. The dossier had year-wise pictorial details of Gopal Singh Chawla, a key Khalistani element, and his anti-India activities on social media. The Indian agencies also gave as many as 11 photographs from his Facebook account, including posters of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, as part of the dossier. The dossier handed over to Pakistan also included the details of Jagroop Singh Rupa, who went with a jatha to Pakistan in 2016, and was given arms training by fugitive Sikh militants Lakhbir Singh Rode and Harmeet Singh to carry out terror attacks in India. Singh, who hailed from Amritsar and was allegedly involved in the murder of Brigadier (Retd) Jagdish Kumar Gagneja, the then Vice Chief (Sah Sanghchalak) of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for Punjab in 2016-2017, was among eight Khalistan-linked terrorists against whom the Interpol had issued red corner notices last year. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the case of the RSS leader's murder, has filed a chargesheet against 11 accused persons, including a British national with links to Khalistani terrorists in at least six countries last year. During its probe, the NIA has found that eight acts of such targeted killings were executed as part of this conspiracy between January 2016 and October 2017 in Punjab. And all the persons targeted belonged to right-wing organisations. The NIA, in its chargesheet, said the objective of the conspiracy was to destabilise the law and order situation in Punjab and revive Khalistani terrorism in the state. The NIA investigations revealed that funds were supplied from Italy, Australia and the UK to the perpetrators of the killings. These funds were used by the accused to purchase weapons to execute the murders and fund other logistics. The NIA chargesheet included the name of Harmeet Singh, Gurjinder Singh aka Shastri and Gursharanbir Singh alias Gurusharan Singh Wahiwala alias Pehalwan. Besides them, the NIA has also named Hardeep Singh alias Shera, Ramandeep Singh alias Canadian alias Bagga, Dharminder Singh alias Guguni, Anil Kumar alias Kala, Jagtar Singh Johal alias Jaggi alias Johar, Amaninder Singh alias Mindu, Manpreet Singh alias Mani and Ravipal Singh alias Bhunda, who have been arrested. In Central African Republic (CAR), clashes between armed groups have killed 38 people and forced several hundreds out from their homes, local authorities said on Tuesday. According to the United Nations peacekeeping mission, known as MINUSCA, the clashes broke out on Saturday in the eastern town of Bria between different ethnic factions of the ex-Seleka armed group FPRC. A regional prefect Evariste Binguinendji said about thirty-eight were killed based on a body count at the local hospital, but the death toll could be closer to 50. At least 5000 people have fled the area following the fighting. As of Monday, some order has been restored; the UN and local armed forces are patrolling the area. However, tension remains high, according to local media. The Central African nation has suffered recurrent bouts of civil conflict since December 2012, which has led to hundreds of deaths and almost 700,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), and has pushed more than 500,000 people to seek refuge in neighbouring Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Chad. Clashes between various armed groups continue to be reported, although a peace agreement between armed groups and the government was signed on February 6, 2019. The CAR is now one of the worlds poorest and most volatile countries. The United Nations estimated in September that two thirds of the population depends on humanitarian aid to survive. The country is ranked next-to-last after Niger on the 2018 UNDPs Human Development Index, which compares longevity, education, and income per capita. Life expectancy is just 52.9 years. By contrast, McDonalds shares were up 2% Wednesday after the company said the financial impact so far has been minimal. McDonalds President and CEO Chris Kempczinski said the Chicago-based company has closed several hundred restaurants, including all of its properties in Hubei province. But 3,000 remain open elsewhere in the country. China accounts for 4-5% of McDonalds revenue, he said. A couple from Verona, Wis. is miraculously alive after the small plane they were riding in crashed into a mountain in rural Colorado near Aspen on Monday. The Pitkin County Sheriffs Office said in a release on Tuesday that the victims were identified as Tyler and Kristina Noel of Verona, Wis. Authorities said at around 3:25 p.m. on Monday, they received a distress call from an aircraft. Responding crews later learned that a 2017 Cirrus SR22T had crashed about five miles north of the famous ski resort of Aspen. Deputies were able to get into contact with the couple from Verona, one of which was the pilot. They said neither had been injured in the crash. The pilot said that they had crashed into a wooded area on an extremely steep mountainside after deploying the planes built-in parachute, according to the release. A rescue mission was then set in motion. Twenty-five members of the Mountain Rescue Aspen deployed using skis, snowshoes and snowmobiles to get to the scene of the crash. Around three hours after the plane went down, crews arrived at the scene and made contact the victims. The rescuers report that the plane had been lodged into a very steep slope, surrounded by pines. The planes parachute was tangled in the trees keeping the plane from sliding down the mountainside. After providing equipment and clothing to the aircraft occupants, all rescuers and the two uninjured but cold occupants began a long trek out from the scene, according to the Pitkin County Sheriffs Office. The group was out of the field just after midnight. Fifty iPads were stolen from Verkada co-founder Hans Robertson's old company. Only when they checked the security system did they realize the video cameras hadn't been working for months. He was pissed. "The market lagged behind the progress seen in the consumer space, where someone could buy high-end cameras with cloud-based software to protect their home," Verkada's CEO and co-founder Filip Kaliszan tells me of his own attempt to buy enterprise-grade security hardware. Usually, startups ascend on the backs of fresh technologies and developer platforms. But Kaliszan and Robertson realized that commercial security was so backward that just implementing the established principles of machine vision and the cloud could create a huge company. The plan was to keep data secure yet accessible and train its cameras to take clearer photos when AI detects suspicious situations instead of just grainy video. At first, few could see the vision through the slow upgrade cycles and basement security rooms common with most potential clients. "The seed and the A were extremely difficult rounds to raise compared to the later rounds because people didn't believe we could execute what we are proposing," Kaliszan glumly recalls. But today Verkada receives a huge vote of confidence. It just raised an $80 million Series C at a stunning $1.6 billion post-money valuation thanks to lead investor Felicis Ventures writing Verkada its biggest check to date. The cash brings Verkada to $139 million in funding to sell dome cameras, fisheye lenses, footage viewing stations and the software to monitor it all from anywhere. Why sink in so much cash at a valuation triple that of Verkada's $540 million price tag after its April 2019 Series B? Because Verkada wants to bring two-factor authentication to doors with its new access control system that it's announcing is now in beta testing ahead of a Spring launch. Instead of just allowing a stealable key fob or badge to open your office entryway, it could ask you to look into a Verkada camera too so it can match your face to your permissions. Story continues "Our mission is to be the essential physical security software layer for every building, and the foundation of a larger enterprise IoT infrastructure," Kaliszan tells me. By uniting security cameras and door locks in one system, it could keep banks, schools, hospitals, government buildings and businesses safe while offering new insights on how their spaces are used. The founders' pedigrees don't hurt its efforts to sell that future to investors like Next47, Sequoia Capital and Meritech Capital, which joined the round. Robertson co-founded IT startup Meraki and sold it to Cisco for $1.2 billion. Kaliszan and his other co-founders Benjamin Bercovitz and James Ren started CourseRank for education software while at Stanford before selling it to Chegg. Making a better product than what's out there isn't rocket science, though. Many building security systems only let footage be accessed from a control room in the building... which doesn't help much if everyone's trying to escape due to emergency or if a manager elsewhere simply wants to take a look. Verkada's cloud lets the right employees keep watch from mobile, and data is also stored locally on the cameras so they keep recording even if the internet cuts out. "Our competitors stream unencrypted video and it's on you to protect it. We're responsible for handling that data," Kaliszan says. Verkada's machine vision software can make sense of all the footage its cameras collect. "We can immediately show them all the video containing a particular person of interest rather than manually searching through hours of footage," Kaliszan insists. "Our platform can use AI/machine learning to recognize patterns and behaviors that are out of the norm in real time." For example, a hostage negotiator was able to use Verkada's system to assess whether a SWAT team needed to invade a building. Verkada can group all spottings of an individual together for review, or scan all the footage for people wearing a certain color or with other search filters. Indeed, 2,500 clients, including 25 Fortune 500 companies, are already using Verkada. In the last year it has tripled revenue, partnered with 1,100 resellers, launched nine new camera models, added people and vehicle analytics, opened its first London office and is on track to grow from 300 to 800 employees by the end of 2020. "We call this reinvention," says Felicis Ventures founder and managing director Aydin Senkut. "One thing people underestimate is how big this market is. Honeywell is valued at $110 billion-plus. There's a Chinese company that's over $50 billion. The opportunity to be the operating system for all buildings in the world? Sounds like that market couldn't be better." Senkut knows Verkada works because he had it installed in all his homes and offices. Most enterprise software companies don't have to worry about the complexities of hardware supply chains. There's always a risk that its sales process stumbles, leaving it stuck with too many cameras. "We're still burning money. We're not there yet or we wouldn't be raising venture. Because we're going after a mature market, you can't come at it with a model that doesn't make sense. Investors come at it from a hard-nosed approach," Robertson admits. "People have a tendency to write off Verkada as a boring camera company. They don't realize how access control as the second product is going to supercharge the company's potential," Senkut declares. One bullet Verkada dodged is the one firmly lodged in Amazon's chest. Ring security cameras have received stern criticism over Amazon's cooperation with law enforcement that some see as a violation of privacy and expansion of a police state. "We dont have any arrangements with law enforcement like Ring," Kaliszan tells me. "We view ourselves as providing great physical security tools to the people that run schools, hospitals and businesses. The data that those organizations gather is their own." Gov. Andrew Cuomo's State of the State address laid out ambitious plans to improve New Yorkers' health: measures to address the opioid crisis, a ban on flavored vaping products, and tackling prescription drug prices, among others. One proposal is especially important: a new website, called NYHealthcareCompare, to allow New Yorkers to easily search for and compare information about health care prices and quality at hospitals throughout the state. New Yorkers want this type of information. Research shows that even among those who had never looked for price information, the majority wants to know how much a medical service will cost them before receiving the service; they simply don't know where to look. At the New York State Health Foundation, we've supported the development of a range of health care transparency tools and assessments of those tools. As the state develops its resource, there are some key lessons already learned: If you build it, they won't necessarily come. Publishing the data on a website is only the first step. The rollout of NYHealthcareCompare should include a robust outreach and marketing campaign to raise awareness. Use consumer-friendly language and search functions. Health care is complicated and hard; the site needs to be simple and easy. Many existing price transparency sites make it difficult to unearth information without knowing technical terms or billing codes. (For example, you won't find the price of Tamiflu unless you know to look for "oseltamivir phosphate.") Offer all-in pricing. Users should be able to get the "all-in" price for a health care event everything related to childbirth, for example, not just the delivery but also any costs associated with medication and a hospital stay. True transparency means sharing information in a way patients can easily understand and use. That also means making the information available in languages other than English to meet the diverse needs of New Yorkers. Provide meaningful price information. A federal regulation requiring hospitals to post their so-called "chargemasters" has been widely criticized, primarily because the numbers often bear no relation to what patients can actually expect to pay. Experts agree that paid amounts, not charges, are the most useful for consumers. Make it easy to compare information across providers. In the same way that the New York State of Health Marketplace allows users to compare the features and prices of various health insurance plans, NYHealthcareCompare should make it easy to show side-by-side comparisons of price and quality information for different providers. It should show prices for both in-network and out-of-network/uninsured prices. And the information should be easy to understand at a glance more of a Consumer Reports than a dizzying database. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Be comprehensive. Yes, it makes sense to limit the information to "shoppable" services nobody will consult the site during a heart attack but the site should be comprehensive and reveal all prices for all services if we want to help control health costs. Otherwise, there is a greater likelihood that prices will go up for the services that remain hidden. Make it one-stop shopping. New York residents worry about health care quality nearly as much as they worry about health care affordability and insurance coverage. I was encouraged to see that NYHealthcareCompare will include prices and quality measures to help New Yorkers navigate their health care issues. Kudos to Cuomo for advancing health care transparency. Consumers are skeptical of data that come from a source with a financial interest, but a survey conducted by Public Agenda found 80 percent of Americans think it's important for their state governments to provide people with information that allows them to compare prices before getting care. We are in the middle of winter, but I see sunlight on the horizon for New York's health care system. With greater transparency about prices and quality, New York can set a national example and become known as the Sunshine State of health care. CLEVELAND, Ohio At this time, there are no confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Ohio, according to the Ohio Department of Health. State health officials are awaiting the results of tests on two Miami University students who recently traveled to China. The epicenter of the virus is Wuhan, China. Results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are expected by the end of the week, said Melanie Amato, press secretary for the state Health Department. The CDC is the only agency that can test for coronavirus, she said. In the meantime, the students are being isolated in their off-campus housing, Miami officials said. And the school is reaching out to every person at Miami who has traveled to China in the past two weeks, said Miami Provost Jason Osborne. Symptoms of the coronavirus include mild to severe respiratory illness, as well as fever, cough and shortness of breath, the CDC said. In China, about 6,000 cases have been reported, and five cases have been confirmed in the U.S. Amy Acton, director of the state Health Department, on Jan. 23 classified Novel Coronavirus a Class A reportable infectious disease, which means that all suspected cases need to be reported to local health districts. The department is providing guidance to state and local health agencies, as well as health care providers, as a precautionary effort. The CDC believes the risk to the American public at large remains low at this time. Travel to China Yet the effect of the crisis on the travel industry continues to expand. Numerous airlines, including United and British Airways, are cancelling some or all flights into and out of China temporarily, while others are waiving fees for travelers who want to postpone trips. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department recently updated a travel advisory to include all of China, elevating the warning to a level 3 out of 4, urging travelers to reconsider travel to the country. Said the department: Travelers should be prepared for travel restrictions to be put into effect with little or no advance notice. The epicenter of the infection, Hubei Province, has been elevated to a do not travel level 4 by the State Department. Health officials are screening arriving passengers for the virus at 20 U.S. international airports, including Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Atlanta and others. Several cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Costa and MSC, have canceled cruises and ports of call in China, and numerous tourist attractions in China including the Forbidden City, parts of the Great Wall of China and Shanghai Disney are all closed. The U.S. government on Wednesday flew about 210 U.S. citizens out of Wuhan. Passengers were to be screened and monitored by medical personnel before takeoff, during the flight, during a refueling stop in Anchorage, Alaska, and again upon landing at the March Air Reserve Base in California on Thursday morning. Any passengers exhibiting symptoms will be transported to a hospital, and those without symptoms will remain in base housing for further evaluation, the CDC said. Business in China A random sampling of Cleveland-area companies with operations in China suggests that coronavirus hasnt hurt business. Still, Aleris Corp., the Beachwood-based company that manufactures aluminum rolled products, is taking some precautions. Given the Chinese New Year holiday is underway, our activity in China is limited, wrote Jason Saragian, Aleris' director of communications, in an email. However, we have postponed travel to China on a temporary basis. Our leadership team in China is working with our people there to ensure that they have everything they need to manage the situation. We remain in contact with our leadership team in China to continue monitoring circumstances locally. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., based in Akron, is also suspending travel, except for business-critical trips, the company said in a statement emailed to The Plain Dealer. Goodyears plant in Pulandian continues to operate, but its headquarters in Shanghai is closed until at least Feb. 9, since the Chinese government has extended the Lunar New Year holiday. [We] have advised all associates worldwide to consider if their objectives for any near-term travel can instead be met through technology, reads the statement. We are actively encouraging our associates to follow CDC guidelines for preventing the spread of respiratory viruses. Our Goodyear associates located in the Asia Pacific region are receiving specific local guidance as the situation evolves there. We cant speculate on any potential business impact, but we have measures in place to ensure the continuity of our business, the statement reads. Invacare Corp, the Elyria-based company that manufacturers medical equipment, isn't currently concerned about the virus affecting production. We are not impacted by the coronavirus, wrote Lois Lee, Invacares director of treasury and investor relations, in an email. Our operations are in Suzhou, China. The Greater Cleveland Chinese Chamber of Commerces annual New Years event, scheduled for Friday at the Cleveland Museum of Art, has been postponed due to concerns about the coronavirus. We dont know whats going on because we know there are people who travel, said Su He, executive director of the chamber. We cant evaluate the risk now. The organization decided to cancel its 2020 Chinese New Year Annual Event on Monday and sent out notices on Tuesday, He said. About 130 people were expected to attend the networking event. The group expects to reschedule the event in March. Screening for coronavirus Locally, health systems continue to screen patients for the coronavirus. The Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, MetroHealth, Summa Health and St. Vincent Charity Medical Center confirmed they are screening patients who recently traveled to China, based on guidance from the CDC. UH has evaluated four patients for the coronavirus, but all were released because they did not meet the criteria for the virus, said George Stamatis, senior media relations strategist at UH. To be considered at risk, patients need to have symptoms such as a fever, cough or difficulty breathing and have traveled to the Chinese cities of Wuhan, Ezhou or Huanggang or been in close contact with someone being evaluated for the coronavirus within the past two weeks, said Dr. Elie Saabe, director of infection control at UH. Likewise, the Summa Health emergency departments have screening processes in place and medical teams are prepared to care for patients and prevent further transmission of the disease, said Mike Bernstein, system director of corporate communications for Summa Health. The infection control team at St. Vincent is participating in daily calls with state Health Department and weekly calls with the CDC for updated information on the virus, said Maureen Nagg, manager of marketing and communications at St. Vincent. While health officials are concerned about coronavirus, they say its important to note that the influenza virus is currently more of a local concern, with thousands of deaths in the U.S. and three so far this season in Cuyahoga County. Plain Dealer reporters Julie Washington, Susan Glaser and Olivera Perkins contributed to this story. More coronavirus coverage With the Delhi assembly polls just over a week away, the has upped its ante against anti-CAA protesters at Shaheen Bagh, with a top party functionary on Wednesday saying the national capital will not be allowed to become "Syria". The agitation against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) at Shaheen Bagh began in mid-December following a violent protest against the law at Jamia Nagar. national secretary Tarun Chugh in a tweet alleged that the Shaheen Bagh protesters are trying to create fear in the minds of the people of Delhi by blocking roads. Protesters, most of them women, have blocked a main road connecting areas in south-east Delhi with Noida, posing hardships for locals and commuters, including office goers. "We will not let Delhi become and allow them to run an ISIS-like module here, where women and kids are used. "They are trying to create fear in the minds of people of Delhi by blocking the main route. We will not let this happen. (We will not let Delhi burn).#ShaheenBaghKaSach," Chugh tweeted. This not the first attack on protesters. MP Parvesh Verma on Tuesday raised the spectre of Shaheen Bagh's anti-CAA protesters in their lakhs entering homes to rape and kill women, provoking opposition outrage as the Delhi election chief submitted a report on his remarks to the Election Commission. On Wednesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asked voters to press the EVM button "so hard" on February 8 that the "shock" (poll result) is felt at Shaheen Bagh. He was addressing election meetings at the Najafgarh and the Beejwasan constituencies for the Delhi polls. Shah, the then BJP president, in a booth level workers' convention in December 2019, had said that his party will form the next government in Delhi highlighting achievements of the Modi government and exposing the failures of the Kejriwal dispensation. Blazing the campaign trail by holding two to three small meetings every day in different constituencies, Shah has attacked the Kejriwal government, alleging that it has not fulfilled its promises. Despite focusing on the CAA and Shaheen Bagh protest, BJP leaders are also talking about local issues. BJP's in-charge for the polls and Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday listed various works of the Modi government in Delhi and accused Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of creating obstacles and delaying schemes and projects, including Metro's Phase IV, the Ayushman Bharat health scheme and the Dwarka Expressway. "The BJP is contesting assembly elections on the issue of development," he asserted. A top BJP officer bearer said, "Our surveys conducted last week, show that three out of four people are favouring the BJP. Currently, we expect to win around 45 seats." He said that the BJP got just over 32 per cent votes in the 2015 assembly polls but this time expects to obtain 10 per cent more votes to win enough seats to form the government. Voting for 70 assembly seats in Delhi will be held on February 8. Results will be declared on February 11. In 2015, the BJP was routed by the AAP, managing to win just three seats. The party is contesting the polls on 67 seats, leaving three to its alliance partners JD(U) and LJP. A Pakistani man arrested over the killing of British woman police officer Sharon Beshenivsky does not want to be extradited to the UK and is asking that he be tried in his home country, his lawyer said today. Piran Ditta Khan, 71, was arrested earlier this month in Islamabad suspected of masterminding an armed robbery in Bradford 15 years ago during which the mother-of-five was shot dead. Khan told reporters today as he was marched to the courthouse in chains, 'The situation is that I can't really apologise because I haven't done anything wrong.' Pakistani police officers escort Piran Ditta Khan, 71, arrested in connection with the murder of PC Sharon Beshenivsky, outside a courthouse in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Wednesday His lawyer, Raja Ghaneem Aabar, said the court is expected to review Pakistani investigations into the case before considering a final decision on Britain's extradition request. The next hearing is due within 10 days, he added. Khan refused to answer questions by reporters as to whether he was involved in the shooting death of police officer Sharon Beshenivsky, a 38-year-old mother of three killed outside a travel agency in Bradford while responding to an armed robbery call. After the killing, six men were arrested in Britain but Khan, who was suspected of being the armed gang's organizer, had fled abroad. In 2016, police in Britain issued a fresh appeal for Khan who remained at large despite a reward of 20,000 for information leading to his arrest. Aabar, the lawyer, said Khan has maintained his innocence during the investigation in Pakistan. He would fight to prove his client's innocence, Aabar added, saying Khan was falsely implicated in the case. West Yorkshire Police officer PC Sharon Beshenivsky was shot dead at a travel agent's in Bradford on November 18, in 2005 'Pakistani investigators are yet to complete their report into the 2005 crime that was committed in Britain,' he said. 'My client is suspected of links to that offense and he wants to be tried in Pakistan as he is a Pakistani citizen.' 'His trial should be held in Pakistan,' Aabar added. 'My client can respond to any questions from British police via video link.' West Yorkshire PC Beshenivsky became the seventh British female police officer killed in the line of duty when a bullet tore through her stab proof vest when she responded to the robbery at a travel agent's on November 18, 2005. She had only been a police officer for nine months when she was blasted in the chest on what was her youngest daughter Lydia's fourth birthday. Six men have been jailed in connection with her murder but Khan left the country for Pakistan. Asked whether he would be fighting his extradition today, Khan replied: 'I love Britain.' PC Beshenivsky's husband welcomed Khan's arrest earlier this month, saying: 'At last they've got him. It's 2005 to now to get him. From my view, it will give me a bit of closure. 'When something is still happening in your mind and periodically you get told from police that they're still looking for him, which is great, but you've not forgotten about it. 'I heard about it yesterday and I was told it was 90 per cent that it was him. 'This morning they confirmed that it is him and he's being held in custody in Pakistan.' Piran Ditta Khan, 71, is surrounded by police outside a courthouse in Islamabad today following his extradition hearing. Asked whether he would be fighting his extradition today, Khan replied: 'I love Britain.' A 20,000 reward for information leading to his capture had been issued by West Yorkshire Police, who confirmed his arrest in Pakistan on January 15 Asked whether he would be fighting his extradition today, Khan replied: 'I love Britain' During the 2005 robbery, a bullet hit PC Beshenivsky's rib, punctured her aorta and damaged her spine - causing her chest to fill with blood. Her partner, PC Teresa Milburn, was also shot but survived. Mr Beshenivsky, who has since re-married, said earlier the upcoming court case will cause him and his family to re-live the pain all over again. He added: 'There will be a court case and it will all be coming to light again. That brings it all back to light, especially with the kids. 'My daughter just rang me about it and she told me about it. Obviously it's not very nice, you try to get on with your life. 'It doesn't give you total closure, like now it just goes through your mind and the kids are going to be suffering. 'I'm having to deal with it. I've remarried, but you're never going to forget. It's a bit like Groundhog Day.' West Yorkshire Police Detective Superintendent Mark Swift said: 'I would like to thank the National Crime Agency officers in Pakistan and partners who have made this arrest possible. The police officer's widower Paul Beshenivsky said earlier this month he welcomed the arrest of the ex-bouncer accused of masterminding her death Forensic investigators are pictured at the scene of PC Beshenivsky's murder in Bradford in 2005 Officers are pictured patrolling floral tributes laid where PC Sharon Beshenivsky was gunned down in Bradford in 2005 'This is a major development in this long running investigation and their assistance in this matter cannot be understated. 'We are continuing to liaise with partners in Pakistan to process Khan's extradition with the intention of returning him to the UK to face court proceedings.' Three men - Muzzaker Imtiaz Shah, Mustaf Jama and his younger brother Yusuf Jama - were all given minimum 35-year jail sentences for her murder. A headstone dedicated to PC Beshenivsky is emblazoned with the West Yorkshire Police logo But police spent years hunting for Khan, who they claimed was the architect of the robbery and travelled to Pakistan after the mother-of-five was killed. PC Beshenivsky was with her colleague PC Teresa Milburn when they were called to Universal Travel in Morley Street, Bradford, when she was gunned down. PC Milburn was seriously injured but survived. The 38-year-old was mother to three children and two stepchildren and wife to her husband Paul. On the day of her death, the Beshenivsky family were due to hold a birthday party for their youngest daughter Lydia at their home near Haworth, West Yorkshire. PC Beshenivsky had wrapped the presents and even baked a cake for the occasion. But as she neared the end of her shift that afternoon, she was called out to a robbery by a seven-strong gang at the travel agency. She had only been an officer for nine months. The crime shocked the nation and left Mr Beshenivsky and their five children totally devastated. This 'spray and pray' MAC-10 sub-machine gun was used at the scene of PC Beshenivsky's murder 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 On the 10th anniversary of her death in 2015, her daughter Lydia pulled at the nation's heartstrings when she claimed she couldn't remember her mother. She said: 'Nothing, I've no memories. I've been cheated, haven't I? Her murderers were heartless. 'I only know what I'm told about mum. I look at photos of her and think she looks pretty. I would have loved to have known her.' Her son Paul Junior added: 'Our mum was very brave. 'She went into the shop first, she wasn't scared. Dad says we are like her in that - we have a strong sense of right and wrong.' Her husband Paul said after the tragedy: 'It took me two days to tell the kids. Sharon Beshenivsky's widower Paul is pictured with their two children Paul Junior and Lydia Sharon's daughter Lydia is pictured wearing a police hat at an event in 2007, two years after her mother's death 'I struggled to find the words but I saw them looking down and thought I'd be truthful in as simple a way as possible. 'I said, 'Mummy has died and she won't be coming home. 'It was the hardest thing I have ever done. Then a friend took them away for a fortnight to escape the publicity.' The West Yorkshire Police officer was left without a headstone for more than five years after her death, after her widower Paul claimed he was unable to decide on the right words for it. The family row saw her mother and stepfather, Jenny and Tony Booth, begging her widower to erect their headstone. But instead a simple wooden cross bearing her name marked her final resting place at Nab Wood Cemetery in Shipley, West Yorkshire for years. The funeral cortege of PC Sharon Beshenivsky is pictured as her colleagues salute the vehicle WPC Theresa Milburn, who was shot in the attack that killed her colleague Sharon, leads the funeral procession in 2005 A West Yorkshire Police headstone was put up in 2006. Today the force thanked the National Crime Agency who they claim have been working tirelessly in Pakistan to find Khan. The force's Detective Superintendent Mark Swift said: 'I would like to thank the National Crime Agency officers in Pakistan and partners who have made this arrest possible. 'This is a major development in this long running investigation and their assistance in this matter cannot be understated. 'We are continuing to liaise with partners in Pakistan to process Khan's extradition with the intention of returning him to the UK to face court proceedings.' People resist change. Its human nature," McCloud said. "But I think all of us who are directly involved are super excited about the direction things are going. People who are one or two steps removed from that are going to feel a little less connected and so, I think that makes them feel, perhaps, that their opinion is not as well thought of. But we are all listening to the people around us. We are not a closed book. An Oxford don has won an Appeal Court fight over his doctor mother's 1.25m home after she fell for a female barrister half her age and cut him out of her will. Professor Christopher Gosden, director of the Institute of Archaeology at Oxford University, says Jean Weddell, a distinguished physician, had 'resolved' to leave him her Edwardian home in Kennington, south London. But instead she fell in love with Wendy Cook, a lawyer 37 years her junior, and tore up her will from a decade earlier. The couple formed a civil partnership in 2007 and by the time Ms Weddell died in 2013, aged 84, she left nothing to her son, who she gave away for adoption when he was a child. Professor Gosden later discovered that his mother's home - now worth 1.25million - had been sold without his knowledge in 2010 for 710,000 - and there was just 5,000 left in her estate. He then sued the lawyers who set up the family trust for professional negligence claiming they failed to spot a loophole that allowed the house to be sold. Today he finally won his battle in the Court of Appeal, as judges reversed an earlier decision in the High Court, handing victory to Professor Gosden and his wife Jane Kaye. His claim for professional negligence would result in a damages payment based on what his loss was. However, there is no indication of how much that is likely to be and gives no indication of what the damages may be in the court ruling. There was no claim against Ms Cook, who was not a party to the action. Professor Christopher Godsen, left, and his wife Professor Jane Kaye, right, took legal action against a firm of solicitors who failed to register an interest in the home of Professor Godsen's mother Dr Jean Weddell who agreed to leave the Kensington property to her son in the event of her death The legal fight began when Professor Gosden claimed that a trust scheme his mother set up in 2003 to minimise inheritance tax ought to have given him and his fellow-professor wife the right to veto the sale of the house. He said he would never have let the house be sold, given that Ms Cook - whom he regarded with 'distrust' - would be 'the ultimate beneficiary of the proceeds of sale' after his mother's death, following the new will earlier that year. The couple sued the firm of solicitors responsible for drawing up the trust agreement, Halliwell Landau, claiming they bungled by leaving a loophole which allowed the house in Kennington, to be sold without their knowledge. He argued they were negligent in failing to register a restriction on the house with the Land Registry, which would have kept Prof Gosden and his wife in control of whether or not it was sold. In February last year, Judge Mark Pelling found that the solicitors' firm had indeed been negligent in failing to register the restriction, but dismissed the claim against them. Wendy Cook (right) during her civil partnership ceremony to Dr Jean Weddell (left) in 2007 He ruled that Prof Gosden had not established that the solicitors' error had caused him any loss. He found that even if Professor Gosden and his wife had known the sale of the house was planned, Dr Weddell would have persuaded them to agree to it being sold and the proceeds put into her estate. But today, three Court of Appeal judges reversed that ruling. Lord Justice Patten said the judge had been wrong to conclude that Prof Gosden and Prof Kaye would have let the house be sold in circumstances where they both had 'concern...about Dr Weddell's capacity and what they regarded as the malign influence of Ms Cook in the arrangement of Dr Weddell's affairs'. 'What they lost through the solicitor's negligence was the power to veto the sale,' he said. Prof Goodsen claimed his solicitor should have put a note on the deeds of the property (pictured, the 1.25million home in Kennington) at the Land Registry which would have prevented the disposal of the home without his knowledge 'Had Halliwell Landau registered the restriction in accordance with the duty of care which they owed Prof Gosden and his wife, no sale could have taken place without their consent.' Mr Gosdens barrister Theresa Rosen Peacocke said outside court after the judgement was delivered that it was unclear at the moment what level of payout he will be due. 'The judge at trial didn't make findings on quantum, so I think that unless the parties can agree a consequential order the Court of Appeal will remit to the trial judge,' she said. Dr Weddell, who died in 2013 aged 84, lived a colourful life, enrolling as one of the first female students at St Thomas' Hospital Medical School in 1947. She enjoyed a glittering international career, helping set up a children's hospital in Korea following the end of the war there in the 1950s, then spending time in Jordan, treating youngsters with tuberculosis. She went on to do research work in the field of controlling epidemics, carried out groundbreaking work with stroke patients and toured the world stage as a lecturer for the World Health Organisation. The High Court originally ruled that Prof Godsen's solicitors had not breached their duty of care because their mistake had not cost them any money . The High Court suggested Prof Godsen would have accepted any decision to sell the property Dr Weddell, who was also a dedicated church bell ringer, gave birth to her son Christopher just before she left for Korea, but gave him up for adoption. He was taken to live in Australia by his new family, but returned to the UK and re-established a 'strong and happy relationship with his mother' in 1987. Professor Gosden went on to become one of the UK's top archaeologists. He has served as curator of the Pitt-Rivers Museum, and is currently Professor of European Archaeology at Oxford University and a trustee of the British Museum. Dr Weddell regarded her son with 'affection and generosity' and had left him and his wife her whole estate by a will she made in 2003, said the judge. At the same time, she set up an 'estate protection scheme,' putting her London home into a trust which promised to deliver the property, or the money from its sale, into the hands of her son and his family in a tax efficient manner. Professor Gosden and Professor Kaye were appointed trustees of the scheme, along with Ms Weddell. But in February 2010, she made the new will, leaving much of her wealth to Wendy Cook. Later that year the disputed house was sold for 710,000. Lord Justice Patten said Prof Gosden made it clear that the house had been a 'much-loved family home' which his mother was anxious to pass on to her family. 'He said he believed it was Ms Cook, rather than his mother, who chose to sell the property and many of his answers indicate a deep distrust of Ms Cook and her motives,' he continued. '(Since) Dr Weddell had gone to live with Ms Cook on the Isle of Wight, there had been the significant diminution of contact between Prof Gosden and his mother...and a corresponding concern on the part of Prof Gosden and Prof Kaye about Dr Weddell's capacity and what they regarded as the malign influence of Ms Cook in the arrangement of Dr Weddell's affairs.' He said Judge Pelling had accepted that Prof Gosden and Prof Kaye had those concerns and that it was 'difficult to see upon what evidence the judge could properly have based his conclusion that they would have consented to the sale'. 'The only realistic and proper conclusion available to the judge was that they would not have consented to the sale,' he said. 'The judge was therefore wrong in my view to have held that the solicitors' negligence had not caused Prof Gosden and Prof Kaye any damage.' Lord Justice Peter Jackson and Lady Justice Asplin agreed with the ruling. The court also ruled that Prof Gosden and his wife had not been too late in bringing their claim. 3 Lobos blown out on road by UNLV ABQnews Seeker Las Alpujarras is a region of mountain villages nestled among the Sierra Nevada range in Granada province, in the southern Spanish region of Andalusia. Three such villages, which belong to the Spanish Beautiful Villages Association, lie in the Poqueira gorge Capileira, located 1,400 meters above sea level, Bubion (1,300 meters) and Pampaneira (1,058 meters). These traditional villages receive thousands of visitors each summer, but in autumn and spring, attract mostly mountain-lovers and hikers eager to explore the area, which sits at the foot of Mulhacen mountain. But climbing Mulhacen, which at 3,479 meters above sea level is the highest peak in the Spanish peninsula, is only one of the many activities visitors can enjoy in this picturesque valley. Mountaineering for beginners The Poqueira valley is the perfect place to get started in medium- and high-mountain [climbing], says Jesus Espinoso, founder of the company Nevadensis, which manages the information center at the Sierra Nevada National Park in Pampaneira, and has been guiding groups through the mountain range for 30 years. Pampaneiras closeness to the Mediterranean Sea calms the weather conditions during a large part of the year. From the Poqueira refuge, which is 2,500 meters above sea level and open year-round, visitors can explore six routes the circular route that passes by several lagoons, two routes which follow different tracks to the Alcazaba peak (3,364 meters above sea level); one that leads to Veleta peak (3,396 meters) and two others to Mulhacen, although there are more ways to reach the summit. Weaving shop Telares Mercedes in Pampaneira. J. SANCHEZ The visitor information service of the High Peaks of Sierra Nevada (SIAC) in Capileira runs a bus to El Cascajar near the Alto del Chorrillo peak (2,600 meters). From here, visitors can reach the Loma del Tanto trail and get to the top of Mulhacen in three and a half hours. Getting down takes another two hours. From September, the bus service is irregular and depends on the weather conditions it is cut off completely when the first snow arrives. Wandering under tinaos The villages Capileira, Bubion and Pampaneira, with their whitewashed buildings, ancient washing rooms, Moorish fountains, and terraos (homes without slate roofs), invite visitors to wander through the delightful chaos of their narrow and labyrinthine streets. The villages are known for their tinaos, a structure that connects two homes on opposite sides of the street, as though it were a gateway. A street in Capileira. In Pampaneira, the first village in the Poqueira gorge, visitors are recommended to pass through the tinaos of the Real, Princesa, Cristo, del Viso and Silencio street. Afterwards, travelers can enjoy cured pork and traditional food such as other pork derivatives, migas (pan fried bread with sausage), gachas (a soup made of flour, water, salt, olive oil, and garlic), and chestnut stew. The village also has lots of artisan stores, with jarapas (brightly colored fabrics made from scrap material), the star product. In Bubion, the next village on the upward route, travelers can visit a traditional weaving workshop one of the few that still exist in the area as well as various museums. Sweeping views Capileira has three neighborhoods at the foot of the Veleta peak, a Moorish washing room and a Moorish fountain. But the most interesting thing about the village is its lookout points. Looking down, visitors can see the three villages clinging to the gorge; looking up, there are the soaring mountains of Sierra Nevada range, and straight ahead, there is the view the Lugar and Contraviesa mountain ranges. On clear days, its possible to see the Mediterranean Sea and even the coast of Africa. Espinosa particularly likes the views from the Tajos del Angel lookout: The sunsets are spectacular when the peaks are covered in snow, which become awash in red tones. Mushroom picking The three villages are surrounded by farming terraces and traditional crops, reminders of an agricultural past that has been overtaken by tourism. As visitors leave the villages, they enter into the wilderness and the Mediterranean forest, which becomes awash with color in autumn. It is a very vertical landscape, says Espinosa. Sierra Trails-Dallas Love, in Bubion, offers tours of the areas on horseback, and the BTT Nevada Center organizes routes in mountain bikes. Visitors can also rent mountain bikes from Alpujarra Bike in Bubion. The paths that wind down from the three villages to the Poquiera River, which is crossed by four bridges, also make for a picturesque excursion. The Capileira city council website has a list of routes in the area, and the rules regarding mushroom picking in the natural park: a person can go no further than five kilometers each day, must not use rakes or hoes, and should carry the mushroom in baskets that will allow the mushroom spores to disperse. Visitors may find a range of wild mushrooms in the park including the saffron milk cap and king oyster mushroom. English version by Melissa Kitson. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Wednesday said BJP leaders have "bid goodbye" to civilised political discourse as they are facing "imminent defeat" in the Delhi assembly elections. He hit out at Union minister Anurag Thakur and other BJP leaders such as West Delhi MP Parvesh Verma and party's West Bengal president Dilip Ghosh, saying the language used by them is "appalling" and asked why the prime minister and the BJP chief are not admonishing them. "The language used by Minister Anurag Thakur, BJP MP Parvesh Verma, BJP State President Dilip Ghosh snd BJP Karnataka Minister CT Ravi is appalling. "It seems that, faced with imminent defeat in the Delhi elections, the BJP leaders have bid goodbye to civilised political discourse," Chidambaram said on Twitter. "Why are the PM and the BJP President not admonishing these leaders," he also asked. BJP MP Verma on Tuesday raised the spectre of Shaheen Bagh's anti-CAA protesters in their lakhs entering homes to rape and kill women, provoking opposition outrage as the Delhi election chief submitted a report on his remarks to the Election Commission. Verma also said what happened in Kashmir with Kashmiri Pandits could happen in Delhi too. In another election rally, Union Minister of State for Finance Thakur egged on the crowd to raise an incendiary slogan -- "shoot the traitors" -- after he lashed out at anti-CAA protesters. Coming out in support of Thakur, who is facing flak for his 'provocative' slogans, Karnataka Tourism Minister Ravi has said anti-nationals should get bullet and not biryani. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A married HSBC boss nicknamed 'Weinstein' was consoling his mistress in the firm's toilets at the time another woman accused him of having sex, a tribunal heard. Father-of-four Robert Clegg, 48, is accused of sexually harassing HSBC contract worker Madeleine Luckham and not granting her a 130,000-a-year job he had promised her during their fling. During the proceedings against Mr Clegg, Ms Luckham said she recalled seeing her former lover go into a staff toilet where she claimed he had sex with another woman. That woman, a senior leader at HSBC denied having sex with Mr Clegg in the cubicle, and instead claimed he was comforting her after she received messages from her husband who she was then divorcing. Madeleine Luckham (left, outside Stratford Employment Tribunal) has accused Robert Clegg (right) of sexually harassing her and refusing to grant her the job he allegedly promised during their fling Speaking at Stratford Employment Tribunal, the witness, referred to only as 'female 2', said: 'I received a troubling message from my husband regarding my children. I said I felt like I was going to be sick and collapse. Mr Clegg responded by coming to help me.' When Ms Luckham's lawyer, Alex Francis, suggested that the pair were indeed having sex, she said: 'I was not having sex. Nothing was further from my mind.' She added: 'We had met before in glass-window offices, but it was not private enough. I went into the bathroom because I wanted to keep my personal and professional life separate. 'I was the senior leader of a team. Mr Clegg was very good at making me see perspective during my divorce.' Female 2 said she and Mr Clegg had started a relationship after meeting at a work event out of the office in early 2018. After starting as friends, she described their relationship became developed into a sexual one and confirmed the pair later lived together from October 2018 until May 2019. Female 2 said the scandal she is now involved in has done 'irrevocable damage' to her career and reputation. The hearing was told that Ms Luckham's harassment claims were dismissed by Group Head Ian Martin, who made the decision without meeting the claimant. She claimed that after their affair ended, Mr Clegg would stare at her breasts and once 'slid by' and placed both hands on her hips as he rubbed himself behind her. She added the allegation was one of numerous examples of unwanted touching and sexual harassment in the months after their break up. Mr Martin, who was a senior member of the insurance department, dismissed the harassment claims after hearing evidence from both sides collected by a 'specialist member' of the employment relations team. He said: 'I have upheld a sexual harassment victim's claims in a previous case and I was willing to do the same in this one. But there was no evidence to support the allegations made.' Asked why he never interviewed Ms Luckham, he said: 'It wasn't necessary. If I felt something was missing I would have enquired about that.' Mr Martin said the complainant's temporary contract at HSBC, where she was being paid 550 per day, was not renewed due to concerns raised about her behaviour. He added: 'Ms Luckham's behaviour was the reason her three month extension was not extended further. 'I read evidence from several people who had raised concerns, including one member of staff who had claimed Ms Luckham was bullying her.' Ms Luckham was described in witness statements as a 'ball breaker' who would 'get the job done'. Mr Francis asked Mr Martin why his client was not given the chance to respond to the allegations about her bad behaviour. Mr Martin said: 'The claimant was given her own opportunity to put her views forward, which she did.' The hearing heard that eight of Ms Luckham's colleagues had provided positive feedback on her work at the company. Asked why these comments were not considered, Mr Martin responded: 'They gave a character reference but it did not answer to the allegations made against her.' San Francisco, Jan 29 : Facebook's Vice President of Engineering Jay Parikh has announced that he is leaving the company, joining a number of executives who have departed the social networking giant over the past few years. Parikh, who joined Facebook in 2009, announced his decision to leave the company in a post on Tuesday. "I have some bittersweet news to share. It's time for me to step out of Facebook to explore what's next," Parikh said in the post. "As for what's next -- I'm not going anywhere just yet. I'll be focused on the transition for the next few months. I don't have any immediate plans thereafter. I'm excited to spend time rediscovering what else is happening across our industry and to meet up with many new people," he added. Parikh is credited for building Facebook's crucial data centre infrastructure on which numerous apps and services of the social network are built. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg thanked Parikh for his contrition towards building the engineering infrastructure for the company. "A lot of what we've achieved over the past eleven years just wouldn't have been possible without you. I don't think we even had a data centre when you joined, and now we share our designs so the rest of the world can catch up," Zuckerberg said. "I think the most important thing you built here though was our culture -- not just around technical excellence in infra and eng, but for the company as a whole. It's been wonderful watching you grow as a leader and I'm looking forward to seeing what problems you go solve next. Thanks for everything," he added. David Mortenson will replace Parikh in leading Facebook's infrastructure organisation, CNBC reported, citing a company spokesman. Several engineering leaders are expected to share Parikh's other responsibilities. Indonesia's Lion Air Group, Southeast Asia's biggest carrier by fleet size, is halting all its flights to and from China owing to the deadly coronavirus, a company spokesman said Wednesday. "All flights to China will be suspended temporarily starting from February 1st until further notice," Danang Mandala Prihantoro told AFP. Dozens of flights would be affected on routes to 15 Chinese cities, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) London: Huawei Australia was quick off the blocks, warmly praising Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnsons decision to allow the Chinese telecommunications company to supply parts of Britains 5G network. The decision was made despite fierce lobbying from the Trump administration, which said such a move could threaten British access to intelligence shared with the Five Eyes network comprised of Australia, Britain, the US, New Zealand and Canada. Boris Johnson has allowed Huawei to build parts of the UK's 5G network. Credit:Getty Images While there is no doubt Donald Trump's lobbying was ineffective, given the British public is largely hostile to the president and at risk of being caught up in the trade war with China, the same motives cannot be assigned to Australia, which has also warned against the move citing the potential for foreign interference. As Liberal Senator James Paterson said this week, nobody regretted the decisions of Labor and Coalition governments since as long ago as 2012 to ban Huawei from building Australia's critical infrastructure. Edward Wodnicki, a former commander of the Area Central detective division, was reassigned to paid desk duty without the authority to make arrests or carry a gun during the course of his police duties following the June incident on Interstate 94 in northwest Indiana. The department said Wodnicki has also voluntarily stepped down as a commander, taking a demotion to his service rank of lieutenant. The granddaughter of murdered Lord Mayor of Cork, Tomas MacCurtain, will be among the guests of honour at a special city council meeting tomorrow night to mark the centenary of his election as the first republican mayor of the city. Fionnuala MacCurtain, whose late father, Tomas, recalled how as a four-year-old he cradled his father as he lay fatally wounded after being shot by members of the RIC just two months after his election, said she feels humbled and honoured that tomorrow nights event also marks the start of the citys 1920 centenary commemorative events. The special meeting will be preceded by a musical performance and a reception for invited members of the citys business, voluntary and community sector. It will be attended by former Lord Mayors, TDs, Senators and elected members, and will feature readings of excerpts from the minutes of the January 31, 1920 meeting of the then Cork Corporation - the first to be elected by proportional representation. The first Dail Eireann, established in 1919, proclaimed the Irish Republic and local elections were held on January 15, 1920. It led to the election in Cork of the first council with a Republican majority - Sinn Fein won 30 of its 56 seats - with MacCurtain topping the poll in the six-seater Blackpool ward. During their first meeting in the historic chamber in City Hall, the newly-elected councillors pledged allegiance to Dail Eireann, and elected MacCurtain as Lord Mayor. Following his murder two months later, Terence MacSwiney was elected Mayor. He died on hunger strike in Brixton prison in London on October 25 1920. Lord Mayor Cllr John Sheehan said the election of a republican majority council and a republican Lord Mayor changed everything, not just in Cork but nationally. It gave a democratic mandate to Tomas MacCurtain and later Terence MacSwiney so that their deaths later that year were a direct blow to the citizens, and not just the deaths of activists in the armed struggle, he said. In December of that year, City Hall was destroyed during the burning of Cork - an incident which devastated the city, destroying more than 40 business premises, 300 residential properties and the Carnegie Library. Mr Sheehan said: Britain's departure from the European Union was set in law Wednesday, amid emotional scenes, as the bloc's parliament voted to ratify the divorce papers. After half a century of sometimes awkward membership and three years of tense withdrawal talks, the UK will leave the EU at midnight Brussels time (2300 GMT) on Friday. MEPs voted by 621 votes to 49 to pass the withdrawal agreement, which sees Britain leave the EU institutions but remain under most EU rules during a transition until the end of the year. Following the vote, MEPs burst into a chorus of "Auld Lang Syne", a traditional Scottish song of farewell. The transition will see Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government try to negotiate an ambitious free trade agreement with his 27 former partners remaining in the bloc. "Only in the agony of parting do we look into the depth of love," EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told the chamber, quoting British author George Eliot. "We will always love you and we will never be far. Long live Europe." In the Brussels parliament, many MEPs made it clear that they were voting for the withdrawal deal not out of any support for Brexit, but to avoid the disruption of a chaotic no deal divorce. Some expressed real anguish and regret, and pointed to Britain's role not only in the development of the European unification project but also to its historic battles against tyranny on the continent. "If we could stop Brexit by voting 'no' today I would be the first to recommend it," former Belgian premier and chairman of the parliament's Brexit steering group Guy Verhofstadt said. The day began with Britain's permanent representative to the EU Tim Barrow -- from Saturday to be its ambassador -- handing back the withdrawal agreement signed by Johnson, to be stored in Brussels. It was an emotional day in the chamber, steeped in a mixture of nostalgia, political carnival and historical metaphor. Nigel Farage, veteran MEP and leader of Britain's Brexit Party, was in triumphant mood after two decades as a thorn in Brussels' side. After his final speech in parliament, in which he described Brexit as a victory for populism over "globalism", Farage and his MEPs brandished British flags, in contravention of the rules, then left before returning to vote. Earlier, Farage said he had loved playing the "pantomime villain" in the Strasbourg assembly, feeding opposition to Europe at home with theatrical YouTube clips. But he insisted on the seriousness of Brexit, comparing its significance to king Henry VIII taking Britain out of the Catholic church in 1534. "He took us out of the Church of Rome, and we are leaving the Treaty of Rome," he said, referring to the EU's 1957 founding document. The historic vote to incorporate the withdrawal agreement into EU law was the last legislative act of the 73 remaining British MEPs, and departure was hard for some. Iratxe Garcia Perez, the Spanish leader of the Socialist group, choked back tears as she said farewell to her British Labour Party comrades. After Brexit the United Kingdom will be what the EU calls a "third country", outside the union, but the political and economic drama will continue. Britain and Europe will apply EU rules on trade and free movement of citizens until the end of the year, while negotiating a free trade agreement. In the face of scepticism in EU capitals, Johnson -- who will make an address to the nation at 10:00 pm London time on Friday -- insists he is optimistic that a comprehensive free trade deal can be done before the next cliff-edge. In an online question and answer on Wednesday Johnson said he would be celebrating on Friday, but in a "dignified" way. "It is a great moment for our country, it is a moment of hope and opportunity but it is also, I think, a moment for us to come together in a spirit of confidence," he said. But negotiations between the world's sixth biggest economy and a 27-nation single market with a population of 450 million will be tricky. Fishing rights, residency and working rights for citizens, tariff free trade, access to Europe for Britain's huge services sector: all will be on the table. "We are considering a free trade agreement with zero tariffs and zero quotas. This would be unique. No other free trade agreement offers such access to our single market," von der Leyen said. "But the pre-condition is that European and British businesses continue to compete on a level playing field. We will not expose our companies to unfair competition," she warned, to applause. Johnson's government hopes more trade with the United States and Asian powers can help offset the costs of Brexit. But the British premier was facing difficult talks on Thursday with President Donald Trump's secretary of state Mike Pompeo. Trump backed Brexit, but Washington opposed Johnson's decision to allow Chinese telecoms giant to work on Britain's 5G telecoms network despite security fears. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maqbool Bhatt was the first victim to Februarys brutality. He was one of the most prominent leaders striving for freedom and liberty of the Indian Occupied Kashmir. by Ali Sukhanver writing from Islamabad Why do the people of Pakistan observe the 5th February as a Black Day every year; it is a frequently asked questions. The fact of the matter is that it is not only the 5th February, but each and every day in that month is a Black Day because every day of February has a new story of cruelty and brutality to share with us. The cruel judicial murder of Afzal Guru, brutal hanging of Maqbool Bhatt, burning of the innocent passengers of Samjhota Express and above all the Massacre in Gujarat; February always proved very callous. Maqbool Bhatt was the first victim to Februarys brutality. He was one of the most prominent leaders striving for freedom and liberty of the Indian Occupied Kashmir. If today, the movement for the liberation of Kashmir is still alive, it is because of Maqbool Bhatts fiery speeches, charismatic guidance and the seed of desire for freedom he sowed in the hearts of Kashmiri youth. He was accused of killing a CID officer Amar Chand and in 1968 was awarded the death sentence by Judge Neelkanth Ganjoo. His punishment could not be acted upon for the next 16 years and ultimately he was hanged in Tihar Jail in New Delhi on 11 February 1984. The Indian authorities were so frightened of the Maqbool Bhatts dead body that they buried him in the jail premises. 27th February 2002 was the first day of the Gujarat massacre and the Muslim community living in that vicinity was the basic target. The bloodshed ended with 1,044 dead, 223 missing and 2,500 injured. According to an official report, 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus were among the dead in the Gujarat Riots. The Concerned Citizens Tribunal Report estimated that as many as 1,926 might have been killed. Other sources estimated death tolls in excess of 2,000. Many brutal killings and rapes were reported on as well as widespread looting and destruction of property. The Chief Minister of Gujarat at that time and the current Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, was accused of initiating the violence. Reports say that police and other government officials were involved in giving instructions to the rioters and providing them lists of Muslim-owned properties. Mr. Modi simply turned a blind eye to whatever was happening there in the streets of Gujarat and his deliberate ignorance added a lot to the loss. More heart rending and more brutal story is of Samjhauta Express burning. That was somewhere around the midnight on 18 February 2007 when the Samjhauta Express was heading towards Pakistan. Just after the train had passed Diwana near the Indian city of Panipat, bombs already fixed in two carriages started exploding. Both carriages were over-loaded with passengers. Blazing flames of fire engulfed the fast moving train. Some of the passengers lost their lives in an attempt to jump out of the train; others who could not jump out also had to meet the same fate but in a more agonizing way; they were all burnt to ashes alive. There were reports that when the train slowed down, some unknown people were witnessed pouring kerosene oil to the already burning carriages. Most of those who lost their lives in the incident were Pakistanis. India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) charged eight people in the terrorist attack, including Swami Aseemanand, a Hindu cleric formerly affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) but he was very soon released on bail. Three others charged in the case remained absconding. The alleged mastermind, Sunil Joshi, was killed in 2007 by unknown killers. Overall a Hindu fundamentalist group in India Abhinav Bharat was held responsible for this brutal incident. Mohammad Afzal Guru was a very popular Kashmiri freedom-fighter. He was blamed of planning and designing the terrorist attack on Indian Parliament in 2001. His confession statement presented before the court became the basis of death penalty sentenced to him. He was executed on 9 February 2013. Guru's advocate Sushil Kumar later claimed that Guru had written a letter to him in which he had told him that he had made the confessions under compulsion as his family was being threatened. The same thing Guru claimed in his interview with a journalist Vinod K. Jose in 2006. Guru had said that he had been subjected to extreme torture which included electric shocks in private parts and being beaten up for hours along with threats regarding his family after his arrest. During the investigation he was continuously warned that in case of his non-co-operation, his brother would also be fixed in the same case as he was already in the custody of security agencies. Recently, the Indian security agencies have arrested a DSP of J&K police Davinder Singh on charges of having links with the freedom-fighters and doing cooperation with them. Afzal Guru had told in his interview that the same police-officer was the central character behind all that torture inflicted upon him. It is something very astonishing that the same police officer involved in torturing Afzal Guru was awarded National Police Medal for his gallantry a few months back. Now he has been arrested for his links with freedom-fighters. The story starting from Maqbool Bhatt has reached the recent arrest of DSP Davinder Singh of J&K police. There are so many hidden links among all these incidents which certainly make the situation more complex and more complicated but one thing is very much clear; life for Muslims in India was never a smooth sailing and never would it be. Same is the situation with other minorities too. South Korean President Moon Jae-in, center, wears a mask to inspect the National Medical Center in Seoul, South Korea amid the outbreak of the new coronavirus (South Korea Presidential Blue House/Yonhap via AP) The death toll in mainland China following the outbreak of coronavirus has risen to 132 while nearly 6,000 people are infected, authorities have said. There were 26 deaths recorded in the last 24 hours, with all but one recorded in Hubei province. Authorities added there had been an increase in the number of cases to 5,974, up by 1,459 from Tuesdays figure. Countries on Wednesday began evacuating their citizens from the Chinese city hardest-hit by the outbreak, Wuhan. Earlier in the morning, a plane carrying Americans who had been in Wuhan left for Anchorage, Alaska, where they will be re-screened for the virus before flying to Ontario, California. Hospitals are prepared to treat or quarantine people who may be infected. A Japanese-chartered flight carrying 206 evacuees from Wuhan landed early Wednesday at Tokyos Haneda airport. Expand Close Employees disinfect ticket gates in hopes to prevent the contraction of the coronavirus at a subway station in Seoul, South Korea (Ahn Young-joon/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Employees disinfect ticket gates in hopes to prevent the contraction of the coronavirus at a subway station in Seoul, South Korea (Ahn Young-joon/AP) The British Government is warning against all but essential travel to mainland China amid the outbreak. British Airways and Asian budget carriers Lion Air and Seoul Air are suspending all flights to China, and several other airlines including Finnair, Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific and Singapore-based Jetstar Asia are reducing the number of flights to the country as demand drops. Hong Kong will cut all rail links to the mainland and halve the number of flights to stop the spread of the virus. South Korea also said it will send a plane for its citizens and France, Mongolia and other governments have also planned evacuations. It comes as the United Arab Emirates confirmed the first cases of the virus in a family who recently returned to the Middle East from Wuhan. China has cut off access to Wuhan and 16 other cities in Hubei province to prevent people from leaving and spreading the virus further. Expand Close The outbreak has caused a shortage of face masks (Eugene Hoshiko/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The outbreak has caused a shortage of face masks (Eugene Hoshiko/AP) The lockdown has trapped more than 50 million people in the most far-reaching disease control measures ever imposed. A Japanese aircraft was bringing 20,000 face masks and protective gear, all in short supply as Hubeis hospitals grapple with a growing number of patients. Wuhan is building two hospitals in a matter of days to add 2,500 beds for treatment of patients with the virus. Experts worry the new virus may spread more easily than originally thought, or may have mutated into a form that does so. The coronavirus family is responsibile for causing the common cold as well as more serious illnesses such as Sars. The Stay Green team inspects a recent Weathermatic fresh water well installation. Our partnership with Weathermatic is a win-win. - Chris Angelo, Stay Green CEO Water is life, and Stay Green Inc. has taken that to heart, saving lives around the world by partnering with Weathermatic, provider of state-of-the-art irrigation equipment and a leader in the movement to bring clean drinking water to rural communities in need. Our partnership with Weathermatic is a win-win, said Stay Green CEO Chris Angelo. Their state-of-the-art controllers, weather sensors, valves, sprayers and nozzles deliver efficiency and reliability to our clients landscapes. In turn, for every piece of equipment we install, Weathermatic allocates a portion of the cost to its Water With Purpose mission. Through the Weathermatic Foundation, safe water projects have been completed in more than 65 communities. So, were not only saving water for our clients, but were also delivering water to those who need it, Angelo said. Through the partnership, Stay Green to date has installed 194 Weathermatic controllers, and each installation is credited with saving a life through safe water projects in countries from El Salvador to Nicaragua to Sierra Leone. To date your efforts have saved 194 lives. Thank you so much for partnering with us! said a Weathermatic update provided to Stay Green. As you know, one of our mutual goals is saving lives by donating fresh water wells in areas of the world in need. To date, with your help, we have already completed safe water projects in 65 communities to save over 25,000 lives. With your help, we plan to do more much more. Lets partner to save 125,000 lives! According to the Weathermatic website: Over 600 million people, including hundreds of thousands in Central American, lack access to clean water and adequate sanitation. Many families in rural communities still collect water from contaminated rivers or other unprotected groundwater sources. Even with great progress, still today in the year 2020, a child dies every 60 seconds due to water-borne illnesses resulting in 1 in 5 children not living to their 5th birthday. Partnerships like this are so rewarding, Angelo said. Its gratifying to find industry partners who share our values, and to work together to not only meet our clients needs but also make a real difference by providing safe drinking water to those who otherwise would not have it. About Stay Green Founded in 1970, Stay Green Inc. (http://www.staygreen.com) provides award-winning landscape maintenance, tree care, and plant health care services for premiere residential, commercial and industrial properties throughout Southern California. Stay Green serves clients throughout Southern California, and exercises environmental stewardship through its Sustainability Practices, which are applied across all service lines to help customers protect the environment as well as the bottom line. Stay Green Inc. is recognized as a leading provider of high-quality landscape services, having achieved a 95 percent customer retention rate, along with receiving the industry's most prestigious awards. ### A credible enlargement process of the European Union is a strategic investment and the accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia should be opened "without further delay or preconditions," Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu said on Wednesday, as he participated in an event that marked the taking over by Croatia of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. "If we are talking about a Europe that has influence, this starts in our region. That is why the Croatian Presidency's emphasis on the enlargement process is welcome," he said.In this regard, the Romanian top diplomat spoke about the expansion plans in the Western Balkans."We believe that a credible enlargement process of the European Union is extremely important, it is a strategic investment in the stability, security and prosperity not only of the candidate states, but also of the entire continent. We should therefore reach important decisions and open up the accession negotiations with Albania, with North Macedonia without further delays or preconditions and this should happen before the Western Balkans Summit in Zagreb," Aurescu said.An informal summit on the Western Balkan countries will be held in Zagreb in May, said Croatian Ambassador in Bucharest Marija Kapitanovic."We believe in supporting a credible and merit-based enlargement policy (...). One of our priorities is the enlargement policy. For us, for Croatia, the enlargement policy is a guarantee of European progress and stability and developments in this area," said the Croatian diplomat.She went on to talk about the objectives of the Zagreb summit."There are two aspects: how to reinvigorate the enlargement process, how to keep the focus on the enlargement process, when we talk about Brussels's perspective; on the other hand, when we talk about the Western Balkans, we talk about ways to renew the reform process, how we can give impetus to this reform process and finally how to reconcile these two positions. We believe that discussions on the new methodology should not be obstacles to the opening of negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania," added Marija Kapitanovic.The diplomat spoke of her country's "optimism" with regard to the European Union."We are a relatively new EU state, we are still optimistic. We still remember very clearly the feeling of wanting to be part of this association," she said.Croatia joined the EU in 2013 and in January of this year took over the six-month rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union. AGERPRES Alph Lukau wanted to prepare the church and Gods people to make ready for the return of the prophetic to the church today. Enriched by a great wealth of theological knowledge, he writes a book that contains a treasure house of fundamental biblical teachings. The Rise of the Prophetic Voice (published by Balboa Press) deals with biblical truths about the prophetic and its practical operation today. According to Lukau, it is a tool of the Holy Spirit, dedicated to shedding light about the prophetic to the body of Christ and to raising an end-time army of prophets for the Lord. The Body of Christ has been experiencing a lot of controversy with regards to the prophetic ministry and now, more than ever, the Church of God needs to be equipped with the truth. Secondly, God is raising a new wave of men and women in the prophetic and hence, knowledge of the prophetic is imperative, Lukau points out. The Rise of the Prophetic Voice aims to give readers the biblical foundation of the prophetic, helps them to discover their calling or gift in it and ignite in them its fire. Beyond all doubt, I believe this book will revolutionize the lives of its readers and restore the glory of the mighty God in the world, Lukau concludes. For more details about the book, please visit https://www.amazon.com/Rise-Prophetic-Voice-Alph-Lukau/dp/1982237589. The Rise of the Prophetic Voice By Alph Lukau Hardcover | 5.5 x 8.5in | 266 pages | ISBN 9781982237608 Softcover | 5.5 x 8.5in | 266 pages | ISBN 9781982237585 E-Book | 266 pages | ISBN 9781982237592 Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble About the Author Known as the apostle of faith, Alph Lukau is a renowned author and power televangelist with hundreds of thousands of men and women under his direct leadership. He is the senior pastor and general overseer of Alleluia Ministries International, which he has founded in February 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He also owns a television channel called AMI TV that broadcasts via satellite all over Africa and Southern Europe. He is a father of six and a devout husband to his first lady, Celeste. Balboa Press, a division of Hay House, Inc. a leading provider in publishing products that specialize in self-help and the mind, body, and spirit genres. Through an alliance with the worldwide self-publishing leader Author Solutions, LLC, authors benefit from the leadership of Hay House Publishing and the speed-to-market advantages of the self-publishing model. For more information, visit balboapress.com. To start publishing your book with Balboa Press, call 877-407-4847 today. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, joined by Congress MPs, on Wednesday underlined the need for high-end precision detection equipment to check the use of drones by Pakistan to smuggle long-range weapons across the border. The issue came up for discussion during the meeting convened by the Chief Minister with the ruling party MPs from both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. The Chief Minister expressed concern over the increase in spate of activities by the ISI at the Punjab borders in the wake of growing pressure in Jammu and Kashmir. Captain Amarinder said he had already flagged the issue with the Centre and had written to the Ministry of Home Affairs back in August 2019, when the first of instance of the use of such drones came to light. He had expressed serious concern over the delivery of weapons through the drone like a long-range weapons consignment from across the Indo-Pak border, terming it a matter of security concern. He had pointed out in his letter that various lands of contraband, including weapons, explosives and drugs, could be safely delivered via drones. During the meeting today, the Chief Minister reiterated the need to prepare strategies for the development/installation of required assets/infrastructure, such as radars, that can detect movement of different kinds of low flying Conventional Aerial Platforms, such as UAVs and drones. Suitable counter-measures against the use of such drones would also need to be evolved, he stressed. Besides the MPs, the meeting was attended by PPCC President, Sunil Jakhar, and senior officials of the state government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and pro-Israel Democratic leaders sounded a cautiously optimistic note today after President Donald Trump finally unveiled his long-awaited Israeli-Palestinian peace plan. Pelosi said that there appears to be a basis for negotiation during a press conference to discuss the recent congressional delegation she led to Israel to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz extermination camp. A group of pro-Israel Democrats who accompanied Pelosi on the trip including House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel of New York and Middle East panel Chairman Ted Deutch of Florida also expressed hope that Trumps proposal could lead to direct negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians to ultimately result in a two-state solution. The devil is in the details, said Engel. I hope it follows through and that we can try to bring an end to this horrific Israeli-Palestinian crisis once and for all, but again, its the details that we have to see. After two years of unsuccessfully trying to get the White House to brief Congress on the plan, Pelosi, Engel, Deutch and other lawmakers met today with Jared Kushner Trumps special envoy for the peace process. They received a two-page outline of the plan hours before the White House released the proposal in its entirety. Deutch noted that he would have to read the full 180-page plan to carefully determine whether the details can realistically help lead to lasting peace, but cautioned that President Trump cannot proclaim the outcome to direct negotiations, nor can he create borders by fiat. He also voiced concerns about the ability to achieve continuity for a sovereign Palestinian state if there are no changes on the ground, as the president stated will be the case. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., also warned, Unilateral action taken by either side in response to the release of the Trump administrations plan will diminish the prospects of a future peace. Still, the Palestinians have boycotted talks with the Trump administration since he moved the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem in 2017. Trump, speaking beside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, vowed that Jerusalem would be the undivided capital of Israel, and the plan would relegate a future Palestinian capital outside the security barrier. Trump touted his proposal as an opportunity to achieve a realistic two-state solution, but it also grants a huge territorial concession to Israel by allowing it to retain its West Bank settlements. However, he did note that the territory allocated for a Palestinian state under the plan will remain open and undeveloped for a period of four years. For its part, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) lobbying group chided Palestinian leadership for refusing direct talks with Israel. We were encouraged to see that the ambassadors from Oman, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates attended the announcement, and we call on the Arab states to play a constructive role in urging the Palestinians to resume negotiations with Israelis, AIPAC tweeted. Conversely, an AIPAC rival the left-leaning lobbying group J Street and numerous progressive Democrats immediately slammed Trumps proposal. They are discarding decades of bipartisan US policy in favor of a destructive effort that is certain to exacerbate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, empower the most dangerous extremists on both sides and destabilize Israels already tenuous relationship with Jordan, J Street said in a statement. Democratic presidential hopefuls Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., also railed against the plan. Any acceptable peace deal must be consistent with international law and multiple UN resolutions, Sanders tweeted. It must end the Israeli occupation and enable Palestinian self-determination in an independent state of their own alongside a secure Israel. Trumps so-called peace deal doesnt come close and will only perpetuate the conflict. It is unacceptable. Warren also blasted the plan as a rubber stamp for an Israeli annexation of the West Bank and asserted that it offers no chance for a real Palestinian state. Sanders and Warren also joined their fellow presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and nine other Democratic senators in a letter to Trump led by Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., which argued that the the plan has made it impossible for the United States to serve as a "credible player" in negotiations between Israel and Palestine. The letter also argued that the timing of the proposal "raises disturbing questions about your intention to intervene" in the Israeli selections slated for next month. And Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said that its no coincidence this plan supports recognizing illegal settlements and unilateral Israeli annexation, while discarding any notion of a two-state solution. Meanwhile, Republicans greeted the plan with glowing enthusiasm. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., called it a major and stunning breakthrough. I hope the Palestinians see this as a serious offer and come to the table, Graham said. And Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, praised the plan as the best path forward to achieving a two-state solution. Travelers arriving at San Francisco International Airport and entering customs and immigration lines alongside passengers arriving from China are likely concerned about possible exposure to the novel coronavirus. Those fears were heightened when early reports emerged about an SFO-bound evacuation flight from Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, expected to land here this week. However, San Francisco city officials, including the mayor and airport director said that the flight carrying passengers from Wuhan, China to San Francisco will not land at San Francisco International Airport. Instead, the flight will stop over in Anchorage and terminate in Ontario, California on Tuesday. "Since the first outbreak in China, we have been monitoring the situation and taking the appropriate steps," Mayor London Breed said during a Monday press conference. "I want to stress, there have been no cases here in San Francisco." SFO Airport Director Ivar Satero said while a direct flight from Wuhan to SFO was recently canceled, the airport is continuing to work with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to screen any lingering passengers arriving into the airport whose itinerary might have included Wuhan. Meanwhile, the CDC is now advising Americans against nonessential trips to anywhere in China-- previously the warning only applied to travel to Wuhan. Also on Monday, the US State Department raised its travel advisory for China from Level 2 to Level 3, recommending that Americans reconsider trips to China. US Dept of State Airlines are working with travelers hoping to change or cancel reservations for flights to China - for example, United said on its website that as a result of these warnings, "Weve issued a travel waiver for customers. Were also offering additional flexibility for other destinations in China. Customers traveling to and from China will need to complete additional health screenings." United's travel waiver currently applies to China flights scheduled between now and March-- see more here. China Southern is the only airline to serve Wuhan-SFO with nonstop flights. Its previous CZ659 flight which flew Guangzhou-Wuhan-SFO flight now bypasses Wuhan. RELATED: The risk of catching the flu on the plane Dr. Tomas Aragon with the San Francisco Department of Public Health said that while the risk of contracting the virus is low for Bay Area residents, the department has activated its emergency response plan to be prepared. To lower the chances of becoming infected, Aragon recommends that people regularly wash their hands, cover their coughs with their hands and that they stay home when they're sick. "Currently the risk for acquiring this infection is very low, so at this time we're not recommending any special measures, including wearing masks," he added. Bay City News, Inc. contributed to this report. Read all recent TravelSkills posts here Chris McGinnis is SFGATE's senior travel correspondent. You can reach him via email or follow him on Twitter or Facebook. Don't miss a shred of important travel news by signing up for his FREE biweekly email updates! SFGATE participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Bondi beach will celebrate become more inclusive on Saturday with a barbecue and party. A new improved wheelchair ramp will be unveiled along with accessible showers and toilets. The beach matting will be rolled out at the party and beach wheelchairs will be available to try. A wider and more accessible plastic beach path will now be available at Bondi Beach Initially the plastic matting will only be available on Thursday's and Saturdays between 8.30am to 2pm but there are plans to expand the schedule. Council mayor Paula Masselos said it was important to make one of Australia's most famous beaches available to everyone. Initially the matting will only be available on Thursday's and Saturdays between 8.30am to 2pm but there are plans to expand the schedule 'Everyone should be able to enjoy the beach independently or with family and friends. We acknowledge that there is more work to be done in this space, but we are very proud of what's been achieved thus far,' she said. Ms Masselos noted Surf Life Saving NSW donated $100,000 to the project and Bondi Surf Life Bathers Life Saving Club was given $25,000 for beach chairs and equipment to help deploy the matting. 'We're grateful for all the support we have received for Access Bondi. It's great to work in close partnership with the surf club and its many enthusiastic members and we're looking forward to working together on future initiatives.' Following the introduction of the Trump administration's deal of the century, Palestinian National Authority (PNA) President Mahmoud Abbas staid that Jerusalem is not for sale, and dubbed the offer a "conspiracy". Abbas observed that the deal "is not going to happen" and that people will throw it in the "garbage can of history". "Jerusalem is not for sale, the 'deal of the century' will not go through, and our people will send it to the garbage can of in history," Abbas said. "We will not bow and we will not surrender ... we are united in the face of all the extermination plans that our people will reject. We say 'no, no, no,' to the deal of the century," TASS cited him as saying. On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his long-anticipated 'deal of the century' - a peace plan for the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to a map published by the Trump White House, Palestinians have been offered two significant plots of land in the south of Israel connected with the Gaza Strip. Two men have swum to shore after their plane crashed just off the coast of Fraser Island in Queensland's south-east. A man believed to be in his 60s and a man believed to be in his 20s were assessed on the eastern shore of the island after paramedics were called about 1.20pm on Thursday. The older man had cuts and abrasions to his head, face, arms and legs and the younger man had cuts to the head, a Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said. Both patients were taken to Hervey Bay Hospital by the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter. The nationwide call for 'Bharat Bandh' against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) evoked a mixed response in major cities of Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday and no untoward incident was reported in the state, police said. Although stray incidents of conflict were reported at a few places in the state, the situation was immediately brought under control there, police said. The bandh call elicited mixed response in four major cities in the state- Bhopal, Jabalpur, Indore and Raisen. "Today's bandh remained largely peaceful throughout the state. No untoward incident occurred anywhere during the bandh," Inspector General (IG), Law and Order, Manoj Sharma told PTI. Shops in some Muslim-dominated areas in Bhopal remained shut. Some groups held an anti-CAA demonstration at Iqbal Maidan in the old city area of Bhopal as part of the 'Bharat Bandh'. Talking to PTI, Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee secretary Abdul Nafees claimed that the Bharat Bandh was a "success". He said anti-CAA rallies were taken out in different parts of Bhopal, which converged at Iqbal Maidan. Congress MLA Arif Masood and leaders of various organisations addressed the gathering there. Jabalpur, which had witnessed violence during an anti-CAA protest earlier this month, remained peaceful during the bandh on Wednesday. Although the bandh did not have much impact in most of parts of the city, shops remained shut in Gohalpur, Raddi Chowk, Char Khamba and Madar Tekri areas. In Indore, the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh, shops and other establishments remained shut in Khajrana, Bombay Bazaar, Barwali Chowki, Chandan Nagar, Sirpur and some other areas. However, establishments and major markers in other areas of the city were operating as usual. Normal life largely remained unaffected due to the bandh. Police personnel were deployed in some sensitive areas of Indore in view of the bandh. The bandh also evoked mixed response in Raisen city, about 44 kms from the state capital, Raisen's Superintendent of Police (SP) Monika Shukla said. The bandh did not affect the normal life in Gwalior. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Airlines for America (A4A) today urged Congress to focus on our nation's real infrastructure needs like crumbling roads and deteriorating bridges rather than digging deeper into the pockets of American travelers to pad the coffers of well-funded airports. "We support smart investment in infrastructure to addresses our nation's real needs," said A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio. "Airports simply don't need more money from taxpayers, and travelers don't want to pay more taxes. Time and time again, airport directors are unable to name a single improvement project that can't be completed due to a lack of funding. The truth is that the Passenger Facility Charge is a tax on hardworking families which airports simply do not need. With billions of dollars already pouring into our nation's airports, fleecing travelers with unnecessary taxes is a bad idea that won't fly." Across the country, airport construction is booming. More than $200 billion has been invested in runway, terminal and cargo facility expansions and renovations as well as other amenities all without a tax hike. In fact, airports are in record-setting financial condition: $3.6 billion : PFC taxes collected from air travelers in 2018 an all-time high : PFC taxes collected from air travelers in 2018 an all-time high $7 billion : The unobligated balance currently sitting in the Airport Trust Fund. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the Airport Trust Fund will hold $30 billion in surplus funds by 2030. : The unobligated balance currently sitting in the Airport Trust Fund. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the Airport Trust Fund will hold in surplus funds by 2030. $16 billion : The amount of unrestricted cash and investments airports are currently sitting on : The amount of unrestricted cash and investments airports are currently sitting on $3.18 billion : The amount of airport improvement grants distributed by the Department of Transportation last Fall In addition, airports are diverting billions of dollars already collected from travelers the same ones who pay taxes to pay for pet projects instead of putting that money toward infrastructure needs. Travelers already paid $6.9 billion in airport taxes last year. An increase in airport taxes is not only unnecessary, it is also overwhelmingly unpopular among voters. Eighty percent of participants in a recent poll oppose increasing the cost of flying and feel that their money is being diverted from our true infrastructure needs. ABOUT A4A Annually, commercial aviation helps drive $1.7 trillion in U.S. economic activity and more than 10 million U.S. jobs. U.S. airlines fly 2.4 million passengers and more than 58,000 tons of cargo each day. Airlines for America (A4A) advocates on behalf of the American airline industry as a model of safety, customer service and environmental responsibility and as the indispensable network that drives our nation's economy and global competitiveness. A4A works collaboratively with the airlines, labor, Congress, the Administration and other groups to improve aviation for the traveling and shipping public. For more information about the airline industry, visit our website airlines.org and our blog, A Better Flight Plan, at airlines.org/blog. Follow us on Twitter: @airlinesdotorg. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/AirlinesforAmerica. Join us on Instagram: instagram.com/AirlinesforAmerica. SOURCE Airlines for America Related Links http://www.airlines.org None of the 195 passengers who returned to the U.S. on Wednesday after escaping the coronavirus outbreak in China have shown signs of infection, but they will remain under observation for up to three days as they get screened, a CDC official said. Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said all passengers voluntarily agreed to remain at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, California, for monitoring. "We have 195 travelers who are willingly undergoing isolation for the purpose of medical evaluation and investigation of their risk, Messonnier said, adding that the process may take less than 72 hours. The number of confirmed infections across China has risen to 7,711, resulting in 170 deaths. By comparison, there were 5,327 cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in China during the 2002-2003 outbreak, although that virus was more deadly, claiming 349 lives. The American passengers flew into California from Wuhan, the city in central China at the epicenter of the outbreak, with a stopover in Anchorage, Alaska, where they had also been screened. The CDC revised the original number of travelers it said were on the flight down from 201. The group burst into cheers when initially touching down on American soil in Alaska. Also Wednesday, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, announced that he will reconvene the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on Thursday to advise him on whether the outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern, or PHEIC. Last week, the committee found it was too soon to make such a declaration. The committee's decision may be influenced by a new report from Chinese researchers suggesting person-to-person spread of the virus among close contacts occurred as early as mid-December. Based on the first 425 confirmed cases, the researchers estimate that each infection led to 2.2 others on average. Thats a bit more than ordinary for the flu. Story continues Messonnier said the number of confirmed cases in the U.S. remains steady at five, out of 165 persons under investigation. Of those, 68 have tested negative and the rest are awaiting results. Symptoms include fever, cough and respiratory illness. Though she expects more positive results, especially among those who have recently visited Wuhan or been in close contact with those travelers, Messonnier said people in the U.S. don't need to be especially concerned. At this time, we continue to believe that the immediate health risks from this new virus in the general American public is low, she said. Those most vulnerable to severe illness from the coronavirus have usually been weakened by existing conditions. Researchers in China found 50 of 99 patients admitted to Wuhan hospitals with the virus from Jan. 1 to Jan. 20 had underlying chronic health problems, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes, according to a new analysis published in The Lancet. Most of the patients were middle-aged men, and 46 of the patients worked at the Huanan seafood market, clinical records, lab results and epidemiological data showed. All of those hospitalized had pneumonia, most had a fever and cough and about one-third experienced shortness of breath. Five critically ill patients also suffered from bacterial fungi infections, the study found. From Wuhan: Americans stuck in China battle boredom, lack of information about coronavirus Carrying some 240 American diplomats and citizens, a Boeing 747 aircraft sits on the tarmac of Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Anchorage, Alaska Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. The flight was chartered by the State Department to return a few dozen Wuhan consulate workers to the USA. Most of the passengers were Americans living in Wuhan who paid their way to get out. The State Department said it was working with Chinese officials to evacuate other Americans in and around Wuhan who want to leave. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke by phone with Yang Jiechi, foreign affairs director for China's Communist Party. Pompeo expressed condolences for the loss of life and thanked Yang for his help in the evacuation. Coronavirus outbreak: These 20 US airports screen for coronavirus Coronavirus has nothing to do with Corona beer: Some people don't get that Wuhan, a city of 11 million in the central China province of Hubei, is one of more than a dozen under tight lockdown as the government struggles to contain the virus. The British government announced plans to bring about 200 citizens back home from Wuhan on Thursday, then quarantine them for two weeks. France, which has four confirmed cases of the virus, also intends to quarantine citizens returning from Wuhan. Michael Ryan, who heads the WHO health emergencies program, said he visited China and was amazed at its effort to combat the outbreak. "The challenge is great, but the response has been massive," he said at a news conference in Geneva. "I am very impressed with the level of engagement of the Chinese government at all levels." Ryan said about 20% of the confirmed cases involved serious illness and about 2% resulted in death, compared to 10% for the SARS coronavirus in China from 2002-2003. Ryan said concern over the handful of cases spread from human to human outside China is one reason why a PHEIC is being considered. Such declarations can mean more resources are available to combat outbreaks, but they can spur restrictions on trade and travel. Coronaviruses get their name from their appearance under a microscope they look something like a crown, a sphere with spikes jutting out. A global scientific hunt for a vaccine is underway, but testing will take time. Contributing: Jennifer Portman, USA TODAY; The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus death toll rises to 170; Americans back from Wuhan seem OK Deirdre Brennan (right) pictured alongside her brother Niall Brennan and sister Emma Brennan holds a photograph of their father John Brennan from Portlaoise outside the Coroners Court in Dublin Photo: Steve Humphreys THE family of a 76-year-old builder who died of sepsis following a routine hip replacement operation at a private hospital is to sue the facility for what it believes was a preventable death. John Brennan, from Portlaoise, Co Laois, died from sepsis triggered by bronchial pneumonia on November 28, 2017, an inquest heard yesterday. Mr Brennan had undergone elective hip replacement surgery at the Beacon Hospital in south Dublin on November 23, 2017. Despite the success of the surgery, Mr Brennans condition deteriorated rapidly and he developed multi-organ failure before being transferred to the hospitals ICU in the early hours of November 28 he died later that morning. Expand Close John Brennan from Portlaoise. Pic Steve Humphreys 28th January 2020 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp John Brennan from Portlaoise. Pic Steve Humphreys 28th January 2020 The cause of death was sepsis due to bilateral pneumonia in his lungs following the operation, according to the verdict of Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane at the Dublin District Coroners Court. However, his children, Deirdre (52), Niall (50) and Emma (42), said outside court they believe their fathers death could have been prevented had he had better care. Theres a two-tiered medical system here and youd expect when you pay for treatment youd get more attention, said Deirdre. He went in to have a routine hip operation and didnt come out. He had never been sick in his life and had never been in hospital before. The family believes that this was preventable. The inquest heard the hospitals medical registrar was the only doctor on duty on the ward when Mr Brennans condition started to deteriorate around 10pm on November 27. The junior doctor told the inquest that she was ultimately responsible for 120 patients during her 12-hour shift that began at 8pm on November 27. She said she was very concerned that his body temperature was very high and a blood test showed he had a high white blood cell count, which revealed he was unwell. Mr Brennan was transferred to the ICU. His family was informed that the prognosis was not good and a priest was called. Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Mr Paul Nicholson told the inquest the surgery itself was successful and Mr Brennan showed no signs of infection from the surgical wound or other red flags of possible complications. He said Mr Brennan was given a standard dose of antibiotics for 24 hours after the surgery and was walking on crutches the day afterwards. However, on the second day following the surgery, he said he got a call from another doctor on duty who believed a test for sepsis should be done.Mr Nicholson said he agreed,but when he examined Mr Brennan the following day he found no signs of clinical sepsis or other abnormalities. He said he did not receive any communication from the ward until the evening of November 27, when he got a call advising him that Mr Brennan had collapsed of unknown sepsis and that his prognosis was not good. Mr Nicholson said he was never informed of the result of the sepsis test conducted on November 25, nor had Mr Brennan been given antibiotics after the initial post-operative dose. I got no communication at all that anything was untoward until after midnight, he said. He was well when I saw him and I was stunned when I got a call saying he had deteriorated. He told the inquest it wasextremely rare for a patient to die of complications from a hip replacement, adding only two other patients died of complications in his 20 years as a surgeon, one who had a stroke and another who suffered a blood clot. ATHENS, Greece, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Diana Shipping Inc. (DSX), (the Company), a global shipping company specializing in the ownership of dry bulk vessels, today announced that it has signed, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, a Memorandum of Agreement to sell to an unaffiliated third party, the 2002-built vessel Norfolk, with delivery to the buyer latest by February 25, 2020, for a sale price of US$9.35 million before commissions. The Company also announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with Aquavita International S.A., for one of its Kamsarmax dry bulk vessels, the m/v Maia. The gross charter rate is US$11,200 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period of minimum fourteen (14) months to about sixteen (16) months. The new charter will commence today. The Maia is a 82,193 dwt Kamsarmax dry bulk vessel built in 2009. This employment is anticipated to generate approximately US$4.7 million of gross revenue for the minimum scheduled period of the time charter. Upon completion of the aforementioned sale and the previously announced sale of a Panamax dry bulk vessel, the m/v Calipso, Diana Shipping Inc.s fleet will consist of 40 dry bulk vessels (4 Newcastlemax, 13 Capesize, 5 Post-Panamax, 5 Kamsarmax and 13 Panamax). As of today, the combined carrying capacity of the Companys fleet, including the m/v Norfolk and the m/v Calipso, is approximately 5.2 million dwt with a weighted average age of 9.62 years. A table describing the current Diana Shipping Inc. fleet can be found on the Companys website, www.dianashippinginc.com. Information contained on the Companys website does not constitute a part of this press release. About the Company Diana Shipping Inc. is a global provider of shipping transportation services through its ownership of dry bulk vessels. The Companys vessels are employed primarily on medium to long-term time charters and transport a range of dry bulk cargoes, including such commodities as iron ore, coal, grain and other materials along worldwide shipping routes. Story continues Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words believe, anticipate, intends, estimate, forecast, project, plan, potential, may, should, expect, pending and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, Company managements examination of historical operating trends, data contained in the Companys records and other data available from third parties. Although the Company believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies that are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond the Companys control, the Company cannot assure you that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. In addition to these important factors, other important factors that, in the Companys view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand for dry bulk shipping capacity, changes in the Companys operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for the Companys vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessel breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other factors. Please see the Companys filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a more complete discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Corporate Contact: Ioannis Zafirakis Director, Chief Strategy Officer and Secretary Telephone: + 30-210-9470-100 Email: izafirakis@dianashippinginc.com Website: www.dianashippinginc.com Investor and Media Relations: Edward Nebb Comm-Counsellors, LLC Telephone: + 1-203-972-8350 Email: enebb@optonline.net The Rhythm Section was directed by Reed Morano, who did a nice job with the first few episodes of The Handmaids Tale, but who seems a bit self-indulgent here. When we first meet Boyd, for instance, we see only his boots, for something like five minutes. And despite the tales violent themes innocent children are collateral damage the soundtrack has a weirdly jaunty flavor, with old pop songs by the Mamas and the Papas, the Monkees, Brenda Lee and Elvis Presley popping up at inopportune moments. MONTREALThe Quebec government says it will re-evaluate the $120,000 annual public funding it gives to the provinces biggest womens federation after its president suggested that heterosexual relationships should be banned. Gabrielle Bouchard, president of the Federation des femmes du Quebec, made the controversial comment Tuesday on Twitter, before issuing an apology on Facebook and during televised media interviews later in the day. Bouchard says her original tweet was in reaction to news that a man out on parole after being convicted of killing his female partner had been arrested in the slaying last week of a 22-year-old woman in Quebec City. In it she said heterosexual relationships were violent, mostly based on religion and possibly should be banned. Labour and Social Solidarity Minister Jean Boulet said he will analyze whether the organization still qualifies for its annual subsidy in light of Bouchards comments. He said in an interview that Bouchards words were unacceptable and lacked respect, but that he felt her apology was also sincere. All I can do, Boulet said, as a good manager of public money, is to analyze the situation ... and Ill take into consideration all the facts, including her apology. Bouchards controversial tweet on Tuesday said: Heterosexual relationships are really violent. In addition, the vast majority of those relationships are based on religion. It may be time to have a conversation about banning them and abolishing them. A couple of hours after the original post, Bouchard tweeted about how femicides are an issue that need to be taken seriously. After received heated criticism online and from other members of the Quebec government, Bouchard wrote on Facebook that her message was out of place and hurt many people. I deeply apologize for this lack of judgment and promise to be up to the challenges we have to face. The federation did not return a request for an interview. Bouchards initial tweet was in response to the killing of Marylene Levesque, which prompted federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair to announce an investigation Monday. Eustachio Gallese, 51, was charged last Thursday with second-degree murder in the death of the 22-year-old sex worker. In 2006, Gallese was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 15 years after he killed his 32-year-old partner, Chantale Deschenes, by beating her with a hammer before repeatedly stabbing her. The parole board initially concluded Gallese posed a high risk of committing violence against a partner. But the board later revised its evaluation to moderate and by 2016 had allowed him out of prison on supervised outings. He was released to a halfway house in March. Blair said a full investigation would be conducted jointly by the Commissioner of Corrections Services and the chair of the Parole Board of Canada to determine the circumstances surrounding Galleses release and to ensure lessons are learned from it. The womens group president has attracted attention in the past for other provocative musings. She suggested last June the state should make vasectomies obligatory for men as soon as they reach 18 years old. Bouchard said at the time the tweet was made in jest, as a way to spark discussion around anti-abortion policies and laws in Canada and around the world that seek to control womens bodies. The recent positions of the federation under Bouchard have reflected divisions in the provinces womens movement. Bouchard has taken the group in a more radical direction, and alienated certain feminists who have publicly declared the organization no longer spoke for them. An issue that highlighted the split came in 2018, when a number of the federations member organizations quit after it passed a resolution declaring that women can freely choose to become sex workers. Read more about: Last December, Allstate filed a complaint alleging that AGA and Isaly had coerced insureds into hiring them for windshield replacements, obtaining assignment of benefits from insureds, submitting invoices to Allstate for excessive amounts, and filling more than 1,400 lawsuits for recovery of payments. A mediation date for the case was set for March, 2020. After the mediation date was set, AGA and Isaly filed a motion to compel so that they could get some answers and proof of Allstates accusations. In turn, the insurer filed its response last week, asking the court to deny the motion since it believes both AGA and Isaly are asking for information that is irrelevant to the lawsuit. Earlier this week, Allstate returned to the Southern Florida courts to file a second response to AGA and Isaly, glassBYTEs.com reported. In the second filing, the insurer explained that it believes the windshield replacement company is attempting to broaden the scope of discovery in the case. This broad, expansive discovery would be extraordinarily burdensome for Allstate Fire & Casualty and the other plaintiffs to produce and is simply not needed for AGA to gather information relevant to its one small claim that it has asserted against Allstate Fire & Casualty. Thus, AGAs broad and oppressive discovery is not proportional to the needs of this case, Allstate said in its response. Allstate added that the claims AGA and Isaly made about them conferring with plaintiffs counsel by telephone and email about the outstanding discovery and their motion to compel were not accurate. Isaly and AGA had requested that their attorneys fees be covered by Allstate, which the insurer is also asking the courts to turn down. SPRINGFIELD School Committee member Denise M. Hurst will run for the 9th Hampden District seat following state Rep. Jose Tosados announcement that he will not seek reelection. "I learned very early on during my time on the school committee that I needed to ensure that Springfield had the ear of state and federal policy makers. There are critical mandates that come down and affect local districts, and I wanted to make sure Springfield had a voice, Hurst said. If fortunate enough to be elected to the 9th Hampden District, I look forward to representing the Springfield residents of the district and those who reside in the neighboring city of Chicopee. Hurst is the second elected official in Springfield to throw a hat into the ring following Tosados announcement. City Councilor Orlando Ramos also said Wednesday that he will run for the seat in the House. Nomination papers are not available until Feb. 11. Hurst was elected to the School Committee in 2009. She has served as vice chair, and as chair of the curriculum and programs subcommittee. Her other subcommittee memberships have included technology, vocational, and legislative and contracts. She is the current vice president of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, where she said she led an effort to create the organizations Minority Caucus. Hurst is the vice president of advancement and external affairs at Springfield Technical Community College. She has also worked as regional manager of the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission in Western Massachusetts and area director at the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. Rep. Tosado and I were colleagues at the Department of Mental Health and he was a leader then and continued to be during his time representing the 9th Hampden District. His retirement is a loss and I wish him and his family well, she said. A graduate of UMass Amherst with a masters degree from Springfield College, Hurst lives in the citys Sixteen Acres neighborhood with her husband, City Councilor Justin Hurst, and their two sons. Teresa Giudice has had her breasts augmented again. The Real Housewives Of New Jersey star broke the news with a lengthy note on her Instagram account on Tuesday. '10 Years after my first Breast Augmentation I decided to have my breasts re-done. I am so thankful for Dr. Preminger @premingermd.... I was very nervous to re-do my breasts, but I felt it was necessary for me to feel like my best self,' said the 47-year-old star. This comes after photos emerged of her estranged husband of 20 years, Joe Giudice, dancing with women in bikinis during a vacation in Mexico. Big news: Teresa Giudice has breast augmentation again. The Real Housewives Of New Jersey star broke the news with a lengthy note on her Instagram account His new life: This comes after photos have emerged of her estranged husband of 20 years, Joe Giudice, dancing with women in bikinis during a vacation in Mexico She added, 'I believe its important to always stand strong and feel like your best most confident self.' And the TV vet also said: 'I encourage anyone who doesnt feel their best self to work on feeling better. Even if it is the smallest thing every day. If it is something that requires cosmetic surgery to feel better I highly recommend Dr. Preminger @premingermd, and could not be happier with the results. I felt like she understood me, and really made me feel comfortable. 'I am grateful to have had such a professional approach. Before the operation: The TV vet also had the markings on her chest before the operation 'Dr. Preminger is Harvard, Cornell & Columbia educated Board Certified plastic surgeon. Based on my experience I can see why Dr.Preminger sits on the board of American Plastic Surgery, was the Chair of Ethics for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons for 2 years, and why she has an ethics faculty appointment at Cornell University Medical College.' The single mother then added several hashtags. One included, 'Not a paid advertisement.' In the photo, Teresa has on a robe as she poses with the doctor. She is serious about looking good: The star works out daily; seen here last week in NJ Sun's out!! Giudice showed off her incredible figure in this bathing suit photo from last week Staying on top of her workouts: Here she is seen earlier this month in the gym with a pal On her show: Here the star is seen in a low-cut dress on RHONJ Last week the 47-year-old mother-of-four left very little to the imagination in her racy cut-out costume. Teresa stunned in a white one-piece with a criss-cross suit that had a very low cut out in the front and down each side. She teamed the look with a cover-up that barely did the trick with its cut-outs and hem. The Real Housewives of New Jersey star accessorized with various bangles and a pair of shades over her eyes. Over: Teresa's post comes following the split from her husband Joe (pictured with their daughters, Gia, 19, Gabriella, 16, Milania, 15, and Audriana, 11 in 2019) Teresa's surgery post comes after her estranged husband, Joe, recently confessed that she had 'urged' husband Joe to change before their split. 'Dont fall in! Whatever happens in our future, remember we were friends to begin with,' he captioned a throwback photo with Teresa. 'We will always stay strong. Its not distance that breaks a couple its actions! Im growing and learning more from todays generation. egocentrism was thing in baby boomer and gen x era.' Final straw: Joe, recently confessed that she had 'urged' him to change before their split He continued his deep spiel with: 'Now, Millennials believe in joint effort not separating roles. Not, that I didnt love my era I see the ego thing got in my way like a trap. one bedroom is good Today, simplicity, girls and family first, and actions speak louder than a car or big things.#familyiseverything #awakening #kids #future.' Joe and Teresa are parents to four daughters, Gia, 19, Gabriella, 16, Milania, 15, and Audriana, 11. The pair confirmed their split in December. 'Teresa and Joe have separated, but have no plans to divorce yet, a source told Us Weekly at the time. Giving a good pose: The siren in an Instagram photo where she had on a bra top 'Teresa and Joe talked about their future when she and the girls were in Italy and decided it was best for them to separate.' Joe has spent much of the past few years behind bars in connection to his 2014 guilty plea to mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud charges. Teresa spent most of 2015 in custody in her 11-month sentence in her related conviction, while Joe in March of 2016 started serving his 41-month sentence. Because Joe was not a U.S. citizen - the reality star was born in Saronno, Italy and brought to the United States when he was a year old, never applying for citizenship - federal authorities ordered him deported due to legal statutes related to 'a crime of moral turpitude' or 'aggravated felony.' Joe concluded his sentence at Fort Dix, New Jersey's Federal Correctional Institution this past March, and was held in ICE custody until he was deported to Italy October 11 amid an appeal in the case. Foreign airlines began suspending flights to and from China on Wednesday as global fears mounted over a coronavirus epidemic that has killed 132 people and infected nearly 6,000. The announcements came hours after countries began airlifts to evacuate foreigners trapped in Wuhan, the quarantined central Chinese city of 11 million people at the epicentre of the health emergency. A growing number of governments, including the United States, Britain and Germany, have in recent days advised their citizens to avoid non-essential travel to China over concerns about the viral outbreak. China has itself urged its citizens to delay trips abroad, with at least 15 countries having confirmed cases of the disease. The United Arab Emirates reported the first known case in the Middle East on Wednesday. British Airways was the first major airline to announce a total suspension of flights to and from China, citing the travel advice of the foreign office. "We apologise to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority," BA said in a statement on Wednesday. Indonesia's Lion Air Group, Southeast Asia's biggest carrier by fleet size, then said it would halt services to and from China from Saturday "until further notice". In Myanmar, the three airlines that have routes into neighbouring China also said those flights would also be suspended from Saturday. Cathay Pacific also cut flights, citing low demand and the Hong Kong government's response plan against the virus. And in one of the most dramatic measures, the tiny Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea announced Wednesday that travellers from Asia would not be allowed in. However many other airlines said they were continuing their China services. China has taken other extraordinary measures to try and stop the disease spreading, including bans on tour groups travelling overseas, suspending schools and extending the Lunar New Year holiday. Authorities also last week imposed transport bans in and around Wuhan in an unprecedented quarantine effort, leaving more than 50 million people shuttered in their homes. "This is the first day since the lockdown that I've had to go out," a man in his 50s told AFP on the mostly deserted streets of the industrial city on Wednesday. "I have no choice because I need to buy food today." Thousands of foreigners have been among those trapped in Wuhan, which has become a near ghost-town with car travel banned and residents staying indoors. Countries have scrambled for days to try and get their citizens out of Wuhan safely, but have faced huge logistical, medical and bureaucratic hurdles. A US charter flight left Wuhan on Wednesday with about 200 Americans on board, including consulate staff. Another 200 people were aboard a Japanese flight which landed in Tokyo on Wednesday morning. Medical professionals were on the plane to carry out checks but officials said they had no legal basis to forcibly quarantine people who have not tested positive for the virus. They would instead be asked to remain at home and avoid crowds until the results of the tests were known. Other countries were planning more stringent quarantine measures, with Australia to evacuate its citizens from Wuhan and temporarily house them on an island normally used to detain asylum seekers. France said it would keep its returnees in a holding facility in Paris for 14 days -- the estimated incubation period for the virus. Meanwhile, the virus continued to spread and kill in China. The number of confirmed cases across the country climbed to 5,974, while the death toll nationwide jumped 26 to 132. The scale of the deepening crisis was emphasised with the total number of infections on the Chinese mainland exceeding that of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2002-03. SARS, another respiratory coronavirus, went on to claim nearly 800 lives around the world, with most of those fatalities in mainland China and Hong Kong. The virus is believed to have originated in a wild-animal market in Wuhan, where it jumped to humans before spreading across the country as the peak travel period for Lunar New Year festivities got under way. The World Health Organization said Tuesday it would send urgently dispatch international experts to China "to guide global response efforts". Until Tuesday, all reported cases overseas had involved people who had been in or around Wuhan. But Japan and Germany then reported the first confirmed human-to-human transmission of the illness outside China. Vietnam is investigating another case. Germany now has four confirmed cases, all of them employees at a Bavarian firm recently visited by a Chinese colleague, health officials said. The US asked China on Tuesday to step up its cooperation with international health authorities over the epidemic. Washington had offered China assistance three times so far without success, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told reporters. The virus has rattled global markets and started to dent an already-slowing Chinese economy. Japanese automaker Toyota said Wednesday it would keep its plants in China closed until at least February 9 in part due to government guidelines. Apple was closely watching the outbreak in China, home to the firm's third-biggest consumer market and much of its supply chain, chief executive Tim Cook said. Global coffee chain Starbucks said it expected a significant earnings hit after closing more than half of its stores across China. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. On Wednesday morning the Duchess of Cambridge helped to serve breakfast to school children at LEYF (London Early Years Foundation) Nurseries in Stockwell. The mum-of-three spent the morning learning about the importance of nutritious food for a childs development, as part of her 5 big questions on the under fives survey that launched last week on behalf of the Royal Foundation. The 38-year-old dressed down for the early morning pre-school visit, wearing a pair of black skinny jeans with a 90 off-white jumper with lace detail by French brand Sezane. She did, however, add a pop of colour with a statement single breasted blue coat from high street shop, Jigsaw. Duchess of Cambridge visits LEYF Stockwell Gardens Nursery & Pre-School on Wednesday morning. [Photo: Getty] The Duchess of Cambridge added a splash of colour to her ensemble with a blue Jigsaw coat. [Photo: Getty] The vibrant item of outerwear, which is made out of wool, is available to buy for 270. The timeless silhouette also comes in two addition hues: camel and bright orange. Kate accessorised the look with a recycled pair of earrings from Accessorize, which cost only 5 and have already sold out. Meanwhile, her classic black ankle boots are thought to be by British brand, Russell and Bromley. The Duchess of Cambridge served breakfast to children at LEYF Stockwell Gardens Nursery & Pre-School following last week's launch of the "5 Big Questions" survey. [Photo: Getty] Duchess of Cambridge high-fives children during a breakfast visit to London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) at Stockwell Gardens Nursery and Pre-school. [Photo: Getty] Kate seemed to have a wonderful time as she served breakfast to the pre-schoolers and was seen giving high-fives as she poured cereal for the nursery children. The school visit was the Duchess of Cambridges third engagement this week, having attended the Holocaust Memorial Day service in London on Monday and Evelina Children's Hospital on Tuesday. Shop Kates coat Single Breasted City Coat | 270 from Jigsaw Shop an affordable alternative to Kates coat Beijing/Sputnik/UNI: South Korea, the United Kingdom and France have expressed their readiness to provide China with medical goods to fight the new coronavirus outbreak, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. The statement comes following phone conversations between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with his South Korean, the UK and French counterparts. "Facing difficulties, the neighbors should support and help each other. South Korea is ready to work with China and stop the spread of the epidemic, and is also ready to provide as soon as possible the necessary medical supplies," South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha said, as quoted in the statement. UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab also said that the United Kingdom was ready to send all necessary medical supplies to China. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, for his part, said that Paris appreciated China's efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus. "If China needs something, France is ready to provide any necessary assistance," he said. The previously unknown type of the virus was first detected in China's Wuhan in late December but later spread to other major cities. As of Wednesday morning, over 6,000 infection cases and 132 deaths have been confirmed in China, according to the countrys National Health Commission. Apart from China, at least 15 other countries have detected the virus. What does the plan say? While Mr. Trumps proposal is the latest in a series of United States-brokered attempts to forge peace between Israelis and Palestinians, his framework was a sharp departure from decades of American policy. The United States has long voiced support for the creation of a Palestinian state with only slight adjustments to the Israeli boundaries that existed before the Arab-Israeli war of 1967, when Israel wrested the West Bank from Jordan, and Gaza from Egypt. Instead, the 181-page Trump plan proposes a West Bank riddled with interconnected chunks of Israeli territory containing Jewish settlements, many of them largely encircled by Palestinian lands. For the Palestinians, it would mean giving up a claim to large amounts of West Bank land including places where Israel has built settlements over the past half-century and strategic areas along the Jordanian border. Most of the world regards the settlements as illegal. The framework also sets aside the longtime goal of a fully autonomous Palestinian state. Instead, Mr. Trump vaguely promised that Palestinians could achieve an independent state of their very own but gave few details, while Mr. Netanyahu said the deal provided a pathway to a Palestinian state with significant caveats. The Palestinians do not subscribe to the plan, though the deal provides for a four-year window for them to engage in renewed settlement talks. During that time, Israel would refrain from constructing settlements in those parts of the West Bank that the plan has designated for Palestinians. Previous American proposals spoke of uprooting tens of thousands of Israelis from the settlements to return those areas to the Palestinians for inclusion in their state, but the Trump plan promises to leave both settlers and Palestinians in their current homes. Rather, it maps out a series of linked settlements and other areas that would officially become Israeli territory in the midst of the West Bank. A pub has banned drinkers from wearing 'jobby catcher' tracksuits, flip-flops and bearing their mankles in a bid to smarten up their bar. The Dreadnought Pub in Leith is shunning men who show their bare ankles by wearing their trousers at half-mast in new rules for punters. Staff say they have taken the drastic step because some customers' standards have dropped and have even put signs in the window outlining the new ban. Pictured: The dress code sign that awaits punters at the Dreadnought in Leith as it attempts to smarten up its clientele Some social media users praised the measure, but others wondered how it would affect trade Staff at the pub (pictured) said that allowing tracksuit bottoms was akin to installing a smashed up bus shelter and invited customers to urinate on it A hilarious post on its Facebook page reads: 'We were accused of snobbishness last time but, frankly, they just make the place look scruffy. We do our best to keep the place looking reasonably smart. 'If the first you see when you walk in is a group of lads wearing matching grey marl jobby catchers, we may as well have installed a beaten up bus shelter in the corner and invited folk to take a slash against it. 'Just to prove our sartorial prejudices cross all boundaries, we're also taking a stand against this horrendous current trend of half mast jeans, bare ankles and shoes. 'It may seem trivial but there was that "jeans halfway down the ar**" trend a few years ago and it went unchecked to the point that we had a lad sitting at the bar with his strides basically round his ankles, displaying a massive skidmark up the back of his threadbare shreddies. 'If you're going to base your fashion choices on what the staff at Urban Outfitters were wearing, there's a place created especially for you. It's called Brewdog.' The decision divided drinkers on social media, with Brigid Wilson writing: 'I love a turned up jean and shoe combo though. Friday might be silent.' Robert Rothwell said: 'A gents loafer without a sock - the mince trotter - should be a lifetime ban.' Garry McLea said: 'Never been in your pub but I commend you on your dress guidelines. If I'm ever in Leith I will make a point of visiting.' Darren Robb said: 'Sensible policies for a happier Scotland.' Mairi Beaver, who runs the fashion and lifestyle blog This Girl Can, said the pub deserved both praise and a word of warning. She said: 'Whilst I applaud anyone who advocates that "jobby catchers" shouldn't be worn anywhere other than the gym, suggesting that a cheeky turn up is not welcome in the hipster-heartland of Leith is a bit risque. 'I love the tongue-and-cheek approach - much more preferred than the bouncers of George Street's approach.' Last May, the pub left punters in stitches after introducing 'anti-theft' pint glasses with the hilarious slogans on them. The display slogans said 'I'm voting UKIP' and 'I Stole this Glass from the Dreadnought because I'm a t***.' Dreadnought Leith has been contacted for further comment. J&K was better off before Article 370 was abrogated: Azad Purely internal, says Israel diplomat on citizenship law, Article 370 India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Comibatore, Jan 29: With resolutions being moved in the European Parliament against the Citizenship law, a senior Israeli diplomat said on Tuesday that the issue is India's internal matter. CAB and Article 370 (that was scrapped) are internal matters of India, which has every right to take a decision about its citizens, Consul General of Israel to South India Dana Kursh told reporters. Replying to a specific question on Israel's stand on European Union Parliament's resolutions, she said that every country has the right to take decisions about its citizens. "India has also taken such decision and EU has issues beyond these and no nation should act in any biased manner," she said. India has supported Israel in such crises from other nations, Kursh said. Citizenship law, NRC dangerously divisive says draft resolution of European Parliament NEWS AT NOON JAN 29th, 2020 Kursh, here to participate in the two-day Indo-Israel Joint Conference on Sustainable Cities at Kumaraguru College of Technology, said both the countries have tie-up in all three major sectors of academia, industry and government. Tamil Nadu has many successful partnerships with Israel, she said and cited the seawater desalination and waste water treatment plants at Chennai. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, January 29, 2020, 7:41 [IST] 'I have stopped going to college and instead come here to protest.' 'What is the point of going to college when you are unsure about your citizenship?' 'I am here to protest and save my future.' Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com reports from Mumbai Bagh, where Muslim women have gathered to protest against the citizenship laws. Photographs/Videos: Hitesh Harisinghani/Rediff.com "The home minister of India's job is to maintain law and order in the country and ensure peace. But what do you do when he provokes you to protest?" This is a common complaint echoed by protestors in Nagpada, south central Mumbai, who have gathered to protest the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the home-minister-proposed National Register of Citizens. "Amit Shah said he was not going to budge an inch on the CAA and dared us to do what we want. So we decided to peacefully protest," says Asma Khan, a resident of Nagpada. Shah made the statement on January 22 while addressing a rally in Lucknow: 'Those protesting can continue to do so. Irrespective of the protests, CAA will not be withdrawn.' On the night of January 26, out of the blue and without any plan, women started gathering in a lane adjacent to the Arabia hotel in Nagpada to protest against the new citizenship rules. The protest is a predominantly women's affair, with a handful of men participating. When we visited the site on Tuesday, January 28, afternoon there were around 100 protestors. Overnight, the lane has renamed itself as Mumbai Bagh -- on the lines of Shaheen Bagh in New Delhi, the venue of massive protests in the capital -- and the protest has been going on round the clock, with the women taking turns. Chants of 'Azaadi' are non-stop, and Varun Grover's poem, Hum Kaagaz Nahi Dikhaenge, which has become the anthem of the anti-CAA protests, reverberates at the protest site. If the noise and activity disturbs residents of nearby buildings, no one is saying anything about it. An elderly man sporting a long beard points to cameras targeting the protest site. "No resident will say anything on record. Every protestor is being watched. There are policemen in plainclothes. So it is better to keep out of it," he says, not revealing his name. Unlike in Delhi, where protestors block roads, the protestors in Mumbai Bagh have gathered in a quiet bylane, without any hindrance to passing traffic or the public. Just like in Shaheen Bagh, here too there is no organiser, and every protesting woman is vocal about the CAA, the National Population Register and the NRC. Asked why she is protesting in Mumbai when the Maharashtra government has categorically said it will not implement the NPR in the state, Asma Khan says, "We want in writing from the Maharashtra government that they will not have NPR or CAA. Other states like West Bengal and Rajasthan have passed resolutions against the CAA, but in Maharashtra they have not done that. Therefore, we are protesting." "The day they give in writing that they are not going to implement the CAA, NPR, NRC, we will stop our protests." WATCH: The Mumbai Bagh protests Quoting Union Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur's exhortation at a Delhi election meeting 'Desh ke gaddaron ko...' (with the public chanting, 'goli maro saalon ko'), Asma vents her anger. "What kind of statements are these leaders making? We are only raising our voice against injustice. But see how they are responding." "Amit Shah says he will not take one step back, we too will not step back. He has provoked us and we will not stop our protest now. What he did with the CAA was unconstitutional, he should not have done that. And we are protesting as it is our right to protest, according to our Constitution," asserts Asma. All the while, students shout "Azaadi" at the protest site, waving the Tricolour non-stop. "Our grandparents were going to Pakistan, but Maulana Abul Kalam Azad stopped them from going stating that India is our country. Now the Modi government wants each one of us to prove their nationality," says Ismat Faizi, a student. "I have come to protect the Constitution," says Dr Amiroonisa. "Every Indian child is unsafe, be s/he from any religion, because of the CAA, NPR, NRC. I have a lot of work at my dispensary, but I somehow finish it and come here for at least 4, 5 hours to protest. The CAA is not good for the country and must be scrapped." Sadia Ansari, a housewife at the protest site with the National Flag draped over her burqa, says she got it stitched for 20 of the protestors. "We are Indians by choice. Our parents had a chance to go to Pakistan, but they didn't go. They chose India over Pakistan. And now this government wants us to prove that we are Indians," says Sadia. WATCH: 'Mere maula mere Bharat ko salamat rakhna' A commotion erupts when the women spot a man videographing them granting interviews. The burqa-clad women ask the man about his identity. Surrounded by angry women, the man claims he is from the Nagpada police station and is recording the protests on his superiors's orders. "You must wear police uniform and do your job. Why are you wearing civilian clothes? And who gave you permission to shoot the video?" The women are furious and as others turn up to confront the man, the situation looks like it may get out of hand. Some youngsters sort out the matter and the man leaves the protest site. "This is illegal. Protesting is our right and the government cannot secretly shoot our video. If they want, they can come in police uniform and shoot our videos," shouts a burqa-clad lady. Bint-e-Adam, who refuses to give her surname, tells us, "I have stopped going to college and instead come here to protest." "What is the point of going to college when you are unsure about your citizenship? I am here to protest and save my future." WASHINGTON - The Trump administration on Wednesday imposed sanctions on a Moscow-based private railway company that last month opened passenger service between Russia and Crimea, a Ukrainian peninsula that Russia annexed in 2014. The sanctions target Grand Service Express, its CEO and seven people who were slapped with European Union sanctions earlier in the week for their role in organizing Russian local elections on Crimea in September. The EU and the U.S. imposed economic sanctions on Russia after the annexation and refuse to recognize Moscows authority over the region. The Treasury Department handed down the new sanctions two days before Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is due in Kyiv to meet with the Ukrainian president and other officials. They may be intended to send a message of support from the Trump administration during the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump over his dealings with Ukraine. Treasurys action, taken in close co-ordination with our international allies and partners, reiterates our unwavering support for restoring free and fair democratic processes in Crimea, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. The sanctions may also serve to reduce the sting of Pompeos recent disparaging comment about Ukraine. Following an interview last week with NPR reporter Mary Louise Kelly, she said he shouted obscenities at her for asking about Ukraine and asked whether she thought Americans really cared about the country. The railway connection to Crimea was inaugurated in late December by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who rode a train across the 12-mile (19-kilometre) bridge. The project is intended to bolster links between Russia and Crimea by increasing the transport of cargo and encouraging the flow of tourists. Photo: Mark Krynsky/Flickr Missed the most recent top news in Detroit? Read on for everything you need to know. Detroit moves forward with plans to get historic Fort Wayne redeveloped The city will soon issue a request for information seeking development partners. Read the full story on Curbed Detroit. Vegan pop-up Street Beet will operate out of Third Street bar indefinitely The owners of Street Beet, the sustainable vegan pop-up with hours-long wait times that earned a cult-like status for its playful takes on fast-food chains, have found a more permanent home. Read the full story on Detroit Metro Times. Detroit airport now screening for coronavirus There is one case in Michigan currently being tested; three others came back negative. Read the full story on WZZM13. PJ's Lager House hosts eclectic night of music Billed as an eclectic and cathartic connection of high art, the evening kicks off with up-and-coming tastemakers Sensai x JuJu, both of whom will join forces for a hip-hop house set on Thursday night. Read the full story on Detroit Metro Times. Peter Karmanos, Jr. asks Trump to pardon former mayor Kilpatrick The businessman is pushing for the Trump administration to release ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick from prison. Kilpatrick was convicted on various corruption charges in 2013 and is serving 28 years. Read the full story on CBS Detroit. 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. Prime Minister Boris Johnson at Prime Minister's Question time in the House of Commons. (Photo by HO/PRU/AFP via Getty Images) Victims of violence during The Troubles in Northern Ireland will only be compensated if their injuries came about "through no fault of their own," the Prime Minister has said. Some unionist politicians have previously expressed concern that those involved in sectarian violence may be able to claim funds if they were injured by such action. During PMQs, DUP MP Gregory Campbell asked Boris Johnson to commit to ensuring that those who were injured through their own violent actions do not receive a "victims pension". Mr Campbell said: "As the Prime Minister will be aware we have been pressing for some time for a pension for innocent victims of violence in Northern Ireland. "Can he update the House on the progress made thus far? "And give an absolute assurance that those in receipt of such a pension are innocent victims and will not include those perpetrators who were injured by their own actions?" Responding, Mr Johnson said: "Obviously, we have every sympathy for innocent victims of violence in Northern Ireland and we've been consistently clear that the principle that those who've sustained injuries it must have happened through no fault of their own. "That principle will be sustained throughout the negotiations." Property investors seeking to rent out single-family homes for less than 30 days at a time could see their tax bills nearly triple next year. The Olmsted Countys Property Records and Licensing office recently mailed 89 questionnaires that could lead to property tax reclassification for the recipients. Kellie Mueller, Rochester resident and owner of short-term rental properties, said the effort appears to miss the mark. "I think there is a huge misunderstanding on this," she said, pointing out that not all short-term rentals are booked for less than 30 days. The 30-day bar is when a rental is classified as a standard residential rental under state guidelines, leaving some properties rented through online platforms in a gray area. ADVERTISEMENT Mueller, who holds local rental certificates for her short-term rental properties, said the owners who received the letters frequently rent to patients and others connected to Mayo Clinic for more than 30 days, providing a homelike atmosphere during periods that can be stressful. "The patients rely on these houses," she said. Shawn Buryska, a local Realtor who received a letter from the county, agreed. He owns one short-term rental property, which had belonged to his mother. While he holds a rental certificate for the property, he said hes able to balance the books by renting the house a week or longer at a time. "I spent too much on the remodeling," he said, adding that a traditional rental agreement wouldnt recoup costs. Buryska and Mueller said a higher tax classification will likely lead to higher costs for needing a place to stay, but they also question whether its the right move. "Its arbitrary," Buryska said. Mark Krupski, the countys director of property records and licensing, said the letters sent by his office this month stem from state direction. ADVERTISEMENT In May, Jon Klockziem, director of the Minnesota Department of Revenue, sent county assessors guidelines for classifying residential properties rented on a short-term basis, which he said are on the rise in the state. "A short-term rental propertys use is income generation through short-term lodging (less than 30 consecutive days), which is similar to a hotel property," Klockziem wrote. "Residential non-homestead and apartment classifications require rentals by tenants for 30 consecutive days or more." He did not offer guidance on how to identify the properties that should be reassessed. Krupski said his team used local online listings to identify short-term rentals, which revealed more than 200 properties in the county. Once the address of a property was determined, county staff compared it to tax records to determine whether a homestead claim was made, indicating the owner lived at the address. Since the classification change wouldnt apply to properties renting a single room in a house occupied by the owner, homesteaded properties were removed from the list, leaving 89 properties on the list. Krupski said being sent a letter doesnt mean the classification will necessarily change. Each property is expected to be assessed on its own merits. "Were relying on some self-reporting here," he said. The questionnaire seeks to determine whether a property was rented last year, whether it has a rental certificate, and the length of individual rentals, as well as rental income and taxes paid. ADVERTISEMENT If county staff determines a property should be classified as commercial, rather than residential, for tax purposes, Krupski estimates the owner will see the 2021 property tax bill increase by 2.5 times to 3 times from what will be paid this year, largely due to the added commercial property tax collected by the state. He said any classification change will be made based on how the property was used on Jan. 2, but the planned changes can be appealed through the process that starts with a call to his office after classification notices are sent in March. The property owners who received questionnaires have until Feb. 7 to return the forms, or county staff will assume the property is used for short-term rentals and falls within the commercial classification. Mueller and Buryska said they hope the process leaves room for adjustment and reconsideration, either at the local or state level. "I think they are overstepping," Buryska said of the state action. In cabin country, rental property could get new tax treatment Rules suggested for short-term rentals do-you-think-owners-of-short-term-rentals-should-pay/poll_4961bb1a-4247-11ea-9429-634cfad94d6d.html Do you think owners of short-term rentals should pay more in property taxes? Do you think owners of short-term rentals should pay more in property taxes? Was the drive-by shooting death of Shania Chartrand a choreographed execution or a planned beating gone horribly wrong? Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Was the drive-by shooting death of Shania Chartrand a "choreographed execution" or a planned beating gone horribly wrong? Thats the question left with jurors Tuesday as prosecutors and lawyers for three co-accused offered competing theories for what happened late March 12, 2017, outside a Winnipeg rooming house. Shania Chanel Chartrand "There was no fight, because there never was going to be a fight," Crown attorney Rustyn Ullrich told jurors. "This was a choreographed execution." Tyrone Chippeway, 24, Lacy Sorokowski, 24, and Christopher Ryan St. Paul, 26, are on trial for second-degree murder. Prosecutors allege Chippeway (Chartrands cousin) communicated with Chartrand via Facebook Messenger, luring her outside so she could be shot by St. Paul from a car being driven by Sorokowski. Chartrand, 21, was shot once in the chest; police found her minutes later, slumped over and unresponsive on the front steps of the rooming house on Spence Street. Prosecutors say text messages between Chippeway and St. Paul (Chartrands ex-boyfriend) days before the killing, and the testimony of a man Sorokowski talked to hours after the killing, suggest St. Paul and Sorokowski were angry at Chartrand, believing she had set them up to be robbed of drugs. Sorokowski the lone accused to testify told jurors she drove to the rooming house expecting another of her passengers, Ashley Bezecki, to fight Chartrand. Sorokowski said she, Chippeway, St. Paul and Bezecki had been using meth earlier that day, when they ended up parking outside the Northern Hotel on Main Street. While Bezecki was inside the hotel buying alcohol, Chippeway said he had received a text message from Chartrand. When Bezecki returned to the car and learned about the message, she said: "Lets go f---ing get her, then," Sorokowski alleged. "Ashley said: Im going to f---ing punch her out." Sorokowski said she drove to the 200 block of Spence Street, where they searched for the house number Chartrand had given Chippeway. She said they couldnt find the house, and dropped Chippeway off on Portage Avenue before circling the block a couple more times. Sorokowski said they had spotted someone she assumed was Chartrand when she pulled the car over. She said she was watching Bezecki preparing to exit the car, when she heard St. Paul in the front passenger seat say: "Im going to f---ing kill this bitch," and fire the gun. "There is no evidence anything was planned other than Ashley to fight (Chartrand)," Sorokowskis lawyer, Tara Walker, told jurors Tuesday. "Where is there even a shred of evidence for you to consider? It makes more sense that (St. Paul) acted alone." St. Pauls lawyer, Stacey Soldier, argued Sorokowski pointed the finger at St. Paul to distance herself from the killing, and suggested she was the shooter. That, however, would contradict the testimony of St. Pauls sister, who told jurors he admitted to shooting Chartrand. "Would you confess a murder to anyone, let alone your sister, if you didnt do it?" Ullrich asked jurors. Chippeways lawyers argued he was guilty of nothing more than luring Chartrand to what he expected to be a fight, not her death. "Its not nice to lure your cousin outside, believing there is going to be a fight, but thats the plan that happened," said Matt Gould. 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 plan to shoot Chartrand was only "crystallized" after Chippeway was dropped off on Portage Avenue and St. Paul pulled out a gun, Gould said. Ullrich said each accused had a well-defined role to play in the killing and Chartrand would still be alive if one of them had failed to fulfill it. If Chippeway truly believed he was luring Chartrand to a fight, there would be no reason for him to be dropped off on Portage Avenue prior to the killing, Ullrich said. Distancing himself from the car allowed Chippeway to continue communicating with Chartrand and not raise her suspicions, Ullrich said. "The evidence is strong and clear (Chippeway and Sorokowski) both knew this was going to be a shooting," making them just as guilty St. Paul, Ullrich said. Jurors are expected to begin deliberations Thursday. dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca Bolton is the impeachment star of the week, whether he winds up testifying or not, and I cant shake the feeling that he plotted all of this out: keeping his head down during the hearings in the House; letting it be known only afterward that hed be willing to testify in the Senate; the revelation this week simultaneous with assertions by Trumps defense team that there were no firsthand witnesses to the presidents wrongdoing that his book indeed addresses Ukraine and fully backs up the charges in the articles of impeachment. The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) here has started discussions as to how to implement the Supreme Court's order asking six convicts in a Gujarat riot case to live here and do community service. A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde on Tuesday granted bail to 15 convicts in the 2002 Ode riot case, but directed that they shall not live in Gujarat. The bench, also comprising Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant, split the 15 convicts into two groups, one to be sent to Indore and the other to Jabalpur. "They will have to do community services six hours per week as a condition of the bail," the bench said, adding they will have to submit a certificate to the DLSA about the social service they would perform. Indore District Legal Aid Officer Subhash Chaudhary told PTI on Wednesday that they would follow the guidelines of the State Legal Services Authority. "I came to know through newspapers that some convicts of Gujarat riots are going to stay in Indore as per the bail conditions," he said. The DLSA had started deliberations to prepare a blueprint for implementing the order, he said. The 15 men are serving life term in connection with the massacre at Ode town in Anand district in which 23 Muslims were burnt alive. They have been in jail since their conviction in 2012 and were granted bail as their appeal against the high court verdict is pending in the top court. According to the court order, six of them will be staying in Indore and doing community service. The Supreme Court also asked the legal services authorities in Indore and Jabalpur to help the convicts get employment. Meanwhile, senior advocate Pankaj Wadhwani welcomed the apex court's order. "The Supreme Court has set an example of reformative justice," he said. "This is based on the principle 'kill the sin, not the sinner'. It will give the convicts an opportunity to reform themselves through introspection. They will also stay away from prison environment and join the mainstream of society," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vanderpump Rules Dont Do It, Brittany Season 8 Episode 4 Editors Rating 4 stars * * * * Previous Next Photo: Bravo This episode features drunken misunderstandings, ridiculous costumes, criminally inspired editing, and Kristen Doute festering like a lone Sour Patch Kid in a saucerful of bile. This is what we all came for, people. For a brief shining moment, we were back where we all belong, watching Stassi have a series of never-ending fights with her closest friends over the pettiest of matters. This is where I live. When I die, this is where I want my soul to go to stay forever. Either there or the UCLA mens water-polo teams locker room. Its really a toss-up. The episode starts off with two perfect metaphors for what Vanderpump Rules has become. The first is Jax watering his lawn while wearing a Korean face mask, because that is what middle-aged suburban life looks like to these jabronis. The second is two of the servers at Tom Tom setting the plants on fire while Max stands there staring vacantly like hes just unwrapped the Apple Watch that Scheana got him for Thanksgiving. Even a literal fire in his restaurant is not enough to make Max into a man of action or for him to do anything interesting. Luckily, we are taken out of L.A. with a swiftness when everyone embarks on Brittany and Jaxs joint bachelorette-bachelor party in Miami, the Mariah Carey of cities. There are two big fights on the trip. The first is a leftover from last episode when Sandoval sent a string of rage texts to Stassi about her book-signing event at Tom Tom. I love how everyone keeps referring to rage texts as if it is some sort of copyrighted, nationally recognized mode of communication. While it is a thing people do, I do not believe rage texts could be a long across on the New York Times crossword puzzle and leave people satisfied. When they all arrive at the hotel, Sandoval pulls Stassi over and apologizes. As he rightfully declares, Stassi loves a good apology. She likes to just soak in it, like the last bit of banana in a melted sundae. This is not the kind of apology shes getting. Instead, Tom tells her that he is sorry for getting angry but that she should have talked to him instead of to Tom and Lisa. But how was Stassi supposed to know that? How is she supposed to be so finely attuned to the internal politics of Tom Tom that she should know whom to contact about her event and when? This is entirely a Sandoval problem, which he projected onto her. For the first time ever in her entire life, Stassi is completely and utterly in the right. Later, at the strip club, Beau, wearing a denim shirt and khakis, and Sandoval, in a suit and a fake mustache, have a chat about how bad Sandovals apology was. First of all, this is not really Beaus place. Sandoval apologized to Stassi, and if she isnt happy with that apology, she should take it up with him. She is a big girl with an even bigger mouth; she can handle her own. Beau getting involved in this is just adding to the overall group messiness of a very easy dispute. Instead, we get what looks like a Best Buy sales associate going after a 2013 Williamsburg bartender in the parking lot of Gold Rush. Sandoval, especially here, continues to be wrong, screeching about how Stassi shouldnt have yelled at him in front of his customers. Beau then argues, correctly, that they are Stassis customers, because they were there to see her at a time the bar wasnt normally open. Sandoval is getting mad that Stassi inconvenienced him while trying to make him more money with a bar full of paying customers. Its insane. Also, she wouldnt even have been yelling at him if he hadnt yelled at her first. God, no one has ever been as wrong as Sandoval. Ariana and Katie also get pulled into this argument. Ariana is mad that Stassi yelled at Sandoval (though she concedes that his rage texts were inappropriate). Katie is mad that Ariana said the problem with the whole thing is that Schwartz is incompetent. (If one is the owner of a bar, does one really need to know how to clock in, though? Isnt he getting paid the same regardless of how long he works?) Ariana is also mad at Stassi for moving her book at the airport, which is as dumb as Hudson News being able to charge $8 for a bottle of Dasani just because we cant bring liquids through security. When the revolution finally comes, the first business to topple will be Hudson News. Yes, this fight drags on and on, and it is dumb. Speaking of dragging on and on and being dumb, we have to turn our attention now to Kristen: Everyone is still mad at her because, even though she didnt let Carter move into her new house, she is still having sex with him, giving him the code to get into her place, and housing his entire box of sex toys. How many sex toys does one man need? An entire box? I mean, every dude should have a butt plug or something else for the back door, a Hot Octopus Pulse (if you have a penis, this will make it sing whistle tones), and maybe a masturbator from Tenga. Maybe. (This recap is now part of the Strategist.) But a whole box? How many dongs does one person need? At dinner, Katie and Stassi have the same exact fight with Kristen about Carter that weve been hearing for two seasons now. I havent been this annoyed by an inconsequential Bravo grifter who we never seen onscreen since Vicki dumped Brooks and we spent three seasons arguing about him. Ugh, this fight. Its like a cold, wet swimsuit; I do not want to get into it again. Well, Brittany is mad at Kristen because shes trying to ruin her bachelorette party. It started the night before, when all the women went out wearing tacky wedding dresses. (Bachelor and bachelorette parties are a scourge and a national nightmare. Theyre like roving pockets of SantaCon, disturbing and inconveniencing everyone around them, but unlike the annual day of filling East Village gutters with bankers vomit, you never know when youre going to get caught in a tornado of penis hats or dudes looking to mistreat strippers.) Stassi narrates what happened at one of the clubs, because either the cameras werent allowed inside or they got such shitty video we cant really make out what happened. Anyway, finding out it was a bachelorette party, the hosts of the club made a sign that read, Dont do it, Brittany. Kristen convinced Brittany this was tacky and got her all upset about it, so the girls had to leave and sit in Brittanys room waiting for Jax to bring back leftover pizza and picked-clean chicken-wing bones. Back in the room, everyone is convincing Brittany that it was just a funny thing they do at this club. They had the same message the previous weekend for a friend of one of Brittanys muggles from home. Its meant to be a (admittedly tired and hack-y) joke about how every woman is too good to marry a man. Brittanys problem is twofold: She is marrying Jax Taylor, a man she is too good for and whom she should be advised not to marry because he will eventually cheat on her and break her heart, and she has Kristen winding her up like a Victorian clock. Just when someone like Lala convinces her its okay, Kristen pops back in to tell her once again how tacky it is that they arent celebrating her love. This scene should be shown in every high-school health class as a PSA against tequila shots. The next day, when everyone is on a yacht, which Jax says is no better than the booze cruise he took his senior year of high school, Kristen apologizes to Lala for making the previous night a living hell for the one sober person in the room. I bring this up only to talk about how good Lala looks on that boat. She even manages to pull off the Oakleys with #JaxGetsItRight on the bridge, which look like they were ordered from the Worst of Etsy web page. Oh, and her red eyeliner? And whoever did her hair? Lala, we have to stan. She has the range. We love to see it. Im bitches, etc. Things went much more smoothly for the guys, who just went to a strip club. I have to give the editors mad props for two things this episode. The first is showing the guys in the strip club without showing a single one of the womens faces; that had to be an ingenious act of cutting around them and piecing the footage together. The other is when Jax is lying in bed telling Brittany how all the strippers skeeved him out and he didnt even want one next to him, its intercut with footage of him motorboating, snuggling, and espousing his love for various and sundry Hustlers extras. As theyre all hanging out at Gold Rush, Schwartz walks over to Sandoval and says, I got you a lap dance. Sandovals face screws up so much it threatens to pop off his fake mustache. Schwartz leads him to the bouncer, palms the big man a $100 bill, and walks past him into the Champagne room. Schwartz leads Sandoval through a curtain into one of the cubicles, which has only a ratty love seat with an empty bottle-service bucket next to it. Wheres the girl?, Sandoval asks. Schwartz pushes Sandoval back so that he lands on the love seat with a squishy thud. He starts undoing the buttons of his shirt. There is no girl, he says, pulling out his shirttails and unbuttoning his pants. Schwartz gets up on his knees so his crotch is just inches away from Sandovals mouth. Lucky for you, I go a lot further than most of these ladies, Schwartz says. And Im cheaper, too. MBABANE - Talk about tightening the screws! Driving a car into neighbouring South Africa with the sole intention of committing criminal acts may soon be a thing of the past as that countrys law enforcers have tightened the screws. With the high number of hijacking incidents occurring in neighbouring South Africa (SA), foreign registered, including those of emaSwati, will have police trackers to count on should their cars be stolen. This comes after the South African Police Service (SAPS) introduced trackers that are put on every foreign registered car entering SA. The trackers are being put at the border entry and are said to be available at all parts of entry connecting to SA. They were introduced at the beginning of this year. The trackers, which come in the form of stickers, have a bar code which is accessible through a hand machine and they (barcodes) have details that one fills at the border, including, among other things, the name of the car owner, the type of the car and the engine number. Hijacking Information sourced was that there was a syndicate of Eswatini registered cars that were involved in many illegal acts, including robberies, hijacking and dagga transportation. Meanwhile, it also surfaced that there were those cars which were registered under people in the country and would come for service and later be taken back. Imported cars were said to be leading in the number of cars discovered involved in illegal acts in SA. It was stated that those were the cars that were mostly monitored as they also caused a lot of accidents in that country. According to a South African police officer, who asked to remain anonymous, in an interview with this publication, SAPS established that there were people who were selling cars to SA citizens and would cross the border as people going for errands in that country but later came back using public transport after selling the cars in the country. There are a lot of Eswatini cars located in SA and found to be stolen and one of the reasons behind the tracking is to monitor the number of days spent by the cars in the neighbouring country, she said. The source further mentioned that there were Eswatini registered cars already held by the South African Revenue Services because they were being driven by South Africans, yet they crossed with other people who later returned to Eswatini. Elaborating, the police officer said with the newly- installed system, a car could be tracked as to who crossed with it to SA, its engine number and where it was mostly active while in SA. She shared that there were stolen cars that they were able to track already through the same system. The source said there was a Toyota Hilux car that was stolen and was tracked to the premises of a garage where police made even more recoveries of stolen items. Narrating, she said there was also a GWM vehicle that was stolen in Pretoria and linked to housebreaking incident around SA which they were able to find through the Toyota Hilux tracker. Around the country, the stickers are notable on some cars and have SAPS sign on them. It was stated that should a car that crossed with a liSwati to South Africa be seen without the sticker, it was going to be confiscated. The same will apply to a car that illegally spent over 30 days in SA. Confiscated When asked about the removal of the sticker, it was said that even cars without it were going to be confiscated should they appear to have been registered in the system. In an interview with some emaSwati who had the trackers on their cars and had recently crossed the border, they stated that they were told that the sticker was for their own safety. I enquired about the tracker and I was told it was meant for my own safety in that should I be hijacked, the police were going to track down the car, mentioned Nothando. Another driver who frequents SA said she used the Matsamo Border about two weeks ago and that they put the sticker on her car. She said when she travelled again using the Ngwenya Border Gate, police wanted to stick the tracker only to discover that she already had it. Matsamo-based SAPS Head Warrant Officer identified as Mlimi, confirmed the ongoing monitoring of foreign-registered cars. He said it was all cars from neighbouring countries including Lesotho, Mozambique and others, as long as they entered SA. Mlimi further confirmed that the tracking stickers had all information of that particular car. Spotted Should that car overstay in South Africa, whether it is stolen or was sold, it will be spotted at toll-gates and roadblocks across the country, remarked Mlimi. When asked about the intervention of SARS, Mlimi said motorists were not paying revenues in that country hence the country was losing because of the people who had foreign-registered cars and would return to their countries for servicing. On another note, it was gathered that the new system would also be used with those who receive tickets for fines for traffic offences but leave the neighbouring country without paying. This is because the tracking system will contain details of whether that particular driver had been charged and if they did pay for those fines. South Africa remains on high alert for the Coronavirus, which has claimed the lives of 106 people in China. Briefing the media on the countrys preparedness to detect, manage and contain any threat of the Coronavirus from entering the country, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said the country stands ready should there be an outbreak. As the Department of Health, we wish to assure the public that South Africa is adequately prepared for active surveillance, early detection, isolation, case management, contact tracing and prevention of the onward spread of coronavirus, Minister Mkhize said on Wednesday. The Charlotte Maxeke, Steve Biko, and Tembisa hospitals are the three facilities that have been prepared to receive potential Coronavirus cases. To date, South Africa has no reported or suspected cases of Coronavirus. While research into the virus is ongoing, the disease is suspected to originate from animals but evidence suggests that it is spread by human to human contact. On 31 December 2019, the China World Health Organization (WHO) office reported a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China. The cause was confirmed as a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Symptoms According to the WHO, the incubation period is about two to 10 days, although some literature suggests 14 days. More evidence is needed to determine if asymptomatic patients are contagious, although preliminary evidence suggests that like Ebola, all the contacts reported were patients who had symptoms, said the Minister. Symptoms of novel coronavirus are fever and cough with a few patients presenting with difficulty in breathing and bilateral infiltrates on chest X-rays. With a suspected case closer to South African shores in Zambia, the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) is closely monitoring the situation. Travel advice On Monday, South Africa published travel advice based on WHO recommendations that take into consideration all factors that determine the level of threat on a particular territory. The guidelines have not recommended any restrictions on travel or trade but it has recommended that non-essential travel to Wuhan city or Hubei Province, should be avoided or postponed. Prospective travellers can monitor the situation and plan their travel accordingly, the Minister said. Wuhan City is currently under quarantine with five million citizens evacuated from the city. Chinese authorities have closed all public transport entering and leaving Wuhan and other areas in Hubei Province. Response teams In response to the outbreak, South Africa has put measures in place to respond to potential cases. A hotline has been set up at NICD to field questions from clinicians. South Africa has also developed and distributed clinical guidelines and case definitions to nurses and doctors, which include information on how to diagnose and respond to a possible 2019-nCoV case. Provinces have activated outbreak response teams while the screening of returning travellers from China have been intensified. Port health officials routinely conducted thermal screening. As a department, it is standard procedure to monitor emergent outbreaks and we are currently tracking a plethora of pathogens that include those viruses of pandemic potential like H5-N1 and we therefore wish to reassure that Coronavirus is no exception, said Mkhize. An emergency committee meeting convened on Wednesday, 22 January, by the WHO concluded that although developments in China were concerning, it is still too early to declare a public health emergency of international concern. SANews Now read: SA Express demands payment from SAA The last three weeks of January had been filled with issues surrounding the royal family, thanks to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle who stepped down as senior members of the family and moved to Canada to start a new life away from everyone and everything royal. The decision of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to leave has surprised everyone, including the members of the royal family. Several speculations have come out as to what pushed the couple to take on this path, but it looks like the mystery will not be solved soon. Bad Blood vs. British Press Is there really bad blood within the royal family? Several royal experts say that the internal pressure, as well as the lack of support within the family, is what pushed the Harry and Meg to take a step back from their duties. There are others that say it is the scrutiny that Meghan is receiving from the British Press that pushed her to convince Prince Harry to leave London with her. Then there is also a third group that insists the big step they took was a decision they made as good parents. They wanted to shield baby Archie from the pressures of the royal life. Whatever led Prince Harry and Meghan to make the decision, it seems they did not do it all on their own. There is another high-ranking royal that encouraged the two to go ahead with their plan back when it was still in the planning stages. Follow Your Heart "She knew that Harry and Meghan were thinking about leaving and she encouraged them," a source told RadarOnline of Camilla Parker Bowles. The source added that Camilla, during her interactions with Megahn, told the Duchess of Sussex to follow her heart. Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, hoped that his wife Camilla would be a calming influence to Meghan and Harry. However, that was not the case. "He has always been blind about the scheming that has been going on behind his back," the source said of Prince Charles. How did Camilla told Meghan to go ahead with whatever they have been planning? There have been several occasions when the members of the royal family would be able to gather together. Perhaps in one of those moments, Camilla was able to offer her opinion about the monumental decision. Nonetheless, would she really risk going against her husband by advising the couple to step down instead? If she did advise them to "follow their heart," did Camilla really think it is the best for Harry and Meghan? Or was she looking out what's best for the royal family? According to the source of RadarOnline, Camilla secretly reveled in all the drama happening in the family. It seemed like she was playing both sides against each other to benefit her in the end. If Harry and Meghan did ask for Camilla's advice on the matter, it sure looked like their mind was already made up and her advice just pushed them to take the next step. "Meghan looks up to her like how the Queen and Prince Charles do," the source added. The public will never know what she encouraged the Sussexes to do, but one thing is for sure: Camilla would like to maintain the status quo and the royal family intact because she is a heartbeat away from sitting next to Charles on the throne. (TNS) In an effort to bridge a gap in internet speeds between rural and urban communities, federal officials on Tuesday announced a $15.5 million project to expand high-speed connections in rural parishes west of Baton Rouge, La.The project will roll out more than 200 miles of fiber optic cable to help 2,609 homes, 12 businesses, and 16 farms in the Lousiana communities of Iberville, St. Landry and Pointe Coupee parishes reach faster speeds, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.It's the latest push in a wider effort to bridge disparities between urban centers and rural areas, which have few if any options for fast internet. Observers say cripplingly slow speeds have left residents, businesses, hospitals and schools unable to meet modern demands in an increasingly digital world.When students can do their homework at home and not at a McDonalds, its worth it, said Leslie Durham, the governors designee to the Delta Regional Authority during a Tuesday morning event announcing the project in Grosse Tete.Maringouin-based Star Communications Inc. will receive a $7.7 million grant and matching loan from the federal government.Tim May, the companys CEO, said he expects the entire project will take about five years to complete. The company plans to begin as early as this summer.Once finished, customers will have a handful of packages to choose from ranging from $40 to $100 per month for internet speeds that match what customers in Baton Rouge and New Orleans enjoy."That's something we worry about, the urban versus rural digital divide," May said. "We want to pare that so that you can go to Baton Rouge and get the same gig speeds and go over to Grosse Tete and get the same."People in rural parishes often rely on their cell phones or satellite internet service, which is far slower and less reliable than cable or fiber optic internet.About 494,000 rural Louisiana residents dont have access to an internet connection that's needed to efficiently run devices for web-browsing, emails and other basic uses, according to consumer website BroadbandNow "USDA is committed to this strong partnership with rural communities in deploying this critical infrastructure," said Roy Hollemon, the USDA's rural development director for Louisiana. "We know when rural America thrives, all of America thrives."In Iberville and St. Landry parishes, about 85% of people have access to those necessary speeds, despite only being a few miles from parishes with faster internet.That's compared to more than 98% of residents of Baton Rouge, New Orleans and the suburban parishes between them, according to BroadBandNow. Lafayette also had roughly 98% connectivity to fast speeds.Sluggish internet speeds are a reality Iberville STEM Academy senior Ariel Williams knows all too well.The school has increasingly put a focus on computerized assignments. But at times Williams has to stop and restart her internet router then wait several minutes for her work to buffer at her home in Maringouin, which is among the communities getting a speed boost.Other times, she and her classmates have to find a library or use the hotspot from their phones. Its real aggravating, Williams said.Hospitals and medical facilities have also begun offering services for rural patients to video chat with doctors, which often spares them from making a long trip. Farmers have increasingly begun to use more technology in recent years that rely on strong internet connections for things like soil sensors and even autonomous tractors.Grosse Tete Mayor Michael Chauffe said internet speeds is often a sticking point for businesses in developers who want to build there. The antiquated copper lines that connect homes and businesses in town are slow and sometimes unreliable.With the prospect of faster speeds, the mayor said that could give residential and business development a jolt in the near future.The old saying goes: If you build it, they will come,' he said. Now we can say we have high-speed, optic internet. Canada has chartered a plane to bring home as many as 160 of its nationals from China because of the coronavirus epidemic, officials have said. Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne told reporters it could take several days to obtain permission to land in or near Wuhan, the epicenter of the epidemic. "There are 160 Canadians (in China) who have asked for consular assistance," Champagne said on Wednesday. "We have secured a plane to repatriate Canadians who wish to come back," he said. "Now the next step is to work on the diplomatic front and the logistics with our Chinese counterparts. We are engaging in discussion as we speak." Canada's relations with China are at a low point because of its arrest of a Huawei executive on a US warrant in December 2018, and Beijing's detention of two Canadians in apparent retaliation. On Tuesday, the first three Canadian confirmed or presumed cases were announced -- a Toronto man and his wife who recently returned from Wuhan, and a British Columbia man in his 40s who also traveled to the region. Ottawa has warned Canadians to avoid non-essential travel to China. Its flagship airline Air Canada announced on Wednesday it was suspending flights to mainland China, citing the government advisory. Its last flights were scheduled to depart Beijing and Shanghai on Thursday. The Chinese government has sealed off Wuhan and neighboring cities, effectively trapping tens of millions of people, in a bid to contain the spread of the virus. Some 6,000 people have been infected in the country and the death toll has climbed to 132, according to authorities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) This morning, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in collaboration with the Department of State received the flight carrying approximately 210 U.S. citizens from Wuhan at March Air Reserve Base in California. The plane was met by a team of CDC medical officers deployed there to assess the health of the passengers. The passengers have been screened, monitored and evaluated by medical personnel every step of the way, including before takeoff, during the flight, during a refueling in Anchorage, Alaska, and now post-arrival. CDC staff have conducted risk assessments to ensure the health of each traveler, including temperature checks and observing for respiratory symptoms. CDC will work with the California Department of Public Health and Riverside County Public Health to transport any passenger exhibiting symptoms to a hospital for further evaluation. Passengers not exhibiting symptoms of exposure, will be asked to stay on the base in housing to allow CDC medical officers to perform more thorough screening and to better understand each individuals exposure. CDC is committed to protecting the health and safety of Americans. At this time, we continue to believe the risk of coronavirus exposure to the general public is low. CDC is taking these measures to assess and care for these returning Americans to protect them, their loved ones, and their communities. Visit 2019 novel coronavirus for the latest updates on CDCs response. DP World, UAE Region will once again be the host port for the 5th edition of Breakbulk Middle East (BBME), the largest project cargo and breakbulk event in the GCC, to be held in Dubai, UAE. DP World, UAE Region will occupy the post for the second consecutive year, effectively reinforcing BBMEs growing regional presence and its contributions to the countrys economy, said a statement from the company. The two-day conference and exhibition will be held under the patronage of Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, the UAE Minister of Infrastructure Development and the chairman of the Federal Transport Authority (FTA) for Land and Maritime. The event is set to take place from the February 25 to 26, at the Dubai World Trade Center. As part of this strategic vision to build a diversified and sustainable UAE economy, leading maritime companies, both locally and internationally, play a critical role in achieving this objective. In this regard, DP World, UAE Region has successfully achieved tremendous progress by transferring its local expertise in managing ports and logistics to reach an international level. DP World, UAE Region works on developing the import and export cycle from raw material production centres to the arrival of goods to the end-user, given the rapid growth of trade and shipping business, specifically in the breakbulk sector. Mohammed Al Muallem, CEO and managing director of DP World, UAE Region, said: Solidifying our status has been a gradual process that required patience and a commitment to excellence. Similarly, while Breakbulk Middle East is youthful in its existence, the event is evolving to meet the needs of the industry, and consistently exceeding expectations, which is something we can proudly stand behind. Breakbulk Middle Easts rising trajectory over the last half-decade is indicative of the immense impact it will continue to have in the coming years, he added. Breakbulk Middle East has consistently worked to develop timely agenda topics, as well as introduce new initiatives that cater to forwarding the sector. Last years edition introduced Women in Breakbulk Middle East to encourage gender equality and inclusivity in the industry. Moreover, this year, the event is introducing Breakbulk AR, an augmented reality initiative that allows companies to innovatively showcase their service offerings in an era where digitalisation continues to rapidly rise. Al Muallem added: Over 61 per cent of cargo destined for GCC states arrives via the UAEs seaports. This figure demonstrates the importance which ports play in maintaining not only our countrys well-being, but also the overall region. Breakbulk Middle East enables clear communication lines between all members of the industrial supply chain that are involved in the exchange of vital imports and exports. With a large majority of these entities represented at Breakbulk Middle East, the event serves as a strong platform to reconnect, source new partners, and strategize for the overall benefit of the industry, he added. Ben Blamire, shows event director, said: We are glad to have DP World, UAE Region as a premier global partner for Breakbulk Middle East. While these collaborative ties offer our event added credibility, we are also expectant that our partnership can work in equivalence to realise the ambitions of DP World, UAE Region. In the lead up to Expo 2020, the demand for project cargo has risen sharply. We are confident that Breakbulk Middle East will provide the platform for DP World, UAE Region to secure new project opportunities so that Jebel Ali Port can fulfil its role as the premier gateway for Expo-bound cargo, and subsequently carry this momentum forward in the wake of Expo 2020 as well, he added. Leslie Meredith, marketing director, Breakbulk Events & Media, said: In addition to our partnership with DP World, UAE Region, we are also collaborating with other prominent industry names: Abu Dhabi Ports, Agility Project Logistics, Micco, Cosco Shipping, to name a few. Bolstering our event with household names such as these is strategic in the sense that it ensures the presence of experts, and allows exhibitors and visitors alike to connect with companies that can help grow businesses and the industry, Meredith added. The door for registration for the fifth edition is now open, and we welcome all industry leaders and experts to join us by registering through our official platforms, she concluded. TradeArabia News Service Robert Maxwell, the distinguished architect and academic, who was born in County Down, died earlier this month at his holiday home in Aix-en-Provence. The 98-year-old was Emeritus Professor of the Princeton School of Architecture, Dean from 1982 for a number of years and previously Visiting Professor. He graduated from Liverpool University in 1949 with a B.Arch and a Diploma in Civic Design after war service in India. He became an architect with the London County Council, where he worked on the extension of the Royal Festival Hall, and later for Douglas Stephens and Partners. From 1958 to 1962 he was a Year Master at the Architectural Association School before joining the Bartlett School of Architecture, where he became a Professor, before going on to Princeton. Following Princeton, he returned to the Architectural Association School, where he taught for over a decade. He retired in 2006 but continued to lecture around the world and at the Royal Academy in London. Paying tribute in the current edition of The Architects' Journal, the Dean of Architecture at Princeton Monica Ponce de Leon described Bob Maxwell as "a remarkable educator whose legacy is still felt in the field of architecture at large. "With an illustrious career that bridged the Atlantic, he infused American pedagogy with a fresh point of view," she said. Adrian Forty, Emeritus Professor of the History of Architecture at the Bartlett School, said of Bob Maxwell: "He was most unusual in that he was deeply passionate about architecture without being dogmatic. "He hated dogma, and this was a rare quality, especially amongst architects of his generation." The late Mr Maxwell was also a noted critic and author. When he was in his 90s, he completed his autobiography, titled The Time of My Life, In Architecture. He also published a collection of essays, titled Sweet Disorder and the Carefully Careless. He was furthermore an accomplished pianist and enlivened many an architectural gathering with impromptu sessions of jazz and ragtime. He is survived by his wife Celia Scott, three children by his first wife Margaret (nee Howell) and five grandchildren. An explosion is seen following a reported Syrian government air strike on a residential district in Idlib (Omar Haj Kadour/AFP via Getty Images) Syrian Government Forces Enter Town South of Idlib City BAB AL-HAWA, SyriaSyrian government forces entered a town south of Idlib city on Tuesday in a significant advance for President Bashar al-Assad as he seeks to recapture rebel-held territory in the countrys northwest, a war monitor and state media said. Assads campaign to regain Idlib province, the last rebel bastion in a nearly nine-year-long civil war, has sparked a new exodus of thousands of civilians towards the border with Turkey, which backs some insurgent groups fighting Assad. People were fleeing towns in southern Idlib, a Reuters witness said. Some headed towards camps for internally displaced persons or rebel-held towns near the Turkish border. When the airstrikes began, we fled our village and the area. We can no longer stay, said 39-year-old Mohammed Haj from the Jabal al-Zawiya region south of Turkey. We dont know where to go, we just got in our car and left. Heavy clashes broke out between rebels and government forces in Maarat al-Numan after troops entered the town south of Idlib city, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, after earlier reporting that the troops backed by Russian airstrikes had taken full control. Syrian state news agency SANA earlier said the army had liberated most of the towns districts. Maarat al-Numan, the second largest town in Idlib province, is located on the main highway linking the capital Damascus with Aleppo in northern Syria. The renewed fighting comes despite a Jan. 12 ceasefire deal between Turkey and Russia, which back opposing sides of the conflict. Turkeys Defense Ministry said Turkish forces would retaliate in the strongest way, without hesitation against any attack on its observation posts in Idlib by Assads forces. Turkey already hosts more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees and fears millions more could soon cross the frontier. Today and yesterday there was a big exodus. There is heavy shelling in the areas south of Idlib, said Salman Eid, a 28-year-old from Talat al-Karama. People took their children and belongings and are going to the camps. By Ghaida Ghantous Harvey Weinstein Photo: Getty Images The former roommate of Harvey Weinstein accuser Mimi Haleyi testified Tuesday in his rape and sexual-assault trial, claiming that Haleyi had told her about the alleged sexual assault. Testimony from this former roommate, Elizabeth Entin, came one day after Haleyi testified that Weinstein forced oral sex on her in July 2006 at his Soho apartment. Sobbing at times, Haleyi had alleged that the six-foot-tall, some 300-pound Weinstein was physically overpowering, ignoring her repeated refusals. Entin claimed that Haleyi came forward with the allegation one evening in summer 2006, when they were both at their Alphabet City apartment. She was standing in my doorway, normally she would flop on my bed and talk, Entin said. She was very nervous. She was pacing. She seemed anxious, and she began to talk to me and seemed very not the typical, comfortable way we normally spoke among each other. It was odd for her not to completely come into my room, and sort of stand at my doorway, Entin said. What was the substance of that conversation? asked Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast. She seemed very nervous. She said that she had gone to the apartment of Harvey Weinstein, and she assumed it was, you know, work-related. Entin then recalled Haleyis alleged account of what had happened. She came in, he started rubbing her shoulders, kissing her, and she said, No, no, and he wouldnt stop. She said, Im on my period. He said, I dont care, at which point, he threw her down, and she was still saying stop, and he pulled off her underwear, pulled out her tampon, and went down on her while she was saying no, Entin claimed. What was your reaction? Hast asked. I said, Miriam, that sounds like rape. Entin also recalled asking, Why dont you call a lawyer? She still seemed very distraught, Entin remembered, saying Haleyi was shaking and didnt want to talk. She asked about calling a lawyer again, but didnt continue right away, saying, I didnt feel it was right to keep pushing. When Haleyi was standing there later that night, and still just didnt seem very composed, she asked again about a lawyer but didnt press the issue. I didnt feel it was my place or right to take over how someone deals with rape, she said. Before the alleged incident, the two women would always laugh and talk; after, she was much more withdrawn, Entin said. She seemed more nervous, significantly less vital, Entin said, describing Haleyi as withdrawn. She spent a lot of time in her room. Entins testimony is not the first time prosecutors have brought in a witness to back up one of Weinsteins accusers. Rosie Perez testified on Friday that Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra told her that Weinstein raped her. On Monday, Haleyi had testified of the alleged assault: I just said, No, no, I dont want this to happen. This is not going to happen. Im on my period I was just trying to tell him anything to make him stop. Entin also recalled alleged interactions between Haleyi and Weinstein leading up to the alleged assault. In the late spring or early summer of 2006, she joined Haleyi at an event. There, Entin met Weinstein. He came up and shook my hand. I was politely introduced, and then he put his arm around Miriam, his hand on her stomach, and pulled her to him and said, This is the hottest woman I know, Entin said. She was trying to be very polite, and I felt a little mitigating, and very uncomfortable. At this point in Entins testimony, Weinstein grumbled. Entin also told jurors that Haleyi told her about Weinstein bursting into their apartment, demanding that she join him in Paris. Haleyi had testified that this was around two weeks before Weinsteins alleged assault. So she called me, and she said, Something kind of weird happened, and she seemed a little disoriented, and she said that Harvey Weinstein showed up at our apartment and pushed his way into the apartment, Entin claimed. And I was a little startled, and I was like, What happened? and she said, He just, you know, pushed his way in, and then we started kind of laughing about it because, apparently, my dog, this small Chihuahua, was chasing him around, and he was kind of frightened about it. So we laughed about that, Entin said. He said, What is this thing? Get it away from me! At the time, prior to the rape, I didnt think it was going to go that far, Entin reflected. We saw it as kind of a pathetic older man, trying really hard to hit on Miriam. So we kind of laughed it off. In court, a witness said Weinstein was afraid of a chihuahua (more on this ltr.) Here is what had to say #HarveyWeinstein about it. pic.twitter.com/cUpjGqDzCO Victoria Bekiempis (@vicbekiempis) January 28, 2020 Update, February 24: Harvey Weinsteins verdict has been announced. Ten years ago, on January 28, the Apple aficionados got a new device: the iPad. As Steve Jobs had said, he wanted a new device between a phone and a laptop and so he had it. Jobs unveiled the Apple iPad at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco on January 27, 2010. This was a tablet, designed and conceived to bridge the gap between a phone and a laptop. When Jobs stressed upon the idea that there should be a third category of the device, people thought he is referring to the netbooks but he dismissed them by calling it cheap laptops that did not even fit into the category of the third category of device. For Jobs, iPad was the perfect answer to what he called the clunky, cheap laptops. Jobs pushed the envelope when he uncovered what he referred to as the "magical and revolutionary device" for browsing the web, sending emails, watching videos and more. Basically all the features that a phone possessed and a laptop supported were present in the single device which was called the iPad. "iPad is our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price. iPad creates and defines an entirely new category of devices that will connect users with their apps and content in a much more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before," Jobs had said at the launch event back then. The first-ever iPad featured a single-core Apple A4 processor and a 9.7-inch touchscreen display. It had 64GB of storage, 256MB of RAM and the battery life was around 10 hours. The device supported Bluetooth 2.1, a 30 pin dock connector and a headphone jack. It was priced at $499 and more for variants with more storage capacity. The seemingly affordable device was received a mixed response from the media but was selected by the Time magazine as one of the 50 Best Inventions of the Year 2010. In terms of reception, 30,000 iPads were sold on the day it was made available on stores and the number went up to 3 million in just a matter of a few months. Over the years, the iPad has evolved, at times in a dazzling way, occasionally at a slow lumbering pace. With every new iPad that Apple launched over the years, the overall user experience got better and smoother. It witnessed a sea change in processors, the screen sizes went through major alterations and better cameras were added to the devices. Apple launched iPads with different screen sizes such as the 7.9 inch, 9.7 inches, 10.2 inch, 10.5 inches, 11 inches and the massive 12.9-inch display. The iPad is currently in its seventh generation and reports reveal that Apple is likely to launch the iPad Pro lineup in March that would in all likelihood house a triple-lens rear camera with 3D support. In order to compete with Apple's most selling device, tech giants Microsoft and Samsung came up with a series of heavily equipped tablets such as the Surface tablets by Microsoft and the Galaxy Note series of tablets by Samsung. However, more than Samsung's tablets, its phone with larger screen size was successful hence proving that the iPad till date has no competitor. Over the years Apple too tried to look more like the Surface series as every bigger iPad devices now come with a dedicated keyboard and stylus. Although the Apple iPad was introduced as the third category device, it is now shaping up more like laptops. Though only time will tell if the iPad can truly replace the laptops or not. After a brief hiatus last week, the Bloomberg ad about pre-existing conditions was back on the air Friday through Monday. Mr. Bloomberg is now running another ad that notes that more people are uninsured under Mr. Trump than under President Obama. A spokeswoman for Mr. Trumps campaign defended the presidents record, claiming he has protected Americans with pre-existing conditions by offering affordable health care with choice and patient-guided decision-making. She also pointed to steps hes taken to give people access to short-term, limited duration plans and association health plans. But under the law, these cheaper plans are not required to cover pre-existing conditions. And Mr. Trump has for years sought the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, which includes a rule that people cannot be denied coverage or charged higher premiums because of their health status; both practices used to be widespread. The second half of Mr. Bloombergs ad broadly touches on his own health care platform, announced in December. He proposes creating a so-called public option an insurance plan that would be run by the government, and that people could buy with the health insurance subsidies that the Affordable Care Act currently provides. The advertising blitz underscores the unorthodox nature of Mr. Bloombergs presidential campaign. He is not participating in the primary debates or churning through five event days on the campaign trail, and is skipping the first four nominating states. He has shown no desire to spar with his Democratic rivals on health care, and is instead focusing his vast personal wealth on targeting the president. His strategy has helped him rise in some national polls, but has not translated into a move into the top tier. Polling by his campaign found that health care costs are the top financial concern for families, and that a general sense of insecurity about health coverage is causing many voters to want to cling to the system they have. With the Iowa caucuses less than a week away, some voters are voicing that anxiety. Nathan Mundy, a lawyer from Des Moines, cited health care as a top concern as he waited for former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to speak at a campaign event in Indianola, Iowa, on Saturday. Are gig workers entrepreneurs or working at the whim of an app? Thats the question now sitting with the Ontario Labour Relations Board in a precedent-setting case between Toronto-based food delivery company Foodora and couriers who aim to become the first app-based workforce in the country to join a union. Foodora, like many app companies, maintains its workers enjoy a significant amount of freedom and flexibility and are therefore independent contractors who cannot unionize. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers, which hopes to represent the couriers, argues the designation is wrong because of the degree of control Foodora wields over everyday working conditions. The provincial labour board heard both parties closing arguments Wednesday. Its decision, expected in the coming months, will not only determine whether Foodora couriers can unionize, but will provide a glimpse into the future of the gig economy in Canada. Weve already accomplished so much, courier and organizer Ivan Ostos told a crowd rallied outside the labour board, noting an uptick in scrutiny of how gig workers are treated. We have already won regardless of the decision. The long-standing test to determine whether a worker is a true independent contractor involves several considerations, but it boils down to the degree of power and control an individual exercises in their relationship with a company. The board will examine, among other things, couriers latitude in negotiating their own pay rates and working conditions; their ability to generate their own business and subcontract work to others; how essential they are to a companys key functions; and how economically dependent they are on the company. The crux of CUPWs closing argument was that Foodora exerts significant control over couriers work, and that those couriers fulfil the core purpose of Foodoras business. Foodora could not function without the couriers, said lawyer Ryan White, who is representing the union. As previously reported by the Star, couriers submitted evidence to the board that Foodora maintains an active strike log to monitor performance. Strikes can be issued for everything from late deliveries, poor communication with dispatch, or not showing up for a shift, and can impact couriers ability to get work sometimes resulting in pay changes or even termination. Foodora says you are free to take whatever work you want. Thats not true, White told the board. Theres a whole network of incentives and prohibitions on the way the work is done. Lawyers for CUPW also noted that Foodora couriers cant establish their own business relationships with restaurants, negotiate with customers, or subcontract their work to others. The union cited two documented examples of couriers being terminated for account fraud after the company found they had subcontracted deliveries to others. Couriers pay rates and working conditions are set out in a contract Foodora draws up internally, White added. The company did not provide any evidence that individual couriers have ever successfully negotiated new or different terms with Foodora. Based on that evidence, CUPW is seeking to have couriers recognized as dependent contractors a middle ground between employee and independent contractor that still has the right to unionize. But Foodora argued Wednesday that couriers do not demonstrate a sufficient economic dependence on the company to justify shedding their independent status. That, the company argued, is because couriers work for multiple apps or companies to generate income. Thinking about what proportion of their time and income is coming from Foodora is a really important part of this analysis, said Craig Lawrence, the lawyer representing the company. This is not a daily, routine activity for the vast majority of couriers. Lawrence said an analysis of working hours and wages found that the average Foodora courier worked 12 out of the 30 weeks the company examined in 2019. They made an average of $538 a month. Lawrence said it was ubiquitous and common for couriers to split their time with other apps like Uber Eats. They have the ability to sell their services in the market in real time. If thats not entrepreneurial activity I dont know what is, he said. It cannot be said that these couriers are captives of Foodoras enterprise. The four witnesses called by the union throughout the proceedings worked significantly more than the figures cited by Foodora. The company said their work hours and earnings were not representative of most couriers. Foodoras lawyers acknowledged its couriers do need to seek company approval for things like absences or leaving a shift early, but said there were no examples of Foodora saying no. Lawrence said strike logs were not meant to be pejorative Throughout the hearings, which began in September, Foodora repeatedly emphasized that its couriers receive little formal training from the company and buy their own work equipment. But lawyers for CUPW said couriers do not own the most essential tool of the job: Foodoras app. We shouldnt let (technological change) distract from the underlying focus on substance, White told the board. He added that using multiple apps to earn money was no different to other employees juggling multiple casual or part-time jobs. Labour board vice-chair Matthew Wilson peppered both sides with questions during their closing arguments at one point asking whether a decades-old board ruling referenced by Foodora was still applicable in an era of job insecurity, whether its part-time work, casual work or piece work. Wilsons decision on the couriers employment status will be a seminal moment in the case, but will not mark its conclusion. If he rules in favour of CUPW, the parties must return to the board to resolve other issues raised during the union drive before the ballots cast in last summers union vote can be unsealed. Following in the Foodora couriers footsteps, Uber Black drivers this month submitted an application to the board to join the United Food and Commercial Workers union. That, UFCW organizer Kevin Shimmin told a crowd gathered outside the board Wednesday, was in part because of (Foodora couriers) courage. The world is watching this decision. A key Republican lawmaker is siding with tribes in an ongoing Class III gaming compact dispute in Oklahoma. State Rep. Charles McCall , the Speaker of the Oklahoma House, told The Tulsa World that he believes the compacts automatically renewed on January 1 since a new agreement wasn't reached. That's what tribal leaders have been saying all along. In my opinion, the compact has renewed for another 15 years, McCall told The World But not every Republican official is as enlightened. Gov. Kevin Stitt (R), who is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, claims the compacts expired on January 1 and has asked a federal judge to shut down all forms of Class III gaming as a result, The World reported. Since 2004, tribes have paid $1.28 billion to the state of Oklahoma in exclusivity fees. Tribes set a record in fiscal year 2018, paying nearly $138.6 million to the state, an increase of 3.48 percent from the prior fiscal year. Source: Oklahoma Gaming Compliance Unit Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2018 Continuing to conduct class III electronic gaming in the absence of valid Gaming Compacts with Oklahoma has resulted, is resulting, and will continue to result, in unjust enrichment to the tribes, Stitt's legal team said in response to a lawsuit filed by the Cherokee Nation , the Chickasaw Nation and the Choctaw Nation , whose leaders contend the agreements automatically renewed on January 1. Unjust enrichment will continue unless and until a new gaming compact is entered into by and between the tribes and Oklahoma," the response continued, The World reported. The standoff began a few months after Stitt took office a year ago. He called on tribes to share a greater percentage of revenues with the state. To make the case, Stitt has cited "market rates" for revenue sharing that run from 12 percent in Florida to 25 percent in Connecticut. In comparison, he said tribes in Oklahoma share between 4 percent and 6 percent. But the graphic on Sitt's casino industry page does not offer a complete picture. For example, tribes that offer Class III table games, such as blackjack and poker, share 10 percent of their monthly net win from those games, according to the state's own reports , but that information is left off the chart. The inclusion of Connecticut is also misleading. Two tribes there share 25 percent of their slot machine revenues, and only slot machine revenues, with the state -- other types of Class III games are not covered. In comparison, tribes in Oklahoma must share revenues from all types of Class III electronic devices. Additionally, a Government Accountability Office report from 2015 looked into revenue sharing. It found that majority of Class III gaming compacts at the time offered rates in the same range as the ones in Oklahoma. The overwhelming majority of Class III gaming compacts in effect as of October 2014 offered revenue sharing rates below 15 percent, according to the Government Accountability Office. Source: GAO analysis of tribal-state compacts | GAO-15-355 Of the 276 compacts reviewed by the GAO, 146 -- or more than half -- offered revenue sharing rates between 5 percent and 14.9 percent. When the 107 agreements with no revenue sharing at all are factored in, the data shows that nearly 90 percent of tribes share less than 15 percent of revenues with their respective states. Since 2004, when voters approved Class III gaming through State Question 712, tribes have paid $1.28 billion to the state, according to the Oklahoma Gaming Compliance Unit's most recent report . The money is derived from a percentage of electronic gaming revenue, as well as table game revenue. "For the first $10 million in revenue, tribes pay 4 percent to the state; for the next $10 million, the payment is 5 percent; and for revenues more than $20 million, the payment is 6 percent. Tribes pay 10 percent of the monthly net win from table games," the report reads. The Cherokee Nation owns and operates the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Photo: Anadisgoi The state defines such payments to be " exclusivity fees " and the tribes share revenues based on the promise that they are the exclusive operators of Class III games like slot machines, as well as table games like blackjack and poker. Bringing in non-Indian operators would violate the pledge, a situation that has led to court battles elsewhere Such provisions are common in Class III gaming compacts even though revenue sharing is not explicitly authorized by IGRA, which became law in 1988. In reviewing agreements, the BIA looks to see whether a state has promised tribes something "meaningful" in return, such as exclusivity. Read More on the Story Join the Conversation Related Stories A man who sparked a three-hour standoff with police after he allegedly shot another man at a semi-rural property near Mandurah last year has pleaded not guilty to murder. Luke Shuttlewood, 40, appeared via video link from Casuarina Prison in the WA Supreme Court on Wednesday, accused of the murder of David Ralston, 61, at an address on Stock Road in Stake Hill on June 4. Neighbours told Nine News Perth they called police after hearing a number of shots coming from the property about 5pm. The property was under lockdown by the Tactical Response Group and other officers for about three hours before officers stormed the home about 8pm and found Mr Ralston dead, later arresting Mr Shuttlewood and charging him with murder. It is not yet known if the men were known to each other, as Mr Ralston lived alone at the property. Facebook has announced further details about its new oversight board, naming human rights activist Thomas Hughes as its head. The technology giant recommended rules on Tuesday for how its $130 million Supreme Court will operate, with a further 40 members set to be announced over the coming months. It comes in response to criticism over how Facebook handles problematic content on its platforms, however it has already been criticised for a lack of reach. The board will not be able to review content moderation cases on some of the firms most popular apps, including Messenger and WhatsApp. Brent Harris, Facebooks head of governance and global affairs, said the company had narrowed choices for board members down to a few dozen people but no formal offers had been made. He said Facebook hoped the board, which will also be able to recommend policy changes, will start hearing cases this summer. Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Show all 15 1 /15 Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Facebook is born On 4 Feb, 2004, 19-year-old Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg launched a website called 'TheFacebook' from his dorm. Within 24 hours the college social network had more than 1,000 users Wikimedia Commons Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Winklevoss twins sue Zuckerberg Within one week of launching, fellow Harvard students Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss and Divya Narendra accused Zuckerberg of stealing their idea. It would be four years later when the resulting lawsuit was finally settled Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Open for business The social network finally opened it platform to everyone on 26 September, 2006. The move proved the catalyst in supercharging the site's already explosive growth PA Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Billion-dollar bid Yahoo offered $1 billion to buy Facebook in September 2006 but Zuckerberg turned it down. 'I dont know what I could do with the money,' Zuckerberg reportedly said. 'Id just start another social networking site' Reuters Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network In the money In September 2009, almost five years since the site launched, Facebook turned a profit for the first time Getty Images/iStockphoto Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Taking the lead Facebook overtook MySpace in 2010 to become the worlds most popular social network Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Taking on the tech giants In 2011, Google launched its own social network that it hoped would knock Facebook from its perch. Despite its initial success, Google+ ultimately failed and will be shut down completely in 2019 Getty Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Facebook goes public On 18 May, 2012, Facebook went public. The initial public offering raised $16 billion the third largest in US history Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Gobbling up the competition Facebook acquired Instagram in April 2012 for $1 billion, consolidating its position as the world's leading social network Reuters Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network One billion users On 4 October, 2012, Zuckerberg announced that Facebook had hit 1 billion users. 'If youre reading this: thank you for giving me and my little team the honour of serving you,' he wrote in a blog post Getty Images Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Expanding its empire In February 2014 Facebook acquired the messaging app WhatsApp for $19.3 billion REUTERS/Dado Ruvic Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Two billion users In June 2017, Facebook passed the 2 billion user milestone REUTERS/Dado Ruvic Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Privacy scandal On 17 March 2018, news broke that UK firm Cambridge Analytica had harvested data from around 87 million Facebook users for the purpose of political profiling in the build up to the 2016 US presidential elections Shutterstock Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Record profits Despite the scandals and subsequent #DeleteFacebook campaign, Facebook posted record profits just before its 15th anniversary, the equivalent of $7.37 from each of its 2.32 billions users iStock/Independent Facebook birthday: 15 defining moments for the social network Unhappy users A study found that people are happier when they dont use Facebook, adding to mounting evidence surrounding the impact social media has on mental health Rex Features Facebook is under scrutiny ahead of the US presidential elections in November, after US intelligence agencies said that social media platforms were used in a Russian cyber-influence campaign aimed at interfering in the 2016 US election - a claim Moscow has denied. In December, Facebook pledged $130 million to fund the board for about six years. The boards cases can be referred either by Facebook or by a user who has exhausted the appeals process. Recommended Facebook starts telling users what it has learnt from rest of internet The proposed bylaws give a 90-day period for the board to make a decision and Facebook to act on it. For cases with urgent real-world consequences, there will a 30-day expedited review. Initially, Facebook said users will only be able to appeal to the board when their content has been removed, though in future it wants the board to also handle cases where content was left up. Evelyn Douek, a doctoral student at Harvard Law School who studies online speech legislation, told Reuters she was disappointed with this limitation. A lot of the really controversial cases in the past few years have been not take-downs but leave-up decisions, things like the Nancy Pelosi video, hate speech in Myanmar, said Douek. And at the moment those arent in scope for the board to review them unless Facebook itself refers them to the board. Facebook, which has recently come under fire over its decision not to fact-check politicians ads, also said that the types of content that the board can review will later increase to include ads, Groups and Pages. Mr Hughes, who previously worked as the executive director at the non-profit human rights organisation Article 19, said: The job aligns with what Ive been doing over the last couple of decades which is promoting the rights of users and freedom of expression. Additional reporting by agencies Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Wednesday handed over a cheque for Rs two crore to Akshaya Patra Foundation, an NGO, to set up a centralised kitchen here to serve students of Corporation schools. The setting up of the kitchen follows the 'Kaalai Unavu Thittam' - a breakfast programme run by the Foundation to distribute food for students of schools run by the Chennai Corporation,which was inaugurated by Purohit in Feburary 2019. The Foundation has been providing breakfast to 18 lakh underprivileged children every day in 12 states, said to be the first of its kind in the country. Following the success of the breakfast programme, Greater Chennai Corporation permitted the Foundation to set up a centralised kitchen in the city. The Foundation has estimated the project to cost Rs five crore. As part of supporting the NGO, Raj Bhavan entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Foundation on January 25. The Governor handed over the cheque to the Foundation's Vice-President Kodandarama Dasa, a Raj Bhavan press release said. The facility is expected to become operational in six months. Raj Bhavan said it would continue to support the of underprivileged children of Tamil Nadu and also invited various stakeholders to come forward. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) These were among incidents reported by the Loudoun County sheriffs office and the Leesburg and Purcellville police. For information, contact your police or sheriffs department. In the stakeholders consultation held in Mumbai on Wednesday, several sector majors said seeking financing for commercial mining would be a major issue. Investors told the coal ministry officials it would be difficult to get finance for bid security and upfront amount, said an executive, who was part of the meeting. The upfront amount to be paid by the mine developer would be 0.5 per cent of the value of ... 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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 Automated phone spam is a growing plague for anyone with a telephone, landline or cell. The U.S. Department of Justice today announced that they're trying to get court approval to take enforcement action against various telecommunications companies for their alleged role in facilitating robocalls. As far as I can tell, this is the first time DOJ has taken *any* enforcement action against telecoms over robocalls. About time. Go read the announcement. The filing accuses certain telecoms of "facilitating robocallls across their networks," and says the losses to robocall scam victims total up to hundreds of millions of dollars. DOJ is focusing on a set of companies that includes two groups "originating in India, and operating out of residential addresses in New York and Arizona," said Jody Hunt, Assistant Attorney General for the department's civil division. From CNBC's reporting: The groups were responsible for hundreds of millions of calls per month, Hunt said. The Justice Department is seeking court approval to stop the organizations from making further calls, he said. The companies include two Arizona-based companies and three Long Island, N.Y.-based companies, all of which were operated out of residential addresses in those states, according to the press conference. The Arizona defendants are TollFreeDeals.com, SIP Retail and their owner-operators, Nicholas Palumbo and Natasha Palumbo of Scottsdale. The New York defendants are Global Voicecom Inc., Global Telecommunication Services Inc., KAT Telecom Inc. and their owner-operator Jon Kahen of Great Neck, N.Y. The defendant companies and individuals could not immediately be reached for comment. The accused companies serve "gateways" for the fraudulent call operators, and take payment for facilitating the calls and passing them into the regular U.S. telecommunications network using digital voice over IP technology, according to the Justice Department. Companies like AT&T and other large telecommunications companies had already advised the companies they were facilitating fraudulent calls, the department said. Through these gateways, overseas fraudsters used fake numbers to mimic emergency lines or government agencies like the IRS or social security administration, hoping to rope U.S. residents into financial scams based on the premise that the victims owed a government agency money or were subject to some kind of law enforcement action if they did not pay, the DOJ said. Read more: DOJ seeks court approval to stop companies from making robocalls [cnbc.com, Kate Fazzini, CNBC] Standards publish 1 April 2020 and become effective 1 October 2020 OAK BROOK, Illinois, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to focus on continuous patient safety and quality improvements, as well as address dynamic changes in today's global health care environment, Joint Commission International (JCI) announces the publication of The Joint Commission International Accreditation Standards for Hospitals, 7th Edition on 1 April 2020. Beginning 1 October 2020, all hospitals and academic medical centers seeking accreditation or reaccreditation from JCI will need to comply with the updated set of accreditation standards, as they will be surveyed under the 7th edition. JCI international standards are the basis for the accreditation of hospitals and academic medical centers throughout the world. The standards define the performance expectations, structures and functions that must be in place to be accredited by JCI. The 7th edition will include two main sections on patient-centered care and health care organization management. Specific enhancements include new or revised standards in these areas: International Patient Safety Goals Care of Patients Chapter that addresses the management of clinical alarm systems, patients at risk of suicide or self-harm and lasers. that addresses the management of clinical alarm systems, patients at risk of suicide or self-harm and lasers. Prevention and Control of Infections Chapter that covers environmental cleanliness for laundry, linens and scrubs, as well as the protection of patients and staff from bloodborne pathogens. that covers environmental cleanliness for laundry, linens and scrubs, as well as the protection of patients and staff from bloodborne pathogens. Facility Management and Safety Chapter that includes fire safety, including the use of interim measures, clarification of expectations for availability of critical utilities and hemodialysis water quality. that includes fire safety, including the use of interim measures, clarification of expectations for availability of critical utilities and hemodialysis water quality. Management of Information Chapter that reviews data access controls, protecting data and information, education and ongoing training of staff who use electronic medical records and the use of scribes. Other enhancements include the clarification of sentinel events, adverse events and near misses, an expanded and unified glossary, and updated references and revised chapter overviews. "We are pleased to introduce the 7th edition of our international accreditation standards for hospitals. These standards reflect the most up-to-date scientific evidence on patient safety as well as input from our current JCI accredited organizations and other expert stakeholders," says Paula Wilson, president and CEO, JCI. "This newest edition of the JCI hospital standards continues our 20-year history of helping accredited organizations improve the quality and safety of care they provide to patients around the globe. JCI is proud to be a partner with these outstanding organizations." The Joint Commission International Accreditation Standards for Hospitals, 7th Edition will be available for purchase in English beginning 1 April 2020, followed by release in Chinese, Portuguese, Italian, Hebrew, Japanese, Indonesian, French and Spanish at a later date. The manual is complimentary for JCI accredited organizations. For more information on JCI standards, please visit https://www.jointcommissioninternational.org/standards/. About Joint Commission International Joint Commission International (JCI) was established in 1994 as a division of Joint Commission Resources, Inc. (JCR), a wholly controlled, nonprofit affiliate of The Joint Commission. Through international accreditation and certification, advisory services, publications and education programs, JCI extends The Joint Commission's mission worldwide by helping improve the quality of patient care. JCI works with international health care organizations, public health agencies, health ministries and others in more than 100 countries. Visit www.jointcommissioninternational.org for more information. Media Contact: Maureen Lyons Corporate Communications (630) 792-5171 mlyons@jointcommission.org Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/118169/joint_commission_international_logo.jpg The reports ranged from legal issues to female genital mutilation, child marriage, and human trafficking, according the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood Egypt's National Council for Childhood and Motherhood (NCCM) announced that it had received 647956 reports through the child rescue line (1600) during 2019. The reports ranged from mental, legal issues to female mutilation, child marriage, and human trafficking crimes, according to a statement issued by the NCCM Wednesday. Azza Ashmawi secretary General of the NCCM said the council foiled 659 attempts of child marriage in Egypt's governorates throughout last year. The line received 1022 reports to accommodate children deprived of parental care, and collected 779 complaints about educational matters and 401 others about health problems, Ashmawi added. She noted that the Child Rescue Line in Egypt is working around the clock to receive complaints from citizens for free to ensure immediate action by specialists once complaints are reported. The NCCM Secretary-General pointed out to many campaigns have been launched recently with the aim to raise awareness to end violence against children such as protect her from mutilation, I am against bullying, and Calm not Harm campaigns. Those campaigns have vehemently contributed to decreasing the number of the aforementioned problems. Search Keywords: Short link: Advertisement Coronavirus fears have hit Asian food markets in Australia's suburbs, with worried shoppers donning facemasks and rushing home from the shops - as two more cases of the virus is confirmed. Bogus social media scare campaigns have tried to link the virus's spread to the sale of Chinese food products in suburbs with large Asian populations. Meat and seafood sellers were doing a brisk trade at Cabramatta in Sydney's south-west on Wednesday, despite it being quieter than usual due to the Lunar New Year. Still, concerns about the deadly disease - which broke out in 'wet' markets with very different conditions in the Chinese city of Wuhan - lurked behind face masks. Cabramatta market shoppers Linda, 50, and her student daughter Jenny, 17, were among many many wearing face masks to protect themselves, amid coronavirus fears Meat and seafood sellers were doing a brisk trade at Cabramatta in Sydney's south-west on Thursday, despite it being quieter than usual due to the Lunar New Year Even without the fear whipped up by the coronavirus, surgical-style face masks are popular in East Asian cultures as a polite way to prevent the spread of diseases such as the common cold Fresh seafood on display in Cabramatta, in the city's south-west. Business was quieter than usual due to the recent Lunar New Year Student Jenny, 17, was shopping with her mother Linda, 50. Both wore masks to protect themselves from germs spread in crowds. Jenny said she generally only put on a mask when in 'larger crowds in specific areas'. 'More like Chinese-dominated places like Burwood and Eastwood - the ones where I've heard there are confirmed cases,' she said. 'I've heard that in Cabramatta there might be a case too.' Jenny said the mask was 'just a precaution' and that she would rather be safe than sorry. She would be starting studies at the University of Western Sydney in March and was worried about that environment. The worldwide spread of the coronavirus: The SARS-like disease is believed to have first spread from animals to humans in the Chinese city of Wuhan and since been transmitted from human-to-human around the world The current coronavirus is being transmitted from person to person via droplets when an infected host coughs or sneezes 'I heard the last case was a student at the University of New South Wales,' she said. CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA NEW SOUTH WALES: 4 Four people in NSW have been diagnosed with coronavirus, including three men and one woman. January 25 Three men aged 43, 53, and 35 who had recently travelled to China are confirmed to have contracted the disease. Two flew in from Wuhan while the other arrived in Sydney from Shenzhen, south China. They are being treated in isolation at Westmead Hospital and are in stable condition. January 27 A 21-year-old woman is identified as the fourth person to test positive for the illness in NSW. The woman, a student at UNSW, flew into Sydney International Airport on flight MU749 on January 23 and presented to the emergency department 24 hours later after developing flu-like symptoms. She is being treated in isolation at Westmead Hospital. VICTORIA: 4 January 25 A Chinese national aged in his 50s becomes the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in Australia. The man flew to Melbourne on China Southern flight CZ321 from Wuhan via Guangzhou on January 19. He is now in quarantined isolation at Monash Hospital in Clayton in Melbourne's east. January 29 A Victorian man in his 60s is diagnosed with the coronavirus. He became unwell on January 23 - two days after returning from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak. The man was confirmed as positive on January 29 and was subsequently seen by doctors at the Monash Medical Centre. He was assessed as being well enough to stay at home. January 30 A woman in her 40s falls ill with the coronavirus. She was visiting from China and mostly spent time with her family. She is being treated at Royal Melbourne Hospital. February 1 A Melbourne woman aged in her 20s is at home recovering. She returned from Wuhan on January 25 and fell ill two days later. She was not infectious on the flight, and has remained in isolation since being tested. QUEENSLAND: 2 January 29 Queensland confirms its first case after a 44-year-old Chinese national wass diagnosed with the virus. He is being treated at Gold Coast University Hospital. January 30 A 42-year-old Chinese woman who was travelling in the same Wuhan tour group as the 44-year-old man tests positive. She is in Gold Coast University Hospital in stable condition. SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 2 February 1 A Chinese couple were placed in isolation in a public hospital. The man and a woman both aged 60, were from Wuhan and visiting relatives in South Australia. SA Health said the pair isolated themselves at home when they developed symptoms and awaited the results of the coronavirus test. Australia has raised the travel alert level to 'do not travel' for the city of Wuhan - the epicentre of the outbreak - and for the entire Hubei province. Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy says unless people have contact with someone who is unwell and has come from that part of China, there is no need for current concern. Advertisement 'Being with other people you might not know if they are infected or not. Jenny had told her mother to wear a mask. Linda said: 'I'm very worried too. Very dangerous.' The new 'novel' coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan in early December and has since spread to 13 countries including Australia. It has killed at least 130 people and infected more than 6,000 worldwide but there have been no reported deaths outside of China. Two new cases of the virus were confirmed in Australia on Wednesday bringing the national total to seven. Victoria health officials confirmed a man had tested positive for the disease earlier this morning - marking the second confirmed case in the state. The man, who is in his 60s, became unwell on January 23 and was subsequently seen by doctors at the Monash Medical Centre. He has since been assessed as being well enough to stay at home. Hours later, Queensland confirmed its first case after a 44-year-old Chinese national was diagnosed with the virus. He is being treated in isolation at Gold Coast University Hospital. Four people who tested positive in NSW remain in hospital in stable condition. Those seven people had all recently visited Wuhan, where the Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market is considered a likely source of the outbreak. Such 'wet' markets sell meat and seafood alongside live animals such as dogs, rats, snakes, civets and supposedly koalas. The proximity of people to live and dead animals makes it easy for humans to contract viruses. The SARS virus which broke out in 2003 also likely started in wet markets. SARS was originally hosted by bats which infected other animals. Those animals transmitted SARS to humans. Making matters worse, authorities fear another 16 people, including a two-year-old, could have contracted China's deadly coronavirus in New South Wales alone. New South Wales' Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said test results for the most recent 16 cases are expected by Wednesday afternoon, and will be shared with the public. All 16 patients, 10 men and six women, who are believed to be carrying the virus are in isolation awaiting their test results. Their ages range from just two years old through to 66. The chief health officer confirmed there were still only four confirmed cases in NSW and two of those patients are well and truly on the mend. Meanwhile, Victoria confirmed its second case on Wednesday, bringing the total number of those infected in Australia to six. In Cabramatta, a young man wearing a face mask outside Dutton Plaza said he was going about his business as usual. 'I'm not really worried,' he said on Wednesday afternoon. 'I'm just taking precaution because of what is happening in China. Many shoppers Daily Mail Australia spoke to said they were taking precautions 'because of what's happening in China' Several chemists and warehouse stores across Sydney have run out of facemasks and hand sanitiser in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak (left, right) Masks were in vogue for buyers at this popular Cabramatta fruit shop amid escalating fears whipped up about the coronavirus Tuan, 37, and his wife Tien, 34, were shopping in Cabramatta with their five-year-old daughter. None of them were wearing a mask. 'I was a little bit worried when we saw the news,' Tuan said. Nothing to worry about: Shopper Tuan said 'well be all right' and warned people to 'be sensible but not panicking too much ... generally speaking it should be fine' 'But generally in Australia we'll be all right. If something (more serious) happens it would be all over the news. 'We have friend in China - she's very worried about everything.' Tuan's attitude was: 'Be sensible but not panicking too much.' 'Generally speaking, it should be fine,' he said. 'When we go to the public places where there's so many people you don't know whether they've travelled overseas. 'You can't tell that. That could be a problem.' He and Tien would continue to avoid large crowds when possible and monitor news reports. 'I don't need to go out and hunt for the masks,' he said. His wife felt the same way. 'We don't worry,' she said. 'Just be positive.' Another man shopping with his wife and young son, who was the only one of the three wearing a mask, did not have time to talk. 'I want to take him home as quickly as possible because of the coronavirus,' he said. Bogus social media scare campaigns have tried to link the spread of the virus to the sale of Chinese food products in Sydney suburbs with large Asian populations such as Cabramatta. One fake 'urgent health notice' being circulated wrongly claims tests of air at train stations including Cabramatta and Strathfield have detected coronavirus. Fearmongering: A hoax Facebook post wrongly claims that a 'bureau of diseasology' (which does not exist) had run tests in several Sydney suburbs with large Asian populations - including Cabramatta and Burwood Such messages are often accompanied by advice that residents and visitors to those areas wear face masks and gloves. A middle-aged woman shopping in Cabramatta with her son said the pair wore masks whenever they were out in public, 'just to protect ourselves'. In the face of bogus scare campaigns, printing businessman Dong Yang said 'I don't think it's that serious ... there's no need to wear the masks in Australia' 'We're just worried about the coronavirus,' she said. 'Just when we go out to places where there's a lot of people.' No one wearing a mask took it off when asked why there were wearing one. Dong Yang, who runs a printing business, was not wearing a mask and said more people covered their faces in Cabramatta when bushfire smoke enveloped Sydney. 'I don't think it's that serious,' the 62-year-old said of the coronavirus threat as he shopped with his wife. 'And also the authorities say maybe there's no need to wear the masks in Australia. 'We believe the authorities and what the government says. I think in Australia it's under good control. 'Everything should be okay. Actually we're not worried too much about it.' Mr Yang had instead been concentrating on raising funds to send masks and protective clothing to his homeland in his role as chairman of the Australia-China Business Summit. 'I don't wanna die at uni': Fearful students refuse to go back to class after Chinese classmate, 21, was diagnosed with coronavirus while living on campus By Nic White for Daily Mail Australia Students at a Sydney university where a classmate was diagnosed with coronavirus say they are too afraid to go back to class. The 21-year-old Chinese student was diagnosed with the deadly virus earlier this week after she flew back from Wuhan on January 23. She isolated herself in her dorm room at the University of NSW when she developed flu-like symptoms after getting off the plane and went to hospital the next day. Six people in Australia have been diagnosed and at least another another 16 suspected cases are being tested to confirm. A 21-year-old Chinese student was diagnosed with coronavirus earlier this week after she flew back from Wuhan on January 23 Coronavirus has killed 103 people and infected more than 6,000 around the world so far, and the government plans to evacuate 600 Australians trapped in Wuhan. UNSW students reacted with shock as the news of their classmate's infection spread and were fearful that they could be next, especially when thousands of Chinese students return to campus. Hundreds on social media said they planned to skip classes, insist on doing their courses online, or take the semester off entirely. Others begged the university to postpone orientation week, which begins on February 10, and the start of classes a week later. 'Please cancel I don't wanna die at UNSW,' one student wrote. 'Well I guess I'm just going to defer this semester,' another wrote. Some students planned to still study, but called for them to be allowed to take their classes online to avoid campus during the coronavirus crisis. 'They should have an online only option, don't wanna get sick,' one wrote, while another said 'surely they are getting rid of all compulsory classes?' Students at the University of NSW where a classmate was diagnosed with coronavirus say they are too afraid to go back to class Emma Wei, from Melbourne, is trapped in Wuhan with her two children amid China's lockdown Parents and friends also expressed concern, some warning students against setting foot on the Randwick complex. 'I would be concerned about my child going to that uni, who else has been infected! This is the scary part!' one mother wrote. Another added: 'Now I can start to worry again my grand daughter has stared her first day of classes.' NSW Health said the student was being treated in isolation at Westmead Hospital and only had limited contact with people in Australia - reducing the likelihood that she had spread the virus. 'The student did not attend any classes at the university and stayed on her own in campus accommodation with no close contact before she was admitted to hospital,' UNSW said in an email to students. Students expressed frustration that the university did not specify which campus accommodation the student was staying in and would not tell them. Photos taken outside Westmead Hospital on Sunday showed a young woman wearing a face mask being moved by paramedics with protective gloves, masks and clothing. Health authorities are now working to track down people the woman came into contact with and potentially infected. Elizabeth Warrens presidential campaign has released a plan to combat the spread of infectious diseases in the wake of the recent coronavirus outbreak. The virus, named 2019-nCoV, has led to 132 deaths in China, where the infectious disease originated. More than 6,000 cases have been confirmed cases globally, including five in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Massachusetts Democrats plan proposes national and foreign investments in public health agencies, hospitals and health care providers. It highlights the dangers of previous medical crises as well, including the Ebola epidemic in 2014, the spread of HIV in Indiana in 2015 and the U.S. measles outbreak in 2019. Experts believe the world is due for another bout of pandemic influenza, Warrens plan states. The latest threat comes from coronavirus, a respiratory condition in the same family of viruses as SARS that is spreading throughout China and just last week reached the United States. The coronavirus outbreak has led the CDC to issue a warning against nonessential travel to China. Boston Logan International Airport will now screen passengers for the disease as well, and UMass Amherst said it will suspend its spring 2020 program in China. Warrens proposal calls for increasing funding to federal agencies that work to prevent and manage outbreaks, including the CDC, Department of Health and Human Services, State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development. President Donald Trump has deprioritized global health security" by proposing billions of dollars in cuts to agencies like the CDC and DHHS, according to Warren. His decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement on climate change also shows denial about the role of climate change in fueling epidemics, the Massachusetts Democrat said. The senators plan also seeks investments in the Global Health Security Agenda, an organization that funds work between the U.S. and other countries aimed at improving public health infrastructures, according to Warrens campaign. The presidential contender has made a name for herself in the crowded Democratic primary field for her calls for major government reform as well as her numerous policy layouts on topics ranging from cancelling student loan debt to fighting the opioid epidemic. Warrens proposals introducing Medicare for All and fighting the spread of HIV, which falls under her plan protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, will also help combat outbreaks of infectious diseases, according to the senator. Under Medicare for All, everyone will have high quality health care they can afford, removing financial barriers for patients who may be contagious and need to seek care, Warrens plan says. Related Content: A high school in California is asking students give up their phones during the day by having them deposit the devices in a specially sealed pouch. This, the school says, is being done to combat distractions and increase learning. Some students are finding the separation from their phone difficult. MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, January 28, 2020 Building on its industry-leading innovation, Thomson Reuters announced that data from Westlaw Edge Litigation Analytics and Practical Law will be made available through application programming interfaces (APIs) to help meet customers evolving needs and expectations. By leveraging Thomson Reuters Legal Data APIs, legal professionals can combine Thomson Reuters data with internal data to get a more comprehensive view and gain greater insights that will lead to more informed decisions, while also driving efficiencies and helping them strategically target new business opportunities. Our customers are continually seeking insights that will help them raise their service for their clients and operate more effectively and efficiently, said Tony Kinnear, president of Thomson Reuters Legal Professionals. Co-developing side by side with innovative customers to provide our editorially curated content through APIs allows us to deliver entirely new capabilities through a more open and collaborative approach. The Litigation Analytics API, combined with the firms information, provides a holistic view creating significant efficiencies and delivering enhanced details to improve management of client expectations, generate new business development strategies and enhance knowledge management. As part of the co-development process, Katherine Lowry, director of Practice Services for BakerHostetler and lead of IncuBaker, part of the firms newly launched Digital Assets and Data Management Group, noted the value data integration delivers. IncuBaker is committed to driving our data management initiatives forward to serve our legal practice and our clients. IncuBaker's focus on data management enables us to build our own legal analytics offerings that are unique to our clients, and this is a key differentiator in the market. Working with Westlaw Edge Litigation Analytics API creates opportunities for us to join their expansive data with our internal data for seamless integration, and incorporating it as part of our initiative is a major step in the right direction. For firms to take full advantage of the data through the Litigation Analytics API, collaborating with a third-party resource specializing in firm intelligence can offer further benefits. Foundation Software Group, which creates a seamless integration using their firm intelligence platform, is working closely with Thomson Reuters to combine data from Litigation Analytics with the firms internal information to deliver valuable insights and actionable information. Incorporating the Practical Law API increases efficiency by allowing legal professionals to run an enterprise search across the organizations content, know-how on Practical Law and additional sources in a single query to maximize their knowledge management assets and compare their resources to those from Practical Law. Additionally, the work product of the firm or legal department can be integrated with Practical Law know-how resources to help legal professionals get up to speed on topics quickly and focus on the work that matters most. Kinnear noted the value Thomson Reuters Legal Data APIs bring to legal professionals by allowing them to rely on their organizations institutional knowledge, backed by Thomson Reuters market-leading content and tools. Our goal is to allow customers to leverage their own work product, systems and workflows, but now married with Thomson Reuters Legal Data APIs, to help them make the best decisions for their clients and their organization. The full capabilities of Thomson Reuters Legal Data APIs can be seen at tr.com/legal-api. To learn more about Foundation Software Group, visit foundationsg.com. Thomson Reuters Thomson Reuters is a leading provider of business information services. Our products include highly specialized information-enabled software and tools for legal, tax, accounting and compliance professionals combined with the worlds most global news service Reuters. For more information on Thomson Reuters, visit tr.com and for the latest world news, reuters.com. CONTACT Jeff McCoy +1.651.687.4091 jeffrey.mccoy@thomsonreuters.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 22:23:15|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close RIGA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins is determined to prevent a coalition partners from going ahead with a plan to merge the Baltic country's three security agencies into one. Karins said on Latvia's TV channel 3 on Wednesday that he is categorically against the plan, implying that the New Conservative Party is the coalition partner planning the merger of the State Security Service, the Constitution Protection Bureau and the Military Intelligence and Security Service. The prime minister said in the interview to the TV channel that one of the five coalition partners claims that there are too many security agencies in Latvia and that they should be merged into one. Karins said his New Unity party, other coalition partners and probably also the opposition are against the merger. To a certain degree, the three existing security agencies compete with each other, providing various opinions, which is better than having one large agency, the prime minister argued. "As long as I am prime minister, I will not permit such destabilization and we will have three security services," Karins said. The Gujarat BJP on Wednesday attacked the Congress over the visit of its two MLAs from the state to New Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, the site of a long-running anti-CAA protest, and sought to know if the opposition party supports people "who talk about dividing the country". The ruling party said it was "shameful" for the Congress to back anti-national protesters sitting illegally and unconstitutionally on a dharna in the national capital. Congress MLA Imran Khedawala, who visited Shaheen Bagh along with his party colleague and legislator Gyasuddin Shaikh on Tuesday, defended the move. Khedawala said the locality is not in Pakistan and is very much a part of Delhi, and there was nothing wrong in joining people sitting on a protest to "save" the Constitution. However, the BJP slammed the Congress over the visit to the protest site by its MLAs. Congress MLAs visiting Shaheen Bagh is a matter of shame for Gujarat. The Gujarat Congress announces that it is with the anti-nationals of Shaheen Bagh. "Does the Congress support people who talk about dividing the country? state BJP president Jitu Vaghani said while talking to reporters in Bhavnagar. Further attacking the Sonia Gandhi-led party, he said said, the Congress is engaging in of votebank and appeasement. In its bid to take on the BJP, it has started opposing the country itself by supporting anti-national forces. Back from Delhi, Khedawala defended the Shaheen Bagh protesters. The scene (in Shaheen Bagh) was unprecedented. We saw people holding the tricolour in one hand and the Constitution in the other. They were shouting slogans calling for unity among members of all communities," the Congress lawmaker said. We went to Shaheen Bagh. It is not in Pakistan...it is very much a part of Delhi...is located at the centre of the city. "People of all communities are sitting there with the aim to save the Constitution...there is nothing wrong in going there, said the MLA from Jamalpur-Khadia in Ahmedabad district who is also a local corporator. Khedawala also faced the ire of BJP corporators at the general board meeting of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation on Wednesday. BJP corporators staged a walkout from the meeting while shouting slogans and waving placards in support of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). The state Congress defended its MLAs. "Khedawala and Gyasuddin Shaikh visited Shaheen Bagh yesterday. People from all walks of life and from different communities are visiting Shaheen Bagh in large numbers. "The place is in India and not Pakistan, so why should visiting there become such an issue? The BJPs is to divert people's attention from real issues, state Congress spokesperson Badruddin Sheikh said. Shaheen Bagh, a neighbourhood in South Delhi district, is witnessing a dharna against the CAA for over a month now. The new citizenship law, passed by Parliament and approved by the President last month, has triggered massive protests across the country. It promises Indian citizenship to persecuted non- Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. CAA's critics say the law is discriminatory and violates the core values of the Constitution. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ), where the Beijing High Court addressed the copyright issues of an AI-generated work. In that case, the court held that the AI-generated work in question could not be protected under copyright law, but would/might (?) be entitled to other forms of protection. The ushering in of 2020 brought another gift to the IP community - the Shenzhen Tencent v Yinxun case, heard before the Nanshan District Court of Guangzhou Province. The court ruled that a work generated/created by an AI system was a literary work protected under copyright law. Since the work was the result of activities carried out on behalf of the plaintiff ( Article 11 of PRC Copyright Law ), the plaintiff, as a legal entity, would be deemed the author of the work. Accordingly, the plaintiff would be entitled to copyright protection of the work. The Facts Dreamwriter, a piece of software developed by Tencent Technology (Beijing) Ltd (Tencent Beijing), is an intelligent writing assistance system. Tencent Beijing licensed this software to Shenzhen Tencent Computer Technology Co., Ltd (Shenzhen Tencent, the plaintiff). On 20 August 2018, the plaintiff published an article in the financial field on the Tencent Stock website. The end of the article stated that: this article is automatically written by the Tencents robot Dreamwriter [following the guidance provided by the Feilin v. Baidu decision?] The defendant, Yinxun, was alleged to have copied the article without the consent of the plaintiff, as well as making the article available to the public on its website. The plaintiff described the manner of creation of the article as follows (later confirmed by the court). The operational group organised by the plaintiff [we shall call it the creating group] ran the software Dreamwriter. The process of creation of the article by means of the software consists of four phases, namely, data collection triggering and writing, checking, and distributing. The data service module of the software formulates a ready-for-test database in a specific format by analysing the collected data with the machine learning algorithm. The triggering module then assesses whether the content in the ready-for-test database meets the requirement of generating an article according to the set trigger conditions and rule engine. When the content satisfies the trigger conditions, it will be sent to the writing engine. The writing engine then writes the article with the template after double-checking the data. The review module proofreads and checks the article. Finally, the smart distributing module distributes the article to relevant online platforms. In all these phases, the creating group selects and arranges the input of the data type, the process of the data format, the setting of the trigger condition, the selection of templates of the article structure, the setting of language resource, and the training of the intelligent checking algorithm model. The plaintiff claimed that the work was created under the supervision of the plaintiff, which was responsible for its organisation and creation and bore all liability arising therefrom. As such, they argued, under Chinese copyright law, the plaintiff should be deemed the author of the article and therefore be entitled to exclusive rights under copyright law. The Judgment The court first considered whether the article was a literary work capable of being protected under copyright law. The court held that the article, being an overview of the stock market, would fall under the category of a literary work that is capable of being reproduced. The next key question for the court was whether the work was original. In assessing the originality of the work, the court examined: (1) whether the work was created independently; and (2) whether the appearance of the work was sufficiently different from any existing work, or that it would at least contain minimum creativity. The court held that the article met the formal requirements of a literary work on the basis of its appearance. The contents of the article reflected the selection, analysis and judgment of the data and information in the stock market on that day. The court also stated that the articles structure was reasonable and its expression logical and clear. In this sense, therefore, it was original. The court then determined whether the process of creation of the article revealed the individual choice, judgement and skill of the creator. The court noted that the difference between how this article was created - in comparison with the typical way an article is composed - resided in the fact that there was a time gap between the acts of selection and arrangement carried out by the creating group and the actual act of writing executed by the software Dreamwriter, with this lack of synchronicity a function of the technical means used by the plaintiff. Nonetheless, the selection of the contents by the creating group met the requirement of creation under the copyright law. The test was ultimately whether such selection and arrangement was an act of intellectual activity and whether such activity had a direct connection with the specific expression of the work. The court ruled that the answers were both yes. The operation of the algorithm merely gave technical effect to the creative work of the group. The creating group input the data, set up the trigger conditions, and chose and arranged templates and resources. These activities directly related to the creation of the article. Therefore, from both the appearance of the article and its process of creation, the expression of the article came from the individual choice and arrangement of the creating group. As such, it is protected by copyright. As for the question of authorship, the court ruled that the article resulted from the use by the creating group of the software. It noted further as follows. First, the creating group was organised and supervised by the plaintiff. Second, the article was achieved by producing an integrated intellectual creation brought about by multiple groupings and people who shared the tasks. Third, this integrated creation reflected the needs of the plaintiff to publish a financial article. Fourth, the article was published on the plaintiffs website, and the mention of Tencent points to the plaintiff. This indicated that the plaintiff would bear all the liabilities coming from the creation and publication of the article. Based on these reasons and without evidence to the contrary, the article was a work of legal entities as defined in Article 11 of Copyright Law. As such, the plaintiff would be deemed the author of the article and thereby be entitled to copyright. Given the foregoing, the court found the defendant liable for infringement by making this work available to the public on the Internet, and awarded the plaintiff 1500 RMB (approximately $250 US dollars). Comments Like the Beijing courts opinion in the Feilin v. Baidu case, the Guangzhou court refused to accept the notion that a work created/generated solely by software was protectable under copyright, because it was not reasonable to treat a computer or software as an author. Both of the courts sought to find human intervention in the creative process. However, the Guangzhou court proposed some new thoughts on the issue. Interestingly, it viewed an AI-generated work as an integrated intellectual creation, deriving both from the contribution by the creating group and the operation of the AI software. Regarding the human element, the output of their work justified treating it as protected by copyright. In addition, while there is a time gap between the selection and arrangement of the data and template by the creating group and the generation of the article, the court treated the time gap merely as the result of a technical process. This did not prevent the court from viewing these contents as constituting an integrated process of creation. German flagship airline Lufthansa announced on Wednesday that it would suspend all flights to and from mainland China until February 9, as the number of deaths from a coronavirus outbreak rose to 132, DW reports. The disease has infected around 6,000 people so far, most of them in the central Chinese province of Hubei. Dozens of cases have also been reported in more than 10 other countries, including Germany. Lufthansa's decision also affects flights run by its subsidiaries Swiss and Austrian Airlines. Each of the carriers will fly to their destinations in China "one last time" to give passengers and crew "the opportunity to return to Germany, Switzerland and Austria," Lufthansa group said in a statement, adding that flights to Hong Kong would continue. The company, one of Europe's largest airline groups, usually operates 73 flights to and from mainland China each week. After another tie vote Tuesday night, the Boyertown Area School Board abandoned its plan to narrow its seven applicants for a board vacancy down to two finalists, and instead picked from the entire list, thereby choosing Marianne Scott as the newest member. PRINCE SULTAN AIR BASE, Saudi Arabia - Across the vast expanse of this desert air base, hundreds of tents have popped up and a newly arrived squadron of U.S. Air Force F-15E fighters is lined up on the tarmac, flying daily missions over Iraq and Syria. Off in the distance, two American Patriot missile batteries are scanning the skies, prepared to knock down any Iranian attack against the Saudi kingdom. The U.S. troop presence here has grown to roughly 2,500 since last summer, when the U.S. announced it had begun deploying forces to what once was a major U.S. military hub. The return of U.S. forces to Prince Sultan Air Base is one of the more dramatic signs of Americas decision to beef up troops in the Middle East in response to threats from Iran. On Wednesday, the top U,S. commander in the Middle East spent a few hours meeting with his commanders and troops here, assessing what he called a sweet spot of U.S. force projection in the region. Prince Sultan Air Base, said Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, presents a complicated target for Iran to hit and provides a remote location for U.S. troops, fighter jets and other assets. It also provides greater security for Saudi Arabia, which asked for U.S. help in the wake of an Iranian drone and missile attack on oil facilities in the kingdom last September. Right now, the large white tents that flap in the stiff winds give a temporary feel to the mission. But according to Air Force Col. Jason King, vice commander of the 378th Air Expeditionary Wing here, there is prudent planning underway that could lead to the tents being replaced with trailers and other more permanent structures. Saudi Arabia is a decades-long American ally, a relationship initially built on Americas dependence on Middle East oil. The military connection has been strong, even during periods of stress in the broader relationship, including in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in which most of the hijackers were Saudis. The kingdom also has been harshly criticized in Congress for the 2018 killing of Saudi dissident and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi and for its role in errant airstrikes in Yemen that have killed or injured many civilians. McKenzie is careful when asked how long the U.S. will stay. I think this is an important part of our architecture right now and we will continue to evaluate that as we go forward, he said. Its a well defended place and we can put a lot of combat power here. The bases future, he told reporters travelling with him, is part of a discussion with Defence Secretary Mark Esper about how many forces are needed in the region. That calculation is being made against the backdrop of President Donald Trumps push to get U.S. forces out of the Middle East and end what he calls Americas endless wars. Speaking to troops inside one of the large tents, McKenzie acknowledged the less-than-ideal living conditions. But he said their presence sends a signal to Iran that the U.S. is serious, and it also gives him more options for any military action in the region. The base is a vivid representation of the struggle to balance the escalating threats in the Middle East against the Pentagons insistence that the U.S. military shift more of its focus to Asia and the risks from China and Russia. U.S. tensions with Iran have been roiling for months but spiked after the U.S. carried out a drone strike in Iraq that killed Qassem Soleimani, Irans top general. In response, Iran on Jan. 8 fired as many as two dozen ballistic missiles at two Iraqi bases where U.S. troops were stationed. The U.S. had no Patriot defences at those bases because it judged other locations, in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Gulf, to be more likely Iranian targets. U.S. officials contend that both sides do not seek war and have moved to de-escalate, but threats from Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria still pose a worrisome threat. Wednesdays stop at Prince Sultan Air Base was the second time in a week that McKenzie has visited a military site in the Middle East where the U.S. recently set up Patriot batteries to protect against missiles fired by Iran and Iranian-backed militias in Syria and Iraq. Reporters accompanied McKenzie to the first site on the condition they not disclose its location for security reasons. Any possible future conflict with Iran, McKenzie said, is not going to be a ground manoeuvr war, its going to be a war of fires, its going to be a war of ballistic missiles, a war of unmanned aerial systems and cruise missiles. So the ability of nations in the region to provide for their air defence is going to be important. It was a little more than a year ago when then-Defence Secretary Jim Mattis pulled four Patriot batteries out of Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait. It was all part of the Pentagons new national defence strategy that pointed to China and Russia as key adversaries and the top priorities for the future. But the rapidly escalating threat from Iran which includes attacks against tankers and other commercial ships in the Gulf region as well as the strikes against Saudi facilities and U.S. troops has forced the U.S. to reverse those moves and send even more of the high-tech systems to the region. In addition to the Patriots, the U.S. has also sent a THAAD anti-ballistic missile defence system, which complements the Patriots by providing a defence against ballistic missiles travelling outside the Earths atmosphere. According to Army Lt. Col. Tom Noble, there are four Patriot batteries in Saudi Arabia, including the two at Prince Sultan Air Base. Noble, the commander of the Air Defence Artillery Battalion, said each battery has from six to nine truck-based missile launchers that routinely scour the air for threats. - Associated Press National Security Writer Robert Burns contributed from Washington. Head of Russias delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and deputy speaker of Russia's State Duma lower parliament house Pyotr Tolstoy has been elected PACE Vice President. A total of 252 out of the 321 PACE lawmakers took part in the voting. As many as 132 delegates supported Tolstoys candidacy, 117 voted against, and three ballots were recognized as invalid, TASS reported. Earlier in the day, the majority of delegates to the PACE winter session supported Tolstoys candidature in the first round of voting, which was not enough as under the assemblys rule of procedure a candidate wins in the first round in case he or she scores more than a half of positive votes of the overall number of PACE delegates. Simple majority of those taking part in the voting is needed to win in the second round. Balcones Heights police are searching for a man named as a person of interest in the death of a 76-year-old woman. Around 7:20 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a disturbance call at the Spanish Keys apartments near the 1150 block of Babcock Road. The elderly female wanted a relative possibly a son or grandson to be removed from the property, police said. The man wasn't at the residence when officers arrived. Four times, Rafael Ruiz recalled, he rejected offers from New York prosecutors to enter a guilty plea and admit to participating in a gang rape on a Harlem rooftop in 1984, even though it would have meant serving much less time. He was under arrest but he had good reason for turning down the deals. I told them, he said, I didnt do nothing wrong. On Tuesday, a judge finally agreed with him. At a hearing in State Supreme Court in Manhattan, Mr. Ruiz was formally cleared of the crime. But the exoneration came far too late: Though he was released from prison a decade ago, he had already served 25 years. I feel very happy, he said in an interview. At least I got my life back. Mr. Ruizs ordeal began on May 18, 1984, when, at age 24, he was charged with taking part in the violent rape of an 18-year-old woman who had been found the month before hyperventilating on a sidewalk on First Avenue in East Harlem. The woman told the police that a man named Ronnie had driven her that night to a building in the Robert F. Wagner Houses, a public housing complex in East Harlem. Ronnie, she said, had taken her to one of the apartments in the building and then up to the roof where she was raped and beaten by at least three men. HR Revolution Middle East Magazine will serve as a media partner for the 2020 Middle East Stevie Awards and the Stevie Awards for Great Employers. HR Revolution Middle East Magazine is described as an honest reflection of the Middle Eastern business environment through its use of clear case studies, articles, and interviews professionally served to readers around the world. The Stevie Awards, organizer of the worlds premier business awards programs, has announced that HR Revolution Middle East Magazine will serve as a media partner for the 2020 Middle East Stevie Awards and the Stevie Awards for Great Employers. HR Revolution Middle East Magazine is described as an honest reflection of the Middle Eastern business environment through its use of clear case studies, articles, and interviews professionally served to readers around the world. The organizations mission is to improve and have a powerful impact on human resources processes in the Middle East by providing the proper resources. HR Revolution will be covering all aspects of both Stevie Awards ceremonies in 2020. The first annual Middle East Stevie Awards gala event will be held on Saturday, March 21st at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. The Stevie Awards for Great Employers will be presented on September 17th at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Both award ceremonies will recognize workplace achievements since July 1, 2018. The Middle East Stevie Awards, sponsored by the Ras Al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, are an international business awards competition open to all organizations in 17 nations in the Middle East and North Africa. The focus of the awards is on recognizing innovation in all its forms. The Stevie Awards for Great Employers are an international business awards competition open to all organizations worldwide. The awards recognize the world's best companies to work for, and the HR teams, professionals, achievements, new products, and suppliers that help to create and drive great places to work. About the Stevie Awards: Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Middle East Stevie Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 nominations each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com. About HR Revolution Middle East Magazine: Among the global ethical awakenings in our recent century, and among the glorious creative and business erections, the magnitude of the Human Resources aspect has proven to be greatly valuable. As the recent Middle East being a parlor of inspirations to the open-minded observers and thinkers of our planet, we a group of Egyptian enthusiasts decided to have the honor to start the HR Revolution Middle East Magazine. The magazine is an honest reflection of the Middle Eastern business environment empowered by clear case studies, articles and interviews professionally served to worldwide readers of researchers and learners. Contact: May Hassan Middle East Stevie Awards Representative May@StevieAwards.com China sends 6,000 medics to Hubei in virus fight: official People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:53, January 28, 2020 BEIJING, Jan. 28 -- China has sent nearly 6,000 medical workers from across the country to Hubei Province in the fight against the novel coronavirus outbreak, a health official said Tuesday. A total of 4,130 medical workers, in 30 teams, have arrived and started working, said Jiao Yahui, an official with the National Health Commission, at a press conference held in Beijing, adding that an additional 1,800 medical staff will arrive by the end of Tuesday. The first batches were sent from Shanghai and Guangdong last Friday. These teams were sent to support the medical personnel in Hubei where the outbreak has taken a heavy toll. By the end of Monday, a total of 2,714 confirmed cases had been reported in Hubei and 2,567 patients have been hospitalized, the Hubei Provincial Health Commission said Tuesday. Hospitals across the province received 31,934 fever patients Monday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address HARTSVILLE, S.C. - A college student from Maryland has died from wounds suffered in a shooting at a South Carolina bar over the weekend that killed two others and injured three more, according to a county coroners office. Garrett Bakhsh, of Hampstead, Maryland, was among those shot around 2 a.m. Sunday at Macs Lounge in Hartsville, South Carolina, Darlington County Coroner Todd Hardees office told news outlets. The 18-year-old died from his wounds, the office confirmed Wednesday. Bakhsh was a freshman attending Hartsvilles Coker University, where he was majoring in criminal justice, according to The Baltimore Sun, citing a student athlete profile on the university website. Dicaprio Collins, 21, and Bryan Robinson, 29, were also killed, authorities confirmed. Police havent commented on what led to the shooting. On Monday, police charged suspect Darius Grant Dickey with four counts of attempted murder and five other charges related to the shooting, city spokeswoman Lauren Baker said in a statement. A second suspect is in custody, but that persons name will not be released until police serve additional arrest warrants, Baker said at the time. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the U.S. Marshals Service were assisting Hartsville police with the investigation. Hartsville is about 25 miles (40 kilometres) northwest of Florence, South Carolina, and about 40 miles (64 kilometres) south of the North Carolina state line. The Delhi Police has released photos of 69 people, suspected of being involved in violence and rioting during the protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA in Jamia Nagar in the national capital last month. The images have extracted from CCTV footages and video captured during the alleged rioting, the police said. The police said that these people actively participated in the riots and asked the general public to share their identities. The police has also offered reward for any information about the suspects. At least five buses were torched and more than 100 public and private vehicles damaged when anti-CAA protests in Jamia Nagar and New Friends Colony turned violent on December 15, 2019. Hundreds of people, including students of Jamia Millia Islamia University, 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. A total of 102 people have been arrested so far by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing 10 cases registered at eight different police stations across South, Northeast, Central and Shahdara districts following the violence and vandalism during anti-CAA protests last month. Former Congress legislator Asif Mohammad Khan, Jamia Millia Islamia University student Chandan Kumar, and local politician Ashu Khan were questioned for seven hours last Friday to probe their alleged role in the violence. Investigators also seized their cellphones, which will now be sent to a forensic laboratory to retrieve deleted data, call records and other information that are crucial in the probe. A Delhi court is hearing a case against the police for entering Jamia campus without any permission after the violence on December 15 and attacking the students. The petition has been filed by Chandan Kumar, who is also the secretary of Left-backed All India Students Association (AISA). Kumar accused the police of not carrying out a fair investigation. He further said the police cannot seize the mobile phone of Kumar and it violated his fundamental right. The court has listed the matter for further hearing on January 31. A day after an investigative report revealed that Avast, a leading maker of personal antivirus software, records its users online activity and then turns around and sells that data to giant corporations, the highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee blasted the Federal Trade Commission for falling down on the job when it comes to protecting internet user privacy. On Monday, the online magazines Motherboard and PCMag.com published the results of their investigation into Avasts collection and sales of user data. The investigations found marketing materials from an Avast subsidiary that pledges to track users of the companys software, recording Every search. Every click. Every buy. On every site. The company then packages the data and sells it to corporate clients including Google, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Home Depot and the corporate management consulting giant McKinsey. Though Avast claims that it de-identifies the data before selling it, supposedly guarding user privacy, the PCMag/Motherboard investigation found that, in fact, the data collected and sold by Avast is in many cases so specific that it can be easily traced back to an individual user, even after that users personal information and IP address has been stripped away. The Avast software gathers data on individual clicks users are making on their browsing sessions, including the time down to the millisecond, PCMag reported. That means that buyers of the data could trace their own records back to discover which users engaged in the activities described in the data at the precise times contained in the data packages. Because the software claims to monitor every click, user activity on porn sites would be included in the data being collected and sold to many of the countrys largest and most powerful companies. As AVN.com has reported, some of the top internet companiesincluding Google and Facebookalready place tracking software on porn sites to harvest user data. Time and again weve seen that consumers are totally unwitting to the ways their data is being collected, commercialized and sold, Virginia Senator Mark Warner told Motherboard. "No consumer would realistically have an inkling that their antivirus software could be selling their browsing data. Warner then criticized the FTC, which he said hasnt kept up with how these markets for data operate, and appears to be unwilling to use its authorities to do so. An FTC spokesperson told Motherboard that it would neither confirm nor deny that it is investigating how Avast collects and sells user data. But in a statement, the FTC said that it was very familiar with how these markets for data operate. Other buyers of the Avast data have included Expedia, Intuit, Keurig, Conde Nast and LOreal. Microsoft said that it no longer has a relationship with the company, as far as acquiring user data goes. Photo By Avast Software / Wikimedia Commons Public Domain Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that nurses at the hospital, where he was admitted to after suffering a fall from the stage, looked like hoors after a doctor gave him an injection that eased his pain. Khan was speaking at a fundraiser for the Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital in Karachi when he spoke about his fall from an elevator a few years ago. It was such an injection that the pain went away entirely, he said. My whole world changed. I started seeing the nurses there as hoors, he said on Tuesday. The Prime Minister said he felt so better after the injection that he even made a speech on TV which he couldnt remember later. However, he said that when the injections medicine faded, he started to feel the pain again, Geo news reported. I pressed him [Dr Asim] so much. I told him to give me the injection again, for Gods sake, said the Prime Minister. I even threatened him by saying I will deal with you. Give me the injection. However, he did not. In 2013, Khan sustained serious injuries on his head and back after falling down from a lifter. The incident occurred in Lahore, a few days before the general elections were contested. A pro-Israel super PAC has launched a $700,000 television ad campaign targeting presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., as he rises in the polls in the crucial days before the Iowa caucuses next week. Democratic Majority for Israel, a group with close ties to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee lobby, started airing ads that target the senator in Iowa today. Interestingly, the ads do not mention Israel or foreign policy and instead argue that self-identified socialist cannot beat President Donald Trump in a general election. They also express concern over the 78-year-old candidates health because of his heart attack last year. Sanders rebuttal posted online Tuesday also did not address Israel or foreign policy and instead focused on his campaign finance reform platform. The big money interests can run all the negative ads they want, but its not going to work, said Sanders. Why it matters: Although neither side appears to want to make Israel an issue ahead of the Iowa caucuses on Monday, the ads are the result of an increasingly heated debate between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian factions within the Democratic Party. Mark Mellman, a Democratic pollster and former adviser to Israels Blue and White party, formed Democratic Majority for Israel last year to support pro-Israel candidates and combat the increasing skepticism of the close US ally within the party. A Gallup poll from last year found that only 43% of Democrats sympathize more with the Israelis than with the Palestinians. Sanders, meanwhile, has staked out the furthest left platform on Israel in the primary, calling for the United States to condition military aid to Israel based on both the occupation of the West Bank and the human rights and living conditions in the Gaza Strip. Whats next: While the intraparty primary debate on Israel is still brewing below the surface, Democrats may not be able to avoid explicitly addressing it for much longer. Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez appointed a Democratic Majority for Israel board member Meghan Stabler to the partys platform committee this week, shortly before the ads began airing in Iowa. Sanders delegates unsuccessfully sought to reference Israels occupation of the West Bank in the partys 2016 platform a fight they lost to delegates appointed by the Democratic nominee that year, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The Vermont senators supporters have also raised a broader uproar over Perez other committee appointments this year due to their previous opposition to Sanders in 2016. Know more: Middle East policy could play an unusually outsized role in the US elections this year, so keep up to date with Al-Monitors 2020 coverage here. Correction: Jan. 30, 2020. This article has been updated to note that, according to a Gallup poll, 43% of Democrats sympathize more with the Israelis than with the Palestinians, rather than 31%. An SNP politician is set to cost taxpayers thousands of pounds by sitting as an MEP for just four days to vote against Boris Johnson's withdrawal agreement, prompting claims of 'extravagant madness' in Brussels. Heather Anderson took up her seat on Tuesday to replace Alyn Smith, who had served as an MEP for 15 years but had to step down after being elected MP for Stirling in the recent general election. She will claim a 323 (273) daily allowance to cover food and accommodation, and daily pre-tax pay of approximately 288 (245). This will result in a remuneration of approximately 2,072 over her four-day term, excluding travel expenses. Heather Anderson took up her seat on Tuesday to replace Alyn Smith, who had served as an MEP for 15 years Ms Anderson denied receiving either an office or any new IT equipment in response to a tweet from the Brexit Party's Richard Tice Brexit Party MEP Richard Tice blasted the move on Twitter. 'Extravagant madness at Brussels. Apparently a new SCOTTISH MEP, presumably to replace Alyn Smith, has started today, new office, IT, iPad, passwords, email, everything for 4 days.... ludicrous.' Ms Anderson denied receiving either an office or any new IT equipment, tweeting in response: 'I'm here to vote against the withdrawal agreement on behalf of the people of Scotland No new office, no iPad - just democracy in action!' She will also be reimbursed for travel expenses, including flights between the UK and Belgium. The SNP did not comment about how much these would amount to. An SNP spokesman denied Ms Anderson was guilty of extravagance and noted she would not employ any staff or be entitled to a pension or payoff at the end of her term. Ms Anderson was placed fifth on the SNP list in the European elections in June, but Christian Allard and Aileen MacLeod, who were second and third, were also elected as MEPs and fourth-placed Margaret Ferrier has just become an MP. Speaking to Sky News, she vowed to return to Brussels if Scotland became independent and was able to rejoin the EU. 'I am looking on these four days as the first four days, not the last,' she said. 'Scotland will apply to rejoin the European Union as soon as we have secured our independence.' Brexit Party MEP Richard Tice, pictured, said the costs required to induct a new MEP for just four days were 'ludicrous' Ms Anderson previously tweeted on Tuesday to thank senior cabinet minister Michael Gove for confirming her prior to Brexit day on January 31. 'It's finally official! For 4 days only, but I can vote tomorrow in the debate on the withdrawal agreement,' she wrote. 'So important that our vote is heard. I don't say this often, but thank you Mr Gove for finally doing the right thing.' A European Parliament spokesman told MailOnline all IT equipment had to be handed back in at the end of an MEP's term. The institution's expenses are funded by money from member states, including Britain, which paid a net contribution of 8.9 billion in 2018. About 50 young actors will be admitted to the Dr Duma Ndlovu Actors Academy (DNA) bridging course to take place every two months from March throughout this year in Botswana. Auditions to select those who will be part of the class will take place on Saturday February 1 at Botho University, Lecture Theatre 2, according to Coordinator and Facilitator, Michael Mosipidi. Dr Ndlovu, the creator and director of the popular South African soapies, Muvhango, Uzalo and Imbewu will conduct the acting classes that are intended to introduce drama and performing arts students to the television and film acting industry. Dr Ndlovu, also Founder and Managing Director of Word of Mouth Pictures runs DNA Academy in Johannesburg, which has produced some of the leading actors in South Africa, and has been running Masterclasses to empower South African youth for free in Johannesburg Theatre since 2005. His Academy will now extend the gesture to Botswana youth. Both the course and audition are free-of-charge. The class will open opportunities for local actors to raise their competency to that of their international counterparts, Mosipidi says, adding, the aim of this relationship is to expose and export the local talent. We believe that the talent of our people can be another strategy in diversification of our economy, Mosipidi says.Even though preference will be given to those who have studied acting at tertiary institutions, organisers say everyone aged 20 to 30 is free to come and audition. In addition, participants are expected to bring their curricular vitae. Those who have graduated from acting institutions or are still students of those institutions will be allowed to use monologues for auditions or the Audition Script. Monologues should be from published plays. Recommended monologues are by the following playwrights; Ntozakhe Shange, Athol Fugard, Amiri Baraka, Zakes Mda, August Wilson, Arthur Miller. Those without qualifications will only use the Audition Script supplied on the day. DNA Academy founded in 2005 is a brainchild of Dr Ndlovu with an intention of bridging the gap between students who have just graduated from performing arts institutions and are willing to enter the acting industry. Since its existence in South Africa to date, the academy has conducted a successful class of graduates that converted them into focused professionals, ready and responsible enough to enter and do well in acting as a career. In 2017, Dr Ndlovu, through a partnership with Mosipidi and Johnson Otlaadisa of New Look Studios conducted some acting auditions in which three of Batswana actors secured roles as Marang, Nare and Seretse in Muvhango, which airs on SABC 2. US forces on Tuesday recovered two bodies near the wreckage of a military jet that crashed in a Taliban-controlled area of eastern Afghanistan, after Afghan forces trying to reach the scene clashed with insurgents. The Bombardier E-11A -- used for battlefield communications -- went down in a snowy area on Monday. "US forces recovered the remains of two personnel from the site," the US military said in a statement. "The remains were found near the crash site, treated with dignity and respect by the local Afghan community, in accordance with their culture," the statement said. The remains of the plane were destroyed by US forces, it added, noting that the flight data recorder was recovered for analysis, as the investigation into the crash continues. "There are no indications the crash was caused by enemy fire," the US military reiterated. Ghazni police chief Khaled Wardak said US helicopters landed at the site in the late afternoon and were reinforced by Afghan security forces on the ground during the operation. "Following the removal of the bodies, our forces have moved back to their bases," added Wardak. Earlier in the day, coalition forces flew sorties over the site of the crashed jet with one aircraft firing flares as a crowd gathered nearby, according to a local reporter at the scene. Wardak said that after the plane went down, Afghan security forces tried to reach the wreckage late Monday when they were ambushed by the Taliban and pushed back. Ghazni police spokesman Ahmad Khan Sirat confirmed the ambush, adding that at least one person was killed in the fighting between the Taliban and Afghan forces. Crashes involving military flights, particularly helicopters, are common in Afghanistan, where inclement weather and creaky aircraft are often pressed to their limits in the war-torn country -- and where insurgents have been known to target helicopters. The crash comes as Washington and the Taliban continue to wrangle over a possible agreement that would see US troops begin to leave Afghanistan in return for security guarantees. The two sides had been negotiating the deal for a year and were on the brink of an announcement in September 2019 when US President Donald Trump abruptly declared the process "dead", citing Taliban violence. Taliban sources told AFP earlier this month they had offered to initiate a ceasefire of seven to 10 days in a bid to restart the formal negotiations, but there was no announcement of the proposal by either party. Another person has died from injuries caused by a volcano eruption in New Zealand more than a month ago, bringing the total number killed to 21, police have said. The victim who has not yet been publicly identified died in an Auckland hospital on Tuesday night, according to John Tim, a deputy commissioner. There were 47 people visiting the tourist destination of White Island when the volcano erupted on 9 December, initially killing 13 people. Eight more people have died in hospitals in New Zealand and Australia in the weeks following the eruption, which saw scores hospitalised for severe burns. Experts say super-heated water that burst from beneath the craters surface caused the injuries. New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos Show all 20 1 /20 New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos Smoke from the volcanic eruption of Whakaari, also known as White Island. New Zealand police said the blast had left five people dead, but that number will now rise to include those people who were still on the island when it erupted allessandrokauffmann via Reuters New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos Emergency services attend to an injured person TVNZ via Reuters New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos Thick smoke from the volcanic eruption SCH via Reuters New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos The volcano on New Zealand's White Island spewing steam and ash moments after it erupted Michael Schade/AFP via Getty New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos White Island Tour operators rescuing people minutes after the volcano erupted Michael Schade/AFP via Getty New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos Thick smoke from the volcanic eruption from a distance of a vessel SCH via Reuters New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos An aerial photo shows White Island after its volcanic eruption New Zealand Herald via AP New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos An aerial view shows smoke bellowing above the crater of Whakaari GNS Science via Reuters New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos Emergency services attend to an injured person arriving at the Whakatane Airfield New Zealand Herald via AP New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos Michael Schade/AFP via Getty New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos A wreckage of a helicopter amid ash minutes after the volcano on New Zealand's White Island erupted Michael Schade/AFP via Getty New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos SCH via Reuters SCH via Reuters New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos GNS Science via AP New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos GNS Science via Reuters New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos EPA New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos An aerial view shows hikers walking on the crater rim of Whakaari, also known as White Island, shortly before the volcano erupted GNS Science via Reuters New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos Emergency services at Whakatane Airport Getty Images New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos A rescue helicopter arrving at the airport Getty Images New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos White Island (Whakaari) volcano, as it erupts Michael Schade/EPA New Zealand volcano: Eruption in photos White Island (Whakaari) volcano, shortly before erupting Michael Schade/EPA Some victims saw burns cover large portions of their bodies or damage their lungs. Many of those killed and injured were Australian tourists who had been travelling aboard the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Ovation of the Seas. Two British women were also hospitalised for injuries. One of the people who died in the weeks after the eruption was an American woman, Mayuari Singh, whose husband was also wounded. New Zealand authorities are investigating the circumstances around the disaster. Many have questioned why tourists were allowed on the island after its alert level was raised by authorities three weeks before the eruption. Mr Tims, the police deputy commissioner, said the latest victim died at Aucklands Middlemore Hospital. Their identity will be revealed once their wider family has been informed, he said. Associated Press Appointment 29 January 2020 The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is proud to introduce its 2020 Americas Board of Directors and Executive Committee. The board is composed of a variety of travel and hospitality executives from a representative selection of HSMAI members. The HSMAI Americas Board will be chaired by Marina MacDonald, CHDM, chief marketing officer at Red Roof Inn. "I'm excited to continue the momentum of HSMAI and our laser focus on driving revenue and profits for our hotel sales, marketing, and revenue optimization stakeholder members and companies," said MacDonald. "This is going to be a year of growth and advancement, and I am pleased that HSMAI's 2020 Americas Board is well-equipped to guide our organization through the ever-changing landscape of the hospitality industry," said Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHBA, president and CEO of HSMAI. "The Americas Board members have exemplified their commitment to HSMAI members, partners, and the industry at large. It is a privilege to have a board that is comprised of many passionate and experienced thought leaders." Peace activist and documentary-filmmaker Tapan Bose on Wednesday made a controversial statement while speaking at an anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Register of Citizens protest at Janta Mantar in Delhi. Bose said that the Pakistan Army and the Indian Army are alike and there is no difference between them as both kill their people. Bose further said that Pakistan is not an enemy country and added that the ruling class of India and Pakistan are alike. Addressing the people Bose said, "Pakistan is not an enemy country, ruling class of India & Pakistan are alike. Our armies are alike too, their army kills their people and our army kills our people, there is no difference between them. If you go to Pakistan and talk to people, they will be very polite to you. In every sentence, they just say 'compromise should happen, you do something'." Bose, calling the anti-CAA stir another freedom movement of India said, "Our forefathers founded the idea of new India. Now this is a second freedom movement and in this movement, we take the spirit of our forefathers and we are ready to fight till the end." READ | Ranjit Savarkar Slams Pooja Bhatt's 'Don't Support CAA As It Divides My House' Statement After being questioned by the media for his statement Bose replied, "I have not insulted anyone. What is the problem in comparing two forces, what is so sacrosanct about our Army, I don't understand. I would request the army veterans to tell me why they did not take action on the army personnel who have killed people and raped women." READ | High Drama In Kerala Assembly: Cong MLAs Block Guv, Then CM Insists He Read Anti-CAA Move Anti-CAA protest The Shaheen Bagh protest, where hundreds of women have been staging a sit-in against the new citizenship law for over a month, walked to Jantar Mantar on Wednesday. As per reports, students of Jamia Millia Islamia, Jawaharlal Nehru University ((JNU) also joined Shaheen Bagh protesters as they moved to Jantar Mantar. These protesters said they will continue their agitation until the government decides to roll back the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Register of Citizens. The elderly women who have come to be known as the "dadis of Shaheen Bagh" for leading the anti-CAA agitation will be part of the 'Chalo Jantar Mantar call. The dadis are also expected to address protesters at Jantar Mantar. The protesters, who are opposing the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and a pan-India National Register of Citizens (NRC), have been sitting on an indefinite protest at Shaheen Bagh for over a month. READ | PFI Calls ED Summons On Anti-CAA Violence 'ill-motivated Move At Behest Of BJP Govt' READ | ED Summons PFI Top-brass To Probe 'money-trail' Between PFI & Anti-CAA Protests In UP Australia plans to evacuate its citizens from the epicentre of the deadly virus outbreak in China and quarantine them on an island normally used to detain asylum seekers, according to proposals unveiled Wednesday. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said "vulnerable" Australians -- including children and the elderly -- and short-term visitors to Wuhan and surrounding Hubei province would be prioritised in extraction efforts. Officials said about 600 Australians were known to be in the area, which has been locked down in an effort to contain the spread of the virus. Morrison said Australia was working with New Zealand on the operation and would seek to help Pacific nations evacuate their citizens where possible but his "first priority right now is the safety of Australians". "I stress there is rather a limited window here and we are moving very, very swiftly to ensure we can put this plan together and put the operation together," Morrison told reporters in Canberra. "I stress that this will be done on a last-in, first-out basis." Morrison said they would be held in quarantine for 14 days on Christmas Island, known for its notorious immigration detention centre used to detain asylum seekers attempting to reach Australia by boat. "The defence forces have been tasked to identify overflow facilities where that may be necessary and also to provide whatever logistical and other support is necessary to support the operations on Christmas Island," he added. He also sought to downplay expectations about how many Australians could be evacuated from Wuhan. "I want to stress that we cannot give a guarantee that this operation is able to succeed and I also want to stress very clearly that we may not be in a position if we're able to do this on one occasion to do it on another occasion," he said. Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Australia was seeking permission from Chinese authorities to allow its citizens to depart Wuhan, with Australian consular officials travelling from Shanghai to coordinate the efforts. Japan and the United States have already evacuated hundreds of citizens from Wuhan. The virus, which is believed to have originated in a market trading in wild animals in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, has infected nearly 6,000 people in China and killed more than 130. Australian health officials on Wednesday announced a 60-year-old man had been diagnosed with the virus, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the country to six. All six have received medical treatment and are said to be in a stable condition. There have so far been no confirmed cases in Australia of human-to-human transmission. Australia has warned its citizens not to visit Wuhan and on Wednesday upgraded its travel advice for China, recommending people "reconsider" their need to travel. People returning to Australia from Hubei province have been told they should self-quarantine at home for 14 days. Christmas Island is known for its notorious immigration detention centre used to detain asylum seekersattempting to reach Australia by boat Map locating Christmas Island where the Australian government is planning to quarantine citizens evacuated from China's Hubei province Amazon employees have taken to Medium to speak out on apparent hypocrisy in the companys climate change-related policy, according to recent reports. The 363 named employees are quoted in the article citing concerns about several key areas. But the primary concern is with the companys association with gas and oil companies. At the center of the controversy is Amazons Climate Pledge. That policy sets a goal for Amazon that it will meet the standards and requirements of the Paris Agreement as much as 10 years early. More specifically, it indicates that the company plans to have a net-zero carbon footprint by 2040. The company set to accomplish that via a plethora of goals from improving energy efficiency to utilizing renewable energy and reducing materials used. While thats a tall order to fill and one that, the employees argue, cant be attained while Amazon continues to partner with companies such as BP and Shell to discover and extract fossil fuels. Advertisement The underlying issue here is Amazons external communication policy The obvious issue at hand is the rate at which Amazon seems to be approaching its environmental goals to reduce its climate change impact. But the workers are also addressing an underlying issue that has more to do with its external communications policy. Near the beginning of January of this year, Amazon reportedly threatened to fire two of its employees for speaking out on the same issue. Those are Maren Costa and Jamie Kowalski. The two employees, a user experience designer and a software development engineer, were the first to speak out. Amazon responded to the initial call-out by claiming that employees are free to speak internally about those issues. It also claimed that the workers had violated a policy that requires employees to seek prior approval to speak about Amazon in any public forum. Advertisement That policy specifically holds true while those speaking out are identifying as an employee of Amazon. The post acts, in addition to protesting company climate policy decisions, as a show of solidarity. Thats further attested by a video shared by the group to Twitter this week. The group says in that tweet that the employees are scared but wont be silenced by the HR policies. Amazon isnt the only company facing employee backlash Employee backlash over climate policy and lack of action is not exclusive to Amazon. In late 2019, more than 1,100 Google employees signed on to back demands similar to those now faced by Amazon. Namely, the employees wanted the search giant to cease entering into contracts with companies that extract fossil fuels. Microsoft has faced its own issues on the same front as well. But the software giant has, as noted by several quotes in the Amazon-related post, gone carbon-negative. Advertisement Mitch Vanneman Headshot With nearly 20 years of experience in the Colorado market, Mitch will be able to identify opportunities where Bloomfield can assist brokers and sponsors in closing complex debt and equity transactions. Bloomfield Capital, a national direct commercial real estate lender and equity investor has announced that Mitch Vanneman has joined their Denver office to spearhead Colorado originations. Mitchs primary responsibilities will be originating senior bridge loans, mezzanine loans and preferred equity investments across all commercial real estate asset classes, with a focus on Colorado. Were excited to add Mitch to our originations platform, and I look forward to watching him grow our market presence in Colorado and the surrounding states, stated Renee Lewis, managing partner of Bloomfield Capital. With nearly 20 years of experience in the Colorado market, Mitch will be able to identify opportunities where Bloomfield can assist brokers and sponsors in closing complex debt and equity transactions. Prior to joining Bloomfield Capital, Mitch was a commercial loan officer at Keystone Bridge Capital, a debt fund based in Salt Lake City, UT, specializing in acquisitions, refinancings, and value-add repositionings of commercial real estate assets. Between 2014 and 2018, Mitch was the director of debt valuations at NVC, based in Centennial, CO. Before NVC, Mitch was vice president at the Miller Frishman Group, and he was also a vice president at JCR Capitals Denver office. Mitch received his M.S. in Real Estate from the University of Denver and his undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. About Bloomfield Capital Bloomfield Capital is a direct lender and equity investor in commercial real estate assets nationwide. With offices in Los Angeles, Detroit, New York, Denver, Chicago, and Portland, Bloomfield Capitals team draws from a broad base of commercial real estate and finance experience. The firm provides debt and equity solutions to meet the demands of time-sensitive and complex transactions. Bloomfield Capital specializes in small to medium-sized financings from $2-20 million in the form of bridge loans, mezzanine loans and preferred equity investments. Earlier this week, the UKs Financial Conduct Authority published a paper that says high-frequency traders are effectively imposing a $US5 billion-a-year ($7.4 billion) tax on global investors. That will provide fuel for critics of the "flash boys" and proponents of financial transaction taxes in the US and Europe. The Michael Lewis book Flash Boys described how sharemarkets had been rigged by exchanges and investment banks to enable high-frequency traders to take advantage of latency arbitrage, or the microseconds of advantage that those traders had over more conventional investors. About 22 per cent of the daily activity on the London Stock Exchange is in latency arbitrage ''races''. Credit:Bloomberg That advantage is gained through co-location of their equipment with that of the exchanges, through microwave links between markets, fibre optic cables and superior access to exchange data feeds. Its a lucrative business for the traders and for the exchanges which, like the ASX, sell advantaged access to their facilities and data. The FCA, using data from the London Stock Exchange not previously used in studies of latency arbitrage, reviewed all the messaging activity for all the stocks in the FTSE 350 index more than 2 billion messages, including failed attempts to trade over a nine-week period. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 01:57:41|Editor: yan Video Player Close LONDON, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The troubled Northern Rail will be put into public ownership from March 1, British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said Wednesday. The announcement came after months of widespread cancellations and delays amid the introduction of new timetables in May 2018. Earlier this month, Shapps said the Northern franchise was no longer financially sustainable and would only be able to continue for a small number of months. The Northern network serves over 108 million passenger journeys a year on 2800 daily services, calling at 528 stations. Having been run by German operator Arriva since 2016, the Northern franchise will now be taken over by the Northern Trains Ltd, a subsidiary of the DOHL, which maintains continuity of passenger rail services if a passenger rail franchise terminates and is not immediately replaced. The government decision was welcomed by many in the north of England, with the mayors of Manchester and Liverpool branding it a "victory for passengers", according to British newspaper the Guardian. Arriva said it "understood the government's decision", but attributed the problems largely to "external factors" such as rail infrastructure. A group of 60-70 refugees tried to enter Hungary from Serbia at Roszke early Tuesday morning, but were deterred by warning shots, the Interior Ministry reported. Dozens of migrants jumped over security offences at 5.20 a.m. As the border crossing does not open before 7 a.m., one of the security guards fired three warning shots. The vast majority returned to Serbia. Police caught four others and interrogated them. However, several others fled into Hungarian territory, so authorities sealed off the area. The mass attempt to enter Hungary occurred in two stages ten minutes apart, Interior Minister Sandor Pinter told reporters. Prime Minister Viktor Orban met with Pinter and the Migration Working Group yesterday morning. Asked how such an incident could have occurred despite the ongoing border surveillance, Pinter replied that the Roszke border post is there for people to cross. This is not a border fence issue; this is a crossing point, hence it is a completely different system, Pinter said. Pinter said he had received information last week that smaller groups would try to penetrate the border at several places. HVGs on-site correspondent reports that the 60-70 migrants have been hiding at the Kanjiza train station, which was closed a week ago. Since then, they have been constantly harassed by authorities, which has led to a growing tension and made the refugees feel they were trapped in Serbia, HVG writes. Serbian authorities later announced that they had detained 37 of those who tried to enter Hungary. MTI Photo: Kelemen Zoltan Gergely Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have taken a step back as senior members of the royal family. The couple and their son Archie are now in Canada. Although it is part of their plan to move back and forth to North America and the U.K., there is still no news as to when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be back in the U.K. While that is the case, however, the couple -- particularly Meghan -- might not want to come back so soon. According to sources of Us Weekly, Meghan has not spoken to her sister-in-law Kate Middleton since they made their bombshell announcement. Moreover, the former "Suits" actress has reportedly been "very happy since she left London." Sources added that Meghan "never looked happier" than she is today. The New Life "Meghan feels free," sources said when asked how the Duchess of Sussex is doing since their split from the royal family. The sources also described that Meghan is happy to finally be out of London. It can be remembered that before they left for their six-week holiday break, Prince Harry and Meghan were greatly scrutinized for their honesty in their documentary that covered their trip in Africa. Some people admired them for being "real" during the interview. However, a lot has also said they have disgraced the royal family by "complaining" of their privileged life. Sources said that Meghan was also surprised at how quickly things happened. The couple knew that they would want to relinquish their royal titles, but at the pace that it happened, everyone was surprised. "The palace thought that it might take a while to make it happen, but they made it happen," sources added. Cutting Ties Her majesty Queen Elizabeth II quickly took control of the crisis that threatened to permanently damage the monarchy they have been protecting for years. In a statement issued by the Queen on Jan. 18 after their closed-door meeting at the Sandringham Estate, she expressed the her full support to Harry and Meghan's decision to focus on growing their little family. The Queen also praised Meghan for "quickly" becoming one of the members of the royal family and for the work that the couple has done. She also said that she was pleased that they have found a constructive way to move on with their lives. Following the announcement, the brothers Prince William and Prince Harry have reportedly talked and reconciled their differences through the initiative of their wives, Kate and Meghan. However, the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Sussex may have their own rift that needed patching up. Despite the fact that the two have joined several talks about the changes that may come in the future, it seems they have never really spoken to each other deeply and personally. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have moved their family to Canada. Now, everyone hopes the couple would be able to see things through. Scientists in China have used a new mix of human and pig genes to create lab grown skin samples they hope to treat burn victims and others in need of skin grafts. Lijin Zou led a team from the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, which tested the viability of its specialized samples on macaque monkeys. According to Zou, the hybrid skin sample survived for 25 days on a macaque without needing any additional treatments to suppress the host's immune system and keep it from attacking the sample. Researchers at Nanchang University have mixed pig genes and human genes to create a new kind of skin graft sample they hope could be useful in medical treatment for burn victims So far, it is the best result, at least from the English literature, Zou told New Scientist, saying that he expects the sample could last even longer on a human host, where the presence of human genes could help avoid trigger an immune response. To create the skin sample, the team added eight specific human genes to the pig genome, and removed three pig genes that have been connected to immune response triggers. The specific mix of human and pig genes could help researchers get around a fundamental challenge in the years-long effort to create lab-grown organ transplants. Pig samples are the easiest animal to draw samples from, both in terms of broad applicability, yet because pigs and humans arent phylogenetically close, the immune system of human hosts will often attack samples produced from pig DNA. By isolating and editing genes from both species, major improvements to organ transplant stability could be made. WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES The team proposes a process that would create genetically modified skin samples taken from pig skins, processed and sterilized, and then given to a human burn patient as a graft The team tested a number of different skin graft samples to test their viability, and found the new gene-edited sample (top row) remained viable for 25 days on a macaque monkey, without the need for any additional immunosupressant medication The human genes introduced to the samples would increase the likelihood of the tissue bonding with the host, while removing a targeted number of pig genes could take away the chemical triggers that cause the host immune system to attack and kill the transplants. According to David Cooper, a researcher at University of Alabama at Birmingham, the next major hurdle will be convincing regulators to approve the technology for testing on human subjects. 'I believe that any of these pigs will be suitable for a clinical trial [in humans], but we have to persuade the regulatory authorities first,' Cooper told New Scientist. The new breakthrough was made possible by CRISPR, a microscopic technique that was invented in 2012, and which allows researchers to cut DNA strands at specific points, introduce new strings of DNA, and fuse the cut ends back together. (Newser) A flight evacuating more than 200 American citizens from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the center of the coronavirus outbreak, landed in Alaska on Tuesday nightand none of them developed symptoms during the flight. Authorities say the evacuees, who were screened before leaving China, were checked again at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and all passengers were cleared, the Anchorage Daily News reports. "For many of us directly involved, this has been a moving and uplifting experience," said Alaskas Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink. "The whole plane erupted in cheers when the crew said, 'Welcome home to the United States.'" The flight later departed, but authorities now say it will land at March Air Reserve Base in California, not Ontario International Airport as originally planned. More: More screenings to come. The government says the evacuated US citizens, including diplomats, will be temporarily housed in California and will undergo additional health screenings during the repatriation process, the AP reports. story continues below Brits will be quarantined . The British government, which also plans to repatriate citizens from Wuhan, says they will be placed in quarantine for two weeks after they are flown out on Thursday, the BBC reports. British Airways has now suspended all direct flights to and from China. . The British government, which also plans to repatriate citizens from Wuhan, says they will be placed in quarantine for two weeks after they are flown out on Thursday, the BBC reports. British Airways has now suspended all direct flights to and from China. Australia not taking chances . Australia also plans to quarantine its citizensa thousand miles offshore. "Isolated and vulnerable" citizens caught up in the outbreak will spend two weeks in quarantine in a detention center on Christmas Island, reports the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. . Australia also plans to quarantine its citizensa thousand miles offshore. "Isolated and vulnerable" citizens caught up in the outbreak will spend two weeks in quarantine in a detention center on Christmas Island, reports the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. First foreigners infected in China . In China, where there have now been more than 6,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 131 deaths, authorities say three cases have been reported among foreign residents, the South China Morning Post reports. A student from Pakistan and two Australian citizens are being treated in Guangdong province. . In China, where there have now been more than 6,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 131 deaths, authorities say three cases have been reported among foreign residents, the South China Morning Post reports. A student from Pakistan and two Australian citizens are being treated in Guangdong province. Relieved to be home . An evacuation flight from Wuhan landed in Tokyo on Tuesday, and evacuee Takeo Aoyama said he was happy to be home, the Guardian reports. "We were feeling increasingly uneasy as the situation developed so rapidly and we were still in the city, Aoyama said. "We were not able to move freely, so we only had partial information. The restrictions on the flow of goods and transport were extremely strict." . An evacuation flight from Wuhan landed in Tokyo on Tuesday, and evacuee Takeo Aoyama said he was happy to be home, the Guardian reports. "We were feeling increasingly uneasy as the situation developed so rapidly and we were still in the city, Aoyama said. "We were not able to move freely, so we only had partial information. The restrictions on the flow of goods and transport were extremely strict." Virus spreads far beyond Wuhan. In what experts describe as a worrying sign, new cases have surfaced overseas among people who had not visited China, the New York Times reports. The cases in Germany, Taiwan, Japan, and Vietnam show how the virus can be transmitted between people, health officials say. The cases include a Japanese man who drove a tour bus with passengers from Wuhan. (Read more coronavirus stories.) EDMONTON, Alberta and CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Until now, the most recent data on the prevalence of child sexual abuse in Canada was from a study chaired by Dr. Robin Badgely that took place 36 years ago. Partnering with the Government of Alberta and the reputable research firm of R.A. Malatest and Associates, the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services (AASAS) undertook research modelled on the 1984 study but expanded to gather information on sexual assault throughout the lifespan under the age of 18, over the age of 18 and combined data. The key findings of this research - Prevalence of Sexual Assault and Childhood Sexual Abuse in Alberta (2020) - provide insight into the prevalence and nature of Albertans experiences of childhood sexual abuse and sexual assault throughout their lifetime. With an estimated 1.8 million individuals in Alberta experiencing sexual abuse in their lifetime, this research shows us that sexual abuse is a health and safety issue of epidemic proportions said Debra Tomlinson, CEO of AASAS. Albertans have a strong history of coming together to help each other in times of need. People who experience sexual abuse are our family members, our friends and our colleagues. And each and every one of us has a role to play in ensuring survivors get support. Added Honourable Minister Leela Sharon Aheer, Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women: In order to combat gender-based violence it is important that we understand the landscape in which we stand. It is heartbreaking that so many Albertans are impacted by abuse and violence in all forms. Our Government will utilize this current and long overdue information as we move forward in cooperation with community organizations to inform how best to make an impact, support survivors and end gender-based violence together. Added Honourable Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Community and Social Services: The Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services provides compassionate and caring support to survivors of sexual abuse and help to those who need to be believed. Research is important, and our government will continue to address the prevalence of sexual abuse in our communities. We have recently passed Albertas version of Clares Law. We remain committed to providing supports and services to survivors of sexual violence. Added Debra Tomlinson: Understanding the problem of sexual violence is key to finding solutions. The experience of Sexual violence is linked to some of our most serious health and social issues like, mental illness, human trafficking, suicide, homelessness and domestic violence. These study findings have the potential to make a positive difference in the health and safety of all Albertans. Background How the survey was conducted This groundbreaking, Alberta-based research was conducted by R.A. Malatest and Associates, and made possible by support from the Government of Alberta, which included funding from the Ministry of Community and Social Services, and Health. Because of the sensitive nature of this topic, the Human Research Ethics Board required the design and implementation of two pilot studies before giving final approval to go ahead with the complete study in 2019. Surveyors were trained by AASAS sexual assault centres before administering the survey, and respondents who wanted support were connected directly to Albertas One Line for Sexual Violence. Over 1,500 adults over the age of 18 were surveyed from all areas of Alberta. To administer the survey, the research team procured a general population sample. Key Findings Prevalence of Sexual Abuse over the Lifespan Forty-five percent of adult Albertans have experienced some type of sexual abuse or violence in their lifetime. Thats almost one in every two. The number of individuals surveyed (adults over the age of 18) who experienced sexual abuse at some point in their lifetime, is estimated to be 1.48 million Albertans. This does not include however, children currently living in Alberta. If we consider the current population of children in Alberta (955,799) and use the 34% prevalence rate of childhood sexual abuse from our study, we can estimate that the number of children who are experiencing childhood sexual abuse in Alberta is approximately 325,000. Therefore, the total number of Alberta residents who have experienced sexual abuse in their lifetime is estimated at 1.80 million (1.48 Million + 325,000). Based on these results, the estimated prevalence rate of sexual abuse in Alberta is approximately 43%. Like the Badgley research, this study asked people about eight different types of sexual abuse. Of all types of sexual abuse surveyed, 92% reached the threshold of a crime when perpetrated against adults. 100% reached the threshold of a crime when perpetrated against children. Two in three females and one in three males experienced sexual abuse in their lifetime. These results show that females are two times more likely than males to experience sexual abuse. Of all survivors surveyed, 75% were first abused as children. Of those, 50% also experienced sexual assault as an adult. This aligns with research that people who experience sexual abuse as a child are at greater risk of being sexually assaulted again as an adult. Prevalence of Childhood Sexual Abuse One in three Albertans (34%) experienced sexual abuse when they were under the age of 18. 44% of females and 24% of males experienced child sexual abuse in Alberta. As people progress to adulthood, the rate of sexual assault against males decreases while the rate of sexual assault against females continues. Females are more likely to experience sexual assault in childhood and adulthood. Males are most likely to experience sexual assault in childhood. In most incidences of child sexual abuse reported in the survey: Survivors were commonly between the ages of 6 and 11 years at the time of the first incident of abuse The abuse was most likely committed by one male individual The survivor knew the abuser (friend, relative, acquaintance) And the abuser did not live in the survivors home Strangers were least likely to commit child sexual abuse but when they did, the types of abuse they committed were: exposing their sexual organs and touching themselves in front of the child. Most of the incidents of child sexual abuse did not occur over a prolonged period of time. The one type of sexual abuse that was more likely to be prolonged was trying to have or having sex with the survivor when the individual didnt want this. Prevalence of Sexual Assault Over the age of 18 Over one quarter (28%) of the individuals surveyed had experienced sexual assault when they were over the age of 18. If you look at the population of Alberta, this means almost 920,000 Albertans have experienced sexual assault over the age of 18. 41% of females experienced sexual assault over the age of 18 compared to 17% of males. Including females and males, sexual assault that occurs when an individual is over the age of 18 more commonly includes physical touch with 83% surveyed reporting physical contact. Comparison to Other Research Prevalence rates in the Badgley study were consistent with the current Alberta research. Badgley found an overall prevalence rate of 45% in Alberta/BC, and the AASAS study found 43%. It is important to note that while the prevalence rates found in the two studies are similar, the number of people impacted by sexual assault has grown significantly. In 1984, a prevalence rate of 42% would result in an estimated 1 million people in Alberta being impacted by sexual assault; by 2019, the prevalence rate of 43% has resulted in this number expanding to 1.8 million. Perceptions and Awareness of Sexual Assault and Abuse One in two respondents (57%) agree that the average Alberta resident believes that sexual abuse is an issue in their community. 40% believe there are still not enough supports for survivors and when asked about what types of support they felt was most important, the most common response was counselling. Two out of three respondents (67%) personally know a survivor of sexual abuse, either as a child or an adult, and one in two Albertans (53%) had personally supported a survivor. Detailed Key Findings document is available at www.aasas.ca About AASAS The primary work of the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services is to provide leadership, coordination and collaboration of sexual assault services in Alberta. The AASAS member agencies and services are responsible for day-to-day front line delivery of services within their local communities and regional areas. These agencies provide specialized sexual assault support services to individuals of all genders and ages throughout the lifespan. As a provincial support organization, AASAS focuses its efforts in these key areas: Awareness: AASAS works to increase public and government awareness of issues involving sexual abuse and sexual assault and the impacts they have on Albertans. Access: AASAS strives to ensure that all Albertans affected by sexual abuse and sexual assault have access to healing and recovery programs, services and supports. Contact Cheryl Wallach Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services 403.237.6905 x 224 cwallach@aasas.ca www.aasas.ca A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/586b3967-59cf-4e22-998c-06c87f41f902 El-Fakharani was granted an award in recognition of human giving and tolerance Egypts Minister of Culture Ines Abdel-Dayem, together with founder of the Abu Dhabi Group for Culture and Arts Hoda Ibrahim Kanoo, granted the award of the Abu Dhabi Festival for Tolerance to TV, theatre and cinema superstar Yehia El-Fakharani during a ceremony held under the patronage of Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan, the UAE Minister of Tolerance, at the Cairo Opera House on 26 January. Present at the ceremony were Minister of Information Osama Heikal, head of Egypts National Press Authority Karam Gabr as well as an array of artists, media personalities and public figures. Abdel-Dayem noted, "the award is a new addition in the series of victories of Egyptian creativity on the regional and global scene, actor El-Fakharani is a respectable model of whom his country is very proud." Kanoo said that culture and arts are the main pillars of the renaissance of nations, and that El-Fakharani has exceptional talent and a long and bright artistic history that has distinguished him among the actors of his generation. In his address to the attendees, El-Fakharani expressed his gratitude for obtaining the Abu Dhabi Festival for Tolerance award from the United Arab Emirates, especially since it is an award that is in recognition of human giving and tolerance. "Creative artworks are immortal and this honour is a sign of moving in the right direction," he explained. Search Keywords: Short link: New Zealand will team up with Australia to get citizens out of the Chinese city at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed. In a press conference held this afternoon, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he had spoken with Jacinda and the countries had agreed to cooperate on the operation to get their citizens out of Wuhan. Jacinda says in a statement that the two countries have confirmed they will work together on a "joint ANZAC assisted departure of Australians and New Zealanders from Wuhan". "Specific details of the evacuation plan, including the medical protocols that will be applied to returning New Zealanders, and access arrangements on the ground in China are being worked through by officials." More than 50 New Zealanders are stuck in Wuhan, which is in lockdown to limit the spread of the disease, and many are asking for help to leave the city. Scott says the Australians would be quarantined on Christmas Island, but it was not clear where the New Zealanders would go. Scott says children and elderly people in Wuhan will get priority. He says there was rather a limited window and the Australian government was moving very swiftly to ensure it could put the operation together. About 600 Australians are registered as being in Hubei province, including about 140 Australian children currently in Wuhan. The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in China rose to 131 as health authorities at the epicentre of the epidemic reported another 840 confirmed cases, taking the total to 5355. The flu-like virus has spread overseas to more than a dozen countries. Earlier today, New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade reviewed its travel advise for China, and is now advising New Zealanders to avoid non-essential travel to the country. An updated notice on the ministry's Safe Travel website said the government had limited ability to provide emergency services to New Zealanders in the province. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said on Tuesday it was exploring a possible evacuation including a chartered flight out of the city or assistance from the Defence Force. It would not comment on individual cases but said it had responded to about 20 requests for consular assistance. However, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will soon talk with the US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien about potentially evacuating New Zealand citizens from Wuhan. Winston says conversations were also ongoing with other countries including Australia and all options remained open. But he says any evacuations have to be done in close co-operation with the Chinese authorities, as they are in charge of travel over the border. Reuters reported fears of the spreading virus led airlines to reduce flights to China and global companies to restrict employee travel to the country. CNBC reported that the White House had told US airlines it may suspend all China-US flights due to the outbreak. None of the confirmed deaths to date have been outside China. However, confirmations of person-to-person transmission in Germany, Vietnam, Taiwan and Japan - as opposed to a traveller from China - has heightened concern. Known as "2019-nCoV", the newly identified coronavirus can cause pneumonia and, like other respiratory infections, it spreads between people in droplets from coughs and sneezes. Tourists leave country Meanwhile, three tourists tested in Rotorua after possible exposure to the corona virus have now left the country. The three Chinese tourists arrived in Rotorua on Saturday after previously travelling to Australia on the same flight as a passenger who had the virus. They were cleared by health officials but were monitored as they continued their holiday. Bay of Plenty medical officer of health Jim Miller says they left New Zealand yesterday. The agency had also looked into the sudden death of a Te Puke person who had just returned from China and concluded they did not have corona virus, he says. RNZ. On Mondays episode of The Bachelor, host Chris Harrison revealed to the ladies on the show that Peter Weber had mysteriously left Los Angeles and they would all be meeting him indun dun dunCleveland, Ohio. Ladies, its time to pack up, Harrison teased. The first stop on this amazing journey that will take us literally around the world will begin in a city full of art, culture, and rock and roll. Flash forward to the next scene. Weber revels in his surroundings and says excitedly, Were in Cleveland! This is where Superman is from! He raises his arm to mime the Man of Steels iconic flying pose, flashes a dazzling smile, and claims, Clark Kent was born here. But is that really true? The Twitter-verse certainly doesnt think so, but in a way, Weber is technically correct. Peter Weber, Superman | Maarten de Boer/ABC via Getty; DC Comics RELATED: The Bachelor Sneak Peek: Ambulance Called After Peter Webers Golf Cart Injury in Costa Rica The story does indeed say that Superman was born in Smallville, Kansas, but Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the writers who dreamed up the idea for the famous comic strip hero, were born in the city in Cleveland. More specifically, they were born in Glenville, and lived down the street from each other, according to an article in the Smithsonian Magazine. The pair then went on to write the story together in 1933. Because of this, many Ohioans think of Cleveland as the true birthplace of the Man of Steel, not Kansas (or Krypton, for that matter). WATCH: The Bachelor: Double Episode Sneak Peek But many Bachelor fans did not feel the same way on Monday night and flooded Twitter to voice their concerns with Webers controversial statement anyway. Uhhhhh what? Clark Kent? Superman? Cleveland? Is Peter drunk? tweeted The Bachelor spoiler blogger Reality Steve, attaching a screenshot of a Google search that claims Superman is from Kansas. Another user also complained, I am still rattled to my core that Peter said Cleveland is the home of Superman! and like no one blinked an eye?? The planet Krypton deserves better #TheBachelor. So whos right? Well give Peter the benefit of the doubt. The Pennsylvania Senate approved a bill on Wednesday that will aid many women in detecting breast cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage. By a 48-0 vote, the chamber voted to mandate insurers cover the costs associated with supplemental cancer screenings ultrasounds and magnetic resonance imaging - for women with dense breasts and those with high-risk factors for the disease, including personal history, family history or a genetic predisposition to it. Currently, not all insurance companies cover these extra screening costs for women with dense breasts. The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration. Sen. Bob Mensch, R-Montgomery County, the bills sponsor, told his Senate colleagues that mammograms alone fail to detect cancer in at least 40% of women with extremely dense breasts. Every woman deserves the best breast cancer screening that is available," Mensch said. "Senate Bill 595 is a significant step forward toward recognizing breast density as an increased risk factor. I am confident that this legislation will make a difference in the lives of many affected by this terrible disease. He credited the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition for its advocacy in pushing this issue to the forefront. Pat Halpin-Murphy, the coalitions president and founder, said the supplemental screenings that this bill would cover would enable women to screen for breast cancer earlier when its more treatable and with fewer negative side effects such as lymphedema or heart attacks. This will make it certain that fewer women are diagnosed at a later, more dangerous stage, she said. We want to get this bill through the entire Legislature as soon as possible and were hoping the people can see this and understand that ultrasound and MRIs are important for detecting breast cancer in high-risk and dense breast women. Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy. 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 Navy could start lobbying Congress to rethink a law requiring it to have 12 massive aircraft carriers in its arsenal, the service's acting secretary said. Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said Wednesday that "everything is on the table" when it comes to the next force structure assessment, which will lay out a plan for the types and numbers of vessels the service needs. He said he plans to present the plan to the defense secretary this week. The Navy's current plans call for a 355-ship fleet, including a dozen aircraft carriers by 2065. But Modly said leaders must be more realistic about what's achievable in the next decade instead of planning for a future Navy when "we'll all be dead." "I think that number is going to be less [than 12 carriers]," he said Wednesday at an event on the Navy's future surface force. The event was hosted by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments in Washington, D.C. Related: Vice President Pence: Trump Will Save Carrier Truman from Early Retirement Modly pointed to the high $13 billion price tag on each of the Ford-class carriers. He also said top Navy and Marine Corps leaders are looking closely at what kinds of ships they need for more distributed operations -- more platforms across a bigger area -- as they face new threats from capable militaries, such as China, Russia and Iran. "The big question, I think at the top of the list, is the carrier," he said of the future fleet. "What's the future carrier going to look like and what's the future carrier mix going to look like? These are really, really expensive assets." Any plan to cut carriers could reignite a debate that played out on Capitol Hill last year when the Navy presented plans to retire the Harry S. Truman decades early in order to free up cash to pay for cutting-edge unmanned surface vessels and other emerging technologies. The Navy planned to forgo the Truman's roughly $4 billion midlife nuclear refueling that would keep the ship in service for about 25 more years. Navy leaders argued they needed the funds to invest in new capabilities immediately if the service is going to be ready to take on near-peer enemies described in the National Defense Strategy. Lawmakers hit back, and the Trump administration eventually reversed course, canceling plans to send the Truman into early retirement. Modly declined to say whether there are new plans to cut any carriers in 2021 since the president's budget isn't finalized. As the Navy looks at how it'll fight in the years to come, though, Modly said carriers would be considered attractive targets. "Of course, we're developing all kinds of things to make it less vulnerable, but it's still a big target," he said. "And it doesn't give you that distribution that I think we want." Modly said the conversation about possibly shedding aircraft carriers is one that must continue. But it can't be had only inside the Pentagon, he added. "This is a national discussion," Modly said. "I think as many people that get involved in this, the better. Congress obviously has interests; our shipbuilding industry does as well. We all do. We want to have a strong shipbuilding industry; we want to be able to continue to produce those carriers -- they're important. "But we have to think about what the future is," he added. Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the cost of Truman's proposed midlife refueling. -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. Read more: The Navy Is Making Big Changes to the Way it Plans for Future Ships Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 01:51:40|Editor: yan Video Player Close RAMALLAH, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Authority has prepared a series of plans to topple the announced U.S. Middle East peace plan, also known as the Deal of the Century, a senior Palestinian official said Wednesday. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki told reporters in Ramallah that one of the first steps "is to hold a meeting for the Arab League's foreign ministers in Cairo on Saturday." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will attend the meeting and "will ask the Arab states to back the Palestinian position in confronting the U.S. pressure and dictations," al-Maliki said. "The U.S. Deal of the Century wants to erase the Palestinian people's self-determination and deprive them of establishing their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital," he added. The Palestinian minister said his office also wrote to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to ask it to hold a ministerial meeting on Monday. Abbas will also participate in the summit of the African Union scheduled for April in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, al-Maliki revealed. The Palestinian Authority is also prepared to call on the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly and its Human Rights Council to convene to debate the U.S. plan, he noted. In addition, a high-ranking Palestinian ministerial delegation is scheduled to hold a series of meetings with the EU officials in Brussels to topple the U.S. peace plan, according to al-Maliki. Meanwhile, Saeb Erekat, secretary general of Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee, said U.S. President Donald Trump and his advisors "copied and pasted the ideas of (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu and the leaders of the Israeli settlers." They "didn't write one single letter of the Deal of the Century," noted Erekat, a veteran peace negotiator for 30 years. Prime minister Boris Johnson during his visit to the Department of Mathematics at King's College London on 27 January. Photo: Daniel Leal-Olivas-WPA Pool/Getty Images UK prime minister Boris Johnson is on Tuesday expected to take a final decision on whether to allow Huawei to work on Britains 5G infrastructure. The prime minister will chair a meeting of the National Security Council to discuss the issue, culture minister Matt Warman told parliament on Monday. A decision is expected but may not be immediately announced. The decision comes at a hugely sensitive time, with Brexit looming, and is likely to be one of the defining early moments of Johnsons premiership. READ MORE: US warns UK over 'momentous' Huawei decision The UK has faced intense and sustained pressure from the US to block Huawei on security grounds. Despite this, Reuters and the Financial Times report the government is set to recommend Huawei be allowed to work on 5G infrastructure in a limited capacity. Johnson is considering mandating a cap on Huaweis market share in a bid to contain risks, the FT reported. Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei. Photo: Aly Song/Reuters At issue are concerns that Huaweis involvement in critical communications infrastructure could leave the UK vulnerable to spying or at risk of cyber attacks. Huawei is an independent company based in Shenzen, China. However, the company was founded by a former Peoples Liberation Army engineer and Chinese law says individuals and corporations must cooperate with intelligence gathering operations if asked. It has lead to concerns that Huawei may be asked to install secret backdoors in its technology to allow the government to spy on sensitive communications. READ MORE: UK officials formally recommend limited role for Huawei in 5G networks Huawei insists this isnt the case. However, many governments are unwilling to take the chance. The company has been banned from working on 5G networks in Australia and New Zealand. The US placed sanctions on Huawei last year and US president Donald Trump has explicitly called the company a national security threat. There is a cyber war going on Even if Huawei doesnt cooperate with the Chinese government, experts warned having key parts of its supply chain based in China could allow security operatives to intercept and compromise equipment. Story continues Huawei could be a totally innocent provider that could be misused, but once the equipment is in place the risk exists, Joe Hancock, head of cyber at law firm Mischon de Reya, told Yahoo Finance UK. The nature of 5G increases this risk further, Hancock added. The super-fast wireless internet will allow more and more devices to be online and interconnected. It means even parts once seen as dumb hardware could now theoretically be used as a way into systems. A GCHQ official told the BBC last year that Huaweis software development standards were shoddy, adding to concerns. Former Tory party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith was strident in setting out the risks in a speech in parliament on Monday. We are at war in a sense, there is a cyber war going on at which China is arguably the single biggest participant, Sir Iain said. That we should think about giving a company which is heavily subsidised by China, a country that has set out to steal data non stop and also technology; that we think of giving to them that right to be in what is essentially a very, very delicate area of our technology, the idea that we would do that seems to me utterly bizarre. In a doomsday scenario, experts fear the Chinese government could use its access to Huawei to shut off critical communications infrastructure at times of international tension. First mover advantage On the other hand, banning Huawei could see the UK fall behind in the global technology race. China pioneered 5G technology and Andrew Tsonchev, director of technology at cyber security firm Darktrace, said a boycott would set the UK back by five years in technology terms. They simply have a significant first mover advantage, he told Yahoo Finance UK. Experts believe 5G will revolutionise society by allowing everything from fridges to pacemakers to connect to the internet, and other devices, 24/7. The speed and reliability of 5G should allow for a step-change in the way technology can operate and communicate. [Disclosure: Yahoo Finances parent company Verizon is a vendor of 5G technology.] Huawei, the worlds biggest telecom equipment maker, is one of only a handful of 5G equipment manufacturers globally, and rivals such as Ericsson and Nokia are more expensive. UBS said in a note on the technology last year that the pace of rollout [in Europe] has been impacted by uncertainties around Huawei. Huawei logo in Davos, Switzerland. Photo: Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters UK officials accept there are threats from Huawei but believe they are overblown and can be managed. The head of MI5 has publicly downplayed any risks and the government is expected to allow Huawei to work on non-core areas of infrastructure such as antennae. READ MORE: Verizon exec: 5G will be 'transformational' for society, not just economy Boris Johnson hinted at such a compromise during an event on Monday. The way forward for us clearly is to have a system that delivers for people in this country the kind of consumer benefits that they want through 5G technology, or whatever, but does not in any way compromise our critical national infrastructure, our security or jeopardise our ability to work together with other intelligence powers around the world, said the prime minister. Mischon de Reyas Hancock said: The most pragmatic route is to allow Huawei into the low risk areas of the new 5G networks and to restrict access to the higher risk core. This balances the cyber security risks against the risk of 5G equipment not being available domestically and a rollout being delayed. Tsonchev agreed that limited approval was likely the most reasonable decision. Brexit trade deal concerns Even so, Johnson will have to tread carefully to ensure he doesnt anger Britains international partners. The UK is part of the so-called Five Eyes intelligence sharing network, which includes the US, Australia, and New Zealand. Partners fear that any possible compromise in the UK could expose the whole network. The looming Brexit deadline makes all this particularly sensitive. The UK is about the enter trade talks with Five Eye partners and an unnamed Trump administration official told the Wall Street Journal last week the appetite for a US-UK trade agreement could be diminished if the UK approves Huawei. You have the political motivations, driven by very legitimate national security concerns, Tsconchev said. You also have motivations that are not so much about national security but about international dominance and foreign relations. You have economic arguments about protectionism about trade wars and tariffs and those types of concerns. And then finally you have, strictly speaking, the information security concerns. US president Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, DC, on 27 January. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images Johnson is gearing up to thread the needle. We are going to come up with a solution that enables us to achieve both those objectives and thats the way forward, Johnson said on Monday. Theres no reason why we shouldnt have technological progress here in the UK, allow consumers, businesses in the UK access to have access to fantastic technology, fantastic communications, but also protect our security interests and protect our key partnerships with other security powers around the world. A spokesperson for Cabinet Office said it wouldnt comment on any matters involving the National Security Council. Huawei declined to comment on the process and its dealings with the UK government. READ MORE: Huawei CEO: We will survive further US sanctions London Britain decided Tuesday to let Chinese tech giant Huawei have a limited role supplying new high-speed network equipment to wireless carriers, ignoring the U.S. government's warnings it would sever intelligence sharing if the company was not banned. Britain's decision is the first by a major U.S. ally in Europe, and follows intense lobbying from the Trump administration as the U.S. vies with China for technological dominance. It sets up a diplomatic clash with the Americans, who claim British sovereignty is at risk because the company could give the Chinese government access to data, something Huawei denies. "We would never take decisions that threaten our national security or the security of our Five Eyes partners," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said, referring to a security arrangement in which Britain, the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand share intelligence. "We know more about Huawei and the risks that it poses than any other country in the world." The decision was awkward for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who risks the fury of one of Britain's closest allies at just the moment it needs the Trump's administration to quickly strike a trade deal after Brexit. Britain officially leaves the European Union at the end of the week, and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is due to pay a two-day visit starting Wednesday to meet with Johnson and Raab to reaffirm the trans-Atlantic relationship. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. A senior Trump administration official said the U.S. is disappointed by the decision, adding that the U.S. government would work with the U.K. on a "way forward" that leads to the exclusion of "untrusted vendor components" from 5G networks. The official was not authorized to comment on the sensitive diplomacy between long-standing allies and spoke on condition of anonymity. In its decision, the British government said it was excluding "high-risk" companies from supplying the sensitive "core" parts of the new fifth-generation, or 5G, networks. The core is the brain that keeps track, among other things, of smartphones connecting to networks and helps manage data traffic. But Britain will allow high-risk suppliers to provide up to 35 percent of a carrier's less risky radio network, based on factors including the amount of data traffic and the number of base stations. The announcement did not mention any companies by name but said "high risk vendors are those who pose greater security and resilience risks to U.K. telecoms networks" a clear reference to Huawei. A professional martial arts instructor who killed an innocent passerby with a single punch in a late night street assault has been jailed for five and a half years. Jonathan Dargan (49) was found guilty of killing Patrick Mullally (56) by knocking him to the ground with a punch after the victim and another man had stopped to intervene in a drunken row with his girlfriend. Mr Mullally and another man Shane Cunningham had been out celebrating Mr Mullally's retirement from Guinness weeks earlier when they encountered Dargan on the Harold's Cross Rd., Dublin at around 4am on March 6, 2016. When Dargan began swinging punches Mr Mullally put his hands up to shield himself. At least one punch connected with him, shattering his jaw and cheekbone and knocking him to the ground. Mr Mullally suffered a subdural haemorrhage and brain trauma due to a blunt trauma to the face and head and died the next day. The defendant, a Taekwondo instructor who has worked as a doorman at Lillie's Bordello nightclub for two decades, admitted lashing out with a punch. He claimed that he was surrounded by the men and felt in fear and was acting in self defence. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Dargan shouted bang bang as he threw fairly powerful punches at the men. Justice Pauline Codd said this was a particularly chilling aspect of the case and evidence of a man who was in control of the situation and not somebody in fear. She said the jury had rejected Dargan's defence that he was in fear and felt he was being surrounded and that the independent CCTV evidence also showed this not to be the case. She noted that Dargan's martial arts training meant he had a knowledge of the force and impact of his own strength and capacity. She said for a man with this strength and capacity to strike a defenceless and intoxicated man was an aggravating factor. She said the victims were entirely innocent and had approached Dargan to assist a woman and to do the honourable thing. The violence was unwarranted and Dargan was in a state of intoxication and an angry mood. A passing cyclist told the trial that when he had earlier stopped at the rowing couple, Dargan had told him he to fuck off and mind his own business and that he'd kill him or stamp on his head on the ground. Judge Codd noted in mitigation Dargan had led a blameless life up to this point and that he had shown great support and strength to his family when his own mother was the innocent victim of a fatal shooting by a neighbour. She suspended the final six months of a six year prison term. Jonathan Dargan pictured in November. Photo: Collins Courts Dargan of Belfry Manor, Citywest, Dublin denied the unlawful killing of Mr Mullally. He also denied assault causing harm to Mr Cunningham and to Mr Mullally's niece, Lauren Mullally, during the same incident. He has no previous convictions and the court heard his own mother was killed by a neighbour a few years earlier. The killer was later found not guilty by reason of insanity. At the sentence hearing on Monday Vincent Heneghan SC, defending, told Judge Codd that his client accepts the jury verdict and that he indicated this to gardai in court on the day the guilty verdict was delivered. Mr Heneghan said his client was not a person who drank regularly but on the night he was very intoxicated, having consumed cocktails and double vodka drinks. Counsel said alcohol was not an excuse or a defence but it was a factor in the events. Reading from her own victim impact statement Mr Mullaly's widow Joan Shields repeatedly broke down in tears as she described the the effects of the brutal killing. She said bringing their young daughter in the hospital to see her father one last time was the hardest thing she has had to do. Ms Shields' described having to wait over three years for the case to come to trial. When it did, her daughter asked why is there a trial, did he not admit he hit Daddy?. Ms Shields described reading a newspaper interview a week after the killing in which Dargan begged for forgiveness. She said Mr Mullaly will now miss watching their daughter grow up and said I'll never be able to forgive him for that. Courtney Mullaly told the court that the violent death of her uncle has left many of the family suffering from anxiety, depression and PTSD. She described the gut wrenching loss and sadness of the family grief and said some family members have experienced suicidal thoughts. She described the deceased as a devoted Dad, caring brother, fun uncle and one of the happiest, friendliest persons you'd ever meet. She said the night of his retirement party was meant to be the first day of a new life but instead it became a shattering nightmare. He was killed trying to do the chivalrous thing. One person ripped several lives apart with his bare hands. Mr Heneghan handed in a number of character references from family and employers and contacts from Dargan's role as a martial arts instructor. He said his client accepts fully his responsibility for the death of the victim but did not intend to kill him. When he heard of the death he immediately conveyed his apologies to the family. Last November the jury took a little over four hours to return a unanimous guilty verdict on the manslaughter charge. After deliberating for another hour the jury returned a majority verdict on the charge of assaulting Mr Cunningham. Mary Mullally, sister of the victim Patrick Mullally, made a statement afterwards, saying: "We as a family would like to take this opportunity to thank Judge Pauline Codd, the jury of 12 people who came to a unanimous decision, the prosecution team - led by Fiona Murphy S.C., all the witnesses who came forward and who contributed to getting Paddy justice, all the volunteers at Victim Support at Court, the Gardai, AdVIC, Dublin Fire Brigade and the medical team at St. James Hospital that cared so well for Paddy. "We'll be forever grateful. Four years later we're still absolutely devastated by the loss of our beloved Paddy. "His life revolved around being a devoted dad, caring brother, fun uncle and a cherished friend. We as a family miss him everyday but there is also a huge group of friends who are grieving alongside us. "No matter what happened today, sadly we're left with a life sentence." President Muhammadu Buhari has officially communicated his decision to sack members of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board confirmed by the Senate last year, without the board members having the opportunity to assume office. In December, the President said an interim management of the NDDC would remain in place until an ongoing forensic audit of the commission is completed. Buhari said when the audit is completed; the NDDC board would be recomposed. At the time, Buhari did not send any official communication to the upper legislative chamber. Many saw this an attempt by the president to undermine the Senate, which had just confirmed nominees to the NDDC board. Before Buharis statement, Senate President Ahmad Lawan had said the interim management team was void following the confirmation of members of the board. But in a letter read by Lawan on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday, President Buhari said the interim management should be left in place to allow for uninterrupted process of the forensic investigation. The Senate may wish to note that after the dissolution of the board of the NDDC, an interim management team was set up to manage the affairs of the commission before a new board was composed and sent for Senate confirmation. The Senate is invited to note that while the composition and Senate confirmation of the appointment of the board was ongoing, I had directed that the forensic audit of the commission be carried out which is being overseen by the constituted interim management team. Based on this and in order to allow for uninterrupted process of the forensic investigation, the board appointment confirmed by the Senate had to be put on hold to allow the interim team continue to manage the commission pending the outcome of the forensic audit. Thereafter, a new board of the commission will be recomposed for the confirmation by the Senate, the Presidents letter read. by Austin Bay January 29, 2020 While meeting with a World Health Organization official in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping conceded that the coronavirus epidemic presented "the Chinese people" with a struggle. "The epidemic is a demon, and we cannot let this demon hide," Xi said. Xi added that the Beijing communist government would "release information on the virus in a 'timely' manner." Read "timely" as "judged politically convenient by a Communist Party dictatorship confronting economic contraction and political resistance from Hong Kong and Taiwan that Beijing fears could spread to mainland China." Yes, "demon" is a metaphor for a pathogen capable of killing millions. However, it is a demon the dictatorship's repressive policies animate and tolerate in lieu of free communication. The coronavirus (medical shorthand: 2019-nCoV) began infecting human beings in the city of Wuhan (Hubei province) sometime in December 2019. Time marches on. As I write this column, medical investigators find evidence that mid-November may be a more accurate date for the devil's eruption. The WHO has (so far) refrained from calling the epidemic a global emergency. The senior WHO official who met Xi praised the dictatorship's response to the epidemic. But here's the frame for understanding the WHO: The WHO walks a diplomatic precipice when it engages authoritarian regimes. Democracies like the U.S.? No. Does China respect the UN, which oversees the WHO? Only when it benefits. Proof: The Chinese dictatorship ignored the UN Hague court ruling on the Philippines' claim against Chinese territorial and resource theft. China signed the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea treaty -- but completely ignored the court's decision. Beijing does disdain international norms it cannot bend to its own benefit. 2019-nCoV, however, is beyond Xi's dictatorial control. China's dictatorship may awe Free World idiots, but it cannot intimidate a pathogen. The coronavirus and its potential consequences of mass death expose the dictatorship's brittleness. If you prefer, substitute "incompetence masked by police intimidation and lack of free expression" for "brittleness." Brutal authoritarian political control exacts overt and covert systemic costs. Western commentators -- The New York Times' Tom Friedman is a particularly smarmy example -- admire authoritarian China's alleged skill at solving major problems that dithering Western democracies cannot. What really dazzles Friedman and his ilk is the regime's one-command-solves-it pose. Information control, especially control of dissent, bolsters this fraud. Since 1980, China has made extraordinary economic progress, but its government's destructive decisions are telling. The notorious one-child policy produced a demographic devil. What Western admirers touted as a farsighted plan to promote zero population growth killed millions of baby girls, skewed female-male sex ratios and, as of 2010, began creating a worker shortage. Doctors in China and several Asian countries -- the virus is on the verge of savaging Thailand -- advocate isolating infected patients. The Great Firewall of China isolates the Chinese people from global information access and sharing. Beijing demands its citizens use state-sponsored social media in lieu of global alternatives. Isolation from information sharing hinders angry citizens from criticizing the communist leaders. But this system isolates Chinese leaders from bad news -- like mass illness -- that caring human beings must share. China's government penalizes free information access and transmission. The regime's despicable Social Credit Rating system collects data on individuals using cellphones, public video cameras, internet and travel activity, and neighborhood gossip. Security operatives analyze the gobbledygook, looking for -- get ready -- signs of anti-government behavior. In communist China, an individual or even a respected doctor in a research bureau reporting on contaminated food, much less a possible epidemic outbreak, is conceivably guilty of anti-government behavior. Said brave soul is subject to fines, travel restrictions, public shaming and perhaps prison. Why? Because the Chinese Communist Party can dismiss the initial warning as illegal criticism of the party. As the party bigwigs dither, a deadly pathogen kills. A cruise ship was left tilting due to strong winds as it attempted to dock. Dramatic footage shows MS Nordnorge arriving in Bodo, Norway, in bad weather on January 21. The ship was caught by high winds and was seen tilting as it moved sideways towards land. As two workers in hi-vis jackets watched, the stern of the boat connected first before the rest of the ship swung round to join it. The Nordnorge which means northern Norway is operated by Hurtigruten, which offers cruises of the Norwegian fjords and Arctic regions. It boasts three restaurants, a sauna and fitness room, as well as two hot tubs on deck. 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 lung 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 the Wuhan coronavirus kill? Yes 170 people have so far died after testing positive for the virus. What are the symptoms? Some people who catch the Wuhan coronavirus may not have any symptoms at all, or only very mild ones like a sore throat or a headache. Others may suffer from a fever, cough or trouble breathing. And a small proportion of patients will go on to develop severe infection which can damage the lungs or cause pneumonia, a life-threatening condition which causes swelling and fluid build-up in the lungs. How is it detected? The virus's genetic sequencing was released by scientists in China and countries around the world have used this to create lab tests, which must be carried out to confirm an infection. Delays to these tests, to test results and to people getting to hospitals in China, mean the number of confirmed cases is expected to be just a fraction of the true scale of the outbreak. 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 around China and are known to have spread from person to person. 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. SCROLL DOWN TO SEE MAILONLINE'S FULL Q&A ON THE CORONAVIRUS The decision landed as Africas most populous nation is increasingly divided over how to punish those convicted of the highest crimes. Some argue that hanging is outdated in the continents largest economy, while others cast it as the ultimate deterrence a necessity at a time of rising bloodshed. Augusta has today announced that it has entered into a Bid Implementation Agreement (BIA) with Centuria under which, subject to certain approvals being received from regulatory authorities, Centuria will make an Offer for 100% of Augustas shares in accordance with the New Zealand Takeovers Code. If the Offer proceeds, the price of the Offer will be NZ$2.00 per share. All Augusta shareholders will have the option to take cash or receive Centuria scrip to an equivalent value based on the volume-weighted average price of Centurias shares in the 5 trading days prior to this announcement, being A$2.40 per share leading to a scrip ratio of 0.807 Centuria shares per Augusta share. Shareholders may decide to not accept the Offer. However, if 90% of shareholders decide to accept the Offer, Centuria may exercise its right under the Takeovers Code to acquire all remaining shares in Augusta. Augusta Capital has entered into an agreement under which Centuria Capital Group, subject to obtaining certain regulatory approvals, will make a takeover offer for 100% of Augusta shares (Offer). Centuria is an ASX-listed specialist property investment management company with A$7.3 billion of assets under management. The price of the Offer will be NZ$2.00 per Augusta share. Shareholders who accept the Offer will be able to elect to take either cash or Centuria scrip in consideration for their Augusta shares. Shareholders may also decide to not accept the Offer. The Offer will value Augustas issued equity at NZ$180 million1 with an enterprise value of NZ$204 million2. The Offer price represents an attractive premium to recent trading. The Independent Directors of Augusta have agreed to unanimously recommend the Offer subject both to the Offer price being in (or above) the range of an Independent Advisers Report (IAR) and to no superior proposal emerging. Executive Directors Mark Francis and Bryce Barnett, who collectively own 23.3% of shares in Augusta, have undertaken to accept the Offer and accept Centuria scrip. They have also entered into three-year employment agreements with Augusta. Centuria has informed Augusta that other shareholders of Augusta, accounting for 12.9% of Augusta ownership, have also undertaken to accept the Offer. The Independent Directors of Augusta believe that the announcement today and the expected Offer will not adversely affect the funds managed by Augusta or the proposed issuance of securities in the Augusta Property and Tourism funds being initiated by Augusta. The Independent Directors of Augusta advise shareholders to take no action at this stage and to wait for the issuance of the Target Company Statement (which is expected to be released within the next 10 weeks). Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: 13th January 2022 Morning Report Pictor's completes successful US clinical trials for unique COVID antibody testing 12th January 2022 Morning Report 11th January 2022 Morning Report Greenfern Industries Limited (NZX: GFI) Announces Cannvalate Transaction 10th January 2022 Morning Report 7th January 2022 Morning Report 6th January 2022 Morning Report 5th January 2022 Morning Report Harmoney Corp Limited (NZX: HMY) HMY Signs A$20m Corporate Debt Facility SAN FRANCISCO -- The union that handles every shipping container that crosses West Coast docks is bracing for bankruptcy. Its a rare prospect for a bargaining group, and its rattling organized labor nationally. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union traces its roots to a 1934 strike that claimed the lives of two men commemorated by silhouettes marked on a sidewalk in front of Local 10, the organizations San Francisco chapter. The ILWUs motto -- An injury to one is an injury to all -- attests to the wariness and solidarity of its 15,000 waterfront members, handsomely compensated blue-collar workers already threatened by port automation. Few of those workers could have imagined that an obscure feud over two dockside jobs in Portland, Ore., would jeopardize the whole union, whose members line up daily at hiring halls to operate cranes, trucks and machinery in ports from San Diego to Bellingham, Wash. But a $94-million federal jury award Nov. 4 to ICTSI Oregon Inc., a cargo terminal operator, has forced union leaders to warn that a filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection may be ahead. ILWU attorneys will try, during a Feb. 14 hearing in Portland, to persuade U.S. District Judge Michael Simon to reduce the award, which dwarfs the San Francisco-based union's $20 million in declared assets. But judges tend to be reluctant to overrule juries, doing so only when, in the words of an opinion quoted in a recent ICTSI filing, a decision appears "wrong with the force of a five-week-old, unrefrigerated dead fish." If Simon lets the award stand, it could provide a dangerous precedent, said Donald Marcus, president of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, a Maryland-based licensed-mariners' union. "It's an attack on the trade union movement and could have very negative repercussions for union workers and labor generally," he said. "We won't recognize labor on the West Coast in the maritime industry if the ILWU is no longer there and at the forefront," Marcus said. "They set the whole tone and pace of progressive unionism for maritime labor." Labor leaders fear that the award could embolden other employers, as organized labor deals with setbacks including the Supreme Court's 2018 Janus ruling that public employees cannot be forced to pay dues or fees to support their unions. The ILWU's predicament reminds some labor managers of the pre-1930s era, when judges hit unions with fines and injunctions before Congress passed federal protections. But in Portland it was a jury of six women and two men, not a judge, who ruled for ICTSI Oregon and set the award amount. And ILWU leaders had displayed unusual defiance, repeatedly threatening to harm the company's business. The union risked its fortunes at a time when its prosperity seemed assured, riding on booming trade at West Coast ports. The ILWU has parlayed its niche, handling ocean cargo worth trillions of dollars, to land lucrative labor contracts with the Pacific Maritime Assn., an employers' group of shipping lines and terminal operators. Union dockworkers make an average of $171,000 a year plus free healthcare. Clerks average $194,000, and foremen, or "walking bosses," $282,000. Their paychecks dwarf those of many white-collar managers in the global economy, let alone other transportation workers, including members of the East Coast longshore union. As contract renewals approach, negotiations sometimes stall, leading to massive freight backups at the West Coast's 29 container ports. For leverage, the union has developed "hard-timing" and "working to rule" into an art form, gumming up the works through slowdowns and literal interpretation of regulations. The ILWU is known as a tough union, said James Gregory, a University of Washington labor historian. "The whole way any union works depends a lot on theater," he said. "Unions have to talk tough, otherwise they have no leverage and the employer does nothing to accommodate their interests." But as to the Portland strategy, Gregory said, "everybody would say it was a big mistake, and clearly turned into a nightmare." In Portland in 2012, Simon wrote in his jury instructions, union members drove trucks slowly, parked vehicles to block containers and reported bogus mechanical problems. But this time, instead of dealing with the coastal employers' group, the ILWU was up against a subsidiary of Manila-based International Container Services Inc., a global port operations giant aiming to establish a U.S. beachhead. The company has attracted criticism, which it disputes, for maintaining substandard wages and working conditions in less-developed countries. (Attorneys for ICTSI Oregon wouldn't comment on the record, citing the ongoing litigation.) Yet one thing is certain: The company headed by Filipino billionaire Enrique Razon has plenty of money for legal fights. Union leaders coveted positions that were held for years by workers with a Portland electricians' local. The ILWU pushed ICTSI Oregon to give it the jobs after the company signed a lease with the Port of Portland in 2011 to begin running the container yard. ICTSI said it could not reassign the jobs because the port controlled them. During four years of slowdowns, international shipping lines stopped calling on the terminal. ICTSI paid the port $20 million to get out of its lease and sued the union, listing that amount and other losses as damages. If Simon upholds all or part of the award, the ILWU could appeal. But unless the union managed to post bond, ICTSI could start attaching the organization's bank accounts for incoming dues money. Appealing would be costly. Already, the union paid more than $2 million in 2018 for outside lawyers and expert witnesses, according to its annual filings with the U.S. Labor Department. The tab almost certainly ballooned last year, as attorneys prepared and went to trial. A Chapter 11 filing by a union on the scale of the ILWU would be unprecedented, bankruptcy attorneys said. Previous filings involved local Teamsters and service workers chapters in California and Texas. The ILWU is liable for 55% of the jury award _ less than $3,500 per longshore member, a relatively low figure, but in caucus meetings so far, members have opposed individual assessments. Its Portland chapter, which has $150,000 in declared assets, is on the hook for the rest. Union President William Adams told members in a Dec. 5 memo that a bankruptcy would not affect their contracts, working conditions, pensions, savings plans and health benefits. He wrote that union leaders would "be alert for any employer or politician who thinks they can take advantage of this temporary setback." James Doak, managing director of Miller Buckfire, a New York investment bank that advises on financial restructuring, agreed that pensions and other benefits would be apt to remain intact. "The only thing that I don't think is safe is that union reserve fund," Doak said, referring to its $20 million in cash, an amount that the ILWU has kept low by running lean. The union has also sheltered its San Francisco headquarters building through ownership by a separate entity, the Pacific Longshoremen's Memorial Assn. Because the ILWU is funded by dues, "it's the union membership that has to pay" for replenishing reserves after emerging from reorganization, Doak said. If members' wages rose to rebuild the reserves, however, the increase could ultimately be passed along to consumers, he said. A Chapter 11 filing would force the union to disclose details of its finances and operations, a disagreeable prospect for an intensely private organization. Debtors must give sworn testimony in response to questions from a bankruptcy judge and creditors and provide full accounts of operations, capital structure and events leading to bankruptcy, said Diane Lourdes Dick, a Seattle University School of Law professor. Submission of false or misleading information could provide grounds for dismissing or converting the case to a Chapter 7 liquidation, or appointing an examiner or independent trustee, she said. We think of bankruptcy as a kind of fishbowl. The proliferation of mobile phones and other recording devices has ushered in a new era of secret recordings and the leaking of same. It would seem everybody is on espionage mission on their fellow human beings whether for good reasons or otherwise. The nation has witnessed several such leakages coming from people that victims of leaked tapes thought they could trust. The phenomenon has resulted in a number of people losing their jobs and suffering perpetual character damage and isolation. The effect on their victims, therefore, cannot be underestimated. The recently leaked tape involving the minister in charge of national security Mr. Kan Dapaah has brought to fore an interesting angle that should not pass without scrutiny. Unlike other leaks that were greeted with certain levels of interest and public discussions on the propriety of the actions of the victims of the leaked tapes, the recent leak has rather seemingly courted public anger towards the person behind it. The same public that was vociferous in advancing moral theories bothering the actions of the victims, has either gone silent or are remarkably united against the perpetrator of the leakage. The apparent unanimity in condemning the lady involved instead of discussing the scandal that broke, beats my imagination. It was a rare occasion when the nation seemed united for a common course where party colour did not matter at all. What is important in all this is the underlying motivation for the unwavering solidarity. Make no mistake; the support gained traction not because people felt leaking tapes is morally or legally wrong, but it threatens the very foundation of the clandestine erotic engagements of the male folk. The leak enforced the perception that most men, especially those better placed engage in extra-marital affairs. This unsurprisingly made men and beneficiaries of marriage vows violations by men feel uncomfortable and edgy in the typical fashion of old women feeling uncomfortable when dry bones are mentioned. Men in a typical African society want to exert their authority and domineering traits on women. Most men consider women as commodities that can be used to satisfy a certain need. They want to be free and unhindered in harnessing this commodity and any attempt to rock the boat makes them feel threatened. For a woman to push a man to the wall in the manner that Chantelle did, is considered unthinkable and too much to take. Most men who have been vocal on this matter felt humiliated by a woman who, by their estimation should be submissive and not that daring to release a video on one of the most powerful men in the country. They personally and collectively felt the need to act before the horses bolt from the stable. Mr. Kan Dapaah or anybody for that matter should never be under the illusion that he is widely loved or his lustful engagement is being justified. In fact, in all the discussions, there was a subtle admission that what men are doing is not right. The support however was due to the fact that they are scared they could become the next victim if something was not done. There was the need to send a strong signal to other queens that they will not succeed if they attempt to adopt that method to get at their amorous partners going forward. They were careful not to present their arguments in a manner that exposes their true intentions. Strenuous efforts were therefore made to present the nation with a ruse that takes our eyes off the ball. The leaking of the tape which was allegedly recorded 8 months ago but got delayed due to efforts to kill it, brings to fore the penchant of preponderance of men to rip apart their holy matrimony for lustful reasons. The discussions which should have been on the blatant failure of men to stay committed to their wives were shrewdly shifted to a setup. The reality is that when people are going to be trapped, an assessment of their weaknesses is done and if ascertained, exploited. In the normal scheme of things, a 66-year-old man with diminished sexual desires should not have that as his weakness. It is more worrying that somebody with a lot of experience in security matters owing to his current position and having served as the minister of interior from 2006 to 2008 failed to build a firewall around himself to prevent infiltration but left a loose end to be exploited by a queen. On most of the social media platforms, a crusade was set in motion presumably by men to stop people from subjecting the act to thorough analysis. They quickly put together audio-visuals and texts and splashed them on the main platforms urging people not to laugh when they see their fellow man fall. How genius it was! Obviously, a lot of people may have shied away from commenting on the matter because they themselves couldnt pass the test. Men who commented were quickly reminded that we are all in it together and that their turn could come. While it was a good moral education and a reminder that we all have weaknesses and in fact, skeletons, it also educates us to learn from situations like that. I am just wondering how much Mr. Kan Dapaah learned from past leaks since a lot of such happened in the past, prominent among them being the Bill Clinton Monica Lewinsky affair which came to light in 1998. Shouldnt learning result in a change in behavior? How are we all going to learn from what has happened if every attempt is made to shelve discussions? Does discussing a matter mean the victim is being laughed at? It beats my imagination that the minister would issue a statement subsequently that sought to justify what happened as being part of a security operation when he had foreknowledge of the tape which had been used behind the scene to get him removed as a minister before everybody else got to see it and which was rejected by the president as investigations concluded that it was a trap. How do you expect a discerning population to accept this blatant red herring as a reason for what happened? I am further perplexed that the chartered accountant turned minister of national security could not detect the red lights when there was every indication from the recording that the Queen was up to something mischievous. It was obvious that she was goading and prodding him into shame. Granted that it was a trap, there are various reasons why people are recorded and such tapes leaked. Nothing happens without a reason. However, if in the past the reasons for such leakages were never on the front burner, why are we now forced to discuss the reason rather than discussing the moral decadence contained in it? Men must not be allowed to always have their way much less when the way is not there. If what happened involved the wife of Mr. Albert Kan Dapaah or any female minister, only God knows how she would have been trolled on social media and on the radio and TV stations that have since avoided the issue. Since the issue broke, media men have been digging into the past of Chantelle Kujawu relative to her sex life but none is doing same about Mr. Albert Kan Dapaah who probably was not doing it for the first time. It must not seem that men have the right to engage in extra-marital affairs and if anything went wrong, women should be blamed. The subtle attempt to fight women in this matter is embarrassing and profoundly despicable. Women cannot be treated as though they were second-class citizens who must accept everything that a man does. It must be stated unequivocally that the intention here is neither to endorse the actions of women who refuse to be self-reliant and morally upright but are determined to be rich whether by hook or crook nor is It intended at pushing anybody to the limits of moral exclusion since I do not have the capacity to do so, but rather to expose the pervasive hypocrisy in the Ghanaian society. When men throw marital vows and caution out of the window, they must be prepared when slay queens also bare their fangs and seek their pound of flesh. After all, we all lack scruple. By Joshua A-Engtara Bongo / Upper East Region 0507464122 Japan has told the U.S. it is against increasing the permissible range and payload of South Korean missiles, a senior diplomatic source said Tuesday. Seoul is having a hard time persuading Washington to revise a voluntary agreement that limits the range and payload. The source said Tokyo "is taking a negative attitude toward Seoul's drastic extension of the missile range" from the current 300 km to over 800 km "for fear that a considerable part of the island nation would come within their range." Tokyo is about 1,160 km from Seoul and Osaka about 848 km. Experts believe that Japan's three-stage solid-fuel rocket could be turned into an intercontinental ballistic missile anytime. Tokyo has stepped up lobbying against the increased capacity since President Lee Myung-bak on Aug. 10 made a symbolic visit to Dokdo, to which Japan maintains a dubious claim. It has reportedly told Washington that South Korea could take independent action against North Korea if it improves capacity. With the outbreak of the coronavirus dominating headlines, it is a great time to dust off the company policy on dealing with flu season and infectious diseases, generally, in the workplace. Read more With the outbreak of the coronavirus dominating headlines, it is a great time to dust off the company policy on dealing with flu season and infectious diseases, generally, in the workplace. Contagious diseases are particularly troublesome subjects for companies because of the varied circumstances and cultures on the wisdom of working through a sickness. Some managers reward employees who tough it out and show up under the weather, while other company cultures encourage sick employees to work from home or stay away altogether. Similarly, some employees may have the luxury of taking a sick day, while others may not be able to suffer a loss of income. No matter where a company comes down on these important questions, there are lots of significant related legal issues that should be considered in formulating an HR strategy. Can an employer require a sick employee to leave work? Generally, the answer is yes, as long as such a policy is applied consistently and without discrimination. Of course, forcing an employee to leave work may impact their pay, especially if they are paid hourly, and could raise morale and operational issues that should be addressed. If the employer requires an employee to leave work early, must the employee be paid? If nonexempt meaning the employee is entitled to overtime pay by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) the general answer is no. For exempt employees, who are not entitled to overtime pay, the employee must be paid if the employee performs any work that day, and the employer cannot make a partial day deduction. Can the employer force the employee to use PTO for a compelled absence? In the absence of a state/local law or collective bargaining agreement to the contrary, yes, an employer may require an employee to use any accrued paid leave if the employee is absent because of sickness. Can an employer compel an employee to get a flu shot? Many employers encourage or facilitate employee flu shots, and some states have laws compelling vaccination of health-care workers. Compelled vaccinations outside the health-care industry are rare and any employer considering such a policy should take into account concerns that may be raised by employees, such as religious or medical reasons for refusing the vaccine. What if an employee refuses to come to work or travel to an infected workplace? The Occupational Safety and Health Act may protect an employee who refuses to work based on a good faith fear of exposure to a contagious disease. Employees with compromised immune systems or other medical issues may also be entitled to reasonable accommodation in the form of an alternate work arrangement in the event of an outbreak. Accordingly, any discipline of an employee refusing to work should be approached carefully and with the assistance of legal counsel. With all of these answers, it is important to note that individual facts may differ, and requirements under local or state laws and collective bargaining agreements might impact the ultimate analysis. For these reasons, it is helpful to have a game plan in place before an outbreak occurs, so that the company can carefully consider these nuanced issues. David Barron is a labor and employment attorney with Cozen OConnor. But Sen. Martin Quezada, D-Glendale, worried that having two competing measures on the ballot and lots of money spent on both would leave voters so confused that they will reject both, leaving education with no new funds at all. Central to the issue is the concession, even by the governor, that the allocation of state aid for education in his budget for the coming school year still would not bring state funding for K-12 education back to where it was before the recession. The question now is how much more is needed and how to raise it. Ducey insists the state has enough without any new taxes. But both the Invest in Education initiative and SCR 1002 are crafted to go directly to voters, giving the governor no official voice in their outcome. The more far reaching of the proposal is the Invest in Education initiative. David Lujan, director of the Arizona Center for Economic Progress, one of the groups behind that measure, said polling has shown a tax on the most wealthy is the most acceptable. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fortuna Silver Mines, Inc. (NYSE: FSM) (TSX: FVI) is providing an update on the status of a disputed royalty on one of its extracting mining concessions at the San Jose mine, located in Oaxaca, Mexico. In 2017 the Mexican Geological Service (SGM) advised the Company that a previous owner of one of the Companys mineral concessions at the San Jose mine had granted the SGM a royalty of 3% of the billing value of minerals obtained from the concession. The Company, supported by legal opinions from three independent law firms, has previously advised the Mexican mining authorities that it is of the view that no royalty is payable, and in 2018 initiated administrative and legal proceedings against the Direccion General de Minas (DGM) to remove reference to the royalty on the title register. The proceedings are progressing in accordance with the procedures of the Mexican administrative court. The Company has recently received notice from the DGM seeking to cancel the mining concession if the royalty, in the Mexican pesos equivalent of US$30 million plus VAT (being the amount of the claimed royalty from 2011 to 2019), is not paid before March 15, 2020. The Company will be initiating legal proceedings to contest the cancellation procedure and also to stay the cancellation process. In the event that the Company is unsuccessful in cancelling the action taken by the DGM or in obtaining a stay of execution, it may be required to pay, or post a bond or other security, up to the amount claimed, in order to preserve the mining concession. In that case the Company would immediately thereafter proceed with dispute proceedings. If the Company is required to pay the royalty or post security it will do so from available working capital. The Company remains adequately funded to meet its capital requirements for the completion of the Lindero Project and to fund sustaining capital expenditures at its operating mines. About Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. Fortuna is a growth oriented, precious metals producer focused on mining opportunities in Latin America. Our primary assets are the Caylloma silver Mine in southern Peru, the San Jose silver-gold Mine in Mexico and the Lindero gold Project, currently under construction, in Argentina. The Company is selectively pursuing acquisition opportunities throughout the Americas and in select other areas. For more information, please visit our website at www.fortunasilver.com . ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Jorge A. Ganoza President, CEO and Director Fortuna Silver Mines Inc. Trading symbols: NYSE: FSM | TSX: FVI Investor Relations: Carlos Baca T (Peru): +51.1.616.6060, ext. 0 Forward looking Statements This news release contains forward looking statements which constitute forward looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and forward looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, Forward looking Statements). All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are Forward looking Statements and are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the Forward looking Statements. The Forward looking Statements in this news release may include, without limitation, statements about the Companys administrative and legal proceedings against the DGM, the Companys intended legal proceedings against the DGM to contest and stay the cancellation procedure, and the potential for the Company to be required to pay, or post a bond or other security to pay the amount claimed to preserve its mining concession in the event that the Companys legal proceedings to contest the cancellation procedure are unsuccessful, how the Company would satisfy such payment and other matters. Often, but not always, these Forward looking Statements can be identified by the use of words such as estimated, potential, open, future, assumed, projected, used, detailed, has been, gain, planned, reflecting, will, containing, remaining, to be, or statements that events, could or should occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations. Forward looking Statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward looking Statements. Such uncertainties and factors include, among others, changes in general economic conditions and financial markets; changes in prices for silver and other metals; technological and operational hazards in Fortunas mining and mine development activities; risks inherent in mineral exploration; uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral reserves, mineral resources, and metal recoveries; changes to current estimates of mineral reserves and resources; changes to production estimates; governmental and other approvals; changes in government, political unrest or instability in countries where Fortuna is active; labor relations issues; as well as those factors discussed under Risk Factors in the Company's Annual Information Form. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in Forward looking Statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward looking Statements contained herein are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management, including but not limited to expectations regarding success in its legal proceedings which is based upon advice from independent law firms, expected trends in mineral prices and currency exchange rates; the accuracy of the Companys current mineral resource and reserve estimates; that the Companys activities will be in accordance with the Companys public statements and stated goals; that there will be no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; that all required approvals will be obtained; that there will be no significant disruptions affecting operations and such other assumptions as set out herein. Forward looking Statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any Forward looking Statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in its legal proceedings or that these Forward looking Statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on Forward looking Statements. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari (Image: Reuters) Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday urged industry players to cash in on the huge potential that 22 upcoming express highways hold in the areas of alternative fuel, electric highway and charging stations. The Road Transport, Highways and MSME Minister said that projects specially about Rs 1 lakh crore Delhi-Mumbai express highway can offer instant right of way to players interested in setting up LNG stations, electric charging stations or petrol pumps. Addressing a conference on 'Future Fuels for Transportation' by FICCI, the minister said plans were afoot to set up 2,000 petrol pumps, including LNG. We are building 22 new express highways including Delhi-Mumbai Express Highway. Work on seven out of 22 projects have started and these have huge potential for the industry. If players want to come forward, we can offer right of way especially on Delhi-Mumbai Express Highway which we plan to complete within three years," the minister said. Gadkari said plans are on for an electric highway stretch on Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and the land acquisition for over Rs 1 lakh crore expressway project has been completed. He said he will be visiting Sweden next month to see E-Highways and welcomed players for investments to convert highways into e-highways. He also said: "The RBI has assured us that they will allow us to take infrastructure loans for 30 years. So if a bankable project is for 30 years, the loan amount will be raised within 13-18 years. There will be two years moratorium period after completion of project. When after three years, toll collection starts then we will open an escrow account. Specific amount will be deposited in this escrow account." The minister said at present NHAI has 480 such secure, bankable projects and five more banks are willing to give loans like the SBI gave. "Depending upon traffic, we will keep depositing money in the escrow account, he said. He said NHAI 's annual income for the current fiscal will be Rs 40,000 crore and it will reach Rs 1 lakh crore in coming years. BISHKEK -- A hearing has resumed into a libel lawsuit filed against RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, locally known as Azattyk, its correspondent Ali Toktakunov, and the news site Kloop, by the former deputy chief of the customs service Raimbek Matraimov and his relatives following an alleged corruption scandal exposed by the media outlets. The plaintiffs lawyer, Kanatbek Aziz, said at the hearing in the Sverdlov District Court on January 29 that his clients had decided to withdraw their suit against another independent news website, 24.kg, which published a summary of the joint media investigation. According to Aziz, the decision was made after 24.kg agreed to add sentences to its materials explaining that the reports were not their own, but instead came from other media outlets. RFE/RL's lawyer, Akmat Alagushev, asked the Judge Jyldyz Ibraimova to move the hearing to Bishkek's Lenin District since 24.kg was the only defendant located in the Sverdlov region. The judge rejected the request. The hearing started on January 20 but was quickly adjourned until January 29 after the plaintiffs' lawyers asked for more time for talks on a possible settlement, namely the publication of an official rebuttal refuting the findings of the joint investigation. Lawyers for RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service and Kloop have rejected such a move, but they have offered the plaintiffs an opportunity to discuss the investigation on programs of the media outlets. A lawyer for 24.kg said that his client is ready to discuss settlement conditions with the plaintiffs. The lawsuit was filed by Matraimov, his brother, lawmaker Iskender Matraimov, Minovar Jumaeva, Uulkan Turgunova, and the Ismail Matraimov Public Foundation against Toktakunov and the media outlets, who, according to the plaintiffs, damaged their "honor, dignity, and business reputations." The court has said the plaintiffs are demanding 10 million soms ($143,150) from Toktakunov, 22.5 million soms ($323,100) from RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, 12.5 million soms ($179,000) from Kloop, and 15 million soms ($215,000) from 24.kg as compensation for the alleged damages. In November 2019, the Kyrgyz Prosecutor-General's Office launched a probe to verify information revealed in the joint journalistic investigation. The report showed that a 37-year-old Uyghur businessman from China's northwestern region of Xinjiang, Aierken Saimaiti, secretly provided reporters with documents demonstrating how hundreds of millions of dollars were moved out of Kyrgyzstan, much of it via a business network led by Khabibula Abdukadyr, a secretive Chinese-born Uyghur with a Kazakh passport. The chief of Kyrgyzstan's financial police has said since then that the amount of cash illegally funneled out of the country is closer to $1 billion. The joint investigation also uncovered video footage showing Abdukadyr sitting in the second row at Jeenbekov's inauguration in November 2017. The video shows Abdukadyr sitting next to the president's brother, Kyrgyz Ambassador to Ukraine Jusupbek Sharipov. Saimaiti, who was shot dead in Istanbul on November 10, alleged that former senior official Raimbek Matraimov, while serving as Kyrgyz customs' deputy chief, was instrumental in providing cover for the Abdukadyr networks cargo empire in the region. The investigation also found that Matraimovs wife, Uulkan Turgunova, is a joint investor in a Dubai property development with a company controlled by Abdukadyr. Matraimov and his brother, Iskender Matraimov, have denied all accusations of wrongdoing by the former customs official. Saimaiti told reporters prior to his death that, in order to protect himself, he had applied for Turkish citizenship and expected to receive it on November 14. He said he planned to turn over more financial documents to reporters after that. However, he was shot dead at a cafe in Istanbul before that happened. Turkish police have made several arrests in the case, though details of the suspects' motives and potential contacts remain murky. Turkish police have made no official statements on the case. The Kyrgyz Prosecutor-Generals Office said on November 22 that it had launched a probe to verify information revealed in the joint investigation, specifically that unknown persons repeatedly threatened [Saimaiti] with murder, which forced him to flee to the Republic of Turkey." On January 29, Paris-based Reporters Without Border watchdog called the lawsuit "absurd" and urged "the Kyrgyz authorities to do whatever is necessary to guarantee the safety of the journalists working on the story." In the weeks since the strike that killed Soleimani, administration officials have given conflicting reasons for why they believed they had legal basis to carry it out absent congressional approval. Some officials have said it was to ward off an imminent threat that Soleimani posed to U.S. troops in the region; others, including Trump, have suggested it was retaliation for various acts of Iranian aggression, including proxy support for terrorist groups and the killing of a U.S. contractor in Iraq. The district police on Tuesday arrested two persons, Ramar and his son Sathish, in connection with the murder case of a 65-year-old woman in Madurai. The woman has been identified as C Angammal of Kulukutinayakanur. According to police, the incident happened on January 25 after an altercation broke out between Angammal and Sathish's family. Ramar's family wanted to arrange Sathish's marriage with a relative of Angammal. However, Angammal objected to the marriage and caused obstructions. During a heated argument between the two parties, the sexagenerian was pushed to the ground which led to her death. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) GENEVA Sophisticated hackers infiltrated U.N. offices in Geneva and Vienna last year in an apparent espionage operation, and their identity and the extent of the data they obtained is unknown. An internal confidential document from the United Nations, leaked to The New Humanitarian and seen by T he Associated Press, says dozens of servers were compromised including at the U.N. human rights office, which collects sensitive data and has often been a lightning rod of criticism from autocratic governments for exposing rights abuses. Asked about the report, one U.N. official told the AP that the hack appeared sophisticated and that the extent of the damage remained unclear, especially in terms of personal, secret or compromising information that may have been stolen. The official, who spoke only on condition of anonymity to speak freely about the episode, said systems have since been reinforced. The skill level was so high it is possible a state-backed actor might have been behind it, the official said. Its as if someone were walking in the sand, and swept up their tracks with a broom afterward, the official said. Theres not even a trace of a clean-up. The leaked Sept. 20 report says logs that would have betrayed the hackers activities inside the U.N. networks what was accessed and what may have been siphoned out were cleared. It also shows that among accounts known to have been accessed were those of domain administrators who by default have master access to all user accounts in their purview. Sadly still counting our casualties, the report says. Jake Williams, CEO of the cybersecurity firm Rendition Infosec and a former U.S. government hacker, said the fact that the hackers cleared the network logs indicates they were not top flight. The most skilled hackers including U.S., Russian and Chinese agents can cover their tracks by editing those logs instead of clearing them. The intrusion definitely looks like espionage, said Williams, noting that the active directory component where all users permissions are managed from three different domains were compromised: those of United Nations offices in Geneva and Vienna and of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. This, coupled with the relatively small number of infected machines, is highly suggestive of espionage, he said after viewing the report. The attackers have a goal in mind and are deploying malware to machines that they believe serve some purpose for them. Any number of intelligence agencies from around the globe are likely interested in infiltrating the U.N., Williams said. The hack was not severe at the U.N. human rights office, said its spokesman, Rupert Colville. We face daily attempts to get into our computer systems , Colville said. This time, they managed, but it did not get very far. Nothing confidential was compromised. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the attack resulted in a compromise of core infrastructure components and was determined to be serious. The earliest detected activity related to the intrusion occurred in July and it was detected in August, he said in response to emailed questions. He said the world body does not have enough information to determine who might have been behind the incursion, but added the methods and tools used in the attack indicate a high level of resource, capability and determination. The damage related to this specific attack has been contained, and additional mitigation measures implemented, Dujarric wrote. Nevertheless the threat of future attacks continues, and the United Nations Secretariat detects and responds to multiple attacks of various level of sophistication on a daily basis. The internal document from the U.N. Office of Information and Technology said 42 servers were compromised and another 25 were deemed suspicious, nearly all at the sprawling Geneva and Vienna offices. Three of the compromised servers belonged to Human Rights agency, which is located across town from the main U.N. office in Geneva, and two were used by the U.N. Economic Commission for Europe. The report says a flaw in Microsofts SharePoint software was exploited by the hackers to infiltrate the networks but that the type of malware used was not known, nor had technicians identified the command and control servers on the internet used to exfiltrate information. Nor was it known what mechanism was used by the hackers to maintain their presence on the infiltrated networks. Security researcher Matt Suiche, a French entrepreneur based in Dubai who founded the cybersecurity firm Comae Technologies, reviewed the report and said it appeared entry was gained through an anti-corruption tracker at the U.N. Office of Drugs and Crime. The report mentions a range of IP addresses in Romania that may have been used to stage the infiltration, and Williams said one is reported to have some neighbors with a history of hosting malware. Technicians at the United Nations office in Geneva, the world bodys European hub, on at least two occasions worked through weekends in recent months to isolate the local U.N. data center from the i nternet, re-write passwords and ensure the systems were clean. Twenty machines had to be rebuilt, the report says. The hack comes amid rising concerns about computer or mobile phone vulnerabilities, both for large organizations like governments and the U.N. as well as for individuals and businesses. Last week, U.N. human rights experts asked the U.S. government to investigate a suspected Saudi hack that may have siphoned data from the personal smartphone of Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder and owner of The Washington Post, in 2018. On Tuesday, T he New York Timess bureau chief in Beirut, Ben Hubbard, said technology researchers suspected an attempted intrusion into his phone around the same time. The United Nations, and its human rights office, is particularly sensitive, and could be a tempting target. The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, and her predecessors have called out, denounced and criticized alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and less severe rights violations and abuses in places as diverse as Syria and Saudi Arabia. Dozens of independent human rights experts who work with the U.N. human rights office have greater leeway and fewer political and financial ties to the governments that fund the United Nations and make up its membership to denounce alleged rights abuses. Ian Richards, president of the Staff Council at the United Nations, expressed concern about the safety of U.N. networks . Theres a lot of our data that could have been hacked, and we dont know what that data could be, said Richards, whose group advocates for the welfare of employees of the world body. Potentially affected, for example, are staff in the office of the special envoy for Syria carrying out sensitive investigations and human rights staffers interviewing witnesses. How much should U.N. staff trust the information infrastructure the U.N. is providing them? Richards asked. Or should they start putting their information elsewhere? ___ Bajak, an AP technology writer, reported from Boston. ___ Follow the APs coverage of technology at: https://apnews.com/apf-technology Initiatives proposed by the US Presidential Administration Donald Trump to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict are contrary to international law and do not contribute to peace in the Middle East, Human rights organization Amnesty International reported. While the Trump administration has emphasized the principle of land swaps in its deal, we should make no mistake that it is proposing further annexation of Palestinian territory, which would flagrantly violate international humanitarian law. During more than half a century of occupation Israel has imposed a system of institutionalized discrimination against Palestinians under its rule, denying them basic rights and access to effective remedies for violations. The deal amounts to endorsement of these brutal, unlawful policies, said Philip Luther, Amnesty Internationals Middle East and North Africa Research and Advocacy Director. Amnesty International called on the international community to reject the initiative of the American leader. On January 28, Trump announced the key provisions of the so-called deal of the century - a plan for a Palestinian-Israeli peace settlement. These included recognition of Israeli sovereignty over Jewish settlements that had already appeared on Palestinian territory, as well as the refusal of the Arab state to wage war. Washington proposed to make indivisible Jerusalem the capital of Israel, and East Jerusalem to be the capital of Palestine. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu supported the initiative and expressed readiness for the immediate start of peace talks. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and representatives of the Hamas radical movement, meanwhile, strongly rejected the proposals of the US president. Russia and China are working to develop a coronavirus vaccine and Beijing has handed over the genome of the virus to Moscow, a Russian diplomatic mission in China said on Wednesday, Trend with reference to Reuters reports. The death toll in China from coronavirus rose to 132 on Wednesday with the number of confirmed cases now at nearly 6,000. Russian and Chinese experts have begun developing a vaccine, the Russian consulate in Guangzhou province said in a statement. It was not clear if Russian and Chinese scientists were working together or separately. The consulate in Guangzhou could not be reached for comment. Russia, which has not had any confirmed cases of the virus, on Tuesday began screening all Russian tourists returning from China, the national consumer health watchdog said on Wednesday. The Chinese side handed over the virus genome to Russia, which has allowed our scientists to rapidly develop express-tests that make it possible to identify the virus in the human body within two hours, the consulate said in the statement. Russia has been in talks with China about evacuating its nationals from Wuhan and Hubei province, the epicenter of the outbreak, the consulate said. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin ordered Russias consumer safety watchdog to draw up and present a plan to the government later on Wednesday on ways to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Russian authorities have closed some land border crossings to China in the Russian Far East until Feb. 7. After two months of hot pursuit, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) was finally able to bust a major ticketing racket run by software engineers based in Dubai. The Indian Railways has learnt that the team of techies who helmed the ticketing gang operated a sophisticated corporate-like set up in India, where members were categorised into agents, sellers, leaders, admins, etc. The Railway Police have identified Dubai-based Hamid Ashraf as the mastermind of the racket. He has been under the police scanner for long and had been arrested in Uttar Pradesh in 2016 for involvement in a ticketing scam. According to a Mumbai Mirror report, probing agencies also believe he was involved in a 2019 bomb blast case in the same state. Though the RPF havent been able to nab Ashraf yet, 26 others were arrested over the month of January. Different operatives were tracked down from different parts of the country, with Ghulam Mustafa -- the India head of the gang being held in Bengaluru on January 19. Their head for the western region a person going by the name Deepal Saha aka Danny was arrested from Mumbais Borivali a week ago, while he was travelling by the Paschim Express to go in hiding in Gujarat. The report submitted by the RPF on the gang revealed that the more than 20,000 agents of this gang would corner almost 50 percent of the tickets sold daily. This they would achieve within the first one minute of the bookings opening for the day. The agents had access to software that allowed them to dodge security clearances and also generate one-time passwords (OTP). Because of this, they would always be at an advantage over regular ticket buyers who would spend at least 30 seconds more in waiting for the OTP, submitting details, etc. Also, interestingly, the scamsters would update to a newer version of the software every day, making it impossible for the Indian Railways cyber vigilance cell to track them. It is because of gangs such as these that getting a confirmed ticket had become near impossible in India in recent times. Ticketing rackets are guilty of buying off tickets in bulk before most buyers can even log in, creating an artificial shortage, so that their agents can sell them in black later. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 15:33:32|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- At least seven people were killed and 40 others injured Wednesday after a passenger bus skidded off a mountainous road in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, police said. The accident took place near Taptapani area of Ganjam district, about 225 km southwest of Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha. "Early today at around 3:30 a.m. (local time) a bus heading to Berhampur town of Ganjam district skidded off the mountainous road in Taptapani ghat and fell down," an official at district emergency operation center Ganjam said. "So far seven deaths have been confirmed in the accident and around 40 people injured in the accident have been removed to the nearest hospitals." Preliminary reports suggested the driver of the bus coming from adjacent district lost control over the brakes, resulting in the accident. "The rescue operation is underway in the area," the official said. "There is a likelihood that the death toll will increase because of the critical condition of some of the injured." Deadly road accidents are common in India often caused by overloading, bad condition of roads and reckless driving. An official report says an average of 400 deaths take place every day in India due to road accidents. NEWS RELEASE Jeff Falk 713-348-6775 jfalk@rice.edu Mike Williams 713-348-6728 mikewilliams@rice.edu Rice fluids researcher earns solid federal support Computational and applied mathematician Jesse Chan wins NSF award for young faculty HOUSTON - (Jan. 29, 2020) - Jesse Chan, an assistant professor of computational and applied mathematics (CAAM) at Rice University's Brown School of Engineering, has received a five-year, $449,907 National Science Foundation CAREER Award to develop new technologies for reliable simulations of fluid flow, which are central to scientific fields from environmental and aerospace engineering to solar physics. "Because they are simple and robust, classical methods from the 1950s and '60s are still used to produce most computational fluid simulations," Chan said. "In theory, newer numerical methods can produce higher-fidelity simulations at lower computational costs, but they tend to be less stable and more likely to crash. We would like to change this." Chan joined the Rice faculty in 2016. He earned a bachelor's degree in CAAM from Rice in 2008, and a master's degree and Ph.D. in computational science, engineering and mathematics from the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin in 2013. For two years Chan served as a Pfeiffer Postdoctoral Instructor in CAAM at Rice, and in 2015 went to work as a postdoctoral researcher in mathematics at Virginia Tech, where his mentor was former Rice faculty member Tim Warburton. Currently, three graduate students take part in Chan's NSF-funded projects and related research. "Mathematically speaking, we develop numerical methods which reproduce such physical laws as the dissipation of energy," he said. "However, our work involves both theoretical and practical considerations. Our goal is creating accurate, efficient and reliable simulations." As part of his CAREER grant, Chan will also work with the Rice Office of STEM Engagement to create summer research programs for local K-12 teachers and community college students. These six-week programs will promote discovery-based learning of concepts in computational science. CAREER awards support the research and educational development of young scholars likely to become leaders in their fields. The grants, among the most competitive awarded by the NSF, go to fewer than 400 scholars each year across all disciplines. -30- Read the award abstract at https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1943186&HistoricalAwards=false This news release can be found online at https://news.rice.edu/2020/01/29/rice-fluids-researcher-earns-solid-federal-support/ Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews. Related materials: Jesse Chan Group: https://jlchan.github.io Rice Computational and Applied Mathematics: https://caamweb.rice.edu George R. Brown School of Engineering: https://engineering.rice.edu Image for download: https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2020/01/0203_CHAN-1-WEB.jpg CAPTION: Jesse Chan. (Credit: Mike Andrick/Rice University) Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,962 undergraduates and 3,027 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 4 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance. ### Mumbai Police on Wednesday denied permission to a march organised by the LGBT community from August Kranti Maidan, fearing that it may turn into a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, an official said. The decision led to the organisers shifting the venue to Azad Maidan in south Mumbai, he added. City-based Humsafar Trust had sought permission for holding the 'Queer Azadi March', an annual event, on February 1, the police official said. It was to start from the historic August Kranti Maidan and conclude at the same place after passing through Nana Chowk, Kenedy Bridge, Opera House and Maharshi Karve Marg. Around 15,000 members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community were expected to participate in the march, he said. August Kranti Maidan is famous as the place from where Mahatma Gandhi launched the 1942 Quit India movement. Recently it saw a huge protest against the CAA and NRC. Officers of the Agripada police station denied permission to the march on the ground that slogans against the Union government, CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) might be shouted during the event, the official said. Though the Queer Azadi March is about the rights of the LGBT community, the police feared that it may be hijacked by anti-CAA-NRC protesters, he said. The police also issued a notice to the organisers under section 149 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, informing that they would be held responsible for law and order issues if they held the event at the same spot. After receiving the notice, the organisers had a meeting with police officials and decided to shift the venue to Azad Maidan, he said. The event will be held at Azad Maidan -- which is a designated place for protests and rallies -- on the same day. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) VP of Business Development, Josh Desmond shares, "We look forward to continue working on building efficiency projects and collaborating with these other like-minded companies to increase efficiency in the construction technology industry." Datakwip, a building analytics software company in Frederick, Maryland, was internationally recognized in CEMEX Ventures top 50 most promising start-up companies working in construction technology. CEMEX Ventures, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Tracxn recently announced their list of the 50 most promising startups working in the construction industry. The 50 start-up companies were internationally selected for their potential in solving the challenges faced in the construction technology industry today. Datakwip was highlighted as a leader in project and jobsite management for their work in reducing energy consumption in the commercial building space. This prestigious recognition further establishes Datakwip as a highly investable company and confirms the substantial impact Datakwip is making in the built environment. Statement from Datakwip VP of Business Development, Josh Desmond, on the significance of this recognition: "We are honored to be recognized alongside such an innovative group of companies making an impact in the built environment. We look forward to continue working on building efficiency projects and collaborating with these other like-minded companies to increase efficiency in the construction technology industry." About Datakwip Datakwip is an energy software platform that connects to a building's existing technology to detect and recommend no to low cost changes, saving facility owners and engineers an average of 15% in annual energy expense. Datakwip uses cloud-based technology, meaning there is no extra installation of hardware, to extract data from a building back into the platform. Datakwip has served the energy efficiency industry since 2015 and has its headquarters in Frederick, MD. For more information, visit http://www.datakwip.com. Today, westerners are learning Arabic to earn a good fortune in Middle Eastern countries. Unfortunately, we have failed to educate our migrant communities in Arabic. As a result of this, Sri Lankan migrant communities are losing good salaries in the Middle East. by Dr SLM Rifai Naleemi Views expressed in this article are the authors own It is regrettable to note that some people are trying to spread rumours and fabricated stories about Jamiah Naleemiah institution in Sri Lanka. Jamiah Naleemiah is internationally recognised Islamic university in Sri Lanka. It was established in 1974 by late al-Hajj Naleem JP. Successive Sri Lankan governments have been fully supporting this institution. I still remember how late Presidents JR Jayewardene and R. Premadasa praised the contribution of Naleemiah institution. The late president JR was a chief guest when Jamiah Naleemiah published a historical book about the origin and history of Sri Lankan Muslim community at BMCH in 1986. He highly appreciated the role and contribution of Jamiah Naleemiah and its academics for the educational development in Sri Lanka. Late president R. Premadasa visited the premises of Jamiah Nalemiah and highly appreciated the Sinhalese language skills and eloquence of Jamiah graduates. More than 30 Sinhalese academics and prominent historians visited Jamiah Naleemiah on many occasions. Many of them have praised the dedication of al-Hajj Naleem to establish this esteem institution. In fact, more than 15prominent Sinhalese historians contributed to the book published by Jamiah Naleemiah. All these academics who visited Jamiah Naleemiah appreciated and praised the marvellous contribution of Jamiah Naleemiah. Jamiah Naleemiah was established with a noble mission of developing education in Sri Lanka. Jamiah Naleemiah does not have any affiliation or connection with any Islamic groups. It is an independent private institution. It is a unique institution that offers both religious and secular education at once. It prepares its graduates for an external degree programme at Peradeniya University. Since 1978, University of Peradeniya has been offering external degree certificates for its graduates. Since its inception in 1974 it has produced at least one thousand graduates so far. It has been functioning as an independent university providing education a large numbers of Sri Lankan Muslim youths who are unable to secure university placements in national universities. In fact, al-Hajj Naleem has done great service to Sri Lankan government by establishing this institution. In this way, he took away burdens of Sri Lankan government to provide education for a portion of Muslim youths. In fact, Naleemiah graduates have been greatly contributing to Sri Lanka in many ways. Its graduates are working in many private and government sectors. They have been contributing greatly in many high commissions abroad representing the national interest of Sri Lanka. Because, the graduates of Naleemiah are so good in Arabic language. So, to secure the national interest of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka badly needs some Sri Lankan nationals to work in Sri Lankan embassies in Middle East. In fact, the graduates of Naleemiah are promoting Sri Lankan national interest in many Middle East countries. Naleemiah graduates greatly contribute to educational development in Sri Lanka. Many of its graduates are working as university lecturers, school principals and school teachers and in many education department. They are indeed, a national asset for Sri Lanka in many ways. They are economically contributing to Sri Lanka as well. Many of its graduates are holding high posts in Middle East countries with their Arabic knowledge skills. In return, they bring a lot of remittance to Sri Lanka with their high profile jobs. Naleemiah graduates are working in many international universities as professors, lecturers and academics. All these graduates preserve Sri Lankan national reputation internationally. They protect good will of this nation abroad. They interact with international community to bring wealth and fortunate to Sri Lanka. None of Naleemiah graduate has damaged the good name of Sri Lanka either locally or internationally. All Naleemiah graduates are national asset to this nation. They have immensely contributing to this nation in many ways and yet, to belittle the contribution of this esteemed seat of learning is not ethically and morally right at all. After all, this institution is promoting peace and harmony among all communities in Sri Lanka. Its mission is to promote peace among all religious groups. Naleemiah has been working with leaders of different religious communities to promote peace in Sri Lanka. In fact, it has been immensely contributing for all peace initiatives. It has been contributing for national building process in many ways. Yet, some section of people in Sri Lanka for some personal and dogmatic differences do not like to see the good works of this esteem institution. These people should visit this institution and see by their naked eyes all good works of this institution. In fact, Sri Lanka badly needs to develop Arab tourism in Sri Lanka to increase its tourism industries. If only Sri Lankan government knows how to make use of Naleemiah graduates to promote Arab tourism, Sri Lanka could have done far better in tourism industry. Moreover, Naleemiah graduates protect and promote the national interest of Sri Lanka. None of them will harm this nation in any way. So, there is no need to spread rumours and lies about this kind of national institution. It is a moral duty of Sri Lankan higher education ministry to provide its academic and financial support to develop this institution as one of its private universities. It is the moral duty of each and every Sri Lankan to support this institution because it promotes not merely the interest of the Muslim community alone rather the national interest of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka must be proud to have such an esteem institution in its soil. Naleemiah will never promote any radical ideological group. It is promotes only a moderate form of Islam. It does not belong to any groups. Its mission is to promote education in Sri Lanka. It does not have any political affiliation. Today, westerners are learning Arabic to earn a good fortune in Middle Eastern countries. Unfortunately, we have failed to educate our migrant communities in Arabic. As a result of this, Sri Lankan migrant communities are losing good salaries in the Middle East. Naleemiah graduates are ideal candidates with their Sinhalese knowledge to teach Arabic language to all Sri Lankan professionals who migrant to Middle Eastern countries. yet, sri Lankan government does not know how to make use of its national potentiality in this respect. Rather than appreciating the hard works and dedication of Naleemiah graduates to the nation building process and development of Sri Lankan, some elements are trying spread rumours without any substantial evidence. Naleemiah graduates enhance this nation with their skills and talents. They will never engage in any detrimental activities at all. They have been promoting a moderation among Muslim community of Sri Lanka. They have been working against all form of extremism and radicalism. They have been working with some highly educated prelates to promote peace and community harmony in Sri Lanka and yet, to blame these graduates without any evidence is nothing but a moral bankruptcy. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has aquired Wilmington, N.C.-based Hanover Excess & Surplus, Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Established in 1970, Hanover Excess & Surplus is a regional managing general agency offering hard-to-place coastal commercial and personal property/casualty coverages, as well as professional liability coverages, to clients across North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia. Matt Letson and his associates will continue to operate from their Wilmington location under the direction of Joel Cavaness, head of Risk Placement Services, Inc. (RPS), Gallaghers U.S. wholesale brokerage operation. Patrick Gallagher, Jr., chairman, president and CEO of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co said the acquisition will enhance Gallaghers presence in North Carolina, and bring additional specialty market expertise leadership capabilities to RPS. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., a global insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm, is headquartered in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. The company has operations in 49 countries and offers client service capabilities in more than 150 countries around the world through a network of correspondent brokers and consultants. Topics Mergers Excess Surplus North Carolina A.J. Gallagher DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Chinese Vice-Premier Han Zheng said at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday the world's second-largest economy will continue to reform as it seeks to provide greater market access for global investors. Han, speaking at the ski resort in the Swiss Alps, said the underlying trend of China's economy remained unchanged and the country was well prepared to overcome all risks and challenges. "China will open its door still wider to the world," Han said. Hours earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump hailed the success of the U.S. economy and urged corporate titans and global policymakers to invest even more in America. In a wide-ranging speech, Han defended globalisation and said international affairs should not be dictated by one country. "Unilateral and protectionist practices which run counter to the global trend will lead nowhere," Han said. "Despite the protectionist and unilateral moves by some countries, China will not stop opening up and we will not follow their footsteps to move in the opposite direction." (Reporting by Anne Marie Roantree; Editing by Alex Richardson) MIAMI, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL;NYSE: CUK), the world's largest leisure travel company, today announced it is among the first companies to join the United Nations' Standards of Conduct for Business, a global campaign seeking to tackle discrimination against lesbian, gay, bi, trans & intersex (LGBTI) people in the workplace and in society. Carnival Corporation joins 272 major corporations as early supporters of the LGBTI diversity and inclusion initiative. The United Nations Human Rights Office collaborated with the Institute for Human Rights and Business to develop the five pillars comprising the Standards of Conduct, reflecting the input of hundreds of companies from diverse business sectors. These principles align closely with Carnival Corporation's 2020 sustainability goals, including an ongoing commitment to building a diverse global workforce that currently represents over 150,000 employees from nearly 150 countries. "As part of our ongoing efforts to build a sustainable, positive work environment and create opportunities for building a career with our company, we are committed to supporting diversity, inclusion and equality across our nine cruise line brands," said Roger Frizzell, chief communications officer for Carnival Corporation. "We salute the U.N. for its leadership and we hope many others will join the initiative. It is not only the right way to operate, but we also believe diversity of thinking plays a key role in driving innovation and providing a competitive advantage, so there are plenty of good reasons to be part of this important effort." The five standards outlined by the U.N. include a global call for companies to respect human rights of LGBTI workers, customers and members of the public; eliminate workplace discrimination against LGBTI employees; support LGBTI employees at work; prevent discrimination and related abuses against LGBTI customers, suppliers and distributors, and insist that suppliers do the same; and stand up for the human rights of LGBTI people in the communities where companies do business. As additional global organizations sign on in support of the Standards of Conduct for Business, the United Nations Human Rights Office continues to build momentum for public awareness in support of LGBTI inclusion, promoting a culture of respect, diversity and equality in the workplace. The U.N.'s global campaign to promote greater equality for LGBTI workers is the largest of its kind to date. "The U.N. is grateful to see Carnival Corporation, the leading international cruise provider, join more than 272 of the world's largest companies in expressing support for the United Nations Global LGBTI Standards for Business," said Fabrice Houdart, United Nations Human Rights Officer and co-author of the Standards. "Businesses play a key role in keeping the momentum for LGBTI equality globally and Carnival Corporation's support is a strong signal to the tourism industry and beyond." As part of Carnival Corporation's commitment to equal rights, the company has been actively engaged in significant efforts on issues such as marriage equality. This includes supporting efforts by OUTBermuda and other LGBTQ community organizations to advocate for the legal recognition of same-sex marriages in Bermuda. The company has also shown support through LGBTQ cruises, onboard activities and special events, including the company's Holland America Line brand sponsoring the 2020 Seattle Men's and Women's Chorus Annual Dinner and Auction, and annual Pride events to raise awareness and funds for LGBTQ organizations, including the Los Angeles Pride Parade, Seattle Pride Parade and Southampton (England) Pride. Additionally, the company has partnered with equal opportunity champions such as the Human Rights Campaign, Executive Leadership Council, Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility, Catalyst and Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics. Carnival Corporation is regularly recognized by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. This includes achieving a perfect score for four consecutive years in the organization's Corporate Equality Index (CEI), which rates U.S. companies on their treatment of LGBTQ consumers, investors and employees. In January 2020, Carnival Corporation was also named one of the top companies in America on Forbes' annual list of Best Employers for Diversity for its outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. The company was recognized as the highest rated company in the cruise industry, the No. 3 employer in the travel and leisure sector and No. 77 overall among the 500 top employers. Additional information on the Standards of Conduct for Business can be found at https://www.unfe.org/standards/, and more information on Carnival Corporation's commitment to diversity and inclusion is available here: https://www.carnivalcorp.com/corporate-information/diversity-inclusion. About Carnival Corporation & plc Carnival Corporation & plc is the world's largest leisure travel company and among the most profitable and financially strong in the cruise and vacation industries, with a portfolio of nine of the world's leading cruise lines. With operations in North America, Australia, Europe and Asia, its portfolio features Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard. Together, the corporation's cruise lines operate 105 ships with 254,000 lower berths visiting over 700 ports around the world, with 16 new ships scheduled to be delivered through 2025. Carnival Corporation & plc also operates Holland America Princess Alaska Tours, the leading tour company in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Traded on both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation & plc is the only group in the world to be included in both the S&P 500 and the FTSE 100 indices. With a long history of innovation and providing guests with extraordinary vacation experiences, Carnival Corporation has received thousands of industry awards including recognition by the Consumer Technology Association as a CES 2019 Innovation Awards Honoree for OceanMedallion. A revolutionary wearable device that contains a proprietary blend of communication technologies, OceanMedallion enables the world's first interactive guest experience platform transforming vacation travel on a large scale into a highly personalized level of customized service. The prestigious CES Innovation Awards honor outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products. Additional information can be found on www.carnival.com, www.princess.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.seabourn.com, www.pocruises.com.au, www.costacruise.com, www.aida.de, www.pocruises.com and www.cunard.com. SOURCE Carnival Corporation & plc Related Links https://www.carnivalcorp.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ascent Industries Corp. (CSE: ASNT) (Ascent or the Company) announces that the Company and certain of its affiliates (collectively, the Applicants) obtained an order on January 28, 2020 from the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the Court) extending the stay of proceedings provided by the initial order of the Court dated March 1, 2019 until March 6, 2020. The Applicants applied for an extension in order to permit the Company to, among other things, prepare and file its 2018 annual financial statements and 2019 interim financial statements as required by applicable Canadian securities laws and CSE policies and complete the implementation of the steps contemplated in the Companys first amended and restated consolidated plan of compromise, arrangement and organization (the Plan), including the distribution of common shares of Ascent pursuant to the Plan. The Applicants also obtained an order from the Court limiting the role of Ernst & Young Inc. (the Monitor), the Court-appointed CCAA monitor, in the CCAA proceedings going forward to those duties prescribed by the CCAA, which the Applicants sought on the basis that the cash distributions contemplated under the Plan are now complete and the restructuring activities and tasks for Plan implementation that remain outstanding require limited involvement from the Monitor. Copies of the Plan and other Court materials and information relating to the Plan and the CCAA proceedings are available on the website maintained by the Monitor at www.ey.com/ca/ascent. All inquiries regarding the Company's proceedings under the CCAA should be directed to the Monitor by mail at Ernst & Young Inc., Pacific Centre, 700 West Georgia Street, P.O. Box 10101, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V7Y 1C7, Attention: Jason Eckford, or by e-mail at jason.eckford@ca.ey.com . BI-WEEKLY DEFAULT STATUS REPORT The Company provides this default status report pursuant to National Policy 12-203 - Cease Trade Orders for Continuous Disclosure Defaults ("NP 12-203") and applicable policy of the British Columbia Securities Commission which applies to companies, such as Ascent, that are the subject of CCAA proceedings. On May 16, 2019, the Company announced that its audited annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018, including the related management discussion & analysis, and accompanying CEO and CFO certifications (collectively, the "Annual Filings") were not filed by the required filing deadline of April 30, 2019. As of the date hereof, the Company has not filed: (i) its interim financial statements for the three month period ended March 31, 2019 and related management discussion & analysis and accompanying CEO and CFO certifications; (ii) its interim financial statements for the three month period ended June 30, 2019 and related management discussion & analysis and accompanying CEO and CFO certifications; and (iii) its interim financial statements for the three month period ended September 30, 2019 and related management discussion & analysis and accompanying CEO and CFO certifications (collectively, the Interim Filings) prior to the filing deadlines prescribed under National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations (NI 51-102). As previously reported, Ascent is currently involved in proceedings under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act (the CCAA Proceeding). Ascent is required to file bi-weekly default status reports in accordance with NP 12-203 until such time that the CCAA proceeding is concluded or until the defaults in filing the Annual Filings and Interim Filings are remedied. The Company reports that there have been no material changes to the information contained in its last bi-weekly default status report dated January 13, 2020. Furthermore, there is no other material information concerning the affairs of the Company that has not been generally disclosed. The Company confirms that, since its last bi-weekly default status report dated January 13, 2020, there have been no failures by it in fulfilling its stated intentions with respect to satisfying the provisions of the alternative information guidelines under NP 12-203. The Company intends to file the Annual Filings and Interim Filings as soon as possible. About Ascent Industries Corp. The Company's operations currently include facilities in the United States. In the United States, the Company holds licenses in Oregon (for processing and for distribution of cannabis to any licensed entity in the state) and in Nevada (for cultivation and for production, processing and wholesale distribution of cannabis). THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE (THE "CSE") HAS NEITHER APPROVED NOR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENTS OF THIS PRESS RELEASE. NEITHER THE CSE OR ITS MARKET REGULATOR (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE CSE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING 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 include, but are not limited to, the anticipated timing of the completion and filing of the Annual Filings and the Interim Filings and the implementation of the Plan. 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. 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, Ascent assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. For further information: Mark Lotz ir@ascentindustries.com OTTAWA - The aging early-warning system charged with detecting incoming threats to North America cannot identify and track long-range Russian bombers before they are close enough to launch missiles at the continent, according to a senior Canadian military officer. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. This photo made Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013, shows a Canadian F-18 over western Alaska as it tracks a hijacked airplane in a simulation. A senior Canadian military officer says the aging defensive system charged with protecting North America from attack cannot currently detect long-range Russian bombers before they are in range to launch missiles at the continent. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ AP/Mark Thiessen OTTAWA - The aging early-warning system charged with detecting incoming threats to North America cannot identify and track long-range Russian bombers before they are close enough to launch missiles at the continent, according to a senior Canadian military officer. Commodore Jamie Clarke, deputy director of strategy at the North American Aerospace Defence Command, revealed the system's shortcoming in an address on Wednesday as he pressed on the need to upgrade Norad to face a growing array of modern threats. Those include everything from incoming ballistic missiles and bombers, which Norad was created to spot, as well as cruise and hypersonic missiles, drones, submarines and other naval vessels as well as space-based and cyber weapons. Clarke became the latest in a line of Canadian and American military officers to warn that the technology underpinning Norad, including a chain of 1980s-era radars in Canada's Arctic called the North Warning System, is becoming obsolete. "Currently, the North Warning System cannot identify and track Russian long-range bombers prior to their missile-launch points or their overflights of the Arctic region," he said during a conference on the future of Norad hosted by the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. "Yet this system, entering its fourth decade of service, is the system we rely on each and every day." Created in the 1950s in response to the threat of a Soviet attack by bombers or ballistic missiles over the Arctic, Norad is unique in the world as a joint operation between the U.S. and Canada. Its technology was last upgraded in the 1980s, before the end of the Cold War, though the U.S. did incorporate the ability to shoot down incoming missiles in the mid-2000s. Canada famously decided in 2005 against joining what is now known as ballistic-missile defence. The Liberal government's 2017 defence policy included plans to upgrade or modernize Norad to defend against the threats of today and tomorrow, but offered few specific details because discussions with the U.S. had not started in earnest. Three years later, it's difficult to say what progress has been made. The U.S. and Canadian governments have held consultations with industry, Clarke said when asked when Norad modernization will happen. But he could not offer a schedule for moving on the project, saying: "It's longer than any of us would like, but I can't even give you a timeline." And he suggested that as long as Canada and the U.S. remain behind the curve, it leaves the continent vulnerable. "We cannot deter what we cannot defeat and we cannot defeat what we cannot detect," he said. "We have to recognize that we are not just trying to prevent a military attack, but in fact we are defending our entire way of life." Even if discussions were further ahead, it remains unclear how Canada will pay for its portion of the new system as the Liberal defence policy did not set aside money for upgrading Norad. The government at the time blamed the many questions around its design and schedule. Some analysts have worried that the government will dip into the tens of billions of dollars earmarked in the defence policy for new warships, fighter jets and other equipment. The Department of National Defence's top civil servant, deputy minister Jody Thomas, told the conference during a roundtable discussion that "whatever funding we're envisioning for Norad modernization is new money" and not taken from other defence procurement projects. "I don't think we should presume that we are going to do more with the same," she added. "That's been the history of the department, and we can't possibly do that. Not with the amount of money that is required for (the defence policy) and the money that is required for Norad." Many defence analysts, industry representatives and others speaking during Wednesday's conference lamented what they saw as apathy by decision-makers and citizens in Canada and the U.S. when it came to what they saw as the biggest threat to North America. "It is in my view the No. 1 defence priority for Canada as well as the United States, and that is homeland defence," said James Fergusson, director of the University of Manitoba's Centre for Defence and Security Studies and a leading expert on Norad. "Unfortunately, in the world of politics in Canada, particularly with a minority government right now, everyone will tell you this is really not on their radar at all. They are going to be obsessed for the next several years with domestic and internal policy priorities." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2020. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 By Ilhama Isabalayeva Trend: The Azerbaijani State Agency for Compulsory Medical Insurance has approved "Medical Territorial Zones in accordance with the Azerbaijani Administrative Territorial Division", Trend reports on Jan. 29 referring to the Agency. The medical territorial zone covers a group of medical institutions subordinated to the Administration of the Regional Medical Divisions (TABIB) of Azerbaijan in accordance with the administrative territorial division of the country. These zones have been formed taking into account the size of the population, geographical location, transport infrastructure, medical facilities and their potential, as well as the number of doctors and paramedical personnel. In total, the Agency has formed 13 medical territorial zones. Every zone includes state medical institutions in several cities and districts. The interregional state medical institutions have been determined for all except for three medical territorial zones. This was carried out to ensure the efficient use of resources and personnel potential of medical institutions, optimize their activity, improve public access to the various types of medical care. When paying the amount of co-financing, the administrative territory of the insured's registration, as well as the medical territorial zone in which the medical institution is located are taken into account. A certain part of the cost of medical services that must be paid by the insured is called the amount of co-financing and it will be applied to the insured persons if they dont comply with the conditions specified in the Services Package. The terms of payment of this amount are determined by the Services Package, and it must be paid directly to the medical institution. The introduction of the co-financing mechanism will be launched on April 1, 2020. Thus, if a citizen without a family doctors referral appeals to a medical institution at the place of registration for outpatient services, for each insured event he or she will have to pay the cost of co-financing in the amount of 5 manat ($2.9). If a citizen appeals to a medical institution located in another administrative territory for outpatient services, for each insured event he or she will have to pay the cost of co-financing in the amount of 5 manat. If a citizen, without a family doctors referral, appeals to a medical institution located outside the medical territorial department where he or she is registered for outpatient services, for each insured event he or she must pay the cost of co-financing in the amount of 15 manat ($8.8). In case if a citizen, without a referral from a medical institution at the place of registration or residence, appeals for in-patient services to a medical institution located in another administrative territory, but inside a medical territorial department, for each insurance case the cost of which exceeds 100 manat ($58.8), he or she will have to pay the cost of the joint financing in the amount of 30 manat ($17.6). If a citizen without a referral from a medical institution located in the administrative territory at the place of registration appeals for in-patient services to a medical institution located outside the medical territorial department where he or she is registered, for each insurance case the cost of which exceeds 100 manat, the citizen will have to pay the cost of co-financing in the amount of 90 manat ($52.9). At the same time, for each magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography service provided on the outpatient basis, a citizen must pay the co-financing in the amount of 20 manat ($11.7). All medical services to the insured are provided according to the relevant referral. All laboratory and diagnostic services, without undergoing appropriate examination of a doctor, are carried out at the expense of the citizen. If the conditions specified in the Services Package are met (appeal to a family doctor, appeal to a specialized doctor based on the referral from a family doctor, etc.) while providing emergency medical care, outpatient (excluding CT - computerized tomography and MRI - magnetic resonance imaging) and inpatient care, no payment of the cost of co-financing is required. It is not uncommon to see companies perform well in the years after insiders buy shares. 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 Visioneering Technologies, Inc. (ASX:VTI). What Is Insider Buying? It's quite normal to see company insiders, such as board members, trading in company stock, from time to time. However, rules govern insider transactions, and certain disclosures are required. We don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions. But equally, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. 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. View our latest analysis for Visioneering Technologies Visioneering Technologies Insider Transactions Over The Last Year Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by insider Paul Cozzi for AU$1.9m worth of shares, at about AU$0.096 per share. That means that even when the share price was higher than AU$0.04 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when an insider has purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price. Paul Cozzi was the only individual insider to buy shares in the last twelve months. 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! Story continues ASX:VTI Recent Insider Trading, January 29th 2020 There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Does Visioneering Technologies Boast High Insider Ownership? Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by 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. Insiders own 5.8% of Visioneering Technologies shares, worth about AU$1.1m, according to our data. We do generally prefer see higher levels of insider ownership. What Might The Insider Transactions At Visioneering Technologies Tell Us? The fact that there have been no Visioneering Technologies insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. The transactions are fine but it'd be more encouraging if Visioneering Technologies insiders bought more shares in the company. Therefore, you should should definitely take a look at this FREE report showing analyst forecasts for Visioneering Technologies. 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. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro listens to a news conference about a presidential executive order relating to military veterans outside of the West Wing of the White House in Washington, March 4, 2019. White House trade advisor Peter Navarro pushed back Wednesday against the idea that the U.S. would remove tariffs on Chinese imports if the deadly coronavirus begins to weigh on China's economy. "That's a spin that's coming right out of Wall Street, and it really, I think, it does a disservice to this whole crisis to bring that into the discussion," Navarro said on CNBC's "Closing Bell." Navarro was responding to a question from CNBC's Carl Quintanilla, who asked whether a tariff rollback was on the table if China was abiding by the terms of the "phase one" trade deal but started to see its economy hurt by the coronavirus. The flu-like coronavirus has now killed at least 132 people and infected more than 6,150 people worldwide, but China is the epicenter of the outbreak. Companies in China have shut down stores, factories and closed offices as the country works to contain the spread of the virus. Some have warned of severe disruption to supply chains in China, with at least American CEO predicting the impact could last up to six months. Navarro's comments on CNBC come hours after President Donald Trump signed into law the new version of the North American Free Trade Agreement, making Canada the final country that needs to ratify it. The U.S. Senate approved the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement on Jan. 16, one day after Trump formally signed a "phase one" agreement with China. The U.S. and China have been engaging in a long-running trade war in which each side has placed billions of dollars' worth of tariffs on each other's goods. The "phase one" deal was considered the first step in larger negotiations to reach a trade detente. While it contained measures on issues such as intellectual property theft and Chinese market access, it did not include a whole-scale rolling back of tariffs, which segments of the business community want to see. "We're leaving tariffs on, but I will agree to take those tariffs off if we are able to do 'phase two,'" Trump said at the time. On the subject of removing tariffs due to the coronavirus, Navarro said, "Let's remember why the tariffs are in place." "The tariffs are in place because China engages in massive unfair subsidies. They use their state-owned enterprises to put American companies and workers out of business," he said. "And the tariffs also ensure that we come back for phase two." An aircraft chartered by the U.S. State Department to evacuate government employees and other Americans from the novel coronavirus threat in the Chinese city of Wuhan, is seen on the tarmac after arriving at a closed terminal at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Anchorage, Alaska on Jan. 28, 2020. (Kerry Tasker/Reuters) Plane Carrying American Evacuees From China Amid Coronavirus Outbreak Diverted to California Air Base A plane carrying around 200 American citizens who were evacuated from Wuhan, Chinawhere the new coronavirus outbreak startedwas diverted to March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County, California, late Jan. 28. The Boeing 747 stopped at a private terminal at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Alaska before taking off to its final destination. The plane was slated to land at Ontario International Airport, about 35 miles east of Los Angeles, but was diverted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Curt Hagman, chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors and a commissioner at Ontario airport, said that CDC officials alerted him to the diversion. Ontario International is one of the repatriation airports for the West Coast and we are always prepared to receive our citizens abroad in times of emergencies, Hagman said in a video. We were prepared but the state department decided to switch the flight to March Air Force Base for logistics that they have. Members of the media watch as a plane chartered by the U.S. State Department to evacuate government employees and other Americans from the novel coronavirus threat in the Chinese city of Wuhan, is seen on the tarmac after arriving at a closed terminal at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Anchorage, Alaska on Jan. 28, 2020. (Kerry Tasker/Reuters) Those logistics werent clear. The CDC didnt immediately return a request for comment. In a statement Tuesday morning, Department of Defense press secretary Alyssa Farah said: March Air Reserve Base and the Department of Defense stand ready to provide housing support to [the Department of Health and Human Services] as they work to handle the arrival of nearly 200 people, including Department of State employees, dependents and US citizens evacuated from Wuhan, China. Representatives of the city of Ontario were told by representatives of the CDC that the flight was diverted, the city said in a statement late Tuesday. This is all the information we have at this time, it said. San Bernardino County said in an earlier statement that the plane would be carrying up to 240 U.S. citizens, including nine children. The Ontario airport was designated by the federal government as the official repatriation center for California about a decade ago, and various county departments have participated in numerous comprehensive repatriation exercises with state and federal agencies during the past several years to ensure the county and all other agencies are prepared for this type of event, the county stated. The aircraft occupants consisted entirely of U.S. citizens, including American contractors and State Department employees. The aircraft will first arrive in Alaska, where occupants will be examined by personnel from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. No occupants who present symptoms of illness will be allowed to proceed into the continental United States. Upon arrival in the continental U.S., possibly ONT, aircraft occupants will again be screened by CDC personnel and monitored for up to two weeks, it said. Medical staff in protective suits treat a patient with pneumonia caused by the new coronavirus at the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, in Wuhan, China, on Jan. 28, 2020. (China Daily via Reuters) Officials were ready to house the evacuees in a space at the airport. The CDC said in an earlier statement that the passengers will be screened before they take off; monitored during the duration of the flight by medical personnel on board; screened again on landing to refuel in Anchorage, Alaska; monitored on the last leg of the flight by medical personnel on board; evaluated upon arrival at March Air Reserve Base and then monitored for symptoms post-arrival. Anyone who showed symptoms in any of the screenings before landing at the base wouldnt be allowed on board, officials said. Alaska officials said all 201 passengers on board passed medical screening and continued onto California. For many of us directly involved, this has been a moving and uplifting experience, said Alaskas Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink in a statement. The whole plane erupted in cheers when the crew said, Welcome home to the United States. It is easy to stay focused on all that we had to do in a short period of time to prepare and respond, but at the end of the day, this mission was about people. It was about American citizens, some of whom were working to serve our country. It was about families, and it was about helping each other in a time of need. Several countries evacuated citizens from Wuhan even as the World Health Organization claimed that evacuations werent necessary. Japan, Australia, and South Korea also sent planes to evacuate passengers from the epicenter of the virus. A Japanese chartered plane carrying evacuees from Wuhan, China, landed at Haneda international airport in Tokyo on Jan. 29, 2020. (Eugene Hoshiko/AP Photo) Five Americans have tested positive for the virus; two in California, one in Washington state, one in Arizona, and one in Illinois. All five traveled to Wuhan. Asymptomatic transfer has been reported in other countries but U.S. health officials said on Jan. 28 that they havent been able to confirm the transfer, noting China hasnt made certain data available for examination. Over a dozen other countries have confirmed cases, including Canada, France, and Thailand. At least three foreignerstwo from Australia and one from Pakistanhave contracted the coronavirus in China, deputy head of the Guangdong Health Commission Chen Zhusheng said on Jan. 29. British Airways and All Nippon Airways, a Japanese airline, suspended flights to China. There were reports that the U.S. government was considering suspending flights from China amid the outbreak. Health Secretary Alex Azar said that the option is on the table but a final decision hasnt been made yet. Azar told reporters on Tuesday that screening would be expanded from five to 20 airports as officials continued to assess the rapidly evolving situation. As rumours continue to pop up about the novel coronavirus outbreak, experts in health and pandemics are reminding British Columbians to stick to reliable sources and keep things in perspective. When provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry revealed Tuesday that the first presumptive case of the virus has been found in B.C., she addressed some misleading social media gossip about the spread of the disease, including false reports about new cases. "I think we need to take all those rumours with a grain of salt and recognize that they are just that rumours," Henry said. "We will tell you immediately, as we have today, if someone tests positive for coronavirus." Health officials say the overall risk to the public is low and the province is well prepared to deal with infections. B.C.'s single patient is currently recovering at home. There are still countless questions about the respiratory infection, which first appeared in China's Hubei province last month, but experts say initial signs suggest it isn't quite as serious as some other diseases that have caused worldwide fear. Putting things in perspective Dr. Michael Curry, a University of B.C. professor and emergency room doctor at Delta Hospital, points out that about 98 per cent of patients have survived the infection so far. As of Tuesday, Chinese state media were reporting 132 deaths out of 5,974 confirmed cases and no one has died from the virus outside of China. Compared that to something like SARS, which had a death rate of about eight per cent during the 2003 epidemic. "We deal with influenza on almost an annual basis, and influenza does kill several thousand Canadians a year," Curry told CBC. Health Canada estimates that the flu causes about 3,500 deaths annually in Canada. Curry also points out that the seriousness of newly discovered viruses tends to be exaggerated in the early stages of an outbreak. "As we gain more experience with the virus, we realize there's people that aren't coming to hospital with it, there's people that aren't getting tested for it. We recognize the sickest of the sick upfront," he said. Story continues Managing outbreak anxiety Nonetheless, doctors still know very little about how quickly the virus might spread and how dangerous it will ultimately turn out to be, and that can lead to understandable unease. That's a subject UBC professor and clinical psychologist Dr. Steven Taylor has studied in detail. His latest book is called The psychology of pandemics: Preparing for the next global outbreak of infectious disease. Taylor said a small but significant segment of the population tends to develop excessive anxiety during an outbreak, and those people interpret every cough as a sign of infection. "SARS has been described as a mental health catastrophe," he said. "Many people developed post-traumatic stress disorder." He said anyone who's feeling stressed out by the coronavirus outbreak should try to find a way to live with the uncertainty about what the future might bring. "We don't have the answers, and they just need to sit tight and manage their anxieties or apprehensions about this virus as best as they can," Taylor said. One thing that might help is tuning out rumours and hoaxes that could cause panic. Henry, the provincial health officer, said people need to make sure they turn to credible sources of information for the latest news on the coronavirus. Here in British Columbia, that's the B.C. Centre for Disease Control, which is providing regular updates. New Delhi, Jan 29 : Airline major IndiGo on Wednesday said that it will suspend two of its flight services to China, including Hong Kong, from February 1 owing to the outbreak of coronavirus. At present, the airline operates four flight services to China and one to Hong Kong. These connect New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Bangalore to destinations in China and Hong Kong. "Due to China travel restrictions, we have seen a high number of cancellations from China on our Delhi-Chengdu route and vice-a-versa," the airline said in a statement. "Therefore, we are suspending our flights between Delhi and Chengdu from February 1, 2020 until February 20, 2020. We are also suspending our Bengaluru-Hong Kong flight effective February 1, 2020." According to the airline, these are purely temporary and precautionary measures. "We understand that these measures will cause inconvenience to our customers and we will be refunding the full amount to the impacted passengers," the airline said. "We are in close touch with the relevant Government authorities and we thank them and our partners in China for all the help and support that they have extended so far." Besides, the airline said that for now it will continue to operate the Kolkata-Guangzhou flight, which will be monitored on a daily basis. "And for our operating crew, we are ensuring that they return to India on the inbound flights without any layover in China," the airline said. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pilot of helicopter that crashed heralded for 'miracle' landing The crew of a Hagerstown-based helicopter and the juvenile patient they picked up in Chambersburg, Pa., are OK after a crash near Philadelphia. Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman al-Saud attends the Future Sustainability Summit at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) on January 14, 2020. KARIM SAHIB | AFP via Getty Images OPEC's battle to support oil prices as China's coronavirus spreads internationally shows the producer group is struggling to wield the same influence over global crude markets, energy analysts have told CNBC. It comes amid speculation that OPEC and non-OPEC producers, sometimes referred to as OPEC+, could extend production cuts if the intensifying outbreak of the coronavirus hampers oil demand growth. International benchmark Brent crude traded at $59.85 a barrel Wednesday afternoon, up over 0.6%, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) stood at $53.59, around 0.2% higher. Both crude benchmarks have pared some of their recent losses, after slumping to multi-month lows earlier in the week. "Will deeper OPEC supply curbs provide the panacea for the current oil market malaise? Probably not," Stephen Brennock, oil analyst at PVM Oil Associates, said in a research note published Wednesday. OPEC starting to realize they have 'less influence' China's National Health Commission confirmed Wednesday that the coronavirus had infected 5,974 people, with 132 deaths and 103 cured. The virus, which was first discovered in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has spread to other major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Macao and Hong Kong. Financial markets have been spooked by the spread of a deadly pneumonia-like virus, with energy market participants trying to assess the potential economic fallout. If OPEC cuts back, they might lose market share and that gap could be filled by a non-OPEC producer. John Driscoll Chief strategist at JTD Energy Securities Brennock said the timing of the next OPEC+ meeting carried "added importance," given the early March gathering will mark two months since the coronavirus was first detected. "That's a similar timeframe in which the SARS outbreak in 2003 peaked. Oil demand jitters could therefore be at their most intense," Brennock said. "Set against this backdrop, the producer alliance will be under even greater pressure to send a strong and positive message for the oil market," he added. OPEC President Mohamed Arkab has previously said he believes the virus outbreak will have little impact on the global oil market in the near-term, but suggested the Middle East-dominated producer group is ready to act to any further developments. Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman has also insisted that OPEC+ has the capability to steady the oil market if necessary. The group has been limiting supply to prop up crude futures and recently increased its agreed output reduction by 500,000 barrels per day (b/d) to 1.7 million b/d through March. John Driscoll, chief strategist at JTD Energy Securities, told CNBC's "Capital Connection" on Tuesday that he didn't foresee "any fundamental strength" in the oil market to support crude futures. "I have to say this delicately, but OPEC, I think, is starting to realize that even though they cut back, try to balance output and stabilize prices, they have less influence." "That is simply because the balance of power has shifted," Driscoll said, citing "massive new fields" in Norway, Brazil and Guyana. "And, of course, the U.S. being the biggest non-OPEC producer. (With) all of this excess supply, if OPEC cuts back, they might lose market share and that gap could be filled by a non-OPEC producer," Driscoll said. Tactical supply cuts are OPEC's 'strongest card' Ambassador Vu Van Dung and Deputy Foreign Minister of South Africa Candith Mashego-Dlamini pose for a group photo (Photo: VNA) The statement was made by Deputy Foreign Minister Candith Mashego-Dlamini at a reception on January 27th for outgoing Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Vu Van Dung who came to bid farewell to the ministrys leaders. The Deputy FM said that South Africa attaches importance to developing ties with Vietnam, and stands ready with Vietnam to effectively implement common perceptions of the countries senior leaders, while expanding and deepening cooperation in economy, trade, investment, tourism, science-technology, culture and education, and increasing people-to-people exchange. Deputy FM Dlamini said there is huge potential for cooperation between the two countries, especially in trade, investment and tourism. She expressed her belief that Ambassador Dung continues making contributions to boosting relations between South Africa and Vietnam. Ambassador Dung proposed the two countries continue strengthening cooperation at multilateral forums as they are undertaking the role of non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council in 2020. Besides, South Africa is the Chair of the African Union (AU) and Vietnam serves as the Chair of ASEAN this year. He affirmed Vietnam places importance to increasing ties with South Africa the only nation in Africa that Vietnam has set up the partnership for cooperation and development./. MIDDLETOWN The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with Workforce Alliance of Middletown are partnering on a employment fair for local workers who lost their jobs due to the recent closure of the Red Lion Hotel in Cromwell. The event will be held Feb. 6 in the Arch Room of Cromwell Town Hall, 41 West St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Workforce Alliance provides services to dislocated workers in the South Central Connecticut region, and responds with employment and training services when layoffs occur, according to a press release. The company worked with the chamber to bring in employers looking to hire. Fortunately, there are many hospitality employers that are eager to step in and consider former Red Lion workers for open positions. Their skills are in demand, Bill Villano, president and CEO of Workforce Alliance, said in a prepared statement. For those who need further assistance, our American Job Centers are open to help. We were very disappointed in the closure of the Red Lion. We are happy to be working with the Workforce Alliance, the state Department of Labor, state Sen. Matt Lesser, state Rep. Christie Carpino and the town of Cromwell to assist the displaced employees as they seek new employment. We wish them the best and look forward to being a resource for them during this difficult time, Chamber President Larry McHugh said in the release. Getting this done is something Ive prioritized and have asked for since day one, Lesser said. This is an opportunity for talented workers to identify new employment opportunities. The Red Lions sudden shutter has left many employees without a steady paycheck. Together, we have worked to gather resources under one roof to assist the displaced employees take the next step in their career, Carpino said in the statement. Cromwell Town Manager Tony Salvatore was upset to learn of the closing. Hopefully, this can be rectified in the near future. The job fair will feature employers from many sectors, but most notably from the hospitality area. For information, contact Jeff Pugliese at 860-347-6924 or jpugliese@middlesexchamber.com. English Finnish GOFORE PLC PRESS RELEASE 29 JANUARY 2020 AT 10.00 Publication of Gofore's 2019 financial statements release and live webcast Gofore Plc will publish its 2019 financial statements release on Wednesday, 19 February 2020 approximately at 09.00 Finnish time (CET + 1). A real-time webcast is held on the same day 19 February 2020 at 13.00 Finnish time. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gofore Timur Karki, CEO Mikael Nylund and CFO Petteri Venola will be present at the event. The webcast can be followed at: https://gofore.videosync.fi/2019-financial-statements-release The presentations and on-demand replay of the webcast will be available on www.gofore.com/invest. Further enquiries: Mikael Nylund, CEO, Gofore Plc tel. +358 40 540 2280 mikael.nylund@gofore.com Gofore Plc is a Finnish digitalisation specialist with international growth plans. We're made up of some 580 people across Finland, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom and Estonia - top experts in our industry who are our company's heart, brain, and hands. We use consulting, coding and design as tools to incite positive change. We care for our people, our customers, and the surrounding world. Our values guide our business: Gofore is a great workplace that thrives on customer success. In 2019, our net sales amounted to EUR 64.1 million. Gofore Plc's shares are quoted in the Nasdaq First North Growth Market Finland. Learn to know us better at www.gofore.com. SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- What do people want at the end of life? Dream Foundation, the only national dream-granting organization for terminally-ill adults which has made over 32,000 final Dreams come true, says that for most, it's about the people they love and the legacy they leave behind. When Gary learned that he was terminally-ill, his thoughts turned to his four-year-old daughter, Bailey, and how he wouldn't be there to dance with her at her wedding. So he asked Dream Foundation for help in creating a video of the two dancing together that she could play at her wedding one day, should she decide to get married. Bailey may not remember the dance, but she will never forget the way she feels on her wedding night when she watches that special video, surrounded by those who knew and loved her father. For Doris, it was a legacy book that she could leave her two-year-old grandson and a photoshoot to capture the two. Leaving her darling grandson with a documented legacy of their family history and memories that she would not be able to share with him as he grew to the age where he might start asking was all she dreamed about. And now, thanks to Dream Foundation, her grandson has a keepsake that he can treasure forever. Chad told Dream Foundation that he wanted to take his family to their favorite vacation spot, Destin, Florida. While the trip was wonderfully peaceful and joyous, it was the memories that would remain with his wife and three children that meant more to him than the sand and sunshine. Says Kisa Heyer, CEO of Dream Foundation, "Every Dream that we fulfill is unique, but they all create lasting memories and often bring comfort and closure for those that live on. That's very important to Dream recipients." When LeeAnne learned that her time was limited, she dreamed of walking on the beach with her husband of twenty-nine years. She knew that the sound of the waves crashing and the touch of their hands would remain with her love for the rest of his life. Continues Heyer, "Having a final Dream come true is proven to increase the wellbeing of those who are terminally-ill, and in so many cases we see that it's because Dream recipients have been able to leave those they love with memories they can cherish for as long as they live." Dream Foundation was founded twenty-six years ago, and every Dream that it has fulfilled since then has touched numerous lives of family members, friends, medical staff, and sometimes even strangers. Each year, the Foundation hears from hundreds of people who express their gratitude for the Dream provided to them and their dying loved ones. The opportunity often allowed them to achieve peace, understanding, and even happiness during very difficult times. Each day Dream Foundation is taking dying Dreams and turning them into living memories. About Dream Foundation Dream Foundation, the only national dream-granting organization for terminally-ill adults, fulfills final Dreams that provide inspiration, comfort and closure at the end of life. With the support of a nationwide network of volunteers, hospices, health care organizations and committed donors, Dream Foundation has given life to more than 32,000 final Dreams over the last twenty-six years. Dream Foundation receives no state or federal fundingwe rely solely on private donations. To support our mission please visit DreamFoundation.org/donate. SOURCE Dream Foundation Related Links http://www.dreamfoundation.org CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. SpaceX successfully launched its fourth batch of Starlink satellites into orbit and nailed a rocket landing today (Jan. 29) following days of weather delays for the mission. A sooty Falcon 9 rocket which made its third flight with this launch roared to life at 9:06 a.m. EST (1406 GMT), lifting off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station here in Florida. The rocket carried 60 more Starlink satellites for SpaceX's growing constellation, the second such launch by the company this month. The satellites all successfully deployed about an hour after liftoff. Last week, strong upper level winds forced the private spaceflight company to postpone the Starlink-3 mission's launch. SpaceX then aimed for the backup launch date of Jan. 28; however, rough seas where the drone ship was waiting may have thwarted any attempt at a landing. Video: See SpaceX's 1st Starlink satellites in the night sky In Photos: SpaceX launches third batch of 60 Starlink satellites to orbit Image 1 of 7 (Image credit: SpaceX) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 60 new Starlink satellites on the Starlink-3 mission from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Jan. 29, 2020. Image 2 of 7 (Image credit: SpaceX) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 60 new Starlink satellites on the Starlink-3 mission from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Jan. 29, 2020. Image 3 of 7 (Image credit: SpaceX) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches 60 new Starlink satellites on the Starlink-3 mission from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Jan. 29, 2020. Image 4 of 7 (Image credit: SpaceX) A stunning view of Earth captured by a camera on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket as it launches the Starlink-3 mission on Jan. 29, 2020. Image 5 of 7 (Image credit: SpaceX) A view of the 60 Starlink satellites stacked for launch on the Starlink-3 mission. Image 6 of 7 (Image credit: SpaceX) The view of Earth from the Falcon 9 upper stage during SpaceX's Starlink-3 mission. Image 7 of 7 (Image credit: SpaceX) The Falcon 9 rocket that launched SpaceX's Starlink-3 mission landed safely on the company's drone ship Of Course I Still Love You after launching the Starlink-3 satellites into orbit on Jan. 29, 2020. It was the third launch for this rocket. The star of this mission, the Falcon 9 first stage dubbed B1051.3 by SpaceX, previously lofted a Crew Dragon capsule as part of the companys uncrewed mission to the space station (Demo-1) as well as a trio of Earth-observing satellites for Canada. Following the successful launch, the rocket's first stage gently touched down on a SpaceX's drone ship landing platform "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Atlantic Ocean, marking the company's 49th booster recovery. SpaceX designed its souped up Falcon 9 rocket to fly as many as many as 10 times with only light refurbishments in between. The company has yet to fly a booster five times, but continues to rack up veterans with three or four flights, proving their capability. A Growing Constellation Today's launch is part of SpaceX's goal of connecting the globe with its Starlink network. Each satellite is identical, weighing in at roughly 485 lbs. (220 kg), and is part of a larger network that aims to provide internet coverage to the world below. With this launch, it brings SpaceX's burgeoning constellation up to 240, making it the largest in orbit to date. But SpaceX is not the only aerospace company with dreams of global connectivity. OneWeb launched its first set of six satellites in 2019, and Amazon hopes to launch its own constellation soon. However, SpaceX (with its own rockets) is the first to amass a sizable constellation. Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO and founder, has said the company will need at least 400 satellites in orbit to provide minimal coverage, and at least 800 to provide moderate coverage. With this launch, the private spaceflight company is over halfway to the minimal coverage mark and says service could begin sometime this year. When that happens, the first places to receive coverage would be portions of the U.S. and Canada. In photos: SpaceX launches third batch of 60 Starlink satellites to orbit How Starlink works SpaceX's Starlink project has one simple goal: to provide constant high-speed internet access to users around the world. Currently technology limitations often leave remote and rural areas without access; SpaceX wants to change that. To access the internet, we rely on wireless cell towers or cables routed into our homes and offices. To that end, massive communications satellites will beam down internet coverage down from their orbital perched high above the Earth, in what's known as geostationary orbit (typically 22,000 miles up). The signal has to travel such a long distance, which translates to slower connections speeds. By operating at a lower altitude (and with more satellites), SpaceX says it can mitigate this issue and provide reliable coverage at an affordable price. But at what cost? Astronomical nuisance? Not everyone is thrilled about the idea of SpaceX's new mega-constellation. Astronomers have voiced concerns that the satellites could interfere with crucial scientific observations. SpaceX's Starlink satellites stand out as they march across the night sky. That's because theyre incredibly bright, appearing as a train of bright dots as they orbit. Just how bright they were shocked and concerned scientists. Many were nervous that the Starlink constellation (and the others that will follow it) could interfere with their work. Astronomers rely on ground-based telescopes to take long-exposure images of astronomical objects they want to study. When something bright passes in front of the telescope's field of view, it can obscure the image, and the observer has to figure out what caused it. Related: Why SpaceX's Starlink satellites caught astronomers off guard A train of SpaceX Starlink satellites visible in the night sky in this still from a video captured by satellite tracker Marco Langbroek in Leiden, the Netherlands on May 24, 2019, just one day after SpaceX launched 60 of the internet communications satellites into orbit. (Image credit: Marco Langbroek via SatTrackBlog Musk and SpaceX listened to the concerns of astronomers and have experimented with ways of reducing the satellites brightness. One satellite in the previous batch was coated in a special material to make it appear darker in orbit. Once the dark coating has been tested, SpaceX will decide how effective it is and whether or not the whole fleet will receive the same treatment. During live launch commentary today, Starlink engineer Lauren Lyons said the satellite with that dark coating is still making its way to its final orbit, so more time will be needed for SpaceX to complete its tests. Falling fairings SpaceX has proven that it can successfully reuse its rocket boosters, but the company wants to take the notion of reusability one step further by recovering and refurbishing payload fairings. After today's launch, SpaceX successfully "caught" one half of the payload fairing with one of its net-wielding boats, known as "Ms. Tree." The rockets nose cane is comprised of two halves (also known as payload fairings), which are designed to protect the payload during launch. SpaceX has equipped each fairing with its own navigation system that allows it to glide gently back to Earth. The company hopes this will facilitate the recovery and reuse of the fairing. With each piece fetching roughly $3 million, SpaceX hopes to save some money by reusing them on future flights. To that end, the company has outfitted two of its recovery vessels with giant nets. Acting as mobile catcher's mitts, SpaceX hopes that it will be able to snag a fairing in each net. To date, GO Ms. Tree (the vessel formerly known as Mr. Steven) has now made three successful catches. The second boat, GO Ms. Chief has yet to snag a falling fairing. Follow Amy Thompson on Twitter @astrogingersnap. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook. Five former Moscow police officers have been detained in the high-profile drug-trafficking case against Russian investigative journalist Ivan Golunov, who was arrested and then released amid a public outcry and allegations of police corruption in June 2019. The Investigative Committee said on January 29 that the detained officers from the Moscow antidrug unit are currently being questioned. In its second statement the same day, the Investigative Committee said former officers Denis Konovalov, Akbar Sergaliyev, Roman Feofanov, Maksim Umetbayev, and their former supervisor, Igor Lyakhovets, were suspected of planting drugs in Golunov's backpack and apartment. "The investigation has established that the officers intended to illegally file criminal charges against Golunov and...falsified the results of evidence-gathering operations which then served as proof of Golunov's guilt," the statement says. It says that "the drugs planted [in Golunov's apartment and backpack] had been illegally obtained and also illegally carried by the police officers." The Investigative Committee's statement is a very rare admission of wrongdoing by Russian law enforcement agencies. The 37-year-old Golunov, who works for Latvia-based Meduza, was arrested in June in Moscow for allegedly attempting to sell illegal drugs. He was released several days later after the charges were dropped following a public outcry. The case sparked an investigation into his detainment over the charges and also into why Golunov suffered bruises, cuts, a concussion, and a broken rib during the ordeal. In mid-July, three police officers and their supervisor were fired for violating Golunov's rights while detaining him. After Golunov's release, Russian President Vladimir Putin fired Major General Yury Devyatkin, the head of the Moscow police department's drug-control directorate, and Major General Andrei Puchkov, the police chief in Moscow's western administrative district, over the case. Authorities announced in November that the case had been classified, a decision harshly criticized by Golunov's lawyers, who called the move an attempt to cover up the "wrongful arrest" of their client. A Mohali court has issued non-bailable warrants against NRI businessman and alleged drug dealer Anoop Singh Kahlon an accused in a money laundering case for not appearing before the court. Kahlon was booked by the enforcement directorate in 2013 following recovery of 26kg of heroin from his house in Zirakpur. He is facing trial for case registered under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The court of special CBI judge Harinder Sidhu, also the designate court of the ED, issued warrants for February 14, after Kahlon jumped bail by not appearing before the court and the summons issued to him for appearance were returned saying he was not staying at the given address and his whereabouts were also not known. Kahlon is intentionally not appearing in the court and it is apparent that the he is not interested in facing the trial, ruled the court while cancelling his bail and issuing non-bailable warrants. Kahlon was convicted and awarded 15-year jail in February last year after Punjab Police busted a multi-crore drug racket in March 2013 in which former international wrestler and sacked deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Jagdish Singh Bhola was also convicted. Kahlon was presently out on bail after he filed an appeal in the high court against his conviction. The ED had registered case against Kahlon for making money from the sale of drugs. The ED had accused him of amassing properties from ill-gotten money earned from the drug racket. On Kahlons disclosure, police zeroed in on Bhola. Kahlon was working as head constable in Punjab Police but quit the job over two decades ago and migrated to Canada where he got in touch with drug lords. They've coexisted far from the public eye for generations in a remote area of British Columbia's Cariboo region. Now, a 10-part documentary series released this month on History Canada brings the relationship between the wild horses of the Nemaiah Valley and their Indigenous protectors to a mass audience. "The Wild Ones" tells the story of the Xeni Gwet'in First Nation members who manage the wild horse population along with non-Indigenous ranchers. Series producer Barry Davis said he first heard about the wild horses of the Nemaiah Valley from a producer friend who kept hearing tales of the wild Qayus horses around the campfire while working on another series in B.C. "For me, I'm an eastern Canadian, so this was all new to me," Davis told Daybreak North host Carolina de Ryk. Davis learned the Xeni Gwet'in title to the 1,800 square kilometre Tsilhqot'in traditional territory was recognized in a Supreme Court of Canada ruling, "and that these wild horses were theirs to manage and they'd done it for hundreds of years." History Television It took two more years after his first visit to the Nemaiah Valley in 2017 to secure funding and begin filming the series. The documentarians did not have carte blanche in the filming, though. They agreed to follow the Xeni Gwet'in filming protocol, which included a consultant to ensure accurate representation of their stories. The protocol also concerned safety on the set for both horses and film crew. Earliest memories were on horseback Davis found it striking that Howard Lulua, one of the Xeni Gwet'in cowboys who is profiled in the series, described how his very first memories were on horseback. "This is just something that they grew up doing there," Davis said. "If they needed a horse, which they would, you know, roads didn't go in there until the 1970s, They they had to go get a wild horse and train it and then ride it." "And then when you decided that you were taking a horse from the wild, that's a 30-year commitment that you're making to that animal to look after it and to care for it." Story continues The series was shot in part with cameras on riders which captures plenty of excitement and "adrenaline action" as the team chases the Qayus , Davis said. But on a deeper level, he said, "you can kind of, sort of, look into a window of the world, that for me, 14 months ago, I didn't even know existed." "You can take some pride in guys who decide that it's part of the culture and it's what they grew up doing, but they know that they can make a difference and they want this herd and these animals to survive," he said. To hear the complete interview with Barry Davis on Daybreak North, tap the audio link below. With files from Daybreak North Three sharp-edged weapons and a vehicle have also been recovered from the criminals. The accused have been identified as Sachin, Mandeep alias Gula (both residents of Rahra in Karnal), Govinda alias Iron and Ramniwas (both residents of Malikpur in Jind), the police said. "The gang mainly used to target passers-by and pedestrians. They have confessed to their involvement in 11 incidents of loot in Karnal, Jind and Kaithal districts. All the gang members were arrested by the police team following a tip-off when they were heading towards Kaithal road from Khizrabad road in Assandh," a police officer said. According to the police, initial investigations have revealed that five cases of loot and theft were registered against Sachin whereas one case of loot was registered against Mandeep in Kaithal. Karnal Superintendent of Police Surender Singh Bhoria has issued directives to his team to launch a drive against the criminals after the incidents of loot were reported in Assandh and adjoining areas in the district. A case under the relevant sections of IPC has been registered and further probe into the matter is on. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) AGOURA HILLS, Calif., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) (the "Company"), a leading provider of high-quality single-family homes for rent, today announced the tax treatment of the Company's 2019 distributions. For the tax year ended December 31, 2019, distributions for its: Common shares (1) 6.5% Series D redeemable perpetual preferred shares (2) 6.35% Series E redeemable perpetual preferred shares (2) 5.875% Series F redeemable perpetual preferred shares (2) 5.875% Series G redeemable perpetual preferred shares (2) 6.25% Series H redeemable perpetual preferred shares(2) were classified as follows: Classification Percent Ordinary Income Dividend(3)(4) 59.409988% Capital Gain Distribution(5) 40.590012% Total 100.000000% (1) For the Company's distribution related to its common shares paid on January 7, 2020 to shareholders of record on January 2, 2020, all of the distribution was determined to relate to 2020 and will be included in next year's reporting. (2) For the Company's distribution related to its Preferred shares paid on December 31, 2019 to shareholders of record on December 13, 2019, all of the distributions were determined to relate to 2019. (3) None of the Ordinary Income Dividend represents "Qualified Dividend Income." (4) 100% of the Ordinary Income Dividend are treated as Internal Revenue Code Section 199A Qualified REIT Dividend Income. (5) Percentage of the capital gain distribution that is unrecaptured section 1250 gain is 53.455880%. The Company's tax return for the year ended December 31, 2019, has not yet been filed. As a result, the income tax classification for the distributions discussed above has been calculated using the best available information as of the date of this release. The Company encourages shareholders to consult with their own tax advisors as to the specific tax treatment of these distributions. About American Homes 4 Rent American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE: AMH) is a leader in the single-family home rental industry and "American Homes 4 Rent" is fast becoming a nationally recognized brand for rental homes, known for high-quality, good value and tenant satisfaction. We are an internally managed Maryland real estate investment trust, or REIT, focused on acquiring, developing, renovating, leasing, and operating attractive, single-family homes as rental properties. As of September 30, 2019, we owned 52,537 single-family properties in selected submarkets in 22 states. Additional information about American Homes 4 Rent is available on our website at www.americanhomes4rent.com. Contact: American Homes 4 Rent Investor Relations Phone: (855) 794-2447 Email: [email protected] SOURCE American Homes 4 Rent Related Links https://www.americanhomes4rent.com By Zoe Fruchter fruchter@grinnell.edu With the eyes of the nation on Iowa in anticipation of the 2020 caucuses, another election is taking form: the election of Student Government Association (SGA) executives for the 2020-21 academic year. Tonight in the Humanities and Social Science Center (HSSC), seven candidates (one student video-calling from studying abroad) outlined their platforms and campaign messages for three different executive positions: president, vice president of student affairs (VPSA) and vice president of academic affairs (VPAA). Lana Katai and Amanda Weber, both 21, are running for the most senior position in student government: president. Katai and Weber both have extensive experience in student government; Weber is the current SGA Treasurer and Katai is the current All Campus Events (ACE) chair. Katais platform focuses on active representation for students surrounding three values: accessibility, transparency, and diversity and inclusion. Weber asserted her practical experience in SGA as proof of her commitment to Grinnell College students. Both candidates centered their messages around the role of president as an advocate for students in the often contentious relationship between the student body and the administration. Every year theyve taken things away from us, said Katai in reference to the administrations closure of student organizations such as the Black Cultural Center. [We need] an SGA that takes a stand to administrative decision before those decisions are made. She positioned herself as an outsider candidate, willing to push the administration for students who have had enough. Weber said that Student Affairs have infringed on our [students] autonomy and referred to her extensive experience as proof of her ability to make real action plans, intimating a functionalist approach of working with the administration as opposed to Katais more impassioned rhetoric. Yet, she added, Im done just chatting; I want to act. The tension between students lived experiences and administrative policies featured prominently in most of the candidates talking points this evening. They speak at us, they dont speak to us, said Katai. In the VPAA race, Charun Upara 21 promised to initiate an actual, serious conversation with administration and faculty about the workload at Grinnell. His competitor, Fernando Rodriguez 20 did not directly address the issue of the student/administrative divide but promised to stand up for pre-professional students, which he framed as underserved at Grinnell. The VPSA race is the most crowded of all three contests, with three candidates running: Tucker Haddock, Amelia Zoernig (the video-conferencing attendee) and Syamala Neeraja, all 21. All three students promised to advocate for under-represented students and help students take advantage of SGAs resources to elevate their voices. Neeraja took a more macro perspective than others on her candidacy. I came to this school in a transitional period, she said, referring to Donald Trumps presidential election in 2016. She stated the College finds itself in another transitional period with the departure of College President Raynard Kington and pledged to stand up for students of color and minority students who are in trouble the most [during transitions] while being the most left out of these conversations. Zoernig was the only candidate to mention the importance of College students relationship to the town of Grinnell. She also mentioned a plan to overhaul our digital infrastructure. Haddock wants to enable student leaders to help other students, not surveil them. Around 35 students attended the forum. Attendees were given the opportunity to ask questions, and moderator Destiny Magnett 22 read pre-submitted questions. Queries focused on candidates attitudes towards the expansion of United Grinnell Student Dining Workers, methods of working with the administration, the ideal role of Student Educational Policy Committees (SEPCs), working with those outside of their immediate orbit and the role of senators in SGA. Current VPSA Saketan Anand 21 asked about the candidates ability to work together on policy as an executive board, highlighting the importance of cooperation and collaboration in a potentially divisive race. The candidates agreed on the centrality of these values to the SGA administration. I hope that we all have a common interest that the decisions we make and the things we do are for the students, said Rodriguez. Indeed there is much more that unites these candidates than divides them. All but Upara have held previous SGA positions, all are involved in many different student and academic organizations and all are focused on standing up to an administration that they frame as disconnected from the daily lives of students. Yet, most of all, the students running for executive positions have immense respect for each other. This is one of the best races Ive ever seen, said Weber in reference to her fellow candidates. I would be lucky to work with any of them. Voting for executive candidates begins online next Tuesday, Feb 4, and will continue until Feb 7. DUBLIN (dpa-AFX) - N Brown Group Plc (BWNG.L) announced that Rachel Izzard will be joining the company as Chief Financial Officer following the resignation of Craig Lovelace. Rachel joins the Group from Aer Lingus where she has been Chief Financial Officer since 2015. Rachel has also served as CFO of IAG Cargo, joining together the cargo businesses of BA and Iberia. N Brown Group stated that a departure date for Craig and Rachel's start date have not yet been agreed. Until the announcement, Craig will continue with his responsibilities. 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. The U.S. "deal of the century" - a plan for Middle Eastern settlement on the basis of the two-state solution was unveiled. The document is dubbed 'Peace to Prosperity: A Vision to Improve the Lives of the Palestinian and Israeli People.' "This vision is the most realistic solution to a problem that has plagued the region for far too long. It creates a path to prosperity, security, and dignity for all involved," the White House said in a statement. The plan is divided into two parts, an economic portion and a political portion. The economic portion of the plan was released in summer 2019, but the political portion was released now. As a condition for the peace process, U.S. President Donald Trump cited the Palestinian authorities refusal from supporting the Hamas radical movement operating in Gaza and from methods of armed confrontation. The plan suggests more than 50 billion U.S. dollars be facilitated in new investments over ten years as support to the settlement efforts. "This Vision would achieve mutual recognition of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people and Palestine as the nation-state of the Palestinian peopleeach with equal civil rights for all its citizens. The plan designates defensible borders for the State of Israel and does not ask Israel to compromise on the safety of its people, affording them overriding security responsibility for land west of the Jordon River. For Palestinians, the Vision delivers significant territorial expansion, allocating land roughly comparable in size to the West Bank and Gaza for establishing a Palestinian State. Transportation links would allow efficient movement between Gaza and the West Bank, as well as throughout Palestine. The plan does not call for uprooting any people, Arab or Jew, from their homes," the White House said. However Jerusalem, according to Trump, will remain the sovereign capital of the State of Israel, and it should remain an undivided city." Special attention is focused on the status of Jerusalem, border issues, security guarantees, a free trade zone, prisoners and refugees, and the rules for further negotiations. The plan gives the entirety of "undivided Jerusalem" to Israel, recognizing it as Israel's capital. After holding talks with Trump in Washington DC, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the president as "the greatest friend that Israel has had in the White House". "The deal of the century is the opportunity of a century, and we're not going to pass it by," he said. Netanyahu's spokesman, Jonathan Urich said the Israeli leader will ask his Cabinet on February 2 to approve his plan to annex parts of the West Bank. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in turn, dismissed the plans as a "conspiracy". Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said that "Trumps statement is aggressive and it will spark a lot of anger. "Trumps statement about Jerusalem is nonsense and Jerusalem will always be a land for the Palestinians ... The Palestinians will confront this deal and Jerusalem will remain a Palestinian land," Reuters cited him as saying. Turkey's Foreign Ministry slammed the U.S. Mideast peace plan. "This is an annexation plan aiming at usurping Palestinian lands and killing two-state solution," the ministry said, adding that Ankara would not let Israel justify its occupation and persecution. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has called the peace plan for the Middle East a global "nightmare." German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has called for a balanced approach to breaking the deadlock. "Only a negotiated two-state solution, acceptable to both sides, can lead to a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians," he said. Maas added that Trump's proposal raised questions "about the involvement of the conflicting parties in a negotiation process and their relationship to recognized international parameters and legal positions." Britain was much warmer to Washington's proposals. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that "this is clearly a serious proposal, reflecting extensive time and effort." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the UN supports two states living in peace and security within recognized borders, on the basis of the pre-1967 lines. "The position of the United Nations on the two-state solution has been defined, throughout the years, by relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions by which the Secretariat is bound," Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for Guterres, said. Russian presidents Special Envoy for the Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said Russia will analyze Trumps "deal of the century", but the main thing that matters is what the Palestinians and other Arab nations think of it. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wants to replace Groundhog Day's Punxsutawney Phil with a robotic dog. PETA has written to the local club in charge of the annual tradition in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, urging Phil's retirement with an electronic canine that's powered by artificial intelligence. The animal rights group says Phil, when 'dragged out of his hole' to predict the end of winter, experiences 'great stress' in front of the cameras and crowds. Handler AJ Dereume holds Punxsutawney Phil after he did not see his shadow predicting an early spring during the 133rd annual Groundhog Day festivities on February 2, 2019 Punxsutawney Phil just moments after he saw his shadow last year, predicting six more weeks of winter The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wants to retire Phil, saying the critter experiences 'great stress' when it is removed from its burrow to predict the end of winter, in front of the cameras and crowds that come to celebrate the annual tradition 'He has no idea what's happening,' PETA President Ingrid Newkirk claims in the letter sent to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Inner Circle on Tuesday. Newkirk notes that today's technology can come up with a robot groundhog that could 'actually predict the weather'. And she makes the immediate recommendation that the club replace Phil with Sony's 'aibo,' an electronic dog powered by AI. The electronic canine, whose name translates to 'companion' in Japanese, and which is also an abbreviation for 'artificial intelligence bot' interacts with humans and has the ability to learn. It was unclear whether the robot is smart enough to predict how long winter will last, a skill Phil is traditionally celebrated for every year on February 2nd. The Groundhog Day celebration, which is broadcast around the globe, starts when observers look to see if Phil turns to gaze at his shadow after he is removed from his hole. Dutch settlers believed that if a groundhog, or woodchuck, coming out of its burrow sees it shadow, it will race back to escape the cold, signalling winter will likely last six more weeks. The club's executive director Katie Donald deferred to a published interview with one of the group's officers when DailyMail.com reached out. Bill Deely, the club's president, told The Punxsutawney Spirit that he he had not seen PETA's letter, but he welcomed the group to come and see that 'Phil lives better than the average child in Western Pennsylvania'. Phil, while famous for decades because of the tradition, got a boost in popularity thanks to the classic Bill Murray film, 'Groundhog Day', from 1993. Meet Sony's 'aibo,' whose name translates to 'companion' in Japanese, and which is also an abbreviation for 'artificial intelligence bot'. Aibo interacts with humans and has the ability to learn. Good robo-boy! PETA says the robot dog should replace Punxsutawney Phil The tongue-and-cheek club that presides over the celebration claims Phil is 'the only true weather forecasting groundhog', and that he's '100 per cent' accurate. The actual animal used for the annual celebration lives in a 'man-made zoo that is climate controlled and light regulated,' the club says on its website, and that he's never in full hibernation. 'In Phil's burrow,' the group writes on the site, 'the lights are consistent year-round and so is the temperature. 'He is fed and cared for every day, so he does not have to search for food. In the winter months, he does slow down, eats less, and sleeps more, but he doesn't hibernate.' PETA argues that 'using electromechanical devices such as animatronics instead of live animals is more popular than ever'. Punxsutawney Phil's fans in the annual tongue-and-cheek Groundhog Day celebration hold up a sign claiming he's even the answer to global warming Dutch settlers believed that if a groundhog, or woodchuck, coming out of its burrow sees it shadow, it will race back to escape the cold, signalling winter will likely last six more weeks. 'An AI Phil would renew interest in Punxsutawney, generating a great deal of buzz,' the animal rights group says in its letter to the club. 'By creating an AI Phil, you could keep Punxsutawney at the center of Groundhog Day but in a much more progressive way,' the letter explains. 'Talk about taking your town's annual tradition in a fresh and innovative direction!' In a jab to the town of less than 6000 near Pittsburgh, PETA says younger generations would even find an AI Phil easier to relate to. 'Today's young people are born into a world of terabytes,' the group writes, 'and to them, watching a nocturnal rodent being pulled from a fake hole isn't even worthy of a text message'. 'This is a generation whose members book rides on their smart phones and will never walk into a bank to deposit a check', PETA explains. 'Ignoring the nation's fast-changing demographics might well prove the end of Groundhog Day'.' Sensera Systems - Trimble Agreement "...this relationship will help us bring our solutions to a broader set of leading general contractors." Sensera Systems, Inc., a leading provider of comprehensive, real-time site intelligence solutions today announced a reseller agreement with Trimble. Trimble and its BuildingPoint channel will offer Sensera's cutting-edge jobsite intelligence solutions including solar/wireless cameras and Sensera SiteCloud service to extend its jobsite management portfolio including Trimble CrewSight. Trimble CrewSight combines a jobsite access control system with a worker database for increased site security, worker communications, and jobsite management. Working with Trimble and its BuildingPoint channel provides the potential for Sensera to increase its geographic reach in terms of sales and marketing and to make it easier for general contractors to benefit from Senseras connected jobsite solutions. "We are excited to have Trimble, a leader in construction technology, recognize Senseras products as an important part of making jobsites more efficient, safe, and secure. We think this relationship will help us bring our solutions to a broader set of general contractors. We believe working with Trimble will help Sensera Systems continue to deliver on our vision of being a leader in transforming construction with real-time jobsite intelligence solutions, said David Gaw, Founder and CEO, Sensera Systems. The combination of Sensera SiteCloud and cameras with CrewSight jobsite access control solutions creates a powerful solution for contractors to manage their jobsites, said Matthew Ramage, Trimbles Labor, Equipment and Materials (LEM) business area director. For many owners and contractors, safety and security is a driving concern. Together, these solutions provide a new level of confidence in maintaining jobsite control. Availability Select Sensera solutions for construction worksites are available in North America through participating BuildingPoint resellers and directly through Trimble Buildings sales teams, beginning in January 2020. About Sensera Systems Sensera Systems is a leading innovator of comprehensive, real-time jobsite intelligence solutions. The company is recognized for pioneering the next-generation of multi-function jobsite cameras that seamlessly integrate progress monitoring, collaboration, site-security, safety, and documentation functions. Sensera's portfolio of advanced jobsite intelligence solutions is powered by Sensera's SiteCloud platform which provides easy-to-use software for viewing, monitoring, and sharing real-time site data, detecting actionable insights, and simplifying workflow. SiteCloud is tightly integrated with Sensera's complete line of jobsite cameras and SitePOV mobile app to provide comprehensive automated site intelligence from a simple web interface. SiteCloud service includes WiFi and 4G LTE connectivity making it a true end-to-end solution. For more information, visit: https://www.senserasystems.com. About Trimble Trimble is transforming the way the world works by delivering products and services that connect the physical and digital worlds. Core technologies in positioning, modeling, connectivity and data analytics enable customers to improve productivity, quality, safety and sustainability. From purpose built products to enterprise lifecycle solutions, Trimble software, hardware and services are transforming industries such as agriculture, construction, geospatial and transportation and logistics. For more information about Trimble, visit: http://www.trimble.com. OTTAWA - Canada's energy industry is not overly alarmed as the new coronavirus coming out of China is taking a bite out of world oil prices. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. In this Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, photo, construction trucks are lined up at the site of the Huoshenshan temporary field hospital being built in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province. China as of Wednesday has more infections of a new virus than it did in with SARS, though the death toll is still lower. (Chinatopix via AP) OTTAWA - Canada's energy industry is not overly alarmed as the new coronavirus coming out of China is taking a bite out of world oil prices. Oil prices began dropping in mid-January when the first confirmed death from the virus in China was reported. On Jan. 23, investment firm Goldman Sachs warned that demand for oil could drop by 260,000 barrels a day, mostly due to lower demand for jet fuel as the virus slows global travel. "There are some short-term jitters," said Brad Herald, a vice-president at the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. But Herald says there are always "geopolitical blips" and companies in Canada have contingency plans that are being "dusted off." He said the impact will be felt only while the virus is still spreading. He said it won't have much of an impact, if any, on long-term investment decisions. Energy market experts differ on what the overall impact on prices can be. Eric Nuttall, a senior portfolio manager at the Toronto investment firm Ninepoint Partners said in a blog post Tuesday that fear of the virus is playing a bigger role in price drops than actual reductions in demand. 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 said when the SARS outbreak hit in 2003, a drop in demand only lasted a few months. However Richard Price, the global crude oil deputy editor at Independent Commodity Intelligence Services in London, said this week the new coronavirus could hurt oil prices more than SARS did in 2003. Price said SARS shaved 30 per cent off world oil prices and the impact of this outbreak could be worse, depending on how infectious it is. Price also said air travel in Asia has grown significantly since the SARS outbreak, so any slowdown in flights there will have a bigger impact than it did back then. Health experts in Canada and overseas were trying to tamp down the epidemic of fear around the virus Wednesday, repeatedly noting it is not proving to be as deadly as the flu, and is not currently known to be spread by patients before they start showing symptoms. Air travel is slowing around the world as a result of the virus. On Tuesday, Air Canada became the latest airline to cut back on flights to and from China as that country slows domestic and international flights as part of efforts to control the spread of the virus. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2020. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 07:25:51|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attend a joint press conference in the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on Jan. 28, 2020. U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday revealed the long-awaited political aspect of his controversial Middle East peace plan, calling for a two-state solution while recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided capital." (Xinhua/Liu Jie) WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday revealed the long-awaited political aspect of his controversial Middle East peace plan, calling for a two-state solution while recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided capital." Trump outlined the 80-page plan at the White House along with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that it proposes a "realistic" two-state solution. Calling it a "win-win opportunity" for both sides, Trump said the new plan recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided capital," while claiming that the Palestinians' capital will include areas of East Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Trump cautioned that "the conditions for statehood" should be met before the creation of "a contiguous territory within the future Palestinian State," which included stopping "the malign activities of Hamas," ending the incitement of hatred against Israel, among others. "We will never ask Israel to compromise its security," Trump said. Speaking at the White House, Netanyahu thanked Trump for recognizing Israel's sovereignty over areas in Judea and Samaria, which is the Israeli term for the West Bank, in the plan, describing Tuesday as "a historic day" and praising Trump as "the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House." The plan stipulates that "Israel will retain security control in the entire area west of the Jordan River ... giving Israel a permanent eastern border to defend ourselves," Netanyahu said. The Jordan Valley, making up some 20 percent of the West Bank, were seized by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war and controlled ever since despite international criticism. The veteran Israeli right-wing politician also applauded the plan which he claimed called for Hamas to be disarmed, Gaza to be demilitarized and regulates that the Palestinian refugee problem must be solved "outside the State of Israel." In the plan, Trump also promised to double Palestinian-controlled territory and proposed a four-year freeze of Israeli development in the area expected to be part of a Palestinian state. Trump said he had sent a letter to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, saying that the Palestinians will have four years to study the deal and negotiate with Israel. The Trump administration has postponed several times the publication of its "Deal of the Century" for peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, a proposal that had been criticized repeatedly by the Palestinians who had little engagement in it. The economic portion of the plan was unveiled last June at a convention in Bahrain which was boycotted by the Palestinians. The Palestinian Authority said earlier on Tuesday that the new U.S. Middle East peace plan aims to establish an isolated Palestinian entity in the Gaza Strip. Also on Tuesday, thousands of Palestinians demonstrated in Gaza against the plan. Washington's role as an Israeli-Palestinian conflict mediator has been questioned following the Trump administration's pro-Israeli policies in the past three years including recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moving the U.S. Embassy there, and slashing hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars in humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. Experts pointed out that the announcement of the plan came at a time when Trump needs a distraction from the impeachment proceedings and Netanyahu is struggling with corruption charges. On Monday, she was at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, to support her husband Nnamdi Asomugha and actress pal Eva Longoria's film Sylvie's Love. And on Tuesday night, Kerry Washington was back in Los Angeles where she was among those who attended the Television Academy's 25th Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony. The actress, 42, showed her fashion credentials as usual in a $4,000 dress by Khaite from the brand's spring/summer 2020 collection. Stylish star: Kerry Washington was among those who attended the Television Academy's 25th Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony in Los Angeles on Tuesday night The brown plaid dress was worn off-the-shoulder and featured a corset-style bodice and a full skirt with petticoat. Washington added matching color Louboutin heels and wore her hair in long braids. Her eyes were made up with dusky shadow and black mascara and she completed her look with a touch of blush and red lip color. Picture perfect: The actress, 42, looked flawless in a $4,000 brown plaid dress by Khaite from the brand's spring/summer 2020 collection Red carpet ready: The off-the-shoulder dress featured a corset-style bodice and full skirt with petticoat. Washington added matching color Louboutin heels and wore her hair in long braids The TV Academy announced it's list of Hall of Fame inductees back in early December. They are Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, and actress Cicely Tyson who has won three Emmys in the course of her six decade career. The others, as Variety reported, are Geraldine Laybourne, who oversaw the creation of Nickelodeon and co-founded Oxygen Media, five-time Emmy winner Seth MacFarlane who created Family Guy and American Dad, and Emmy-winning director Jay Sandrich whose credits include The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Soap, Benson, and The Golden Girls. Hall of Famer: Washington posed for photos with one of the evening's honorees Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company Big occasion: Inductee Cicely Tyson, 95, an actress with a career spanning six decades, was accompanied to the ceremony by fashion designer B. Michael Icon: Tyson put on quite a show as she walked the red carpet in her designer duds Other famous names who attended the event included legendary songwriter Valerie Simpson-Ashford, The Mary Tyler Moore Show star Ed Asner and Oscar-winning filmmaker Ron Howard. On hand, too, was former Gossip Girl and Shameless star Jessica Szohr who looked stylish in a black plaid blazer dress with white lapels and white piping on the pockets. More than 146 individuals have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since its inception in 1984. Celebrity guests: Other famous names who attended the event included legendary songwriter Valerie Simpson-Ashford, 73, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show star Ed Asner, 90 VIP: Oscar-winning filmmaker Ron Howard, 65, was on the guest list as well ANN ARBOR, MI - A survivor of human trafficking claims in a federal lawsuit that she faced her horrors primarily at big-chain hotels in Ann Arbor and Detroit. The survivor, then a 17-year-old Detroit woman, was taken against her will to the Fairfield Inn by Marriott, 3285 Boardwalk Drive in Ann Arbor, according to the Dec. 9, 2019 lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Flint. She suffered eight years of repeated instances of rape, physical abuse, verbal abuse, exploitation, psychological torment, kidnapping, and false imprisonment at the hotel, the woman alleges in the federal complaint filed by Detroit attorney Tiffany Ellis. The complaint named Marriott International, Inc. as a defendant, accusing the hotel chain of enabling, facilitating and financially benefiting (from)" her trafficking at the Ann Arbor Fairfield Inn from 2003-11. The lawsuit also names the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 1020 Washington Blvd. in downtown Detroit, as a second assault location, . The hotel is owned by Inter-Continental Hotel Group, also a defendant in the lawsuit. Messages seeking comment were left with lawyers for both Marriott International, Inc. and IHG. The survivor was removed from her home due to sexual abuse from her father during childhood and was living in an orphanage when the trafficking started in summer 2003, the complaint states. The lawsuit cited numerous reasons where hotel staff was negligent in preventing the survivors trafficking. At all times, her trafficker or one of his partners was downstairs in the lobby in public view, standing surveillance as (she) was physically compelled to service a steady flow of buyers, the complaint states. There was a constant stream of male visitors to her room so that the foot traffic was both voluminous and obvious." The survivor attempted to escape on multiple occasions in search of medical treatment before her trafficker would find her, restrain her and force her to wait for more clients, the lawsuit alleges. The complaint states that blood, broken items, used condoms and sex paraphernalia were routinely spread across her room once she left, and that when she appeared in the hotel lobby, she appeared malnourished and withdrawn. The Defendants leased rooms to (her) traffickers when they knew, or should have known, that they were using their rooms to imprison (her), physically assault her, and subject her to repeated exploitation and sexual servitude, the complaint alleges. The survivor was sold to a new trafficker in 2008, the complaint alleges. She was staying at the Embassy Hotel, 200 E. Huron St. in Ann Arbor, when hotel staff mistakenly told her new trafficker that she wasnt staying there. She used the opportunity to break free, eventually moving to northern California in June 2011, the complaint alleges. The lawsuit is one of dozens of similar claims filed by human trafficking survivors who are suing 12 hotel chains around the country, according to a report from WDIV-TV on Tuesday, Jan. 28. There is a hearing this week in Florida to decide if the Detroit case should be centralized with several other similar cases, under the same judge, according to the WDIV-TV report. There are 36 cases across 21 different jurisdictions, the report states. Hong Kong Scientist Warns Coronavirus Could Infect 150,000 People Per Day Sputnik News 18:57 GMT 28.01.2020(updated 21:11 GMT 28.01.2020) A well-known scientist in Hong Kong has warned that the deadly coronavirus rapidly spreading throughout China could infect as many as 150,000 people per day in China's Chongqing municipality in the next few months. According to Dr. Gabriel Leung, the chair professor of public health medicine at the University of Hong Kong, the disease could begin infecting 150,000 people per day by April or May this year and could have disastrous effects on the municipality of around 30 million people. During a Monday press conference, Leung estimated that nearly 26,000 people have been infected in China, which is much higher than the official number of coronavirus cases registered across China as of Monday night: 4,515. Leung also noted that the number of cases could be as high as 44,000 if those who are infected by the virus but are still in the incubation stage are accounted for. The current death toll is at least 107 people, and around 30,000 people are under medical observation, the Asia Times reported. Leung warned that the epidemic will continue to grow and peak around April or May, affecting many large metropolitan cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou. Leung also predicts that the epidemic will not begin to die down until June or July, adding that the Chinese government's current "containment" scheme against the virus may not be enough. Beijing may need to take additional measures such as large-scale and widespread public hygiene campaigns, decreasing the number of people traveling between cities and canceling school classes and public activities, Leung explained. The Chinese government recently ordered all those who have been in Hubei Province where the virus originated not to enter Hong Kong. According to Leung, the Chinese government ought to extend the ban to additional mainland cities. On Monday, officials in the Chinese city of Tangshan in Hebei Province announced the suspension of all public transit on Tuesday to prevent the spread of the coronavirus within the city, Reuters reported, citing an official statement. Bus services between Beijing and Hebei have also been suspended, according to Reuters. In Hubei's capital city of Wuhan, where the coronavirus first appeared in December, residents have been ordered to wear masks and not to leave the city without good reason. During a briefing Monday, the Citizens' Press Conference, a group of Hong Kong political activists, urged the Hong Kong government to ban all mainlanders from coming into the city, noting that many travelers may not tell Hong Kong customs officials if they had been to Hubei. Sophia Chan Siu Chee, Hong Kong's secretary for food and health, noted that customs officials rely on travelers to be honest about their whereabouts, the Asia Times reported. Zhong Nanshan, a scientist and the head of the special expert commission of China's National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), said on Tuesday that the peak of the coronavirus outbreak is expected to take place in seven to 10 days, but there will be no large-scale spread of the infection, Sputnik reported. The NHFPC has also said that the country has all the necessary means and resources to fight the virus. The virus, which is officially known as 2019-nCoV and is related to the virus that causes sudden acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), first began spreading in Wuhan some time between December 12 and December 29. Some coronavirus cases have also been registered in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, Australia, France, Germany, Canada and the United States. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global automated fare collection system market is expected to witness a stupendous CAGR in the years to come. This could be attributed to feasible initiatives by the governments worldwide regarding developing smart & sustainable transport infrastructure along with introduction of smartcards and electronic payment system. Economies like The Netherlands and UK have come up with AFC systems for providing smart card technology to the local authorities. For instance - Xerox Transportation Solutions and UAE administration, in Dec 2015, did make way for a smart fare collection system for buses. They offered single card to be used on transit modes all over Abu Dhabi; thereby lessening the traffic congestion and passengers' waiting time. Market Scope The ever-increasing usage on the part of smartphones to access travel information apps are is acting as a catalyst to the automated fare collection system market. The companies inclusive of Google, Samsung, and Apple also play a vital role in paying transportation fees via AFC systems. Smartphones prove to be a one-stop solution with respect to integration of mobile application ticketing, online ticketing, and on-board ticketing. This, in turn, lets transport operators and authorities deliver much better services to clients; thereby minimizing fare evasion and fund leakage. Market Segmentation The market of automated fare collection system is segmented based on component, technology, and geography. By component, the market spans hardware and software. By technology, it says AFC, NFC, magnetic strip, OCR (Optical Character Recognition), and smart cards. By geography, the market of automated fare collection system comprises North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, LATAM, and MEA. Download PDF to know more details about "Global Automated Fare Collection System Market" Report 2025. Regional Lookout Asia Pacific leads the automated fare collection system market. This could be credited to support extended by the governments of economies herein to enhance public transportation. For example - Kuala Lumpur government, in the year 2015, did bring up BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) service in Sunway for minimizing traffic congestion therein. Around the same time, Delhi (India) metro authorities did install 210 novel AFC gates in Nehru Place and Huda City Center Stations for ensuring the passengers' smooth flow. Players The players contributing to the automated fare collection system market include LG Corporation, Sony Corporation, Fare Logistics, Atos, Vix Technology, Scheidt & Bachmann, GMV, Advance Card Systems, Omron Corporation, Samsung, and Thales Group. Access 105 page research report with TOC on "Global Automated Fare Collection System Market" available with Radiant Insights, Inc. @: https://www.radiantinsights.com/research/global-automated-fare-collection-system-market Market Segmentation: Geographically, global Automated Fare Collection System market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players including Advanced Card Systems Ltd. Atos SE Cubic Transportation Systems LG CNS NXP Semiconductors Omron Corp. Samsung SDS Scheidt & Bachmann Thales Group LECIP Group On the basis of product, we research the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate, primarily split into Hardware Software For the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate of Automated Fare Collection System for each application, including Bus Toll Train Car Rental Production, consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate are the key targets for Automated Fare Collection System from 2013 to 2024 (forecast) in these regions China USA Europe Japan Korea India Southeast Asia South America Browse reports of similar category available with Radiant Insights, Inc.: Platform Screen Doors(PSD) Market Refrigeration Compressor Market Float Switch Market Centerless Grinding Machines Market About Radiant Insights, Inc.: At Radiant Insights, we work with the aim to reach the highest levels of customer satisfaction. Our representatives strive to understand diverse client requirements and cater to the same with the most innovative and functional solutions. Contact: Michelle Thoras. Corporate Sales Specialist Radiant Insights, Inc. Phone: +1-415-349-0054 Toll Free: 1-888-928-9744 Email: sales@radiantinsights.com Web: https://www.radiantinsights.com Blog: https://radiantinsightsinc.blogspot.com/ The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday issued a clarification on a report by Huffpost India which quoted DGCA chief Arun Kumar as saying that the bans imposed by multiple private airlines on comedian Kunal Kamra for allegedly 'heckling' journalist Arnab Goswami were in 'clear violation' of the government's rules on unruly behaviour. The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued a statement after a report by Huffpost India quoted DGCA chief Arun Kumar as saying that the bans imposed by multiple private airlines on stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra for allegedly "heckling" journalist Arnab Goswami were in "clear violation" of the government's rules on unruly behaviour. In a statement on Wednesday evening, the DGCA said that the report had "misquoted/misrepresented" Kumar's statements. The statement also stated that the action taken by the airlines was in "complete consonance" with the rules on handling unruly behaviour under the 'Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section-3, Series M Part VI', which were revised in 2017. The DGCA further said that the issue of Kamra's conduct will be referred to an internal committee as prescribed in the CAR and the committee's decision on whether the airlines' action was within the specified protocol will be "binding". The internal committee is expected to present its decision within 30 days after the case is given to it. "The internal committee is to give the final decision in 30 days by giving the reasons in writing, which shall be binding on the airline concerned. Punishment for different type of unruly behavior is also prescribed in the same CAR and the Internal Committee has to adhere to the same," the statement said. On Wednesday, Kamra reacted to the bans imposed by four airlines IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, and GoAir for "heckling" Goswami on a Lucknow-bound IndiGo flight. In a video, that went viral on social media on Tuesday, Kamra can be heard demanding a reply from Goswami, asking him if he is a "coward or a journalist or a nationalist". The comedian dedicated his action to Rohith Vemula, a Dalit PhD scholar at the University of Hyderabad, who killed himself in his hostel room on 17 January, 2016. On Wednesday, Kamra said, "It's not shocking at all to me that for exercising my right to speech, which falls under Article 19 of our Constitution, airlines have given me a temporary ban from flying. Fact of the matter is that at no point was I disruptive and at no point did I not follow orders of the cabin crew or the captain. At no point did I endanger the safety of any passenger on board, the only damage I caused was to the inflated ego to the 'journalist' Arnab Goswami." I did this for my hero... I did it for Rohit pic.twitter.com/aMSdiTanHo Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) January 28, 2020 He also said that no formal complaint had been made by Goswami or the the cabin crew of the Lucknow-bound IndiGo flight (6E5317), adding that every time there was an intervention by a crew member, he "complied". After IndiGo issued a six-month-long ban on Kamra, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Hardeep Singh Puri also condemned his behaviour and advised other airlines to impose similar restrictions on the stand-up comedian. He said,"offensive behaviour designed to provoke and create disturbance inside an aircraft is absolutely unacceptable and endangers safety of air travellers". Talk about buzz kill. By the end of February the free beer and wine offered at many of the WeWork offices in North America will be phased out, replaced by an assortment of other nonalcoholic beverages including cold-brew coffee, tea, kombucha and seltzer. Since it started in 2010, WeWork built part of its image on its informal office spaces with convivial refreshments free for the asking, so ending that is a change of scene. But the replacements for beer and wine also say something about the change in consumer tastes, especially among younger adults, Not surprisingly, the company is emphasizing all the beverage choices being added, not the beer run being tapped out. As part of our commitment to providing our members with an exceptional workplace experience, WeWork has expanded our on-tap beverage offerings at our U.S. and Canada locations to better meet our members preferences. ...As part of this beverage refresh, WeWork will also phase out on-tap alcoholic beverages in U.S. and Canada ...and aims to complete this process by the end of February. advertisement advertisement A spokeswoman confirmed the move, which was first reported by BusinessInsider.com. While alcohol is being phased out, WeWork will still serve it for special events. As of 2019 third-quarter close, WeWork had 625 locations across more than 125 cities and 33 countries, as well as more than 600,000 members. Behind the scenes, the company is trying to push back on any suggestion the move is a belt-tightening measure, instead saying it is a measure of new WeWork Chairman Marcelo Claures moves to improve the culture of the workplaces. Japanese conglomerate Softbank effectively took control of WeWork in November and installed Claure at the top, replacing flamboyant co-founder Adam Neumann, who just a few months previously had been planning WeWorks IPO. The high-flying company was then valued at $47 billion. When investors began to look at the books, the valuation crumbled and Softbank bailed it out. So in the scheme of things, dismantling the beer taps wont be much of a big deal. The recent trend by younger adults to drink less beer and wine compared to previous generations might have played a part, too. WeWork conducted surveys at its locations several months ago and discovered that neither beer nor wine were among the top choices for beverage service. A new WeWork blog post, in fact, emphasizes that in some cases, WeWork offices are already serving beverages being marketed by small start-up companies that are tenants. Sartorius has continued on its profitable growth track in fiscal 2019. The Group grew by double digits in sales revenue, order intake and earnings, recording gains in both divisions and across all regions. According to preliminary figures, Group sales revenue rose in constant currencies by 14.8% (reported: +16.7%) to 1,827.0 million euros. Growth was almost entirely organic as the acquisition of the cell culture media specialist Biological Industries completed in December 2019 contributed only marginally to this increase. Order intake also rose by 14.8% in constant currencies (reported: +16.7%) to 1,939.5 million euros. In view of revenue, earnings and jobs, Sartorius developed very dynamically again in 2019 and even better than expected at the beginning of the year. We were also successful in expanding our portfolio and in adding further key technologies through the acquisition of Biological Industries, said CEO Dr. Joachim Kreuzburg. For Sartorius, 2020 will be a special year, not only because of our 150-year company anniversary. We aim to further grow profitably and reach the two-billion-euro mark in consolidated sales for the first time, as we had already announced in 2012 in our mid-term forecast for 2020. Underlying EBITDA rose overproportionately again relative to sales by 22.4% to 495.8 million euros; the respective margin was 27.1% (previous year: 25.9%) in line with our guidance. As expected, slightly less than one percentage point of this increase was attributable to the IFRS 16 Standard required to be applied for the first time in 2019. Relevant net profit rose by 19.2% from 175.6 million euros a year ago to 209.3 million euros, yielding earnings per ordinary share of 3.06 euros (PY: 2.56 euros) and earnings per preference share of 3.07 euros (PY: 2.57 euros). Following the further expansion of our workforce in customer-facing functions, research and development, as well as operations, the number of Group employees rose significantly again by 11% or 900 people to 9,016. Business development in the regions All regions grew faster than in the previous year, contributing to the positive development of the Sartorius Group. EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) increased its revenue by 11.2% to 733.4 million euros, accounting for 40% of the Groups consolidated sales. The Americas region contributing around 35% to Group revenue achieved a 17.4% increase in sales to 629.9 million euros. In Asia | Pacific, Sartorius earned sales of 463.7 million euros (+17.4%), which equates to a share of around 25% of Group revenue. (All growth rates for the regions are in constant currencies.) Key financial indicators The Sartorius Group continued to make substantial investments in expanding its global capacity, even though, as expected, its CAPEX ratio decreased upon the completion of several large projects to 12.3% (PY: 15.2%). Due to strong net cash flow from operating activities and despite the intensive investment activity and successful acquisition, the companys ratio of net debt to underlying EBITDA was 2.0 and thus below the prior-year figure of 2.4. Equity rose from 973.4 million euros to 1,081.2 million euros at year-end. In connection with IFRS 16, the equity ratio decreased slightly from 38.5% as of December 31, 2018, to 38.0%. Sartorius therefore continues to have a very sound balance sheet and financial base. Business development of the divisions The Bioprocess Solutions Division that offers a wide array of innovative technologies for the manufacture of biopharmaceuticals exceeded its already strong prior-year performance, increasing its sales revenue in constant currencies by 18.1% (reported: +20.0%) to 1,372.1 million euros. This gain was fueled by ongoing strong demand across all product categories, particularly in project business in Asia. The divisions order intake rose significantly as well by 18.0% (reported: +19.9%) to 1,479.3 million euros. Underlying EBITDA for Bioprocess Solutions increased overproportionately to sales by 24.5% to 406.8 million euros. The divisions respective margin rose due to economies of scale and as a consequence of the change in IFRS 16, from 28.6% to 29.6%. The Lab Products & Services Division that specializes in technologies and products for laboratories in the pharma sector and in life science research showed robust performance in a partly challenging economic environment, achieving sales growth of 5.9% (reported: +7.5%) to 454.9 million euros. The divisions order intake increased by 5.7% (reported: +7.3%) to 460.3 million euros. Underlying EBITDA for Lab Products & Services rose year over year by 14.0% to 89.0 million euros. The corresponding margin was positively affected by IFRS 16 and stood at 19.6%, up from the previous years level of 18.5%. (All growth rates for sales revenue and order intake are given in constant currencies.) Profitable growth projected for 2020 Sartorius projects that it will increase Group sales in fiscal 2020 on the basis of constant currencies by 10% to 13%, with the acquisition of Biological Industries, completed at the end of 2019, expected to contribute approx. 1.5 percentage points to this growth. Regarding profitability, Sartorius forecasts that its underlying EBITDA margin will increase year over year from 27.1% to about 27.5%. The ratio of capital expenditures (CAPEX) to sales revenue is expected to be around 10% (PY: 12.3%). For the Bioprocess Solutions Division, the Executive Board projects sales growth of 11% to 14%, with consolidation of Biological Industries expected to contribute about one percentage point to this gain. With respect to the divisions underlying EBITDA margin, management assumes that it will increase to around 30.0% (PY: 29.6%). The Lab Products & Services Division will likely increase its sales revenue by 7% to 10%, with Biological Industries projected to contribute around 2.5 percentage points to growth. For this division, the underlying EBITDA margin is forecasted at around 20.0% (PY: 19.6%). The above forecast does not consider the acquisition of parts of Danahers life science portfolio, which was announced on October 21, 2019, and is currently undergoing antitrust clearance. Following the closing of this transaction, presently expected around the end of the first quarter of 2020, management will update its full-year guidance accordingly. All forecasts are based on constant currencies, as in the past years. Australia supported the grey-listing of Pakistan by the FATF and will make a fresh assessment as to whether it should be put on the 'Black List', outgoing Australian envoy Harinder Sidhu said on Wednesday. Pakistan was placed on the 'Grey List' in June 2018 by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an inter-governmental body established in 1989 to combat money laundering, terror financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. During an interaction with a select group of journalists, the envoy said that "from Australia's perspective, when we say as part of our Indo-Pacific strategy we want to work with strong democracies in the region, one of India's great strengths is its pluralistic democratic tradition". "We welcome that in India, we look to work with India as a partner in the region building on those traditions," she said. When asked about the Kashmir issue and the prevailing situation in India in the wake of anti-CAA protests, Sidhu said it is "never appropriate for an envoy from another country to comment on the internal dynamics of any country". On if she was asked to join the recent visit by envoys to Kashmir, Sidhu said she does not wish to comment on it. Speaking about the FATF, the outgoing envoy asserted that "a very technical approach" was taken by it to place Pakistan on the 'Grey List'. "We have continued to support the grey listing because our assessment on a technical basis has been that it has not met the requirements. "Our approach to the FATF has been to take a very technical approach, that is, in fact, the most objective way to assess to what we are trying to get to: we really want to have a good outcome, which means Pakistan complying with the requirements that are imposed on it," Sidhu said. "We have taken a technical approach, we assess Pakistan's progress in objective terms against where it has got to thus far," she said. The FATF currently has 35 members and two regional organisations -- the European Commission and the Gulf Cooperation Council. India is a member of the FATF consultations and its Asia Pacific Group. Amid speculation that Pakistan will be put on the 'Black List' by the FATF, Sidhu said that "we will make the assessment when there is enough evidence to do that, no one can predict what the upcoming assessment can be". Urging India to come back to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), she said from Australia's perspective "the door is wide open for India to return to the RCEP". "That remains our position and in fact, it remains our hope that India would think about returning to the RCEP. We believe there is scope for India to negotiate on those issues that it is concerned about. "It will be good for India and for the region if India joins the RCEP because it would deepen economic relations and political relations with India and reduce risks of India being excluded in economic cooperations," she said. Talking about her tenure in India, Sidhu said the signature achievement of her time here has been the "incredible growth in the breath and depth" of the Australia-India relationship. "We are in a very different place than we were in 2016 even though at that time there was a upward trajectory so what has changed since then I think we have seen an uptick in the pace of the bilateral ties, particularly when we look at the defence and strategic relationship," she said. "It is very clear that the leading part of the bilateral relationship is the defence and strategic story. The pace of bilateral engagement at the ministerial level has grown dramatically as well. We have seen many many engagements in both the directions," Sidhi said. On Indian energy giant Adani's coal mine project, she said work has begun. The massive coal mine in Queensland state has been a controversial topic, with the project expected to produce 2.3 billion tonnes of low-quality coal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Subscriber content preview TACOMA The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation added Tacoma's Holy Rosary Church to its list of Washington's Most Endangered Places, which raises awareness about threats facing important historic and cultural places in the state. Holy Rosary was designed by C. Frank Mahon of Lundberg & Mahon of Tacoma and dedicated in 1921. It has a Gothic revival style and is in the form of a Latin cross, the Trust said in a press release. It is also prominent in the skyline, as it is at the terminus of Tacoma Avenue, a major corridor, and visible from Interstate-5. It was also one of the earliest city of Tacoma landmarks when designated in 1975. . . . BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 By Elnur Bagishov Trend: A contract on the construction of an industrial park has been signed in Ardabil province, north-west of Iran, Governor of Irans north-western Ardabil province Akbar Behnamcu said, Trend reports referring to the website of the governors office. The contract was signed between Iran Small Industrial and Industrial Parks Organization (ISIPO) and Ardabil province local authorities. The two sides will jointly finance the building of the park. The signed contract follows upon the previous formal agreement between Iran and Azerbaijan to create a joint Iran-Azerbaijan industrial park in Ardabil's Parsabad county. The matter was discussed between Iran's Minister of Industry, Mining and Trade Reza Rahmani and Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev during his visit to Iran. Establishing the park will open doors for both foreign and local investors. The total area of the park will be 95 hectares. Previously, Secretary General of the Iran-Azerbaijan Joint Chamber of Commerce from the Iranian side Hussein Vosuqi Irani told Trend that Iranian and Azerbaijani manufacturers will jointly produce products in this industrial park. A Melbourne primary school has ignored the state government's guidance on coronavirus, instructing any student who visited China in the school holidays to stay in isolation for 14 days before returning to school. The Victorian education department on Wednesday afternoon changed its advice and told students who visited the Hubei province to stay away, but Mentone Primary school, a public school in Melbourne's south-east, has decided to replicate multiple private schools with stricter advice. Mentone Primary school has instructed students who visited China to be in isolation for 14 days. Credit:Getty Images Mentone Primary was expecting six exchange students from Beijing to arrive on Monday next week, prompting concern among some parents. Principal Marcelle van Maanen emailed parents on Wednesday afternoon, backtracking on the school's initial compliance to defy the "clear guidelines" from the state education department. WASHINGTON The presidents top White House lawyer has repeatedly told the Senate that Trump did nothing wrong in withholding aid to Ukraine, even as other lawyers on his defense team directly contradicted that assertion over the last two days. In the opening moments of the Senate impeachment trial last Tuesday, some of Pat Cipollones first words were that the president has done absolutely nothing wrong. Cipollone asserted again on Saturday that Trump did absolutely nothing wrong. But on Monday, Trump lawyer Robert Ray, who is working with Cipollone on the presidents defense, said something very different when addressing the Senate. I know that many of you may come to conclude, or may have already concluded, that the call was less than perfect, said Ray, referring to the presidents July 25 call with the Ukrainian president. Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to do him a favor and investigate Hunter Biden, the son of former Vice President Joe Biden, a rival for the presidency. Trump has repeatedly described this call as perfect. But Ray, in one of the most noteworthy moments of the presidents defense, took a position contrary to Trump and even to Cipollone. Ray said Trump had not acted perfectly at all. It would have been better, in attempting to spur action by a foreign government in coordinating law enforcement efforts with our government, to have done so through proper channels, Ray said. While the president certainly enjoys the power to do otherwise, there is consequence to that action, as we have now witnessed. After all, that is why we are all here. Ray went on to say, however, that Trumps actions were not clearly and unmistakably impeachable as an abuse of power. Ray defended Trumps leaning on Ukraine to announce an investigation into the Bidens. There can be no serious question that this president, or any president, acts lawfully in requesting foreign assistance with investigations into possible corruption, even when it might potentially involve another politician. Story continues The reason that there are conflicting messages from Trumps team is because many Republican senators believe Trump is guilty of acting badly but dont want to remove him from office, either because they dont think he should be or because they fear the political consequences of doing so, or some combination of those things, as multiple Republican sources have told Yahoo News. Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., said in December, he thought the presidents actions in pressuring Ukraine to announce an investigation of Joe Biden was inappropriate but not impeachable. Trump attorney Jay Sekulow. (Screengrab: Senate TV via AP) Alan Dershowitz, a well-known defense attorney, continued Rays line of reasoning Monday night, arguing that presidents can only be removed from office for committing a crime. Purely noncriminal conduct, including abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, are outside the range of impeachable offenses, Dershowitz argued. And Republican senators repeated this message on Tuesday. The question is not whether, I think, a phone call was perfect, or whether something was advisable or not. The question is: Is this an impeachable offense? asked Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss. Trumps insistence that he has done nothing wrong is the reason for his legal teams bifurcated and sometimes incoherent messaging: Hes innocent, but if he did it, you cant impeach him for it. But Trumps defense team has multiple audiences to satisfy: the public, Republican senators and the president himself. The public, and primarily Republican voters, like to hear that the impeachment process has been a partisan witch hunt, and that there are open-ended questions about Biden that justified Trumps pressure campaign on Ukraine. The Republican senators need to have a constitutional and legal argument to justify voting for acquittal, especially given the fact that there is substantial evidence that Trump did what he is accused of in the articles of impeachment that the House passed on Dec.18. And the president wants to hear his own line repeated back to him, that he is completely innocent. Cipollone, it should be noted, did not repeat his claim on Tuesday that the president did nothing wrong. But Jay Sekulow, another member of Trumps legal team, did carry forward the arguments made by Ray and Dershowitz during the last day of opening arguments for the presidents defense. Sekulow dismissed the idea of testimony by Trumps former national security adviser John Bolton, and said it would be inadmissible. Bolton reportedly submitted a book manuscript to the White House for review, in which he alleges Trump told him to block Ukraine aid to gain help in the 2020 election. Former national security adviser John Bolton. (Photo: Luis M. Alvarez/AP) Nothing in the Bolton revelations, even if true, even if true, would rise to the level of abuse of power or an impeachable offense, Sekulow said. The day ended rather abruptly, giving senators a welcome break ahead of what promises to be a grueling next few days. Cipollone played a few clips of Democrats railing against impeachment from 20 years ago, and then sat down before the clock had even struck 3 p.m. The media clips played by Cipollone were a jarring way to conclude opening arguments. The trial will now move to two days of questions submitted in writing by senators, and then the debate over whether to call witnesses on Friday, in whats expected to be another lengthy session that could stretch past midnight. The outcome Friday will determine whether the trial ends Saturday or stretches into next week. Cipollone stood in the well of the Senate as an aide showed video from two current House impeachment managers. First there was Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., decrying a narrowly voted impeachment. Then there was Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., criticizing the partisan use of impeachment. Both were in the House in 1998, when the lower chamber impeached then-President Bill Clinton. Cipollone then played Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass. who was in the House then as well yelling about the Clinton impeachment being a coup detat that would haunt this body and the country forever. Markey, talking to Yahoo News afterward, said he stood by that quote, and that the Clinton impeachment belonged in family court, while the Trump impeachment is a proper matter for the U.S. Senate. Finally, Cipollone played video of the current Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who said two decades ago that the Clinton impeachment had lowered the bar on impeachment so much that in the future it would be used as a routine tool to fight political battles. Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind. (Photo: Jose Luis Magana/AP) My fear, Schumer said then, is that when a Republican wins the White House, Democrats will demand payback. The TV screen went blank, and Cipollone looked directly at Schumer, who sat at the front of the Senate chamber a few feet in front of him. You were right, Cipollone said, prompting audible laughter in the chamber. But Im sorry to say you were also prophetic. The Trump teams subtext was clear: This is all about a political animus. You cant view this case in a vacuum, Sekulow the Senate during the most lengthy presentation of the day. Sekulow painted a picture of a Trump presidency under assault from hostile forces at the FBI and in the political establishment going back to the 2016 election. Sekulow talked about the FBI probe into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government, the role played by the infamous Steele dossier, which alleged nefarious connections between Trump and Moscow, and abuses at the FBI in obtaining warrants for surveillance of Trump campaign adviser Carter Page. Sekulows presentation, in particular, toggled between the three arguments the Trump team has made in defense of the president: Democrats are just out to get Trump; Trump was justified to withhold aid to Ukraine; and even if he wasnt justified in doing so, and even if he abused his power, he shouldnt be impeached. The impeachment charges must be rejected, Sekulow said, even if there was a quid pro quo, which we have clearly established there was not. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: A pair of Rohingya children play at the Leda refugee camp in Teknaf, in Bangladesh's Coxs Bazar district, Aug. 26, 2018. Bangladesh has agreed for the first time to allow UNICEF to provide a formal education for Rohingya refugee children up to the age of 14 as long as classes are based on a Myanmar curriculum, officials said Tuesday. Plans are not complete but the Rohingya children will receive instruction within the confines of the camps and not be taught in the same classes as Bangladeshi children, said Md Delwar Hossain, director-general of the South Asia desk at Bangladeshs foreign ministry. The Bangladesh government in principle has decided to educate Rohingya children, though the government has yet to finalize the procedure, he told BenarNews. The curriculum being followed in Myanmar will also be followed here, so the children may cope once they go back to their homeland. The U.N. childrens agency is expected to submit a proposal for a pilot project to formally educate more than 10,000 Rohingya boys and girls at refugee camps in southeastern Bangladesh. On Tuesday, however, it was unclear whether the program would be expanded to include hundreds of thousands of other children living in the regions sprawling camps and refugee settlements. UNICEF supports more than 2,500 of 3,600 small learning centers already set up in the camps in the region that borders Myanmar, said Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, a communications officer with the U.N. agency. UNICEF has established learning centers where Rohingya children are taught Bengali, English and mathematics, he said, adding that the agency had not received approval from the Bangladesh government about the proposal for providing Rohingya boys and girls with a formal education. Mia Seppo, the U.N. representative in Bangladesh, said the move would make it easier for them to go back home to Myanmar when the time is right for returns, according to Agence France-Presse. UNICEF issued a news release last week about its efforts to educate 260,000 children through the education centers run by 5,000 teachers and Rohingya volunteers. According to the agency, about 500,000 residents of the camps are under the age of 18, with the majority between the ages of 3 and 14. Many children have suffered traumatic injuries from gunshot wounds and extreme violence, restricting their mobility and access to services. We see many children with mixed learning abilities, physical disabilities, visual impairment and speech difficulties, said Iffat Farhana, UNICEFs education officer in Coxs Bazar district. Each of these children has a right to education. With more learning centers and more teachers, UNICEF hopes to reach every child to help them learn, grow and realize their potential. The Bangladesh announcement came eight weeks after Human Rights Watch (HRW), in a scathing report, criticized the government for prohibiting international NGOs from providing a formal education to Rohingya children. The 81-page report said the learning centers at the camps could accommodate 40 children at a time and run three two-hour shifts to accommodate more children. About half of the centers did not have restrooms or potable water nearby. Bangladesh has made it clear that it doesnt want the Rohingya to remain indefinitely, but depriving children of education just compounds the harm to the children and wont resolve the refugees plight any faster, Bill Van Esveld, HRWs associate childrens rights director, said in the report published in December. Enamur Rahman, Bangladeshs state minister for disaster management and relief, responded by saying that the nations laws precluded Rohingya from receiving a formal education in Bangladeshi schools. [A]fter their illegal entry into Bangladesh, there is no opportunity for anyone to study in our schools or curriculum, he said at the time. More than 1 million displaced people have been living in refugee camps in Coxs Bazar, including about 740,000 Rohingya who fled their homes in neighboring Rakhine state since late August 2017. They fled to Bangladesh after a brutal counter-offensive by Myanmars security forces that was launched in the wake of deadly Rohingya rebel attacks on government security posts in Rakhine. Adbur Rashid, a Rohingya leader in the Leda camp, and Md Shahjahan, a leader in the Kutupalong camp, praised efforts to educate their children. If the Bangladesh government gives us such an opportunity, our children will stand on their own feet, Shahjahan told BenarNews. Stronger-than-expected results from iPhone giant Apple helped boost market sentiment, fuelling investor confidence that other companies will deliver good news in their earnings reports too. The pick-up in sentiment came after concerns about the deadly coronavirus had triggered a market sell-off on Tuesday. The focus is now shifting to the US, where the Federal Reserve is meeting overnight and expected to announce early tomorrow morning that rates will stay a 1.75 per cent. Although volatility indicators remained low on Wednesday, market watchers warned the virus outbreak may still play havoc with sentiment. "The microscopic elephant in the room remains the Wuhan virus, with more cases popping up around the world overnight, although at what appears to be a manageable level still,'' said OANDA's senior market analyst for Asia Pacific, Jeffrey Halley. Crown Resorts has confirmed that former executive chairman John Alexander will leave the business within the year, as its new boss told investors not to expect a detailed update on the impact of the coronavirus when it unveils its first-half result next month. During an interview on Wednesday, newly installed chief executive Ken Barton would not offer any guidance on how the coronavirus outbreak was affecting its casino business, adding that an update on the situation was not likely at the company's half-year result announcement. Ken Barton and Helen Coonan were promoted to the roles of chief executive and chairwoman at Crown Resorts on Friday. Credit:Eamon Gallagher "No doubt people will ask questions about the financial and other impacts of the coronavirus, but we will probably be cautious even then about what we say about trading in February of 2020, given we are talking about the December 2019 results, Mr Barton said. He did cite reports of a 60 per cent year-on-year decline in visitor numbers in Macau as an indication of the "significant impact" the new and deadly disease is having across the region. NEW YORK Attorney General William Barr ordered federal prosecutors across the U.S. to step up their efforts to combat anti-Semitic hate crimes as he met with Jewish leaders in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Tuesday. Barr said he has been extremely distressed by the upsurge in violence in Jewish communities, including in New York City, which saw a string of anti-Semitic attacks during the Hanukkah holiday. The attorney general said the Trump administration would have zero tolerance for this kind of violence. Barrs visit came a day after the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp in Poland, where survivors warned of rising anti-Semitism worldwide. Barr directed U.S. attorneys offices to ensure they have a specific point of contact to handle outreach to the Jewish community and someone responsible for reporting hate crimes. He said he was also working with FBI Director Christopher Wray to create a national plan to combat anti-Semitic violence. Barr also announced federal charges in Brooklyn against Tiffany Harris, a woman who allegedly slapped three Jewish women and shouted expletives as she noted they were Jewish during Hanukkah. Allen Fagin, executive vice president at the Orthodox Union, said Barr was met with a resoundingly grateful response from the local Jewish community representatives who attended. Not only a recognition of the problem and a resolve to bring the resources of the federal government to bear, but the very fact that he came to Brooklyn to do that and brought with him senior representatives of local law enforcement, I think conveyed a very powerful message, said Fagin. I cannot tell you how much it means to us when you say our federal government will have zero tolerance towards hate, Rabbi David Niederman, who said three of his relatives were killed by Nazis during the Holocaust, told the attorney general. Jewish communities in the New York City metro area have been on edge after a shooting rampage at a northern New Jersey market in December that killed six and an attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Monsey that left five people stabbed. Michael Balsamo is an Associated Press writer. File this under things that really shouldnt need to be said, but apparently do: The coronavirus scare currently spreading around the world, also known as nCoV, has nothing to do with the worlds most popular, mass-produced brand of Mexican lager. Of course, if you were going exclusively off Google search trends, you might indeed think this was the case. As BoingBoing first observed, searches for corona beer virus have skyrocketed in the last week, indicating that theres a whole lot of people out there who are apparently concerned that the frightening respiratory virus and Corona lager are in some way linked. And its not just the U.S., eitherthe search term for corona beer virus has popped up in many countries, especially in seemingly random, far-flung places like Finland and New Zealand. So, to reiterate: No, these things are not related just because they happen to share part of the same name. Both, in fact, come from the Latin cor?na, meaning crown. In the case of coronaviruses, its because researchers observed crown-like spikes on the surface of the virus, leading to the name. And for the beer, well, the crown is right there on the label, and has been since Corona was first brewed in 1925. As our Mexican lager blind tasting tournament would indicate, however, the greatest danger inherent in drinking Corona is simply that its usually quite skunky. Take our word for it, and reach for a Pacifico instead. Senators plan to grill House managers and White House lawyers on a series of questions as President Trump's impeachment trial enters a contentious new phase on Wednesday. Why it matters: The 16-hour Q&A session, which is expected to be split over two days, is a crucial period that will solidify whether senators feel satisfied with the evidence they have, or if they will vote to bring in additional witnesses and documents. This period has become even more significant in the past 24 hours, after top Republican leaders told their conference that they do not yet have the 51 votes needed to block new witnesses. How it works: Each party will alternate submitting written questions to Chief Justice John Roberts, who will read each question aloud. The questions must be signed by the senator or group of senators asking it, and they can be directed to either House managers or Trump's defense team. Senators cannot ask each other questions. There is no official time limit restricting House managers' or the White House team's response. Senators cannot challenge the content or form of the answers given. What we're hearing: Senators, who have been required by law to remain silent during the trial's floor proceedings, are eager to finally have an opportunity to actively participate in the trial. Both Democrat and Republican senators have been coordinating internally with members of their party to ensure they hit all of the most important topic areas and that there's no overlap. According to my latest conversations with Democrats, they are eager to ask questions that expose the Trump defense team's "gaps in direct knowledge and facts," as one senior aide described it, and underscore the need to hear from witnesses who could provide a firsthand account of Trump's diplomacy with Ukraine. Meanwhile, many of the president's fiercest Republican allies are interested in asking questions about corruption in Ukraine, with the goal of eliciting answers that justify Trump's desire to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. They'll also ask some that are designed to poke holes in House Democrats' impeachment process. What they're saying: Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.) , who faces a competitive reelection fight in the fall: " I want to confirm that Rudy Giuliani was working personally for the president and not on the behalf of the United States of America." , who faces a competitive reelection fight in the fall: I want to confirm that Rudy Giuliani was working personally for the president and not on the behalf of the United States of America." Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) also said he's "a little bit curious about Rudy Giuliani." But he added, "Another question is like another witness. Im not looking for more information." also said he's "a little bit curious about Rudy Giuliani." But he added, "Another question is like another witness. Im not looking for more information." Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) : "I've called constitutional law professors and trial attorneys to elicit from them what they think would be the best questions." : "I've called constitutional law professors and trial attorneys to elicit from them what they think would be the best questions." Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) told reporters he'd like to ask about the whistleblower complaint, and whether they had inappropriately communicated with lead House manager Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). He's also eager to ask about Hunter Biden. told reporters he'd like to ask about the whistleblower complaint, and whether they had inappropriately communicated with lead House manager Adam Schiff (D-Calif.). He's also eager to ask about Hunter Biden. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) wants to ask about the White House memo of the July 25 call between Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky: "Trump's attorneys fairly forcefully said, 'In an unprecedented act of transparency, he released the full transcript.' Did he? ... Are we sure we've got the whole thing?" wants to ask about the White House memo of the July 25 call between Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky: "Trump's attorneys fairly forcefully said, 'In an unprecedented act of transparency, he released the full transcript.' Did he? ... Are we sure we've got the whole thing?" Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.): "It will be methodical. It will be by topic, and it will be by who receives the questions." The bottom line: How the next two days play out will determine whether the impeachment trial will come to a close as early as the end of this week, or if key senators want more time and information ahead of delivering their final verdict on Trump. Go deeper: A north Alabama school resource officer has lost his job for leaving his backup weapon in a school bathroom. Tuscumbia Mayor Kerry Underwood told WHNT News 19 that a retired, part-time SRO at G.W. Trenholm Primary School left a gun in the bathroom of the teachers lounge. The area was off limits to students, Underwood said. The mayor said the man is no longer an SRO. 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. Praising pupils for their efforts in the classroom rather than punishing their bad behaviour can improve focus by up to 30 per cent, a study in US schools found. Experts monitored over 2,536 students in the US over a three-year period to see how attentive they were in relation to the ratio of praise and reprimands teachers gave. With student focus linked their ultimate grades, getting teachers to spend more time praising their pupils in class could help to booster learning, the team conclude. Scroll down for video Praising pupils for their efforts in the classroom rather than punishing them can improve their focus by up to 30 per cent, a study in US schools has found (stock image) Psychologist Paul Caldarella of the Brigham Young University and colleagues spent three years monitoring 151 classes with a total of 2,536 students from 19 elementary schools across the US states of Missouri, Tennessee and Utah. Pupils taking part in the study ranged from 512 years of age or, in other words, from kindergarten to sixth grade. The researchers found that the students focused for up to 2030 per cent longer when teachers were specially tasked with keeping track of the relative number of praising and reprimanding statements that they made to the class. This focus included engaging with such class activities as attending to what the teacher was saying or working on assigned tasks. 'Unfortunately, previous research has shown that teachers often tend to reprimand students for problem behaviour as much or more than they praise pupils for appropriate behaviour,' noted Dr Caldarella. This, he added, 'can often have a negative effect on classrooms and student behaviour.' 'Praise is a form of teacher feedback and students need that feedback to understand what behaviour is expected of them and what behaviour is valued by teachers.' 'Even if teachers praised as much as they reprimanded, students' on-task behaviour reached 60 per cent.' 'However, if teachers could increase their praise-to-reprimand ratio to 2:1 or higher, they would see even more improvements in the classroom.' 'Unfortunately, previous research has shown that teachers often tend to reprimand students for problem behaviour as much or more than they praise pupils for appropriate behaviour,' noted Dr Caldarella (stock image) In the study, half of the classrooms that the researchers observed followed a behavioural intervention programme called Class-Wide Function-related Intervention Teams (CW-FIT). In this programme, students are told about the social skills which they are expected to exhibit during lesson times and are then praised or rewarded for doing so. The team noted that the benefits offered by teachers improving their praise-to-reprimand ratios existed across both classes run under the CW-FIT programme and those where teachers used their typical classroom management practices. 'Everyone values being praised and recognised for their endeavours it is a huge part of nurturing children's self-esteem and confidence,' Dr Caldarella said (stock image) Previous studies have reported a link between the time that students spend paying attention in class to their overall academic achievement. This would suggest that by improving focus praise could in turn help to boost learning and bring up children's grades. 'Everyone values being praised and recognised for their endeavours it is a huge part of nurturing children's self-esteem and confidence,' Dr Caldarella added. 'Behaviour that is reinforced tends to increase, so if teachers are praising students for good behaviour such as attending to the teacher, asking for help appropriately, etc it stands to reason that this behaviour will increase, and learning will improve.' However, the researchers also stressed that sound instructional techniques and other evidence-based classroom management strategies are also required in order to maintain student attention. The full findings of the study were published in the journal Educational Psychology. Washington, DC This package provides guests who book 14 nights or more with a $20 food & beverage credit and 50% off parking. Stay longer and save more with Embassy Suites Crystal Citys Extended Stay Package. This package provides guests who book 14 nights or more with a $20 food & beverage credit and 50% off parking. Booking for this package is ongoing; guests may book at any time, for stays during any dates they wish. Think of coming for the weekend? Consider staying Sunday night as well and fly out Monday to save on room rates, plane tickets, and receive hotel value adds! Guests will enjoy a $20 food & beverage credit to use anywhere in the hotel, which features an array of options to sample a variety of dining delights from day to night. When youre hungry, treat yourself and call room service or head down to Tap Twelve, our Contemporary restaurant serving American cuisine for lunch and dinner. Enjoy a selection of starters, salads, flatbreads, sandwiches and entrees for lunch and dinner. Tap Twelve also features an extensive selection of wines, beers, and hand-crafted seasonal cocktails. Or, upgrade our Complimentary Evening Reception to premium, available nightly from 5:30 - 7:30pm, with our latest cocktail specials and delicious bites, in a warm and inviting atmosphere. It's the perfect way to relax after a long day seeing the sights of Washington D.C. or doing business in the area. In addition, guests will also benefit from the Embassy Suites-exclusive free cooked to order breakfast buffet including an omelet bar, and complimentary drinks and snacks at the evening reception. All guests receive two-room suites complete with living rooms with sofa beds, mini-refrigerators and microwaves. Spacious two-room suites feature all the comforts of home, with spacious living rooms and private bedrooms, perfect for any guest desiring additional space. Each two-room suite features two 42-inch flat-screen televisions, a wet bar with a microwave and mini-refrigerator and WiFi (fee applies). Located in the heart of Arlington, VA in the urban, up-and-coming neighborhood of Crystal City, Embassy Suites Crystal City is the most convenient place to stay to access the endless options offered by both historic downtown Washington, DC and Arlington, VA. Guests can easily explore all nearby sites and attractions with complimentary shuttle access to National Airport, Pentagon City Metro and the Crystal City area. 50% off parking in our convenient lot also allows for driving around the Arlington area and into downtown DC, which is just minutes away. Or leave your car with us while you call a ride share! Washington and Arlington are the ideal places to experience the stunning views and iconic sights of the area. Views of the Potomac River and Washington Monument right out of guest room windows or in person are unlike any other. Extended Stay Package: Guests who book 14 nights or more with the Extended Stay Package will receive $20 F&B credit 50% off parking Prices based on Best Available Rate (BAR) Guests interested in booking can visit Embassy Suites Crystal Citys website or call (703) 979-9799. About Embassy Suites Crystal City: Embassy Suites Crystal City is located directly across the river from downtown Washington, DC with complimentary shuttle access to National Airport, Pentagon City Metro and the Crystal City area. Just two Metro stops from the city and minutes away by car, Crystal City is the most convenient Arlington location to stay in to access both Virginia and DC. It is central to top DC and Virginia attractions, including minutes from Arlington Cemetery, The Pentagon, The United States Air Force Memorial, and the DC museums. Nestled directly in the heart of Crystal City with two Metro stations just blocks away, guests can also enjoy all the shopping, dining and attractions it has to offer, directly outside the front door. With a fresh entire-hotel renovation in 2019, Embassy Suites Crystal City is the newest, most contemporary place to stay in Crystal City. Visit Embassy Suites Crystal Citys website for more information, and connect with Embassy Suites Crystal City on Facebook and Instagram. About Hilton Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 17 world-class brands comprising more than 5,700 properties with more than 923,000 rooms, in 113 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its mission to be the worlds most hospitable company, Hilton earned a spot on the 2018 worlds best workplaces list, and has welcomed more than 3 billion guests in its 100-year history. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, more than 89 million members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money cant buy, plus enjoy instant benefits, including digital check-in with room selection, Digital Key, and Connected Room. Visit newsroom.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Stock Market Symbols GIB.A (TSX) GIB (NYSE) cgi.com/newsroom MONTREAL, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - CGI (TSX: GIB.A) (NYSE: GIB) held its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. in the Ballroom of the Centre Sheraton Montreal. All 16 directors proposed for election at the meeting were elected on a vote by show of hands. The proxies received by CGI for the election of directors were as follows: Votes for Votes withheld % % Alain Bouchard 99.18% 0.82% Sophie Brochu 99.64% 0.36% George A. Cope 99.93% 0.07% Paule Dore 95.30% 4.70% Richard B. Evans 99.65% 0.35% Julie Godin 97.86% 2.14% Serge Godin 97.85% 2.15% Timothy J. Hearn 99.58% 0.42% Andre Imbeau 98.10% 1.90% Gilles Labbe 99.86% 0.14% Michael B. Pedersen 99.93% 0.07% Alison C. Reed 99.90% 0.10% Michael E. Roach 98.36% 1.64% George D. Schindler 99.53% 0.47% Kathy N. Waller 99.80% 0.20% Joakim Westh 98.38% 1.62% About CGI Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world. With 77,500 consultants and other professionals across the globe, CGI delivers an end-to-end portfolio of capabilities, from strategic IT and business consulting to systems integration, managed IT and business process services and intellectual property solutions. CGI works with clients through a local relationship model complemented by a global delivery network that helps clients digitally transform their organizations and accelerate results. With Fiscal 2019 reported revenue of C$12.1 billion, CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). Learn more at cgi.com. SOURCE CGI Inc. Related Links www.cgi.com Blue-collar workers, especially men, most vulnerable to suicide: CDC Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Blue-collar workers, particularly men, are the most vulnerable among all occupational groups to suicide, according to a new study from the Centers from Disease Control and Prevention, which shows that Americas suicide rate has skyrocketed by 40% since 2000. Using data from 32 states, the study provides updated population-level suicide rates for major occupational groups and new information on suicide rates for major industry groups as well as detailed occupational groups. It noted that in 2017, approximately 38,000 persons of working age, 1664, died by suicide, which represents a 40% increase over the suicide rate in 2000 when there were only 12.9 suicides per 100,000 population. Compared with rates in the total study population, suicide rates were shown to be significantly higher in five major industry groups. These are: mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; construction; other services such as automotive repair; agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting; and transportation and warehousing. The only occupational group where both males and females were noted as being vulnerable to suicide was transportation and warehousing. All the other groups covered just men. These findings highlight opportunities for targeted prevention strategies and further investigation of work-related factors that might increase risk of suicide. Previous research indicates suicide risk is associated with low-skilled work, lower education, lower absolute and relative socioeconomic status, work-related access to lethal means, and job stress, including poor supervisory and colleague support, low job control, and job insecurity, the CDC said. Industry, labor, and professional associations, as well as employers, and state and local health departments can use this information to focus attention and resources on suicide prevention, the agency added. Gregory Brown, director of the Penn Center for the Prevention of Suicide, told The Philadelphia Inquirer that the macho-culture along with other factors of the environment in which men at risk of suicide operate can work against them getting help. This is some of the first data that has taken such a systematic look at occupations, Brown said. A lot of these professions most at risk are male-dominated, like hunting, fishing, or steel. With those types of professions, you tend to have job instability, which can often lead to a lot of stress. Within these industries, he said, theres no easy access to resources that might make a difference in addressing mental health. When people work in a building he noted, its much more likely that theres a place where they can go when they need help. The other thing I suspect is that within these industries, theres a macho culture, he added. Reaching out for help is often seen as a weakness. Men just dont like to ask for help. While the study highlighted the most at-risk occupational groups, the researchers said: All industries and occupations can benefit from a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention. Workplace-specific suicide-prevention strategies include: promoting help-seeking; integrating workplace safety and health and wellness programs to advance the overall well-being of workers; referring workers to financial and other helping services; facilitating time off and benefits to cover supportive services; training personnel to detect and appropriately respond to suicide risk; creating opportunities for employee social connectedness; reducing access to lethal means among persons at risk; and creating a crisis response plan sensitive to the needs of coworkers, friends, family, and others who might themselves be at risk. Further resources can be accessed at: https://workplacesuicideprevention.com/external icon, https://theactionalliance.org/communities/workplaceexternal icon or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Louis Johnson, 16, was killed in an incident at East Croydon station (British Transport Police/PA) A 16-year-old boy has been arrested by detectives investigating the fatal stabbing of a teenager at a packed London train station. Louis Johnson was stabbed to death in a violent attack that lasted 40 seconds on Monday afternoon. The arrested boy, also 16, was detained in Balham in connection with the murder of Mr Johnson, but details of the arrested boys alleged involvement in the incident have not yet been disclosed. BTP officers have arrested a 16 year old male from Balham, London, in connection with the murder of Louis Johnson at East Croydon, London, on Monday 27 January 2020.https://t.co/3TnAlNthNX pic.twitter.com/lajNrS5FCp BTP London (@BTPLondon) January 29, 2020 British Transport Police said Mr Johnson came into East Croydon station at around 4.30pm through the Ruskin Square ticket barrier, and was attacked minutes later. While he was on the overbridge in the station he met someone who immediately pulled out a knife and stabbed him, the BTP said. Emergency services were called at around 4.45pm, but despite the efforts of medics, including an air ambulance team, he died. A baby with spina bifida underwent surgery while still in his mothers womb to give the best chance of walking when he is older. Joanne Crellin, 37, was shocked to be told at her 20-week scan that her fourth baby, named Blay, would suffer from the disabling condition. It occurs when a baby's spine and spinal cord don't develop properly in the womb, leaving a gap. Vital nerves are exposed, causing irreversible damage before the baby is born, such as life-long paralysis of the legs and feet. Ms Crellin, from Douglas on the Isle of Man, was also told that Blay had fluid on his brain, a symptom of spina bifida which can lead to brain damage. She agreed to the complex operation when she was 26 weeks pregnant, but had to rush to Belgium due to a booking mess-up on the NHS. Surgeons closed the gap in Blay's spine by cutting into the womb, reducing any further nerve damage or fluid leaking to his brain. Blay was born two months later via C-section in December 2019. Medics don't yet know what the ultimate effect of the surgery will be. Blay Crellin underwent groundbreaking surgery while still in his mothers womb Joanne Crellin, 37, from Douglas on the Isle of Man, was shocked to be told following her 20-week scan that her baby was suffering from spina bifida Surgeons closed the gap in Blay's spine by cutting into the womb. Pictured: The incision on Ms Crellin's belly after her operation Ms Crellin, a personal trainer, is happy that she's given her boy a fighting chance, despite the outcome being unclear. She said: 'When I touch his feet they don't move at all - they don't clench. It's quite obvious he doesn't have any feeling. 'He won't have full sensation - it would be deluded to think so. But he might have another operation which can bring back a bit. Ms Crellin and her partner Shaun Ashmead, 44, discovered Blay would be one of 1,000 babies born in the UK each year with spina bifida early in her pregnancy. She said: 'Shaun and I were laughing on the way into the hospital - that's what gets me. 'They gave me a leaflet after I was told [about the spina bifida] and I couldn't even look at it - I felt physically sick. 'It's still something that really upsets me. 'I'm speaking out as I want people to take their 20-week scans more seriously, as it's seen as a bit of a gender reveal.' Spina bifida, which strikes a further 1,500 babies a year in the US, exposes vital nerves in the spinal cord due to a fault in development. Ms Crellin had to fly to Belgium for the procedure because surgeons were operating on another woman on the date she was due to go under the knife. Pictured: Baby Blay in the womb With the operation an initial success, baby Blay was born via caesarean section last December, although medics do not yet know what the ultimate effect of the procedure will be Ms Crellin has given her boy a fighting chance of walking. She said: 'When I touch his feet they don't move at all - they don't clench. It's quite obvious he doesn't have any feeling' Blay was then born on December 6 via caesarean section at Liverpool Women's Hospital and stayed in intensive care for four days Personal trainer Ms Crellin is pictured with her partner Shaun, 44, and her daughter It's not known what causes spina bifida, but a lack of folic acid before and in the early stages of pregnancy is a significant risk factor, the NHS say. Damaging the nerves in the spine can have catastrophic consequences, including paralysis and loss of control of organs include the bladder and bowel. In most cases of spina bifida, surgery can be used to close the opening in the spine. But the nervous system will usually already have been damaged by the time a baby is born. Ms Crellin, who has three children, aged two, 11 and 19, wasnt sure about having the operation at first. WHAT IS FOETAL REPAIR FOR SPINA BIFIDA? Foetal repair for spina bifida is a delicate operation in which surgeons open the womb and close the opening in the back of the baby's head while it is still in the uterus. Spinal cord damage worsens during pregnancy, therefore this procedure can help prevent the condition becoming more severe. It does not cure the condition but studies show it can lead to significantly better results than surgery carried out after the baby has been born. The procedure also boosts the child's chances of having good mobility and being able to walk independently. It takes place between 19 and 25 weeks into the pregnancy. The mother requires a general anaesthetic that relaxes the uterus and acts as a painkiller for the baby. A surgeon then cuts an incision across the mother's abdomen and positions the baby's spinal cord to the spinal canal. The doctor also closes surrounding tissue and skin to protect the spinal cord from exposure to amniotic fluid. Source: Children's Hospital for Philadelphia Advertisement However, she soon changed her mind when she did some research on the debilitating condition. She said: 'At first I wasn't sure about having it but I went home and researched what the outcome was. 'Because in spine bifida the nerve endings are on the spine, it's the amniotic fluid around the baby that actually causes the damage. 'As the pregnancy progresses the baby is getting bigger and pressing the nerve endings against you - which are getting squashed. 'All the damage is done in the womb but the fetal surgery covers the exposed nerve endings so you can't have further damage.' Fetal surgery for spina bifida is a relatively new procedure. A team from Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and University College London Hospitals (UCLH) were the first to do the operation in the UK in 2018. She said that at first she wasnt sure about having the operation, but decided to when she went home and did some research She said another factor in deciding for Blay to have the operation was it would avoid him needing to have a device fitted known as a shunt to drain the fluid from his brain. Pictured: Ms Crellin in hospital Around 1,000 babies are born in the UK each year with spina bifida, with a further 1,500 in the US As well as improving mobility chances, the operation reduces the need to divert fluid from the brain. The baby's spinal fluid can also leak out of their spinal cord, causing a condition called hydrocephalus that can lead to brain damage, seizures or blindness. The operation to close the gap would avoid Blay needing to have a device fitted known as a shunt to drain the fluid from his brain. Additional surgery is often needed to change the shunt as the child grows up or if it becomes clogged or infected. Ms Crellin said having a shunt fitted after Blay was born would have meant travelling long distances to the hospital if it became blocked. She said: 'The biggest reason was I wanted to prevent him having a shunt because of where I am. 'If he did, every time it became blocked I would have to travel to hospital in Liverpool. Ms Crellin had to undergo a series of tests after she agreed to the surgery during her 26-week scan. The assessments included genetic testing, a psychological assessment and an MRI scan. She then packed her bags and went to London for what she expected to be an overnight stay but it actually began a whirlwind three months. She said: 'The next day I was sitting in a cafe waiting for my MRI when the hospital rang me and said they already had someone booked in for surgery for the date I would have to have mine. 'So, the only way for me to be able to have it done would be to go to Brussels. 'I asked them when I need to go and they said: "Well you've got an appointment there at tomorrow at 12 o'clock". 'I thought: "How am I supposed to get to Brussels?" I didn't even know where it was!' Blays operation, where surgeons operated on him to cover the exposed nerve endings in his spine while he was in his mothers womb, was first carried out in the UK in 2018 Blay was then born on December 6 via caesarean section at Liverpool Women's Hospital and stayed in intensive care for four days He was then moved to Alder Hey Hospital where staff pulled out all the stops to get him home in time for Christmas. Pictured: Ms Crellin with her partner Shaun Ashmead, 44 A friend came to her rescue and booked her on the Eurostar and into a hotel for two nights. Ms Crellin added: 'I was then in the hospital family room for two nights and then I had the surgery. 'At first they were finding things with his brain and they weren't sure about having it done but then they said it was fine.' Ms Crellin ended up staying in Brussels for a week following the successful operation on October 7 before flying back to Liverpool. She was advised to stay in the city until the birth as there was a high risk of rupture - forcing her to check into a nearby bed and breakfast for the next few months. Blay was then born on December 6 via caesarean section at Liverpool Women's Hospital and stayed in intensive care for four days. He was moved to Alder Hey Hospital where staff pulled out all the stops to get him home in time for Christmas. It's now a matter of waiting to see how successful the surgery was as Blay starts to grow - but there's every reason to be hopeful. Ms Crellin said: 'They did say to me in Brussels that my surgery was an hour quicker than they'd done it before. 'He no longer has hydrocephalus and his cerebellum was pulled down but now it's coming back into its proper position. 'You can't tell if he will need a shunt but I'm feeling positive that he won't and he does have feeling in his legs apart from his feet. 'It's known as a "snowflake disability". You can have a baby that has the area on their spine affected in exactly the same place but the outcome won't be the same. 'You don't know which nerve endings have been damaged.' Angola, IN (46703) Today Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low near 25F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 40%.. Tonight Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low near 25F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 40%. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 Trend: Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS) has established a scholarship named after academician Khoshbakht Yusifzadeh. SOCAR's First Vice-president, academician Khoshbakht Yusifzadeh is a living legend of the oil industry of Azerbaijan who has made an invaluable contribution to the development of this field. Fifth-year students of Petroleum Engineering Department Nihad Abbasov, who scored 700 points at the entrance exams, and Nadir Namazov, who scored 695 points at the entrance exams, were the first to receive the scholarship named after academician Khoshbakht Yusifzadeh. The scholarship was presented to them at an anniversary event held at Baku Higher Oil School. Both these students are also Presidential Scholars. The scholarship was awarded to these students for the successes they had achieved over the years of study, and for their active participation in the social and public activities of Baku Higher Oil School. Canberra, Jan 29 : Australia's capital city of Canberra is facing its most significant bushfire threat since 2003, authorities said on Wednesday. The fire in the Namadgi National Park south of Canberra, which was started by a defence helicopter, was on Tuesday night downgraded to a "watch and act" level but was expected to continue to burn for weeks, reports Xinhua news agency. Andrew Barr, the Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), said on Tuesday that the fire posed the biggest risk to Canberra of any fire since the fires in 2003, which killed four people. The fire has burned through about 10,000 hectares of land and was heading towards Canberra city at a rate of 400 hectares per hour. Matthew Shonk, an incident controller from the ACT Emergency Services Agency, said on Wednesday said that the threat has been downgraded in the short-term but the forecast temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius on Friday and Saturday were "worrying". "We can't sugar coat that in any way," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "The conditions that we saw yesterday could well pop up again. There are challenging times coming up, we're not going to get this fire out today and not tomorrow, this is a campaign fire and we'll be working for some time." On Tuesday, the Department of Defence confirmed that the fire was likely started by heat generated by landing lights on one if its helicopters. "It is deeply regrettable that our support operations have likely started this fire," the Australian Defence Force (ADF) said in a statement. "Defence has taken immediate action to reduce the risk of fires being started by helicopters, including not using certain aircraft lighting in extreme weather conditions." Since September 2019, Australia has battled a bushfire crisis which has killed at least 33 people. The Bryan-College Station office will help us serve more patients and families in this growing area of Texas. Heart to Heart Hospice, one of the countrys largest private providers of hospice care, has added a new location in Texas, expanding its service to those living in the North Houston area. The new site in the Bryan-College Station area of Texas recently opened to help meet the needs of more people in the North Houston service area. That area, with one office already located in Conroe, covers the counties of Brazos, Northern Grimes, Central Harris, Liberty, Madison, Eastern Montgomery, San Jacinto, Walker and Washington. The new site is at the following location: 3201 University East, Suite 350, Bryan, Texas, 77802. The Bryan-College Station office will help us serve more patients and families in this growing area of Texas, said Kelly Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Heart to Heart Hospice. We are excited to be able to provide the compassionate care and support they deserve. Since 2003, Heart to Heart Hospice has been serving patients with life-limiting illnesses, as well as their loved ones, across Texas, and in Michigan and Indiana. When medicine cannot provide a cure, hospice redefines hope in terms of a patients quality of life, noted Mitchell. Through a team-oriented approach, Heart to Heart cares for the whole person, meeting each patients unique needs, while also supporting their caregivers with guidance and encouragement to help make the time together as peaceful as possible. Helping our patients remain in the place they call home and keeping them comfortable is what the Heart to Heart care team is trained to do, said Heather Lumsdon, BSN, RN and Chief Clinical Officer of Heart to Heart Hospice. We develop a personalized care plan that will honor their wishes and values and truly make a difference for them and their families. About Heart to Heart Hospice Heart to Heart Hospice, founded in 2003, is one of the largest private providers of hospice care in the United States. Headquartered in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Heart to Heart provides a broad range of hospice services to patients with life-limiting illnesses across 37 locations in Texas, Michigan and Indiana. At Heart to Heart, we understand both the physical and emotional challenges for our patients and their loved ones and our care team is committed to providing them with what they need most: comfort, support and dignity. Learn more about Heart to Heart Hospice. She's got star quality in the genes, as the model daughter of Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall. And Georgia May Jagger wows in her latest glam photoshoot, working with For Love & Lemons and Victoria's Secret. The collaboration sees the 27-year-old model sizzle in a series of lingerie shots with a retro vibe. Simply stunning: Georgia May Jagger wows in her latest glam photoshoot, working with For Love & Lemons and Victoria's Secret Georgia flaunts her model looks in a pretty set of floral embroidered lingerie, posing up a storm in a '60s styled house. Another shot sees the blonde lounging on a bed, this time dressed in racy black lingerie and polka-dot stockings as she pouts for the camera. Other photos are set in an American diner and out on the desert roads as the star shows off playful cherry-print designs and sheer ruffled pieces. Racy: The collaboration shoot sees the model sizzle in a series of lingerie shots with a retro vibe, with one frame showing Georgia reclining on a bed in black lace and stockings The shoot showcases designs from the new FLLxVS Spring collection, which features fresh, playful florals, delicate lace detailing and figure-flattering silhouettes. Styles have been brought to life with splashes of neon, bringing some California sunshine to the gorgeous range. According to Vogue, Jagger swapped London for New York last summer, moving to the Big Apple to be with her restaurateur beau Louis Levy. Poster girl: The shoot showcases designs from the new FLLxVS Spring collection, which features delicate lace detailing and figure-flattering silhouettes Model looks: Georgia is the daughter of Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall, and showed off her amazing model genes in the gorgeous shoot Retro vibe: Other photos show Georgia leaning on a vintage car as she models a baby blue sheer ruffled mini dress However, she's not likely to be anchored in Brooklyn as she has plans to open in Los Angeles a companion beauty salon to her London color-focused salon Bleach. She is also preparing to launch her own range of skincare products in the spring of 2020. Back in August, Jagger explained to THR.com that this time in her life is 'a period of change for me after modeling for over a decade, to be in control of my own business, and that's kind of what I always wanted to go into.' Order up: Other photos are set in an American diner as the blonde bombshell shows off playful cherry-print pieces Road trip: Georgia looks gorgeous in the California shot snaps, after recently revealing her plans to open a beauty salon in Los Angeles Richard_R Newbie Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6 Thanked: 170 Times Re: Overlanding India in a Willys MB Quote: khan_sultan Originally Posted by Q: On long distance travels, how do you take care of the safety of the stuff inside? Quote: RedTerrano Originally Posted by This is absolutely fantastic! How do you get on top? Any provision for a ladder or something? Have you put it to use? Stayed in some jungle inside it overnight? Please do share more details (with lots of pics of course) about this, especially the tent build if possible. Quote: Samurai Originally Posted by I can't believe you have a family member crazy enough to join you in this. That too an elderly person. Please do keep updating this thread during your travels. As someone who also had a DI (non-turbo) with KMT-90 engine, I gotta ask. What is your axle ratio? At first I had 4.88, and I could take 90 degree turns in 4th gear. Then I moved to 4.27 to get some sanity back. I hope you have 3.73, which would do fine in highway. Wow, this is fantastic.I can't believe you have a family member crazy enough to join you in this. That too an elderly person.Please do keep updating this thread during your travels.As someone who also had a DI (non-turbo) with KMT-90 engine, I gotta ask. What is your axle ratio? At first I had 4.88, and I could take 90 degree turns in 4th gear. Then I moved to 4.27 to get some sanity back. I hope you have 3.73, which would do fine in highway. The axle ratio is 3.73 now, and so I'm able to cruise at around 80kmph on the highway. And this is quite the ideal speed. However, I do wish the engine felt a little less strained, and fifth gear would definitely help. Quote: Aditya Originally Posted by I'm pretty sure the vehicle attracts attention everywhere you go. Have you had any cop trouble? I would love it if you could share some of the adventures you've had with this baby. Quote: Jaggu Originally Posted by I would love to hear and see more about the add on's you have on your 3B Overlander? Which part of kerala are you from? I'm from around this town called Kothamangalam. Quote: PapaBravo Originally Posted by Wow. You Jeep looks amazing. Overlanding in such a vehicle would be great fun. How is the reliability ? Keep us updated on your travels & do ping if you plan to come to Kolkata. I will definitely reach out when I get to Kolkata (eventually). Quote: 1100D Originally Posted by Wonderful! Kudos to the Spirit. Extremely romantic. Hope one has plans against the heat, the dust and the mosquitos! Quote: Shubhendra Originally Posted by You can not fit Mahindra 5 speed GB (BA10, NGT520/530) in a short chassis jeep. Isuzu 5 speed gearbox with 4FG2 is perfect combination to be used in jeeps for long distance driving. Cheers! Shubhendra The reason I went with the DI Turbo engine is that it's pretty tough (judging by how well the Boleros are doing in the commercial pick-up segment), reliable, parts are available across the country, and every mechanic in every part of the country will know how to fix it. Firstly, thanks everybody for the love and support. Unfortunately, I don't have any detailed pictures right now, but I will put them up soon.Well, I try not to park and leave my Jeep out of sight in empty or shady-looking areas. If I have to leave it and walk somewhere, I try to park it right in front of everyone, where there's enough attention from people to make sure that there's no one stealing anything. I've got half-doors have locks and top fabric/soft transparent plastic windows are zipped up everytime I park somewhere. Everything that can be easily snatched and put in bag is either with me or locked in the central and passenger-side glove boxes. And if I have to park and leave the Jeep somewhere for a couple of days (which I'd only do if I was sure the place was safe), I've cut some aluminium grilles that can be bolted on the doors, the sides and at the back. And after that, I can only cross my fingers and hope nothing gets stolen.If you see the image where everything is set up, you'll see some black metal plates cut and mounted on the bonnet. I've made a one-step ladder on one fender which I use to climb onto the black plates, and then just climb into the tent. Pictures will come soon!Haha well my dad can't travel in the Jeep with me, but he was just as passionate to get the Jeep ready because if he were my age and had the chance to do it, he would.The axle ratio is 3.73 now, and so I'm able to cruise at around 80kmph on the highway. And this is quite the ideal speed. However, I do wish the engine felt a little less strained, and fifth gear would definitely help.It does attract a lot of attention. More than anything, the cops are first confused by what vehicle this is. Then they look at the tent and are especially suspicious of the rocket-launcher looking water tank. But the tent passes off as roof carrier (a really large one) to the untrained eye, and when I explain that I use the water tank while camping, they let me go. I've drove from Kerala to Bombay, and then to Kutch and back, and so far no issues. However, I am a little worried about having to deal with the cops in the NCR belt and around Chandigarh when I take it to the mountains.Thanks! More stories will come as I travel for sure.I'm from around this town called Kothamangalam.Well, I've done over 3,500km after the mechanical overhaul, and so far so good!I will definitely reach out when I get to Kolkata (eventually).Thank you! The plan is to just plan trips to the right place at the right time, and then endure the rest!Thanks for the info about the 5-speed! Wish it was easy to get one of those Saturn planetary overdrive units that people use in old Jeeps in the US.The reason I went with the DI Turbo engine is that it's pretty tough (judging by how well the Boleros are doing in the commercial pick-up segment), reliable, parts are available across the country, and every mechanic in every part of the country will know how to fix it. Last edited by Jaggu : 28th January 2020 at 18:19 . Reason: Fixing a quote. The three companies in the consortium are Egypts El-Sewedy Electric and 3A International, and Germanys DB Schenker Egypt A consortium of three companies has been given a contract for a $176 million project to construct Egypts first dry port on 100 feddans (approx. 420,000 square meters) in 6 October City, Minister of Transportation Kamel El-Wazir announced on Wednesday in a press conference. The three companies are Egypts El-Sewedy Electric and 3A International, and Germanys DB Schenker Egypt. Based upon the public-private partnership system between Egypt's General Authority for Ports and Dry Land and the winning consortium, the port project will be carried out with an investment cost estimated at $100 million. The port's annual absorption capacity is planned to be 720,000 containers with an estimated construction cost of $176 million, to be paid by the three awarded companies, Al-Wazir added. The October port is expected to put a limit on the accumulation of goods and containers in the Alexandria and Dekheila ports with the aim of improving the services provided by both ports through increasing its absorptive capacity and diminishing the waiting times for ships outside those ports, which will contribute to reducing the cost of goods. The port, which is the first of eight dry ports the government plans to set up, will provide nearly 3,500 direct and indirect vacancies, the minister added, noting that it will contribute to developing the industrial district in 6 October City and the adjacent areas. Work for the newly-signed project starts on 1 February, and will last about two years, the minister added. He also highlighted the necessity of establishing the Manashe/6 October railway line with three 60-container-capacity trains to be operated daily in both directions. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said the project should contribute to improving Egypts ranking on practicing businesses, praising the participation of the private sector in implementing the project. Search Keywords: Short link: Britain decided Tuesday to let Chinese tech giant Huawei have a limited role supplying new high-speed network equipment to wireless carriers, ignoring the U.S. governments warnings that it would sever intelligence sharing if the company was not banned. Britains decision is the first by a major U.S. ally in Europe, and follows intense lobbying from the Trump administration and China as the two vie for technological dominance. It sets up a diplomatic clash with the Americans, who claim that British sovereignty is at risk because the company could give the Chinese government access to data, an allegation Huawei denies. We would never take decisions that threaten our national security or the security of our Five Eyes partners, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said, referring to a security arrangement in which Britain, the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, share intelligence. We know more about Huawei and the risks that it poses than any other country in the world. The decision was awkward for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who risks the fury of one of Britains closest allies at just the moment it needs the Trumps administration to quickly strike a trade deal after Brexit. Britain officially leaves the European Union at the end of the week, and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is due to visit London on Wednesday to meet with Johnson and Raab to reaffirm the tran-Atlantic relationship. A senior Trump administration official said the U.S. is disappointed by the decision, adding that the U.S. government would work with the United Kingdom on a way forward that leads to the exclusion of untrusted vendor components from 5G networks. The official was not authorized to comment on the sensitive diplomacy between longstanding allies and spoke on condition of anonymity. In its decision, the British government said it was excluding high risk companies from supplying the sensitive core parts of the new fifth-generation, or 5G, networks. The core is the brain that keeps track, among other things, of smartphones connecting to networks and helps manage data traffic. But Britain will allow high risk suppliers to provide up to 35% of the less risky radio network, based on factors including the amount of data traffic and the number of base stations. The announcement did not mention any companies by name but said high risk vendors are those who pose greater security and resilience risks to U.K. telecoms networks a clear reference to Huawei. Huawei said it was reassured by the British decision. This evidence-based decision will result in a more advanced, more secure and more cost-effective telecoms infrastructure that is fit for the future, Vice President Victor Zhang said. It gives the U.K. access to world-leading technology and ensures a competitive market. By giving Huawei limited access, Johnsons government is attempting to thread a path between the U.S. and China, analysts said. In truth, the U.K. had little room to maneuver, said Emily Taylor, CEO of Oxford Information Labs, a cyberintelligence company. The decision seeks to carve an acceptable middle ground that will keep various contending forces happy, she said, noting that British wireless carries have already been using Huawei gear for 15 years. The 5G technology is expected to drive the next wave of innovation, transmitting massive amounts of data from more objects and locations. It would, for example, help make possible self-driving cars or allow telemedicine, in which doctors control robots in surgery on patients miles away. Huawei is the top global supplier of mobile networks, and its gear is considered cost-effective and high-quality. The United States says that Chinas communist leaders could, under a 2017 national intelligence law, compel Huawei to carry out cyberespionage. The U.S. has threatened repeatedly to cut off intelligence sharing with allies that use Huawei. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Heres the sad truth: Our special relationship is less special now that the U.K. has embraced the surveillance state commies at Huawei, said Sen. Ben Sasse, a Nebraska Republican on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. During the Cold War, Margaret Thatcher never contracted with the KGB to save a few pennies. With 5G, U.S. officials also worry that because the core will run extensively on software, it could be nearly impossible to spot an accidental vulnerability or a malicious backdoor among millions of lines of computer code. Huawei denies the allegations, saying theres never been any evidence it is responsible for a breach. For Britain, the 5G infrastructure program is considered critical as it leaves the EU and aims to position its economy to benefit from technological innovation. The government said Tuesday it is taking some steps that will allow it to mitigate the potential risk posed by the supply chain and to combat the range of threats, whether cybercriminals, or state sponsored attacks. The plans include encouraging smaller suppliers such as South Koreas Samsung and Japans NEC to enter the British market. The government will draft legislation to make the security requirements mandatory. In the meantime, the United Kingdoms National Cyber Security Centre will issue guidance with practical steps on how to mitigate the risks to wireless operators, some of whom have have already started installing Huawei 5G gear into their networks. They were reluctant to rip it out and replace it with equipment from rivals including Finlands Nokia and Swedens Ericsson. Mobile phone companies said they were analyzing the decision. Vodafone, which uses Huawei for parts of its radio network but not in its core, said that using multiple suppliers is the best way to safeguard the delivery of services to all mobile customers. Kelvin Chan and Danica Kirka are Associated Press writers. Fine Gael was last night facing calls to abandon the Dail campaign of Senator Catherine Noone after she described the Taoiseach as "autistic". Ms Noone, a Fine Gael candidate in the Dublin Bay North constituency, said she was "truly sorry" and withdrew remarks made about Leo Varadkar to a journalist from 'The Times' website while she was canvassing last week. "He's autistic like, he's on the spectrum, there's no doubt about it. He's uncomfortable socially and he doesn't always get the inbetween bits," she said. 'The Times' reported that Ms Noone subsequently denied using the word "autistic" and then said she did not mean it literally. She gave examples of potentially offensive words that could be used out of context, including "special" and "n***er". She then clarified that she would never use the n-word, and said it was a bad example. In a statement issued through the Fine Gael press office yesterday, Ms Noone apologised "unequivocally" and withdrew all of her remarks, describing them as "completely unacceptable". She added: "My choice of language was inexcusable and wrong. I am truly sorry." On the campaign trail in Galway, Mr Varadkar said Ms Noone's apology and withdrawal of her remarks was "good enough for me". Read More But Fine Gael figures at all levels of the party were furious with Ms Noone, whose comments also angered autism advocacy groups. A senior party figure said she had "caused an awful lot of upset" and the party's election campaign had been overshadowed by the controversy. Fine Gael Senator James Reilly, whose son Jamie was diagnosed with autism, said: "It was ill-informed, unwise and I am very glad she has withdrawn it. As a parent of a child with autism who has nothing but empathy, I am deeply upset by it." Disabilities Minister and outgoing Independent Alliance TD Finian McGrath suggested Fine Gael should abandon her candidacy. "If she was an Independent candidate, I wouldn't be backing her. If I was in Fine Gael, I wouldn't be backing her," Mr McGrath told the Irish Independent. "I think they should seriously look at her candidacy for the Seanad elections. I am very unhappy about the comments. "I would be concerned that any person involved in public life would be allowed to express views like that." Earlier, Health Minister Simon Harris, whose brother Adam is an autism awareness campaigner, tweeted: "Autism should never be used as a slur or a negative. "One in 65 people can be on the autistic spectrum - including someone I know and love dearly. "As a society, we need to become much more aware in relation to autism and not use casual stereotypes." Read More However, a senior party source said last night that, as it stood, it was unlikely that Fine Gael would suspend or withdraw support from Ms Noone's campaign, despite some candidates privately calling for this to happen. "The key thing is that she is now on the ballot paper and as such will be a candidate for Fine Gael," the source said. As Fine Gael candidates reported that the matter was being raised by voters on the doorstep, Ms Noone held talks with senior party figures yesterday, including director of elections Paschal Donohoe. Her election to the Dail in five-seat Dublin Bay North was widely viewed as unlikely prior to the remarks about Mr Varadkar being made. However, Fine Gael has in recent days distributed thousands of letters across the constituency in which the sitting TD, Communications Minister Richard Bruton, urges voters to give their number one preference to Ms Noone. "To ensure we win two seats, I am asking anyone who is inclined to vote for Fine Gael to vote Senator Catherine Noone - No 1, Richard Bruton TD - No. 2. "This will gives us the best possible chance of delivering a strong and dynamic Fine Gael team to represent the people of Dublin Bay North. Two seats in this constituency will bolster our chances of returning to government for a record third time," Mr Bruton states. No decision has been made on whether Ms Noone, a two-term senator, will be backed by Fine Gael for another Seanad bid. Two Fine Gael senators privately expressed doubts about her future. Ms Noone did not respond to calls. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 22:01:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday expressed strong indignation over and firm opposition to the passing of a bill on Tibet-related issues by the U.S. House of Representatives. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said the so-called "Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2019" seriously violated international law and basic norms governing international relations, grossly interfered in China's internal affairs and sent a severely wrong signal to the separatist forces of "Tibetan Independence." "China expresses strong indignation over and firm opposition to this," Hua said. Tibet has been China's territory since ancient times. Tibetan affairs are purely China's internal affairs and allow no foreign interference, she said. Over the past 60-plus years, Tibet Autonomous Region has made historic progress in economic, social, cultural and ecological fields. People of all ethnic groups in Tibet wholeheartedly support the policies of the central government and the regional government, and are working with the people of the whole country to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects. "In recent years, the international community has become more and more aware of the real situation in Tibet and increasingly understand and support China's Tibet-related policies," the spokesperson added. "The Tibet-related issue is not an ethnic or religious issue, nor is it a human rights issue, but a major principle issue concerning China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Hua said. She said China urges the United States to take an objective view of Tibet's achievements in economic and social development, fully recognize the great sensitivity of Tibet-related issues, immediately correct its mistakes, stop using Tibet-related issues to interfere in China's internal affairs, and do more to benefit rather than undermine mutual trust and cooperation. This article is part of the Debatable newsletter. You can sign up here to receive it Tuesdays and Thursdays. For the third time this century, a new strain of coronavirus, a family of pathogens that cause respiratory illness in birds and mammals, has jumped species and infected humans. Having broken out in the city of Wuhan, the virus, likely spread through coughing and sneezing, has now sickened more than 4,500 people and killed at least 106 in China. On Monday, The New York Times reported that five people in the United States had tested positive for the illness. But how worried should you really be? Heres what public health experts and others are saying. A regional election in northern Italy has delivered a blow to populist right-wing figure Matteo Salvini. But while the centre-left candidate in the elections for the Emilia-Romagna region saw off the populist threat with the help of a grassroots campaign movement called The Sardines his partys national government looks far from secure. Stefano Bonaccinis re-election as the governor of Emilia-Romagna matters because it has given hope that the erosion of the lefts traditional dominance of local politics in the four central regions once known as the red belt: Tuscany, Umbria, the Marches and Emilia-Romagna, is not unstoppable. Emilia-Romagna is the richest, most populous and, historically, also the most solidly left-wing area in the red belt. But the right-wing League has been growing in popularity in the area since Salvini took over the party in 2013. He saw this regional election as a golden opportunity to bring down the government a fragile coalition between the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) and the anti-establishment Five Star Movement M5S). The latter had been in national government with Salvini until their partnership collapsed in 2019 and many see the new arrangement as being geared more towards keeping Salvini away from power rather than providing a functioning administration. Salvini therefore sought to turn this regional election into a test of whether the national government enjoyed the confidence of the electorate. A right-wing victory would have set off a campaign to force the governing parties to stand down and hold a general election. The League has become increasingly popular in Emilia-Romagna, while the incumbent PD has been shrinking, so the vote was considered winnable by Salvini and his supporters. Pre-election polls showed the race between Bonaccini, the PD-backed candidate for the governorship, and Lucia Borgonzoni, the Leagues candidate, was in fact very tight. Sardines against Salvini Salvini ran a polarising campaign, which in turn sparked a new grassroots movement on the left called the Sardines. This group was started by ordinary citizens opposed to the radicalism of Salvinis League. Story continues As a result, turnout hit 67.7% in this regional election a significant increase on 2014, when just 37.7% of eligible voters took part. This mirrors recent events in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Spain, where the possibility of an electoral victory for a populist radical right party has increased interest in politics and boosted participation. But Bonaccinis success appears heavily tied to his personal appeal. He himself is considerably more popular than the coalition of parties that backed his election. Meanwhile, the PDs ally in government, the M5S, has almost disappeared in the region. It shrank to a pitiful 4.7% of the vote, while the League won 32%, similarly to the most recent EU election. These are all bad signs for the government. What now for the national government? The very poor performance of the M5S in this election (and in the other regional election held on the same day in Calabria) is bound to cause instability for the national government. The party has never done well at local and regional levels but this result, coupled with recent turmoil at the top, will be taken by many as a sign of imminent collapse. The partys leader, Luigi Di Maio, recently resigned, unable to command the support of the party as it slumped in the polls since entering government one and half years ago. Since 2018, 30 M5S parliamentarians have either been fired or have quit to join the League or other groups. More could now follow, which would be deadly for a governing coalition with a very small majority in the Senate. Even if no one leaves, internal tensions within the M5S may still bring the governing coalition to an end, as more and more M5S representatives judge its experience in power alongside the left as a failure. Moving to the opposition benches would at least allow the M5S to recover its long-lost purity as an anti-establishment party As for the PD, it is still in search of an identity and an electoral strategy 12 years after having been founded. In Emilia-Romagna it basically owes its victory to others (particularly the incumbent governor, Bonaccini, and his ability to attract the votes of former M5S supporters). While it is difficult to say when a general election will happen, it seems unlikely that the governing coalition can hold. The PDs victory in Emilia-Romagna has bought it a little time, but we do not expect the two governing parties to stick together until the end of the legislature. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The Conversation Daniele Albertazzi receives funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), and has received funding from the Leverhulme Trust, British Academy and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). Davide Pellegrino 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. JACKSON, Miss., Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Former Miss. Gov. Phil Bryant has joined the newly branded Bryant Songy Snell Global Partners, formerly Songy LLC the strategy and business development firm launched last September by Joey Songy, the governors former chief of staff as founding partner. As part of the move, the firm will be rebranded Bryant Songy Snell Global Partners. Bryant will focus on economic development in the Southeast and international trade markets, and remain active in national and local political arenas. He joins founding partner Songy, who continues to focus on business development and strategic planning, and new founding partner Katie Bryant Snell, who will provide strategic advice and counsel on development opportunities to a variety of industry clients and advocate for policy initiatives on behalf of public and private entities. While serving as governor, nearly all of our objectives centered around education and economic development, and this opportunity will allow me to continue to advocate for education and economic opportunity in the private sector, said Gov. Bryant. Im excited to have a firm where these driving forces can be cultivated, with two great partners, for years to come. Bryant Songy Snell is a full-service consulting firm offering economic and business development, public relations, strategic planning and government affairs servicesacross Mississippi, the Southeast nation and world. I began consulting for companies and organizations with the objective of continuing much of the meaningful work that defined Gov. Bryants administration, said Songy. The impact from Gov. Bryants extraordinary leadership has left its mark on the public sector, and this firm will allow him to bring those abilities to bear in the private sector. Katie brings to our firm vast policy experience and expertise both in the public and private arenas. Together, their leadership will help us chart future economic expansion across the marketplace. Bryant served two terms as governor of Mississippi from 2012-2020. He was succeeded by Tate Reeves and preceded by Haley Barbour. Prior to that, he was lieutenant governor and state auditor. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Bryant became a drug enforcement investigator. He received a masters degree from Mississippi College, where he later taught political history for a number of years. Bryant also worked as an insurance fraud investigator prior to serving in statewide elected office. Bryant launched his political career in the Mississippi House of Representatives. As a representative, he worked on the insurance committee and was instrumental in introducing the Capital Gains Tax Cut Act of 1992. He was appointed state auditor by Governor Kirk Fordice in 1996, elected state auditor in 1999, and became lieutenant governor in 2008. He has served as chairman of Jobs for Americas Graduates and the Education Commission of the States, both national education organizations. Songy spent over seven years in the Bryant administration, and brought his numerous years of public and private sector experience to launching the firm. He served as legal counsel for three years in the administration and chief of staff for four years. During his tenure, he was appointed by the White House to the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee on Trade to represent state and local governments. Prior to joining Bryants administration, Songy was an attorney in South Mississippi, where he founded the Songy Law Firm. Snell previously served as an attorney for the Madison County Board of Supervisors and founded the Katie Bryant Snell law firm. Before starting her own firm, Snell was an attorney for Butler Snow, where she focused her practice on product liability litigation, election and campaign finance, commercial litigation, employment litigation and government litigation. After earning a degree in marketing from the University of Southern Mississippi, she graduated from the University of Mississippi law school. Snell serves as a member of the Mississippi Childrens Advocacy Centers Board. About Bryant Songy Snell Global Partners Bryant Songy Snell based in Jackson, Miss. is a full-service consulting firm offering economic and business development, public relations, strategic planning and government affairs services. The firm includes three founding partners: Phil Bryant, Joey Songy and Katie Bryant Snell, as well as a former Bryant aide, Bethany Stanfill, and other strategic relationships worldwide. For more information, visit www.bryantsongysnell.com. Attachments A 27-year-old doctor, who received gunshot injuries along with a sub-inspector after alleged arms dealers opened fire at them, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district, police said on Wednesday. Sub-inspector Ajai Awana and Amar Singh (27) were admitted to a private hospital in Mathura on Tuesday night after they received gunshot wounds, they said. Sub-inspector Ajai Awana, posted in Kosi Kalan police station, has been shifted to Noida in a private hospital for better treatment, DIG/SSP Shalabh Mathur said. The SSP said Awana had gone to the spot in civilian clothes after a tip-off on a group of arms dealers assembling in the outskirts of Sirauli village on Tuesday afternoon. When he reached the spot, the group allegedly started indiscriminate firing resulting in injuries to Awana and Singh, the SSP said. Both men were rushed to KD Hospital where Singh succumbed to his injuries in the night, the SSP said. Singh, a resident of Hatana village falling under Kosi Kalan police station range, was running a clinic in Falen village. It is not yet known why Singh was at the spot and it is being investigated, he said. The body has been sent for a post mortem, the SSP said. Singh, a resident of Hatana village falling under Kosi Kalan police station range, was running a clinic in Falen village, the SSP added. Two country-made pistols have been recovered from the spot, the SSP said. A manhunt for the arms dealers has started while two FIRs have been filed against the group, Mathur said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 23:07:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday said any plan on the Palestinian issue should be made by "heeding the views and propositions of main parties concerned, especially the Palestinian side." Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks after U.S. President Donald Trump revealed Tuesday the political aspect of his controversial Middle East peace plan, which called for a two-state solution while recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided capital." Hua said the Chinese side is studying this plan. She stressed that China has always believed relevant UN resolutions and international consensus, such as the two-state solution and the principle of land for peace, constitute the basis for the settlement of the Palestinian issue, which should be observed. The spokesperson called for reaching agreements through dialogue and negotiation on equal footing, to facilitate the comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue at an early date. The creator of one of the worlds most famous mysteries is giving obsessive fans a new clue. Kryptos, a sculpture in a courtyard at the headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, Va., holds an encrypted message that has not fully yielded to attempts to crack it. Its been nearly 30 years since its tall scroll of copper with thousands of punched-through letters was set in place. Three of the four passages of the sculpture have been decrypted (the first, though unacknowledged at the time, was solved by a team from the National Security Agency). But after nearly three decades, one brief passage remains uncracked. And that has been a source of delight and consternation to thousands of people around the world. Kryptos. Courtesy of Jim Sanborn The sculptor, Jim Sanborn, has been hounded for decades by codebreaking enthusiasts. And he has twice provided clues to move the community of would-be solvers along, once in 2010 and again in 2014. Now he is offering another clue. The last one, he says. It is a word: NORTHEAST. (More on that later.) Why do people care so much about a puzzle cut into a sheet of copper in a courtyard after so much time? Its not just that the piece itself has a kind of brooding, powerful beauty, or the fact that it has been referred to in novels by the thriller writer Dan Brown. It is something deeper, something that involves the nature of the human mind, said Craig Bauer, a professor of mathematics at York College of Pennsylvania and a former scholar in residence at the N.S.A.s Center for Cryptologic History. We have many problems that are difficult to resolve intimidating, perhaps even scary, he said. It gives people great pleasure to pick up on one that they think they have a chance of solving. Three Deciphered Passages The message of Kryptos, and a partial guide to its solution, is contained in the panels of the sculpture. Mr. Sanborn devised the codes that he used for the passages with the help of Edward Scheidt, a retired chairman of the C.I.A.s cryptographic center. The passages follow a theme of concealment and discovery, each more difficult to decipher than the last. The first reads: BETWEEN SUBTLE SHADING AND THE ABSENCE OF LIGHT LIES THE NUANCE OF IQLUSION. (The misspelling was intentional, Mr. Sanborn has said, to make it more difficult to decode or, as he put it, to mix it up.) Tap to flip. The second includes the location of C.I.A. headquarters by latitude and longitude, and asks: DOES LANGLEY KNOW ABOUT THIS? THEY SHOULD: ITS BURIED OUT THERE SOMEWHERE. X WHO KNOWS THE EXACT LOCATION? ONLY WW. The W.W." is a reference to William Webster, who headed the C.I.A. when the sculpture was unveiled. Mr. Sanborn provided him with a key for deciphering the messages. Mr. Webster, who left the C.I.A. in 1991, declined a request for an interview. The third passage paraphrases, again with a bit of misspelling, the account by the Egyptologist Howard Carter of opening King Tuts tomb: With spacing and punctuation added, the text reads: SLOWLY, DESPARATLY SLOWLY, THE REMAINS OF PASSAGE DEBRIS THAT ENCUMBERED THE LOWER PART OF THE DOORWAY WAS REMOVED. WITH TREMBLING HANDS I MADE A TINY BREACH IN THE UPPER LEFT-HAND CORNER. AND THEN, WIDENING THE HOLE A LITTLE, I INSERTED THE CANDLE AND PEERED IN. THE HOT AIR ESCAPING FROM THE CHAMBER CAUSED THE FLAME TO FLICKER, BUT PRESENTLY DETAILS OF THE ROOM WITHIN EMERGED FROM THE MIST. X CAN YOU SEE ANYTHING? Q The Final Clue The fourth section is shorter than the others, its just 97 characters, a fact that could, in itself, present a decryption challenge, Mr. Scheidt said in an exchange of emails. Common solution methods rely on the frequency of the most common letters, like E, T, A, O, I and N. In addition, he said, the last passage uses what is known as a masking technique, a further level of obfuscation. The clues Mr. Sanborn has offered so far are in the form of a crib, which is a word or phrase that appears in the decrypted text. The 2010 clue was the word BERLIN, in the 64th through 69th positions of that final passage. In 2014 he revealed the word CLOCK in the next five, 70 through 74. While the response was a frenzy of activity among enthusiasts, the result, in cryptographic terms, was bupkis. So now, Mr. Sanborn, at 74, is giving the world another shot: the word NORTHEAST, at positions 26 through 34. Will it be enough? Why Now? Did we mention Mr. Sanborn is 74? Holding on to one of the worlds most enticing secrets can be stressful. Some would-be codebreakers have appeared at his home. Many felt they had solved the puzzle, and wanted to check with Mr. Sanborn. Sometimes forcefully. Sometimes, in person. Elonka Dunin, a game developer and consultant who has created a rich page of background information on the sculpture and oversees the best known online community of thousands of Kryptos fans, said that some who contact her (sometimes also at home) are obsessive and appear to have tipped into mental illness. I am always gentle to them and do my best to listen to them, she said. Mr. Sanborn has set up systems to allow people to check their proposed solutions without having to contact him directly. The most recent incarnation is an email-based process with a fee of $50 to submit a potential solution. He receives regular inquiries, so far none of them successful. The ongoing process is exhausting, he said, adding Its not something I thought I would be doing 30 years on. Kryptos, which includes petrified wood, a swirling pool and slabs of granite, at C.I.A. headquarters. Courtesy of Jim Sanborn But time is passing. And while he makes no claims to mathematical accomplishment, he can do basic arithmetic. For the past few years I have been trying to figure out how to have this system survive my death, Mr. Sanborn said, and it has not been easy. He has decided that if the code is not broken when he dies, the secret will be put up for auction. He might even do it in his lifetime. I do realize that the value of Kryptos is unknown and that perhaps this concept will bear little fruit, he said. The buyer could reveal the secret or perpetuate the mystery and maintain the system for submissions. The money raised, he said, would go to funding climate science. Why that particular cause? Seemed like a no brainer to me, he said. We live on an island! The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has found that the Chesapeake Bay, where he lives, has some of the worst relative sea level rise in the country, at 3.4 millimeters a year, or about twice the global rate. If you would like to try to solve Kryptos yourself, start with Ms. Dunins encyclopedic site and read the work of Kim Zetter at Wired. Dr. Bauer goes into a detailed description of how the first three passages were decrypted in his book, Unsolved!: The History and Mystery of the Worlds Greatest Ciphers. And this earlier article might help, too. Ms. Dunin suggested that the fourth passage could turn out to be unsolvable; Maybe he did something really weird, she said. But still, these several additional letters might be enough for the current community of Kryptos fans, or some gifted newcomer, to tease out the plain text of that final passage. And it will not be the end of the mysteries of Kryptos: The full text contains a riddle. Dr. Bauer put it this way: There will be yet another mystery that the four passages together have a meaning thats greater than their individual pieces and theres something more to figure out. The sculpture is more than its copper scroll; there are scraps of Morse code scattered through elements around the piece, as well as a pillar of petrified wood, a swirling pool, slabs of granite and more. The full mystery of Kryptos could involve the broader assemblage of pieces and their relationships to each other. This, Dr. Bauer said, is the sculpture that keeps on giving. Taking potshots at BJP's Union ministers, senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Wednesday said that at a time when the government should be poring over the Union Budget, the Finance Minister is busy "cooking halwa" while her junior is going around allegedly telling people to take the law in their hands and shoot down the so-called "traitors". The Congress party leader in Lok Sabha questioned Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's and MoS Finance Anurag Thakur's absence from a crucial meeting of industrialists called by the prime minister to hold a discussion ahead of the Budget. "The Budget is going to be presented on February 1. We know that there is a lot of activity in the Finance Ministry ahead of the presentation of the Budget. But what do we see here? The Prime Minister calls top industrialists to have a discussion and the Finance Minister is not present there," Chowdhury said while speaking with ANI. "And our Minister of State (Finance), Anurag Thakur who should be there, lectures about the shooting," he added. "On one hand, our Finance Minister is cooking halwa instead of focussing on the Budget and on the other hand her junior minister says 'goli chalao'. That gives an idea about what will happen to Hindustan," he said, taking a dig at Anurag Thakur's controversial "Goli maro salo ko" slogan raised at an election campaign rally in Delhi. Ahead of printing of documents related to the Union Budget 2020-21, the customary 'Halwa Ceremony' was held on January 20 at the Ministry of Finance, North Block. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, MoS Finance Anurag Thakur and other government officials were also present at the ceremony. The 'Halwa Ceremony' marks the beginning of the locking up of a number of Finance Ministry officials inside the Ministry, who remain cut off from the outer world until the presentation of the Budget by the Finance Minister in the Lok Sabha. As a part of the ritual, which has continued for long, 'halwa' is prepared in a big 'kadhai' and served to the entire staff in the Ministry. Commenting on the violence in West Bengal's Murshidabad, the Congress leader who is also an MP from the place said: "Locals of Sahebnagar were protesting peacefully against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Suddenly, TMC goons attacked them with bombs; one person died in the incident. At least four people sustained injuries and were admitted to hospital. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Tracy Rucinski, Josh HORWITZ and Heekyong Yang CHICAGO/SHANGHAI/SEOUL (Reuters) - Airlines including United Airlines Holdings Inc said they were canceling some flights to China as demand fell sharply and global companies told their employees not to travel on deepening fears over the spread of a flu-like virus. The coronavirus that originated in the city of Wuhan has killed 106 people in China and spread across the world, rattling financial markets. The United States warned that Americans should reconsider visiting China, while Britain advised against all but essential travel to mainland China. South Korea also advised its citizens to stay away. Facebook Inc became the first major U.S. company to announce a travel suspension after the U.S. government's warning, saying it had asked employees to halt non-essential travel to mainland China and to work from home if they had traveled there. Chicago-based United said it was suspending 24 U.S. flights to Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai between Feb. 1 and Feb. 8 due to a significant drop in demand. Europe's biggest bank, HSBC Holdings PLC , banned all staff travel to Chinese-ruled Hong Kong for two weeks and to mainland China until further notice, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters. The British-based lender, which has the largest presence among foreign banks in China, also asked staff who have recently visited the country to undergo a self-imposed 14-day quarantine. The virus has an incubation period of up to 14 days. U.S. rival Goldman Sachs Group Inc imposed similar measures, according to a memo seen by Reuters. In South Korea, home appliances maker LG Electronics Inc <066570.KS> put a complete ban on travel to China and has advised employees on business trips in the country to return home as quickly as possible, a company spokeswoman said. South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix Inc <000660.KS> said it was urging employees to avoid all non-essential travel to China, while banking group Standard Chartered PLC restricted travel to both mainland China and Hong Kong. Story continues In Germany, auto supplier Webasto, which has 11 sites in China, including in Wuhan, has halted all corporate travel to and from China after an employee was infected. Japan's Honda Motor Co Ltd <7267.T> said it recommended employees avoid travel to China, while Nissan Motor Co Ltd <7201.T> said it plans to evacuate its Japanese staff and their families in Wuhan via a government-chartered flight. FALLING TRAVEL DEMAND Aside from United, other airlines said they were adjusting schedules as companies reassessed the risk of travel to China. South Korean budget carrier Air Seoul said it will halt all flights to China, while Taiwan's China Airlines Ltd <2610.TW> rescheduled and canceled some flights to China to Feb. 10. Taiwan's Eva Airways Corp <2618.TW> also said some flights to China may be canceled. Air Canada said it was cancelling some of its 33 weekly flights to China, and Germany's Lufthansa pointed to subdued bookings to and from the country. Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd <0293.HK> said it would be progressively reducing capacity to and from mainland China by 50% or more from Jan. 30 to the end of March, in line with a government directive as well as market demand. International SOS, a medical and travel security services firm that advises companies on travel, said its guidance for now was that business travel to China outside Wuhan's province of Hubei could continue. But this could be updated if there were major flight cancellations throughout China and more disruptions to ground transport, International SOS Regional Security Director James Robertson said. (Reporting by Josh Horwitz in Shanghai, Heekyong Yang in Seoul and Tracy Rucinski in Chicago; Additional reporting by Engen Tham in Shanghai, Sumeet Chatterjee in Hong Kong, Jamie Freed in Sydney, Naomi Tatjitsu in Tokyo, Ben Blanchard in Taipei, Joyce Lee in Seoul and Allison Lampert in Montreal; Writing by Jamie Freed and Lawrence White; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien and Christopher Cushing) Why I left GOP I am a former longtime Republican who quit the party when George Bush Jr. started the Iraq war and paid for it with our children's credit card. I would quit the party again had I not already done so. Why? Because Republicans in my day considered Russia an enemy; President Donald Trump and his enablers who fight against impeachment and removal obviously do not. Ukraine is an ally that has been invaded by Russia. To help Ukraine deter Putin's aggression, Congress approved $391 million in critical military aid in December 2018, expecting it to be released early in 2019. Trump withheld aid to Ukraine for more than eight months in direct violation of the Impoundment Control Act. His actions suggest he would continue to withhold these funds if the whistleblower had not made Congress aware of Trump's actions. Much of the military aid was to be used to purchase American-made anti-tank missiles. America's strategic interest is served by making such weapons available to Ukrainians to assist them in maintaining their independence from Russia. This makes sense because Ukraine serves as a buffer between Russia and our NATO allies who are also concerned about Putin's aggression. It is confusing why Republican politicians have enabled Trump to do an about-face on our country's long-standing policy of countering Russian aggression. Somehow, some way, Trump has found a way to make cowards of them all. If you don't like what Trump has done, tell Sen. Steve Daines. It won't do any good, but tell him anyway. Bob Balhiser, Helena Love 5 Funny 5 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 India and the US are likely to finalise a trade deal pegged above $10 billion (over Rs 71,200 crore) in February, The Economic Times has reported. The deal will be finalised when United States Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer visits New Delhi. The report suggests that the deal is currently being vetted and will be signed when US President Donald Trump visits India. Trump is likely to visit from February 24-26. There has been no formal announcement regarding the visit so far. This will be a precursor to a free trade agreement between India and the US, the report adds, citing sources aware of the matter. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report. Lighthizer and Union Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal are likely to meet in the second week of February to finalise the terms of the deal. The report also adds that the issue of medical devices a bone of contention between the two sides has been resolved. India is also seeking restoration of benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). Under GSP, some products can enter the US market duty-free if the beneficiary developing country meets the eligibility criteria set by the US Congress. In 2019, Trump cited trade barriers while removing India from GSP that had allowed zero tariffs on $5.6 billion of exports to the US. In retaliation, India slapped higher tariffs on over two dozen US products. By Do Je-hae Seoul and Beijing are closely coordinating their responses to the spread of a new lethal coronavirus, with the heads of the countries' foreign affairs discussing measures regarding the evacuation of Korean nationals in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha called for Beijing's support for the evacuation of Koreans on a chartered plane, during a phone call with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi late Tuesday. "They exchanged views on issues of mutual concern, including the protection of South Koreans in China regarding the new coronavirus, necessary support for the Chinese side, and high-level exchanges between the leaders of Korea and China," the ministry said in a statement. "Minister Kang requested China's continued cooperation for the safety of Korean residents there, including their repatriation. The Korean government will also provide the necessary supplies and other cooperation to China in the hope that the situation will be resolved quickly and smoothly through active measures by the Chinese government." The Korean government plans to send four chartered planes to Wuhan, two each today and Friday, to bring around 700 Koreans home, with talks on their detailed schedule still ongoing. On their way to China, the planes will bring in 2 million masks and 100,000 pieces of anti-contamination clothing as China is short of these with the epidemic spreading rapidly. Their phone call also touched on high-level exchanges that will take place this year, including a summit between President Moon Jae-in and Chinese President Xi Jingping, which is expected to take place in the coming months. "We will overcome this crisis together and expedite communication and cooperation at various levels as we make the relevant preparations," the statement read. On the same day, a Cheong Wa Dae official said that preparations for the Korea-China summit will not be affected by the outbreak of the disease. While the evacuation is imminent, public concerns are now rising that the arrival of Korean residents from Wuhan may aggravate the spread of the virus. The government announced Wednesday that only those who do not have symptoms of the virus will be brought back to Korea on the chartered plane through Gimpo International Airport. "After consultations with the Chinese side, we have decided to first bring back those who are free from symptoms," Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Kim Kang-lip said after a government meeting. It was a change from the government's initial plan: Earlier in the day, Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo said that residents who have symptoms of the virus, such as fever, vomiting, cough, sore throat and difficulty in breathing, would also be included. The ministry said that upon arrival, the residents will be quarantined in several state-run facilities in Chungcheong Province for 14 days and undergo regular checkups. They will be barred from meeting other people including family members. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, January 28, 2020 Google should be required to face a claim that it violated the First Amendment by briefly suspending Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard's advertising account, she argues in new court papers. Google actively silenced Tulsi Gabbard precisely when America was listening for her voice, lawyers for the U.S. Representative for Hawaii write in papers filed Monday U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Wilson in the Central District of California. Gabbard, who is separately suing former secretary of state Hillary Clinton for alleged defamation, is asking Wilson to reject Google's snarky motion seeking dismissal of the lawsuit. The candidate contends that Google's program to verify election ads amounts to a regulation of political speech, and requires the company to refrain from censorship. advertisement advertisement Googles decision to regulate election speech on its giant platform imposes constraints under the First Amendment, her attorneys write. Nothing in Googles snarky motion to dismiss holds to the contrary. The legal fight dates to July, when Gabbard's campaign sued Google over a short suspension of her account. She alleged that her Ads account was suspended for several hours on June 28 -- two days after she participated in a debate with other Democratic hopefuls. Her complaint alleged that Google sought to silence Tulsi Gabbard, noting that she had called for greater regulation of the company. Google said at the time that its automated anti-fraud systems can suspend accounts due to unusual activity, and that her account was reinstated soon after its automated system triggered a suspension. The company recently urged Wilson to dismiss the lawsuit. Among other reasons, Google says it isn't the government, and therefore is allowed to decide what material to allow on its platform. Gabbard counters that Google should be considered a state actor -- meaning equivalent to the government -- and subject to the same First Amendment rules as the government. The unique nature of elections makes it such that private entities that influence the outcome of elections can be considered state actors, they argue. Her campaign appears likely to face an uphill battle in court, given that numerous judges have dismissed lawsuits accusing Google, Twitter and Facebook of censorship. For instance, earlier this month U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose threw out a lawsuit against Facebook by the Russian company Federal Agency of News, which claimed its free speech rights were violated when it was taken down by the social networking platform. Koh said in her ruling that Facebook wasn't a government entity, and therefore wasn't bound by the First Amendment's prohibition on censorship. Federal and state judges in California have also dismissed censorship lawsuits brought by Prager University against Google. Google alternatively argued to Wilson that the case should be transferred to the Northern District of California, given that the company's contract with advertisers provides that lawsuits must be brought in courts within Santa Clara County. Gabbard says the matter should remain in the Central District of California, arguing that Google's contract with advertisers doesn't cover her free speech claims. Toronto, Jan 29 : More than hackers, people are worried about friends, family and others who can listen to their conversations via smart speakers, reveals new research. A survey by University of British Columbia (UBC) researchers in Canada found that people feared potential misuse of the device from people they actually live with and know. "They worried that their housemates could order stuff online, overhear private conversations or access other people's reminders, calendars and phone contacts," explained Konstantin Beznosov, a professor of electrical and computer engineering who specializes in cybersecurity at UBC. "Of course, they were aware these actions could well be unintentional--such as a child accidentally using the last-number-dialled feature to call up their parent's employer, for example". The team spoke to 26 Canadian adults who used shared smart speakers at home, including Amazon Echo, Google Home and Apple HomePod. They found that participants not only worried about keeping their data safe from the manufacturer or other entities; they also feared potential misuse of the device from people they know. Interestingly, the nature of the concern depended on the participant's "mental model" or technical understanding of how smart speakers work, said study primary author Yue Huang, a PhD student in electrical and computer engineering. "Participants who were very familiar with shared smart speakers were more worried about how technology shortcomings could affect the security of their devices," said Huang. An example is a smart speaker that occasionally fails to distinguish the main user's voice from another, which means it could grant people access to information they shouldn't have. However, users with more basic knowledge of how smart speakers work were more focused on their housemates' potential actions, and this sometimes meant seeing a threat where there was none. "One participant who worried his family member could redial a number was unaware the feature was not even available on the device," said Huang, noting that the study is the first to explore these mental models about shared smart speakers and link these models to attitudes. The results suggest that more work is needed to improve consumers' understanding of shared smart speakers and to make the technology more reliable. Indian Health Service prepares for the Novel Coronavirus Cronkite News U.S. health officials offered a reality check Tuesday about the scary new virus from China: They're expanding screenings of international travelers and taking other precautions but for now, they insist the risk to Americans is very low. At this point Americans should not worry for their own safety, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told reporters Tuesday. Still, he added, this is a very fast-moving, constantly changing situation." China's latest figures cover the previous 24 hours and add 26 to the number of deaths, 25 of which were in the central province of Hubei and its capital, Wuhan. The 5,974 cases on the mainland marked a rise of 1,459 from the previous day, although that rise is a smaller increase than the 1,771 new cases reported on Monday. Dozens of infections have been confirmed abroad as well. In the U.S. so far, there are five confirmed patients, all of whom had traveled to the hardest-hit part of China and no sign that they have spread the illness to anyone around them. The most recent case hit Maricopa County, Arizona, where an adult from the Arizona State University community tested positive for the virus. According to the county health department the patient lives in Tempe, Arizona, but does not live in university student housing. It is not known whether the individual is a student, faculty member or on staff at the university. Arizona State University is working closely with Maricopa County Department of Public Health to investigate any potential contacts that this individual may have exposed. A university statement said any direct contacts will be notified. The university remains open and classes are not cancelled, said Executive Vice President and University Provost Mark Searle. Additionally to the positive case in Arizona, there is one confirmed case in Washington, one in Chicago and two in California. As of January 27, there are 32 negative cases of the virus and 73 pending cases awaiting results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States. Indian Health Service Emergency Management Coordinator Gerald Johnson, Navajo, is being fit tested for an N95 respirator. These masks are required for healthcare workers working with critical respiratory diseases. Photo courtesy of Phoenix Indian Medical Center / Indian Health Service What is the virus? Coronavirus is a large family of viruses that sicken mostly animals, but six of these cases, like SARS and MERS , are known to infect people. This new type of the coronavirus adds to the list , marking it number seven of now eight cneoronavirus types. The symptoms begin after an incubation period of 2-14 days according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those infected have symptoms of a fever, a cough and shortness of breath . Severity of the symptoms could lead to hospitalization and even death. Early on, many of the patients in the outbreak of respiratory illness caused by Coronavirus in Wuhan, China ,had some link to a large seafood and live animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread, the CDC reported. However, a growing number of patients reportedly have not had exposure to animal markets, indicating person-to-person spread is occurring. Nez-Lizer caution Navajo public of the spread of the potentially deadly novel coronavirus pic.twitter.com/L98ocGtb02 Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez (@NNPrezNez) January 27, 2020 What is being done? Airports in Wuhan, China, are restricting outbound traffic and health screenings are now being conducted at U.S. airports. The CDC announced that at least 20 U.S. airports have also initiated health screens to seek preventative measures against the spread of the virus. Chartered planes carrying evacuees home to Japan and the United States left Wuhan early Wednesday as other countries planned similar evacuations from areas China has shut down to try to contain the virus. The lockdown of 17 cities has trapped more than 50 million people in the most far-reaching disease control measures ever imposed. A plane carrying Americans who had been in Wuhan left for Anchorage, Alaska, where they will be re-screened for the virus. U.S. hospitals are prepared to treat or quarantine people who may be infected. After departing Alaska, the plane is to fly to Ontario, California. The virus has affected most of China resulting in nearly 50 million Chinese residents being quarantined . However, that has not stopped the virus from spreading to other countries, including the United States. The CDC issued a warning-level 3 to travelers to avoid unnecessary travel to China on their website. Although, the disease is not being spread from person-to-person the CDC recommends that getting vaccinated and taking everyday preventative actions to decrease the risk of getting sick with a respiratory disease or the flu. IHS prepares for the virus The Indian Health Service's Phoenix Indian Medical Center has been taking the initiative to prepare for the respiratory illness. The Indian Health Service will continue to follow normal policies and procedures for evaluation and treatment of respiratory illnesses, said Constance James, director of community relations and tribal affairs. When asked if Indian Country should be concerned about the virus, Dr. Jennefer Kieran, director of Inpatient & Specialty Services at Phoenix Indian Medical Center, said there is a protocol set in place by the IHS leadership team along with infection control and special rooms are in place for critical respiratory illnesses. From a personal perspective, there has been no person-to-person contact and the risk is low, but something like this is changing rapidly, Dr. Kieran said. The important thing to do right now is to take precautions, continuing to wash your hands and covering your cough. While any direct impacts of this outbreak to Indian Country are not yet known, we must be vigilant in our efforts to prevent the introduction and spread of infections among our patients and within the communities we serve, James said. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez released a statement on the virus stating, as we continue to closely monitor the coronavirus, we caution our Navajo people and encourage them to be aware of the growing spread of the virus. This is a serious public health concern that must be shared with all people. We ask that you share information with your children, elders and others who may not have access to information via internet, television and other means. The Phoenix Indian Medical Center building in Phoenix, Arizona. Photo by Quindrea Yazzie / Indian Country Today In Washington, flanked by the government's top infection specialists, Secretary Azar listed the biggest unanswered questions of the outbreak and tried to tamp down some of the fear and speculation provoked by China's rising toll: How deadly is this new virus? China's death toll has passed 100 but the first patients counted in an outbreak are naturally the most severe cases and skew our understanding, Azar cautioned. Over time, if doctors find many more people had just a mild, cold-like illness, the death rate will change. How easily does it spread? One way to measure that is an estimate of how many people could catch an infection from one contagious patient. Some reports have suggested that number might be between 1.5 and 3.5 for the new coronavirus, but Azar stressed it's too soon to know. For comparison, one patient with measles could spread it to 12 to 18 others, he added. What about silent carriers? Reports from China suggest some people may have spread the virus before showing symptoms. And Germany on Tuesday said a man with the virus near Munich never traveled to China or had close contact with anyone showing symptoms. Instead, he may have been infected by a coworker from China who briefly visited for a company training session and didn't report feeling ill until her flight home. Later authorities confirmed three additional cases from the German company, all connected to the first. Some viruses, such as the flu, can spread before symptoms are obvious. But there's no evidence it's happened with the new virus in the U.S., where health officials are checking contacts of the sick. And epidemics are driven by the openly sick, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, infectious disease chief of the National Institutes of Health. What are the symptoms of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (#2019nCoV)? How does the virus spread? Learn the answers to frequently asked questions here: https://t.co/0ElbjEVlYh. #FAQ pic.twitter.com/dAdUno2jx0 CDC (@CDCgov) January 24, 2020 Still, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wants to send its own scientists to visit China for a first-hand look try to answer those questions. On Tuesday, the World Health Organization said it hopes to send in international experts soon. Without a vaccine or treatments, the world is depending on tried-and-true public health steps to tamp down the outbreak finding the infected early and isolating them to stem the spread. In the U.S., the CDC is beefing up its checks of incoming travelers. It already had been screening for illness among passengers arriving from the epicenter of China's outbreak at five U.S. airports. But people who've visited other parts of China still may be arriving, with stops in other places first. Now, CDC is sending extra staff to other quarantine stations to screen arrivals at a total of 18 airports around the country and at two border crossings, in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego. The State Department has also chartered a plane to evacuate diplomats from the U.S. Consulate in Wuhan, the city where the outbreak started, and some other Americans. Asked if those evacuees would be quarantined, Azar said there will be doctors on the flight to check all the passengers so health officials can decide if additional steps are needed. Earlier today, I provided a brief update on the ongoing outbreak of #coronavirus that began in Wuhan, China. We have been proactively preparing and executing on an aggressive approach to protect Americans. Visit @CDCgov for updates: https://t.co/Ze6Th0K9Z9 pic.twitter.com/MmkIPnU3p5 Secretary Alex Azar (@SecAzar) January 27, 2020 With an incubation period of anywhere from two to 14 days, travelers may arrive showing no symptoms. But CDC's Dr. Nancy Messonnier said the screenings are an opportunity to educate travelers that if they start feeling sick with a fever, cough or flu-like symptoms after returning from an outbreak zone, they should contact their doctor. That's exactly what the first U.S. patients did. Azar said he has directed $105 million to fight the outbreak. Among the next steps, the CDC developed a test for the virus and aims to make it usable by state health departments, to speed diagnosis of suspected cases. Research also is under way to develop a vaccine or treatment. Airport screenings were initially done in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Atlanta. That has been expanded to Anchorage, Alaska; Boston; Dallas; Detroit; El Paso, Texas; Honolulu; Houston, Miami, Minneapolis; Newark, New Jersey; Philadelphia; San Diego; Seattle; Washington, D.C. (Dulles); and San Juan, Puerto Rico. For the latest information about the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, visit cdc.gov --The Associated Press contributed to this report. Reporters Lauren Neergaard, Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and AP Medical Writer Mike Stobbe from New York. Quindrea Yazzie, Navajo, is a reporter-producer at Indian Country Todays Phoenix Bureau. Follow her on Twitter @quindreayazzie or email her at qyazzie@indiancountrytoday.com This story was written and reported by Quindrea Yazzie. It originally appeared on Indian Country Today on January 29, 2020. Join the Conversation For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers. When President Trump fired John Bolton as his national security adviser four months ago, I wrote we may at last have in Bolton a piece of scorched debris from Trumps inner circle disgruntled and disloyal enough to write a scathing tell-all memoir. And so were about to have oneas well as his possible testimony, more damaging still, in Trumps impeachment trial. In anticipation of both, Trump and his team are denouncing Bolton as a revenge-seeking, money-grubbing malcontent. Trump himself has denied the headline-grabbing claim in Boltons bookthat Trump told him he was holding up military aid to Ukraine until its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, agreed to investigate Joe and Hunter Biden. If true, this account would back up the impeachment charge passed by the House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The New York Times, which described portions of the books manuscript, also reported that Bolton expressed concerns to Attorney General William Barr about Trumps doing favors for the Chinese and Turkish presidents, Xi Jinping and Recep Tayyip Erdogan. What to make of these head-spinning twists? Bolton has long been known as an ambitious, scheming bureaucratic operator. Are these claims in his book trustworthy? Or is he doing this simply to revive his profile and sell books? I applauded Trumps firing of Bolton, who was, by any measure, among the worst national security advisers in White House history, one of the very few who came to the job with a purely ideological agenda and, once there, wrecked the National Security Council apparatuswhich conducted the analyses that usually inform interagency deliberation and decision-makingin order to push his biases. Trump encouraged his methods and, at first, supported his agendauntil he didnt, and that was the end of him. Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to following U.S. law and protocol, Bolton is a fairly straight arrow. Still, I suspect that on the basic facts, Boltons account of his time with Trumphis book, due out March 17, is called The Room Where It Happenedis reliable. (I should note that Bolton and I share the same publisher, Simon & Schuster, but I have not seen any of Boltons manuscript or heard anything about its contents other than the Times story.) Here are a few reasons to believe it: Advertisement First, in his various stints in government, Bolton could be conniving and contentious. During the George W. Bush administration, he acted as a mole inside the State Department, informing Vice President Dick Cheney whenever Secretary of State Colin Powell was about to commit an act of arms control. He also tried to derail the careers of intelligence officials who disputed his views. Bolton was briefly ambassador to the United Nations, even while arguing that the United States should ignore international law. Yet amid all the fights he started and enemies he made in the Bush administration, he was not known to be an outright fabricator. And, as a lawyer who valued the written record as a tool of defense or intimidation, he always took very careful notes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Second, disruptive as he could be, he has always regarded himself as a member of the foreign policy establishment. His goals could often be self-serving, but he saw them as aligned with the assertion of American power in the world. This is far from the same thing as Trumps letat, cest moi style, in which U.S. interests are seen as synonymous with the interests of the Trump Organization. Bolton would certainly have been repelled by Trumps striking personal deals with Xi and Erdogannot because theyre dictators, but because Trump was subverting foreign policy for his own interests. Advertisement Advertisement Third, during the House impeachment hearings, some officials testified that, when they told Bolton about Trumps attempted quid pro quo with Ukraine, he told them to go talk to the NSC lawyer. He also was famously said to describe Rudy Giulianis schemes with corrupt Ukrainians as a drug deal. This is consistent with his claim in the book that he talked with Barrthe top law enforcement officialabout Trumps dealings with Xi and Erdogan. In other words, when it comes to following U.S. law and protocol, Bolton is a fairly straight arrow. Advertisement Advertisement But what about the money? The revelations reported in the Times are sure to boost Boltons book sales. (The memoir has already reached No. 10 on Amazons best-seller list.) Then again, he is said to have received a $2 million advance to write this book. Thats an advance on royalties and, even if the book is a huge best-seller, he isnt likely to make much beyond that advance. In any case, its worth noting that, when he signed the contract for that advance, nothing was known about Trumps conversation with Zelensky. Whether or not he described it in his proposal, no one could have foreseen the huge splash that its revelation would make. Advertisement Advertisement I have no idea whether Boltons book is good, whether it will be worth reading, whether the views it outlines on foreign policy in general and Trump in particular are laudatory or loathsome. (Much as I disagree with most of Boltons positions, I did take his side in his support of NATO, his grousing about Trumps kowtowing to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his skepticism of Trumps trust in North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.) But if senators are wondering whether Bolton should be called to testify at the impeachment trial, and whether what he says under oath on the matters in question can be trusted, Id say its worthwhile to issue that subpoena. The Washington Post reportedly reinstated journalist Felicia Sonmez on Tuesday after suspending her for tweeting about Kobe Bryant's 2003 rape case allegation following his death in a helicopter crash on Sunday. What they're saying: The Post said the reporter, Felicia Sonmez, "was not in clear and direct violation" of the newspaper's social media policy. Sonmez has been reinstated, according to the Washington Post Guild. More than 200 Post journalists expressed "alarm and dismay" at Somnez's suspension via a guild letter. Go deeper: Washington Post suspends reporter over Kobe Bryant tweets Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 00:05:28|Editor: yan Video Player Close GENEVA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) is to have an Emergency Committee meeting on Thursday, said its Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a tweet on Wednesday. "WHO is monitoring the new coronavirus outbreak every moment of every day...We will have more news following tomorrow's Emergency Committee meeting," read the tweet. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has shut down Panda Supermarket belonging to some Chinese nationals located in Abuja over issues with the dreaded and spreading coronavirus. The officials of the government, while acting on information, stormed the supermarket on Tuesday and discovered illegal operations, importation of foods that are deemed harmful for consumption. Speaking with journalists after the supermarket was sealed off, Director-General of the FCCPC, Mr Babatunde Irukera said that the move was to serve as a deterrent to others and to safeguard the lives of citizens from the deadly Coronavirus. Products with expired & irregular shelf life were also discovered at Panda Supermarket, Jabi, Abuja yesterday. Regulatory activities to remove all offensive products from the Supermarket continues. pic.twitter.com/I6TjukUNMb FCCPC Nigeria (@fccpcnigeria) January 29, 2020 According to Irukera, the supermarket was discovered to be selling contraband and expired seafood and animals brought into the country illegally. He said the sale of contraband and expired food items is very distributing especially at a time like this and especially when the products are coming from Asian countries. You know, the biggest issue we have now is the coronavirus and there is sufficient information to show that it started as an animal to animal transfer and now animals to human beings, especially wild animals. The origin of it is seafood from a district in China. Weve got a lot of seafood here and we dont know how it came. We are seeing all kind of things and that certainly violates the laws in Nigeria. Some of the products are developing mould even in the refrigerator. Theres a huge cold room there with expired products showing that the products will expire in 2073 and 2089, Irukera added. The director-general listed some of the expired food items to include pork, rice, mushrooms, chicken, gizzard, among others. We found out that toilets that are used as stores for the food items and certain things that were wrong here. So we will be closing the place down, he said. Irukera led the team to inspect the Gwarimpa branch of the supermarket where some of the expired food items found were confiscated. A number of global airlines, including Air India, British Airways, Lion Air and Indigo airline on Wednesday suspended their flights to Chinese cities as Beijing struggled to contain the rapid spread of the coronavirus within the country. The coronavirus outbreak began in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei province, in December and it has now spread across the globe. In China, 132 people have died and there are at least 6,061 confirmed cases of coronavirus. Chinese authorities are trying to contain the outbreak while other countries, including India, are working on plans to evacuate their citizens from Wuhan and other cities in Hubei province. The US and Japan have already evacuated some of their citizens from Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak. In London, British Airways, which operates daily flights to Shanghai and Beijing from Heathrow, announced the suspension of flights to and from mainland China "with immediate effect" until January 31 while it assesses the situation. "We apologise to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority," the airlines said. Other airlines, including United Airlines, Air Canada, Cathay Pacific Airways, Lion Air have already cancelled some flights to China. Air France suspended its three weekly flights to Wuhan on January 24, but as of Wednesday morning said it was maintaining its 23 weekly flights to Beijing and Shanghai. In New Delhi, Air India spokesperson said the national carrier is suspending its flights on Delhi-Shanghai route from January 31 to February 14. IndiGo airlines also announced that due to the coronavirus outbreak in China, it has decided to suspend its flights on the Bengaluru-Hong Kong route from February 1 and on the Delhi-Chengdu route from February 1 to 20. IndiGo also said that for now, it will continue to operate the Kolkata-Guangzhou flight but would monitor the situation on a daily basis. "And for our operating crew, we are ensuring that they return to India on the inbound flights without any layover in China," the low-cost carrier said in a statement. Meanwhile, a flight carrying 201 American passengers out of Wuhan is now flying to California following health screenings and refuelling in Anchorage, Alaska, US officials said on Wednesday. The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services said passengers coming from Wuhan, China were screened twice following two health checks in China, and would be subject to further tests in California and temporarily rehoused for a period of time. The crew of the plane was completely separated from the passengers, Alaska's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink told reporters. About three dozen US diplomats and their families were expected to be on board the aircraft, a US official with knowledge of the matter told CNN. Priority was also given to US citizens who were "most at risk for contracting coronavirus" if they stayed in the city, a State Department official said. There are about 1,000 Americans living in Wuhan. Four cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Germany, making it the second European country to report cases, after France. The United Arab Emirates has also confirmed its first cases of the virus in a family who recently returned to the UAE from Wuhan. President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that China was in a struggle against a "demon" epidemic. "Chinese people are currently engaged in a serious struggle against an epidemic of a new type of coronavirus infection," Xi told WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "The epidemic is a demon, and we cannot let this demon hide," Xi said, pledging that the government would be transparent and release information on the virus in a "timely" manner. (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 Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 The government believes the spreading coronavirus in China will add to downside risks and uncertainties in the domestic economy as Indonesias largest trading partner braces for a blow to its economic growth. The Chinese New Year, which took place in January, should have given momentum to Chinas economy, Sri Mulyani has told lawmakers. The outbreak has resulted in the country failing to realize its economic potential." Each percentage-point decline in Chinas growth rate results in a 0.3 percent drop in Indonesias, the World Bank has said. Chinas economic growth hit a 29-year low in 2019 at 6.1 percent while Indonesias latest data showed 5.02 percent annual economic growth in the third quarter of last year, the slowest in more than two years. 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 CLEVELAND, Ohio A Cleveland father is charged after police say his 3-year-old son accidentally shot himself with a gun the father was not allowed due to a previous criminal conviction. John Ellis, 31, is charged with having weapons under disability, a third-degree felony. He was released from the Cuyahoga County Jail on a personal bond after his first court appearance on Monday. Ellis is prohibited by law from owning guns because of his prior felony convictions for drug trafficking and illegal weapons possession. The shooting happened about 7 p.m. Thursday at the Ellis home on West 38th Street near Robert Avenue in the citys Clark-Fulton neighborhood. The man told police he left his loaded gun on top of the refrigerator and walked upstairs to change clothes, according to police and court records. The 3-year-old boy told police he found the gun on the couch, according to police reports. The boy also told police he shot himself in the left leg. Several other children were in the home when the shooting happened. Ellis was arrested after he drove his son to MetroHealth. Ellis told police he knew it was against the law to own a gun, but that he bought one at the beginning for 2019 because he wanted it for protection, according to police. To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments page. Week filled with gun thefts in Cleveland-area highlight issues surrounding gun security 3-year-old Cleveland boy accidentally shot himself with fathers illegal gun, police say 3-year-old boy accidentally shot self in Cleveland, police say The Pentagon revised the number of U.S. service members diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) following Iran's Jan 7. attack on U.S. bases in Iraq to 50 on Tuesday. The big picture: This is the third time the Pentagon has updated the figures for those injured in the attack. Per the CDC, TBIs are not always detected immediately after they've been sustained. This is a snapshot in time and numbers can change." Pentagon spokesperson Thomas Campbell Flashback: On Jan. 17, the Defense Department said 11 troops were "evacuated from Iraq with concussion-like symptoms," AP notes. The Defense Department said last Friday 34 troops had sustained traumatic brain injuries. What they're saying: 31 of the 50 service members injured were treated in Iraq and returned to duty, "including 15 of the additional service members who have been diagnosed since the previous report," Pentagon spokesperson Lt. Col. Thomas Campbell said in a statement. "18 service members have been transported to Germany for further evaluation and treatment. This is an increase of one service member from the previous report. As previously reported, one service member had been transported to Kuwait and has since returned to duty." Go deeper: A resident blocks the road with his tractor in front of the National Human Resources Development Institute in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, in opposition to the government's reported decision to house 700 Koreans from Wuhan there, Wednesday./ Yonhap By Kim Se-jeong Municipal administrations and residents are going all-out to prevent 700 Koreans being evacuated from Wuhan, China, from coming to their communities amid growing concerns over the spread of a coronavirus disease, government officials said Wednesday. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said it had chosen facilities in two municipalities both in the Chungcheong provinces to accommodate them for the next two weeks for monitoring. But it is facing resistance from municipal officials and residents there. The Koreans are scheduled to arrive at Gimpo International Airport Jan. 30 and 31 on two chartered planes. They will be sent directly to the two facilities from the airport the National Human Resources Development Institute in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province and the Police Human Resources Development Institute in Asan, South Chungcheong Province. The government had initially picked Cheonan in South Chungcheong Province, but changed the location due to local opposition. Korean firms won't suspend plants in China Korea, China coordinating response to virus epidemic Gov't rapped for poor response to coronavirus South Korea to cover all treatment costs of Wuhan virus-infected patients Medical experts said people suspected of having come into contact with the virus need to be isolated for two weeks, its incubation period. Angry residents from Jincheon and Asan used tractors and cars to block access to the designated facilities, in a show of opposition to the government decision. "We have many families with children in this region. I can't understand why the government chose Jincheon, and it makes me very angry," one resident surnamed Choi said. "The government should have asked people for their opinions on a matter like this." The ministry explained that the capabilities of the facilities and distance from the airport and medical centers were taken into consideration, but this didn't assuage the locals. "Did the government know the institute is right in front of an apartment building? We are treated as second-class citizens. I will leave town tomorrow," one mother wrote in a local internet group for mothers. Jincheon County officials also spoke out against the decision. "Jincheon is a small place with a high population density. It's not appropriate for housing these people. Also, there's no big medical clinic nearby where people can be treated in case of an emergency. The government decision-making process was one-sided and we can't accept this." Opposition also came from a politician from President Moon Jae-in's party. "People in Asan feel the decision was part of a politically-motivated game that Asan lost. This makes the people very angry," according to Asan Mayor Oh Se-hyun of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. BJP's high-voltage poll campaign in Delhi will intensify in the coming days with Prime Minister Narendra Modi likely to address two mega rallies in the city, ahead of the February 8 Assembly election in the national capital. A senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader on Wednesday said the preparations for Modi's rallies, likely to be held in the East Delhi and West Delhi parliamentary constituencies on February 3 and February 4, were in the final stage. Campaigning for the polls will come to an end at 5 pm on February 6. Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) president Nitish Kumar will also address two joint rallies with BJP chief JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the leader of the saffron party said. The top leadership of the BJP, including Shah and Nadda, have been involved in hectic campaigning, addressing two-three rallies every day in different constituencies. Besides, top Union ministers, including Rajnath Singh, Prakash Javadekar and Smriti Irani, chief ministers of BJP-ruled states, senior office-bearers and parliamentarians of the party are holding meetings across the city. "We have planned to hold at least one meeting in each of the over 12,000 polling booths in Delhi before voting. Over 2,000 such big and small meetings have already been held," another BJP leader said. The saffron party is contesting 67 seats in Delhi, leaving three for alliance partners JD(U) and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). Union minister and senior LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan is also likely to address a rally in the national capital. His party candidate is contesting the election from the Seemapuri constituency. The JD(U) is contesting the upcoming polls from the Burari and Sangam Vihar seats. The 70-member Delhi Assembly will go to polls on February 8 and the results will be announced on february 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rome, Jan 29 : A day after US President Donald Trump unveiled his new Middle East peace plan, Italy on Wednesday renewed its support for a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. "We are convinced that a two-state solution remains the most just and sustainable one, even if it still requires a long and complex journey to restore confidence between the two sides and their reciprocal willingness to dialogue and to compromise," said a Foreign Ministry statement. Referring to Trump's blueprint to end one of the world's longest running conflicts, the statement said Italy "welcomes US efforts" to re-start the stalled Middle East peace process. Italy will "examine the contents of Washington's proposals very closely, together with the European Union and with regard to relevant United Nations resolutions," the statement said. Trump's plan, which has enraged the Palestinians, envisages a Palestinian state and the recognition of Israeli sovereignty over West Bank settlements. It retains Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided" capital and includes "areas of East Jerusalem" in the Palestinian capital. "Italy is willing to back a negotiating process which, taking into account the legitimate aspirations of both sides, contributes to the stability and security of the Middle East region," the statement said. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Trump's plan as "the deal of the century", the UN has said it remains committed to a two-state solution based on the boundaries in place before the 1967 war, when Israel seized the West Bank and Gaza. Amateur astronomers have helped discover a new kind of northern lights, known as "dunes". Citizen scientists teamed up with space researchers to find the "new auroral form", which consists of spectacular glowing waves. The "dunes" are thought to be created when particles released by the sun cause oxygen atoms in our atmosphere to light up and glow. In a newly published study, researchers tracked down the origin of the dunes to the Earth's upper atmosphere. The sun pushes out a flow of charged particles, which are known as solar winds. When they arrive at the Earth's ionosphere, they excite the oxygen and nitrogen atoms found in the upper atmosphere, and that energy is released as lights. Northern Lights across the UK - in pictures Show all 6 1 /6 Northern Lights across the UK - in pictures Northern Lights across the UK - in pictures The beautiful colours of light shining through the Sycamore Gap at Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland PA Northern Lights across the UK - in pictures The sky surrounding St Mary's Lighthouse in Whitley Bay, Northumberland PA Northern Lights across the UK - in pictures This shot was taken in Northumberland Graeme Stoker/Twitter Northern Lights across the UK - in pictures The beautiful skies could be spotted across the sea in Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland Caroline Burgess/Twitter Northern Lights across the UK - in pictures The lights seen over Great Park in Newcastle PA Northern Lights across the UK - in pictures A beach in Saltburn, North Yorkshire Darren Saltburn/Twitter While the northern lights are often seen as one phenomenon, they are something like clouds: there are a whole host of different kinds, each of which are formed in their own particular ways. The new discovery began when the University of Helsinki's Minna Palmroth looked to collect these different kinds of northern lights, in collaboration with enthusiasts. Those hobbyists took photographs of thousands of different examples of the northern lights, which she picked through and categorised for a book to guide those watching the aurora borealis. Recommended A complete guide to the Northern Lights But as the hobbyists collected those images through Facebook, they found that many of them included a kind of auroral form that was not part of the existing classification. Those were set aside to be examined later, and the book was published. Just days after it came out, enthusiasts spotted the mysterious form again: they saw a green-tinged, even set of waves that looked similar to dunes on a sandy beach. They told Professor Palmroth, who was able to get to work looking into it. "One of the most memorable moments of our research collaboration was when the phenomenon appeared at that specific time and we were able to examine it in real time", says Northern Lights and astronomy hobbyist Matti Helin in a statement. The hobbyists and space researchers worked together to collate photos from across Finland. Combining the images and looking for clues such as stars in the background allowed the scientists to discover where exactly the lights were coming from. They noted that the glowing dunes appeared relatively low down, just 100 kilometres up. Their waveform stretched 45 kilometres across. That height put them in a particularly neglected part of the sky: it is where the Earth's atmosphere collides with the edge of space, and is difficult for satellites to see. "Due to the difficulties in measuring the atmospheric phenomena occurring between 80 and 120 kilometres in altitude, we sometimes call this area 'the ignorosphere'," she said in a statement. The phenomenon appears to happen because of the "bore" phenomenon. Scientists say that gravity waves are born in the atmosphere and then rise up but when they hit a particular layer, they can be bent and stretch out for long distances. SOPHOLA, Inc. (HQ: Nagano City, Nagano, CEO: Masaki Iino, Short Name: SOPHOLA) and Primal (HQ: Bangkok, Thailand, Managing Director: Mark McDowell, Short Name: Primal) are delighted to announce that they today entered into an agreement to bring the ad optimisation platform AdScale to the Thai market. Primal, a leading digital agency, is the first in Thailand to use AdScale to optimise client accounts. The AdScale digital advertising platform utilizes Dynamic Budgeting AI and Algorithmic Bid Optimization to dynamically allocate budgets and ensure ads will always be shown in the right place at the right time across multiple paid media platforms, including Google, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and more. AdScales campaign management automation saves agencies up to 80% of their time. In addition, automated distribution of easily-created white label reports to clients and management saves valuable time. In the initial performance tests AdScale was able to decrease the average cost per conversion by 31.2% while increasing conversions by 34.6% in a 30 day pilot campaign. (Refer to the attached table. Period: Oct, 2019 vs Nov, 2019) Mark McDowell, Managing Director at Primal says, Partnering with AdScale and SOPHOLA effectively helps Primal maintain our commitment in increasing Profitable Revenue for our clients. We can always count on them when it comes to expertise, reliability and professionalism. Masaki Iino, CEO of SOPHOLA says, We are thrilled about the market expansion of the AdScale service into Thailand through this partnership with Primal, Thailands leading digital marketing agency. Primal has been making game-changing growth for progressive brands in digital marketing, and SOPHOLA will support Primal to optimize Google Ads and Facebook/Instagram campaigns with the proprietary tech of AdScale AI in an unprecedented way. As we act as the APAC office for the AdScale service, we will continue to expand our service to other countries in the region. In addition to offering consulting/outsourcing services using cutting-edge global marketing tech to the Japanese market, SOPHOLA is expanding its push to bring AdScale to agencies and brands in APAC. About Primal Primal is a leading digital agency in Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. Primals vision is to deliver impactful online experiences across Asia. Company name: Primal Location: Bangkok - Thailand, Ho Chi Minh - Vietnam, Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia Representative: Mark McDowell, Managing Director About SOPHOLA SOPHOLA is a digital marketing consulting & outsourcing firm bringing state-of-the-art marketing technology from global firms to clients in Japan and APAC. Founded in April 2018, SOPHOLAs mission is to find an effective business model to address critical social issues facing Japanese society as a whole and the countryside in particular. Company name: SOPHOLA Inc Location: Nagano, Japan Representative: Masaki Iino, CEO For further inquiries SOPHOLA Inc TEL026-217-2720 Email: corporate@sophola.jp Hyundai will deliver 15 million yuan or around W2.5 billion worth of medical supplies and cash to Wuhan to combat the spread of coronavirus (US$1=W1,179). The automaker plans to send 5 million yuan worth of protective clothing, surgical masks and goggles to the Chinese city as well as 10 million yuan in cash donations. Hyundai headquarters here will donate 5 million yuan and its subsidiaries in China the rest. A transportation roadmap that takes Mobile County out to 2045 doesnt include funding for the Interstate 10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project expansion -- a much debated project many feel is critical to the economic future of coastal Alabama. In fact, the project itself is merely listed as visionary, which means its a development that doesnt include funding and is more of an idea than a concrete proposal. The I-10 project is likely to garner the most attention among projects listed within the Mobile Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) 25-year plan that will be voted on next month. A public hearing, the only one that has been scheduled, will take place from 4-6 p.m. tonight at the GM&O Building in downtown Mobile. The I-10 Mobile River Bridge is not in the fiscally-constrained plan, said Kevin Harrison, director of transportation planning with the Mobile MPO. Its in what we call the visionary element where funding is not tied to it. It basically doesnt mean anything. He added, The state of Alabama has to agree to fund it before we can put it into the fiscal long-range plan. We are not allowed to put it in the plan. The only way that happens is it comes from the state. That often gets lost in translation. The 25-year long-range plan has to be revisited and approved by MPOs every five years. This year, both the Mobile MPO and the MPO representing the Eastern Shore in Baldwin County, have to both vote on their long-range documents that spells out the projects that will receive state and federal funds through 2045. Harrison said the document is important for projects like I-10: If a project is not listed in the long-range plan, it cannot be elevated to the shorter-range Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) that is required for a road project to receive federal funding. The removal of the states $2.1 billion I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project from the Eastern Shore MPOs TIP in August prompted Gov. Kay Ivey to declare the entire project dead. Without the ability to secure federal funds, the state opted to move away from a project that once was deemed the highest transportation priority in Alabama. The project, according to state and local officials is still needed as traffic congestion continues to persist during summer months and holidays. Mobiles Wallace Tunnel, for instance, is often overwhelmed by traffic. Opened in 1973, the tunnel has a design capacity to handle 35,000 vehicles a day; at present, 75,000 vehicles are trying to get through on any given day. But the way the state want to finance the new project drew opposition in Baldwin County, and the Eastern Shore MPOs removal of the project from its TIP was related to the toll plan and public-private partnership (P3) proposal that the Alabama Department of Transportation pitched for financing. The Eastern Shore MPOs policy board consisting of local mayors, council members and county commissioners in Baldwin County voted last week to endorse an expressway alternative that includes the construction of a new 7.5-mile, four-lane highway across the Mobile Bay, as well as a new 210-foot-tall cable-stay bridge. According to MPO members, the new expressway would be considerably cheaper at around $1.2 billion and would not require tolling the Wallace Tunnel. ALDOTs plan included tolling the Wallace Tunnel and the new bridge. But the concept doesnt include a detailed financing plan, and also leaves out whether the new expressway would be tolled. ALDOT hasnt weighed in on the alternative. Eastern Shore MPO members were hopeful that their Mobile counterparts would support the expressway. So far, that support hasnt come. I dont think we can support something unless there is a funding scenario, said Harrison. The governor said the project is dead, and ALDOT, I think, is waiting on coastal Alabama to present them with a project everyone agrees on and a funding scenario. What the Eastern Shore presented was a project everyone agreed on but they didnt present a project with funding. Said Harrison, How much revenue would that toll generate (if one was assessed on the expressway)? What are the variables? Those are the things, I think, that ALDOT needs to investigate. To be hopeful that there are no tolls, I dont think, is realistic. Sarah Hart Sislak, coordinator with the Eastern Shore MPO, said her office has not heard back from the Mobile MPO regarding the expressway project. Both Sislak and Harrison said there were discussions about the two MPOs hosting a joint meeting to discuss the fate of the project, but nothing has been finalized. The Eastern Shore MPO, like the Mobile MPO, will be hosting public meetings later this year on their long-range plan. The Eastern Shore group, however, does not need to have their long-range plans approved until July. Both plans are fluid documents, meaning that projects can be added or removed or designated as visionary at any time, Harrison said. In Mobile, the long-range document is located at 42 different locations, and will posted online, starting in March and leading up to a March 25 vote. The plan also includes a proposal for a new countywide transit system, which will be introduced during tonights meeting. Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson said Monday he has assigned an attorney from his Complex Litigation Division to review a federal panels decision to close the National Archives at Seattle. If, in our opinion, the administration did not follow the law, there would be a lawsuit, he said. Ferguson did not have a timeline on a decision could be a couple of days, a week, a couple of weeks, he said, depending on the complexity of the issue. The Public Buildings Reform Board, which examines ways to trim federal properties deemed excess, has recommended the sale of the 73-year-old archives building and its 10-acre site on Sand Point Way Northeast. The archives are a repository for all federal records generated in the Pacific Northwest. In a news release Monday, the National Archives said the date of the closure has not been set, but the sale of the facility is expected to take about 18 months. The archives has requested to stay in the Sand Point building for another three years after the sale. With the sale, nearly 1 million boxes and numerous other archival records would be moved to National Archives storage in Kansas City and Riverside, California. The recommendation was approved Friday by the U.S. Office of Management and the Budget. Its been decried by historians, Pacific Northwest tribes, all senators from Washington, Alaska, Oregon and Idaho, and eight of the 10 Washington state representatives to Congress. Fergusons office has filed 55 lawsuits against the Trump administration, and of the 24 decisions so far rendered on them, all have been in favor of his office. Ferguson said the primary reason for the wins is that Trumps administration violated a seemingly arcane rule called the Administrative Procedure Act. The act, passed in 1946, said Ferguson, says that in rule making the president must have a rationale, disclose that rationale to the public, and give the public an opportunity to speak about the changes. He said he doesnt know if the act would apply in the closure of the National Archives here there were no public hearings by the federal board. Thats why, he said, his staff is doing the research. Ferguson said the decision to close the archives has angered many in the Northwest, including his sister, Ann Ferguson, curator of the Seattle Collection at the Seattle Public Library. She was totally shocked, he said. Ferguson said that his father, Murray Ferguson, a facilities manager at Boeing, was a history buff who frequently visited the National Archives in Seattle, and introduced each of his seven children to it. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Nigerian Ruler, Muhammadu Buhari has downplayed the claims that certain individuals among his aides and relatives, often called cabals, have an influence on his regime. I was the one who went round the country on campaigns, and I was the one voted into office as President, twice. No one else did, and no one else took the oath of office, and can exercise the powers of a President, Mr Buhari said when he fielded questions in an exclusive interview with a national daily. Many Nigerians, prominent among whom is the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, have claimed that there is a cabal, whose influence on the decisions taken by Mr Buhari and the regime, is immense. Mrs Buhari, at several instances, had accused these people of controlling her husband at the expense of Nigerians, who entrusted Mr Buhari with their mandate. Those routinely fingered as members of the cabal include the presidents relative, Mamman Daura; his associate, Isa Funtua; and his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari. Recently too, Mrs Buhari asked an aide to the president, Garba Shehu, to resign or be relieved of his position after she accused Mr Shehu of receiving instructions from the said cabals much to the detriment of her husband and the first family. Mr Shehu had also admitted the existence of cabal within the inner cycle of the presidency. He maintained that they are not hungry people; rather, they are respectable people who deserve respect because they have achieved a lot. Unlike Mr Shehu, however, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, described the existence of a group of people called cabal as myth. Netwatch Group have announced the appointment of Wendy Hamilton as CEO of the Carlow headquartered company. Wendy joined Netwatch, a company responsible for pioneering some of the greatest advances in security technology, as COO in 2012. In this role she was responsible for Operations across the companys core markets. Following the formation of Netwatch Group in 2018, Wendy led a successful integration of the companys award-winning technology across the new organisations in the US and the UK. Most recently Wendy was VP of Global Operations for the Netwatch Group, based out of the companys HQ in Carlow. Prior to joining Netwatch Wendy worked in senior global roles spanning general management, operations and business development at large technology multinational companies. Her experience included Vice President roles at Lionbridge and Bowne Global Solutions, delivering global strategies that build scale and focus on growth. Along with her original degree in International Marketing (DCU), Wendy holds an MBA from Waterford IT which she completed while working at Netwatch. As CEO of Netwatch Group, Wendy will lead the company as it consolidates growth across its key markets and continues to invest in building out the most technologically advanced remote monitoring solutions. Wendy succeeds David Walsh as CEO, who continues to serve the company as Board Director. Wendy said: "I am delighted to be appointed CEO of Netwatch Group, and to continue representing the excellent people who work here. Ireland is the bedrock of our innovation in remote monitoring visual technologies and it is wonderful to see the impact of that innovative spirit across the Group. "Netwatch has ambitious global plans, but it is always local communities that make the difference in business communities of employees, customers and business partners. "I am particularly proud to lead our teams in Ireland, the US and the UK, who are key to the success within each market. Our operations in Northern Ireland and the UK are well positioned for the UKs exit from the European Union. "The US market is crucial in terms of revenues and holds the largest opportunities for us. "There, our channel partner programme is growing fast as customers demand Netwatch to protect their sites and channel partners see how much money they can make by selling the service to their customers." David Walsh, commenting on the appointment, said: "As the group continues its international expansion, Im delighted and proud as a shareholder and Founder that Wendy is stepping into the CEO role. "I know that all members of the board are looking forward to working with her." Dr Martin Scott, UK & Ireland Partner, Riverside Company, said: "We are delighted at the appointment of Wendy as CEO of Netwatch Group. "Wendys extensive operational knowledge, as well as her global experience working with leading multinational companies, will be of great benefit as Netwatch Group continues to expand." The Trump administration has approved a bill on January 24th that would provide millions of dollars in federal grants to churches, nonprofit organizations, and other houses of worship. The bill will protect against violence amid growing hostility toward religion, especially anti-Semitism, the Christian Post reported Monday. U.S. President Donald Trump pointed out at the East Room of the White House last week that "we should work together to eliminate the very evil anti-Semitism and anti-religious intolerance in the face of attacks on Jewish synagogues, mosques and churches." Trump said he would sign a bill authorizing $375 million in federal government subsidies to help the worshippers, religious groups and nonprofit organizations protect them from violence. "We are committed to building a nation where every community is secure, every family is safe, and every child can grow up in dignity and in peace." The bipartisan authorization, which sharply increased the funding for the Nonprofit Security Grants Program, allows chapels to apply for $100,000 in subsidies. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives by voice vote, and passed the Senate by Unanimous Consent. This measure is due to the growing number of anti-Semitic violence and attacks in New York and New Jersey, and two separate shootings, in April 2018 at Paul Way, California, and in October at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In the case of Christian churches, 26 people were shot to death at the First Baptist Church, at Sutherland Springs, Texas, in November 2017. In addition, one of the churches in White Settle, Texas, was hit late last month, sparking renewed concerns. Two were killed but was taken out by Jack Wilson, the church's volunteer security chief. His quick action was praised as heroic and helped prevent further carnage. Gujarat being a possible travel destination on the itinerary of US President Donald Trump who is expected to be in India in the last week of February, the state government has begun preparations for his celebratory welcome. People aware of the developments said, Trump will be hosted in Gujarat, which has a sizeable diaspora in the US. On Wednesday, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said the government is still working out the details of the programmes to be scheduled for the visit, but there is a likelihood of a rally on the lines of events held during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the US and the United Kingdom. During his last visit to the US, PM Modi addressed one of the biggest congregations, made-up largely of the Indian diaspora in Texas, as part of the Howdy Modi event. On whether such a public reception will be conducted for Trump, Rupani said, We are planning something; there is a proposal to inaugurate the worlds biggest stadium, with a capacity of 1.10 lakh. There will be a big rally of over a lakh for both the leaders; they are both tall, world leaders who will be together on a stage, so we will have something. President Trump is also expected to visit the Statue of Unity, the worlds tallest statue at a height of 182 metres, located on a river, located opposite the Sardar Sarovar Dam on river Narmada. Gujarat, which has trade ties with China and Japan, is eyeing collaborations with the United States in the IT sector. We are expecting some collaboration in the IT sector and with the US universities. We have already signed a twin-state pact with New Jersey (which has a large Gujarati disapora) for collaboration in various sectors such as education, tourism and infrastructure, Rupani said. Since assuming office in 2014, PM Modi has hosted several heads of countries in his home state of Gujarat, including the Chinese President Xi Jinping, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, PM of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu and the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Oil prices rose for a second day on Wednesday, standing on firmer ground after a five-day rout on talk that OPEC could extend oil cuts if a new coronavirus hurts demand, while data showing a decline in U.S. stockpiles also helped steady prices. Brent crude rose 85 cents, or 1.43%, to $60.36 a barrel by 0418 GMT. U.S. crude was up 75 cents, or 1.4%, at $54.23 a barrel. Financial markets that have been hit by the spread of the new virus out of China and its rising death toll are taking stock of the economic fallout, helped by comments from the head of the World Health Organization supporting Beijing's efforts to beat the outbreak. "It's a correction of a correction," Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets in Sydney, said of the bounce-back on Wednesday, adding that "at the moment it's all about crowd behaviour rather than fundamentals." OPEC wants to extend oil production cuts until at least June from March, and may deepen the reductions should demand for oil in China be significantly reduced by the spread of the virus, OPEC sources said. 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 Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia, have been trying to stabilize prices amid questions over the global demand outlook and rising supplies, particularly out of the United States. "A further extension is a strong possibility and a deeper cut is a possibility," one OPEC source told Reuters. Any fallout of the China virus on oil demand is likely to be clearer over the coming week, the source said. OPEC and its allies that form a grouping known as OPEC+ will next be meeting in Vienna in March to decide on any further action on its output reduction agreement. In the United States, crude oil inventories fell by 4.3 million barrels last week, data from industry group the American Petroleum Institute showed on Tuesday, compared with analysts' expectations of a gain of 482,000 barrels. Gasoline stocks were up by 3.3 million barrels, compared with forecasts in a Reuters poll of a 1.3 million-barrel gain. Distillate fuel inventories, which include diesel and heating oil, fell by 141,000 barrels, against expectations of a 1 million barrel drop. Official figures on oil and products are due out from the Energy Information Administration later on Wednesday. Centennial, Colorado, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Liteye Systems, Inc., a Colorado-based and world-leading Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (CUAS) manufacturer, hosted US Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) at its Centennial Headquarters on Friday, January 17, 2020. Senator Gardner toured Liteyes new 55,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility and viewed the capabilities of the US AUDS (Anti-UAV Defense System) that will be produced there. The Senator was able to view the system that was deployed in the recent Northern Colorado drone mystery investigation. US AUDS is a backbone for Counter UAS solutions, layered with multiple capabilities to Detect, Track, Identify and Defeat malicious threats. Discussions centered around growth in Colorado, Drone threats, FAA regulations and National Security Growth Liteye expects to expand and employ over 100 Coloradoans in the coming years; and has over $70M in counter drone contracts with the US Government. with the US Government. Drone Threats During the Northern Colorado Drone Mystery Investigation, Liteye answered the call to assist within hours and deployed a system to multiple investigation locations. FAA Regulations impacting drone usage to mitigate potential threats are still evolving, but regardless, counter UAS systems will be part of the solution, and US AUDS has an industry-leading suite of capabilities ready to employ today. National Security AUDS has been forward-deployed to several combat zones and proven itself time and again. Domestically, when authorization is granted, the system can and will provide needed protection for critical infrastructure and military sites. I am grateful for Liteye providing a tour of their headquarter in Centennial and our thorough discussion regarding the drone investigation in Eastern Colorado, said Senator Gardner. It was a pleasure to learn more about their operation and their mission to protect Americans all over the world. Liteye was honored to host Senator Gardner, stated Kenneth Geyer, CEO/Co-Owner of Liteye Systems. The Senator is committed to both Colorado and addressing this new threat; both are a true testament to his service. Having his support is valuable as we move to forward to protect Americans in the US and overseas. About Liteye Systems, Inc. (www.Liteye.com) Located in Centennial Colorado, Liteye Systems, Inc. is a world leader and technology solutions manufacturer and integrator of military and commercial Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (CUAS), manufacturer of US AUDS, Drone Sense and Warn Systems, rugged high-resolution head mounted displays (HMD), augmented sights, thermal surveillance systems, covert surveillance systems, electronic warfare packages, radar systems, and fire control software solutions. With offices in the UK and sales affiliates worldwide, Liteye is protecting critical infrastructure from real world threats. Liteye Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2020! ### Attachments Granting interim relief to Deepak Kochhar the husband of former ICICI Bank chief executive officer Chanda Kochhar the Bombay high court on Wednesday stayed an income tax (I-T) assessment order which directed him to pay tax on an additional 394 crore which had been deposited in his account in the 2012-13 financial year in lieu of the benefit of shared premium of NuPower Renewables Private Limited (NRPL). After Kochhar claimed that the assessment order was issued without giving him a chance to explain and that he wanted to appeal against it, the HC gave him four weeks to approach the first appellate authority. The court also stayed the I-T order for four weeks so that the appellate authority may decide on Kochhars plea. A division bench of justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Milind Jadhav said, We have not expressed any opinion on merit and all contentions are kept open. It is also made clear that if the appeal order goes against the petitioner, the same shall also be kept in abeyance for two weeks to enable the petitioner to avail the statutory remedy. The assessing officer had added a sum of nearly 394.46 crore to Kochhars income under section 56 (1) of the I-T Act as benefit received on account of receipt of shared premium after getting control of NRPL. Senior counsel Jehangir Mistry told HC that the I-T department issued the order without any notice to his client and that it was devoid of any deliberation on the part of the assessing officer. The counsel for the I-T department, Sham Walve, however, submitted that Kochhar had an alternate remedy available to him he could approach the statutory forum and that the assessment order should not be set aside. Press Release 29 January 2020 WE announces the expansion of the organization's sustainable development efforts through a new community partnership with Kabolwo, a rural region in Bomet County, Kenya, made possible by Marriott International's travel program Marriott Bonvoy. With a history of more than 20 years working in the Maasai Mara area, WE is embarking on a new journey of sustainable change with Kabolwo through its holistic sustainable development model, WE Villages. The unique model, designed to meet the basic needs of developing communities, works to end poverty by focusing on five pillars: Education, Water, Health, Food and Opportunitywhen implemented together, these pillars are key interventions that empower a community to help build a brighter future for themselves and future generations. Advertisements The challenges faced by Kabolwo provide an opportunity for partnership and implementing WE Villages' sustainable practices. Located an hour away from a nearby WE Village partner community, Kabolwo's elders learned about the positive impact WE Villages has had on their neighborslike new school facilities, agricultural initiatives including school lunch programs, and entrepreneurial skills development that led to economic opportunity for community membersand reached out to explore working with WE. Now, WE and Kabolwo are working together to build a sustainable future for everyone in their community. "Due to the high poverty levels in this community, we sought partnership with WE so that we may be empowered to become independent," said Stanley Ruto, Kabolwo community elder. "Based on the development we have seen in the nearby Enelerai community, we believe that one day Kabolwo will be like that: a good school with beautiful classrooms, water flowing in our community and community members empowered with economic opportunities." "We partner with communities to offer a hand up, not a handoutto empower them to reshape their futures for generations to come," said Craig Kielburger, co-founder of WE. "Thanks to the commitment from Marriott Bonvoy, families in Kabolwo will be inspired to bring lasting change with solutions that are adaptive, effective and sustained long-term by their own community members. Working collectively with local government, we devote time and resources to every new initiative and help keep projects running once complete with the goal of reaching a point after approximately five years where communities are self-sustaining. When people are driven to transform their lives, real lasting change is possible." To support the new community partnership, Marriott Bonvoy has teamed up with WE, empowering the people of Kabolwo to achieve their vision for a brighter future. With three participating hotels and more than 500 hotel associates who wear the Marriott International badge in Kenya, Marriott Bonvoy is committed to continuing Marriott International's legacy of "serving our world." This is why Marriott Bonvoy, which connects all its hotel brands including St. Regis, The Ritz-Carlton, W Hotels, Renaissance Hotels, Sheraton, Moxy Hotels, Courtyard by Marriott and others, is embarking on this journey with WE. Over the next three years, Marriott Bonvoy has committed to supporting the implementation of the WE Villages model in Kabolwo, ensuring that community members will be empowered with the tools and resources, providing opportunities for future generations. "Marriott Bonvoy is excited to join forces with WE to help the Kabolwo community achieve its vision for their future," said David Flueck, SVP, Global Loyalty, Marriott International. "this will provide another opportunity for enriching travel on our travel platform and allow our members to get directly involved in supporting the aspirations of the Kabolwo community." To date, WE has worked with communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America to build more than 1,500 school rooms, giving 200,000 children the opportunity to gain an education, provide access to clean water and sanitation programs to one million people and empower 30,000 women with the tools to gain economic self-sufficiency. Based on more than two decades of collaboration with local communities and experts in Africa, Asia and Latin America, WE Villages has engineered an international asset and rights-based development model end to end. It's not a handout or a single solution, but a combination of key interventions that empower a community to help themselves. Rooted in the understanding that poverty isn't the result of one single cause, WE Villages' five pillars work in tandem to provide solutions that support and amplify each other. Currently working inKenya, India, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Haiti, Sierra Leone, rural China, Tanzania and Ethiopia, WE's partner communities take ownership of the programs and projects. WE works with community members to develop the skills, strategies and infrastructure to take charge of their future, maintain long-term change, and thrive for generations. To learn more about how to get involved in Kabolwo's journey, visit www.MarriottBonvoy.com/WE To learn more about how to get involved in other WE Village partner communities, visit www.we.org/our-work/we-villages.com About WE WE is a family of organizations that makes doing good, doable. WE is made up of WE Charity, empowering domestic and international change, ME to WE, a social enterprise that creates socially conscious products and experiences to help support the charity, and WE Day, an unparalleled series of events, and the greatest celebration of social good. WE Charity was founded by New York Times Bestselling authors Craig Kielburger and Marc Kielburger, in 1995, with a mission to fight child labor. WE has since grown and evolved to address the root cause of child labor - extreme poverty. In the past 24 years, WE's programs have empowered over 1 million people with clean water, built 1,500 schools and schoolrooms overseas, and empowered more than 200,000 children with access to education. WE enables youth and families to better the worldsupporting 7,200+ local and global causes by volunteering millions of hours of service, shopping daily with an impact, and raising millions of dollars that directly benefit their local communities and the world. WE's headquarters is based in Toronto, Canada at the WE Global Learning Center, a service and social innovation accelerator for young people, leading them to become the next generation of leaders and towards a brighter future. Join the movement today at WE.org. For further information, please contact: Alison Clarke, Director of External Communications, WE [email protected] +1.647.218.2761 Branch, a Democrat, was nominated after a controversial meeting two weeks ago in which she cast the deciding vote for herself. The seven members of the 45th Legislative District of the Baltimore City Democratic Central Committee which Branch chairs were tasked with choosing Glenns replacement. Branch got three votes. Olivia Palermo has built herself as a fashion icon since her days on The City. But the entrepreneur still manages to find time for date nights with husband Johannes Huebl. She cut an uber chic look in black Tuesday with Huebl at the Whitney Art Party in New York City. Date night: Olivia Palermo cut an uber chic look in black Tuesday with Johannes Huebl at the Whitney Art Party in New York City The 33-year-old donned an ankle-length black dress, which featured a geometric print and satin shoulder straps tucked into a matching belt. She completed the look with pearl earrings, a white gold bangle with matching rings and a pair of purple velvet strappy stilettos. Palermo carried a black snakeskin clutch with a structured silver leaf handle as she arrived with Huebl. He put on a dapper display in a navy blue suit with a matching untucked shirt and suede loafers. Little black dress: The 33-year-old donned an ankle-length black dress, which featured a geometric print and satin shoulder straps tucked into a matching belt Accessorizing: She completed the look with pearl earrings, a white gold bangle with matching rings and a pair of purple velvet strappy stilettos In the bag: Palermo carried a black snakeskin clutch with a structured silver leaf handle as she arrived with Huebl Dapper display: He put on a dapper display in a navy blue suit with a matching untucked shirt and suede loafers Orange you glad? Kate Walsh went avant-garde in a neon orange dress with large structured leather sleeves that folded like lapels. She finished the look with large silver hoop earrings, a matching bangle and a pair of silver metallic stilettos Kate Walsh went avant-garde in a neon orange dress with large structured leather sleeves that folded like lapels. She finished the look with large silver hoop earrings, a matching bangle and a pair of silver metallic stilettos. Julia Fox rocked an all-blue look in a turtleneck, tucked into a fuzzy skirt with a matching teddy coat hanging off her shoulders. Babe in blue: Julia Fox rocked an all-blue look in a turtleneck, tucked into a fuzzy skirt with a matching teddy coat hanging off her shoulders Jumpsuit goals: Leyna Bloom served retro vibes in a '70s style lilac corduroy zip-up jumpsuit, tied at the waist and paired with black alligator high-heeled boots. Pritika Swarup dazzled in a silk pajama style jumpsuit, featuring a Japanese print in red, black and white Denim vibes: Victor Cruz sported a white denim jacket with a blue photo transfer print, paired with a matching t-shirt and grey tartan slacks Interesting: Artist and activist Tootsie Warhol arrived in Donald Trump costume, complete with orange face paint Leyna Bloom served retro vibes in a '70s style lilac corduroy zip-up jumpsuit, tied at the waist and paired with black alligator high-heeled boots. Pritika Swarup dazzled in a silk pajama style jumpsuit, featuring a Japanese print in red, black and white. Victor Cruz sported a white denim jacket with a blue photo transfer print, paired with a matching t-shirt and grey tartan slacks. Artist and activist Tootsie Warhol arrived in Donald Trump costume, complete with orange face paint. Mixing and mingling: Palermo and Cruz posed with Micaela Erlanger at the event hosted by the Whitney Museum of American Art Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Eisya A. Eloksari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 15:20 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2061873ac 1 Business BKPM,investment-coordinating-board,Bahlil-Lahadalia,Ease-Doing-Business-EODB-index,World-Bank,investment,Jokowi,omnibus-bill,omnibus-law,foreign-direct-investment Free Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) head Bahlil Lahadali says he is ready to resign if the countrys ease of doing business (EODB) rank did not reach the top 50 in the next four years. If I cant meet that target, Im ready to step down. That is my moral commitment, he said at a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday. If a public official cant contribute positively to the country, they must resign. Dont be a burden on the country, he went on to say. Indonesia ranked 73rd on the World Banks Doing Business 2020 report released in October last year. The countrys rank has stagnated since 2018, while neighbors Malaysia and Thailand fare better at 12th and 21st position, respectively. The World Bank report highlights Indonesias rigid regulations on employment and minimum wages. In terms of competitiveness to attract foreign investment, Indonesia slipped five positions to the 50th place of 141 countries on the World Economic Forums (WEF) Global Competitiveness Report 2019. Meanwhile, Malaysia and Thailand rank 27th and 40th, respectively. Bahlil also said during the press briefing that he would simplify more than 20 investment requirements into just 17 to further ease both foreign and domestic investment. I am 90 percent to 100 percent sure that with the regulatory simplification, Indonesias doing business rank can go up, he said. Attracting more investment has become a priority of President Joko Jokowi Widodos second-term administration to boost the countrys economic growth. Jokowi recently streamlined all business licensing processes toward the BKPM and granted the agency the authority to review policies seen as hampering investment. At the same time, the government is formulating an omnibus bill on job creation to cut red tape and attract more investment to the country. (Newser) Starbucks says it has closed more than half of its 4,292 stores in China and delayed releasing a financial forecast "due to the dynamic situation unfolding with the coronavirus." China is the second-largest market for Starbucks, which is the first major American company to warn that it will take a financial hit from the outbreak, reports Reuters. CEO Kevin Johnson told reporters Tuesday that Starbucks China, which has adjusted hours at the stores that are still open, has acted "in a thoughtful and responsible way to protect our partners and support health officials and the government as they work to contain this public health risk." story continues below Other American companies, including KFC and McDonald's, have also closed outlets in China in response to the outbreak, which has now killed more than 130 people, NPR reports. Disney has closed its theme parks in Shanghai and Hong Kong, which had been gearing up for the "Year of the Mouse," reports CNN. Apple CEO Tim Cook said Tuesday that the company is monitoring the situation and has already closed one of its retail stores in China. "Many of the stores that remain open have also reduced operating hours," he said. "We're taking additional precautions and frequently deep-cleaning our stores as well as conducting temperature checks for employees." (Read more coronavirus stories.) : At least 806 people who returned from China over the past few days are under observation in Kerala for possible exposure to the novel coronavirus, Health officials said here on Wednesday. Out of the total of 806 people, 173 had arrived in the state on Wednesday. While 10 of them are under observation in isolation wards at various hospitals across the state, the remaining are under home quarantine. Health Minister K K Shylaja has asked those who have returned from China to avoid travelling to other places and keep themselves under self quarantine for 28 days. "It's better to observe self quarantine for 28 days. In case they are suffering from cough, shortness of breath or have low-grade fever, they must contact the specially arranged medical centres at each district. There is no need to go to any other hospitals," Minister said in a medical bulletin on Wednesday. The health department also gave the phone number, 0471- 255-2056, to make available the details of the hospitals arranged for treatment with isolation wards. The medical bulletin said that at least 19 people had been admitted in various hospitals since the past one week, of whom nine were discharged after medical checkup. "Of the 16 blood samples sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, results of 10 were found negative. We are yet to receive the results of six more samples," a health official said. A three-member central team had visited Kerala on January 27 and 28 and held a meeting with Kerala Health authorities, including Principal Health Secretary Dr Rajan N Khobragade, here and discussed the preventive measures taken against the backdrop of the Coronavirus outbreak in China's Wuhan province. A thermal screening facility was opened at the Thiruvananthapuram airport on Tuesday to scan passengers coming from the neighbouring country, they told reporters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images(LONDON) -- Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are embarking on a new life after their split from the royal family, one that does not include public money, official royal duties or the use of their royal highness titles. In his only public comments about the split, Harry, 35, described it as a "step forward into what I hope can be a more peaceful life." Whether the Sussexes' new life can in fact be "more peaceful" and what their new life may entail are examined in a new ABC News special Royal Divide: Harry, Meghan, and the Crown, airing Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 10 p.m. ET on ABC. "I spoke to Harry a few days ago," professional polo player Nacho Figueras, a longtime friend of Prince Harry's, says in the special. "He has suffered a lot from all of the things that have happened to him. He suffers a lot from people judging him." "He's being a father ... a guy who is trying to protect his cub and his lioness from whatever it takes," he said of Harry. "He has become an incredible man, a man that his mother would be proud of." Harry's mom, the late Princess Diana, left the royal family in the early 90s, after her divorce from Harry's father, Prince Charles. The Sussexes have chosen to no longer be "working members" of Britain's royal family beginning this spring after high-stakes negotiations with Harry's family and palace officials. The couple has indicated their distaste for some parts of the British press and the media spotlight in general, but experts say they are unlikely to get any reprieve from the spotlight as intrigue into their new lives will only grow. "The idea that by somehow stepping back from the royal family theyre going to somehow regain control of their privacy is tragically a fool's errand," said Larry Hackett, managing partner of 10Ten Media and former People magazine editor. "Thats just not going to happen. In fact its going to get worse." "Every single moment in their lives, whether it's the first major commercial deal that Meghan and Harry have just struck, or their next child, every single moment will be tracked," added ABC News foreign correspondent James Longman. "This is high stakes." Harry and Meghan and their 8-month-old son Archie are currently in Canada, where they are staying in a rented home on Vancouver Island. The couple's legal team has already issued a legal notice to U.K. media and photo agencies concerning the use of paparazzi agency photos, a source close to the Sussexes confirmed to ABC News. "I think that actually Harry and Meghan are going to get into more difficulties with paparazzi," said Anna Pasternak, a British author. "There'll be less of an organized structure around them every time they go to an event." "We saw it with Harrys mother," she said. Harry invoked the memory of Diana, who died in a 1997 Paris car crash that involved paparazzi, in comments he made just a few months before he and Meghan announced they planned to "step back" as senior members of the royal family. "So everything that she went through and what happened to her is incredibly raw every single day and thats not me being paranoid thats just me not wanting a repeat of the past," he said in the documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey. "And if anybody else knew what I knew, be it a father, be it a husband, be it anyone, youd probably be doing exactly what Im doing as well." Figueras said Harry is in search of a "normal life" with his wife and son, but acknowledged the difficulties that will likely face his friend, the sixth in line to the British throne. "He wants to live a normal life, as normal as his life is going to be, right?," said Figueras. "Because when you have 1,000 paparazzis outside your house in Canada waiting to get one picture of your son, that's not very, very normal." Much of the blame for Harry and Meghan's decision to seek a more "normal life" outside the royal family has also fallen on Meghan, a Los Angeles native who left her acting career and her life in the U.S. and Canada to marry Harry nearly two years ago. Royal insiders gave a glimpse into the life that awaited Meghan after her glamorous and star-studded wedding to Harry at St. George's Chapel. "It's not all palaces and fast cars and lots of money. It's the gilded cage," said Alastair Bruce, ABC News royal consultant. "In the end, it's not about you. It's about anything you can do to support the queen who's the head of state." Julie Montagu understands some of what Meghan was up against. Montagu left her American roots nearly 20 years ago to marry into the British aristocracy. Her husband, Luke, is in line to become the next Earl of Sandwich. "I've got to be honest. You don't know until you're in it," Montagu said in response to the argument that Meghan knew what she was getting into when she wed Harry. "I can attest to that." "As an American, we have been brought up from day one, you are told you can do anything you want to do. You can be anything you want to be," Montagu said. "All of a sudden, [Meghan] has moved over here. She can't be anything she wants to be anymore. She can't do anything she wants to do anymore." "And I think it can be suffocating for somebody who is an American and their whole life was spent working towards becoming this TV actress, having passions in her life, and all of a sudden going into a much more claustrophobic world where this is what's going to happen now," she said. "You can't be political. You can't be emotional. And you can't have opinions." Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. The judge overseeing Virginia Giuffre's defamation case against Ghislaine Maxwell has been asked to reconsider her decision to keep under seal a tranche of documents, according to a new filing. A motion was filed on Monday by the Miami Herald and its reporter Julie K. Brown, who have voluntarily joined the lawsuit brought by Giuffre, an alleged sex slave of the late convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Brown spearheaded the scrutiny of Epstein with her 2018 news coverage of his 2008 conviction for soliciting sex from a minor in Florida and the sweetheart deal he was given by federal prosecutors in the case, despite dozens of underage girls accusing him of molestation. Epstein, 66, was arrested in July and killed himself in a Manhattan jail cell in August while facing federal sex trafficking charges in New York. The 2015 civil lawsuit was filed by Giuffre after Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend and consort who allegedly recruited underage girls for the financier, publicly denounced her as a liar for her allegations that she was forced into sexual servitude and pimped out to other powerful men including Prince Andrew. The Duke of York has denied those claims and Maxwell has also denied her involvement. Now, the Miami Herald is requesting that Judge Loretta A. Preska re-examine her order from January 13 to keep motions out of public view that were not decided on by the former judge in the case, Judge Sweet, deeming them 'not judicial documents'. NY Judge Loretta A. Preska was asked to reconsider her decision to keep under seal documents in Virginia Giuffre's defamation case against Ghislaine Maxwell The 2015 civil lawsuit was filed by Giuffre after Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend and consort who allegedly recruited underage girls for the financier, publicly denounced her as a liar for her allegations that she was forced into sexual servitude and pimped out to other powerful men including Prince Andrew Giuffre settled the defamation case in her favor for an undisclosed sum in May 2017 from Maxwell. Preska wrote earlier this month: 'There thus is no live controversy to which the judicial power can extend. With respect to motions left undecided by Judge Sweet, there was never, and now never can be, a judicial decision-making process that would trigger the public's right to access the undecided motions and the documents relevant to them.' However Preska noted that her ruling was a 'narrow one' due to the fact that 'there is a great deal of public intrigue surrounding the unsealing of the documents at issue here'. She added that there is a 'realistic possibility that they are relevant and thus ripe for unsealing' in the future if they become pertinent in the decisions that Judge Sweet made in the case. The Miami Herald's filing on Monday argues that Preska should reconsider based on an opinion from the Ninth Circuit court that was issued four days after her decision on January 13. The Ninth Circuit rejected the argument that 'the right of access to civil complaints attaches only at the moment, 'they become the subject of some type of judicial action'. Lawyers for the newspaper argued that the reason for public access to the documents is 'far broader' than to 'monitor judicial decision-making'. The Miami Herald's filing on Monday argues that Judge Preska (pictured) should reconsider based on an opinion from the Ninth Circuit court that was issued four days after her decision on January 13 A motion was filed on Monday by the Miami Herald and its reporter Julie K. Brown (pictured), who have voluntarily joined the lawsuit brought by Giuffre They said that the public has a right to know about the filings as it may have borne influence on how the case was settled. They also argue that: 'It is entirely likely the filing of the motions and a desire not to have the judge rule adversely against a party caused the settlement. The public has a right to know what influences parties' settlement decisions and how they use the court - a public resource to achieve settlement.' Brown and the Herald also question Preska's opinion that the motions could be unsealed if shown 'relevant to Judge Sweet's actual decisions'. They argue that this places an 'impossible burden' on them 'to demonstrate what was in the mind of Judge Sweet when the documents were filed'. Judge Robert W Sweet, who previously presided over the case in the Southern District of New York, died in March 2019 at the age of 96. Currently the matter of whether another tranche of documents in the defamation case should be kept sealed or made public are at the heart of the battle between Giuffre and Maxwell's legal teams. Last week, lawyers for Maxwell filed a letter to the court highlighting the risks that hasty unsealing of the documents may cause. The letter, sent by Maxwell's attorney, Ty Gee, claimed that the British socialite's personal emails had been hacked and damaging information, including the names of individuals linked to Epstein's sex trafficking case, were at risk of being publicly released. The revelation that Ghislaine Maxwell's emails were hacked was made in a letter filed by the British socialite's lawyers in the defamation case brought against her by Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Guiffre (center) Gee noted 'the difficulty and complexity' of the process of analyzing the more than 8,600 pages in the case, adding that it is 'difficult-to-overstate importance to the lives of Ms. Maxwell and the non-parties'. Gee's letter says that the project 'could not be accomplished by scanning or speed-reading' as each page had to be carefully analysed to redact, for example, 'a surname or an email address'. He refers to details that were released in error in the 2,000 pages that were made public in August by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Those filings revealed allegations that Maxwell procured underage girls for Epstein. She has denied those charges. 'Despite the Second Circuit's best efforts, it made serious mistakes. For example, it redacted a non-party's name in one location but not another; so the media immediately gained access to that name,' Gee wrote. 'As another example, it redacted Ms. Maxwell's email address (which linked to her own domain name) in one location but not another; shortly afterward hackers breached the host computer.' The hack may have implications for Prince Andrew after it was revealed in December that the Duke of York exchanged emails with Maxwell in 2015 about Giuffre. In that email, revealed on Panorama, Maxwell and the British royal discussed Giuffre despite denials from Prince Andrew that he had never met the then-teenager and that a photo of them together was a fake. In an email, Maxwell and Prince Andrew discussed Giuffre despite denials from Andrew that he had never met the then-teenager and that a photo of them together was a fake. Virginia Roberts says this photograph shows her with Prince Andrew at Ghislaine Maxwell's flat (she is pictured in the background) in west London in early 2001 'Let me know when we can talk. Got some specific questions to ask you about Virginia Roberts,' Prince Andrew wrote in an email to Maxwell. She replied: 'Have some info call me when you have a moment.' The email security breach means that 58-year-old Maxwell's emails could be sold or leaked to the public and potentially reveal more details about individuals connected to Epstein. The Daily Telegraph reported that Maxwell used a secret mail server, and not a major service like Google, which can keep emails out of the hands of authorities, but which increased the risk of them being hacked. Epstein, 66, hanged himself in his New York jail cell on August 10, 2019 while facing charges of child sex trafficking. The financier previously received an 18-month prison sentence in Florida in 2008 on charges of soliciting a minor for prostitution. Earlier this month, attorneys for Maxwell and Giuffre appeared in court to hash out a time frame for the unsealing of more documents in the case which include depositions from more than two dozen people, including a number of new witnesses and potentially Epstein. Those are expected to be released on a 'rolling basis' in the coming weeks. Those who are named in the documents, described as 'non-parties' to the case, will be notified in two weeks and they will get a two-week period to file an objection. Another Maxwell attorney who was in court, Laura Menninger, described the 'non-parties' as 'in positions of means with (legal) counsel' while others 'live out of the country or in remote places without counsel'. Meanwhile, Prince Andrew is facing heat from US federal prosecutors, who are pointing to his November statement saying he was willing to help in their investigation. Speaking to reporters outside Epstein's Manhattan mansion on Monday, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman said that prosecutors have contacted Prince Andrew's attorneys but have not received a response In Ty Gee's letter, the attorney also points out the intense media interest in the case, which he defines as everything from 'established newspapers and broadcast media' to 'every person who owns a computer, tablet or smart phone who distributes information to others'. The letter also complains that Epstein's alleged victims, including Giuffre, their lawyers and PRs 'are actively stoking media interest for their own ends'. By comparison, Gee writes that Maxwell has not sought out media attention and has therefore gained more media attention. Maxwell retreated from public life several years ago and had been living quietly in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts at the home of tech CEO, Scott Borgerson, DailyMail.com revealed in August. Her current whereabouts are unknown with Giuffre's attorneys admitting at court last week that they have no idea where she is. Maxwell and others are being investigated by the FBI as part of the Epstein case, Reuters reported in December, citing law enforcement sources. On Monday, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, held a press conference outside of Epstein's E71st Street mansion where he said that Prince Andrew has provided 'zero cooperation' to the FBI and the U.S. prosecutors seeking to speak with him about his ties to Epstein. The statement by Berman was the first official confirmation that the leading U.S. law enforcement agency had sought - and failed - to obtain evidence from His Royal Highness despite his pledge in November following a widely-criticized BBC interview that he would cooperate with legitimate law enforcement agencies. Members of the Pashtun community here on Wednesday staged a demonstration outside the Embassy of Pakistan, seeking the immediate and unconditional release of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader -- Manzoor Pashteen. "Release him (Manzoor Pashteen) as soon as possible. If you don't want to release him, then we want a statement from your government to state that you are not releasing him. We already know that your government is putting a lot of Pashtuns in jail, abducting them and killing them," they said while protesting in front of Pakistan's Embassy. "If this stance continues forever, then that is not tolerable. People will come after you. People will make sure you pay the price. We'll make sure that minorities are not dominated either in Pakistan or the surrounding areas," they further said. The Pashtuns also noted that protests will be organised all around the including Europe, North America, South America, and Australia. "We also urge the Government of Pakistan to read their own Constitution and allow for our rights," they said. They stressed: "Don't count our numbers. We are here to tell you what you are doing is unethical and violating human rights as well as minority rights. You are lodging a protester who is calling for non-violence." The PTM chief was arrested from Peshawar's Shaheen Town on Monday after a first information report (FIR) was registered against him for allegedly making derogatory remarks about the state. On Tuesday, a Peshawar court ordered Pashteen's transfer to DI Khan jail in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after turning down his request for the transit bail. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Trump with Darrell Scott, CEO of the Urban Revitalization Coalition. Photo: Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images Politico reports that in their efforts to win over a possibly decisive sliver of black voters ahead of Novembers election, Trump backers employing a blunt and legally shady strategy: giving people cash. Last month, prominent black Trump supporters gathered at an event in Cleveland, during which attendees participated in a ticket drawing. Winners received envelopes stuffed with hundreds of dollars. The confab was organized by Urban Revitalization Coalition, a 501(c)3 charitable organization headed up by Darrell Scott. More details from Politico: The first cash giveaway took place last month. Another was scheduled in Virginia for Martin Luther King Day before being scrapped amid a dispute with the college set to host the event. Organizers say they plan to roll out a tour schedule featuring more events soon. The groups Christmas Extravaganza event in Cleveland last month featured a $25,000 giveaway and an appearance by JaRon Smith, a deputy assistant to the president. A Cleveland native who worked on Trumps criminal justice reform, Smith is among the highest-ranking black officials in the White House. At the event, which also featured an appearance by television personality Geraldo Rivera, Lanier compared the investigative scrutiny faced by Trump to the plight of wrongfully incarcerated black men. He also defended Trumps record on race. The give voters money strategy is certainly unseemly, but it might also not be on the level, since charities like Urban Revitalization Coalition are governed by rules that specify they must spend funds on charitable purposes, and its unclear whether the Trump events clear that threshold. The appearance of the Politico story is likely to ramp up scrutiny of the events further. President Trump only won 8 percent of black voters in 2016. But black turnout had decreased significantly from 2012 and 2008, when President Obama was on the ballot, including in key swing states like Wisconsin. A small shift in the balance could help Trump pick off the states hell need to win to secure reelection though Ohio, where the first event was held, and Virginia, where the second was planned, are considered solidly Republican and Democratic, respectively. Whatever the technical legality or political effectiveness of the cash giveaways, the tactic is yet another reminder of what this president can get away with compared to the previous one. it is a cliche at this point but COULD YOU IMAGINE the howls in conservative media if the obama campaign were handing out envelopes of cash to win black voters https://t.co/vj2phIwj8I b-boy bouiebaisse (@jbouie) January 29, 2020 The remains of RMS Titanic were hit by a submarine last year but the crash was kept quiet by a US government agency, according to a report. The collision was made by a vessel hired by British company EYOS Expeditions, but US officials never revealed that it had struck the wreck of the legendary ocean liner, according to legal papers seen by the Telegraph. The Triton submersible collided with its starboard hull breach back in July 2019, when intense and highly unpredictable currents caused the pilot to lose control, the papers reveal. The EYOS expedition leader confirmed to the Telegraph that there had been contact with the Titanic but that any damage to the remains would have been minor. However, the delicate wreck is deteriorating so rapidly underwater that it could completely disappear within the next 40 years. The 2019 expedition carried scientists who said microbial life was eating away at the wreck, including the captains bathtub, which had completely disappeared. Scroll down for video The Triton DSV Limiting Factor from Florida-based company Triton Submarines, which collided with the starboard hull breach of the Titanic wreck The Triton DSV Limiting Factor brought back the first ever 4K images of RMS Titanic, showing the extent to its damage caused by sea salt corrosion, metal-eating bacteria and deep currents. We tried to keep away from the Titanic but we had to go close to deposit two science samples, said EYOS expedition leader Rob McCallum. We did accidentally make contact with the Titanic once while we were near the starboard hull breach, a big piece of the hull that sticks out. Afterwards we observed a red rust stain on the side of the hub. But the submersible is covered in white fibreglass and is very delicate and expensive, while underwater its essentially weightless its not a battering ram. The $35 million Triton DSV Limiting Factor is the only submersible in the world capable of diving to the deepest ocean depth 36,000 feet. The Titan explorers, who were making the first manned voyage to the Titanic wreckage in 14 years, said they uncovered a partial collapse of the ship's hull. The porcelain bathtub of RMS Titanic Captain Edward Smith had also completely disappeared. The high definition footage will be the subject of a National Geographic documentary that will be released in March. Pictured, the remains of Captain Edward Smith's bathtub from the 2003 NOAA expedition with rusticles growing over most of the pipes and fixtures in the bathroom. The tub had disappeared completely by 2019 The wreck of the Titanic will be protected for the first time following a 'momentous' treaty which will restrict exploration of the sunken vessel's decaying hull, pictured Triton DSV Limiting Factor can dive to depths of 36,000 feet and fits two passengers plus a pilot The state of the wreck which sank in two pieces has long been deteriorating due to corrosion, biological activity and deep ocean currents. US wreck salvage firm RMS Titanic Inc which is the only entity legally permitted to remove items from Titanics remains alleges that the government agency knew the EYOS submarine struck the Titanic but officials monitoring the dive failed to inform the court. This was despite an observer from the government agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), being on board the EYOS expedition surface ship. Atlantic Productions is gearing up to release a documentary from the dive sometime in 2020. The team captured the first 4K images of the ship. It's pictured above on January 1, 1912 Instead it took more than five months for EYOS to admit to the collusion, in a report dated January 7, the Telegraph report says. The fact that NOAA never disclosed the crash to the court raises a series of troubling issues, according to RMST, which has demanded that EYOS produce video footage of the collision or face charges. RMST demands that a NOAA representative be summoned to explain why the court and RMST were not informed sooner and the effect of the collision on the delicate wreck. NOAA said it first learned of the impact with the Titanic through the EYOS report. A reproduction of the Marconi Radio Room, from the Titanic, at the Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration. A plan is being hatched to 'surgically remove' a roof to get to the radio that gave out the Titanic's final distress signal WHY WAS THE MARCONI WIRELESS IMPORTANT FOR TITANIC? By the time of Titanics maiden voyage in 1912, most passenger ships operating in the north Atlantic had a Marconi wireless installation staffed by Marconi Company operators. Communication between ship and shore was by Morse code, as it was for conventional telegraphy. As well as communicating with other ships, the Marconi wireless also relayed passenger messages something of a novelty for first-class passengers. As Titanic collided with an iceberg on the night of 14 April 1912, Harold Cottam, operator on nearby Cunard liner Carpathia, was still awake. He received the first distress signal from Titanic, sent by senior wireless operator Jack Phillips. Carpathia immediately turned and steamed the 60 miles towards Titanics given position, a journey of almost four hours. A dramatic rescue of more than 700 survivors from the Titanic disaster was made possible by the new wireless equipment. Carpathia steamed into New York carrying the survivors four days after the sinking. Source: Science Museum Advertisement Next month RMST will ask a judge permission to retrieve artefacts from within the remains of the wreck, including the Marconi wireless radio which in 1912 was a world-leading communications device and transmitted the ship's distress signal. RMST, backed by Private Equity firms, wants to use three underwater robots to lift part of the ceiling to grab the Marconi wireless. A document seen by the Telegraph said: 'In the next few years the overhead is expected to collapse, potentiality burying forever the remains of the world's most famous radio.' RMST claims it wishes to preserve the relics on the wreck before they are lost to history. However, the plans have been criticised as little more than an attempt to 'pilfer and pillage' the wreck by Gavin Robinson, DUP MP for Belfast East, where the Titanic was built. Mr Robinson told The Telegraph: 'I think it's important that we get behind government and make sure that there are robust efforts in place that would frustrate the efforts of those who want to simply profiteer. 'The idea that a vested connection would warrant pilfering and pillaging what is essentially a tomb to the sacrifice to those who were aboard Titanic, I think it's entirely misguided.' Robinson last week slammed plans to cut open the hull of the Titanic and salvage the Marconi wireless in defiance of a new landmark treaty between the US and UK to protect the iconic shipwreck. The agreement will give both nations the power to grant or deny licences to enter the remains and to remove artefacts found outside the hull before the wreck disappears forever. The luxury liner which sank on April 15, 1912, after a collision with an iceberg lies on the seafloor around 350 nautical miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Around 13,000ft (4,000m) beneath the surface of the Atlantic Ocean, salt corrosion and metal-eating bacteria have worn away parts of the liner's structure (pictured) The footage from last year (a still is shown above) gives a much clearer look at the different parts of the ship that appeared in the movie. Titanic historian Park Stephenson said the deterioration is 'shocking', adding: 'That whole deck hole on that side is collapsing, taking with it the staterooms, and the deterioration is going to continue advancing The photo (left) shows a new angle of the side of the RMS Titanic in her resting place at the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean taken during a survey of the wreckage from a manned submersible on an expedition in early August. The ship is pictured at the dock over a century ago (right) before its doomed voyage Constructed by Belfast-based shipbuilders Harland and Wolff between 1909 and 1912, the RMS Titanic was the largest ship afloat of her time. Owned and operated by the White Star Line, the passenger vessel set sail on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York on April 10, 1912. The liner made two short stops en route to her planned Atlantic crossing one at the French port of Cherbourg, the other at Cork Harbour, Ireland, where smaller vessels ferried passengers on and off board the Titanic. Nearly five days into her voyage, the Titanic struck an iceberg at around 23:40 local time, generating six narrow openings in the vessel's starboard hull, believed to have occurred as a result of the rivets in the hull snapping. Around 1,500 people were believed lost in the tragedy, including around 815 of the liner's passengers. Since Prince Andrews disastrous BBC interview theres been so much talk about his previous friendship with Jeffrey Epstein but not many people are aware that the dukes ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York also knew the late convicted pedophile very well. Heres more on Fergies connections with the disgraced financier and what she has said about the scandal surrounding the prince. Sarah Ferguson | Dave J Hogan/Getty Images Fergies ties to Epstein go back years After her divorce from Andrew, the Duchess of York was in debt. She reportedly owed her former personal assistant, Johnny OSullivan, more than $100,000 but did not have the means to pay for it. Thats when Epstein stepped in to help her and the amount was lowered to just under $20,000. At the time though Fergie claimed that Prince Andrew helped her with the debt that was actually paid for by Epstein. In 2011, it was revealed that the duchess had direct contact with the sex offender herself about paying the debt off. I deeply regret Jeffrey Epstein became involved in any way with me, Fergie said in a statement. I abhor pedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf. I am just so contrite I cannot say. Whenever I can I will repay the money and will have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again. What he did was wrong and for which he was rightly jailed. Epstein was furious that Sarah called him a pedophile and threatened legal action against her but he eventually backed off those threats. Did the duchess advise Prince Andrew to do the BBC interview? Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images When Andrew gave his car crash interview about Epstein there were many people who thought Fergie convinced him to do so in order to try and clear his name. However, her representative, James Henderson, said that was not the case as Sarah was traveling when the Newsnight interview took place. The Duchess was out of the country last week and the week before in Hong Kong; China; Saudi Arabia and Venice and was not involved in this program which took place and was finalized last week whilst she was overseas, Henderson explained. According to sources who spoke with The Telegraph, Sarah did know about the interview and while she didnt think it was a good idea she ultimately left it up to Andrew. She did have two requests though that she figured would be the best approach. She was very clear that if he was to do an interview, it should only be answering four questions for 15 minutes with a journalist she knew, preferably on American TV, the source said. She was adamant about this. What Fergie has said about the scandal Sarah Ferguson | John Rainford/GC Images The duchess recently broke her silence about what she thinks of the scandal involving her ex-husband that has rocked the royal family. Fergie opened up to Vogue Arabia about Andrews association with Epstein. Its incredibly difficult, Ferguson said of the media scrutiny. She went on to say, When I talk about Prince Andrew, I talk about family because the last six months have been hard on the girls and me To see such a wonderful man go through such enormous pain. He is the best man I know. Its just incredible what he has done for Britain, and its all nonsense [her voice raises as she alludes to the Epstein scandal], so I talk about familyhood, and Im very strong about it. Read more: The Real Reason Prince Andrews Ex-Wife Sarah Ferguson Has to Spend Christmas Alone Every Year [January 29, 2020] OutSystems Names 2019 Innovation Award Winners SINGAPORE, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- At the recent NextStep conference in Denver and Amsterdam, OutSystems announced 2019 Innovation Award Winners from a slew of categories across IT. These companies were evaluated based on business impact and measurable IT benefits they achieved with their initiatives. The OutSystems Innovation Awards recognize, honor, and celebrate the organizations and people that are using OutSystems to make IT dramatically more proactive, productive, and essential to creating business value and driving innovation. "OutSystems is proud to recognise these 10 Asia Pacific organisations for the strides they've made in their transformation journeys,'' said Mark Weaser, Vice President, Asia Pacific, OutSystems. "They've taken steps to implement new technologies into their workflows and processes that will enable their teams to be more productive, save costs and improve customer satisfaction and experience. We will continue to work closely with the award winners, and all of our other customers to ensure that they are realising the true potential that our platform can bring." Overall, 10 companies were honored in six categories, displaying excellence in Best User Experience, Business Impact, Digital Transformation, Legacy Modernisation, Mobile Excellence and Time to Market. Best User Experience Awards Sakata Seeds Corporation, a world leader in breeding and producing seeds won the award for value adding the IT department with web and mobile applications by leveraging on OutSystems' expertise. Complexity was reduced and the applications allowed for quick turnovers on system requests by end users of the application. Business Impact Awards Liberty Insurance, a diversified global insurer won the award for its Claim Transformation for leveraging on OutSystems to create an application that managed claim workflows. This led to 100% productivity gains and an increased Net Promoter Score as the app helps expedite the claim process. Agents and customer were also found to be more satisfied with the overall claims process. Obayashi Road Corporation, a paving construction and civil engineering company won the award for their web-based application that allowed for simple and quick reporting. Using OutSystems, they built a platform that also allowed for easy approvals and accurate cost calculation. Business process efficiency improved in just six months, and audit processes were much smoother. Digital Transformation Awards Schneider Electric, a global specialist in energy management and automation, won the award for their Smart Logistics E-tracking web application. The application was developed with real-time integration with Schneider's federated ERPs via APIs to fetch relevant data and aggregate them into meaningful information on an intuitive user interface. This empowered business users, increased productivity and reduced direct variable costs in Europe and four other DCs worldwide. BRI Security Pty Ltd, a specialist corporate risk management and security services organisation that has merged with end-to-end security solutions provider Certis Security Australia, won the award for their Explosive Trace Detection application. It was able to be rolled out in record time, while remaining compliant with the ETD processes, and therefore benefited airport security screenings. Legacy Modernisation Awards Western Australia Department of Health, the government department responsible for regulating and advancing health within the state, won the award for their Medical Accounts Assessment System (MAAS) that digitally transformed the core system that pays contracted medical professionals in public hospitals. The transformation has delivered much greater accuracy, flexibility and self-sufficiency to enable the department to match the evolving requirements of the Australian Health System, without requiring code changes to do so. Surbana Jurong, one of the largest multidisciplinary urban, infrastructure and management services consulting firms based in Asia, has won the award for their Integrated Estate Management Solution (IEMS 2.0) that includes the IEMS Case Management and IEMS Deployment modules, developed and implemented for their clients who are running operations in the residential and commercial properties within the various townships. The low code system improves operational efficiency and productivity for case management processes, with the enhanced user interface and experience. Mobile Excellence Awards Astra Credit Companies, a financing solution provider in Indonesia won the award for their various product/mobile applications that launched under three months. ACC leveraged on OutSystems' rapid application development to seize opportunities in the market and deliver a quality experience for both internal and external stakeholders, with services such as simplified loan monitoring. FWD Life Insurance Corporation ("FWD Insurance"), part of pan-Asian FWD Group, is leveraging digital technology in pursuit of its vision to change the way people feel about insurance. The insurer won the award for mobile B2C insurance application FWD Tapp, that enabled customers to use various self-service features such as managing their policy on-the-go, check their premiums, monitor their investment portfolios, and visually see how their investments are growing over time. Using OutSystems platform, this highly engaging experience has increased customer satisfaction, helping FWD Insurance improve retention and brand loyalty. Time to Market Award JTC Corporation, a Singapore-based developer won the award for their iEnforce application that consolidates the offence lifecycle and stores related photo evidence. The application enabled business users to save on administrative costs and man-hours while empowering IT to rapidly develop applications on a versatile and intuitive platform. Logo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20171116/1994802-1LOGO SOURCE OutSystems [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is allegedly investigating Adebutu Kessington, Nigerian businessman popularly know... The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is allegedly investigating Adebutu Kessington, Nigerian businessman popularly known as Baba Ijebu, for alleged tax fraud and economic sabotage, according to PREMIUM TIMES. Segun Adebutu, one of his children who is one of the management officials of Premier Lotto, is reported to have been detained at the EFCC office in Lagos for questioning. According to officials of the commission, the investigation is as a result of a petition submitted by Western Lotto, another betting company which is run by Buruji Kashamu, a former senator. Adebutu and Kashamu both hail from Ogun state. PREMIUM TIMES quoted EFCC sources as saying that they have identified N5 billion revenue that should have been remitted to the federal government but was allegedly kept aside by the company. The probe might be expanded to include other betting companies and investigate claims of sharp practices and how some firms allegedly withhold funds from winning customers.The EFCC has not filed any charges against Premier Lotto. The recent false alarm at the Pickering nuclear power plant highlights the mythologies and heightened perceptions of risk with nuclear power. The anti-nuke activists have created deep misunderstanding about nuclear power that undermines climate change action. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion The recent false alarm at the Pickering nuclear power plant highlights the mythologies and heightened perceptions of risk with nuclear power. The anti-nuke activists have created deep misunderstanding about nuclear power that undermines climate change action. A watershed moment of awareness occurred in my early university years when I learned that very few problems have a magic-bullet solution. In fact, most challenges we confront are, to use C. George Churchmans phrase, "wicked problems." A wicked problem features layers of complexity. Technical uncertainty, forecast errors, and multiple check-mating interest groups stymie solutions. Mitigating the effects of climate change is a wicked problem requiring a multi-pronged and sustained solution. Solving the wicked climate change has three requirements. First, carbon dioxide emissions must decline drastically and globally. Second, adaptation to a warmer word is inevitable and will assume increasing importance. Third, to maintain global standards of living we need a continuous supply of reliable and affordable energy. No one, whether part of the advanced economies or the developing world, will support any policy that reduces incomes. Over the last three or four decades opponents of nuclear energy have waged an increasingly vigorous campaign to discourage nuclear power. Typically, they emphasize the safety of the technology and the waste issue. Chernobyl, Three Mile Island and Fukushima are common examples of the risks of nuclear power. Chernobyl was an accident triggered by a flawed design and human error, vastly compounded by a secretive and paranoid Russian government. By any measure, the nuclear accident at Three Mile Island was relatively minor. No deaths occurred and the small amount of radioactive gas released produced few harms. Fukushima was not a nuclear accident, but the result of a tsunami. Had key parts of the facility been positioned even 10 meters higher and away from the shores exposed to periodic and regular tsunamis, the reactors would have survived without mishap. Yes, nuclear power is technologically complex, and yes, human error, design shortcomings and management missteps have created risks and loss of life. But estimates of the total deaths from nuclear power plant accidents have been wildly exaggerated. Compare the fewer than 60 direct deaths from the three high profile nuclear accidents to the 40 people incinerated in the Lac-Megantic rail disaster or the estimated 6.1 million who die prematurely each year from fossil fuel-induced air pollution. Nuclear technology has advanced on many fronts, two of which are important. First the fast neuron reactor, championed by Peter Ottensmeyer, promises to use existing "spent fuel" currently in storage in Canada, The waste produced by the reactors currently in operation still retains some 99 per cent of the energy originally present. Using this as fuel would dramatically reduce the scale of the waste storage problem, while increasing the electricity generation capacity. 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. Second, small modular reactors are simpler to construct, require much lower levels of financing due to their reduced scale, produce much less waste and are easier to deploy. This technology has the potential to reduce the reliance on grid distribution common to hydro and renewables while meeting the energy needs of remote communities. Canada has 22 reactors producing 15 per cent of our total energy, which have several remaining decades of safe operation. The appetite for expanding this capacity has been low, but thankfully a nuclear renaissance may be emerging here in Canada. At the recent meeting of the Council of the Federation, the premiers of Saskatchewan, Ontario and New Brunswick signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on developing nuclear power, especially in the form of small nuclear reactors. While the federal crown agency Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) continues to play a role in research and development, it has evolved into a government-owned, contractor-operated organization supporting private sector initiatives that will assume increasing responsibility for creating new nuclear technologies. To mitigate the climate-change emergency, we need more muscular policy on all fronts. All orders of government need to add nuclear to the portfolio of climate-change solutions, starting with an informed debate about the potential and true risks of emerging nuclear technologies, and not the technology of 50 years ago. After all, we would never compare the safety of a clunker from the 1960s to a modern hybrid vehicle with advanced collision warnings and Apple CarPlay. Gregory Mason is an associate professor of economics at the University of Manitoba. Joseph Borsa has a PhD in nuclear biophysics and is a retired Atomic Energy of Canada scientist. How this ISIS operative from Mangaluru lured her victims and converted them to Islam NIA charges 4 NSCN (IM) terrorists in MLA murder case India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 29: The National Investigation Agency has charged cadres of the NSCN (IM) in connection with the murder of an MLA from Arunachal Pradesh. Four accused have been named and the chargesheet was filed before the special NIA court. The case relates to the ambush on the convoy of Tirong Aboh, MLA and others on May 21 2019. 11 persons including the MLA were killed in the incident. Investigation has established that members of the terrorist group of NSCN(IM) conspired to commit a terrorist act by killing the MLA Khonsa and 10 others. Investigation further established that the terrorist act was a result of larger conspiracy due to opposition by MLA, Khonsa of anti development and extortion activities of NSCN(IM) in Tirap District. NSCN (IM) terror funding case: NIA makes large recovery Investigation has revealed that the members of NSCN(IM) led by self styled Major General Absolom of NSCN(IM), who is an absconding accused in the instant case, along with the other accused formed a terrorist group which was financed by Jai Kishan Sharma to execute the said terrorist act. NEWS AT NOON JAN 29th, 2020 The members of terrorist group of NSCN(IM) had on an earlier occasion threatened MLA, Khonsa and his supporters for their opposition to criminal activities of NSCN(IM). For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, January 29, 2020, 7:19 [IST] By Rasana Gasimova Azerbaijan is upgrading its Heydar Aliyev Oil refinery, which is the largest oil refinery in the South Caucasus with the daily output of 1200,000 barrels. The construction of new facilities at the refinery advanced by 63 percent out of the initial volume of work, SOCAR informed in its official website. The upgrading of the Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery and the implementation of SOCAR Polymer projects were discussed during SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayevs meeting with the delegation led by Fabrizio Di Amato, chairman of the Italian Maire Tecnimont group of companies, which is the main contractor for the construction of new facilities during the modernization of the refinery. The role of the newly created SOCAR Downstream company, which controls the accelerated and highly efficient implementation and optimization of the project was emphasized during the meeting. It was noted that during the modernization period, the refinery does not stop its activity, and the reconstruction is carried out along with the production processes at the refinery operating at full capacity, which is why the upgrading of the refinery is considered a complex project. Meanwhile, Rovnag Abdullayev met with a delegation led by Giuseppe Zuccaro, president and CEO of the Italian Amec Foster Wheeler company, which is a part of the Wood Group. Addressing the meeting, Abdullayev said that the upgrade which is carried out at the Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery is under the control of the Azerbaijani leadership, noting that it is an important project for the country. During the meeting, the sides discussed the ongoing modernization of the Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery, cooperation with the Italian company - a contractor for structure optimization and project management, as well as the successful activity of SOCAR Foster Wheeler, a joint venture of SOCAR, as well as the role of the newly created SOCAR Downstream company in the project. Giuseppe Zuccaro noted that Amec Foster Wheeler has been cooperating with SOCAR for more than 10 years, adding that more than 60,000 employees work in the companies belonging to the Wood Group, of which 9,000 employees work in the oil refining and petrochemical industries. The cooperation of SOCAR and Wood Group, which started with the STAR project in Turkey, is currently underway in the process of modernizing the Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery," Zuccaro said. The sides also exchanged views on the activity of SOCAR Foster Wheeler joint venture, established in 2012. Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery is processing 21 out of 24 grades of Azerbaijan crude and 15 different petroleum products, including automotive gasoline, aviation kerosene, diesel fuel, black oil, petroleum coke, and others. The plant is meeting the republics entire demand for petroleum products completely. Some 45 percent of its petroleum products are exported. The plants annual capacity of varies between 4-6 million tons, with the prospect of increasing to 10 million tons. Modernization of the refinery stated in 2019 and will be completed in 2021. After modernization, the refinerys production capacity will be raised from six million to eight million tons per year, and useful life of plant will be extended to 2040. In October-November 2019 modernization and reconstruction of the refinerys four main technological units - a device for the primary processing of fuel for diesel and jet engines, catalytic cracking device for obtaining gasoline and liquid gases, a coking device for producing other oil products, and catalytic reforming units - was conducted. The estimated cost of the refinerys modernization is approximately $2.2 billion. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Here are some stocks that are in the news today: Earnings today: Bajaj Finserv, Bajaj Finance, Bharat Gears, Birla Corporation, Cholamandalam Financial Holdings, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals, Escorts, Garware Polyester, Godrej Consumer Products, IDFC First Bank, Jubilant FoodWorks, Tata Power, NIIT Technologies, KPIT Technologies and West Leisure Resorts are among the companies that will release their December quarter earnings on January 29. Cummins Q3: Net profit up 1.2 percent at Rs 199.9 crore versus Rs 197.5 crore, revenue down 3.8 percent at Rs 1,456 cr vs Rs 1,514.3 crore, YoY Tata Coffee Q3: Consolidated net profit up 93 percent at Rs 42 crore versus Rs 21.8 crore, revenue up 7.7 percent at Rs 501.4 crore versus Rs 465.4 crore, YoY IFB Industries Q3: Net profit down 18.2 percent at Rs 14.8 crore versus Rs 18.1 crore, revenue up 2.7 percent at Rs 719.3 crore versus Rs 700.3 crore, YoY M&M Financial Services Q3: Net profit up 14.6 percent at Rs 365.3 crore versus Rs 318.7 crore, revenue up 15.7 percent at Rs 2,580.6 crore versus Rs 2,230.4 crore JK Lakshmi Cement Q3: Standalone net profit at Rs 49.2 crore versus Rs 14.7 crore, revenue up 7.5 percent at Rs 1,004.9 crore versus Rs 935 crore, YoY HFCL: Company will buy a 47.9 percent stake in Bigcat Wireless for Rs 22.5 cr. Embassy Office Parks REIT: The company has fixed record date as February 24, 2020, for the purpose of Payment of Distribution. Shriram Pistons & Rings: The board of directors has recommended an interim dividend of Rs. 3.00 per share for the financial year 2019-20. Infosys completed the divestment of its shares in Unsilo A/S for a total consideration of approximately USD 0.8 million Zensar' s Smart Application Development and Maintenance services incorporate Artificial Intelligence Allcargo till now has acquired 2,54,03,340 equity shares i.e. 20.83% stake of Gati KEI Industries approved the issue and allotment of 10,000,000 equity shares to eligible qualified institutional buyers at an issue price of Rs 500 per equity share Bajaj Electrical board meeting on January 31 to consider right issue Ircon International to consider share split on February 11 Cochin Shipyard launching of 1200 Pax Passenger Cum 1000T Cargo Vessels for A&N Administration Cholamandalam board meeting on January 31 to consider the issue price for QIP Indostar Capital board meeting on January 31 to consider and approve the proposal for raising funds JK Lakshmi approves raising of external commercial borrowing (ECB) up to USD 25 million in one or more tranches subject to requisite approvals. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE Gold Resource Corporation (NYSE American: GORO) (the Company) today announced multiple ore grade intercepts from its maiden drill program at the Scarlet target located 400 meters north west of its operating Isabella Pearl mine in Mineral County, Nevada. Near surface ore grade gold intercepts included 24.38 meters grading 1.03 grams per tonne (g/t) gold only 1.52 meters from the surface. In addition, the Company also drilled holes within the Isabella Pearl deposits open pit mine to better define the oxide-sulfide boundary with positive results. Gold Resource Corporation is a gold and silver producer, developer and explorer with operations in Oaxaca, Mexico and Nevada, USA. The Company has returned $113 million back to its shareholders in consecutive monthly dividends since July 2010 and offers its shareholders the option to convert their cash dividends into physical gold and silver and take delivery. The Scarlet target is located approximately 400 meters north west of the Companys Isabella Pearl mines ultimate projected open pit boundary (see map). The Company previously collected numerous high-grade gold surface samples and mapped several structural trends at Scarlet coincident with existing structures in the Isabella Pearl Mines open pit. Scarlet is the first of many mineralized targets to the north west of the Companys operating mine. Gold Resource Corporation controls over 10 kilometers of mineralized trend in this area along the Walker Lane Mineral Belt. Scarlets maiden drill program focused on a small portion of the overall Scarlet target area. This small portion lies within the current permitted Isabella Pearl mine project development area. Eleven holes returned near surface ore grade intercepts with the widest and strongest mineralization occurring to the north west (see map below). In addition to this drill program, the Company recently received its Notice of Intent permit to drill outside of the permitted Isabella Pearl mine plan area. The Company targets to test the north west extensions of this Scarlet mineralization during the 2020 exploration year. Scarlet drill highlights from the maiden fall 2019 drill campaign include the following intercepts (m = meters, g/t = grams per tonne) (see full tables below): Hole # IPRC-110 Scarlet 10.67m of 0.67 g/t gold incl. 1.52m of 1.32 g/t gold incl. 1.52m of 1.21 g/t gold Hole # IPRC-113 - Scarlet 6.10m of 1.39 g/t gold incl. 3.05m of 2.27 g/t gold 22.86m of 0.76 g/t gold incl. 4.57m of 1.65 g/t gold Hole # IPRC-116 Scarlet 4.57m of 0.63 g/t gold 33.53m of 0.44 g/t gold Hole # IPRC-117 Scarlet 12.19m of 0.76 g/t gold incl. 3.05m of 1.72 g/t gold Hole # IPRC-118 Scarlet 24.38m of 1.03 g/t gold incl. 4.57m of 4.10 g/t gold Hole # IPRC-119 Scarlet 9.14m of 0.83 g/t gold incl. 3.05m of 1.47 g/t gold In addition to testing Scarlet, the Company also drilled five holes into the deeper portions of the Isabella Pearl open pit to better define its oxide-sulfide boundary. Drill results and additional metallurgical testing confirmed more oxide mineralization at this boundary can be recovered through heap leach. This mineralization will be included in the upcoming 2019 year-end reserve update. We are excited to see the first drill program at Scarlet return very encouraging results including twenty-four meters of over one-gram per tonne gold starting just one and a half meters from the surface, stated Mr. Barry Devlin, Vice President of Exploration. The elevation of this Scarlet mineralization is closer in elevation to the deep high-grade in the nearby Isabella Pearl deposit. The elevation of Scarlets near surface mineralization may indicate less overburden removal, if we are fortunate enough to delineate a deposit, than what is necessary at Isabella Pearl. 2020 exploration goals include additional drilling at the Isabella Pearl project, specifically focused on Scarlet, as well as a first drill program at our East Camp Douglas property. Mr. Jason Reid, President and CEO of Gold Resource Corporation stated, This maiden drill program at Scarlet has returned some very exciting near surface high-grade drill results, which could represent our next deposit discovered on the Isabella Pearl Projects substantial mineralized trend. There are numerous additional targets on this trend increasing our chances of finding several more open pit heap leach deposits like our Isabella Pearl mine. We plan to be a long-term gold producer from this unique portion of the Walker Lane Mineral Belt and believe we have secured the best land packages to succeed in finding additional gold deposits at all four of our Nevada Mining Unit properties. Mr. Reid continued, It is also exciting to add heap leachable and recoverable gold ounces from deep in our Isabella Pearl mine at the oxide-sulphide boundary. Intercepts including twenty-five meters of eighteen grams gold and eighty-four meters of eight grams gold are multiples of the one gram per tonne gold we are currently mining in the top of this deposit. This underscores the much higher-grade gold we expect to mine and process at our Isabella Pearl mine in the years to come. ISABELLA PEARL H2 2019 DRILL SUMMARY HIGHLIGHTS Hole # Angle Target From Interval Au deg Meters Meters g/t IPRC-087 -90 Pearl 30.48 15.24 0.59 incl. 35.05 1.52 2.74 65.53 1.52 0.32 71.63 4.57 4.76 incl. 74.68 1.52 6.03 IPRC-088 -50 Pearl 10.67 3.05 0.38 79.25 16.76 1.49 incl. 83.82 3.05 2.19 incl. 89.92 1.52 2.67 IPRC-089 -75 Pearl 7.62 3.05 0.31 18.29 1.52 0.40 53.34 1.52 0.26 83.82 1.52 0.28 IPRC-090 -45 Pearl 96.01 83.82 8.58 incl. 99.06 24.38 22.82 IPRC-091 -45 Pearl 3.05 4.57 0.37 10.67 3.05 0.31 79.25 13.72 1.26 incl. 83.82 1.52 4.00 97.54 3.05 0.24 126.49 25.91 18.04 incl. 129.54 6.10 28.59 incl. 140.21 1.52 30.90 IPRC-110 -50 Scarlet 27.43 10.67 0.67 incl. 27.43 1.52 1.32 incl. 32.00 1.52 1.21 IPRC-111 -45 Scarlet 16.76 4.57 0.78 incl. 18.29 1.52 1.86 IPRC-112 -70 Scarlet 25.91 1.52 0.44 IPRC-113 -45 Scarlet 15.24 1.52 0.36 21.34 6.10 1.39 incl. 21.34 3.05 2.27 32.00 3.05 0.39 38.10 22.86 0.76 incl. 38.10 4.57 1.65 incl. 56.39 1.52 1.16 IPRC-114 -60 Scarlet 28.96 4.57 0.43 IPRC-115 -70 Scarlet 22.86 3.05 0.27 IPRC-116 -45 Scarlet 15.24 4.57 0.63 28.96 33.53 0.44 IPRC-117 -45 Scarlet 22.86 12.19 0.76 incl. 27.43 3.05 1.72 IPRC-118 -70 Scarlet 1.52 24.38 1.03 incl. 15.24 4.57 4.10 IPRC-119 -45 Scarlet 0.00 9.14 0.83 incl. 3.05 3.05 1.47 IPRC-120 -45 Scarlet 53.34 1.52 0.31 64.01 3.05 0.29 IPRC-121 -45 Scarlet 24.38 3.05 0.41 41.15 4.57 0.39 IPRC-122 -50 Scarlet 15.24 6.10 0.52 incl. 18.29 1.52 1.22 IPRC-123 -45 Scarlet 13.72 7.62 0.51 IPRC-124 -45 Scarlet 28.96 4.57 0.48 IPRC-125 -45 Scarlet 15.24 12.19 0.41 51.82 3.05 0.29 IPRC-126 -45 Scarlet 18.29 3.05 0.23 22.86 1.52 0.25 27.43 6.10 0.21 IPRC-147 -50 Isabella Pearl West 25.91 19.81 1.19 incl. 36.58 4.57 3.61 48.77 3.05 0.24 Assays by Inspectorate America Corp., Sparks, Nevada, USA. Meters downhole, not true width About GRC: Gold Resource Corporation is a gold and silver producer, developer and explorer with operations in Oaxaca, Mexico and Nevada, USA. The Company targets low capital expenditure projects with potential for generating high returns on capital. The Company has returned $113 million back to its shareholders in consecutive monthly dividends since July 2010 and offers its shareholders the option to convert their cash dividends into physical gold and silver and take delivery. For more information, please visit GRCs website, located at www.goldresourcecorp.com and read the Companys 10-K for an understanding of the risk factors involved. Cautionary Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. When used in this press release, the words plan, target, "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the statements regarding Gold Resource Corporations strategy, future plans for production, future expenses and costs, future liquidity and capital resources, and estimates of mineralized material. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to Gold Resource Corporation on the date of this press release, and the company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed in this press release. In particular, there can be no assurance that production will continue at any specific rate. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the Companys 10-K filed with the SEC. Contacts: Corporate Development Greg Patterson 303-320-7708 www.goldresourcecorp.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b6fb6398-ddb5-48b6-8a74-18cfdf1c97c7 The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress. From the Archive Where are the Assassins? Suspects appeared in court for the first time on March 17: gunman Kyi Lin (left), ex-captain Zeya Phyo and ex-lieutenant Aung Win Zawbrother of Aung Win Khaing. Ex-lieutenant colonel Aung Win Khaing (far right), an alleged key perpetrator in the plot, is still at large. Three years ago today, U Ko Ni, a prominent National League for Democracy lawyer and aide to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, was gunned down in broad daylight at Yangon International Airport as he returned from an overseas trip. Many people quickly came to believe that U Ko Ni was targeted because of his staunch support for efforts to amend Myanmars undemocratic, military-drafted 2008 Constitution. Three years on, four people have been convicted in connection with the killing, including the gunman, but the alleged mastermind, former Lieutenant-Colonel Aung Win Khaing, remains at large. To mark the third anniversary of the assassination, The Irrawaddy revisits an editorial published in the wake of U Ko Nis death, calling for justice in his case. Assassins and schemers behind the killing of prominent lawyer U Ko Ni are still at large one-and-a-half months after the crime was committed. Will they be apprehended soon? Thats what we are all waiting for. On Friday, four suspects appeared in court in Rangoon for the first time: ex-lieutenant Aung Win Zawbrother of Aung Win Khaingex-captain Zeya Phyo, gunman Kyi Lin, and a new suspect in the case: Aung Win Tun. Ex-lieutenant colonel Aung Win Khaing, an alleged key perpetrator in the plot to kill the National League for Democracy legal adviser, is still at large after he curiously disappeared in Burmas capital Naypyidaw. The public suspects that in this high-profile murder, there are bigger fish at large than Aung Win Khaing. There is considerable disquiet that the Home Affairs Ministry, which is responsible for the case, has yet to bring a key culprit to court and disclose the true picture of the case. At a ceremony in Rangoon on Saturday to mark 40 days since U Ko Ni was shot dead at Yangon International Airport on Jan. 29, patron of the ruling NLD party U Tin Oo said he was surprised that important suspects were yet to be arrested. He urged the authorities to apprehend them as soon as possible. Like him, the public is impatiently waiting for the truth, while the victims family is waiting for justice. There are almost endless unanswered questions surrounding the case: Why did Aung Win Khaing flee to Naypyidaw, the city with the most surveillance in Burma, instead of a distant hideout like other criminals? What is behind the fact that all key suspects are ex-military officials? Are any other high-profile individuals or organizations involved in the case? How could the alleged assassins afford to spend nearly US$100,000 on the assassination? Why is it taking so long for the police to apprehend Aung Win Khaing? All are valid questions and people are trying hard to connect the dots. Many people are convinced that U Ko Ni was targeted because of his strong criticism of the military-drafted 2008 Constitution and had consistently advocated for the amendment of the undemocratic charter. Among the many questions, the biggest for a lot of people is why all key plotters in the case are ex-military officials. A former military colonel named Lin Zaw Htun, currently a lawmaker for the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), was questioned by police over his friendship with two of the suspects, ex-army men Aung Win Khaing and Zeya Phyo. Some members of the general public worry that current influential elements in the institution, or associates linked to it, are involved in the case. This theory is only set to keep growing as long as the police and the Ministry of Home Affairs fail to thoroughly explain the case and bring the culprits to justice. No one has dared to publicly give voice to this suspicion yet. Meanwhile, the military has denied the theory before it came to light in public. The armed forces chief of general staff Gen Mya Tun Oo said in a press conference on Feb. 28 that the military, known as the Tatmadaw, was not responsible when asked if he knew of any organizations behind the assassination. His answer indicated that top military officials have the impression that people suspect that the Tatmadawor high-ranking officials in the establishmentmight be involved in the murder, perhaps due to the involvement of ex-military persons. Gen Mya Tun Oo rejected accusations around Lin Zaw Htun that implicated the Tatmadaw: Even if he [Lin Zaw Htun] is involved, it has nothing to do with the Tatmadaw. He has resigned from the army. The Tatmadaw is not involved, even if he is found of guilty. But suspicion remains over Lin Zaw Htuns close friendship with the two key suspects Aung Win Khaing and Zeya Phyo. Significantly, it has been reported that Lin Zaw Htun served as personal security officer for the commander-in-chief of the military, Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing. Lin Zaw Htun retired from the army in 2015 to run for office under the USDP. The positions on the case of the military-controlled Home Affairs Ministry and the military itself differ from the ruling NLD party and its leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Burmas State Counselor. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi attended the ceremony in Rangoon last month to mark one month since the incident and described U Ko Ni and driver U Nay Win, who died trying to apprehend the gunman Kyi Lin, as martyrs. At the Feb. 28 press conference a day before, Minister of Home Affairs Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe downplayed the significance of the suspects as ex-military officials and said that the assassins were motivated by extreme nationalism and personal grudges. His responses became the subject of ridicule in day-to-day conversations and on social mediawhich the military leaders must have noticed. The ex-military officials involvement in the murder has definitely done nothing to improve the image of a military already accused of human rights abuses in Kachin, Shan, and Arakan states. There is only one way for the military and home affairs ministry to control this damageto seriously try to bring all key suspects into court as soon as possible. Otherwise, conspiracy theories will continue to spread and grow. This important murder case should not simply disappear in the same way Aung Win Khaing slipped away in Naypyidaw. Nigel Farage was cut off as he delivered his final speech in the European Parliament this afternoon because he and his Brexit Party MEPs started to wave Union flags. Parliament vice-president Mairead McGuinness switched off Mr Farage's microphone as he was finishing his address as she told the party's MEPs to 'put your flags away, you are leaving'. The cheering Brexit Party contingent then proceeded to get up and walk out of the chamber. The stormy clash took place as MEPs rubberstamped the Brexit divorce deal - the final hurdle which needed to be cleared for the UK to leave the EU at 11pm on January 31. The hours before the vote saw numerous MEPs break down in tears as Britain was given an emotional send off. Concluding his remarks, Mr Farage said: 'I know you are going to miss us. I know you want to ban our national flags but we are going to wave you goodbye and we will look forward in the future to working with you...' At this point Mr Farage and his party colleagues started to wave Union flags but his microphone was immediately cut off. Nigel Farage had his microphone cut off as he concluded his address in the European Parliament this afternoo because he and his Brexit Party MEPs started waving Union flags Britain's Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage delivering his last ever speech in the European Parliament Mr Farage was in high spirits as he sat alongside colleague Ann Widdecombe (right) Mr Farage was in a jubilant mood at the European Parliament today and was keenly showing off his Union Jack socks A smiling Mr Farage also took time out to take pictures with colleagues at his final session in the European Parliament It's done! MEPs vote for the Brexit deal, paving the way for UK to leave EU on January 31 MEPs broke down in tears today as British politicians sat in the European Parliament for the last time and were given an emotional send off. European Commission president Ursula Von Der Leyen said 'we will always love you and we will never be far' as she bid farewell to the UK contingent ahead of Brexit taking place on Friday. The British politicians' last act this evening was to ratifying the Brexit Deal ahead of the UK's departure on Friday. They passed the Withdrawal Agreement 621 - 49, following the completion last week of the passage of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill through the UK Parliament. After tears, and the lighting of candles at commemorative events in Brussels earlier, there was applause as Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage's valedictory speech after two decades at the heart of the EU establishment was cut off. Advertisement Ms McGuinness said: 'If you disobey the rules you get cut off. Could we please remove the flags. Mr Farage. Can we remove the flags please. Can I please ask for quiet.' Brexit Party MEPs then started to clap and cheer as Mr Farage could be heard saying: 'That's it. It is all over.' His MEPs then proceeded to give their leader three cheers of appreciation, prompting a further rebuke from the chair. Ms McGuinness snapped: 'Please sit down, resume your seats. Put your flags away you are leaving. And take them with you if you are leaving now. Goodbye.' Mr Farage had used his speech to tell the European Parliament that this was the 'final chapter, the end of the road' for the UK and the bloc after a 47 year 'political experiment that the British frankly have never been very happy with'. The veteran Eurosceptic, who was first elected to the European Parliament in 1999, said: 'What happens at 11pm this Friday, January 31 2020, marks the point of no return, once we've left we are never coming back and the rest, frankly, is detail. 'We are going, we will be gone and that should be the summit of my own political ambitions. Mr Farage initially sat down after he was cut off and he could be heard saying: 'That's it. It is all over.' A jubilant Nigel Farage waves a Union Jack flag as he speaks to the press after the European Parliament ratified the Brexit deal in Brussels today Nigel Farage drinks a beer on the sidelines of a European Parliament plenary session in Brussels today Farage talks with supporters after his last speech at the European Parliament before the UK leaves the EU on Friday Nigel Farage of the Brexit Party leaves the European Parliament after the vote on Brexit for the last time A very pleased Nigel Farage leaves the European Parliament after a plenary session to vote on the Brexit deal in Brussels At the session in Brussels today Mr Farage was in high spirits and could be seen laughing and joking with friends and colleagues 'I walked in here as I have said before, you all thought it was terribly funny, you stopped laughing in 2016.' Mr Farage hit out at the bloc as he said it had a history of making people vote on an issue a second time if it did not like the result of the first ballot. But he said the 'British are too big to bully, thank goodness', adding: 'We love Europe. We just hate the European Union. I am hoping this begins the end of this project.' Mr Farage suggested that the 'anti-democratic' bloc was not in tune with what modern voters are looking for. 'You may loathe populism but I will tell you a funny thing, it is becoming very popular,' he said. Following his fiery departure speech he said: 'The book is about to close and we are going to leave in 48 hours and that is for me, in a way, the achievement of my lifetime political goal. 'I've been campaigning for this for 27 years, 20 of them in this parliament, and sometimes as a human being if you want something so badly it's almost difficult to believe it's really happening. 'But it is happening and I think it's the right thing and I also think - I'm seeing the first signs of it today - it's going to lead to a lot of reflection across the union.' Curative petition by Mukesh and Vinay Sharma was rejected on January 14, 2020. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on a plea by one of the Nirbhaya case death row convicts, Mukesh, challenging the rejection of his mercy petition by the President on the ground that the entire material relating to the case was not placed before President Ram Nath Kovind. The order will be pronounced on Wednesday. Reserving the order, a bench comprising Justice R. Banumathi, Justice Ashok Bhushan, and Justice A.S. Bopanna observed that they have limited jurisdiction in going into the rejection of the mercy petition by the President and they would check if all the relevant documents relating to the 2012 gangrape case were placed before him. Questioning the rejection of the mercy petition by the President in the absence of the entire record of the case, senior counsel Anjana Prakash told the court that the Tihar jail authorities enclosed only the nominal roll of Mukesh, his medical report, trial court judgment, and the details of the punishment along with the mercy petition. Ms Prakash contended that there was non-application of mind by the President. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, disputed that only limited records relating to the case were sent to the President for deciding the mercy petition by Mukesh. He handed over to the court two files one containing notings and the other correspondences relating to the case. Curative petition by Mukesh and Vinay Sharma was rejected on January 14, 2020. Contending that justice hurried is justice buried, Ms Prakash told the court that Mukesh was subjected to indignities during his incarceration in Tihar jail, including alleged forcible sex with Akshay Kumar and assaults on him requiring his treatment at hospitals. The court was told that he was put in solitary confinement a ground for the communisation of the death sentence and the details of the same were not put before the President while deciding the mercy petition. Mr Mehta said that the alleged indignities, claimed to have been heaped on Mukesh, could not be a ground for commutation of death sentence. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 01:00:34|Editor: yan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations humanitarian chief on Wednesday told the Security Council that the humanitarian situation in northeast Syria remains difficult, while noting that there are 1.8 million people in the northeast needing humanitarian assistance. "Some 70,000 people are still displaced following the military operations we saw in October. An additional 90,000 people are living in IDP (internally displaced person) camps, including more than 66,000 in the Al Hol camp," UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock told a council meeting on the situation in Syria. "An average of 850,000 people in need received assistance on a monthly basis in 2019 from within Syria, and that number increased significantly during the course of the year," he said. "The United Nations continues to advocate with all stakeholders, including the government of Syria, to ensure reliable and adequate supply lines and humanitarian capacity in the northeast," said Lowcock. The UN humanitarian chief added the economic situation in Syria poses increasing hardship on civilians across the country. Noting that in January, the Syrian pound continued to depreciate on the informal market, Lowcock said in some areas, it traded at more than 1,100 Syrian pounds to the U.S. dollar, and that is half the value of six months ago. Syrians going out to buy food are finding fewer items in their markets, including those looking for basics like rice, oil and sugar, said Lowcock, adding that most available items cost more than ever -- the price of bread, for instance, has increased by more than 50 percent in some areas in recent months. "Any further deterioration in the Syrian economy will leave even more people vulnerable and in need of assistance in the year ahead." He said that parties to the conflict, and those with influence, must stop the fighting. "Unless the current hostilities stop, we will see an even greater humanitarian catastrophe." WASHINGTON A president trying to prevail in an impeachment trial stood with an Israeli prime minister under indictment Tuesday to announce a long-delayed plan for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the result sounded more like a road map for their own futures than for the Middle East. For President Donald Trump, it is a plan that builds on his decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem a huge political success among his conservative Jewish donors and evangelicals that, contrary to predictions, did not touch off a violent reaction in the region. Trump now enters the heart of his election campaign declaring that he has delivered a plan that makes Jerusalem the undivided capital of Israel and relegates the Palestinian capital to a suburb, and one that Trump, in a triumph of real estate branding, is suddenly calling East Jerusalem. And the timing is no accident: At a moment when cable television is focused on impeachment and the prospect that former national security adviser John Bolton might testify, Trump had a chance to stand in the East Room and cast himself as a peacemaker. With rare self-discipline, he never mentioned the word impeachment. For his part, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel marches toward his March elections wielding the potent argument that Israelis should ignore his indictment on corruption charges and focus on the fact that he, by force of his relationship with Trump, moved Washington to give permanent legitimacy to the Jewish settlements in disputed territory. By Sunday, the prime minister said as he was leaving Washington, Israel will essentially annex the strategically vital part of the Jordan Valley that its military already controls. As the Israeli election nears, those moves allow him to sell himself as the Trump whisperer, the indispensable man who bent the White House to his will. Strip away the domestic and Israeli political considerations that determined the timing of the plans release, said Robert Malley, president of the International Crisis Group and a former Obama administration official, and the message to the Palestinians, boiled down to its essence, is: Youve lost, get over it. That message, implicitly or explicitly, rewrites the art of the Middle East deal. By tilting the map of a future Palestinian state so precipitously in Israels direction, Trump has embraced a plan that essentially dismantles 60 years of bipartisan support for a negotiated process between Israelis and Palestinians, in which both make concessions and land swaps that would define the lines of a new map. As Trump acknowledged, Washington would no longer play the role of neutral arbiter even while vowing to be Israels source of protection. Instead, the United States has drawn the lines in a series of maps that sketch out a future Palestinian state that is so gerrymandered that it requires the construction of a giant tunnel across Israel to connect two areas of Palestinian control. To Trump, this is the merger of deal-making, Middle East urban planning and election-year politics or rather, potential deal-making. A few days ago, Trump said: I think were relatively close but we have to get other people to agree to it. In other words the deal of the century was no deal at all. And the other people were the Palestinians, who dismissed the proposal and the accompanying map Tuesday hours after its publication. For election purposes, Trump does not need a deal; he simply needs the impression that progress is being made. And at the White House on Tuesday, the ambassadors from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman but not Saudi Arabia, the country Trump and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has worked hardest to woo were in the room for the announcement, a seeming endorsement of his approach, if not the specifics. Their presence would have been unimaginable in the past, especially for any announcement that fell well short of creating a real Palestinian state. And this one certainly falls short of that goal. Trumps 180-page plan would require the Palestinians to accept only partial sovereignty over a future Palestinian state, at least for a considerable time, and give up any claim to territory where the Israelis have already accepted settlements. And it asked them to take the bet that, as Trump promised, they would ultimately get rich because of a $50 billion (U.S.) investment fund, paid for by Arab neighbours. It has a brilliant twist: The Palestinians do not have to say yes or no for four years. That means their bottom-line response would not come until the very end of Trumps next term, if he is reelected. In the meantime, Israel would freeze settlements in the territory that Trump has set aside for the Palestinians, much of it areas the Israelis have little interest in. That proviso defers all the hard questions for several years of negotiations with their inevitable breakdowns and crises. But it gives Trump the campaign-trail talking point that he has fulfilled a 2016 promise and proposed an actual solution, rather than just a process. The proposal, of course, helps Netanyahu by moving the goalposts. The status of Jerusalem is set out in the Trump document, rather than being a subject of negotiation. And while past presidents lectured Netanyahu about his creation of Jewish settlements in territories that are subject to negotiation, Trumps plan makes them a permanent feature. To critics, that is the fatal flaw. Sen. Christopher S. Murphy, D-Conn., who was among the lawmakers briefed by Kushner at the White House, called it a total abandonment of decades of U.S. Middle East policy. He was referring to the longtime U.S. support for a deal that would include only modest adjustments to the Israeli borders drawn in 1967, the year of the Six-Day War, and by a process created in the Oslo Accords, which began in 1993 and largely ended with the failed summit in 2000 at Camp David. The premise of those talks was that the Israelis and Palestinians would set up a complex process and inch their way toward agreements on borders, settlements, political rights and the withdrawal of the Israeli military from Palestinian lands. There were years of talks, stalemates, road maps to peace, collapsed negotiations and intifadas. Trump, the disrupter, has made it clear he does not believe that approach would work. On Tuesday, he noted that every president since Lyndon B. Johnson had tried and failed to negotiate a peace deal. Always the real estate mogul, Trump has declared that he is more interested in working with existing facts on the ground than on creating processes. So his plan, three years in the making, is less about future negotiations and more about cementing what exists today and making deals around the edges. If the Palestinians take it, he suggested, riches would follow. There would be 1 million new jobs, he said, and poverty would be cut in half. Trump has offered a similar incentive to the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un. It was pretty familiar Trump language, born of a certainty that economic incentives will overcome ethnic, tribal and religious differences, despite considerable evidence to the contrary. For the Israeli prime minister, it was a plan tailor-made for an election four weeks away. So tailor-made that a dozen Democratic senators wrote in a letter to Trump on Tuesday that the timing of this proposal to coincide with Prime Minister Netanyahus indictment on bribery charges also raises disturbing questions about your intention to intervene in the Israeli election process. Not surprisingly, Netanyahu disagreed. Its a great plan for Israel, he said, with an enthusiasm he rarely showed during visits to the White House in the Obama years. Its a great plan for peace. Read more about: The oil and gas and pipeline assets of the now-defunct Alta Mesa Resources were sold for $320 million to a partnership between an Oklahoma startup and a Houston private equity firm. Houston's Bayou City Energy Management and Oklahoma's Mach Resources are scooping up the remaining parts of Houston-based Alta Mesa and its pipeline subsidiary Kingfisher Midstream. The deal was finalized after getting the green light from U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Houston, despite the objection from some of Alta Mesa's bondholders. A shale oil startup led by a former Anadarko Petroleum chief executive, Alta Mesa suffered a rapid rise and fall, plunging from $3 billion in Wall Street value in early 2018 to just $30 million by the time it filed for bankruptcy protection last fall. Alta Mesa was dealing with collapsing finances and an SEC investigation into possible fraud. It was a dramatic fall from grace after significantly overestimating its potential in Oklahoma's STACK shale play and other regions. The company failed to stay afloat after laying off much of its 200 employees and writing down the value of its assets by $3.1 billion as it acknowledged undisclosed internal financial flaws. The company was on the verge of bankruptcy for several months as Chairman Jim Hackett, who previously headed Anadarko, had also assumed the interim CEO role. RELATED: Alta Mesa files for bankruptcy under former Anadarko chief Hackett led the formation of the new Alta Mesa, although he initially took a backseat role as chairman. Alta Mesa was put together by Hackett's acquisition entity, known as a blank-check firm, which was backed by Riverstone Holdings, an energy-focused private equity firm. To create the new Alta Mesa, Hackett's Silver Run Acquisition Corp. II combined with two privately held companies, Alta Mesa Holdings and Kingfisher Midstream, both of which focused on Oklahoma oil and gas acreage and pipelines. The company began trading in early 2018 under the "AMR" stock ticker, touting an aggregate Wall Street value of $3.8 billion. Bayou City and Mach have named their joint venture BCE-Mach. Oklahoma shale plays have seen a rapid fall in drilling activity as the oil and gas production results have largely underachieved. BCE-Mach is focusing on scooping up cheap, distressed assets in the region. "This was a unique opportunity to acquire a sizeable cash-flowing asset with the supporting midstream infrastructure, through a bankruptcy process, in an area of our teams expertise and still have an extensive inventory for future development," said Mach CEO Tom Ward. Our strategic aim in partnership with BCE has been to aggressively consolidate and maximize underdeveloped, undercapitalized or otherwise distressed areas in the Mid-Continent. We have been successful in buying assets at a discount, increasing production in a cost-effective manner and avoiding overspending." The deal includes 30,000 barrels of daily oil equivalent of production, 72 million barrels of proved reserves, more than 900 operated wells and 130,000 net acres, in addition to a network of gas processing, gathering pipelines, water disposal pipelines and more. The sale is expected to close in February. The Galaxy Tab S6 5G finally got officially announced and got a launch date. The 5G tablet will debut at Samsung's home market - South Korea - with sales starting tomorrow, January 30. The slate will ship Snapdragon 855 chipset accompanied by Qualcomms X50 modem. The rest of the spec sheet will be identical to the standard Tab S6 with a 10.5-inch QHD+ Super AMOLED display, quad speakers, 13MP and 5MP rear cameras and a 7,040 mAh battery. The Galaxy Tab S6 5G will go for KRW 999,900 ($850) in a single 6GB RAM/128GB storage configuration. Samsung is also hosting a bunch of discounts for early Tab S6 5G customers including a discounted keyboard Book Cover, Whitestone protective glass, limited edition S-Pens and more. Source (in Korean) Our next location in Indiana is going to be just west of there in St. John. Thats going to be opening in April. That location is going to be a nontraditional location. The OM Group is building a brand-new gas station. As part of that location theyre building a convenience store which will contain a Cousins Subs. On a wall adorning the home of Melbourne drug trafficker Steen McBeth hung a hand-painted portrait of a Colombian drug kingpin in a cloud of white powder. The painting, titled Narcos after the hit American crime drama, was commissioned to feature the actor who played Pablo Escobar the notorious billionaire cartel leader dubbed "The King of Cocaine" in the TV series. The artwork, measuring almost two metres high, now sits in storage with the Australian Federal Police after detectives descended on McBeths Mernda home during a major international drug investigation involving the FBI. A photo of the "Narcos" painting seized during the drug raid on Steen McBeth's home. On Wednesday the 29-year-old was jailed for seven years, and he must serve at least four years before he is eligible for parole. Tibetan Spiritual leader the Dalai Lama (L) and Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi stand onstage as they prepare to address exiled Tibetans gathered in McLeod Ganj, India, May 10, 2017. A bill to strengthen U.S. policy in support of Tibet won strong approval Tuesday by the House of Representatives, a move a Tibetan representative called an "encouraging and empowering" measure for the Himalayan Buddhist region controlled by China for seven decades. The Tibetan Policy and Support Act (TPSA) was passed by a vote of 392 to 22, and now requires a vote in the Senate, which is also reviewing a companion bill. It is a historic victory for Tibet, for justice and truth, said Ngodup Tsering, the Dalai Lamas representative in North America. Co-sponsored by Democratic Rep. James McGovern and Republican Senator Marco Rubio, the TPSA when signed into law will require China to allow the opening of a U.S. consulate in Tibets regional capital Lhasa before any new Chinese consulate can open in the United States. It will also address water security and climate change issues in Tibet and strengthen the still-unfilled State Department office of the Special Coordinator for Tibet. Finally, it will establish a U.S. policy that the selection of Tibetan religious leaders, including future successors to exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, is a decision to be made by Tibetans free from Chinese government interference. It should be clear that we support a positive and productive US-China relationship but it is essential that human rights of all the people of China are respected by their government, McGovern said on the House floor on Tuesday. Speaking before the vote took place, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said repression by the Chinese government in Tibet is a challenge to the conscience of the world. This legislation also deploys America diplomatic ways to encourage genuine dialogue between Tibetan leaders and Beijing. It is unacceptable that the Chinese leaders still refuse to enter into a dialogue with Tibetan leaders, she said. Sanctions targeting Chinese officials attempting to name a new Dalai Lama will also be mandated under the bill. The question of who will select a successor to the now 84-year-old Dalai Lama is a major point of friction between China, which insists on its right to choose the religious leaders reincarnation, and Tibetans inside their homeland and around the world. The Chinese Communist Party wants to ensure Tibetan leaders are chosen according to their agenda, their political agenda, not according to Tibetan Buddhist religious practices, Rep. Michael McCaul, lead Republican of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement. We will not accept fraudulent religious leaders appointed by Beijing, and we will not accept the CCPs control of deeply spiritual beliefs. So with that, I urge my colleagues to support this important measure." Tsering, who was at the Capitol hill during the vote, told RFA's Tibetan Service that "It was so encouraging and empowering to listen to our congressional supporters during the motion." A formerly independent nation, Tibet was taken over and incorporated into China by force 70 years ago, following which the Dalai Lama and thousands of his followers fled into exile in India. Chinese authorities now maintain a tight grip on Tibet and on Tibetan-populated regions of western Chinese provinces, restricting Tibetans political activities and peaceful expression of cultural and religious identities, and subjecting Tibetans to imprisonment, torture, and extrajudicial killings. Tuesday's vote on Tibet follows quickly on the passage and signature by President Donald Trump of legislation in support of Hong Kongs pro-democracy movement, and the passage by the House of a bill calling for U.S. sanctions against Chinese officials deemed responsible for the mass internment of Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic minority groups in camps in Xinjiang. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Russia directly for the first time in a long while in the wake of the recent escalation in northwestern Syria. Lashing out at intense Russian airstrikes in and around Idlib, Erdogan said Russia doesnt comply with the 2018 Sochi agreement to establish a demilitarized zone around the last stronghold of the Syrian rebels where the Syrian regime's advances continue. The Astana process has become moribund, Erdogan said, speaking to reporters on his return from Senegal late Wednesday. Turkey, Russia and Iran should seek a way to revive it. The talks in the Kazakh capital initiated by Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin and also involving Iran first began three years ago to find a solution to the Syrian conflict but have recently stalled. Why it matters: As Turkeys relations with the Western powers and regional countries took a nosedive following Ankaras unilateral moves in Libya and the eastern Mediterranean Sea, Erdogans remarks targeting Russia came as a surprise. His statement coincides with Turkeys deepening isolation among Western and regional powers due to its Libyan venture and actions in the eastern Mediterranean. Yesterdays phone call between Erdogan and US President Donald Trump was the latest manifestation of the discord, as the two sides framed the conversation differently. While the White House emphasized the need to eliminate foreign interference and maintain the cease-fire in Libya, Erdogan said it was mainly a courtesy call in the aftermath of the earthquake that hit eastern Turkey over the weekend. Turkey has avoided directly criticizing Moscow until now, given its deepening isolation in the current political climate. Erdogans statement came at a time when Russian side is said to be considering backing Turkeys position in the energy rivalry over hydrocarbon resources in the eastern Mediterranean to convince Ankara to soften its position against the Syrian Kurdish groups. Whats next: Following Erdogans statements, the ball is now in Moscows court. Syrian government forces backed by intense Russian airstrikes have made significant advances over the last week and captured several towns to the south of Idlib. Two of Turkeys 12 observation posts set up as part of the Sochi deal have been under siege and the fate of the rest remains uncertain. Know more: Read Bryant Harris latest story for more on the Trump-Erdogan phone call and Fehim Tastekins take on the future of Turkish-Russian relations. By Julia Cheever Bay City News Service SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) San Francisco's public works director and a restaurant owner have been charged in an alleged scheme to bribe a San Francisco International Airport commissioner in 2018 for help in obtaining a restaurant concession, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday. Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru, 58, of San Francisco, and Lefty O'Doul's restaurant owner Nick Bovis, 57, of San Mateo, were each charged with one count of honest services wire fraud in a federal criminal complaint filed Jan. 15 and unsealed on Tuesday. The charge is defined as participating in a scheme to defraud the public of the honest services of public officials, and using a telephone call to further the scheme. The airport commissioner is not named in the complaint and the alleged scheme never came to fruition, according to the complaint. The two men were arrested on Monday and were each released on a $2 million bond by a federal magistrate in San Francisco on Tuesday. They are due to return to court on Feb. 6 for a bail review. In an affidavit filed with the Jan. 15 complaint, FBI Special Agent James Folger alleged Nuru engaged in four additional corrupt schemes in 2018 and 2019 and Bovis participated in two of them. But they are not charged with the additional alleged schemes; Folger wrote that they were mentioned to show the defendants' purported "pattern of corrupt conduct and intent to defraud." U.S. Attorney David Anderson said in a statement, "The complaint describes a web of corruption involving bribery, kickbacks and side deals by one of San Francisco's highest-ranking city employees. "The public is entitled to honest work from public officials, free from manipulation for the official's own personal benefit and profit," Anderson said. Mayor London Breed said Nuru was placed on administrative leave as of Monday evening. "These allegations against Mohammed Nuru are extremely serious, and we will cooperate fully with any investigation," Breed said. She said she has asked the city attorney and controller to review any city contracts or decisions implicated in the probe. "Nothing matters more than the public trust, and each and every one of us who works for the city must hold ourselves to the highest standard," Breed said. Nuru is additionally charged in a second criminal complaint filed on Monday with lying to the FBI during a meeting that day. The alleged lie appears to have triggered the arrests of the two men Monday and the unsealing of the fraud complaint, and may have caused a pause in the ongoing public corruption investigation. According to an affidavit filed by Folger with the second complaint, Nuru was initially quietly arrested on the fraud charge on Jan. 21 and agreed to cooperate with FBI agents and prosecutors in the probe. During meetings with agents in the following several days, "Nuru admitted that he accepted gifts and other items of value in exchange for official acts as the director of the Department of Public Works for the City and County of San Francisco," the affidavit said. As a condition of being released after the first arrest, Nuru was ordered not to tell anyone, including other city officials or possible witnesses, about his arrest, the investigation or his cooperation. On Monday, at a meeting with agents including Folger, Nuru repeatedly denied he had discussed the probe with anyone at City Hall. But when confronted with information to the contrary, Nuru admitted he had discussed the investigation with an unnamed "senior city official" on multiple occasions the previous week and had also discussed it with several potential witnesses, Folger said in the affidavit. He was then re-arrested, along with Bovis. The charge of honest services wire fraud carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years in prison upon conviction and the charge of lying to the FBI has a penalty of five years, if Nuru is convicted. Defense attorney Ismail Ramsey said, "Mr. Nuru welcomes and looks forward to addressing these charges in court. "Mohammed Nuru, a father of five, has been a dedicated public servant in San Francisco for decades. He is grateful to have worked alongside the many committed and talented individuals of Public Works," Ramsey said in a statement. The Jan. 16 affidavit alleges that Nuru and Bovis planned to offer the airport commissioner $5,000 and free travel in exchange for her assistance, but says they never gave her either item. It alleges that Nuru, Bovis, the two informants, the undercover agent and the airport commissioner met for dinner at Bovis's Broadway Grill restaurant in Burlingame on April 4, 2018. It alleges that Bovis brought "a significant amount of cash in an envelope" but says he did not mention the money to the commissioner. The commissioner asked to be sent more details about the proposed project, the affidavit said. The next day, Bovis told the undercover agent in secretly recorded conversations that the commissioner didn't want any money and that it was a mistake for him to have thought that she might want it, according to the affidavit. Folger wrote that he believed Bovis and possibly others had begun to be suspicious of the undercover agent. He wrote that Bovis allegedly told the agent, "Well in my brain, what if this is some sort of FBI sting or something?" The four other schemes alleged in the affidavit were that Nuru aided a Chinese developer with a San Francisco project in exchange for gifts including luxury accommodations in China; attempted to help Bovis secure a desirable lease at the Transbay Transit Center; gave Bovis inside information for bids for city contracts; and obtained free and discounted work on his Colusa County vacation home from contractors that did business with the city. Anderson said at a news conference in San Francisco that the unidentified developers and contractors referred to in the affidavit could recognize themselves, and suggested that "if they are interested in doing this right they should not walk, but run to the FBI." San Francisco Supervisor Matt Haney said, "This is a sad day for San Francisco. The Department of Public Works has vast responsibilities, and for far too long there has been too much power concentrated in the hands of its director with very little oversight. "These charges against Director Nuru are hugely distressing and demonstrate the need for much broader reforms. We need a top-to-bottom restructuring of the department, with much stronger public oversight, accountability and transparency," Haney 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. Russia's Urals Airlines said Wednesday it had suspended some services to Europe including Paris and Rome due to the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus. The airline, based in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, was halting flights to Munich, Paris and Rome as well as the Japanese city of Sapporo until the end of winter, it said in a statement. Those flights had been affected because they are popular with Chinese tourist groups, the airline said in the statement posted on VKontakte, Russia's largest social media network. The Urals Airlines earlier suspended flights to China's Hainan Island as well as several other destinations in the country. Russia does not have any confirmed cases of the new virus but the Russian government has set up a task force to prevent the possible spread of the virus. Russia is also working to develop a vaccine against the coronavirus. The death toll from the new virus in China has soared to 132. The disease has spread to more than 15 countries since it emerged out of the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, with confirmed infections nearing 6,000. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) DENVER, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Loc ai Solutions and L&R Distributors recently announced a partnership in which they provide endless aisles cosmetics, hair care, stationary and toys to retailers looking to expand their assortment beyond their brick and mortar shelves. Locai provides the technology that links a microsite to the retailer's website, while L&R provides product content, holds, and ships the inventory directly to the customer via their LR Fulfillment Services division . "We are very excited to announce our first deployment of this partnership with Hi-School Pharmacy . They have had a desire to offer ecommerce for their customers, but didn't have an easy solution to do so, until now," says Marc Bodner, CEO of L&R Distributors. Shoppers want more choices, which is a difficult problem to solve within the constraints of a traditional brick and mortar store. Locai's microsites enable retailers to expand the breadth and depth of their product assortment, without additional carrying costs, while utilizing L&R's distribution capabilities to drop ship items separately from any local delivery the retailer might offer. "Launching Hi-School as our first deployment of this technology showcases the solution we're bringing to the current challenges faced by physical retail," says Mike Demko, CEO and Founder of locai Solutions. "They are an extremely customer focused brand and by offering an expanded assortment without the burden of inventory they can bring increased value to their consumers." Locai's Endless Aisles solution is available as a standalone microsite that can be cross-linked to a retailers existing eCommerce site, via locai's APIs for integration into a retailer's existing eCommerce platform, or as a fully integrated user experience within the locai eCommerce platform. With these various options, adding Endless Aisles becomes a simple solution for all retailers challenged by limited in-store shelf space or high out-of-stock rates. For additional information, contact: Mike Demko Locai Solutions 203-570-0336 [email protected] www.locaisolutions.com Reilly Murray L&R Distributors, Inc / LRFS 718-272-2100 [email protected] www.LRdist.com www.LRfulfillment.com About L&R Distributors : L&R Distributors is a national distributor of over 40,000 HBC, GM and cosmetics products, presently serving over 17,000 points of distribution within the supermarket, drug, independent and mass classes trade across the U.S. L&R is passionate about designing the ultimate shopping experience for our customers, combining that passion with innovative thinking, best practices and the greatest technology to deliver higher sales for each one of our clients. To learn more about L&R or LR Fulfillment Solutions please visit www.lrdist.com. About Locai Solutions : Founded in 2018 by eGrocery veterans from FreshDirect and Peapod, locai offers an end-to-end digital commerce platform for grocers. Their products include an engaging eCommerce site, a personalized meal planning application, an Endless Aisle application plus an order fulfillment application for use in-store or dedicated fulfillment centers. It's locai's mission to enable grocers to foster direct relationships with their customers through engaging omni-channel customer experiences that engender greater customer loyalty. For more information visit www.locaisolutions.com. SOURCE L&R Distributors Related Links http://www.lrdist.com West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday said he was "totally shaken" after a "mob" forced him to leave the venue of the Calcutta University convocation, but none can stop him from discharging his duties as the constitutional head and chancellor of universities of the state. Terming it as "black day" for both the university and the state, Dhankhar also took a dig at the Trinamool Congress government over security arrangements at the venue. The ruling Trinamool Congress, however, sided with the students who demonstrated against Dhankhar on Tuesday, saying even Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had led protests against a British professor during his student days. "I'm in excruciating pain. I am totally shaken by the events that had taken place (at the CU convocation on Tuesday).... It is a dark period," the governor told a press conference here. Dhankhar was on Tuesday prevented by a section of students from attending the university's annual convocation, following which he left the premises. The students, with 'No CAA' and 'No NRC' posters in hand, had waved black flags at him and raised 'go back' slogans. "The events that took place yesterday didn't happen spontaneously. The chancellor was forced by an unruly mob to leave the venue, despite the chancellor being duly invited," he said at a press conference here. Claiming that such an incident had never happened before, Dhankhar said those who compromise on the culture and glory of the state and university should reflect on the correctness of what they had done. TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee hit back at the governor saying he has adopted a "confrontational stand" and was tarnishing his constitutional post by frequently comments against the state government. Asked about Dhankhar's anguish about the student's protest, Chatterjee asked, "What does he think of the students? Can't they protest?" When Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was a student of the then Presidency College, he had organised a protest against an English professor for supporting the racial discrimination policy of the British, the education minister said. "The students' protest at the convocation was also against a policy," Chatterjee said. On one hand Dhankhar "is inviting the CM to tea sessions and exchanging pleasantries with us, the very next moment he is casting aspersions on us in his tweets", he said. "He is tweeting against us on a daily basis. Such a situation had never come up during the tenure of previous governors. We have no enmity against him at A personal level but he must realise this cannot go on forever," the minister said. Oon a personal note, he prefers to abolish the governor's post which has no real value, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Follow along for updates from Capitol Hill: (all times eastern) 11:05 p.m. The first day of questions has ended after senators spent hours asking President Trump's legal counsel and House managers specific questions stemming from the articles of impeachment. The question-and-answer session will resume Thursday at 1 p.m. ET. 10:45 p.m. House manager Rep. Zoe Lofgren claimed President Trump "attempted to upend the constitutional order for his own personal benefit" when asked today on the Senate floor whether the president's plan to have Ukraine investigate his political rival needed to succeed in order for him to be impeached. "The answer is no. Just as, although this is not a criminal offense, if you attempted murder, but didn't succeed, you would not be innocent. The president has attempted to upend the constitutional order for his own personal benefit. He has used the powers of his office to solicit foreign interference and we know this by the president's own statements, the acting chief of staff confession, substantial documentary witnesses testimony. And this has grave consequences for our national security, has threatened election security, as well as undermining U.S. credibility and our values abroad. Because the president continues to act in this manner, we believe that this is an ongoing threat," Lofgren told lawmakers tonight. 9:50 p.m. Senators are taking a break until 10 p.m. ET. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell indicated that the question-and-answer session would continue after the break. 8:20 p.m. White House counsel Jay Sekulow believes the impeachment trial will go on for "months" if witnesses are called, in part because President Trump's legal team will subpoena "anybody we want," he said tonight on the Senate floor. "I want Adam Schiff. I want Hunter Biden. I want Joe Biden. I want the whistleblower. I want to also understand there may be additional people within the House Intelligence Committee that have had conversations with that whistleblower. I get anybody we want. By the way, if we get anybody we want, we'll be here for a very long time. The fact of the matter is, we're not here to argue witnesses tonight, but obviously it is an undercurrent. Sekulow went on to suggest the trial could go on for "months." 6:30 p.m. The Senate has taken a 45-minute dinner break. When the Senate is back in session, the question-and-answer period will continue. 5:45 p.m. Lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff discussed the whistleblower and why protecting his or her identity was so important Schiff, a Democrat from California, also explained why the conspiracy theories surrounding the whistleblower, who came forward with accusations concerning President Trump and his interactions with Ukraine, are unfounded. "In short, the conspiracy theory which was outlined earlier that the whistleblower colluded with the intel committee staff to hatch an impeachment inquiry is a complete and total fiction," Schiff said. "This was confirmed by the remarkable accuracy of the whistleblower complaint which has been corroborated by the evidence that we subsequently gathered in all material respects. So, I won't go into anything that could lead to the revelation or the identity of the whistleblower, but I can tell you because my staff's names have been brought into the proceeding that my staff acted at all times with the most complete professionalism." 5:10 p.m. President Trump's attorney Patrick Philbin said no one had notified him or the White House legal team on whether the forthcoming book from former National Security Adviser John Bolton would cause problems for the president. "No, no one from inside of the White House or outside of the White House told us that the publication of the book would be problematic for the president," Philbin said. "I think that we assumed that Mr. Bolton was disgruntled and we did not expect that he was going to be saying a lot of nice things about the president, but nobody told us anything like that." 4:50 p.m. President Trumps counsel was asked during the Senate impeachment trial whether the presidents defense team had reason to believe National Security Council officials and the whistleblower coordinated to take out the president. The only knowledge that we have comes from public reports, Pat Philbin, an attorney on Trumps legal team, responded. I gather there is a news report that suggests a name for the whistleblower, suggests where he worked at that time while detailed at the NSC staff for then Vice President Biden and that there were others who worked there. We have no knowledge of that other than what is in those reports and I dont want to get into speculating." Philbin added that the question may have been addressed in the intelligence community inspector generals testimony, but that testimony, contacts with the whistleblower, contacts between members of manager Schiffs staff and the whistleblower are shrouded in secrecy to this day. He said the information would seem to be relevant since the whistleblower started this entire inquiry. 4:10 p.m. The Senate is back in session, and senators are continuing to ask questions of both the House prosecutors and President Trump's defense team. Senators get 16 hours total over the course of two days to ask questions. 3:38 p.m. The Senate is taking a recess until 4 p.m. Questions are expected to resume at that time. 2:55 p.m. A Democratic senator asked House Managers if it's true that depositions of the three witnesses in the impeachment trial of Bill Clinton were completed in only one day each. The senator also asked if it's true that the chief justice, as presiding officer in this trial, has the authority to resolve any claims of privileges or other issues without any delay? Rep. Hakeem Jeffries responded: "The answer is yes." "What is clear, based on the record that was compiled by the House of Representatives where up to five depositions per week were completed, that this can be done in an expeditious fashion," Jeffries said. Earlier, President Trump's lawyers claimed that issuing subpoenas to witnesses could delay the trial for months while discovery and depositions occurred. It is unclear how long witnesses and the introduction of new evidence would delay the trial. 2:30 p.m. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz asked President Trump's lawyers, "As a matter of law, does it matter if there was a quid pro quo?" Alan Dershowitz said so-called quid pro quos are frequently used in foreign policy, arguing that presidents can authorize money with conditions. "If you don't do it, you don't get the money. If you do it, you get the money. There's no one in this chamber that would regard that as in any way unlawful," he said. He added that every U.S. president has had "mixed motives" when setting up foreign policy. "Everybody has mixed motives, and for there to be a constitutional impeachment based on mixed motives would permit almost any president to be impeached," Dershowitz said. "How many presidents have made foreign policy decisions after checking with their political advisers and their pollsters?" After Dershowitz finished, Sen. Chuck Schumer asked the House prosecutors if they could respond to the president's lawyers. "All quid pros are not the same," lead House manager Adam Schiff said. "Some are legitimate and some are corrupt, and you don't need to be a mind reader to figure out which is which." 2:05 p.m. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, asked President Trumps lawyers about his powers over foreign policy, and the role of career civil servants setting U.S. foreign policy. This is a key element of Trumps alleged abuse of power the articles of impeachment accuse Trump of manipulating U.S. foreign policy toward Ukraine and reorienting it to help his 2020 re-election campaign. Deputy White House Counsel Patrick Philbin pointed to past Supreme Court rulings, and said the president is the sole organ of the nation in foreign affairs. 1:50 p.m. Pat Philbin, responding for the presidents counsel, responded to House manager Adam Schiffs assertion that there was no evidence President Trump was interested in burden-sharing. Philbin cited a June 24 email following up on burden sharing for foreign aid. He also cited the transcript of the call between the president and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The president asked, he said, We spend a lot of effort and a lot of time for Ukraine, much more than the European countries are doing and they should be helping you more than we are, Philbin remarked. Philbin also refuted Schiffs suggestion that there was evidence of a connection between Ukrainian military assistance and investigations into Trumps political rival. 1:30 p.m. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer asked House managers to explain the need for witnesses and documents: "Is there any way for the Senate to return a fully informed verdict in this case without hearing the testimony of Bolton, Mulvaney, and the other key eyewitnesses or without seeing the relevant documentary evidence?" Lead House manager Adam Schiff responded: "The short answer to that question is, no. There's no way to have a fair trial without witnesses. And when you have a witness as plainly relevant as John Bolton, who goes to the heart of the most serious and egregious of the president's misconduct, who has volunteered to come and testify, to turn him away and to look the other way, I think, is deeply at odds with being an impartial juror." Schiff then addressed the previous question about the president's motivation to withhold aid. He argued that question speaks to why it's critical to call Bolton to testify. "If you have any question about the president's motivation, it makes it all the more essential to call the man who spoke directly with the president, that the president confided in and said he was holding up this aid because he wanted Ukraine to conduct these political investigations that would help him in the next election," Schiff said. 1:15 p.m. The first question comes from GOP Sens. Susan Collins, of Maine, Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska, and Mitt Romney, of Utah. "If President Trump had more than one motive for his alleged conduct, such as the pursuit of personal political advantage, rooting out corruption and the promotion of national interests, how should the Senate consider more than one motive in its assessment of article one?," the senators asked. Deputy White House counsel Patrick Philbin responded that the standard Democrats have "set for themselves is establishing there is no possible public interest at all for these investigations." "If there is any possibility, if there is something that shows a possible public interest, and the president could have that possible public interest motive, that destroys their case," Philbin added. "So once you're into mixed motive land, it's clear that their case fails." 1 p.m. The questioning phase in the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump begins. Senators will have 16 hours for written questions to each side. Those hours are expected to be split up between two days. The Senate is expected to hold a vote on whether or not to hear from witnesses, as well as the specifics of how that would work, later this week. CNN contributed to this report. Original story below ______________________________________________ President Donald Trump's defense team wrapped up opening arguments Tuesday morning. House impeachment managers, led by Rep. Adam Schiff, and Trump's defense team will open questions to each other Wednesday. Senators will have 16 hours for written questions to each side. The Senate is expected to hold a vote on whether or not to hear from witnesses, as well as the specifics of how that would work, later this week. House impeachment managers and Democrats argue a trial cannot be fair without witnesses. GOP members and the defense team posit that witnesses aren't needed and that the trial itself is a sham to undo the 2016 election results. House impeachment managers will likely focus their questions on Trump's dealings with Ukraine, notably on how Trump's "Do us a favor" quote from his phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky could be viewed as quid pro quo. Ukraine was waiting for military aid from the United States at the time of the call, and House impeachment managers argue this constitutes Trump pressuring the Ukrainian president into offering something in return for the aid, namely dirt on Democratic presidential candidate and political rival Joe Biden. They may also heavily question the benefit of keeping witnesses from the trial, and accuse Senate GOP of covering for Trump by not allowing witnesses to be questioned. Former National Security Advisor John Bolton, whose recent preview of an upcoming book affirmed House claims that Trump withheld Ukraine aid until an investigation into Biden was opened, will be the central figure House managers argue is needed as a witness. The House impeachment team will aim to garner the support of key moderate GOP senators to join them in calling for witnesses in the Senate trial. Senators like Mitt Romney of Utah, Susan Collins of Maine, both of whom said Bolton's manuscript raises the need for witnesses. John Bolton's relevance to our decision has become increasingly clear, Romney said. Collins said Bolton's claims strengthens the case for witnesses. The Trump defense team, including Alan Dershowitcz and Kenneth Starr, may split their focus between the July call with President Zelensky and Hunter Biden, son of Joe Biden. Hunter Biden's well-paid seat on the board of a Ukrainian gas producer, a position he took during Joe Biden's time as vice president, has been scrutinized by the GOP as a legitimate corruption concern and reason for Trump to withhold aid from the country. Trump's defense team will also likely continue highlighting remarks that legislators made during President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial, a practice Democrats themselves had been doing as well. The defense may also argue that if the House and Democrats want witnesses, they should have called them during the House proceedings. The trial is set to continue 1 p.m. Wednesday. Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous nights highlights that lets you sleep and lets us get paid to watch comedy. If youre interested in hearing from The Times regularly about great TV, sign up for our Watching newsletter and get recommendations straight to your inbox. After Careful Consideration During an interview on NPRs All Things Considered last Friday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo refused to answer the co-host Mary Louise Kellys questions about Ukraine. Kelly reported that once they were off the air, Pompeo accused her of blindsiding him, swore at her and asked her to point out Ukraine on a map. The California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) goes into effect in 2020, and other state and federal laws are on the horizon but is it possible that these state laws will really provide us privacy? For instance, how many readers take the time to read the privacy policy (or click agreement) when they download a new version of an app on their smartphone or tablet? Probably none. What are the consequences? Well, we all know that it is great to share our GPS location with the apps so they know where we are to give directions on maps or recommend restaurants, since the apps know our eating preferences. Given the use of cells, tablets and social media, everyone shares all kinds of personal data. New laws will not replace the social needs we have created in using cells, tablets, and social media, because everyone shares that information for their personal convenience. Where Do Laws Come From? Its common knowledge that laws are based on what society thinks is socially acceptable in a particular community. What is socially acceptable in New York City dictates the laws in New York City, but whats acceptable in Beijing, Moscow or London may be different and dictate different laws. The local law makers (think legislatures or dictators) decide the law, and then the local court systems get to interpret the local laws when challenges are presented. Privacy always has been important to people in the U.S., and since the Constitution was enacted in 1789, the First Amendment has allowed for free speech. The courts have interpreted what free speech is and how that relates to privacy, which may be at the heart of any particular dispute challenging the First Amendment. The Federal Trade Commissions Role The FTC is charged with protecting privacy in the U.S., and it regularly files lawsuits to enforce the federal privacy laws under the 1934 FTC Act. For instance, on July 24, 2019, the FTC announced a $5 billion penalty and sweeping new privacy restrictions on Facebook:The $5 billion penalty against Facebook is the largest ever imposed on any company for violating consumers privacy and almost 20 times greater than the largest privacy or data security penalty ever imposed worldwide. It is one of the largest penalties ever assessed by the U.S. government for any violation.Also, on Dec. 18, 2019, the FTC reached a settlement In the Matter of Cambridge Analytica, LLC, although the original complaint filed alleged that Cambridge Analytica employed deceptive tactics to harvest personal information from tens of millions of Facebook users for voter profiling and targeting. Clearly the FTC actively is protecting privacy for U.S. citizens, but as states create their own privacy laws like the CCPA you should expect the courts to be involved in deciding which law applies to a particular alleged violation between the FTC Act and CCPA (and other laws that will be enacted in the future). How Does the European Union GDPR Fit In? The 2018 EU General Data Protection Regulation regulates the transfer of personal data outside of the EU and European Economic Area, and requires controllers of the EU personal data outside the EU to apply GDPR to allow EU citizens to opt out, delete data, and exercise the right to be forgotten. A legal complication is whether the courts in the U.S. will enforce the GDPR for EU residents who happen to be in the U.S. At the time of writing this column we do not know, but at some point courts will let us know. So stay tuned. Will Chinese Lack of Privacy Invade the US? Chinese authorities are spying on nearly 1.4 billion people, The New York Times has reported, using both old and state-of-the-art technologies such as phone scanners, facial-recognition cameras, face and fingerprint databases, and many others to establish authoritarian control. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Can this happen in the U.S.? Probably not, given the FTC and state laws, but it is a scary threat reminiscent of George Orwells Big Brother in Nineteen Eighty-Four that keeps many people awake at night. How do people in China feel about the lack of privacy? Does anyone outside the country really know the answer? China is a totalitarian state, not a democracy like the U.S., which of course makes a huge difference. The U.S. is governed by a constitution that provides all citizens rights and privileges, including privacy protection, which is regulated by the FTC as noted above. Still, if people in the U.S. are not careful, they will they lose all privacy. Does Big Data Compromise Privacy? A few years ago, the FTC issued Big Data A Tool of Inclusion or Exclusion,a report that highlights consumer privacy, particularly under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). You may not be aware that there are no laws in place to require data aggregators to verify the accuracy of the data that they buy and sell. So if your private data is included, and it is inaccurate, what can you do? How Does Artificial Intelligence Affect Privacy? AI relies on a machine learning process using big data, and the privacy question is whether the data contains your private information. How will that impact AI? Its a good question. Think about the fact that McDonalds is turning to artificial intelligence and machine learning in the hopes of predicting what customers want before they decide, according to a New York Times report published on Oct. 22, 2019. The article, entitled Would You Like Fries With That? McDonalds Already Knows the Answer includes these comments:Over the last seven months, McDonalds has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to acquire technology companies that specialize in artificial intelligence and machine learning. And the fast-food chain has even established a new tech hub in the heart of Silicon Valley the McD Tech Labs where a team of engineers and data scientists is working on voice-recognition software. At some drive-throughs, McDonalds has tested technology that can recognize license-plate numbers, allowing the company to tailor a list of suggested purchases to a customers previous orders, as long as the person agrees to sign away the data. As the evolution of the McDonalds drive-through shows, the internet shopping experience, with its recommendation algorithms and personalization, is increasingly shaping the world of brick-and-mortar retail. Restaurants, clothing stores, supermarkets and other businesses use new technology to collect consumer data and then deploy that information to encourage more spending.How do you feel about any retailer (no matter what product or service is involved) knowing so much about you and your private life? By Barani Krishnan Investing.com OPEC officials are in crisis mode, planning to advance their March meeting by a month. But that still didnt help oil prices much on Wednesday as a huge jump in weekly U.S. crude stockpiles suggested an oversupplied market. New York-traded West Texas Intermediate, the benchmark for U.S. crude, settled down 15 cents, or 0.3%, at $53.33. WTI rebounded by 0.6% just on Tuesday, after a near-four-month low of $52.16 at the start of the week. Brent, the London-traded global benchmark for crude oil, settled up 30 cents, or 0.5%, at $59.81. Brent gained 0.3% in the previous session, after tumbling to $57.74 on Monday, its lowest level since Oct. 8. At Wednesdays settlement, WTI was down almost 13% for January, its biggest slide since May. Brent showed a loss of almost 10%, also heading for its worst performance since May. Oil's losses this month have been heightened by the coronavirus, which has killed more than 130 people and infected another 6,000 in China, the worlds biggest buyer of crude. The Energy Information Administration reported earlier on Wednesday that U.S. crude stockpiles rose by 3.5 million barrels last week, compared with analysts expectations for a build of just about 480,000 barrels. The surge came as refinery runs dropped to just 87% of capacity for the week ended Jan. 24, versus the previous rate of just 90% for the week to Jan. 17. Some of that refining slowdown may be due to scheduled plant maintenance, but I suspect some of it also has to do with the fact that heating oil demand has been so bad during this unseasonably warm winter, prompting the industry to push out less products hereon, said John Kilduff, founding partner at New York energy hedge fund Again Capital. Whatever the case, it reflects weak demand for oil and I think thats going to get WTI to under $52 and possibly below $50 over the next several weeks, if early spring weather comes on and refinery maintenance reaches its heights. Story continues It is very possible that the OPEC+ meeting scheduled at the beginning of March could be advanced to February. Mohamed Arkab, energy minister of Algeria, one of OPECs 15 members, meanwhile suggested that the cartel might advance to next month a meeting scheduled in March with Russia and its allies under the OPEC+ initiative in an attempt to try and overcome the challenges to oil demand from the coronavirus crisis. "Everything is possible," Arkab said when asked if the meeting would be moved, Reuters reported. Arkabs comments came as Zhang Ming, an economist at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a top government think tank, said Chinas economic growth may drop to 5% or even lower due to the viral outbreak. As the worlds No. 2 economy and the biggest buyer of virtually every natural resource, any slide in Chinese growth will have major global market disruptions, leading to more risk flights and demand for protective assets like gold, U.S. Treasuries, the Japanese yen and Swiss franc. Adding to the weaker outlook for the Chinese economy, British Airway and Lufthansa announced on Wednesday they had canceled all flights to China, while Toyota said it would suspend vehicle production in the country. Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman, whos also the most powerful figure in OPEC, however, said on Monday that the coronavirus was a transient risk that had been overblown. John Driscoll, chief strategist at JTD Energy Securities, said OPECs influence in pushing oil prices higher seemed to be waning with each crisis. I have to say this delicately, but OPEC, I think, is starting to realize that even though they cut back, try to balance output and stabilize prices, they have less influence, Driscoll told CNBC. He cited massive new fields in Norway, Brazil and Guyana that he said had shifted the balance of power from OPEC to producers who werent members or allies of the cartel especially the United States, which was now the largest oil producer in the world. Related Articles Gold Nudges Higher on China Risks as Fed Stays Gold Prices Drift Ahead of Fed Chairman Powell's Press Conference Oil Flat After Mixed Inventory Data; Fed Eyed Residents in Gaza on Wednesday rejected a plan announced by US President Donald Trump aimed at ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Gazans living in the besieged city claimed that the blueprint does not give them their rights including the right of return to their places of origin. The plan, jointly unveiled by the US and Israel, largely adopts the Israeli position on many issues of the decades-old conflict, from borders and the status of Jerusalem to security measures and the fate of Palestinian refugees. According to the plan, a Palestinian state would be created in parts of the West Bank, but would allow Israel to annex its settlements in the occupied territory. The plan would allow the Palestinians to establish a capital on the outskirts of east Jerusalem but would leave most of the city under Israeli control. (Kitco News) - Fortuna Silver Mines, Inc. (NYSE: FSM; TSX: FVI) Wednesday reported an escalation in a dispute over a royalty involving the San Jose mine, saying that Mexican authorities have threatened to cancel the mining concession if the company does not make a payment by mid-March. Fortuna said it would make a payment, if necessary, but will continue to dispute the claim. BMO Capital Markets said the disputed amount US$30 million -- not including the value-added tax amounts to around 19 U.S. cents per share, or around 4.7% of Tuesdays closing price. However, the company said its cash balance is sufficient to cover the payment should Fortuna lose the court fight. Today's update is the first we have heard of this dispute, so we expect the stock may underperform on the news, BMO said. Fortunas update listed a timeline for the dispute, reporting that in 2017, the Mexican Geological Service (SGM) advised the company that a previous owner of one of its San Jose mineral concessions had granted SGM a royalty of 3% of the billing value of minerals from the concession. Fortuna has argued that no royalty is payable, supported by legal opinions from three independent law firms. So in 2018, Fortuna initiated administrative and legal proceedings against the Direccion General de Minas (DGM) to remove reference to the royalty on the title register. The company has recently received notice from the DGM seeking to cancel the mining concession if the royalty, in the Mexican pesos equivalent of US$30 million plus VAT (being the amount of the claimed royalty from 2011 to 2019) is not paid before March 15, 2020, Fortuna said Wednesday. The company will be initiating legal proceedings to contest the cancellation procedure and also to stay the cancellation process. If not successful in canceling the DGM action or winning a stay of execution, Fortuna may be required to pay, or post a bond or other security, up to the amount claimed in order to preserve the mining concession, Fortuna said. If it does so, Fortuna would immediately proceed with dispute proceedings. If the company is required to pay the royalty or post security, it will do so from available working capital, Fortuna said. The company remains adequately funded to meet its capital requirements for the completion of the Lindero Project and to fund sustaining capital expenditures at its operating mines. Fortuna reported earlier this month that the San Jose mine produced 7.9 million ounces of silver in 2019. In a place dependent on immigrant workers, where tariffs are a faraway thought and most of the jobs are on the boardwalk, Wildwood welcomed President Donald Trump on Tuesday night as he brought his often-repeated themes of employment and immigration to his latest political rally. The raucous gathering of red MAGA hat-wearing supporters in the tight confines of the Wildwoods Convention Center offered a panoply of claims from his own impeachment to trade and taxes. Perhaps appropriate for an event of contradictions, the rally was warmed up by a recording of Cowgirl in the Sand by Neil Young, who recently became a U.S. citizen, because he wanted to vote against Trump. By some estimates, the president has made more than 16,200 false or misleading claims since being sworn in, and a Trump rally is often a showcase for his often-repeated misstatements of facts. But there were assertions both true and false from the podium on Tuesday. Here were some of his most memorable lines from the Jersey Shore: On employment More people are working in New Jersey than ever before, the Republican president said. That is true. In June 2019, New Jerseys unemployment rate dropped to 3.5 percent, the lowest since the state began keeping records on jobs in 1976. It fell to an all-time low of 3.1 percent in September before rising back to 3.5 percent last month. On his crowd There are tens of thousands of people outside, Trump said about 15 minutes into his speech. That was false. A NJ Advance Media reporter outside the convention center said there were several thousand outside about 20 minutes after Trump started speaking and hundreds left after they realized they wouldnt getting in. Blue to Red in Jersey? Trump claimed there has been a mass exodus of members of the Democratic Party. That is false in New Jersey. U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, who switched parties and threw his support to Trump may have brought the president to Wildwood. But Republicans are outnumbered by registered Democrats by nearly 1 million people (982,115 to be exact), according to the latest statistics from the states Division of Elections. Ahead of the most recent election, Democrats added more than double the amount of registered voters (108,615) compared to the GOP (53,311), according to the data. On taxes Nobodys ever cut taxes like this, the president said. False. According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, which supports efforts to reduce the federal deficit, Trumps tax cuts were the eighth biggest since 1918. The biggest was President Ronald Reagans tax cut in 1981, which was 2.9 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. Trumps tax bill is 0.9 percent of Gross Domestic Protect. To beat the record, the tax legislation would have to be $6.6 trillion, four times bigger than its $1.5 trillion cost, the committee said. President Donald Trump makes his entrance at the Wildwoods Convention Center on Tuesday night.Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Adva A strong economy? For years, youve been losing your ass with 401ks. Now youre making a fortune," Trump said. Partly true. Despite the strong year for stocks, if you measure from inauguration through Oct. 31 of each presidents third year in office, President Barack Obama Trumps Democratic predecessor still comes out on top. On health care We are making health care better and much much better. We are protecting people with pre-existing conditions and we always will, the Republican Party, Trump said. False. The Trump-backed GOP health plan would remove protections for pre-existing conditions and his administration is suing to get rid of protections for pre-existing conditions all together. In fact, Trump has taken several steps to weaken the existing health care law, and in turn has driven up premiums. On trade Tomorrow well replace the NAFTA nightmare," the president said of a signing ceremony Wednesday of the USMCA trade agreement with Mexico and Canada, calling it a massive win for NJ workers, farmers, union members, manufacturers and everybody. True. The proposed U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement would enhance trade with New Jerseys top two sources of exports, which already support 348,700 jobs in the state, according to a report issued as business organizations seek approval of the deal. The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce is working with the states federal lawmakers to support the agreement. On sanctuary cities and immigration Left-wing radical politicians support deadly sanctuary cities, Sanctuary city is a jurisdiction that refuses to hand over criminal aliens who are in local law enforcement, the president said. False. Actually, sanctuary cities just mean that municipalities wont hold unauthorized immigrants who have not been charged with a crime. I know this comes as a surprise, but @realDonaldTrump is lying about New Jerseys immigration policies. Were not providing sanctuary to those who break the law. We're building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Learn more: https://t.co/FLscQ18HRT AG Gurbir Grewal (@NewJerseyOAG) January 29, 2020 Trump also said Cumberland County officials set free an illegal charged with multiple counts of sexual assault of a child. He is now at large, free to search for another innocent victim." True and False. Luciano Trejo-Dominguez, 33, was arrested Aug. 12, 2019, by Vineland police for the alleged sexual assault of a minor between 13 and 15 years old. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a detainer request that he be held at the Cumberland County Jail after his arrest, but he was released Aug. 23, ICE said. Cumberland County jail officials said ICE submitted incomplete paperwork that lacked critical information and was not completed until after Trejo-Dominguez was released by the courts. He was arrested again as part of an ICE sweep in September 2019. Separately, the president said Trump said Middlesex County released an inmate who later committed a gruesome triple murder. True: Luis Rodrigo Perez, a Mexican citizen, was being held on domestic violence charges in Dec. 2017, but released in Feb. 2018 without ICE being notified. He was charged with killing three people in Missouri in Nov. 2018. On guns Trump said a gun safety bill just passed the house for the first time in a quarter-century. Your Jersey lawmakers were front and center in the fight," he added. True. The U.S. House passed its gun control bill since Democrats controlled the chamber two decades ago. Van Drew voted yes on this. But in 2013, when he was a Trenton lawmaker, he was the only Democrat in the state Senate to vote against 10 gun control measures. He said at the time he believed the majority of his constituents supported his decision. The day that I cant do that anymore is the day I dont want to be in the legislature, its the day I dont want to be senator, Van Drew told NJTV News after the 2013 vote. I understand the goal of the folks that want more regulation is good but the reality is that the gang bangers and the law breakers arent worried whether its one gun a month, theyre not worried whether there is a different system for registering, theyre not going to register, theyre not getting their guns that way. Theyre getting them illegally. Staff writers Vinessa Erminio, Brent Johnson, Samantha Marcus, and Jonathan D. Salant contributed to this report. Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. Facebook: @TedSherman.reporter. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 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. Exploring the Rims, from top to bottom, just got a little easier. Visitors, hikers and trail runners now have sanctioned access at the base of the Myers Trail, which sits on private property at Country Club Circle. The rugged trail winds up the Rims and comes out at Sky Ranch Drive. "It's always been there," said Jeff Kanning. "It's always been used." For more than 100 years, the Myers Trail has traversed its section of the Rims. Today, Kanning's home and property sit squarely on the historic trailhead, with the trail continuing up the Rims on undeveloped city parkland. "There was no legal access," Kanning said. Kanning is an avid trail runner and a longtime user of the Myers Trail. He has kept the trailhead open, allowing visitors to cut across the edge of his lawn to access the trail. But concerns of liability and continued access should he move prompted him to make the access from his property official. He contacted Billings TrailNet, a nonprofit, grassroots organization supporting urban trails around the Billings community, and together they worked with the city to guarantee access. Prior to dating Prince Harry and eventually marrying him in 2018 Meghan, Duchess of Sussex was a moderately-known actress. Following her breakout role on the hit drama series, Suits Markle gained a modest following for her acting, personal blog The Tig, and her activism. After marrying into the British royal family, Markle gave up her life and career as she knew it. However, she continued to advocate for women, education, animal rights, climate control, and mental health issues. Despite putting her best foot forward the British press and public refused to give the Los Angeles native a break. With two years of living with bullying and harassment Markle and Harry, Duke of Sussex decided to do something drastic. They resigned from their positions in the British royal family and the verb, to Meghan Markle was born. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle felt they had no other choice but to resign Though the Sussexes Jan. 8 resignation seemingly came out of nowhere, it was after months of intense thought and conversation. Ultimately, it was the duke who decided to pull the pin out of the grenade. Hed watch the British press literally destroy his mother, the late Princess Diana, and he was unwilling to take any chances when it came to protecting Markle and their son, Archie. The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly, he said in a speech during a reception for his charity, Sentebale. It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges. And I know I havent always got it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option. Despite the fact that theyd been nearly run out of town the Sussexes resignation was still met with fury. Inside Meghan Markle and Prince Harry non-royal life Now that they are no longer working members of the royal family the Sussexes have fled to Canada where they are carving out a new peaceful and financially independent life for themselves. An insider told US Weekly, that [Prince Harry] is really excited about the next chapter in their lives. For her part, Markle is blissfully happy to be away from the insanity of royal life. She doesnt come from millions, the source revealed. Shes worked hard to get to where she is today. Meghan loves the idea of being the breadwinner. She has no plans to do another show like Suits, but Harrys been encouraging her to do more voice-over work, writing, producing and directing in her free time. This is what it means to Meghan Markle Only real icons get verbs named after them, which is exactly what the duchess is. To Meghan Markle means, Meghan Markle, a verb, past tense Meghan Markled: to value yourself and your mental health enough to up and leave a room/ situation/ environment in which your authentic self is not welcomed or wanted Mostly it just means to protect your peace and live your best life no matter what. The recent killing of a 24-year- old Dalit man in Madhya Pradesh has triggered a war of words between the opposition BJP and the ruling Congress, with the latter on Wednesday accusing the saffron party of disturbing the communal harmony for its vested interests. The Congress's allegation comes a day after the BJP held a protest over the Dalit man's killing at Sagar city in the state, where it had criticised the Kamal Nath government for adopting the policy of "minority appeasement". The Congress also accused two BJP MLAs of disrespecting the corpse of the Dalit man during the cremation. The victim, Dhanprasad Ahirwar (24), was allegedly set on fire by four persons after being doused with kerosene in Dharmshri Colony in Sagar, around 170 kms from here, on January 14. He suffered 70 per cent burns and succumbed to his injuries in a New Delhi hospital on January 23. According to police, the four accused- Chhuttu, Ajju Pathan, Kallu and Irfan- who were arrested after the incident, wanted Ahirwar to withdraw a police complaint he had lodged. Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, MP Congress working president Surendra Chaudhary said, "This saddening incident was a result of the enmity between two families. The aggrieved family does not want any political intervention, but the BJP leaders are out to disturb the communal harmony for their vested interests." "The BJP leaders even forced the wife of the deceased to share the stage with them during their protest even before the family's 13-day mourning period ended. This is shameful," he said. State Congress Media Cell chairperson Shobha Oza also alleged that BJP MLAs Shailendra Jain (Sagar) and Pradeep Laria (Naryaoli) tried to snatch the corpse from the family members and raised slogans during the last rites of the deceased. Congress leaders claimed that the Kamal Nath-led government has cleared a proposal about providing a job to a family member of the deceased. Financial help of Rs 4.12 lakh has been given to the deceased's family and more assistance is being provided, they said. BJP MLA Shailendra Jain denied the charges against him saying, "Instead of extending help to the wife of the deceased, the Congress government is playing on the issue. We attended the cremation and did not raise any slogans. But Congress woke up only after BJP's protest." During their protest in Sagar on Tuesday, the BJP leaders had accused the Congress government in the state of adopting a policy of minority appeasement. Former state chief minister and BJP national vice president Shivraj Singh Chouhan had alleged that the accused in the case wanted to kill Ahirwar in 2019 as well, but police did not take action. "It was the government's duty to arrest the accused, but it did not do so as they belonged to a minority community," he had said. The BJP leaders also alleged that the crimes against Dalits were rising in the state under the Kamal Nath dispensation and the party's high command will have to answer. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) tech2 News Staff Apple has announced financial results for Q1 2020 ending 28 December 2019. The company posted quarterly revenue of $91.8 billion, an increase of 9 percent from the year-ago quarter and an all-time record. International sales accounted for 61 percent of the quarters revenue. Apple reported earnings per share of $4.99, compared with analyst estimates of $4.55 per share. Apples earnings were partially powered by iPhone revenue, which was up 8 percent thanks to the new iPhone models to $55.96 billion. The number of active iPhones, computers and other devices owned by customers, called Apples installed base, grew by 100 million to more than 1.5 billion over the past year. Apple executives set a new target of 600 million paid subscribers for music, TV, gaming and other services by the end of the calendar 2020. We are thrilled to report Apples highest quarterly revenue ever, fueled by strong demand for our iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro models, and all-time records for Services and Wearables, said Tim Cook, Apples CEO. During the holiday quarter our active installed base of devices grew in each of our geographic segments and has now reached over 1.5 billion. We see this as a powerful testament to the satisfaction, engagement and loyalty of our customers and a great driver of our growth across the board. (Also read: Amid coronavirus outbreak in China, Apple limits travel to 'business-critical situations') In a press release sent out by Apple, the company provided the following guidance for its fiscal 2020 second quarter: revenue between $63.0 billion and $67.0 billion gross margin between 38.0 percent and 39.0 percent operating expenses between $9.6 billion and $9.7 billion other income/(expense) of $250 million tax rate of approximately 16.5 percent Our very strong business performance drove an all-time net income record of $22.2 billion and generated operating cash flow of $30.5 billion, said Luca Maestri, Apples CFO. We also returned nearly $25 billion to shareholders during the quarter, including $20 billion in share repurchases and $3.5 billion in dividends and equivalents, as we maintain our target of reaching a net cash neutral position over time. However, Apple CEO Tim Cook told Reuters that the company could not make enough AirPods and Apple Watch Series 3 devices to meet demand during the fiscal first quarter and continues to be short on both. With inputs from Reuters. Britain could hold a second EU referendum after it becomes clear how Brexit has worked out, Nigel Farage has said. The Brexit Party leader said another vote might not be wholly unreasonable once voters had had time to see the effects of the policy. At a press conference in Brussels ahead of his last European parliament speech, Mr Farage said he would miss being the pantomime villain of the EUs legislature. I will miss some of the drama, I will miss being the pantomime villain the guy that gets up and 500 people start booing, he said. I have got my last speech here this afternoon, so I will do my best if I can to get some audience participation. Recommended Boris Johnson to lay out Brexit trade deal priorities within week Mr Farage claimed that Brexit was a victory for grassroots campaigning in the face of opposition from the entire UK establishment. Whatever my criticisms may be of the political system in the UK and its need for urgent reform, in the end what this shows is that it still actually works, he said. So, Im going to be celebrating the fact that democracy and the will of the people has triumphed at 11 oclock this Friday. In January 2018 the Brexiteer previously said he was warming to a second referendum, arguing that it could kill off the issue for a generation. But following last years election there appears to be little immediate enthusiasm for rejoining the EU among the leaders of the Remain movement. 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 MEPs who previously campaigned to stop Brexit have told The Independent that their focus is on highlighting the problems caused by Britains exit and that rejoining would be further down the road. British MEPs are sitting for the last time in the European parliament on Wednesday, and they will stop becoming MEPs at midnight Brussels time on Friday, when Britain formally leaves the EU. Many senior EU figures and leaders of member states have said the blocs door would remain open for Britain if it ever wanted to rejoin. Jeff Yaroch, R-Richmond, has filed to run for reelection for state representative for the 33rd House District. Having left the firehouse three years ago to enter the State House, Yaroch hopes to continue serving the residents of the 33rd District with a focus on fiscal responsibility, government accountability and responsiveness to the people he serves. It has been a privilege serving the residents of the 33rd District, Yaroch said in a news release. Over the past three years, I have supported increased investment in our roads without raising taxes, worked to address clean water issues including PFAS contamination and promoted more career tech training in schools. In addition, I voted for historic car insurance reform, with rate reductions set to go into effect in July. It is also an honor to have received the endorsement of Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller, Yaroch added. I share her passion for protecting our Great Lakes and look forward to continuing to work with her on the issues affecting the residents of Macomb County. I am proud to endorse state Rep. Jeff Yaroch for reelection, Commissioner Candice Miller said. Rep. Yaroch has been a strong advocate for the residents of Macomb County, and I look forward to continuing to work with Jeff on the issues we all care about. Yaroch will appear on the Republican side of the primary ballot in the Aug. 4 election. If reelected, this will be Yarochs final term in the Michigan House of Representatives due to term limits. The 33rd State House District includes the townships of Armada, Lenox, Ray and Richmond, the villages of Armada and New Haven, the Macomb County portion of the cities of Richmond and Memphis, and most of Macomb Township. MediaNews Group staff The Central Bank of Ireland has refused to say if a 3.9m fine for the Chinese bank poised to buy Goodbody Stockbrokers will affect the Irish sale. Bank of China was yesterday hit with a fine and ordered to make a tax contribution by French prosecutors for failing to prevent money laundering by clients using its accounts to move funds between Europe and Asia. Bank of China Ltd agreed to pay the 3.9m in fines and tax contributions, ending a criminal prosecution in the case under a new French regulatory process, according to a statement from the office of Paris prosecutor Remy Heitz. Under the terms of the settlement, Bank of China acknowledged the facts of the case but did not plead guilty. Charges against the bank have been dropped as part of the settlement but cases are continuing against 28 entities linked to 40m of suspicious transactions uncovered in the probe. A Bloomberg report said the French investigation began after a routine check by anti-money laundering body Tracfin noticed a very unusual increase over a few months in the revenue of a Paris-based shop that specialised in urgent locksmith and plumbing repairs. Bank of China is the parent company of Bank of China UK, which is in the process of buying Ireland's second-biggest stockbroker, Goodbody, for 155m, subject to approval by the Central Bank. The takeover was announced in November, and was approved by the Irish competition authority before Christmas. However, it is still pending approval from the financial regulator. Asked yesterday whether the French case would be considered as part of the authorisation process, the Central Bank said it would not comment on individual firms. Goodbody declined to comment on the French fine, or on whether it was aware of the investigation in Paris before agreeing to be sold to Bank of China. A spokesperson for Bank of China could not be reached. Big fines are increasingly common in bank regulation. In 2016 and 2017, all of Ireland's three biggest banks were fined by the Irish regulator for breaches of anti-money laundering rules. Ulster Bank and Bank of Ireland were each fined in excess of 3m, and AIB more than 2m, by the Central Bank for breaches including failing to have proper systems in place to counter money laundering and terrorist financing. In France, the Chinese state-owned bank had been charged with aggravated money laundering over the transfer of suspect funds worth nearly 40m to 168 accounts, mostly in China's Zhejiang province, between 2012 and 2014. Money was moved through accounts in a number of European states before being sent to China. French prosecutors said cases will continue against 28 business owners involved in transferring funds to China. A family who lost their home and business in the bushfires were brought to tears when they were gifted a car live on the Today Show. Carol and Paul Nelson-Parthenides were shocked when hosts Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon announced they had another gift for the family. Moments later, when the white Kia Sportage SX, Ms Nelson-Parthenides broke down. Stefanovic jumped up to give her a hug while she was lost for words. Mr and Mrs Nelson-Parthenides and their daughter Elyssa fled their home in Mallacoota on December 29 - just days before the skies turned an eerie red as a ferocious blaze tore through the region. Scroll down for video The Nelson-Parthenides family fled their home in Mallacoota on December 29 - just days before the skies turned an eerie red as a ferocious blaze tore through the region The family were devastated when they discovered their home and foodtruck had been destroyed (pictured) The family were devastated when they discovered their home and foodtruck had been destroyed. Mr Nelson-Parthenides had hoped to spend the busy summer months working from his foodtruck. He wanted to make up for lost time as he was out of work last year while he battled liver cancer. The family had fled to Bega when news of the encroaching blaze broke. They were then forced to move to Canberra as multiple fires ripped through the east coast. Eventually they found refuge in Melbourne, unaware their home had been destroyed. 'I got a text message from people across the roadthe house was definitely gone,' Ms Nelson-Parthenides told the Today Show. 'We were overwhelmed by it alljust lost of tears.' The family had fled to Bega when news of the encroaching blaze broke. They were then forced to move to Canberra as multiple fires ripped through the east coast. Eventually they found refuge in Melbourne, unaware their home had been destroyed Mr Nelson-Parthenides had hoped to spend the busy summer months working from his foodtruck. He wanted to make up for lost time as he was out of work last year while he battled liver cancer Despite the devastating news, the family have battled through as attempt to try to find their 'new normal'. 'We'll keep on going, it's all we can do,' Mr Nelson-Parthenides said. The family were invited to the Australian Open by the morning show after they heard what they had been going through. The sky in Mallacoota as fires approached on New Years Eve turned an apocalyptic red colour. People were forced to flee to the beach RFS volunteers and NSW fire and rescue officers protecting a home on Wheelbarrow Ridge Road, NSW (pictured) Carol and Paul Nelson-Parthenides were lost for words when Karl Stefanovic (pictured) announced they had been gifted a new car A Navy SEAL accused of strangling a Green Beret to death in a brutal hazing ritual in Mali has been promoted by the Navy four months later. Tony DeDolph was promoted from Petty Officer First Class to Chief Petty Officer despite having been sent home on suspicion of murder following Army Staff Sgt. Logan Melgar's death in June 2017. Army Staff Sgt. Logan Melgar was asleep when DeDolph and Chief Petty Officer Adam C. Matthews burst into his bedroom with a sledgehammer. They allegedly choked him until he was unconscious then tied him up and a Malian security guard sexually assaulted him while a British man - who had befriended the Americans - filmed it. Tony DeDolph (left) was promoted from Petty Officer First Class to Chief Petty Officer despite having been sent home on suspicion of murder following Army Staff Sgt. Logan Melgar's death in June 2017. A longstanding feud had gone on between the SEALs and Melgar, after he accused them of bringing prostitutes back to their safe house and taking cash from a fund intended to pay local informants. According to witnesses cited by NBC at the time, DeDolph said he'd 'choked' him. DeDeoph has since pleaded not guilty to murder and is yet to stand trial. In May 2019, Matthews pleaded to the lesser charges of conspiracy to commit assault, unlawful entry, obstruction of justice and violating a general order by committing hazing and he was sentenced to one year in a military prison. Staff Sergeant Kevin Maxwell Jr. pleaded guilty to charges including negligent homicide, hazing and making false official statements and was sentenced to four years. A fourth man, Gunnery Sgt. Mario Madera-Rodriguez, is also yet to stand trial. Now it has emerged that four months after they returned from Africa, the Navy promoted DeDolph. One of the four, SEAL Chief Petty Officer Adam C. Matthews, will spend one year in military prison at Norfolk Naval Station (above). Despite having been sent home on suspicion of murder, he was 'frocked' - meaning he started wearing the insignia of his higher position - in September 2017 and he officially started collecting his higher salary in December that year, according to The Daily Beast. Officials say that it was because he was not charged until the following year that he was allowed to enjoy his promotion and higher salary. The scandal, along with others in the military which involved the behavior of personnel overseas like that of Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher's, triggered a furious reaction from the top SEAL in July last year. 'We have a problem, wrote Rear Admiral Collin Green in an angry email. SACRAMENTO, Calif., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Diamond, the world's leading almond marketer and processor of California almonds, applauds President Trump for signing the United States Mexico Canada Agreement. The signing of the agreement by the President and the approval by Congress demonstrates the United States' commitment to free and fair trade, and further highlights the importance of these markets. Canada and Mexico are key countries for the California almond industry and Blue Diamond with an export value of $256 million. As the almond crop continues to increase, ensuring market access and trade opportunities is essential for the economic stability of the industry. Free trade agreements like the USMCA provide the continued growth and equal playing field needed for Blue Diamond and the California almond industry to thrive. "The USMCA represents a renewal and modernization of a decades-long partnership between Canada, Mexico and the United States," said Mark Jansen, President and CEO for Blue Diamond Growers. "This agreement will stimulate additional opportunities within these markets and provide further stability for our grower-owners." Blue Diamond, on behalf of its grower-owners and as the country's leading almond exporter, is pleased to see the President sign the USMCA and appreciate the Administration's efforts in negotiating this important trade agreement. We commend Congress for approving this essential update to maintain and expand North American trade. About Blue Diamond Blue Diamond Growers is the world's leading almond marketer and processor. It led the development of California's almond industry since it was formed as a nonprofit, grower-owned cooperative over 100 years ago. Today Blue Diamond has over 3,000 growers across California. Blue Diamond markets and sells a wide range of almond-based snacks, beverages, and ingredients, including Blue Diamond Snack Almonds, Nut-Thins crackers, almond flour, and the number one almondmilk in the U.S., Almond Breeze. For more information, visit www.bluediamond.com. SOURCE Blue Diamond Growers Related Links http://www.bluediamond.com A study on author Toni Morrison's novel "Beloved," a film titled "The Tourist Tax," a textbook about the euphonium, a pilot project on social networks and transfer students' decisions, and a college algebra boot camp highlight a few of the wide-ranging projects granted 2020 Presidential Incentive Awards at the University of North Georgia (UNG). "With an increased annual investment of $415,000 in the Presidential Incentive Awards, we were able to fund 44 of the 69 proposals submitted," UNG President Bonita Jacobs said. "Many recipients of these awards have leveraged their research to publish articles and books, present at prestigious conferences and pursue external grants. I look forward to seeing the fruits of this year's award recipients." Since Jacobs launched the Presidential Incentive Awards in 2013, more than $1.7 million has been invested in faculty and staff whose research and scholarly work have a direct impact on enhanced educational experiences for students and innovations that improve professional practices. Last year, 38 grants received more than $360,000. Dr. Sudhanshu Panda, professor of geographic information systems and environmental science at UNG, received a semester award, one of the most prestigious awards, to develop a mobile app to help farmers remotely monitor the health of its livestock. Panda explained that in the pilot project, goats, sheep and cows will wear a transponder collar that will transmit data to a UNG server for analysis. When the data reveals that an animal exhibits abnormal behavior, the app will alert the farmer to the animal and its location. "This will revolutionize the way animal health is managed," Panda said, explaining he has tried other avenues to fund the project. "I was very happy to learn I received this grant. If I can make this work, it will mean great things for rural farmers as well as research at UNG." Ashley Bruce, lecturer of kinesiology at UNG who received an innovation award, believes her research will help two groups: volunteer students in a high-intensity interval training exercise program and kinesiology students using a Bluetooth-capable accelerometer to measure physical activity and fitness levels. "The aim is it see if students' activity and fitness levels improve during this eight-week program," she said. "And the overall goal is to teach them health habits that they can carry into the rest of their life." The projects span academic units in all six colleges and the Lewis F. Rogers Institute for Environmental and Spatial Analysis. Other offices and departments include Campus Recreation and Wellness and the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Leadership. There are three categories of awards. Semester awards provide up to $12,000 with a full release from teaching and service for one semester. Summer awards provide up to $10,000 to support faculty in focused and meaningful research and scholarly and creative activities in summer 2020. Innovation awards of up to $5,000 each provide opportunities for collaboration among colleagues or individual pursuits focused on innovations and partnerships that promote best-practice models. Jacobs pointed out several projects are collaborative and interdisciplinary in nature. For example, Campus Recreation and Wellness is teaming up with the kinesiology and nursing departments to offer interactive wellness fairs on UNG's Dahlonega Campus in spring 2020 and the Gainesville Campus in fall 2020. Meri-Leigh Smith, associate director of wellness and health promotion at UNG, explained while the wellness fairs previously had been planned for both campuses, the funding will add extra services, including cholesterol screenings and health checks for students, faculty and staff. "Our kinesiology students will conduct the blood pressure and cholesterol checks and they will hand out professional education materials," Smith said. "Our nursing department will present informational posters, which will be used at the health fairs and conferences to showcase their research." Lists of the semester, summer and innovative Presidential Incentive Award winners for 2020 are available on the UNG website. West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra has called for a three-day session of all state finance ministers to overhaul the framework of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). In a statement the All India Trinamool Congress said, "Bangla Finance Minister Amit Mitra has called for a three-day session of all finance ministers to overhaul the framework of the Goods and Services Tax, the design of which is faulty and is one of the reasons for the economic slowdown in the country today." "In an interview, Mitra, who is also chairman of the committee of empowered finance ministers, said there were four points behind why the GST had failed since the three years that it has been implemented. One, the entire design was faulty: there were no pilots done, no data tests, no trials. And this when, for the first time in the history of the world, the largest tax reforms were taking place," the statement on the TMC website read. "The laws and rules were faulty; there were frequent change in rules, and everybody lost, both the business and IT sectors. The second point is the complete inability to cope with what was happening. Number three point is there were frequent changes in the rate structure per item. The IT people were at a loss, as they too have to make frequent computer adjustments. And fourth is that the Centre-State coordination was completely lacking," it read. The statement further read, "In August 2019, a letter was written to FM Nirmala Sitaraman about the increasing number of fraudulent transactions in GST. So the time has come to overhaul, in collaboration with each of the state finance ministers in a federalist polity, where we put our heads together to restructure the GST policy for the sake of the small and medium enterprises and the businesses of the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The AIMPLB said that while Islam permits women to pray in mosques, it does not make it mandatory for them to do so. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), in an affidavit before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, has said that the entry of women into mosques to offer prayers is permitted in Islam and 'fatwas' contradicting this tenet should be ignored. The organisation said that while Islam permits women to pray in mosques, it does not make it mandatory for them to do so, as per a report by News18. The affidavit was filed in response to a petition filed by a Pune-based couple, Yasmeen Peerzade and Zuber Ahmad Peerzade, seeking directions from the Supreme Court to allow women to enter the place of worship. Livelaw has quoted the AIMPLB's affidavit as saying, "Considering the said religious texts, doctrine and religious belief of the followers of Islam, it is submitted that entry of women in the mosque for offering prayer/namaz inside the mosque, is permitted." However, the affidavit also says, "Islam has not made it obligatory on Muslim women to join congregational prayer nor is it obligatory for women to offer Friday namaz in a congregation, though it is so on Muslim men." "The Muslim woman is differently placed because as per doctrines of Islam she is entitled to the same religious reward (sawab) for praying as per her option either in Masjid or at home," it said. However, the AIMPLB contended that it is not appropriate for the top court to enter into questions of practices based upon religious beliefs. The affidavit said that religious practices in Mosques are regulated by private bodies concerning its muttawalis and the AIMPLB, being an expert body can only issue an advisory opinion based on Islam. "This court, for that matter, cannot enter into the arena of detailed arrangements of a religious place, which is completely privately managed entity for religious practices of believers in a particular religion," said the affidavit. The top court Tuesday had said that its nine-judge Constitution Bench would hear within ten days questions related to the entry of Muslim women into mosques, female genital mutilation in the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community and barring of Parsi women, married to non-Parsi men, from the holy fireplace at an agiary (fire temple), the place of worship for Zoroastrians. AIMPLB in its affidavit kept forward some topics to be deliberated upon by the nine-judge Constitution bench such as whether or not courts can judicially determine the meaning of faiths and the extent of constitutional protection from interference in their practices. With inputs from PTI Google Nigeria on Tuesday launched its first GoogleDevelopers Space in Lagos, Nigerias commercial hub. The tech company said it launched the centre to provide a place where entrepreneurs, developers, startups and investors could connect and collaborate with each other. Juliet Ehimuan, Country Director, Google Nigeria, said that the space was the next step to Google support for developers across the continent, stressing that Googles commitment to training 100,000 developers across Africa over 50 per cent had been met. She said the commitment had prompted the launch of developer merchant support in the Google Play store making it possible for developers to earn money through apps they build. We are excited to continue our journey with the African startup and developer communities, she said. Through Google Developer Groups and Women Techmakers, Google provides training aligned with real-life job competency requirements. There are 173 active Google Developer Groups (GDGs) in Africa, providing an opportunity for developers to meet other developers with similar interests at GDG meetup events, she said. The official said that in 2019, more than 100 DevFest events held across Africa and Launchpad Accelerator Africa worked with 47 startups since the first class began in early 2018. She said the companies raised millions of dollars in investments and created over 900 jobs across the continent. Accelerator Africa head of Operations, Onajite Emerhor, said at the launch that Google was strengthening its commitment to supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Africa by opening the space. She explained that Google had partnered Impact Hub to bring the Space to life and worked with a local company called Spacefinish, which designed it specifically to create an environment that fosters collaboration and innovation. According to her, Google was looking forward to working with startups and other players in the ecosystem from across the continent and it would not charge for use of the space, which, in addition to housing Google Launchpad Accelerator Africa, will support developer meetups, training, experts office hours, among other opportunities. She said the organization would also not charge for Women in tech events, startup programs outside of Launchpad, partner events that support the wider entrepreneur and developer ecosystem, Google initiatives for empowering people through digital skills training, among others. Launchpad Africa has accelerated startups from 17 African countries including Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote DIvoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. In a Linkedin post-Tuesday, Juliet Ehimuan said she was proud of the initiative. I am proud of the work we are doing and the growth we are witnessing with the Nigerian and African youth population, she wrote. A great day, indeed! NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the Mesothelioma Compensation Center, "We are by far the best branded source in the nation when it comes to former chemical plant workers with mesothelioma receiving the very best financial compensation results. When it comes to financial compensation for chemical plant workers with mesothelioma-they could receive over a million dollars provided they hire extremely skilled-fulltime mesothelioma attorneys. Chemical Plant Worker-Mesothelioma Asbestos Warning Sign Mesothelioma "We have endorsed the amazing lawyers at the law firm of Karst von Oiste because they have been assisting chemical plant workers and people with mesothelioma for decades and they are responsible for over a billion dollars in compensation settlements for people like this as we would like to discuss anytime at 800-714-0303." www.karstvonoiste.com/ Something else that makes attorney Erik Karst and his colleagues at the law firm of Karst von Oiste-KVO unique is they make house calls for former chemical plant workers with mesothelioma anywhere in the nation. These face to face meetings with a fulltime mesothelioma attorney are incredibly important because it gives the attorney a chance to explain how the financial compensation process works and it gives them a chance to evaluate the compensation potential of the claim. The lawyers at the law firm of Karst von Oiste do not get compensated unless there is a settlement. For direct access to attorney Erik Karst the founding partner of Karst von Oiste please call 800-714-0303. www.karstvonoiste.com/ The Mesothelioma Compensation Center now offers a free service to ensure a person with mesothelioma gets the best possible financial compensation. They call this free service the 'list' and the list has been designed to identify how, where and when a person with mesothelioma was exposed to asbestos. It is this vitally important information that becomes the basis for mesothelioma compensation claim as they would be happy to discuss anytime at 800-714-0303. https://MesotheliomaCompensationCenter.Com The states where a chemical plant could have been located include: Texas New Jersey Mississippi Pennsylvania Ohio Michigan New York Indiana Michigan California Washington Tennessee Louisiana For an interesting government report on existing US chemical plants in the United States please refer to the government website that addresses this topic: http://www.bls.gov/oes/ current/oes518091.htm. The Mesothelioma Compensation Center specializes in assisting specific types of people who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos exposure lung cancer. The group's top priority is assisting US Navy Veterans, shipyard workers, oil refinery workers, public-utility workers, chemical plant workers, manufacturing workers, power plant workers, plumbers, welders, electricians, millwrights, pipefitters, boiler technicians, machinists, nuclear power plant workers, hydro-electric workers or oil and gas field production workers. https://MesotheliomaCompensationCenter.Com According to the CDC the states indicated with the highest incidence of mesothelioma include Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Louisiana, Washington, and Oregon. However, a chemical worker with mesothelioma could live in any state including California, New York, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Idaho, or Alaska. www.karstvonoiste.com/ For more information about mesothelioma please refer to the National Institutes of Health's web site related to this rare form of cancer: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mesothelioma.html Contact: Michael Thomas 800-714-0303 [email protected] SOURCE Mesothelioma Compensation Center Related Links https://mesotheliomacompensationcenter.com/ YEREVAN, JANUARY 29, ARMENPRESS. The ministry of emergency situations informs that on January 29 as of 10:00 some roads are difficult to pass in Armenia. The ministry told Armenpress that the Vardenyats Pass is open for the passenger vehicles. Sotk-Karvachar highway is difficult to pass for all types of cars. The Georgian side informed that the Stepantsminda-Lars highway is open for all types of vehicles. Drivers are urged to use winter tires. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan Trump Calls For Two-State Solution, Says 'Undivided' Jerusalem To Be Israeli Capital January 28, 2020 WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Donald Trump has endorsed a "contiguous," independent Palestinian state with a capital in eastern Jerusalem, but he made the move contingent upon Palestinians accepting several moves seen by many as difficult, as he unveiled his much-anticipated Middle East peace plan. Standing next to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump on January 28 said the plan more than doubles the territory currently under Palestinian control, although it also granted Israeli sovereignty over major settlement areas in the West Bank -- something certain to anger Palestinians. He also said Jerusalem would be Israel's "undivided" capital under the plan, although he also spoke of the capital of a future Palestinian state being in parts of "eastern Jerusalem." In exchange, Israel would agree to accept a four-year freeze on new settlement activity while the process of negotiating a Palestinian statehood takes place. Trump, who asserted that the plan was the "most detailed" ever, said Palestinians had been used as "pawns" by others in the region and that it was time for this to end. "We have an obligation to humanity to get [this deal] done," Trump said. Details of the plan were released on the White House website. Trump later tweeted a map of "what a future State of Palestine can look like, with a capital in parts of East Jerusalem." Palestinian leaders had rejected the so-called "deal of the century" before its release, saying Trump had been biased in favor of Israel and that the United States was no longer an impartial player in the dispute. Palestinian Authority leader Mahmud Abbas, speaking after an emergency meeting in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, flatly rejected Trump's plan, saying his response was "a thousand nos," adding that the plan will be sent to "the trash bin of history." The meeting included the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which controls Gaza. Hamas also rejected the plan, with senior official Khalil al-Hayya telling AFP, "We warn the whole world not to go along with this deal because we reject it as the Palestinian people and we will resist it in all forms." Trump in the past had not endorsed a two-state solution to ending the decades-long conflict -- the longtime international formula that would eventually see a Palestinian state co-existing with Israel. But in his White House comments, he did allow for a two-state solution and said Palestinian territory would be "contiguous." Currently, it is divided between the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with no connecting land. Under the deal, the various areas would be connected by a combination of above-ground roads and tunnels. Netanyahu has called for annexing parts of the West Bank and extending Israeli sovereignty on all its settlements in the areas captured by Israeli forces in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. Netanyahu's spokesman, Jonathan Urich said the Israeli leader will ask his Cabinet on February 2 to approve his plan to annex parts of the West Bank. The Jordan Valley in particular is considered a vital security asset by the Israelis. Under the plan, security responsibility for the Jordan Valley would remain with Israel for the foreseeable future but could be scaled back as the Palestinian state develops. The U.S. president said that Jerusalem would stand as Israel's "undivided" capital, but he left open the possibility that "eastern Jerusalem" would serve as the future Palestinian state's capital -- and that Washington would "happily" build its embassy there. Palestinians were angered by Trump's previous decision to transfer the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of their future state. Israel has annexed East Jerusalem and declared the entire city as its capital, a move not recognized by the international community. Following Trump's remarks, Netanyahu called it "a historic day" and heavily praised the U.S. president and his team for delivering the deal. "On this day, you became the first world leader to recognize Israel's sovereignty over areas in Judea and Samaria that are vital to our security and central to our heritage," he said, using the Biblical names for the West Bank. Israeli leaders have agreed to negotiate in the future on the basis of the Trump plan and agreed to the map, the officials said. Israel's agreement on statehood for Palestinians is dependent on a security arrangement to protect Israelis, they added. Israel will also take steps to ensure Muslim access to the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and respect Jordan's role regarding holy sites, Trump and other officials said. Palestinians would also be required to take steps toward self-government, including the safeguarding of respect for human rights, press freedom, and credible institutions. Trump said that should Palestinians "choose peace," Washington will be there to help it "every step of the way," and he touted a previously announced $50 billion investment package to aid an independent state. An Israeli spokesman said Netanyahu would travel to Russia on January 29 to brief Russian President Vladimir Putin on the proposals. With reporting by AP, AFP, dpa, and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-calls-for-two- state-solution-says-undivided-jerusalem-to-be- israeli-capital/30402632.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sentiment in the seaborne iron ore and Asian steel markets have deteriorated due to the rapid spread of the 2019-nCoV - or Wuhan novel coronavirus - in China, which appears to have intensified during the past week. Market participants are anticipating a delayed restart of construction and manufacturing activity after the countrys Lunar New Year holiday, which has been extended until at least Sunday February 2. This has dampened their outlook for steel and iron ore demand. The Chinese government has imposed travel restrictions across large swathes of the country due to high numbers of infections. Multiple cities in Hubei province - where Wuhan city is located - are under lockdown. This is expected to affect the movement of about 56 million people. Steel Market participants expect fallout from the virus to have an effect on steel markets for the foreseeable future. "Its a logical assumption that sentiment in the steel markets will falter due to the virus. However, while demand will fall, production will also be affected, the managing director of a trading company said. It's clear that the much-talked-about seasonal demand in the second quarter may not materialize that quickly. Its likely that prices will fall - the question is, by how much? he asked. There are widespread expectations that workers and traders in the Chinese steel industry will not return to work from their home towns as quickly as usual do due to the travel restrictions in China. Furthermore, in addition to the extension of the January 24-30 national holiday until February 3, local authorities in Shanghai and Suzhou have asked companies to extend their employees holiday until February 9. Traders in Asia who had entered into long trading positions in the spot market on expectations of a surge in seasonal demand in the second quarter have started to second guess their strategy. They are hoping for more clarity to emerge from Chinas steel market. Steel prices in Southeast Asia are widely expected to fall, a trader in Singapore said. Demand will surely fall, and prices are expected to follow, although at this point in time its still unclear how prices will move when China returns from the Lunar New Year holiday, he said. The spread of the virus is also likely to result in a shift in market fundamentals, a major flat steel trader in East Asia said. The outbreak of the coronavirus can cause extreme changes to the steel markets. Previously, prior to the emergence of the virus there wasnt any sign of prices dropping because South Korean and Japanese steel mills had fewer HRC cargoes allocated for export, he said. A Taiwanese trader said the coronavirus was also likely to spread further in Asia, with new cases being reported every day. Steel demand is likely to fall and prices will likely adjust downward further. There was some interest from Europe for Asian steel even during the Lunar New Year, but this demand has since disappeared because buyers are cautious about price trends, the trader said. A source at a major Japanese steel mill said Asian buyers were taking a wait-and-see approach. He said there had not been any immediate impact on the mills business yet. Iron ore With China accounting for around 70-80% of global seaborne iron ore trades, the outbreak of the coronavirus and its impact on downstream sectors in the country are bound to weigh on prices for the steelmaking raw material, market sources said. This bearish sentiment was reflected in the derivatives market on Tuesday, when the Singapore Exchanges February 62% Fe iron ore swaps fell by about 10% week on week to around $82-83 per tonne. The impact on the physical market has yet to be felt due to the absence of Chinese market participants celebrating the Chinese New Year. Weak demand for steel products is expected to result in a build-up of steel inventories at mills, which would put pressure on their margins. The distribution of steel products will also be a challenge. For example, recently curbs were implemented on the movement of trucks in and out of Tangshans ports and that will affect the domestic movement of iron ore and steel products, a buyer source in China said. Some mills may also decide to reduce steel production altogether, since a manpower shortage coupled with transportation restrictions affect their ability to sell their products downstream and bring raw materials to their plants, he added. It is unclear if lower steel production will offset the expected flaccid demand for steel products. But any pressure on steel prices will likely affect Chinese mills margins. When this happens, these steelmakers often respond by increasing their consumption of lower-grade iron ore. The price spread between high- and low-grade iron ore had been widening in recent weeks due to tighter supply of top-tier products from Brazil as a result of heavy rainfall, coupled with sustained demand for such material among Chinese mills keen to hold onto whatever profits they can in the face of steelmaking restrictions aimed at lowering emissions. On Wednesday, the SGXs 62% Fe iron ore swaps rebounded from a sharp drop a day earlier after word emerged that rail services connecting iron ore mines in Brazil to the countrys ports might have been interrupted by persistently heavy rain. Fastmarkets could not confirm these disruptions with relevant Brazilian authorities at the time of writing. These supply concerns are all too familiar, with memories of a tailings dam collapse in the Latin American country last year still fresh in the minds of many market participants. The suspension of mining operations that followed the collapse had affected some 93 million tonnes of Vales iron ore output. Disruptions to Australian supply due to adverse weather at the end of the first quarter of 2019 further augmented the impact of the Brazilian supply cuts, pushing seaborne prices to five-year highs by July. While Australian shipments have since experienced a strong recovery, some 40 million tonnes of Vale's supply remains suspended. Of these, 15 million tonnes are expected to return this year but they remain subject to the miners safety-first approach and any regulatory or judicial requirements that could affect mining operations. The impact of the disruptions in Brazil, including the recent one on railway operations, will be a less significant factor for the iron ore market compared with the health of Chinese demand in the aftermath of the virus outbreak, a second Singapore-based trader said. We expect iron ore demand to pick up strongly in the second quarter following lackluster buying in the first quarter due to the slowdown, he added. A third trader in Singapore highlighted the significance of port stocks in China as a cushion against any seaborne supply disruptions. Both the factors - tight supply and weak downstream demand - will affect iron ore, but the supply-side impact may be mitigated to an extent by the iron ore stock at Chinese ports, she added. Paul Lim in Singapore contributed to this report. Democratic presidential hopeful Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren speaks during the fourth Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season co-hosted by The New York Times and CNN at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio on October 15, 2019. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Wednesday released a plan to fight disinformation and to hold tech companies accountable for their actions in light of the 2016 election. "Disinformation and online foreign interference erode our democracy, and Donald Trump has invited both," Warren said in a Tweet Wednesday. "Anyone who seeks to challenge and defeat Donald Trump in the 2020 election must be fully prepared to take this on and I've got a plan to do it." Warren proposed to combat disinformation by holding big tech companies like Facebook, Twitter and Google responsible for spreading misinformation designed to suppress voters from turning out. "I will push for new laws that impose tough civil and criminal penalties for knowingly disseminating this kind of information, which has the explicit purpose of undermining the basic right to vote," Warren said in a release. Warren, who has been an advocate for breaking up big tech companies like Amazon and Facebook, has said that she wants to make "big structural changes to the tech sector to promote more competition." It's part of a broader policy to stop disinformation, requiring tech companies and the government to come together to solve the problem. Other candidates such as Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Bernie Sanders have also been skeptical of large technology companies. Sanders has repeatedly targeted Amazon, saying it should increase its wages and benefits for workers. Warren has slipped in recent polls ahead of the Iowa caucuses next week. She's in third place in national polls and fourth place in Iowa. Warren also criticized how the companies' emphasis on profit contributed to misinformation during the 2016 election, such as false ads that led to polarization and could have suppressed votes from groups like black voters. As president, Warren said she would reinstate the position of cybersecurity coordinator at the National Security Council, a position crucial to protecting the U.S. She added she will also open up data for research so that academics and organizations can provide the public with knowledge on disinformation. "The stakes of this election are too high -- we need to fight the spread of false information that disempowers voters and undermines democracy," Warren said. "I'll do my part -- and I'm calling on my fellow candidates and big tech companies to do their part too." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 29) President Rodrigo Duterte maintained on Wednesday that banning travel between the country and China will not be easy, despite the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak that originated in the East Asian nation. "Mahirap 'yang ano, sabihin mong [It is hard to say that] you suspend everything because they are not also suspending theirs and they continue to respect the freedom flights that we enjoy," Duterte told reporters in an ambush interview. However, he said the government is ready to repatriate Filipinos in Wuhan the Chinese city which sits at the center of the outbreak should they seek to come home to the Philippines. "We are always conscious of our citizens [and] their health and if they are going home, we are ready to ferry them back to the Philippines but all precautions must be in place," he added. The Foreign Affairs Department earlier said two charter planes are on standby to fetch Filipinos in Wuhan once they get the go signal from Chinese officials. Duterte added that he will leave the precautionary measures to the proper authorities. Health Secretary Francisco Duque was also reluctant to recommend banning Chinese nationals from entering the country. Duque said they are looking at the ban as an option but he raised that China might question why the Philippines is not imposing the same restriction on other countries. "If we do this, then the concerned country China in this case might question why we're not doing the same for other countries that have reported confirmed cases of novel coronavirus," said Duque during a question hour at the House of Representatives. The secretary maintained that the Department of Health has intensified surveillance on travelers who may have symptoms of the virus. He said they are now strictly monitoring not just visitors from Wuhan but from the entire Hubei province, where the city is located. "As I have said, we have scaled up, we have leveled up border surveillance. Our quarantine officers are well equipped," he added. Chinese Consul General Jia Li also argued that a ban would be unnecessary, given that China has already imposed a travel lockdown. "As of now, we cannot understand why there is a need to impose a ban on Chinese nationals. I wish that the mayors carefully study the proposals and talk with the DOH before they decide if it is really needed," the diplomat said in Chinese through an interpreter during a press conference in Cebu. On the other hand, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go said he supports a travel ban to prevent the virus from spreading in the country. He initially said he would recommend this measure to the President. "Kung saka-sakaling kakailanganin ay irerekomenda natin kay Pangulong Duterte yan.... Nakatutok tayo dito, ang ating mga health officials, foreign officials. Antayin lang natin ang kanilang rekomendasyon. Kung sakali, pabor ako diyan," he said in a statement. [Translation: If it is needed then we will recommend that to President Duterte...Our health officials and foreign officials are monitoring this. Let us wait for the recommendation. If ever, I am in favor of it.] The most recent data tallied over 6,000 cases of the novel coronavirus in 18 countries, namely, mainland China, Hong Kong, MaDutretcao, Australia, Cambodia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Taiwan, the United States and Vietnam. However, 5,972 of these cases, including the total 132 deaths, have been in mainland China. Duque said there are still no confirmed cases yet in the Philippines but they are waiting for test results from a reference laboratory in Australia on samples from suspected patients. He said there are 23 people under investigation for the 2019-nCov with four others having been released earlier. The four are still being monitored, the secretary added. The Philippines has already suspended all flights from Wuhan City and the issuance of visas upon arrival for Chinese nationals. Meanwhile, Hong Kong closed some of its border crossings with mainland China to contain the virus. Taiwan also temporarily suspended visa applications for all Chinese nationals and banned entry for those from Hubei province. Some high-profile companies such as Facebook and Ford also instructed their employees to refrain from traveling to China. On the other hand, British Airways suspended all flights between the United Kingdom and the East Asian country. The Philippines welcomes a number of Chinese tourists every year. In 2019, the Tourism Department reported over one million arrivals from China from January to October, the second most number of visits, following Korea. CNN Philippines' Senior Correspondent Ina Andolong, Correspondent Xianne Arcangel and Cebu-based journalist Dale Israel contributed to this report. Myanmar: Fish in the streams are dying January 29,2020 | Source: Myanmar Times he protesters called for the closure of the military-run Myaing Kalay cement factory, which is coal-powered and has been in operation for more than three decades. They said the factory has been expanding, and now produces 4000 tonnes of cement a day. It has destroyed the environment and their livelihoods, they said. Their top concern is the scarcity of clean water in the surrounding villages, which they attributed to the discharge from the factory, which contaminates streams and rivers and the underground water supply. A recent visit to the area showed black water in village wells. Some wells had clear water, but the villagers said they just use it for bathing and dare not drink it. Saw A Tee, a middle-aged man from the village, said he hadnt drunk the water since last year because he was afraid it was unsafe. People living in Nat Kone depend on the kindness of others for their drinking water. Unfortunately, donors have been hard to come by in the past few months, and they have had to buy drinking water. They have also begun using alum, a natural chemical compound, to clean the water in the wells for use on their farms or for taking a bath. Twenty-seven villages near the factory have discoloured water in their wells, which they blame the cement factory. Daw Khin Sein, 60, said she had lived all her life in Kaw Pa Tain, one of the contaminated villages, and this is the first time she has seen black water in her well. I want to know why the water has turned black and why we itch after taking a bath in it. With the summer months fast approaching, villagers living near the cement factory are desperately seeking help. The monsoon ended early this year, and the dry summer months begin soon. I dont think there will be enough water to plant rice this year, said U Nyunt She, who lives in Nat Kone. Asked why the problem only began recently, when the cement factory has been in operation since the 1980s, they said that the factory only began using coal power in 2018. Before that it used natural gas, one villager said. They also said that fish in the streams are dying. They said that when they found out that the factory would be shifting to coal power from natural gas they protested, but the authorities ignored them. Ko Saw Tha Phoe of the Karen Environmental and Social Action Network (KESAN) said the shift to coal was done without public consultation. But government officials and experts said the water in the villages near the cement factory is safe to drink. Last October 11, when the contamination was first noticed, Kayin Chief Minister Nan Khin Htwe Myint went to the area to assure the villagers that the water was safe to drink. To prove it, she drank some in front of the people. An local environmental group called Advancing Life and Regenerating Motherland, which operates an environmental laboratory, tested the discoloured water, collecting 10 samples in five villages where fish had died, and the water was black. The results showed that, except for a decline in the PH value of the water, it still met the drinking water standards set by the World Health Organization. The group said that high levels of chlorine and phosphate may have caused fish to die in the rivers and streams. But Ko Saw Tha Phoe remained unconvinced, and said his group would get a third opinion on the problem. We will invite international experts to provide an answer for local people, he said. He said that donating water to the villagers or digging new wells are only temporary solutions, not the long-term and sustainable solutions that are needed. We hope the government will help us find an answer to our concerns, he added. The water problem has also affected the livelihoods of the villagers. Nobody wants to buy food any more from noodle and other food shops in the villages, fishermen could not sell their catches, and farmers could not work their fields. We deserve better than this, Daw Soe Soe Aye said. We deserve clean water and air. At the moment, I feel very helpless. Don't all run at once. [Photo: Vagabond] January has been a long month. Its cold, nobody can remember the last time they got paid and since were having to wear so many layers, the tube is hotter than ever. Its a hard life, but its about to get a bit easier for Londoners. Vagabond Wines has just put up a free ATM outside its new Monument bar. No, its not giving out free money but it is giving out the next best thing. Free prosecco. READ MORE: 12 of the best budget proseccos You mightve heard of Vagabond Wines before. Its not their first location in London. In fact, they have seven others including Charlotte Street, Paddington and Canary Wharf. You can even get a wine qualification from there. To mark the new bar, theyre giving fun-starved Londoners a little pick-me-up on this hump day. The alcohol dispenser works like a public water dispenser. You put your glass under and simply fill it up. You wont be able to miss it either because its bright yellow. Theres method to this genius as well. The new East London bar is located in an old bank, so the ATM is excellent in more than one way. The main reason though, lets face it, is the free prosecco. READ MORE: Wine company launches flat wine bottle Vagabond Monument will be officially opening its doors tomorrow (Thursday 30) - its as if they knew Dry January was coming to an end. If you cant haul yourself over to Monument on short-notice today, never fear, the Vagabank will be open tomorrow as well. It is a pop-up, though, so after tomorrow you can say goodbye to prosecco on tap. Well, unless you go into the bar and pay for it. If you havent quite filled your boots with the free prosecco, the brand also has a launch party tomorrow night which is open to everyone - as long as you RSVP. Thats right, you dont have to be a celebrity or friend to the stars to get into this party. READ MORE: Red wine could aid gut health If you dont like prosecco, the party might be more of your style. The bar will be offering 160 different wines as well as 10 craft beers. Story continues If youre feeling really fancy - or just got a birthday coming up and nothing planned - theyve even got a private tasting room. If you need a little nudge in the right direction, you might be interested to know that there are numerous unexpected health benefits in prosecco (when drunk in moderation, of course). It has been linked to lowering blood pressure and it can even provide you with some protection against the common cold. Were sold. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo Style UK: We all knew President Trump's impeachment defense was going to be weak, hypocritical, and dishonest, but they really exceeded expectations. I've documented and analyzed every day of Trump's presidency since it began. I'm not surprised by much, but at times even I was stunned by their opening arguments. Over three days of presentations, President Trump's lawyers threw gaslighting spaghetti at the wall so that Fox News could peel off what stuck and run them as soundbites for the GOP base. The disjointed nature of the arguments was jarring, as Trump's lawyers at times contradicted each other. It was also clear they didn't update their defense after the revelations from former National Security Adviser John Bolton's book were released, which reportedly confirm the quid pro quo at the core of this impeachment case. Many of the debunked arguments were the same we've heard for months, but if you listen to Trump's lawyers closely, their defense unraveled into what appeared to be a slow-moving confession. First, they claimed President Trump did nothing wrong and his call with President Zelensky was fine. Next, they made the case against the use of impeachment itself. Then, they spread conspiracy theories about the Bidens and essentially claimed that Trumps push for Ukraine to announce a Biden probe was justified. Finally, they claimed that abuse of power isn't impeachable and that even if Trump did launch an extortion plot, it wouldnt have been an impeachable offense. This is an authoritarian view of executive power that believers of the conservative unitary executive theory espouse. It's intrinsically antithetical to the Founding Fathers' intentions for executive power. President Trump's impeachment defense essentially went from "he did nothing wrong" to "he's above the law, he did it, and he did it because Biden is corrupt... get over it". It feels like this Senate trial is an extension of Trump's alleged extortion plot. To me, its clear that what Trump set out to accomplish in Ukraine is being accomplished in his Senate trial by his very own defense team as they smear Joe Biden. President Trump's legal team continued to make the same debunked defenses we've already covered, so let's dissect what's relevant. Trumps lawyers repeatedly claimed the July 25 transcript memo shows the president did nothing wrong. This is false. The transcript memo shows he solicited foreign election interference in the form of investigations of his political targets. When it comes to the evidence proving Ukraine's military aid was withheld in pursuit of announced probes, Trump's lawyers were misleading. White House Counsel Pat Cipollone claimed Trump withheld Ukraine's aid because of burden-sharing. That's contradicted by multiple witnesses who indicated it was about the Bidens. Also, America's allies do, in fact, contribute to Ukraine, with the European Union contributing more than America. President Trump's lawyers also repeatedly claimed that Trump was concerned about corruption in Ukraine and that's why he pushed for the probes. This is undermined by the fact Trump never mentioned Ukraine's corruption in 2017 and 2018 and didn't withhold aid until Biden began beating him in 2019 polls. Indeed, he never once mentioned the word "corruption" to Zelensky on his calls and only discussed Biden and the Ukraine meddling conspiracy theory. Perhaps the most ridiculous moment of the trial came on Monday with the entrance of Ken Starr, the Independent Counsel who made the case for impeaching President Clinton. Starr, the personification of partisan, weaponized impeachment, argued against partisan, weaponized impeachment. Ken Starr may have beaten the world record for the longest period of time standing without collapsing under the weight of his own hypocrisy. Starr apparently believes a president lying about an affair is more impeachable than a president allegedly extorting election interference and then covering it up. Ari Melber, an attorney and host on MSNBC, perhaps summarized Ken Starr's performance best: This was a disaster for Republicans. A total, unmitigated legal and Constitutional disaster... Constitutionally, we watched Ken Starr punch himself in the face and then walk off the floor. 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 Alan Dershowitz, formerly Jeffrey Epsteins lawyer, claimed abuse of power is not impeachable and a crime must be committed. To is credit, Dershowitz did address the fact that in 1998 he said a crime was not required for an offense to be impeachable, claiming he hadn't done enough research and instead had accepted academic legal consensus. Unfortunately for him, in that moment, he admitted it's the legal consensus that abuse of power is impeachable. Not only is Dershowitz undercut by legal consensus, then, but his point is made irrelevant by the Government Accountability Office's conclusion that the Trump administration committed a crime by withholding Ukraine's congressionally approved aid. Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi led the smearing of Joe Biden. Bondi claimed Biden extorted Ukraine into firing corrupt Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin because he was investigating Burisma, a company Hunter Biden was on the board of. I firmly believe that's a lie. For one thing, Shokin was fired because he wasn't investigating corruption; for another, the Burisma probe had been dormant for a year. On Monday, Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) said the quiet part out loud and gave the GOP's game away: "I'm really interested to see how this discussion today informs and influences the Iowa caucus voters... Will they be supporting VP Biden at this point?" This is can only be compared to GOP Rep. Kevin McCarthy's (R-CA) 2015 comments on how the Benghazi investigations damaged Hillary Clinton. Investigating political opponents and falsely crying corruption is apparently the GOP's modus operandi. They did in the 90s. They did it in 2016. Now, they're doing it in 2020. Unfortunately for them, calls for Bolton to testify are growing and 75% of Americans now support calling witnesses, including 49% of Republicans. This will make it much harder for them to make this the trial of Joe Biden when, day by day, so much is stacking up against Donald Trump. By PTI SRINAGAR: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday conducted searches in Kupwara in connection with the alleged embezzlement of funds to the tune of Rs 1.33 crore by an employee of the Jammu and Kashmir Grameen Bank, officials said. The raids were carried out by CBI sleuths at the Jammu and Kashmir Grameen Bank in Khumriyal, Kupwara and the residence of bank assistant Shariq Hussain Khan following registration of a case against him, they said. The officials said the CBI has started investigation of the case related to misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 1.33 crore by Khan, office assistant at the branch. It is alleged that Khan misappropriated the amount by way of tampering, insertions and manipulation in the computer banking system. The alleged fraud which started in January 2016 surfaced during an inspection in December 2019-January, 2020, they said. The raiding party confiscated documents during the action, the officials said. The flag of Great Britain is waving in front of the seat of the European Parliament. Two days before Britain's withdrawal from the European Union, the European Parliament also wants to ratify the EU withdrawal agreement at a meeting in Brussels and finally seal the Brexit. European lawmakers have voted through the U.K.'s departure from the EU, paving the way for Brexit in two days' time. The legal document outlining how the U.K. will leave the European Union the Withdrawal Agreement was greenlit by the European Parliament, the EU's directly-elected chamber, Wednesday. The 541-page agreement had been fully approved by the U.K. parliament earlier this month after Prime Minister Boris Johnson convincingly won a general election in December. Wednesday's vote in Brussels was largely symbolic, but it also paved the way for some practical changes to the EU's chamber. Representatives from the U.K. are waving farewell this week, meaning that from Monday onwards there will be no British lawmakers in the European Parliament. The number of EU MEPs (members of the European Parliament) will shrink from 751 seats to 705. The 73 U.K. seats that will be abolished will be slightly offset by 27 other lawmakers coming from other EU members. Their selection took place in May of last year during EU-wide elections. "I strongly believed then as I do know that leaving this family of nations would be bad for our country," Luisa Porritt, a U.K. representative at the European Parliament said Tuesday on Twitter. "My main takeaway is to never give up fighting for a better, kinder world. Nothing is permanent," she added. Tweet 1 Seb Dance, a member of the U.K.'s Labour party at the European Parliament said earlier this week: "From Friday, key decisions affecting the U.K. will he made without the U.K. For no other reason than to stop the Tory party from splitting. Think on that over the next few months." Tweet 2 The U.K. will stop being a member of the EU at 11 p.m. London time Friday. A transition period will start from that moment onwards and it is set to last until the end of the year. During this period, the U.K. will remain subject to EU law, but it will be able to strike trade deals with other parts of the world. The transition will also allow both sides of the English Channel to discuss their future trade and security arrangements. Louth Fianna Fail general election candidate, Declan Breathnach TD, has said that "Fine Gaels tax plan is completely irresponsible and will significantly narrow the tax base." The Louth FF candidate was responding to claims made earlier today by Louth FG candidate John McGahon, who said that Fine Gael is the only party that will "give people on low and middle incomes back the money theyve earned." Deputy Breathnach told the Dundalk Democrat today that under the FG proposals, "only 1 in 5 workers who are in the highest income brackets will receive their 2.3 billion tax cut. "This is despite the ESRI citing Ireland's tax system as very progressive, Fine Gaels plan is extremely regressive", he added. He continued: "Fianna Fail have directed tax measures at middle income families who are already paying high rents, insurance and childcare costs. Our proposals will help these families. "It must also be remembered that in the lead up to the last election Fine Gael promised to get rid of USC. Immediately after getting into office they dropped the plan. "They cannot be trusted to follow through on their promises," Deputy Breathnach added. According to the Fianna Fail policy document on Personal Taxation, the party's tax plan includes the following aims: Reduce the 4.5% Universal Social Charge to 3.5%; Increase the Standard Rate Income Tax Band by 3,000 for an individual and 6,000 for a couple; Fully equalise the self-employed with PAYE workers by increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit to 1,650; Assist home carers by increasing the Home Carers Tax Credit to 2,000; Increase the income tax exemption limits for the over 65s by 500 for a single person and 1,000 for married couples; Help renters by introducing a 600 Rental Tax Credit; Help parents using a registered childminder with a 2,000 Childminder Credit. BALTIMORE, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Legg Mason, Inc. (NYSE: LM) today reported its operating results for the third fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2019. Quarters Ended Nine Months Ended Financial Results Dec Sept Dec Dec Dec (Amounts in millions, except per share amounts) 2019 2019 2018 2019 2018 Operating Revenues $ 753.9 $ 743.3 $ 704.3 $ 2,202.5 $ 2,210.7 Operating Expenses 623.9 618.3 940.7 1,863.6 2,185.7 Operating Income (Loss) 130.0 125.0 (236.4) 338.9 25.0 Net Income (Loss) 1 74.8 67.1 (216.9) 187.2 (78.0) Net Income (Loss) Per Share - Diluted1 0.83 0.74 (2.55) 2.08 (0.95) Adjusted Net Income2 $ 93.2 $ 85.6 $ 76.3 $ 245.8 $ 228.8 Adjusted Earnings Per Share - Diluted2 1.03 0.95 0.86 2.74 2.59 (1) Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. (2) See "Use of Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Information". Joseph A. Sullivan, Chairman and CEO of Legg Mason said, "Legg Mason delivered strong operating results in the quarter, driven by increased operating earnings aided by higher performance fees and continued expense discipline. Diversification remains a key differentiating factor for us, as inflows in alternatives and fixed income strategies partially offset equity outflows that were impacted by a large subadvisory redemption. We continue to deliver on the strategic restructuring plan we laid out last spring, with over 80% of our projected annual run rate savings target realized as of this quarter-end driving margin expansion. "As we begin a new decade, we believe investments in innovation and in expanding our alternatives product offering across retail channels position us to better serve our clients' needs. We continue to leverage our distribution capabilities to enhance growth, as reinforced by strong gross sales across a variety of strategies and continue to review incremental opportunities to drive growth and long-term shareholder value." Assets Under Management of $803.5 Billion Assets Under Management were $803.5 billion at December 31, 2019 compared with $781.8 billion at September 30, 2019, with the change resulting from $20.9 billion in positive market performance and positive foreign exchange of $3.0 billion, partially offset by $1.6 billion in long-term outflows and $0.6 billion in realizations. Quarter Ended December 31, 2019 Assets Under Management ($ in billions) AUM Flows Operating Revenue Yield 1 Equity $ 214.0 $ (4.8) 56 bps Fixed Income 451.8 1.7 26 bps Alternative 74.3 1.5 2 58 bps Long-Term Assets 740.1 (1.6) Liquidity 63.4 0.0 14 bps Total $ 803.5 $ (1.6) 36 bps (1) Operating revenue yield equals total operating revenues less performance fees divided by average AUM (2) Excludes realizations of $0.6 billion At December 31, 2019, fixed income represented 56% of AUM, while equity represented 27%, alternative represented 9% and liquidity represented 8%. By geography, 71% of AUM was from clients domiciled in the United States and 29% from non-US domiciled clients. Average AUM during the quarter was $791.7 billion compared to $779.8 billion in the prior quarter and $739.3 billion in the third quarter of fiscal year 2019. Average long-term AUM was $729.7 billion compared to $716.6 billion in the prior quarter and $672.4 billion in the third quarter of fiscal year 2019. Quarterly Performance 1-Year 3-Year 5-Year 10-Year % of Strategy AUM beating Benchmark3 78% 79% 83% 84% % of Long-Term U.S. Fund Assets Beating Lipper Category Average 62% 65% 76% 68% (3) See "Supplemental Data Regarding Quarterly Performance." Of Legg Mason's long-term U.S. mutual fund assets, 65% were in funds rated 4 or 5 stars by Morningstar. Operating Results - Comparison to the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2020 Adjusted net income was $93.2 million, or $1.03 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $85.6 million, or $0.95 per diluted share. The increase in adjusted earnings was driven by higher investment advisory fees reflecting higher average AUM as well a $15.7 million increase in non-pass through performance fees. In addition, the increase in adjusted net income reflected savings from the strategic restructuring. Net income was $74.8 million, or $0.83 per diluted share, compared to net income of $67.1 million, or $0.74 per diluted share, in the second quarter of fiscal year 2020. The change was impacted by the items described below. Operating revenues of $753.9 million were up 1% from $743.3 million in the prior quarter reflecting: An increase in separate account and fund advisory fee revenues of $5.4 million , or 1%, reflecting higher average AUM. , or 1%, reflecting higher average AUM. In addition, non-pass through performance fees increased by $15.7 million , partially offset by an $11.2 million decrease in pass through performance fees. Operating expenses of $623.9 million increased 1% from $618.3 million in the prior quarter, reflecting: Lower compensation of $2.7 million driven by an $11.2 million decrease in pass through performance fees and a $4.2 million decrease in strategic restructuring costs and a $3.6 million increase in strategic restructuring savings. These were partially offset by a higher gain in the market value of deferred compensation and seed investments of $12.0 million , with an offset in non-operating income, as compared to a gain of $2.9 million in the prior quarter as well as increased compensation and benefits related to the increase in non-pass through performance fees and higher advisory fees. driven by an decrease in pass through performance fees and a decrease in strategic restructuring costs and a increase in strategic restructuring savings. These were partially offset by a higher gain in the market value of deferred compensation and seed investments of , with an offset in non-operating income, as compared to a gain of in the prior quarter as well as increased compensation and benefits related to the increase in non-pass through performance fees and higher advisory fees. An increase in communications and technology expenses of $3.1 million reflecting higher consulting costs. reflecting higher consulting costs. An increase in occupancy expenses of $5.7 million which included $5.9 million in restructuring costs. which included in restructuring costs. The $21.2 million of restructuring costs this quarter included $18.5 million of strategic restructuring costs related to the implementation of our cost savings initiative and $2.4 million of professional fees for other corporate matters. Non-operating expense was $5.3 million, as compared to $19.7 million in the prior quarter reflecting: Gains on corporate investments, not offset in compensation, were $6.2 million compared with losses of $2.9 million in the prior quarter. compared with losses of in the prior quarter. Gains on funded deferred compensation and seed investments, as described above. A $0.6 million gain associated with the consolidation of sponsored investment vehicles compared to a $5.0 million gain in the prior quarter. The consolidation of sponsored investment vehicles has no impact on net income as the effects of consolidation are fully attributable to noncontrolling interests. Operating margin was 17.2% compared to 16.8% in the prior quarter. Adjusted operating margin1, was 26.5%, as compared to 25.0% in the prior quarter. Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, excluding consolidated investment vehicles, was $14.4 million compared to $8.7 million in the prior quarter, principally related to Clarion, EnTrust Global and Royce. (1) See "Use of Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Information." Comparison to the Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2019 Adjusted net income was $93.2 million, or $1.03 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $76.3 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, in the prior year quarter. The increase was driven by higher operating revenues reflecting an increase in investment advisory fees and non-pass through performance fees, as well as the impact of savings from the strategic restructuring. Net income was $74.8 million, or $0.83 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $216.9 million, or $2.55 per diluted share, in the third quarter of fiscal year 2019. In addition to the items noted below, the change was driven by non-cash intangible asset impairment charges of $365.2 million, or $3.17 per diluted share in the prior year quarter. Operating revenues of $753.9 million were up 7% compared with $704.3 million in the prior year quarter reflecting: An increase in advisory fee revenues of $27.8 million reflecting higher average long-term AUM. reflecting higher average long-term AUM. In addition, performance fees increased $26.8 million , including an increase of $23.5 million in non-pass through performance fees. Operating expenses of $623.9 million were down 34% compared with $940.7 million in the prior year quarter but excluding the non-cash impairment charges, expenses were up 8%, reflecting: Compensation and benefits increased by 18%, primarily due to higher affiliate compensation on increased operating revenues as well as higher corporate compensation including increased sales commissions. In addition, there was a $12.0 million gain in the market value of deferred compensation and benefits with an offset in non-operating income, compared with a loss of $10.8 million in the prior year quarter. These more than offset decreased compensation and benefits resulting from the strategic restructuring. gain in the market value of deferred compensation and benefits with an offset in non-operating income, compared with a loss of in the prior year quarter. These more than offset decreased compensation and benefits resulting from the strategic restructuring. Occupancy expenses increased by $8.4 million primarily due to strategic restructuring costs of $5.9 million . primarily due to strategic restructuring costs of . Other expenses decreased by $14.1 million primarily due to strategic restructuring savings of $7.4 million and lower advertising and professional fees. Non-operating expense was $5.3 million, compared to $30.3 million in the prior year quarter reflecting: Gains on corporate investments, not offset in compensation, were $6.2 million compared with losses of $4.9 million in the prior year quarter. compared with losses of in the prior year quarter. Gains on funded deferred compensation and seed investments as described above. A $0.6 million gain associated with the consolidation of sponsored investment vehicles, as compared to a gain of $2.6 million in the prior year quarter. The consolidation of sponsored investment vehicles has no impact on net income as the effects of consolidation are fully attributable to noncontrolling interests. Operating margin was 17.2%, as compared to (33.6)% in the prior year quarter, reflecting the impact of the non-cash impairment charges. Adjusted operating margin was 26.5%, as compared to 22.1% in the prior year quarter. Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, excluding consolidated investment vehicles, was $14.4 million, compared to $9.0 million in the prior year quarter, principally related to Clarion, EnTrust Global and Royce. Quarterly Business Developments and Recent Announcements Brandywine Global, ClearBridge Investments and Western Asset were recognized by Pensions & Investments (P&I) in their Best Places to Work in Investment Management survey for 2019. Western Asset Management's mutual funds in Hong Kong , Singapore and Taiwan , were winners of the 2019 BENCHMARK Quantitative Top Fund of the Year Awards. , and , were winners of the 2019 BENCHMARK Quantitative Top Fund of the Year Awards. During the quarter ended December 31, 2019 , Virtus Investment Partners, Inc., Fred Alger Management, LLC and IndexIQ, a New York Life Investments Company, each entered into agreement to license Precidian Investments LLC ActiveShares structure, bringing the total number of licensees to 14. Balance Sheet At December 31, 2019, Legg Mason's cash position was $823.7 million. Total debt was $2.0 billion, and stockholders' equity was $3.8 billion. The ratio of total debt to total capital was 34%, compared to 35% in the prior quarter. Seed investments totaled $220.1 million. Conference Call to Discuss Results A conference call to discuss the Company's results, hosted by Joseph A. Sullivan, will be held at 5:00 p.m. ET today. The call will be open to the general public. Interested participants should access the call by dialing 1-800-771-6916 (or for international calls 1-212-271-4657, at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start to ensure connection. A live, listen-only webcast will also be available via the Investor Relations section of www.leggmason.com. The presentation slides that will be reviewed during the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Legg Mason website shortly after the release of the financial results. A replay of the live broadcast will be available on the Legg Mason website, www.leggmason.com , in the Investor Relations section, or by dialing 1-800-633-8284 (or for international calls 1-402-977-9140), enter pass code 21951025# when prompted. Please note that the replay will be available beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, January 29, 2020, and ending at 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 12, 2020. About Legg Mason Guided by a mission of Investing to Improve Lives,TM Legg Mason helps investors globally achieve better financial outcomes by expanding choice across investment strategies, vehicles and investor access through independent investment managers with diverse expertise in equity, fixed income, alternative and liquidity investments. Legg Mason's assets under management are $803.5 billion as of December 31, 2019. To learn more, visit our web site, our newsroom, or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. This release contains forward-looking statements subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially. For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, see "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Legg Mason's Annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019 and, in the Company's, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Supplemental Data Regarding Quarterly Performance Strategy Performance For purposes of investment performance comparisons, strategies are an aggregation of discretionary portfolios (separate accounts, investment funds, and other products) into a single group that represents a particular investment objective. In the case of separate accounts, the investment performance of the account is based upon the performance of the strategy to which the account has been assigned. Each of our asset managers has its own specific guidelines for including portfolios in their strategies. For those managers which manage both separate accounts and investment funds in the same strategy, the performance comparison for all of the assets is based upon the performance of the separate account. Approximately 87% of total AUM is included in strategy AUM as of December 31, 2019, although not all strategies have three-, five-, and ten-year histories. Total strategy AUM includes liquidity assets. Certain assets are not included in reported performance comparisons. These include: accounts that are not managed in accordance with the guidelines outlined above; accounts in strategies not marketed to potential clients; accounts that have not yet been assigned to a strategy; and certain smaller products at some of our affiliates. Past performance is not indicative of future results. For AUM included in institutional and retail separate accounts and investment funds managed in the same strategy as separate accounts, performance comparisons are based on gross-of-fee performance. For investment funds which are not managed in a separate account format, performance comparisons are based on net-of-fee performance. Funds-of-hedge funds generally do not have specified benchmarks. For purposes of this comparison, performance of those products is net of fees, and is compared to the relevant HFRX index. These performance comparisons do not reflect the actual performance of any specific separate account or investment fund; individual separate account and investment fund performance may differ. The information in this presentation is provided solely for use regarding this presentation and is not directed toward existing or potential clients of Legg Mason. At December 31, 2019: 1-Year 3-Year 5-Year 10-Year % of Strategy AUM beating Benchmark1 Fixed Income 97% 99% 94% 98% Equity 61% 56% 60% 50% Alternatives 99% 95% 98% 99% (1) Effective July 1, 2019, comparative benchmarks for certain strategies were added to measure relative performance where a stated benchmark was not previously provided. Long-term US Fund Assets Beating Lipper Category Average Long-term US fund assets include open-end, closed end, and variable annuity funds. These performance comparisons do not reflect the actual performance of any specific fund; individual fund performance may differ. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Source: Lipper Inc. At December 31, 2019: 1-Year 3-Year 5-Year 10-Year % of Long-Term U.S. Fund Assets Beating Lipper Category Average Fixed Income 78% 80% 79% 84% Equity 45% 49% 72% 49% Alternatives (performance relates to only 3 funds) 0% 100% n/a n/a LEGG MASON, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS) (Amounts in thousands) (Unaudited) Quarters Ended Nine Months Ended December September December December December 2019 2019 2018 2019 2018 Operating Revenues: Investment advisory fees: Separate accounts $ 266,609 $ 264,438 $ 256,657 $ 791,488 $ 778,119 Funds 378,995 375,765 361,173 1,121,572 1,128,660 Performance fees 39,407 34,869 12,619 81,137 68,529 Distribution and service fees 67,634 67,064 72,185 204,635 230,449 Other 1,269 1,128 1,688 3,706 4,897 Total operating revenues 753,914 743,264 704,322 2,202,538 2,210,654 Operating Expenses: Compensation and benefits 375,033 377,727 316,876 1,132,588 1,043,329 Distribution and servicing 104,363 105,099 108,842 313,368 339,959 Communications and technology 57,101 53,953 56,664 166,328 170,893 Occupancy 32,490 26,809 24,077 84,923 76,333 Amortization of intangible assets 6,004 5,442 6,089 16,903 18,371 Impairment of intangible assets 365,200 365,200 Contingent consideration fair value adjustments (1,165) 571 Other 48,929 49,257 63,001 150,687 171,021 Total operating expenses 623,920 618,287 940,749 1,863,632 2,185,677 Operating Income (Loss) 129,994 124,977 (236,427) 338,906 24,977 Non-Operating Income (Expense): Interest income 2,882 2,652 3,126 9,539 7,992 Interest expense (27,032) (27,331) (28,770) (82,846) (88,547) Other income (expense), net 18,009 458 (7,042) 29,066 6,837 Non-operating income (expense) of consolidated investment vehicles, net 814 4,529 2,369 14,904 1,954 Total non-operating income (expense) (5,327) (19,692) (30,317) (29,337) (71,764) Income (Loss) Before Income Tax Provision 124,667 105,285 (266,744) 309,569 (46,787) Income tax provision (benefit) 33,664 28,754 (60,354) 80,466 165 Net Income (Loss) 91,003 76,531 (206,390) 229,103 (46,952) Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 16,228 9,448 10,498 41,895 31,043 Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. $ 74,775 $ 67,083 $ (216,888) $ 187,208 $ (77,995) LEGG MASON, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS), CONTINUED (Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Quarters Ended Nine Months Ended December September December December December 2019 2019 2018 2019 2018 Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. $ 74,775 $ 67,083 $ (216,888) $ 187,208 $ (77,995) Less: Earnings (distributed and undistributed) allocated to participating securities (1) 2,428 2,213 1,049 6,138 3,190 Net Income (Loss) (Distributed and Undistributed) Allocated to Shareholders (Excluding Participating Securities) $ 72,347 $ 64,870 $ (217,937) $ 181,070 $ (81,185) Net Income (Loss) per Share Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. Shareholders: Basic $ 0.83 $ 0.75 $ (2.55) $ 2.09 $ (0.95) Diluted $ 0.83 $ 0.74 $ (2.55) $ 2.08 $ (0.95) Weighted-Average Number of Shares Outstanding(2): Basic 86,878 86,813 85,537 86,666 85,381 Diluted 87,165 87,127 85,537 86,932 85,381 (1) Participating securities excluded from weighted-average number of shares outstanding were 2,935, 2,973, and 3,104 for the quarters ended December 2019, September 2019, and December 2018, respectively, and 2,919 and 3,104 for the nine months ended December 2019 and December 2018, respectively. (2) Diluted shares are the same as basic shares for periods with a loss. Quarters Ended Nine Months Ended December September December Strategic Restructuring effective January 1, 2019 2019 2019 2019 Strategic restructuring cost savings: Compensation $ 11,139 $ 7,523 $ 21,512 Occupancy 78 175 493 Other 9,268 7,760 23,922 Total strategic restructuring cost savings $ 20,485 $ 15,458 $ 45,927 Strategic restructuring costs: Compensation and benefits $ 10,192 $ 14,422 $ 53,308 Occupancy 5,930 5,930 Other 2,352 1,503 8,059 Total strategic restructuring costs $ 18,474 $ 15,925 $ 67,297 LEGG MASON, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES SUPPLEMENTAL NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO LEGG MASON, INC. TO ADJUSTED NET INCOME AND RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME PER DILUTED SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO LEGG MASON, INC. SHAREHOLDERS TO ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER DILUTED SHARE(1) (Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Quarters Ended Nine Months Ended December September December December December 2019 2019 2018 2019 2018 Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. $ 74,775 $ 67,083 $ (216,888) $ 187,208 $ (77,995) Plus (less): Restructuring costs: Strategic restructuring and other corporate initiatives 20,920 19,666 5,881 73,484 14,303 Affiliate charges 237 237 1,677 Amortization of intangible assets 6,004 5,442 6,089 16,903 18,371 Gains and losses on seed and other investments not offset by compensation or hedges (4,827) (51) (4,314) (11,289) (12,014) Acquisition and transition-related costs 1,468 Impairments of intangible assets 365,200 365,200 Contingent consideration fair value adjustments (1,165) 571 Charges related to significant regulatory matters 4,151 Income tax adjustments:(2) Impacts of non-GAAP adjustments (6,030) (6,954) (94,568) (21,619) (98,331) Other tax items 2,100 220 14,856 620 13,095 Adjusted Net Income $ 93,179 $ 85,643 $ 76,256 $ 245,819 $ 228,819 Net Income (Loss) Per Diluted Share Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. Shareholders $ 0.83 $ 0.74 $ (2.55) $ 2.08 $ (0.95) Plus (less), net of tax impacts: Restructuring costs: Strategic restructuring and other corporate initiatives 0.17 0.16 0.05 0.60 0.12 Affiliate charges 0.01 Amortization of intangible assets 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.14 0.15 Gains and losses on seed and other investments not offset by compensation or hedges (0.04) (0.04) (0.09) (0.10) Acquisition and transition-related costs 0.01 Impairments of intangible assets 3.17 3.15 Contingent consideration fair value adjustments (0.01) Charges related to significant regulatory matters 0.05 Other tax items 0.02 0.18 0.01 0.16 Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share $ 1.03 $ 0.95 $ 0.86 $ 2.74 $ 2.59 (1) See explanations for "Use of Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Information." (2) The non-GAAP effective tax rates for the quarters ended December 31, 2019, September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 were 25.9%, 27.3%, and 18.5% respectively, and for the nine months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 were 26.7% and 24.8%, respectively. LEGG MASON, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES SUPPLEMENTAL DATA RECONCILIATION OF GAAP BASIS OPERATING MARGIN TO ADJUSTED OPERATING MARGIN (1) (Amounts in thousands) (Unaudited) Quarters Ended Nine Months Ended December September December December December 2019 2019 2018 2019 2018 Operating Revenues, GAAP basis $ 753,914 $ 743,264 $ 704,322 $ 2,202,538 $ 2,210,654 Plus (less): Pass through performance fees (10,733) (21,914) (7,436) (33,677) (44,062) Operating revenues eliminated upon consolidation of investment vehicles 69 156 155 350 461 Distribution and servicing expense excluding consolidated investment vehicles (104,349) (104,199) (108,771) (312,435) (339,845) Adjusted Operating Revenues $ 638,901 $ 617,307 $ 588,270 $ 1,856,776 $ 1,827,208 Operating Income (Loss), GAAP basis $ 129,994 $ 124,977 $ (236,427) $ 338,906 $ 24,977 Plus (less): Restructuring costs: Strategic restructuring and other corporate initiatives 20,920 19,666 5,881 73,484 14,303 Affiliate charges 237 237 1,677 Amortization of intangible assets 6,004 5,442 6,089 16,903 18,371 Gains (losses) on deferred compensation and seed investments, net 12,022 2,910 (10,826) 21,946 (5,590) Acquisition and transition-related costs 1,468 Impairment of intangible assets 365,200 365,200 Contingent consideration fair value adjustments (1,165) 571 Charges related to significant regulatory matters 4,151 Operating income (loss) of consolidated investment vehicles, net 172 1,298 343 1,729 1,331 Adjusted Operating Income $ 169,349 $ 154,530 $ 130,260 $ 453,480 $ 424,782 Operating Margin, GAAP basis 17.2 % 16.8 % (33.6) % 15.4 % 1.1 % Adjusted Operating Margin 26.5 25.0 22.1 24.4 23.2 (1) See explanations for "Use of Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Information." LEGG MASON, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES SUPPLEMENTAL DATA RECONCILIATION OF CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO ADJUSTED EBITDA (1) (Amounts in thousands) (Unaudited) Quarters Ended Nine Months Ended December September December December December 2019 2019 2018 2019 2018 Cash provided by operating activities, GAAP basis $ 335,358 $ 229,303 $ 256,591 $ 377,084 $ 443,989 Plus (less): Interest expense, net of accretion and amortization of debt discounts and premiums 26,676 26,874 28,259 81,925 86,956 Current tax expense (benefit) 6,137 6,927 (1,218) 8,818 17,635 Net change in assets and liabilities (153,838) (111,207) (170,384) 38,032 (24,794) Net change in assets and liabilities of consolidated investment vehicles (45,539) 8,061 60,158 (50,490) (9,966) Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (16,228) (9,448) (10,498) (41,895) (31,043) Net gains (losses) and earnings on investments 662 2,329 21,367 9,739 36,495 Net gains (losses) on consolidated investment vehicles 814 4,529 2,369 14,904 1,954 Other (193) (101) (68) (637) (289) Adjusted EBITDA $ 153,849 $ 157,267 $ 186,576 $ 437,480 $ 520,937 (1) See explanations for "Use of Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Information." LEGG MASON, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES (Amounts in billions) (Unaudited) Assets Under Management Quarters Ended By asset class: December 2019 September 2019 June 2019 March 2019 December 2018 Equity $ 214.0 $ 203.3 $ 205.6 $ 202.0 $ 181.0 Fixed Income 451.8 442.7 438.0 419.6 406.6 Alternative 74.3 72.6 70.1 68.6 66.3 Long-Term Assets 740.1 718.6 713.7 690.2 653.9 Liquidity 63.4 63.2 66.5 67.8 73.3 Total $ 803.5 $ 781.8 $ 780.2 $ 758.0 $ 727.2 Quarters Ended Nine Months Ended By asset class (average): December 2019 September 2019 June 2019 March 2019 December 2018 December 2019 December 2018 Equity $ 209.3 $ 204.2 $ 202.7 $ 195.4 $ 198.2 $ 205.6 $ 204.1 Fixed Income 447.3 440.9 427.0 413.7 407.4 438.0 411.9 Alternative 73.1 71.5 69.3 67.0 66.8 71.3 66.3 Long-Term Assets 729.7 716.6 699.0 676.1 672.4 714.9 682.3 Liquidity 62.0 63.2 66.9 72.6 66.9 63.9 63.3 Total $ 791.7 $ 779.8 $ 765.9 $ 748.7 $ 739.3 $ 778.8 $ 745.6 Component Changes in Assets Under Management Quarters Ended Nine Months Ended December 2019 September 2019 June 2019 March 2019 December 2018 December 2019 December 2018 Beginning of period $ 781.8 $ 780.2 $ 758.0 $ 727.2 $ 755.4 $ 758.0 $ 754.1 Net client cash flows: Equity (4.8) (2.1) (3.6) (1.0) (3.3) (10.5) (6.6) Fixed Income 1.7 (0.5) 3.9 0.1 (5.1) 5.1 (4.3) Alternative 1.5 2.4 0.8 0.9 (0.1) 4.7 0.6 Long-Term flows (1.6) (0.2) 1.1 (8.5) (0.7) (10.3) Liquidity (3.5) (1.6) (8.1) 10.5 (5.1) 10.4 Total net client cash flows (1.6) (3.7) (0.5) (8.1) 2.0 (5.8) 0.1 Realizations(1) (0.6) (0.2) (0.4) (0.3) (0.2) (1.2) (0.7) Market performance and other 20.9 8.7 21.9 39.1 (30.0) 51.4 (17.8) Impact of foreign exchange 3.0 (3.2) 0.6 0.1 0.5 (8.5) Acquisition 0.6 0.6 End of period $ 803.5 $ 781.8 $ 780.2 $ 758.0 $ 727.2 $ 803.5 $ 727.2 (1) Realizations represent investment manager-driven distributions primarily related to the sale of assets. Realizations are specific to our alternative managers and do not include client-driven distributions (e.g. client requested redemptions, liquidations or asset transfers). (2) Due to effects of rounding, the sum of the quarterly results may differ immaterially from the year-to-date results. Use of Supplemental Non-GAAP Financial Information As supplemental information, we are providing performance measures for "Adjusted Net Income", "Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share" ("Adjusted EPS"), and "Adjusted Operating Margin", along with a liquidity measure for "Adjusted EBITDA", each of which are based on methodologies other than generally accepted accounting principles ("non-GAAP"). Effective with the quarter ended June 30, 2019, we began disclosing Adjusted Operating Margin, which revises our prior disclosure of Operating Margin, as Adjusted to include adjustments for restructuring costs and acquisition expenses and transition-related costs for integration activities, each of which is further described below. Our management uses the performance measures as benchmarks to evaluate and compare our period-to-period operating performance. We believe that these performance measures provide useful information about the operating results of our core asset management business and facilitate comparison of our results to other asset management firms and period-to-period results. We are also providing a non-GAAP liquidity measure for Adjusted EBITDA, which our management uses as a benchmark in evaluating and comparing our period-to-period liquidity. We believe that this measure is useful to investors as it provides additional information with regard to our ability to meet working capital requirements, service our debt, and return capital to our stockholders. Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS only include adjustments for certain items that relate to operating performance, and therefore, are most readily reconcilable to Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. and Net Income (Loss) per Diluted Share Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. Shareholders, determined under generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), respectively. We define Adjusted Net Income as Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. adjusted to exclude the following: Restructuring costs, including: Corporate charges related to the ongoing strategic restructuring and other cost saving and business initiatives, including severance, lease and other costs; and Affiliate charges, including affiliate restructuring and severance costs, and certain one-time charges arising from the issuance of management equity plan awards Amortization of intangible assets Gains and losses on seed and other investments that are not offset by compensation or hedges Acquisition expenses and transition-related costs for integration activities, including certain related professional fees and costs associated with the transition and acquisition of acquired businesses Impairments of intangible assets Contingent consideration fair value adjustments Charges (credits) related to significant litigation or regulatory matters Income tax expense (benefit) adjustments to provide an effective non-GAAP tax rate commensurate with our expected annual pre-tax Adjusted Net Income, including: The impact on income tax expense (benefit) of the above non-GAAP adjustments; and Other tax items, including deferred tax asset and liability adjustments associated with statutory rate changes, the impact of other aspects of recent U.S. tax reform, and shortfalls (and windfalls) associated with stock-based compensation Adjustments for restructuring costs, gains and losses on seed and other investments that are not offset by compensation or hedges, and the income tax expense (benefit) items described above are included in the calculation because these items are not reflective of our core asset management business of providing investment management and related products and services. We adjust for acquisition-related items, including amortization of intangible assets, impairments of intangible assets, and contingent consideration fair value adjustments, to make it easier to identify trends affecting our underlying business that are not related to acquisitions to facilitate comparison of our operating results with the results of other asset management firms that have not engaged in significant acquisitions. We adjust for charges (credits) related to significant litigation or regulatory matters, net of any insurance proceeds and revenue share adjustments, because these matters do not reflect the underlying operations and performance of our business. In calculating Adjusted EPS, we adjust Net Income (Loss) per Diluted Share Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. Shareholders determined under GAAP for the per share impact of each adjustment (net of taxes) included in the calculation of Adjusted Net Income. These measures are provided in addition to Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc., and Net Income (Loss) per Diluted Share Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. Shareholders, and are not substitutes for these measures. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation and may not be comparable to non-GAAP performance measures, including measures of adjusted earnings or adjusted income, and adjusted earnings per share, of other companies, respectively. Further, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS are not liquidity measures and should not be used in place of cash flow measures determined under GAAP. Adjusted Operating Margin We calculate Adjusted Operating Margin, by dividing "Adjusted Operating Income", by "Adjusted Operating Revenues", each of which are further discussed below. These measures only include adjustments for certain items that relate to operating performance, and therefore, are most readily reconcilable to Operating Margin, Operating Income and Total Operating Revenues determined under GAAP, respectively. We define Adjusted Operating Revenues as Operating Revenues, adjusted to: Include: Net investment advisory fees eliminated upon consolidation of investment vehicles Exclude: Distribution and servicing expenses, which we use to approximate our distribution revenues that are passed through to third parties as a direct cost of selling our products Performance fees that are passed through as compensation expense or net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests We define Adjusted Operating Income, as Operating Income, adjusted to exclude the following: Restructuring costs, including: Corporate charges related to the ongoing strategic restructuring and other cost saving and business initiatives, including severance, lease and other costs; and Affiliate charges, including affiliate restructuring and severance costs, and certain one-time charges arising from the issuance of management equity plan awards Amortization of intangible assets The impact on compensation expense of: Gains and losses on investments made to fund deferred compensation plans Gains and losses on seed capital investments by our affiliates under revenue sharing arrangements Acquisition expenses and transition-related costs for integration activities, including certain related professional fees and costs associated with the transition and acquisition of acquired businesses Impairments of intangible assets Contingent consideration fair value adjustments Charges (credits) related to significant regulatory matters Income (loss) of consolidated investment vehicles In calculating Adjusted Operating Income, we adjust for restructuring costs because these items are not reflective of our core asset management business of providing investment management and related products and services. We adjust for the impact on compensation expense of gains and losses on investments made to fund deferred compensation plans and on seed capital investments by our affiliates under revenue sharing arrangements because they are offset by an equal amount in Non-operating income (expense), net, and thus have no impact on Net Income Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. We adjust for acquisition-related items, including amortization of intangible assets, impairments of intangible assets, and contingent consideration fair value adjustments, to make it easier to identify trends affecting our underlying business that are not related to acquisitions to facilitate comparison of our operating results with the results of other asset management firms that have not engaged in significant acquisitions. We adjust for charges (credits) related to significant litigation or regulatory matters, net of any insurance proceeds and revenue share adjustments, because these matters do not reflect the underlying operations and performance of our business. We adjust for income (loss) of consolidated investment vehicles because the consolidation of these investment vehicles does not have an impact on Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Legg Mason, Inc. These measures are provided in addition to and are not substitutes for our Operating Margin, Operating Revenues, and Operating Income calculated under GAAP. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation and may not be comparable to non-GAAP performance measures, including measures of adjusted margins, adjusted operating revenues, and adjusted operating income, of other companies. Further, Adjusted Operating Margin, Adjusted Operating Revenues and Adjusted Operating Income are not liquidity measures and should not be used in place of cash flow measures determined under GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA We define Adjusted EBITDA as cash provided by (used in) operating activities plus (minus): Interest expense, net of accretion and amortization of debt discounts and premiums Current income tax expense (benefit) Net change in assets and liabilities, which aligns with the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests Net gains (losses) and earnings on investments Net gains (losses) on consolidated investment vehicles Other Adjusted EBITDA is not reduced by equity-based compensation expense, including management equity plan non-cash issuance-related charges. Most management equity plan units may be put to or called by Legg Mason for cash payment, although their terms do not require this to occur. This liquidity measure is provided in addition to Cash provided by operating activities and may not be comparable to non-GAAP performance measures or liquidity measures of other companies, including their measures of EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA. Further, this measure is not to be confused with Net Income, Cash provided by operating activities, or other measures of earnings or cash flows under GAAP, and is provided as a supplement to, and not in replacement of, GAAP measures. SOURCE Legg Mason, Inc. Related Links http://www.leggmason.com Industry body COAI said on Wednesday that AGR formula being applied on mobile operators should be applicable on all other categories of telecom licences and there can be no differential treatment for relevant PSUs in this regard New Delhi: Industry body COAI said on Wednesday that AGR formula being applied on mobile operators should be applicable on all other categories of telecom licences and there can be no differential treatment for relevant PSUs in this regard. "The question is are you a telecom licencee and if you are then the terms of the licence apply. The court has looked at the terms of the licence, so that same principle then should be applied on every licensed agreement, including for relevant PSUs," Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) Director General, Rajan Mathews told PTI. Fifteen telecom companies owe the government Rs 92,642 crore in unpaid licence fee and another Rs 55,054 crore in outstanding spectrum usage charges. These liabilities arose after the Supreme Court in October last year held that non-core revenues have to be considered for calculating statutory dues from Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR). In the case of Bharti Airtel, the liabilities added up to nearly Rs 35,586 crore, of which Rs 21,682 crore is licence fee and another Rs 13,904.01 crore is the spectrum usage charge dues (not including the dues of Telenor and Tata Teleservices). Vodafone Idea -- which is staring at unpaid statutory dues of Rs 53,038 crore, including Rs 24,729 crore of spectrum dues and Rs 28,309 crore in licence fee -- has already warned of shut down if no relief is given. Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea Ltd, and Tata Teleservices have, meanwhile, jointly filed a modification application in the Supreme Court seeking more time to pay the statutory dues. The plea for relief on the payment schedule came after a three-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra, earlier this month, dismissed the review petitions filed by telecom companies against the apex court's October 24, 2019 verdict. The telecom department has also estimated another Rs 2.4 lakh crore in liability for non-telecom companies such as state-owned gas utility GAIL India Ltd and power transmission firm PowerGrid, which had taken licences to trade broadband on optic fibre running along their pipelines and transmission lines. The DoT has sought additional license fee of Rs 1.72 lakh crore from gas utility GAIL India Ltd, Rs 48,000 crore from OIL, around Rs 22,000 crore from Power Grid Corporation (PowerGrid), and has raised similar demands from RailTel and other public sector undertakings (PSUs). PSUs including Oil India Ltd (OIL) and Power Grid Corporation have filed a clarificatory/modificatory petition in the Supreme Court against demands raised by the telecom department. PIERRE | The leader of the South Dakota Board of Regents pledged to work on legislation that would create a college tuition waiver for Native American students. On Tuesday Board of Regents Executive Director Paul Beran told the Senate Educa-tion Committee that his department would work on tuition waiver legislation after a dis-cussion with Sen. Troy Heinert, D-Mission. Heinert sponsored a bill in the last legislative session that called on the regents to explore the creation of a college tuition waiver. Heinert expressed disappointment at the lack of progress. Beran said that according to the regents lawyer, South Dakota law doesnt permit the creation of such a waiver. The Board of Regents has been sending resources to universities to support programming for American Indian students, Beran said Heinert said the state already provides college tuition waivers for the children of firefighters and police officers. I hope you understand my disappointment, Heinert said. We are still losing our best and brightest. Heinert suggested that the Regents could start small, offering the waivers to 20 Native American students, two from each reservation. Beran said a regents lawyer would contact the Legislative Research Council about creating the legislation. Lets make that happen, Beran said. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sony is releasing its NUCLeUS system in the United States. The system helps clinicians working in and around operating rooms to access and share imaging data. NUCLeUS already provides support at over 500 ORs in Europe, so it has already proven itself in clinical practice. The system supports images and video up to 4K resolution, as well as audio and other patient data, over existing in-hospital networks, delivering it all on a central dashboard and utilizing streamlined workflows for easy and relevant data access. Patient data are kept secure and access is provided as needed to help maintain privacy, while available content can be used for collaborative and teaching needs. The system can be scaled for hospitals of any size and data from any imaging modality can be uploaded to NUCLeUS. Since it doesnt rely on any special hardware, the system can be easily integrated into existing clinical IT setups. Additionally, an available application programming interface (API) allows other systems to link to the NUCLeUS to provide unique capabilities. We are eager to put NUCLeUS in the hands of doctors, nurses and OR managers in the U.S. so they can experience first-hand how the platform can dramatically improve surgical collaboration and potentially contribute to better patient outcomes, said Theresa Alesso, president of Sony Electronics Pro division, in a press release. With the ongoing development of unique smart applications, NUCLeUS will continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in the OR. Product page: NUCLeUS Via: Sony Electronics Lynandro Simmons /Hearst Connecticut Media WESTPORT Coleytown Middle School Principal Kris Szabo will return to her role on Wednesday after being placed on administrative leave last year following her arrest in a parking dispute. Szabo, 49, was placed on leave on Dec. 4 after reports of her arrest for allegedly slapping a man during a parking dispute in Southbury were made public. Unlike the case in many developed countries, the Russian government is ready to provide financial support to all people who are registered unemployed. That said, the amount of benefits paid is so small that most unemployed simply disregard it. This approach by the state serves as motivation for them to hurry in finding a new job rather than hang around doing nothing. Researchers from the HSE Centre for Labour Market Studies undertook a study of how the unemployed are treated in other countries and proposed measures for improving the situation on Russia's labour market. Unemployment benefits are a social policy tool used by the state. They are designed to support purchasing power among unemployed citizens and help them find jobs at their professional level. The amount and duration of benefits should be set at such a level that people are motivated to actively look for a job, on the one hand, but not forced to simply accept any available offer. Nominal Payment In Russia, it is virtually impossible to live off unemployment benefits. The amount did not change from 2009 to 2018, when it ranged from 850 to 4,900 a month, and most of those registered as unemployed received the minimal amount. According to the new version of the employment law that took effect in 2019, the maximum amount of benefits increased to 8,000 roubles a month, which is 70% of the subsistence rate (about 11,000 roubles in 2019) at best. The minimum amount of benefits is 1,500 roubles. Benefits are usually paid over a period of six months. An exception has been made for unemployed people of pre-retirement age (who have less than five years to retirement): they are entitled to 11,280 roubles a month for a period of 12 months. According to data provided by Rostrud (Federal Labour and Employment Service), only 690,000 out of 3.6 million registered as unemployed in 2018. This means that the majority do not rely on payments, despite the fact that in Russia, unlike many other countries, benefits are paid to nearly all people who register as unemployed, independently of their age, duration of employment, and reason for unemployment. On the other hand, lower benefits promote greater mobility in the labour force. Russians avoid the status of unemployment and try to find new jobs before leaving their previous one or being so-called 'economically inactive', which means they are not officially employed, but not officially unemployed either. People are forced to pursue this option due to financial necessity, including the lack of sufficient support from the state. Such a situation leads to an income gap and further expansion of informal employment in Russia. It's Not Easy in Other Countries Either Regarding global experience, the example of 22 member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) - most of the world's developed countries - demonstrates that the share of people receiving unemployment benefits has been decreasing over the last two decades. The average share is 30%, with considerable differences between countries. As of 2016, over 80% of all unemployed people were receiving unemployment benefits in Finland, France and Belgium, while in Spain, Hungary and Ireland the share was less than 20%. Unlike Russia, most OECD countries have different categories of unemployment, and not all of them are eligible for benefits. First, duration of employment matters. If it does not reach the relevant minimum, one isn't eligible to apply for benefits. Taking widespread project (temporary) jobs into account, this category of unemployment is growing. In addition, the reason for unemployment is considered. People who resign voluntarily are not eligible for benefits. The researchers say that the governments in OECD countries want the benefits to motivate people to search for new jobs more actively. That is why the benefits are mostly paid to those who are ready to start new jobs without delay. Additionally, there are other, less numerous, categories of benefit recipients, such as those who are employed part-time. In some OECD countries, the law allows them to receive unemployment benefits during a certain period of time. For example, in Switzerland and Belgium, about 25% of benefit recipients are actually working. Other categories of unemployed people are also entitled to financial support from the state, including new mothers, people who are of pre-retirement age, and the unemployed who participate in employment service programmes (for example, retraining) and have temporarily stopped looking for jobs. In OECD countries, the average amount of unemployment benefits reaches 56% of previous wages. In some of the countries, it is higher (over 80% in Luxembourg and Switzerland), while it is lower in others (about 30% in Great Britain and the Czech Republic). The duration of benefits payment also varies depending on the country and a person's category. The shortest period (three months) has been registered in Hungary, with the longest (up to three years) in Iceland and Denmark. In Belgium, there is no time limit if a family has underage children. What Research Has to Say Unemployment benefits, their size and duration have a considerable impact on the labour market. For example, a study in the Austrian job market demonstrated that a 4.2% increase in benefits leads to prolongation of the unemployment by 2 - 3 days. Receiving benefits lowers the chances of finding a job by 5 - 9%. On the other hand, limits to the amount of benefits and payment period force applicants to accept jobs with lower wages than they had had before, which promotes income inequality. With respect to Russia's system for supporting the unemployed, the HSE University researchers believe that it needs to be reformed. In particular, the amount of the benefits must be increased, and criteria for recipients should be introduced, which would depend on occupational experience, successful retraining, and how active applicants are in their job search. ### Highlights The Airtel Thanks is a reward programme by the company which can solely be accessed by the Airtel Infinity postpaid customers. The Airtel Xstream Box can be purchased at Rs 2249 and to give special benefits for the users The Airtel Xstream Box was launched at Rs 3999 back in September 2019 along with the stick. Airtel is offering Google Nest Mini for as low as Rs 1699 but the offer is not for everyone. The Rs 4499 device is only available for Airtel Thanks customers at a discounted price of Rs 1699. The Airtel Thanks is a reward programme by the company which can solely be accessed by the Airtel Infinity postpaid customers. The Airtel Xstream Box can be purchased at Rs 2249 and to give special benefits for the users, the company is running the Google Nest Mini promotion. The buyers of the Airtel Xstream Box are also entitled to free one-year access to Xstream app and zee 5. The offer is only available for buyers who have recharged the set-top box on or before January 8 and it will be available till the January 30. Airtel will message the coupon codes to the customers through which they will be available to buy the Google Nest Mini at the discounted price of Rs 1699. Apparently, the codes will be only valid till February so if you want to bring home the next, you should recharge your Xstream as soon as you. The Airtel Xstream Box was launched at Rs 3999 back in September 2019 along with the stick. It is basically a smart set-top box that runs Android 9.0 pie and has an in-built Chromecast. The Xstream box comes with support for the Google Play Store that brings you access to 5000 apps. Given that it runs on Android TV OS, It also brings support for universal voice search via Google Assistant. The box also brings support for streaming content via third party OTT apps such as Netflix, Zee5, Amazon Prime Video, Hotstar, Xstream app and YouTube. Google Nest Mini, on the other hand, is a smart speaker with Google Assistant. It was launched in India in September 2019 and is a successor to the Google Home Mini. The tech experts claimed that the sound quality is better in Google Nest Mini. It is available in four colour variants Chalk, Charcoal, Coral, and Sky. A former Iowa official said he's "shocked" that Joe Biden told him to "go vote for someone else" after the Democratic presidential candidate rebuffed a question about whether he supports oil pipeline construction. Mr Biden poked and grabbed Ed Fallon, who served in Iowa's general assembly and leads an organisation aimed at tackling the climate crisis, after the candidate pressed him about his loyalty in the election. In a video of the exchange, Mr Fallon asks the candidate: "I like you, and I'm going to support you if win the nomination because we have to get rid of [Donald Trump], but what are we going to do about climate change? ... We have to stop building and replacing pipelines." Mr Biden then tells him to "go vote for someone else." After Mr Fallon tells him he would support the former vice president in the general election, Mr Biden tells him "I'm running in the primary" and grabs him by his jacket lapels. He suggests Mr Fallon is supporting Bernie Sanders instead. Mr Fallon is supporting Tom Steyer in the primary. Mr Sanders is his second choice. 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 Mr Fallon has been trying to pin down Mr Biden's position on pipelines for nearly a year. During the candidate's repeat visits to the state, Mr Fallon and his Bold Iowa organisation have pressed him on his positions on climate change, the Dakota Access Pipeline, and whether he supports removing or replacing older gas pipelines leaking methane, after giving apparently contradictory statements over his opposition to new construction. "He and I had this conversation before and it's never been resolved", Mr Fallon tells The Independent. "It seemed like there's a disconnect." When he approached the candidate at a small campaign event at Urban Dreams in Des Moines, Mr Fallon says he was expecting Mr Biden "to address the concerns I was raising about climate change." Instead, he says, he was "surprised" that Mr Biden appeared to deflect his support, should Mr Biden be selected as the Democratic nominee in the general election, during which he ostensibly would want to earn Mr Fallon's vote. "He just made it more difficult", Mr Fallon says. Mr Biden has pushed back against several would-be voters throughout his campaign, including telling an immigration activist in South Carolina to "vote for Trump" and telling another man in Iowa who the candidate also called a "damn liar" that he's "too old" to vote for him. On his website, Mr Fallon writes that his most recent exchange is "disturbing on a number of levels". He said: "His propensity to violate personal space is a huge non-asset in politics, and his frequent gaffes are prime fodder for opponents and the media. ... Most important, Biden is simply wrong on climate change, and out-of-step with voters on so many issues." Mr Fallon says he supports Mr Steyer for his track record of environmental advocacy and promise to declare a "climate emergency" on the first day of his administration, if elected. On Twitter, Mr Steyer addressed Mr Biden, telling him: "This is no way to treat an Iowan. He said he'd vote for the Dem in the general b/c he knows how important it is to beat Trump. We need immediate action on climate. If you don't agree, happy to talk @ debate. But don't take it out on voters we need to win in Nov." I have visited the National Assembly for years and have always visited the parliamentary speaker as an official. This is what former defense minister of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan told reporters at the National Assembly today, touching upon his meeting with members of the parliamentary committee for probe into the circumstances behind the Four-Day Artsakh War of April 2016 and the meeting with Speaker of the National Assembly Ararat Mirzoyan. As a sign of courtesy, I asked for a meeting with the Speaker of the National Assembly as well. We talked about the current state of affairs in Armenia and other topics. I didnt discuss any political issue. This was a courtesy visit, he said. Toy Train Hype Ride Announced KC Streetcar to host Red Friday Ride KANSAS CITY, Mo. - If you're looking for a unique way to celebrate Red Friday ahead of the Super Bowl, hop on the KC Streetcar. The KC Streetcar Authority announced that from 5:30-7 p.m. on Friday, fans can hop on the Chiefs Streetcar for a special ride. Local History Lives Truman Library renovation 'on time' so far Right now, the interior of one side of Harry Truman Presidential Library & Museum consists mainly of drywall covering steel studs. Even so, one can imagine how different the library will be for visitors when it reopens in the fall after a year-plus renovation. Big Bucks Voted For Blue Valey Blue Valley district voters approve nearly $187M bond issue KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Voters in the Blue Valley School District overwhelmingly approved a multi-million school bond issue . With nearly 74% of the vote , voters agreed to a no-tax increase bond worth more than $186.8 million via mail-in ballot. Show-Me Justice Federal Judge Refuses To Approve Deal Reducing Missouri Public Defender Workloads A federal judge has refused to sign off on a deal that would cap the number of cases Missouri's public defenders are allowed to handle. U.S. District Judge Nanette Laughrey on Monday found that the proposed consent judgment between the ACLU of Missouri and the state's public defender system was essentially unworkable. Kansas Burning Issue Trees Pose a Growing Wildfire Problem as They Take Over Kansas Grassland WICHITA, Kansas - Trees improve air quality. They keep people and homes cool with shade. They block the breezes that rake across the Kansas plains. New research suggests the trees planted by people who filled up Kansas over the last century-plus also made the region more susceptible to hard-to-fight fires. Merriam Maintains Merriam voters renew infrastructure sales tax KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Nearly four of five Merriam voters signed off on renewing a 0.25% sales-tax increase, according to Johnson County Election Office results. The Johnson County suburb had a mail-in ballot election to authorize continuing the sales tax, which is used to fund improvements to "streets, bridges and associated drainage," according to the ballot language. Hottie Well Remembered Drugs, feuds and bankruptcy... what happened next to the 90s glamour models Back when Instagram was just a glint in a tech nerd's eye, people used to get their saucy kicks from lads' mags. Zoo, Nuts, Loaded and FHM occupied the lower end of the top shelf, while the likes of Esquire and GQ appealed to a more genteel clientele. Prez Trump Peace Plan Kaput Palestinians mobilise against Trump peace plan Palestinians staged protests Tuesday against US President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan, hours before it was to be unveiled in Washington. Thousands demonstrated in Gaza, burning pictures of Trump and the American flag, while further rallies were planned for the coming days. Details of GOP Double Talk GOP concedes Trump may have withheld aid for probes but says it's not impeachable A growing number of GOP senators are now acknowledging that President Donald Trump may have leveraged US military aid to Ukraine in exchange for an announcement of investigations that could help him politically -- but they contend that even that conduct does not warrant removal from office or hearing from additional witnesses. iPhone For Everybody Apple expected to post record holiday earnings: Live blog By Apple Inc. is expected to deliver record quarterly earnings and revenue Tuesday. The report will detail Apple's performance during the crucial holiday period, which was the first full quarter of availability for the iPhone 11 family of devices as well as the first to include contributions from the Apple TV+ streaming service. Puppet Master Tribute Chiefs 'Puppet Lady' wins Super Bowl LIV tickets KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) - A longtime Chiefs fan has just won tickets to Super Bowl LIV in Miami! Janel Carbajo of Spring Hill was one of six national finalists for Ford Hall of Fans at the beginning of the month. She has had season tickets for the past 30 years. Worst Pop Singer In History Coming Soon To Cowtown Justin Bieber is coming to Kansas City this summer KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Singer Justin Bieber is going on tour once again this summer, and he's making a stop in Kansas City. Bieber will bring the Changes tour to Sprint Center Monday, July 6. The show will feature guests Kehlani and Jaden Smith. Tickets for the show go on sale Friday, Feb. The news scene keeps going, here's some of the more interesting links we're checking on the topic of pop culture, community news and more . . .And this is thefor right now . . . Nirbhaya: Only two convicts wrote a will, one wanted to donate paintings, another his body Will Nirbhayas killers hang on Feb 1? Unlikely India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 29: The Supreme Court has rejected the curative petition filed by Mukesh Singh, who is on a death row in connection with the Nirbhaya case. The hanging of the four convicts, Singh, Vinay Sharma, Akshay Singh and Pawan Gupta is slated for February 1, 7 am. However, there could be some hurdles before the hanging takes place as Akshay Singh has now filed a curative petition in the Supreme Court. He filed the plea after his review petition was rejected by the Supreme Court. His plea would be heard in-chambers in the Supreme Court. Once his plea is rejected he has the option to send a mercy plea to the President of India. As of now the curative pleas filed by Mukesh Singh and Vinay Sharma have been rejected. In case the mercy petition filed by Akshay Singh is rejected, he still has the option to seek review of the same before the Supreme Court, like in the case of Mukesh Singh. Nirbhaya Case: Convict Akshay Kumar Singh files curative petition in SC | Oneindia News Nirbhaya: Killers curative plea rejected, torture not ground to review mercy petition says SC It may be recalled that the Supreme Court had last week rejected a plea filed by Gupta claiming that he was a juvenile at the time of the commission of the offence. The court rejected the plea as it did not find any fresh ground in the matter. Gupta could also file a curative plea and seek mercy before the President. If these convicts decide to exercise all these options, then the hanging could be delayed. In case the hanging does not take place on February 1, then a fresh black warrant will have to be issued by the trial court. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, January 29, 2020, 11:12 [IST] Supreme Court Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch delivers remarks after taking the judicial oath during a ceremony in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington April 10, 2017. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Gorsuch: Nationwide Injunctions Raise Serious Questions Over Scope of Courts Powers Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch has issued a sharp critique of the growing practice of federal judges ruling beyond the scope of a particular case, in some court orders known as nationwide injunctions. On Jan. 27, the top court voted 54 to lift a pair of nationwide injunctions that blocked the Trump administration from enforcing its public charge rule that restricted new immigrants from receiving green cards if the individual is deemed likely to become primarily dependent on the government for assistance such as food stamps or Medicaid. As part of the order, Gorsuch provided a concurring opinion urging that the court at some point needs to confront the real problem of nationwide injunctions. Justice Clarence Thomas, who previously issued his own rebuke of the practice in the 2018 travel ban case, joined in that opinion. Today, the Court (rightly) grants a stay, allowing the government to pursue (for now) its policy everywhere save Illinois. But, in light of all thats come before, it would be delusional to think that one stay today suffices to remedy the problem, Gorsuch wrote (pdf). He stated that the real problem is the increasingly common practice of federal court judges ordering injunctions of nationwide, universal, or cosmic scope, adding that such orders raise serious questions about the scope of courts equitable powers under Article III of the Constitution. The Trump administration has repeatedly expressed concern about the unprecedented use of court orders by unelected federal judges to impose their own policy preferences across the nation. Scholars havent found an example of judges issuing nationwide injunctions in the first 175 years of the Republic, according to former Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Yet, in recent years, the practice has become increasingly common, Sessions said in 2018, with President Donald Trump having faced 25 injunctions before hed completed his first two years in office. In a 2019 op-ed, Attorney General William Barr wrote that by September 2019, the Trump administration had faced nearly 40 nationwide injunctions since taking office. Many of those injunctions targeted the administrations immigration policies. Comparatively, an average of 1.5 such injunctions were issued per year against the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. Under the administration of President Barack Obama, the average was 2.5. Remedies issued by a court are traditionally meant to redress injuries sustained by a particular plaintiff in the case before the court. When the court goes beyond that and issues orders affecting parties not privy to the case, it is difficult to see how the court is still acting within its judicial role of resolving cases and controversies, Gorsuch wrote. In the case at hand, five district courts issued numerous injunctions that blocked the federal government from implementing its public charge rule. The Southern District of New York issued two nationwide injunctions blocking the enforcement of the rule. Similarly, the Northern District of California ordered the administration to not enforce its rule in California, Oregon, Maine, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. In the Eastern District of Washington, a judge entered an order that stopped the government from enforcing the rule across the country. In the District of Maryland, a judge issued another nationwide injunction against the rule. Meanwhile, a judge in the Northern District of Illinois issued his own injunction but limited its scope to the state. The injunctions in California and Washington were lifted by the 9th Circuit, while the 4th Circuit lifted the injunction in Maryland. The 2nd Circuit refused to lift the two New York injunctions, prompting the Trump administration to file an emergency request earlier in the year to the Supreme Court to lift the blocks. Gorsuch wrote that although the government had some interim wins, we now have an injunction to rule them all, referring to the injunctions issued by the New York federal judge. The Second Circuit declined to stay this particular universal injunction, and so now, after so many trips up and down and around the judicial map, the government brings its well-rehearsed arguments here, he wrote. He said such injunctions have caused judges to make rushed, high-stakes, low-information decisions because this practice forces parties to rush from one preliminary injunction hearing instead of spending their time methodically developing arguments and evidence in cases limited to the parties at hand. Nor do the costs of nationwide injunctions end there, wrote Gorsuch, adding that it encourages plaintiffs affected by the adverse government decision to shop for a friendly forum to secure a win nationwide. If a single successful challenge is enough to stay the challenged rule across the country, the governments hope of implementing any new policy could face the long odds of a straight sweep, parlaying a 94-to-0 win in the district courts into a 12-to-0 victory in the courts of appeal, he wrote. A single loss and the policy goes on icepossibly for good, or just as possibly for some indeterminate period of time until another court jumps in to grant a stay. He said this practice can repeat, again and again, until one party gives up or the Supreme Court agrees to review the case. What in this gamesmanship and chaos can we be proud of? he asked. Gorsuch isnt the first Supreme Court justice to criticize nationwide injunctions. Justice Thomas issued his own concurring opinion (pdf) in the landmark case, Trump v. Hawaii, which upheld Trumps Presidential Proclamation 9645. The decision allowed the administration to enforce the refusal of entry into the United States of travelers from multiple high-risk Islamic countries. Thomas said these injunctions are beginning to take a toll on the federal court system because they prevent legal questions from percolating through the federal courts, encourage forum shopping, and make every case a national emergency for the courts and for the Executive Branch. He expressed doubt that the district courts have the authority to issue such injunctions as they appear to be inconsistent with longstanding limits on equitable relief and the power of Article III courts. If their popularity continues, he wrote, this Court must address their legality. Matthew Vadum contributed to this report. Alastair Stewart is stepping down as an ITV newsreader after a 40-year career following 'errors of judgement in social media use'. Stewart, who was Britain's longest-serving male newsreader, described his behaviour on social media as a 'misjudgement which I regret', but said it has been a 'privilege' to work at ITV. His decision to step down comes after a black Twitter user claimed he 'called him an angry ape' three weeks ago. Martin Shapland later branded Stewart a 'disgrace'. However, friends and colleagues of the veteran broadcaster rushed to defend him online, insisting his comment would not have been intended to cause offence. The married father-of-four declined to comment at his home in Alresford, Hants. Stewart was the longest-serving male newsreader after joining Southern Television in 1976 then ITN in 1980 Stewart's decision to step down comes after a black Twitter user claimed he 'called him an angry ape' three weeks ago. Martin Shapland later branded Stewart a 'disgrace' His Twitter account appeared blank today as it was announced that Stewart was stepping down Martin Shapland (pictured) was in a debate with Mr Stewart on Twitter when the veteran newsreader quoted a passage from Shakespeare that included the words 'angry ape'. Mr Shapland described this as a 'disgrace' The Shakespeare quote at the heart of Alastair Stewart's social media rift In a Twitter row Mr Stewart decided to quote a short passage from Measure by Measure by William Shakeaspeare. The play was written in either 1603 or 1604 and is a dark comedy about a judge, Angelo, who leads the government in Vienna while the Duke is away. The specific part Mr Stewart tweeted is a short speech by a character called Isabella, who has come to plead with Angelo for her brother's life after he is sentenced to die. Angelo refuses her request, and in response to him she says: 'But man, proud man, 'Dress'd in a little brief authority, 'Most ignorant of what he's most assur'd 'His glassy essencelike an angry ape 'Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven 'As makes the angels weep; who, with our spleens, 'Would all themselves laugh mortal' Advertisement But an ITN source told the Mail that he appeared to have a habit of using the phrase to make a point about those he felt were claiming to be experts in a certain field. The insider said: 'He would have thought he was being clever and it was merely an innocent put-down. He is certainly not a racist in any way. 'Alastair is a hugely popular figure, well liked, kind and something of an institution. 'It is sad if he has had to go because of this. He accepts the error of judgement, but many believe that, if this was the reason he is going, it was wrong, and he will be the first man ever fired for accurately quoting Shakespeare.' Stewart was the longest-serving male newsreader after joining Southern Television in 1976 then ITN in 1980. He married Sally Ann Jung in 1978 and they have four children together, Freddie Stewart, Clemmie Stewart, Oscar Stewart and Alexander Stewart. Michael Jermey, director of news and current affairs at ITV, said in a statement: 'Alastair has been a long-standing, familiar figure to viewers of ITV News, both reporting and presenting with distinction. We wish him the very best for the future.' The multiple-award winning presenter and journalist became embroiled in a debate on Twitter with Martin Shapland just three weeks ago. The duo appear to be discussing the relationship between the Crown and taxpayer funds. Mr Stewart said: This is you (sic) last chance. 'As a student of history you should know the basis of the financial relationship between the Crown and the tax-payer. 'It was sealed with the Civil List which was subsequently replaced by the Sovereign Grant & finessed by the John Major tax deal'. Mr Stewart then quotes a speech from Shakespeare play Measure for Measure, which includes the words 'angry ape' to an account that is not Mr Shapland's. Mr Shapland shared the tweet, adding: 'Just an ITV newsreader referring to me as an ape with the cover of Shakespeare. Measure for Measure, Alistair is a disgrace.' Mr Stewart and Mr Shapland are debating the financial relationship between the Crown and the taxpayer. In response another social media user says 'I love it when people are so indignantly misinformed Mr Stewart responds by quoting Shakespeare. Mr Shepland claims Alastair Stewart is referring to him as an 'angry ape' In reference to the Shakespeare quote Mr Stewart posted an emoji of with with a halo In a separate tweet Mr Shapland referred to Mr Stewart as a 'disgrace' and described his behaviour as 'ignorant bullying' Mr Shapland referred the exchange to Tell Mama UK, an organisation that combats anti-Muslim prejudice ITV's social media policies prohibiting 'anything that might damage the brand' Like all media companies ITV has guidelines for how employees should conduct themselves on social media. The ITV social media policy says: 'Do not do anything that might damage any ITV brand or ITV relationships (e.g. with talent or commercial clients) as this can lead to issues with the contracts held with those parties which may include provisions requiring us not to damage their reputation' There are also a number of prohibited activities in the guidelines which are: 'Do not make offensive statements and be particularly careful to avoid offensive statements relating to an individual's age, gender, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, sexual orientation, disability, race, religion and culture' Advertisement In later tweets he describes Mr Stewart's behaviour as 'ignorant bullying' and suggests he should receive some 'lessons in etiquette'. Mr Shapland, also refers the tweet exchange with Mr Stewart to Tell Mama UK, an organisation which monitors anti-Muslim attacks. According to his LinkedIn page, Mr Shapland obtained a degree in modern history and political sciences from Birmingham University and has been a policy manager at the Institution of Civil Engineers for the past two years. He was previously a House of Commons researcher. Asked about the Twitter row between Stewart and its employee, a spokesman for the ICE said: 'It is a private matter.' Mr Shapland, whose Twitter account includes the description 'tweet in haste, repent at leisure', could not be reached for comment. Mr Stewart did also use the quote in reference to a different person who was not identifiably black. It is still not clear at this stage if this is the incident that prompted the newsreader's exit from ITN. Mr Stewart - who was awarded an OBE in 2006 for services to broadcasting - is one of the more popular broadcaster's in the country and their has been an outpouring of support for him on social media. Mark Lappin said: 'There was something incredibly sad about seeing Mary Nightingale tell ITV News viewers that her colleague Alastair Stewart was stepping down after 40 years in the business. That can't have been easy.' Alastair Stewart pictured when he presented 'Police, Camera, Action! on ITV in 2000 There was an outpouring of support for newsreader Alastair Stewart this evening after he stepped down today And Shana Green said: 'So sad to hear Alastair Stewart has decided to step down from his presenting role on ITV after 40 years, I have watched him for as long as I can remember. 'Such a respectable, lovely man. I'm actually ashamed of ITV for letting him go so easily.' His colleagues fellow news presenters have also paid tribute to the 67-year-old. ITV Evening News presenter Mary Nightingale said: 'Very sad about the departure of #AlastairStewart. 'He was a good friend and mentor to me when I started at Carlton TV, and we worked together for more than 27 years. I will miss him.' Sky News anchor Adam Boulton described him as a 'great TV journalist' and BBC exec Richard Freidani called him a 'broadcasting legend'. A source at ITN, which produces news programmes for ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, said the newsroom was in shock, but that there was a 'mixed view', with some younger staff agreeing with the decision to remove him. More senior staff shared their theory that it was an excuse to get rid of the veteran, who was on a six-figure salary. One insider said: 'Officially he quit, but it was a fait accompli a case of 'resign, and do the honourable thing'.' Alastair had an esteemed career reporting some of the biggest news stories in the world, including the fall of the Berlin Wall (pictured) Supporters said he appeared to have a habit of using the phrase to make a point about those he felt were claiming to be experts in a certain field. An ITN insider said: 'He would have thought he was being clever and it was merely an innocent put-down. He is certainly not a racist in any way. 'Alastair is a hugely popular figure, well liked, kind and something of an institution. 'It is sad if he has had to go because of this. He accepts the error of judgement, but many believe that, if this was the reason he is going, it was wrong, and he will be the first man ever fired for accurately quoting Shakespeare.' ITN's chief executive Anna Mallett added: 'We would like to recognise Alastair's contribution as one of the UK's foremost journalists and TV presenters and to thank him for his commitment to delivering high-quality broadcast news over many years.' The former newsreader hit headlines in May last year when he objected to retrospective plans to expand the number of products on sale at Long Barn - a family-run home and garden store in Alresford, Hampshire, despite living almost five miles away in upmarket Bramdean. And in 2003, the father-of-four crashing his Mercedes into a hedge while three times the drink-driving limit. He was fined 3,000 and agreed to go on a rehabilitation course for disqualified drivers. He was also dropped from presenting Police Camera Action!, which he started on in 1994. Married veteran broadcaster who covered Lockerbie bombing and the fall of the Berlin Wall walks away from ITN Alastair Stewart, who was born in Gosport, Hampshire, attended the state Madras College in Fife, Scotland, before moving to the independent Salesian College in Hampshire, then St Augustine's Abbey School in Ramsgate, Kent. He studied economics and politics at University of Bristol before going on to work for the National Union Of Students between 1974 and 1976. His very first journalism jobs came with ITV's south of England company Southern Television in Southampton in 1976 as a reporter and industrial correspondent. Alastair Stewart (pictured with his wife Sally Ann Jung) is stepping down from his role at ITN In 1980 he joined ITN and went on to work as a presenter and reporter with the organisation's Channel 4 News. In 1989 he moved to ITV's News At Ten where he became the lead presenter on the flagship show's major news bulletins. Until his departure from the broadcaster Stewart's portfolio of work saw him move between the lunchtime, evening and 10pm shows while presenting special programmes. In 2003 he worked as a presenter for ITV's Iraq War coverage and also became a regular face for the broadcaster's national election coverage in 2005. It was announced in August 2009 that Alistair would be the main co-presenter of the ITV Evening News. A fan of rock music, Stewart won Celebrity Mastermind in December 2009 with The Rolling Stones as his specialist subject. LNN London Tonight - which was presented by Lucy Alexander and Alastair Stewart During the general election coverage in 2010 Stewart moderated the very first political leaders debates featuring Labour's Gordon Brown, Conservative leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg on live television. He briefly appeared in the West End in a 2015 production An Evening With Lucian Freud by Laura-Jane Foley. He played a hapless interviewer appearing on video alongside Cressida Bonas, Russell Grant and Maureen Lipman. Stewart presented ITV News' coverage of the European Union referendum in 2016. Stewart famously kept his cool in August 2017 as a toddler took over his live news broadcast. He was conducting a segment about milk allergies on the ITV Lunchtime News with a mother and her young son and daughter, when the little girl got up and ran around the desk. She then climbed up on the desk in front of Stewart, often creeping into his shot, for the remainder of the piece. As the toddler got up to run around, Stewart said that she 'will do whatever she chooses to do for the next couple of minutes', before continuing with the interview. Having stifled laughter while continuing the broadcast, the veteran newscaster joked at the end of the segment: 'Mary Nightingale, I think, will have a more peaceful time at 6.30. 'From all of us, a very good afternoon to you.' KAMPALA The two UPDF officers who perished in the helicopter crash in Gomba District on Tuesday, January 28, 2020, have been identified. The officers are Lt Benon Wakalo, who hails from Manafwa District in eastern Uganda and Maj Naome Karungi, who hails from Ntungamo District in Western Uganda. They served in Uganda Peoples Defence Air Force, the aviation branch of Ugandas military. Maj. Karungi, who has been flying helicopters for over 15 years since 2005, joined the army after completing her degree in Social Work in Economics at Makerere University. After completion of her cadet training, she joined flying school, kicking off her career as a pilot. She got her first training at Soroti Flying School, where she trained for three years in the Basics of Controlling and Aircrafts In-Motion. The military Jet ranger AF302 crashed during a training mission, Brig. Richard Karemire, the UPDF spokesperson, said. Ugandans from all walks of life took to social media to mourn the deceased. Tabu Butagira posted Sad day for my country Uganda and our military. These two young officers, Lt. Benon Wakalo and Maj. Naome Karungi, died in a helicopter crash today. Members of the uniformed forces and Intelligence take the utmost risk to keep us all safe. We mourn their loss with families that gave them in selfless service of our country. Shall their souls get deserved repose. Innocent Mwine posted: Karungi wanyita. Why die at such a young age? I recall chatting with you immediately you got your Maj.Peeps. I feel so bad losing such a God-fearing, beautiful, professional young senior specialised officer and a friend to my wife. Rest in Peace Afande. Ambrosio Mukiga Wazabanga Barigye posted: Oh no..I really watched her interview on NTV sometime back and she really was a determined pilot. May her soul rest in peace. Robert N. Musoke: Oh no. I watched her interview not so long ago. I admired her as a woman who had achieved so much in such a field like military aviation. May her soul rest in eternal peace. Julius Ruchogoza: Oh God Afande Karungi my friend, my senior. I personally flew with you several times. Now God has decided, may your soul rest in peace my hero. Nak Mic: This woman has fought, and died, in service of her country. She trained in the military-style: slept on metal cots, marched and lived under military discipline. She deserves full honor we give our war heroes. May her soul rest in peace. Related A paedophile who was sentenced to 35 years in prison had forced his victims to smile as he raped them and filmed the abuse at his wife's parents' home, a court heard. Boris Kunsevitsky, 53, was dubbed Australia's 'worst paedophile' on Wednesday after details of his sickening offences were laid bare in court. The former paediatric nurse, from Melbourne, pleaded guilty to 59 offences including sexual intercourse with a child and producing child pornography outside Australia. He admitted to documenting the sexual abuse of 47 boys across four countries in more than 35,000 photos and 4,800 videos. Boris Kunsevitsky, 53, was dubbed Australia's 'worst paedophile' on Wednesday after details of his sickening offences were laid bare in court Boris Kunsevitsky (pictured), 53, is among the worst paedophiles in Australian history The footage was discovered in a hard drive in a folder labelled 'jailbait', which Supreme Court Judge John Champion called 'sordid' and 'difficult to look at.' The court heard Kunsevitsky had filmed the boys as he raped them and even demanded they smile as they winced in pain. 'In one video you can be seen looking at the camera and smiling,' Judge Champion said, calling it 'particularly horrifying.' Kunsevitsky, who carried out his abuse over a 15-year period between 2002 and 2017, even sexually assaulted one of his victims at the home of his wife's parents. The rapist drove a 12-year-old boy, who he had met in an online chat room, to the house where he set up a camera and filmed himself performing sexual acts. Judge Champion branded the abuse 'breathtaking in its scale,' adding that it represented 'the worst level of offending' he had ever seen. The depraved acts took place in Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, with most of the abuse committed against boys in the Philippines. There, Kunsevitsky made the boys perform sexual acts on themselves and each other, and filmed and photographed it. 'You chose destinations where you could easily and readily access young boys,' Justice Champion said. 'You are a child abuser of appalling... proportions,' the judge added. Boris Kunsevitsky (pictured) produced more than 35,000 photos and 4,800 videos of abuse Kunsevitsky also abused one boy in Melbourne between 2004 and 2005, with German police years later finding 55 images of the abuse in a folder labelled 'jailbait'. Kunsevitsky's Australian victim went on to develop depression, anxiety and attempt suicide. He ended up $100,000 in debt because of a subsequent drug habit, lost his job and suffered a marriage breakdown. 'There is no sentence that I can pass that will undo the tremendous pain you have caused (the victim),' Justice Champion said. Some of Kunsevitsky's overseas victims have never been identified. Kunsevitsky, who was born in the former USSR, moved to Australia when he was 12 and went on to do graduate nursing training at the Royal Children's Hospital. He then moved to Singapore in 1999 to work at a medical equipment firm and proceeded to travel around Asia sexual abusing boys, the court heard. Kunsevitsky among the worst paedophiles in Australian history. He abused more boys than Bernard McGrath who was jailed in 2018 after being charged with abusing 43 boys at a school north of Sydney in the 1970s and 1980s. Maryland-based McCormick & Company unveiled an Old Bay-branded hot sauce this week and sold out in the first day of sales. The company began selling the limited edition hot sauce on its website Wednesday and will debut the condiment in stores within "the next month or so." "The unique blend of herbs and spices that fans have loved for more than 75 years, is going from a zesty sprinkle to a zingy splash," the company said in an announcement. "Tangy with a kick of heat, and that distinctive Chesapeake flavor, Old Bay Hot Sauce is sure to win over hearts (and mouths!)." tweet Demand was so high that the online shop crashed intermittently on Wednesday. tweet The company said it's restocking the hot sauce and will resume sales, though it didn't specify exactly when. The hot sauce will eventually be available at grocers including Acme, Food Lion, Martin's, Wegmans, Weis, Safeway and Giant, McCormick said in a statement. Suggested retail for a 10-ounce bottle will be $3.49, the company said. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday assured the Muslim community that "no one can touch" them and let alone taking away their citizenship. "I want to tell my Muslim brothers -- it is up to you to decide whether to vote for us or not, but please do not doubt our intentions. No one can touch you. Let alone taking away your citizenship," he said while addressing a gathering here. His statement comes in the wake of controversy over the recent Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the NRC. He also stated that those found guilty in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots will be punished. "We formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) again to probe the 1984 Sikh riots case. Those who are found guilty in the case would be punished," said the Defence Minister, while addressing a rally here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Last week, amid continuing strikes and protests, French rail and mass transit workers ended a strike begun on December 5 against President Emmanuel Macrons pension cuts. Financially exhausted, workers ended the longest continuous strike in France since the May 1968 general strike. As anger builds against Macron and other political representatives of the banks internationally, it is time to draw a balance sheet of this strategic experience of the international working class. The strike, which rallied support among ongoing yellow vest protests, showed the vast power of the working class. Though it slashed economic activity and disrupted commutes, two-thirds of the population supported it against Macron. Strikers knew they were part of a global resurgence of class struggle involving mass protests in Algeria, Iraq and across Latin America, strikes of US teachers and auto workers, and tens of millions of Indian workers striking against anti-Muslim laws. Workers protest pension cuts in France [Credit: AP Photo/Daniel Cole] A revolutionary mood is emerging. Calls of revolution and general strike echoed in protests by millions across France, as demands for a walkout circulated in ports, refineries, and auto plants. However, the outcome exposed all the pseudo-left parties that called to resolve this conflict via union negotiations with Macron. The Stalinist General Confederation of Labor (CGT) union and French Communist Party (PCF), the big-business Socialist Party, the Pabloite New Anti-capitalist Party and postmodernist left populist Jean-Luc Melenchon signed a brief joint appeal to Macron to withdraw your plan. They begged Macron for immediate talks with the unions on a fair and democratic pension plan that leads to progress for all, without raising the retirement age. Instead of mobilizing the working class, however, the CGT and its allies sabotaged the strike, letting Macron proceed. The unions isolated the rail and transit strike, calling no broader strikes in other industries, and paid out only a miserable handful of euros in strike pay over six weeks of rail strikes. Macron could then send his pension-cutting bill to the Council of Ministers Friday, preparing the negotiation of final budget details with the unions and its passage to the National Assembly. Macrons policy is to send riot police to crush all opposition. Using armored cars, water cannon and tear gas against protesters, police have arrested over 10,000 people since yellow vest protests began in 2018. Brazenly decorating police units responsible for atrocities at protestslike the killings of bystanders Zineb Redouane and Steve Canico and the nearly fatal assault on elderly protester Genevieve LegayMacron uses the police as attack dogs for the banks. Macron leads a violent dictatorship. It planned its pension cuts with finance firms and BlackRock, the $6 trillion global investment firm, which anticipate a windfall as state pensions are slashed 20, 30 percent or more. Insurance firm AXA wrote in a recent ad for wealthy investors that they should buy private pension plans to face the planned long-term decline in state pension levels. As for workers, the state intends them to be impoverished after retirement. The police states conscious enmity to the workers is epitomized by Paris Police Prefect Didier Lallements curt remark to a Parisian criticizing police brutality at a yellow vest protest: We are not in the same camp, madam. Key political and strategic lessons for workers internationally flow from this strike. As the Parti de legalite socialiste (PES) warned, there is nothing for workers to negotiate with Macron and, behind him, the international markets and the capitalist financial aristocracy. Stopping the police states plans to impoverish the population requires bringing down Macron. However, waging such a struggle requires building committees of action, rank-and-file organizations of the working class independent of the unions, to mobilize far broader layers of workers against him. The Macron government, isolated and despised, can barely protect itself from the rising outrage in the population. After news magazines reported last autumn that Macrons family lives in terror of insurrection, he finally dared make a public appearance last week, at the Bouffes du nord theater in Paris. He and his wife Brigitte soon had to flee, however, after his presence provoked protests. What workers lack is not strength in numbers, courage or determination, but organization, political perspective and leadership. The unions approved the French transit strike last year in a desperate bid to keep control of the workers, after repeated wildcat strikes at the National Railways. Despite this tactical shift, however, they continued to play the central role in negotiating austerity and stabilizing the capitalist regime. The union bureaucracy did not organize a determined struggle against Macron, but negotiated the pension cuts with him, isolated strikes and opposed a broader struggle. This reflects the unions material interests: the French unions 4 billion yearly budget is largely funded by the state and business groups. Their class role was exposed by the record of the CGT-PCFs Greek ally, the Syriza (Coalition of the Radical Left) government: it took power in 2015 after an eruption of protests by Greek workers and youth, only to impose draconian EU cuts. The reactionary role of what the ruling class long falsely marketed as the left is a warning: to bring down Macron, workers cannot transfer power to another part of Frances bankrupt political establishment or another faction of the police-state machine. Power must go to the workers who produce the wealth of society and who, in France and internationally, are demonstrating their readiness to fight capitalism. Just over a century after the October 1917 revolution, the question of transferring state power to the working class has re-emerged. The construction of a new revolutionary vanguard is now decisive. Already, a vast network of yellow vest assemblies, strike committees and social media protest groups has formed. After the setback suffered by the initial strike against Macron, the task is to clarify the political tasks that are posed for workers and youth already drawn into the struggle, and to draw broader layers, both in France and internationally, into the fight. The French section of the International Committee of the Fourth International, the Parti de legalite socialiste, is the Marxist vanguard party in France, founded in irreconcilable opposition to the crimes and the betrayals of the working class by Stalinism and the pseudo-left. Its role, as Lenin wrote of the vanguard party in his classic work What is to Be Done?, is to saturate the proletariat with the consciousness of its position and the consciousness of its task." Lenin stressed, "There would be no need for this if consciousness arose of itself from the class struggle. The global wave of strikes and struggles by the working class, of which the movement against austerity in France is just one manifestation, is only beginning. The PES will seek to orient workers and youth in France to this global upsurge of the working class in the struggle to end the outmoded capitalist system and replace it with socialism. For President Donald Trump, it is a plan that builds on his decision to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem a huge political success among his conservative Jewish donors and evangelicals that, contrary to predictions, did not touch off a violent reaction in the region Washington: A president trying to prevail in an impeachment trial stood with an Israeli prime minister under indictment Tuesday to announce a long-delayed plan for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the result sounded more like a road map for their own futures than for West Asia. For President Donald Trump, it is a plan that builds on his decision to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem a huge political success among his conservative Jewish donors and evangelicals that, contrary to predictions, did not touch off a violent reaction in the region. Trump now enters the heart of his election campaign declaring that he has delivered a plan that makes Jerusalem the undivided capital of Israel and relegates the Palestinian capital to a suburb, and one that Trump, in a triumph of real estate branding, is suddenly calling "East Jerusalem". And the timing is no accident: At a moment when cable television is focused on impeachment and the prospect that former national security adviser John Bolton might testify, Trump had a chance to stand in the East Room and cast himself as a peacemaker. With rare self-discipline, he never mentioned the word impeachment. For his part, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel marches toward his March elections wielding the potent argument that Israelis should ignore his indictment on corruption charges and focus on the fact that he, by force of his relationship with Trump, moved Washington to give permanent legitimacy to the Jewish settlements in disputed territory. By Sunday, the prime minister said as he was leaving Washington, Israel will essentially annex the strategically vital part of the Jordan Valley that its military already controls. As the Israeli election nears, those moves allow him to sell himself as the Trump whisperer, the indispensable man who bent the White House to his will. Strip away the domestic and Israeli political considerations that determined the timing of the plans release," said Robert Malley, president of the International Crisis Group and a former Barack Obama administration official, and the message to the Palestinians, boiled down to its essence, is: Youve lost, get over it. That message, implicitly or explicitly, rewrites the art of the West Asia deal. By tilting the map of a future Palestinian state so precipitously in Israels direction, Trump has embraced a plan that essentially dismantles 60 years of bipartisan support for a negotiated process between Israelis and Palestinians, in which both make concessions and land swaps that would define the lines of a new map. As Trump acknowledged, Washington would no longer play the role of neutral arbiter even while vowing to be Israels source of protection. Instead, the United States has drawn the lines in a series of maps that sketch out a future Palestinian state that is so gerrymandered that it requires the construction of a giant tunnel across Israel to connect two areas of Palestinian control. To Trump, this is the merger of deal-making, West Asian urban planning and election-year politics or rather, potential deal-making. A few days ago, Trump said: I think were relatively close but we have to get other people to agree to it. In other words the deal of the century was no deal at all. And the other people were the Palestinians, who dismissed the proposal and the accompanying map Tuesday hours after its publication. For election purposes, Trump does not need a deal; he simply needs the impression that progress is being made. And at the White House on Tuesday, the ambassadors from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman but not Saudi Arabia, the country Trump and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has worked hardest to woo were in the room for the announcement, a seeming endorsement of his approach, if not the specifics. Their presence would have been unimaginable in the past, especially for any announcement that fell well short of creating a real Palestinian state. And this one certainly falls short of that goal. Trumps 180-page plan would require the Palestinians to accept only partial sovereignty over a future Palestinian State, at least for a considerable time, and give up any claim to territory where the Israelis have already accepted settlements. And it asked them to take the bet that, as Trump promised, they would ultimately get rich because of a $50 billion investment fund, paid for by Arab neighbors. It has a brilliant twist: The Palestinians do not have to say yes or no for four years. That means their bottom-line response would not come until the very end of Trumps next term, if he is reelected. In the meantime, Israel would freeze settlements in the territory that Trump has set aside for the Palestinians, much of it areas the Israelis have little interest in. That proviso defers all the hard questions for several years of negotiations with their inevitable breakdowns and crises. But it gives Trump the campaign-trail talking point that he has fulfilled a 2016 promise and proposed an actual solution, rather than just a process. The proposal, of course, helps Netanyahu by moving the goal posts. The status of Jerusalem is set out in the Trump document, rather than being a subject of negotiation. And while past presidents lectured Netanyahu about his creation of Jewish settlements in territories that are subject to negotiation, Trumps plan makes them a permanent feature. To critics, that is the fatal flaw. Senator Christopher S Murphy, D-Conn, who was among the lawmakers briefed by Kushner at the White House, called it a total abandonment of decades of US [West Asia] policy. He was referring to the longtime US support for a deal that would include only modest adjustments to the Israeli borders drawn in 1967, the year of the Six-Day War, and by a process created in the Oslo Accords, which began in 1993 and largely ended with the failed summit in 2000 at Camp David. The premise of those talks was that the Israelis and Palestinians would set up a complex process and inch their way toward agreements on borders, settlements, political rights and the withdrawal of the Israeli military from Palestinian lands. There were years of talks, stalemates, road maps to peace, collapsed negotiations and intifadas. Trump, the disrupter, has made it clear he does not believe that approach would work. On Tuesday, he noted that every president since Lyndon B Johnson had tried and failed to negotiate a peace deal. Always the real estate mogul, Trump has declared that he is more interested in working with existing facts on the ground than on creating processes. So his plan, three years in the making, is less about future negotiations and more about cementing what exists today and making deals around the edges. If the Palestinians take it, he suggested, riches would follow. There would be a million new jobs, he said, and poverty would be cut in half. Trump has offered a similar incentive to the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un. It was pretty familiar Trump language, born of a certainty that economic incentives will overcome ethnic, tribal and religious differences, despite considerable evidence to the contrary. For the Israeli prime minister, it was a plan tailor-made for an election four weeks away. So tailor-made that a dozen Democratic senators wrote in a letter to Trump on Tuesday that the timing of this proposal to coincide with Netanyahus indictment on bribery charges also raises disturbing questions about your intention to intervene in the Israeli election process. Not surprisingly, Netanyahu disagreed. Its a great plan for Israel, he said, with an enthusiasm he rarely showed during visits to the White House in the Obama years. Its a great plan for peace. David E Sanger c.2020 The New York Times Company Of hundreds of Red-Book wildlife species on sale nationwide, turtles are the most wanted species. In the Mekong Delta, which is called the wildlife animal metropolis, turtles are bought for food and pets. Meanwhile, in the north, red-book turtles are collected by merchants to make animal bone glue. Acting as customers seeking to purchase turtle bone glue, reporters contacted D, a man in Phu Luong district of Thai Nguyen province, in December 2019. D is very well known in the north for his tens of years of making bone glue from red-book animals. In a conservation with reporters, D carefully instructed how to choose turtles and prepare necessary materials. In the Mekong Delta, which is called the wildlife animal metropolis, turtles are bought for food and pets. Meanwhile, in the north, red-book turtles are collected by merchants to make animal bone glue. You need to prepare keeled box turtle (Cuora mouhotii), one hawk and 0.1-0.2 taels of black opium. Only turtle shells and their four legs are needed to prepare bone glue. The fee for making glue is VND1.5 million, D said via phone. Twenty kilograms, or 30-40 turtles, are enough for one pot, he said, adding that turtles used for making glue must be mountain turtles. Mountain turtles are rare and catching turtles is banned. What if state agencies discover the preparation of turtle glue? a reporter asked. If inspectors discover the pot of glue, I will say this is horse bone glue, he explained. D reassured the reporters that he has been making glue for tens of years and has good experience. I make tens of pots of glue every year, he said. In Bac Kan province, where there are many customers of D, reporters met the owner of a shop selling turtle bone glue. He affirmed that the glue is very good for human heath, and that it can treat osteoarthritis, stomach disease and even cancer. Can you provide turtles in large quantity? reporters asked. The owner of the shop told reporters to meet T in Cho Ra Town. N, the sister of Ts wife, showed reporters two plastic bags containing turtle glue and said the glue was made by her family. She told reporters to buy the glue as soon as possible, because turtles are carried away to China and they are running out. Reporters found that the turtle species used to make glue in Bac Kan are hunted by illegal poachers in Ba Be National Park and Tat Ke Ban Bung Natural Reserve. The poachers hunt turtles with dogs. When meeting turtles, they will bark and hunters just need to go there to pick up the turtles. Bui Thi Ha, deputy director of the Center for Nature Education, after seeing the pictures provided by reporters, affirmed that the turtles used to make glue were keeled box turtles, belonging to IIB Group in Decree 35. Mai Lan Thanh Hoa police detain two wildlife traffickers Police of the central province of Thanh Hoa on January 11 detected and detained two people illegally trafficking 16 live pangolins totally weighing 71 kg. The Welsh government has warned that the country's food and drink industry must not be 'sold down the river' as figures show a record-breaking turnover of nearly 7.5bn. The latest industry figures reveal a turnover of 7.473bn in 2019, surpassing the target set in 2014 to achieve 30% growth and reach 7bn of sales by 2020. A major reason for this success is the growth in exports to the EU, as 73% of all Welsh food and drink exports went to the bloc in 2018. Now the Welsh government has warned that Brexit will be a 'big disruptor' for many food and drink firms. During a visit to ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre at Cardiff Metropolitan University, rural affairs minister Lesley Griffiths spoke of her hopes for the future of the sector in a post-EU world. I am in regular contact with ministerial counterparts in the UK government and my message is clear, this sector is a real success story which we need to continue to promote and develop; it should not be overlooked or sold down the river, she said. The minister urged the UK government to consider the impact on the 24,000 people who works in Wales food and drink industry and the 229,000 employed in the wider supply chain. We have so much to celebrate here in Wales. I have every confidence, if we continue to support our food and drink industry and with the right economic conditions in place, our growing reputation as a food and drink nation will only get stronger, she added. CHICO, Calif. - The League of Women Voters of Butte County is hosting a unique candidate gathering on Saturday, Feb. 1. "Speed dating with the Butte County Primary Candidates" is an opportunity for the public to get to know those running with the League of Women Voters of Butte County. Those attending include; Audrey Denney - U.S. House, District 1 Henry Schleiger - Board of Supervisors, District 5 Sue Hilderbrand - Board of Supervisors, District 4 Jim Henson - State Assembly, District 3 Doug Teeter - Board of supervisors, District 5 Brief statements will be made by the candidates and an informal roundtable conversation. The event will run from 9:30 a.m. to noon in the Lincoln Center Room at Chico High School. For more information on the League of Women Voters of Butte County, CLICK HERE. CNN's Don Lemon helped Trump's re-election campaign by giggling helplessly as his guests on CNN Tonight reached new heights of vitriol insulting Trump and his supporters. The video is a dream political ad...for Trump. Indeed, Trump got the ball rolling for his campaign by tweeting out the video to remind Americans that Democrats, and their NeverTrump acolytes, have a "yuuuge" unearned sense of superiority. For that reason alone, they're not fit to govern: Don Lemon, the dumbest man on television (with terrible ratings!). https://t.co/iQXCc7lvCt Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 28, 2020 The set-up for the yuck-fest was a discussion about Mike Pompeo's accusation that NPR reporter Mary Louise Kelly mistook Bangladesh for Ukraine. For Rick Wilson, a one-time Bush-era Republican campaign consultant and virulent NeverTrumper, the opportunity to ridicule Trump was too good to miss: He's just trying to demean her, and obviously it's false. And, look, he also knows, deep In his heart, that Donald Trump couldn't find Ukraine on a map if you had the letter "U" and the picture of an actual physical crane next to it. When Lemon and fellow guest and CNN contributor Wajahat Ali cracked up at that line, Wilson couldn't resist insulting Trump's supporters as well: He knows that this is a, you know, an administration defined by ignorance of the world, and so that's part of him playing to their base and playing to their audience, you know, the credulous boomer rube demo that backs Donald Trump that wants to think that (Wilson does impersonation) "Donald Trump's the smart one, and y'all y'all elitists are dumb!" Within seconds, Lemon was doubled over with laughter, snorting and sniggering uncontrollably. Ali, too, wanted to make Lemon laugh, so he chimed in with his own insults, all delivered in a fake Southern accent. He and Wilson quickly settled into a back-and-forth comedy routine that soon had an overwhelmed Lemon gasping and dabbing at his eyes with a handkerchief: Wajahat Ali: You elitists with your geography and your maps and your spelling! Wilson: Your math and your reading! Ali: Yeah, your reading, you know, your geography, knowing other countries, sipping your latte! Wilson: All those lines on the map! Ali: Only them elitists know where Ukraine is! The handkerchief was interesting. We're not in the habit of watching Don Lemon, so we're guessing here, but unless Lemon habitually carries a snowy white handkerchief, there's a staged quality to all of this. It's as if he had been warned that his guests were about to run an anti-Donald comedy act and that he'd better come prepared. While some Trump-supporters took offense, for most, the response to these men's puerile jokes and giggles wasn't anger. It was, instead, a combination of "Thanks for confirming how you really think of us" and "Oh, my God! Thank you! Your 30 seconds of laughter will make the best Trump campaign video ever." The video is also a reminder, if any is needed, that there's nothing "elite" about Leftists. Yes, most have attended college, but that no longer means anything. Once upon a time, college taught people the best of Western culture and cultivated in them knowledge both broad and deep. They learned reasoning and philosophy. They learned that Bram Stoker, not Jane Austen, wrote Dracula, something even "rubes" knew 50 years ago but that today's New York Times college-"educated" reporters do not know: Correction: Jan. 24, 2020 In an earlier version of this article, the given name of the actress who introduced the couple was misspelled. She is Vaishnavi Sharma, not Vaishmavi. The given name of the wedding officiant was also misspelled. She is Gabra Zackman, not Dabra. Also, the author of "Dracula" was incorrect. He is Bram Stoker, not Jane Austen. (Emphasis added.) College also used to teach people how to be "ladies" and "gentlemen." This was a set of skills that envisioned good manners and decency. When was the last time you saw a Leftist media figure display either? Heck, even Marie Antoinette was reputed to have said, "Let them eat cake" rather than "They're too stupid to eat cake." So no, we're not offended by the video. We're impressed by the arrogance and ignorance it displays. And to paraphrase Liberace, we'll be laughing all the way to the polls. Senators question House managers and the defence after both made their arguments for and against Trumps removal. The impeachment trial of US President Donald Trump entered a new phase on Wednesday as senators were given their first chance to ask questions to both the Democratic House managers prosecuting the case and the defence team working for the president. Both House managers and the presidents lawyers presented their arguments for and against removing Trump from office over the last six days. Democrats spent most of their allotted 24 hours over three days outlining the two articles of impeachment on which the House voted to impeach Trump: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. They argued that failing to remove the president would set a dangerous precedent for future leaders of the country to use their office in a self-serving way. Meanwhile, Trumps defence team, leaving over 10 hours on the timer in much briefer arguments, framed the impeachment as an attempt to undermine US democracy. They repeatedly returned to the fact that the president had not committed a crime, portraying the grounds for impeachment outlined by Democrats as dangerously subjective. On Wednesday and Thursday, senators, who are banned from speaking during the trial, will submit written questions to presiding officer Chief Justice John Roberts, who will pose them to the prosecution and defence. After this phase of the trial, the proceedings will move into the much-anticipated debate over whether more evidence including subpoenaing witnesses and documents will be permitted. That debate has grown more fraught in recent days, with reported revelations in a draft book by former National Security Advisor John Bolton further stoking Democrats calls for him to testify. As the trial moves into the question and answer portion, here are all the latest updates as of Wednesday, January 29: Senate adjourns for the night The Senate has adjourned until Thursday, when senators will have eight more hours for questions. McConnell: Four more questions for the night McConnell said there are two more questions for the Republicans and two more for the Democrats before the Senate adjourns for the night. Quotes from Wednesday From Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer: Weve always said its uphill. Theres tremendous pressure from a vindictive, nasty president on every Republican senator, but I think they sit there as they listen to these questions and weve got a real shot to get witnesses and documents. Trump lawyer Patrick Philbin: Its not just a question of, Well, should we just hear one witness? Thats not what the real question is going to be. For this institution, the real question is: What is the precedent that is going to be set for what is an acceptable way for the House of Representatives to bring an impeachment of a president of the United States to this chamber?' Democratic impeachment manager Adam Schiff: When you have a witness as plainly relevant as John Bolton who goes to the heart of the most serious and most egregious of the presidents misconduct, who has volunteered to come and testify to turn him away, to look the other way I think is deeply at odds with being an impartial juror. Trump lawyer Alan Dershowitz: Every public official that I know believes that his election is in the public interest. And mostly youre right. Your election is in the public interest. And if a president did something that he believes will help him get elected, in the public interest, that cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment. Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono on Dershowitz: That was one of the most bizarre things Ive ever heard as a response. That means that basically anybody, even someone who is totally off-base or even insane, if that person happens to be the president thats A-OK. Trump on Twitter: There is much talk that certain Democrats are going to be voting with Republicans on the Impeachment Hoax, so that the Senate can get back to the business of taking care of the American people. Sorry, but Cryin Chuck Schumer will never let that happen! And were back The next part off the session is expected to be the last before the Senate adjourns for the night. Senators take a short break The Senate is breaking for about 15 minutes. Questions will resume after the break. Trump defence: Ukraine quid pro quo not impeachable One of the defences main lines of argument on Wednesday was that a trade of US military aid for political favours even if proven could not be grounds for his impeachment. It was a striking shift from Trumps claims of a perfect call with his Ukrainian counterpart a call that has become the basis of the presidents impeachment. Trumps defence spotlighted retired professor Alan Dershowitz, a member of their team who said that every politician conflates his own interest with the public interest. Therefore, he declared, it cannot be impeachable. Roberts reviewed questions: Report CNN reported that Chief Justice Roberts had a chance to review the questions before the start of Wednesdays proceedings. The cable news station, citing two unnamed sources, reported that Roberts would not read the name of the whistle-blower if included in the question. Republican Senator Rand Pauls question was reportedly rejected. US media reported that Pauls question had to do with the whistle-blower. Ukraine part of Bolton manuscript should not be classified: Lawyer Bolton and his lawyer do not believe any information in a chapter on Ukraine in the manuscript of Boltons book should be considered classified, the lawyer wrote last week in a letter to the White House. Boltons lawyer, Charles Cooper, released his letter on Wednesday after an earlier letter he had received from the White House became public. In that letter, the White House National Security Council (NSC) said Boltons book manuscript appeared to contain significant amounts of classified information and could not be published in its current form. Trump: GAME OVER! Trump tweeted a video of Bolton describing the calls between Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart as warm and cordial. The only thing he wrote about the video was GAME OVER! Bolton has become a central part of the impeachment trial as senators battle over whether he and others should be called as witnesses. 54 questions so far At the time of the dinner break, 59 senators had asked a total of 54 questions so far. Break for dinner The Senate is on a 45-minute break for dinner. After the break, they will return for several more hours of questions. Battle over witnesses As the Senate prepared to open its first day of questions from senators, Republicans and Democrats were battling privately over whether to call witnesses and extend the trial. As senators were milling about before taking seats, Republican Senator Susan Collins, a potential swing vote, was surrounded by four Republican colleagues, including John Thune, the party whip, who are trying to prevent her from breaking ranks. Democrats want to call former National Security Advisor John Bolton. Collins was peeled away from the group by Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell. Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema crossed over to the Republican side and spoke with Republican senators Dan Sullivan, Rob Portman and John Boozman. Senator Mitt Romney, who has already said he wants to hear witnesses, stood alone by his desk near the northeast corner of the chamber. In the public gallery, Lev Parnas lawyer Joseph Bondy, a guest of Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, peered down on the Senate floor as senators began to ask questions. Parnas was not allowed into the proceedings because he is wearing a court-ordered ankle bracelet. Senate rules prohibit electronic devices. Let Bolton testify Sheet cakes were delivered to all 53 Republican senators demanding that John Bolton and witnesses testify in the trial. Each cake was decorated with a different message, including dont dessert democracy, youre in the room where it happens, this trial is half-baked without witnesses, and this is history in the baking, along with the statement, let Bolton testify. A GoFundMe campaign raised over $7,000 this week and asked a bakery in Brooklyn to make and decorate the cakes. These sheet cakes are being delivered today to ALL Republican Senators. #ImpeachmentCakes #JohnBoltonMustTestify pic.twitter.com/KQ2FQaVIe6 Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) January 29, 2020 Hey, hey, ho, ho, Donald Trump has got to go! As part of the #SwarmTheCapital action on Wednesday demanding witnesses, documents and justice in the Senate trial, dozens of protesters raised their fists outside of the US Capital chanting: Hey, hey, ho, ho, Donald Trump has got to go! BREAKING #SwarmTheCapitol After Reverend Barber and @UniteThePoor led us to the Capitol steps, many Americans stayed behind to call for #NoCoverUp and #WitnessesAndDicuments. Arrests starting. #RemoveTrump pic.twitter.com/WjfZ40H8vC Colleen Boland (@ColleenBoland) January 29, 2020 Momentum to end impeachment by Friday Republican Senator John Barrasso told reporters that Republicans have the momentum to move to end Trumps impeachment trial by Friday, without calling witnesses. Schumer: It was a good afternoon for us Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer explained why Democrats almost completely questioned Democratic House managers presenting the case for removing the president, and not Trumps defence team. They needed the chance to rebut the false argument, the fallacious reasoning, the half-truths and even no-truths that presidents defence made during three days of arguments, Schumer said. Twenty-six questions asked so far Senators posed 26 questions to President Trumps defence team and the House managers prosecuting the case before taking the first break of the day. Questions have centred on the possible inclusion of witness testimony, the details outlined in the House case, whether a crime is needed to impeach a president, whether quid pro quo matters in impeachment, and what the implications of calling witnesses will be, among others. Republican asks defence team to discuss implications of calling more witnesses Senate Republicans asked the defence team for President Trump what the implications would be for more witnesses to be called in the Senate. The implications here, in our constitutional structure, for trying to run things in such an upside-down way would be very grave for this body as an institution, said Lawyer Patrick Philbin, saying that giving the Senate the investigatory task of collecting more evidence will slow down and hinder the Senate regular roles. In a subsequent question, House manager Hakeem Jeffries argued that, based on the rate in the House inquiry, witness depositions in the Senate can be done in an expeditious fashion. Cruz question to defence: Does it matter if there was quid pro quo? Republican Senator Ted Cruz asked President Trumps legal defence if it matters if there was quid pro quo (Latin for: a favour for a favour) in the presidents dealings with Ukraine. In response, Trump defence lawyer Alan Dershowitz referenced his attendance at the unveiling of Trumps Middle East plan on Tuesday. He said, if in executing that plan, a president tells Israel that they will not get aid if they do not stop all settlement growth or tells officials from the occupied Palestinian territories that they will not get aid if they do not stop harbouring terrorists, that would be acceptable quid pro quo. Dershowitz also said if Trump thought he was acting in the public interest by helping himself get re-elected: That cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment. All quid pros are not the same. Some are legitimate and some are corrupt, and you dont need to be a mind-reader to figure out which is which, Schiff said in a subsequent question, adding: For one thing, you can ask John Bolton. National Security Council says Bolton manuscript may not be published The NSC, in a letter to Boltons lawyer, has said that Boltons unpublished manuscript contains classified information at a top-secret level and may not be published or disclosed without the deletion of this classified information. In the draft book, Bolton reportedly wrote that President Trump told him he wanted to continue to withhold military aid from Ukraine until officials from the country agreed to help with investigations into Democratic rivals. The revelations have increased calls for Bolton to testify in the impeachment trial. Revelations in a draft of former National Security Advisor John Bolton book have renewed calls for him to testify [File: Luis M Alvarez/The Associated Press] The NSC letter said the information contained in the draft book reasonably could be expected to cause exceptionally grave harm to the national security of the United States. We will do our best to with you to ensure your clients ability to tell his story in a manner that protects US national security, the NSC representative said in the letter. Boltons manuscript had been given to the NSC for standard review before publishing. Democrats first question: Can senators fairly make judgement without Bolton testimony? Senate Democrats first question addressed the spectre of Bolton that has hung over the proceedings, asking if senators would be able to render a fair judgement without hearing from Bolton and other relevant witnesses. To turn [Bolton] away, to look the other way is deeply at odds [with being] an impartial juror, lead House manager Adam Schiff said. In a following question, Trump Lawyer Patrick Philbin argued that allowing witnesses in the Senate trial will set a precedent that House impeachment inquiries can be done in a hurried, half-baked partisan fashion. Senator Collins gives first question to Trumps defence team Republican Senator Susan Collins submitted the first question on Wednesday, which she said was also on behalf of Senator Lisa Murkowski and Senator Mitt Romney all considered possible swing votes from the Republican majority. How should the Senate consider more than one motive in its assessment of article one? The question asked, referring to the abuse of power article of impeachment. Trump lawyer Patrick Philbin responded that once it is established that there is at least a portion of legitimate public interest behind the presidents actions, the allegations are null. Once youre into mixed-motive land, its clear that their case fails, he said. Lead House Manager Adam Schiff, in responding to a subsequent question, said that if Trumps political desires were in any part a causal factor in his actions, thats enough to convict. Representative Engel says Bolton told him to look into removal of US Ambassador to Ukraine The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Eliot Engel, has said that Bolton had told him to look into the removal of former Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch shortly after Bolton was fired by President Trump in September of 2019. He and I spoke by telephone on September 23. On that call, Ambassador Bolton suggested to me unprompted that the committee look into the recall of Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch. He strongly implied that something improper had occurred around her removal as our top diplomat in Kyiv, Engel said in a statement. 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] At the time, I said nothing publicly about what was a private conversation, but because this detail was relevant to the Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, and Oversight Committees investigation into this matter, I informed my investigative colleagues. It was one of the reasons we wished to hear from Ambassador Bolton, under oath, in a formal setting, he said. Yovanovitch, a career diplomat, was removed following a campaign against her by Trumps personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and his associates. A video recently provided to congressional investigators from April 2018 shows Trump calling for Yovanovitchs removal while speaking to Giuliani associates Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman. Parnas not allowed into trial Lev Parnas, an indicted businessman who says he worked to pressure Ukraine to investigate one of President Trumps political rivals, arrived on Capitol Hill trailed by TV cameras, photographers and a sign that read FAIR TRIAL. Parnas took a selfie with a woman in a pink hat before picking up tickets for the trial from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumers office. Lev Parnas walks with media on Capitol Hill in Washington [Patrick Semansky/The Associated Press] Its a surreal feeling, Parnas said, according to Reuters News Agency. Right now, Im just going on adrenaline. Parnas was not allowed into the trial, where electronics are banned, due to the ankle monitor he wears as part of his house arrest after being indicted for campaign finance fraud. Jared Kushner says witnesses would help Trump Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and a senior adviser, said on Wednesday that witnesses would be unfortunate but would ultimately help the president in the impeachment trial. What you will find is what was the whistle-blower doing? What were the Bidens up to? Kushner said on the Fox and Friends programme on the Fox News network. There was a lot of dirty things that have been happening for a long time. White House senior adviser Jared Kushner said witnesses would help Trump [File: Brendan McDermid/Reuters] A witness phase will give the American people the opportunity to learn about that, he said. Kushner also dismissed a reported revelation in Boltons new book, saying I find that everyone leaves [the administration], writes books about what a hero they were, how they knew better. Graham warns that attacking Boltons credibility makes it more likely he will testify Republican Senator Lindsey Graham warned on Wednesday that attacking Boltons credibility makes it more likely some will feel the need to call him as a witness. However, I am concerned when John Boltons credibility is attacked, it makes it more likely some will feel the need to call him as a witness. In that event, it would be important for the President and his team to call witnesses on other issues. Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 29, 2020 Parnas expected at Capitol Hill to show support for witnesses and evidence Lev Parnas, former associate of President Trumps personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, is expected to come to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to show support for a fair proceeding that includes witnesses and evidence, his lawyer tweeted. Parnas will be joining us, as we walk to the Capitol his lawyer, Joseph Bondy tweeted. Parnas is still under house arrest and will not be able to enter the Senate chamber because he is wearing an ankle monitor and electronics are banned. He was given a ticket by Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer, his lawyer previously told a federal judge. Were headed to Washington DC, to watch the historic Senate trial & show our support for a fair proceeding, with witnesses & evidence. Lev Parnas will be joining us, as we walk to the Capitol. #StephanieSchuman @LeafLegal #JosephBondy @josephabondy #LetLevSpeak #CallTheWitnesses pic.twitter.com/7QTFH4ABop Joseph A. Bondy (@josephabondy) January 29, 2020 Parnas, who has been indicted for campaign finance fraud, has recently been on a media tour claiming Trump knew of he and Giulianis efforts to push Ukraine to conduct politically motivated investigations into Trumps rivals. He also recently provided investigators with a recording of a 2018 meeting with Trump in which the president apparently demanded the removal of then-Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch. Democratic Senator Joe Manchin says Hunter Biden a relevant witness Democrat Senator Joe Manchin has broken from his partys ranks, saying Hunter Biden is a relevant witnesses in the impeachment trial. Democratic Senators have said they would not do a witness swap involving Hunter Biden, presidential candidate Joe Bidens son, who Republicans have said should testify. House Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has said the younger Biden is not relevant to the proceedings. Speaking on MSNBCs Morning Joe programme Manchin said he would be open to voting with Republicans for Hunter Biden to testify, saying he wanted to know everything he can related to the investigation. Trump derides Bolton on Twitter Reported revelations in the draft of a book by Bolton have shifted the dynamic in the debate over whether more witnesses will be called in the trial, and Trump has been quick to criticise his former official. On Wednesday, in a series of tweets, Trump derided Bolton, saying if he had listened to his former adviser we would be in World War Six by now and referencing the repeated blocking of a vote to confirm Bolton as US ambassador to the United Nations in the Senate under President George W Bush. Bush later circumvented the chamber and installed Bolton to the post. For a guy who couldnt get approved for the Ambassador to the U.N. years ago, couldnt get approved for anything since, begged me for a non Senate approved job, which I gave him despite many saying Dont do it, sir, takes the job, mistakenly says Libyan Model on T.V., and.. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2020 Trump also referenced Boltons public use of the term the Libya model when referring to North Korean nuclear disarmament. The phrase enraged Pyongyang, who saw the comparison as suggesting the US wanted to disarm North Korea while offering little in return. .many more mistakes of judgement, gets fired because frankly, if I listened to him, we would be in World War Six by now, and goes out and IMMEDIATELY writes a nasty & untrue book. All Classified National Security. Who would do this? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2020 Who is on Trumps defence team? Read more about the key players in the trial here. Who are the House managers? Seven House Democrats presented the case against President Trump over three days of arguments. Youll hear more from Chief Justice Roberts Wednesday Chief Justice Roberts will become more visible as the trial enters the questioning phase, before moving into the debate over allowing more evidence. Roberts is constitutionally mandated to preside over a presidential impeachment trial and, under current Senate rules, can make rulings on procedural motions including the questions of evidence before senators vote. However, the chief justice is not required to make such rulings and can be overruled by a simple majority. During Robertss career on the highest court in the land, he has espoused maintaining an apolitical federal judiciary. Read more here about how he is expected to approach the very political impeachment trial. What happens next? Senators will now be given 16 hours which, according to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, to ask questions to the House managers and Trumps defence. The questions will be submitted in writing and read by Chief Justice Roberts, alternating between the Republican majority and the Democratic minority. Roberts has asked that responses and rebuttals be kept to five minutes. Following the questions, the chamber will have four hours of debate before a vote on whether to allow more evidence to be submitted in the trial, followed by subsequent votes on witnesses and documents. Read more about whats coming up here. This artists sketch depicts White House Counsel Pat Cipollone speaking in the Senate chamber during the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump [Dana Verkouteren/AP Photo] Catch up on the trial so far As the ninth day of the impeachment trial begins, catch up on what has happened over the last two weeks. The trial officially began with a ceremonial start on January 16 that saw the swearing-in of Chief Justice Roberts, who is presiding over the proceedings, and the 100 members of the Senate. The next week began with nearly 12-hours of debate culminating in senators voting along partisan lines to approve Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells rules resolution. Meanwhile, 11 amendments introduced by Democrats were blocked. Read more about that day here. The Democratic House managers then presented their arguments for three days on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, followed by Trumps defence arguments Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday. Los Angeles, California, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, January 29th, a fire that is now being deemed suspicious broke out at a Los Angeles, California high-rise. A suspect is in custody after the fire in the 25-story residential high-rise left eight people injured. The blaze began shortly after 8:30 a.m. on the sixth floor of the Wilshire Boulevard high-rise. At least 300 firefighters responded to help battle the blaze and evacuate residents inside the building. An adult and a 3-month-old were taken to a hospital in critical condition, officials said, and six other people were treated for smoke inhalation. After an intense hour-long fire fight made more challenging by strong 40-mph winds, firefighters were able to knock down the flames shortly before 10:00 a.m. The Los Angeles Times reports that in 2013 a fire erupted on the 11th floor of the same apartment building. That fire displaced up to 150 residents and injured two people. It also prompted concerns about a lack of sprinkler systems in some buildings in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, seven years later, nothing had changed. Because it was built nearly 60 years ago, the building was not required to have a fire sprinkler system. Even after the 2013 blaze, the building was never retrofitted with the life-saving system. At what point are we going to say enough is enough? asked NFSA President Shane Ray. Fires like this one highlight Americas fire problem, and its time we join together and adopt incentives for building owners. Too many firefighters and civilians are being put at risk everytime there is a fire in these high-rise buildings. The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) applauds the Los Angeles Fire Department in its herculean effort to avoid loss of life in battling a truly difficult fire. We also find ourselves in the position of chronicling yet another fire in a high-rise residential building that was not equipped with a fire sprinkler system. In November of 2019, a high-rise fire in Minneapolis took the lives of five people and injured many more. In recent years, the Marco Polo fire in Honolulu and the Trump Tower Fire in New York City also claimed lives. None of these buildings were equipped with fire sprinklers. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), approximately 40 people die and over 500 are injured annually in high-rise fires. Fire sprinklers can change this and they are required in the national building & fire codes. While these are required in national model codes, many jurisdictions fail to adopt them legislatively or take the retrofit requirements for fire sprinklers out, added President Ray. Todays modern fire environment is much more intense than ever and when that fire occurs at an elevated height it is even more dangerous for all involved, and its time for a legislative solution. As a result of the fatal fire in Minneapolis, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced legislationthe Public Housing Fire Safety Actthat would create a program to provide support to public housing authorities who wish to retrofit older high-rise apartment buildings with sprinkler systems. NFSA calls on all legislators to go a step further and ensure that all high-rises throughout our nation are equipped with fire sprinklers. HR 4685 the High-Rise Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act would provide tax incentives to building owners who retrofit high-rise buildings with fire sprinklers. These fires are as avoidable as they are devastating, and we have the solution to change that. There has never been a multiple loss of life in a building with a properly functioning fire sprinkler system. About the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA): NFSA was founded in 1905 and wants to create a more fire safe world, and works to heighten the awareness of the importance of fire sprinkler systems from homes to high-rise and all occupancies in between. The Association is an inclusive organization made up of dedicated and committed members of a progressive life-saving industry. This industry manufactures, designs, supplies, installs, inspects, and services the worlds most effective system in saving lives and property from uncontrolled structural fires. For more information about fire sprinklers, how they work and access to additional resources and information, visit www.nfsa.org for the latest material, statistics and a dedicated team of fire safety advocates ready to serve all stakeholders in order to fulfill the vision of a safer world. Adria Ballester offers free conversations in downtown Barcelona. Pablo Gomez Moreno de Redrojo Raquel Frohlinger, a 26-year-old from New York, was passing through Barcelona on a recent day when she stopped to chat with a complete stranger under one of the Catalan capitals landmarks, the Arc de Triomf. She told the stranger what she was doing in the city and what she does for a living back in the United States. In return, she received advice on what to visit in Barcelona, plus a couple of anecdotes about what its like to grow up here. After a while, Frohlinger got up and went on her way, leaving behind two chairs and a sign in large letters that read: Free conversations! The person that Frohlinger talked to is Adria Ballester, creator of the Free Conversations Movement, which invites people in the city to stop for a while and chat about anything they like. Ballester acts alone, but he calls his initiative a movement because he wants to include those who engage with him and who sometimes post their impressions on social media. In Frohlingers opinion, the experience was very special because it gave her the chance to listen to someone and exchange impressions. This is exactly what 26-year-old Adria Ballester, a computer equipment salesman, was intending. The idea is just to have someone there that you can talk to freely for a while, he says. The idea came about three years ago when Ballester was having a bad day and took a walk through the city to see if he could clear his head. He walked beyond the Tibidabo hill, in the natural park of Collserola in the west side of the city. All of a sudden, a stranger whom he has never heard from again greeted him and engaged him in a casual conversation. The encounter immediately lifted Ballesters mood. In fact, the impact was so great that he decided take the experience and turn it into a movement. He grabbed two folding chairs and carried them from his neighborhood of San Andreu to the Cathedral, where he set them down along with a sign offering conversation in Spanish, English or Catalan. The initiative flopped: some passers-by believed he was there to sell them something. In fact, it still happens to him. So he did a rethink and used social media to promote his project. A specific day, usually Saturday or Sunday, and a location, generally under the Arc de Triomf, are now advertised ahead of time. Im there for six hours, although sometimes it turns into eight, he says. He now has accounts on Facebook and Instagram (where he has over 7,500 followers) and posts photos of himself and his chat buddies, reflections on the day, and even illustrations. But passers-by never cease to express surprise at his initiative. Some give him a sideways glance; others try to snap him secretly with their phones; yet others stand near him and talk about him in Spanish, as if he didnt understand. It seems incredible that something so simple attracts so much attention, says Ballester, whose girlfriend Benedikta does some of the illustrations that are later posted on social media. The worst thing though is not the stares, but being moved along, he adds, convinced that what he is doing is a form of activism. The Mossos [regional police] come and tell me to move on, so I almost always do it here, at the Arc de Triomf, where they are less strict. Losing the art of conversation There are a variety of types who stop to chat, but Ballester says that they are mainly under 30, like Raquel Frohlinger, the New Yorker, or the Italians Eleonora, Chiara, Julia, Francesca and Irene, who are between 20 and 24. We have lost [the art of] conversation, say two of them, who are psychology students. And talking is what life is all about. Ballester says that when a small crowd gathers, the conversation can be lively but is more likely to be brief. Deeper conversations are best had on a one-to-one basis; he once talked for four hours solid with one person, and the activity as a whole has brought him new friends. You hear good, positive stories and really tough ones too, he says. A lot of people will tell you about some tricky episode in their life, maybe heartbreak or a job loss or a sudden change they have had to deal with. He says there was a 25-year-old man who had climbed Everest and a 70-year-old Lithuanian woman who talked about the years she spent in a Russian concentration camp. Theres a bit of everything, he says. Even stories of abuse and rape, awful things. And its complicated, because Im not a psychologist. But whatever the topic, Ballester tries to make sure the conversation remains positive. For example, he doesnt like it when people take him to be religious and start discussing the possibility of an otherwordly being. Or when people insist on talking politics. I generally start with open questions, but in some cases I stop asking anything to try to keep it brief, he admits. Someone approaches; a 21-year-old who is curious to find out what Ballester is about. This is strange in a good way, he concludes while adding that he considers it important to expand the space for conversation because while the internet is supposed to have done this, in reality, it is reducing it. Ballester agrees there is a lack of direct contact between people nowadays, but he also appreciates how social media has helped his initiative get off the ground. People know where I will be and so they come back. Or discussions are generated and that can lead to collaborations, he says, referring to several people who have helped each other thanks to his online presence. In the future, he aims to publish a manifesto and would like to see his initiative picked up in other cities: as far as he knows, he is still the only street conversationalist around. That, in turn, would lead to a webpage for the movement and the space to expound on his ideas. I really like philosophy and communication, he says. I feel a certain amount of pressure to write stories about what Im being told. But I dont want to make it more important. I prefer it to stay the way it is. English version by Heather Galloway. Photograph: Erik S Lesser/EPA Moderate Republican senators were under an intense spotlight on Wednesday as the impeachment trial of Donald Trump moved into a dramatic new phase and the president lashed out at former national security adviser John Bolton, who Democrats want to call as a key witness. Trumps Twitter attack on Bolton and subsequent moves by the White House to block his potentially damaging planned book came amid signs the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, does not have enough Republican votes locked down to block Democrats efforts force witnesses into the impeachment trial. Related: Trump impeachment: White House claims John Bolton book contains top secret information live Leading Republican moderates Susan Collins, Mitt Romney and Lisa Murkowski kicked off the questioning phrase of the trial on Wednesday by asking, if Trump had multiple motives for delaying US military aid to Ukraine, how the Senate would handle that. That goes to the heart of the impeachment accusation that Trump inappropriately pressured Ukraine by holding back aid until the Ukrainian government agreed to investigate the presidents leading election rival Joe Biden, in what Democrats charge is an abuse of power. A looming question over Wednesdays impeachment proceedings is whether centrist senators will side with Democrats to form a majority voting bloc to bring witnesses in. While Democrats have Bolton at the top of their list, the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, brushed off the prospect of moderate Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia supporting the prospect of Bidens son Hunter being requested by Republicans to testify about his time working for a Ukrainian gas company. Manchin said on MSNBC on Wednesday he thought Hunter Biden should testify, which most Democrats have opposed. We are totally united and have been totally united for a month and continue to be, Schumer said of his Senate members at a press conference. Meanwhile, Trump attacked Bolton after reports that a draft manuscript of Boltons forthcoming book claims Trump directly linked a delay in military aid to Ukraine to a condition that the Ukrainian government investigate his Democratic rivals, especially Joe Biden. Story continues Trump wrote of Bolton: if I listened to him, we would be in World War Six by now, and goes out and IMMEDIATELY writes a nasty & untrue book. All Classified National Security. Who would do this? One of Trumps defense arguments during the impeachment inquiry was that those two were not connected. Critics say he was trying to use a vulnerable Ukraine to help his re-election chances; Trump said he was just trying to root out corruption there. ....many more mistakes of judgement, gets fired because frankly, if I listened to him, we would be in World War Six by now, and goes out and IMMEDIATELY writes a nasty & untrue book. All Classified National Security. Who would do this? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2020 Trump maintains Bolton was fired last fall, while Bolton claimed he resigned. On Wednesday, Trump also complained about Boltons timing. He wrote: Why didnt John Bolton complain about this nonsense a long time ago, when he was very publicly terminated. He said, not that it matters, NOTHING! The White House later sent a letter to Boltons attorney, which claimed his clients book cannot be published in its current form because it contains top secret material. McConnell is under pressure to round up his caucus and move to a vote by the end of the week first to block witnesses and then to acquit Trump on the impeachment charges altogether. McConnell told his caucus in a meeting on Tuesday night, according to multiple reports, of the stakes. With an unknown number of Republican senators still undecided about calling witnesses, McConnell could still get the votes he needs to block witnesses and stop the trial from reeling off into unpredictable and potentially hazardous territory for the president. At least four Republicans would need to join Democrats to force witness testimony. Murkowski met with McConnell on Wednesday morning, adding to speculation that she could join Democrats in supporting a motion to bring in witnesses, according to a Senate aide. Trumps defense team and his Republican allies have argued vehemently against the inclusion of witnesses at the trial, saying they already had enough information to decide the case and that the Senate should not be burdened by what they have framed as an incomplete process in the House of Representatives. But those arguments appear not to have been persuasive to the necessary number of senators. Trumps lawyers concluded their opening arguments on Tuesday. Led by Trumps personal lawyer Jay Sekulow, the defense team dismissed objections to Trumps conduct towards Ukraine as policy disagreements and warned senators not to lower the bar of impeachment by voting to convict the president. A furious Trump complained on Twitter on Wednesday morning that Democrats would never be satisfied. During the inquiry process in the House of Representatives last year, the White House blocked senior administration officials from testifying in the House. No matter how many witnesses you give the Democrats, no matter how much information is given, like the quickly produced Transcripts, it will NEVER be enough for them. They will always scream UNFAIR. The Impeachment Hoax is just another political CON JOB! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2020 No witnesses have appeared at the trial in the Senate, with House managers detailing the case for the prosecution of Trump that he abused the power of his office and, in gagging officials and blocking the release of some documentary evidence, obstructed Congress forming the two articles of impeachment relating to Trumps conduct with regard to Ukraine. Trump has no plans to appear at his own trial and has been pressing Congress to get it finished before he has to give his State of the Union address next Tuesday the day after the crucial Iowa caucuses occur as the first voting event in the primary contest to choose the Democratic party nominee to challenge Trump for the White House this November. Moderate Biden is jostling for the top spot in opinion polls with resurgent leftwinger Bernie Sanders. Tehran, Jan 29 : Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman on Wednesday said that the Islamic republic is ready to cooperate with regional states to abort US President Donald Trump's so-called peace plan for the Middle East, a media report said. "Iran is ready to work with the regional states to counter the big plot which threatens the Islamic nations," Abbas Mousavi tweeted on Wednesday. Mousavi also urged the Muslim countries to leave aside their differences and unite to counter the US move, Xinhua reported. Trump on Tuesday revealed the long-awaited political aspect of his Middle East peace plan, a proposal that has already been repeatedly refused by the Palestinians. The plan proposes a "realistic" two-state solution and recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided capital." On Tuesday, Iran's Foreign Ministry called the proposal "disgraceful." Meanwhile, in Damascus, the Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned on Wednesday the peace plan and said: "The latest US plan showed the clear alliance between the US and the Zionist entity and their enmity to the Arab nations." It added that the US policies are designed to serve Israel and its expansionist schemes in the region. Qantas is yet to join other major airlines in banning or scaling back flights to China amid the coronavirus outbreak. Global carriers including British Airways have suspended all flights to mainland China, while others have dramatically scaled back services as the deadly virus continues to spread. Qantas flights into and out of mainland China are so far unaffected as the airline continues discussions with the federal government to run an evacuation mission for Australians stranded in China's virus-plagued Hubei province. Qantas is yet to join other major airlines in banning or scaling back flights to China amid the coronavirus outbreak On Wednesday, Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said the airline was continuing to review its underperforming Sydney-Beijing route. The airline had already announced plans to axe that service from March, but Mr Joyce suggested that could happen sooner. 'We continue to review that, continue to review the loads, and whether we look to do that earlier, or keep it operating until that date,' Mr Joyce told reporters at the opening of a new pilot training school in Queensland. He also said it was too early to say what impact the coronavirus outbreak might have on the carrier's business. He said the most similar comparison to coronavirus was the 2003 SARS epidemic in 2003, which cost the airline $55 million in lost earnings over a six to eight-month period and led it to cut some international capacity. Virgin Australia does not operate flights to mainland China. But it does operate a daily flight between Sydney and Hong Kong, and a daily flight between Melbourne and Hong Kong with the latter service scheduled to end on February 11 - a decision made before the outbreak. In a statement on Thursday, Virgin Australia said it was closely following advice from Australian medical authorities and the World Health Organisation about precautions to minimise risks from the virus. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 20:28:04|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Village chiefs patrolling with loudspeakers, long alert banners hanging on walls, and round-the-clock checkpoints set up to examine vehicles and visitors, this is what many Chinese villages are doing in the battle against the new coronavirus. As the infection cases have been reported in most provincial-level regions in China, villages are one of the weakest links in the chain of prevention and control, but the measures there are often some of the toughest and smartest. JINAN, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Village chiefs patrolling with loudspeakers, long alert banners hanging on walls, and round-the-clock checkpoints set up to examine vehicles and visitors, this is what many Chinese villages are doing in the battle against the new coronavirus. As the infection cases have been reported in most provincial-level regions in China, villages are one of the weakest links in the chain of prevention and control, but the measures there are often some of the toughest and smartest. "Fellow villagers, please wear masks, wash your hands regularly and avoid paying New Year visits to others, a phone call is enough!" This message is broadcast three times daily in Li Village in Jiaxiang County, east China's Shandong Province. Paying visits to friends and relatives is a Chinese New Year tradition. It is preserved better in villages than in urban areas. A man disinfects a vehicle at an entrance to Qianzhangjiazhuang Village in Jiangshan Town of Laixi City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) Wei Deli, Party head of Li Village, said that in order to prevent the spread of the epidemic this year, he urged the villagers to stay at home and launched a plan to "block" roads to the village. Vehicles are parked in the middle of four entrances in order for village officials to examine cars and visitors from outside. But if villagers need to drive out, the parked vehicles will be moved away. "The blockage doesn't affect emergency needs. Two days ago, a village elder fell sick. We drove the vehicles away in advance to let the ambulance in," said Wei. Though outside vehicles are basically banned from entering the village, villagers can be called to meet visitors just outside the village. According to Wei, village doctors visit the families who have migrant workers recently returning from Hubei Province where the new coronavirus broke out. The doctors take the temperature of the members of these families twice a day. Wei will immediately report anyone with suspected infection symptoms to the township headquarters for control and prevention of the epidemic. "Villagers agree with these methods," Wei said. "Epidemic prevention comes first and foremost for everyone." China, with around 40 percent of its population living in rural areas in 2018, has nearly 700,000 villages. Medical facilities in the villages are often not as advanced as those in the cities, and as migrant workers return home during the Spring Festival, the risk posed by the epidemic is high. "At present, the prevention and control of the pneumonia situation is in a crucial period," said He Qinghua, an official with the National Health Commission, on Monday. "We must give full play to the mobilization ability of primary-level communities, including rural communities" in personnel tracking and management among efforts to curb the spread of the virus. Chinese villages are governed by village committees elected by villagers. This allows for more direct methods for mobilizing and informing local residents. People inspect passengers and vehicles at Sancun Village in Jiangshan Town of Laixi City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) Loudspeakers have come in handy in the fight against the epidemic. Shi Xijun, Party head of Yaojiapo Village in Tai'an City, Shandong Province, said he uses the loudspeakers to remind villagers of the newly released diagnostic and treatment plans and raise their awareness of the epidemic. Many of these nostalgic methods have been circulated online. A video showing a village chief in Bozhou City, east China's Anhui Province using a loudspeaker to remind villagers in local dialect not to pay New Year visits has gained 1.59 million views. "They (the measures) appear coldhearted, but in essence, they show care," read one comment. Measures initiated by villages are also trending on China's microblogging site Weibo, with over 500 million views. Apart from the loudspeakers, other conventional methods were also used. A doctor explains a leaflet on the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus to a resident at Tumen Village of Shuiquan Town in Zaozhuang City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 27, 2020. (Photo by Liu Mingxiang/Xinhua) In Shibuzi Village in Linshu County, Shandong Province, there are seven roads in and out of the village and it is difficult to patrol around the clock, so villagers used stones and sand to form a simple roadblock at six entrances but left one open for villagers to go out and return. "These are all efforts that rural villagers are making to actively prevent and control the epidemic," said Feng Zijian, deputy head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. "I believe they will all help block the transmission of the disease." (Reporting by Liu Baosen, Peng Peigen, Wei Shengyao, Wang Yang, Zhang Xudong, Zhang Wuyue; Video reporter: Wu Feizuo; Video editor: Zhu Cong.) Air India and IndiGo on Wednesday announced suspension of their flights from India to China in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak that has killed over 130 people in that country. Air India will not operate flights to China from January 31 to February 14 while IndiGos flights will remain suspended from February 1 to February 20. We have seen a high number of cancellations from China on our Delhi-Chengdu route and vice-a-versa. Therefore, we are suspending our flights between Delhi and Chengdu from February 01, 2020 until February 20, 2020. We are also suspending our Bengaluru-Hong Kong flight effective February 01, 2020, IndiGo said in a statement. IndiGos spokesperson said, These are purely temporary and precautionary measures. We will be refunding full amount to the impacted passengers and are in close touch with the relevant government authorities. The airline, however, has not cancelled its flight from Kolkata to Guangzhou. We will continue to operate our KolkataGuangzhou flight, which we are monitoring on a daily basis. And for our operating crew, we are ensuring that they return to India on the inbound flights without any layover in China, the spokesperson said. Air India too cancelled its Delhi-Shanghai flight (AI 349). The flights will be cancelled from January 31 to February 14. The carrier also said it was waiving cancellation charges for travel to/from Shanghai and Hong Kong with immediate effect till further notice. International airlines that operate services from India to China, including Air China, are yet to announce any changes in the schedules. A total of 3756 passengers have been screened for coronavirus at Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in the last nine days. Passengers arriving from China are being screened at the arrival areas. Apart from Mumbai, thermal screening is being carried out at Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai and Kochi airports. While no case has been detected so far, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan on Tuesday announced the extension of thermal screening to 20 more airports of the country. It's no secret that large technology firms have led the way for much of the bull market. By now, every investor knows that FANG stands for Facebook, Amazon.com, Netflix and Google (although Google is now Alphabet). From the beginning of the bull market in 2009 through 2018, tech stocks in the large-company Standard & Poor's 500-stock index edged out tech stocks in the small-cap S&P SmallCap 600 by a half-percentage point per year, on average. In 2019, Big Tech pulled in front big time, returning 50.3%, compared with 39.6% for small-tech firms. But small tech firms may be poised to close the gap, says Jim Paulsen, chief investment strategist at market research firm Leuthold Group. The "mini FANGs" (as he likes to call them) are currently trading at about the same valuation as big tech names, when small fries have historically commanded a premium. And analysts estimate that over the next three to five years, profits for the small tech stocks will increase at twice the rate of big-tech earnings. Although small stocks tend to come with more volatility than large ones, small tech firms will largely avoid some of the risks tied to the tech behemoths. "These firms aren't in the crosshairs of regulators over privacy or antitrust issues," he says. Paulsen recommends shifting as much as 50% of whatever you have allocated to tech stocks into smaller names. Here are six ways to do that. SEE ALSO: The 15 Best Tech Stocks to Buy for 2020 Invesco S&P SmallCap Information Technology ETF Symbol: PSCT Share price: $96 Expense ratio: 0.29% 1-year annualized return: 39.2% 3-year annualized return: 11.7% For broad exposure, consider Invesco S&P SmallCap Information Technology ETF. The fund invests in a portfolio of 80 stocks weighted by average market capitalization (share price times shares outstanding), with the average stock clocking in at $1.9 billion. Top holdings include network testing equipment maker Viavi Solutions, energy resource management company Itron, and Brooks Automation, which provides materials and services primarily to the semiconductor industry. Story continues SEE ALSO: 5 REITs That Make the Cloud Pay You Dividends USAA Science & Technology Fund Symbol: USSCX Share price: -- Expense ratio: 1.02% 1-year annualized return: 37.8% 3-year annualized return: 21.5% Mutual fund investors won't find any pure plays on small-cap tech stocks, though they can invest in funds that tilt heavily in their direction. Among technology sector funds, USAA Science & Technology Fund has relatively limited exposure to giant firms, holding only 44% of assets in large caps, compared with a 70% stake for its average peer. The fund's 25% allocation to pint-size firms may seem scant, but compared with the 6% holding among peer funds, it's a big bet on the little guys. Management of the fund is split between teams at Victory Capital (who manage roughly two-thirds of assets) and Wellington Capital Management. The Victory team screens for stocks with sustainable earnings growth, high returns on capital and improving profit margins, before homing in on stocks with niche businesses and excellent management teams. Wellington's team scours the globe for fast-growing, high-quality firms with market-leading innovations. Tech names currently predominate, followed by health care firms; 17% of assets are in foreign firms. Top small-cap tech holdings include communications software firm RingCentral and semiconductor manufacturer Macom Technology Solutions. The fund has bested its average peer in seven of the past 10 calendar years, with a 16.6% annualized return that beats the average tech fund by 1.4 percentage points. Over that period, USAA Science & Tech was 11% less volatile than rival funds, on average. SEE ALSO: The 11 Best Growth Stocks to Buy for 2020 DF Dent Small Cap Growth Symbol: DFDSX Share price: -- Expense ratio: 1.05% 1-year annualized return: 36.3% 3-year annualized return: 15.8% DF Dent Small Cap Growth allocates 40% of assets to tech stocks, compared with a 17% average holding among funds that invest in small-company stocks. A focus on fast-growing, innovative firms accounts for the bias toward tech, says comanager Gary Wu. He and comanager Matthew Dent favor firms with a dominant position in a niche market, ample or growing amounts of cash, and a management team that allocates capital wisely and with shareholder interests in mind. The managers also value "sticky" businesses, ones that tend to retain customers. As a result, the fund holds a number of makers of what Wu calls "mission critical" software--tech that massively improves the business that adopts it, becoming essential and embedded in its operations. The fund doesn't have a long track record, but since its November 2013 debut, Small Cap Growth returned an annualized 11.5%, 1.7 percentage points ahead of the S&P SmallCap 600 and better than 93% of small-cap mutual funds. Consider Cloud Companies Thinkstock Investors with a high tolerance for risk who want to capitalize on one of the fastest-growing trends in tech might consider the stock of firms offering their products and services via the internet--in other words, in the proverbial cloud. Technology research firm Gartner expects annual cloud revenues worldwide to reach $355 billion in 2022, up from $228 billion in 2019. Among the most promising next-generation cloud companies are so-called software-as-a-service firms. These companies have revamped the old model of providing services through software with a renewable licensing fee. Rather, customers pay a subscription fee to access software in the cloud. Such a model is attractive because it creates a steady, predictable revenue stream with fewer fluctuations in customer demand, allowing execs to invest efficiently in expanding the business. Because customers typically sign long-term agreements and fully integrate the software into their businesses, they tend to stick around. Though companies such as Salesforce.com and Workday have become well-known names, the shift to doing business in the cloud is still nascent. The three small, fast-growing companies below are well positioned to grow along with the cloud. Because these fledglings lack a consistent record of profitability so far, they're best suited for long-term investors comfortable with more-speculative holdings. But all have records of prodigious revenue growth and have the potential to deliver market-beating returns over the next few years. BlackLine Courtesy BlackLine Symbol: BL Share price: $52 Expense ratio: -- 1-year annualized return: 25.9% 3-year annualized return: 23.1% Annual revenue: $287 million BlackLine is aiming to revolutionize the way companies keep their books with software that automates and streamlines the financial and accounting practices that go into the closing process at the end of each accounting period. The market for such services amounts to some $18.5 billion in annual revenue, according to market research firm and consultancy Frost & Sullivan. BlackLine's estimated $285 million in 2019 revenue is a mere nibble out of a huge pie, yet the firm, which began trading publicly only in 2016, is nonetheless a leading player in the industry, with best-in-class features and functionality, says DF Dent's Gary Wu. Shares sit below their September 2018 high due to investor concerns over slowing sales growth. But the slowdown was at least partially by design, says Wu. Rather than shooting for hyperexpansion, BlackLine spent the past two years building out the firm's team that helps customers with implementing the software. With a revamped team in place, Wu expects sales growth to pick back up in 2020. Measured by generally accepted accounting principles, BlackLine has no earnings to speak of, and by the firm's own (non-GAAP) accounting, profits are meager. That makes the stock, by both standards, expensive. But BlackLine trades at an enterprise value (generally thought of as what it would cost to buy a company outright) that is 7.7 times estimated 2020 revenues, according to analysts at investment firm William Blair. That's a discount to rival firms, which trade at a median multiple of 9.6, they say. And given BlackLine's potential to boost sales and expand profit margins at a faster rate than its peers, the stock deserves a "buy" (outperform) rating, they say. SEE ALSO: 5 Top Semiconductor Stocks to Buy Now Five9 Courtesy Five9 Symbol: FIVN Share price: $66 1-year annualized return: 50.0% 3-year annualized return: 66.6% Annual revenue: $322 million Whether you contact a business over the phone or use an online chat, people on the other end of those interactions use software to help assist customers. Five9 is a leader in providing such software in the cloud--a business known as contact center as a service. Five9's technology improves customer experience, for instance, by using artificial intelligence to route customer calls to the most appropriate agent among the available pool. Five9 estimates that only about 15% of call center agents have converted to the cloud and says the potential market for the industry is $24 billion in annual revenues. That gives Five9 "open-field running for the foreseeable future," says Jagjit Sahota, an investment analyst at mutual fund firm Wasatch Global Investors. "We think Five9 will be the dominator in this market." Five9 has grown at a torrid pace, boosting revenue by an annualized 25% from 2013 through 2018 while steadily improving profitability. The firm's earnings are still nonexistent, but the annual trend has been solidly in the right direction since Five9 went public in 2014. Sahota believes the company should continue to increase profitability while boosting sales at a robust, mid-20s annual percentage rate over the next three to five years. RingCentral Courtesy RingCentral Symbol: RNG Share price: $169 1-year annualized return: 104.6% 3-year annualized return: 101.6% Annual revenue: $888 million If RingCentral has a say, you may soon bid goodbye to your old desktop phone. The firm's software allows workers to communicate via phone, text, video conference, instant message and more over one web-based platform. RingCentral, which charges a subscription fee per "seat" (each end user, essentially), estimates the company serves 3 million of the 10 million seats that have already migrated to the cloud. But companies providing the old-fashioned model serve some 400 million to 500 million seats. Helping matters for RingCentral is a recently inked agreement with legacy office communications firm Avaya to become the firm's exclusive cloud software provider, giving RingCentral access to Avaya's cache of more than 100 million seats. RingCentral's stock has jumped 45% since the deal was announced in October, aided by the firm posting better-than-expected third-quarter results (though profits are still in the red by traditional accounting standards). Wall Street is underestimating the impact of the deal, which could spark 31% annual growth in subscription revenue through 2023, to $2.4 billion, says Jefferies analyst Samad Samana. RingCentral is Samana's contribution to Jefferies' "Franchise Pick" list--the buy-rated stocks the firm's analysts are most bullish on. EDITOR'S PICKS Copyright 2020 The Kiplinger Washington Editors US President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a new North American trade agreement during an outdoor ceremony at the White House attended by about 400 guests - but not the key Democrats who helped secure congressional passage of the deal. Trump, on trial in the U.S. Senate on charges of abusing power and obstructing Congress, welcomed Republican senators at the South Lawn event by name. Other guests included lawmakers from around the country, workers, farmers and chief executives, as well as officials from Mexico and Canada, the White House said. The US-Mexico-Canada Agreement ... Heart attack, stroke and burns victims wait up to five hours for an ambulance despite targets of 18 minutes, an investigation has found. One in 16 seriously ill patients in England and Wales wait more than an hour for emergency services to arrive - 4,000 per week. Delays mean patients are being 'led down badly at their moment of greatest need', experts said. Data from ambulance services around the country was collected by the BBC between January 2018 and September 2019. East Midlands Ambulance Service fared the worst, with one in eight calls taking more than an hour to respond to. Seriously ill patients including heart attack, stroke and burns victims are among those who are waiting more than an hour for an ambulance to arrive in England and Wales, an investigation has found Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, said ambulance arrivals were a 'matter of life and death' and that patients were being 'let down' when they need help the most. She claimed the delays were 'undoubtedly' partly caused by a decision from the Government to 'underfund the NHS over a sustained period'. And Mark Macdonald of the Stroke Association, said the findings were 'alarming' given the need for patients who have suffered a stroke to be treated as quickly as possible. The investigation looked at two high priority call groups - the immediately life-threatening category ones and the emergency category twos. Data was obtained by Freedom of Information requests. Two ambulance services of 10 - the West Midlands and East of England - refused to participate. Long waits for immediately life-threatening calls, known as category 1, were unusual. Just one in 270 cases took longer than 30 minutes to reach patients. But delays for category two emergencies - including victims of heart attacks, chest pain, stokes and burns - were much more common. Out of six million calls, there were 385,000 people desperately waiting over an hour from the moment they called 999 between January 2018 to September 2019. Some patients were waiting for more than five hours, the BBC reports. East Midlands Ambulance Service performed the worst - 12.8 per cent of category two incidents took more than an hour to reach. Southeast Coast performed the best - 1.7 per cent of calls had a response time of over an hour. East Midlands Ambulance Service director of operations Ben Holdaway told the BBC that the delays were a result of long waits for crews waiting to hand patients to hospital staff at A&E. Why time is a matter of life and death In medical emergencies, minutes can mean the difference between life and death. Doctors say there is a 'golden hour' to treat heart attacks and strokes after their onset to minimise the damage caused to the heart and brain. Within this time patients need to undergo an electrocardiogram or brain scan to confirm the condition and then be given drugs or surgery to remove blood clots. A heart attack occurs when a narrowing in the arteries or a sudden blockage from a blood clot cuts off the nutrients and oxygen supply to the heart muscle. Heart muscle begins to die within 80 or 90 minutes of losing blood supply. The quicker that normal blood flow can be established, the less the long-term damage. Stroke patients who reach hospitals within an hour of experiencing symptoms are more likely to be able to receive a powerful clot-busting drug. Advertisement Indeed, figures show that ambulances are having to wait outside hospitals where staff are overworked and beds are running low. In the first week of 2020, almost one in five ambulance patients (18 per cent, equal to 18,000 people) waited more than half an hour to be handed over to hospital staff. Any delays to treatment could be life-threatening, which is why NHS guidelines state that category one calls should take an average of seven minutes to respond to, with category two taking 18 minutes. In Wales, nearly a quarter of category two calls more than 1,000 cases a week took more than an hour to arrive. However, their second tier is broader than in England and includes less urgent cases such as diabetes complications. NHS national ambulance adviser Anthony Marsh said: 'It is not easy to reach everyone as quickly as we would all like. All our staff are working flat out.' The Patients Association's Ms Power said: 'Ambulance services must respond in a timely and effective way with a clear focus on the needs of the patient this can literally be a matter of life or death. 'It's obvious from these findings that on too many occasions, patients are being let down badly at their moment of greatest need. 'Undoubtedly a proportion of these incidents have arisen directly from the decision to underfund the NHS over a sustained period and, in particular, funding of ambulance services has not kept up with the increasing demands made on the service. 'Clearly category one calls take priority but all patients should expect an ambulance service they can rely on to respond to their care and treatment needs within an acceptable and safe time period.' Mr MacDonald of the Stroke Association said that the quicker a person is diagnosed and treated for a stroke, the more likely it is they will make a good recovery. He also claimed that increased demand and lost time due to delays at A&E were putting added pressure on ambulance services. 'It is alarming to hear that in some cases ambulance staff are taking over an hour to reach patients because when it comes to stroke, being assessed quickly and then, if necessary, transferred to hospital, is really important,' he said. 'But it's not just about how quickly ambulances get to patients. Guidelines say that stroke patients should receive a brain scan and any appropriate treatment as soon as possible on arrival at hospital. 'Increased demand for ambulance services coupled with lost time due to delayed turnaround times at emergency departments has put significant pressure on ambulance services across the UK. 'Quick turnaround times in A&E and getting people quickly into a specialist stroke unit are vital to ensuring stroke patients receive the expert treatment and care that they need.' US President Donald Trump announced his long-awaited Middle East peace plan on Tuesday, with there being every chance that it will be once again rejected US President Donald Trump looked very euphoric while announcing his long-awaited Middle East peace plan. Trump has been discussing the details with Israeli leaders for at least 24 hours before the announcement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main political rival Benny Gantz had been briefed by the White House about the plan to get their consent to it before the official announcement. The plan was expected to be a rehashed version of work done by Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner over three years. Some amendments, though, were introduced to the original Kushner plan to appease some of the Arab states and win their support for the deal. In particular, there have been amendments to the sections on Jerusalem, the reports said, a particularly sensitive issue for Arabs and Muslims. However, the plan still did not look very different from previous leaks. Both Trump and Netanyahu talked about a completely demilitarised state of New Palestine and allowing Israel to annex parts of its colonies in the West Bank along with a shared capital in Occupied Jerusalem. This New Palestine would control two crossings with Jordan and a tunnel would connect the remainder of the West Bank with the Gaza Strip. The Palestinians would not be allowed to maintain an army, and Israel would provide security to New Palestine against external aggression, with the Palestinians paying Israel for this protection. The economic aspect of the deal proved a major achievement to both Trump and Netanyahu as they talked of an investment scheme over five years worth $50 billion for projects in Palestinian areas. Though leaked reports highlighted that the money is said mainly to be paid by the Arab Gulf countries, with these shouldering 70 per cent, America 20 per cent and the EU 10 per cent of the bill. In fact, that part of the plan was unveiled in the Bahraini capital Manama a year ago but was met with a cold reaction from the targeted Gulf countries. The US administration intends to give the Palestinians a few weeks after the announcement to make up their minds before taking up an official position. Although Palestinians looked set to reject it, the US seems adamant on pressuring the Palestinians to yield in. According to reports, the package might include a set of sanctions on Palestinian leaders and officials and pressure on any donor country to stop aiding the Palestinians in case of rejection. It is not only the Palestinians who might say no to the American plan, however, as some American sources have indicated reluctance from Jordan. Though Jordan is eyed as an American ally that has good relations with the Gulf, the Hashemite Kingdom would find it difficult to accept any plan that would mean Israel annexing the Jordan Valley. Jordans King Abdullah II said last week in an interview that when examining the US peace plan, one should look at the glass as being half full, however. Some analysts interpreted this as being a tacit acceptance from the king or an indication of coordination between Jordan and the White House. Others referred to other quotations from the king indicating otherwise. Our position is perfectly well-known. We will not agree to proposals that come at our expense, Abdullah is reported to have told the media, adding that our position on the Palestinian cause is clear, and the word no is very clear to everyone. Washington obviously was taking up the Israeli position that the Palestinians always reject peace offers and acting accordingly. This could be the last opportunity the Palestinians will ever have, affirmed Trump. Former deputy minister and Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren was involved in drafting the plan with Kushners team at certain points. He told the Israeli press that I explained [to the Americans] that anyone who conditions the process on a Palestinian agreement condemns it to failure and said that the outline should be directed at the majority of the Israeli public and the majority of the Sunni Arab world, including the Gulf states. I think this approach was accepted. But will the Gulf States accept the plan, or will they condition their endorsement of it on Palestinian acceptance, as has always been their policy? There is no clear answer to these questions yet. It should be noted that the relationship between the Trump administration and its Gulf allies is not as cozy as it was more than a year ago. In private, however, some in the Gulf when talking off the record have expressed their frustration that the Palestinians have wasted many opportunities for peace and say they should grab whatever is offered now before they lose more. The public mood in the Gulf is not much different from that in the rest of the Arab and Muslim world when it comes to the struggle with Israel. The media in the Gulf reflects the absence of a clear official position. Some days ago, an editorial in the Dubai-based Gulf News stated that the proposal offered by the Oval Office represents an abrogation of all of the principles necessary for a lasting peace and just settlement. Any lasting peace can only be built upon an acceptance and recognition of two states working side by side, the right of return for all Palestinians who have been forced from their homeland, a guarantee of equal rights and recognition of the shared importance of Jerusalem between both communities. If it were only the Gulf countries, they would go with a peace plan, but if the White House wants those countries also to soften the Jordanian or Egyptian stances, it will be more difficult to convince them. As one Gulf analyst asked about both countries, they [Egypt and Jordan] are American allies like us, so why should we do that for the White House? *A version of this article appears in print in the 30 January, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: The Mummy Speaks! announces The New York Times in Nicholas St. Fleurs story about Nesyamun, a mummified Egyptian priest whose voice has been recreated, sort of, with the aid of a 3-D printed vocal tract and an electronic larynx. Does the mummy sound like the monster of classic 1930s horror? Scientists have only got as far as one syllable, which resembles the ah and eh vowels sounds heard in the words bad and bed.' Yet its clear that Nesyamun would not communicate with guttural moans. This may not make the recreation any less creepy. Nesyamun, whose coffin is inscribed with the words true of voice, was charged with singing and chanting the liturgies; he had this wish, says David Howard, speech scientist at Royal Holloway, University of London, that his voice would somehow continue into perpetuity. Howard and his teams 3-D printed recreation of his mouth and throat has allowed them to synthesize the sound that would come out of his vocal tract if he was in his coffin and his larynx came to life again. Lets imagine a different scenario, shall we? One in which Nesyamun speaks from the ancient past rather than from the sarcophagus. Voice from the Past is, indeed, what the researchers call their project, and they hope that it will eventually enable museum goers to engage with the past in completely new and innovative ways. If Nesyamun could be made to speak again, St. Fleur writes, perhaps the mummy could recite for museum visitors his words to Nut, the ancient Egyptian goddess of the sky and heavens: O mother Nut, spread out your wings over my face so you may allow me to be like the stars-which-know-no-destruction, like the stars-which-know-no-weariness, (and) not to die over again in the cemetery. Might we empathize? As University of York archaeologist John Schofield puts it, there is nothing more personal than someones voice. Hearing the mummy speak would be more multidimensional than only staring at his corpse. The novelty of this experience aside, one can imagine the knowledge historians and linguists of ancient languages might gather from this research. Others in the scientific community have expressed their doubts. We may wish to temper our expectations. Piero Cosi, an Italian speech scientist who helped reconstruct the voice of a mummified iceman named Otzi in 2016 (speaking only in Italian vowels), points out the speculative nature of the science: Even if we have the precise 3-D-geometric description of the voice system of the mummy, we would not be able to rebuild precisely his original voice. Egyptologist Kara Cooney notes the clear potential for human biases to shape research that uses so much inference about what [ancient people] looked or sounded like. So, what might be the value of approximating Nesyamuns voice? In their paper, published in Nature Scientific Reports, Howard and his co-authors explain, in language that sounds suspiciously like the kind that might invoke a classic horror movie mummys curse: While this approach has wide implications for heritage management/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. Given Nesyamuns stated 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 us to make direct contact with ancient Egypt. Learn more about the Nesyamuns vocal recreation in the videos above. Related Content: How Did the Egyptians Make Mummies? An Animated Introduction to the Ancient Art of Mummification How to Make a Mummy Demonstrated by The Getty Museum What the Great Pyramid of Giza Wouldve Looked Like When First Built: It Was Gleaming, Reflective White The Met Digitally Restores the Colors of an Ancient Egyptian Temple, Using Projection Mapping Technology Josh Jones is a writer and musician based in Durham, NC. Follow him at @jdmagness Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 02:20:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Feng Zijian (C), deputy head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Wu Hao (R), head of the Fangzhuang community health service center in Beijing, attend a press conference held by the National Health Commission in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 29, 2020. The general public should reach a consensus that early identification, reporting, isolation, diagnosis and treatment is the best and most effective way to contain the pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus, Wu Hao said in Beijing on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) BEIJING, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The general public should reach a consensus that early identification, reporting, isolation, diagnosis and treatment is the best and most effective way to contain the pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus, a health official said in Beijing on Wednesday. With intensive media coverage of the situation, the public has been aware of the urgency of curbing the outbreak, but efforts are still needed to mobilize the whole society to conduct health management in communities, Wu Hao, head of the Fangzhuang community health service center in Beijing, said at a press conference held by the National Health Commission. "Such comprehensive prevention and control measures are the best and most effective way to prevent the virus from further spreading and ultimately contain the outbreak," Wu said. The official also introduced practices of joint prevention work, saying local governments have promoted multiple measures to help residents recognize that the temporary inconvenience to their daily lives is for the good of them and their families and cooperating is their social responsibility. Information technologies have been used in community-level health consulting, monitoring, and epidemic prevention, and online psychological consultants are also available to help ease anxiety amid the virus outbreak, according to Wu. In many neighborhoods in Beijing, family doctors have teamed up with neighborhood committees to better manage the health of residents, and family doctors have launched effective checks of suspected patients to avoid unnecessary visits to hospitals, said Wu. In Fengtai district, a family doctor mobile application is providing health information and sending messages to residents' mobile phones. All these measures have helped residents recognize that isolation and medical observation at home are necessary parts of epidemic prevention and control, Wu said. "But the isolation measures have never blocked our communications," he said. US Trade Representative is likely to visit India next month to finalise talks on the proposed trade package between the two countries that could be announced during Donald Trump's tour in coming months, an official said. The official said that the USTR along with his team is expected in the second week of February. They would hold discussions with the officials of the commerce ministry. This visit of USTR assumes significance as Indian and US officials are engaged in talks to finalise dates for a possible visit by US President Donald Trump to India in the coming months. The official said that the trade package if finalised could be announced during Trump's visit to India. The two countries are negotiating a trade package to iron out issues and promote the two-way commerce. India is demanding exemption from high duties imposed by the US on certain steel and aluminium products, resumption of export benefits to certain domestic products under their Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), greater market access for its products from sectors including agriculture, automobile, auto components and engineering. On the other hand, the US wants greater market access for its farm and manufacturing products, dairy items and medical devices, and cut on import duties on some ICT products. The US has also raised concerns over high trade deficit with India. In 2018-19, India's exports to the US stood at USD 52.4 billion, while imports were USD 35.5 billion. Trade deficit dipped from USD 21.3 billion in 2017-18 to USD 16.9 billion in 2018-19. India received FDI worth USD 3.13 billion from the US in 2018-19, higher than USD 2 billion in 2017-18. H undreds of US and Japanese nationals have been evacuated from the city at the centre of Chinas coronavirus outbreak but Britons remain stranded in the region . An airplane evacuating as many as 240 Americans from Wuhan, where the outbreak started, was en route to the US on Tuesday night, officials said. And the first chartered plane, carrying 206 Japanese nationals evacuated from the city, has now landed in Tokyo. But Britons in the coronavirus-hit Chinese province of Hubei are still waiting to be flown home, with flights not expected until at least Thursday. The first charter flight from the Chinese city of Wuhan, which was arranged by Japan's government to evacuate its citizens, lands at Haneda airport in Tokyo / AFP via Getty Images It comes as the UK Foreign Office warned against all but essential travel to mainland China amid the outbreak. China has imposed travel restrictions between its major cities while all tour group companies' activities have been suspended to prevent further virus spread. 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 Wuhan is the epicentre of the new virus that has sickened thousands and killed more than 100. As of late on Tuesday the death toll stood at 132, with 5,974 confirmed cases in China. The Foreign Office has yet to confirm details of its planned move to have Britons in Wuhan returned home. Those stuck there and in surrounding areas have been urged to contact the British consulate before 11am on Wednesday if they wish to leave. A plane carrying Japanese nationals evacuated from Wuhan arrives in Tokyo / AFP via Getty Images The British embassy in Beijing said transport to get UK citizens out "may happen quickly and with short notice". Meanwhile the FCO updated its travel advice to urge UK citizens to avoid the country. Coronavirus: The confirmed cases around the world It added that it may become more difficult for British nationals in other provinces to leave. The Foreign Office said UK nationals in China should "make decisions based on their own personal circumstances" over whether to leave. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: "Due to the increasing travel restrictions and the public health situation, we now advise against all but essential travel to China. "We are also working urgently to finalise arrangements for an assisted departure from Hubei Province for British nationals this week, and are in contact with people in Hubei to ensure they register their interest and that we can keep them updated. This domain name expired on 2022-01-07 01:51:04 Click here to renew it. Luqmaan Chaudhary, the owner of the gun that was brandished at Shaheen Bagh yesterday, on Wednesday said that he had gone to the protest site to "peacefully" urge the demonstrators to allow ambulances and school going children to pass through. "We had gone there to talk to the protestors and urge them to allow the road to be opened for school going children and ambulances. During the talks, the demonstrators started raising 'go back' slogans," Chaudhary told ANI here. He said that during the commotion, someone noticed that he was carrying a weapon and pulled it out. "Around 30-40 people had gathered to go and talk to the protestors. I didn't realise that I was carrying a weapon. During the argument, someone noticed that I was carrying a weapon and pulled it out. I don't know who it was," Luqmaan said. "I have been living here for over 30 years here. A peace committee was formed after these protests. I am also a part of that committee. These protests have been going on for over one and a half month and people are facing a lot of inconvenience," he added. He said that he has talked to the police about the matter. According to police, the pistol belonged to Luqmaan Chaudhary but was brandished by another person at the protest site. The pistol was seized by the police and a case has been registered in the matter. Further investigation is underway. Protests have been going on at Shaheen Bagh since December 15 last month against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), due to which the Kalindi Kunj road has been shut for traffic movement. A petition was also filed in the Supreme Court last week seeking appropriate directions to the police to open the Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch contending that the road closure is causing huge inconvenience to people. The amended citizenship law grants citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, who came to India before 2015. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A full-size replica of Britain's world famous Stonehenge monument has hit the market for $2.1 million in Western Australia. Owners Jillian and Kim Beale, 66 and 67, have operated Esperance Stonehenge as a tourist attraction since they built it on a cattle farm on WA's south-east coast in 2011. Esperance Stonehenge is made of 137 granite slabs that weigh up to 50 tonnes each and were quarried less than 1km from the site. Like the original, the 'Clonehenge' is astronomically aligned with the summer and winter solstices to allow the sun's rays to shine through its altar stone. First listed on the property market for $5million in 2014, the replica has hit the market again for less than half the original asking price. A full-size replica of the world-famous prehistoric monument (pictured) has hit the market for $2.1 million in Western Australia Owners Jillian and Kim Beale (pictured), 66 and 67, have operated Esperance Stonehenge as a tourist attraction since they built it on a cattle farm on WA's south-east coast in 2011 Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Jillian Beale said her replica Stonehenge had a 'very calming effect' on visitors. 'People have been building circles of stone for thousands of years and when you look at them they are all aligned with the solstices,' she said. 'There's something that resonates with a lot of people about it.' The property attracts 16,000 visitors a year, but Jillian said the number is much higher because they let loyalty card holders and community groups visit for free. At the moment, the couple charge a $10 entrance fee for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for children - but Jillian said there is much more money to be made. 'We would love it to go a Western Australian couple, ideally with backing, to carry on with what we started and build on it,' she said. 'You can go into the brewery markets, glamping or camping, make a cafe. With a bit of vision, there's a lot you can do.' However, Jillian said most of the interest so far had come from overseas buyers rather than locals. In addition, Esperance Stonehenge is hired for events like weddings. The property attracts 16,000 visitors a year, but Jillian said the number is much higher because they let loyalty card holders and community groups visit for free. Pictured: A tourist visiting Esperance Stonehenge At the moment, the couple charge a $10 entrance fee for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for children - but Jillian said there is much more money to be made. Pictured: A visitor at Esperance Stonehenge Esperance Stonehenge is also used for weddings but Jillian said a brewery, cafe or campsite would also work well on the site While the original Stonehenge took 1,000 years to build, the Beale's replica was completed between January and October in 2011. A local millionare initially planned to build the replica near Margaret River but his plans fell through. Granite for the replica was already being quarried across from the Beales' farm and the couple decided to step in and save the project. 'We didn't want to see all this pink granite stone to go to waste and become floor tiles,' Jillian said. Yearly highlights at Esperance Stonehenge Summer and Winter Solstices events, which Jillian said are 'magical' experiences that attract 60 guests each. For both Solstices, the suns rays align with the Station Stones and shine through to the altar stone. Although not as rugged as its UK counterpart, Jillian said her modern version is actually more astronomically aligned. 'We had a UK archaeologist say that ours was probably more precise that the Stonehenge in the UK. So that was a tick of approval,' she said. Yearly highlights at Esperance Stonehenge Summer and Winter Solstices events, in which the the suns rays align with the Station Stones and shine through to the altar stone. Pictured: A Winter Solstice sunset While the original Stonehenge took 1,000 years to build, the Beale's replica was completed between January and October in 2011 Jillian and Kim Beale have been farming in Esperance for 43 years but are now retiring to Bridgetown, where they grew up. 'Our children live in the city, we're away from home and we'd like to travel and retire like most grey nomads our age are doing,' she said. They ran cattle on the same property as the Stonehenge site until September last year but have ceased operations since. A manager and another staff member will continue to run Esperance Stonehenge as a tourist attraction in their absence. 'It might a little time to find someone with an extra $2 million but in the meantime, we'll keep it running,' Jillian said. Purchase of the 87-hectare property includes a three bedroom house, a large shed and cattle yards - in addition to the Stonehenge replica and gift shop Esperance Stonehenge's market listing describes it as a 'spectacular, one off property'. Purchase of the 87-hectare property includes a three bedroom house, a large shed and cattle yards - in addition to the Stonehenge replica and gift shop. Esperance Stonehenge isn't the only replica of the World Heritage Site with 96 other replicas from around the world listed on clonehenge.com. However, Jillian said her replica is unique. 'Our one (Stonehenge) is the only one that's the same size as in England and the only one that is astronomically aligned,' she said. Amsterdam really knows how to bring a party down. Thankfully. In the past couple of years, the Dutch capital has banned booze cruises on wheels (a.k.a. beer bikes), halted official tours of the red-light district, and initiated on-the-spot fines of up to about $155 for public urination, drunkenness and disturbance. It even removed the iconic photo-magnet I amsterdam sculpture from one of its squares. Texas' ample acreage features stretches of coastal shorelines, sprawling ranches and metropolitan cityscapes. These diverse settings translate to residential structures that vary widely but are uniquely Texan. Here are some of the state's most fascinating residences: Austin's underground glass house: This grass turf-covered 1,400-square-foot Austin domicile is a partially subterranean structure made of glass, concrete and steel. The efficient home is as smart as it is unusual: Theres a place for rainwater collection, so that the water can be filtered and reused. The green roof provides thermal insulation to lock out heat in hot Texas summers and to warm the space during winter. Even the swimming pool is practical, it acts as an additional thermal mass to regulate temperature. The concrete roof includes an anti-erosion mat, and the rooftop plants are watered by an irrigation system. The shipping-container homes in Dallas: Composed of 14 shipping containers, the three-bedroom, 3,700-square-foot house features deep balconies that let in natural light without exposing the home's interior to direct sunlight. Portions of the containers show through thanks to exposed corrugated ceilings and container gates that have been converted into sliding doors. On the ground level, polished cement floors enhance the structure's industrial aesthetic, and doorway frames create distinct spaces in the open-floor layout. Outside, a 1,400-square-foot roof deck offers a view of the lake and the Dallas skyline beyond. On the ground floor, a 40-foot-long swimming pool aligns with the house's tallest wall, creating a striking visual effect. HoustonChronicle.com: Foreclosed Highland Village home listed at $1.3M The curious kettle in Galveston: Dubbed the "Kettle House," the inverted steel dome with a wood-shingle roof at 1410 Miramar Drive has been the subject of curiosity for years. Recently, the owner of the building, Mary Etheridge-Rachels, spoke to Dallas-area writer Linda Armstrong, who documented some of its historic highlights. Etheridge-Rachels reaffirmed some of the theories found in "Weird Texas: Your Travel Guide to Texas's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets," in which authors Wesley Treat, Heather Shades and Rob Riggs explain that it was dreamed up by a man who made oil storage tanks. Stokley reportedly set his sights on a spherical steel building his company, Graver Tank & Manufacturing Co. Inc., had crafted for a client. He purchased the steel sculpture and had it transported to the Miramar Drive site, where he dismantled it with plans for an open-layout shop. Sadly, he passed away before it could be completed. Years later, it was remodeled, but it retains its quirky exterior. The Round Top bridge house: The glass house elevated atop pilings in the center of a four-acre lake in Round Top, Texas, is among the state's modern-rustic waterfront properties. Built in 2012, the three-story house is attached to the mainland by a small bridge. It has two bedrooms and a loft space on the third floor that offers scenic panoramas. The islandlike house is connected to more than 23 acres of countryside in Fayette County. On the grounds are three RV stations, a windmill and a commercial irrigation system. Other amenities include a five-car garage with two car lifts, a waterfall with swimming pool at the top of a hill and separate guest quarters. The fascinating structure was once listed at $5.3 million. It was later reduced to $4 million before seeing another price slash. It's currently off the market. The "Steel House" by the late sculptor Robert Bruno: Part sculpture, part house and part 1970s Texas time capsule, the structure is located in Ransom Canyon, about 15 miles east of Lubbock. The bold piece is made of 150 tons of steel that rests on narrow legs, giving the illusion of a hovering spacecraft. The three-level, 2,200-square-foot house sits at the edge of a jagged hill overlooking a nearby lake. Currently, the project remains an unfinished home, with bare walls that should have held elaborate artwork and hollow legs that should have held and aquarium and library. VALPARAISO The Porter County Expo Center just saw a makeover last year, and now the fairgrounds could see some changes this year. The Porter County Agricultural Society wants to tear down the horse barn, which hasnt aged well, and erect two new barns one for horses and ponies and the other for poultry. The horse barn was the first building erected at the fairgrounds, and its supports have rotted out and been replaced over the years. It is sorely in need of repairs, Porter County Fair Manager Dave Bagnall told the Board of Commissioners on Tuesday. Our main goal is to appeal to over a thousand kids that are in our 4-H program, Bagnall said. For Porter Countys size, thats an impressive number of participants, he said. As the county has changed, so have 4-H members interests. The number of large animals entered in the Porter County Fair has decreased, but the goat program has just grown like crazy, Bagnall said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 29) A taxi driver allegedly moonlighting as a holdupper was fatally shot early Wednesday by his passenger who turned out to be a cop. PCpt. Ronald Carpio, of Paranaque City Police, said he boarded a cab from Macapagal Blvd. and told the driver to drop him off in a condominium along A. Santos Ave. The victim noticed that the driver was heading to other directions until he announced the holdup. Carpio pulled out his 9-mm service pistol and shot the suspect, who died on site. The taxi driver was identified as Elmer Benson Tubil of Tandang Sora, Quezon City based on the recovered drivers license. The Paranaque City Police said that it already has a record of the taxis plate number after several earlier complaints. She should do one that helps stan twitter spot fake news OMG so many tweets were going around with thousands of retweets with claims of what Dugan said in her ethics complaint re: The Grammys about songs that "were supposed to be nominated but weren't" even though Dugan didn't name one specific song in her complaint... Reply Thread Link Media literacy and critical thinking skills are so easy to take for granted and so critical to not becoming a brainwashed, hateful asshole. Reply Thread Link lol Reply Parent Thread Link It's what every elementary and high school should offer, not just media and communication-related university educations. Reply Parent Thread Link BBC having editorial control makes me wonder if theres even a point Reply Thread Link media literacy and criticism should be a mandatory class in school. Reply Thread Link Agreed so much!! Reply Parent Thread Link absolutely Reply Parent Thread Link It should. Reply Parent Thread Link gmta Reply Parent Thread Link And will they be doing one to help old folks spot fake news. Reply Thread Link I feel like they need it the more Reply Parent Thread Link It's the Alzheimer's setting in, what can we really do about that? Reply Parent Thread Link I was wondering if they ever would because God knows Boomers and some older Gen Xers (and even millenials) need it. Reply Parent Thread Link Seriously. This is great for the kids, but the amount of boomers that believe literally anything thrown in front of their faces... Reply Parent Thread Link Nick News did it first Reply Thread Link Omg. Those were the days Reply Parent Thread Link When will yer faves? Kidding aside, Andisprohi is right. Nick News should be at least rebooted. Thatd be awesome Reply Thread Link Oh man any Canadians here duped by the house hippo when they were kids? I remember loving that ad so much and I totally forgot the "things can be distorted" message and only remembered how freaking cute the house hippo was. Reply Thread Link that commercial actually gave me nightmares.. and the "don't you put it in your mouth/don't you put it in your nose" commercial with the blue talking thingy Reply Parent Thread Link omg same! haha all i ever took away from that commercial was that i wanted a house hippo since it was so cute Reply Parent Thread Link I'm not Canadian, but I love that commercial bc of the level of preciousness (also, the creepy yet calming narration, which makes it memorable). Reminds me vaguely of those vintage Brit PSAs (except, those are terrifying, not cute). I can imagine kids that grew up with it tho, the message was lost on y'all. Reply Parent Thread Link House Hippo was the first thing I thought of when I saw this headline! (I wanted a House Hippo lol) Reply Parent Thread Link this sounds really cool Reply Thread Link Can they make one of these for old people? I'm tired of having to explain to my grandma why all the dumb shit our racist relatives share on FB isn't true. Reply Thread Link awesome, good for her! it's pretty scary terrifying how easy it is to misinform the population now Reply Thread Link Same BBC with terrible right-wing journalism that had fake news shoved down our throats during the election and a history of bending the truth according to US/UK interests? (Laura K, their political editior, lying about a Tory aide being punched in a demo outside a NHS just last month comes to might) And sponsored by Microsoft? With Angelina Jolie, whose activism includes going to meetings with the far right president of Colombia to try and sort out the Venezuelan crisis? Sounds 100% legit. Good job everyone! Reply Thread Link ikr, the bbc have no credibility on this issue. Reply Parent Thread Link She's an idiot. The BBC are an appalling institution. Reply Parent Thread Link This is the part of Fake News should contain. How news organization push their own agenda and what they don't/do report. Not about some fake blog sites who says Donald Trump is dead etc. Reply Parent Thread Link exactly. all this "fake news" hysteria by mainstream media is extremely farcical because the media peddles fake news all the time. i mean, remember when the US/UK media all coalesced around Bush for the Iraq War? the weapons of mass destruction were a shining example of "fake news" but that didn't stop them, huh? the war was sold not by fake blog sites but by the New York Times and the BBC. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i think it's cute she always introduces herself as Angie Reply Thread Link In Finland they teach kids about how to spot fake news at school, like they teach it as a class. Digital literacy is amazing there. Reply Thread Link The time has come for the Red Sox to trade Mookie Betts. Or has it? WEEIs Lou Merloni reported the Red Sox offered Betts a 10-year, $300-million contract last offseason (after his 2018 AL MVP campaign) and he countered with 12 years, $420 million. Whether or not those figures are accurate doesnt really matter. What matters? The Red Sox, at this point, should know exactly how much Betts feels hes worth. They also should know exactly how much they are willing to pay him. If those two numbers dont align or arent close to aligning where a contract can be negotiated before free agency or in free agency the Red Sox should trade Betts before this regular season begins. A trade has seemed more likely in recent days. Betts will enter free agency at 28 years old. A 10-year deal would run through his age 37 season. A 12-year-contract would run though his age 39 season. Only two position players age 36 season or older recorded a WAR of 2.0 or better in 2019. Nelson Cruz (4.3 WAR) started most of his games at DH. Edwin Encarnacion (2.5 WAR) split time at DH and first base. WAR chart for MLB 2019 Betts might remain elite offensively and defensively into his late-30s Still, is it worth the risk at $35 million (or that range) per season? Is any player worth the risk? Thats the question all major market GMs must grabble with these days. As FiveThirtyEight pointed out, the 2003 Marlins are the only World Series winner in the Competitive Balance Tax era to allocate more than 20% of its payroll to one player. Albert Pujols certainly looked like a strong candidate to be the outlier into his late-30s, not the norm, when the Angels gave him 10 years, $254 million. The three-time NL MVP posted an OPS of .906 or better in all 11 seasons with the Cardinals. He recorded an OPS over 1.000 in eight of his 11 seasons there. But only once has he posted an OPS of .800 or better since signing with the Angels. That came in his first season (.859 OPS, age 32 season) in LA. He has recorded a .737 OPS over his past five seasons (age 35 and older). Setting valuations on players and sticking to them isnt about cheapness. Its about being smart. Dodgers Andrew Friedman has done it more steadfastly than any other executive in recent years. Yankees Brian Cashman also practiced a similar restraint in recent years before inking Gerrit Cole for $324 million. Ten- and 12-year contracts make sense for franchise players if the franchise player signs it by his age 25 season. Age 24-31 are prime years, per the chart above. The Red Sox are on record saying they want to slash their 2020 payroll under the $208 million Competitive Balance Tax threshold. Its a goal and not a mandate. But trading Betts always has been much more about receiving the best return if the two sides fail to agree on a contract value not about trading Betts just to get below $208 million. The Red Sox certainly would make an exception and exceed the $208 million base threshold in 2020 if they could get Betts to sign a contract extension today at the teams right price. Bostons payroll sits at an estimated $231.9125 million after it inked Mitch Moreland to a one-year, $3-million contract Tuesday. Trading Betts would help Boston get below the base threshold. But the best return might depend on assuming a bad contract, which would put the Soxs payroll back over the CBT unless they dealt other major league players along with Betts. Betts is a one-year rental. He has indicated strongly he plans to test free agency and not sign a contract extension before reaching the market. How many teams are willing to deal top prospects for a one-year rental? Thats where Wil Myers (or a similar player from another trade partner) enters the picture. The San Diego Union-Tribunes Kevin Acee reported, The Padres are willing to send two young major leaguers and at least one prospect to Boston along with Myers in exchange for Betts." But what could prevent the trade is the Red Sox agreeing to take on more of Wil Myers contract. Myers has a bad contract. Hell will earn $22.5 million each of the next three years. He then has a $20 million option and $1 buyout in 2023. He batted only .239 with a .321 on-base percentage, .418 slugging percentage and .739 OPS in 155 games during 2019. He has posted an OPS of .800 or better only once in seven major league seasons. No team wants to relieve another club of its poor contract decision. Bad contract limit a clubs ability to sign high-priced free agents. But the Red Sox assuming most of Myers contract for three years might be the best decision if they receive two controllable, cost-effective young major leaguers and a prospect such as Padres Luis Campusano in the deal. (The Red Sox might end up with a bad contract whether they trade Betts or re-sign him.) But is three years of Myers money worth it if the player return is much greater (or at least if Chaim Bloom feels it will be much valuable) than the draft pick compensation the Red Sox would receive for Betts if he leaves via free agency? Thats the most important question. The Red Sox would receive a 2021 compensation draft pick for Betts after the second round (Competitive Balance Round B) if they successfully slash their 2020 payroll under $208 million. The compensation draft pick drops to after the fourth round if the payroll exceeds the base threshold. Neither pick is overly appealing as compensation for a perennial MVP, although it ultimately depends on the player the Red Sox draft. They certainly could select an elite player after the second or fourth round. Betts himself was a fifth-round pick. Boston has dealt with several bad contracts in recent years, most notably Pablo Sandovals five years, $95 million, Hanley Ramirezs four years, $88 million, Allen Craigs five years, $43 million (from the Cardinals) and Rusney Castillos seven years, $72.5 million.. Fortunately for the Red Sox, Craigs contract and Castillos contract didnt count toward the CBT because Boston outrighted them to Triple-A Pawtucket before the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. They were grandfathered in by the old CBA. One could argue the Red Sox are acting thrifty this offseason after leading the majors in payroll the past two years. But slashing payroll under the CBT every so often is a trend we have seen among all major market clubs, even the Yankees, in recent years. Multiple financial incentives exist when big market clubs stay below the CBT. Its not only about avoiding tax penalties. Boston would receive its full revenue sharing market disqualification refund in 2020. Why trade Betts now rather than wait until before the July 31 deadline? Boston certainly wont be able to trade him at the deadline if they are competing for a postseason spot (presumably they will be). His trade value also presumably diminishes after the regular season begins. A pending free agent must be on a teams roster for the entire season for his own club to offer him a qualifying offer and thus, receive draft-pick compensation if he leaves via free agency. Queen Elizabeth doesnt typically come out and say exactly how shes feeling. Instead, Her Majesty is a pro at maintaining the never complain, never explain royal family motto and keeping her stiff upper lip intact. However, she often reveals clues about her true feelings that fans can see if theyre paying attention. Most recently, the queen offered some important insight into how she feels about her grandson Prince William. Even though Queen Elizabeth didnt express her approval in specific words, the Duke of Cambridges most recent appointment proves how much the queen values his loyalty to the crown. Queen Elizabeth and Prince William | Chris Jackson WPA Pool/Getty Images Queen Elizabeth cares about keeping the peace The most important value Queen Elizabeth treasures is family unity. Theres nothing she abhors more than scandal and division, which have been happening more and more frequently in recent years. No matter how much the queen wants to avoid drama, it just keeps finding her. The most recent problems occurred when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their intentions to step back as senior royals, a decision they made without first informing the queen. This came after the couple made headlines for suing the British press and further scandalizing the family. Plus, Queen Elizabeth has been dealing with the fallout from her son, Prince Andrew. The disgraced royal was forced to resign from his position in the royal family after giving a disastrous interview to explain his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Prince William keeps upholding the values Queen Elizabeth treasures With all this craziness going on, the queen is clinging tightly to the few royal family members who havent let her down by becoming involved in scandals and controversies. One of these key individuals is her grandson and future heir to the throne, Prince William. Queen Elizabeth just proved how much she respects William by giving him the new title Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. This new role will allow Prince William to make opening and closing speeches at the Assembly, plus will carry other official duties. The timing of this announcement probably isnt coincidental. The Duke of Cambridge received his new appointment just one week after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were stripped of their HRH titles. The queen will always have her favorites Even though Queen Elizabeth claims to publicly support all her family members, including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, she secretly has favorites just like any other person. And since Her Majesty values tradition so highly, its logical to assume that shes most happy with the members of her inner circle who follow the status quo. One of Queen Elizabeths favorites is Prince Edwards wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex for some of the reasons listed above. Shes rumored to be taking the place of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as they move away from royal duties and leave a void to be filled. The queen is way too secretive to ever reveal the family members she values the most. But we know that those who remain faithful to the crown, including her grandson Prince William, will be rewarded handsomely for their continued loyalty. Guests at the exclusive, invitation-only event will welcome more than 600 leading family offices and ultra-high net worth individuals, together with Sheikhs, Royals, Private Investment Companies and Sovereign Wealth Funds from across the Middle East and around the globe representing more than $4.5 trillion in wealth. Sessions will focus on topics related to global investment opportunities, Middle East trends and opportunities, succession planning, philanthropy suggestions, and family governance. The Summit's welcome address will be presented by Rayan Qutub . Executive Chairman, Nama Al Baraka Investments, KSA, on behalf of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz Bin Faisal Al Saud. Rayan Qutub is a Saudi icon with his leading investment portfolio in Logistics, Mobility Solutions, ICT, E-commerce Development, Trading and Specialized Advisory Services with a focus on technology and Saudi Vision 2030 future growth sectors. "I am honoured to offer my patronage to such a noble cause. Together with Sir Anthony Ritossa, I believe that we are an ideal bridge connecting international companies and families seeking to expand their presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with aligned investors and co-investors. Saudi Arabia is unique in its culture. The platform that we are putting in place with the Summit in Riyadh is a perfect introduction to understand better how partnerships initiate and develop in the region. These are exciting times for Saudi Arabia with the implemented vision of 2030 actively in force," said H.R.H. Prince Abdulaziz Bin Faisal Al Saud. "We are privileged to have the High Patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz Bin Faisal Al Saud, and together we celebrate the Kingdom's mission to be a leading Nation in all aspects. Saudi Arabia's vision 2030 is an impressive achievement blueprint for a leading nation. It expresses the Kingdom's long-term goals, built upon its unique strengths and capabilities," said Sir Anthony Ritossa, Chairman of Ritossa Family Office, a family business dating back 600 years to the Venetian Empire in Europe. "It was a honour to welcome more than 600 visitors from around the world to Dubai for the 10th Anniversary Ritossa Global Family Office Investment Summit and I look forward to seeing everyone again in Riyadh. Sir Anthony Ritossa continually exceeds the high expectations of an important group representing over $4.5 trillion in investor wealth and every Summit is grander and more spectacular than ever," said Mohamed Al Ali, CEO & Advisor, Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum International Investments Enterprise, UAE, and Distinguished Grand Ambassador for the Dubai Summit. "I have been an active participant and currently a member of the board of advisory of this unique gathering that has brought together pioneers and leaders in many diverse industries from all around the globe. This year, we have decided to take things to a new level and have had the honor to collaborate with Sir Anthony Ritossa over the next year to support and endorse the summits as well as initiate a partnership that expands globally. This was done under the blessing and in presence of His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Abdulla Bin Sultan Al Qasimi and CEO & MD Mohamed Al Banna," said Faris M. Al Tahtamooni, Associate Director - Strategic Partnerships, LEAD Ventures - The Office of Sheikh Sultan Bin Abdullah Al Qasimi, UAE. "Congratulations to Sir Anthony Ritossa, Mohamed Al Ali, Vanessa A. Eriksson and all those that worked tirelessly on the 10th Ritossa Family Office Summit held in Dubai. The event brought together more than 600 exceptional families, managers, and innovators to share insights on the best global investment strategies, thought leadership, and governance. I was honored to represent Kallas and discuss Brazilian investment opportunities, real estate, sustainability, and bilateral relations on a panel with the likes of Aneel Ranadive (Sacramento Kings, Soma Capital), Grant Cardone (10X) and Ricky Husaini. We look forward to participating at the 11th Ritossa Family Office Summit held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in March 2020," said Matthew Wilkens, Senior Managing Director, Head of Capital Markets, Kallas Group, U.S. and Brazil. For more details on the invitation-only 11th Global Family Office Investment Summit in Saudi Arabia and future Family Office Summits, please visit www.SaudiSummit.org Media Contact: Charlotte Luer +1-239-404-6785 [email protected] SOURCE Ritossa Family Office MBABANE - Police have confiscated lottery machines and further arrested suspected owners in an ongoing operation across the country. Information gathered was to the effect that four businesspeople, including foreigners, were arrested in Mbabane and Matsapha. It is said that the businesspeople placed their machines at the entrance of the shops with intent to lure people, especially the youth, into gambling. Information gathered was that an undisclosed amount of money was found in the machines during the operation. One of the suspected businessmen is alleged to have been found in possession of money amounting to E250 000, which is believed to have been obtained from the gambling. It was gathered that the businesspeople have not yet appeared in court as investigations are ongoing. It should be noted that gambling is in breach of Lottery Act of 1963. However, in some of the places which were visited by the officers of the law, children below the age of 21 were found to be avid clients. Gambling Surprisingly, the youth seemed to be enjoying the unlawful gambling as nobody bothered reporting the act to the police until the discovery was made during the operation. It was reliably gathered that illegal gambling was prevalent countrywide, especially in the rural areas. In one community, the lottery machine was found placed at the entrance of a shop. They youth was playing while others watched in admiration. It was observed that the youth inserted coins and won a lot of money if successful. In random interviews with the youth, they stated that they were not at all aware that gambling was unlawful since they were not exposed to the Lottery Act of 1963. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the report of four businesspeople who were arrested in Mbabane in connection with the illegal gambling. She said police were investigating the matter. Vilakati stated that the operation was ongoing countrywide with the aim of curbing illegal gambling. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has said Sinn Fein's 22bn manifesto would "destroy jobs" and again ruled out going into coalition with the party in the next government. Sinn Fein proposes that, if elected, it would increase public spending by an additional 22 billion by 2025. It also pledged to give away 2.4 billion in tax reductions every year, and raise 3.8 billion in tax increases annually. Launching the manifesto in Dublin on Tuesday, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, said the manifesto is "uplifting and fair". Micheal Martin said that if the spending plan was implemented, it would threaten the Irish economy. "Have you seen their General Election manifesto? They would destroy jobs in this country," he told RTE radio on Wednesday. Mr Martin added the economy cannot afford to narrow the tax base any further as it needs to guard against potential shocks such as Brexit. He again ruled out going into Government with Sinn Fein and said he "would stick to his word" on the issue. "What you underestimate is the depth and the strength of opposition to Sinn Fein within the Fianna Fail party and among the grassroots and among people who still remember what happened. People within Fianna Fail resent the legacy of Sinn Fein in terms of the gardai that were attacked and killed and the army. "People come up to me and they say that," he said. "What's worse is Sinn Fein has never fully apologised for that. "They endorse it and they want to change the narrative, and they want to shove it down everybody's throat that it was a just war and so on. "There are people in my party that tell me unequivocally they would never accept going into government with them and then you add to their record in Northern Ireland where they collapsed the institution for three years." Mr Martin said Fianna Fail would "do business" with other centrist parties such as Labour and the Green Party. Data courtesy of The Irish Times Asked if he was ruling out another confidence and supply deal with Fine Gael he said "we should respect the electorate" and wait for the outcome of the election. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said in response: "We won't take lectures from the party that wrecked the economy or the one that made ordinary people pay. Sinn Fein makes no apologies for seeking to give workers and families a break." In Clane in Co Kildare, Mr Martin accused Sinn Fein of trying to "wipe out" small businesses with its economic plan. "I want to build up a strong Irish small to medium-sized enterprise base in this country and I think the taxation policies of Sinn Fein would wipe it out," he said. "22 billion worth of expenditure - we were told there is only 11 billion available to spend...so in my view, their planned policies do not add up at all. "I think it is an extraordinary manifesto which I think all economists are saying is in no way sustainable and I think it would damage the economy and is quite dangerous." Russia may not be able to maintain the level of its oil production in the future due to the current taxation system on the oil industry, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Wednesday. Currently, Russia produces around 11.2 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil and condensate. The energy ministry sees risks in Russias goal to keep its oil production levels due to higher production costs and dwindling reserves, Russian media quoted Novak as saying at a meeting to discuss the countrys economic policy on Wednesday. Russia is currently overhauling its taxation system to move from a tax based on production to a profit-based taxation and to gradually phase out the crude oil export duty by 2024, which is expected to increase export netbacks for oil producers. Russias energy ministry plans to update this year the energy strategy through 2035, said Novak, who kept his job in the recent reshuffle of the Russian government. The energy strategy is filed with the government, there are disagreements on it, but they will be discussed soon, Novak said today. As early as in September 2018, Novak was quoted as saying that Russias oil production could peak as early as in 2021 due to high taxes and costs, provided there are no benefits for exploration or tax incentives introduced. If current production trends continue, and if Russia doesnt do anything to further stimulate oil exploration and new field development, after 2021, production may start to fall and reach just 310 million tons by 2035, that is, Russias oil production could drop by 44 percent by then, Novak said back then. Russias crude oil and condensate production could rise to more than 12 million bpd by 2035, if global demand for liquid hydrocarbons continues to grow, Russias second-largest oil producer, Lukoil, said in a new forecast last month. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: STAR-certified SMOG shops are in a class of their own. We know because they aren't only our clients, but friends and past colleagues. Automotive Defense Specialists, a team of defense attorneys serving hard-working auto repair shops and technicians against California's Bureau of Automotive Repair, is proud to announce a new post for 2020 on the issue of appeals. For a STAR-certified SMOG-testing station, losing to the Bureau of Auto Repair may not mean the fight is over. Technicians or auto shop owners may be able to appeal a decision by the Bureau of Automotive Repair by working with a knowledgeable attorney. "STAR-certified SMOG shops are in a class of their own. We know because they aren't only our clients, but friends and past colleagues. When a STAR Program participant loses in court, they shouldn't just walk away and accept defeat," explained attorney William Ferreira of Automotive Defense Specialists. "It's hard work to achieve top status in the SMOG testing community. That's worth fighting for, and we are prepared to help by giving it our all as defense attorneys including appealing decisions, where possible, by California's Bureau of Automotive Repair." Interested persons can review the new post on appeals at https://automotivedefense.com/2020/01/03/if-your-star-status-is-threatened-by-the-bureau-of-automotive-repair-you-have-to-fight-them/. Persons with specific issues such as so-called "accusations" by the Bureau of Automotive Repair can either visit the informational page at https://automotivedefense.com/about/services/license-revoked/ or reach out to the law firm for a confidential consultation. Persons who want to know more about the STAR program can visit the official page at https://www.bar.ca.gov/Industry/STAR_Program/. STAR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS MAKE NO EXCUSES WHEN IT'S TIME TO APPEAL A DECISION BY THE BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR Here is the background to this release. Business industries can bestow special awards and certifications to highly-trained professionals in the field. The SMOG testing industry offers a rigorous program for technicians designed to provide customers a high-quality smog check experience. STAR Program stations can go through uncompromising training to achieve the designation from the State of California. Losing a special certification, however, can mean a significant blow to a business. A SMOG technician can pride themselves on personal accountability and high expectations. Taking shortcuts and making excuses for sub-par work may not be in a SMOG tech's vocabulary, nor certainly in the vocabulary of a participant in the prestigious STAR program. A day in court to defend a citation could turn out badly and leave an expert smog technician stunned. The next move can include fighting back and appealing a decision by the Bureau of Automotive Repair. For these reasons, Automotive Defense Specialists has announced a new blog post for the STAR program community. ABOUT AUTOMOTIVE DEFENSE SPECIALISTS Automotive Repair Specialists is a top law firm of Bureau of Automotive Repair defense attorneys. The firm represents auto repair facilities, SMOG check stations, and technicians in every facet of their legal needs, including accusations from the Bureau of Auto Repair, STAR license invalidations, and STAR invalidation appeals. Contacting a top auto defense lawyer and consulting with attorneys after initial contact can provide the best strategy for fighting back. Oxford University Press (OUP) on Tuesday named Samvidhaan (Constitution) the Oxford Hindi Word of 2019, saying it received widespread attention in the year which was witness to the spirit of the Indian Constitution being embraced across segments of the society. It said the word was chosen as 2019 saw the values of democracy, secularism, justice, liberty, equality and fraternity being tested on the touchstone of the Constitution or Samvidhaan. The Oxford Hindi Word of the Year is a word or expression that has attracted a great deal of attention and reflects the ethos, mood, or preoccupations of the past year. OUP said Samvidhaan means a body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organisation is acknowledged to be governed. The word Samvidhaan first received widespread attention in August 2019, with the abrogation of two key constitutional provisions - Article 370 and Article 35(A) of the Indian Constitution, on August 5, which effectively removed the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir. Some major decisions by the Supreme Court also significantly contributed to Samvidhaans prominence in 2019: the Sabarimala verdict, the floor test in Maharashtra and upholding of the order of the former Speaker of the Karnataka legislative assembly disqualifying 17 MLAs under the anti-defection law, an OUP statement said. The team invited entries for the Oxford Hindi Word of the Year through its Facebook page and received several hundred diverse and thoughtful entries. According to Kritika Agarwal, Hindi Language Champion for Oxford Languages, The Hindi Word of the Year for 2019 is a fitting choice reflecting the mood of the masses as also the focus of the decision makers... In 2019, the Constitution moved from being an academic concept to a movement in real time. I am once again honored to be chosen as a Los Angeles Top Doctor and recognized by such respected and talented physicians in the community. I plan to continue my dedication to helping others realize the benefits of Ketamine therapy, says Dr. David Mahjoubi of Ketamine Healing Clinic of Los Angeles. Dr. David Mahjoubi, is a highly trained board-certified Anesthesiologist and owner of Ketamine Healing Clinic of Los Angeles located at 1762 Westwood Boulevard suite 320 in Los Angeles, California 90024. Dr. Mahjoubi is uniquely qualified to administer IV infusion therapy of Ketamine to treat depression symptoms as well as anxiety and chronic pain. Los Angeles Magazine recently recognized Dr. David Mahjoubi in their coveted Top Doctor list for 2020. Dr. Mahjoubi, who also achieved this acknowledgment when the Top Doctor list was first produced three years ago, is listed among a respected group of physicians in the Anesthesiology category. Dr. Mahjoubi was chosen based on the respect earned from his peers and colleagues. The magazine issues a thorough nomination and review process conducted by PRS (Professional Research Services), which involves a peer-to-peer survey and voting from practicing physicians throughout Los Angeles County. Inclusion into Los Angeles Magazines Top Doctors cannot be purchased, and advertising has no influence on the review process. Dr. Mahjoubis valued distinction as a Top Doctor will soon appear in the April 2020 issue of Los Angeles Magazine. Dr. Mahjoubi is most known for his alternative approach to depression treatment. He is among a very elite group of physicians in the United States to use Ketamine to treat depression as well as chronic pain. As an experienced Anesthesiologist, Dr. Mahjoubi understands Ketamine as a safe anesthetic medication that has been used for over half a century. However, Ketamine's value in treating major depression symptoms is a breakthrough therapy that is highly sought-after at Dr. Mahjoubis Los Angeles clinic. Patients receive a calculated protocol of IV Ketamine infusions and may also choose Dr. Mahjoubis exclusive Ketamine intranasal spray for supplementary treatment at home. Patients who are not tolerating anti-depressants or resistant to other forms of depression treatment often make ideal candidates for Ketamine. As a non-opioid and non-addictive therapy, Ketamine has also shown valued efficacy for treating chronic pain and fibromyalgia. I am once again honored to be chosen as a Los Angeles Top Doctor and recognized by such respected and talented physicians in the community. I plan to continue my dedication to helping others realize the remarkable benefits of Ketamine therapy, says Dr. David Mahjoubi of Ketamine Healing Clinic of Los Angeles. More About Dr. David Mahjoubi of Ketamine Healing Clinic of Los Angeles: David Mahjoubi, MD is a Diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology. He earned his Doctor of Medicine at The Chicago Medical School. Dr. Mahjoubi carries over a decade of experience with intravenous Ketamine, beginning from his residency training at the University of Southern California (USC) + Los Angeles County Medical Center. He is the author of multiple publications in the medical field and holds high honors from his educational years. Following his residency, Dr. Mahjoubi joined the Anesthesia Group at Northridge Hospital Medical Center and became the most active user of IV Ketamine for both conscious sedation and general anesthesia cases. After working at surgical centers throughout Southern California, he quickly noted the beneficial mental health effects of IV Ketamine in many patients post-procedurally. Ketamine Healing Clinic of Los Angeles was thus founded, and now provides a highly effective treatment for patients with treatment-resistant depression and chronic pain. To learn more about IV or intranasal Ketamine treatment from Dr. David Mahjoubi, please contact the Los Angeles office at (424) 278-4241 or (866) 987-7874. You may also visit their website at http://www.ketaminehealing.com. During the days of Ukraine in Kuwait, which were organized and initiated by the Embassy of Ukraine in Kuwait, the Ukrainian composer and virtuoso pianist Evgeny Khmara made a number of performances as part of cultural and political events. With the support of the Embassy, the composer had the honour of becoming a representative of modern Ukrainian culture, presenting his work to the local political and cultural elite, as well as to the Ukrainian diaspora. During the week of Ukraine in Kuwait, Evgeny Khmara held a number of concerts: for students and representatives of the Higher Institute of Musical Arts music institute, opening fashion shows for the local elite and representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora, performing at the Theater as a special guest at a concert of the Kyiv classic Ukrainian symphony orchestra, participation in a diplomatic reception, where he performed the anthem of Ukraine, Kuwait, as well as his own compositions. Over the course of five days, more than 20 events took place in Kuwait that introduced modern Ukraine to the political and business elite of the Middle East. One of the most impressive facts was that the Ukrainian Embassy in Kuwait managed to place Ukrainian flags on the main skyscrapers of the city, which shone around the capital around the clock for a whole week! None of the embassies of other countries represented in Kuwait have managed to do this yet. Such a number of events aimed at the presentation of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait became possible only thanks to the enthusiasm and hard work of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the State of Kuwait, Oleksandr Balanutsa and his diplomatic team. The destabilization of Libya after the ousting of longtime dictator Muammar Khadaffi has created an unstable country where states support a proxy in the continuing civil war. The recent focus of global leaders on reaching a ceasefire was sparked by Turkeys cunning diplomacy regarding its support for the Tripoli-based UN-recognized Government of National Accord, GNA. The momentum to negotiate wouldnt have been possible without Ankaras and Moscows mutual decision to cease fighting. While Turkey supports the ceasefire due to the GNA losing the war, Russias reasons stretch beyond Libyas borders. The government in Tobruk, the self-declared government of Eastern Libya, has the upper hand in the conflict with the support of Russia, Egypt, France, and the UAE. General Haftar's forces have land, sea, and air superiority over Tripoli's army. Furthermore, the majority of the country is under Tobruks control including the biggest onshore oil production areas in the south. The momentum is with General Haftar. Therefore, one should ask itself why Moscow tried to broker a ceasefire while the GNA in Tripoli is on the brink of collapse? Turkeys goals in Libya Turkey has multiple reasons to prevent the GNAs collapse. Turkish companies had a profound presence in Libya before the ousting of Muammar Khadaffi in 2014. As a consequence of the conflict, billions of dollars in investments have been put on hold. By supporting the GNA, Ankara intends to get back some of the outstanding multibillion-dollar debt from Tripoli. The timing of Turkey's political and military support, however, has everything to do with energy. The agreement between Turkey and Tripolis GNA on the delimitation of maritime boundaries was a move by Ankara to obstruct cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and Egypt concerning the development of natural gas fields. The discovery of significant energy deposits in the Eastern Mediterranean has sparked opportunities for the littoral states. Turkey, however, feels being left out. Related: 5 Niche Energy ETFs Youve (Probably) Never Heard Of The agreement with Tripoli should achieve three objectives. First, Ankara intends to obstruct the cooperation between Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, and Israel. Second, Turkey maintains that the Turkish inhabitants of northern Cyprus should also take advantage of the discovery of offshore gas fields. Lastly, the delimitation of the seabed agreement between Ankara and Tripoli should bloc energy exploration in the region by Cyprus and Greece. The EU and Greece have responded equally astonished to the apparent illegality of the deal. Russias hidden motives General Haftars strength comes from the support of its allies Russia, Egypt, France, and the UAE, which has given him military superiority over its adversaries. However, hardly a week after Turkey sent troops to Libya, Moscow agreed on the ceasefire. From a military point of view that doesnt make sense. The underlying motivation for Moscow is energy politics and the supply of natural gas to Europes southeastern borders. The discovery of natural gas in the Eastern Mediterranean is a possible threat to the Russian domination of the European energy market. The construction of the subsea EastMed pipeline could go at the expense of Russias market share. By agreeing on a ceasefire and a negotiated settlement to the conflict, Moscow prevents the collapse of the internationally recognized government in Tripoli. Thereby the agreement on the determination of the maritime borders of Libya and Turkey is also secured which complicates the construction of alternative energy infrastructure to Europe. A shaky ceasefire Russia and Turkeys effort to negotiate a ceasefire failed in Moscow when General Haftar unexpectedly refused to sign the agreement. Germany and the EU saw this as an opportunity to restore control over the situation after it was caught off guard by the recent developments. Berlins asstertiveness, unfortunately, had a low chance of success from the start due to several reasons. First, the EU is still divided on Libya as France and Italy maintain support for opposing parties. Second, Greece has been sidelined by Berlin as it was not invited to attend the summit. Athens, however, invited General Haftar for talks after the failed peace talks in Moscow where the Greeks claimed to have received support for tearing up the maritime agreement between Libya and Turkey. Also, two days before the summit General Haftar ordered the shutting down of oilfields to put pressure on the GNA. The move shows the leverage Tobruk has over its adversaries in Tripoli who are merely paper tigers. Regardless of Haftars influence, his power is based on the support of his foreign sponsors. Russia, therefore, needs Egypts and the UAEs support to exert pressure on their proxy in Libya. A lot depends on Tripoli's willingness to compromise. Turkey's support, however, complicates the situation significantly. Therefore, a resumption of fighting in the short term is a likely outcome despite the current ceasefire. By Vanand Meliksetian for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Here's a postscript of sorts to the uproar over Senate Bill 1013, the bill passed by the Legislature this session that dramatically narrowed the use of the death penalty in Oregon. You recall the bill: This is the one that, rather ingeniously, limited the number of crimes that can be punished in Oregon by death. Under Oregon law, only the crime of "aggravated murder" can result in a death sentence. SB 1013 simply reduced the number of crimes that qualify as aggravated murder. Under the terms of the bill, aggravated murder can only be charged in cases in which a defendant kills two or more people as an act of organized terrorism; kills a child younger than 14 intentionally and with premeditation; kills another person while incarcerated for a previous aggravated murder; or kills a law enforcement officer. Other crimes that used to be included on the list of aggravated murder are now classified as "first-degree murder," and the maximum penalty for those is life imprisonment without parole. Because the bill did not call for the death penalty to be abolished outright, it did not require a constitutional amendment, and therefore did not require a public vote. One of the questions that came up during debate on the bill was whether it would apply to the 30 inmates on Oregon's death row. Legislators generally heard that the answer was "no," that the measure would not be retroactive. The bill passed the Legislature. Gov. Kate Brown signed it. But after Brown signed the bill, legal analysts concluded that it could apply to death row cases which were returned to lower courts for retrial or new sentencing hearings and since not one of the state's 30 cases has exhausted all its appeals, the law presumably could affect all of them. Sen. Floyd Prozanski, the Eugene Democrat who was a key supporter of the bill, said that wasn't his intention, and set off to craft a narrow fix, one that would make it clear that it applied only to crimes committed after Sept. 29 of this year. But for whatever reasons, support for the special session faded and Brown declined to call legislators into session, citing what she said was a lack of support for the fix. The bill went into effect at the end of last month. But now a poll from the state organization Crime Victims United concludes that there might have been more support for the fix than Brown suggested. In a press release, the organization (which supported fixing the bill) said it polled all 90 members of the Legislature. Only about half of the members responded; 17 of 30 senators responded, as did 26 of the 60 representatives. But here's the bottom line: The lawmakers who did respond all said they supported the legislative fix. Seventeen votes in the Senate, of course, makes a majority. Twenty-six members of the House is just shy of a majority, but it seems unlikely that all 34 remaining representatives would have voted against the fix. Any way you slice these numbers, it looks like there would have been at least considerable sentiment for Prozanski's suggested fix. In any event, it seems to be a good bet that this issue will come up again in the short legislative session scheduled for February. It's a hole that the Legislature should fix. The Legislature should take the next step as well: Instead of concocting ingenious end runs around the state's voters, lawmakers should call the question and refer a ballot measure on the death penalty to voters. It's been nearly four decades since Oregon voters last reaffirmed the death penalty, and there's reason to think that attitudes toward capital punishment have changed. But there's only way to know for sure: Let the voters speak. (mm) Correction An editorial earlier this week about Linn County's $1.4 billion lawsuit against the state of Oregon over timber policy misstated the year when the state approved a new management plan for its forests. The year was 1998. (mm) Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 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. Author Thomas Torens debut book, Until We Meet Again: Last time we met for 54 years. Next time for eternity! (published by Balboa Press AU), details the survival story of both the author and his wife, Lisa, who were alive during the Holocaust. Toren is launching a marketing campaign to expand the reach of his book. The book is available for purchase at: https://www.amazon.com/Until-We-Meet-Again-Eternity-ebook/dp/B07948RF76. As a 5-year-old, Lisa escaped together with her parents from Danzig to Shanghai, her fathers, Dar Lee Dju, hometown, shortly before the outbreak of World War II in 1939. In 1945, Lisa and her mother were able to return to Vienna, her mothers hometown, before they moved to Israel three years later. At the end of 1938, Toren fled with his stepfather without visas to Japanese occupied Harbin, in the North of China. Toren grew up in the white-Russian community, which settled there during and after the Bolshevik revolution of 1917. He graduated from a Soviet Russian high-school at the top of his class, but he was not admitted to the Harbin University because he did not apply for Soviet Russian citizenship. Toren shares meeting and marrying his wife as well as their immigration from Tel Aviv to Sydney in 1963. He also includes the births of their daughter, Iris, in Israel, and of their granddaughter, Laura, in Australia. When asked about the relevance of his book now, Toren pointed to the Stolen Generations of Australian Aboriginal children, international racism and the current treatment of asylum seekers, saying that some of the central themes of his book are racism, discrimination and persecution, all of which are prevalent in todays world. Until We Meet Again by Thomas Toren Softcover | 7.5 x 9.25 in | 190 pages | ISBN 9781452526799 Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble About the Author Thomas Toren was born in Berlin on January 1, 1931. When he was 6, his Christian mother was imprisoned by the Nazis in a concentration camp, and he did not see her again for 22 years. After the Crystal-Night Pogrom, he and his Jewish stepfather escaped to Japanese-occupied Harbin, China. Not being able to attend the Soviet Russian University in Harbin, Thomas Toren joined his Jewish step-father on his way to Israel, assisted by the United Nations, where he was able to enter the Haifa University, Technion, which he completed with distinction, without any financial assistance whatsoever. Balboa Press Australia is a division of Hay House, Inc., a leading provider in publishing products that specialise in self-help and the mind, body and spirit genre. Through an alliance with the worldwide self-publishing leader Author Solutions, LLC, authors benefit from the leadership of Hay House Publishing and the speed-to-market advantages of the Author Solutions self-publishing model. For more information or to start publishing today, visit balboapress.com.au/ or call 1800 050 315. Dr Hunter Mulcare and Amy Donaldson are psychologists and hosts of the Two Shrinks Pod, a podcast that explores personality disorders, psychological theory, and the representation of psychosis in the media. The pair have produced one of those rare podcasting treats: an independent show on a fascinating subject, with good quality audio and a strong chemistry between hosts. Amy Donaldson and Dr Hunter Mulcare from Two Shrinks Pod. Mulcare wanted to try podcasting during a period of leave, when he "needed to keep his brain working," and enlisted a surprised Donaldson, who says she "literally showed up for a drink one night at [Mulcare's house] and there were microphones there. And now we're 51 episodes in!" Mulcare wanted to create a show that explained psychology and psychological theory while never talking down to the audience. Mulcare was frustrated with the way psychology was being portrayed in mainstream media, and thought podcasting offered him a chance to go a little deeper. "I was listening to a lot of American politics podcasts at the time," says Mulcare "And some of those shows would talk in great detail, at a really high level about complex situations. And I thought, 'that's what I want!' I want to have a podcast that would be two psychologists talking to each other, and not to dumb it down for people. Because I get sick of those two-minute spots on radio or breakfast television about some new psychology study" The World Health Organization on Wednesday warned all governments to "take action" over the SARS-like virus spreading from China that has killed 132 people and infected around 6,000 others. The WHO called an urgent meeting for Thursday over whether the viral epidemic should be declared a global health emergency -- a designation that can increase international coordination. Airlines have begun suspending flights to and from China following cases of onward transmission outside the country. And some countries have begun airlifting their nationals trapped in Wuhan, the quarantined Chinese city of 11 million people at the centre of the epidemic. A US charter flight from Wuhan with about 210 Americans on board, including consulate staff, was met at a California military base on Wednesday by emergency vehicles with flashing lights and personnel in white biological hazard suits. The evacuees will be monitored for symptoms and sent to local hospitals if they are found to be ill, the US defense department said. Among 206 Japanese nationals who returned home Wednesday, 12 were hospitalised for tests after they reported they felt unwell or showed flu-like symptoms. A growing number of governments -- including the United States, Britain and Germany -- have advised their citizens to avoid non-essential travel to China. China has urged its own citizens to delay trips abroad, with at least 18 countries having confirmed cases of the disease. In Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the organisation "deeply regrets" its reports last week that referred to the global risk of the outbreak as "moderate" instead of "high". "I have decided to reconvene the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on the new #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) tomorrow," Tedros said on Twitter. Michael Ryan, head of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, told reporters that "the whole world needs to be on alert now. The whole world needs to take action." Ryan said declaring an international health emergency could streamline the measures taken, stressing that 194 countries implementing unilateral policies was a "potential recipe for disaster". Outside China, 68 further cases have been identified in more than a dozen other countries, including Germany, Japan and Vietnam where cases of human-to-human transmission have been confirmed. British Airways was the first major airline to announce a suspension of flights to and from China, citing the travel advice of the foreign office. It was followed by German flag carrier Lufthansa, which said all flights to mainland China would be suspended until February 9. Indonesia's Lion Air Group, Southeast Asia's biggest carrier, said it would halt services to and from China from Saturday, and airlines from Myanmar and Nepal followed suit. Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific has reduced flights, citing low demand and the city government's response plan to the virus. In one of the most dramatic measures, the tiny Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea announced no travellers from Asia would be allowed in. "Although the numbers outside China are still relatively small, they hold the potential for a much larger outbreak," Tedros said. "The world is pulling together to end the outbreak, building on lessons learned from past outbreaks. "China needs the world's solidarity and support," he added, saying that he had held "frank talks" with President Xi Jinping. China has taken extraordinary measures to try and stop the disease spreading, including bans on tour groups travelling overseas, suspending schools and extending the Lunar New Year holiday. Most street traffic in and around Wuhan has been banned, leaving more than 50 million people shuttered in their homes. "This is the first day since the lockdown that I've had to go out," a man in his 50s told AFP on the mostly deserted streets of the industrial city on Wednesday. "I have no choice because I need to buy food." Some 250 French citizens and 100 other Europeans will be flown out of Wuhan on board two French planes this week. Nearly 600 European citizens in China want to be repatriated because of the coronavirus epidemic, the EU said. France said it would keep its returnees in a holding facility in Paris for 14 days -- the estimated incubation period for the virus. Australia plans to house any citizens evacuated on an island normally used to detain asylum seekers. The number of confirmed cases across China climbed to 5,974, while the death toll nationwide jumped to 132. The scale of the deepening crisis was emphasised with the total number of infections on the Chinese mainland exceeding that of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 2002-03. But the death toll is so far much lower than SARS, which claimed nearly 800 lives around the world -- with most fatalities in mainland China and Hong Kong. The virus is believed to have originated in a wild-animal market in Wuhan, where it jumped to humans before spreading across the country as the peak travel period for New Year festivities got under way. The virus has rattled global markets and started to dent the Chinese economy. Japanese automaker Toyota said it would keep its plants in China closed until at least February 9. Tech giant Foxconn said Wednesday that Taiwan staff at its vast network of factories in China do not need to return to work until mid-February, a move threatening supply chains for everything from iPhones to flat-screen TVs and laptops. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [January 29, 2020] Mediaocean Acquires MBS to Expand European Operations NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mediaocean, the system of record for the advertising world, today announced that it has expanded its European operations with the acquisition of MBS, a Paris-based media management software provider. MBS is the leading media management software provider in France handling end-to-end campaign execution, including buying, invoicing, and reporting. As the third largest market in Europe and ninth largest in the world, France is a critical advertising market for global marketers and home to many premium global brands. MBS's existing clients include five out of six holding companies, representing 13 billion in media spend across France, Russia and Morocco. This acquisition expands Mediaocean's presence in the French market, adding media management to existing production and creative applications in the market. "The acquisition of MBS is a key step in Mediaocean's continued expanion in Europe and worldwide servicing global marketers, agencies, sellers and the wider advertising community," said Bill Wise, CEO, Mediaocean. "The MBS acquisition helps Mediaocean deliver our system of record solutions across the plan to pay media buying process in France and beyond. We are very excited to have MBS join our team." "For the last 20 years, we have worked to become France's premier media management software," said Marc Watrin, CEO of MBS. "We have been a partner of Mediaocean for years, and now are excited to join the company and to serve our clients with a broader set of applications." MBS systems are already integrated with Prisma, Mediaocean's addressable media buy management platform, and plans for greater integration will be announced in 2020. The acquisition has closed. About Mediaocean Mediaocean is the advertising system of record that manages every aspect of the advertising workflow: from planning, buying, and sellingto analyzing and optimizingto invoicing and payments. Our foundational, open cross-media platform powers 135 billion in global media spend, providing transparency and accountability across the entire supply-chain. We serve a wide range of clients in the advertising world: over 100,000 agency, advertiser, and media owner users trust Mediaocean applications daily. Our company employs 950 people and is part of the Vista Equity Partners portfolio of software companies. Advertising. Powered by Mediaocean. Contact Mona Khaldi [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mediaocean-acquires-mbs-to-expand-european-operations-300994855.html SOURCE Mediaocean [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Authorities confirmed that a Colombian mother, 40 years old, together with her three children aged 14, 12, and 10 have been found by indigenous Peruvians. The family was lost in the Colombian jungle for 34 days. They were reported missing on December 19 of last year. The family said that they had managed to survive in the jungle by eating berries, seeds, and plants. When the family was asked about what happened and how they got lost in the jungle-which is near the Colombia-Peru border-they said that they were on their way back home from visiting relatives in the remote area near the Colombian-Peru border when they got disoriented and lost. According to Daily Mail, the unnamed woman arranged to meet her husband to travel back with him across the border from Puerto Leguizamo to Colombia where the family presently lives. However, the family got disoriented and got lost in the jungle. Her husband immediately reported the disappearance of his family to the authorities after his wife and three other children did not arrive at the location of which they agreed to meet. Moreover, Global News reported that they were halfway through their journey near the Putumayo river before becoming disoriented. She also said that she and her three children spent the next 34 days walking through the jungle when they, fortunately, came across a group of Indigenous Peruvians called Secoyan who live near the village of Yubito. The Secoyan immediately alerted the Peruvian Navy, which then informed their Colombian counterparts who sent a hovercraft to transport the family 110 miles upriver to Puerto Leguizamo in Colombia. Footage of the family was broadcast by a Colombian channel showing how the malnourished and dehydrated family were lifted from the hovercraft and reunited with their father who was waiting at the Naval Base in Puerto Leguizamo. The mother said: "If we didn't have water every 30 minutes, we'd faint and we had to keep stopping all the time and the girls couldn't walk anymore." Meanwhile, Colombian Navy Gen Sergio Alfredo Serrano said that the family was covered with bites, stings, and cuts on their feet. They were immediately rushed to the hospital to be tested for potential mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and yellow fever. None of the family members were reported to have severe illnesses or diseases. News outlets are waiting for updates on their blood test results. The family is still lucky because nothing happened to them after they got lost on the island. At present, members of the family are in the hospital and are all under observation while waiting for the results of their blood tests for potentially suspected malaria or other related diseases. The jungle is known as the home of wild animals. News about the family who were lost in the jungle was immediately published in different news outlets, be it local or international. Meantime, there is no news yet as to the identification of the Colombian family. However, the father of the family expressed his gratitude to the Indigenous Peruvian tribe who found his lost family. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has praised the rapid pace of reforms in Ukraine. Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Honcharuk wrote about this on his Facebook page. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen has noted the rapid pace of reforms in Ukraine. In less than five first months of work, the government and parliament, in close cooperation, have adopted nearly 30 European integration laws. Each of them introduces European standards and norms in Ukraine to improve the quality of life of our citizens, he wrote. Honcharuk noted that the meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council should become the starting point for achieving the priority goals of the bilateral EU-Ukraine cooperation agenda. In particular, this concerns: the preliminary expert missions visit with a view to launch the negotiations on the conclusion of the Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (); introduction of a mechanism for implementing the updated annex to the energy chapter of the Association Agreement with the EU; Ukraines further integration into the EU's Digital Single Market; launching the process of a balanced revision of the parameters of a free trade area; advancing on Ukraines intention to engage within the European Green Deal process, in particular starting the development of a common roadmap. Honcharuk also thanked the President of the European Commission for the solidarity of the European Union with Ukraine following the crash of a Ukrainian UIA plane near Tehran and unanimity over Iran's responsibility for the tragedy. 2.1k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Eliot Engel said that John Bolton implied to him in September that he needed to investigate the firing of Marie Yovanovitch. Chairman Engel said in a statement: President Trump is wrong that John Bolton didnt say anything about the Trump-Ukraine Scandal at the time the President fired him. He said something to me. On September 19, shortly after Ambassador Boltons departure as national security advisor, my staff reached out to him at my request. Ive known Ambassador Bolton for years; we have a cordial and respectful relationship and I wanted to thank him for his service. I also wanted to ask if he would talk to the Foreign Affairs Committee, as former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson did, to aid our general oversight efforts of U.S. foreign policy. He and I spoke by telephone on September 23. On that call, Ambassador Bolton suggested to meunpromptedthat the committee look into the recall of Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch. He strongly implied that something improper had occurred around her removal as our top diplomat in Kyiv. At the time, I said nothing publicly about what was a private conversation, but because this detail was relevant to the Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, and Oversight Committees investigation into this matter, I informed my investigative colleagues. It was one of the reasons we wished to hear from Ambassador Bolton, under oath, in a formal setting. Ambassador Bolton has made clear over the last few months that he has more to say on this issue. And now that the President has called his credibility into question, its important to set the record straight. Its telling that, of all people, John Bolton is now the target of right-wing ire. It underscores just how important it is that the Senate subpoena Ambassador Bolton as a witness. Bolton has been sounding the alarm on Trumps illegal activities involving Ukraine for months. Whether one agrees or disagrees with Bolton in terms of policy, it is clear that he is the rare Trump administration official who placed the good of the country and national security ahead of Trumps scheme to extort Ukraine and rig the 2020 election. Mitch McConnell and other Senate Republicans want the impeachment trial over right now because every day is bringing a new revelation that confirms the guilt of Donald Trump. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook The Air Force recently conducted test flights of the XQ-58A Valkyrie drone, taking the unmanned aerial vehicle to higher altitudes than previous tests. The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), alongside the UAV's maker, Kratos Defense, completed the tests at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, on Jan. 23, the service announced in a release. Researchers were able to push the long-range, high-subsonic UAV to an undisclosed higher altitude to "gather data in an operational environment more representative of real-world flight conditions," the release said. "Flying at this altitude helped us gather important data such as vehicle response to temperature and vibration, which will prepare us as we move toward our next flight test," said Michael Wipperman, the AFRL XQ-58A program manager. Related: Valkyrie Drone Damaged During Air Force Flight Test The drone is part of the Air Force's Low-Cost Attritable Strike Demonstration program, an effort to develop unmanned attack aircraft, which are intended to be reusable but cheap enough that they can be destroyed without significant cost. The latest experiment marks the first time the Valkyrie has been in a test flight since a mishap in October 2019. On Oct. 9, the Valkyrie was hit by "high surface winds" and suffered "a malfunction of the vehicle's provisional flight test recovery system." It landed in a damaged state at the testing ranges in Yuma, the Air Force said at the time. Prior to its landing, the drone conducted a successful 90-minute flight, officials said. Without giving specifics, Wipperman said the safety accident investigation into the incident shed light on how researchers should attempt to recover the drone in future. "We were able to show recovery for a successful flight at even higher altitudes," he said. "Given that we have overcome these challenges, we have confidence that the aircraft can continue its progression into flying in more representative conditions." The Air Force has been working to expedite the prototype program, which in the near future could incorporate artificial intelligence. AFRL in recent months has also been working on the "Skyborg" program, aimed at pairing AI with a human in the cockpit. The goal is to incorporate the Skyborg network into Valkyrie. The drone is meant to operate alongside manned fighters, so the machine can learn how to fly and even train with its pilot. In an upcoming F-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter data transfer test, experts plan to insert the data gateway into the drone. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Read more: 41-Year-Old Medal of Honor Hero Now Faces His Hardest Fight on a New Battlefield CHICAGO - Illinois elections officials disclosed fresh problems Wednesday with the states automatic voter registration program, including at least one eligible voter who said she registered to vote but ended up on an opt-out list. The program is already under fire for mistakenly registering over 500 people who indicated they werent U.S. citizens, of which 15 people voted in 2018 and 2019 elections. Election officials said at least eight of the people have long voting histories and were likely U.S. citizens, leaving seven voters in question. The individuals involved were applying for standard drivers licenses at secretary of states offices. Details were scarce on the new issues, disclosed at a State Board of Elections meeting. Brenda Glahn, an attorney with the secretary of state, said registrations of eligible voters who appeared to decline to be registered were still sent to election officials. The problems stem from those applying for a REAL ID, which requires proof of citizenship. Kyle Thomas with the State Board of Elections said the information of 297 people who appeared to have opted out of automatic voter registration was still sent to election officials and 286 were registered. The problem was discovered in August of last year. Election officials said they addressed the issue in October, and they no longer receive the data of people who opt out. One voter told election officials she had wanted to to be registered and had a secretary of state receipt saying she had done so, but she wasnt in the system when she checked with her county clerk. The issue, disclosed at the board meeting, prompted further questions that secretary of state officials said they were investigating. Do the people really want to opt out or do they want to register to vote? Glahn said. We are researching what is causing that issue. Automatic voter registration was signed into law in Illinois in 2017 with bipartisan support. But implementation has lagged behind schedule for the complex program that involves different processes depending on the type of identification a person applies for. Republicans have called to suspend the program, but Democrats who run the state have no plans to do so. Government watchdog and immigrant rights groups have also expressed concerns about voter integrity and unintended consequences for immigrants. It is illegal for noncitizens to vote in U.S. elections. The consequence can be deportation. Six good government groups who were concerned about the early delays in the program sent a legal letter to Secretary of State Jesse White this week demanding answers about the changes. Our coalitions attempts to engage the Secretary of States office in a process of accountability and transparency have been stonewalled time and again, Jay Young, Executive Director for Common Cause Illinois, said in a statement. Theyve given us no way to verify the few claims theyve made about fixing AVR. Secretary of State legal adviser Nathan Maddox said a programming error involving coding led to the mistaken registrations. I have no excuse, he said at the meeting It is a serious mistake and we deeply regret it. The registrations were for people who visited secretary of state offices between July 2018 and December 2019. The secretary of states office, a key player in automatic voter registration, discovered the error last month and contacted election officials. The office publicly acknowledged the error earlier this month. Elections officials speculated that many of the people mistaken checked a no box on an electronic key pad asking if they were citizens when they meant to exit the system. Secretary of state officials said theyre looking into adding an exit button. Elections officials have cancelled 371 of the 545 mistaken voter registrations in the seven counties involved. In assessing the damage, there have been disagreements over the numbers. Earlier this week, state election officials said there were three outstanding voters in Chicago, while city election officials said it was two. Neither could explain the discrepancy. Election officials confirmed Thursday that there are two voters in question in the city. A legislative hearing on the topic planned for Thursday in Springfield was rescheduled to next week. ___ Follow Sophia Tareen on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiatareen. A drugstore in the Chinese capital will be fined 3 million yuan ($434,530) for hiking the price of masks by almost six times the online rate amid a spreading virus outbreak, the Beijing municipal market regulator said on Wednesday, Trend reports citing Reuters. The coronavirus outbreak, which started in the central city of Wuhan late last year, has killed 132 people, with nearly 6,000 infected in China. An administrative penalty notice has been issued to the Beijing Jimin Kangtai Pharmacy for sharply raising the price of N95 masks, the regulator said in a statement on its website. The store raised the price of a box of 3M brand masks to 850 yuan while the online price was just 143 yuan, state television said. Since Thursday, the regulator has investigated 31 price violation cases, it said, as it boosted supervision of prices of protective gear and punished illegal activities, such as hoarding or fabricating information about price hikes. In the commercial capital of Shanghai, the municipal market regulator has ordered the closure of a drug store that sold sub-standard masks, the city government said. The regulator has asked the store to refund buyers and dispose of unsold ones, it said on its official account on the Weibo app. Ximen Expands Land Positions in Nelson and Camp McKinney Gold Camps Posted by Publisher Internet Ximen Mining Corp. (TSX.v: XIM) (FRA: 1XMA) (OTCQB: XXMMF) (the ?Company? or ?Ximen? https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/ximen-mining-corp/) wishes to announce that is has increased its mineral claim holdings in Nelson and Greenwood areas in southern BC. ? Ximen has agreed to purchase from a private individual 100% interests in the California Gold Nelson mineral claim in the Nelson Gold Camp, and the CMM mineral claim in the Camp McKinney Gold Camp.? Both claims are in good standing with the California Nelson Gold claim good to 2025.? There are no underlying royalties (NSR?s) on either property.? Terms include cash payment of $30,000 and grant of Ximen shares equivalent to $50,000. The California Gold Nelson mineral claim covers the historic California mine, located 6.5 kilometres east southeast of Ximen?s Kenville Gold mine.? Several veins were identified on the property, including the California vein which extends over 600 metres along strike.? The mine was developed on 3 levels and from 1910 to 1949 produced 2,258 ounces gold, 3,942 ounces silver, 19,5 tonnes zinc, and 8.1 tonnes lead from 1,454 tonnes mined (average mined grades of 48.3 grams per tonne gold and 84.3 grams per tonne silver).? The No. 1 level (lowest) was driven along a barren vein for 366 meters and then intersected the mineralized California vein. The California vein was then followed for 91 metres where samples indicated an average grade of 29.2 grams per tonne gold over widths between 1.2 and 1.5 metres (as reported in the BC Annual Report of the Minister of Mines for 1919). The vein remains open for exploration above, below and to the west of this location (refer to the diagram below). At Camp McKinney, the addition of mineral claim 1073936 further consolidates Ximen?s holdings surrounding the historic Caribou-Amelia gold mine. Dr. Mathew Ball, P.Geo., VP Exploration for Ximen Mining Corp. and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, approved the technical information contained in this News Release.? About Ximen Mining Corp. Ximen Mining Corp. owns 100% interest in three of its precious metal projects located in southern BC.? Ximen`s two Gold projects The Amelia Gold Mine and The Brett Epithermal Gold Project. Ximen also owns the Treasure Mountain Silver Project adjacent to the past producing Huldra Silver Mine.? Currently, the Treasure Mountain Silver Project is under a option agreement. The option partner is making annual staged cash and stocks payments as well as funding the development of the project. The company has recently acquired control of the Kenville Gold mine near Nelson British Columbia which comes with surface and underground rights, buildings and equipment. Ximen is a publicly listed company trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol XIM, in the USA under the symbol XXMMF, and in Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin Stock Exchanges in Germany under the symbol 1XMA and WKN with the number as A2JBKL. This press release contains certain \forward-looking statements\ within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval and the exercise of the Option by Ximen. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words \expects,\ \plans,\ \anticipates,\ \believes,\ \intends,\ \estimates,\ \projects,\ \aims,\ \potential,\ \goal,\ \objective,\ \prospective,\ and similar expressions, or that events or conditions \will,\ \would,\ \may,\ \can,\ \could\ or \should\ occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company\-\-s management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management\-\-s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include the possibility that the TSX Venture Exchange may not accept the proposed transaction in a timely manner, if at all. The reader is urged to refer to the Company\-\-s reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators\-\- System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. 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. ? Renderings for MAD's upcoming Nanjing Zendai Himalayas Center development in China. The new year will bring the completion of a pretty dazzling array of architectural projects, some of which have been in the making for a decade or more. Major firms will be cutting the ribbons on career-defining structures, and some of them are record-breakers, too. These five exciting examples include a new super-tall tower for Chicago, the posthumous completion of a striking hotel designed by Zaha Hadid herself, an Olympic stadium, and two examples of buzzworthy concepts looking to prove themselves in the real world. Opus by Zaha Hadid Architects, Dubai The soon-to-be-completed Opus Hotel in Dubai, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The first and only hotel in Dubai to be designed inside and out by famed architect Zaha Hadid herself, the Opus is a cube-shaped volume with a carved central void, bringing some of Hadids signature curvature to the project. Located within the citys Burj Khalifa district, the building will contain a ME by Melia hotel as well as 12 restaurants, a rooftop bar, and 56,000 square feet of office space. Each side of the cube is conceived as its own separate tower, connected by narrow bridges at the top and bottom. The Opus will be aligned with Omniyats vision of treating each project as if it were a unique work of art, says Mahdi Amjad, Executive Chairman and CEO of Omniyat. The design conveys the remarkably inventive quality of ZHAs work; expressing a sculptural sensibility that reinvents the balance between solid and void, opaque and transparent, interior and exterior. Theu ltra-futuristic interiors of Zaha Hadid's upcoming Opus Hotel. Theres no word yet on exactly when the hotel will open to its first guests, but construction is nearly complete as of early 2020. Nanjing Zendai Himalayas Center by MAD, China Renderings for MAD's upcoming Nanjing Zendai Himalayas Center development in China. When architects first began proposing futuristic-looking developments resembling mountains years ago, they seemed like fantasy concepts that would never actually be built. MAD Architects is proving that theory wrong with its Nanjing Zendai Himalayas Center, which is quickly nearing completion in China. The mixed-use development occupies over 560,000 square meters of building area and will host residential, hotel, office, and commercial facilities, and its all characterized by mountain-like towers around the edge with glass screens that flow like waterfalls. Story continues The firm explains that these features provide interior spaces with energizing light and wind to form a subtle, calming ambiance. The project mimics the sites surrounding mountains and meandering rivers that are essential parts of Chinese aesthetic philosophy. Towers along the edge of the site act as a mountainous backdrop, while water features such as ponds, waterfalls, brooks, and pools connect buildings and landscapes to integrate all of the centers elements. This integration goes beyond form, with the water features functioning as reservoirs to collect and recycle rainwater for irrigation. Vista Tower by Studio Gang, Chicago Close-up renderings for Chicago's upcoming Vista Tower, designed by Studio Gang. Its not every day that a city gets a new landmark that dramatically alters its skyline. In Chicago, the tale of the failed Spire super-tower has become legendary after what was supposed to be the tallest building in North America never made it past the construction of its giant foundation hole. That hole has now sat empty for well over a decade. The new Vista Tower by Studio Gang may not fill the literal hole in the ground, and at 1,186 feet, it wont be anywhere near as tall, but once completed, it will be the citys third-tallest skyscraper. Renderings for Chicago's upcoming Vista Tower. Residential and hotel amenities combine at the upper levels, creating a vibrant social center, say the architects. At ground level, the building creates an essential pedestrian connection between the Chicago Riverwalk and the nearby community parks outdoor recreational facilities. 1,000 Trees by Heatherwick Studio, Shanghai Renderings for Heatherwick Studio's soon-to-be-completed 1000 Trees development in Shanghai. A lot of concept architecture over the last decade has featured full-scale trees adorning the facades of buildings. While it certainly looks cool, there have been a lot of good questions raised about the weight of the soil, the impact of the tree roots as they grow, and lots of other potential problems. As Heatherwick Studio completes its 1,000 Trees development in Shanghai, well finally get to see how it all works out. Heatherwicks design differs from others in a few crucial ways, like the use of concrete structural columns to support the trees. The mixed-use project also resembles an artificial mountain from afar, adding some interesting topographical dimension to an otherwise flat city. National Stadium by Kengo Kuma, Tokyo Renderings for Tokyo's new National Stadium, designed by Kengo Kuma. Renderings for Tokyo's new National Stadium, designed by Kengo Kuma. Japanese architect Kengo Kumas National Stadium was technically completed in November 2019, but this summer, well get to see it in use for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. Kuma is a master of wooden architecture, and the new stadium is one of his largest and most complex projects to date, made with over 70,000 cubic feet of larch and cedar wood sourced from all of Japans 47 prefectures. The stadium was originally set to be designed by Zaha Hadid, but her firms predictably curvy design was deemed too expensive. Which one of these projects are you most excited to see finished? Syracuse, NY -- A Jamesville man boycotted his own murder trial for two days, then came ready Wednesday morning to mount his own defense. But by early afternoon, Amir Williams Jr. pleaded guilty. He will spend a minimum of between 15 and 20 years in prison, with a maximum of life, when sentenced for the September 2018 shooting death of Zyree McMullen outside a Near West Side market. The surprising plea came after Williams had fired three sets of assigned lawyers, won two trial delays and had vowed to skip his own trial to work on an appeal. Williams was acting as his own lawyer during trial, meaning he had no advocate in the courtroom during his boycott. Williams gave up his right to appeal under the plea agreement, prosecutor Shaun Chase said. (There are still limited reasons that Williams can file an appeal on certain Constitutional grounds; its unclear if he will or not.) Williams had conceded jury selection and opening statements to the prosecutor. But he appeared in court Wednesday to grill a witness over his involvement in the murder. The gunman who shot McMullen emerged from a white Hyundai, which was traced back to one of Williams family members. But security camera footage of the murder didnt reveal the identity of the hooded shooter, dressed in black, who opened fire from the shadows. Williams spent Wednesday morning suggesting that it was one of the other two people in the car with him that night. He even cross-examined one of the two men in the car with him that night during his brief courtroom appearance. But after a lunch break, Williams decided to plead guilty. Under the deal, his minimum punishment -- between 15 an 20 years -- will be decided at sentencing. Like in all murders, hell face the possibility of life in prison. He had faced up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted after trial, with possibly additional time for witness intimidation. It was never revealed at trial why Williams opened fire that night, killing McMullen. Williams will be sentenced on March 20. He remains jailed until then. 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. - Ayana Ellick, a 9-year-old girl has won 2 national awards for writing, though she was born without hands - The brilliant girl won the Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest and the Nicholas Maxim Special Award for Excellence in Manuscript Penmanship - Ayana, a 'self-taught' writer, was awarded a trophy together with $1,000 Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in A 9-year-old amazing girl from Virginia called Ayana Ellick who was born in 2009 without hands has become a sensation after winning two national writing awards. According to Face2FaceAfrica.com, the brilliant young girl won the Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest as well as the Nicholas Maxim Special Award for Excellence in Manuscript Penmanship. Zaner-Bloser is reportedly an Ohio-based company that publishes research-based handwriting, reading, writing, spelling and vocabulary programs. READ ALSO: Kwame Eugene's mother celebrates him as he graduates with master's degree (Photo) Young and smart Ellick participated in the Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest, entering under a special needs category where she emerged on top. It is indicated that the passionate girl who was born to Bianca and Gary, literally taught herself how to write without her hands. With no supervision or guidance, the young girl when she started growing up, found her own way to 'handle' daily house items and also how to use the pen. READ ALSO: Man freed after spending 28 years in prison for crime he didnt commit The young girl who is described as a role model by one of her teachers was awarded a trophy together with $1,000 for her amazing talent and passion. Ayana Ellick is interesting not the only 9-year-old Black child with amazing exploits. Just recently, YEN.com.gh reported that Camden Myers, a 9-year-old boy Black boy in the United States has set up Cams Coffee Creations which employs only people living with disabilities. It is indicated that the staff at Camden Myers' Cam's Coffee Creations is made up of students from Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools who have disabilities. The young boy himself suffered a traumatic brain injury when he was born. This challenge he suffered as well as the knack Camden has for business culminated into a strong drive for his business. 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 (Bloomberg) -- The U.K.s decision to allow Chinas Huawei Technologies Co. to be involved in building its 5G telecom networks wont affect trans-Atlantic intelligence sharing, despite U.S. threats to the contrary, Digital Secretary Nicky Morgan said. Britain gave the green light for Huawei kit to be used in non-sensitive parts of its new networks Tuesday, ending a protracted debate. In the run-up to the decision, there was a steady drumbeat of warnings from President Donald Trumps administration that the U.S. may hold back secret intelligence if Prime Minster Boris Johnson pressed ahead with giving the company a role. Asked in a Bloomberg Television interview whether shed had assurances before the decision to include Huawei -- deemed a high-risk vendor, Morgan said: Yes, weve obviously had a lot of advice from our various security agencies about that, before adding: There is no reason why the decision should or would affect our ability to share classified data with the U.S. or our allies. U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, who was among officials to warn Britain ahead of the decision, is in London on Wednesday and is likely to raise the issue in meetings with ministers. A slew of U.S. congressional figures have already criticized the U.K.s position and Johnson and Trump spoke about the issue on Tuesday evening, with the premier underlining the need for Western allies to work together to break the market dominance of a small number of companies. I know that there are very strong feelings in the U.S. particularly in relation to China, but there are many, many areas where we cooperate very fully in lots of different ways with the U.S., and I think that special relationship will remain, Morgan said on Wednesday. We would like eventually to have more providers to work with the U.S. and other countries creating or supporting companies to have this capability, she said, so we dont have to rely on high-risk vendors in the future. Story continues U.S. Disappointed as Johnson Gives Huawei Partial 5G Role (1) With Ericsson AB and Nokia Oyj the only alternatives, Huaweis involvement is needed to ensure the networks are resilient because we would never want to rely just on two vendors, Morgan said. Thats why a third provider is necessary, she said. At the moment its deemed to be Huawei, its a high risk vendor, but hopefully the market will respond to calls for more diversification so we will have a better choice in the future. Morgan, who earlier told LBC Radio that the National Security Council decision on Huawei was unanimous, pointed out that the U.K. has monitored the Chinese companys involvement in U.K. telecom networks for years, and is clear-eyed about the risk. That, she said, informed the decision to keep the company out of core networks and sensitive locations and limit them to a 35% share of the market. We know more about Huawei, the way they operate, their capabilities, than any other country, which means we are confident we can mitigate the risk, Morgan said. We would not make the decision if we thought that it compromised national security at all. --With assistance from Anna Edwards and Matthew Miller. To contact the reporter on this story: Alex Morales in London at amorales2@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Tim Ross at tross54@bloomberg.net, Giles Turner, Thomas Penny 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. Israel army says boosting presence in West Bank, near Gaza Jerusalem, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2020 Israel's army said Wednesday it was deploying reinforcements in the occupied West Bank and near the Gaza border, amid Palestinian anger over US President Donald Trump's peace plan. "Following the ongoing situation assessment, it has been decided to reinforce the Judea and Samaria and Gaza Divisions with additional combat troops," the army said in a statement, using the biblical terms for the West Bank. It did not give more details on the redeployments. Small protests took place in multiple places in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip Wednesday, a day after Trump announced his long-delayed peace plan. Three Palestinians were shot during clashes in the West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said. Trump's plan angered Palestinians by proposing Israel retain control over Jerusalem as its "undivided capital" and giving the Jewish state the green light to annex settlements in the West Bank. Further demonstrations are expected in the coming days. Israeli forces are not inside the Gaza Strip, but Palestinian protests along the border fence have been common in recent years. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has administered the oath of office on Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, the erstwhile leader of the House, and six other members. The event took place at the chambers of the House of Representatives on Tuesday. In attendance were the governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, and several party leaders and supporters from the state. Others sworn in were Munir Baba- Danagundi (APC, Kano), Egbona Alex (APC/Cross River), Aliyu Datti-Yako (PDP, Kano), Mariam Odinaka (APC, Imo) and Jafar Auwwal (PDP, Bauchi). Shortly after his inauguration, Mr Doguwa was reinstated as the Leader of the House in the presence of Mr Ganduje and other members of his party. The newly sworn-in lawmakers were sacked from the Green Chambers last year, following election petitions that arose from the 2019 general elections. Bye elections were conducted by INEC over the weekend to fill the vacancies. PIERRE, S.D. Plans for construction of the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline inched forward last week with several approvals at both the federal and state levels, but opponents in South Dakota say they havent given up on preventing, or at least slowing, the pipelines construction. Plans for the $8 billion project have been over a decade in the works. TC Energy, the Canadian company building the pipeline, plans to begin construction in South Dakota in August, according to a court filing in Montana that also spells out planned work in that state and Nebraska. The company plans to move equipment to construction sites starting in February and prep worker accommodation sites in March. After the South Dakota Water Management Board approved five water permits for the pipelines construction last week, Sara Rabern, a spokeswoman for TC Energy, said the company does not need any more permits from South Dakota agencies, but is working to finalize permits from other authorities. The pipeline would stretch 1,200-miles from western Canada to Nebraska, where it would connect with other lines that go to Gulf Coast refineries. It would be capable of pumping 830,000 barrels of crude oil a day. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis visited the White House on Wednesday for the signing of a historic federal trade deal. Malliotakis (R-East Shore/South Brooklyn), who is running for the boroughs congressional seat, praised the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which incumbent Rep. Max Rose voted for in December. No Democrats were invited to the deals signing. Malliotakis played a role in garnering support among state legislators and organizations like the Farm Bureau and Business Council. And she was the point person in New York for the White House on this issue, the assemblywoman said. Todays signing of the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement is an important moment for the more than 492 million people living in the three signatory nations and its definitely an important moment for New York State, Malliotakis said in a statement. This modernized agreement will enhance our exports, create jobs and provide an overall boost (to) the states economy and Im proud to have been a small part of the effort that pushed for ratification of the USMCA, she added. Canada is New Yorks largest trade partner. The deal still needs to be ratified by the Canadian government. In early December, Malliotakis, took aim at Rose (D-Staten Island/South Brooklyn), a freshman congressman, over the delayed ratification of the federal trade deal as leadership in the Senate and House of Representatives continued to negotiate its final terms. For nearly a year, Nancy Pelosi and the House Democrats stalled the ratification of this important legislation; a cynical and callous example of the type of partisan politics that is dividing our nation, Malliotakis said Wednesday. Rose hit back at Malliotakis Wednesday for not being present in the state Legislature while it is in session. Budget hearings have been ongoing this week as the state tries to close a $6 billion spending gap. This is why lobbyist Nicole Malliotakis represents everything we hate about our politics, Rose said. The state is facing a $6 billion budget deficit and potentially major changes to Medicaid but instead of doing the job shes paid to do, shes taking a road trip to Washington," Rose said. "If she isnt going to do her job, she should give back the $40,000 pay raise shes enjoying on our backs `although given shes such a proud member of the swamp I wont hold my breath. Perhaps Max is just upset that I was invited to the White House for this historic event for the work I did in support of USMCA while he co-signed a letter with (Rep.) Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and others to stall the deal, said Malliotakis adding that she has proposed resolutions to the budget deficit. In June, Rose joined 26 other first-term congressional Democrats in writing a letter to Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, the U.S. trade representative, to voice their concerns with the USMCA as it originally stood, and to call for its renegotiation. They had issues with the deals benefits to the pharmaceutical industry, effects on the American labor market, and for its striking similarities to the previous trade agreement among the three countries -- the North American Free Trade Agreement. U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander on Wednesday said President Trump signing into law the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act is good news for Tennessee workers, especially autoworkers. Today, President Trump signed into law the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act," said Senator Alexander. "This is very good news for Tennessee workers, especially autoworkers, in 88 of our 95 counties. "It updates the North America Free Trade Agreement of 1994, which was also good for Tennessee because it meant we would have no tariffs on what we trade back and forth from Mexico and Canada. For example, 40 years ago, when I was first elected governor, we had almost no auto jobs in Tennessee. In 1994, when NAFTA was approved, we had about 51,000. Since NAFTA was approved in 1994, auto jobs have grown to nearly three times that number because it made it more competitive to make high quality cars and trucks in Tennessee. "So this is good news and the certainty that it brings to our manufacturers of all kinds in Tennessee should help grow the economy and create jobs. Senator Alexander is chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which approved this legislation on Jan. 15 by a bipartisan vote of 22-1. The full Senate approved the agreement on Jan. 16 by a vote of 89 to 10. Today is a good day for American agriculture," said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. "Throughout this process, there were many detractors who said it couldnt be done. But this is further proof that President Trumps trade negotiation strategy is working. This agreement shows the rest of the world the United States is open for business. "USMCA is critical for Americas farmers and ranchers, who will now have even more market access to our neighbors to the north and the south. I am excited to see the economic benefits of this agreement increase the prosperity of all Americans, especially those living in rural America." Congressman Scott DesJarlais, M.D. said, "Theres no doubt this trade deal increased pressure on China to sign a Phase One deal with the United States. It requires more auto parts be made in North America, a change that will continue the U.S. manufacturing resurgence. (Bloomberg) -- Representative Doug Collins, one of President Donald Trumps staunchest supporters during the House impeachment probe, will mount a primary challenge to a fellow Republican in a Georgia Senate race. Collins announced Wednesday that hed challenge Kelly Loeffler, a financial executive who was sworn into the Senate this month after being picked by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp to fill the seat held by former Senator Johnny Isakson, who retired. Trump had pressed Kemp to appoint Collins -- the House Judiciary Committees top Republican -- to fill the spot. Collins announcement on Fox News drew an immediate backlash from National Republican Senatorial Committee Executive Director Kevin McLaughlin. The shortsightedness in this decision is stunning, McLaughlin said in statement. Doug Collins selfishness will hurt David Perdue, Kelly Loeffler, and President Trump. Not to mention the people of Georgia who stand to bear the burden of it for years to come. McLaughlin said the move puts Georgias two Senate seats -- Loefflers as well as Perdues -- in addition to House seats in play for the November election. He said the NRSC, which works to keep Republicans in the majority in the Senate, backs Loeffler. Loeffler was appointed to a subcommittee with direct jurisdiction over the financial services industry in which her husband Jeffrey Sprecher, chairman and chief executive officer of the Atlanta-based Intercontinental Exchange Inc., is a major player. --With assistance from Laura Litvan and Kathleen Miller. To contact the reporter on this story: Billy House in Washington at bhouse5@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Joe Sobczyk at jsobczyk@bloomberg.net, Kathleen Hunter, Elizabeth Wasserman 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. More than 130 people have now been killed by the coronavirus The number of confirmed cases has risen to 4,500 with places like Hong Kong announcing plans to cut travel to mainland China to halt the spread. But not only has the virus spread around China and abroad, so too has misinformation. *** *** Numerous conspiracies have appeared since the outbreak - not to mention videos about bat soup. The BBC Monitoring team has been taking a look at where these have all come from. Bat soup videos From the very beginning people speculated online about the origin of the coronavirus. This was exacerbated by a slew of videos said to be showing Chinese people eating bats amid the deadly outbreak in Wuhan. One such clip shows a smiling Chinese woman holding a cooked bat on camera, before admitting it tastes "like chicken meat". The video prompted outrage online, with some users blaming Chinese eating habits for the outbreak. But the video was not shot in Wuhan, or in China for that matter. Originally filmed in 2016, it shows popular blogger and travel show host Wang Mengyun during a trip to Palau, an archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean. The clip resurfaced on social media after cases of the new coronavirus emerged in Wuhan late last year. Following online backlash, Ms Mengyun apologised, saying she was "just trying to introduce the life of local people" to the audience and had not known that bats could be a virus carrier. Her video has since been taken down. The new coronavirus is believed to have emerged from illegally traded wildlife at a seafood market in Wuhan. Although bats have been named in recent research from China as a possible source of the virus, bat soup is not particularly commonplace in the country and the investigations into its exact origins continue. Outbreak 'planned' As the United States reported its first case of the coronavirus last week, several patent documents started to circulate on Twitter and Facebook that at first glance appear to suggest experts have been aware of the virus for years. One of the first users to float these allegations was conspiracy theorist and YouTuber Jordan Sather. In a lengthy thread that has been retweeted thousands of times, he shared a link to a 2015 patent filed by the Pirbright Institute in Surrey, England, that talks about developing a weakened version of coronavirus for potential use as a vaccine to prevent or treat respiratory diseases. The same link has also been widely circulated on Facebook, mainly in conspiracy and anti-vaccination groups. Sather used the fact that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a donor to both Pirbright and vaccine development to suggest that the current outbreak virus has somehow been deliberately manufactured to attract funding for the development of a vaccine. "And how much funding has the Gates Foundation given to vaccine programs throughout the years? Was the release of this disease planned? Is the media being used to incite fear around it?" Sather tweeted. But Pirbright's patent is not for the new coronavirus. Instead, it covers the avian infectious bronchitis virus, a member of the wider coronavirus family that infects poultry. As for the speculation about the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Pirbright spokeswoman Teresa Maughan told Buzzfeed News that the institute's particular work with the infectious bronchitis virus was not funded by this foundation. 'Bioweapon' conspiracies Another baseless claim that has gone viral online suggests the virus was part of China's "covert biological weapons programme" and may have leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Many accounts pushing the theory cite two widely-shared Washington Times articles both of which quote a former Israeli military intelligence officer for the claim. However, no evidence is provided for the claim in the two articles, and the Israeli source is quoted as saying that "so far there isn't evidence or indication" to suggest there was a leak. The two articles have so far been posted to hundreds of different social accounts to a potential audience of millions. The Daily Star published a similar piece last week, claiming the virus might have "started in a secret lab". However, it has since amended the piece to add there is no evidence for the claim. Based on official research, the virus is thought to have emerged from illegally traded wildlife at the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan. BBC News approached the Washington Times for comment. 'Spy team' Another claim inaccurately linked the virus to the suspension of a researcher at Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory. Virologist Dr Xiangguo Qiu, her husband and some of her students from China were removed from the lab following a possible "policy breach," according to a report by Canada's national broadcaster CBC last year. Police told CBC News there was "no threat to public safety". Another report said Dr Qiu had visited the Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences twice a year for two years. A tweet with more than 12,000 retweets and 13,000 likes - claimed without evidence that Dr Qiu and her husband were a "spy team", had sent "pathogens to the Wuhan facility", and that her husband "specialised in coronavirus research". None of the three claims in the tweet can be found in the two CBC reports and the terms "coronavirus" and "spy" do not appear even once in either. CBC has since reported that these claims are baseless. 'Wuhan nurse video' Different versions of a "whistleblower" video, alleged to have been taken by a "doctor" or a "nurse" in Hubei province, have racked up million views on various social media platforms and mentioned in numerous online reports. The most popular version was uploaded to YouTube by a Korean user, and included English and Korean subtitles - the video has since been taken down. According to the English subtitles, the woman is a nurse in a Wuhan hospital. However, she does not claim to be either a nurse or a doctor in the video at all. This seems to be merely an assumption on the part of those who have uploaded various versions of the video to social media. The woman, who does not identify herself, is wearing protective suit in an unknown location. However, her suit and mask do not match the ones worn by medical staff in Hubei. Due to a lockdown being enforced by the authorities, it is difficult to verify videos from the province. But she makes a number of unsubstantiated claims about the virus, making it unlikely for her to be a nurse or a paramedic. She claims that the actual number of people infected in China is 90,000. But according to official figures, there have been more than 4,500 confirmed infections so far. She also claims the virus has a "second mutation", which can infect up to 14 people. But the World Health Organisation has preliminarily estimated the number of infections an individual carrying the virus can cause is 1.4 to 2.5 "She doesn't sound like someone from [a] medical professional background," Muyi Xiao, a Wuhan native and the visuals editor for the ChinaFile online magazine, told the BBC. Although the exact location of the video is unknown, it is likely that the woman is a Hubei resident sharing her personal opinion about the outbreak. "I think there is [a] possibility that she thinks she is telling the truth. Because no one knows the truth," Badiucao, a Chinese political activist currently based in Australia, told the BBC. "No transparency [has] just left people guessing and panicking." Over 1,000 companies to gather in Lucknow for biggest ever Defence expo The number of companies registered for participating in the 11th edition of the biennial mega defence exhibition, DefExpo 2020, to be held at Lucknow between 5-9 February 2020, has reached 1,000, up from 702 in DefExpo 2018 thanks to `Make in India. Foreign participation also increased from 160 to 165 companies, making DefExpo 2020 by far the biggest ever DefExpo to be held in India. The booked exhibition space by exhibitors for DefExpo 2020 has gone up by 60 per cent to over 42,800 square metres, compared to around 26,774 during the last edition. Defence ministers and Services chiefs of 35 countries have confirmed their participation in the DefExpo. A substantial number of memoranda of undertaking (MoUs) are expected to be inked during the Expo, resulting in forging of new business collaborations. The theme of the Expo is India: The Emerging Defence Manufacturing Hub. The aim is to bring leading technologies in the defence sector under one roof and provide a myriad of opportunities for the government, private manufactures and startups. The event will cover the entire spectrum of the country's aerospace, defence and security interests. The sub theme of the exhibition is Digital Transformation of Defence which aligns with the concept of the future battlefield. Manufacturing for the aerospace and defence sector through application of newer technologies will also be focused upon. In addition to exhibiting products and technologies and live demonstrations by the Services, defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) and industry will showcase land, naval, air and internal security systems. The India Pavilion will exclusively showcase the association of public and private sector, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs)/micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and innovation eco-system, which is the key to the way forward. Apart from displaying industrial prowess and huge potential for the investors, the UP government will organise several cultural programmes showcasing rich cultural heritage of the state. The central government has set up a defence industrial corridor in Uttar Pradesh with identification of six nodes. A defence planning committee has also been formed. The state government has planned to build a defence manufacturing corridor along the proposed Bundelkhand Expressway, which will help in making India self-reliant in the field of defence production. DefExpo 2020 is expected to see participation from over 70 countries and will be in line with the biggest of the international defence exhibitions. The show will be marked with numerous attractions such as: Live demonstrations of the services by DPSUs and industry showing land, naval, air and internal security systems in action; Live demonstration to be held at two locations viz, at the exhibition site and at the Gomati river front; Business seminars are being organised by both international and Indian industry chambers, including the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), SYNERGIA, Directorate of Standardisation (DOS)/Department of Defence Production (DDP), US-India Business Council (USIBC), US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), etc. The seminar topics are futuristic and include discussions on artificial intelligence, robotics, Internet of Things (IoTs), drones, wired warrior, etc. The Wuhan coronavirus or 2019-N-CoV has spread across the globe, including Australia, United States, Cambodia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Image Credit: remotevfx.com / Shutterstock Now, Academics at the University of Southampton released a new report on the 20 cities at the highest risk of the novel coronavirus spread. They used travel data to determine which cities are more likely to see cases in the future. Geographic distribution of cities across the globe receiving airline travellers from 18 high-risk cities (Figure 6) in mainland China over a period of three months, representing 15 days before Lunar New Years Day and 2 and half months following Lunar New Years Day. The volume of airline travellers of the top 30 ranked cities is presented. Bangkok, Thailand tops the list, making it at the greatest threat of the potentially fatal infection, spreading from China. Meanwhile, cities like Hong Kong, Taipei, Seoul, Tokyo, and Singapore came in next. Included in the world risk map list are Phuket, Osaka, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Denpasar Bali, Sydney, Chiang Mai, Melbourne, Los Angeles, New York, Dubai, Niha Trang, London, and Ho Chi Minh City. Though millions of people have been contained to mitigate the spread of the deadly virus, Chinese authorities report that at least five million people were projected to have left the province of Hubei, where Wuhan is located, for the Lunar New Year holidays before travel bans were imposed. The countries at the highest risk due to travel of Chinese residents include Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, the United States, and Malaysia. Other countries include Singapore, Vietnam, Australia, Indonesia, Cambodian, Macao, China, Philippines, Germany, Canada, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Italy, and Russia. The new world risk map report comes as foreigners and tourists trapped in Wuhan are waiting to be rescued. Residents and tourists stranded in the city are asking for help, with food and water supply running out and communication methods revolve only around SMS and social media platforms. Latest cases and death toll The deadly and contagious virus has infected 5,974 people as of writing, with the death toll topping 132, surpassing the infection record of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) that affected the same country in 2002 to 2003. SARS infected 5,327 people within nine months and has killed 349 people across the globe, a majority of which occurred in China, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In Hubei province, where the infection first emerged, there were an additional 840 newly confirmed cases and 25 deaths in just a matter of days. An estimated 3,300 people are still hospitalized in the province, while more than 20,000 are under observation for infection. The number of cases is continuously increasing while most of the fatalities were patients who are more than 60 years old and those who have preexisting health conditions. The Wuhan coronavirus, which causes pneumonia-like symptoms is more potent in overwhelming people with compromised immune systems, such as those with HIV, AIDS, older people, pregnant women, infants, children, and those with other health conditions. New developments Airports across the globe expanded screenings for potential carriers of the coronavirus. However, Chinese health experts have warned that the virus can spread even during the incubation period, a period where there are no noticeable symptoms. This would make screening and controlling the virus spread more difficult. In the United States, strict screening of passengers has been imposed in 20 airports. Federal health officials claim theyre accelerating efforts to find vaccines and treatment procedures to stem the spread of the virus. However, it will take months for a vaccine to be developed for human use since it will go through tedious processes of clinical trials. The Wuhan coronavirus has still no approved vaccine or cure. The only action doctors can provide at this time is relieving, treating symptoms and preventing complications. A Chinese family wears protective masks as they walk in an empty shopping area that would usually be busy during the Chinese New Year and Spring Festival holiday in Beijing, China on Jan. 28, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) US Industries Unprepared for China Supply Shock Coronavirus outbreak reveals US industry vulnerability to China-based supply chains Commentary In 2018, President Trump warned the U.S. military establishment against overreliance on China for critical parts and elements. His Buy American initiative was intended to avoid supply chain leverage that China could use to hobble the United States during tense situationssuch as a trade waror a potential conflict. As a result, some defense companies began to look at other locations outside of China, even bringing factories back to the United States. But as the trade war escalated, other industries began to move out of China to avoid the tariffs and other associated costs of doing business there. That trend continues to grow. If it made perfect sense thenand it didit makes even more sense today. With the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus, that same argument applies to the rest of American industry with an added urgency. If the trajectory of the disease continues, the outcomes are predictable. Disruptions in supply chains are likely to be felt in the very near future. In fact, in a number of verticals, U.S. China-based manufacturing supply chains are already on the verge of disruption. Apple the First Victim? Apple is one of them. The extent of the anticipated supply disruption is not yet known, but Apple suppliers are sure that its coming. The most immediate impact is that deliveries of iPhone 9s are expected to be delayed. Even though Apples nearest and largest iPhone factory complex, known as iPhone City is about a six-hour drive from the epicenter of the outbreak in Wuhan, other minor suppliers are affected. Wuhan, of course, is under quarantine, along with another 17 or so cities across China. At this point, the number of quarantined cities is expected to continue to rise. As more cities go on lockdown to contain the outbreak, and the Chinese regime applies tighter travel restrictions, more factories will face potential worker shortages or even extended shutdowns. Apple may be one of the biggest names to feel the supply disruption, but it certainly wont be the last. Pharmaceuticals are at Risk Much more disconcerting than a delayed shipment of iPhones, however, is the threat that the coronavirus outbreak poses to the global pharmaceutical industry. China produces more active pharmaceutical ingredients than any other country in the world. There isnt a disruption in supplies just yet, but the potential is certainly there. As Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins warned, Any kind of supply shock or instability would render the drug supply vulnerable, (and) with this outbreak, it is concerning whether or not the stability of our supply chain will remain intact. Adalja also noted that there are national security implications of a heavy dependence on China and other countries for vital medicine and medical supplies. And why wouldnt there be? Chinas drug factories account for 13 percent of those that make ingredients for drugs sold in the United States. And of the drugs in the U.S. strategic national stockpile, 85 percent are made of China-sourced ingredients. Unfortunately, even though there are other sources for most vitamins, China has a virtual lock on the basic ingredients. Medical Supplies May Be Impacted, Too Medical product supply chains are also at risk. Perhaps one of the most powerful ironies that underscores the risk of overreliance on China is the fact that Chinas medical mask manufacturers cant produce enough of the very masks that people need to protect themselves from the deadly virus. The deadly virus isnt the only medical emergency, its potentially creating medical supplies and pharmaceutical emergencies as well. As the outbreak continues, other vertical markets face similar supply challenges as Apple and medical industries. Although its less serious than pharmaceuticals or national defense products, global carmakers are or will soon be seeing their supply lines disrupted. Thats due to the fact that Hubei Province, where Wuhan is located, is home to many car parts manufacturers. This will mean that the auto industry will see disruptions sooner than later as employees are asked to remain at home. A recent report has confirmed that four auto workers for a German carmaker have come down with the coronavirus. Business is also coming to a halt from outside of China as well. Foreigners with business interests in China are delaying or canceling their trips there, and even their business relationships, resulting in further lost business opportunities. To its great discredit, the Chinese regime has been deceptive and dangerous in its underreporting of the number of sick and dead, as well as its delayed reporting of the outbreak in the first place. That sad fact also leads many to believe that the disease is spreading faster than weve been told. Also, the lack of reliable information from the Chinese regime has led to rumors and fears of the unknown. In 2019, President Trump told American companies to get out of China. Some have, most havent. That is likely to change in 2020. James Gorrie is a writer and speaker based in Southern California. He is the author of The China Crisis. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Two more imported cases of Wuhan coronavirus reported in Taiwan ROC Central News Agency 01/28/2020 05:39 PM Taipei, Jan. 28 (CNA) Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) reported two new imported cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection on Tuesday, bringing the total number of confirmed imported cases in Taiwan to seven. The new cases were both septuagenarian woman from the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the virus was first detected in December 2019, the CECC said in a press release. According to the CECC, the two Chinese nationals arrived in Taiwan together on Jan. 22 and sought medication after developing a fever three days later. They are now under quarantine in negative pressure isolation wards, which only allow inward airflow, the CECC said. "The two patients are in a stable condition. The hospital and local health agencies are tracing their contacts and taking other preventive measures in accordance with proper procedures," it said. According to the latest figures, a total of 530 suspected 2019-nCoV cases have been reported in Taiwan since the epidemic broke out in China, with seven testing positive, the CECC said, adding that all seven confirmed cases are being treated. While 269 of the suspected cases have been cleared of having the virus, the rest are still undergoing laboratory tests, the CECC said. Although the contacts of the latest two patients are still being traced, those of the first five confirmed cases have reached 470. Among those who developed symptoms, six are awaiting test results, the CECC said. Due to the epidemic situation in China and World Health Organization warnings that the virus is capable of human-to-human transmission, the CECC on Tuesday raised its travel alert for China to the highest level in its three-tier warning system, meaning people should avoid unnecessary travel to the region. However, the travel alert does not cover Hong Kong and Macao, the CECC said. Based on statistics from China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and relevant agencies, 4,515 confirmed 2019-nCoV cases have been reported in mainland China as of Jan. 27. Of those, there have been 106 fatalities and 976 patients are in a serious condition, the CDC said. (By Emerson Lim) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Health Organisation (WHO) will convene an emergency meeting on Thursday over the deadly coronavirus outbreak in China, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a tweet on Wednesday. "WHO is monitoring the new coronavirus outbreak every moment of every day...We will have more news following tomorrow's Emergency Committee meeting," the tweet read. "The new coronavirus outbreak has spurred many countries, experts, companies, and communities to take action. The is pulling together to end the outbreak, building on lessons learned from past outbreaks," it added. According to Director-General, the WHO is working 24/7 with networks of scientists, clinicians, disease trackers, governments and others to coordinate the novel coronavirus response, including research and development, proper public health measures, data sharing and ensuring the availability of supplies. "I was struck by the determination of Chinese leadership and its people to end the new coronavirus outbreak. They are suffering the most. Their lives and economy are bearing the brunt of the outbreak as they make sacrifices to contain it. China needs the world's solidarity and support," Ghebreyesus added. According to media reports, the total number of people infected with coronavirus in mainland China surpassed those infected with SARS during the 2002-2003 epidemic. More than 6,000 cases have been confirmed in China, with thousands more suspected. Schools in Beijing have closed indefinitely, and foreigners who have been evacuated from Wuhan, which is the epicentre of the outbreak. Temporary health screening sites have also been set up at airports in numerous countries, including India and the United States, for passengers arriving from China. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A cable company working across multiple regions has high hopes for its latest project which, it says, is designed for poorer countries with limited internet connectivity. SPARKbANGLA Submarine Cables Ltd (SBSCL), an international carrier within the submarine cable industry with cable initiatives across the Indian Ocean, Mediterranean Sea and South China Sea, has announced that it is deploying a 3A, high-capacity, LOOP system third generation submarine cable between Bilbao (Spain) and Hong Kong. The cable contains four high-capacity branches and a number of local branches. The 3A is a cross-continental cable system connecting Europe to Far East Asia and beyond. The design capacity of this cable is 240 Terabits per second, 12-16 fibre pair upgradeable. There are two super landing stations in Spain and two in Hong Kong. Apart from these, 3A will consist of a number of branching units based on the demand of nearby route path countries. SBSCL says that 3A is a practical implementation of third generation LOOP system submarine cable technology, allowing less advanced areas to reach European and North American data centres with very short latency. The cable has been designed for poor and ultra-poor countries where internet penetration is very low. The east coast of Africa, South East Asia, India and China are some of its major coverage targets. SBSCL says it has been connecting disconnected people since 2000 in eastern Asia, including many remote islands off Bangladesh and remote and hilly cities in Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia, with, it claims, a one hundred percent success rate. At least 36 killed overnight in rebel attacks on villages in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. At least 36 people have been killed in a suspected rebel attack in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congos Beni region, where hundreds have died in violence since November, a local official has said. DRC troops have been carrying out a military operation on an armed group in the east of the country long plagued by various armed groups and fighters have responded with a series of massacres against the civilians. They were all hacked to death. This brings [the toll] to 36 bodies, local Beni governor Donat Kibwana told the AFP news agency on Wednesday, updating casualties from Tuesdays attack. Officials had earlier reported 15 fatalities. Two people with skull fractures caused by machetes have been admitted to a hospital in Oicha for surgery, AFP said. 200107145257368 The main attack took place late on Tuesday in Manzingi, a village 20 kilometres (12 miles) northwest of Oicha, while a pastor was also killed in nearby Eringeti. According to a toll compiled by a civil society organisation, the Kivu Security Tracker (KST), 265 people have been killed in the Beni region since the army began its crackdown on the armed group, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), on October 30. The massacres seem to be a tactic by the ADF to frighten the population into silence, local commentators said. The group has also disrupted operations to curb an outbreak of Ebola in North Kivu province. Tuesdays massacre occurred to the west of the ADFs usual area of operations, which is closer to the Ugandan border. The army offensive, unfolding in thick forests, has led to what the military said is the capture of the groups headquarters and the killing of five of its six leaders. The ADF, blamed for the deaths of more than a thousand civilians in Beni since October 2014, began as a rebel group in Uganda that opposed Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. It fell back into eastern DRC in 1995 during the Congo Wars and appears to have halted raids inside Uganda. Its recruits today are people of various nationalities. 200106141825582 United Nations experts estimated the ADF in 2018 to number around 450 fighters. The spate of massacres has become a major challenge for President Felix Tshisekedi, who took office a year ago. In November, angry protests erupted in the city of Beni, the regions administrative hub, as citizens accused the UN peacekeeping force in DRC of failing to protect them. Tshisekedi, in his first state-of-the-nation address to Congress, last month said he had changed the army command in Beni and sent 22,000 troops to the region. Nexe Grupa reportedly looks to acquire Cemex Croatia 29 January 2020 Croatias Nexe Grupa is reportedly interested in acquiring the local unit of Cemex, which is still for sale following HeidelbergCements bid to buy it several years ago, according to Croatian media reports. Representatives from Nexe visited the headquarters of Cemex Croatia to carry out due diligence of the business, according to Slobodna Dalmacija. Cemex Croatia's assets comprise of three cement plants, two aggregate quarries and seven ready-mix plants. In 2015 Cemex signed an agreement to sell its Croatian unit to Duna-Drava Cement (HeidelbergCement Group) for EUR231m. However, in April 2017 the European Commission stopped the move, citing concerns that it would have reduced competition in grey cement markets and increased prices in Croatia. Published under Turkish citizens to be evacuated from Wuhan over outbreak Several countries worldwide have been evacuating its citizens out of China's Wuhan since Monday. Turkey will evacuate 32 citizens and their families from Chinas Wuhan, at the epicenter of a new virus outbreak, in the coming days, the countrys ambassador to China said on Wednesday as the death toll rose to 132. "WE ARE IN TOUCH WITH ALL OUR CITIZENS" The World Health Organization (WHO) has said it is confident in Chinas ability to contain the coronavirus, but concerns are mounting as its health authorities said the number of confirmed cases had jumped by 1,459 to 5,974. The United States and Japan flew its citizens out of Wuhan on Wednesday. Footage reveals ghost town Wuhan WATCH Speaking to broadcaster NTV, Ambassador Emin Onen said Turkey had made the necessary applications to Chinese officials to evacuate the 32 citizens, adding that none of them had been diagnosed with the virus. We are in touch with all our citizens, Onen said. We will bring them back as soon as possible...with a medical or similarly-equipped plane. There will be certain quarantine conditions when they land in Turkey. The government has said there are no known cases of the virus in Turkey and authorities are using thermal cameras at airports and other measures. SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hip hop icon Lil' Jon, reality star Brody Jenner, and Devin Lucien will be joining the party at Vanity San Francisco, with upcoming DJ performances scheduled for February 29th and March 27th, respectively. Just a few short weeks after making its debut on the San Francisco nightlife scene, nightclub Vanity San Francisco has everyone buzzing with an impressive list of upcoming guest appearances. The venue just released its full line-up for February, as well as an exclusive sneak peek of March's special guests, and online reservations are already filling up at a rapid pace. Scheduled for February 29th is hip hop superstar Lil' Jon, a multi-platinum rap artist, DJ, songwriter, and producer known for chart-topping hits like "Get Low," "Goodies," and "Yeah!" His collaborative efforts have featured world-famous names such as Pitbull and DJ Snake, and Lil' Jon has been honored with a Grammy Award, American Music Awards, and several others. His Saturday night appearance at Vanity San Francisco is expected to draw sell-out crowds, giving nightclub guests the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to party alongside an American music icon. Brody Jenner, famous for his long-running role on MTV's reality show hit, The Hills, is another of Vanity San Francisco's upcoming celebrity guests. In addition to his recurring role on The Hills, Jenner has also made appearances on The Princes of Malibu, Bromance, and Keeping Up with the Kardashians, alongside stepsisters, Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe Kardashian. Vanity San Francisco has announced that the venue will be welcoming Jenner and L.A.-based DJ and producer Devin Lucien (known for his L.A. parties on including Vanity Fair's 2010 pre-Oscars bash) on Friday, March 27th. Other highly-anticipated guests planned for the month of February include talent line up 2/1 DJ Lezlee w/ DJ Method 2/7 - DJ Quiz (Official DJ for G-Eazy) w/ DJ Double B 2/8 - Joe Maz w/ DJ Dilly, 2/14 - DJ Sourmilk w/ DJ Patrix, 2/15 - JustinCredible w/ DJ Oddeo, 2/21 - DJ Scene w/ Playboi, 2/22 - DJ Angie Vee + DJ Bella Fiasco w/ DJ Hvff, 2/28 - DJ Skratchy w/ DarkerDaze. 2/29 - Lil Jon w/ DJ Oddeo All of Vanity San Francisco's signature amenities, such as open bar and VIP bottle service, will be available at all upcoming guest performances. Even though Vanity San Francisco only very recently opened its doors, the venue has already earned a coveted spot among the best nightclubs in San Francisco. VIP table reservations are available online and more details about Vanity San Francisco's upcoming special guests can be found at https://vanitysf.com/ . About Vanity San Francisco: Vanity San Francisco is a recently-debuted arrival to the Bay Area's nightlife scene, promising a nightclub venue unlike any other. The unique space invites guests to "misplace their inhibitions" and enjoy a next-level nightlife experience. Complete with two separate levels outfitted with bottle service tables, a first-class sound and lighting system, and an array of luxury amenities, Vanity San Francisco is designed to exceed guests' every expectation. Guests can join the party and see an impressive variety of featured performers at Vanity San Francisco every Friday and Saturday night. For more information about Vanity San Francisco and upcoming performers and guests, please contact Axel Sang at [email protected] or 415-726-7257. SOURCE Vanity San Francisco Related Links https://vanitysf.com/ Australia's intelligence and security agencies will assess Britain's decision to allow Chinese company Huawei into its 5G network, amid uncertainty over what the move means for the "Five Eyes" intelligence-sharing arrangement. There is also growing concern within the Australian and US governments that Boris Johnson's decision could encourage other countries, including Germany and India, to follow Britain's lead in allowing Huawei into their next-generation networks. Britain's decision to allow Huawei to take part in the construction of its 5G network has raised concerns in Canberra. Credit:Bloomberg The Australian government will let the US take the lead in assessing the consequences of the British Prime Minister's decision to defy Washington's warnings in granting the telecommunications giant a limited role in the 5G rollout. The Morrison government on Wednesday did not comment on Britain's decision, which comes after Canberra and Washington banned Huawei from participating in their networks because of concerns over the security of sensitive information. CHICAGO, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Until recently, many healthcare system mergers and acquisitions took the form of a "holding company" approach as it pertained to IT assets and services. Acquisitions would largely function independently with their own IT organization and only integrate where needed. This paper "M&A Due Diligence: Seven Things the C-Suite Should Know about IT" takes the position that the holding company model of IT integration for acquired entities is inadequate to meet the demands of today's market. Market demands and internal, enterprise requirements for IT including digital health and IT's role in advancing strategic imperatives and cost containment often require integrating the IT platform of acquired entities more closely with the acquiring institution. As a result, it is more critical than ever to consider IT in early stages of M&A due diligence. Assessing the IT landscape and costs is a key step in getting the deal's financial model right and setting the course for a successful integration and post-Day One transition. Mike Crow, an Associate Principal with the Chartis Group and co-author of the paper noted, "We have found that developing an IT cost model and associated IT budget early in the acquisition process is critical to understanding the total cost of the acquisition and can materially impact the value and success of the deal." The paper includes seven leading practices to follow during due diligence to position an enterprise for success during an acquisition: Plan for rapid transition to a common, integrated IT services platform Know the data part of the deal Understand IT staffing and the contractual obligations and model a pro forma alongside the rest of the deal Solidify IT transition terms as part of the overall agreement for divestitures Review recent cybersecurity audit findings and insist on a follow-up third-party audit just before deal closing Understand your facility IT Set the stage for success with IT and operations working side by side Kent Gray, Chartis Principal and co-author of the paper stated, "It is mission critical for the full executive suite to know the key IT areas during due diligence to dramatically reduce acquisition costs, risks and time to completion." About The Chartis Group The Chartis Group (Chartis) provides comprehensive advisory services and analytics to the healthcare industry. With an unparalleled depth of expertise in strategic planning, performance excellence, informatics and technology, and health analytics, Chartis helps leading academic medical centers, integrated delivery networks, children's hospitals and healthcare service organizations achieve transformative results. Chartis has offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York, Minneapolis and San Francisco. For more information, visit www.chartis.com. SOURCE The Chartis Group Related Links http://www.chartis.com Herodotus, the famous Greek historian that wrote extensively on the Lydian Empire once shared, "The land of Lydia has no great store of wonderful marvels, compared with other lands [but] there is one monument to be seen there which is larger than any other except only those in Egypt and Babylon: for there is the tomb of Alyattes..." The tomb of King Alyattes, the father of fabled King Croesus, was the largest burial mound in the ancient world and remains one of the largest still today. Standing at just over 200 ft. tall and 1,160 ft. in diameter, the tumulus of King Alyattes is an imposing anchor for the Bin Tepe burial field, possibly the largest tumulus burial grounds in the world. Rory Brown, Managing Partner of Nicklaus Brown & Co., shares details about the tumuli of the Lydian royal cemetery at Bin Tepe. Bin Tepe Monuments The Bin Tepe tumuli, scattered out across the land north of the ancient Lydian capital of Sardis, create a haunting spectacle that's unmatched in the region. It's unclear exactly how many burial mounds existed in antiquity, but by the 1940s, when exploration of the more massive tumuli began in earnest, there were 149 mounds. Today only 115 remain, the rest destroyed by agriculture. The mounds were the final resting places for wealthy members of Lydian society. The largest tumuli were reserved for members of the royal family. Each was constructed in roughly the same manner. The outer edge of the mound was defined by a low crepis wall made of several courses of large limestone blocks. This helped retain the earth fill that was mounded on top of the inner chamber containing the deceased's remains. These inner chambers were frequently located significantly off-center, at a random point within the mound in order to frustrate the efforts of graverobbers. Koca Mutaf Tepe The largest of the Bin Tepe tumuli is Koca Mutaf, determined with a high degree of certainty to be the burial place of King Alyattes, built with his son Croesus's enormous wealth. It's estimated that it took nearly 2,500 men and 600 pack animals two and a half years to complete the mound, which contains nearly 28 million cubic feet of earth mounded over its inner chamber. This chamber had already been plundered when it was discovered in the mid-19th century. While the sarcophagus had been removed, explorers were still treated to an imposing inner room composed of massive limestone blocks and solid, 16-ton limestone roofbeams engineered to support the massive dirt load pilled above them. Karniyarik Tepe Karniyarik is the second largest of the three major tumuli that crest the main ridge in Bin Tepe. It's not certain who was buried there. However, some evidence points to this tumulus as the final resting place of King Gyges, the founder of Lydia's Mermnad dynasty, the line of rulers that eventually ended when the Persian army defeated King Croesus. The most interesting feature of the Karniyarik Tepe is a crepis wall buried within the mound. This indicates that the large tumulus we see today is an expansion of an earlier, smaller tumulus. For reasons unknown, the builders of the expanded mound opted to bury the earlier outer wall rather than repurpose the stone elsewhere. Karniyarik is also unique in that an inner chamber has never been found, despite extensive tunneling and coring expeditions. Teams even found old tunnels built by ancient Romans, but the fact that they'd been backfilled indicated they hadn't found a chamber either. About: Mr. Rory Brown is a Managing Partner of Nicklaus Brown & Co., the Chairman of Goods & Services, Nearshore Technology Company, and a member of the board of directors of Desano. He is passionate about delving into the history of money and how our modern currency has evolved into what it is today. In his spare time, he writes about the history of the Lydians - the first civilization to use gold and silver coinage. New Delhi, Jan 29 : In a massive outreach programme, the Congress on the direction of Priyanka Gandhi is planning to reach 50 lakh farmers within two weeks starting February 3 from Uttar Pradesh as part of the party's Kisan Janjagran Abhiyan, party sources said. "Priyanka can be present at any such interactive programme aimed at knowing the problems of the farmers first-hand in a state where farmers are upset with non-payment of sugarcane dues. The programme will kickstart from Lucknow on February 3," a party source said. The party has roped in block-level workers to reach every household in a fortnight. In each block 50 Congress workers will go to 10 farmer households per day, and in this way, in two weeks, the party will reach 7,000 farmers living in 840 blocks of the state. The party has prepared two forms which will be given to each farmer by party workers to fill in. One form lists a host of problems likely faced by the farmers. "All that a farmer has to do is tick those problems which affect him the most," said a party leader. The second form involves details of a farmer's family and his financial status. "In this form, a farmer can spell out his suggestions," said the party leader. The party has also planned street corner meetings, many of which could be addressed by Priyanka Gandhi. The party will organise four mega rallies in each part of the state starting from Bundelkhand where a number of farmers have committed suicide. These rallies will be addressed by Priyanka Gandhi, said the party source. "After the two-week intense interactive sessions, the party will send its representatives to the 'Tahsil Diwas' -- where government officers gather to sort out the grievances of farmers or common man. The final leg of the party campaign will include a march in the state capital on the issue of farmres. One of the key problems facing the farmers in Uttar Pradesh is stray animals damaging crops. The situation is so serious that during one of the visits of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Mirzapur, engineers were asked to tie the stray animals before they could spill on to the road. A witty tweet went out from Priyanka Gandhi: "Tie one rope to your (CM's) responsibility as the farmers' crop loss is also the responsibility of the government." . , . , , , , , , ... Delhi Police on Wednesday released photos of 70 people who were allegedly involved in violence during the anti-CAA protests near Jamia Millia Islamia here last month, officials said. The university had turned into a battlefield on December 15 last year when police entered the campus and used force against students following the violent protest. According to police, two cases were registered in connection with the violence during a protest against the amended Citizenship Act near the university campus. One case was registered at Jamia Nagar police station under IPC sections for rioting, obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions and assault or criminal force to deter public servant from his duty while another case was registered at New Friends Colony police station under IPC sections for rioting, arson, unlawful assembly and damage to public property. Both the cases are being investigated by the SIT of Crime Branch, police said, adding, the persons whose photos were released had actively participated in riots and any information about them would be suitably rewarded. Anyone who has information about them can contact Delhi Police at 011-23013918 and 9750871252, they added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 28-year-old man, resident of Mohali, who have been admitted to the Communicable Diseases Ward (Isolation ward) has tested negative for coronavirus. The person, who has recently returned from China was admitted at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh on January 27. The samples of the patient's blood and throat swab to Institute of Virology. His condition is stable and he will be discharged soon. "A patient suffering from fever and cold was admitted to the hospital. Since he recently returned from China, we have shifted him to isolation ward as per the government guidelines," Dr Vikas Suri had told ANI. 4,596 people coming from affected countries of coronavirus screened at Mumbai international airport till January 28. Nine out of 23 passengers from Maharashtra have symptoms of mild fever, cold and a cough hence were admitted to isolation facilities. Six of them have been kept at Kasturba hospital in Mumbai, 2 are kept in Pune's Naidu Hospital and 1 is kept at Nanded's government hospital. The death toll from novel coronavirus in China skyrocketed to 106 on Tuesday. 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-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus is a new strain that had not been previously identified in humans. Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, the infection can cause 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.) Singapore confirmed its fifth case of the deadly Chinese coronavirus yesterday as infections and fatalities continue to skyrocket in China and the first case was reported in Cambodia. Officials are preparing for an influx of illnesses, and announced that students will be given one days eviction notice before their dorms are converted into quarantine centers. Any teachers or students returning from China will have to take mandatory leaves of absence for two weeks as a precautionary measure. The government is holding off on a full ban of Chinese tourists entering the country despite an ongoing public petition that has gained more than 20,000 signatures. National Development Minister Lawrence Wong yesterday cautioned Singaporeans against overreacting or turning xenophobic. The Foreign Affairs Ministry last week said there were 35 Singaporeans in Wuhan, the city at the epicenter of the month-old outbreak, saying all reported that they are well, and there were no plans to evacuate them. Confirmed infections have soared to more than 4,000 across China, mainly in Wuhan, which the authorities there have attempted to seal off, along with around 10 other Chinese cities in a bid to contain the virus, locking down more than 50 million people. However, 5 million had already fled Wuhan before the quasi-quarantine was put in place, city mayor Zhou Xianwang told reporters Sunday. Zhou also confessed to withholding information about the outbreak. The novel coronavirus has spread to at least 13 other countries outside of China the first case in Cambodia was confirmed last night a Chinese man from Wuhan who had visited Sihanoukville city earlier this month. Several nations including France, Thailand and Australia said they would evacuate their citizens from the sequestered city of Wuhan. China was also rushing to build a hospital in Wuhan to treat coronavirus patients and is expected to complete it this week. The SARS-like virus, also known as 2019-nCoV, is a member of the coronavirus family that has never been encountered before. Like other coronaviruses, it also comes from animals, and is believed to have emerged from a now-shuttered market that sold exotic wildlife such as bats. China has temporarily suspended all wildlife trade. Story continues The head of the World Health Organization was in Beijing today to discuss the outbreak, days after he said the Wuhan pneumonia virus did not yet constitute a global health emergency due to the limited number of cases abroad. Canada, Germany and France are among countries outside of China with confirmed cases. In other parts of Asia, new cases have been confirmed in Cambodia and Sri Lanka, while Hong Kong now matches Thailand with the most number of confirmed cases eight. While Singapore was not planning to airlift citizens from Wuhan, Thai officials said they were devising plans to evacuate Thai nationals from the city, where it has 54 students and 10 workers. The meeting came after a viral plea from a Thai student at Wuhan University who said students were trapped in the city with insufficient food. I really want to go home, says Thai student trapped in Wuhan without food Thai Air Force commander Manat Wongwat reportedly said that up to four C-134 planes with medical staff and equipment are on stand-by to evacuate Thais from hotspots in China. Malaysia moved to temporarily bar entry for Chinese tourists from Hubei province and its capital city of Wuhan by suspending their visas amid the pneumonia virus outbreak. The decision comes after more than 300,000 signed a petition calling the country to ban entry for Chinese tourists. Myanmar and Indonesia are still free of the coronavirus but remain vigilant as the outbreak spreads to neighbouring countries. The country has investigated around 15 suspected cases, most of them tested negative. Results of three cases are pending. In Manila, more than 600 Chinese tourists were sent back to Wuhan and canceled all direct flights. The country, which is still free of the virus, is investigating 11 suspected cases. Several Metro Manila schools have suspended classes. Up to 50 Filipinos are in Wuhan and want to go home. Hong Kong has declared the Wuhan virus outbreak an emergency in the city amid pressure for the government to act. It has also banned entry of people from Hubei province, excluding Hong Kong residents. Related: Hong Kong police called as couple who fell ill after Wuhan trip try to flee hospital isolation I really want to go home, says Thai student trapped in Wuhan without food PH authorities suspend all flights from Wuhan, ground zero of mysterious coronavirus This article, Singapore resists calls for ban on Chinese travelers as 5th case confirmed, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters! The world is unhappier with democracy than ever, new research has claimed. In a report published Wednesday, researchers from Cambridge University analyzed the political sentiment of more than 4 million people, using data from survey projects that covered 154 countries between 1995 and 2020. The proportion of people who said they were dissatisfied with democracy over the last year hit 57.5%, according to the report, with researchers saying 2019 marked "the highest level of democratic discontent" on record. Authors noted that over the last 25 years, the number of individuals dissatisfied with democratic politics around the world rose from a third to more than half. Shifts in satisfaction levels were often a response to "objective circumstances and events" such as economic shocks and corruption scandals, the report said. Following the financial crisis in 2008, for example, global dissatisfaction with the functioning of democracy jumped by around 6.5%. Many large democracies, including the U.S., Australia, U.K. and Brazil, were now at their highest-ever level of dissatisfaction with democracy. According to the report, the U.S. in particular had seen a "dramatic and unexpected" decline in satisfaction with democracy. When the surveys began in 1995, more than 75% of U.S. citizens were satisfied with American democracy. The first big knock came with the financial crisis, the report showed, and satisfaction has continued to deteriorate year-on-year ever since. Fewer than 50% of Americans are now content with democracy in their country, marking the first time on record that a majority of U.S. citizens were dissatisfied with their system of government. "Such levels of democratic dissatisfaction would not be unusual elsewhere," the report said. "But for the United States, it marks an 'end of exceptionalism' a profound shift in America's view of itself, and therefore, of its place in the world." However, researchers noted that they had found an "island of contentment" in Europe, where satisfaction with democracy had reached all-time highs. Denmark, Switzerland and Norway were among the countries that fell into that category. Southeast Asia was also described as a regional "bright spot." China Southern Airlines employees wear a surgical mask as a preventive measure in light of the coronavirus outbreak in China, as they wait for customers behind the counter at Benito Juarez international airport in Mexico Cit By Jamie Freed and Tracy Rucinski SYDNEY/CHICAGO (Reuters) - China's growth has helped power a global aviation boom over the last decade, but as the country curtails travel in the face of a new coronavirus, a slowdown could hit the industry harder than ever before. United Airlines Holdings Inc, Air Canada, Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd and Finnair Plc are among the carriers that have already cancelled some flights to China as countries expand travel warnings and demand plummets due to the coronavirus outbreak. British Airways has halted bookings of direct flights from London to Beijing and Shanghai until March, according to its website. The virus that has killed more than 130 people and sickened more than 6,000, the vast majority of whom are in China. U.S. officials said the White House had decided against suspending all flights there for now, but was still considering the measure. The virus appears to represent the biggest epidemic threat to the airline industry since the SARS outbreak, which at its peak in April 2003 led to a 45% plunge in passenger demand in Asia, analysts said. The global airline industry has been profitable for the last 10 years, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Airlines are in a stronger financial position than in 2003, but also far more dependent on China. "Airlines and airports that are financially strong and well managed are able to overcome a drastic drop in air travel," said Shukor Yusof, head of Malaysia-based aviation consultancy Endau Analytics. "Weak and poorly managed airlines will suffer." Margins at many carriers remain narrow, economic growth has been fragile amid a U.S.-China trade war and there are fears that the return of the 737 MAX, expected mid-year, could lead to overcapacity and push down fares. Airbus and Boeing orders have fallen from the peak levels of 2013 and 2014. The epidemic is particularly concerning to the industry because China is the world's biggest outbound international travel market and the second-largest domestic aviation market. Story continues The country accounts for about 25% of global sales for airplane manufacturers Airbus SE and Boeing Co. About 450 million more passengers fly to, from and within China per year compared with a decade ago, according to the IATA. For Chinese airlines, the biggest of which are state-backed, the impact of the new coronavirus has been swift. On Wednesday, 23% of departures from Shanghai Hongqiao airport had been cancelled, according to FlightRadar24, compared with 8% at the more internationally focused Shanghai Pudong airport. Mike Boyd, head of U.S.-based aviation consultancy Boyd Group International, said that he had forecast airport traffic in China to rise 8.1% in 2020, but that he now sees traffic growing at less than half that rate. "It is a real slam," he said. Cathay Pacific, already battered by a fall in demand because of anti-government protests in its home market of Hong Kong, said on Tuesday evening it would cut flights to mainland China by 50% or more through the end of March. The fate of Cathay and local rival Hong Kong Airlines could depend on the willingness of travellers to transit through Hong Kong airport, BOCOM International analyst Luya You said. The protests had already caused a collapse in demand from mainland tourists and business travellers, she said. Asian jet fuel prices have dropped and refiners' profits for the product have slumped to their lowest in more than 2-1/2 years over concerns that the coronavirus will hurt demand, although that will also help unhedged carriers keep a lid on costs. U.S. and European carriers have less relative exposure to the Chinese market than their Asian rivals. Chinese carriers, which have a huge home market, dominate airline travel between China and long-haul destinations. But they were racking up international losses even before the virus broke out. Flights to China account for 2%-6% of estimated revenue at United Airlines, Delta Air Lines Inc, American Airlines Group Inc and Air Canada, according to analysts at Cowen, an independent investment bank, although they added there were concerns the virus would not be contained in China given how it was spreading. Historically, air traffic has returned to normal after health scares. In the case of SARS, it took nine months to recover, according to IATA. "It (SARS) meant we did cut back on some international capacity but it rebounded very fast," Qantas Airways Ltd Chief Executive Alan Joyce told reporters on Wednesday, saying that earnings took a A$55 million ($37.61 million) hit from that epidemic. "We do now have a lot of experience over the years with MERS, with Zika virus, with volcanoes, with all sorts of activity that's impacted the airlines," he said. ($1 = 1.4622 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Jamie Freed in Sydney and Tracy Rucinski in Chicago. Editing by Gerry Doyle) WILLIAMSPORT An unemployed Steelton man has been sentenced to 1 to 3 years in state prison after admitting stealing money from skills games at two Lycoming County businesses by removing the locks. John Richard Thomas, 60, Friday pleaded guilty to two theft counts and was immediately sentenced by county Judge Nancy L. Butts. Thomas was arrested Dec. 8 at the Kast Hotel at which time Williamsport police said they found on him bolt cutters, a lock from a skills machine and $248 in currency. He admitted removing the lock on a machine and replacing it with a padlock for which he had the key. He was accused of stealing $4,849 on various occasions beginning Dec. 1 at the Kast and an additional $765 the evening of Dec. 8 when an employee detained him for police. Thomas told police when he was arrested he had a gambling problem, an arrest affidavit states. He also admitted cutting locks on machines at Hellers Family Restaurant just north of the city in Old Lycoming Twp. and stealing approximately $1,000. His sentence requires him to make restitution of the $1,000 taken there. As part of a plea agreement, charges of receiving stolen property and possession of an instrument of crime were dismissed. Thomas, who has a relative living in Williamsport, is awaiting a preliminary hearing in Harrisburg in a retail theft case. BCCL The Supreme Court turned down a plea by Mukesh Singh, one of the four convicts in the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case. Mukesh Singh had moved the SC challenging the rejection of the mercy plea by the president of India. Read more Heres more top news of the day: Govt Tweaks Law Permitting Abortions To 24 Weeks, Move Will Help Single Women & Rape Survivors Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said the upper limit for permitting abortions has been extended from the present 20 weeks to 24 weeks. He added that this will ensure safe termination of pregnancies and also give women reproductive rights over their bodies. Read more Indian Railways To Use Facial Recognition To Check Passengers. What About Our Privacy Concerns? Indian Railways is planning to use facial recognition technology in a bid to fight crime by the end of 2020. The move, as digital rights campaigners put it, could potentially breach people's privacy in the absence of strong digital security laws. Read more No Proof Of Anti-CAA Protesters Injuring Policemen, Says Court Blasting UP Police Claims bccl A sessions court in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, has busted the claims of UP Police which said that anti-CAA protesters indulged in violence, rioting and attempt to murder. Bijnor was one the worst affected areas when protesters took to streets against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Read more IndiGo, AI Suspend Kunal Kamra From Flying Post Arnab Row. It May Be In Violation Of DGCA Rules According to the no-fly list rules which came into effect in 2017 following the altercation between an Air India crew and Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad there are three categories of unruly behavior that can put a passenger on the no-fly list based on the nature of their actions. Read more Nashik Bus Accident: Death Toll Reaches 25, At Least 32 Persons Injured #UPDATE | Nashik accident: Total 26 dead & 32 injured after a bus and a rickshaw fell into a well after ramming into each other, in Deola area yesterday. Rescue operation has been called off. (ANI) Times of India (@timesofindia) January 29, 2020 In a tragic incident, at least 25 people were killed and 32 injured after a bus and a rickshaw fell into a well after colliding with each other in Deola area of Nashik on Tuesday. Read more Medical workers in protective gear talk with a woman suspected of being ill with a coronavirus at a community health station in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province, on Jan. 27, 2020. (Chinatopix via AP) Major Airlines Around the World Are Stopping Flights to China Over Coronavirus Fears American Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa announce flight suspensions American Airlines and British Airways on Wednesday joined several other major international carriers to slash flights to China as the country struggles to deal with an outbreak of coronavirus that prompted quarantines affecting tens of millions of people. American Airlines said it would temporarily suspend flights between Los Angeles International Airport and Shanghai Pudong Airport and Beijing Capital Airport between Feb. 9 and March 27. It said the cancellations were triggered by a significant decline in demand for travel to and from China, a representative said. We will continue to review our flight schedules to ensure we can accommodate the needs of our customers and will make updates as needed, a spokesperson for the airline said in a written statement. American said it would still operate flights from Los Angeles to Hong Kong and from Dallas-Fort Worth to Beijing and Shanghai. It followed an announcement from British Airways, which said it would suspend all of its flights to China. Those flights will stay grounded until Jan. 31. We apologize to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority, the firm said in an a statement on Wednesday to Reuters. Customers due to travel to or from China in the coming days can find more information on BA.com. Germanys Lufthansa announced Wednesday it would suspend all flights to China until Feb. 9. The decision also affects subsidiaries Swiss and Austrian Airlines. Lufthansa, SWISS and Austrian Airlines will be flying to their respective destinations in China for one last time today. This is intended to give our guests the opportunity to take their planned flight and our crews to return to Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, the firm wrote. Austrian Airlines will suspend its flights to and from China (Beijing & Shanghai) until February 9th. For operational reasons, acceptance of bookings for flights to China will be suspended until the end of February. United Airlines on Tuesday confirmed it would suspend some of its flights to Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong in February and March due to a drop in demand. Due to a significant decline in demand for travel to China, we are suspending some flights between our hub cities and Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai beginning Feb. 1 through Feb. 8. We will continue to monitor the situation as it develops and will adjust our schedule as needed, United said in a statement to news outlets. Before that, a spokesman for Canadian airline Air Canada told Yahoo Finance that the company will cancel some flights to match capacity with expected demand. Air India, Air Seoul, Lion Air, Cathay Pacific, Air Asia, Finnair, and IndiGo also said they would stop some or all flights to China, according to reports. The U.S. Department of State issued a new travel advisory to its citizens on Monday, calling on Americans to reconsider going to China over the outbreak of the virus. U.S. citizens are not advised to travel to Hubei province, of which virus-hit Wuhan is its capital and largest city. The police on Wednesday arrested an alleged drug-peddler from Haryana's Rohtak district for possessing 100 grams of heroin, officials said. The estimated value of seized contraband is around Rs 40 lakh, they said. The accused has been identified as Baljit, a resident of Rohnat village in Bhiwani district. During checking near Khrawad by-pass on Rohtak-Delhi road, police intercepted Baljit, who was roaming in a suspicious manner. During checking, 100 grams of heroin was recovered from him. Initial investigation revealed that the accused had brought the contraband from a foreigner in Uttam Nagar in Delhi for supply among drug addicts in Rohtak on high prices, police said. A case under the provisions of NDPS Act was registered and further investigation is underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As India prepares to airlift its citizens from Wuhan, the epicentre of the deadly outbreak, said on Wednesday that it would make all appropriate arrangements and provide necessary assistance if any country "insists" on evacuating its nationals. Besides India, several other countries including the US, France, Japan, South Korea, are making arrangements to airlift their nationals from central Hubei province and its capital city Wuhan. The deadly continues to wreak havoc in with 25 new fatalities reported from Hubei province, taking the death toll to 132 and the confirmed infection cases to nearly 6,000. India has made arrangements to evacuate its over 250 nationals, mostly students and professionals, from Hubei province. The Chinese Foreign Ministry which is coordinating the evacuation of the foreign nationals told PTI here on Wednesday that would make appropriate arrangements if any country "insists" on evacuating its nationals. "China attaches great importance to protecting the lives and health of citizens of all countries in Wuhan, Hubei province, and will continue to take active and effective measures to address their legitimate concerns and demands in a timely manner," the foreign ministry said in response to a question. "If a country insists on evacuating its citizens in Wuhan, China will make appropriate arrangements and provide necessary assistance and convenience in accordance with international practice and China's relevant provisions on epidemic prevention," the ministry said. A large number of foreign nationals from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh from the neighbourhood besides African countries were reportedly stranded in Hubei province. chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday that the UN health body "does not recommend the evacuation" of foreign nationals from virus-hit Hubei province as he called on the international community to remain calm. The Indian Embassy in Beijing, which is coordinating the efforts of the evacuation of the Indian nationals, on Wednesday circulated registration forms and consent notes for the Indians in Wuhan and Hubei province to be filled by them. The embassy has reportedly compiled a list of Indians to be flown out. Reports also said an Air India 747 Boeing has been kept ready to fly them back to India. The embassy has informed the stranded Indians that upon their arrival in India they need to undergo a 14-day quarantine in a designated city, the name of it which has not yet been revealed. The quarantine was necessary as experts say the incubation period of the new virus was on average three to seven days, with the longest being 14 days. The Indian embassy has opened three hotlines to help the Indians in Wuhan to cope up with the crisis. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan.29 By Tamilla Mammadova Trend: Konstantine Gamsakhurdia appointed as envoy of the Georgian Embassy in Germany, Trend reports citing Georgian media. As reported, Gamsakhurdia has experience working in international organizations in Geneva and has ties with Germany. On 23 March 1992, Germany was the first country in the European Community to recognize Georgia under international law after it gained independence in 1991. The two countries established diplomatic relations on 13 April 1992, and the German embassy was opened that same year. Germany actively supported the inclusion of Georgia in the Eastern Partnership and, together with France, pushed for the signing of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement, which incorporates a free trade area and has been in force in its entirety since 1 July 2016. An agreement on the promotion and mutual protection of investments (1998) and a double taxation agreement (2007) are just two of the international treaties which form the basis for bilateral economic exchange. In 2018, trade between Germany and Georgia reached some 417 million euros. Georgian mainly imports from Germany cars and car parts, machinery and chemical products amounting to 300 million euros. Georgias main exports to Germany were food (in particular nuts) and textiles. --- Follow the author on twitter: @Mila61979356 Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division announces federal charges against individuals in connection with aiding China, at Moakley federal courthouse in Boston, Mass., on Jan. 28, 2020. (Katherine Taylor/Reuters) US Charges Harvard Professor, 2 Researchers With Aiding Chinese Regime Federal authorities have charged a Harvard professor, a Chinese military official, and a Chinese researcher, in three unrelated cases, with offenses related to aiding the Chinese regime, the Justice Department announced on Jan. 28. In one case, Charles Lieber, chair of the department of chemistry and chemical biology at Harvard University was arrested on Jan. 28 at his office for allegedly lying about funding he received from the Chinese regime. Charles Lieber attends an award ceremony in the Knesset (Israeli parliament) in Jerusalem on May 13, 2012. (Menahem Kahana/AFP/Getty Images) A Chinese military official was charged on the same day with allegedly falsely identifying herself as a student in her visa application to the United States, and lying about her ongoing military service. Federal prosecutors also announced charges against a Chinese cancer researcher who was arrested at a Boston airport in December 2019 for allegedly attempting to smuggle out vials of biological samples. The statue of John Harvard sits in Harvard Yard at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., on Aug. 13, 2019. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Harvard Professor Lieber, a 60-year-old Harvard professor specializing in nanoscience, allegedly had years of participation in Chinas state-funded Thousand Talents Plan while working on sensitive U.S. research, prosecutors said. The Chinese recruitment program aims to attract top experts globally and has rewarded individuals for stealing proprietary information and violating export controls, the indictment stated. The researcher has received more than $15 million of funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Department of Defense since 2008, according to the document. Disclosure of foreign support is part of the requirement for receiving such federal funding. Beijings money always has strings attached, Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said in a statement following the announcement of charges against Lieber, adding that its important that Americans steer clear of helping human rights abusers in the Chinese Communist Party. The Chinese Communist Party is working hard to make itself the worlds preeminent superpower, and the Thousand Talents Program is designed to give China an economic and military edge by contracting with scientists in the free world and stealing their research, Sasse said on Jan. 28. Covert Work for Beijing Lieber began working with the Wuhan University of Technology (WUT) as a strategic scientist in 2011, and was involved in the Thousand Talents program from 2012 through 2017 as a contractual participant, the indictment stated. The contract entitled him a salary of $50,000 per month with up to 1 million yuan (then $158,000) of living expenses over three years. Lieber, in exchange, would work for WUT for at least nine months per year, and conduct and publish research for WUT. He was to build credibility for around four to six total scholars and doctoral students and bring in one to three top scientists as visiting scholars. In January 2013, Lieber signed an agreement for a five-year cooperative research program on behalf of Harvardwithout consulting Harvard officialsallowing WUT researchers a two-month visit to his department at Harvard each year, the complaint said. The objective of the agreement was to foster advanced research on nanowire-based lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. Harvards representatives told investigators that he did not have the authority to enter into such contracts. He also received $1.5 million for establishing a joint research lab at WUT using Harvards name and logo without Harvards knowledge, a violation of the schools policy, the document said. When confronted by Harvard officials, he lied by saying WUT acted without his consent. According to the complaint, Lieber denied any engagement with the Thousand Talent program when Defense Department investigators questioned him about his foreign research disclosure in April 2018. He said he was never asked to join the program but wasnt sure how China categorized him. A seal hangs over a building at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., on Nov. 16, 2012. (Jessica Rinaldi//File Photo/Reuters) He then emailed his associate saying he lost a lot of sleep worrying about the Chinese webpage, where he was listed as the director of the lab, adding that he will be careful about what I discuss with Harvard University and that none of this will be shared with government investigators. Upon a similar inquiry from NIH, Lieber caused Harvard to falsely tell NIH that Lieber had no formal association with WUT, and that he had never been a participant in the Thousand Talents program, according to the complaint. Two Chinese Researchers Charged Yanqing Ye, a lieutenant in the Peoples Liberation Army, was also charged on the same day for visa fraud. The federal complaint said Ye, an exchange student at Boston University from October 2017 to April 2019 on Chinese government sponsorship, did not disclose her continued military service when applying for her visa. During her exchange program, Ye continued to complete numerous assignments for the Chinese military, including retrieving U.S. military intelligence and sending U.S. documents to China, according to the indictment. Ye was charged with lying about her military background in a visa application and of lying to an FBI officer. She also acted as a Chinese agentshe is currently in China. Federal investigators also charged Zheng Zaosong, another Harvard medical researcher from China, for allegedly trying to smuggle biological research specimens out of the United States. From August 2018 to December 2019, Zheng worked at the Wenyi Wei Laboratory at Harvards Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, researching cancer pathology and cancer cells. He was arrested on Dec. 9 before boarding a Beijing-bound flight at Boston Logan International Airport, with 21 vials of biological materials stolen from the lab, according to the court document. Officers found the vials wrapped in plastics and hidden in a sock. Lab analysis found DNA within the specimens, which Zheng admitted he stole in order to advance his research in his China-based laboratory and publish a paper in his name. Boston FBI agent Joseph Bonavolonta in announcing the charges, said all three individuals are manifestations of the China threat. No country poses a greater, more severe or long-term threat to our national security and economic prosperity than China, he said. Chinas communist governments goal, simply put, is to replace the U.S. as the world superpower, and they are breaking the law to get there. Senior Senate Republicans and their allies fired off a warning shot to Rep. Doug Collins Tuesday: stay out of the Georgia Senate race. The Senate GOP and other party members are rallying behind Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who became the 9th female Republican senator after she was sworn in this year to replace Sen. Johnny Isakson. Loeffler is on the ballot in November to finish the remainder of Isaksons term, and Collins is expected to announce his own Senate bid as soon as this week creating a fierce intra-party clash that some Republicans warn could deplete resources and draw attention away from other GOP races as they seek to protect their Senate majority. "Its so selfish of Doug Collins to be promoting himself when President Trump needs a unified team and Senator Loeffler is such a warrior for the President, said Steven Law, the president of Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC aligned with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. As we've said before, Senator Loeffler is an outsider like Trump, not just another D.C. politician. Well have her back if she needs us." The Senate GOPs campaign arm which protects incumbents is also backing Loeffler. With the Collins threat looming, Loeffler has worked to shore up her conservative bona fides and show her loyalty to Trump during her first few weeks in the Senate. She signed on to anti-abortion legislation, railed against Democrats impeachment case against Trump and took a shot at Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), an occasional Trump critic. Now, as Loeffler faces a potentially stiff challenge for her seat, some of her colleagues and their closest allies are throwing their weight behind her. And shes working to win over even more supporters: Loeffler met with Ivanka Trump on Tuesday, has been on calls with the president and has also spoken with his son, Donald Trump Jr., Loefflers office confirmed. Collins office declined to comment, while Loeffler on Tuesday rebuffed questions from reporters in the Capitol about the expected challenge. Story continues Republican businesswoman Kelly Loeffler, who will soon be Georgia's next U.S. senator, speaks to reporters at the Port of Savannah on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020, in Savannah, Georgia. Loeffler is scheduled to be sworn in when the Senate convenes Monday, Jan. 6 in Washington. She was chosen by Gov. Brian Kemp to fill the seat of GOP Sen. Johnny Isakson, who left office at the end of 2019 because of health problems. (AP Photo/Russ Bynum) The election is an all-party contest in November, with the top two challengers facing off in a January runoff if no candidate tops 50 percent of the vote. A panel of state lawmakers supported legislation to change the race to include a party primary, but Gov. Brian Kemp has threatened to veto the legislation. Loeffler and Collins would be on the ballot together along with any Democrats who are running. Matt Lieberman is the only Democrat currently in the race, but others are likely to join. Rev. Raphael Warnock is expected to announce a bid soon, and former U.S. attorney Ed Tarver has also said he plans to run. Sen. Todd Young, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told reporters Tuesday he was not concerned about the looming battle. Its certainly something were watching closely. And as you might expect, well be supportive of Kelly Loeffler, Young said. Shes proven herself to be a strong conservative who will represent the state of Georgia. And were fully committed to her success. Well hold the seat, he added, when pressed on whether a fractured GOP could hurt their chances. But Collins could have a powerful set of allies in his corner. As the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, he has emerged as one of Trumps fiercest defenders in the impeachment battle. The president and his allies even lobbied Kemp to appoint Collins to the Senate seat late last year, though its unclear whether Trump would get involved in the Georgia battle. Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), who was elected to the chamber after three terms in the House, praised Collins without taking sides in the race. I know Doug really well and I love him like a brother, Cramer said. He added that he had some concern about using up resources on an intra-party fight, but that they should trust the voters. He said he didnt know Loeffler well but she has made a good impression so far. Its no secret Doug Collins isnt exactly anonymous, either, Cramer said. It would be a heck of a fight. Some Senate Republicans have already started picking sides. Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, who was elected in 2018 after serving eight terms in the House, said its important for the party to boost women in the chamber. Conservative women are kind of at the bottom of the pecking order here, so Im going to support Kelly and hope to see her very successful, Blackburn told POLITICO. Shes sent multiple tweets boosting Loeffler since news of Collins run broke. Shes the senator and shes doing a great job and I love it when we have strong women who step up. Loeffler became the 26th woman senator and the 9th Republican woman in the chamber when she was sworn in, both all-time highs. But at least three other Republican women are at risk of losing their Senate seats this cycle, with Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Martha McSally of Arizona and Joni Ernst of Iowa all running in battleground races. Loeffler, a wealthy financial executive, has massive personal resources to spend on her campaign she has pledged to pour $20 million into the race, an amount that could grow significantly if necessary. Shes already run several millions of dollars on TV boosting her image, with commercials both detailing her own background and tying herself to Trump. And shell also have the backing of Senate GOP leadership, with SLF signaling that they could be there to help Loeffler if necessary. Some on the right are also signaling opposition to Collins. The conservative Club for Growth chided him in a tweet for having a low scorecard with the group shortly after news of his Senate run was reported Monday. David McIntosh, the groups president and a former congressman from Indiana, said Collins has no business in the race. He fretted about a scenario where the seat could jeopardize control of the Senate. It could be a terrible mess just because he decided he's more important than the party, McIntosh said. Still, McIntosh didnt signal whether the Club would get involved. He praised Loefflers record so far in her first weeks but said more due diligence was required before deciding whether to enter the fray. Before Loeffler was appointed, a handful of right-of-center groups came out against Loeffler, expressing concern that she lacked conservative credentials. And during a meeting at the White House late last year, Trump noted that Loeffler was not an original backer of his 2016 campaign and raised concerns that she had never held elected office before. Collins is likely to have significant support in his Senate run, including from some of his House colleagues several of whom are close allies of the president. He also has significant backing in Georgia, including from Republican lawmakers in the state. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that State House Speaker David Ralston signaled his support for Collins when the congressman was in the state Tuesday. He is my friend. He has stood by me when few would, Ralston said, according to the newspaper. And I dont forget things like that. Alex Isenstadt and Burgess Everett contributed to this report. By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Europe's luxury brands want EU regulators to take a tougher line against online retailing giants like Amazon and Alibaba on issues like data protection and counterfeiting, the head of a leading industry group said. The call by Andreas Kaufmann, president of the European Cultural and Creative Industries Alliance (ECCIA) and chairman of Germany's Leica Camera AG, comes as the European Commission overhauls its regulatory and policy approach to tech companies. "The internet at the beginning was free for anyone. It's not now, it's driven by market power, it has to be regulated," Kaufmann told Reuters in an interview. Europe's luxury brands contribute about 800 billion euros ($887.5 billion) in revenue annually to the economy, accounting for 4% of its gross domestic product, and employ over 2 million people. They have long complained about tech companies free-riding on their investments and tarnishing their image. The ECCIA, which represents over 600 brands and cultural bodies, wants regulators to strengthen measures against big tech companies on issues like intellectual property rights and data protection. "The existing framework doesn't reflect what is best for our brands. Amazon for example gets information which we are not allowed to give to our distributors. Amazon collects and decides," Kaufmann said. The alliance, which is made up of groups in the cultural and creative industries in Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, is hoping the Commission will take its views into account as it drafts rules known as the digital services act (DSA). "A well-functioning single market for digital services helps provide new opportunities for many traditional companies (in particular small or new companies)", a Commission document seen by Reuters said. The European Union should also focus on reducing tariffs in China, the United States, South America and India, Kaufmann said. ($1 = 0.9014 euros) (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Jan Harvey) EIAs Annual Energy Outlook 2020 January 29, 2020 EIAs Annual Energy Outlook 2020 explores the changing U.S. energy mix through 2050 as consumption grows more slowly than production, particularly of oil, natural gas, and renewables, resulting in increasing exports and relatively stable CO2 emissions The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) will release updated projections of future U.S. energy production and use in its Annual Energy Outlook 2020 (AEO2020) today at 11:00 a.m. The AEO2020 Reference case, which serves as a baseline modeled projection designed to explore varying assumptions about the economy, technology, and policy, examines a future where slower growth in consumption in an increasingly energy efficient U.S. economy contrasts with increasing energy supply because of technological progress in renewable sources, oil, and natural gas. We see renewables as the fastest-growing source of electricity generation through 2050 as cost declines make them economically competitive beyond the expiration of existing federal and state policy supports, noted EIA Administrator Linda Capuano. With continued technologically enabled growth in domestic oil and natural gas production, we see the United States remaining a net exporter of energy for some time. EIA reported last year that the United States became a net exporter of energy on a monthly basis in September 2019 after decades of being a net importer. In the AEO2020 Reference case, the share of U.S. electricity generation from renewable sources doubles between 2019 and 2050. Solar contributes most to that growth. Natural gas generation retains its share as coal and nuclear generation continue to decline. At the same time, the United States continues to produce historically high levels of crude oil and natural gas. In the AEO2020 Reference case, because of continued development of tight oil and shale gas resources in the East and Southwest regions, U.S. crude oil production continues to set annual records through the mid-2020s and natural gas production grows through 2050. The AEO2020 Reference case also projects that the United States will continue to export more crude oil, petroleum products, and natural gas than it imports. Liquefied natural gas exports combined with pipeline exports to Canada and to Mexico continue to rise through the 2020s before remaining relatively flat through 2050. After falling until about 2030, U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions resume modest growth, but by 2050, are lower than 2019 levels. For the next decade, U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions decrease because of retirements of coal-fired generation capacity and corresponding changes in the fuel mix for electric power. Later, increases in energy demand due to growth in transportation and industry cause emissions to increase. In addition to the AEO2020 baseline Reference case, EIA uses eight side cases to explore uncertainties. New in the AEO2020 are two cases that explore the implications of varying the assumed future costs of renewable power generation technologies. Sign up for an email notification of the release of the Issues in Focus articles. Alternative Policies casesMarch 2020 Global Liquefied Natural Gas Demand casesmid- to late 2020 The full Annual Energy Outlook 2020 will be available at 11:00 a.m. MONCTON, N.B. - A lawyer representing women in a proposed class-action lawsuit against New Brunswick's largest health authority and an obstetrics nurse says hundreds of concerned women have contacted him. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. MONCTON, N.B. - A lawyer representing women in a proposed class-action lawsuit against New Brunswick's largest health authority and an obstetrics nurse says hundreds of concerned women have contacted him. The lawsuit, which has not been tested in court, alleges nurse Nicole Ruest improperly gave patients the labour-inducing drug oxytocin, leading to an unusually high number of emergency C-sections and instrument-assisted deliveries at the Moncton Hospital. "We have been contacted by hundreds of mothers who have expressed concerns, but as I indicated to the court, not every mother who underwent an emergency C-section at the Moncton Hospital will be a class member," John McKiggan, a Halifax-based medical malpractice lawyer, said. "It remains to be seen what the actual class size is." McKiggan was in court in Moncton on Tuesday, seeking an order to obtain information from the hospital. "There is specific information we believe the hospital has that is relevant to the issues that the court will need to deal with on certification," he said. The judge is expected to rule on that request before the end of February. Ruest could not be reached Wednesday for comment, but in a statement of defence filed with the court, her lawyers reject the allegation that she was negligent. "She did not breach any duty of care owed to the plaintiff or to any proposed class member, nor did she fall below the applicable standard of care," the document reads. "At all material times, Ms. Ruest provided nursing care that met or exceeded the applicable standard of care." The hospital, part of the Horizon Health Network, also filed a statement of defence last May. "The defendant hospital admits that its physicians were becoming concerned over the increasing number of emergency caesarean sections and were attempting to determine the reason for the increase in the number of emergency caesarean sections," the statement reads. But it denies all other allegations. The hospital says that Ruest was terminated as an obstetrical nurse. The RCMP said in November that one person was arrested and questioned about the case and is to appear in court in May. McKiggan said a hearing to determine whether the class action lawsuit goes ahead will likely be held in December or early in 2021. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2020. By Kevin Bissett in Fredericton. The sensational headline mischaracterized the evidence presented in the post, which drew on a Washington Post story about how Bolton had earned speaking fees from Deutsche Bank, the British bank HSBC and a foundation operated by a Ukrainian steel magnate. All nuance was lost, however, when the blog post gained sudden traction on Monday, posted to about two dozen Facebook groups with a collective membership of more than 300,000. One of them was a group called Fox News Sean Hannity, described as a forum for all Sean Hannity fans. The blog post primed Fox viewers in the group which has no official links to the network or the popular Trump-friendly host for what they would hear when they tuned in that night. A British family trapped in the centre of the coronavirus outbreak today said they have been told one of them might not be allowed on a plane evacuating UK citizens. Sindy Siddle, 42, travelled to Hubei province with her husband, Jeff, and daughter, Jasmine, nine, to spend Chinese New Year with relatives. The Foreign Office has told her that as she holds a Chinese passport, she might not be allowed to board the plane. She has had a visa for permanent residency in the UK since 2008. Mr Siddle, 54, an IT software developer from Prudhoe, Northumberland, said: My head is spinning. Its just horrendous. This ordeal just turned into our worst nightmare. 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 He told BBC Radio Newcastle: We have heard there is going to be an airlift imminently but they are only allowing British citizens on the plane which means that my wife wont be allowed to leave. My daughter is absolutely in floods of tears because shes going to be split up from her mum. It is a horrendous decision that we have had to make. He said his wife will stay with her family in the village of Hongtu, a three-hour drive from Wuhan, until they are able to make arrangements to get her out of the country. Children wear masks during the coronavirus outbreak / AFP via Getty Images The FCO said it would make a note on its file that Mrs Siddle is the mother of a British child, but could make no guarantees about her evacuation. The situation was echoed by others among the 250 Britons believed to be stranded in Hubei province. Nick House, who lives in China with his Indonesian wife and two British children, said he was also told he could take a repatriation flight but his wife, who does not have a visa, could not. 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 He told Sky News: I wont leave without my wife the Government are leaving three British people here for the sake of one seat on a plane. She isnt alone. If you look on Instagram, the momcation, a vacation for tired mothers designed specifically to give them a break from spouses and children, is on the rise: The hashtag #momcation appears in more than 52,000 posts. Now hotels and tour operators are attempting to cash in on the trend, rolling out packages targeted and designed for the exhausted mother. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday tweeted in support of stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra after the latter was barred by four airlines from flying with them. On Tuesday, Kamra was banned by IndiGo from flying with them for six months after he heckled a TV presenter and editor on board its Mumbai-Lucknow flight. The Congress leader said the ban on Kamra was an act of a coward and an attempt to silence a critic. The ban imposed on #kunalkamra by 4 airlines is the act of a coward leveraging his influence with the Govt to silence a critic, tweeted Gandhi. The comedian has been banned from flying with GoAir, SpiceJet, Air India till further notice, while IndiGo, on whose plane the heckling stunt happened, has barred him from flying with it for next six months citing unacceptable behaviour. With airlines rushing to ban Kunal Kamra on their planes, aviation regulator this evening said the action by the carriers is in line with its regulations. In a statement, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), as reported by the news agency PTI, said, This is to reiterate that the action taken by the airlines is in complete consonance with Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section-3, Series M Part VI on Handling of unruly passengers. The DGCA said the matter will be referred to an internal committee and that committee is then to give a final decision in 30 days which will be binding on the airline concerned. Defending his actions on board the IndiGo flight, Kamra maintained that he did nothing wrong or criminal. He also apologised to every passenger except one. The event features Robert Martinez, CEO of Rockstar Capital, as the alongside Tarek El Moussa, star of cable's Flip or Flop, as a guest speaker. Attendees will be given the opportunity to tour some of Rockstar's top rated apartment communities, hear Rockstar Capital's biggest announcements for 2020 and beyond, meet the team behind Rockstar Capital that aids in cultivating investments day-in and day-out, mix and mingle with other investors in the real estate game, and meet the man who has built Rockstar Capital from nothing to 3,762 units in eight years. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-rockstar-tour-tickets-88172721985?aff=affiliate1. The Rockstar Tour's splash page can be found at http://therockstartour.com/ where more information can be found. About Rockstar Capital Rockstar Capital is an investment and multi-family property management firm, who specializes in the acquisition and management of value-add opportunities across Texas. Currently, the portfolio consists of 3,762 units across 21 communities. The CEO and founder, Robert Martinez directs the investment strategy, sources the investment capital, and secures the appropriate financing. Since 2011, Rockstar Capital Management has become one of the most decorated property management companies in Texas with 17 City, State, and National Apartment Associations awards. Other industry achievements include Top-Rated status by ApartmentRatings.com for the entire Rockstar portfolio from 2015-2018 and the distinction of having the #3 Rated multifamily community in Texas and #38 nationally for online reputation by J Turner Research. In all, four Rockstar Capital communities ranked in the Top 1% nationally (out of 101,000 communities) for online resident satisfaction. This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com. SOURCE Rockstar Capital TEL AVIV - The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land said the Trump peace plan "doesn't give dignity and rights to the Palestinians" and said it must be considered a "unilateral move given that it takes as its own the majority of the requests of one side, the Israeli one, and its political agenda". It said the plan "doesn't bring a solution, but on the contrary, creates increased tension and probably more violence and bloodshed". It said the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has for decades been the centre of many peace initiatives and proposals of a solution. "As said various times in the past, we believe that no proposal or serious prospect can be obtained without agreement among the two peoples. These proposals must be based on equal rights and dignity," it said, adding that Trump's proposals "don't contain these conditions". In other words, the Assembly said, the plan "doesn't take into consideration the rightful demands of the Palestinian people for its own homeland, rights, and a dignified life". "We expect the previous accords signed by the two parties to be respected and applied based on equality between the peoples," it said. It cited a Bible passage, James 3:18: "Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness". Israel to vote on Trump plan Tuesday. Netanyahu 'to extend Israeli law to settlements, Jordan Valley' Israeli prime minister Benyamin Netanyahu is determined to extend Israeli law to settlements in the West Bank and the Jordan Valley, as envisioned by a Middle East peace plan unveiled Tuesday by US president Donald Trump. Reports on Wednesday were by the daily newspaper Israel Ha-Yom, which said that the cabinet is expected to vote on the matter the following Tuesday. Cabinet meetings are usually held on Sunday but Netanyahu prefers to postpone the session for a few days to be able to prepare fully for it. Brexit Party MEPs went to the bar to celebrate after their leader delivered a speech in the European Parliament for the last time. Nigel Farage was pictured arm in arm with his fellow members as they drank in Brussels following his final address to the EU institution before the UK leaves the bloc on Friday. Say what you like about us Brexiteers but we know how to have a good knees-up! Superb fun at this historic moment with @Nigel_Farage @Michael_Heaver #CheersBrexiteers pic.twitter.com/JQboIjZYm6 Martin Daubney (@MartinDaubney) January 29, 2020 Sharing the image, Brexit Party MEP Martin Daubney tweeted: Say what you like about us Brexiteers but we know how to have a good knees-up! Superb fun at this historic moment with @Nigel_Farage. Mr Daubney filmed the moment he and his colleagues bought 10 beers at the bar, and added: Its a carnival atmosphere for jubilant Brexiteers! Earlier, after a speech in which he announced the UK is never coming back, Mr Farage had led his allies out of the European Parliament chamber waving Union Flags. As he was rebuked from the chair for the display, the Brexit Party MEPs gave Mr Farage three cheers. After 25 years of fighting for independence, this is my final contribution in the European Parliament. We were told to leave with our British flags, and that's exactly what we did. pic.twitter.com/cBfycWfsN7 Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) January 29, 2020 Mr Farage tweeted: After 25 years of fighting for independence, this is my final contribution in the European Parliament. We were told to leave with our British flags, and thats exactly what we did. German MEP Martin Sonneborn, leader of the satirical party Die PARTEI, recorded the moment Mr Farage waved goodbye to the chamber. Ab sofort bin ich der einzige Politclown hier... Smiley! pic.twitter.com/MQcLbghZ3A Martin Sonneborn (@MartinSonneborn) January 29, 2020 Tweeting in German, Mr Sonneborn said he was now the only political clown left in the European Parliament. Brexit Party MEP Michael Heaver shared a video of himself at the bar with Nathan Gill, in which Mr Daubney could be seen behind them grinning into the camera and swigging from a beer. Sensational atmosphere here in Brussels. We Brexiteers refused to roll over. And now weve won - against the odds. See you on 31st! @NathanGillMEP pic.twitter.com/WxJ6vQvc4M Michael Heaver (@Michael_Heaver) January 29, 2020 Asked what he made of Mr Farages final speech, Mr Gill said: It was absolutely historic we walked out of that chamber with our flags. The president actually said to us take your flags and leave, so we picked up our flags and Nigel said, Come on lads, were off and we left. Weve Brexited, we have, theres no returning from this and thank heavens all I can say is roll on the 31st and roll on freedom. MEPs voted by 621 to 49 in favour of Boris Johnsons Brexit deal, paving the way for Britain to leave on Friday with a deal in place. - A 57-year-old man and a 27-year-old lady from Illinois have proved to the world that age should never be a problem for two people who are desirous of coming together - Robert and Ada Owen are in love with each other and have decided to disregard those who mock them because of their age difference - The 27-year-old lady says people usually think she is dating her grandfather Age is just a number and should not hinder two people from falling in love with each other and enjoying the beauty of love. Twenty-seven-year-old model Ada Owen and 54-year-old Robert Owen did not allow age to deprive them of the beauty of love. Ada, however, said strangers mistake her partner for her grandfather because of the 27 years gap between them, Daily Mail reports. Legit.ng gathers that Ada said because she is short, people usually think she is dating a grandfather and that she is a teenager. Robert Owen and Ada Olszewska are in love with each other and have decided to disregard those who mock them because of their age difference. Photo credit: Ada Owen Source: UGC She said: "People who do not know us, like to judge us. I am four-foot-nine tall and I am twenty-seven years old. I look fifteen. So from people's point of view, I am underage and I am dating a grandpa or father." Ada, who is a model, says strangers mistake her partner for her grandfather. Photo credit Ada Owen Source: UGC Ada said at first, her mother did not like the fact that she was with Robert, but she got used to it and is now happy for them. She said age is just a number and has never been a problem for her. According to her, it is not the age that counts, but the heart and the mind of one's partner that should play a major role. Reacting on Facebook, Alisa Jurkovic said: "Your choice ... Who cares what people think, they should mind their own business anyway! Love, enjoy & have fun!" Irena Holc said: "Sounds familiar. Happened to me and my partner as well. We just laughed off." PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read the best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that wedding bells were ringing for a Nigerian man identified as Marshal Bernard and his heartthrob after they recently got engaged in a beautiful way. While many people get hurt by others they have chosen to love, the beauty of experiencing true love pays off as many people eventually find a partner deserving of their affection. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better Can a man show his love to a woman without having money? | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng Signage has been put up along Poor House Road to warn drivers about the intersection with Old Highway 25. But let justice roll on like a river, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (Amos 5:24) In Upton Sinclair's classic American novel The Jungle, the main character, Jurgis Rudkis, is a Lithuanian immigrant who has suffered endlessly working in Chicagos meatpacking yards at the turn of the 20th century. After a series of devastating tragedies, Jurgis finds himself with a job at a hotel owned by a wealthy socialist and listening in on a speech being given about the Social Gospel. The speaker argues that not only was Jesus a socialist, he was the first socialist. Hearing these words, our protagonist is moved; hes at peace knowing that he can be part of a socialist movement and still be a good Christian, because, as he learns, being a socialist is the pinnacle of what it means to be a true Christian. In 2019, the income inequality level in the US hit a five-decade high. Over 28 million Americans dont have healthcare presently, and just last week scientists moved the Doomsday Clock to 100 seconds to midnight in part because of the threat the climate crisis poses to the survival of humanity. Julys Democratic convention is just five months away and many prominent white Protestant evangelicals have spent the length of the Democratic primary season proselytizing Truman-era propaganda of a socialist destruction that would befall America if a left-leaning candidate were to win the presidency even though reforms like universal healthcare have been successfully implemented in other countries. While black Protestant evangelicals have long disavowed white evangelical Republicans visions of social justice, and the NeverTrump evangelicals have spoken out against the current government since 2016, white evangelicals still make up a third of the Republican voting bloc. My father, a white evangelical and born-again Christian, is concerned about the US government taking a hard turn to the left if either Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders were to win the presidency. We couldnt be further apart on politics and I dont think its easy for either of us. As a family, we try to gently agree to disagree. But I wasnt raised religious. I learned about Christianity at the Catholic schools I grew up going to, and from members of different Christian faith communities. My earliest impressions of what Christianity was really about came from reading about Jesuss rejection of ancient Romes inequitable, oppressive and violent status quo, from his humility, his vision of brotherhood and his kindness and loving dedication to the disenfranchised. And the warnings about socialism arent really directed at my generation. When Republicans call Democrats socialists, they are speaking to baby boomers haunted by the memories of the Cold War. For my parents, the word socialism meant nuclear standoffs a government war against democracy, freedom of press, expression, privacy, and religion. But for millennials who grew up in a time where the Cold War was just a chapter in a history book, many of us associate the politics of social democracy with the best educational outcomes in the world, like in Finland, and free, accessible healthcare for everyone in France and the UK, countries which have better survival and disease prevention rates than the US and which dont impinge on personal freedoms. A couple weeks ago, I spoke with author and National Catholic Reporters news editor Peter Feuerherd about his work on the history of evangelicals and social justice movements in the US. He told me about several periods when Protestant evangelicals, in the broadest sense of the definition, advocated for faith-based socialist political models of government. There was the pre-civil war abolitionist movement that started in the 1830s and grew out of Protestant evangelicalism. The Social Gospel movement flourished between 1870 and 1920 with adherents who advocated for improved conditions for factory workers and immigrants, ending child labor and other critical social improvements for poor and working class Americans. And then there was the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 60s, where biblical scripture formed the centerpiece of Dr Martin Luther Kings fight for justice for black people in this country. At the time Jesus lived, illness, poverty and misfortune were considered rebukes from God. In contrast to that belief, his ministry sought out the forsaken and persecuted by speaking directly to them and to those who wielded influence over their lives the Romans. In a conversation with Dr Elaine Klemen-Bassiouni, a social worker, counselor and Council Chair of the Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ in Chicago, I asked her about the less commonly referenced biblical passages that make mention of socialist principles. She reminded me of the Book of Acts (Acts of the Apostles), which contains the following passages: All the believers were together and had everything in selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need. (Acts 2:44-45) All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. (Acts 4:32) The Book of Jeremiah is also particularly relevant: This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. (Jeremiah 22:3) But perhaps even more compelling is Jesus proclamation of his ministry in a synagogue on the morning of the Sabbath, as he read the scroll of the prophet Isaiah: the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To comfort all who mourn (Isaiah 61:12) In Jeremiah and Isaiah, is Jesus not speaking to the migrant children held in flu-infested cages on the border? Is he not speaking to young black men targeted by police officers because of their race? Is he not speaking to the millions of Americans who have to choose between paying for groceries or prescription drugs, or between taking on massive debt or getting a college education? In the Book of Acts, is he not speaking to our political class? Is there really any question about whether our capitalist system is working for most Americans and the planet? According to the evangelical Republican senator Marco Rubio, Socialism is wholly incompatible with America. Our unique, entrepreneurial spirit thrives in defiance of the notion of state control of markets. But I ask if thats still true even if those markets have left Americans spending more than most OECD states, but receiving worse quality healthcare? Bernie Sanders responds to Hillary Clinton's 'nobody likes him' comments When the Republican evangelical senator Lindsey Graham proposed an unconstitutional bill aiming to eventually overturn federal abortion law, he mentioned that he wanted to get off a list of seven other nations that granted citizens substantial abortion rights. Does he not also want to get off the list of the nations with the highest child poverty rate among OECD countries? Does Sen. Grahams worry for the fetus in-utero not extend to the child in the cage on the border? If not, why? When I asked Dr Klemen-Bassiouni about the dichotomy between the Gospels and the blind support of our current economic and political model by many white evangelicals, she told me that with religious texts you cant pick and choose, you have to look at them in their totality Jesuss ministry was about feeding the hungry, supporting the weak, helping the afflicted and honoring, respecting and caring for all human beings. When you pick and choose you can always find some statement to support your stance. But thats not the way to understand Jesuss message. And shes right. The bible was used to support the pro-slavery movement and segregationists used biblical passages to defend their positions during the Civil Rights era. Granted, I understand that both Sanders and Warren hold views that many evangelicals dont support, including on issues like abortion. And even for the average Democrat that supports abortion rights for women and LGBTQ rights among many other progressive policies, Sanders and Warren are still far from being perfect candidates. But, of the remaining contenders, the two have the best track records on fighting for same overarching vision of social justice and equality for humanity that Jesus spoke about, and was crucified for, over 2,000 years ago shouldnt that matter to white evangelical Republicans? I asked Dr Klemen-Bassiouni why she thought white evangelicals demonize Sanders and Warren for their socialist ideals and she told me, In the US we have a culture of a bizarre kind of individualism: if youre in a situation thats bad its because its youve made the wrong choices. For privileged people that means Ive made the right choices and thus Im entitled to my privilege. This kind of thinking facilitates separatism and racism. In other words, it justifies the haves and have-nots. 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 When I posed the same question to Feuerherd, he had a similar take. He said, They have forgotten to read the Acts of the Apostles. It describes a socialist system; everything held in common. Peoples needs were taken care of and it was really a utopian community there. He went on to explain that, according to the Social Gospel, the Kingdom of God is right here, not in the afterlifeWe need to build it up right here in this space, right now. Regardless of whether Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders wins the Democratic Partys nomination, neither of them are out to nationalize all American industry and freeze millionaires bank accounts theyre simply looking to redirect part of a $1.3 trillion dollar military budget and cancel Trumps tax cuts to the top 1 per cent, because we all know trickle-down economics dont work. Like Sen. Warren has said time and time again, America should work for everyone. Its a simple message, consistent with the messages of the bible. He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8) The Hezhen are one of Chinas smallest ethnic minority groups. Early Hezhen people developed methods for making clothes, bedding and thread out of fish skin. For that reason, they became known in China as the Fish Skin Tribe. But today, the tradition is dying. You Wenfeng is one of the few people in her community carrying on the tradition. She was not yet born when her people were sent to labor camps during Japans occupation of Manchuria in the 1930s and 1940s. You, who is 68, told Reuters reporters that many Hezhen died in the camps. But her mother survived, and she taught her daughter about fish skin. The Hezhen are native to Siberia. Traditionally, they were hunters and fishers, making their living along rivers. After World War II, the Hezhen population grew from 300 to 5,000 along the Amur River, also known as the Black Dragon River. But that population growth did not stop the loss of Hezhen culture, including making clothing from the skin of fish like carp, pike and salmon. Few young Hezhen wanted to learn the skill. Fish-skin clothing is also not what Hezhen people wear today. Knowing this, You started to share her knowledge with local Han Chinese women in Tongjiang, where she lives. The quiet city sits near Chinas northeastern border with Russia. Yous followers also learn the Yimakan, a kind of storytelling that uses both speech and song in the Hezhen language. The lessons are not easy. Yous followers memorize songs of fishing, hunting and ancient tribal victories in a language they do not speak. During a visit by Reuters reporters, You began to sing in her small apartment. She sang of a womans wish to have a son for her hunter-husband. Hezhen hunters rode on narrow boats made from birch wood. You described the boats as swift horses. The Hezhen were so skillful on water that their ancient stories say they came from mermaids. When the forests flooded to the treetops, there would be fish everywhere, You said. These days, fish are bought from the marketplace. And instead of tiger bone and the tissue of deer, a special sewing tool and cotton thread are used. A piece of clothing for a woman requires 50 fish. For a man, it requires 56, You said. The first step is to remove the fishs skin and dry it. The skin is then repeatedly passed through wooden teeth to soften it. The process takes a month. Sewing then requires about 20 more days. Fish leather has inspired some high-end clothing design houses, including Dior and Prada, to use it in their clothes. But the material is still not common. You says fish skins are stronger than most skins. In 2006, Hezhen fish skin clothing was listed by China as intangible cultural heritage, which means a special effort is made to preserve the tradition. Im Alice Bryant. Reuters news agency reported this story. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English with additional information. Ashley Thompson was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story swift adj. moving or able to move very fast mermaid n. an imaginary sea creature that has a woman's head and body and a fish's tail instead of legs sewing gerund. the making or repair of something by using a needle and thread leather n. animal skin that is chemically treated to preserve it and that is used in making clothes, shoes, or furniture intangible adj. not made of physical substance facebook like button Tweet tweet button for twitter Published Jan. 29, 2020 The University of Louisiana Monroe Foundation is pleased to announce the establishment of an endowed Professorship in Biology, with matching funds from the Louisiana Board of Regents Sponsored Program, and an endowed scholarship for biology students, both to be named in honor of Dr. Charles Allen from the sale proceeds of 105 acres in Caldwell Parish. Through this transaction, the initial donation by Dr. Harry Hall and Mary Lou Winters of 105 acres designated for scientific and educational research is expanded to provide financial support in perpetuity to faculty and students in the ULM Biology program. In March 2000, Dr. and Mrs. Winters donated 105 acres in the rolling Ouachita Hills Region near Columbia to the ULM Foundation in honor of Allen, a former ULM professor and accomplished botanist in Louisiana. Over the years, Winters and Allen co-authored several books on the plants of Louisiana and the Gulf South. The property consists of diverse geological and ecological features rarely seen in Louisiana, including rugged terrain, many plants rare to the state, and native petrified wood. ULM biology students (including members of the Nu-Gamma Chapter of Tri-Beta, the National Biology Honor Society) and faculty have organized annual BioBlitz events for more than seven years. This event, led primarily by students, highlights the outdoor classroom the ULM Biological Station and Charles Allen Nature Preserve. During these all-day events, participants, along with content experts, hike through high ridges and bottomlands on a mission to spot and identify as many life forms as possible, birds, plants, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, butterflies and more. The ULM Biological Station is a gem hidden among the Ouachita Hills. The property is located along the banks of the Ouachita River, and has some of the most unique vegetation in the state along with fossils that are millions of years old. In the past several years, this has been used as an extended classroom by ULM biology faculty, said Dr. Joydeep Bhattacharjee, professor of biology. In December 2019, the Caldwell Parish Industrial Development Board purchased the property from the ULM Foundation with the intent to expand their tourism attractions and allow ULM to continue use of the property for educational and research purposes. The parish is building a walking trail through the town of Columbia, including the cemetery, building the Sherman Lake in town, and believes the Charles Allen ULM Preservation adds yet another attraction for unique flora and fauna to the area with hiking trails. About Dr. Harry Hall Winters III Dr. Winters earned both his Bachelor of Science and Medical Doctor from LSU. Beginning in 1953, he spent the next five years in residencies in the Charity Hospital System in Louisiana. His training was primarily in internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and general surgery. In 1959, he moved to Columbia, where he continued to practice medicine for 35 years and serving many years as the coroner of Caldwell Parish. He also served as president of Area Health Council for North Louisiana. Winters referred to himself as a "small-town country doctor" who made house calls on his patients whom he dearly loved. About Dr. Charles M. Allen Allen earned his Bachelor of Science in Forestry and Master of Science in Botany from LSU. He earned his Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He is a botanist, plant taxonomist, retired professor, noted author, and conservationist who provides a variety of professional ecological and botanical consulting services as well as detailed instruction on plant identification. His in-depth courses provide continuing education for many of the most experienced field biologists and plant professionals and yet can leave the novice student with a much deeper and thorough understanding of plants thanks to his years of experience and patience. Allen taught at ULM from 1991-2001 and was awarded the College of Pure and Applied Sciences Research Award in 1994, Alumni Association Service Award in 1996 and voted favorite professor by Alpha Lambda Delta in 2001. Australia's Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a statement on Wednesday evening that her department would need to consider the proposal in detail, but welcomed its release. "Australia has a long record of strong, bipartisan support for a two-state solution to the conflict," she said. "Any peace arrangement needs to be negotiated directly between Israel and the Palestinians. We recognise that the US must play a role in any credible peace process. "Australia supports mechanisms that address the legitimate concerns of both Israel and the Palestinians, and we strongly encourage Palestinian representatives and Israel to enter into good faith discussions on a peace process. Australia calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to refrain from violence or other provocative actions or statements that undermine the prospects for peace." Benjamin Netanyahu applauds during Donald Trump's announcement. Credit:AP Trump's plan proposes a four-year timeline for Palestinians to agree to a security arrangement with Israel, halt attacks by the Islamist militant group Hamas and set up governing institutions in order to establish a Palestinian state with its capital in Abu Dis, a part of east Jerusalem. That too poses a potential problem for Palestinians. Abu Dis is a West Bank village just east of the Israeli municipal boundaries for Jerusalem. Palestinians living in Abu Dis are cut off by a high concrete Israeli security wall and checkpoints. Illustration: Matt Golding Credit: Palestinians have previously rejected any proposal that does not envision a Palestinian capital in all of East Jerusalem. Trump's plan says that barrier should serve as a border between the capitals of the two states, adding that Jerusalem should remain Israel's undivided, sovereign capital. "My vision presents a win-win opportunity for both sides, a realistic two-state solution that resolves the risk of Palestinian statehood to Israel's security," Trump said. Abbas, speaking to reporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, said: "Jerusalem is not for sale, our rights are not for sale and are not for bargain and your deal, the conspiracy will not pass. White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, one of the architects of the plan, said the Palestinians "look quite foolish" for immediately rejecting the plan and should take some time to consider "a very strong opening offer". "If we feel like there is a good-faith chance or a desire on their side to come with a counter-proposal, we'll figure out the right forum to engage in it to bring about a solution," he said. Before the Trump announcement, thousands of Palestinians demonstrated in Gaza City and Israeli troops reinforced positions near a flashpoint site between the Palestinian city of Ramallah and the Jewish settlement of Beit El in the West Bank. Critics say both Trump and Netanyahu have been intent on diverting attention away from domestic troubles. Trump is going through an impeachment trial, while Netanyahu was formally indicted in court on corruption charges on Tuesday. Both men deny any wrongdoing. Loading Netanyahu also faces a difficult election in March - his third in less than a year. He is locked in a battle with Blue and White Party chief Benny Gantz, who also expressed support for the Trump plan. Netanyahu said the Trump plan offered Palestinians a pathway to a future state but that it may take them "a very long time to get to the beginning of that path". "If they agree to abide by all the conditions you have put forward in your plan, Israel will be there. Israel will be prepared to negotiate peace right away," he said. Trump said he had sent a letter to Abbas asking him to study the deal. "I explained to him that the territory allocated for his new state will remain open and undeveloped for a period of four years. During this time, Palestinians can use all appropriate deliberation to study the deal, negotiate with Israel, achieve the criteria for statehood and become a truly independent and wonderful state," he said. Under Trump's proposed Middle East peace plan, the United States will recognise Israeli settlements on the occupied West Bank. The White House document said Israel agreed to a four-year "land freeze" to secure the possibility of a two-state solution. But a senior Israeli official later played down the notion of a settlement freeze in the West Bank. US senior administration officials said they expected initial Palestinian scepticism over the plan but hoped they would agree to negotiate over time. It places high hurdles for the Palestinians to overcome to reach their long-sought goal of a state. "Strip away the domestic and Israeli political considerations that determined the timing of the plans release, and the message to the Palestinians, boiled down to its essence, is: 'Youve lost, get over it,'" said Robert Malley, president of the International Crisis Group and a former US National Security Council official. The US plan represented the most detailed attempt to break the deadlock between Israel and the Palestinians in several years. Trump has endorsed a proposed map outlining the two states, US officials said. The Palestinian state would be double the size of land that Palestinians currently control and would be connected by roads, bridges and tunnels, they said. Israel will also take steps to ensure Muslim access to al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and respect Jordan's role regarding holy sites, the US officials said. Trump's plan calls for Palestinian refugees to settle in a future Palestinian state and creates a "generous compensation fund" for them, one of the officials said. Toronto, Ontario, Jan. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Cinesphere is set to host a special presentation of films featuring acclaimed writer-director Christopher Nolan. Showcasing four standout IMAX 70mm titles, beginning February 7th. Movie-goers can expect to be immersed in sight and sound, as they can once again experience some of the British-American directors best work at Ontario Places Cinesphere Theatre. Christopher Nolan is an auteur recognized for his nonlinear storytelling, has grossed over US4.7 billion worldwide and garnered a total of 34 Oscar nominations and ten wins. The film lineup includes The Dark Knight (2008), Inception (2010), Interstellar (2014) and Dunkirk (2017). With all the films being exclusively shown in the directors preferred format, IMAX 70mm, providing an all-encompassing movie going experience in bigger picture and exhilarating sound, creating a truly immersive setting. Tickets for the films are on sale now and can be purchased at http://ontarioplace.com/en/cinesphere/. Cinesphere will also be presenting 2001: A Space Odyssey in 70MM film from January 31st to February 2nd. A Stanley Kubrick 1968 sci-fi space masterpiece, which Christopher Nolan carefully unrestored to its original photo format. About Ontario Place Ontario Place is an agency of the Government of Ontario that features 155 acres of waterfront property in Toronto. The iconic location is a venue for live music, festivals and events. From enjoying the skyline, to attending a festival or concert Ontario Place is a gathering space for everyone in the province and home to the iconic Cinesphere, the first permanent IMAX theater in the world. For more information about Ontario Place, please visit http://ontarioplace.com. Follow Ontario Place on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, use the hashtag #OntarioPlace and #Cinesphere to share your experience. Hundreds more millimetres of rain have dropped on an already soggy north Queensland with the tropical low responsible moving across the Northern Territory border before heading south. The heaviest drenching occurred in the Cairns region with city streets transformed into lakes and schoolchildren walking to class in ankle-high water on Wednesday. Flooding near St Joseph's School in the far north Queensland city of Cairns. Credit:St Joseph's School Cairns - Facebook It came after areas around the Burdekin Shire town of Ayr, about 70 kilometres south-east of Townsville, recorded more than 350 millimetres of rain on Tuesday. In terms of the latest rainfall totals, the Victoria Sugar Mill, about 100 kilometres north-west of Townsville, had the highest recording with 227 millimetres in the 24 hours to 9am Wednesday. 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' After initial signs of coronavirus, Rajasthan man admitted at SMS hospital tests negative India oi-Madhuri Adnal Jaipur, Jan 29: A man who was found with symptoms of coronavirus here has been tested negative for the virus infection on Wednesday. "The test report of the patient, who is admitted at SMS hospital in Jaipur, is negative," a spokesperson of the health department said. The patient is under observation and will be discharged later, he added. The report of the patient's blood samples sent to National Institute of Virology, Pune for testing was received on Wednesday. 2019-nCoV: Delhi tourist suspected of coronavirus admitted in Goa medical college Delhi Polls 2020: Poll body orders Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Verma's removal as star campaigners Health Minister Raghu Sharma said a total of 18 people from four districts of the state had returned to the country from China and the respective district chiefs and medical officers were directed to keep them under surveillance for 28 days. Sharma also urged the Union health minister to make the screening facility available at the international terminals of various airports in the country. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, January 29, 2020, 12:56 [IST] Close If you have been injured in a traffic accident, you may feel nervous about driving again and the pain you are in may cause you to feel depressed. If you are afraid to ride in a car again or if you have constant memories of the incident, you may be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. There are a few symptoms of PTSD that are common after an accident. Definition of PTSD Post Traumatic stress disorder occurs when a person is involved in or sees an upsetting event. The condition is characterized by intense thoughts and emotions related to an event that may have happened years in the past. An individual with PTSD may avoid activities or individuals that they associate with the event. It occurs when a person cannot control their flight or fight response to trauma. Typical Symptoms of PTSD A person with PTSD may have an extreme reaction to things such as someone tapping them on the shoulder or music that is simply too loud. They may have vivid nightmares and daytime recollections of the incident. In some cases, a person with PTSD may become isolated and not be able to do ordinary things such as work or do simple household chores. Many people who have this disorder are unable to sleep and experience paranoia. Treatment of PTSD There are several different treatments for PTSD. Any therapy or medical treatment can be time-consuming, costly and come with side effects. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CBT has been established as the best treatment for PTSD. It involves changing thought patterns and behavior. The therapy normally takes about 12 weeks and it is sometimes combined with medication. It begins with exposure therapy in which a subject is exposed to images and writing and visits to the place where they experienced the trauma. They are exposed to their source of anxiety gradually until their fear subsides. Cognitive restructuring is the next step in the process. The subject is taught to restructure the memory of their trauma in a more objective way. Cognitive Processing Therapy is another step in CBT. It involves discovering how a person processes information about individuals and situations after a trauma has occurred. A therapist will work with a patient to see how accurate and fact-based the patient's perspective is after an upsetting event. Stress Inoculation Training gives patients a variety of breathing and meditative exercises that are designed to reduce anxiety related to a traumatizing incident. Medications given to PTSD patients inhibit Serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical developed in nerve cells. It can be found in blood platelets of the central nervous system or in the digestive system. It is made of Tryptophan which regulates anxiety, heals wounds and strengthens bones. If you or a loved one are suffering from PTSD after a traffic accident, you should consult with a personal injury attorney. A trained attorney who is familiar with California law will be able to negotiate with an insurance company on your behalf. Lawyers Richard Morse and Vikas Bajaj will work hard to make sure you are compensated for your medical bills, damage to your vehicle and pain and suffering. PTSD can be debilitating, but with the right legal representation, you can get the money you are owed and the therapy you need. See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare Charleston city leaders have made a $2.25 million offer to settle a lawsuit with the two development companies which oversaw the expansion and renovation of the Gaillard Center downtown. Following a brief executive session, Charleston City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted on the settlement offer to Skanska-Trident. The offer also includes a $4.5 million payment to clear the remainder of a balance owed, and roughly $2.7 million from three architectural firms and a project management company that were involved. The $4.5 million was previously allocated for the project. As part of the agreement, Charleston City Attorney Susan Herdina said all parties deny liability but the city reserved the right to seek remedies if any latent defects are found after the settlement. "While we don't believe that the city or design professionals were responsible for the project delays, we think that the settlement is a prudent economic decision given the significant cost to prepare for trial and potential risks that are inherent in going to trial," Herdina said. The Gaillard Center was opened in 1968, and the joint venture Skanska-Trident started construction of new office space and renovations to the Gaillard's performance area in 2012. Skanska-Trident had a $110 million contract which projected an April 2015 completion date. The work was completed in October 2015. Skanska is the Swedish construction company known for building the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. The city and Skanska-Trident dispute focused on the reason for the late completion. In January 2016, Skanska sued, claiming the city and the various design groups involved in the project had been the cause. Skanska-Trident sought at least $20 million in damages. "After the lawsuit was filed, there were two attempts to mediate the case that failed," Herdina said, adding that all the involved parties are in various stages of signing the settlement. Mayor John Tecklenburg will sign the settlement at a later date, leading to a formal dismissal of the lawsuit. A response from a Skanska representative was not immediately provided. John Spangler, representing Skanska, declined to comment. Andrew Epting, representing Trident, was not available for comment. Imperial Valley News Center Southern Nevada resident being tested for novel coronavirus Las Vegas, Nevada - Today, the Southern Nevada Health District reported the first person under investigation (PUI) in Nevada for the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCOV). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be testing samples from the Southern Nevada resident who has been identified as a PUI. Currently, Nevada has no confirmed cases of novel coronavirus. As announced by the Southern Nevada Health District, the patient is in isolation and being monitored in a local hospital. The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services continues to work closely with partners in the local health authorities, providing support if needed and sharing information on this quickly changing public health concern. The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services has issued guidance to health care providers, medical facilities and laboratories regarding the clinical characteristics of 2019-nCoV, assessing patients with compatible symptoms and recent travel to Wuhan, China, clinical specimen collection and testing, and effective health care infection prevention and control. While this novel coronavirus may be causing concern, its important to remember that there are only five confirmed cases in the United States and all of those cases had travelled to Wuhan, China, said the Department of Health and Human Services Chief Medical Officer Ihsan Azzam, Ph.D, MD. Currently, this virus is not spreading in the United States. Early detection of cases; prompt application of case isolation and timely quarantining contacts, in addition to practicing proper hygiene, will help us control this outbreak. We continue to monitor the situation and work with our state and federal partners. Seasonal influenza, or flu, continues to circulate throughout Nevada. Its not too late to get a flu shot, he said. The flu vaccine is still available for residents, and Nevadans are encouraged to contact their health care provider for more information. The CDC recommends routine, annual flu vaccinations and specifically notes the importance of a vaccine for high risk populations. About Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV): Patients with confirmed 2019-nCoV infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough, shortness of breath, headache, runny nose and/or sore throat. However, limited information is available to characterize the spectrum of clinical illness associated with this illness. Currently, the CDC is the only entity that can test for 2019-nCOV. Based on what has been seen previously during respiratory disease outbreaks caused by coronavirus, it is believed that symptoms of 2019-nCoV may appear anytime between two and 14 days after exposure. At this time, it is unclear how easily or sustainably 2019-nCov is spreading between people, but the current risk to the U.S. and Nevada public remains low. There is currently no vaccine for 2019-nCoV, but like any respiratory viral illness it is recommended to practice good health hygiene habits. To prevent the spread of flu and viruses: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid close contact with those who are sick. Stay home when you are sick. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. The Division of Public and Behavioral Health technical bulletin can be found at https://bit.ly/2RzTBO7 More information can be found on the CDC website at https://bit.ly/2vxhrl2 An Army veteran with first-aid training was one of the first people to help Micah Fletcher as the college student stumbled off a MAX train at the Hollywood Transit Center on May 26, 2017, clutching his neck and pleading for help. Marcus Knipe put his hand on Fletchers neck to try to stop the bleeding as much as he could, he testified Wednesday. A woman gave him her childs jacket and a baby blanket to use to apply pressure to the jagged wound. Knipe said he had Fletcher sit on the ground and propped his back up against a pole. I told him he needed to match my breathing, calm down. ... I knew his heart rate was elevated. If there was the slightest chance it was close to the jugular ... it could burst and it would be very hard to keep him alive, Knipe said as the second day of testimony began in the MAX stabbings trial of Jeremy Christian. Eight witnesses took the stand, for a total of 11 so far in the trial. Most were aboard train car No. 415 at the time of the late afternoon attacks on the Friday before the Memorial Day holiday. Christian is accused of first-degree murder for fatally stabbing Ricky Best, 53, and Taliesin Namkai-Meche, 23, and attempted first-degree murder for stabbing Fletcher, then 21 and a student at Portland State University who was on his way to his pizza job. Prosecutors allege Christian first stabbed Fletcher after they shoved each other, then Namkai-Meche and Best as they stood nearby. Moments earlier, Christian had launched into a hate-filled diatribe on the crowded train with two teenage girls sitting nearby, one African American and one wearing a hijab. Video shown in court Tuesday shows Fletcher running off the train after Christian swings his arm at Fletcher. Prosecutor Don Rees said Christian took a 4-inch folding knife from the pocket of his shorts and started stabbing. Knipe said the seriously injured Fletcher asked to call his mother -- and Knipe said he could but not to mention how severely he was hurt. I said ... tell her you were hurt, Knipe recalled. Tell her youre going to be OK. But if she knows (how bad it is) ... she might get hysterical. ... It might be bad for you. I said, Keep it calm. While on the phone, Fletcher asked his mom to tell his employer, Stark Street Pizza, that he wasnt going to make it to work that day. Knipe let out a small chuckle at that and prosecutor Don Rees asked him why. Knipe said it was that Fletcher was worried about being late to his job and not whether he was going to live or die. Knipe soon took Fletchers phone from him. I didnt want him moving his jaw or moving the muscles in his neck because itd maybe cause more damage, he said. Another Army veteran, Morgan Noonan, testified that he was on the train and saw Christian stab both Namkai-Meche and Best. A former medic who rescued service members in combat, Noonan said he knew the men wouldnt survive -- and believed they knew it, too. A human being knows when theyre mortally wounded, Noonan said. "...You see it in their eyes, their behavior. Noonan said he tried to help but realized he couldnt stop the bleeding. Namkai-Meches trachea was punctured and he was spitting blood. Bests heart was pumping out blood onto the train floor, he said. Waves of (Bests) blood were ... lapping down the aisle," Noonan said. "So I knew every time his heart beat that he was bleeding to death. Noonan said Best died quickly. As he spoke, members of the mens families sitting in the courtroom gallery were visibly upset. A woman rubbed a young mans back as he gazed toward the floor. The prosecution said Best was dead when paramedics arrived and Namkai-Meche was still showing signs of life but was pronounced dead after he was rushed to the hospital. Noonan said from the moment he stepped onto the Green Line train near Lloyd Center, the hairs on the back of my neck went up. Christian was yelling and the atmosphere was tense. Witnesses and prosecutors have said Christian was shouting racist and xenophobic slurs near the teenage girls, praising his rights to free speech, talking about beheading people and condemning Muslims, Christians and Jews. Noonan said he heard the two girls tell Christian to leave them alone and Christian then bellowed: "I should cut your (expletive) heads off. Noonan knew Best and had talked to him from time to time because they were both regular commuters and shared a common history, time served in the Army, he said. Noonan said he and Best glanced across the maybe 20 feet between them. We made eye contact," Noonan said. "We both had an alarmed look on our faces. Noonan said he saw Namkai-Meche walk across part of the train toward Christian, and he thought that was a bad idea. He walked right past me, Noonan said. "My instinct was to grab him to stop him, but I couldnt. Noonan said he didnt think talking to Christian would be fruitful. "Im not going to be able to convince Jeremy not to be racist in 15 minutes, he said. Amee Pacheco testified that when Christian boarded the MAX, he sat next to her before moving a short while later. When Christian started his tirade, she said she and many other commuters told him to Shut up! When the violence unfolded, Pacheco thought Christian was punching people. A still frame from video aboard the train shows her grabbing Christians arm as he clutches the knife and swings. Pacheco didnt realize Christian was in process of stabbing or had just stabbed his victims. It didnt occur to me that (Christian) actually hurt anyone, she said. I just underestimated the situation. When she understood what had happened, she was scared, she said, and that feeling hasnt left her in the more than 2 1/2 years that have passed. Amy Farrara, who was headed home from her downtown Portland job on the train, told jurors she recorded a short video of Christian yelling, then feared for her life even though she was a significant distance from Christian. I stopped recording because I sunk down in the seat, Farrara said. I thought a gun was going to go off. I thought something was going to escalate. Farrara said she saw the blood squirting against the train walls, and her first thought was it was raining inside the train or someones drink bottle had splattered against the walls. Then she recognized what it really was. Jason Young, a Gresham officer assigned to TriMet transit police, was among the first officers to arrive at the Hollywood station after the stabbings. Young said he and his partner originally received a call about someone yelling racist words and swearing on MAX and he thought it was just another disturbance on the train. We get a lot of those types of calls every day. En route, Young learned that someone had been stabbed. Young said he encountered Namkai-Meche lying bleeding on the ground outside the train and a woman applying pressure to his neck. Noonan was trying to hold Namkai-Meche down because he was moving a lot, Young said. Young cut off Namkai-Meches clothes and backpack to check his body for more wounds. Young said he pulled out Namkai-Meches wallet and found his ID. I wanted to call him by name essentially, Young said. I called him by name and just said, Hey, were trying to help you. Namkai-Meche wasnt able to respond. The last witness of the day was Shawn Forde who stepped between Christian and Christians view of the teenage girls on the train. At 6-foot-4 and just under 300 pounds at the time, Forde said he wanted to draw Christians attention to himself instead. Forde, who is African American, said hes a father and he could see how frightened the teens were. He said Christian kept yelling and tried to bait him into a fight, but he knew better than to get into it with some knucklehead. Forde said when Fletcher walked over and confronted Christian, he told Fletcher, Its all right. Hes just talking now. Its cool. Forde repeatedly pressed a button on the train car to alert the operator that help was needed, he said. And when Christian told Forde he could say what he wanted because it was free speech, Forde responded: You know what, youre absolutely right. You have freedom of speech and so does every other citizen. I also have the freedom to ignore you. Forde said everything rapidly deteriorated after Namkai-Meche walked over with his cellphone in hand -- another witness said Namkai-Meche held it up as if he were about to record Christian. Thats when Christian threw Namkai-Meches phone to the floor, Fletcher started yelling at Christian, pushing ensued and Christian started stabbing, Forde said. Prosecutors have said Christian threw the first two shoves, and Fletcher responded with three shoves. Christian faces a total of 12 charges, including second-degree intimidation, a hate crime in Oregon, in the case. Testimony will continue Thursday. The trial is expected to last up to five weeks. -- Aimee Green agreen@oregonian.com o_aimee Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. neil.jericho Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cochin Posts: 3,016 Thanked: 11,876 Times Day 1 The list of riders from Bangalore on day 1 ended up being - r_nairtvm on his Triumph Bonneville - shaikhmimran on his Honda CBR650R (F) - Porschefire on his Kawasaki Ninja 250 - unk9ja on his KTM Duke 390 - Roomy on his Honda CBR250 Goandude and his wife drove down from Bangalore in their Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire and I had taken my Triumph Street Triple 675 for the ride. Though Google Maps showed me a route through Coimbatore that would help me get to the destination faster and in a shorter distance, I wanted to take the same route that I had last year. This was primarily because it was a mix of all sorts of roads - wide national highways, state highways and a whole lot of twisties; all of which would combine to allow the Triple to stretch its really long legs. My route was Cochin - Trichur - Palakkad - Coimbatore L&T Bypass - Karumathampatti - Annur - Mettupalayam - Coonoor. Quick break at the Trichur toll In Kerala, there were a lot of speed cameras towards Palakkad and Walayar which meant progress had to be ahem, steady, and once I crossed over into Tamil Nadu, the infamous L&T bypass gave me a scary moment or two, but that wasnt completely unexpected. I had to keep stopping every hour or so to check my bag that was being held down by bungee cords, this was the first time that I was touring with luggage on the Triumph and hence, I havent perfected the art of strapping down luggage without letting it slide forward a bit on hard braking. At one of the stops, I spoke to the manager at the Bella Vista resort and was surprised to find that they didnt provide lunch and so out went our initial plans of meeting for a relaxed lunch at the resort. Despite my rather late start, I was on track to reach by 02:00 PM and Goandude and I had planned to sync up en route to see if we would reach Mettupalayam at the same time. Goandude had taken the Bangalore - Salem - Erode - Avinashi - Annur - Mettupalayam - Coonoor route which had nice wide roads all the way from Bangalore to Avinashi. With the benefit of the Fastag system, they did not lose any time at the toll booths either and given that they had left rather early from Bangalore, they were scheduled to reach the resort much before 02:00 PM. Since it would have taken me some time to catch up with Goandude and his wife at Mettupalayam, I asked them to proceed to the resort instead of waiting for me. A year after I first discovered it, I loved breezing through the Karumathampatti to Annur stretch once again and sometime later when I called up Porschefire, I was surprised to find that they were already at Ooty and would soon be proceeding to Coonoor! Last year I reached our lunch meet up point of Hyderabad Biryani House in Ooty around 20 minutes late because of the terrible traffic in the last section between Coonoor and Ooty, this year though, I was determined to be on time. All that lay ahead of me was the twisties leading up to Coonoor and I had a fantastic motorcycle that was more than capable of taking on the challenging curves that led up to the lovely little hill station. Time certainly flies by when you are having fun, the enjoyment greatly compounded by the lovely drop in temperature that accompanied the steady climb up to Coonoor. Traffic was fortunately sparse as well and I was able to push the very capable Triumph Street Triple 675 in its natural habitat quick S bends, blind turns, hair pin bends and short straights. I stopped just once when I was a few kilometres away from the destination to update Porschefire that I would be reaching in 5 minutes as per the route suggested by Google Maps. Only a short distance left He asked me to head straight to the resort since two members of our group were going to Hyderabad Biryani House in Coonoor to pick up some of those magnificent biriyanis to feast on. We knew that the Coonoor branch of HBH wasnt as good as the Ooty one (those jambo biriyanis, I tell you!) but to a hungry traveller, the intricacies scarcely matter. I followed the route suggested by Google Maps until I was 450 metres away from the resort but strangely it asked me to take a left off the main road straight into a mountain wall! Turn left straight into a wall of mud Turn left straight into a wall of mud I suspected that the application may be taking some time to load up since it was in the hills and reception was occasionally spotty but I recalled that this was the exact route that it had shown me when I did some research back in Cochin. Now, I could see Mrs Bullmores School (it was at an elevation) from where I had stopped (point 181 in the image above!) and that was a very short hop away from the resort but there was absolutely no road that could lead me to it! After scratching my head for a few minutes, I called up the manager and he told me to take the long way around after coming back into Coonoor town. And thus, I ended up reaching 20 minutes late despite being a stone's throw away from the resort exactly at 2 PM. So much for my plans to be on time this year! In the end, I got a poor night's sleep and hence, decided to start later at 08:00 AM instead, by which time the Bangalore team (both on two wheels and four)was well on it's way. So much for my grand plans!The list of riders from Bangalore on day 1 ended up being- r_nairtvm on his Triumph Bonneville- shaikhmimran on his Honda CBR650R (F)- Porschefire on his Kawasaki Ninja 250- unk9ja on his KTM Duke 390- Roomy on his Honda CBR250Goandude and his wife drove down from Bangalore in their Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire and I had taken my Triumph Street Triple 675 for the ride. Though Google Maps showed me a route through Coimbatore that would help me get to the destination faster and in a shorter distance, I wanted to take the same route that I had last year. This was primarily because it was a mix of all sorts of roads - wide national highways, state highways and a whole lot of twisties; all of which would combine to allow the Triple to stretch its really long legs. My route was Cochin - Trichur - Palakkad - Coimbatore L&T Bypass - Karumathampatti - Annur - Mettupalayam - Coonoor.In Kerala, there were a lot of speed cameras towards Palakkad and Walayar which meant progress had to be ahem, steady, and once I crossed over into Tamil Nadu, the infamous L&T bypass gave me a scary moment or two, but that wasnt completely unexpected. I had to keep stopping every hour or so to check my bag that was being held down by bungee cords, this was the first time that I was touring with luggage on the Triumph and hence, I havent perfected the art of strapping down luggage without letting it slide forward a bit on hard braking. At one of the stops, I spoke to the manager at the Bella Vista resort and was surprised to find that they didnt provide lunch and so out went our initial plans of meeting for a relaxed lunch at the resort.Despite my rather late start, I was on track to reach by 02:00 PM and Goandude and I had planned to sync up en route to see if we would reach Mettupalayam at the same time. Goandude had taken the Bangalore - Salem - Erode - Avinashi - Annur - Mettupalayam - Coonoor route which had nice wide roads all the way from Bangalore to Avinashi. With the benefit of the Fastag system, they did not lose any time at the toll booths either and given that they had left rather early from Bangalore, they were scheduled to reach the resort much before 02:00 PM. Since it would have taken me some time to catch up with Goandude and his wife at Mettupalayam, I asked them to proceed to the resort instead of waiting for me. A year after I first discovered it, I loved breezing through the Karumathampatti to Annur stretch once again and sometime later when I called up Porschefire, I was surprised to find that they were already at Ooty and would soon be proceeding to Coonoor!Last year I reached our lunch meet up point of Hyderabad Biryani House in Ooty around 20 minutes late because of the terrible traffic in the last section between Coonoor and Ooty, this year though, I was determined to be on time. All that lay ahead of me was the twisties leading up to Coonoor and I had a fantastic motorcycle that was more than capable of taking on the challenging curves that led up to the lovely little hill station. Time certainly flies by when you are having fun, the enjoyment greatly compounded by the lovely drop in temperature that accompanied the steady climb up to Coonoor. Traffic was fortunately sparse as well and I was able to push the very capable Triumph Street Triple 675 in its natural habitat quick S bends, blind turns, hair pin bends and short straights. I stopped just once when I was a few kilometres away from the destination to update Porschefire that I would be reaching in 5 minutes as per the route suggested by Google Maps.He asked me to head straight to the resort since two members of our group were going to Hyderabad Biryani House in Coonoor to pick up some of those magnificent biriyanis to feast on. We knew that the Coonoor branch of HBH wasnt as good as the Ooty one () but to a hungry traveller, the intricacies scarcely matter. I followed the route suggested by Google Maps until I was 450 metres away from the resort but strangely it asked me to take a left off the main road straight into a mountain wall!I suspected that the application may be taking some time to load up since it was in the hills and reception was occasionally spotty but I recalled that this was the exact route that it had shown me when I did some research back in Cochin. Now, I could see Mrs Bullmores School () from where I had stopped () and that was a very short hop away from the resort but there was absolutely no road that could lead me to it! After scratching my head for a few minutes, I called up the manager and he told me to take the long way around after coming back into Coonoor town. And thus, I ended up reaching 20 minutes late despite being a stone's throw away from the resort exactly at 2 PM. So much for my plans to be on time this year! Last edited by neil.jericho : 28th January 2020 at 18:52 . 29.01.2020 LISTEN The Managing Director of Ghana Supply Company Mr. Abraham Jawol has declared his intention to contest the upcoming Parliamentary Primaries of the NPP in the Saboba constituency of the Northern Region. According to Mr. Jawol, his teeming supporters from the rank and file of the Party have hinted that they would pick nominations forms on his behalf voluntarily at their own cost as a proof of their confidence in his bid. Mr. Jawol has been in the Parliamentary race with the incumbent member of Parliament, Hon. Charles Bintin for three consecutive times. His party activism, commitment, and dedication to work caught the attention of the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, who appointed him as the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Supply company to steer the affairs of the state-owned company in 2017. Hon Jawol told the Voiceless Media that the strength of any politician is not in the position he occupies nor the wealth he may have accumulated but in the people who have vested their confidence in him and therefore, he was obliged not to abuse the trust of the people for any other consideration. He also disclosed that he will unite the party in the constituency when elected as the Parliamentary Candidate in preparedness for a resounding NPP victory in December. The Aspiring Parliamentary Candidate also spoke of his desire to bring peace and stability to the Saboba constituency and to be an MP for all. The Aspiring Parliamentary Candidate promised to use his experience to help fix the many problems the Constituency was facing when given the nod to serve as MP. He admonished his supporters to engage in a campaign devoid of insults, lies and character assassination but rather work hard to ensure his victory come 25th April 2020 and that of the Party in the general elections. Hon Charles B. Bintin is the current Member of Parliament for the Saboba constituency and will be contesting the primaries as well. The Voiceless Media will monitor events in the Saboba constituency and bring any developments to our readers. Remsoft, a leading provider of intelligence technologies for forest management planning and asset optimization, is partnering with Weyerhaeuser to speak on the topic of Optimized Operations Management at the upcoming ForestTECHx in March, 2020. ForestTECHx is a forest management technology series on the latest technologies, innovations and practical tools to increase forest operations productivity. It is New Zealand and Australias most popular conference on new technology and innovation in the forest industry, and it returns to Vancouver, Canada in 2020. Remsoft and Weyerhaeuser will open the conferences first technology session on Tuesday March 17th at 2:15 pm. Doug Jones, Remsoft Senior Vice President, Client Solutions & Innovation and David Gilluly, Weyerhaeuser Senior Manager, Timberlands Supply Chain will present on 'Optimized Operations Management of US Pacific Northwest and Southeastern Timberlands with Remsoft Operations Cloud Solution'. The presentation will demonstrate how Weyerhaeuser was able to improve operational planning and scheduling across its supply chain with Remsoft Operations, a cloud-powered solution that provides an enterprise view of planning and operational data. Theres a compelling story here on the efficiency and productivity gains Weyerhaeuser was able to achieve by streamlining and automating its forest operations, said Doug Jones. They moved from a proliferation of spreadsheets and multiple systems to a unified solution that promotes visibility and improves outcomes by letting people easily access and share data to inform daily decisions. The operational forest supply chain is complex and constantly changing, and Remsoft Operations enables shared intelligence to drive agile, effective collaboration and improve daily operational decision-making. With built-in analytics and dashboards, it provides real-time scheduling and information visibility to manage harvest, delivery, wood flow and inventory on a volumetric and financial basis. Remsoft is proud to be a sponsor of ForestTECHx 2020. Learn more about Remsoft at https://remsoft.com/. Read about ForestTECHx and the 2020 Conference Program at https://foresttechx.events/. The big question in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump has been whether Senate Republicans would allow witnesses to testify. Recent revelations from former National Security Adviser John Bolton in a forthcoming book about his exchanges with President Trump on Ukraine aid and Joe Biden have transformed the conversation. Ohios Sen. Rob Portman -- co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus -- is among a group of Republican senators reported to have worked behind the scenes to get Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to modify the trial rules. Portman has already termed the presidents conduct wrong but not impeachable. Might he be in a position to step in now to broker a compromise on witnesses to allow Bolton to testify, along perhaps with a witness the Republicans might want to hear from? The president and his supporters argue that the House Democrats case is so weak that the Senate should dismiss it out of hand, without need for witnesses. President Trump also cites the need to protect future presidents from intrusive investigations, and national security considerations. House Democratic managers say they lack firsthand evidence of Trumps actual words only because he ordered his entire administration to deny Congress both testimony and documents. This amounts, they argue, to an unprecedented level of obstruction in an impeachment case. There the argument sat, until someone leaked information on the draft of Boltons forthcoming book to The New York Times. In those pages, the Times reported, Bolton recalled that President Trump told him he wanted to block $391 million in aid to Ukraine until its government turned over all its information about former Vice President Joe Biden and about a long-debunked conspiracy theory about a Democratic computer server. President Trump calls this untrue and tweeted that Bolton might just be trying to sell his book. Bolton has said he would testify if subpoenaed. There is also concern that if the Senate ratifies the presidents efforts to block relevant testimony, the legislative branch may lose its power to restrain a chief executive through the threat of impeachment. So should the Senate summon Bolton? Should it invite other witnesses to testify? Should Sen. Portman work to make this happen? The editorial board roundtable weighs in. Jarvis DeBerry, cleveland.com columnist: If Sen. Portman wants to be remembered as a statesman, and I suspect he does, then hell support the calling of witnesses, especially former National Security AdviserJohn Bolton. Subpoenaing Bolton will make it harder to acquit Trump, but acquitting him isnt the point; justice is. Thomas Suddes, editorial writer: If Rob Portman doesnt vote to let witnesses testify, he is unworthy to represent the people of Ohio. Ted Diadiun, cleveland.com columnist: Sure. Bring it on. President Trump saying intemperate things is not news, and not impeachable. The question is not whether Trump said behind closed doors that he considered pressuring Ukraine into investigating Hunter Biden. Its whether he actually did. If letting John Bolton testify will hasten an end to this naked political hatchet job, by all means do so. Lisa Garvin, editorial board member: This is a watershed moment: How willing are GOP senators to relinquish even more power to the executive branch? Sen. Portman must choose between being complicit in a metastasizing cover-up, or defending the checks and balances our democracy and his job demands. Call the witnesses and let the chips fall where they may. Mary Cay Doherty, editorial board member: House Democrats could have subpoenaed Bolton. They didnt. Bolton could have volunteered to testify before the House. He didnt. New witnesses prolong the process without changing the reality: The president operated within his powers. Ukraines past corruption problems and Hunter Bidens board appointment were legitimate concerns. The Senate should end this nonsense. Americans will render judgment on Nov. 3. Victor Ruiz, editorial board member: Not allowing key witnesses to testify further adds to the list of examples where this president thinks that hes above the law. Worse than that, his supporters continue allowing it, setting a dangerous precedent. Sen. Portman needs to stand on the side of truth, not his party. The truth will come out, but they must let it happen. Eric Foster, editorial board member: During trials, parties present evidence. Evidence is presented through witness testimony. In other words, if there are no witnesses, there is no trial. Every lawyer knows this. There are 47 self-proclaimed lawyers in the Senate. So, how is it even a question whether to call witnesses during the trial of the president? Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, cleveland.com: As Sen. Portman himself well knows, he must step up and do what is right and sorely needed at this historic moment, by finding a way to let Bolton and perhaps others testify. Failure to act would be an enduring stain on his legacy. 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. * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments on this editorial board roundtable to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. [January 29, 2020] New $12 Million Grant Competition Seeks to Create a Durable Future for Refugees Lever for Change, an affiliate of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and ICONIQ Impact, ICONIQ Capital's platform for collective, collaborative philanthropy, today announced the launch of the Larsen Lam ICONIQ Impact Award ("this Award"), a global competition for a US $12 million grant to create a durable future for refugees. This Award is being sponsored by ICONIQ Capital clients Lyna Lam and Chris Larsen. It is the first in a series of expected grant competitions facilitated by Lever for Change's partnership with ICONIQ Impact. The partnership between ICONIQ Impact and Lever for Change helps ICONIQ clients identify philanthropic opportunities and support social impact at scale through rigorously-evaluated proposals that address social issues of their choice. Lyna Lam is a renowned philanthropist and founder of Wat Khmer Kampuchea Krom, a Khmer Buddhist Temple Foundation, and her husband, Chris Larsen, is a business leader, investor and co-founder of Ripple. This award is inspired by Ms. Lam's experience immigrating from Vietnam to the U.S. in the 1980s. The Lam family arrived with limited resources, but a loan from their local Vietnamese community helped them start a business and achieve stability. "Under the best of circumstances, uprooting a life and emigrating to a new country is hard," said Ms. Lam. "For refugees, circumstances are harder at every stage. After fleeing war, violence or persecution, most refugees arrive in their new countries with few possessions and little support. We are hoping to find and fund bold ideas to support individuals and families as they rebuild their lives." "We care deeply about helping refugee families, whose needs around the world are at an all-time high," added Mr. Larsen. "We invite others to join us in funding what will surely be an incredible list of creative, worthwhile and inspired ideas. Other donors can benefit from the rigorous process of organizational and project vetting in this competition, and together, we can have a tremendous impact on future generations." Anyone interested in providing significant financial support to any of the competition finalists should contact Dana Rice, Vice President of Philanthropy at Lever for Change at [email protected]. To apply for this Award, which is open to non-profit organizations or teams, organizations must register online before May 5, 2020. Competitive applications will be community-centered, impactful, feasible and evidence-based. Proposals must identify a specific barrier and offer a solution to overcome that barrier. Applications are due by June 2, 2020. "According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, estimates for the average duration of refugee displacement vary from 10-26 years," said Cecilia Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change. "Most refugees remain in difficult situations far too long. We are excited to partner with Lyna, Chris and ICONIQ Impact to explore solutions that will help refugees - at scale - build new lives." "ICONIQ Impact was formed to help ICONIQ families connect to the philanthropic opportunities that mean the most to them and amplify their persoal impact," said Michael Anders, founding partner of ICONIQ Capital. "We are inspired by the passion and collaborative mindset that Lyna and Chris bring to their philanthropy and honored that their competition is serving as ICONIQ Impact's first Lever for Change competition." In addition to the US $10 million provided by the Larsen-Lam family, US $2 million has been contributed by an anonymous donor family from the ICONIQ network. Top applicants and finalists may also be eligible to receive operational support from Rippleworks, a nonprofit social venture established by long-time Silicon Valley executives Chris Larsen and Doug Galen. Rippleworks leads short-term, high-impact projects to accelerate the scale of the world's most promising social ventures, with the projects led by Rippleworks staff and volunteer startup executives from leading tech companies (including AirBnB, Netflix, Google (News - Alert)). Update on Lever for Change "The Larsen Lam ICONIQ Impact Award is the fourth competition that Lever for Change has managed since our founding in early 2019. We are eager to work with applicants from around the world to find creative solutions to this significant challenge," added Ms. Conrad. Lever for Change competitions launched in 2019 include: the Pritzker Traubert Foundation's $10 million Chicago Prize, the second round of the MacArthur Foundation's $100 million 100&Change, and the $10 million Economic Opportunity Challenge. In the first half of 2020, Lever for Change plans to launch several additional competitions addressing a variety of issues and ranging in scope from state-based to global, including: A US $10 million competition focused on increasing women's power and influence in the U.S.; Lone Star Prize, a US $10 million competition focused on improving the lives of Texans, sponsored by Lyda Hill Philanthropies; 2030 Climate Challenge, a US $10 million competition to reduce emissions in the U.S.; and A US $10 million competition to strengthen American democracy, the next competition in the ICONIQ Impact series. ICONIQ Impact ICONIQ Impact is ICONIQ Capital's platform for collaborative philanthropy. ICONIQ Impact's goal is to unlock philanthropic capital and guide it to proven social entrepreneurs and organizations with scalable models that provide outsized, measurable results. Inspired by the investment edge afforded by their network of families, founders and portfolio companies across industries, ICONIQ Impact aims to harness the dynamics of collective wisdom and apply these to the philanthropic world. Lever for Change Lever for Change is a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation affiliate, whose mission is to unlock philanthropic capital and accelerate social change around the world's biggest social challenges. Building off of the success of 100&Change, MacArthur's breakthrough $100 million competition, Lever for Change helps philanthropists source vetted, high-impact philanthropic opportunities and connects nonprofits and problem solvers to significant amounts of philanthropic capital. Lever for Change does this through managing customized competitions for philanthropists or by matching them with solutions in its Bold Solutions Network, a searchable online database of the top vetted proposals from all of its competitions. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005628/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] In Belo Horizonte, the newest victims were trying to understand how so much in their life had suddenly changed. Residents in one poor neighborhood of Vila Ideal, on the outskirts of the city, picked through the detritus of their former lives over the weekend, trying to make sense of it. [January 29, 2020] Moody's Analytics Tops Five Categories in CeFPro Fintech Leaders Report Moody's Analytics, a global provider of financial intelligence, has earned the #1 ranking in five categories in the new Center for Financial Professionals (CeFPro) Fintech Leaders 2020 report: This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005359/en/ Balance Sheet Management Credit Risk Model Risk Regulatory Reporting Stress Testing We are the only firm to rank #1 in five of the report's thirty individual categories. The report also features a "Top 50 Overall Ecosystem Rankings," in which we rank #5. "We're honored to be recognized in CeFPro's Fintech Leaders report," said Andy Frepp, Executive Director at Moody's Analytics. "We build modular and scalable technology solutions that harness our industry-leading data and analytics, all with the goal of helping customers make better, faster decisions. This strong showing validates our efforts and highlights our extensive capabilities." "FinTech Leaders places Moody's Analytics in pole position in no less than five categories and this can be considered an endorsement by the industry, with an impressive overall ranking of fifth in the FinTech Leaders Ecosystem," said Andreas Simou, Managing Director, CeFPro. "The votes cast by the industry that resulted in their first-place rankings reflect the breadth of Moody's Analytics offerings." CeFPro's research and analysis team survyed finance, technology, operations, risk, legal, and compliance professionals to decide the category rankings. Votes and follow-up interviews by CeFPro's Fintech Leaders Advisory Board (listed in the report) followed, with final review by the Managing Director of CEFPro. The overall rankings were based on votes cast for individual categories. Our performance in the CeFPro report follows a banner year for Moody's Analytics technology solutions in 2019. Six category wins in the 2019 Risk Technology Awards were among more than 50 awards we won last year. View the full list of our awards and industry accolades. Moody's Analytics, Moody's, and all other names, logos, and icons identifying Moody's Analytics and/or its products and services are trademarks of Moody's Analytics, Inc. or its affiliates. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. About Moody's Analytics Moody's Analytics provides financial intelligence and analytical tools to help business leaders make better, faster decisions. Our deep risk expertise, expansive information resources, and innovative application of technology help our clients confidently navigate an evolving marketplace. We are known for our industry-leading and award-winning solutions, made up of research, data, software, and professional services, assembled to deliver a seamless customer experience. We create confidence in thousands of organizations worldwide, with our commitment to excellence, open mindset approach, and focus on meeting customer needs. For more information about Moody's Analytics, visit our website or connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Moody's Analytics, Inc. is a subsidiary of Moody's Corporation (NYSE: MCO). Moody's Corporation reported revenue of $4.4 billion in 2018, employs approximately 10,900 people worldwide and maintains a presence in 44 countries. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005359/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Zachariah Mohammeds living room is filled with things he does not own. He pays $200 a month for the couch, side table, bar cart, dining table and four chairs in his living room. The cost is worth it, says the 27-year-old New Yorker. Mohammed has moved two times in the past year. That is not unusual in places like New York City. If he needs to move again, he will not need to carry a couch across the city or worry about whether it will fit in his next apartment. Mohammeds solution is Feather, a new company that lets renters change furniture whenever they want. Mohammed is a social media manager who lives with his partner and their dog. He told The Associated Press, We dont want to be stuck with a giant couch. Feather and other companies aim to rent furniture to young adults who do not want to make big purchases or move heavy furniture. It and similar companies are part of a growing rental culture. Thomas Robertson is a marketing professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He told the Associated Press that people who are using furniture rental services likely move and change jobs a lot. These companies target people who make good money, live in cities and want nice furniture but only temporarily. The quality of the furniture is a little higher than that of Swedish brand Ikea. Im 32 years old and have lived in 25 different places, five different countries, 12 different cities, says Chan Park. He helped launch the online furniture rental company Oliver Space last year. Before starting the company, Chan often bought and then threw away low-cost furniture. Then, he moved to a rental apartment in Singapore that already had furniture in it. It was probably the first time my adult life that I felt like I was truly at home, Park says. Such companies mostly only operate in a few coastal American cities. They offer furniture from Crate & Barrel, West Elm and smaller brands. Others have begun renting home goods, too. The high-end clothing rental company Rent the Runway recently added West Elm pillows and quilts. Ikea is also testing a rental service in several countries, including Switzerland and Belgium. Renting may make sense for a generation that sees life as always moving, says Hana Ben-Shabat. She is the founder of Gen Z Planet, a research and advisory company that studies the generation born between the late 1990s and 2016. Moving her furniture from New York to Los Angeles would have cost Clarissa Wright $3,000. Instead, she gave away most of what she owned, traveled through Europe for two months and then rented a couch, bed and other furniture in her new place. She pays $255 a month. Feather delivered the furniture and put all the pieces together in one day. Wright is a 28-year-old marketing advisor for clothing and beauty brands. She says she can change the furniture, add more things or move to a new apartment or city. But right now, she is not sure what her future holds. I dont think too far ahead, she says. That comes at a price. Critics have called the furniture-rental business exploitative. Stores like Rent-A-Center target poor people who cannot pay full price for furniture or home appliances. And the company charges higher prices overall than competitors. For some of the newer furniture rental companies, there are membership costs. There are also costs if furniture is badly damaged. Margot Saunders is with the National Consumer Law Center. She said, If people think this is the best way to buy a couch, they are wrong. Saunders added, They should recognize that they are paying for the convenience of renting. Im Alice Bryant. And Im Susan Shand. Joseph Pisani reported this story for The Associated Press. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story couch n. a long piece of furniture on which a person can sit or lie down dining adj. used for eating meals on giant adj. very large brand n. a category of products that are all made by a particular company and all have a particular name pillow n. a bag filled with soft material that is used as a cushion usually for the head of a person who is lying down quilt n. a bed cover with stitched designs that is made of two layers of cloth filled with wool, cotton, or soft feathers deliver v. to take something to a person or place exploitative adj. making use of a situation or treating others unfairly in order to gain an advantage or benefit convenience n. the quality or situation that makes something easy for someone by reducing the amount of work or time required to do it All academic activities at the AMU came to a halt on Wednesday with students protesting over the CAA boycotting classes and the vice chancellor questioning if the university should remain open in this situation. Examinations did not take place at AMU's Zakir Husain College of Engineering and Technology for the third consecutive day, with students again blocking the entrance. VC Tariq Mansoor in an open letter to the university community said there was "no justification in keeping the university open if classes and examinations are prevented from being held". Some posters put up by student groups on the campus described the situation as a "lockdown". The student groups are seeking the withdrawal of "false cases" against those who took part in protests against the amended citizenship act on December 15. The protests appear to have intensified with girl students from AMU Senior Secondary School joining the protest. In his open letter the vice chancellor made the "last appeal" to maintain peace on the campus and end the boycott of classes and examinations. The VC said in the letter, "We had rescheduled our examinations but some misguided persons, including outsiders, are preventing students from appearing for the examinations." "These elements are threatening students and we will no longer allow disorder and chaos, which would tarnish the image of the university," he added. VC Mansoor said If anybody had any grievance or complaint, he is free to approach the President of India, the visitor of the university. The VC also termed the incidents during the anti-CAA stir on December 15 unfortunate, saying he had already regretted the injuries and inconvenience caused to students. In a bid to end the protests, VC Mansoor is scheduled to meet students of Zakir Husain College of Engineering and Technology, where the examination process has been disrupted. Senior district officials too held a meeting with the AMU Vice Chancellor on Wednesday morning to review the situation. This was followed by a meeting of top university officials to explore options to prevent the indefinite closure of the university, a senior university official. On Tuesday night, a group of students gathered at the university canteen to protest against the slapping of sedition charges against JNU student Sharjeel Imam, who was arrested from Bihar on Tuesday. Reacting to it, AMU spokesman Shafey Kidwai said, "We condemn this protest and take strict action against any student who holds a protest in support of a person who has been booked for sedition. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In southern Africa, dinosaurs and synapsids, a group of animals that includes mammals and their closest fossil relatives, survived in a "land of fire" at the start of an Early Jurassic mass extinction, according to a study published January 29, 2020 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Emese M. Bordy of the University of Cape Town and colleagues. The Karoo Basin of southern Africa is well-known for its massive deposits of igneous rocks left behind by extensive basaltic lava flows during the Early Jurassic. At this time, intense volcanic activity is thought to have had dramatic impacts on the local environment and global atmosphere, coincident with a worldwide mass extinction recorded in the fossil record. The fossils of the Karoo Basin thus have a lot to tell about how ecosystems responded to these environmental stresses. In this study, Bordy and colleagues describe and identify footprints preserved in a sandstone layer deposited between lava flows, dated to 183 million years ago. In total, they report five trackways containing a total of 25 footprints, representing three types of animals: 1) potentially small synapsids, a group of animals that includes mammals and their forerunners; 2) large, bipedal, likely carnivorous dinosaurs; and 3) small, quadrupedal, likely herbivorous dinosaurs represented by a new ichnospecies (trace fossils like footprints receive their own taxonomic designations, known as ichnospecies). These fossils represent some of the very last animals known to have inhabited the main Karoo Basin before it was overwhelmed by lava. Since the sandstone preserving these footprints was deposited between lava flows, this indicates that a variety of animals survived in the area even after volcanic activity had begun and the region was transformed into a "land of fire." The authors suggest that further research to uncover more fossils and refine the dating of local rock layers has the potential to provide invaluable data on how local ecosystems responded to intense environmental stress at the onset of a global mass extinction. Bordy adds: "The fossil footprints were discovered within a thick pile of ancient basaltic lava flows that are ~183 million years old. The fossil tracks tell a story from our deep past on how continental ecosystems could co-exist with truly giant volcanic events that can only be studied from the geological record, because they do not have modern equivalents, although they can occur in the future of the Earth." ### In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available article in PLOS ONE: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0226847 Citation: Bordy EM, Rampersadh A, Abrahams M, Lockley MG, Head HV (2020) Tracking the Pliensbachian-Toarcian Karoo firewalkers: Trackways of quadruped and biped dinosaurs and mammaliaforms. PLoS ONE 15(1): e0226847. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0226847 Funding: This work was supported by grants to EMB from the National Research Foundation-DST Centre of Excellence in Palaeosciences [COE PAL grant number COE2019-OP04], National Research Foundation of South Africa [NRF CPRR grant number 113394; NRF AOP grant number 98825], as well as COE PAL bursaries to AR and MA. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. "In order to be proactive, cautious and prepared in the eventuality of possible spread to Florida, Jupiter Medical Center has implemented the CDC guidelines for screening, prevention, control, diagnosis, and treatment," said Dr. S. Raymond Golish, Jupiter Medical Center chief safety officer. "Vigilance and awareness are essential." The coronavirus known as 2019-nCoV has sparked global concerns, although the World Health Organization did not declare the coronavirus to be a global health emergency when it met on January 22 and 23. According to the CDC guidelines, patients who come to the hospital with fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough or difficulty breathing, will be asked if they had traveled to Wuhan, China, in the 14 days before their symptoms started. If they are a suspected case, the CDC recommends that patients be placed in a private room or airborne infection isolation room, and for local health authorities to be immediately notified. Currently, there is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for coronavirus and no vaccine to prevent it. Symptoms may be mild or severe and may include fever, cough and difficulty breathing. Person-to-person spread is occurring, but it is unknown exactly how easily the virus spreads. Other coronaviruses spread by respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. While coronavirus is causing global concern, a more common respiratory virus the flu poses a greater risk to Florida residents. The state is currently experiencing a moderately severe flu season, according to the Florida Department of Health. Everyone ages six months and older is urged to get a flu shot each year. Although activity typically peaks between December and February, flu activity can last until May. So far during the 2019-2020 season, the CDC reports there have been 140,000 hospitalizations and 8,200 deaths in the U.S. due to the flu. "We are keeping a watchful eye on the spread of the novel coronavirus, but the flu is here now," Dr. Golish said. "Flu shots can take up to two weeks to become fully effective. If you're not already vaccinated, it's not too late to get one. We are likely to have more weeks of the flu ahead." How you can prevent infections The CDC recommends members of the community take everyday preventive actions to prevent the spread of all types of respiratory viruses. 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. About Jupiter Medical Center An independent, not-for-profit, 313-bed regional medical center, Jupiter Medical Center is the first and only hospital in Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, Dade and Broward counties to receive a five-star rating for patient safety and quality of care the highest ranking awarded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The ranking places the hospital in the top 7 percent of the nation's hospitals. In addition, The Leapfrog Group, a national healthcare watchdog organization, recognized Jupiter Medical Center as a Top Hospital and awarded the hospital an "A" in overall patient safety and quality care. World-class physicians, strategic partnerships, and innovative techniques and technology enable Jupiter Medical Center to provide a broad range of services, with specialty concentrations in neurosciences and stroke care; cardiac and vascular care; oncology; women's and children's services; orthopedics and spine care; urgent care; and other key areas. Founded in 1979, Jupiter Medical Center has approximately 1,689 team members, 650 physicians, 593 nurses and 640 volunteers. For more information on Jupiter Medical Center, please call (561) 263-2200 or visit jupitermed.com. SOURCE Jupiter Medical Center Related Links http://www.jupitermed.com The new Coconino Community College construction lab smelled just as it should during its opening ceremony Monday, with the sharp aroma of fresh paint and lumber wafting down the halls of the colleges Fourth Street campus. Ive been waiting nine years for this day, said Ken Myers, CCCs lead construction technology management (CTM) faculty. My dream when I got to this job was to build a premier training facility for northern Arizona for all construction trades and I think weve accomplished that. Everything that you can possibly think of in construction, we do in this facility. Monday afternoon, a group of about 50 CCC staff, community supporters and participating groups like the Del E. Webb Foundation, which awarded a $1 million grant to fund the project, gathered to dedicate the new space. The world needs hammer-swingers and people that can saw and people that have a skill set, said John Lees, president of the Prescott-based Del E. Webb Foundation. If you can take people that dont have any skill set and give them that skill set, you made the world better. We were honored to be part of it. Construction on the 5,000-square-foot space began at the end of September. The total project budget was $1,058,500, with $997,500 coming from the Del E. Webb Foundation and $61,000 from CCC. During construction, students were able to continue their hands-on projects at Sinagua Middle Schools workshop, where CCC classes met in the evenings. The renovation included updates to both a classroom and workshop, which are connected. The classroom now holds two virtual reality welding simulators, a refrigeration training unit and electrical circuit training systems, while the workshop is meticulously arranged to accommodate students as they work at one of the rooms many worktables, with shelves of handheld power tools and batteries in neat lines, screws sorted into small bins and large storage totes stacked at the south end of the room. Students began using the space Thursday, just over a week after the start of CCCs spring semester. I had to throw students out the door, Myers said of their first day in the new space. They just wanted to keep on working, keep on playing with the new tools and they were so excited to be in here. CCC administrators hope the improvements will encourage students of all types to choose the community colleges programs for their training. Provost Nate Southerland said if people are trained locally, they are more likely to stay in the county. With this update, he said the college can expand its overall CTM program, as well as offer training in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), electrical programming, advanced welding and more. Skill trades that [students] previously have been able to get the first part of, they can now take it further and return to the workforce and add value to our community, Southerland said. Over a three-year period, the college is aiming to increase the number of students earning degrees or certificates from about 30 students to more than 90. This is going to be revolutionary for us, Southerland said. Were excited to show you what we can do. With these little bit of resources we can impact the students and the folks here in Coconino County. Lees said CCC will be eligible to reapply for the Del E. Webb grant again in a few years, after the final installment of the current grant is paid. Teams with passion like that displayed by the CCC faculty and staff are often the ones who receive such grants, Lees noted. Prior to awarding the grant, the Foundation team was introduced to CCCs CTM program during a visit to see the Fourth Street campuss Medical Simulation Lab and the smart mannequins they funded to help nursing, emergency medical technician and paramedicine students practice their skills. When they learned the lab itself was built by students in the construction technology management program, they immediately went to see the workshop and meet the faculty and students. Were about community and this is as good a community as Ive ever seen, Lees said. Mr. Webb would have loved this. He would have thought this was the coolest thing ever. Kaitlin Olson can be reached at the office at kolson@azdailysun.com or by phone at (928) 556-2253. Love 4 Funny 0 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. Vodafone Group has struck a preliminary deal to sell its 55% stake in its Egyptian unit to Saudi Arabia's largest telecoms operator STC for $2.4 billion, the companies said on Wednesday. The non-binding deal values Vodafone Egypt at $4.4 billion and the two companies have agreed a arrangement over the long-term use of the Vodafone brand and other services in Egypt. Selling the stake is in line with Vodafone's efforts to streamline its operations to focus on Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, Vodafone Chief Executive Nick Read said. "It will reduce our net debt and unlock value for our shareholders," he said. Vodafone said the transaction was expected to close by June. STC said the non-binding agreement was valid for 75 days from Wednesday and could be extended by mutual consent. "Vodafone Egypt is the leading player in the Egyptian mobile market and we look forward to contributing further to its continuing success," said STC Chief Executive Nasser al-Nasser. The binding agreement is subject to approvals by STC and Vodafone, and regulators. STC said no other parties were involved in the potential deal. STC, also known as Saudi Telecom, is majority owned by Saudi Arabia's state fund the Public Investment Fund (PIF). Telecom Egypt, which also owns a stake in Vodafone Egypt, said on Wednesday it was closely monitoring the process "to study all available alternatives for it to handle its investments in Vodafone Egypt". The state-owned company said on Sunday it had no intention of selling its stake. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Drug maker Dr Reddy's Laboratories, in yet another strategic shift, is focusing on expanding its product portfolio in the US to cut over reliance on a small bunch of products for future growth. This was contrary to the company's strategy to focus on fewer but complex and high margin products. This quarter, the company had to take an impairment charge of Rs. 1,320 Cr taken on a few products including Rs. 1,114 crore on generic Nuvaring. Dr Reddy's was heavily banking on the launch of Nuvaring but could not get the approval on account of queries or Complete Response Letter (CRL) raised by USFDA on the product. Meanwhile, Dr Reddy's competitor Amneal launched the generic Nuvaring in December, followed by another authorised generic from Prasco Laboratories in the same month, dashing the hopes of Dr Reddy's. The birth control device for women sold by Merck had a close to $1 billion in sales in the US in 2019. In the US, drug prices drop steeply with the entry of generics. Dr Reddy's, may have to wait for some more quarters to see the approval of generic multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone in US, as USFDA raised CRL on the product. Dr Reddy's is in the process of responding to CRLs. Mylan-Natco and Momenta-Sandoz have launched their generic versions. Both the products are estimated by analysts to have contribute more than one-fifth of Dr Reddy's sales in the US by FY22 "We will not be dependent on any single product to grow even in the United States. This is a notion of the past that the company is focused on a relatively small number of assets, be it complex generics or biologics or proprietary products for the growth of the company," said Dr Reddy's CEO Erez Israeli. "This is a strategy that was indeed in the company until two years ago. Since then, we have announced a new strategy. We moved from high-risk high-reward to a low-risk very high reward," Israeli said. As a part of the strategy, Israeli said the company wanted to scale up is portfolio to 350 products. "Commercially, we have 120 products now. And, this includes the products in the pipeline, plus the products that are in the pipeline on the R&D, plus additional efforts that will have to number of products. What we want is to give the customer in the United States, the products that they need, not necessarily focused on specific assets, he said. The company has upped its filings and is launching discontinued products. The company had launched 22 products in 9MFY20 and maintained its target of 30 for FY20. "Naturally, when you have a broad portfolio of some of your products, it will give you upside," Israeli added. In 2019, Dr Reddy's realigned its strategy on specialty products by selling much of its portfolio. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed the new USMCA North American trade pact with Canada and Mexico into law, pronouncing a "glorious future" for US industry. The USMCA, crafted over years of negotiation between the three countries, replaces the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA. Trump has long campaigned against NAFTA, which he said resulted in shipping US jobs abroad. "Today, we are finally ending the NAFTA nightmare," he said at the new treaty's signing ceremony in the White House. Analysts say USMCA retains many elements of NAFTA, a mammoth deal that created a free trade zone across all of North America, shaking up entire industries and supply chains. Economists say that overall NAFTA increased growth and raised the standard of living in North America, binding the three countries in a complex web of trade rules and services. But the new deal does change content rules on auto manufacturing, to boost US jobs, 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 imposing tougher labor provisions, requiring reforms to Mexico's laws. Mexico ratified the new agreement December 10, and Canada is expected to follow suit in coming weeks. For Trump, the "colossal victory" of USMCA fits neatly into his "America first" campaign message ahead of a difficult November reelection fight and his current battle to see off impeachment over alleged abuse of power. "Two decades of politicians ran for office vowing to replace NAFTA... yet when selected they never even tried," he told government members, lawmakers, union representatives and selected workers assembled at the White House's South Portico. "I'm not like those other politicians -- I guess in many ways," he said. "I keep my promises." Under NAFTA, "we lost our jobs, we closed our factories and other countries built our cars. But we changed that," he said. "The USMCA closed these terrible loopholes." US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, who led Washington's negotiations both with USMCA and the recent truce in an even higher-stakes trade battle with China, called it a "great, historic agreement." NAFTA, he said, had been "highly controversial from the start" and many lawmakers subsequently "came to regret" their support. US President Donald Trump signs the United States - Mexico -Canada Trade Agreement, known as USMCA With Delhi going to the polls on February 8, the Bharatiya Janata Party's fortunes seem to be improving in the national capital. Earlier, analysts had pegged a second term for the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). BJP's internal poll has given them at least 30-35 seats in New Delhi, which is half of the capital's 70 Assembly seats, Hindustan Times reported. One of the main reasons cited for the upswing in seats, according to the report, is public sentiment against the anti-CAA protests at Shaheen Bagh, which have been going on for more than a month. The protesters have blocked a key road in the national capital, leading to increasing traffic in several parts of the city. The 'negative perception' caused by this, BJP leaders told the newspaper, has only ended up helping the saffron party. "It is true that now we are doing very well. People have reacted to the Shaheen Bagh mentality Manish Sisodias statement that he and his party stand with Shaheen Bagh has helped us," BJP's Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari said. Tiwari and other leaders were quoted by the newspaper as saying that the tally can rise even further in the next couple of days. "If you ask me, then [anti-]Shaheen Bagh sentiments worked in our favour, but what also worked was us being able to tell people that the AAP government had denied the people of Delhi the Ayushman Bharat (medical insurance scheme) offered by the Modi government," South Delhi Member of Parliament (MP) Ramesh Bidhuri said. "Our tally will increase, and we will overtake AAP in the next three or four days," Bidhuri told the newspaper. According to the report, Home Minister Amit Shah, who has been addressing rallies in Delhi for the past couple of days, told partymen that he has received good response from most segments. Not all from within the BJP are as confident, however. A party leader told the newspaper that it might be difficult to turn the large chunk of voters who are impressed with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. "There are still about 20-25 percent undecided voters. This is a huge number and we are working to turn them towards us," a party leader said. (Bloomberg) -- Ebola kills half of the people who get it. Chinas last worrying viral outbreak, SARS, killed 10%. The new coronavirus that originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan appears far less fatal, with about 2% of the 6,000 confirmed cases dying. For many, the illness is about as serious as a cold or flu. That seems like good news, but its exactly what worries the scientists and public health experts who study infectious disease ranging from the terrifying to the mundane. These hot viruses are very scary and very deadly, but unless they land in the middle of Heathrow Airport or another densely populated place, they arent likely to be long-lasting, said Jennifer Rohn, head of the center for urological biology at the University College London and an expert in pandemics. They burn fast, and burn through the population. A virus needs a host to survive. In an epidemiological twist of fate, the coronaviruss mildness may help it spread undetected until it hits the most vulnerable people. Experts are concerned that it could find a devastating sweet spotmild enough that some patients will go about their normal routines and spread the virus far and wide, triggering an increase in deaths. And if some patients may spread the virus when they have mild or no symptoms at all, as Chinese officials have asserted, that would undercut efforts to halt transmission. The coronavirus has been compared to the flu, which every year infects 10 million to 50 million people in the U.S., leaving tens of thousands of people dead, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its a mild-mannered serial killer. The aggressive response to the coronavirus is meant to stop the new pathogen from becoming a deadlier copycat. A relatively mild virus can cause a lot of damage if a lot of people get it, Michael Ryan, director of the World Health Organizations Emergencies Programme, said at a briefing Wednesday. A virus needs a host to survive. Behind the decisions to lock down travel for tens of millions in China, isolate suspected cases and put the public and health workers on high alert is a simple but worrying piece of math: If the new coronavirus somehow were to infect 60 million Americans as the swine flu did in 2009 and 2010, but with the same 2% death rate reported in China for the new virus, it could kill over 1 million people. Even if only 1% of people who are infected die, if it can spread globally, that will be a lot of people, said Christian Althaus, a computational epidemiologist at the University of Bern in Switzerland. So far, the vast majority of the 6,000 global cases of the new coronavirus, known for now as 2019-nCov, have been contained to China. But the disease has spread inside the worlds most populous nation, a major hub of travel and trade for the region, with cases emerging in Beijing, Shanghai and elsewhere. There are early reports of spread in other countries, as well. Four people in Germany were infected by a coworker visiting from China who didnt get sick until her plane ride back. In Vietnam, a Chinese man from Wuhan spread the disease to his son there during a visit to the country, during a trip where the infected family traveled around the country on planes, trains, and taxis. Inside China, the actual case count may be far higher than has been reported. One estimate says the number of infections may have hit more than 26,000 by Jan. 28, according to research from Jinan University published in the biology preprint website, Biorxiv. Within China, what the numbers are telling us is this is a very serious situation and the virus is spreading in a very concerning way, said Michael Olsterholm, director of the the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. So far, it appears it is going to be much more difficult to control than SARS. Viruses are more or less helpless on their own. Without a living thing to make their home, they cant reproduce and spread. Often, that host may be an animal, and the virus makes the jump into people who come into contact with a natural reservoir of the disease. When an outbreak happens, isolating people isolates the virus. Hospital gowns and masks stop it from spreading through the air or in bodily fluids. Quarantines keep sick people away from new, healthy hosts. The perfect virus makes people sick enough to spreadsneezing up droplets of germ-laden mist into the air, or leaving a thin residue from a wiped nose on a subway polewithout making them so sick or killing them so quickly that they never get the chance to pass it on. There is definitely a sweet spot, said Rohn, the University College London pandemic expert. The minute you run out of people, its game over for that virus. Its a balance the virus needs to strike. Coronaviruses were long thought to mostly cause cold-like symptoms in humans. But in 2002 and 2003, the coronavirus SARS caused more than 8,000 cases and killed around 800 after it emerged in southern Chinaa roughly 10% mortality rate. In part because most cases were severe and easily recognized, it was contained within months, despite an initial period of uncontained spread because of Chinas slow response. Public health controlled SARS because SARS let it, because you could recognize and isolate disease, said Mark Denison, director of infectious diseases and pediatrics professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, who has studied antiviral drugs against coronaviruses. Health authorities have noted that the latest outbreaks death rate, now around 2%, may drop as more mild cases are discovered. In 2009 and 2010, another new pathogen, the H1N1 swine flu virus, raced around the world like wildfire. It eventually infected nearly 61 million Americans, though it was so mild that many didnt know they had it. It still caused more than 12,000 deaths in the U.S., a number thats actually lower than what is normally seen during a typical flu season. We are still trying to figure out where this is on the spectrum between SARS, where the vast majority of transmission occurs from very sick people, to something like influenza, said Julie Gerberding, who was the director of the CDC during the SARS outbreak and now works as the chief patient officer at Merck & Co. This is probably somewhere in between those two extremes, but where its going to fall is a little bit too early to say. That pertains to the mortality figures as well. In the coronavirus outbreak, more than a fifth of confirmed patients have developed serious illnesses, according to figures from the Chinese government. Many are elderly, or have underlying health conditions, that put them more at risk. But people with milder cases may keep going to work, traveling, shopping and spreading the virus. If this is a mild infection that only in rare circumstances causes pneumonia or death, many people would probably breathe a sigh of relief, said Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. But its often a trade-off. You want to have this contained. Whatever happens with the Wuhan outbreak, its not going to be the last time a new coronavirus emerges from bats or other animals and starts infecting people. In the last two decades, the world has dealt with two significant Ebola outbreaks, another coronavirus disease, MERS, in the Middle East, and SARS. People will keep bumping into new viruses, ones that humans have never before encountered and to which they have no natural immunity, and have developed no drugs or vaccines. There is every reason to believe these events are going to continue to occur, said Mark Feinberg, a former Merck vaccine executive and president of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. We need to take them very, very seriously. --With assistance from Jason Gale. To contact the authors of this story: Michelle Cortez in New York at mcortez@bloomberg.netRobert Langreth in New York at rlangreth@bloomberg.net 2020 Bloomberg L.P. She is often at London's hottest haunts in an array of stylish ensembles. And Francesca Allen put on a daring display as she slipped into negligee for Chloe Ross' Galentine's Ann Summers party at St Martin's Lane Hotel on Wednesday. The Love Island beauty, 24, showed off her incredible physique in the silk black nightwear which had a plunging neckline and delicate lace sleeves. Racy: Francesca Allen put on a daring display as she slipped into negligee for Chloe Ross' Galentine's Ann Summers party at St Martin's Lane Hotel on Wednesday Having just returned from Thailand, Francesca flaunted her tanned and toned legs in the thigh-skimming number as she posed for photos with Chloe, Gabby Allen, 26, and Clelia Theodorou, 25. She wore her brunette hair in glamorous curls and accentuated her bronzed complexion with a radiant make-up look. Chloe wore the same silk nightie while Clelia and Gabby wore a sleeveless version. Girls' night: Francesca flaunted her tanned and toned legs in the thigh-skimming number as she posed for photos with Clelia Theodorou, 25, Chloe and Gabby Allen, 26,(L-R) Stunning: Gabby wore a sleeveless version of the plunging silk nightie It comes after Chloe has been axed from TOWIE. Joey Turner and Jayden Beales have also been given the chop. An insider told MailOnline: 'The TOWIE cast fear this time of year as they know bosses look at who's made an impact on the show and who hasn't resonated as well with fans. 'Producers made a lot of changes last year and it was a risk introducing so many new characters, some have worked and others haven't. Pamper party: The girls appeared to be having a blast at the girly Valentine's bash Keeping busy: Chloe has been axed from TOWIE to reportedly focus on her Ann Summers collection Galentines: The reality starlet posed for a snap with Kelsey Stratford (L) and Ella Rae Wise Risque display: The girls flaunted their figures in the racy nighties Bras and bustiers: The girls looked glamorous as they chatted about the racy lingerie collection 'Chloe has decided to take a step back from the show to focus on her modelling and influencing work. 'She's just been announced as the new ambassador for Ann Summers and is in a long-term relationship that she wants to keep off the show. 'There's talk of a few new faces joining the next series but final decisions are yet to be made.' A TOWIE spokesperson confirmed Chloe and Jayden's exit and said: 'We review our cast every series to ensure we're keeping the show fresh and relevant' but say final decisions are still yet to be made about Joey. https://www.aish.com/jw/s/At-the-White-House-for-Release-of-Trumps-Peace-Plan-A-Historic-Day-No-Matter-the-Outcome.html On the day after we marked the liberation from Auschwitz, I had goosebumps sitting in the East Room of the White House. Prime Minister Netanyahu touted the unveiling of President Trumps peace plan, including its position on Judea and Samaria, as a historic moment, almost as great as May 14, 1948, when President Truman first recognized the State of Israel. Whether it indeed proves to be historic or simply a footnote to history has yet to be determined. To me, though, sitting in the East Room of the White House with goosebumps watching the president deliver his message and then the prime minister respond, there was something else that felt historic. Though it wasnt referenced, there was a different date that I couldnt stop thinking about as I looked around the room at the group gathered. Included in this group were prominent and powerful Jewish leaders and senior officials, many of whom are welcomed regularly in those hallowed halls, something unthinkable only a few decades ago. The event in the White House took place one day after January 27th, which marked the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. More than 1 million people were killed in the gas chambers at Auschwitz, the overwhelming majority of whom were Jews. Ninety-four-year-old Bat-Sheva Dagan spoke next to the iconic railway tracks at Auschwitz. She described having her head shaved and arm tattooed upon her arrival and how she was forced to sort the belongings of those sent to their deaths. Where was everybody? she asked. Where was the world, who could see that, hear that, and yet did nothing to save all those thousands? The skeletons who walked out of Auschwitz, barely clinging to life, could never have imagined that just 75 years later, there would be a Jewish state, a return to our biblical homeland, and a place of refuge for Jews throughout the world. Would they have believed that just 75 years later, almost to the day, the president of the most powerful nation would pledge his support to the safety of the thriving Jewish state, committing to continued military cooperation, and promising borders that would always keep it secure? Larry Weinberg, a past president of AIPAC, would relate that in 1944, he was a soldier in the U.S. 100th infantry division. They were in combat in the Vosges Mountains when a fellow soldier came to tell him they had found a Jewish man hiding in the woods who wanted to know if any of the American soldiers were Jewish. He describes running to meet the man, finding him gaunt and unshaven. As he got closer, he was filled with emotion, felling as if he was somehow part of this mans liberation. He reached out to the man who he asked in Yiddish if he was a Jew. Larry responded enthusiastically, Yes, I am a Jew! The man came closer, spit in his face and said, You came too late, and walked away. Larry never saw him again, but he pledged then and there that he would spend the rest of his life doing all that he could to make sure that when our people are in need or are in danger, we will never be too late. The most powerful moment of the day for me was when Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed Jared Kushner and said, I know how much the Jewish future means to you and to your family. Well, Jared, today you have helped secure that future. The Jewish State owes you and it owes President Trump an eternal debt of gratitude. Jareds grandparents, Joseph and Rae Kushner, were survivors. They came to America in 1949, determined not only to survive, but to thrive. They were among the builders of the community of Elizabeth, New Jersey, and were great philanthropists involved with many Jewish causes. Seventy-five years ago, could they have dreamt that their grandson would not only be the son-in-law of the president, but credited with securing the Jewish future and the Jewish state, fulfilling our collective promise to never be too late again? The author with Amb. David Friedman None of us know if this peace plan will pan out and prove to be historic. But what felt historic already, whether you support them or not, was listening to the Prime Minister of the Jewish State with the President by his side quote Ethics of the Fathers to capture the moment "If not now, when, and if not us, who?" What felt historic was to be comfortable in a building that previously Jews were denied entry to, to be among leaders whose predecessors wouldnt meet with us in our darkest days. On the day after we marked the liberation from Auschwitz, a time in which the world showed up too late, it felt historic that a grandson of survivors was recognized for showing up to protect our Jewish homeland. This potentially historic event took place the day after Rosh Chodesh Shevat. We have a tradition that Shevat is an acronym for Shenisbaser Besuros Tovos, may we hear only good news and good tidings. May this day and this plan bring the news of peace, safety and prosperity for our brothers and sisters in Israel and may they continue to have the love, friendship and support of the United States of America. The theme for Davos 2020 was 'Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World'. The meeting had 400 different sessions and 3,000 participants from 117 countries, including 53 Heads of States. All the sessions focused on six core areas--Ecology, Economy, Society, Industry, Technology, and Geopolitics. Heads of State and leaders like Angela Merkel, Prince Charles, Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, Sanna Marin, Han Zheng, Giuseppe Conte, and Pedro Sanchez among others were present. Leaders from the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organisation, and the World Health Organization attended the forum. Young changemakers like Autumn Peltier, Ayakha Melithafa, Cruz Erdmann, Salvador Gomez-Colon and other activities were also present. The 50th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum recently concluded at a stunning ski village of Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. Activists and leaders from around the globe voiced their strong opinions, on a wide range of topics, climate crisis holding paramount importance. Even Twitter was abuzz, with hashtags such as 'climate change', 'positive' and 'impact' on the sidelines of the forum. Who said what Discussions at Davos circled around climate, economy, space, society, human rights, and achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. Climate activist Greta Thunberg emphasized on the climate crisis and said, "act as if you loved your children above everything else." Later she added, "Unlike you, my generation will not give up without a fight." Many leaders like US Presidents Donald Trump talked about protecting the inventors, who likened Elon Musk to Thomas Edison. Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, spoke about the Libyan conflict. She stated that like Syrian refugees, Libyan refugees, too, would flee to Europe. Sanna Marin, who was in the news recently for becoming the youngest Prime Minister ever, spoke about supporting the election of female leaders and how it should become the 'new normal'. Former United States' President Al Gore was also present, who compared the current climate crisis to the 9/11 terror attacks. Climate change took the centre stage World leaders and activists came together to discuss the drastic changes of climate change. At the forum, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, "We will be destroyed by climate change, not the planet. This will be for us a clear indication that we absolutely need to change course. Humankind has declared a war on nature and nature is striking back in a very violent way." Prince Charles too voiced the same sentiment, saying global warming was the greatest threat to the humanity. Meanwhile, climate activist Greta Thunberg told world leaders to make drastic changes and cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to avoid climate disaster. This year, Davos saw teenage change-makers, voicing out their concerns about climate change and even gun violence. The young activists were vocal about their opinions on water conservation, supporting low-carbon development, saving the oceans from plastic waste, education and health. Meanwhile, six global activists had stayed at the Arctic Basecamp in Davos. The Basecamp was an outreach program, stressing on the importance of climate change that has been in Davos for the last four years. Vanessa Nakate, a climate change activist from Uganda, said, "We are practically representing those people who are already facing the impact of the climate crisis. It is time to get out of our comfort zones." The young changemakers at Davos 2020 | Image Source The summit is also known for corporate deal-making and global networking. The deal between Trump and Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, was in the buzz along with a massive $1 billion donation from billionaire George Soros for building a new university network. Borge Brende, the President of the World Economic Forum, gave a statement to mark this year's event as came to an end. He said, "Our 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. (Image: World Economic Forum) A key challenge in combating contagious diseases is limiting the spread of the virus within a hospital. Cross infection from patient-to-patient and patient-to-caregiver can be a major problem. While quarantining patients may limit patient-to-patient contact, contact between caregivers and patients can also be avoided with technology. Working with VivaLNK solution partner, Yijing Health, the temperature sensor is applied directly onto the patient and allows for continuous, real time monitoring of changes in body temperature. The data is then sent electronically from the patient to a remote observation dashboard at the nursing station, providing a view of the patients. Now, instead of physically checking the patient temperature every few hours with a mercury thermometer, temperatures can be monitored remotely and automatically, thereby limiting patient-to-caregiver contact. SPHCC also plans to deploy other VivaLNK sensors to monitor vitals such as heart rate and respiratory rate. And in addition to SPHCC, the VivaLNK solution has been deployed in four other hospitals in various locations throughout China. "VivaLNK is proud to help fight infectious diseases such as the Coronavirus," said Jiang Li, CEO of VivaLNK. "The world will never be rid of diseases, but more effective methods of prevention and treatment can be achieved through technological advances." The VivalNK temperature sensor has clearances from the CFDA, FDA, and CE, and is part of VivaLNK's medical wearable platform which includes sensors to monitor a variety of other vitals and biometrics. Over-the-counter consumer versions of the temperature sensor are also available under the Enfasmart FeverSense and Nurofen FeverSmart brands. For more information on the temperature sensor visit https://www.vivalnk.com/product/temperature-sensor . About VivaLNK VivaLNK is a provider of connected healthcare solutions for patient care and telemedicine. The company's portfolio includes wearable medical grade devices and data analytics applications that continuously monitor the health and well-being of individuals. The company's vision is to improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare worldwide by combining technology, data, and analytics into an integrated solution. Media Contact: [email protected] SOURCE VivaLNK Related Links http://www.vivalnk.com Chandigarh, Jan 29 : Responding to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's request, the Centre has given approval for setting up a new Government Medical College at Hoshiarpur, besides upgrading the existing local Civil Hospital. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare conveyed its approval to the state government on Tuesday evening under the centrally sponsored scheme for setting up the new medical college attached with existing district/referral hospital (Phase-III), according to an official spokesperson. As per the announcement, the new medical college would be set up at a cost of Rs 325 crore, of which Rs 195 crore, i.e. 60 per cent share, would be met by the Centre. The remaining 40 per cent to the tune of Rs 130 crore would be contributed by the Punjab government as the state's share for the college. The upcoming medical college is the first-of-its-kind in the Kandi region, with an intake capacity of 100 seats and would be instrumental in providing quality healthcare and diagnostic services, besides giving impetus to medical education and research in the region. Conceding a request from Amarinder Singh, the Centre has also cleared a proposal for upgrading the Civil Hospital, Hoshiarpur, thereby enhancing its bed capacity from the existing 200 to 500, with the latest medical infrastructure facilities added to the hospital. Notably, there are three government medical colleges already functioning in the state, Amritsar, Faridkot and Patiala. Two other medical colleges are already being set up at SAS Nagar Mohali and Kapurthala, with the sixth now sanctioned for Kapurthala. A 6-year old girl who it was claimed suffered a shoulder injury at birth has settled her High Court action against the National Maternity Hospital for 400,000. Counsel for Alice Hayes, Dr John OMahony SC with Doireann OMahony BL, told the court it was their case when the baby was delivered by junior doctors excessive traction was allegedly applied. The settlement was without admission of liability. Alice Hayes from Blackrock, Dublin had, through her mother, sued The National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, Dublin over the antenatal care provided in the lead-up to her birth, the management of her mothers labour and her own birth in 2013. It was claimed she suffered a brachial plexus injury to her left shoulder and now has a shoulder condition known as Erbs Palsy. It was further claimed that during the labour an alleged incorrect determination was made of the position of the baby. Excessive downward traction, it was alleged, was applied to the babys head and as a result it was claimed the baby suffered brachial plexus injury. Further efforts should have been made to overcome the shoulder dystocia it was claimed instead of taking the action of applying traction. There it was further claimed an alleged failure to exercise the competence, diligence, care, and judgement to be expected in the provision of antenatal care in the lead-up to Alices birth and in the management of the labour and delivery. If Alices mother, it was claimed, had been appropriately advised on the options for delivery in respect of the birth of her daughter and on the risks or benefits associated with the different options for delivery, she would have elected for a Caesarean section. The claims were denied and the court heard the settlement is without an admission of liability. Dr OMahony told the court Alice is doing well under the care of very supportive parents. Approving the settlement, Mr Justice Kevin Cross said it was a very good settlement and he wished Alice well for the future. A man who was arrested for shouting in court during the hearing of MP Babu Owinos case has been freed. Billy Graham, a student at the Kenya Institute of Management, caused a disturbance during the bail hearing of Babu Owinos shooting case on Monday. He shouted, Be objective Bwana as the prosecution was submitting its case. Asked why he shouted, the 23-year-old said: I did not mean to cause any disrespect. My act was out of ignorance, stupidity and over excitement. I regret that fact. He appeared before Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi but was not charged with any offense. Magistrate Andayi released him saying he had taken into account that the student admitted to being stupid and had learned from his mistake. Returning to Chicago after nearly 15 years was an absolute dream come true, Terfel said in a statement. This terrible fall in Bilbao has dealt me a cruel blow. A performer always dreads the days where cancellations are imminent. I was despondent not to finish the last performance in Bilbao, but am happy I came to that conclusion, having learned today of a triple fracture and dislocation. New coronavirus spreading fast, killing more people in China Iran Press TV Tuesday, 28 January 2020 6:54 AM Over 105 people are confirmed dead as a result of contacting the new coronavirus in China, and more than 4,500 others have been infected in the country. China's National Health Commission (NHC) said Tuesday that most of the 106 deaths were reported in the city of Wuhan, which is believed to be the epicenter of the outbreak, while the capital, Beijing, recorded its first death from the coronavirus on Monday. NHC announced that the total number of confirmed infections had also increased to 4,515 as of Monday, up from 2,835 just a day earlier. Alarmingly, the commission said that 976 of the confirmed cases were in serious condition. Only a total of 60 patients in China have been cured and discharged. The virus has rapidly spread throughout China and to more than a dozen other countries, including Germany and the United States, but no fatalities have been reported overseas. In an attempt to contain the virus, China has imposed tight transport restrictions in several cities and extended the Lunar New Year national holiday to February 2. Beijing Public Transport Group also announced that it would halt the majority of bus services from Wuhan into neighboring Hebei Province starting on Tuesday, according to a statement published on its official Weibo account. Also on Tuesday, the Chinese Education Ministry said the spring semester for schools and universities nationwide would be delayed. It didn't give a resumption date. Philippines, Kazakhstan halt visas on arrivals for Chinese The Philippines and Kazakhstan have meanwhile suspended issuing tourist visas on arrival to Chinese citizens. Jaime Morente, the head of Philippines' Bureau of Immigration, said in a statement on Tuesday, "We are taking this proactive measure to slow down travel, and possibly help prevent the entry" of the virus. Kazakhstan's Deputy Foreign Minister Shukhrat Nuryshev also announced that his country had stopped issuing electronic visas to Chinese nationals on arrival and will require medical certificates from those seeking visas. Many other countries have started screening measures at their ports of entry from China as well. France, Japan to repatriate citizens from Wuhan France's junior transport minister Jean-Baptiste Djebarri said on Tuesday that a first plane to repatriate French nationals from Wuhan would head to the city on Wednesday. "There will be a first repatriation flight that will leave Paris tomorrow and most likely come back Thursday with people... who have no symptoms," he told French television channel CNews, adding, "These people will be put under quarantine." Djebarri also said a second flight will take place "at a yet undefined date" to carry people who are showing symptoms, thus they "will be cared for in Paris." Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters that a chartered flight would be dispatched to Wuhan on Tuesday night to evacuate Japanese nationals. The flight could carry about 200 people. "We will dispatch the first flight to Wuhan tonight, which will bring masks, protective suits and other support items for Chinese people and Japanese nationals there," he added. Motegi said nearly 650 Japanese nationals hoped to head home from the city, and said the Japanese government was arranging for further flights that would leave for Wuhan as early as Wednesday. Russia's Far East regions close borders with China Amid fears over the outbreak of the virus, Russia's Far East Jewish Autonomous regions Oblast, Khabarovsk, and Amur have closed their borders with China until February 7, according to the governor of Khabarovsk. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address An airplane carrying Japanese citizens repatriated from Wuhan amidst the coronavirus outbreak lands at Haneda airport in Tokyo on Jan. 29, 2020. (Carl Court/Getty Images) Coronavirus Spreads to the Middle East As Governments Take Measures to Protect Citizens The coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China, has been found in the Middle East, with the United Arab Emirates reporting its first confirmed case on Jan. 29. The case involves members of a family who were recently in Wuhan, Emirates News Agency reported, citing UAEs Ministry of Health and Prevention. Elsewhere, Australia reported its sixth and seventh confirmed cases on Jan. 29. A man in his 60s in Victoria was tested positive for the virus, according to local broadcaster 9News. The man was recently in Wuhan and became unwell on Jan. 23, more than two days after he returned to Australia. In Australias Queensland, a Chinese man from Wuhan was diagnosed with the virus, according to Australian outlet SBS News. In response to the outbreak, governments around the world are planning or have taken steps to evacuate their citizens in China. A total of 206 Japanese citizens arrived in Tokyo on Jan. 29, after boarding a Japanese government-chartered plane from Wuhan. Upon arrival, five of the citizens were hospitalized for having a cough or fever, according to The Japan Times. A chartered plane from Wuhan carrying about 210 U.S. citizens is expected to arrive at the March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County, California, on Jan. 29, after a stopover in Alaska for refueling. The plane was originally destined for Ontario International Airport in California. Curt Hagman, a commissioner at the Ontario International Airport and the chairman of the San Bernandino County Board of Supervisors, posted a video on his Twitter account explaining the change of destination. We were prepared but the State Department decided to switch the flight to March Air Force Base for logistics that they have, Hagman said. India and the Philippines have planes standing by to evacuate their citizens in Hubei province. Some governments have taken measures to cut off their transportation links with China in an effort to stem the outbreak. British Airways has suspended all direct flights to and from China for January and February, the Daily Mail reported on Jan. 29. On the same day, Japanese airliner All Nippon Airways announced that it will extend the suspension of all flights to Wuhan until the end of February, according to The Japan Times On Jan. 28, U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) called for the immediate suspension of commercial flights between China and the United States, as part of four measures to protect America. Papua New Guinea closed air and seaports to all foreigners coming from Asia on Jan. 29, according to AFP. Locals returning from Asian countries will be subjected to quarantine for 14 days. The country has not yet reported any case of coronavirus. In South Korea, multiple local companies have also taken measures to protect their employees from exposure to the virus. Hyundai Motors and Kia Motors have planned to evacuate hundreds of employees and their family members, according to local outlet The Investor. Meanwhile, LG Electronics and Hanwha Group have banned their employees from taking business trips to China. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 20:20:03|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close HARARE, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe will continue liberalizing its markets in a bid to create a favorable environment of doing business, a senior government official said on Wednesday. In a speech read on his behalf by his deputy, Zimbabwe's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Sibusiso Moyo said Zimbabwe has already started carrying out Ease of Doing Business reforms which are aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of its exports. "Agreements on the negotiations will boost bilateral trade and enhance investment flows thereby contributing to the creation of jobs while promoting their sustainable development," he said. Moyo was speaking at the launch of the Zimbabwe Economic Partnership Agreement Support Project (ZEPA) held in Harare. The European Union (EU) made a financial contribution of 10 million euros to ZEPA, which will go towards technical assistance for the project including procurement of supplies, provision of grants to Zimbabwe's business support organizations and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. The objective of ZEPA, running from 2017 to 2022, is to integrate Zimbabwe into regional and international trading system through improving the competitiveness of export capacity of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), reducing trading costs and expedite movement and clearance of goods. Moyo said ZEPA comes at a time when Zimbabwe is already implementing a new economic order that is expected to restore confidence in the economy. "The ZEPA project is helping government to strengthen the competiveness of SMEs and their capacity to produce and export for example in the areas of horticulture," he said. Speaking at the same event, Head of EU Delegation in Zimbabwe Timo Olkkonen assured EU's support to Zimbabwe in its efforts to reform trade regulatory and institutional frameworks in order to incentivize production and trade. He said efforts made by the Zimbabwean side have already seen an increase of exports to the EU. "A notable increase in the volume of agricultural products exports from Zimbabwe to the EU has been recorded, but there is still a huge potential for product increase as trade between Zimbabwe and EU forms about 5 percent Zimbabwe's total trade currently," he said. The EU has recently made strides in improving its relations with Zimbabwe. In 2018, the EU was Zimbabwe's fifth largest trading partner, with trade volumes between the two sides reaching 243 million euros. In 2009, Zimbabwe signed the interim economic partnership agreement (IEPA) with the EU, together with Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles. In order to support the implementation of the IEPA, Zimbabwe signed the ZEPA financing agreement with the EU in 2017, with the latter making a financial contribution of 10 million euros to support the project. The IEPA Agreement provides Zimbabwe with duty and quota free market access to the EU, while foreseeing gradual liberalization of 80 percent on EU imports. The agreement covers areas of trade, fisheries and economic development cooperation. SEATTLE A Portland, Oregon, man was arrested after he authorities say he traveled to Washington state to sexually molest a 5-year-old girl. Dirk Tichgelaar, 44, was arrested by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in northwestern Washington. He was charged Monday in U.S. District Court in Seattle with enticement of a minor, the Bellingham Herald reported. Between October 2019 and January 2020, Tichgelaar used an internet-based chat platform to communicate with an undercover Homeland Security agent about sexual abuse of children, according to a U.S. Department of Justice. Tichgelaar expressed an interest in traveling to the agents location in Washington to sexually abuse a girl, according to court records. In followup emails, the agent gave Tichgelaar an address in northwestern Washington's Whatcom County, the records state. On Jan. 25, Homeland Security agents followed Tichgelaar from Oregon into Washington state to a hotel where he was arrested, records said. During an interview with police, records said Tichgelaar told them he was the person exchanging messages with the undercover agent. Tichgelaar said he had previously finished treatment for his sexual attraction to children, and that he knew what he spoke to the undercover agent about was illegal, according to court records. It wasnt immediately known if he has a lawyer. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 17:00:40|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday presented his long-awaited Middle East peace plan, calling for a two-state solution while recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided capital." The White House released a statement, title "Peace to prosperity: a vision to improve the lives of the Palestinian and Israeli people," after Trump finished his televised speech outlining his Middle East plan. The following are some key points of the plan. "KEEP JERUSALEM UNITED" Located in the heart of the Middle East, Jerusalem is the holy city for three major religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. According to UN General Assembly Resolution 181 adopted in 1947, Jerusalem should be run by the United Nations as an internationalized city, while both Israelis and Palestinians see Jerusalem as their capital. In Trump's proposal, Jerusalem will be recognized as Israel's "undivided capital," adding that the plan is to "keep Jerusalem united." Trump said Palestine's capital should be in "East Jerusalem" located in all areas east and north of the existing security barrier, including Kafr Aqab, the eastern part of Shuafat and Abu Dis. In 2017, Trump announced his official recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and decided to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city. So far, most countries with diplomatic relations with Isreal have kept their embassies in Tel Aviv. TWO STATES In the 80-page vision, the United States designed a map setting out borders for a "realistic" two-state solution, said Trump at the White House alongside visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump promised to double Palestinian-controlled territory and proposed a four-year freeze of Israeli development in the area expected to be part of a Palestinian state. The plan said that a future Palestinian state would benefit from "state-of-the-art infrastructure," including a high-speed transportation link that connects the West Bank and Gaza over Israeli territory. Under the proposed plan, Palestine would have "special access" to two Israeli ports in the future, while Israeli enclaves located inside contiguous Palestinian territory would become part of the State of Israel, and the Jordan Valley would be under Israeli sovereignty. The Jordan Valley, making up some 20 percent of the West Bank, was seized by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war and controlled ever since despite international criticism. In November 2019, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the U.S. government will no longer consider Israel's West Bank settlements "inconsistent" with the international law. Most of the international community, including the United Nations, said the settlements are illegal. PALESTINIAN REFUGEES The Israeli-Arab wars left over 1 million Palestinians homeless. According to UN General Assembly Resolution 194 adopted in 1948, Palestinian refugees are entitled to return to their homeland. However, Israel insists the refugees stay where they are as their return may greatly change regional demographics and create security concerns. Under the plan, "there shall be no right of return by, or absorption of, any Palestinian refugee into the State of Israel." Rather, the refugees would be absorbed into the State of Palestine or integrated into their current host countries. Up to 5,000 Palestinians would be accepted by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation member countries who agree to participate in Palestinian refugee resettlements, said the plan, adding that a fund would be raised to provide some compensation to Palestinian refugees. "Look here! said the Dodger, drawing forth a handful of shillings and half-pence. Here's a jolly life! The whimsy of Dickens youthful pickpocket, the Artful Dodger, comes to mind with news of a crime spike in Sydneys Hills Shire. Police in the area told the Herald they have seen a rise in knife crime and other youth crime since the introduction of the new Metro. Where are the perpetrators from? Other parts of Sydney, was the refrain. Places like Schofields, Riverstone, Quakers Hill, Doonside and Blacktown. Police are cracking down on crime in the Hills District. Credit:NSW Police Media Well there you go. Its those dreaded Westies again. Granted the convenience of public transport, what do they do? They choose the jolly life of crime. Worse, they unleash their dastardly spree on citizens of a more rarefied socio-economic standing. Only weeks into the new year, the Latte Line is retraced, and the old western Sydney stereotypes return. The evidence, however, tells a different tale. Trend analysis by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research suggests the Hills has more pressing issues. In the year from October 2018 to September 2019, incidents of domestic violence and related assault reported to police in the district increased 24.7 per cent. Intimidation, stalking and harassment in the area over the same period were up by 38.7 per cent. Contributed photo LAKEVILLE Crescendo presents Thanksgivings for Life and Love, Feb. 1-2, a program that illustrates a parallel between spiritual issues set to music by Spanish Renaissance masters, and social justice and human rights matters expressed musically in a merging of folklore themes, popular songs and classical contemporary works by famous 20th century Latin American composers, according to a statement. Works by some of Spains most remarkable Renaissance composers such as Tomas Luis de Victoria, Francisco Guerrero and Antonio Lobo are featured. In contrast, choral and instrumental arrangements based on Latin American folk melodies by Carlos Guastavino (Argentina), Violeta Parra and Victor Jara (Chile) will be performed. Novel coronavirus, temporarily named 2019-nCoV, has affected over 4,600 persons across the world and is spreading at a rapid pace say experts. The World Health Organization and other health organizations have stepped up vigilance to detect and isolate the infection to contain outbreaks. Stopping the spread of this virus both in China and globally is WHOs highest priority, said Dr Tedros. We appreciate the seriousness with which China is taking this outbreak, especially the commitment from top leadership, and the transparency they have demonstrated, including sharing data and genetic sequence of the virus. WHO is working closely with the government on measures to understand the virus and limit transmission. WHO will keep working side-by-side with China and all other countries to protect health and keep people safe, said, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). There have been 131 deaths in China and over 50 million are under surveillance. Wuhan Mayor has said in a statement that 5 million have left his city. According to Chinas health minister the virus is potent and may spread even before symptoms appear. This would mean that healthy appearing individuals could be carriers of the virus. Scientists have warned that at least 100,000 could be carrying the virus. CHINA, CHENGDU, Yinghui Rd.- JANUARY 23,2020: Coronavirus epidemic: IHOR SULYATYTSKYY Australian Breakthrough Australian scientists have become the first to recreate the new coronavirus outside of China in what they have called a "significant breakthrough". Their discovery will be shared with the World Health Organization (WHO) in the hope it may help efforts to find to diagnose and treat the virus. Experts at Melbourne's Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity on Tuesday became the world's first scientific lab outside of China to recreate the virus. 2019 novel coronavirus in culture Play Chinese officials released the genome sequence of this novel coronavirus, which is helpful for diagnosis, however, having the real virus means we now have the ability to actually validate and verify all test methods, and compare their sensitivities and specificities - it will be a game changer for diagnosis, Dr Druce said. The virus will be used as positive control material for the Australian network of public health laboratories, and also shipped to expert laboratories working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Europe. Dr Mike Catton, Deputy Director of the Doherty Institute, said that possession of a virus isolate extended what could be achieved with molecular technology in the fight against this virus. The Doherty Institute-grown virus is expected to be used to generate an antibody test, which allows detection of the virus in patients who havent displayed symptoms and were therefore unaware they had the virus. An antibody test will enable us to retrospectively test suspected patients so we can gather a more accurate picture of how widespread the virus is, and consequently, among other things, the true mortality rate, said Dr Catton. It will also assist in the assessment of effectiveness of trial vaccines. The virus was grown from a patient sample that arrived at the Royal Melbourne Hospitals Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) at the Doherty Institute on Friday, 24 January. Weve planned for an incident like this for many, many years and thats really why we were able to get an answer so quickly, said Dr Catton. Dr Catton also credited the success to Australias network of laboratories and public health authorities effectively working together. We are very pleased at how it has come together and are glad we were able to respond quickly, which we will continue to do so. United States In the United States, 5 persons have been confirmed to be infected with the novel coronavirus. Mayor London Breed from San Francisco has issued a statement on the 27th of January 2020 that her city has stepped up emergency measures to combat local outbreaks of the virus infection. She also confirmed that there have been no cases of the virus infection in San Francisco yet. This would assuage the fears sparked among the general population. She also assured that despite no confirmed cases, they have started an emergency operative centre in San Francisco. According to Breed, there was a rumour that one of the flights from infected regions in china carrying US consulates and Americans in China was supposed to land in San Francisco but it has now been confirmed that the flight in question would land first in Ontario in Southern California where the passengers would be checked thrice before letting them move on. Ivar Satero said, The first health check will be by Chinese officials for passengers boarding the plane. The second check will be by U.S. officials on the aircraft that flew into Wuhan with that flight and will do a second health check before departing. Satero added that the third check would be after landing at Anchorage. According to the citys health director Dr. Tomas Aragon, people from China town in San Francisco do not need to wear masks. He said, There's no coronavirus circulating at this time, so you will not be wearing it for those reasons. People can still wear it for other reasons like I don't want to get the flu virus that this other person next to me may have. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned against travel and has released a level 3 travel warning urging all Americans to refrain from travelling to China unless absolutely necessary. Travellers should be aware that the Chinese government could prevent them from entering or exiting parts of Hubei province, they warned. The CDC has further warned that those travelling to areas where cases have been detected must avoid contact with sick persons, animals or animal products which could be the likely source of the virus. Mongolia Mongolia has closed its borders to China and Malaysia for fear of visitors with coronavirus infections. The health officials who made this announcement said that the spread of the infection was alarming and this would protect their country from such spread. In Mongolia the fear of the spread of the virus has prompted closure of the schools, universities and playgrounds until 2nd of March 2020 to prevent spread of the infection and further outbreaks. Till date there have been no cases of coronavirus infection in Mongolia but there has been one case reported from Malaysia. North Korea North Korea has already closed its borders to visitors from China and these two nations have joined the line now. Malaysia has stopped issuing visas to Chinese travellers especially from Wuhan. The nations have closed their doors to these nations after consultation with the WHO, explained their officials. Cases have been confirmed from South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Nepal, Cambodia. Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, France and Germany say health officials. Germany In Germany for example Bavarian Health Ministry announced that the first case has been detected in Bavaria. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said, We are checking and preparing for all options; that means we are also considering a possible evacuation of all those willing to leave. Canada Canada has three confirmed cases out of eleven suspected. The health officials on the 27th of this month said that the mode of spread of the virus has not yet been clearly understood yet. David Williams, Ontarios chief medical officer, in a statement said, One individual had been in close proximity to her husband and, having also arrived in Toronto from the area of Wuhan, could also have been exposed to the virus in China. She could have contracted the virus in Wuhan the experts said. The couple are in separate isolation units the man at Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto and the woman at home. Both are stable. A third case has been confirmed by health officials in British Columbia, who say a man in his 40s tested presumptively positive after a business trip to the Chinese city of Wuhan. This Monday, pharmaceutical companies have also announced their work on developing a vaccine against the virus. Paul Stoffels, chief scientific officer from Johnson & Johnson said, Multiple efforts are needed to make sure that at the end, one vaccine or two or three make it because we are not sure at all. The teams may take up to eight months to a year to make and test their vaccines, he added. Meanwhile Chinas Finance Ministry and National Health Commission has allocated funds to the tune of $8.74 billion to fight the coronavirus outbreak. Thousands of people from northern states, including many who have been part of a sit-in at Shaheen Bagh, and student groups on Wednesday held a protest at Jantar Mantar here against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). "We want the government to roll back the alliance of CAA, NRC and NPR," said Nadeem Khan, an activist of NGO 'United Against Hate'. Student groups from Jamia Millia Islamia, Jawaharlal Nehru University ((JNU), Delhi University, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Maulana Azad National Urdu University and Hyderabad Central University were among those who took part in the protest. Many protesters from Shaheen Bagh, where a dharna against the CAA has been on for over a month now, also joined the demonstration. The 'Shaheen Bagh dadis' -- as the elderly women who have become a unique part of the sit-in in south Delhi are called -- had come to take part in the protest but could not reach the venue due to traffic restrictions. Among the protesters were people from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab. Naim Rabbani (41), a Jaipur-based businessman, said the CAA is discriminatory since it does not include Muslims. "We will try to save the Constitution till our last breathe. It's a long journey," Rabbani, who had come along with 400 people, said. Protesters also condemned the arrest of JNU PhD scholar Sharjeel Imam, who was held by the Delhi Police's Crime Branch in Bihar's Jehanabad in a sedition case for allegedly making inflammatory speeches. "We condemn the arrest of Sharjeel Imam and we condemn the sedition charges levelled against him. His family was also harassed," Nadeem Khan said Mohammad Javed (37) said he left the Army to sit in the anti-CAA protests. Javed said he has served at the Siachin glacier. "We are all Indians, my forefathers have fought for the country too and I will show no documents," he said. Zulekha Jabin (50), a Delhi-based social activist, said their fight is for the younger generation and for freedom. "We will strive for it till our last breath," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Plans to convert an unused office building into a 30-unit apartment building in downtown Harrisburg received approval from a majority of city council members Tuesday night. But that was not before council President Wanda Williams publicly criticized the developers at South Second Associates LLC for not incorporating low-income affordable units in the project. Addressing South Second Associates President Brad Jones, Williams mentioned other similar redevelopment projects that Jones, the CEO of Harristown Enterprises, has brought before council in the past few years. When they were approved, Williams said, she made it clear that she wanted to see affordable units in future projects. Tonight youre here again before this body with another project and still no inclusionary housing is a part of this project, she said Tuesday. There are ways that you can and could have included this section in your plans without losing any money. On Tuesday, Jones was asking for approval to convert an old, unused office building into an apartment building. The 30,000-square-foot building would house 30 residential units one- and two-bedroom apartments as well as a first-floor retail/restaurant space, according to the plans. The six-story office building was originally constructed in 1989 and sits on a 0.16-acre lot at 17 South Second Street. Under the current redevelopment plan, the apartments would rent for between $1,100 and $1,400 per month, Jones has said, explaining those prices are necessary to support construction costs and to appease investors. Anything less could make it difficult to turn a profit, he said. READ MORE: Consistent violence at Harrisburg schools prompts call to action for district parents Despite those claims, Williams said she expected Jones to make an effort to meet with city officials to at least discuss options for including affordable units in future projects. I stated to you that I was always available and that you could reach me at any moment, she said, suggesting that developers could also have spoken with officials at the Harrisburg Housing Authority about taking advantage of their Section 8 program. To me, it appears that this is a form of gentrification, Williams said, continuing to express her concerns. You continue to overlook the populations that are most affected by housing blight in this city. Williams had only just finished speaking when Councilwoman Shamaine Daniels offered a rebuttal, suggesting that council members themselves should take the blame for failures in encouraging the development of affordable housing. There is an expression in Spanish that dogs that bark dont bite . . . which means that people who talk a lot dont do anything," Daniels said, explaining that past attempts to create fair affordable housing rules have failed to gain traction. The leadership really comes from council or the mayor . . . so I think its unfair to hold individuals responsible for a lack of leadership on our own part, Daniels said. We need to have a full conversation, an honest conversation and not just simply throw arrows sporadically at random people who are coming in front of us. After all, Daniels said, council members have a responsibility to protect city residents, who are on the brink of homelessness. And Williams offered assurances that work toward affordable housing legislation possibly requiring a percentage of affordable units per project is ongoing. Councilman Dave Madsen also mentioned those concerns, but he pointed out that the project should be approved because it meets the citys planning and development rules and regulations. The apartment project ultimately was approved with a 4-3 vote. Council members Ben Allatt, Westburn Majors, Daniels and Madsen voted to approve the plans. Williams, as well as councilwomen Ausha Green and Danielle Bowers voted against it. 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. Yucatan man arrested for murder of Cancun man Cancun, Q.R. A police chase in Cancun has ended with the arrest of a man for homicide after authorities received an emergency 911 call. The incident occurred in SM 247 Tuesday when police were sent to the scene of a crime after the report of one injured person and another armed with a gun. The report also said the armed male had fled the scene on a black Italika motorcycle with green racing stripes. A search for the bike and driver were implemented with police quickly locating the driver, who attempted to flee at the sight of police. The chase ended with the arrest of a young male. Taken into custody by Quintana Roo Police was 29-year-old Jose Raymundo N from the state of Yucatan for the crime of homicide. Capturing of strategic highway town comes after weeks of deadly onslaught forces inhabitants to flee. Syrian government forces have captured a strategic rebel-held town in the countrys northwest amid a Russia-backed military offensive that has displaced hundreds of thousands of people fleeing to safer areas. Maaret al-Numan, a former anti-government protest hotspot which has turned into a ghost town after months of bombardment, lies on a key highway connecting the capital, Damascus, to Aleppo. Our forces managed in the past few days to stamp out terrorism in many villages and town, including Maaret al-Numan, an army spokesman said in a televised statement on Wednesday. The army was bent on hunting down all remaining armed terrorist groups until all Syrian soil has been cleansed of terrorism, he added. In 2011, Maaret al-Numan was one of the first towns in Idlib province to rise up against President Bashar al-Assads rule, and the following year, it was captured by rebels fighting against his forces. Syrian government forces backed by Russian airpower have stepped up the campaign to take control of the province, the last rebel stronghold where millions took refuge after fleeing other parts of Syria earlier in the war. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said rebel fighters withdrew from the town late on Tuesday. Syrian troops had left a road west of the town opened apparently to give a chance for fighters to pull out and to avoid street battles inside the town. The push into Maaret al-Numan came as Syrian forces were also advancing against rebels west of the city of Aleppo, according to state media and opposition activists. Erdogan accuses Russia of not honouring deals Tens of thousands of civilians have fled the governments advance into the south of Idlib province, seeking safety closer to the Turkish border further north. Aid groups have warned the latest violence is only compounding one of the worst humanitarian disasters of the nearly nine-year war, which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced half of the countrys population. Al Jazeeras Sinem Koseoglu, reporting from Istanbul, said those displaced by the governments renewed offensive had already begun heading north. The displacement has been ongoing for many months and it has recently been on the rise, she said. [Those fleeing] believe that the Turkish side of the border is much safer. There is not enough space left [on the Turkish side], especially around the Atma camp in northern Syria. Turkey, which backs some rebel groups opposed to al-Assad, already hosts more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees, and fears millions more could soon cross the border. Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday said Russia was not abiding by past agreements regarding Idlib, adding that Ankara made it known to Moscow it was running out of patience with regards to the continuing bombardment. There have been agreements made with Russia. If Russia honours these agreements, we will do the same. But right now, unfortunately, Russia is not honouring these agreements, Erdogan was quoted as saying by Hurriyet daily. India on Tuesday summoned a senior official of the Pakistan High Commission and issued a strong demarche over the abduction of a Hindu girl from her wedding in Sindh province, official sources said. India also asked the Pakistan government to investigate the matter and take urgent action for protecting and promoting the security, safety and welfare of its citizens including the minority Hindu community there. It called on Pakistan to take immediate measures to expeditiously bring the perpetrators of such despicable and heinous acts to justice. "India summoned a senior official from the Pakistan High Commission and made a strong demarche against abduction of a girl from Hindu minority from her marriage ceremony on January 25, with the help of local police in Hala city of Sindh province," an official source said. Read: Pakistani Hindu girl abducted from wedding ceremony, forcibly converted to Islam and married to Muslim man India also issued a demarche regarding the desecration of Mata Rani Bhatiyani temple in Tharparkar, Sindh province, on January 26. The 24-year-old Hindu girl was allegedly abducted by armed assailants from her wedding venue and forcibly converted to Islam before being married off to a Muslim man, community members said, in the latest such incident in the neighbouring country. Sindh Minister for Minorities Affairs, Hari Ram Kishori, on Tuesday took cognisance of the incident, which took place last week in Hala town of Matiari district in Sindh province, and asked for a police report. The All Pakistan Hindu Council (APHC) on Sunday said Bharti Bai was abducted from her wedding ceremony last week and then married off to Shahruk Gul after being forcibly converted to Islam. Meanwhile, Gul has posted pictures of documents on social media showing that Bharti converted to Islam in December 2019 and had taken the name Bushra. According to documents, her conversion took place at the Jamiat-ul-Uloom Islamia in Banori town in Karachi. Police are investigating whether the girl travelled to Karachi around the dates mentioned in the certificate. Hindus, which comprise approximately 2 per cent of Pakistan's population, are mainly concentrated in Sindh province. There have been periodic reports of their forced conversion to Islam. BISMA HMALIK By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Confederation of Indian Traders (CIAT) will soon start a nationwide-registration process of the traders/ shopkeepers from all over the country to bring them onto an e-commerce platform which is expected to be launched in August. A pilot project of the initiative has already begun in Madhya Pradesh where individual e-stores have been created for the traders, CAIT, General Secretary, Praveen Khandelwal said. The nationwide programme of creating a coherent B2B and B2C e-commerce platform for small retailers/ traders of the country will take next four-five months. Most likely, the platform will be launched in August, Khandelwal said, adding that traders would comply by the regulatory process and required license that may be needed to operate such a platform. The announcement has come at a time when the CAIT, an association of 70 million traders from the country have registered strong protest against e-tailers like Amazon and Walmart backed Flipkart accusing them of flouting the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) rules. CAIT had recently written to PM Modi, finance and commerce ministries seeking a ban on the major e-commerce sites accusing them of deep discounting, predatory pricing and preferential treatment to select traders which has caused a huge revenue loss to the local business ecosystem as well as to the government. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has already initiated an investigation into the allegations made by a Delhi traders body against e-commerce portals accusing them of violating various provisions of the Competition Act (2002). The CCI has ordered its Director General to investigate the violations of the Section 26(1) of the Competition Act,2002 and submit the findings within 60 days. The e-commerce industry in India expected to cross $120 billion in 2020 growing at compounded annual growth rate of 51%, may overtake US soon to become the second-largest market globally. With 100% FDI allowed in the e-commerce sector, the investments into the industry crossed $7 billion in 2018, as per a report by India Brand Equity Foundation. Amazon chief, Jeff Bezos during his recent India visit announced that the e-commerce giant would pump in $1 billion to bring Small and medium businesses in India onto the platform which took the total amount invested in India to $6.5 billion Cashing in American retailer, Walmart acquired a major stake (77%) in Flipkart in 2018 through a $16 billion deal and the analysts believe that Walmart was able to receive 50% of returns within a year of the deal. David Knight, chief executive of home furnishings retailer ScS has announced he will leave the company in a year's time after 32 years there. He has run the Sunderland-based firm since 2002 and has overseen a considerable expansion across the UK, which now has 101 stores. Knight's departure comes on the same day the Sunderland business reported sales fell by 4.4 per cent for the 26 weeks to January 25, although orders in the last nine weeks rose modestly by 1.2 per cent. ScS has 101 stores nationwide and employs more than 1,500 people The retailer said this was a significant improvement over the previous 17-week period, which had seen like-for-like orders dive by 7.1 per cent. It said its sales for the half-year were in line with expectations despite the weak start to the period. Chairman Alan Smith thanked David Knight for his service to the company, writing: 'David has committed a very substantial part of his working career to ScS and has been pivotal to its success. 'We are delighted that he will remain in the role of group CEO until we have his successor in place and ensured an orderly handover.' Under David Knight's leadership, ScS has expanded to 101 shops nationwide and employs more than 1,500 people, although store growth has been limited since 2007, when it had 95 establishments nationwide. The financial crisis hurt the its finances so much that its share price plummeted from 250p to 7.5p in just a year. American private equity firm Sun European Partners rescued the company and promised to pump money into the struggling business. ScS has blamed 'ongoing economic and political uncertainties' and high temperatures during the summer holidays for a decline in its like-for-like sales It has since recovered strongly, but over the last year, ScS - which sells the La-Z-Boy sofas brand - has blamed 'ongoing economic and political uncertainties' and high temperatures during the summer holidays for a decline in its like-for-like sales. Underlying profits have kept strong though with the company recording a 4.6 per cent rise to 14.3million in the year to July 2019. Rival sofa chain DFS has also attributed political and economic uncertainty for impacting on its sales, although they are doing comparatively better financially, with net profits soaring by 31 per cent to 50million in its last financial year. In its half-year trading update, ScS said: 'The group continues to focus on building a flexible and resilient business, whilst delivering a value proposition with excellent customer service. 'Whilst we are mindful of the continued economic uncertainty and subdued consumer confidence, we believe that this focus puts us in a strong position to take advantage of opportunities.' ScS began life as Sunderland Suits Centres in 1894 as a family-run general home furnishings store. Though the store was popular, it did not expand outside the north east until the 1990s when a management buyout enabled it to move into other UK regions. Shares in the company were trading 2.1 per cent higher at 242p today. Entrepreneur Network In this video, Entrepreneur Network partner C1 Revolution talks with Lucy Angel, Founder of Luce Ends. The Chicago-based event programming business focuses on connecting people and brands through specially curated experiences. Angel said it took time to come into her full self. She initially saw her different upbringing and cultural background as something that separated her from other industry professionals, but eventually, the founder realized her uncommon perspective could be a catalyst for success. A Mississippi pediatric doctor charged with sexual battery of a minor has surrendered his medical license. Dr. Neelesh Ajit Tipnis, a pediatric gastroenterology specialist, voluntarily surrendered his license to the Mississippi Medical License Board on Thursday, The Clarion-Ledger reported. The surrender was effective immediately. Tipnis, 49, was arrested and charged Jan. 17. The Madison Police Department said parents of a 14-year-old girl contacted the department stating their child was having an inappropriate electronic conversation with an adult. Authorities said Tipnis made inappropriate contact with the girl between late December and early January. They found evidence of a recent encounter between the two. Tipnis received his practice license in August 2013. He worked as a professor and director of a gastrointestinal program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, the newspaper said. He also previously worked at Childrens of Alabama. Tipnis worked for the Mississippi Center for Advanced Medicine as a pediatric gastroenterology specialist at the time of his arrest. The health care organization said they relieved Tipnis of his duties. Its unclear whether Tipnis had an attorney who can comment on his behalf. The fear that the slow but steady growth of the UKs nascent 5G wireless market, for which mobile video is a huge use case, would come to a grinding halt has receded with the governments decision not to ban totally Huawei from supplying infrastructure kit. As part of its Telecoms Supply Chain Review, the UK government asked the UK National Cyber Security Council (NCSC) to consider issuing guidance to the countrys telecoms operators in relation to deploying essential equipment from high risk technology vendors who were thought to pose security and resilience risks to UK telecoms networks.Huawei had been considered in this category and the nightmare scenario for the UKs communications industry was a blanket ban on deploying its technology, a move that would have seriously threatened the rate at which the UKs 5G infrastructure could be rolled out. This was given both the current existing implementation of Huaweis 5G enabling technology on the 5G operators networks such as EEs infrastructure at Wembley Stadium supporting mobile broadcast for BT Sport and the cost of other providers essential equipment. The operators put the cost of a blanket ban into the hundreds of millions of pounds, and feared a scenario similar to what is happening in the US.The UK government has though decided to place just limited restrictions on the use of the so-called high risk vendors in the UKs 5G and also gigabit-capable fibre networks. It concluded that while vendors such as Huawei should be excluded from all safety related and safety critical networks in critical national infrastructure, the so-called core network, such firms could have a minority presence of no more than 35% in the access network, which connects devices and equipment to mobile phone masts.This package will ensure that the UK has a very strong, practical and technically sound framework for digital security in the years ahead, commented UK National Cyber Security Centre chief executive Ciaran Martin. The National Cyber Security Centre has issued advice to telecoms network operators to help with the industry rollout of 5G and full fibre networks in line with the governments objectives. High risk vendors have never been and never will be in our most sensitive networks. Taken together these measures add up to a very strong framework for digital security. Court paves way for African cheetahs to be shipped to India Court paves way for African cheetahs to be shipped to India Cheetahs could return to the wild in India after the Supreme Court yesterday gave approval for the spotted big cat to be introduced from Africa on an experimental basis. The majestic Asiatic cheetahs once roamed India, with historical records suggesting Mughal emperor Akbar kept hundreds as his hunting companions. But it was hunted close to extinction during the British colonial era before disappearing in the 1950s. In 2013 the Supreme Court had rejected a proposal by the environment ministry to import the animal from Africa, stating that there was no scientific study to back the move. However on Tuesday the court ruled the worlds fastest land mammal could be brought to India as part of a trial to find out if it can adapt. The court set up a three-member committee to guide the National Tiger Conservation Authority on the issue, the Press Trust of India reported. Indias former environment minister Jairam Ramesh welcomed the decision. Delighted that Supreme Court has just given OK to reintroducing cheetah from Namibia. This was something I had initiated 10 years ago, he tweeted. Cheetah which derives from the Sanskrit chitra (speckled) is the only mammal hunted to extinction in modern India. 'Women tell me that the path of their life changed after reading the book,' Elizabeth Gilbert says, of 2006 book Eat, Pray, Love. 'This is shocking to say but the book was the first memo they ever got that said, Your life belongs to you.' I dont give a shit, says Elizabeth Gilbert. The American author laughs out loud and the table of journalists interviewing her joins in. Gilbert is responding to a question about her 2006 bestselling book Eat, Pray, Love: Are you bothered that people consider the book to be chick-lit?. Gilbert shouldnt care. Eat, Pray, Love a memoir chronicling her trip around the world after her divorce became a New York Times best seller, was made into a film starring Julia Roberts, and got her on Time magazines list of 100 most influential people in the world. She followed this up with Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage, the self-help book Big Magic, and last year, City of Girls. Gilbert was in India to attend the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival 2020. Excerpts from the interview: Are you bothered by the fact that people call Eat, Pray, Love chick-lit? I don't give a shit. I am so lucky. I have had such a blessed life. People care about my work and they read it. And it's hardly like Im marginalised. I have a beautiful audience that's mostly women. I respect them. I love them and care about them. There's a great line that WC Fields said: Its not what they call you, its what you answer to. They can call me whatever they like but, its what I have achieved that is important. It is girly in the sense that it was written by a woman about a female experience and read primarily by women. Now, if you consider that an insult, Im sorry for you. I dont. I take it as an honour. A whole generation of women have taken comfort and inspiration from your books. Surely that must matter more. You know, routinely women tell me that the path of their life changed after reading the book. This is shocking to say but the book was the first memo they ever got that said, Your life belongs to you. Its amazing that at this moment in history, we still have to be handing out such memos. If my role in the world was nothing more than to hand that memo to 12 or 13 million women, Im very happy I did it. I like to think of my entire existence as being a giant permission slip for women all over the world. Sometimes people will say its an elitist book and that I had the privilege to be able to do this; not everybody can. Thats absolutely true and I think that those questions are important to address and discuss. But, after weve discussed it for a minute, I would direct peoples attention not to who wrote the book, but to who read it. It was read by women every culture, and age, all over the world. Some of them made radical decisions about their lives after. To me, thats a much more interesting conversation. You mention the new book youre writing is about grief. Your earlier books too came out of a sense of loss I had been working on City of Girls for years. And then my partner [Rayya Elias] got ill and I couldn't imagine caring about that book ever again. Eighteen months went by, taking care of her until she died. Very soon after she died I dont know how to explain it because so much of creativity is mystical I got a message. It was from what I call the mothership, from whatever the directive is in the sky, telling me the very best thing that I could possibly do for myself is write this book about joy, sex and sensuality, fun and frivolous things. The book would save me. And it was correct. It gave me a job. And Im so grateful that I had something to do. There would be a few hours a day where I wouldnt have to think about the fact that she had died. I really wanted to offer this book as an escape to people who are anxious and stressed. Sometimes its nice to have a few hours off from the catastrophes of your personal life and the catastrophes of the world. So hopefully, people receive the book that way. You believe in spirituality, in a higher power? I certainly believe that Im not in control of my life. I try to be but Ive found that Im not running the show. Theres a million pieces of evidence every day that Im not in charge. Its a dance, between me and a mystery. I cannot make things happen that are not supposed to happen. I cant stop things that are supposed to happen. And when inspiration comes to me and says, You have to make this book, Ill do my best. If it doesnt succeed, I cant make it happen. Im interested in the dance more than anything. After the loss of your partner, did you find grief has become more precious than love? Grief is very similar to love. First of all, its a side effect: you cant grieve when you dont love. Grief is the tax that you pay for love. Its a steep tax, but its worth it. And another thing is, Im not in control. I didnt intend to fall in love with Rayya, it was extremely inconvenient for me but, the heart knows who it belongs to. Im not in control of my grief either. I don't know when it will be over. When it hits me very hard, it comes in waves that are bigger than me, in the same way that love comes in waves that are bigger than me. And just as with love, I think you have to surrender to it. I have a lot of reverence for grief. Its a great powerful God. When it comes and hits me like a tsunami, I just obey and get on my knees, and I just let it take me. Because if I resist it, its worse. Do you still believe in the institution of marriage? It exists, so I have to believe. Im not a fan of it, and its definitely not where I belong. The depressing statistics and the data about how marriages are bad for women will make you want to lay underneath your bed and cry. Theres nothing that tells you that a woman is better off being married. Married women have shorter lives, they make less money, theyre more likely to commit suicide, to be murdered, or get addicted, they weigh more, their health is worse, theyre more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression. The opposite is true for men: they do better, they live longer than single men, theyre richer, healthier etc. A woman takes years off her life, her health, her well-being and essentially hands it over to the man. A good marriage requires an incredibly good partnership and a partner who won't allow for whats the natural current: a woman giving everything of herself to a man. The thing that makes me crazy is that this has been known for a very long time and yet, every single culture in the world teaches us that a woman is not healthy, complete or well unless she is married. Is that why you wrote City of Girls, a book about female sexual desire and sensual exploration? Were you trying to make a point about women? I really just wanted to, as an experiment, write a novel about a promiscuous woman whose life is not ruined because of her sexual adventures. Thats such a difficult story to find in literature or opera or even music. Theres a very classical story of the ruined woman and it makes for really good drama. A woman has one orgasm and then she has to die. Its so unfair. It's so mean. I wanted to write a story about a woman who could actually survive her desire. With additional reporting by Joanna Lobo A prosecutor used photos to describe in chilling and graphic detail the last moments in the lives of MAX train passengers Ricky Best and Taliesin Namkai-Meche before Jeremy Christian repeatedly jabbed a 4-inch knife into their necks and faces as horrified commuters watched. As the double murder trial began Tuesday, prosecutor Don Rees told jurors that no one on the Green Line train realized Christian had pulled the folding knife out of the pocket of his baggy shorts when he got into a shoving match with passenger Micah Fletcher. Fletcher had told Christian to shut up and get off the train because Christian had launched into a loud hate-filled rant. As Christian began stabbing, passengers thought the clash had turned into a fistfight, Rees said, before realizing blood was spurting from the mens necks. One witness will tell you that ... she thought it was raining" before she recognized it wasnt water falling but a spray of blood, Rees said. Some passengers had to climb over the bodies to get out of the MAX car, Rees said. Prosecutors and defense attorneys made their opening statements to a packed courtroom -- half of it filled with victims, including Fletcher, and members of the dead mens families, including one of Bests adult sons. Namkai-Meches parents and five of his siblings also attended. Before court started, some of them hugged each other and talked. Christian entered the courtroom and almost immediately blurted: You guys ready to smash Portlands fairy tale? ... Hate crime? Christian indicated he was eager for those in the courtroom to watch video of the May 26, 2017, stabbings as the light-rail train pulled into the Hollywood Station. He is charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Best, 53, and Namkai-Meche, 23, the attempted first-degree murder of Fletcher, then 21, and second-degree intimidation for allegedly launching into a racist and xenophobic tirade against two teenage girls on the train, one who was wearing a hijab. No one -- not even Christians defense team -- disputes that he stabbed the men. The trial will determine whether Christian, 37, should be held responsible, and if so, for what crimes. During his opening remarks, Rees said Christian made the first two shoves -- at Fletcher, who had walked across part of the train to tell Christian to get off, and Namkai-Meche, who apparently was about to start recording Christian with his phone. Fletcher ended up shoving Christian three times before Christian started his stabbing spree with a knife to Fletchers jugular vein, Rees said. It happened so fast, Rees said, referencing a still frame from video recorded on the train. As you can see, Taliesin is still looking at his phone as the blade goes into Micah Fletchers neck. An instant later, Rees showed jurors a photo of the blade entering Namkai-Meches neck, piercing his carotid artery. The shock on Namkai-Meches face is apparent as his body shrinks away from Christian. At that instant, Best stood up from his seat and Christian stabbed him, severing an artery between his cervical vertebrae, the prosecutor said. Christian stabbed Namkai-Meche and Best repeatedly in the neck and face, with force so powerful that one of Bests molars broke, Rees said. The evidence will show Mr. Best wasnt really doing anything, Rees said. He wasnt saying anything. He wasnt moving. He wasnt waving his arms. He was just standing there. Rees added: From start to finish that stabbing attack took 12 seconds. And again youll see on the video that none of the men who were on the video ever threw a punch. Rees said a prosecution expert is prepared to testify that Christian has anti-social personality disorder -- the term for someone who disregards the rights of others, acts impulsively, acts aggressively and lacks remorse. Even though Fletcher shoved Christian, Christians response was vastly disproportionate and unreasonable, Rees said. Taliesin and Ricky Best never made a fist," he said. "The video shows Ricky Best standing right before he was stabbed, kind of casually with his hands on his hips. After the stabbings, Christian fled about a mile before police caught up to him, thanks to witnesses who followed him and alerted 911 of his location. In his own words, Jeremy Christian said to police ... I stabbed them in the neck, I hoped they died," Rees told jurors. Christian asserted to police that he was defending himself and that he was in the right, the prosecutor said. As Rees spoke, Christian nodded his head vigorously in apparent agreement. Defense attorney Dean Smith countered the prosecutions characterization of Fletcher, Namkai-Meche and Best by saying all three men confronted Christian about his rant. The starkest contrast was the defenses description of Best, who Smith said was wrestling with Christian before he was stabbed. When you are defending yourself against three attackers, you cannot successfully defend yourself with hands, Smith said. Smith did agree with the prosecution, however, that passengers were unaware that Christian had a knife. They thought it was a fistfight, Smith said. Smith said Christian responded reasonably after Fletcher unlawfully tried to oust him from the train because Christian was exercising his free speech. Smith said Namkai-Meche and Best joined in by ganging up on Christian, who was more vulnerable at the moment because hed been drinking alcohol from a container he had with him and was unsteady on his feet. Smith also described the encounter as mutual combat. According to the defense team, one witness reported that Namkai-Meche allegedly told Christian, Youre going to be an internet sensation as he moved to record Christian on his cellphone. This was a situation not invited by Mr. Christian, he didnt approach other people physically aggressively," Smith said. "They got in his face. Christian had reasonable concerns, the defense attorney said, because he didnt know if Namkai-Meche and Best had violent tendencies, were trained in martial arts or had weapons on them. On top of that, Christian has mental challenges that affected his perception of the circumstances, Smith said, noting that psychological experts for the defense have evaluated Christian and determined that Christian is on the autism spectrum, has slow processing speeds and focuses on details rather than the larger picture. The defense contended Christian wasnt acting out based on racist beliefs. Christian didnt stab any racial minorities, including the teenage girls, that afternoon, Smith said. African Americans, other minorities, none of them were injured," he said. This wasnt some wild killing spree on the MAX that day. The only ones who were injured were the ones who confronted Mr. Christian." One of the first witnesses called by the prosecution was the young woman, Walia Mohamed, who was wearing the hijab on the train. She was 17 at the time, and is now 20. She said she felt targeted by Christian as he yelled: Go back to Saudi Arabia and (Expletive) Muslims and Kill yourself. Mohamed, who immigrated from Somalia when she was about 5, ran from the train as soon as it stopped, she said. I thought he was going to come after us and kill us, too ... because of all the hateful things he was saying about Muslim people, she said, wiping away tears at times during her testimony and avoiding eye contact with Christian. She most often referred to Christian as that man. She said she has post traumatic stress disorder because of the encounter on the train, and she stopped wearing a hijab a few weeks later because she worries about being targeted again. The friend who was with Mohamed, Destinee Mangum, testified Christian appeared to single her out because of her race and Mohamed because of her faith. Mangum, who was 16 at the time, is African American. She said Christian talked about Muslims, Christians and Jews dying. He kept bringing up death, die, and Go back where you come from," she said. ... He said its not bad what the Nazi does, so I kind of figured he was Nazi at that point. The defense pressed Mangum about whether Christian specifically condemning Muslims. He was quite clear that he had something against all three religions. Is that correct? Smith asked her. Yes, Mangum responded. The prosecution played cellphone video that Mangum took on the train. It shows Fletcher and Namkai-Meche being stabbed, and Mangum can be heard shrieking and screaming in the background just before sprinting away. As the video played on two large screens in the courtroom, Mangum buried her head in her jacket and cried. Christian also is charged with second-degree intimidation for allegedly throwing a Gatorade bottle at the face of Demetria Hester, an African American woman, the night before he stabbed the men on the train. In all, Christian is charged with 12 crimes. The trial continues Wednesday. Its expected to last until the end of February. -- Aimee Green agreen@oregonian.com o_aimee Keep up with key trial events and takeaways by signing up for The Oregonian/OregonLives Jeremy Christian trial newsletter at oregonlive.com/newsletters. Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. WASHINGTON Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Pat Toomey sent the strongest signal yet that he wont support calling witnesses in President Donald Trumps impeachment trial, saying Wednesday he was very, very skeptical any witness could change how he would ultimately vote on Trumps political fate. As Ive said from the beginning, my decision about a witness is going to be whether or not there is a fact in dispute that a witness can shed enough light on that it could resolve the dispute, and do so in a way that would change my mind about how I ought to vote on the final question," Toomey said. "And Im very, very skeptical ... that that criteria is going to be met. Toomeys stand on one of the only major questions left in the trial leaves Democrats with dwindling options when it comes to persuading Republicans to agree to call witnesses who might shed additional light on Trumps conduct with Ukraine. Democrats need support from at least four GOP senators to subpoena additional witnesses and documents, including John Bolton, the former Trump national security adviser who has reportedly written in a forthcoming book that the president was personally involved in a scheme to withhold military aid in order to pressure Ukraine to investigate Democrat Joe Biden. Bolton, who has said he would testify if subpoenaed, could be the first witness with firsthand information to directly link Trump to the plot. The revelation about his book has rocked the impeachment trial after weeks of Republican resistance to calling witnesses. Look, the publics going to hear it. Theyre going to read a book, Toomey said when asked if theres a public interest in having the former Trump aide testify under oath. I expect that hes going to be doing a tremendous amount of media interviews. I think theres going to be a lot of information out there. The job before us is not to entertain, you know, all kinds of possible discussions about this. Its to evaluate the articles of impeachment that have been brought over by the House. Toomey spoke to The Inquirer and the Morning Call of Allentown on Wednesday morning, the day after opening arguments in the impeachment trial concluded and as Republicans began to truly confront the question of whether any of them would vote to call witnesses. A vote on the issue is expected as soon as Friday, after senators spend Wednesday and Thursday posing questions to impeachment managers and the White House defense team. Without witnesses, a final vote on impeachment could occur Saturday. Toomeys vote against Trumps removal appears virtually certain. He said Wednesday that Democrats presented a very weak case, a very badly flawed case, and that I have not yet seen even the allegation of an act that rises to the level of impeachment. Toomeys comments came one day after sources close to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) told reporters that Republicans dont yet have enough votes to block witnesses, a clear sign to those wavering to make their intentions known. Toomey, who won reelection in 2016 by vowing to be an independent voice in the Senate and has criticized some of Trumps behavior and policies, largely echoed the White House and GOP arguments on this issue, including by raising questions about Hunter Biden, son of former Vice President Joe Biden. Democrats this week have escalated their insistence that Bolton be called to testify. The New York Times reported Sunday that Bolton wrote that Trump personally told him he was withholding $391 million in military aid to Ukraine unless the country began an investigation into the Bidens, confirming the central accusation in the impeachment charges. Republicans are tying themselves in all kinds of pretzel knots to avoid the truth, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) said Wednesday. He accused the GOP of prioritizing Trumps acquittal above seeking more information. Talk about being political. Talk about being cynical. ... We, the Senate, Democrats and Republicans, have an obligation to seek the truth. A fair trial matters, whatever the outcome. Toomey said that if witnesses are called, it would only be fair for both parties to have the opportunity to call them, and that the GOP would almost certainly seek to hear from Joe or Hunter Biden. He said Hunter Biden would be important because his past position on the board of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma offers another explanation for why Trump might have withheld aid. The House managers have rested a tremendous amount of their case on the notion that President Trump could not possibly have had any motive whatsoever for asking for an investigation into Burisma and the Bidens except his corrupt personal political motive, Toomey said. But when you look at the facts involving Hunter Biden and Burisma, its begging for an investigation about corruption. He noted that Hunter Biden, with few qualifications, landed a lucrative seat on the board of the energy company while his father was vice president and spearheading policy toward Ukraine. Democrats have scoffed at the notion that Trump was concerned about nepotism or corruption, noting that Trump only raised alarms about Burisma once Joe Biden entered the 2020 presidential race. Trump also pressured Ukraine to investigate a debunked conspiracy theory about 2016 election interference. Joe Biden, as vice president, led a push to oust a Ukrainian prosecutor while his son sat on the energy companys board. But Biden was carrying out the official policy of the United States and its European allies in trying to oust a prosecutor noted for being soft on corruption. Hunter Biden was not accused of any wrongdoing, and the investigation into Burisma was dormant at the time. Sen. Bob Menendez (D., N.J.) said that despite Hunter Bidens Burisma job, the Trump administration approved 45 installments of aid to Ukraine worth $1.5 billion until June 2019, a few months after Joe Biden became a presidential candidate. Hunter Biden is irrelevant and a distraction, Schumer said. One Democrat, the moderate Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who has partnered with Toomey in the past in pushing gun control legislation, said Wednesday morning on MSNBC that Hunter Biden would be a relevant witness to call. Earlier this week, Toomey had reportedly floated a proposal with Republican colleagues that would essentially amount to a witness trade, in which each party would get to call one witness. Democrats sharply criticized that idea on Tuesday. Toomey said that he was not advocating for additional witnesses, only saying that if there were any called, both parties should do so. US House Democrats on Wednesday will unveil a proposed $760 billion infrastructure spending bill over five years that aims to rebuild sagging roads and bridges and reduce carbon pollution. The proposal is also intended to get US President Donald Trump to return to the bargaining table. Trump campaigned in 2016 on boosting infrastructure spending by at least $1 billion over a decade but focused first on tax cuts and health care reform after taking office. "America's infrastructure is in crisis," Democrats will say, according to a fact sheet. "For decades we have relied on a 1950s-era transportation system that has failed to keep pace." In April, Trump and Democratic leaders agreed to spend $2 trillion on infrastructure, without hashing out a way to pay for it. Weeks later, Trump abruptly canceled a follow-up meeting after criticizing congressional investigations. The Democrats' plan calls for new spending on roads, bridges, rail, public transit, water, internet expansion, electric grids, aviation and "brownfield" land that was possibly contaminated after previous industrial use. Democrats want to spend $329 billon over five years on surface transportation, with a focus on fixing the 47,000 structurally deficient US bridges. They would also provide $1.5 billion to support the development of an electric vehicle charging network. A White House spokesman declined to comment. With a presidential election looming, many doubt Congress will be able to tackle infrastructure this year but lawmakers face a Sept. 30 deadline to reauthorize surface transportation spending. A Senate panel in July voted to authorize $287 billion in federal government spending over five years on surface transportation needs, a 27% jump, but Congress has not been able to agree on how to pay for it. Republicans on the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee said in a statement they believe Congress can pass infrastructure legislation this year; they argue Congress must find a new way to fund road repairs since existing gasoline tax revenue has not kept pace. Congress abandoned the practice of largely requiring road users to pay for road repairs and has not hiked the federal gas tax since 1993. Since 2008, Congress has transferred about $141 billion in general revenues to the Highway Trust Fund. To maintain existing spending, Congress will need to find $107 billion over five years, government auditors say. Democrats would invest $105 billion in transit, $55 billion in rail spending and $30 billion in airport investments. They would also dedicate $86 billion to expand internet access. China's technological strength is growing, which is proven by the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, 5G technology, Chang'e-5 lunar lander and deep-sea submersible Jiaolong. Nevertheless, the country is still not able to produce certain high-purity chemicals or high-end analytical instruments. A Chinese Viewpoint by Ai Jun Science magazine published an article entitled "China's Missed Chance" in July 2003, arguing China lost an opportunity to show "growing scientific prowess" due to the lack of swift medical measures to bring SARS under control. Some 17 years later, does China have enough scientific strength to cope with the Wuhan pneumonia confidently and efficiently? The WHO noted on January 12 that "China shared the genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus." One day later, the organization published a report on diagnostic detection of the virus, delivered by a group of German researchers, who later reportedly "have developed the first diagnostic test" for the Wuhan virus. Almost at the same time, China also developed a diagnostic testing device. Its speed can be argued as much faster compared to the SARS outbreak in 2003. However, China, where both SARS and the Wuhan virus first emerged, failed to be the first in relevant diagnostic research and development (R&D) in both cases. China has seen a sharp rise in cases of the new coronavirus over the past two days. What caused the escalation? Some say this is because China has developed and implemented testing devices which can raise the effectiveness of relevant inspections. However, the first known patient with related symptoms surfaced on December 8, 2019. Yet until January 11, it had been called as "pneumonia with an unknown cause." There had been no research to unlock the mysterious virus in more than a month. Isn't that a major cause for the disease's quick spread? China must have started relevant research and analysis as soon as the new virus was detected. Yet speed plays a crucial role in preventing and controlling the epidemic. Sample collection and research take time, yet in an epidemic outbreak like this, people would only hope authorities could respond faster. Behind the fight against infections is the development and competition in technologies and R&D. China's technological strength is growing, which is proven by the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, 5G technology, Chang'e-5 lunar lander and deep-sea submersible Jiaolong. Nevertheless, the country is still not able to produce certain high-purity chemicals or high-end analytical instruments. Only one Chinese scientist, Tu Youyou, was awarded the Nobel Prize, where scientists from certain Western countries, including Japan, can win the prize in consecutive years. China's basic research, or fundamental scientific research, to improve scientific theories still lags behind. Reports have shown that China's investment in basic research only accounts for 5 percent of the country's total investment in R&D. Yet in developed countries, the proportion ranges from 15 to 20 percent. Time is needed for basic research. But times waits for no one. Any attempt to seek quick success and instant benefits must be avoided. However, it is time for China to increase investment, focus on talent training, team building and policy adjustments in this field. In the end, solid scientific support is a crucial factor in maintaining the stable development of the country. Green Party MEP Magid Magid is throwing a 'Brexit's *s**t' party. (Getty) A British MEP is throwing a party to cheer up people who are unhappy the UK is leaving the EU on Friday. Magid Magid, Green Party MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, is holding a Brexit's s**t, but let's party anyway event in Brussels on Thursday. The European Parliament is expected to overwhelmingly back ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement in a final vote on Boris Johnsons Brexit deal, paving the way for the UK to leave on 31 January. Former lord mayor of Sheffield Magic Magid isnt a fan of Brexit and is hoping to commiserate with fellow Remainers at his event. Magid Magid wants to cheer up fellow Remainers. (Getty Images) Magid wrote on the Facebook event listing: Hard or soft, Brexit's s**t but that doesn't mean we can't party together! Let's meet for the historic last Plux with the UK in the EU and go out in style don't miss it. Meet us on the grass the bars nearby will be offering drinks promos & warmth with one of our stickers! We'll also provide some outdoor shelter. Magid added hed be performing alongside the F*** Brexit Orchestra and also promised fun and games, including fake weddings, a hat challenge and Brexit Traffic Light party. He promised the event would be better than Nigel Farage's Brexit celebration. Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage shows off his Union flag socks ahead of a vote on the UK's withdrawal from the EU. (AP) Foreign secretary Dominic Raab has signed the official document ratifying the deal for the UK side, which was then taken to Brussels by Britains ambassador to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow. Raab said it was a historic moment and the start of a new chapter for an independent, sovereign Britain, looking forward to a decade of renewal and opportunity. It follows the completion last week of the passage of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill through the British Parliament at Westminster. The EU Parliament's top Brexit official Guy Verhofstadt speaks ahead of a vote on the UK's withdrawal from the EU. (AP) The agreement settles the terms of Britains departure, including future citizens rights, the arrangements on the Northern Ireland border and the UKs divorce settlement. It also allows for an 11-month transition period, during which the UK will continue to follow EU rules while talks take place on a free trade agreement. Story continues READ MORE YAHOO UK NEWS HERE: Brexit news latest: Final seal set on Britains difficult divorce from Brussels Boris Johnson's biggest Brexit promise has just been exposed as a red herring Nigel Farage says he will miss being 'pantomime villain' of the EU after Brexit Mr Johnson has said he wants a comprehensive deal covering all aspects of Britains future relationship with the EU, including security by the end of the year. He has been adamant that he will not contemplate any extension of the transition period beyond the end of 2020. However, senior EU figures have repeatedly warned that reaching such a wide-ranging agreement will not be possible within such a tight timetable. As the Zurich Portrait Prize comes to Cork for the first time, Ellie OByrne hears how our definition of the genre has expanded in the modern age As the Zurich Portrait Prize goes on display Leeside for the first time, Crawford Art Gallery director Mary McCarthy is keen to point out the second citys connection both to the annual prize and to the tradition of portraiture in general. When we started talking about hosting the portrait show, we were interested because Cork artists have featured quite highly over the years, McCarthy says. We hope this is just the beginning; we want to continue to work on this over a number of years with the National Gallery. The shortlisted submissions for the coveted 2019 Zurich prize, alongside the winning portrait, were exhibited from October in the National Gallery of Ireland. This year, McCarthy is welcoming the show to the Crawford for the first time. Portraiture is an eternally popular artform, McCarthy says, pointing out the enduring love of Cork audiences for pieces in the Crawford collection, including Murdo McLeods photograph of Roy Keane and Victoria Russells painting of Fiona Shaw. Were doing a lot of work on the portraiture in our permanent collection at the moment, and were quite interested in igniting a conversation around portraiture in general, she says. It lets us look beyond the physical, and to know more about the subject and about ourselves. Whats really important about the Zurich prize is that you get to see a lot of work, all in context with each other. Its a lot of faces and a lot of artforms, right beside each other. Joe Duffy, by Brian McCarthy: 'I chose to portray Joe against the backdrop of his native Dublin with his loyal listeners tuned in via RTE's radio masts Karen and Alan McStraw II, by David Hamilton: Raising a child with Aspergers takes both patience and structure, changing what it means to be a parent. They must prepare their child for a world which may not always understand them. Stephen. by Liam Murray: ' This portrait of Stephen forms part of an ongoing body of work, Too Hot For Tops, a study of men who venutre onto Dublin's streets unselfconsciously bare-chested on a summer's day The overall winner of the portrait prize receives a cash prize of 15,000 as well as a 5,000 commission to produce a fresh work for the National Portrait Collection. There are also two prizes of 1,500 for highly commended works. The 2019 winner was Carlow-born photographer Enda Bowe, with a photographic portrait entitled Cybil McCaddy with Daughter Lulu, which has been hailed as a contemporary Madonna and Child. Its a very powerful image that lingers longer with you when you see it in the flesh, McCarthy says of the winning image. There are so many propositions at play all at the same time. As well as the National Gallerys new commitment to exhibiting outside of Dublin, another first is the inclusion of a separate Zurich Young Portrait Prize, with 20 finalists in four age categories, whose works are being exhibited alongside the main prize shortlist. Were really excited about the work of the younger artists in the show, McCarthy says. The portraits by the young artists are really outstanding, incredible images and were putting them in the show as equal artists. Another Cork connection to the prize comes in the form of Fiona Kearney, director of UCCs Glucksman Gallery, who served as a judge for the main prize alongside artist Mick ODea and Mike Fitzpatrick, the Head of School of Limerick School of Art and Design. Kearney says it presented an enormous challenge to try to judge from amongst a shortlist of incredible diversity, even raising questions for the judges about what defines a portrait. WINNER: Cybil McCaddy with Daughter Lulu, by Enda Bowe: The portrait of Cybil with her daughter Lulu was made on a housing estate in east London and is part of Enda Bowes ongoing project titled Clapton Blossom. The series forms a celebration of humanity and social diversity at a time when walls are being built between nations and politics encourages us to mistrust each other. Fragile, by Gordon Harris: Fragile is a painting of my daughter. I use the helmet and bubble wrap to depict protection from the impact of external forces, either mental or physical, on the fragility of life. Fragile, by Gordon Harris: Fragile is a painting of my daughter. I use the helmet and bubble wrap to depict protection from the impact of external forces, either mental or physical, on the fragility of life. Essentially, these are all moments that were chosen or constructed for our view, Kearney says. A portrait invites us to think more deeply about who the subject is or how theyre being represented. The winners of the main prize and the junior prize are both photographic, in shortlists still dominated by paintings and drawing. But the Zurich prize is not medium-specific, Kearney points out. Because of the prevalence of digital photography in our lives, we might even think of photography before painting when we think of portraits now, even though painting was the traditional medium of portraiture, she says. But one of the wonderful things about the Zurich Prize is that its not medium-specific; a portrait can be sculpture or even film. In the shortlist, artists have explored what their medium can do. There are some fantastical paintings in there, that you couldnt replicate with photography. I think the most successful artists are always those who are thinking really deeply about what their medium can do and how that will extend the engagement they have with the viewer. The Zurich Portrait Prize exhibition runs at the Crawford Art Gallery in Cork from February 1 to April 13 JACKSON, MI Josh Nichols used to score poorly on tests, but now, hes created an app to help students prove they understand a topic without them. Growing up, I was the 50 percent who didnt do well on standardized testing and worksheets and was often a little bit bored by them, Nichols said. I felt like I didnt have ownership of it so in some sense, I dismissed them. I became a teacher to try to combat that. I tried to figure out ways to teach the way I wanted to be taught. While teaching third through seventh grade at Heritage School in Stockbridge and helping with high school robotics, Nichols said he learned there wasnt an efficient way to assess project-based learning. Hoping to fill the gap left by traditional testing, he started playing around with video and narration. The result was an early form of CrossBraining, a video-based assessment tool he founded. We believe people learn by doing, and how we learn and how we are assessed are aligned, Nichols said. When an athlete prepares for a specific sport, they often cross train. My wife, Angie, came up with the name CrossBraining because the platform was built to strengthen the bundle of nerve fibers that connect the left and right brain to develop a great learner. The apps target audience is anyone wanting to show they can do something. Most commonly, its been used by third through 12th graders and career and technical education majors. By taking time to understand their learning experience, Nichols said users can prove they know what theyre doing through explanation. After launching a beta version of CrossBraining, the product was tested by more than 400 teachers throughout the U.S. But Nichols was still looking to improve it. We had purchases, paid subscribers and a market, but we knew we that we didnt have the app version that we wanted, he said. For help with that, he turned to Lean Rocket Lab, a business incubator in downtown Jackson. I grew up in Jackson, Nichols said. In the 1980s, and even in the 1990s, there was nothing like (Lean Rocket Lab). Its almost shocking to see what is available now to people that have ideas." As an educator, Nichols said he likes to tell people about the many students hes known with wild, crazy, bold ideas. For them to be able to walk downtown and walk by a space that can help them take their ideas to market blows me away, he said. "I never imagined that a downtown space like that would be available to somebody like me. Through Lean Rocket Lab, CrossBraining connected with legal services, improved the product and networked with investors for capital opportunities. We needed a little bit of rocket fuel and it helped us launch into a seed round investment, Nichols said. CrossBraining raised $750,000 of the $1.5 million goal, Nichols said. A first-version pilot of CrossBraining was launched in October 2019 and Nichols formed partnerships with GoPro, University of Michigan, Jackson College, Spring Arbor University, and other schools throughout the country. As a Spring Arbor University graduate, one of Nichols first partnerships was with the school of education there. John Williams, interim dean for the school of education, rewrote some undergraduate elementary education courses to include CrossBraining training. He also created a STEM methods course for elementary and middle school educators with a significant focus on CrossBraining. Beyond helping others improve their teaching, students have improved by using more hands-on and interactive learning, Williams said. It shifts the entire focus of sitting and getting learning into learning from each other, working with each other and doing things interactively to provide authentic experiences for kids, he said. At Jackson College, students who would receive certificates in such skills as welding, nursing or manufacturing technology are using the program to create a portfolio of videos demonstrating their preparedness for the workforce. The program is going to be a game changer that will coincide with their goal for competency-based learning, said Kate Thirolf, Jackson Colleges vice president for instruction. We do have competitors, but theres no competitor that is directly aligned with what we are doing with software," Nichols said. "What often happens is once people start using it, or once administrators start seeing it, they start talking about all the other ways that it can be used. In August, Nichols said he will release a second pilot version of CrossBraining to current users with the full release coming in September. More than half of Jackson County school districts and more than 50 school districts nationwide are using CrossBraining, Nichols said. I couldnt be more proud to grow up in a community like Jackson, Nichols said. Its been an incredible journey with a lot of incredible support from the Jackson community. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The State Bank of India (SBI) has become the lead financier for the first two phases of the Navi Mumbai Airport project, sources told The Economic Times. The report noted that the country's largest lender will replace Yes Bank as the lead financier for the project. It also noted that Yes Bank has been dealing with several liquidity issues. It will contribute around Rs 4,500 crore of the total funding required for the airport project, which stands at Rs 16,000-crore. The construction of the Navi Mumbai Airport project will be undertaken by a consortium led by GVK Power and Infra, which is also the group that currently runs the Mumbai airport. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report. As per the report, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) of China was also approached for funding. Also, some domestic players could also join the fray of lenders. The report mentioned that while the development is positive on the financing front, the delay in funding for the project is expected to push its completion behind by at least two years. While construction was expected to begin in October, L&T, the company that was given the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) for the project, has not got the letter of approval to begin work. Construction of the Navi Mumbai Airport project first got approval from the state government in 2008, and it is to be established on 1,160 hectares of land in phases. British Airways on Wednesday suspended all direct flights between the United Kingdom and China. A statement by the airline Wednesday said the decision was made in light of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak. We have suspended all flights to and from mainland China with immediate effect following advice from the Foreign Office against all but essential travel, the company said. The decision is considered the most drastic action yet by a major airline as the deadly coronavirus continues to spread. The virus has killed 132 people and infected nearly 6,000 people in China so far, with dozens more cases confirmed in places such as the United States, Japan, Germany and France. On Tuesday, the UKs Foreign Office warned people against travelling to mainland China in all but essential cases. British Airways operates direct flights from London Heathrow to Beijing (PKX) and Shanghai (PVG). Checks showed, however, that passengers can still book BA flights to mainland China via connections in cities such as Hong Kong. The decision comes a day after United Airlines (UAL) temporarily reduced its schedule between the United States and three cities in China, due to what it called significant decline in demand. In total, 24 round trips are said to have been affected by the development. On Wednesday, the BBC reported that hundreds of British citizens being flown back to the UK from Wuhan on Thursday will be put in quarantine for two weeks. Australia, Japan, the US and EU nations are also repatriating citizens. Meanwhile, PREMIUM TIMES reported that despite the growing concerns on the spread of coronavirus, Nigerias Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no plan in place for Nigerians residing in China. A spokesperson for the ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa, told this newspaper on Tuesday that, for now, no plans are being made to evacuate Nigerians in China. He referred further enquiries to the health ministry who said they were focused on ensuring the disease does not spread to Nigeria. Since the increase in the outbreak of the virus, countries around the world are planning to repatriate their citizens. So far, Wuhan, a province in China has recorded over 100 deaths, while more than 4,500 people have been confirmed infected. An unnamed student in Cote dIvoire has also reportedly contacted the virus. She arrived from Beijing on Saturday and has since been quarantined by the Ivorian government. But, a spokesperson at the ministry of health, Enefaa Bob-Manuel, said meetings are being held with some ministries towards setting up a committee responsible for scaling up surveillance and vigilance to detect suspicious cases and ensure containment at all points. She explained that critical stakeholders in the aviation, health, security and transport will make up the committee. She added that, attention will focus largely on Nigerias five international airports, because air travellers are more likely to be carriers of the virus rather than land border crossers. On Sunday, Joe Biden appeared to signal that he would be open to Social Security cutsor at least to give a muddled response to his previous position that he looked on the idea with favor. In an interview with New Hampshire ABC-affiliate WMUR, the former Vice President blurted out that his position hasnt changed from 20 years ago when he had supported a total government spending freeze to reduce the deficit that would have included Social Securitys cost-of-living adjustments. Although he walked the statement back on the follow-up question, his contradictory answers did not go unnoticed on Twitter. That was 20 years ago, says Biden, referring to his support for spending freezes, including social security, implying he no longer holds such a view, wrote journalist Mehdi Hasan. Literally five seconds later: My position hasnt changed. He has serious issues. Biden admits he argued for a social security benefits freeze: That was 20 years ago. He then lies and says Bernie hasnt been consistent on social security. pic.twitter.com/x1qIsZjSuh Ibrahim (@ibrahimpols) January 26, 2020 The Sanders campaign didn't miss it either. Biden's new comments on his record pushing to cut Social Security: That was 20 years ago. Then the reporter says Biden's position has changed and Biden says it hasnt changed. Then Biden falsely claims (Bernie) hasnt been consistent on Social Security pic.twitter.com/bnJ9gHsxXm David Sirota (@davidsirota) January 27, 2020 With the Iowa caucuses drawing closer by the day, Social Security has become a major battle in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary with front-runners Sanders and the former VP trading blows on the subject. Biden has a four-decade record of openness to cutting social programswith Social Security and Medicare at the top of the list. Not only did Biden support total government spending freezes in the 80s, he also backed the 1995 Balanced Budget Amendment. The centerpiece of the Republican Partys Contract With America, the amendment would have forced spending cuts across the board. Two years later, Biden backed the 1997 Balanced Budget Act, which included the $112 billion in cuts to Medicare, the deepest in the history of the program at that point, as well as the creation of a private option for beneficiaries that would later be known as Medicare Advantage. By his 2007-2008 presidential bid, Biden hadnt changed his tune, at one point telling a room full of Iowa donors that Americans understood tough decisions needed to be made with regards to Social Security. Folks, Americans know we have to fix Social Security; they know we cant grow our way to a solution, Biden said. They know were going to have to make some tough decisions. Theyre ready to make these decisions. As VP, Biden spearheaded another effort to cut Social Security after the 2010 midterms as part of the grand bargain with congressional Republicans. Even as recently as 2018, Biden was calling for means-tested cuts and ambiguous adjustments to the program in an appearance at the Brookings Institution. The Sanders campaign posted the clip from that speech, prompting allegations from the Biden camp that it had been doctored. Biden made his latest statements on WMUR in the context of a question about the battle with Sanders. Shortly after he asserted his consistency of position, Biden walked it backed, contradicting himself. The interaction went as follows: Youve said that he quote doctored video from the Senate back in the day talking about Social Security, but you did argue that cost-of-living adjustments as part of a general spending freeze were necessary to cut federal spending and reduce the deficit, interviewer Alex Sexton began. That aside That was 20 years ago, the former VP interjected. Look, even if Sanders is playing a little rough here and your position has changed. What about those Democratic voters who say Sexton continued. My position hasnt changed, Biden interjected again. Sexton finished his question. What about those Democratic voters who say Bernies been consistent this whole time? Well he hasnt been, came Bidens response, dismissing decades of footage to the contrary. But Im not going to attack Bernie. He hasnt even been consistent on Social Security. Biden then launched into a description of his plan. I am going to increase Social Security benefits, he explained. Im going to raise taxes for people making over 400,000 dollars so they pay the same tax on every dollar you pay at your salary or at 100,000 or 50 or 40,000 dollars. That will, in fact, allow us to get those folks who are out living their Social Security in terms of benefitsbe able them to increase their benefits; those families where a spouse dies and the total Social Security goes down, increase their benefits and make it solvent for that child of yours I met. So when you say your position hasnt changed, you were advocating for COLA freezes then, but you dont think they should happen now, Sexton followed up on the confusing answer. No, I dont think they should, and that was in the context of a gigantic piece of legislation relating to what were in a gigantic deficit at the moment, Biden said. And it wasnt to totally freeze them; it was to freeze for that one year and if we had done everything else; we froze across the board, including the military. It is unclear, based on Bidens answers, whatif not cutshe would be referring to when he said his position had not changed. Paste reached out to the Biden campaign for clarification but our inquiries went unanswered. The award honors Medical Directors from across Alteon's 125 clinical sites who exhibited exemplary leadership and professionalism in 2019, mentoring their physicians and advanced practice providers while improving department performance. In her nomination, Alteon Regional Medical Director Tina Latimer, MD, FACEP, noted that Anest has built a strong culture of collaboration among the physicians, nursing staff and every hospital department that contributes to emergency medicine, from the laboratory to spiritual care. Among the positive results of this effort, Mary Immaculate's Emergency Department has achieved market-leading sepsis bundle compliance and a dramatic reduction in the length of time the average patient stays in the department. "Dr. Anest understands the delicate balance between serving our hospital partners, our patients and the clinician team she leads," Latimer said. "She is an exceptionally gifted physician, leader, colleague and support for her team." Anest was one of three awardees selected by a panel of clinicians from Alteon's Executive Leadership Team. Tom Wulf, MD, Director of Emergency Medicine at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center in Roswell, New Mexico, was honored as Facility Medical Director of the Year for Alteon's North Division. Frank Kelley, MD, Director of Hospital Medicine at University Hospitals Portage Medical Center in Ravenna, Ohio, was selected for the Hospital Medicine Division. "I am incredibly honored to receive this award. The improvements we have made in our department reflect our commitment to providing excellent patient care for every patient, every time, in an environment that allows our team members to grow and thrive," said Anest, who has led Mary Immaculate's Emergency Department since October 2017. Anest earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center in 2011 and completed her Emergency Medicine Residency at Johns Hopkins University. In addition to her position as Medical Director of Mary Immaculate's Emergency Department, she leverages her strong background in domestic and international EMS to the benefit of Virginia's eastern and coastal regions as an active board member of the Peninsula EMS Council. In addition she serves as Vice Chief of Staff at Mary Immaculate Hospital. She is also a councilor and board member for the Virginia chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians and has become a leading advocate for emergency medicine in policy debates around healthcare billing. "In addition to her incredible team-building work in Newport News, Dr. Anest has added a sensible voice to the legislative process around balance billing," said Martin Brown, MD, FACEP, President of Alteon's Southern Division, when presenting the award at the company's National Leadership Summit in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on January 16. "Her expertise and passion are having positive implications across the state and nation." About Alteon Health With more than 1,700 clinicians serving more than 125 practice locations nationwide, Alteon is a leading provider of emergency medicine, hospitalist medicine, critical care, post-acute care and virtual and home health services. The physician-led practice is equipped with nearly 50 years of experience in providing high-quality, industry-leading and patient-focused care in diverse medical markets. For more information, visit alteonhealth.com . SOURCE Alteon Health Related Links https://www.alteonhealth.com The 11th edition of TiECon Mumbai kick-started on an enthusiastic note with marquee speakers focusing on ways to accelerate growth, drive more intelligent engagement and methods to empower building ideas. "The four principles to accelerate transformational growth are job creation, skilling, training force, ethics and build sustainable models. start-ups should align interest with the national interest," said Atul Nishar, President, TiE-Mumbai. Held at NCPA, Nariman Point, Mumbai, the opening day saw sessions with iconic speakers ranging from Deepak Parekh, Narayan Murthy, Mohandas Pai and many others. Deepak Parekh shared his journey and learnings. "Age is no bar, all you need is an idea, ability, patience and ability," he said. He advocated the importance of learning by doing philosophy, humility, open-door policy and "build life worth and not net worth". HDFC will soon announce 100 cr per year fund scheme to invest in startups. "AI will dominate the core of next exponential enterprises, rewriting the fundamentals of the establishment and this is the opportunity to capture. Mumbai, being the financial hub and epicentre of action has to lead India. This is an era of Robots, Star Wars," quoted Keynote Speaker Mohandas Pai. Ratan Tata was conferred Life Time Achievement Award TiECon Mumbai 2020. Narayana Murthy advised the aspiring entrepreneurs to create enterprises with the highest standards of integrity, ethics and honesty. Assisted technology will help human beings by making them more productive. This year's theme, 'The Decade of Startups - Kickstarting the Future' is designed with the intention to explore, bring forth the most disruptive innovative ideas and nurture with expertise, opinions, access, consultation and resources paving way to aspiring unicorns. India offers a blockbuster market with digital savvy population and a favourable demographic composition attracting global investors. The two-day forum focuses on tech-driven innovation. The other highlights are Pitch room, Start Expo, Masterclasses, Startup Clinic, Co-founder dating. TiE-Mumbai is western India's premium conclave, a melting pot of start-ups with industry legends to celebrate innovation. It is a platform of provocative ideas, brilliance, talent, products, brilliance, investments and governance. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bharat Bandh called by some organisations against the CAA and the NRC failed to evoke much response in Maharashtra's Pune, barring few areas in the city where shops remained shut. Police detained at least 250 members of various organisations, including the Bahujan Kranti Morcha (BKM), for holding protests in areas such as Sarasbaug, Swargate, near Golibar Maidan, Chandan Nagar, and Yerwada. "In Sarasbaug, members of the Bahujan Kranti Morcha were protesting peacefully. They were detained for defying prohibitory orders," said a senior officer from Swargate police station. In all, at least 250 members were detained from various areas, a senior Special Branch official said, adding that no untoward incident was reported from the city. Overall, the bandh received a tepid response in the city where public transport remained unaffected. Schools and colleges also remained open. In areas such as Pune Camp, Kondhwa and Bhavani Peth, some shops and commercial establishments downed their shutters. One of the detainees, Shatayu Bhagale, said they were taken into custody by the police while distributing roses and requesting shop-keepers in Sarasbaug area to participate in the bandh. Meanwhile, city transport were sent back to depots in Hadapsar area by some people gathered on a road, said Anant Waghmare, Traffic Head, Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML). The services resumed immediately after police reached the spot, he said. In Solapur too, the bandh received a lukewarm response with shops remaining shut only in few areas of the city. At Walsang in Solapur district, a group of protestors tried to disrupt a weekly vegetable market, but relented after local traders and police informed them that veggies come for sale from far-off places. In Miraj town in Sangli district in western Maharashtra, an auto-rickshaw was damaged after its driver refused to take part in the bandh. "We have detained two persons for damaging the windshield of the rickshaw,' a local police officer said. Shops in some areas remained closed in the town. Multiple organisations, including Bahujan Kranti Morcha, have reportedly called for a Bharat Bandh in protest against the recently passed Citizenship Amendment Act and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 04:06:35|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close A Jordanian woman takes part in a protest in Amman, Jordan, on Jan. 28, 2020. Dozens of Jordanians held a sit-in near the U.S. embassy in Amman on Tuesday night in protest of U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) AMMAN, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of Jordanians held a sit-in near the U.S. embassy in Amman on Tuesday night in protest of U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Chanting slogans against the United States, the protestors said the deal is doomed to fail as it fails to ensure the Palestinians' legitimate rights. "We are here to express our rejection to Trump's deal ... It opens the door for Israel to annex more Palestinian territories," Salem Hasan, one of the protestors, told Xinhua. Subhi Qasem, another protestor, expressed similar views. "Any deal that does not address the final status issues such as refugees, water and security, and does not ensure sovereignty for the Palestinians, is rejected. Trump's deal is all in favour of Israel," Qasem told Xinhua. The protestors called on the Arab and Islamic countries to take a firm stance against the U.S.-proposed deal, saying it will only lead to more tension and chaos in the Middle East. Ukrainian House in Davos, the area of which for the period of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in January 2020 was increased to 300 square meters compared with 200 square meters a year ago, plans further expansion for the next year. "The area of our multi-format space this year was 10 times larger than the first year of the Ukrainian House in Davos [2018], which allowed us to host the largest number of guests today. Moreover, new potential sponsors have already shown their interest in participating in projects," said Svitlana Hrytsenko of the Victor Pinchuk Foundation a press conference at the Interfax-Ukraine agency on Tuesday. The organizers, which, in addition to the Pinchuk Foundation, again acted as the Western NIS Enterprise Fund (WNISEF) and Horizon Capital, confirmed the increase in the budget for the Ukrainian House this year, without mentioning its absolute value. "We managed to enlist the support of 13 sponsors what is more than ever before," added Hrytsenko. The main ones were the Temerty Foundation, TIU Canada, MHP, NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy. According to the Ukrainian House, during 94 hours of its work, 16 discussions were held with speakers from 12 countries, and the total number of guests, taking into account evening receptions and events of cultural diplomacy, exceeded 8,000 people. In addition, online broadcasts from the Ukrainian House in Davos on social networks collected almost 400,000 views on Facebook. According to Lenna Koszarny, the founding partner and CEO of Horizon Capital, this year the interest in Ukraine at the WEF has significantly grown, which was confirmed by the speech of President Volodymyr Zelensky in the main program of the forum for the second time in history after President Viktor Yushchenko. "If earlier we used to run after investors, now they themselves are interested in Ukraine," she said, calling the first successful concession tenders and the unfreezing of privatization among positive changes. President and CEO of the Western NIS Enterprise Fund Jaroslawa Johnson added that this time the Ukrainian House included two venues - one public for discussions and evening receptions, where the meeting of the National Council was held, and the second - for bilateral and other meetings, which was used by President Zelensky and Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk. According to Johnson, the organizers of the Ukrainian House are considering options to change its location to improve its work. One of the ideas for next year, according to participants, is to more actively involve representatives of the government and other authorities in the work of the Ukrainian House, who could work immediately with potential investors on the spot. If passed, proposed legislation would have Oklahoma joining the growing number of states backing away from using Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to administer prescription-drug programs. Sen. Paul Scott, R-Duncan, has filed Senate Bill 1901 to replace the states third-party PBMs with a direct-to-pharmacy payment system a move he said could save the state millions and help significantly lower prescription drug prices for state employees. SB 1901 would direct the Oklahoma Employees Insurance and Benefits Board to collaborate with the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) to make the change. By July 1, 2021, the two entities would establish pricing to lower prescription drug prices for all enrollees of any health insurance plans offered under the Oklahoma Employee Insurance and Benefits Act. Scott said OHCA is already doing this for SoonerCare recipients and his proposal would allow them to do the same for all state employees. A PBM is a third-party administrator of prescription drug programs for state and federal government employee plans, self-insured employer plans, commercial health plans and Medicare Part D plans. By utilizing preferring formularies and exclusion lists, PBMs decide which drugs consumers can receive from their plan without facing additional out-of-pocket costs. They develop and maintain the list of medicines that can be used in a particular health system or under a particular health insurance policy. Source: Oklahoma Senate Topics Oklahoma Drugs English Spanish Chinese (Simplified) ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Centrient Pharmaceuticals, the global leader in the production and commercialisation of sustainable antibiotics, next-generation statins and anti-fungals, is announcing that Karl Rotthier has decided to step down as CEO after having built a highly successful company over the last ten years and managing a smooth transition to the new ownership under Bain Capital. Karl has successfully led the company for almost for 10 years, bringing Centrient to a unique position within the industry. Karl should be extremely proud for achieving these results. As Centrient is now well positioned on its growth trajectory for another potential record year in 2020, Karl decided that now is the best time to take a step back and let Centrient Pharmaceuticals be led by a new CEO who will bring fresh perspectives for the next phase of growth. The Supervisory Board of Directors hereby announces the appointment of Rex Clements as new CEO, effective as of March 16, 2020. Rex Clements will have the mandate to drive and execute the strategy defined by the Supervisory Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, pursuing the growth trajectory the company has already set in motion. Rex Clements is a recognised, well-rounded leader, with a proven track record in the pharmaceutical industry. He brings more than 20 years of rich experience gained across multiple assignments in the industry. Karl Rotthier: It has been an extremely fulfilling experience to lead the Centrient Pharmaceuticals team to success over the last 10 years; culminating with Centrient becoming a true leader in our industry. Our Mission, Vision and Value Proposition make Centrient Pharmaceuticals unique in the market. I am proud and confident that the company is well positioned to keep growing over the coming years both organically and inorganically. The quality of our people and leadership will continue to make the difference in our highly competitive environment. Ben Kunstler, Managing Director at Bain Capital Private Equity and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Directors at Centrient Pharmaceuticals: I want to thank Karl for his great leadership, professionalism and work ethic over the years. This was a decision Karl made over the last few months after careful consideration. The appointment of Rex Clements, a respected professional with substantial industry knowledge, as the CEO of Centrient Pharmaceuticals, will allow us to bring the company to an even greater level of performance through the focused pursuit of our growth ambitions. We are looking forward to actively work with Rex and set Centrient Pharmaceuticals on the path to long term, sustainable success. Rex Clements: I am honored to join such a great company like Centrient Pharmaceuticals and to build on the success achieved by Karl. I look forward to working with the Centrient Supervisory Board of Directors, the Executive Committee and all of the employees of Centrient to keep raising the bar of the performance of the company and for our customers and patients. About Centrient Pharmaceuticals Centrient Pharmaceuticals is the global leader in the production and commercialisation of sustainable antibiotics, next-generation statins and anti-fungals. We produce and sell intermediates, active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished dosage forms. We stand proudly at the centre of modern healthcare, as a maker of essential and life-saving medicines. With our commitment to Quality, Reliability and Sustainability at the heart of everything we do, our over 2700 employees work continuously to meet our customers needs. We work towards a sustainable future by actively participating in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. Founded 150 years ago as the Nederlandsche Gist- en Spiritusfabriek, our company was known as Gist-Brocades and more recently DSM Sinochem Pharmaceuticals. Headquartered in Rotterdam (Netherlands), we have production facilities and sales offices in China, India, the Netherlands, Spain, Egypt, the United States and Mexico. Centrient Pharmaceuticals is wholly owned by Bain Capital Private Equity, a leading global private investment firm. For more information please visit www.centrient.com or contact Centrient Pharmaceuticals Corporate Communications, Alice Beijersbergen, Director Branding & Communications - E-Mail: alice.beijersbergen@centrient.com or Jean-Luc Giraud, Chief Human Resources & Communication Officer - E-mail: jean-luc.giraud@centrient.com . Forward-looking statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements with respect to Centrient Pharmaceuticals future financial performance and position. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections of Centrient and information currently available to the company. Centrient cautions readers that such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and therefore it should be understood that many factors can cause actual performance and position to differ materially from these statements. Centrient has no obligation to update the statements contained in this press release, unless required by law. The English language version of the press release is governing. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c976934a-938b-4f99-9830-a54488d60f47 The Moscow commision for pardons on Monday unanimously approved a release plea from an Israeli-American woman imprisoned in Russia on drug charges, Russias Tass news agency reported. Naama Issachar on Sunday formally filed her request for a pardon after Russian President Vladimir Putin promised her mother, Yaffa, that she would be released soon. The Times of Israel reports in its article Russian panel approves pardon request from jailed Israeli; Putin set to decide that the commissions decision is seen as a rubber stamp ahead of an expected announcement by Putin to pardon Issachar in the coming days. We received Naamas plea for pardon today. She partially admits her guilt. But she pleads not guilty on smuggling charges. She had no such malicious intent. Hence, after considering her character reference from the prison, which is positive, the commission took a decision to satisfy this plea for pardon, said Ekaterina Semyonova, the commissions deputy chairperson, according to the Tass news agency. The request will go to the Moscow region governor, Andrei Vorobyev, on Tuesday. Issachars attorneys confirmed Sunday that she had formally submitted the pardon request to Putin. Earlier Monday, the Kremlin said that Putin would make a decision in the near future on Issachars fate. We know that [Issachars pardon] appeal addressed to the head of state is ready, said spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, according to the Tass news agency. Currently, the necessary legal procedures are being carried out for the president to make a decision on this matter in the near future. Issachar, 27, was sentenced by Russia to 7.5 years in prison after nearly 10 grams of marijuana were found in her luggage during a layover in a Moscow airport in April. She has denied smuggling drugs, noting she had not sought to enter Russia during the layover on her way to Israel from India, and had no access to her luggage during her brief stay in the Russian airport. Issachars mother met last week with Putin. She said the Russian leader told her he would return her daughter home. One of Issachars attorneys, Alexei Koblenko, told Haaretz that no Russian president has ever granted a pardon to a foreign-citizen convict. Naama decided to appeal to the president of the federation [Putin] to request her pardon and release, and she submitted [the request] in handwriting, as required by the prison authorities, the attorneys said in a letter accompanying Issachars pardon request, according to Hebrew-language media. Naama, her family and her attorneys hope for a swift decision by the president of Russia, in keeping with his constitutional powers, for her pardon and release, the attorneys wrote. As Issachar was submitting her pardon request, her mother who boarded a plane to Russia Sunday morning, told Israeli media, We still dont know anything about the time frame. We hope for the best, and that it happens as fast as possible. Putin arrived in Israel last Thursday for a one-day visit to attend the World Holocaust Forum, which this year marked the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp. During his visit, Putin met Yaffa Issachar, and said in a press statement after the meeting that everything will be all right. He said that it was clear to him from meeting Yaffa Issachar that her daughter comes from a good, decent family. Yaffa Issachar told Israeli reporters then that she was smiling after the Jerusalem meeting because Putin told me: Ill bring the girl home. Really. Lets wait and see, there is no date for the release. Issachar has become a cause celebre in Israel, where her arrest and sentence are largely viewed as politically motivated. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised the family to work for her release and has expressed hopes for securing a pardon. Last week, a Russian national whose extradition from Israel to the US was believed to be linked to Isaachars fate, pleaded guilty to running a website that helped people commit more than $20 million in credit card fraud. Aleksey Burkov, 29, of St. Petersburg, Russia, entered the plea to charges including fraud and money laundering in a federal court in Virginia. An AP source told the news agency that Senator Mitch McConnell, while speaking with Republicans, said he does not yet have votes to block witnesses in Trump's impeachment trial. McConnell convened the meeting shortly after Trump's legal team made its closing arguments in the trial. At this point, the GOP leader faces a handful of potential defections. But there are still several days before any potential witness vote would be taken. In April 2015, Sinn Fein's ard chomhairle met to discuss a memo that would have sounded alarm bells in most organisations. Drafted the previous month, it stated that Sinn Fein's procedures for dealing with bullying and harassment cases were legally unsound. "As a result of a recent legal case, a number of concerns were raised that we have too many guidelines relating to discipline, that we are not consistent in the application of the rules, and that some are not legally sound," the memo read. Its contents were approved by the party's ruling body, whose membership at that time included Gerry Adams and his eventual successor Mary Lou McDonald, who still serves on the 47-member committee which is made up of TDs, councillors, MEPs and members around the country. Despite this stark warning, it was a year before Sinn Fein did anything and changed its procedure. The delay came at a time when the party was grappling with a number of bullying allegations, including a serious row in the party's Cork East branch that exploded into the public domain and triggered resignations and recriminations. It was not until its 2016 ard fheis that changes to Sinn Fein's internal disciplinary procedures were approved and implemented. The party said it needed a two-thirds majority at its ard fheis to instigate any changes to its constitution. A national investigations committee was put in place to hear complaints and recommend disciplinary action against members. The committee is made up of non-elected members whom the party has previously refused to identify because "they are private individuals". Read More In the past, Sinn Fein has tasked former IRA member Martin Ferris, who is retiring as a TD, and party official Sean Hughes, who was named as a senior IRA member in the House of Lords and the House of Commons, to examine constituency disputes. The year-long delay in action being taken emerged only after the ard chomhairle memo was leaked. Traditionally, nothing other than what Sinn Fein wants the public to know emerges from the internal deliberations of the party's ruling body. Despite this, the party is critical of those who claim it is a secretive and shadowy body. Yesterday, Mr Adams posted a spoof video on Twitter, saying he was "looking for shadowy figures from the ard chomhairle of Sinn Fein" before looking behind a tree to find one of those members, the party's Meath East candidate, Councillor Darren O'Rourke. But there have been more serious questions posed about Sinn Fein's internal structures in this election. Ms McDonald has been questioned about details that emerged from the North's cash-for-ash inquiry of how the then Sinn Fein finance minister at Stormont, Mairtin O Muilleoir, sought approval from Ted Howell, one of Mr Adams's closest advisers, to cut the cost of the botched scheme. Mr Howell is a member of Sinn Fein but is not, the party confirmed, a member of its ard chomhairle. Mr O Muilleoir also consulted with Martin Lynch, Sinn Fein's political director in the six counties and one of eight co-optees to the ard chomhairle. These are unelected members of the ruling body. Ms McDonald has sought to compare Mr O Muilleoir's approach to cabinet ministers consulting their politically appointed advisers. "The reality is that Sinn Fein is an open, democratic political party that acts in common purpose. So you have to have coherence in terms of your policy platform," she insisted. Read More The structures of the ard chomhairle were not unique, she said, describing it as "a structure for accountability and for cohesion within the party and that's hugely important for us". Her critics don't see it that way. Ms McDonald and other Sinn Fein election candidates have signed a party pledge in which they promise to be "guided by and hold myself amenable to all directions and instructions" issued by the ard chomhairle. Questioned yesterday, Ms McDonald suggested it would be no different to when the Taoiseach consulted his parliamentary party. "Sinn Fein ministers in government will be subject to collective cabinet responsibility in accordance with the Constitution. Individual ministers take their decisions and are accountable and stand by those decisions. So it is not a case that a Sinn Fein structure would trespass on the legitimate business of government," she said. Keeping in mind all of the above, it will ultimately be voters who decide whether Sinn Fein should be allowed engage in the business of government. Bollywood actor Jaaved Jaaferi has responded sharply to a troll who asked him to shift to Europe if he had problems with the nation. Jaaved had shared a link to a news item that talked of a resolution moved in Europe against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). A woman commented on it saying, Why dont you move to Europe. We dont need traitors in our nation. YOUR nation ??? Kab kharida aapne mam ?? Last time I read the constitution it spoke of democracy, equality and right to dissent.. Wouldnt know if you have made any changes privately though..kindly update, an angry Jaaved tweeted. Also read: Shah Rukh Khans cousin Noor Jehan dies in Pakistan YOUR nation ??? Kab kharida aapne mam ?? Last time I read the constitution it spoke of democracy, equality and right to dissent.. Wouldnt know if you have made any changes privately though..kindly update Jaaved Jaaferi (@jaavedjaaferi) January 28, 2020 Former Member of Parliament and BJP leader Narendra Swaikar also replied on Jaaveds tweet where he shared the news item. Clap Mr. Jaaved. How does it matter? Hope you are aware we are independent, sovereign Republic. Indians will do whatever that is in their interest & the nation. @jaavedjaaferi, the politician wrote. sir if international perceptions of India dont matterthn why ws respected pm travelling all over the world trying to convince them to invest in India ? Am very much aware of what India is and what damage CAA combined with NRC can do to its constitutional foundation. Jaaved Jaaferi (@jaavedjaaferi) January 28, 2020 The actor had a rather polite answer for him. sir if international perceptions of India dont matterthn why ws respected pm travelling all over the world trying to convince them to invest in India ? Am very much aware of what India is and what damage CAA combined with NRC can do to its constitutional foundation, he tweeted. Jaaved has been actively participating in anti-CAA movements and protests in Mumbai. He was also among the many signatories on an open letter written by many celebs and scholars expressing their solidarity with students protesting CAA. The soul of the nation is threatened. The livelihoods and statehoods of millions of our fellow Indians are at stake. Under the NRC, anyone unable to produce documentation (which, in many cases, does not exist) to prove their ancestry may be rendered stateless. Those deemedillegal through the NRC may be eligible for citizenship under the CAA, unless they are Muslim.Contrary to the stated objective of the government, this does not appear to be a benign legislation, only meant to shelter persecuted minorities. The list of exclusions seems to indicate otherwise. Why are minorities from other neighbours like Sri Lanka, China and Myanmar excluded? I sit because the ruling powers in these latter countries are not Muslim? It appears that the legislation believes that only Muslim governments can be perpetrators of religious persecution, they said in the letter. Follow @htshowbiz for more Historically, vaccines have been one of the greatest public health tools to prevent disease. But even as new technology, advancements in genomics and improved global coordination have allowed researchers to move at unprecedented speed, vaccine development remains an expensive and risky process. It takes months and even years because the vaccines must undergo extensive testing in animals and humans. In the best case, it takes at least a year and most likely longer for any vaccine to become available to the public. Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust plc (the "Company") Dividend Declaration The Board of Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust plc today announced a proposed final ordinary dividend of 22.00p per share, together with a special dividend of 4.00p per share, in respect of the year ended 31 December 2019. Subject to shareholder approval at the AGM to be held on 3 March 2020, the dividends will be paid on 6 March 2020 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 7 February 2020. The ex-dividend date is 6 February 2020. The Company also operates a Dividend Reinvestment Plan and elections must be received by the Company's registrars by 5.30pm on 21 February 2020. Aberforth Partners LLP, Secretaries (Tel 0131 220 0733) 29 January 2020 In an unprecedented move, United Democratic Front MLAs blocked Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan inside the state assembly on Wednesday with 'go back' slogans and placards against the Citizenship Amendment Act. The incident took place when Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan ushered Khan to the assembly hall for presenting the policy address. Though the CM and the Speaker repeatedly tried to appease the agitating opposition members, they didn't budge and continued to raise slogans against Khan and his stand in support of CAA. SEE: UDF MLAs block Kerala Governor as he arrives in the assembly After nearly 10 minutes of protest, watch and ward personnel removed the opposition members using force and cleared the governor's way to the dais. As soon as the Governor reached the dais, the national anthem was played but the opposition members gathered at the well of the House and started the 'Governor go back' slogans soon after its completion. SEE: Kerala Governor remains defiant in the assembly When Khan began his policy address, the members of the Opposition walked out of the assembly hall raising slogans. After boycotting the policy address, they staged a sit-in protest at the gate of the assembly. Springing a surprise, Kerala Governor Mohammed Arif Khan on Wednesday read out the references on the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act resolution passed by the state assembly, while presenting his policy address of the Left government in the House. The governor, who has been at loggerheads with the government over the anti CAA resolution passed by the assembly and the petition moved in the Supreme Court against the law, said though he has "reservations and disagreement" over the subject, he would read paragraph 18 of the policy address, to "honour" the chief minister's wish. I am going to read this para (paragraph 18) because the Honorable Chief Minister wants me to read this, although I hold the view that this does not come under the definition of the policy or programme," he said. The Governor said though he disagreed on this, he was going to read the paragraph to honour the wish of Chief Minister Vijayan. Reading out the anti-CAA stand of the state government, he said, "Our citizenship can never be on the basis of religion as this goes against the grain of secularism which is part of the basic structure of the constitution. This august body (Kerala Assembly) unanimously passed a resolution requesting the Centre to abrogate the CAA 2019, which my government believes goes against the cardinal principles underlying our Constitution." - Kenya Airways said it was closely monitoring the situation in China before making any step - The debt-ridden airline's acting CEO Allan Kilavuka said the company had taken the necessary precautionary measures to ensure coronavirus does not spread to Kenya - On Tuesday, January 28, a student who was on-board KQ was secluded at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) after exhibiting symptoms similar to a patient infected by the virus National carrier KQ has said it will not suspend its flights to China despite the threat posed by coronavirus which has so far killed more than 130 people and infected at least 6,000 others. The debt-ridden airline said it was closely monitoring the situation before making any step. READ ALSO: Moses Kuria says supporting BBI cannot save doomed Tanga Tanga team Kenya Airways has ruled out suspending flights to China despite Coronavirus scare. Photo: Kenya Airways. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: 78-year-old German national found dead after booking hotel room with Kenyan lady Kenya Airways acting chief executive Allan Kilavuka said the decision on whether to cancel the flights was on the table but was yet to be finalised. Cancellation of the flights is on the table but we are monitoring and we will take the action as soon as theres imminent danger, Kilavuka was quoted by The Daily Nation. Kenya Airways acting CEO Allan Kilavuka said the airline was monitoring the Coronavirus situation in China before making any decision. Photo: Citizen TV. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Landilodi apunguza kodi na KSh 5,000 Kenya's ambassador to China Sarah Serem had earlier asked the listed company to consider suspending its flights until the pandemic was contained. Kilavuka, however, said the airline had taken the necessary precautionary measures. KQ operates the Nairobi-Guangzhou route thrice a week with Nairobi having strong economic ties with the Asian nation. This is very important to us, not just for the China route but an entire network. It is a global issue and airlines are looking at it very seriously. We have taken precautionary measures right from boarding to ensure that we do not allow on board anyone who hasnt been cleared by the port health bureau of China. So, anyone from Wuhan city in China will not be allowed on our flights, the airline boss said. On Tuesday, January 28, a student who was on-board KQ was secluded at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) after exhibiting symptoms similar to a patient infected by the virus. The Chinese Embassy in Kenya has assured Kenyans the situation was in control as it was taking measures to guarantee their safety. "The Chinese Embassy in Kenya is closely monitoring the entry of Chinese into Kenya. The Chinese side always put the life and health of the Chinese citizens and foreigners including Kenyans in China above everything else, and will continue to take effective and timely measures to address their legitimate concerns, it said. 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 wanted to kill my children - Jackie Ruguru | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 18:10 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206190f36 4 Food Fast-Food-Indonesia,Taco-Bell,restaurant,fast-food,food Free A California-headquartered fast food restaurant chain that specializes in Mexican food, Taco Bell, is planning to enter the Indonesian market in April. The license to open the franchise was acquired by PT Fast Food Indonesia Tbk (FAST), the company that manages KFC in the country. Read also: 'What's the point of eating outside?': KFC Indonesia's '#budayabeberes' campaign draws mixed reaction FAST director JD Juwono told kontan.co.id that the company had obtained the permit to operate the franchise in Indonesia. For the first 12 months we will open five stores in Jakarta targeting the middle class. We chose Taco Bell because their products are good and healthy, FAST director JD Juwono said on Tuesday. He added that the company would need from Rp 5 billion (US$366,361) to Rp 7 billion in investments to develop the Taco Bell restaurant. (gis/kes) __________ Editor's note: Paragraph two in this article has been corrected. Josep Lluis Trapero, Pere Soler, Cesar Puig and Teresa Laplana. Last year saw the Supreme Court trial of the pro-independence leaders involved in the 2017 secessionist drive in Catalonia. That case concluded with nine politicians and civic association leaders given lengthy prison sentences for offenses including sedition and misuse of funds. Around 20 kilometers from the Supreme Court, a new trial began today related to the events of 2017, which saw an illegal referendum held in the northeastern Spanish region, followed by a unilateral declaration of independence. Proceedings began on Monday in the Audiencia Nacional, the Spanish High Court, which is located in San Fernando de Henares, a municipality in the east of Madrid. Facing trial are the former heads of the Catalan regional police force, the Mossos dEsquadra, accused of having played a key role in the pro-independence drive. Four people are taking the stand, and, as in the Supreme Court case, are accused of rebellion and sedition. The public prosecutor is calling for up to 11 years in jail for each of them. But who are they? What role did they play during the events in question? And what evidence is there against them? Trapero figures constantly in the 94-page written accusation filed in the High Court by the public prosecutor Josep Lluis Trapero. The then-chief of the Mossos dEsquadra was sacked from his position in 2017, after four years in charge of the regional force. Trapero figures constantly in the 94-page written accusation filed in the High Court by the public prosecutor, and is attributed as having taken a proactive attitude during the independence drive. He contributed in a decisive manner so that the Mossos were placed at the service of the secessionist plan, the prosecutor writes, adding that he deliberately designed mechanisms so that officers were hindered from complying with the instructions issued by the public prosecutor and with court rulings. He is also blamed for setting out the instructions and operational rules given to the Mossos on October 1, the day that the illegal referendum took place. The regional officers were accused of passivity on the day of the vote, and were seen in a number of videos doing nothing to stop the referendum from taking place, despite the fact that it had been declared illegal by Spains top courts. (The attempts by the National Police and the Civil Guard to stop the vote saw now-infamous scenes of police violence against citizens, and there were also moments of tension between the two aforementioned forces and the Mossos themselves.) The public prosecutor has also drawn attention to Traperos alleged orders to send an insufficient police presence to the Economic Affairs Department on September 20, where a crowd of protestors gathered while the Spanish authorities searched the building to try to find materials relating to the planned referendum. He is also accused of collusion with the pro-independence politicians, whom he informed of the police and judicial investigations that were taking place. When he appeared as a witness in the Supreme Court trial, Trapero voiced his main line of defense: that he and the Mossos always displayed their commitment to the law. We told [the secessionist leaders] that the Mossos were not going to break the law or the Constitution, he said in court at the time. That we did not accompany them on their pro-independence project. But there are a series of factors that could contradict that defense, such as a number of phone calls between Trapero and one of the jailed independence leaders, Jordi Sanchez, during the protests outside the Economic Affairs Department. Sanchez was tried in the Supreme Court and jailed for his involvement in the organization of that protest. Orders from the [regional] government must take precedence over those that come from the public prosecutor or the judicial police Intercepted email The conditions imposed by Sanchez during that day were assumed completely by Trapero, who, with his conscious inactivity, avoided putting an end to the serious public-order problem that was taking place, the prosecution states, including an exchange of emails between Pere Soler, the former general director of the Mossos, and Trapero himself. Before October 1, Soler said to Trapero: Orders from the [regional] government must take precedence over those that come from the public prosecutor or the judicial police. In another mail, the prosecutors claim, Trapero responded saying: On October 1, 2017, a referendum on Catalan self-determination must be held. Pere Soler. At the time of the independence drive, Soler was the general director of the Mossos, which is a political appointment. An attorney and former city councilor in Tarrasa, he is accused by the public prosecutor of having planned the steps to be taken on the days prior to the referendum to guarantee it took place. He is accused of having done this along with Trapero and the former regional interior minister, Joaquim Forn. They designed a [police] action plan that was deliberately inefficient, the prosecution states. Soler is also accused of giving cover and protection to the people implicated in the organization of the referendum. Among these figures was Francesc Sutrias Grau, who was arrested for allegedly acquiring material for use in the referendum with public money. He promised him counter-surveillance measures and even greater protection to counteract the judicial investigation that was targeting him. Cesar Puig. The former secretary general of the regional interior department also a political appointment is accused by the prosecution of conveying information about the actions of the National Police and Civil Guard and providing information to the promoters of the process to guarantee it ended well. According to the accusation, Puig raised the alarm about a search at private postal service Unipost, where there were thousands of envelopes ready to send that contained letters with names and surnames addressed to Catalan citizens who had been designated to man polling booths that would be set up on October 1. Teresa Laplana. The least-known figure in the trial, this Mossos officer was in charge of the security detail at the Economic Affairs Department during the search on September 20. She cooperated in a decisive, conscious and intentional manner with the aims sought by the Catalan institutions and the pro-independence associations, impeding the judicial process under the legal conditions necessary with her deliberate passivity, the prosecutor states, arguing that she disregarded providing the assistance that had been requested by the Civil Guard despite being aware of the need for the Mossos to intervene. [Teresa Laplana] repeatedly and intentionally refused to provide the police assistance that was being requested She repeatedly and intentionally refused to provide the assistance that was being requested, guided by the ultimate purpose that was behind her actions, which was to hinder the actions of the judicial committee, the prosecutor states. The accusation also points out that on October 26, 2017, the day before the unilateral declaration of independence was passed by the regional parliament, the National Police intercepted a truck with three mossos on board and documents that were on their way to being incinerated. The prosecutor adds that among those papers, there were documents that revealed the true intentions of the Mossos chiefs, which were to not stop the referendum from taking place and to work with the pro-independence leaders on the development and culmination of a process that would conclude with the independence of Catalonia. English version by Simon Hunter. Muslim women are free to enter mosques and Islamic texts do not restrict their entry into mosques for namaz, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) told the Supreme Court on Wednesday. Considering the said religious texts, doctrine and religious belief of the followers of Islam, it is submitted that entry of women in the Mosque for offering prayer/Namaz, inside the Mosque, is permitted. Thus, a Muslim woman is free to enter Masjid for prayers, an affidavit filed by the AIMPLB said. The affidavit was filed in response to a plea by a Pune-based couple seeking declaration of restrictions on the entry of women into mosques as unconstitutional and violative of the right to equality under the Constitution. The AIMPLB said it was for Muslim women to exercise their right to enter mosques and underlined that it was not obligatory on them unlike men to offer Friday prayers in congregation. I agree with the stance of the AIMPLB that Islam does not prohibit the entry of women into mosques. It is not mandatory for a woman to pray in a mosque. It [Islam] only gives an option to women to pray at home or in mosques. Muslim men, however, have to compulsorily offer prayers at Friday congregation, said Supreme Court advocate Haris Beeran. The AIMPLB pointed out mosques are purely private entities and it can only issue an advisory based on Islam. Neither AIMPLB nor the court can enter into the arena of detailed arrangements of a religious place, which is a privately managed entity for religious practices of believers, it added. As I understand, the prayer in the petition is to enter and pray in the same area as men. In India, most mosques allow women to pray but in separate prayer rooms. It is always better if the courts stay from religious debates like these..., Beeran said. The Pune couple has pointed out there is no gender discrimination while offering worship in Mecca, the holiest city for Muslims. The petitioners have therefore pleaded that all mosques be opened for Muslim women. The case was first heard in April 2019. The Supreme Court had said that it will have to hear the matter due to its 2018 judgment in the Sabarimala case in which it ruled the ban on entry of women in the 10-50 age group into the Kerala temple was unconstitutional. When the plea came up for hearing in October, the top court issued a notice to the Centre and the AIMPLB and sought their response. In the November verdict of the Supreme Court on the Sabarimala review petitions, it referred three cases involving the rights of women vis-a-vis religious practices including the entry of Muslim women into mosques to a larger bench. Sweden's IKEA, the world's biggest furniture retailer, said it was temporarily closing around half of its 30 stores in China as deaths in the country from the fast-spreading new coronavirus rose to 132 on Wednesday. "In response to the Chinese government's call for efficient control of the spread of the disease IKEA China will from Jan. 29 temporarily close around half of the stores in China," it said in a statement. "Affected employees will stay at home until further notice with pay," it said. Ingka Group last week closed its store in Wuhan, where the virus emerged last month. The company employs around 14,000 people in China. Also read: Coronavirus: China gives nod to India to airlift 250 citizens from Wuhan Also read: Coronavirus latest update: Govt issues fresh advisory; asks people to avoid travelling to China Thousands of Chinese workers and students are set to return here from their Lunar New Year trips home amid the rapid spread of coronavirus in China, sparking concerns in Korea. An estimated 100,000 Chinese students, housekeepers, nursing home caretakers and restaurant workers are on their way back here. Politicians face mounting calls to block Chinese people from entering Korea, but the demands are unrealistic. Some 71,067 Chinese students were studying in Korea as of April of last year, accounting for around 44 percent of all foreign students here. Language institutes linked to universities here are canceling classes. The Korean Language Education Center at Seoul National University canceled all classes Tuesday and told students returning from China to quarantine themselves for a week. The Yonsei University Korean Language Institute and Korea University Korean Language Center announced the cancellations of classes until Wednesday, while Sungkyunkwan University Korean Language Center and Hanyang University will resume classes next week. Hanyang University postponed the Thursday deadline for the submission of foreign student visas. An administrative staffer at Kyunghee University said, "Most Chinese students return to Korea around mid-February to prepare for the new semester and we expect that period to mark the crucial moment." "We are looking into implementing special measures as parents are expected to visit their children who are graduating," the staffer added. Meanwhile, some 56,000 Korean students are studying at universities and graduate schools in China, and considerable chaos is expected as many may come home to avoid the coronavirus outbreak. A frustrated Belfast car dealer has demanded a face to face meeting with Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon, while another trader claimed he is now struggling to pay staff wages. Martin Hamill, owner of Premier Cars, previously spoke to this newspaper on Tuesday before Ms Mallon announced four-month exemptions would be put in place. At the time Mr Hamill said the current crisis had already cost him a 4,500 sale and warned that further delays could spark job losses. Read More Speaking yesterday after having heard what measures would be put in place, Mr Hamill felt that car dealership owners like him "were no further on" and explained that the communication from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) and DVA was lacking. "I have MoTs due up tomorrow. I can't get through to the MoT centre to find out if my customers' cars can get an MoT booked. We are just not getting any information," he said. "I have asked the department for a sitdown with Nichola Mallon. I need to know more from a motor trade perspective. "Other friends and companies are phoning me looking for answers. I don't have the answers. It feels like I'm working for the department. Customers are coming and asking me what to do. "Every month there are more and more cars due for an MoT. The situation is going to snowball unless it is sorted. She needs to get her feet on the ground now and sit and talk with someone in the industry." When asked what his recommendation to solve the backlog would be, Mr Hamill suggested that the system could be temporarily privatised, with trusted garages tasked with carrying out the tests for a period of time. It was a solution shared by the owner of Doran Cars in Ballynahinch, who also stressed that if the situation was not rectified "in three or four months" he would likely lose his business. George Doran, who employs four staff and has been trading in the town since 1986, worried that he "might not be able to trade for much longer". "We are a budget dealership. I buy my cars from franchises. "I'm buying cars in and taking them to the yard and doing the bits and pieces that need to be done," he said. "I have a car I sold recently, I booked the MoT and the test was for today. I phoned this morning to see if I could go and I was told I couldn't. This will be replicated right across the motor trade. "I am relying on payment of a car that I cannot MoT to pay my staff's wages and my bills. If this goes on for three or four months I am out of business." While commercial vehicles used by haulage firms are still being tested, according to one firm, there is the potential of a knock-on effect to these firms with the DVA attempting to clear the private car backlog. Paddy Cullen, owner of Cullen Transport, said: "We would test on average around 10 to 12 vehicles a week which will go over the commercial lanes. "I was in the test centre myself last night and they were bringing cars in the lanes between the tests. "I can see what is going to happen - cars that haven't been tested before are going to get put into those lanes and we in the commercial sector will lose the space. "If I can only get five trailers through tests every week, for example, that is my revenue dropping by half and there are no exemptions for any commercial vehicles." The Saudi Telecom Co. announced it reached a preliminary agreement on Wednesday to buy a 55% stake in the Egyptian holdings of telecommunications giant The kingdom's largely state-owned communication firm announced that it had offered $2.39 billion in cash for the unit, as part of its continued efforts to carve out more market share in the Middle East. The prospective deal confirms STC's eagerness to maintain a leadership position not only in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but also in the wider region, said Telecom's chief executive, Nasser al-Nasser. The British-based is one of the world's largest cellphone operators and the top provider in Egypt, with over 40 million Egyptian subscribers. Nick Read, CEO of Vodafone, said the transaction would guide the company to strong earnings, delivering shareholder value and reducing overall debt. Under STC, I believe they will continue to flourish, he said of holdings in Read said the offer will help streamline its business as it focuses increasingly on Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. Akali Dal will support BJP in Delhi polls: J P Nadda India oi-PTI New Delhi, Jan 29: BJP president J P Nadda on Wednesday said that ally Shiromani Akali Dal, which had decided not to contest the Delhi assembly polls over differences with the saffron party, will support his party in the elections. At a joint press conference with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Badal, Nadda hailed the party as an old and strong ally, while Badal asserted that their alliance is not merely about politics but also about a bond of sentiments. Delhi Elections 2020: EC orders removal of Anurag Thakur, Parvesh Verma as BJP star campaigners Akali Dal's decision to not contest the polls had triggered concerns in the BJP that it may alienate a section of Sikh voters. Nadda held a long meeting with Badal before addressing the joint press conference. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, January 29, 2020, 17:39 [IST] All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that entry of women into the Mosque for offering prayer/Namaz is permitted in Islam. AIMPLB, which filed an affidavit on a plea seeking direction to allow women to enter the mosque to offer Namaz stated that the entry of women in mosque is allowed and Islam permits entry of women in the mosque. However, the board said it is not mandatory for women to join group prayers or congregational prayers. "The present respondent (AIMPL) has taken a stand, as per Islamic texts, that entry of woman into Mosque for Namaz is permitted. Any other fatwa to this effect may be ignored," the affidavit said. In the affidavit, AIMPL submitted that its reply is purely in the light of religious doctrine/tenets/belief in Islam. "Considering the said religious texts, doctrine and religious belief of the followers of Islam, it is submitted that entry of women in the Mosque for offering prayer/Namaz, inside the Mosque, is permitted. Thus, a Muslim woman is free to enter Masjid for prayers. It is her option to exercise her right to avail such facilities as available for prayers in Masjid," it said. "Islam has not made it obligatory on Muslim women to join congregational prayer nor is it obligatory for a woman to offer Friday Namaz in congregation though it is so on Muslim men. The Muslim woman is differently placed because as per doctrines of Islam she is entitled to the same religious reward (Sawab) for praying as per her option either in Masjid or at home," it stated. The Apex Court had earlier asked the AIMPLB to reply on the petition. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court said that nine-judge Constitution bench would wrap up within 10 days proceedings in the matter relating to discrimination against women in various religions and at religious places including Kerala's Sabarimala Temple. Last year, a five-judge Constitution bench had referred to a larger bench the issues relating to the constitutional validity of religious practices like the bar on entry of women and girls into a place of worship. It had said the larger bench will re-examine entry of women in Sabarimala temple and other religious issues, including the entry of women into mosques, the practice of female genital mutilation in the Dawoodi Bohra community and also Parsi women married to non-Parsi men being barred from the holy fire temple. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two young women from Pahoia are the recipients of the Omokoroa Lions Club tertiary scholarships. The scholarships are available to students from the Omokoroa area who have had at least one year of tertiary education. Criteria for the scholarships are academic excellence, the students vision of their career path and their economic need, says Christine Robertson, scholarship co-ordinator. The quality of the applicants was exceptionally high and all students interviewed would have been worthy recipients of the awards. The winner of the Beryl Scott Award of $2000 is Anna Jenkin and the Precious Brothers Award of $1500 has been awarded to Kristin Brown. Anna attended Omokoroa No 1 School before moving to Tauranga Girls College. Anna was an outstanding student, excelling in all areas of NCEA. As well as her strong academic record, Anna was also a community services prefect, organising fundraising for charities & nearby schools. She is also a black belt Martial Arts holder and plays the piano. Anna spent 12 months after leaving school as an au pair in London before returning to attend Auckland University. She is majoring in Law, and International Politics and Human Rights for Global Studies, her minor is te reo Maori. At this stage Anna plans a career as a Human Rights Lawyer. Kristin Brown. Supplied image. Kristin attended Pahoia School before moving to Katikati College, where she was a high performing, self motivated student. She had exceptional results throughout high school and was on the sports committee, charity committee & mental health committee. Kristin is studying a bachelor of health science in paramedicine at Auckland University and volunteers with the St Johns Katikati station when she is home. Kristin intends to move back to the Bay when she finishes her degree and hopes to work as an emergency medical technician. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 09:06 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20616e266 4 National narcotics,Drugs-trafficking,drugs-distribution,Islamic-preachers,Islamic-boarding-schools Free An Islamic preacher in Kwanyar, Bangkalan regency in East Java, who was arrested last week for allegedly selling methamphetamine to his students, apparently tried to justify his actions by claiming that crystal meth was not prohibited in Islam. The preacher was identified only as AM, a 46-year-old Islamic studies teacher at an Islamic boarding school in Surabaya, East Java. The Bangkalan Police had searched for him for the past two months after they reportedly caught two people they accuse of consuming meth in his house. Bangkalan Police chief Sr. Comm. Rama Samtama Putra said that his team temporarily lost track of AM after they traced his movements from Mojokerto, East Java to Bekasi, West Java. Upon being arrested, police claim AM tried to justify his actions by saying that meth consumption was not prohibited by the Quran. The suspect believes that consuming meth will help increase [his students'] motivation to read the Quran, he said. During a press conference in the Bangkalan Police station, AM told Rama that the police had an incorrect perception about meth since he claimed meth was not haram. "The country might prohibit it, but I think its only a wrong perception. Islam didnt say anything about it, AM said as quoted by tribunnews.com. He allegedly also confessed that he had consumed it for 10 years. AM reportedly told similar things to his students, leading to some of them purchasing meth from him and consuming it at his house. The police said that AM would be charged under Article 114 of the Criminal Code that carried a maximum sentence of 20 years' imprisonment upon conviction. He [allegedly] obtained the meth from a dealer who operates in Sokobanah district, Sampang, Rama added. (dpk) China has given Russia the genome of the novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV. According to Russias Consulate General in Guangzhou, the Russian and Chinese scientists have started developing the vaccine. "The Chinese side has handed over to Russia the virus genome thus enabling our scientists to quickly prepare snap tests, which can identify the virus in a human body within two hours. The Russian and Chinese specialists have started developing the vaccine," TASS cited the statement as saying. In addition, Russias embassy in Beijing is holding talks with China on evacuating Russian nationals only from the central Hubei province. Image source: Ratan Tata's Instagram live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy is trending on Twitter for his gesture of humility where he touched Ratan Tatas feet during an event. The legendary businessmen shared the stage at an event in Mumbai where Murthy touched Tatas feet immediately after presenting an award. Humbled by his gesture, Tata appreciated Murthy and even shared the video on his Instagram stories. It was an honour to be awarded by the TIEcon at the hands of a great friend Mr. Narayana Murthy, read the caption of the video story uploaded by Tata. TIEcon, too, called the gesture a historic moment and shared images on Twitter. Soon after Tata uploaded the story, Twitter went all praises for the 73- year Infosys co-founder and appreciated his gesture. Two biggest rival company, two most humble businessman. Narayana Murthy touching feet of Ratan Tata is best thing on internet, today. pic.twitter.com/OAjjE6gzba January 29, 2020 The person who is touching the feet of Ratan Tata is Narayana Murthy. This happened at #TiEconMumbai.Both are are India's biggest businessmen. They were fierce business rivals in the IT industry. The values, respect demonstrated by these legends are inspiring. @TiEMumbai pic.twitter.com/YPDRFVnV0t Freak Out (@ismartsridhar) January 29, 2020 This picture defines all about humbleness and simplicity, Mr. N R Narayana Murthy touching Mr. Ratan Tatas feet to seek his blessings. A lesson for all of us. #TiEConMumbai2020 #inspirational #RatanTata #NarayanaMurthy pic.twitter.com/NfnGpv4H04 Arisudan Tiwari (@Arisudan29) January 29, 2020 Historic Moment..! It's true Indian Culture If one is truly humble, one will remain a success always. Legendary businessman, Narayana Murthy touched Ratan Tatas feet! This taught me so much!! pic.twitter.com/MNmZxNLZVm Supriya Tripathi (@saurabh_supriya) January 29, 2020 Narayan Murthy Sir touch Ratan Tata's feet at the #TiEConMumbai2020 event last evening was an incredible moment. A billionaire touching feet of another billionaire. This shows how humble and down to earth is Mr Murthy and what Mr. TATA has earned in his life other then Money pic.twitter.com/dmDwy5x79R Suraj Jaiswal (@SurajJaiswal___) January 29, 2020 Naraya Murthy touching feet of Ratan Tata in Mumbai. This is Bharatvarsha's culture & civilisation. #TiEConMumbai2020 pic.twitter.com/0U9ZJFsCay Avinash Choubey (@avinashchoubey) January 29, 2020 ABINGDON, Va. A Saltville woman who goes by multiple aliases and has a 14-page criminal history faces a first-degree murder charge following a dayslong investigation into the death of an elderly Glade Spring woman. Karen Lou Holmes, 48, was also charged last Tuesday with robbery, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in connection with the death of Alberta Susan Warren, 79, whose body was found inside her car Thursday, Jan. 16, in the Widener Valley section of Washington County. Sheriff Blake Andis said the two women were acquainted for several years, and both participated in a drug conspiracy involving doctor shopping and drug distribution. Its been a very lengthy case, Andis said during a news conference last Tuesday. We have several things that were sending off to the lab, such as fingerprints. The investigation began when the Sheriffs Office responded to a report of a woman who had been shot and left in a vehicle in a parking lot on Widener Valley Road near Bishop Road. After the incident, we responded to the scene, Andis said. The scene was processed, and we did gather some electronic evidence. Andis declined to describe the electronic evidence, noting that the investigation continues. Holmes was originally arrested over the weekend on narcotics charges after drugs were found, Andis said. With Holmes in jail, detectives continued to investigate. We kept working the case, and with that we discovered more evidence and more circumstantial evidence on Miss Holmes, Andis said. Court documents obtained Thursday showed that law enforcement searched the home of Holmes mother in the days following the shooting, where they found a handgun they believe to be connected to the case. Detective Thomas Chapmans investigation into Warrens death led him to speak with Holmes on Jan. 17, according to the complaint filed in general district court. Holmes told Chapman she met with Warren the day before and took pills to give Warren for a debt she owed her, the complaint states. On Jan. 20, a man identified in the complaint as the boyfriend of Holmes daughter, told Capt. Jason Shepherd that Holmes mother told him shed pay him if he got rid of a gun. She then told him where to find it, the complaint states. The man also told officers that his girlfriend told him she believed her mother robbed and shot Warren, according to the complaint. The boyfriend also told police about a handgun Holmes father previously gave her. On the same day, Chapman obtained a search warrant for Holmes residence in Saltville, where a handgun and other items authorities believe were in her possession at the time of the shooting were recovered, the documents state. After police executed the search, Holmes daughter and her boyfriend were shown pictures of the items found at the residence, and they identified them as belonging to Holmes, according to the complaint. The daughter also said she has heard Karen on several occasions talk about robbing Alberta Susan Warren, Chapman wrote in the complaint. According to the arrest warrant, Holmes is accused of taking a purse and $7,000 from Warren. Warren, who owned Repeat Boutique Consignment in Glade Spring, normally carried large amounts of money, according to the Sheriffs Office. Holmes told officers she is absolutely innocent, according to the court documents. Holmes, who was charged with felony shoplifting in Washington County last October, is being held without bail at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail in Abingdon. Vowing that "I'm done sugar-coating it," Sen. Julie Slama of Peru is calling upon the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to make flood control a top priority in the Missouri River Basin. Slama has introduced a legislative resolution urging Congress and the Corps to "prioritize flood control over fish and wildlife" as her town and other Missouri River communities, along with neighboring farmers, approach the one-year anniversary of the devastating flooding that caused more than $1 billion in damage in Nebraska last March. The District 1 state senator has been outspoken on Twitter and Facebook, at one point sending a message to the Corps to "do your job." Reacting to Slama's most recent challenge to the Corps, Gov. Pete Ricketts said that juggling multiple priorities has distracted the Corps from "putting people and property first" in recent years. "Our partnership with surrounding states will help us identify the steps we need to take to ensure the Corps protects our communities and prevents the kind of flooding we experienced in 2019," the governor said in an emailed statement. Ricketts and the governors of Iowa, Kansas and Missouri recently signed a memorandum of agreement to continue working together on the issue. "Moving forward, we want to see people and communities put first when managing the Missouri River," Ricketts said in outlining the agreement in a news release last week. Meanwhile, the Corps has spoken of plans to launch a study of the Missouri River and its tributaries from Sioux City, Iowa, to St. Louis in an effort to identify ways to reduce future flood risks and improve infrastructure. Slama said she doesn't want to wait for years of study to see action. "It's the Corps' job to do it," she said during an interview in the legislative chamber. "They should have ordered a study after the 2011 flooding. We don't have years to wait." Slama said the Corps might need to reconsider some of its decision-making in determining release of water from Gavins Point Dam in South Dakota that flows downstream along with the possible need for new or improved infrastructure along the river. River bank repair is needed now, she said. "The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is systematically failing to control the Missouri River," Slama wrote on Twitter. "The Corps has had a decade to address flooding, and now states have to hold their hand for them to do it," she wrote. "Unacceptable." Each flood is "a hit to local economies, destroys roads and forces an outward migration from impacted communities," Slama stated. "There's a sense of apathy amongst those with the power to do something, so it's up to us to refuse to accept this as 'the new normal.'" Slama's legislative resolution (LR288), which has been referred to the Legislature's Natural Resources Committee, states that "it is imperative that flood control be a top priority" in management of the Missouri River. "Ten months after flooding began, our states are still working to recover and rebuild because of the historic scale of the natural disaster," Ricketts noted in announcing continuing efforts by the four Missouri River Basin governors to band together and seek action now. In discussing plans to survey needs along the Lower Missouri River System several months ago, Corps officials said a study could take three to five years. Meanwhile, with another March approaching, the stage is set for another season of flooding. The National Weather Service reports "well-above-normal rain and snowfall" in the Missouri River Basin in recent months. Last year was the third-wettest year in 124 years of modern record-keeping. And that suggests the approach of "a significant spring flood season in the Missouri Basin," the High Plains Regional Climate Center reports. Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 ALBANY It remains unclear whether lawmakers will push back against a court decision that struck down a law that would allow for the creation of a special panel to evaluate complaints of misconduct against the states prosecutors. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, during an interview on the WAMC Roundtable on Wednesday, said he thinks district attorneys should have a check and balance, but state lawmakers shied away from revealing what's next for the creation of the panel that was ruled unconstitutional by acting state Supreme Court Justice David Weinstein. I believe there should be checks and balances across the board, Cuomo said. I think district attorneys should have a check and balance. The law called for the creation of the Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct, an oversight body of appointees that would review complaints of misconduct against the states prosecutors, allowing for that panel to sanction or recommend the removal of a prosecutor. Despite approval by the Legislature and constitutional fixes to the measure, the changes werent enough to satisfy local district attorneys and the District Attorneys Association of the State of New York, which challenged the statute in court, waylaying its implementation. The state attorney generals office also analyzed the legislation and found it was poorly crafted and unlikely to withstand a court challenge because of "several constitutional defects, which prompted Cuomo to hold off on forming the panel. We are reviewing the decision and exploring whether a legislative fix is an option, Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi said Wednesday. Proponents of the legislation, which passed the Assembly and Senate, have included former state Sen. John DeFrancisco, R-Syracuse, who said there is a critical need to create the commission. He has pointed to instances of people wrongfully convicted of crimes as one justification. Tina Luongo, attorney-in-charge of the Criminal Defense Practice at The Legal Aid Society, expressed disappointment over the decision, emphasizing that prosecutorial misconduct regularly occurs and more oversight is needed. "People have languished in prison for years, their lives ruined because of the misconduct of prosecutors who abuse their power with impunity, Luongo said in an emailed statement. There must be an independent body to hold prosecutors accountable when they break the law or act in bad faith. This decision will not stop the movement for real accountability." Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Albany County District Attorney David Soares, who sued over the measure as president of the district attorneys association, applauded the courts decision. The ruling comes at a time when district attorneys and state lawmakers are at odds over the recently enacted bail reform. District attorneys, including Soares, have lamented over the discovery reforms that reduce the time for which prosecutors must turn over evidence to the defense as well as bail reform that some say has released dangerous criminals onto the street. As we included in our filings, it is a bedrock principle of our democracy that no statute, no matter how noble its ostensible purpose, may violate the constitutional structure, Soares said in an emailed statement. As a sitting district attorney I look forward to being a part of the conversation to develop meaningful and transparent oversight of all actors in the criminal justice system moving forward. The state's district attorneys have said there is already a system to review misconduct by attorneys, including prosecutors, and that the governor has the authority to remove a district attorney for cause. The associations current President David Hoovler, the Orange County District Attorney, said the ruling confirmed what prosecutors have said all along. The legislation was rife with constitutional defects and would have impermissibly interfered with fundamental law enforcement functions and prosecutorial discretion, Hoovler said. As always, DAASNY welcomes the opportunity to work with our lawmakers to craft meaningful solutions to improving oversight of all attorneys that do not run afoul of the Constitution of the state of New York. A future in which patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and spondyloarthritis receive the correct medication in the first attempt -- this is the hope of a newly published research project from Aarhus University, Denmark When a patient is diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis or spondyloarthritis, prescribing the correct type of medicine is a case of trial and error. It is simply not possible to predict which medication will work for the individual patient, and it is therefore a matter of trying the different treatment options: glucocorticoids, low dose chemotherapeutic drugs or newer biological drugs. Until now! A new research project from Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark suggest that it is the composition of cells in the joint of the individual patient which determines whether the medicine is effective or not. The researcher behind the study, published in the journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR Open), is medical doctor and PhD Tue Wenzel Kragstrup from the Department of Biomedicine at Aarhus University and the Department of Rheumatology at Aarhus University Hospital. "So far, we've examined the effect of nine drugs in three different in vitro models. We can see that the effect of a given drug depends on the cell compositions. This leads us to hope that the immunological cells and inflammatory signalling molecules in the joint of each individual patient will be able to predict the most effective treatment," says Tue Wenzel Kragstrup. The study's in vitro models consist of cell cultures isolated from joint fluids aspirated from the joints of patients with severe arthritis as part of the treatment at Aarhus University Hospital. The researchers then used the diseased cells from the joint fluid to examine the effects of different types of medicine, explains Tue Wenzel Kragstrup's colleague, Ph.D. student Morten Aagaard Nielsen from the Department og Biomedicine, who is first author of the article. "As far as we know, this is the first description of a direct association between the composition of the immune system cells and the effect of medication," Morten Aagaard Nielsen says. Tue Wenzel Kragstrup adds: "The findings are based on the assumption that the cells in the test tube behaving like they would behave in the patient. So of course, the research result must be validated in humans in a larger number of patients," says Tue Wenzel Kragstrup, who concurrent with his biomedical research is in rheumatology specialist training. It was at the hospital while meeting patients racked with pain, that Tue Wenzel Kragstrup got the idea and invented the project. "Today, the first-choice drug has no effect in around one in three patients. So, doctors often have to try several different types of medicine before they find the right one. This is a process that may take years, because a drug typically takes three to four months to be effective," explains Tue Wenzel Kragstrup. "And while we wait, the patients continue to experience swelling and pain - not to mention the permanent damage that can occur in the joints as a result of persistent inflammation," he says. Tue Wenzel Kragstrup hopes that the research results in time can be translated into a simple test - such as a blood test - which can determine the correct medicine for the individual patient. According to Tue Wenzel Kragstrup, this type of individualised treatment could be realised within a decade. Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and lumbar arthritis - more information: Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and spondyloarthritis affects approx. two per cent of Denmark's population, often young people, with no known cure. The diseases can be very painful and disabling and may therefore have a major impact on families and working life. Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and spondyloarthritis are characterised by an over-reaction in the immune system with inflammation of the affected joints. ### The research results - more information: Facts about the type of study: In vitro study. Partners from Denmark and abroad: Professor Christopher Buckley, University of Birmingham. MD, PhD Student Morten Aagaard Nielsen, Aarhus University. Possible conflicts of interest: Tue Wenzel Kragstrup has received salary in connection with continuing medical education in collaboration with Pfizer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Novartis and UCB in accordance with the Danish Health and Medicines Authority's guidelines. He is also medical developer in the biotech start-up company iBIO Tech, which develops drugs for the treatment of patients with chronic rheumatoid arthritis. None of these relations give rise to direct conflicts of interest in relation to the present study. The killer coronavirus sweeping the world may have reached Africa as Sudan and Equatorial Guinea have reported suspected cases. Two citizens of Sudan are being monitored after displaying symptoms of the virus following a visit to Wuhan, local reports say. And officials in Equatorial Guinea have quarantined four travellers who arrived from Beijing amid fears they may have the killer SARS-like infection. World Health Organization chiefs today said they are 'concerned' about any cases in Africa because the continent does not 'have the capacity' to handle the virus. Leading scientists also fear the virus could be difficult to contain in Africa, warning that medical facilities are 'extremely limited'. Some 133 people have now died in China and more than 6,000 around the world have caught the highly infectious virus including the US and Australia. Both the patients citizens of the country in northeast Africa had returned from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the heart of the escalating outbreak A major road going through the streets of Wuhan remains deserted as people stay at home and avoid transport due to the virus outbreak in the city The two patients in Sudan a country in the northeast of Africa had returned from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the heart of the escalating outbreak. The man and woman are currently being monitored by doctors. Officials have not yet confirmed their identities or locations. No other details have yet emerged for the Sudanese residents. The news agency Reuters said it was given the information by a minister. Sudanese officials have already enforced strict screening of travellers arriving at airports and shipping ports to try and prevent the spread. It came as Equatorial Guinea small central African state said it had quarantined four travellers who arrived from Beijing. The four had arrived on Tuesday aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight at the airport in the capital of Malabo, the government said. The nation has already announced all passengers from China would be placed in quarantine for 14 days. No cases have been confirmed in Equatorial Guinea. Discussing the updates, the WHO's Dr Michael Ryan: We are currently working on investigating suspected cases in Africa. 'We have been in touch with the regional director. We are concerned for countries in Africa. They [dont] have the capacity to respond to cases. Dr Michael Head, a global health scientist at the University of Southampton, today told MailOnline: 'All countries are on high risk. 'Whatever Sudan have in terms of facilities, will be extremely limited. If there are more than a few cases it may be difficult to contain it.' 'There is quite a few migrant Chinese workers that go to and from Africa a lot to do work such as mining and construction.' He added a few cases would therefore be expected, but any more than a handful in any African nation would be 'concerning'. The killer coronavirus outbreak has now killed 133 people and struck down more than 6,000 in 19 different countries. Cases have been spotted in Canada, US, France and Australia World Health Organization figures show just 2,014 patients had been struck down with the SARS-like infection by Sunday, January 26. This has now risen dramatically to 6,168, with cases in the US, Australia and Canada As well as a dramatic increase in cases of the never-before-seen virus, figures also show the number of deaths have spiralled 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 WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THIS CORONAVIRUS? 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 lung 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 the Wuhan coronavirus kill? Yes 133 people have so far died after testing positive for the virus. What are the symptoms? Some people who catch the Wuhan coronavirus may not have any symptoms at all, or only very mild ones like a sore throat or a headache. Others may suffer from a fever, cough or trouble breathing. And a small proportion of patients will go on to develop severe infection which can damage the lungs or cause pneumonia, a life-threatening condition which causes swelling and fluid build-up in the lungs. 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 around China and are known to have spread from person to person. CLICK HERE TO SEE MAILONLINE'S FULL Q&A ON THE CORONAVIRUS Advertisement And Dr Head warned Ebola a haemorrhagic fever that killed 11,000 people in 2014-16 will be 'fresh in the memory for African countries'. But he said: 'Its good the country has picked up those cases because surveillance there is generally weaker. 'The fact theyve managed to spot the case is a good thing so well wait to see if it comes back as positive.' Nineteen countries, including China, have confirmed cases of the never-before-seen coronavirus, which experts believe came from bats or snakes. However, suspected patients have cropped up in a host of other countries since the outbreak first began at the end of December. Both the US and Canada have confirmed cases, while the infection has also reached Europe with patients struck down in France and Germany. Britain has yet to record any cases - latest figures show almost 100 people have been tested for the virus but all have come back negative. In other developments to the ever-growing outbreak today, MailOnline this morning revealed how cases have tripled since Sunday. Just 2,014 patients had been struck down with the SARS-like infection by January 26. This has now risen to 6,168, official figures show. It means the escalating crisis in mainland China is now bigger than the 2003 SARS epidemic, when 5,327 cases of the killer virus were confirmed. Health officials in Beijing have said they fear the epidemic will continue to get worse and peak 'in the next 10 days'. Around 200 British nationals are gearing up to be flown back to London tomorrow via chartered plane in a landmark evacuation mission. And in a turn of events, the UK has asked the EU for help to repatriate expats - just two days before it crashes out of the bloc. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said evacuees will be held in quarantine in a military base for two weeks to stop the virus spreading on home soil. A US evacuation flight that took off from Wuhan yesterday is on its way to a military base in Ontario, California. Japan has also already rescued residents. A pilot wearing a protective suit parks a cargo plane at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province Chinese tourists wearing protective masks queue at Don Mueang airport in Bangkok, Thailand, as they wait to board flights back to China New Delhi, Jan 29 : From global aviation and automaker companies to Starbucks and Apple, the alarmed industrial world on Wednesday scrambled to stop travel to China while closing certain operations as the number of confirmed Novel Coronavirus cases jumped to 5,974 -- surpassing the 5,327 cases in mainland China during the SARS outbreak in 2002-2003. The death toll climbed to 132 -- still lower than 348 people who died owing to SARS in China but the greater threat loom as nonone has answers to how severe the 2019-nCoV outbreak is. Warning of an upcoming financial hit from the China virus outbreak, Starbucks closed nearly 2,000 restaurants out of 4,292 stores it operates in the country. British Airways (BA) suspended all direct flights to and from mainland China because of the coronavirus outbreak, reports the BBC. BA operates daily routes to Beijing and Shanghai from London's Heathrow airport. "We apologize to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority," BA said in a statement. Several other airlines like United Airlines, Air Canada and Cathay Pacific Airways have already cancelled some flights to China. In India, Air India and IndiGo said they would suspend some flight services to mainland China and Hong Kong owing to the outbreak of Coronavirus. According to The New York Times, automakers Ford and Toyota said they would idle some of their vast Chinese assembly plants. Ford and Renault would only resume production at their China factories after extended breaks for the Chinese New Year holiday. Facebook and other high-profile US firms have also told their employees not to travel to China. Apple which has a strong China base in both manufacturing and retail segments, said that the company has closed one of its retail stores and has restricted employees' business travel to the country. "We're taking additional precautions and frequently deep-cleaning our stores as well as conducting temperature checks for employees. While our sales within the Wuhan area itself are small, retail traffic has also been impacted outside of this area, across the country in the last few days," said Apple CEO Tim Cook. While McDonald's has suspended business in five cities in the affected Hubei province while the owner of KFC and Pizza Hut has closed outlets in Wuhan. Disney has closed its Shanghai and Hong Kong resorts, according to multiple media reports. Meanwhile, countries began evacuating their citizens from Wuhan. A chartered plane carrying 201 Americans from Wuhan landed in Anchorage, Alaska and after a proper health check-up, departed for their final destination at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County, California, according to media reports. Several countries like Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia and India were in the process to evacuate citizens from Wuhan. The Indian government has requested China to clear a flight that could evacuate about 300 citizens from Wuhan. Air India is likely to operate a flight service to Wuhan on January 31 to evacuate Indians stuck in the city due to the outbreak of Coronavirus. In a bid to curb the spread of the virus, Chinese authorities have closed transportation services across many parts of the country, including Wuhan. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) As many as 15 Afghanistan security personnel were killed in a Taliban attack on a base in northern Kunduz province, an official said on Wednesday. "The attack took place on Tuesday night at a joint security forces base in Dasht-e-Archi district," reported TOLOnews citing a source from the security force. The official said that 14 soldiers and a policeman were killed in the attack, and eight soldiers, two police, and three local police were wounded. Moreover, the Taliban took four other soldiers captive. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack, however, Afghan security forces have not commented on it yet. According to the officials, this comes after a Taliban attack in Baghlan province on Monday night during which at least nine police personnel were killed. The attack occurred at a police base in Khawja Alwan in Pul-e-Khumri, the center of Baghlan. There were other reports that 16 policemen were killed in the attack, including commanders, however, the Baghlan police have not yet confirmed the casualties. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Realty firm Tulip Infratech will invest Rs 275 crore to develop a luxury housing project in Gurugram, Haryana, in partnership with a local land owner, a top company official said on Wednesday. The company will construct 780 apartments, including 150 for the economically weaker section (EWS), in this project. "We have partnered with a local landlord who owns nearly 8 acre land parcel in Gurugram. The company will develop a premium housing project on this land," Tulip Infratech's CMD Parveen Jain said. Jain, who is also vice-chairman of the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO), did not disclose the name of the local partner. The construction work will start soon and project would be completed in the next four years. The company has fixed the selling price at Rs 5,100 per sq ft. The price of an apartment starts from Rs 96 lakh. On investment, Jain said the project cost is estimated at around Rs 275 crore and the same would be funded through internal accruals. "We are a zero debt company," he added. Tulip Infratech has so far completed around 12 projects comprising over 5,000 apartments. It recently started construction of an another project comprising 80 units with an investment of around Rs 45 crore. On housing market, Jain said the overall demand is subdued, but sales are happening in projects of those developers who have good execution track record. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 Trend: The modernization work which is carried out at the Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery is under the control of the Azerbaijani leadership and an important project for the country, President of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic SOCAR Rovnag Abdullayev said. Abdullayev made the remark in Baku during a meeting held recently with a delegation led by Giuseppe Zuccaro, president and CEO of the Italian Amec Foster Wheeler company (part of the Wood Group), Trend reports referring to SOCARs statement. During the meeting, the sides discussed the ongoing modernization of the Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery, cooperation with the Italian company - a contractor for structure optimization and project management, as well as the successful activity of SOCAR Foster Wheeler, a joint venture of SOCAR, as well as the role of the newly created SOCAR Downstream company in the project. "Amec Foster Wheeler has been cooperating with SOCAR for more than 10 years, Zuccaro added. Presently, more than 60,000 employees work in the companies belonging to the Wood Group, of which 9,000 employees work in the oil refining and petrochemical industries. The cooperation of SOCAR and Wood Group, which started with the STAR project in Turkey, is currently underway in the process of modernizing the Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery," Zuccaro said. Zuccaro expressed confidence that this cooperation will be fruitful and the project will be successfully implemented. During the meeting, the sides exchanged the views on the activity of SOCAR Foster Wheeler joint venture, the message said. The joint venture is one of the few joint ventures that offer engineering services at a high level. SOCAR-Foster Wheeler Engineering LLC, established by SOCAR and Foster Wheeler as a joint venture in 2012, renders engineering, procurement, construction control and project management services for oil refining, petrochemistry and environmental protection. SUNBURY A Northumberland County judge has refused to reinstate a Catholic school teacher who was fired for being pregnant, unwed and with no immediate plans to marry the father. Judge Hugh A. Jones in an opinion made public Tuesday found the one-year contract Naiad Reich signed June 14, 2018, to teach at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School near Shamokin provided no guarantee of future employment. It was one of the decisions made on preliminary objections raised by the defense in the suit against the Diocese of Harrisburg, Bishop Ronald W. Gainer and Sister Mary Anne Bednar, the school principal, over her termination. Jones pointed he must resolve issues at this stage of the litigation solely on the pleadings to date and must accept as true all the material averments in the complaint. The court cannot state there is no possible recovery available on allegations that include termination for immorality violated her contract, he wrote. Jones found Reich had alleged sufficient facts to support her civil rights claim she was discriminated against by virtue of her pregnancy. He also refused to remove six paragraphs from the complaint that the defendants contended contained immaterial and impertinent claims. Those paragraphs cited statements made by board member Tony Varano that firing Reich was a bad decision and short-sighted. "We are pleased that Judge Jones has ruled that we may proceed on our claims for declaratory judgment and unlawful discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, said her attorney Timothy A. Bowers. We look forward to taking those claims to trial." Reich, who has not married, is the mother of what her attorney says is a healthy baby girl. The diocese in a statement said it continues to believe Gainer and Bednar carefully considered diocesan policy and pastoral care when making their decisions in this case. We will continue to work with our legal counsel throughout the remainder of this process. The diocese also believes that the liberty of religious institutions to set religious expectations for those who serve in our ministries is ultimately what is at stake in this case. As our Catholic schools are seen as extensions of the church and are a primary means of teaching future generations about the faith, the expectations that our professional employees uphold the teachings of the Catholic Church are of the utmost concern. "This unfortunate situation is a church issue and the church needs to have its religious prerogative respected. This was the second time Reich, a secondary English teacher, has lost a bid for reinstatement. Jones last May denied her request for a preliminary injunction that would have put her back in the classroom. Reich, who is not Catholic, was fired verbally Nov. 30, 2018, and later formally by letter for violating the Catholic policy that states an employee respects the dignity of the marriage doctrine on human sexuality. Gainer denied her appeal but directed that she receive her $27,775 salary through the end of the school year and paid health insurance through July 31. Reichs suit that seeks unspecified damages accuses the diocese of discrimination by firing a female, qualified teacher employed in a non-ministerial capacity. Bednar testified at a court hearing last March 29, Reich likely would not have been fired if she would have agreed to marry her paramour Matt Graboski. 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. -- Other recent John Beauge stories Steelton man gets state prison term for stealing money from skills games Former owners of Lycoming County motel owe feds $1.18M, government says Dauphin County, ex-warden deny allegation female inmate was thrown to floor Dispute between financial planning firms settled out of court Ex-Williamsport high baseball coach files defamation suit against sports reporter, Fox, others Geisinger sues to prevent New Jersey health system from breaking away Australian scientists have developed the first lab-grown coronavirus outside of China (PA) Scientists have successfully grown a version of the Wuhan coronavirus which could pave the way for the development of a vaccine against the deadly illness. Researchers from The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute) in Melbourne said the breakthrough will allow for accurate investigation and diagnosis of the virus globally. The Doherty Institutes Virus Identification Laboratory Head Dr Julian Druce called the development a game changer. The virus ,which is believed to have emanated from the city in Hubei province, has killed 132 and infected nearly 6,000 people around the world. Chinese officials released the genome sequence of this novel coronavirus, which is helpful for diagnosis, however, having the real virus means we now have the ability to actually validate and verify all test methods and compare their sensitivities and specificities, Dr Druce said. The virus will be used as positive control material for the Australian network of public health laboratories, and also shipped to expert laboratories working closely with the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Europe. Expand Close Infographic: PA Graphics Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Infographic: PA Graphics The virus was grown from a patient sample that the Doherty Institute received on Friday. The laboratory-grown virus is expected to be used to generate an antibody test, which allows detection of the virus in patients who have not yet displayed any symptoms. Deputy Director of the Doherty Institute Dr Mike Catton said the team had been planning for an incident like this for some time. Weve planned for an incident like this for many, many years and thats really why we were able to get an answer so quickly.Dr Mike Catton An antibody test will enable us to retrospectively test suspected patients so we can gather a more accurate picture of how widespread the virus is, and consequently, among other things, the true mortality rate, Dr Catton said. It will also assist in the assessment of effectiveness of trial vaccines. Weve planned for an incident like this for many, many years and thats really why we were able to get an answer so quickly. US Secretary of States visit comes as President Trump faces impeachment debacle at home, which involves Ukraine. Kyiv, Ukraine The timing of the top US diplomats visit to Ukraine, which may become President Donald Trumps political graveyard, could not be more inauspicious. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to arrive in Kyiv on Thursday, one week after a reported tantrum over questions concerning Ukraine. Do you think Americans care about Ukraine? he purportedly yelled at broadcaster Mary Louise Kelly of the National Public Radio (NPR) on January 24. She claimed that he used the F-word in that sentence and many others and asked her to locate Ukraine on a world map. Pompeo accused Kelly of lying, but for him and for US President Donald Trumps White House, Ukraine has become the hottest spot on the political map. Trump is accused of abusing his power by holding back almost $400m in aid to Kyiv to coerce President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to start a corruption investigation into Hunter Biden, former Vice President Joe Bidens son. Trump conditioned the aid on Zelenskyys commitment to provide information on Biden, the presidents former national security adviser John Bolton claimed in his forthcoming book. Most likely, he will discuss the nuances of Ukraine's participation in the US geostrategic manoeuvring in the current year ... this will be a talk about the protection of US interests in Eastern Europe. Alexey Kushch, Kyiv-based analyst Pompeos trip was initially planned for early January, but was postponed after the Trump-ordered January 3 assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Observers said the visit is a belated attempt to bring some good news from Ukraine and improve Trumps political standing. During his damage-control visit, Pompeo will seek to signal Washingtons support for Ukraine, not only to Kyiv and Moscow, but also the domestic audience and the Washington establishment, Diyar Autal of Harvard Universitys Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, told Al Jazeera. The Democrat-dominated House of Representatives impeached Trump on December 18 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Zelenskyy (left) listens during a bilateral meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City, New York, US, on September 25, 2019 [Jonathan Ernst/Reuters] Although 17 officials testified that Trump pressured Zelenskyy to start the investigation, the embattled president lambasted the inquiry as an attempted coup and claimed his innocence. Having Zelenskyy repeat that he did not feel pressured by President Trump would be a public relations win for him as Republicans continue to deny the now well-established quid pro quo, Autal said. Pompeo will reaffirm US support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, the State Department said in a statement. He will also attend a wreath-laying ceremony at St. Michaels [cathedral in Kyiv] to honour those who have fallen in the Donbass region fighting pro-Russian separatists, it said. US military aid is crucial in a war that has become Europes bleakest armed conflict, claiming more than 13,000 lives since 2014. Given Pompeos determination to mend ties, Zelenskyy may benefit from the meeting. In theory, Zelenskyy must talk about the conversion of a strategic partnership with the US into trade and investment preferences for Ukraine, Alexey Kushch, a Kyiv-based analyst, told Al Jazeera. But most likely, he will discuss the nuances of Ukraines participation in the US geostrategic manoeuvring in the current year. Periphrasing Pompeos words [to NRPs Kelly] about whether Americans care about Ukraine, this will be a talk about the protection of US interests in Eastern Europe. Pompeos tour begins on Wednesday in the United Kingdom. After visiting Kyiv on Thursday, he will travel to neighbouring Belarus and two Central Asian republics where Washington is losing its political grip and is not likely to regain it because of Russias assertiveness in its former backyard. Belarus, the ex-Soviet nation of 10 million, is ruled by President Alexander Lukashenko. In the late 1990s, he and then-Russian President Boris Yeltsin agreed to create a union state with a single government, parliament and currency. Lukashenko, a former collective farm chief, was enthusiastic about the deal at the time, apparently hoping to replace ailing Yeltsin. But after Vladimir Putin took the helm, Lukashenko used the agreement to keep Belarusian economy afloat with discounted Russian crude and trade preferences. In the past two years, Moscow began to aggressively urge Belarus to closer integrate in what many analysts see as an attempt to make Putin, whose fourth and constitutionally last presidential term expires in 2024, leader of a brand new state with a brand new constitution. The Kremlin will push Lukashenko or buy him in the end because he has no other choice, a veteran Belarusian journalist told Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity. Pompeo will meet Lukashenko and his Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei on Friday to underscore the US commitment to a sovereign, independent, stable and prosperous Belarus, and affirm our desire to normalize our bilateral relations, according to the State Department statement. Although Lukashenko is obviously cornered, he is unlikely to change his decades-long ways, and the West is hardly going to be able to rescue his political fortunes. Lukashenko was forced to trade away part of his countys sovereignty, and the West and NATO are in no position to save Belarus from Moscows embrace, Davis Centers Autal said. Central Asia visit Pompeo will then fly to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, two key nations of ex-Soviet Central Asia, a mostly Muslim, oil-rich region of more than 60 million. Russia calls Central Asia its soft underbelly, and China sees it as an integral part of its ambitious One Belt, One Road project aimed at reviving the ancient Great Silk Road. After the Soviet collapse, the European Union and the US rushed to stake their interest there and to tap newly-discovered, immense hydrocarbon reserves in the Caspian Sea. Under Trump, the US showed little interest in the region something Pompeo will try to catch up on during his February 1 3 trip. First of all, we expect the US to present a new strategy on Central Asia, Kazakhstans Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdy told Kazakh media back on December 23. In March, Kazakhstan underwent a cosmetic political makeover after its only post-Soviet ruler, ageing autocrat Nursultan Nazarbayev, stepped down, but retained much of his power by holding several positions such as Security Council chairman and leader of the ruling Nur-Otan party. Neighbouring Uzbekistan went through more dramatic changes after the 2016 death of its iron-fisted President Islam Karimov who kicked out a US military base on the Afghan border in 2005 after Washington criticised his violent suppression of a popular revolt that left hundreds dead. His successor, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, started cautious reforms and tried to mend ties with the West, but has recently gravitated towards Russia. Pompeo will be in the capital, Tashkent, for meetings with Mirziyoyev and five foreign ministers of all Central Asian states. Experts, however, do not expect any breakthroughs. The US is ready to support reforms in Uzbekistan, but so far, the reforms havent reached the level that would make it attractive to serious US investment, Alisher Ilkhamov, a London-based Central Asia expert, told Al Jazeera. Uzbekistan may join the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), a free-trade bloc of ex-Soviet republics widely seen as the Kremlins attempt to revive the Soviet Union. The West opposed the move, but Uzbekistan is going to enter the EEU in the nearest future limiting its chances to attract investment from Western nations, Ilkhamov said. Britain's prime minister Boris Johnson has said he wants a points-based immigration system. Photo: BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images Prime minister Boris Johnson has promised an Australian-style points-based immigration system, and a new report this week sets out how it could work. Downing Street has said Johnson will carefully consider the review, which was commissioned by government and is expected to form the basis of Britains post-Brexit migration rules. While the biggest changes will come for EU citizens hoping to move to the UK, the proposals would affect all migrants seeking skilled worker or employer-sponsored visas. Here is what the Migration Advisory Committees (MAC) report could mean for UK immigration: What is an Australian-style points-based system? A points-based system means assigning applicants points for different characteristics, and accepting some or all migrants who score highly enough when their total points are tallied. Australia has had a points-based system since the 1970s, though more migrants enter through other visa routes. Other countries like Canada and New Zealand also have them. The focus on new points-based rules will strike some migration experts as strange, as part of Britains immigration system is already points-based. Non-EU migrants who have a job offer are among those already following a points-based route, introduced under former prime minister Tony Blair. But Professor Alan Manning, chair of the MAC, has said this was points-based in name only as migrants had to meet all criteria, rather than simply accruing enough points. How would it work in the UK? The MACs report proposed a new truly points-based system for migrants looking to move to the UK without a job offer. It could affect many EU workers who currently enjoy free movement without restrictions. Points would be awarded for things like: higher-level qualifications, with UK degrees rewarded most; skills in sectors the government wants to encourage, like science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM); language skills; and exceptional promise for younger applicants. Story continues A purely points-based system wouldnt include a cap on numbers, but the committee backed quotas, without suggesting a potential level. Migrants with the highest points would be chosen if applications exceed the limits. READ MORE: Firms fear staff shortages and red tape from skill and salary rules Migrants would apply through an expression of interest form, with a set number each month then invited to submit full applications. The MAC said the new points system could replace the current Tier 1 exceptional talent visa for migrants without job offers, or form an entirely new visa. The committee said the current exceptional talent visa sets too high a bar, as only 600 out of a potential 2,000 visas were handed out last year. The report proposed re-writing the points criteria to increase the number of eligible migrants. What are the rules for migrants with job offers? The MAC recommended the government keep and expand the current Tier 2 general visas. These are currently open to non-EU workers looking to move to the UK, but EU workers would also be eligible when free movement ends. These visas currently require most applicants to have a job offer that earns at least 30,000, and are limited to jobs defined as medium- and high-skilled. However, the report said the minimum salary should be lowered from 30,000 to 25,600, a move welcomed by employers who fear shortages of lower-paid staff. READ MORE: UK government told to lower migrant salary cap Exceptions to the salary cap would be made for some roles in health and education. But the thresholds would be even higher and reviewed annually in sectors where average pay is higher. It essentially says that the government neednt bother with a points system for people coming to the UK with a job offer, and that the current system relying on employer sponsorship should work fine for these people, according to Denis Kierans of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford. Are there other routes into the UK? The MAC only looked at salary cap proposals and a potential points-based scheme. There are a wide range of other existing schemes, from investor and entrepreneur visas to study routes and family member visas and permits. Johnson recently also promised an uncapped global talent visa for scientists, and the government is still considering proposals to allow temporary workers in low-skilled jobs to come to the UK. It is not clear whether the government will consider broad reform of the immigration system ahead of implementation next year but the timeline suggests it would be unlikely. Officials are planning to roll out changes from January next year. The government says more details on the points-based system will be published on its website as it becomes available. READ MORE: Curbs on EU migration could fuel people smuggling Only blocks away from where two shooters gunned down four people in Jersey City last month in what was ruled a hate crime, former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords and Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday announced a $20 million plan to combat gun violence. Giffords, who was the victim of a near-fatal shooting in 2011, said its time to come together and tackle gun violence. Nine hospitals across the state will share in the $20 million in federal grants for hospital-based violence intervention programs. The money is for hospitals in areas with high gun violence and goes to support programs that combine medical services with education, counseling and social services, the governors office said. Murphy referred to it as a holistic approach to curb violence and said New Jersey will have the largest program of its kind in the country. Stopping gun violence takes courage, the courage to do whats right, Giffords said to a room of at least 150 people inside the Mary McLeod Bethune Life Center in Jersey City. Be bold, be courageous. The nations counting on you, she added. We must never stop fighting. Fight, fight, fight! Murphy praised Giffords praised her for being a powerful voice for good. We have found a ready partner in our work to take on gun violence and the gun lobby, the Democratic governor said. Because of her, we are going to win this fight. Hospitals chosen to receive the funding were picked, in part, because they had to be associated with local community organizations to provide the types of social services the program will fund. The nine hospitals that will receive funding are: Center for Family Services City of Camden Trinitas Health Foundation Elizabeth Atlantic Care Atlantic City Capital Health Trenton Jersey City Medical Center (RWJBarnabas) Jersey City RWJ University Hospital New Brunswick Serving Middlesex, Somerset and Union Counties University Hospital Newark Jersey Shore University Medical Center/Hackensack Meridian Monmouth County Focusing on Asbury Park, Neptune Township and Long Branch City St. Josephs Health Paterson Giffords has come to New Jersey multiple times within recent years to advocate for control or stump for a political candidate. In 2016, she and her husband, Mark Kelly, the former astronaut and New Jersey native, met with local Democrats to stump for the then-frontrunner of the partys 2016 presidential campaign, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The couple was at the Katz Jewish Community Center in Cherry Hill. Giffords held private meetings and a public discussion in 2015 with top Democratic lawmakers in the state Senate and Assembly on domestic violence and gun control issues. She also met privately with then-Gov. Chris Christie. Later that year, Christie, a Republican, vetoed the bill she lobbied for that would have tightened a state law that bans convicted domestic violence offenders and those subject to a domestic violence restraining order from possessing a firearm. Murphy, meanwhile, has signed into law many of the gun control measures Christie blocked for his eight years as governor with a New Jerseys Democratic-controlled Legislature. Among the laws he signed are new rules that reduce magazine capacity, ban armor-piercing bullets, make it tougher to obtain a permit to carry a handgun, expand background checks on private gun sales, and keep firearms out of the hands of people deemed a threat to themselves and others in New Jersey. Murphy has vowed to make New Jersey a national leader in common-sense gun safety. 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. The family of a Connecticut man fatally shot by a state trooper is calling for the officer to be fired and criminally prosecuted. Mubarak Soulemane, 19, was shot and killed January 15 after a reported carjacking and high-speed chase that ended near Interstate 95 in West Haven, according to the Connecticut State Police. Family and friends of the young man, who say he'd been diagnosed with schizophrenia, held a protest this week following the state police's release of video of the shooting from the body cameras and the in-car cameras of officers involved in the incident. Police said a white Hyundai was carjacked in Norwalk by Soulemane armed with a knife. He led police on a high-speed chase on I-95 into New Haven, police said. He struck two cruisers and a civilian vehicle before he was boxed in by troopers shortly after exiting the interstate, according to police. Police camera footage shows a trooper breaking the passenger side window while other officers shout at the driver to exit the car. An attempt to use a stun gun on Soulemane proved "ineffective," police said in a statement. "When the driver displayed a weapon (later determined to be a knife), a Trooper on scene discharged his assigned duty pistol, striking the driver," the statement said. The trooper, identified as Brian North, fired about seven shots through the window at Soulemane in the driver's seat, according to the footage. "Drop the knife!"' a trooper is heard shouting. "It's out of his hands. It's on his lap." North, a state police veteran of 4 years, has been placed on administrative assignment pending an investigation, the statement said. He was the only officer who fired his weapon. It's unclear whether North, who has not been charged with a crime, has an attorney. He did not respond to calls seeking comment. Mother says Soulemane had schizophrenia Soulemane's mother, Omo Klusum Mohammed, told CNN Friday that her son was diagnosed with schizophrenia four years ago. She believes he stopped taking his medication while she was away in Ghana, she said. "They should have used a proper procedure to stop him," Mohammed said. "They're telling him to get out of the car, but the car is blocked, how can he get out? The cop shot him seven times, as if he was an animal. This is murder. They murdered my son." Soulemane, a New Haven resident, died at Yale-New Haven Hospital, police said. The Middlesex State's Attorney's office and the state Division of Criminal Justice are investigating the incident. When asked about state police reports that her son was armed with a knife, Mohammed said she has to see it to believe it. "They have to prove it to us if they say he had a knife," said Mohammed. "Still if he had a knife and he was in the car, then he is not a risk." Soulemane's family was joined by friends and clergy members during a protest Tuesday. The family met with the head of the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, according to CNN affiliate WFSB. "Our Mubarak was someone who could light up the room with his genuine smile and open heart," Soulemane's sister, Mariyann, said in a statement, according to WFSB. "His light was craved by many because he was a respectable, thoughtful and kind human being. Mubarak was the kind of person who would provide shelter for a friend because they had no other place to stay." His mother said the family wants the trooper who killed her son to be fired and prosecuted for murder. "I'm waiting for justice, justice for Mubarak," his mother said. "Whoever committed this crime has to go to jail." She said a memorial service would be held Friday night at Notre Dame High School in West Haven, which her son attended. His funeral is Sunday. Mohammed said she had been in Ghana for four months when one of her sons called her last week. "He was screaming, yelling and crying. I told him, 'What is it?'" she said. "He said, 'The police shot Mubarak, mommy.'" A rendition of the new unified terminal. Aena The Spanish airport authority Aena is planning to invest around 1.5 billion in remodeling its Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas facility as part of its 2022-2026 Strategic Plan. Recently approved by the Aena board of directors, the operation consists of merging Terminals 1, 2 and 3 and expanding Terminal 4 and its satellite 4S to optimize the overall functionality of the airport while raising passenger capacity from 70 to 80 million. The total planned investment is spread out almost equally between the two refurbishment projects. A mock-up of the future unified terminal. Aena As separate units, Terminals 1, 2 and 3 fail to match T4 in efficiency, hence the idea of merging the three terminals to produce one building with one single entrance and a new processing area for passenger distribution, check-in, baggage reclaim and security, to be located in the old parking lot. With the merging of the three terminals, there will be just one access point and one passenger processing area within a high-tech sustainable building. The new passenger distribution area will cover 140,000 square meters spread over three different levels. This area will lead into the existing terminal buildings that, after passing security, will become what is termed the air zone with an expanded shopping area. The redesign will also include a new three-story car park for rental companies and VTC (chauffeured vehicle-for-hire services), with a 1,100-vehicle capacity, to be located just outside the new processing area. On the other side, there will be a new five-story parking lot for private vehicles, with around 2,250 spaces to complement the existing one. Once the roads and accesses have been designed, a gas station may be added. Licenses and red tape Aena, in which the Spanish state has a 51% share, plans to include the project in the Airport Planning and Regulation Document (DORA) for 2022-2026 once the latter has been approved by the government. But if the project is to be ready for presentation within two years, there is no time to lose: the design and engineering work has already been put up for tender and the contract won by a joint venture made up of Typsa and Vidal. Airlines have also been informed of the proposal, given that they will be funding the investment through taxes. Maurici Lucena, president of Aena. Jaime Villanueva The project must also secure the mandatory reports from the National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC) and the General Directorate of Economic Policy, in addition to being submitted to the Airport Coordination Committee. Subsequently, the proposal will be sent to the General Directorate of Civil Aviation, which answers to the Public Works Ministry. According to Aenas timetable, this report must be ready by March 2021 so it can move to the Cabinet for approval before September of that year. Only then can work on the as-yet unnamed terminal begin. Another pending task is the demolition of the ghost building that stands at the entrance to T2, originally meant to accommodate the Sampol Hotel. The stalled 2007 project ended in a lawsuit that was won by Aena in which hotels investors were ordered to pay 9 million in damages, though the question of who is responsible for the building demolition was not addressed. Meanwhile, plans for the expansion of T4 include extending the main building and the satellite northwards to solve passenger capacity issues, while simultaneously helping to develop the hub that the Iberia group aims to establish once it has completed the takeover of Air Europa, which is currently based in T2. The ultimate goal is to reach 120 operations per hour between T4 and the merged 1, 2 and 3 terminal, compared to the current average of 100. The Madrid airport makeover is not the only one that Aena has in the pipeline. The company also plans to invest significantly in other airports around Spain, including El Prat in Barcelona. Going solar Madrid, a EU travel hub The European air transportation sector beat all previous records in 2018 with 1.1 billion passengers passing through EU airports. Recent data published by Eurostat show that the number of travelers rose in all EU countries by 6% with respect to 2017. With the fifth biggest population in Europe, Spain ranks third in passenger transit with 221 million passengers, just behind Germany with 222 million and some way behind the UK, with 272 million. Heathrow, Londons main airport, has the most passengers with 80 million, followed by Charles de Gaulle in Paris with 72 million, Schipol in Amsterdam with 71 million, Frankfurt with 69 million, Spains Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas with 58 million and Barcelona-El Prat with 50 million. In a bid to make the most of its undeveloped land lying close to Spains airports, Aena launched a real-estate scheme to build office space in 2018 while simultaneously boosting commercial and logistics activity on the back of public and private investment. In March 2019, a solar-power project was approved with a proposed investment of 250 million, which will bring an estimated saving of 70% on Aenas annual 75 million electricity bill. With the first phase already being developed by Cyme-Insae for 8.2 million, the solar initiative will cut the carbon footprint by 40%. Besides Madrid and Barcelona, Aena also aims to install solar panels in around 20 of its 46 airports, selecting those with the most unexploited land and the most sun. The remainder of the real-estate scheme is still under development and is expected to be presented next year. The 2022-2026 Strategic Plan includes the replacement of 100% of Aenas cars with clean-energy vehicles by 2025, as well as the replacement of vehicles used for ground handling, which is contracted out. It also proposes an initial installation of 2,300 charging points for electric cars in the parking lot and sockets for aircraft. English version by Heather Galloway. After the appearance of Prime Minister Narender Modi on Bear Grylls show Man Vs Wild, here comes the Thalaiva of the Tollywood film industry the megastar Rajnikanth. And as soon as the news surfaced it spread like wild fire online. The star reached location of shoot for Man vs Wild at Bandipur Tiger Reserve, a National Park in Karnataka. This shooting was scheduled for three days in four different locations. The duo be exploring and talking about the Bandipur forest and nature in the special episode. After this amazing news, came this - the news surfaced on the internet that Rajnikanth was injured while shooting for the show. According to Economics Times reports Megastar Rajnikanth twisted his ankle while shooting for ace adventurer Bear Gryllss Man vs Wild show at the Bandipur Tiger Reserve on Tuesday January 28 2020. "Rajinikanth lost his balance, twisted his ankle and suffered minor bruises to his hand below the elbow," a forest official said. "The actor is okay now," he added. There Are No Injuries: But according to the Times of India report, the news was a false alarm and the mega star Rajnikanth suffered no injuries at the time of the shoot. Times Of India quoted- the officials said "It is all false. As per the screenplay, there was a shot in which Rajinikanth had to fall, so while getting down from the rope, he just fell down and everybody rushed. It was all in the screenplay," T. Balachandra, the reserve's director and conservator of forests, told the media agency. After this, Balachandra - the forest official was quoted as saying "later RajiniKanth got up, completed the shoot and left for Chennai." According to the Bandipur Tiger Reserve director, the Tamil superstar was fine and did not suffer any injury. Balachandra dismissed the news as fake news. The Details Of The Show: Earlier on Tuesday, Rajinikanth visited Karnatakas Bandipur Tiger Reserve to shoot a special episode on nature with the popular hots Bear Grylls. The forest officials said we gave 6-8 hours to channel the shoot at the Bandipur Tiger Reserve He said the one-day shoot began at 11 a.m. on Tuesday and ended by 4 p.m. About Bandipur Tiger Reserve: BandipurTigerreserve.in Bandipur National Park was established in 1974 as a tiger reserve under a project named Tiger. This is a national park located in the Indian state of Karnataka, which is the state with the second highest Tiger population in India. The adjacent Nagarhole National Park is one of the premier Tiger Reserves in the country. It was a private hunting region for the Maharaja of the Kingdom of Mysore but has now been made into the Bandipur Tiger Reserve. Bandipur is popularly known for its wildlife. The National Park is an area of 874 square kilometers, and is home to the it protected species of Indias endangered wildlife. The tiger reserve has listed 28 species of mammals to be there in the forest which includes the Tiger, Asian elephant, common leopard, bonnet macaque, Indian pipistrelle and barking deer, among others. Hopefully, the episode will be aired soon and we will all get to watch it. The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Mitchell Kukulka. Sunday, Jan. 26 11:30 p.m. A 51-year-old woman received harassing phone messages for her estranged ex-boyfriend. The complainant did not want the boyfriend contacted, but requested the incident be documented. 10:27 p.m. Officers performed warrant arrest in the 200 block of West Union Road. 9:31 p.m. Deputies were sent to a Lee Township home for a report of a suicidal 13-year-old girl. The girl had made threatening actions to harm herself, and was transported to the ER where her mother sought treatment for her. The girl was not injured by her actions. 8:55 p.m. Officers responded to a domestic assault in the 3700 block of Isabella Street. 8:49 p.m. Officers responded to an intoxicated driver in the area of S. Saginaw Road and Dartmouth Drive. 6:22 p.m. Officers responded to a hit-and-run crash in the 7300 block of Eastman Avenue. 4:53 p.m. A realtor arrived at a Jasper Township home to show it for prospective buyers. The home is in foreclosure but the original occupants are still living there. The occupants refused to allow the realtor access. The realtor thought this was odd and called the sheriff's office requesting a wellbeing check. A deputy later spoke with the occupant, who said he did not want to deal with the realtor and wanted to try and sell the home himself before the bank kicks them out. 3:55 p.m. Officers responded to a report of computer crimes in the 4900 block of Whisper Ridge. 2:55 p.m. A 25-year-old man was assaulted by his 25-year-old wife at their Lee Township residence. The wife was arrested for the assault and transported to the Midland County Jail. 2:44 p.m. Deputies responded to a car-dog crash in Midland Township. 2:40 p.m. A deputy and Michigan State Police trooper responded to a Greendale Township residence for a possible domestic assault. 1:42 p.m. Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Geneva Township. 12:18 p.m. Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of Jefferson Avenue and Joe Mann Boulevard. 2:34 a.m. Officers responded to an intoxicated driver in the area of W. Main Street and N. Saginaw Road. Imagine a pristine T&T where there are no more homeless people or animals. One where hunger has been eliminated as the relic of a bygone era. A world where pipe-borne water is delivered to every home every day, not wasted in an archaic system where significant leaks are either ignored or washed out to sea. Eight soldiers and four policemen also injured after Taliban fighters attack security checkpoints in Kunduz province. At least 13 Afghan security forces have been killed and several more injured after Taliban fighters attacked security checkpoints in northern Kunduz province, officials have said. Eight soldiers and at least four policemen were injured in the overnight assault while three others were taken captive by Taliban fighters, provincial councillor Safiullah Amiri and Aminullah Aydin told German news agency DPA. The fighters launched the attack from several directions on security checkpoints in the Dasht-e Archi district of Kunduz on Tuesday at about midnight. The clashes continued through early Wednesday morning, the district governor Saduddin Sayyed said. Sayyed also confirmed that the Taliban seized weapons but said the checkpoints were now back under the control of government forces. The attack came a day after at least 11 police officers were killed and six others wounded in an attack carried out by the armed group in the capital of Baghlan province. Kunduz is among the most volatile provinces in Afghanistan where the Taliban have a huge presence and regularly carry out attacks against the government forces. The new wave of attacks against Afghan forces came while US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad is in Brussels to update NATO officials on the recently relaunched United States-Taliban talks. The US has been engaging with the Taliban, which has waged an armed rebellion since it was toppled from power in a US-led invasion in 2001. The US military action came following the September 11, 2001 attacks. But amid the US-Taliban talks, which were first initiated nearly two years ago, violence has gone up with a rising death toll of civilians. Both the West-backed government as well as the Taliban have been blamed for the deaths. Last year, the US forces dropped a record number of bombs on Afghanistan. Comedian Dave Chappelle surprised his audience in Ames, Iowa Tuesday night by bringing his endorsement of 2020 hopeful Andrew Yang to life - welcoming the presidential candidate to the stage at the end of his set. 'Andrew Yang is my mother f***ing man,' Chappelle exclaimed, joking that he'd take the $12,000 annual 'Freedom Dividend' - the centerpiece of Yang's campaign - even though he's rich. Chappelle was performing what was supposed to be a solo show on the campus of Iowa State University, when he announced Yang as 'the politics' next Rocky.' Earlier, Chappelle explained to DailyMail.com how he became a member of the so-called 'Yang Gang.' 'I called a friend of mine after the first debates ... I didn't see the debate. I said "who'd you like?" He said, "I liked the Chinese guy." I thought he was joking. And he told me about Andrew Yang,' Chappelle recalled. Comedian Dave Chappelle (right) surprised his audience at Iowa State University Tuesday night by bringing presidential candidate Andrew Yang (left), whom he supports, onstage Andrew Yang (pictured) entered the auditorium as Dave Chappelle asked the crowd to welcome 'the politics' next Rocky' Andrew Yang (left) gave a quick pitch to comedian Dave Chappelle's (right) Iowa crowd. Chappelle was already expected to hold back-to-back shows in South Carolina later this week. The Iowa event was a surprise Dave Chappelle talked to reporters about how his Andrew Yang endorsement came to be before he brought the candidate onstage with him at a Tuesday night event at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa Andrew Yang (center) then joined Dave Chappelle (right) backstage and they talked about what brought them together. After tonight, Chappelle will host back-to-back comedy shows in South Carolina in support of Yang's campaign In January Andrew Yang (left) met with comedian Dave Chappelle (right) in Los Angeles and the two decided to team up Andrew Yang leaves a campaign event Tuesday at the Perry Perk coffee shop in Perry Iowa with just six days to go before the Iowa caucuses Democratic hopeful Andrew Yang's bus is photographed outside a campaign event at Perry Perk in Perry, Iowa Tuesday Chappelle soon had his hands on Yang's book, 'The War on Normal People.' 'I couldn't believe what I read,' Chappelle said, and he asked his wife to get ahold of Yang's campaign. 'I found him to be something that's real hard to be as a candidate - he was inspiring,' Chappelle said. The duo first met in December on the sidelines of the Los Angeles Democratic debate. Chappelle said he was 'vetted' by Yang's campaign, while Yang admitted to being a big fan. 'Dave is such a profound thinker in so many ways,' gushed Yang. Yang said the two clicked when talking about their kids - and a brief meeting turned into something more substantial. 'His narrative and the courage it took for him to be the first Asian-American, with a real go of a presidential race - and I believed him,' Chappelle listed as why he found Yang compelling. Chappelle also pointed to what Yang's signature policy - universal basic income, which he calls the 'freedom dividend' - could do for the people where he lives in Dayton, Ohio. 'If you take a poll in Dayton and say what would you rather have, $12,000 or a year or health insurance, everyone's taking the money. Like health insurance is great, but groceries are necessary too,' Chappelle explained. 'The Chappelle Show' host noted how the wealth disparity between he and his neighbors is 'immense.' 'It's heartbreaking. And if you know that a third of the people up the street can't buy groceries then you start to feel an imperative concern,' he explained. On Wednesdsay, Dave Chappelle (left) will travel to South Carolina and put on shows two nights in a row on behalf of Andrew Yang's (right) campaign Yang's 'freedom dividend' gives Americans over 18 $1,000 a month and they can do whatever they want with it. 'This would alleviate a lot of the bad feelings in the country, almost immediately,' Chappelle told the small group of reporters gathered at Stephens Auditorium. 'It's an important idea and for some reason I feel like it didn't get the appropriate media coverage.' Chappelle said he also liked Yang's 'pragmatism.' 'I don't look at Trump's supporters as my enemy at all,' Chappelle said. 'I understand why people vote for Trump. I understand people are desparate and I think Andrew's right, you run against the reasons Trump got elected.' Chappelle talked about having friends and fans on both sides of the aisle, and noted that it sometimes can't taint a performer's career to openly back a candidate. 'But this idea is so good that I think it should exist,' he said. 'What I'm trying to do is make people aware of an option that I think is fantastic. People are always going to do what they want to do. I don't want to be insulting to people - I'm a nightclub comedian, that's what I do.' Chappelle even admitted that he didn't know anything about Iowa's caucus process. While onstage with Yang he asked the audience when it was, to laughs. The Iowa caucuses are held Monday. 'I've asked locals about it and they say it's like playing musical chairs,' Chappelle said. 'But I know it does set the tone for the rest of the election.' Chappelle will move on to South Carolina - the fourth state that votes - and do back-to-back comedy shows that benefit the Yang campaign Wednesday and Thursday. His Tuesday night show at Iowa State University wasn't part of the campaign effort, which is why Yang's appearance was a surprise. Yang got heavy applause, while several audience members yelled 'Yang Gang' at the candidate. 'I just appreciate the hell out of him,' Yang said of Chappelle's endorsement. Sundram Fasteners Ltd, part of the USD 8.5 billion TVS Group, on Wednesday said it has set up a unit to produce high precision engineering components for giving an impetus to its exports besides diversifying customer base. The new unit at Sri City in neighbouring Tada in Andhra Pradesh has been set up at an initial investment of Rs 100 crore and it would manufacture and export high precision engineering components to a leading manufacturer in Europe for onward supply to global OEM customers. The unit has commenced commercial production and has made the first shipment to Germany on January 27. The city-based company in a statement said the unit would provide further impetus to export through addition of products to its portfolio as well as diversifying customer base. Meanwhile, the company declared the financial results for the period October-December 2019. Net profit on standalone basis for the quarter under review was at Rs 103.06 crore as against Rs 111.53 crore recorded same period last year. Revenue from operations for the quarter ending December 31, 2019 was at Rs 692.80 crore as against Rs 1,018.84 crore recorded same period last year. Due to the drop in industry volumes, the company said domestic sales was lower at Rs 446.05 crore as against Rs 608.48 crore during same period last year. Exports for the quarter under review was at Rs 224.18 crore as against Rs 370.67 crore in same period of last year. The earnings before interest, depreciation and taxes for the quarter ending December 31, 2019 was at Rs 124.54 crore as against Rs 195.15 crore registered corresponding period last year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vodafone to sell stake in Egyptian unit to Saudi Telecom for $2.4 billion The building of Vodafone Egypt Telecommunications Co is seen at the Smart Village in the outskirts of Cairo DUBAI/CAIRO (Reuters) - Vodafone Group has struck a preliminary deal to sell its 55% stake in its Egyptian unit to Saudi Arabia's largest telecoms operator STC <7010.SE> for $2.4 billion, the companies said on Wednesday. The non-binding deal values Vodafone Egypt at $4.4 billion (3.35 billion pounds)and the two companies have agreed a arrangement over the long-term use of the Vodafone brand and other services in Egypt. Selling the stake is in line with Vodafone's efforts to streamline its operations to focus on Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, Vodafone Chief Executive Nick Read said. "It will reduce our net debt and unlock value for our shareholders," he said. Vodafone said the transaction was expected to close by June. STC said the non-binding agreement was valid for 75 days from Wednesday and could be extended by mutual consent. "Vodafone Egypt is the leading player in the Egyptian mobile market and we look forward to contributing further to its continuing success," said STC Chief Executive Nasser al-Nasser. The binding agreement is subject to approvals by STC and Vodafone, and regulators. STC said no other parties were involved in the potential deal. STC, also known as Saudi Telecom, is majority owned by Saudi Arabia's state fund the Public Investment Fund (PIF). Telecom Egypt , which also owns a stake in Vodafone Egypt, said on Wednesday it was closely monitoring the process "to study all available alternatives for it to handle its investments in Vodafone Egypt". The state-owned company said on Sunday it had no intention of selling its stake. (Reporting by Alexander Cornwell, Stephen Kalin and Ehab Farouk; Editing by Louise Heavens and Mark Potter) With less than two weeks to go before the Iowa caucuses, Social Security has emerged as a major point of contention in the Democratic presidential primary. The fight: Sen. Bernie Sanders recently amped up his criticism of Joe Bidens record on protecting the safety net program, criticizing the former vice president for what he described as a decades-long record of openness to bipartisan reforms that would cut Social Security benefits or raise the retirement age. The Sanders campaign pointed to Biden statements related to Social Security dating back to 1984 and to Bidens support in 1995 for a balanced budget amendment. Bidens camp hit back and brought more media attention to Sanderss criticism in the process. Biden on Saturday demanded an apology from the Sanders campaign for circulating what he called a doctored video that suggested he agreed with Paul Ryan in 2018 regarding the need to cut Social Security benefits. The video wasnt altered, but Bidens camp claims his remarks were sarcastic and taken out of context. (Biden, in those 2018 comments, did go on to say that Social Security still needs adjustments.) Bidens camp insists that the former vice president is a champion of Social Security and points out that hes now pushing for the programs expansion. Hes running on a plan to significantly grow its benefits, paid for with new taxes on the wealthiest Americans, a campaign spokesperson told Reuters. Sanders reportedly acknowledged that the one video in question didnt provide the whole context of Bidens remarks, but he continued to hammer away at his broader point. I think anyone who looks at the vice presidents record understands that, time after time after time, Joe has talked about the need to cut Social Security, Sanders told reporters Sunday at a campaign stop in Concord, New Hampshire. Sanders campaign manager, Faiz Shakir, said Biden should be honest with voters and stop trying to doctor his own public record of consistently and repeatedly trying to cut Social Security. Story continues Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Sunday joined in on the attack on Biden. Bernie Sanders and I established the Expand Social Security Caucus in the Senate, she told Politico. As a senator, Joe Biden had a very different position on Social Security, and I think everyone's records on Social Security are important in this election. The context: Biden now calls for preserving and expanding Social Security, including scrapping the payroll tax cap and increasing benefits for older Americans. There will be no compromise on cutting Medicare & Social Security, period. Thats a promise, Biden said Monday at the 2020 Iowa Brown & Black Presidential Forum. But, as the Sanders camp says, he has previously been willing to negotiate with Republicans over deals that would have slowed the growth of Social Security benefits or raised the retirement age. Biden during his time in the Senate publicly expressed an openness to either freezing year-over-year cost-of-living increases, as part of a bipartisan plan to slow federal spending, or raising the retirement age in order to preserve the program while managing the federal budget, CNNs Gregory Krieg reports. The Obama administration also negotiated a debt-reduction grand bargain with Republicans that, had it not collapsed, would have slowed Social Security cost-of-living increases and raised the Medicare eligibility age in exchange for new taxes. Sanders, meanwhile, has been a consistent advocate for expanding Social Security and opposed cuts proposed during the Obama administration. Last year, he reintroduced legislation to shore up the programs finances and raise benefits by increasing payroll taxes on incomes above $250,000 and imposing a new tax on investment income. Why it matters: The latest battle, and Bidens current position, highlights a shift in the Democratic Party. In proposing a Social Security plan during the primary with none of the cuts or changes he once countenanced, Biden has moved more toward Sanders a triumph for a progressive movement that fought for years to ensure Democratic politicians would only consider growing the program, instead of raising age eligibility requirements or freezing cost-of-living adjustments to make it pay out less, Politicos Marc Caputo and Holly Otterbein wrote recently. The political question now is just how vulnerable Biden might be with the Democratic electorate, or facing off against Trump, given his past positions. So is the idea of a grand bargain dead? [T]he Sanders campaign is doctoring fiscal reality, which is that Social Security cant continue in its present form. As early as this year Social Security benefits will exceed the amount collected in payroll taxes. This means benefits will have to be paid out of trust-fund asset reserves set to run out in 2035, The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board argued. Its possible the Social Security attack will hurt Mr. Biden in Iowa, which has an older population than most states. But the larger damage will be to the cause of fiscal compromise if a Democrat wins the White House. Mr. Trump has little interest in reforming entitlements, and House Democrats would block him anyway. The best chance at a bipartisan reform would be a Democrat like Mr. Biden or Michael Bloomberg working with a GOP Congress. Given Bidens latest pledge to protect Social Security, any bipartisan grand bargain might have to take a very different form than the last one. Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter. 'The Mighty Ducks' former child star Shaun Weiss arrested for meth, burglary originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Former child actor and star of The Mighty Ducks Shaun Weiss has been arrested after breaking into a car in a garage while under the influence of methamphetamine. The incident occurred on Sunday at approximately 7 a.m. in Marysville, California, when a call was made to the Marysville Police Department by a man reporting that an unknown male was inside his garage that did not belong there and that a burglary was in progress. The homeowner said he was the only person that lived at this residence and no one had permission to be inside, said the Marysville Police Department in a statement. MORE: Half-naked sex offender arrested breaking into home through doggy door When officers arrived on scene they entered the garage and found a male located inside the homeowners vehicle after having allegedly forced entry into the car by shattering the passenger window. Officers noticed shattered glass on the ground and observed that the passenger window to the vehicle was broken. Officers ordered the male out of the vehicle and took him into custody, said Marysville Police Department. The male was identified through his California Drivers License as Shaun Weiss. MORE: Police arrest man with homemade license plate drawn with crayon on a paper bag PHOTO: Marysville Police Department in Marysville, California released this image of former child actor Shaun Weiss after being arrested for being under the influence of methamphetamine and residential burglary on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. (Marysville Police Department) MORE: Man robbed at gunpoint by dating app woman's associates at end of date Weiss, now 40-years-old, is most famously known for his role as Goldberg in the 1992 movie The Mighty Ducks but has many other screen credits to his name on television and in movies such as The Cosby Show, Pee-wees Playhouse,Boy Meets World, Saved by the Bell: The New Class,Freaks and Geeks, and the King of Queens. Authorities said that he displayed symptoms of being under the influence of methamphetamine and informed them that he did not reside at the residence where he was discovered and that the car he was rifling through did not belong to him. Story continues MORE: Man's 'action movie' stunt to escape police backfires spectacularly Weiss was apprehended without incident and taken into the Yuba County Jail and charged for being under the influence of methamphetamine and for residential burglary. He is currently being held on $52,500 bail. China tightens security at railway stations for pneumonia outbreak control People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 11:08, January 28, 2020 BEIJING, Jan. 28 -- China's railway police have boosted security measures at railway stations across the country for the prevention and control of the pneumonia outbreak caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Apart from stepping up patrol and check efforts, railway police officers aided in work related to installing green and quarantine inspection facilities and measuring passengers' body temperatures, the railway public security bureau under the Ministry of Public Security said Monday. The railway police have been helping curb the pneumonia outbreak via intensified checks over live poultry and other animals and the detection of suspected novel coronavirus pneumonia cases and close contact on trains. Arrangements have been in place to ensure that railway police officers on duty are equipped with protective wear, the bureau said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Paris Wed, January 29, 2020 10:42 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206175134 2 World Israel-Palestine-conflict,Israel,#Israel,Palestine,#Palestine,Trump-peace-plan,#Trump-peace-plan Free US President Donald Trump's Middle East plan on Tuesday prompted a lukewarm response from Europe and the UN, and a furious rebuke from key Muslim countries who denounced it as betrayal of the Palestinians. Here are some of the reactions from around to the world to the plan, which had already been resoundingly rejected by Palestinian leaders before Trump launched it alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Palestinian Authority Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, who has taken part in previous US-led peace talks with Israel but stayed away Trump's proposal, vowed that "this conspiracy deal will not pass". He pledged to "resist the deal in all its forms" after meeting with various Palestinian factions in the West Bank city of Ramallah. "Our people will take it to the dustbin of history." Europe Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell said the bloc will "study and assess" Trump's proposals on the basis of its commitment to a "negotiated and viable two-state solution that takes into account the legitimate aspirations of both the Palestinians and the Israelis." Germany, the EU's most powerful player, echoed Borrell's point by calling for a balanced approach. "Only a negotiated two-state solution, acceptable to both sides, can lead to a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said. Britain, which is leaving the EU on Friday and has long had a special relationship with Washington, gave the warmest reaction. "This is clearly a serious proposal, reflecting extensive time and effort," British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement. Earlier, Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to Trump to discuss the plans. Downing Street said the proposal "could prove a positive step forwards". The UN The United Nations said it remains committed to a two-state solution based on the borders in place before the 1967 war, when Israel seized the West Bank and Gaza. "The position of the United Nations on the two-state solution has been defined, throughout the years, by relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions by which the Secretariat is bound," said Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Russia Russia said it would study the plan and called on Israelis and Palestinians to negotiate directly to find a "mutually acceptable compromise." Introducing a note of doubt, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said: "We do not know if the American proposal is mutually acceptable or not. We must wait for the reaction of the parties." Turkey Turkey, a strong advocate of the Palestinian cause, condemned the plan. "The United States' so-called peace plan is stillborn," Turkey's foreign ministry said in a statement. "This is an annexation plan aimed at killing a two-state solution and extorting the Palestinian territory." Iran Iran, which does not recognize Israel and has been in a confrontation with the Trump administration, denounced the plan as a threat to regional stability. "The shameful peace plan imposed by America on the Palestinians is the treason of the century and doomed to fail", the Iranian foreign ministry said. Hezbollah Lebanon's Iranian-backed movement Hezbollah, which Washington calls a terrorist group, said the plan represented an attempt to "wipe out the Palestinian people's rights", adding that the "shameful move [...] could not have been made without the complicity and betrayal of a certain number of Arab regimes." UAE The United Arab Emirates, which sent its ambassador to Trump's announcement alongside Netanyahu despite not recognizing the Jewish state, praised the plan. "The plan announced today offers an important starting point for a return to negotiations within a US-led international framework," the UAE embassy in Washington said on Twitter. Egypt Egypt called on "the two concerned parties to undertake a careful and thorough examination of the US vision to achieve peace and open channels of dialogue". The foreign ministry added that negotiations should aim for "a comprehensive and just peace and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state". Jordan Jordan's foreign ministry said that an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders was "the only path to a comprehensive and lasting peace". Saudi Arabia Saudi's foreign ministry said it "appreciates" Trump's efforts and called for the start of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians. Any disagreements with the plan should be resolved through negotiations under the auspices of the United States, it said, Saudi King Salman meanwhile stressed "the kingdom's steadfast stance on the Palestinian issue and the rights of the Palestinian people". The session starts and the 12 participants gather to introduce themselves. One of them is Fernando, 55, who works in a shelter housing program in Ciudad Real and wants to put his life in order and improve his feelings about the state of humanity. Franka, 52, is finding it hard to get past her separation and cries as she admits to a tobacco and marijuana addiction. Then there is Taylor, a 22-year-old American who is wandering aimlessly around Europe and seeking direction. Their stories are told in a villa in Fuente el Saz de Jarama, in the northeast of the Madrid region, where an inner evolution retreat run by Inner Mastery International is taking place. The retreat promises to bring about personal transformation with the help of ayahuasca (an entheogenic brew from the Amazon basin) as well as kambo and bufo alvarius, two types of toad venom. These substances, easily purchased online, are marketed as catalysts for self-knowledge that allegedly enable those who take it to overcome a specific trauma or even serious illness, despite the lack of scientific evidence. In fact, experts warn that imbibing these substances can trigger physical ailments and psychological disorders. Alberto Varela speaks to one of the participants about inner growth. D.E. Inner Mastery International is a market leader with regard to such retreats, charging between 168 and 190 a day, depending on the length of the course. The company is run by Alberto Varela, a 59-year-old from Buenos Aires who has been overseeing a network of companies in Spain and 39 other countries on five continents for more than a decade. However, on the Business Register, he is only down as head of Evolucion Interior S.L.; it is his wife, Paula Carmona, a 45-year-old Colombian, who is registered as the owner of Inner Mastery International. Meanwhile, another company called Gracias Ayahuasca S.L. is registered under the name of Maria Jose Torrabadella Gonzalez who deals with the legal side of Varelas business. All these companies have their headquarters in Fuente el Saz de Jarama, or more precisely in the villa where Taylor, Franka and Fernando have gathered for the weekend. The amount we invoice is not relevant, says Varela, who is only prepared to say that 500,000 a year goes on advertising. In an article in El Confidencial some years ago, however, he stated that his business had an annual turnover of 2 million. Our house is in order and we have a team of lawyers in the event of lawsuits. In addition, we have 150 workers registered with the Social Security system, he says with regard to the army of self-employed workers who swarm around the villa managing the clientele, promoting courses and acting as monitors when it is time to take the hallucinogenic substances. Legal status The participants relax as they wait for the effects of the first ayahuasca shot. D.E. Varela makes it clear that he is neither a psychologist nor a doctor, while hailing the properties of ayahuasca. This is a man who spent 14 months in jail between 2008 and 2011 for bringing the substance into Spain, although he was subsequently acquitted. He insists that everything they handle is legal, but that they take extreme precautions because the authorities are just waiting for them to make a wrong move. In Spain, ayahuasca is not considered illegal. There have been no convictions for public health crimes linked to its sale or use, despite the fact it has featured in 26 court cases since 2007, according to Spains judiciary watchdog, the CGPJ. In all 26 cases, the plant is described as stimulating and psychotropic, although both the Foundation for Help against Drug Addiction (FAD) and Reguera Abogados, a law firm specialized in drug trafficking, say there are very few cases of trafficking ayahuasca, kambo or bufo alvarius, or even of dependence on these substances. Alberto Varela, owner and director of Inner Mastery International S.L.U., and his wife Paula Carmona inside the villa in the Madrid region. D.E. Meanwhile, Gonzalo Haro Cortes, director of the Spanish Society of Dual Pathology and professor at the Cardenal Herrera-CEU University of Castellon, points out that neither are considered drugs by the World Health Organizations 1971 Vienna Convention. On account of this, and the fact they are not widely consumed, they are not illegal. In the case of ayahuasca and bufo alvarius, the controversial substance is dimethyltryptamine (or DMT), which causes hallucinations just like other entheogens such as LSD, peyote and certain types of mushroom. Inside the villa, participants are introduced to the medical and psychological team before the substance-taking session begins. One of the team members is Sergio Sanz, who guides the sessions at which participants express their troubles and worries. Our aim is to reach a deeper point of surrender, he explains in between strumming a guitar and hugging people. Ayahuasca is just a prelude. Many people bring a culture of punishment with them, and the idea is to be innocent. Here you realize that the best thing you can do for humanity is not to harm yourself. After finishing his studies in Barcelona, this 27-year-old joined the company and has been working with it for the past five years. The participants are preparing to take the ayahuasca and are moved to the living room, a large space with candles, Buddha figures, strategically placed loudspeakers and 12 mattresses on the floor. The stretch of land leading to the Inner Mastery International villa in Fuente el Saz del Jarama. D.E. When a glass jar filled with a brownish concoction is brought out, Pancho Vazquez, an old hand at this, takes the opportunity to ask who will be trying the kambo the following day at an added cost of 125. Four people sign up and then the presentations begin, which is when Fernando, Franka and Taylor explain why they are here. After all 12 participants have introduced themselves with English translations for a group from Bulgaria and Moldova the silence resumes. The shot While one of the workers plays the djembe drum, another staff member, Fernando Alvarez, 25, appears on the scene. He explains the best way of taking ayahuasca as he passes round the medicine. His advice is to lie down and, in the event of nausea, to use the buckets that are placed by each mattress. Everything that comes out sweat, vomit, poop is what we needed to get rid of, he says. The vomit is an energy-charged vomit. It symbolizes something very special, which is why I suggest you look at it it before cleaning the bucket. I usually feel like giving it thanks. By cleaning the bucket, you are cleansing yourself. The scene is set with incense and soft music. It is shortly before midnight and the session will last about five hours. Apart from those who are busy vomiting and visiting the bathroom, the participants remain horizontal, apparently in a stupor. The monitors, meanwhile, take turns putting on YouTube videos, giving out more doses of ayahuasca and also rape, a snuff which is inhaled through a small pipe. Yawns are heard while Alvarez chants mantras such as: I open myself to the crazy plan of this mysterious love, and Enjoying every hug, enjoying every kiss, enjoying every moment. There is instrumental music and hits by Pablo Alboran and Ludovico Einaudi. When the session ends, participants can either stay on their mattress or go to bed. Almost everyone leaves. Before they do, Karim Pascua, 48, asks what time breakfast is. I had a very raw moment, he says, smoking a cigarette. But, apart from diarrhea, nothing. Psychotic episodes Guillermo Fouce, president of Psychology Without Borders, considers substances such as ayahuasca and kambo to be harmful. They are often used by sects and sold as something that triggers a quest, but in reality, like any other drug, they cause changes in the body and create addiction, besides which they can trigger psychotic episodes, he says. According to Haro Cortes, There is now a type of consumer called a psychonaut a traveler or researcher of drugs. Cortes adds that these substances are linked to one of the three happiness hormones dopamine, norepinephrine or serotonin as well as to introspection and visions. Its like a parachute jump, he says. Either nothing can happen or you can hit a rock. English version by Heather Galloway. The Member of Parliament for the Adentan Constituency, Yaw Buaben Asamoa, has said the main opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC) has lost vision, focus and direction to rule this country again. He added that the NDC has fallen short of any more lies they can tell Ghanaians and have therefore resorted to attacking personalities in their rival party, New Patriotic Party accusing them of illegal dealings without a shred of evidence. Mr Asamoa noted that the opposition claims to have evidence against any person or group of persons engaging in any illegal deals and is not able to apprehend such people. Speaking to Kwame Tutu on Anopa Nkomo on Accra-based Kingdom FM 107.7, Yaw Buaben Asamoa stated, the problems confronting Ghana, former President Mahama has no plan, vision or action to address the people of Ghana. He explained that the partys programme of developing Ghana, and returning the path of progress and prosperity is hinged on the twin-track of industrialising Ghanas economy as well as increasing agricultural productivity. Yaw Buaben Asamoa says, the party, even in opposition is still exhibiting incompetence in its dealings and its leaders lack integrity. The Communications Director for the NPP said, the NDC single highhandedly collapsed the economy and should not be allowed anywhere near the Jubilee House. Uncertainty again looms over the hanging of the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case scheduled on February 1 with a second condemned prisoner filing a mercy petition before the President on Wednesday and a third convict also moving a curative plea before the Supreme Court. IMAGE: Nirbhaya gang rape case convicts, from left, Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Pawan Gupta and Mukesh Singh. Photograph: PTI Photo According to Delhi Prison Rules, none of the four convicts in the same crime can be hanged before the last one has exhausted all legal options including the mercy plea. Also, apex court guidelines stipulate that convicts cannot be hanged until 14 days after their mercy plea has been rejected by the President. The trial court on January 17 issued black warrants for the second time for the execution of all the four convicts -- Mukesh Kumar Singh(32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Kumar Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar Singh(31) -- in Tihar jail at 6 am on February 1. The court earlier on January 7 fixed January 22 as the hanging date. Advocate A P Singh, who represents Vinay, said he has filed the mercy petition at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and has got an acknowledgement. "I have filed the mercy petition for Vinay before the President. I have submitted it through hand," Singh said. The apex court on January 14 dismissed the curative petition of Vinay leaving him with the option to file the mercy plea. Tihar jail authorities will now have to move the trial court and inform it about Vinay's mercy plea and seek postponement of the black warrant. As of now only Mukesh has exhausted all his legal remedies including the clemency plea which was dismissed by President Ram Nath Kovind on January 17 and the appeal against the rejection was thrown out by the Supreme Court on Wednesday. A three-judge bench headed by Justice R Banumathi held that "quick consideration" and "swift rejection" of Mukesh's mercy petition does not suggest non-application of mind or it being pre-determined. Akshay approached the apex court on Wednesday with a curative petition which is listed for consideration in-chamber before a five-judge bench on Thursday and if his plea is dismissed, he also has the option to move a mercy plea before the President. He is the third convict to move the curative plea after Mukesh and Vinay. He contended that capital punishment is being awarded by courts as "panacea" in the face of public pressure and public opinion on violence against women. Pawan, the fourth convict, is yet to file a curative plea and he is also likely to avail of this last legal recourse available to a person in a court of law to escape the gallows. The three convicts other than Mukesh can also move the apex court against rejection of mercy plea by the President as and when this situation arises. After Wednesday's developments, Nirbhaya's mother Asha Devi said even the court understands that the convicts are filing pleas one after the other just to delay the hanging. "The court is doing its duty and I am hopeful they will be hanged on February 1. I will definitely get justice. This was a long fight and it will continue. I have been following the legal process for seven years. I believe in law. I am hopeful that now we will get justice and they will be hanged," she told reporters at the apex court lawns. Against the backdrop of the apparent delaying tactics by the convicts in the Nirbhaya case, the Centre recently moved the top court for fixing a deadline of seven days for execution of death penalty of condemned prisoners after issuance of black warrant. Hearing Mukesh's plea, the apex court held that President Ram Nath Kovind took into consideration all documents, including the verdicts delivered in the case by the courts, past criminal history of the convict, economic condition of his family, while rejecting the mercy petition. The bench headed by Justice Banumathi, also comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and A S Bopanna, said alleged sufferings in jail cannot be a ground to seek judicial review of the executive order passed under Article 72 of the Constitution, which deals with the power of the president to grant pardons and to suspend, remit or commute sentences in certain cases. "In the result, we do not find any ground for exercise of judicial review of the order of the President of India rejecting the petitioner's (Mukesh) mercy petition and this petition is liable to be dismissed," the bench said in its 25-page order. The curative petition of Akshay will be taken up by a bench comprising Justices N V Ramana, Arun Mishra, R F Nariman, R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan. "The hollow claim that the death penalty creates a special kind of deterrence which is not caused by life imprisonment and that and life imprisonment amounts to 'forgiving' the criminal is backed by nothing more than a barely masked need to justify vengeance and retribution," the plea said. The placement of the 'collective conscience of the society' and public opinion has prejudiced the case of the petitioner and other co-accused as also amounted to a back-door entry of the media frenzy, the petition added. "The present curative petition is also filed in recognition of the increasingly unsustainable judicial demand for the death penalty in light of the severely inconsistent application of its imposition by this court." The 23-year-old physiotherapy intern, who came to be known as 'Nirbhaya', the fearless one, was gang-raped and savagely assaulted on the night of December 16, 2012, in a moving bus in south Delhi. She died of her injuries a fortnight later in a Singapore hospital. One of the six accused in the case, Ram Singh, allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail in 2013. A juvenile, who was among the accused, was convicted by a juvenile justice board and was released from a reformation home after serving a three-year term. The Delhi Election Commission on Tuesday took cognizance of alleged breach of moral code of conduct by MP and star campaigners of Delhi election and Minister of State The office of Delhi Election Commission said the Chief Election Officer of Delhi has submitted its report to the Election Commission of India on the suspected violation of model code of conduct by Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma and Minister of State Anurag Thakur, BJP's star campaigners. The report refers to Verma's remarks on Shaheen Bagh and his tweet regarding religious places, besides Thakur's alleged sloganeering 'desh ke gaddaro ko, goli maro saalo ko'. Verma had said that mosques and graveyards have come up in over 500 government properties in the Capital, including hospitals and schools. He said the land where these "illegal structures" have come up belong to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Jal Board and many other government agencies. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 17:37:45|Editor: ZD Video Player Close MOGADISHU, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- An outbreak of acute watery diarrhea has killed 15 people in Somalia's central region of Hiraan, an official confirmed on Wednesday. HirShabelle State health minister Abdi Mo'alim Mohamed told reporters that acute watery diarrhea broke out in BeledWeyne town causing deaths. "Acute Watery Diarrhoea killed up to 15 people mainly kids with more than 60 other people suffering from the disease," Mohamed said. The minister also appealed to humanitarian agencies to deliver assistance to the region. "We are in shortage of medical equipment, hence we appeal to the international and local humanitarian agencies to help the victims in the region," he added. Medical sources also said the number of patients was increasing by the day. "From Friday up to date, more than 65 people have been admitted to the hospital coming from distant areas of the region and the hospital is overcrowded with patients," Abdul Halim, director of the main hospital in Beledweyne town told journalists. The outbreak follows major flooding in Beledweyne in November 2019, which displaced over 300,000 people. According to the UN, up to 85 percent of the town was submerged in water after Shabelle River breached its banks. Tim Henderson, president of Cleveland Utilities, received the Robert W. Varnell Jr. Leadership Award during awards presentations at the 94th Annual Meeting of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce. Named for the late Robert W. Varnell Jr., the award is one of the top honors presented annually by the Chamber of Commerce which recognizes outstanding leadership for profession, religion/church and community. From the very first time I ever met Tim until today, he displays a gentle and gracious spirit, a genuine interest in the person with whom hes interfacing, and a Christ-like countenance. Tim lives his life according to the following principle: Take one step at a time, live one day at a time and remember, we are just passing through, shared Mr. Hendersons nominator Cheryl Dunson, EVP of Marketing for Santek Wast Services. Tim has accompanied every incoming class of Leadership Cleveland to Satnteks corporate offices for a meal and power-point presentation about the landfill. He probably knows my spiel by heart. I thought when was promoted to CEO, I wouldnt see Tim with Leadership Cleveland again, but hes continued to be a faithful supporter of this worthwhile program and continues to accompany every class. Mr. Henderson is a lifelong resident of Bradley County and a 1979 graduate from Cleveland High School. In 1984 he achieved a degree in environmental health from East Tennessee State University and began his career with the State of Tennessee as an environmentalist. He then moved to the Department of Labor, working with both OSHA and TOSHA, where he spent eight years as the director of Safety Compliance. Mr. Henderson began working for Cleveland Utilities in 1993, where he guided all aspects of safety, health and security. In 2012 he was promoted to vice president and in 2016 promoted to senior vice president, followed by the further promotion to president and CEO later that same year. Tim has been extremely active in making Cleveland and Bradley County a great place to live, work and raise a family, said Ms. Dunson. He has served on or continues to serve on a number of local boards such as Junior Achievement of the Ocoee Region, Tennova Healthcare - Cleveland, City of Cleveland Planning Commission, the United Way of the Ocoee Region, the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce and Tree Board. Junior Achievement of the Ocoee Regions President Jennifer Pennell-Aslinger said, Tim possess a focus and passion for Junior Achievements mission. His leadership and dedication to the students of the Ocoee Region is invaluable. Additionally, Henderson is a member of the Economic Development Council and the Industrial Development Board and actively serves on several professional associations to include the Tennessee Valley Public Power Association, the Southeastern Industrial Development Association and the Southeast District Power Distributors Association. Tim exemplifies all of the traits and characteristics that made Robert Varnell the great leader that he was, stated Bob McIntire, president of McIntire & Associates Insurance, Inc. Eddie Cartwright, retired Bradley County executive added When reading the names of the previous winners, I think Tims belongs among them. His moral character and ethical standards are second to none and Im proud to call him my friend. Mr. Henderson and is family are members of the First Baptist Church where he is active in the First Touch Ministry and the Recreation Ministry. He has served on the churchs Camp Creek Cherokee Committee, as a volunteer for the churchs Fall Festival, and the Fields, Woods and Water Recreation Ministry. He also participated in mission trips to Cambodia, Nepal and Las Vegas. Mayor Emeritus Tom Rowland shared, Tims Christian character shines through in all he does whether it be at work, in the community or in his family. We watched as he and his late wife, Renee, raised their boys in a Christian home surrounded by an environment of faith and character building. Mayor Rowland noted, Throughout Renees extended illness, the family witnessed to many people as they exhibited their strong love and faith in God. Tim and his late wife of 32 years, Renee, have three sons, Cole, Conner and Chase. Trumps Legal Team Doesnt Think John Bolton Should Testify in Impeachment Trial President Donald Trumps legal team said they dont think John Bolton, the former national security adviser, should testify during the Senate impeachment trial. The fact is that its not the job of the Senate to start doing an investigation now that the House didnt pursue. And the House never even attempted to subpoena John Bolton. So we dont think that theres a basis for the Senate going to get testimony at this point, a source on the legal team told reporters in a phone call on Jan. 28. The job of the House is to do a proper investigation in something that is this serious before going to the Senate. And we dont think that its the proper role of the Senate to start opening things up, to be addressing new developments on the fly in the middle of a trial. The legal team isnt concerned about information Bolton would bring forward because they know Trump hasnt done anything wrong, the source said. A source on the team highlighted that there were 17 witnesses called during the House impeachment inquiry and how House Democrats subpoenaed Charles Kupperman, a former deputy to Bolton. When Kupperman filed a lawsuit asking a judge whether he should obey the subpoena or the White House, which requested that he not testify, House Democrats withdrew the subpoena. So they were not attempting to really pursue these witnesses before. Its not the time now to have the Senate go at it, the source said. Trumps legal team also said that House impeachment managers have said they had a strong case with overwhelming evidence and questioned why additional witnesses would be needed if that was true. White House counsel Pat Cipollone speaks during impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 25, 2020. (Senate Television via Getty Images) No one on the legal team has seen Boltons manuscript, which was submitted to the National Security Council for pre-publication review before details were leaked to the press. A source on the team declined to say whether Trump or his team were briefed on the manuscript. Calls for Bolton to testify intensified this week after details of his upcoming book, which is slated for a March release, leaked to media outlets. None of the reports quoted any passages from the book. Democrats said the details bolstered the need for Bolton to testify about what he knows about allegations made against Trump, including that the president allegedly abused his office in asking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to look into corruption allegations against Hunter Biden and 2020 contender Joe Biden. Boltons claims essentially confirm the president committed the offenses charged in the first article of impeachment, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said at a press conference on Monday. We have a witness with first-hand evidence of the presidents actions for which he is on trial. He is ready and willing to testify. How can Senate Republicans not vote to call that witness and request his documents? Trump has said he doesnt want Bolton to testify. Why didnt John Bolton complain about this nonsense a long time ago, when he was very publicly terminated. He said, not that it matters, NOTHING! he said in one statement on Twitter. Remember Republicans, the Democrats already had 17 witnesses, we were given NONE! Witnesses are up to the House, not up to the Senate. Dont let the Dems play you! he said in another. New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/29/2020 -- According to a recent market report published by Future Market Insights titled, 'Lab Automation Market Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 20172027', the global lab automation market is expected to be valued at US$ 1,219.4 Mn in 2017, and is expected to register a CAGR of 9.6% from 2017 to 2027. Lab automation is increasingly being installed by various end users such as pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and diagnostic centers, educational institutions, contract research organizations (CROs), and research institutes. There has been an increase in the usage of lab automation components in hospitals and diagnostic centers, due to an increase in the demand for biochemistry devices. Dynamics of the Global Lab Automation Market Increasing incidences of life threatening diseases and injuries have led to increasing diagnostics procedures, worldwide. It is estimated that, the direct and indirect costs of diagnosis will increase over a period of time. The rising research and development activities in the field of molecular and genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, and immunology have also boosted the demand for accurate and cost saving facilities. To develop cost-effective and cost-efficient medical devices and lab automation services, various governments in developed countries are actively funding R&D activities. For instance, the New South Wales (NSW) government in Australia, has provided a medical devices fund of around US$ 8.0 million in 2017-2018 to help encourage and support investments in the development and commercialization of medical devices, related technologies, and services. Request Sample Report @https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-394 Favourable government policies for start-ups enable companies to develop cost-effective healthcare solutions in the lab automation market. Over the last few years, government authorities in Asia Pacific and Middle East and Africa are encouraging start-up companies as well as MNCs to boost industrial growth in the healthcare and medical device industries. Major players in the in-vitro diagnostics market can capitalize on the economies of scale to strengthen their position in the market. For instance, India, a developing country in the Asia Pacific region, has announced new policies for attracting MNCs as well as start-up companies across domains, including medical device manufacturing. According to the policies, start-up companies in India are exempt from tax for the first three years after establishment, and patent protection costs are subsidized. Thus, favourable government policies in developing countries are expected to drive overall the lab automation devices and services market. However, the complex integration of lab tools hinders the demand for lab automation solutions. Lab professionals are focusing on the better utilization of test tools, consolidating various resources and deploying effective lab tools across all platforms. Interconnecting various platforms across the lab is a very critical task, and needs advanced PR-PR open-source high-level robot programming language as a cross-platform laboratory automation system, which may lead to complexity and a variety of test configurations, and restrain the growth of the lab automation market over the forecast period. Global Lab Automation Market: Segmentation & Analysis On the basis of component, the global lab automation market is segmented into devices and software. Further, the devices segment has been segmented into six categories biochemistry devices, molecular devices, hematology devices, immunology devices, microbiology devices, and others. The software segment is bifurcated into two segments scheduling software and momentum integration software. On the basis of application, the lab automation market is segmented into life sciences research & development, drug-discovery, and diagnostics, in terms of revenue share. The life Sciences R&D segment dominated the global lab automation market in 2017, and is expected to do so throughout the forecast period. The diagnostics application segment is anticipated to expand at the fastest CAGR over the forecast period. On the basis of end user, the global lab automation market is segmented into pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and diagnostic centers, educational institutions, contract research organizations (CROs), and research institutes. The hospitals and diagnostic centers segment currently accounts for the highest revenue share in the lab automation market, due to the increasing usage of automation devices in hospitals and diagnostic centers in developed countries. This lab automation market report also covers trends that drive each segment, and offers analysis and insights regarding the potential of the lab automation market in regions such as North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, APEJ, Japan, Middle East & Africa, and Japan. Among these regions, the North American lab automation market is projected to exhibit relatively high growth in the global lab automation market, with a CAGR 10.6% over the forecast period. Revenue from the lab automation market in North America is estimated to account for over 37.1% of the global lab automation market revenue in 2016. Lab automation solution providers can focus on expanding across several countries in North America, such as the U.S. and Canada. Request to View TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-394 Global Lab Automation Market: Key Players Some of the key competitors in the lab automation market are Abbott Laboratories, Agilent Technologies, Perkin Elmer, Inc, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc, Siemens Healthcare, Danaher Corporation, Becton, Dickinson and Company, and Transcriptic, Inc. These key players are constantly focusing on product innovation and geographical expansions to sustain their market presence and increase revenue generation by developing various types of solutions and delivering outstanding offerings to several end users. AKRON, Ohio A 65-year-old worker was injured Tuesday morning during the robbery of a Burger King in the Firestone Park neighborhood. Police say the female worker was in the restaurant at 5 a.m. to get it ready to open when the female suspect came into the store and forced the worker to the ground. The suspect demanded the woman open the safe. The suspect stole cash from the safe, as well as a cell phone and other personal items from the worker, police say. The worker was taken to Cleveland Clinic Akron General Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. The female suspect is 6-foot to 6-foot-2, and was wearing a black hooded sweat shirt, black pants and black shoes. To comment on this story, visit Tuesdays crime and courts section. Read more from cleveland.com: Akron pizza delivery driver pulls gun on would-be robbers Man robs Citizens Bank branch in Independence (video) Rocky River police chief says Cleveland Browns RB Kareem Hunt did not receive preferential treatment during traffic stop Dead body found wrapped in tarp with hands tied behind abandoned Cleveland house Mother, daughter accused of attacking student at John Marshall High School in Cleveland 70-year-old Cleveland veteran killed man who took him in off the streets, family says A university lecturer, Sylvester Ibe, has frowned at the large number of First Class graduates being churned out from the nations universities annually, describing the trend as embarrassing to the system. Mr Ibe, a Professor of Genetics and Animal Breeding, expressed his concern in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia, Abia State on Wednesday. The 70-year-old don retired recently from Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, after 47 years in the university system. He said it was embarrassing that some universities kept churning out first class graduates, in spite of the poor quality of academic staff in the system. Mr Ibe cited a particular private university which, he said, produced 215 first class out of 1,580 graduates, representing 13.6 per cent during its 2019 convocation. He said: Contrast this situation with the classification of degree results in many Nigerian universities in the 1970s and early 1980s. Remember that various vices, like cultism, examination malpractices, sorting, sex-for-mark, money-for-mark, lecturers writing projects for students, and other unwholesome, unethical practices crept into Nigerian universities in the 1980s. So, it is very difficult to believe that First and Second Class (Upper) results of these days are reflective of the recipients natural knowledge and hard work, as embodied in their genetic blueprint. Mr Ibe, however, urged the government and other relevant stakeholders to urgently address the problem of poor quality of staff and students in the universities. He said such features cast aspersion on the university system in the country. (NAN) Struggling farmers have been left in limbo while being forced to wait up to a year before finding out if they're eligible for a government loan. Farmers hit by the crippling drought and bushfire crisis are able to borrow up to $2million from the Morrison Government and pay it back over the following 10 years. But some have been left waiting between six months and a year to find out if their loan application has even been accepted. 'Farmers just want to know if they're eligible. At the moment, farmers are in limbo as the process of getting these loans is very slow,' NSW Farmers Association Orange branch chair Bruce Reynolds told the ABC. Struggling farmers crippled by the drought have been forced to wait up to a year before finding out if they're eligible for a much-needed government loan. Pictured: A farmer pulls a dead kangaroo from his dried up dam at Langawirra Station north of Broken Hill Mr Reynolds called on the government to fast track the processing time. 'The whole thing needs to be sped up because producers need to be able to access loans quickly in the middle of a drought, and if they are turned down they can look at other finance options,' he said. The Regional Investment Corporation, who manages the loan application process, saw a spike in loan applications since the changes to the government's drought stimulus package were made. Before the November announcement, only around 10 farmers a week were applying for the government loans, but that has since jumped to between 40 and 50. The corporation is now desperately trying to scrape together more resources to process the growing amount of applications. It's taken an average of 187 days to assess each loan application. But only 65 of those days are spent being assessed by the RIC, and the rest is time taken up by banks. RIC chief executive Bruce King said the corporation is hoping to cut this down from 65 to 45 working days. 'We see the process as a partnership between the person applying for the loan, the bank, which is required to retain at least 50 per cent of the debt, and the RIC,' chief executive Bruce King said. NASA has been fast tracking its efforts to get the first woman and next man on the moon by 2024, but a new proposed House bill could put a damper on its timeline. The House Committee on Science, Space & Technology introduced a bill last week that suggest the American space agency target 2028, in order to focus on the mission to Mars in 2033. The bill also urges NASA to have 'full ownership' of the lunar lander, rather than partnering with other companies to construct the craft. However, NASA officials are concerned that 'the bill imposes some significant constraints on our approach to lunar exploration', as the moon landing will act as a stepping stone and allow astronauts to develop the necessary skills before heading to the Red Planet. The bill, designated H.R. 5666 and introduced by Rep. Kendra Horn (D-Okla.), chair of the committees space subcommittee refers Moon to Mars Program and sets the timeline for 2028 which was the original launch date to the moon. Scroll down for video The House Committee on Science, Space & Technology introduced a bill last week that suggest NASA targets 2028 for the moon landing (artist impression), in order to focus on the mission to Mars in 2033. However, in March of last year, Vice President Mike Pence said NASA should aim to accomplish the goal of returning people to the moon by 2024 'by any means necessary'. And that is what the American space agency set out to do, but the new bill could throw a wrench in the plans. 'The nation's human space exploration goal should be to send humans to the surface of Mars,' reads a statement from the 102-page document. 'Reducing the risk and demonstrating the capabilities and operations needed to support a human mission to Mars may require human exploration of the cislunar vicinity and lunar surface,' the document adds. However, NASA administrator, Jim Bridensteine has some reservations about the new proposal. However, NASA officials are concerned that 'the bill imposes some significant constraints on our approach to lunar exploration', as the moon landing (artist impression) will act as a stepping stone and allow astronauts to develop the necessary skills before heading to the Red Planet 'NASA is fully committed to a lunar exploration program that supports and enables human missions to Mars,' he wrote in a statement. 'If we are going to accomplish this goal, we will need the flexibility to rapidly develop technical expertise using the Moon and to fully engage commercial and international partners.' 'We do think that the bill's concerns for limiting activities on the Moon could be counterproductive.' 'If we are going to explore Mars in a safe and sustainable way, we will require a strong in situ resource utilization capability and significant technology development using the surface of the Moon. NASA would appreciate more flexibility in defining lunar surface activities that may contribute directly to Mars exploration.' He also expressed concern about NASA being required to have full ownership of the rocket that will take astronauts to the moon. 'We are concerned that the bills approach to developing a human lander system as fully government-owned and directed would be ineffective, he explained. 'The approach established by the bill would inhibit our ability to develop a flexible architecture that takes advantage of the full array of national capabilities government and private sector to accomplish national goals.' 'NASA would appreciate the opportunity to work with the Committee to develop language that would support a broader national and international effort that would maximize progress toward our shared exploration goals through the efficient application of our available resources.' YEREVAN, JANUARY 29, ARMENPRESS. The General Prosecution has approved the indictment of ex-president Serzh Sargsyan and it has been sent to the Yerevan First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction, General Prosecution spokesperson Arevik Khachatryan told ARMENPRESS. The former president was charged with embezzlement in December 2019 and a court imposed a signature bond as bail. Former agriculture minister Sergo Karapetyan, businessman Barsegh Beglaryan and several others are also charged in the same case. Sargsyan is suspected in abuse of power and embezzlement of nearly half a billion drams during his tenure as president through the businessman. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan Slate's Who Counts? series is made possible by the support of Slate Plus members and readers like you. In June, the Supreme Court ruled that the 2020 census could not include a citizenship question, bucking a Trump administration measure that could have led to the undercounting of immigrant communities. Yet just a few days after the ruling, Trump announced an executive order that would allow the government to obtain citizenship data anyway. On Tuesdays episode of What Next, I talked with Ari Berman, a reporter at Mother Jones who covers attacks on democracy and voting rights, about this stealth tactic that could reshape whose votes count in this country for years to come. Our conversation, reprinted below, has been edited and condensed for clarity. Advertisement Mary Harris: You saw the first sign of this new voter suppression tactic back in July when the president gave a press conference. The Supreme Court had just ruled that the 2020 census could not ask about citizenship. At this press conference, Trump acknowledged the Supreme Courts ruling but said he was issuing an executive order, allowing citizenship data to be gathered by the government without altering the census. He said, Some states may want to draw state and local legislative districts, based upon the voter-eligible population. Why did that moment stand out to you? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ari Berman: Its one line that could easily be buried as very wonky and technical, but to me, this was the smoking gun moment, because hes making clear that he wants this citizenship data for redistricting purposes. He wants to take the data so that districts are drawn to not just include noncitizens, but, he says, the voter-eligible population. That means children would not be counted. Advertisement Advertisement For decades, the way districts are drawn is everyone counts. Trump is saying, I want to do something totally different. I want to exclude everyone who is not eligible to vote from counting. When everyone saw the headline that came out of the press conference, Trump Dropping Citizenship Question, I saw a completely different story. Right after Trump unveiled his new executive order, Republican redistricting experts began talking to state legislators about how they could benefit from the new rules. Slate got audio from a meeting of some of these experts back in August, just after Trumps speech. Theyre talking about techniques for drawing district maps, Republican maps, with state legislators. They tell these politicians: If you do your job well, youre going to get sued. Someones going to say what you did wasnt fair. One expert even encourages people in the room to throw away the notes theyre taking, so they wont be caught plotting. Advertisement Advertisement Its sort of telling, because if Republicans were following normal redistricting principles, they wouldnt be sued. But clearly there is some sort of deviation from what is considered acceptable standards, otherwise they wouldnt be worried about facing all of these losses. Hans von Spakovskywho is an expert in the Heritage Foundation, an official in the Bush administration, a former member of Donald Trumps election integrity commission, with a very long record of advocating policies that would make it harder for some people to votesays outright to these state legislators, You should consider drawing districts to exclude non-citizens. And the reason you should do so, is the higher the number of non-citizens in a district, the more likely it is to be a Democratic district. So hes basically saying that if you change how districts are drawn, it will help the Republican Party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He actually says: Liberals do not want you doing this. The higher the number of noncitizens in a district, the greater the chances theyre going to vote for a liberal. It cant be that their outward justification is about preserving white political power, but it sounds pretty close. Advertisement Advertisement If this is challenged in court, they will probably have a different rationale for why they want to do it. But certainly, the stated rationale by von Spakovsky, and others, is that he believes drawing districts in such a way to exclude noncitizens, and potentially to exclude children from counting, will help Republicans at the expense of Democrats. They could say we want to do this for political reasons, but if you look at whos going to be harmed, its overwhelmingly going to be communities of color. Advertisement There was a study done by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights that found that 55 percent of Latinos, 45 percent of Asian Americans, and a third of African Americans would not be counted toward political representation. Thats a staggering number of people to not be counted. More than half of Latinos in the United States are suddenly not going to be counted. So this is why I think this is such a big deal, because youre not talking about excluding 10 people from political representation. Youre talking about excluding millions and millions of people, and entire communities, from being counted altogether. If you look at whos going to be harmed, its overwhelmingly going to be communities of color. We should say that 21 percent of white people would also be excluded, but theyre the lowest percentage in there. Advertisement Advertisement Theres always going to be collateral damage, right? There are just going to be more of the other people that get hit by this. And so I think Republicans are thinking, Yeah, this might hurt white people in certain areas, but by and large, the districts that we want to change are districts that are going to be very diverse, heavily urban districts that are more than likely to be represented by Democrats. And we might lose a Republican seat here, we might lose a Republican seat here, but Democrats are going to lose far more seats than Republicans are. Advertisement Can we just home in on exactly how this would work? Because my understanding, looking at your reporting, is that when you stop counting all the people, it means that there are fewer representatives overall, because there are fewer people that youre counting to represent. And so, because there are fewer representatives, those representatives are going to be dealing with the concerns of more people, and then therell be these people who are sort of there but not counted, and their concerns will probably be drowned out. Advertisement Thats exactly right. The Supreme Court has said that districts need to be roughly equal in population, but if youre not counting everyoneif youre only counting eligible votersthat means that districts that have fewer eligible voters have to take in more population. So they have the same number of eligible voters as a surrounding district. Advertisement Advertisement For example, I told this story from a district in Houston that has 850,000 peoplea state Senate district. Thats already a pretty big district. Thats more than most members of Congress represent. Half of [the districts] constituents cant vote, because theyre either under 18 or theyre noncitizens. Its a very heavily Latino district. So what would happen to [the state representative] is because she doesnt have enough eligible voters, her district would increase to over a million people. And depending on how you drew the district, her district could either be combined with another Democratic district to eliminate a Democratic district altogether, or you could put a ton of Republicans who are eligible voters from a surrounding district into her district, so that its no longer a Latino majority, and she potentially no longer has her seat. Advertisement Because those are the kinds of people who potentially wouldnt vote for her. Advertisement Advertisement Exactly. If youre taking white conservative Republicans from suburban Houston, or even exurban Houston, or even rural Texas, some of these state Senate districts are pretty big geographically. Are they going to want to vote for a Latina Democrat? Not necessarily. So theres also the issue of less representation by minorities in the actual statehouses, because essentially, the districts will be drawn to favor the white population. Exactly. There would be fewer minority legislators altogether. One study found that if Texas were to adopt a plan to exclude noncitizens and children from counting toward representation, Latino legislators would have the lowest level of representation since the 1980s. So they would go four decades backward. Listen to the full episode using the player below, or subscribe to What Next wherever you get your podcasts. The U.S. Department of the Interior has confirmed it has grounded its fleet of non-emergency drones amid concerns over cybersecurity. In a brief statement, the department said the move will help to ensure that "the technology used for these operations is such that it will not compromise our national security interests." Interior spokesperson Carol Danko said the department affirms with a formal order the "temporary cessation of non-emergency drones while we ensure that cybersecurity, technology and domestic production concerns are adequately addressed," months after the department said it was grounding its approximately 800 drones. But the drones will still be used for emergency purposes, such as search and rescue and assisting with natural disasters, the statement said. Cyberscoop was first to report the news. The order did not specifically mention threats from China, but said that information collected during drone missions "has the potential to be valuable to foreign entities, organizations, and governments." Danko told TechCrunch that the department currently has 121 drones made by DJI and 665 drones that are Chinese-built but not made by DJI. She added that 24 drones are made in the U.S. but have Chinese components. "The review is to help us identify and assess any potential threats or risks," said Danko. Several other government departments including the military have also banned or grounded their fleet of Chinese-built drones. DJI spokesperson Michael Oldenburg said the company was "extremely disappointed" by the decision. Chinese companies have faced bans and sanctions from operating in the federal government over their alleged connections to the Chinese government. Chief among the fears are that Chinese tech companies could be compelled by Beijing to spy or be used to conduct espionage against the West. Last year, the Trump administration banned federal agencies from buying networking equipment from Huawei and ZTE. Several other companies, including radio equipment maker Hytera and surveillance tech giant Hikvision, were also banned from government. DJI said last year it would look to assemble its drones in California in an effort to dispel concerns. Hungarys foreign ministry has received no reports of any Hungarians affected by coronavirus either in Hungary or abroad, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said. Speaking at a press conference, the minister said there are currently eight Hungarian citizens residing in Chinas Hubei province where the virus emerged, seven of whom plan to leave the region. They will be evacuated by air, Szijjarto said, adding that European Union member states were coordinating closely on getting their citizens out of the infected areas. Hungary is in contact with France, Germany and Portugal with a view to arranging the departure of the seven Hungarians from China, he said. Human Resources Minister Miklos Kasler said earlier that all Hungarian hospitals were ready to treat coronavirus patients if anybody is identified as carrying the virus. Suspicion has been raised in the case of two patients in Hungary so far, but coronavirus has been excluded in both cases, he told a press conference. National medical chief officer Cecilia Muller noted that whereas coronavirus virus may not be present in Hungary at the current time, the National Public Health Centre (NNK) and staff of regional health authorities stand ready to identify the virus quickly should it enter the country. Speaking about cases of the virus around the world, senior doctor Janos Szlavik noted the death rate at around 1-2 % of coronavirus sufferers is much lower than in the case of outbreaks of similar dangerous viruses in the past. Meanwhile, Liszt Ferenc International operator Budapest Airport has said it is prepared for authorities to implement special control measures at the airport to prevent the spread of the virus. MTI Photo: Marjai Janos Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Flooring is defined as the permanent covering of a floor. A new report on the global flooring market, published by Market Research Future (MRFR), claims that this US Floor Covering Market could witness a high tide at 5% CAGR between 2016 and 2022. Monitoring the market structure, this report mensurates the future growth potential of the market. It characterizes the strategies of the major market players in the market and aids the competitive developments like research & developments (R&D), new product developments, mergers & acquisitions, and joint ventures, in the market. The primary factor raising the global flooring market growth is rapid growth in the construction sector. Increasing construction projects, across the world, due to expanding urban areas and population growth are also fueling market growth. Other factors furnishing market growth include rising home improvement projects, renovation projects, and rising personal disposable income. The last boost to the market comes from the high demand for the improvement of existing infrastructure and the building of new infrastructure in the form of hospitals, retail outlets, residential housing, and other commercial buildings. However, the market growth can get blocked due to the high prices of new installations and renovations. Considerable volumes of flooring waste and difficult disposal can also impact market growth negatively. Market Segmentation The global flooring market segmentation covers application, material, and type. MRFRs take on the market allows an in-depth look into various facets of the market. The application-based segmentation of this market covers education, healthcare, hospitality, retail, and sports. Application-based flooring is used for delivering specific aesthetics or achieve a particular purpose. For example, in the healthcare sector, flooring needs to be hard and easy to clean. In sports, the flooring must be level and help absorb shock. Regarding material, the market has been segmented into tiles, vinyl & rubber, wood, and others. The most popular segment among these is tiles as tiles are available in various designs, materials, shapes, and sizes to achieve the perfect aesthetic. By type, the market has been segmented into resilient, non-resilient, soft covering, and others. Regional Segmentation Based on a geographical outlining of the global flooring market, the study encompasses North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW). The Asia Pacific holds the largest market share with North America and Europe, holding the second largest share and third-largest share, respectively. Rapid industrialization and increasing urbanization in the Asia Pacific region are driving market growth. During the forecast period, the Asia Pacific region is also expected to be the fastest-growing regional market. The largest country-specific markets in this region are China, India, and Japan. An analysis of remaining countries in the Asia Pacific region featured in this report estimates the sizable contribution to market revenue from some other countries. During the forecast period, the growth rate of the North American market is expected to be significant, mainly due to the presence of many construction firms and the existence of advanced infrastructure in this region. The largest country-specific markets in this region are the USA and Canada. Europe is a strong market due to the availability of developed infrastructure, technological advancement, and huge investments in the construction sector. The maximum revenue for the European market is contributed by France, Germany, Spain, and the UK. Key Players Major players in the global flooring market include Floorworld LLC (Dubai), Flowcrete Group Ltd. (UK), Forbo Holding AG. (Switzerland), Gerflor Group (France), LG Hausys Ltd. (Korea), Mannington Mills Inc. (USA), Mohawk Industries Inc. (USA), Polyfloor Inc. (UK), Shaw Industries Inc. (USA), and Tarkett Company (France). Scientists at Baylor College of Medicine have found new evidence that glioma, a lethal form of brain cancer, alters the activity of neighboring neurons, accelerating a vicious cycle that drives tumor-associated epilepsy and tumor progression. Their findings, published in Nature, showed that several variants of the PIK3CA gene drive tumor progression and that two variants in particular alter the expression of genes involved in synapses - junctions through which neurons communicate. "Using a new functional genomics strategy, our research reveals a dynamic interplay between glioma cells and adjacent neurons," said corresponding author Dr. Benjamin Deneen, professor of neurosurgery and in the Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine. "In this regard, glioma tumors exhibit Machiavellian behavior - glioma cells remodel the neuronal microenvironment toward hyperactivity, which in turn feeds back to the tumor, promoting its own growth." Identifying gene variants that drive glioma The original goal of this study was to develop an experimental system that would enable researchers to identify new cancer genes in mouse models of brain tumors. To achieve this goal, a collaboration began between the Deneen lab and Baylor co-author Dr. Kenneth L Scott. Together, they genetically engineered their mouse model of glioma into a novel, high-throughput screening platform to identify these PIK3CA variants. Using their novel screening platform, the researchers discovered several variants of PIK3CA that drive glioma development. Two of the PIK3CA variants, named C420R and H1047R, stood out because they were the strongest drivers of tumor development. Interestingly, some of the genes specifically expressed in C420R and H1047R gliomas are involved in synapse formation, suggesting that the tumors may affect the synaptic balance of neighboring neurons. "These gene variants produce proteins that differ in only one amino acid - the building blocks of proteins - yet some of the variants generate tumors with molecular profiles that are quite different from the others. This was quite a surprise and tells us that seemingly similar PIK3CA variants promote glioma formation through very different mechanisms," said Deneen, who also is a member of the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center and holds the Marianne and Russell Blattner Chair at Baylor. Glioma sets conditions that favor its own progression To investigate these different mechanisms, Deneen and colleagues focused on the synaptic gene signatures, hypothesizing that these alterations in synaptic gene expression could lead to seizures, network hyperexcitability and direct synaptic changes in their mouse model of glioma. To conduct these studies, Deneen partnered with co-author Dr. Jeffrey L Noebels, professor of neurology, neuroscience, and molecular and human genetics and Cullen Trust for Health Care Endowed Chair in Neurogenetics at Baylor. "It is well established that synaptic imbalance can result in extensive changes in neuronal network connectivity and excitability, which in some cases culminates in seizure activity," Deneen said. "Seizures are typical in glioma, but the underlying cellular and genetic mechanisms are not well understood. We took this finding as an opportunity to explore whether different PIK3CA variants can induce epilepsy in glioma and also to understand more about the mechanisms by which tumors promote neuronal hyperexcitability." Their studies showed that, indeed, gliomas driven by C420R and H1047R variants do promote early onset of hyperexcitability in neurons surrounding the tumor and remodel synaptic networks by inducing synapse formation. Mice carrying these tumors had seizures that appeared much earlier than in mice bearing tumors driven by other PIK3CA variants. Digging deeper into the mechanisms that mediate the effect of C420R and H1047R gliomas on their microenvironment, the researchers discovered that these gliomas selectively secreted several molecules of the glypican (GPC) family and that GPC3 drove hyperexcitability and synaptic remodeling. Further, they found that GPC3 itself can drive glioma formation. These findings provide the first evidence of a glioma-derived mechanism that manipulates the neuronal microenvironment during tumor progression. "We have uncovered a central mechanism by which glioma cells alter neurons to establish environmental conditions in the brain that support growth. Therapeutically, we are actively examining how short circuiting glioma-to-neuron communication can be used to treat patients with these malicious brain tumors," Deneen said. ### Other contributors to this work include Kwanha Yu, Chia-Ching John Lin, Asante Hatcher, Brittney Lozzi, Kathleen Kong, Emmet Huang-Hobbs, Yi-Ting Cheng, Vivek B Beechar, Wenyi Zhu, Yiqun Zhang, Fengju Chen, and Chad J Creighton, all at Baylor College of Medicine. Gordon B Mills is at Oregon Health Science University and Carrie A Mohila at Texas Children's Hospital. This study was supported by grants from the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (RP150334 and RP160192), National Cancer Institute-Cancer Therapeutic Discovery (U01-CA217842), National Institutes of Health (R01-CA223388 and T32-HL902332), the American Cancer Society-Rob Rutherford Glioblastoma Research Postdoctoral Fellowship (PF-15-220-01-TBG), and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Gilliam Fellowship. The authors acknowledge the assistance of the Baylor College of Medicine Mouse Phenotyping Core funded by NIH grant U54-HG006348, the BCM Small Animal MRI and Texas Children's Hospital Small Animal Imaging Facility, and the National Cancer Institute-funded (# CA16672) Functional Proteomics RPPA Core Facility at MD Anderson Cancer Center. The authors dedicate this work to co-author Dr. Kenneth L Scott, associate professor of molecular and human genetics at Baylor College of Medicine, a leader and major force behind this project, who passed away before completion of the study. Obinna Uzor, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Anambra south senatorial election, says the National Examination C... Obinna Uzor, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Anambra south senatorial election, says the National Examination Council (NECO) certificate Ifeanyi Ubah submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is cloned. He said the certificate, which NECO confirmed on Tuesday is different from the one Ubah, senator representing the district, presented to INEC. Uzor also faulted the grounds of appeal against the court ruling sacking Ubah as senator. A federal capital territory (FCT) high court had sacked Ubah on the grounds that he submitted a forged NECO certificate to INEC. The court asked the electoral commission to withdraw his certificate of return and issue another to Uzoh. But while responding to an enquiry made by the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Ubahs party, NECO said the senators certificate is authentic and that it was issued to the YPP candidate in 2003. Reacting in a statement on Wednesday, Uzor alleged that the NECO certificate in Ubahs possession is not genuine. He said: The certified copy from INEC has Serial No 303865920 (note 3038) whereas NECO certified copy has Serial No 303565920 (note 3035). A comparison of these two Certificates reveal other differences such as Logo, Font, Signature etc. NECOs clarification has therefore only affirmed the court judgment that Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah submitted forged NECO Certificate to INEC, same having been cloned. Below are the two documents. Switch the Market flag Open the menu and switch the Market flag for targeted data from your country of choice. for targeted data from your country of choice. In the early morning hours of Friday, members of the Hudson County Prosecutors Office and Jersey City Police Department conducted a series of drug arrests in different areas of the city. Eight people who were observed buying heroin were transported to the Hudson County Prosecutors Office for processing, but the routine nature of the arrests ended there. Instead of being processed conventionally, the eight people met with addiction recovery specialists and were offered formal recovery support. Those who accepted will have the chance to enter Drug Court, where their drug charges could be expunged. Fridays effort marked Hudson Countys launch of Operation Helping Hand a statewide initiative that aims to link recovery services with narcotics users at the time of their arrest. The initiative started in Bergen County and has since spread across the state. Working together with our social services partners and recovery professionals, law enforcement can serve as a bridge between addiction and recovery, said Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez, whose office is using a $100,000 grant to fund the program. If we can save even one life, we have made an impact, but we believe this program will save many lives and help countless others rebuild for a positive future. The individuals who participate in the program will still face criminal charges, but by volunteering for recovery support they have the opportunity to enter Drug Court. If they successfully complete their treatment, participants have the potential to see their current and past drug charges expunged, officials said. Of the eight people arrested Friday, six received services from the RWJBarnabas Institute for Prevention and Recovery, one agreed to enter an immediate detox treatment program at the Hudson County Correctional Center and one was transported directly to the Jersey City Police Department for an outstanding warrant. We have seen so much success this year with people turning their lives around, securing housing and new jobs, said Lynn Seaward, assistant director of the Institute for Prevention and Recovery. For them, having the support and having someone to walk with them hand-in-hand through the process has made all the difference. Attorney General Grewal developed Operation Helping Hand as a new way to combat opioid addiction in Bergen County while serving as the county prosecutor in 2016. In 2018, a total of 177 drug users were arrested in Operation Helping Hand between June 11 and 15 in Bergen, Morris, Passaic, Sussex and Union counties. A total of 148 accepted the offer of treatment or recovery support services, with only 29 rejecting the offer of help. There were three additional walk-ins who were not arrested, but who were offered and accepted help after they learned of the program. Of the 151 who accepted help, including the walk-ins, a total of 102 accepted treatment meaning in-patient detox, or in-patient treatment, or intensive outpatient treatment, or medically assisted treatment, or a combination thereof and the other 49 accepted other recovery support services. We applaud the launch of Hudson Countys first Operation Helping Hand initiative and the lives it has touched, Grewal said. We look forward to the programs continued success. Each individual provided a pathway to recovery brings us one step closer to defeating the opioid epidemic. China to ensure employment, social security during epidemic prevention period People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:52, January 28, 2020 BEIJING, Jan. 28 -- China will strengthen social security and ensure employment to prevent and control the spread of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus, said the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. Medical and other related personnel infected for doing their jobs will be well secured, and relevant subsidy policies will be implemented, said the ministry at a meeting. The ministry will also keep a close eye on the employment situation during the period of epidemic control. In addition, the meeting called for joint efforts by technical colleges to prevent and control the spread of the virus. The colleges were urged to detect, report the epidemic situation and treat patients in a timely manner, said the ministry. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address By the time Louis Cousins Sr. got to Vietnam as a combat medic, he knew something of personal courage. One of 17 African Americans who arrived at all-white schools across Norfolk, Va. on Feb. 1, 1959, he had single-handedly integrated Maury High School as one of the Norfolk 17, as they were called. Cousins was only 15 when a newspaper photo of him sitting alone that day, avoided by white students in the Maury auditorium, captured a moment when everything changed in his hometown. Cousins died here Jan. 17 at 76 and was buried Wednesday at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. He got me back to school. I got my bachelors. Im looking at my masters, his son, Louis Cousins Jr., 55, of San Antonio said after the graveside honors. We want our kids to do better than we did and I know thats what he wants for me. Im going to try to fill the shoes the best I can. Im definitely going to keep his dream alive and just honor him, he added. Now Playing: Retired Air Force Tech Sgt. Louis Cousins Sr. buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Video: San Antonio Express-News A retired Air Force technical sergeant, the elder Cousins lived and worked in San Antonio and earned a bachelors degree from St. Marys University in 1990. He appeared calm and expressionless in the photo, but what he did was an act of defiance the likes of which few people in Virginia or any other Southern state could have imagined even a few years earlier. Youve got the iconic picture, said retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Michael Longoria, 64, of Carrollton, Va., who knew him. It is today startling to me when you hear his story, it really is. You can imagine the young people, the pressure that they were under. The Supreme Court had struck down segregation in public schools in 1954, rejecting its own 1896 precedent upholding separate but equal public facilities as a farce. Federal court orders that followed were fought across the South but by the end of 1958 forced Virginia Gov. J. Lindsay Almond to give up. Weeks later, black children entered white schools. Challenging the established order in the South could, and did, cost people their lives, but Cousins parents stressed the value of a good education early on. I was afraid to a certain point, but I was there for a purpose: to get my education, he told the St. Marys alumni magazine in 2016. Im the type of person who, if you tell me I cant do something, Im going to do it. So there was no backing down with me. The state came up with these psychological and written tests for black students to see if they qualified for white schools, Cousins remembered. The pool started at 256 students, and then dropped to 61, 21 and finally 17. They were assigned to seven schools, and Cousins became the first African American among Maury High Schools 2,000-plus students. He felt like he was one of those pioneers or trailblazers who had to break the mold and he felt like it was a calling for him, said a longtime friend, the Rev. Tommy Smith, 56, of Suffolk, Va. He did not have a fear or anything like that, and he knew that there were others depending on him. That wasnt quite true; Cousins was on edge that day and had reason to be. Racists burned crosses in the front yard of his home, his son said. But he was ready. Teachers at First Baptist Church of Norfolk taught Cousins not to react when people called him names, the St. Marys account said. They told him to sit in the front of his classes so there would be witnesses to harassment or assault, and to make sure he was near a door if he had to escape. The only time he lost it was when he was spit on, in between classes, his son said. He chased the guy all the way to the principals office, and they expelled the student and the school apologized for that kids actions. The behavior was common. Black students were frequently mistreated and Cousins was ignored even by whites in the school who wanted to befriend him but didnt, fearing they, too, would be ostracized. Cousins endured it from ninth grade to high school graduation, yet earned close to a 4.0 grade point average. It was an eye-opening experience, he told St. Marys. I never expected to go through the type of humiliation I went through, but it taught me a valuable lesson: to do whatever it takes to get an education. Cousins entered Norfolk State University, but quit because he couldnt afford it. He joined the Air Force and served in Vietnam as a combat medic. He spent 21 years in uniform, settled in San Antonio and became a medical technologist at Methodist Hospital. When they talked and the subject turned to Vietnam, the stories were more from a humility perspective where he was a medic, said Smith, a retired Air Force chief master sergeant and Iraq veteran. There were things Cousins saw during the war he didnt talk about, but the experience led him to believe he survived for a reason, Smith said. Hes my hero, Smith added. And the reason I say hero is because Im standing on the shoulders of people like him who have paved the way for me. The younger Cousins said his father talked very little of the war. He saw stuff over there that he briefly touched on but didnt go into any great depth, he said. Back then, they didnt know what PTSD was and all that, so he just put it in a room, locked the door and threw away the key. Smith and Longoria both described Cousins as soft spoken, not at all angry about his experiences. He was a smart, conscientious, patriotic American. And the funny thing is, he never wanted to have the claim to fame of being one of the Norfolk 17, but wanted to be a good student, Longoria said. Cousins saw the roadblocks he lived through as opportunities, Smith said. He embodied what it means to be a servant and his life was a life of service, serving others because he wasnt serving himself when he decided to break the barrier and go into uncharted territory, he said. He said someone had to do it. Why not him? sigc@express-news.net Yesterday I was on the Yerevan-Milan [Ryanair] plane as a passenger departing from Bergamo Airport to Yerevan. We were to depart at 6 Italy time. Check-in began just two hours before the flight, with only one window serving more than 100 passengers. Passenger.am representative Gurgen Ghazaryan stated this on Facebook livestream, commenting on the problems that arose regarding this flight. "The passengers had only 80 minutes for check-in, which is simply impossible," he added. "And while we were on the plane, it turned out that about 40 passengers were unable to get on board." Ghazaryan added that many of these stranded passengers have arrived in Armenia via other airlines, but some have not yet arrived. "These problems must have fundamental solutions," he added. Another problem is that people bought luggage during the Yerevan to Milan flight, but the program didn't show it. We have complaints that people bought [airline] tickets, but Zvartnots [international airport of Yerevan] said, You have to pay an extra 55 euros. The Passenger.am representative proposes to the Civil Aviation Committee of Armenia to set up a study commission that will be present at the airport during check-in, and they will figure out the problems and try to resolve them. Passenger.am: Serious problems during Milan-Yerevan flight New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew stands next to President Donald Trump at a Trump campaign rally in Wildwood on Tuesday. Van Drew defected to the Republican Party in December. Read more WILDWOOD U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew was embraced with open arms Tuesday during President Donald Trumps rally at the Jersey Shore, just one month after the longtime Democrat defected to the GOP. Jeff had the guts to defy the left-wing fanatics in his own party, Trump said at the Wildwoods Convention Center, adding that it didnt take much for Van Drew to switch parties. Tuesdays rally cemented Van Drews new status as a Republican, and marked the most high-profile effort to date by the national party to boost his reelection chances in 2020. Trump invited Van Drew to share the stage, showering the longtime moderate Democrat with praise and highlighting his conservative-leaning positions. He supports lower taxes; not bad," Trump said. He loves our military, he loves our vets and police. ... He loves your Second Amendment, which is under siege by the Democrats. Van Drew shook New Jersey politics in December when, in rapid succession, he voted against Trumps impeachment, switched parties, and pledged his undying support" to Trump. Democrats were furious at the betrayal, while local Republicans were skeptical of his conservative bona fides. READ MORE: Democrats are furious at Jeff Van Drew. But beating him wont be easy. At the rally, Van Drew tried to remove any doubt about his loyalty, taking to the lectern to fully embrace his new political home and Trump. When I was in the White House with the president, he asked how he could help me," Van Drew said. I asked if he could come down to South Jersey to have a rally. Without even hesitating, our president said yes, and he is here. A man who kept his word to ensure that the eyes of the world are on South Jersey. Hours before Trump took to the stage, prominent New Jersey Republicans Van Drews political foes for years also toed the line with shows of support for the Democrat-turned-Republican, reflecting the strength of Trumps support in conservative bastions of South Jersey. Jeff is going to win in November, said David Richter, a Republican who had been running before Van Drew switched parties and vowed to continue the campaign against him, but announced Monday that he would run instead in a neighboring district represented by Democrat Andy Kim. He stood with President Trump and voted against this impeachment farce. He knows how to deliver for South Jersey. Hes tough, he gets the job done. Just weeks earlier, Richter had dismissed Van Drew as fake. "I dont think theyre going to put their support behind a lifelong Democrat, Richter said of voters in December. I wish more people would leave the Democratic Party. But if you do it opportunistically, [it] just smacks of being... very fake. READ MORE: I will not vote for Trump, Jeff Van Drew vowed in a voicemail. Then he pledged undying support for the president The rally also offered Trump and Van Drew a break from what has otherwise been a tumultuous time for the president and his new ally, both of whom face challenging reelections in November. Trumps impeachment trial is entering a potentially dangerous phase, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signaling to colleagues Tuesday that he doesnt have the votes to block new witnesses from testifying. And just days before the rally, the strength of Van Drews newfound loyalty to the president was called into question with the emergence of a voicemail he left for a voter. I havent voted for him, I didnt support him, I will not vote for him," Van Drew said of Trump in the Nov. 30 message, just three weeks before he defected to the GOP and pledged the president his undying support." While Van Drew played a starring role in Trumps rally, his Democratic challengers said his sudden political reversal was nothing more than opportunism. In early December, Van Drew learned from an internal campaign poll just how much his stance on impeachment had harmed his prospects in a Democratic primary. Days later, he was in the White House finalizing plans to become a Republican. Hell say and do anything to get reelected, said Brigid Callahan Harrison, a Democrat angling for Van Drews seat. It isnt this was an evolution in his politics, its clear its about his own reelection chances. Since switching parties, a number of prominent local Democrats have decided to run for his seat, and many of them used Tuesday as an opportunity to attack Van Drew in front of a wider audience. Amy Kennedy, a candidate in the Democratic primary and the wife of former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, ran an ad during Fox and Friends, Trumps favorite cable news talk show. It showed footage of Van Drew pledging his undying support to Trump in the Oval Office before featuring Kennedy herself saying: "Im a lifelong Democrat. Thats who I am and its who Ive always been. And while Van Drews reelection campaign will be one of the most closely watched House races in the country, it remains to be seen if Trumps support will ultimately be enough to deliver a victory. The district which stretches from the Philadelphia suburbs in Gloucester County south to Cape May, and from north of Atlantic City into Burlington County is a battleground: Trump won it by five points in 2016, while President Barack Obama got 53% of the vote each time he ran. The daunting prospect of spending two weeks isolated on Christmas Island could see Australians reject an offer to be evacuated from the coronavirus epicentre. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Wednesday plans to remove more than 600 Australians trapped in China's Hubai province on a Qantas flight as the virus continues to spread. But the government's proposal that requires evacuees to be quarantined on the island in the middle of the Indian Ocean for up to 14 days is making stranded families reconsider their options. People wearing facemasks to help stop the spread of a deadly virus which began in the city, wait for medical attention at Wuhan Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan on January 25 Sydney physiotherapist Bon Lee has been in Hubei province since January 23 with his wife and 12-month old daughter. He is now uncertain if his family will board the Qantas flight out of 'ground zero'. 'I think it is great the government has reached out to have a proper plan, its important for the safety for everyone. But Christmas Island for 14 days is a long time,' he told The Sydney Morning Herald. 'Its a drastic measure'. Christmas Island, an Australian territory 2600km north-west of Perth, is the site of a the counrty's immigration detention centre. 'Vulnerable' Australians, including children and the elderly, would be evacuated to Christmas Island (pictured) The rescue operation will be performed in partnership with the New Zealand government on a 'last in, first out' basis, with priority given to those that are 'isolated and vulnerable', such as infants and the elderly. Australian Daniel Ou Yang, 21, is now stuck in Wuhan, where he was visiting family at the time of the outbreak. While he wants to head home to Sydney to see his girlfriend and get back to his real estate business, he is unsure about the living conditions on Christmas Island if he's evacuated there. 'Will I be treated as an Australian or as a detainee? I am in their hands and can only hope it will go smoothly,' he told AAP from his family's home in Wuhan. 'I know we would be kept in the detention centre and the treatment of detainees is not the best.' Mr Yang found out about the evacuation through friends messaging him news articles after the announcement was made, but said he has not heard from the government in four days. Australia is seeking permission from Chinese authorities to allow its citizens to depart Wuhan. Pictured is a coronavirus patient in a Wuhan hospital Morrison said evacuees would be held in quarantine for 14 days on Christmas Island, known for its notorious immigration detention centre used to detain asylum seekers Even if Mr Yang decides to travel there, he is unsure if he will be able to board the flight as he falls outside of the government's priority list. Former Hubei resident Cheng Chen said many in Wuhan may be deterred from seeking help by the Christmas Island proposition. 'It's going to be very hard for them to return to normal life. I doubt many people will get on the flight but it depends on how desperate they are,' he said. Qantas has offered to help but Australia and New Zealand requires China's permission to send in planes Qantas has offered to help to Australia and New Zealand but the countries need China's permission before sending in a chartered plane, which is yet to be granted. Mr Morrison said he could not guarantee multiple journeys or that the operation would succeed. 'I stress there is rather a limited window here and we are moving very, very swiftly to ensure we can put this plan together and put the operation together,' he said. 'I also want to stress very clearly that we may not be in a position if we're able to do this on one occasion to do it on another occasion.' Japan rescued its citizens on Tuesday, while South Korea will charter a plane into Wuhan on Thursday. The federal government is making one million masks available for patients and health workers at general practices where somebody has come forward with coronavirus symptoms. Australia has also upgraded its official travel advice, urging people to reconsider all travel to China. China has confirmed there are now more than 6000 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 132 deaths. The official number of Australian cases rose to seven on Wednesday, with authorities expecting additional cases to be reported in the near future. Two weeks ago, Tata Sons was trying to raise around Rs 14,000 crore from banks and through internal accruals to pay the AGR dues of Tata Teleservices before the 23 January deadline. Tata Sons may pay the mandatory dues that its subsidiary Tata Teleservices owes to the Department of Telecom. The parent company has reportedly initiated the process for arranging funds even as the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the modification petition filed by five non-telecom companies this week, said a news report. Tata Sons may depend on Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for funds to pay the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues of Rs 13,823 crore owed by the group's telecom subsidiary, Tata Teleservices, said a report in The Economic Times. The holding company's finance team is searching for funds from other sources as well if a crisis arises, the report said. Two weeks ago, Tata Sons was trying to raise around Rs 14,000 crore from banks and through internal accruals to pay the AGR dues of Tata Teleservices before the 23 January deadline, according to to a report in Business Standard. Tata Tele, a subsidiary of Tata Sons, along with Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra), which was operating in the Maharashtra and Goa circles, ha already made provisions for the AGR dues payment, said the report quoting sources. On 24 January, the apex court had agreed to hear the modification petitions filed by public sector undertakings (PSUs) in the AGR order 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, said a report in Mint. The Supreme Court may hear the petitions of the companies by next week, the report said. Last week, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea had communicated to the Department of Telecom (DoT) that they would not pay AGR dues of Rs 88,624 crore before the deadline which ended on 23 January. The telcos said that they would wait for the outcome of modification petition listed for hearing before the Supreme Court next week. Both companies have requested the Department of Telecom (DoT) to give them time to make payment based on the outcome of their modification petition listed for hearing before the Supreme Court next week, sources said. The apex court had set 23 January as the deadline to pay AGR dues. Telecom companies owe the government Rs 92,642 crore in unpaid licence 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 24 October, 2019, and submit requisite documents within the stipulated time frame. On 20 January, three telecom firmsVodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel and Tata Teleservices had jointly filed a modification application in the Supreme Court seeking more time to pay the AGR dues to the government. On 16 January, the Supreme Court dismissed the plea of telecom majors, including Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, seeking review of certain directions of the Supreme Court on recovery of past dues amounting to Rs 1.47 lakh crore from telecom service providers. With PTI inputs Geneva: The United Nations raised "serious concerns" on Tuesday about the trials of hundreds of alleged Islamic State members in Iraq, some of whom merely prepared meals, offered medical services or even acted as human shields for the jihadist group. Iraq has processed thousands of cases under its anti-terrorism law including of detainees from outside the Middle East transferred from neighbouring Syria in the aftermath of a 2014-17 war against Islamic State militants. A child peeks out from her cot at Salhiya Orphanage for the children of Islamic State militants. Credit:AP The joint report by the United Nations Human Rights Office in Iraq and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) covers 794 trials carried out between May 1, 2018, and October 31, 2019, OHCHR spokesman Jeremy Laurence told a news briefing in Geneva. "[The report] raises serious concerns about unfair trials placing defendants at a serious disadvantage," he said, adding that 28 of the cases in the UN report involved foreign defendants from 11 different countries, not including Australia. YEREVAN. I do not want to believe in the press releases that the Prime Minister held a consultation, visited specific bodies. But it all hangs in the air, and it is indirectly confirmed by the Prime Minister's being so informed about all the cases. Armenias Constitutional Court (CC) President Hrayr Tovmasyan said this in a TV program, referring to allegations that PM Nikol Pashinyan is directly leading the campaign against him. As for Pashinyan's statement that it is necessary to conduct an investigation and find out whether Tovmasyan's foreign visits were a threat to national security, the CC President responded: "They should be careful about the article on 'collecting and disseminating information about a person for purposes not provided for by law' (...). But remember that this camel will one day knock on your door, too, and one day you will answer where you had gone, whom you were talking to, when you met with whom, etc." To the observation that the authorities did not demand Hrayr Tovmasyans resignation at first, but they later realized, he responded: "Did you have that right? We are a state of law. Are we speaking with right? Or are we speaking with the elements () inherent in the criminal subculture? If there is a violation, if there will be grounds, okay." By Yoshifumi Takemoto and Kaori Kaneko TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura warned on Tuesday that corporate profits and factory production might take a hit from the coronavirus outbreak in China that has rattled global markets and chilled confidence. Asian stocks extended a global selloff as the outbreak in China, which has killed 106 people and spread to several countries, fuelled concern over the damage to the world's second largest economy - an engine of global growth. "There are concerns over the impact to the global economy from the spread of infection in China, transportation disruptions, cancellation of group tours from China and an extension in the Lunar Holiday," Nishimura told a news conference after a regular cabinet meeting. "If the situation takes longer to subside, we're concerned it could hurt Japanese exports, output and corporate profits via the impact on Chinese consumption and production," he said. China is Japan's second largest export destination and a huge market for its retailers. The Chinese make up 30% of all tourists visiting Japan and nearly 40% of the total sum foreign tourists spent last year, an industry survey showed. The outbreak could hit Japanese department stores, retailers and hotels, which count on a boost to sales from an inflow of Chinese tourists visiting during the Lunar Holiday. "We're worried that sales and the number of shoppers could fall if the outbreak persists," said a public relations official at Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings <3099.T>, a major Japanese department store operator. "It's not just about Chinese tourists. We're also worried that concern over the outbreak may keep Japanese shoppers home." Automaker Honda Motor <7267.T>, which has three plants in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province and the epicentre of the outbreak, plans to evacuate some staff. Aeon <8267.T> will close its shopping malls in the city until Thursday. Economists at SMBC Nikko Securities estimate that if a ban China has imposed on overseas group tours lasts another six months, it could hurt Japan's economic growth by 0.05%. Story continues Some expect the potential damage could be much worse. Hideo Kumano, chief economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute, said the decline in tourists from China could hurt Japan's GDP growth by up to 0.2%. "The biggest worry is the risk the negative impact from the outbreak persists and hits (the economy) during the Tokyo Olympic Games," when a huge number of Chinese tourists are expected to visit Japan, he said. "If the number of visitors decrease rather than increase, the hit to Japan's consumer industry will be quite large." Japan will host the 2020 Olympics in July and August. (Reporting by Yoshifumi Takemoto and Kaori Kaneko; Additional reporting by Hiroko Hamada; Writing by Leika Kihara; Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Muralikumar Anantharaman) Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane informed that a suspected coronavirus patient has been shifted to the isolation ward of Goa Medical College. "We have come across a suspected case of coronavirus, who is a foreigner travelling from China. The patient has been shifted to the isolation ward at GMC. The medical samples of the patient have been sent for further investigation to Pune, confirmation reports are awaited," Rane tweeted. "I would like to assure our citizens that the Task Force is reviewing the preparedness of the situation and are on vigil to tackle the virus," he added. Meanwhile, Goa Leader of Opposition, Digambar Kamat, has appealed to all in the region to not panic. "Let us not panic. Let us all be alert and careful. Prevention is better than cure. Let us all maintain hygiene. I urge Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Health Minister Vishwajit Rane to take preventive steps on priority," Kamat said. Meanwhile, another suspect of the coronavirus in Chandigarh has been shifted to the isolation ward of a hospital. Dr Vikas Suri, PGI Chandigarh, said, "A patient suffering from fever and cold was admitted to the hospital. Since he recently returned from China, we shifted him to the isolation ward as per government guidelines. We have sent samples of his blood and throat swab to Institute of Virology. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In brief: Microsoft joined team recently Chromium when it re-launched its not-so-popular Edge browser under the open-source project's umbrella. However, Microsoft is doing more than just taking advantage of Chromium's existing functionality -- it's contributing to the project with a few ideas of its own. Microsoft and Chromium programmers have recently collaborated to bring Edge's unique multi-tab management feature to the open-source project. This feature, for the unaware, lets users grab multiple tabs and send them to a new window all at once, instead of having to drag them one-by-one. The first hint of this collaboration popped up earlier this month, when Chromium contributor and Google engineer Leonard Grey asked Microsoft's Justin Gallagher to "upstream" the feature from Edge to Chromium. Gallagher was quick to agree and take ownership of the issue. This information may surprise some. While Chromium is hardly the same thing as Chrome, one could easily make the argument that by adding a useful feature to the former, Microsoft indirectly contributed to the success of one of its chief competitors. Regardless, it seems the company, or at least Mr. Gallagher, decided to push petty corporate politics and rivalries to the side and work toward the betterment of the Chromium project as a whole. With that said, features that do get added to the project won't necessarily make their way to all Chromium-based browsers (Chrome included). It's up to each individual browser developer to decide how their software will function, so Google may simply ignore this functionality (which has already been committed to Chromium). However, that seems unlikely. Better tab management functionality is always in high-demand for multi-tasking use cases, and it would be foolish for Google to look a gift horse in the mouth here. If Google does take advantage of it, we should expect to see the feature hit Chrome's beta builds in the near future. After US President Donald Trump tweeted maps of Israel and "future state of Palestine" as conceptualised under the Middle East plan, India on Wednesday called for a two-state solution to the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian issue. "India has been consistently supportive of the Palestinian cause. India has also called for a two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. "We reiterate our view that final status issues should be resolved through direct negotiations between the two parties and be acceptable to both," he added. The MEA spokesperson further said, "We urge the parties to engage with each other, including on the recent proposals put forward by the United States, and find an acceptable two-State solution for peaceful coexistence. We will continue to follow developments in the region and engage with the parties concerned." Earlier on Tuesday, Trump shared the maps, showing West Bank area containing 15 "Israeli enclave communities" connected through a tunnel to the Gaza Strip. "I will always stand with the State of Israel and the Jewish people. I strongly support their safety and security and their right to live within their historical homeland. It's time for peace!." Trump wrote on the micro-blogging site. "This is what a future State of Palestine can look like, with capital in parts of East Jerusalem," the following tweet read. The Middle East plan, which was three years in making, establishes Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided" capital and offers a path towards a two-state solution to one of the longest conflicts in history. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the lastest American venture, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on January 28 said that the US Peace Plan envisages the proposed Palestinian capital to be located in Abu Dis which is a neighbourhood on the outskirts of Jerusalem. After the United States President Donald Trump unveiled the Middle-East Peace plan, Netanyahu further reportedly said that at the next session, which is expected to be held on Sunday, he would also bring a proposal for applying Israeli jurisdiction to the Jordan Valley, the northern Dead and World Bank settlements for Cabinet approval. However, Palestinian were reportedly absent during the unveiling of the peace plan as they believe that it favours Israel and is against their goal of building an independent state. The Middle East Peace plan aims to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and further proposes to create the State of Palestine with its capital in east Jerusalem while acknowledging the sovereignty of Israel over important settlements blocs in the West Bank. The Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas has also reportedly called the plan the 'slap of the century'. READ: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu To Push West Bank Annexation Plan On Sunday US President Trump has called his plan a 'win-win' for both Israel and Palestinians and further said that he wanted this to be a 'great deal for Palestinians'. He further added that his vision gives the Palestinians the time required to grow and meet the challenges of statehood. However, Abbas has invited officials of Hamas, an Islamic militant group which is against Israel, to discuss the plan and 'unite against the plan'. READ: Benjamin Netanyahu Formally Indicted In 3 Corruption Cases In Court READ: Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu Meets Ukraine's President Middle-East Peace plan Trump administration has been aggressive about his foreign policy towards Israel by taking decisions against Palestinian interests. The peace plan further calls for a freeze in new Israeli settlement construction for a period of four years, during which, details of a comprehensive agreement would be negotiated. Trump has also sent a letter to Abbas to tell him that the territory which has been set aside for a new Palestinians state will remain open and undeveloped for four years. However, it was not clear if the freeze could be extended if a final deal is not concluded in the four years. READ: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu Mourns Kobe Bryant's Death, Says He will Not Be Forgotten READ: Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu Calls PM Modi To Convey Wishes On India's 71st Republic Day Dimitry Farberov Joins Miracle Mile Advisors as Investment Advisor Miracle Mile Advisors, one of California's fastest growing independent investment advisory firms, welcomes investment advisor Dimitry Farberov to its team. Farberov has nearly 10 years of financial experience and specializes in retirement planning, asset management, income distribution and philanthropic planning. Prior to joining Miracle Mile Advisors, Farberov served as an investment advisor at IDB Capital, where he worked with clients to find tax-efficient strategies as they transitioned into retirement, sold their businesses and transferred wealth to the next generation. "Dimitry's proven track record and his passion for serving clients makes him an invaluble addition to the West LA office," said Brock Moseley, Managing Partner. "I admire the firm's momentum and dedication to their clients," said Farberov. "The mission and vision of the company aligns with my core strengths and skills." For media inquiries, please contact Trish McCall at 310-824-9000 or [email protected]. About Miracle Mile Advisors: Miracle Mile Advisors is a leader in providing independent investment advice to high net worth individuals, families and business owners, and institutions including endowments foundations, pension plans, non-profits, schools and unions. As one of the fastest growing independent registered investment advisors in the country, the firm is committed to providing sophisticated, objective financial advice using low-cost custom investment strategies backed by a fiduciary standard. To learn more about Miracle Mile Advisors, please visit www.miraclemileadvisors.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005254/en/ YUCCA VALLEY, Calif., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Homestead Modern LLC, a leading developer and vacation property manager in the High Desert communities adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park, and HHD Holdings LLC, a New York-based investment group, are building two 560-square-foot single-family residences designed to tap into the burgeoning popularity of smaller homes and recent regulatory changes allowing them. Upon completion in March, they will enter the short-term vacation rental market (Airbnb) with Homestead Modern as manager. Rendering of soon to be completed 'Pause House' The homes, dubbed Pause House, feature an open-plan configuration, including compact but full kitchens. The name Pause is meant to suggest that visitors take a pause from their everyday lives and tune into all that the desert has to offer and do so in a comfortable and inspiring setting. "We are very excited about the Pause House project because we believe this is the perfect product for the growing vacation rental market in the High Desert," said Dave McAdam, founder and co-owner of Homestead Modern. "Many of the guests at our properties are couples and we believe they will readily embrace these smaller and decidedly hip homes. Additionally, Pause House is a tip of the hat for us to the spirit of the original jackrabbit homestead cabins that proliferated in the High Desert after World War II. We see Pause House as bringing that much-loved vernacular into the modern era." Interior walls and ceilings in Pause House will be clad in plywood. Floors will be polished concrete. Outside, Pause House will offer finishes designed to be all but maintenance-free such as durable fiber cement paneling. Outdoor amenities will include shaded patios, outdoor dining tables, cool dip "cowboy" tubs, fire features and barbecues. A single-car carport at each of the adjacent five-acre properties will also double as a location for solar panels. Those panels will push electricity back into the electric grid when the sun is shining and will make Pause House nearly net-zero electric consumers. Until relatively recently, most jurisdictions in California required new single-family residences be a minimum square footage typically around 725 square feet or more. Now many of those jurisdictions have reduced or eliminated those minimums entirely, driven in large measure by the statewide housing shortage. The Pause Houses being built are on Mojave Desert land in an unincorporated area of the county of San Bernardino just north of Joshua Tree National Park. San Bernardino County no longer has any minimum square footage requirements for single-family residences. To view interior and exterior renderings, a floor plan and site maps, go to www.HomesteadModern.com/pausehouse . If you want to be among the first to stay in a Pause House, click here to give us your contact information so we can notify you when reservations go live. Homestead Modern LLC, with offices in the Town of Yucca Valley, is a leading participant in the High Desert real estate and hospitality market. The company manages the highest-grossing portfolio of short-term vacation rental properties, builds new homes of its own design and renovates existing properties prior to managing them as rental properties for clients. Homestead Modern also works with investors interested in engaging in the booming High Desert economy. For more information, visit www.HomesteadModern.com or email the company at [email protected]. Voice messages may be left by calling (760) 428-8989. Contact: Dave McAdam [email protected] (760) 774-2495 SOURCE Homestead Modern Related Links http://www.HomesteadModern.com WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. A nationally acclaimed one-man show featuring the works of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. will take the stage at Purdue University during Black History Month. Yours for the Cause of Peace and Brotherhood: A Reading of Letter from Birmingham Jail, featuring Jim Lucas, will take place at 4 p.m. on Feb. 11 at Stewart Centers Fowler Hall. This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required and can be done online. Lucas, who has studied Kings works and teachings, is an advocate of Kings philosophy of nonviolent civil action to effect social change. Like King, Lucas, who is from Lake Providence, Louisiana, participated in local protests and demonstrations to achieve school integration in his hometown. This presentation aligns well with Purdues Division of Diversity and Inclusions yearlong theme of Democracy, Civility, and Freedom of Expression, said Carol Ben-Davies, director of diversity and inclusion for Purdues College of Health and Human Sciences. Jim Lucas has traveled the country portraying Dr. King, and we are fortunate to be able to bring him to Purdue. We hope that by actually hearing Dr. Kings powerful examples of democracy, civility and freedom of expression outlined in his Letter from Birmingham Jail, the audience will be inspired to participate in the facilitated discussion that follows. The facilitated discussion will address issues of social justice and equity and provide participants with an excellent opportunity to model and practice civil discourse. The program is sponsored by Purdues College of Health and Human Sciences and the College of Agriculture, Civic Engagement & Leadership Development office, and the Division of Diversity and Inclusion. Writer: Matthew Oates, 765-496-2571, oatesw@purdue.edu, @mo_oates Sources: Denise Buhrmester, 765-496-3663, dmbuhrmester@purdue.edu, @PurdueHHS Carol Ben-Davies, 765-494-8215, cbd@purdue.edu, @PurdueHHS Note to journalists: Interviews with Jim Lucas prior to the event are available. Please contact Matthew Oates, Purdue News Service, at oatesw@purdue.edu. [January 29, 2020] Luminary Welcomes Richard Plepler to Board of Directors Luminary Media, a premium content podcast subscription service, announced today that Richard Plepler, founder of Eden Productions and former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of HBO, has joined Luminary's Board of Directors. The company plans to make additional board announcements soon. "Under Richard's leadership, HBO set the gold standard for quality, bringing viewers premium content across genres. I've seen firsthand Richard's invaluable impact on a premium content business, and we welcome his strategic partnership as we endeavor to support creators, curate content for listeners, and drive Luminary's business forward," said Luminary CEO Simon Sutton. "Podcasting has become such an exciting and dynamic medium for great storytelling," said Plepler. "Luminary's vision as a jewel box of premium podcast content where creators are enabled to do their best work and subscribers can consistently discover quality will make it easier for consumers to navigate an incredibly crowded space. I am thrilled to join the board, partner with Simon and the Luminary team, and help realize this vision." "Richard pioneered the concept of 'curated excellence', and his deep content expertise aligns perfectly with Luminary's approach to world-class talent like Trevor Noah, Lena Dunham, and Leon Neyfakh, as well as Luminary's business model. We are fortunate to have him on the team," said Matt Sacs, Luminary Founder and Executive Chairman. Richard Plepler most recently served as Chairman and CEO of Home Box (News - Alert) Office, Inc. (HBO), a position he held from 2013 - 2019, culminating 28 years at the company. Prior, Plepler was the Co-President of HBO from 2007 - 2012. Earlier this month, Plepler announced the creation of Eden Productions, a film and television production company with a five-year exclusive deal with Apple (News - Alert) TV+. About Luminary Luminary is a premium podcast subscription service. Luminary offers a premium subscription network of top quality podcasts available only on Luminary. Luminary Premium podcasts feature some of the most recognizable voices in podcasting, leading entertainers, and diverse and emerging voices. Luminary also offers a free podcast app with simple user interface and smart content discovery. Luminary was founded by Matt Sacks in 2018 with backing from NEA, a global venture capital fund with $20 billion in assets under management. Driven by the singular mission to improve the podcasting experience for both listeners and creators, Luminary is making it easier for podcast listeners to find great content and for podcast creators to do their best work. The free Luminary app is available on iOS, Android (News - Alert), and web. Luminary offers all listeners a seven-day free trial of Luminary Premium. After the free trial, the monthly subscription price is $4.99 for U.S. subscribers, and the annual price is $34.99, or about $2.99 per month. Luminary Premium is also available for international listeners with a seven-day free trial, including in Canada (Monthly: CA (News - Alert)$4.99/mo, Annual: CA$34.99), U.K (Monthly: 3.99/mo, Annual: 28.99), and Australia (Monthly: AU$5.99/mo, Annual: AU$34.99). For more information, visit luminarypodcasts.com or follow @hearluminary. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005538/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Chinese people around the world have started wearing plastic containers and bags over their heads to protect themselves from coronavirus. Photographs have surfaced on social media which appear to show the desperate measures people are taking to avoid catching the deadly disease which has killed at least 170 people already. One picture shows a family, including a mother carrying her baby in a harness, wearing plastic bags in an airport. Scroll down for video. Chinese people around the world have started wearing plastic containers and bags over their heads to protect themselves from the coronavirus Photographs have surfaced on social media which appear to show the desperate lengths people are going to to avoid catching the deadly disease which has killed at least 170 people already Other photographs at Vancouver airport show a woman with a plastic water container over her head. And one man even wore a motorcycle helmet as protection during a flight from Shanghai to Perth. Marina Jambrina, a fellow passenger, told the Western Australian that most people on board were wearing masks. She added: 'When I transferred in Shanghai I did not see anyone in the airport without a mask. 'I've never travelled like this before, it was pretty scary.' A family at a railway station in Hong Kong were also spotted wearing plastic containers. Other photographs at Vancouver airport show a woman with a plastic water container over her head One man even wore a motorcycle helmet as protection during a flight from Shanghai to Perth In some Chinese cities face masks are running out. The flu-like virus has killed at least 170 people and has infected more than 7,000 other as of this morning. While there isn't a vaccine for the virus, health experts are urging people to regularly wash their hands with soap and water and avoid sharing food, drink and utensils. The coronavirus is spread by particles from coughs and sneezes and takes anywhere from one to 14 days to incubate. Most of the cases in China have been in Hubei province, specifically in Wuhan - a city of 11million people. It it believed to have initially spread to humans at a market that sold live animals and illegal wildlife. Almost 60 cases have been reported in 15 other countries, including the US, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. One picture shows a family, including a mother carrying her baby in a harness, wearing plastic bags in an airport In some Chinese cities face masks are running out. The flu-like virus has killed at least 170 people and has infected more than 7,000 other as of this morning The coronavirus is spread by particles from coughs and sneezes and takes anywhere from one to 14 days to incubate Most of the cases in China have been in Hubei province, specifically in Wuhan - a city of 11million people More than 100 people have been tested for coronavirus in the UK, but all of the results were negative. Public Health England has warned that the virus is most likely already in the country and people who have recently travelled from Hubei to Britain have been told to stay indoors for 14 days. British Airways has now suspended all flights to and from mainland China after the Foreign Office warned against 'all but essential travel' to the country. Plans to bring UK citizens back from Hubei are being finalised and flights home could start as soon as tomorrow. Roughly 500 Britons are currently trapped in Wuhan - the epicentre of the outbreak. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AgraFlora Organics International Inc. (AgraFlora or the Company) (CSE: AGRA) (Frankfurt: PU31) (OTCPK: AGFAF), a growth oriented and diversified international cannabis company, is pleased to announce that construction at the Companys industry-leading automated edibles manufacturing facility (the Winnipeg Edibles Facility) is expected to be completed in the next 60 days, with approximately 75% of the work having been completed. The Company anticipates the Winnipeg Edibles Facility will submit its Health Canada affirmation of readiness and video evidence package (the Evidence Package) shortly after completion of construction. The Company is working with industry-leading experts to manage the timing and quality of the Evidence Package Submission and expects the Standard Processing License to be granted at the Winnipegs Edibles Facility by summer 2020. Completing the construction and licensing of the Winnipeg Edibles Facility is a strategic priority for AgraFlora in 2020, said Brandon Boddy, CEO of the Company. Edibles have only been broadly available to Canadian consumers starting in 2020 and the industry is still struggling to manage quality and inventory levels. Our team in Winnipeg has a century of candy making experience, and our facility is designed to produce high-quality, consistently dosed edibles using smart automation investments to reduce costs as much as possible. Once licensed, we expect to be disruptive in the edibles space. The Winnipeg Edibles Facility is a state-of-the-art commercial scale edibles facility that features industry leading manufacturing equipment and automation for the production of cannabis edibles. The facilitys initial focus will be the production of THC and CBD infused cannabis gummies which management believes will be the largest category of cannabis edibles in Canada. The facility is designed and operated by the Companys joint-venture partner holding nearly a century of confectionary manufacturing experience. The facility design, workflow and equipment will allow the production of cannabis edibles with unparalleled quality and consistency of dosing. In addition, strategic investments in automation will allow the Winnipeg Edibles Facility to reduce its operating costs. Some key facility highlights include: Automated Manufacturing: the custom developed confectionary line utilizes automated mixing, cooking and depositing systems to allow cannabis edibles to be produced from raw materials and cannabis inputs with little human intervention. This process reduces labour costs versus more manual manufacturing systems, increases throughput and increases product consistency. the custom developed confectionary line utilizes automated mixing, cooking and depositing systems to allow cannabis edibles to be produced from raw materials and cannabis inputs with little human intervention. This process reduces labour costs versus more manual manufacturing systems, increases throughput and increases product consistency. Smart Recipe Management: the facilitys manufacturing equipment is all computer controlled with each recipe custom programed to the exact required specifications. This ensures that recipes are followed exactly, increasing the consistency and predictability of the final product. In addition, the smart recipe management facilitates faster recipe changes, increasing the flexibility of the production line. the facilitys manufacturing equipment is all computer controlled with each recipe custom programed to the exact required specifications. This ensures that recipes are followed exactly, increasing the consistency and predictability of the final product. In addition, the smart recipe management facilitates faster recipe changes, increasing the flexibility of the production line. Pharmaceutical Grade Dose Management: consistent dosing of the cannabis edibles is vital to maintain regulatory compliance and consumer confidence. The equipment utilized by the Winnipeg Edibles Facility is pharmaceutical grade meaning it is capable of precisely dosing the edibles with cannabinoids. Furthermore, the best-in-class design means the cannabinoids are deposited into the edibles after the mixing and cooking process, removing the requirement to blend bulk batches of in-process edibles, which can create challenges to the maintenance of consistent dosing. consistent dosing of the cannabis edibles is vital to maintain regulatory compliance and consumer confidence. The equipment utilized by the Winnipeg Edibles Facility is pharmaceutical grade meaning it is capable of precisely dosing the edibles with cannabinoids. Furthermore, the best-in-class design means the cannabinoids are deposited into the edibles after the mixing and cooking process, removing the requirement to blend bulk batches of in-process edibles, which can create challenges to the maintenance of consistent dosing. Rapid Batch Turn-Over: the depositing system utilizes a double-headed design which facilitates rapid switching between recipes. The system has been designed to facilitate this rapid turnover without creating a risk of cross-contamination between batches. This increases the facilitys flexibility to produce additional SKUs as compared to a single-headed depositing system. the depositing system utilizes a double-headed design which facilitates rapid switching between recipes. The system has been designed to facilitate this rapid turnover without creating a risk of cross-contamination between batches. This increases the facilitys flexibility to produce additional SKUs as compared to a single-headed depositing system. Robust Clean-In-Place Systems: the equipment has been fitted with an automated clean in place system that utilizes advanced systems to rapidly and effectively clean and sanitize the production equipment without disassembly or transportation to a cleaning bay. This will greatly reduce the labour required to maintain a sanitary production environment and increase daily throughput by reducing equipment downtime due to cleaning. We have seen in the data from the United States and the early sales in Canada that gummies are the preferred edible form factor, and our JV partner has circa 100 years of experience producing candy confectionaries such as gummies, continued Brandon Boddy. Weve been strategic in our investments in automation to ensure our line is industry leading from a cost perspective, but also very flexible to accommodate different sizes of production run, flavours and cannabinoid contents. Over time, our equipment will allow us to branch out beyond gummies into chocolates, caramels, hard candies and more complex infused confections. About Edibles and Infusions Corporation Edibles and Infusions Corporation operates a 51,000 square foot edibles manufacturing facility located in Winnipeg, Manitoba (the Winnipeg Edibles Facility). The Winnipeg Edibles Facility is equipped with over 30,000 square feet of dedicated edibles production space, as well as a 750 square foot pharmaceutical-grade research and development laboratory. Once activated, the Winnipeg Edibles Facility will be operated by a roster of third-generation chocolatiers/confectioners and includes manufacturing equipment capable of producing an assortment of both cannabinoid/terpene-infused products for medicinal, functional and adult use at scale. Edibles and Infusions holds a cannabis research licence from Health Canada under the Cannabis Regulations Act. About AgraFlora Organics International Inc. AgraFlora Organics International Inc. is a growth oriented and diversified company focused on the international cannabis industry. It owns an indoor cultivation operation in London, ON and is a joint venture partner in Propagation Services Canada Inc. and its large-scale 2,200,000 sq. ft. greenhouse complex in Delta, BC. The Company is also retrofitting a 51,500-square-foot good manufacturing practice (GMP) edibles manufacturing facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba. AgraFlora has a successful record of creating shareholder value and is actively pursuing other opportunities within the cannabis industry. For more information please visit: www.agraflora.com . ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Brandon Boddy Chairman & CEO T: (604) 398-3147 For additional information: AgraFlora Organics International Inc. Tim McNulty E: ir@agraflora.com T: (800) 783-6056 For French inquiries: Remy Scalabrini, Maricom Inc. E: rs@maricom.ca T: (888) 585-MARI The CSE and Information Service Provider have not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release. Forward-looking Information Cautionary Statement Arrested: Xochil O'Neill, 28 This is the man arrested over the death of a yoga teacher who was allegedly bashed in her own home. Xochil O'Neill, 28, is under police guard in critical condition hospital after Maud Steenbeek, 61, was allegedly killed in Heidelberg West, Melbourne at about 8pm on Tuesday. Neighbours said they heard her scream 'get out of the house now' before she died. Other locals said they saw a man climbing trees and hiding under cars in the street before the alleged attack. Witnesses told Nine News a man was 'ranting about God' as he crossed the street. Police are investigating if this man was O'Neill. It is not clear if he knew Ms Steenbeck. Ms Steenbeek was talking to a relative on Skype when the alleged attack happened, according to Nine News. The connection cut out when the alleged intruder sneaked up behind her. When the Skype connection cut out, the relative told Ms Steenbeek's son she was in 'grave danger' and he rushed to the home to find her body on the floor, with the accused killer allegedly still inside. The victim's son then dragged the alleged attacker out of the home and on to the street before police arrived and took him into custody. Before police arrived neighbours heard loud screams coming from the property. A witness said a man had been running up and down the street earlier that night with a frantic look in his face. Neighbours said they heard screaming coming from the house before police arrived (at the scene) 'He seemed to be completely off his face,' the witness told The Herald Sun. 'We thought he was having an episode you know. Then he was running and we thought ''what the hell?''. 'He was trying to jump into trees. Then he was hiding under a car.' Police said Ms Steenbeek died at the scene. 'It is believed a man broke into a house before assaulting a female occupant inside,' Victoria Police said. On Thursday, detectives continued to walk up and down Liberty Parade and talk to neighbours as forensic police worked inside. A large red plastic sheet remains draped across the front door of the home where the elderly woman died. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. ERU officers during the raid on the biker gang's headquarters A 20,000 bounty has been put on the head of a former associate of a biker gang linked to the Kinahan cartel - and 16k has been offered to kill a younger associate, the Herald can reveal. The Wexford-based men have "gone to ground" in recent days and are refusing to co-operate with a huge garda investigation into the Crumlin-based biker gang which is threatening them, senior sources have revealed. The older suspect became a target for his former allies after they accused him of stealing cash and attempting to set up an "independent biker club". Threats He was the alleged victim of an incident in Clonroche, Co Wexford, at 10am on January 9, in which a gun was pulled on him by biker gang members who were attempting to get cash from him. The target had to flee the country a number of years ago because of threats from the Kinahan-linked biker gang whom he previously associated with. While he was warned by gardai of an active threat against his life on that occasion, officers have not yet issued him with a new GIM form. However, sources say he has been keeping a "very, very low profile" since the Clonroche incident. "While the focus of many observers of organised crime in this country has been on Drogheda in recent weeks - this matter is also a real live and dangerous situation," a source told the Herald. "This individual, who is aged in his 50s, is under serious threat from a very dangerous gang." After the Clonroche incident, four members of the biker crime group, aged between their 30s and 50s, were arrested on the motorway near Naas, Co Kildare, on suspicion of making threats to kill with a firearm in Co Wexford. The biker crew members were arrested by the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) as they were on their way back to the capital. However, no firearm was recovered. Investigators are checking to see if another gang member returned separately with the weapon and was able to go undetected. The four suspects, including the suspected leader of the biker gang, spent a number of days being questioned in custody by gardai before being released without charge. As they were being questioned gardai searched their Crumlin headquarters for firearms. The ERU was called in to secure the property before gardai attached to Sundrive Road and Crumlin garda stations made the search in an operation led by the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. In a huge blow to the biker mob, 135,000 was seized from its fortified HQ in Crumlin. A quantity of cannabis, a van and two motorcycles were also seized during the course of the search. Convoy The biker gang is linked to the drug trade in Dublin and the south-east and has been a prime target for local gardai in recent years. Its headquarters was previously raided last February. In that operation, dozens of knives and three imitation firearms were seized. The biker gang has six core members. It is believed to be led by a man in his 50s. The group came to prominence almost four years ago, when a number of its members led the funeral cortege of David Byrne (33), who was gunned in the Regency Hotel as part of the Hutch-Kinahan feud. The bikers led a large convoy of stretch limos carrying Byrne's family and associates, with dozens of prominent mourners dressed in matching black suits and blue shirts. The family of murder suspect Fotis Dulos have been urged to come to the hospital to say their goodbyes as hopes faded today that he will ever wake up following his suicide attempt, DailyMail.com has learned. Relatives are flying in from Greece and 'his affairs are being put in order', according to a source. In the slim chance that he pulls through, the father-of-five is likely to be severely brain-damaged and not in a position to stand trial. 'Doctors said brain damage is inevitable because of the amount of time he was unresponsive,' a source told DailyMail.com, who also said Dulos was legally dead at one point before being revived on Tuesday. 'He is completely reliant on life support,' the source added. Dulos' lawyer, Norm Pattis, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on his client's condition but told a judge at Stamford Superior Court on Wednesday that his condition was 'dire'. Rena Dulos, his sister who lives in their native Greece, is his closest living adult relative, and is traveling to New York with his niece Angelika after relatives got on the first flight available after being told Dulos had tried to kill himself by carbon monoxide poisoning on Tuesday. The family of murder suspect Fotis Dulos (pictured being taken to the hospital) have been urged to come to the hospital to say their goodbyes as hopes faded today that he will ever wake up following his suicide attempt, DailyMail.com has learned Dulos was found in his home in Connecticut on Tuesday where he attempted suicide. He was awaiting trial for murdering his wife Jennifer. Prosecutors repeatedly asked for him to be denied bail as recently as last week, but the judge allowed him to remain on house arrest Dulos had tried to kill himself by carbon monoxide poisoning on Tuesday. Officers found Dulos in the garage of his home with the car running behind the closed doors and a hose attached to the tailpipe Gloria Farber, Jennifer's mother and Dulos' mother-in-law, smiled as she arrived to a hotel in New York City on Wednesday Dulos, 52, was airlifted to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx to have treatment in a hyperbaric chamber. Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy is used to raise the level of oxygen in a patient's blood and to reduce carbon dioxide levels as quickly as possible in cases of acute carbon monoxide poisoning. Dulos is awaiting trial on murder charges for allegedly killing his wife Jennifer Farber Dulos, 50, in May last year in the middle of a two-year acrimonious divorce battle. He has denied having any role in her death. Her body has not been found. Their five children, aged 8 to 13, are in the care of their maternal grandmother, Gloria Farber, in New York City. Dulos faced the prospect of going to jail and having his $6 million bond revoked at an emergency court hearing on Tuesday over doubts over the equity of the real estate assets he put up as security. Sources told DailyMail.com Dulos was 'losing his mind' at the prospect of having to go back into custody and that he tried to take his own life because of it. Police officers performed a wellness check shortly before midday when Dulos did not turn up for his 12om court hearing. The geo-location of his ankle bracelet showed that he was still at his home in Farmington, Connecticut. Cops broke into the car to drag him out and perform CPR. Drone footage of the life-saving measures was captured by a news crew who had been at his Jefferson Crossing home on the intent of following Dulos to court for his hearing He was then taken to UConn Health via ambulance before being airlifted to New York. 'Doctors said brain damage is inevitable because of the amount of time he was unresponsive,' a source told DailyMail.com, who also said Dulos was legally dead at one point before being revived on Tuesday. 'He is completely reliant on life support,' the source added The Dulos' five children, aged 8 to 13, are in the care of their maternal grandmother, Gloria Farber, in New York City Farber was seen being driven around New York City on Wednesday Officers found Dulos in the garage of his home with the car running behind the closed doors and a hose attached to the tailpipe. It is understood that he had been in the car for some time. Cops broke into the car to drag him out and perform CPR. Drone footage of the life-saving measures was captured by a news crew who had been at his Jefferson Crossing home on the intent of following Dulos to court for his hearing. He was then taken to UConn Health via ambulance before being airlifted to New York. Dulos' new girlfriend, who has been intermittently staying with the real estate developer at his home, had left the home to go to the grocery store before he was discovered in the garage. Dulos called Mark Motuzick of Capitol Bail Bonds in Hartford on Tuesday morning about taking over his bond. Motuzick had a conversation with Dulos around 10.30am when he called him back, and Motuzick that Dulos had sounded out of breath and 'loopy'. Dulos is awaiting trial on murder charges for allegedly killing his wife Jennifer Farber Dulos, 50, (pictured with their five young children) in May last year in the middle of a two-year acrimonious divorce battle. He has denied having any role in her death Dulos had been on strict house arrest since last Thursday and could only leave his mansion to see a lawyer, a doctor or attend a religious service. His bond hearing went ahead without him in Stamford, Connecticut on Wednesday. Local police remained at his home to conduct an investigation but do not yet have a search warrant to enter. After Dulos was discovered on Tuesday, there was confusion over his condition with his lawyer Norm Pattis initially saying that he was dead. He was later told that Dulos had a pulse. At his bond hearing on Wednesday, the judge ruled that Dulos would not have to deal with issues over his bond unless he recovers. If his bond had been revoked, it may have prevented family from visiting him in hospital. Pattis told the court that guards are watching over Dulos at Jacobi Medical Center for his own protection. Trump Unveils Middle East Peace Plan By Steve Herman January 28, 2020 Hoping to bring about a "new dawn in the Middle East," U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his peace plan for the region on Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu standing at his side. "My vision presents a win-win opportunity for both sides, a realistic two-state solution that resolves the risk of Palestinian statehood to Israel's security," Trump said in the White House East Room. Notably absent was any representative of the Palestinians, who rejected the peace plan even before getting a glimpse of the 80-page proposal, and who were not included in talks about the plan. "Jerusalem is not for sale. All our rights are not for sale and are not for bargain. And your deal, the conspiracy, will not pass," Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in televised remarks directed at Trump from Ramallah in the West Bank. Trump sees such initial rejections as a temporary hitch and told those gathered in the East Room that he sent a letter to Abbas, telling him that if he chooses "the path to peace, America and many other countries, we will be there. We will be there to help you in so many different ways." Acceptance of the plan would lead to $50 billion of outside investment, a million jobs created for Palestinians over a decade, and a doubling or tripling of Palestinians' GDP, Trump promised. "It is time for the Muslim world to fix the mistake it made in 1948 when it chose to attack, instead of recognize, the new State of Israel," the president said. Egypt, one of the countries that declared war on Israel at that time, is not rejecting Trump's vision. The country expressed appreciation of continuing U.S. efforts to realize a fair and comprehensive peaceful settlement for the Palestinian problem, according to the Middle East News Agency in Cairo. "Jordan supports every genuine effort aimed at achieving just and comprehensive peace that people will accept," Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said in a statement. Present in the East Room were the ambassadors of Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. "What a pleasure to see you here," remarked Netanyahu. "And what a sign it portends of the present." Analysts say a public statement from Riyadh lending Saudi support to Trump's plan would carry more weight, as the kingdom is the dominant Sunni Muslim power. Later Tuesday, the Saudis released a statement, which said, "In light of the (U.S.) announcement, the kingdom reiterates its support for all efforts aimed at reaching a just and comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian cause." The kingdom appreciates "the efforts of President Trump's administration to develop a comprehensive peace plan between the Palestinian and Israeli sides," the statement continued. Trump proposes a Palestine with limited sovereignty doubling the size of land currently occupied by Palestinians and Israel annexing about a third of the disputed West Bank. Israel's government is now set to vote Sunday on annexing the strategic Jordan Valley and all Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Jerusalem would remain Israel's capital, and the eastern part of the holy city would be the Palestinian capital where the United States would open an embassy to Palestine, said Trump. "I'm prepared to seize the moment and change history," Netanyahu told the invited crowd of supporters. "Your deal of the century is the opportunity of the century," he told Trump. Netanyahu said if the Palestinians abide by the terms laid out, "Israel will be prepared to negotiate peace right away." Analysts see the Israelis, strongly backed at least during the current administration in Washington, as having the position of strength. "It does not seem as though the Palestinians have a constructive way out. They no longer enjoy the intense, or financial support of many of the Arab powers," Thomas Schwartz, a professor of history and political science at Vanderbilt University told VOA. "It may seem like a take it or leave it. But it may be the best deal that they are going to get. That's one of the tougher questions that the Palestinian leadership will have to face." Above the many problems with the substance of the plan is the fundamental issue of how it was devised, according to Palestinian analysts. "Any offer toward the Palestinians and any offer of peace should be a negotiation between the Palestinians and Israelis, and that's not the case with this deal," U.S. policy fellow Halah Ahmad, at the Palestinian policy network Al-Shabaka, told VOA. The plan, after nearly three years of discussion between U.S. and Israeli officials, was overseen by Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who long has had close ties to Netanyahu and Israel. It involves some exotic proposals, including a high-speed rail link between Gaza and the West Bank, according to David Friedman, the U.S. ambassador to Israel. "It doesn't really matter in the short run what the Palestinians say," Friedman told reporters on a conference call. "They have four years to study it." As Friedman spoke to reporters, Trump tweeted a map showing the divisions of territory. Both Trump and Netanyahu face domestic political woes ahead of elections in their respective countries. Trump is on trial in the Senate after being impeached by the Democratic-controlled House for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. By the time of the U.S. presidential election in November, "I think many Americans will have forgotten about this peace vision unveiling," said Jim Philips, senior Middle East analyst at the Heritage Foundation. Netanyahu, after giving up a push in the Knesset (Parliament) for immunity from prosecution, was indicted in corruption cases just hours before taking the White House stage with Trump. Trump met separately Monday with Netanyahu and his chief political rival Benny Gantz, who called the peace deal "a significant and historic milestone" and one he looks forward to implementing if he becomes the next Israeli prime minister following next month's election. Patsy Widakuswara, Elizabeth Cherneff and Tina Trinh contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sudan has launched a probe into the alleged recruitment of Sudanese nationals by an Emirati firm as security guards, but who end up as mercenaries in Libya and Yemen. Hundreds of Sudanese held a sit-in Tuesday in front of the foreign ministry in capital Khartoum to protest against contracts given to their children by UAE-based Black Shield Security Services Company. The company is accused of luring around 3,000 Sudanese citizens promised to work as guards in the Gulf country but have been sent to Libya and Yemen as mercenaries, Libyan Observer reports. The Sudanese sent to the African oil-rich country were assigned to work at oil-fields controlled by forces aligned with retired General Khalifa Haftar who has been opposing the UN-backed Government of National Accord, GNA. The Sudanese foreign ministry said it was looking into the matter with its mission in Abu Dhabi and the conditions of the Sudanese nationals hired by the Emirati company. Tuesday afternoon, a group of 50 Sudanese who were reportedly trained by the firm in Bayati Camp in the UAE arrived in Khartoum, the Libyan media reports. The returnees reportedly headed straight to the Emirati mission in the Sudanese capital to demand their rights. Another group, around 275 Sudanese nationals also contracted by the Emirati firm, identified in photographs on social media, were preparing to leave Ras Lanuf in Libya. Reports late last years revealed the presence of Sudanese mercenaries fighting in the ranks of Haftar forces. The UAE-backed rebel General has been since April pushing to seize Tripoli from the GNA which he accuses of being controlled by Islamists. A family who claims their daughter was expelled from school over a birthday cake are now suing the school. Kayla Kenney, 15, from the US state of Kentucky, was expelled from Christian school Whitefield Academy earlier this month, NBC reports. The teen was pictured on Facebook wearing a jumper with a rainbow with a rainbow birthday cake in front of her. The rainbow has long been a symbol of LGBTIQ community. Court documents obtained by NBC say Kaylas parents allege she was kicked out because the school believes shes gay. "In so doing, Whitefield invaded K.K.s privacy, defamed K.K., breached its contract with K.K.s parents Kimberly Alford and Mike Kenney, and inflicted serious emotional distress on K.K, the documents read. Kayla Kenney, 15, with the cake which apparently led to her expulsion. Source: Facebook/ Kimberly Alford Ms Alford told USA Today her daughter isnt gay, but just liked the look of the cake. She shared an email with the program claiming to be from the head of the school Bruce Jacobson who explained Kayla was being expelled immediately due to a post on social media. Mr Jacobson told The Courier Journal the decision to expel the girl came after "two years of continuous violations of our student code of conduct. WAVE 3 News reports Mr Jacobsons email refers to the picture demonstrates a posture of morality and cultural acceptance contrary to that of Whitefield Academys beliefs. Kimberly Alford is furious with her daughter's expulsion and says she's not gay. Source: WAVE 3 News The school told Fox News in a statement, staff met with Kayla to give her a final chance to begin to adhere to our code of conduct. Unfortunately, she did not live up to the agreement, and therefore, has been expelled," the statement to Fox News reads. Ms Alford told USA Today Kayla did nothing wrong. She added her daughter hasnt had any behaviour or discipline issues at school. Ms Alford appealed against the expulsion but it was denied. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. Knives have been blunted in a city in Uzbekistan following a wave of stabbings, police have said. Officers targeted blades used by traders in the main markets of Andijan in a bid to combat knife crime, according to police. More than 350 knives were reportedly blunted and 18 confiscated in the raid in the central Uzbek city. They shared images of men with kitchen knives lining up to have the blades blunted by a machine, as well as police examining the knives of a local baker. It was unclear whether souvenir knives on sale at the markets Andijan is a centre of traditional knife-making crafts were included. The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Show all 18 1 /18 The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Purple ribbons are seen tied to a tree and fence at a park near to where 17-year-old Jodie Chesney was stabbed to death in an attack with no obvious motive, in the Harold Hill area of London. Chesney was stabbed in an unprovoked attack while out with friends on March 1, 2019. Four males aged 16, 17, 19 and 20 have been charged with her murder which all four deny. In honour of her favourite colour, purple ribbons were tied to a railing, alongside a message also written in purple: "Choose life, drop the knife! RIP Jodie. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Floral tributes and bottles of alcohol are seen outside the house where 20-year-old Tyrelle Burke was stabbed to death, in the Wythenshawe area of Manchester. Burke was stabbed to death on April 5, outside his home by a friend following a night out. 18-year-old Denver Walton was charged with his murder. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims A woman walks past floral tributes near to where 29-year-old Joshua White was stabbed to death, in the Hackney area of London. Joshua White died after he was stabbed through the heart in broad daylight on April 26. Two teenagers have been charged with his murder, and police are attempting to extradite an 18-year-old from Ireland in relation to the attack. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Floral tributes and photographs are left at the spot where 17-year-old Yousef Makki was stabbed to death, in Hale Barns. Makki was stabbed to death on March 2 during a row with another boy. A 17-year-old boy was cleared of his murder by a jury at Manchester Crown Court on July 12. Makki's family have protested against the verdict. Photography by Reuters The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Floral tributes and packets of crisps and a chocolate bar are tied to a fence where 21-year-old James Halewood was stabbed to death, in the Kirkby area of Liverpool. Halewood was stabbed to death in broad daylight outside a parade of shops at lunchtime on July 7. Two men aged 26 and 23 have been arrested in connection with his death. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Graffiti on a fence of an industrial unit near to where 18-year-old Hazrat Umar was killed, in the Bordesley Green area of Birmingham. Umar was killed after being stabbed 15 times in an unprovoked attack on February 25, on his way to the gym. Adam Muhammad, 17, a student at the same college, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment for his murder. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Floral tributes are seen tied to a pedestrian crossing near to where 40-year-old Gavin Garraway was stabbed to death, in the Clapham area of London. Garroway was stabbed to death through the window of his car on March 29. Zion Chiata, 18, has been charged with his murder. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Floral tributes and teddy bears are seen outside a house where 26-year-old Kelly-Mary Fauvrelle and her unborn baby where stabbed to death, in the Croydon area of London. Fauvrelle was stabbed to death in the bedroom of her home in the early hours of June 29. Her baby boy, Riley, was delivered but also died four days later. Ex-partner Aaron McKenzie has been charged with her murder and causing the death of the baby. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Flowers are tied to the entrance of Sara Park near to where 16-year-old Abdullah Muhammad was killed in the Small Heath area of Birmingham. Abdullah died after suffering stab wounds to the chest and back in the evening of February 20. Three males aged 17, 19 and 20 have been charged in connection with his murder. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims The remains of candles and tributes are seen near to where 19-year-old Kamali Gabbidon-Lynck was stabbed to death, in the Wood Green area of London. Gabbidon-Lynck died after he was stabbed by a gang on bicycles on February 22, in an incident which left another man suffering from knife and gunshot wounds. Three men aged 18, 19 and 20 have been charged with murder, attempted murder and robbery. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims A woman pushes a pram past a row of houses where 33-year-old Charlotte Huggins was stabbed to death, in south London. Huggins was the first stabbing victim of 2019, stabbed in the back at her home in the early hours of New Year's Day. Her ex-boyfriend Michael Rolle was found guilty of her murder and jailed for life. He stabbed Huggins after she celebrated New Year's eve with a male friend. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Floral tributes are left at the spot where 18-year-old Cheyon Evans was stabbed to death, in the Wandsworth area of London. Evans died from a stab wound to the chest after being attacked by a group of youths in broad daylight on June 14. Three males aged 18, 18 and 17 have been charged with his murder. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Lanfrey Place is where 17-year-old Ayub Hassan died after suffering multiple stab wounds in the street, in the West Kensington area of London. Hassan was killed after his attack on March 7. A 15-year-old boy has been charged with his murder. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Floral tributes are left near to where 21-year-old Lewis Bagshaw was stabbed to death, in the Southey area of Sheffield. Bagshaw collapsed and died on July 21, when seeking help from residents of Piper Crescent after suffering stab wounds. Police investigations into his death are ongoing. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Flowers and toys are left at the scene where 19-year-old Lejean Richards was stabbed to death, in the Battersea area of London. Richards was attacked and fatally stabbed on February 5. Roy Reyes-Nieves, 23, and Roger Reyes-Nieves, 18, have been charges with his murder. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims A man walks past floral tributes left near to where 24-year-old Joe O'Brien died after being stabbed in a fight outside a pub, in Manchester. O'Brien died following a fight outside the Royal Oak pub on April 21. Momodou Jallow, 21, has been charged with his murder. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Flowers are seen near to where 29-year-old Nathaniel Armstrong was stabbed to death, in the Fulham area of London. Armstrong was stabbed to death during an altercation on March 16. Murder charges against a 29-year-old male were dropped after prosecutors said there was no realistic prospect of conviction. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims A police officer stands outside a row of terraced houses where 33-year-old nurse Saima Riaz was stabbed to death, in Rochdale. Riaz, a mother of three, was found on April 23. 36-year-old Mohammed Abid Choudhry has been charged with her murder. Reuters/Phil Noble Preemptive measures continue to be taken to prevent crime, police said. Andijan lies in the Central Asian states densely populated Ferghana valley. In 2005, security forces crushed armed protests in the city, initially blaming Islamist extremism but later acknowledging poverty played a role. Murder rates in Uzbekistan have dropped under Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who became president in late 2016 and has taken steps to boost economic growth and create jobs by opening up the secretive state. However, stabbings which are often spontaneous and result from ordinary quarrels grab public attention. Last October, a trader bled to death in broad daylight at a market near the capital Tashkent after being stabbed in an argument with fellow market workers Reuters A dormitory at Accra Academy has been on flames for the second time in about two weeks. This dormitory in the Bubiashie-based boys school, Alema Hall, has been ravaged by the fire, according to Citi News Kojo Agyeman, who is at the scene of the fire. Fire service personnel are currently at the school trying to quell the blaze. After the last fire, which took place on January 15, authorities at the school appealed for support to rehabilitate the dormitory that was gutted by the fire. citinewsroom Kylie Jenner only wanted to send her condolences to the family of Kobe Bryant. However, Blac Chyna lambasted the beauty mogul for the revelations she made on the said message. January 2020 has undoubtedly been the worst month in recent memory, especially ever after Kobe, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant and seven others died in a horrific helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on Sunday morning. A lot of athletes, celebrities and well-known personalities offered their condolences and sympathies online, including the 22-year-old Kylie Cosmetics owner. "At [a] loss for words right now," Kylie posted on her Instagram page alongside a photo of the father-daughter pair. "Praying for this beautiful family." On the following day, the youngest self-made billionaire shared another note on her Instagram Story and said: "Rest in peace ... and prayers to these families. I still can't believe this. That was the helicopter I would fly on from time to time with that pilot, Ara [Zobayan.] He was such a nice man. Hold your loved ones close." As it turns out, the "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" reality star took her niece, Dream, on "her first helicopter ride" in the same helicopter that recently crashed (Sikorsky S-76B). It was her gift during the toddler's November birthday. "You are a gift," she captioned the picture of the birthday girl smiling in front of the chopper in 2019. However, the posts made by Kylie triggered her Rob Kardashian's ex and Dream's mother, Blac Chyna. What Made Chyna Mad? On Jan. 27, Lynne Ciana, the lawyer of the Lashed Cosmetics Company owner, spoke up in behalf of Chyna and opened up about her client's dismay over Kylie's recent revelation. "Chyna has become aware that Kylie Jenner is using the tragic deaths of Kobe Bryant, his beautiful daughter, and seven other precious souls to profess her 'distress' that she and Dream had ridden on the same helicopter with the same pilot prior to Sunday's horrific crash," Ciana said in the statement. She added that Kylie failed to inform Dream's mother regarding the helicopter ride. Even if she did, she would not have given her permission to get her child to involve in such a dangerous activity. "Chyna was distraught to learn that Kylie had taken Dream on that helicopter ride in November 2019," the statement went on. "Chyna voiced her strong objections to Rob Kardashian and insisted that it never happen again." At the end of the message, Chyna delivered her condolences to the families affected by Sunday's plane crash tragedy. Battling For Dream's Custody Before the recent events, Dream's father Rob filed a new request for Dream's primary custody. The request focused on their daughter's safety, which was also included in his previous custody request. He pointed out that he had proof that their nannies opened up about Chyna's drinking habits, which may sooner or later harm their child. Per Radar Online, the legal documents read: "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. [The] petitioner would not let the nanny stay there." However, in a contrasting report by TMZ, sources defended Dream's mother and claimed that Blac Chyna is a "good mother who would never put her child in harm's way, despite what Rob says." (Photo: Bigstock) Sardis, once the bustling, mercantile capital of the ancient Lydian Empire, barely exists today. Nearly all of the city's architectural and cultural remains have been lost to history, overbuilt by dozens of post-Lydian settlements. However, dedicated archaeologists have been able to pull some tantalizing clues about the region's history from the unyielding earth. These fragments reveal a civilization that was very much a product of its environment. Rory Brown, Managing Partner of Nicklaus Brown & Co., shares details about the ancient Lydian remains in Sardis. Lydia's Cultural Identity There are scant few Lydian documents that survive today, which is why historians rely on mentions of Lydia in the writings of nearby cultures. The Greek historian Herodotus was the most prolific writer on the subject. However, archeologists have turned up various inscriptions that confirm that Lydian's spoke an Indo-European, Anatolian language. It's clear that ancient Lydia maintained strong relations with Phrygia, their neighbor to the East. Not only does Herodotus comment on this frequently, but archaeological finds around the ancient site of Sardis, including Phrygian pottery and other vessels, Phyrigian pins, and decorative roofing tiles also attest to this relationship. The Lydian custom of burial mounds or tumuli was likely largely borrowed from Phrygian traditions, and indeed the discovery of Phrygian artifacts in Lydian tumuli demonstrates the closeness of these two cultures. Lydian Religious Beliefs Much of the Lydian pantheon was borrowed from earlier cultures. The Lydian god Candaules bears similarities to the Greek god Hermes, as both are colloquially referred to as "dog-throttler". This connection to dogs seems to be supported by evidence which points to a ceremonial meal that involved immature canids, which may have been eaten with religious significance. Archaeologists have also unearthed cooking pots or jugs that contained a plate, cup, pitcher, and knife along with a dismembered, immature canid skeleton. Given their strategic placement at various key points along the remains of Sardis's defensive wall, it appears they were placed as offerings to Candaules in exchange for his protection. Kuvava was the Lydian mother goddess, very much fashioned after Phrygia's goddess Cybele. She was involved in supplications and thanksgiving. A small alter to Kuvava was found near an ancient Lydian gold and silver refining station, which points to the roll her blessings played in this most important Lydian activity. Lydian Wealth One of the most plentiful groupings of ancient Lydian artifacts that survive today is their coinage. The ubiquity of their staters across nearby cultures demonstrates the wealth of the Lydian kingdom. But the discovery of a pre-seventh century B.C. gold and silver refinery at Sardis confirms that the area was the source of much of Lydia's great wealth. It's also clear that Sardis residents took their roll as the heart of the Lydian Empire very seriously. The remains of a daunting fortification wall were found around the outskirts of the city. This wall would have involved a significant outlay of cash and labor, further evidence that Lydia was one of the wealthiest countries in the region. Ironically, it was this wall that was the last barrier to the Persian incursion that eventually destroyed the Lydian Empire. The wall, like the country, eventually fell. About: Mr. Rory Brown is a Managing Partner of Nicklaus Brown & Co., the Chairman of Goods & Services, Nearshore Technology Company, and a member of the board of directors of Desano. He is passionate about delving into the history of money and how our modern currency has evolved into what it is today. In his spare time, he writes about the history of the Lydians - the first civilization to use gold and silver coinage. See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018 World News: Strengthened 5-year Action Plan on Gender Adopted at COP25 January 29,2020 | Source: UNFCC At the UN Climate Conference, COP 25, in Madrid last December, countries took steps to accelerate a more gender-responsive approach to climate action by adopting a comprehensive enhanced Lima Work Programme on Gender (LWPG) and Gender Action Plan (GAP) which lays out the actions countries and the international community at large can and will take to achieve this goal. Climate change has a greater impact on people who have the least capacity to respond to natural hazards, such as droughts, landslides, floods and hurricanes. Women commonly face higher risks and greater burdens from the impacts of climate change in situations of poverty, and the majority of the worlds poor are women. It is therefore critical that climate plans and actions are inclusive and participatory to ensure that the needs, perspectives and ideas of all of humanity are addressed in order to limit temperature rise to 1.5C in line with the Paris Climate Change Agreement. The positive outcome on the GAP was complemented by the growing visibility of the subject of gender at the Conference. Numerous side events and a dedicated Gender Day, held on 10 December, with a programme that included technical workshops on integrating gender in National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs), a special event showcasing the Women for Results winners of the UN Climate Action awards, and a high-level event provided ample evidence of the benefits and need for gender-responsive climate policy and action. Countries are for example taking gender into account to build climate resilient energy systems and to improve coastal resilience. At the high-level event organized by the COP Presidency and Germany, ministerial representatives from Costa Rica, Colombia, Egypt, Germany, Luxembourg and Spain, moderated by a former President of Ireland, reinforced the urgency for governments to agree on an ambitious enhanced GAP. Time for action is not a slogan. Its a decision. Its a moral imperative. For that it is urgent to incorporate gender approaches in climate change policies, said COP President Carolina Schmidt during the event. Meanwhile, the technical workshops and Women for Results event demonstrated the huge potential impact of gender-responsive climate action to address the climate crisis. The success of the previous LWPG and its GAP also became apparent as gender was visible in reporting by constituted bodies to the governing bodies on their work in 2019. . A synthesis report on progress in integrating a gender perspective in constituted body processes - was also presented at COP 25, further demonstrating increased engagement on gender across UNFCCC processes. New five-year plan on ambitious gender-responsive climate action The enhanced LWPG and GAP acknowledge that there is further need for mainstreaming gender throughout the Convention and that this will contribute to increasing effectiveness, fairness and sustainability of climate policy and action. It also reflects the acknowledgement by governments that gender considerations are changeable over time (based on changes in laws, customs norms and institutions) and determined through multidimensional factors (such as age, race, ethnicity, class, etc.). And the importance of human rights and a just transition of the work force when acting on the climate emergency was further reinforced. The enhanced five-year GAP is focused on implementation and affirms that action by all stakeholders - public and private - towards gender-responsiveness and implementation of gender-related activities is critical. The GAP includes 20 activities grouped under the priority areas: a) capacity-building, knowledge management and communication; b) gender balance, participation and womens leadership; c) coherence; d) gender-responsive implementation and means of implementation; e) monitoring and reporting. These activitiesdescribe concrete actions and outputs such as the call for submissions in which governments and Observers are invited to share lessons learned on mainstreaming gender into national climate policy and action and a workshop on this topic at SB52. Other activities are ongoing and call on governments and relevant organizations to act at the international, regional and national level. These include enhanced availability of sex-disaggregated data, the organization of expert group meetings on gender budgeting, deployment of gender-responsive technological solutions to address climate change and fostering womens and girls full participation and leadership in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as research and development. These positive steps forward on gender indicate the political willingness to make a difference. KAMPALA The Opposition Chief Whip, Hon Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda has asked the government to issue a travel advisory stopping Ugandans intending to travel to Rwanda arguing that citizens get killed on the other side of the border with impunity. He made the remarks on Tuesday, January 28 in the plenary sitting at Parliament in Kampala. The immediate information I wanted from the government on Rwanda is on Ugandans being killed there; do they [Ugandans] continue to travel to Rwanda or travel advisories will be issued, said Ssemujju. Ssemujju said that Rwanda advised her citizens against traveling to Uganda at the start of the conflict that has since seen the Katunta-Gatuna border closed. Uganda has fallen short on issuing similar advisories placing citizens at risk, he said. Last week, Ssemujju asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to present a statement to Parliament on the current state of relations with Rwanda, but in an early morning call to the Deputy Speaker, Foreign Affairs Minister Hon Sam Kutesa, asked for more time. This morning I received a call from the Minister of Foreign Affairs [Sam Kutesa] who said he is away and that there is a Committee that is handling the issues and part of their findings will be included in the statement, said Oulanyah. At a joint news conference last year, Uganda handed over a dozen Rwandan prisoners to their High Commissioner, Maj Gen Frank Mugambage, in a bid to thaw frosty relations. The explosive news conference at which Maj Gen Mugambage delivered stinging criticism of Uganda indicated the relations could as well be far from getting normalised. The following week, another Ugandan was shot in Rwanda, deepening the escalations. President Yoweri Museveni, however, posted a short statement on his Facebook page last year, exuding confidence that the relations will be normalised. Related Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson sought to tamp down concerns on Wednesday about how the coronavirus outbreak in China would impact the coffee chain's business there. "We've been in China for 20 years. We realize that this is a temporary issue that we've got to deal with," Johnson said on "Squawk on the Street." "We're doing it responsibly. We're doing it by prioritizing the health and well-being of our Starbucks partners." Starbucks has closed more than half of its Chinese locations as the country battles the spread of the virus. Johnson called it a "very dynamic situation," stressing that "when there's a concern, we will close stores." "We're dealing with this on a daily basis," he added. Shares of Starbucks were trading down more than 2.5% early Wednesday, a day after the Seattle-based company beat expectations with fiscal first-quarter earnings but cautioned that the Wuhan coronavirus could alter its fiscal 2020 outlook. Johnson said Wednesday the company had planned to raise its guidance. But due to the spread of the virus, he said, "We felt it was in the best interest to really better understand the implications of that. And as we do we're going to be transparent with our investors." The Government of India (GoI) on January 27 said it will completely exit Air India, including in units Air India Express (AIXL) and Air India SATS (AISATS). However, the dozen odd employee unions of Air India, who do not seem pleased with this decision, may be forced to accept the deal. Human resource experts said there is a possibility of offering a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) to middle staff, followed by de-recognition of multiple unions. In the past two years, multiple unions, including Air Corporation Employees Union, have protested the move to privatise Air India, stating that this would be disastrous. Even this time, the unions are expected to launch a strong agitation against the government decision. Industrial relation experts stated that while it was well within the rights of these unions to launch their protests, this will not change the situation on ground. "As per law, Air India is a government body. Employees are free to make unions and oppose certain decisions, but the decision of the central government is binding. It is likely that those coming in the way of privatisation could be given VRS," according to the head of industrial relations at a consulting firm. Air India has more than 20,000 employees working across different functions in the country. An immediate concern of the unions is that there will be job losses as soon as a new buyer comes on board. An HR expert, who has earlier worked with the government on a few privatisation projects, said that since the bid document talks about incentives like employee stock options (ESOP), not all employees will be discontent. Despite an ESOP announcement, if an employee group threatens protest or tries to derail the sales process, they will lose out on the incentives they would otherwise receive as permanent employees. Workers, especially those above 50 years, may find it lucrative to accept the offer, he added. The Air India sale announcement is being seen a step to ensure success in its second attempt at divesting the national carrier. The government has appointed EY to advise and manage the proposed transaction. The last date to submit the EoI is March 17, and the government will intimate the qualified bidders by March 31. Its earlier attempt in 2018, when the government had offered to sell 76 percent stake, had come a cropper. This was due to a lack of interest to bid. The government had stated in the past that they would be forced to shut the airline if there were no bidders. Air India, whose net loss in FY19 had ballooned to Rs 8,556 crore from Rs 5,348 crore in the preceding year, has total liabilities of over Rs 52,000 crore. To attract additional suitors this time, the government has already parked nearly Rs 30,000 crore of debts and liabilities in a special purpose vehicle (SPV). By Express News Service KASARGOD: Two teenage boys of a madrasa were assaulted by a man after he took exception to them wearing skullcaps, according to a complaint. The incident happened on Monday night. Passersby got hold of the suspected assailant and handed him over to the police. The victims, Hasan Said, 13, and Munas, 17, of Darul Ulum Madrasa at Bambrana in Kumbla, were admitted to a hospital. The boys said they were returning to the residential school after having dinner at a neighbours house when a car pulled over and the man, identified as Kiran, got out. They said Kiran first asked about the skullcap, and then said if they did not accept the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, they should go to Pakistan, before assaulting them. Passersby got hold of Kiran and handed him over to the police. The police seized the car, which reportedly had deadly weapons. Youth League district president Ashraf Edneer and general secretary T D Kabeer demanded strict action against the assaulter. They said police should desist from booking residents who got hold of the assaulter. Description GIS - 29 January, 2020: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in collaboration with the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Mauritius is organising a series of lectures and workshops on issues pertaining to womens rights and combatting discrimination against women from 28- 30 January 2020. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in collaboration with the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Mauritius is organising a series of lectures and workshops on issues pertaining to womens rights and combatting discrimination against women from 28- 30 January 2020. In this context, a half-day workshop on Les procedures du Comite des Nations Unies sur lelimination de toutes les formes de discrimination a legard des femmes: les enjeux pour Maurice was held today at the Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel in Port-Louis. The event was preceded by a press conference by the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Mr D. B. Seetulsingh, the French Expert on Womens Rights, United Nations (UN) Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Committee Member and former Minister of Gender Issues in France, Mrs Nicole Ameline, and the Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Mauritius, Mr Vincent Degert. In a statement to the press, Mr Seetulsingh stated the activities are being conducted under the EU-funded project Promotion of respect for human rights in Mauritius and Rodrigues, that implements wide ranging awareness activities on human rights issues across Mauritius and Rodrigues. He recalled that Mrs Ameline who has been invited to deliver the lectures and conduct workshops during the three days, will shed light on the UN reporting procedure; issues raised during the consideration of Mauritius report to CEDAW in 2018 as well as the role of key stakeholders in the reporting cycle. The activities, he said, will benefit ministries, organisations of civil society participating in the submission of reports to the CEDAW Committee, National Human Rights institutions and diplomatic missions to chart the way forward to combatting gender violence. As for Mrs Ameline, she stressed that gender equality is essential to the effectiveness of an inclusive sustainable and equitable world adding that the workshops will support stakeholders in Mauritius to tackle the issue of gender inequality in a multitude of ways in terms of legal barriers, charting a road map, and recommendations. She also called on the authorities to mobilise, innovate and double their efforts so as to consolidate the cause to combat gender violence. For his part, Ambassador Degert underlined that gender equality is a serious issue despite the fact that women are progressing in the world at various levels. Combatting violence against women through legislative and policy measures, financial support and awareness is a priority for the EU, he stated. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 22:55:19|Editor: yan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. private space company SpaceX launched its fourth batch of 60 Starlink satellites into space on Wednesday, in an effort to build a 12,000-strong satellite network capable of providing broadband Internet services. The Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the satellites, lifted off at 9:06 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (1406 GMT) from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force, Florida, according to a live broadcast by SpaceX. Before the launch, SpaceX had already deployed three batches -- 180 in total -- of Starlink satellites into orbit. SpaceX designed Starlink to provide continual internet coverage around the world, using a network of satellites in low-Earth orbit. President Muhammadu Buhari may have come under intense pressure as the British Government through the High Commission in Nigeria vehemently protested the unguarded diplomatic utterances of the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, accusing the British Government of shielding corrupt Nigerians and resisting their repatriation for corruption prosecution. The accusation of shielding corrupt Nigerians in the United Kingdom (UK) did not go down well with the British Government. Accordingly, the UK complained to President Buhari on the outburst of Magu openly and undiplomatic accusation of a government of shielding corrupt persons in its territory when existing mutual legal agreement bilateral instrument for exchange or extradition of citizens for prosecution has not been exhausted by the countries in the issue. National Daily gathered that those close to President Buhari are not happy with the Magu accusation which exposed Buhari to UK distrust after years of massive support the UK has given to President Buhari and his party government. It will be recalled that about two years, the issue of extradition of Nigerian citizens from the UK was an issue of conflict between the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN. The Minister had insisted that extradition is a bilateral relation between governments, not an agency of government and another country. Malami had told Magu that extradition of citizens is the responsibility of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation to make request on foreign governments. The EFCC chairman had said that some foreign countries were sabotaging the efforts of the commission in its fight against corruption in Nigeria. Speaking to journalists while on an official visit to the Ibadan zonal office of EFCC, Magu had remarked that the commission will not be frustrated in the prosecution of a former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who has been resident in the UK over the years. Magu had declared: We are collaborating with everybody including Nigerians in the diaspora. We have collected a lot of information so as to expose the looters for them to return their loots. For instance, there is a sabotage from foreign partners about the trial of a former Petroleum Minister, Alison Madueke, because they are giving her protection. The statement is beginning to cause apprehension in Nigerias diplomatic relations with the UK, where Diezani resides. PV: 0 The third forum about homelessness in San Antonio, during which the public will be invited to to give their input on the issue, is being held tonight. The event will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Great Northwest Branch Library, 9050 Wellwood St. The Point-in-Time Count, conducted on a single night every January by the South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless, revealed that in 2019 the homeless population was at 2,872 people. Although the overall homeless population decreased slightly, the 2019 count showed the number of homeless families increased 18 percent. The number of complaints about homeless encampments also has increased. Since 2017, nearly 500 encampments have been cleared by the city at a cost of more than $1.7 million. HomeBase, a California company that the City Council hired in October to create a Homeless Strategic Plan, is hosting the public forums along with the South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless and San Antonios Department of Human Services. The publics comments, concerns and suggestions will be used in HomeBases assessment of the citys current homeless response system as it develops a five- to 10-year plan. It will present the plan to the city in March. Two forums for the public were held earlier this week. Besides tonights session, there are two others. They are: 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday at Claude Black Community Center, 2805 E. Commerce St. 6-7:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at Palo Alto College/Ozuna Librarys Legacy Ballroom, 1400 W. Villaret. Such vendors will be excluded from core parts of development such as safety-related networks and sensitive geographic locations, such as nuclear sites and military bases. (Photo: AP) The UK government will allow Huawei to build the country's 5G network. However, as a 'high risk' vendor, it won't be building the core parts. The government said that it wants to take steps that would mitigate the risks of systems getting compromised, instead of banning high-risk vendors, Engadget notes. Such vendors will be excluded from core parts of development such as safety-related networks and sensitive geographic locations, such as nuclear sites and military bases. It remains to be seen how the decision impacts the relations with the US which has been warning its allies to restrict trade with Huawei over Chinese surveillance fears. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. by Tanya Gazdik , January 28, 2020 Bentley Motors and Bomber Ski are partnering for co-branded luxury ski trips. The Bomber for Bentley Ski & Drive Experience follows the December 2019 debut of the Limited Edition Centenary Ski and the Black Diamond Edition Ski. Each design features diamond patterns inspired by Bentleys EXP 100 GT concept car launched in July 2019 in line with the brands 100th birthday. Developed with Chris Cooke, head of product design at Bentley Motors, the "Bomber for Bentley" skis are handcrafted in Bombers boutique factory in Biella, Italy. advertisement advertisement The first trip will take place from March 4-9 in Telluride, Colorado and Park City, Utah and is limited to 18 participants. The experience includes a program for all levels of skiers, with Olympic Gold Medalist and World Champion skier Bode Miller guiding guests on the slopes for "Opening Story ski experiences. Additional activities include snowshoeing, fine-dining experiences, and a helicopter journey over the peaks of the Rocky Mountain range. More trips, detailed on a dedicated web page, will follow throughout the year. ORANGE Four college friends of the daughters of late Fire Marshal Tim Smith have set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to help with their future financial support and other expenses. Jade Gallo, roommate and close friends of Hannah Smith at the University of Connecticut,said Smiths daughter was with her when she got the news that her father was killed Sunday in a car crash. Gallo said there was nothing friends could do to ease the emotional pain and they wanted to help, so Gallos parents suggested the fundraiser because the girls primary financial support is gone and they will be on their own. As of Wednesday, the GoFundMe campaign had raised $2,480 of $5,000 goal and Gallo said Smiths daughters, Hannah and her younger sister, Alexa, also a UConn student, were touched and comforted by the generosity and kind messages. This is such a tragic situation theres nothing we can do to take away the pain, Gallo said, adding the fund is a practical way to help. He was always looking out for them. She said the original plan for any money raised was to help cover funeral costs, but the Orange Volunteer Fire Department helped with that, so if there is money left over, the sisters can use it at their discretion for living expenses. The fund was set up by Gallo, another roommate and two other friends. Gallo said she doesnt know the Smiths financial situation. Tim Smith, a beloved longtime fire marshal in town, was killed in a one-car crash in Woodbridge after a fire call in Orange. Police said Smith lost control of his vehicle at about 4:30 p.m. on Route 69 in Woodbridge and died at the scene. His funeral was held Saturday at Holy Infant Church in Orange; more than 1,000 people attended. Gallo said she was close with the family, as fire marshal Smith often brought her and other friends of his daughters on family vacations and they never had to go through official channels to get anything fixed in their college apartment because the late Smith always drove up there fixed the problems on his own. Smiths death rocked the town as he was only 56, and loved for his easy-going personality, professional expertise and ability to get along with people. Colleagues have credited him with bringing state of the art skills and tools to the town, including a drone of use in fire and police investigations. The late Smith has also been praised for his expertise in teaching other firefighters. Memorial contributions also may be made to the Orange Volunteer Fire Association, P.O. Box 878, Orange, 06477 for a scholarship set up for both of Smiths daughters. These are the responsibility of the editor and convey the newspaper's view on current affairs-both domestic and international Gibraltars international airport on the border with Spain. JON NAZCA (REUTERS) Spain and the United Kingdom will this month begin an important round of talks about the future of Gibraltar after Britains impending exit from the European Union, known as Brexit, specifically on the anticipated agreement that will regulate future relations between Europeans and Britons after the transition period. Faced with the possible outcomes, our country must be prepared for the best (a full-reaching agreement), the worst (a disagreement that leads to a hard Brexit) and of course, something in between. And also for the most complex: any of these options, but adding a disagreement between the British government and the executive of Gibraltar. Spain must also be aware that it has good, although difficult, bargaining chips to negotiate with. Spain must be aware that it has good, although difficult, bargaining chips to negotiate with London would be making a mistake if it tries to debate concrete aspects of the Spanish-Gibraltar relationship and forgets that it is a part of a whole, and that Spain forms part of this whole that is unequivocally loyal to the European Union, an organization that the United Kingdom is leaving. For the sake of principles and interests, it is better to negotiate issues such as fishing and the export of fruit and vegetables, which involve both Spanish sectors of the economy and from other EU partners, within the ranks of Europe than to negotiate them alone. Moreover, Britains volatile positions could change depending on the level of irresponsibility of those who establish them. In contrast, Spain has the indelible right to veto any unwanted agreement between the EU and UK regarding Gibraltar. The specific relations between The Rock, as the British Overseas Territory is popularly known, and the neighboring Spanish region of Andalusia (and Spain more broadly) were agreed to at the end of 2018 in four Memorandums of Understanding that address the most sensitive areas tobacco, citizens, the environment, customs and policing cooperation. A preliminary tax agreement is yet to be ratified. The task now is to adapt them, if necessary, to the new perspective. But the fact that the current British government has taken up a harder stance than its predecessor from the same party does not mean that Spanish interests will be harmed. Spain is remaining firm and consistent in its position. Couldnt the people of Gibraltar perchance prioritize their relationship with Europe over their colonial links to a solitary metropolis? Nor should it hurt the residents of Gibraltar, who voted overwhelmingly (95.91%) to remain in the EU in the Brexit referendum. It is right for the Spanish caretaker government without launching into antiquated nationalist crusades to reiterate that Spain will not renounce anything in the medium or long term, not even the sovereignty of The Rock. The primary national interest in this issue is to allow people on both sides of the border to easily cross over to improve their economic and social wellbeing, and this is an objective interest that is wholly supported by the other side. Cutting off The Rock would be more problematic to a United Kingdom that is isolated, in a precarious situation, and without any trusted international friends: Donald Trumps United States is not one. Even more so if internal tensions between separatists in Scotland and Northern Ireland worsen. Couldnt the people of Gibraltar perchance prioritize their relationship with continental Europe over their colonial links to a solitary metropolis? English version by Melissa Kitson. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 Trend: The construction of new facilities at Azerbaijans Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery advanced by 63 percent out of the initial volume of work, Trend reports referring to the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic SOCAR. This indicator was announced in Baku during the recent meeting of SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev and a delegation led by Chairman and main shareholder of the Italian Maire Tecnimont group of companies Fabrizio Di Amato. "The views on the modernization of the Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery and SOCAR Polymer projects were exchanged during the meeting," message said. Maire Tecnimont acts as the main contractor for the construction of new facilities during the modernization of the Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery, the message said. "Given that the modernization of the Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery is of particular importance for Azerbaijan, SOCARs management took control of the implementation of this project, the message said. The newly created SOCAR Downstream company controls the accelerated and highly efficient implementation and optimization of the project." Being the only oil refinery in Azerbaijan, the Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery is the country's main energy security provider, the message said. Therefore, during the modernization period, the refinery does not stop its activity, the reconstruction is carried out along with the production processes at the refinery operating at full capacity, the message said. For this reason, the modernization of the refinery is considered a complex project. In turn, Abdullayev said that the Heydar Aliyev Baku Oil Refinery must be modernized as part of the set costs with the maximal efficient use of public funds. The latest planned test work carried out at some facilities of the high-density polyethylene plant as part of the implemented SOCAR Polymer project was also discussed during the meeting. The test work will be carried out by SOCAR and Maire Tecnimont specialists during the coming week. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriza Pinandita and Dyaning Pangestika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 19:56 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20619303c 1 World coronavirus,outbreak,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,Foreign-Ministry Free As countries around the world scramble to evacuate their citizens from Wuhan in China, the government has insisted that it is working effectively to secure the repatriation of Indonesian nationals from the Chinese city and the surrounding Hubei province, where the novel coronavirus has spread rapidly. Foreign Ministry acting spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah said on Wednesday that officials were finalizing plans to airlift Indonesian citizens from the virus-stricken province and sought to coordinate with the Chinese government so that the latter could facilitate the evacuation process. While some countries, including Indonesia, have begun to accelerate efforts to evacuate their people, the United States and Japan are reported to be the first two countries to have flown their respective citizens out of Wuhan -- the epicenter of the virus outbreak. About 204 US citizens left the Chinese city on Wednesday, while at least 206 Japanese arrived in Tokyo on the same day. Answering questions about Indonesia's progress in securing the evacuation of its citizens from Wuhan, especially now that countries like Japan had successfully brought their citizens home, Faizasyah told journalists that, "we are not in a position to compare one country with another." "What we can tell you now is that every system is working right now and that the government through our embassy in Beijing has been specifically assigned by the Indonesian Foreign Ministry to intensify communication with the Chinese authorities," he said on Wednesday. Faizasyah explained that the ministry had been maintaining coordination with other ministries and institutions to prepare the evacuation process for Indonesians who were currently trapped in some of the locked-down cities of Hubei, including Wuhan. People need to understand that the evacuation process takes time because our people are spread across Hubei province. We have to overcome that issue first to ensure that the evacuation process runs smoothly, he said during a briefing with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). Faizasyah also said that they had yet to receive an update from the Chinese authorities regarding evacuation permits. However, he gave an assurance that the process was ongoing as the government was preparing technical requirements. Data from the ministry shows that there are 243 Indonesian citizens in the quarantined zone, around 100 of them residing in Wuhan. The Air Force is keeping three aircraft and health personnel on standby to evacuate Indonesian nationals from the ground zero of the coronavirus outbreak at any time, awaiting instructions from the central government. As of Wednesday, the pneumonia-like ailment had killed 132 people in China and infected over 6,000 globally. Indonesia has yet to report any confirmed case of coronavirus to date. Dont cry for me Argentina The truth is I never left you All through my wild days My mad existence I kept my promise Dont keep your distance (From soundtrack Evita, www.genius.com ) It began like a childs play. But before we knew it, it has assumed a global dimension today and millions of Nigerians have become victims. That which began like splatters of rain fall have become a thunderstorm of monumental proportions. These terrorists attacks on Nigeria which began from a small beginnings of the ill timed and illegal decision of some officials of the Nigerian state to put an end to the evolution of a sect of Islamic fundamentalists in Borno state whose members were recruited by their then spiritual leader Sheikh Mohammed Yusuf and then indoctrinated not to accept western education for in his own understanding, it is evil and anti-Islam. Sadly, there were missteps that have unleashed incalculable national tragedy. Ten years ago the police in Borno state executed him (Mohammed Yusuf) in an extralegal way after soldiers arrested him and handed him over to the police. Mohammed Yusuf was handed over to the police in Maiduguri alive and well and in high spirit even from video evidence shown on the Nigerian Television Authority. The police executioners are walking freely as I write just like many rogue police operatives who have killed thousands of detainees through extralegal executions.. His execution was the immediate trigger for the now ten-year old war against Nigeria by armed boko haram Islamic extremists which by some estimate has led to the killings of over 25,000 citizens and the destructions of towns, villages and communities in the North East of Nigeria. Recall that North East of Nigeria demographically is larger than Belgium and France put together. The terrorists attacks and the attendant counter terror war by the brave Nigerian military has lasted a decade just as the non-state actors waging the war against Nigeria have gained notoriety with their affiliation to the global jihadist movement of Islamic state of Syria and Iraq. The United Nations is also known to have estimated that over two million children are facing starvation as a result of the 10 years of seemingly unceasing bombardments of their communities by boko haram terrorists and the consequential destructions of their homes and livelihoods thereby making them to exist as internally displaced persons within Nigeria or refugees in Cameroon and Niger Republic. To underscore the global dimension of the North East terror related crises, the European Union (EU) has just earmarked 271 million Euros (about #98 billion) to assist about 5.6million displaced persons in the North East. The five year E.U humanitarian funding focuses on providing what the European Union calls life-saving emergency assistance in insurgency-affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. In a statement quoted by the media on Monday, the European Unions commissioner Janez Lenarcic said the assistance comprise emergency food aid and shelter in camps and host communities. In as much as we commend the European communities for coming to the aid of the internally displaced persons of North East with humanitarian reliefs, we must note two factors. These factors include that offering only foods and temporary shelters to the needy may be good for the time being, but it is not sustainable over time. One would have expected that the scope of these humanitarian assistance should include skills and vocational acquisition mechanisms to build up these internally displaced persons to not only have the emergency foods to eat, but to have the skills to be able to fend for themselves and their children ever after the war is over. It is more significant to teach the needy how to fish and not just handing them the fish to eat. The second factor is that the terror war affects all of Nigeria because there were citizens of Nigeria who hail from all parts of Nigeria outside the North East whose means of livelihoods have been destroyed but they are either forced to relocate to safer zones of Nigeria but with practically nothing to live on but to beg for survival from good spirited Nigerians. Many others have joined the ranks of migrants seeking refuge understandably in civilized parts of the world. I think the European Union should look at ways of accommodating these persons who can be traced, identified by relevant authorities in their former places of abode so they are similarly assisted. I know about the cases of hundreds of thousands of young Igbo, Yoruba traders in the North East who are in this unclassified group that I have just identified just as it will be good if they are not left behind. Before the topic of this reflection is lost on transmission, I must state that the members of political class in the corridors of power have practically demonstrated that they are overwhelmed by the deluge of security challenges posed by terrorists, Fulani herdsmen, armed bandits and hoodlums of varying dimensions. President Muhammadu Buhari who by law is the commander-in-chief was quoted to have stated that the level of insecurity in Nigeria now has shocked him. The senate president has also enlisted himself into the inglorious rank of executive cum legislative wailers. He too has wept like a baby over what he calls the breakdown of the nations security system. Hear him: First and most importantly is to look into the issue of security that is now bedeviling this country. Apparently and obviously, all hands must be on deck to ensure that we bring back a better security situation that we had before. Presently, the story is not good. In many areas we have so much happening that is destabilizing our communities and killing of people. We believe that we owe Nigerians the responsibility to intervene and work together with the executive arm of government, actually to work together with other tiers of government the states and even the local governments to ensure that we change the way we approach the security issues in this country. Apparently, the system has not been working efficiently and effectively and we have to do something. This time around, there should not be buck passing, we have to be forthright. We have to say it as it is and we have to do it as it is required. We should engage with the security agencies to find why the deterioration in security in many parts of the country. We have had series of engagement before but the escalation now has made it mandatory that we have to have a definite position as a government because we just cannot play politics with security issues. Lives are at stake." Therefore the Senate will take a position on how security in the country should be. We believe that the security architecture should be restructured. The present system does not give us the type of outcome that we need. Whether it is the federal, state or local government; even the traditional rulers or others, the most important thing is to secure the lives and property of Nigerians and we would do that, he said. Lawan also spoke on the Senate Ad hoc Committee on Constitution Review and gave an assurance that the committee, which will be constituted before next week, will be headed by Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege. This is simply an experiment in futility because it is just to create jobs for the boys. However, the Senate President stated that: The committee will be constituted very soon, either this week or next week by the grace of God because the time is ripe for us to reconstitute the committee so that the members could start work immediately. We have referred some bills to them already. Traditionally, everybody knows that since 1999 when the constitution review committee was formed in the National Assembly, in the Senate, the Deputy President of the Senate usually heads the committee, while the Deputy Speaker is usually the chairman of the committee. We are going to maintain the tradition in the 9th Senate. We have a Deputy Senate President who is a vast, erudite lawyer who played an important and significant role in the eighth Assembly as a member of the Committee on INEC and Constitution Review. So, we are good to go by the grace of God, the Senate President explained. Sadly, the constitution amendments committee may go the way of others in the previous sessions of the National Assembly that swallowed well over N5 billions of taxpayers money but the strategic outputs of these committees were never implemented due to Ethnic and Religious myopic sentiments of the elites and even those implemented were mere artificial amendments that do not address the badly structured security architectures of Nigeria because the status quo favours the North. However, he the Senate President Ahmed Lawan need not cry. DON'TCRY FOR ME NIGERIA! The National Assembly is empowered by law to act and not to cry or wail like a helpless child. Does he want Nigerians to teach him his job for which he got elected for donkey years into the national parliament? Mr. senate president, this is the time to prove to us that you are not the worst executive rubber stamped senate by adopting law-based action to restructure the collapsed security system controlled by largely persons from only one (Moslem Hausa/Fulani/Kanuris) section of the country as against the federal character principles. Speak truth to power and stop pandering to sentiments or propaganda. Mr. Senate president! Stop shedding crocodile tears and work for police reforms constitutionally so states can run their security architecture to complement the national policing institution which has collapsed, even by your own admission. Can Mr. Senate president be told to stop wailing and look at even the health sector that has collapsed and urge his members to provide robust oversight to force the Federal Ministry of Health to wake up, end corruption and fix the broken health infrastructures. Let me end by calling Ahmed Lawan and other big-men wailers in government to the emerging shocking scenario in the health sector as recently reported and also the revelation from Borno state on the number of Children orphaned by TERRORISTS. The report states that boosting efforts to fight pneumonia could avert over two million child deaths from pneumonia and other major diseases in Nigeria, new analysis has found. The modeling by Johns Hopkins University is being released today as nine leading health and childrens agencies host the worlds first global conference on childhood pneumonia in Barcelona. Forecasts show that 1.4 million children under the age of five could die from pneumonia over the next decade in Nigeria, on current trends the highest number of any country in the world and more than 20 percent of childhood deaths from pneumonia globally. However, an estimated 809,000 of these deaths would be averted by significantly scaling up services to prevent and treat pneumonia. Researchers also found boosting pneumonia services would create an additional ripple effect, preventing 1.2 million extra child deaths from other major childhood diseases at the same time. Interventions like improving nutrition, increasing vaccine coverage or boosting breastfeeding rates key measures that reduce the risk of children dying from pneumonia would also stop thousands of child deaths from diseases like diarrhea (580,000), meningitis (68,000), measles (55,000) and malaria (4,000). By 2030, that effect would be so large that pneumonia interventions alone would avert over 2 million predicted under-five child deaths in Nigeria from all causes combined, researchers said. Pneumonia is caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, and leaves children fighting for breath as their lungs fill with pus and fluid. The disease is the leading killer of children in Nigeria, causing 19 percent of under-five deaths. Most pneumonia deaths can be prevented with vaccines, and easily treated with low-cost antibiotics. But more than 40 percent of one-year-olds in Nigeria are unvaccinated, and three in four children suffering from pneumonia symptoms do not get access to medical treatment. Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Nigerias Country Representative, said: We have a responsibility to do all we can to avert these deaths by pneumonia deaths that are nearly all preventable. It will take concerted action by all players. The announcement by the Nigerian government of the worlds first-ever pneumonia control strategy coupled with the focus globally on combatting pneumonia is a huge step forward. We now need to follow this with concrete action on the ground to address the causes and drivers of childhood pneumonia deaths in this country. On January 29-31, nine leading health and childrens organizations ISGlobal, Save the Children, UNICEF, Every Breath Counts, la Caixa Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, Unitaid and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance are hosting world leaders at the Global Forum on Childhood Pneumonia in Barcelona, the first international conference on childhood pneumonia. Corruption is rife in the health sector and the government does not care. Mr. Senate President you must act now and stop crying. Also, the Borno State governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has said that Boko Haram has caused the emergence of 59, 311 orphans whose fathers were killed and 59, 213 widows that lost husbands to the insurgency in different parts of the state. Governor Zulum, who was guest lecturer at the National Defence College, in Abuja, delivered a paper with the title, Strategic leadership: The challenges of Insurgency in Borno State. He enlightened the audience with his immediate, short and long term strategic plans in confronting the challenges from all fronts that include investing heavily on security, enrolling out of school children into existing and new mega schools, placing a ban against political thuggery with jobs being created as alternative. The Borno Governor observed that the unwillingness of persons in the corridors of power to tell leaders truth about issues and the unwillingness of leaders themselves to hear the truth are some of the major problems confronting leadership in Nigeria. He explained that a strategic leader must be a strategic listener and reader. A strategic thinker must also be a strategic learner. A strategic leader must be willing to hear the truth and to learn. He further explained, However, telling the truth and accepting the truth has been our major problems in Nigeria. Some people will never tell you the truth when you are in power and honestly, many of us in power also do not want to hear the truth, we prefer to be told what we like to hear and that is a serious deficit in leadership in the country. Dr. Zulum according to media reports discussed different aspects of strategic leadership, situating them with Nigerias in the last 50 years and gave account of experience working as commissioner from 2011 to 2015 and as governor in the last eight months. The Senate President should tell the President to obey FEDERAL CHARACTER PRINCIPLES IN APPOINTMENTS INTO TOP SECURITY POSTS INSTEAD OF HIS SECTIONAL APPOINTMENTS OF ONLY HAUSA/FULANI/KANURI INTO STRATEGIC INTERNAL SECURITY POSITIONS. We must Make hay whilst the sun shines. *Emmanuel Onwubiko is the Head of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria and [email protected] ; www.emmanuelonwubikocom; www.thenigerianinsidernews.com ; [email protected] Bloomberg / Getty Images En espanol | The government announced first-of-its-kind steps Tuesday to stop hundreds of millions of predatory robocalls every month from entering the U.S. to perpetrate costly impostor scams against Americans, including many older victims. The groundbreaking civil actions are aimed at shutting down firms in Long Island, New York, and Scottsdale, Arizona, that provide internet services and act as gateway carriers for calls from overseas, mostly from India, Department of Justice (DOJ) officials said. In impostor scams, criminals pose as representatives of the Social Security Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or another agency, in a bid to trick people into giving them money under threat or as a remedy for a bogus problem. The threats include arrest and court actions and are often terrifying, and they are terrifyingly successful, said Assistant U.S. Attorney General Jody Hunt. In 2019 alone, the Federal Trade Commission heard more than 400,000 complaints of impostor scams resulting in more than $150 million in losses, Hunt said, mostly to older victims. Staggering robocall volume The actions are against five companies and three people who are principals of the firms. One of the accused firms allegedly carried 720 million calls during a 23-day period, and more than 425 million of those calls lasted less than a second, indicating they were robocalls, officials said. The calls involved spoofed phone numbers that disguise on caller ID the true identity of the caller. "Robocalls are an annoyance to many Americans, and those that are fraudulent and predatory are a serious problem, often causing devastating financial harm to the elderly and vulnerable members of our society, Hunt said. FRESNO, Calif. - A moderator for AlphaBay a defunct darknet site that authorities said was once the worlds largest online marketplace for illegal drugs has pleaded guilty in California to racketeering conspiracy. Bryan Connor Herrell, 25, of Colorado, entered the plea Monday to a charge of conspiring to engage in a racketeer-influenced corrupt organization, U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott announced in a statement. He could face up to 20 years in federal prison when he is sentenced in May in Fresno federal court. Prosecutors said that Herrell was a moderator who settled more than 20,000 disputes between sellers and buyers on AlphaBay, a gigantic global marketplace for guns, drugs, stolen identity information, credit card numbers and other illegal items, the stateent said. At the time, AlphaBay was considered to be the worlds largest online drug marketplace, the statement said. Herrell also was a scam watcher who monitored attempts to defraud AlphaBay users, authorities said. He was paid in bitcoins, authorities said. AlphaBay had hundreds of thousands of users before law enforcement authorities shut it down in 2017. The man prosecutors described as its founder, Canadian citizen Alexandre Cazes, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Fresno and arrested in Bangkok. But the case was dismissed after he was found hanged in his cell while awaiting extradition to the U.S. Republican businessman Gary Gates defeated Democratic educator Eliz Markowitz in the special election runoff for House District 28, keeping the seat under GOP control despite a vigorous and nationally watched effort by Democrats to flip it. Gates decisive win came after Markowitz marshaled the support of several Democratic presidential candidates, touted a poll showing a neck-and-neck race and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars from groups outside Texas. Democrats viewed the Fort Bend County race as a chance to display strength ahead of the fall 2020 elections, when they aim to regain control of the Texas House by flipping a number of rapidly diversifying suburban seats that are similar to House District 28, albeit less conservative. With 100 percent of Election Day results in, Gates won 58 percent of the vote, roughly doubling the margin of victory recorded in 2018 by Republican John Zerwas, the seats prior occupant. At his election night watch party in Richmond, Gates cast the result as proof that Republicans could prevent many seats from flipping in 2020, and maybe even take some back. MORE ON ELECTION 2020: Democrat MJ Hegar raises another $1.1M, leading primary race for U.S. Senate The Texas Republican Party echoed that sentiment, and framed Gates margin of victory as a signal that voters rejected the policies supported by national Democrats and Beto ORourke, the former Senate and presidential candidate who campaigned avidly for Markowitz. Austin Chambers, president of the Republican State Leadership Committee, which supports Republican legislative candidates around the country, released a statement quoting several Democrats who suggested in recent weeks that the race would serve as a preview for 2020. Democrats everywhere said this Texas election was a bellwether and that it would set the tone for the entire 2020 election cycle, Chambers said. Spoiler alert: theyre right, it was just not with the outcome Democrats hoped for. In a Facebook Live broadcast Tuesday evening, ORourke downplayed the result, urging viewers to keep your eyes on the prize, a nod toward the November elections. In the special election runoff for House District 148, Democrat Anna Eastman led Republican Luis LaRotta with more than 65 percent of the vote and 100 percent of voting centers reporting. The dark-blue Harris County district historically has elected Democrats. Eastman, a former HISD trustee, will succeed Democrat Jessica Farrar. She retired last year after a 25-year tenure representing House District 148, which covers area north of downtown and part of the Heights, extending northwest outside Loop 610. TEXAS POLITICS: So divided we cant think straight. How 26 Texas women view Trumps impeachment. House District 28, meanwhile, covers a swath of Fort Bend County from Katy to Rosenberg and Simonton to Mission Bend. Zerwas stepped down last year rather than seek an eighth term. In a statement, Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said the race will be a toss-up in November, when Markowitz will appear on the ballot again. She is unopposed in the March Democratic primary, while Gates faces one Republican opponent. Meanwhile, Eastman now faces four Democratic primary opponents for the chance to again face LaRotta, who is unopposed on the Republican primary. Renee Cross, senior director of the Hobby School of Public Affairs, said Democrats overreached in painting the Fort Bend district as a bellwether and cast doubt on whether the result serves as an accurate forecast of the November 2020 results. I think the Democrats to a certain extent shot themselves in the foot with that because the expectations were so high, she said. If you look at voting history for the last 10 years, to think they were just going to flip this seat in a special election in January after we had so many elections the last few months, that was really reaching. FACT CHECK: Did Elizabeth Warren really pay $50 to attend the University of Houston? The results Tuesday night mean Democrats will need to net nine seats in 2020 to take control of the lower chamber. Despite Gates resounding victory, Hinojosa said Markowitz forced Republicans to spend millions of dollars in a district that has never been historically competitive. Gates, who runs a property management company, spent more than $1 million of his own money on the race, helping counter the Democrats outside help. For her part, Markowitz turned to the general election. We knew this election would be tough its not easy to take on Republicans in an off-year special election, but we made this seat competitive in a way its never been before. We head into November having established a movement for change and that movement will continue across the state of Texas through November. The two elections saw a wide disparity in turnout: More than 30,000 voters turned out for the House District 28 contest, easily surpassing the prior special election runoff record of nearly 22,000 votes. In House District 148, nearly 7,000 voters turned out. jasper.scherer@chron.com Remove the textured (stomped) ceiling (most people think of textured ceilings as "popcorn" ceilings, but ours was called stomped. It's basically the same thing and just as annoying to remove). Tape and mud the drywall seams between the top of the wall and the ceiling. Paint the walls and ceiling. Widen Eli's closet door (it was two feet wide, but his closet is six feet wide inside!) Build shelves for the closets so that I could remove the standard wire shelves. Get Noah a new bed frame. Find some way to organize Eli's "stuff" (he collects everything and is so sentimental that he throws away nothing... it drives me crazy). New bedding for both rooms, and just clean/organize in general. All of this needed to be done within a week. No problem! ;) I wish I'd taken a photo of his closet before I removed the wire shelving, but here is what it looked like after I took removed the shelves and was ready to widen the doorway: This is what it looked like after removing the shelving, moulding, and jamb: I'd never done anything like widening a doorway before, so I had no idea what I was doing. After some research, though, I thought it would be pretty simple. The wall wasn't a load bearing wall (the convenient thing about remodeling "trailers"--manufactured homes, double wides, call them what you will) is that there aren't many load bearing walls. I knew that Eli's closet was going to be the biggest pain and take the most time, considering we were going to widen the closet doorway. First, here are a few "before" pictures of Eli's bedroom (note the ceiling, crown moulding, and brown trim):I wish I'd taken a photo of his closet before I removed the wire shelving, but here is what it looked like after I took removed the shelves and was ready to widen the doorway:This is what it looked like after removing the shelving, moulding, and jamb:I'd never done anything like widening a doorway before, so I had no idea what I was doing. After some research, though, I thought it would be pretty simple. The wall wasn't a load bearing wall (the convenient thing about remodeling "trailers"--manufactured homes, double wides, call them what you will) is that there aren't many load bearing walls. There was an electrical outlet to the right of the closet door, so I had to choose carefully where to widen the doorway. I decided to make the door four feet wide, increasing a little more on the left side than on the right, to avoid having to mess with the electrical outlet. Using a level, a straight edge, a pencil, and a measuring tape, I drew out exactly where I wanted the new door to be. I was super nervous to start cutting through the drywall, but that part was easy. Another bonus (or not, as we later found out) is that the inner walls in a trailer are thinner than a typical stick-built home. I could easily cut through both layers of drywall with a jigsaw--super fast. I ran into two problems with the doorway. The biggest issue ended up being the stupid electrical outlet. My brother, Brian, used to work with an electrician and knows electrical work really well. I sent him a picture, and he agreed that it was dumb on the manufacturer's part to do it the way it was (I just needed that validation before continuing). The electrical cord came up through the floor several inches to the left of where the outlet was. This was a problem because that's where I'd opened up the wall. I didn't want to mess with the actual wiring to the outlet, so after removing the 2x4 on the floor, I cut a "well" for the cord to pass to the outlet without having rewire anything. This is what it looked like after removing the drywall: This was a problem because that's where I'd opened up the wall. I didn't want to mess with the actual wiring to the outlet, so after removing the 2x4 on the floor, I cut a "well" for the cord to pass to the outlet without having rewire anything.This is what it looked like after removing the drywall: Because of removing the wall, there were bare spots of where the carpet would be. Thankfully, Jerry came to the rescue after work and decided to install some leftover luxury vinyl plank flooring we had. So, Eli's closet had the plank flooring instead of carpet, and I really liked the look! The second problem we ran into was a door jamb. Nothing is standard in a trailer! The door jambs are thinner in both width and thickness. I needed it to be 1/2 inch by 4 inches, and I didn't want to spend hundreds of dollars buying finished oak. None of the door jamb kits would work. It was very hard to find finished wood that was 1/2 inch thick. The second problem we ran into was a door jamb. Nothing is standard in a trailer! The door jambs are thinner in both width and thickness. I needed it to be 1/2 inch by 4 inches, and I didn't want to spend hundreds of dollars buying finished oak. None of the door jamb kits would work. It was very hard to find finished wood that was 1/2 inch thick. Finally, I found some MDF with a gray coating on it that would work. It wasn't ideal, but it was the best I could do--and it was still better than the jamb that was there before. (Now that I have a table saw, I can totally make my own door jambs!). Using my brother's Paslode finishing nailer, I was able to set the door jamb pieces into place and nail them to the studs. Then I just had to put trim around it to cover the edges. I was impressed at how it was coming along! It was the perfect size for the bifold doors, thankfully. I don't know why I never thought of it before, but bifold doors are fantastic for closets! They save so much space because they don't have to swing open. Jerry, who was off work for the week after the first two days of my working solo, was able to help--and I never would have gotten the rest done without him! Oh! When I was removing the shelving from Eli's closet, I found this drawn on the wall, and my heart almost couldn't take it. It was so cute! When it came time to paint, I just couldn't do it. I also removed some trim from inside the closet that covered the gaps in the corners (the drywall hadn't been finished in the corners or at the ceiling, so that was another spot that needed tape and drywall compound--i.e. mud). Once we got Eli's doorway done (which took about a day and a half!) we got to work on the ceilings. Oh! When I was removing the shelving from Eli's closet, I found this drawn on the wall, and my heart almost couldn't take it. It was so cute! When it came time to paint, I just couldn't do it.I also removed some trim from inside the closet that covered the gaps in the corners (the drywall hadn't been finished in the corners or at the ceiling, so that was another spot that needed tape and drywall compound--i.e. mud).Once we got Eli's doorway done (which took about a day and a half!) we got to work on the ceilings. Here are some "before" photos of Noah's room: This is the ceiling before: First, I removed all the cheap, ugly crown moulding. Which, of course, revealed the gap between the top of the wall and the ceiling. Next, Jerry and I started scraping the texture off of the ceilings. Here are some "before" photos of Noah's room:This is the ceiling before:First, I removed all the cheap, ugly crown moulding. Which, of course, revealed the gap between the top of the wall and the ceiling. Next, Jerry and I started scraping the texture off of the ceilings. (Here is a post I wrote a post about how to remove a textured ceiling ). This is super messy and a huge pain, but it's totally worth it in the end. After removing the texture, we had to fill in the little nicks with drywall compound as well as put a thin layer of drywall compound over the seams in the ceiling to make the drywall the same thickness throughout. Then I got to work taping and mudding. Jerry is not good at this at all, so it was up to me to do both bedrooms and both closets. There is a learning curve to this, so the more rooms I did in the house, the better I got at it. Basically, you apply drywall compound to the wall and ceiling along the edges (about 4-6 feet in length at a time); then you place a strip of drywall tape (folded along the crease down the length) and push it into the drywall compound. Then, using a drywall knife, you run the knife along the tape, which presses it to the wall/ceiling and removes excess compound. Once it's in place, you add another layer of compound along the whole length, and then use a drywall knife to scrape along the length of it to remove excess. If you are careful, it will make it very smooth and you won't see the tape underneath. I wrote more about this and showed a few pictures on It's a thin coat, so you have to let it dry overnight and then apply a second coat (not using the tape--just adding another layer of drywall compound). Once the second layer is dry, you sand it all smooth against the wall and the ceiling, so it looks seamless. I watched a lot of YouTube videos before doing this, but now I feel like an expert ;)I wrote more about this and showed a few pictures on this post about my utility/laundry room makeover To finish the ceilings, we had to sand the heck out of them until they were smooth (this is the worst part of making over any room--sanding above your head is SO annoying and tedious). It still won't *look* great, but it'll be smooth. And that's where the paint comes in. I used Sherwin Williams ceiling paint, and I hated it. I put on so many layers and I still didn't like how it looked. I went back to Sherwin Williams and explained, and they then told me that I would like the "special" contractors' ceiling paint. It's the stuff they sell to contractors! Why don't they sell it to everyone if it's better? I did the laundry room after I'd already done almost the entire house with the crappy paint, so the boys' rooms have (several layers of) the paint that I really don't like. Anyway, ceilings look a million times better once the paint is on and it's all nice and smooth. (I later installed ceiling fans in each of their rooms) I didn't learn this untilafter I'd already done almost the entire house with the crappy paint, so the boys' rooms have (several layers of) the paint that I really don't like. Anyway, ceilings look a million times better once the paint is on and it's all nice and smooth. (I later installed ceiling fans in each of their rooms) I added the vent above the doors in the bedrooms because in manufactured homes, they cut the doors short (high off of the ground) for cool air return to the furnace (see the "before" photo of the door). I always hated that, so when I put the new door slabs in, I added vents above the doors for the cool air return and had the doors go all the way down to the floor. I removed the trim along the floor and eventually the casing around the window and doorways. I figured I'd replace the cheap stuff that came with the house with something (a little) nicer. I didn't spend a fortune, but the trim was definitely better than before. After the ceilings were done, it would be all downhill. Eli's door jamb (to the entrance to his room) was a little crooked, so I took that apart and put it back together, straightening it out. I'd also gotten new door slabs for the kids' bedrooms and hung those, then painted them white. (I'd done the door slabs last year when I did the rest of the house, but I hadn't done the interior part of their rooms yet. Nevertheless, here are the doors before and after.)I added the vent above the doors in the bedrooms because in manufactured homes, they cut the doors short (high off of the ground) for cool air return to the furnace (see the "before" photo of the door). I always hated that, so when I put the new door slabs in, I added vents above the doors for the cool air return and had the doors go all the way down to the floor.I removed the trim along the floor and eventually the casing around the window and doorways. I figured I'd replace the cheap stuff that came with the house with something (a little) nicer. I didn't spend a fortune, but the trim was definitely better than before. Before replacing the trim, however, we painted both of the rooms. I picked out a nice blue (see above photo) from Sherwin Williams--not as light as the Aviary Blue Before replacing the trim, however, we painted both of the rooms. I picked out a nice blue (see above photo) from Sherwin Williams--not as light as the Aviary Blue we got for the kitchen , but not as dark as a navy, either. I thought it would look good with white trim, and I could use it for both boys' rooms. It didn't look too childish, but it was still a fun color. Meanwhile, in Hilton Head... I painted along the ceiling while Jerry used the roller on the walls, and the painting was done pretty quickly. By this time, however, we were down to less than two days until the kids came home, and we were nowhere close to being finished.Meanwhile, in Hilton Head... On the night before the kids were due home, Jerry and I stayed up long after midnight measuring and cutting floor trim and the casings for the doors and windows. I was SO grateful to have bought that miter saw on Facebook Marketplace. In most of the house, I'd cut the trim by hand! Jerry would take a measurement, letting me know if I needed "inside" or "outside" corners on the ends of the pieces; then I'd go to the garage, measure it out, make the cuts, carry it into the house. We'd put it in place and then I'd likely have to go shave off a tiny piece here or there, so I'd walk back out to the garage and repeat. We had to do this over and over again. As we finished each piece, we used the Paslode (I eventually bought one of these from Facebook Marketplace, too, and I LOVE IT) to nail it to the wall. Once all of the trim was nailed in, we had to fill in the holes with wood filler and wipe the boards clean. Then I used caulk to fill in any gaps. Finally, I used a white oil-based paint to paint all of the trim, including the window sills, doors, and door jams. I got up super early in the morning (just a couple of hours after going to bed) to try to get things finished before the boys got home. I touched up the paint where it needed it, and then I started working on shelves for their closets. I was glad I'd bought finished boards so I wouldn't have to cut down plywood. I got up super early in the morning (just a couple of hours after going to bed) to try to get things finished before the boys got home. I touched up the paint where it needed it, and then I started working on shelves for their closets. I was glad I'd bought finished boards so I wouldn't have to cut down plywood. To maximize space, I put a dowel on each side of the closet to hang clothes, and I later added a shelf above them. Eli's shelves were easy... I just used two 3/4" x 12" x 8-ft boards for sides, and then I cut some shorter ones to go horizontally between them. I used my Kreg pocket hole jig to screw the shelves into the sides. Then it was like one very tall bookcase and I stood it up in the center of his closet.To maximize space, I put a dowel on each side of the closet to hang clothes, and I later added a shelf above them. Noah's closet was very deep, but not very wide. I wasn't sure how to best maximize the space there. Before, there were a few wire shelves on the back wall, which was also used for hanging clothes. I decided to build shelves from wall to wall on the left side all the way up to the ceiling. On the right side, I hung a dowel like Eli's for hanging clothes, and then I added a shelf above that. I would have liked to put shelves in the back of the closet, but there wasn't enough space. When all was said and done, I basically created a very mini walk-in closet. I switched out his door for a bifold as well. For the finishing touches, I quickly went out to Target to get some new sheets and pillows. I also got some white blinds from Lowe's and I hung those last (I had to wait for the paint on the window sills to dry). I hung new ceiling fans in both rooms (I eventually want to paint the blades white or orange so they match the color scheme, but for now, they are brown). I looked at a couple of stores for a bed frame for Noah, but I couldn't find what I was looking for. I wanted something simple and that didn't cost $500+. I thought a daybed would be cool for him, if I could find one that wasn't too girly. He likes to sit on his bed to do homework and hang out with friends, so a daybed would have been great. I painted all the closet doors orange. (That's a mirror on the right, not another door!)I looked at a couple of stores for a bed frame for Noah, but I couldn't find what I was looking for. I wanted something simple and that didn't cost $500+. I thought a daybed would be cool for him, if I could find one that wasn't too girly. He likes to sit on his bed to do homework and hang out with friends, so a daybed would have been great. I wasn't able to find anything before he came home, so I just made his bed with new bedding and then planned to do something about the frame later. When the boys got home, so much of their stuff was in the kitchen and dining room! We didn't have time to put it all back in their bedrooms before they got home. But they were very surprised and loved the look of their "new" bedrooms. I ended up finding daybed plans online that looked perfect for Noah, so I went to Lowe's and bought the materials I needed. It was super easy make, and the end result was fantastic! It was exactly what I was hoping for. I made the mattress pretty high up so that he could have storage under there, too (his room is pretty small). Here is the post about his bed frame The only thing I didn't touch in his bedroom was his desk. He'd bought it at a garage sale and painted it with my mom, so I didn't want to hurt his feelings by painting over it to match (he later told me that it wouldn't bother him at all, so I might still do it someday). For Eli's fishing stuff, I temporarily moved it all to the garage because I wasn't sure what to do with it in his room. But later, I made a "fishing station" for all a tenth of his fishing gear. Here is a blog post that I wrote about For Eli's fishing stuff, I temporarily moved it all to the garage because I wasn't sure what to do with it in his room. But later, I made a "fishing station" fora tenth of his fishing gear. Here is a blog post that I wrote about how I made his fishing station . I love how it turned out! Eli has a ton of Rubik's Cubes, so I made some little shelves to hold all of those. I wrote a tutorial for those here And there you have it! Two bedroom makeovers done in (almost) a week. Some of the things were done afterward, but the big stuff (ceilings, walls, doors, trim) were done. The boys are thrilled with their new rooms, and I LOVE the maximized space in the closets. We were able to get rid of bookcases and shelves in their rooms because of the maximized closet space, and now their rooms are more spacious. Now, I'll just throw a bunch of photos of random stuff at you. Before and after!And there you have it! Two bedroom makeovers done in (almost) a week. Some of the things were done afterward, but the big stuff (ceilings, walls, doors, trim) were done. The boys are thrilled with their new rooms, and I LOVE the maximized space in the closets. We were able to get rid of bookcases and shelves in their rooms because of the maximized closet space, and now their rooms are more spacious. I know this isn't exactly a "revealing" post, because I did touch on this a little before . But after writing a step by step post about when I gave my utility/laundry room a huge makeover , I really had the urge to go back and write about each room individually with whatever pictures I happened to take in the making.I wish I'd taken more progress pictures, ESPECIALLY true "before" photos, but it's still fun to see the transformation.So, this post will be all about my boys' bedroom makeovers. For the record, Eli is 14 and Noah is 15. I wanted their rooms to fit their ages--not too childish, but definitely not boring.The makeovers for the bedrooms were totally a surprise. My parents flew the kids down to Hilton Head, South Carolina for a week to vacation with them, and I decided that I was going to spend the entire week completely redecorating their bedrooms.Little did I know, it was going to take longer because of a special project I'd planned (that didn't go as smoothly as I'd hoped).My main goals:Now, if only I could get them to keep their rooms clean... ;) DUBAI, Jan 28 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates' nuclear power plant's first reactor is ready to start operating, state news agency WAM reported on Tuesday. Operator Nawah Energy Company is concluding the final requirements before "commencing the loading of the first fuel assemblies safely into Unit 1 of the Barakah plant, scheduled for first quarter of 2020," WAM reported. Barakah will be the UAE's first nuclear plant and the world's largest when complete, with four reactors and 5,600 megawatts (MW) of capacity. It is being built by Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). (Reporting by Maher Chmaytelli; writing by Rania El Gamal; Editing by Louise Heavens) 3.6k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard You probably remember when Donald Trump promised as a candidate that he wouldnt cut Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security. Mercurial Trump has changed his mind now that hes sent the deficit running toward the $1 trillion dollar mark. Now is the time to cut Medicaid and really stick it to the poor to pay for his $1.5 trillion in tax cuts that mainly help the rich. Im not going to cut Social Security like every other Republican and Im not going to cut Medicare or Medicaid, candidate Trump promised. Cut to reality, Trump is going to let the states to make cuts to Medicaid, hes just going to name those (life-ending for some people) cuts something happy like Healthy Adult Opportunity: SCOOP: Trumps Medicaid block grants are now called Healthy Adult Opportunity, will let states limit patients benefits and available drugs.https://t.co/HoasIaXb43 with @rachel_roubein pic.twitter.com/8DR4xDpVoj Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) January 29, 2020 A few days ago while at Davos, Trump again signaled a willingness to cut Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid, or as the media and Republicans call them, entitlements. Because Trump talks out of both sides of his mouth, what he puts down on paper is indisputable and his last several budgets also made cuts to the social safety net, with 2020 cutting $1.5 trillion from Medicaid, $845 billion from Medicare and $25 billion from Social Security. Of course the money is there, its just going to defense spending, with an $861 billion increase. The CBO points out, Projected deficits rise from 4.6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020 to 5.4 percent in 2030. Other than a six-year period during and immediately after World War II, the deficit over the past century has not exceeded 4.0 percent for more than five consecutive years. And during the past 50 years, deficits have averaged 1.5 percent of GDP when the economy was relatively strong (as it is now). The CBOs warning about the deficit hitting $1 trillion in 2020 is often blamed on the growth of social safety net programs. For some reason, we never take the human factor into account in our budgets or how to actually make America greater than it is by investing in education and healthcare. Instead, its always the same story of helping the top 1% while dark money, gerrymandering, and epistemic closure allow Republicans to continue their lack of accountability for their plunder. This is the Republican never-ending cycle of cutting taxes for the rich and then using the resulting deficit as a reason to cut from the people, and then blaming their deficit on the next Democratic president who has to dig us out of the economic ditch created by the empty trickle down promises, only to be blamed for any stimulus needed to do so and then quickly replaced by yet another spoiled Republican brat who puts everything on daddys credit card. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) busted Trump on his promises that the tax cuts would pay for themselves. In a statement sent to PoliticusUSA, the Democrat also pointed out that Trump has grown the deficit from $587 billion to more than $1 trillion, and its expected to average $1.3 trillion annually for at least the next decade. All of that even though Trump promised to eliminate debt in 8 years with his Super Negotiating Skills that landed us in hot water with North Korea, China, and Iran. It isnt as if Trump had to dig us out of an economic downswing he inherited the booming Obama economy, which made history for private sector job growth year after year. Just three years in and Trump and his rich cronies have plundered the coffers for themselves and are coming for life-saving healthcare and the small bits of security people paid into their entire working lives. Top-level Phuket meeting told no water shortages PHUKET: There is no water shortage situation in Phuket yet, but people have to monitor the water situation closely, a top-level meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall which included a live video conference by Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paochinda with every provincial governor in the country was told yesterday (Jan 28). By The Phuket News Wednesday 29 January 2020, 07:45PM Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana at the meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday (Jan 28). Photo: PR Dept Gen Anupong ordered the live video conference to deliver his message for all provincial governors to take active steps to prevent water shortages in their areas. Gen Anupong, who also serves as the head of the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office in Bangkok, explained that the Interior Ministry had prepared for water outage problems in advance for the coming months by ordering every provincial government to find new water sources and have spare water resources available. The ministry also supported the drought-countermeasures by providing water trucks for distributing water to people and the necessary budget for the petrol needed to distribute emergency water supplies, he said. I want officers to focus on the water for in-house use as a priority, followed by water needed for crops. To everyone, please save as much water as you can. I believe in the cooperation of everyone that we will have water to use until the rainy season arrives in May, Gen Anupong added. At the meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall to receive the message were Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana along with Phuket Vice Governor Wongsakorn Nunchukan and a host of other high-ranking officials. However, according to a report posted by the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department of Thailand, it was reported at the meeting that the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) predicted that from January to May the amount of rain will be less than normal in every part of Thailand, causing the small amount of water in main reservoirs. There has no water shortage situation yet, but people have to monitor the water situation closely, said the report. Oddly, the report also included, At this stage, Bang Wad reservoir has only 24.4% of full capacity, around 2.49 million cubic metres, which may last 74 days. Bang Neow Dum reservoir has only 5% of full capacity, around 0.41mn m3, and Khlong Kratha reservoir [in Chalong] has 41.1%, around 1.77mn m3 of water, which may last 111 days. It was not made clear why the TMD, as the national weather bureau, was providing information on the current state of Phukets three main reservoirs. An aide at the Provincial Goverors Office late today would only confirm that the information in the report was explained at the meeting. The aide would not confirm who provided the information, or whether the update was provided to Gen Anupong. Of note, the report specifically did not mention that only two weeks ago Phuket Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) Chief Graisorn Mahamad announced a slew of measures to conserve what little water supplies Phuket has in the hope of staving off serious water shortages across the island. Mr Graisorn also delivered the dire message, We dont have enough water to produce in 2020 because the water levels at the three main reservoirs Bang Wad, Bang Neow Dum and Khlong Kratha reservoirs are so low. Also not mentioned was that Mr Graisorn had noted that the water level at Bang Neow Dum reservoir was not enough to even use, or that Phuket Town residents were already subjected to reduced mains water pressure from 9am-5pm and from 10pm to 5am each day in order to conserve water. (See story here.) The report also failed to mention that Mr Graisorn confirmed earlier this month that the volume of water from Bang Wad reservoir distributed to Wichit to Patong had already been reduced, and that the volume of water released from Bang Wad was to be further reduced by one-third soon. (see story here.) The report was proud to mention, [The] Phuket Government has set up a committee team to follow the water situation and ordered local administrative officers to prepare and identify the areas where there will be a lack of water. [The] Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) was also ordered to find water sources from private companies in order to provide to water to areas which will face water outages. The PWA is also working on projects, including installing new water supply mains, pumping water from one source to main water reservoirs, and setting up two new reservoirs [sic]. Ricky Gervais has denied reports that he had an awkward run-in with Caitlyn Jenner at the National Television Awards. The comedian spoke out on Twitter on Wednesday, saying Jenner was lovely and gracious when they met and that there was no awkwardness. Gervais has joked about Jenner several times in the past, in ways that some have deemed transphobic which Gervais himself has disputed. After the National Television Awards on Tuesday, Roman Kemp, who appeared with Jenner in a season of Im a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! last year, told Capital Breakfast that Jenner and Gervais had the most awkward encounter ever. Ricky Gervais reaches out his hand and says Caitlyn, so lovely to meet you. Caitlyn literally looks out the corner of her eyes and goes, Yeah, Kemp said. Ricky Gervais Golden Globes performances, ranked Show all 4 1 /4 Ricky Gervais Golden Globes performances, ranked Ricky Gervais Golden Globes performances, ranked 4. 2016 After hosting the Golden Globes from 2010 to 2012, Gervais returned to the ceremony in 2016 and chose to devote part of his opening monologue to joking about Caitlyn Jenner, who had recently come out as transgender and was documenting her transition publicly. Hey @RickyGervais. Its 2016. Jokes at the expense of trans people are so tired. Catch up, GLAAD tweeted at the time. Gervais has since doubled down on this line of comedy in a Netflix special. In September 2019, he tweeted: You can joke about whatever the f*** you like. And some people won't like it and they will tell you they don't like it. And then it's up to you whether you give a f*** or not. And so on. It's a good system. Hence, the bottom spot in this ranking. YouTube / NBC Ricky Gervais Golden Globes performances, ranked 3. 2012 Fresh off a particularly biting 2011 hosting set, was Gervais struggling to figure out just the right amount of meanness for the ceremony? The comedian didnt seem quite like himself that time around. He delivered some good lines, among them: For any of you who dont know, the Golden Globes are just like the Oscars, but without all that esteem and The Hollywood Foreign Press have warned me that if I insult any of you, or any of them, or offend any viewers, or cause any controversy whatsoever, theyll definitely invite me back next year. Still, this year doesnt stand out in Gervaiss Golden Globes history. YouTube / NBC Ricky Gervais Golden Globes performances, ranked 2. 2011 In 2011, Gervaiss jokes were so incisive, so daring and lets just say it, mean that they elicited occasional gasps from the audience. Over the course of the evening, the comedian took aim at the 2010 film The Tourist starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie (It seems like everything this year was three-dimensional, except the characters in The Tourist, he quipped), Robert Downey Jr, and the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which organises the Golden Globes. Gervaiss set was so controversial that some wondered whether it would prove to be his last but the comedian has now been invited back three more times. YouTube / NBC Ricky Gervais Golden Globes performances, ranked 1. 2010 Gervaiss first turn as host was also his best. Almost 10 years ago, the comedian proved to be a delightfully sarcastic emcee, capable of the most ferocious take-downs. His best lines of the night were delivered with fake enthusiasm, such as when Gervais the creator of the original version of The Office in the UK, tore into the US version starring Steve Carell (Where does he get his ideas from? Gervais mused). The 2010 ceremony also included this brilliant bit about writers in Hollywood: This next category is a bit of a downer, to be honest: its for writing. We all know writers get way too much credit in Hollywood, and thats due to the generosity of actors sometimes mentioning them. And lets not forget what is perhaps Gervaiss most celebrated Golden Globes quip, through which he introduced Mel Gibson to the stage: I like a drink as much as the next man, Gervais said, glass in hand. Unless the next man is Mel Gibson. YouTube / NBC Gervais has now disputed this account on Twitter, deeming the reports of awkwardness absolutely false. She was lovely and gracious, he wrote of Jenner. She said she loved my Golden Globes monologue and I said I loved her stint in Im a Celebrity. And that was it. No snubbing. No awkwardness. No rudeness. The Independent has contacted Jenners team for comment. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-28 21:05:53|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close Photo taken on Jan. 28, 2020 shows Huawei 5G Innovation and Experience Center in London, Britain. The British government on Tuesday approved a restricted role for Huawei in building the country's 5G network. Huawei, the Shenzhen-based networking and telecommunications equipment and services supplier, said that it is reassured by the British government's confirmation that it can continue working with the customers to keep the 5G roll-out on track. (Xinhua/Han Yan) LONDON, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The British government on Tuesday approved a restricted role for Chinese tech company Huawei in building the country's 5G network, local media reported. Huawei, the Shenzhen-based networking and telecommunications equipment and services supplier, said it is reassured by the British government's confirmation that it can continue working with the customers to keep the 5G roll-out on track. "The evidence-based decision will result in a more advanced, more secure and more cost-effective telecoms infrastructure that is fit for the future," Victor Zhang, vice-president of Huawei, said. The latest decision came nearly a year after the British government said it would mull whether to allow Huawei infrastructure kit on the nation's 5G mobile networks. Other European countries, including Germany, are also expected to make decisions on the Chinese tech giant. European leaders have said that building 5G network could be costlier and slower without Huawei equipment. 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The shooting took place in Bandipur Tiger Reserve which is located in Mysore, Karnataka. A lot of media reports have been suggesting that Rajinikanth twisted ankle and suffered minor bruises while filming with Bear Grylls. But turns not this piece of information isn't true. "It is all false. As per the screenplay, there was a shot in which Rajinikanth had to fall, so while getting down from the rope, he just fell down and everybody rushed." "It was all in the screenplay," T Balachandra, director of the tiger reserve and conservator of forests, told IANS. Balachandra also revealed that after completing the shoot, Rajinikanth directly headed to Chennai. Earlier in the day, the Darbar actor took to popular microblogging site Twitter and thanked Bear Grylls for inviting him on the show. Rajinikanth tweeted, "Thank you very much dear @BearGrylls for an unforgettable experience ... love you. @DiscoveryIN thank you #IntoTheWildWithBearGrylls." The British adventurer was equally excited about joining hands with the megastar. He also wrote on Twitter, "After our episode with Prime Minister @NarendraModi of India helped create a bit of TV history, (3.6 billion impressions), superstar @Rajinikanth joins me next, as he makes his TV debut on our new show #IntoTheWildWithBearGrylls on @DiscoveryIN #ThalaivaOnDiscovery." Through the show, Rajinikanth will spread awareness about water conversation and why it is the need of the hour. Interestingly, the talented actor has been in the film industry for over four decades now but he is making his television debut with Man vs Wild. Well, all we can say is that we are super excited about his grand TV debut. Are you? When Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Compared Rajinikanth To Her Father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan! Darbar Worldwide Box Office Closing Collections: Rajinikanth's Film Incurs Loss Laws play a major role in fighting epidemics and outbreaks, such as the coronavirus that is now spreading worldwide. Laws establish norms for healthy behavior, define the authority of public health agencies, and focus the debates that occur in legislatures, courts and administrative bodies. It is impossible to think clearly about fighting epidemics without framing issues in legal terms. Using laws to fight epidemics is not new. During the plagues in London in the early 16th century, an array of legal provisions addressed threats to public health. Those laws established mandatory rules relating to sanitation, identification and segregation of infected houses or individuals; investigation of illnesses; medical treatment; reporting of deaths; disposal of tainted goods; and burial procedures. The English laws probably were modeled after earlier legal provisions in France and Italy. Similar legal regimes have been replicated and improved in later centuries to deal with smallpox, tuberculosis and, more recently, HIV, AIDS, SARS and the Ebola virus. In the early 20th century, American patients infected with polio were legally quarantined in their homes or sent to special treatment facilities. During the deadly 1918 influenza pandemic, New York required people to obtain passes to travel. There will always be epidemics. Protecting public health necessitates the deployment of legal tools related to information gathering, vaccination, isolation, quarantine and treatment. Epidemics raise a host of civil liberties issues because those who have, or are suspected of having, the disease may suffer stigma and social hostility. The legal problems range from defamation and invasion of privacy to employment and housing discrimination. In the United States, various statutory provisions guarantee confidentiality for personal information relating to ones health. Tort-law principles impose liability on those who cause harm by intentionally or negligently transmitting a communicable disease. Laws can play an effective role in fighting epidemics only if legal provisions are grounded in sound scientific principles and accurate information about the spread of diseases. In earlier times, a lack of medical knowledge and slow communication hampered efforts to combat epidemics. Today, obstacles still exist. Three matters call into doubt the ability of America to respond effectively to the coronavirus. The first is what a recent cover story in National Geographic magazine called the War on Science. The second is the pollution of public discourse by the spread of misinformation. The third is the increasing hostility in many quarters to the plight of disadvantaged people. In the United States, it has become common and politically advantageous for politicians to repudiate scientific principles that otherwise enjoy a strong consensus of professional support. Thus, leading figures cast doubt on the teachings of science related to climate change, childhood vaccination, hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and vaping. America is committed to public debate robust, wide-open and uninhibited and to the concept of a marketplace of ideas. However, these paradigms are under great stress in the age of the internet. It is far from clear how to minimize abuses in public discourse while adhering to the traditional principles that underlie the American constitutional guarantees of free speech and free press. Finally, the harsh response to the refugee crisis in the United States and abroad makes it fair to question whether the American legal system will adequately protect the civil rights of those who have, or may have, the coronavirus. The American legal system has an important role to play in fighting the coronavirus and future epidemics. It remains to be seen whether it will be up to the task. Vincent R. Johnson, J.D., is interim dean and Charles E. Cantu Distinguished Professor of Law at St. Marys University. As many state and local governments sort out their approaches to cannabis regulation, a new partnership between Accela and NCS Analytics puts data front and center. The partnership, announced in December enables government solutions provider Accela to enhance its cloud-based end-to-end cannabis regulatory platform with analytics that incorporate data beyond the typical licensing, track-and-trace and point-of-sale elements. Technology from data analytics firm NCS pulls in those traditional data points but also gathers banking, demographic, geolocation, taxation and utilities data. The combination proactively identifies under-reporting and diversion of cannabis products, providing officials with a fuller picture of whats happening at cannabis-related businesses, said Cara Martinson, executive director of the California Cannabis Authority (CCA), a Joint Powers Authority created through a contract between counties with cannabis regulatory or taxing authority. NCS understands what utilities are associated with cannabis production, so it knows how much water and electricity businesses needs to produce 1,000 pounds of cannabis flower. If utility use is higher, thats a red flag, said Greg Felix, Accela's vice president of strategic solutions. When data is submitted by cannabis growers, for example, the system analyzes the dataset against its broad range of data sources. If the growers' data is not what is expected, the system flags the submission. "It gives a better picture of whats going on in the community, and providing more real information, not a spreadsheet of data, [but] an actionable alert, Martinson said. The more information we share and the more interoperability we have, I think that the better off we are as regulators. Accelas system already let cannabis businesses submit licensing applications online for regulatory entities to vet, and regulators use it to make sure licensed businesses stay in compliance. Additionally, it handles tracking and tracing -- a record of the movement of cannabis and related products from cultivation to sale. Accela had some analytics already, but they were basic, Felix said. With the addition of NCS technology, regulators can log in and see a list of the businesses they oversee and alerts to potential problems from the past seven days categorized by severity. For example, they might get an alert about a cultivator that may be underreporting production because the amount of water and power it used indicates that output should be higher. It really is the next-generation approach to cannabis regulation: integrated, intentional, insightful and automated, Felix said. The system also pairs the alerts with three to five questions, giving regulators a jumping off point for furthering their inquiry. For instance, the system could ask if the business is running any specials that might account for the discrepancy. If the business owner says yes, the investigation could end there. If the answer is no, regulators can dig further via the platform and perhaps discover that the business is reporting only half its cash sales, NCS CEO Adam Crabtree said. Depending on the state or sector were working in, we grab eight to 15 different data streams, run them backwards, forwards, upside-down and sideways through our patent-pending predictive analytics to help regulators and financial institutions better understand these traditionally opaque, difficult-to-regulate" businesses or interact with them on a financial level in near real time, Crabtree said. All of our data streams are one-way, read-only, and that was designed for the protection of the chain of custody, so there is absolutely no possible way for my system to write into any system that we analyze. At CCA, its six county members access the integrated platform through the organizations website. In addition to alerts, they see only the businesses in their jurisdiction and a snapshot of their activities, They also get month-end reports and alerts. Accela is the state licensing platform, and CCA has used NCS platform since 2018, so now that the two companies have partnered, CCA can get state data automatically, rather than entering it manually. Its a new industry, Martinson said of cannabis regulation. Its still pretty volatile, so for folks at the local level who have to anticipate the programmatic means, the cost associated but also forecast what the fees and taxes will be, this is really helping to get a better, accurate picture. As school starts for the year, parents at Hurstville Public, a diverse school that has been the subject of a petition urging families who have been to China to keep their children home, have different levels of alarm about coronavirus. Some were content sending their children to school with advice about hygiene and masks and have faith that parents whose children have travelled to China, where the outbreak started, will keep them home. Nesrine Dirani and daughter Zara on their way to Hurstville Public School for the first day of school. Credit:Louise Kennerley Others went further than official advice and kept their children home to avoid even the smallest risk of potential infection from other pupils. All parents the Herald spoke to said they knew others who had kept their children home for one reason or another. A former London metropolitan police officer who blew up his Queensland home in a huge explosion before fraudulently attempting to make an insurance claim has been denied bail. Eamonn Charles Coughlan applied for bail in the High Court ahead of an appeal hearing against his conviction for arson and fraud following the destruction of his Bribie Island holiday home, north of Brisbane, in July 2015. But his application was dismissed on Wednesday, with Justice Stephen Gageler saying the appeal hearing had been brought forward to February 12. "The appellant by that time will have served the greater part of the custodial period of his sentence, some five months," he said. "(But) there is no reason to expect the decision on the appeal will be handled anything but expeditiously." New Delhi: In the episode, Rishabh warns Sherlyn to stay away from Preeta's life. When Preeta, Karan and her family are busy celebrating her release from the prison, the cops land up at their residence to arrest Preeta again. Mahira calls Karan and gets to know that he is at Preeta's place. Sherlyn, meanwhile, tells Mahira that she should not worry about it, rather it's a good thing that Preeta will be held in Karan's presence. Watch the latest episode here: In the next episode, Karan goes to the police station where Preeta is arrested. He demands to see the evidence for Preetas arrest. The police refuse to show the evidence to Karan. He asks them to at least give him the name of the person who provided the evidence. The police inform him that Sherlyn gave the evidence. Karan watches Preeta crying and asks her to stop. He promises to get her out of jail and not just on bail but with a clean chit. Will Karan fulfil his promise to Preeta? Find out in the next episode. In the next episode, Karan goes to the police station where Preeta is arrested. He demands to see the evidence for Preetas arrest. The police refuse to show the evidence to Karan. He asks them to at least give him the name of the person who provided the evidence. The police inform him that Sherlyn gave the evidence. Karan watches Preeta crying and asks her to stop. He promises to get her out of jail and not just on bail but with a clean chit. Will Karan fulfil his promise to Preeta? Find out in the next episode. Watch the latest episodes of Kundali Bhagya, now streaming on ZEE5. Last month, Bonhams auctioned off these two parts from "Little Boy," the first atomic bomb that the US dropped on Japan on August 6, 1945. An unidentified buyer paid $100,000 for the red arming and green safety plugs from the bomb. From Bonhams: ONE OF ONLY THREE SURVIVING SETS OF BOMB PLUGS, THE ONLY SURVIVING RELICS OF "LITTLE BOY," THE FIRST ATOMIC BOMB DETONATED OVER HIROSHIMA.. This set was given by Weapons Test Officer Jeppson to his superior Edward Doll, the day after the flight. Jeppson's own set was sold in Butterfields Auctions in 2002, now privately owned, and there is a further set in the Naval Museum Washington D.C., a set that belonged to Deak Parsons, who also flew on the Enola Gay as Senior Military Technical Observer. This last set is presumed to have been given to Parsons by Jeppson. Sedena confirms second drug plane in two days Mahahual, Q.R. The Ministry of National Defense (Sedena) confirmed a second drug plane which has led to the arrest of two people as well as the assurance of the aircraft after a forced landing by the Mexican Air Force. The illegal plane was detected over Mexican waters, which resulted in the deployment of air force personnel who force-landed the plane on an airfield outside Mahahual. La Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional (Sedena) reported the detection of an illicit aircraft from Argentina, which was tracked to waters over Cozumel and lead to the deployment of the Mexican Air Force. During the flight, crew of the illegal aircraft noticed the presence of the military, heeding to a forced landing at the Mahahual airfield. Photo: La Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional (Sedena) Inside, police discovered nearly a ton of cocaine. Taken into federal custody were two men, the pilot and co-pilot, both of Bolivian nationality. First batch of cash and medical supplies have been donated HANGZHOU, China, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In line with the firm's corporate mission of delivering a "Beautiful and Better Life", Proya Cosmetics Co., Ltd. (SHA: 603605) is contributing to the effort to control and prevent further expansion of the 2019 novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) epidemic during these critical days. Set up of a US$2.2 million charitable public fund to donate cash and scarce medical supplies Immediately after the onset of the outbreak of 2019-nCoV in Wuhan, the co-founders and senior management team of Proya worked day and night in concert with the Wuhan Red Cross to understand the real needs, while quickly organizing overseas teams to purchase from European countries medical protective supplies urgently needed in Wuhan. Proya also formally set up a RMB15 million (approx. USD2.2 million) charitable public fund for the purchase of medical supplies, the provision of cash donations as well as assistance to infected employees, partners and their families, among other philanthropic causes. The first batch of aid, including RMB3 million (approx. USD430,000) in cash and EUR280,000 (approx. RMB2.14 million) in protective masks and other emergency medical supplies purchased from Europe, has been donated to the Wuhan Red Cross and the Wuhan Charity Federation for epidemic prevention and control. At the same time, the company continues to source medical supplies worldwide to send to the stricken areas. Establishment of a special group on epidemic response The special leading group on epidemic response will share the information concerning the spread of the disease as well as the prevention and control measures issued by the state authorities as soon as possible. At the same time, Proya will prepare for the resumption of work after the Spring Festival, such as the implementation of on-site offices, mobile offices, conference calls and other working models, in response to the local government's call to adopt office protection measures, including disinfection, provision of face masks, among others. For employees who are in areas identified affected by the epidemic, the group will regularly keep track of the evolving news and information in real time and advise employees on how to best protect themselves. Emergency adjustment of consumer services From now on, the operating hours of all Proya physical stores will be adjusted according to the local situation. During this period, it is recommended that consumers communicate with beauty consultants online, or purchase products from Proya's online flagship stores, all of which will remain in operation. Proya will continue to give full support to epidemic relief efforts, strengthen confidence and work together. The company firmly believes that Proya and the people will get through this difficult period together during this special Spring Festival. Because Proya and the people are always together. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082859/Proya_donation.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082786/Proya_building_disinfection.jpg The Akali Dal had earlier decided not to contest the Delhi Assembly polls over differences with BJP over the Citizenship Amendment Act Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda on Wednesday announced that the Shiromani Akali Dal will support the saffron party in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. The announcement came after Nadda's meeting with SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal in Delhi. SAD had earlier decided not to contest the Delhi Assembly polls over differences with BJP over the Citizenship Amendment Act. Delhi: BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda meets Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal over #DelhiElections. SAD had earlier decided not to contest the election in Delhi, over their differences with BJP regarding their stand on Citizenship Amendment Act. pic.twitter.com/dT3i5qmBDy ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2020 Addressing a joint press conference with Badal, Nadda hailed the party as an old and strong ally and thanked the party for its support. Badal asserted that their alliance is not merely about politics but also about a bond of sentiments, adding that "misunderstandings" with the saffron party had been sorted. Claiming that his party had never broken alliance with the BJP, Badal said that SAD had been supporting the CAA from the beginning. "We went to Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah for granting citizenship to Sikhs who have been subjected to persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan," ANI quoted Badal as saying. SAD Chief SS Badal: We never broke the alliance. We just decided to contest the election separately. We've been supporting CAA from the beginning. We went to Rajnath Singh&Amit Shah for granting citizenship for Sikhs who have been subjected to persecution in Pak, Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/w1hCxmPry4 ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2020 However, the party had earlier claimed that it is of the" firm stand that Muslims cannot be left out of the CAA". Party leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa had also said that his party is "strongly" against the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Akali Dal's decision to not contest the polls had triggered concerns in the BJP that it may alienate a section of Sikh voters. With inputs from agencies Amid a high voltage protest and boycott by the opposition Congress-led UDF, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Wednesday presented his policy address in the assembly and read out references to anti-CAA resolution passed by the house, despite disagreeing with it. Reading out the the anti-CAA stand of the state government, the Governor said "our citizenship can never be on the basis of religion as this goes against the grain of secularism which is part of the basic structure of our constitution." Referring to the unanimous anti-CAA resolution passed by the assembly, Khan, who has been at loggerheads with the state government for moving the Supreme court against the law and the resolution against it, said the government believes the Act "goes against the cardinal principles" underlying the Constitution. "Strong states and strong centre are pillars of our federalism. The voices of genuine apprehension of the states need to be considered by the central government in the right spirit keeping broad national interest in mind, particularly when constitutional values are involved and there are widespread anxieties and apprehensions among a large number of our citizenry," he said. It's learnt that the Governor decided to read out the reference to the state's anti-CAA stance after a letter was sent by Vijayan this morning, in which the Chief Minister had requested Khan to read the policy address "in its entirety sans any additions or deletions." "Since the constitutional function under Art 176 is exercised with the aid and advise of the council of ministers, it is requested that the address approved by the council of ministers be read in its entirety sans any additions or deletions", the letter stated. The day also saw an unprecedented protest by the UDF members, who also boycotted the policy address. As the governor was being ushered into the assembly hall by Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, UDF members, blocked Khan, raised "Go Back" slogans holding aloft "Repeal CAA" and "Recall Governor" placards and banners. Speaker was seen repeatedly trying to pacify the agitating MLAs but in vain, after which the watch and ward personnel, who stood as a wall protecting the governor, cleared his path to the dais. In his policy address, Khan said though he had his "reservations and disagreement" over the subject, he would read the para 18 containing reference to anti-CAA matter, just to "honour" the wish of the Chief Minister. When Khan began his policy address, the opposition members trooped out of the assembly hall raising slogans and staged a sit in protest at the gate of the Assembly. "This august body (Kerala Assembly) unanimously passed a resolution requesting the Central government to abrogate the CAA 2019 which my government believes goes against the cardinal principles underlying our Constitution," he said. The government has also filed a petition in the supreme court invoking Art 131 of the constitution, Governor said. As he was leaving the assembly, reporters asked him about the unprecedented protest faced by him, to which the Governor quipped that he had faced worst protests than this. Meanwhile, taken by surprise over the governor's move to read out Anti CAA reference in his address, Leader of Opposition, Ramesh Chennithala, who protested along with his front MLAs, told media that the state government and the Governor had come to a "truce". "The double stand of the Chief Minister has been exposed now. The CM begged the Governor to read the policy address in full. Why is the CM silent on the Governor who has insulted the people of Kerala? This is a ploy to escape from the Lavlin case which may come up soon," Chennithala alleged. The Top Court has been hearings a batch of petitions challenging the Kerala High Court's 2018 order discharging Vijayan, the then State Electricity Minister, and others in an alleged graft case involving an award of contract to a Canadian firm SNC-Lavalin for the renovation and modernisation of three Hydroelectric projects in 1997. Expressing solidarity with the Governor, BJP's Kerala unit took out a march to the Assembly complex. Attacking the UDF, former BJP President, Kummanam Rajashekharan asked, "who gave authority to Congress to stop the Governor?.." "By blocking the Governor, the UDF has insulted the people of Kerala," he said. Khan had made it clear that he was not a "rubber stamp" and it was "improper" that he was not informed by the government before moving the apex court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [January 29, 2020] Bank of America Declares Quarterly Stock Dividends Bank of America Corporation today announced the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend on Bank of America common stock of $0.18 per share, payable on March 27, 2020 to shareholders of record as of March 6, 2020. The Board also declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $1.75 per share on the 7% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, Series B. The dividend is payable on April 24, 2020 to shareholders of record as of April 10, 2020. Bank of America Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 66 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 4,300 retail financial centers, including approximately 2,800 lending centers, 2,600 financial centers with a Consumer Investment Financial Solutions Advisor and 2,000 business centers; approximately 16,800 ATMs; ad award winning digital banking with approximately 38 million active users, including approximately 29 million mobile users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and approximately 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts. www.bankofamerica.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005678/en/ [ Back To www.mobilitytechzone.com\LTE's Homepage ] WASHINGTON, DC - President Donald Trumps Israel-Palestine peace plan only aggravates issues in the region," U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell said. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the goal is for Palestine to become a state consisting of Gaza and portions of the West Bank connected by roads and tunnels, the Associated Press reported. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the plan, which was announced Tuesday, Jan. 28, nonsense. Under the proposal, Israel would annex and settle portions of the West Bank, displacing several Palestinians, as well as retain sovereignty of the strategic Jordan Valley, the AP reports. Dingell, D-Dearborn, criticized the announcement on the grounds that Palestinians were not part of the negotiations. For peace to prevail, both states need to be treated fairly, she said in a news release. To be clear, this package grants a conditional state in name only to the Palestinians. A state that could never be sovereign because it is not contiguous and is entirely surrounded by Israel. Trump said he sent a letter to Abbas to promise that Israel will settle in portions of the West Bank for four years, but only areas that Israelis have yet to settle in, the AP reported. Trump and Netanyahu unveiled their plan in front of Christian evangelical leaders and Republican donors, but no Palestinian representatives, according to the AP. The Palestinians want the whole West Bank and east Jerusalem both which Israel seized in the 1967 Mideast war for an independent state and the removal of more than 700,000 Israeli settlers from these areas. Recognizing West Bank settlements as Israeli territory does not treat Palestinians as equals, Dingell said. This proposal holds the potential to further the conflict and occupation and is not an earnest attempt at peace in the region. Dingell further accused the proposal of not providing a right of return to Palestinian refugees. The United Nations Relief Work Agency estimates 5 million Palestinian refugees worldwide. Among Dingells consituents are Dearborn residents, about 40% of whom are Arab Americans according to the 2010 census. Dingell generally proposed a two-state solution in her statement. Trump and Dingell previously clashed in December 2019 when Trump joked at a Battle Creek rally that her late husband, Michigan Congressman John Dingell, may be looking up from hell. Maybe hes looking up, I dont know, but lets assume hes looking down, Trump said. Trump targets Debbie Dingell and late husband at Battle Creek rally Dingell responded to the attack on Twitter. Mr. President, lets set politics aside, Dingell wrote. My husband earned all his accolades after a lifetime of service. Im preparing for the first holiday season without the man I love. You brought me down in a way you can never imagine and your hurtful words just made my healing much harder. Dingell voted to impeach Trump on Dec. 18, saying he abused his power to solicit interference from Ukraine in the 2020 presidential election and then obstructed a congressional investigation into his activity. If we dont address this abuse of power, we abdicate our Constitutional and moral responsibility and we are condoning these actions for future administrations, Dingell said in a statement at the time. Stevens, Dingell join House Democrats committed to impeach Trump Gov. Tony Evers is asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency to do a preliminary damage estimate of severe winter storm and lakeshore flooding that struck southeastern Wisconsin earlier this month. The process is the first step in determining whether Wisconsin will request a federal disaster declaration. Evers said Jan. 28 the storm, combined with high water levels on Lake Michigan, resulted in significant shoreline damage to public infrastructure in southeastern Wisconsin. Doing the assessments will help determine whether communities may qualify for federal aid to help them rebuild, he said. The governors office said FEMA is expected to assess damage to public infrastructure next week in Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties. Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser declared a state of emergency Friday regarding the Jan. 10-12 winter storm that caused shoreline flooding and damage. As of Jan. 27, Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties had reported a combined estimate of $30 million in damage to public infrastructure. Those preliminary numbers are expected to change. At the countys Kemper Center, 6501 Third Ave., the force of the waves ripped up or severely damaged about 400 linear feet of the paved path that runs along the lake behind the center and Anderson Arts Center. It not only threw rocks over 50 to 75 feet in some places, but we lost a fairly large section of the mulit-use trail, said County Parks Director Matthew Collins. He said tons of stones of up to 60 pounds littered the property after the storm. The county has been using skid loaders and a bulldozer to aid in the cleanup. Luckily, Collins said, there was no damage to the historic Kemper Center or Anderson Arts buildings, although there was standing water inside one area of the Kemper Center. Rock came within 30 feet of the Arts Center, but luckily there was no damage to the structure, he said. Gov. Evers has been responsive to the needs of Kenosha County, and were appreciative of his efforts to help us draw down federal assistance to address the situation at Kemper Center, said Kreuser said. We look forward to working with the governors team, and with FEMA, to repair and further protect the Kemper shoreline. Jeff Warnock, superintendent of parks for the city of Kenosha, said the storm ripped brick pavers from the lakeside promenade, caused the collapse of shoreline in Southport Park and damaged the parks beach. Its the worst Ive ever seen, he said. He said that 500 to 1,000 brick pavers were pulled out of the promenade and into the lake. He said water came about 10 to 12 feet over the breakwater, with water reaching nearly to the doors of the water department building on Simmons Island. We lost about half the beach at Southport Park, Warnock said. Theres a lot of stones, probably 3-4 feet deep on the beach. Agency staff will not be assessing damage to homes or businesses, since much of that damage is covered by insurance or would not qualify for federal disaster assistance. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MBABANE An incarcerated construction worker has accused the police of advising his wife to lay an additional charge of rape against him. *Mandla (31) was initially charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after he allegedly threatened to hit his wife with a knobkerrie. He appeared at the Manzini Magistrates Court where he was granted bail fixed at E5 000. Mandla was unable to pay the bail amount and he was taken to Zakhele Remand Centre. The accused filed an application for bail at the High Court because the amended charge sheet required that he approached this court for bail. He submitted that his wife, who is the complainant in the matter, visited him in custody and allegedly informed him that the police advised her to open an additional charge. He alleged that his wife told him that the police informed her that on his next court appearance, he would find that the additional charge had been added on the charge sheet. Second I submit that then the second charge of rape was added, said Mandla . According to the charge sheet, the father of four allegedly committed an offence under the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act 15/2018 in that he had unlawful sexual intercourse with his wife without her consent. The alleged offence is accompanied by aggravating factors . The offence was allegedly committed on October 9, 2019. The other charge he is alleged to have committed is that of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He is alleged to have unlawfully and intentionally threatened to assault his wife with a knobkerrie on October 28, 2019. Mandla , who is represented by Siyabonga Zwane of Sithole and Magagula Attorneys, denied committing the offences. He informed the court that the charges were fabricated to ridicule him. I will plead not guilty to all the charges since they are all fabricated. I am desirous to be admitted to bail. I have not pleaded. I will plead not guilty at the commencement of the trial, he submitted. Cooperative The accused submitted that he was cooperative with investigating officers and gave them all the information they required. He told the court that his wife stays at her place of employment in Manzini. Mandla stated that he suffered from back pain due to doing hard work and that he required to sleep in a comfortable place. He told the court that prison conditions were not conducive to his health. The accused further undertook to abide by all bail conditions if he were to be granted bail. His application for bail was heard by Judge Nkululeko Hlophe, who granted him bail fixed at E15 000. The judge ordered that he should pay E1 000 in cash and that the balance be in the form of surety. *Not real to protect alleged survivor. Welspun India, the world's largest maker of terry towels, is now betting on the flooring business for its growth prospects. "We believe our flooring business is going to be a game-changer in India with the kind of convenience and customisation which we are going to provide to customers and stakeholders such as contractors and the distributors and we believe flooring business is going to be our next growth engine," Altaf Jiwani, Director and Chief Financial Officer, Welspun India, told Moneycontrol. Welspun Flooring will offer stone polymer composite luxury performance tiles, carpet tiles, wall-to-wall carpets and artificial grass. In September 2019, the company commissioned its new flooring plant in Hyderabad, with around Rs 800 crore out of the planned Rs 1,150 crore capital expenditure already capitalised. The facility is spread over 27 million square meters. Jiwani expects the new vertical to generate sales of around Rs 100 crore in the current financial year. The tile market in India is worth Rs 35,000 crore. "This year it is more of a trial and sample of our flooring solutions, so in FY20 we should be getting a revenue of Rs 100-200 crore but in the next 4-5 years we are looking at about Rs 1,500 crores revenue from our flooring business," he said. The company has roped in Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachhan as a brand ambassador to promote its products. Jiwani feels flooring business will help Welspun India grow in double digits. BUDGET EXPECTATIONS Jiwani has three expectations from the upcoming Budget. The first expectation is a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union, UK and US as these countries are a large market for textiles. Free trade agreement (FTA) is a pact between two or more nations to reduce barriers to imports and exports among them. Under a free trade policy, goods and services can be bought and sold across international borders with little or no government tariffs, quotas, subsidies, or prohibitions to inhibit their exchange. "We expect the Finance Minister to lay down the roadmap in the Budget. But the biggest one, which we are looking forward to is the FTA and negotiation of government which can swiftly negotiate the FTA with EU with UK as well as the US, which has a large textile market, Jiwani said. He believes once FTA is negotiated, it will open the floodgates for the new textile industry. The second expectation is on the labor reforms front. Our businesses are highly labor-intensive and a seasonality business. So we expect for some kind of roadmap for labor reforms or to provide kind of flexibility, so that other business loads can be managed properly, Jiwani said. The third expectation is about Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) which was withdrawn retrospectively. Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) was to offset infrastructural inefficiencies and associated costs involved in the export of goods/products, which are produced/manufactured in India, especially those having high export intensity, employment potential and thereby enhancing India's export competitiveness. Jiwan expects Finance Minister to announce an alternative mechanism for MEIS which will defray some of the costs ( including power cost, labor cost, infrastructure cost etc) and provide a level playing field to the textile exports. Textile is one industry which is globally competitive, but some of these costs are creating some barriers. So, once those are resolved or mitigated, we can actually become a force multiplier for the exports, Jiwani said. From the economic perspective, Jiwani said that there is a need to induce credit flows in crisis-hit sectors such as real estate, NBFC and auto which will help induce consumption. He also expects a cut in the tax rates for individuals. (Photo : Screenshot From StarWalk Facebook Page) The Tarantula Nebula is finally captured! Another win for science as the Spitzer Space Telescope by NASA has brought back stunning images of Tarantula Nebula, which can be found about 160,000 light-years away from Earth inside the Large Magellanic Cloud! Although the Tarantula Nebula is reaching its end on January 30, at least the Spitzer was able to collect multiple observations approximately from February and September of 2019 to create a high-resolution image. The origin of the name "Tarantula Nebula" NASA has a term called the hotbed of star formation, and the Tarantula Nebula belongs to the early targets under observational study after the launch way back in 2003. This name originates from the placement of its bright patches that shoot a spitting image of a tarantula, according to the European Southern Observatory (ESO). About 1,000 light-years across in measurement, dust is minimal, and that creates a great environment to further our understanding of the formation of enormous stars, according to ESO. The mystery of this nebula unveiled With an R136 and within a "starburst" region, the existence of enormous stars is extremely close by with rates greater than anything else in the galaxy according to the findings of NASA. Included in the R136, there are about 40 enormous stars each with the size of about 50 times the mass of our beloved Sun, which are positioned only about less than one light-year across or when converted, six trillion miles or nine trillion kilometers away. The stars around this nebula According to the findings of ESO, the surrounding stars in this nebula weighs about 300 times more in mass than the Sun! Far from exaggeration, there were some stars found within the cluster RMC 136a called the R136a1 that are 265 times the mass of our Sun. All accounts of ESO state that they may be a little over a million years old and that the R136a1 is already experiencing its "middle age" period and has already lost about a fifth of its starting mass over time or rather fifty solar masses over time. The origins of these starbursts are still a mystery to NASA. It is still currently accepted that the Tarantula Nebula is the best-known field for spectacular supernovas to be observed by astronomers in 400 years. The lonely mountaintop observatory in Chile In February 1987, the lonely mountain observatory was able to discover Supernova 1987A possessing the power of about 100 million suns for approximately a month, according to NASA. According to the agency, the shockwave from this specific event still makes its way outward into space, experiencing brushes with material ejected from the Sun during its timely death. The Spitzer's solid observations 2006 was the year that Spitzer made certain observations that revealed that light and even dust have a wide composition of silicates, which acts as the glue used in forming rocky planets around our solar system, NASA said. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A U.S. Marine Corps pilot just made history as the first to surpass 1,000 flight hours in the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter. Lt. Col. Brian W. Bann became the first to accomplish the feat in the service's F-35 Lightning II model while delivering a new aircraft to Marine Aircraft Group 13 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, last month, officials announced Wednesday. The F-35B can take off and land vertically, known as Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (STOVL), from amphibious assault ship flight decks and austere locations with little runway space. Bann is an acceptance test pilot for all three fifth-generation fighter variants; he's currently assigned to the Defense Contract Management Agency at Lockheed Martin's F-35 production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, according to a news release. Related: Marines Get 1st F-35 Fighter Jet that Can Operate on an Aircraft Carrier In December, the company announced it had delivered 134 jets worldwide in 2019, meaning surpassing its goal of 131 fighter deliveries for the year. Bann, who commissioned in 2000, is one of the first Marine Corps' F-35 pilots and began training on it at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, in 2013, according to his biography. He has accumulated 3,000 hours in various fighter aircraft, the release said. Bann also has experience as an interservive pilot. He flew the AV-8B Harrier II with Marine Attack Squadron 211 at MCAS Yuma and piloted the F-16 Fighting Falcon for the Air Force with the 55th Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, the release added. In August, Capt. Anneliese Satz became the Marine Corps' first female F-35 pilot. She became the first woman to complete the F-35B Basic Course after four years of training. In 2017, Lockheed Martin test pilot David "Doc" Nelson became the first pilot to achieve 1,000 flight hours in an F-35 belonging to Edward Air Force Base's 461st Flight Test Squadron in California. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Read more: 41-Year-Old Medal of Honor Hero Now Faces His Hardest Fight on a New Battlefield Photo: PARK CITY, Utah A documentary that follows 1,100 teenagers from across Texas as they scheme over politics with high-minded ideals and low-down dirty tricks doesnt seem like it would get much attention at the Sundance Film Festival. But Boys State has become a surprise hit, earning prolonged standing ovations at several screenings and the largest sales price ever negotiated for a documentary at Sundance. Apple and A24 snared the documentary with a reported $12 million bid and plan a theatrical release before it is streamed. No release date has been set yet. Filmmakers Jesse Moss and Amanda McBain spent a week in Austin during the summer of 2018 following young men from towns and cities across Texas who attended a program run by the American Legion to foster participation in politics and encourage civil discourse. Its part of a national program that counts such famous alumni as Bill Clinton, Dick Cheney, Cory Booker, and Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. (There is a corresponding program for young women called Girls State.) At Boys State, participants establish competing political parties, form alliances, stage elections, run cutthroat campaigns for their states highest offices, and participate in a mock legislature as they learn how the political process really works. Among the films unlikely heroes is Steven Garza, a Latino student at Mayde Creek High School in the Katy Independent School District at the time, who sticks to his progressive beliefs while running for governor even though the conclave is dominated by white, conservative teenagers from small Texas towns and suburbs. Me and Rene (an African American teen highlighted in the documentary) were like two sticks of cinnamon in a bowl of coke, but by the end of it, it opened a bunch of their eyes, Garza told the audience during a Q&A session after the world premiere. Moss and McBain got interested in the subject after reading a Washington Post article about the Boys State gathering in 2017, where the Texas delegates voted to secede from the union. The film duo wondered if it was a symptom of a decline in national unity. We thought, is this like the canary in a coal mine? Are we (as a nation) going in that direction and are the boys telling us something that we need to pay attention to?, Moss said. What are they going to do now? Are they going to heal the wounds and the divisions or are they going to rip the country further apart? That was the central question that drew us to Texas. After some hesitation, Boys State officials in Texas gave Moss and McBain the go ahead with no restrictions, so they hit the ground running. Normally they spend two years shooting a documentary, but for this one, most of the principal photography took place in the one week that Boys State was held. I was amazed we were still standing by the end of the week. There were seven crews running around trying to capture all this stuff, McBain said. After the first day, though Moss and McBain were worried as the participants sat through sessions in which counselors made dry power-point presentations. We were like Oh, no, this is going to be worse film ever, McBain recalled. But on day two, the counselors handed over the reins to the teenagers and the fireworks began. Its like unleashing a tiger, Moss said. And it was wonderful to watch it careen in these fascinating directions with all of the drama that we never could have anticipated. Through the next days, secrets are uncovered, social media is manipulated, and one elected leader is threatened with impeachment all of which makes the viewer care about individuals they didnt know anything about when the film started. The power of unscripted cinema verite is that audiences dont know where the story will take them and thats a great surprise, Moss said. While it took only a week to shoot, the duo spent a year editing the documentary to get the rhythms right, Moss added. I think, I hope, that the power of the film is that it is a way to engage with our country and our politics and our democracy, but in ways that make us laugh, make us cry, that feel totally fresh and new and necessary now because we know that democracy is not something we can take for granted, Moss said. Young people have to participate and I think that is hopefully the message of the movie and the these boys are ambassadors of that message. However, a cynical viewer might just as well come to the conclusion that the teens very much emulated their political elders in doing just about anything to win. Garza, though, believes the film is a testament to showing that we still have a little bit to go, but were a lot closer than people think. I came out a better person because of it. I got my views challenged. I had a debate. I had to give speeches. I had to become more comfortable and more confident, said Garza, who attends the University of Texas at El Paso. He watched the world premiere with his mother and we cried, he said. It is probably one of the greatest days of our life. It wouldnt have been that if I hadnt shared it with my mom. Clifford Pugh is a Houston-based writer. (Newser) With the ink still drying on President Trump's Middle East peace plan, Israel says it's ready for action. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday he will have his cabinet vote Sunday on two key measures: applying Israeli sovereignty to parts of the Jordan Valley and to Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, the New York Times reports. Both ideas were suggested in Trump's plan in exchange for Palestine attaining a path to statehood that would include roughly 70% of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and other land. But US officials say they're OK with Israel annexing the areas regardless of whether the 4-year peace plan progresses. story continues below "Israel does not have to wait at all," says US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, per the Times of Israel. "If they wish to apply Israeli law to those areas allocated to Israel, we will recognize it." It's unclear whether these moves will require parliamentary approval in Israel, and there could be court challenges since Nethanyahu's cabinet is an interim government. Meanwhile Jordan, Palestine, and more liberal Israelis are all opposing Netanyahu's plan. "This is the first result of the 'fraud of the century,'" Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat tells the Washington Post. "It was a green light for Netanyahu and the settlers council to do what they wanted tolegalize the settlements." Palestinians were also slamming the peace plan, per the AP, with President Mahmoud Abbas saying "a thousand no's" to it. (See more on the peace plan.) - Sammy Gyamfi has hinted the NDC will prosecute the likes of Hawa Koomson when they come into office - According to the NDC communications officer, the Minister for Special Development Initiative has undertaken projects and programmes which have caused finacial loss to the state - Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in The National Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi has revealed that, John Dramani Mahama will definitely prosecute some appointees under the Akufo-Addo administration if he wins election 2020. Mr. Gyamfi noted that the first NPP appointee that will be prosecuted will be the Minister for Special Development Initiative (SDI), Hawa Koomson. He explained that the SDI Minister will face prosecution for causing financial loss to country and also embezzlement of funds. READ ALSO: Another dormitory in Accra Academy SHS gutted by fire The outspoken NDC communicator cited the dug-outs constructed by the Akufo-Addo-led NPP government under the 1-Village-1-Dam initiative as examples of projects which caused financial loss to the state. How can you use excavators to construct ponds which you term as dams when they are to be called excavator ponds? The so-called dams were to be built to serve as irrigation for farmers in the said regions during the dry seasons, but the dams are nowhere to be found during the current dry season, yet you want to prevent citizens from asking for what their money has been used for, he said on Accra based UTV. Sammy Gyamfi also noted that, Madam Koomsons ministry have undertaken a lot of very questionable projects which she must answer. Indeed that Minister I have told her [Minister for Special Development Initiative] and UTV should note it down that she [ Hawa Koomson] is a future candidate for a prosecution on the charge of willfully causing financial loss to the state because she knew what she was constructing will not stand the test of time, he fumed on UTV's 'Adekye Nsroma' show. ATTENTION: Read the best news on Ghana #1 news app. Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana Sammy Gyamfi was picked up by the police on Monday, January 26, 2020, after a TV programme over complaints that he is involved in cybercrime. READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo gets 326 million worth of investment for Ghana from UK-Africa Summit His arrest caused NDC party members to amass at the Police Headquarters in Accra to demand his release. The police subsequently released him. YEN.com.gh earlier reported that embattled former deputy governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Asiama is blaming the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta for the collapse of uniBank. According to Dr. Asiama, the finance minister refused to save uniBank during its liquidity crisis. In a statement issued by lawyers of Dr. Asiama, the former official of the central bank opined that the Minister declined suggestions to settle payments due the struggling uniBank to save it. This is what makes 4-year-old Nii Omanye aka Kwame Nkrumah the smartest child in Ghana| #Yencomgh READ ALSO: Ghanaian boxer Patrick Allotey in hot waters after beating a football fan (Video) Enjoyed reading our story? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news! Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page. Source: YEN.com.gh Fashion designer Misha Nonoo praised her 'wonderful and thoughtful' close friend the Duchess of Sussex as she launches her first maternity line. The pregnant New York-based designer, 33, told FEMAIL that working with Meghan, 38, was so 'easy' as she spoke about their collaboration on the SmartWorks charity clothing range, which launched in September last year. It comes as Misha, who is expecting her first child with husband Mike Hess, launched her first ever maternity pieces: a 168 tunic top and a 220 belted dress, both inspired by her signature 'husband' shirt which was famously worn by her royal BFF for her first official outing with Prince Harry. Designer Misha Nonoo has launched her first ever maternity pieces: a 168 tunic top, pictured on the designer, and a 220 belted dress, both inspired by her signature 'husband' shirt Misha said working with Meghan, 38, was so 'easy' as she spoke about their collaboration on the SmartWorks charity clothing range, which launched in September last year (pictured) Meghan, 38, who knows Misha from her pre-royal days, has continued to support her friend by wearing Misha Nonoo designs over the years. Pictured, the friends at a New York event in 2015 The Duchess has continued to support her friend by wearing Misha Nonoo designs over the years, including for her final day of meetings in the UK before she jetted off to Canada earlier this month. Meghan, 38, who knows Misha from her pre-royal days, also asked the designer to be part of her ambitious SmartWorks charity clothing range, alongside British retail heavyweights Marks & Spencer, John Lewis and Jigsaw. Reflecting on the experience of working together, Misha described Meghan as 'the ultimate professional' and very 'considerate' of the women the collection was helping. She said: 'It was such an ideal, incredibly easy collaboration. It was, from start to finish, wonderful, thoughtful, considerate, as is she.' Misha has teamed up with celebrity go-to maternity brand HATCH to launch the latest collection, which goes on sale today. Misha described Meghan as 'the ultimate professional' and very 'considerate'. Pictured, designer Misha models the 220 dress in white Misha wears the 168 stripped white and blue shirt with a pair of black trousers. Misha explained it was important to her to be able to incorporate style staples into her wardrobe Both the tunic and the dress are based on the design of the signature Misha Nonoo 'husband' shirt, which was worn by Meghan for her first official outing with Harry in 2016, pictured She explained she wanted to design pieces that expectant mothers can wear before, during and after their pregnancies. The tunic and a midi shirt dress will both available in three colours: blue, white and striped black and white. 'It all stemmed from the idea that when I became pregnant, I didn't want my style to change,' Nonoo told Femail. It was important for me to think about pieces I would be able to wear during pregnancy, but then, because of the sustainability component, postpartum as well 'Especially during your first pregnancy, you don't know how much your body is doing to change and at what rate. 'So it was important for me to think about pieces I would be able to wear during pregnancy, but then, because of the sustainability component, postpartum as well.' Misha added that both the shirt and dress are versatile investment pieces that can be worn at work or while relaxing at the weekend. 'You can wear it casually with jeans and roll your sleeves all the way up, or you could wear it more formally to the office,' she said. The mother-to-be also pointed to the desire to create clothes that can be worn postpartum in the interest of sustainability. The collaboration is versatile, from the shirts that can be worn casually or formally for the office (left) and the dress which can fit any occasion (right) 'I didn't want to think about buying a whole wardrobe for this very finite period of my life,' Misha explained, adding that while all pregnancies were different, there were only three to five months where pregnant women had to worry about dressing their baby bump. 'I certainly did not want to ever go to a high street brand and buy something from their maternity collection. I wanted to think about how I could incorporate pieces that either already existed in my wardrobe of pieces that I could wear post-pregnancy.' Misha turned to Hatch for the collaboration so she could draw on the expertise of founder Ariane Goldman, whose designs are loved by celebrities including Jessica Alba and Ashley Graham. Ariane said: 'I've always been a big fan of hers, I respect her style and her grace and she always seemed to have a refined eye when it came to her collection. 'The goal of Hatch is to make women feel better during a time that can be otherwise either uncomfortable or awkward and really unknown in terms of how your body is changing.' New Delhi: Rapid digitisation and growth in both online buyer base and spending will help India's online food industry to become a $8 billion market by 2022 -- growing at a CAGR of 25-30 per cent, a new report said on Tuesday. The report by Google and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) revealed that variety in cuisines (35 per cent) was one of the top reasons for recurrent use of online food ordering apps, followed by good discounts and convenience. "Food tech has now made its presence in greater than 500 cities in India and with consumer confidence growing, there are new opportunities for the players to 'win with the consumer' in an evolving market,'" said Roma Datta Chobey, Director-Travel, BFSI, Classifieds, Gaming, Telco & Payments, Google. Peer or network advocacy (52 per cent) played a critical role in drawing people to try online food ordering for the first time. This was followed by advertisements (19 per cent) that emerged to be a strong driver in metros and among the higher income groups across the country. "Overall online spending in India is rising rapidly and expected to grow at 25 per cent over the next five years to reach over $130 billion," said Rachit Mathur, Managing Director and Partner, India Lead of BCG's Consumer & Retail Practice. "Riding on the wave of rapid digitization and steadily growing consumption, the reach of Food Tech companies has grown six times over the last couple of years and will continue to increase further," Mathur added. Zomato and Swiggy currently dominate the online food delivery market in India. Zomato last week announced it has acquired Uber's Food Delivery Business in India in an all-stock deal of nearly $350 million and Uber will have 9.99 per cent stake in the Deepinder Goyal-led food delivery platform. The Google-BCG report also suggested that consumers have common impediments that hinder adoption. A fifth of the respondents stated a lack of trust in the app as the main barrier to usage. Delivery charges (18 per cent), food quality concerns (13 per cent) and lack of customization (10 per cent) are other reasons why customers have, so far, not experimented with online food ordering. "Interestingly, these observations vary based on the maturity of the market. While delivery charges is the top reason for not ordering food online in metro cities; in Tier I cities, lack of trust in apps (29 per cent) is the primary roadblock," the findings showed. "Food tech startups have revolutionized the way Indians eat. Ordering food online is now a habit. There is large headroom to increase reach, engagement and usage frequency for food tech apps," said Abheek Singhi, Senior Partner and Managing Director at Boston Consulting Group. Midland associate professor Kerry Williams has always found value in the power of an audience. So, when she first began teaching at Midland at six years ago, she introduced a new, three-week interterm course called Understanding the Science You Teach that helped students preparing to teach elementary education become comfortable with addressing questions about science. The course culminates with a Science Misconceptions Fair, where students present a misconception about science to Grant Elementary School students. Today Midland students from the Interterm class, Understanding the Science You Teach, went to Grant Elementary School to teach elementary students about different scientific misconceptions. Midland University (@MidlandU) January 24, 2020 A lot of students coming in have low efficacy in science content, Williams said. What we know about that is that it means theyre afraid of their content knowledge or they dont teach it or rely solely on resources like a textbook. The results have been largely positive for both Midland and Grant Elementary students. Its got a good reputation, its pretty engaging, she said. I think they enjoy it every year. Grant Elementary School principal Julie Muller said she enjoyed the fair and was impressed with the students projects. The kids had such a good time, and the students did such a good job making sure it worked for kids at all levels, whether it be pre-kindergarten or fourth-graders. Muller said she hopes the school will continue to partner with Grant on the project. I sure hope it is something we can continue doing. Its super beneficial for the students and staff for everybody involved, she said. I want to be able to give that experience to students. Williams said providing students with an audience is a better approach than simply handing in a project to her or sharing it with classmates. An audience is powerful, she said. When the first course was introduced, Williams said the class would host the fair for other interterm classes, but she later migrated to host the event at Grant Elementary because of the schools strong relationship with the Walker School of Education. I asked if they would want to do something and they were really gracious and said we could come, she said. We started going to Grant two years ago and it kind of grew from there. The class, which typically brings in around 20 students each year, reinforces the idea that its OK to not understand everything about a given subject. Rather, Williams said the goal of the course is to help students feel comfortable with approaching new topics. They need to know that its OK to not know what happens, she said. Im trying to make it so that theyre feeling an efficacy for learning science. If they get into a class and need to learn to teach erosion or something, they need to know how to say oh I dont know anything about this, where can I go to learn more? Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly 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. Since Trump won the election in 2016, the iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense exchange-traded fund (ITA) has risen by over 70%. Geopolitical uncertainty, alongside a massive increase in military spending have been good news for defense stocks. According to Buckingham Research Group analyst Richard Safran, the rally is set to continue in 2020. The analyst believes the fear of a possible left-leaning presidencys negative impact on the sector is exaggerated. He said, Although the 2020 elections remain an overhang on Defense stocks, we think the risks are way overstated and have hampered Defense multiples from expanding despite continued end-market growth. Investment bank Morgan Stanley recently reviewed the defense sector stocks under its coverage, and using TipRanks Stock Comparison tool, we lined up 3 of the tickers alongside each other to get the lowdown. The word on the Street is that the outlook appears rosy for two, while one demands more caution from investors. Let's take a closer look. L3Harris Technologies (LHX) One of 2019s success stories, L3Harris is in fact a new company the result of a merger last June between L3 Technologies and Harris Corporation. The companys share price appreciated by 47% in 2019, and 2020 has started in much the same vein. It is up by 13% year-to-date. The company provides various products and services to the defense industry, including C6ISR systems, wireless equipment, tactical radios, avionics and night vision equipment, amongst others. The merger has significantly bolstered L3Harriss proposition, as it took two midsize defense companies and created a larger beast capable of competing for large Pentagon contracts that, otherwise, would have been out of reach for both. Alongside the merger, 2019s market beating performance was instigated by a series of estimate beating reports and strong sales growth. So, now that L3Harris is no longer trading at such a bargain price, does it remain a tantalizing proposition in 2020? Story continues It does, according to Morgan Stanleys Matthew Sharpe. Sharpe thinks LHX remains a peer leader on topline growth. Sharpe noted, Post the LLL-HRS merger, we believe LHX sets itself up as a leading Defense Prime with wide ranging capabilities from radios to small satellites. Given above-average potential around sales growth, margin expansion, FCF generation, and capital returns, alongside a leadership team that has previously executed, we see no reason why the legacy HRS premium valuation should not be retained (at 5-6% FCF versus 2021 at ~7%). Bottom line, then? Sharpe keeps his Overweight rating along with the price target of $259. This conveys the analysts confidence L3Harris can add a further 16.5% to the share price over the coming months. (To watch Sharpes track record, click here) The Street is on the bullish side, too. 7 Buys and a single Hold coalesce into a Strong Buy consensus rating. The average price target comes in at $247.86 and indicates possible gains of 11%. (See L3Harris stock analysis on TipRanks) Northrop (NOC) With annual revenue of more than $30 billion, global aerospace and defense technology company Northrop Grumman is one of the worlds largest weapons manufacturers. Like L3Harris, Northrop outperformed the market last year, adding 43% to its share price along the way. It has kept up the pace in 2020, too; the heightened tension between the US and Iran, and the fear of a looming war have been good news for the company. In fact, Northrop just this month notched an all-time high, closing January 16ths session trading at $383.78. As befits a multinational the size of Northrop, the company is involved in large scale development programs; Northrop is currently developing the B-21 Raider, a long-range strategic bomber which will replace its own B-2 Spirit, the world's only known stealth bomber. The company is also involved in NASAs Space Launch System program, for which it is producing the solid rocket boosters. Additionally, in December, following Boeings removal of its bid for the coveted GBSD (Ground Based Strategic Deterrent) contract, Nothrop remains the sole bidder for the development of the intercontinental ballistic missile system, worth a purported $63 billion. Following 2019s consistent execution, in which the company beat earnings estimates in all 4 calendar reports, Sharpe expects the upcoming report to show improved revenue growth relative to prior quarters. The analyst predicts expansion of 9% year-over-year to $8.9 billion. Sharpe added, We believe NOC is well positioned given its longer duration capability and high-end technology focus, that is well aligned to the NDS, including the Prime position on B-21 ($50B+), pursuit of GBSD (~$85B), and acquisition of Orbital ATK (~$9B) for space. As such, inecting revenue and margin potential, along with portfolio shaping opportunities (via Technology Services), and an easing investment cycle support an attractive FCF yield come 2021 at ~7%. Sharpe, then, reiterates an Overweight rating on the weapons manufacturer, alongside a $449 price target. The figure implies further upside potential of 18.5%. Looking at the consensus breakdown, it appears the bulls have it. With 4 Buys and a single Hold, the word on the Street is that NOC is a Strong Buy. At $425.80, the average price target presents possible upside in the shape of 11.33%. (See Northrop stock analysis on TipRanks) Perspecta Inc (PRSP) Like the two previous companies on our list, Perspectas 2019 involved upward movement. A very healthy addition of 55% over the year has been followed with a further 7% year-to-date. What sets the government IT firm apart, according to Sharpe, is the outlook for the year ahead. Sharpe expects quarterly results to exhibit a sequential deceleration in topline growth to ~2%. The reason is mainly down to Perspectas loss of the NASA NEST program; last year the company lost out to Leidos for Nasas $2.9 billion enterprise IT contract. All eyes are now focused on whether Perspecta can hold onto its lucrative NGEN contract with the U.S. Navy Department. The contract will expire in September with formidable competitors General Dynamics and Leidos hoping to replace Perspecta. Losing the contract could cost the company 10-15% of revenues, driving FY21 growth rates negative and potentially pressuring margins due to cost absorption. Sharpe said, Our view for the company over the near- to mid-term highlights a number of challenges that contrast with the broader environment, where we see more attractive opportunities with lower risk. Firstly, PRSP has a signicant amount of concentration at a contract level, introducing elevated recompete risk to the prole that drives a particularly wide range of potential outcomes. In addition, the company has an elevated leverage prole that limits shareholder returns over the coming years as it focuses on paying down debt. Lastly, with respect to EBITDA, the company is earning mid-teen margins, in contrast to competitors at closer to HSD levels, indicating the company could be over earning. Sharpe, then, kept an Underweight rating on PRSP, along with his price target of $23. The implication? Possible downside of 19% over the next 12 months. The Streets take is slightly more positive. Perspectas Hold rating breaks down into a Buy, a Hold and a Sell, each. With the average price target coming in at $27.33, the analysts foresee downside of nearly 6% in the year ahead. (See Perspecta's price targets and analyst ratings on TipRanks) Order represents first entry into large new retail channel SAN CLEMENTE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 29, 2020 / Original Sprout, a wholly owned subsidiary of Concierge Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB:CNCG), today announced that its new Worry Free line of 100% vegan, non-toxic, family-oriented specialty products is now being sold through an exclusive relationship with a prominent nationwide retailer beginning with approximately 215 locations, to be followed by a planned ramp-up to more than 1,500 locations within the coming year. For more information on where to purchase Worry Free products, which include shampoo, conditioner, leave-in treatment, hair oil, and a restoring mist, please visit https://originalsprout.com/pages/worry-free. "The brand was developed expressly for retail distribution, while at the same time retaining our focus as a clean, dermatologist-tested, safe, effective, hypo-allergenic product collection, hence the name, "Worry Free,'" said Michael Ambacher, Original Sprout's General Manager and Chief Operating Officer. "It was our objective to provide families with an affordable, high quality line of hair care products that mirrors our long-established practice of formulating products made from a wonderful balance of natural extracts and oils, without all the harmful ingredients found in competing products. "As with other products manufactured by Original Sprout, each Worry Free product went through stringent "patch' testing. Each of the tests resulted in the best possible score, "zero,' meaning that all of the products tested showed to be 100% safe, with no sign of skin irritations," Ambacher said. "Since acquiring Original Sprout two years ago, our entry and transition to nationwide retail distribution has been at the forefront of our corporate growth initiatives. Moreover, we are delighted that Worry Free has been selected as an exclusive hair care collection, also affirming our retail partner's penchant for providing high quality products to its customers at affordable prices," added Nicholas Gerber, Concierge Technologies' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. About Original Sprout Original Sprout makes a complete line of safe and effective hair and body care products for the entire family. The company's vegan and cruelty-free products, all made in the U.S., are formulated with nourishing extracts from fruits, vegetables and flowers, without any irritants such as parabens and phthalates, or ingredients such as lavender and tea-tree oil, which have been linked to hormone disruption in children. Inga Tritt, a master hairstylist from Santa Barbara, established Original Sprout in 2003 when she was a new mom on the premise of making products with ingredients that were safe to use on the sensitive skin of her baby daughter, and that other mothers and fathers could trust. For more information, visit https://originalsprout.com/. About Concierge Technologies Concierge Technologies (OTCQB:CNCG) is a diversified global holding firm with operating subsidiaries in beauty products, financial services, food manufacturing and security systems. Offices and manufacturing operations are in the U.S., New Zealand and Canada. For more information, visit www.conciergetechnology.net. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" that include information relating to Concierge Technologies' and its subsidiaries' future events and future financial and operating performance. Such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the planned ramp-up of Original Sprout's new Worry Free product line, should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which that performance or those results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time they are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting Concierge Technologies or its subsidiary companies, and more detailed information about the individual operating entities, please refer to the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, which are available on the Company's website, (http://www.conciergetechnology.net), or at www.sec.gov. # # # For more information contact: Original Sprout: Mary Byrd, mary@originalsprout.com, 888-805-2229 Concierge Technologies: Roger Pondel, rpondel@pondel.com, 310-279-5980 SOURCE: Concierge Technologies, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/574440/Original-Sprouts-New-Worry-Free-Line-of-Hair-Care-Products-Begins-Limited-Exclusive-Release-at-Recognized-Nationwide-Retailer The Election Commission has set up 13,750 polling booths across the national capital for the Delhi assembly elections 2020. There are 1.46 crore voters in Delhi, 80.55 lakh and 66.35 lakh female. Polling in the Delhi assembly elections will take place on February 8, the results will be announced on February 11. The main competition in the Delhi Vidhan Sabha elections will be between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress and the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The Election Commission will deploy over 90,000 officials across the city for a smooth conduct of the Delhi assembly elections 2020. The filing of nominations for the elections ended on January 21. The scrutiny of documents will take place on January 22 and candidature can be withdrawn till January 24. In the 2015 Delhi polls, AAP got a thumping majority and bagged 67 of the 70 seats in the assembly. The BJP had managed to win just three seats, while Congress did not win any seat. To find out the polling booth in the Delhi Assembly Election 2020, voters need to follow the steps below: -- Voters need to visit the National Voters Services Portal (NSVP) official website nvsp.in. -- Once there, click on the Search in Electoral Roll option. -- Fill in the required details and press search. -- After this process is done, the electoral roll will appear along with the details, including that of the applicable polling booth. A voter can search for the polling booth on electoralsearch.in or use the Voter Helpline App, developed by the Election Commission, to find their polling booth. They can also call 1950, which is the voter helpline. It is important to add the STD code of your city before the number. For help regarding the polling station location, one needs to send an SMS space to 1950. At least 27 people, including a seven-year-old girl, have been killed in India after a speeding bus clattered into a rickshaw and plunged into a 60ft well. Emergency crews worked through the night in Nashik to help to haul the State Transport bus from the well and recover the bodies of the dead. Both the bus, which was carrying 42, and the rickshaw, packed with 10 occupants, plunged into the well on Tuesday evening. Emergency crews worked through the night in Nashik to help to haul the State Transport bus from the well and recover the bodies of the dead Thirty-two people were rushed to hospital for their injuries senior police officer Vasudev Desale said. News agency Press Trust of India reported a seven-year-old girl was among the dead. Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences on the deaths and hopes for speedy recovery of the injured. Onlookers gathering around the crumpled remains of an auto-rickshaw that crashed with a bus at Meshi Phata on the Malegaon Deola Road in Maharashtra's Nashik district A man walks past the wrangled remains of the bus after it was hauled from the well in Nashik, India 'The accident in Maharashtra's Nashik district is unfortunate. In this hour of sadness, my thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest.' The PM's office quoted Modi on Twitter. Deadly bus accidents are common in India. Around 150,000 people die every year on India's roads, often because of reckless driving, badly maintained roads and vehicles overcrowded with passengers. B ritish Airways has suspended flights to and from mainland China amid the coronavirus outbreak. The airline's decision comes after the Foreign Office warned against all but essential travel to the country. There have been more than 70 tests conducted for the virus in Britain, though all have come back negative. 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 In a statement, British Airways said: "We have suspended all flights to and from mainland China with immediate effect following advice from the Foreign Office against all but essential travel." The airline's website shows no direct flights to the country are available in January and February. "We apologise to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority," BA said in an emailed statement. "Customers due to travel to or from China in the coming days can find more information on BA.com." Medical staff at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital wear protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus / AFP via Getty Images Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic said its flights between Heathrow and Shanghai will continue to operate as scheduled, although passengers are able to rebook or obtain a refund free of charge. Transport in China has been limited as fears of the virus' spread grip the nation. Some 56 million people are reportedly on lock down in a bid to stop the spread. Evacuations from China have begun with US and Japanese nationals leaving the country, while Britons are expected to follow suit. Taking precautions: A health official checks a womans temperature on the underground in Beijing / Getty Images China has imposed travel restrictions between its major cities while all tour group companies' activities have been suspended to prevent further virus spread. The British embassy in Beijing said transport to get UK citizens out "may happen quickly and with short notice" - though it has been reported flights are due to begin on Thursday. The Foreign Office said UK nationals in China should "make decisions based on their own personal circumstances" over whether to leave. Coronavirus: Foreign Office warns against travel to China as UK nationals are set to return Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: "Due to the increasing travel restrictions and the public health situation, we now advise against all but essential travel to China. "We are also working urgently to finalise arrangements for an assisted departure from Hubei Province for British nationals this week, and are in contact with people in Hubei to ensure they register their interest and that we can keep them updated. B enjamin Netanyahu is pressing ahead with moves to annex parts of the West Bank amid rising anger among Palestinians over US President Donald Trumps Middle East peace plan. The blueprint sparked demonstrations and flag-burning in the city of Ramallah and the Gaza Strip last night after it was unveiled in Washington by Mr Trump and Israels prime minister. The plan, which runs to more than 180 pages, envisages a Palestinian state and the recognition of Israeli sovereignty over West Bank settlements. Jerusalem would remain Israels undivided capital, with the new Palestinian state given parts of the East Jerusalem suburbs as their capital. The integrity of Islamic holy sites on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is guaranteed. Crucially, the right to return of Palestinian refugees who fled in the war of 1947, from which Israel was born in 1948, is denied. The Palestinians would be offered investment of $50 billion (38 billion) for the new state. The Palestinian Authority was not consulted in drawing up the plan, which has been prepared by Jared Kushner, Mr Trumps son-in-law. In a rare show of unity, the two biggest Palestinian factions, Fatah and Hamas, met overnight to condemn the plan. Some Palestinians said it was a recipe for a new Intifada, or uprising, which would be the fourth in 30 years. Rejection: Mahmoud Abbas called the plan a "conspiracy" / AP Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas called the plan a conspiracy, and declared it will not pass. Officials of Hamas, the ruling authority in Gaza, said the document was worthless. Mr Netanyahu told reporters he will bring his plan to annex the Jordan Valley and West Bank settlements to a vote at a cabinet meeting on Sunday. At the entrance of the West Bank city of Ramallah / AFP via Getty Images Both he and Mr Trump are facing judicial proceedings. Impeachment hearings against Mr Trump are being held in the Senate, while Mr Netanyahu faces charges of bribery and corruption, and has announced that he is dropping claims to judicial immunity. Electoral manoeuvrings by both Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu lie behind the timing and shape of the announcement. It will please the vociferous evangelicals in the Trump camp. Mr Netanyahus Likud is gearing up for a general election in Israel on March 2, the third such vote inside a year. For the moment the Palestinians are not budging in refusing to countenance the plan. Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has appointed Basil Ford as the executive caretaker of the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA). Fords appointment follows the withdrawal of Newyear Ntuli from the position on 25 December 2019. As executive caretaker, Mr Ford will assume the roles of accounting authority and accounting officer. The Executive Caretakers appointment comes as the Minister is seized with the responsibility of reconfiguring the department and its entities; as well as ensuring the successful implementation of the Broadcasting Digital Migration (BDM) programme, said the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies. Ndabeni-Abrahams said Ford is a consummate professional in the broadcasting, media, and ICT space who brings with him a wealth of experience gained from both government and state-owned entities. Ford is a qualified engineer with a bachelors degree from Wits University. He also holds a BEng Honours from the University of Pretoria and an Executive Development Programme obtained from the Gordon Institute of Business Science. He worked for nearly two decades at the IDC, where he was responsible for investing in various companies in the media and broadcasting value chain, managing R2.3-billion worth of investments. Ford will serve in his new role for a 12-month period effective from 28 January 2020. Director HE Amjad Khan, whose "Gul Makai" based on Pakistani education activist and Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai is set to release Jan. 31, has got a fatwa from a Noida-based Muslim cleric for not showing respect to Quran. Khan shared that he has been getting many death threats since the beginning of the film. (IANS photo) The foreign companies building the pipeline all not part of Gazprom's project consortium were Finnish, Swedish, and Danish. Russia's state-owned Gazprom has said it will complete the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project under the Baltic Sea on its own without the help of foreign companies. "The Nord Stream 2 project, which is already 94 percent complete, will be finished by the Russian side," Gazprom deputy head Yelena Burmistrova reportedly told the European Gas Conference in Vienna on January 29, according to Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Read alsoEuropean Commission not to make any exceptions to energy rules for Nord Stream 2 Kuleba Last month, the United States imposed sanctions in the form of a cease-and-desist order for the foreign firms working on the Russia-to-Germany natural-gas pipeline project. That pushed back the timetable of its completion, with Russian officials having given various estimates of when it would go online from the end of 2020 to early 2021. It remains unclear how Gazprom would finish the project without international assistance. Options on the table, according to the Financial Times, include using vessels owned by Gazprom and other Russian pipe-laying contractors. The foreign companies building the pipeline all not part of Gazprom's project consortium were Finnish, Swedish, and Danish. The two most crucial companies facing sanctions were Swiss pipelayer and undersea construction firm Allseas, as well as Italian pipeline contractor Saipem. Upon completion and in addition to Gazprom's sister Nord Stream 1 pipeline, Russia technically won't be reliant on Ukraine's pipeline network for transiting gas to Europe. Chandigarh, Jan 29 : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday underlined the need for high-end precision detection equipment to check the use of drones by Pakistan to smuggle long-range weapons across the border. The issue came up for discussion during the meeting convened by the Chief Minister here with the ruling party MPs from both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. The Punjab Chief Minister expressed concern over the increase in the spate of activities by the ISI at the Punjab border in the wake of growing pressure in Jammu and Kashmir. Amarinder Singh said he had already flagged the issue with the Centre and had written to the Ministry of Home Affairs back in August 2019, when the first of instance of use of such drones came to light. He had expressed serious concern over the delivery of weapons through the drone like a long-range weapons consignment from across the Indo-Pak border, terming it a matter of national security concern. He had pointed out in his letter that various lands of contraband, including weapons, explosives and drugs, could be safely delivered via drones. During the meeting, the Chief Minister reiterated the need to prepare strategies for the development and installation of the required assets or infrastructure, such as radars, that can detect movement of different kinds of low flying conventional aerial platforms, such as UAVs and drones. Suitable counter-measures against the use of such drones would also need to be evolved, he stressed. Besides the MPs, the meeting was attended by state Congress President Sunil Jakhar and senior officials of the state government. CHARLEVOIX, MI - You could win the wedding of your dreams at this historic Michigan castle, which is one of the top wedding destinations in Michigan. Castle Farms is now taking entries for its 2020 military wedding giveaway. This is the seventh year of this contest. Pictured are Isabel and Louie, last years winners. Louie is attending medical school for the Army in Washington, D.C. and Isabel is finishing school at U of M. The 2020 winners receive everything, and we mean everything for the wedding: The free ceremony and reception for up to 150 guests at Castle Farms along with 16 different wedding vendors donating their services. Everything is included from catering to decor. How to enter: Michigan military couples can SUBMIT their stories online at the Castle Farms website. A private board will vote for the winning couple who will be announced on Valentines Day on February 14. To be eligible for the contest, a member of the couple must have served or is serving in any branch of the military and be a Michigan resident. Submissions will be accepted online until February 7. Related: We took a tour of historic Castle Farms. It is an honor to provide a couple who has undoubtedly sacrificed somethings in their relationship in order to serve the people of this county with a dream wedding," said Brittany Maggrett, Events Director at Castle Farms. "We, along with each vendor donating their time and services, are doing this as one way of showing our thanks and appreciation for all that our service members do for our country. The list of vendors includes: Inn at Bay Harbor, Top Tier Cakery, Otsego Grand Catering, Heart Wedding Decor, 307 Events, Sweet Seats, Thyme Hill Designs, ALH Beauty, Towns End Clydesdales & Carriage, Northern Michigan Ministers, Paxton Photography, Motion Booth, Eds DJ Service, FALL in Love Events and 97 Films. Related: Your ultimate Michigan travel bucket list: 50 places to visit in 2020. Contest rules: The contest is open to local couples where one or both are an active member or veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. All branches of the military are included: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, National Guard, Navy, and Reserves BREA, Calif., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing, LLC ("CAM") announced today that it entered into an agreement to be acquired by Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK). This transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. CAM designs and manufactures innovative, highly engineered hardware and fastener solutions for demanding aerospace applications worldwide. CAM is controlled by Tinicum L.P. and affiliated partnerships managed by Tinicum Incorporated. CAM's products include fasteners, fittings, couplings, latches, quick release pins, tubing subassemblies and other complex components and assembled products. The company was founded in 2012 and has consolidated eight businesses that each carry strong brands, industry leading technical expertise, deep customer relationships and over 40 years of history in providing industry-leading service and solutions to commercial aerospace and defense customers. "We specialize in collaborating with our customers to develop application-based solutions that satisfy their specific needs," said Peter George, CEO of CAM. "We have enjoyed tremendous support under the ownership of Tinicum, during which we invested heavily in upgrading the equipment and facilities of the businesses we integrated, in addition to strengthening our engineering and management resources. The CAM management team is grateful for the Tinicum partnership that was a central part of the company's growth. We are extremely pleased to be taking this next step of joining Stanley Black & Decker. Being part of such a capable industrial company will enable us to further expand our company's resources globally, including accelerating the development of new products and pursuing acquisitions, allowing us to better serve the needs of our customers." "Our team is excited about the prospect of welcoming CAM to the Stanley Black & Decker family to further diversify our Industrial business segment," said STANLEY Industrial President John Wyatt. "With its well-recognized brands, proven business model and experienced management team, CAM will play a significant role in the growth of our Industrial business and company overall." CAM was advised in the transaction by Lazard (lead financial advisor), Lincoln International (financial advisor), Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (lead legal counsel) and Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads LLP (legal counsel). About Stanley Black & Decker Stanley Black & Decker is a $14 billion revenue, purpose-driven industrial organization. With 58,000 employees in more than 60 countries, it operates the world's largest tools and storage business, the world's second largest commercial electronic security company, a leading engineered fastening business as well as Oil & Gas and Infrastructure businesses. For more information about Stanley Black and Decker visit www.stanleyblackanddecker.com About Tinicum Incorporated Tinicum is a private investment firm with more than 30 years of experience investing in private and public companies. Tinicum invests in businesses for the long term and seeks to partner with owners, families and managers who share a similar approach. For more information about Tinicum visit www.tinicum.com For more information about CAM visit www.camaerospace.com Contact: Media Steven Chevillotte [email protected] 714.833.2683 SOURCE Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing, LLC Kyrgyz Students Return Home From China, Being Checked For Coronavirus By RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service January 28, 2020 BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan says six university students have returned home from neighboring China and are going through medical checks, as governments scramble to control the spread of a new coronavirus that has killed more than 100 people in China. The six students from the Xinjiang University in China's northwestern city of Urumqi arrived on January 28 in Bishkek, where they are being kept in quarantine in separate isolated rooms, the Kyrgyz government said on January 28. Meanwhile, the chief physician of the Kyrgyz State Sanitary Center, Ryspek Sadygaliev, said a 28-year-old Bishkek resident who was hospitalized earlier with pneumonia symptoms, tested negative for the virus. Kyrgyzstan's main airports in Bishkek and the southern city of Osh are screening passengers for signs of infection. The death toll from the virus now stands at 106, with more than 4,500 cases confirmed across China and at least 16 other countries. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kyrgyz- students-return-home-from-china-being- checked-for-coronavirus/30402049.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia's RT television network said Wednesday that one of its journalists was seriously wounded while reporting on the Syrian government's retaking of the northwestern town of Maaret al-Numan. RT said Wafa Shabrouney, a correspondent with its Arabic channel, was reporting from an arms depot left behind by retreating rebel forces. "According to preliminary information, a shell exploded. According to her driver, Wafa is alive" but she "suffered serious injuries", the network, formerly known as Russia Today, said in a statement. It said she was being treated and had been transferred to a hospital in Hama. Syrian government forces recaptured Maaret al-Numan from jihadist and allied rebels on Wednesday, part of a major offensive to retake Idlib province. Backed by Russian forces, President Bashar al-Assad's regime has managed to retake control of most of the areas it lost since the outbreak of Syria's civil war in 2011. Financed by the Russian state and accused by critics of being the voice of the Kremlin, RT broadcasts in Russian, English, Spanish, Arabic and French. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A California couple who have been under suspicion of causing their four-year-old son's death have been indicted on torture and murder charges, more than six months after the toddler was found unresponsive in a pool. A grand jury returned the indictment against Jose Maria Cuatro Jr, 28, and Ursula Elaine Juarez, 25, on January 23 for one count each of murder and torture in the July 2019 death of their son, Noah Cuatro. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced the indictment against the couple on Tuesday, revealing in a press release that the boy's father also faces allegations that he had raped Noah before his death. California parents Jose Maria Cuatro Jr, 28, and Ursula Elaine Juarez, 25, have been indicted on one count each of murder and torture in the July 2019 death of their son, Noah Cuatro (left) The couple called 911 on July 5, saying their 4-year-old son nearly drowned in this pool in their Palmdale apartment complex The parents allegedly tortured Noah over the course of four months leading up to his killing In addition to murder and torture, Cuatro has been indicted on one count each of assault on a child causing death and sexual penetration with a child under the age of 10, while Juarez faces an additional count of child abuse under circumstances likely to cause death. Bail is recommended at $4million for Cuatro and $3million for Juarez. Both parents are expected to be arraigned on February 19. According to a press release's from the district attorney's office, Cuatro and Juarez are both accused of killing their son on July 5, 2019, at the apartment in Palmdale. 'Jose Cuatro allegedly sexually assaulted his son on the same date,' the statement read. Over the course of four months leading up to Noah's killing, the parents allegedly tortured the child, according to the indictment. Cuatro and Juarez took him to the hospital on the afternoon on July 5, claiming that he had nearly drowned in their apartment complex swimming pool. The indictment alleges that Cuatro sexually assaulting his toddler son (left and right) on the day he died. The father faces a count of sexual penetration with a child under the age of 10 But medical staff soon became suspicious after they found signs of trauma on the four-year-old's body. Noah died at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles the next day. Just days after his death, Noah's great-grandmother, Eva Hernandez, spoke with multiple news outlets telling reporters that Noah had been taken from his parents' care a number of times, beginning when he was just a baby. He supposedly spent the first few months of his life in and out of foster care before Hernandez was able to gain custody of him. She cared for him for six months until Noah was allowed to return to his parents' care. But just a year later, Jose and Ursula lost custody once more with officials determining that Noah had been neglected. Police documents claim that he was so malnourished that he couldn't walk. Great-grandmother Eva Hernandez previously said Noah had been in and out of foster care since he was born, and that he begged her in 2018 not to return to his parents Juarez, a mother-of-three, faces an additional count of child abuse under circumstances likely to cause death in Noah's killing After another stay in foster care, Hernandez cared for him for two years until November 2018 when he pleaded not to go back to his parents. 'I told the social workers, "Please, he doesn't want to leave. He wants to stay here. He begged me",' Hernandez told KTLA. 'He would hold on to me and say, "Don't send me back, grandma." I don't know. I couldn't do anything. I just had to send him back.' Noah was returned to his parents again last November, and Hernandez cried that by the time she saw him again six months later, the little boy was clearly in need of help. Between March and April 2019, several reports of suspected child abuse involving Noah came to light, with one report claiming that the child had gone to the hospital with bruises on his back. The following month, a caseworker filed a 26-page request to again remove Noah from Jose and Ursula's custody, following accusations the boy's father had kicked Ursula and their children in public. Even though a judge granted the request, Noah was never returned to foster care. The deceased boy's two-year-old sister and infant brother have been removed from their parents' care. If convicted at trial, Cuatro faces up to 47 years to life in state prison and Juarez could be looking at up to 32 years to life in prison. * Ringgit, rupee gain about 0.2% each * Baht stays flat after GDP forecast cut * U.S. Fed meeting outcome awaited (Adds text, updates prices) By Aby Jose Koilparambil Jan 29 (Reuters) - Most Asian currencies firmed slightly on Wednesday, recovering from falls in the previous session, but worries over the likely economic impact from the coronavirus outbreak in China lingered. Nerves in the market were calmed to some extent after the World Health Organisation and Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed confidence in Beijing's ability to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. The outbreak, which started in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, has killed 132 people and infected nearly 6,000 so far in China. "Global markets tend to rebound after such outbreaks, provided that the toll exerted on the global economy is not too damaging," Han Tan, market analyst at brokerage FXTM, said in a note. "A meaningful recovery in the markets, however, could be months away." Investors now await the outcome of the U.S. Federal Reserve meeting later in the day where the Fed is expected to reiterate its desire to keep rates unchanged at least through this year. "This status quo fits into the big picture of the Fed playing it cool given that 'insurance cuts' have been front-loaded and the economy is in a 'good place'," Vishnu Varathan of Mizuho Bank said in a note. The Malaysian ringgit and the Indian rupee gained about 0.2% each. The South Korean won firmed 0.2% after slipping to its weakest level in three weeks in the previous session. The won gained despite a Reuters poll showing exports are expected to fall at a faster pace in January, mainly due to fewer working days on account of the Lunar New Year holiday and amid concerns over the economic impact of the coronavirus. The Singapore dollar, the Philippine peso and the Indonesian rupiah were flat. In the offshore market, the yuan strengthened 0.14% at 6.9555 per dollar. China's onshore markets are closed for the Lunar New Year holiday and will resume trading on Feb. 3. Taiwan's financial markets remained closed for holidays. BAHT FLAT The Thai baht remained little changed after the finance ministry cut its 2020 economic growth forecast to 2.8% from a 3.3% projection three months ago, mainly due to weaker exports. The baht, the region's worst performer so far this year, has fallen more than the offshore yuan since Jan. 21, when markets first reacted to the coronavirus outbreak. Thai authorities have forecast an 18% drop in visitor arrivals for China this year due to the virus. CURRENCIES VS U.S. DOLLAR Currency Latest bid Previous day Pct Move Japan yen 109.140 109.13 -0.01 Sing dlr 1.358 1.3576 -0.04 Korean won 1175.600 1176.7 +0.09 Baht 30.880 30.88 +0.00 Peso 50.750 50.71 -0.08 Rupiah 13625.000 13630 +0.04 Rupee 71.203 71.33 +0.17 Ringgit 4.078 4.085 +0.17 Change so far in 2020 Currency Latest bid End 2019 Pct Move Japan yen 109.140 108.61 -0.49 Sing dlr 1.358 1.3444 -1.01 Taiwan dlr 30.006 30.106 +0.33 Korean won 1175.600 1156.40 -1.63 Baht 30.880 29.91 -3.14 Peso 50.750 50.65 -0.20 Rupiah 13625.000 13880 +1.87 Rupee 71.203 71.38 +0.25 Ringgit 4.078 4.0890 +0.27 Yuan 6.937 6.9632 +0.38 (Reporting by Aby Jose Koilparambil in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu) By Se Young Lee and Stephanie Nebehay BEIJING/GENEVA (Reuters) - Foreign governments flew their citizens out of the epicentre of China's coronavirus outbreak on Wednesday, as the number of deaths jumped to 133 and the World Health Organization voiced "grave concern" about person-to-person spread in three other countries. The WHO said its Emergency Committee would reconvene behind closed doors on Thursday to decide whether the rapid spread of the new virus from China now constitutes a global emergency. "In the last few days the progress of the virus especially in some countries, especially human-to-human transmission, worries us," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference in Geneva, naming Germany, Vietnam and Japan. "Although the numbers outside China are still relatively small, they hold the potential for a much larger outbreak." There have been 6,065 cases of the flu-like virus in 15 countries worldwide - all but around 70 in China - according to the latest WHO figures. All the deaths so far have been in China, where the National Health Commission said there had been 132 fatalities as of end-Tuesday. Another death was reported in Sichuan province on Wednesday. The situation remained "grim and complex", said Chinese President Xi Jinping, who on Tuesday had vowed to defeat the "devil" virus. U.S. President Donald Trump said he had spoken to Xi and his administration was working closely with China on containing the outbreak. Some major airlines suspended flights to China, and a senior economist predicted a major impact on growth. The WHO's panel of 16 independent experts twice last week declined to declare an international emergency, but will re-evaluate the situation on Thursday. "We are at an important juncture in this event. We believe these chains of transmission can still be interrupted," said Mike Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO's Health Emergencies Programme. Story continues Ryan also praised China's response, saying: "They are taking extraordinary measures in the face of what is an extraordinary challenge." STREETS DESERTED In many Chinese cities, streets were largely deserted. Tourist attractions were closed, while Starbucks coffee shops required people to have their temperatures taken and to wear masks. "It's my first time here in Asia, I feel very unlucky," said Brazilian tourist Amanda Lee, 23, cutting short a trip. "I couldn't even see the places I wanted, like the Great Wall." Almost all the deaths so far have been in the central province of Hubei, home to about 60 million people and now under virtual lockdown. The virus emerged last month in a live wild animal market in the provincial capital Wuhan. "I was extremely worried that I was stuck there," said Takeo Aoyama, who arrived in Tokyo on a chartered plane carrying 206 Japanese out of Wuhan as some governments began evacuating their citizens. The United States flew about 210 Americans out of Wuhan, to be screened several times on arrival in California. France said a first flight of French nationals would leave on Wednesday night and Britain said it would put 200 citizens on a charter plane on Thursday. Canada was also organising evacuations. The virus is weighing heavily on the world's second-biggest economy, with companies cutting corporate travel to China and tourists cancelling trips. Various airlines are cutting flights, from British Airways and Lufthansa to Tanzania's national carrier that postponed maiden flights. A government economist said the crisis could cut China's first quarter growth by one point to 5% or lower as the crisis hits sectors from mining to luxury goods. Hong Kong stocks took a beating on the first day of trading after the Lunar New Year break. Casino and financial stocks led the Hang Seng index 2.5% lower to a seven-month trough. "In our view, the worst is yet to come," securities firm Nomura said, warning of a severe, near-term blow to China's economy. 'LESS DEADLY THAN SARS' But in a potentially major step towards finding a vaccine, scientists in Australia said they had developed a lab-grown version of the virus, the first recreated outside China. The researchers at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity said they would share the sample, grown from an infected patient, with the WHO and global laboratories in the hope of hastening immunisation and detection. The number of cases of the new virus in China now exceeds the 5,327 that were infected with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which also originated in China and killed about 800 people globally in 2002 and 2003. While some experts believe the new strain, known as "2019-nCoV", is not as deadly as SARS, alarm has grown over its rapid spread and many unknown attributes. "There have been more cases in China, but so far with a lower death rate than the SARS outbreak," said Michael Head, a health researcher at Britain's University of Southampton. Like other respiratory infections, the new virus is spread by droplets from coughs and sneezes, with an incubation time between one and 14 days. (Reporting by Cheng Leng in Shanghai, Se Young Lee, Lusha Zhang, Gabriel Crossley, Tony Munroe, Huizhong W, Judy Hua, Nanlin Fang and Joyce Zhou in Beijing and Stephanie Nebehay and Emma Farge in Geneva; Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations, Matthias Blamont in Paris, Akira Tomoshige in Tokyo, Kate Kelland in London, Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Writing by Robert Birsel, Andrew Cawthorne and Alex Richardson; Editing by Clarence Fernandez, Nick Macfie and Hugh Lawson) The writer Alice Taylor may not wish to be recognised as a prophet in her own land but her warning that a wave of unfriendliness is descending on Irish people has an undeniable, and sad, ring of truth about it. She warns that this once friendly country, often so friendly that visitors imagined us insane or intrusive or occasionally both is less engaging, more remote, and far colder than it once was. Neither lawyer has been called to testify in the trial, which may conclude with or without witnesses, as senators argue over whether former national security adviser John Bolton and others should testify after leaked revelations from Boltons forthcoming book. But as senators get their first opportunity to query the managers and Trumps legal team, there is a push to demand a reckoning from those who have played a role in the third impeachment in U.S. history, as the parties try to give each side a chance to repeat their best points or offer rebuttals. Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah on Wednesday asked AAP leader and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to take "a dip in the Yamuna to realise the condition of its water." Shah, while addressing an election rally here at Najafgarh, said: "They (AAP) had said that they will clean the water of river Yamuna. Kejriwal Ji, today I challenge you to take off your shirt and take a dip in river Yamuna. You will realise the condition of the water of the river Yamuna." Hitting out at the AAP, he said: "They (AAP) had said they will purify the air of Delhi. They did drama, printed advertisements, but if anyone is responsible for the level of pollution in Delhi today, then it is the inactivity of Kejriwal government. Delhi's air has got poisonous." The Union Home Minister also accused Kejriwal-led government of not giving the permission to proceed with the case against Omar Khalid and others in the JNU sloganeering controversy incident. "Yesterday we caught Sharjeel (Imam) from Bihar. He said -- Bharat Ke Tukde Kar Do...When slogans of 'Bharat Tere Tukde Ho Ek Hajar' were raised in JNU...We put Kanhaiya Kumar and Omar Khalid in jail. Kejriwal's government did not give permission to proceed with the case since they fear vote bank. I once again want to ask Kejriwal if he wants to give permission to proceed with the case or not...tell this to the people of Delhi," he said. Delhi goes to assembly polls on February 8. 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.) Ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda will hold three rallies each in the capital today. Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal will also hold roadshows at Rajinder Nagar, Hari Nagar, Shakur Basti and Moti Nagar today. The Assembly elections in Delhi are scheduled to take place on February 8. The votes will be counted on February 11. In 2015 Assembly polls, the Aam Aadmi Party had registered a landslide victory by winning 67 out of a total of 70 seats. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump will visit Michigan workers to celebrate Wednesdays signing of a revised North American Free Trade Agreement replacing what he called the worst trade deal ever made." The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement replaces a 1994 deal widely criticized for allowing companies to move their manufacturing facilities across the southern U.S. border to take advantage of cheaper labor. The White House says the new deal will create a more balanced, reciprocal trade environment that supports high-paying jobs for Americans and Michiganders in particular. After NAFTAs adoption more than 25 years ago, the United States lost nearly one-fourth of all of its manufacturing jobs, including more than one in five vehicle manufacturing jobs, Trump said. Entire communities were devastated from Ohio to Pennsylvania to Michigan to Maine. The deal is expected to create 176,000 new jobs and add $68.2 billion to the economy, according to the White House. Trump touted its benefits for Michigans car production and agriculture industries and will visit a Warren auto parts supplier to celebrate the key policy victory on Thursday. Two decades of politicians ran for office vowing to replace the NAFTA -- and this was a catastrophe: the NAFTA catastrophe, Trump said Wednesday. Yet once elected, they never even tried. They never even gave it a shot. They sold out. But Im not like those other politicians, I guess, in many ways. I keep my promises, and Im fighting for the American worker. The president campaigned heavily on scrapping NAFTA during the 2016 election. Trump called NAFTA and the now-dead Trans-Pacific Partnership a disaster for Michigan and other manufacturing-heavy Midwest states he would go on to win. Trumps Thursday visit will bring him to Macomb County, one of the key swing areas that helped him win Michigan in 2016. Voters in Macomb County had supported former Democratic President Barack Obama in the two previous elections, but the area flipped for Trump by a large margin. The largest employers in the county are Michigans Big Three automakers -- General Motors Co., Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Ford Motor Co. Legislation implementing the USMCA received bipartisan support in Congress, and Michigans representatives on both sides of the aisle applauded the deal in statements released Wednesday. However, businesses were kept waiting for most of 2019 while negotiations between Democratic lawmakers and the Trump administration unfolded. Trump had threatened to leave NAFTA before the new deal was in place, creating some uncertainty in the business community. Detroit Chamber of Commerce CEO Sandy Baruah said businesses delayed plans for expansion and chilled future investments after the president announced he would scrap NAFTA. Baruah said Michigan businesses are breathing a sigh of relief now that the long-awaited replacement deal is finalized. Regardless of who you are in the business community, or what you may think of Donald Trump, the business community is somewhere between relieved and excited that USMC has finally turned the corner, Baruah said. It really provides the certainty that businesses, especially the auto community, need to plan and invest going forward. Canada and Mexico purchase more exports from Michigan than the rest of the world combined, The two countries bought nearly $35 billion in Michigan goods in 2018, according to the Michigan Manufacturing Association. USMCA is expected to create up to 76,000 new auto jobs, spur $34 billion in new investment in the auto industry, and add $23 billion in auto parts purchases annually, according to the White House. Automobiles must have 75% of their components manufactured in North America, increasing the 62.5% standard under NAFTA. American agricultural exports are expected to increase by $2.2 billion, and Canada has agreed to expand market access for American dairy, egg, and poultry producers. Baruah said the new deal is essentially a modernized version of the previous agreement, a NAFTA 2.0 as some have called it. It also includes new protections for intellectual property and technical improvements to address e-commerce issues. A group of House Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, said Trump isnt the sole architect of the trade agreement. Democratic lawmakers said the deal wouldnt have passed without tweaks made during a lengthy negotiation process last year. Dingell said replacing NAFTA is long overdue. Manufacturing facilities in her district west of Detroit still sit empty after good-paying jobs were moved across the border to Mexico, she said. Dingell said the USMCA has significant improvements over the previous trade agreement and begins to level the playing field with workers in Mexico by raising wages. The USMCA requires 40 to 45 percent of automobile parts to be built by workers who earn at least $16 an hour and includes provisions to hold Mexico accountable for labor standards. Mexico also committed to expanding access to unions for its workers. However, Dingell said the deal wont undo the deep damage thats been done to American workers since NAFTA was passed. Its not just going to uproot factories from overseas and bring them back home, Dingell said Wednesday. We have to keep investing in workers. Baruah said the cost of labor isnt the only reason businesses move their facilities. One of the reasons many companies decide to manufacture vehicles in Mexico is due to the countrys free trade agreements with other countries, he said. You dont see many Silverados driving around the streets of Tokyo or London, those vehicles are still made in the United States because theyre domestically consumed, Baruah said. When you look at cars that are sold globally, a great example would have been the Chevy Cruze, which they no longer sell the United States but they still sell globally. They make a lot of those Mexico just because theyre easy to export to other parts of the world. Trump also celebrated recent investments announced by automakers in Michigan during the USMCA signing Wednesday. General Motors announced plans to invest $2.2 billion transform its Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly, which had been set to idle this year, into a new state-of-the-art electric vehicle factory. Ford Motor Co. plans to invest $1.5 billion in its Wayne and Dearborn assembly plants. 'I expect to see the president and Vice President Pence and all their surrogates in the state a lot," Baruah said. Michigan is going to be a battleground. I think were going to be a popular stop over the next several months by all the candidates, so get ready. Read more on MLive: Trump to visit Michigan auto parts supplier in Warren Michigan Congressional delegation applauds deal to finalize USMCA Michigan House Democrats push for vote on revised USMCA by end of 2019 Damascus, Jan 29 : The Syrian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday condemned the peace plan put forward by US President Donald Trump, saying it represents a surrender to Israel. In a statement, the ministry said it condemns the so-called "Deal of the Century" that was announced on Tuesday by Trump. "The latest US plan showed the clear alliance between the US and the Zionist entity and their enmity to the Arab nation," the ministry said. It added that the US policies in the region are designed to serve Israel and its expansionist schemes in the region. Trump on Tuesday revealed the long-awaited political aspect of his Middle East peace plan, a proposal that has already been repeatedly refused by the Palestinians. Trump also reiterated his administration's recognition of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights of Syria as an Israeli territory, a recognition that has been repeatedly condemned by Syria. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 20:15:02|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close PARIS, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- France has welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump's latest plan to end the decades-long conflict between Israel and Palestine, adding it would study the U.S. proposals closely, the country's foreign ministry said on Wednesday. "France welcomes President Trump's efforts and will carefully study the peace plan he has presented, while remaining attentive to respecting and taking into account the legitimate aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians," the ministry said in a statement. It recalled Paris' "conviction that the two-state solution, in accordance with international law and internationally agreed parameters, is necessary for the establishment of a fair and lasting peace in the Middle East." At a White House ceremony attended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump announced on Tuesday a plan that would allow the creation of a Palestinian state with a capital in parts of East Jerusalem, while Jerusalem would remain Israel's undivided, sovereign capital. Under the proposed plan, the United States would recognize Israeli settlements on the occupied West Bank. In exchange, Israel would agree to a four-year freeze on new settlement activities during the negotiation over Palestinian statehood parameters. Brokered by the United States, the last direct peace negotiations between Palestine and Isreal stopped in April 2014, as the rival camps failed to come to an agreement due to differences on major issues like settlement, security, borders and the recognition of a Palestinian state. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed into law a major rewrite of the rules of trade with Canada and Mexico, celebrating the fulfillment of one of his top campaign promises while declining to share the moment with Democratic lawmakers whose support was essential to getting it over the finish line. Trump said renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement was probably the No. 1 reason that I decided to lead this crazy life that Im leading right now. Today, were finally ending the NAFTA nightmare, Trump said in a ceremony on the South Lawn. The event featured hundreds of business and farm leaders from around the country and scores of Republican officials. No Democratic members of Congress were on the White House guest list. Trade experts say the impact of the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement will be modest. Canada and Mexico already represent the top two export markets for U.S. goods. The independent U.S. International Trade Commission last year calculated that the deal would add 0.35%, or $68 billion, to economic growth and generate 176,000 jobs over six years. Thats not much of a change for a $22 trillion economy with 152 million nonfarm jobs. Its a blip, said Syracuse University economist Mary Lovely, who studies trade. The main thing is what it isnt: It isnt a continuation of uncertainty, and it isnt a major disruption to business. The new pact, along with the signing of a phase one agreement with China, dials down trade tensions that have contributed to slowing economic growth globally. It also gave the president a chance to at least briefly shift the focus in Washington, where Trumps impeachment trial has occupied center stage for weeks. I keep my promises and Im fighting for the American worker, Trump said. Still, Trump couldnt resist making a few indirect references to impeachment in his remarks. He noted, for example, that Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, was headed back to the Capitol to ask questions at the trial. Hes got some beauties, Ill bet, Trump said. The leaders of the U.S., Canada and Mexico signed the deal in late 2018. But it still faced a long road to ratification. Legislation implementing it received overwhelming, bipartisan support in Congress after several months of behind-the-scenes negotiations between Democratic lawmakers and the Trump administration. Trump made a point of praising Republican legislators for their work in passing the deal. He singled out one Republican lawmaker after another during the ceremony, those from farm states, those from battleground states in tight reelection races, and of course, GOP leadership. Trump did not mention the role of Democrats, but they said that even if they werent at the signing ceremony, their influence was being felt. What the president will be signing is quite different from what the president sent us, said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. We were able to make vast improvements. If we werent, we would not have been able to pass the bill. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, chairman of a House trade panel, said inviting Democratic lawmakers to the ceremony would have underscored the inadequacies of the presidents initial agreement and the fact that Democrats made the agreement possible. Its a clear illustration of how Trump operates with division, hyper-partisanship, and childishness. said Blumenauer, D-Ore. The White House did not immediately respond to a question about whether any Democrats were invited to the ceremony. NAFTA, which took effect in 1994 under President Bill Clinton, tore down trade barriers between the three North American countries and commerce between them surged. But Trump and other critics said NAFTA encouraged factories to leave the United States and relocate south of the border to take advantage of low-wage Mexican labor. Trump threatened to leave NAFTA if he couldnt get a better deal, creating uncertainty over regional trade. His trade negotiator, Robert Lighthizer, pressed for a revamped pact designed to bring factory jobs back to the United States. The new agreement, for example, requires automakers to get 75% of their production content (up from 62.5% in NAFTA) from within North America to qualify for the pacts duty-free benefits. That means more auto content would have to come from North America, not imported more cheaply from China and elsewhere. At least 40% of vehicles would also have to originate in places where workers earn at least $16 an hour. That would benefit the United States and Canada not Mexico, where auto assembly workers are paid a fraction of that amount. Lighthizer worked behind the scenes to strike an agreement that ended up being endorsed by the AFL-CIO and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Democrats successfully pushed to strike language allowing countries or companies to avoid sanctions simply by refusing to participate in dispute-settlement panels. They also insisted on ensuring enforcement of provisions intended to protecting workers from intimidation and violence, and they pressed for a committee that will monitor Mexicos labor reforms. The Democrats also won a significant concession from the administration on drug prices. Gone is what Democrats considered a giveaway to the pharmaceutical industry: a provision that offered expensive biologic drugs, which are made from living cells, 10 years of protection from cheaper knockoff competition. Lighthizer noted that trade agreements since NAFTA generally have passed with increasingly narrow majorities and often along party lines. He thanked Republicans and Democrats, who worked so hard on this agreement. The House voted 385-41 for the bill, with 193 Democrats among those supporting it. The margin in the Senate was 89-10. Critics include environmental groups concerned that the agreement does not address global warming. Some conservatives say the agreement will make cars and other products more expensive for consumers. The president wont waste any time highlighting the deal in battleground states that will determine who wins this years presidential election. He planned to be in Michigan on Thursday, where some of the states auto workers should benefit from a deal that encourages more manufacturing in the United States. _____ Associated Press writer Andrew Taylor and Deb Riechmann contributed to this report. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are crucial to Google and its parent company Alphabet. Recently promoted Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has been talking about an "AI-first world" since 2016, and the company uses the technology across many of its businesses, from search advertising to self-driving cars. But regulators are expressing concern about the growing power and lack of understanding about how AI works and what it can do. The European Union is exploring new AI regulation, including a possible temporary ban on the use of facial recognition in public, and New York Rep. Carolyn Maloney, who chairs the House Oversight and Reform Committee, recently suggested that AI regulation could be on the way in the U.S., too. Pichai recently called for "clear-eyed" AI regulation amid a rise in fake videos and abuse of facial recognition technology. Against this backdrop, the company held an event Tuesday to showcase the positive side of AI by showing some of the long-term projects the company is working on. "Right now, one of the problems in machine learning is we tend to tackle each problem separately," said Jeff Dean, head of Google AI, at Google's San Francisco offices Tuesday. "These long arcs of research are really important to pick fundamental important problems and continue to make progress on them." While most of Google's projects are still years out from broad use, Dean said they are important in moving Google products along. Here's a sampling of some of the company's more speculative and long-term AI projects: [January 29, 2020] INKY Selected as Finalist for RSA Conference 2020 Innovation Sandbox Contest COLLEGE PARK, Md., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- INKY Technology Corporation, an anti-phishing startup, has been named one of 10 finalists for the RSA Conference 2020 Innovation Sandbox Contest for its work on solving the systemic phishing attack epidemic. On Monday, February 24, INKY will present its cybersecurity technology to a panel of renowned industry judges and a live audience at RSA Conference 2020 in San Francisco. Since 2005, the RSAC Innovation Sandbox has served as a platform for the most promising young cybersecurity companies to showcase their groundbreaking technologies and compete for the title of "Most Innovative Startup." The competition is widely recognized as a catapult for success, as the top 10 finalists have collectively seen 48 acquisitions and $5.2 billion in funding over the last 15 years. INKY will have three minutes to pitch the panel of judges before a question-and-answer round. "The cybersecurity industry faces constant changes and challenges, and we need bold thinkers like the companies represented at RSAC Innovation Sandbox to drive the industry forward and protect the world against new threats," said Linda Martin Gray, Senior Director and General Manager, RSA Conference. "We are always blown away by the caliber of ideas presented on stage, and perhaps even more exciting, the impact the companies and the bright minds behind them ultimately make on the world after the Conference concludes." INKY leverages the power of unique computer vision, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and advanced visualization techniques to identify even the most well-disguised types of phishing attacks. The company's flagship anti-phishing solution, INKY Phish Fence sits behind the legacy Secure Email Gateways (SEGs) and is able to provide real-world statistics on the amount of bad emails that get through the defenses of legacy email security systems. "As the only anti-phishing solution chosen for the RSAC Innovation Sandbox, INKY's distinct approach to leveraging computer vision to "see" wha legacy email providers let through has created immense interest in the market," said Dave Baggett, Co-Founder & CEO of INKY. " This acknowledgement of the company's innovation continues to validate we are taking the right approach to a very serious problem." The RSAC Innovation Sandbox Contest kicks off at 1:30 p.m. PT on February 24 and winners will be announced at 4:30 p.m. that same day. Dr. Herbert (Hugh) Thompson, Program Committee Chair of RSA Conference, will return to host the contest. The panel of renowned expert judges includes Asheem Chandna, Partner, Greylock Partners; Scott Darling, President, Dell Technologies Capital; Dorit Dor, VP Products, Check Point Software Technologies; Patrick Heim, , Partner and CISO ClearSky; and Paul Kocher, Researcher and Entrepreneur. For more information regarding RSA Conference 2020, taking place at the Moscone Center in San Francisco from February 24-28, please visit https://www.rsaconference.com/usa. About INKY Headquartered in College Park, Maryland, INKY leads the industry in mail protection powered by unique computer vision, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. The company's flagship product, INKY Phish Fence, uses these novel techniques to "see" each email much like a human does, to block phishing attacks that get through every other system. INKY founder Dave Baggett also co-founded ITA Software, the industry-leading airfare search company purchased by Google in 2011 for $730M, which now powers Google Flights. For more information, please visit https://INKY.com/. About RSA Conference RSA Conference is the premier series of global events and on-demand programs where the world talks security and leadership gathers, advances and emerges. Whether attending in the US, the EMEA region, the Asia-Pacific region or online, RSA Conference events are where the security industry converges to discuss current and future concerns and get access to the people, content and ideas that help enable individuals and companies to win, grow and do their best. It's about bringing all people in the cybersecurity industry together and empowering the collective "we" of the cybersecurity industry to stand against cyberthreats around the world. RSA Conference is the ultimate marketplace for the latest technologies and hands-on educational opportunities that help industry professionals discover how to make their companies more secure while showcasing the most enterprising, influential and thought-provoking thinkers and leaders in security today. For information on events, online programming and the most up-to-date news pertaining to the cybersecurity industry visit www.rsaconference.com. RSA Conference logo, RSA, Dell, EMC, Dell EMC and other trademarks are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks may be trademarks of their respective owners. Media Contact Lisa Ackerson | VP, Marketing, INKY [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/inky-selected-as-finalist-for-rsa-conference-2020-innovation-sandbox-contest-300995079.html SOURCE INKY [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Winona County Sheriffs Office Tuesday 9:08 p.m.: Austin John Presson, 25, of Winona was arrested and charged with third-degree criminal damage to property after being found throwing eggs at police squad cars in the parking lot of the Winona Police Department. Presson refused to answer any police questions and threatened to throw a brick through a squad windshield when he was released from custody. Presson is being charged separately by both the Winona County Sheriffs Office and the Winona Police Department for third-degree criminal damage to property. President Trump Delivers Remarks at the Pentagon, Image Source: Flickr President Trumps lawyers are poised to wrap up their defense in the Senate impeachment trial Tuesday as pressure increased on Republicans to allow witnesses to testify after the revelations about Ukraine leaked from former national security adviser John Boltons book. During its arguments Monday, the White House legal team featuring presentations from Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz and Ken Starr, the independent counsel who headed the investigation that led to President Bill Clintons impeachment picked apart the House managers case against Trump. Starr warned senators of the dire consequences of conviction for the nation and the government. Those of us who lived through the Clinton impeachment, including members of this body, full well understand that a presidential impeachment is tantamount to domestic war, but thankfully protected by our beloved First Amendment, a war of words and a war of ideas. But its filled with acrimony, and it divides the country like nothing else, Starr said. Those of us who lived through the Clinton impeachment understand that in a deep and personal way. Dershowitz directly addressed the allegations in Boltons unpublished book in the context of the impeachment trial. Nothing in the Bolton revelations, even if true, would rise to the level of an abuse of power or an impeachable offense. That is clear from the history. That is clear from the language of the Constitution, he said. You cannot turn conduct that is not impeachable into impeachable conduct simply by using words like quid pro quo and personal benefit. Courtesy of Pierce Manufacturing The wheels keep turning for the West University Fire Department as Fire Chief Aaron Taylor submitted a proposal Monday night for an upgraded fire truck that would replace their second in line 1995 Pierce Arrow Pumper. The new fire apparatus, costing approximately $750,000, will serve as the departments first-in-line pumper, moving their current first-line truck, a 2007 Pierce Pumper, to reserve status. The Samsung Galaxy S20 family of devices may not be out yet, but if you need cases for your phones then Totallee has you covered. Its already got cases up for the Galaxy S20, the Galaxy S20+, and the Galaxy S20 Ultra. All of the cases are the same cost regardless of model type too, so you wont pay more for the Ultra version than you will for the standard version. All the cases also come in the same colors. So the options are basically the same. This includes a matte black, and a transparent color. Though, considering the recent leak of the colors for the Galaxy S20 family, you may want to pick the clear case if you get either the Blue or Pink phones. Advertisement Each of the Galaxy S20 cases from Totallee will cost $35 So whats Totallee asking for one of these Galaxy S20 cases? $35. Yep. For under $40 you can pick up an ultra thin case for Samsungs soon to be newest phone that should be releasing later in February. Now, you might think that $35 is a lot for a case thats this thin. And you might think that it offers less protection than something beefy and bulky from Otterbox. And, it will offer less protection. But stronger cases typically cost upwards of $50. And Totallee isnt trying to market this as a super strong case that will protect it from any drop you could imagine. Its designed to be thin. So that it fits easily in your pockets and still looks good without taking anything away from the beauty of the phones design. Advertisement So in that respect the price of $35 seems to be right on par with what you can expect from most cases that are designed to be this way. Most of the cases will ship on February 11 You can technically buy the cases right now. Theyre all up for pre-order on the Totallee website. And it seems that all of them will ship on February 11. Save for one. The Matte Black case for the Galaxy S20. This is listed as shipping on February 25, so itll be a little bit longer before it shows up at your door step. Advertisement That being said, February 25 could be the date that Samsung releases the phone for purchase outside of a pre-order. All of the cases will ship within one business day too. So when they do begin shipping on their respective dates, customers shouldnt have to wait too long before they actually arrive. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tracy Rucinski, Josh Horwitz and Heekyong Yang (Reuters) Chicago/Shanghai/Seoul Wed, January 29, 2020 11:31 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2061775f9 2 News Airlines,China,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,outbreak,virus,Facebook,HSBC,Cathay-Pacific,EVA-Air,United-Airlines,Honda-Motor,Nissan Free Airlines including United Airlines Holdings Inc said they were canceling some flights to China as demand fell sharply and global companies told their employees not to travel on deepening fears over the spread of a flu-like virus. The coronavirus that originated in the city of Wuhan has killed 106 people in China and spread across the world, rattling financial markets. The United States warned that Americans should reconsider visiting China, while Britain advised against all but essential travel to mainland China. South Korea also advised its citizens to stay away. Facebook Inc became the first major US company to announce a travel suspension after the US government's warning, saying it had asked employees to halt non-essential travel to mainland China and to work from home if they had traveled there. Chicago-based United said it was suspending 24 US flights to Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai between Feb. 1 and Feb. 8 due to a significant drop in demand. Europe's biggest bank, HSBC Holdings PLC, banned all staff travel to Chinese-ruled Hong Kong for two weeks and to mainland China until further notice, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters. The British-based lender, which has the largest presence among foreign banks in China, also asked staff who have recently visited the country to undergo a self-imposed 14-day quarantine. The virus has an incubation period of up to 14 days. US rival Goldman Sachs Group Inc imposed similar measures, according to a memo seen by Reuters. In South Korea, home appliances maker LG Electronics Inc put a complete ban on travel to China and has advised employees on business trips in the country to return home as quickly as possible, a company spokeswoman said. South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix Inc said it was urging employees to avoid all non-essential travel to China, while banking group Standard Chartered PLC restricted travel to both mainland China and Hong Kong. In Germany, auto supplier Webasto, which has 11 sites in China, including in Wuhan, has halted all corporate travel to and from China after an employee was infected. Japan's Honda Motor Co Ltd said it recommended employees avoid travel to China, while Nissan Motor Co Ltd said it plans to evacuate its Japanese staff and their families in Wuhan via a government-chartered flight. Falling travel demand Aside from United, other airlines said they were adjusting schedules as companies reassessed the risk of travel to China. South Korean budget carrier Air Seoul said it will halt all flights to China, while Taiwan's China Airlines Ltd rescheduled and canceled some flights to China to Feb. 10. Taiwan's Eva Airways Corp also said some flights to China may be canceled. Air Canada said it was cancelling some of its 33 weekly flights to China, and Germany's Lufthansa pointed to subdued bookings to and from the country. Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd said it would be progressively reducing capacity to and from mainland China by 50 percent or more from Jan. 30 to the end of March, in line with a government directive as well as market demand. International SOS, a medical and travel security services firm that advises companies on travel, said its guidance for now was that business travel to China outside Wuhan's province of Hubei could continue. But this could be updated if there were major flight cancellations throughout China and more disruptions to ground transport, International SOS Regional Security Director James Robertson said. A 33-year-old Birmingham man has pleaded guilty in the 2018 shooting death of another man in Pratt City. Deron Marques Belser surrendered to the Jefferson County Jail Wednesday morning after pleading guilty to manslaughter on Jan. 15, according to court and jail records. He was charged in the July 3, 2018 slaying of 38-year-old Terry Ledaye Mitchell. Birmingham police were dispatched about 8:25 p.m. that Tuesday to the 100 block of Avenue V. Once on the scene, officers found Mitchell suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Authorities said he had been standing in the doorway of his home when he was shot. Mitchell was rushed to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:07 p.m. Birmingham police said investigators determined that the shooting was the result of an argument that intensified between the two men. Prosecutors said when police brought the case to the district attorneys office in July 2018, they presented several witness statements and a partial video of the incident captured on a neighbors security camera. The footage showed that the incident began when the victim walked into the street and fired several rounds from a handgun into a vehicle occupied by Belser. At that point Belser followed the victim into a house - out of sight of the security camera - and shot the victim. A charge of provocation manslaughter was recommended based on the evidence presented that the victim had initiated the shooting before retreating into the house. The case was dismissed at a preliminary hearing for lack of probable cause. The case was presented to the grand jury and Belser was indicted later in 2018 for the same charge of provocation manslaughter. The trial began Jan. 14 and the jury heard from several state witnesses and was presented with the security camera footage. Deputy District Attorney Shawn Allen said though prosecutors were confident about the identity of the people in the video, there was a possible identification issue due to a lack of participation from witnesses at the scene. During the course of the trial, Belsers attorneys approached prosecutors with an offer to plead guilty to the indicted offense in exchange for a 20-year sentence with five years to serve. This possibility was discussed with both the Birmingham investigators as well as with the victims family. Both the detectives and the victims family were very much in favor of the settlement offer and so, the decision was made to resolve the case, Allen said. Belser has been sentenced to 20 years in prison with five years to serve. He will now be transferred to the Alabama Department of Corrections to begin his sentence. Belser will have to have to serve every day of the five-year split sentence and once he is released, he will be on probation for a period of 24 months. If the defendant violates the terms of his probation during that time, he can be revoked for the remainder of the 20-year sentence. The award honors Medical Directors from across Alteon's 125 clinical sites who exhibited exemplary leadership and professionalism in 2019, mentoring their physicians and advanced practice providers while improving department performance. In nominating Wulf for the award David Farkas, MD, Alteon's Southeast Regional Medical Director, noted the long-time Eastern physician's focus on improving the flow of patients through the Emergency Department in order to maximize efficiency and provide patients with a better hospital experience. Under Wulf's leadership, the average patient who enters Eastern New Mexico Medical Center's Emergency Department now sees a doctor within just 12 minutes of arrival. "Dr. Wulf is a leader in the Emergency Department, as well as the hospital and the community," Farkas said. "New Mexico is one of the most difficult markets for physician recruiting, and we now have a situation where physicians approach us looking to join Tom's team. He represents the best of what Alteon can be." Wulf was one of three awardees selected by a panel of clinicians from Alteon's Executive Leadership Team. Trisha Anest, MD, MPH, FACEP, Director of Emergency Medicine at Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital in Newport News, Virginia, was honored as Facility Medical Director of the Year for Alteon's Southern Division. Frank Kelley, MD, Director of Hospital Medicine at University Hospitals Portage Medical Center in Ravenna, Ohio, was selected for the Hospital Medicine Division. "This award belongs to my team of dedicated physicians and advanced practice providers," said Wulf, who has led Eastern's Emergency Department since 2017. Wulf has been passionately committed to life-saving throughout his career. He served as a pararescuer in the U.S. Air Force after high school and went on to work as a flight paramedic, paramedic instructor and EMT coordinator before earning his medical degree from Central American Health Science University in 2003. In addition to his role as Medical Director of the Emergency Department, Wulf also serves on the Board of Directors at Eastern and has been elected by his peers as chief of the medical staff. "There is always a smile and a kind word from this incredible physician," said Vincent Morra, President of Alteon's Northern Division, when presenting the award to Wulf at the company's National Leadership Summit in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on January 16. "His staff enjoys his fun-loving, compassionate wisdom and amazing patient care." About Alteon Health With more than 1,700 clinicians serving more than 125 practice locations nationwide, Alteon is a leading provider of emergency medicine, hospitalist medicine, critical care, post-acute care and virtual and home health services. The physician-led practice is equipped with nearly 50 years of experience in providing high-quality, industry-leading and patient-focused care in diverse medical markets. For more information, visit alteonhealth.com . SOURCE Alteon Health Related Links https://www.alteonhealth.com - In 1925, a merchant steam-powered ship left Charlston S.C for Havana, Cuba with 32 passengers - The vessel disappeared at the Bermuda Trinagle and bodies of the passengers were never recovered - Over 35 years ago, another wreckage was found which was identified as Bear Wreck - Archeologists went through the ship's records and realised the missing ship was the one identified as the Bear Wreck - Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in A merchant ship that vanished in the Bermuda Triangle in 1925 has been found. The steam-powered SS Cotopaxi went missing on November 29, 1925, after it left Charleston, S.C. for Havana, Cuba with 32 passengers. READ ALSO: Ghana ranked 5th best country in Africa Cotopaxi left Charleston, South Carolina, on November 29, 1925 and went missing two days later never to be found. Photo: Fox News Source: UGC READ ALSO: Prophet Badu Kobi admonishes Ghanaians not to trust the EC The ship never reached its destination and all bodies of the passengers were never found, Fox News reported. The wreckage was located about 35 nautical miles off the coast of St. Augustine, Florida by a group of underwater explorers and maritime archaeologists. In a statement issued by a new Science Channel Series, marine biologist and underwater explorer Michael Barnette contacted British historian Guy Walters to help find the mysterious ship. A marine biologist and underwater explorer when they located the ship that went missing 100 years ago. Photo: Fox News Source: UGC READ ALSO: Sammy Gyamfi names first NPP candidate NDC will prosecute Walters combed through the records at the archives of Lloyds of London who were the insurers of the vessel. "There he discovered something previously unknown about the SS Cotopaxis voyage. The ship had sent out wireless distress signals with a position on December 1st, 1925, two days after it left Charleston, read the statement. Another ship that had been discovered at that position 35 years ago which was identified as the Bear Wreck. Upon further scrutiny , the researchers realised that the Bear Wreck was actually the Cotopaxi. Underwater archaeologist Michael Barnette measuring the wreck of the SS Cotopaxi. Photo: Fox News Source: UGC READ ALSO: Social media finds Prince Harry's lookalike with hilarious reactions The doomed ship had been on a routine voyage to deliver coal to Havana, Cuba, when it sunk. The discovery will be featured in the first episode of Shipwreck Secrets which airs on the Science Channel on February 9. The Bermuda Triangle stretches stretches across a western part of the North Atlantic between Florida, Puerto Rico and Bermuda. The area, also known as the Devils Triangle, has claimed over 1,000 lives in the last 100 years. At least 75 planes and hundreds of ships have gone missing at the Triangle without explanation. How convenient is it to use the new GHC 200 note at the market? | #Yencomgh READ ALSO: 27-year-old lady says strangers mistake her partner aged 54 for her grandfather 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 SEATTLE - Another endangered orca is missing and presumed dead in the Pacific Northwest, a large male who had fathered many of the populations calves in the past three decades. The whale, born in 1977 and known as L41 or by the nickname Mega, was not with his family when researchers encountered them last Friday, the Center for Whale Research said. He was last seen last summer, and he appeared thin then. Shari Tarantino, president of the Orca Conservancy, said L41s death would leave just 72 animals in the southern resident population of orcas that frequents the waters between Washington and Canada. Thats the fewest since the mid-1970s, after more than 50 were captured for aquarium display or killed in the process. The whales have struggled with pollution, vessel noise and most significantly a dearth of their preferred prey, Chinook salmon. Researchers say they are on the brink of extinction. Three were presumed dead last summer. A bright spot is that researchers saw L124, also known as Tofino, a newborn first spotted in January 2019, alive and well last week. Its an important milestone for calves to survive their first year because mortality rates are high. According to genetic research published in 2018, L41 fathered 20 orcas with 11 different females, The Seattle Times reported. He and one other whale, J1, fathered most of the calves born to the southern resident population since 1990. J1 was born in 1950 and died in 2011. Deborah Giles, a research scientist with University of Washingtons Center for Conservation Biology and research director for the non-profit Wild Orca, said that made Mega an important member of the population. Even if he didnt come out of the water so you could see his saddle patch, he was easy to recognize, Giles said. I am going to miss seeing him. Now Open 29 January 2020 Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world's largest hotel franchising company with over 9,200 hotels and 20 brands in more than 80 countries, today announced the debut of its La Quinta by Wyndham flag in Europe with the opening of the 404-room La Quinta by Wyndham Istanbul Gunesli, bringing the brand to travellers outside of the Americas for the first time. La Quinta by Wyndham is a leading upper-midscale brand at over 900 hotels across North and Latin America, offering contemporary design, thoughtful amenities and friendly service. Wyndham acquired La Quinta's hotel franchise and hotel management businesses in 2018, further building upon the Company's diverse family of hotel brands and offerings around the world. Upon acquiring the brand, Wyndham outlined strategic plans to introduce La Quinta to key markets around the world, offering a trusted upper-midscale option to both hotel developers and travellers. Its European debut in Istanbul demonstrates that commitment, and is the latest development in the brand's international growth trajectory. In 2019 Wyndham announced plans to enter the Caribbean market by opening eight hotels across the Dominican Republic within five years, and it grew La Quinta's footprint in Mexico and Chile in 2018 with newly constructed hotels in Leon and Santiago. La Quinta by Wyndham Istanbul Gunesli is one of the latest additions to Wyndham Hotels & Resorts' presence in Turkey, where the Company is the largest international hotel group with over 80 hotels all across the country. As the country aims to attract 58 million visitors in 2020 alone, the addition of La Quinta further complements Wyndham's brand offering in the market and marks another step in the Company's quest to suit the need of any type of traveller. With easy access to Istanbul International Airport and the city's Expo Centre, La Quinta by Wyndham Istanbul Gunesli offers 404 guest rooms and a wide range of facilities including three restaurants, a fitness centre with sauna, Turkish bath, Jacuzzi, steam room and indoor heated pool. The hotel also includes over 1,500 square metres of meeting space, comprised of eight meeting rooms and one ballroom, catering to both leisure and business travel. The opening of La Quinta by Wyndham Istanbul Gunesli further widens Wyndham Hotels & Resorts' brand offering in Turkey, including Ramada and Ramada Encore by Wyndham, Wyndham, Wyndham Grand, as well as TRYP and Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham. Other Wyndham Hotels & Resorts' recent openings in Turkey include TRYP by Wyndham Istanbul Topkapi, Ramada Encore by Wyndham Istanbul Basin Express, Wyndham Grand Kayseri, Wyndham Cerkezkoy, as well as Ramada by Wyndham hotels in Van and Mardin. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 06:20:03|Editor: yan Video Player Close HELSINKI, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Finnish hobbyists have discovered a new form of northern lights, the dunes, together with space researchers, Finnish Meteorological Institute of Helsinki University said on Wednesday. The new form of northern lights was first discovered in 2018 in photos taken by hobbyists that worked together with the Finnish Meteorological Institute. They named them as "dunes" as they resembled dunes of sand on a beach. Their color is green. Several occurrences of phenomenon were later found by observation cameras as well. The dunes are likely to be waves of oxygen atoms at a height of about one hundred kilometers, which will shine a stream of particles from the sun, according to the institute. In a recent study, the birth of a dune is traced back to a "wave channel" that is created around the mesosphere, a particular layer of the atmosphere and its boundary, the mesopause. The study also proposes that the new form of northern lights will make it possible to investigate upper atmosphere conditions in a new way. Minna Palmroth, professor of the University of Helsinki, on Wednesday described the results of the research on the dunes "as an astounding discovery" as it would represent a previously unobserved mechanism of interaction between the ionosphere and the mesosphere above it. Palmroth noted in a press release by the University of Helsinki that the area between 80 and 120 km above earth is one of the "least researched areas of the earth" as it is challenging to measuring instruments. John Bolton warned the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee shortly after his departure in September that former ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch's ousting was 'improper,' it was revealed Wednesday. 'He and I spoke by telephone on September 23,' Democratic Representative Eliot Engel revealed in a statement Wednesday. 'On that call, Ambassador Bolton suggested to me unprompted that the committee look into the recall of Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch.' 'He strongly implied that something improper had occurred around her removal as our top diplomat in Kyiv,' Engel said. The call, on September 23, came just a few days after Bolton was ousted from his post in the administration. John Bolton urged the House to investigate why former Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch was fired Bolton held a secret phone call with the House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel on September 23, just two weeks after he left the White House, to discuss Yovanovitch's firing Marie Yovanovitch was prematurely recalled from her three-year assignment in Ukraine in May Yovanovitch was prematurely recalled from her three-year assignment in Ukraine over the summer and it was later revealed that her departure followed a push from Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani and his former associate Lev Parnas. Engel said in the statement released on the eighth day of the Senate impeachment trial, that he felt it was time to publicly release the details surrounding the call now that Bolton has become such a center of the proceedings. He also said he made sure his Democratic colleagues were aware of the phone call during the House impeachment inquiry at the end of last year. 'At the time, I said nothing publicly about what was a private conversation,' Engel said in the statement, 'but because this detail was relevant to the Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, and Oversight Committees' investigation into this matter, I informed my investigative colleagues.' The New York Times published a report over the weekend that outlines parts of Bolton's unpublished manuscript for a book that will be released in mid-March. In one part of the book, according to the report, Trump's former national security adviser details a conversation he had with the president where he directly linked the Ukraine aid freeze to an investigation into his political rival, Joe Biden. Trump freezing hundreds of millions in military assistance to the Eastern European nation at the same time he was urging its newly inaugurated president, Volodymyr Zelensky, to investigate Biden and his son Hunter, is at the center of the impeachment proceedings. Democrats insist Trump was abusing the power of the presidency to hurt his political rival. Engel, a New York Democrat, said that his call with Bolton was 'one of the reasons we wished to hear from Ambassador Bolton, under oath, in a formal setting.' Most Republicans have made it clear they do not want to call witnesses in the Senate trial because they want to expedite the proceedings and acquit the president. Bolton was thrust back into the spotlight of the impeachment inquiry when a New York Times report revealed the former national security adviser detailed in an upcoming book a conversation where Trump directly said there was a link between frozen military aid to Ukraine and an investigation into the Bidens Democrats, including lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff (right), have argued they did not call Bolton to testify in the House because his deputy, Charles Kupperman (right), filed a lawsuit when he was subpoenaed which could have held up the impeachment proceedings for months. Bolton says he is willing to testify in the Senate But Democrats are pushing to call new witnesses and subpoena new documents especially now that some details in Bolton's forthcoming book were revealed. Engel's statement further exhibits the Democrats' desire to have Bolton testify. Republicans, however, say that the Democrat-majority House should have called Bolton during their investigation if they wanted to hear from him. Lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff said on the first day of question on the Senate floor Wednesday that they did express a desire to hear sworn testimony from Bolton. The House Intelligence chairman, however, said Democrats didn't want the impeachment proceedings to get held up in court which he insists would have likely been the case considering Bolton's deputy Charles Kupperman filed a lawsuit when he was subpoenaed to testify. Bolton says now that he is ready and willing to testify if he were called to answer the defense and prosecution's questions in the Senate. Even though an adviser to Bolton said he sent a manuscript of the unpublished book to the White House for a National Security Council review 'weeks ago,' Trump says he has not seen it. Donald Trump called Bolton's credibility into question, claiming the U.S. would be involve din 'Word War Six' if he listen to his national security adviser's advice. Engel said Trump and the 'right-wing ire' directed at Bolton is another reason why he should be called as a witness He has also called Bolton's credibility into question, claiming his account is 'false.' 'Why didn't John Bolton complain about this 'nonsense' a long time ago, when he was very publicly terminated. He said, not that it matters, NOTHING!' Trump tweeted Wednesday morning. '[I]f listened to him, we would be in World War Six by now,' Trump continued, claiming after Bolton was fired he 'goes out and IMMEDIATELY writes a nasty & untrue book.' Engel said he had to reveal his September conversation with Bolton to 'set the record straight.' '[N]ow that the President has called his credibility into question, it's important to set the record straight,' Engel said in his statement. 'It's telling that, of all people, John Bolton is now the target of right-wing ire. It underscores just how important it is that the Senate subpoena Ambassador Bolton as a witness.' LA PAZ (Reuters) - Bolivia's interim President Jeanine Anez reshuffled her cabinet on Tuesday, including replacing a rebel minister who had called her controversial decision to run in upcoming elections a "betrayal" of the caretaker government's remit. Anez unveiled her new cabinet after her ministers had all resigned at her request. However, all but three were reinstated in a ceremony at the government palace where the President played down talk of crisis. "This adjustment in the cabinet was necessary to be absolutely sure that all members of the team working together are committed to an honest and transparent management for the good of all Bolivians," she said. The conservative former senator, who became president amid a power vacuum last year after the resignation of Evo Morales, sparked criticism from allies and opponents when she announced her intention to be a candidate in the May 3 vote. The three ministries reshuffled were those of rural development, education and communication. Bolivia has been gripped by political turmoil since October when a disputed election led to widespread protests that eventually toppled leftist leader Morales. Anez took the interim president role after Morales and others in his party resigned. The former Minister of Communication, Roxana Lizarraga, had criticized Anez, who she said was surrounded by a "small group of politicians" that was seeking to remain in power instead of guaranteeing the neutrality of the caretaker government. "We assumed power originally to recover democracy, so that we could get to new elections," she said, adding that Anez's candidacy betrayed the widespread popular uprising against Morales after the Oct. 20 election that led to his resignation. (Reporting by Daniel Ramos in La Paz; Writing by Adam Jourdan; Editing by Richard Pullin) MEMPHIS, Tenn., Jan. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Horizon National Corp.'s (FHN) board of directors has approved payment of a quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of $0.15 per share, an increase of 7% from 2019. The dividend is payable April 1, 2020 to the common shareholders of record on March 13, 2020. The increase raises the regular annual common dividend rate from the $0.56 per share declared in 2019 to $0.60 per share. The board also approved payment of a quarterly cash dividend of $1,550.00 per share on First Horizons Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A ("Series A Preferred Stock"). This equates to a cash dividend of $0.387500 per Depositary Share (NYSE:FHN PrA), which each represent a 1/4000th interest in a share of the Series A Preferred Stock. The dividend is payable April 10, 2020 to shareholders of record on March 26, 2020. About First Horizon First Horizon National Corp. (FHN) provides financial services through First Horizon Bank, First Horizon Advisors, and FHN Financial businesses. The banking subsidiary was founded in 1864 and has the largest deposit market share in Tennessee. The company operates approximately 270 bank locations across the Southeast U.S. and 29 FHN Financial offices across the entire U.S. First Horizon Advisors wealth management group has more than 300 financial professionals and about $4.8 billion in assets under management. FHN Financial is a capital markets industry leader in fixed income sales, trading and strategies for institutional customers in the U.S. and abroad. The company is recognized as one of the nations best employers by Fortune and Forbes magazines and a Top 10 Most Reputable U.S. bank. More information is available at www.FirstHorizon.com. FHN-G Donald Trump Jr's gun was adorned with the US flag and a label reading: 'Made in USA': Donald Trump Jr Donald Trump Jr, an avid trophy hunter who has been accused of killing an endangered animal under controversial circumstances, will speak at the worlds largest trophy hunting convention in Nevada next week, according to reports. The first son and top campaign surrogate to Donald Trump was set to attend the Safari Club Internationals annual three-day convention in Reno, Nevada, where he was scheduled to speak on 8 February. In addition to the speech, Mr Trump Jr also planned to sell a trophy hunting trip with him in Alaska. For $17,000 (13,067), attendees of the convention can bid to hunt black-tailed deer native to the region with him, according to Safari Club International. Other features of the event include an estimated 870 exhibits selling everything from animal heads to hides, as well as 300 hunting trip opportunities across the country, with bids ranging between $1,650 (1,268) and $100,000 (76,860). The Humane Society of the United States slammed the upcoming convention in a statement that said: This annual event is the largest meeting in the world of people who celebrate the senseless killing, buying and selling of dead animals for bragging rights. As our planet suffers an extinction crisis, it is business as usual for the trophy hunting industry and SCI, who continue to revel in spending millions of dollars every year to destroy imperilled wildlife. News of Mr Trump Jr attending the event comes after it was reported late last year that he received special treatment during a trip to Mongolia, where he allegedly shot and killed an endangered argali, the largest sheep in the world. Mr Trump Jr retroactively received a rare permit allowing him to kill the animal during his hunting trip to the country in August 2019, according to ProPublica. That permit was reportedly issued in September, after he had already left the country. The event also follows attempts by Mr Trumps White House to roll back protections for endangered wildlife worldwide, including providing the first trophy import permit for a lion trophy from Tanzania. Story continues The move to issue a permit for the Tanzanian lion was decried as tragic news for lion conservation in a statement by the Centre for Biological Diversity. Tanzania is a lion stronghold, but its been criticised by scientists for corruption and inadequate wildlife protections, Tanya Sanerib, international legal director at the centre, reportedly said in a statement at the time, adding: Opening the US market to these imports doesnt bode well for the lion kings of Tanzania. Read more Everything you need to know about trophy hunting External Article 29 January 2020 Optimistic that you can easily find the best airfare and hotel rate for your next vacation or business trip? Think again. Travel providers now use artificial intelligence software to re-price their offerings, sometimes dozens of times a day, to maximize revenue. For business and leisure travelers, the result is a variation of the cat-and-mouse game, where travel companies are almost always the cat. Traditionally, hotels and airlines priced their offerings depending on peak demand periods, past sales data and the number of current reservations. Individual hotel properties could make changes if, for example, their hotel was emptier than usual for an upcoming date and a lower room price would spur demand. A 20-year-old woman has died after a fatal collision in Enfield. Officers were called to reports that a car had collided with a tree at the junction of Cattlegate Road and Burnt Farm Ride just before 1am on Tuesday. The woman, who was a passenger, was rushed to hospital but died as a result of her injuries. Formal identification still awaits, but her family have been informed, the Met Police said. The 22-year-old driver was arrested at the scene on suspicion of driving while unfit through drinks or drugs. He was later arrested for causing injury by dangerous driving, but has now been released under investigation. Detective Constable Jade Williamson said: A young woman has tragically lost her life and we owe it to her family to find out why. "In particular I would ask anyone who saw the incident, or who saw the red Vauxhall Corsa involved being driven before the collision, to call police or Crimestoppers. "Your information could be vital in helping us to give a grieving family the answers they deserve. Amman, Jan 29 : Dozens of Jordanians held a sit-in near the US embassy in Amman in protest of US President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Chanting slogans against the United States, the protestors on Tuesday said the deal is doomed to fail as it fails to ensure the Palestinians' legitimate rights, Xinhua news agency reported. "We are here to express our rejection to Trump's deal ... It opens the door for Israel to annex more Palestinian territories," Salem Hasan, one of the protestors, told Xinhua. Subhi Qasem, another protestor, expressed similar views. "Any deal that does not address the final status issues such as refugees, water and security, and does not ensure sovereignty for the Palestinians, is rejected. Trump's deal is all in favour of Israel," Qasem told Xinhua. The protestors called on the Arab and Islamic countries to take a firm stance against the US-proposed deal, saying it will only lead to more tension and chaos in the Middle East. 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. As British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was making a political compromise on Tuesday in allowing Huawei build up to 35 per cent of the non-sensitive part of Britain's future 5G networks, cybersecurity officials in the country were publicly laying bare their distrust of the Chinese telecoms giant. The officials pointed to a lack of existing vendors in the market to provide the necessary technology for what is expected to be life-changing, ultra-fast mobile experience, leading one cybersecurity official to call the situation "crazy". Published alongside the British government's announcement " which bars Huawei from "core" elements that deal with sensitive data " the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) outlined its advice on the use of equipment from high-risk vendors in the country's telecoms networks. The document singles out Huawei in a separate chapter, refers to it as the country's only high-risk vendor (HRV) and warns of "increased national risk", wrote the GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre. It outlines five reasons why Huawei " the Shenzhen-based company that has consistently rejected accusations of being a national security concern to the West " constitutes a risk. First, the company has a significant market share in the UK already, which gives it a "strategic significance", the document says. In 2018, the British government estimated that Huawei's market share for 4G networks was around 35 per cent. Second, the document echoes Washington's argument that Huawei, under China's National Intelligence Law of 2017, could be ordered to act in a way that is harmful to the UK. Third, the National Cyber Security Centre said the Chinese state, and its associated actors, "have carried out and will continue to carry out cyberattacks against the UK and our interests". The centre also said its experience has shown that Huawei's cybersecurity and engineering quality is low and its processes opaque. For example, it says, an official oversight board raised significant concerns in 2018 about Huawei's engineering processes. Its 2019 report confirmed that the company had made "no material progress" in addressing those technical issues. Story continues Last, it said a large number of Huawei subsidiaries were currently on the US Entity List, which names businesses, institutions and individuals that Washington believes pose a national security threat. "Although we do not have knowledge as to whether these entities will remain on the US Entity List, this listing may have a potential impact on the future availability and reliability of Huawei's products," the British document says. Mobile network phone masts are visible near St Paul's Cathedral in London on Tuesday. Photo: AP alt=Mobile network phone masts are visible near St Paul's Cathedral in London on Tuesday. Photo: AP "We've always treated them as a 'high risk vendor' and have worked to limit their use in the UK and put extra mitigations around their equipment and services," Ian Levy, technical director of the National Cyber Security Centre, said in a blog post. In a statement, Huawei said it was "reassured" that it would be able to continue working with its British customers on 5G, albeit in a restricted role. "We agree a diverse vendor market and fair competition are essential for network reliability and innovation, as well as ensuring consumers have access to the best possible technology," said Victor Zhang, a Huawei vice-president. Huawei, alongside European rivals Nokia and Ericsson, are the only suppliers of the 5G technology suitable for the UK. "That's crazy," said Levy, "so we need to diversify the market significantly in the UK so that we have a more robust supply base to enable the long term security of the UK networks and to ensure we do not end up nationally dependent on any vendor." One of the most vocal critics in the British parliament, Tom Tugendhat, who was the last foreign affairs committee chairman, cast doubt on Johnson's approach. " Tom Tugendhat (@TomTugendhat) January 28, 2020 "The reduction [of Huawei's involvement] to 35% is welcome. But will this reduce over time to wean operators off the Chinese provider or will 35% be an enduring figure?" he said in a series of tweets. He also questioned the pledge from the British government to restrict high-risk vendors from sensitive locations, such as nuclear sites and military bases. Such an exclusion, said Tugendhat, "seems near impossible to achieve in densely populated areas and in a world of mobile devices". Sign up now for our 50% early bird offer from SCMP Research: China AI Report. The all new SCMP China AI Report gives you exclusive first-hand insights and analysis into the latest industry developments, and actionable and objective intelligence about China AI that you should be equipped with. This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2020 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2020. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. President Donald Trump has left New Jersey to return to to Washington after his campaign rally at the Wildwoods Convention Center Tuesday night. Trump boarded Air Force One at 9:35 p.m. at Atlantic City International Airport, according to White House pool reports. He had taken the Marine One helicopter from Cape May County Airport. He did not stop to talk to the traveling press corps. The convention center was jammed as Trump riffed for 62 minutes on impeachment, the economy, immigration, taxes, Israel and a bunch of other topics. He had promised to come to South Jersey during an Oval Office meeting with Rep. Jeff Van Drew, after which the 2nd District congressman switched to the Republican Party. How about having the president in South Jersey? Van Drew said after Trump called him out on stage. He is here, a man who kept his word, to ensure that the eyes of the world are on South Jersey and all of us. If you want your children to inherit the blessings that generations of Americans have fought and died to securethen we must devote everything we have toward victory in 2020. Only this way, can we save the America we love and drain the Washington Swamp once and for all! pic.twitter.com/5NeC0mFWfU Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2020 Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. The Bodo conflict, which dates back to the pre-Independence era, gained momentum from 1987 when the ABSU launched an agitation for a separate state. With an aim to bring permanent peace in Bodo-dominated areas in Assam, the Centre on Monday signed a tripartite agreement with the dreaded insurgent group National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) and two other outfits, providing political and economic benefits without acceding to the demand for a separate state or Union Territory. The All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU), which has been spearheading a movement for a Bodoland state since 1972, and the United Bodo People's Organisation were also signatories to the Comprehensive Bodo Settlement Agreement Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). In the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the tripartite agreement was signed by top leaders of the four NDFB factions, the ABSU and the United Bodo People's Organization (UBPO); Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry Satyendra Garg; and Assam Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also signed the pact as one of the witnesses. Soon after the agreement was signed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it would usher in a new dawn of peace, harmony and togetherness. Bodos, who believe to be the earliest settlers of Assam, are an ethnic and linguistic group which is a sub-group of the Bodo-Kachari family. The Bodo conflict, which dates back to the pre-Independence era, gained momentum from 1987 when the ABSU launched an agitation for a separate state. Some prominent armed separatist groups were founded during the 1980s. Bodos have advanced a number of reasons for wanting a separate state. They have called the territory they inhabit home for centuries, and want to protect their ethnic identity, way of life, and language. They also sought better governance and development. Let's take a look at the timeline of major events in the long standing problem of Bodo conflict. 1) 1929: Bodo leader Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma submitted a memorandum to the Simon Commission asking for reservations in the Legislative Assembly and for a separate political entity for his people. He efforts failed him. 2) 1960s and 1970s: There were calls from Bodos and other tribes for a separate state of Udayachal as unauthorized occupants were accused of encroaching on Bodo-inhabited lands. 3) Late 1980s: A demand for a separate state for Bodos Bodoland and for Assam to be divided "50-50" were raised. Despite Bodo leader and then ABSU president Upendranath Brahma adopting a "peaceful" approach, separatist groups like the Bodoland Liberation Tigers (BLT) and the The National Democratic Front of Bodoland (of which NDFB(S) is a faction) were founded during the same time. 4) 1993, February: The Centre, Assam government and the ABSU sign a tripartite agreement, following which the Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC) was constituted. 5) 2003, February: The separatist BLT was disbanded and another agreement was signed between the Centre, the Assam government and the BLT. This led to the formation of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC). The BTC administered the Bodoland Territorial Area an entity based on the idea of a 'state-within-a-state' and created by the reorganization of seven Assamese districts into four contiguous districts Kokrajhar, Chirang, Udalguri and Baksa. Hagrama Mohilary, who currently heads the Bodo Territorial Council, was a leader in the now defunct armed separatist group Bodo Liberation tigers. 6) 2005: The National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NSFB) agreed to a ceasefire with the Assam government and the Centre. After the treaty was signed, the group had split into three factions. One of those factions, the NDFB (S), continued to carry out violent attacks within the state. 7) 2012: The Bengali-speaking Muslims and Bodos in Bodoland Territorial Area got involved in ethnic riots, thereby killing 100 and rendering four lakh homeless. This isn't an isolated incident. Bloody clashes between Bodos and non-Bodos, especially Bengali-speaking Muslims, have been routinely reported in the region. 8) May, 2014: Acting on assumption that people did not vote for their candidates in Lok Sabha polls held in April, 2014, the Bodo terrorists killed 30 people in Kokrajhar and Baksa districts. 9) December, 2014: Further attacks by Bodo terrorists killed at least 81 people, including 76 adivasis. As many as 2 lakh people were rendered homeless after the attacks. Both the May and December 2014 attacks were allegedly carried out by NDFB (S). Post the December incident, the Centre launched an Operation All Out a large-scale military operation involving the Army, the Air Force, Assam state police and paramilitary forces with an aim to eliminate NDFB(S) completely. 10) August, 2016: Fourteen civilians were killed in Kokrajhar district by terrorists. The NDFB(S) were suspected to be behind the attack. 11) August, 2017: The movement group comprising ABSU, NDFB (P) and Peoples Joint Action Committee for Boroland Movement (PJACBM) supported by Ranjan Daimary-led NDFB faction, which is currently under peace parley with the Government of India, had announced the series of movement seeking early solution to the Bodoland issue. A crucial meeting of the movement group was held at Bodofa House, Baganshali in Kokrajhar on 20 August, 2017, and discussed the future course of action and movement strategy. In the press meet held after, the president of the ABSU, Promod Boro said the movement group was compelled to undertake the series of agitation as the NDA government at the Centre had been giving lukewarm response towards the solution of Bodoland issue even after promising a resolution prior to the 2014 parliamentary election. He had said the there would be 10-hour highway blockade by women on 28 August, 12-hour Assam bandh on 12 September, mass hunger strike from 1 October, 24-hour railway blockade in October and indefinite economic blockade from November. 12) 27, January 2020: As the ABSU continued with its movement for creation of a Bodoland state and NDFB carried out hit-and-run operations, several rounds of negotiations with New Delhi, four factions of NDFB and the ABSU on Monday led to the signing of the third Bodo accord. Now, there is going to be 60 members in the Bodoland Territorial Region. Though Amit Shah and the Bodo leaders are euphoric with the Bodo accord 2020, it is definite that it can never be the end of movements in Bodoland. With inputs from PTI The 'Bharat Bandh' called by several organizations, including the Bahujan Mukti Morcha, the Bhim Army and the Purvanchal Sena, to protest against the new citizenship law and the NRC on Wednesday witnessed a lukewarm response in the Uttar Pradesh capital. In Muslim-dominated old city, traders downed shutters over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). But there was no impact of the shutdown call in other areas like Hazratganj and Gomti Nagar. Police said no untoward incident was reported anywhere in the city. In Deoria, former Rajya Sabha MP Aas Mohammad and his wife were detained by police near the Salempur area when they were heading towards Subhash Chowk to register their protest against the CAA and the NRC. When information about the detention of Mohammad and his wife spread, locals rushed to the Kotwali police station demanding their release. "Me and my wife had decided that we will hold a peaceful protest but police detained us," Mohammad said. When contacted, Superintendent of Police, Deoria, Sripati Mishra said, "The former MP and his wife were taken to Kotwali police station as there was possibility that the protest will affect law and order negatively." Pamphlets were distributed Tuesday evening in Muslim-dominated areas asking people to observe shutdown in protest against the amended citizenship law and the NRC. In Gorakhpur, the response to the bandh call was seen in a few areas. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian veteran organization Combat Brotherhood, supported by the Russian Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria, has delivered over a tonne of antibiotics in humanitarian aid to a military hospital in Damascus, the organization's head and a member of the Russian lower house, Dmitry Sablin, told Sputnik BEIRUT (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th January, 2020) Russian veteran organization Combat Brotherhood, supported by the Russian Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria, has delivered over a tonne of antibiotics in humanitarian aid to a military hospital in Damascus, the organization's head and a member of the Russian lower house, Dmitry Sablin, told Sputnik. "The Combat Brotherhood, with the support of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides, has delivered humanitarian aid to the military hospital named after Syrian hero Yusuf al-Azma in Damascus - 1.2 tonnes of antibiotics," Sablin said. According to the lawmaker, the purpose of the Combat Brotherhood is to support veterans and their family members, primarily in Russia but also in Syria, where Russian soldiers help the Syrian army fight terrorism. In Syria, the Primary goal of the aid is to help children, he added. "Under Western sanctions, Syria suffers scarcity of medications. I hope the medications that we have delivered will help both, little patients to defeat illness and their fathers to return to service," Sablin said. The Yusuf al-Azma military hospital is famous for being where Syria's First Lady Asma Assad received treatment for cancer last year. It hs the capacity to assist 200 servicemen and their family members, as well as civilians in exceptional cases. [January 29, 2020] ECFX Launches, Bringing Intelligent Automation to Law Firms VENICE, Calif., Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ECFX , a company providing Intelligent Automation for law firms, launched today and announced the availability of its first product: ECFX Notice. ECFX Notice automates the entire electronic court notice workflow, reducing a process that can take between 20 and 60 minutes per notice to seconds. The company will exhibit and offer demonstrations at booth #114 at Legaltech New York February 4-6 and will also be featured in the ABA TECHSHOW fourth-annual Startup Alley on February 26-29 in Chicago. Additionally, Legalweek has named ECFX Notice as a finalist in its LegalLaunch: Product Innovation competition. Held in conjunction with Legalweek, the competition showcases cutting-edge and innovative legal technology products and services. ECFX will present ECFX Notice on Tuesday, February 4, at 2:30 p.m. EST on the second-floor promenade next to the LITE Stage at the New York Hilton Midtown. The presentation is open to all attendees, and the winner will be announced on Thursday, February 6, at 10:30 a.m. EST. ECFX Launch ECFX was established by legal technology veterans focused on increasing efficiency and reducing risk with Intelligent Automation. Its founders include: Dan ODay, a lawyer, programmer and legal technology product developer with 20 years of experience Nelson Quintero, an intellectual property attorney with two decades of legal experience Bill Burch, a sales and marketing executive with 35+ years in legal technology The companys vision is to help law firms gain efficiency and save costs by intelligently automating manual processes. ECFX Notice, addressing an often undiagnosed process challenge for law firms Handling electronic court notices is a highly manual process with workflows and document storage methodologies that vary from firm to firm, between practice roups within firms and even on an individual attorney basis. Paralegals and staff members often manually enter information, inform relevant parties, update the docketing system and upload files to the document management system. Any breakdown in the process whether it is a data entry error, someone on vacation or an email bounce back can lead to delays, overlooked deadlines or last-minute efforts to respond. The management of electronic court notices for law firms is often missing an efficiency and risk mitigation opportunity. Its cumulative impact for large firms with hundreds of notices is substantial, said Burch, chief revenue officer and co-founder of ECFX. ECFX Notice streamlines the entire electronic court notice workflow by intelligently downloading, profiling, storing and distributing documents according to firm-defined criteria. It reduces touch points for attorneys and staff, ensures the integrity of the process and increases efficiency by more than 90%. According to our numbers, a law firm with 200 litigators can save more than one million dollars annually with our Intelligent Automation. In seconds, ECFX Notice automatically: Connects each case to an internal client and matter number. Downloads each document associated with the notice. Profiles each document to the firms document management system. Determines the relevant parties to notify based on information in the financial management system, case management system or lists maintained on an ad hoc basis. The solution integrates with iManage, Thomson Reuters Elite Enterprise and 3E, Aderant Expert, Intapp Walls and Integration Appliance and most case management systems. Distributes the notice and associated documents to the correct parties. Updates the docketing staff or calendaring system. Records any costs in the time and billing system. The solution also provides a dashboard of customizable analytics, allowing legal professionals to gain visibility into notice management and review progress and manage staff resources as needed. Find ECFX at Legaltech New York ECFX is exhibiting at Legaltech on February 4-6. Visit booth #114 to learn more about the company or to see a demonstration of ECFX Notice and its Intelligent Automation. The company will hold a drawing each day of the event for prizes including Bose headphones, a Surface Go and Apple AirPods. To enter, conference attendees should visit the booth and see the product. Legal professionals can also visit one of two ECFX-sponsored Alexa kiosks at Legaltech for an entry form or to ask questions about event programming, booth and room locations, nearby restaurants and more. To learn more about ECFX and ECFX Notice, visit www.goECFX.com or email [email protected] . About ECFX ECFX , founded by legal technology industry veterans Dan ODay, Nelson Quintero and Bill Burch, provides Intelligent Automation to help law firms and legal organizations address common, yet often undiagnosed, process challenges. Its premier product ECFX Notice streamlines the complex process of electronic court notice management, saving time, reducing costs and mitigating risk for law firms. Visit www.goECFX.com for more information. Media Contact Vicki LaBrosse Edge Legal Marketing for ECXF [email protected] 651.552.7753 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] / -- IndiaNivesh, one of India's fastest growing financial services firms, has appointed Premal Doshi as Managing Director - Investment Banking. With over 25 years of rich and diverse experience in the banking and financial services industry, Premal is a renowned industry veteran and a leading expert in public market capital raising. During his long career spanning over more than two decades, he has held senior positions across several organizations in the banking and financial services sector. Prior to joining IndiaNivesh, Premal was at the helm of the Equity Capital Markets of IndusInd Bank as its Executive Vice President, where he played an instrumental role in initiating the Public Equity Markets business for the bank. Prior to IndusInd Bank, Premal held leadership positions at several leading financial services firms such as Ambit Corporate Finance, Antique Capital Markets, Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors, Lazard India and J P Morgan. On assuming the new role of Managing Director - Investment Banking at IndiaNivesh, Premal said, "IndiaNivesh is strengthening its Investment Banking Service offerings with a clear focus on taking this business to greater heights. Having a state-of-the-art infrastructure and a robust platform already in place, the emphasis will now be to service mid-tier corporate clients as well as promoters across sectors. IndiaNivesh with its Equity Capital Markets offerings and other services like Wealth Management, NBFC and Private Equity, will now complete its service offering bouquet and be able to function as a 'one-stop-shop' solutions provider for mid-tier corporates and others. I look forward to the being a part of these exciting times and contributing in the growth story of the company." Speaking about the appointment, Mr. Rajesh Nuwal, Founder & Managing Director, IndiaNivesh said, "With Corporate India taking a lead towards the $5 trillion milestone by 2024, primary market activities will likely see a spurt. The growing need for the industry to raise risk capital in keeping pace with the economy will also fuel public fund raising activities in the coming years. Clearly, there will be exciting times ahead and an opportunity to build a targeted growth story for IndiaNivesh's Investment Banking business with an industry veteran like Premal on board. We welcome him to the IndiaNivesh family and wish him all the best in his new role." About IndiaNivesh:IndiaNivesh is a full-fledged financial services company into stock broking, PMS, Wealth Management and having reputed clients that include Government Institutions, Public Finance Institutions, Foreign Institutional Investors, Domestic Institutions (Mutual Funds, Insurance Companies), HNI's, Corporate Houses and SME enterprises. The IndiaNivesh group is a member of the RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, BSE, NSE, MSEI, NCDEX, MCX, CDSL, NSDL and AMFI. The brand's motto: 'Trust, We Earn It' ensures effective solutions for customers with a strong emphasis on long term wealth creation and protection. To know more visit: www.indianivesh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Melissa Overby, National Sales Manager for Skout's Honor Chemistry is everything when it comes to bringing in a new team member - Melissa will be an instrumental asset for us this year as we expand our product offerings, grow our distribution networks and gain new customer traction." - Shannan Morlas, Director of Sales Skouts Honor, the award-winning pet specialty brand best known for its environmentally and socially-conscious cleaning, grooming and wellness products, announced that Melissa Overby has been hired as National Sales Manager. Shannan Morlas will step into the role of Director of Sales to support the companys continued growth. Overby is a seasoned professional with a proven track record and more than 15 years of experience in various sales roles at companies including Conair, Eheim and Vets Plus. She brings a love for pets and the pet industry, passion, enthusiasm and ambition to her new role at Skouts Honor. Chemistry is everything when it comes to bringing in a new team member, said Shannan Morlas, Director of Sales for Skouts Honor. The combination of Melissas impressive accomplishments within the pet industry and her entrepreneurial spirit make her an excellent fit for us. She will be an instrumental asset for us this year as we expand our product offerings, grow our distribution networks and gain new customer traction. Overby officially started January 15, 2020. In her role, Overby will be pioneering new pet specialty retail accounts and supporting current accounts across the United States, with a special focus on Western regions. She will also work together with Morlas to oversee Skouts expansive distribution network in the US, Canada and internationally which services more than 7,000+ pet specialty retailers worldwide. Skouts Honor will be exhibiting at the upcoming Global Pet Expo in Orlando, FL. (February 26-28, 2020) in booth #1375 and is debuting its NEW Wellness line of products, including a Probiotic Ear Cleaner, Probiotic Anti-itch Relief Spray, Prebiotic Pet Balm and Probiotic Hot Spot Hydrogel. For sales and distribution information, please contact Shannan Morlas at shannan@skoutshonor.com or Melissa Overby at melissa@skoutshonor.com About Skouts Honor Skouts Honor is an award-winning company based in Irvine, Calif. that offers super-natural cleaning, topical probiotic grooming and preventative wellness products for pets. Founded by a team of animal lovers and proud pet owners, the company created its Skouts Paw Pledge, and donates a days worth of food for a shelter animal in need with every product sold. For more information on the products and for specific retailers, please visit SkoutsHonor.com Skout's Honor 17821 Sky Park Circle, Suite LM Irvine, CA 92614 877-805-0399 Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Dallas. Illegal street racing and stunt shows among hot topics District 5 neighbors discussed at Dallas police listening session A Dallas City Councilman calls the street racing nonsense. Neighbors call the illegal activity a nuisance. They want Dallas police to come up with enforcement plans. Read the full story on WFAA. 9-year-old Dallas road rage victim recovering at home "The part that hurts the worst is that you can't really absorb all their pain," said Diamond Dixon. Her daughter has had four surgeries after a road rage shooting. Read the full story on WFAA. Dallas Police staffing study was a long time coming It took Dallas almost two years to get the results of the police staffing study it commissioned from KPMG, one of the world's biggest auditing firms. Judging from what DPD brass told members of the City Council on Monday, actually making any hay from the study's conclusions is going to take longer. Read the full story on Dallas Observer. Suspect, ex-boyfriend of woman shot and killed outside Dallas Walmart, found dead in Greenville Dallas Police said homicide detectives determined Rashad Kahlil Warren, 24, was responsible for the murder of Emily Sarah Bingabing, 22. Read the full story on CBS DFW. Arrested again: Police find former Dallas Stars goaltender Ed Belfour 'clutching curtain rod, under influence' Former Dallas Stars goaltender Ed Belfour was arrested early Tuesday morning, after police found him on a hotel floor "clutching a curtain rod that had been ripped out of the dry wall above a window next to him. Read the full story on CBS DFW. 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. Bodycam footage released by the Modesto Police Department shows the 2014 incident in which a detective shot a man who threw a book at him: Modesto Police Department Police in California have released bodycam footage of the moment a detective shot a man in the stomach after he had a book thrown at him. The Modesto Police Department posted the video and a description of the events to its Facebook page in response to a lawsuit filed by the victim, Jesse Montelongo, and his family alleging excessive force, unreasonable search and seizure, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The incident occurred on 16 October, 2014, when Detective Dave Wallace, now retired, and his partner, Officer Michael Callahan, were called to an address in response to a frantic 911 call from Mr Montelongos mother, reporting her son's aggressive behaviour. During the call, Ms Montelongo told dispatchers that her son had something, but the call was disconnected before she could say what. Upon arriving at the house at 528 Milo Road, Officer Callahan was met outside by Mr Montelongos sister who had come to check on her brother. He had, she confirmed, behaved aggressively towards her mother earlier that night. The uniformed officers approached the house and knocked on the front door. From the side of the house, Mr Montelongos mother could be heard screaming: Help me! Help me, Please! Officer Callahan rushed towards Ms Montelongos screams, with Detective Wallace following him providing tactical cover. It was then that Detective Wallace was confronted by Mr Montelongo, who emerged from the front door, his right hand partially concealed by the door frame. The police description of the incident says that Mr Montelongo appeared to be holding a dark linear object in his right hand. His gun drawn, Detective Wallace twice gave the command: Show me your hands! Now! It was then that Mr Montelongo lunged his right arm forward throwing a hardback book at the detective. This turned out to be a high school yearbook, the Sacramento Bee reports. Believing he was being assaulted, Detective Wallace ducked and fired one round from his service weapon, 1.5 seconds after Mr Montelongos sudden movement. Story continues Mr Montelongo was hit in the stomach as he retreated into the house, shutting the front door. The bodycam footage shows the officers finding him injured face down on the kitchen floor. After the shooting, the officers cleared the house of family members, including five children, while calling for medical assistance, which arrived within a few minutes. Mr Montelongo, who has since undergone multiple surgeries and will continue to suffer from gastrointestinal problems, filed a federal lawsuit in the US District Court for the Eastern District of California against both Detective Wallace and the City of Modesto. Modesto City Attorneys Office says that Mr Montelongo lied under oath about the confrontation, claiming he tossed a beer can next to his feet. He also claimed this in his federal complaint. A motion has therefore been filed for a summary judgment to have Mr Montelongos claims dismissed. The defendants claim that the use of force was justified because Detective Wallace responded with actions consistent with his training. Mr Montelongo's attorney, DeWitt Lacey, has filed a response and expects the defendants' motion to be denied and a trial date to be set. Read more Miami police searching for missing baby after three women found dead Police officer charged with murder in killing of handcuffed man Car thief rescued by police after accidentally locking himself inside Facial recognition could be 'spectacular own goal', police warned Thai police auction off car packed with almost 100,000 meth pills DUP councils in bid to make the UK's separation from the EU. A decision to fly the Union Flag in Lisburn to mark Brexit Day has sparked a row between councillors. A joint statement of protest has been issued by Green, SDLP, Alliance and Sinn Fein representatives on Lisburn and Castlereagh Council, criticising DUP Mayor Alan Givan for his role in the decision to fly the flag. They said as his position is meant to be "non-political" he should reconsider. One councillor said there was nothing to celebrate in the UK's departure from the EU on Friday. The move comes after a vote to light the council building blue to mark the occasion was defeated. The four non-unionist parties on council, who make up 17 of the 40 elected councillors said: The DUP attempted to have the council light the Civic Centre in blue to mark the UK leaving the European Union. "This was defeated, but following a suggestion by the UUPs Alderman Jim Dillon that the Union Flag should be flown, The mayor agreed to use his prerogative to do so without putting the matter to a vote." Their statement continued: "Our parties ask that the mayor reflect on his decision to mark the UKs departure from the European Union by flying the Union Flag, given the new co-operative approach being adopted at Stormont. We respect the right of those who wish to celebrate this moment in history but to give it the stamp of civic approval wont be done in our names or on behalf of those we represent. Expand Close Brexit 50p coin (HM Treasury/PA) PA Media / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Brexit 50p coin (HM Treasury/PA) At Tuesday's meeting of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, a DUP member requested that the Lagan Valley Island centre be lit up on January 31 to celebrate the UK leaving the EU. Alliance Councillor Sorcha Eastwood, who spoke against the request, said it was disappointing that the building be politicised and that the lighting of the building was meant to be for community or charitable causes. Councillor Eastwood said: We dont think its right that the building be used to make political points and Alliance is opposed to using the building for this purpose. January 31 isnt a date for celebration, as Northern Ireland is leaving the biggest trading bloc in the world, and this will have negative consequences in both economic and social terms. Expand Close Sorcha Eastwood / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sorcha Eastwood Whilst we recognise that we are leaving, what we need to focus on now is scrutinising and analysing the detail that will come from the future relationship negotiations and as a party we will do that at Westminster and the Assembly and we will continue to prioritise protecting NI, peoples jobs and livelihoods. Alliance will continue to listen and work with business, farmers and the community to protect our best interests. The Belfast Telegraph attempted to contact Mr Givan for a response, but a spokesperson for the council said the Mayor was within his rights to permit the flag to fly. The councils provisions state that the Union flag is flown at the civic offices on the designated days in accordance with the Northern Ireland government guidelines, said the council. Along with July 1 and July 12, there is provision to fly the appropriate flag on other exceptional occasions deemed suitable by the Mayor. Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez said Tuesday that the arrest of a now federally charged cop accused of sexually assaulting multiple women was prompted by the great investigation led by his own city. We have done everything, this office. From the moment he was arrested, he was terminated, Hernandez told the Miami Herald after a City Council meeting Tuesday night. Everything was followed to the t, where, thanks to the investigation of the city of Hialeah, the FBI was able to make an arrest. Hernandez, who has previously attacked the Heralds coverage of his city by calling it racist, also defended Hialeah Police Chief Sergio Velazquezs handling of sexual abuse claims against former Sgt. Jesus Menocal Jr. that date back to 2015. The chief called another journalist who has written about Menocal a liar, and the mayor noted that the Herald had sent a pretty, little reporter with a nice face to cover the meeting. Menocal was accused of sexually abusing four women and girls in 2014 and 2015, according to a Herald investigation published in November. A Hialeah police internal affairs review in 2016 showed evidence of Menocals sexual misconduct and violations of departmental policy. But contrary to the mayors assertion Tuesday Velazquez did not discipline Menocal, and the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office chose not to file sexual battery charges. Instead, Velazquez gave Menocal a merit raise that was recommended by the Hialeah Police Department in March 2016 months before the state attorneys office formally closed out its review of the evidence and one year before the FBI would follow up with an investigation. After the Herald published the story on Menocals alleged sexual misconduct, he was arrested on civil rights charges by federal authorities in December following a two-year-long investigation. He was accused of detaining two women, one of them 17 years old, and coercing them into sexual contact. To the victims, the city of Hialeah did its part to make sure that the arrest was made and now its up to the jury to find this officer guilty or not, said Hernandez when asked if he had any message to send to the women accusing Menocal. Story continues Records reviewed by the Herald show Menocal, 32, was also accused of impregnating a cadet while he was a law enforcement training adviser at Miami Dade Colleges School of Justice in 2017 and told the cadet to say she had fabricated the story. No formal investigation was launched at MDC because the cadet, who had confessed she was pregnant with Menocals baby, retracted her statement. Velazquez, who previously told the Herald the cadet had fabricated her story, refused to answer any other questions Tuesday. He has labeled the Heralds reporting false. The situation your reporter has made with his half-truths, Im not going to waste my time and address it, OK? Im done, the police chief said. Hes a liar, the chief added. Hialeah Police Chief Sergio Velazquez, during a City Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. Despite the mayors statement, the city has so far not released documents verifying that Velazquez informed federal authorities of Menocals alleged behavior. I dont have that here, but if we had not given it to the FBI, how did the FBI know about it? This was a Hialeah investigation from the beginning, taken to the FBI, to the state attorney, the mayor argued Tuesday. Thanks to the great investigation, this officer was arrested and that was working with the FBI. The Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office released emails showing it referred the case to the Justice Departments civil rights division in 2016 after declining to charge Menocal. The city has also not provided evidence that, as Velazquez has asserted, police informed MDC of an investigation into the alleged relationship between Menocal and the 22-year-old cadet in his class. We brought this up, Hernandez said, calling the Heralds reporting untruthful. I dont know what the issue with the Miami Herald is, he added. College officials say they never received a memo or any other indication that police were investigating Menocals conduct. During the councils previous meeting two weeks earlier, the mayor harshly criticized the coverage of Hialeahs handling of Menocal, and said: Ill challenge your editor anytime she wants to go [on] a Spanish station with me. Ill put her in her place. Miami Herald staff writer Nicholas Nehamas contributed to this story. Self-publishing has become an incredible opportunity for writers to connect with an unlimited number of potential customers. While there are numerous platforms available, which ones are the best? Without a doubt, the top self-publishing platform is MindStir Media. MindStir Media goes the extra mile for its clients from start to finish, offering services for every stage of self-publishing including book design, editing, distribution, marketing and publicity. Those who are new to the industry will also be connected with a Mindstir mentor (a bestselling author) who can act as a guide every step of the way. It is this dedication that has made MindStir a leading name in the industry. StreetLib has become a favorite among self-publishing authors. It has a tremendous international reach, serving clients in the Americas, Europe, and even Africa. StreetLib is one of the fastest-growing platforms in the industry and is sure to make waves during the years to come. SmashWords is a popular platform for those who are looking to get their eBooks into bigger markets. This platform has an incredible reach and has strict guidelines that authors can follow, allowing them to get their work out quickly. Authors using this platform will receive payments monthly through PayPal. Draft2Digital is a great self-publishing platform for those who like a quick, easy, and straightforward approach. The publishing process on Draft2Digital is known for being very easy to follow. This allows authors to publish their work and see results quickly. Draft2Digital is also known for its large reach and sterling reputation throughout the writing industry. Another option for those who are looking to publish is called Ingram Spark. During the past few years, this platform has grown to establish a global presence. As the name has grown, so has the reputation of this unique platform. It now has a strong trust factor with self-publishing writers all over the world. PublishDrive has become a popular platform for writers who are looking for a guide to walk them through the process. With PublishDrive, the writers are able to focus on what they love most. PublishDrive handles the publishing, design, distribution, and marketing. CreateSpace is a fantastic self-publishing platform through Amazon. This is a great platform for those who want to use a service with the largest reach possible. In this format, Amazon takes a 40 percent cut; however, many writers have found that Amazon's massive distribution network is worth it. iBooks is another great service for those who are looking to self-publish ebooks. They have a presence in more than 40 countries around the world, allowing writers to set prices to be competitive within each individual market. BookBaby has grown rapidly over the past few years. During this time, the company has expanded its services to include editing, interior design, marketing, and more. This gives writers access to every service they might need during this process. Kindle Direct Publishing leverages the massive Kindle presence in the market, specializing in helping writers who are looking to publish ebooks. The only downside is that this publishing platform requires its books to be in a specific file format. Rakuten has its own self-publishing service as well: Kobo. Based out of Japan, this company is known for a strong presence in multiple industries. Those who are looking to expand their market internationally may want to consider going with Rakuten. Addressing schoolchildren here, Uttar Pradesh Jail Minister Jai Kumar Singh played down the importance of for politicians, saying political leaders just need to be visionaries. Singh, an Apna Dal legislator, also criticised "educated people" who taunted ministers who had not studied beyond Class 10, saying these "educated persons" often created a "bad atmosphere". "Many a times it happens that educated people like IAS and PCS officers, doctors and engineers used to say that a particular leader or legislator is only a high school (10th) pass and that illiterate people are ruling educated persons. These educated persons used to create different type of bad atmosphere. A leader need not be educated," Singh said while addressing students at a school in Mehmudabad tehsil on Tuesday. "I am the jail minister. That does not mean I have to run the jails myself. There are jail superintendents and jailors for that. I have to just say that jails should have good food and management," Singh said. The minister added that and degrees have no meaning for a political leader. "A leader should be a visionary. of a leader, his knowledge and degree do not have any meaning. If I envision that an ITI needs to be set up then it has to be built by engineers and architects, and not by the minister concerned," he said. (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 Philip J. Heijmans and Lucille Liu (Bloomberg) Beijing, China Wed, January 29, 2020 13:22 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20617efed 2 World China,US,South-China-Sea,geopolitics Free Chinas armed forces accused the US of ill intentions in the South China Sea after an American warship entered waters near the contested Spratly Islands last week. The US ships deliberate provocation during the traditional lunar Chinese New Year festival, which harbored ill intentions, is a naked act of navigational hegemony, Senior Colonel Li Huamin, spokesman for the Peoples Liberation Armys southern command, said in a statement Tuesday. China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea and its islands, and no matter how the US deliberately schemes, comes up with new tricks, provokes and stirs up trouble, its efforts will be fruitless. The USS Montgomery, an Independence-class combat ship, was tracked by PLA forces on Jan. 25 sailing in an area adjacent to where China controls a man-made island without Beijings authorization. China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines each claim sovereignty over some or all of the Spratly Islands. Innocent Passage Lieutenant Joe Keiley, spokesman for the US Navys Seventh Fleet, said in an email Wednesday that no ship -- civilian or military -- required permission before engaging in innocent passage through territorial seas and that the maneuver was consistent with international law. He said the USS Montgomery was sent to challenge such restrictions imposed by China, Vietnam, and Taiwan. This freedom of navigation operation upheld the rights, freedoms and lawful uses of the sea, Keiley said. The US has increased patrols in the South China Sea since the Pentagon officially labeled China a strategic competitor in 2018, as the worlds two biggest economies battle for influence in Asia-Pacific. On Aug. 23, Sen. Rob Portman, the chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, was so concerned that Ukraine aid was being held up that he had his national security adviser, Wayne Jones, contact the Office of Management and Budget regarding the hold. Later, Sen. Portman stated publicly that the presidents Ukraine actions were wrong but didnt rise to the level of impeachment. The Government Accountability Office later found that the Trump administrations reasons for withholding the aid violated the law. Americans overwhelmingly want to hear from witnesses in the impeachment trial, including 69 percent of Republicans. Since Sen. Portman works for his constituents, he should be doing what they ask and support a fair trial. It then makes me wonder, just who is he working for? Mary Mann, North Olmsted A new coronavirus spreading from the city of Wuhan has put a spotlight on Chinas poorly regulated wild animal trade - driven by relentless demand for exotic delicacies and ingredients for traditional medicine. Chinas markets, where wild and often poached animals are packed together, have been described as a breeding ground for disease and an incubator for a multitude of viruses to evolve and jump the species barrier to humans. Thousands of people have been infected by the new flu-like virus that authorities say emerged from illegally traded wildlife in a seafood market in the central Chinese city, with the death toll closing in on 100 this week. The origin of the new coronavirus is the wildlife sold illegally in a Wuhan seafood market, Gao Fu, director of China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told a briefing. Preliminary research suggested that in the most recent stage of its evolution, the Wuhan virus was passed on to humans from snakes. But Chinese government medical adviser Zhong Nanshan has also identified badgers and rats as possible sources. Conservationists and health experts have long denounced the trade in wildlife for its impact on biodiversity and the potential for spreading disease in markets. The animal welfare part of this is obvious, but much more hidden is this stashing and mixing of all these species together in a very small area, with secretions and urine mixed up together, said Christian Walzer, executive director of the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society. Chinas wet markets have already been blamed for outbreaks of other infectious diseases in China and southeast Asia, including the virus responsible for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which killed nearly 800 people worldwide in 2003. The other thing you have to consider is that these animals are massively stressed in these cages so their immune systems fail very quickly, said Walzer. It is a perfect system. You couldnt do it any better if you tried, Walzer said of the markets propensity to generate viruses. Photographs taken at the Wuhan market before it was closed at the end of last year show cages packed with snakes, porcupines and foxes. Media said about 50 types of wild animal were on sale at the market, including endangered pangolins. According to a report by the China Business Journal, a state-owned paper that interviewed the sister of a vendor infected by the virus, snakes, ducks and wild rabbits were popular at the market. Since the outbreak began, authorities in Wuhan and elsewhere have shut down markets, zoos and forest parks, suspended trade in live poultry and the trade and transport of wild animals, though residents in some areas said the measures appeared to be largely symbolic. The southeastern province of Guangdong, where a wide variety of animals are sold, has long been regarded as a prime source of new diseases. Scientists believe SARS was caused by cross-species transmission in the province - with the blame initially falling on masked palm civets, which are considered a delicacy. Authorities slaughtered thousands of the animals although bats were later believed to have been the source of SARS. After SARS, China tried to improve the way the animal trade is regulated. At the same time, authorities have tried to curb the poaching of exotic species and has a long list of officially protected wildlife. But efforts to protect animals often lose out to generations of tradition. Environmentalists have long campaigned for new laws to restrict the use of wild animals in Chinese medicine and to develop synthetic alternatives. But many animal products are still easily available. Snakes, peacocks and even crocodiles are on sale via Taobao, a Chinese e-commerce website run by Alibaba. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: Kazakhstan's embassy in Azerbaijan launched a special round-the-clock telephone line for Kazakh citizens who are currently in Azerbaijan, the embassy told Trend. The embassy noted that the line was launched due to the coronavirus outbreak. The phone number is +7 771 725 5555. The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019, and since then more than 130 people have died, including a doctor who was treating the victims. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019. The symptoms include cough, headache, fatigue, fever, aching and difficulty breathing. It is primarily spread through airborne contact or contact with contaminated objects. Chinese health authorities say that the majority of the people who have died were either elderly or had underlying health problems. The virus is spreading at a rapid pace but researchers are far from finding a vaccine. Aside from Mainland China, the cases of coronavirus spreading have also been confirmed in Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, the US, France, Germany, South Korea, Canada, Vietnam, Cambodia, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The commercial aircraft cabin interiors market size is poised to grow at a CAGR of more than 9% during the period 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/20200128005505/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled global commercial aircraft cabin interiors market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire) The demand for air travel is likely to double over the next two decades due to the growth in air travel in countries such as China, India, Indonesia, Russia, and the US. The year-over-year increase in air traffic has also mandated the induction of new aircraft to facilitate this growing demand. Hence, airline companies are increasingly ordering new generation aircraft that are fuel-efficient and lightweight. For instance, in November 2018, IndiGo, an Indian operator, upgraded its orders for A320s and replaced them with 125 A330s. The change in order was attributed to the airline's plans to offer distinguished services to its customers and evolve its brand image from that of an LCC into a full-fledged carrier. Thousands of pounds of composite materials like honeycomb core, thermoset prepregs, and thermoplastics are being used in new-generation aircraft to reduce the overall weight of aircraft. These materials are mostly used in ceiling and floor panels, galleys, lavatory modules, food and drink trolleys, and class dividers. Such innovations will stimulate the demand for new generation aircraft, which will drive the growth of the commercial aircraft cabin interiors market. To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR40787 As per Technavio, the emergence of 3D printing in aircraft cabin interior will have a positive impact on the market and contribute to its growth significantly over the forecast period. This research report also analyzes other important trends and market drivers that will affect market growth over 2020-2024. Commercial Aircraft Cabin Interiors Market: Emergence of 3D printing in Aircraft Cabin Interior The consistent growth of the aerospace industry is compelling aerospace companies to seek innovative technologies to manage their costs efficiently and meet the demands of the aviation market. One such technology is 3D printing or additive manufacturing that can develop three-dimensional objects using computer-aided design (CAD). 3D printing allows designers and engineers to manufacture parts with intricate geometries that are lighter than components manufactured using traditional methods. Moreover, advances in laser and 3D printing machines are encouraging developers to create parts with new material combinations. This method, apart from being cost-effective, gives the added advantage of quick design and manufacturing of different components. "Factors such as the increasing preference for collaborative efforts in aerospace industry, and growing R&D of new materials for aircraft seating will have a significant impact on the growth of the commercial aircraft cabin interiors market value 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 Commercial Aircraft Cabin Interiors Market: Segmentation Analysis This market research report segments the commercial aircraft cabin interiors market by product (seating; lavatory module; windows, cabin panels, and stowage bins; galley; lighting), type (narrow-body aircraft, wide-body aircraft, and regional aircraft), and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA). The North American region led the market in 2019, followed by Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA respectively. However, during the forecast period, the European region is expected to register the highest incremental growth due to the growing orders for new-generation aircraft, which will parallelly generate demand for advanced cabin interior products. 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: Market Landscape Market ecosystem Market characteristics Market segmentation analysis Market Sizing Market definition Market size and forecast Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation Geographical Segmentation Regional comparison Key leading countries 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 focuses 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/20200128005505/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 www.technavio.com In a company training session that I had the opportunity to participate in recently, the following question was asked, what happens when a community loses their local newspaper? That was followed with a secondary question being asked, how would that community then get their news? As can be expected, the answers varied from things such as social media, word of mouth, friends, neighbors, to answers such as other regional outlets and so forth. All of which are correct in one way or another, but in any event, it was agreed that the community would suffer from accurate, timely and first-hand information. Yes, they would somehow get the latest business closings, violent crimes committed along with mostly not so pleasant news and information from social media, radio, friends, neighbors etc. And yes, they would get a bit of regional coverage for any high profile crimes and business closings. They might even get lucky (unlucky) and have a major news outlet like the NY Times or Washington Post swoop into town to do a feature story on another dying rural American town. But who is consistently going to tell the communitys feel good stories and convey all the great things happening locally to the outside world? Carrying this one step further, when potential new businesses look to relocate to your community or that of a competing community, they will first Google all the prospective communities or locations. What will they then find when they Google your town? They will see those business closings, crime stories, obituaries, and yes, that NY Times piece will appear at the top of their search as well. What impressions will they have of your community and what decisions do you think they will make? While I wish this was simply a what if situation, unfortunately, nearly two thousand communities across the country are experiencing this exact scenario today. Local newspapers are the eyes into the soul of your community. The local newspaper is your communitys ambassador to the outside world. If the local newspaper cant convey your communitys positive message to the outside world, who then will be able to convey that message in a consistent and accurate fashion? Newspapers used to be the communitys proverbial communication town square. In todays world of media fragmentation of potential information sources, capturing that role once again is more critical than ever. Small and mid-sized communities need every bit of help they can muster, having a local media presence is critical to the overall success and vitality of the community. A recent Notre Dame study indicated that a community that loses their newspaper could expect the cost of local government to increase by 30% within five years. That doesnt mean that government is bad, it is necessary, but without oversight, they tend to spend more than they otherwise might. Regardless of the political leanings of the local newspaper, that simple act of oversight saves a community hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. Another recent poll showed that most local residents believe that their local newspaper is doing fine financially. While many newspapers are doing okay, it is safe to say that most are facing challenging and potentially crippling economic headwinds. It is no surprise that communities face these same economic challenges. The media company and the community need to work together to find the synergies that can be created to mold a foundation from which to build. For both to succeed, they need each other more than ever before. When a community loses its newspaper, a part of that community dies. In addition to less civil engagement, it loses its identity. A quote by Portland States Lee Shaker was recently shared with me. He said in a Nieman Lab report, If a community loses its newspaper, it stops being its own place. It becomes a satellite of something else, rather than having its own core identity. A community without a newspaper becomes a rudderless ship adrift in the treacherous economic currents of life. John A. Newby, author of the National "Building Main Street, Not Wall Street " column dedicated to helping communities combine synergies with local media allowing them to not just survive, but thrive in a world where Truly Local is lost to Amazon, Wall Street chains and others. His email is: john@360MediaAlliance.net Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death. Submit The man accused of fatally beating Joseph Tremarco at a Plainfield tire shop in 2007 and fleeing to Guatemala where he avoided arrest for more than a decade testified Tuesday he was acting in self-defense. Welder "Dario Morente Dubon, 34, is on trial for first-degree murder charge in the killing of Tremarco, who authorities say met up at a tire shop for a business deal on March 29, 2007. The two men argued over whether the correct amount of tire rims were placed in Tremarcos truck after he purchased them and arrived to pick them up where Dubon worked, Dubon testified at his trial in Superior Court of Union County Tuesday. Thats when Tremarco began to shove him, punch him in the ribs and knock him to the ground while continuing to kick, Dubon testified. Dubon noticed an aluminum bat as he lay on the floor, he said, got to his feet quickly and began to hit Tremarco in the head with the bat at least twice. He later testified that he did not remember how many times he hit Tremarco with the bat. I was afraid for my life and I looked to the side and I saw the bat, Dubon said through an interpreter since he speaks Spanish. As I was able to, I grabbed it. I got up quickly. I only remember that I hit him twice and he fell down. Tremarco, Dubon testified, also told him to suck my d---- when he first arrived at the shop and grabbed his pants. Dubon said it was a common occurrence for Tremarco to curse at him when his boss wasnt around. Dubon said being beaten up and spoken to like that made him feel humiliated. Later, when questioned by his public defender, Annie Maurer, Dubon said he did kill Tremarco but did not intend to. He testified that he stopped hitting Tremarco once he fell to the ground. I didnt want that to happen, he said, referring to Tremarco dying. Tremarco was from the Millington section of Long Hill and 23-years-old when he died. Hed recently started his own business and had become engaged to his girlfriend, his mom told the media after Dubon was apprehended in Guatemala in 2017. A kind, loving, gentle young man with a heart of gold, he would always lend a hand to his fellow man, an obituary for Tremarco read. His family declined to speak to NJ Advance Media after Dubon testified in court Tuesday. Dubon was once on New Jerseys most wanted list and appeared on the television show Americas Most Wanted. And he was living in the country as an undocumented immigrant at the time of the crime, Dubon testified. That is why Dubon says he did not call police after Tremarcos death. He feared police wouldnt believe what he said happened because of his immigration status, Dubon testified. I wasn't an American then and I was undocumented, Dubon said through an interpreter. They were not going to believe what had happened. I was afraid to go to jail." Dubon said he never rendered any aid to Tremarco as he lay on floor, bleeding from the head because he could tell he was already dead since he wasnt moving. He instructed his 16-year-old cousin who was working in the shop that day to help him put Tremarcos body into Tremarcos own truck. The cousin followed in a green minivan when Dubon drove Tremarcos truck to a residential neighborhood, Dubon testified. Dubon said he was unsure where exactly he left Tremarcos truck, but knew he left it in front of a house. He went back to his job in the minivan, cleaned up Tremarcos blood with a few rags and then continued making work deliveries. He closed the shop and then eventually returned to his apartment, packing one suitcase. Dubon took several buses: first to Atlanta, then to Texas and then traveled to the Mexican border before going back to his native country of Guatemala to stay at his cousins house, he testified. Dubon smiled at one point when he was asked by his own lawyer to testify about the life he led in Guatemala, saying he had a wife and daughter there. Union County Assistant Prosecutor Scott Peterson asked Dubon about his conversations with friends in the aftermath of the killing, and Dubon repeatedly said he did not remember the content of the phone calls. The conversations, however, were recorded, transcribed and played for jurors while Dubon sat in the courtroom earlier in the trial. He also did not recall where he put the rags used to clean Tremarcos blood from the floor or the aluminum bat. Both parties rested their case on Tuesday before Superior Court Judge Robert Kirsch. Attorneys for both sides are expected to make closing arguments on Wednesday. Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @BeccaPanico. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Victoria Jones/PA Images via Getty Images The United States is working on a vaccine for the novel 2019 coronavirus infection, but Chinese authorities have turned down repeated offers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help respond to an outbreak that has killed at least 106 people, top federal health officials said Tuesday. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the agency was developing a vaccine, which would enter a phase one trial within three months. Fauci stressed that, even if testing began in the spring, it would likely be several more monthsor longerbefore officials could deploy a working potential vaccine to patients. Although the number of confirmed cases in the U.S. remained steady at five early Tuesday, Robert Redfield, director of the CDC, said the agency has decided to expand its travel screening efforts from five U.S. airports to 20. In addition to the cases in the U.S., confirmed patients of the virus have been reported in Thailand, Taiwan, Australia, Macau, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, France, Canada, Vietnam, and Nepal. No fatalities caused by the virus have yet been reported outside of China. Redfield affirmed that the risk to the everyday American was extremely low, even as the number of known cases jumped about 60 percent overnightfrom 2,835 confirmed cases on Monday to 4,515 on Tuesday. Most of those cases remain centered in the province of Hubei, where the virus originated in the port city of Wuhan. QAnon-ers Magic Cure for Coronavirus: Just Drink Bleach! The CDC said a day earlier that a total of 110 persons under investigation for the virus were being evaluated in 26 states, that 32 of those people tested negative, and that 73 were still being monitored for potential coronavirus infection. There have been no confirmed person-to-person transmissions inside the United States, CDC officials have said. Confirmed cases in the U.S. include patients in Orange County, California; a man in his 30s in Washington state; a passenger who felt ill after flying into Los Angeles International Airport; a woman in her 60s in Chicago; and a student at Arizona State University, the CDC has said. All of the U.S. cases involve patients who had recently traveled from Wuhan. Story continues Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDCs National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said Tuesday that officials were still aggressively tracing the contacts of each confirmed American case, which involves identifying anyone who may have had prolonged exposure to a patient and then monitoring them daily for symptoms. While the vast majority of Americans will not have any exposure, some people will, said Messonnier. Alex Azar, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, also said during Tuesdays press conference that Chinese authorities have refused repeated offers to send CDC officials to help with response to the outbreak. Though the number of fatalities coming out of China is alarming, the mortality rate may drop over time as we identify a broader set of cases, according to Azar, who also noted President Trump was keeping a close eye on the outbreaks development. Americans should know that this is a potentially very serious public health threat, but at this point Americans should not worry for their own safety, said Azar. Were still determining the real speed of spread of this disease, he added. Were also still learning about the severity of the virus. Meanwhile, also on Tuesday, Democratic U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations panel, announced in a statement that top federal health officials will meet with lawmakers on Thursday morning in a closed-door briefing to discuss the spread of coronavirus stateside. This is an extremely deadly virus thats spreading rapidly around the world, DeGette said. We need to know exactly what the administration is doing to prevent the spread of this dangerous virus here in the U.S.and what, if any, additional resources they need to protect the publics health. Chinese authorities have quarantined more than 35 million people in 12 cities, and Wuhan has been under a lockdown since late last week. Chinas health minister Ma Xiaowei made headlines on Sunday when he announced that authorities in that country believe the virus can spread person-to-person, even before infected a patient becomes symptomatic. That contention appeared to be bolstered last week by a study published in the journal The Lancet, but Messonnier said on Monday that the CDC had not yet seen any clear evidence of patients being infectious before symptom onset. She said that, even without knowing exactly how easily the virus spreads, health officials in the U.S. are being very aggressive and very cautious in tracking close contacts of infected individuals. Redfield said on Tuesday that, even as Chinese authorities believe they have data about the viruss spread before symptoms are apparent, we havent seen that data confirm that confusion. Fauci added: We would really like to see the data. Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University and an expert on U.S. readiness for pandemics, told The Daily Beast on Monday that even experts werent entirely sure what to make of that discrepancy. There is not yet a rational conclusive answer from the scientific community, so were to fly by the seat of our pants, said Redlener. As a physician, I would say Im not worried about it. But as a citizen, and a father and grandfather, I certainly do not want my family members to be in contact with someone who has been in direct contact with a victim. 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. Nigel Farage today said he will miss being the European Union's 'pantomime villain' as he predicted the UK's departure from the bloc will herald its demise. The leader of the Brexit Party will step down as an MEP on Friday after a 21 year career in the European Parliament as Britain finally splits from Brussels at 11pm on January 31. Mr Farage has long led the fight for the UK to quit the bloc and he is now on his victory lap. This morning he signalled he will be taking a step back from the political frontline but warned Boris Johnson he will return to the fray if the Prime Minister fails to deliver an acceptable Brexit. Mr Farage said his Brexit Party will be mothballed but if Mr Johnson 'drops the ball' in the coming months he will be back to 'catch it' as he promised: 'I am still going to be around.' Nigel Farage, pictured at a press conference in Brussels this morning, said he would miss being the EU's 'pantomime villain' The leader of the Brexit Party will step down as an MEP on Friday after 21 years in the job as the UK leaves the EU Speaking in Brussels this morning, the veteran Eurosceptic suggested he would be sad to leave the European Parliament despite railing against it. 'I will miss of course some of the drama,' he said. 'I will miss being the pantomime villain. The guy that gets up and 500 people start booing.' Mr Farage said he was one of only a small number of people who had set a 'big goal' in politics and actually managed to achieve it. He said: 'I am pleased that we have achieved our goal. To be honest with you a lot of people go into politics with a big goal. Very few people in politics ever achieve that goal and I think I have.' Mr Farage has long predicted the EU will eventually fall apart and today he reiterated his belief that the bloc is destined to disintegrate as he said other member states had now seen it was possible to leave in a relatively smooth manner. 'I think, two years down the road, there'll be a big debate going on in many other countries about what kind of Europe do people want,' he said. 'Do they want a Europe of trading co-operation or a Europe run by these institutions in Brussels, and I think the UK's departure really will mark the beginning of the end of this European project.' The UK and EU will enter into a standstill transition period after Brexit on Friday night when the bloc's rules will still apply to Britain. During that transition period, due to expire at the end of December, the two sides will try to hammer out the terms of their future partnership. Mr Farage said he believes Britain could secure a 'pretty reasonable' trade deal with Brussels as long as it is 'tough' in the forthcoming negotiations. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I think we're in an enormously powerful position. 'There is now genuine fear in this building I'm in this morning about Brexit and here's what the fear is, particularly coming from the Germans - they're very scared that we will become more competitive than they are. Mr Farage is now in the process of packing up his office in the European Parliament ahead of Friday's Brexit date Mr Farage, pictured with his Brexit Party MEPs following the European Parliament elections in May, predicted the UK's departure from the bloc will herald its demise The veteran Eurosceptic has been a constant thorn in the side of the EU during his tenure in the European Parliament but he had a friendly relationship with former Brussels chief Jean-Claude Juncker 'The whole single market is based on this premise of a level playing field - it is actually anti-competitive by its very nature, and I think that is a very strong card for us to play because, after all, we still buy an awful lot of German motor cars. 'I think the truth of it is, if we negotiate tough in this next round, we will come out at the end of the year with something pretty reasonable.' On Friday morning, a group of Brexit Party MEPs led by Mr Farage will march out of the European Parliament building with a Union flag to mark the end of Britain's 47 years as a member of the EU. Mr Farage has been in the process of packing up his office in the building in the past few days, describing his time there as a 'massive chapter of my life'. The Brexit Party MEP has been the parliament's provocateur-in-chief during his time there. He recalled in a recent interview how he once told then-European Council President Herman Van Rompuy to his face that he had 'the charisma of a damp rag' and the 'appearance of a low-grade bank clerk'. However, despite being a constant thorn in the side of the bloc, Mr Farage had a warm relationship with numerous senior EU figures, most notably the former president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker. He said that, although he has sought to disrupt the EU from within over the past two decades, the European Parliament would be a duller place without him. He also suggested MEPs from other nations would miss him because of the publicity he attracted. Mr Farage will mark the moment of Brexit on Friday night by hosting a party in Parliament Square outside the Palace of Westminster. It is thought as many as 30,000 people could attend. BJP president J P Nadda on Wednesday said that ally Shiromani Akali Dal, which had decided not to contest the Delhi assembly polls over differences with the saffron party, will support his party in the elections. At a joint press conference with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Badal, Nadda hailed the party as an old and strong ally, while Badal asserted that their alliance is not merely about but also about a bond of sentiments. Akali Dal's decision to not contest the polls had triggered concerns in the BJP that it may alienate a section of Sikh voters. Nadda held a long meeting with Badal before addressing the joint press conference. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) T he number of patients surviving out-of-hospital cardiac arrests has reached a record high, it was revealed today. Statistics released by the London Ambulance Service show 419 people survived last year 10.8 per cent of the 3,876 patients whose hearts were restarted at the scene. The figure was up on the 9.4 per cent a year earlier. Good Samaritans attempted CPR on 2,166 patients, 265 fewer than the previous year, but the second highest rate on record. In 101 cases, publicly available defibrillators were used. Among survivors was a pastor who suffered a cardiac arrest as he prayed in church. He was aided by members of his congregation who gave CPR chest compressions. Trevor Brown, 53, collapsed suddenly at Liberty Christian Ministries in Norbury last September. His heart stopped for eight minutes. Five parishioners with medical training joined Mr Browns wife, Anne-Marie Brown, also trained in first aid, in administering CPR until paramedics arrived and used a defibrillator to shock him back to life. Im quite thankful not just that they were there but that they switched into their professional role in seconds, she told the Standard. There was no panicking. They just got in a line and started CPR one by one, less than a minute after it happened. For me, that was the highlight. I had to see him as a patient rather than as my husband otherwise it would have been difficult for me to do. He was taken to Croydon hospital, where he stayed for three weeks. He had an implantable electronic device fitted to shock his heart if it stops beating again. Mrs Brown, who used to be a maternity support worker, said: He did say to me afterwards that he felt a bit light-headed. The next thing he saw was the paramedics. He is absolutely fine now. LAS crews attended 10,152 cardiac arrests in 2018-19. Of these, resuscitation was attempted in 39 per cent of cases, or 4,004 patients, down 385 on the previous year. Patients not resuscitated were deceased on arrival of paramedics, had a do not resuscitate order or death was expected. Dr Fenella Wrigley, LAS chief medical officer, praised the public for helping to save lives. She said: The key to a patient surviving a cardiac arrest is for them to receive basic life support as quickly as possible, including chest compressions and the use of a defibrillator. I also really want to emphasise that members of the public can never do a patient any harm by using a defibrillator it simply assesses the patients heart rhythm and will only deliver a shock if it is needed. When you use a defibrillator you are only ever improving that persons chances of survival. Dafonte Miller, the Black Whitby man who lost his eye in a violent confrontation with an off-duty Toronto police officer and his brother, is without a doubt deserving of sympathy but that cannot determine the outcome of the trial, the cops lawyer told a full Oshawa courtroom Wednesday. Sympathy does not dictate the result in a case, Michael Lacy said in closing submissions before Ontario Superior Court Justice Joseph Di Luca. (Miller) is not entitled to the verdict that he wants. The community is not entitled to a particular verdict. Making repeated mention of the high-profile and divisive nature of the trial, lawyers for Const. Michael Theriault and Christian Theriault urged Di Luca, hearing the judge-alone trial, to acquit the brothers of the aggravated assault and obstruction of justice charges they face stemming from a violent December 2016 clash that left Miller, then 19, seriously injured. Accusing Miller of lying on the stand Im not going to soften my words because we have a courtroom of people, Lacy said the defence lawyers said Millers inconsistent and false testimony claiming he was attacked by a pipe-wielding Michael Theriault cant be believed. A finding of guilt would vindicate lying on the stand and thats a miscarriage of justice, Lacy said, adding Crown lawyers had no business asking Di Luca to convict on any of the charges based on the evidence. Acknowledging some credibility issues in their case including competing accounts among Millers associates about what prompted the alleged assault Crown prosecutors Linda Shin and Peter Scrutton nonetheless say that when all the trial evidence is considered, there can be no doubt that Michael Theriault wielded the pipe not Dafonte Miller. We are asking you to accept that a retreating Dafonte Miller was the victim of a vicious, two-on-one assault perpetrated by Michael and Christian Theriault that left him with life-altering injuries, Shin said in court Wednesday. To render his decision, Di Luca will have to cut through the competing narratives to determine who was wielding the long, metal pipe found by Durham Region police officers summoned to Erickson Drive, the residential Whitby street where the Theriault family lives and the alleged assault took place. At trial, no one could account for where it came from. According to Miller, Michael Theriault struck him with it moments after the brothers approached him and his friends while they were walking down the street. He alleges he was kicked and punched by both brothers and hit in the head with the pipe by Michael Theriault, causing his severe eye injury. Michael and Christian Theriault say they heard Miller and another man breaking into their parents truck, and after giving chase, Miller armed himself with a pipe. Michael Theriault said he then began punching Miller as hard as he could, inadvertently causing the eye injury. Court heard from a forensic pathologist that the most likely cause of the injury to Millers eye was at least one punch, though he said it was possible it was caused by the pipe. The metre-long pipe was found spattered with only Millers blood. According to Lacy and Christian Theriaults lawyer Alan Gold, Miller had a motive to arm himself with the pipe after he was caught in the act of committing the indictable offence stealing from the Theriault family truck. With Miller wielding the pipe, the use of force used by Michael Theriault is therefore completely reasonable and proportionate because he was defending himself against someone armed with a deadly weapon. Lacy said if Di Luca accepts this version of events, then the defendants necessarily need to be acquitted. Crown lawyers stress that independent evidence points to Michael Theriault wielding the pipe. No independent witness saw Miller touch the pipe, and in addition to his eye injury, Miller suffered a fractured wrist that was consistent with a defensive injury from blunt trauma, like being hit with the pipe, they state in written submissions. Michael Theriault, meanwhile, suffered no injuries and Christian Theriault had a small scratch on his hand. Responding to allegations about Millers credibility, Shin told Di Luca that many of the inconsistencies in his testimony are insignificant and explainable. She also noted the extraordinary circumstances under which he first told his version of events: when Durham police arrived at the scene, they did not help Miller who had attempted to call 911 in the middle of the alleged assault but immediately arrested him, believing the Theriault brothers account. Not one officer asked Mr. Miller about his injuries, or how he was injured, Shin said Crown lawyers allege it is in fact the Theriaults who lied, giving Durham police officers a false and misleading account. Scrutton told Di Luca that if he finds that Miller did not attack the Theriault brothers with the pipe, he must also conclude that the brothers lied to police, and therefore convict them on the attempt to obstruct justice charge. In written filings, the Crown lawyers say the brothers misleading and false evidence was in an effort to evade liability and it was initially successful. No one from the (Durham Regional Police Service) questioned or challenged their accounts, the Crown lawyers write. The Theriault case has attracted significant attention in part because of the racial dynamic of a white police officer and his brother beating a young Black man. At the outset of the trial, Kingsley Gilliam, with the Black Action Defence Committee, said he and other group members would attend the case to send a message to the Durham police, the Toronto police, the police everywhere. We will never accept this kind of conduct from them in a free and democratic society, he told the Star last year. Millers personal lawyer Julian Falconer, who is not part of the criminal case, has also alleged there was a police coverup: the alleged assault did not come to light until months after the fact, when Falconer brought the case to Ontarios police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), which ultimately charged the brothers. Neither Toronto police nor Durham Region police contacted the SIU, despite Miller suffering serious injuries. In written filings, the brothers lawyers say the narratives pushed by Miller at trial, as well as in the media and on social media bear no resemblance to what actually happened. This case is not about race, the defence lawyers write. It is not about excessive use of force by an off-duty police officer or a civilian. Di Luca is expected to return his decision April 9. HORGOS, Serbia (Reuters) - A Hungarian security officer fired three warning shots early on Tuesday after about 60 migrants tried to force their way through a checkpoint on the border with Serbia, and Serbian police said later they had arrested 37 people for trying to cross the frontier illegally. No one was wounded in the incident, which took place at the Roszke/Horgos border crossing, Hungarian police spokeswoman Szilvia Szabo said. Hungarian police said the group tried to enter the European Union member state at the crossing at about 0430 GMT, prompting the security officer on site to fire the warning shots. There are thousands of migrants stuck in Serbia, with more than 6,000 migrants living in government-operated camps. On Tuesday, in the village of Horgos, on the Serbian side of the border crossing, a group of about two dozen migrants from Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Morocco said they were beaten up by Hungarian police and sent back to Serbia. Some showed cuts and bruises, but Reuters was not able to verify their accounts. "My friends they have tried to cross the border and the police of Hungary, they reacted badly about that, they were hitting them, they broke their phones," said Mohab, a migrant from Morocco, who acted as an interpreter for the group. "They shoot bullets in the air and people run," he said. The crossing was the scene of a large-scale riot at the peak of Europe's migrant crisis in 2015, when police clashed with hundreds trying to break through the frontier into the EU. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban subsequently ordered a steel fence erected along Hungary's border, curbing arrivals. But migrant traffic started increasing again late last year and there are currently several hundred attempted illegal crossings per week. Most of Tuesday's group failed to cross the border, and the four who managed to enter Hungary were intercepted, police said, adding that the crossing had been closed. A larger highway checkpoint for international passenger and freight traffic remained open, police said. (Reporting by Gergely Szakacs in BUDAPEST and Aleksandar Vasovic in HORGOS, Serbia; editing by John Stonestreet) She recently revealed that she and her husband Joshua Jackson want to raise their baby abroad. And pregnant Jodie Turner-Smith looked incredible as she was spotted outside the BBC radio studios in London on Wednesday during her promo tour for the UK release of her film Queen & Slim. The actress and model, 33, who is seven months pregnant, displayed her growing baby bump in a stylish and retro-inspired pink shift dress. Wow: Pregnant Jodie Turner-Smith looked incredible as she was spotted outside the BBC radio studios in London on Wednesday during her promo tour for upcoming UK release of her film Queen & Slim Jodie teamed the look with a pair of red patterned tights and wrapped up warmly in a green faux-fur coat, which she draped over her shoulders. Adding some chic accessories, the star opted for a pair of black heels, pearl encrusted sunglasses and a mustard yellow floral embroidered Gucci clutch bag. Jodie styled her brunette locks into a stylish crimped cropped hairdo, she added a slick of make-up to enhance her stunning features. The actress appeared in good spirits as she posed outside the BBC radio studios with her jaw-dropping diamond engagement ring taking centre stage. Yummy mummy: The actress and model, 33, who is seven months pregnant, displayed her growing baby bump in a stylish and retro-inspired pink shift dress Glamorous: Adding some chic accessories, the star opted for a pair of black heels, pearl encrusted sunglasses and a mustard yellow floral embroidered Gucci clutch bag Jodie revealed on Twitter that part of her promo tour will include an appearance on Friday's episode of The Graham Norton show. Queen & Slim was released in the U.S. in November last year had has widely received a warm welcome from critics across the board. The film stars Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie as a young couple who go on the run after a traffic stop ends with the shooting of a racist cop. It comes after the star and husband Joshua spoke about their future plans for their family and that they want to raise their baby outside of the U.S. In an interview with the Sunday Times published on Sunday, Jodie, who is seven months pregnant, said: 'The racial dynamics over here are fraught. White supremacy is overt. It's the reason I don't want to raise my kids here' Promo tour: Jodie took to Twitter to reveal that she is currently doing a promo tour of her upcoming film Queen & Slim (pictured in film still with co-star Daniel Kaluuya), she will appeared on Friday's episode of The Graham Norton Show Parents-to-be: It comes after the star and husband Joshua spoke about their future plans for their family and that they want to raise their baby outside of the U.S (pictured in November) 'I don't want my kids to grow up doing active shooter drills at school,' she added. When asked where they're considering as an alternative, Jodie quickly dismissed her native UK. 'England has gone off the rails,' she said, 'so I was thinking maybe Canada.' Jodie's husband Joshua was born in Vancouver, Canada. Frank: The actress and model, who is seven months pregnant, said: 'The racial dynamics over here are fraught. White supremacy is overt. It's the reason I don't want to raise my kids here' At the start of the year, the sweethearts made their first major joint appearance as a couple at W Magazine's pre-Golden Globes party at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, California. Before that, while they were on vacation together in Jamaica, Jodie posted a racy nude shot on New Year's Day to her Instagram that Joshua took, in which she's silhouetted against a beautiful beach and sky view. 'Happy New Year & Happy New Decade,' her caption read. 'The last 10 years have been quite the ride!!! I laughed, I cried, and, most importantly, I LEARNED. keep going,' she continued. 'May we all see that our wildest dreams *continue* to come true ' Jodie concluded, adding the cheeky hashtags #LiveFootageOfMeInMyElement and #ItsNotAThirstTrapIfYourManTakesThePhoto. In love: At the start of the year, the sweethearts made their first major joint appearance as a couple at W Magazine's pre-Golden Globes party at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, California In December, it was reported that Jodie and Joshua tied the knot after picking up a marriage license in Beverly Hills in August. Yet despite the reports, Jodie still refused to officially confirm her nuptials to the publication during her candid interview. 'People are assuming whatever they want, but when people tell me "Congratulations," I say "Thank you,"' she coyly revealed. The Times article also goes in to the Peterborough, England-born actress's upbringing and move to the U.S. at an early age. Before that: While they were on vacation together in Jamaica, Jodie posted a racy nude shot on New Year's Day to her Instagram that Joshua took, in which she's silhouetted against a beautiful beach and sky view The daughter of Jamaican parents, Turner-Smith relocated to Maryland with her mother and siblings after her parents' divorce. 'So I was really excited when I came to America about meeting black people. But it was a huge culture shock, because I was rejected by the black community. 'They were like, "You talk like a white girl." People would call me an Oreo. All I wanted was acceptance,' she recalled. And she says she still experiences prejudice and incidences of racism. 'There was this wave of people who were upset that I was possibly married to a white man. In America, interracial dating or marriage is not something that is as accepted. Certain people feel strongly against it, in both communities,' Jodie said. 'I felt it from the black community. It is so complicated. I don't want to give it too much energy. The horrific things that people were saying, it makes you... I'm learning there are certain things I have to really keep for myself.' Queen & Slim will be released in UK cinemas on Friday 31 January 2020. EDMONTONDire health impacts and a damaged environment are among concerns raised in a new review on the fracking of natural gas written by a Canadian non-profit made up of physicians. Due to the chemicals involved in fracking, the practices wide-ranging impacts on humans includes the potential for birth defects, cancer, neurological issues, psychological impacts, disease and illness, reads the review by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE). The report, based on the available research, was released Wednesday, and outlines the groups findings on fracking, also known as hydraulic fracturing, which is a widespread practice in Canada. Dr. Melissa Lem, a CAPE board member and physician based in the lower mainland of British Columbia, told the Star that much of the research on fracking comes from the United States and that theres a need for more to be done in Canada. Still, she said the negative impacts on humans and the environment from fracking are well documented and shouldnt be discounted. Canadians have to be aware that fracking is happening in our country and that its causing some extreme harms to our water sources, our air quality, our land, and also contributing to the climate crisis, she said. Were hoping by bringing the health voice to this issue, that we can help change peoples minds and just make them more aware. Fracking is a method of extracting natural gas from reserves deep underground, which uses wells and horizontal drilling. Water, sand and toxic chemicals are some of the substances that can be used under high pressure in order to shatter rock, which releases the natural gas. The special practice is used to get at unconventional oil and natural gas. The review, however, only deals with natural gas fracking, not oil. Its main recommendation for all jurisdictions is a rapid and just transition away from natural gas and oil extracted with fracking to clean and equitable renewable energy sources. The report outlines how the process can contaminate drinking water, negatively impact wildlife, and pollute the air. More than 1,000 chemicals have been found in the fracking process and some are known or suspected carcinogens. Some are toxic and others can interfere with hormonal systems. Information on a large number of additives is not disclosed to protect intellectual property rights, reads the report. It adds that wildlife can be impacted through contaminated drinking water. As well, people can be exposed to radiation that can be released by fracking and air pollution can arise from mining operations. According to the authors, Canada is the fourth largest producer of natural gas in the world and in 2018, around 71 per cent of the natural gas produced in the country was fracked gas. While most earthquakes that result from fracking have been small, its possible larger events can happen. For example, an event of 4.6 moment magnitude was recorded on August 17, 2015, in the Beg-Town area in the North Montney B.C. and was attributed to (unconventional oil and natural gas) developments. In the United States, research findings outline how workers in the sector can be exposed to chemicals and other safety risks. They have a risk of death at seven times the average of the rest of the oil and gas industry. Some provinces in Canada, like New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador, have already banned fracking, either entirely or in part. Other jurisdictions around the world have done the same in recent years. The review also pushed back on the common notion that natural gas operations are more environmentally friendly than other energy projects that produce carbon dioxide emissions. When it comes to climate impacts, these emissions are far more harmful than carbon dioxide (CO2) as methanes global warming potential is 86 times that of CO2 over a 20-year time frame. While Lem hopes the work in the report helps promote awareness around the need for action on climate change, she is expecting pushback from what she says is a well resourced industry. Environmental organizations, were pretty underfunded, compared to the oil and gas industry, she said. There are a lot of vested interests in continuing and expanding the industry. Read more about: You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Since the Wuhan coronavirus spread outside of China, the flow of Chinese tourists to Paris has all but dried-up putting specialist outlets in financial difficulty as travellers postpone their trips amid fears of contagion and contamination. According to the president of the Chinese Association of Travel Agents in France (ACAV), Pierre Shi, "our activities have been abruptly suspended, there will be enormous losses as this is happening during China's longest holidays when the Chinese have a two weeks off to travel. Under normal circumstances, this time of year would be when we would be welcoming [the Chinese], which is low season in Europe." With sales figures down by at least 33% for the 50 agencies who bring up to 150,000 Chinese tourists to France and Europe within ACAV, the agency is now looking to name a certain number of personnel as "temporarily unemployed" as the travel arrangements for the first quarter of 2020 have been cancelled. With 2 million visitors to France per year, China represents a significant share of the tourism market and are seen as the biggest spenders. Chinese tourists make up 7% of the overall dividend for France's tourism sector - to the tune of 4billion - but only represent 2.5% of all visitors coming to France. Chinese New Year is crucial for Paris tourism The lunar new year festivities from 25 january to 8 February, and the following two week period, are crucial for Paris' outlet stores specialising in luxury goods. In 2018 and 2019, Chinese tourists represented 10% of total sales in the tax-free market. Today, Chinese visitors account for 33% of sales in the luxury goods sector compared to only 10% back in 2003 when the SARS respiratory epidemic was at its peak. For professionals specialing in welcoming tourists to the French capital from China, the impact of the coronavirus outbreak has been immediate. Le Pen calls for a halt to all China flights Meanwhile, Marine Le Pen, president of the far-right National Rally, has called on the French govenrnment to consider suspending all flights coming from regions in China that are affected by the disease. This comes as a fourth case of the coronavirus was confirmed in France on Wedensday. In a tweet sent earlier today, Ms Le Pen wrote "the number of confirmed cases of nCOV must push the government to consider the suspension of flights coming from Chinese regions hardest hit and give that country all the possible assistance France can give in the fight against this epidemic." Le Pen's comments came as British Airways earlier announced the immediate suspension of flights to mainland China following a travel advisory issued by the UK government. When Justin Steece ventures out of his apartment in Wuhan, his primary worry isnt getting sick. Hes more concerned that he might bring the deadly pneumonia-like virus circulating the city back home to his wife and newborn baby. But with supplies of infant formula getting low, Steece doesnt have much of a choice. Hes a very chill kid and doesnt cry much unless hes hungry, Steece, 26, from Lake George, Minn., who works as a teacher in Wuhan, tells TIME. My biggest fear is that Ill go out and accidentally transmit the disease to my family. At 3 a.m. local time on Wednesday, a U.S. plane evacuated around 240 Americans from Wuhan, which has been on lock-down following the outbreak of a viral epidemica novel coronavirus dubbed 2019-nCoV, belonging to the same family that cause SARS and MERS that has so far sickened 6,000 and claimed 132 lives. The virus has been traced to a seafood market in the city and nearly 60% of cases are in the province where Wuhan is located. The flight stopped to refuel in Anchorage, Alaska before arriving in California. Justin Steece, a teacher from Minnesota, is stuck in Wuhan after a flight chartered by the U.S. government charged $1,000 per ticket and would not accept Chinese spouses or family members. Steece's son, Colm, is less than a month old and his wife is a Chinese national. | Courtesy Justin Steece But around 1,000 Americans remain trapped in modern historys largest-ever quarantine involving some 50 million people in 17 cities as infection rates continue to soar. Wuhans subway has been shut down, private vehicles banned from the city center, and the Lunar New Year holiday extended. Supermarkets test customers temperatures at the entrance and refuse to admit any with a fever. Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter by clicking on this link, and please send any tips, leads, and stories to virus@time.com. Still, priority on Wednesdays flight was given to staff at the local U.S. consulate and their families. The few remaining seats were available at inflated costs of $1,000, say Americans living in Wuhan, prompting anger among those who felt abandoned by their government. Story continues For the average person, that plane ticket really wasnt available, says George Goodwin, a biology teacher from Reno, Nev., who worked for the U.S. Center for Disease Control before moving to China. Many people were very frustrated as the announcement [of the flight] made it seem this is going to be the savior of all Americans in Wuhan. Except it really isnt because most of us cant go. For Steece, the situation is complicated by the fact that his wife is a Chinese national and son, Colm, is less than one month old, and so still hasnt been registered as a U.S. citizen. Chinese spouses and other family members of Americans were not eligible for Wednesdays flight. Ive actually been a little bit annoyed at the ps-poor treatment, says Steece, who before moving to China served five years with the U.S. National Guard. Why is it that American citizens have to pay $1,000 and not have our families come with us? Its bullst. Its a similar situation for Benjamin Wilson, 38, a restauranteur in Wuhan from Alexandria, La. Although Wilsons seven-year-old daughter, Jasmine, has an American passport, his wife is a Chinese citizen. Even were there room on Wednesdays flight, Wilson couldnt bring himself to split the family up at this difficult time. Its sad when other governments are offering evacuation for Chinese spouses and children as well, he says. While with our government, weve heard about the rumor of a plane coming I have not seen any information directly from the embassy myself but then there was not enough space for everyone. The E.U. said it would co-finance the transport costs for two aircraft to evacuate citizens out of Wuhan, according to a statement Tuesday, with the first aircraft scheduled to depart from France on Wednesday morning and the second later this week. Other nationsincluding South Korea, Japan and U.K.will reportedly send in charters to evacuate citizens from Wuhan in the coming days. Several Americans trapped in Wuhan told TIME they had made repeated calls to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing but only got recorded messages pointing them to out-of-date website posts. Even those who managed to secure a seat on Wednesdays flight were left with the tricky task of reaching the airport themselvesa significant challenge with no public transport running and private cars banned from the street. To date, theres no news of another flight to get Americans out of Wuhan, as unconfirmed reports suggest the city could remain on lockdown until April. Those stuck in their homes dont know how they will be able to afford essential supplies with workplaces closed and no means to earn money. In an email to TIME, a spokesperson at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing said: The health and safety of U.S. citizens, including the employees of U.S. Consulate General Wuhan, is our top priority. We strongly encourage U.S. citizens in China to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP.state.gov) in order to receive the latest updates on health, security, and any possible U.S. government plans to assist travelers. Thats little consolation for Steece, who is left trying to enjoy the miracle of fatherhood with the prospect of months sequestered in disease-ridden city. I love my son very much, he says. You get so overwhelmed with emotion. Were just hoping everything works out. "Stranger Things" star Finn Wolfhard says he can't wait for the audience to watch his upcoming movie "Ghostbusters: Afterlife", which he described as a film full of humour. The 17-year-old actor, who plays Trevor in the Jason Reitman-directed movie, said the trailer doesn't do justice to the film. "The trailer only showed some of it, but it's a 'Ghostbusters' movie so it's a really funny film. Every scene has comedy in it. I'm excited for people to see more of the humour in the movie," Wolfhard told The Hollywood Reporter. The actor, also known for his performance in "The Turning", said it was fun to play a "totally naive" character like Trevor. "He's a pretty dumb character. It's not that he's written dumb, he's just a dumb teenager and totally naive. Everything is way over his head. He's obsessed with cars and girls. So it's really fun to play him," he said. Jason Reitman, whose directorial credits includes movies such as "Juno" and "Up in the Air", is directing and producing the latest installment of the popular "Ghostbusters" franchise. He has co-written the screenplay with Gil Kenan. "Afterlife" is the direct sequel to "Ghostbusters" (1984) and "Ghostbusters II" (1989). Jason Reitman's father, Ivan Reitman, had directed the original "Ghostbusters" films which featured Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis as parapsychology professors who hunts ghosts. Murray and Aykroyd, along with Sigourney Weaver, will reprise their roles for the new film. Returning members also include Annie Potts and Ernie Hudson. Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon and McKenna Grace are the new entrants. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Etsy said Wednesday it continued to diversify its workforce over the last year but stressed it has more work to do. The e-commerce site said it doubled its number of black and Latino hires to 15% last year, according to the company's latest diversity and inclusion report. By the end of 2019, black and Latino employees represented 11% of Etsy's workforce, bringing the total up from 8.5%, according to the report. Etsy had 1,209 employees as of Sept. 30, 2019, with a majority of those employees based in the U.S. The company's diversity report reflects only its U.S. workforce. Etsy also remains one of the few tech companies with gender parity. At least half of its board, workforce and executive team are made up of women. "We're proud of our progress, but we know there's room to continue to expand on that," Elizabeth Spector Louden, Etsy's head of diversity and inclusion, said in an interview with CNBC. Etsy committed in 2017 to "meaningfully increase representation" and put numbers to that last February. By 2023, Etsy wants to double its number of black and Latino employees, bringing it to about 17.5% or 18%. For 2020, Spector Louden said, Etsy plans to focus on hiring more women and minorities for leadership roles and can do so by taking a "holistic approach" to the process. She added that among its changes, the company so far has implemented mentorship programs, created hiring rubrics to be more fair and made changes to its performance management system. "Our progress on diversity hasn't happened overnight. This really has been the result of longstanding efforts," Spector Louden said. "Diversity in the tech sector is a major area of concern." The lack of diversity among Silicon Valley tech companies is common, but several big tech companies do report key figures to increase transparency. In its latest diversity report, Pinterest said 6% of its workers were Hispanic or Latino and 4% were black. In 2019, 3.8% of Google's overall workforce were Latino, while 2.7% were black. Twitter last year reported that 5.7% were black and 4.7% Latino. Last week, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon told CNBC that the investment bank, which backed companies such as Facebook and Square, wouldn't take companies public unless they had at least one "diverse" board member, with a focus on women. "Look, we might miss some business, but in the long run, this I think is the best advice for companies that want to drive premium returns for their shareholders over time," Solomon said while attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. SpendEdge has been monitoring the global catering industry and the industry is poised to experience spend growth of nearly USD 40 billion between 2019-2024 at a CAGR of over 4% during the forecast period. Request Free Sample Pages This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005454/en/ Read the 121-page research report with TOC and LOE on "The Global Catering Industry Procurement Intelligence Report, Pricing Outlook in Geographies that include APAC, North America, South America, and MEA, and insights into best practices to optimize procurement spend." Buyers from the corporate sector are assigning importance to catering service which is now being perceived as a talent attraction/retention strategy. The shortage of organized catering services across some of the regions is creating ample demand for catering service providers from buyers from end-user sectors such as the hospitality and the healthcare industries. These factors are impacting the prospects of spend growth on a positive note in the global catering industry. APAC is among those regions where some of the leading catering service providers from the developed nations are investing by promoting localized cuisines, customized services, and fusion food items without diluting the value of their core offerings. This is propelling spend momentum in the catering industry in this region. On the other hand, in the US, the catering industry is witnessing an eventual slowdown in growth owing to the rapid shift of the B&I sector to low-cost Asian countries such as India and China. Subscribe to our procurement platform to get instant access to over 1000 industry-ready procurement intelligence reports without any additional costs or commitment. Insights into the industry price trends Catering service providers are increasingly investing in technologies not only to improve their offerings but also to ensure absolute adherence to the stringent food-safety regulations. This is significantly adding to their OPEX which is impacting procurement expenses borne by buyers. An increase in labor costs is impacting the costs of services in the catering industry. What are the strategies to adopt to optimize procurement spend in this industry? Benchmarking service providers' quotes against the industry's price It is necessary that buyers ensure that the pricing of catering services is aligned to the industry standards. They should ideally have a balanced procurement approach wherein equal importance should be given to service quality and cost-saving opportunities. Engaging with IFM service providers Strategic engagement with such service providers will allow buyers the opportunity for supply base consolidation and also to collaborate with the service providers in cost reduction initiatives as service areas are integrated. For instance, IFM service providers usually outsource their ad-hoc requirements efficiently to regional vendors at a lower rate. Buyers can leverage this to bargain for reduced billing rates. Buy 1 report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 reports and get the third for free. Download the free sample of this report on the catering industry. Some of the key topics covered in this report are: Catering industry spend segmentation by region Total cost of ownership analysis in the catering industry Regional spend opportunity for catering service providers Catering service providers cost structure Catering pricing models analysis Catering procurement best practices Category management objectives Cost saving opportunities in the catering industry Free sample of reports that you may like: Global Security Services Industry Procurement Market Intelligence Report Global Compressors Market Procurement Intelligence Report About SpendEdge: SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement industry intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement industry intelligence reports and solutions. To know more, https://www.spendedge.com/request-free-proposal View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005454/en/ Contacts: SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Industrying Manager US: +1 630 984 7340 UK: +44 148 459 9299 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us Storyful Several people were killed in a car bomb explosion described locally as a suicide attack near Mogadishu airport on January 12.Ahmed Abdihadi, who was driving nearby and recorded this footage, said he thought it was a vehicle explosion.Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, a local journalist, cited security sources as saying government officials were targeted.Spokesman Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu said the government condemned the cowardly attack.He said at least four people died. An official with the ambulance service said at least eight had died, local media said.The Mogadishu news outlet Allbanaadir said Al Shabaab had claimed responsibility for the attack. Credit: Ahmed Abdihadi via Storyful CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trent Abraham, Chairman of the Board of Voyageur Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (VM.V) (the Company or Voyageur) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ron Sifton, ICD.D, CPA.CA, to the board of directors. Ron will also Chair the Audit Committee. Ron has had an illustrious business career and brings with him a wealth of experience and business acumen. He was an integral part of the management team of Newalta Corp that delivered dynamic growth making Newalta one of Canadas largest waste management companies. Ron was the Executive VP, CFO and director of Newalta Corp. (now Tervita Corporation). Newalta (Tervita) is a leading provider of industrial waste management and environmental services in Canada. In addition, Ron has sat on multiple boards and board committees of both private and public companies, as well not-for-profit entities. These include: Director, Chair of Audit Committee - Calgary Handibus Association, a non-profit organization devoted to accessible transportation in Calgary Director, Chair of Audit, Compensation and Special Independent Committees - BQE Water, a public company specializing in mine water treatment and management Director and member of Compensation Committee - Tellus Holdings, an Australian waste management company. Director and member of Audit Committee (Chair), Compensation Committee, Corporate Governance Committee & Special Independent Committee - Ceiba Energy Services, a service provider of stand-alone water disposal and oil treating facilities. Ron also served as Interim President and CEO during the take-over of Ceiba by Secure Energy Services. Trent Abraham, chairman of the board at Voyageur, states, We are thrilled to add Ron to our team. His vast knowledge and experience will be a major value add to our board and to our Company. Ron has a long track record of success and a strong business acumen that will help Voyageur continue to hit our milestones. Story continues About Voyageur Voyageur Pharmaceuticals Ltd. is a Canadian public company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol VM. Voyageur is focused on the development of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) minerals. The current focus is developing barite and Iodine radiocontrast products and developing bromine-based pharmaceutical products. Voyageurs goal is to generate positive cash flow from operations through its signed joint venture with Chief Medical Supply Ltd. Albertas only pharmaceutical manufacturer. The joint venture contemplates turnkey manufacturing, bottling and distribution of barium radiopharmaceuticals for MRI, X-ray and CT scan applications. The Company also contemplates similar Health Canada registration applications for iodine and bromine products also for medical applications. Voyageur owns 100% interest in three barium sulfate (Barite) deposits including two properties suitable in grade for the industrial barite marketplace, as well as significant interests in a high-grade iodine, lithium & bromine brine project in Utah, USA. About ImagingX Pharmaceuticals Voyageur formed ImagingX, a gross revenue-sharing joint venture company with Chief Medical Supply Ltd (CMS). CMS provides high quality, competitively-priced pharmaceuticals and hemodialysis products to pharmacies and hospitals in Canada. Operating from both its 81,000 square-foot plant in Calgary, Alberta and its 163,000 square-foot facility in Mississauga, Ontario, CMS can supply products coast-to-coast. Regulated by Health Canada and complying with the Canadian Food and Drug Act, CMS has both drug and medical device establishment licenses issued by Health Canada. CMS currently has the combined bottling capacity of 760,000 bottles per day and has a turnkey sterile bottle line ready for ImagingX iodine contrast production. ImagingX is employing a strategy of selling competitively-priced radiopharmaceuticals for MRI, X-ray and CT scan applications. The main focus to date has been on barium, with the inclusion of iodine in 2020. The joint venture obligates Voyageur to provide the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient minerals for the products and CMS to manufacture the products. The partners each split gross revenue 50/50. This joint venture relationship is designed for ImagingX to be highly competitive by controlling all input costs under the motto of: From the Earth to the Bottle For further information, please contact: Steven R. Livingston Mobile + (403) 471-1659 Office: + (587)-779-6166 Dial #1 steve@voyageurminerals.ca www.voyageurpharmaceuticals.ca Reader Advisory Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains certain statements or disclosures relating to the Company that are based on the expectations of its management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company which may constitute forward-looking statements or information ("forward-looking statements") under applicable securities laws. All such statements and disclosures, other than those of historical fact, which address activities, events, outcomes, results or developments that the Company anticipates may or will occur in the future (in whole or in part) should be considered forward-looking statement and undue reliance should not be placed on any such statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of the words "will", "intends", believes, expects, forecasts, "anticipates", "plans" and similar expressions. In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, this news release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to anticipated product registrations with Health Canada for various pharmaceutical products, the Companys plan to develop, produce and sell pharmaceutical products, anticipated cash flows, and Voyageurs ability to meet its obligations under the joint venture agreement with CMS. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the U.S. Securities Act) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as defined in the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 By Ilhama Isabalayeva - Trend: According to the results of preliminary monitoring conducted by the Expert Council of the Association of Travel Agencies of Azerbaijan in the tourism market, the number of Azerbaijani citizens visiting China has decreased by almost 50 percent since the beginning of January this year, a source in the association told Trend Jan. 29. The source also noted that over this period, the number of tourists from China coming to Azerbaijan decreased by 20 percent. Until March 8, Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) air carrier suspended flights to China, according to the source. On Jan. 28, China Airlines also canceled flights from Azerbaijan to China and in the opposite direction, announcing that people who purchased tickets for February-March can change flight dates or return a ticket, the source added. The decrease in the number of Azerbaijani citizens traveling to China shouldnt be attributed only to spread of coronavirus in the country, said the source. There are two aspects to the issue, the source added. One reason is the ongoing long-term New Year celebration in China, the other reason is coronavirus. For this reason Azerbaijani citizens refrain from visiting China. Among the people who wanted to fly to China and purchased tour packages there were those who returned tickets for February and March. What is the relationship between the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) and Shaheen Bagh? Or between both of them and the new Bodo Accord signed on January 27? Ostensibly, there is no connection. But on looking a bit deeper at Indias narrative wars, a complex and intriguing web of relations begins to emerge. A web that is by no means accidental or entirely innocent. Ignorant intellectuals First, the just-concluded JLF. I was in several sessions this year. Eight to be precise. Almost close to Congress MP Shashi Tharoors probable record of nine a couple of years back. As someone said to me facetiously, even Tharoor had fewer panels this year. Did that signify anything? No, I said, tongue equally in cheek, while Tharoor often got a walkover or free hand in his panels, I had to struggle for every bit of space and time to present a view somewhat different, if not at odds with the general thrust. True, there were other voices like mine at JLF. I myself have also defended the right of festival organisers to invite whom they please. Several so-called Right-wing festivals actually resemble echo chambers, with no divergent voices. And JLF does provide space for Left, Right and Centre, though the first and last are usually overriding. Who dominates a particular event shouldnt make us hate it or try to shut it down. That would be most unfortunate. But at the end of the greatest literary show on earth, I cannot help reflect on how so many Indian, as opposed to foreign participants, used their panels to lambast the Modi sarkar. Even if the topic did not warrant it. For instance, the closing debate on the proposition Social Media Has Divided Society where a senior journalist and owner-editor of a portal known to be critical of the government said that it was not social media but PM Narendra Modi who had divided the society. Another quickly hailed Shaheen Bagh as some sort of revolutionary space. Earlier, a well-known actor had proclaimed that Shaheen Baghs were erupting all over India. Of course, no one mentioned Sharjeel Imam or his call to vivisect India again. When I did, I was shouted at by a fellow-panellist as if I had broken some sort of unwritten code by mentioning the unmentionable. When I was interviewed by Swiss Radio, I invited the reporter to look for empirical data. In my view, Shaheen Bagh is far from being Indias Tahrir or Taksim Square (of Egypt and Turkey, respectively). In fact, the Shaheen Bagh protests would probably have fizzled out had it not been for the Delhi elections. Those who have observed social movements in India over the decades will vouch that the scale of mobilisation is nowhere close to a mass movement. What is cause for more worry is the overt or covert Islamist agenda behind Shaheen Bagh, threatening to cut off Assam and the Northeast from the rest of India. Rectifying gaps That brings me to the new Bodo Accord. The third in the last nearly 30 years, the question is whether the accord will at last bring peace in Bodoland. Without conceding separate statehood, the Centre has promised a slew of measures in an impressive Rs 1,500 crore package. Nine groups are party to the tripartite accord between the central and state governments, and agitating Bodo groups. The latter are made up of nine groups, including remnants and successors of all three of the major insurgent groups National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), All Bodo Students Union (ABSU), and Bodo Liberation Tigers. Union home minister Amit Shah said the new accord marked a final and comprehensive solution to the demand of the Bodos, while retaining the territorial integrity of Assam. Promising that it would usher in a golden age for the Bodo region and Assam, Shah added that the issue has been solved forever under the leadership of Modiji. The PM tweeted: The Accord with Bodo groups will further protect and popularise the unique culture of the Bodo people. They will get access to a wide range of development oriented initiatives. We are committed to doing everything possible to help the Bodo people realise their aspirations. pic.twitter.com/icZFHD1J04 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 27, 2020 No divisiveness here What is different about this accord from the previous two? The answer is that this one includes all the stakeholders, even those who were left out earlier. But, more importantly, the Bodo movement itself has run out of steam as have other insurgencies in the Northeast. The package offered by the Centre includes a Central University, National Institute of Technology, polytechnic, Navodaya Vidyalaya, medical and management institutes, dairy, and so on. This will give a huge boost to employment and development in the newly formed Bodoland Territorial Region. No one mentioned this accord at JLF. While both Modi and Shah were pilloried not one of their critics praised a single thing they had accomplished. It is not that Shaheen Bagh should not be spoken of at a lit fest. Or that intellectuals and writers should not criticise the government. The problem is when something as important as the Bodo Accord is ignored and only Shaheen Bagh is exalted, so disproportionately. In the last session of the festival, the aforementioned senior editor said, Dont trust the government. I countered, Yes, but dont trust the media. It would be good to add dont trust our so-called intellectuals and writers either. I would say to the youth, Be critical, be open, be fair. Come to your own conclusions. (Courtesy of Mail Today) Also read: Justice Gogoi case: Why Supreme Court staffer's reinstatement needs more clarity We did find that certain aspects of our culture have, at times, set conditions favorable for inappropriate behavior, Army Gen. Richard Clarke, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, told reporters at the Pentagon. We have a can do culture with a bias toward action. This is part of what makes us great, he said, but sometimes it goes too far. Attending college in Kentucky introduced me to bourbon before beer. Bourbon and whiskey was prolific in far western Kentucky where I spent 5 years in the early 90s before bourbon became trendy. In dry Calloway County bourbon was popular in frat houses and backyard parties before there were release parties and long lines for the latest small batch. I took a liking to Makers Mark. For my palette the nearby Makers Mark was a great fit. Smooth and caramel sweet on the front, a slow spice finish. It was my go to. By 2005 I had become an official Makers Mark Ambassador. Telling the world about Makers Mark. That brings me to Dewberry 1850 and their new bar and restaurant. To my delight they have created and bottled their own Makers Private Select recipe and it is tasty. This one of a kind bourbon is only available in the contemporary and well appointed bar in the lobby of the Dayton Marriott hotel. Unlike everyday bottles of Makers 46, Dewberrys Private Select isnt as sweet up front, heavier notes of vanilla and chocolate with a smooth yet peppery finish. I liked it alongside one of their Red Velvet cupcakes. The warm spice played well against the sweetness of the cupcake. Who doesnt love cake and bourbon at lunch? Here is their Makers Private Select recipe: 5 Seared French Cuvee, 2 Makers 46, 2 Roasted French Mocha and 1 Toasted French Spice. The staves are flavored via the amount of toasting or searing the oak pieces get from a flame. In response to the growth of bourbon and the need to further differentiate themselves from a dozen other distilleries Makers Mark brought the world Makers 46. Makers Mark 46 was created in 2010 by Bill Samuels, Jr., In order to create something new, aged Makers Mark was re-barrelled and 10 seared French oak staves were added to the barrel and aged for an additional nine weeks. The product was a more robust and unique Makers. 46 represented the number of recipes (variations of seared and toasted staves) used to find the right combination. Recently Makers opened up the 46 process to bars and restaurants under the Private Select Product. The opportunity to create a unique version of Makers Mark 46. This recipe is created by altering the combinations of the wood staves added to the barrel. While you cant buy a bottle of Dewberrys Private Select, you can grab it neat, over ice or in a cocktail at their bar in Daytons Marriott at UD. Beyond some delicious Makers Mark, they have their own barrel of Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve. Aged 9 years and really small batch (one barrel) it will be hard to find an exact replica of this bourbon anywhere else. The Dewberry 1850 is the perfect spot for an after work drink with small plate and happy hour specials all week. Bring your laptop and stay late as the bar is equipped with an espresso machine with great coffees (and wifi) for those needing a place to plug in for late night work after the other coffee shops have closed. Bar is open until midnight. OROVILLE, Calif. Students at an Oroville elementary school are hoping they can help people affected by the Australian wildfires, one coin at a time. Golden Hills Elementary School has fourth and fifth-grade students. Each of their classrooms has a jar for them to donate. This is all a part of the schools kindness challenge week. Fourth-grade teacher, Sandy Schlanser said her students wanted to help out as soon as they heard that millions of animals have died during the fires. Its good for these kids to know that our kindness can spread across borders, Schlanser said. And for them to know it can go anywhere around the world, not just at our school site. The kindness challenge helps kids see that. Schlanser said her classroom has already filled up two jars since the challenge began on Monday. Action News Now spoke to some students who are willing to help any way they can. "We've been learning about the animals in Australia because we care about them, and we need to protect them," students Edward Tyler and Lexie Garcia Bogue said. The class that collects the most money for the fires in Australia gets an ice cream party. The school will donate all the money collected by the end of the week. CHICAGO (Reuters) - Beyond Meat (BYND.O) said on Wednesday it will supply plant-based fried chicken to several KFC stores in Tennessee and North Carolina, after a test conducted last year showed strong consumer demand. Fast-food chains including McDonalds (MCD.N), Burger King, and Dunkin Brands (DNKN.O) have raced to add imitation meat products to their menus as Americans cut down on animal protein consumption. While those companies have rolled out imitation pork or beef patties, Yum Brands Incs (YUM.N) KFC is the first to launch plant-based chicken. The product is 80 calories per piece and looks a bit like a fried chicken nugget, with a sinewy texture designed to feel like chicken. It will be available next month in dozens of stores in and around Nashville, Tennessee, and Charlotte, North Carolina, the companies said. KFC said it would take what it learns from those markets to better understand how offering the imitation chicken will play out nationally. Creating a muscle-like, fibrous texture is very important when imitating chicken, because thats what people have come to expect when they bite into a piece of meat, Beyond Meat Chief Executive Ethan Brown said in an interview. Louisville, Kentucky-based KFC has over 23,000 stores in more than 140 countries, but traces its roots to a roadside restaurant and service station founder Colonel Harland Sanders ran in the 1940s. A strong relationship with KFC could benefit Beyond Meat, which aims to work with the same fast-food chains globally and is expanding outside the United States. Beyond Meats products are already sold in several Asian countries, and the company is eyeing entry into China, where KFC is the No. 1 fast-food chain. YUM Brands shares were up 1.5% on Wednesday. Beyond Meats stock rose as much as 3%, with gains dampened by Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons (QSR.TO) saying late on Tuesday it had pulled Beyond Meat products from stores in Ontario and British Columbia. Both companies said they expect strong demand for imitation chicken, given that last years one-day test in Atlanta sold out in less than five hours. Several plant-based meat makers have had capacity issues due to unexpectedly high demand. The category is expected to be worth $140 billion over the next decade. Our intention is to not run out, said Andrea Zahumensky, KFCs chief marketing officer. Los Angeles-based Beyond Meat, valued at about $5 billion after its May IPO, is planning facilities in the Netherlands and Canada. It previously told Reuters it hopes to be producing in Asia by the end of 2020. Officials in the French city of Roubaix recently revealed that the 187 photovoltaic panels that were supposed to generate green electricity for the local library had been installed six months ago, but not connected to the buildings electrical grid In June of 2019, thew city of Roubaix announced with great fanfare that it had acquired 187 solar panels meant to generate part of the electricity required by the local library. The panels were installed by local company Sunretec at a cost of 103,000 euros ($113,000), but somehow everyone forgot to actually connect them to the librarys electrical grid, which means that for six months the panels didnt produce any of the electricity consumed by the Roubaix library. Photo: eliseobabrera/Pixabay The 187 solar panels were supposed to produce about a quarter of the energy required by the city library, but while trying to connect a wind turbine designed to produce clean energy as well, everyone realized the panels were not producing any electricity at all. We realized that this was not the case, Alexandre Garcin (LREM), deputy mayor of Roubaix, told La Voix du Nord, without going into detaiuls about how the blunder occurred. Somehow, no one at city hall noticed that the librarys electricity bill hadnt gone down at all after the panels were installed. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anna Bellissens (Reuters) Itasy, Madagascar Wed, January 29, 2020 08:09 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206169985 2 Food coffee,Madagascar Free In the rich volcanic soils of central Madagascars Itasy province grows a rare and fragrant coffee coveted by bats and humans alike. The twist: humans want it even more after the bats have nibbled on it. Bat spit gives the beans a uniquely smooth flavour, say consumers, sending demand for an already expensive speciality bourbon pointu coffee soaring to nearly $110 per pound (220 euros/kg). Farmers around the world are turning to premium and rare beans, some including an animal touch, to shore up their incomes amid a global production glut that has driven down prices . But this may be the first time such coffee is being commercially produced in Africa, said Matthew Harrison, buyer at speciality coffee sourcing company Trabocca. Madagascar used to produce mainly lower-quality robusta beans used in instant coffees, but now farmers like Nirina Malala Ravaonasolo are producing bourbon pointu beans, a premium variety of higher-priced arabica coffee. "Before, most people here in Itasy did not have any interest in growing coffee," said Ravaonasolo, president of a local coffee group. "Today it's become our livelihood." Read also: How much coffee is safe to consume? Research says up to 25 cups a day Bourbon pointu sells domestically for about $101 per pound (200 euros/kg), more than 50 times the price of commodity-grade coffee. A bit of bat spit pushes the price higher. Wild bats chewing on ripe coffee berries results in a reaction between their digestive fluids and outside air that gives a uniquely smooth flavour, say customers. "Its very special," said Ronald Van der Vaeken, a local Belgian hotelier. "Normal coffee, after two minutes, you forget the taste - but this coffee stays a very long time in your mouth. It's not acidic its very good." It's the brainchild of farmer and agricultural entrepreneur Jacques Ramarlah. Two years ago, he reintroduced bourbon pointu beans to the area from nearby Reunion Island. He later introduced bat coffee after observing them nibbling the best beans. Now, Ramarlah works with about 90 farmers who send him beans for processing and marketing, some at his on-farm restaurant. The farmers produced two tonnes of coffee this year, with plans for 20 tonnes by 2021, for export to discerning markets like Japan. His customers mostly come from local high-end restaurants and hotels. Bat coffee will be a small portion of production. Madagascar's animal-enhanced coffee is not unique Southeast Asias Kopi Luwak coffee is made from beans salvaged from civet cat poop; Thailand has elephant dung coffee; and there's a Costa Rican bat coffee similar to Ramarlahs. Extremely high-value coffee is a very niche market, but it is growing, said Harrison, the Trabocca buyer. The global speciality coffee market is forecast to hit $83.6 billion in 2025, said Adroit Market Research, more than doubling its 2018 market size. Topics : coffee Madagascar Former White House senior counselor to President Donald Trump Steve Bannon leaves the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse after he testified at the Roger Stone trial November 8, 2019 in Washington, DC. Former White House chief strategist and avowed China hawk Steve Bannon is producing a new documentary that will take aim at Chinese President Xi Jinping in the thick of U.S. negotiations with the Chinese government over a "phase two" trade deal. Bannon, who ran President Donald Trump's presidential campaign in 2016, is using millions of dollars in contributions to, in part, help fund the initial production costs of "Emperor: Rise of Xi," according to his nonprofit group's most recent 990 tax return. "This film will be a devastating takedown of the 'myth of Chairman Xi' including the Wall Street and corporatist faction that props up the regime," Bannon told CNBC. The 90-minute feature is being crafted to focus on modern Chinese history through the perspective of Xi and his late father, Xi Zhongxun, who was once the head of the propaganda department for the Chinese Communist Party, according to people familiar with the matter who declined to be named as these decisions were yet to be made public. The movie is expected to be released around Labor Day, these people said, in the midst of Trump's reelection fight. The documentary has 50 cast members and the production team has more than 30 hours of footage. The film will focus on Xi's father's association with Chinese dictator Mao Zedong. It will also look at Xi and his family's historic links to the Chinese Community Party and the impact they had on World War II, the protests at Tiananmen Square and confrontations with the United States. A separate five-hour documentary is set to be released in 2021, these people added. Prior to his tenure as Trump's campaign chairman in 2016, Bannon produced many conservative films, including "Clinton Cash" that probed allegedly shady dealings by the Clinton Foundation. The revelation that Bannon is working on a film about Xi comes as the Chinese leader is under pressure for his response to the coronavirus, which has killed more than 130 people in the country. The documentary could address Xi's response to the outbreak, according to one of the people familiar with the movie. Bannon has been discussing the impact the virus will have on the economy on his podcast, "War Room: Pandemic." Trump praised Xi's efforts to contain the virus in a CNBC interview at the World Economic Forum, saying he trusted the Chinese leader's response. Bannon has also nonetheless previously praised Xi's rule over the nation, aligning himself with Trump's view of the leader. "Xi is very impressive. He really understands what's in the best interests of his people," Bannon told the South China Morning Post just after he departed the White House in 2017. "He is very smart, very tough but fair. He is direct and to the point just like President Trump. That is why they like each other so much." The latest Bannon-backed film comes a few years after his departure from the White House and his earlier fallout with Trump himself. A year after leaving the administration, Bannon was repeatedly quoted in a critical book by Michael Wolff, "Fire and Fury." That led to Trump lashing at his previous advisor, claiming Bannon "lost his mind." Still, since then, it appears Trump and Bannon are in allegiance on several key issues. The former White House advisor has publicly defended Trump's use of tariffs and has been a staunch advocate of the president throughout the impeachment trial. "Nice to see that one of my best pupils is still a giant Trump fan. Steve joined me after I won the primaries, but I loved working with him!" Trump tweeted in 2019. Universities have agreed to meet a five-year target to increase the number of disadvantaged pupils taking up degree places. But the move by the Office for Students has prompted fears among some schools of 'class discrimination' against pupils from more affluent families. An analysis by the OfS suggests there should be 6,500 more students from poorer backgrounds at top universities by 2025. Oxford and Cambridge, however, have refused to expand their total undergraduate numbers, meaning fewer places for better-off pupils. Chris Milward of the OfS admitted: 'Inevitably in Oxbridge, if they don't grow, then the groups who are very highly represented in those universities will be less represented at the end of this, there is no doubt about that.' Oxford and Cambridge have refused to expand their total undergraduate numbers, meaning fewer places for better-off pupils. Pictured: One of Cambridge's colleges, King's, with the River Cam in the foreground He justified the move by saying it was important to recognise 'talent from all backgrounds'. Mike Buchanan of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, which represents 296 independent schools, said: 'Care is needed in starting actively to discriminate against individual young people on the basis of the class they were born into. 'The country needs all its young people to reach their potential if we are to create a bright new future for Britain post-Brexit. 'We urge the Government to enable universities and colleges to expand to take as many truly suitable students as necessary, rather than rob some students of a future to award it to others.' It has prompted concern from independent schools who said the move could work against the more advantaged and 'rob' them of a future. The OfS said access to university has been a 'postcode lottery' in the past, with young people from some English regions such as the South West much less likely to go into higher education. The situation is worse among the universities that ask for the highest entry grades. Pictured: Balliol College, part of Oxford University The situation is worse among the universities that ask for the highest entry grades, it said. Youngsters from the most advantaged areas of England are more than six times as likely as their less advantaged peers to go to one of the most selective institutions, analysis by the OfS found. If these universities meet tough new access targets the gulf will shrink over the next five years to less than four times as likely, the regulator said. OfS chairman Sir Michael Barber said: 'I welcome the ambitious commitments universities are making to change this state of affairs. 'What is an assumed rite of passage for many young people across the country is often viewed very differently in rural and coastal communities, the industrial heartlands and military towns. Oxford (pictured) has pledged to cut the ratio of most-represented to least-represented groups from around 15 to one to eight to one 'The North-South divide crops up in many debates around equal opportunities, and higher education is no exception.' He added that in London, 54% of young people go into higher education, but in the North East of England it is 39% and in the South West it is 37%. Oxford has pledged to cut the ratio of most-represented to least-represented groups from around 15 to one to eight to one, while Cambridge has committed to reducing it from around 14 to one to around 6.7 to one. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images JERUSALEMHours after Israels prime minister withdrew his request for parliamentary immunity from criminal prosecution early Tuesday, the State of Israel vs. Benjamin Netanyahu was filed at Jerusalems District Court, where it was assigned docket number 67104-01-20. Trump Has a Peace Plan, but His Mideast Policies May Be Bad News for Israel With that act, Israels Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit triggered an irreversible course leading to the trial of Netanyahu, who is Israels longest-serving prime minister, and the first to be indicted while in office. He stands accused of fraud, breach of trust, and bribery. If convicted, Netanyahu could face about 10 years in jail. The date for the first hearing in his case has yet to be announced, but is expected to be set for days or weeks after Israels election day on March 2. Depending on the result of the vote, Israelis will decide whether Netanyahu, who failed to form a coalition government that would guarantee him immunity after elections held in April and September 2019, will stand before the three-judge panel as an indicted prime minister, caretaker prime minister, or former prime minister. A previously untested law permits a sitting head of government to be indicted while remaining in office. Netanyahu was able to delay the formal court with his request for immunity from the Knesset, Israels parliament. Had that ploy been successful, court proceedings could not have begun until after the end of his term. But Netanyahu, who is just a caretaker prime minister at the moment, and whose bloc of parties does not enjoy a Knesset majority, withdrew his request rather than face the humiliating prospect of a defeat. In the 2019 campaigns, he had promised he would never stop asking for parliamentary immunity. But in the predawn hours of Tuesday, he did. At that moment, in fact, Netanyahu was in Washington, D.C., preparing to join President Donald Trump for the highly anticipated presentation of Trumps plan for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. His evident political calculation is that what Trump has called the deal of the century, even as a nonstarter, will bring potent political benefits to his campaign. Story continues After several years of police investigations that saw some of Netanyahus closest confidants turn states witnesses, Mandelblit indicted Netanyahu last November with a heavy heart, but wholeheartedly. Case 4000, the most perilous for Netanyahu, involves his alleged bribery of former pal and businessman Shaul Elovitch, who was the principal shareholder of the Israeli telecoms giant Bezeq and its subsidiary, the Walla News site. Netanyahu and Elovitch are alleged to have engaged in a quid pro pro in which Netanyahu, who then served as communication minister as well as prime minister, directed regulatory changes in a manner that helped Elovitch yield about $500 million in illicit proceeds. Netanyahus Big Win Means His Party Is in Real Trouble In exchange, according to the indictment, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, were permitted to control Walla News coverage so as to better their images and target their opponents. "Netanyahu and Elovitch created a give-and-take relationship based on their mutual understanding that each of them had a significant interest that the other could advance, Mandelblit announced last November. Netanyahu vigorously denies all charges in all the cases presented against him, and denounced the indictments as a civilian coup d'etat aimed at toppling me and the right-wing government I lead. Case 2000 also touches on Netanyahus desire for more flattering media coverage, this time in a scheme that was never executed. The accusations center on a series of encounters between Netanyahu and his ostensible nemesis, Arnon Mozes, the publisher of Israels widest distribution daily tabloid, Yediot Ahronot, which were both instigated and recorded by Netanyahu. The indictment claims that in exchange for favorable coverage, Netanyahu would suppress circulation of Israel Hayom, a free daily that is considered a mouthpiece for the prime minister, which was founded by GOP and Netanyahu supporter Sheldon Adelson, the Las Vegas casino tycoon. In Case 1000, Netanyahu is accused of accepting (and occasionally demanding) gifts from well-heeled acquaintances such as Israeli-born Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire James Packer, who in turn allegedly asked Netanyahu to use the power of his office for personal benefit. In details that have titillated Israelis for months, Netanyahu is alleged to have received expensive Cuban cigars and French pink Champagne, and to have permitted family memberswife Sara and son, Yairto request and accept gifts as well. Israelis awoke Tuesday morning to a Facebook post in which Netanyahu described his decision to forgo immunity as a sacrifice he was undertaking so as to advance Trumps historic deal. I am withdrawing my request for immunity, he announced, slamming the Knesset for running a circus and lashing out at the judiciary that did not afford me due process. Netanyahu said he was confident he would squash the disproportionate charges contained in the vacant accusations filed in my case. But for now, he said, I will not let my political opponents use this matter to interfere with the historical move I am leading. Netanyahus principal electoral rival, former Israeli Army Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, who heads a centrist party, responded while en route to Israel from Washington, D.C., where he too had met with Trump to discuss the peace plan. Netanyahu is going to trial, Gantz tweeted. Israeli citizens have a clear choice: a prime minister who will work for them or a prime minister involved with himself. No one can manage a state and simultaneously manage three serious criminal cases for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. 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. PASADENA, Calif., Jan. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation (the "Company") (NYSE: WMC) announced today the tax treatment of its common stock dividends declared in 2019. The Company's 2019 dividend distributions on its common stock consisted of 100% ordinary dividends for federal income tax purposes. The below information is provided to assist the Company's stockholders with tax reporting requirements related to dividend distribution of taxable income by the Company. Stockholders should receive IRS Form 1099-DIV containing this information from their brokers, transfer agents or other institutions. These tax statements should be reviewed to ensure that they agree with the information provided below. Tax Treatment of Distributions The Federal Income Tax classification of the 2019 dividend distributions on the Company's common stock, as it is expected to be reported on Form 1099-DIV, is set forth in the following table: Record Date Payment Date Distribution Rate per Share Total Ordinary Dividends Qualified Dividends Total Capital Gains Distributions Section 199A Dividends(3) 12/31/2019 1/24/2020 $0.31(1) $0.31 - - $0.31 9/30/2019 10/25/2019 $0.31 $0.31 - - $0.31 7/1/2019 7/26/2019 $0.31 $0.31 - - $0.31 4/1/2019 4/26/2019 $0.31 $0.31 - - $0.31 12/31/2018 1/25/2019 $0.31(2) $0.31 - - $0.31 Total $1.55 $1.55 - - $1.55 (1) The cash distributions made on January 24, 2020 with a record date of December 31, 2019 will have only 50% treated as received by stockholders on December 31, 2019 and taxable in calendar year 2019 with the remaining 50% taxable in calendar year 2020. (2) The cash distribution made on January 25, 2019 with a record date of December 31, 2018 are treated as received by stockholders on December 31, 2018 and were therefore taxable in calendar year 2018. (3) Section 199A dividends are a subset of, and included in, the ordinary dividends amount. Consult Your Tax Advisor Stockholders may have additional reporting obligations to the Internal Revenue Service and/or other tax authorities. The U.S. federal income tax treatment of holding The Company's common stock to any particular stockholder will depend on the stockholder's particular tax circumstances. You are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income and other tax consequences to you, in light of your particular investment or tax circumstances, of acquiring, holding and disposing of the Company's common stock. The Company does not provide tax, accounting or legal advice. Any tax statements contained herein were not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used for the purpose of avoiding U.S., federal, state or local tax penalties. Please consult your advisor as to any tax, accounting or legal statements made herein. ABOUT WESTERN ASSET MORTGAGE CAPITAL CORPORATION Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation is a real estate investment trust that invests in, acquires and manages a diverse portfolio of assets consisting of Agency CMBS, Agency RMBS, Non-Agency CMBS, Non-Agency RMBS, Residential and Commercial Whole-Loans, Bridge Loans and other financial assets. The Company's investment strategy may change, subject to the Company's stated investment guidelines, and is based on its manager Western Asset Management Company's perspective of which mix of portfolio assets it believes provides the Company with the best risk-reward opportunities at any given time. The Company is externally managed and advised by Western Asset Management Company, an investment advisor registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Legg Mason, Inc. Please visit the Company's website at www.westernassetmcc.com . SOURCE Western Asset Mortgage Capital Corporation Related Links http://www.westernassetmcc.com Over the weekend we learned of three restaurant closings in Houston. The first: Stone's Throw, 1417 Westheimer, which Houston Chronicle food editor Greg Morago announced early Monday. The popular bar is owned by Shawn Bermudez, who owns other successful Montrose establishments including Burger Joint, Present Company, Pistoleros and Boondocks. Bermudez launched the establishment in 2014. He has not issued a comment nor said what plans he may have for the space. HoustonChronicle.com: Allure of the Seas, one of the world's largest cruise ships, to set sail from Galveston Two out of three Houston BuffBurger locations shuttered. The outposts at 1540 W. Alabama and 10550 Westheimer have ceased operations, while the original BuffBurger at 1014 Wirt remains open. Some you may have missed Not local, but led by Houston chef and restaurateur Anita Jaisinghani: the New York City Pondicheri at 15 West 27th Street has closed. Her daughter, Ajna Jai, told Eater that it was difficult to rub the business while the mother-daughter duo was split between Houston and New York. Jaisinghani is expected to shift her focus back to Pondicheri in Upper Kirby but has not ruled out the possibility of debuting a future outpost in New York. Five Taco Cabanas in Houston are closing, as well as another in Lake Jackson. In total, 19 restaurants in Texas will be shutting down throughout the state. These are the local shops that are leaving: 12518 Tomball Parkway 13480 Northwest Freeway 2535 South Texas Highway 6 6522 Westheimer Road 9220 Gulf Freeway These two impending closings will happen in February, which means theres still time to dine out at them: After 19 years in business, Ibiza Food & Wine Bar, 2450 Louisiana, will permanently close on Feb. 15. Owners Charles Clark and Grant Cooper may have chosen that date because it's Cooper's birthday. The restaurant's social media has already been sharing throwback photos of the owners and the establishment's famous guests. Now's the time to make reservations to get a last meal at the Midtown stalwart, especially if you want to attend one of its last Paella Sundays. While Ibiza's leaving town, Clark and Cooper's other local spots are thriving: also operate Brasserie 19, Punk's Simple Southern Food and The Dunlavy. Also closing next month is Galleria's posh dim-sum restaurant Yauatcha, 5045 Westheimer. Owned by Las Vegas-based Hakkasan Group, it will serve its last meal on Feb. 16, just a month shy of its two-year Houston anniversary. As the ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, Collins has played an integral role in defending the president in the impeachment inquiry and on television. He is expected to have the backing of Trumps most aggressive supporters in the House, which could cause problems for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Both have backed Loeffler. Donald Trump has raged at his ex-national security adviser John Bolton, saying the Ukraine claims made in his forthcoming new memoir are nonsense and declaring he would have started World War Six if he had not been removed from office last September as the Republican effort to discredit him continues. A new poll by Quinnipiac University has meanwhile found that 75 per cent of Americans want to hear from Mr Bolton at the presidents Senate impeachment trial as GOP majority leader Mitch McConnell is forced to admit he does not currently have the votes to stop Democrats calling new witnesses to speak out. President Trump delivered his latest Keep America Great rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, last night after unveiling his highly controversial two-state solution to bring peace to the Middle East at the White House, which was cheered by Israel but met with angry protests by Palestinians. Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load Prashant Kishor was inducted into the Janata Dal (United) at BJP leader Amit Shah's direction, Kishor dismissed the allegation as "a lie". Students at a Sydney university where a classmate was diagnosed with coronavirus say they are too afraid to go back to class. The 21-year-old Chinese student was diagnosed with the deadly virus earlier this week after she flew back from Wuhan on January 23. She isolated herself in her dorm room at the University of NSW when she developed flu-like symptoms after getting off the plane and went to hospital the next day. Six people in Australia have been diagnosed and at least another another 16 suspected cases are being tested to confirm. A 21-year-old Chinese student was diagnosed with coronavirus earlier this week after she flew back from Wuhan on January 23 Coronavirus has killed 103 people and infected more than 6,000 around the world so far, and the government plans to evacuate 600 Australians trapped in Wuhan. UNSW students reacted with shock as the news of their classmate's infection spread and were fearful that they could be next, especially when thousands of Chinese students return to campus. Hundreds on social media said they planned to skip classes, insist on doing their courses online, or take the semester off entirely. Others begged the university to postpone orientation week, which begins on February 10, and the start of classes a week later. 'Please cancel I don't wanna die at UNSW,' one student wrote. 'Well I guess I'm just going to defer this semester,' another wrote. Students at the University of NSW where a classmate was diagnosed with coronavirus say they are too afraid to go back to class Emma Wei, from Melbourne, is trapped in Wuhan with her two children amid China's lockdown CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA NEW SOUTH WALES: 4 Four people in NSW have been diagnosed with coronavirus, including three men and one woman. January 25 Three men aged 43, 53, and 35 who had recently travelled to China are confirmed to have contracted the disease. Two flew in from Wuhan while the other arrived in Sydney from Shenzhen, south China. They are being treated in isolation at Westmead Hospital and are in stable condition. January 27 A 21-year-old woman is identified as the fourth person to test positive for the illness in NSW. The woman, a student at UNSW, flew into Sydney International Airport on flight MU749 on January 23 and presented to the emergency department 24 hours later after developing flu-like symptoms. She is being treated in isolation at Westmead Hospital. VICTORIA: 4 January 25 A Chinese national aged in his 50s becomes the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in Australia. The man flew to Melbourne on China Southern flight CZ321 from Wuhan via Guangzhou on January 19. He is now in quarantined isolation at Monash Hospital in Clayton in Melbourne's east. January 29 A Victorian man in his 60s is diagnosed with the coronavirus. He became unwell on January 23 - two days after returning from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak. The man was confirmed as positive on January 29 and was subsequently seen by doctors at the Monash Medical Centre. He was assessed as being well enough to stay at home. January 30 A woman in her 40s falls ill with the coronavirus. She was visiting from China and mostly spent time with her family. She is being treated at Royal Melbourne Hospital. February 1 A Melbourne woman aged in her 20s is at home recovering. She returned from Wuhan on January 25 and fell ill two days later. She was not infectious on the flight, and has remained in isolation since being tested. QUEENSLAND: 2 January 29 Queensland confirms its first case after a 44-year-old Chinese national wass diagnosed with the virus. He is being treated at Gold Coast University Hospital. January 30 A 42-year-old Chinese woman who was travelling in the same Wuhan tour group as the 44-year-old man tests positive. She is in Gold Coast University Hospital in stable condition. SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 2 February 1 A Chinese couple were placed in isolation in a public hospital. The man and a woman both aged 60, were from Wuhan and visiting relatives in South Australia. SA Health said the pair isolated themselves at home when they developed symptoms and awaited the results of the coronavirus test. Australia has raised the travel alert level to 'do not travel' for the city of Wuhan - the epicentre of the outbreak - and for the entire Hubei province. Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy says unless people have contact with someone who is unwell and has come from that part of China, there is no need for current concern. Advertisement Some students planned to still study, but called for them to be allowed to take their classes online to avoid campus during the coronavirus crisis. 'They should have an online only option, don't wanna get sick,' one wrote, while another said 'surely they are getting rid of all compulsory classes?' Parents and friends also expressed concern, some warning students against setting foot on the Randwick complex. 'I would be concerned about my child going to that uni, who else has been infected! This is the scary part!' one mother wrote. Another added: 'Now I can start to worry again my grand daughter has stared her first day of classes.' NSW Health said the student was being treated in isolation at Westmead Hospital and only had limited contact with people in Australia - reducing the likelihood that she had spread the virus. 'The student did not attend any classes at the university and stayed on her own in campus accommodation with no close contact before she was admitted to hospital,' UNSW said in an email to students. Students expressed frustration that the university did not specify which campus accommodation the student was staying in and would not tell them. Photos taken outside Westmead Hospital on Sunday showed a young woman wearing a face mask being moved by paramedics with protective gloves, masks and clothing. Health authorities are now working to track down people the woman came into contact with and potentially infected. NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said test results for the most recent 16 cases are expected by Wednesday afternoon, and will be shared with the public. All 16 patients, 10 men and six women, who are believed to be carrying the virus are in isolation awaiting their test results. Their ages range from just two years old through to 66. 'The fact we have 16 cases under investigation just reflects that we've broadened our testing... to focus on the Hubei province not just Wuhan and any contacts of confirmed cases,' Dr Chant told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday. 'That is to detect any cases and take a very precautionary approach. We're also increasingly realising the disease profile can be quite varying.' 'We want to get the message out there that even people with low-level symptoms should come forward,' Dr Chant said. The state has so far tested more than 40 people. A passenger wearing a protective mask (pictured) is seen at Sydney Airport on Thursday, as a man in Melbourne is confirmed as the first Australian case of coronavirus Moody's Investors Service has assigned a first-time Ba3 corporate family rating to India Infoline Finance Ltd New Delhi: Moody's Investors Service and Fitch Ratings have given a stable outlook to the credit ratings of India Infoline Finance Ltd (IIFL), according to a regulatory filing on Tuesday. The agencies have assigned ratings to the company. Moody's Investors Service has assigned a first-time Ba3 corporate family rating to India Infoline Finance Ltd. Moody's Corporate Family Ratings (CFR) are opinions on a corporate family's ability to honour all of its financial obligations. The global ratings firm has also assigned (P)Ba3 long-term foreign and local currency senior secured ratings to the company's $1 billion Euro Medium-Term Note (EMTN) programme, according to the regulatory filing. It added that the outlook is stable. On the ratings rationale, Moody's said it is driven by the company's stable and healthy solvency profile, including its asset quality, profitability and capital. Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings has assigned long-term issuer default rating (IDR) of 'BB-' to IIFL. It also kept the the outlook stable. 'BB-' denotes elevated vulnerability to default risk. The agency has also assigned a 'BB-' rating to IIFL's USD 1-billion medium-term note (MTN) programme IIFL reported a 78 percent rise in its consolidated net profit to Rs 193 crore for the December 2019 quarter. Incorporated in 2004, the mid-sized retail finance company targets low-ticket retail loans such as home, business, gold and micro finance in semi-urban and rural areas of the country. Such assets represented 86 percent of its total assets under management (AUM) at 31 December 2019. Moody's Investors Service said about 14 per cent of IIFL's loans are exposed to riskier segments, including small and mid-corporate segments, in the form of loans to developers (13 per cent) and loans for capital market activities (1 per cent). "Despite the tight funding conditions, India Infoline Finance has managed to proactively diversify its funding to more stable and long-dated funding sources, such as term loans from banks and non-convertible debentures," Moody's said. Haiti - Economy : Sunrise Airways, announces direct flights Cap-Haitien / Santo-Domingo The private Haitian airline Sunrise Airways based in Port-au-Prince, whose head office is located in Haiti, announces that from February 10, 2020, it will operate direct flights twice a weeks (Monday and Friday) between Cap-Haitien (Haiti) and Santo-Domingo (Dominican Republic). Depart at 10:35 a.m. from La Isabela Airport (Santo Domingo), for a 50-minute flight with arrival to Cap Haitien and return the same day. Departure at 10:35 (Haitian time) from Cap Haitien, arrival at La Isabella at 12:25 (Dominican time). The connection will be made in a 19-seat aircraft. Price from 329 US dollars for a round trip, taxes included. Learn more about Sunrise Airways : Sunrise Airways operates more than 110 weekly flights between Haiti, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. The company serves the Cuban cities of Havana, Camaguey, Santiago and Holguin several times a week from Haiti and Santo Domingo. It offers several flights every day, between Port-au-Prince and Cap Haitien or Santo Domingo. Sunrise has expanded its fleet with 2 Boeing 737 dedicated to routes toward Cuba, in addition to the 4 19-seat aircraft serving PAP-CAP and PAP-JBQ (Santo Domingo). The company is now developing its Caribbean network also from the Dominican Republic. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24704-haiti-flash-sunrise-airways-a-haitian-success-story.html HL/ HaitiLibre Press Release January 29, 2020 GORDON WARNS AGAINST CREATING UDNUE PANIC, ASSURES PREVENTIVE PROTOCOLS ARE IN PLACE VS ENTRY OF WUHAN VIRUS While we may be scared of the Wuhan virus or the novel Coronavirus (2019-nCOV) because it is an instinctive reaction to fear the unknown, there is no need to panic. Rest assured that the Department of Health, our country's sentinel of public health, in coordination with the Philippine Red Cross and other medical authorities, is on top of the situation and is ensuring that health and preventive protocols are set in place. Let us not be irresponsible, refrain from spreading unverified reports about the nCOV because it could create panic. Creating undue panic would have negative economic and political impact in our country since it could give rise to panic buying and hoarding of basic commodities and masks which would trigger price increases. Only the greedy will benefit and not the needy public! We, in the Red Cross, have been issuing health and safety reminders that the public should follow and keep in mind to avoid contracting the disease. These reminders include proper hand washing which should be done more frequently than we usually do; refraining from giving handshakes and "beso-besos;" and going out less, especially to crowded areas like malls, among others. We can also further help in preventing the spread of the disease in our country by registering your contact information with the DOH, the Red Cross, and other medical authorities if you have been to China's Hubei Province or other areas with severe epidemic situation in the past 14 days. I am also calling on everyone, who has fever, fatigue, dry cough and other symptoms, to wear masks and seek medical attention immediately. We can overcome this medical crisis if we do our part and work as a team! Shareholders of InterGlobe Aviation, the parent company of Indigo airline, on Wednesday rejected a special resolution of co-promoter Rakesh Gangwal to amend the company's Articles of Association (AoA). Gangwal had sought removal of articles pertaining to transfer and acquisition of the company's shares, including 'Right of First Refusal' and ' Tag Along Right'. "The Special Resolution has not been passed as the votes cast in favour (48.55 per cent) of the resolution are less than three times the number of votes cast against (51.44 per cent) the resolution," said in a BSE filing after the extraordinary general meeting held here on Wednesday. Rahul Bhatia and affiliates -- InterGlobe Enterprises (IGE) Group -- has around 38 per cent stake in the company and Rakesh Gangwal and his related entities own around 36.64 per cent stake. According to the AoA, if any member of Rahul Bhatia-led IGE Group wants to transfer shares to a third party, then the non-transferring group will have the 'Right of First Refusal' subject to certain conditions. Similarly, the non-transferring group will also have the 'Tag Along Right' wherein it would have the option to sell some part of the shareholding. The differences between co-founders and co-promoters -- Rakesh Gangwal and Rahul Bhatia -- came to the fore in July 2019 after Gangwal sought market regulator Sebi's intervention to address alleged corporate governance lapses at the company. In the wake of the feud, arbitration proceedings are also going overseas between the two promoters' sides. Tech giant registered a double-digit rise in iPhone sales in India, and witnessed strong demand for iPads in the December quarter. The Cupertino-based company posted its highest-ever quarterly revenue at $91.8 billion, an increase of 9 per cent from the year-ago quarter. Its net profit also hit an all-time high of $22 billion. International sales accounted for 61 per cent of the quarter's revenue. "We had double-digit growth in many developed markets, including the US, the UK, France and Singapore, and also grew double digits in emerging markets led by strong performances in Brazil, Mainland China, India, Thailand, and Turkey," CEO Tim Cook said in an investor call. He added that revenue from iPhones in the December quarter was up 8 per cent to $56 billion on account of "exceptional demand" for models like iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. "For iPad, we saw growth in key emerging markets like Mexico, India, Turkey, Poland, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam," Cook said. Mac ( PCs) and iPad generated $7.2 billion and $6 billion in revenue, respectively, in the quarter under review. Apple is placing big bets on the Indian market. Over the past months, it has ramped up its manufacturing efforts in the country. Last year, Apple had started production of iPhone XR in India for domestic market and exports. Apple's partner Salcomp is also taking over the closed facility of Nokia in a SEZ near Chennai. The facility is expected to become operational from March this year and will produce charger and other equipment. According to research firm Counterpoint, Apple was one of the fastest-growing brands in India during the December quarter. This was driven by multiple price cuts on its XR device, thanks to local manufacturing in India, it had said. It added that the rollout of new iPhones (11 series), aggressive pricing and a good channel strategy was helping Apple gain market share in India. The tech titan is also bringing its 'HomePod' smart speaker to the Indian market. While the company is yet to announce the launch date, sources said it could be made available in India by the end of February. Priced at Rs 19,900, the HomePod will compete with smart speakers like Google Home and Amazon Echo in the Indian market. Bengaluru, Jan 29 : A case has been filed in Karnataka's Bidar against the management of Shaheen Group of Institutions for making its school children enact an anti-NRC skit, in which they abused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a police official said on Wednesday. "According to a complaint given by Neleesh Rakshyal, the school children performed a drama through which they abused the constitutional authorities in filthy language," Bidar Superintendent of Police T. Sreedhara told IANS. In the anti-National Register of Citizens (NRC) drama, Sreedhara said the children abusive language against Modi, said that Muslims are being thrown out of India and openly called for the defiance of rules. According to the official, the children said: "If anybody comes asking for documents, beat them with the slippers." The complainant submitted the video footage of the drama which went viral, on whose basis, the police registered a case in Bidar's new town police station under the various sections of the Indian Penal Code The Superintendent of Police said that the video has very much confirmed the issues pointed out by the complainant. "We have taken up the investigation. We are examining the children who played the drama," said Sreedhara. Six children who acted in the play were below 10 years of age, and examined by police in the presence of the school teachers and their parents. Sreedhara said the school management was involved in the production of the drama, which was practiced for 10 days. As most of the people responsible for producing the play are absconding, police said no arrests were made so far. With its head office at Shaheen Nagar in Bidar and managed by the Allama Iqbal Educational Society, the Shaheen Group of Institutions runs a string of institutes from kindergarten to undergraduation. A master database of 21 databases designed to provide real-time information to fight terror and crime will be rolled out by the end of March, officials aware of the matter said on condition of anonymity. The database or the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) involves data including that related to credit and debit cards, tax, telecom, immigration, airlines and railway tickets, passports, driving licenses, they added. It will be available for nine central agencies including the Intelligence Bureau, Research and Analysis Wing, the Enforcement Directorate and Department of Revenue Intelligence. The NATGRID will service only those agencies cleared by the Union Cabinet, one of the officials cited above said. State police forces will not be able to access the database initially, the official added. The second phase of the database will involve big data analysis for generating alerts for agencies. It is expected to be rolled out by the end of 2020, a second official said. The NATGRID will involve high-end algorithms designed especially for the database. The programme has been designed by the National Informatics Centre and is capable of analysing data and behaviour to generate trends and leads for the agencies to follow-up, the second official said. What needs underlining is there is no human interface and therefore chances of the system being misused are almost impossible. The NATGRID was proposed after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks but generated controversy primarily over concerns about privacy and also because the states were uncomfortable with the idea. Red-tape compounded the problem, the officials said. The Union Cabinet cleared the NATGRID in 2011 and allocated Rs 3,400 crore for it. The officials said Union home Minister Amit Shah has imposed a blanket ban on hiring private individuals for the NATGRID given the sensitive nature of the database and perhaps keeping in mind the apprehensions about privacy, the second official said. The policy governing the database is in contrast to the one the previous Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had conceived for the NATGRID. The UPA was open to hiring private individuals from different fields to increase the effectiveness of the database. To address privacy concerns, every query raised with the NARGRID by agencies will leave an indelible audit trail. And the queries raised will be reviewed by a board of independent experts including professors from IITs [Indian Institutes of Technology] to ensure that the system has not been misused, a third senior official said. Contrary to fears, the activation of NATGRID will prevent rogue elements within the system from carrying fishing expeditions. Queries will have to be raised through a designated system, which leaves an audit trail. Importantly, telecom companies, immigration bureau will not respond to queries unless they are raised through the designated system. Former NATGRID CEO Raghu Raman said the database has been created to create an environment to convince terrorist and their sympathisers that they are certain to be caught. India must learn to leverage its national capacity... The NATGRID becoming active is an extremely positive step. General on Tuesday said that its forces deployed in the North East for counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism and internal security would be reduced once the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) elections are over. He said that two battalions have already been taken off from such duties. "Two battalions have already been taken out. Once Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) elections are over, we would reduce more troops. In the next two to two and a half years we would concentrate fully on conventional warfare in North-East rather on counter-insurgency operations," said Naravane. Speaking on the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, General Naravane said, "The situation has improved after the abrogation of article 370." The Central government on Monday signed a tripartite agreement with the representatives of all factions of the banned organization -- Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB). The peace accord was signed in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, which intends to fulfill key political and economic demands of the NDFB. Home Minister Shah, while addressing media after signing the agreement said the new development will ensure "a golden future for Assam and for the Bodo people." He also stated that around 1550 of NDFB cadres will surrender on January 30. "Around 1550 cadres along with 130 weapons will surrender on January 30. As the Home Minister, I want to assure all representatives that all promises will be fulfilled in a time-bound manner," he said. Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, commenting on the development, said that "all stakeholders of Bodo society have signed the agreement, reaffirming territorial integrity of Assam." "BTAD will now become the Bodoland Territorial Region," Sarma added. This is the third Bodo accord which has been signed in the last 27 years since the movement for a separate Bodoland state commenced in Assam. The BTC was formed under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution. The demand for a separate state for the Bodos has been going on in Assam for about five decades. HAMAMATSU CITY, Japan, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- By applying its own unique microelectro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology, Hamamatsu Photonics has successfully developed a palm-sized "Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) engine C15511-01" offering high sensitivity to near-infrared light at wavelengths from 1.1 to 2.5 micrometers (abbreviated to m: is one millionth). This FT-IR engine will assist in creating portable handheld FTIR spectrophotometers for analytical applications including real-time monitoring of chemicals on production lines and ingredient analysis of agricultural products in the field. Hamamatsu Photonics will start accepting product orders from analytical instrument manufacturers from Monday, February 3rd, 2020. This FTIR engine will be on display at the exhibition running in parallel to the International Conference "SPIE Photonics West 2020" held in San Francisco, California, United States, for 3 days from February 4th to February 6th. To access the full article, please follow the below link: https://www.hamamatsu.com/eu/en/news/product_technology/2020/20200128000000.html Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1083577/FTIR_C15511.jpg A strong coastal storm is still expected to develop in the southeastern United States this weekend, but it is more likely to track far offshore, minimizing any impact on New Jersey, forecasters said Wednesday. Parts of South Jersey, along with sections of Delaware and Maryland, could get some precipitation from this storm, but it will likely be in the form of rain and not snow, based on temperature projections, the National Weather Service said. Trends in the guidance and ensemble (computer models) continue to point to the system becoming a fish storm rather than one that would impact the region, the weather services Mount Holly office said in its latest forecast discussion. A fish storm is a slang term used by meteorologists to describe a storm system usually a hurricane or a tropical storm that tracks across the open Atlantic (where lots of fish swim), posing no major threat to land. Want more weather news? Enter your email address to be the first to know: This map shows one of the possible tracks of a strong coastal storm that is expected to develop overnight Friday into early Saturday.AccuWeather Coast hugger still possible Forecasters from AccuWeather appear to be less confident in the storm track. They have ruled out an inland track one that would bring heavy rain to much of our region and snow to areas west of the storm system but still believe the system could either drift close to the Atlantic coast or move farther out to sea. The latest indications are that a storm will develop either over the Gulf of Mexico or the southeastern corner of the United States on Friday before moving northeastward and nearly hugging the Northeast coast or swinging wide right during Saturday, AccuWeather said Wednesday in its storm update. The path of the southern storm will depend on whether or not a second, weaker storm cruising along the border of Canada and the U.S. will be able to join up quickly or if that merge will be delayed, AccuWeather noted. If the two storms join quickly, then the southern storm will rapidly strengthen along the Mid-Atlantic and New England coasts and precipitation could expand inland from the Interstate 95 corridor to the I-77 and I-81 corridors. Even if the storm moves close to the Atlantic coast, temperatures would favor mostly rain, but some wet snow cant be ruled out for New York City, Philadelphia and the Interstate 95 corridor in New Jersey, AccuWeather says. Looking more likely the weekend system is going out to sea. pic.twitter.com/CdRhgHOdjO NortheastWeatherWx (@NEWeatherWx) January 29, 2020 Jim Sullivan, a long-range meteorologist for the WeatherWorks forecasting company in New Jersey, agrees an inland storm track is unlikely this weekend and the odds favor a track that is farther offshore. However, theres still some chance, but maybe a lesser chance, of a closer-to-the-coast scenario, he said. Either way, its not looking encouraging for much snow. For now, some rain is possible anywhere in New Jersey on Saturday, but its more likely along the Jersey Shore and in the southern half of the state, Sullivan said. ALSO: A snow drought? Heres where our low-snow January ranks in N.J. history. Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality or like him on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 29) The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal from service of three Bureau of Corrections personnel who allegedly demanded 50,000 in exchange for the premature release of an inmate from the New Bilibid Prison. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, who has supervision over the BuCor, said he has given orders to implement the Ombudsman's decision, adding that he "fully agrees" with it. In a January 20 decision released on Wednesday, the Ombudsman found the following Corrections officers guilty of grave misconduct: Documents and Processing Section officer-in-charge Ramoncito Roque, Corrections Senior Inspector Maria Belinda Bansil, and Corrections Officer 3 Veronica Buno. They were among the 27 BuCor personnel who were earlier suspended over the questionable release of heinous crime convicts under the controversial Good Conduct Time Allowance law, which grants inmates shorter jail time based on good behavior. The Ombudsman has only issued a partial decision, meaning it has yet to rule on the complaint against the 24 others. Amid public outrage over the GCTA measure last year, Yolanda Camilon, common-law wife of inmate Godfrey Gamboa, testified in Senate that Bansil approached her in February, asking her if she wants her husband released soon. Camilon said she eventually gave 50,000 to Roque, Bansil, and Buno in three installments but her husband was not freed as promised in March 2019. READ: Negosyo na ang Bilibid: Witness in freedom for sale scheme bares more corrupt practices The Ombudsman said Roque, Bansil, and Buno all "took advantage" of their positions by saying they can manipulate the computation of Gamboa's GCTA to result in his early release. Aside from dismissal from service, the three disgraced personnel also face forfeiture of retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification from public office. The Ombudsman noted that if they have already been separated from service, they should pay the office a fine equivalent to one-year's worth of salary. In a separate partial resolution, the Office of the Ombudsman also found probable cause to charge them with direct bribery and graft and ordered that these cases be filed against them before the Regional Trial Court of Muntinlupa. Roque, Bansil, and Buno earlied denied Camilon's allegations against them. Roque said he did not know of the transaction between Bansil and Camilon and that he even returned the 10,000 when he found it inside the envelope they left in his office, which he thought only contained GCTA documents. The Ombudsman, however, noted that Roque never reported the incident to authorities. Bansil and Buno also denied any involvement in the supposed freedom for sale scheme, but the Ombudsman said their conspiracy with Roque has been established by Camilon's "unwavering testimony" at the Senate. The Senate held numerous hearings on the GCTA following talks former Mayor Antonio Sanchez of Calauan, Laguna, could be granted early release despite being convicted of rape and murder. President Rodrigo Duterte publicly fired Nicanor Faeldon as BuCor chief for supposedly disobeying his order to stop any more releases of prisoners. Meanwhile, the Senate hearings revealed other irregularities, including money-making schemes in the national penitentiary under the beleaguered BuCor which is now being headed by Director General Gerald Bantag. Death Toll in China Coronavirus Outbreak Now Over 100 By VOA News January 28, 2020 The United States, Japan and other countries are sending planes to evacuate their citizens out of the central Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the global coronavirus outbreak that has now killed 106 people. Japan is sending a chartered jet to Wuhan Tuesday to evacuate about 200 of the 650 Japanese nationals in the city. The United States is preparing to fly staff from its consulate in Wuhan, along with some American citizens, sometime this week. France and other nations have also announced plans to evacuate their citizens out of Wuhan. Chinese health authorities announced an additional 25 deaths on Tuesday, including the first fatality reported in the capital city of Beijing. The total number of confirmed cases in China now stands at well over 4,500. Authorities have imposed a virtual quarantine on Wuhan, banning people from traveling in and out of the city, while several other cities in Hubei province are facing heavy restrictions on movement. Authorities in Wuhan are racing to complete two new field hospitals to treat the growing number of patients. Cases have also been reported in Australia, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Nepal, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. The World Health Organization says most of those are people who had a travel history in Wuhan, with several others having contact with someone who traveled there. There have been no reported deaths linked to the virus outside of China. U.S. President Donald Trump has offered China any help needed to combat the deadly coronavirus. In a Monday tweet, Trump said, "We are in very close communication with China concerning the virus," adding, "We have offered China and President Xi (Jinping) any help that is necessary. Our experts are extraordinary!" Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited the city of Wuhan on Monday to meet with health officials and examine the response to the outbreak. The head of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, arrived Monday in Beijing, where he is expected to meet senior Chinese officials to discuss the outbreak. The agency said there is still a chance to get ahead of the virus if there is strong cooperation. Separately, in an effort to stop the virus from spreading, Mongolia closed its vast border with China, while Hong Kong and Malaysia announced they would ban entry to visitors from Wuhan. Global stock markets plunged Monday as investors feared the economic impact from the coronavirus. The virus hit China just as it was beginning celebrations to mark the Lunar New Year, resulting in the canceling or the scaling back of festivities for tens of millions of Chinese. Chinese officials took an extra step Sunday to extend the Lunar New Year holiday three extra days to cut down on group gatherings. The head of the respiratory disease office at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nancy Messonnier, said Sunday there were five confirmed cases in the United States, and that all five people had direct contact with others in Wuhan. The patients are isolated in hospitals as doctors and health officials try to learn more about the virus. The CDC says it is investigating about 100 suspected cases in 26 states. Chinese National Health Commission Minister Ma Xiaowei said Sunday little is known about the virus. But doctors do know it has an incubation period that can range from one to 14 days. Ma said the virus is infectious during the incubation period, when no signs or symptoms of the disease are present. President Xi Jinping said China is facing a "grave situation" and experts and other resources would be concentrated at specific hospitals to treat severe cases. The virus is believed to have emerged late last year at a Wuhan seafood market illegally selling wildlife. Chinese authorities have imposed a temporary ban on the selling of wildlife. Tourist destinations are closed and school closings have been extended in an effort to stop the spread of the virus. Public transportation has been severely restricted. Many businesses have closed or asked employees to work from home. The WHO recommends several steps to help protect people against acute respiratory infections. They include avoiding close contact with those already infected, frequent hand-washing and avoiding unprotected contact with farm animals and wild animals. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The United States yesterday recovered the remains of individuals from a US military aircraft that crashed in Afghanistan and was in the process of confirming their identities, US and Afghan officials said yesterday. On Monday, the US military said an E-11A aircraft had crashed in the province of Ghazni, but disputed claims by the Taliban militant group that they brought it down. Earlier yesterday, Afghan forces and Taliban fighters clashed in a central region where the US military plane crashed as the government tried to reach the wreckage site in a Taliban stronghold. The US defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said multiple attempts had been made to recover the remains but they had been hampered by the terrain and weather. The official said the remains were believed to be of two service members who were on the plane. The Pentagon declined to comment. Ghazni provincial police chief, Khalid Wardak, said that two bodies were airlifted by US forces from the crash site yesterday. Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, said Afghan forces backed by US military support had tried to capture the area around the crashed aircraft and clashed with fighters of the Islamist militant group. The attempt was repelled, he told Reuters, but the Taliban would allow a rescue team access to recover bodies from the crash site. Taliban fighters on the ground counted six bodies at the site of the US airplane crash, he said, adding that while there could have been more, the militant group could not be certain, as fire had reduced everything to ashes. Speaking on condition of anonymity, US officials said the plane was carrying fewer than five people when it crashed, with one official saying initial information showed there were at least two. The crashed jet, built by Bombardier I n c , is used to provide communication capabilities in remote locations. The incident came as the Taliban and the United States have been in talks to end the 18-year war in Afghanistan. Trump has long called for an end to US involvement in Afghanistan, which began with an American invasion triggered by the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that al Qaeda launched from then -Taliban - ruled Afghanistan. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriza Pinandita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, January 30 2020 South Korea is the first ASEAN dialogue partner to contribute funds to support Rohingya repatriation, granting US$500,000 to distribute FM radios to members of the minority group to improve their access to information, particularly about repatriation plans and conditions in Rakhine. The East Asian country handed over the grant on Tuesday to the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta which is currently assisting Myanmar to prepare for a safe and voluntary return of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who fled to Bangladesh to avoid persecution in Rakhine in 2017. ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi said that with the new initiative South Korea was fulfilling its role as a leading partner of the region in many areas like trade, investment, education, environment and people-to-people exchanges. 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 When Fran Hutchinson last testified about mental health and insurance at the State House, people walked up to her and said she was brave for sharing details about her treatment. It wasnt brave, Hutchinson said. She said her mental health treatment and the struggle to get adequate services seemed as normal as discussing treatment for her diabetes or high blood pressure. As the New Bedford woman testified on Tuesday, she told lawmakers on the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing that the provisions increasing spending and services for behavioral health marked a step toward reducing the lingering stigma of mental illness and behavioral health services. Id like to see a day where we dont need to be courageous any more, said Hutchinson, president of the Bristol County chapter of the Massachusetts Senior Action Council, when its no different than talking about my diabetes or my blood pressure, and nobody needs to be courages about it. Gov. Charlie Bakers health care bill calls for increased spending on primary and behavioral health care, restrictions on certain drug price increases, making urgent care clinics offer behavioral health services and making tele-health coverable by insurance, among other provisions that aim to boost mental health resources. Gov. Charlie Baker greets members of the Massachusetts Senior Action Council before a hearing by the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. Baker testified in favor of his bill that would boost spending on primary and behavioral health care. Between 2013 and 2017, about 232,000 people age 18 or older in Massachusetts experienced serious thoughts of suicide each year, according to a 2017 report on behavioral health by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Residents of all ages have sought mental health treatment within the state only to find that insurance companies do not have accurate lists of providers, many psychologists and psychiatrists either are no longer accepting new patients or do not accept insurance and appointments over the phone arent being covered by some insurance plans. While health care spending grew 3.1% from 2017 to 2018, even those with insurance are paying more in copays and premiums than they used to. If the bill is enacted, Hutchinson said she would be able to afford psychiatric appointments over the phone with her doctor on the Cape. Her last insurance provider covered the service, but her current one does not. It was like being in the same room, Hutchinson told lawmakers Tuesday afternoon. There was no difference at all in treatment. Baker noted on Tuesday that telehealth was developed in Massachusetts decades earlier, but the state is one of last to embrace the practice. The fact that were not particularly aggressive about incorporating it or progressing it is bizarre, said Baker, who testified alongside Health and Human Services Secretary MaryLou Sudders. This is a really significant opportunity to do something that would increase access and probably reduce cost too for a lot of services. The bill also calls for rate increases for insurers to pay behavioral health providers. About half of mental health providers in the region do not accept insurance, with many citing problems with insurance companies retroactively denying claims after paying the practitioner, a process known as a clawback. At the center of Bakers health care bill is the requirement that insurers and providers increased their spending on primary and behavioral health care by 30% over three years. That increase is a share of the existing 3.6% health care cost growth benchmark set by the states Health Policy Commission, meaning the overall spending increase comes out to under 2% over three years. The insurers and providers would have to report their progress every year to state health policy agencies and, if they fail to meet their targets, face performance improvement plans. Sen. Julian Cyr, a Truro Democrat, asked Baker and Sudders how they would increase cultural competency in the workforce. Cyr, an openly gay senator, said having an LGBTQ mental health provider has made a big difference for him. Sudders said she believes the first step is better investing in primary and behavioral health care to draw a larger, more diverse pool of providers. In order for that to happen, we have to say its a value to us in the commonwealth," Sudders said, because whos going into a profession thats not valued? Baker and Secretary MaryLou Sudders testify first. We continue to have a primary care shortage that was identified literally decades ago. He says this, combined with gaps in treating behavioral health and substance use disorder, are unsustainable. pic.twitter.com/IW6CP5dAN9 Steph Solis (@stephmsolis) January 28, 2020 Lori Pellegrini, president of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, praised the bills measures to prohibit surprise medical fees and facility fees, tackle certain drug price increases and invest in primary and behavioral health care. The effort to really focus on primary care and behavioral health is really important as we think both of those professions and both of the services they provide are really the backbone of the health care system, Pellegrini said. The Republican governors bill received favorable responses from Democrats on the committee, including Rep. and ER doctor Jon Santiago, Cyr and Sen. Harriette Chandler. I commend you for your sensitivity. I dont think Ive ever spoken like this at a health care financing hearing, said Chandler, vice chair of the committee and the former House chair of the committee when she was a state representative. Baker took the response as a sign that the health care bill has a strong chance of landing on his desk later this year. I came out of that feeling like we have a pretty good chance of seeing something happen before the end of the session, he told reporters after he testified alongside Sudders. Not everyone was satisfied with the legislation. Sen. Barry Finegold, an Andover Democrat, later testified saying he wouldnt support the bill if the funding doesnt help community hospitals, according to the State House News Service. This is just not about finances, its about economic and racial justice...and while were debating many solutions, I want to be on record saying that a pot of money is not acceptable. To address this problem, we need a steady stream of funding -- either a floor for commercial reimbursement rates, or an increase of Medicaid reimbursements, Finegold said. Hutchinson, who supports the bill, told MassLive shes been seeking mental health services for three decades. Sometimes, she said, that meant sifting through outdated lists of providers. When she called them, she learned most werent accepting new patients, contrary to what the online list says, and some had even moved or retired. Hutchinson found her current psychiatrist after calling five providers who appeared active. He was the only one who called her back. The bad news is hes retiring in May, so I start all over again, she testified. Hutchinson praised the provision of authorizing psychiatric nurses to prescribe medication, noting it would create more treatment options for patients like her. If the bill becomes law, Hutchinson told MassLive she hopes that behavioral health services will not only become more accessible, but that they will be treated as normal and important, just like other forms of medical care. Hes treating it more like any other kind of health issue than something all on its own, she said of Baker. I want to see the day come when nobody needs to be considered courageous for talking about something thats no different than talking about blood pressure or diabetes. Related Content: Bidar school faces sedition charge for 'portraying PM Modi in poor light' India oi-PTI Bidar, Jan 29: A sedition case has been registered against a local school for allegedly allowing students to stage a drama, portraying Prime Minister Narendra Modi in poor light in connection with the CAA and NRC. The management of Shaheen School was also booked for "promoting enmity between different groups" under Sections 124(A) and 153(A) of the Indian Penal Code. Police said the case was registered on a complaint from social worker Neelesh Rakshyal on January 26, The complainant alleged that that the school authorities 'used' the students to perform a drama on January 21, where they 'abused' Modi for introducing the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens. Nirbhaya Case: Convict Akshay Kumar Singh files curative petition in SC | Oneindia News Anti-CAA stir: Sharjeel Imam arrested on sedition charges for inflammatory speeches at AMU The management tried to create 'fear' among the Muslims that they would have to leave the country if the CAA and NRC are implemented, Rakshyal said. Later, a local resident uploaded a video of the function on his Facebook page, the complainant said. Police said no one has been arrested so far. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, January 29, 2020, 11:20 [IST] Torontos new speed camera initiative is a great idea, as long as its not too easy for idiots to tamper with them. Last month the city began a rollout of 50 automated speed enforcement cameras, mainly in school zones, with two cameras for each of Torontos 25 wards as part of its Vision Zero program to improve pedestrian safety. With an alarming number of pedestrians and cyclists killed last year, the city is under pressure to reduce speeding. Speed enforcement works, so the city initiated a program to place automated cameras that clock the speed of vehicles, mainly on secondary streets. During the first 90 days of the program, warning notices will be mailed to registered owners of vehicles clocked at above the speed limit. After that, speeding tickets will be sent to vehicle owners, but no demerit points will be issued. Its an effective, low-cost way to enforce speed limits, but last week a camera near Fisherville Public School, on Patricia Ave. in North York, was vandalized with spray paint that covered the camera lens. Local media reported that the camera was unusable, after it was coated with paint, which had me wondering if fiddling with them will become a trending topic for pinheads whod make sport of thwarting their intent. Heres what makes it possible: The cameras are mounted at ground level and contained in a metal box thats less than two metres high, a perfect height for anyone inclined to tamper with them. If they were mounted on a pole, at least two metres off the ground, theyd be pretty hard to reach by anyone other that a stilt-walker, so I sent a note to the city, asking why they arent elevated. STATUS: The reply was reasonable, but it doesnt address the question of whether its too easy to fool around with them: The city considered all placement solutions during the evaluation of the Request For Proposals for the automated speed enforcement devices. Given that the program is mobile in nature, the current vendors solution provides more flexibility and ease of deployment. The units are also weather, ballistic and spray-paint resistant. (With the recent incident, the spray paint was able to be removed easily). Elevating the units or mounting them on poles may introduce other challenges that could delay or affect operation of the program. That being said, staff continue to evaluate the program as it matures as well as research new and emerging technologies. OK, but if more are tampered with, the next step should be to put them beyond the reach of yahoos. EP Global Opportunities Trust plc (the "Company") Total Voting Rights As a result of the purchase of 25,000 Ordinary 1p shares placed into Treasury on 29 January 2020 and in conformity with Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rule 5.6.1A, the issued share capital and voting rights of the Company are as follows: Class of share Total number of shares in circulation Number of voting rights attached to each share Total number of voting rights of shares in circulation Number of shares held in treasury (carrying no voting rights attached until issued) Total number of shares in issue Ordinary 1p Shares 40,862,725 1 40,862,725 23,646,917 64,509,642 The above total voting rights figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine whether they are required to notify their interest in EP Global Opportunities Trust plc under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. 29 January 2020 LEI: 2138005T5CT5ITZ7ZX58 Enquiries: Kenneth Greig Edinburgh Partners AIFM Limited Tel: 0131 270 3800 The Company's registered office address is: 27-31 Melville Street Edinburgh EH3 7JF China is battling a demon virus that has so far killed more than 100 people, President Xi Jinping said Tuesday, as foreign nations prepared to evacuate their citizens and the US said it was developing a vaccine. Xi made his remarks during talks with the head of the World Health Organization in Beijing amid growing global concerns about a novel coronavirus that has infected thousands in China and reached more than a dozen other countries. In a development that could cause more jitters abroad, Japan and Germany reported the first confirmed cases of human-to-human transmission outside of China. World markets outside Asia nevertheless rebounded following a global sell-off fuelled by the spread of the virus. The infection is believed to have originated in a wild-animal market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where it jumped to humans before spreading rapidly across the country, prompting authorities to enact drastic nationwide travel restrictions in recent days. Countries are also concerned about the fate of thousands of foreigners stuck in Wuhan, a city of 11 million that has been sealed off by Chinese authorities in a bid to contain the disease. A plane sent by Tokyo landed in the virus-stricken metropolis late Tuesday and was scheduled to repatriate Japanese nationals on Wednesday, the same day that a US aircraft is expected to bring American citizens back to their homeland. The European Union will fly its citizens out aboard two French planes this week, and South Korea was due to do the same. Several other countries were assessing their options. Chinese people are currently engaged in a serious struggle against an epidemic of a new type of coronavirus infection, Xi told WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Beijing. The epidemic is a demon, and we cannot let this demon hide, the Chinese leader said, pledging that the government would be transparent and release information in a timely manner. His comments came as anger simmered on Chinese social media over the handling of the health emergency by local officials in central Hubei province. Some experts have praised Beijing for being more reactive and open about this crisis than it was during the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) epidemic of 2002-2003. But others say local cadres were more focused on projecting stability earlier in January than in adequately responding to the outbreak during regional political meetings. Since then, the number of cases has soared -- doubling to more than 4,500 in the past 24 hours. In Washington, US health authorities said a vaccine was in the works but would take months to develop. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar called on Beijing to show more cooperation and transparency, saying the US had offered its help three times -- so far without success. Contagion abroad The WHO last week stopped short of declaring the outbreak a global emergency, which could have prompted a more aggressive international response, such as travel restrictions. Following the high-level talks with Xi in Beijing, the WHO said the two sides had agreed to send international experts to China as soon as possible... to guide global response efforts. Stopping the spread of this virus both in China and globally is WHOs highest priority, Tedros said. Until Tuesday, all reported cases in more than a dozen countries had involved people who had been in or around Wuhan. But in Japan, a man in his 60s apparently contracted the virus after driving two groups of tourists visiting from the city earlier in January, the health ministry said. And a 33-year-old German man contracted the disease from a Chinese colleague from Shanghai who visited Germany last week, according to health officials. Vietnam has been investigating a possible case of human-to-human transmission. The development came after countries including Sri Lanka, Malaysia and the Philippines announced tighter visa restrictions for people coming from China. China has taken its own drastic steps to stop the virus, which health officials say is passed between people through sneezing or coughing, and possibly through physical contact. Zhong Nanshan, a renowned scientist at Chinas National Health Commission, told the official Xinhua news agency on Tuesday that the outbreak could peak in a week or 10 days. Authorities sealed off Wuhan and other cities in Hubei province late last week, trapping more than 50 million people. China has since extended the Lunar New Year holiday to keep people indoors as much as possible, and suspended a wide range of train services. On Tuesday, authorities urged Chinese citizens to delay any foreign travel to protect the health and safety of Chinese and foreign people. Ghost town Wuhan, meanwhile, has been turned into a near ghost town under a lockdown that has largely confined the industrial hubs residents to their homes. With a ban on car traffic, the streets were nearly deserted apart from the occasional ambulance -- although the citys hospitals are overwhelmed. Everyone goes out wearing masks and they are worried about the infection, said David, a Chinese man who works in Shanghai but found himself trapped in Wuhan after it was put under quarantine. He declined to give his family name. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 00:30:30|Editor: yan Video Player Close GENEVA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) is to convene an Emergency Committee meeting Thursday on the current coronavirus outbreak, said its Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a tweet on Wednesday. "WHO is monitoring the new coronavirus outbreak every moment of every day...We will have more news following tomorrow's Emergency Committee meeting," read the tweet. "The new coronavirus outbreak has spurred many countries, experts, companies and communities to take action. The world is pulling together to end the outbreak, building on lessons learned from past outbreaks," the WHO chief tweeted. According to him, the WHO is working 24/7 with networks of scientists, clinicians, disease trackers, governments and others to coordinate the new coronavirus response: R&D, proper public health measures, sharing data and ensuring supplies are available. "I was struck by the determination of Chinese leadership & its people to end the new coronavirus outbreak. They are suffering the most. Their lives & economy are bearing the brunt of the outbreak as they make sacrifices to contain it. China needs the world's solidarity & support," he added. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 09:47:01|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close KIGALI, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda on Tuesday launched a 6-month campaign dubbed "Zero malaria starts with me" as part of the country's efforts to eradicate the disease, according to the Rwandan Ministry of Health. "The campaign will complement Rwanda's existing efforts to prevent and combat malaria through different treatment and preventive measures across the country," said Health Minister Diane Gashumba while launching the campaign in the capital Kigali. The nationwide campaign will involve the use of drones to spray larvicides in mosquito breeding sites most especially in swamps, marshlands and woody areas, a method taken for the first time in the country's history, she said. Gashumba called on Rwandans to ensure proper domestic hygiene through clearing bushes and stagnant water that favor mosquito breeding. The Rwandan government is partnering with Charis Unmanned Aerial Solutions, a local drone technology company to use drones to fight malaria, according to the ministry. Each drone, fitted with a 10-liter tank carrying insecticide, follows a pre-mapped route and sprays over mosquito breeding sites starting on Tuesday in suburbs of Kigali, said the ministry. Malaria cases dropped from 4.8 million in 2018 to 3.7 million in 2019, according to Rwanda Biomedical Center. In June 2018, at the African Union (AU) 31st Ordinary Session, heads of state and government endorsed the "Zero malaria starts with me" continent-wide campaign, which was led by the AU and RBM Partnership to End Malaria, a global partnership for a malaria-free world aimed at building a malaria-free Africa. The campaign targets grassroots movements and appeals to all stakeholders -- political leaders, private sectors, communities and other members of society -- to be committed to the fight against malaria, according to the AU. 2 Project Veritas Whistleblowers on Why They Blew the Whistle on Pinterest & CNNWith James OKeefe [TPUSA Special] At Turning Point USAs 2019 Student Action Summit, we sat down with James OKeefe, founder and president of Project Veritas, and two whistleblowers who came to his organizationCary Poarch, a former CNN employee who shed light on what he saw as political bias at CNN, and Eric Cochran, a former software engineer at Pinterest who exposed evidence of how Pinterest appeared to censor Christian and pro-life content. American Thought Leaders is an Epoch Times show available on Facebook and YouTube PACOM GMS Multi-site Platform Provides Security for Georgias Largest Credit Union Sometimes we have false motion detection alarms. The PACOM system sends an immediate alert, which enables us to easily access video surveillance so we can understand the problem and resolve it quickly. Kim Hodgkin, Corporate Security Manager, Delta Community CU PACOM Systems, which designs, develops, and manufactures industry-leading security platforms for enterprise multi-site and campus environments today announced that Delta Community Credit Union has deployed PACOMs GMS security platform to its growing network of 29 branches. The value-added reseller (VAR) for this on-going project is Southern Bank Equipment & ATMs of Duluth, Georgia. The $6 billion Delta Community is Georgias largest credit union with more than 400,000 members, 26 metro Atlanta branches and three out-of-state branch locations. Approximately five years ago, its access management system was moved in-house. Now, Southern Bank Equipment & ATMs handles hardware needs; system alarm monitoring is performed by a third-party; and PACOM provides the GMS security platform to Delta Community branches nationwide. GMS is a robust multi-site security management platform, providing integration between access control, intrusion, video, intercom, and virtually any building management or security solution. It is designed to manage thousands of locations simultaneously through a single interface, while providing industry-leading availability and redundancy. GMS meets end-user demands for a multi-site security system with multiple integrations. PACOM staff oversaw the transition of Delta Community branches from the old system, and provided training for Delta Community employees to administer the new GMS system. It was important for us to be able to make changes on the fly and change access privileges quickly, said Kim Hodgkin, Corporate Security Manager for Delta Community. With PACOM, our team can complete system updates in-house and manage the system from our corporate headquarters, so we are covered 24/7/365. System alarms are a big part of Hodgkins management of the system. He estimates receiving 12 to 36 alarms per week, and he reviews each incident to determine the cause and resolve the problem. Sometimes we have false motion detection alarms, he explained. The PACOM system sends an immediate alert which enables us to easily access video surveillance so we can understand the problem and resolve it quickly. Hodgkin says Delta Community, which has more than 1,100 employees and vendors under access management, requires a robust, multi-capability system, as well as dependable vendor support from PACOM. The platform is set up for ease of use and less IT involvement, added Hodgkin. We appreciate being able to control functionality when needed, and look forward to continuing to optimize system management and results. About PACOM PACOM Systems designs, develops and manufactures industry-leading security platforms for enterprise multi-site and campus environments integrating hardware and software into a single solution. With more than 36 years of experience and a proven track record of innovation across different sectors and geographies, PACOM protects vital assets and makes security management easier. Operating on a global basis, PACOM has offices in Australia, USA, United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Sweden. Press Contact North America Bruce J. Doneff, Public Relations, PACOM/3xLOGIC 843.476.3022 bruce.doneff(at)3xlogic(dot)com Press Contact UK and Europe Linda Tyrrell, The Henley Group International linda(at)henley.co(dot)uk +44 (0)1491 570972 ### WASHINGTON Bernie Sanders is surging in Texas, just three weeks before voters start casting early ballots for their pick to take on President Donald Trump in November. The Vermont Senator and self-described Democratic socialist has jumped to second in the state, cutting former Vice President Joe Bidens lead to just two percentage points, according to a new Texas Lyceum poll released on Wednesday. Biden still leads the pack of Democratic presidential contenders at 28 percent, though his lead over Sanders who stood at 26 percent was within the polls 2.8 percentage point margin of error. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts senator who lived for a decade in Texas, was in third at 13 percent. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox The poll shows Texans are still largely unsettled on who they support in key races including the tight Democratic presidential primary and the still wide-open race to earn the partys nomination to take on U.S. Sen. John Cornyn even as some believe the Democrats can be more competitive in 2020 than they have been in a generation. Sanders rise in Texas comes as his campaign announces a $2.5 million TV ad buy in Texas and California. It also coincides with his apparent surge nationally just days before Iowa caucuses, putting some moderate Democrats on edge. That has a lot of Democrats scared out of their minds, said U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz a Texas Republican who won the Iowa caucus in his 2016 presidential bid who recently spoke about Sanders rise on his podcast. There are an awful lot of Democrats who, I think, think if Bernie gets the nomination, it reelects Donald Trump, which is obviously not what Democrats are looking to do. But in Texas, at least, the Texas Lyceum poll suggests Sanders may have as good a shot as Biden at tackling Trump in November. Though Trump polled better than all of the Democrats in the race, it found Sanders bringing in 47 percent to Trumps 50. Biden was next, at 46 to 51. Warren had 44 to Trumps 52. For subscribers: Democratic presidential contenders turn attention to Texas Sanders appears to be a big draw for Texas independents, 44 percent of whom would vote for him, compared to Trumps 41 percent in a head-to-head matchup. Biden polls significantly worse with independents. Just 28 percent would vote for him, compared to 57 percent for Trump in a direct matchup. Sanders, meanwhile, waded into another primary fight in Texas on Wednesday, endorsing Jessica Cisneros, a 26-year-old immigration attorney from Laredo, in her insurgent bid to unseat conservative Democrat Henry Cuellar, whos held his South Texas district for 15 years. More Information Texas primary election dates Feb. 3 - Last day to register to vote in time for the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections Feb. 18 - The first day of early voting Feb. 28 - Early voting ends March 3 - Election day See More Collapse "This is the most important election in our lifetime and I'm proud there are so many candidates running for Congress who understand that real change comes from the bottom up, not the top on down," Sanders said. "Jessica is a strong advocate for real change and together we will build a movement to transform this nation so that it works for all our people." The crowded Democratic primary for Senate, meanwhile, still appears to be wide open, with 42 percent of respondents still undecided. Former Air Force pilot MJ Hegar drew the most support with 11 percent. Next was state Sen. Royce West at 8 percent and longtime Austin labor organizer Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez at 7 percent. Texas is always a difficult state for candidates to introduce themselves to the voters due to its sheer size and multiple, large media markets, said Joshua Blank, the polls research director. But in a year in which the political oxygen has been sucked up by the Democratic Presidential Primary and impeachment, its clearly been a major challenge for those seeking to take on John Cornyn to break through with the Texas electorate. Cornyns campaign cheered the findings. Todays poll confirms that Texas Democrats dont know who their candidates are and dont care, said Krista Piferrer, a spokeswoman for the campaign. We will be ready for whichever Elizabeth Warren clone emerges from the runoff in May. Texans, meanwhile, are still split on impeachment. Forty-five percent say the Senate acquit the president, though 44 percent say Trump should be removed from office. Nine percent are undecided. Texans are mostly sour on the Trumps job performance, however: Fifty two percent disapprove, while 47 percent approve. And 36 percent of Texans think the president is doing a very poor job, while just 27 percent think he is doing a very good job. The 1,000-person telephone survey was conducted Jan. 10-19. It carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2.83 percentage points. ben.wermund@chron.com On the World Trade Organization's (WTO) appellate body for dispute settlement, Goyal said the early restoration of the full strength of the body will help in realising the objectives of the WTO. New Delhi: India has pitched for elimination of trade-distorting subsidies on agriculture and ensuring differential treatment to developing countries by the WTO members, the commerce ministry said on Tuesday. Quoting Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, it said that during his participation in an informal ministerial gathering in Davos last week, he also made a case for working out a permanent solution for public stockholding for food security purposes. During his intervention at the gathering, he said the current challenges throw up some key priorities for the forthcoming ministerial meeting of WTO members in June in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. On the World Trade Organization's (WTO) appellate body for dispute settlement, he said the early restoration of the full strength of the body will help in realising the objectives of the WTO. "The agenda for WTO reforms should be balanced and inclusive, to address the historic asymmetries in the Uruguay Round agreements," he said. He said that a "good starting point for the reform agenda" of the WTO would be "removing the imbalances" in the agreement on agriculture and ensuring a level-playing field, particularly for developing economies. He further said that as long-standing proponents of WTO reform, developing countries have, for almost 20 years, sought the elimination of unequal and trade-distorting entitlements in the Agreement on Agriculture. "Another positive step will be to build upon the work of the last several years, and to implement existing mandates such as a permanent solution for public stockholding for food security purposes," he said. The minister also said developing countries, particularly the least-developed countries (LDCs), have not been able to achieve an equitable share in world trade, therefore, the continued availability of special and differential treatment, for these countries, is imperative for them to address their development aspirations. Goyal said the reform process should not be used to further restrict the flexibilities, and policy space required by developing countries, to better integrate with the global trading system. "It should open more opportunities for them, taking into account the contrasting levels of prosperity, unequal levels of economic development, and vast disparity in human development indicators, so that global trade becomes sustainable," he added. Goyal said that significant outcome at Kazakhstan is essential, for further strengthening the role of the WTO in global trade. "To achieve this, he added that it is necessary to put in place a structured process that will help finalise a limited list of focussed, doable and fair proposals, that may be concluded at MC12 (12th ministerial conference meet)," he said. Talking about fisheries subsidies, he said unregulated industrial fishing by some nations, has led to a major depletion of the global marine stock. "There is an urgent need for strong disciplines to regulate harmful fisheries subsidies in order to ensure the sustainable use of marine resources for securing inter-generational equity," he said. The minister cautioned that countries need to be cognizant of the existence of a large population of subsistence and artisanal fishermen in LDCs and developing countries who rely on fishing for their basic livelihood. He urged that as they have no other livelihood options, all nations must collectively care for this vulnerable population of marginalised fishermen. "Adequate policy space, to ensure a decent standard of living for subsistence-level fishermen, by modernising their fishing fleet and expanding their fishing capacity, is a critical outcome for India," he said. BAY CITY, MI - A Columbus area neighborhood will see improvements this year thanks to a project that will demolish multiple dilapidated and blighted properties. A neighborhood revitalization agreement between the Bay City Housing Commission, the City of Bay City and the Bay County Treasurer was approved earlier this month. The Bay City Housing Commission approached the city and the Bay County treasurer to work in a collaborative project to acquire, demolish, and rehabilitate properties in a target area. Seven properties are in the agreement. Two houses are owned by the Bay City through tax foreclosure while four others are owned by Bay County. One property is a vacant lot that sits adjacent to one of the city owned blighted homes. The houses that will be demolished as a part of the project are located at the following addresses: - 108 N. Monroe, county owned - 109 S. Madison, county owned - 115 N. Grant, county owned - 206 N. Jefferson, county owned - 234 N. Jefferson, city owned - 232 N. Jefferson (vacant lot), city owned - 406 10th Street, city owned The terms of the agreement state that the Housing Commission offered to fund up to $120,000 for the acquisition, environmental testing, abatement and demotion cost of the city and county owned properties. The Housing Commission will then acquire properties, after the sites have been environmentally tested, at a cost of $100. Bay City is expected to aid in coordination of asbestos and environmental testing, handle request for bids and oversee demolition. Today, Moscow hosted presentation of the book "2054: Putin's Code", written by famous German political scientist, member of the Valdai Expert Club, Alexander Rahr. Even before its release in Russia it managed to become a bestseller in Germany. After presentation, Vestnik Kavkaza asked author several questions about prospects of the European project Eastern Partnership, which involves Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. - France sent two documents to Brussels, dated October 2019 and January 2020, wanting to "protect" members of the Eastern Partnership "against the illusions". Paris believes that the Eastern Partnership program is based on economic and political cooperation, but excludes "any prospects or mechanisms for integration or accession to the EU." What do you think about this position? - French president understands one absolutely natural thing - future Europe cannot be built as opponent of Russia or without Russia; it must develop in cooperation with Russia. That's why he repeats wise statement of one of his predecessors, Charles de Gaulle, who saw a larger Russia - from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. I hope other European leaders will change their position on this issue as well. Although Emmanuel Macron has already said in an interview that his point of view is unlikely to find support in Europe, especially in Eastern European countries. This has already happened before. Let's remember the Iraq war, the years when France, Germany and Russia opposed American intervention, and "new Europeans" sided with the Americans. That's what divided Europe. - Should we expect to see another split? - Macron will develop his idea, but he will do it carefully enough to not divide Europe once again. Today the EU faces challenges from the south - migration, climate change, water shortages, overpopulation of Africa and the Middle East. These are the issues that the EU must address. And Europeans will have to resolve these issues together with Russia, not while opposing Russia. - The Eastern Partnership program participants have different positions. For example, Armenia expects financial support from the EU, while Azerbaijan, on the contrary, doesn't want any loans or financial assistance, but hopes for more efficient approach to a number of issues - including energy and trade - from the EU. How should the EU view this program? - I think that the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, is right. He refuses to cooperate with the EU within the framework of Europe's "instructions". I think that the European Union should change its position by removing the topic of confrontation with Russia from the very concept of the Eastern Partnership program. You cant try to get certain post-Soviet countries out the Russian Federation's orbit, out of the Eurasian Union. It didnt work out before. Neither with Georgia nor with Ukraine. On the contrary, new problems appeared, including the war in Ukraine. That's why the European Union must find new approaches, new concept. Moreover, the Eurasian Union, which didn't exist during the creation of the Eastern Partnership project, is currently getting stronger. I think neither Armenia, nor Azerbaijan, nor Ukraine will be allowed to join the European Union and NATO. Right now these countries themselves must decide how they build relations with the EU. But Azerbaijan still needs to understand how to build relations with the EAEU. Armenia will seek beneficial position both here and there. When it comes to final analysis, Ukraine, as far as I can tell, will also be oriented toward both the West and the East. Fire at the chemical plant in Tarragona. Josep Lluis Sellart The explosion that hit a chemical plant in Tarragona at 6.38pm on Tuesday was so powerful that it shook the windows of buildings located more than 12 kilometers away. The blast sent flying a piece of metal weighing nearly one ton for more than two kilometers, until it hit a residential building, killing a man who was inside his home. Great clouds of smoke rose up over the surrounding areas and the flames were visible from nearby neighborhoods. During a lapse of time that felt like an eternity to area residents, no one knew the extent of the accident or the danger it presented. There were no alarms, and no instructions were given. As time passes, there is growing evidence that the communication mechanisms did not work adequately, meaning that accountability must be demanded and protocols reviewed. No one knew the extent of the accident or the danger it presented The explosion, which killed three people and left several more seriously injured, took place in a 20-ton reactor of ethylene oxide at a plant surrounded by communities with 300,000 residents. This is one of the hazards most feared by those who live next to the industrial center, which is the largest petrochemical park in southern Europe. Every year, residents go through drills to see if the emergency plans work. But on this occasion, the company did not issue an alert about the accident and Civil Protection took 20 minutes to activate the emergency plan. With little information on the type of accident or its reach, they decided to preventively tell residents from the neighboring areas and the three closest neighborhoods of Tarragona to stay inside their homes. But this order was communicated via social media. The fact that a report from firefighters later ruled out a toxic cloud cannot mask that the reaction to the accident was not the fast and efficient one outlined in protocols for chemical risks. Fortunately, the explosion did not create a toxic cloud, but if it had, the delay in adopting confinement measures could have had consequences. This accident does little to build confidence in a community that is terrified about living so close to such a dangerous industry. Both the Catalan regional government and the other agencies involved in emergency management must review the action plans and apply corrective measures, such as unifying the security plans of the companies at the petrochemical park, a longstanding demand of the unions, and improving warning systems. Considering what happened, there must be a faster introduction of systems that directly warn people via their cellphones, something that already occurs in other countries and which is considered under European Union regulations. English version by Melissa Kitson. Voters in two Ottawa-area provincial ridings will be heading to the polls next month. Premier Doug Ford called byelections Wednesday for Feb. 27 in Ottawa-Vanier and Orleans. The contests are to fill seats vacated last year by Liberal MPPs Nathalie Des Rosiers and Marie-France Lalonde. Progressive Conservative insiders emphasize the governing party has little chance of wresting the ridings from the Grits, who held them when they only won seven seats in the 2018 provincial election. But sources, speaking on background in order to discuss internal deliberations, say that does not mean the Conservatives will concede the contests without a fight. The bylections the first since Ford became premier are an opportunity for the Tories to road-test some messages and methodologies and gauge the electoral temperature almost midway through their first mandate. They come against the backdrop of the most widespread labour unrest in Ontario schools since 1997, with all public and Catholic teacher unions engaged in job action. Ottawa-Vanier was vacated by Des Rosiers last summer when she left to become principal of the University of Torontos Massey College. The Liberal candidate there is French-language school board chair Lucille Collard. Collard was the runner-up for the Grit nomination to Des Rosiers in 2016 and has been campaigning since September. Carrying the Ford flag is Patrick Mayangi, who works as a legislative assistant on Parliament Hill for Alberta Conservative MP Garnett Genuis. The New Democrats are fielding Myriam Djilane, who works for Air Canada. Environmentalist Benjamin Koczwarski is running for the Greens. Orleans had been held by Lalonde, who is now the local MP after winning in Octobers federal election. The Liberal candidate there is Stephen Blais, an Ottawa city councillor. The Tory hopeful is Natalie Montgomery, a doctoral candidate whose husband, Cameron Montgomery finished second to Lalonde in 2018. Manon Parrot, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 1979, is running for the New Democrats. Lawyer Andrew West is the Green candidate in Orleans. Even with the labour turmoil in schools, Ford has carefully timed the byelections, which are taking place in the middle of the provincial Liberal leadership race. With the Liberals electing a new leader at a March 7 convention in Mississauga, the votes will force the Grits to divert scarce resources to campaigning. In the same vein, the Tories are holding their policy convention in Niagara Falls on Feb. 21-22, thereby avoiding any hangover of potential byelection defeats. The votes are also far enough away from the budget expected to be tabled in late March by Finance Minister Rod Phillips that they will not be viewed as a referendum on the governments spending plan. Phillips is releasing the governments third-quarter results for 2019-20 on Thursday at Queens Park, but those are not expected to have any impact on the byelections. There are currently six Liberal MPPs in the 124-member legislature after the defection earlier this month of Amanda Simard, who quit the Conservative caucus to protest cuts to French-language services. 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: New Delhi, Jan 29 : In a fresh travel advisory in the backdrop of outbreak of Novel coronavirus in Wuhan province of China, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has asked people to refrain from travelling to China. The ministry on Wednesday said in a tweet: "New travel advisory on Novel #Coronavirus: Please refrain from travelling to #China." The ministry also informed that the list of airports for screening passengers for symptoms of nCoV2020 has been increased to 21. This includes airports of Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Cochin, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Kolkata, Coimbatore, Guwahati, Gaya, Bagdogra, Jaipur, Lucknow, Chennai, Trivandrum, Trichy, Varanasi, Vizag, Bhubaneswar and Goa. The novel coronavirus is a new strain of virus that spread from Wuhan province of China and brought the city to lockdown. The Indian government is also on high alert and is taking all preventive measures in order to stop the virus entering the country as many people travel to India from China and visa versa on a daily basis. The ministry has also deployed health teams in districts bordering Nepal and Bangladesh in the wake of confirmed case of Wuhan Virus in neighbourhood Nepal. Chinese health authorities on Wednesday said the death toll due to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak in the country has increased to 132, with 5,974 confirmed cases in 31 provincial-level regions. India stands at 23rd position amongst the top 30 countries at high risk from the spread of the 2019 coronavirus (2019-nCoV) researchers have identified. The most 'at risk' countries or regions worldwide are Thailand (1), Japan (2) and Hong Kong (3). The US is placed 6th on the list, Australia 10th, the UK 17th and India 23rd, the study said. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quorum Information Technologies Inc. (TSX Venture: QIS) ("Quorum" or the "Corporation") announced today that it will receive support from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP). NRC IRAP will provide advisory services and a contribution of up to $272,245 to assist Quorum in undertaking a research and development project to refactor its Vehicle Inspection Process (VIP) application to remove dependencies on the XSellerator Dealership Management System (DMS) and offer a fully cloud-based inspection tool that can be licensed to, and integrated for use, by DealerMine customers and other industry partners. This will expand DealerMines industry-leading Service CRM suite of products to include the full service lane process in a dealership. Maury Marks, Quorums President and CEO, stated, VIP is a cloud-based application that allows service advisors and technicians to take their mobile device to the customers vehicle to complete walk around inspections and sell additional services. The VIP application is currently tightly integrated in the XSellerator DMS. Under this project, we are removing the dependencies on the XSellerator DMS to allow the VIP application to offer a stand-alone inspection tool that can be licensed to, and integrated for use, by DealerMine customers and other industry partners. There are significant business and technical risks associated with our stand-alone VIP project. We are delighted that NRC IRAP is supporting the research and development of this technology as it reduces the risk of our investment and should allow our stand-alone VIP application to positively impact our future reoccurring software (Software-as-a-Service - SaaS) revenues. The software development resources for the project will come from our St. Johns office. We are pleased with the skilled, creative talent that we have found in St. Johns that will be instrumental in helping try to overcome the technical risks associated with the project. About Quorum Information Technologies Inc. Quorum is a North American company focused on developing, marketing, implementing and supporting its portfolio of software and services for automotive dealerships that includes: XSellerator, a Dealership Management System (DMS) that automates, integrates and streamlines key processes across departments in a dealership, and emphasizes revenue generation and customer satisfaction. DealerMine CRM, a sales and service Customer Relationship Management system and set of Business Development Center services that drives revenue into the critical sales and service departments in a dealership. Autovance, a sales desking system that increases sales department gross margins and improves customer satisfaction for dealerships. Advantage, a full showroom system for both franchised and independent dealerships and a comprehensive management system that includes accounting for the independent market. Quorum Information Technologies Inc. is traded on the Toronto Venture Exchange (TSX-V) under the symbol QIS. For additional information, please go to www.QuorumDMS.com . Forward-Looking Information This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information ("forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "intend", "objective", "continuous", "ongoing", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should" or similar words suggesting future outcomes. In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, this press release may contain forward-looking information pertaining to the effect of the BDC Capital Facility. Quorum believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and involves a number of risks and uncertainties some of which are described herein. Such forward-looking information necessarily involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause Quorum's actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has reviewed this release and neither accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. PDF available: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/ca240d1a-1e29-49d1-a699-3719c63d4163 Scientists have developed a technique to help prevent robots from overheating using an innovative liquid cooling system that takes inspiration from the human body. The heat regulation technology could help machines carry out more demanding tasks without malfunctioning, according to researchers from Cornell University who discovered the method. The technique allows machines to sweat off cooling liquid stored around actuators, the component responsible for moving and controlling a mechanism or system. To thermal regulate, engineered systems often have dedicated components our laptops have fans, cars have radiators, unfortunately theres a penalty to these strategies, said Thomas J Wallin, a research scientist at Facebook reality lab, who worked on the project. The cooling components take up valuable space inside our electronics and they add weight. Additionally these components are conventionally made from rigid materials that are incompatible with fully soft robots. So to realise the numerous advantages of soft robots, we wanted to explore a thermo regulatory strategy that was compatible with soft polymeric materials. 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 The finger-like fluidic actuators are made of hydrogels, a type of material that can hold a large amount of water and act as heat reservoirs. Each of these fingers feature a bottom layer with an internal channel for water flow and a top layer dotted with micropores. At low temperatures below 30C, the pores remained closed. But when the temperature rises, the top layer expands, dilating the pores and allowing pressurised fluid from the bottom layer to sweat out of the pores. Recommended Robot serves food to people in coronavirus quarantine In testing, presented in the Science Robotics journal, the sweating actuators cooled off about six-times faster than their non-sweating counterparts when exposed to wind from a fan. However, scientists behind the technique admit there is still work to do before robots can break out into a sweat anytime soon. Sweating efficiency temporarily dampened the robots ability to move, they said, and are yet to find a way to replenish water lost during extended operation. Researchers at the University of Tokyo have previously developed a humanoid robot nicknamed Kengoro that uses a perspiring process, however this involved leaking water around its metallic exoskeleton to cool down the motors. Additional reporting by agencies. Indian government has stepped up the purchase of air purifiers over the last two years, taking the number of devices in ministries to protect against deteriorating air quality to nearly 300, government data seen by Reuters showed. Six central ministries - including the health, foreign and home affairs - bought at least 159 air purifiers during 2018-2019 at a cost of 5 million rupees ($70,353), according to previously unpublished data obtained under a Right to Information (RTI) law. That compares with at least 140 air purifiers bought for $55,000 during 2014-2017 for the six ministries and Prime Minister Narendra Modis office, as previously reported by Reuters. The latest data on purchases for Modis office was not available. The purchases come as the central and city governments faced criticism for failing to address the problem of worsening air pollution, especially in the winter, and drew criticism from one activist. Its absolutely criminal to spend taxpayers money in buying air purifiers for government officials, said environmentalist Vimlendu Jha, who is a member of a government panel tasked with solving Delhis pollution crisis. In November, the level of pollution in the capital forced authorities to shut schools, restrict the use of cars and declare a public health emergency. A senior official at the environment ministry, which bears the most responsibility for tackling pollution, said there was no particular drive to buy purifiers to protect civil servants. The government is not spending a fortune by buying air purifiers. And its not that officials dont get to inhale toxic air by confining themselves to their offices, said the ministry official. The six ministries and Modis office did not respond to requests for comment. Air purifiers can cost up to nearly $1,000 and are too expensive for most Indians. Per capita income in New Delhi, a city of more than 20 million, is about $400 a month and thousands of homeless people endure the cold and the toxic air while sleeping on the streets. Reuters requested for data using the RTI law from the six ministries as it had comparable numbers previously reported in 2018. These were the ministries of foreign affairs, tourism, agriculture, health, home affairs and the federal think-tank Niti Aayog. Of the total of 159 devices bought by the ministries, the home affairs ministry topped the list with 103 of them in 2018 and 2019, the data showed. All the air purifiers have been installed in various offices/rooms of this ministry, the ministry said in its RTI response, adding the amount spent was 3.1 million rupees ($43,619). In October and November, when New Delhi saw some its worst air pollution last year, the foreign ministry bought 12 purifiers. Four of them - bought for the ministers office - were priced at nearly $1,000 each. The union health ministry bought 23 air purifiers in the last two years, including 14 in 2019, its highest annual purchases since 2015, the data showed. Over the past 12 months, Canopy Growth Corp (NYSE: CGC) shares have fallen 55.89%. On Tuesday, BofA Securities analyst Christopher Carey reiterated a Buy rating on the stock with a price objective of CA$36.00 ($27.59). "Canopy sales must be much higher to breakeven on profit," Carey wrote in a note. According to BofA calculations, Canopy should generate around CA$260 million in quarterly net sales to break-even on EBIT versus CA$109 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2020. The analyst said there are many possible positive scenarios, such as cannabis legalization on the federal level, or Canada speeding up new store openings. Nevertheless, Carey pointed out that a more realistic scenario would be for the company to take better care of its costs. Balancing the long-term potential with near-term profitability (namely cash preservation) is the fine line," he wrote. Benzinga's Cannabis Capital Conference returns to Miami Feb. 24-25 with North America's largest B2B cannabis gathering, bringing together capital, cannabis executives, thought leaders and more! On the other positive note, BofA believes Canopy CEO David Klein has enough professional expertise to help the company move forward, as he has previously managed many challenging business transformations. "[W]e think the time may be right for Canopy to take more decisive action to right-size costs for the near-term realities," according to Carey. "Obvious areas include facilities either under-utilized or not producing, strategic spending, and sales and marketing." Carey said Canopy is in many ways ahead of its Canada peers, "from leading share in Canada to a robust balance sheet," but needs to enhance its visibility on profit in order to boost investor faith "in the long-term model." Canopy Growth's stock traded higher by 6.7% to $23 per share on Tuesday morning. Latest Ratings for CGC Jan 2020 Upgrades Market Perform Outperform Nov 2019 Upgrades Neutral Buy Nov 2019 Maintains Buy View More Analyst Ratings for CGC View the Latest Analyst Ratings Story continues 0 See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. A prison inmate, who already served 24 years out of a 60-year prison sentence for selling marijuana in Michigan, is making his second bid for clemency. Michael A. Thompson, 68, was convicted after selling pot to an informant in Genesee County in 1996, and previously denied early release by former Gov. Rick Snyder. Supporters, however, say the state's current governor, Gretchen Whitmer, should consider the inmate's new bid for an early release, because he has not demonstrated he is a violent offender and has served enough time behind bars. Michael Thompson, 68, has asked for clemency a second time in the hopes of an earlier release from a Michigan prison on a conviction for selling marijuana and possession of firearms. His fate will this time be decided by the state's current governor, Gretchen Whitmer Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks at the General Motors Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant in Hamtramck, Michigan on Monday. She is to decide Thompson's second request for clemency Thompson has served 24 years of a 60-year-prison sentence on marijuana and gun possession convictions Social activist Shawn King, host of the Breakdown podcast, tweeted on Monday that Thompson's current sentence was 'inhumane', and that it was all for 'nothing more than selling weed'. A spokesperson for the current governor was not immediately available when DailyMail.com reached out to ask about Thompson's latest bid for freedom. Thompson had been convicted on three counts of selling marijuana and two counts of illegal possession of a firearm as a felony offender, according to the Michigan Department of Corrections. But he was not found to be in the possession of firearms at the time of his arrest, reports ABC News. Authorities would later recover guns during a warrant search of his home, ABC reports. A website set up to support his new bid for an early release argues that Thompson has 'never committed a violent act'. Social activist Shawn King, host of the Breakdown podcast, tweeted on Monday that Thompson's current sentence was 'inhumane' 'He was charged with a violent crime just so he could serve the longest sentence possible', the site, 'freemichaelthompson.com' says. 'Michael was labeled violent because police found guns at his house, even though in Michigan people can legally and openly carry guns,' the site explains. During his last parole board hearing in 2018, Thompson was denied release, and his first request to have his sentence commuted by then Gov. Snyder was rejected, ABC reports. Former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder speaks at a 2018 press conference in Detroit, the same year he rejected Thompson's first request to have his sentence commuted Thompson's image from an online prison inmate locator. A website set up to support his new bid for an early release argues that Thompson has 'never committed a violent act' Michigan voted to legalize recreational use of pot the same year. A online petition on the site set up by his supporters urges Whitmer, the current governor, to grant his latest request for clemency. The site claims more than 21000 people have signed the petition, exceeding a goal of 20000. 'His mother, his father and his only son died while he was in prison,' the site says. 'And recreational marijuana has been legalized in Michigan. Now we're going to fight to get Michael free. We can do it. We must'. To prevent a Wuhan virus outbreak, Vietnam will stop receiving tourists from Chinas epidemic-hit areas and quarantine returning Chinese workers following Tet. Stop receiving and sending tourists to and from China The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism on Wednesday proposed suspending the transportation of tourists to areas hit by pneumonia caused by the nCoV virus. Nguyen Trung Khanh, general director of the administration, said management agencies and businesses across the country need to closely monitor the situation and keep a close eye on the schedules and health conditions of Chinese tourists. Foreign visitors who have entered epidemic areas and then visited Vietnam within 14 days should follow Vietnamese health sector's recommendations. Travel agencies across the country temporarily stopped organizing delegations to Chinese provinces and cities where outbreaks were occurring and refused to welcome tourists from epidemic-stricken areas to Vietnam. If detecting suspected cases of infection, travel agencies and businesses should immediately coordinate with local medical agencies forquarantine purposes. New coronavirus fears have prompted Vietnam's top destinations Da Nang, Khanh Hoa and Lao Cai to turn their backs on Chinese tourists. Vietnam will temporarily stop granting tourist visas to Chinese citizens at epidemic-infected areas, except in urgent cases. Quarantine returning Chinese workers Local authorities in the northern port city of Hai Phong asked businesses to limit the number of Chinese returning to work amid acute pneumonia caused by new coronavirus, originating in Wuhan City in Chinas Huabei Province, spreading globally. Enterprises were given the option to quarantine workers from China in separate areas for 14 days under the supervision of local health officials. In addition, city leaders warned hotels and restaurants to restrict the number of Chinese tourists and those coming from infected regions in China. Hai Phong has not reported any cases of coronavirus infection. According tocity police, more than 3,000 temporary Chinese residents working in Hai Phong return home to celebrate Tet, the most important and biggest holiday in China and Vietnam, including 23 from Wuhan. By the end of January 28, the number of Chinese workers had not yet returned. On Tuesday, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs requested relevant agencies to gather statistics on the number of Vietnamese workers in China, especially in regions where pneumonia outbreaks were declared. Local labor departments also need to review and manage the number of Chinese laborers across localities, make available official figures on the number of Chinese workers returning home for Tet celebrations and those returning to Vietnam. Labor departments will cooperate with the health sector to isolate those Chinese workers coming from epidemic-stricken areas. Quarantine 18 medical workers Last Sunday, a 10-year-old boy from a Chinese delegation traveling from Hanoi to Quang Ninh, home to world famous Ha Long Bay, on Hanoi-Hai Phong Expressway was rushed to a nearby medical center in Gia Loc District of Hai Duong Province, suffering shortness of breath, pale mucous membranes, cyanotic skin but no fever. Hai Duong Department of Health said the Chinese patient was then transferred to the provincial general hospital for emergency treatment, diagnosed with respiratory failure and pneumonia. In the evening of the same day, the boy was taken to the central tropical hospital for special treatment. While awaiting test results, 18 medical workers previously in contact with the patient were quarantined for 14 days and remain under observation. "Fighting the nCoV-caused disease is like fighting an enemy," Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said in a meeting on Tuesday, urging the political system across the 63 provincial-level localities to promptly take actions. Vietnam faces high risks of being affected by this dangerous and rapidly spreading disease since it is a popular destination of Chinese tourists and shares a long borderline with China, Phuc said. "The government accepts economic losses to protect the lives and health of people," he stressed. Passengers go through the health quarantine area at Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy. A quick response team led by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam was set up to cope with the deadly coronavirus outbreaks. The nCoV virus has spread from mainland China to Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, the U.S., Singapore, Malaysia, France, Canada and Vietnam. Chinese authorities said as of Wednesday morning 132 people had died of the disease. The number of confirmed cases of individuals infected with the virus reached over 6,000 with 263 patients in critical conditions. In Vietnam, no local has contracted the nCoV yet. Li Zichao, 28, one of the two Chinese nationals who were the first confirmed cases of infection by the new coronavirus in Vietnam has recovered on Tuesday morning. However, his father remains positive with new coronavirus, doctors at Cho Ray Hospital in HCMC said Wednesday. Curve is a prepaid Mastercard that lets customers add funds to refill its balance, access ATMs for free while traveling, and could generally be a safer option for shopping or traveling since the card can be frozen/unfrozen from an app in case its lost. You can also link Curve to any of your physical cards and switch between payment methods on the fly, even after making a purchase. Curve is now officially supported by Apple Pay, which is great news for someone in Europe who may have a card they with to use with Apple Pay, but isnt supported by it. Ultimately, you can add your Curve card to Apple Pay, and then assign your preferred payment method via Curve. Curve claims it works with any card. How to add your Curve card: On iPhone, open the Wallet app and tap the plus sign. On Apple Watch, open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone and select Wallet & Apple Pay, then tap Add Credit or Debit Card. Curve supports any card from 31 countries in Europe including: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the UK (except Jersey, Guernsey, and Isle of Man). Curve on iOS 28th of January, 2020 marks deliberate day in the history of this country. Despite any hindrances faced by the Ghana ambulance service prior to the public show of the 307 ambulances in Accra, I see it a necessity giving thanks to the President of the Republic of Ghana, H. E Nana Addo for ensuring that this didn't amount to his many unfulfilled promises even though it is yet to be proven as one of the failed executed ones or otherwise. I also wish to be convinced that the qualities attributed to the ambulances were not just the normal conation and rhyming of words as usually conjured and voiced with cacophony to grasp the attention of Ghanaians. If only I heard my lovely President right, these ambulances came with improved features including tracking devices that enhance easy navigation and location of nearest hospitals and other EMTs. A new shortcode was launched by the golden old man to ease the calling of the nearest centers of the ambulance service. Usual of this President, he praised the efforts of the Kufuor administration for instituting the Ghana ambulance service but in his usual political arrogance, ignored the 81 percent coverage nationwide that the Mills to Mahama administration chalked during their time. It is quite surprising and politically unconvincing to underrate the efforts of one's predecessor in leadership roles. As a leader, who they precede from is key to their decisions and who they hand to is genuine for continuity. To the substantive matter of this write-up, the biggest question is how are these ambulances so jubilated about going to be accessible to people living in places without network coverages or how are the tracking devices going to be functional in responding to cases in such communities without network coverage? This may sound funny but the story of people in some parts of Ghana is ordeal if I can describe it. In communities like Jentige, Chache, Maaluwe, Dakurupe, Sonyo in the savannah region one key problem of them is the no the network coverage which has eased the escape of armed robbers any time they attack people along the roads leading to these communities. Calling the police is not possible in times of these challenges. With this scenario, it is simple that the very people that were bused to Accra to witness the commissioning of the ambulances who definitely will have the opportunity to take their share of the national cake by taking part in the fanfare that H.E Nana Addo organized for his party people. To appreciate what people in these areas, go through, the President should have used the money wasted on the commissioning program to erect network masks in a number of communities to connect them to the Ghana communication networks. As a result of this challenge of no network, communities have resorted to the use of tricycles popularly known as aboboya as ambulance to carry women in labor, people involved in accidents or those attacked by deadly diseases. This often times lead to unexpected deaths due to delay and condition in which such patients are carried to the nearest health facilities. It was this idea that led to the massive construction of CHPSS compounds across the length and breadth of Ghana to at least augment the work of the ambulances in the district capitals. The impact of these rural health facilities cannot to down placed. When a toddler takes a step, he feels at home and proud thinking that is the best not knowing the best is to walk straight without warbling. Here is a Government that is handicapped in fulfilling its lucrative promises and has robbed peter to pay Paul, by increasing our debt stock to 200 billion in 2019 from 112 billion in 2016. This shows that Ghana is going nowhere with this character of always spending. We have missed something and that is the roads on which many accidents occur through which the ambulances are relevant. The roads in our country are too bad that road accidents are on the increase. It will not surprise me if ambulances get accidents moving along of the main roads. The Bole-Bamboi road, Bole-Wa road and the Sawla-Fufulso road are in a bad shape that need the attention of the ministry of highways. If wet grasses are burning, then the dry ones will escalate the fire. Roads to villages are left unconstructed and we expect them to benefit the same ambulance as those in towns? As a country, it is time our policies are business policies that generate money for the country. For example, the construction of the Bole-Chache road will boast income generation for the Government since it is a border line. Two more people in Australia have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus - with another 16 under investigation in New South Wales. Victoria health officials confirmed on Wednesday a man has been diagnosed with the disease, making him the second confirmed case in the state. Hours later, Queensland recorded its first case after a 44-year-old Chinese national was confirmed to have the virus. There are now seven cases in Australia - four in NSW, two in Victoria and one in Queensland. Since the outbreak of coronavirus at the end of December, Chinese authorities have placed 56 million people in lockdown. Pictured is a Chinese health worker taking a patient's temperature Pictured: A patient heading in to Westmead Hospital after being diagnosed with coronavirus Australians trapped in China will soon be evacuated following the deadly coronavirus outbreak. Pictured: People wearing protective masks queue to take a taxi at the Beijing railway station Victoria's chief health officer said the man, who is in 60s, became unwell on January 23 - two days after recovering from the Chinese city of Wuhan, which is the epicentre of the outbreak. The man was confirmed as positive earlier this morning and was subsequently seen by doctors at the Monash Medical Centre. He was assessed as being well enough to stay at home. 'There is no current evidence that passengers or crew on the flight that the man took to return to Melbourne are at risk,' the department said in a statement. Five of the man's family, three adults and two children, live with him and are also at home in isolation. One of them has tested negative to the virus, while the children are being kept from school. Chief health officer Brett Sutton said the man had spent most of his time at home, but had gone to The House Of Delight restaurant in Glen Waverley between 5.30 and 7pm on January 26. 'That restaurant has been followed up with and those who were there at the same time, whose contact details we have, we are following up with,' he said. 'But obviously that restaurant is OK to go to now. People dont need to avoid that area or indeed anywhere else people have been, even if infectious at the time.' Pictured: Medical staff with coronavirus patient in Wuhan, China Pictured: Confirmed cases across the globe The first Victorian coronavirus case, a man in his 50s, was confirmed on January 25 and he remains in isolation at the Monash Medical Centre in a stable condition. Queensland's chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young confirmed later on Wednesday a 44-year-old Chinese national tested positive for the disease. CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA NEW SOUTH WALES: 4 Four people in NSW have been diagnosed with coronavirus, including three men and one woman. January 25 Three men aged 43, 53, and 35 who had recently travelled to China are confirmed to have contracted the disease. Two flew in from Wuhan while the other arrived in Sydney from Shenzhen, south China. They are being treated in isolation at Westmead Hospital and are in stable condition. January 27 A 21-year-old woman is identified as the fourth person to test positive for the illness in NSW. The woman, a student at UNSW, flew into Sydney International Airport on flight MU749 on January 23 and presented to the emergency department 24 hours later after developing flu-like symptoms. She is being treated in isolation at Westmead Hospital. VICTORIA: 4 January 25 A Chinese national aged in his 50s becomes the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in Australia. The man flew to Melbourne on China Southern flight CZ321 from Wuhan via Guangzhou on January 19. He is now in quarantined isolation at Monash Hospital in Clayton in Melbourne's east. January 29 A Victorian man in his 60s is diagnosed with the coronavirus. He became unwell on January 23 - two days after returning from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak. The man was confirmed as positive on January 29 and was subsequently seen by doctors at the Monash Medical Centre. He was assessed as being well enough to stay at home. January 30 A woman in her 40s falls ill with the coronavirus. She was visiting from China and mostly spent time with her family. She is being treated at Royal Melbourne Hospital. February 1 A Melbourne woman aged in her 20s is at home recovering. She returned from Wuhan on January 25 and fell ill two days later. She was not infectious on the flight, and has remained in isolation since being tested. QUEENSLAND: 2 January 29 Queensland confirms its first case after a 44-year-old Chinese national wass diagnosed with the virus. He is being treated at Gold Coast University Hospital. January 30 A 42-year-old Chinese woman who was travelling in the same Wuhan tour group as the 44-year-old man tests positive. She is in Gold Coast University Hospital in stable condition. SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 2 February 1 A Chinese couple were placed in isolation in a public hospital. The man and a woman both aged 60, were from Wuhan and visiting relatives in South Australia. SA Health said the pair isolated themselves at home when they developed symptoms and awaited the results of the coronavirus test. Australia has raised the travel alert level to 'do not travel' for the city of Wuhan - the epicentre of the outbreak - and for the entire Hubei province. Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy says unless people have contact with someone who is unwell and has come from that part of China, there is no need for current concern. Advertisement The man, who is from Wuhan - the epicenter of the deadly outbreak - is being treated in isolation at Gold Coast University Hospital and is said to be stable. The patient was reportedly one of 19 people who were being tested for the disease in Queensland on Wednesday. The case means a total of seven people in Australia have been infected with the virus, which has killed more than 130 people and infected more than 6,000 globally. The virus reportedly began in a food market in Wuhan, in China's Hubei providence where more than 11million people are currently in lockdown in an attempt to stop the disease from spreading. New South Wales' Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said test results for the most recent 16 cases are expected by Wednesday afternoon, and will be shared with the public. All 16 patients, 10 men and six women, who are believed to be carrying the virus are in isolation awaiting their test results. Their ages range from just two years old through to 66. 'The fact we have 16 cases under investigation just reflects that we've broadened our testing... to focus on the Hubei province not just Wuhan and any contacts of confirmed cases,' Dr Chant told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday. 'That is to detect any cases and take a very precautionary approach. 'We're also increasingly realising the disease profile can be quite varying.' The chief health officer confirmed there were still only four confirmed cases in NSW and two of those patients are well and truly on the mend. 'We want to get the message out there that even people with low-level symptoms should come forward,' Dr Chant said. The state has so far tested more than 40 people. Seven South Australians are awaiting results from their coronavirus tests, but SA Health says the chances of them having the disease is low. A further three people in the state have recently been cleared of the virus, bringing the total number of people tested to 10. 'All of the people under investigation are being managed using standard infection control protocols and we will not be disclosing further details for privacy reasons,' SA Health said on Wednesday. One million face masks will also be delivered to GPs around the country in a bid to stop the spread of the virus. 'We'll be supporting the public and GPs through the allocation of up to 1 million masks for general practises,' Health Minister Greg Hunt said. Wuhan, the 11-million-strong epicentre of the outbreak, was put into lockdown last Thursday, amid growing fears over the rapid spread of the deadly virus. The death toll has surpassed 130 in China, while confirmed cases of infection in the Hubei province have jumped past 6,000. Mr Hunt said the outbreak had the potential of becoming a 'pandemic' in Australia - where five cases have been confirmed and several more are expected to emerge. Australians have been urged to reconsider any travel to China and not to visit Hubei Province under any circumstances as the country struggles to contain coronavirus. Pictured: A patient heading in to Westmead Hospital after being diagnosed with coronavirus Symptoms of the virus include fever, cough, sore throat and shortness of breath About 600 Australians remain trapped in the Hubei province. Qantas has offered to help evacuate those people. Government website Smarttraveller updated its travel advice for China early on Wednesday morning. 'Due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus we now advise you 'reconsider your need to travel' to China overall and 'do not travel' to Hubei Province,' the Smarttraveller advice read. 'Chinese authorities have restricted travel for parts of the country and may extend these restrictions at short notice. 'Travellers may be quarantined, due to their health condition or previous location.' More than 11million people are stranded and unable to travel in or out of the region as China stepped up preventive measures to limit its spread. By PTI KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday said she is ready for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of Citizenship Amendment Act but the Centre has to first withdraw the contentious law. Banerjee said protesting against the decisions of the centre doesn't make opposition parties anti-national and iterated that she will not implement CAA, NRC or NPR in the state. "It is good that the prime minister is ready for talks but the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) must be revoked first. ALSO READ: West Bengal Assembly passes anti-CAA resolution, fourth state to do so They (Centre) did not call an all-party meeting before taking a decision on Kashmir and CAA. "We are ready for talks but first withdraw this Citizenship Amendment Act," Banerjee, a staunch critic of the BJP, said addressing a protest programme against CAA through paintings. The West Bengal Assembly had on Monday passed a resolution against the CAA to become the fourth state after Kerala, Punjab and Rajasthan, to do so. The state assembly had on September 6, 2019, passed a resolution against the NRC. For nearly two decades, scholars with expertise on the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada have shared their insights at the Conference on the Americas. In February, the University of North Georgia will host the 23rd annual conference on UNG's Gainesville Campus. The Conference on the Americas will be Feb. 21-22 in the Martha T. Nesbitt building at 2571 Mathis Drive in Oakwood, Georgia. Conference registration fees are $95-$100 for faculty and professionals, $50 for graduate students, and $25 for undergraduate students. Visit the Conference on the Americas website to register. Attendees will gain new insights, discover new research, and network with faculty from University System of Georgia (USG) schools and other universities. Graduate and undergraduate students are encouraged to attend and participate in the students' paper competition. More than 12 public and private institutions from Georgia and three out-of-state colleges will be represented. UNG scholars who have participated in the conference in the past include Dr. Elizabeth Combier, department head and professor of Spanish; Dr. Kristi Hislope, professor of Spanish; Dr. Alvaro Torres-Calderon, associate professor of Spanish; Dr. Donna Danns, professor of economics in the Mike Cottrell College of Business; and Dr. George Danns, professor of sociology. Abstracts and papers were accepted from faculty as well as graduate and undergraduate students. Topics and categories will focus on migrants and immigration, the ecology and environment, gender, politics and economic issues in the region, social problems in relation to Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada and study abroad programs. More than 50 faculty and student presenters are confirmed for the conference. "Our presenters and panelists will bring to the conference new knowledge and deeply interesting and very integral insights about the region we study," said George Danns, a member of the Americas Council. As the main sponsor, the purpose of the Americas Council of the USG is to provide a venue in which faculty can engage and share their interest and expertise regarding the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada. The consortium of USG institutions provides an annual conference for presenters and participants to explore critical sociocultural, political, economic, global, regional, and national issues. "Hosting this conference will provide UNG with a strategic opportunity to showcase and advance its work in the region, as well as foster engagement with all of the USG institutions' scholars and students in the process," George Danns said. Donna Danns has attended the conference for the past 10 years and still finds it interesting. She said presenters and panelists are multidisciplinary and multicultural. One year, Donna Danns heard a presentation from Combier. Danns was so impressed she invited Combier to speak to two of her classes about the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). "There are scholars from UNG and from other universities who are sharing their expertise," Danns said. Dr. Paget Henry, professor of Africana studies and sociology at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, will deliver the keynote address Feb. 22. Henry is the author of several books and numerous research articles. His areas of research include dependency theory, Caribbean political economy, sociology of religion, sociology of art and literature, Africana philosophy and religion, race and ethnic relations, post-structuralism, and critical theory. For more information, email George.Danns@ung.edu and Donna.Danns@ung.edu or visit the Conference on the Americas webpage. Could Vita Group Limited (ASX:VTG) be an attractive dividend share to own for the long haul? Investors are often drawn to strong companies with the idea of reinvesting the dividends. 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, Vita Group likely looks attractive to dividend investors, given its 7.9% dividend yield and nine-year payment history. We'd agree the yield does look enticing. There are a few simple ways to reduce the risks of buying Vita Group for its dividend, and we'll go through these below. Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis ASX:VTG Historical Dividend Yield, January 29th 2020 Payout ratios Companies (usually) pay dividends out of their earnings. If a company is paying more than it earns, the dividend might have to be cut. So we need to form a view on if a company's dividend is sustainable, relative to its net profit after tax. Vita Group paid out 61% 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. Another important check we do is to see if the free cash flow generated is sufficient to pay the dividend. The company paid out 71% of its free cash flow, which is not bad per se, but does start to limit the amount of cash Vita Group has available to meet other needs. It's positive to see that Vita Group'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. With a strong net cash balance, Vita Group investors may not have much to worry about in the near term from a dividend perspective. We update our data on Vita Group every 24 hours, so you can always get our latest analysis of its financial health, here. Story continues 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 last decade of data, we can see that Vita Group paid its first dividend at least nine years ago. It's good to see that Vita Group has been paying a dividend for a number of years. However, the dividend has been cut at least once in the past, and we're concerned that what has been cut once, could be cut again. During the past nine-year period, the first annual payment was AU$0.04 in 2011, compared to AU$0.092 last year. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 9.7% a year over that time. Vita Group's dividend payments have fluctuated, so it hasn't grown 9.7% every year, but the CAGR is a useful rule of thumb for approximating the historical growth. Dividends have grown at a reasonable rate, but with at least one substantial cut in the payments, we're not certain this dividend stock would be ideal for someone intending to live on the income. 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 4.8% a year for the past five years, which is better than seeing them shrink! Growth of 4.8% is relatively anaemic growth, which we wonder about. If the company is struggling to grow, perhaps that's why it elects to pay out more than half of its earnings to shareholders. We'd also point out that Vita Group issued a meaningful number of new shares in the past year. Trying to grow the dividend when issuing new shares reminds us of the ancient Greek tale of Sisyphus - perpetually pushing a boulder uphill. Companies that consistently issue new shares are often suboptimal from a dividend perspective. Conclusion When we look at a dividend stock, we need to form a judgement on whether the dividend will grow, if the company is able to maintain it in a wide range of economic circumstances, and if the dividend payout is sustainable. Vita Group's is paying out more than half its income as dividends, but at least the dividend is covered by both reported earnings and cashflow. Second, earnings growth has been ordinary, and its history of dividend payments is chequered - having cut its dividend at least once in the past. In sum, we find it hard to get excited about Vita Group from a dividend perspective. It's not that we think it's a bad business; just that there are other companies that perform better on these criteria. You can also discover whether shareholders are aligned with insider interests by checking our visualisation of insider shareholdings and trades in Vita Group stock. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our curated list of dividend stocks with a yield 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. Fran Unsworth The BBC is getting rid of 450 newsroom employees. Among the divisions affected are the BBC World Service and Newsnight, the networks nightly news program. The cuts, part of what BBC News director Fran Unsworth said was a necessary move away from traditional broadcasting and towards digital, follows the loss of 50 positions late last year. Another factor is an organization-wide cost-cutting drive. The corporation announced in 2016 that it needed to save 800m (about $1.4 billion), with about 10 percent of that figure coming from news. Just over 40m of the savings required from BBC News have already been found. Most of the BBCs funding comes from an annual tax of about $200 paid by British citizens who watch or stream live television. Prime minister Boris Johnson has ordered a review of the fee. According to National Union of Journalists general secretary Michelle Stainstreet, loss of the fee would add another 200 million to the BBCs annual losses. In addition, BBC director-general Tony Hall has announced plans that will likely see at least two-thirds of the corporation's staff based outside London by 2027, saying that moving the jobs away from the capital would "promote inclusion." About half (48 percent) of the corporations employees now work in London. Craig Newmark Philanthropies is donating $1 million to ProPublica to support the organizations Electionland collaboration and related national and local reporting on voting issues around the 2020 U.S. elections. The gift will support a consortium of news organizations that tracks the voter experience and shines a light on practices that endanger voting rights. Using multiple data sources, social media newsgathering, and verification technology, the Electionland collaboration will target issues that can effectively disenfranchise eligible voters. These include changing voting laws and rules, disinformation, voter harassment, insecure technology, equipment failures, and long lines at the polls. This new philanthropic funding will allow newsrooms and technology companies across the country to closely monitor the 2020 elections in a way that no single organization could. A smaller part of the gift will support ProPublicas investigative journalism in 2021. Ben Smith BuzzFeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith is heading to the New York Times as the papers media columnist. Smith succeeds Jim Rutenberg, now a writer at large for the paper, who took the spot after the death of David Carr in 2015. Smith joined BuzzFeed in 2012 and built the sites news operation. Before coming to BuzzFeed, he was a reporter at Politico, a political columnist and blogger for the New York Daily News and a reporter for both the New York Observer and New York Sun. In a letter to BuzzFeed staffers from chief executive Jonah Peretti, he said that BuzzFeed News was built to last and would keep on telling the stories others wont in ways they havent thought of. Identifying the Need Alpha in the Field The technologists behind California's Alpha project, the nascent iterative state website that promises a more responsive, satisfying user experience, have sought to make citizen feedback an integral part of their design process.Iteration, the idea that a website is continually improved upon through critiques from users, is a relatively new concept in state government development, but the team has looked to predecessors like Gov.UK as role models for this work.The team met withlast week in its Sacramento office to explain that the new CA.gov , which promises to centralize information from state agencies, while also providing a flexible platform that gives users more intuitive access to services, is being driven by what the public and agency customers want and need.Hilary Hoeber, who helms user research for Alpha and has also conducted user and design research for tech giants like Instagram, Uber and Nextdoor, said that a combination of data analytics and more intimate surveys and interviews have informed their work.User "stories," or experiences, are a key part of this process and are culled from surveys which Hoeber distributed to communities up and down the state asking respondents questions about their digital experience with state government. After that, follow-up phone calls between some respondents and Hoeber gave her a chance to do a deeper, more granular dive into their experiences."[The surveys are] a way to, at the very least, tap into a greater population and see what people are thinking," said Hoeber.The small team is currently working at breakneck speed to complete its work within a 12-14-week window, but the research isn't necessarily being conducted under ideal circumstances, Hoeber said."The surveys are just the result of the time-condensed Alpha," she continued. "Ideally, we would want to spend more time talking to people, identifying [more] real user needs."Those needs and the projects to satisfy them are diverse. At the timevisited the Alpha office, the team was developing a function that allows users to check the safety of drinking water based on location. While this might seem like a relatively simple undertaking, the reality is that defining a thing as safe or unsafe often elicits the need for more information, clarification and research.Here, like many of its projects, traditional data analytics played a big role in informing the team's work. Aaron Hans, tech lead for the project, said that user data derived largely from Google Analytics has been a central metric for evaluating the parts of the website in need of more attention. Data being supplied by state agencies, meanwhile, plays an equally significant role."We did a lot of analysis on where people are going on California government sites, and what terms they're searching on, and what pages they're looking at and how often," said Hans. "We do surveys and other testing methods too."For the drinking water function, state data certainly played a key role."There are carcinogens in your drinking water at certain levels, and when it exceeds the government mandated level that's really bad, but maybe it's still unhealthy below those levels," explained Hans.Through an API developed by the team, data from the agency level allows users look geographically at the relative quality of water, staff explained. The challenge, then, lies in packaging that data in a way that is accessible and understandable for the average user.Another project aims to alert road travelers to traffic conditions or potential roadwork with data from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).For the traffic function, Caltrans continually shares its updated data with the new CA.gov site to give users an up-to-date status on the roads they need to travel on. Users simply enter their starting point and destination to get all of the road conditions for that specific trip.Angie Quirarte, product owner with the team, said that she hopes the new website "adds value but doesn't try to replicate something else that's already out there.""We're not trying to replace Google Maps, but we found that there's a tiny gap in the data that they're maybe not consuming right now that maybe we could help them see or access," she said, in reference to the traffic function.In gathering data for its projects, the team's user research approach also includes conducting "field trips" to communities that may be affected by the website's service delivery so they can conduct more intimate user research. Currently, the team is planning a trip to a California community that recently suffered damages from a devastating wildfire to inform its approach to emergency support and preparedness services."A lot of times, because we have a time frame sometimes it's just the most open and willing. Proximity [is also a factor], just because we're not using a travel budget or anything like that," Hoeber said, during the meeting.At the same time, the team also uses their own experiences with the current state websites to inform their approach. Team members take themselves through current state websites to measure how intuitive or not the online processes are, said JP Petrucione, communications lead with the project."For the scope of the alpha, what we're really trying to learn is how can we simplify the content that's already out there," said Quirarte, explaining that the evolving process of critique, input, and design was a benefit to the site's overall user experience. Canada has temporarily closed its visa application centres across China and cancelled appointments in the wake of the new coronavirus outbreak there. According to Visa Facilitation Services, a private company tasked with processing Canadian visa applications, all 11 of its centres will be closed until at least Monday, pending further notification from Chinese authorities. The centres are located in Beijing, Shenyang, Jinan, Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Kunming and Wuhan, the city in Hubei province at the heart of the new coronavirus outbreak. As of Wednesday, more than 6,000 cases have been confirmed in China, with at least 132 deaths. Wuhan has been in lockdown as a result of the virus since last Thursday. The number of tourists from China who visit Canada has grown by 16 per cent a year, with more than 737,000 Chinese travellers coming here in 2018. They spend on average about $2,850 per trip, staying for about 30 nights, said Destination Canada, a Crown corporation that promotes international tourism to Canada. China is also one of the main source countries of new immigrants to Canada, with 28,560 permanent residents settling in the country last year, behind India. All existing in-person appointments for visas scheduled before the end of January have been cancelled and affected applicants are advised to reschedule once a reopening date is confirmed. For non-biometrics applications, customers are most welcome to submit mail-in applications. For passport collection, please expect certain delay under such circumstances, Visa Facilitation Services said on its website. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and kind co-operation. Visa Facilitation Services began taking over Canadas visa processing operations in China in 2008 and handles applications for visitors, students, workers and permanent residents. Read more about: Not him, them. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images A specter is haunting centrist Democrats the specter of a Bernie Sanders nomination. As the democratic socialist has taken the lead in Iowa and New Hampshire, and narrowed Joe Bidens advantage in national polls, the high clerics of Clintonism have begun calling for a (political) counterrevolution. People need to start taking Bernie pretty seriously there is a really substantial risk of him becoming unstoppable if he wins these early states by large numbers, Matt Bennett, vice-president of the centrist think tank Third Way, told the Washington Post this week. Bennett went on to chastise his fellow moderates for getting anxious instead of organized, lamenting, Its not like our phone is ringing from people saying, Lets do something. Third Way has been flooding influential Iowa Democrats in-boxes with memos on Sanderss general-election liabilities and seeding similar stories in the mainstream press. Meanwhile, the Democratic Majority for Israel super-PAC is warning Iowans that a vote for a septuagenarian socialist with a heart condition is, in effect, a vote for four more years of President Trump. But a broad-based, deep-pocketed Anyone But Sanders push has yet to take shape. Allies of Michael Bloomberg have indicated that the billionaires burgeoning campaign will transform itself into such an entity, if necessary. If Biden suffers damage in the early states, the last thing hell need is for Bloomberg, an alternative anti-left candidate, to ramp up his (already gargantuan) ad spending, and likely eat into Uncle Joes margins on Super Tuesday. But by the time Iowa and New Hampshire are in the books, it may already be too late (after all, had the GOP Establishments interventions against Trump been less belated, our republic might not be in its present mess). Thus, for Third Way and its fellow tribunes of triangulation, the time to act is now: The Democratic Establishment stands at the crossroads it can either transition to anti-Sanderism or acquiesce to four more years of barbarism. But theyre wrong, and not merely because their assessment of Sanderss general-election viability is tendentious and undermined by current polling. Even if one accepts Third Ways memo as gospel, the hazards of mounting a massive Anyone But Sanders campaign still outweigh the benefits. The reason for this is simple: Democrats will need high turnout among young, left-leaning voters in November, and Bernie Sanders is overwhelmingly popular with such voters. The age gap between the support bases of the two leading Democratic candidates is unprecedented in scale. According to a Quinnipiac poll released Wednesday, Bernie Sanders boasts the support of 53 percent of Democratic voters under 35 nationwide, while Joe Biden lays claim to just 3 percent. That polls margin of error is 3.4 percentage points which means that the percentage of younger voters who support the Democratic Partys current front-runner could, technically, round down to zero. In other national surveys, age polarization among Democratic primary voters tends to be a bit less severe. But in virtually all of them, Bidens support among the young is historically low for a front-running candidate, while Sanderss popularity with the contingent is exceptionally high. It will be hard enough for Biden to mobilize younger voters after beating Sanders in a relatively friendly primary fight, free of conspicuous interference from Establishment forces. If Uncle Joe has to win millennial and Gen-Z hearts and minds after riding to the nomination on the back of a wall-to-wall anti-Bernie ad blitz from Third Way and friends his task may be impossible. Although Sanderss 2016 backers did not sit out (or defect) during the general election in aberrantly high numbers, the age gap between Biden and Bernie backers this year is even larger than the one that prevailed between Clinton and the Vermont senator four years ago. One recent Emerson College poll found that only 53 percent of Sanderss current supporters plan to vote for the Democratic nominee in November, no matter who that person turns out to be. Theres some reason to consider that survey an unreliable outlier. Previous surveys have suggested that Bernie or Bust is a very marginal tendency among Democratic primary voters. But disaffected younger voters dont need to withhold their votes in principled protest to cost Democrats the election: If the Democratic nominee ends up looking like a walking, talking embodiment of Gen-Zs political disempowerment, a critical mass of younger voters may simply allow lifes quotidian demands to derail their voting plans come Election Day. Given all this, if the Democratic Partys incumbent elites united to take down the (supposedly) unelectable socialist, they would risk rendering Biden unelectable in the process, and theres little rational basis for them to take such a gamble. Yes, Sanders has become a real contender in recent weeks, but Biden is still the front-runner. And the available polling suggests that if this race ever becomes a two-man contest between the leading septuagenarians, the former vice-president wont have much trouble assembling a plurality of delegates. As is, Bidens polling advantage in states throughout the South dwarfs the one that Sanders has established in Iowa and New Hampshire. In these circumstances, it would be irrational for centrist Democrats to launch an Anyone But Bernie campaign unless they include Donald Trump in the Anyone category. In just over a week, a coronavirus outbreak has spread from one Chinese city to more than a dozen countries in Asia, Europe, and North America. The U.S. has issued travel advisory warningsand is expanding screenings at international airportsand the World Health Organization has upgraded its risk assessment of the outbreak from "moderate" to "high." Some countries, including France, South Korea, and the U.S., are even reportedly making plans to evacuate citizens from the epicenter, Wuhan, a city of 11 million people in central China. Taken all together, these headlines can be pretty panic- and sweaty palms-inducing. So with that in mind, it's important to keep fact and fiction straight. Here's what we know so far. What exactly is a coronavirus? "Coronavirus"its name is from the crown-like spikes on its surfaceactually covers a lot of pretty common viruses. Most people will contract a form of coronavirus at some point in their lives. It can cause mild respiratory illness, like the common cold, or something more severe, such as pneumonia. A coronavirus caused the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2002 which also led to a global panic. SARS killed about 10 percent of the people infected by it, and while not much is known about this newest coronavirus (the Centers for Disease Control is calling it "novel coronavirus 2019"), so far it isn't quite as deadly: As of Tuesday, there have been about 106 deaths out of more than 4,500 infections in China. How widespread is it now? Beyond China, the virus has been spotted in Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Nepal, Germany, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Canada, France, and Australia. There are also five cases in the U.S., in Washington state, California, Arizona, and Illinois, and in all five cases, the infected people recently visited Wuhan. So far though, no countries besides China and Thailand have reported more than single digit number of infections. Story continues How did this outbreak start? According to the Wall Street Journal, some experts think this particular strain originated in bats (coronaviruses tend to infect small mammals and sometimes transition to humans) and somehow made the jump to human hosts at a massive open-air food market in Wuhan. Now, cities across China are advising people to stay home from work if they can, and many airlines and bus routes are restricting travel, and Hong Kong has put pretty heavy restrictions on travel to and from mainland China, closing railways and ferries. One Japanese tourism company that specializes in setting up tours for Chinese citizens has reportedly received 20,000 cancellations in just the last three days. Starbucks has also closed 2,000 Chinese locations in response to the outbreak. What can I do to avoid catching it? Well, for one thing, don't go to China right now. Despite causing cold-like symptoms, the disease isn't airborne. It spreads primarily by human contact, so hand hygiene is a much more effective deterrent than thin paper masks. Otherwise, if you're reading this in the U.S., there's not really any reason to worry. The flu, for what it's worth, should be a much bigger concern: the CDC found that 30,453 Americans were hospitalized by the flu in 2017-2018 season, and the expected number of flu-related deaths for 2019-2020 is somewhere between 8,200 and 20,000. So, get vaccinated. What about miracle cures? Yes, hucksters are already trying to cash in on the scare. Promoters of the QAnon conspiracy theorythe bonkers internet fringe that thinks Trump is secretly breaking up global pedophile ringsare hawking "Miracle Mineral Solution," claiming that it's a treatment for things like autism and AIDS. It's literally bleach. The Bittersweet Bounty Of Greenland's First Spring Michael Paterniti travels to the forefront of climate change and gets a taste of the complex future of a planet in flux. As Greenland's massive ice sheet melts at an alarming rate due to global warming, its citizensand especially its chefsare enjoying some unanticipated benefits. Originally Appeared on GQ Marino has added The New York City Hospitality Alliance to its client roster. The agency will be working in the areas of media relations for any announcements as well as advocacy support for the Alliance on issues of concern to the hospitality sector, specifically in NYC. Founded in 2012, The Alliance is an advocacy group for the citys restaurants, hotels, bars, and nightlife venues. Among its goals are reducing regulatory burdens, streamlining the permit and licensing process and representing the industrys perspective on proposed laws, regulations, trends and other matters. French/West/Vaughan has been selected by meal delivery service RealEats to spearhead its public relations and social media efforts. In addition to spreading awareness about RealEats through core public relations and social media efforts, FWV has initiated a partnership with former New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars and Oakland Raiders running back (and winner of ABCs Dancing with the Stars) Rashad Jennings. Jennings will act as the brands spokesperson on media row at Super Bowl LIV in Miami along with Chef Aliya LeeKong, who leads the company's culinary efforts. There will also be additional activations on social media, a consumer sweepstakes and more. French/West/Vaughans proven experience in the F&B industry gives us confidence they are the right partner to help us grow our brand, said RealEats CEO Dan Wise. William Mills Agency has been chosen to provide public relations services for Trustgrid, which works with fintech companies and other enterprise software providers to help them move their applications to the clouds by securely connect, maintaining, supporting and deploying access to their core banking data. WMA will work to increase the companys brand awareness through communications, strategic introductions and media relations in the banking, credit union and related financial industry media. The agency will also provide Trustgrid with editorial services, including coordinating, writing and disseminating news releases, feature articles and opinion pieces, plus coordinating with Trustgrid's social media team. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following complaints filed by UFCW 1518, Fairmont Chateau Whistler will voluntarily repay $85,000 in gratuities it withheld from workers in its banquet department. According to the union, the tips were wrongfully taken and thus contravened Section 30 of the B.C. Employment Standards Act. Banquet workers contacted the union for help in 2018, after Fairmont management rolled out a new tipping structure in which gratuities given by hotel guests to banquet workers would be taken from them and used to subsidize the wages of managers. Despite workers raising their concerns with management multiple times, Fairmont Chateau Whistler refused to stop withholding tips, said Patrick Johnson, Secretary-Treasurer of UFCW 1518. These workers tried in vain to address the issue themselves. But they couldnt make the employer listen or obey the law. Thats when they called us. According to banquet workers, Fairmont Chateau Whistler took 20 percent of the gratuities they earned and redistributed them to Catering Services/Planning; from there the tips were paid directly to catering sales managers. Employer theft of gratuities is illegal thanks to changes made to the Employment Standards Act by the B.C. NDP last spring. British Columbia was the last province in Canada to provide legal protection for worker-earned gratuities. This case shows why unions are needed more than ever, especially with the rise of precarious work and the growth of the gig economy, said Secretary-Treasurer Johnson. When workers lack the collective voice and power of a union, its much easier for employers to break the law and exploit their employees, he commented. As a result of our advocacy and the subsequent investigation by the Employment Standards Branch, Fairmont Chateau Whistler will voluntarily repay about 60 of its employees $85,000. That is significant and a real win for those workers. Secretary-Treasurer Johnson added that while Fairmont Whistlers wrongful withholding of tips had real life consequences for the workers, the luxury hotel faced no penalty for violating employment standards. Without serious repercussions for breaking our labour laws, employers will continue to abuse non-unionized workers. Thats why UFCW 1518 will continue to push for enforcement, and fight for fairness for all workers. UFCW Local 1518 represents more than 24,000 members working in the community health, hospitality, retail, grocery, industrial, and professional sectors across British Columbia. The South Jacksonville board of trustees is scheduled to meet in a special session starting at 6:30 p.m. today in Village Hall, 301 Dewey Drive. Among the items on the agenda are: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Wednesday launched a series of initiatives estimated over Rs 1,000 crore in various sectors. Palaniswami inaugurated 92 power sub-stations established in different parts of the state, and constructed at a total estimated cost of Rs 1035.28 crore, an official release here said. He inaugurated the facilities through video conference from here, it added. Further, he flagged off 240 new buses, valued at Rs 83 crore, meant for various transport undertakings in the state. Among others, he inaugurated a bridge insuburban Vandalur. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) She previously revealed her daughter Violet didn't taste sugar until the age of three. And on Wednesday, Rachael Finch shared the very healthy school lunch she prepared for the now six-year-old to Instagram Stories. Standing behind a bench in her kitchen, the 31-year-old panned the camera over containers filled with complex carbohydrates, protein, fruit and vegetables. Scroll down for video Back to school! Rachael Finch, 31, shared her healthy school lunch for daughter Violet, six, (both pictured), in an Instagram Story post on Wednesday 'Happy first day of school to all the beautiful mothers out there,' Rachael said in the clip. 'Just wanted to show you guys what I've made for Violet's lunch and recess.' The former Miss Universe panned the camera over a thermal container for Violet's recess, containing brown rice pasta, a hard boiled egg and cauliflower. Lunch followed with a bento box containing vegetable sticks, fruit, a '100 per cent' fruit bar and brown rice crackers. 'Everyday I will just basically do the same but mix up the ingredients,' she added. Recess: The former Miss Universe panned the camera over a thermal container for Violet's recess, containing brown rice pasta, a hard boiled egg and cauliflower Fruit and vegetable-based: Lunch followed with a bento box containing vegetable sticks, fruit, a '100 per cent' fruit bar and brown rice crackers Back in 2017, Rachael told Stellar magazine that at age three, Violet had never tasted lollies at birthday parties, and opted for fruit, sushi or sandwiches. 'For the first two-and-a-half years of her life, Violet didn't know what sugar tasted like, and she still hasn't had lollies,' Rachael revealed. 'Sometimes at birthday parties, parents don't have sandwiches or sushi or fruit,' she added. 'So before she goes, I make sure she is full of healthy food.' Parenting: Back in 2017, the health advocate told Stellar magazine that at age three, Violet had never tasted lollies at birthday parties, and opted for fruit, sushi or sandwiches The Myer ambassador said she doesn't deny her daughter a treat on occasion, but prefers to limit her exposure to sugar. 'I'm with her and while I don't say no to everything... she understands it's a treat when she has a tiny slice of birthday cake.' Rachael wed professional dancer Michael Miziner in 2013, and the couple share Violet, and son Dominic, two. Tokyo prosecutors on Wednesday raided the office of a key Japanese lawyer who defended former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn before he skipped bail and fled Japan, local media said. Junichiro Hironaka had previously refused to comply with prosecutors who obtained a warrant to seize a computer used by Ghosn. The former auto tycoon's bail conditions restricted his internet use to a terminal at his lawyer's office. Hironaka was still serving as Ghosn's lawyer when prosecutors raided his office the first time, but he has since resigned. Hironaka and the Tokyo district public prosecutor's office declined to comment on the reported search, and it was not clear if the raid involved the seizure of the computer Ghosn used. Ghosn smuggled himself out of Japan late December to Lebanon in an elaborate escape, humiliating Japanese officials and his defence lawyers. Ghosn, who was originally arrested in Tokyo in November 2018, faced multiple financial misconduct charges, which he denies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ISTANBUL An estimated 120,000 people have been displaced across Syrias Idlib province in the last two weeks as Russian-backed forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad retook a key city Tuesday. The displaced population joins hundreds of thousands of civilians who have fled fighting in northwest Syria despite a Jan. 12 cease-fire agreement brokered by officials in Ankara and Moscow who back opposing sides in a nine-year-old conflict that has claimed an estimated 400,000 lives. Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan responded to recent developments with frustration, saying Russia had failed to uphold prior accords to de-escalate the Syrian conflict. Unfortunately, Russia hasn't abided by either the Astana or the Sochi agreements, Erdogan said. We have waited until now, but from this point, we are going to take our own actions. This is not a threat but our expectation is that Russia will give the regime the necessary warning. The comments come as Syrian regime forces continue a two-pronged offensive against the last remaining rebel-held areas, with one force moving westward through Aleppo and the other reclaiming areas along the M5 highway in order to reduce travel time between Damascus and Aleppo. On Tuesday, regime forces backed by Russian and Syrian bombing took control of Maarat al-Numan, the second largest city in Idlib province, which is not only strategically important for opening supply lines to Aleppo but also symbolic, as it was the site of major protests during the initial 2011 uprising against Assad. The Washington Post reports the current offensive will impact about 500,000 civilians in western Aleppo in addition to another 300,000 in Idlib. Russia tells us they fight against terrorism. Who are terrorists? The people fighting to defend their own lands? Erdogan asked during his speech Wednesday. Moscow maintains the cease-fire violations are in response to infringements by al-Qaeda-linked terror groups in Idlib, according to a readout of a Jan. 27 phone conversation between Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Russian officials also claim Ankara has not followed through on promises to separate militants from civilians in Idlib. In a press statement, the Turkish Ministry of Defense condemned the escalation in Idlib and said it would respond in the strongest manner without any hesitation if regime forces threaten Turkish observation posts in Idlib established through a Russian-Turkish agreement in 2018. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo joined in condemning the ongoing offensive Tuesday, calling it unjustifiable. We call for an immediate cease-fire and full access to the affected areas by humanitarian organizations to alleviate the suffering of the hundreds of thousands that have fled the incessant bombing, Pompeo said in a statement. Omar Kadkoy, a political analyst focusing on refugee policies at the Ankara-based think tank TEPAV, said recent developments were in line with Assads prior statements that the fighting would not end until his forces retook all Syrian territories. The Syrian government doesnt believe diplomacy can achieve the goals they are pursuing, and one result of that is the number of people marching towards the Turkish border for safety, Kadkoy told Al-Monitor. Since Dec. 1, 2019, an estimated 389,000 people have been displaced in Idlib, about 80% of which are women and children, according to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The issue is compounded by cold winter weather and lack of vital services such as hospitals and transportation for the sick, elderly and disabled. Rising fuel prices have also complicated humanitarian relief efforts as a recent decline in the value of the Syrian pound has posed an additional challenge in heating shelters for internally displaced persons. The price of one liter of imported diesel rose 21.5% over the past month, from 650 pounds to 790 pounds ($1.26 to $1.53), reported the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Turkey currently hosts about 3.7 million Syrian refugees within its borders. Due to rising political pressure, the Turkish border has been closed to new inflows of refugees in recent months as Turkish humanitarian organizations work to establish refugee camps and provide aid people arriving at the border. Erdogan has sought to establish humanitarian corridors within Syria along the Turkish border, most recently in areas that came under Turkish control through the October Operation Peace Spring. For the time being, the majority of Turkish humanitarian relief is being directed at displaced populations in Idlib, but Kadkoy noted an alternative strategy may be necessary if the regime offensive continues. Kadkoy said the large number of people arriving at the Turkish border might prompt Ankara to transfer civilians to Afrin and Azaz, which came under Turkish control following the Olive Branch and Euphrates Shields operations, respectively. An employee of a nongovernmental organization providing aid along the Turkish-Syrian border said the number of displaced civilians will likely grow as regime forces move from Maaret al-Numan to the town of Saraqeb, which is widely predicted to be the next target for an offensive. The employee, who asked not to be named due to security concerns, said humanitarian organizations were struggling to provide shelter and food to displaced families. A lot of unofficial camps are being established, the aid worker told Al-Monitor. People, when they reach a site where they can put a tent, they stay there. He added tensions will likely rise along the border, saying he expected protests like those that took place at border crossing gates in August if conditions dont change. If the regime takes control of Idlib, people will cross into Turkey not to stay in Turkey, but they will have the plan to cross over to Europe, the aid worker told Al-Monitor. So in a few months, summer will come and I believe more boats will be crossing from Turkey to Greece. Urgent plans to bring stranded Britons back from China virus zone finalised Urgent plans to bring Britons back from the coronavirus-hit Chinese province of Hubei are being finalised by the Government. The deadline for those stuck in the city of Wuhan and surrounding areas to contact the British consulate expressing their wish to leave passed at 3am. Flights taking Britons back home could begin as early as Thursday, it was reported last night. The UK Foreign Office updated its advice yesterday to warn against "all but essential travel" to mainland China. It said it may become more difficult for British nationals in other provinces to leave. Brexit deal set to receive final seal of approval in historic vote The European Parliament is set to pave the way for Britain's departure from the EU in a final vote on Boris Johnson's Brexit deal. MEPs meeting in Brussels are expected to overwhelmingly back the ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement, meaning the UK will leave with a deal on Friday. It follows the completion last week of the passage of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill through the British Parliament at Westminster. Man United chief's home targeted by protesters with flares Manchester United chief Ed Woodwards home was last night targeted by angry protesters with flares. The executive vice chairman has been the subject of abusive chants from the clubs fans in recent weeks as tensions have risen. United sources confirmed Woodwards house was the subject of the alleged attack, which comes ahead of the clubs Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Manchester City later today. Neither Woodward nor his family were home during the incident. Murdered nanny's son claims he's tracked down missing Lord Lucan The son of a murdered nanny has claimed he has tracked down her suspected killer Lord Lucan and that he is still alive. Neil Berriman said Lucan, who vanished after the murder of Sandra Rivett in November 1917, now lives as a Buddhist in a shared house in Australia. The 52-year-old told the Mirror: I know he's still alive." Ant and Dec pick up best presenter prize at NTAs for 19th time Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have said they want to win the National Television Awards (NTA) prize for best presenter for a 20th time. The Britain's Got Talent hosts saw off competition from Graham Norton, Bradley Walsh, Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield to secure the gong. On this day... 1856: Queen Victoria instituted Britain's highest military decoration, the Victoria Cross. 1886: Karl Benz patented the first practical car with a petrol-driven internal combustion engine. It had three rubber-tyred wheels and went at 9.3mph. 1916: Zeppelins bombed Paris for the first time. 1942: Desert Island Discs started on BBC Radio, presented by Roy Plomley. His first castaway was comedian Vic Oliver. Smoke billows following reported bombardment by Syrian regime forces on the outskirts of Maarat al-Numan, in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib, on Jan. 26, 2020. (Omar Has Kadour/AFP via Getty Images) Syrian Government Forces Gain Control of Second Largest Town in Idlib Syrian government forces entered a key town south of Idlib city on Jan. 28 as President Bashar al-Assad pushes with his campaign to recapture rebel-held territory in the countrys northwest, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Government forces stormed the town of Maarat al-Numan with a three-pronged attack, entering from the south, west, and eastern sides and backed by intense Russian airstrikes, SOHR said. Maarat al-Numan is the second largest town in Idlib province which has been in rebel hands since 2012. Trucks carry belongings of people fleeing from Maarat al-Numan in northern Idlib, Syria, on Dec. 24, 2019. (Mahmoud Hassano/File Photo/Reuters) Thousands of people were forced to flee to safety further north while others headed toward temporary camps set up near the Turkish border as fighting broke out between rebels and government forces in Maarat al-Numan. However, the camps fail to meet the needs of the thousands of displaced Syrians and many are still in urgent need of shelters, tents, blankets, and beds. SOHR said regime forces have gained control over 24 villages and towns in Syria in less than four days. Syrian state news agency SANA said the army had liberated most of the towns districts and would receive people wishing to leave the terrorist-held areas in Idlib and southern Aleppo through the humanitarian corridors in Abu al-Duhour, al-Habit, and al-Hader, as part of the ongoing government efforts to return people who were forcibly displaced due to terrorism. Authorities, in cooperation with army units, provided all logistic requirements at the corridors, including buses, ambulances, medicines, food supplies, and medical teams to present emergency health services to the people, the pro-government outlet added. The latest renewed fighting in the nearly nine-year-long civil war comes just a week after Turkey, which backs the government in Tripoli, and the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Russia agreed with Western powers to push for a lasting cease-fire and uphold an arms embargo. Turkey already hosts more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees, and there are growing concerns that millions more could soon cross the border. On Jan. 27, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States strongly condemns the unjustifiable attacks against the people of Idlib and called for a cease-fire so that humanitarian organizations can help those who have been affected. The United States is monitoring with grave concern the situation in northwest Syria where the combined forces of Russia, the Iranian regime, Hezbollah, and the Assad regime reportedly are conducting a large-scale assault upon the people of Idlib and western Aleppo provinces, Pompeo said. These forces reportedly are conducting indiscriminate aerial bombardment and ground attacks that have trapped thousands of civilians under bombardment in Maarat al-Numan, leaving them nowhere to flee. Pompeo added that the United States is prepared to take the strongest diplomatic and economic actions against the Assad regime and any state or individual that aids its brutal agenda. In September 2018, Turkey and Russia agreed to turn Idlib into a deescalation zone, prohibiting acts of aggression. However, more than 1,300 civilians were killed in airstrikes and shelling by the regime and Russian forces between May and August 2019 alone, as the cease-fire continues to be violated, according to the United Nations. Dr Buck is now discussing her examination of Ciara's right forearm bones during her post-mortem. The court has previously heard two markings suggestive of cuts were found on the ulna bone. "I believe at the time I had noted what appeared to be at least one linear defect on the bone, this was on the ulna ... and I did spend a little bit of time looking at that, but I think the focus at that stage, Dr Margolius was much more interested in the elbow region as a particular area of damage," she said. "I do remember seeing one, I think I did suggest at one point to Dr Margolius I thought the area was suspicious and that there might have been some concern about there being some damage there and so I would have reviewed that area with her." Photographs of the bone markings have been tendered in court. Dr Buck said the defect on Ciara's elbow was determined to be naturally occurring. She said she was also asked to do an examination of the cervical vertebrae (found in the neck immediately under the skull) and found no abnormalities. Dr Buck has also recounted how in 2013 an examination of Ciara's skull by herself and Professor Cooke revealed what was previously thought to be a depressed fracture in the skull was actually a naturally occurring wormian bone. The discovery was made after the skull was viewed under an electron microscope. During that same year, a review of Ciara's right forearm defects was carried out. She said the two "straight and continuous" markings on the bones were 3.5 centimetres apart and were in a location indicative of a self-defence wound. "It was our opinion it would be something with an edge that would have produced that kind of linear defect ... it could be consistent with a knife," she said. Continued uncertainty over Britains future trading relationship with the EU could cost the UK economy 4.4bn annually by the end of this year and 15bn by the end of the decade, a new report has warned. Despite Boris Johnsons claim to be getting Brexit done the report by international think tank Rand Europe found that the UKs formal departure from the EU on Friday will only end the first phase of trade uncertainty caused by Brexit. And the paper gave short dismissal to the prime ministers promise to conclude negotiations on a Canada-style free trade agreement by the end of a so-called transition period on 31 December, warning that talks may take considerable time as the UK comes to terms with the negative long-term economic implications of a swift deal. Damage to the UK economy will carry on accelerating until details of the new arrangements are finally settled, with GDP growth potentially reduced by 11bn by 2025 and 15bn by 2029 unless a new deal is reached. The report warned that any decline in GDP will feed through into higher government borrowing, at an additional cost in annual interest payments of almost 1.3bn by the end of 2020 and 3bn by 2025. 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 Mr Johnsons insistence that he will not extend the transition beyond the end of 2020 has created the risk of a no-deal Brexit on disadvantageous World Trade Organisation (WTO) terms, sparking business anxiety about tariffs and quotas on exports. The report warned that the PM will have a difficult judgment to make on the balance of costs to the UK between cutting talks short or allowing them to continue too long. The UK will need to weigh up the potential short-term economic implications of prolonged trade policy uncertainty if negotiations last beyond 31 December 2020, versus the potential negative long-term economic implications of an agreement that is made quickly but lacks the comprehensiveness required for a broad and deep future UK-EU trading relationship, it said. Britains allies, especially the US, will also be concerned by any prolonged period of uncertainty about the UKs security and defence relationships with its neighbours. In all these senses, 31 January 2020 is just the end of the beginning. The report found that Britain has already suffered negative economic consequences due to the 2016 referendum decision to quit the EU, as consumers reined in spending and businesses held back from investment even though the terms under which the UK trades did not change. Boris Johnson signing the withdrawal agreement which will take the UK out of the EU (Crown Copyright) The reports author, Rand vice president Charles Ries, said: We found that the negative economic effects on both GDP and government borrowing are tangible and increase over time. Uncertainty around the future trading relations with the EU and the expected future increase in trade barriers, either through tariffs or non-tariffs, potentially affects firms foreign trade and investment decisions. He continued: The UK economy could be adversely affected until the permanent arrangements are set and agreed to by both sides. Raphael's tapestries will hang under Michelangelo's frescoes for one week. For one week the great tapestries designed by Raphael will return to the Sistine Chapel as the Vatican celebrates the 500th anniversary of the death of the High Renaissance master. The 10 tapestries, which will be hung at eye level along the chapel's wall under Michelangelo's frescoed ceiling, will be on display from 17-23 February 2020. Raphael tapestries return to Sistine Chapel Commissioned by Pope Leo X in 1515, the tapestries' designs, or cartoons as they were known, depict the lives of Saints Peter and Paul. They were completed by Raphael while he was busy decorating the Stanze (also called the Raphael Rooms), presiding over the construction of St Peters Basilica, and painting portraits and altarpieces. The tapestries, which are normally preserved in the Vatican's Pinacoteca, were woven over a four-year period in Brussels, using silk, wool and gilded silver thread. Raphael tapestries return to Sistine Chapel Apart from a few hours on 14 July 2010, when four of the 10 tapestries were shown briefly in the Sistine Chapel, the series of tapestries was displayed there just once - for one week in 1983 - on the 500th anniversary of Raphael's birth. Entry to the Vatican Museums will be free on 23 February, in what is likely to be the last chance to see the tapestries in the Sistine Chapel for a very long time. Raphael 500 celebrations Rome is playing a central role in the world's 2020 celebration of Raphael, who spent the last decade of his life in the Eternal City. A blockbuster show at the Scuderie del Quirinale will feature 200 masterpieces - at least 100 of them by Raphael - in what is being described by Italy's culture ministry as an "unprecedented" exhibition. On each day of 2020, Italy is placing a red rose on the tomb of Raphael who died aged 37 and is buried in the Pantheon. For details of where to find Raphael's art in Rome and Vatican City, see our guide. Photo Il Messaggero. The National Industrial Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Thursday, ordered the University of Uyo to reinstate a lecturer, Inih Ebong, unjustly sacked from the university in 2002. Mr Ebong was an associate professor in the department of theatre arts when his appointment was unlawfully terminated. Akpan Ekpo and Peter Effiong were the vice-chancellor and registrar respectively at that time. Mr Ebong, before his sack, had a running battle with Messrs Ekpo and Effiong who saw him as a thorn in their side for speaking up regularly against alleged maladministration in the school. The lecturer once rejected the university almanac and sent it back to the school with a note that the faces on it were not deserving of his sitting-room since, as he claimed, they were the very persons who were victimising him. For about 18 years, Mr Ebong went through several courtrooms in Nigeria, hired several lawyers and appeared before different judges, seeking justice against Messrs Ekpo and Effiong, and the University of Uyo. The stoppage of the Claimants salary, the indefinite suspension of him from duties, and the purported termination of his appointment by the Defendants without due process were malicious, ultra vires, and unlawful, and therefore null, void and of no effect whatsoever, Justice M. A. Namtari declared in his judgment in the case instituted by Mr Ebong in 2017 at the industrial court. The court, accordingly, ordered the University of Uyo to withdraw the termination letter, reinstate Mr Ebong, and pay all his salaries, allowances, and entitlements that would have accrued to him since August 1, 2001, when his salary was stopped, and from March 28, 2002, when his appointment was wrongfully and unlawfully terminated. The court also ordered the university to pay Mr Ebong the equivalent of his full annual salaries and allowances for the 2001/2002, 2007/2008, and 2014/2015 academic years the lecturer should have gone on sabbatical leave in accordance with the terms and conditions of his employment if his appointment had not been unlawfully suspended and later terminated. The university, in addition, is to pay Mr Ebong N10 million as damages, the court ordered. All the orders, the court said, must be complied with within 30 days. Justice has been done at long last, the lesson to be learnt from here is that wickedness does not pay. The wicked only builds up a fortune for his victim, Mr Ebong told PREMIUM TIMES when the newspaper sought his reaction to the judgment. It is unclear for now if the university is going to appeal the court judgment or not. I will get back to you, the university spokesperson, Blossom Okorie, said when PREMIUM TIMES contacted her on Wednesday. Mr Ebongs legal victory is coming about two years after another University of Uyo lecturer, Edet Akpan, won a similar battle and was reinstated 14 years after he was also unjustly sacked from the school. Mr Akpan was the chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the school before the then vice-chancellor, Mr Ekpo, terminated his teaching appointment for criticising his (Ekpo) leadership style. Mr Akpan, an associate professor of mathematics, was sacked from the school in 2004. The travails of the union leader coincided with the period in which the National Universities Commission (NUC) withdrew accreditation for several courses in Uniuyo, including courses in the faculty of social sciences where the then vice-chancellor, Mr. Ekpo, came from; a development that the federal court took notice of while delivering judgment in the suit challenging the termination of Mr. Akpans appointment. Let me further observe here and hold that what the defendants termed insubordination and misconduct are constructive criticism of an inept administration that finished last in the accreditation exercise in all the universities in Nigeria, Justice E.S Chukwu of the federal high court, Uyo, said in his judgment in 2013. While ordering the university to reinstate Mr Akpan, Justice Chukwu noted that the university had become a place where the truth will always be punished senselessly. The judge continued: If there is any person that his appointment should be terminated, it is the Vice-Chancellor; and his kangaroo panel (that) should be shown their way out. If they had honour, they ought to have resigned and not witch-hunt innocent citizens like the plaintiff whose association (ASUU) cried foul or complained of gross incompetence in the university administration. The court also ordered the university to pay Mr Akpan his emoluments for all the years he was kicked out of his job and N500, 000 to cover the cost of litigation. After his tenure as vice-chancellor, Mr Ekpo moved on to become the director-general, West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management, Lagos. Advertisements The Berlin Conference on Libya was supposed to find a lasting solution to the crisis in the country, exacerbated by the meddling of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, writes Hany Ghoraba The civil war in Libya could have reached its closing chapters after the Libyan National Army led by Khalifa Haftar nearly controlled 90 per cent of the countrys territory and had the Islamist and terrorist militias besieged in the capital Tripoli. But then along came Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with his attempt at a last-ditch effort to save the Islamist interim Libyan President Fayez Al-Sarraj. Through an illegitimate naval demarcation and military cooperation agreement between Turkey and Al-Sarraj in December, Erdogan believed he could enforce his countrys presence in North Africa after a series of defeats for the terrorist militias led by Al-Sarraj at the hands of the Libyan National Army. Al-Sarrajs desperate measures aimed to cling to power a little longer by prolonging the struggle. But though the moves may have earned him some time more in power, they will not change his legacy as a traitor to his country. Egypt, Greece, Cyprus and France denounced the Turkish-Libyan agreement, and the European Union and US expressed their concern, also refusing to recognise it. Meanwhile, Erdogan conducted a visit to neighbouring Tunisia earlier this month, and he will visit Algeria this week in search of support for his plans. In Tunisia, he was met by public scorn, especially after his pompous demeanour during a press conference with Tunisian President Kais Saied. In public speeches in Turkey Erdogan has not denied his ambitions to resurrect the Ottoman presence in the Mediterranean and to rule in Libya, citing Libyan citizens of Turkish descent. However, all patriotic Libyans will remember the Ottoman massacres of the Libyans when the country was part of the former Ottoman Empire, including the killing of 10,000 people from the Al-Jawazi tribe at the hands of Ottoman ruler of Libya Yusuf Karamanli Pasha in 1817. Fast forward to January 2020, and the Libyans still have painful memories of the Ottoman massacres and the rule of the Karamanli dynasty in their country. Patriotic Libyans, learning about the involvement of Turkey in the already bloody civil war in their country, have redoubled their nationalist sentiments and given even more support to the Libyan sovereign state and its army led by Khalifa Haftar. The Berlin Conference held on 19 January in the German capital was supposed to find a lasting solution to the Libyan crisis, which has lasted for nearly a decade. However, it fell short of doing so. The presence of Egypt in support of the Libyan cause at the conference hosted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel provided Haftar with a strong bargaining chip and a powerful negotiating standpoint. During the meeting, Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, France and several other EU countries shared the same view about the future of Libya and the importance of restoring peace, security and order to the battle-torn country. This view was expressed in a European Council press statement following the conference. European Council Spokesman Charles Mitchell highlighted some important points, including the enforcement of the embargo and the rejection of any foreign military intervention in Libya in what was a direct message to Erdogan to halt his ambitions of invasion or military deployment to save the skin of Al-Sarraj. The press statement was not conclusive on the steps to be taken by the council and the countries at the conference, but it contained a strong call for a ceasefire and the de-escalation of the situation. The Berlin Conference was only a first meeting, and it will be followed by subsequent meetings at different levels. It did not create a solution to the nine-year war in Libya. It may even have preserved the status quo to a certain extent, though it also provided Haftar with international recognition while not stripping this from Al-Sarraj. This could translate into waiting to see which side will turn the tide of events on the ground. Reports of breaching the truce between the two sides have come from a number of sources, as terrorists flooding in from Syria on Turkish planes have been landing in Libya to support the interim government. Consequently, the Libyan National Army has enforced a no-fly zone above the capital Tripoli. All the indications are that the fragile truce that preceded the Berlin Conference will not hold, and more military clashes will occur in the upcoming period. For Erdogan, his meddling in Libya is an attempt to regain the balance lost in the region through failed campaigns in Syria and Iraq against the Kurdish population, as well as the fall of the Muslim Brotherhood regimes in Egypt in 2013 and Sudan in 2019. Al-Sarraj may be Erdogans last real ally in North Africa, but he could also spell Erdogans demise if he attempts to make use of a sizeable Turkish force. After weeks of huffing and puffing, Turkey has declared that it has about 35 soldiers and army experts in Libya. This is a number that is hardly enough to secure a medium-sized shopping mall, let alone the Libyan capital Tripoli. Instead, the actual fighting will be conducted through Erdogans favourite method, which is to use jihadist and terrorist fighters to do his dirty business for him. The Libyan Army spokesman and the British media have reported that over 2,000 terrorists have been flown in from Syria to Libya for this purpose. However, the Libyan National Army is already hunting down these elements, and it will be relentless in cleaning the country of such terrorist elements that have wreaked havoc in Syria already but have nevertheless failed to oust Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. For Egypt, Erdogans adventures in the region must end, and its military exercises in the Mediterranean have sent a message that the country will not tolerate a Turkish presence in a neighbouring country. Erdogans presence at the Berlin Conference was isolated. He was treated as a pariah by most of the attendees, while being photographed sitting with his Libyan lackey Al-Sarraj and another person at a corner table. On the opposite side, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, among others, were all photographed discussing the future of Libya together and methods to end the struggle that the Turkish president is attempting to exacerbate. Libya, which has some of the worlds largest proven oil reserves, is still considered a jewel in the crown that is worth snatching by Erdogan, but now this will be beyond his reach given the interests of the international powers to restore order and stability to the country. This is something that remains off Erdogans agenda. The powers that gathered in Berlin will not be wrestled into accepting the Turkish troop deployment along with terrorist militias in Libya, as Erdogan desires. His regime will pay a severe price if he attempts to make more unwise moves in the country. The writer is a political analyst and author of Egypts Arab Spring and the Winding Road to Democracy. *A version of this article appears in print in the 30 January, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: 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 British Airways on Wednesday said it had suspended all its flights to and from China owing to the deadly coronavirus. "We have suspended all flights to and from mainland China with immediate effect following advice from the (UK) Foreign Office against all but essential travel," the BA said in a statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) About a month into his undergraduate course at Punes Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Government Medical College, Sanjay Dabhade found himself depressed and suicidal. Hailing from the stigmatised Pardhi tribe from the hinterlands of northern Maharashtras Jalgaon district, the young medical student battled a daily fog of slurs and ridicule targeted at his community, classified as criminal by the British. There were few Dalit or adivasi teachers in the college to support him, and it was 1988 a year before the stringent Prevention of Atrocities Against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act would be enacted. One night out on a stroll, he stumbled on a small blue bust of BR Ambedkar on the street outside his hostel; intrigued, he went to the library and started reading about Indias first law minister. In the struggles and triumphs of Ambedkar, Dabhade saw his own life, and the reading brought him close to a fledgling group of young anti-caste students who gathered in the evenings to support each other, discuss survival strategies and read Ambedkars work for inspiration. I wouldnt have survived had it not been for Ambedkar. Babasaheb was the difference between me and Payal Tadvi, said Dabhade, referring to the young medical researcher who committed suicide last year after months of alleged caste discrimination by fellow students. Dabhades experience is echoed by diverse voices from Indias Dalit and adivasi communities, for whom Ambedkar has emerged as a figure offering both inspiration, because of his stellar academic achievements and his status as the architect of the Constitution, and resistance, because of his radical anti-caste stance and his clarion call to abandon Hinduism. For his followers, Ambedkars appeal has three broad axes. The first is hope. During an era where lower-caste students were routinely barred from attending schools, Ambedkar braved discrimination and a chronic lack of resources to become one of Indias top academic minds. This is why someone like Rohith Vemula, coming from a marginalised background and facing caste bias in university, looks to Ambedkar. Vemula committed suicide at the University of Hyderabad in 2016 alleging caste discrimination by the institution a charge that the university has denied. The second is the possibility of defiance against caste hostility. This is especially true in villages where local administration and law-and-order is often controlled by influential castes and Dalit families have little choice but to follow caste diktats. Ambedkar offers a radical break from this stagnant status quo by his presence in textbooks, in the Constitution and in global recognition, and this is why his statues and busts are often the first site of protest for Dalit communities. Think of Sanjay Jatav, a 29-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh, who in 2018 used the image of Ambedkars bust while breaking a ban, imposed by the upper caste community of his village, on Dalit grooms riding horses to their weddings. The third is the promise of a grammar to critique caste-based structures. Ambedkars writing counters the majoritarian view of caste flowing naturally from Hinduism and Vedas, and instead, roots it in a fight for material resources and social hierarchy. It is this logic of de-naturalisation of caste that helps people such as Ranjanben a resident of Gujarats Mehsana village who quit her sanitation work in protest against the 2016 Una flogging of Dalit men to refute the dominant narrative of inferiority. In our work on the field, we find that Ambedkar often emerges as the pillar of strength for these communities. They compose songs around him and the Constitution, and this is used to spread awareness about laws and rights, said Manjula Pradeep, an anti-caste activist. A tough electoral fight The main source of strength for Ambedkars followers is his role as the chairman of the drafting committee of the Constituent Assembly, where he was also a member of seven other committees, and left his mark in pushing for universal adult franchise, reservation for the scheduled castes and tribes, and the abolition of untouchability. But in January 1946, it seemed that the doors of the Constituent Assembly had firmly closed on him. In provincial elections that year, the Congress decimated Ambedkars Scheduled Caste Federation, which won only two of the 151 reserved seats across the country. The party, which had won 11 of the 15 reserved seats in Bombay in the previous elections in 1937, could retain only one seat in Bombay. The debacle had two devastating consequences for Ambedkar. One, the British were convinced that the Congress-backed Depressed Classes League (led by Jagjivan Ram) was the more representative organisation and that Ambedkar had little influence outside Bombay and pockets of the Central Provinces. This meant that Ram was offered a seat in the interim government, and Congress-backed Dalit leaders packed the Constituent Assembly. This was a fundamental clash of ideas. For Ram, a staunch follower of MK Gandhi, and the Congress, the problem of caste was primarily a socio-economic one that could be resolved by reconciliation with and changing the minds of upper-castes, while Ambedkar thought caste as a singularly political issue and advocated a radical strategy of conversion to Buddhism. The second consequence was that the Constituent Assembly seemed too far a reach for Ambedkar, who had bitterly criticised Gandhi and the Congress for years in public. But with British influence waning and it becoming clear that the Congress was going to be in charge after Independence it was crucial for him to enter the Constituent Assembly to safeguard the rights of the lower-castes. As it happened, one of Ambedkars last lieutenants with a mass base the Bengali Namashudra leader Jogendranath Mandal offered him the election from the Jessore-Khulna seat with merely three weeks to go. With the help of six scheduled caste legislators and one tribal member, Ambedkar entered the Constituent Assembly. Disillusionment Why did the electoral debacle happen? Sekhar Bandyopadhyay, a professor of history at the Victoria University of Wellington, offers several reasons in Transfer of Power and the Crisis of Dalit Politics in India, 1945-47. One, that the federation simply didnt have the organisational strength to fight an election, or the purse to match the might of the Congress. Second, that Ambedkar was busy with national affairs and there was no one looking after the party and the electoral machine. Third, that the federation and Ambedkar had through the 1930s and 40s, steadily lost large chunks of ground support to the Congress, which in turn, ramped up its Harijan connect programmes, even as the communists organised Dalit peasants in Bengal and Telangana. But the most important reason was the fervour of the freedom struggle, which swept up voters in waves of nationalism. The greatest hurdle for the Federation was the popular appeal of nationalism and the euphoria of patriotism created by the recent Quit India movement, which had set the tone for the election campaign, Bandyopadhyay wrote. The misadventure of the 1946 election would come to haunt Ambedkar again in independent Indias first election. By the time the winter of 1951 came around, relations between Ambedkar and the Congress had deteriorated again. He had quit as law minister after the Hindu Code Reform Bill was stalled in Parliament, and he blamed Jawaharlal Nehru for not supporting him. In the highly charged election, Ambedkar lost from the Bombay North seat to a political novice from the Congress by 14, 561 votes. As Raja Sekhar Vundru notes in Ambedkar, Gandhi and Patel: The Making of Indias Electoral System, more than 77,000 votes were declared null-and-void, and Ambedkar complained of electoral malpractice against Left stalwart SA Dange, but it was dismissed. He later entered the Rajya Sabha. The last few years of Ambedkars life were spent in feverish writing and organising, as he toured the country and exhorted his followers to follow him into Buddhism. This was also when many say he grew disillusioned with the electoral system and moved towards a cultural and social movement. In one of his last speeches in Parliament on March 19, 1955, he said, in reference to an earlier comment from him on him burning the Constitution, We built a temple for a god to come in and reside, but before the god could be installed if the devil had taken possession of it, what else could we do except destroy the temple? Scholars caution that at this late stage, Ambedkars disappointment was not with the Constitution but with the electoral system, and how it had failed to birth independent Dalit leadership. Indian social conditions didnt allow a true democracy, and he was skeptical of the masses in a hierarchical society. But he never criticised the formation of a constitutional government, said Nitish Nawsagaray, a professor of law at ILS Law College, Pune. Contemporary politics Ambedkars rise as a social icon of empowerment has ironically coincided with stagnating fortunes of mainstream Dalit political forces his Republican Party of India is fragmented and a pale shadow of its formal self with only one Rajya Sabha member, Union minister Ramdas Athawale. The Bahujan Samaj Party, started in 1984 in Uttar Pradesh, is smarting from successive electoral losses and new faces such as Chandrasekhar Azad in Uttar Pradesh or Jignesh Mevani in Gujarat are yet to become a significant electoral force. Socially too, the gains have plateaued. Scheduled Caste communities continue to outpace their counterparts in literacy, as per Census data, but significant economic hurdles remain. Dalits are two-thirds less likely to be called for job interviews (according to a 2010 paper by Jawaharlal Nehru University professor Sukhadeo Thorat and Paul Attewell from the City University of New York), share of government jobs has shrunk and roughly a fourth of all households continue to report some practice of untouchability (according to a 2020 paper by Jawaharlal Nehru University professor Amit Thorat and Omkar Joshi at the University of Maryland). Social and economic mobility have triggered a fierce backlash. In the last two years itself, upper-castes have attacked Dalits for owning a horse, taking out a wedding procession, sporting a moustache, adding a suffix to their name, asking for a raise, attending a traditional dance, and swimming in a well. But buoyed by Ambedkars message, a new generation of Dalit people has refused to step back and taken his message to newer movements such as those fighting for the Muslim underclass the Pasmandas or transgender rights. To be sure, there are challenges. In the Pasmanda movement, for example, that calls for equal rights for lower caste Muslims, Ambedkars treatise on graded inequality and exposition of social structures holds great promise, said Khalid Anis Ansari, a professor at Glocal University in Saharanpur. But we need to explore his insistence on the role of conversion to remove caste. Many Muslims converted hundreds of years ago, but caste remains, he added. Still, 64 years after his death, Ambedkars ideas and institutions form the pillars of the worlds largest democracy and his legacy inspires millions of people to strive for a life of dignity. More than the Constitution, he gave people a vision, hope and rights to achieve them. He conceptualised institutions and policies to bring progressive ideas to India way ahead of his time, said Jyotsna Siddharth, an artist and activist. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Drawing inspiration from enigmatic British artist Banksy, a sculptor of tiny bronze statues has gained a cult following in the Hungarian capital Budapest by placing his quirky works around the city for the public to discover. "I look for places which are a little hidden but still easy to find if you know where to look," Mihaly Kolodko, 41, told AFP in his workshop in Vac, north of Budapest. "I never tell anyone in advance where I have put them," he grinned while working on a new figure, bearded beneath a beanie-hat. While his statues don't have the biting satire of Banksy's work, they have been provoking some heated debate -- as well as nostalgia. Kolodko, whose grandmother was Hungarian, grew up in western Ukraine where he could watch TV from nearby Hungary. Many of his works depict 1970s and 1980s Hungarian cartoon figures. Since moving to Hungary in 2016 he has peppered Budapest with over 20 cast metal sculptures measuring just 10-15 centimetres (4-6 inches) tall. A cheeky talking worm is sat on a rampart on the river Danube opposite the Hungarian parliament. A flying rabbit with oversized chequered ears looks down on the city from a perch near Buda castle. More cryptic pieces include a Marcel Duchamps-style pissoir, and a mysteriously murdered squirrel. - 'Guerilla' sculpture? - Kolodko doesn't ask for permission from the authorities to install his metal miniatures, fuelling his reputation as a "guerilla" sculptor, a tag he shrugs off. "I just follow my feelings, I'm not a lawyer, if I had to spend time and money asking for permits I'd lose the urge to make art," he told AFP. "I communicate with people through statues, it's my first language." Thousands of Kolodko devotees are running a Facebook fan page, swapping tips on hunting the statues and debating the meaning of the more abstract works. "These are the statues of our 30 to 40-something generation," says 40-year-old Szilvia Liptai, who organises regular "Kolodko tours" for runners, which take in a dozen of the bronzes. "He triggers our childhood memories," she told AFP, as runners took selfies beside the talking worm -- now sporting a winter scarf and bobble hat knitted for him by an anonymous donor. Kolodko was trained in monumental sculpture in the Ukrainian city of Lviv by teachers who designed gargantuan statues of Lenin during Ukraine's Soviet period -- and nationalist heroes after the country gained independence. But he found his artistic voice in less time-consuming and cheaper, smaller-scale works, sculpting the mini-statues in his hometown of Uzhhorod near the Hungarian border. It was Hungary where the father-of-two's work found the best reception, winning commissions like one from Budapest airport for a diminutive Franz Liszt or memorials for historical events such as the Holocaust. Thrown into the Danube - "Banksy inspired me to use the language of sculpture the way he does for painting," Kolodko said, beside a statue of US cartoon character Lisa Simpson bound to a lamppost in downtown Budapest -- a "Joan of Arc" commentary on the "oppression of American culture". Not everyone gets his messages though. A statue of another 1970s children's favourite, a hapless handyman goat, was widely seen as a critique of shoddy workmanship on a recently renovated main square in Budapest. "I meant to show that you can be lovable even if things don't work out, and also reflect on the Ukrainian guest workers who used to gather here in mornings for odd-jobs," he said. Then last November an ultra-nationalist politician interpreted Kolodko's statue of a Russian "ushanka" fur ear-flap cap with a red star on it as approval of a nearby Soviet World War II memorial. After filming himself cleaving it from its place with an axe, the politician said it was "the symbol of a dictatorial system" and threw it into the Danube. "I don't mean to be provocative," Kolodko told AFP. "The ushanka was actually trying to say the past is still with us. "Some people just look at things differently. After the statues go public they take on a life of their own, I say goodbye to them." Three of his pieces have been removed or stolen so far, he added. Earlier this month, the latest "Kolodko" suddenly appeared, the artist's answer to the recent act of violence: a tiny bronze axe where the ushanka once rested. [January 29, 2020] INVESTIGATION ALERT: The Schall Law Firm Announces it is Investigating Claims Against Westpac Banking Corporation and Encourages Investors with Losses to Contact the Firm The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Westpac Banking Corporation ("Westpac" or "the Company") (NYSE: WBK) for violations of the securities laws. The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Westpac was charged on November 19, 2019, with more than 23 million violations of Australia's Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act ("AML-CTF Act") by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre ("AUSTRAC"). AUSTRAC's Statement of Caim alleges that the Company failed to detect and prevent money laundering and risky payments from and to Southeast Asia that were related to the sexual exploitation of children. AUSTRAC claims that Westpac knew of the connection to child exploitation and that its senior management team was "specifically briefed" on the danger in 2016. Based on this news, shares of Westpac fell by almost 4.5% in the next trading session, harming investors. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 1880 Century Park East, Suite 404, Los Angeles, CA (News - Alert) 90067, at 424-303-1964, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected]. The class in this case has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005687/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] NASA scientists using virtual reality technology are redefining our understanding about how our galaxy works. Using a customized, 3D virtual reality (VR) simulation that animated the speed and direction of 4 million stars in the local Milky Way neighborhood, astronomer Marc Kuchner and researcher Susan Higashio obtained a new perspective on the stars' motions, improving our understanding of star groupings. Astronomers have come to different conclusions about the same groups of stars from studying them in six dimensions using paper graphs, Higashio said. Groups of stars moving together indicate to astronomers that they originated at the same time and place, from the same cosmic event, which can help us understand how our galaxy evolved. Goddard's virtual reality team, managed by Thomas Grubb, animated those same stars, revolutionizing the classification process and making the groupings easier to see, Higashio said. They found stars that may have been classified into the wrong groups as well as star groups that could belong to larger groupings. Kuchner presented the findings at the annual American Geophysical Union (AGU) conference in early December 2019. Kuchner and Higashio, both at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, plan to publish a paper on their findings next year, along with engineer Matthew Brandt, the architect for the PointCloudsVR simulation they used. "Rather than look up one database and then another database, why not fly there and look at them all together," Higashio said. She watched these simulations hundreds, maybe thousands of times, and said the associations between the groups of stars became more intuitive inside the artificial cosmos found within the VR headset. Observing stars in VR will redefine astronomer's understanding of some individual stars as well as star groupings. The 3D visualization helped her and Kuchner understand how the local stellar neighborhood formed, opening a window into the past, Kuchner said. "We often find groups of young stars moving together, suggesting that they all formed at the same time," Kuchner said. "The thinking is they represent a star-formation event. They were all formed in the same place at the same time and so they move together." "Planetariums are uploading all the databases they can get their hands on and they take people through the cosmos," Kuchner added. "Well, I'm not going to build a planetarium in my office, but I can put on a headset and I'm there." Realizing a Vision The discovery realized a vision for Goddard Chief Technologist Peter Hughes, who saw the potential of VR to aid in scientific discovery when he began funding engineer Thomas Grubb's VR project more than three years ago under the center's Internal Research and Development (IRAD) program and NASA's Center Innovation Fund [CuttingEdge, Summer 2017]. "All of our technologies enable the scientific exploration of our universe in some way," Hughes said. "For us, scientific discovery is one of the most compelling reason to develop an AR/VR capability." The PointCloudsVR software has been officially released and open sourced on NASA's Github site: https://github.com/nasa/PointCloudsVR Scientific discovery isn't the only beneficiary of Grubb's lab. The VR and augmented reality (AR) worlds can help engineers across NASA and beyond, Grubb said. VR puts the viewer inside a simulated world, while AR overlays computer-generated information onto the real world. Since the first "viable" headsets came on the market in 2016, Grubb said his team began developing solutions, like the star-tracking world Kuchner and Higashio explored, as well as virtual hands-on applications for engineers working on next-generation exploration and satellite servicing missions. Engineering Applications Grubb's VR/AR team is now working to realize the first intra-agency virtual reality meet-ups, or design reviews, as well as supporting missions directly. His clients include the Restore-L project that is developing a suite of tools, technologies, and techniques needed to extend satellites' lifespans, the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) mission, and various planetary science projects. "The hardware is here; the support is here," Grubb said. "The software is lagging, as well as conventions on how to interact with the virtual world. You don't have simple conventions like pinch and zoom or how every mouse works the same when you right click or left click." That's where Grubb's team comes in, he said. To overcome these usability issues, the team created a framework called the Mixed Reality Engineering Toolkit and is training groups on how to work with it. MRET, which is currently available for government agencies, assists in science-data analysis and enables VR-based engineering design: from concept designs for CubeSats to simulated hardware integration and testing for missions and in-orbit visualizations like the one for Restore-L. For engineers and mission and spacecraft designers, VR offers cost savings in the design/build phase before they build physical mockups, Grubb said. "You still have to build mockups, but you can work out a lot of the iterations before you move to the physical model," he said. "It's not really sexy to the average person to talk about cable routing, but to an engineer, being able to do that in a virtual environment and know how much cabling you need and what the route looks like, that's very exciting." In a mockup of the Restore-L spacecraft, for example, Grubb showed how the VR simulation would allow an engineer to "draw" a cable path through the instruments and components, and the software provides the cable length needed to follow that path. Tool paths to build, repair, and service hardware can also be worked out virtually, down to whether or not the tool will fit and be useable in confined spaces. In addition, Grubb's team worked with a team from NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, this past summer to work out how to interact with visualizations over NASA's communication networks. This year, they plan to enable people at Goddard and Langley to fully interact with the visualization. "We'll be in the same environment and when we point at or manipulate something in the environment, they'll be able to see that," Grubb said. Augmented Science -- a Better Future For Kuchner and Higashio, the idea of being able to present their findings within a shared VR world was exciting. And like Grubb, Kuchner believes VR headsets will be a more common science tool in the future. "Why shouldn't that be a research tool that's on the desk of every astrophysicist," he said. "I think it's just a matter of time before this becomes commonplace." ### For more Goddard technology news, go to: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/winter_2020_final_web_version.pdf By Karl B. Hille NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque III confirmed on Wednesday, January 29, that a patient under investigation (PUI) for the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has died at the San Lazaro Hospital in Metro Manila. But he said preliminary tests showed that the patient, a 29-year-old Chinese male, was positive for the human immunodeficiency virus. "There's nothing in the preliminary test results that (indicate) this death was caused by the 2019-nCoV," Duque told the House of Representatives during a question hour Wednesday afternoon. He stressed that there is no confirmed 2019-nCoV case in the Philippines as of Wednesday. Duque said the patient who died was listed among the 27 PUIs as of Tuesday because he had satisfied the criteria for a PUI. In a press conference in Quezon City, San Lazaro Hospital Director Edmundo Lopez announced that the patient died of pneumonia. "Early this morning at around 7 a.m., we have a person under investigation who expired. Siya ay person under investigation, hindi pa confirmed for nCoV," Lopez clarified. He said the patient had come from Yunan, China. "Meron syang mga cervical lesions, mga kulani, meron syang lung findings na rin, basically payat yung pasyente, and meron syang anal warts. Ti-nest sya for HIV and the screening tested positive," said Lopez. Duque, for his part, said the hospital conducted two tests and both yielded positive results for HIV. He said they were still awaiting the results of the tests being conducted by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine on throat and nasopharyngeal swabs taken from the patient. The Department of Health is still awaiting RITM laboratory test results for 16 other patients and confirmatory test results from the Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory in Melbourne, Australia for six patients. Of the 27 PUIs reported on Tuesday, four have been discharged while one died, leaving 22 still in various hospitals across the country. The 2019-nCoV, a new pneumonia-causing pathogen from the same family as the Mers-CoV and Sars-CoV, has killed 132 people and afflicted nearly 6,000 as of Wednesday. (With HDT/SunStar Philippines) California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is at the forefront of shaping how state insurance regulators all over the U.S. will deal with the legal cannabis market. Lara is not only the chief insurance regulator of the nations largest cannabis market one that other states with legal and medicinal programs coming online are using as an example but he also chairs the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Cannabis Insurance Working Group, which in December approved a white paper outlining a framework for other states regulating insurance for the cannabis industry to follow. The white paper outlines the challenges for the insurance industry in regulating cannabis and it establishes a guideline, or a starting point, for state insurance regulations. Read the full white paper on Insurance Journals Research and Trends section. If theres one take home from the paper for regulators to consider, its that theres much to be done, according to Lara. It also points out that were not there yet, Lara said, describing the intent of the paper. After just a year in office, its easy to identify in what areas Lara is positioning himself to take the lead among state insurance regulators. Climate change is one issue on which hes been out in front. Among the numerous climate-related steps hes taken in the past year was the launch of a yearlong effort to develop a Sustainable Insurance Roadmap to confront Californias climate risks. Cannabis and insurance is another hot topic for Lara. Lara has continued an existing practice of encouraging insurers in the admitted market to offer more products and services to what he believes is an underserved cannabis industry, an effort that was started by Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones back in 2017. Last week Lara paved the way for people with cannabis-related convictions to become licensed insurance producers. Lara said the California Department of Insurance will use its discretion in deciding whether to issue licenses to those with cannabis-related convictions in support of Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, approved by voters in 2016. The action clears obstacles to becoming an agent, broker, or other licensee for those whose past convictions are eligible to be dismissed or reduced under the current law. When voters passed Prop 64, it was in line with our changing attitudes, Lara said, explaining his reasoning for the step. Lara said after the decision that one question hes gotten is how the California Department of insurance will make sure consumers are protected. The same way weve always protect consumers, Lara answered, adding that the decision doesnt change vetting process for people to become licensed to sell insurance in California. Were still going to vet every license, Lara said. Insurance Most Needed by Cannabis Businesses The NAICS Cannabis Insurance Working Group in a recently approved white paper identified some of the most pressing insurance needs of cannabis businesses. Insurance most frequently needed by the cannabis industry includes: Automobile, including Distribution (auto and cargo) Commercial General Liability Crop (Indoor/Outdoor) Crime Insurance Disaster Coverage Director and Officer Liability Employment Practices Liability Equipment Breakdown Errors and Omissions Excess/Umbrella General Liability Product Liability Premises Liability Property Surety Bonds Workers Compensation Elaborating on his earlier were not there yet, comment, Lara noted that one of the key findings of the NAIC white paper is that more insurance products are needed for the cannabis industry. Insurance availability continues to lag behind the needs of the cannabis industry, Lara said. The white paper calls attention to substantial gaps in insurance coverage for the cannabis industry, with glaring needs for all cannabis segments cultivation, manufacturers, testing labs, distribution and retail. Lara believes the best way to address the gaps are for states to engage admitted insurance carriers and encourage them to offer more products for cannabis businesses. That is key to getting the admitted cannabis product onto the market, Lara said. Even in California, where seven admitted carriers are now offering comprehensive coverage, up from just one when Golden Bears filing to sell cannabis business insurance was approved in 2017, there still isnt enough coverage available in Laras opinion. No doubt that does not meet the demand of our businesses in California, Lara said. Were behind. He added: I think we are unfortunately behind the curve in this emerging market. The paper also recommends that each states insurance department have dedicated cannabis industry expert to improve communications. Perhaps the biggest challenge to getting cannabis businesses more access to insurance is that marijuana continues to be treated by the federal government as a Schedule 1 drug, making it difficult for these businesses to access essential services, such as banking, Lara said. Asked if he supports the SAFE Banking Act, which would enable cannabis businesses access to regular banking services the bill has been in limbo for some time in the Senate he responded: Absolutely. But until something big happens at the federal level, Lara believes that state insurance regulators must do what they can to encourage more products and innovation, and believes the NACI white paper is a good start. I think the bones of the white paper really give you a framework by which states can start making the changes necessary to be successful with their own cannabis industries within their own states, Lara said. Related: Topics California Cannabis The coronavirus death toll in China is rising at an alarming rate. The number of deceased has risen to 106 in the worlds second-largest economy. Moreover, the total number of confirmed cases has risen to more than 4,000 across China. Along with locking down transports in its several cities, the China government has ordered a shutdown of the most visited section of the Great Wall and other famous cultural tourist sites in hopes of containing the outbreak. Going on, the coronavirus outbreak has happened during the Lunar New Year holidays in China, a time when a large chunk of people move out either for holidays or visit their families in China from abroad. In fact, there was a 28.8% year-over-year decline in travels on the first day of the Lunar New Year. The coronavirus outbreak is expected to have an impact on the consumer discretionary sector, which attracts a major portion of consumer spending (read: 5 ETFs to Protect Your Portfolio From Coronavirus Threat). Impact on US Consumer Discretionary Sector Major retailers, restaurants and hotels in the United States, which earn a large portion of revenues from operations in China, are expected to suffer huge blows. Some of these companies have been asked to remain closed with the outbreak getting severe. For instance, global brands like Estee Lauder EL and Nike NKE generate around 17% of their revenues from mainland China annually. Per Credit Suisse, if the coronavirus outbreak intensifies, these companies might face a 3% to 5% decline in earnings per share in the next quarter. In fact, the most popular consumer discretionary ETF Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund XLY has already lost 3.1% in the past seven days (since Jan 21) (read: Can China ETFs Survive the Coronavirus Onslaught?). As discussed, forced shut downs and travel restrictions can hugely impact the U.S. hotel and restaurant chains with wide exposure to China. Hotel groups like Marriott MAR, Hilton HLT and Hyatt Hotels H have seen more than 6% decline in their stock prices over the past five trading sessions. In fact, Marriott derived $260 million or 7.5% of total fees from China in 2019. Casino stocks are also suffering as tourist visits to Macao fell 60% year over year through the third day of the Lunar New Year holiday (per Deutsche Bank). Major players like Wynn Resorts WYNN, Las Vegas Sands LVS) and MGM Resorts International MGM are also facing the heat (read: Don't Panic About Virus, Buy 5 Beaten-Down Top-Ranked ETFs). Story continues Among restaurants, the coffee giant Starbucks SBUX derives around 10% of sales and up to 15% of its operating income from China. McDonalds MCD, with around 3300 units in China and Dominos, also have huge exposure to China. ETFs That Might Suffer Below, we have highlighted the five most popular ones that target the broader consumer discretionary sector (see all Consumer Discretionary ETFs): Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund XLY This is the largest and most popular product in the consumer discretionary space, with AUM of $15.84 billion and average daily volume of around 3.6 million shares. It tracks the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector Index, holding 64 securities in its basket. From a sector look, Internet & direct marketing retail takes the top spot with 28.6% of assets, followed by specialty retail (25.5%), and hotels restaurants & leisure (21.1%). The fund charges 13 bps in fees per year and has a Zacks ETF Rank #2 (Buy) with a Medium risk outlook (read: 10 Top-Performing ETFs of the Past Decade). Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF VCR This fund currently follows the MSCI US Investable Market Consumer Discretionary 25/50 Index and holds 297 stocks in its basket. Internet & Direct Marketing Retail takes the largest share at 28.6%, while restaurants and home improvement retail round off the next two spots. VCR charges investors 10 bps in annual fees, while volume is moderate at nearly 62,000 shares a day. The product has managed about $3.13 billion in its asset base and carries a Zacks ETF Rank #2 with a Medium risk outlook (read: 5 ETFs From Top Industries That Won't Let You Down in 2020). Fidelity MSCI Consumer Discretionary Index ETF FDIS This fund tracks the MSCI USA IMI Consumer Discretionary Index, holding 286 stocks in its basket. The product has amassed $769.8 million in its asset base, while trading in good volumes of around 78,000 shares a day on average. It charges 8 bps in annual fees from investors and has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 (Hold) with a Medium risk outlook. First Trust Consumer Discretionary AlphaDEX Fund FXD This fund tracks the StrataQuant Consumer Discretionary Index, which employs the AlphaDEX stock selection methodology to select stocks from the Russell 1000 Index. This approach results in a basket of 119 stocks. FXD has AUM of $307.1 million and trades in volume of 76,000 shares per day on average. It charges 64 bps in annual fees and has a Zacks ETF Rank #2 with a Medium risk outlook. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Discretionary ETF (RCD) This ETF offers equal weight exposure to companies in the consumer discretionary sector by tracking the S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Discretionary Index. It holds 64 securities in the basket. The product has amassed $99.5 million in its asset base and charges 40 bps in annual fees. It has a Zacks ETF Rank #3 with a Medium risk outlook. Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox? Zacks free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week. Get it free >> 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 MGM Resorts International (MGM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Wynn Resorts, Limited (WYNN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS) : Free Stock Analysis Report The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (EL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY): ETF Research Reports Fidelity MSCI Consumer Discretionary Index ETF (FDIS): ETF Research Reports First Trust Consumer Discretionary AlphaDEX ETF (FXD): ETF Research Reports Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (VCR): ETF Research Reports Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Discretionary ETF (RCD): ETF Research Reports Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Marriott International, Inc. (MAR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Hyatt Hotels Corporation (H) : Free Stock Analysis Report Starbucks Corporation (SBUX) : Free Stock Analysis Report McDonald's Corporation (MCD) : Free Stock Analysis Report NIKE, Inc. (NKE) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research 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 Welcome to Source Notes, a Future Tense column about the internets knowledge ecosystem. On Jan. 15, the Turkish people were once again able to access and edit Wikipedia, ending a 2-year period of suspension. The end of the block followed a Dec. 26 decision by the Constitutional Court of Turkey that the block was unconstitutional. President Recep Tayyip Erdogans government blocked Wikipedia in 2017, citing a law allowing it to ban access to websites that had been deemed obscene or a threat to national security. As Omer Benjakob reported for Haaretz, Turkish officials had previously contacted the Wikimedia Foundation in the United States to request that content on articles such as State-sponsored terrorism and Foreign involvement in the Syrian Civil War be removed. The foundation, however, refused the request because the encyclopedias content is determined by the global community of Wikipedia contributors, not the organization itself. Turkeys response was to block Wikipedia entirely, with one official account tweeting, Since Wikipedia broadcasts in HTTPS protocol, it is technically impossible to filter by individual URLs to block only relevant content. Therefore, entire Wikipedia content had to be filtered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Wikipedia was restored in Turkey, Wikipedians celebrated with the hashtag #WelcomeBackTurkey. More than 80 million Turkish citizens now had access to the encyclopediathe triumphant result of a hard-fought legal battle and a spirited public relations campaign. At the same time, its sobering because the strategies employed for Turkey seem unlikely to be effective in other countries where Wikipedia has been censored. Prior to access being restored, Turkey was one of only two countries that had blocked the site in all languages for a prolonged period. China blocked the Chinese-language version of the site in June 2015. Then, in May 2019, in a move that appeared to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests, it instituted a full block of the encyclopedia in all language versions. Advertisement Advertisement Years ago, it was common for governments to censor specific Wikipedia articles without blocking the entire encyclopedia. For example, Iran, as of 2013, had blocked 963 encyclopedia entries that were deemed offensive to the government, and Saudi Arabia and Pakistan also instituted partial blocks. But Wikipedias shift to HTTPS encryption in 2015 prevented countries from selectively censoring specific articles. Faced with this all-or-nothing option, most countries have given up on Wikipedia censorship, except during troubled times. For instance, Venezuelan state telecommunications company CANTV blocked all language editions of Wikipedia for seven days in January 2019 following a contested presidential election, cutting off 1.5 million subscribers to the nations largest internet provider. Advertisement Stephen LaPorte, legal director for the Wikimedia Foundation, told me that the legal strategy employed to fight censorship of Wikipedia can vary by country. In the case of Turkey, the foundation filed a petition within days of the 2017 block, arguing that it violated the right to free expression under the countrys constitution. The brief also cited Turkish legal precedent, including a 2014 case suspending a temporary block of Twitter. Despite this precedent, a court in Ankara ruled against Wikimedia. The foundation filed a series of appeals, going all the way up to the Turkish constitutional court, where it sat for about two years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April 2019, the foundation lodged an application with the European Court of Human Rights. The foundations petition argued that the block limited the fundamental rights to free expression and access to knowledge, which Turkey was obliged to respect as a signatory to the European Convention of Human Rights. The court granted the case priority treatment as an urgent matter related to government censorship. The Constitutional Court of Turkeys decision came within six months of the ECHRs decision to fast-track the case. Put simply, the legal strategy to fight the Wikipedia block in Turkey included an appeal to the countrys own constitutional principles, with additional pressure via the indirect power of international law. These are well-established principles in international law, and they had been protected by the Turkish constitutional court in previous cases, LaPorte said. Since it was something the court had protected previously, we had hoped that they would protect this fundamental right more quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two-year delay is discouraging, yes. But the strategy wouldnt have worked at all in other countries with internet censorship. Although Venezuela has a written constitution, in practice the governments power is concentrated in the executive branch. China certainly does not guarantee a right to free expression online or otherwise, and the legal options there are limited. And both countries are famously resistant to perceived international interference in their sovereignty. So while Turkey accepts Europes jurisdiction at some levelor wants to signal to Europe that it has functioning institutionsthese other countries are not similarly motivated. When the take em to court strategy seems unworkable, some turn to social media to protest Wikipedia censorship. Throughout the two-year Turkey block, the Wikimedia Foundation promoted a public relations campaign via the hashtag #WeMissTurkey. More than 200,000 people responded to the campaign on social media, and Turkish artists created posters visualizing the knowledge the world was missing due to the block. #WeMissTurkey was a great morale boost for the Turkish community, said Firat Ozak, a volunteer administrator of Turkish Wikipedia. We were especially moved by the support from Wikipedians in the central and Eastern Europe region. Advertisement Advertisement Several Wikipedia editors told me that they thought it important to express support and solidarity in the battle against Turkeys block of the site. Indonesian Wikipedia editor Ramzy Muliawan said, In countries that lack due process of law, you need a combination of lawyering and public policy lobbying. If you need to know something thats happening right now in Venezuela, you need to go to the internet. Wikimedia Venezuela representative But contributors who live within the censored countries noted that these public relations campaigns can be tricky. A spokesperson for Wikimedia Venezuela told me about the strategic considerations when the country blocked Wikipedia last year. For instance, Wikimedia Venezuela asked the foundation not to issue a statement condemning the blockage because the nonprofit organization is based in San Francisco in the United States. The foundation heeded the warning from the local chapter. Instead, Wikimedia Venezuela released its own statement decrying the block. If the block had persisted longer than a week, there were tentative plans to put a banner on Spanish-language Wikipedia to raise further awareness, the spokesperson said; instead of the occasional banner requests to donate to the site for the price of a cup of coffee, the Spanish Wikipedia banner would explain how Venezuelans were being denied access. The Wikimedia Venezuela spokesperson said that the group thought this approach would be more effective because Venezuela is very sensitive about how it is perceived by other South American countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the total block of Venezuela lasted only one week, editing Wikipedia in Venezuela remains precarious. The Wikimedia Venezuela spokesperson estimated that about 75 percent of the volunteer community has fled the country in recent years due to the political crisis, leaving the country with fewer than a dozen core contributors. Venezuelan editors had been doxed, maligned on blogs, and accused of working for foreign governmentsall for volunteering information to the site in their free time. Still, the spokesperson for Wikimedia Venezuela said that the remaining editors are highly motivated to add information to the encyclopedia, which often functions as a credible up-to-date newspaper. For example, the Spanish article listing political prisoners in Venezuela includes information that would not be covered by the state-run TV and radio companies. If you need to know something thats happening right now in Venezuela, you need to go to the internet, the Wikimedia Venezuela representative said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the spokesperson advised taking safety precautions before going online to access accurate info in these censored regimes, including the use of virtual private networks to preserve anonymity. VPNs are commonplace in countries with high internet censorship. For instance, as the New York Times has reported, more than 45 percent of Turks accessing the internet used a VPN in 2017, according to GlobalWebIndex. Advertisement VPN users are typically able to bypass the countrys block to read Wikipedia. But Wikipedia largely prohibits the IP addresses of VPNs from editing the encyclopedias content. The rule is intended to prevent vandalism to the site. For example, if a Russian troll edited Wikipedia to spread disinformation, an administrator could block that users IP address from editing. The Russian troll might be able to bypass the block by using a VPN to make it appear that their IP address originates elsewhere in the worldexcept that the community has blocked the IP addresses of most VPNs for precisely this reason. Advertisement Wikipedias VPN policy creates an interesting paradox: During the time that Wikipedia was blocked in Turkey, Turks could bypass the block by using a VPN, which would allow them to read Wikipedia. But since Turkish citizens couldnt edit the site due to the VPN policy, that means most of the content on Turkish Wikipedia was being written by people living in other countries. As one editor told me, Turkish Wikipedia has been maintained for the past two years primarily by the community of diaspora Turks. Users can request an IP block exemption that would allow them to edit using a VPN. These exemptions are helpful from a safety perspective. An Egyptian editor told me that they benefited from their VPN exemption, which helps because, even though Egypt doesnt block Wikipedia, the government monitors internet activity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet Wikipedians told me the process to request an exemption was overly complex. First, the request form itself is a bit difficult to find. And the community members who decide on exemptions often look at the edit history of the users requesting the block to decide whether they are a safe pick to allow for an exemption. This leads to a Catch-22: The safety of an exemption tends to go to so-called power users of Wikipedia, but you dont become a power user in a censored regime without first subjecting yourself to a few months personal risk to build the credibility of an edit history. Then again, there is no guarantee that users who receive VPN exemptions are independent-minded. As reported by Wired UK, Wikipedia editors in Hong Kong saw an influx last year of mainland Chinese editors using VPNs to edit Chinese Wikipedia to state that Hong Kong was governed by Beijing. But Hong Kong Wikipedians questioned the credibility of these mainlanders, who seemed to overwhelmingly add content supporting the position of the central Chinese government. Advertisement Multiple editors told me that Wikipedia should amplify its message about block exemptions in countries where the internet faces government censorship. Ozak said that during the Turkish blackout, the local Wikipedia community was actually quite willing to provide IP ban exemptions to users, even if they had limited edit histories. The problem was that new users simply didnt know that they could ask for them. Advertisement Although Turkeys Constitutional Court issued its ruling against the block, the European Court of Human Rights decision has not yet been released. Court observers expect the ECHR to rule not only on the human rights issues posed by the Turkish law but also on how long it took the judicial process to approve it. Some might say it doesnt matter how the EHCR rules because Turkish courts have already decided the matter. But the ECHR has an opportunity here to make the broader point that internet blocking is unacceptable in any democratic society. Meanwhile, the global Wikimedia movement is currently reviewing its policies around VPN editing as part of its 2030 strategic vision, including options to make it safer to contribute anonymously in countries where the internet is censored and monitored. In some ways, though, the VPN workaround seems like a case study in crafting a technical solution because political institutions have failed. Overall, the story of #WelcomeBackTurkey reminds us that a well-functioning judiciary wouldnt need to be bypassed with technology; it would protect and restore these fundamental rights, as is said, with all deliberate speed. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. The population of endangered beluga whales in Alaska's Cook Inlet continues to decline, federal marine mammal authorities announced. AP photo Anchorage: The population of endangered beluga whales in Alaskas Cook Inlet continues to decline, federal marine mammal authorities announced Tuesday. A biennial survey conducted by the fisheries arm of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimated the population of the white whales at 250 to 317, with a median estimate of 279. The population is estimated to be smaller and declining more quickly than previously thought, NOAA Fisheries said in the announcement. The survey is based on data collected by aerial surveys in summer 2018. The survey also documented that a contraction has persisted of the summer range of belugas, the geographical area where they live. Since 2008, on average 81% of the total population occupied the Susitna Delta near the north end of the inlet in early June during the aerial survey period. Before that, about 50 percent did. The 2009-18 range for belugas is estimated to be only 29% of the range observed in 1978-79, according to the survey. The population estimate three years ago was about 340 whales. The agency in January 2017 released a Cook Inlet beluga whale recovery plan. Cook Inlet belugas are one of five beluga populations in U.S. waters. Cook Inlet stretches 180 miles (290 kilometers) from Anchorage to the Gulf of Alaska. NOAA Fisheries three years ago said the the carrying capacity for the area was 1,300 animals. Beluga whales feed on salmon, smaller fish, crab, shrimp, squid and clams and in late summer can be spotted from highways leading from Anchorage, chasing salmon schooled at stream mouths. The whales turn white as adults and can reach 15 feet (4.6 meters) long. The Cook Inlet beluga population dwindled steadily through the 1980s and early 90s. The decline accelerated between 1994 and 1998 when Alaska Natives harvested nearly half the remaining 650 whales in only four years. Subsistence hunting ended in 1999. Federal officials initially figured that controlling subsistence hunting would allow the population to recover. When it did not, they declared belugas endangered in 2008. NOAA Fisheries officials in 2017 acknowledged that they did not know why the population has not recovered. Among the identified potential threats to belugas are catastrophic events, such as natural disasters or oil spills; cumulative effects of multiple stressors; and noise. Disease agents, such as blooms of harmful algae, loss of habitat, a reduction in prey and unauthorized killing also are threats. Oil and natural gas extracted from Cook Inlet provides energy for Anchorage and other southcentral Alaska locations. Kristen Monsell, an attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity, called the survey heartbreaking news for a species already struggling to survive. She said its more evidence why the Trump administration authorization of oil and gas activity in Cook Inlet, including seismic airgun blasting, is so reckless. These amazing whales already face an onslaught of noise pollution thats threatening their existence. If were going to save them, our government has to stop handing out permits to harass the whales to oil and gas companies, she said. What do you think? What does Never again me to you? Do you feel that genocide is still possible in 2020? Do you think the world has learned the lessons of history? Is international law stronger? Is education better? Is the media too omnipresent to allow a systematic campaign of hatred and violence against any minority group? In 75 Years After Auschwitz Liberation, Worry That Never Again Is Not Assured, Marc Santora writes about the relevance of never again to todays world: But as the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz approaches, an occasion being marked by events around the world and culminating in a solemn ceremony at the former death camp on Monday that will include dozens of aging Holocaust survivors, Piotr Cywinski, the director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, is worried. More and more we seem to be having trouble connecting our historical knowledge with our moral choices today, he said. I can imagine a society that understands history very well but does not draw any conclusion from this knowledge. In this current political moment, he added, that can be dangerous. All one has to do is look at the backdrop against which this anniversary is taking place. Across Europe and in the United States, there is concern about a resurgence of anti-Semitism. Toxic political rhetoric and attacks directed at groups of peoples using language to dehumanize them that were once considered taboo have become common across the worlds democracies. And as the living memory of World War II and the Holocaust fades, the institutions created to guard against a repeat of such bloody conflicts, and such barbarism, are under increasing strain. Many historians and individuals have emphasized the importance of preserving the stories of survivors, and the physical memory of the Holocaust in places like Auschwitz, which now is a memorial and museum: While the two main gas chambers were blown up by the Nazis before they fled, the ruins still testify to their existence. Visitors can see the ovens used to incinerate the remains of those slaughtered. The train tracks leading into Birkenau, where cattle cars would arrive crammed with Jews who were swiftly herded into the gas chambers, are no longer used but remain a ghastly reminder of the scale, reach and industrialization of the murder apparatus. Ronald S. Lauder, the cosmetics billionaire and philanthropist, has made it his mission to help preserve the site, helping to raise $110 million to that end. He said that while historians can speak to events, there was simply no substitute for hearing the stories of real people in a real place made of real brick and mortar. And this anniversary was special, he said, simply because with the passage of time, there are fewer witnesses left to tell their story. Almost half the survivors have died in the last five years, he said in an interview. This will be the last time we get people together. The article concludes with a quote by Zofia Posmysz, a 96-year-old Polish survivor of Auschwitz, who was concerned about Mr. Putins comments: I fear that over time, it will become easier to distort history, she said in her apartment in Warsaw. I cannot say it will never happen again, because when you look at some leaders of today, those dangerous ambitions, pride and sense of being better than others are still at play. Who knows where they can lead. Students, read the entire article, then tell us: What do you know about the Holocaust? Where did you learn this information from school, books, friends or family? Have you ever been to a Holocaust memorial, remembrance or museum? What lessons have you drawn from what you have read, seen and heard? What does Never again mean to you? What responsibility do each of us have in making sure the phrase lives on not just as words but as a reality? Piotr Cywinski, the director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, believes that we have trouble connecting our historical knowledge with our moral choices today. Do you agree? Have we fully learned the lessons of the past? Is enough being done to prevent a future genocide? The article mentions the resurgence of anti-Semitism, toxic political rhetoric and attacks directed at groups of peoples as indications that Never again has an uncertain future. What do you think? Are these three phenomena warning signs that mass prejudice and hatred are on the rise? Or, is the world a very different place from Europe in the 1930s, and therefore no comparisons should be made? The world feels much smaller than it did in the 1930s. Journalists can report stories from almost anywhere instantaneously. Travelers can easily fly between continents. Billions of people have cellphones in their pockets with cameras that can document human rights abuse. Do all of these changes provide safeguards against future genocides? Additional background: The Times has been extensively covering Chinas mass detention of ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang region. Last month, the newspaper reported: As many as a million ethnic Uighurs, Kazakhs and others have been sent to internment camps and prisons in Xinjiang over the past three years, an indiscriminate clampdown aimed at weakening the populations devotion to Islam. Even as these mass detentions have provoked global outrage, though, the Chinese government is pressing ahead with a parallel effort targeting the regions children. Does that information change your opinion in any way? The Lennon family from Kiltyclogher are Leitrim's best known musicians - they are in fact one of the most talented Irish music families in Ireland. This Friday, January 31 Maurice Lennon will perform with Ciara Brennan and Chris Dawson - a formidable trio in The Glens Centre at 8pm. This toe tapping gig will be made even more special by the appearance of Maurice's father Ben Lennon. This is your chance to see father and son perform together on a local stage. Maurice Lennon is a founding member of Stockton's Wing, one of Ireland's leading fiddle players and the creator of innumerable, well-known compositions. Ciara and Chris, having performed, composed and recorded intensely together over recent years, had already become well acquainted and connected as a duet. Having played together for Maurices Brian Boru suite, Maurice and Ciara have also recently reconnected after many years. Two very different violin players with different styles and backgrounds have found a deep understanding and expression of the tradition between them that creates a natural oneness when they play together. This along with Chris, originally from the Manchester area, meant it became a natural progression for them to combine their forces. This project features compositions from Maurice as well as compositions from Ciara and Chris, along with music from the Irish, Swedish and the Northern English folk traditions. With a profound respect for each other, their musical intimacy and connection can be seen and felt by all who see and hear them perform together. Ciara played as second violinist to Stocktons Wings Maurice Lennons solo violin for the Brian Boru The High King of Tara suite. A Musical Portrait by Maurice Lennon himself. Chris Dawson is a multi-instrumentist , playing principally traditional flutes/whistles, and cittern/bouzouki, but also other instruments including bodhran, mandolin and didgeridoo. Chris is also one of the rare flute players who can play the flute using circular breathing, a technique which allows to play indefinitely without a break in the notes. Tickets are 14/12 and can be booked on (071) 9855833 www.theglenscentre.com Ben Lennon was voted Leitrim Greatest in a Leitrim Observer poll last year and in 2007 Leitrim County Council recognised the outstanding contribution made by Ben and Charlie Lennon to traditional music. Vote for your favourite Leitrim Snapshots Flyadeal, Saudi Arabia's low-cost carrier, with its fleet of 14 aircraft travelled more than 24 million kilometres in 2019 the equivalent of circumnavigating the globe approximately 599 times. During this same year, the airline added three new domestic destinations to its network, increasing the total number of destinations across its network to 11 domestic destinations across all four corners of the kingdom. Today, flyadeal flies to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Qassim, Gizan, Abha, Tabuk, Madinah, Hail, Yanbu and Taif and are linked by 18 routes via 98 daily flights. Flyadeal continued to grow during the past 12 months, transporting over four million passengers, a growing network of domestic destinations, and a fleet equipped with the latest aircraft consisting of 14 Airbus 320 CEO. The company won three international awards in the field of pioneering low-cost air travel in the region. Its online booking services generated more than 90 per cent of the companys sales while the number of followers of the company's Social Media accounts exceeded half a million followers. These achievements were only possible with the hard work and dedication of employees who worked tirelessly to improve and develop the products and services provided to customers. - TradeArabia News Service By ANI GENEVA: The World Health Organisation (WHO) will convene an emergency meeting on Thursday over the deadly coronavirus outbreak in China, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a tweet on Wednesday. "WHO is monitoring the new coronavirus outbreak every moment of every day...We will have more news following tomorrow's Emergency Committee meeting," the tweet read. "The new coronavirus outbreak has spurred many countries, experts, companies, and communities to take action. The world is pulling together to end the outbreak, building on lessons learned from past outbreaks," it added. .@WHO is monitoring the new #coronavirus outbreak every moment of every day. My respect and appreciation to my colleagues @WHO who are showing great commitment. We will have more news following tomorrows Emergency Committee meeting. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) January 29, 2020 According to Director-General, the WHO is working 24/7 with networks of scientists, clinicians, disease trackers, governments and others to coordinate the novel coronavirus response, including research and development, proper public health measures, data sharing and ensuring the availability of supplies. "I was struck by the determination of Chinese leadership and its people to end the new coronavirus outbreak. They are suffering the most. Their lives and economy are bearing the brunt of the outbreak as they make sacrifices to contain it. China needs the world's solidarity and support," Ghebreyesus added. ALSO READ | Got call from Embassy, might be evacuated soon: Indian student in Wuhan Uni amid Coronavirus scare According to media reports, the total number of people infected with coronavirus in mainland China surpassed those infected with SARS during the 2002-2003 epidemic. More than 6,000 cases have been confirmed in China, with thousands more suspected. Schools in Beijing have closed indefinitely, and foreigners who have been evacuated from Wuhan, which is the epicentre of the outbreak. Temporary health screening sites have also been set up at airports in numerous countries, including India and the United States, for passengers arriving from China. By Express News Service CHENNAI: After a long delay, the Greater Chennai Corporation has finally procured three vans at a cost of Rs 10 lakh each to rescue homeless people. This will enable the civic body to carry out rescue everyday as against fortnightly. Minister SP Velumani was the chief guest of the inauguration function of the vans on Tuesday. All vans are equipped with LED screens, AC, wheelchair, first-aid, lights and fans among other facilities. All these years we had to ask for ambulances and other government vehicles to carry out the rescue and we could do it only once in 15 days, said a senior corporation official from the Wing for Homeless department. Very soon, a mobile application will be introduced. People who comes across a homeless person can click a picture and upload it on the app with the details and the rescue would be carried out by the nearest co-ordinator. Three vans All vans are equipped with LED screens, AC, wheelchair, first-aid, lights and fans among other facilities. All these years we had to ask for ambulances and other government vehicles to carry out the rescue and we could do it only once in 15 days. In the spring of 2003, Hong Kong's streets looked more like the corridors of a crisis-hit hospital than a bustling megacity. Authorities scrambled to stop the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) amid a post-apocalyptic scene of surgical masks and boiler suits. The city was hardest hit by the inability to contain the killer virus, causing its economy to contract and the government to resort to a relief package to help battered industries back to their feet. The spread of the coronavirus will have wide-ranging financial effects. Credit:AP Today, Hong Kongers are in masks once again. The fallout from coronavirus has struck global stockmarkets and economists have warned the spread could put huge pressure on an economy already suffering from a sharp slowdown. "The longer it takes to contain the virus, the greater the economic cost multiplier effect as increasingly severe containment policies are put into place," warns Professor Anne Spencer of the University of Exeter. Cities the size of London are ghost towns and have been quarantined off by Xi Jinping's regime. Shops are shuttered, travel is restricted and 57 million consumers in 15 cities are on lockdown. Sanders is in a good position to sweep Iowa and New Hampshire. Photo: Joshua Lott/Getty Images There are a lot of influential people who think that nominating Bernie Sanders to face Donald Trump would be tantamount to hand-delivering reelection to the president. I dont agree, though I am also unconvinced by the Sanders campaigns claims that he is uniquely electable. Still, theres no question political and substantive concerns about the insurgent progressives message and agenda are widespread among Democrats considered to represent the party Establishment, as well as voters terrified of playing into a Trumpian sure Im a vicious bully but hell wreck the economy comparative message. Sanders may be on the brink of assuming a commanding position in the presidential nominating process. He currently leads in Iowa in the RealClearPolitics polling averages, and leads by an even larger margin in New Hampshire, a state he won easily in 2016. If he wins both, he would join a small group of presidential candidates in either party to have pulled off that feat in a competitive cycle (Democrats Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004, and Republican Gerald Ford in 1976). All of them, of course, won their partys presidential nomination. And theres reason to think an Iowa/New Hampshire bounce could also lift to him a win in the Nevada caucuses, where he has been steadily running second and can count on a lift from Latino voters. So those who fear a Sanders nomination may have to come to grips with this near-term possibility: Why I think Bernie is in a stronger position than the polls suggest. Here's the calendar: IA: 2/3 NH: 2/11 NV: 2/22 SC: 2/29 There are 26 days between Iowa and South Carolina. There's a very decent chance for that FOUR WEEKS, the only person to win any states will be Bernie. Derek Thompson (@DKThomp) January 27, 2020 Now what that actually means, of course, depends in no small part on what happens to the rest of the field even as Bernie romps. Its unclear Pete Buttigieg can go on much longer if he loses in Iowa and in New Hampshire, which have been his best two states all along. To the extent Sanders and Warren are drawing from a pool of voters that significantly overlaps, losing to Bernie thrice could be deeply problematic for her. And right now Amy Klobuchar is looking down the barrel of a devastatingly poor showing in her best state, Iowa, so in an early Bernie sweep environment, its unlikely shell be around. Then theres Joe Biden, the one candidate who has a fire wall state, South Carolina, where his lead is so overwhelming and structurally sound that even losses in the first three states might not croak his candidacy particularly if the only other survivor is Sanders. Yes, its possible the Palmetto State could be carried by Sanders, which would logically wrap up the nomination for him, if you can imagine him putting together the requisite number of white moderates and African-Americans there. More likely it will remain Biden country, assuming the former veeps support doesnt totally collapse in the first three states. So in that scenario, the two late-septuagenarian white men representing very different ideological wings of the Democratic Party and two very different demographic groupings could have an epic clash in the 14 states holding primaries on Super Tuesday (March 3) and the additional ten states voting in the ensuing two weeks. The calendar offers ripe targets for both of them, and tons of delegates (2,186 pledged delegates on those three Tuesdays, well over half the total). But theres a complication beyond the possibility that one of the candidates serving as roadkill in the first four states will find a way to survive into the meat of the schedule. Athwart the road to the nomination trod by Sanders and Biden would stand Michael Bloomberg and his endless billions of dollars. In the process of spending unprecedented amounts (over a quarter of a billion already, just on ads, with huge staff investments as well) in the Super Tuesday and later states, Bloomberg has steadily raised his name ID and support level in national polls, and theres no particular reason to doubt he will continue to spend and climb as the field gets winnowed in the early states. Youd think that Bloomberg, the consummate centrist and Wall Street veteran, would be the ideal foil for and in some parts of the electorate, alternative to Sanders, and a mano a mano with Bernie might actually be Bloombergs only plausible path to the nomination. Its unclear if he will choose to play that role, but its likely hes not going to just throw away everythings hes already bought in the name of party unity. A murkier scenario would transpire if there are three old white men Biden, Sanders, and Bloomberg more or less beginning at a revised starting point on March 3. This could well be Sanderss ideal scenario, facing a billionaire and the epitome of the Democratic Establishment in a landscape where these opponents will inevitably compete for votes. And it would also create a dilemma for those who will already be searching for Anybody-But-Bernie. Do they want to consolidate support behind one candidate, or hope that two can do more damage to Sanders than one? However it plays out, there is a robust history of late-primary buyers remorse candidacies aimed at a front-runner elites dont like, whether its on ideological or electability grounds. The thing is, they never seem to actually work. Just in the modern, primary-based era, there was an Anybody-But-McGovern movement in 1972 and an Anybody-But-Carter movement in 1980. Frank Church and Jerry Brown beat Jimmy Carter in a number of late 1976 primaries; Ted Kennedy and Gary Hart had late winning streaks in 1980 and 1984, respectively. Even one of those dual IowaNew Hampshire winners, John Kerry, got a bit of a scare from John Edwards, who famously warned the front-runner, Objects in your mirror may be closer than they appear after winning an upset in Wisconsin. It took Republicans a while to accept Ronald Reagan in 1980 and Donald Trump in 2016. So an Anybody-But-Bernie movement this year could wear out its viability, and certainly its usefulness, if it begins to make a Sanders electability challenge a self-fulfilling prophecy. Short-term home rental company Airbnb said on Wednesday it backed calls for a European Union digital regulator after winning a landmark EU case that meant it would be classified as an online platform rather than a property agent. It said the body should form part of discussions around the EU's proposed Digital Services Act which aims to upgrade safety rules for digital platforms, services and products. The company won its battle to remain exempt from onerous European property regulations in a landmark ruling last month of the EU's Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). Airbnb Inc's rapid growth over the last decade has posed a challenge for traditional hoteliers, and authorities in cities from New York to Amsterdam, Berlin and Paris have accused the company of worsening housing shortages and pushing out lower-income residents. Airbnb says that the company, cities and its hosts and customers can all benefit from better regulation of the sector. "While our thinking on this topic is still in its early stages ... we are clear that we support calls for a single European oversight body for digital services, said Chris Lehane, Airbnb Senior Vice President of Global Policy and Communications. "We strongly believe that housing policy and regulations of short-term rentals within that does need to take place at the local level," Lehane added at a briefing in London. Writing to European cities to announce its backing for an EU digital regulator, Lehane said that such a body could ensure regulation of the sector was trusted, consistent and could mediate in any disputes that arise. Lehane also said it would announce a partnership to give cities independently published data on the impact of short-term rentals in Europe, and wanted to work on improved ways for collecting tourist taxes from guests. On a global level, Airbnb said last year it would introduce new safety measures in response to a fatal Halloween shooting in California, including a ban on so-called "party houses," a 24/7 hot-line and a review of "high risk reservations." (Reuters) Source: www.businessworld.ie 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. 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. 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 18:01:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's response to the novel coronavirus outbreak is unprecedented in human history. It is a responsible move for people at the epicenter of the epidemic, for people in the rest of the country, and for the world at large. Suddenly, the virus struck. Key moments emerged, moments in which residents in Wuhan, the center of the outbreak, came to grief after the massive lockdown of the city, moments in which they suffered but still fulfilled their duty as citizens to cooperate with the government, moments in which the whole of China activated the highest level of emergency response and many families were separated but stood united against the virus spread. Sorrow and remorse quickly translated into confidence and strength to win this unprecedented battle. Suddenly, accusations that the massive city lockdown in Wuhan is a violation of human rights emerged. But citizens of Wuhan disagree. Since the lockdown was put in place, they have been staying indoors and practicing quarantine measures with the utmost respect for the government's guidance and their hallmark perseverance and optimism. No public security incidents have occurred. They have a sober understanding that while inconveniences may emerge, the historic quarantine serves their health, safety and overall interests. Social cohesion binds the people of Wuhan at this critical moment. It is a powerful but simple logic. If the historic quarantine truly violated human rights, it would not enjoy the support of the Chinese people. Those who peddle such human rights rhetoric lack basic knowledge of how to stop the spread of a virus in a megacity and in a populous country so connected with the outside world, not to mention the ethics of facing such a challenge. The novel coronavirus is highly contagious from human to human. To date, 5,974 infections have been confirmed in 31 provincial-level regions. Cases have also been found in other countries and regions. A vital prevention and control strategy is to reduce the flow of people, increase interpersonal distance, and reduce personal contact, to cut off the virus transmission route and effectively curb the emergence of new cases. Having realized just how serious and potentially destabilizing the virus is, the local government announced the decision to lock down the city of Wuhan. It is difficult to make such a decision in a city with a population of 11 million, five times the size of London. But the decision had to be made and should be carried out resolutely, because it not only protects the lives of Chinese people, it is in the interests of the global community, and conforms to international norms on epidemic prevention and control. China's unprecedented efforts are endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) which hails China's political resolve, openness and transparency, effective system, and swift sharing of the genetic sequence of the new virus with the WHO and other countries. The multilateral health agency has recognized that China's measures are not only protecting its people, but also protecting the people of the world. The strength and effectiveness of the Chinese leadership in responding to crises lies in its consistent approach: always listen to people's needs, always mobilize resources at the earliest possible date, and never shirk responsibilities when meeting challenges. A strong leadership and an effective system cannot be operated on its own, but truly rely on the people because nothing could be realized without support from the people, without the sound interaction between government and the public. The anti-virus battle is continuing and arrives at a critical moment. Time will prove that China has made wise decisions and will emerge even stronger after coming through the epidemic. A soldier has been found guilty of reckless manslaughter and menacing after he shot and killed his Army colleague who he found sleeping with his newlywed wife. A Colorado jury convicted Pfc. Isaiah Towns, 21, on Tuesday following a week-long trial that found he fatally injured Spc. Shakir D. Cook-Troynel after returning home to Stratus Apartment Homes on El Paso County's southeast side in November 2018. Towns said Cook-Troynel, 23, had left a party on Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, telling another friend he was going to have sex. But when that friend drove Towns home around 2am, Towns heard 'moans coming from the master bedroom' where Ashley Charmain Mary Pace, his spouse of six weeks, was with a half-naked Cook-Troynel. A Colorado jury convicted Pfc. Isaiah Towns, 21, on Tuesday following a week-long trial. Towns was originally charged with second-degree murder but the jury rejected the charge and he was convicted for reckless manslaughter He killed love rival Spc. Shakir D. Cook-Troynel, 23, in November 2018 after he caught him sleeping with his wife The incident occurred at the Stratus Apartment Homes on El Paso County's southeast side, shared with new wife Ashley Charmain Mary Pace, in November 2018 The court heard how Pace had recently asked for a divorce. KRDO reports Pace and Cook-Troynel were previously in a relationship and had a child together. Towns told officers he only pulled out the firearm to scare and 'get answers' from his friend who was standing in the closet with the door open. But Towns' 27-year-old wife struggled with him over the pistol, encouraging a burst of adrenaline as she yelled and pushed him, then the gun discharged, striking Cook-Troynel in the torso. When Towns first called 911 he lied and told the dispatcher someone had broken into his apartment, shot a man and then left. He initially gave the wrong street number for the S Murray Boulevard address and later confirmed the correct apartment. Towns was originally charged with second-degree murder because the killing was not planned but was a distinct possibility. However the jury rejected the charge and he was convicted for reckless manslaughter, which pertains to the killing of another due to a negligent act. 'It wasn't supposed to happen like this,' a defense lawyer said in court. 'This was supposed to be a scare tactic.' Towns said Cook-Troynel had earlier left a party on Fort Carson in Colorado Springs (pictured), telling another friend he was going to have sex Prosecutors argued Towns was in full control of the weapon and shot Cook-Troynel on purpose. Cook-Troynel had been in the Army since May 2015 and was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs. He was deployed to Afghanistan from May to July 2018 and the Army said Cook-Troynel - of Homestead, Florida - had received several commendations including the Army Achievement Medal. Towns, of Batesville, Mississippi was a signal support systems specialist on the brigade. Towns is scheduled to be sentenced April 3 and could get three to nine years behind bars. He faces one to three years for class five felony menacing, plus two to six years for the class four reckless manslaughter. The Congress on Wednesday accused the government of ignoring RBI and ECI objections on the electoral bonds scheme. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged that the role of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in issuance of electoral bonds has come under the scanner as the SBI has been caught lying. "BJP gets 95% of Rs 6,128 Crore worth Electoral Bonds issued up to March 2018. BJP Government ignores objections of RBI and ECI," Surjewala said on Twitter. "PM's role in issuance of Electoral Bonds comes under scanner. State Bank of India is now caught lying" he alleged. "Media is 'mum'? No noise, No debates," he added. While there was no immediate reaction from the BJP on Wednesday to the Congress' allegations, the party had earlier rejected the Congress' criticism of electoral bonds. The BJP has been saying that these bonds curb black money in electoral politics and has asserted that the Modi government had addressed concerns of various institutions over the issue. FedEx is taking measures to keep employees in China healthy in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. "In areas where outbreaks have been reported, FedEx is supplying surgical masks, hand sanitizer and alcohol wipes to team members and vendors, and disinfecting facilities in areas where outbreaks have occurred," the company said Tuesday. "We are also encouraging our team members to take any signs of illness seriously and seek medical attention as needed." China has seen more than 4,500 cases of the new coronavirus and 106 deaths because of it. The outbreak has been concentrated in the city of Wuhan. Five cases have been confirmed in the U.S.but no deaths as of Tuesday evening, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. FedEx has about 9,500 employees in China and operates 220 flights weekly out of five Chinese airports, including its hub in Guangzhou. It has adjusted its service in China after authorities Sunday announced the extension of the Lunar New Year Holiday to Feb. 2. FedEx said it is following all regulations and guidelines from Chinese authorities on coronavirus containment, which "may affect shipments inbound and outbound to/from Wuhan as well as shipments moving within Wuhan." The CDC is recommending travelers avoid all nonessential travel to China. Coronavirus confusion: The virus has nothing to do with Corona beer. But, some people seem to think so. Coronavirus impact: Businesses restrict travel to China, close stores Coronavirus graphic FedEx Express shipped Monday more than 200,000 surgical masks and protective equipment like gowns and gloves to China to help those responding to the outbreak. FedEx sent the aid to its hub in Guangzhou, the Memphis logistics giant said. Once the shipments are cleared, the China Post postal service will then deliver the items from the Asia Pacific Hub to Wuhan Union Hospital as quickly as possible, it said. FedEx is proud to mobilize its global network to deliver aid, comfort and care to people suffering in the wake of this unprecedented health emergency, said FedEx President and COO Raj Subramaniam in a statement. We will continue to work closely with humanitarian and disaster relief organizations to provide support and deliver supplies, doing what we do best to help those who need it most. Story continues The transportation service assisted the nonprofit humanitarian organization Direct Reliefs efforts in China. The work is part of the Delivering for Good initiative under FedEx Cares, FedExs global charitable giving platform. Direct Relief is deeply thankful to FedEx for enabling this rapid response to fulfill a very specific order that the medical staff in Wuhans largest hospital selected from our current stockpile, Direct Relief CEO Thomas Tighe said. In rapidly unfolding situations such as this, its obviously important to move fast but with precision and proper coordination with all the relevant authorities which FedExs extraordinary team has made possible. Max Garland covers FedEx, logistics and health care for The Commercial Appeal. Reach him at max.garland@commercialappeal.com or 901-529-2651 and on Twitter @MaxGarlandTypes. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Coronavirus: How FedEx is responding to outbreak in Wuhan, China SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland (AP) _ TE Connectivity Ltd. (TEL) on Wednesday reported fiscal first-quarter profit of $26 million. On a per-share basis, the Schaffhausen, Switzerland-based company said it had net income of 8 cents. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to $1.21 per share. The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of nine analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.14 per share. The electronics maker posted revenue of $3.17 billion in the period, which also beat Street forecasts. Six analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $3.11 billion. For the current quarter ending in April, TE Connectivity expects its per-share earnings to range from $1.22 to $1.28. The company said it expects revenue in the range of $3.1 billion to $3.3 billion for the fiscal second quarter. TE Connectivity expects full-year earnings in the range of $4.95 to $5.25 per share, with revenue ranging from $12.85 billion to $13.25 billion. TE Connectivity shares have climbed slightly more than 2% since the beginning of the year, while the Standard & Poor's 500 index has increased slightly more than 1%. The stock has increased 23% in the last 12 months. _____ This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on TEL at https://www.zacks.com/ap/TEL HHS warns it will strip California of funding over state's abortion coverage mandate Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Trump administration warned California that it will revoke federal funding on grounds that it is violating federal law by requiring all health insurance plans in the state to cover abortion, a regulation that also impacts church healthcare plans. The Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights announced last Friday the same day as the 2020 March for Life that it issued a notice of violation to California over its abortion coverage mandate enacted in 2014. OCR warned that the state cannot impose universal abortion coverage mandates on health insurance plans and issuers in violation of federal conscience laws. According to an HHS press release, California has deprived 28,000 people of plans that did not cover elective abortion but are not required to cover abortion. The OCR investigated two complaints that California had engaged in unlawful discrimination resulting from Californias Department of Managed Health Cares August 2014 order that all health plans offer elective abortion coverage. The complaints against the rule came from a Catholic order of nuns called the Missionary Guadalupanas of the Holy Spirit and Skyline Wesleyan Church, a Southern California megachurch that was once led by conservative pastor Jim Garlow. The organizations contend that the law forces them to violate their religious convictions against abortion. The OCRs investigation concluded that the California mandate violates the Weldon Amendment, a provision that bars government agencies from requiring healthcare providers to pay for or refer patients for abortions. The amendment states that no funds made available by the Consolidated Appropriations Act may be granted to agencies or state governments that subject institutional or healthcare entities to discrimination on the basis that the health care entity does not provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions. HHS has ordered the state to inform OCR within 30 days of the steps it will take to correct its violations. If HHS does not receive "sufficient assurance" that California will come into compliance with federal law within 30 days, it could result in "limitations on continued receipt of certain HHS funds." Once again, President Trumps administration is delivering on his promise to protect human life and all Americans freedom of conscience, HHS Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement. Under President Trump, HHS has been vigorously enforcing the statutes Congress passed to protect Americans consciences and institutionalizing these protections within the departments civil rights work. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra vowed in a tweet that the state will fight the HHS notice by any means necessary. Make no mistake, this attack on California is just one more attempt to chip away at reproductive rights and access to abortion, Becerra wrote. In a press release, Becerra accused the administration of political grandstanding. Today, Donald Trump is using the official levers of government to advance his political agenda, Becerra argued. Sound familiar? In California, we will continue to protect our families access to healthcare, including womens constitutional right to abortion. Nothing changes. OCR Director Roger Severino said in a statement that no American should be forced to pay for or cover other peoples abortions. We are putting California on notice that it must stop forcing people of goodwill to subsidize the taking of human life, not only because its the moral thing to do, but because its the law, Severino, who formerly served with the conservative think tanks The Heritage Foundation, stressed. The HHS notice was praised by the Alliance Defending Freedom, an influential nonprofit legal group devoted to defending religious freedom rights. For years, Californias Department of Managed Health Care has demonstrated hostility to churches by forcing them to pay for elective abortions, ADF Legal Counsel Denise Harle said in a statement. The agency has unconstitutionally targeted religious organizations, repeatedly collaborated with pro-abortion advocates and failed to follow the appropriate administrative procedures to institute its unprecedented mandate. GoAuto, Tuesday, January 28, 2020 6:35 PM Automakers have contributed at least $4.8 million of cash and in-kind aid to areas ravaged by the bushfire crisis in Australia. Volkswagen and GM Holden have respectively chipped in $2.5 million and $1 million, with another $473,000 coming from Toyota, $400,000 from BMW and up to $150,000 pledged by the Blue Oval through its philanthropic Ford Motor Company Fund. Others who have contributed include Isuzu, Mazda, Hyundai, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz and Peugeot. Read the whole story at GoAuto [January 29, 2020] Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Size Worth Around US$ 48.8 Bn by 2026 LOS ANGELES, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market size is expected to be worth around US$ 48.8 billion by 2026 with CAGR of around 15.8%. Free Download Sample Report Pages for Better [email protected] https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/request-sample/1693 In 2018, North America held the major share of the global market for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and is anticipated to maintain its dominance during the estimated period. The region is primarily gaining growth due to increasing UAVs budget by the military & defense sector of the region. Furthermore, Asia Pacific is expected to register the fastest growth over the estimated period from 2019 to 2026. The improving regulatory laws in country like India are supporting the regional market growth. For instance, the Civil Aviation Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri has mentioned that the Indian government is working on the regulations and the efforts are expected to solve the stakeholders' issues of the drone industry soon. Additionally, Jammu and Kashmir (India) Police are ready to get Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and CCTV cameras for enhancing the surveillance system in 2020. The project will include one hundred UAVs with varied specifications and thousands of cameras worth Rs. 116 Cr. The military & defense segment accounted for the major share in 2018 and the segment is also anticipated to continue with the same pace throughout the forecast period. For instance, Pakistan Navy has received an ATR aircraft-based maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) and LUNA NG unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) on 4th January 2020. The Turkish defense industry is likely to deliver new vehicles and systems to the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in 2020. The defense product will include aerial, naval and land systems. Additionally, the new delivery will include Bayraktar Akinci Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle and other types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). View Detail Information with Complete [email protected] https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/unmanned-aerial-vehicle-uav-market Some o the leading competitors are DJI, Parrot SA, 3D Robotics, Inc., Yuneec International Co. Ltd., Airware, AeroVironment, Inc., DroneDeploy, Northrop Grumman Corporation, PrecisionHawk Inc., senseFly SA, and The Boeing Company. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) companies have announced mergers and strategic partnerships to expand their position in the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) industry. Major players are also moving into new regions or advanced technologies. For instance, in 2020, a partnership of four councils has launched unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the UK that can be used to transport vital medical equipment. The new facility will initiate delivery of life-saving blood samples and chemotherapy kits by National Health Service (NHS). Some of the key observations regarding Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) industry include: A state-owned Indonesian aerospace company, PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) has unveiled the first prototype of an indigenously developed medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAV. The company has unveiled it to the public on 30th December 2019 at its headquarter. at its headquarter. Olga Walsh , the University of Idaho is researching the usage of drones for fruit trees because to date most of the agriculture applications are present for grain crops including corn, soy, and wheat. The university campus is involved in various fruits cultivation including apples, grapes, cranberries, and even Asian pears. , the is researching the usage of drones for fruit trees because to date most of the agriculture applications are present for grain crops including corn, soy, and wheat. The university campus is involved in various fruits cultivation including apples, grapes, cranberries, and even Asian pears. Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TUSAS) has opened an office in newly opened national science & technology park of Pakistan in December 2019 . TUSAS is involved in designing, development and manufacturing of military aircraft for the Turkish armed forces. Moreover, the current portfolio of the company includes T129 ATAK attack helicopter, Hurkus trainer and light combat aircraft, and Anka unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). in . TUSAS is involved in designing, development and manufacturing of military aircraft for the Turkish armed forces. Moreover, the current portfolio of the company includes T129 ATAK attack helicopter, Hurkus trainer and light combat aircraft, and Anka unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Grucci and SKYMAGIC fireworks have collaborated to launch 196 PyroDrones light show in the night to create visuals for Marjan Island . The show was having a stunning series of light shows by combining pyrotechnics and the innovative PyroDrone performance technology. . The show was having a stunning series of light shows by combining pyrotechnics and the innovative PyroDrone performance technology. Turkish defense giant, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is likely to deliver a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) named Aksungur in Jan. 2020 . The new UAV is intended to deliver to the Turkish security forces. . The new UAV is intended to deliver to the Turkish security forces. In Singapore , the police force was deployed with the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and multi-purpose all-terrain autonomous robot (M.A.T.A.R.) 3.0 to control crowds during the countdown party of 2020. Request for [email protected] https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/request-customization/1693 The report is readily available and can be dispatched immediately after payment confirmation. 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Contact Us: Mr. Frank Wilson Acumen Research and Consulting 17890, Castleton St #218, Rowland Heights, CA 91748 United States Tel: +1-407-915-4157 OR +1-408-900-9135 Email: [email protected]sulting.com Website: https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unmanned-aerial-vehicle-uav-market-size-worth-around-us-48-8-bn-by-2026--300995216.html SOURCE Acumen Research and Consulting [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A Pakistani man arrested earlier this month in Islamabad over the 2005 killing of a British woman police officer does not want to be extradited to Britain and is asking that he be tried in his home country, his lawyer said Wednesday. The 71-year-old suspect, Piran Ditta Khan, appeared before a court in Islamabad for a second hearing over Britain's extradition request. His arrests was the result of close cooperation between Pakistani authorities and British detectives, police said. His lawyer, Raja Ghaneem Aabar, said the court is expected to review Pakistani investigations into the case before considering a final decision on Britain's extradition request. The next hearing is due within 10 days, he added. Khan refused to answer questions by reporters as to whether he was involved in the shooting death of police officer Sharon Beshenivsky, a 38-year-old mother of three killed outside a travel agency in Bradford while responding to an armed robbery call. After the killing, six men were arrested in Britain but Khan, who was suspected of being the armed gang's organizer, had fled abroad. In 2016, police in Britain issued a fresh appeal for Khan who remained at large despite a reward of 20,000 British pounds (about $26,000) for information leading to his arrest. Aabar, the lawyer, said Khan has maintained his innocence during the investigation in Pakistan. He would fight to prove his client's innocence, Aabar added, saying Khan was falsely implicated in the case. Pakistani investigators are yet to complete their report into the 2005 crime that was committed in Britain," he said. My client is suspected of links to that offense and he wants to be tried in Pakistan as he is a Pakistani citizen." His trial should be held in Pakistan," Aabar added. My client can respond to any questions from British police via video link. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three Lithuanian men have been fined for causing a drunken disturbance at a local hotel Before the court were Ricardas Volkovas (46), 10 Triogue Manor, Portlaoise; Alexandras Zarkova (39), 16 The Paddocks Court, Lucan; and Viktoras Toricinas (41), 10 Liffey Valley Avenue, Lucan. Sgt JJ Kirby gave evidence that on December 14 last, at 8pm at the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise, gardai were called to a disturbance in the foyer. The three accused were very drunk and aggressive while there was a large crowd in the hotel, including families. They were directed to leave the scene and refused to do so, having to be arrested. At the garda station, Ricardas Volkovas urinated in the cell, which had to be cleaned up to a cost of 305, which was the price of the call out charge. Alexandras Zarkovas had four previous convictions, including a suspended sentence. Viktoras Toricinas had three previous convictions for theft, and Ricardas Volkovas had previous convictions including drink driving and theft. Defence for all three men, Ms Josephine Fitzpatrick said that the accused, all Lithuanian nationals, had been out socialising and their voices became raised as an argument began and verbals were exchanged. She said each man had 300 in court as a sign of their remorse and they were not very proud of their behaviour on the night. In the matter of Ricardas Volkovas, Ms Fitzpatrick said that he had to go to the toilet and had been locked in the cell. However, Sgt Kirby pointed out that there was a toilet in the cell. Judge Catherine Staines said that Ricardas Volkovas would have to pay compensation for that, too. Alexandras Zarkovas was convicted and fined 200 and sent to a court in Dublin for the matter of his suspended sentence to be dealt with. Viktoras Toricinas was convicted and fined 200; and Ricardas Volkovas was convicted and fined 200, and told to pay 300 to the gardai as well as the 300 already handed over. (Natural News) Yoga, an ancient practice with origins stemming from ancient Indian philosophy, has become an increasingly popular trend in todays society. A survey conducted by the Yoga Journal and the Yoga Alliance revealed that the number of Americans practicing yoga increased from 20.4 million to 36 million between 2012 and 2016. Many people use yoga as a relaxing refuge from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Others practice yoga to enjoy its various research-backed health benefits. In fact, the scientific literature on the therapeutic health effects of yoga has led to the development of a new kind of yoga: therapeutic yoga. Relax and enjoy the health benefits of therapeutic yoga Therapeutic yoga makes use of traditional yoga postures to treat chronic physical and mental health conditions like anxiety, back pain, hypertension and joint pain and stiffness. Practitioners of therapeutic yoga are often given additional training on subjects like psychology, anatomy and physiology to further help their patients with their troubles. (Related: Yoga takes away stress, pounds, toxins, cholesterol and cravings.) A study published in the International Journal of Yoga aimed to provide a comprehensive review of the benefits of regular yoga practice. According to the study author Catherine Woodyard from the University of Mississippi, regular practice of yoga promotes strength, endurance, flexibility, as well as facilitates characteristics of friendliness, compassion and a greater sense of self-control. Continued practice of this therapeutic art may also lead to various changes in life perspectives, increased self-awareness and an improved sense of energy to live life to the fullest. After a thorough research and analysis of various studies and databases about yoga, the study showed that therapeutic yoga provides plenty of means to improve various health conditions. Practicing yoga encourages relaxation, which slows the breath and allows the individual to focus on the present. This shifts the balance from the sympathetic nervous system and the fight-or-flight response to the parasympathetic system and the relaxation response. The latter is calming and restorative; it lowers breathing and heart rate, decreases blood pressure, lowers cortisol levels, and increases blood flow to the intestines and vital organs, Woodyard wrote. One of the primary reasons behind practicing yoga is to reduce stress. According to Woodyard, yoga can inhibit the posterior or sympathetic area of the hypothalamus. The inhibition of this area allows for the optimization of the bodys sympathetic responses to stressful stimuli and even restore reflex mechanisms associated with stress. Yoga practice was also found to improve depression by increasing the serotonin levels in the body. Serotonin is a chemical that impacts a large range of bodily functions such as motor skills and emotions. It is also considered a natural mood stabilizer that regulates anxiety and happiness. This increase in serotonin is coupled with a decrease in levels of monoamine oxidase, which is an enzyme that breaks down neurotransmitters. On the physical side, yoga was found to improve flexibility. The researchers posited that continued yoga practice can loosen the muscles and connective tissue around the bones and joints a factor that can be associated with reduced pain in the body and joints. Regular yoga can also improve muscle mass and maintain muscle strength, which helps protect against diseases like arthritis, back pain and osteoporosis. Woodyard concluded that yoga can enhance a persons overall well-being and quality of life. By acknowledging the unity of mind, body and spirit, mind-body fitness programs (i.e. yoga) can assist people in their pursuit of peace, calmness, and greater wholeness and integration in their lives, said Woodyard. Health care professionals, health educators and the like, need to be aware of the potential of yoga as an important component of a personal wellness plan. While there is no indication of guidelines regarding how often you should practice yoga, taking up this healing art may do wonders for your overall health and well-being. Sources include: PsychologyToday.com NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov TheGoodBody.com [PDF] Healthline.com Some Delegates of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ejisu Constituency of Ashanti Region have thrown their weight behind the Chief Executive Officer of National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), John Kumah as they throng the party's office to pick nomination forms to contest the upcoming Parliamentary primaries on April 25. According to the delegates, the move demonstrates their level of confidence in the candidate. Addressing the media, Assembly Member for Okyerekrom Kokoobra Electoral Area, Michael Nsowa Agyemang said "We appreciate his good works thus, the delegates numbering over 500 out of the 750 delegates in the constituency decided to pick up the Nomination Forms and presented it to him." Mr. Agyemang who also doubles as a polling station Chairman and a Member of the Communication Team in the Constituency added that they were confident, the NEIP CEO will become their next Member of Parliament (MP). He said We know John Kumah. He is one of us and for the past few years, he has been working for the progress of the New Patriotic Party, Ejisu and Ghana." Mr. Agyemang intimated that industrious people such as John Kumah have help brought development in the area, the reason they contributed among themselves to pick the nomination form even before he (John Kumah) thinks of doing that himself. Receiving the nomination forms, the NEIP Boss, John Kumah said "I humbled by their action and didnt expect this kind of euphoria to kick start my journey to becoming the next Member of Parliament for Ejisu." He urged the supporters to ensure campaigns held are violent-free and also rally behind the agenda of retaining President Akufo-Addo in office for a second term. The New Patriotic Party says it will on Saturday, February 15 2020, open nominations for Parliamentary Candidates in Constituencies. Parliamentary Primaries in the various Constituencies are scheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2020 across the country. The disaster assistance fund will cover some of the costs of evacuations, municipal response, and repairs to damaged infrastructure. The fund will also cover non-insurable damage to homes and buildings essential to the operation of farms and other businesses. The premier is expecting about 20 municipalities to apply for assistance, with the largest claim likely coming from the city of Winnipeg. The October snowstorm caused tens of thousands of trees in Winnipeg to break, creating $10 million in damage. Read more: Winnipeg estimates freak fall snowstorm cost nearly $10 million to clean up Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler projected that the assistance program will likely provide about $7.2 million for storm damage in Winnipeg. Pallister also said that he is confident that the storms effects on Manitoba will qualify for federal assistance. The federal government may cover a portion of the costs for disaster assistance under the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements program through a cost-sharing formula. This could leave the province of Manitoba responsible for some of the initial payments, but that money can be recouped from the federal government CBC News reported that this process can take years. Inspiration for evolving the English language has finally come to the largest English-speaking country in Africa: Nigeria. 29 new words were officially added to the Oxford English Dictionary thereby enriching the trusted bible of the English language. Colloquialisms that have become mainstays across Nigeria have been acknowledged by the Oxford English Dictionary, OED, as making a unique and distinctive contribution to English. Words that are either borrowed from Nigerian languages or are unique Nigerian coinages that have been in circulation since the 1970s and 80s. Special status for Nigerian English. This latest acknowledgement from the OED follows from Googles move last year that introduced a Nigerian English option on its maps service, including a Nigerian voice and accent. Nigerian culture has rapidly spread across the continent and around the world through its exports of music, film and literature in the past two decades. And being a part of that particular culture means having words specific to that culture, as is the case with American, Australian or Canadian English. My English-speaking is rooted in a Nigerian experience and not in a British or American or Australian one. I have taken ownership of English. Is how the well known Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie describes her connection with the English language. Nigerian in use Walking through the streets of Lagos, or Abuja, one hears many familiar words in English, but perhaps the true meaning of the words is not entirely clear to non-Nigerians. Ill take you to the best Mama-put, was my first taste with Nigerian English when being shown around by our correspondent in Abuja. Mama-put being a street vendor that sells cooked food at low prices. Typically run by a woman, called Mama, whom you go up to ask to put food on your plate. Other entries to the OED include expressions that many outside the country have to take a moment to think about but to those growing up surrounded by expressions such as see you next tomorrow, are not put aback by the richness of the language. Find a list of the new Nigerian words and senses added to the OED in this update: agric, adj. & n. barbing salon, n. buka, n. bukateria, n. chop, v./6 chop-chop, n./2 danfo, n. to eat money, in eat, v. ember months, n. flag-off, n. to flag off in flag, v. gist, n./3 gist, v./2 guber, adj. Kannywood, n. K-leg, n. mama put, n. next tomorrow, n. & adv. non-indigene, adj. & n. okada, n. to put to bed, in put, v. qualitative, adj. to rub minds (together) in rub, v./1 sef, adv. send-forth, n. severally, adv. tokunbo, adj. zone, v. zoning, n. ---www.rfi.fr The document does not envisage any sanctions on Russian delegates. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe at its winter session in Strasbourg on Wednesday, January 29, ratified the credentials of the Russian Federation's delegation, earlier challenged on substantive grounds. Ninety-six delegates supported the draft resolution with 44 votes against and seven abstained. The draft resolution on the matter says the Assembly resolves to "ratify the credentials" of the Russian delegation and to "assess the progress made" until PACE co-rapporteurs visit Russia and report on the honoring of the obligations and commitments by Russia (no later than in April 2020). The resolution says "the general assessment of the state of compliance of the Russian Federation with its commitments and obligations towards the Council of Europe" is subject to the monitoring report under preparation "The Assembly invites the Monitoring Committee to follow closely the ongoing legislative process with regard to the constitutional amendments currently underway in the Russian Federation," the text reads. Read alsoRussia's attempts to bring separatist movements to international platforms threaten EU think tank The PACE has noted that, in the past six months since its return, Russia has addressed some recommendations: "In particular, all 24 illegally detained Ukrainian sailors captured in the Kerch Strait were returned to Ukraine as part of a hostage exchange. This included one person wanted for questioning in connection with the shooting down of airplane MH17. Some progress has been made with regard to the implementation of the Minsk Agreements. The Russian Federation has participated in so-called mutual release of detainees and, alongside Ukraine, is preparing other exchanges." With regard to the financial obligations towards the Council of Europe, the Russian Federation has paid "all due contributions to the ordinary budget and partial agreements". Unpaid interests are the subject of discussions in the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers. The PACE has turned down almost all amendments aimed at fixing in the resolution text the call for ceasing the illegal annexation of Crimea, the notion on the escalation in the Sea of Azov, and the notion that Russia must respect sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and notion on military aggression in eastern Ukraine. Read alsoPro-Russian act by German delegate to PACE Only one amendment saw support to include in the text the following sentence: "The Assembly recalls its position on the illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation." The PACE declined the move to support the amendment on delaying ratification of Russia's credentials. At the same time, the resolution calls on Russia to fully comply with recommendations laid down in previous resolutions 2034 (2015) 2063 (2016). Resolution 2034 (2015) said that the illegal occupation of Crimea by Russia and participation and actions on the part of Russia, which led to this annexation, constitute a serious violation of international law. Then the PACE condemned the illegal annexation of Crimea and the peninsula's integration into Russia. The text of today's resolution draft was prepared by Tiny Kox, a delegate from the Netherlands known for his pro-Russian stance. There are emerging indications of tension in the Presidency as the Senate on Wednesday demanded President Muhammadu Buharis resignation over rising insecurity in the country. The Senate on Wednesday deliberated extensible on a motion on the deplorable security across Nigeria which culminated in the consideration to restructure Nigerias security system, after the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, had admitted that the current security system in the country has failed. The Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, being the first to speak on the motion, berated President Buhari over the inability to tackle the security crisis and allowing it to snowball into large scale violence attacks in the country. The Senate Minority Leader expressed consternation over the presidents claim of being surprised at the rising insecurity and the acceleration of Boko Haram insurgency in the country, yet, the president meets with the service chiefs who brief him from time to time on the insecurity crisis and their efforts in combating the violence. The Senator, therefore, urged President Buhari to resign from office over the rising insecurity in the country. If you want to treat an issue, you go to the head. We did not appoint the IG or the security chiefs. We will go to the president and ask him to resign, Senator Abaribe declared. The Senate Minority Leader further chided the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, for insulting and referring to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) as a political party for condemning the killing of Christians by Boko Haram. Senate President Ahmad Lawan had interrupted Senator Abaribe on the call on President Buhari to resign, telling him to focus on how to tackle insecurity. Senator Abaribe, however, maintained: Nigerians voted APC because they promised to tackle insecurity, but they have failed Lawan had protested again, trying to avoid partisanship in the debate. The senators devoted Wednesday to deliberate on the security challenges in Nigeria where Boko Haram terrorists, kidnappers, Fulani herdsmen, bandits and others have continued to make life misery for innocent Nigerian citizens; and the crime wave has been on the increase, particularly in the north. The country and international community were thrown into disbelief when President Buhari, on Tuesday, said he was surprised at the growing insecurity in Nigeria, making fresh post-election promise that his government will be harder on bandits. The call for the presidents resignation unsettled the APC leadership and the party senators in the National Assembly. Senator Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State rose to confront Senator Abaribe but the senate president called everyone to order for peace to reign in the Upper Chamber of the federal legislature. PV: 0 "Go West, young man"? That's exactly what West Virginia's governor is urging rural counties in Virginia, unhappy with the recent state of politics in their state, to do. In an unlikely bid, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice says he would welcome neighboring Virginia counties to join his state amid Democrats' control of Virginia's government. "If you're not truly happy where you are, we stand with open arms to take you from Virginia or anywhere where you may be," said Justice, a Republican. "We stand strongly behind the Second Amendment, and we stand strongly for the unborn." Justice made the comment Tuesday alongside Jerry Falwell Jr., president of Liberty University, an evangelical Christian university in Lynchburg, Virginia. Falwell also supported the idea. "What's happening in Virginia right now is a tragedy in the making, he said. Jerry Falwell Jr., President of Liberty University, and Jim Justice, Governor of West Virginia, answer questions at a press conference at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 in Martinsburg, W.Va. Such a move would require approval from both states and Congress, said Richard Schragger, a University of Virginia law professor who focuses on the intersection of the Constitution and local law. Schragger also noted that there is nothing under Virginia law that allows counties to secede and join another state. He called the effort "highly improbable." "Virginia is not going to consent, nor would Congress likely permit it, even if it did. Slicing off parts of states to fit temporary political preferences is a recipe for political instability. As history shows, secession movements in the U.S. do not end well," he wrote in an email to USA TODAY. Mark Rozell, dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, also called the move "not plausible." "The governor was being provocative, but he has to know that there is no chance of this ever happening," Rozell wrote in an email to USA TODAY. "If the legislatures of two states can come to some agreement, that would raise an intriguing possibility. But can anyone imagine a state willingly agreeing to allow any of its counties to move to another state?" Story continues The invitation comes as Democrats in Virginia have pushed forward a number of progressive policies in recent weeks, including voting to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, loosen abortion restrictions and enact stricter gun control regulations. The gun control proposals sparked a movement of more than 100 counties, cities and towns in Virginia to declare themselves "sanctuaries" for the Second Amendment, and thousands flooded Richmond on Jan. 20 to rally against them. Facing reelection in November, Justice and some Republicans in West Virginia are hoping to capitalize on some Virginians' discontent. Lawmakers in the Republican-controlled state have introduced resolutions to formally invite some Virginia counties to their state. "We're starting to get some phone calls from friends on the border who say these folks want to leave," said West Virginia Del. Gary Howell, a Republican who co-sponsored one such resolution, told the Washington Examiner last week. However, Virginia's leaders scoffed at the idea. "Sounds like it's an election year in West Virginia," Alena Yarmosky, a spokeswoman for Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, wrote in an email to USA TODAY. "What are they doing, a comedy routine?" Republican Sen. Emmett Hanger told the Associated Press. Hanger's district partially borders West Virginia. "Just when you think you have heard it all," Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw, a Democrat, told the Washington Post. "I am sure there are a fair amount of people who would be delighted with Falwell moving to West Virginia." Most state borders have long been settled; however, in 2017, the border between North and South Carolina shifted slightly, affecting more than a dozen homes. In 2018, rural counties in California expressed their dislike for liberal-controlled urban areas and declared themselves "New California" in a bid to become the 51st state. That long-shot proposal also would require state and congressional approval. Contributing: The Associated Press Follow USA TODAY's Ryan Miller on Twitter @RyanW_Miller This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jim Justice: Virginia counties seceding are welcome to West Virginia If you want to invest in the worlds largest companies without doing the legwork yourself, Brunner Investment Trust might just fit the bill. Brunner has been around a long time and is a balanced fund focusing on income allied to capital growth. Formed in 1929 by the Brunner family, who still have a 29 per cent stake, the trust is now managed by Lucy Macdonald, the head of global equity investment at German giant Allianz, the trusts manager. Long-term view: Brunner has been around a long time and is a balanced fund focusing on income allied to capital growth Macdonald took over full management of the trust in 2016 when its two discrete portfolios were merged. Since then, there has been a shift in style with the emphasis now less UK-centric and more global. A need for pay dividends in sterling will always mean a sizeable amount is invested in companies based here, but the proportion has reduced from 50 per cent in 2016 to about 25 per cent currently. Macdonald believes that to get good returns and income from large companies you must look further afield. 'A global focus allows for higher potential returns, more diversification and greater scope for management outperformance than a regional focus solely.' US software giant Microsoft is the largest holding and a good example of how the investment philosophy works. Macdonald is a fan of Microsofts cloud computing arm Azure, which is one of the fastest-growing parts of the business but was relatively small when the trust first bought into the group over ten years ago. Amazon and Google are the two other giants in the cloud space, but Microsoft is the only one that pays a dividend. 'We bought before Satya Nadella became chief executive and when the cloud was only a tiny part.' Since 2010, Microsofts value has risen by about 500 per cent and the business is now worth US$1.3trillion. In charge: Macdonald took over full management of the trust in 2016 when its two discrete portfolios were merged Macdonald has trimmed her holding recently but only to keep a lid on its size in the portfolio. 'Its not ridiculously over-priced, even now,' she says. Microsoft helped Brunner put in a strong performance over the past year, but there were also good gains at US contact lens group Cooper and Taiwan Semiconductor. Allianzs global network helped put the trust onto Taiwan Semiconductor, with the groups analyst in Hong Kong saying it was cheap at this stage of the cycle and given the longer-term growth potential in computer chips. The diverse nature of these businesses and their geographies underlines the strategy behind the portfolio, adds Macdonald, with active share selection at its heart. 'We are bottom-up stock pickers.' At around sixty companies, it is a concentrated portfolio and to make the cut companies must meet thresholds of growth, quality and value, though some of the stocks are held largely for the income they produce. ESG (environment, social and governance) is also becoming increasingly important and companies failing in this regard and not showing any signs of improvement are unlikely to be considered going forward. Shell, for example, is the only fossil fuel major in the portfolio with a holding in BP sold last year. Brunners share price has been strong over the past twelve months reflecting the investment performance and a sharp narrowing of the discount to NAV to around 7 per cent. A restructuring of the balance sheet has helped in this regard, with two expensive debentures now replaced by a 30million loan facility. Brunners impressive dividend record has also done its bit. The trust is one of trade body the AICs dividend heroes, meaning it has raised the payout for twenty years consecutively. Indeed, Brunner has raised its dividend for 47 years on the trot with a notable 15 per cent hike at the half-way point of the current year. Macdonald is confident the rising dividend run will continue. Last years payout was comfortably covered by income, she says, while the trusts reserves cover more than one years worth of payments. Macdonald expects the current year to see equity markets quieter than 2019, which will make it harder to match the 17 per cent rise in net asset value to yesterdays close of play valuation of 988p. A double-digit return would be doing well, she believes, but last year turned out better than expected at the outset and in any case, Brunner is about the stocks and individual non-market correlated ideas. 'In a flatter year, you have to get more active.' At 910p, Brunner is valued at 432million and yields 2 per cent. Lindsey Graham Tells John Bolton: Hold a News Conference Former National Security Adviser John Bolton should hold a press conference to disclose details from his upcoming book, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said late Tuesday. Details from Boltons book were leaked to news outlets this week. Bolton denied coordinating with the media. John, youve kind of thrown the country into a ditch here, Graham said during an appearance on Fox News on Tuesday night. Just come forward and say whats on your mind, hold a news conference and well consider what youve got to say if you think its that important. Graham said he has all the information he needs in the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump. Even if the claims Bolton allegedly made were true, Graham said, they wouldnt be impeachable offenses. Graham thinks Trump will be acquitted by the end of the week. National Security Advisor John Bolton unveils the Trump Administration Africa Strategy at the Heritage Foundation in Washington on Dec. 13, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Bolton reportedly wrote in his book that he and acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney were present when Trump and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani discussed former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch. He also reportedly claimed that Trump told him he was withholding congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine to try to force leaders there to open an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and Bidens son Hunter Biden. Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in July 2019 to look into the corruption allegations against the Bidens, noting that Joe Biden bragged in 2018 about events in 2016 that featured the vice president pressuring Ukraine to oust a prosecutor who was probing Hunter Bidens employer, the Ukrainian energy company Burisma Holdings. Theres a mountain of evidence that the Bidens were involved in corruption. The president would have been wrong not to ask the Ukrainians to help, given what we know about Hunter Biden and Joe Biden, Graham said on Fox. The Bidens have denied any wrongdoing. Vice President Joe Biden arrives for a meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Kyiv on Jan. 16, 2017. (Genya Savilov/AFP/Getty Images) Trump was impeached by House Democrats on Dec. 18 for abuse of office and obstruction of Congress. The first charge stemmed from the phone call. House Democrats said Trumps request amounted to asking a foreign country to interfere in the 2020 election since Joe Biden is a Democratic presidential nominee. Trump and his team have argued that he was doing his duty to look into corruption. The Senate heard from both sides over the past week and will begin submitting written questions on Wednesday. A vote on whether to call witnesses is expected on Friday. Senate Democrats have pushed for calling Bolton, Mulvaney, and two others to the stand while some Republicans want to hear from the Bidens, House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and the person who filed a complaint against Trump over the Zelensky phone call. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate after gaining two seats in the 2018 elections. Convicting Trump, which would remove him from office, requires a supermajority of 67 votes; an acquittal, or dismissing the charges, requires a simple majority. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said earlier this month that 45 Republicans are ready to vote to dismiss. Some potential swing voters, including Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah), have indicated theyd like to hear from witnesses before voting on convicting or acquitting Trump. Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) leaves a closed-door Senate Republican caucus meeting after the Senate adjourned for the day during the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 28, 2020. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Another option for information from Bolton was floated on Tuesday by Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.). He said the White House should give the Senate Boltons book manuscript. Senators could review it in the Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility since the manuscript hasnt been cleared. I am encouraging the White House, anybody that I can talk to, to say: That manuscript is pertinent and we should get access to that manuscript to see what theyre actually saying, Lankford said in a Facebook video. I think getting that information firsthand would be really important for us. Lankford also signaled support for the idea of Bolton holding a press conference. My encouragement would be: If John Boltons got something to say, theres plenty of microphones all over the country, that he should step forward and start talking about it right now, he said. Jack Phillips contributed to this report. Delhi Police on Wednesday (January 29) released the photos of 70 people who were allegedly involved in the violence which erupted in Delhi's Jamia Nagar during anti-Citizenshio Amendment Act protest on December 15, 2019. The Crime Branch said that anyone providing information about these suspects will be rewarded by Delhi Police. According to police, the persons whose photos have been released were actively involved in riots during anti-CAA protest in Jamia Nagar. The police has urged the people to provide information related to these alleged rioters at 011-23013918 and 9750871252. On December 17, ten people, having criminal backgrounds, were arrested in connection with this case. Among those arrested, none were students of Jamia Millia Islamia, the police had said. The Delhi Police had also lodged an FIR against 15 people for their alleged involvement in the protests that took place on December 15. The agitators had set ablaze four buses near New Friends Colony, injuring at least six policemen and two fire brigade personnel. Locals of the Sarai Julena area in Jamia Nagar had allegedly clashed with police. The situation was brought under control when the police got into action and several Jamia students were left injured in the clash. On December 16, 2019, Chinmoy Biswal, Delhi Commissioner of Police South East, had said that a mob of around 2,000 people turned violent and targeted public transport buses. Live TV On police's decision to enter Jamia Millia Islamia premises, Biswal had said that the university campus is not unified and it is located on both sides of the road and when the police were trying to control the protesters many of them entered the university and started pelting stones at police. This forced the police force to enter inside the campus and check those place. Barry Tuckwell, one of Australias greatest musicians, was widely revered as the greatest French horn player of the 20th century. He was as well-known to classical music lovers as Joan Sutherland or Nellie Melba. He died in Melbourne on January 16 aged 88 from complications associated with heart disease. Late last year, at 88, he married for the fourth time (the noted literary agent Jenny Darling, his companion for 14 years). Always immaculately groomed, wearing a Mephistopheles goatee and moustache which he grew to protect his lip, Tuckwell was also a distinguished conductor, teacher and author. He was the brother of the late Patricia Harewood, a violinist and model who married the Earl of Harewood, first cousin to Queen Elizabeth. Renowned musician Barry Tuckwell in 2011. Credit:The Age Tuckwell was born in Melbourne in 1931 to a notably musical family. His father Charles, a theatre organist in the days of silent movies, and his uncles and aunt, all had perfect pitch. Tuckwell became a chorister at St Andrews Cathedral, and took up the horn at 13 after a casual conversation in a cafe between Patricia, Charles Mackerras later a superb Australian conductor and a Sydney Symphony Orchestra horn player, Richard Merewether. It saved him, Tuckwell told People magazine, from becoming a juvenile delinquent! The problem of speeding on South African roads recently garnered public attention after a video of a driver reaching 309km/h on the N1 in Gauteng was posted to social media. The driver was subsequently arrested for the offence, but Justice Project South Africa chair Howard Dembovsky argues that prosecution is not a common outcome when dealing with high-speed offenders. This raises the question why this particular person has been treated entirely differently to every other person who exceeds the speed limit by more than 30km/h on a public road situated in an urban area or more than 40km/h on a public road outside of an urban area or on a freeway, Dembovsky told MyBroadband. Such persons are caught on SANS 1795-approved speed cameras every day, and I have not heard of a single arrest taking place. Only speed measuring equipment that meets these SANS 1795 specifications may be used in prosecuting any offence involving exceeding the speed limit, Dembovsky said. No Tshwane drivers prosecuted in 12 years To demonstrate how unusually eager the authorities are in this case, Dembovsky referred MyBroadband to a sworn affidavit before the High Court in which the Municipality of Tshwane said it had not prosecuted a single driver for exceeding the speed limit by more than 40km/h when caught on camera in the municipality. The deponent thereto, on behalf of the Metropolitan Municipality of Tshwane and the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department avers that no summonses have been issued in their jurisdiction because the courts do not have jurisdiction, said Dembovsky about the matter. This admission demonstrates that in almost 12 years, not one motorist has been prosecuted for exceeding the speed limit by more than 40km/h when caught on camera in Tshwane. He added that the City of Johannesburg may have different reasons for not prosecuting these motorists, but it too has not summoned all drivers caught on camera exceeding the speed limit by more than 40km/h. Nor have many municipalities in South Africa, Dembovsky said. Equal before the law According to the Constitution of the South Africa, everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law. Dembovsky said the failure of law enforcement agencies therefore present major problems, as it would allow the N1 speedster to appeal his conviction on the grounds that nobody else is prosecuted for the same offence. Because of the issues mentioned above, regarding the failure of law enforcement agencies to summon all alleged offenders to court, this is not a small issue. It is a huge one and will give this person the right to appeal to the Constitutional Court if he is convicted. Making fish of one and fowl of the other is simply not provided for in terms of the constitution, Dembovsky added. If the RTMC and the Minister of Transport had demonstrated only half the vigour in pursuing charges against the hit and run perpetrators caught on camera crashing into, swapping drivers, and then fleeing from the scene after checking nothing other than the damage caused to the grill of the car, I may have been inclined to applaud them. Video of incident here. Warning, graphic visuals Video Instead, they did not say anything about that incident exacerbating the problem. Dembovsky said he does not endorse or encourage dangerous behaviour on South African roads, though. Persons who engage in dangerous behaviour should be dealt with appropriately by the courts on conviction, he said. Now read: Petrol price drop coming in February A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck in the Caribbean Sea between Jamaica and eastern Cuba on Tuesday, shaking a vast area from Mexico to Florida and beyond, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or heavy damage. The quake was centered 139 kilometers (86 miles) northwest of Montego Bay, Jamaica, and 140 kilometers (87 miles) west-southwest of Niquero, Cuba, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It hit at 2:10 p.m. (1910 GMT) and the epicenter was a relatively shallow 10 kilometers (6 miles) beneath the surface. Dr. Enrique Arango Arias, head of Cuba's National Seismological Service, told state media that there had been no serious damage or injuries reported. The quake was felt strongly in Santiago, the largest city in eastern Cuba, said Belkis Guerrero, who works in a Roman Catholic cultural center in the center of Santiago. "We were all sitting and we felt the chairs move," she said. "We heard the noise of everything moving around." She said there was no apparent damage in the heart of the colonial city. "It felt very strong but it doesn't look like anything happened," she told The Associated Press. It was also felt a little farther east at the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on the southeastern coast of the island. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damages, said J. Overton, a spokesman for the installation, which has a total population of about 6,000 people. Several South Florida buildings were evacuated as a precaujtion, according to city of Miami and Miami-Dade County officials. No injuries or road closures had been reported. The quake also hit the Cayman Islands, leaving cracked roads and what appeared to be sewage spilling from cracked mains. There were no immediate reports of deaths, injuries or more severe damage, said Kevin Morales, editor-in-chief of the Cayman Compass newspaper. French President Emmanuel Macron accused Turkey's president on Wednesday of breaking promises made at a conference on Libya after Turkish warships and Syrian fighters arrived in the north African country. "I want to express my concerns with regard to the behaviour of Turkey at the moment, which is in complete contradiction with what President Tayyip Erdogan committed to at the Berlin conference," Macron told a joint news conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Macron's comments came a week after the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Russia - which all back eastern Libyan military commander Khalifa Haftar - and Turkey - which backs the government in Tripoli - agreed with Western powers in Berlin to push for a lasting ceasefire and uphold an arms embargo. However, since then there has been an uptick in fighting with Haftar's Libyan National Army attempting to open a new front by moving forces towards the city of Misrata in the west of the country. Pictures unverified by Reuters on social media appeared to show Turkish warships off the coast of Libya on Wednesday. Macron confirmed the presence of Turkish ships and accused Ankara of violating Libya's sovereignty and endangering European and West African security. "We have seen during these last days Turkish warships accompanied by Syrian mercenaries arrive on Libyan soil. This is an explicit and serious infringement of what was agreed in Berlin. It's a broken promise." Without naming them, the United Nations on Jan. 25 said several countries backing rival factions in Libya had violated the arms embargo since Berlin. It said cargo planes full of advanced weapons, armoured vehicles, advisers and fighters had arrived at eastern and western Libyan airports, something that risked "plunging the country into a renewed and intensified round of fighting". Macron made no mention of violations from any other countries except NATO ally Turkey. Libya has had no stable central authority since the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. It has had two rival governments, in the east and the west, for more than five years. Search Keywords: Short link: New Delhi, Jan 29 : East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir had accused the Delhi government of running a school in a dilapidated building. However, it turns out the premises was closed since October 2019 for renovation, which is currently suspended as the Election Commission is using the building for the February 8 Assembly elections. The BJP MP had, on January 27, tweeted a video of Government Girls/Boys Senior Secondary School, Khichri Pur, with broken walls and gates saying: "They say fight the election on education, I say fight the election on truth!" A day later on January 28, Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia released another video, which showed a closure notice on the main gate, and said the school was closed since October 2019. When IANS visited the school on Wednesday, Sisodia's claim was found true with the two gates of the school closed with a notice posted on them that read "The school has been shifted to SBV JJ Colony from October 9, 2019." While the security guard did not allow the IANS reporter inside, she informed that the school is now under the election commission. Shanti, in her early 50s, has been employed at this school from past seven years. "The school building is very old. It is closed for renovation and the work was stalled because of the elections. Now, they are checking their requirement for the polling (on February 8)," Shanti told IANS. She also said that the renovation work will now take place after elections. She said that she had no idea if an MP had visited the school. "I got to know about someone's visit. We have orders that unauthorised persons cannot enter the school. I got to know that some people came and made videos, but that must have been after my shift," she said. People living nearby also said that the school building was in a bad condition and will be renovated. "My daughter has been studying in the school from Class 6, now she is in Class 11. The building was in bad shape and we were demanding renovation. It has been approved now, but the elections came and the work will now happen after elections," said Mohammad Salim who lives in the colony across the street. Rehnuma, Salim's daughter, said she is liking the new school. "The building (of this school) was broken. Now the new school is good. It is not very far away," she said. IANS also visited the school where the existing students were accommodated. It is worth mentioning that the school has been shifted to another campus already about two kilometers away. However, the entry was not allowed but the guard said the students were accommodated in different shifts. Several other students also echoed Rehnuma's claim, saying not just building, but the education is also improving. The political drama over Delhi government schools started after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal invited former BJP president Amit Shah to visit the city government schools. While Shah did not visit the schools himself, all the seven MPs from Delhi went to visit some schools. TheMPs from Delhi, including Gambhir, visited different schools in their respective constituencies to check the claims made by the Aam Aadmi Party that they have transformed the education sector in Delhi. The BJP leaders said the schools were in a bad condition and lacked basic amenities. Releasing the video of their visit, Shah, in a tweet in Hindi, said: "Arvind Kejriwalji you called me to see a school run by the Delhi government. Yesterday, the eight MPs of Delhi BJP went to different schools and see how they are ... The plight of the schools exposed the claims of your 'education revolution'. Now you have to answer to the people of Delhi..." (Nivedita Singh can be contacted at nivedita.singh@ians.in) Ayala said the risk for contracting the virus is low for the average DuPage County resident. Public health officials have said those who have been in close contact with someone with the virus for durations of more than 10 minutes and at a distance of about six feet or closer may be at risk, but noted most people do not fall into that category. Delhi Police on Wednesday released photos of 70 people, who were involved in the violence that ensued during a protest against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) near Jamia Millia Islamia University on December 15 last year. Several FIRs have been registered and the Crime Branch of the Delhi Police is probing the matter. 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.) Google is reportedly working on another communications app to fit in the GSuite for business users. According to a report on The Information, as reported by Mashable, the purported app is said to combine the functionality of several existing Google apps, including Gmail, Drive, Hangouts Meet, and Hangouts Chat. The app is likely positioned against business-oriented communication solutions such as Microsoft Teams or Slack. It is unclear if the app will replace the existing line of Google's apps including Hangouts Chat and Hangouts Meet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It's not every day you bump into a personal hero at the local coffee shop. As former Army Staff Sgt. Ronald Shurer sat with his wife Miranda at Peet's Coffee in Springvale, Virginia on a Wednesday afternoon, a muscular young man in his late 20s approached, a question in his eyes. "Hey, you're Ron Shurer, right?" His name was Thomas Bailey, an Army sergeant just returned from a tour in Iraq. He wanted to know whether there was anything he could do for Shurer -- wash his car, watch the kids, anything. "You're one of our heroes," Bailey said. "Actually, it's really cool to see you. If you ever need anything, just hit me up. Seriously, anything." Shurer is a recipient of the nation's highest combat honor, a Secret Service special agent and a former Army Special Forces combat medic. But he had attracted the soldier's hero-worship for another reason altogether. Related: Trump Awards Medal of Honor to His Own Secret Service Agent Bailey said he and his buddies were truly impressed when they saw a photo of Shurer at the Medal of Honor presentation wearing a beard, possibly in defiance of Army regulations. "Like when you got your Medal of Honor with your scruff on, like you were like our favorite ever. We could relate to that guy. That's my guy right there. I'm like, this guy's just a stud," Bailey said. President Donald Trump awards the Medal of Honor to former Army Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Shurer II for actions in Afghanistan, in the East Room of the White House, Monday, Oct. 1, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Shurer and Miranda said they greatly enjoyed meeting Bailey, but Miranda noted later that there was more to the beard story. "Some people complained that he had the beard," she said, but "that's one of the challenges of the cancer battle. He couldn't shave then because of his cancer. The chemo caused really bad skin rashes." A New Fight Shurer is now fighting on different terrain than the mountains of Eastern Afghanistan, and against a different enemy than the battle-hardened insurgents of that remote region. Fifteen months after he stood at the White House to receive the nation's highest combat honor, he's squaring off in an all-consuming battle against life-threatening lung cancer that his doctors rate at stage 4, meaning it has metastasized or spread to other organs. "It's everywhere," Shurer, 41, said in a lengthy Jan. 22 interview at the coffee shop. More than once, Shurer said he was prepared to comment on everything about the stage 4 cancer except his prognosis. Statistics from the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society point to five-year survival rates of less than 20%, although those numbers come with the caution that they may not reflect recent advances in treatment. Ron Shurer undergoes cancer treatment on Sept. 17, 2019. Instagram photo As he fights the disease, he's living openly with it, discussing his treatment and activities frankly in person and on his public Instagram account. His condition, he said, presents an "opportunity" to share his struggle with others locked in the same battle. "It just wouldn't be right to hide it," Shurer said. His advocacy for others is part of the responsibility that comes with the medal he wears, he explained. "We don't want [cancer] to dominate my story," Shurer said. He often uses the term "we" rather than the first person in discussing his cancer and everyday concerns, underlining his close partnership with his wife of 13 years, Miranda. "But at the same time," he added, "I think there's a lot of value in just sharing these things that are a little bit scary, a little bit nerve-wracking. It affects so many people's lives out there." Legendary Heroism Then, too, there's his background as a Special Forces combat medic. In Afghanistan's Shok Valley in April 2008, Shurer risked his life repeatedly, braving "withering enemy fire" to treat and stabilize a half-dozen wounded soldiers pinned down on the mountainside. The battle of Shok Valley would become legendary for the heroism displayed by so many in the fight. In December 2008, Silver Stars were awarded to Shurer and nine others from the Special Forces group. It was the most valor awards for a single combat engagement since the Vietnam War. In October 2019, a year after Shurer's Silver Star was upgraded to the Medal of Honor, the White House announced that Master Sgt. Matthew Williams would also receive the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 6, 2008. (Courtesy photo from Ronald J. Shurer II) The way Shurer talks about the events of Shok Valley offers insights into his approach to life. "At the end of the day, we're Green Berets, and that's the order. We don't get impossible missions, we get challenging missions, and we'll figure it out. That's why they sent us in there, not somebody else," he said. READ: Ronald Shurer's Medal of Honor citation When those facing personal crises reach out to him via Instagram, Shurer feels he must respond. "Why would I ignore these people if I could help a little bit when there are other people going out of their way to help me so much?" he said. About every few weeks, he said, he hears from someone with a close family member facing a cancer diagnosis. "They'll ask, 'Can you just text with me for a couple of minutes?'" he said. "I try to get back to them, just talk with them, help in some tiny way. I don't know how much I actually do, but I feel like it helps connect." He regularly goes for radiation treatment, working with a team of specialists from Johns Hopkins in Washington, D.C. He also travels to Baltimore for care for his disease. "We've got a great team at Johns Hopkins taking amazing care of us," Shurer said. "And we're just enjoying each day and trying to have as much fun with the kids and family and still trying to be productive out there." He said he's now in a "reassessment phase" and currently undergoing "targeted therapy" to address the places his disease has spread. In a Jan. 6 tweet, he said: "In brain radiation today! It's been a hard end of the year, but we've been working almost daily with my docs throughout the holidays to figure out our best path forward. We are closing in on a trial that holds promise." 'Our Life Has Never Been Normal' Through two tours in Afghanistan, and now the battle with cancer, his rock has been Miranda, who combines an upbeat personality with inner toughness. He met Miranda Lantz, originally from West Virginia, on a dating site when he was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. She was a graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago and was pursuing a graduate degree in education from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. For their first date, he drove five hours to Virginia and they went to the movies. In June 2006, when he learned that he would be deployed to Afghanistan with the 3rd Special Forces Group, Shurer proposed and she accepted. Ron and Miranda Shurer at Johns Hopkins Hospital on Jan. 6, 2020. Instagram photo She knew exactly when it was: "40 days before first deployment." "I feel like our life has never been normal. So I think this is just one more thing added to it," she said of the cancer. "I feel like there haven't been many calm moments in our time together." She briefly grew emotional when asked about learning of the diagnosis in 2017, and then continued: "I feel like this is one more curveball thrown at us." They were riding in the car when the doctor called to tell them of the cancer and its spread, she said. "That was definitely" -- she paused. "It was definitely shocking. It was something that was not on our radar. "I spent our whole life together worrying about him getting shot," she said. Now, they are faced with life-threatening cancer. She has put her career as a teacher and administrator on hold to be at his side in combating the cancer and to care for their children, Cameron, 12, and Tyler, 8. "One of the things he taught me early in our relationship from his Special Forces training: In their training, you don't look at the obstacles, you look at the path through or the way out. To me, that's like, 'What is the next best step we can take?' That's what we do every day," Miranda said. "We take it one step at a time and just keep figuring out the best path forward and the best options." Born on Pearl Harbor Day Military service is a family tradition for Shurer, who noted that he was born on Dec. 7, the anniversary of the 1941 Pearl Harbor attacks during World War II. He cited his great-grandfather's service in the artillery in World War I and his grandfather's service on an aircraft carrier in WWII. Both his parents were Air Force veterans, he said. After receiving a degree in economics from Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, Shurer decided to join the Marine Corps and was accepted at Officer Candidates School for a class that was to begin in October 2001. As they were finishing the paperwork, the medical board noted that he had spent a day in the hospital in 1995 with pancreatitis after being hit by a car while riding his bike. The medical board turned him down, so he enrolled in graduate school, studying economics at Washington State. But he left after a year to join the Army in response to the 9/11 terror attacks. "At that point, I can't just keep watching it on TV. I've got to figure out some way to help with this war," Shurer said. He became a medic "out of the sense of taking care of the guys who were actually out there doing it right now. I signed up to go take care of those guys." Members of the U.S. Secret Service Counter Assault Team applaud for one of their own, Ronald Shurer, after he was awarded the Medal of Honor by U.S President Donald Trump in the East Room of the White House October 01, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Shurer left the Army in May 2009. But, he said, he kept "looking for a different way to serve." He applied to the FBI and the Secret Service. But "the Secret Service culture just really spoke to me. I'd be standing on the sidelines of history," he explained. By September 2009, he had been accepted by the Secret Service and was assigned to the Phoenix, Arizona, office doing criminal investigations and taking on credit card fraud and other cases. He was then allowed to apply to one of the special teams and was accepted at counter-assault, where the work "just felt natural to me." In the summer of 2016, Shurer began experiencing hip pain. At first, he thought, "Whatever. Just walk it off," he said. But the pain persisted. A visit to a chiropractor gave some relief, but the pain returned. He underwent an MRI in February 2017. The next day, while he was on assignment in San Diego, his doctors called. "They'd found lesions on my hip, and I needed to get back as quickly as possible," Shurer said. "The Secret Service red-eyed me back [to Washington]." "I've been fighting it ever since," he said. A Fighting Team Together, Ronald and Miranda Shurer are constantly determining the best plan of attack -- both for his disease and to help and support those who come to them in need. Regarding those who reach out on Instagram, "we talk to a lot of veterans organizations, try to help where we can," Shurer said. "Obviously, cancer is so insanely specific. Most of the time, my advice is just, go find the best doctors you can." Though he can't provide medical counsel, he knows a good word can sometimes make a difference. Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Shurer II mingles with Lt. Gen. Charles D. Luckey, chief of Army Reserve and commanding general of U.S. Army Reserve Command, and his wife, Julie, during the 57th United States Organization (USO) Armed Forces Gala, held at the Manhattan Marriott Marquis, New York, on Dec. 12, 2018. (U.S. Army Reserve Photo by Sgt. Audrey Hayes) "I know when I first got diagnosed, anybody I could talk to who had some experience at all gave that sense of comfort," he said. "If I can just do that, it's too easy to try to help." Miranda said she sees it as her job to make sure her husband cares for himself amid his concern for others and his drive to "power through" the pain and side effects. "When the side effects come up, I start researching what are the best things to do -- just kind of take one step at a time. For the major parts of his cancer treatment, we think we found the best doctors and we trust them," Miranda said. She would not discuss the specifics of the side effects, but they can range from nausea, fatigue and loss of appetite to pain in affected areas and neuropathy, or nerve dysfunction possibly causing numbness or shooting pains, according to the National Cancer Institute. Shurer is not always the ideal patient. "The worse he feels, the harder he works sometimes," Miranda said. Gen. John Kelly's Wrong Turn In the conventional sense, work continues for Shurer. He's still a member of the Secret Service counter-assault team and still goes in when he can, though he's now limited to administrative duties. "I set schedules, get people where they need to be. Physically, I can't put on the body armor anymore, but it's still a good role for me. I'm contributing to the team. It still lets me feel connected to that team," he said. As a Secret Service agent, Shurer had the unique opportunity to be at the White House when he was told he'd be getting the Medal of Honor. A key player in the events was John Kelly, then-White House chief of staff and a retired Marine Corps four-star general. At the White House, in September 2018, it was already known that Shurer was battling cancer, as he had been diagnosed the previous year. Many also knew that the Army and Defense Department were readying approval of the Medal of Honor for the former Army staff sergeant. President Donald Trump wanted to be the first to inform a member of his own counter-assault team that he would be receiving the nation's highest award for valor. A plan was drawn up that centered on Kelly. Shurer himself hadn't a clue, but there had been hints that something life-changing was about to happen. There had been a cryptic phone call from the Pentagon saying that he would be hearing from higher-ups about his military service, Shurer recalled. He and Miranda "were bouncing around ideas -- what could this possibly be?" he said. Shurer had left the Army in 2009. He had earned the Silver Star in 2008 for his Shok Valley heroism, but he was out of the loop on the possibility of an upgrade. It was too long ago, he thought. Then, there was another call saying that he and Miranda were to show up at the White House. The Secret Service would give them further instructions. They were told that Kelly would take it from there. "You'll have to come to my office," Kelly said. He ushered them into the West Wing. Shurer knew the layout well and was puzzled when Kelly walked past his own office. He thought to himself, "Hey, General, you're going the wrong way," he recalled. President Trump and Vice President Pence pose with Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Shurer II. Official White House photo/Shealah Craighead Kelly pushed open the door to the Oval Office, and there was Trump, seated at the Resolute desk. "[Shurer] was very surprised," Kelly told Military.com. "The president isn't always on his game, but he was that day," Kelly added. Trump graciously welcomed the couple and asked whether they would allow him to present the Medal of Honor at the White House. Trump recounted that "[the couple] didn't know what it was about. They walked into the Oval Office, and I told Ron that he was going to receive our nation's highest military honor. It was a moment I will never forget." Kelly told Military.com that the moment had special significance for the Secret Service. "They get paid to be unobserved and quiet," he said of the agents, and here was one of their own being chosen to accept the Medal of Honor at a packed ceremony in the East Room. "That's one of the things that really came through," Kelly added. "They were so proud that two or three shifts showed up." In his more than 40 years in uniform, Kelly said he has known several Medal of Honor recipients. "Some of them struggle with it; they can feel it's undeserved," he said. He'd felt certain, though, that Shurer's character would allow him to accept the responsibility. With the agent's permission, Trump acknowledged Shurer's cancer fight when he presented the medal on Oct. 1, 2018. "As many of you know, a year and a half ago, Ron was diagnosed with cancer -- tough cancer, rough cancer," Trump said. "But he has braved, battled, worked -- he has done everything he can. That cancer -- he's been fighting it every single day with courage and with strength. And he's a warrior. He's a warrior." Despite the ordeal of the battle on the mountainside, Shurer said he still misses the sense of purpose and spirit of team commitment he felt as part of Operational Detachment Alpha 3336. At an Army news conference prior to his medal presentation, he said, "I'm not a hero. I just happened to be the medic there that day. The guys trusted me to help them, and I was going to do everything I could not to let them down." Other members of the team now have that same commitment to support Ron and Miranda in the new battle. "Two things you have to know about Ron: He's a servant and he's a fighter," said former Staff Sgt. Dillon Behr, who was the first to be wounded in the assault on the Shok valley. A bullet had gone through his pelvis. He was immobile and exposed under fire. Shurer came running. Behr was bleeding out and sensed that "I needed immediate attention," he said. "He took my body armor off, cut my pants all the way up" and began to "apply pressure to try to stop the bleeding." Behr survived and, with a prosthetic hip, now works in cybersecurity and lives in Arlington, Virginia, not far from the Shurer family. He sees them every few weeks, and said he marvels at his friend's resilience and persistent sense of responsibility for others. "He'd be completely excused if he said 'I can't make this convention, can't make this event,'" Behr said. "[But] he continues to serve in that respect." "There's a third thing you have to know about Ron," Behr said. "His No. 1 priority is his family and his two sons, to make as many memories with them as he can." -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Read more: General Says He 'Meant No Disrespect' with Tweet About Kobe Bryant's Death The mother of a boy murdered by the IRA alongside Lord Mountbatten has called on the producers of The Crown to put the truth on screen. Paul Maxwell (15) from Fermanagh was working as a boat boy in the Co Sligo village of Mullaghmore when an IRA bomb exploded on Mountbatten's Shadow V fishing boat on August 27, 1979. Paul's mother Mary Hornsey also revealed how one man she believes to be directly responsible for the bomb visited the family cottage with an ineffective warning to keep her son away before the attack. Mountbatten's 14-year-old grandson Nicholas Knatchbull was also killed, with the Dowager Lady Brabourne (83) dying of her injuries the next day. Within hours of the attack 18 soldiers were killed in an IRA bomb ambush at Narrow Water in Co Down. The Mountbatten assassination is to be portrayed in the upcoming series of the Netflix royal drama. Ms Hornsey said it could be "positive" for a large audience to hear the story, if it was done respectfully. "I think that it should be portrayed truthfully," she said. "There are two aspects of truth - the kind that we can make up that we want to see (on screen) and the actual truth. "I think that is very important. I also think that the emotion involved in something so great as that should come over." She said the tragedy had caused "great waves" of pain at the time, not only for the family but for close friends. "Paul's best friend that he had at the time never got another friend," she said. "He could never, ever get that attachment again that he had with Paul. "I think it's important to get that message out that they should not murder, they should not kill. Especially children." Read More The last series of The Crown was praised for its sensitive portrayal of the Aberfan disaster of 1966 that caused the death of 144, most of them children. Asked if this gave her confidence in how the Mountbatten storyline would be handled, she said: "It's very hard to prophesise anything like that. I don't know whether the programme's going to be respectful until I actually see it. "I would hope that it would be because there are very many sensitive issues. A lot of people like myself are still grieving over that and probably always will. So it should be handled with sensitivity and yet truth as well." Ms Hornsey said she believed more than two people were involved in the plot to kill Lord Mountbatten. "About 20 years ago, I heard from a guy from Television Cologne called Hans and he actually went down to Mullaghmore. "He went down not as a journalist, but as a German tourist and he found out quite a lot. "He said there were at least 40 people involved in it. He also interviewed one man who had kept a 'souvenir' of the tragedy, which was a piece of the Shadow V. "Apparently, he showed it to tourists. It is very shocking, I could not believe that, especially when the person quoted to have done this dreadful act had appeared to be a friend of Paul's father, which made it even worse." On the apparent warning from the IRA, she said one man she believes to be responsible visited the family cottage to say Paul shouldn't be working on Mountbatten's boat. "They suggested that Paul was 'too young to be doing that job, he should not be there'," she said. "It actually was a warning but we did not see it as such because one never expects that such a terrible atrocity was going to happen. "It was beyond belief that it would happen down in Mullaghmore, with holidaymakers going there for peace and quiet. "It wasn't just associated with the barbaric act that was committed. It came as a great shock. In fact, some people never went back to Mullaghmore after that." The family had stayed away from Mullaghmore until a commemoration on the 40th anniversary last year attended by Prince Charles, who Lord Mountbatten had been a close mentor to. "I was absolutely overcome by the love that people showed our family and how they talked about the tragedy," said Ms Hornsey. "They were so kind and almost apologetic for what had happened in the little seaside resort where they lived. "I was very, very touched by that. And so, at some stage, I think I would like to visit Mullaghmore again. "I don't think I would like to be on holiday in the place, I would find that difficult in finding enjoyment when my son was killed there. "But I would go down if there was a function or something like that on an anniversary, that would bring me back." Ms Hornsey has yet to watch The Crown, and was not contacted ahead of filming. Asked if she should have been consulted, she said: "It's difficult to say. I think that if it was touching on very sensitive topics then perhaps it might have been a good idea to get in contact." In September actor Charles Dance, who played Tywin Lannister in Game Of Thrones, was seen reprising his role as Mountbatten, with Keiss Harbour in Scotland doubling as Mullaghmore. The release date of the new series has yet to be announced. UPU 49th International Letter-Writing Competition 2020 The Royal Gibraltar Post Office has launched the Universal Postal Union 49th International Letter-Writing Competition 2020 in conjunction with the Gibraltar Department of Education. This years theme is: Write a message to an adult about the world we live in Almost one million children from 48 countries took part in last years competition and the RGPO would like to once again congratulate Alana Sacarello from St Josephs School for being awarded 2nd Prize (Silver Medal) in such a prestigious International Competition. The Competition is open to school-attending children in Gibraltar up to the age of 15 years (on 3rd April 2020), Rules and entry forms are available from Schools or from the Royal Gibraltar Post Office website www.post.gi Trophy & 300 for 1st, 200 & Certificate for 2nd and 100 & Certificate for 3rd placing, plus a chance to represent Gibraltar at BERNE, Switzerland. Democratic presidential contenders celebrated Martin Luther King Jrs legacy at a Baptist church and linked arms with each other and civil rights leaders in a march of tens of thousands to the South Carolina Statehouse. At Zion Baptist Church before the march, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren engaged in the handshake that did not happen in the frosty aftermath of the last debate. This is the handshake, presidential contender Tulsi Gabbard said as Mr Sanders and Ms Warren reached across her to shake hands in the front row. They and rival Amy Klobuchar attended the service before they joined Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg and other contenders in the march to the Statehouse. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren shake hands watched by Tulsi Gabbard (Meg Kinnard/AP) In last weeks debate, Ms Warren and Mr Sanders clashed in an exchange over what was said during a private conversation about a womans chances of becoming president. Mr Sanders extended his hand afterward, and Ms Warren pulled back. Now, in the closing days before the first votes are cast in the 2020 Democratic presidential contest, the partys leading hopefuls are splitting their time between the critical early-voting states of South Carolina and Iowa at events celebrating Dr King. The march brought together more candidates than engaged in the last two debates. Beginning today in church for King Day at Zion Baptist Church in SC. Faith is needed at this juncture in our nations history. We must, in Kings words, be drum majors for justice. We reflect on his life and pay tribute to his enduring legacy of progress by continuing his work. Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) January 20, 2020 They arrived at the Statehouse as Dr Kings I have a dream speech played over loudspeakers. While Iowa and New Hampshire Democrats vote first for their nominee, South Carolinas first-in-the-South primary is a crucial proving ground for a candidates mettle with black voters. Story continues The states showcase holiday celebration, Columbias King Day at the Dome, is a notable event for Democratic politicians. Today we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and his fight for social, racial, and economic justice. We honor his struggles and triumphs. We honor his courage and his vision. Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) January 20, 2020 Sanders spokesman Michael Wukela said the King event in South Carolina was about respect pure and simple, noting that racial inequality in areas including criminal justice and poverty highlights the relevance of commemorating a civil rights icon here. If you cant stand shoulder to shoulder with people who face these challenges every day yet still manage to embrace a vision of hope and grace, then you dont deserve their respect, much less their vote, he said. Vice President Mike Pence takes a tour of the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, where Rev. Martin Luther King Jr was fatally shot on April 4, 1968, in Memphis (Joe Rondone/The Commercial Appeal/AP) King Day at the Dome began in 2000 as a reaction to state politicians decision that year to keep the Confederate battle flag flying from the Statehouses copper-covered cupola, a place of prominence that drew opposition. Tens of thousands of people marched through the centre of Columbia from the prayer service to the Statehouse. Politicians eventually agreed to a compromise that moved the flag to a flagpole, albeit one prominently situated in front of the building. The deal also recognised Martin Luther King Jr Day in the state and created Confederate Memorial Day. In 2015, following the racist massacre of nine Bible study participants at a historic black church in Charleston, politicians voted to remove the flag from the grounds. In years past many Democratic presidential hopefuls have made their way to the north-facing facade of the Statehouse, including John Edwards, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Democratic presidential hopefuls Joe Biden and Amy Klobuchar (Meg Kinnard/AP) Last year, Mr Sanders and Senator Cory Booker, who has dropped out of the 2020 race, attended. Many of the candidates in the wide field planned to travel to Des Moines, Iowa, on Monday for the Brown and Black Forum, recognised as one of the nations oldest minority-focused presidential candidate events of its kind. Traditionally a debate, the event in recent years has been more of a one-on-one candidate forum. Former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg, who is not competing in the early-voting states but has put some of his multimillion-dollar ad spending there plans to join a King Day parade in Little Rock, Arkansas. Tech businessman Andrew Yang is in the midst of a 17-day bus tour of Iowa and plans to remain there. [January 29, 2020] Lift & Co. Announces Results for 2020 Vancouver Cannabis Business Conference and Expo TORONTO, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lift & Co. Corp. (Lift & Co. or the Company) (TSXV:LIFT) (OTCQB:LFCOF) is pleased to announce the results of the fourth-annual Lift & Co. Cannabis Business Conference (LCBC) and Expo Vancouver, which took place January 9-11, 2020. This was Canadas first major cannabis event of the year and occurred just as Cannabis 2.0 started rolling out across the country. New cannabis product formats are a highly anticipated market catalyst, estimated to bring in more than $2.5 billion annually , making LCBC and the Expo an essential launchpad for new products and a must-attend event for brands looking to resonate early with new consumers. Highlights included: Lift & Co. streamlined the Expo weekend to one Industry Day and one Consumer Day to offer more targeted programming for each attendee segment; The total number of exhibitors at the Lift & Co. Cannabis Expo increased 15% to over 300 booths covering 162,000 square feet of the Vancouver Convention Centre; Total revenues were $2,574,832 for the event, an increase of 14% compared to the 2019 Vancouver event, with operating margin expected to be similar to previous Expos, in the range of 40% to 50%; The weekend featured over 120 speakers, including the industrys top thought leaders from Canada and around the world; Several new products launched at the Lift & Co. Cannabis Expo including: BevCanna , who served non-infused versions of its upcoming iced tea and sparkling botanical drink; Haven St. introducing its new line-up of 5 premium infused teas; TOQi which launched the industrys first wireless charging vape pen; and more. The increase in both exhibitors and revenue this year in particular demonstrates the value of the Lift & Co. events platform in the cannabis industry. Were proud to see this continued growth in our events business, especially during a time when overall growth in the market didnt always meet expectations, said Matei Olaru, CEO of Lift & Co. As we look ahead to a brand-new year in the industry, this Vancouver conference and tradeshow illuminated a vibrant future filled with opportunity, making it a must-attend event for investors, professionals and consumers now and in the future. The industry programming at the 2020 Vancouver LCBC and Expo signaled the evolution of cannabis into the next major consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. Following the launch of Cohesion by Lift & Co. in 2019 and the subsequent introduction of Cohesion Segmentationpowered by Nielsen, Lift & Co. also further solidified its position as a CPG data player to-watch in 2020 at the event. The Companys Chief Revenue Officer, Jon Kamin, shared the stage with executives from two of the Companys key partners from 2019, Nielsen and EY Canada, for Thursdays LCBC Keynote, moderated by Ipsos, on data analytics, consumer sementation and creating a data-centric organization in cannabis. On the Expo Fire & Flower Stage, Sean Copeland, VP of Data, Lift & Co. honed in on data and market research alongside representatives from IBM Canada, Ipsos, and BDS Analytics. Cohesion is a cannabis consumer insights platform with national coverage, launched by Lift & Co. on September 10, 2019. Cohesion draws from millions of Lift & Co.s cannabis consumer and budtender data points, accumulated through verified reviews, purchase receipts and brand research on the Lift.co and CannSell platforms. In November, 2019, Lift & Co. announced a strategic partnership with Nielsen for an industry-first cannabis consumer profiling and segmentation tool, Cohesion Segmentation - powered by Nielsen, followed by the addition of Adobe Advertising Cloud demand-side-platform (DSP) in December, 2019. This enhancement gives Cohesion clients the ability to understand their target consumer segments and their likely purchase habits, and then seamlessly deliver compliant programmatic advertising and digital media buys to these segments through one platform. Cohesion is available today to industry participants as a monthly service by contacting the Company. At its booth, Lift & Co. also revealed an early version of the new Lift & Co. App, a new offering that will bring the power of the Lift.co platform into the pockets of consumers and budtenders. Within the app, consumers or budtenders can take a photo of a cannabis package label for immediate access to the tens of thousands of cannabis product reviews on Lift.co. After a purchase, consumers can upload a photo of their receipt directly on the app to earn Lift Points. The app is a new source for much-needed product education from Lift & Co. and will further enable the Company to tap into essential consumer and retail data insights available to the cannabis industry through Cohesion. More on the Lift & Co. App will be announced in the coming months. The flagship Lift & Co. Cannabis Business Conference and Expo Toronto 2020 will take place May 28 - 31, 2020. About Lift & Co. Lift & Co. (TSXV: LIFT) (OTCQB: LFCOF) is a publicly traded technology company modernizing the cannabis industry. Forward Looking Statements This news release and each of the documents referred to herein contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as plans, is expected, expects, scheduled, intends, contemplates, anticipates, believes, proposes or variations (including negative and grammatical 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. Such statements are based on the current expectations of management and are based on assumptions and subject to risks and uncertainties. Although management believes that the assumptions underlying these statements are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this press release may not occur by certain specified dates or at all and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting the Company. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release, and subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and the Company does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Lift & Co. Corp. Contact Information: Lift & Co.: Nikki Laoutaris, Director, Communications, Lift & Co. 1-647-464-0148 [email protected] Kasia Malz Chief Financial Officer, Lift & Co. 416-953-6657 [email protected] Investor Relations: Thesis Capital Prit Singh, 905-510-7636, [email protected] A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b4e6f9c9-5624-48fc-80dc-1ecc7ae828d9. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [January 28, 2020] Annovis Bio Announces Pricing of Initial Public Offering BERWYN, Pa., Jan. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Annovis Bio, Inc., a clinical stage, drug platform company addressing Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 2,000,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $6.00 per share, for gross proceeds of $12,000,000 before deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses. In addition, Annovis Bio, Inc. has granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 300,000 shares of its common stock to cover over-allotments at the initial public offering price less underwriting discount. All of the shares of common stock are being offered by Annovis Bio, Inc. The shares are expected to begin trading on the NYSE American Exchange on January 29, 2020 under the symbol ANVS. The offering is expected to close on January 31, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions. ThinkEquity, a division of Fordham Financial Management, Inc., is acting as sole book-running manager for the offering. A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-232529) relating to the shares was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and became effective on January 28, 2020. This offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the final prospectus, when available, may be obtained from ThinkEquity, a division of Fordham Financial Management, Inc., 17 State Street, 22nd Floor, New York, New York 10004, by telephone at (877) 436-3673, by email at [email protected] . This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. About Annovis Bio, Inc. Headquartered in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, Annovis Bio, Inc. (Annovis) is a clinical-stage, drug platform company addressing neurodegeneration, such as Alzheimers disease (AD), Parkinsons disease (PD) and Alzheimers in Down Syndrome (AD-DS). We believe that we are the only company developing a drug for AD, PD and AD-DS that inhibits more than one neurotoxic protein and, thereby, improves the information highway of the nerve cell, known as axonal transport. When this information flow is impaired, the nerve cell gets sick and dies. We expect our treatment to improve memory loss and dementia associated with AD and AD-DS, as well as body and brain function in PD. We have an ongoing Phase 2a proof-of-concept study in AD patients and plan to commence a second Phase 2a study in PD patients. For more information on Annovis, please visit the companys website: www.annovisbio.com. Forward Looking-Statements Statements in this press release contain forward-looking statements that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as anticipate, expect, believe, will, may, should, estimate, project, outlook, forecast or other similar words, and include, without limitation, statements regarding Annovis Bio, Incs expectations regarding the commencement of trading of its shares on the NYSE American market, the completion and timing of the closing of the offering. Forward-looking statements are based on Annovis Bio, Incs current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties related the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to, and the completion of, the public offering. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled Risk Factors in the final prospectus related to the public offering to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and Annovis Bio, Inc. undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law. Contact: Joe Hassett Investor Relations [email protected] 610-228-2110 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Three suspected human traffickers and three victims in transit to Ghana have been apprehended by the operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) at Seme Border Control Post, an official has said. This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Service Public Relations Officer, Sunday James, on Tuesday. According to him, the Comptroller of NIS in charge of the Seme Control Post, Olushola Ajisafe, confirmed the status of the victims as being trafficked, after a thorough investigation. Mr James said the Comptroller, had, during his duty tour, arrested several human traffickers and their victims in the state. The victims were deceitfully persuaded to embark on the trip for a job, but on being interrogated, they were discovered to be victims of trafficking for the purpose of prostitution, the statement. The human trafficking illicit business has been on the increase under various guise, but they have always been discovered by the officials through timely intelligence and operational synergy between officers along the national borders and airports leading to the arrests, the statement said. The Comptroller General of NIS, Muhammad Babandede, also cautioned parents to keep an eye on their children, especially teenagers. READ ALSO: This group of people, according to him, are prone to falling victims of the deceitful acts and tricks of traffickers who may be close family members, friends and even contacts on the internet. Mr Babandede also advised parents to embark on proper guidance and counselling, to prevent their children from becoming victims of trafficking. Jon Rosenthal sits in his office at 9601 Jones Rd., Suite 215, Houston; the space is nearly as empty as the day he moved in last year due to his lack of free time to decorate. Rosenthal was elected in November 2018 as representative for Texas House District 135, covering part of the Cy-Fair area. He said his first year in office has been a whirlwind of learning the ins and outs of the Texas Legislature and working for his constituents rather than sitting in his office. Its so weird because you get elected, theres a flurry of activity that happens right then, and then instantly trying to build a staff and all that and then moving into the capitol, he said. Then everybody asks you, Its a part-time job, right? What do you do for a year and a half in between the two (legislative) sessions? Rosenthal participated in his first Texas Legislative Session in 2018, co-writing bills with other representatives, advocating for his own bills, meeting with constituents and splitting his time between the capitol in Austin and his district. Rosenthal was a part of the Blue Wave of 2018, where he and other Democratic midterm candidates flipped seats from Republican to Democrat. Rosenthal was named Freshman of the Year by the Legislative Study Group caucus, filed his first bill and co-authored House Bill 2195, which mandates Texas schools to have refined emergency plans. Related: Rep. Rosenthal details propositions on the ballot in November His time following the legislative session, though, has been just as productive as he meets with the community to address their needs and provide constituent services, Rosenthal said. For example, in December 2019 Rosenthal helped Cy-Fair ISD bus driver Deonka Martinez through a federal housing assistance program, helping her move from her subsidized housing before the end of 2019. Single black woman, 14- or 15-year-old son, lives in subsidized housing, so shes in Section 8 housing, and she is qualified for this federally backed assistance program thats being run by Harris County, Rosenthal said. She had just been through the ringer, the poor woman. It became urgent because she had put up the money for the inspection. Rosenthal said income issues prevented Martinez from moving on with the process. Throughout the year, her fluctuating income either over-qualified or disqualified her for financial assistance. After Rosenthal made a call to the lender, a Harris County commissioner and county officials, the realtor called Rosenthal to confirm Martinez had been approved for down payment assistance. As a new representative, Rosenthal said he was not aware of the help he could provide constituents directly with a phone call or a meeting. Rosenthal helped open access roads surrounding construction of the Hwy. 6 bridge over U.S. 290 in response to businesses worried about losing customers. He is in the process of helping to start a new womens shelter in the Cy-Fair area, he said, as well as a branch of Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom. Women of Jewish and Muslim faiths come together to form an organization for conversation and work together against discrimination, bigotry and hate, he said. The best way to do that is to shine a light on these communities that operate out of love. I think its very powerful and they stand together. As he works toward the next legislative session, Rosenthal said he is focused on being more present in the community by attending events, speaking with community leaders and meeting voters face-to-face when he begins his campaign for reelection later this year in November. With his presence in the area and preemptive plan for next legislative session, Rosenthal said his first priority is continuing his service to District 135. When youve got someone whos really interested in serving the community and looking for ways to do that, I think people really appreciate that, he said. Those businesses up and down 290 dont care what letter comes after my name. Im pretty sure most of them are Republicans, if not all of them, but theyre happy to have a (representative) that shows up. chevall.pryce@chron.com Press Release January 29, 2020 ENSURE PUBLIC PROTECTION; IMPOSE TEMPORARY, PARTIAL LOCK DOWN - GORDON Following reports that the Wuhan virus or the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) could be transmitted even while the carrier is still asymptomatic, Senator Richard J. Gordon, chairman and CEO of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), on Tuesday called for intensified screening of all travellers entering through the country's air and sea ports. Gordon said that while the country should remain open to tourists, the public needs to be protected hence he proposed having a separate lane for travellers coming from China and other countries where there are reported positive or presumed positive cases of the virus which has already claimed 106 lives in China and infected 4,578 people in China and 18 other countries as of Tuesday. "It is good that the country is still generally safe. However, for our country to remain so, we should be on our guard. All incoming travellers should be made to undergo tighter screening procedures. If, as reports said, the nCOV can be transmitted during its 14-day incubation period, we should conduct more than just thermal scanning on travellers. Travel history of passengers, especially for the past three weeks, should be disclosed," he said. The PRC chairman is proposing a temporary and partial lock down, out-rightly denying entry to travellers with history of travel especially to Hubei Province where Wuhan is the capital, and other hard-hit areas in the said country within at least two to three weeks prior to their arrival in the Philippines. "While the country should not be closed to foreign tourists, the Filipino people should be protected from the threat that incoming passengers with a travel history to Hubei, especially Wuhan, the ground zero, would bring," he said. The Philippine Immigration Bureau also ordered Tuesday the suspension of "visa upon arrival" or VUA issuance to Chinese nationals amid the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus worldwide. The Delhi Police on Wednesday brought anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) activist and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Sharjeel Imam to Delhi, a day after arresting him in Bihar in a sedition case. Imam will be produced in Delhi's Patiala House Court later in the day. On January 28 (Tuesday), the police had arrested Imam from Bihar's Jehanabad. The case was lodged across several states for his alleged inflammatory speeches made during a protest against the new law. Imam, who was one of the initial organisers of Shaheen Bagh protests, has been asked to appear before the Proctorial Committee by February 3. Live TV "I have surrendered to the Delhi Police on 28-1-2020 at 3 pm. I am ready and willing to operate with the investigation. I have full faith in due process of law. My safety and security are now in the hand of the Delhi Police. Let peace prevail," Imam had said after his arrest. Reacting to this, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had said, "Nobody should do anything that is not in the interest of the nation. The accusations and the arrest, the court will decide on the matter." Patna ADG Jitendra Kumar had said, "A team of the Delhi Police came to Bihar and have been getting full co-operation from the Bihar Police. Imam was arrested under the Kako Police Station in Jehanabad. Necessary legal actions are being taken. The Delhi Police is doing its research." A case was registered against Imam under IPC sections 124 A (an offence by words, either spoken or written cause disaffection against Government established by law), 153 A (promoting enmity between different religious groups with an intent to create disharmony) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) by the Delhi Police on January 26. Apart from Delhi, the police of five states including Bihar, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Manipur had booked Sharjeel under the relevant sections of the IPC. On January 27, a team of central probe agency conducted raids at the ancestral home of Imam in Jehanabad when they picked up his younger brother. His brother was detained and questioned at the Kako police station in Jehanabad, said reports. The video of Imam's speech was released by BJP on January 25 and in the video, he can be heard telling a small crowd that Muslims must get united and cut Assam from rest of India. In a series of videos that went viral on social media, Imam can be heard saying, "If we all come together, then we can separate the Northeast from India. If we cannot do it for permanently, then at least for 1-2 months we can do this. It will take the administration at least one month to disperse all of them." "It is our responsibility to cut Assam from India. When this will happen, only then the Centre will listen to us," he further said in the videos. Imam was once an active volunteer at the Shaheen Bagh protest site but he ended his association with Shaheen Bagh protest on January 2 after the protesters refused to accept his call to end the ongoing anti-CAA protest. Picture shows the headquarters of the German company, Webasto, where four employees have tested positive for the coronavirus, in Stockdorf near Munich, Germany, January 28, 2020. REUTERS/Michael Dalder Germany confirmed three more cases of coronavirus on Tuesday evening, bringing the total number of people infected in the country to four. On Monday, the health ministry in the state of Bavaria reported that a 33-year-old German man had contracted the virus and was receiving treatment in a Munich hospital. The German patient is Europes first confirmed case of human-to-human transmission of the coronavirus outside of Asia. The virus which originated in Wuhan, China, has killed more than 130 people in China so far, and infected around 6,000. It has spread to 13 other countries, including the US, Australia, Singapore, and Taiwan. READ MORE: Hong Kong stocks slump amid coronavirus travel lockdown The infected German man is an employee at Webasto, an automotive parts supplier headquartered near Munich with offices and plants in China. He had caught the virus from a Chinese co-worker, who was visiting the German office from Shanghai for a seminar. The Chinese employee started to feel ill on her flight home to China on 23 January, authorities said at a press conference on Tuesday, and was confirmed to be infected with the virus. On Tuesday evening, the German Health Ministry said that the three new cases were connected to the Webasto employee. The Webasto plant near Munich said it will close until further notice. "There were a total of around 40 employees who have been determined to have been in contact with the [Chinese] woman, the ministry said. Those affected will be tested on Wednesday as a precaution." German airline Lufthansa has so far not suspended direct flights to and from China, but said it was giving flight crews the option to wear protective masks if they prefer. A Lufthansa spokesman said on Tuesday that the air in the planes is filtered, which removes bacteria, so the risk of infection is low. READ MORE: British Airways suspends China flights amid coronavirus outbreak Federal health minister Jens Spahn said on Tuesday that Germany was well prepared to deal with the virus, and that theres no need for excessive worry. A person being treated for carbon monoxide poisoning in a hyperbaric chamber might need to have three visits before seeing results, according to health experts at the Mayo Clinic. In a hyperbaric chamber, a patient breathes in pure oxygen. The air pressure in the chamber is increased to three times higher than normal air pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic. This allows a patients lungs to take in more oxygen than would be possible breathing at a normal air pressure. The number of sessions needed ultimately depends on the medical condition of each specific patient, according to the Mayo Clinic. Most patients often benefit from more than one session. But while carbon monoxide poisoning might be improved after just a few visits, Mayo Clinic experts said, non-healing wounds might require 20 to 40 treatments. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy alone can often effectively treat decompression sickness, arterial gas embolism and severe carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the Mayo Clinic. Some medical facilities in Connecticut including Bridgeport Hospital, Greenwich Hospital, Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London and Middlesex Health have the ability to offer hyperbaric oxygen therapy for patients. But on Tuesday, when accused killer Fotis Dulos was found unresponsive at his Farmington home from an apparent suicide attempt by carbon monoxide poisoning, he was first taken to UConn Health before he was airlifted to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, N.Y. Initially sources said Dulos who faces murder charges in connection with his estranged wifes May 24 disappearance and homicide was headed to the chamber at Bridgeport Hospital. But John Cappiello, Bridgeport Hospitals media coordinator, was quick to clear that up. Cappiello said the hyperbaric chamber at the city hospital is used strictly for wound healing, so we dont expect him here. According to Bridgeport Hospitals website about the hyperbaric chamber, it can accommodate up to six people at once and tend to have advantages compared with single-person chambers. Bridgeport Hospitals chamber, the website indicated, is the only hospital-based multi-place hyperbaric chamber in Fairfield County. It was not immediately clear why Dulos wasnt flown to another Connecticut medical facility that offered hyperbaric oxygen therapy, rather than being flown to the New York City borough although the trip by LifeStar helicopter wasnt a long one. In an individual hyperbaric chamber, a patient will lie down on a table that slides into what looks like a clear plastic tube. A chamber that accommodates several patients usually looks like a large hospital room and allows patients to sit or lie down. A patient in a multi-person chamber might get oxygen through a mask or a lightweight, clear hood placed over their face. Meanwhile, in todays non-impeachment news has been a familiar phrase of late on cable news. Years from now we will recall the impeachment trial of President Trump as a big event in January 2020. But the main news from this month, or years down the road, may be the trade deals this president has been making. These will have a lasting impact. The president describes them as stunning, groundbreaking and tremendous trade-related victories. And hes on point with that. Congress passed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, by a 89-10 vote in the Senate and 385-41 in the House. The House vote came a day after the chamber voted to impeach Trump. A total of 193 Democrats supported the bill after leaders in the House won changes on some provisions as backed by U.S. labor. The agreement is a modernization of the landmark North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which went into effect in 1994. Trump had blasted NAFTA during the 2016 campaign. It addresses some of Trumps stated concerns with NAFTA for example, Canada has agreed to reduce its tariffs on American dairy imports but preserves the overarching framework of that deal. Vice President Mike Pence came to Uline Corp. last October in an effort to turn up the heat on Democrats to pass the trade pact. Theres a lot to gain in the USMCA, Pence said at the time. Last year, the state of Wisconsin alone exported more than $22 billion in goods to Mexico and Canada. Do the math, everybody. The USMCA is a win for Wisconsin and a win for America. In addition to the USMCA, Trump this month signed an initial trade deal with China, the worlds second-largest economy in terms of nominal gross domestic product. The agreement leaves Trumps tariffs on most Chinese imports in place. It also sets targets for China to buy specific amounts of American exports in the coming years. The two momentous trade deals we completed last week are just the beginning of a really incredible story. Because nobody thought wed ever get here, the president said during a visit to Texas. Theyd say the deal with China would be impossible to make, and getting rid of NAFTA would be totally impossible. There also been other trade agreements, in particular a $40 billion trade deal with Japan announced last September. During his recent rally in Milwaukee, Trump said the Japan deal has a lot to do with farmers. The deal will phase in a $7.5 billion reduction in Japanese tariffs on American farm products while the U.S. cuts tariffs on imported Japanese manufactured goods. While the long term effectiveness of the trade deals will be determined through time, and the markets are responding favorably, the changes will last well past impeachment and this presidents service even if hes re-elected. Consider that it took 26 years to replace NAFTA. Dont discount the trade-deal approvals of today. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has told US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo he is 'disappointed' with America's apparent lack of action over the Anne Sacoolas case. The two politicians held talks in London on Wednesday night during which they were expected to discuss the controversial Huawei deal and the US' refusal to extradite diplomat's wife Mrs Sacoolas following her alleged involvement in a fatal road crash. Hours earlier the mother of teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn, who was killed in the collision, revealed she had told the foreign secretary to accept 'nothing less' than the return of her son's alleged killer at tonight's meeting with the US secretary of state. Mr Dunn's mother Charlotte Charles said she 'looked Mr Raab in the eye and urged him to do everything he can' to bring Mrs Sacoolas back to the UK in a meeting with the Foreign Secretary on Monday. However, it later emerged Mr Raab had merely reiterated his 'disappointment' at the USA's decision to reject the extradition request Following the meeting between the two politicians, an FCO spokesman said: 'The Foreign Secretary reiterated his disappointment at the US decision to reject the extradition request for Anne Sacoolas and emphasised the importance of delivering justice for Harry Dunn and his family.' Family spokesman Radd Seiger said he expected the government to make it clear there would be 'severe consequences' at the talks this evening if the suspect's return continued to be refused. Mr Dunn, 19, was killed when his motorbike crashed into a car outside a US military base in Northamptonshire on August 27 last year. Harry Dunn's mother Charlotte Charles, pictured with his father Tim Dunn, said she 'looked Mr Raab in the eye and urged him to do everything he can' to bring Anne Saccolas back to the UK Anne Sacoolas, 42, the wife of a US intelligence official based at RAF Croughton, claimed diplomatic immunity after the crash and was able to return to her home country, sparking an international controversy Mrs Sacoolas, 42, the wife of a US intelligence official based at RAF Croughton, claimed diplomatic immunity after the crash and was able to return to her home country, sparking an international controversy. Speaking of what she hoped would come from the Foreign Secretary's meeting with Mr Pompeo, Mrs Charles said: 'On Monday when we met with Mr Raab, I looked him in the eye and urged him to do everything he can to bring Anne Sacoolas back so that I can keep the promise that I made to Harry on the night that he died that we would get him justice. 'As any mum or dad would understand, we won't be able to get closure until that happens. 'Mr Raab assured me that he will not accept anything less than Anne Sacoolas coming back.' A spokesman for the US State Department said the request the return Mrs Sacoolas to the UK was rejected because it would render the invocation of diplomatic immunity a practical nullity and set an extraordinarily troubling precedent. The Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and the Home Secretary have all labelled the extradition refusal a 'denial of justice'. Harry Dunn, 19, was killed when his motorbike crashed into a car outside a US military base in Northamptonshire on August 27 last year Dominic Raab is expected to meet with Mike Pompeo (pictured) this evening following a rejected extradition request for Anne Sacoolas last week Asked what he expects from the Mr Raab and Boris Johnson in their meetings with Mr Pompeo, Mr Seiger said: 'Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab have a huge opportunity when they meet with Mike Pompeo to make a stand for right versus wrong. 'Pompeo has ridden roughshod over the relationship by rejecting the extradition request for Anne Sacoolas and now somewhat disingenuously claims he is coming to reaffirm the special relationship. 'We fully expect our leaders to make it clear that Anne Sacoolas must be returned to face justice and that that is the only way forward or there will be severe consequences. 'We are told the UK Government is reviewing all of its options. 'Show the nation now that you have the wherewithal to stand up to this disgraceful decision and make the country proud of you by not being cowed or bullied into accepting that it is OK for Americans to come to the UK, kill our children and just get on the next plane back home.' The most populous of the cities in central China with 11 million people, Wuhan is widely seen as the economic and financial hub of the middle reaches of the mainland. The city has consistently made the "new first tier" list of China's metropolises outside of the traditional four (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen) since Chinese media began to use the term in 2013. Long an industrial base and manufacturing city, Wuhan has in recent years been remaking itself to attract high-tech firms. Foxconn, a key Apple supplier, has a plant there. Wuhan's GDP of 1.48 trillion yuan (S$288 billion) in 2018 put it in the top 10 of Chinese cities by GDP, with a robust 8 percent annual growth rate. The authorities' move to lock down Wuhan to try and contain the new virus is partly due to the city's strategic location. Wuhan's position on the confluence of the Yangtze River and the Han River means it has long been a key transport node linking the rest of China through railways and expressways, and the city is sometimes referred to as the "Chicago of China". For instance, with the rise of high-speed rail (HSR) in China over the last decade, Wuhan is now a key intersection for two major HSR lines: the north-south Wuhan-Guangzhou line, and the east-west Shanghai-Wuhan-Chengdu line. Known as one of the "four furnaces" of China, temperatures in Wuhan can soar to more than 40 deg C in summer. The oppressive humidity from being by the Yangtze River also leads to many of its residents leaving in droves in the hotter months from June to August to bishu (avoid the heat). Come spring and autumn, tourists are drawn to Wuhan to visit landmarks such as the pagoda-like Yellow Crane Tower, immortalised in Tang dynasty poet Cui Hao's poem about a sage departing on the back of a yellow crane, one of the famous Three Hundred Tang Poems. Wuhan also boasts the 350-year-old Guiyuan Temple that harkens back to the Qing dynasty, and the Hubei Provincial Museum, among the finest of China's public museums. Like its weather, Wuhan is known for its spicy foods, such as shaokao, or barbecued skewered meat, and ganremian - hot-and-dry noodles coated in chilli oil and soya sauce. It is also one of the homes of the mala xiang guo, a soup-less, spicy version of the hotpot with gratuitous use of chillies and peppercorns. The city is also known for its open-air food streets, featuring stalls selling a variety of seafood, cooked meats and other street eats, served alongside easy-drinking Chinese beer. Wuhan residents' love of exotic meats is one possible reason for the new virus outbreak: The wholesale market where the virus was first discovered was found to have sold a variety of live animals meant for the dinner table, such as crocodile, hedgehog and deer. A little-known point is that Wuhan is the world's largest college town, boasting 53 universities, including the prestigious Wuhan University that alone accounts for some 60,000 students. The hundreds of thousands of university students the city plays host to means that the start of each new semester in February and September sees a wave of mass migration, with traffic volume in neighbourhoods around schools swelling by more than 15 per cent. Wuhan University is also a popular tourist destination. Situated on the picturesque Luojia hill, it commands a panoramic view of the city's East Lake scenic area. Many also flock to the campus in March and April to enjoy the cherry blossoms. Fans of Chinese history are also drawn to Wuhan for its pivotal role throughout China's epochs. Wuhan can trace its history back to the Bronze Age and the Erligang, a civilisation that existed between 1510BC and 1460BC. Part of the city was an important port during the Han dynasty, while during the Qing dynasty, it rose to become one of China's top four merchant towns. Echoes of that period remain in Wuhan. France, which obtained a concession in the city under the Qing, has more than 100 firms invested in Wuhan today. For instance, Renault has several plants in the area, while Peugeot-Citroen has a joint-venture project there. Wuhan is also the birthplace of the Nationalist Era as the home of the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, and the Wuchang Uprising that led to the downfall of the Qing dynasty and the end of Imperial China. The city is also the site of the 715 Incident, a purge of communists that led to the collapse of the alliance between the Kuomintang and the Chinese Communist Party. New Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, who is set to assume office on Wednesday said that he is looking forward to work under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. "I am as committed to the ministry's role in nation-building as I was 36 years ago when I entered these portals as a young professional. I look forward to work under the guidance of the Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister," said Shringla. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Shringla was appointed for the post last month after replacing Vijay Gokhale who has completed two years in office on Tuesday. Ahead of her visit to New Delhi earlier this month, US envoy Alice Wells, the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, described Shringla as the "captain of India-US relationship." Wells also said that Shringla would play an important part in the India-US relations to achieve its potential. . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Bloomberg) -- President Rodrigo Duterte is cracking down on some of the Philippines biggest businesses, pushing a populist agenda thats endearing him to his supporters while putting off investors. The nations stock market has dropped as much as 11% from its 2019 peak and valuation has fallen to its lowest since 2011 relative to peers as Duterte stepped up his attacks last month. The 74-year-old leader whose drug war has killed thousands saw his popularity hit a new high last quarter. The benchmark index fell 1.6% on Tuesday, its second straight day of decline. Duterte is scheduled to have a televised interview with his spokesman later Tuesday. Scrutinizing contracts and forcing concessions for taxpayers, as Duterte is doing with water companies, bolsters his appeal to his support base, said Calixto Chikiamco, a director of the Institute for Development and Econometric Analysis in Manila. He could ratchet up those attacks even more to warn businesses not to back politicians going against his bet in the 2022 presidential vote. Here are some of Dutertes tirades against big business: Ayala Corp. An arbitration victory requiring the government to reimburse Manila Water Co. 7.39 billion pesos ($145 million) for delayed tariff increases was the start of Ayala Corp.s recent nightmares. Duterte last month ordered the renegotiation of the contracts of Ayalas Manila Water Co. and Maynilad Water Services Inc. which were extended by a previous administration until 2037. Since Dutertes attacks, Manila Waters market value has shrunk to nearly half its size as of Tuesday, even as it dropped the arbitration award and promised not to increase the rate this year. Those concessions didnt appease Duterte, nor his spokesman Salvador Panelo, who on Jan. 19 said he will look into a land lease contract of Ayala Land Inc. with state-run University of the Philippines. The property company lost 61.1 billion pesos in market capitalization in three days after Panelos comments, even as it said it would welcome a transparent review and assessment of the deal. Story continues Ayala and Pangilinan Duterte recently attacked Ayala and businessman Manuel Pangilinan, chairman of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. which is the biggest shareholder of Maynilad, which provides water services to half the capital Manila, and PLDT Inc. Shares of Metro Pacific and Ayala Corp. sank further after Duterte said on Jan. 17 their ventures elevated mass transit contract would be reviewed next. The Philippines has been gravely fooled by the rich people in the Philippines. Just like Ayala and Pangilinan who own Globe and Smart, Duterte said on Jan. 23. referring to Globe Telecom Inc. and PLDTs Smart Communications Inc. They are all thieves, those sons of b******, according to the official transcript of his speech. Panelo said people shouldnt take Duterte literally and that contracts would be respected except for those disadvantageous to the public. Since Dutertes censure of the water contracts in early December, Metro Pacific has lost 36 billion pesos in market capitalization and Ayala Corp. has given up 65.7 billion pesos as of Tuesday. Both companies have said they are willing to work with the government to find a compromise. Even before assuming the presidency, Duterte in June 2016 already asked telecommunications provider PLDT and Globe to improve their service or face foreign rivals. In 2018, a venture of China Telecommunications Corp. and Duterte-allied businessman Dennis Uy won the bid for the Philippines third mobile-phone license. PLDT Duterte renewed his attacks on PLDT in February 2018, when he threatened to audit the company if it didnt surrender frequencies without any cost to the government. The company, which was supposed to get 3 billion pesos for the frequencies, eventually waived its rights to the band that ended up with the third player. In February 2019, Duterte threatened to shut PLDT if it didnt address frequently busy lines on the governments complaint hotline -- causing its stocks to sink to a 15-year low. Shortly after Dutertes tirade, PLDTs Pangilinan apologized and said the company will add more lines to the complaint call center. DMCI Holdings Duterte warned DMCI Holdings Inc. Chairman Isidro Consunji on Jan. 10 to prioritize safety standards or face a ban after a residential condominium that his family built in Davao City suffered major cracks following a series of strong earthquakes in October 2019. A settlement has been reached with over 20% of Ecoland 4000 residents and talks are ongoing with the others, the company said. DMCI also owns a stake in water provider Maynilad. ABS-CBN Duterte has been criticizing ABS-CBN Corp. since 2017, alleging that it didnt air his campaign advertisement and accusing it of unfair reporting. The president has also repeatedly threatened to block the renewal of the companys franchise expiring in March -- causing its shares to drop. ABS-CBN, in a 2016 statement before Duterte took office, said it believes the government will uphold freedom of speech in its franchise renewal. Duterte in late December said the renewal was uncertain and urged its owners to sell before the permit expires. The president has also targeted privately-owned Philippine Daily Inquirer and Rappler Holdings Corp. Philippine Airlines Duterte hit the airline owned by billionaire Lucio Tans PAL Holdings Inc. in September 2017 with over 6.9 billion pesos in unpaid fees to government. Tan agreed to pay 6 billion pesos worth of dues. PhilWeb Months after getting elected in mid-2016, Duterte singled out then PhilWeb Corp. Chairman Roberto Ongpin in his campaign to end the influence of big businesses on the government. I was hit by a lightning, Ongpin, a trade minister under former president Ferdinand Marcos and one of the countrys most prominent tycoons, said at the time. Ongpin was later forced to step down and sell his gaming assets after Duterte targeted him in his bid to shutdown online gambling in the country. PhilWeb is less than a third of its size by market capitalization as of Jan. 27 compared to before it was attacked by Duterte. (Adds share price movement in third paragraph, more details throughout.) --With assistance from Jeffrey Hernandez and Cecilia Yap. To contact the reporters on this story: Andreo Calonzo in Manila at acalonzo1@bloomberg.net;Claire Jiao in Manila at cjiao5@bloomberg.net;Ditas Lopez in Manila at dlopez55@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Cecilia Yap at cyap19@bloomberg.net, Clarissa Batino, Ruth Pollard 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. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- East Grand Rapids native Mikey Winslow remembers the first time he knew he wanted to be a performer. He saw the musical Cats at the DeVos Performance Hall as a kid and thats where he got the bug. This was certainly a place where I cultivated a love for the stage and what I wanted to do with my life, Winslow said. Now hes going from the audience to the stage in the DeVos theater. Winslow is in the cast for Hamilton, currently playing in Grand Rapids as part of its Broadway series. Winslow is a swing." That means he knows the choreography and role of six different men in the ensemble. If one of them gets sick, hurt, takes a vacation, Winslow steps into their costume. This isnt Winslows first time performing in the Tony Award-winning musical. He was in the Chicago production as Samuel Seabury. But performing in Grand Rapids is special for Winslow. Its pretty surreal, Winslow said. To also look out at the house from the stage, because its such a big, beautiful, sloping house, and be like, Oh we sat there. Oh thats where our season tickets were. Its just, its incredible. That desire to be on the stage was cultivated during high school, Winslow said. He took theater classes, was in the choir and marching band at East Grand Rapids High School. He tried to do anything artistic and creative in his spare time, including performing with the Creative Arts Repertoire Ensemble ballet. If you are reading this in your Facebook app, use this link to view the entire gallery of photos. His energy got him voted Dangerous Dancer by his classmates, but Winslow said it wasnt until he started working with East Grand Rapids High School Director of Theater Pamela Steers that he started to see performance as a potential career. I was just this hyperactive dancer who loved performing and was charismatic, I guess. But I didnt have a lot of cultivation, and I certainly wasnt so much of an actor at that point," he said. Steers taught Winslow about monologues and how to audition for different schools. I dont think that if I wouldnt have had that, I would have had the same avenues," Winslow said. After graduating from high school in 2004, Winslow went to Hope College for a year before transferring to Western Michigan University for its musical theater program. He graduated in 2009 and went on to perform in multiple Broadway musicals, starting with West Side Story and eventually American Idiot and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, among others. But Hamilton carries a unique meaning for Winslow. Its his second Broadway debut, he said. Two years ago, Winslow had a total hip replacement. He knew he wanted to go back to dancing, but Winslow said he wasnt sure if he was going to be able to hang with the dancers again. Because theres the cream of the crop, he said. And then I got back. Winslow said 11 months after his surgery he was on the stage again, this time for Hamilton in Chicago. I was so much more aware of it, you know? he said. The first time I was like, Holy cow, this is all happening and wow, and Im young and this is fun. Winslow pauses when he remembers his second debut, his body becoming still for a moment. This most recent thing was, it was just so humbling, he continued. I was so aware of all the work that went into it and all the people that were helping me and all the people that were watching. That debut and that bow and every bow ever since its just been like really, really powerful. Hamilton opened as part of the Broadway Grand Rapids series on Jan. 21 and runs through Feb. 9. There are still tickets available, and there is a lottery for $10 tickets. As the show continues, Winslow still remembers being a kid going to see Cats and other shows at the theater with his family. Now on the stage instead of in the audience, he hopes kids going to see Hamilton will follow their passions like he did. Dont settle, dont stop, dont allow mediocrity into anything that youre passionate about, Winslow said. Be spectacularly you. Because what this is, is the business of dreams, and its totally achievable, but its your own journey. And if you want it, you can do it. Read More: Hamilton cast show up at Grand Rapids restaurant and kid seizes the moment West Michigan county supports refugee resettlement after much public comment Ann Arbors Evan Bates, partner Madison Chock make history at U.S. Figure Skating Championships In 2018, the government had tried to sell a 76 percent stake in Air India and offload about $5.1 billion of its debt, terms that potential buyers at the time viewed as too onerous. After the government said on Monday that it plans to sell its entire stake in Air India, Dubai-based airline Emirates on Tuesday said it was not interested in buying stake in the national carrier. According to news reports, the Dubai-based airlinethe largest foreign operator in India has said it was not keen on buying stake in Air India. Through our partnerships with SpiceJet and Vistara, our customers have access to an extensive network of cities across India. We do not intend to acquire equity in Air India as we are currently focused on our own organic growth, the airline said in response to an email query to The Hindu. Emirates said its journey in India has been defined by progressive investment, partnership and growth, the report said. Air India is currently bleeding heavily with average daily loss pegged at Rs 20-25 crore. The Narendra Modi government is not keen to give any further financial support to the airline and has announced to shut it down if the second disinvestment bid fails. As per official data, Air India had an operating revenue of Rs 25,509 crore in FY19. As its operating expense during the fiscal was Rs 30,194 crore, the airline had an operating loss of Rs 4,685 crore. On a net basis, its loss was a record high at Rs 8,556 crore (provisional) in the previous financial year. Air India has a fleet of 125 aircraft and its domestic market share is 11.9 percent as on December 2019. Learning from its previous experience, the government has decided to sell its entire 100 percent stake in the airline. It is also learnt to have sweetened the deal by removing a large part of its Rs 60,000 crore debt and clearing other liabilities. A document inviting expressions of interest in Air India, released on Monday, said the government would sell a 100 percent stake in the carrier, which operates both domestic and international routes. The document set 17 March as the deadline for submissions of initial expressions of interest and said any bidder would have to agree to assume roughly $3.26 billion in debt, along with other liabilities, according to a Reuters report. An industry insider said that IndiGo is one of the strong contenders for Air India but given the fighting between its co-founders it will be difficult to get shareholders' approval for placing the bid. "Initial bids can be placed but before signing binding agreement shareholders' approval would be required," said the insider to IANS. In 2018, the government had tried to sell a 76 percent stake in Air India and offload about $5.1 billion of its debt, terms that potential buyers at the time viewed as too onerous. Air India, known for its Maharaja mascot, has some of India's most lucrative international and domestic landing and parking slots that are key for airlines. While the overall economic environment remains subdued, industry analysts said that there would be significant investor interest for Air India given its wide domestic and international network, traffic rights, slots at key foreign airports such as London and Dubai, technical manpower and large fleet. "Besides, the government is ready to go the extra mile to sell off the airline. The government has hinted that it will agree to the demands of potential buyers as it is determined to completely exit the airline business," said Rajan Mehra, CEO of Club One Air and former India head of Qatar Airways. --With inputs from agencies ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan closed a key border crossing with Afghanistan for about 10 hours after mortar shells landed on Pakistani territory from across the border. Vehicles lined up on both sides of the border began moving across the Torkham crossing on the afternoon of January 29 after the gates were reopened, Pakistani and Afghan officials say. Earlier in the day, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Aisha Farooqui said the border gates had been closed for security reasons after two mortar shells fell near the crossing overnight. Officials say no casualties were reported but that a number of vehicles were damaged. Torkham is one of the major border crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Every day, thousands of people and scores of vehicles carrying goods use the gateway connecting Pakistan's Khyber tribal district with Afghanistans Nangarhar Province. Prime Minister Imran Khan had last year decided to keep the border crossing open for 24 hours a day to boost trade. The two neighbors have had uneasy relations, with Kabul accusing Islamabad of supporting Taliban militants. Pakistan denies that. Exchanges of fire across the border are common. The border closure comes in the wake of protests in both countries sparked by the detention of the leader of an ethnic Pashtun rights activist in Pakistan. This weeks detention of Manzoor Pashteen, the leader of a civil rights group that has criticized the Pakistani military's operations in the northwestern tribal regions, also led to a diplomatic spat between Islamabad and Kabul. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani expressed concerns over Pashteens detention and said governments in the region "must support and encourage peaceful civilian movements for justice." The Pakistani Foreign Ministry denounced Ghanis "clear interference in Pakistans internal affairs. Pashtuns live on both sides of the border. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Cree, Inc. (CREE) announced, for its third quarter, non-GAAP net loss is targeted to be in a range of $16 million to $10 million, or $0.15 to $0.09 per share. Cree targets revenue in a range of $221 million to $229 million. The company said these targets reflect the January 27, 2020 decision by the Chinese government to extend the Lunar New Year holiday due to the coronavirus outbreak. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect the company to report a loss per share of $0.07 on revenue of $237.9 million. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. For the second-quarter, on a non-GAAP basis, net loss from continuing operations attributable to controlling interest was $10.4 million, or $0.10 per share, compared to non-GAAP net income from continuing operations attributable to controlling interest of $21.9 million, or $0.21 per share, prior year. Second-quarter revenue was $239.9 million, a 14% decrease compared to revenue of $280.5 million, a year ago. 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. MARYSVILLE, Calif. Officers arrested a man in Marysville after a homeowner said someone broke into his garage, when officers arrived they found the man sitting in the homeowner's car. Marysville Police Officers arrested 40-year-old Shaun Weiss of Van Nuys, California for residential burglary and being under the influence of a controlled substance, police said. The investigation started at the 600 block of 11th street. Authorities said when they arrived on scene the homeowner told them he witnessed a man inside his garage, who he did not know. When officers opened the garage, they found Shaun Weiss inside the homeowners vehicle. Officers said the vehicle had a shattered window that Weiss used to get into the vehicle. Officers said Weiss showed symptoms of being under the influence of meth and said he did not live at that home. Weiss also admitted to officers that the car was not his. Weiss was booked into the Yuba County Jail for being under the influence of methamphetamine, and residential burglary. He is being held on $52,500 bail. Officers contacted Weiss at the Yuba County jail and confirmed he starred in several movies and television series. Australia is preparing for another round of bushfires Tuesday following months of battling raging wildfires that have devastated large swaths of the country. Officials were warning communities along the east to prepare for strong fires as the weather forecast predicted high temperatures and strong winds, Reuters reported. The news service noted that a few days of cooler weather gave firefighters a chance to try to get the fires still burning theres more than 100 of them under control. But temperatures were set to rise above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the capital of Canberra starting Thursday and continue through the weekend, according to The Weather Channel. Reuters reported that one fire in a park south of Canberra was upgraded to an emergency warning level with fears that winds could create fires in the suburbs. Helicopters and large air tankers are water-bombing, establishing containment lines and undertaking aerial surveillance, Canberras emergency services said in a notice. %image1 In one incident the country's rescue operation may have helped start another fire on Tuesday. A blaze in Namadgi National Park was likely ignited by the heat from an army helicopter that was there to help fight bushfires, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. It may have started a grassfire underneath it and officials have told the paper they are concerned it could cross the border into the state of New South Wales. "It is deeply regrettable that our support operations have likely started this fire," the Department of Defence said in a statement on Tuesday, according to the paper. "Defence has taken immediate action to reduce the risk of fires being started by helicopters, including not using certain aircraft lighting in extreme weather conditions." On Monday, the NSW Rural Fire Service tweeted a warning to residents that worsening conditions are forecast for later in the week so prepare now, telling them to do things like repair broken roof tiles (which they called an open invitation for embers) as well as clear up dried leaves from gutters. The new warnings come as residents in the suburbs of Canberra were temporarily evacuated last week due to a bushfire that broke out near the airport. Chinese New Year began Jan. 25, and celebrations will continue until the Lantern Festival on Feb. 8. In the Western new year, we make resolutions; those who observe the lunar calendar look to Chinese astrology to see what the year ahead portends. Why not have some fun and take some inspiration from a tradition that more than a billion people observe? The lunar calendar is based on a 12-year cycle. Each year corresponds to one of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac, which says the characteristics of the animal will be the defining characteristics of those born in that year and of the year itself. This is the Year of the Rat. Rats! Yuck, right? Dont be too quick to judge. Rat years are generally seen as positive years. People born in the Year of the Rat are those born in 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 and 2020. Rat-masked revelers watch a parade during celebrations for the Chinese New Year in Madrid on Jan. 26. According to Chinese astrology, this is the Year of the Rat. The rat is the first sign of the Chinese zodiac and, as such, represents new beginnings. That means this year should be a good year for fresh starts. Its a good year for startups, launching projects or products, changing directions or moving on to a new chapter in your business or your life. Lessons from Dr. King: The three kinds of people every small business must have Small-business owners: How to prepare for election year Who's an employee, who's a contractor? California law could change entrepreneurs' status How did the rat get to be the first sign of the Chinese Zodiac? Rats are seen as intelligent, clever, even sly. According to legend, the Jade Emperor held a race among animals to see the order in which they would appear in the calendar. The ox was ahead, but the rat cleverly convinced it to give him a ride on its back, then he jumped off and sprinted ahead to win the race. So 2020 is a good year to use your intelligence and wit to sprint ahead of your competition. This doesnt mean cheating, just being clever. Rats are also seen as a sign of wealth. Rats have a large number of offspring, so they're associated with plenty. As a small-business owner, thats got to be a good omen. Hopefully, your efforts will be very fruitful this year. Story continues Rats are aligned with the idea of hoarding. Thus, its a good year for saving and being careful with your resources. Rat years are generally seen to be good for creatives, so it could be a good year for businesspeople involved in creative pursuits, such as graphic artists, writers, editors, musicians. It might be a good year to take a more creative approach to some aspects of any business. Hey, how about a more creative Instagram feed? Those born in the Year of the Rat are supposed to be good at paying attention to detail. Engineers, accountants, designers and the like, take note. This years for you. Other characteristics associated with the rat include: Adaptability and resourcefulness: Arent all small-business people resourceful? Optimism: This is a characteristic of just about every entrepreneur Ive ever met at least when they start their businesses. Keep up your belief in yourself and your vision this year. Being energetic: Expect to work especially hard this year. High spirits: Make sure you create a positive, happy atmosphere in your business and with your team. Perhaps some team building activities this year? Occasional impoliteness: If thats you, try to watch what and how you say it this year. Heres a fun thing to keep in mind this year: Rats can eat anything. Its a good year for trying new foods. Gung Hay Fat Choy that's the traditional greeting for the Chinese New Year. I hope the Year of the Rat is fruitful, creative and energetic for you and your small business. Rhonda Abrams is the author of Successful Business Plan: Secrets & Strategies, the bestselling guide released in its seventh edition last year. Connect with Rhonda on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram: @RhondaAbrams. Register for Rhondas free business tips newsletter at www.PlanningShop.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Year of the Rat could be good luck for your small business In response to a Malian courts decision to grant bail to a former junta leader who is awaiting his trial over the abduction and murder of 21 Malian paratroopers in 2012, to resume, Amnesty Internationals West Africa researcher Ousmane Diallo said: This provisional release of General Amadou Haya Sanogo is casting doubt upon authorities commitment to deliver justice and truth to the families of the 21 murdered soldiers. It has been almost eight years since the bodies of the soldiers were discovered in a mass grave, and justice remains elusive. The trial of Sanogo and his co-accused was due to resume earlier this month but was postponed again at the last minute. Now the victims families have received a further blow with the news that Sanogo will walk free while his trial date pends. Although this decision is in line with defence rights, this development should not shadow the authorities obligation to try the suspects without further delay for their alleged crimes. Impunity and the denial of justice for victims will only serve as seeds for national discord through the perpetuation of human rights violations. We urge the authorities in Mali to ensure all serious human rights violations are investigated and prosecuted, and to respect victims right to truth and justice and the accuseds right to a fair trial. Background Today, a court in the capital Bamako ordered the provisional release of General Amadou Haya Sanogo and his co-accused pending their trial which has been postponed to another session of the Criminal court to keep concord within the army. They are charged of kidnapping, murder, and complicity in the murder of 21 Malian paratroopers whose bodies were discovered in a mass grave in 2013. The Sanogo-led junta came to power following a coup against President Amadou Toumani Toure on 22 March 2012. The 21 soldiers deaths occurred during the failed countercoup by the Paratroopers, reputedly close to President Amadou Toumani Toure, on 30 May-1st June 2012. Among the prospective witnesses, is General Ibrahim Dahirou Dembele who was appointed Minister of Defense and Army Veterans in May 2019, and Chief of Army Staff at the time of the commission of the crimes. A new reconciliation law was promulgated last year, which grants amnesty to a certain number of crimes although it explicitly excludes crimes under international law. Amnesty International is concerned that in practice, this law could be used to block prosecutions for serious human rights violations, for political reasons. For instance, it poses serious concerns on how other investigations related to the unlawful killings in villages like Nantaka and Kobaka in 2018, and Ogossagou and Sobane-Da in 2019 will proceed. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday underlined the need for high-end equipment for security forces to detect drones used by Pakistan to smuggle weapons into the border state. The issue was discussed during a meeting convened by the CM with Congress MPs from both the Houses and to discuss budget proposals for the next fiscal and issues pending with the Centre, a government statement said. On the Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal issue, Singh asked the MPs to push for amendment in the Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill 2019, pending in Rajya Sabha, to protect Punjab's water resources, it said. The bill seeks to expedite and streamline resolution of inter-state water disputes through a single central tribunal instead of the existing numerous ones. The linking of the Sutlej and Yamuna rivers through a canal has been a contentious issue between Punjab and Haryana. Punjab wants a reassessment of the volume of water in Ravi and Beas rivers while Haryana seeks completion of the SYL canal to get its share of 3.5 million acre feet of the river waters. Last week, an all-party meeting in Punjab called for a new tribunal to assess river water availability. Saying that Punjab does not have surplus water, the parties urged the Centre to ensure that the river water from the state is not transferred to non-basin areas. During the meeting, the CM also expressed concern over the increase in activities by the Pakistani spy agency ISI near the borders and reiterated the need for developing infrastructure that can detect various kinds of drones. Singh said he had written to the Ministry of Home Affairs back in August 2019, when the first instance of use of suspicious drones came to light. A GPS-fitted drone was detected to have dropped weapons and money in August last year. Earlier this month, Punjab Police found two drones used for smuggling drugs from Pakistan. During the meeting, it was also decided that Punjab Congress MPs would urge the Centre to immediately lift food grains from the state in the wake of shortage of storage facilities and tardy procurement of wheat and rice by central agencies. The statement said 140 lakh metric tonnes of wheat and 95 LMT of rice belonging to the central pool are currently stored in the state. As much as 70 LMT of wheat is lying in the open (covered area plinth), including 16 LMT wheat purchased under relaxed specifications (URS) during 2019-20 and 10 LMT wheat procured in 2018-19. The MPs urged the Punjab CM to approach the prime minister over the Commission for Agriculture Costs and Prices' reported recommendation to review MSP policy, dubbing it a "serious threat" to the state's farmers. Any change in minimum support price procurement policy will adversely impact Punjab's economy, they felt, expressing the fear that the Centre would limit procurement as the first step towards putting an end to MSP purchase. Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar said all MPs should take up in Parliament the issue of the delayed SGPC elections "to break the stranglehold of the Akalis". The tenure of the current SGPC ended in 2016. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Impunity for the massacre of the Armenian population in the territory of Soviet Azerbaijan is bearing fruit in our days. This is what representative of the Embassy of Armenia in the Netherlands Kristine Stepanyan declared during the annual conference organized by The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) Foundation. In her speech following a discussion on the Situation in Soviet Azerbaijan (12/13 January, 1990) Report held during the submodeling for historical issues, the Armenian diplomat touched upon the 1990 massacres in Baku and stated that the Azerbaijani authorities continue to gear enormous efforts and funds to the denial of historical facts to this day. According to the Armenian diplomat, the consequences of remaining unpunished for the persecutions against the Armenian population in Azerbaijan are significant in our days since the Azerbaijani authorities not only refuse to assume responsibility for those crimes against humanity, but are also trying to blame the victims for the violence used against them and the massacre. Kristine Stepanyan answered several questions from the participants of the submodeling after her speech devoted to the issue and presenting photographic evidence and documentary films. tech2 News Staff The Indian Space Research Organisation is planning to replace at least ten communication satellites nearing the end of their mission life over the next few years with new, high-performance satellites. The revamp will include multiple satellites to beam mobile network coverage, high-speed internet and television broadcasting in remote areas across the country, Dr K Sivan, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) told the Economic Times. The first of these satellite replacements was the GSAT-30, launched on 17 January. It replaced the INSAT 4A, which has pulled through 15 years in its high, geostationary orbit. GSAT-30 has joined ISRO's fleet of 16 functional satellites in orbit, specifically the geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) which is at an altitude of 36,000 kilometres. These satellites are often much heavier than satellites in low-Earth Orbiter (LEO), and are designed to last 12-15 years at their best. Experts are of the opinion that these old satellites need replacement in line with technological changes over the years. "Technologies progress a lot in 15 years and there are satellites which are 15 years old and they need replacement," said Ajey Lele, senior fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. "The second aspect is, both [defense] and commercial needs are increasing equally." While demand is on the rise, one of ISRO's biggest bottlenecks in satellite technology is transponders a communication, monitoring, or control device that picks up and automatically responds to an incoming signal. The demand for these transponders in India is currently peaking. However, ISRO is still struggling to meet its target of 500 transponders, Lele told ET. "At one point in time, ISRO had an ambitious plan (of having 500 transponders), but they are still trying to achieve that," Lele said. Many agencies are hiring foreign satellite transponders, which is something ISRO has refrained from doing thus far. With a long line of high-throughput satellites to launch over the next few years, ISRO could finally get its transponder game on. In 2012, Sanjna Kapoor co-founded 'Junoon', an organisation that works towards increasing the reach of theatre and the arts to wider audiences through innovative initiatives. Thespian Sanjna Kapoor was awarded the French honour of Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres' (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) on 28 January for her outstanding contribution to theatre. Kapoor, who currently runs the Mumbai-based theatre company 'Junoon', was felicitated by Franck Riester, the French Minister of Culture, who was on a state visit to India. "It is a great pleasure to be able to show France's recognition of your outstanding artistic journey. A passionate woman of theatre, you completely throw yourself into making artistic productions accessible to the greatest number. Whether on stage, in front of the camera, or at the helm of the organisation you run, you show the same infectious enthusiasm for championing the place of art in our societies," the minister said. Born to Bollywood star Shashi Kapoor and British actor Jennifer Kendal, Kapoor (52) debuted as an actor in Aparna Sen's 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981). She was also the leading lady in Hero Hiralal (1989), and appeared in Mira Nair's Salaam Bombay (1988), but eventually went on to dedicate herself completely to theatre. She acted in numerous plays, and also took up the job of reviving Mumbai's Prithvi Theatre, which was founded by her parents. In 2012, she co-founded 'Junoon', an organisation that works towards increasing the reach of theatre and the arts to wider audiences through innovative initiatives. The Order of Arts and Letters, instituted in 1957 by the French government, is conferred, regardless of nationality, on people who have distinguished themselves by their creativity in the fields of art or literature, or for their contribution to promoting the arts and literature in France and throughout the world. Some previous recipients of the award from India include Shahrukh Khan, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Aishwarya Rai, Raghu Rai, Ebrahim Alkazi, Habib Tanveer, Upamanyu Chatterjee, Wendell Rodricks and Aruna Vasudev. Srinagar, Jan 29 : The Jammu and Kashmir government has identified 6,000 acres of land across the Union territory for potential investors who will take part in the J&K Global Investors Summit in April, officials said on Wednesday. Forty thousand of the total 50,000 kanals of land have been identified in the Jammu region as against 10,000 in the Kashmir Valley. The land identified mostly falls in the districts of Samba and Kathua in Jammu region, and Pulwama and Anantnag districts in the Kashmir Valley. "The summit will be open for all the global investors and to local industrialists as well as those from other parts of the country who want to set up and expand their businesses in Jammu and Kashmir," Ravinder Kumar, MD, SIDCO told IANS. On January 20, Jammu and Kashmir Lt. Governor Girish Chandra Murmu had said that the first ever Jammu and Kashmir Global Investors Summit will be held in J&K in April. Speaking a pre-investors global summit in Delhi, Murmu had said that sectoral seminars will be organised and the main events will be held in Srinagar. The government has started a campaign to bring Jammu and Kashmir on the industrial map of the country. "We will be organising road shows in other states and holding conclaves to attract investors to Jammu and Kashmir," Kumar said. He said it is going to be a three-day summit that would be held in Srinagar as well as Jammu. The government had planned to organise a global investors summit in October 2019 but it was postponed. The event will be the first major industrial activity in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019. The investors can now also purchase the land which is made possible by the revocation of Article 370, and take the land on lease as well. "We have identified the land in different areas across Jammu and Kashmir, and it is going to be state land. However, land can also be procured from the private parties as well," Ravinder Kumar said. The government expects certain key areas to be the focus of the global investors summit like the health and education sectors. (Zaffar Iqbal can be contacted at zaffar25@gmail.com) WARNING: This is a long one. Buckle in. Insurance Journal recently published an article detailing what action the Florida legislature is planning to take this year related to insurance. One item in particular caught my attention (so far); Senate Joint Resolution 1460: Commissioner of Insurance. You can read the resolution here, if you want. For now, I will set aside my desire to tell you how I feel about this issue. First, I feel like its time to discuss the insurance regulatory system in the US and discuss this matter of how insurance commissioners get their jobs. If youre into history, you may already know that Benjamin Franklin is credited with helping to found the insurance industry in the US. His Philadelphia Contributorship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire is recognized as the first real fire insurer in the US (American Colonies as they were known in 1752). In starting this company, he also created the pattern for what would be called mutual insurers, but thats another story. Since each individual colony was governed individually (under a Federal government in Great Britain), there was no Colonial Insurance Office, or Continental Insurance Regulator General. Each colony dealt with insurance on its own. Hopefully, you know the significance of July 4, 1776 and the struggle that rose over the next seven years. While the newly created states were working together and separately to create their own governments and governing documents, the insurance industry was already used to dealing with each state. Each state would regulate insurance in its own way through state legislatures until 1851, when New Hampshire became the first state to appoint an insurance commissioner. States followed that lead and now each state has an insurance commissioner. Since property insurance started out as fire insurance, some states still call their insurance commissioner the state fire marshal as well. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), only 12 states elect their insurance commissioners. The rest are appointed, often by the Governor. The fact that the majority of states appoint their insurance commissioners does not necessarily make that the best option. It is simply the most popular option right now. So whats the difference and what do the differences mean? Elected insurance commissioners In those states that elect their insurance commissioners, its just like any other elected office. That means that every few years, they must seek reelection, unless that state has a term limit in place. Lets be fair to the process. We love elections. We thrive on them. In a perfect electoral world, an elected state insurance commissioner makes total sense. The insurance commissioner would not be beholden to the governor as a political appointee, but to the people as their elected official. It would seem that an elected insurance commissioner should be someone who understands the insurance industry, is interested in ensuring that all insurance players (companies, agents, adjusters, and customers) play nicely, and who can help make and keep the states insurance market as healthy as possible. In the end, if a commissioner doesnt do their job well, the people will get a chance to remove them and replace them with another one. Power to the people! Call me cynical, but it doesnt seem to always work that way. Many politicians look at a job like an insurance commissioner as a steppingstone to another job. They may not even be required to know anything about insurance. They just want the job so that they can be seen forwarding an agenda so that they can become anointed by their political party to the next job that comes up, such as governor, state legislator, or some other job. The political process allows for people to be elected to offices not based on what they can do in that office but based on who they can get on their side. Its not always about who is the best candidate, but who can spend the money smarter and get more votes than the other person. Appointed insurance commissioners When the insurance commissioner is appointed, the governor is often the person doing the appointing. Once appointed, the insurance commissioner may need to go through some process to keep the job when a new governor is elected. This allows the governor to appoint who they want, but there are limitations. For example, in Florida, the appointed insurance commissioner can be relieved of duties by the governor, but only with the agreement of the chief financial officer. In these states, the insurance commissioner isnt beholden to the people of the state, but to the governor. You could consider these officials as above the political process, able to act independently. They dont have to take time out of doing their job to get reelected every few years. As long as they do their job well, they normally end up staying in the job. Of course, that means that if a governor is elected that has a different vision for the insurance department, the insurance commissioner may have a difficult time keeping their job. If you have a very consumer-oriented commissioner and the governor wants someone who is more pro-insurance company oriented, it may become difficult for the commissioner to accomplish their job. So, what do I think is better? Im pro-freedom so I like having the ability to vote for as many people in the government as possible. I like to think of myself as a fair minded person who can examine how candidates stand on the issues that are important to their job (no, I dont care what the insurance commissioners take is on job creation, thats not her job) and make a decision based on what I know of the candidates. That doesnt mean that I support electing an insurance commissioner. Actually, Im against it. The electoral process, while being the best system of placing people into the executive and legislative offices, is insufficient for placing people in specialized offices, such as the insurance commissioner. There is no guarantee that a governor will appoint a great insurance commissioner. In fact, that can be as much a gamble as the electoral process. Its not even that I have the utmost confidence that a governor will always act in the peoples best interest in appointing a candidate to the office of insurance commissioner. However, I am confident that a governor is likely to act in their own best interest so they are likely to bring forward a candidate for the job that can be approved through the states approval process and that is likely to do a passable job in the position. If for no other reason, it helps their next candidacy. What about power to the people? Prepare to be offended. I fear that there are too many people who dont know enough about insurance. They look at their insurance companies as an adversary who takes their money and doesnt give them anything in return. They listen when the billboard attorneys tell them that the insurance companies should be made to pay. Its not that they cant know. It really is about how much noise is out there, telling people that insurance companies are evil and must be made to pay. Couple that with the billboard attorneys deep pockets that could help get the candidate that they want into office and you have a situation where the possibility increases that an unbalanced commissioner gets elected. This may feel good to some, but it isnt. In the end a state insurance commissioner must be open to looking at the truth of the state insurance market and make tough choices. An insurance commissioner must be able to understand the insurance market in a state to best serve the people of the state. That means that she must be able to balance affordability with solvency. Insurance does no one any good when they cant afford it nor is it helpful when insurance companies cannot get the premiums that they need to stay in business. The insurance commissioner must balance the coverage needs of the people with the companys need to exclude certain losses. Yes. I would like every claim to be paid, but Ive been in insurance long enough to know that there are some losses that simply cannot be covered, at least not the way things are today. The insurance commissioner must balance trusting the players to play by the rules and checking on everyone to make sure that were playing by the rules. Contrary to what some would like us to believe, not every insurance company is looking to get out of paying legitimate claims. But there are insurance companies who need to be dealt with (harshly) for violating that one promise that they make to the consumer. We would also be led to believe by some that every insurance consumer is only looking to get the money that they are entitled to. No one would ever try and file a fraudulent claim, pad a claim, or otherwise try and act dishonestly toward their insurance company. But there are consumers who try and steal from their insurance company and they deserve to be dealt with (harshly). The way I see it, the best way to get someone who might be able to walk that line between the consumers and the companies is to have the insurance commissioner an appointed position. Topics Carriers USA Talent Market Christian Eriksen said he wanted to "try something new" in an emotional letter tweeted to Tottenham's fans on Wednesday following his move to Inter Milan. Eriksen ended his six-and-a-half-year spell with the north London club on Tuesday after completing a 17 million ($22 million) move to Italy. The Danish international was a key part of the side that reached last season's Champions League final and finished in the top four of the Premier League for the past four seasons under Mauricio Pochettino. However, his departure has been a drawn-out process as he stated his desire to leave at the end of last season and left with less than six months to go on his contract, allowing Inter to secure his services for a cut-price fee. "I have so many unbelievable memories over the last 6.5 years I was at Spurs," wrote the 27-year-old in a post on Twitter. "I enjoyed being at the training ground every day and playing games in the stadium so much, but sometimes you just want to try something new." "So, Spurs fans it has been a pleasure to play at your club and hopefully we meet again in the future." Eriksen made 305 appearances for Spurs after joining from Ajax in 2013, scoring 69 goals. The midfielder, who was used sparingly by both Pochettino and Jose Mourinho this season due to his contract standoff with Tottenham, was jeered at times by sections of the club's support. He appeared to bid farewell to the supporters after a recent home defeat to Liverpool, handing his shirt to a fan. "I didn't have time to say goodbye to everyone, even though I felt like I played a lot of games where everyone said and thought I would be gone the next day," Eriksen added. Spurs announced on Tuesday they had triggered the option to turn Giovani Lo Celso's loan into a permanent deal. The Argentine, seen as a natural replacement for Eriksen, signed from Real Betis for 27 million on a deal which runs through until 2025. Eriksen could make his debut for Inter against Fiorentina at the San Siro in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia on Wednesday. Christian Eriksen has swapped Tottenham for Inter Milan DORTON, Ky. - The driver of a vehicle fleeing from authorities and heading toward a separate fatal crash scene was shot to death by troopers Tuesday morning, Kentucky State Police said. State police were at the scene of a fatal crash in eastern Kentucky, near the Virginia border, when they were notified of a fleeing vehicle heading in their direction, authorities told news outlets. Troopers at the scene of the crash on state Route 805 left to pursue the vehicle in an attempt to protect the scene of the crash, state police said in a news release. Trooper William Petry said the 16-mile (26-kilometre) chase ended yards away from the fatal crash. He said the driver was heading straight toward multiple first responders. Troopers fired at the driver, who was later pronounced dead at the scene, the release said. A vehicle is basically a deadly weapon if its used that way and if it had got to the scene of the fatal crash, more than one person would have been in danger, said Petry. The drivers name wasnt immediately released. No one else was in the vehicle at the time, police said. The shooting happened between Jenkins and Dorton, about 115 miles (185 kilometres) southeast of Lexington. Authorities did not release details about the fatal crash that had preceded the shooting. Irish tenants make up just 8pc of those who rented a home in Dublin's Docklands in the last year, according to a property report published today. The findings estimate that 92pc of those who rented in the busy business hub in 2019 have travelled into Ireland largely to work in the capital's booming city-centre technology and banking sectors. This is according to the Docklands Residential Report 2020 - published today by the Owen Reilly Estate Agency - which specialises in selling and renting homes in the area. Its data shows that Irish workers are increasingly being priced out of the busy business hub by surging rents - which now stand at an average of 2,479 a month. This is 20pc higher than the Dublin average and expected to go up again by 4pc this year. A total of 52pc of tenants who rented there in the last 12 months are from other EU countries - with increasing numbers now also coming in from the US and India. Upmarket In addition, those executives who have come from abroad to work at those international technology and banking firms based locally are generally on far higher salaries. The report states that the average salary of a tenant in the Docklands is 127,618, up by 8pc on a year ago, while the average salary at the upmarket Grand Canal Dock is higher again at 147,000. Overall, 55pc of renters in the Docklands work in the technology sector with locally based firms including Google, Facebook and Twitter. The Docklands is also home to the IFSC, with dozens of international financial operations in situ. Most Docklands tenants work in the immediate area (within 20 minutes' walk) with just 28pc requiring parking spaces. Matching the area's sudden rise in affluence, big funds like Kennedy Wilson and Opus have recently tailored a series of ultra-luxury rentals at Capital Dock and at the Opus complex. Most of us, reflecting on our experience of previous decades, would surely accept that the UK has become a more liberal and tolerant society. Women were more likely to suffer from domestic violence at home, harassment on their commute, and discrimination at work. Gay people found in prudent to stay in the closet. Racism was far more prevalent. As a schoolboy, I remember the anger some of my black classmates expressed about the degrading treatment they experienced from the police. These were ordinary, non-political boys. I had no reason to disbelieve their accounts. There was a downward spiral in community relations. My school was in Pimlico, but some of the pupils commuted up from Brixton. During the Brixton Riots in 1981, they tended to be on the side of the rioters arguing that the police were to blame. I suppose we all have our own anecdotes reflecting changing social attitudes during our lifetimes. But the broad narrative sweep would be shared. The UK also compares pretty favourably in the level of harmony that we maintain compared to virtually any other country one can think of. The paradox is that we dont boast about this very much. It would be a bit chauvinistic to boast too loudly about how we are the least chauvinistic nation on the planet. Yet while these general conclusions would be difficult to dispute, there is a contention that recently we have regressed. The claim is that the vote in the EU referendum increased division and emboldened bigotry. The next day, for instance, Gavin Barwell tweeted that he was proud that Croydon and London had voted Remain and so rejected the politics of hate and division. (He went on to work for Theresa May. Given his lack of enthusiasm for Brexit perhaps it is unsurprising that it has taken so long to be delivered.) The message was put forward repeatedly that EU nationals settled in the UK would find their status at risk after Brexit. They were told that the referendum result meant they were no longer welcome. Yet invariably it was the Remainers who put this interpretation on the motives for those who voted for Brexit. When it comes to peoples feelings, and the national mood, there is limit to how much we can get from statistics. But there have been a couple of assertions put forward which can be tested. The first was that even, before Brexit takes place, our reputation as a hostile country would cause an exodus of those from other EU states. Secondly, that hate crime would increase. The xenophobic genie would be out of the bottle. That David Camerons decision to hold the referendum to avert unleashing demons would have the opposite outcome. The Office for National Statistics produces a Quarterly Report on Migration. Between September 2017 and September 2018, 202,000 citizens from other EU countries immigrated to the UK and about 145,000 left. That means an overall increase in the number living here from other EU countries; net immigration, of around 57,000. The earlier year, September 2016 to September 2017, there were 220,000 new EU arrivals with 130,000 leaving. So net migration of 90,000. The latest provisional estimate suggests net immigration from the EU in the year to June 2019 of 48,000. The upshot is that there are a couple of hundred thousand more people living here from other EU states now, than at the time of the referendum. Suggestions of a mass exodus, or of new arrivals being afraid to come, have proved wide of the mark. It is true that the rate of increase has slowed. But even that may be due to other factors. Most Europeans countries are richer than in 2016 wages are higher, unemployment is lower. That is probably a more significant factor. The figures for the number of National Insurance numbers allocated to adult overseas nationals to September 2019 are recorded for each country, which brings this point home. It shows 43,000 from Poland, down by ten per cent from the previous year. Far more registrations were from Romanians at 139,000. Why? Probably as the Polish economy has been growing at over four per cent a year. The top rate of income tax there is 32 per cent. Poles under the age of 26 who earn less than 85,528 zloty (18,519) a year do not have to pay income tax at all. So they are keeping, and tempting back, more of their young people. The unemployment rate there is only 3.2 per cent. In Spain it 14.2 per cent. No surprise that the number of Spaniards coming here to look for work has increased. Then there has been the widely reported claims that the EU referendum has caused an increase in racist incidents and hate crimes. Media prominence may have given the impression that there has been graffiti that might previously have been ignored has been featured in news reports. But is that a genuine trend? For a start, the criteria of whether an offence was motivated by hate is purely down to whether the victim believes it to have been. As Mark Wallace has noted, the level of police recorded hate crime rose in 2013/14 and 2014/15 (before the referendum took place) during a period when crime generally was falling. On the other hand, the figures did show a spike after the EU referendum as well as after the 2017 terrorist incidents. For whatever reason, it also tends to show a spike in the summer months. But there is another way of measuring crime the Crime Survey for England and Wales. This offers a different indication: According to the combined 2015/16 to 2017/18 CSEW11, there were around 184,000 incidents of hate crime a year. This represents around three per cent of all CSEW crime (6,096,000 incidents), a similar level to the proportion in the police recorded crime series (2%). While the apparent fall between this latest estimate and the previous one (covering years 2012/13 to 2014/15) was not statistically significant, trends over the longer term suggest reductions in the number of hate crime incidents. This is in contrast to the upward trend in police recorded hate crime. There was a statistically significant fall in the number of hate crime incidents from 307,000 in the combined 2007/08 and 2008/09 CSEW to 184,000 in the combined 2015/16 to 2017/18 CSEW (a fall of 40% between these combined surveys). Over the same time period, there was a similar percentage fall (39%) in crime overall in the CSEW. The CSEW suggests, therefore, that hate crime has fallen at a similar rate to overall CSEW crime over this period. Another measure is on the number of prosecutions for hate crimes. The House of Commons Library has these figures: 2015/16 saw 15,442 prosecutions (with 12,846 convictions). 2016/17 saw 14,480 prosecutions (with 12,072 convictions). 2017/18 saw 14,151 prosecutions (with 11,987 convictions). 2018/19 saw 12,828 prosecutions (with 10,817 convictions). Definitions are problematic. As Charles Moore has said it is hard to think of a serious crime that does not involve hate. If one category of hate is included then are other categories downplayed? Within the totals of classified hate crime there has been an alarming increase in incidents of anti-semitism, whch I dont think anyone has linked to Brexit. There has also been a welcome reduction in the number of attacks on the disabled, where hatred is deemed to be factor. Again, no suggestions of any link to the referendum result. Once we have waded through all the caveats, claims, and counter-claims, it ends up that we are the same generally decent, civilised people we were three years ago. That vote in 2016 was not a nativist impulse to retreat from the world. It was a confident democratic declaration that we can embrace the opportunities the world has to offer. That should be accepted as the motivation for the decision we made. The way it has been caricatured is damaging. It is true that some racists have an eye for the main chance when a news item can be used to inflame tensions they will take it. But far more significant is the scaremongering by so much of the media at home and abroad as well as by those Remainer politicians so resistant to accepting the result. Many false claims have been made with such force and repetition that some have believed them. One of the best things about getting Brexit done will be that those anxieties can finally be disproved. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday told his South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha that China would continue to ensure the safety of all foreign nationals in the country amid an outbreak of the deadly new coronavirus. "Wang Yi thanked his South Korean counterpart for her willingness to provide the necessary assistance, stressing that China will continue to strengthen cooperation with the international community with a sense of responsibility and adhering to the principles of openness," the ministry said in a statement. Wang added that China would continue to provide the safety of all foreigners in the country, including those from South Korea. The unknown type of viral pneumonia was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late December. The latest data from China's National Health Commission show that 132 people have died and more than 5,900 cases have been confirmed in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Boris Johnsons Conservative government has agreed a limited role for Chinese technology company Huawei in Britains 5G telecommunications networks. The decision was made at a meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) Tuesday. Huawei will be excluded from the core parts of the network, which process information, and restricted to providing 35 percent of the equipment in the network peripherybase stations and antennas which connect user devices with the core. The company will also be barred from geographical areas around military bases and nuclear sites. The fudge decision is a desperate attempt to placate the Trump administration and avoid a collision over basic issues of economy and security. The Trump administration signalled reluctant acceptance of Johnson's compromise stating dissatisfaction with any relationship with an "untrusted vendor" while allowing anonymous sources to tell the media that this would not impact on such an important economic and security partner. However, such reassurances follow a year of pressure from US officials determined to deny Huawei access to Britains 5G network and cannot be taken as the final word. Earlier this month, a US security delegation visited Downing Street to argue, Its the strong view and assessment by the US by a broad range of officials both political and professionals that any amount of equipment from untrusted Chinese vendors is too much. The US threatened to cut off vital intelligence sharing arrangements with Britain if the deal with Huawei went ahead. Claimed security concerns aside, the Trump administrations main aim is to hamstring Chinas technology sector and drive them out of markets as an economic competitor. They fear the British decision could set a precedent and open the way to the Chinese company in other countries. UK security advisors have continued to insist that they are able to counter the security threat posed by Huawei. A Whitehall source said Tuesday, We are clear-eyed about the challenge posed by Huawei, which we today confirm is a high-risk vendor Our world-leading cyber-security experts know more about Huawei than any country in the worldand they are satisfied that with our tough approach and regulatory regime, any risks can be managed. A critical motivator for the UK is that the economic costs of banning Huawei would be immense, with huge commercial interests at stake. A report commissioned by the UKs biggest network operators said restricting the use of Huawei would delay the launch of 5G technology by between 18 months and two years, costing the UK economy between 4.5 billion and 6.8 billion. Huawei is a much cheaper option than its rivals in the 5G market and is already being used in their infrastructureunder supervisionby three out of four of the UKs mobile operatorsEE, Vodafone and Three. Since 5G is being implemented on top of existing 4G networks which already contain Huawei technology, a ban would involve ripping elements of the current system apart, worsening the delay on rolling out the latest technology. 5G is considered essential to attracting new economic investment, particularly for technology and manufacturing companies. Beijing had threatened repercussions if the UK enforced an outright ban on Huawei. Refusing to accept the demands of the US has consequences. Trumps enforcer, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, warned on Twitter Sunday, The UK has a momentous decision ahead on 5G. Referencing an earlier tweet from the former Tory chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, who wrote a Daily Mail op-ed opposing Huaweis involvement, he continued, British MP Tom Tugendhat gets it right: The truth is that only nations able to protect their data will be sovereign. Within minutes of the UKs announcement, the Daily Telegraph posted a letter To the people of Britain by Klon Kitchen, a 15-year US intelligence operative and member of the neo-con Heritage Foundation. Kitchen asked, Why bother with the struggle of leaving the European Union only to run into the arms of the communist Chinese? Republican Senator Tom Cotton sent a statement to the Daily Telegraph saying, I fear London has freed itself from Brussels only to cede sovereignty to Beijing. Allowing Huawei to build the UKs 5G networks today is like allowing the KGB to build its telephone network during the Cold War... the US Director of National Intelligence should conduct a thorough review of US-UK intelligence sharing. Liz Cheney, daughter of the former vice president and unindicted war criminal, Dick Cheney, said, If theyre going to have Huawei in their 5G we have to recalculate [and] reassess whether or not they can continue to be among the closest of our intel partners. Leading Republican Newt Gingrich tweeted, British decision to accept Huawei for 5G is a major defeat for the United Statees [sic]. How big does Huawei have to get and how many countries have to sign with Huawei for the US government to realize we are losing the internet to China? Elise Stefanik, a Republican congresswoman with close ties to the military, tweeted, Congress must work on a bipartisan basis to push back on this decision by the UK Pompeo is due to begin a two-day meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab today. The extent of the pressure from the US was reflected in Parliament Monday in the most significant rebellion Johnson has faced from the Tory Party since the December election. Tory grandee Sir Iain Duncan Smith began, Given the fact that we are at war, in a sense... there is a cyber war going on that we should think about giving a company which is heavily subsidised by China, a country that has set out to steal data non-stop, and also technology, that we think of giving to them that right to be in what is essentially a very, very delicate area of our technology Long-time hawk Bob Seely asked, Why is it argued that you could limit Huawei to the periphery of the network when Australia and the United States dont agree, and when of the head of Australias cyber agency says the distinction between core and edge in 5G collapses? Owen Paterson, a former cabinet minister, said, If there is such a risk, and we know Sir Richard Dearlove, ex head of MI6 has said there is, we know there is a risk of losing key intelligence from our closest allies, what is the overwhelming advantage of this equipment that we are looking to take this risk? Tugendhat compared the move to nesting a dragon into our critical national infrastructure. The government said Tuesday there would be a Parliamentary vote on the Huawei deal in the near future, with the New Statesman commenting that those Tories opposed hope today is merely the opening salvo of a campaign that will see the government defeated. Home Secretary Priti Patel and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace were opposed to Huaweis involvement, but were outvoted in the NSC by Johnson, Chancellor Sajid Javid and Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill. The Sunday Times reported that both were on the warpath over the pending Huawei decision, saying that Johnson had been bounced by Whitehall officials into accepting a role for the Chinese company. These right-wing, nationalist complaints were echoed in the Labour Party, with Shadow Culture Secretary Tracy Brabin stating, The Tories refused to take our technological sovereignty seriously and failed to invest in home-grown alternatives to Huawei. As a result, theyre in the ludicrous position of having to choose between the UKs security concerns and our infrastructure needs. The Scottish National Party took an identical line, with John Nicholson MP stating that the government had chosen low cost over security and Carol Monaghan MP stating that she did not know if it was naivety or arrogance preventing the UK government from seeing the high risk being presented to security. Johnson is being brought face-to-face with the real cost of his Brexit strategy in the demand from Washington that the UK lines up four-square behind the US trade and military wardrive against China. US/UK tensions first broke into the open in 2015 when then Prime Minister David Cameron agreed to participate in the Chinas Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) against Americas wishes. Now sharp divisions have emerged in the Tory Party, only recently united after the bloodbath over Brexit, on the eve of Britains exit from the European Union. With the UK departing the EU in just two days, it faces a rendezvous with disaster in its chosen partnership with Trump and his America First agenda. This threatens the trade deal Trump promised Johnson would be negotiated if he was able to secure Brexit and weaken another US rival, the EU, in the process. On Monday, Tim Morrison, a former adviser to President Trump on his National Security Council, declared, Im concerned that, as the United Kingdom finally appears to be at least at the end of the beginning for Brexit, what this could mean for a US-UK trade agreement. Asked about the consequences for a US/UK trade deal he warned, It becomes extremely difficult to see how you could get the votes on Capitol Hill [for such a deal]. The author also recommends: US and UK clash over Huawei involvement in 5G rollout [18 January 2020] Authorities in Bangladesh in partnership with the United Nations will expand educational programs for hundreds of thousands of Muslim Rohingya children living in refugee camps who are currently receiving only basic lessons, officials said Wednesday. The children, who fled with their families from neighboring Myanmar to the camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district, now attend about 1,500 learning centers run by UNICEF that provide basic education, drawing and other fun activities. Under the new program starting in April, they will receive a formal education using a Myanmar curriculum from grade 6 to 9, the U.N. said in a statement. Mahbub Alam Talukder, Bangladesh's refugee, relief and repatriation commissioner, said the government agreed in principle with a proposal from the UN that the Rohingya children be provided with a Myanmar education. They will be taught in Myanmar's language, they will follow Myanmar's curriculum, there is no chance to study in formal Bangladeshi schools or to read books in the Bengali language, he said by phone. There's no scope for them to stay here in Bangladesh for long, so through this approach they will be able to adapt to Myanmar's society when they go back. The UN said initially 10,000 Rohingya children will be enrolled in a pilot program using the Myanmar curriculum, which will allow them to fit into the Buddhist-majority nation's national educational system when they return to their homeland. Mostafa Mohammad Sazzad Hossain, a spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Dhaka, said a teacher training program is being developed. "Individuals with appropriate academic qualification and experience will be recruited from both Rohingya and Bangladeshi communities and trained as teachers, he said in an email. The decision to introduce formal education was hailed by human rights groups and the United Nations. We believe this is a positive step and a clear indication of the commitment by the government of Bangladesh to ensure access to learning for Rohingya children and adolescents, as well as to equip them with the right skills and capacities for their future and return to Myanmar when the conditions allow, the UN said. About 400,000 Rohingya children currently live in the refugee camps, and global rights groups have been demanding that the Bangladesh government allow them to have a formal education. More than 700,000 Rohingya have fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh since August 2017, when Myanmar's military launched what it called clearance operations in Rakhine state in response to an attack by an insurgent group. Security forces have been accused of committing mass rapes, killings and burning thousands of homes. In total, more than 1 million Rohingya refugees currently live in Bangladesh. Myanmar's government has long considered the Rohingya to be migrants from Bangladesh, even though their families have lived in Myanmar for generations. Nearly all have been denied citizenship since 1982, effectively rendering them stateless. They are also denied freedom of movement and other basic rights including education. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Super Bowl LIV is just around the corner and ads from car manufacturers are starting to kick in. The latest commercial comes from Hyundai , which advertises its new Remote Smart Parking Assist feature with a handful of celebrities and the help of Boston accents. Yes, Smaht Paht isnt a typo, its the actual name of the ad. The commercial starts with comedian Rachel Dratch and actor Chris Evans talking on the sidewalk while John Krasinski arrives in a Hyundai Sonata. He gets out of the car saying hell try to park it as Evans warns him that the parking space isnt big enough. Krasinski then gets out and uses a remote to park the Sonata in the tight spot while saying "look whos got smart park." This is when Dratch asks "smaht pahk?" and every one is blown away by the remote parking feature. They start shouting about "smaht pahk" in the street as former Boston Red Sox player David Ortiz pops out at a window. Short and efficient, this ad reminds of the 1990s, when several commercial were made using a similar plot with people shouting about cool things or features they discover. And Im not saying it in a bad way. Its actually a breath of fresh air from modern ads that want to seem "smahteh" than usual. Whats "smaht pahk?" If youre not familiar with the 2020 Hyundai Sonata, "smart park" is short for Remote Smart Parking Assist, a feature that lets you move the car in and out of tight parking spaced using the key fob. Just like in the commercial, you dont have to be inside the vehicle to operate it. Pretty "smaht" huh? As of this writing, Remote Smart Parking Assist is available on 2020 Sonata models, but it will expand to other Hyundai vehicles by the end of the year. The Thai woman hosted an Australia Day barbeque (pictured) two days before she was allegedly stabbed to death by her stepson A 16-year-old boy who allegedly stabbed his stepmother to death in their home has been charged with murder. The 42-year-old Thai woman was found in her home in Woolooware, south Sydney at about 1.30am on Wednesday suffering multiple stab wounds to her back. The former aged care worker, who also did shifts in a bakery, was treated at the scene before being taken to St George Hospital in a critical condition where she died shortly after. Police arrested the teenager at the home and on Wednesday afternoon he was charged with murder. He will face Sutherland Local Court later on Wednesday afternoon. A neighbour who gave his name as Louie said he heard loud arguments coming from the house nearly every weekend. 'I knew there were big problems with that house, but I never expected this,' he told Daily Mail Australia. Louie said the arguments had been going on for months if not longer. He said the house often hosted gatherings with loud music and many people showing up. Neighbour and family friend Payton Wilson, 23, said she and her boyfriend were awoken by screaming early in the morning. The former aged care worker (pictured), who also did shifts in a bakery, was treated at the scene before being taken to St George Hospital in a critical condition where she died shortly after 'I heard 20 or 30 seconds of screaming, high pitched, obviously a woman. She sounded like she was in a lot of pain. Then there was silence,' she said. 'There's a lot of yelling that comes from that house so I didn't think twice, I had no idea that was what was going down so we just went back to sleep and didn't do anything. 'Then I woke up this morning... it's just horrible.' Ms Wilson said the woman's partner, who was in the house during the alleged stabbing, had frequent loud arguments. 'They have arguments all the time, they get drunk and yell at each other, never when sober. They loved each other it was just a turbulent relationship,' she said. Ms Wilson said though the teenager was a stepson, they appeared as mother and son. 'She was so cute. They looked like mum and son,' she said. 'They were just a normal family, really nice. They got along with each other. So it's a massive shock. 'He was always up playing Xbox, he was very quiet. He's such a nice kid.' Ms Wilson said the victim worked at a bakery and vegetable shop and previously in aged care, and her partner sold truck parts. On Wednesday morning forensic officers poured over the scene as the murder probe continued Another neighbour said he also had to deal with the noise and that just after midnight on Wednesday he heard a 'scream'. On Wednesday morning forensic officers poured over the scene as the investigation continued. Her friend Em Levy said she was with the victim and her partner at their home for Australia Day and everything seemed fine. 'They were very happy, she was such a happy lady. I'm so shocked I can't believe it, I just saw her on Sunday,' she said through tears. '[Her stepson] is a very nice boy, very quiet. 'She has no family here, they are all in Thailand and her sister lives in Sweden.' Friends said the woman had been with the boy's father for at least 10 years and they had all lived in the same home for that time. Another friend said she often met with the victim and other Thai women for lunches and dinners. 'We are very sad, she was a very good person. Everyone loved her, everyone,' she said. 'We are so confused, they were such a nice family.' Cred founder Kunal Shah on Wednesday said policies around subjects like taxation need to consistent and clear to woo international investors that are writing large cheques for Indian startups. The entrepreneur also urged the government to introduce financial literacy programmes that can educate consumers about various investment options. "Our ask from the government is that they bring in consistency and clarity, so that investors can take a 5 or 10-year view, and not get any surprises, to give comfort to investors that things will not change (suddenly)," Shah said. He added that countries like Singapore have shown consistent growth trajectory on the back of stable policies. "India isn't getting small cheques anymore, many companies are raising a lot of capital. I think we do not want to be a country that gets small cheques and large cheques require consistency," he added. Shah, who had previously founded fintech platform Freecharge, said there is a need for financial literacy programmes that can educate consumers on the need to invest to increase prosperity. "Many people are still afraid of getting credit cards because they don't want to be caught in a payment loop, they are afraid of defaulting on payments. However, with the right planning, some of these financial products can help people enhance their financial well-being," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) She is an actress, writer, director and producer. And for one night only, Mindy Kaling added awards show host to her resume. The actress, 40, hosted the 22nd annual Costume Designers Guild Awards in Beverly Hills on Tuesday night. Center stage: Mindy Kaling hosted the 22nd annual Costume Designers Guild Awards in Beverly Hills on Tuesday night wearing a navy velvet gown with blue chiffon cape For the occasion, Kaling wore a gown custom made for her by the CDG's president Salvador Perez Jr., THR.com reported. The Mindy Project star flashed cleavage and leg in the navy velvet dress that had a very revealing neckline and a thigh-high slit. The outfit included a blue chiffon cape and was decorated with more than 2,000 Swarovski crystals. Glamorous: The actress, 40, flashed cleavage and leg in the gown that had a very revealing neckline and a thigh-high slit Sparkled: The dress was decorated with more than 2,000 Swarovski crystals. She added navy pointy toe heels and left her long hair loose around her shoulders Also Tuesday, it was announced that Kaling will be among the celebrities serving as presenters at the Academy Awards on Sunday February 9. The actress tweeted: 'Guess what? Ya girl is joining the stage at the 92nd Oscars. Very excited to present and join an evening recognizing so many talented friends and colleagues.' Following the end of her comedy TV series The Mindy Project in 2017, Kaling has been seen on the big scereen in A Wrinkle In Time and Ocean's 8, as well as on NBC's sitcom Champtions. She also wrote, produced and starred in the Amazon Original movie Late Night with Emma Thompson. Earlier this month, NBC announced that Kaling is developing a comedy series for the network's new streaming platform Peacock It's reported the show will be called Expecting and center on a single woman who asks her gay male best friend to be a sperm donor so she can have a baby by the time she's 40. Big news: Also Tuesday, it was announced that Kaling will be among the celebrities serving as presenters at the Academy Awards on Sunday February 9 and she tweeted her excitement Pals: Kaling's gown for the CDGAs was custom made for her by the Costume Designers Guild's president Salvador Perez Jr. Costume change: Just to keep things interesting, Mindy changed up her outfit more than once throughout the event, at one point donning this beautifully flattering sequinned aqua number Maryam Sanda being consoled by a lawyer, shortly after Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court sentenced her to death by hanging in Abuja on Monday. According to a Daily Trust report, an FCT High Court in Maitama has sentenced Maryam Sanda to death by hanging for killing her husband, but the road to freedom may not be closed to her. After sentencing her to death on Monday, the trial judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu, ordered that she be remanded at Suleja Custodial Centre pending when her right to appeal has been exhausted. Legally, she has the right to appeal the judgement against her at the Court of Appeal, lawyers said. And if not satisfied with the decision of the appellate court, she can still go to the Supreme Court to ask that the judgment to be upturned. A Kaduna-based lawyer, Mohammed Sani, told Daily Trust that the only option available to Sanda is to file an appeal, which is her right. Asked how long he thinks it could take for the appeal to be determined, Sani said criminal matters are being tried expeditiously unlike civil cases that take long time. Once all documents have been filed, they (appellate court) expeditiously look at them, he said, adding that it is the same way even at the Supreme Court. On whether the convict could apply for post-conviction bail, Sani said since it is a murder trial, it might not be applicable and, as such, she would remain incarcerated while exercising her rights to appeal. According to Abuja based lawyer, E.M.D. Umukoro Esq, Sanda is now a convict but still has an option of appeal. The essence of the appeal is to challenge the decision of the court but any challenge at this stage must be thorough. It is not mere trial. It is serious business, he said. He added that usually most defendants do not see the gravity of the charges hanging on their neck until judgEment is handed down. Criminal trials are serious business and is like a medical doctor operating on a patient: it could mean life or death. Therefore, her family must get sound, tactical and experienced lawyer Another lawyer, Barrister Ololade Akinkuotu, said the law allows Sanda to seek bail pending the hearing of the appeal. She said, It has been decided in a plethora of cases that such bail is not granted as of right. They only lie on the applicants ability to show peculiar, special facts and circumstances. The granting of bail pending an appeal is, therefore, at the discretion of the court depending on the special facts, circumstances and severity of the offence. The Abuja-based lawyer cited the case of Abacha v State where she said it was held that: It is well accepted that whatever the stage at which bail is sought by an accused person, ill-health of the accused is weighty enough to be reckoned with as a special circumstance. In the case of Ani v State (2001) FWLR (Pt.81) 1715, Obadina J.C.A, it was held thus: I do not think the respondent has sufficiently discharged the burden of showing cause why bail should not be granted to the Appellant. Indeed, I am of the view that the Appellant has not only placed some materials before the learned trial judge but has shown by his affidavit in support, exceptional circumstances why he should be admitted to bail. As it is only the living that can praise God, so it is only the living that can be tried, convicted and punished for an offence no matter how heinous the offence maybe. On the rights to appeal, Barrister Akinkuotu said the convict has 90 days to file the appeal. She, however, added that she could apply for a leave for an appeal if the appeal documents were not filed before the 90 days elapses. Another road to freedom for the convict is if she is considered for pardon by the President. Lawyers, however, said this could only come after she has served a reasonable jail term. The Mobile World Congress, an annual telecoms industry event that draws more than 100,000 visitors to Barcelona, will go ahead as planned on February 24-27 despite the international spread of a virus that has killed 132 people in China. "The upcoming Mobile World Congress Barcelona event will proceed as planned," the GSMA telecoms industry group that organises the event said in a statement issued in response to a Reuters inquiry. The GSMA said it was monitoring and assessing the potential impact of the coronavirus outbreak. It would adhere to safety recommendations from the World Health Organisation and governments, and provide additional medical support on site. The Miss America Organization announced Tuesday night that President and CEO Regina Hopper one of the guiding forces behind the competitions swimsuit-less, 2.0 rebranding has left the organization. According to a statement, the organizations board Chairwoman Shantel Krebs will assume leadership responsibilities on an interim basis as the board begins a search for a new president and CEO. Krebs is a former South Dakota secretary of state and was Miss South Dakota 1997. We are grateful for Reginas time, energy and commitment over the past two years, and thank her for her service to the progress of the Miss America Organization, the statement reads. The board and staff will strive to make the year of celebration surrounding the 100th anniversary of our program one for the books. Miss America denies credentials to The Press and some national media Some media organizations were notified in the past week they were denied credentials to cove Hopper said in a statement to The Press of Atlantic City that she formally notified the MAO Board of Directors nearly two weeks ago that she was presented with a new opportunity to return full time to a job involving transportation. Before her time with the MAO, Hopper was the president and CEO of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America. Madison County Sheriff Katy McCutcheon has decided to hold a community meeting at 6:30 p.m., Jan. 28 at the Black River Electric Cooperative meeting room. McCutcheon said she saw the need for the meeting because of recent questions regarding why suspects and offenders are being released from the jail and prison earlier than anticipated as well as the recent spike in burglaries, thefts and suspicious drug activity. Topics to be discussed will be the recent passing of Rule 33, bail rules set by the Missouri Supreme Court, that became effective, July 1, 2019. "This new rule means that judges will no longer be able to detain certain nonviolent offenders before trial simply because of an inability to post bail," McCutcheon said. "Another topic that will be discussed is the issues Missouri Sheriffs are having with the Missouri Department of Corrections new 'catch and release' policy." McCutcheon said one of the issues deals with Department of Corrections not taking parolees back into custody after they violate their conditions of parole. She said another issue is the fraction of time a defendant serves once they are in the custody of the Missouri Department of Corrections. "The last topic to be discussed is the establishment of community/neighborhood watches throughout Madison County," McCutcheon said. "With all the recent burglaries, thefts and suspicious activity, the Madison County Sheriff's Office has to rely on what the citizens see and hear." McCutcheon said her goal in forming these community/neighborhood watch programs is to educate the residents of Madison County of what their rights are when they observe illegal activity. "I would like to have the citizens living in these neighborhoods and communities be informed by either social media or text message communications on the illegal activity going on," McCutchon said. McCutchon said she will be handing out applications to residents interested in being part of the neighborhood/community watch program at the community meeting. "I will then make arrangements to have monthly or quarterly follow up meetings with residents in their own communities in Madison County so that they don't have to travel all the way to Fredericktown," McCutcheon said. If you are unable to attend this meeting and would like to participate in the neighbor/community watch program you can send an email request to mc9110000@sbcglobal.net or come by the Madison County Sheriffs Office to pick up an application and a flyer of the information which was discussed at the meeting. These applications and flyers will be available after the meeting is held Jan. 28. Sheriff McCutcheon said her goal with the establishment of these neighborhood/community watch programs is to help deter criminal activity and to keep the residents informed of what is going on with their community. Victoria Kemper is a reporter for the Democrat News. She can be reached at 573-783-3366 or at vkemper@democratnewsonline.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Help India! In the first week of August last year, the stage was set for the government of India to remove the special status of the conflict-ridden Jammu and Kashmir. To ensure that everything be 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 former three Chief Ministers of the region are still under detention. These politicians usually are talk of the town but thousands of Kashmiris who were detained on the pretext of threat to law and order and then shifted to outside valley are still behind bars, although the government claimed that everything is normal in Kashmir. Support TwoCircles TwoCircles.net will be doing a series of stories in which we will be highlighting the struggle of families whose kins have been detained and shifted to different jails across the Country. In the 3rd part of the stories, our Correspondent from Kashmir Auqib Javeed traveled to South Kashmirs Volatile Pulwama district to meet a 51-year-old man who managed to meet his son, currently detained in Uttar Pradeshs Bareilly but failed to talk to him. Here is the Journey from Pulwama to Bareilly. Pulwama: In the first week of August 2019 the Jammu and Kashmir Police along with other government agencies had started the mass operation of detaining people who could be a threat to law and order based on their previous records with the police. Media reports suggest that thousands of Kashmiris were detained across the erstwhile state, including mainstream and separatist leaders many of whom continue to be incarcerated in different jails far from their homes. Over five months on, thousands of people are still under detention and their families struggle to meet them, Many dont even know about the whereabouts about the detainees. But 51-years old Mohammad Maqbool Hurra of Kakpora, Pulwama decided to meet his son Irfan Hurra @Irfan Molvi come what may. Irfan, 26 years old, was detained by the Jammu and Kashmir Police on August 4, 2019. He was kept in a local Police station and then shifted to Central Jail in Srinagar some 40 kilometers away from his home. The cops from a local police station came to my house on August 3 at around 1:00 AM and asked whereabouts of my son. I told them that he is in a local Dar-Ul-Uloom(Religious school) and they asked for my Identity card and took it, Sr Hurra said. Hurra assured them that he will send his son to the police station, Kakpora, Pulwama next day. The cops left the house with a stern warning that if Irfan didnt come to the police station, the NIA (National Investigating Agency) or any other agency might detain him. Phir hume nahi kehna (Dont ask us then if your son would be detained) by NIA or any other agency, the cops warned said Hurra. The next day, Hurra left home in search of his son. I found him in a local mosque and I narrated him the whole story and asked him that he should go to the police station, Hurra said. Irfan was reluctant to go to the police station but his father forced him fearing that he might be arrested as cops from the Kakpora police station had warned. Hurra accompanied his son to the police station where he was detained. On the next day, Hurras brother informed him that Irfan has been shifted to Central Jail Srinagar. Since then, several days passed and Sr Hurra neither met his son nor had any clue about his whereabouts. Curfew was imposed in the entire state, phones and other means of communication were shut and it was difficult for us to locate our son, Hurra says. The 51-years-old couldnt bear the separation from his son and decided to travel to Srinagar some 40 kilometers away from his home town amid strict restrictions in the entire valley. I had nothing with me-no curfew pass, no communication but I managed to reach Srinagar along with my brother., Hurra says. On reaching Srinagar, Hurra was shocked to know that his son had been shifted to District Jail Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh. I returned back home disappointed, all I was thinking was about my son. I recalled how the local SHO assured that my son will be safe in his custody and how he betrayed me, Hurra says adding that if he knew that the cops will betray him he wont have handed his son over to them. This was something Hurra had never expected or experienced. He has never traveled outside valley and has no idea where to go and how to meet his son. The economic crises at his home was also the reason that initially hampered his travel. Un-ending Tragedies seriess other parts are here: Un-ending Tragedies I- Abrogation of Article 370 Aftermath: How a Kashmiri mother struggles to meet her son in jail Un-ending Tragedies II: How Kashmiris are struggling to meet their kin detained outside But after over 45 days Hurra decided to travel to UP to meet his son. I took some money from my neighbors and booked Air tickets with the help of my sons friend but I didnt know where to go., Hurra said. A day before leaving the valley Hurra was thinking about his son the whole night. Can I meet him? Is it possible for me to reach him? These questions were striking his mind again and again. Fortunately, a student from Pulwama, who was studying in Delhi came to know about Hurra and decided to volunteer to help him make the Journey. I reached Delhi and the boy accompanied me to UP. After 4 days of travel we finally reached the District Jail Bareilly., Hurra recounts. Despite having never traveled outside the valley, Hurra came all the way from Kashmir to meet his son. He braved great difficulties to meet Irfan but little did he know that he would not be able to speak to him. I met my son, we hugged and wept. As I started talking to him, a security guard taunted me for speaking in Kashmiri., Hurra says. He didnt know any language other than Kashmiri and there was so much to talk, so much to share between a father and a son longing to meet for weeks. Kashmiri mai baat mat karo, Hindi mai karo(dont talk in Kashmiri talk in Hindi) the security guard instructed, says Hurra. I was so helpless, we wept and I told my son not to lose hope., Hurra narrated. He hugged me and whispered in my ear saying Baba, I was tortured here. Hurras family only hopes that their son returns home alive. The family is now planning to sell their land to pay the loans that were taken to meet their son. Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Nana Patole on Wednesday made a pitch for bringing down malnutrition, infant and maternal mortality, and called for empowering women. He was speaking at the inauguration of a workshop organised to mark the silver jubilee of the United Nation's World Conference of Women held in Beijing, China in 1995. "There is a need to pay attention towards bringing down malnutrition, infant and maternal mortality. There is a need to pay attention towards empowering women health-wise, educationally and financially," an official statement quoted Patole as saying. He also called for implementing the recommendations made during the Beijing conference, among others, on reducing poverty of women, combating violence against them and ensuring their participation in power and decision-making. Deputy Chairperson of Legislative Council Neelam Gorhe, who also attended the session, called for making market available to women entrepreneurs. State Women and Child Development Minister Yashomati Thakur also attended the workshop. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The resolution is titled: Supporting the rights of the people of Iran to free expression, condemning the Iranian regime for its crackdown on legitimate protests, and for other purposes. The resolution calls on the US government to call for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council and the United Nations Human Rights Council and condemn continued human rights abuses in Iran and establish a mechanism for the UN Security Council to monitor human rights abuses by the mullahs: (6) urges the Administration to work to convene emergency sessions of the United Nations Security Council and the United Nations Human Rights Council to condemn the ongoing human rights violations perpetrated by the Iranian regime and establish a mechanism by which the Security Council can monitor such violations; Referring to the high number of people killed during the November uprising, the resolution stresses that the US House of Representatives stands with the Iranian people during their legitimate demonstrations against the repressive and corrupt regime ruling Iran, and calls on all governments and democratic bodies in the world to face the challenge. It calls on all democratic governments and institutions to clearly support the Iranian peoples right to live in a free society. The House of Representatives resolution also requires the US government to take the necessary steps to connect the Internet to demonstrators in Iran. It urges companies to reject the regimes demands to cut off the Iranian people from social media and other communications platforms. The #US House of Representatives unanimously passed House Resolution 752 on Tuesday,entitled,Supporting the rights of the people of #Iran to free expression,condemning the #Iranian regime for its crackdown on legitimate #protests,and for other purposes. https://t.co/9DIItjzU7P NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) January 29, 2020 While, Iranian authorities began implementing a near-total shutdown of internet services, stopping nearly all means of online communications for people inside Iran, to preclude the sharing of images and videos of deadly violence being used by security forces; The House of Representatives (8) calls on companies to reject requests by the regime to cut off the Iranian people from social media and other communications platforms. The House Resolution, which is backed by all Democrats and Republicans on the Foreign Relations Committee, demands conviction of the Iranian regimes leaders because (1) in 1988, the Iranian regime carrying out the barbaric mass executions of thousands of political prisoners by hanging and firing squad for refusing to renounce their political affiliations and in some cases for possessing political reading material, including prisoners of conscience, teenagers, and pregnant women. Minister of Transportation and Telecommunication Kamal Ahmed, the Board Chairman of the National Space Science Agency (NSSA), headed the Kingdoms delegation on an official visit to the United Kingdom, which was co-ordinated in co-operation with the UK Space Agency. The minister was accompanied by NSSA Chief Executive Dr Mohammed Ibrahim Al Asiri and Board of Directors Adviser Dr Mohammed Jassim Al Othman. The visits programme included holding official meetings with public institutions and centres specialising in the space field and related applications. The Bahraini delegation got informed about technical equipment, logistic facilities and the latest technologies in operating land and space control stations. The delegation also held meetings with private sector companies to get updated on the latest developments and global trend in the space sector. A man has been charged with the cold-case murder of his then-boss, who was bludgeoned to death in his western Sydney workshop almost 25 years ago. Kubilay Kilincer, 58, appeared briefly in Burwood Local Court on Thursday after being arrested at a Sydney Olympic Park hotel on Wednesday night. A $1 million was reward was offered on Tuesday for information relating to the death of father-of-three and businessman Hasan Dastan in December 1995. Hasan Dastan (pictured) was brutally murdered in December 1995, found with a fractured skull and other facial injuries Kubilay Kilincer, 58, appeared briefly in Burwood Local Court on Thursday after being arrested at a Sydney Olympic Park hotel on Wednesday night Kilincer, from Granville, was arrested and charged with murder just over 24 hours later. He has been a suspect in previous investigations. Mr Dastan was found beaten to death inside his Blacktown auto wreckers business. He'd suffered severe blunt force trauma to the head and face. The homicide squad investigated at the time but no one was charged. Mr Dastan's death was the subject of an inquest in 2000 during which coroner Jan Stevenson said that a 'known person had committed an indictable offence' and referred the case to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The unsolved homicide unit reopened the case in 2018 and established Strikeforce Biltine II. It's unclear if the arrest was prompted by this week's $1 million police reward. Mr Dastan's body was found in his Blacktown auto wreckers workshop (pictured) and a 58-year-old man has been charged 25 years later 'There was information that came through from the public but it was an active investigation,' Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty told reporters on Thursday. 'Strikeforce investigators have been working hard for a long time in relation to this matter. So it complemented an active investigation.' Kilincer was not required to appear in court on Thursday, but his wife and family were present. He's due to next appear on March 26. Mr Dastan's daughter, Yasemin Sevim, said the charges against Kilincer had left her family with mixed emotions. 'Our family was so heartbroken to have lost dad in such brutal circumstances just over 24 years ago,' Ms Sevim said in a statement. 'He was such a kind and hardworking person and it's been very difficult living without him for more than two decades. 'While I know this doesn't bring him back, we are so thankful that investigators never gave up on him. They worked tirelessly to find out why he was taken away from us.' The Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Collins Chiji, and seven other members of the house have announced their defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This defection is coming barely three weeks after the Supreme Court sacked Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declared Hope Uzodinma of the ruling APC as the governor of the state. The defection happened during the plenary session which lasted for 15 minutes on Tuesday. Other PDP members who defected include the house majority leader, Chigozie Nwaneri(Oru East) and one of Mr Ihediohas loyalist, Eddy Obinna (Aboh Mbaise), are Uche Ogbuagu (Ikeduru), Dominic Ezerioha (Oru West) Kanayo Onyemaechi (Owerri West), Kennedy Ibe (Obowo) Onyemaechi Njoku (Ihitte/Uboma), The Nation newspaper reports. This brings the total number of APC lawmakers in the house to 18, out of the 26-member House. The winner of the recently conducted rerun election in the state, Uju Onwudiwe, of the Action Alliance (AA), is, however, yet to be sworn-in. Prior to this development, on Monday, the Imo State Chairman of the PDP, Charles Ezekwem, defected to the APC. As stated in his resignation letter, Mr Ezekwem said his decision was informed by the prevailing circumstances within my party, vis-a-vis my present standing as the state chairman of the PDP. After due consultations with my family and with the approval of my supporters, I hereby tender my resignation as state chairman of PDP. In the previous week, PREMIUM TIMES reported the resignation of Imo Deputy Speaker, Okey Onyekanma, and the defection of nine other members of AA, PDP and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the APC. The sixth meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council has ended in Brussels, resulting in a common statement. The text of the document is available on the website of Ukraines Cabinet of Ministers. "The parties (Ukraine and the EU 112 international.) have discussed a number of important issues and adopted a common statement," the statement said. The EU noted the significant progress of the reforms in Ukraine and emphasized the need for their continuation, in particular, in order to create transparent and equal conditions for business and investment activities. In addition, the EU positively estimated the Ukrainian government's steps towards approximating its national legislation in the digital economy to European law. Ukraine and the EU stressed the importance of further implementation of energy sector reforms, in particular with regard to ensuring the independence of the energy regulator and the inspection of nuclear regulation, as well as the creation of a competitive and transparent electricity market. The parties have agreed on further steps to protect the environment and reduce carbon emissions under the European Green Agreement and the Paris Climate Agreement. As we reported earlier, Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is to come to Ukraine with a visit in the coming weeks. The chief of European diplomacy said so on Tuesday, as he met with Ukraine's Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk. The two officials met in Brussels, Interfax informed. "I intend to visit Ukraine in the next few weeks," Borrell said. An airplane evacuating as many as 240 Americans from a Chinese city at the center of a virus outbreak has landed in the US. The US government chartered the plane to fly out diplomats from the US Consulate in Wuhan, where the latest coronavirus outbreak started, and other US citizens. The plane is making a refueling stop in Alaska, where it landed Tuesday night, before flying on to southern California. But first, the travelers were to be re-screened in Anchorage for the virus, and hospitals were prepared to treat or quarantine people who may be infected. Symptoms of the virus include fever, cough, and in more severe cases shortness of breath or pneumonia. The passengers are being isolated in the airport's international terminal, which lies mostly dormant in the winter months. The terminal is not connected to the larger and heavily used domestic flights terminal, and each has separate ventilation systems, said Jim Szczesniak, manager of the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. In the wintertime, we have the ability and the luxury of not having any passenger traffic over there, so it's a perfect area for us to handle this kind of flight, he said. The lobby in the international terminal was nearly empty Tuesday afternoon, and an airport employee was seen jogging through the facility, which has closed counters for companies like Korean Air, China Airlines and Asiana Airlines. There are two businesses operating at either end of the ticket counters, a 4x4 rental agency and a satellite office of the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles. Wuhan is the epicenter of a new virus that has sickened thousands and killed more than 100, and a federal official said the plane left the city before dawn Wednesday, China time. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak publicly. The white cargo plane with red and gold stripes arrived in Anchorage at the mostly desolate North Terminal just after 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, local time. The jetway was extended from the end of the terminal, but it also had no windows. Passengers were not visible. Media were held in a concourse between the airport's two terminals, about 100 yards (91.4 meters) from the plane. Airport workers were buzzing around the plane after it landed. Alaska health officials said a conference would be held later. The plane is scheduled to land at March Air Reserve Base in California's Riverside County, instead of the original plan to land at Ontario International Airport in neighboring San Bernardino County. Curt Hagman, an Ontario airport commissioner, said the Centers for Disease Control announced the diversion. We were prepared but the State Department decided to switch the flight to the airbase, Hagman said. Officials at the Ontario airport 35 miles (56 kilometers) east of Los Angeles had been readying facilities to receive and screen the repatriates and temporarily house them for up to two weeks if the CDC determined that is necessary, said David Wert, spokesman for the county of San Bernardino. Ontario International Airport was designated about a decade ago by the U.S. government to receive repatriated Americans in case of an emergency overseas, but it would have been the first time the facility was used for the purpose, Wert said. China has cut off access to Wuhan and 16 other cities in Hubei province to prevent people from leaving and spreading the virus further. In addition to the United States, countries including Japan and South Korea have also planned evacuations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The way Mike Bloomberg tells it, after Donald Trump was elected president and before he assumed office, the fellow New York City businessman "let it be known that he wanted a call from me." Bloomberg obliged. The two "had a pleasant conversation," the Democratic presidential candidate and former New York City mayor said, adding that Mr. Trump gave Bloomberg his personal cellphone number. But, Bloomberg said, he didn't bother to write it down. "I said, 'Look, you've got to get people that have knowledge of each of these areas: defense and finance and commerce and all of these things that he knows nothing about," Bloomberg told CBS News. "I said. 'If you could get good people and delegate to them, then you can have a decent administration.' And he said, 'Thank you very much.' He couldn't have been more polite, as I remember." Election 2020 Michael Bloomberg Democratic presidential candidate and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, center, greets supporters at a campaign office in Scarborough, Maine on January 27, 2020 Robert F. Bukaty / AP Bloomberg smiled, then said, "He did give me his private cell phone number, which I didn't bother to write down. And I've never talked to him since." CBS News asked where Bloomberg was on the night of the 2016 election. "I don't remember election night," Bloomberg replied, then paused. His eyes lit up. "Actually, I do remember election night." "Everybody was talking about that Trump was gonna win. And the stock market was going to collapse. Half of that was true." Bloomberg continued, "But I thought days before that Hillary was in trouble. I remember being at a dinner, and maybe 10 couples around the table. Somebody said it's a throwaway line 'Anybody here kind of vote for Donald Trump?' And two thirds of the people put up their hands, and I said, 'Oh, Hillary is going to have a problem."' Story continues Bloomberg opened his Portland office Monday as he visited his final Super Tuesday state. The office, adorned with "Mike 2020" signage that features a lighthouse growing out of the letter K, is something out of a movie set. Outside, people pressed their faces to the windows, standing out in 35 degrees to catch a glimpse of Bloomberg. Bloomberg has three offices and 15 staffers in Maine more than the Trump campaign. "I promise to keep every office open until November 3," Bloomberg told a cheering crowd. Investigators comb through wreckage of helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant Trump's legal team concludes arguments in impeachment trial Senators prepare for next phase of impeachment trial One of the largest sources of demand for manufacturing products is the governments investment in infrastructure and building assets The importance of the manufacturing sector, both in terms of generating good quality jobs and contributing to economic activity cannot be overstated. Particularly, at this juncture where we seem to be challenged on both of these aspects. The important question that everyone has is, what should we be doing to revive the manufacturing sector to and grow fastnot just in the coming year, but for several years to be able to pull a large number of fellow Indians out of poverty. Given where we are today, we have a great opportunity to reimagine manufacturing and make the sector globally competitive. This is likely to call for imaginative and difficult stepsthe good news is this administration has the mandate in its favour and has shown it has the willingness to take difficult steps. Demand creation One of the largest sources of demand for manufacturing products is the governments investment in infrastructure and building assets. However, because of the constant pressure on the governments fiscal balance and the falling share of the capital expenditure in the governments total spending in recent years, the demand for manufactured products can potentially remain muted. Recognising this, the government has announced the plan to spend over Rs 100 lakh crore on infrastructure. Given the size of the outlay, it may be time to take bold steps to bring private participation into infrastructure building at levels we have not seen in the past through innovative partnership models that are equitable to all stakeholders. This will likely spur demand and in a more efficient manner. The role the government should play here is as a facilitator of the implementation of projects. There are a number of areas only the government can contributeland acquisition, environment approvals, consensus building with stakeholders, etc. Today, most of the project delays are on account of one or more of the above. Supporting investors with these processes will help achieve infrastructure building goals with greater efficiency. Manufacturing competitiveness Land, power, material and capital costs in India are high as compared with the countries we seek to compete with. To illustrate this, let us take some sectors of the future like cell phones, computing hardware, electric mobility products, solar energy products, etc. We seem to be assemblers of these products rather than manufacturers of components, which are imported from the Asian region. In order to make our manufacturing sectors competitive, they have to transition to a new and exacting definition of competition. Joining trade blocs like RCEP can achieve thisthe government should consider doing this in a pre-defined timeframe after critical safeguards are established. This will mean disruption in the short-term, but the sectors or firms that survive will be far stronger and have the ability to prosper in markets outside India. The extent of value addition in manufacturing is pretty low. It becomes vitally important to substantially increase research/innovation capability in the country. To begin with, our best academic institutes must be encouraged to focus far more on research and promote innovation centres that benefit the manufacturing sector on a commercial basis. Two, the private sector must be actively supported to create innovation ecosystems in the country. This could include accessing the remarkable research infrastructure the government has created, which may have to be opened up more to operate on a commercial format. Manufacturing of the future would call for far greater appreciation of what defines competitiveness and creating a platform to address the same. This is probably best done by an independent entity that has a life beyond a particular administrationwe have the examples of Japan and Korea that have become manufacturing powerhouses with such organisations playing a significant role in shaping their manufacturing sectors. Greater push on EODB We have made a great start in improving the ranking in ease of doing business. However, we are below the countries we aspire to compete with on some critical parameters. Keeping up the focus on improving the ease of doing business to being a strategic differentiator rather than to catch with these countries will be important. For example, the areas of focus could be increased capacity to dispose of legal disputes in a timely manner, superior infrastructure to bring down the cost of operations, lower cost of compliance, etc. These cannot be done in a year but have to be urgently addressed. There is a need for urgent action to enhance the competitiveness of the sectors where we have been a dominant player and invest in the manufacturing sectors of the future. As a country, we have shown remarkable ability to respond well when in a really difficult situation. Now is the time and opportunity to be decisive and build strong foundations for the manufacturing sector for the coming decade. (Kandaswami is Partner, Easwaran, Partner, Deloitte India. Rumki Majumdar, Associate Director, Deloitte India also contributed to this article) Follow full coverage of Union Budget 2020-21 here Hriday Ranjan By It has been six years since the present government came to power, and there are two features of its functioning. The first is the governments proclivity to declare taxes without any notice. The second is to turn a deaf ear to criticism. In spite of being a vociferous critic of the previous government, the present government seems to turn the other way when criticism is brought up. Instead of addressing the criticism, the government has contributed to colloquial literature by inventing terms like presstitude and sickular. Of course, there is nothing inherently wrong with levying taxes. Taxes are needed for the healthy functioning of the economy. What is unfathomable is the utter lack of acceptance of criticism. Even as the entire country is protesting, PM Modi maintains a deafening silence, and tweets about his foreign trips. Its true that nobody likes to listen to criticism about themselves. But unfortunately, the proper functioning of a democracy requires criticism. Having studied Commerce for all of five years, Yours Truly has come up with a paradigm-shifting idea. The idea is to combine both the traits of the government, and introduce a Criticism Tax. Under this system, the government charges the people an amount every time we criticise the government. The government keeps the money, while listening to our grievances. While the idea might seem outlandish, it must be remembered that every great idea is originally considered inconceivable. When Galileo claimed that the earth moved around the sun, he was imprisoned. So how will the tax work? Every time you criticise the government, a junior gazetted officer appears with a challan. The officer takes your amount and notes down your criticism. Your next question might be is it a progressive tax or regressive tax? At an idea level, it is certainly progressive. The tax is also progressive in another way. You are allowed to criticise based on the amount you pay. For example, by paying an amount of `15, you will only be allowed to criticise the finance minister. But if you wish to criticise the Pradhaan Sevak himself, you will have to pay a higher amount. It will bring in the seriousness that a tweet or Facebook post will never possess. And unlike with Facebook and Twitter, the government cannot imprison you for expressing your opinion. The next step is to install kiosks where people can walk in, drop a coin, and voice their criticism against the government. We will be bringing in change, literally through change! The Criticism Tax will ensure that both parties are happy. On one hand, it will ensure a vibrant economy with the government collecting more taxes. On the other hand, the people of India get to exercise their democratic right to criticise the government they voted for. While you consider this proposal, dear finance minister, I request you not to put me in jail. I have heard that the WiFi is rather weak. I am a firm believer in your Digital India project. Hriday Ranjan Writer, comedian (The authors views are his own) KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City, Kansas, police said a man was shot and killed inside a Pizza Hut near 43rd Street and Rainbow Boulevard. Officers were called to the shooting just after 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday night. When they arrived, they located the man inside the Pizza Hut and confirmed him deceased at the scene. The Supreme Court will hear on Thursday a curative petition filed by one of the Nirbhaya convicts, Akshay Thakur, seeking commutation of his death sentence to life imprisonment. A five-judge bench headed by Justice NV Ramana will the petition at 1 pm. The curative petition, filed by advocate AP Singh on behalf of Akshay, states that the present curative petition should be allowed by the apex court and it should set aside the May 5, 2017 order, which upheld the death sentence of the convicts. "Modify the sentence of the petitioner, to life imprisonment as it serves all the purposes that the death penalty claims to serve and protects society from the impending reality in the near-future in which torture and murder are equated with justice as a panacea for all social evils," the petition said. The plea said that lack of criminal antecedents, erroneous reliance on deterrence, and the probability of reformation, socio-economic circumstances, non-consideration of constitution bench judgment, were not considered by the courts while awarding his client to death. The top court had dismissed Akshay's review petition in December last year. A three-judge bench of the apex court earlier today dismissed the plea of another Nirbhaya Mukesh Kumar Singh challenging the rejection of his mercy petition by the President. Earlier this month, a Delhi court had issued the death warrant for Akshay, Mukesh, Pawan Gupta and Vinay Sharma, and ordered their hanging on February 1. The case pertains to the gang-rape of a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012, by six people including a juvenile in Delhi. The woman had died at a Singapore hospital a few days later. One of the five adult accused, Ram Singh, had allegedly committed suicide in the Tihar Jail during the trial of the case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In any culture, ringing in a new year is cause for celebration. In Chinese culture, that is especially true. This year, with Chinese New Year's Eve (Friday, January 24th), a whole host of Bay Area restaurants launched specialty menus in honor of Year of the Rat. "In Chinese culture, rats are a sign of wealth and surplus," says China Live founder and executive chef George Chen. "Those born during the Year of the Rat enjoy sophisticated opportunities and are popular in social interaction." Now through February 8th, everyonewhether they were born during the Year of the Rat or notcan enjoy sophisticated dishes in celebration of this exciting time. Sichuan Chili Style fish. (Courtesy of China Live) Nian gao at China Live Dishes aren't the only things on display during China Live's Chinese New Year celebrations. In addition to serving specials like red seafood dumplings and red bean mochi, the Chinatown destination will host lion dancers, baijui tastings, and free dumpling workshops. Stop for the show and stay for the traditional Chinese New Year dish nian gao, a glutinous rice cake cooked with Lap Cheong sausage and garlic chives (you also can't go wrong with the steamed whole fish). // China Live, 644 Broadway, chinalivesf.com Yu sheng salad at Hakkasan Hakkasan's prix-fixe menu offered for Chinese New Year is built around lucky ingredients and includes everything from chicken, which is pronounced similarly to "luck," to mandarins, which represent gold and fortune. But make sure to grab a table for the fish salad starter, Yu sheng, which includes cured Scottish salmon and plum sauce. The flavors are bountiful, as is the symbolism for the dishfish and abundance are homonyms. // Hakkasan, One Kearny St., hakkasan.com Ba mee ped noodles with rosted duck and Chinese broccoli. (Courtesy of Daughter Thai) Ba Mee Ped noodles at Daughter Thai Everything served at Farmhouse and Daughter Thai is delicious, but if you've already tried everything on their regular menu, head to any of their four locations until the end of the month for their Chinese New Year special. Ba Mee Ped is an egg noodle dish that pairs roasted duck and Chinese broccoli with a duck sauce. Wash it down with their special New Year drink, Ang-Pao, made with Maker's Mark, grapefruit, and chamomile tea. // Daughter Thai, 6118 Medau Pl, Oakland, daughterthai.com Dumplings at Royal Feast Much like San Francisco Chronicle former food critic Michael Bauer described in 2017, "dishes are only briefly described" on the Chinese New Year menu at Millbrae's Royal Feast. You might want someone to interpret the lengthy menu as each dish is written based on what the entree symbolizes in Chinese culture, not what's actually in it. So if you want money or abundance in the new year, order the dumplings or fishitems that both appear on Royal Feast's Chinese New Year menu, which will only be available for a few weeks. // 148 El Camino Real (Millbrae), millbraeroyalfeast.com Honey- and soy-marinated cod at Frank Fat's Technically the table tents promoting Chinese New Year dishes like longevity noodles at Frank Fat's were packed up on the 26th, but that doesn't mean this institution isn't serving up a ton of dishes symbolizing prosperity, wealth, and abundance for the new year. Don't miss the honey- and soy-marinated cod served with Chinese mustard greens and mushrooms that's on the menu year-round. // Frank Fat's, 806 L St. (Sacramento), frankfats.com Laois TD and Minister Charlie Flanagan says he appreciates the impact of job losses to families and the town of Mountmellick and says he has contacted State agencies over the decision by US company Standex to downsize its Irish operation. Minister Flanagan, who is a native of Mountmellick, regretted the decision which SIPTU says is likely to see 26 workers lose their jobs. I am very disappointed to hear of the plans to close Standex in Acragar. Standex has been a stable employer in the town for over 40 years. Workers have described the use as a 'brutal shock'. Minister Flanagan sympathised with those who will soon be out of work. My immediate thoughts are with the workers and their families at what is a very difficult time for them. I fully appreciate how important employers like Standex are in small towns such as Mountmellick, which makes this company closure all the more upsetting. On hearing the news this afternoon, I was in contact with the regional managers in Enterprise Ireland and IDA regarding the matter, concluded the statement. Standex, which makes industrial pumps, said in a statement that competitive market conditions have necessitated strategic cost savings. READ MORE Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 19:18:55|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan "temporarily" closed Torkham, one of its major border crossings with Afghanistan over "security concerns" on Wednesday, officials said. Aisha Farooqui, spokesperson of the Pakistan Foreign Ministry, said the decision was taken hours after two mortars fired from Afghanistan landed on the Pakistani side of the border on Wednesday morning, according to Pakistani TV channels. She said there was no casualty in the incident at Torkham, the busiest crossing between the two countries in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. "We have taken up the issue with the Afghan side and are in contact with the Afghan officials. The border is expected to reopen soon," Farooqui said. A large number of vehicles and people are stranded on both sides of the Torkham border, Rahat Shinwari, a journalist in the area, told Xinhua. "The border is still closed," Shinwari said. There was no report as to who were involved in the incident. Pakistani security officials routinely accuse militants of carrying out cross-border attacks. Afghan officials in eastern Nangarhar province also confirmed the closure of the border. Spokesperson for Nangarhar Attaullah Khogyani said talks were underway between officials of the two countries for the reopening of the border, according to Afghan media. In September last year, Pakistan said Torkham would remain open round-the-clock to facilitate bilateral and transit trade activities. Pakistan and Afghanistan have nearly 2,600-km border, mostly porous. The Pakistani army is fencing the border to curb illegal cross-border movement. Pakistani officials said the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and other militants have fled to Afghanistan as the result of major government military operations in the tribal regions over the past several years. This week saw the start of the second major trial covering the events of the fall of 2017, when pro-independence forces in the northeastern region of Catalonia organized a referendum on secession from Spain, and the Catalan parliament passed a unilateral declaration of independence. Facing trial in the Spanish High Court, the Audiencia Nacional, are four former chiefs from the Catalan regional police force, the Mossos dEsquadra. They are accused of having played a key role in the pro-independence drive and are facing charges of rebellion and sedition. Trapero said he felt uncomfortable with some of the decisions made by the regional government Last year saw the Supreme Court trial of the pro-independence leaders involved in the 2017 secessionist drive in Catalonia. That case concluded with nine politicians and civic association leaders given lengthy prison sentences for offenses including sedition and misuse of funds. The key defendant in this new case is Josep Lluis Trapero, the then-chief of the Mossos dEsquadra. He was sacked from his position in 2017, after four years in charge of the regional force, in the wake of the central government taking over the regional powers in Catalonia under Article 155 of the Constitution, a measure that was implemented after the unilateral declaration of independence was passed. Also on the stand are Pere Soler, who at the time of the independence drive was the general director of the Mossos, which is a political appointment; Cesar Puig, the former secretary general of the regional interior department (also a political appointment); and Teresa Laplana, a Mossos officer in charge of the security detail at the Catalan Economic Affairs Department in Barcelona during a Civil Guard search there on September 20. Protest outside the Economic Affairs Department on September 20, 2017. ALBERT GARCIA In a trial that will run until March, the four defendants are accused of working in line with the then-regional governments route map aimed at achieving the secession of Catalonia from the rest of Spain. The public prosecutor is calling for up to 11 years in jail for Trapero, Soler and Puig for the charge of rebellion, while Laplana is facing a four-year prison sentence for sedition. On Monday, Trapero faced the first of two days of questioning by the public prosecutor, Miguel Angel Carballo. During his testimony, he sought to distance himself from the political leaders of the secessionist drive, saying that he felt uncomfortable with some of the decisions that the regional government took in the fall of 2017, as well as certain motions passed by the Catalan parliament, which he classed as an outrage. For more than five hours on Monday, Carballo sought to demonstrate that the Mossos had not taken action during the weeks prior to the illegal referendum, and on the actual day of the vote itself. But Trapero rejected each of the accusations made by the public prosecutor. We did everything we could and everything we were ordered to Former Mossos chief Josep Lluis Trapero To speak about passivity I cannot accept that, Trapero told the court. You cannot infer that we didnt want to do anything, he added, in reference to the regional police forces actions on September 20, when a crowd of 40,000 protestors had surrounded the regional Economic Affairs Department as the Civil Guard tried to carry our a court-ordered search to look for material relating to the planned referendum. Im putting myself on the line for the [police] chiefs who were there and the chiefs from the force, he said. We did everything we could and everything we were ordered to, he said about the Mossos actions on October 1, the date of the illegal referendum on Catalan independence, despite criticism the officers did nothing to stop the vote from happening. Trapero insisted that he mobilized all available officers on October 1, and that they had carried out their duties in the prior days. But Carballo was not to be convinced. But what did you do? the prosecutor asked. Did you set up any police unit, any specific investigation, when you became aware that illegal actions were going to take place, and it was your duty to stop them from happening before a judge tells you to do so? The former Mossos chief replied by saying that a different Mossos department would have to answer that question. Trapero also sought to make it clear that he was not aligned with the regional government, claiming that on a number of occasions he complained about the situation that the force had been put into and how it could damage the image of the Catalan force. I felt uncomfortable. Very [uncomfortable], he explained. On a number of occasions I said to the ministers what it was that they were doing, where they were headed. Whats more, he stated in court, he warned his political superiors that the Mossos would not break the law. The Mossos will always do what judges tell them to, he said, emphasizing the fact that he did not have a close relationship with Carles Puigdemont, the then-premier of Catalonia. A vandalized Civil Guard patrol car outside the regional Economic Affairs Department. Albert Garcia Trapero also rejected accusations that he was working in tandem with Jordi Sanchez, the former leader of the pro-independence ANC civic association, and one of the men who organized the protest on September 20 outside the Economic Affairs Department. He got in contact with me offering to mediate, Trapero explained, in reference to the phone calls the pair exchanged that day. But Mr Sanchez did not impose any conditions. He was not in a position to impose conditions. Day 2 Tuesday saw the same dynamic between prosecutor and defendant, during the second court session of the trial. Did you think that it could work? Carballo asked Trapero, about the Mossos approach to stopping the referendum from happening on October 1. We were particularly careful, not to justify our actions [with the pro-independence sectors], but rather because a spark could have set off a massive blaze in Catalonia at the time. The second day of the trial saw the prosecutor analyzing a series of emails and reports that Trapero received, in a bid to use them to prove that the then-Mossos chief was working with the regional government to allow the illegal referendum to take place while making it look as if he was working to stop it. The Mossos will always do what judges tell them to Former Mossos chief Josep Lluis Trapero Carballo even went so far as to throw into doubt Traperos claims that a plan had been formulated to arrest then-regional premier Carles Puigdemont should the courts order his detention in the wake of the unilateral declaration of independence passed by the Catalan parliament. In another document produced by the prosecution, and written in the wake of the September 20 protest, Trapero explains to his officers that they must be careful with the use of force. Was that a way of justifying the light touch at the Economic Affairs Department? Carballo asked. No. We had to be careful because police actions that were excessive or that had serious consequences would have been very difficult to manage with the atmosphere in Catalonia [at the time], Trapero responded. The prosecutors questioning of Trapero finished just after 2.30pm on Tuesday. Today he will face questions from his own lawyer, Olga Tubau, and the rest of the defense team. Then it will be the turn of the rest of the defendants to take the stand. English version by Simon Hunter. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 17:40:45|Editor: ZD Video Player Close JAKARTA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Six people were killed and three others went missing as floods hit Indonesia's North Sumatra province earlier Wednesday, a disaster agency official said. Torrential rains triggered a river's waters in North Tapanuli district to overflow its bank and submerge surrounding areas, spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency Agus Wibowo said. Evacuation of floods-affected people was underway, involving soldiers, policemen and personnel of the agency, said Wibowo. Efforts to search and rescue for the three missing people were being undertaken, according to him. Photos showed the natural disaster destroyed roads, houses and electricity facilities. A seven-day emergency state has been declared to help pave a way for emergency relief works, he told Xinhua. The spokesman said a post for logistics and shelters for the evacuees had been set up, but he failed to give further details including that on the number of displaced persons as the risk assessment of the floods was still in process. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency has warned of possible heavy rains from January to February. Indonesia has been frequently stricken by floods during heavy rains. Pending Home Sales Erase More Than Half of 2019's Gains in a Single Report December's pending home sales erased the small gain posted in November and the National Association of Realtors' (NAR's) Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) ended the year exactly where it had begun. The PHSI is a forward-looking indicator of existing home sales based on purchase contracts signed during the month. It fell 4.9 percent in December, from 108.5 in November to 103.2. While this is 4.6 percent higher than the index in December 2018 (a reading of 99), it matches precisely the January 2019 level. Analysts had anticipated that contract signings would slow, but not decline. Those polled by Econoday had expected results ranging from no change to an increase of 1.0 percent after a 1.7 percent gain in November. Their consensus estimate was an increase of 0.4 percent. NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun said, "Mortgage rates are expected to hold under 4 percent for most of 2020, while net job creation will likely exceed two million." While he noted that these factors are promising for the housing market, he cautioned that low inventory remains a significant longer-term concern. "Due to the shortage of affordable homes, home sales growth will only rise by around 3 percent," Yun predicted. "Still, national median home price growth is in no danger of falling due to inventory shortages and will rise by 4 percent. The new home construction market also looks brighter, with housing starts and new home sales set to rise 6 percent and 10 percent respectively." Yun says those locations where listing prices are around $250,000 - an affordable price point in most markets nationally - are drawing some of the most significant buyer attention. He pointed to Fort Wayne, Indiana; Burlington, North Carolina; Topeka, Kansas; Pueblo, Colorado; and Columbus, Ohio. "The state of housing in 2020 will depend on whether home builders bring more affordable homes to the market," he continued. "Home prices and even rents are increasing too rapidly, and more inventory would help correct the problem and slow price gains." Pending indices fell in all four regions in December. In the Northeast the PHSI slipped 4.0 percent to 92.4, down 0.1 percent from the previous December. The Midwest PHSI was down 3.6 percent to 98.8 which was still 1.3 percent higher than a year earlier. Pending home sales in the South decreased 5.5 percent to an index of 118.1, a 7.4 percent year-over-year gain. The West saw a decline of 5.4 percent to 93.1, an increase of 7.0 percent from a year ago. The PHSI is a leading indicator of existing home sales and is based on a large national sample, typically representing about 20 percent of transactions for existing-home sales. In developing the model for the Index, it was demonstrated that the level of monthly sales-contract activity parallels the level of closed existing-home sales in the following two months. NAR will release existing home sales results for January on February 21. An index of 100 is equal to the average level of contract activity during 2001, which was the first year to be examined. By coincidence, the volume of existing-home sales in 2001 fell within the range of 5.0 to 5.5 million, which is considered normal for the current U.S. population. DUP MEP Diane Dodds said her vote was not a vote against Brexit (Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA) DUP MEP Diane Dodds said her final act in the European Parliament was to vote against the Withdrawal Agreement. Northern Irelands three MEPs were in Brussels on Wednesday for their final plenary session ahead of the UKs exit from the EU on Friday. Ms Dodds and Alliance leader Naomi Long voted against the deal, while Sinn Feins Martina Anderson voted for it. And so the debate begins. pic.twitter.com/tbEDHYOb5A Diane Dodds MLA (@DianeDoddsMLA) January 29, 2020 Ms Dodds clarified that her vote was not a vote against Brexit. I campaigned for the United Kingdom to leave the EU, not for part of the UK to be treated differently and continue to be under EU control via a Joint Committee, she said. As a unionist from Northern Ireland I have never wanted to see the return to the borders of the past with the Republic of Ireland. However, the focus on this trade should never have been to the exclusion of the far larger and more important market for Northern Ireland within the rest of the United Kingdom. Going into vote in the European Parliament Brussels to ensure no hardening of the British border partitioning Ireland job done pic.twitter.com/UzRm3IpGwa Martina Anderson Sinn Fein (@M_AndersonSF) January 29, 2020 Many of those who have latterly come to oppose barriers to trade within the Irish Sea were curiously silent previously because their focus was blinkered on that north-south axis. Ms Dodds said challenges for Prime Minister Boris Johnson included delivering upon the promises he has made about unfettered access to the United Kingdom internal market. Ms Anderson voted for the withdrawal deal, describing it as an ugly compromise but its better than a crash out Brexit. She concluded her address saying there would be a day when people from Northern Ireland would be represented again by Irish MEPs, in reference to her partys aspiration towards a united Ireland. The Withdrawal Agreement has passed: but the hand of friendship, the spirit of cooperation, the commitment to working together in the best interests of all of our people.#DemandBetter #BridgesnotBorders #Friendship pic.twitter.com/9SlOz5UQSN Naomi Long MLA (@naomi_long) January 29, 2020 Speaking outside the chamber, Ms Anderson described her vote as giving consent to make sure that there is no harder border in Ireland, to prevent customs posts being erected in Ireland, to ensure there is no barbed wire in Ireland. I stand here as a very proud member of Sinn Fein, we have punched above our weight in the European Parliament because before this everyone was talking about Scotland, no one was talking about Ireland, she said. Ms Long expressed her regret at Brexit during her final speech in the European Parliament. She voted against the withdrawal deal and described the day as one of profound regret. The people of Northern Ireland rejected Brexit in 2016 and we are certainly not in agreement with this insular, isolationist and reckless course of action, she said. The people of Northern Ireland will never withdraw the hand of friendship, the spirit of co-operation and the shared determination to secure peace and prosperity for all of our people. I am grateful to the EU, which has helped to shape our peace and which provides a model for pragmatic, win-win politics, not based upon division but embracing of diversity. Ms Dodds and Ms Long have gone on to become ministers in the newly reformed devolved government in Northern Ireland, with the former at the helm of the economy portfolio and the latter serving as justice minister. This is the bizarre moment Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg greeted a dog by shaking its mouth. The former New York mayor was attending a campaign event in Burlington, Vermont on Monday when he met the dog. In the clip, he shakes a man's hand before the excited dog wanders up to him. Instead of scratching its ears or petting its head, Bloomberg grabs the dog by the snout before shaking it up and down. Michael Bloomberg grabbed the dog by its snout and shook it up and down in a bizarre clip from a campaign event The dog continues wagging its tail and Bloomberg rubs its head before moving away. Unsurprisingly, the bizarre clip has been shared widely online, with more than three million people watching it on Twitter. And it has divided social media users, with some criticizing the billionaire, while others praised him for playing with the pooch. One said: 'People who don't know how to handle dogs terrify me.' Another commented: 'Billionaires dont understand dogs.' While a third joked: 'Sorry I have a dog and this is not a thing we do.' Some were more supportive of the presidential candidate, defending him and suggesting that the dog enjoyed the interaction. The dog seemed confused by the interaction but continued wagging its tail as it met the presidential candidate Bloomberg spoke to an audience of around 300 in Burlington, though his encounter with the dog proved to be the highlight Democratic presidential candidate and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg speaks to reporters after the campaign event in Vermont One wrote: 'He must love and know dogs when he felt comfortable putting his hand inside a dogs mouth and the dog seemed to love it. This is not a thing.' A second said: 'Good on Mike. Not a fan of his but good to see him play with the nice doggo.' Another added: 'I love that Mike Bloomberg is interacting and being playful with the sweet doggo! Doggos tail indicates happiness.' Visiting rival Bernie Sanders' own state, Bloomberg spoke to an audience of around 300 in Burlington. He called on the Senate to remove President Trump from office before adding that he knew how to 'beat' the President in an election. GLADE SPRING, Va. While visiting the storage unit where her father died in a tragic fire last weekend, 24-year-old Abigail Lampkins said Thursday she has theories about what happened. Lampkins, of Meadowview, and her mother, Heather Lampkins, spoke with the Bristol Herald Courier at the Glade Spring Mini-Storage about the death of Walter Bryan Lampkins, 46. The man had been staying in the unit for a couple of days when fire ignited, but the door was locked and he was unable to escape, the Washington County Sheriffs Office said. Kelly Lynn Goff, 46, has been charged with abduction and involuntary manslaughter in the case. Surveillance video shows Goff closing the door and locking it as she left the unit, according to a criminal affidavit filed in Washington County Domestic Relations Court. Detective Marty Lloyd, who responded to the scene, said video also showed Lampkins trying to escape the unit after the fire began. No one else was seen in the vicinity. Ultimately, 25 units were damaged, and several local fire departments worked to stop the blaze. Sheriff Blake Andis said Goff, who was in a relationship with Lampkins, was charged because she locked the door. The fire likely started at a space heater, but Andis said Thursday that the cause is being investigated by the Virginia State Police. Abigail Lampkins, who placed a long-stemmed red rose and a New Testament Bible on the units concrete floor, is still trying to learn exactly what happened. She and her mother said they question whether there was any intention or premeditation, but detectives have provided few answers. His daughter noted that, until that day, Goff never locked the unit. Before then, her father was able to come and go whenever he wanted, she said. He had been staying in the unit, which had a place for him to sleep, for a couple of days when the fire ignited, she added. The daughter said she last saw her father the Wednesday before the fire. She stopped by the nearby Econo Lodge motel, where she said he had been staying with Goff, who lived and worked at the motel. A majority of the time, he was in the motel room, she said. Here and there, he would stay in the [storage] building. She explained that her father sometimes stayed in the storage unit, which Goff rented, likely due to arguments. The pair had been living together at the motel because he was unable to find help elsewhere, his daughter said. He couldnt stand her, she added. During her last discussion with her father, she said she told him to cut ties with Goff. The pair had known each other since high school and had a child together, she said. If you cut ties with her completely, I can make sure you get to your doctors appointments and all that you need. I cant let you live with me because I live with my mom, she recalls telling her father. Heather Lampkins has been separated from her husband for about 20 years, but they never divorced. She said she also wanted to help him. I was trying to start helping him get away from [Goff] so he wouldnt need her so-called help, she said. We stayed friends. Even though we didnt stay in contact, I still care. Lampkins was typically quiet, had friends and didnt get into anyone elses business, his daughter said. Abigail Lampkins said her father, who had no drivers license or phone, had been doing well the past year. They talked regularly, and she said she hoped to help her father more, possibly by getting him a cellphone. He did not have a recent job but had held good jobs in the past, his family said. The Lampkinses said that he and Goff would fuss, but their arguments didnt become physical. He just wanted to get away from her, but no one would help, Heather Lampkins said. Local court records show both Goff and Lampkins had either pending charges or convictions. Goff has been convicted of shoplifting, driving on a suspended license, credit card forgery and embezzlement. Lampkins was convicted of marijuana possession and driving on a suspended license. He had a pending drug charge in Smyth County. Abigail and Heather Lampkins question whether the man could have been saved from the fire, especially if he had a phone or if Goff had let authorities know he was in the unit. She needs to sit in jail, Abigail Lampkins said of Goff. Even if she didnt mean for the fire to happen, she shouldnt have locked that door. She said she hopes to go to court as the case continues. Goff is being held without bail at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail in Abingdon. Air Force E-11A Crash Afganistan Anna-Marie Wyant/DVIDS/US Air Force A US Air Force military aircraft crashed in Afghanistan, killing all on board. The aircraft was an E-11A communications aircraft, the military version of a popular private jet aircraft made by Canada's Bombardier. Though the US denied it was shot down, the aircraft had a no-fatality safety record in civilian and military use. Following the crash, members of the US Navy's SEAL Team Six recovered two bodies and the aircraft's flight recorder, Reuters reported. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The US Air Force confirmed on Monday that one of its aircraft had crashed in Afghanistan, killing all on board. The aircraft was a Bombardier E-11A, the military version of the popular Bombardier Global Express aircraft family used by the world's elite for long-range travel. Though the Taliban has taken credit, Air Force officials have denied that it was shot down. The Air Force frequently uses modified versions of civilian aircraft for its transport and combat missions,including those used by the 89th Airlift Wing which flies the president of the US. While CEOs and the upper echelon of society use the civilian version of the E-11A to jet-set around the world in style and comfort, the Air Force has a different mission for it, facilitating communication between military forces in the field. Here's what we know about the aircraft. The Bombardier E-11A is the military version of the Bombardier Global Express family. Bombardier Global 6000 VistaJet David Slotnick/Business Insider Source: US Air Force The Global Express is one of the largest wide cabin VIP aircraft produced by Bombardier of Canada's private jet division. Bombardier Global 6000 VistaJet David Slotnick/Business InsiderThe Canadian aircraft manufacturer's Global Express product line is a director competitor to Gulfstream, whose planes are also used by the Air Force. A US Air Force Gulfstream C-20 Kevin Wallace/DVIDS/US Air ForceFor the Air Force, however, it has a much different mission. Air Force E-11A Crash Afghanistan Anna-Marie Wyant/DVIDS/US Air ForceThe aircraft is used to facilitate communications, acting as a central hub for communications between forces both on the ground and in the air. Story continues Air Force E-11A Crash Afghanistan Anna-Marie Wyant/DVIDS/US Air Force Source: US Air Force A flying repeater, the aircraft allows forces to communicate with each other even when separated via mountains or obstacles or when using different communications systems. Air Force E-11A Crash Afghanistan Anna-Marie Wyant/DVIDS/US Air Force Source: Air Force Mag The Air Force had only four of the aircraft in its fleet. Air Force E-11A Crash Afghanistan Anna-Marie Wyant/DVIDS/US Air Force Source: Military Times The aircraft is rare and only operates in Afghanistan, so new pilots usually have their first time at the controls when flying over combat areas. Air Force E-11A Crash Afghanistan Anna-Marie Wyant/DVIDS/US Air Force Source: Air Force Mag Its sole base of operations is in Kandahar, Afghanistan, where the US military has been embroiled in war since 2001. U.S. airmen prepare a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone as it leaves on a mission at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan March 9, 2016. Picture taken March 9, 2016. REUTERS/Josh Smith Thomson Reuters Source: US Air Force The name for the program is Battlefield Operational Communication Node, or BACN for short, like the breakfast food. Air Force E-11A Crash Afghanistan 94th Airlift Wing/DVIDS/US Air Force Source: US Air Force Though the range of the Air Force's variant is unknown, the civilian version of the aircraft has a range upwards of 6,000 nautical miles, according to Bombardier, making it ideal for long endurance flights over battlefields. Bombardier Global Express MyLoupe/Universal Images Group/Getty Images Source: Bombardier Though not as fast as other Air Force planes, Bombardier reports the civilian version of the Global Express XRS aircraft have a maximum speed of around Mach .88, greater than 600 miles per hour. Air Force E-11A Crash Afghanistan Anna-Marie Wyant/DVIDS/US Air Force Source: Bombardier Its creation for born out of necessity when the military wanted to shore up communications following the rescue of Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, a mission which was later turned into the movie "Lone Survivor." Lone Survivor Exercise Justyn Freeman/DVIDS/US Air Force Source: US Air Force Now, the Air Force refers to the aircraft as "as essential to mission success as bullets." Air Force E-11A Crash Afghanistan Capt. Keenan Kunst Source: US Air Force The aircraft has a strong safety record, with no recorded fatalities in the aircraft family's 27-year history before the recent incident. Bombardier Global Express Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images Source: Aviation Safety Network This would be the first time that a Global Express aircraft crashed without outside interference. afghanistan plane crash us air force Reuters Source: Aviation Safety Network Following the crash, news sources reported that members of the US Navy's SEAL Team Six recovered two bodies and the aircraft's flight recorder, which can better tell what brought the aircraft down. The wreckage of an airplane is seen after a crash in Deh Yak district of Ghazni province, Afghanistan January 27, 2020. Reuters Read the original article on Business Insider The combined endowment of the Ivy Leagues totaled $135 billion at the end 2018, a figure that will be considerably higher in 2019. Hence the sharp observation that they are hedge funds masquerading as universities. If only they were so benign. As these institutions never tire of reminding us or themselves, they educate the leaders of tomorrow; are led by renowned professors; make use of research, grants, and publications to shape the contours of modern debate; and spread their influence through vast alumni networks. I write with particular interest in my alma mater, Yale, where I graduated many years ago summa cum laude from Yale College, Yale School of Management, and Yale Law School. I take this opportunity to renounce myself as an alumnus in good standing. And I encourage as many alumni as possible to join in the movement to Cancel Yale, or your respective educational institution. Why? The final straw for me is a random one: the decision to eliminate the introductory History of Art class as too white, too male, and too Western, in favor of art history courses that explore race, sex, and class, with special attention to climate change! Is most of Yale's campus architecture too white, too male, and too Western? The decision epitomizes all that woke Yale has striven to become. Lost in this particular decision is the immersion in masterpieces, the only art course many would take, taught in my era by the resplendent Vincent Scully, who later became a neighbor and friend. The decision is one with Yale's programmatic march in the service of identity politics with an unabashedly progressive cast. In a 2017 survey, Yale students put conservative teachers at 1%, roughly the same answer from Yale computer science professor and Unabomber victim David Gelernter, who in 2019 said it more closely approximates 0%. The Federalist Society invited a Christian speaker representing the Alliance Defending Freedom, which was denounced by law students as a "homophobic, transphobic hate group." As it turns out, the canary in the coal mine happened a quarter-century ago, with the then unheard-of return by Yale of $20 million to the Bass Family after four years of fruitless negotiations. The gift was intended to expand the curriculum on Western civilization. Today, the gift would not even be accepted. Relentless identity politics in the classroom, no meaningful political diversity, isolation of students with non-conforming views, empowerment of the most aggrieved student demands. The totalitarian spirit is alive and well at Yale. Virtue-signaling is too kind an expression for Yale's direction under President Peter Salovey. The watchword of climate change is "sustainability," a concept grounded in the notion of inheritance. Yale, too, is an inheritance, one of excellence, that in recent years has been brazenly despoiled of its core resource: the dedicated, impartial search for truth. Truth is not 90% giving to the Democratic party. Truth is not growth in diversity for all things except intellectual. Truth is not the injection of race and sex as the dominant lens for all discussion, from the humanities, to the social sciences, the arts, to law, medicine, and increasingly even the sciences. So what is the platform of Cancel Yale (or your favorite institution)? 1. Crowdsource support on social media. In numbers there is strength. 2. Forswear all charitable giving until such time as meaningful change is implemented. Your charitable giving is needed elsewhere. 3. Use strength to elect sympathetic Board members. 4. Require the meaningful hire of conservative and right-of-center professors, until an approximate 50/50 ideological balance is achieved. 5. Require a sharp university shift in resources, with administrative spending cut a minimum of 25%, spent dollar for dollar on teaching by intellectually diverse professors. 6. Advocate for reduced government funding. Productive research funding is fine and desirable. Woke funding to an elite institution with a $30-billion endowment is a massive fraud on the U.S. taxpayer. Clearly, this program is unimaginable in the current environment. So be it. Then the university should feel the consequences. The tools are at hand if alumni unite and use social media to create a sustained opposition. It also is inevitable, on the current trajectory, that Yale and the rest of the Ivy League will forfeit their dominance. Most obviously, employers will move to skill-based testing. Break the spell, and employment and advancement, and ultimately societal prestige, will be as they should be, based on merit, not membership in an increasingly distorted coterie, as Roger Kimball put it, of fragility and angry intolerance. As with the New York Times' discredited 1619 Project, the irony of progressive elite institutions is that they advocate for the end of elite institutions. Let them have their wish. Cancel Yale now. Cancel the Ivy League now. Photo credit: Needpix. A father has been separated from his wife and young British children, to be deported to Jamaica after being detained in a move his lawyers say is unlawful. Joseph Nembhard, 38, was locked up on Monday and told he would be placed on a charter flight to Jamaica on 11 February the second charter flight to travel to the country since the Windrush scandal two years ago. The Jamaican nationals solicitors say the Home Office acted unlawfully in detaining him because he had an ongoing immigration case, and is also a key witness in the inquest into the death of an immigration detainee. The move meant he has been ripped from his partner and children aged five and eight months who he lives with in Harringey, London, and faces being deported back to a country he hasnt visited since he moved to Britain 20 years ago. Dozens of other Jamaican nationals are said to have been detained in recent days and are set to be deported on the same charter flight, which campaigners said should not be happening before the much-delayed Windrush Lessons Learned Review has been published. Nembhard: I dont know what Ill do if I have to leave my kids (Jade Samuel) Speaking from Brook House removal centre, Mr Nembhard said the situation was heartbreaking and he was worried about his family. His partner, Jade Samuel, is currently on maternity leave and is due to return to work in two weeks, but wont be able to if he has left the country, which he said would leave her struggling to cope. Mr Nembhard, who has been fighting his immigration case for years, said: Im really depressed. I cry when I think about my child. Its really sensitive because Im the world to her, and shes the same to me. We have a really close bond and this is all starting to affect her. My partner will struggle to cope. I dont know what Ill do if I have to leave my kids. The Home Office is destroying their lives. The Jamaican national arrived to the UK on a visit visa in 1999. He met his ex-wife and applied to remain in the country with her but his application was refused. He continued to fight the case but was accused of assault by his ex-wife whom he had by this point separated from and got together with Ms Samuel an allegation he still denies. The courts found him guilty and he was sentenced to prison shortly after his daughter was born. He was then immediately detained under immigration powers, before being released on bail and settling down in London with Ms Samuel and their daughter. In February 2019, he was one of several Jamaicans threatened with deportation despite being key witnesses in the inquest into the death of an immigration detainee but he was granted last-minute reprieve after solicitors intervened. Without immigration status, Mr Nembhard has been unable to work, but Ms Samuel, who works as a supervisor at a jewellery wholesalers, said the family makes it work as he is able to care for the children while she works. Hes an amazing dad. He is their primary carer. I want to be able to work and continue providing for my family. If he is deported Ill become a single mum, Id have to rely on benefits. Ive never had to do that. It took me a long time to get to this position at work but this means I will have to stop working, she said. When he was detained on Monday, I did the school run instead of him. My daughter asked, Wheres dad? Has he gone to that place again? Shes been emotional. Ive had to let her school know. She keeps asking when hes coming home. Theyre really close. Recommended Dozens to be deported on first Jamaica charter flight since Windrush The immigration situation has really shaken us up over the past few years. Every time we get a bit of stability, they seem to take him away again. He deserves to be with his family. Here is where his life is. Mr Nembhard was detained despite the fact that he had a further submissions appointment with the Home Office in March where his immigration case was going to be reconsidered. David Lammy, the familys local MP, condemned the Home Office for putting them in this situation, saying the lives of Mr Nembhards British wife and children were being devastated by the departments gross mishandling of the case. The Labour MP said more broadly that it was wrong for the Home Office to be chartering deportation flights to Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean before the delayed Windrush review has been published, adding: How can the home secretary be sure she is not making the same mistakes? Naga Kandiah, of MTC Solicitors, who is representing Mr Nembhard, said his detention was making it difficult to effectively prepare for his Home Office interview in March, and accused the Home Office of acting in a harsh and heartless manner towards British children and their parents. Why is the Home Office getting so many immigration decisions wrong? Without notification, Mr Nembhard was detained. Due to the complexity of his case, we need to obtain all of his past papers from previous solicitors, coroners inquest papers, instruct medical and social worker reports, but we cannot do this as effectively as he is incarcerated, he said. His family are suffering due to the absence of Mr Nembhard at home. His British wife and British children are not only deeply worried by him being incarcerated with no certainty, but also, struggling to cope as a family unit in day to day activities. The Home Office confirmed that it would be operating a charter flight to Jamaica in the coming weeks and said those being deported had all been convicted of crimes in the UK. A spokesperson added: Foreign nationals who abuse our hospitality by committing crimes in the UK should be in no doubt of our determination to deport them. Our priority will always be to keep the British public safe. The UK, like many other countries, uses charter flights to return people to their country of origin when they have no legal right to remain. The majority of those returned are on scheduled, commercial flights but this isnt always an option, especially if the individual is a foreign national offender. By AFP WASHINTON: The fight over calling witnesses to testify in President Donald Trump's impeachment trial intensified Tuesday after Trump's lawyers closed their defense calling the abuse of power charges against him politically motivated. Democrats sought to have the Senate subpoena former White House national security advisor John Bolton to provide evidence after leaks from his forthcoming book suggested he could supply damning evidence against Trump. But Republicans threatened to demand that Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden and his son Hunter also testify, in a move aimed at damaging the party's possibly best chance of defeating Trump in the November election. "If people want witnesses, we're going to get a lot of witnesses," said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. At only the third ever presidential impeachment trial in US history, Trump's lawyers closed out their three-day defense in the Senate by calling for a speedy acquittal of Trump and accusing Democrats of bringing politically motivated charges in an attempt to reverse his 2016 election victory. "What they are asking you to do is to throw out a successful president, on the eve of an election, with no basis and in violation of the constitution," Trump's lead counsel Pat Cipollone said. "The American people are entitled to choose their president," he told the senators sitting as the jury. "We urge the Senate to reject these articles of impeachment." Low bar Trump is accused of cheating in his 2020 reelection effort by pressuring vulnerable ally Ukraine to announce investigations into both Bidens and a spurious conspiracy theory, promoted by Russia, that Kiev helped the Democrats in 2016. The impeachment charges say the president froze vital military aid to Ukraine for two months last summer to pressure President Volodymyr Zelensky to publicly announce the probes, illicitly drawing a foreign nation into US electoral politics. ALSO READ: Donald Trump's Middle East plan calls for Palestinian state, settlement freeze Trump's lawyers mostly steered clear of those specific allegations. Instead they argued that the impeachment case was rooted in "policy differences" and that the charges against him, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, are too weak and thinly-sourced to justify his removal from office. They said a conviction would set a precedent for US politics that would result in retribution-driven political battles for years to come. "The bar for impeachment cannot be set this low," said Jay Sekulow, another Trump lawyer. "If partisan impeachment is now the rule of the day... future presidents -- Democrats, Republicans -- will be paralyzed the moment they are elected," he said. Adam Schiff, the head of the Democrats' prosecution team, said that Republicans' arguments were "not particularly relevant to the charges against the president." "The president's lawyers ... really did not, cannot, defend the president on the facts," he said. Battle over Bolton The trial, which began in earnest seven days ago, turns now to senators submitting written questions to the prosecution and defense through presiding Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts over Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday they are expected to take up the issue of calling witnesses, which Republicans originally believed they could defeat and bring the trial to a swift close with their 53-47 majority in the Senate. But leaks from Bolton's coming book, suggesting he could provide evidence of Trump's wrongdoing appear to have convinced several Republicans to support calling witnesses. Bolton reportedly says Trump told him in August that aid to Ukraine, totaling almost $400 million, would stay frozen until Zelensky announced investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens. Late Tuesday Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Senate Republicans they did not have enough votes yet to block a witness call -- implying that at least four Republican senators would cross party lines and side with the 47 Democrats in an expected vote. Trump and his supporters have pummeled Bolton in the media. But Trump's former White House chief of staff, retired general John Kelly, said Tuesday that he trusts Bolton on the matter. "If John Bolton says that in the book, I believe John Bolton," he said in Florida. Senator Graham told Fox News that he expected Republicans would still be able to defeat the witness vote on Friday and the trial would be finished before the annual State of the Union speech which Trump is to deliver to Congress on Tuesday. "This, to me, needs to end, end now," Graham said. Trump himself, at a campaign rally in New Jersey, said the Democrats were carrying out "deranged partisan crusades." But Graham, one of Trump's strongest defenders in the Senate, also threatened to make Democrats pay a price if they are determined to call Bolton. Republicans would insist on subpoenaing the two Bidens as well as others linked to the Ukraine case. He said they would want to know "was it legitimate for the president to believe there was corruption and conflicts of interest on the Bidens' part in the Ukraine?" The Mississippi River is high enough at New Orleans to prompt daily levee inspections and a ban on subsurface work within 1,500 feet (457 meters) of a levee. The river was 15 feet (4.6 meters) deep at the Carrollton Gage, prompting the moves, the Army Corps of Engineers said in a news release. The corps and local levee districts have been checking levees from Baton Rouge to Venice, at the rivers mouth, twice a week since Jan. 9, when the river was 11 feet (3.3 meters) at New Orleans and rising. Local levee districts are also no longer allowed to grant waivers from a ban on subsurface work within 1,500 feet of levees south of Baton Rouge and other restrictions until the water at New Orleans is once again less than 15 feet deep. Twice-weekly inspections and initial work limits began Jan. 21 along the Atchafalaya River, which takes about one-third of the Mississippis water. Current forecasts dont indicate a need to operate flood control structures further upriver, the news release said. Officials in Mississippi sued in December, trying to force the Corps and the Mississippi River Commission to consult with them before opening the Bonnet Carre Spillway in Louisiana again. The federal lawsuit said wildlife and localities were hurt because the agencies opened the spillway for long periods without considering the consequences. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Mississippi MEXICO CITY - Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Wednesday he would denounce any proposed legal reforms that would bring back criminal defamation statutes or other laws that would impinge on the freedom of expression. Lopez Obradors comments came in response to questioning from Denise Dresser, a well-known Mexican journalist, who pressed him to respond to leaked documents from the Attorney Generals Office. The working documents suggested a series of measures that could be used to silence or harass journalists. I dont have anything to do with the supposed reform, the president said, noting that the Attorney Generals Office is an autonomous entity. But any legal reform would have to go through Mexicos congress, which is controlled by Lopez Obradors allies. Lopez Obrador promised to not only not support such reforms, but to denounce it. Of course, by conviction, he said. We have the commitment to guarantee freedom of expression, of the manifestation of ideas, the right to dissent. Jan-Albert Hootsen, the Mexico representative for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the possibility of a return to criminal prosecutions for defamation has unsettled journalists in Mexico. CPJ has maintained a posture that defamation and similar charges should be within the civil code and not the criminal code, Hootsen said. No one should ever be sent to prison for having written an opinion, a journalistic article. With or without the reform discussed Wednesday, in Mexico the problem of judicial harassment is a real problem with or without the proposed reform to criminalize defamation, Hootsen said. Earlier this month, the Inter-American Press Society expressed concern about reforms that would turn defamation into a criminal offence, returning the country to an environment where journalists could go to jail for exercising their right to inform, criticize or comment. Mexico had decriminalized defamation in 2007. Dresser raised the question after noting that a Mexico City judge had ordered journalist Sergio Aguayo to pay $24,000 (450,000 pesos) Tuesday to head off the seizure of his assets as part of a lawsuit by former Coahuila state Gov. Humberto Moreira. Moreira sued him over a 2016 article that reported on Moreiras alleged corruption. Moreira is the former Institutional Revolutionary Party chief. He resigned as party leader when it was revealed that the Coahuila state debt rose from $27 million to nearly $3 billion during his tenure. Trump lawyer Alan Dershowitz argued Wednesday in the Senate that a quid pro quo cannot result in impeachment if the president believes it will help him get elected in the public interest. During Wednesdays question and answer session in the impeachment trial, Dershowitzwho previously had claimed he wasnt a full-fledged member of President Donald Trumps impeachment defense squadanswered a question submitted by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on whether it matters if Trump dangled military aid to Ukraine in return for a probe into potential election rival Joe Biden. (Cruz argued Tuesday night on Fox News that, in fact, it doesnt matter if Trump engaged in such a quid pro quo with Ukraine.) Arguing that there are three possible motives for a president to engage in a quid pro quo in foreign policypersonal interest, public interest, and financial interestDershowitz argued that a president withholding money to a foreign country so as they will help in his election would be within the public interest, which is not impeachable. Every public official that I know believes that his election is in the public interest, and mostly youre right, Dershowitz declared. Your election is in the public interest, and if a president does something which he believes will help him get elected in the public interest, that cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment. It cannot be a corrupt motive if you have a mixed-motive that partially involves the national interest," he added. And does not involve personal pecuniary interest. To make his case, Dershowitz pointed to Abraham Lincoln telling General William Sherman to let the troops go to Indiana so that they can vote for the Republican Party in the 1864 election. Lets assume the president was running at that point and it was in his electoral interest to have these soldiers put at risk the lives of many, many other soldiers who would be left without their company, would that be an unlawful quid pro quo? Dershowitz pondered. No, because the president, A: believed it was in the national interest, but B: he believed that his own election was essential to victory in the Civil War. Story continues Every president believes that, he added. Thats why its so dangerous to try to psychoanalyze a president, to try to get into the intricacies of the human mind. Lead House impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), meanwhile, was asked a follow-up question by the Democrats, asking him to respond to Dershowitz's assertion that a president could essentially do anything to secure re-election. After saying Barack Obama would have definitely been impeached in 2012 if he promised to withhold military aid to Russian foe Ukraine if the Russian president promised to investigate his election opponent Mitt Romney, Schiff argued that Dershowitz was saying presidents had free rein to ask for foreign powers to interfere in elections on their behalf. Now, bear in mind, that efforts to cheat in an election are always going to be in proximity to an election, and if you say you cant hold a president accountable in an election year where theyre trying to cheat in that election, then you are giving them carte blanche, the Democratic lawmaker stated. So all quid pro quos are not the same. Some are legitimate and some are corrupt, and you dont need to be a mind reader to figure out which is which. For one thing, you can ask John Bolton. The president is accused of withholding military aid to Ukraine in exchange for Ukrainian officials publicly announcing probes into his domestic political rivals, including Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. Former National Security Adviser John Bolton, a potential witness in the Senate trial, has alleged in an upcoming book that Trump told him last August that he was freezing Ukrainian aid until they investigated Biden. 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. Hundreds of deserving community sporting clubs that missed out on funding because they were not in marginal federal electorates could receive cash over the coming year as Prime Minister Scott Morrison attempts to limit the political damage from the so-called sports rorts saga. Mr Morrison promised on Tuesday his government would look to fund many "worthy" projects in the months to come as he also attempted to distance his office from the scandal that has plagued the Coalition for two weeks. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has flagged hundreds of community sporting clubs could get funding as he tries to limit the fallout from the sports rorts scandal. Credit: AAP But the future of embattled cabinet minister Bridget McKenzie may not become clear until the weekend, as Mr Morrison attempts to minimise the potential internal fall-out should a review into his administration of the scheme find she breached ministerial standards. Senior Coalition sources told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald Mr Morrison wanted a clear-cut result from a departmental report - whichever way it fell - to ensure he was not left open to accusations the Nationals minister had been treated differently from any Liberal. The Supreme Court will pronounce, on Wednesday, its verdict in the petition filed by one of the four convicts in the 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder case, Mukesh, challenging the rejection of his mercy petition by President Ram Nath Kovind. Another convict Akshay Thakur (31) also filed a curative plea late Tuesday. President Kovind had rejected Mukeshs mercy petition on January 17 just four days after it was filedthe fastest decision ever on such a plea. Senior counsel Anjana Prakash, who represented Mukesh on Tuesday before a three-judge bench led by Justice R Banumathi, challenged the rejection of his request for a presidential pardon. Mukesh and his three other accomplices, who were convicted for the gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old paramedic student in a moving bus in Delhi in 2012, have been sentenced to death. Earlier this month, a Delhi court had ordered the four of them to be executed on February 1. Prakash told the bench, which also comprises justices Ashok Bhushan and AS Bopanna, that the government failed to place all the records of the case before the President who could, therefore, not make an informed decision. She told the court that documents, including the trial court judgment, were not transmitted to the President, who arrived at his decision without having had an opportunity to examine relevant records. Prakash also highlighted the fact Mukesh was kept in solitary confinement and the President was not informed of the same. She also cited previous judgments of the court in Shatrughan Chauhan and Dharam Pal cases as per which solitary confinement was one of the grounds for commutation of death penalty to life imprisonment. One of the arguments against the petition by Mukesh was that the President was not exercising a judicial function and his decision cannot, therefore, be challenged in a court of law. Prakash, however, responded to the same by arguing that a death row convict can challenge the manner in which the President exercised his power to grant pardon under Article 72 of the Constitution. She cited judgments of the Supreme Court to that effect. Execution of a death sentence should also be as per constitutional principles, Prakash told the court. She also claimed that Mukesh was sexually abused in jail and his brother, Ram Singh, who was the prime accused in the case, was murdered in the jail. Prakash said that though Mukesh wanted to lodge a police complaint against the same, he was not permitted by the authorities to do so. The pace at which the President rejected mercy plea was also pointed out by Mukeshs counsel to allege non-application of mind by the President. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central government said it was ironical that the convict would raise arguments regarding sanctity of life considering the gruesome nature of the crime for which he has been found guilty. Regarding the pace at which the President made the decision, Mehta said that as per Supreme Court judgments, a mercy plea has to be decided without delay and undue delay by the President in deciding mercy petitions will have a de-humanising effect. Importantly, Mehta disputed Mukeshs claim that relevant records were not sent to the President and also denied that Mukesh was kept in solitary confinement. He said Mukesh might have been kept segregated in a single cell, but that did not amount to solitary confinement. Mukesh was never kept in solitary confinement. Every convict is sometimes kept in a separate cell for his own safety or for the safety of other convicts. That is not solitary confinement. Solitary confinement means completely cut off from the world. Even during times when he (Mukesh) was kept in a separate single cell, he was allowed to come out to the yard during scheduled hours just like any other convict, the Solicitor General said. On Mukeshs complaint of sexual abuse in jail, Mehta said the allegations, even if they are true, would not be relevant while considering a mercy plea. He stressed that if there was ill-treatment in jail, the convict could raise it at an appropriate forum but it cannot be a ground for commuting a death sentence. This is not a luxury jurisdiction that though Im guilty of this heinous crime, since I was ill treated, I should be given mercy, the Solicitor General emphasised. The execution of the four convicts, which was initially scheduled for January 22, was pushed to February 1 after Mukesh filed his mercy petition before the President. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Aleksandar Vucic did not comment on the social media scandal centred on a Srebrenica school. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has announced an investment package targeting education and job creation in Mrkonjic Grad, a town in neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina. Vucic was visiting the town in the eastern Republika Srpska region, which borders Serbia, on Wednesday, and pledged 300,000 euros ($330,370) for computers and advanced machining tools for the local engineering school. He also said the Serbian government had allocated 925,000 euros ($1m) to invest in water-supply infrastructure in the western Republika Srpska region. We will not go anywhere else, but as a people we have gone through so many tragedies that we will never allow anyone to banish us from their hearts, said Vucic. There are no more Storms, he added referring to Operation Storm, the last major battle of the Croatian War of Independence but jobs, schools, restored health centres, kindergartens full of children 190721083257785 We have nothing to say against anyone, only that we love and respect you and want everything together with everyone else, just let us be on our own and keep our name, but also our faith. Srebrenica scandal The Serbian presidents trip was planned long before a scandal erupted on Monday over a group of schoolboys in Srebrenica a town in eastern Republika Srpska that saw a 1995 genocide of more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina making ultra-nationalist posts on social media. The boys had taken photos in folk costume in the school classrom. The caption published on social media glorified Chetniks, a Serb ultra nationalistic movement and militia during World War II that had a resurgence under Serbias former President Slobodan Milosevic. We are not ashamed of being Serbs and being Chetniks, they had posted alongside pictures of their demonstration at the mixed Bosnian-Serb elementary school. We are sorry if you think we should be. Their boasting of affiliation with the movement, which was involved in and also promoted and glorified the killings and ethnic cleansing of Croatians and Bosniak Muslims during the Second World War and war in the 90s, sparked protests outside the school on Wednesday. More than 200 Bosniaks, parents and students, demanded sanctions and accountability for the incident, which they said incited ethnic and religious hatred. We have signed a list of our requests and will submit them to the school protocol. No one has ever received us, they have never received us. Principal Dragi Jovanovic just walked past us this morning and put his head down. We will look for his replacement, said parent Ahmed Hrustanovic. The parents also want to know how the incident could have occurred at the school, and are demanding lessons be introduced to promote post-war inclusivity. We request the ministry, and the Educational Pedagogical Institute of the Republika Srpska, to rule upon the demands of the parents to modify and edit the curriculum on the territory [of the entity of Republika Srpka], to provide the conditions for the national group of subjects to proceed in the full sense of the word, and also that classes from a national group of subjects are taught and taught by competent teaching staff. The Republika Srpskas Ministry of Education and Culture said the children were reprimanded after the incident. The schools management and professional service interviewed the students who posted the controversial photo and decided on adequate measures handed to students for inappropriate behaviour, the ministry said on Wednesday. The schools expert team is tasked with holding meetings with the parents of these students and making them aware that they are responsible for their childrens behaviour, among other things, on social networks. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 06:14:03|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close People inspect the site of an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Jan. 31, 2020. Israeli fighting planes carried out several airstrikes on military sites and facilities in the Gaza Strip in response to an earlier rocket attack, security sources said. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) GAZA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Israeli fighting planes carried out late on Wednesday night several airstrikes on military sites and facilities in the Gaza Strip in response to an earlier rocket attack, security sources said. The sources said that at least two successive airstrikes were carried out in southern and northern Gaza Strip, adding the Israeli warplanes hovered over Gaza and several explosions were heard. No injuries were reported. The Israeli aerial attack was carried out a few hours after unknown militants fired a rocket from the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip into Israel. The rocket has not caused any injuries or damage, according to Israeli media reports. No one claimed responsibility for firing the rocket into southern Israel. The Israeli army held the Hamas movement, which has been ruling the Gaza Strip since 2007 responsible for attacks carried out from the enclave into Israel. Earlier on Wednesday afternoon, Israeli warplanes carried out an airstrike on northern Gaza Strip in response to launching arson balloons from the Hamas-ruled coastal enclave, into Israel, security sources said. The sources said that an Israeli army reconnaissance pilotless drone fired at least one missile at a group of Palestinian activists were trying to release dozens of arson balloons from northern Gaza Strip into southern Israel. The sources said that the activists survived and no injuries or damages were reported. Earlier this week, Israeli war jets carried out several airstrikes against positions and facilities that belong to Palestinian military wings in the Gaza Strip also in response to launching arson balloons into Israel. Launching arson balloons and balloons carrying explosives had started after the Palestinians organized the weekly anti-Israel protests and rallies better known as the Great March of Return in late March 2018. The weekly protests stopped after Egypt, the United Nations and Qatar had mediated a calm understanding between Israel and Hamas movement, which has been ruling the Gaza Strip since 2007. Two weeks ago, Palestinian activists resumed launching balloons from the Gaza Strip into Israel to protest to keeping the Israeli blockade, which began in 2007, imposed on the coastal enclave. The Chinese Embassy and the Local Chinese Community Held a Grand Gala to Celebrate the Spring Festival (Chinese Lunar New Year) 2020/01/25 On January 25, 2020, the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone held a grand reception and gala, together with the local Chinese Community, in celebration of the spring festival. The Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, H.E. Hu Zhangliang and his wife Madame Zhou Min, representatives of the Chinese community and some Sierra Leone friends were present. The grand reception was held in Bintumani Hotel, where Ambassador Hu conveyed new years greetings and blessings to all the Chinese compatriots in Sierra Leone. The Ambassador also expressed appreciation to the Sierra Leonean government and people for their generous support to the Chinese community. After the reception, the local Chinese community put on a wonderful cultural show to entertain the audience. Every one had a good time and enjoyed the joyous event. Thought Leaders Katelynn Perrault Assistant Professor of Forensic Sciences & Chemistry Chaminade University of Honolulu In the search and recovery of human remains during mass disasters, homicides, and missing persons investigations, the odor evolved from decomposing bodies is crucial in the search process. One contributor to the odor evolved from remains are microorganisms, which contribute a portion of the chemicals released into the air. New technology is being used to profile the odor from postmortem microbes to improve techniques that rely on the detection of decomposition odor. In this interview, Katelynn Perrault, from Chaminade University of Honolulu talks to News-Medical and Life Sciences about her research into using Multidimensional Gas Chromatography to achieve odor profiling of postmortem microbes. How do novel separation methods help us to solve critical challenges in bioanalytical applications? We use separation science across numerous life sciences fields to perform chemical analysis (e.g. biomedical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, food regulation, forensic science). The main advantage of using a separation technique is that we have the ability to take complex samples and figure out (1) which chemicals are present, and (2) how much of each chemical is present. Those two things allow us to provide a chemical profile of the sample. This may not sound too difficult, but when dealing with incredibly complex samples, these two jobs become significantly more challenging. Consider a small room with only a few people inside. It is probably quite easy to know the number of people present and the identity of each person. Now think about a large crowd of people at a concert. That job becomes much more difficult. In analytical chemistry, we have to resolve each compound from one another if we want to know the number of compounds present and their respective amounts. Novel multidimensional separations such as comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCGC) or comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LCLC) allow us to be more successful when analyzing samples with high complexity because we can develop a more accurate chemical profile. Image Credit:Shutterstock/Alex_Traksel Accurately determining postmortem interval (PMI) is important in forensic investigations. Can you explain why? In many cases, the estimation of postmortem interval (PMI) is required in order to understand the series of events in a forensic case. Knowing accurate information about when someone died helps to confirm or refute suspect alibis, and establish the order of events leading to an individuals death. The family of a victim also has a right to know how, when, and where their loved one died to assist in the grieving process. While we have some methods for estimating postmortem interval when someone has recently died, this becomes more challenging with longer postmortem intervals. Many research studies have been conducted to improve our understanding of how a body decomposes in order to improve our understanding of which chemicals could potentially be used to estimate postmortem interval accurately. One potential category of chemicals that have been proposed in the past is the use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which contribute to the odor evolved from decomposing remains. By understanding microorganism contribution to the VOC profile, we can potentially improve our ability to predict trends in VOCs and use those as indicators to estimate postmortem interval. Collecting odor traces at crime scene investigation Image Credit: Shutterstock/DarkoCacic In forensic sciences, how can postmortem microbial succession be used to determine PMI? There is a predictable pattern of microbes on a body at different time intervals following death. This pattern is referred to as the microbial succession. A large body of work in forensic microbiology demonstrates the potential to use these patterns to estimate postmortem interval. Therefore, to understand the VOCs evolved by a cadaver, linking it with the VOCs originating from microbes on a body would be very beneficial. The challenge lies in the fact that there are numerous microbial species competing and interacting on a decomposing body. We are investigating isolated bacterial species we know are associated with decomposing remains to improve our understanding of the individual contribution of VOCs from each species. The idea is that over time, we will build a database of VOCs that are evolved from postmortem microbial species, and we can eventually use that data to interpret the evolution of decomposition odor. 2D Gas Chromatography in Forensic Science Play What does the study of decomposition odor contribute to death investigations? The purpose of understanding volatile emissions from microbes is to improve understanding about decomposition odor. Decomposition odor is important because it is necessary for several applications in a death investigation. In cases of homicides, missing persons, or mass disasters, scent detection canines are often brought to search for and locate human remains. They do so based on their ability to orient towards the source of decomposition odor. If we can improve our understanding of this odor, we can provide a scientific foundation for the success of the canines, as well as provide other recommendations about effective training aids that will mimic the target odor. There is also a lot of interest in developing portable sensors that could be used in a complementary manner to the canines or in scenarios where canines are not available. It is essential to understand the profile of decomposition odor through separation science to figure out which targets a sensor device would need to target. Each study we perform helps us to build an improved understanding of decomposition odor so we can provide information for these applications. Image Credit:Shutterstock/Couperfield Pittcon 2022: March 5-9 Register for Pittcon 2022 Ernest N. Morial Convention Center New Orleans, LA USA Why did you choose to use a comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCGC-MS) technique in particular? What were the benefits to this research? Volatile organic compound profiles collected from decomposing remains or from microbial metabolism tend to be very complex. We have to be able to separate hundreds of compounds from one other, determine each of their identities, and in some cases, quantify the compounds. The compounds we target exist across almost all known compound classes. In addition, they are present in a broad concentration range, with some present in trace levels and others present in very high abundance. All of these challenges mean that the use of a multidimensional technique such as GCGC-MS gives us the best chance of being able to provide an accurate and reliable chemical profile. One-dimensional analyses such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) often lack the resolution and range required for the samples we analyze. When applying this method, however, did you uncover additional information about the profile of postmortem microbes than you would have using conventional methods? The multidimensional chromatographic technique we use, GCGC-MS, allows us to separate more peaks and be more successful in providing an accurate profile. This also means, however, that we end up with a significantly larger number of compounds. This is, in part, because compounds contributed by background and/or chemical interference are separated from the compounds of interest. In this study, we were able to increase the number of compounds we were targeting from approximately 30 (using conventional methods) to approximately 70 (using multidimensional methods). This is a lot more information than we had about our samples previously, and we are using that to inform the next stages of the work. Using GCxGCx-MS aprovided additional information about postmortem microbes Image Credit:Shutterstock/Pailista What benefit did Fisher Ratio (FR) filtering provide in this study? When we work with multidimensional separations, we are fortunate to get more information about our samples. Unfortunately, however, it also means we have more information to sift through. The challenge becomes determining which compounds are the ones that are important for differentiating your sample from other types of samples. We have to figure out which of the compounds are the most important. The Fisher Ratio filtering step allows us to probe our data and determine which compounds are significant rather than being contributed by background or chemical interferences. We get the luxury to limit our data set only to the compounds that are the most important, rather than having to take what we can see with conventional methods. Often, this means we end up with a shorter list of compounds in our profile, but it wont be the same list of compounds we would have had if we used a conventional technique with lower resolution. How are you going to further define FR filters in order to provide guidelines for future research? We are working with chemical standards and creating simulated challenges that might impede the efficacy of the Fisher Ratio filtering step. This essentially means we are creating mock samples with the problems we encounter in real samples so we can see if we are falsely reporting compounds as being significant when in fact they are not. When we use simulated mixtures, we can control the concentration of compounds, so we know if the compound should be labeled as significant. This will inform how the Fisher Ratio filter should be used with multidimensional VOC data in scenarios where those challenges are present, meaning that it will eventually help us to be more accurate in the chemical profiles we report. Why would being able to improve data reduction strategies improve the adoption of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCGC) in the biological sciences? The biggest benefit of working with multidimensional chromatography is that you are able to get more data about your sample. It is also one of the greatest challenges. When we increase the amount of data we have about a sample, the challenge becomes how we handle that data. Data reduction is not performed to make the dataset smaller. The purpose is to limit the dataset to the variables that are important and remove the data that is not. The ability to focus on the most meaningful components of a sample means that we can use the most important information in answering questions of biological importance. Where could further research into this field take us? We are currently working on individual microbial cultures on standard nutrient agar. This is far from the scenario in which postmortem microbes exist in communities on decomposing remains. As the work evolves, we hope to gradually introduce higher levels of complexity, such as combinations of species and different nutrient sources. This will build our knowledge gradually and help us to relate data back to data we have on decomposing remains. We have to start simple and build layers of knowledge. Microbial contributions are the biggest missing link to what we currently know about decomposition odor, and it will require many controlled studies before we can fully understand these complex interactions. Image Credit:Shutterstock/Likoper What do you hope to gain from Pittcon 2020 with your research and presentation? I hope to communicate the importance of incorporating fundamental analytical research with rigorous application-based research. The work we do with GCGC is exciting, but ultimately I want to use my knowledge of the technique to help people to adopt the technique so they can accomplish their own analysis goals. I would love to contribute to this technique being adopted in new areas and to provide data on how it can be beneficial for different end-users. I also hope to learn more! At conferences, I am always eager to interact with people who approach similar problems to my work but use different techniques, statistical approaches, or interpretation strategies. I am always looking for new ideas that we can apply to our work. About Katelynn Perrault - Chaminade University of Honolulu Dr. Katelynn Perrault is an Assistant Professor of Forensic Sciences & Chemistry at Chaminade University of Honolulu. She specializes in the development of GCGC methodology for the comprehensive characterization of odors. Dr. Perrault is the Principal Investigator of the Laboratory of Forensic and Bioanalytical Chemistry, which is supported through several federal grants, foundation grants, and industry support. Dr. Perrault specializes in the analysis of decomposition odor for forensic search and recovery, and mentors numerous undergraduate researchers as part of her integrated teaching and research program. Her current interests include odor production from post-mortem microbes, development of GCGC data processing workflows for dual-channel detection, promoting the adoption of GCGC in the forensic sciences, and producing GCGC curriculum to be taught in undergraduate chemistry classes. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Number 1752607. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. Niamey, Niger (PANA) - The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has allocated US$153 million for food security development activities in Niger, the government daily Le Sahel reported on Wednesday Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin A. Muh. Ibnu Aqil (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29 2020 Lights, action: An LED van displaying advertisements passes Jl. Sudirman in Central Jakarta on Monday. Motorists have complained that the bright lights from the screens are distracting at night. (JP/Jerry Adiguna) Dealing with Jakarta traffic means coming across almost all kinds of vehicles, from cars and motorbikes to buses and trucks, and more recently, box trucks with LED advertisements. Fitted with blinking LED screens on each side of the cargo structure, these vehicles are becoming a more common sight on Jakarta streets, eliciting different reactions from motorists. 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 WATERFORD Changes are coming to the Waterford Graded School District. The School Board on Monday voted unanimously in favor of changes to the districts elementary school boundaries, which will take effect in the 2020-2021 school year. The boundary changes were spurred by lopsided enrollment at Waterfords three elementary schools. This school year, there are 237 4K through grade 6 students attending Trailside Elementary, 615 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 347 attending Evergreen Elementary, 817 W. Main St.; and 401 attending Woodfield Elementary, 905 Barnes Drive. Next school year, when an addition and renovations are completed at the districts Fox River Middle School, all district sixth graders will be shifted to that school. Sixth-grade students currently attend the elementary schools. Six community members attended Mondays meeting to voice their concerns about the plan, according to District Administrator Ed Brzinski. I have had numerous messages from families regarding the proposed boundary changes, School Board President Mandy Fiehweg said via email. While most understand the need for change, they are challenged by the fact that their children may have to change schools. Fiehweg said she knows that change is difficult, but added that the district will work to ensure that the transition is as easy as possible for the impacted families. The plan approved on Monday aims to spread students more evenly among the schools. That means shifting the eastern portion of the attendance area for Woodfield to Trailside. This includes the area of Rochester from the Fox River to the east, as well as the areas south of the Wind Lake Drainage Canal and east of Highway 36. Students living on the Tichigan Peninsula will move from Evergreen to Trailside, which will be closer for them. Brzinski estimated that the plan would include a shift of 50 to 70 students from either Evergreen or Woodfield to Trailside. Students at the two latter schools would be the most impacted. With that will come the movement of teachers and other staff to Trailside as well. Now the real work begins, Brzinski said, speaking of creating a smooth transition and figuring out class sections for each of the schools. The next two months are going to be a challenge, but we knew that, Brzinski said. Open enrollment closed The School Board also voted on Monday not to accept new open enrollment students in grades one through five for the 2020-2021 school year. Until we have this settled, its not a good idea to add more students to the mix, Brzinski said. Waterford Graded serves the Village and Town of Waterford and parts of Rochester, Norway and Dover. I have had numerous messages from families regarding the proposed boundary changes. While most understand the need for change, they are challenged by the fact that their children may have to change schools. Mandy Fiehweg, Waterford Graded School Board president Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 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. Anusha Ravi By Express News Service BENGALURU: Even as he has conveyed to cabinet aspirants that the D-day for expansion is January 31, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa will first consult with newly-elected BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda on January 30. Torn between keeping up his promise of accommodating all 11 defectors-turned-newly-elected MLAs and the Central leaderships proposal of inducting not more than seven-nine of the lot, Yediyurappa will hold a final round of discussions with Nadda. Former BJP chief and Union Home Minster Amit Shah is also expected to be a part of the discussion. Yediyurappa has decided to go with an open mind. He wants to accommodate all 11 legislators, but the high command is keen on only about seven-nine of them being inducted. They want Yediyurappa to keep up the partys promise to all defecting MLAs, but not all of them were promised cabinet berths only nine were assured of a berth, pointed out a source close to Yediyurappa. BJP insiders suggest that Ramesh Jarkiholi was promised of a ministerial berth- even the Deputy Chief Minister post- if he managed to gather more MLAs to follow suit. Mahesh Kumathalli and Shrimant Patil, who followed in Jarkiholis steps, were not promised a berth. While defectors like Sudhakar, ST Somashekhar, Narayana Gowda, Gopalaiah, Byrathi Basavraj, BC Patil and Anand Singh were promised to be accommodated into the cabinet, Shivaram Hebbar was not. The Central leadership wants Yediyurappa to keep up the partys side of the bargain instead of overcompensating, say sources. I believe in the CM, and there are chances that expansion will happen before January 31, Dr K Sudhakar, MLA Chikkaballapur, told TNIE. He added that there was no pressure on Yediyurappa over the allocation of portfolios. In his discussion with Nadda on Thursday, Yediyurappa is also expected to finalise portfolios for newly-inducted ministers. For now, Yediyurappa has been asked to consider just seven-nine of the newly-elected MLAs and to consider prominent MLAs such as Umesh Katti, Sunil Kumar, CM Udasi, Arvind Limbavali, Halady Srinivas Shetty and Murugesh Nirani, as well as youngsters such as Preetham Gowda and Dattatreya Patil Revoor. As the Senate begins on Wednesday to grapple with the question of whether to call witnesses in President Donald Trumps impeachment trial, nearly six in 10 voters oppose the presidents invoking executive privilege to block new testimony, according to the latest POLITICO/Morning Consult poll. The new poll shows that just over a quarter of voters, 26 percent, think the president should be allowed to use executive privilege to muzzle potential bombshell witnesses like former national security adviser John Bolton. Thats compared with 57 percent who say Trump should not be allowed to invoke the powers of the presidency to block certain witnesses. Though the majority opposed to Trumps invoking executive privilege was largely driven by Democrats (86 percent), that opposition also found a home among 57 percent of independents. Only 25 percent of Republicans said they did not believe that the president should be allowed to block new testimony by invoking executive privilege, while 52 percent of Republican voters said he should be allowed. Frustration among voters likely stems from the White Houses universal stonewalling of the impeachment inquiry at every turn, barring House Democrats requested witnesses from testifying and refusing to turn over reams of subpoenaed documents and records relating to the inquiry from its inception. Senate Democrats appeared earlier this week on the verge of securing the 51 votes needed to call witnesses following an explosive new report in the New York Times over the weekend. FILE - In this March 5, 2019 file photo, national security adviser John Bolton adjusts his glasses before an interview at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) The Times reported on Sunday that Bolton alleges in a manuscript of his forthcoming memoir that Trump directly tied a freeze on military aid for Ukraine to the announcement by Ukrainian officials into Trumps political rivals the central charge of the articles of impeachment. Even before the Bolton bombshell, which landed after the survey concluded, the poll found slim majorities of voters in favor of senators accepting new evidence in the trial (53 percent) and calling additional witnesses (55 percent.) Story continues Trump has repeatedly said he would invoke executive privilege to block Boltons potentially damning testimony, citing a desire to protect future presidents after Bolton announced he would respect a subpoena from the Senate. Such a move could set off an unprecedented legal scramble with any number of potential outcomes and could lengthen the impeachment trial further, a prospect Republicans are using to their advantage. Democrats have looked to squeeze Republicans on the issue of allowing witnesses or voting to clear the president for more than a month following the Houses adoption of the articles of impeachment. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, one of the most endangered GOP incumbents, has been at the front of her partys push for witnesses, along with Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, though neither has indicated they are leaning toward a vote to convict Trump, and only Collins is up for reelection in November. And the White House has reportedly not ruled out that a red-state Democrat like Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona or Doug Jones of Alabama could vote to acquit the president. Still, the POLITICO/Morning Consult survey found that a not-insignificant chunk of the electorate on both sides of the aisle could factor their senators vote on impeachment into their voting calculation. Vulnerable senators up for reelection are in a tricky situation as they decide how to vote at the Senate impeachment trial, said Tyler Sinclair, Morning Consult's vice president. Roughly four in 10 voters would be more likely to vote for a senator who backs removing Trump from office, including two-thirds of Democrats. This compares with 37 percent who say they would be less likely to vote for a senator who backs removal, including seven in 10 Republicans. The POLITICO/Morning Consult poll was conducted Jan. 24-26 online among a national sample of 1,992 registered voters. Results from the full survey have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2 percentage points. Morning Consult is a nonpartisan media and technology company that provides data-driven research and insights on politics, policy and business strategy. More details on the poll and its methodology can be found in these two documents: Toplines | Crosstabs Germany Reports 3 More Cases of Chinese Coronavirus - Officials Sputnik News 20:28 GMT 28.01.2020(updated 21:50 GMT 28.01.2020) The first German case was confirmed late on Monday in the state of Bavaria, with a patient reportedly infected by a Chinese woman. According to Bavaria's infectious diseases task force, the patient was placed under quarantine and medical supervision. The Bavarian Health Ministry said late on Tuesday that another three persons have contracted the Chinese infection and were also placed, along with the first patient, under quarantine. According to German authorities, all newly-infected people work together with the man who had earlier contracted the coronavirus. The Bavarian Health Ministry said in the statement, that the first patient in the country had allegedly contracted the infection on 21 January during a training workshop with a Chinese colleague who subsequently departed for China on 23 January. Bavarian authorities have put some 40 persons under scrutiny, according to the statement. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said earlier that the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in Germany does not impact the probability of the disease's spread across Europe. The latest strain of the deadly coronavirus sprung up in the city of Wuhan in late December 2019, located in the central part of China and has since spread to many other countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) has not yet designated the new strain of infection as a global health emergency, despite the fact that the virus has already killed at least 106 people in China. According to the latest data, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in China now stands at 4,633. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 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. A convicted rapist from Rochdale who fled the UK while on bail during his trial nearly five years ago has been extradited from Pakistan. Choudhry Ikhalaq Hussain, 42, was one of 10 men - mainly of Pakistani or Bangladeshi heritage who committed sexual offences against a teenage girl in the town. Hussain, was jailed in his absence in 2016 for 19 years for rape, sexual activity with a child and conspiracy to rape. During his trial in 2015 he was given permission to leave after claiming he wanted to go to a relative's funeral in Britain, but instead left for Pakistan. Choudhry Ikhalaq Hussain, 42, formerly of Rochdale, was captured by a joint UK-Pakistan force in January last year He was arrested in Faisalabad last year after international crime agencies and Greater Manchester Police launched a manhunt. He has been held in prison until his extradition yesterday. The white complainant told officers that from the age of 14 she had been repeatedly sexually groomed by a large number of men. She also said 'hundreds of men' would ring her up wanting her to go out and have sex with them. The vulnerable teenager came forward following widespread media coverage of the 2012 convictions at Liverpool Crown Court of nine Asian defendants for grooming white girls for sex in Rochdale. Greater Manchester Police released this photograph of the house where Hussain was staying in Pakistan before he was arrested Operation Doublet, which looked into the sexual exploitation of teenage girls in Rochdale. Most of the offences took place between 2004 and 2008 and involved victims who were aged 13 to 23. Hussain, was jailed in his absence in 2016 for 19 years for rape, sexual activity with a child and conspiracy to rape Detective Superintendent Jamie Daniels, of Greater Manchester Police, said: 'Hussain is a sexual predator who mistakenly thought he could flee to another country to live the good life, while his victim was forced to deal with the consequences of his vile actions and robbed of justice. 'His apprehension demonstrates that when it comes to pursuing perpetrators of child sexual exploitation, we will hunt them across the globe if necessary.' Dr Christian Turner, from the British High Commission in Islamabad, said: 'This latest example of close co-operation between the UK's and Pakistan's law enforcement agencies shows there is no escape for those who flee from the law, even across international boundaries. 'Choudhry Ikhalaq Hussain will finally face jail for his terrible crimes. 'This is down to the hard work and excellent collaboration between Pakistan and UK authorities, including the Federal Investigation Agency, the Punjab Police, Greater Manchester Police, and teams at the British High Commission in Islamabad.' State Sen. Martin Sandoval had already taken tens of thousands of dollars in bribes from SafeSpeed LLC when he complained to one of its representatives who was secretly recording the conversation for the FBI that he was getting stiffed as the clout-heavy red-light camera company was giving far more lucrative deals to other politically connected consultants. Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a research-driven, peer-influenced rating service of lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. "I am humbled by this incredible honor, especially since our state has a treasure trove of amazing legal talent. I believe that singling me out is a mere reflection of the commitment and excellence of all our attorneys at Corboy & Demetrio," Demetrio said. In 2015, the prestigious Lawdragon, which has anointed Tom "Dean of the Chicago Trial Bar," selected him for "Legends of the Bar," as one of only 50 lawyers nationwide who had been selected every year, since its inception, for its 500 Leading Lawyers in America, joining a select group that includes U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. Tom was also named to the 2020 Edition of Best Lawyers in America, which has included him in every edition since 1987. He has been nationally recognized since 1990 when the National Law Journal named him one of the Top 10 Litigators in America. In 2014, the National Law Journal named Tom to its inaugural "Top 50 Litigation Trailblazers and Pioneers," the only Illinois plaintiff's trial lawyer receiving that prestigious distinction. In 2019, the National Law Journal and The Trial Lawyer magazine named Tom to The Roundtable: America's 50 Most Influential Trial Lawyers, for the fourth consecutive year. The ranking places him among the top 50 plaintiff and criminal defense attorneys in the United States, according to The Trial Lawyer, which is published by the National Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only group of national lawyers. Tom also received the #1 ranking as the top aviation plaintiffs' lawyer by Illinois Leading Lawyers in 2019. Tom currently represents the families of passengers killed in the crashes of Ethiopian Airlines #302, Lion Air #610 and Aeromexico #2431. In 2018, the National Law Journal and American Lawyer Media selected Corboy & Demetrio as a national winner of Elite Trial Lawyers for Tom's representation of airline passenger Dr. David Dao. Tom obtained a confidential settlement with United Airlines just 18 days after the incident before a lawsuit was even filed. Tom has acquired well over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements in his career, including the first ever 8figure compensatory verdict in Illinois and the largest personal injury verdict ever upheld by the Illinois Supreme Court. All of his verdicts have been paid, and he has never lost an appeal. As a leader of the bar, Tom served as President of both the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and the 22,000-member Chicago Bar Association. He has been an invited Fellow of: The American College of Trial Lawyers, The International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and The Inner Circle of Advocates for over 25 years. Tom is also a nationally recognized lecturer on trial techniques and advocacy skills and has authored more than 60 articles in the field of civil litigation. Tom serves as Co-Chair of the Board of Advisors of IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. He has been honored by the law school having been named one of its 125 Alumni of Distinction, and is a recipient of its Alumni Merit Award, Professional Achievement Award, and Distinguished Service Award. Tom also serves on the boards of the Center for Disability & Elder Law and Big Shoulders-Archdiocese of Chicago. He has previously served on the boards of Illinois Institute of Technology; St. Ignatius College Prep; Mundelein Seminary; Notre Dame Law School; Dispute Resolution Research Center of the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University; and the Constitutional Rights Foundation Center. In 2016, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association awarded Tom its highest honor, the Leonard M. Ring Lifetime Achievement Award. That same year, Tom received the Chicago Bar Association's prestigious Justice John Paul Stevens Award from Justice Stevens himself. In addition to Tom's top ranking, Partner Philip Corboy, Jr. was named to IL Super Lawyers' Top 100 list. Philip has been named to the Top 100 list for six consecutive years. All partners at the firm were selected to IL Super Lawyers in 2020 and, in addition to Tom and Philip, include David R. Barry, Jr., Michael K. Demetrio, William T. Gibbs, Daniel S. Kirschner, Michell M. Kohut, Kenneth T. Lumb, Francis Patrick Murphy, Susan Schwartz and Edward G. Willer. Associate attorneys Andrew P. Stevens and Michael D. Ditore were named to IL Super Lawyers' 2020 Rising Stars. About Corboy & Demetrio Corboy & Demetrio is one of the nation's premier law firms. The civil trial law firm represents individuals and their families in serious personal injury and wrongful death cases and has acquired more than $4 billion in settlements and verdicts, of which more than 600 are in excess of $1 million. To contact Thomas Demetrio or another lawyer at the firm, call 24/7, 312-346-3191 or toll free at 800-356-3191. For more detailed information, go to corboydemetrio.com. Media Contact: Helen Lucaitis, Esq., Communications Director, Corboy & Demetrio; [email protected]; 312-346-3191 (office) and 312-550-2077 (cell) SOURCE Corboy & Demetrio Related Links http://www.corboydemetrio.com (CNN) -- Here's a look at what you need to know about the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. Facts Seven crew members died in the explosion, including Christa McAuliffe, who would have been the first teacher in space. The explosion was a result of a rocket booster failure which ignited the fuel tank. Some of the objectives of Mission STS-51L included the "Comet Halley Active Monitoring Program" (CHAMP), a fluid dynamics experiment, and lesson plans and telecasts by Christa McAuliffe. Timeline April 4, 1983 - The Challenger's maiden voyage, STS-6. The Challenger completed nine successful missions between 1983 and 1986. July 19, 1985 - New Hampshire teacher Christa McAuliffe is chosen to be the first teacher in space. January 28, 1986 - The Space Shuttle Challenger explodes 73 seconds into flight at approximately 11:40 a.m. EST. September 19, 2019 - The Christa McAuliffe Commemorative Coin Act of 2019 is passed by Congress. The act calls for the Department of Treasury to "issue not more than 350,000 $1 silver coins in commemoration of Christa McAuliffe." If the President signs the act, the coins will be minted in 2021 to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the tragedy. Crew Francis R. (Dick) Scobee - Spacecraft Commander - Born on May 19, 1939 - Birth place - Cle Elum, Washington - Family - Wife, June, and two children Michael J. Smith - Pilot - Born on April 30, 1945 - Birth place - Beaufort, North Carolina Judith A. Resnik - Mission Specialist - Born - April 5, 1949 - Birth place - Akron, Ohio Ronald E. McNair - Mission Specialist - Born - October 21, 1950 - Birth place - Lake City, South Carolina - Family - Wife, Cheryl, and two children Ellison S. Onizuka - Mission Specialist - Born - June 24, 1946 - Birth place - Kealakekua, Kona, Hawaii Gregory B. Jarvis - Payload Specialist - Born - August 24, 1944 - Birth place - Detroit, Michigan - An engineer who worked for Hughes Aircraft Corp. Christa McAuliffe - First teacher in space - Born - September 2, 1948 - Birth place - Boston, Massachusetts The-CNN-Wire & 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. U.S. ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION WASHINGTON DC 20585 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 29, 2020 EIAs Annual Energy Outlook 2020 explores the changing U.S. energy mix through 2050 as consumption grows more slowly than production, particularly of oil, natural gas, and renewables, resulting in increasing exports and relatively stable CO2 emissions The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) will release updated projections of future U.S. energy production and use in its Annual Energy Outlook 2020 (AEO2020) today at 11:00 a.m. The AEO2020 Reference case, which serves as a baseline modeled projection designed to explore varying assumptions about the economy, technology, and policy, examines a future where slower growth in consumption in an increasingly energy efficient U.S. economy contrasts with increasing energy supply because of technological progress in renewable sources, oil, and natural gas. We see renewables as the fastest-growing source of electricity generation through 2050 as cost declines make them economically competitive beyond the expiration of existing federal and state policy supports, noted EIA Administrator Linda Capuano. With continued technologically enabled growth in domestic oil and natural gas production, we see the United States remaining a net exporter of energy for some time. EIA reported last year that the United States became a net exporter of energy on a monthly basis in September 2019 after decades of being a net importer. In the AEO2020 Reference case, the share of U.S. electricity generation from renewable sources doubles between 2019 and 2050. Solar contributes most to that growth. Natural gas generation retains its share as coal and nuclear generation continue to decline. At the same time, the United States continues to produce historically high levels of crude oil and natural gas. In the AEO2020 Reference case, because of continued development of tight oil and shale gas resources in the East and Southwest regions, U.S. crude oil production continues to set annual records through the mid-2020s and natural gas production grows through 2050. The AEO2020 Reference case also projects that the United States will continue to export more crude oil, petroleum products, and natural gas than it imports. Liquefied natural gas exports combined with pipeline exports to Canada and to Mexico continue to rise through the 2020s before remaining relatively flat through 2050. After falling until about 2030, U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions resume modest growth, but by 2050, are lower than 2019 levels. For the next decade, U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions decrease because of retirements of coal-fired generation capacity and corresponding changes in the fuel mix for electric power. Later, increases in energy demand due to growth in transportation and industry cause emissions to increase. In addition to the AEO2020 baseline Reference case, EIA uses eight side cases to explore uncertainties. New in the AEO2020 are two cases that explore the implications of varying the assumed future costs of renewable power generation technologies. Sign up for an email notification of the release of the Issues in Focus articles. Alternative Policies casesMarch 2020 Global Liquefied Natural Gas Demand casesmid- to late 2020 The full Annual Energy Outlook 2020 will be available at 11:00 a.m. The product described in this press release was prepared by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the statistical and analytical agency within the U.S. Department of Energy. By law, EIAs data, analysis, and forecasts are independent of approval by any other officer or employee of the U.S. Government. The views in the product and press release therefore should not be construed as representing those of the U.S. Department of Energy or other federal agencies. EIA Program Contact: Angelina LaRose, 202-586-6135, Angelina.LaRose@eia.gov EIA Press Contact: EIAMedia@eia.gov EIA-2020-01 What about travel during the pandemic? Before you make travel plans, be sure to double-check any rules pertaining to your destination and mode of transportation. Many states, cities and countries have travel restrictions or guidelines in place that could affect your trip, and these are changing rapidly with the emergence of the omicron variant. The CDC says both vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers should still follow these recommendations for traveling safely: Wear a mask over your nose and mouth. Masks are required on planes, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation, and also in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Keep a safe distance from others and avoid crowds. Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer. Fully vaccinated travelers are less likely to get and spread COVID-19 health officials say, but they should still be on alert. They can leave the country without getting a COVID-19 test unless their destination requires it, and they do not need to self-quarantine after returning to the U.S. unless its required by a local jurisdiction. However, vaccinated people are still required to have a negative COVID-19 test result before they board an international flight in order to return to the U.S., the CDC says, and they should take a COVID-19 test no more than one day before returning. People are fully vaccinated two weeks after they receive their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. If you are unvaccinated: The CDC recommends delaying domestic travel until you are fully vaccinated because travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Testing can help you travel more safely, the CDC says. The CDC recommends getting tested with a viral test one to three days before your trip. Keep a copy of your test results with you during travel; you may be asked for them. International travel is strongly discouraged for unvaccinated individuals. Those who must travel should have a negative COVID-19 viral test result no more than three days before leaving the country, and they are required to have a negative COVID-19 viral test result no more than one day before returning to the U.S. AARP has information about specific travel advisories, and airline change fees, as well as tips on how to stay safe when you travel. Protective goggles, masks arrive in Wuhan People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 12:01, January 28, 2020 BEIJING, Jan. 27 -- Twenty thousand pairs of protective goggles and 5,000 medical masks arrived in Wuhan at 8:10 p.m. Monday by air, officials of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said. The materials, sent from Qingdao city in east China, will be distributed to medical personnel by relevant local departments as soon as possible, the officials said. Wuhan, the capital of central China's Hubei Province, is where the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) epidemic started. The city is facing shortage of medical supplies including protective gowns and goggles. The whole industry and information technology system has been mobilized to ensure the supply of key medical materials, the officials said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address From the biggest night in film, the Academy Awards, to the return of The L Word, Danny McBride's new comedy series The Righteous Gemstones, and a new thriller from Amazon starring Al Pacino, here are some of the streaming highlights from Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Sky/NOW TV this month... February 2, 9pm The newly-launched Sky Comedy channel kicks off its first week with the addition of the legendary New York comedy show crammed with sketches, satirical news, digital shorts and music performances. It will air on Sky Comedy 24 hours after its US broadcast and while you may catch some snippets online in the course of those 24 hours, this is your chance to watch the show in full. The Great Film Composers: Music of the Movies - The 1980s (Part 2), Sky Arts/NOW TV February 3, 9pm The must-see series for music and film fans continues with profiles of some of the leading film composers of the decade. From 1985 Alan Silvestri made his mark with the Back to Future trilogy and James Cameron's sci fi epic The Abyss in 1989. Meanwhile Hans Zimmer scored Rain Man and Ridley Scott's thriller Black Rain in 1988 while Michael Karmen scored The Dead Zone in 1983 followed by Die Hard in 1988. The decade also saw Maurice Jarre work on Witness, Mad Max, No Way Out and Fatal Attraction. The next episode ventures into the 1990s on February 10th. The L Word: Generation Q, Sky Atlantic/NOW TV February 4, 9pm It's been ten years since the final season of the original US series and three of the original cast return to pick up where they left off in a vastly different TV landscape. Bette is running for mayor of Los Angeles, Shane is returning to the city after a setback, and Alice is balancing co-parenting with her fiancee Nat and Nat's ex-wife Gigi. There are new characters in PR exec Dani Nunez, her girlfriend and TV producer Sophie Suarez, their best friend and roommate Micah Lee, and former Olympic swimmer Finley. World's Most Evil Killers: Diane Downs, Sky Crime, NOW TV February 4, 9pm A team of psychologists and criminologists examine the horrific case of an Arizona born mother of three who murdered one child and left the other two critically injured. She arrived at a hospital in a blood-spattered car claiming a hijacker shot her and her children. However, forensics did not back up her story and she later made a series of strange and inappropriate statements. Investigators found she had an obsessive relationship with a former co-worker and a surviving daughter revealed what really happened on that day. The Righteous Gemstones, Sky Comedy/NOW TV February 5, 9pm Video of the Day Danny McBride writes and stars in this story of a world famous televangelist family with a long tradition of deviance, greed and charitable work. McBride plays Jesse Gemstone, the son of Eli (John Goodman), who has inherited his father's ministry and is turning it into a megachurch. But there's a spanner in the works as as someone sets out to blackmail him. It garnered favourable reviews Stateside when it landed on HBO last summer. The Pharmacist, Netflix February 5 Pharmacist Dan Schneider lost his son in a drug-related shooting in New Orleans in 1999 and embarked on a quest to breing his son's killer to justice. Months later a number of young, seemingly healthy people begin visiting his pharmacy with high dose prescriptions for OkyContin and he sets out to save the lives of other sons and daughter within his community, taking his fight to Big Pharma. Pet Semetary, Sky Cinema Premiere/NOW TV February 7 This remake of the creepy 1989 adaptation of the Stephen King novel stars Jason Clarke as Dr Louis Creed, who relocates to rural Maine with his wife Rachel and their two young children and discovers a mysterious burial ground hidden deep in the woods. When tragedy strikes, Louis turns to his odd neighbour Jud Crandall (John Lithgow) for help. This proves to be quite the mistake. Locke & Key, Netflix February 7 Locke & Key an adaptation of the best-selling cult graphic novels by Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez, revolving around three siblings who, after the murder of their father, move to their ancestral home in Massachusetts only to find the house has magical keys that give them a vast array of powers and abilities. But there's a demon who also wants those keys and who will stop at nothing to get them. Oscars, Sky Cinema Oscars/NOW TV February 9 It's the biggest night in film and our very own Saoirse Ronan is among the nominees for best actress thanks to her performance in the charming Little Women. For fashion fans the red carpet kicks off from 10pm while the ceremony itself is live from 12.30am. For those who value their shut-eye, highlights air on Monday at 8.20am and 8pm. The End, Sky Atlantic/NOW TV February 10 All ten episodes of Sky's new drama land on February 10. Dame Harriet Walter and Frances O'Connor star in a drama about three generations of a family grappling with questions of life and death. O'Connor plays a doctor specialising in palliative care who is passionately opposed to euthanasia. Her mother feels just as strongly about her right to die and after she tries to take her own life Kate sends her a retirement village in the Gold Coast. Camino A Roma February 11 Mexican documentary director Andres Clariond's 'making of' documentary about Roma, Alfonso Cuaron's Oscar-winning (best foreign language film, directing, cinematography) drama. They shot the entire production and an in-depth interview with Cuaron. Work in Progress: 180 Almonds, Sky Comedy/NOW TV February 12 Chicago comic Abby McEnany explores the trials of being over 45, queer and single. Describing herself as a "fat dyke" she vows to transform her life in 180 days but her therapist checks out mid season and a first date turns into a bitter confrontation with the woman she claims "ruined her life" - SNL's Julia Sweeney. Narcos: Mexico: Season 2, Netflix February 13 The highly-anticipated second season kicks off with Felix struggling to cope with the U.S. and the consequences of his actions against the DEA while facing discontent within his organization. Toy Story 4, Sky Cinema Premiere/NOW TV February 14 The toys belong to Bonnie now and when she makes a new friend called Forky out of a fork and pipe cleaners it's up to Woody to school him in the joys of being a toy. However, Forky, thinks he's rubbish and is intent on throwing himself away prompting the toys to embark on a rescue mission. Hunters, Amazon Prime Video February 21 Amazon's new conspiracy thriller has some impressive credentials with John Peele executive producing and Al Pacino in the lead role. It follows a band of Nazi hunters living in 1977 New York who seek out high ranking Nazi officials who are conspiring to create a Fourth Reich in the US. Babies, Netflix February 21 Filmed over the course of three years, Babies explores the miracle of the first full year of life through the pioneering work of leading scientists from across the globe. The series examines the epic journey every person embarks on, from helpless new-born to independent toddler. Better Call Saul: Season 5 February 24 (with new episodes landing every week) Renewed for season five even before season four had aired, the Breaking Bad prequel follows small-time attorney Jimmy McGill as he transforms into the fully formed, morally challenged lawyer Saul Goodman we know and love from Breaking Bad. I Am Not Okay With This, Netflix February 26 From the creator/director of The End of the F***ing World Jonathan Entwistle and the producers of Stranger Things, this new series about a high school student with superpowers is based on the Charles Forsman graphic novel. Followers , Netflix February 27 Drama series directed by Mika Ninagawa about women living and working in Tokyo. A successful fashion photographer Limi Nara (Nakatani) lives her life confidently and showcases her independence in both her career and relationships. Conversely, a young, aspiring actress Natsume Hyakuta (Ikeda) struggles to find her identity and self-confidence which impacts her personal relationships and career. Curb Your Enthusiasm (season 10), Sky Comedy/NOW TV February Larry David (co-creator of Seinfeld) returns as Larry David and is just as acerbic and misanthropic as ever - check out Pat Stacey's review of the first episode below. Seasons 1-9 are also available to stream. Read More Prices of industrial commodities, led by copper, brent crude and rubber, declined by up to 9 per cent in less than two weeks because of weak demand caused by an extended New Year holiday in China, which has been hit by coronavirus outbreak. Since January 17, when the coronavirus outbreak came to light, copper on the benchmark London Metal Exchange (LME) has plunged 9 per cent, followed by nickel (8 per cent), and zinc (6.7 per cent). Prices of brent crude declined by 9 per cent in the same period to trade currently at $59.3 a barrel. Prices of natural gas and rubber also fell by 3.4 ... The EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrell wants to visit Donbas during his visit to Ukraine. "I would like to visit the most relevant part of the country from the point of view of external relations. I would like to visit Donbas, the border, where there is, as I know, still certain amount of military activity to perceive by myself what the situation is there. We have to do the most important efforts in order to stop people being killed," he said at a press conference in Brussels on Tuesday that took place during the break of the Ukraine-EU Association Council. The EU High Representative stressed that "the result of the last meeting in Paris has to be implemented on the ground." "And we have to develop efforts on several lines: first, humanitarian assistance, second, demining we can save a lot of lives, and third to dimension infrastructure feasibility studies and economic prospects in order to prepare future possible reconstruction," Borrell said. He also noted the need to ensure the free passage of ships in the Kerch Strait and from the Sea of Azov in accordance with international law. "We have to continue our support of independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine," he added. Reacting to three airlines banning him from flying for allegedly heckling television journalist Arnab Goswami aboard a flight, stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra on Wednesday said he was never "unruly or disruptive". He also said the flying suspension was not "shocking" for him. "The comedian was suspended from flying by IndiGo and Air India on Tuesday after he allegedly heckled Goswami aboard a Mumbai-Lucknow plane and posted a video clip on his Twitter handle. SpiceJet became the third airline which suspended Kamra from flying until further notice on Wednesday. On Tuesday, IndiGo had suspended Kamra from flying for a period of six months and Air India until further notice. Shortly after SpiceJet suspended him from flying with the airline, the comedian posted a sarcastic tweet: "Modiji can I walk yaan uspe bhi baan hai (Modi ji can I walk or is there a ban even on that)" and added crying emojis after his tweet. In a statement issued on Twitter, Kamra said at no point did he not follow the orders of the cabin crew in the (Mumbai-Lucknow) flight. "It's not shocking at all to me that for exercising my right to speech, which falls under Article 19 of our constitution, 3 airlines have given me a temporary ban from flying. Fact of the matter is that at no point was I disruptive and at no point did I not follow the orders of the cabin crew or the captain," he tweeted. "At no point did I endanger the safety of any passenger on board, the only damage I caused was to the inflated ego to the 'journalist' Arnab Goswami," he stated. Kamra said he had not travelled with SpiceJet or Air India in this event and there is no "pattern of him being unruly". "This was the first time something like this has happened, so why have they jumped the gun and banned me? I've travelled SpiceJet and Air India in the past. There have been no complaints against me ever, only selfies and love has been shared by the crew," he tweeted. The comedian further said that as per his "limited knowledge" no formal complaint was made by the crew, Goswami or anyone else on board the (Mumbai-Lucknow) flight. "Whenever there was an intervention by any member of the crew I complied. If expressing myself to an important public figure, who himself points a camera day in and day out, catching people off guard is a crime, then Both of us are criminals," he wrote. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Watertown, NY (13601) Today Light snow this evening will transition to snow showers late. Low near 25F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70%.. Tonight Light snow this evening will transition to snow showers late. Low near 25F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70%. A chartered plane carrying some 195 Americans from Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in China, landed in March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County, California, early Wednesday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What's happening: The passengers were screened before takeoff, during the flight, during refueling in Anchorage, Alaska, and upon arrival, said Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. None of them showed symptoms of the virus, but they have volunteered to stay on the base for three days. "These individuals will be screened before they take off; monitored during the duration of the flight by medical personnel on board; screened again on landing to refuel in Anchorage, Alaska; monitored on the last leg of the flight by medical personnel on board; evaluated upon arrival at March Air Reserve Base ... and then monitored for symptoms post-arrival." The big picture: San Francisco was due to be the final destination, but it was changed to Ontario, California, before being changed again to Riverside. Go deeper: What's happening with the coronavirus Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout. : dealfinder (Deal+Findddddder), : USANews : Schiff Bolton : BBS (Tue Jan 28 13:24:13 2020, ) Schiff said his committee would have loved for Bolton to testify during the Houses impeachment investigation but he refused, adding it is pretty clear now why Bolton would not testify. [W]e would have loved to have John Bolton testify, Schiff told MSNBCs Willie Geist. Of course, we invited him to testify and he refused. We always begin by inviting people to come in voluntarily. Many witnesses wanted subpoenas, and then we would subpoena, they would come in and testify . But Boltons lawyers said if we subpoenaed him, he would sue us and we would be tied up in courts, we knew, for months or years if we did, just as were tied up in courts with Don McGahn. That didnt seem to be a good remedy when were talking about a president trying to cheat in the next election. He continued, I have to say it is vexing that he would refuse to come before the House because he claimed he needed basically a court blessing that he could do it, but now he can come before the Senate. Now, he will have to answer questions about that. You know, why is it that only now he is willing to come forward? I think it is pretty clear that the book has a lot to do with this. -- : mitbbs.com [FROM: 160.] The World Health Organisations Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, has announced that the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee would reconvene on Thursday to determine the new status of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Mr Ghebreyesus said the committee would be reconvened to advise him on whether the coronavirus outbreak constitutes a public health emergency of international concern, or not. He noted that most confirmed cases were in China but that three countries have recorded person-to-person transmission, outside of China. If the meeting holds, it would be the third time that the committee will be coming together to assess the level of threat the new disease would be having on global health. Mr Ghebreyesus, on his Twitter handle @Dr_Tedros on Wednesday, said he has decided to reconvene the committee on the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) on Thursday. This tweet is coming about 24 hour after his visit to Beijing where he met with the government and health experts battling the scourge in the country. Mr Ghebreyesus had earlier met with the president of China, Xi Jinping, who had assured that his country would defeat the devil (coronavirus), which has killed more than 100 people in the country. Also, the Director-General was able to assess the situation in China and efforts being made by the country to control the spread of the disease. READ MORE: He said WHO is monitoring the outbreak every moment of every day. My respect and appreciation to my colleagues who are showing great commitment. We will have more news following tomorrows emergency Committee meeting, he said. Deadly scourge The Director-General said he saw a need to reconvene the emergency committee as the disease has spread out of China to about 14 other countries. The disease, which was first detected in Wuhan in December, has spread to almost all the provinces in China. As at last count, the death toll from the disease in China has risen to 106 and more cases are still being reported. Currently, millions of people in China have been quarantined as many cities are on lockdown. The rapid spread and lack of adequate information on the pattern of the disease has raised concerns among the public and health workers across the globe. People are also beginning to clamour for WHO to declare the disease a global threat. The sporadic spread also made many countries intensify surveillance at their various borders and points of entry, especially airports. For example, Hong-Kong had to close some of the borders it shares with mainland China as part of the measurement to check the spread of the disease into its cities. Meanwhile, Mr Ghebreyesus said most of the 6000 new coronavirus cases are in China just 1 per cent, or 68 cases have been recorded to date in 15 other countries, he said. But some person-to-person transmission in 3 countries outside of China has been recorded. This potential for further global spread is why I called the EC, he added. He said the vast majority of new cases have been recorded in China. Most cases reported outside are in people with a travel history from China, or have been in contact with people who have been there. But there are some signs of person-to-person transmission outside China. Expectations With the reconvene meeting, it is expected that WHO might be making a new pronouncement on the status of the disease. WHO as at last week had concluded that the outbreak had not attained the status of Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) despite it fast spreading pace. Advertisements Though it warned that there is an emergency in China, the committee, after two days deliberations, had agreed to study the pattern of disease and reconvene at short notice if necessary. However, with the new information on the pattern and transmission of the disease, Mr Ghebreyesus said reconvening the Committee had become necessary. Symptoms He said the people who have contracted the new virus are showing a wide range of symptoms. Of known cases, most people exhibit milder symptoms, but about one in five people have severe illness, including pneumonia and respiratory failure, he said. He also apologised for the error made on its daily situation report which had tagged the disease as moderate risk, despite many countries reporting cases. This was a human error in preparing the report. I have repeatedly stated the high risk of the outbreak, he explained. Commendations Also, Mr Ghebreyesus in his tweet commended the efforts made by China in controlling the disease. He said he held frank talks with President Xi Jinping, who has taken charge of a monumental national response to the coronavirus outbreak. Based on cooperation and solidarity, China has committed to protecting its citizens and all people globally from the outbreak, he tweeted. He also welcomed the invitation by China for WHO to assemble and lead an international team of experts to assess the new coronavirus outbreak & support Chinese counterparts. I appreciate such openness and urge this to continue from China and all other countries, he said. I was struck by the determination of Chinese leadership and its people to end the new coronavirus outbreak. They are suffering the most. Their lives and economy are bearing the brunt of the outbreak as they make sacrifices to contain it. China needs the worlds solidarity and support. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Emmy Fitri (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 08:59 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20616de2a 3 Opinion opinions,hoax,#coronavirus,#Wuhan,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,Wuhan-lockdown,wuhan,social-media,social-media-in-Indonesia,social-media-post,Internet Free As China, its territories and at least a dozen countries in four geographical regions are grappling to contain the spread of the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV), people elsewhere are being unnecessarily exposed to a virtual panic that has been caused by busybodies, fearmongers and conspiracy theorists. Sadly, some media companies are mishandling the deluge of lies that have amplified the untruths, perhaps out of a misguided attempt to take advantage of the sensationalism as clickbait. Unlike in the late 1990s and the early 2000s, when early reports of the H5N1 avian influenza and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) hit newsstands followed by piecemeal, hard-to-get updates, news on the present-day outbreak are like the floodwaters that recently inundated the neighborhoods of Greater Jakarta. In a matter of days, a significant amount of content on the new coronavirus spread was posted on a number of social media platforms and went viral. The majority of these posts is simply mind-boggling. While some attempt to shed light on the latest virus or provide tips to prevent catching the virus, which is helpful in some ways, many others present bizarre theories. One claims that the devastating outbreak is a punishment from God against the Chinese government for their mistreatment of the Muslim Uighur minority. Others claim to quote experts saying that the virus escaped a government-run laboratory in China that was developing biochemical weapons. And my heart goes out to Bill Gates, who has been accused of funding research that released the deadly virus. No less ridiculous are those men wielding their title of Muslim cleric, professing that God had warned about this very outbreak while they recite verses from the Quran. If it were just two or three such theories, they would be good reason to roll around on the floor in a fit of laughter. But when such posts are bombarding users on all manner of platforms, they cause nothing but deep concern. Clicking the link of any post that is shared, even out of curiosity, prompts the platform to update the algorithm for our accounts accordingly. In the blink of an eye, text, videos and other audio-visual content will start flooding our accounts. What is worrisome is that Indonesia has a huge number of active internet users. There were 63 million internet users across the country in 2019 alone, according to the Communications and Information Ministry. And 95 percent of these primarily use the internet for social networking. The ministrys data also shows that Indonesia has the worlds fourth largest number of Facebook users after the United States, Brazil and India, and the worlds largest number of Twitter users after the US, Brazil, Japan and the United Kingdom. Indonesia has witnessed how social media has contributed to the protracted divisiveness in our social fabric during its latest political contest, the 2019 presidential election. The supporters of presidential candidates Joko Jokowi Widodo and Prabowo Subianto became embroiled in virtual hostilities in cyberspace, with some spilling over into real life. Social media is a double-edged sword: The huge number of social media users could be used as an effective means of sharing accurate and correct information on the current outbreak, but it can also be used to spread misinformation, even disinformation. Of course, achieving the former means providing accurate, clear information as a genuine effort to appease public concerns, and not propaganda or window dressing. It seems that nothing can stop the flood of hoaxes, lies and half-truths on social media, so the authorities should embrace the ancient adage: If you cant beat them, then join them. They have all the channels and the power and the creative staff to release the dam of accurate information and flood the internet. It might take some effort to go the extra mile, but thats part of the job. History shows that no country can ever be truly ready for an epidemic. Indonesia should thus recall one of the most valuable lessons we have learned from battling previous outbreaks of other diseases: Be alert and be prepared and dont panic as a result of ignorance. Of course, it must not be business as usual for the government in responding to the current outbreak. The countrys sheer vastness, huge population and generally poor level of sanitation and hygiene, compounded by gaps in the quality of our health services and facilities, put Indonesia at risk. The spread of misinformation and disinformation through absurd or malicious social media content will only cause unnecessary and unfounded mass hysteria. This contemporary plague is one we can do without. People also need to be reminded that they have the control to protect themselves and their family from catching infectious diseases by maintaining basic hygiene, for example, by washing their hands properly with soap. In the meantime, as we wait for the government to provide a more genuine response than just stating that Indonesia is still safe, we can contribute to containing the spread of lies and hoaxes by keeping our fingers away from the clickbait. Lets go back to maintaining the internet as our happy place, watching videos about pandas and hope that theyre not susceptible to the virus. *** Freelance writer based in Jakarta Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. New Delhi, Jan 29 : India on Wednesday urged Israel and Palestine to engage with each other over US President Donald Trump's two-state proposal to resolve the decades-old conflict. Aarti Tikoo Singh New Delhi, Jan 29 (IANS) India on Wednesday urged Israel and Palestine to engage with each other over US President Donald Trump's two-state proposal to resolve the decades-old conflict. The Trump Middle East peace plan which was unveiled on Tuesday has proposed an independent Palestinian state, recognition of Israeli sovereignty over West Bank settlements and continuation of Jerusalem as Israel's undivided capital. While President Trump called it the "last opportunity for Palestinians" and Israel described it as "historic", Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rejected the proposal saying it is "impossible" for any Palestinian to accept a Palestinian state without Jerusalem as its capital. In a response to a question on the Trump proposal, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar on Wednesday said India has been consistently supportive of the Palestinian cause. "India has also called for a two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue," he pointed out. The government reiterated that the final status of the issues should be resolved through direct negotiations between the two parties and acceptable to both. "We urge parties to engage with each other, including on the recent proposals put forward by the United State, and find an acceptable two-State solution for peaceful coexistence," the spokesperson said. India shares good relationship with both Israel and Palestine, independent of their relationship. "We will continue to follow developments in the region and engage with parties concerned," Kumar said. The Council of Judges asked opposition leader Kem Sokha Wednesday morning if he ran a secret structure of volunteers at the provincial offices of the Cambodian Center for Human Rights, an allegation flatly denied by the defendant. Kem Sokhas treason trial resumed Wednesday morning with one of the three judges questioning Kem Sokha about his work at human rights NGO CCHR. The judge Seng Leang asked about the staff who worked at the NGO, the internal and hiring policies of CCHR and then proceeded to ask about CCHRs provincial offices and their staffing. The judge cited testimony from Chim Phal Virun, a former CCHR staffer and now-spokesman for the ruling party, where he claimed that Kem Sokha and Pa Nguon Teang, also a former CCHR employee, ran a secret structure of volunteers out of CCHRs provincial offices. Kem Sokha set up the secret agency, judge Seng Leang said, quoting Chim Phal Viruns testimony. The judge then wanted to know who organized this structure and its purpose. Kem Sokha immediately said that he would not answer such a question. I am not going to answer this, he said. Last week, Kem Sokha told the court he would not answer questions based on Chim Phal Viruns testimony because Phal Virun had a conflict of interest. The judge and one of the two prosecutors then queried Kem Sokha about staff who worked at CCHR from 2002 to 2007, listing off at least 15 names, around half of which the opposition leader said he was aware of. However, the judges or prosecution did not make clear how this line of questioning was related to Kem Sokhas charge of conspiring with foreign powers. At one point, the prosecutor Plang Sophal said the charge of conspiracy with a foreign power, Article 443 of the Criminal Code, focused on the Cambodian individual involved in the conspiracy and did not have to delve into the involved countries. He was responding to defense criticism that the prosecution had only presented one video in court, of the 2013 speech, and that no other evidence had been presented to support the elements of the charge, including which countries aided in the conspiracy. The prosecution also continued to question about the content and intention behind Kem Sokhas public forums in the province. He refused to answer the same questions and repeated that he was only advocating for human rights and democracy. Again, when asked questions about U.S. funding of CCHR or Kem Sokhas references to they in the 2013 speech in Australia, which the prosecution and government has claimed was a reference the U.S. government, Kem Sokha asked the court to summons U.S. officials to answer these questions. Please, judge, summon the Americans and ask them to answer these questions, he said in court. These references to they in the 2013 alleged treason video was raised by the prosecution on Wednesday, which continued to press that Kem Sokha was changing the meaning of his 2013 speech to supporters in Australia. Kem Sokha uses the word they in the video on multiple occasions, especially when talking about being asked to step down from politics to start an NGO or when he talked about suggestions he received to use the Yugoslavia model to change the leadership in Cambodia. Kem Sokha has said that on occasion he was referring to the U.S. government but also to Cambodian Americans living in the U.S. The prosecutor Plang Sophal asked the court to call a Khmer-language expert to ascertain the meaning of Kem Sokhas words, despite the opposition leader asking the court to not ask a third party to make sense of his words. These are my words. This is my intention. This is my will, he said. Please do not make it different from what I said. After a short deliberation, presiding judge Kuy Sao ruled that the court did not need an expert to ascertain the meaning of Kem Sokhas 2013 Australia speech and that the bench was capable to make that assessment. Toward the end of the hearing, all parties were discussing the 34 pieces of evidence submitted by the defense last week, with the prosecution and government asking for amendments and clarifications about the evidence. As the discussion proceeded Ang Oudom, a new lawyer on Kem Sokhas team, stood up to point out that the court should have made these considerations during the investigation stage, in effect, objecting to the evidence his colleagues were looking to present in court. The government lawyers were quick to jump on this error, with Luy Chanthola saying that the government agreed with Ang Oudom. While admonishing Ang Oudom for not following the proceedings in the preceding weeks, presiding judge Kuy Sao said these arguments had already been made and the evidence had already been admitted last week. The court will next take up Kem Sokha activities from 2007 to 2012, during which Kem Sokha left CCHR and founded the Human Rights Party. RyanJLane/iStock(NEW YORK) -- Properly buckling kids into car seats can be tricky, yet it's a vital safety measure all parents should master in the event of a crash. Michelle Pratt, a mom of two and a nationally certified car seat safety technician, said her mission is to keep children safe by training parents in the complicated process of installation, harnessing and more. "When I was leaving the hospital, I was certain that someone would show me how to buckle in my little 7-pound baby and that did not happen," said Pratt, who shares advice with her 26,800 Instagram followers on @safeintheseat. "The reality is that of the 200 families that I've met with, 100% of them have had some type of misuse," she added. Placing a child in a car seat correctly can help decrease the risk of death or serious injury by more than 70%, according to nonprofit child safety organization Safe Kids Worldwide and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Installing the car seat properly is as equally important as safely strapping a child in, Lorrie Walker, a technical adviser at Safe Kids told GMA in 2019. "Every car seat on the market is safe to use. It all meets the general safety requirements. But if you buy it and you don't know how to use it, that's not going to save your child's life in a crash." Here are safety tips according to Pratt, the AAP and Safe Kids. Practice, practice Practice harnessing on a doll, a teddy bear or your friend's baby into the actual car seat, Pratt said, adding how no one helps you when you leave the hospital after giving birth. While buckling your child into their car seat, test that the harness is snug enough where you cannot pinch any slack between your fingers and the harness straps over your child's shoulders. The harness chest clip should be placed at the center of the chest and even with your child's armpits. Where and how to install a car seat into your car A car seat should always be installed in the back seat. Pratt said the middle seat is considered the safest position because it's farthest from any point of impact. Pratt said car seat manuals are fully detailed with information on how to install your car seat. They can be difficult to understand, though. To use LATCH, the AAP advises fastening the lower anchor connectors to lower anchors located in between where the back seat cushions meet. LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children and can be used in addition to or in place of a vehicles seat belts. According to the Insurance Institute, LATCH was required in vehicles and on child car seats starting in 2002. All lower anchors are rated for a maximum weight of 65 pounds, or the total weight of the car seat and child. As always, check the car seat manufacturer's recommendations or car seat label for the maximum weight a child can be to use lower anchors. Following your car seat's instructions, pull LATCH strap tightly, applying a significant amount of weight into the seat. The same should be done if using a seat belt. If you install the car seat using the vehicle's seat belt, make sure the seat belt locks to keep a tight fit. Check your vehicle owner's manual and car seat instructions to ensure you are using the seat belt correctly. When asking for professional help with installation, Pratt said be aware that not all firefighters and police officers are qualified. Ask each facility if they have Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPST) who are certified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to properly install a car seat. Certified technicians can sometimes be found at fire stations, hospitals, police stations or community events in your area. On their website, Safe Kids Worldwide offers an ultimate car seat safety guide complete with car seat buying tips, safe installation tips and more. All the information is based on your child's age and weight. In what position? In 2018, the AAP issued new car seat safety guidelines encouraging parents to keep their children's car seats in the rear-facing position until they have reached the manufacturer's height or weight limits in order to protect their developing heads, necks and spines in the event of a crash. Previous guidance for rear-facing car seats was age 2. When a child has outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for their car seat, the child should then use a forward-facing seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer. Car seat manufacturers now produce seats that allow children to remain rear-facing until they weigh 40 pounds or more, so now most children can remain rear-facing past their second birthday. When a child's whose weight or height is greater than the forward-facing limit for their car seat, parents should use a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, "typically when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are 8 through 12 years of age," according to the AAP. Never let your baby sleep in the car seat unsupervised, or for long periods of time outside your vehicle According to the AAP's safe sleep recommendations, parents should not use a car seat as an alternative to a crib or bassinet. After reaching a destination, children who are still sleeping should be removed from the car seat and placed in a crib or bassinet. Follow car seat manufacturer's guidelines, and make sure the device is installed at a 45-degree angle in the vehicle. These tips are crucial for preventing positional asphyxiation in car seats -- or accidental suffocation. Steer clear of car seat accessories Pratt said to say no to anything that doesnt come with your car seat. "Not only do you not need it, but it could jeopardize the safety of your child," the expert writes on Instagram. "Neck or head inserts like these are so so dangerous. They could easily slip behind your little ones head and cause their airway to be compromised." Should your child wear a jacket in the seat? Pratt said you'll want only a thin layer between your child's body and the harness/seatbelt. Bulky coasts give a false sense of tightness and if there's a crash, a child's body will move where it's unsafe. A tight harness close to the body is the best way to restrict movement and prevent injury or worse, Pratt wrote on Instagram Pratt also recommends safe product options for keeping warm in a car or booster seat on her Instagram page. Know that car seats do expire Car seats can expire if safety standards change or there's new technology advances. Time, as well as sun exposure to plastic can also cause wear and tear. And as the AAP notes, you should not use a car seat unless you know its history. "Do not use a car seat that has been in a crash, has been recalled, is too old (check the expiration date or use 6 years from date of manufacture if there is no expiration date), has any cracks in its frame or is missing parts," the AAP states on its website. You can find out if your car seat has been recalled by calling the manufacturer or the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 or by going to the NHTSA website at www.safercar.gov. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. TRAVERSE CITY -- the Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency welcomes the public to a free event for all ages at its 17th annual Super Saturday - a day of education and training for people experiencing poverty in the Greater Grand Traverse Area. Show Me the Money to be Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise will be held between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Feb. 8 at the TBAISD Career-Tech Center located at 880 Parsons Road, Traverse City. Check-in begins at 9 a.m. The physical and financial health and wellness event features classes, a free lunch, and a vendor cafe expo. On-site childcare with activities and meals and snacks provided for free for ages 4 through 12 with pre-registration. Attendees also have a chance to win door prizes. Freeantry items will be available. Structured programming sessions include: Improving and Maintaining Credit by Chemical Bank with NMCAA; Who's In Your Wallet? by Chemical Bank with NMCAA; What's Your Side Hustle? Exploring Opportunities to Make More Money with Joe Parent; Updates on Work Requirements for State Health Insurance Plans with Molina Health Care; The Importance of Being Counted with the U.S. Bureau of Census; and Addiction Services Options with Kate Kerr of Addiction Treatment Services. Vendor Cafe Expo includes, free tax preparation for households 200 percent of poverty line (appointments are required), free blood pressure screenings, and information booths from Habitat for Humanity, Northwest Michigan Health Services, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, UDSA Rural Development, US Census Bureau, Michigan Works!, Chemical Bank, Molina Health Care and Delta Dental. Kid's events include character appearances by NMCAA's mascot Roo the Financial Guru and Chemical Bank's mascot Dollar the Silver Squirrel handing out piggy banks for the "money parade". "Each year, through this event, we are able to save participants over $100,000 collectively by helping them prepare their taxes," said Karen Emerson, manager of the Homeowner and Financial Empowerment Center for NMCAA. "When you couple that with the food commodity offering, and also the value in the information in classes and vendor booths, the impact is even greater." This event is in partnership with the TBAISD Career-Tech Center and the Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan, and was sponsored by Chemical Bank, Molina Health Care, Consumers Energy, and the Community Economic Development Association of Michigan. All tax appointments must be pre-registered. To register for this event, call NMCAA partnering organization, Area Agency on Aging, today at (231) 590-0100 or visit bit.ly/nmcaasupersat or nmcaa.net. C hilling Adventures of Sabrina returned to Netflix for a third season in January, continuing the story of the half-witch-half-mortal Sabrina Spellman. As well as exploring the world of witchcraft and focusing on Sabrina's right to rule as the Queen of Hell, the new episodes introduced a brand new character to Greendale, who goes by the name of Robin. But who is he? And what do we know about the actor who plays him? Here's everything you need to know... Jonathan Whitesell at The Twilight Zone premiere / Getty Images Who plays Robin in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina? Robin is played by Canadian actor Jonathan Whitesell. Born in Vancouver Island, British Columbia, the 28-year-old is an actor but is also an artist who proudly shares and sells his stunning artwork online. You can follow him on Instagram on @jonwhitesell Ross Lynch, Jaz Sinclair, Gavin Leatherwood, Kiernan Shipka, Lachlan Watson, Jonathan Whitesell in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina / Netflix What else has actor Jonathan Whitesell been in? Whitesell is a familiar face to Riverdale fans because he had a recurring role on Riverdale playing Kurtz in Season 3. The star is also well known for playing Bryan on The 100 and Luke on the Freeform series Beyond. He also appeared as Coombs in Dan Krauss war film The Kill Team which was released in 2019 and also starred Big Little Lies Alexander Skarsgard. (Netflix ) / Netflix What's Robin's storyline in season 3 and what will come of him and Theo? At first,Robin appears to just be a new student at Baxter High, but it's later revealed that he came to town with Professor Carcosa's travelling carnival, which is really a group of Pagan witches in disguise. He also enters as relationship with Sabrina's friend Theo. According to Whitesell, Robin and Theo's relationship is ultimately about "being able to open up to each other's worlds. The message to the Palestinians, boiled down to its essence, is: Youve lost, get over it. ROBERT MALLEY, president of the International Crisis Group and a former Obama administration official, on President Trumps newly unveiled peace plan, which would redraw the map of the Holy Land. Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett has apparently given up on newspapers. The Omaha, Nebraska-based financial company is selling its BH Media Group, which includes 30 newspapers and more than 49 paid weekly publications, and The Buffalo News, a newspaper Buffett has owned since 1977. Lee Enterprises of Davenport, Iowa, which had managed Berkshire's media group for the last 18 months, will pay $140 million for the assets. The financing comes from about $576 million Berkshire is loaning Lee Enterprises to refinance $400 million in long-term debt. Berkshire will become Lee's sole lender. Buffett said Lee Enterprises had shown an ability to outpace competitors in revenue and digital market share. "We had zero interest in selling the group to anyone else for one simple reason: We believe that Lee is best positioned to manage through the industry's challenges," he said in a statement accompanying the sale's announcement. Coronavirus: It has nothing to do with Corona beer. But, some people seem to think so. Barbie gets more diverse: Mattel unveils dolls with no hair, vitiligo Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Warren Buffett, a lifelong newspaper reader and owner, has apparently given up on newspapers and is selling its more than 30 publications to Lee Enterprises for $140 million. "No organization is more committed to serving the vital role of high-quality local news, however delivered, as Lee," Buffett continued. "I am confident that our newspapers will be in the right hands going forward and I also am pleased to be deepening our long-term relationship with Lee through the financing agreement." A newspaper delivery boy as a teen, Buffett has been a lifelong voracious newspaper reader reading as many as five a day. But he knew the industry faced massive challenges. "They are a fair amount worse off, and not one is bucking that trend, even in prosperous communities," he told USA TODAY four years ago. "There's less and less in the newspaper." At the time he said: "We would never sell a newspaper ... I want to be the last guy standing." But apparently it was time for the "Oracle of Omaha" to turn the page. Story continues The newspapers Berkshire sold to Lee Enterprises include: The Omaha World-Herald Winston-Salem (N.C.) Journal Greensboro (N.C.) News & Record, The News The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.) The Tulsa (Okla.) World The Florence (S.C.) Morning News The Eagle in Bryan-College Station (Texas) Waco (Texas) Tribune-Herald Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch Follow USA TODAY reporter Mike Snider on Twitter: @MikeSnider. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Warren Buffett newspapers sold: Berkshire Hathaway sells to Lee Dir: Robert Eggers. Starring: Willem Dafoe, Robert Pattinson, and Valeriia Karaman. 15 cert, 109 mins Robert Pattinson delivers what might be the years best monologue in The Lighthouse. Its a deluge of insults, including the inspired phrase: You smell like curdled foreskin. Or is it his co-star, Willem Dafoe, who gets the better speech, as he repeatedly calls upon the sea-god Triton to do his bidding? Either way, the films a treat for both these actors, who play like giddy children with the films screenplay, written by director Robert Eggers and his brother Max. The duo star as lighthouse keepers stationed on a remote New England island in the 1890s. Dafoes Thomas Wake is the man in charge. With the look of someone who should be emblazoned across a packet of fish fingers, Thomas speaks almost exclusively in the language of old wives tales and crusty parables. His beard is substantial, his drinking habits are excessive, and his accent is largely impenetrable. Its the kind of role that only an actor like Dafoe can pull off equal parts ridiculous, tragic, and fearsome. Pattinson, meanwhile, plays Wakes subordinate Ephraim Winslow. Hes quiet and mostly just eager to get the job done, though he becomes increasingly resentful of the demeaning tasks Thomas assigns him, whether its cleaning out cisterns or emptying chamber pots. Worse still, he cant understand why Thomas is so unwilling to let Ephraim up to the top of the lighthouse to tend the lamps. His devout possessiveness over it becomes a source of ever-mounting tension. You can almost smell the salt and grime. This is sensory, claustrophobic filmmaking. Its a horror film that gets its scares through a lingering sense of being trapped with these two men on this godforsaken island. Shooting in black-and-white and a tight, boxy aspect ratio creates an uneasy intimacy with the films characters. Meanwhile, Damian Volpes sound design makes good use of the lighthouses foghorn, as it punctuates scenes like a warning siren or the ominous call of some approaching creature, ready to swallow the place whole. The films dialogue is based off the writing of Herman Melville and Sarah Orne Jewett, as well as the diaries of 19th-century sailors. As with Eggers last film and directorial debut, The Witch, theres a clear desire for historical accuracy in language, look, and tone. But the film doesnt feel stiff. Theres plenty of bleak humour and a healthy serving of fart jokes. Ephraims various misfortunes often have a hint of slapstick to them, whether hes battling a particularly bellicose seagull or trying to drag a giant canister of fuel up the lighthouse stairs. 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Show all 37 1 /37 37 horror films that are genuinely scary 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Funny Games (1997) Directed by: Michael Haneke. Funny Games places the horror in the familiar setting of home. It follows two young men who hold a family hostage and torture them with sadistic games. The result is far scarier than anything featuring ghosts, witches or demons. Concorde-Castle Rock/Turner 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Amityville Horror (1979) Directed by: Stuart Rosenberg. The Amityville Horror is based on the true story of the Lutzes, a family who were run out of their home after being terrorised by paranormal phenomena in 1975. Just one year before, Ronald DeFeo Jr shot and killed six members of his family in the same house. James Brolin and Margot Kidder lead this film, which became one of the biggest hits of 1979. American International Pictures 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Audition (1999) Directed by: Takashi Miike . Japanese horror Audition (1999) follows a widower who meets a woman named Ayoma after staging auditions to meet a potential new partner. Soon, though, her dark past begins to surface, which equates to a pretty disturbing climax. Omega Project 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Blair Witch Project (1999) Directed by: Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sanchez . Although parodied to death, The Blair Witch Project popularised the found-footage format to terrifying degrees in 1999. People genuinely believed they were watching real clips of three student filmmakers being terrorised by a Maryland legend known as the Blair Witch. Artisan Entertainment 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1920) Directed by: Robert Wiene . Black-and-white silent horror film The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1920) is considered the quintessential work of German Expressionism, but also one of the scariest films in cinema history. It follows a hypnotist (Werner Krauss) who uses a somnambulist to commit murders, and Wiene's shadowed sets and striking visual style combines to unsettle the viewer in ways most filmmakers only dream of managing. Decla-Bioscop 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Candyman (1992) Directed by: Bernard Rose. A contemporary classic of horror cinema, 1992 film Candyman which spawned two sequels and has a Jordan Peele-produced remake in the works follows a graduate student whose studies lead her to the legend of a ghost who appears when you say his name three times. TriStar Pictures 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Cannibal Holocaust (1980) Directed by: Ruggero Deodato. Extreme enough to warrant a ban in Italy and Australia, Cannibal Holocaust (1980) was one of the first films to embrace the found-footage format so much so that Deodato found himself charged with multiple counts of murder due to rumours that several of the film's death scenes were real. He was later cleared. United Artists Europa 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Descent (2005) Directed by: Neil Marshall. Released in 2005, The Descent follows six women who, upon exploring a cave, battle to survive against the creatures they find inside. It's these creatures that earn this British horror film's placement on this list. Pathe Distribution 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Exorcist (1973) Directed by: William Friedkin. One of the most controversial films of all time, The Exorcist which tells the story of the demonic possession of a 12-year-old girl named Regan (Linda Blair) became the first horror to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars in 1974. Warner Bros 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Halloween (1978) Directed by: John Carpenter. Sure, it may be dated, but John Carpenter's original Halloween film released in 1978 remains the daddy of all horrors. It re-defined the rule book and has been emulated in everything from Scream (1996) to Trick 'r Treat (2007). The tension, as babysitter Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) attempts to evade masked murderer Michael Myers, only heightens with every new watch. Compass International Pictures[ 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Hereditary (2018) Directed by: Ari Aster. Proving that horror is a force to be reckoned with, Hereditary became independent distributor A24's highest-grossing film around the world upon its release in 2018. It tells the story of a family who find themselves haunted after the death of their secretive grandmother and features a final act that left many of its viewers with sleepless nights. A24 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The House of the Devil (2009) Directed by: Ti West. The House of the Devil (2009) follows a student named Samantha who is hired to guard an isolated house with one rule: don't go upstairs. For most of the film's runtime, not much happens, which is what makes the action-packed final third so terrifying. Spoiler: she goes upstairs. MPI Media Group 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Innocents (1961) Directed by: Jack Clayton. Based upon Henry James' chiller The Turn of the Screw, the plot of 1961 psychological horror film The Innocents concerns a governess who watches over two children and comes to fear that their large estate is haunted by ghosts and that the youngsters are being possessed. 20th Century Fox 37 horror films that are genuinely scary It (1986) Directed by: Tommy Lee Wallace. Forget the effects-laden remake this version of It, released as a miniseries in 1986, is the most terrifying adaptation of Stephen King's beloved novel to date. It follows a shapeshifting demon who takes the form of a sadistic child-killing clown named Pennywise (Tim Curry). Lorimar Productions 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Ju-On: The Grudge (2002) Directed by: Takashi Shimizu. Japanese horror maestro Takashi Shimizu who also directed the pretty scary 2005 remake starring Sarah Michelle Gellar balances mystery with horror in Ju-On: The Grudge, a story based in a cursed house in Tokyo. Lions Gate Films 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Kill List (2011) Directed by: Ben Wheatley. To describe the horrors of Kill List is to ruin the film's surprises, but let's just say this: the final 20 minutes of Ben Wheatley's violent drama from 2011 features some of the most unsettling scenes in any film from this decade. Optimum Releasing 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Lake Mungo (2008) Directed by: Joel Anderson. Taking the form of a mockumentary, the little-seen Australian drama Lake Mungo may have received a limited release in 2008, but its story of a family attempting to come to terms with the drowning of their daughter stays with viewers long after. Arclight Films 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Martyrs (2008) Directed by: Pascal Laugier. The polarising 2008 film Martyrs, often associated with the New French Extremity movement, is the kind of horror that leaves you needing a shower once the credits roll. It follows a young woman's quest for revenge on the people who kidnapped and tormented her as a child. Anchor Bay Films 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Night of the Living Dead (1968) Directed by: George A Romero. Younger viewers may be desensitised by the more extreme horror films to have been released in recent decades, but the scares featured in Romero's Night of the Living Dead including the young girl zombie reveal remain some of the most chilling committed to celluloid. Continental Distributing 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Nosferatu (1922) Directed by: FW Murnau. Alongside Cesare in The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1920), the character of vampire Count Orlok in 1922 film Nosferatu played by Mac Schreck remains one of the most spine-tingling in cinema history. Film Arts Guild 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Orphanage (2007) Directed by: JA Bayona. Produced by Guillermo del Toro, this acclaimed 2007 chiller follows the disappearance of a young boy in an orphanage, which brings many of the building's terrifying secrets to the fore. Warner Bros Pictures de Espana 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Others (2001) Directed by: Alejandro Amenabar. The Others (2001) is a towering achievement for Spanish filmmaker Alejandro Amenabar who wrote, directed and scored this Nicole Kidman-fronted tale about a woman trying to protect her children from supernatural forces. It's perhaps the scariest 12-certificate film of all time. Warner Sogefilms 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Paranormal Activity (2009) Directed by: Oren Peli. Could Paranormal Activity be the scariest film of all time? It's certainly one of them. Just when you thought found-footage had had its day, Oren Peli's small-budgeted festival favourite became one of 2009's biggest hits. Audiences lapped up the story of a couple who capture supernatural presences on a camera in their own home. Paramount Pictures[ 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Paranormal Activity 3 (2011) Directed by: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman. Paranormal Activity 3 earns its place on this list for its final 10 minutes. Set 18 years prior to the events of the first two films, we see the cause of the curse that follows characters Katie and Kristi for the rest of their lives and it's down to a coven of witches led by their grandmother. Paramount Pictures 37 horror films that are genuinely scary [REC] (2007) Directed by: Jaume Balaguero, Paco Plaza. Played out in real-time, the claustrophobic Spanish horror film [REC] is one of the better examples of found-footage cinema. Released in 2007, it follows a reporter and her cameraman who follow firefighters to a Barcelona building and soon find themselves locked inside with its occupants who are displaying murderous behaviour. Filmax International 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Ring (1998) Directed by: Hideo Nakata. Unless you've been living under a rock, you know the story of Ring by now: viewers of a cursed videotape die seven days after watching it. While the inevitable Hollywood remake in 2002 was better than it had any right to be, Nakata's original is as terrifying as horror films come. Toho 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Rosemary's Baby (1968) Directed by: Roman Polanski. Released in 1968, Rosemary's Baby follows a pregnant woman who suspects that an evil cult want to take her baby for use in their rituals. Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes and Ruth Gordon's performances tip this psychological chiller into classic status. Paramount Pictures 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Shining (1980) Directed by: Stanley Kubrick. Forget the iconic "Heeeeere's Johnny" or that bath scene it's the smaller moments that make Kubrick's 1980 adaptation of Stephen King's The Shining a terrifying watch, notably the trippy final act that sees Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) lose his mind to the Overlook Hotel. Warner Bros 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Sinister (2012) Directed by: Scott Derrickson. Of all the Blumhouse horror films, 2012 release Sinister which features the demonic character Bughuul is the spookiest of them all. It stars Ethan Hawke as a true-crime writer who discovers a box of home movies depicting grisly murders in the attic of his new house. Momentum Pictures 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Sleep Tight (2011) Directed by: Jaume Balaguero. This little-seen Spanish horror follows a concierge who, believing he was born without the ability to feel happiness, decides to make life hell for everyone around him. Filmax 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) Directed by: Tobe Hooper. The fictional Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), marketed as a true story, follows a group of cannibals including Leatherface who relentlessly hunt down a group of friends. Vortex 37 horror films that are genuinely scary 28 Days Later (2002) Directed by: Danny Boyle. Many might not reflect upon 28 Days Later (2002) as one of the world's scariest horror films, but its desolate depiction of a viral outbreak seems more real than any other. When merged with the fast-paced infected and the usage of John Murphy's song "In the House In A Heartbeat", it's hard to deny it such status. Fox Searchlight Pictures 37 horror films that are genuinely scary V/H/S (2012) Directed by: Various. Directed by six filmmakers, including Adam Wingard and Ti West, 2012 anthology film V/H/S is grimy horror of the tallest order. Look no further than David Bruckner's section "Amateur Night" following three friends who meet a mysterious girl who says nothing other than three small words: "I like you." Magnet Releasing 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Wailing (2016) Directed by: Na Hong-jin. Twist-filled horror drama The Wailing follows a policeman who investigates a series of mysterious killings and illness in the mountains of South Korea. If the journey fails to scare you, its destination will leave you lying awake at night. 20th Century Fox Korea 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Wicker Man (1973) Directed by: Robin Hardy. The Wicker Man is deemed the best British horror film of all time for a reason. It tells the story of a Police Sergeant who travels to an isolated island in search of a missing girl, only to find its inhabitants practising a form of Celtic paganism. British Lion Films 37 horror films that are genuinely scary The Witch (2015) Directed by: Robert Eggers. For the most part, it's not what you see in The Witch that terrifies, it's what you don't see. Eggers unsettlingly holds his camera a fraction too long in places as he retells the story of a Separatist family who encounter supernatural forces in the woods beyond their farm. A24 37 horror films that are genuinely scary Zero Day (2003) Directed by: Ben Coccio. The horrors are all too real in Zero Day, a film inspired by the Columbine High School massacre in 1999. The majority of the film is portrayed through the video diaries of two students who are planning to attack their high school. Avatar Films If The Witch was Eggers attempt to interrogate the idea of the monstrous feminine, a term created to describe the centuries of hysteria around womens sexuality, then The Lighthouse might be his attempt to introduce a monstrous masculine. Its a film concerned with bodily, primal impulses filled with sweaty desire, sickly jealousy, and unbridled rage. Ephraim is haunted by visions that intermingle sex and death (theres something alarming and a little pathetic to his furious masturbation sessions). Boredom makes men to villains, Thomas warns, as the isolation and savagery of their surroundings strips them down and leaves their ugliest parts exposed. Cinematographer Alex Metcalfe doesnt shy away from darkness. It carves up the two actors faces in ghoulish ways. At one point, a wild-eyed Dafoe looks remarkably like Gustave Courbets feverish self-portrait The Desperate Man. At other times, the men look more like goblins scurrying through the night. The Lighthouse deals with madness, but in a form that feels ancient and mythical in its nature. Eggers not only draws from the old folk tales and superstitions sailors used to cling to as the only way to bring reason and order to the all-consuming chaos of the sea, but from Greek mythology, too. There are nods to Icarus, Prometheus, and Proteus. Eggers never delineates between reality and dream, leaving us to decide for ourselves whether the island is cursed by some otherworldly power or whether this is all some kind of hallucination. In The Lighthouse, a seagull might just be a seagull, but theres also a chance its a harbinger of evil. Only the sea knows. The Lighthouse is being screened as part of the London Film Festival. It will be released in UK cinemas on 31 January 2020 DUBLIN, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- 2019 brings an additional $10 billion in fines for non-compliance with AML, KYC and sanctions regulations as post-financial crisis impact bites in fines for non-compliance with AML, KYC and sanctions regulations as post-financial crisis impact bites Financial Institutions fined further $82.7 million for data privacy and MiFID violations for data privacy and MiFID violations Amid global trade tensions, sanctions violations make up almost 40% of 2019 fines Fenergo today released its findings on financial institution fines which shows that in December 2019 global penalties totaled $36 billion for non-compliance with Anti-Money laundering (AML), Know your Customer (KYC) and sanctions regulations. Fines related to AML, KYC and sanctions violations increased in the 15 months since the last Fenergo report by 160% as the ramifications from the global financial crisis bear a significant impact. The 2019 report also includes fines for Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) and data privacy regulations such as Global Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to the value of $82.7 million. 12 of the world's top 50 banks were fined for non-compliance with AML, KYC and sanctions violations in 2019. By country, Switzerland was the biggest offender after a tier one Swiss bank received the biggest single fine at $5.1bn for AML breaches by the French Criminal Court. The fine exceeds the bank's 2018 net profit of $4.9b by 4%. Italian banks were the second biggest offenders in 2019, racking up almost USD $1.5 billion in total fines for sanctions violations and GDPR breaches. Two thirds of all fines issued by US regulators were aimed at European financial institutions for AML breaches and sanctions violations with countries such as Iran, Cuba, North Korea, Sudan, Libya and Myanmar. In APAC (.07% of the 2019 fine value) the majority of penalties were levied by regulators for AML and Know Your Customer (KYC) shortcomings in India (14), Chinese Taipei (10) and Pakistan (8). 2019 was the first year that punitive fines were handed out to tier one financial institutions for historical MiFID transaction reporting breaches. Two major fines amounting to USD $81.5 million were issued by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for transaction reporting failures over a 10-year period preceding the introduction of MiFID II. The 2019 fine value is 55 times the value of all MiFID II fines issued in 2018 ($1,480,942). Only 12 fines amounting to over USD $1.1m were issued to financial institutions for non-compliance of data privacy regulations including GDPR and Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance in Hong Kong. Marc Murphy, CEO of Fenergo says "The rise in financial crime and increasing regulation is creating a tough battleground for financial institutions trying to stay on top of a multitude of regulatory rules across different jurisdictions. We are still seeing the ramifications from the financial crisis. In today's climate there is no other option but to leverage next generation technology to achieve a more effective and streamlined approach to regulation that allows financial institutions to approach regulatory compliance in a 'business as usual' manner. This will leave room for more value-add tasks that will achieve competitive edge in the race to win on customer experience." Laura Glynn, Global Compliance and Regulatory Director, Fenergo says: "2019 was another record year for fines, the second biggest in history, and 2020 is shaping up to be a very busy year in this space. Our report is mainly AML and KYC based, but we have included recent fines for breaches across other regulatory areas, such as infringements under GDPR. While these specific fines in 2019 are small in comparison to the AML fines, and less numerous than anticipated, this is largely due to regulators giving financial institutions leeway to embed their controls and demonstrate efforts to comply. This honeymoon period is waning, so we expect more penalties to arise from non-compliance in 2020." The top US regulator by fines was the Department of Justice (DoJ) with over USD $1.3 bn in fines issued. This includes an enforcement action imposed on one of the world's top 20 banks which incorporated a forfeiture of USD $717.2 million for the absence of an effective, global sanctions-compliance infrastructure and a lack of management oversight which resulted in sanctions violations. The fine came after a review by US regulators which discovered the institution had made 2,600 outbound U.S. dollar payments, valued at approximately USD $8.3bn, to high risk countries including Iran, North Korea and Sudan. The rise in sanctions fines in 2019 reflects the geopolitical climate in the United States. 86% of all fines levied by US regulators since Fenergo's last report in 2018 were for sanctions violations. Economic sanctions against high risk countries such as Iran are imposed by governments to protect national security and prevent the funding of terrorist activity. Financial institutions are required to be vigilant in identifying sanctioned entities and individuals through robust screen processes. Rachel Woolley, Global AML Manager, Fenergo, said: "The scale of financial crime continues to grow while the methods used by criminals to launder the proceeds of crime evolve. Our 2019 fines analysis shows that many of the financial institutions penalised lacked appropriate systems and compliance infrastructures that are necessary to identify and address areas of high risk. Effective regulation technology is no longer a 'nice to have', it's essential for the future of banking and the reduction in global financial crime." The data also highlights a trend for US regulators to impose tougher penalties on foreign financial institutions compared with domestic institutions. Since September 2018 a total of 19 fines were handed to banks with headquarters in France, Israel, Italy, Switzerland, UAE and the UK, at a total value of $4.1bn compared to just $246 million in fines issued to US institutions. Average fine values to EMEA headquartered banks were 10 times higher (USD $216m) in the same period than those imposed to US institutions (USD $20m). To delve into the fines data and the global drivers in more detail register here to join Fenergo and presenters Graham Barrow and Ray Blake from The Dark Money Files in a webinar on February 26th. About Fenergo Fenergo is the digital enabler of client and regulatory technology for financial services. It provides digital Client Lifecycle Management (CLM) software solutions for Financial Institutions including Corporate & Institutional Banking, Commercial & Retail Banking, Asset Management & Asset Servicing, Private Banking & Wealth Management. Counting 70+ global Financial Institutions as clients, its award-winning CLM suite digitally transforms how Financial Institutions manage clients; from initial onboarding to KYC/AML and regulatory compliance, to data management and ongoing lifecycle KYC reviews and refreshes. Fenergo CLM empowers financial institutions to deliver a faster, compliant and digital customer experience while achieving a single client view across channels, products, business lines and jurisdictions. Fenergo is quickly becoming the KYC backbone for banks, where a common set of Fenergo KYC services are being leveraged across the bank agnostic of business vertical, product, jurisdiction or client type. This backbone trades increasing complexity for well-designed simplicity. Fenergo's community-based approach to product development allows clients to collaborate on solution design on a global scale. Its rules-driven solution ensures compliance with multiple global and local regulatory frameworks including AML, KYC, SFTR, Tax (CRS, FATCA, 871M), OTC Derivatives (EMIR, Dodd-Frank, MiFID II, Margin Requirements) and data privacy rules (GDPR). It supports the collection, centralization and sharing of client and counterparty data and documentation across the institution and deploys an API-first approach to advanced integration with a host of external KYC, AML and entity data providers, KYC and industry utilities. The solution is underpinned by next generation Artificial Intelligence, Robotics Process Automation and Machine Learning technologies, using advanced OCR and NLP capabilities to extract information, expedite compliance and improve operational efficiencies. Collectively, the global cyber security market is expected to reach approximately $150 billion in 2020 but hacks and breaches continue unabated and CISO's are unfairly treated in the process. There are forces coming together that are giving rise to a CISO Revolution The need to discern fact from fiction in a world where few vendors' products truly measure up to the hype. There is a lack of acknowledgement of the inevitability of attacks regardless of good security posture. New attacks form faster than new technologies, yet CISO's are expected to bring immunity from attacks. This is not realistic. CISO's have a minimal voice in managing enterprise risk. Knowing that attacks will happen, CISO's are best placed to define and refine the correct investment in risk management and transfer for their companies yet are, at best, on the sidelines of the insurance conversation. CISO's are often unfairly scapegoated when an attack happens. In the majority of cases the CISO has planned well and deliberately pursued the right policies to protect the company, but will still be dismissed after a breach, causing an unwarranted blight on their career. Many CISO's now believe that insurance should be a key element in their security stack, representing at least 5 percent of the security budget. This would effectively double the cyber insurance market from the projected 2020 market value of $7.5 Billion to $15 Billion . to . CISO's want smart policies that are tied to the risks that they foresee and want a fair and accurate assessment of their company's risk profiles. "Tackling cyber risk requires cooperation between the security and insurance sectors they've tried it alone and neither solution is working," said Mike Convertino, Chief Security Officer of Arceo.ai. "CISO's are in the cross-hairs and they are starting a revolution of sorts, demanding that if they are going to be held accountable, then they need the commensurate authority to drive cyber hygiene and cyber resilience." "Mike Convertino has seen first-hand from inside major US companies, the vendor community and the US military, why we need to crack the problem of finding real solutions to manage cyber risk. We are thrilled that Mike has joined us at Arceo on our mission to provide real value to insurers and end enterprises alike," said Vishaal Hariprasad, CEO of Arceo. Mike will partner with Arceo's Insurance carriers, brokers and companies to provide insurance strategies that maximize a company's resilience in the face of an attack, decrease damage to the business, and reduce losses. "To assess risk properly there is a need for a fast and scientific approach to understanding an organizations' exposure," said Convertino. "CISO's are often only engaged in insurance coverage when it comes to filling out a long and meaningless questionnaire. It's a one-size-fits-all practice that does not take into account the macro threat environment. Arceo is the only technology company that I have found with the ability to automatically and continually assess both micro and macro risk for a true risk assessment." In his most recent role with Twitter, Mike led the team that protected the company's infrastructure and users from hacking and other types of compromises. He was an early employee at Crowdstrike and created Falcon Overwatch, Crowdstrike's managed security service (MSSP) that protected clients from attacks in real time. Like many in the security arena, Mike is a military veteran and served as the Commander of the US Air Force's only Information Operations unit whose mission was to provide the US asymmetric cyber advantages. About Arceo.ai Arceo makes companies cyber resilient by enabling smarter insurance and dynamic security. Our mission is to secure enterprises from cyber threats by blending cybersecurity expertise, intelligent risk assessments, and risk transfer. Arceo's end-to-end cyber risk analytics and insurance platform enables insurers and brokers to better assess, underwrite, and manage cyber risks using AI for advanced and dynamic risk assessment. Arceo is privately funded and headquartered in San Francisco, California with offices in New York, Chicago and Baltimore. For more information, visit Arceo.ai SOURCE Arceo.ai Related Links https://www.arceo.ai BRW 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 State-owned social insurer Asuransi Sosial Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Indonesia (Asabri) claimed that it received commitments from businessmen Benny Tjokrosaputro and Heru Hidayat to return Rp 10.9 trillion (US$799 million) the insurer lost by investing in their companies stocks. Benny and Heru, who have been declared suspects by the Attorneys General Office (AGO) for alleged corruption involving a troubled state insurer, Asuransi Jiwasraya, made the commitment in a meeting last year, according to Asabri president director Sonny Widjaja. Asabri, which handles insurance and pension funds for the military, police and Defense Ministry, lost about Rp 10 trillion through investments in stocks and mutual funds. Asabris investments resemble those of Jiwasraya, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD said. We met with them in mid-2019 to return our money because this is our troops and our polices money, he said during a hearing with House of Representatives Commission XI overseeing financial affairs. He said that after the meeting, both businessmen made commitments to give back Asabris money. Theyve signed the papers in front of a notary and we could potentially get the money back, he said. Sonny said the insurer could potentially receive Rp 10.9 trillion from the two businessmen, consisting of Rp 5.8 trillion from Heru and Rp 5.1 trillion from Benny. Asabri was revealed to have invested in Bennys property firm PT Hanson International, traded under the code MYRX. It also invested in several of Herus companies such as coal mining companies PT Trada Alam Minera (TRAM) and PT SMR Utama (SMRU) and fisheries company PT Inti Agri Resources (IIKP). Hanson International stock prices, for example, plummeted to their lowest level of Rp 50 per share from a high of Rp 153 per share in March 2018. The Indonesia Stock Exchange had halted trading of the stocks last week when they became implicated in the corruption investigation into Jiwasraya and its failure to pay maturing policies. Asabri is also planning to meet with its fund managers who have been demonstrating declining performance to ask them to take responsibility for their actions and decisions. We will ask them to take responsibility so that our investments performance could increase, Asabris investment and finance director Rony Hanityo Apriyanto said. Governor Arif Mohammad Khan read out a reference to Keralas resolution opposing the controversial citizenship act in the state governments vision document in the assembly on Wednesday, but made his reservations on the subject clear and pointed out that he only honoured the chief ministers wish in what some constitutional experts described as a departure from practice. Khan, who has been at odds with the Left-ruled state government on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, or CAA, faced protests from a section of Opposition lawmakers who blocked his way and shouted slogans. Khan had to be escorted to the podium by security personnel inside the assembly hall. I am going to read this para [mentioning the anti-CAA resolution] because the honourable chief minister [Pinarayi Vijayan] wants me to read this, although I hold the view that this does not come under the definition of the policy or programme, Khan said midway into his speech. On December 31, the Kerala assembly unanimously passed the resolution demanding the scrapping of CAA, becoming the first state in the country to do so. The Congress-ruled Punjab and Rajasthan, and the Trinamool Congress-ruled West Bengal have passed similar resolutions since. Kerala has also moved the Supreme Court against the Act. Paragraph 18, which was at the centre of Wednesdays discussion and read out by Khan in the assembly, said, Citizenship can never be on the basis of religion, as this goes against the grain of secularism which is part of the basic structure of the Constitution. Khan has maintained that citizenship issues have to be dealt with by the Centre and that states have no power on the subject. He has expressed his dissatisfaction on the resolution, and also questioned Keralas move to approach the top court. In his speech, Khan said: Strong states and strong Centre are pillars of our federalism. The voices of genuine apprehension of the states need to be considered by the central government in the right spirit keeping broad national interest in mind, particularly when constitutional values are involved and there are widespread anxieties and apprehensions among a large number of our citizenry. Khan said he received a letter from CM Vijayan, who requested him to read the governments policy address in entirety without additions or deletions. CAA, passed in December in Parliaments winter session, fast-tracks the citizenship process for refugees of Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Parsi, Jain and Buddhist faiths who entered India from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh before 2015. Opponents of CAA say the act is unconstitutional because it links faith to citizenship in a secular country and discriminatory because it leaves out Muslims. Former Lok Sabha secretary general PDT Achary said as per convention and Constitution, a governor is head of a state and is bound to read out the speech approved by the government. He is not responsible for the contents of the speech and this is a practice prevailing in various democracies where parliamentary system is present, Achary said. Even if the governor adds or subtracts to the speech, it would not be taken on record, he added. Under Article 176 (1) of the Constitution, a governor is required to deliver a policy statement of the state government in the first session of the assembly and the first session of the year. The article does not specify whether the governor has to read the full speech. Wednesday marked the first day of the Kerala assemblys budget session the first of the year that will conclude of February 12. A governors discretionary power is not codified in the Constitution, but is scattered in its various parts. A governor, as a head of the state, derives his or her power from Article 163. There is no bar on him on giving suggestions. But s/he is bound by the aid and advice of council of ministers in the exercise of all his functions under this article. In the past, governors have skipped portions of their speeches. In 2018, then Kerala governor P Sathasivam skipped parts that were considered critical of the central government. In 1969, West Bengal governor Dharma Vira deleted a section of the address prepared by the state government. When Khan was being ushered into the assembly hall by speaker P Sreeramakrishnan and CM Vijayan on Wednesday, some Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) members blocked him, shouted Go Back and held banners that read Repeal CAA and Recall Governor. The speaker tried to pacify the agitators. Finally, ward personnel cleared his path to the dais. As Khan was leaving the assembly, reporters asked him about the protests. Khan said he has faced worse protests. Leader of Opposition, Ramesh Chennithala said the state government and the governor had come to a truce. The double standards of the chief minister have been exposed. The CM begged the governor to read the policy address in full...It is proved beyond doubt the government is supporting the governor, who criticises the assembly. It seems Pinarayi Vijayan has entered into an agreement with the [Narendra] Modi government to save himself from the Lavalin graft case, he said. The Supreme Court has been hearing a batch of petitions challenging the Kerala high courts 2018 order discharging Vijayan, the then state electricity minister, and others in an alleged graft case involving an award of contract to Canadian firm SNC-Lavalin for the renovation and modernisation of three hydroelectric projects in 1995. The Left government and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit back at the Congress. Who gave authority to Congress to stop the Governor? By blocking the Governor, the UDF has insulted the people of Kerala, BJP leader Kummanam Rajashekharan said. Law minister AK Balan said: It shows the Congress will stoop low for some publicity. (With agency inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON I would rather not spend an hour commuting, Bowser said. I want her to have friends in the neighborhood; I want her to be close to home, and if that school is right for her, that is probably where she is going. Siam Cement sees 32% decline in profit for the 4Q19 29 January 2020 Thailands Siam Cement has seen a 32 per cent YoY decrease in profit to THB7.1bn (US$230.3m) for the October-December 2019 period. Overall revenue fell nine per cent YoY to THB106.18bn. Revenue from its cement and building material segment was down one per cent at THB45.14bn, due to lower sales in markets outside of southeast Asia, according to the company. Elsewhere, revenue from its chemicals business fell 23 per cent to THB41.35bn. For the full-year 2019, Siam Cement saw a 28 per cent dip in profit to THB32.01bn. Published under It is necessary that all activists and social groups fighting for the empowerment of women and dignity of women must take up this issue on a global scale, considering it as a social evil and unbecoming of a civilized society. by N.S.Venkataraman Polygamy ( the practice or custom of having more than one wife at the same time by a man) is one of the worst forms of oppression against women from time immemorial. While such practice of polygamy rarely happen these days in developed countries particularly in Europe and USA, this obnoxious practice remains extensively in Islamic countries and developing countries like India. In developing countries,, it is also seen that many business men and politicians and others have more than one wife and are not really condemned in the society or punished by the government. Several instances can be readily pointed out. Unfortunately, there is no strong and sustained social campaign against the practice of polygamy, though some isolated voice of protest by activists are heard from time to time. The polygamy practice readily highlights the fact that in many countries by some men , women are viewed as sex objects and as inferior by men folk and women dare not object or protest, fearing harassment by the husband. Muslim women are the most sufferers in this respect. Another obnoxious practice against women in Islamic countries is what is called as triple talak (a form of divorce under Islamic law in which the husband repudiates the marriage by saying 'talaq' three times). Though a few Islamic countries have banned this practice, even in such countries, it is not effectively implemented since , women are so much discriminated and forced to remain subdued, that they dare not make complaint against such practice. Many women have suffered enormously with their voice of distress remaining unheard. In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did great service to the dignity of Islamic women by passing a law banning triple talak practice. At the heart of hearts, many muslim women feel extremely happy and grateful to Mr. Modi for protecting their dignity by banning triple talak practice. Very few muslim women express this appreciation in public, since they are so much afraid of muslim men.. As a matter of fact, when Mr. Modi banned the triple talak practice in India, there was huge protest from muslim clergy and muslim men condemning Mr. Modi and accusing him of interfering in the affairs of Islamic religious practice.. They called this step of Mr. Modi as anti Islam law and huge demonstrations and public protests were organized. However, Mr. Modi had his way, since his banning the practice of triple talak is ethical, moral and civilized. However, the anger of muslim men against Mr. Modi is remaining strong. The polygamy practice is supported by many Islamic clergies as a practice sanctioned in the religion. They also seem to think that the polygamy practice enable to expand the muslim population multiple times in short period. Many observers even think that rapid spread of Islamic population in the world is due to the prevalence of polygamy practice. Certainly, no woman (wife) would be happy to see the husband sharing the time with several wives. But, they seem to have no alternative other than putting up with this distress situation, as men are very powerful and women empowerment is far less than the desirable standards in Islamic countries and some developing countries. It is necessary that all activists and social groups fighting for the empowerment of women and dignity of women must take up this issue on a global scale, considering it as a social evil and unbecoming of a civilized society. It would be good , if Indian Prime Minister Modi would take up the issue and ban polygamy in India ,irrespective of the religion or caste or past practice. In India, this practice is still prevalent amongst non muslim population also. Apart from restoring the dignity of women, this practice would also help in curbing the growth of Indian population, which is increasing at alarming level now. Of course, if Mr. Modi were to ban polygamy in India , there would be huge protest not only from Islamic people but also from several politicians , business men and immoral men in India today , who keep more than one wife. Of course, Mr. Modi will have the last laugh , as banning polygamy is a ethical and moral step and would go a long way in ensuring empowerment of women. New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday (January 29) approved the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill which will now allow women to terminate their pregnancy at 24 weeks which was earlier at 20 weeks. In an address to the media at New Delhi today, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar announced that for Medical termination of pregnancy, permission will be required from two doctors and one of them must be a government doctor. "The limit for abortion has been increased from 20 weeks to 24 weeks. There was the demand from section of women, doctors and court had also requested the same," he said. The extension in abortion upper limit will help victims of rape, girls with disabilities as well as minors, who may not realise they are pregnant until later, he added. Live TV Also, for women who are unmarried, the Bill seeks to relax the contraceptive-failure condition from only married woman or her husband to any woman or her partner thus allowing them to medically terminate the pregnancy. The Bill will be presented during the budget session of the Parliament. The cabinet took the decision acting upon the recommendation of the Group of Ministers. The Cabinet approved the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 drafted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to amend the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971. 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. Regulatory News: Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) today released its regular weekly Net Asset Value ("NAV") and performance returns on its website, https://www.pershingsquareholdings.com/company-reports/weekly-navs/. The NAV and returns were computed as of the close of business on Tuesday, 28 January 2020. PSH NAV per share as of close of business on 28 January 2020 was 27.18 USD 20.87 GBP and year-to-date performance was 0.9%. Weekly net asset value ("NAV") is calculated as of the close of business on each Tuesday and posted on the following business day. In the event that Tuesday is not a business day, the Company will calculate the close-of-business NAV as of the business day immediately preceding that Tuesday. The end-of-month NAV is calculated as of the close of business on the last day of the month and posted on the following business day. For weeks that include a month-end NAV report, PSH will provide only the month-end NAV and not report the Tuesday NAV. Monthly NAVs are published in accordance with the Decree on Conduct of Business Supervision of Financial Undertakings under the Wft (Besluit Gedragstoezicht financiele ondernemingen Wft). Performance is presented on a net-of-fees basis and reflects the deduction of, among other expenses: management fees, brokerage commissions, administrative fees and accrued performance fees, if any. The performance figure includes the reinvestment of all dividends, interest and capital gains. Depending on the timing of a specific investment, net performance for an individual investor may vary from the net performance as stated herein. Net performance is a geometrically linked time weighted calculation. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. All investments involve risk including the loss of principal. 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/20200129005780/en/ Contacts: Media Contact Camarco Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk Internal Boeing messages released this month that showed employees boasting about pressuring regulators into accepting less training for the 737 Max were "unacceptable," CEO David Calhoun told CNBC on Wednesday. "My stomach turned," he said on CNBC's "Squawk Box," after Boeing reported its first annual loss since 1997, a dismal result from the fallout from last year's 737 Max grounding. "The language is horrible" in those messages. Boeing released more than 100 pages of internal messages on Jan. 9. In the communications, provided to the Federal Aviation Administration, lawmakers and the public, employees talked about pushing regulators and airlines including Lion Air, the carrier whose 737 Max first crashed in October 2018 to approve the new planes without requiring pilots to undergo simulator training. Other workers raised safety concerns and complained about lax standards. The messages were from a time period before the two deadly crashes of 737 Max jets, which led global regulators to ground the entire fleet last March after the second crash, which involved an Ethiopian Airlines plane. The two crashes killed a total of 346 people. The national death toll of Australia's 2019/2020 bushfire season was 33 as of Monday, March 2, with 25 confirmed deaths in New South Wales, three in South Australia and five in Victoria. OCTOBER New South Wales: Robert Lindsey, 77, and Gwen Hyde, 68, were found in their burned out Coongbar home near Casino on October 9th. NOVEMBER New South Wales: The body of 85-year-old George Nole was found in a burnt out car near his home in Wytaliba, near Glen Innes. Vivian Chaplain, a 69-year-old woman from Wytaliba, succumbed to her injuries in hospital after attempting in vain to save her home and animals from the blaze. The body of 63-year-old Julie Fletcher was pulled from a scorched building in Johns River, north of Taree. Barry Parsons, 58, was found in a shed at Willawarrin, near Kempsey. Chris Savva, 64, died after his 4WD overturned near burnt-out South Arm bridge, near Nambucca Heads. A 59-year-old man was founded sheltered in a Yarrowitch water tank on November 7. He died of injuries on December 29. Victoria: David Moresi, 69, died after being involved in a traffic incident while working at the at the Gelantipy fire in East Gippsland on November 30. DECEMBER New South Wales: Firefighters Andrew O'Dwyer, 36, and Geoffrey Keaton, 32, died on December 19 after a tree fell on their truck while they were travelling through Buxton, south of Sydney. Samuel McPaul, 28, was battling a blaze in Jingellic, in Green Valley, about 70km east of Albury on the border of NSW and Victoria, on December 30 when a 'fire tornado' caused his 10-tonne firetruck to roll. South Australia: The body of 69-year-old Ron Selth was found in his Charleston home, which was destroyed by the Cudlee Creek blaze on December 21. NEW YEAR'S EVE FIRES New South Wales: Dairy farmer Patrick Salway, 29, and his father Robert, 63, died trying to save their property in Cobargo, near Bega, on December 31. A 70-year-old man, named by local media as Laurie Andrew, was found dead outside a home at Yatte Yattah, west of Lake Conjola. The body of a 70-year-old man was found in a burnt vehicle on a road off the Princes Highway at Yatte Yattah on the morning of New Year's Day. The body of a 62-year-old man was found in a vehicle on Wandra Road at Sussex Inlet about 11.30am on New Year's Day. A body, believed to be a 56-year-old man, found outside a home at Coolagolite, east of Cobargo on New Year's Day. An off-duty RFS firefighter, believed to be 72-year-old Colin Burns, was found near a car in Belowra after the New Year's Eve fires swept through. Victoria: Beloved great-grandfather Mick Roberts, 67, from Buchan, in East Gippsland, was found dead at his home on the morning of New Year's Day. Fred Becker, 75, was the second person to die in Victoria. He suffered a heart attack while trying to defend his Maramingo Creek home. JANUARY New South Wales: David Harrison, a 47-year-old man from Canberra, suffered a heart attack defending his friend's home near Batlow on Saturday, January 4. A 71-year-old man was found on January 6. Police have been told the man was last sighted on December 31, 2019 and was moving equipment on his property in Nerrigundah. An 84-year-old man who stayed to defend his home in Cobargo, NSW, dies in hospital three weeks after fire hit. His pet dog Bella, who stayed by his side as fires raged, was also killed in the disaster. Three American firefighters are killed when Coulson Aviation C-130 Hercules water bomber Zeus crashed while fighting fires near Cooma on Thursday January 23. They have been named as Capt. Ian H. McBeth, 44, First Officer Paul Clyde Hudson and Flight Engineer Rick A. DeMorgan Jr, 43. On January 24, Michael Clark, 59, was found in a Bodalla home destroyed by bushfires near the NSW South Coast town of Moruya. Victoria: Forest Fire Management firefighter Mat Kavanagh, 43, was killed Friday January 3 when he was involved in a two-car crash on the Goulburn Valley Highway. Bill Slade, a 60-year-old father of two from Wonthaggi was fighting fires with Parks Victoria at Omeo when he died on January 11. He has been remembered as one of the longest serving, most experienced and fittest firefighters. South Australia: Well-known outback pilot Dick Lang, 78, and his 43-year-old son, Adelaide surgeon Clayton Lang, died in the Kangaroo Island bushfire after their car was trapped by flames. [January 29, 2020] AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Agrinational Insurance Company and Its Subsidiary AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of "a-" of Agrinational Insurance Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, ADM Insurance Company (collectively referred to as ADM Insurance Group). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) remains stable. Both companies are headquartered in Burlington, VT. The ratings reflect ADM Insurance Group's balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). The affirmation of the ratings reflects the very strong measures of risk-adjusted capitalization and implicit support provided by the group's ultimate parent, Archer Daniels Midland Company [NYSE:ADM]. ADM Insurance Group's operating performance has experienced volatility occasionally due to its high net retention on property exposures. Nonetheless, the operating performance of the insurance entities has been adequate due to the low cost-expense structure and their focus on ERM. Consequently, ADM Insurance Group has produced positive net income for four of the past five years. In May 2017, Agrinational Insurance Company sold its subsidiary, ADM Crop Risk Services, Inc., to Validus Holdings, Ltd., which resulted in significant reduction of Agrinational Insurance Company's premium volume. This has reshaped the strategic alignment of the company's insurance operations from a captive with third-party business to that of a pure captive. AM Best remains the leading rating agency of alternative risk transfer entities, with more than 200 such vehicles rated in the United States nd throughout the world. For current Best's Credit Ratings and independent data on the captive and alternative risk transfer insurance market, please visit www.ambest.com/captive. 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/20200129005690/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 With the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician and graft suspect Harun Masiku still at liberty, the Law and Human Rights Ministry has removed Ronny Sompie from his post as immigration director general pending the outcome of an investigation by an independent team that will examine the misinformation from that office that hampered the hunt for the suspect. Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly said on Tuesday that a joint team would probe what had led to the false information from the immigration office that had stated that Harun was in Singapore, when he had in fact already returned to Indonesia when the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) began searching for him. The joint team will consist of members of the National Police, the Communications and Information Ministry, the National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN) and the Indonesian Ombudsman. 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 Ukrainian side already agreed on the supply of four equipment sets, - Center for Public Health of Ukraine's Healthcare Ministry Ukraine's Healthcare Ministry expects that a batch of tests for coronavirus detection will be supplied next week. Director-General of the Center for Public Health of Ukraine's Healthcare Ministry Ihor Kuzin said this, as quoted by UNN news agency. "The negotiations on supplying (...) the sets to define the RNA of the new virus are underway, and we hope that we will be able to get these sets next week or a week after that, and run the diagnostics on the national level in the reference labs of the Center for Public Health. One set provides 100 tests - three per person. The diagnostic sets will let 120 people be tested for coronavirus. Kuzin admitted that the Ukrainian side already agreed on the supply of four equipment sets. No information is yet available about the country that would supply these tests. Previously, there were four cases of suspected Chinese coronavirus in Ukraine; however, all four cases appeared to be either influenza A or B. Earlier, Kyiv city hall reported that not a single case of Chinese coronavirus was observed in the Ukrainian capital. Advertisement A collection of custom hot rods owned by Metallica frontman James Hetfield will be displayed to the public for the very first time in an exhibition set to open in Los Angeles on Friday. Peterson Automotive Museum is set to hold the exhibition, titled Reclaimed Rust: The James Hetfield Collection, which will feature ten of the rocker's incredible cars - including several that were personally built by Hetfield himself. The heavy metal star, 56, is a lifelong car enthusiast and has long harbored a passion for buying and restoring vintage vehicles. The new exhibition includes several of Hetfield's hot rods which date back to the 1930s, including a Packard (1934), a Lincoln Zephyr (1937) and a Ford Couple (1937). Reclaimed Rust will also feature Hetfield's sleek black vehicle dubbed 'Black Pearl which was built by the rocker from scratch with custom car designer Rick Dore'. The vehicle won Mother's Custom of the Year Award in 2014, and features '375 horsepower Ford V8 engine, a Mustang suspension, and the breaking system from a Ford Explorer', according to Rolling Stone. Auto Evolution reports that the vehicle's style was 'heavily influenced by the full rounded contours of European and American cars of the 1930s and 1940s'. According to a press release put out by the Peterson Museum, 'Hetfield has described seeing cars in the same way he sees music: as forms of freedom and expression that convey the passions of their creator'. The release further states that 'Hetfield's vehicles assert both a reverence for history and a disregard for convention, standing collectively as a testament to the musician's distinctive personality and artistic energy'. Meanwhile, the Metallica frontman will be present at the exhibition's opening on Friday, where he will take part in a 'fireside chat'. Two of his guitars will go up for sale the same evening in a silent auction. Tickets for the exclusive opening night have already sold out, but the exhibition will be running until October 31. A collection of custom hot rods owned by Metallica frontman James Hetfield will be displayed to the public for the very first time in an exhibition set to open in Los Angeles on Friday. One of the most highly anticipated vehicles on display is the Black Pearl (pictured) ' which was built by the rocker from scratch with custom car designer Rick Dore' Hetfield, 56, is a lifelong car enthusiast and has long harbored a passion for buying and restoring vintage vehicles. The Metallica frontman is set to appear at the exhibition's opening on Friday, where he will take part in a 'fireside chat'. He is pictured on stage last November The Black Pearl (pictured) won Mother's Custom of the Year Award in 2014, and features '375 horsepower Ford V8 engine, a Mustang suspension, and the breaking system from a Ford Explorer', according to Rolling Stone. The Black Peal (pictured) was 'heavily influenced by the full rounded contours of European and American cars of the 1930s and 1940s'. The vehicle is finished off with beige leather interior and gold detailing across the side car doors Hetfield's 1953 Buick Skylark, dubbed 'Skyscraper', is another of the 10 vehicles set to be exhibited at Peterson Automotive Gallery. The car has been immaculately restored and painted in an eye-catching lilac color Visitors will be able to get up close to the vehicles to inspect the engines beneath the bonnet. The intricate detail of the Buick Skylark's engine is pictured in an image released by Peterson Automotive Gallery The new exhibition includes several of Hetfield's hot rods which date back to the 1930s, including this 1937 Ford named 'Iron Fist'. Hot Cars said the vehicle is' the perfect example of how to pull off the bare metal look correctly, and it looks ridiculously cool' Hetfield's 1937 Lincoln Zephyr is pictured. The two-door car was considered a luxury model upon its release in the United States more than eight decades ago, and Hetfield has made sure to restore the car to its full opulence, with a coating of fire engine red paint and contrasting whitewall tires. The interior features plush leather seats This 1956 Ford F-100 is sure to be a favorite with viewers. Nicknamed 'Str8 Edge' the vehicle has been given a complete hot rod makeover. The restoration was completed in 2010, with Scott Mugford helping to reinvent the vehicle. He told Truck Trend in 2010 that Hetfield bought the vintage car 'from some old guy on the internet' before the pair spent years working to give the car its sleek makeover Mugford told Truck Trend about Hetfield and the F-100: What you have to understand about James and his truck is that he will actually drive this thing. For him, his financial freedom means he just gets to enjoy it the way he always wanted, which is great. And we know he'll get in the thing and go 90 mph. He uses his stuff for sure and we went into the project knowing this.' Hetfield's 1936 Auburn Speedster, named Slowburn, is pictured. Hetfield reportedly added a Chevy Small Block V8 engine to rev up the vehicle meaning that, in addition to its stunning aesthetics, 'it's also pretty damn fast'. The car is one of several dating back to the 1930s included in Reclaimed Rust: The James Hetfield Collection The Metallica rocker's 1961 Lincoln Continental is pictured. The customized vehicle has had its body lowered closer to the ground and has been given a coating of glossy black paint. The interior of the car is all-black, with the flooring and leather seating specially designed to compliment its cool exterior Hetfield's 1934 Packard is another of the ten vehicles included in the collection. The car was first manufactured 86 years ago, but looks startlingly modern following its extensive makeover Like he did with Black Pearl, Rick Dore also helped to restore the Packard to its former glory. Back in 2016, the vehicle was exhibited at The Quail Motorsports Gathering during Monterey Car Week in California. It's engine is pictured This 1932 Ford Roadster is the oldest vehicle set to be displayed in the exhibition. The 88-year-old car is known as 'Black Jack'. Built by Josh Mills in Marietta, Georgia, the car is a convertible which features removable top which was was designed and upholstered by Mills and his small team. With over 100 deaths reported due to the outbreak of coronavirus in China over the last fortnight, the biennial auto expo in India that begins on February 7 has been shrouded over concerns of a potential outbreak here. A clutch of Chinese companies including MG Motor, Great Wall Motors and BYD is participating in this edition. While Chinese firms have participated in the past as well, the presence is significantly higher this time. Around 20 per cent of the 40,000 square meter exhibition area at Greater Noida has been booked by Chinese companies. With such a large contingent from China, there is fear if the officials travelling from the country maybe infected by the virus. If undetected, the disease may spread here. Already a majority of the 90-odd journalists from China who had registered for the Expo have reportedly backed out of the event. The main organiser Society of Automobile Manufacturers of India has said it will take adequate precautions and is in touch with the ministry of health for guidance. "Reference to the Coronavirus threat, I want to convey that we as SIAM have gone through the advisories issued by the Ministry of Health and are taking adequate precautions at the venue of the Auto Expo - The Motor Show," said Rajan Wadhera, president, SIAM. A spokesperson for MG Motor said no official from China would be attending the Expo from their side this year. Great Wall Motors said most of their Chinese delegates were already in India well before the outbreak of the virus in China. Also Watch: Coronavirus outbreak: How it will affect world economy Also Read: Coronavirus: Starbucks sees financial hit as it shuts 2,000 shops in China Also Read: IKEA closes around 15 stores in China due to virus outbreak Donald Trump took to Twitter to slam John Bolton and Democrats for the latest developments in his impeachment just moments after his first campaign rally since the trial started. After the rally in New Jersey on Tuesday night, Trump tweeted that he wished former National Security Adviser John Bolton had come forward with his complaints when he being 'very publicly terminated'. The tweet comes just days after Trump slammed Bolton's claims that he was instructed to withhold aid from the Ukraine. Trump tweeted early on Wednesday morning that he wished former National Security Adviser John Bolton would have came forward with his complaints when he was getting fired The tweet comes just days after he slammed Bolton's claims that President Trump told him to withhold aid from the Ukraine 'Why didn't John Bolton complain about this 'nonsense' a long time ago, when he was very publicly terminated,' Trump said in the latest tweet. 'He said, not that it matters, NOTHING!' Prior to the post, Trump slammed Democrats for trying to pull a 'con job' with impeachment proceedings. 'No matter how many witnesses you give the Democrats, no matter how much information is given, like the quickly produced Transcripts, it will NEVER be enough for them,' he said in the late Tuesday tweet. 'They will always scream UNFAIR. The Impeachment Hoax is just another political CON JOB!' At his New Jersey rally, he let loose on his Democratic opponents, telling his supporters to 'get rid of the clowns'. The president wasted no time in going after Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren in his remarks at a rally in Wildwood, where he welcomed Jeff Van Drew. The congressman left the Democratic Party during the impeachment inquiry for the Republican Party, and was praised by Trump for leaving the 'deranged' Democrats. Prior to the post, Trump slammed Democrats for trying to pull a 'con job' with impeachment proceedings 'Get out and vote Republican. Get rid of these clowns,' Trump told the crowd, who repeatedly cheered 'USA, USA, USA.' It was an usually short rally from the president, clocking in at 62 minutes. Trump typically speaks to his supporters for 90 minutes, at times longer. In addition to its length, the rally was missing some of the hallmarks of a Trump event, including an attack on Hunter Biden (no mention of 'where's Hunter) and the crowd shouting 'build the wall.' The evening was a mix of attacks on his opponents and words of praise for his own accomplishments, which Trump claimed he did 'solely' rattling off a list that included criminal justice reform and the Space Force. It took place after the president's lawyers wrapped up his defense in his Senate impeachment trial and amid reports Republicans don't have the votes to block Democrats from calling additional witnesses, which could drag on Trump's trial for weeks. Trump had strong words for the impeachment trial, railing against 'demented hoaxes, crazy witch hunts, and deranged partisan crusades' that he claimed Congressional Democrats are 'obsessed' with. Donald Trump let loose on his Democratic opponents in his first campaign rally since his impeachment trial began President Trump welcomed new Republican Congressman Jeff Van Drew to the stage Trump also brought up New Jersey native Kellyanne Conway He did not mention his former National Security Adviser John Bolton, who claims in a new book that the president told him he wanted to with hold U.S. aid from the Ukraine until the country agreed to investigate Joe and Hunter Biden. Trump had denied the charge. But for all his railing at his political enemies, Trump did not mention either Biden. His line - 'where's Hunter' - was becoming a staple and crowd favorite at other campaign rallies. The president claimed Democrats were trying to overturn the 2016 election with their impeachment inquiry - a theme his supporters have used time and time again. 'They have spent the last three years, and probably even before I came down on that beautiful escalator with our beautiful future first lady, trying to overthrow the last election and we will make sure that they face another crushing defeat in the next election. We are going to have a victory that is even greater then 2016. This November, we are going to win back the House, we are going to hold the Senate, and we are going to keep the White House. The American people are disgusted by the Washington Democrats, you see it. You see it,' he said. He bragged about his accomplishments, including the USMCA trade deal he will sign on Wednesday at the White House and the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, and blasted Democrats in return. 'Washington Democrats like crazy Bernie Sanders and nervous Nancy Pelosi, they opposed our action to save American lives. They opposed it. They opposed it,' he said. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle objected to the lack of information the administration gave Congress about the attack they claimed Soleimani was planning. Additionally Pelosi helped pass Trump's trade deal in the House last month. Trump made no mention of Joe or Hunter Biden at his rally - who are usually two of his favorite political targets Supporters of President Trump on the New Jersey boardwalk There were protesters at Trump's rally in Wildwood, N.J. Trump also went off on 'Pocahontas' as he calls Elizabeth Warren. He compared the size of his campaign rallies to hers. 'She had 10,000 people in central park, I said what's the big deal?,' he said, claiming he had 175,000 people sign up for his rally. 'We just had 175,000 people sign up,' he said. The Wildwoods Convention Center has a capacity of 7,000. There were local reports of large crowds outside the center and supporters waving at the president's motorcade as he drove through the streets of the boardwalk town but no number has been reported. The president also claimed he could have filled up the Meadowlands Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which has a capacity of 19,000. 'We could have filled up the Meadowlands Arena two or three times. Maybe we will during the summer,' he said. The president got in a hit at his predecessor, referring to Barack Hussein Obama when he spoke about household income. Detractors pointed to Obama's middle name as proof of a conspiracy theory Obama was born overseas and is a Muslim. But he notably did not mention his new 'vision' for the Middle East that he revealed at the White House earlier that day. White House counselor Kellyanne Conway greets her children prior to departing with President Trump on Air Force One to New Jersey Trump, in his remarks, claimed voters were leaving the Democratic Party in droves He also claimed voters are leaving the Democratic Party in droves. 'Voters are making a mass exodus from that party and we are welcoming them to the Republican Party with wide open arms,' he said. He welcomed Congressman Jeff Van Drew to the stage as an example. Van Drew changed to the Republican Party during the impeachment process. 'We are privileged to be joined tonight by a courageous leader who left the Democratic Party because he has had enough of their extremism, enough of their socialism, and enough of their violent hoaxes and scams,' Trump said. 'Jeff, he had the guts to defy the left-wing fanatics in his own party and to stand tall in defense of our constitution, our freedom, and democracy itself,' he added. The rally is a chance for Trump make his pitch for votes in the November election. Hillary Clinton won New Jersey in the 2016 presidential contest. He praised the people of New Jersey and gave a shout out to state native Frank Sinatra. 'They're tough, they're smart, they're great people. It's called Jersey,' Trump said. Protesters outside Trump's rally in New Jersey Laura Hess, 37, of Ridley Park, PA, wears a massive Make America Great Again hat at Trump's rally President Trump rallies New Jersey voters ahead of the 2020 election The president touted his record on health care - speaking about the issue for several minutes - as polls show it's a top issue for voters in November. 'We are protecting people with pre-existing conditions and we always will, the Republican Party, pre-existing conditions. We saved it,' Trump bragged. However, patients with pre-existing conditions were protected under the Affordable Care Act, passed by President Obama. Republicans have tried to dismantle that law. He also talked up the strong economy, which is a central plank in his re-election campaign. 'For years you've been losing your a** with 401(k)s. Now you're making a fortune,' he told the crowd. Trump threw plenty of red meat to his supporters, who cheered him on. There were shouts of 'four more years' through out the evening. He talked about how he outlawed late term abortion, had criminal illegal immigrants locked up, and vowed to protect the Second Amendment right to own a gun. He also claimed his border wall was being built. 'Mexico is paying for the wall,' he claimed. Mexico is not paying for the wall. He also claimed he was able to get criminal justice reform done when Presidents Obama or George W. Bush could not. 'I got it done,' he said, 'solely got it done.' White House advisers Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump worked heavily on the criminal justice reform issue. 'That's why I always say you have to thank yourself because no one else is going to do it,' Trump said. Joining the president are some of the state's big Republican stars, including former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway, who was spotted bringing her children with her on Air Force One for the trip to her home state. Trump brought Conway to the stage to speak for a few minutes but merely acknowledged Christie's presence on the sidelines. Donald Trump will hold his first campaign rally since his impeachment trial began in Wildwood, N.J., on Tuesday night New Jersey natives Chris Christie and Kellyanne Conway will be at Trump's rally A crowd stands in the cold in front of the Wildwoods Convention Center as they wait to enter for a campaign rally with President Trump John Barker of Lakewood, N.J., stands on the Wildwood boardwalk with a sign asking young Trump supporters to serve in the military 'I'm going home tonight,' Conway tweeted Tuesday. The rally came about after Trump hosted Van Drew in the Oval Office last month in the wake of his party switch and pledged to hold a rally for him ahead of his election this fall. Van Drew was facing a tough GOP challenger before he changed parties. That candidate has since decided to run in another election contest. Van Drew rode to New Jersey with the president on Air Force One. There were around 2,000 supporters waiting in line at the Wildwoods Convention Center Tuesday afternoon, according to local reports, with only 30 porta potties for the crowd. The center has a capacity of 7,000. 'Heading to New Jersey. Big Rally, in fact, Really Big Rally!,' Trump tweeted in route. Trump with Rep. Jeff Van Drew in the Oval Office last month Jay Repko of Mays Landing, N.J., wears a Donald Trump mask as he stands with a crowd near the Wildwoods sign near the Wildwoods Convention Center People stand in the cold in a field, as they line up to enter the Wildwoods Convention Center Hundreds of people wait in line at the Trump Rally in Wildwood Police watch supporters waiting to get into Trump rally Donald Trump speaks with Jon Voight outside the Oval Office Tuesday before he left for his rally Wildwood is a New Jersey shore town where supporters camped overnight on the beach to get a spot in line for the rally. It's a rare visit by the president to the state and could be one of supporters few chances to see Trump. The president met in the Oval Office with conservative actor Jon Voight before he left for his rally. The two men stepped out of the Oval Office and spoke outside on its colonnade for a few minutes before the president departed. Voight did not travel with President Trump. Last week Voight tweeted that he was offering 'high prayers' for the president during the impeachment scandal. DUBLIN, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Drafting & Negotiating International Agency and Distribution Agreements" conference has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This interactive seminar is targeted at those who draft, negotiate and advise on international commercial agreements and cross-border transactions. The programme reviews the sale of goods and the appointment of distributors and agents, as well as the licensing of intellectual property rights within the context of an international contract. This seminar is not jurisdiction specific and is as such ideal for individuals working in international practice. Why You Should Attend This two-day seminar will give practical advice on the legal considerations and commercial concerns essential for securing a successful and sustainable international deal. Day one provides a comprehensive overview of the main international legal instruments governing international contracts, the sale of goods, trade terms, documentary sale and letter of credit. Cross-jurisdictional concerns will be explored generally and, in particular, the allocation of jurisdiction, choice of law, and the recognition and enforcement of judgments. The programme will look at the new Brussels Regulation (in force from 2015), the Hague Convention 2005 (in force from 2015), Incoterms 2010 and 2020, and the UCP 600 (Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits). Day two provides delegates with the requisite knowledge and skills that they need to negotiate and draft international commercial deals generally, and specifically sales, distribution, and agency agreements. By the end of this seminar, delegates should be properly equipped with the essential skill-base and substantive legal and business knowledge needed in order to effectively advise on, negotiate and draft cross-border commercial agreements. This intensive and interactive training programme will develop your skills to: Be aware of the legal and commercial considerations for a successful international deal of the legal and commercial considerations for a successful international deal Understand the main legal instruments governing international contracts the main legal instruments governing international contracts Explore the allocation of jurisdiction, and the choice of law in a cross-border dispute the allocation of jurisdiction, and the choice of law in a cross-border dispute Evaluate the dispute resolution mechanisms available to resolve disputes in a sustainable manner the dispute resolution mechanisms available to resolve disputes in a sustainable manner Use best practice techniques to successfully negotiate your contracts techniques to successfully negotiate your contracts Examine key types of international commercial agreements key types of international commercial agreements Assess the strategic considerations associated with international commercial agreements the strategic considerations associated with international commercial agreements Plan in order to better negotiate a value-added deal Agenda Day One International contractual disputes A review of the international instruments governing cross-jurisdictional matters Alternative dispute resolution Mechanisms available and their pros and cons Arbitration agreements New York Convention Jurisdiction and recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments Brussels Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2012 on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters) on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters) Hague Convention of 30 June 2005 on Choice of Court Agreements on Choice of Court Agreements Hague Convention 2019 on recognition of enforcement of foreign judgments in civil or commercial matters Choice of law Rome I (Regulation (EC) No 593/2008 of the European Parliament and the Council of 17 June 2008 on the law applicable to contractual obligations) Practical exercise: Choice of law International contract law Key instruments governing international contracts (binding and non-binding) Choice of law in international contracts United Nations' Convention on Contracts for the International Sales of Goods 1980 (CISG) Applicability and exclusions Formation of a contract Responsibilities of seller and buyer Remedies of seller and buyer Excuses for non-performance Practical exercise: Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods Trade terms, documentary sales and trade finance Introduction Incoterms 2010 and 2020 Documentary sales and bills of lading Letters of credit and the UCP 600 Practical exercise: Trade terms and documentation Programme - Day Two Distribution agreements Choosing between an agent and a distributor The key differences between the two relationships Framework agreements Regulation of distribution agreements (DCFR and EU competition law relevant to distribution agreements) Key terms in distribution agreements: exclusivity, term, licences, verification and termination Practical workshop: Drafting and negotiation - part 1 Agency agreements Agency arrangements: when and why? Common types of agency relationships Concerns of principal and of agent Legal regulation of the agency relationship Directive 86/653/EEC on self-employed commercial agents Commercial Agents (Council Directive) Regulations 1993 (SI 1993, No 3053 as amended) EU competition law Agency agreements: key terms Appointment Exclusivity Term Payment Performance obligations Targets IPR protection Termination Indemnity Compensation Checklist of general provisions Practical workshop: Drafting and negotiation - part 2 Summary and final questions For more information about this conference visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/r1dh7m 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 As long as Republicans control the Legislature, we plan to keep it, Fitzgerald said. During his speech, Vos encouraged students participating in the event to cheer for Trump, Pence and DeVos and boo those who dont like school choice. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin held an event in response to Pences visit, where party chairman Ben Wikler called the event a celebration of an attack on public schools by President Donald Trump and his administration. Trump and his cronies are sabotaging public education because its not their children who go to public school, Wikler said. But Wagner noted that voucher school programs is not solely a conservative issue and has received support from some Democratic voters, including African Americans in Milwaukee. Advertisement spacex has successfully launched its latest batch of 60 Starlink satellites from the 'Slick 40' launch pad in Cape Canaveral. The cluster of satellites was twice delayed earlier this week due to adverse weather, but today's launch went off without a hitch. The 229-foot-tall Falcon 9 rocket went off on-time at 14:06 GMT (9:06ET) and followed a 'nominal trajectory' throughout', SpaceX said on its live broadcast. Fairings the nosecone of the rocket released successfully SpaceX will try and catch it on one of two fairing recovery vessels, 'Ms. Tree' and 'Ms. Chief'. On its third use, the main rocket, powered by Merlin engines, successfully completed a vertical landing on the droneship 'Of Course I Still Love You' in the Atlantic Ocean. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, hopes to eventually send thousands of satellites into space to beam internet down to all of Earth's inhabitants. This launch takes the current total of Starlink satellites in orbit to 240. Astronomers have condemned the project since the first launch in May 2019 over fears it will blot out the night sky and make scientific research more difficult. SpaceX has successfully launched its latest batch of 60 Starlink satellites from the 'Slick 40' launch pad in Cape Canaveral. The cluster of satellites was twice delayed earlier this week due to adverse weather. but today's launch went off without a hitch The 229-foot-tall Falcon 9 rocket went off on-time at 14:06 GMT (9:06ET) and followed a 'nominal trajectory' throughout', SpaceX said on its live broadcast. The Falcon 9 rocket soared into the sky and rapidly left Earth's atmosphere, loaded with around a million pounds of thrust provided by its kerosene rocket fuel The mission took off from the launch pad 'Slick 40' at Cape Canaveral and avoided the poor weather conditions of the previous two days Many stargazers and scientists have reported seeing a train of the satellites over the past few months in what would have been a clear night sky. University of Alabama astronomer Bill Keel told the AFP that the sighting of the first Starlink satellite train had experts trying to extrapolate what effect artificial constellations of such steady brightness might have as they grow in number. Fears developed, he said, that 'in 20 years or less, for a good part the night anywhere in the world, the human eye would see more satellites than stars.' However, SpaceX believes this project will do more good than harm, as 'Starlink will provide fast, reliable internet to locations where access has been unreliable, expensive, or completely unavailable,' the company writes in its mission description. As part of the last launch a satellite covered in a dark, anti-reflective coating was sent to orbit. SpaceX's live stream presenter today said the data from this experiment had not yet been received and no satellites on today's mission featured the unique coating. The satellites are designed to provide broadband coverage across the world's surface. Today's launch is the fourth operational batch of satellites into orbit around the Earth, bringing Starlink's budding infrastructure to a total of 240. Each spacecraft weighs just 575lbs (260kg) and forms part of the larger Starlink constellation. When fully loaded with kerosene rocket fuel, it holds more than one million pounds of thrust which will be depleted in around three minutes, SpaceX engineer Jessica Anderson said on the live broadcast. Satellites orbit 341 miles above Earth and the main rocket will land on the 'Of Course I Still Love You' droneship in the Atlantic Ocean. Approximately 45 minutes after liftoff, SpaceX's two fairing recovery vessels, 'Ms. Tree' and 'Ms. Chief,' will attempt to recover the two nosecone pieces. SpaceX has successfully launched its next batch of 60 Starlink satellites from the 'Slick 40' launch pad in Cape Canaveral. It took off exactly on time (pictured) Today's launch (pictured) takes the current total of Starlink satellites in orbit to 180. Astronomers have condemned the project since the first launch in May 2019 over fears it will blot out the night sky and make scientific research more difficult Fairings the nosecone of the rocket released successfully and will try and be caught by two fairing recovery vessels, 'Ms. Tree' and 'Ms. Chief' in approximately half an hour (pictured) On its third use, the main rocket, powered by Merlin engines, successfully completed a vertical landing on the droneship 'Of Course I Still Love You' in the Atlantic Ocean Today's take-off is scheduled for 14:06 GMT (9:06ET) and weather is 80 per cent favourable, SpaceX claims Today's successful take-off at 14:06 GMT (9:06ET) , despite the previous weather issues, went off without a hitch and takes the total Starlink constellation number to 120 SpaceX announced on Twitter that it was forced to 'stand down' following strong upper level winds on Monday. it also confirmed it will be launching tomorrow at 9:28 am EST (14:28 GMT) SpaceX has been forced to delay today's launch of another 60 Starlink satellites into orbit. The cluster of satellites was set to be launched at 9:49 ET (14:49 GMT) from Cape Canaveral 'Strong upper level winds' were cited as the reason for the cancellation and it is now scheduled for launch tomorrow at 9:28 am EST (14:28 GMT) Dozens of satellites have already been launched and Musk has received clearance from the relevant authorities to send thousands more into orbit. The previous launch on January 6 featured one satellite covered in a dark coating designed to appease to appease disgruntled astronomers. It is hoped the anti-reflective test material will be the first step in a compromise to allow Starlink to thrive while not interfering with views of space from Earth. Last month, astronomers called plans for the high-speed global internet a 'tragedy' and said they are getting in the way of key scientific observations. 'The night sky is a commons and what we have here is a tragedy of the commons,' Imperial College London astrophysicist Dave Clements told the BBC. The proposed constellations, he added, 'present a foreground between what we're observing from the Earth and the rest of the Universe. 'So they get in the way of everything. And you'll miss whatever is behind them, whether that's a nearby potentially hazardous asteroid or the most distant quasar in the Universe.' The satellites will be a particular menace to large-scale surveys of the sky, like Chile's planned Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST). 'What we want to do with LSST and other telescopes is to make a real-time motion picture of how the sky is changing,' explained Dr Clements. 'Now we have these satellites that interrupt observations, and it's like someone's walking around firing a flashbulb every now and again.' SpaceX is looking into the potential to make the satellites less reflective, in a bid to reduce their interference with astronomers on Earth. One specific craft in tonight's launch is fitted with a less-reflective surface to reduce glare and is being used as a test case to see how it affects its performance. Laura Forczyk, a space analyst, said the measures' effectiveness was still uncertain. The minor setback will not deter SpaceX as it presses on with its controversial mission to beam down internet for all via an interconnected satellite constellation. Skygazers have repeatedly bemoaned the shiny spacecraft Researchers fear that SpaceX's artificial constellation of broadband-providing satellites (pictured) could increasingly spoil views of the night sky and hinder astronomy 'SpaceX has not yet eased the minds of astronomers concerned about the reflectivity of their Starlink satellites,' she told AFP. 'The real test will be the days following launch when the smallsats are close together and in a lower altitude before ascending to their final orbit. 'Astronomers and stargazers will be able to compare the brightness of this current batch of smallsats compared to previous versions.' Another criticism of more crowded skies is it will result in expensive collisions between satellites, potentially creating thousands of pieces of new space junk. SpaceX says it has a plan for that, too: its Starlink satellites deploy at an altitude of 290 kilometers (180 miles) and then engage their ion thrusters to reach an orbit of 550 kilometers (340 miles). At the end of their life-cycles, the satellites will use their propulsion systems to de-orbit over the course of a few months - or if these fail, they will burn up naturally in the atmosphere in under five years, compared to the thousands of years required at higher altitudes Lion Air and British Airways among airlines cancelling some or all flights to China after governments issue warnings. The death toll in China from a deadly new coronavirus rose to 132 with the number of cases reaching nearly 6,000 more than during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic of 2002-03 as Japan and the United States began evacuating hundreds of citizens from Wuhan, the city at the centre of the outbreak. Authorities said on Wednesday that the number of confirmed cases across the country climbed to 5,974, while the death toll nationwide rose by 26. All of those new deaths were in Hubei Province except for one, which was in a province just to the north. Wuhan is the capital of Hubei. More than 56 million people in almost 20 Chinese cities, including Wuhan, have been prevented from travelling in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus during the Lunar New Year or spring festival, traditionally Chinas busiest travel season. The director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, met Chinas President Xi Jinping on Tuesday. The agency has acknowledged the respiratory illness is an emergency in China but said last week it was too early to declare the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. It has described the global risk from the virus as high. Here are the latest updates: Wednesday, January 29 Restrictions for airlines flying to China under discussion: US official The White House is considering further restrictions on US airlines flying to and from China in addition to voluntary restrictions that the companies have put into place, President Donald Trumps economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Wednesday. Kudlow said the matter was under discussion but declined to give further details. Kudlow also said that officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were going to China to help with the coronavirus outbreak at Chinas invitation. Canada draws on lessons from SARS to address novel coronavirus While the three patients in Canada are in isolation and officials say the risk remains low, Canadas approach to addressing the mysterious coronavirus has been driven by the lessons learned during the SARS outbreak more than 16 years ago. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was another respiratory coronavirus that originated in China, infecting more than 8,000 people worldwide and killing more than 900. Outside of Asia, Canada was hit the hardest by SARS, accounting for 438 suspected cases and 44 deaths. The virus was an unprecedented challenge to modern healthcare systems, especially in Toronto where the cases were concentrated. Nearly 17 years later, experts say Canadian healthcare workers are better trained, global communication has improved, more efficient plans are in place for outbreaks and there has been a revolution in virus detection although testing is still far from instantaneous. Read more here. Russia announces measures to prevent new virus from spreading Russian Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova said that the land border with China will remain closed to car traffic until March 1. She said all train connections except for one train from Moscow to Beijing will be halted starting at midnight Thursday. Golikova said authorities will make a decision on planes between Russia and China in the coming days. She said Chinese students who left on Lunar New Year vacation will be asked not to resume their studies in Russian universities until March 1. Google temporarily shutting down all China offices Alphabet Incs Google is temporarily shutting down all its offices in China, technology website The Verge reported. The shutdown includes all offices in mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, according to the report. Five people in France confirmed to have coronavirus The daughter of a Chinese tourist who is seriously ill in a Paris hospital has become the fifth person in France to be confirmed with the coronavirus, officials said. A fifth case has been detected, Health Minister Agnes Buzyn told a news briefing. Its the daughter of the Chinese tourist who was hospitalised recently in intensive care in a serious condition, Buzyn added. The woman in her thirties, whose condition has worsened, who needs oxygen, has also been placed in intensive care, Buzyn said. The minister said a first plane was due to fly on Wednesday evening to Wuhan to repatriate 200 French people stranded there. Canada to evacuate Canadians from flu-hit Chinese region Canada will evacuate about 160 of its citizens from China, and it is urging other Canadians to avoid non-essential travel to China, the foreign minister said. Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said the country is in the process of obtaining diplomatic approval for the flight, and added that he did not know how many days it would take to complete the evacuation. African nations take first measures to stop spread of Chinese virus Nigeria issued a travel advisory advising all Nigerians and persons intending to travel to China to delay their plans unless the trip is extremely essential. People arriving from China or any country with a major outbreak of the disease are advised to stay at home for at least two weeks if they develop any symptoms, according to the advisory issued by Health Minister Osagie Ehanire. Equatorial Guinea, meanwhile, said it had quarantined four travellers who had arrived from Beijing. In Mauritania, the Chinese embassy said China had asked its nationals who have recently arrived or returned to the country to remain confined for at least 14 days. Coronavirus stokes Asian discrimination fears in Toronto Canada has identified only three cases of the new coronavirus so far, but there are fears a more serious outbreak could stoke anti-Asian sentiment in scenes reminiscent of the SARS epidemic that killed dozens in the Toronto area in the early 2000s. More than 9,000 people signed a petition urging one of the areas school boards to keep children whose family members recently returned from China out of classrooms, and some businesses in Torontos Chinatown are already recording a slowdown. Toronto Mayor John Tory pushed back hard against the suggestion that Chinese-Canadian businesses should be avoided, or individuals travelling from China should be quarantined, calling it entirely inconsistent with the advice of healthcare professionals. British Airways, Iberia suspend direct flights to mainland China British Airways has suspended all direct flights to and from mainland China. BA.com, the airlines website, shows no direct flights to mainland China are available to book in January or February, but the airline said in an email that the cancellations were in effect until January 31 while it assesses the situation. Direct flights to the Chinese-ruled autonomous region of Hong Kong were unaffected. Iberia, part of the IAG group along with BA, said it was temporarily suspending all flights to Shanghai, its only mainland Chinese destination, because of coronavirus. Air France reduces China flights Air France said it would reduce its flight schedule to Beijing and Shanghai this week. Starting on Friday, the airline will operate one daily service to each destination instead of the previous 10 weekly flights to Beijing and 13 to Shanghai, a spokeswoman for parent company Air France-KLM said. KLM says it will scrap some flights to China KLM, the Dutch arm of Air France KLM, will scrap some flights to China, it said. Starting on Friday, direct flights to Chengdu and Hangzhou will be suspended, while the number of flights to Shanghai will be reduced from 11 to seven per week. Service to Beijing has not been affected, KLM said in a statement. Trump spoke to Chinas Xi, US working closely with China US President Donald Trump said he had spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping and the United States was working very closely with China on the coronavirus outbreak. Were very much involved with them right now on the virus thats going around I spoke to President Xi. Were working very closely with China, Trump said at a White House ceremony to sign a new North American trade deal with Canada and Mexico. McDonalds closes all branches in virus-hit Chinese province US fast-food giant McDonalds said it closed all of its restaurants in Hubei province. McDonalds CEO Chris Kempczinski called the situation fluid and concerning, and said the chain decided to close all of its restaurants in Hubei, which amount to several hundred. But 3,000 outlets elsewhere in China remain open, he said during a call to discuss the companys fourth-quarter financial results. Right now, as you would expect, our prioritys really on our employees, on our customers, doing everything we can to make sure that they are safe and taken care of, Kempczinski said, adding that the company would establish a special team to deal with the outbreak. UK holds crisis meeting ahead of Wuhan evacuation The UK is preparing to evacuate and quarantine about 200 nationals stranded in Wuhan, the government said. Downing Street said the civilian charter flight from the Chinese city would leave on Thursday but did not confirm where it would land in the UK. Health Secretary Matt Hancock meanwhile chaired an emergencies committee meeting to discuss the planned measures, as the preparations gained pace and calls mounted at home for action. Americans flown from China virus zone arrive in California A plane evacuating 201 Americans from Wuhan arrived at a Southern California military base after everyone aboard passed a health screening test in Anchorage, where the aircraft had stopped to refuel. The jet landed shortly after 8 am at March Air Reserve Base about 96km (60 miles) east of Los Angeles. A ground crew dressed in white approached the aircraft shortly after it landed and three charter-style buses parked near the plane. Finland confirms its first coronavirus case A Chinese tourist visiting Finland has been diagnosed with the coronavirus, becoming the first confirmed case in the Nordic country, Finnish health authorities say. The 32-year-old woman was admitted to Lapland Central Hospital in the northern city of Rovaniemi and has been isolated, broadcaster YLE reports. She is reported to have left the Wuhan area in China five days ago. WHO panel to reconvene to decide if virus is global emergency The World Health Organizations Emergency Committee will meet on Thursday, the third time in a week, to evaluate whether the new coronavirus spreading from China now constitutes an international emergency, the WHO said. The Committee will advise the Director-General on whether the outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), and what recommendations should be made to manage it, the WHO said in a statement issued in Geneva ahead of a news briefing by senior WHO expert Mike Ryan on return from China. The Emergency Committee, composed of 16 independent experts, twice last week declined to declare a global emergency. UNICEF sends humanitarian supplies to China The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) announced it has shipped six tonnes of humanitarian supplies to China, including masks and protective suits, to help it fight the coronavirus epidemic. The shipment, which was sent from Denmark, has arrived in Shanghai for onward movement to Wuhan, the city in central China at the epicentre of the outbreak, UNICEF said. Additional deliveries are expected in the coming days and weeks, it said. IKEA to close half its stores in China due to virus Swedish furniture giant Ikea said it had temporarily closed half of its 30 stores in mainland China until further notice. In response to the Chinese governments call for strict and effective disease control, Ikea Retail China will temporarily close around half of the stores in mainland China until further notice, effective from January 29, the company said in a statement. EU Commission issues travel advisory for staff The European Commission is advising its staff to delay non-essential travel to China, the top official in charge of crisis management said. Commission officials and EU diplomats have been advised to postpone or suspend all non-essential travels to China, Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarcic told a news conference EU staff in China were also recommended not to return to the EU at this stage, he said. Germanys Lufthansa suspends all flights to and from China Germanys flagship carrier Lufthansa said it was cancelling all its mainland China flights until February 9, including those run by subsidiaries Swiss and Austrian Airlines. Each of the carriers will fly to their respective destinations in China one last time to give passengers and crew the opportunity to return to Germany, Switzerland and Austria, the Lufthansa group one of Europes largest airline companies said in a statement. Kazakhstan to cut China transport links Kazakhstan has stopped issuing visas to Chinese citizens and will cut all major transport links with China over the coronavirus, the government said. Cross-border bus journeys are to stop from Wednesday, followed by the suspension of passenger train services from Saturday, the government said in a statement. Regular flights between the two countries will be suspended from February 3. Kazakhstans state rail operator said that the measures would not affect freight trains passing through Kazakhstan on a section on the China-Europe railroad. US citizens pass health test after being evacuated from China A plane evacuating more than 200 Americans from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak, continued on to southern California after everyone aboard passed a health screening test in Anchorage, where the aircraft had stopped to refuel. The US government chartered the plane to fly out diplomats from its consulate in Wuhan. All 201 passengers had already been through two screenings in China and were screened twice more in Anchorage by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Americans will undergo additional health screenings in California and finish the repatriation process there. Chinese womens football team isolated in Australia Chinas womens national football team has been isolated in an Australian hotel because of fears from a new virus, Queensland health authorities said. Jeannette Young, the states chief medical officer, told journalists in Brisbane that the 32-member team left Wuhan, the city at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak, on January 22 and would remain in their hotel until February 5. Young said the team members are all perfectly well at this stage but would be monitored by medical staff for any signs of illness. Brisbane, Australia [File: Mark Baker/AP] China calls for more vegetable output amid virus outbreak Chinas agriculture ministry has urged a boost in vegetable production to guarantee ample supplies and stable prices amid the coronavirus outbreak. The ministry encouraged farms to increase the production of fast-growing vegetables, and also asked local authorities to reduce transportation costs in order to ensure market supply, according to a statement posted on its website. Lion Air to suspend China flights over virus Indonesias Lion Air Group, Southeast Asias biggest carrier by fleet size, is halting all its flights to and from China owing to the deadly coronavirus, a company spokesman said. All flights to China will be suspended temporarily starting from February 1st until further notice, Danang Mandala Prihantoro told AFP news agency. Dozens of flights would be affected on routes to 15 Chinese cities, he added. Indonesia attracts more than one million Chinese tourists annually and hosts tens of thousands of guest workers. Read more about moves taken by airlines here. Flights to 15 Chinese cities will be affected [Kurniawan/Reuters] Several Pakistani students in Wuhan diagnosed Four Pakistanis in Wuhan have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus, the special assistant to Pakistans prime minister on health, Zafar Mirza, announced at a news conference. He added that so far, no case of coronavirus has been confirmed in Pakistan. A large number of Pakistanis residing in China are students, of whom more than 500 are based in Wuhan, Mirza said. 183/ Got confirmation that 4 Pakistani students in China are diagnosed with #coronavirus. They are doing well, getting best care possible, and the families are being notified and reassured. Thanks to Chinese authorities and Pakistani embassy for their rapid response. pic.twitter.com/AsD4qaxCPo Zafar Mirza (@zfrmrza) January 29, 2020 British Airways suspends bookings for China flights British Airways has suspended bookings on its website for direct flights from London to Beijing and Shanghai until March after warnings over travel to China due to the coronavirus outbreak. The airlines website showed no availability of direct flights to China till February. A spokeswoman for the airline said on Wednesday it was assessing the situation. UAE says coronavirus diagnosed in family from China The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has confirmed the first cases in the Middle East of the new deadly coronavirus, saying that doctors were treating a family that had recently come from Wuhan, the city at the centre of the outbreak. The UAEs Ministry of Health said it had diagnosed the coronavirus in a four-member Chinese family. All family members are in stable condition and the situation was contained by following the most necessary precautionary measures adopted globally when dealing with infected cases, the ministry said in a statement carried by the state news agency WAM. Read more here. Airlines cut flights; Hong Kong stocks tumble Airlines are cancelling some flights to China after governments issued warnings on the coronavirus and global companies told their employees not to travel. US carrier United Airlines, South Korean budget carrier Air Seoul, Taiwans China Airlines and EVA Air, Air Canada, Lufthansa and Hong Kongs Cathay Pacific have all suspended flights or are considering doing so. Airlines are stepping up screening measures and reducing flights as more cases of coronavirus emerge [Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters] US officials have said the White House is weighing whether to suspend flights to the country. All options for dealing with infectious disease spread have to be on the table, including travel restrictions, said US Health Secretary Alex Azar. Read more here. Meanwhile, stocks in Hong Kong dropped sharply on the first day of trading after the Lunar New Year holiday. Almost every stock fell, sending the benchmark Hang Seng index down by more than 2 percent, with travel, casino, and consumer goods companies among the biggest decliners. China expert says outbreak could peak in 10 days The coronavirus outbreak could peak in seven to 10 days, according to respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan, who heads Chinas team of experts for the control and prevention of the virus. Speaking to state news agency Xinhua, Zhong said while it was difficult to estimate the peak, there should be no large-scale increases after a week or 10 days. There are two keys to tackling the epidemic; early detection and early isolation, Zhong said. They are the most primitive and most effective methods. Novel #coronavirus outbreak may reach its peak in one week or around 10 days, a senior expert said. By end of Monday, 4,515 confirmed cases reported, 106 people died https://t.co/n95OcBoM20 pic.twitter.com/gmFGk4cmxr China Xinhua News (@XHNews) January 29, 2020 Four Japanese evacuees from Wuhan taken to hospital with fevers Japanese officials say four evacuees on a flight from the Chinese city of Wuhan have been taken to hospital with cough and fever. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government confirmed their condition after the flight of 206 evacuees arrived in Tokyo. Passengers on the flight were wearing masks and underwent temperature checks before boarding the flight. Plans were made for all the evacuees to be treated and quarantined depending on their test results. The four include a woman in her 50s and three men whose ages are from their 30s to 50s. Sport-X-Games latest event affected by coronavirus outbreak An X-Games event scheduled for next month in Chongli in Chinas northern Hebei province has been postponed due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, organisers said. The event, the first winter X-Games to be held in China, was to take place from February 21 to 23 in the same area as the alpine events for the 2022 Winter Olympics, which are officially being hosted by Beijing. The X-Games, which were due to be held in China next month and include events like freestyle skiing, have been cancelled [File: NTB Scanpix/Geir Olsen/via Reuters] First US evacuation flight en route to Alaska from Wuhan A charter plane evacuating as many as 240 Americans from Wuhan took off before dawn, and is en route to the US, a State Department official told The Associated Press news agency. The plane will make a refuelling stopover in Alaska before flying on to Ontario, California, the US embassy in China said. When the plane arrives in Alaska, passengers will clear customs and go through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) screening. Then they will put them back on the plane and send them on to their final destination, said Jim Szczesniak, manager of the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. He did not know how long the process would take. With 3 new cases of virus infection in Malaysia, total at 7 Malaysias health ministry said on Wednesday three more people had been infected with the new coronavirus, taking the total number of cases in the country to seven, all Chinese citizens. The new patients are a four-year-old girl, a 52-year-old man and the mother of two children who were confirmed infected earlier, the ministry said in a statement. People around Asia have rushed to buy face masks as the virus spreads; in Hong Kong, people are being given free masks to protect themselves against the coronavirus [Jerome Favre/EPA] Authorities said the mother had initially tested negative and had stayed in Malaysia to take care of her children grandsons of a 66-year-old man who tested positive in Singapore for the coronavirus last week. Malaysia this week imposed a temporary ban on Chinese nationals arriving from Wuhan and surrounding Hubei province. US increases virus screening to 20 airports: CDC The US CDC said it decided to expand to screening travellers from the five airports originally to 20 airports in the United States based on evolving information from China on the coronavirus. At this point, Americans should not worry for their own safety, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told reporters. Still, this is a very fast-moving, constantly changing situation, Azar added. Australia to help some citizens leave China, quarantine them on Christmas Island Australia will help some citizens leave Hubei, and quarantine them on Christmas Island, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Wednesday following a briefing by the Chinese government. We have taken a decision this morning to prepare a plan for an operation to provide some assisted departures for isolated and vulnerable Australians in Wuhan and the Hubei province, Morrison told reporters in Canberra. Christmas Island is an Australian territory south of the Indonesian island of Java. Japan plane evacuating citizens arrives Tokyo from virus-hit Wuhan A chartered plane carrying 206 Japanese nationals evacuated from Wuhan arrived at Tokyos Haneda airport on Wednesday morning. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said on Tuesday that 650 Japanese citizens were hoping to come home, and the government was making arrangements for additional flights. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has stressed that the government will explore all possible measures to bring back any citizens who want to return to Japan. Japan evacuated its first citizens from Wuhan on Wednesday [Kyodo/via Reuters] Death toll continues to rise and more cases confirmed Chinas National Health Commission said on Wednesday the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak had risen to 132 by the end of Tuesday, with 1,459 new cases confirmed. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in China stood at 5,974 as of the end of Tuesday, it said in a statement. The number of suspected cases was 9,239, it added. Read updates from Tuesday, January 28 here. New Delhi: India has become the first country to reach out to flood-ravaged Madagascar with operation Vanilla, deputing its ship INS Airavat to support the cyclone hit country. The ship is carrying five pallets each of victualing, clothing and naval stores along with three pallets of medicines. The ship will reach the country on Wednesday to provide clothing, emergency food, temporary shelters, medical assistance and carry out transportation and evacuation of personnel using four large and two medium-sized boats. Almost 92,000 people have been impacted by the flooding, and many displaced with loss of life. President of Madagascar has requested for international support. INS Airavat will be deployed to Antsiranana, a port in northern Madagascar for Humanitarian Assistance & disaster relief mission. Live TV The Indian operation derives its name from "Vanilla" island nations of which Madagascar is part of. Madagascar along with Seychelles, Reunion, Mauritius, Comoros, Mayotte are known as vanilla islands since they grow this orchid in abundance. Last year, Indian Navy had sent three of its ships to provide relief to neighbouring Mozambique which was hit by deadly cyclone Idai. INS Sujata, INS Sarathi and INS Shardul were sent to the south-east African country for humanitarian assistance and were able to rescue over 200 people. India's support to Madagascar comes even as last week India was the first respondent to the neighbouring Maldives to which it supplied 30,000 doses of Measles vaccines within 72-hours of the request by the country. Park Hae Jin is a South-Korean actor, he is known best for his supporting roles in the following dramas, My Love from the Star and also Doctor Stranger and as well as his leading roles in the Bad Guys, Cheese in the Trap, and Man to Man. He was born on in South Korea on May 1, 1983. He has also received awards such as KDA Award from his Drama series, Bad Guys in the 8th Korea Drama Awards last October 9, 2015. KBS 2TV will be releasing a Drama called Forest has dropped new pictures from the said drama of Park Hae Jin as part of the rescue squad. The drama is about a man who has all but his heart and a woman who has lost all but her heart. Their love story follows after they met in a forest and them trying to uncover the secrets of the forest that has to offer. Park Hae Jin plays as Kang San Hyuk in the drama as an elite specialist in an investment firm. He is extraordinarily smart and has animal-like instincts. The scenes in the drama needed skills about rappelling and that is why that Park Hae Jin has been going through rappel training, an example of an aerial rescue exercise. Basing from the pictures that was posted in the internet, he is focused about the role that he was given thus his facial expression was so tense. He was so dedicated that he didn't mind jumping down in the model helicopter with three stories up. His fans are all so excited to see the upcoming Korean drama basing from the stills that they've seen in the internet. This scene was orchestrated by the 119 Special Rescue Team in Gyeonggi Province, based in Namyangju County. He admired those who are on set with his transformation of being a 119 rescue team member. In addition to that, he showed how much he cared to those around him by always having safety checks. After the shoot was finished, he received applause from the crew after he has completed the difficult rappel scene. In addition to that, He maximized the charm of his character by portraying ably expressed expressions and situations in line with the script. He has shown dedication with his role as to what others have to say that he absorbed his role like a sponge and that he even go beyond what is expected of him. He has shown his passion and gave everything that he had. They also released a new teaser video and it began with the rescue squad urgently going out to rescue people. Kang San hyuk (Park hae Jin) appeared calm and collected and as confident as he can ever be in portraying and fulfilling his task. But during their mission, it didn't go as smoothly as they expect it to be. One crew member asked, why could you let both people die when instead it could have been only one? And that was just a gist of what we are supposed to expect with the Korean drama. At least seven people were killed and 40 others were injured after a bus coming from Rayagada's Tikri village in Odisha met with an accident due to fog on Wednesday. "Seven people have been killed and 40 are injured in the accident. Injured have been sent to MKCG hospital through ambulance," Sukanta Sethi, chief fire officer, Odisha said. Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik expressed deep grief and sorrow on the death of seven-person in a tragic road accident at Taptapani. "Chief Minster conveys his deep sympathy to the bereaved families and announces an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the kin of the deceased. Chief Minister also directed the collector and SP Ganjam to expedite relief and rescue operation," Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) FALMOUTH, MASS. (27 January 2020)--A new study using innovative technology to measure carbon emissions caused by forest degradation and disturbance--rather than deforestation alone--suggests that Indigenous territories (ITs) and protected natural areas (PNAs) in the Amazon are emitting formerly undetected amounts of carbon, yet their net emissions remain low, allowing them to outperform other land categories across the nine-nation region. In a paper published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers analyzed the impact of forest conversion as well as degradation and disturbance on four land categories in the Amazon (ITs, PNAs, Other Land, and the overlap between ITs and PNAs), finding that forest growth helped indigenous territories show the lowest net loss of carbon, with 90 percent of net emissions coming from outside protected lands. Combined, indigenous lands and protected areas cover 52 percent of the Amazon and store 58 percent of the carbon. The new PNAS study suggests they are increasingly at risk from illegal activities and growing weaknesses in the rule of law, endangering their role in protecting vulnerable landscapes. Their findings led the authors to call for strengthening the rights of indigenous peoples whose lands cover 30 percent of the Amazon and hold 34 percent of its carbon. "Our work shows that forests under the stewardship of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities continue to have better carbon outcomes than lands lacking protection, meaning that their role is critical and must be strengthened if Amazon basin countries are to succeed in maintaining this globally important resource, while also achieving their commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement," said Wayne Walker, scientist and lead author, Woods Hole Research Center, Falmouth, Mass. Scientists, policy experts, and indigenous leaders gathered under a consortium formed by the Woods Hole Research Center (WHRC), Coordinadora de las Organizaciones Indigenas de la Cuenca Amazonica (COICA), Rede Amazonica de Informacao Socioambiental (RAISG), and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), participated in the study. Almost 90 percent of Amazon indigenous territories have some form of legal recognition, but the authors of the study note that government concessions for mining and petroleum extraction overlap nearly one quarter of all recognized territorial lands, substantially increasing their vulnerability to adverse impacts. "Our research reveals what indigenous peoples across the Amazon are reporting to their leaders," said Tuntiak Katan, an author and vice- coordinator of the Congress of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA). "Governments are weakening environmental protections, violating existing indigenous land rights, and encouraging impunity in the rule of law. The situation is putting at risk the existence of our peoples and our territories, which contain the world's most carbon-dense forests." The authors looked at losses and gains in carbon over the period 2003-2016, using an update to data originally published by Baccini et al. (2017; Science). Additionally, they disaggregated losses into those attributable to forest conversion (e.g., deforestation) and those due to anthropogenic degradation and natural disturbance. The new study suggests that, during the 2003-2016 time frame, the Amazon region was a net source of carbon to the atmosphere, releasing about 1,290 million tons of carbon (MtC), when both losses and gains are considered. The trajectories of carbon loss from 2003 to 2016 show increases between 2012 and 2016 for all countries and land categories, especially outside ITs and PNAs. Of the four Amazon land categories, ITs had the lowest net loss of carbon (-0.1%). Net loss was -0.6% in PNAs and -3.6% on Other Land. The authors suggest that the continued growth of forests on indigenous territories have allowed these lands to compensate for emissions from degradation and disturbance. Still, 47% of the total loss of carbon for the region as a whole was attributed to degradation and disturbance, a concerning finding - said Carmen Josse, coauthor of the PNAS report and scientific director of Fundacion EcoCiencia, in Ecuador - given the importance that tropical forests have in providing globally important ecosystem services, beyond their role of capturing and storing carbon. "Our study shows that protected indigenous territories have reduced deforestation and forest degradation in the Amazon rainforest over the last two decades, and continue to be an effective buffer against the recent spike in deforestation," said Steve Schwartzman, Senior Director of Tropical Forest Policy at Environmental Defense Fund, and one of the study's authors. "To save the Amazon, indigenous territories must remain protected." Lands outside ITs and PNAs (i.e., "Other Land") accounted for about 70 percent of total carbon losses and nearly 90 percent of the net change--on less than half the total land area. In contrast, ITs and PNAs--on more than half the land area--accounted for just 10 percent of the net change, with 86 percent of losses on those lands offset by gains through forest growth. Thus, there was a nine-fold difference in net carbon loss outside ITs and PNAs (-1,160 MtC) compared with inside (-130 MtC). The results of this study add weight to previous research, including the conclusions of a high-profile report on land and climate change, released last August, by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which cited findings showing that strong land rights play a role in the lower rates of deforestation and forest degradation found on Indigenous territories, while the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) proposed strengthening land rights for Indigenous and other local communities as part of an effective approach for addressing biodiversity loss. "Our findings suggest that ITs and PNAs were (independently and collectively) more effective than Other Land in maintaining their overall stock of carbon intact," said Josse. "In most countries, ITs and PNAs were either at or near net zero emissions, ranging from a small net source in Brazil to a small net sink in Peru. But with deforestation outside ITs and PNAs growing rapidly, our findings on the impact of degradation and disturbance suggest that significant, sustained support for indigenous people is now an urgent priority." The PNAS study reports that ITs and PNAs continue to resist the expansion of deforestation taking place beyond their borders. But in assessing the impact of degradation and disturbance on Indigenous territories and protected areas, the authors draw new attention to the plight of indigenous peoples, whose leaders report growing impunity on the part of illegal gold miners, ranchers and loggers, seemingly encouraged by the statements of political leaders and legislative efforts to open territorial lands to new mining concessions. Paulo Moutinho, an author and senior researcher at IPAM, said the findings suggest a potential threat to the region's economic health, "It's fundamental that the governments of the Amazon countries pay attention to the potential risk to their economies by not preserving their protected areas from illegal deforestation." ### Environmental Defense Fund Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading international nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. Connect with us on EDF Voices, Twitter and Facebook. Foundation EcoCiencia EcoCiencia is an Ecuadorian scientific entity, private and non-profit that was founded with the aim of generating quality information for making the best decisions in favor of the conservation of biodiversity and the welfare of the population. This challenge has demanded the inclusion of broader, comprehensive and complex approaches. IPAM The Instituto de Pesquisa Ambiental da Amazonia (IPAM) [Amazon Environmental Research Institute] is a scientific, non-governmental, non-partisan and non-profit organization that has worked for the sustainable development of the Amazon since 1995. Our purpose is to consolidate the Amazonian tropical development model by 2035, by producing knowledge, implementing local initiatives and directing public policies, in a way that influences economic development, social equality, and environmental preservation. Our mission is to promote science, education, and innovation for an environmentally sound, economically prosperous, and socially just Amazon. RAISG The Amazonian Network of Georeferenced Socio- Environmental Information (RAISG) is a network of civil society organizations from Amazonian countries. RAISG seeks to build a comprehensive vision of the Amazon which links the collective rights of indigenous peoples with the protection of biodiversity and ecosystem services, to advance in terms of sustainable use practices of the forest and its resources. This integral vision of the Amazon overcomes fragmentary approaches and promotes regional, national and transnational initiatives by producing and compiling information on relevant topics and from different sources, always using common standards and technical protocols. The Woods Hole Research Center The Woods Hole Research Center studies climate change impacts around the world, and works with partners--from national governments to corporations--to identify and implement opportunities to reduce levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases. WHRC was founded in 1985 by renowned ecologist George Woodwell to take the insights of science beyond the walls of academia to where they can effect real change. For the last four years, WHRC was named the top climate change think tank in the world by the International Center for Climate Governance. WHRC scientists have contributed to every IPCC Assessment Report, and helped to launch the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In 2007, WHRC Senior Scientist Dr. Richard Houghton was part of the IPCC team awarded the Nobel Prize. WHRC researchers continue to work around the world to understand the rapidly changing climate and how we can address it. The Center is currently led by Dr. Philip Duffy, and has about 60 employees, including 46 scientists. January 29 : After Gully Boy famed actor Vijay Varma openly supported Kunal Karma and his heckling of reporter and anchor Arnab Goswami, filmmaker Anubhav Sinha and Anurag Kashyap also take dig at current regime for being bias and dictator in their approach. Comedian Kunal Kamra was on Tuesday barred from flying with IndiGo for six months after the stand-up comic heckled TV presenter Arnab Goswami on board a Mumbai-Lucknow flight. Soon after IndiGo banned him, aviation minister Hardeep Puri said offensive behavior meant to provoke and create disturbance inside an aircraft is absolutely unacceptable. He added it endangers the safety of other travellers. The minister also advised other airlines to impose a similar ban on the comedian. 'If you Fuck with our man this is what will happen' Imagine YouTube Banning Kunal Kamra, or Airtel cancelling all his internet connections including his phone. Do you think this is impossible???? Why do you think Vistara has not banned him??? Dictatorship has arrived my friends. Anubhav Sinha (@anubhavsinha) January 29, 2020 Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha just took to his social media and slammed the BJP government for their Dictatorship. He tweeted, If you Fuck with our man this is what will happen' Imagine YouTube Banning Kunal Kamra, or Airtel cancelling all his internet connections including his phone. Do you think this is impossible???? Why do you think Vistara has not banned him??? Dictatorship has arrived my friends Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap who has been vocal about BJP and his bad conduct, wrote, Totally, you beat people on our behalf you wont be arrested, you lynch people , you will be let go and garlanded, you kill people in riots - they will let you off with social work...the messaging sent out by this government is very clear.. It is us vs them. Us is BJP and Modi supporters who will never be penalised or punished, no matter what the crime is and then is everyone else. Total Fascism. They are not even pretending anymore. A martyred soldier's wife has claimed that a school in Nanded in Maharashtra has refused to grant admission to her daughter despite a letter from the district Sainik Welfare Office. Taking the matter seriously, Officer Prashant Digraskar told reporters here on Wednesday that they will check the facts and recommend cancellation of recognition of the school, if needed. Sheetal Kadam's husband was killed in an operation in Nagrota sector in Jammu district in November, 2016. Kadam said the school refused to grant admission to her daughter, Tejaswini, for class 1. "I have been visiting the school since the last 15 days, but they have refused admission to my daughter though I am ready to pay fees and also have a letter from the Sainik Welfare Office," she claimed. The aggrieved woman claimed that she was insulted by the school staff when she approached them. Officials in the Sainik Welfare Office said they had issued a letter to the school as well as the department of the Zilla Parishad asking them to grant admission to the ward of the martyred soldier. "We will summon officials of the school if they are found to have ignored our letter," they said. Kadam claimed that the letter was rejected at the reception counter of the school. Citing a Government Resolution (GR), Nanded Zilla Parishad officer said schools cannot reject admissions to the wards of martyred soldiers. When contacted on Wednesday, school authorities refused to meet reporters. Meanwhile, Nanded district guardian minister Ashok Chavan said he was looking into the matter. "I have come to know about the admission issue of Tejaswini Kadam. Now the Nagarjuna Public School has come forward to give admission to her. I am checking the admission norms and the stand of the Dnyan Mata School. We will take action accordingly," he told PTI. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UNICEF announced Wednesday it has shipped six tonnes of humanitarian supplies to China, including masks and protective suits, to help it fight the coronavirus epidemic. The shipment, which was sent from Denmark, has arrived in Shanghai for onward movement to Wuhan, the city in central China at the epicenter of the outbreak, the United Nations Children's Fund said. Additional deliveries are expected in the coming days and weeks, it said. The new virus has killed 132 people and infected nearly 6,000 in mainland China, sparking global alerts as Chinese health authorities struggle to contain it. "This coronavirus is spreading at a breakneck speed and it is important to put all the necessary resources into halting it," UNICEF's executive director Henrietta Fore said. She said the impact of the virus on children or how many have been infected was not yet known. "But we do know that close monitoring and prevention are key. Time is not on our side," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A panel formed by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra has recommended lifting the stay on the construction of metro carshed in Aarey Milk Colony, a green belt in suburban Mumbai, sources said. The four-member panel, set up by the Shiv Sena-led government last month, submitted its report, in which it has recommended lifting the two-month-old stay, to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) on Tuesday, they said. However, Minister Aaditya Thackeray said the report is yet to be studied and that it is "not binding" on the government to accept the recommendation. On the other hand, BJP leader and former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, during whose tenure work on the carshed started, pitched for accepting the recommendation. Fadnavis, now Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, cited loss of nearly Rs 5 crore per day to the government following the stay. "Though the report has been submitted to the CMO, it is not binding (to be accepted by the government). Whatever decision, it will be taken after studying the report," Aaditya Thackeray told reporters in Navi Mumbai. He said the government will take steps keeping in mind sustainable development. "He (Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray) will be going through it. It will be studied in detail. All officials and consultants will be heard (before a decision is made)," he added. Aaditya Thackeray, however, said the chief minister is "pro-development and pro-environment". Fadnavis told reporters in New Delhi, "The government should immediately lift the stay if a recommendation has been made that the carshed be constructed there (in Aarey Milk Colony). "Each day's delay is causing a loss of nearly Rs 5 crore. The government should accept the report," he said. Asked about Fadnavis's demand, Aaditya Thackeray said the BJP leader can raise such issues, but the government will have to keep in mind that and Mumbaikars are not adversely affected due to its decisions. Felling of trees during night to clear the way for construction of the carshed, part of Metro 3 line, last year had invited the ire of environmentalists, while Aaditya Thackeray, too, had objected to the move. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had stayed the carshed work in late November last year, a day after assuming office. It was one of the first decisions taken by the Sena- led government, in which the Congress-NCP, who had criticised felling of trees for the depot, are also partners. Environmentalists and citizen groups have for long opposed construction of the carshed in Mumbai's sprawling green lung in suburban Goregaon. Meanwhile, the junior Thackeray witnessed the "breakthrough" of package-3 at Worli on the corridor that includes stations like Mumbai Central, Mahalaxmi, Science Museum, Acharya Atre Chowk and Worli. "Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro-3 corridor is one of the most crucial projects that will rid Mumbaikars of their commuting woes and we are committed to complete it as scheduled," Aaditya Thackeray said. TANSA-1, the tunnel boring machine (TBM), was commissioned on September 27, 2018, from northern end of Science Museum station for upline. The TBM has completed its 2,073-meter drive within a period of a mere 16 months to see the light with 1381 number of RCC cement rings overcoming many geological challenges, Mumbai Metro Rail Corp (MMRC) said in a statement. "I am glad to note the progress of around 78 per cent of tunnelling and more than 50 per cent of overall construction on the project till date. I am sure MMRC will continue with the same zeal and speed," the minister added. In all, 17 tunnel boring machines are at work on the 33.5-km long corridor. Commenting on the 25th breakthrough, new MMRC managing director Ranjit Singh Deol said, "Our team of experts and engineers has completed this challenging work smoothly. "Package-3 encompasses major business centres which are presently not connected with suburban rail network. Once operational, this line will be a major boost for the commuters who visit these areas on a regular basis. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WASHINGTON It was late 2018, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey was on the phone with an unusual request for President Trump: Could he intervene with top members of his cabinet to curb or even shut down a criminal investigation into Halkbank, one of Turkeys largest state-owned banks? It was not Mr. Erdogans only effort to persuade the Trump administration to back off the investigation into the bank, which had been accused of violating United States sanctions against Iran. His government had hired a lobbying firm run by a friend of and fund-raiser for Mr. Trump to press his case with the White House and State Department. And there would be more phone calls between the two leaders in which the topic came up, according to participants in the lobbying. Mr. Erdogans influence campaign is now under scrutiny again in Washington, following the disclosure that Mr. Trumps former national security adviser, John R. Bolton, reported in his forthcoming book his concern that the president was effectively granting personal favors to Mr. Erdogan and President Xi Jinping of China. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 02:54:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A pedestrian walks past a Huawei store in Sydney, Australia, May 23, 2019. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei) The Science and Technology Select Committee of the British House of Commons has concluded that there are no technical grounds for excluding Huawei entirely from Britain's 5G or other telecommunications networks. LONDON, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The British government on Tuesday approved a restricted role for Huawei in building the country's 5G network. Huawei, the Shenzhen-based networking and telecommunications equipment and services supplier, said that it is reassured by the British government's confirmation that it can continue working with the customers to keep the 5G roll-out on track. "The evidence-based decision will result in a more advanced, more secure and more cost-effective telecoms infrastructure that is fit for the future," Victor Zhang, vice-president of Huawei, said. The latest decision came nearly a year after the British government said it would mull whether to allow Huawei infrastructure kit on the nation's 5G mobile network. Other European countries, including Germany, are also expected to make decisions on the Chinese tech giant. European leaders have said that building 5G network could be costlier and slower without Huawei equipment. "I think that decision for the UK could have ramifications into the decisions in other markets as well," Kester Mann, director of consumer and connectivity from CCS Insight, told Xinhua. "If Huawei is banned from some countries, I think it's to no one's real benefit," Mann said. CCS Insight is a research and advisory company focused on the mobile communications sector. "Huawei's technology is already deeply embedded in the global standards that underpin 5G," said University of Cambridge Judge Business School Professor Peter Williamson. "The costs to the UK of excluding Huawei would be huge and complete exclusion is virtually impossible." Huawei founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei speaks at a panel discussion during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 21, 2020. (Xinhua/Guo Chen) Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming has earlier warned that banning Huawei could mean back-pedalling for Britain, which would leave it trailing behind on technology. His concerns are shared by several British telecommunications operators, which have admitted that banning Huawei equipment would delay Britain's 5G roll-out. Huawei UK "has created huge job opportunities for the local community, contributed to the telecommunications sector in the UK and played a positive part in the economic and social progress here in this country," Liu said at an event in London on Monday night. Critics have said that the U.S. government is fabricating "Huawei risk" in the name of "national security." The Science and Technology Select Committee of the British House of Commons has concluded that there are no technical grounds for excluding Huawei entirely from Britain's 5G or other telecommunications networks. China has repeatedly stressed that it had never and will never ask companies or individuals to collect data, information or intelligence in others countries by illegal means. Statistics showed that from 2012 to 2017, Huawei brought 2 billion pounds (about 2.6 billion U.S. dollars) to Britain through investment and procurement, and created 26,000 jobs. In early 2018, the company pledged to invest a further 3 billion pounds (about 3.9 billion dollars) in the country over the next five years. The US alleges that the defendants operated voice over internet protocol (VoIP) carriers, which use an internet connection rather than traditional copper phone lines to carry telephone calls. Washington: The United States has filed lawsuits against five companies and three individuals allegedly responsible for making hundreds of millions of fake robocalls to American consumers from abroad, mostly from India, and causing massive financial losses to the elderly and the vulnerable. Seeking a restraining order against such call centers and robocalls, the Department of Justice in its class action lawsuit alleged that the companies were warned many times not to place fraudulent robocalls including government and business-imposter calls yet they continued to do so and facilitated foreign-based fraud schemes targeting Americans. "The calls, most of which originated in India, led to massive financial losses to elderly and vulnerable victims across the nation," it said on Tuesday. One case has been filed against Ecommerce National LLC d/b/a TollFreeDeals.com; SIP Retail d/b/a sipretail.com; and their owner/operators, Nicholas Palumbo, 38, and Natasha Palumbo, 33, of Scottsdale, Arizona. The other case has been filed against Global Voicecom Inc, Global Telecommunication Services Inc, KAT Telecom Inc., aka IP Dish, and the owner/operator Jon Kahen, 45, of Great Neck, New York. In each case, the Department of Justice sought an order immediately halting the defendants' transmission of unlawful robocall traffic. A federal court has entered a temporary restraining order against the Global Voicecom defendants. "Robocalls are an annoyance to many Americans, and those that are fraudulent and predatory are a serious problem, often causing devastating financial harm to the elderly and vulnerable members of our society," said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt for the Department of Justice's Civil Division. According to federal prosecutors, Americans have experienced a deluge of robocalls over the past several years. Many of the robocalls originate from abroad. Recently, foreign fraudsters have used robocalls to impersonate government investigators and to provide Americans with alarming messages. The calls facilitated by the defendants falsely threatened victims with a variety of catastrophic government actions, including termination of social security benefits, imminent arrest for alleged tax fraud and deportation for supposed failure to fill out immigration forms correctly, the justice department said. "Each of these claims is a lie, designed to scare the call recipient into paying large sums of money. "Social Security imposters, IRS imposters, and tech-support schemes (in which callers impersonate legitimate technology companies) have proliferated in part because of the ease with which robocalls can reach millions of potential victims every hour," it said. In the cases announced on Tuesday, the US alleges that the defendants operated voice over internet protocol (VoIP) carriers, which use an internet connection rather than traditional copper phone lines to carry telephone calls. Numerous foreign-based criminal organisations are alleged to have used the defendants' VoIP carrier services to pass fraudulent government-and business-imposter fraud robocalls to American victims. The complaints filed in the cases specifically allege that defendants served as "gateway carriers", making them the entry point for foreign-initiated calls into the US telecommunications system. According to the Department of Justice, they carried astronomical numbers of robocalls. For example, the complaint against the owners/operators of Ecommerce National d/b/a TollFreeDeals.com alleges that the defendants carried 720 million calls during a sample 23-day period, and that more than 425 million of those calls lasted less than one second, indicating that they were robocalls. The complaint further alleges that many of the 720 million calls were fraudulent and used spoofed (fake) caller ID numbers. According to allegations in both complaints, the defendants ignored repeated red flags and warnings about the fraudulent and unlawful nature of the calls they were carrying. "We are using all available tools and resources to stop foreign call center scammers and for the first time their US-based enablers from conning elderly and vulnerable victims in New York and throughout the United States," said US Attorney Richard Donoghue. Protecting individuals from schemes that result in catastrophic losses to the victims is a priority of this Office and the Department of Justice, he said. "Today's events are the culmination of months of hard work, and a critical step in holding these and other companies accountable for being the link between overseas scammers and their victims, said Social Security Administration Inspector General Gail Ennis. He said the US will continue to pursue those who exploit the country's telephone system and allow scammers to deceive consumers using the good name of Social Security, Ennis added. Two groups, one opposing and the other supporting the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), clashed in Sitamarhi in Bihar on Wednesday. At least 15 people have been injured in the brawl. Sitamarhi District Magistrate Kumari Sharma said that police force has been deployed in the area and the situation is under control. The incident occurred in the Bokhara block of the district, where some people were protesting against the CAA and NRC. Another group that was holding a demonstration in support of CAA and NRC came face to face with the first group and the clash broke out. "Currently the situation is under control. Sufficient police force has been deployed in the whole area and senior officers are monitoring the situation," a senior police official told ANI. Kuldeep Prasad, one of the organisers of the anti-CAA protest, alleged that the protest march from Jitki village was going towards the designated site of Bokhara Block Chowk when "anti-social elements" attacked the protestors in a pre-planned way. Pawan Sah, a local BJP leader, on the other hand said that the anti-CAA protestors were using "objectionable words" against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asking shopkeepers to close their shops, to which "some people present at the Bhaur Chowk" objected and the clash broke out. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Frontier Communications is selling its Northwest service operations Insiders say telecom company may seek bankruptcy EVERETT Frontier Communications may seek bankruptcy protection in mid-March, reporters from Bloomberg have asserted from sources familiar with the situation. The telecom company currently serves customers in 29 states and has about 18,000 employees. It has an active deal to sell its Pacific Northwest operations in four states to WaveDivision Capital, a telecom-focused investment firm that is separate from Wave Broadband, a cable, phone and internet provider in the state. The former CEO of Wave Broadband founded the investment firm. The Pacific Northwest selloff to WaveDivision would inject $1.3 billion into Frontier. The deal was announced last May and is still going through federal and state approval. WaveDivision, the buyers, said in a news release at the time that the Frontier deal does not change anything for Frontiers customers or the employees who support them and that all contracts and rates will continue to be honored. Frontier is headquartered in Connecticut; its northwest division headquarters is in Everett. Moving to bankruptcy may help Frontier stave off its current debt situation. If it chooses a Chapter 11 bankruptcy, it would allow it to continue service while reorganizing. Last fall, Frontier drew its last $500 million worth of available revolver debt, according to a Jan. 18 report from investment-analysis firm CFRA Research. Maxing out a credit card could be similar to what the company did. It matures in 2024. We see this as a last act of desperation to keep the company out of bankruptcy for the next few months, the CFRA analyst wrote. In November, the company had $16 billion in overall debt on the books, from its third-quarter balance sheet data accessed through an investment brokerage. The company has $356 million worth of bond debt payments due this March, Bloomberg reported. CFRAs analyst wrote the company has more than $7.3 billion worth of debt payments scheduled to be due over the next four years. The companys cash-on-hand was $733 million as of Nov. 30, according to its balance sheet. This was after taking the $500 million in credit debt. A sizable part of Frontiers overall debt picture appears to stem from Frontiers deal to acquire Verizons landline and fiber-optic internet services in three states in 2016. The Dallas Morning News reported in 2017 that Frontier sold $5.6 billion in bonds to help make the $10 billion purchase. It came at a time when the cable segment of the telecom industry saw cord-cutting escalate. Meanwhile, Frontiers stock fell, reducing its market capitalization value. The Dallas paper quoted a report written by another investment analyst, this time from Morningstar, warning about bankruptcy risks. Frontier faces a narrow path of recovery that leaves it little room for error, especially given its hefty debt load, the Morningstar analyst wrote in May 2017. Check out our online Publications! Best seen in the Firefox or Chrome browsers Georgia Rep. Doug Collins told "Fox & Friends" Wednesday he will challenge Sen. Kelly Loeffler, another Republican, for her seat in the state's election this year. Why it matters: Collins' announcement has "sparked an intraparty Republican brawl between a top defender of President Trump and a business executive who was appointed to the post by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp," the Washington Post writes. The state of play: Loeffler was appointed to her seat last year. Georgia's special election will not include a primary, so multiple candidates from both parties can participate. If state Democrats support a single candidate, they could take advantage of a possible split among Republicans, the Post writes. The winner will complete the remainder of former Sen. Johnny Isakson's term. The Republican retired last year with two years left to serve. What he's saying: Collins said he is unconcerned that his entry could split the party during his Fox appearance. We just need to have a process that lets people decide. ... I look forward to an exchange of ideas, and I look forward to the election. Go deeper: Kemp picks GOP donor Kelly Loeffler to fill Georgia Senate seat, defying Trump (HedgeCo.Net) The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged Edward E. Matthes, a former Wisconsin-based registered representative and investment adviser, with defrauding 26 of his mostly elderly retail brokerage customers and investment advisory clients out of approximately $2.4 million. Matthes has agreed to settle the SECs charges, with monetary relief to be determined by the court at a later date. According to the SECs complaint, Matthes convinced his brokerage customers and advisory clients to invest in what he described as a safe investment that would earn a guaranteed minimum yield of 4% per year. As alleged in the complaint, the purported investment did not exist, and Matthes stole approximately $1.4 million for his personal use. Matthes allegedly stole an additional $1 million by making unauthorized sales and withdrawals from his customers variable annuities. To cover up his fraud, Matthes allegedly created fake account statements and paid approximately $170,000 in Ponzi-like payments. The SECs complaint, filed in federal district court in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, charges Matthes with violating the antifraud provisions of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and Sections 206(1) and 206(2) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Without admitting or denying the allegations in the complaint, Matthes consented to the entry of a judgment that permanently enjoins him from violating the charged provisions and orders him to pay disgorgement, prejudgment interest, and penalties in amounts to be determined by the court at a later date. The settlement is subject to court approval. British MEPs have been packing up their belongings ready to be shipped out of Brussels at the end of the week. Cardboard boxes, souvenirs and stationary are being gathered together ready to be taken back to the UK as Britain's 47-year membership officially comes to an end. With the Brexit departure set for 11pm on Friday, some UK politicians at the European Parliament in Brussels who have been fervent Brexiteers were wasting no time getting ready to get out the door. Nigel Farage's office on Tuesday was a jumble of boxes and mementos ready to be packed and shipped. The former Ukip and Brexit Party leader was packing his possessions and taking pictures off the walls this week as the British exodus from Brussels reached its final stages. But as the arch-Brexiteer who has long called for Britain to leave the bloc began to clear his office, he admitted he will miss his role in the EU and even its base in part-time Strasbourg - especially the food. Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage packs his items in his office at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, on Tuesday Farage packs his items in his office in Brussels, including paintings and souvenirs from his long career in the European Parliament Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage in his office at the European Parliament in Brussels as British MEPs began clearing their offices ahead of Brexit Personal items on a desk in Nigel Farage's office including a cartoon depicting the Brexit Party leader at the European Parliament in Brussels Farage said he will also miss 'playing the villain', as he often addressed the parliament chamber to lambaste his fellow MEPs and criticise the bureaucracy of the EU. He said: 'I'll miss some of the fun, some of the theatre. I'll miss being the pantomime villain, which I've been many times. This has been a massive chapter of my life.' During his 20-year career as an MEP, Farage has long campaigned for Britain to leave the EU, spearheading a campaign that led to Britain's exit vote in 2016. More than three years since the referendum, Britain's exit will happen quietly at midnight in Brussels, but with great fanfare in London's Parliament Square at a party he promised would bring together more than 30,000 people. Farage and 72 other Britons will attend their last plenary session of the 751-seat European Parliament this week. On Friday morning, a group of Brexit Party lawmakers will march out of the modernist assembly building with a Union Jack to mark the end of Britain's 47 years as a member of the EU. Britain's Brexit vote was a triumph for Farage, a former commodities trader who become an abrasive anti-immigration politician, tapping into a deep well of popular anger in Britain that rivals failed to understand. A colourful character who is often pictured holding a pint of beer, 55-year-old Farage's acerbic euro-scepticism was the bane of committed Europeans in Brussels. Nigel Farage has started removing personal items from his Brussels office. During his 20-year career as an MEP, he had long campaigned for Britain to leave the EU Nigel Farage wore Union flag socks ready for Wednesday's plenary when the EU parliament should overwhelmingly approve the Brexit withdrawal agreement British European Parliament member and leader of Labour Party delegation Richard Corbett holding a scarf as he packs some of his belongings at his office at the European Parliament in Brussels on Monday British European Parliament member of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats Judith Kirton-Darling packing some of her belongings at her office in Brussels on Monday He once he told then-European Council President Herman Van Rompuy to his face that he had 'the charisma of a damp rag' and the 'appearance of a low-grade bank clerk'. Farage added that although he has sought to disrupt the EU from within over the past two decades, the European Parliament would be a duller place without him and lawmakers from the 27 other EU countries may miss the publicity he brought for their assembly. His favourite souvenir in his Brussels office is a framed Economist cover with him, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin marching to the big drums of populism. 'It's not meant to be flattering, but in a sense, what it sums up is the great battle that's going on', Farage said. He was still wearing his Union Jack socks, ready for Wednesday's plenary when the EU parliament should overwhelmingly approve the Brexit withdrawal agreement, the last act needed before the UK leaves on Friday. Downstairs in the parliamentary halls, some fans of the Brexit party, also dressed in British colours were posing among the flags of the member states, laughing and shouting at anyone wanting to hear how the EU was 'a dictatorship'. Yet for most of the parliament's politicians and many of the departing British representatives, the EU remains one of the greatest experiments in peace-building and democracy following the devastation across Europe from the Second World War. Among the British backers of the EU are members of the Green party, who lit lights outside the European Parliament against the darkening sky, a symbolic 'We'll leave a light on' action in case British politicians ever do return to Brussels. Britain's Green party MEP Magid Magid packing up his office at the European Parliament in Brussels this week Britain's Brexit Party MEP Claire Fox is one of 72 other UK MEPs leaving Brussels this week Greens/EFA party members of European Parliament holding a banner, as they take part in a symbolic demonstration to mark the departure of the UK from the EU in front of the European Parliament on Tuesday For a more official occasion, EU Parliament chief David Sassoli will bid the UK a formal farewell during Wednesday's plenary, where the Brexit vote will take place. Even the UK's representation offices will change their name and become the UK Mission to the European Union. For insiders, UKReps will become UKMis, and they will still be just as busy, since both Britain and the EU still need to figure their future relationship and trade deals. One thing is sure though, said Mr Farage: 'We're passing the point of no return. We're leaving. We're never coming back.' Farage has even boasted his Brexit Party had helped Boris Johnson become Britain's prime minister last year, and since then the Conservative Party leader had adopted policies and rhetoric that he had used for 25 years. After Friday, Britain will enter an 11-month transition period during which it faces tough negotiations with the EU on everything from trade regulations to fishing rights to establish a future relationship. 'In this negotiation, we've got a much stronger hand than they have,' he said. 'We've got Germany petrified of us becoming a competitor on their doorstep.' Farage said that however the haggling between London and Brussels turns out, there will be no going back on Brexit, a course of action that for Britain's place in the world marked the biggest change since Henry VIII left the Church of Rome 500 years ago. 'And I say that not even tongue in cheek', Farage added. 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. As Elias Schiller goes to prison for manslaughter, Yellowknife taxi drivers are choosing to forgive the young man who took their friend's life. "We came up to the one conclusion," said Kareem Yalahow, vice-president of City Cab. "Uncle Ahmed is dead. We cannot bring him back. We might as well go ahead and forgive what happened, and forgive them, Elias and his Dad." Schiller, 19, was sentenced to four years on Tuesday for the beating death of City Cab driver Ahmed Mahamud Ali known to friends and coworkers as "Uncle Ahmed." Schiller's father, James Schiller, was convicted of accessory to aggravated assault in connection with Ali's death. Both son and father pleaded guilty to their charges. Our industry is in trouble today. - Kareem Yalahow, vice-president of City Cab Ali's death on the job in November, 2018, sent waves of grief through Yellowknife's tight-knit Somali community. Most of the city's taxi drivers come from the same community in Somalia and share relations, said Yalahow. Though community members question whether four years in prison is enough, and if the court's decision will deter others from committing violence against taxi drivers, they are choosing "complete forgiveness," said Yalahow. "And not grudge holding," he said. "The family and the community agreed." Their compassion extends to the offenders' broader family, said Yalahow, who knows some of Schiller's relatives. He said Ali's family wants "Ahmed's blood to become a bridge to cross to each other, and forgive each other, and handshake each other, and open a new chapter of our life." 'We need protection' But in the wake of Ali's death and Schiller's sentencing, taxi drivers are still waiting for the government to change regulations to make their jobs safer. "Our industry is in trouble today," he said. "At night time, we are vulnerable. We are the front-line people. We're working all night taking people to hospital, or taking people from point A to point B to minimize the drunk driving." Story continues Walter Strong/CBC "We are out there. We need protection." Since Ali's body was found in a City Cab vehicle, abandoned in front of Stanton Territorial, Yellowknife taxi drivers have recounted stories of beatings and robberies while working. Sara Minogue/CBC Yalahow says one way to protect drivers is to enable them to take payment right at the start of a ride, rather than at the end of it. "You're not going to fly and jump into an airplane and say 'I'll pay [the fare] from the other side if you go on a bus, you have to pay money up front," said Yalahow. "Only in our industry is when you have to pay later on, when you get to your destination." 'Forgive, be kind' For now though, they practice forgiveness it's what their religion teaches, said Yalahow, who is also on the executive committee of the Islamic Centre of Yellowknife. "Sometimes the kindness and forgiveness could just solve problems where no jail time or guilt plea would solve the problem," he said, adding that if the Schiller family would like to meet with his community, they would welcome them. "Forgive, be kind, and things will change." Prince Andrew was pictured today driving his Bentley after angrily denying claims he refused to help the FBI with its investigation into billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein - as Scotland Yard revealed it could open its own probe. The Queen's son was said to be furious at an allegation from US attorney Geoffrey Berman that he had offered 'zero-cooperation', with a source insisting last night: 'Nothing could be further from the truth'. And Andrew faced the prospect of more scrutiny today after documents emerged suggesting the Met Police was on the verge of reopening a sex trafficking investigation into his paedophile friend. The prince, who this morning left the Windsor Castle grounds next to a minder in the passenger seat, has come under criticism for his relationship with the convicted sex offender, who hanged himself in his prison cell in August last year. The Queen's son was pictured behind the wheel of his Bentley as he drove himself from the Windsor Castle grounds shortly after reports of the move emerged this morning The Met's sex-trafficking probe was controversially dropped in 2016 but is now at a 'pre-investigation' phase, according to a document obtained by The Sun through a freedom of information request. The force said in a document: 'There has been a renewed focus in Mr Epstein's friends and associates which could potentially instigate whether criminal and/or civil investigations against these individuals.' It added that the probe could be restarted 'in light of the current revelations and further victims coming forward'. Allegations made by Virginia Roberts were first examined by Scotland Yard in 2015. But the Met said in November it had not pursued an investigation. 'Having closely examined the available evidence, the decision was made that this would not progress to a full investigation,' a statement said. She claims she was trafficked to London to have sex with Prince Andrew, something he has always strongly denied. It came as an 'angry and bewildered Prince Andrew rubbished a US prosecutor's claims he had refused to cooperate with the FBI's investigation into Epstein, according to friends. US attorney Geoffrey Berman accused the Duke of York of zero co-operation with their investigation, but a source close to Andrew claimed: Nothing could be further from the truth. The defiant prince was in fact more than happy to talk but hasnt been approached by them yet, the source insisted. Mr Berman stood outside Epsteins New York mansion and accused the Queens son of failing to respond to requests by the FBI and US prosecutors for an interview over his friendship with the paedophile financier. The resulting firestorm sent Buckingham Palace into a panic and yesterday the Queens aides were still refusing to issue any comment on the story. Courtiers even said they would never talk about the subject and insisted it was a matter for the princes lawyers, who they refused to identify. Epstein in a 2017 mug shot provided by the New York State Sex Offender Registry But the source close to the prince stepped forward to flatly contradict the US prosecutors claims that the royal had reneged on his promise two months ago to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations into Epstein, who killed himself last year. Last night the insider claimed that Andrew was committed to the legal process, saying: The duke is more than happy to talk to the FBI but he hasnt been approached by them yet. He is angry about the way this is being portrayed and bewildered as to why this was said in New York. It seems certain people are jumping the gun. After Mr Bermans shock intervention on Monday, lawyers and women who say they were sex trafficking victims of Epstein vented their fury at Andrew. A lawyer for Virginia Roberts, who claims she was instructed to have sex with Andrew on three occasions from the age of 17 something he strenuously denies said he should take most seriously the deeply-held belief in this country that no one is above the law. Lisa Bloom, who represents five other women, said it was time to stop playing games and answer questions, while a third lawyer threatened Andrew, 59, with a subpoena if he sets foot in America again. The prince has categorically denied having any knowledge that Epstein was sexually abusing teenage girls. The scandal reignited last November when Andrew gave a disastrous interview to BBC Newsnights Emily Maitlis in which he failed to express any regret for continuing his friendship with the disgraced financier after he was jailed for child sex abuse. The prince told Miss Maitlis he would give investigators a statement under oath in the right circumstances. Prince Andrew, pictured with the Queen heading to church at Sandringham on January 19, has come under pressure over his links with Epstein On Monday, US attorney Geoffrey Berman accused the Duke of York of zero co-operation with their investigation, a claim Andrews' friends furiously denied After a public furore, in which he was forced to withdraw from royal duties, he issued a statement saying he would of course speak to investigators if required. Last night the source close to Andrew insisted: The duke is not under any obligation to talk to lawyers representing alleged victims of Epstein at the moment, but he is totally willing to talk to any law enforcement agencies, be they the police or FBI. He hasnt changed his views at all and sticks by what he said in his interview with Emily Maitlis that he would co-operate. Indeed a week hasnt gone by since then when he hasnt had extensive meetings with his lawyers at Royal Lodge [his Windsor home] and Buckingham Palace preparing for such a meeting. The duke accepts he made a big mistake by continuing to see Epstein after he was convicted and for not showing sufficient empathy for the girls involved. He is desperate to make up for it and is committed to the legal process. The source also suggested that Andrew wanted to clear things up so that he can continue to support the Queen in the coming months following Princes Philips hospitalisation and Harry and Meghans decision to quit as frontline royals. They said: The duke has always been the Queens favourite and she is relying on him a lot behind the scenes. The source added that Andrew anticipated being interviewed by the FBI in the UK, not the US. The Mail revealed last year that the prince was fearful of travelling to America in case he was dragged into ongoing legal proceedings. The scandal reignited last November when Andrew gave a disastrous interview to BBC Newsnights Emily Maitlis It was reported that Andrew would not go back to the US until proceedings were satisfactorily and unequivocally concluded. The claims that the duke had snubbed the FBI led to global media coverage yesterday and prompted furious responses from Epsteins alleged victims. Miss Bloom said: It is time for anyone with information to come forward and answer questions. 'Prince Andrew himself is accused of sexual misconduct and he also spent a great deal of time with Jeffrey Epstein. 'The five women I represent are outraged and disappointed at Prince Andrews behaviour. 'There are dozens of women who allege they were the victims of sexual assault by this predator Jeffrey Epstein. The victims want justice here and we cant do it without people speaking to law enforcement. Gloria Allred, another lawyer for five of Epsteins accusers, threatened the duke with a subpoena if he ever visited the US again. She told Radio 4s Today programme: If he has done nothing wrong...then why wont he talk to law enforcement? No response is the same as zero co-operation. This is ridiculous. Its just not acceptable. Harbottle & Lewis, the Queens lawyers, who have previously acted for Andrew over allegations in relation to the case, said they are not representing him. MailOnline has contacted the Met Police for comment. A Melbourne paedophile who filmed and photographed himself sexually abusing 47 boys across four countries will spend at least 28 years behind bars. Boris Kunsevitsky, 53, produced more than 35,000 photos and 4800 videos of abuse across the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia between 2002 and 2017. Boris Kunsevitsky abused boys across the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia. Supreme Court of Victoria Justice John Champion on Wednesday jailed Kunsevitsky for a maximum of 35 years, labelling the paedophile's appetite for sexual abuse insatiable and the offending the worst he had seen. Most of the abuse was committed against boys in the Philippines, with Kunsevitsky making the boys perform sexual acts on themselves and each other, and filming and photographing it, among other depraved acts. UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th January, 2020) The United Nations should cooperate with the Syrian government to boost humanitarian assistance throughout the country after two of four border crossings Iraq and Jordan used for aid deliveries were closed, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia told the UN Security Council on Wednesday. "We would recommend that the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs as quickly as possible establish effective cooperation with the legitimate authorities in Damascus," Nebenzia said. Nebenzia pointed out that the February UN report is expected to provide information about alternative routes for delivering humanitarian assistance from Syrian territory. "We would like to hear about steps that have been taken to this end and the results that are achieved," Nebenzia said. On January 10, the UN Security Council reauthorized a UN operation delivering humanitarian aid across the Syrian borders for additional six months, keeping only two crossings from Turkey. In a correspondent resolution, UN Security Council members asked Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to study the possibility of using alternative modalities for the closed border crossing of Al Yarubiyah in Iraq. Nebenzia said the UN Security Council resolution on cross border aid focuses explicitly on the United Nations' cooperation with the Syrian government. The cross-border assistance was established in 2014 and has since been renewed every year. However, Nebenzia said the 2014 resolution was outdated and used to politicize relief aid by favoring some groups over others. Kabul: Terrorist organization Taliban are blocking security forces till the wreck of US military plane which crashed in Ghazni province of Afghanistan. Afghan security forces trying to reach the scene are engaged in ambush with terrorists. The US Army said on Monday that its E-11 plane has crashed in Ghazni province. However, he did not give any information about the number of passengers and casualties on board the plane. Unlike the US military, the Taliban claimed to have killed the plane. Coronavirus speeds up in China, death toll crosses 132 Khalid Vardak, provincial police chief of Ghazni, said that relief and rescue personnel have been dispatched to Deh Yak district immediately after receiving the news of the plane crash, where it is also said that in many places Taliban fighters ambushed him. He told that according to the information 4 people sitting on the plane died in this accident. 2 people are alive, but no information about them could be found. Wardak said that security forces have been ordered to retreat. Now aerial action will be taken against the terrorists. Earthquake intensity of 7.7 rages in Jamaica Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid says rescue teams are being allowed to pick up the body from the accident site, but Mujahid claimed that 6 people died in the incident, apparently because nothing can be known about it. Everything was burnt to ashes in the fire. On the condition of anonymity, US officials said that 5 people were in the crashed plane. Jinping's says about Coronavirus "We are fighting the monster" Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force on Wednesday arrested Dr Kafeel Khan from Mumbai for making inflammatory statements at the Aligarh Muslim University during a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act on December 12 last year. An FIR was registered against Khan on December 13 under Section 153-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Civil Lines police station, Aligarh. According to the FIR, Khan addressed around 600 students of the AMU and made provocative comments. Kafeel Khan was scheduled to be present at the Mumbai Bagh protests at 11 am today. The indefinite stir by women protestors at Mumbai Bagh against the citizenship Act has entered the fourth day today. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Issachars case was made public in August after her family revealed that they had been contacted by friends of Aleksei Burkov, a Russian IT specialist jailed in Israel since 2015 but wanted by the United States. Burkovs associates asked Issachars family to make her release part of a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Russia, but Israel had already approved his extradition to the United States, where he had been convicted of committing more than $20 million in computer fraud. Mukesh Ambani-led has approached National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for offering its 'waste plastic-to-road' technology that uses end-of-life plastic for road construction. The company has already piloted few projects and has constructed nearly 40 km road by mixing 50 tonne of end-of-life plastic waste with bitumen at it's Nagothane manufacturing site in Raigad district. "It took us some 14-18 months to develop this mechanism where we can use the end-of-life waste plastic like packaging of snacks and flimsy polyethylene bags, among others, in road construction. "We are in talks with the to share our experience and to help the use of end-of-life plastic for road construction," company's COO Petrochemicals Business Vipul Shah told reporters. Along with NHAI, RIL is also in talks with state governments and local bodies across the country for offering its technology, he said. Explaining the benefits of the usage of this waste plastic, Shah said, "it not only ensures sustainable utilisation of plastic but is also financially viable". Our experience showed that 1 km of road uses 1 mt of waste plastic and can save nearly Rs 1 lakh as it can be utilised as a substitute to bitumen to the extent of 8-10 per cent. So, roughly we saved Rs 40 lakh. Besides, this plastic also enhances the quality of roads, he said. He said the roads made using this plastic were completed in two months and sustained the torrential rains of last year without any erosion. " is expected to construct 10,000 km of roads with average four lanes in FY2021, which is around 40,000 km of roads that can use nearly 40,000 mt of waste plastics. Besides, other state authorities and local bodies are expected to construct 23,000 km of around four lane roads. "This is a good 86,000 mt of waste plastic," RIL Head business development sustainable solutions KRS Narayan said. He however added that the biggest challenge in this process is collection and segregation of this waste plastic, a process know-how that we can offer. "We have still not decided about the commercial model for this. Going forward, we may consider developing products that could be used directly in road construction. But this will happen once we see the market for this business," Shah added. BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's Christian religious authorities on Tuesday urged anti-government protesters to give a new government breathing room to tackle a dire financial crisis, condemning what they described as mob assaults on security forces in recent marches. Many demonstrators have rejected the government formed last week by the Iran-backed Shi'ite group Hezbollah and its allies without participation of major political parties including the second-largest Christian party, Lebanese Forces (LF). Demonstrations that began last October against a political elite blamed for steering Lebanon into its worst crisis in decades have turned violent as some protesters clashed with security forces at barricades around parliament and government headquarters in central Beirut to demand an independent cabinet. "The Fathers stress the right for peaceful demonstrations to demand reform, but strongly reject the mobs on the streets and squares, especially in Beirut, lest the mobilization veers away from its noble goals," the Christian religious leaders said in a statement after a summit. Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai had called the summit which gathered patriarchs of Lebanon's many Christian sects, according to state news agency NNA. The meeting's communique was read out in live broadcasts on local media. The Christian faith leaders said the government should be given "room to take on its responsibilities", and called on Arab states and the international community to support Lebanon. Lebanon is governed according to a sectarian political system that parcels out state positions according to religious sect. The presidency is reserved for a Maronite Christian. The largest Christian party, President Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement, is close to Hezbollah and has backed the new government, which has yet to issue a policy statement. The heavily indebted country's crisis is rooted in decades of state corruption and waste. Foreign donors say any support to Lebanon will depend on it enacting long-delayed reforms. Prime Minister Hassan Diab said on Tuesday he would not obstruct a state budget drafted by the previous cabinet and approved on Tuesday by parliament in a session boycotted by some parties including the staunchly anti-Hezbollah LF. (Reporting by Laila Bassam; Writing by Ghaida Ghantous; Editing by Peter Graff) A gift from the Swanson family will make way for a project of improvements for the H.M. Stewart Sr. Professional and Continuing Education Building. This includes the addition of two classrooms for continuing education classes in leadership, supervision and professional development on the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Dahlonega Campus. This $400,000 gift leveraged UNG funds for the $1.5 million project of major renovations to the building, which was built in 1990. The building was named for H.M. Stewart Sr. through a gift by Dean and Kay Stewart Swanson, Stewart's daughter, for an endowment that continues to benefit Professional and Continuing Education programs. The recent gift from the couple, their son Stewart Swanson '85, and Stewart's wife Carol Swanson '86 make the family's support of UNG and the community multigenerational. Also, Stewart Swanson serves on UNG's STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Advisory Board. The new downstairs classrooms at the building located at 25 Schultz Ave. in Dahlonega will also allow for construction of a clinical lab space upstairs to support expanded health care certificate programs and hands-on training for continuing education students. "This gift will provide the community even greater access to job skills training and professional development programs that are required of a capable workforce prepared to meet the diversified demand of the Lumpkin County region," said Dr. Wendy Estes, UNG director of Professional and Continuing Education (PCE). "We are so grateful for the Swanson family to come back to PCE to support employee training and skills enhancement that lead to job growth as part of the economic development of our region." The Swansons are excited about the opportunities their donation will bring to the community. Stewart Swanson's late grandfather, H.M. Stewart Sr., managed Standard Telephone Co., which served Dahlonega residents and UNG for nearly 100 years before it was acquired by Windstream. "He believed strongly in giving back to the community that supported his business. We are excited to continue my grandfather's legacy of giving back to the Dahlonega community and UNG," Swanson said. "As UNG alumni, Carol and I have strong respect for the amazing job President Bonita Jacobs and the administration have done leading UNG." "The building has served UNG and the local community well for over three decades now, but with the changing times it has become crucial to upgrade the facility to meet the new demands," Swanson said. In anticipation of the renovation project starting in February 2020, PCE already invested $125,000 in building upgrades and equipment purchases for its health care programs. "This donation was the catalyst for reimagining the downstairs space in a way that could be effectively utilized to meet the needs of not only individual students, but also business and industry in the Lumpkin County area," Estes said. McConnnell's statement, in a closed-door meeting of senators, was an acknowledgment of the extent to which revelations from Bolton have scrambled the trial's schedule and the desire for testimony. Bolton writes in a forthcoming book that Trump told him he wanted to withhold military aid from Ukraine until it helped with investigations into Democratic rival Joe Biden. That assertion, if true, would undercut a key defense argument and go to the heart of one major article of impeachment against the president. Armenian News - NEWS.am presents a daily digest of top news as of 29.01.2020: A meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani FMs Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Elmar Mammadyarov commenced in Geneva Tuesday. The meeting was held under mediation and participation of OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Igor Popov, Stephane Visconti, Andrew Schoffer and OSCE Personal Representatives of the Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk. A conscript serviceman in Artsakh was wounded Tuesday by a shot he himself had fired, Armenian MODs spokesperson Artsrun Hovhannisyan told Armenian News - NEWS.am. According to Artsakh MOD press service, the soldier, 20, is in critical condition. An investigation is underway to find out the details of the incident. Two Chinese citizens have been not allowed to cross the Georgian border as one of them had a fever and was suspected to have the coronavirus, Armenian health representatives told reporters Wednesday. According to the head of Department of Epidemiology of Special Dangerous and Airborne Diseases Liana Torosyan, the citizens were isolated and checked, and they appeared not to have symptoms of coronavirus infection. She also noted Armenia has no lab tests for the diagnosis of the new 2019-nCoV coronavirus, but, they are going to get them from WHO and Russia in 10 days. The death toll of the virus has increased up to 132, while the number of infected has exceeded 6,000. Eight countries are evacuating their citizens and employees of embassies and consulates. UAE has also confirmed the first case of a new coronavirus. A passenger bus belonging to an Iranian company conducting transportation with the Tehran-Yerevan-Tehran route crashed Wednesday near Mianeh, Iran. According to the embassy, the injured has been hospitalized in Mianeh and Tabriz. No Armenian citizens reportedly were on the bus. Police apprehended Tuesday the co-founders of the opposition Adekvad party Artur Danielyan, Konstantin Ter-Nakalyan, and two other members, as well as VETO initiative founder Narek Malyan. They were all apprehended on suspicion of possession or carrying of illegal weapons. After a while, the citizens were released. Later that evening, Civil Consciousness head NGO Narek Samsonyan has also been detained on the same suspicion, but was taken to the department for illicit drugs trafficking. He was later released and said Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan is personally responsible for the deletions. By the way, Samsonyan told the police he reportedly saw Armenian parliaments speaker Ararat Mirzoyan in the car using narcotics. He expressed hope that department will deal with this case as well. The Armenian CC head Hrayr Tovmasyan gave an interview to Armenian TV channel amid the recent developments. Earlier, the dissemination of his daughters FB page and PM Nikol Pashinyans statement that CC head had offered him services heated discussions on social media. When Tovmasyan accused PM of distorting the fact, the PM shared the photo of Tovmasyans pen handed to him. According to PM, he was shocked to learn how much does this pen cost. Tovmasyan urged all to put an end to the story of this pen, as problems facing Armenia as well as regional and other challenges are much more complicated. Asked to comment whether his relationship with PM being inimical, the CC president said he had no enemies in his country. My enemies are on the other side of the border. Tovmasyan has also touched upon the PMs statement that it is necessary to conduct an investigation to find out whether Tvomasyans foreign visits posed a threat to national security. The head noted he made only two foreign visits - to St. Petersburg and Latvia. Dozens of passengers on the Ryanair airlines Milan-Yerevan flight on Tuesday were denied boarding / registration on the plane, Passenger.am representative reported. According to the representative, a similar situation was due to the poor organization of the flight. As co-founder and director of Passenger.am Vaner Harutyunyan noted, "Ryanair offered to use the Rome flight a few days later, whereas they were required to arrange the transfer to Armenia within two hours. As he noted, various people have tried to return at their own expense. A 32-year-old undertrial prisoner allegedly committed suicide at the Bishalgarh central jail in Tripura's Sipahijala district, police said on Wednesday. Assistant Inspector General of Police (Law and order), Subrata Chakraborty said Sanjib Sarkar allegedly committed suicide by hanging from a ventilator in the jail on Tuesday. The prison authorities informed us about the matter. "We are investigating the case. The body has been sent to Agartala Government Medical College Hospital for postmortem," the AIGP said. Chakraborty said Sarkar, resident of Gourangtilla village in West Tripura district was arrested by police on August 26, 2019, on the charge of attempt to murder a person and was in the jail since then. The opposition CPI(M) on Wednesday demanded a high- level inquiry into the unnatural death of an undertrial prisoner in the Bishalgarh jail. "How can an undertrial prisoner commit suicide in the jail, when other people were present and the deceased was not alone. We demand a high-level inquiry into the incident", a press statement issued by CPI(M) said on Wednesday. "The state human rights commission ... should suo-moto register a case and order an inquiry", the statement added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 13:51:22|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close SUVA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Fiji's Ministry of Fisheries will conduct a nationwide assessment of sea cucumber this year, to see whether the population has increased following a ban on harvest in 2017. Sea cucumbers are one of the oldest traded commodities in Fiji, dating back more than 200 years. Due to their high economic value, sea cucumbers have been heavily exploited in Fiji over the past two decades, as they have in many other Pacific island countries. According to Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) on Wednesday, Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama made the comment while addressing villages in Vanua Levu, Fiji's second largest island. Bainimarama told villagers that a nationwide assessment on sea cucumber stock will be conducted soon, to see whether stocks have increased as a result of the ban to improve food security. Following the stock assessment, the Ministry of Fisheries will then determine the most sustainable system of harvest and consumption to ensure they are not put at risk. The decision to ban the harvest of sea cucumbers was based on a research which showed that its stock has reached critical level and would become extinct if nothing was done. The 2017 report on Fiji's sea cucumber fishery states that between 1998 and 2012, Fiji was the second largest exporter of sea cucumbers in the Pacific, and sea cucumber was the second-most valuable commodity, after tuna. Fiji's Ministry of Fisheries together with the Wildlife Conservation Society compiled a comprehensive report to summarize the latest science on the sea cucumber fishery in Fiji since 2013, and recommended key management measures to control its over exploitation. 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: 2 Indian flights set to bring back Indian nationals from Hubei India pti-PTI New Delhi, Jan 29: India is set to operate two flights to bring back its nationals from China's Hubei Province, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the Chinese government has been requested for permission to operate these two flights. He said the Indian Embassy in Beijing is in touch with Chinese authorities on the ground to work out necessary logistics. Kumar also shared the appeal of the Indian Embassy in China to all Indian citizens in Hubei who have not yet contacted the mission to do so on the given hotlines or dedicated email ID. Coronavirus Scare: IndiGo, Air India suspend flights between India and China The disease which emerged in Wuhan, capital of China's Hubei Province, has spread to at least 17 countries, with the United Arab Emirates announcing on Wednesday its first case of the new coronavirus in a family from Wuhan. The death toll from the disease in China has mounted to 132 with about 6,000 confirmed infections. India on Tuesday started preparations to evacuate over 250 of its nationals, mostly students, research scholars and professionals, stuck in Hubei province. They are working in Indian and international companies in the province. GLENS FALLS A Glens Falls progressive activist has started a petition, calling on city police to enforce the disorderly conduct law on aggressive protesters downtown who she says have interfered with her right to demonstrate. Agata Stanford started the petition on MoveOn.org, because she is concerned with the latest revisions to the citys demonstrations law. That revision would reduce the distance that protesters and counterprotesters have to stay from each other from 30 feet to 8 feet. Its spitting space and 8 feet is insufficient. We went to the city to ask for there to be some safety measures put in and now its being reverted, she said. The city changed the distance upon the recommendation of the New York Civil Liberties Union, which said that 8 feet was a standard that holds up in court. The New York Civil Liberties Union was concerned the previous version of the law was overreaching. Stanford said progressive activists have been confronted by supporters of President Donald Trump at their gatherings. She said the Trump supporters have engaged in threatening behavior. During these events, members of the pro-Trump groups have shouted through megaphones, followed the anti-Trump demonstrators and gotten within inches of the anti-Trump group and yelled. We just dont want another Charlottesville, she said referring to the 2017 incident in Virginia where a demonstrator was killed after James Allen Fields Jr. deliberately drove his car through a crowd of anti-racism protesters. All she wants is for the police to enforce the law against disorderly conduct, she said. Its disrupting a peaceful assembly. Its using foul language, screaming obscenities, making unnecessary loud and obnoxious noises and generally having no real purpose to do this. Its all there. The police have everything they need, she said. New York Penal Law 240.20 states that a person violates the law if they engage in fighting or in violent, tumultuous or threatening behavior; makes unreasonable noise; uses abusive or obscene language or makes an obscene gesture in public; disturbs any lawful assembly or meeting of persons; obstructs vehicular or pedestrian traffic; congregates with other persons in a public place and refuses to comply with a lawful order of the police to disperse; or creates a hazardous or physically offensive condition by any act which serves no legitimate purpose. I think the only thing that has to be done now is enforce the darn law thats there and stop making excuses, she said. Stanford said she believes the council has had to back off, because there is a concern the NYCLU would sue the city if the regulations were too restrictive. The progressive groups brought up similar concerns with city officials a few months ago. Stanford said police told them they do not make arrests because the district attorney would not prosecute. Glens Falls Police Chief Anthony Lydon did not return a message left for comment Wednesday morning. Warren County District Attorney Jason Carusone was out of the office Wednesday and not available for comment. The online petition had 171 signatures as of late Wednesday morning. Stanford said she had 60 signatures on hard copies as of Tuesday evening. City responds Mayor Dan Hall reiterated that keeping the protesters and counterprotesters separated by 8 feet came from the NYCLU, which said that standard has held up in the U.S. Supreme Court. Councilwoman-at-Large Jane Reid was not aware of the petition calling on the city to enforce the disorderly conduct law statute until it was brought to her attention on Tuesday night. She said it is up to the law enforcement officers discretion whether to make an arrest. There is a difference of opinion as to whether the law is being violated, she said. Reid said the city is trying to get a handle on noise issues separate from this demonstrations law. Hall is researching decibel-reading technologies and handheld devices to measure noise. That way, the city has something upon which to base complaints about noise, whether from protesters or other loud events. The Common Council did not discuss the latest revisions to the protest law at its meeting on Tuesday, but voted to set a public hearing for Feb. 11 at 7:20 p.m. on the revised regulations. The other major change to the law was to more clearly spell out the process for obtaining a demonstration permit. It would apply to groups of more than 25 people. The application must describe the date, time, location, name of the organization, approximate number of people expected to participate and the applicants phone number, according to the new draft. Bill Bombard, of the Friends Who Support President Trump, said he is concerned about the regulation regarding the number of people attending a rally. While having more than 25 (people) show would be a good rally for us, we do not always know how many will actually show, he said. The proposed law does not specify how much notice is required. He asked what would happen if uninvited persons or groups show up at these events. Do the police have an official duty to ask those uninvited persons or groups to leave? he asked. American Patriots Express co-founder Dave Van Scoy said he had no comment on the regulations. Mike Kibling, of the North Country Deplorables, did not return an email seeking comment on the latest revisions. Both represent pro-Trump groups. Reach Michael Goot at 518-742-3320 or mgoot@poststar.com and follow his blog poststar.com/blogs/michael_goot/. Love 4 Funny 5 Wow 2 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. Jerusalem will remain Israel's 'undivided' capital, United States President Donald Trump said as he unveiled the long-anticipated Middle East plan alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. IMAGE: US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a joint news conference to discuss a new Middle East peace plan proposal in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters The plan, which was three years in the making, offers a path towards a two-state solution and presents a "contiguous" territory for a Palestinian state, the US president said. The Middle East plan unveiled by Trump proposes for the creation of a Palestinian state with a capital in eastern Jerusalem and with double the territory currently under their control. At the same time, under the plan, the US would recognise Israeli sovereignty over its settlement in West Bank area, with Jerusalem remaining the undivided capital of Israel. "No Palestinians or Israelis will be uprooted from their homes" as part of the US plan, Trump said, as cited by the Times of Israel. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rejected the Middle East plan unveiled by US President Donald Trump today, remarking that his people's rights are "not for sale". IMAGE: Protesters gather to protest against US President Donald Trump's proposed Middle East peace plan, near the US Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Photograph: Kemal Aslan/Reuters Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a televised address from Ramallah said, "I say to Trump and (Isreali Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu: Jerusalem is not for sale, all our rights are not for sale and are not for bargain. And your deal, the conspiracy, will not pass. In his address, Abbas said that Palestine "would not kneel" and resist the plan through "peaceful, popular means". Palestinians also took to social media to slam the deal, with many dubbing it as "slap of the century" (in reference to the US President calling it 'deal of the century'). Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif also called the Middle East plan a "nightmare for the region". "The so-called 'Vision for Peace' is simply the dream project of a bankruptcy-ridden real estate developer. But it is a nightmare for the region and the world," Zarif tweeted, adding "hopefully, a wake-up call for all the Muslims who have been barking up the wrong tree. Competitive market conditions have necessitated strategic cost savings according to a statement issued by Standex, the company that is making 26 workers redundant in Mountmellick. Kevin Egan is General Manager at the firm which has two facilities in the Laois town. "Today, Standex Ireland advised staff at its Acragar facility that, due to competitive market conditions that have necessitated strategic cost savings at each of its global manufacturing sites, Standex Ireland is considering ceasing rotor production at the Acragar facility. Staff working in the pump assembly part of Standexs business in Ireland are not affected by this announcement. "We understand the impact of this potential action on our employees and the local community. We will be consulting with impacted staff and their union representatives and making every effort to try and mitigate as much as possible the impact on our employees. "Regardless of any ultimate changes in Acragar, Standex will maintain a presence in Mountmellick, Co. Laois and will continue to operate pump assembly in Mountmellick," he said. The statement did not say how many jobs are to go but SIPTU says 26 workers will be out of work. The company employ 60 staff in the Laois town. Most of the workers live in the town but some of the employees live in Portlaoise, Portarlington, Tullamore and surrounding areas. Workers who will lose their jobs described the decision as a brutal shock. READ MORE. The trade union SIPTU said it has entered into negotiations with the company. READ MOREY The company has been based in Mountmellick since 1978. Speaking about the 40th anniversary of in 2018 IDA chief executive Martin Shanahan said Standex was a fantastic example and wished them continued growth. READ MORE The announcement is an economic body blow to the town which was once described as the Manchester of Ireland due to the number of factories located there. YEREVAN. It consider strange see yesterdays detaining of Veto initiative leader Narek Malyan, Adekvad initiative members Konstantin Ter-Nakalyan and Artur Danielyan, as well as "Civil Consciousness" NGO head Narek Samsonyan. Iveta Tonoyan, a member of the opposition Prosperous Armenia parliamentary faction and press secretary of Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukyan, said this during the briefing in the National Assembly on January 29. According to her, all actions should be taken within the legal framework, regardless of whom they are applied to. For his part, Prosperous Armenia parliamentary faction secretary Arman Abovyan noted that any action against people should be substantiated. The aforesaid opposition activists were detained yesterday on suspicion of possessing and carrying illegal weapons and ammunition, but were later released. 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... SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) A homicide suspect, accused of killing a 20-year-old man whose body was found badly burned on San Francisco's Treasure Island earlier this month, made his first court appearance Tuesday. Danilo Barraza, 21, has been charged with murder in connection with the death of Amir Alkhraisat, a San Francisco native and former Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory student. Alkhraisat's body was found on Jan. 18 on the island, in a desolate bunker, more than a week after his family reported him missing. His body was "burned beyond recognition," prosecutors said. During his Tuesday arraignment, Barraza did not enter a plea and the matter was put over for Wednesday afternoon. Barraza remains jailed without bail and, if convicted, he could face a maximum of 50 years in prison. According to court documents, Alkhraisat's family reported him missing on Jan. 9, telling police they hadn't seen him in two days. During the investigation into his disappearance, investigators learned Alkhraisat was last seen on Jan. 8 with Barraza in the 800 block of Hampshire Street, in the city's Mission District, court documents said. When officers spoke to Barraza, he admitted to being with Alkhraisat on Jan. 8 and said they both had left a friend's house that day on Hampshire Street and then headed to an Oakland restaurant in a black Mazda, which Barraza had rented via a mobile phone app. Barraza said afterward, while he was driving the Mazda, Alkhraisat received a phone call that appeared to upset him and Alkhraisat asked Barraza to drop him off near Ninth and Bryant streets. After dropping him off, Barraza said he then drove to a restaurant on Pier 30 alone, according to court documents. When investigators reviewed the victim's phone records, they learned Alkhraisat did not receive a phone call around the time Barraza claimed he did. The records also apparently showed the phone had been turned off since the afternoon of Jan. 8. When investigators contacted the rental car's owner, they confirmed Barraza rented the Mazda on Jan. 7 and returned it on Jan. 9. They also learned Barraza had replaced the vehicle's rear passenger window before returning it. During a search of the vehicle's interior, investigators saw what appeared to be dried blood on the front passenger seat. San Francisco police crime scene investigators were then able to confirm the substance was indeed blood. Then on Jan. 18, officers learned of burned human remains found in a bunker on Treasure Island. At the scene, they discovered the body had been placed in a blue container and set on fire. The body was later identified as Alkhraisat. On his body, officers found a gold watch, a ring and a necklace, all similar to items Alkhraisat was last seen wearing. Additionally, at the scene, investigators found a bullet underneath Alkhraisat's head. Using surveillance footage from multiple sources, officers confirmed Barraza and Alkhraisat did in fact leave the 800 block of Hampshire Street together on Jan. 8, and headed east on the Bay Bridge. The vehicle then exited at the Treasure Island exit. Once on the island, video footage showed the Mazda headed north on Clipper Cove Way toward the crime scene, court documents said. About 30 minutes later, the Mazda traveled away from the crime scene before stopping at a convenience store on Avenue of the Palms. During this time, the rear passenger window appeared to be broken. After buying paper towels and Windex at the store, Barraza can then be seen going into and out of the passenger side for about 11 minutes. Afterward, Barraza, who appears to now be the sole occupant of the Mazda, drives back onto the Bay Bridge and heads back to San Francisco, according to court documents. On Jan. 23, officers monitoring Barraza noticed him leave his house with two bags and head to San Francisco International Airport. Once at the airport's international terminal, officers arrested him. While in custody, Barraza allegedly told officers his home had been burglarized repeatedly, with his guns having been stolen. He said he believed someone close to him was responsible. While Barraza maintained that he dropped Alkhraisat at Ninth and Bryant streets, he apparently admitted to police he did drive to Treasure Island on Jan. 8 and apparently said he had bought paper towels and Windex that night to clean up bird feces from his windshield. He also said he replaced the rear passenger window of the Mazda and had cleaned up ketchup from inside the vehicle, court documents said. Although investigators were able to obtain the Mazda's GPS tracking, which confirmed the Mazda's movements as seen on surveillance videos, Barraza maintained he did not kill Alkhraisat, according to court documents. 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. The cinema last year provided a wealth of different designsfrom the muddy trenches, endless battlefields, and burned-out villages of World War I England; to the modernist, secret-filled home of a wealthy Korean family; to the ornate, baroque villages of 30s Germany set against a backdrop of Nazi propaganda; the Hollywood of the 60s, where nostalgia and pop culture reigned supreme; and finally, to gangster haunts as seen over five decades. Comprising this years Oscar nominees for achievement in production design, talented production designers and set decorators from 1917, Parasite, Jojo Rabbit, Once Upon a Timein Hollywood, and The Irishman will vie for the coveted trophy (and not surprisingly, all five films are up for best picture as well). Cinephiles should tune in to the 92nd Academy Awards telecast on ABC on Sunday, February 9, at 8 p.m. ET to see the winners, but until then, AD looks back on the bits of movie magic that earned these flicks a nomination. Once Upon a Timein Hollywood Barbara Ling, Production Design Nancy Haigh, Set Decoration 2488029 - ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD Photo: Andrew Cooper Hollywood in 1969 formed the backdrop of writer-director Quentin Tarantinos Once Upon a Timein Hollywood, which portrays the lives of a fading cowboy star Rick Dalton (Leo DiCaprio), his sidekick/stunt double (Brad Pitt), and his neighbor Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie). The film is Tarantinos time machine ride to the places he remembered from his childhood growing up in Los Angeles, from the iconic Cinerama Dome and Musso & Franks on Hollywood Boulevard to the studio western back lots and the set of the 60s variety show Hullabaloo. Designer Barbara Ling (who also grew up in Los Angeles) took her cues from the director, and they share a sense of nostalgia and pop culture. Its Quentins love letter to the city he grew up in, she says, Being an absolute movie encyclopedia, Quentin ran films like The Wrecking Crew, Valley of the Dolls, and Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice at his move theater once a week for us. Story continues Working with set decorator Nancy Haigh, they created some 150 sets, including the Playboy Mansion, Tate and Daltons Hollywood Hills midcentury houses, as well as the Manson Familys home at the now-defunct Spahn Movie Ranch. Tarantino even provided memorabilia from his vast collection for Daltons ranch-style house. Quentin has this very rare, magnificent film-poster collection which we used for the decor, Ling notes. He had very specific pieces and put out his own personal decorations such as the Hopalong Cassidy cup. The Irishman Bob Shaw, Production Design Regina Graves, Set Decoration Photo: Niko Tavernise Nominated for 10 Oscars, Martin Scorseses epic tour de force crime saga The Irishman features nostalgia and period-perfect interiors on full display. It tells the tale of underworld boss Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci), mob hitman Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro), and Teamsters head Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino). The films sets were created by two-time Emmy-winning production designer Bob Shaw (no stranger to the gangster genre, he previously worked on the HBO series The Sopranos) and Emmy-winning set decorator Regina Graves (The Knick), who were recognized for their spot-on period work. Spanning five decades beginning with the 50s, 295 filming locations depict Washington, D.C., Miami Beach, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey. Key sets include the mob-favorite Philadelphia eatery Villa di Roma, where deals were made over Chianti and pasta. There is no mob romance with the Villa di Roma, notes Shaw, Marty [Scorsese] wanted to find a real restaurant that had the feeling and smell of tomato sauce in the floorboards. Since filming in a restaurant was not possible, we were trying to do as many things to make it feel authentic, things that are not perfect but correct. The designers also built hotel rooms from the ground up at the Marcy Avenue Armory in Brooklyn. Influenced by the 1959 Doris Day/Rock Hudson romp, Pillow Talk, the Armory served as the site of Miami Beachs midcentury marvel the Fontainebleau hotel, as well as a 70s-era classic suite in the nations capital where Hoffa stays after his release from prison. We kept it very traditional, classic, and presidential, with a George Washington painting hanging over the bed, says Graves of the latter room. Jojo Rabbit Ra Vincent, Production Design Nora Sopkova, Set Decoration Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures Set in Germany during World War II, the quirky satire Jojo Rabbit centers around a young 10-year-old member of the Hitler Youth brigade, his stylish resistance-fighting mom Rosie (Scarlett Johansson), and the unlikeliest of characters, his imaginary friend Adolf Hitler. In the film, designed by Ra Vincent, the Czech Republic doubled for Nazi Germany, and Vincent went with a different color-and-style approach from most other movies with this setting. Germany in the 1930s was this vibrant country, and society was in its artistic zenith, says the New Zealandborn designer. Were also dealing with a child who has the fondest aspirations for his world. He just happens to be indoctrinated into believing this falsehood that his people are the greatest. Working with set decorator Nora Sopkova, they constructed the familys home on a soundstage at Pragues Barrandov Studios to reflect Rosies colorful personality. The concept was that Rosie and her husband were not extremely wealthy but wealthy enough to have a three-bedroom house, Vincent says. And they had renovated the old baroque into a specific Art Deco style from the 1930s. Touches of Bauhaus and Surrealism also mix with period-accurate Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, and Victorian furnishings, antiques, and lighting. 1917 Dennis Gassner, Production Design Lee Sandales, Set Decoration 1917 (2019) Photo: Francois Duhamel / Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures After receiving an email from director Sam Mendes that read, Dont do the Bond filmI have a filmvery ambitious. Sending script, Oscar-winning (and six-time nominee) production designer Dennis Gassner signed on to one of the hardest projects he has ever designed. Based on a story told by the directors grandfather, the Golden Globewinning World War I epic 1917 deals with the story of two British soldiers whose mission is to deliver a letter that prevents the slaughter of 1,700 men by the Germans. Its the kind of dream that came from such an interesting place as Sam Mendess grandfathers stories that were told to Sam in a very eloquent manner. I thought, What was the journey like from a young boy who was 17 years old and given the assignment to take a message to save 1,700 men? Designing it became an out-of-body experience, Gassner says. Filming the rigors of war in a series of long takes was just one of the many challenges the Canadian designer faced. We choreographed the shots inch by inch, and time was our enemy, Gassner says, It was like we were designing the war metaphorically. The chill and snow of the English winters, building trenches in the mud, not knowing what lay underneath (We wanted to make sure Stonehenge was not under there, he muses) were just a few of the many ordeals. Becoming an expert in trench design, they created mini living areas every 1015 feet for the soldiers. War-torn villages complete with a burned-out church and 150 buildings designed in 3D modeling were re-created on the back lots of Londons Shepperton Studios. Parasite Lee Ha-jun, Production Design Cho Won-woo, Set Decoration Photo: 2019 CJ ENM CORPORATION, BARUNSON E&A ALL RIGHTS RESERVED With one of the most talked-about cinematic houses of the past year, its no wonder that director Bong Joon Hos Parasite received a nomination in the production-design category (along with the Cannes Film Festivals Palme dOr). The dark comedy/thriller features a poor family who ingratiates themselves with the wealthy Park family and gradually takes over their lives. Production designer Lee Ha-jun designed the modern home on an outdoor lot at the studio from scratch (so real-looking that audiences and filmmakers alike are amazed its fake), crediting a fictional architect named Namgoong Hyeonja in the film. Designing a house for a film and one for living in are often two different disciplines, with critical considerations for shootingmost glass is reflective after alland wide spaces to accommodate cameras and other equipment. We had to consider the cinematic factors but also had to create a house so real that the audience could accept the idea the characters were actually living in it, Lee says. With its modern silhouettes, judicious use of wood and glass coupled with minimalist character-personifying furnishings and secret spaces, the house sets the stage for fear, intrigue, and the films plot twist. Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest The government's advisors issued a report on immigration. Photo: Oli Scarff/Getty Images Britain should keep a controversial salary cap on migrants arriving to fill jobs in the UK, according to a review carried out for the UK government. But the migration advisory committee urged prime minister Boris Johnsons administration to lower the minimum pay threshold from 30,000 to 25,600 for medium- and high-skilled migrants with job offers. A report published by the committee on Tuesday said a cap would stop employers hiring some migrants simply because they are cheaper, but backed lowering the threshold after lobbying by firms. It also set out how a points-based system for migrants without jobs could work. An Australia-style system was one of Johnsons key election pledges, in a bid to ease public anger over migration reflected in the Brexit vote. READ MORE: Firms still fear staff shortages and red tape despite lower salary cap A spokesman for the prime minister said he would carefully consider the report before unveiling the governments final plans. The committee warned the changes overall could hit GDP growth, but could also improve productivity and reduce pressure on the NHS, schools, and social housing. Professor Alan Manning, chair of the committee, said the reforms meant a more open system for non-EU applicants but said the biggest impact would be a more restrictive system for EU migrants. He said at a press conference in London that much of the low-skilled migration from eastern and central European countries that joined the EU in 2004 was the kind that would no longer be eligible. He admitted the risk does go up of people smuggling, after Yahoo Finance UK asked about another government advisers concerns more EU migrants could look for illegal ways to enter the UK. A 25,600 salary cap for migrants with jobs Prime minister Boris Johnson commissioned a report on Britain's immigration system. Photo: PA Dozens of UK business groups had written to the UK government last week arguing for a much lower minimum salary of around 20,000. Some firms fear staff shortages particularly in low-skilled jobs as EU free movement comes to an end, with EU nationals set to face the same entry bars as non-EU migrants. Story continues The report said most employers surveyed were opposed to salary thresholds, as it could add to costs and make running businesses harder. But the committee backed the salary rules in spite of recent government briefings suggesting they could be scrapped, and said the UK should maintain even higher thresholds for better-paid occupations. London should not have a higher threshold and there should be no regional variation, it said. READ MORE: Government tsar warns EU migration curbs could fuel people smuggling Manning wrote in the foreword: Salary thresholds prevent undercutting in the labour market, ensuring that employers are not hiring migrants simply because they are cheaper. It also said the threshold would ensure migrants paid enough taxes to improve the public finances, and would help transform the UK into a high-wage, high-skill, high-productivity economy. Teachers, skilled NHS workers, and new entrants should continue to benefit from lower salary thresholds, according to the report. But Labour shadow home secretary Diane Abbott warned: Even a lower salary cap wont help recruit the hospital staff we need, the social care workers or many of the new recruits to private businesses. A points-based system for migrants without jobs The committee also fleshed out the options for a points-based system for migrants without jobs, which Johnson had promised to introduce. It said applicants should receive more points for the types of migrants the government wants to encourage, such as those qualified in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. READ MORE: Adopt business-friendly immigration policies, businesses say It also backed points for applicants in creative fields, and said the government should reward exceptional promise and not just exceptional talent. But it said overall numbers should be capped. The points-based system should replace the current tier 1 visa for exceptional talent, the panel said, which currently set the bar far too high and had only 600 applicants last year. How it could affect the UK economy and public services NHS pressures could ease from lower migrant numbers, according to government advisers. The report said the skill threshold could have mixed impacts on the UK economy compared to continued free movement. It admitted: No system for picking winners will be perfect and there will inevitably be some admitted on those routes where promise does not deliver. Manning added that skill and salary thresholds were likely to reduce future growth of both the population and the economy. But he added: We estimate very small increases in GDP per capita and productivity, slightly improved public finances, slightly reduced pressures on the NHS, schools and on social housing, though slightly increased pressure on social care. The committee was only asked to report on a points-based system and salary cap, but said the government could separately consider a temporary work route for lower-skilled workers. Businesses had called for a two-year transition to prepare for any reforms, but the government plans to launch them in January 2021. Manning said some of the changes were deliverable by that date, but others could prove more complex. A Number 10 spokesman said: The government will introduce a firmer and fairer points-based immigration system from 2021 that welcomes talent from around the world while reducing low-skilled migrants and bringing overall numbers down. READ MORE: Attitudes to immigration change easily and rapidly among voters Major banks Citibank, HSBC and Barclay's in London's Canary Wharf financial district. Photo: Toby Melville/Reuters Banks have paid upwards of $36bn (28bn) in fines since the 2008 financial crisis, with penalties swelling to almost $10bn in 2019 alone. Some 12 of the worlds top 50 banks were penalised last year, according to data compiled by regulatory technology firm Fenergo. Swiss banks were the worst offenders in 2019, thanks to the $5bn (3.8bn) in fines and damages handed to UBS (UBS) for helping French clients evade tax authorities. Italian banks, meanwhile, racked up $1.5bn in total fines for sanctions violations and breaches of the EUs GDPR privacy regulation, Fenergo said on Wednesday. The vast majority of fines issued by US authorities targeted European banks for anti-money laundering breaches and violations of economic sanctions with countries such as Iran, North Korea, and Libya. In late 2018, Frances Societe Generale (GLE.PA) agreed to pay more than $1.3bn in penalties for processing and concealing transactions with countries that were under sanction. Over the 10-year period between 2003 and 2013, the bank engaged in thousands of transactions involving parties in Iran, Cuba, and Sudan, in violation of US sanctions. Fenergo pointed to heightened geopolitical tensions as an explanation for the rise in fines in 2019. Some 86% of fines issued by US authorities since the firms 2018 report were for sanctions violations, it said. The US introduced new sanctions against Iran in November 2018, months after US president Donald Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal. Trump in September 2019 told his treasury department to increase sanctions on the country. Financial institutions are required to be vigilant in identifying sanctioned entities and individuals through robust screening processes, Fenergo said. One of the more notorious fines in the past decade was levied on HSBC, which the US justice department said was used to launder $880m in money between a Mexican and Colombian drug cartel. HSBC (HSBC.L) agreed to pay a record $1.92bn in fines to US authorities following the scandal. Story continues Financial institutions were meanwhile fined a further $82.7m in 2019 for data privacy breaches and violations of the EUs markets in financial instruments directive, which is designed to increase transparency in the investment industry. 2019 was another record year for fines, the second-biggest in history, and 2020 is shaping up to be a very busy year in this space, said Laura Glynn, the global compliance and regulatory director of Fenergo. Rachel Wooley of Fenergo said that many of the institutions penalised in 2019 for money laundering-related activities lacked appropriate systems and compliance infrastructures that are necessary to identify and address areas of high risk. A person was arrested with methamphetamine, a party drug, worth Rs 7.48 lakh here in Maharashtra, police saidon Wednesday. The accused, Sharif Abdul Latif, 27, was nabbed by officials of the Thane police's Crime Branch at Kalyan Phata on Tuesday, they said. As many as 499 tablets of methamphetamine, weighing 51 gms and valued at Rs 7.48 lakh, were seized from him, the police said in a release here. Latif has been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sharjeel Imam was booked for sedition for his controversial 'cut off Assam from India' remark New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday sent Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Sharjeel Imam to five-day custody under Delhi Police Crime Branch. Earlier in the day, Imam, who was arrested from Bihar's Jehanabad was brought to Delhi. The JNU scholar, who was booked for sedition for his provocative speeches had stoked controversy with his "cut off Assam from India" remark. He has been slapped with charges of sedition and inciting enmity between communities under Sections 124A, 153A and 505 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Separately, a case has been registered against the JNU student by the Uttar Pradesh Police for his controversial speech delivered during the students' protest at Aligarh Muslim University against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) on 16 January. A series of videos have gone viral on social media in which Sharjeel is heard saying: "If we all come together, then we can separate the Northeast from India. If we cannotdo it permanently, then at least for one to two months, we can do this." "It is our responsibility to cut Assam from India. When this happens, only then the government will listen to us," he is heard saying further in the video. President Donald Trump speaks at an evening Keep America Great Rally at the Wildwood Convention Center on January 28, 2020 in Wildwood, New Jersey. WILDWOOD, N.J. President Donald Trump, during a raucous campaign rally in blue state New Jersey, praised Rep. Jeff Van Drew, the newest Republican in Congress, and denounced Democrats' impeachment efforts. Trump talked up the ex-Democratic lawmaker on Tuesday night for voting against both articles of impeachment in the House. A day before the vote, Van Drew announced he was joining the GOP and that Trump had his "undying support." In response, Trump had vowed to endorse Van Drew, who before switching parties was reportedly facing a tough Democratic primary battle. During his visit to the beach resort town of Wildwood in Van Drew's Republican-leaning district, Trump depicted Van Drew as a symbol for Democratic dissatisfaction with party leadership. "What he did was incredible," Trump said, drawing massive applause from the Wildwoods Convention Center. Trump, once a casino magnate about 45 minutes north of here in Atlantic City, spoke for just over an hour in the jam-packed convention hall. Thousands of people waited outside in the frigid weather for much longer some for days, local outlets reported to be let inside the arena, which held roughly 7,500 people. "Americans of all political beliefs are sick and tired" of the Democrats, Trump said, citing as evidence some recent national polls showing his approval slightly higher since the impeachment proceedings began. "Voters are making a mass exodus from that party and we are welcoming them to that party," the president claimed. Before the rally, Trump campaign spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany told CNBC that Van Drew is "a model for what we think is going on all around the country." New Jersey is among the few solid-blue states in which Trump has held a 2020 campaign rally. Hillary Clinton, Trump's Democratic opponent in the 2016 presidential contest, beat Trump in New Jersey by about 14 percentage points. And after the so-called blue-wave midterm elections in 2018, the state was represented entirely by Democrats save for one district. That wave washed over the state's 2nd District with the election of Van Drew. He ran as a moderate Democrat and unseated the Republican incumbent in his party's first victory there in years. While Trump railed against the Democrats who want him removed from office, his impeachment trial raged on in the Senate. House Democrats launched the impeachment inquiry following a whistleblower's complaint about Trump's July 25 call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Trump in that call asked Zelenskiy to "look into" former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter, as well as a debunked conspiracy theory about Ukraine, not Russia, interfering in the 2016 election. Democrats accuse Trump of withholding congressionally appropriated military aid in order to pressure the foreign leader to smear Trump's possible 2020 rival by announcing probes into the Bidens, and then stonewalling Congress' investigation into the matter. Trump has denied all wrongdoing. Trump's defense team completed their opening statements Tuesday afternoon, wrapping up a series of arguments to convince the Republican-led Senate to acquit the president of the two impeachment charges against him. They took less overall time than the Democratic House impeachment managers, led by Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., to present their arguments. Senators say they expect a vote in the chamber Friday on whether to bring additional witnesses and documents in the trial. Correction: An earlier version misstated the date of the Trump-Zelenskiy phone call. It was July 25. Thomas Valva died last week after being made to spend the night in a freezing garage. The eight-year-old suffered hypothermia New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has said the NYPD police officer who is accused of beating his autistic son and leaving him to freeze to death in his Long Island garage 'should burn in hell'. De Blasio said that he was disgusted when he learned of what happened to eight-year-old Thomas Valva. Officer Michael Valva, 40, is facing murder charges for the death of his son. 'When all the facts are proven, this is someone who should burn in hell,' de Blasio said. 'It's disgusting, it's incredibly troubling.' Officer Valva was charged with murder along with his fiancee, Angela Pollina, 42, one week after the child was found dead in Center Moriches, Long Island on January 17. Emergency responders found the boy in the driveway of 11 Bittersweet Lane and rushed him to Long Island Community Hospital where he later died. Valva had initially reported that Thomas had been killed after suffering a fatal fall. Mayor Bill de Blasio said the veteran NYPD cop accused of torturing his autistic 8-year-old son, leaving him to freeze to death 'should burn in hell' The Suffolk County Medical Examiner later discovered Thomas had died from hypothermia after being locked in a freezing garage overnight and the officer's story over his son's head injuries did not make sense. Officer Valva had been with the NYPD since 2005 and has been suspended. 'I don't understand how any human being does that to a child,' de Blasio said. 'I especially don't understand how a sworn officer does that.' Social services are now under investigation in connection with the boy's death after it emerged that there were years of claims from his mother that he was being abused. Mike Valva (left) and Angela Pollina (right) are being held on murder charges for the young boy's death. They taunted him as he froze to death in their garage Thomas' mother Justyna had regularly reported her concerns to child services but her son was allowed to carry on living with his father On the night Thomas died, it's believed the youngster lost consciousness after being forced into a frigid garage without any bedding by his father, Mike, and his fiancee. Questions have turned to why the pair were allowed to look after him after his mother and teachers made repeated allegations of abuse. The boy was taken away from his mother, Justyna Zubko-Valva, who is a Rikers Island correctional guard, when she and his father divorced. It is not clear what specific reason the judge used for putting them in Valva's care but Justyna has suggested it is because she is a Polish migrant and was on the back-foot during their custody case because she did not have a lawyer. Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said on Monday night that he would launch an investigation into how her complaints were handled. Thomas was one of six children in Mike and Angela's care who are no longer living at the home 'As a parent, I am horrified by what happened to this beautiful boy. 'As county executive, I want to know if there is anything else that could have been done under existing law to prevent this from happening. 'Beyond that, I want to know if anything in this case suggests that changes should be made to existing policy or law,' he said. After news of her son's death emerged last week, Justyna wrote on Twitter: 'I want to personally thank each one of you for love and support towards me and my children. 'I am still extremely heartbroken, and devastated over the cruel and tragic death of my little angel Thomas that could have been preventable. 'Please continue keeping us in your prayers.' Since 2018, she has been publicly accusing Valva of abusing their boys on a Twitter page where she showed videos of them telling her they had been told to hate her. The videos also showed the boys saying they were scared they were going to be put 'outside' by their father. Teachers also reported their concerns to Justyna. Letters from school psychologists and teachers paint a worrying picture of the boys' life Another teacher wrote a letter laying out her concerns for Thomas and his brother They claimed in letters to her that the boys showed up at school hungry, dirty and sometimes in urine-soaked clothes. Justyna reported her concerns but nothing was done to take the boys away from their father. Her last tweet before that was in November 2018, when she wrote ominously: 'I don't even know if my children are alive at this point.' According to police, cameras and microphones that had been set up in Mike Valva's home captured audio of him and Angela taunting Thomas as he froze to death. They sniggered 'he's hypothermic' and laughed when he 'face-planted' the floor. Pollina remarked: 'You know why he's falling?' to which Valva replied: 'Because he's cold.... boo f*****g hoo'. Fzptluxi.yihfeng.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 17 Jan 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. The total number of people who shared the fzptluxi.yihfeng homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. The total number of people who shared the fzptluxi.yihfeng homepage on Delicious. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the fzptluxi.yihfeng homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if fzptluxi.yihfeng has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the fzptluxi.yihfeng homepage on StumbleUpon. 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Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND New Delhi, Jan 29 : Two members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and Rehab Foundation India (RFI) were questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday over the alleged funding of Rs 120 crore for the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in several parts of the country. According to the ED officials, PFI's state president Mohammed Parvez Ahmed and RFI's Shahid Abu Bakr appeared for questioning at the financial probe agency's headquarters in south Delhi's Khan market area. The ED has served summons to the PFI and RFI offices located in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh and Jamia area on Monday. The ED official said that they will be questioned about the funds received in the bank accounts of these organisations through cash transactions and through NEGT or IMPS mode of transaction. The official further said that the agency will also question them about when and why the amounts to the tune of Rs 120 crore was transferred to the associate branches of the organisations in last one month, especially in several districts of western Uttar Pradesh like Bijnore, Hapur etc. The ED in its report to the Ministry of Home Affairs has informed that the PFI and RFI through its 73 bank accounts transferred money to the tune of Rs 120 crore to support anti-CAA and NRC protest across the country. The PFI and several other senior lawyers, have rejected the ED's charge. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A man convicted for a 1984 gang rape in Harlem was cleared of wrongdoing Tuesday by a Manhattan state Supreme Court judge. On four occasions, Rafael Ruiz recalled, he rejected offers from New York prosecutors to enter a guilty plea, according to a New York Times report. The woman told police at the time that a man named Ronnie had driven her to a public housing complex in East Harlem, the report said. She pointed them to an apartment where she remembered being taken to by Ronnie. It was discovered years later by attorneys reinvestigating the case that a man named Ronnie was staying with a woman directly across the hall from Ruiz at the time of the incident; the victim felt pressured by police to identify her attacker, and Ruiz DNA did not match evidence collected by police, the Times reported. Cases such as Ruizs are part of the motivation for Democratic state lawmakers to push through the bail reform law, of which certain aspects have come under fire by Republicans and Democrats alike. A section of the law mandates prosecutors turn over information to the defense, in an effort to prevent suspects from being wrongfully convicted. [January 29, 2020] Virtualitics Announces Release of VIP 2020 Virtualitics, Inc. - a leading data analytics company specializing in machine learning, artificial intelligence and 3D visualization - today announced the next major release of its flagship product, Virtualitics Immersive Platform (VIP). VIP 2020 enables users in a wide range of industries and government agencies to obtain actionable insights from complex data faster and with greater accuracy than they can with any other software on the market. The cornerstone feature of VIP 2020 is its "Network Graph" package. This capability allows users to automatically build interactive reports on trends, anomalies, and relationships living in your unstructured data. With our state-of-the-art algorithms, Virtualitics is able to render 3D visualizations of network graphs and compute insights that range from 10 to 100 times faster than other tools on the market. Ciro Donalek, CTO and co-founder of Virtualitics, said, "Working with unstructured data has been a pain point for business intelligence software users - until now. Virtualitics is the first software that offers a suite of analytics and visualization tools that are complete, easy-to-use and can render results in 3D. This translates into actionable insights within seconds." VIP 2020 offers additional upgrades designed to enhance and streamline the user experience for both desktop and Virtual Reality users. The software now includes a column calculator, full control over colors and playback for compelling story-tellig, tools to clean up data before running analyses and connectors to all major data sources. As a result of our patented technology, it delivers faster plotting, particularly for larger datasets. Further optimization and revised user interface make running machine learning routines easier for all users, regardless of their analytic background. The collaboration across desktop and VR allows multiple users to analyze data together in real time. "With VIP 2020, Virtualitics is revolutionizing the data analytics market," said Michael Amori, CEO and co-founder of Virtualitics. "Our Fortune 500 and government clients will continue to benefit from VIP's blend of features that emphasize innovation, usability and speed." For more information about Virtualitics or to request a free trial, please visit www.virtualitics.com. About Virtualitics Virtualitics, Inc. is a data analytics and visualization company based in Pasadena, California that merges artificial intelligence and virtual reality to gain intuitive insights from big and complex data. Its flagship product, VIP - Virtualitics Immersive Platform, is a state-of-the-art data analytics platform available to enterprise customers in both desktop and VR. It enables enterprises to easily uncover key actionable insights in their data through a combination of machine learning and advanced visualization. The patented technology is based on a decade of research at the California Institute of Technology and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Virtualitics also offers expert advisory services in machine learning, boasting a team of Caltech-trained data scientists, skilled software engineers, designers, and UX specialists. Included among the company's clients are Moody's, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), Daimler, U.S. Department of Defense, Nestle and University of Southern California. For more information and to request a free trial, please visit www.virtualitics.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005652/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Rampur district administration in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday dropped charges of murder and attempt to murder against 26 out of 34 people arrested during the protest against Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and National Register for Citizens (NRC) on December 21 last year. This comes days after a sessions court in Bijnor dropped charges of rioting and attempt to murder, and granted bail to the two accused arrested last month. In an application moved before the court here on Tuesday, the investigating officer, Amar Singh said no case under section 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of IPC could be made out against 26 out of the 34 arrested for the December 21 anti-CAA protest in the district in which one person was killed. In a separate application, however, Singh added that proceedings under remaining sections which include rioting, assault and damage to public property against the offenders would continue. I had already assured that while no innocent would be booked, we will not spare the guilty at any cost, said District Magistrate Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, adding that the entire investigation was done on the basis of evidence. Most of those arrested for the violence, were so far relying on police assurances that they would be released soon if they were found innocent, said the lawyer for the accused, Syed Amir Ali Miyan. Amir said he would move the bail application for at least six accused within a day or two. One protester, Faiz Khan, was killed during the anti-CAA protests on December 21 while 34 persons were arrested by the police for violence that erupted near Haathi Khana Crossing in the district headquarters of Rampur town. Twenty-four protestors were arrested under the Kotwali police station and they were charged under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly), 307 (attempt to murder), 302 (murder), 333 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter public servant), 353 (assault or criminal force) and sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984. Section 7 of the CLAA (Criminal Law Amendment Act) was also invoked against the protesters. Another 10 protesters were sent to jail by the Kotwali police station, under charges of rioting, assault on public servants and attempt to murder. The court, while allowed bail to the two accused arrested last month, had said that the police failed to provide any evidence to show that accused possessed weapons and indulged in firing and arson, or that police personnel sustained any bullet injury during the protests to substantiate the attempt to murder charge. Former director of the National Security Service of Armenia, 38-year-old Georgy Kutoyan, whose body was found with a gunshot wound on January 17 in his apartment, committed suicide for personal reasons, Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Armenia Hayk Grigoryan said. However, Carnegie ndowment in the article A Former Officials Unsettling Death Exposes Armenias Lasting Trauma does not exclude, that his death was violent. Found by his wife with a gunshot wound to his head, the thirty-eight-year old former security chief was once a rising star. Starting as an aide to former Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan, he rose to head the Armenian national security service until 2018, when the Armenian Velvet Revolution and subsequent swift collapse of Sargsyans government derailed his career. His untimely death has thrown back into public view the wide fissures and deep animosities in Armenian politics. After learning of Kutoyans death, some allies of the former government rushed to claim foul play. They have criticized current Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for allegedly not showing respect for the deceased or relaying condolences to his familycriticisms the Prime Minister (who unceremoniously fired Kutoyan in 2018) adamantly denies. In the eyes of the old regime, Pashinyans government is vindictive and unlikely to conduct a transparent investigation. This rush to judgment highlights the oppositions lack of trust in the governmenta long-standing problem, no matter who is running the country. Meanwhile, Armenian law enforcement initially claimed that Kutoyan took his own life. In a twist, however, investigators now wonder whether someone drove Kutoyan to kill himself. To make the case more puzzling, the apartment where Kutyoyans body was found was riddled with bullets. Law enforcement has a tough job ahead to determine what happened in a way that instills trust in the process. Kutoyan was not known to be under investigation by the Pashinyan government. He had been accused of taking documents related to the 2008 violent crackdown against the opposition when he left office, but there were no obvious repercussions for him. His death, however, occurred in a political context where former government officials struggle to reinvent themselves in the new Armenia and often find themselves under pressure by investigators, even if they are not formal targets for indictment. Another high-profile suicide by gunshot More troubling is the fact that former police chief Hayk Harutyunyan in September 2019 reportedly also killed himself, again with a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. Harutyunyan headed the police during the violent 2008 crackdown against the opposition, believed to have been ordered by then-president Robert Kocharyan. Harutyunyan was not indicted for his involvement in those events, unlike Kocharyan and several others. But before his death, Harutyunyan complained he was being pressured to provide false testimony against Kocharyan. Shots were fired on January 22 at the window of the judge, who was appointed by the previous government and has handed down rulings in several high-profile and politicized cases. On January 23, a gunman fired at the office building that houses Kocharyans office and several media outlets that are loyal to him. Beyond timing, it is unclear whether these two shooting incidents are related. Yet both are disturbing. Armenia's struggle to escape its past Over the past year, thugs have roughed up members of the former government, as well as liberal supporters of the new regime. Pressuring and outright beating up ones political opponents is not new in Armenia; Kocharian allies in September reportedly harassed the judge presiding over his trial. The country has a sad history of political violence. But the continuation of political violence in the Pashinyan era is troubling, as the Prime Minister admits. Troubling habits of the past linger in other ways too. Law enforcement at times still seems politically motivated. The Pashinyan government has failed to articulate a clear rationale for how it decides whom to target for prosecution from the old system. While prosecutors have gone after Kocharyan with a vengeance, former president Sargsyan remained unscathed for over 18 months until he was indicted for embezzlement in December 2019. Yet, Gagik Tsarukyan, Armenias richest oligarch, who leads parliaments second biggest faction and threw his weight behind Pashinyan during the Velvet Revolution, remains untouched. Prosecutors reportedly charged former defense minister Vigen Sargsyan on vague corruption charges in late September 2019, only to drop the case mysteriously a few weeks later. These inconsistencies raise questions about the Pashinyans governments commitment to conduct transparent non-politicized investigations. So do accusations of government pressure on judges in some of these cases. The sorry state of Armenia's mental health provision Whatever the circumstances of Kutoyans death, it could draw necessary attention to the sorry state of mental health services in a country that has experienced war, dislocation, economic turmoil, and political upheaval. Given that history, Armenia needs to do better when it comes to mental health. Armenian officials in November acknowledged that that hazing is a problem in the Armenian military and that it has led to soldier suicides. A parliamentarian even claimed that more soldiers died of suicide or hazing-related deaths than were killed in action. Parliament has rushed to remedy that by passing legislation to prosecute those who drive soldiers to take their own lives. Yet, services to identify and treat mental health conditions remain poor. There is an especially strong stigma in Armenian culture against admitting mental health issues. Seeking treatment often leads to being put into atrocious conditions in unreformed Soviet-style psychiatric centers. In 2016, a UN Special Rapporteur for Physical and Mental Health called for Armenia to improve its provision of mental health care, including changing attitudes among the general public and medical professions towards mental illness, integrating mental health into primary care, and expanding community-based mental health programs. The Sargsyan government created a few modern mental health centers, but the country has a long way to go to meet the needs of those struggling with depression, anxiety or other mental illnesses. Kutoyans death is not just a tragedy for his family, but for Armenia as a whole. The Pashinyan government has made great efforts in improving governance and instilling faith in the countrys future. But, events of the past week highlight how much work the government has ahead of it to try curb political violence and create an independent judicial and law enforcement system that all citizens can trust. It also needs to improve health care services for unspoken illnesses. Students attend a talk on LGBTQ+ rights in Murcia. No te prives It all began with a photo. In April 2018, the then-chief of the education department of Spains southeastern Murcia region, Adela Martinez Cacha, of the conservative Popular Party (PP), posed for a press photo at a school with members of No Te Prives (Dont Deprive Yourself), an LGBTQ+ collective that gives talks on preventing abuse and homophobia in schools. The [ultra-conservative Catholic organization] Family Forum demanded that parents be asked to give their permission to allow their children to attend our talks, says Eva Illan, a social educator from the collective. Both Illan and members of the Murcia Association of High School Principals (ADES) say this moment was the origin of the so-called parental veto, a policy by the Spanish far-right group Vox that gives parents the right to stop their children from attending complementary workshops organized during school hours. Schools are organizing fewer activities because of the bureaucratic and organizational problems involved with the parental veto Clara Garcia, workshop organizer Under the policy, parents must give express authorization for their children to attend workshops on issues such as LGBTQ+ rights, school bullying and xenophobia. There has been no great outcry from parents demanding this measure complaints about these types of workshops in Spain have been few. But those who give such talks in and outside of Murcia say they feel targeted by Vox, and have already been affected by the controversy. Clara Garcia has been organizing storytelling workshops in Murcia for more than 20 years, and gets requests from schools every month. But not this school year. I think its because schools are organizing fewer activities because of the bureaucratic and organizational problems involved with collecting permissions from parents and managing what the children without them are going to do during that time, explains Garcia. Up to 165 organizations have signed a document against the parental veto: We cannot make optional at school values that have not been optional in our country for more than 40 years, the statement reads, in reference to Spains return to democracy in the late 1970s. These are some of the workshops that are being targeted by Vox: Barbara Saenz and Ruth Arriero, founders of Serise Sexologia, at a school in La Rioja. Serise Sexologia Now there are students who dont come to my talks No Te Prives. LGBTQ+ workshop (Murcia) The collective No Te Prives has been giving talks since 2010. The talks are divided into two sections. In the first, we clarify concepts like what is biological sex, gender, sexual orientation, explains Illan, while the second half exposes prejudices and explains how to address rejection of those who are different and how to respect that difference. The last school year, the group gave 200 talks in 28 schools, reaching 3,000 students. But this past fall they have begun to notice the effect of the parental veto. Now there are students who dont attend. According to Illan, by not attending this talk, students miss out on the opportunity to hear something that they may not hear at home, to be critical. To hear someone tell them that there is nothing bad about not being heterosexual, that they can live normally. They have called us pedophiles Skolae. Sexual education (Navarre) The coeducation plan Skolae, approved by the Navarre regional government in 2017, is centered on four themes: a critical attitude towards sexism, personal autonomy and economic independence, leadership and empowerment, and sexual education and the preventiion of gender violence. This last issue was used by the center-right party Ciudadanos, the PP and the regional group Navarra Suma in the lead-up to the 2019 regional election in May. The concept of erotic childrens games, which was mentioned in the program, roused heated public debate. Catholic and evangelical groups denounced the workshop, which won the UNESCO Award for Women and Girls Education in 2018. Two pending lawsuits against the program are awaiting sentencing by the Navarre High Court. I dont know what the dirty minds of the far right think these games are about Marian Moreno, Skolae Marian Moreno is one of the creators of Skolae, and was called to testify before a judge. I dont know what the dirty minds of the far right think these games are about, but the term refers to how babies discover their own bodies, something that was punished not long ago. This concept, seen from the perspective of sexology, is the basis of preventing childhood sexual abuse. They learn to set limits and say no, says Moreno, who has not had a social media account since 2018 because of the abuse she received online. We have suffered the consequences of what can happen with a parental veto. They have threatened us and called us pedophiles, indoctrinators, she explains, adding that the group is ready for these threats to resurface. For Moreno, Voxs discourse is a political weapon against equality and public education. I would show pro-veto parents how I help girls of 14 and 15 give birth Murcia Midwives Association. Sex education (Murcia) Pedro Morillas, who is the head of the Murcia Midwives Association, says the organizations sex education program is still up in the air this year. Last year, together with the Cepaim Foundation and Columbares Association, the program reached 1,500 teens in two schools in Murcia. The programs had been requested by the schools, where teachers were worried about the risky practices that teens, many of them in vulnerable situations, were engaging in. This year, however neither of the two schools have contacted them about repeating the talks, even though these had been praised by both students and teachers. I feel very frustrated, because there is an enormous lack of knowledge on sex education among teens. For the parents who dont want to give their children permission to attend these talks, I would bring them with me to the labor room when I help girls of 14 and 15 give birth, he says. There are schools that dont call us for fear of reprisals Seriase. Sexology talks (La Rioja) A tweet from Vox started a hate and defamation campaign against two sexologists. This is how they indoctrinate six-year-old children in sexology in schools in La Rioja. Thats why the parental veto is key, wrote the far-right party in a message on Twitter, where it shared a video with tampered audio of one of the workshops given by the founders of Seriase Sexology: Babara Saenz and Ruth Arriero. The video has been seen more than 187,000 times. Saenz says the daily abuse on social media and by email began a year ago and has intensified since the end of last week, when the controversy over the parental veto erupted. Although for now, [the aggression] has not moved from the virtual world, the fear has been there since they threatened us with physical violence online, he says. There is always someone from the management team present at our sessions. If what Vox says were true, [schools] would have stopped our talks from the start, he adds. There are schools that have not called us again for fear of reprisals. English version by Melissa Kitson. Members of a civic group stage a protest against the "unfair" defense cost-sharing talks between Seoul and Washington for the upkeep of 28,500 United States Forces Korea troops at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, Nov. 26, 2019. Korea Times file By Jung Da-min The United States Forces Korea (USFK) announced Wednesday that it has begun notifying its nearly 9,000 Korean employees of a potential administrative furlough that could start in April, citing a possible loophole in their budget due to the stalled defense cost-sharing negotiations between Washington and Seoul. It said all Korean staff will receive notification letters by Jan. 31, as the notice must come two months ahead of the potential unpaid leave according to the relevant U.S. law. The move is seen as a pressure on Seoul to raise its share in the defense cost-sharing by using the furlough of Korean staff as a card in the negotiations. The 11th Special Measures Agreement negotiations between the two countries for this year's cost-sharing for the upkeep of 28,500 USFK troops has yet to be concluded despite six rounds of talks since September last year, with the latest round in Washington, D.C. in mid-January again failing to narrow their differences. While U.S. President Donald Trump and high-ranking U.S. government officials have been publicly increasing pressure on Seoul to pay morethe government has repeatedly said it could not agree with the amount Washington presented. "Due to the 2019 Special Measures Agreement lapse and the continued absence of a subsequent agreement, United States Forces Korea began providing Korean national employees today with a 60-day notice of a potential administrative furlough that could occur on April 1, 2020 in the absence of an agreed upon SMA," read the USFK statement issued on Tuesday. "Without the Republic of Korea's continued commitment to share the cost of employing our Korean national workforce, USFK will soon exhaust programmed funds available to pay their salaries and wages." According to a USFK official, about 75 percent of the salaries of Korean staff comes from the Korean government's contribution to the defense cost-sharing, while about 25 percent comes from the U.S. government's contribution. He said the USFK could cover the wages for Korean staff with the fund from the U.S. government until March. This is the second time the USFK has sent such a notice to Korean staff following the first in January last year, before the 10th SMA was signed the following month. Meanwhile, U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Jack Reed, respective members of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the U.S. Senate Armed Services committee, have warned the Trump administration of "heightened diplomatic and military risk posed by the Trump administration's failure to finalize a defense cost-sharing deal with South Korea," sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, Tuesday (local time). "The administration's fixation on its notion of burden-sharing belies a fundamental misunderstanding of the value of our alliance with the Republic of Korea and the importance of the U.S. strategic position in the Indo-Pacific, and is almost-guaranteed to fail," wrote the senators. "We note [] that following the conclusion of the 2019 agreement wherein the Republic of Korea agreed to increase its contribution to approximately $925 million for one year, the Department of Defense testified before Congress that the current burden-sharing agreement was fair and mutually beneficial." Earlier in the month Pompeo and Esper contributed a commentary to The Wall Street Journal, where they said South Korea can and should contribute more to its defense. "More than 90 percent of South Korea's cost-sharing contributions currently go right back into the local economy in the form of salaries for South Korean nationals employed by U.S. Forces Korea, construction contracts, and other services purchased locally to sustain an American presence," they said. Remarks by President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu of the State of Israel in Joint Statements January 28, 2020 East Room 12:09 P.M. EST PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you very much. Thank you. Today, Israel takes a big step towards peace. (Applause.) Young people across the Middle East are ready for a more hopeful future, and governments throughout the region are realizing that terrorism and Islamic extremism are everyone's common enemy. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting with both the Prime Minister of Israel and a man that's working very hard to become the Prime Minister of Israel in the longest-running election of all time (laughter) Benny Gantz of the Blue and White Party. And both leaders joined me to express their support for this effort, proving that the State of Israel looking for peace, and that peace transcends politics by any measure unmeasurable. (Applause.) That's what they want. On my first trip overseas as President, I visited the Holy Land of Israel. I was deeply moved and amazed by what this small country had achieved in the face of overwhelming odds and never-ending threats. The State of Israel comprises only a miniscule amount of land in the Middle East and yet it has become a thriving center of democracy, innovation, culture, and commerce. Israel is a light unto the world. The hearts and history of our people are woven together. The Land of Israel is an ancient home, a sacred place of worship, and a solemn promise to the Jewish people that we will never again repeat history's darkest hour. (Applause.) During my trip to Israel, I also met with Palestinian President Abbas in Bethlehem. I was saddened by the fate of the Palestinian people. They deserve a far better life. They deserve the chance to achieve their extraordinary potential. Palestinians have been trapped in a cycle of terrorism, poverty, and violence, exploited by those seeking to use them as pawns to advance terrorism and extremism. I returned from my visit determined to find a constructive path and it's got to be a very powerful path forward in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. To further this effort, I also met with President Abbas at the White House. Forging peace between Israelis and Palestinians may be the most difficult challenge of all. All prior administrations, from President Lyndon Johnson, have tried and bitterly failed. But I was not elected to do small things or shy away from big problems. (Applause.) It's been a long and very arduous process to arrive at this moment. On Sunday, I delivered to Prime Minister Netanyahu my vision for peace, prosperity, and a brighter future for the Israelis and Palestinians. This vision for peace is fundamentally different from past proposals. In the past, even the most well-intentioned plans were light on factual details and heavy on conceptual frameworks. By contrast, our plan is 80 pages and is the most detailed proposal ever put forward by far. As I have seen throughout my long career as a dealmaker, complex problems require nuanced, fact-based remedies. That is why our proposal provides precise technical solutions to make Israelis, Palestinians, and the region safer and much more prosperous. My vision presents a "win-win" opportunity for both sides, a realistic two-state solution that resolves the risk of Palestinian statehood to Israel's security. Today, Israel is taking a giant step toward peace. Yesterday, Prime Minister Netanyahu informed me that he is willing to endorse the vision as the basis for direct negotiations and, I will say, the General also endorsed, and very strongly with the Palestinians. A historic breakthrough. And likewise, we have really a situation having to do with a race that is taking place right now. It will end, and we have the support and it's very important to say this of both parties and almost all people in Israel. They want peace, and they want peace badly. (Applause.) This is the first time Israel has authorized the release of a conceptual map, illustrating the territorial compromises it's willing to make for the cause of peace. And they've gone a long way. This is an unprecedented and highly significant development. Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for having the courage to take this bold step forward. (Applause.) PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: Thank you. PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you. And, Bibi, we have a lot of powerful people in this room a lot of the people that can help make it work. So that's quite a thunderous applause. Thank you very much. PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: (Inaudible.) PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you. We will form a joint committee with Israel to convert the conceptual map into a more detailed and calibrated rendering so that recognition can be immediately achieved. (Applause.) We will also work to create a contiguous territory within the future Palestinian State for when the conditions for statehood are met, including the firm rejection of terrorism. (Applause.) Under this vision, Jerusalem will remain Israel's undivided - very important undivided capital. (Applause.) But that's no big deal, because I've already done that for you, right? (Laughter.) We've already done that, but that's okay. It's going to remain that way. And the United States will recognize Israeli sovereignty over the territory that my vision provides to be part of the State of Israel. Very important. (Applause.) And, crucially, the proposed transition to a two-state solution will present no incremental security risk to the State of Israel whatsoever. (Applause.) We will not allow a return to the days of bloodshed, bus bombings, nightclub attacks, and relentless terror. It won't be allowed. Peace requires compromise, but we will never ask Israel to compromise its security. Can't do that. (Applause.) As everyone knows, I have done a lot for Israel: moving the United States Embassy to Jerusalem; recognizing (applause) - recognizing the Golan Heights (applause) and, frankly, perhaps most importantly, getting out of the terrible Iran nuclear deal. (Applause.) There's a lot of spirit in this room. (Laughter.) It's true. You don't see it often. You don't see it often. Therefore, it is only reasonable that I have to do a lot for the Palestinians, or it just wouldn't be fair. Now, don't clap for that, okay? But it's true. It wouldn't be fair. I want this deal to be a great deal for the Palestinians. It has to be. Today's agreement is a historic opportunity for the Palestinians to finally achieve an independent state of their very own. After 70 years of little progress, this could be the last opportunity they will ever have and "last" for a lot of reasons. We'll never have a team like we have right now. We have a team of people that love the United States and they love Israel, and they're very smart and very, very committed: from your Ambassador David Friedman (applause) - to Jason and Avi and Jared. (Applause.) And they're all great dealmakers and they also understand the other side. And they want the other side to do well, because that's the sign of a great deal. And they understand that. And I just appreciate all the hard work you've put in and so many of your other friends. And, of course, our great Secretary of state, Mike Pompeo. (Applause.) Look at - whoa. Oh, that's impressive. That was very impressive, Mike. (Laughter.) That reporter couldn't have done too good a job on you yesterday, right? (Laughter.) I think you did a good job on her actually. (Laughter.) That's good. Thank you, Mike. Great. Very - are you running for Senate? I guess the answer is "no" after that, huh? (Laughter.) They all want him to. Kansas, great state. They want him to, but you're doing a great job. Don't move. The Palestinian people have grown distrustful after years of unfulfilled promises so true yet I know they are ready to escape their tragic past and realize a great destiny. But we must break free of yesterday's failed approaches. This map will more than double the Palestinian territory and provide a Palestinian capital in eastern Jerusalem where America will proudly open an embassy. (Applause.) No Palestinians or Israelis will be uprooted from their homes. (Applause.) Israel will work closely with a wonderful person, a wonderful man the King of Jordan to ensure that the status quo of the Temple Mount is preserved and strong measures are taken to ensure that all Muslims who wish to visit peacefully and pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque will be able to do so. This is a major statement. This is of major import- importance. And, at the same time, our vision will deliver a massive commercial investment of $50 billion into the new Palestinian state. You have many, many countries that want to partake in this, and many of them are surrounding. They all want this to happen. Virtually every one of them want this to happen. And I think, Bibi, you know that very well. You're going to have tremendous support from your neighbors and beyond your neighbors. Over the next 10 years, if executed well, 1 million great new Palestinian jobs will be created. Their poverty rate will be cut in half. And their poverty rate is unacceptable now and only getting worse. Their GDP will double and triple. And much-needed hope, joy, opportunity, and prosperity will finally arrive for the Palestinian people. Our vision will end the cycle of Palestinian dependency upon charity and foreign aid. They will be doing phenomenally all by themselves. They are a very, very capable people. (Applause.) And we will help by empowering the Palestinians to thrive on their own. Palestinians will be able to seize the new future with dignity, self-sufficiency, and national pride. To ensure a successful Palestinian state, we are asking the Palestinians to meet the challenges of peaceful co-existence. (Applause.) This includes adopting basic laws enshrining human rights; protecting against financial and political corruption; stopping the malign activities of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other enemies of peace; ending the incitement of hatred against Israel so important; and permanently halting the financial compensation to terrorists. (Applause.) Perhaps most importantly, my vision gives the Palestinians the time needed to rise up and meet the challenges of statehood. I sent a letter today to President Abbas. I explained to him that the territory allocated for his new state will remain open and undeveloped for a period of four years. During this time, Palestinians can use all appropriate deliberation to study the deal, negotiate with Israel, achieve the criteria for statehood, and become a truly independent and wonderful state. President Abbas, I want you to know that if you choose the path to peace, America and many other countries will we will be there. We will be there to help you in so many different ways. And we will be there every step of the way. We will be there to help. (Applause.) In other words, for the first time in many, many decades, I can say: It will work. It's going to work. If they do this, it will work. Your response to this historic opportunity will show the world to what extent you are ready to lead the Palestinian people to statehood. The Middle East is changing rapidly. On my first trip aboard [abroad] as President, I traveled to Saudi Arabia to discuss our shared priorities with the 54 leaders of the Muslim and Arab countries. I made clear that all civilized nations share the same goals: stamping out extremism; creating opportunity for the region's youth. And we have to take care of the region's youth; the region's youth is growing up with no hope. We have to take care of the region's youth. And existing in harmony with one's neighbors. Since that time, immense progress has been made. A growing number of nations have taken strong stands against terrorism and radicalization. You see it. Thanks to the courage of U.S. forces, the ISIS territorial caliphate 100 percent not 95 percent, not 99 or any other percent 100 percent of their caliphate, ISIS, is destroyed. And its savage leader, al-Baghdadi, is now dead. (Applause.) And I want to thank we have some of our great senators and congressmen and women here. And I want to thank you all for the tremendous help. Thank you very much, Jim, Ted, everybody. Steve. Our Leader. Leader, thank you. (Applause.) Mark, thank you. Great people. These are great people. They work so hard and they love this country. The Iranian regime is isolated and weakened greatly. We eliminated Qasem Soleimani, the world's top terrorist. (Applause.) And, as you know, he was with the head of Hezbollah. I don't think that they were up to anything good. I don't think so. He ran an organization called Jerusalem Liberation Forces and used his hatred total severe hatred of Israel as a rallying cry to divert attention from the incompetence and shortcomings of his government. He falsely promoted the sinister notion that a free Jerusalem we must really be at war with Israel. So to have it free, we have to be at war with Israel. And he said it very, very powerfully. In fact, it's been in this false war that Israel really, the enemies of peace have used they just used it as an excuse to divide and totally oppress the Middle East. In truth, Jerusalem is liberated. (Applause.) Jerusalem is a safe, open, democratic city that welcomes people of all faiths and all places. It is time for the Muslim world to fix the mistake it made in 1948 when it chose to attack, instead of recognize, the new State of Israel. It's time. (Applause.) Since then, the amount of needless bloodshed and all squandered opportunity so many squandered opportunities in the name of senseless causes is beyond measure. The Palestinians have been the primary pawn in this regional adventurism, and it's time for this sad chapter in history to end end quickly, end now. It's never too late for courageous leaders to set a new course, to pursue what is right, to change the future only for the better. America is prepared to work with all parties on our vision. So many other countries are willing, ready, and able to work with us. I've spoken to many of them. I cannot believe the amount of support this morning has. I cannot believe it. I have been called by leaders Boris called, so many called and they're all saying, "Whatever we can do to help." They all want to see it happen. (Applause.) But America cannot care more about peace than the stakeholders in the region. There are many Muslims who never visited Al Aqsa, and many Christians and Jews who never visited the holy sites in the West Bank described so vividly in the Bible. My vision will change that. Our majestic biblical heritage will be able to live, breathe, and flourish in modern times. All humanity should be able to enjoy the glories of the Holy Land. This part of the world is forever connected to the human soul and the human spirit. These ancient lands should not be symbols of conflict but eternal symbols of peace. Thank you again for all of the work you've all done and all of these incredible honored guests for being here. And in particular, I want to thank Prime Minister Netanyahu. I also want to thank Oman, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates for the incredible work they've done, helping us with so much and sending their ambassadors to be with us today. Thank you very much for being here. PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: (Inaudible.) (Off-mic.) PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yeah. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Please give our regards. America's partnerships in the region have never been greater, and our alliance with the State of Israel has never, ever been stronger than it is today. (Applause.) Together, we can bring about a new dawn in the Middle East. And I would now, again, just like to thank everybody and a very special group of people, an incredible group of people. So many have been with us on this journey right from the beginning. And we're getting there. It's they say it's the toughest deal ever to make. In business, when I have a tough deal, people would say, "This is tougher than the Israelis and the Palestinians." (Laughter.) They used it as an excuse, meaning that was always the standard. Actually, there's nothing tougher than this one (laughter) but we have to get it done. We have an obligation to humanity to get it done. (Applause.) So I would now like to introduce the Prime Minister of Israel, who's worked so hard on this, Benjamin Netanyahu. Thank you. (Applause.) PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: In the Middle East, we drink water before a long voyage. This is an extraordinary voyage. President Trump, Donald: I'm honored to be here today, along with my wife Sara; Minister Yariv Levin; Ambassador Ron Dermer and, Ron, thank you for everything you've been doing (applause); National Security Advisor Meir Ben Shabbat thank you too, Meir (applause); and our entire delegation. We are honored to be here with you, Mr. President; with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (applause) we applaud you, Mike; Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin; National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien; America's U.N. Ambassador Kelly Craft (applause); Jared Kushner and Ivanka it's good to see you both. (Applause.) It's good to see the unfailingly energetic and optimistic Ambassador David Friedman (applause) Jason Greenblatt, Avi Berkowitz, Brian Hook, and the rest of your exceptional peace plan, Mr. President. It's good to be here with the other distinguished ladies and gentlemen of your administration, with senators and members of Congress who are Israel's greatest friends on Capitol Hill. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you. With the ambassadors of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Oman, what a pleasure to see you here (applause) and what a sign it portends I was going to say "of the future." What a sign it portends of the present. (Applause.) To all of you and to the many distinguished other distinguished guests who are here today: This is a historic day. And it recalls another historic day. We remember May 14th, 1948, because on that day, President Truman became the first world leader to recognize the State of Israel after our first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, declared our independence. That day charted a brilliant future. Mr. President, I believe that down the decades and perhaps down the centuries we will also remember January 28th, 2020, because on this day, you became the first world leader to recognize Israel's sovereignty over areas in Judea and Samaria that are vital to our security and central to our heritage. (Applause.) And on this day, you too have charted a brilliant future a brilliant future for Israelis, Palestinians, and the region by presenting a realistic path to a durable peace. (Applause.) Since the moment of its birth, Israel has yearned for peace with our Palestinian neighbors and peace with the broader Arab world. For decades, that peace has proved elusive, despite so many well-intentioned plans. One after the other, they failed. Why did they fail? They failed because they did not strike the right balance between Israel's vital security and national interests, and the Palestinians' aspirations for self-determination. Too many plans tried to pressure Israel to withdraw from vital territory like the Jordan Valley. But you, Mr. President, you recognized that Israel must have sovereignty in the Jordan Valley and the other (applause) and other strategic areas of Judea and Samaria. Rather than pay easy lip service to Israel's security and simply shut your eyes, hope for the best, you recognized that Israel must have sovereignty in places that enable Israel to defend itself, by itself. (Applause.) For too long far too long the very heart of the Land of Israel where our patriarchs prayed, our prophets preached, and our kings ruled, has been outrageously branded as illegally occupied territory. Well, today, Mr. President, you are puncturing this big lie. (Applause.) You are recognizing Israel's sovereignty over all the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, large and small alike. (Applause.) These, as the distinguished pastors who are here know very well these are places inscribed in the pages of the Bible. These are places carved into the bedrock of our common civilization: the sacred tomb in Hebron where the fathers and mothers of the Jewish people are buried; Bethel, where Jacob dreamed of a ladder ascending to the heavens; Shiloh, where the Ark of the Covenant that held the Ten Commandments for 10 century for 10 century. For sorry, for centuries. That's what happened in Shiloh. Thanks to you, Mr. President, these areas and so many others that, for millennia, have been etched in the soul of the Jewish people and have fired the imaginations of millions of people around the world and across the world these areas will now be recognized by the United States as a permanent part of the Jewish State. (Applause.) Mr. President, because of this historic recognition, and because I believe your peace plan strikes the right balance where other plans have failed, I've agreed to negotiate peace with the Palestinians on the basis of your peace plan. (Applause.) It's a great plan for Israel. It's a great plan for peace. Frankly, Mr. President, given all that you have already done for Israel, I'm not surprised. You have been the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House. (Applause.) Frankly, though we've had some great, outstanding friends in these halls, it's not even close. (Applause.) Your historic decisions to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital; to recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights; to reaffirm Israel's legal claims in Judea and Samaria; to stand up to Iran; to pull out of that dangerous Iran deal; to confront "confront" is not the word to eliminate Qasem Soleimani (applause); to support and encourage unbelievable cooperation between Israel and the United States in the military and strategic and intelligence fields all this bear testament to the friendship and depth of your leadership and commitment to Israel. From our very first meeting here in the White House three years ago, you repeatedly made clear your commitment to help Israel achieve peace with the Palestinians and peace with the rest of the Arab world. Mr. President, I share that commitment, and I look forward to working with you to achieve a peace the will protect Israel's security, provide the Palestinians with dignity and their own national life, and improve Israel's relations with the Arab world. Your peace plan advances all these goals. First, it addresses the root cause of the conflict by insisting that the Palestinians will finally have to recognize Israel as the Jewish State. (Applause.) Second, it stipulates that Israel will retain security control in the entire area west of the Jordan River, thereby giving Israel a permanent eastern border a permanent eastern border to defend ourselves across our longest border. This is something we've longed to have. (Applause.) We now have such a recognized boundary. Third, your plan calls for Hamas to be disarmed and for Gaza to be demilitarized. (Applause.) Fourth, it makes clear that the Palestinian refugee problem must be solved outside the State of Israel. (Applause.) Fifth, it calls for our ancient capital, Jerusalem, to remain united under Israel's sovereignty. (Applause.) It, of course, ensures that religious sites remain accessible to all faiths. And it maintains the status quo on the Temple Mount. Sixth, your plan does not uproot anyone from their homes Israelis and Palestinians alike. Instead, it proposes innovative solutions whereby Israelis will be connected to Israel and whereby Palestinians will also be connected to one another. This is it helps if you have these real estate people, you know? (Laughter.) They they can come up with PRESIDENT TRUMP: It's true. PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: they can come up with things normal human beings don't think about. (Laughter.) And they have. Mr. President, Israel wants the Palestinians to have a better life. We want them to have a future of national dignity, prosperity, and hope. Your peace plan offers the Palestinians such a future. Your peace plan offers the Palestinians a pathway to a future state. I know that it may take them a very long time to reach the end of that path. It may even take them a very long time to get to the beginning of that path. But if the Palestinians are genuinely prepared to take that path, if they're genuinely prepared to make peace with the Jewish State, and if they agree to abide by all the conditions you have put forward in your plan, Israel will be there. Israel will be prepared to negotiate peace right away. (Applause.) Regardless of the Palestinian decision, Israel will preserve the path of peace in the coming years. For at least four years, Israel will maintain the status quo in areas that your plan does not designate as being part of Israel in the future. At the same time, Israel will apply its laws to the Jordan Valley, to all the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, and to other areas that your plan designates as part of Israel and which the United States has agreed to recognize as part of Israel. (Applause.) I like that. This decision will protect Israel's security, ensure Israel's national interest, and leave open the possibility of a political settlement with the Palestinians in the coming years. Mr. President, I hope the Palestinians embrace your vision of peace embrace the plan that you and your team and us worked so hard to achieve. I hope that they seize the opportunity offered by your sweeping economic plan. I've read it. It takes enormous talent to reject $50 billion worth of investment. I know what that does to an economy. I know what it will do to Palestinian lives. I know what it will do to the youth of the region. I hope that the Palestinians embrace this and build, with Israel, a future of prosperity and peace. I also hope that our other Arab neighbors embrace your vision and forge a path of reconciliation with Israel that can create for all of us a brilliant future. Mr. President, I want to congratulate your fantastic team there's no other word your fantastic peace team for all their work. Jason Greenblatt. (Applause.) Thank you, Jason, for the terrific job you did as America's peace envoy for nearly three years. Avi Berkowitz, thank you for stepping out (applause) - thank you, Avi, for stepping out from your important behind-the-roles scene - behind-the-scenes role and ably working in those past few months to get this plan done. Ambassador David Friedman. Thank you, David. (Applause.) Thank you for your essential contribution to this effort and for the terrific job you do every day to strengthen the great alliance between Israel and America. (Applause.) And, Jared Kushner, without your wisdom, your persistence, your resolve, this day would have never come. (Applause.) I know how much the Jewish future means to you and to your family. Well, Jared, today you have helped secure that future. The Jewish State owes you and it owes President Trump an eternal debt of gratitude. (Applause.) Mr. President, on that historic day of May 14th, 1948, both David Ben-Gurion and President Truman had a fateful decision to make. Many argued that Ben-Gurion should not declare Israel's independence. Many argued that President Truman should not recognize the Jewish State. But both leaders understood the magnitude of the hour. They seized the moment and they changed history. Like you, Mr. President, I understand the magnitude of this moment. With you, Mr. President, I am prepared to seize the moment and change history. I know that there will be opposition; there's always opposition. I know there will be many obstacles along the way much criticism. But we have an old Jewish saying: "If not now, when? And if not us, who?" (Speaks Hebrew.) Mr. President, your deal of the century is the opportunity of the century. And rest assured Israel will not miss this opportunity. Mr. President, Donald: Israel is blessed to have your friendship and your powerful leadership. And Israel is blessed to have the friendship of the greatest power on Earth, the United States of America. May God bless America. (Applause.) May God bless Israel. (Applause.) And may God bless us all with security, prosperity, and peace. Thank you. (Applause.) END 12:56 P.M. EST NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Maintaining 'Rating Watch Negative (RWN)' on Yes Bank, India Ratings on Wednesday said the lender continues to remain in discussions with potential investors but raising sizeable capital in the near-term could be challenging. RWN indicates that the rating will be either affirmed or downgraded. India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) said it continues to await developments on Yes Bank's equity raising, which in the rating agency's opinion is critical for providing sufficient cushion to the possible credit cost impact from the stressed asset pool on regulatory capital requirement in the short- and medium-term. It has maintained RWN on the Basel III tier-2 bonds of Rs 11,000 crore, additional Basel tier-1 bonds of Rs 11,100 crore and infrastructure bonds of Rs 3,580 crore. The agency has withdrawn the bank's short-term rating since there is no outstanding against the same. "Although the liquidity position of the bank seemed adequate at end-September 2019 (liquidity coverage ratio of 114 per cent), Ind-Ra believes that in the absence of any swift capital raise, the bank's ability to manage its asset and liability maturities could get tested further. "The bank continues to remain in discussions with various potential investors. However, Ind-Ra believes raising sizeable capital in the near term could be challenging and could require various regulatory and other approvals," it added. Ind-Ra would be reviewing the rating on the bank again in February. The key rating drivers included delays in capital raising and rapid credit migration over the last few quarters in some of the bank's corporate exposure spread over multiple sectors. The bank's liquidity coverage ratio was 114 per cent at end-September as against the regulatory requirement of 100 per cent. It also said that bank's business model could evolve and may settle at lower non-interest income levels. Yes Bank had initially planned to raise capital of over USD 1.2 billion in the current fiscal, but its board has rejected the binding term sheets of USD 1.2 billion offered by Canadian investor SPGP Group/Erwin Singh Braich. Also, the decision to consider the binding term sheet of USD 500 million by Citax Investment Group is yet to be finalised by the board. "Furthermore, the various approvals that the bank and/or the investors may require could extend the timeline of the proposed equity infusion," Ind-Ra said. Mumbai-headquartered Yes Bank is a new generation private bank incorporated in 2004. The bank's asset size stood at Rs 3,71,160 crore at end-June 2019, with a net profit of Rs 1,720 crore in FY19. [January 29, 2020] Global Telecom Earns Sprint Certification for Internet of Things Module Global Telecom today announced it has received certification for its Cat 12/15 module on Sprint Curiosity IoT - the first fully virtualized and distributed core network dedicated exclusively to the Internet of Things (IoT). The GTC-7243A is an embedded LTE (News - Alert) module that can enable a diverse range of IoT applications, with high-speed connectivity to support use-cases like artificial intelligence, robotics, edge computing and autonomous vehicles. Having this module Sprint (News - Alert) certified allows both Sprint customers and developers the ability to use the Cat 12/15 module in a variety of ways on Curiosity, as well as enabling solutions such as Omni - Sprint's intelligent office solution for small and mid-sized businesses. Because of the standard PCIe USB interface, the newly certified GTC-7243A allows Sprint IoT customers to realize significant reduction in time to market and near instant 4G communication capability for high-bandwidth, low-latency IoT solutions. "Sprint has long-standing history with Global Telecom and we are proud to expand that relationship," said Ivo Rook, senior vice president of IoT and product development for Sprint. "We're excited to certify yet another high-quality product for customers to gain access to the reliability and coverage of the Sprint network." The GTC-7243A module enables fast, reliable and secure communication in devices used for fleet management, point of sale, robotics, smart cities, supply chain management, traffic control and more. "It's a proud moment as we reach another milestone in supporting Sprint's vision for the Internet of Things," said Global Telecom's Chief Executive Officer, Ahmad Malkawi. "Our Cat 12/15 module is designed for the next generation of IoT devices, with host-less, blockchain technology adding layers of security that far exceed industry standards." Key features of the GTC-7243A module: Advanced 4G capabilities with 8R4T design (3GPP Release 13 compliant); Multi-band and multi-mode (FDD & TDD) support; 8x4 MIMO technology for superior 4G performance; Gigabit Ethernet and USB 2.0 support; Advanced built-in router software & host-less router operation support; Advanced management support. For more information about Sprint's Curiosity IoT, visit https://business.sprint.com/solutions/internet-of-things/. About Global Telecom Global Telecom engineers hardware, software and AI solutions that enable a reliable and secure Internet of Things. Since 2010, Global Telecom's IoT solutions have been deployed across diverse industries, including automotive, education, healthcare, retail and smart homes. Find us online at www.GlobalTelecomUS.com and follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) at @GlobalTelecomUS. Contact [email protected] About Sprint: Sprint (NYSE: S) is a communications services company that creates more and better ways to connect its customers to the things they care about most. Sprint served 53.9 million connections as of September 30, 2019 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; leading no-contract brands including Virgin Mobile (News - Alert) USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Today, Sprint's legacy of innovation and service continues with an increased investment to dramatically improve coverage, reliability, and speed across its nationwide network and commitment to launching a 5G mobile network in the U.S. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint. Contact [email protected] View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005149/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] By Tuesday evening, Mr. Sanders had posted a video on Twitter addressing the ads. It is no secret that our campaign is taking on the political establishment and the big-money interests, who are now running negative ads against us in Iowa, he said in the video. The billionaire class is getting nervous, and they should. The Sanders campaign, like many of its rivals, often points to signs of adversity to juice donations, and Mr. Sanderss supporters responded on Tuesday with a flood of contributions. The financial windfall underscored a central challenge facing his opponents: Attacking him can help fuel his campaign. The attack ad, which will run through the caucuses on Monday, comes amid rising concern among some Democratic Party elected officials and strategists, who have grown increasingly anxious about the prospect that Mr. Sanders could capture the nomination. Several recent polls have shown him leading in Iowa and New Hampshire, the first two nominating contests. Atalaya Mining plc ("Atalaya" or "the Company") Update on Proyecto Touro Permitting NICOSIA, January 29, 2020 - Atalaya Mining plc (AIM:ATYM)(TSX:AYM) notes the recent press release issued by the regional government of Galicia ("Xunta de Galicia") relating to Proyecto Touro (the "Project"). The "Direccion Xeral de Calidade Ambiental e Cambio Climatico", (the General Directorate for the Environment and Climate Change of Galicia), announced yesterday that a negative Environmental Impact Statement for Proyecto Touro (Declaracion de Impacto Ambiental) had been signed and will be formally communicated to the Mines, Energy and Industry Department of the Xunta de Galicia. The short release stated that the decision is based on two reports which form part of a wider evaluation consisting of fifteen reports produced by different departments of the Xunta de Galicia. These two reports challenge the ability of the Company to guarantee that there will be no environmental impact of the Project on the Ulla River and related protected ecosystems which are located downstream. The Company is currently awaiting the formal communication from the Xunta de Galicia. In the meantime the Company, along with its advisers, will evaluate potential next steps for the Project, which could include an appeal of the decision made by the Xunta de Galicia, and/or the clarification of the questions raised by the reports. The Company will update the market on any development in due course. Alberto Lavandeira, CEO, commented: "Proyecto Touro has been designed with a fully lined tailings storage facility, constructed downstream using compacted rocks and with a guaranteed zero discharge policy following international standards and best practice. "We are very surprised by the public statements made by the representative of the Environmental Department of the Xunta de Galicia. "We will continue to explore all possible avenues to develop the Proyecto Touro and shall build on the excellent work performed by a very large team of world class specialists, including all the Universities of Galicia, for over 2 years and containing over 15,000 pages of reports, all of which have been questioned without the Company being further consulted." This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) no 596/2014. Contacts: Newgate Communications Elisabeth Cowell / Adam Lloyd / Tom Carnegie + 44 20 3757 6880 4C Communications Carina Corbett +44 20 3170 7973 Canaccord Genuity (NOMAD and Joint Broker) Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor / James Asensio +44 20 7523 8000 BMO Capital Markets (Joint Broker) Tom Rider / Michael Rechsteiner / Neil Elliot +44 20 7236 1010 Peel Hunt LLP (Joint Broker) Ross Allister / David McKeown +44 20 7418 8900 About Atalaya Mining Plc Atalaya is an AIM and TSX-listed mining and development group which produces copper concentrates and silver by-product at its wholly owned Proyecto Riotinto site in southwest Spain. In addition, the Group has a phased, earn-in agreement for up to 80% ownership of Proyecto Touro, a brownfield copper project in the northwest of Spain which is currently in the permitting stage. For further information, visit www.atalayamining.com This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Atalaya Mining plc View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/574457/Atalaya-Mining-PLC-Announces-Update-on-Proyecto-Touro-Permitting (As delivered) So Prime Minister Rama, dear Edi, Welcome, welcome back to the NATO Headquarters. Its great to see you again. We were all shocked by the earthquake that hit Albania last November. And at NATO we all feel the pain of those who suffered. Edi, you have also suffered a personal loss. Please accept my heartfelt condolences to all those who lost their loved ones in that terrible earthquake. NATO responded through our disaster relief coordination centre. We mobilized help from Allies and partners. This shows that when one Ally suffers, we all stand together. And we act together. Today I welcome you to NATO as President-in-Office of the OSCE. And Prime Minister of Albania. And President of the OSCE and we thank you for your strong support to both NATO but also your important work in the OSCE as Chairperson-in-office of the OSCE. The OSCE is a crucial forum to discuss arms control, military transparency, and confidence building measures. And we welcome the role it plays in Ukraine and other conflict areas. These are all important issues for NATO. So you can count on our support in your role as OSCE Chair this year. Albania is a valued Ally. Your participation in NATOs operations, missions and deployments in Kosovo, Afghanistan and in the Baltic States are solid contributions to our shared security. We can count on Albanias active and positive commitment to stability and cooperation in the Western Balkans region. And your active role in promoting NATOs Open Door policy. I am encouraged by Albanias efforts to invest more in defence. And I support you in this endeavor. NATOs investment in Kucove airbase shows our commitment to Albania and to the region. And this will help us make all become safer because it will strengthen our presence in this part of Europe. So Prime Minister Rama, Thank you once again for Albanias strong contribution to our shared security and our stability. Through NATO and now through the OSCE chairmanship. So once again, welcome, its great to see you again. EDI RAMA [Prime Minister of Albania]: Thank you very much, Mr Secretary General, dear Jens. Im here, and Im honoured to be here in the capacity of the Chairman in Office of the OSCE, but also to take advantage from this opportunity to share with you some more about Albania and NATO relations. First of all, thank you very much for your warm words about the tragedy that has hit Albania on November 26, and also for your generous help by calling on Allies to be helpful. And I have to tell you also publicly, as I told you in private, that we are very grateful to all of them, military, of NATO members, that have been very much, from the day one, on our side, and theyve helped us to deal with this devastating tragedy. As for the OSCE, I have to repeat that for us, the crisis in and around Ukraine remains the most pressing security challenge in Europe. And thats why its an utmost priority of the Albanian chairmanship. Well do all we can to support efforts towards a peaceful resolution and well encourage respect for OSCE principles and commitments and the full implementation of the Minsk Agreement, supporting the efforts of the Trilateral Contact Group and the Normandy Process, with a view to implement commitments which make lives of citizens easier. And here it comes the amazing role and the great importance of the presence of the Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, as an essential . . . as an essential tool to de-escalate tensions and move towards a resolution of the conflict. NATO member countries have been among the major contributors to the mission, both in terms of funds and human resources. And this continued support is very much welcomed. Just to give an idea, its over four million people on both sides of the contact line that have benefited from the Special Monitoring Mission, monitoring and facilitating localised ceasefires in 2019. And in the same time, although there were 143 civilian casualties, unacceptable and heart-breaking, its a significantly . . . decrease compared to the previous year, 2018, and we look forward to decrease it further. And I am very hopeful that also on the side of the NATO member countries will be sensibility to support the increase of technological facilities to monitor the conflict zone, where, especially during night time, there are a lot of . . . a lot of breaks of the ceasefire. And last but not least, I want to reconfirm also publicly what I reconfirmed in the NATO summit and also in our private meeting that Albania, beyond the need to reshape its own budget and to address the needs for the massive reconstruction operation, will stick to its commitment about the dedicated budget to NATO. And we will continue to stick to it and to meet the objective we have settled together in Wales. Thank you also for being so helpful and supportive in the region and especially, lately, for having supported the very welcome development between Belgrade and Pristina about the resettlement of the airline. Its a really very important step and I fully agree with you that its a step that should be followed by others in a process of peaceful cooperation and regional development. So, again, thank you for everything. And well continue to work hand to hand. And we consider NATO as an important part of our work in the OSCE and as an important factor in all our common efforts to make our mission a success and to make life of people better during this year. OANA LUNGESCU: Okay, we have a question over there. Albanian TV. QUESTION [Albanian Public Television]: What will be the priority of your cooperation for the security of the population in the conflict zones like Ukraine? Thank you. JENS STOLTENBERG [NATO Secretary General]: So, first of all, we strongly appreciate the cooperation between NATO and the OSCE. And just the fact that Prime Minister Edi Rama is here now and is going to brief all the 29 NATO members, Allies, on his plans and ambitions for his tenure as chairperson of the OSCE reflects the importance of the cooperation between NATO and the OSCE. Second, we strongly support the OSCE in general and, in particular, the efforts of the OSCE in Ukraine. The Special Monitoring Mission is of great importance to help to diffuse the conflict, to implement a ceasefire. And we have stated again and again, from the NATO side, that it is extremely important that the monitors, they can operate freely, have unimpeded access to the whole territory. And of course, its absolutely unacceptable that some of the equipment that they use, some of the surveillance drones are attacked. So we support Prime Minister Rama in his efforts to strengthen the OSCEs position and activities in Ukraine. Thats a key to diffuse conflict and to find a lasting and peaceful solution. EDI RAMA: Let me stress that beyond the quite disturbing general frame, there are some steps forward that have been undertaken. Also, thanks to the involvement and efforts of Chancellor Merkel and President Macron through the Normandy format, and we have seen the exchange of a large group of detainees on December 29, which is particularly relevant. And Im very hopeful that well see more of this urgently-needed positive steps toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict. So its important to consolidate to what has been achieved so far. The situation is very fragile, of course, but we exchange exactly of that: how to support the process and how, through some needed measures, to strengthen both the capacities of the Special Monitoring Mission through technology and the trust between both sides, through helping and pushing them towards more significant steps. OANA LUNGESCU: Quick second question, Euronews. ERNEST BUNGURI [Euronews]: Thank you. Ernest Bunguri, Euronews Albania. Prime Minister, there have been lately some, mainly, social media frictions between forth and back, Tirana and Tehran. Does it represent any real threat to small Albania and by consequence to NATO? And for Secretary General, do we have a date for the newest country that is expected to come, North Macedonia? How is it going with the procedure in Spain? And how do you see these efforts of cooperation between countries in the region and specifically, again, these attempts of agreement between Serbia and Kosovo? Thank you. EDI RAMA: Albania is proud to have offered shelter to a few thousand people, which lives were threatened by the regime in Tehran. Its part of our tradition, its part of what we are. We were the only country that after the Second World War had more Jews than before. So we know very well that for Jews, Albania was . . . was a safe home during the time of the Holocaust. So we did it as a human . . . humanitarian operation. It was not a statement against the regime, frankly. But we are really not at all going to change our tradition and also our approach towards these people, who need to be protected, by a regime who is a threat for their lives. And as for them, their malicious activities, in Albania, weve been very clear: we have expelled their ambassador first, and now, lately, other people that were involved in activities that are out of the diplomatic regulation . . . regulated mission. And we will continue to stand strong. And on the other side, we are not alone in that. So we are part of a big alliance. And this operation is an operation that has been made hand to hand with the United States. JENS STOLTENBERG: Nearly all NATO Allies have now ratified the accession protocol for North Macedonia. So I really hope that North Macedonia will become a full member in the near future. I am absolutely certain that they will become a member. But of course, we need to respect that there is a process that has to take place in all the 29 parliaments before the accession protocol is ratified in all Allied countries. But we are very close to finalising that process. I think that membership, full membership for North Macedonia is of great importance for North Macedonia, for the whole region and for NATO. And we can see that because NATO has enlarged over the last years and that has been an historic and extremely important process. We have seen that also in the Western Balkans. Albania joined in 2009, again, good for Albania, good for NATO. And NATO and Albania, we work very closely together and this is important for our shared security. It is also a way for NATO to invest in infrastructure. And I mentioned the planned NATO investment in the Kucova airbase. This is a significant investment. We have decided to do so. And I will push to make sure that we are implementing this as soon as possible. This is about upgrading the air base, upgrading the runway, the tower and also establishing storage facilities for ammunition and for fuel. And then this space can be used for many important activities, including air policing, training out from the upgraded, modernised airbase in Albania. Again, good for Albania and good for all other NATO Allied countries. We strongly support the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. Therefore, we also, of course, support the resumption of this dialogue, because it has been suspended for some time now. We believe that this dialogue is the only way to find a sustainable and lasting political solution to the conflict. And we will also support it, not only through our . . . providing our political support, but also by helping to solve one issue, and that is the issue related to the lower airspace over Kosovo. There is a NATO-facilitated process addressing that issue. And the hope is that we can find a way to agree how to reopen the lower airspace, so they can be direct air traffic between Belgrade and Pristina, and we are working hard on that within this NATO framework. OANA LUNGESCU: Thank you very much. This completes this press point. Thank you. Wyoming is one of the Mountain States of the US located in the Western United States. It is the 10th largest state by area. Wyoming is the least populated state in the US. The state is also the 2nd most sparsely populated state after Alaska. In 2018, Wyoming had a population of 577,737. Wyoming is bordered by Montana to the north, South Dakota to the east, Colorado to the south, Utah to the southwest and by Montana and Idaho to the west. Its capital city is Cheyenne. Wyomings Economy Wyomings economy differs greatly from that of the other US states which are mainly driven by the manufacturing. Manufacturing is of minor importance to Wyoming. The economy of Wyoming is heavily tied to mineral extraction, tourism and agriculture. Minerals of major importance to the state are coal, oil, gas and trona. Important agricultural commodities in the state are livestock, hay, barley, wheat, sugar beets and wool. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Wyomings GDP in 2016 was $34.439 billion. This GDP represents 0.21% of the nations total GDP, making Wyoming the 50th largest state economy in the US in 2016. The following are some of the biggest industries in Wyoming; Mining The mineral extraction industry is Wyomings most important industry. The industry remains a major economic driver of the state despite oil and gas production declining since the 1970s. The main mineral commodities of Wyoming include coal, natural gas, crude oil, coalbed methane, uranium and trona. Wyoming is the top coal-producing state in the US. The state possesses the largest coal resources in the nations, with an estimated reserve of 68.7 billion tons of coal. The Green River Basin and the Powder River Basin are some of the major coal areas in Wyoming. Wyoming produces crude oil that is utilized as a motor fuel, and also in the manufacture of plastics, paints, and synthetic rubber. In 2016, Wyoming produced 1.77 trillion tons of natural gas, making it sixth nationwide in natural gas production. Natural gas in Wyoming is utilized in domestic, commercial and industrial heating. Coalbed methane is extracted from the Wyoming coal bed seams. Mining of coalbed methane provides another means of natural gas extraction. Coalbed methane is mined in the Powder River Basin. Wyoming is home to the worlds largest known reserve for trona. Trona is utilized in the manufacture of soap, glass, paper, pharmaceuticals, water softeners, and baking soda. Wyoming also has substantial uranium deposits, estimated to account for a third of the total reserves in the US. Even though uranium mining has been much less active in recent years, the recent increase in the price of uranium has generated new interest in uranium mining. Other minerals mined in the state include bentonite clay and other clays, gypsum, limestone, iron ore, gold and gemstones. In 2016, the mining industry of Wyoming contributed $4.4 billion to the states GDP. This was 12.7% of the total GDP. The same year, Wyomings mining industry employed 3.1% of the workforce. Tourism Tourism is the second most important engine in Wyomings economy. Each year, over 6millon visitors travel to Wyoming to see the states national parks and national monuments. Eton County is one of the tourist-oriented areas in the State. Key national parks in Wyoming include Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Teton National Park. The Yellowstone National Park attracts more than 3 million visitors every year. In 2018, the park attracted 4.1 million visitors. Important national monuments include the Fossil Butte National Monument, Independence Rock and Devils Tower National Monument. Other tourist destinations in the state are the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area and the Fort Laramie National Historic Site. The towering mountains and vast plains of Wyoming provide spectacular scenery that attracts millions of visitors into the state to enjoy recreation activities. Wyoming has 15,846 miles of fishing streams and over 297,000 acres of fishing lakes that support many species of gaming fish. Besides, Wyoming is a big game hunter destination. Big game hunters come to the State for its mountain lions, mountain goats, elks, antelopes, deer, moose and bighorn sheep. Tourism in Wyoming earns the state more than $2 billion in annual revenue. The industry also employs about 12% of Wyomings workforce. Agriculture Agriculture has played a central role in Wyomings history. Although its importance to the economy of Wyoming has waned over the years, the majority of the residents in the state still make their living from farming and ranching. Wyoming is a cattle state and has been nicknamed the Cowboy State. The state has over 1.5 million cows, about 3 times the number of people in the state. Livestock products generate 86% of Wyomings agricultural receipts. Beef cattle and calves account for 78% of the total agricultural receipts. Beef cattle earn the state $600 million annually in beef sales. Wyoming is also a leading producer of sheep and wool. Other livestock product s in the state include hogs, dairy products, chicken eggs and honey. Hay is Wyomings number one crop. Hay earn the state over $65 million each year. Other crops grown in Wyoming are barley, wheat, corn, sugar beets, dry beans, sunflower, oats, and greenhouse products. Manufacturing Manufacturing in Wyoming is minimal. However, manufacturing remains a noticeable part of the economy contributing over $1.25 billion to the Wyoming economy every year. Manufacturers in Wyoming specialize in the refining of petroleum. Petroleum refineries are located in Cheyenne, Evansville, Evanston, Newcastle and Sinclair. About 170,000 barrels of oil is refined in these refineries every day. Other top manufacturing products in Wyoming are coal products, chemicals, non-metallic mineral products, fabricated metal products, food, beverage and tobacco products, machinery, plastics and rubber products, wood products, computer and electronic products, electrical equipment and appliances. The manufacturing industry in Wyoming accounts for 5.16% of the total output of the state. Wyoming manufacturing industry employs 3.42% of the workforce. In 2018, the total output from the manufacturing industry was $1.94 billion. The states manufacturing exports have grown by nearly 50% in the last 5 years. In 2018, the state exported $1.28 billion in manufactured goods. Two-thirds of export manufactures in Wyoming are small businesses. Land and Money: Key Provisions of Trump's Middle East Peace Deal Sputnik News 19:34 GMT 28.01.2020 Along with proposing a solution to the territorial grievances between Israelis and Palestinians, Trump's initiative also outlines a $50 billion economic plan that would, according to the White House, "spur the Palestinian economy". US President Donald Trump on 28 January unveiled his long-touted peace plan as a means of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The US head of state delivered his proposal in front of an audience at the White House, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his side. The plan would "more than double the size of the land currently used by the Palestinians", along with providing them the use and management of facilities at the Haifa and Ashdod ports, along with a "Palestinian development of a resort area on the north shore of the Dead Sea, and continued Palestinian agricultural activity in the Jordan Valley". The plan, or "President Donald J. Trump's Vision for Peace, Prosperity, and a Brighter Future for Israel and the Palestinian People" as it is named on the White House website, also proposes "modern and efficient transportation links for easy travel and movement of goods throughout the future state of Palestine, including Gaza and the West Bank". The Palestinian side, however, would be required to recognize Israeli sovereignty over major settlement blocs in the West Bank. The "Vision" also insists that Jerusalem "will stay united and remain the capital of Israel", while suggesting Al-Quds as "the capital of the State of Palestine". Israel would also continue to "safeguard" the holy sites of Jerusalem. "Israel has agreed to a four-year land freeze to secure the possibility of a two-state solution", the plan states. The "Vision" mentions a "massive $50 billion Peace to Prosperity economic plan" offered as a means to "spur the Palestinian economy". Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Industry body COAI said on Wednesday that AGR formula being applied on mobile operators should be applicable on all other categories of telecom licences and there can be no differential treatment for relevant PSUs in this regard. "The question is are you a telecom licencee and if you are then the terms of the licence apply. The court has looked at the terms of the licence, so that same principle then should be applied on every licensed agreement, including for relevant PSUs," (COAI) Director General, Rajan Mathews told PTI. Fifteen telecom owe the government Rs 92,642 crore in unpaid licence fee and another Rs 55,054 crore in outstanding spectrum usage charges. These liabilities arose after the Supreme Court in October last year held that non-core revenues have to be considered for calculating statutory dues from (AGR). In the case of Bharti Airtel, the liabilities added up to nearly Rs 35,586 crore, of which Rs 21,682 crore is licence fee and another Rs 13,904.01 crore is the spectrum usage charge dues (not including the dues of Telenor and Tata Teleservices). Vodafone Idea -- which is staring at unpaid statutory dues of Rs 53,038 crore, including Rs 24,729 crore of spectrum dues and Rs 28,309 crore in licence fee -- has already warned of shut down if no relief is given. Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea Ltd, and Tata Teleservices have, meanwhile, jointly filed a modification application in the Supreme Court seeking more time to pay the statutory dues. The plea for relief on the payment schedule came after a three-judge Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra, earlier this month, dismissed the review petitions filed by telecom against the apex court's October 24, 2019 verdict. The telecom department has also estimated another Rs 2.4 lakh crore in liability for non-telecom such as state-owned gas utility GAIL India Ltd and power transmission firm PowerGrid, which had taken licences to trade broadband on optic fibre running along their pipelines and transmission lines. The DoT has sought additional license fee of Rs 1.72 lakh crore from gas utility GAIL India Ltd, Rs 48,000 crore from OIL, around Rs 22,000 crore from Power Grid Corporation (PowerGrid), and has raised similar demands from RailTel and other (PSUs). PSUs including Oil India Ltd (OIL) and Power Grid Corporation have filed a clarificatory/modificatory petition in the Supreme Court against demands raised by the telecom department. A study by 1st Move International has revealed how much it will cost to move Harry and Meghan from the UK to Canada. BRISTOL, United Kingdom, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 1st Move estimated the moving fees for Harry and Meghan as though they were actual customers. 1st Move International looked at the size of their residence in the UK, Frogmore Cottage, and further researched the value and number of items the royal couple own to create a valued inventory in order to calculate the total volume of their shipment. From this we could calculate the number of shipping containers required, transport and shipping costs including insurance and charter flight costs. Our quotation revealed the move to Vancouver move will cost Harry and Meghan 314,641. Thats over C$ 500,000.00 Total Costs Moving Harry and Meghan to Vancouver Breakdown for personal and household goods Costs Costs C$ Labour costs and packing materials 18,000 $ 30,780.00 Load from cottage onto 9 x 40 ft containers 8,100 $ 13,851.00 Shipping costs from London to arrival door Vancouver - 5300 each container. (3x 40ft containers for security and personnel. 6x 40ft containers for Frogmore Cottage contents) 47,700 $ 81,567.00 2% insurance premium for furnishing, artwork, jewellery, personal effects estimated value 10,000,000 200,000 $ 342,000.00 Customs paperwork and Vancouver agents fees 5400 $ 9234.00 MOVING TOTAL Total moving costs for Harry, Meghan, Archie and staff 279,200 $ 477,432.00 Costs for moving all Harrys vehicles including 6 Landrover security cars Collect 9 vehicles in secured covered transporters and deliver to London Gateway port authority. 250 per vehicle. 2250 $ 3,847.00 Load each car into its own dedicated 20ft container 1575 $ 2,693.00 Ship 9 x 20ft containers London to Vancouver port at 2239 per vehicle 20,151 $ 34,458.00 Devan from container at Vancouver port and deliver 2250 $ 3847.00 Customs paperwork and Vancouver agents fees 2115 $ 3,616.00 Insurance Prince Harrys 3 cars valued at 290,000 at 1% premium 2900 $ 4,959.00 Insurance for additional 6 cars total value 420,000 at 1% premium 4200 $ 7,182.00 TOTAL Total costs, door to door car shipping services 35,441 $ 60,602.00 Combined shipping costs totals Harry, Meghan, Archie and entourage 279,200.00 $ 477,432.00 Harrys cars x 3. Plus 6 Landrover security cars 35,441.00 $ 60,602.00 Total Shipping costs 314,641.00 $ 538,034.00 Flights Gulfstream G550 / 16 passengers charter flight 129,000 $ 220,590.00 Grand Total 443,641 $ 758,624.00 Jack Limerick, Director of Web Services at 1st Move International, said: "With all the recent hype on Prince Harry and Meghan Markles move to Canada we thought we would look at how much the royal couple would need to spend to ship all their stuff overseas compared to the average home owner in the UK. Taking the contents of an average family home with 3 bedrooms, then the costs to ship all their possessions from London to Vancouver inside a 20ft shipping container would be around 3000, plus insurance. With Harry and Meghan moving from Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, this is a substantial 10 bedroom home with rather expensive furniture, antiques and paintings. Shipping and moving costs are mostly calculated on the volume of goods shipped plus the insurance costs based on value of all their possessions. Making some estimations on the couples property based on original research - clothing, jewellery, art and then cars based on what we know, weve calculated the following costs - and put together an imaginary quote based on moving the couple to their new lives. Further Information at 1st Move International: https://www.shipit.co.uk/blog/other-articles/cost-to-move-harry-and-meghan-to-canada Methodology: 1st Move International calculated fees - containers and shipping, packing and unpacking costs - as though Harry and Meghan were actual customers moving from London to Vancouver. A 3-bedroom home generally requires a single 20ft container. A large 10-bedroom home like Frogmore Cottage, with its additional packing needs and substantial furniture, would require six 40ft containers - 5300 each (plus 3 containers for security and staff). Shipping and unpacking costs were added on. 1st Moves affiliate branch AutoShippers.co.uk was used to calculate vehicle shipping costs. Insurance fees were calculated as 2% of the total value of estimated household items. -Notes to Editors- 1st Move International is a professional International Removals company based in Bristol UK. They have been moving people overseas for over 20 years and are an accredited mover and members of the British Association of Removers and regularly ship personal effects and household goods to Canada and the USA. They currently arrange the packing and shipping for over 3000 customers every year. For media information please contact: Jack Limerick UK 0044 (0) 1179828123 Email jack@shipit.co.uk A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6d3ceb9f-3542-40a1-9b32-d65122314882 The CEO of the parent company for Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works and other stores is in talks to step down from the top post, according to a new report. Billionaire Leslie Wexner, 82, is considering strategic options for Victoria's Secret that could include a full or partial sale of the lingerie business, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Parent company L Brands is reportedly seeking to reach a decision on succession plans and a possible Victoria's Secret transaction in the coming weeks, but there's no guarantee a deal will be made. Wexner was a longtime benefactor of late sex predator Jeffrey Epstein, and was for years the only publicly known client of Epstein's purported hedge fund. Billionaire Leslie Wexner, 82, (seen in 2016) is reportedly considering strategic options for Victoria's Secret that could include a full or partial sale of the lingerie business Wexner was a longtime benefactor of late sex predator Jeffrey Epstein, and was for years the only publicly known client of Epstein's purported hedge fund Last year, Wexner accused Epstein of misappropriating 'vast sums' of his fortune while managing his personal finances, and said he had cut ties with Epstein a decade prior. 'I know now that my trust in him was grossly misplaced, and I deeply regret having ever crossed his path,' Wexner wrote in a letter to members of his charitable foundation, which focuses on the development of Jewish professional and volunteer leaders. Wexner is known to have sold Epstein the Manhattan mansion where he hosted his infamous parties. Epstein also reportedly was keen to offer input on which women should be Victoria's Secret models. Epstein died behind bars in August, a little over a month after he was arrested and charged with sex trafficking dozens of underage girls as young as 14 from at least 2002 to 2005. In July 2019, the L Brands board hired an outside law firm to investigate what role Epstein played at the company. The findings have not been made public. Georgia Fowler and models on the catwalk Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2018 Les Wexner and model Stella Maxwell pose at the 2016 Fragrance Foundation Awards Wexner is the longest-serving CEO of a Standard & Poor's 500 company, having served as CEO for more than five decades. He founded what would eventually become L Brands in 1963 with one The Limited retail store, according to the company's website. L Brands shares dropped 29 percent last year, lagging behind during a broad stock market rally. Representatives for L Brands Inc., based in Columbus, Ohio, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. L Brands stock was up nearly 13 percent in pre-market trading on Wednesday. ROCKVILLE, MD / ACCESSWIRE / January 29, 2020 / The American Kidney Fund (AKF) today announced a $100,000 grant from the Hearst Foundation to support a postdoctoral research fellowship in AKF's Clinical Scientist in Nephrology (CSN) Program. AKF's CSN Program funds nephrology's most promising young researchers whose work is designed to improve diagnosis, treatment and outcomes for patients living with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The grant comes at a time when kidney disease is in the national spotlight with the Trump administration's Advancing American Kidney Health initiative to drive innovation and early detection of kidney disease and to increase the number of kidney transplants performed each year. At the same time, a looming crisis in the nephrology workforce threatens to stall progress as fewer medical students enter this specialty. AKF's CSN program aims to drive innovation in postdoctoral nephrology education and help attract young scholars to choose careers in clinical research. The program offers postdoctoral students a two-year fellowship to conduct patient-centric prevention and outcomes research on kidney disease. Prevention research aims to develop strategies for preventing disease onset or delaying disease progression, while outcomes research assesses the effectiveness of various treatments and interventions. CSN fellows receive advanced training in medical ethics, biostatistics, and epidemiology-fields that are essential to kidney research. They also have the unique opportunity to collaborate with AKF staff on national programming to serve kidney patients. The Hearst Foundation, Inc. was founded by William Randolph Hearst in 1946 with the intention of identifying and funding outstanding nonprofits to ensure that people of all backgrounds in the United States have the opportunity to build healthy, productive and inspiring lives. "The Hearst Foundation is honored to support the American Kidney Fund's efforts to drive quality and innovation in kidney patient care," said George Irish, Eastern Director, The Hearst Foundations. "AKF's CSN Program has a decades-long track record of important contributions to clinical research in nephrology and we are pleased to fund work that improves the lives of kidney patients and paves the way for better outcomes." AKF's CSN Fellowship program has trained dozens of nephrology's brightest scholars over the years, many of whom have become leaders in the field as well as mentors to new generations of nephrologists. Past fellows have gone on to pioneer national guidelines for detection and management of chronic kidney disease (CKD), led research on biomarkers' influence on the progression of kidney disease and spearheaded initiatives to reduce racial disparities in kidney patient care. "Tomorrow's innovations in kidney care will come from today's young researchers, and we have been filling that pipeline for more than 30 years," said LaVarne A. Burton, AKF president and CEO. "The Hearst Foundation's generous gift will enable AKF to continue advancing quality in kidney care, while inspiring a new generation of nephrologists to innovate how we prevent and treat kidney disease." ### About Us The American Kidney Fund (AKF) fights kidney disease on all fronts as the nation's leading kidney nonprofit. AKF works on behalf of the 37 million Americans living with kidney disease, and the millions more at risk, with an unmatched scope of programs that support people wherever they are in their fight against kidney disease-from prevention through transplant. With programs that address early detection, disease management, financial assistance, clinical research, innovation and advocacy, no kidney organization impacts more lives than AKF. AKF is one of the nation's top-rated nonprofits, investing 97 cents of every donated dollar in programs, and holds the highest 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator and the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. For more information, please visit KidneyFund.org, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. SOURCE: American Kidney Fund View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/574486/Hearst-Foundation-provides-100000-grant-to-support-American-Kidney-Funds-Clinical-Scientist-in-Nephrology-Fellowship-program New Delhi: A Delhi court on Wednesday remanded JNU student and anti-CAA activist Sharjeel Imam, who was arrested from Bihar for allegedly giving inflammatory speeches, to 5-day custody of Delhi Police Crime Branch. Imam was earlier produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Patiala House courts, at his residence. "Due to security reasons, Imam was produced before the CMM Patiala House court`s residence," a senior officer of Delhi Police Crime Branch said. Imam was earlier subjected to a medical check-up before being taken to the magistrate's residence. Earlier in the day, Imam was brought to Delhi from Patna on transit remand after he spent the night in a police lock-up there. Delhi Police, which arrested Imam from Bihar`s Jehanabad as he was about to escape from there on Tuesday and brought him to Patna, also questioned him in the lock-up. Live TV Sharjeel Imam, however, evaded most of the questions, according to sources and claimed that his mobile phone has been seized for investigation. Imam had been booked for sedition on January 26 after a video of his objectionable comments on Assam, shot on January 25 in Delhi, went viral on social media. A case was registered against Imam under IPC sections 124 A (an offence by words, either spoken or written cause disaffection against Government established by law), 153 A (promoting enmity between different religious groups with an intent to create disharmony) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) by the Delhi Police on January 26. Apart from Delhi, the police of five states including Bihar, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Manipur had booked Sharjeel under the relevant sections of the IPC. On January 27, a team of central probe agency conducted raids at the ancestral home of Imam in Jehanabad when they picked up his younger brother. His brother was detained and questioned at the Kako police station in Jehanabad, said reports. The video of Imam's speech was released by BJP on January 25 and in the video, he can be heard telling a small crowd that Muslims must get united and cut Assam from the rest of India. In a series of videos that went viral on social media, Imam can be heard saying, "If we all come together, then we can separate the Northeast from India. If we cannot do it permanently, then at least for 1-2 months we can do this. It will take the administration at least one month to disperse all of them." "It is our responsibility to cut Assam from India. When this will happen, only then the Centre will listen to us," he further said in the videos. Imam was once an active volunteer at the Shaheen Bagh protest site but he ended his association with Shaheen Bagh protest on January 2 after the protesters refused to accept his call to end the ongoing anti-CAA protest. Susan Saran was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, a progressive, fatal brain disease. After suffering two brain hemorrhages, Saran signed an advance directive for dementia, a controversial new document that instructs caregivers to withhold hand-feeding and fluids at the end of life. She wears a chain bearing instructions that she not be resuscitated. Read more ITHACA, N.Y. When she worked on the trading floor of the Chicago Board Options Exchange, long before cell phone calculators, Susan Saran could perform complex math problems in her head. Years later, as one of its top regulators, she was in charge of investigating insider trading deals. Today, she struggles to remember multiplication tables. Seven years ago, at age 57, Saran was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, a progressive, fatal brain disease. She had started forgetting things, losing focus at the job shed held for three decades. Then tests revealed the grim diagnosis. It was absolutely devastating, said Saran, now 64. It changed everything. My job ended. I was put out on disability. I was told to establish myself in a community before I was unable to care for myself. So Saran uprooted herself. She sold her home in 2015 and found what looked like an ideal place: Kendal at Ithaca, a bucolic retirement community in rural New York whose website promised comprehensive health care for life. And now, shes fighting with that community over her right to determine how shell die even though she has made her wishes known in writing. Such a fight could ensnare millions of Americans with dementia in the coming years. In 2018, after two brain hemorrhages, Saran conferred with a lawyer and signed an advance directive for dementia, a controversial new document created by the group End of Life Choices New York that instructs caregivers to withhold hand-feeding and fluids at the end of life to avoid the worst ravages of the disease. Its not something that I am willing to endure, she said. I dont want my life prolonged beyond the point where Im participating in life. But when Saran submitted the document to Kendal at Ithaca, the New York continuing-care retirement community where she has spent more than $500,000 to secure her future, officials there said they could not honor her wishes. In a letter, lawyers told Saran that the center is required by state and federal law to offer regular daily meals, with feeding assistance if necessary. Theres no provision, the letter said, for decisions to refuse food and water. Its a cruel quandary for Saran and other Americans who have turned to a crop of dementia directives created in recent years. Even when people document their choices while they still have the ability to do so theres no guarantee those instructions will be honored, said Stanley Terman, a California psychiatrist who advises patients on end-of-life decisions. It is, in my opinion, a false sense of security, Terman said. That may be especially true for the 2.2 million people who live in long-term care settings in the United States. People with dementia are most likely to die in nursing facilities, according to new research from Duke University and the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System. If youve got the resources, where youve got family and paid caregivers at home, youre all set, said Karl Steinberg, a California geriatrician and hospice physician who has written extensively about dementia directives. If youre living in a facility, he added, its not going to happen. One key question is whether patients with dementia or those who fear the disease can say in advance that they want oral food and fluids stopped at a certain point, a move that would hasten death through dehydration. Its a controversial form of whats known as VSED voluntarily stopping eating and drinking a practice among some terminally ill patients who want to end their lives. In those cases, people who still have mental capacity can refuse food and water, resulting in death within about two weeks. Many states prohibit the withdrawal of assisted feeding, calling it basic comfort care that must be offered. Only one state, Nevada, explicitly recognizes an advance directive that calls for stopping eating and drinking. And thats via a little-known law that took effect in October. Critics of such documents, however, say they could lead to forced starvation of incapacitated people. The directives may be biased, reflecting a society prejudiced against age, disability, and cognitive change, said James Wright, medical director of three long-term care facilities in Richmond, Va. Hes the lead author of a recent white paper advising facilities not to honor dementia directives. Based on his years of clinical experience, Wright said many people with dementia become content with their situation, even when they never thought they would be. To enforce an advance directive on someone who may have had a complete turnaround on what they think of a life worth living is unethical and immoral, Wright said. The dementia directives published in the last few years are aimed at filling what experts say has been a major gap in advance-care planning: the gradual loss of capacity to make decisions about ones care. One version, published in 2018 by Barak Gaster, a professor of medicine at the University of Washington, has been downloaded 130,000 times after it was mentioned in a New York Times story and continues to be retrieved about 500 times per week. This is an issue that people have really thought a lot about, Gaster said. They worry about it a lot. Theyre so eager and excited to have a structured opportunity to make their wishes known. Traditional advance directives focus on rare conditions, such as a persistent vegetative state or permanent coma, Gaster said. And yet the No. 1 reason a person would lose ability is dementia, he added. In addition to Gasters document, directives drafted in New York and Washington state have drawn hundreds of users. The aid-in-dying advocacy group Compassion & Choices released a dementia directive this month. As the U.S. population ages, more people and their families are grappling with dementia. By 2050, nearly 14 million Americans aged 65 and older may be diagnosed with Alzheimers disease. We are right now experiencing the very first upswing of the giant wave of dementia thats heading our way, Gaster said. Saran is on the crest of that wave. Divorced, with no close family, she turned to Kendal with its 236 independent units and 84-bed health center as her final home. During her four years there, she has noticed some decline in her mental clarity. Even some of the simplest mathematical problems, like even seven times seven, I cant think of it now, Saran said. Still, she is able to manage her affairs. She cooks her own food and cares for her three cats Squeaky, Sweetie, and Pirate, a one-eyed tabby. A longtime Buddhist, she often drives to a nearby monastery to practice her faith. In late summer, Saran invited visitors to her small cottage at Kendal, where tapestries hang on the walls and bookshelves are filled with tomes on religion, death, and dying. Frontotemporal dementia affects about 60,000 people in the United States, and patients often die within seven to 13 years, but Sarans disease appears to be progressing more slowly than expected. I think I have great capacity, said Saran, who wears her silver hair long and favors jeans, linen shirts, and turquoise jewelry. She chain-smokes, lighting up the Seneca cigarettes she buys for $3 a pack from a nearby Indian reservation. She thought about quitting but decided it wasnt worth the effort and continues to indulge her habit. If you had my diagnosis, wouldnt you? she said. When Saran was hospitalized after her strokes, she suddenly understood what losing her abilities might mean. I realized, oh, my God, I might get stuck in a situation where I cant take any independent action, she recalled. I better make sure I have all my paperwork in order. She was stunned to learn it might not matter, even after her local lawyer, Chuck Guttman, drafted health-care proxy documents and a power of attorney. I thought this was it, she said. I thought Id move here and everything was taken care of, everything was settled. And now its not. Laurie Mante, Kendals executive director, declined to comment on Sarans situation, even when Saran authorized her to do so. We recognize the great complexity in balancing our residents wishes with what is required of us, Mante wrote in an email. We have a dedicated team who works to balance those interests, and, when appropriate, work with our residents and their families to seek alternative paths. Saran said no one from Kendal has reached out to discuss an alternative path. Not all dementia directives include instructions about assisted feeding. Gaster said he and his colleagues had heated conversations before deciding to leave that issue off their popular document. Instead, he said, his option helps more people by addressing general goals of care for each stage of the disease. The most important thing, he said, is for people to consider their choices and share their desires with their loved ones. The debate, Gaster said, boils down to whether assisted feeding is basic support or a medical intervention that can be declined in advance. Theres still a very wide perspective of viewpoints on that, he said. Backed by statute and practice, facilities say they are bound to offer food to all residents willing to eat and to assist with hand-feeding and fluids if a person needs help. The controversy centers on the definition of those terms. Wright says late-stage dementia patients who show any interest in food a flick of the eyes, grunting or gestures, opening the mouth should be fed until they refuse it. Steinberg and others contend the default should be dont feed unless they ask for it. Its always going to be somewhat of a guess, Wright acknowledged, about whether hand-feeding someone is help or force. Ive not seen any guidelines that can faithfully give good, unbiased guidance, he said. I feel that I personally can determine when food means something to my patients and when it doesnt. The new crop of dementia directives was inspired, in part, by high-profile cases of dementia patients who were spoon-fed against their apparent wishes. In Oregon and British Columbia, courts ruled that food and water were basic care that could not be withdrawn. But so far, theres been no court case that says a clear advance directive for VSED may or must be honored, said Thaddeus Mason Pope, a professor at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law who studies end-of-life decisions. Pope said he has heard of many people who move out or their families move them out of long-term care facilities to avoid assisted feeding in the last stages of dementia. Saran has considered that, too. I should probably just leave, she said, although that would mean losing the nonrefundable investment shes already made. I think about that every day. But then what? Hospice might be a solution, but only if theres room when she needs it, she said. Saran said her situation should be viewed as a cautionary tale. She wishes shed asked more questions, insisted on answers about exactly how she would die once her dementia progressed. I didnt realize I was signing away my right to self-determination, she said. I am appalled that my future demented self takes precedence over my competent current self. Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health-policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar By Express News Service KOLKATA: The night was cold but the fires were burning. A little after 8 PM, around 50-odd women armed with two dozen Indian flags and photographs of Ambedkar marched inside Kolkatas Park Circus maidan and joined the protesters stationed there since morning. Najma Khatun was among them. She has been a part of the protest against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act since the beginning of the new year. A feeble looking Khatun raised her voice a notch higher to finish the slogan, chudiyan pehen ke halla bol, halla bol... halla bol. After all, it is the chudiyan (bangles) wearing mothers and grandmothers of India who have been leading the fight against the Citizenship Act from the front. The slogans take a jibe at the patriarchal governments machismo which traditionally looks at chudiyan as a form of weakness, often used to feminise their male counterparts. Following in the footsteps of the women of Shaheen Bagh in Delhi, who have been protesting for over 40 days now, women from several parts of Kolkata are staging a sit-in dharna against the new Citizenship Act and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The Citizenship Act fast-tracks citizenship for Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists and Parsis from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan excluding Muslims. Women and children hold anti CAA posters at Park Circus. Tumpa Mandal, who has been a constant at the protest, helped pass water bottles while continuously raising slogans. I spent at least 3-5 hours here every day. The government is not only targeting Muslims but their main agenda is to target Bengalis and poor. We cant let them do this, she said. By the time Mandal decided to make the homeward journey at 10.30 PM, over two thousand people could be heard raising their voices in unison from the other end of the seven-point crossing. Women across religious lines, some with headscarves, others without, could be seen engaging in discussions. Their collective roar echoed when a Trinamool minister took to the dais to read the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. Although, a big handwritten poster outside the cordoned area read No Politics, politicians from Chidambaram to Umar Khalid have been paying surprise visits to the protest site. Everyone is welcomed here as long as they leave their political flags outside the gate. This is a protest led by the citizens of India. We have come together under the Indian flag. We have not invited anyone, said Alakananda Guha, a teacher from South Kolkata. READ| 'Is it our fault...': NRC fears rife in Muslim village on Bengal-Bangladesh border Over the course of six hours, the Preamble was read multiple times. While professors and intellectuals presided over the oration, at other times, it was young girls from the nearby slums. This is perhaps the first time in the history of the Indian republic that the Preamble has been on the lips of so many people and the Constitution in their hearts. 13-year-old Samia agrees. Her introduction to the Constitution is only a week old and by this day, she has learnt the Preamble by heart and often leads oration sessions. As a slum dweller, she says her opportunities are limited but now she aspires to be an advocate. By the time the clock struck 12, almost half of the crowd had dispersed. Enter Navamita Chandra with boxes full of mehendi. Once the henna cones were distributed among the women, their faces lit up with smiles. They got their palms painted with 'No NRC, No CAA' -- their way of celebrating the resistance. While the henna session continued, the crowd slowly started to thin. Ismat Hussain was about to leave for the night when a man handed her a piping hot cup of tea. Hussain was one of the initial 60 women who converged on January 7 at this maidan in the heart of the city to give shape to the protest. A mother of two, Hussains eyes were filled with guilt when her neighbour asked if she was ready to leave. She has been running errands for two weeks, arranging food and water for the women assembled. But now her thighs were bleeding and she needed rest. I have two daughters. They will be staying the night here. I need to rest tonight else I wont be able to come here in the morning, she said. With more than 500 people still present after midnight, the slogans gave way to a makeshift mushaira, where people poked fun at the rich and privileged followed by songs against the oppressor. The words of Iqbal, Faiz, Gandhi, Mehta, Tagore and Nazrul reverberated in the chilly air. While some sang along, others took out their mobile phones, documenting and archiving the words of protest. After all, sab yaad rakha jayega. All eyes turned to the left of the maidan when a man in a shabby double-breasted blazer walked towards the centre stage. He said he had been to a wedding and wanted to be a part of the protest. Around the same time, 60-year-old Sajda also arrived. Draped in a saree and hijab, the humble-looking woman sat down next to me. It was unusual for her to travel at such odd hours but there she was. Tears rolled down her eyes when I asked what brought her there. "Every day I come here, see the protest from outside and walk away. Today I gathered the courage to sit down with my sisters. Why are they dividing us again? she asked. The Park Circus area doesnt hold a great reputation for safety, but with over a hundred women holding the fort, a sense of liberation has set in. By 2 AM, the temperature had dropped three more degrees forcing people to take shelter under the tents where they engaged in songs, slogans and discussions. The state government had recently allowed the organisers to build tents in selective areas around the maidan and provided them bio-toilets after two weeks. A woman with a five-month-old child trembled as she stood up for the national anthem, with a fellow protester lending a hand. She had been sitting in the corner, expressing her solidarity silently, after travelling for almost an hour to reach the protest venue. She promised frequent visits to the site. To charge up the drowsy protesters, a man took charge of the mic and raised slogans in Bengali. Lodai, Lodai, Lodai chai, he continued for a full half-hour till his throat gave up. Over the years, the slogan has been popularised by the Left and now can be heard in places where the fire of revolution still burns. The protest bore witness to a celebration of cultural pluralism, religious harmony and the vigour of women under the Indian flag. At the verge of dawn, volunteers began their preparations for a new day. The cordoned area was cleaned up and there was a bonfire of the remains of the previous night. While we soaked in the warmth of the fire along with the first rays of the sun, six women appeared raising slogans. The resistance was alive. Close When you've been injured in an accident you don't want to be left paying for any part of it. After all, you are the injured party, and not responsible. You may be wondering how you're going to pay for expenses or get your mobility back. So, coming up with a personal injury settlement figure might be an additional stressful task. These tips will help you get the optimal settlement amount. Consider All The Damages Before Giving a Number When your attorney makes the settlement offer on your behalf, you want to be sure that it includes all of the damages you are hoping to get. This means you have to calculate them accurately. The insurance adjuster may disagree with your number and will want you to lower it. You will have to be reasonable, but you don't want to take too low of a number. Have an idea before the official offer of how low you'd be willing to go and be sure to speak with an attorney about what the least amount of compensation you should expect to be. Types of Damages When you make your claim there will be factors used to increase the amount you will receive through insurance for your personal injury claim. These include: Medical expenses, such as the ambulance ride, initial hospital visit, and subsequent follow-up checks with a licensed medical professional The cost of medications required after the injury Physical and emotional distress, also known as pain and suffering Permanent alteration of life and mobility, such as when a person had to have a limb amputated, or was left permanently paralyzed, scarred, or with severely limited range of motion in an affected limb Loss of wages, and of future potential earnings from being unable to work Severe injuries, such as spinal cord, brain/head/neck, internal organ, and bone injuries Use Images To Your Advantage Pictures will help your case tremendously. By showing images of your injuries, the road conditions at the time of the accident and any drug or alcohol paraphernalia in the car of the at-fault driver can be included with your settlement letter. These images corroborate your statements and can help you get a higher settlement. Emphasize Life And Family Changes No doubt this accident has not only had a toll on you, but your loved ones as well, and maybe even your company. You may have colleagues who relied on you as a respected member of your team. But more noticeably, it may have changed your life. If you're unable to complete parenting duties as you were before the accident, and the stress has caused issues in your marriage or co-habitant, then you want to emphasize these in your letter. Hire An Attorney You want to state clearly and explicitly what the amount you're claiming is, and include all documentation. In your letter, you want to explain any pain and suffering you've experienced. When coming up with your injury settlement amount, you will want to consult an attorney to ensure that you are not missing any potential damages you can claim, that your evidence is sufficient and that you do not take too low of an offer. You want to be sure that all of your damages are paid for by the responsible party, and a compassionate but aggressive attorney, such as those you'll find at Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff & Wolff Lawyers, will fight for you to get the compensation you deserve, and quickly. See Now: What Republicans Don't Want You To Know About Obamacare OTTAWAOnline streaming giants such as Netflix should contribute to funding Canadian content and pay sales taxes. Legislation should be introduced to address harmful online material. The CBC should be advertising free. And a government tax credit to support local journalism should not just be extended, but also applied to broadcast media. Those were among the recommendations in a highly anticipated report released by a legislative review panel Wednesday. In response, the government said it would move swiftly on the suggested reforms. Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave him direction to table legislation in the governments first year and we will follow through on this promise. Our goal is simple to make the system more equitable than it is right now, he said. The technological changes that we have seen have made it so that our system doesnt work anymore. Guilbeault said a measure like charging the GST on streaming services such as Netflix could be imposed soon, noting that Trudeau talked about probably the next budget, so this is something we can move very quickly. Currently, only Quebec and Saskatchewan require at least the provincial sales taxes to be collected on streaming services. The report urges that the GST/HST be applied equitably to services provided by foreign online providers, saying it would eliminate the disadvantage to competing Canadian providers. The six-member panel was created in 2018 by the Liberals with a mandate to modernize antiquated broadcasting and media laws. Its 235-page report, titled Canadas Communications Future: Time To Act, contains 97 recommendations and is infused with a sense of urgency. The need for this work has never been more urgent, panel chair Janet Yale told a news conference. The pace of change is dizzying, the opportunities unprecedented and the risks to our privacy as consumers, to our cultural sovereignty as a country, and to our economic competitiveness are significant, she said. The panel steered clear of the controversial taxes on digital platform providers such as Google and Facebook that are now the subject of international debate and even diplomatic tensions. Frances plan to impose a digital tax on the American tech giants prompted Washington to threaten retaliatory tariffs. The Liberals election platform proposed a three per cent tax on the revenue that such companies generate in the country and Guilbeault said Wednesday that Canada continues to discuss that issue with other countries. However, the panel did say that online streaming companies such as Netflix, Apple TV and Disney+ should be required to contribute to Canadian content, a requirement that had long been sought by many Canadian producers and the media industry. Culturally, the framework must ensure that Canadas creators continue to have the means for Canadian stories to be told and discovered in a world of so many choices, said the report. Netflix and other online streaming services would be required to devote a portion of their program budgets to Canadian programs. Yale doubted that the proposed requirement would drive up costs for the streaming services. We do not think this is something that would be passed onto consumers or result in higher prices, she said. If you benefit from operating in the Canadian system, you should contribute. Its a simple principle. Significant recommendations include a remake of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to give the regulator more teeth and a bigger mandate in dealing with the digital giants. That would include giving the CRTC the power to impose spending requirements on media content providers and discoverability, or how content is displayed on a website. But one expert said the new powers and responsibilities proposed for the regulatory agency would be wholly inappropriate, and likely run afoul of Canadas obligations under trade agreements and the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression. Ive got huge concerns with the massive regulatory structure that this envisages, said Michael Geist, a professor at the University of Ottawa. Its really unprecedented to see this level of regulation. They want give the regulator huge powers to determine what ... the website looks like, what content they provide, he said. If it were to be implemented, it would be subject to challenge on a number of grounds and quite frankly the government ought to reject them. But the reports recommendations won endorsement from others, such as the Directors Guild of Canada, ACTRA and the Canadian Media Producers Association. Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, an advocacy group, applauded the panels vision for the CBC with an expanded mandate for more Canadian content, a long-term commitment of federal funding and an end to all commercial advertising within five years. I would say it is ambitious but appropriately so, said Daniel Bernhard, the groups executive director. We have this absurd situation in Canada where our government policy has allowed foreign tech companies to basically asphyxiate Canadian media, Bernhard said. This blueprint is really what is necessary to ensure that our own cultural conversation and democratic conversation can survive. Recognizing the importance of local news in a democracy, the panel also recommended that the $595 million journalism labour tax credit be extended beyond its five-year mandate which started in January 2019, in order to strengthen the capacity of news organizations over the long term. It also says that the credit, which has mainly benefited print media, should be applied to news on all platforms, including broadcasting. Crucially, the panel says that an uneven playing field exists between social media platforms such as Facebook and news media organizations, a tilt that should be corrected. As a result of the imbalance in their bargaining power, news content creators are unable to individually negotiate terms over the use of their content by social media platforms, says the panel. Newspaper publishers have long called for more information behind the closely guarded algorithms that the digital giants use to determine what articles are most read. This information, says the panel, could be made public to the publishers. We believe that the best way to address misinformation and fake news is to have accurate, trusted and reliable sources of news, Yale said. In terms of privacy and data breaches, the panel called on the federal government to harness the power of their collective agencies, such as the office of the privacy commissioner, to examine the scope of the problem. That review should examine the use of Big Data by dominant online platform providers and potential threats to privacy, competition, consumer protection, cultural sovereignty, democratic institutions, and taxation, and make recommendations on legislation. The panel also examined the role of advanced networks such as 5G. It did not go into whether Huawei equipment should be used in Canadian networks, which the United States says is a security risk. Read more about: Madhya Pradesh minister PC Sharma on Tuesday said that 'Hanuman Chalisa' will be recited 1.25 crore times at an event in Bhopal on January 30. "On January 30, 'Hanuman Chalisa' will be recited 1.25 crore times at Minto Hall Convention Center in Bhopal. It is not an event of any political party, neither of the Congress nor of the State government. Chief Minister Kamal Nath is hosting it as he is a devotee of Lord Hanuman," Sharma said. The event coincides with the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The Madhya Pradesh government has recently sanctioned the construction of a grand Sita temple in Sri Lanka, apart from an international level Buddha Museum in Sanchi. The Chief Minister made the announcement on Monday in a meeting held with the delegation of Mahabodhi society, led by Banagla Uptisa, and Public Relations Minister PC Sharma. According to a press release, the Chief Minister has asked for the formation of a committee, which will have representatives from MP and Sri Lanka governments along with members of the Mahabodhi society, to oversee the construction of the Sita temple in a time-bound manner. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jeff Golden Golden, D-Ashland, is a state senator representing Senate District 3 in the Oregon Legislature and the author of Unafraid: A Novel of the Possible. As chair of the Senate Campaign Finance Committee, I get media requests to comment on money in politics. The last one asked about a recent Oregon Public Broadcasting story detailing large contributions to state attorney general and treasurer candidates from class-action attorney firms that sometimes get lucrative contracts from those two state offices. A reporter wanted to know what I thought about that. What I think is pretty simple. This isnt about our current attorney general and treasurer, both of whom are serving Oregon honestly and ably; my guess is they accepted the standard expert advice that its stupid to unilaterally disarm by rejecting special-interest checks while your opponent is cashing them. What this is about is a fundamentally messed-up campaign finance system one that flows naturally from our status as one of very few states that doesnt regulate the size or timing of political donations; doesnt mandate that funders of political ads be named; and doesnt come close to the common-sense restrictions that other states have adopted. It is a campaign finance system that runs squarely against what most Oregonians want. This is where it gets simple. A clear majority of Oregonians I know dont want individuals or groups writing huge checks to candidates. Even more feel that way when considering donors who have a special financial stake in what those candidates decide after theyre elected. Some call our current system legalized bribery. Im not sure about that. I am sure that other democracies consistently ban this kind of funding. You can see jaws drop when international visitors hear our system described. Theres an important point that sometimes gets blurred in this conversationmost of my legislative colleagues are high-integrity people. Ive offended some of them by highlighting what I hold to be a plain fact: we wont make serious progress on the big issues until we reduce the power of concentrated political money. What some officials seem to hear in that is a charge that theyre corrupt. Thats not what I think. After decades in and around electoral politics, what I think is that deliberating on complex public policy decisions, very often close calls, is an intensely demanding task. It calls for our best thinking and undivided attention. At a time when winning political office requires far too much money, when citizens are so overwhelmed with solicitations that raising money is a grim tedious chore, the appeal of those $20,000-$100,000 campaign checks becomes fierce. So fierce that, on the brink of a high-stakes vote, its nearly impossibleIm tempted to strike nearlyto keep your mind from wandering to what your biggest donors are likely to think. Share your opinion Submit your essay of 500-700 words on a highly topical issue or a theme of particular relevance to the Pacific Northwest, Oregon and the Portland area to commentary@oregonian.com. Please include your email and phone number for verification. So were really not talking about corruption. Were talking about distraction at moments when we least want our decision-makers distracted. If we want our leaders making crucial policy decisions on the merits of proposals and the merits alone, the jumbo campaign checks have to go. We can make that happen. The first step is a proposal youll see on the November ballot to add language to the Oregon Constitution that empowers the Legislature, local governments, or the people through the initiative process to regulate campaign financing. Here in the Legislature weve begun the conversation on just what (assuming that voters approve the ballot measure) those regulations should be: how high should we set dollar limits, and what kinds of entities should be eligible to donate? The bill my committee introduced to answer those question will likely be considered either by the Senate Rules Committee in the pending short session or a special task force in the months that follow. There are complex nuances in the process of setting fair and balanced limits, and in the subjective task of judging public officials claims that theyre not influenced by big donations. Theres plenty of room for disagreement. What Im hoping is that, by way of a yes vote in November, we can agree on this much: Oregon government will better serve Oregonians as a whole when people or groups with big financial stakes in public policy outcomes no longer bankroll political campaigns. Not too complicated, right? 61 Shares Share Oh, youre here to take me to my test. I have heard this too many times to count, and I have come to perfect my response. No, I am not patient transport, your social worker, or your nurse. I am your doctor. After a moment of confusion, I usually see a facial expression signaling that the patient is reframing his or her initial thoughts. Maybe I am misidentified because I am young, or black, or female. No matter the reason, I get annoyed instantly every time this happens. Do patients have some preconceived notion about who I am? I always conclude my internal dialogue wondering, Will they trust me? In sharing these experiences, I feel that women, especially minority women, deal with this more than other physicians. Although this issue may seem insignificant to some, continually having to define your role drains morale and can erode confidence. In spite of my white coat and MD, patients mistake me for everything BUT a doctor. I have joked that, even if I tattooed MD on my forehead, there would still be misperceptions about my position. All kidding aside, the repeated misunderstanding about women being physicians speaks to the strength of implicit bias in medicine. Implicit bias stems from our past experiences and stereotypes. It is an unconscious process that allows our brains to make automatic associations based on initial yet superficial qualities. Basically, implicit bias is one way our brain sifts through the information constantly bombarding us. Patients may be more at risk of relying on automatic, unconscious associations when they are stressed or sick. Yet, I have often wondered, do these interactions affect patient care? So if you find yourself annoyed by repeatedly stating, I am your doctor, here are a few things to consider: Implicit bias is strong Physicians implicit bias toward patients is commonly discussed. Yet we arent taught how to deal with being on the receiving end of bias. Nonetheless, the hidden curriculum during medical school and residency has provided models of how to navigate these situations. What I have found most helpful is to quickly establish common humanity with patients. By sharing small aspects of my story, I can help people disassociate from their previous biases. Giving patients the opportunity to reconstruct their thoughts about who I am, and hopefully, establish a trusting and therapeutic relationship. Confronting bias is important I would be debt-free if I had $10 every time a nurse asked for orders from my six-foot plus, usually white, male medical students in their short white coats. We all have biases about the type of person we look to for help. During my second year of residency, I worked with an amazing female fellow in the ICU who helped me find my voice in high-stakes situations. She encouraged me to correct people when they were looking to the wrong members of the team for orders or guidance. She taught me something important at that moment you have to confront bias head-on. Acknowledgment is key As I mentioned above, confronting bias provides an opportunity for people to reconstruct their initial associations. This confrontation can be tricky, though, when a patient is involved. What is the appropriate way to check your patient? I think most of us already do this in a proper manner: We politely correct patients (no matter how many times it takes). Is it hard to repeatedly define your role? Absolutely! Yet this is why I think acknowledgement of the bias against you as a physician is very important. Physicians need to acknowledge to their team that they are being bombarded by waves of implicit bias. Because I just cant believe that this doesnt affect us. When this happens to me, I conscientiously tell my team about the interaction. I do this not to make people feel uncomfortable, but to make sure I am scrutinizing my own bias so as not to affect patient care. Implicit bias is everywhere We are all guilty of making quick associations, especially in high-stakes situations. It is important to make patients feel comfortable, but there isnt anything wrong with clarifying and re-clarifying your role. Most importantly, we should all try our best to support each other during these situations. Be open to the fact that some colleagues might need to air their frustrations as a way to manage their own bias toward patients. Acknowledging our human flaws and supporting each other really is whats best for our patients and for us. Cassandra Fritz is an internal medicine chief resident who blogs at Insights on Residency Training, a part of NEJM Journal Watch. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Developing fundamental new approaches against multi-resistant pathogens is the aim of the new Bavarian research network called New Strategies Against Multi-Resistant Pathogens by Means of Digital Networking - bayresq.net. A scientist from FAU is also conducting research in an interdisciplinary sub-project in the network, which the State of Bavaria is funding for five years with a total of almost 10 million euros. Improving our understanding of the immune system In the fight against multi-resistant bacteria, Prof. Dr. Diana Dudziak, Professor of Dendritic Cell Biology at the Department of Dermatology at Universitatsklinikum Erlangen and coordinator of the project, is conducting research into the immune system of our skin with microbiologists from the University of Regensburg. Our skin is normally home to bacteria that are important for its function. However, under certain circumstances, these so-called commensal bacteria can develop resistance to antibiotics. These bacteria can exist on the skin's surface for several years without any effects. If they enter the body somewhere else through wounds or the use of tubes in a respirator during an operation, it can lead to life-threatening infections. 'We want to understand more about why our immune system tolerates commensal bacteria such as Staphylococcus epidermis and does not trigger an immune response,' explains Prof. Dudziak. To do so, the researchers are investigating the so-called checkpoints the immune system uses to identify bacteria. 'The aim of the project is to break through this immune tolerance in a targeted manner to facilitate effective immune responses to multi-resistant pathogens,' explains Prof. Dudziak. A new research network 'As a new research network, bayresq.net should make an important contribution to closing a considerable gap in the research and elimination of these pathogens in the long-term', says Bavarian Science Minister Bernd Siebler. The participating universities in the six interdisciplinary projects are using the potential of digital methods, for example, to target new types of antibiotics to fight certain pathogens. This adaptation is to be automated using high-throughput approaches and machine learning. Using big data also makes new approaches possible, such as predictions about the antibiotic resistance and virulence of bacteria through the analysis of the genome. This can facilitate targeted therapies. Each of the six projects has received 1.3 million euros of funding for its research by the State of Bavaria. ### A woman who slipped into an icy lake in Michigan and was stuck in freezing water for 15 minutes has hit out at the 'people who are bodyshaming' her since the incident. Korisa Miller initially shared the video of the incident on social media to raise awareness of the dangers of ice fishing but said that she has noticed comments from people calling her fat and questioning why she wasn't dressed properly. She had been ice fishing with her best friend off the docks in Harrison County, Michigan, when she lost her footing and slipped into Lake St Clair. Her friend, Melissa Kozlowski, tried to pull her out of the water but couldn't so the pair began screaming to get the attention of two fishermen, known only as Joe and Mark. While the men tried to drag Ms Miller out of the water they removed her coat and jumper because they began choking her as they kept floating round her neck. At around 3.20pm on Monday, Macomb County Sheriff's Office received a call that a woman had fallen into the lake from the dock and couldn't get out. Bodycam footage from the officer who rushed to the call shows two strangers, named only as fishermen Joe and Mark, holding Miller above the water as she tells the officers she can't move at all because her body is so numb. 'After two minutes of me being in there, from the waist down was completely numb. I couldn't feel my feet,' she said. 'They took off my jacket and sweater because it was choking me. That's why I was in a tank top, I didn't go there in a tank top.' Koria Miller was ice fishing in Michigan when a freak accident saw her slip into the icy waters Miller's body went so numb in the cold water her friend and local fishermen could not pull her out and were forced to try and keep her head above water as they waited for police help Ms Miller told the Detroit Free Press: 'After going through such a traumatic experience and I almost died, this is what people have to say. 'I just think these people have no conscience anymore. People have no idea that I used to be 400 pounds and now I am the way I am.' She added: 'I have a lot of people that have my back but I also wanted to go and speak for myself too. Shame on people like that. 'I am glad I am alive and share my story. This isnt going to stop me from doing what I love. 'So the Haters are going to hate and it isnt going to get me because of my story someone will not make that mistake.' Miller and her friend Ms Kozlowski were ice fishing last Monday, January 27, at Beacon Cove Marina when the freak accident occurred. Earlier videos posted to Facebook show the friends happily drilling into the ice before they cast their lines but warn 'I will post what happened earlier the reason why I cannot laugh anymore today'. 'I was turning around and I lost my grip somehow. That part is a little fuzzy,' she told Fox News. 'We did not think that anything like this could happen. 'We weren't on the ice. We were on the dock. It was a freak accident if we had a life jacket they could have laid on the thick ice and pulled me up.' Korisa Miller hopes that the video will remind people to always bring a friend while fishing Miller's friend Melissa Kozlowski (left with Miller) was on another dock and rushed to help According to a Facebook post form the Macomb County Sheriff's Office, Kozlowski heard Miller fall from a dock over and saw her struggling in the icy water. 'Her friend was unable to pull her up to the dock and the young lady's body began to go numb,' the post said. The two nearby fishermen also heard the woman's cries and attempted to help but the cold had made her body completely numb and she was unable to move. The fishermen held Miller above the water as much as they could to prevent her from drowning as the woman's friend called for help. 'I could not thank them enough,' Miller said of the local heroes. 'We met them earlier and were sharing fishing stories about how much we love it.' 'They acted so quick, they didn't think about it, they ran right to us,' Kozlowski added. Miller was finally pulled from the water after first responders arrived. After a 15-minute unexpected dip, she returned home with frost bitten toes and a sore shoulder but says it has not put her off ice fishing. She has reminded people, however, to always fish with a partner and to wear non-slip footwear. Korisa Miller suffered frost bite but has said she will still go ice fishing as long as she has rope Miller was body shamed by some who watched her rescue video from the lake She hit out at the 'haters' and said she hoped her video would help to spread awareness 'Thank you everyone who had been praying for me and asking if I am okay. I am just bruised and sore but I am okay' she wrote on social media. 'To all of the people who are body shaming me dont forget its a big girl world lizzo is one of the reasons how I am happy in my own skin. She is a queen!! Yall are just little babies who need to hurt others because you cant love yourself. I pray that no one has to go though this. 'The reason why I gave permission to show the video is to show awareness on how dangerous fishing can be. I am glad I am alive and share my story. 'This isnt going to stop me from doing what I love. I am now keeping rope and life vests near me. So the Haters are going to hate and it isnt going to get me because of my story someone will not make that mistake.' The Macomb County Sheriff's Office offered a reminder that if you fall into cold water, try not to panic, try to control your breath and focus on keeping your head above the water. New Delhi, Jan 29 : Vinay Kumar Sharma, one of the convicts in the Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case awaiting execution, has sent a mercy petition to President Ram Nath Kovind, his lawyer A.P. Singh told IANS on Wednesday. Tihar Jail authorities have already started preparations to hang the four convicts facing death row for their involvement in the horrific incident of December 16, 2012 -- wherein a 23-year-old para-medical student was gang-raped in a moving bus. With the February 1 deadline for hanging nearing, the convicts are taking all possible steps to delay the executions by using all the legal options available to them. For the last 15 days, some of the accused are visiting courts to use their legal rights. However, they have not got any favourable response from any court so far. On Wednesday, Vinay, one of the four convicts currently lodged in Tihar Jail, sent a mercy petition to the President, hoping to get some relief. Now, he is waiting for the President's response. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Close on the heels of launches by Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor Company, Indias largest two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp is getting ready to launch its first electric scooter Duet E. The maker of Splendor and Passion could be launching the battery powered scooter in the next few months, one of the component suppliers to the Duet E told Moneycontrol. But it's not known if the launch of the electric scooter means that the Munjal family has resolved a dispute over the use of the Hero brand. A 2010 settlement had prevented Hero MotorCorp from using the brand for electric scooters. Bajaj Auto has already launched the battery electric vehicle (BEV) Chetak at Rs 100,000 (ex-showroom),and TVS Motor introduced the iQube electric scooter at Rs 115,000 (on-road, Bengaluru). Both launches took place in January. The Duet E in not a new concept having been first showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo. At that time, the specifications declared by the company was a 65 km drive range and a 0-60km per hour in 6.5 seconds. The Chetak has a range of 95 km to the iQube's 75 km. While it was not immediately known if Hero MotoCorp has updated the performance figures of the Duet E, the Chetak and iQube have better drive range and pick up speeds. While sale of the Chetak is restricted to Pune and Bengaluru, the iQube will only be sold in Bengaluru. Sales of both models will be extended to four-to six more cities in the next two-to-three quarters. Bengaluru-based startup Ather Energy, where Hero MotoCorp holds more than 30 percent stake, will launch the 450X electric scooter having a drive range of over 75 km and a top-speed of 80 km per hour. Ather has also restricted its presence to Bengaluru and has recently expanded to Chennai. It will come to Mumbai by June. We dont comment on market speculation. Hero MotoCorp is fully committed to driving sustainability and green mobility in the country, a company spokesperson said. One of the reasons that held Hero MotoCorp back from launching an electric vehicle of its own was a tussle within the Munjal family that controls the Hero empire. Hero MotoCorp is barred from using the Hero brand as per a family settlement agreement. Part of the Hero empire is Hero Electric controlled by Naveen Munjal, which sells electric scooters and electric bicycles. When asked if the dispute within the Munjal family was settled, allowing Hero MotoCorp to launch a battery electric vehicle of its own, the spokesperson side-stepped the question and instead added that the companys EV programme is on track. Our internal EV programme is on track and we are working towards introducing mass-market products and solutions in a phased manner. However, we would talk about specific products and their brand names closer to their launch dates, the spokesperson added. An increasing number of female refugees living in Germany are taking advantage of the German laws and getting divorces from their husbands writes Zaman Al Wasl. Some Syrian refugees have blamed German feminist organizations for turning Syrian women, who were asking for a divorce, against men and against Syrian customs and traditions. According to the source, some women have taken advantage of the absolute freedom granted to them by the German government, filing complaints against their husbands, fathers, or brothers, to the extent of using the smallest home disputes as a tool to threaten men. Mohamed al-Turki, a Syrian expatriate who has been living in Germany since 1986, and whose wife had escaped with his children to an unknown destination, said that the German court has accused him of kidnapping the kids instead, but later was acquitted and released. These sort of actions has led refugees to become more violent against their wives, which in turn led the German authorities to use the Red Cross and feminist organizations to act, going to great lengths, such as changing the tenancy contract to the name of the wife without their knowledge, as a way to get the man out of the house and taking his children. Turki believes that inciting disagreements and instability within the Syrian household is an attempt to take their children and raise them according to western customs, far from their morals and religion. In fact, European laws guarantee the rights of divorced women, with the state securing the childrens education, house expenses and costs of living, if they are unable to work. The law is clear in this regard, so the husband cannot force his wife to live with him, which encouraged married refugee women to ask for a divorce for the slightest reasons. In turn, lawyer Ahmed al-Taris said that disagreements between the spouses in the refugee community differ from one family to the other, depending on the circumstances. Sometimes the wife is at fault and sometimes it is the husband. Both parties may be mistaken in their judgments. The arrest or removal of a man from his home happens only after a legal complaint has been filed, with evidence and witnesses. This applies to women as well as men. Taris explained that the stories of disputes within Syrian families in Germany are the similar to their countrys, but the reactions of the women differ. For example, in Syria the family would intervene to resolve these differences, in Germany, they are replaced by the social institutions. The whole subject depends on the education of the husband and wife and the degree of their commitment to public morals and to preserving the family. The lawyer however did not deny that the law in Germany serves women more than men, but this law does not apply only to Syrians but to all Germans and all nationalities residing in the country. Because Syrians are ignorant of this law, they are not aware of the consequences of their behavior. That is why the response of the police or authorities surprises them, despite being in line with their laws, which existed before the Syrians took refuge there. 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. NACKA STRAND, Sweden, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hexagon AB, a global leader in sensor, software and autonomous solutions, today announced the signing of an agreement to acquire COWI's aerial mapping business. COWI is a leading international consulting group within engineering, economics and environmental sciences with a mapping business that serves as Europe's largest provider of airborne surveying and spatial data processing and key partner of the HxGN Content Program. Bringing valuable expertise in capturing and selling Content as a Service (CaaS), COWI's mapping unit has been delivering HxGN Content Program services in Europe since 2015. With approximately 400 specialists worldwide, the business provides public administrators, government organisations, infrastructure project stakeholders, utility companies and global internet companies access to the most relevant geospatial data during their planning processes. "The acquisition of COWI's mapping business is a logical next step to accelerate and strengthen the HxGN Content Program in Europe," says Hexagon President and CEO Ola Rollen. "Along with the previous acquisitions of North West Geomatics, SigmaSpace, Melown Technologies, and Thermopylae Sciences and Technologies, this acquisition accelerates Hexagon's mission to provide customers with access to the largest on-demand library of professional-grade and quality controlled geospatial data for applications such as asset management, public safety, utility mapping, insurance claims, and more." COWI's mapping business will operate within the geospatial content solutions unit of Hexagon's Geosystems division. The acquisition is expected to be completed during the second quarter 2020, subject to regulatory approvals. 2019 sales, less intra-group sales, amounted to 14 MEUR. For further information, please contact: Maria Luthstrom, Head of Investor Relations, Hexagon AB, +46-8-601-26-27, [email protected] Kristin Christensen, Chief Marketing Officer, Hexagon AB, +1-404-554-0972, [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/hexagon/r/hexagon-strengthens-hxgn-content-program-with-acquisition-of-cowi-s-mapping-business,c3021203 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/387/3021203/1183201.pdf Press release https://news.cision.com/hexagon/i/cowi,c2741383 COWI SOURCE Hexagon The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation has published their findings from extensive coral reef surveys conducted in the Kingdom of Tonga. Released today, the Global Reef Expedition: Kingdom of Tonga Final Report contains critical information on the health and resiliency of coral reef ecosystems in Tonga, and provides scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders with invaluable information they can use to protect these fragile marine ecosystems. "Since Tonga is a developing country, about 66% of the total population's livelihood depends upon seafood," said Apai Moala, a Senior Geologist Assistant at the Ministry of Lands & Natural Resources (MLNR) who participated in the research mission. "I do believe that with more information and better understanding by the people about the importance of marine life, we can minimize destructive activities and negative effects that might happen to reefs in the near future." In 2013, scientists on the Global Reef Expedition--the largest coral reef survey and mapping expedition in history--came to Tonga to work with local partners and government officials to assess the health of the reef. Representatives from the Ministry of Lands, Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources; the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Fisheries; and the Vava'u Environmental Protection Association (VEPA) joined over a dozen scientists from around the world on the month-long research mission in Tonga, and helped the Foundation conduct numerous coral reef outreach and education activities with local schoolchildren and community members. On the Global Reef Expedition mission to Tonga, scientists conducted nearly 500 surveys of coral reefs and reef fish around three of Tonga's island groups: Ha'apai, Vava'u, and Niua. They also collected over 2,200 km2 of satellite imagery to develop detailed habitat and bathymetric maps of the seafloor. The report released today summarizes the Foundation's findings from the research expedition along with recommendations for preserving Tonga's coral reefs into the future. They found that coral reefs in the Kingdom of Tonga were moderately healthy, but the reef fish and invertebrate communities were in need of attention. At the time the surveys were conducted, some reefs had lower coral cover than expected, but it was the fish communities that were of greatest concern to the scientists. Although there were many kinds of fish seen on reefs in Tonga, the fish were small. Few large and commercially valuable fish remained. But with continued fisheries management, there is hope these reefs can recover. "The coral reef fish communities we observed in Tonga were dominated by small fish considered low on the food chain, raising concern for the long-term sustainability of the fishery," said Renee Carlton, author and Marine Ecologist for the Foundation. "We saw very few fish that are particularly important to local fishers, such as parrotfish, emperors, snappers, and groupers. Our findings highlight the importance of marine conservation already happening in Tonga, and expanding management efforts to even in the most remote regions of the country." The report commends the Kingdom of Tonga for the substantial work they have done in establishing Specially Managed Areas (SMAs) and Fish Habitat Reserves (FHRs) and recommends they continue and expand these efforts. Some of the specific recommendations made in the report include providing education on the importance of establishing SMAs and the benefits they provide to local fishermen, improving documentation of fish catch, encouraging sustainable fishing practices in Niuatoputapu, and protecting the reefs surrounding the northern Niua islands from larger fishing vessels. With the establishment of additional SMAs and FHRs, and continued enforcement of those that already exist, Tonga's fisheries resources can be protected and sustainably used by the people of Tonga for generations to come. Alexandra Dempsey, Director of Science Management for the Foundation and one of the report's authors, acknowledges that Tonga's reefs may have changed since the Expedition, but the report still provides valuable data on the state of the reefs at a point in time. "Our hope is that the data included in this report will be used by the people of Tonga to help protect their coral reefs." ### Representative image As many as 25 new fatalities have been reported from Chinas central Hubei province as the deadly coronavirus continues to wreak havoc. This took the death toll to 132 and the confirmed infection cases to nearly 6,000. Health experts have warned that the novel coronavirus epidemic may reach its climax in the next 10 days resulting in large-scale casualties. The Chinese health authorities announced on January 29 that 5,974 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus had been reported in 31 provincial-level regions by the end of January 28. A total of 132 people have died from the disease, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. In Hubei province, of which Wuhan is the provincial capital, 3,554 confirmed cases have been reported with 125 deaths as of January 28, it said. 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 Among the confirmed cases, 1,239 patients are in critical condition, official TV CGTN reported, adding that there are 9,239 suspected cases in the Chinese mainland. The Hubei province has reported 840 newly confirmed cases, indicating that the virus continues to spread at a faster rate. The death rate from the new coronavirus is not yet known, as more fatalities will likely be reported. Most patients who have died are above 60 and had pre-existing conditions, according to reports from local authorities. The coronavirus can be passed between humans through close contact, Chinese medical experts say. The novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak may reach its peak in one week or around 10 days, Chinese respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan said. "It is very difficult to definitely estimate when the outbreak reaches its peak. But I think in one week or about 10 days, it will reach the climax and then there will be large-scale increases," Zhong told state-run Xinhua news agency. "There are two keys to tackling the epidemic: early detection and early isolation. They are the most primitive and most effective methods," he said. Zhong said fever and weakness were the typical symptoms of the novel coronavirus infection found in the majority of patients. Also read | Coronavirus outbreak: Dos and don'ts for prevention Ten to 14 days is a sound period for isolation and observation. When the incubation period ends, those who fall sick will get timely treatment and those who do not will be just fine, he said. He suggested that hospitals be staffed with not only infectious disease specialists, but also specialists in treating severe cases to better save patients. Epidemiologically, the novel coronavirus is homologous to the virus discovered in a type of bat in 2017, said Zhong, adding that the 2019-nCoV probably has an intermediate host that may be a certain kind of wild animal. "The SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak lasted about six months, but I don't believe the novel coronavirus outbreak would last that long," said Zhong. The country has taken a series of powerful measures, especially early detection and early isolation. Also read 3-Point Analysis | Coronavirus outbreak: How it impacts investors "We have sufficient confidence in preventing a major outbreak or a recurrence as long as the two measures are in place, although we still need to conduct much scientific research," he said. Noting that the key for Wuhan is how to reduce infections inside hospitals, Zhong said he supported the construction of makeshift hospitals in the city to control the infectious disease. The activation of top-level public health emergency response was aimed at reducing the chance of infection, he said, adding that the vaccine development may need three to four months or even longer. "Now scientists are speeding up research of neutralizing antibodies of the virus, but it takes time. With help from across the country, Wuhan, a heroic city, will pull through," Zhong said. (With inputs from PTI) Meanwhile, Germany, Taiwan and Vietnam have reported infections caused by human-to-human transmission. The number of confirmed cases of the rapidly spreading coronavirus infection in mainland China has reached 5,974, health authorities said on Wednesday a total surpassing the cases China had in the 2002-03 Sars epidemic that killed almost 800 people worldwide. Read alsoChina reports 4,515 confirmed cases of new coronavirus pneumonia, 106 deaths media The death toll from the new coronavirus had climbed to 132, they announced, with 840 newly confirmed cases in Hubei province, where the outbreak was discovered in the provincial capital Wuhan. It came with people from Wuhan increasingly subject to screening and suspicion in other regions of China, according to South China Morning Post. Meanwhile, Germany, Taiwan and Vietnam have reported infections caused by human-to-human transmission. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) infected 5,327 people in mainland China in nine months and killed 349 people, according to the World Health Organization. The deaths from the new coronavirus infection have all been reported in mainland China, with 125 in Hubei and seven in other provinces. About 3,300 people are hospitalized in Hubei, with more than 20,000 being observed for infection. London: Britians decision to allow Chinese company Huawei to supply technology for its 5G telecommunications network has been savaged by a former top official in Australias intelligence community. In a detailed article for the Australian Policy and Strategic Institute, former director of the Australian Signals Directorate Simeon Gilding wrote that British Prime Minister Boris Johnsons government had doubled down on a flawed and outdated cyber security model in order to convince themselves they can cope with security risks from Beijing having access to UKs telco networks. Gilding, who took part in research used to advise the Turnbull government's 2018 ban on Huawei, said the main threat was not data interception, which could be prevented by strong encryption, but by a hostile takeover of equipment to divert or shut down the network. Not happy: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, after his plane arrived in London. Credit:PA Johnson faces a Tory rebellion on the decision to allow Huawei to supply up to 35 per cent of the antennae and masts required for country's 5G network, which will not only be superfast, but also connect everything from household appliances to traffic lights and driverless cars. MARTINSRIED, Germany and MUNICH, Germany and MONTREAL, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medigene AG (Medigene, FSE: MDG1, Prime Standard), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company focusing on the development of T cell immunotherapies, announces today that it has entered into a research collaboration on novel cancer antigens for highly specific immunotherapies with the Universite de Montreal (UdeM) and IRICoR, a pan-Canadian drug discovery research commercialization center. UdeMs research team, led by Drs. Claude Perreault and Pierre Thibault at the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), will provide Medigene with tumor-specific antigens (TSAs) which they discovered using their proprietary platform, as novel targets for various cancer indications, particularly for solid tumors. Under the terms of the agreement, Medigene will evaluate a number of proprietary TSA targets provided by UdeM through IRICoR, and will receive an option to exercise an exclusive and worldwide license to develop and commercialize T cell receptors (TCRs) against up to 5 of these novel cancer antigens. Upfront and near-term payments by Medigene to UdeM and IRICoR could potentially reach mid to high single-digit millions over the course of the next five years. Additionally, UdeM and IRICoR are eligible to receive development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, along with tiered royalties, on a per target basis. Prof. Dolores Schendel, CEO and CSO of Medigene AG: "The goal of immunotherapies is to fight cancer using the immune system. Medigenes TCR-based therapies aim to modify the patient's own T cells so they can specifically recognize and eliminate tumor cells. It is essential that the immune system differentiates precisely between cancer cells and healthy tissue. The research work from UdeM on tumor antigens is fascinating and offers a broad and complementary development opportunity for Medigenes TCR therapies. These TSAs are uniquely found in tumor cells but are not present in healthy tissue, and are therefore particularly interesting as targets for tailor-made immunotherapies. We believe that this cooperation could expand our portfolio with promising, novel targets that are solely expressed in cancer cells. Dr. Nadine Beauger, Chief Executive Officer of IRICoR: IRICoR is delighted to be a part of this new partnership. The foundational funding provided by IRICoR to develop this unique proteogenomic approach led to the unprecedented discovery of human TSAs coded by potentially all genomic regions using high-throughput mass spectrometry. These newly-discovered targets open countless avenues for more targeted cancer treatments for the benefit of patients worldwide. Dr. Steven Klein, Vice-President, Business Development of IRICoR added: IRICoR has a strong track record of collaborating with international partners such as Medigene and negotiating the necessary agreements to ensure that these relationships are successful in transforming innovative technologies, such as the TSA platform, into new therapies. Michel Bouvier, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Investigator, IRIC; Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Universite de Montreal: UdeM and its researchers at IRIC are at the forefront of developing novel therapies for cancers with high unmet medical need. The exciting research of Drs. Perreault and Thibault is a concrete example of how world-class fundamental research carried out at IRIC can be translated into potential new therapies through the financial and business support of IRICoR. We look forward to a very fruitful collaboration between UdeM, IRICoR, and Medigene and to seeing these new T cell-based therapies reach patients who are in need of new therapeutic options. About UdeM/IRICoR TSAs A key role of T lymphocytes is to act as extrinsic tumor suppressors and thereby mediate cancer immunosurveillance. Tumor-specific Antigens (TSAs) can be targeted for T-cell based cancer immunotherapy. TSAs are truly cancer-specific and immunogenic because their presence is induced by cancer-specific somatic mutations. In two murine cancer cell lines and seven human primary tumors, Drs. Perreault and Thibault identified a total of 40 TSAs, about 90% of which derived from allegedly noncoding regions and would have been missed by standard exome-based approaches. Moreover, most of these TSAs derived from nonmutated yet aberrantly expressed transcripts (such as endogenous retroelements) that could be shared by multiple tumor types. Reference : Laumont et al. "Noncoding regions are the main source of targetable tumor-specific antigens" Science Translational Medicine 05 Dec 2018:Vol. 10, Issue 470, eaau5516 About IRICoR Designated as a Centre of Excellence in Research and Commercialization (CECR) by the Canadian government, IRICoR is a project maturation cluster in the field of drug discovery based at the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the Universite de Montreal. IRICoR's mandate is to accelerate the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapies in cancer, immunotherapy, and related fields. Since 2008, IRICoR has been successfully investing in and supporting selected cutting-edge projects in order to rapidly translate early-stage innovation into potential new therapies, through either co-development partnerships with the biopharmaceutical industry or the creation of spin-off companies. IRICoR seamlessly integrates its business-related expertise with access to industry-level drug discovery capabilities, providing selected academic and industry projects with access to its network of experts and cutting-edge infrastructure, including one of the largest academia-based medicinal chemistry groups in Canada. For more information about IRICoR: www.iricor.ca About the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the Universite de Montreal An ultra-modern research hub and training centre located in the heart of the Universite de Montreal, the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer of the Universite de Montreal was created in 2003 to shed light on the mechanisms of cancer and discover new, more effective therapies to counter this disease. The IRIC operates according to a model that is unique in Canada. Its innovative approach to research has already led to discoveries that will, over the coming years, have a significant impact on the fight against cancer. For more information: www.iric.ca About Medigene Medigene AG (FSE: MDG1, ISIN DE000A1X3W00, Prime Standard) is a publicly listed, clinical-stage biotechnology company headquartered in Martinsried near Munich, Germany. The Company is developing highly innovative immunotherapies to target various forms and stages of cancer. Medigene concentrates on the development of personalized T cell-based therapies, with associated projects currently in pre-clinical and clinical development. Read more about Medigenes company profile: https://www.medigene.com Other news: 22 May 2019, Medigene announces clinical trial agreement for HA-1 TCR immunotherapy MDG1021 with University of Leiden 9 May 2019, bluebird presents preclinical data of first TCR candidate from Medigene collaboration. Start clinical development 2020 4 April 2019, Roivant and Sinovant Launch Cytovant Sciences in Partnership with Medigene to Develop Cellular Therapies in Asia This press release contains forward-looking statements representing the opinion of Medigene as of the date of this release. The actual results achieved by Medigene may differ significantly from the forward-looking statements made herein. Medigene is not bound to update any of these forward-looking statements. Medigene is a registered trademark of Medigene AG. This trademark may be owned or licensed in select locations only. Contact Medigene Dr Gary Waanders, Claudia Burmester, Dr Anna Niedl +49 89 2000 3333 01 investor@medigene.com Contact IRICoR Sandy Thibert, Communication Advisor, Public Relations 514 343-6111, ext. 43197 sjl.thibert@umontreal.ca Contact IRIC Noemie Desbois Mackenzie, Communication Advisor, Public Relations 514 343-6111, ext. 34730 Noemie.desbois.mackenzie@umontreal.ca In case you no longer wish to receive any information about Medigene, please inform us by e-mail (investor@medigene.com). We will then delete your address from our distribution list. ST. CLAIR COUNTY, MI A man who crashed head-on into a Tri-Hospital ambulance Monday morning in St. Clair County has died, officials confirmed. Deputies with the St. Clair County Sheriffs Office were dispatched shortly before 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 27 to River Road just north of Hathaway Road in East China Township for a report of a head-on crash. Video downloaded from the ambulance showed John Lynch, 33, of Marine City was headed north on River Road near Hathaway Road in East China Township when his vehicle, a 2003 GMC Envoy, crossed over the center line and hit the ambulance, police said. He was transported by a different Tri-Hospital ambulance to Ascension River District Hospital in East China Township. Lynch was pronounced deceased Monday afternoon at St. Johns Hospital in Detroit. Man seriously injured after vehicle hits ambulance head-on Three people were in the ambulance -- a 33-year-old man Macomb Township man who was driving, a 24-year-old female paramedic in the jump seat in the rear of the unit and a 67-year-old Port Huron Township woman who was being transported. The EMS workers sustained minor injuries. The woman who was being transported on a gurney in the ambulance told deputies that she was not injured. St. Clair County Sheriffs Deputy Steve Campau said the ambulance did not have on its emergency lights or sirens at the time of the crash. The crash remains under investigation. The St. Clair County Sheriffs Office Accident Investigation Unit was called to the scene of the crash. Margarito Diaz harvests white button mushrooms at Phillips Mushroom Farms in Kennett Square last March. The owner of South Mill Champs is planning a $115 million expansion even as the industry struggles to find workers. Read more Owners of one of Chester Countys biggest mushroom growers have proposed the local industrys biggest expansion in recent years, a potentially transforming development in an industry that has been struggling with expensive antitrust litigation, foreign competition, and a labor shortage. South Mill Champs, one of North Americas largest growers, plans a $115 million complex, with nearly one million square feet of growing space, on a 134-acre hay farm in Elk Township, near the Maryland border. Last week, the state approved a $1.5 million grant to extend a natural gas pipeline to the proposed mushroom farm site and nearby retail businesses. The move was applauded by State Sen. Andy Dinniman (D., West Chester) as aid for the areas rich agricultural heritage. The site, which will employ 500, is big enough to locate the full range of spawn, growing, processing, packaging, and trucking, said MaryFrances McGarrity, senior vice president of the Chester County Economic Development Council, the agency that applied for the state grant on behalf of the company. Pressed for space, growers have expanded out of state, said Gary Smith, the councils president. For example, Kennett Square-based Phillips Mushrooms in 2013 added mushroom operations in Warwick, Md. There have been a lot of acquisitions and consolidations of small family farmers. We think this will be the most automated, highly efficient growing operation in North America, Smith said of the new South Mill Champs project. South Mill Champs was formed by Eos, the New York investment company that bought a controlling stake in the Pia familys South Mill mushroom houses in Kennett Square two years ago and combined it with British Columbia, Canada-based Champs mushroom farms. The fully indoor facility will use the latest technology, resulting in a higher yield and a superior final product," said Lewis Macleod, CEO of South Mill Champs, in a brief written comment. The timetable is a work in progress. South Mill Champs new plant would add nearly 3% to U.S. mushroom production capacity, potentially straining rivals profit margins and labor supply. This is a business where growers complain they cant find locals to supplement their aging, largely Mexican-born workforce, which totals several thousand veteran pickers, plus packers, drivers, and warehouse workers. Wont that add to the pressure on smaller farms? Growers are entering 2020 with record sales volumes and solid demand for fresh mushrooms, with volume topping 80 million pounds last June for the first time, says Lori Harrison of the American Mushroom Institute in Avondale, citing data from the Mushroom Council. But by other measures, the mushroom industry is in need of a lift. The nations mushroom crop was worth $1.2 billion last year, about the same as in 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures yearly survey. Nationally, mushroom sheds covered 65 million square feet in 1997, but just 36 million last year, according to the U.S. Census of Agriculture. Pennsylvania farms, mostly in Chester and neighboring Berks County, grew 49% of the nations crop last year, a proportion that has held roughly steady over the last decade. In 2018, Pennsylvania had 53 farms growing common white and brown mushrooms (agaricus), 47 of them in Chester County. Thats down from 70 statewide in 2010, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service. The state was also home to 229 mostly smaller shiitake and other specialty mushroom farms, up from 220 in 2010. Production space has been shifting from common agaricus mushrooms grown in compost beds in a six-week spawning, growing, and harvest cycle, toward more exotic shiitake, oyster, and other varieties that need specialized growing media but fetch higher prices. Growers face familiar challenges. Many say they cant find workers who can handle the relentless specialized labor the Trump administration has tightened immigration enforcement, and pickers from Mexicos Guanajuato and Mexico states who got their legal papers during the Reagan amnesty of the 1980s are reaching retirement age. Some complain of foreign competition from farms in Canada and China. Local growers who pioneered production of the pressed sawdust logs used to grow shiitake, in particular, say they have been undercut by cheap imports, which were factors in last years bankruptcy of Oakshire Farms. Another grower, instead of expanding in Chester County, helped develop a mushroom farm for local consumption in China. Many of the Pennsylvania mushroom growers descend from industry pioneers who emigrated from Ascoli Piceno, Italy. South Mills founding owners, the Pia family, began a mushroom business in the early 1930s and later built a national distribution network. This is not the industrys first brush with outside investors. Seneca Foods, Clorox Co., Campbell Soup, and other national companies have bought and sold Pennsylvania mushroom farms. But many of the largest farms have been under local control since the industry shifted from seasonal canning to fresh mushroom production after 1970. South Mill Champs is making its move as some of the growers who dominated the industry in the early 2000s are settling expensive antitrust lawsuits. Twenty-one growers, including South Mill, Modern, the expansive Giorgi family mushroom growing, freezing and distribution operations, and more than a dozen other Chester and Berks County growers, agreed to settle price-fixing claims by grocery store buyers against the former Eastern Mushroom Marketing Cooperative for a total of $46 million last year ($22.5 million went for plaintiffs lawyers and other expenses). Insurance didnt cover the settlement or expenses. Several of the growers have gone out of business since the claims were filed. Grocers complained the cooperative tried to control production and drive up prices, and recruited wholesalers and other members beyond the grower groups that are allowed to form farm marketing cooperatives under U.S. law, said James Rodgers, head of the antitrust defense practice at Dilworth Paxson in Philadelphia, who represented one of the growers. The cooperative, whose members in many cases were barely breaking even, was accused of buying surplus mushroom houses and reselling them with deed restrictions that would prevent new owners from staying in the business at a time when there were few, if any, firms trying to get into the industry, Rodgers pointed out. The cooperative was only four years old when government agencies began an investigation and brought and settled a civil antitrust case. That was followed promptly by the private antitrust suits. Those cases dragged on for 13 years. Federal Judge Berle Schiller in Philadelphia inherited the case in 2018 and made good on a promise to settle the following year. Even now, not all the litigation is over, Rodgers said: The Publix, Giant Eagle, and Winn-Dixie grocery chains are still suing groups of growers. Similar civil antitrust cases are pending against dairy cooperatives and beef suppliers. As with the mushroom growers, farmers typically deny wrongdoing but settle to avoid the risks of a trial. Three giant Midwest egg growers last year bet on a jury trial and won: A Philadelphia jury last year dismissed a complaint seeking $1 billion in damages against Midwest egg giants Rose Acre Farms Inc., Ohio Fresh Eggs LLC, and R.W. Sauder Inc. by the Kroger and Giant Eagle chains. After all that litigation, Rodgers said its unclear whether the mushroom settlements have had an impact on prices for consumers. Lawyers for the grocers did not return calls seeking comment. Contributed photo On Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 6:30 p.m., the Trumbull Library, 33 Quality St., will host the New Blue. The New Blue, Yales oldest womens a cappella group, was founded in 1969, the same year that Yale University first admitted undergraduate women. This makes the group, not only Yale's oldest women's a cappella group, but its oldest women's organization of any kind. Xplore's Space As A Service "Xplore and Nanoracks have joined forces to create higher-cadence, low-cost flight opportunities to the inner solar system via the Xplore Xcraft." -- Lisa Rich, Xplore founder Xplore Inc., a commercial space company providing Space As A Service today announced a partnership in which Nanoracks will provide commercial deep space flight opportunities for its customers and serve as a customer interface for payload design, preparation and integration on Xplore missions to the Moon, Mars, Venus, Lagrange Points and near-Earth asteroids. Nanoracks has dramatically expanded the commercialization of space in low-Earth orbit by launching cubesats and microsatellites from the International Space Station, and launching hundreds of microgravity experiments, for customers since 2009. Xplore founder Lisa Rich said, "Xplore and Nanoracks have joined forces to create higher-cadence, low-cost flight opportunities to the inner solar system via the Xplore Xcraft." She continued, "Xplore's multi-mission spacecraft has a large payload bay, ample power, electric propulsion and precision pointing capability to perform advanced planetary science, heliophysics, astrophysics, planetary defense and national security missions for our customers. Scientists need more flight opportunities to the Moon, Mars, Venus and other interplanetary destinations. Together, Xplore and Nanoracks will deliver this access and enable scientists to focus on the science, not the spacecraft." Nanoracks CEO Jeffrey Manber said, "Commercial space no longer stops at low-Earth orbit. Xplore paves the way for commercial utilization and services to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. We are truly excited at Nanoracks to be working with Xplore to bring our commercial knowledge from low-Earth orbit into deep space exploration." Xplore will advance commercialization of deep space by promoting science, accelerating innovation and growing programmatic-level efforts with established and emerging space agencies around the world. Xplore's Xcraft is a highly-capable ESPA-class spacecraft that can carry 30kg - 70kg of payload in 50U volume and provide customers with the opportunity to fly scheduled or custom orbital missions. Beginning with Moon Xpeditions targeted for late 2021, customers can fly instruments including optical instruments, space weather instruments, hyperspectral imagers, deployable cubesats, life science experiments, technology demonstrations and more from the Moon to Ceres. Lisa Rich said, "Nanoracks ability to prepare and integrate our customers' instruments onto Xplore's spacecraft platform allows Xplore to launch payloads faster and accelerate access to space." About Xplore Established in 2017, Xplore is a Seattle-based commercial deep space company offering Space As A Service. Xplore provides hosted payloads, communication relay services and exclusive datasets to its customers via a fleet of networked multi-mission spacecraft. The mission of Xplore is to expand robotic exploration beyond Earth via commercial missions to the Moon, Mars, Venus, Lagrange Points and near-Earth asteroids in the inner solar system. Xplore provides hosted payload services for scientific instruments and technology demonstrations for national space agencies, national security agencies, sovereign space agencies and universities. Visit: https://www.xplore.com About Nanoracks Nanoracks LLC, an XO Markets company, is the worlds first commercial space station company with an existing customer base. Nanoracks believes commercial space utilization will enable innovation through in-space manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, fiber optics and more, allow for transformational Earth observation, and make space a key player in finding the solution to Earths problems. Today, the company offers low-cost, high-quality solutions to the most pressing needs for satellite deployment, basic and educational research, and more in over 30 nations worldwide. Since 2009, Texas-based Nanoracks has truly created new markets and ushered in a new era of in-space-services, dedicated to making space just another place to do business. Visit: https://nanoracks.com A Balinese man who was accused of stealing a bike helmet in a tourist hotspot has been beaten to death by an angry mob. A large group of vigilantes captured and brutally attacked the suspected thief at the Ground Zero Monument in Kuta on Friday. The man was critically injured and fell into a coma, before dying in hospital later that day, the Bali Sun reported. 'He has died in a hospital (RSUP Sanglah Denpasar),' Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Kuta Police, Iptu I Putu Ika Prabawa, said on Saturday. Graphic videos of the savage attack surfaced on social media, showing the man being captured and attacked by the vicious mob Graphic footage of the savage attack surfaced on social media, showing the man being captured and attacked by the vicious mob. One of the videos was captioned: 'Magic thief uses invulnerable knowledge, handcuffs don't even work. Give him an inch and he will take a yard.' The video, which has since been deleted, showed the victim trying to escape while the mob bound him with handcuffs. After the suspected thief managed to free his hands, the group punched and kicked him until the he became unconscious. Iptu Ika Prabawa said police are yet to find evidence the victim had stolen the bike helmet. 'The problem is that the suspect's helmet is the exact same as the other owner next to it, and only in different colors, the exact location when the suspect took the helmet also hasn't been found', he said. Local police are investigating his death what led up to it. In 2015, an alleged thief was beaten to death in nearby Seminyak. AKRON, Ohio A man delivering pizzas pulled a gun on a three robbery suspects, scaring them off, police say. It was one of two incidents involving pizza delivery drivers on Monday and investigators believe they are related. No one was injured in either incident, but police are still searching for the suspects. At about 7 p.m., a 26-year-old driver for Papa Johns tells police he went to a house to make a delivery and realized it was vacant. Three teen males walked from behind the house toward the driver. The driver tells police that one of the males began reaching for his waistband. The driver, who has a concealed carry permit, pulled out his handgun, causing the three suspects to run away, police say. No shots were fired. The suspects were 15 to 18 years old. One was about 6-feet tall and was wearing a black hooded sweat shirt with a white stripe across the chest, police say. An earlier robbery occurred at about noon Monday on the 1100 block of Fourth Avenue in East Akron. A 30-year-old driver for Dominos tells police he was robbed by two teen males, one armed with a handgun, when he tried to deliver a pizza to a vacant home. The suspects took cash and a bag with two pizzas. The suspects were 16 to 18 years old, with one about 5-foot-10 to 5-foot-11, 150 to 160 pounds, wearing a dark windbreaker and dark vest. The other suspect was wearing a white hooded sweat shirt with a colorful logo pattern. Anyone with information can call Akron police at 330-375-2490 or Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS. Text TIPSCO with tips to 274637. Callers can remain anonymous. To comment on this story, visit Tuesdays crime and courts section. Read more from cleveland.com: Man robs Citizens Bank branch in Independence (video) Rocky River police chief says Cleveland Browns RB Kareem Hunt did not receive preferential treatment during traffic stop Dead body found wrapped in tarp with hands tied behind abandoned Cleveland house Mother, daughter accused of attacking student at John Marshall High School in Cleveland 70-year-old Cleveland veteran killed man who took him in off the streets, family says After IndiGo and Air India, now SpiceJet and GoAir has also banned stand-up comedian Kunal Kmara from flying with the airline till further notice. SpiceJet, in a tweet, tagged the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and IndiGo Airlines, saying it had decided to suspend Kamra from flying with the airline. Now, total four Indian airlines have suspended Kunal Kamra from flying in their airlines. GoAir has suspended Mr. Kunal Kamra from flying with the airline till further notice @MoCA_GoI@DGCAIndia@HardeepSPuri@IndiGo6E a GoAir (@goairlinesindia) January 29, 2020 SpiceJet has decided to suspend Mr. Kunal Kamra from flying with the airline till further notice. @MoCA_GoI@DGCAIndia@HardeepSPuri@IndiGo6E a SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) January 29, 2020 Kamra responded to the SpiceJet tweet, asking PM Modi if he was allowed to walk or was there a ban on that too. Kamra also stated, "Now let's forget IndiGo for a moment, I have not even travelled on SpiceJet or Air India in that moment and there was no pattern here of me being unruly...So, why have they jumped the gun and banned me?". Modiji can I walk yaan uspe bhi baan hai... YYY https://t.co/tDDfgK6JxT a Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) January 29, 2020 *My statement on my flight bans* pic.twitter.com/qWT2OawSmx a Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) January 29, 2020 In support of Kamra, another comedian, Kaneez Surka, told Spicejet, "Ministry of Civil Aviation, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and IndiGo Airlines. You guys are such freaking hypocrites! Not that I ever fly your shitty airline but the hypocrisy is sickening." {burb} On Tuesday, IndiGo and Air India suspended Kamra from flying in their airlines after he allegedly heckled TV anchor Arnab Goswami aboard the Mumbai-Lucknow plane. IndiGo has suspended the comedian for six months, whereas Air India banned him until further notice. You guys are such freaking hypocrites! Not that I ever fly your shitty airline but the hypocrisy is sickening. a Kaneez Surka (@kaneezsurka) January 29, 2020 @MoCA_GoI@HardeepSPuri In light of the recent incident on board 6E 5317 from Mumbai to Lucknow, we wish to inform that we are suspending Mr. Kunal Kamra from flying with IndiGo for a period of six months, as his conduct onboard was unacceptable behaviour. 1/2 a IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) January 28, 2020 Taking notice of the incident, Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri "advised" other airlines in India to impose similar restrictions on Kamra. @MoCA_GoI@HardeepSPuri In light of the recent incident on board 6E 5317 from Mumbai to Lucknow, we wish to inform that we are suspending Mr. Kunal Kamra from flying with IndiGo for a period of six months, as his conduct onboard was unacceptable behaviour. 1/2 a IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) January 28, 2020 Meanwhile, Vistara said it would review the situation. "Vistara stands firm with its zero-tolerance policy against any behaviour or act that compromises the safety, security and dignity of its customers and staff. We will review and follow due process in such cases," the Tata SIA airlines said. Also read: IndiGo bans comic Kunal Kamra for heckling TV anchor on flight UTICA, NY The first month of 2020 will soon be a thing of the past, and for some people, the New Years resolutions they made will soon be a thing of the past as well. One local company wants to help you keep your resolutions and hopefully inspire the community in the process. Utica Coffee is offering a free one year supply of coffee to the winner of their Wake The Hell Up New Years Challenge. They asked people to post videos about their New Years resolutions on the companys Facebook and Instagram pages. Those entries will be narrowed down and the general public will vote to who gets a one year supply of Wake The Hell Up brand coffee. We got some pretty cool ones, says Mark Needham, Director of Media and Marketing at Utica Coffee. One person wants to run a thousand miles, so thats 3 miles a day. Another person wants to read 12 books, so a book a month. Still, others are doing meditation. Stuff like that. The second-place winner will receive a $30 Utica Coffee gift card. The third-place winner will receive a 10-ounce bag of the coffee of their choice. Stay in the know with BOHs weekly news digest, including business headlines, launches and events, recommended reading and more. Business News WeWork has sold its stake in The Wing after several months of consideration, reports Crains New York. The majority of WeWorks stake in the female-focused coworking startup was acquired by GV (formerly Google Ventures), followed by existing investors Sequoia Capital and NEA. The Wing also announced that actress Mindy Kaling joined its cadre of celebrity backers. As Casper gears up to IPO, the D2C mattress company set its share price maximum at $19placing the valuation well below the $1.1 billion it announced after securing series D funding last May, reports Furniture Today. When India Hicks closed her eponymous lifestyle brand in June 2019, it broke her heart, reported Daily Mail. When my business closed, so many people told me not to see it as a failure, she wrote in a recent Instagram post. It was an idea unrealized, a risk that had not matured, a chapter coming to an end. But I think that is all selective editing. My business failed. When something doesnt work, it fails. When something is not a success, its a failure. Hicks explores the decision to shutter her business on the latest episode of her podcast in a candid conversation with her mother, Lady Pamela Hicks, and famed editor Tina Brown. Antiques and contemporary design marketplace 1stdibs released the results of its annual design survey, which was completed by interior designers around the world. Antiques are more popular, with 32 percent of designers using them often, as opposed to last years 26 percent; green is going to be everyones favorite color, as predicted by 32 percent of the participants; and 56 percent of designers have made their purchases online. The National Kitchen and Bath Association is kicking off a new program this week at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas: BridgeYear NKBA Career Tour will enable high school students to do simulations of finish carpentry, installation, kitchen and bath design, plumbing, electrical and showroom sales. Phase two of Atlanta Next, IMCs renovation of AmericasMart in Atlanta, will include establishing a lifestyle section in Building 2. This will begin in summer 2020 with the relocation of the brands Ivystone and Appelman & Schauben. OPENINGS, AUCTIONS AND EVENTS Charles S. Cohen has opened the Le Meridien Dania Beach at Ft. Lauderdale Airport, adjacent to DCOTA. The hotels grand opening is on February 12; the project began in 2014 when the Cohen Brothers Realty Corp. purchased the Sheraton for $34.3 million, reported The Real Deal. In 2018, Cohen spent an additional $22.3 million in financing to complete the project. Fashion designer Marc Jacobs will host an auction with Sothebys Home, the auction houses digital marketplace. As Jacobs transitions to a Frank Lloyd Wrightdesigned Westchester home in New York, items like his contemporary painted skull, Japanese bamboo vases and upholstered fauteuils are available. Property Brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott Courtesy of the American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Drew and Jonathan Scott of HGTVs Property Brothers will host the 2020 American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame induction celebration on October 18 during this falls High Point Market. SHOWROOM REPRESENTATION Natural window covering and textiles brand Hartmann & Forbes now has collections available at Holly Hunt at the D&D Building in New York. David Sutherland is the exclusive distributor of Fortuny in Texas. Fortuny will have dedicated space in the brands Dallas and Houston showrooms, and its Austin sales rep will also have offerings. The two companies are beginning phase two of their partnership. LAUNCHES, PARTNERSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS Universal Furniture worked with Elle Decor to give New Yorks Plaza Hotel a makeover. Local designer Sasha Bikoff helped to transform the hotels Rose Club into the Elle Decor Cafe, which will be open until the end of March. Several Moulin sofas from Universals collection with designer Nina Magon take center stage in the room. The Elle Decor Cafe at the Plaza Hotel by Sasha Bikoff Cory Dawson Williams Sonoma is continuing its partnership with the video game Design Home, with plans of integrating its portfolio of brands into the companys immersive gaming throughout 2020. This follows the success of integrating West Elm into Design Home in 2018. This year will see the integration of Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, Williams Sonoma Home and Rejuvenation. Design influencers and sisters-in-law Chassie Post Costello and Sara Ruffin Costello will premiere their YouTube series, Chic & Awe, on January 31. In each episode, the duo will take viewers on over-the-top house toursthe upcoming guest roster includes influencer Danielle Rollins, artist Ashley Longshore and designer Miles Redd. Tempaper has created a collection with The Home Depot. Surfaces by Tempaper, a removable wallpaper collection, is available at HomeDepot.com. The team at New York furniture retailer Ralph Pucci has launched a podcast with Ralph Pucci and his daughter, Nicole Pucci. Episodes will feature artists, designers and other creatives as guests. Hawaiian sculptor and designer John Koga will be in the first episode, available on Spotify and iTunes. New Moroccan rugs from Revival Rugs Courtesy of Revival Rugs Oakland, Californiabased Revival Rugs is opening operations in Morocco. The rugs will drop on the site on February 16 and each month, the Morocco-based team will curate vintage and used rugs and mail them directly to consumers. RECOMMENDED READING British photographer Don McCullin has opened a new solo show at Hauser & Wirth Somerset, and the works range from painterly compositions of [his] metallic dark skies to the fragile Arctic landscape, colossal ruins in North Africa, sacred Indian and Indonesian locations, and meditative still lifes, reported Wallpaper. In the accompanying interview, writer Jessica Klingelfuss explores the artists politics, legacies and, of course, process. The closet of the future is going to be smaller, predicts Business of Fashion. More and more, shoppers are turning away from fast-fashion and toward pieces designed to last longer. As a result, wardrobes in the coming years are poised to shrink as more consumers supplement these more scrupulous purchases with items from rental or resale platforms. CUE THE APPLAUSE Gift for Life raised a record-breaking $232,000 at its 28th-annual fundraiser, Party for Life, held in Atlanta for the first time this year. The gift and home nonprofit raised funds for Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS. The National Association of Home Builders has recognized seven people who demonstrated excellence in teaching the organizations education courses: Michael Turner is Builder Designee of the Year; Wanda E. Gozdz is CAPS Designee of the Year; Tag Gilkeson is Green Professional Designee of the Year; Scott Michael Dunn is HCCP Designee of the Year; Alan Archuleta is Remodeler Designee of the Year; Kathie McDaniel is Sales and Marketing Designee of the Year; and Fritzi Gros-Daillon is Educator of the Year. Brian Boggss Cio Dining Chair received a 2019 Good Design Award from the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies. CALLS FOR ENTRIES Those who wish to enter the Thermador Kitchen Design Challenge may do so until May 15. Designers, builders, architects and students are welcome to submit designs. There are four categories: exceptional kitchen, compact kitchen suite, original innovator/out of the box space and the student concept kitchen. Thermador is an Irvine, Californiabased home appliance brand, and this is its fourth competition. The Window Covering Manufacturers Association has launched a call for entries for the 29th-annual WCMA Product Awards. Categories include cellular and pleated shades, drapery hardware, green products, horizontal blinds, motorization and automation, Roman and roller shades, shadings/sheers, shutters, specialty applications and miscellaneous products, and verticals/panel tracks. Winners are named on March 25. The deadline to apply is February 7. Homepage image: Studio Shamshiri | Trevor Tondro S everal children were injured when a school bus crashed into a barbers shop in Sheffield. About 25 children were on board the single-decker bus when the collision happened at around 7.50am on Wednesday. Emergency services have said none of the children were seriously injured in the crash. A South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: Fire engines from Parkway, Central and Dearne fire stations responded to the incident at around 7.50am on Wednesday morning. The scene in Handsworth Road, Sheffield, where a school bus crashed into the front of a barbers shop / PA It is thought that around 25 children were on board the bus at the time of the collision. A small number of children have suffered minor injuries but most are unharmed. A South Yorkshire Police spokesman added: Officers are currently on the scene following reports that a school bus has collided with a shop. There are no reports of serious injuries, however emergency services will remain at the scene to secure the building. Barber shop owners Neville Clarke and Stacey Smith by the scene in Handsworth Road, Sheffield, where a school bus crashed into the front of their business / PA Stacey Smith, 29, who owns Stay Fresh Barbers with business partner Neville Clarke, 40, said she was devastated about the bus crash. She said: At 10 to eight this morning, I got a phone call saying a bus has gone straight through your shop. We didnt believe it at first but the whole drivers side and the front where people sit is in our shop, touching where people sit inside. Its a mess but it could have been much worse, a lot of people could have been hurt or someone could have died. Some of the kids have got a few minor injuries from the impact, nose bleeds and things like that, but there is nothing serious. Ms Smith, who only opened the barbers in May last year, said other local businesses had offered them the use of their premises. She said: We used to work across the road but decided to set up ourselves. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman, who was suspended for fatally mowing down Siraj journalist K M Basheer last August, might soon be back on duty. A committee headed by Chief Secretary Tom Jose has recommended revoking the suspension of the officer citing that the police have not filed the charge sheet even after six months since the accident. The report also added that the state government cannot extend the suspension beyond six months in a stretch if there is no fresh charge against the officer. In case the charge sheet was filed by the police on time, it could have given the government a justification to go ahead with the suspension. It's in this context that the police's soft-pedalling of the probe evokes suspicion. Basheer was killed in the midnight of August 2 near the Museum junction after being mowed down by Sriram. As per the statement of Wafa Firoz, who was accompanying the officer in the car, Sriram was behind the wheels when the accident occurred. She had hinted that he was under the influence of alcohol, but its presence could not be spotted in Sriram's blood due to delay in testing it. This delay, for which the police could not present any satisfactory reason, had prompted allegations of a concerted effort from the part of the senior bureaucrats to rescue the erred officer. It was this botched up medical examination that came to Sriram's rescue while filing his explanation with the Chief Secretary. Sriram had vouched that he was not drunk when the accident occurred and even shifted the blame on to Wafa saying she was at the wheels during the mishap. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to low birth weight and poor cognitive function, according to scientists. In a study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, researchers from the University of Bristol investigated the impact alcohol consumption during pregnancy can have on a child. The team assessed 23 published studies on drinking during pregnancy and found evidence that it could lead to lower birthweight and poorer cognitive functioning. The researchers state that this is the first time results from a number of different study designs have been compared in relation to the effects of drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Methods included traditional studies such as randomised controlled trials, alongside alternative strategies such as comparing children in the same families whose mothers cut down or increased their alcohol use between pregnancies. Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks Show all 11 1 /11 Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks 14 January 2019 In an unusual style choice for the Duchess, who traditionally favours neutral hues, this ensemble offers a vibrant twist on the colour-blocking trend with a red Sentaler coat, matching heels and a bright purple Aritzia dress. It was a playful choice for the royal couple's visit to Birkenhead Town Hall. Getty Images Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks 30 January 2019 The Duchess wore head-to-toe blush for her visit to the National Theatre, where she is now a patron. The ensemble is by US designer Brandon Maxwell but the suede shoes are Aquazurra. Getty Images Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks 1 February 2019 Oscar de la Renta can do no wrong when it comes to flirty patterned dresses. This theatrical bird and rose-covered number was an apt choice for the Duchess; visit to Bristol Old Vic. AFP/Getty Images Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks 7 February 2019 This Givenchy skirt offers some pizzazz thanks to its knee-high slit and its flattering waistline. Markle paired the look Aquazzura mules and a white collared shirt. Getty Images Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks 12 February 2019 Who said you couldn't wear all-white everything? Markle paired her turtleneck Calvin Klein dress with an Amanda Wakeley coat for a gala performance at the Natural History Museum. Getty Images Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks 23 February 2019 The Duchess was a lady in red for her visit to Casablanca, Morocco in this bespoke Valentino midi-dress, which she paired with nude court heels and a matching clutch. Getty Images Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks 24 February 2019 Markle arrived at a reception hosted by the British Ambassador to Morocco in this full-coverage caped gown by Dior, which came in an opulent shade of champagne. Getty Images Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks 25 February 2019 This billowing Carolina Herrera dress was the perfect choice for the Duchess' outing to brace the balmy climes of Rabat, Morocco, where she'd been visiting King Mohammed VI of Morocco with Prince Harry. This hypnotic sea blue gown was a custom-made number, obviously. Getty Images Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks 8 March 2019 Proving that maternity hemlines needn't be restricted to one's ankles, Markle stepped out in this 1960s-inspired shift dress by high street label, Reiss. Paired with a black blazer and a pair of matching Manolo Blahnik pumps, it was a classic but delightfully retro look. AFP/Getty Images Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks 11 March 2019 The Duchess has a penchant for rich emerald green hues, and this ensemble exemplifies just how suited the shade is to her complexion. The outfit was designed by Erdem, which was a symbolic choice given she wore the Canadian designer's pieces to a Commonwealth Day Youth Event at Canada House in London. Getty Images Meghan Markle's best pregnancy looks 11 March 2019 For the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, the Duchess wore a cream chain-print dress by Victoria Beckham, which made its runway debut just a few weeks ago at London Fashion Week. The look was topped off with a matching pillbox hat, emerald green stilettos and a satin clutch. Getty Images Previously, research on this topic has been through observational studies alone, where participants are already exposed to a risk factor and researchers do not alter this. The scientists concluded that women should continue to follow advice from the UK Chief Medical Officers' #DRYMESTER guidelines, which advises them to abstain from alcohol during all trimesters in pregnancy. Dr Luisa Zuccolo, senior lecturer in epidemiology from the University of Bristol, said: The body of evidence for the harm that alcohol can do to children before they are born is growing, and our review is the first to look at the full range of studies on the issue. "Our work confirms the current scientific consensus: that consuming alcohol during pregnancy can affect one's child's cognitive abilities later in life, including their education. It might also lead to lower birthweight. Zuccolo added that the findings are more important than ever given that recent research has shown the alcohol industry is promoting confusing information about the real health implications of drinking during pregnancy. In October 2019, a study conducted by scientists from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Imperial College London investigated the way in which alcohol-funded bodies present information about alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The team assessed the websites of 23 alcohol industry-funded firms, including Drinkaware in the UK and DrinkWise in Australia, and 19 public health organisations, including NHS Choices and the governmental Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. The researchers found that the alcohol industry-funded companies were less likely than the public health organisations to inform about foetal alcohol syndrome, a health condition that a baby can develop if a woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy. The alcohol-industry funded firms were also less likely to advise pregnant women not to drink any alcohol and more likely to emphasise uncertainties about alcohol consumption during pregnancy. According to baby charity Tommys, there is no known safe level for drinking during pregnancy. When you drink, alcohol passes from your blood through the placenta and to your baby, the charity states, outlining that the safest approach is not to drink at all. It is particularly advised not to drink alcohol in the first three months of pregnancy as this is a time of huge growth and development, the organisation adds. More than 16 years after SARS killed 44 people in Canada, health professionals say they are better trained and prepared. Toronto, Canada The novel coronavirus reached Canada earlier this month, with two presumptive positive cases in Toronto and one in British Columbia as of Wednesday afternoon. All the patients had recently returned from Wuhan, China, where the virus originated. More than 6,000 people have been infected in China, officials say, with more than 130 deaths worldwide. While the three patients in Canada are in isolation and officials say the risk remains low, Canadas approach to addressing the mysterious coronavirus has been driven by the lessons learned during the SARS outbreak more than 16 years ago. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was another respiratory coronavirus that originated in China, infecting more than 8,000 people worldwide and killing more than 900. Outside of Asia, Canada was hit the hardest by SARS, accounting for 438 suspected cases and 44 deaths. The virus was an unprecedented challenge to modern healthcare systems, especially in Toronto where the cases were concentrated. Nearly 17 years later, experts say Canadian healthcare workers are better trained, global communication has improved, more efficient plans are in place for outbreaks and there has been a revolution in virus detection although testing is still far from instantaneous. Virus detection Following the SARS outbreak, Canada established a committee to assess how the system responded to the illnesses and suggest improvements. Its report, Learning From SARS, found one of the biggest challenges was that SARS resembled many other respiratory infections, and there was no reliable lab test for the virus, so it was, therefore, hard to diagnose. The toll it took on healthcare workers was especially devastating; 100 were infected and three died. They worked under intense pressure and fear of contracting the new and deadly virus. While working to contain SARS in Toronto in 2003, Dr Allison McGeer contracted the virus, and survived. She said the key difference between the 2019 novel coronavirus and SARS is the ability to test patients. When SARS first started arriving, we had no capacity to know whether somebody had SARS or something else because there was no diagnostic test for it, so everyone had to be treated as if they might have SARS, she told Al Jazeera. And that, of course, is much more difficult its an enormous load on the system. Now, you come in, we think you might have SARS, you get a test, we find out. A directions sign is seen at Sunnybrook Hospital, where a patient is being treated in isolation for what Canadian health officials said was the first presumptive confirmed case of novel coronavirus, in Toronto, Ontario [Carlos Osorio/Reuters] The science of detecting and sequencing viruses has vastly improved since SARS, McGeer said. On December 31, 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) became aware of several cases of pneumonia in Wuhan that did not match other known viruses. On January 7, Chinese authorities confirmed to WHO that they had a new coronavirus, which has temporarily been named 2019-nCoV. Chinese health officials published the genetic sequence of the virus online, allowing other health agencies to develop diagnostic tests. In the last 17 years, theres been a revolution in viral diagnostics, and so the concept that you could identify a virus and have it sequenced and post the sequence in a week 15 years ago was completely out of the question, McGeer said. Its this really rapid evolution of the ability to sequence DNA and RNA and the development of pipelines to put those sequences together and make sense of them, she added. So, a big piece of it is just straight technology, but the second piece is about sharing information. Communication Another major issue during the SARS outbreak was the sharing of basic information. The virus now known as SARS broke out in China in November 2002, but Chinese officials did not report it to WHO until February 2003, actively covering up its spread. With the novel coronavirus, Chinese officials initially said the virus was under control, leading to accusations that China was slow to act. Wuhan police arrested eight people for spreading falsehoods about the virus online, and detained journalists reporting on the outbreak. But on January 19, a Communist Party newspaper warned against concealing cases, and the next day a Chinese health official stated on a CCTV news programme that people should avoid Wuhan. After that, it appears China became more transparent about the threat, and Chinese scientists made their research public. During SARS, Canadas provincial and federal governments were not great at sharing information, either, according to the 2003 review. Ontarios infectious disease software was an archaic DOS platform used in the late 80s that could not be adapted for SARS. There were no data sharing protocols between jurisdictions. The report recommended creating an arms-length agency at the federal level, to reduce the chances that the health of Canadians would inadvertently be held hostage in a jurisdictional disagreement among levels of government. As a result of the review, Canada created the arms-length Public Health Agency of Canada and similar agencies at the provincial level. Healthcare workers help a visitor going to the intensive care unit put on a gown and mask to protect against contracting SARS at North York Hospital in Toronto [File: Mike Cassese/Reuters] Dr Theresa Tam, chief public health officer of Canadas Public Health Agency, said that in the years following SARS, the countrys agencies work together through a federal-provincial-territorial council. This allows us to stand up very quickly, such as in this instance [with the novel coronavirus], she said. Unlike during SARS, there are also now cross-jurisdictional response plans in place for biological agents and influenza pandemics, she added. The SARS epidemic exposed a lack of international cooperation, so in 2007, WHO implemented its International Health Regulations (IHR), an agreement between 196 countries to build their capacities to detect, assess and report public health events. Travel and trade restrictions can be economically devastating for countries, so, to avoid travel restrictions, the IHR includes specific measures at ports, airports and ground crossings to prevent the spread of viruses across international borders. Despite the improvements, however, World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedro Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday called for reforming the current system for declaring international emergencies to potentially a three-phase system. Screening and training China now has travel restrictions in place in Hubei province where the virus originated, and 45 million people are under quarantine. When travellers arrive in Canada from China, they interact with primary inspection kiosks that scan passports, take a photo of them, and ask them to declare goods. These kiosks are now programmed to ask about travel history to Wuhan and Hubei province. If travellers say they have visited the relevant areas of China, that information is flagged to a border agent who will ask questions about their health. If travellers develop symptoms, they are directed to call health professionals to notify them in advance that they recently travelled to Hubei province, so that healthcare workers can be prepared and shield themselves with protective gear. McGeer said professionals would be cleaning their hands carefully, wearing gloves and protective gowns, face shields to protect their skin and eyes, and a respirator that prevents them from inhaling the virus. Compared with SARS, McGeer said there is no difference in what health professionals are wearing or doing. If anything the precautions we were using at the beginning of SARS were more stringent than what were using now, because we know more about coronaviruses than we used to. But our practice in using [protective gear] is better, and generally speaking, our healthcare workers are much better trained, she said. Because McGeer has been in a similar situation, she said feels for the Chinese healthcare workers, patients and their families. Ive been there, albeit, on a much smaller scale, our outbreak was not as large, and it was different because it was primarily in hospitals, and this outbreak is not the same, but its the same thing in terms of intensity of testing, and shortages of things, and just the chaos of trying to take care of patients well in an outbreak when many things are uncertain. Bamako, Mali (PANA) - The Malian Army will recruit 10,000 soldiers this year, Prime Minister Boubou Cisse announced on Tuesday in Ansongo, in the northern Gao region, where he has been visiting since Monday American and British teams led by Drs Kohn (University of California, Los Angeles), Malech (NIH), Williams (Boston Children's) and Trasher (Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health) published yesterday in Nature Medicine the conclusive results of a gene therapy trial conducted in the United States and Great Britain in 9 patients with X-linked Chronic Septic Granulomatosis (X-CGD), a rare and severe immune dysfunction. Six of them are free of treatment for complications generated by the disease. Genethon, which contributed to the research that led to these trials and sponsored initial clinical studies, is pleased with these results. Chronic Septic Granulomatosis is a rare genetic disease due to a mutation on the X chromosome. Boys affected by this disease have a deficient immune system that predisposes them to serious infections. Indeed, from the first years of life, the patients suffer from repeated infections, sometimes deep abscesses, atypical pneumonia but also chronic inflammation including gum or digestive tract. Each infectious episode reduces the quality of life and life expectancy of patients. Until now, only bone marrow transplants could prolong the life of patients. The gene therapy approach consists in restoring the activity of the defective NAPDH oxidase in the patient's phagocytic cells (neutrophilic polynuclear cells, monocytes/macrophages) by gene transfer using a lentiviral vector. This lentiviral vector - G1XCGD - was developed at Genethon by Dr. Anne Galy (Inserm/UMR951/Genethon, UEVE, Universite Paris Saclay), in collaboration with Dr. Adrian Thrasher of London and Prof. Manuel Grez of Frankfurt. The clinical batches were produced by YposKesi, an industrial production platform for gene therapy medicinal products created by AFM-Telethon and BPIfrance. Genethon is the promoter of the first European trial, launched in 2013, which is still in progress, the first results of which were reported yesterday in Nature Medicine. Nine patients (4 in Europe and 5 in the United States), aged 2 to 27 years, were treated in clinical trials conducted in the UK and the United States. Seven of them, followed for 12 to 36 months after treatment, did not contract any infection. Two patients died during the trial as a result of complications acquired prior to gene therapy treatment. We are very proud of these clinical results, which once again demonstrate the unique capacity of our laboratory to develop therapeutic projects, from concept development to clinical trials by integrating manufacturing. These results are also the result of a rich collaboration with the best British and American clinical experts." Frederic Revah, Chief Executive Officer of Genethon "This is the first time that a sustainable treatment has been obtained by gene therapy in this disease, confirming the advantages of the lentiviral technology that has been used to treat hematopoietic stem cells," says Anne Galy, Director of the Blood and Immune System Diseases Program at Genethon. This international effort has also been supported by the European Commission through funding by the 7th Framework Programme in Health of the European project Net4CGD of which Genethon is the coordinator. These results led to a strategic alliance formed by Genethon with the British company Orchard, which has an exclusive license on G1XCGD allowing the clinical development of this gene therapy drug to continue. The article, "An Analysis of Pre-installed Android Software" by Julien Gamba, Mohammed Rashed, Abbas Razaghpanah, Juan Tapiador and Narseo Vallina-Rodriguez, has received two prestigious awards this month: one from the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) and another from the CNIL (French Data Protection Authority) and Inria. The study has huge social impact as it reveals the privacy and security issues associated with pre-installed software on Android devices and their supply chain. On 28 January, the AEPD chose the Spanish Senate as the setting to award the "Emilio Aced Personal Data Protection Research" prize to this team of researchers from IMDEA Networks Institute (an institution promoted by the Community of Madrid), the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, the International Computer Science Institute (ICSI) at Berkeley (USA) and Stony Brook University of New York (USA). On 18 December 2019, the agency gave the '2019 Data Protection Awards', which recognize work that promotes knowledge, research and the dissemination of the fundamental right to data protection. At the awards ceremony, the AEPD's "The Story Behind" campaign was also presented. A few days earlier, on 22 January, the scientists received the CNIL-Inria Privacy Award for the same paper at the international conference CPDP 2020 - Data Protection and Artificial Intelligence held in Brussels. Julien Gamba presented this study, which has also been accepted for publication at the IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy 2020 (USA). It is a truly in-depth article, covering more than 82,000 apps pre-installed in more than 1,700 devices manufactured by 214 brands. The research shows many of the pre-installed applications provide privileged access to data and system resources although the average user would be unable to uninstall them. "Our results show how opaque the Android device supply chain is to users and how poorly understood it is by researchers. The vast majority of pre-installed applications are not public, making them difficult to collect and analyze: this is partly because they have escaped the scrutiny of the scientific community for a long time. We came up with an innovative solution to collect a large data set of pre-installed applications and found that there were a large number of companies involved in creating Android devices, including those with data-driven business models, which could put users' privacy and security at risk," explains Gamba, a PhD student at IMDEA Networks and the study's principal investigator. Key findings Apart from the standard permissions defined in Android and that can be controlled by the user, researchers have identified more than 4,845 proprietary or customized permissions by those involved in the manufacture and distribution of the terminals. These types of permissions allow apps published in Google Play to bypass the Android permission model to access user data without requiring users' consent when installing a new app. As for the apps pre-installed on the devices, more than 1,200 developers have been identified behind the pre-installed software, along with the presence of more than 11,000 third party libraries (SDKs) included in the apps. Many of the libraries are related to online advertising and monitoring services for commercial purposes. These pre-installed apps are executed with privileged permissions and without the possibility, in most cases, of being uninstalled from the system. An exhaustive analysis of the behavior of 50% of the identified apps reveals that many of them exhibit potentially dangerous or unwanted behavior. There is a lack of transparency in the apps and the Android operating system itself in the information offered to the user when initiating a new terminal. The user is shown a list of permissions that differs from the real one, thereby limiting the user's decision capacity in managing their personal information. According to Gamba, "the real challenge is to identify with certainty the stakeholders in the supply chain". While this study has shed some light on this ecosystem and has uncovered many supply chain stakeholders, "there are still many ways to avoid detection". "We are currently working on improving state-of-the-art tools that will enable us to design ways to uncover the presence of all these stakeholders and eventually to paint a complete picture of the Android supply chain," says the IMDEA Networks researcher. ### Yemen rebels claim attacks on Saudi oil facilities Sanaa, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2020 Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels said Wednesday they had launched missile and drone attacks on Saudi targets, including oil facilities belonging to the energy giant Aramco. Huthi forces attacked "Aramco (facilities) in Jizan, Abha and Jizan airports, Khamis Mushait base and vital targets deep inside Saudi Arabia with a large number of missiles and drones," spokesman Yahya al-Saree told a press conference in the capital Sanaa. Saree did not specify when the strikes were carried out and neither Aramco nor the Saudi-led coalition backing the Yemeni government immediately responded to requests for confirmation. Saree said the attacks were "in retaliation for the escalation of air strikes by the enemy" during the recent fighting between government and rebel troops to the north and east of Sanaa. Attacks on Aramco oil facilities last September caused massive damage, halving the kingdom's crude output temporarily and creating havoc on global oil markets. The Huthis claimed responsibility for those strikes, but the United States said the attacks involved cruise missiles from Iran and amounted to "an act of war". Iran denied any involvement. bur-sy/oh/sls/sw EDWARDSVILLE Musician 1st Class Zachary N. Ellerbrook, a 1994 graduate of Edwardsville Senior High School, has been named a 2019 Sailor of the Year (SOY) finalist for Naval Education and Training Command (NETC). Ellerbrook is the command leading petty officer, tour operations and trombone instrumentalist for Navy Band in Great Lakes, Illinois, where his mentorship resulted in 100% accountability of 30 sailors and a 94% command retention rate. As tour operations, he coordinated a tour for 10 sailors in Springfield, Missouri that reached audiences of over 10,000. As trombone instrumentalist, he contributed to the success of 113 performances for audiences exceeding 5 million. Ellerbrook was one of seven sailors who competed for the title of NETC SOY, representing the top achievers from a pool of more than 8,000 military members in MyNavy HR Force Development that spans recruiting and training Sailors in an increasingly competitive talent market. He received a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his achievements. The most rewarding experience of my career has been watching others perform and achieve based on training and leadership I can pass on that was freely given to me, said Ellerbrook. The passage in our Sailors Creed, I represent the fighting spirit of the Navy and those who have gone before me takes on new meaning when I see our junior sailors succeed where I have been before and also in different ways. Its the main reason why I enjoy coming to work. Ellerbrook is part of the team that takes sailors from street to fleet by transforming civilians into highly skilled, operational, and combat-ready warfighters, as well as providing the tools and opportunities for continuous learning and development. Ellerbrook earned a bachelor of music degree for jazz performance/studio music in 1999 from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and in 2013 earned a masters degree as a school educator from St. Josephs College of Maine. He is married to Susan Ellerbrook of St. Louis. The developers who recently acquired the historic Nix Medical Center on the River Walk say they havent decided yet on a plan for the property but theyre leaning toward turning it into multi-family housing. Were eager to see what we can do to bring fresh, new life to that block, said Adrian Ramirez, a Houston-based partner of InnJoy Hospitality, the company that purchased the 24-story building in December. Neither InnJoy nor the propertys previous owner, Los Angeles-based Prospect Medical Holdings, disclosed the sales price. However, records show InnJoy took out a $19 million loan from Houston-based Green Rock Properties to purchase property. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., a restaurant owned by Landrys Inc., will continue to lease the buildings sub-level, Ramirez said. The other Nix tenants, mostly professional medical offices, will move out by March 31. InnJoy has started to market the retail space on the street level of the Nix property. Weve already gotten several offers for the space, he said. InnJoy, he added, is interested in two other restaurants owned by Landrys, which is the Houston-based company that operates the Chart House inside the Tower of the Americas, Rainforest Cafe and Saltgrass Steak House. On ExpressNews.com: Historic downtown hospital building sold to hotel operator Ramirez said he and business partner Nitin Kasan want to preserve the integrity of the building at 414 Navarro St. and hope to finish the mixed-use project in the next two to three years. Designated a local historic landmark by the city, the gothic-style building housed Nix Medical Center until the hospitals parent company shuttered operations in November along with its other San Antonio-area medical facilities. Prospect had put the downtown building on the market last spring, and deed records show it entered into a purchase agreement with InnJoy in September. The building was listed without an asking price, but its valued at $13.2 million, according to the Bexar Appraisal District. Initially, the developers considered turning the building into a hotel and the companys website listed the project as a mixed-use hotel featuring a Marrott logo. Ramirez says they plan to update their website. InnJoy Hospitality is a subsidiary of a development group run by Kasans family called Ocean Gate Investments. OGI is a McAllen-based hospitality company that operates Hilton, Marriott, IHG, La Quinta and other hotel properties throughout South Texas. Kasan said he grew up in the hospitality business and is excited to enter the downtown market. We wanted to be in San Antonio with the right project, and I think this deal makes sense for us, he said. Two years ago, Kasan bought the State National Bank Building, built in 1928, in downtown Houston. His plans are to convert the 12-story property into a Moxy boutique hotel, which operates under the Marriott brand. Texas Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox Ramirez said he expects construction to finish on the project in 11 months. The developers also are renovating the former Schlitterbahn Beach Resort in South Padre Island, which they bought in October, and started a fourth project in downtown Nashville. InnJoy said it will research whether it qualifies for city or state incentives. 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 T he Duke of York is reported to be "angry and bewildered" at a claim by US authorities that he has provided "zero cooperation" in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking inquiry. Prince Andrew is "happy to talk" to the FBI but has not been approached by them, a source close to the royal told the Daily Telegraph. It follows US lawyer Geoffrey Berman saying at a news conference in New York on Monday that the duke had not cooperated. Mr Berman claimed his lawyers had been contacted by prosecutors and the FBI as part of the probe. US prosecutor: Andrew uncooperative in Epstein investigation Buckingham Palace did not comment following the press conference, but it was understood the matter was being dealt with by Andrew's legal team. But a source told the Telegraph: "The duke is more than happy to talk to the FBI but he hasn't been approached by them yet. The Duke of York in an interview with BBC Newsnight's Emily Maitlis / PA "He is angry about the way this is being portrayed and bewildered as to why this was said in New York." Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was trafficked by Epstein, said in an interview with BBC Panorama that she was left "horrified and ashamed" after an alleged sexual encounter with Andrew in London in 2001. Andrew categorically denies he had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Ms Giuffre. Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was trafficked by Epstein / AP He stepped down from royal duties in November following a disastrous Newsnight interview in the wake of the scandal. At the time, he said: "I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency." Following the interview, he was accused of failing to show regret over his friendship with the disgraced financier, who took his own life in prison while awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges. Mr Berman, who is overseeing the investigation, told reporters outside Epstein's New York mansion that "to date, Prince Andrew has provided zero cooperation". US lawyer Lisa Bloom, who represents five of Epstein's alleged victims, said lawyer Mr Berman had been left with "no choice" but to comment publicly about Andrew's alleged lack of cooperation because he did not have the power to subpoena the royal as part of the criminal investigation. Speaking to BBC News on Tuesday, she called on Andrew to "stop playing games" and "do the right thing" by speaking to the authorities to assist with their investigation into the inquiry. Meanwhile, Harry Dunns parents have called for a high profile exchange between the UK and the US in a fresh bid to see their sons suspected killer return to face justice in Britain. Microtubules in neurons are stabilized by the protein, tau. These proteins are typically found in axons, however, they can be found in dendrites and other parts of neurons. In patients with neurodegenerative diseases, known as tauopathies, tau becomes detached from microtubules and forms insoluble aggregates in their brain. Tau and Alzheimers Disease As the most common neurodegenerative disease, Alzheimers Disease (AD) affects 10% of seniors over the age of 65.1 The disease is named after a German scientist, Alois Alzheimer, who, when examining the brain of a deceased dementia patient in 1907, discovered tangled bundles of fibrils where neurons had previously been.2 AD is characterized by plaques containing amyloid beta and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) containing tau. Tau Structure Usually highly soluble3, tau has no well-defined secondary or tertiary structures.4 It is made up of four regions: the N-terminal region, the proline-rich domain, the repeat domain region, and the C-terminal region.5 On the whole, the protein is hydrophilic.6 It is thought that unbound tau in the cytoplasm have a paper-clip conformation, where the N and C terminals are close together.7 Immunohistochemistry of hippocampus of Alzheimers Disease patient shows neurofibrillary tangles. Image Credit: Patho [CC BY-SA 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons Tau Isoforms The MAPT gene, located on human chromosome 17, encodes tau. In the adult human brain, there are six isoforms. These are generated through alternative splicing of the tau gene. There are three isoforms with three microtubule binding repeat motifs (3R) and three with four microtubule binding repeat motifs (4R).8 Isoforms range 352-441 amino acids and from 60-74 kDa.5 Only the shortest isoform is expressed in the fetal human brain.9 Tauopathies Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases where tau aggregates into neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). AD, corticobasal degeneration, frontotemporal dementia, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, progressive supranuclear palsy, and Picks disease all come under this term.10 Huntingtons Disease also displays an increased amount of tau, including rod-like deposits.11 Tau Aggregation Tau dissociates from microtubules, leading to their destabilization. It then aggregates into oligomers, paired helical filaments, and ultimately neurofibrillary tangles. Image Credit: StressMarq Biosciences Post-Translational Modifications Tau can go through a number of post-translational modifications (PTMs) including phosphorylation, glycation, nitration, O-GlcNAcylation, acetylation, oxidation, ubiquitination, sumoylation, and methylation.12 Taus binding affinity to microtubules is regulated by these PTMs.13 There are high levels of ubiquitinated tau in AD and other tauopathies,12 and the tau function is impaired and aggregation promoted by lysine acetylation and other PTMs.10 In transgenic mouse models of tauopathies it is possible to detect acetylation of K280, however, this is not possible in control mouse brains.14 This suggests that it may be linked to tau pathology. Several post-translational modifications of tau occur, however, the most studied of these is phosphorylation. Tau Hyperphosphorylation Of the amino acids in tau, around 20% could potentially become phosphorylated.8 The microtubule-binding domain of tau is usually positively charged and, as such, attracts the negatively charged microtubules. It loses its positive charge when this domain becomes hyperphosphorylated and tau dissociates from the microtubules. Tau is then no longer able to assemble or stabilize them. It is possible that the subsequent neurodegeneration is a result of a loss in microtubule function, hyperphosphorylated tau being toxic to neurons, or a combination of these effects.15 Paired Helical Filaments Dimers can be formed through the combination of two hyperphosphorylated tau monomers.8 Known as dimerization, these interactions between hexapeptides in repeats 2 and 3 can lead to subsequent oligomerization.16 Following this, oligomers aggregate into PHFs. These have a twisted double-helical ribbon structure.17 Tau is more negatively charged than monomeric tau when contained within PHFs. It is, therefore, not able to bind tubulin or stabilize microtubules as effectively.18 If the microtubules are not stabilized then the microtubule network decays and neurons cease to function. Neurofibrillary Tangles A filamentous, insoluble aggregate of tau, NFTs have an increased beta-sheet structure19 and consist of aggregated PHFs. There is an association between dementia severity20 and the degree of NFT deposition in the brain as well as an association with neuron death.21 Neuropil threads and neuritic plaques are two other forms of tau aggregates in AD patients, which also induce neuron degeneration.22 Research suggests, however, that filamentous and fibrillary tau could have some neuroprotective effects and that the most toxic form of tau is soluble, hyperphosphorylated tau oligomers.23 Tau Propagation Prion-like propagation is one suggested mechanism for the propagation of tau pathology. Here tau seeds or fibrils are transferred from a donor cell to a recipient cell, where they recruit endogenous tau proteins onto their ends.24 Tau fibrils seemingly spread similarly to prions. However, it is unclear whether tau and prions share other properties, such as human-to-human infection.25 Tau Preformed Fibrils The aggregation of tau in both cultured cells25 and living animals13 can be induced by preformed fibrils (PFFs) by recruiting soluble monomers to form insoluble fibrils. The introduction of minute quantities of tau PFFs into tau-expressing cells may cause a great amount of tau to be recruited into filamentous inclusions resembling NFTs.27 Synthetic tau PFFs may also enter non-neuronal cells and recruit tau into NFTs.28 Tau PFFs can act as seeds, recruiting monomers into larger fibrils. Image Credit: StressMarq Biosciences Tau Truncation Full-length tau PFFs, have been shown in some research studies, to seed aggregation more effectively than truncated K18 tau in primary neurons.28 However, severe but reversible neurotoxicity in mice was shown to be induced by co-expression of truncated and full-length tau.29 This could be as a result of the formation of soluble, non-filamentous, high-molecular weight oligomers that are toxic to neurons.29 Tau and Alpha Synuclein The formation of Lewy bodies occurs in more than 50% of AD cases. Whats more, the brains of patients with Parkinsons Disease and Dementia with Lewy bodies often display amyloid-beta plaques and NFTs.30 Alpha synuclein and tau promote one anothers fibrillization in vitro,31 and tau fibrils colocalize with alpha synuclein fibrils in Lewy bodies.32 Tau aggregation in vitro may be induced through the contribution of alpha synuclein PFFs to tau phosphorylation.33 In both tauopathies and synucleinopathies, tau and alpha synuclein interaction and fibrillization may occur. Therapeutic Approaches Targeting the tau protein is involved in several approaches to potential treatments for AD and other tauopathies. Tau hyperphosphorylation is controlled by protein kinases and phosphatases.34 As such, treating tau may involve inhibiting tau kinases, restoring protein phosphatase 2A, or targeting the O-glycosylation of tau.35 Another option is to target neuroinflammation, as it plays a role in tau propagation.15 It has also been shown that immunizing mice with tau antibodies can slow the disease progression,36 suggesting that immunotherapy could be a potential treatment option. References and Further Reading Facts and Figures. Retrieved from https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures Alzheimer, A. Z. Psych.-Gerichtl. Med. 64, 146148 (1907) Irwin, D. J., Cohen, T. J., Grossman, M., Arnold, S. E., Xie, S. X., Lee, V. M., & Trojanowski, J. Q. (2012). Brain, 135(3), 807-818. Weinreb, P. H., Zhen, W., Poon, A. W., Conway, K. A., & Lansbury, P. T. (1996). Biochem, 35(43), 13709-13715. Maina, M. B., Al-Hilaly, Y., & Serpell, L. (2016). Biomol, 6(1), 9. Avila J, Jimenez JS, Sayas CL, Bolos M, Zabala JC, Rivas G, Hernandez F (2016). Front Aging Neurosci 8:262. Jeganathan S, von Bergen M, Brutlach H, Steinhoff HJ, Mandelkow, E (2006). Biochem, 45:22832293. Gotz, J., Gladbach, A., Pennanen, L., Eersel, J. V., Schild, A., David, D., & Ittner, L. M. (2010). Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta (BBA) Molecular Basis of Disease, 1802(10), 860-871. Jovanov-Milosevic, N., Petrovic, D., Sedmak, G., Vuksic, M., Hof, P. R., & Simic, G. (2012). Intl J Bioc & Cell Bio, 44(8), 1290-1294. Spillantini, M. G., & Goedert, M. (2013). The Lancet Neuro, 12(6), 609-622. Fernandez-Nogales M, Cabrera JR, Santos-Galindo M, Hoozemans JJ, Ferrer I, Rozemuller AJ, Hernandez F, Avila J, Lucas JJ (2014) Nat Med 20:881885. Park, S., Lee, J. H., Jeon, J. H., & Lee, M. J. (2018). BMB Reports, 51(6), 265-273. Iba, M., Guo, J., McBride, J. D., Zhang, B., Trojanowski, J. Q., Lee, V.M. (2013). J Neurosci. 33(3): 1024-1037. Cohen, T. J., Guo, J. L., Hurtado, D. E., Kwong, L. K., Mills, I. P., Trojanowski, J. Q., & Lee, V. M. (2011). Nat Comm, 2(1). Gong, C., & Iqbal, K. (2008). Cur Med Chem, 15(23), 2321-2328. Guo, T., Noble, W., & Hanger, D. P. (2017). Acta Neuropathologica, 133(5), 665-704. Crowther, R. A. (1991). Proc Nat Ac Sci, 88(6), 2288-2292. Ksiezak-Reding, H., & Yen, S. (1991). Neuron, 6(5), 717-728. Barghorn, S., Davies, P., & Mandelkow, E. (2004). Biochem, 43(6), 1694-1703. Arriagada, P. V., Growdon, J. H., Hedley-Whyte, E. T., and Hyman, B. T. (1992). Neurology 42, 631639 Rajendran, L., Honsho, M., Zahn, T. R., Keller, P., Geiger, K. D., Verkade, P., and Simons, K. (2006) Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 103, 1117211177 Lim, S., Haque, M. M., Kim, D., Kim, D. J., & Kim, Y. K. (2014). Comp Struct Biol J, 12(20-21), 7-13. doi:10.1016/j.csbj.2014.09.011 Cowan, C. M., & Mudher, A. (2013). Frontiers in Neuro, 4. Kfoury, N., Holmes, B. B., Jiang, H., Holtzman, D. M., and Diamond, M. I. (2012) Chem. 287, 1944019451. Hyman, B. (2014). Neuron, 82(6), 1189-1190. Frost, B., Jacks, R. L., & Diamond, M. I. (2009). J Biol Chem, 284(19), 12845-12852. Guo, J., Lee, V.M. (2011). J Biol Chem. 286(17):15317-31. Guo, J. L., & Lee, V. M. (2013). FEBS Letters, 587(6), 717-723. Ozcelik, S., Sprenger, F., Skachokova, Z., Fraser, G., Abramowski, D., Clavaguera, F., . . . Winkler, D. T. (2016). Mol Psychiatry, 21(12), 1790-1798. Galpern, W. R., & Lang, A. E. (2006). Ann Neuro, 59(3), 449-458. Giasson, B. I. (2003). Science, 300(5619), 636-640. Ishizawa, T., Mattila, P., Davies, P., Wang, D., & Dickson, D. W. (2003). J Neuropath & Expt Neuro, 62(4), 389-397. Waxman, E. A., & Giasson, B. I. (2011). J Neuro, 31(21), 7604-7618. Hanger DP, Anderton BH, Noble W (2009) Trends Mol Med. 15:112119. Gong, C.X., Iqbal, K. (2008). Chem. 15:23212328. Asuni AA, Boutajangout A, Quartermain D, Sigurdsson EM (2007) J Neurosci 27:91159129. Acknowledgments Produced from materials originally authored by Patricia Thomson from StressMarq Biosciences Inc. About StressMarq Biosciences Established in 2007, StressMarq Biosciences Inc. is a supplier of life science products that operates out of Victoria, Canada with a small, but dedicated group of scientists. Headed by our CEO and President Dr. Ariel Louwrier, StressMarq provides the research community with high-quality reagents backed with rigorous quality control data, expert scientific support, and fast international delivery. Discovery through partnership, Excellence through quality With over 7,000 products, our growth can be attributed to the continual production of cutting edge research products. Our diverse portfolio of primary antibodies, antibody conjugates, proteins, immunoassay kits and small molecules bridges across the life sciences, including products for cancer research, cardiovascular disease, cell signaling and neuroscience. To aid research worldwide, StressMarq has an extensive network of international distributors that allow us to supply reagents to over 50 countries. In the years to come, StressMarq will continue to aid life science research by providing Discovery through partnership, and Excellence through quality. Sponsored Content Policy: News-Medical.net publishes articles and related content that may be derived from sources where we have existing commercial relationships, provided such content adds value to the core editorial ethos of News-Medical.Net which is to educate and inform site visitors interested in medical research, science, medical devices and treatments. Infotel, a leading global software vendor of database performance and optimization solutions for Fortune 500 enterprises, today announced its sponsorship at SHARE Fort Worth 2020, on February 23-28, at the Fort Worth Convention Center. This SHARE event will feature 500+ technical sessions, covering key topics such as IBM Z, DevOps, innovative workloads, analytics, Big Data, mobile, cloud and security. Infotel will be in booth #107 to discuss leveraging mainframe automation and Artificial Intelligence to improve performance and control costs on z/OS. Infotel solutions are designed with the DBA and developers in mind to save costs and reduce workload, allowing greater bandwidth to focus on more strategic tasks that impact the numbers of the business. We are excited to exhibit and present at SHARE, said Carlos Almeida, business analyst for Infotel Corp. USA. "With the current mainframe skills gap, from an aging or retiring workforce, adopting the scalability of new mainframe technology offers will be the best way to keep up with application production demands. We look forward to adding Infotels expertise and experience to that conversation. Infotel will also be sponsoring a Lunch and Learn session with Db2 subject matter expert, Craig S. Mullins. The session will focus on the benefits and challenges of implementing DevOps into mainframe application development and also discuss the origins and other operational aspects of DevOps. Infotel with Craig S. Mullins Speaking Session Details: Title: LNL - Improving Db2 Application Quality for Optimizing Performance and Controlling Costs Where: Fort Worth Convention Center | Room 201A When: Tuesday, February 25 | 12:25 p.m. 1:25 p.m. Speakers: Craig S. Mullins, Db2 consultant & Colin Oakhill, management consultant at Insoft Infotel More info: Link to Session and Abstract Register for LnL: Attendees may register for the Lunch and Learn here. To learn more about adopting the DevOps methodology on the mainframe, download Infotels whitepaper titled DevOps is Here with Its Eyes on the Mainframe: 7 Steps to Ensure Your Organization is Ready for Software Development in 2020. Whats New from Infotel at SHARE Fort Worth 2020? Infotel will feature its latest product offering, Application Parallel Testing (APT) for IBM z/OS. Developed by Infotel technology partner Eccox, APT centralizes mainframe app development testing in a single mainframe (IBM z/OS) disk partition (LPAR). Based on Agile Development methods, APT dramatically accelerates application production on z/OS by providing multiple instances of databases and application code on a single LPAR so multiple developers can work concurrently on the same iteration of an app or apps in development. The result is the elimination of testing code builds in series and in multiple LPARs the traditional Waterfall development method where errors in code could only be found after a previous software build was completed and tested. APT allows for parallel development testing of application code by hundreds of developers concurrently across the entire enterprise, a cornerstone of Agile and DevOps application development methods. The result is faster application development and fewer bugs when an application is put into production. Subsequently, APT dramatically reduces the time need for app testing on z/OS, typically the most expensive phase of application development. About SHARE SHARE Inc. is an independent, volunteer-run association providing enterprise technology professionals with continuous education and training, valuable professional networking and effective industry influence. Twice each year, SHARE gathers the leading subject matter experts, vendors, and business visionaries in enterprise IT for a week of education and innovation. More information about SHARE Fort Worth 2020 can be found at https://event.share.org. About Infotel Infotel Corp., based in Tampa, Florida, is a software vendor and IT consulting firm specializing in data performance and optimization solutions for the Mainframe z/OS platform. For more than 40 years, Infotel has delivered proven solutions to help clients improve their data management systems. For more information on Infotel Corp., please visit https://infotelcorp.com. A 50-year-old man has been arrested in England on suspicion of the murder of a former TV announcer. Michael Kerr, 68, was found dead in his home in Bangor in County Down in November. By Kiyoshi Takenaka TOKYO (Reuters) - Two Japanese nationals evacuated on the first chartered flight from Wuhan, epicentre of the coronavirus epidemic, have pneumonia symptoms but a coronavirus diagnosis has not been confirmed, hospital representatives said on Wednesday. Among 206 Japanese nationals evacuated to Tokyo, five have been hospitalised, with two of those showing signs of having pneumonia following scans. A further seven would be hospitalised as they showed symptoms such as fever and coughing, the healthy ministry said on its website. Almost all others were checked for symptoms and cleared to return home, and are being asked to avoid going out for at least two weeks while receiving regular medical checkups, the ministry said. Two passengers refused to be taken to the hospital for checks but were escorted home, it said. "I was extremely worried that I was stuck there while the situation was changing very rapidly," Takeo Aoyama, a Nippon Steel employee, told reporters at the airport after being evacuated from Wuhan, which is in virtual lockdown. "I feel really relieved now that I have been brought back in a speedy manner like this on a chartered flight," said Aoyama, who was wearing a mask. Some 450 Japanese nationals are waiting to be evacuated and the government will dispatch a second flight to Wuhan on Wednesday evening. Japan on Tuesday reported the first case of a possible transmission inside the country - a Japanese tour bus driver who was infected after coming into contact with Chinese visitors. Public broadcaster NHK said late on Wednesday that the tour bus's guide, a woman residing in Osaka, also tested positive, bringing the country's total number of patients to eight. The death toll from the coronavirus, believed to have originated in a Wuhan market which illegally sold wildlife, rose sharply to 132 on Wednesday, with nearly 1,500 new cases. Japaese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said a special task force to deal with the epidemic would be set up on Thursday. (Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka, Akira Tomoshige, Sakura Murakami, Chang-Ran Kim and Sam Nussey; Editing by Philippa Fletcher and Chizu Nomiyama) Chemical changes due to human-caused emissions are harming a valuable species of crab in the Pacific Ocean. Experts discovered a rise in acidity is dissolving the shells of larvae Dungeness crabs along the coast of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. The study notes that these young crabs are unable to build strong shells, leaving them vulnerable to predators and hindering their ability to float on the surface. The data also shows low levels of pH, which is damaging the larvad's tiny, hair-like receptors and causing sensory issues. Experts discovered a rise in acidity is dissolving the shells of larvae Dungeness crabs (stock) in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia Ocean acidification is a result of a spike in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The ocean naturally absorbs the excess gas, which changes the pH levels in the water. The altered balance hinders crabs' abilities to develop strong shells. Other studies have found that acidification will make it hard for other fish to detect predators as well. The findings add to concerns about the future of the Dungeness as atmospheric carbon dioxide on the rise due to fossil-fuel combustion is absorbed by the Pacific Ocean and increases acidification. The researchers of the study, which was funded by the NOAA, had expected this to occur but 'much later in this century,' study co-author Richard Feely told CNN. The data is based on a 2016 survey of coastal waters around the Pacific Northwest that looked at larva Dungeness. 'If the crabs are affected already, we really need to make sure we start to pay attention to various components of the food chain before it is too late,' said Nina Bednarsek, the lead author among 13 contributing scientists. Dungeness sustain West Coast commercial seafood harvests typically worth over $200 million annually, and are a mainstay for tribal and recreational crabbers. The study notes that these young crabs (top right) are unable to build strong shells, leaving them vulnerable to predators and hindering their ability to float on the surface. The data also shows low levels of pH, which is damaging the larva's tiny, hair-like receptors, which results in sensory issues They have thrived in coastal waters that in recent years have been found to have hot spots of ocean acidification. Bednarsek and her colleagues for the first time documented that some Dungeness larvae in the wild already had pitted and folded shells, described in their journal article as 'severe carapace dissolution,' and that these larvae were typically smaller in size. They also found damage to hairlike structures that act as sensory receptors, and the researchers hypothesize this could lead to slower movements, impaired swimming and other problems. Although losing the creatures would affect the ecosystem, Dungeness crabs are a food source and have created many jobs for those living in the area. 'If the crabs are affected already, we really need to make sure we pay much more attention to various components of the food chain before it is too late,' added lead author Nina Bednarsek. The authors of this new study say more research is needed to understand what the new findings may mean for the future of the Dungeness crab as the Pacific coastal waters continue to absorb more carbon dioxide. If acid levels stay at a constant high, not only will the shells dissolve, but they could also become deformed. This will complicate crab molting and increases the chances of death during molting. Chinese health authorities on Wednesday said that the death toll due to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak in the country has soared to 132, with 5,974 confirmed cases in 31 provincial-level regions. The National Health Commission said that 1,239 patients remained in critical conditions, and 9,239 people were suspected of being infected with the virus as of Tuesday, reports Xinhua news agency. A total of 103 people were discharged from hospital after recovery. The 5,974 cases on the mainland marked a rise of 1,459 from the previous day. A total of 65,537 close contacts have been traced, the Commission said, adding that among them, 1,604 were discharged on Tuesday, with 59,990 others still under medical observation. Dozens of infections have been reported abroad as well, eight of which were reported in Hong Kong, seven in Macao Special Administrative Region and eight in Taiwan. Japan and many other countries have started evacuating their citizens from China. Dave Chappelle On His Support For Andrew Yang: What Would You Rather Have, $12,000 [Extra] A Year Or Health Insurance? Elijah C. Watson Elijah Watson serves as Okayplayer's News & Culture Editor. When A part of Andrew Yangs plan if he were to become president is offering a universal basic income for all American adults, which be $1,000 a month. Dave Chappelle spoke alongside Andrew Yang about why he endorsed the presidential candidate prior to a show in Iowa on Tuesday night. READ: This Is Why Dave Chappelle Didnt Accept His Best Comedy Album Grammy Award In a report from the Des Moines Register, Chappelle discussed how Yangs universal basic income proposal, referred to as the Freedom Dividend, was what sold him on the candidate and led to the comedian endorsing him. Through Yangs Freedom Dividend, Every U.S. citizen over the age of 18 would receive $1,000 a month, regardless of income or employment status, according to Yangs website. The wealth disparity between me and my neighbors is immense. Its heartbreaking, Chappelle said. And if you know a third of the people up the street cant buy groceries, then you start to feel an imperative concern. Its not the kind of thing I could just see and hope for the best, I should probably say something. Also present during the talk was local independent news outlet Iowa Starting Line, who shared video of some of Chappelles comments on its Twitter account. In the videos, he spoke further about Yangs universal basic income proposal, and how he thinks it could benefit people in his own Dayton, Ohio. Dave Chappelle in Ames with @AndrewYang: You take a poll in Dayton and say what would you rather have, $12,000 a year or health insurance? Everyones taking the money. Health insurance is great, but groceries are necessary too. pic.twitter.com/XJZY4Bexmr Iowa Starting Line (@IAStartingLine) January 29, 2020 Dayton, Ohio, theres like a third of the people there living below the poverty line, Chappelle said. You take a poll in Dayton and say what would you rather have, $12,000 a year or health insurance? Everyones taking the money. Health insurance is great, but groceries are necessary too. I started imagining what a universal basic income would do for my community and it would save it almost instantly, he added. I like the idea of giving people choices, putting the money in their hands and giving them the choice. They would consider things that arent even an option to consider now, and they could do things that arent an option to do. Elsewhere in that video, Chappelle spoke about the controversy surrounding this years election cycle, as well as his thoughts on Trump supporters. I dont look at Trump supporters as my enemy at all. I understand why people voted for Trump, I understand people are desperate, Chappelle said. I got friends on both sides of the political aisle, I got fans on both sides of the political aisle. Source: Des Moines Register Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 00:01:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Yang Jiechi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo by phone on Wednesday at the latter's request, discussing efforts to combat the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) epidemic. Pompeo conveyed sympathy for the casualties caused by the 2019-nCoV-linked pneumonia in China and expressed appreciation for China's timely response to U.S. concerns after the outbreak of the epidemic. Pompeo said that the United States is willing to keep in close communication and coordination with and provide necessary assistance for China, in order to jointly deal with the challenge to international health security. Yang, also director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, said that under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government and people are making every effort to combat the pneumonia epidemic caused by the new virus. China has established a working mechanism for joint prevention and control with multiple departments involved, and taken resolute and effective measures in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province, as well as other regions of the country, to contain the spread of the epidemic with all its strength, Yang said. He noted that China has the confidence and capability to win the battle of epidemic prevention and control. Since the outbreak of the epidemic, China, in an open, transparent and responsible manner, has promptly informed the World Health Organization (WHO) and relevant countries and regions, including the United States, of the epidemic situation. In addition to sharing information such as the genetic sequence of the new virus at the first time, China has invited experts from the WHO and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions to do field study in Wuhan, Yang said. China attaches great importance to the safety of all foreigners in China, including U.S. nationals, Yang said, adding that China stands ready to continue to maintain close coordination and cooperation with the United States. In a bid to boost tourism, the Centre has announced a reward for people visiting 15 tourist spots till 2022. As a reward, the government would fund the expenses of those who travel to at least 15 locations. The Ministry of Tourism has launched the programme called Dekho Apna Desh. Details of the programme have been put up on the website, where Indians can pledge to travel at least 15 tourist locations across the country by 2022. "The tourism ministry will fund the travel expenses of tourists who visit 15 destinations in the country in a year and submit the photos on our website," said Prahlad Singh Patel, Union Tourism Minister, on January 24 at the concluding ceremony of the two-day National Tourism Conference in Odisha's Konark. These travellers need to first pledge, and then upload photos on the website after visiting any 15 tourist locations in a year. One needs to travel outside their home state to be eligible for the contention. However, these expenses should be not construed as a monetary benefit, but as an incentive. The minister said the Sun Temple at Konark would be included in the list of iconic sites. Rupinder Brar, Additional Director General of Tourism, said the ministry had been organising certificate programmes for candidates intending to work as tourist guides. But participation of Odisha in this programme is very low and it needs to be enhanced. The state government should encourage students to take part in the certificate course, she said. On the concluding day of the conference, jointly organised by the Odisha government and FICCI, a memorandum of intent was signed between the state and Gujarat for cross-promotion of tourist sites, officials said. A memorandum of understanding, mentioning the key frameworks and policies, would be signed soon after discussions with relevant departments of both the states, said Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav, Director of Tourism, Odisha. (with inputs from PTI) Rajinikanth, the superstar had recently made headlines by participating in the highly popular Into The Wild With Bear Grylls show. The Darbar actor is making a comeback to the mini screen with the show which is about to be aired in Discovery India, after a long gap of about 4 decades. Shockingly, Rajinikanth's shoot hasn't gone well with a group of activists, who are now demanding the superstar's arrest. Reportedly, the activists are upset with the fact that the shoot was taken place in Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Karnataka, which is a protected forest area. They point out that the presence of the crew might have badly affected the animals. According to the activists, the presence of the shooting crew would have put the lives of the animals in danger by igniting wildfires that could spread rapidly at the present weather conditions. An activist named Joseph Hoover stated that Rajinikanth and crew could have shot during the monsoon season, which is less risky. According to the reports, the wildfire has occurred in the area in the years 2012, 2017, and 2019, which had severely damaged about 8000 acres of the forest area. The development projects have also badly affected forest areas. However, Rajinikanth has not reacted to the allegations of the activists yet. Recently, the superstar has expressed his deep excitement on joining hands with Bear Grylls for the Into The Wild With Bear Grylls show, through his official Twitter handle. The Darbar actor thanked the host and Discovery channel for the unforgettable experience. Earlier, it was rumoured that Rajinikanth was injured during the shoot of the show, which is said to be an Indian adaptation of the renowned show Man Vs Wild. However, host Bear Grylls and the representatives of Discovery India slammed the reports and confirmed that the superstar is perfectly healthy and completed the shoot for the show. Also Read: Man Vs Wild: Rajinikanth Not Injured While Shooting For The Show With Bear Grylls An Accra High Court has thrown out an application by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to search the phone records of the National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi. The court has also denied the police access to Mr Gyamfis Facebook records. In his ruling, the Judge described the CIDs application as frivolous. This ruling comes days after a member of the communication and legal team of the NDC, Mr Abraham Amaliba, disclosed to the media that the police requested and had access to Mr Gyamfis phone when he was picked up to the CID headquarters on Monday, January 27, 2020. Upon insistence and to avoid any altercation with the police, we decided to give out the phone since there is nothing incriminating in it, Amaliba said. The police are interrogating Mr Gyamfi following a complaint filed by the Executive Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante to the CID alleging that Mr Gyamfi forged a document purported to have emanated from the presidency and published same on his social media page in order to cause fear among the Ghanaian public. ---Starrfm.com.gh US people of colour are disproportionately affected by asthma; new study looks at how economic policy has contributed. The redlining of poor neighbourhoods in the 1930s is associated with higher rates of emergency department visits due to asthma among people of colour today, a new study of eight major California cities published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal has found. Current rates of emergency room visits due to asthma a respiratory condition that disproportionately affects people of colour in the United States are around 2.4 times higher in areas that were redlined or deprioritised for mortgage investment in the 1930s, researchers found. Its well-documented that asthma rates are higher among people of colour, affecting 10.1 percent of non-Hispanic African Americans versus just 8.1 of white non-Hispanics in 2017, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When it comes to asthma-related deaths, the disparity is even starker: African American adults were almost three times more likely to die from asthma-related causes than white adults in 2014, according to the US Office of Minority Health, and African American children had a death rate ten times that of non-Hispanic white children in 2015. A lack of access to healthcare along with stress and exposure to air pollution are all factors that have been studied when it comes to the racial disparity in asthma rates, but what we felt was lacking was a historical view that considered why these factors were concentrated in certain neighbourhoods more than others, said the studys lead author Anthony Nardone, a medical student and researcher at the University of California, Berkeley-University of California San Francisco joint medical programme. The observational study, conducted by researchers at UC Berkeley, UCSF and Columbia University in New York City, looked at Great Depression-era maps created by the Home Owners Loan Corporation for eight Californian cities: Fresno, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco and Stockton. The maps graded urban neighbourhoods by the perceived risk of mortgage default from A to D (with D representing the highest risk). Areas that were predominantly inner-city, with black and immigrant residents, were systematically graded as hazardous for investment and outlined in red or redlined. Redlining propelled a lack of investment in those areas perceived as higher risk, the studys authors explained. The proportion of the population that was non-Hispanic black and Hispanic, the percentage of the population living in poverty, and diesel exhaust particle emissions all significantly increased as security map risk grade worsened, the study found. Even 90 years later, those Home Owners Loan Corporation categorisations seem to still have an effect, the study shows, and issues around poverty and neighbourhood characteristics really do play an important role in peoples health, said study co-author Neetha Thakur, MD, a pulmonary and critical care physician at UCSF. Redlining of these neighbourhoods, coupled with other racist policies at the time, led to divestment of these neighbourhoods, Thakur told Al Jazeera. Now, its resulting in redline neighbourhoods being closer to freeways, not having as many resources present in the community, and also decreasing their access to healthcare services. Living close to a freeway is associated with uncontrolled asthma in children, a 2010 study published in the Journal of Allergy found, with some patients experiencing a twofold increase in risk for uncontrolled asthma if they live less than two miles (three kilometres) from a freeway. The decisions that were made around where to build highways in the 40s and 50s likely corresponded to where neighbourhoods were essentially just considered less valuable and where people had less autonomy and advocacy for their needs, Nardone said. And we know ambient air pollution is pretty strongly tied to asthma. What we know about wealth is that it acts as a buffer. It helps people buffer stress; it helps people live in places that might not have exposures to air pollution, Nardone added. Thakur and Nardone said they hope to look at the bigger picture and see if the association between redlining and asthma rates holds on a national level as well. The man was fired from his office in the occupied part of Donetsk region and decided to return to Ukraine-controlled territory; he gave up voluntarily. Currently, the State Security Service checks if the defendant was involved in any crimes while serving with the occupant authorities Counterintelligence of Ukraine's State Security Service (SBU) conducted a special operation, which resulted in the detention of former "minister of the coal industry" of the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic." The press office of the SBU reported that on Wednesday. Operatives and investigators of the agency found out that the individual was actively involved in shaping the domestic policy of his ministry. He supervised the work of coal extraction enterprises and the distribution of energy resources in the temporarily occupied areas of the Donetsk region. Eventually, the man was fired from his office in the occupied part of the Donetsk region. He started his own business, tried to distance himself from the work for the government, and decided to return to Ukraine-controlled territory. He returned to the peaceful territories of Ukraine thanks to the special operation developed and conducted by the SBU. Immediately after the withdrawal from the so-called "DNR", he filed an official statement, in which he said he was involved in the work "authoritative bodies" that were illegally shaped by the occupants in the Donetsk region. He also revealed certain facts of Russia's direct involvement in the occupation of Donbas. Currently, the State Security Service checks if the defendant was involved in any crimes while serving with the occupant authorities. Senate trial picks up speed as senators have 16 hours to pose questions to House managers and Trumps defence. Washington, DC The impeachment trial of United States President Donald Trump enters a new phase on Wednesday as senators get their first opportunity to pose questions to House managers and the presidents defence team. Entering its ninth day, the impeachment trial will gather speed on Wednesday towards crucial votes in the 100-seat US Senate on whether to call witnesses or acquit and remove Trump. Senators will have eight hours on Wednesday and eight hours on Thursday to pose written questions to both sides. Votes are likely to come on Friday. The main thing is to keep questions focused on the major issues of the trial, and that is a range of questions under abuse of power for example, Democratic Senator Bob Casey told Al Jazeera. Until now, senators have been compelled to sit in their seats without speaking as House Democrats and Trumps defence presented opposing views of two articles of impeachment, one for abuse of power and a second for obstruction of Congress. They will still be required to sit silently, but will now have a chance to actively participate in the trial. Republicans and Democrats said they were consulting among themselves on Tuesday night about strategy for the question and answer sessions. With much at stake, Republicans are likely to address their questions to the presidents defence team in order to maximise their opportunities to be heard, a Republican staff aide told Al Jazeera. Former US Department of Justice prosecutor Gene Rossi, who has been following the impeachment trial, suggested the following five questions are likely: To House managers: What evidence have you presented that satisfies the statutory terms for bribery and/or extortion or any other federal crime? Is the Government Accountability Offices finding of a violation of the civil Impoundment Act evidence relevant to satisfying the statutory requirements for bribery and extortion? Republicans have argued President Trump was denied due process, access to proceedings and the ability to defend himself in the House impeachment process. Tell the members of the jury specifically how the House failed to provide due process to the president of the United States? Alternatively, for Democrats, explain how the president was given fair process in the House? When did Congress approve the $391m in security aid to Ukraine and when should the money have been released in a perfect world? And by that delay, how many, if any casualties did Ukraine suffer arguably because of the delay? For House managers: Why did you not call John Bolton and Mick Mulvaney as witnesses? Why did you go to court and ask for subpoenas and then fail to fulfil them? Why did you not go the extra mile before you brought this to the Senate? Why did you not exhaust your congressional remedies before using the nuclear bomb of impeachment? For both sides: Most US constitutional scholars reject Alan Dershowitzs legal argument that if you do not have a crime, you do not have impeachment. Is Dershowitz right or wrong and why? Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said she was considering several questions at this point. I want to hone in on issues that werent well elaborated by both sides and we will work together as a caucus to make sure we cover all the issues, Gillibrand told reporters. Every senator is expected to have an opportunity to offer at least one question. Senators will rise and be recognised by Chief Justice John Roberts. They will send their questions to the desk to be read out loud and addressed to one side or the other. According to CNN, senators first sent their questions by email to party leaders so they could be organised and duplicates could be sorted. We dont want the same question 10 times, Schumer was quoted by US media as saying. I am sure that a good number of the questions will give the House managers time to rebut all the holes in the presidents lawyers arguments, which they didnt have in the course of the trial. The questions will then be written on a form that asks for the senators name, whom the question is for, the question and the senators signatures. Groups of senators can also submit questions. During the impeachment trial of former President Bill Clinton, one bipartisan question was asked. Republicans and Democrats will alternate and both parties will determine, at least initially, what order senators are recognised. In keeping with past precedent, Chief Justice Roberts on Tuesday urged senators to keep questions succinct and instructed House managers and Trumps defence to limit answers to five minutes, an admonition that drew light laughter from senators. With additional reporting by Tom Szypulski. LONDON, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In the latest issue of World Finance, Elsworth Johnson, Minister of Financial Services, Trade, Industry and Immigration at The Bahamas Financial Services Board highlights the island nation's robust financial sector. For over 80 years The Bahamas has maintained a successful track record of competing for foreign direct investment and offering wealth management services. One of the key reasons for this success is The Bahamas' position as an internationally recognised centre for the provision of financial services. In the article, Johnson describes how The Bahamas has managed to outperform its larger rivals by delivering more effective products and services. However, this position is being challenged by a global consolidation of technological advancements, regional economic weaknesses, competition from other financial centres and global regulatory pressures that have strained national resources. "Current trends are pointing towards a more technology-driven financial sector that is increasingly knowledge-focused," Johnson writes. "As such, The Bahamas must be prepared to adapt its product and service offerings to these changes, while also leveraging its existing strengths to seize the opportunities being created by new and emerging developments." To maintain its success, The Bahamas has set out a new strategic vision for financial services looking ahead to 2025. This strategy includes a clear vision for The Bahamas as a recognised location of choice for specialist international financial services, building on the islands' strengths in terms of local talent, technological advancement, established infrastructure, friendly investment policies and solid, well-established regulations. Elsewhere in the piece, Johnson outlines the government's commitment to promoting The Bahamas as a responsible, well resourced, compliant international financial centre focused on real international business, transparency and cooperation. Positioning the country as a hub for legitimate financial services aligned with all necessary international standards is essential to ensuring that finance continues to be an essential part of the islands' economy. For more about The Bahamas and how its financial services sector is developing, check out the latest issue of World Finance, available in print, on tablet and online now. www.worldfinance.com World News Media, the parent company of World Finance, is a leading publisher of quality financial and business magazines, which enjoys a global distribution network that includes subscriber lists of prominent decision-makers around the world. Contact Information World News Media Barclay Ballard Editorial Department +44-(0)-20-7553-4177 [email protected] SOURCE World News Media Yahoo Life Ill go on an occasional date but thats only in the last two years. It took me four to even step out there," the mom of two said. Todays Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. Email address By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy The Congress on Wednesday accused the BJP-led government of "betraying" farmers and "breaching its poll promises" and demanded a loan waiver scheme, minimum income scheme and bringing petrol and diesel under the GST. In a statement, party leader and former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said the GST rates on farm produce and the products should be reduced and GST on tractors, agriculture implements and insecticides should be withdrawn or brought to the minimum level. He said the interest of farmers should be protected under the crop insurance scheme. Alleging scams related to the crop insurance scheme, he demanded a high-level inquiry into the issue. Chavan said the government should come out with a loan waiver scheme on the lines of the scheme brought by the UPA government in 2008. "The consumption level has been declining in the villages and the farmers are in a pitiable condition. In such a scenario loan waiver scheme and minimum income scheme is the need of the hour. Allocation under MGNREGA should be increased. Diesel and petrol should be brought under the ambit of GST," he said. Chavan accused the BJP-led government of changing the goalposts in the past five-and-a-half years. "In 2014, the BJP came to power with the promise of giving 50 per cent profit on the cost of farm produce to the farmers but so far the Indian farmers have been left at the mercy of their fate and the government has been only trying to mislead them with false 'jumlas," he said. Chavan said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman should speak on the past poll promises of the BJP in her budget speech. "In all the budgets of BJP till to date the farmers have suffered deception of mirage and numerous promises were made to mislead them. In the Budget 2020 we hope and request the Union Minister of Finance that the farmer, who is the 'anndata' of this country, should not be betrayed any more," he said. He said that in the Budget of 2018-19, an Agri-market Infrastructure Fund was announced with a corpus of Rs 2,000 crore but in two years the government has reportedly so far spent only 0.5 per cent of this amount. "Twenty-two thousand markets were proposed to be set up but out of that work started for only 376 but even those markets have not been made fully operational," Chavan said. He said the Finance Minister had promised a substantial investment in agriculture and allied fields. "A scheme was announced to constitute 10,000 new farmer producer organizations and fisheries industries. We would request the Minister of Finance to kindly enlighten us about the fate of those announcements in her budget speech," he said. Chavan alleged that the farmers were not getting the declared minimum support price. "The farmers were forced to sell their Kharif crops at 8 per cent to 37 per cent below the MSP," he said. The Congress leader said the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) has also recommended a cut in the government procurement of wheat and paddy in 2020-21 rabi marketing season report. "It raises a suspicion that the BJP Government intends to stop the purchase of wheat and paddy. The BJP government has virtually stopped releasing food subsidy amount to the FCI during the past five years," he said. Chavan said Rs 1.74 lakh crore payable to FCI by the BJP Government was still outstanding and debt burden of the corporation has increased to Rs 2.65 lakh crore during the past five years. "Major amount of this debt has been taken at a hefty rate of interest of 8 per cent or more. The ultimate result is that FCI is neck-deep in debt. On one hand, the government is not releasing the food subsidy amount, and, on the other hand, the FCI has no option but to repay the debt taken on a high rate of interest. If FCI is shut down then who will come forward for procurement of farmers' crops?" he asked. He said the BJP-led government is the first to impose taxes on agriculture by putting GST on fertilisers (5 per cent), tractor and agriculture equipment (12 per cent) and pesticides (18 per cent). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One of the warehouses with masks stockpile in Singapore, which Senior Minister of State for Health Lam Pin Min checked on during the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak. (PHOTO: Lam Pin Min/Facebook) SINGAPORE Various Singapore ministries, statutory boards and hospitals have been implementing measures to reduce the risk of infection and heighten surveillance amid the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak. In addition, ministers and members of parliament have been posting information and advisories on their Facebook pages. Here are some of the key measures, advisories and information shared by the Singapore government: Masks stockpile sufficient if used sensibly Senior Minister of State for Health Lam Pin Min posted on Facebook images of his visit on Tuesday (28 January) to one of the warehouses where the face masks are stockpiled. He wrote on his Facebook post that there is sufficient supply of masks in Singapore if we use them sensibly and responsibly. There is no need to rush to buy masks. We are working with retailers like NTUC FairPrice and Unity Pharmacy to push out the stocks, he added. Lam said that retailer are rationing the sale of masks in packages with smaller quantity, to ensure there is adequate supply for Singaporeans and to prevent unnecessary hoarding. He added that the government is working with retailers to manager pricing and reminding them not to profiteer from the increased demand. Hospitals limit visitors to wards, A&E departments Hospitals in Singapore are limiting the number of visitors and imposing visiting restrictions in order to reduce the risk of infection from the Wuhan virus. Most of the hospitals have imposed a limit of only two visitors per patient during their visiting hours. In addition, the Singapore General Hospital has limited the number of companions to patients in its emergency department to just one. We are seeing more patients than usual at our emergency department. Priority will be given to those who are critically ill. The waiting time for other patients will be longer, it added in an advisory on its website. Meanwhile, Changi General Hospital will require visitors to wear masks when visiting its wards and A&E department. Story continues Visitors who have recent travel history to China are not allowed on its premises, even if they display no ill symptoms. It is also restricting access to all unwell visitors even if they do not have recent travel history to China. The hospital has also strongly discouraged children from visiting. The National University Hospital has also banned children under the age of 12 years old from visiting its wards, due to their relatively low immunity. Visitors and caregivers are also required to register daily, and declare their health status and travel history. Mindef, MHA enhance protection on servicemen The Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Home Affairs have issued a joint advisory on Tuesday on enhanced protection on servicemen within the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Home Team. All non-essential travel for SAF and Home Team personnel to mainland China will be deferred. For pre-enlistees who have travelled to China, a mandatory leave of absence for up to 14 days will be applied if they are due for enlistment. For NSmen who have travelled to China, deferment will be applied if they are due for in-camp training (ICT). Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) and Health Screening Programme (HSP) appointments will also be rescheduled. For those currently in service and who have travelled to China, precautionary measures based on Ministry of Manpower's guidelines will apply to those returning to work. These include having them monitor their health closely for two weeks upon return to Singapore and seeking medical attention promptly if they feel unwell. Information on how pre-enlistees and NSmen can make their declarations and submit documentary proof of travel will be available on NS Portal. They may also follow the instructions in the SMS that will be sent to them prior to their enlistment, ICT, IPPT or HSP. Rumours on quarantine allowance debunked Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong has put up a Facebook post on Tuesday (28 January) debunking rumours that the quarantine allowance is given to affected tourists. The $100-a-day quarantine allowance is a scheme set up during the 2003 SARS outbreak to assist Singapore-based businesses with employees, as well as self-employed Singapore citizens and permanent residents. After completing the quarantine order, the self-employed person or the employer can apply to Ministry of Health for the allowance within three months. It is regrettable that some people are circulating falsehoods on this, Wong wrote on his Facebook post. Quarantine allowance is not new. We did it for SARS too. Its given to Singapore-based employers to cover their employees under quarantine and to self-employed Singaporeans/PRs under quarantine. Its not given to tourists who are quarantined. Our whole point is to help Singaporeans. Please help to share this and correct any misperceptions or falsehoods. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has also set up a special Wuhan virus page on its website, advising employers on adopting measures to protect and assist their employees in their line of work. Facebook messages from President, DPM, Defence Minister President Halimah Yacob and Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Heng Swee Keat have both posted on their Facebook pages, urging Singaporeans to help fight the virus outbreak together. President Halimah said in her Facebook post that Singaporeans should remain level-headed and calm, and not spread falsehoods, misperceptions and rumours which will cause confusion, panic and anger. Our hospitals and healthcare staff are under tremendous pressure to prepare themselves in the event the situation worsens. But they can only do so much without the support of our people in this effort to keep everyone safe, she wrote. The social media is so much more pervasive this time compared to the 2003 SARS outbreak, and the potential for spreading mischief, distortions and untruths is tremendous. We can fight this virus together and overcome it but we must remain level headed and calm and, most importantly, do our part too. We have the experience of battling with SARS and we are prepared. DPM Heng also wrote on his Facebook page that Singaporeans should stay calm, stay healthy, look out for one another, and continue to keep Singapore going. I encourage all of us to play our part by maintaining good personal hygiene and being socially responsible. See the doctor immediately if you are unwell. There is generally no need to wear a mask if you are well, he wrote. Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen paid tribute to the frontline medical staff in a Facebook post on Tuesday, commending the doctors, nurses, healthcare and other personnel who put themselves at risk as they perform surveillance at airports or receive and treat suspected and infected patients at hospitals. While the rest of Singaporeans hope to keep away from those infected, these people have, out of duty, come up close and personal with a potentially debilitating and even deadly virus, he wrote. They shoulder great burdens because they too are concerned that they could get infected and pass it on to their families. Nevertheless, they carry out their tasks with great professionalism and personal sacrifice. To these wonderful persons, we offer our thanks and great admiration, knowing that the months ahead will be trying ones. Related stories: Wuhan virus: MOM to reject new work applications of workers from Hubei Wuhan virus: 2 Facebook users made false posts about Woodlands MRT closure - POFMA Office Wuhan virus: Singapore to bar new visitors with travel history to Hubei in last 14 days Wuhan virus: 2 petitions in Singapore calling to ban travellers from China making rounds Wuhan coronavirus in numbers: How it's spreading worldwide The private sector in the timber industry of Ghana is gearing up to capitalize on the vast opportunities the European Union (EU) market presents with the setting up of a Message House to market its products. The Message House, a communication strategy being developed by the private sector, civil society and government, is to communicate what Ghana has been able to do to meet the criteria required by the EU for wood and wood products under the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) - Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (FLEGT) signed over a decade ago. A six months project titled Development of private sector-focused messages for Ghanas FLEGT license communication strategy, funded by the FAO-EU FLEGT Programme has been carried out by the Kumasi Wood Cluster (KWC) and the Ghana Timber Millers Organization (GTMO). The project was to make available facts and figures to support messages to be carried by Ghanas overall FLEGT licensing communication strategy. When ready, exporters of timber and timber products would have to meet certain criteria for FLEGT licenses to be issued on the products they export to Europe. With this new communication strategy, licenses issued under the FLEGT-VPA will be worthwhile. As part of the project activities, a photo catalogue (Ghana Wood Digest) of exported timber products, company facilities, and national infrastructure have been designed. KWC and GTMO organized a one-day closeout workshop at Kumasi to update stakeholders on messages and the facts that support the messages, which the private sector would advance to promote and communicate the essence of Ghanas legal timber on the European Market when licensing is ready. Contributing to the workshop discussions, the Chief Executive of the Domestic Lumber Traders Association (DOLTA), Mr. Kofi Afreh Boakye, said the Message House, an innovative marketing communication tool, would help the private sector market itself and assure the international community, especially the EU, that Ghana has met the sustainability and legality requirements for wood to be exported. He also disclosed that in the past, a miscommunication of these processes and the absence of information on sustainability seemed to have caused doubt among the majority of EU countries over whether Ghanas timber products could be sustainable. The Europeans are more concerned about how sustainable Ghanas legal wood system is so this is a platform where we can tell the whole world that we are not only interested in legality but also sustainability, he clarified. A former Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Adjei Yeboah, said it is very important that our messages are strong enough. We are not just talking about an industry. It is not cosmetic. We know by going by it, we are going to benefit members of our fringe communities. It is good that we are doing this and I pray that we would be able to articulate it well to the international community. He debunked assertions that Ghana was not doing things right in the past, necessitating the creation of the Message House, revealing that initially, they didnt place much emphasis on communicating sustainability. Mr. Gustav Adu, the Executive Director of KWC recommended strongly to the Forest Industries Association of Ghana (FIAG) and the companies to use the communication strategy to promote FLEGT licensed timber products. Islamabad, Jan 29 : After the successful completion of CPECs phase one, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed all concerned ministries to set goals for schemes and ensure inter-governmental coordination for the early conclusion of phase two of the multibillion-dollar project. "The projects should be finalised on the basis of socioeconomic development and be completed at the earliest," The Express Tribune quoted Khan as saying while chairing a high-level meeting held to review the progress on various projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on Tuesday. The premier directed the government officials to ensure early completion of the CPEC projects. "At the same time, the consultation process for future projects should also be completed on a priority basis," he added. Khan also told the CPEC Authority to expedite the implementation process of various projects under phase three. "China has helped Pakistan in difficult times. CPEC is a manifestation of multilateral Pakistan-China relations," he said, adding that that Beijing's experience in promoting social sector, alleviating poverty and boosting agriculture sector needed to be fully utilised. Khan's remarks came after senior US diplomat Alice Wells during her visit to Islamabad last week once again urged Pakistan to rethink its wholeheartedly embrace of China's economic initiative, Dawn news reported. Speaking at a think-tank in Islamabad, she alleged that there was no transparency in the CPEC projects, and warned that the country's debt burden was growing due to the Chinese financing. Both Chinese and Pakistani officials have rejected the US criticism. The $60 billion CPEC is a key project of Beijing's Belt and Road initiative that aims to connect Asia, Africa and Europe through a vast network of highways, rail lines and sea lanes. The multi-billion dollar corridor connects the Chinese city of Kashgar with Pakistan's Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea. The global prefilled syringes market size is projected to reach USD 9.53 billion by 2026, exhibiting a CAGR of 10.4% during the forecast period. Rising incidence of cancer and other Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) is expected to be the primary factor fueling the prefilled syringe market growth. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 9 million deaths are caused by cancer worldwide every year. In total, NCDs cause close to 41 million deaths, or 71% of the global deaths, annually, states the WHO. The National Cancer Institute estimates that in the US alone, 1,735,530 new cancer cases were reported in 2018; by 2030, this figure is anticipated to reach 23.6 million. Such widespread prevalence of cancer and other NCDs has generated the need for alternative solutions such as biological drugs. The administration of these drugs requires modern devices such as prefilled syringes, which is foreseen to augment the prefilled syringes market potential in the forthcoming years. 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 Prefilled Syringes 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/prefilled-syringes-market-101946 Rising Instances of Opportunistic Infections and Injuries at Hospitals to Boost the Market Infections and injuries caused by needle sticks can be hazardous as they can cause serious damage to the body. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), USA, a needle stick injury is one that is caused by sharp and pointed objects such as blood collection and hypodermic needles. Increasing workload of healthcare professionals at medical facilities such as hospitals has upped the threat of opportunistic injuries for these people, thereby expanding the prefilled syringes market size. For example, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) numbered the injuries caused by sharp objects in US hospitals at 600,000. Thus, as patient care gets more complex and demanding, safety concerns regarding needle stick injuries are expected to gain prominence and lead the prefilled syringes market trends in the upcoming years. Key Companies and Manufacturers Covered: BD Gerresheimer AG AptarGroup, Inc. Helvoet Rubber & Plastic Technologies BV West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. SCHOTT AG Terumo Corporation Nipro PharmaPackaging International Other Prominent Players Europe to Lead the Pack; Asia-Pacific to Grow at a Remarkable Pace Among regions, Europe is slated to dominate the prefilled syringes market share during the forecast period, with the regions market size having stood at USD 1.76 billion in 2018. Factors propelling the market in Europe include growing uptake of self-injectable drug devices and increasing preference for biological drugs for treating chronic diseases. Asia-Pacific is forecasted to showcase high-paced growth on account of increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and a speedily growing patient population. North America is projected to hold the second-largest section of the prefilled syringe market share owing to a strong presence of major market players and rising incidence of cancer. Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts:https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/prefilled-syringes-market-101946 Detailed Table of Content: Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions Executive Summary Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Key Insights Regulatory Scenario by Key Countries/Key Region Overview of Secondary Prefilled Containers such as Auto-injectors, Pens, etc. Prefilled Syringes Key Market Trends Overview of Contract Research and Manufacturing Service Providers for Prefilled Syringes Key Industry Developments (Mergers, Acquisitions, Strategic Partnerships, Collaborations, etc.) Global Prefilled Syringes Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2015-2026 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Material Glass Plastic Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Closing System Staked Needle System Luer Cone System Luer Lock Form System Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Product Complete Syringe Set Components & Accessories (Backstops, Plunger Stoppers, and Plunger Rods) Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Design Single-chamber Double-chamber Multiple-chamber Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By End User Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies Contract Research & Manufacturing Organizations Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa 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/101946 Related Reports: Vitamin D Testing Market Global Size, Growth Insight, Share, Trends, Industry Key Players, Regional Forecast To 2026 External Defibrillator Market 2020 | Global Industry Size, Segments, Share and Growth Factor Analysis Research Report 2026 Injectable Drug Delivery Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast to 2026: Industry Trends, Size, Growth Insight, Share, Statistics, Regional 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. 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 Linkedin | Twitter | BLogs All it takes is one new human connection to change the trajectory of your entire life. This is something I experienced after doing tons of traveling this summer. I was attending different masterminds and experiences in places like Tulum, Italy, Spain, Paris, Amsterdam and Greece. One of the biggest realizations I had from these experiences was that the new online is offline. Ive been pulling away from online platforms, videos and courses. Connecting online with people is great, but I believe that there isnt anything like connecting with someones energy in person. Truth is, your network is your social currency. Thats why its so important for you to get out into the world to meet new people, because at any moment, your life can change. All it takes is one new valuable relationship. The key to having an extraordinary life is by creating valuable relationships because the old adage is true we do become an average of the five people we spend the most time with. Its your responsibility to ensure your circle of influence is positive, supportive and empowering. Why the new online is offline The more time we spend with technology, the less time we spend building real human connections. To build deep social connections with other people, it will require you to get out of your shell and into the real world. People want to feel your energy in-person. They want to know the real you. Something I learned recently was that building deep social relationships with other people leads to a 50 percent greater chance of living longer. In The Gifts of Imperfection, social connection expert from the University of Houston Brene Brown said, We are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love, to be loved, and to belong. When those needs are not met, we dont function as we were meant to. We break. We fall apart. We numb. We ache. We hurt others. We get sick. This means if our relationships are weak, then we become weak. I genuinely believe that one person can be the single factor to transforming your life. This has certainly been the case for me in my success, especially as an entrepreneur. I decided to attend events and put myself in the same rooms with the people I wanted to learn from. I realized that real value and power comes from investing in building an offline relationship. By investing my time, energy and money into masterminds; Ive shown my dedication and commitment to building that offline relationship. Doing this allows you the opportunity to meet other like-minded individuals who are on the same mission as you. Does your circle of influence have these type of people? This reminds me of an old proverb: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. Building social currency Getting out into the real world greatly increases your opportunity of finding people to build valuable relationships with. I know meeting new people can be a scary and fearful experience but thats the feeling of you stepping out of your comfort zone. Becoming apart of a community is the fastest and most effective way to build social currency. As I mentioned before, social currency is everything. Social currency comes from how valuable your network is. There are opportunities that can only be given to you by certain people. The internet has made it fair game for anybody who wants to become successful but who you know still matters the most. I truly believe that the more successful people you know, the more successful youll be. That has been the case for me in my past 17 years of being an entrepreneur. Conversely, if your circle of influence isnt supportive, empowering and purpose-driven, itll be harder for you to reach your true potential. Social currency isnt just the value that comes from your relationships but also the value you bring to the relationships. This can mean everything if youre striving to be an entrepreneur. To build valuable relationships, you must become valuable. The more valuable you are, the more opportunities you attract. Ask yourself: What value can I offer to the world? What can I do that others find challenging? What is a need they have that I can fulfill? These are questions you must answer to yourself to gain a deeper understanding of what type of value you can offer to your circle of influence, team, family and community. One connection is all it takes Who you know is the secret sauce to having more opportunities to succeed in life and business. This can be a mentor, client, team member or business partner. My first mentor inspired me to drop out of college and start my first business. He changed my life forever. A mentor can give you advice that is only learned from experience and walking the path. A new client can potentially refer you to someone who wants to work with you and pay you more. A hungry intern that has a valuable skillset and wants learn from you or a business partner who crushes it in marketing can save you thousands of dollars over hiring an expert. All it takes is one relationship. So, leverage social media as a tool to reach out to people you want to build relationships with and then find time to meet them in person. Use the internet to find meetups in your area with other entrepreneurs, creatives and dreamers, attend networking events. Do something that gets you around empowering perspectives, ideas and energy. Get yourself immersed in an enviroment where people are driven, ambitious and uplifting. These type of enviroments can spark inspiration, creativity, innovation and leadership. Who do you want in your circle of influence? The next step Start thinking about the value of your relationships that youre building and the value youre bringing to them. Remember, the people we associate with become apart of who we are. Use tech as a tool to find people you want to connect with in-person and empowering communities you can become a part of. I love technology, but the more time we spend online, the less time we spend offline doing things that can positively impact our life. Related: Why Offline Is the New Online (and What This Means for Entrepreneurs) Why LinkedIn Direct Messaging Is Your Best New Sales Tool 10 formas super sencillas para tener carisma (y llevarte mejor con la gente) Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and PennLive/Patriot-News. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter. HARRISBURG Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday proposed using $1 billion in state funding, typically set aside for capital projects, to remediate lead- and asbestos-tainted schools, an issue that has been particularly acute in Philadelphia. Decades ago, well-intentioned Pennsylvanians constructed our homes, our schools, our water systems, and other structures out of asbestos and lead because we thought they were harmless, Wolf said. Now we know the serious harm both cause. The proposal, which comes as Wolf prepares to unveil his 2020-21 budget next week, would make $1 billion in grants available to schools through an expansion of the states Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. I think thats the magnitude of this problem, and this is specifically for toxic schools, Wolf said. The news was welcomed in Philadelphia, where a growing asbestos crisis has forced the closure of six schools and an early childhood education center since the start of the school year. In September, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers announced that one of its members, a career Philadelphia teacher, had been diagnosed with mesothelioma, a deadly cancer linked to asbestos exposure. READ MORE: After closures from asbestos and other hazards, Pa. and Philly schools need emergency repairs | Opinion After that diagnosis, officials began paying much closer attention to asbestos issues. School District buildings are old and 175 contain asbestos, the district said. Undamaged asbestos is not a threat, but damage can release microscopic fibers that can cause cancer when inhaled. I am extremely encouraged that the governor is taking our voices seriously and has developed a plan to bring relief, said Jerry Jordan, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, which is suing the Philadelphia School District over asbestos contamination. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney also commended the effort to focus on the states aging school buildings. These investments can no longer wait, and I sincerely appreciate Gov. Wolfs leadership on this critical issue. Hes clearly heard and responded to our urgent call for more state support, Kenney said. It was unclear how much support Wolfs proposal would have in the Republican-controlled legislature. During Wednesdays news conference, the governor was flanked by fellow Democrats, but no Republican lawmakers were present. Mike Straub, a spokesperson for the state House of Representatives majority party, said that House Republicans look forward to discussions with lawmakers and the administration in the upcoming months. Discussions around budget priorities and spending are just underway, he said in a statement Wednesday. READ MORE: Philadelphia wants money from Pennsylvania to deal with dangerous asbestos in schools Under the plan, Wolf also proposed smaller funding investments to address lead and other contaminants in drinking water and in buildings where children are present. Pennsylvania has submitted a grant application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to fund more voluntary drinking-water testing at 3,000 schools and day-care centers. On Wednesday, Wolf and other lawmakers spoke about the harms that lead can cause, to young children especially. State Sen. Vincent Hughes (D., Phila.) invoked the story of Dean Pagan, who suffered long-term health consequences after eating lead chips at Watson Comly Elementary in Northeast Philadelphia. He was featured in The Inquirers Toxic City series. We need to be reminded that although lead paint was banned in 1978, the average age of Pennsylvania schools is 70 years, he said. Seventy percent of Pennsylvanias housing stock was built prior to 1978. Ninety percent of the Philadelphia housing stock was built prior to 1978. It would cost about $175 million to fix all the urgent lead, mold, and asbestos issues inside Philadelphia schools, a coalition of lawmakers and union officials has said. Too many Pennsylvanians live their lives in toxic homes, send their babies to toxic day-care facilities, and allow their children to attend toxic schools, Hughes said. Every day, we find more information that says how bad the situation is. He noted that a report released Tuesday found that all but four school buildings in Scranton have asbestos. Staff writer Kristen A. Graham contributed to this article. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 02:06:41|Editor: yan Video Player Close LISBON, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Portuguese government said in a statement on Wednesday that it will analyze the Middle East peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump in accordance with its official stance and international norms. "The Portuguese government takes note of the peace plan released by the American administration, which provides an opportunity for re-launching negotiations aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," the Portuguese Foreign Ministry said in a written statement. Trump unveiled his long-delayed Middle East peace plan on Tuesday. "Portugal will analyze the proposal in light of the position we have defended, in line with the European Union, in accordance with United Nations resolutions and applicable international law," the statement said. "We also reiterate that the only way to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict seems to us to be through an agreement negotiated between the parties," said the statement. "Portugal reaffirms its readiness to contribute to the peace process in the Middle East within the framework of the European Union and the United Nations," the statement said. CNN anchor Don Lemon has spoken out about the backlash of his CNN panel mocking Trump supporters, claiming he was only laughing 'at the joke' and 'not at any group of people'. The host went on the defensive on Tuesday night after a discussion in which he and two guests appeared to make fun of Trump's 'credulous boomer rube' supporters went viral. Lemon faced immediate backlash from the segment in which he can be seen laughing uncontrollably while his guests put on southern accents and claim MAGA voters don't know geography. CNN's Don Lemon addressed the backlash from a viral clip in which he could be seen laughing at guests mocking Trump supporters stating that he 'didn't catch everything that was said' Lemon addressed the now viral panel discussion on his show on Tuesday night, claiming that he 'didn't catch everything that was said' and that he doesn't 'believe in belittling people'. 'This is personally important for me to address this, OK? Ask anyone who knows me, they'll tell you - I don't believe in belittling people, belittling anyone for who they are, what they believe, or where they're from,' Lemon said towards the top of his show. 'During an interview on Saturday night, one of my guests said something that made me laugh. And while in the moment, I found that joke humorous. And I didn't catch everything that was said. 'Just to make it perfectly clear, I was laughing at the joke and not at any group of people.' Donald Trump slammed Don Lemon as the 'dumbest man on television' after the CNN host and two guests - Wajahat Ali (left) and Rick Wilson (right) on his show mocked the President Lemon laughed hysterically throughout the segment and, at one point, wiped tears from his eyes as his guests put on accents to mock Trump and his supporters The backlash came after the CNN host started crying with laughter when his two guests - Republican strategist Rick Wilson and NYT columnist Wajahat Ali - suggested Trump's supporters were uneducated and couldn't point out countries on a map. Criticism of Lemon and CNN was swift, with Trump and his daughter Ivanka among those lashing out. The panel, which originally aired on Saturday, was discussing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's testy interview with an NPR reporter about Ukraine and ousted U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch. Following the interview, the reporter said Pompeo cursed at her and repeatedly 'used the F-word' and asked her: 'Do you think Americans care about Ukraine?' Both of Lemon's guests were critical of Pompeo's response to the interview and put on accents as they mocked Trump and his supporters. '(Pompeo) knows deep in his heart that Donald Trump couldn't find Ukraine on a map if you had the letter 'U' and a picture of an actual physical crane next to it,' Wilson said. 'He knows that this is an administration defined by ignorance of the world. That's partly him playing to their base and to their audience, the credulous boomer rube demo that backs Donald Trump that wants to think that 'Donald Trump's the smart one and y'all elitists are dumb!'.' Ali also joined in saying: 'You elitists with your geography and your maps and your spelling... your readin', your geography, knowin' other countries. Only them elitists know where Ukraine is.' Lemon laughed hysterically throughout the segment and, at one point, wiped tears from his eyes. 'That was a good one. I needed that,' Lemon said. In his response statement on Tuesday night, Lemon did not make clear which specific joke he was referring to when he claimed he was just laughing 'at the joke', the first abut Trump or the second about MAGA supporters. Later in the show, Lemon went on to defend journalists who 'get it wrong'. 'We're not perfect. When we get it wrong, we say we got it wrong, we apologize, and we move on,' he added. President Trump had spearheaded the backlash against Lemon, lashing out at the CNN host in a tweet on Tuesday over the mocking panel segment that aired on Lemon's show at the weekend. 'Don Lemon, the dumbest man on television (with terrible ratings!),' Trump tweeted with a clip of the CNN segment. His daughter Ivanka Trump also weighed in by tweeting: 'You consistently make fun of half the country and then complain that it is divided. The arrogance, mocking accents and smug ridicule of this nation's 'Real Elites' is disgusting'. His son, Donald Trump Jr., tweeted: 'These media hacks don't just hate the President, they hate the Americans who support him. No wonder their ratings are so low, they find it funny to mock regular, everyday Americans. November is coming, & those Americans will once again have the last laugh'. Meghan McCain, who has been critical of Trump also weighed in, saying: 'You can't complain about the country being divided and then blatantly exhibit such sheer disgust at the side you disagree with. All Trump has to do is clip this from @CNN and he had a very effective ad for 2020'. Congressman Ken Buck tweeted: 'I'm disappointed to see this kind of smug rhetoric from Don Lemon and his guests. Painting a majority of Americans as illiterate and uneducated 'rubes' is low, even for CNN.' YEREVAN, JANUARY 29, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Economy of Armenia Tigran Khachatryan received the delegation of Jordan led by Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Tareq Al-Hamouri, the Armenian ministry told Armenpress. The delegation arrived in Armenia for the preparation of the upcoming visit of King Abdullah II of Jordan to Armenia, as well as for discussing the bilateral cooperation agenda. Welcome to Armenia, the Armenian minister said in his opening remarks. We are happy to host you in Armenia to discuss the agenda of economic relations. Our countries have a huge economic potential which is not utilized, and the opportunities of its utilization are in our todays dialogue agenda. Minister Khachatryan introduced the recent changes in Armenias economy and stated that all participants of the economic life in Armenia have equal opportunities. On behalf of myself and my delegation I want to thank you for such hospitality in our friendly country. This derives from the high-level political relations between our countries. Nevertheless, in such relations the mutual economic partnership is very modest. The Armenian minister proposed the Jordanian delegation to discuss the cooperation in the tourism sector as a dynamically developing direction in the two countries. They also discussed increasing the trade turnover volumes between the two countries based on bilateral interests. He informed that the Investment Support Center operating in the ministry will assist the delegation on holding discussions and establishing contacts with the private sector in Armenia. The Jordanian minister touched upon Armenias IT development potential, stating that in this sense the economies of the two countries have commonalities, and thus cooperation opportunities. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi strongly rejected the U.S. Middle East peace plan as "disgraceful." In a statement released hours after U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of the so-called Deal of the Century, Mousavi said it is the "betrayal of the century" and is "doomed to failure." According to the spokesman, Tehran is ready to cooperate at any level to forge unity in the Muslim world and "thwart the big plot that has endangered Muslim nations," Xinhua reported. Yesterday, Trump announced the political aspect of his Middle East peace plan, proposing a two-state solution and recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided capital." Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Remarks on the US House of Representatives Passing the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2019 2020/01/29 Q: I wonder if you could comment on the US House of Representatives passing the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2019 on the afternoon of January 28 local time? A: The US House of Representatives passed the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2019. This move has severely breached international law and basic norms governing international relations, grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, and sent a wrong message to "Tibet independence" forces. We are indignant at and firmly opposed to it. Xizang has been part of China since ancient times. Xizang affairs are purely China's internal affairs that allow no foreign interference. During the past 60 years or so, Xizang has seen historical progress in economic, social, cultural, ecological and other areas. Today, it enjoys sound economic growth, social stability, ethnic solidarity, religious harmony, cultural vitality, well-preserved ecological environment and improving living-standards. People of all ethnic groups in the Xizang Autonomous Region endorse wholeheartedly the policies of China's central government and the regional government. They are working with people of other provinces towards completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. In recent years, the international community have also come to know Xizang better, which leads to greater understanding and support for China's Xizang-related policies. Xizang-related issues are not about ethnicity, religion or human rights, but an important matter of principle concerning China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We urge the US to take an objective stance when looking at Xizang's economic and social progress, grasp the highly sensitive nature of Xizang-related issues, correct its mistake and stop interfering in China's domestic affairs. It should work to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation between China and itself rather than doing the opposite. Civil Guard colonel Diego Perez de los Cobos greets a police officer on arrival at the High Court in Madrid today. KIKE PARA Monday saw the start of the second week of a trial of four figures connected to the Catalan police force, the Mossos dEsquadra, for their actions in the 2017 independence drive in the northeastern Spanish region. They are accused of having played a key role in the secessionist movement and are facing charges of rebellion and sedition. Today saw an appearance as a witness by Diego Perez de los Cobos, a Civil Guard colonel who was in charge of the law-enforcement agencys units on the ground in Catalonia on October 1, 2017, the day that the illegal referendum on independence was held in Catalonia. A unilateral declaration of independence was passed by the regional parliament later that same month. I didnt see any desire to cooperate on his part Diego Perez de los Cobos, Civil Guard colonel The key defendant in this new case is Josep Lluis Trapero, the then-chief of the Mossos dEsquadra. He was sacked from his position in 2017, after four years in charge of the regional force, in the wake of the central government taking over the regional powers in Catalonia under Article 155 of the Constitution, a measure that was implemented after the unilateral declaration of independence was passed. Trapero is being accused of not having done enough to prevent the referendum from taking place. The sixth day of the court case saw De los Cobos fiercely criticize the actions of Trapero. If I had been in charge of the Mossos, my first decision would have been to remove Trapero from his role, as he was constantly putting spokes in the wheels, the Civil Guard chief told the court. When questioned by the public prosecutor, De los Cobos went even further in his criticism of Trapero. I didnt see any desire to cooperate on his part, he said. I told Trapero that with the [planned Mossos police presence] the referendum could not be stopped, Perez de los Cobos added. That rather, it was geared toward covering legal elections. Josep Lluis Trapero in court on January 20. Pool This claim is in line with the arguments of the public prosecutor, who has stated that the Mossos displayed an intentionally passive attitude during the 2017 pro-independence drive, in line with the secessionist politicians, in order to facilitate the holding of the vote. De los Cobos also told the court that at no time did the regional police call for help from the state forces on hand: the Civil Guard and the National Police. This was expected if the authorities were to comply with the court ruling that ordered them to stop the illegal referendum from taking place. Their attitude was that the Mossos resources were sufficient, the colonel told the court on Monday. This account of events is in contrast to that of Trapero, who said during his questioning last week in the High Court that he could not halt the illegal referendum because, among other reasons, he did not have enough personnel or resources. De los Cobos also stated in court that the former Mossos chief said nothing about stopping the referendum from happening during a meeting that they attended with the then-regional premier Carles Puigdemont days before the October 1 vote, and that during that meeting, the witness added, Trapero was aligned with the organizers. Other defendants Also on trial in this case are Pere Soler, who at the time of the independence drive was the general director of the Mossos, which is a political appointment; Cesar Puig, the former secretary general of the regional interior department (also a political appointment); and Teresa Laplana, a Mossos officer in charge of the security detail at the Catalan Economic Affairs Department in Barcelona during a Civil Guard search there on September 20. Trapero was aligned with the organizers of the referendum, said De los Cobos In a trial that will run until March, the four defendants are accused of working in line with the then-regional governments road map aimed at achieving the secession of Catalonia from the rest of Spain. During his questioning in court last week, Trapero sought to distance himself from the political leaders of the secessionist drive, saying that he felt uncomfortable with some of the decisions that the regional government took in the fall of 2017, as well as certain motions passed by the Catalan parliament, which he classed as an outrage. The public prosecutor is calling for up to 11 years in jail for Trapero, Soler and Puig for the charge of rebellion, while Laplana is facing a four-year prison sentence for sedition. Last year saw the Supreme Court trial of the pro-independence leaders involved in the 2017 secessionist drive in Catalonia. That case concluded with nine politicians and civic association leaders given lengthy prison sentences for offenses including sedition and misuse of funds. English version by Simon Hunter. If you love investing in stocks you're bound to buy some losers. But the long term shareholders of Hop Fung Group Holdings Limited (HKG:2320) have had an unfortunate run in the last three years. So they might be feeling emotional about the 69% share price collapse, in that time. The more recent news is of little comfort, with the share price down 27% in a year. Unhappily, the share price slid 4.1% in the last week. View our latest analysis for Hop Fung Group Holdings While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. 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. Hop Fung Group Holdings saw its EPS decline at a compound rate of 39% per year, over the last three years. This fall in EPS isn't far from the rate of share price decline, which was 32% per year. So it seems like sentiment towards the stock hasn't changed all that much over time. Rather, the share price has approximately tracked EPS growth. The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image). SEHK:2320 Past and Future Earnings, January 29th 2020 This free interactive report on Hop Fung Group Holdings'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)? Investors should note that there's a difference between Hop Fung Group Holdings's total shareholder return (TSR) and its share price change, which we've covered above. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Its history of dividend payouts mean that Hop Fung Group Holdings's TSR, which was a 65% drop over the last 3 years, was not as bad as the share price return. Story continues A Different Perspective Hop Fung Group Holdings shareholders are down 27% for the year, but the market itself is up 3.3%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 2.5% 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 Hop Fung Group Holdings better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with Hop Fung Group Holdings (at least 1 which makes us a bit uncomfortable) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. We will like Hop Fung Group Holdings better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying. 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. New Delhi, Jan 29 : The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Wednesday attacked the central government over an advisory published regarding the novel coronavirus. The CPI(M), in a tweet said: "Shocking that the Govt would resort to blatant misinformation in a serious Public Health issue which can affect the lives of people. This is sheer madness!" Speaking to IANS, CPM Politburo member Brinda Karat said "It is highly irresponsible on the part of the government that they are misleading people over a deadly disease that has killed so many people. It is okay to give general advisory to the people for strengthening immunity but how can they connect it with coronavirus? Instead of giving advice to the people to visit the doctor if they show symptoms they are giving clues for self treatment." In a statement, released by the ministry of AYUSH on Wednesday, the ministry advised homoeopathy for prevention of the infection and said Unani medicines were also useful in symptomatic management of the infection. The novel coronavirus is a new strain of virus that spread from Wuhan province of China and brought the city to lockdown. The Indian government is also on high alert and is taking all preventive measures in order to stop the virus entering the country as many people travel to India from China and visa versa on a daily basis, especially during the Chinese New Year holidays. Chinese health authorities on Wednesday said the death toll due to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak in the country has increased to 132, with 5,974 confirmed cases in 31 provincial-level regions. India stands at 23rd position amongst the top 30 countries at high risk from the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) researchers have identified. The most 'at risk' countries or regions worldwide are Thailand (1), Japan (2) and Hong Kong (3). The US is placed 6th on the list, Australia 10th, the UK 17th and India 23rd, the study said. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Alan Dershowitz, Harvard law professor and member of President Trumps impeachment defense team. Photo: AP/Shutterstock Alan Dershowitz, one of the members of President Trumps legal team, has an odd habit of using the reductio ad absurdum technique to his own arguments. Dershowitz argues that abuse of power is not a category of behavior that can be impeachable. He admits he previously believed the opposite, and that the vast majority of constitutional scholars believe the opposite, but claims to have delved into it and discovered that they are all wrong. Dershowitz has conceded that even if Trump handed Alaska over to Vladimir Putin, that would not be an impeachable offense. Speaking in the Senate trial Wednesday, he managed to express his own principle in an even more absurd fashion. If a president does something which he believes will help him get elected in the public interest, he said, that cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment. So any abuse of presidential power designed at least in part to aid his own reelection is not impeachable. Trump attorney Alan Dershowitz: "If a president does something which he believes will help him get elected in the public interest, that cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment." https://t.co/jKErQcS1Iy pic.twitter.com/zo4rL6Zbla ABC News (@ABC) January 29, 2020 What if the president were to pressure foreign governments to imprison members of the opposing party if they pass through their territory? Or withhold disaster aid from a governor unless that governor announces an investigation of the presidents rival? Offer pardons to anybody who kills his opponent? If it helps the president win, then you cant impeach. Trumps authoritarianism has many enablers, but Dershowitz is the most curious. Dershowitz claims to have flocked to the cause because of his civil libertarian principles, which have led him to cede to the president vast authority to ensconce himself in power. He has little evident motive, either financial (yes, he can sell books to trump fans, but he could alternatively sell books to Trump haters) or ideological (he agrees with Trumps Middle East policy, but disagrees with other Trump policies). Most strangely of all, Dershowitz appears intent on denying that he is doing what he plainly is. He compulsively insists he is not a Trump partisan, however obvious it may be that he has become one. Dershowitz has fervently denied that he is even a member of Trumps legal team. He then conceded he would present arguments about impeachment, and then tried to clarify that Im not part of the regular team that will be making strategic decisions and participating in questions about whether there should be witnesses or not. Whatever picayune distinction he had in mind, Dershowitz has delivered remarks opposing impeachment as part of the time allotted to Trumps defenders. And there he was today, sitting at the Trump defense table, answering questions on Trumps behalf along with the other lawyers who did admit to being on his legal team. The same bizarre hairsplitting tendency came up again in yet another moment of Dershowitzian set-piece theater. The saga began Friday, when Secretary of State Mike Pompeo bullied and then lied about NPR correspondent Mary Louise Kelly (falsely claiming she had asked questions on a topic she had promised not to touch, and then falsely claiming she had failed to locate Ukraine on a map after he demanded it). Pompeo, caught in his lies, retaliated by throwing a different NPR reporter off a State Department plane. Tuesday, a delighted Trump congratulated Pompeo for this behavior. That was very impressive, Trump told an audience. That reporter couldnt have done too good a job on you. I think you did a good job on her! Dershowitz, sitting behind Pompeo, leaned over to pat him on the back as Trump congratulated him. Appearing later that evening on CNN, though, Dershowitz denied that he was joining in the congratulations. He did it because I like Pompeos views on the Middle East, he explained. I thoroughly disapprove of the way he reportedly treated a reporter. I dont think reporters should ever be treated that way, and I dont think presidents should ever say its a good thing to do that. When it was pointed out that he patted Pompeo on the back while Trump was praising his mistreatment of a reporter, Dershowitz laughed it off. I think youre reading too much into that. I have patted him on the back a dozen times when weve talked about the Middle East, so thats what my pat was intended to encourage. Video reveals Alan Dershowitz patting Mike Pompeo on the back after Pres. Trump praised the secretary of state for his verbal altercation with an NPR reporter who asked him challenging questions. Heres how Dershowitz explained the encounter. pic.twitter.com/yDJPvTpUpg Anderson Cooper 360 (@AC360) January 29, 2020 It was characteristically Dershowitzian. The thing you saw transpire on television did not actually happen, or at least it didnt mean what everybody on all sides thought it meant. Even though Dershowitzs actions plainly conveyed one meaning congratulating Pompeo for bullying the press in Dershowitzs mind, it meant something altogether different. In his mind his actions followed a principle completely disconnected from the drama in which he had participated. EMIGRANT GAP, Calif. (AP) Authorities say three people have major injuries after several big rigs collided, leading to the closure of the eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 at Emigrant Gap. California Highway Patrol Officer Chris Nave says officers are working to remove a person trapped in one of the big rigs. Nave says the collisions happened Tuesday after the driver of a big rig heading west lost control, hit the center divider, flipped over and ended up on the eastbound fast lane. He says five other big rigs heading east then crashed against each other, blocking all eastbound lanes. WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. House Subcommittee on Health of the Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing today on "Improving Safety and Transparency in America's Food and Drugs." Included on the agenda for this hearing was the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act (H.R. 961), federal legislation that would permanently ban horse slaughter in the U.S. and end the export of American horses for slaughter abroad. Introduced by Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) in 2019, the SAFE Act currently has 225 House cosponsors and is supported by leading animal welfare groups, including the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), The Humane Society of the United States, the Humane Society Legislative Fund, and Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation. "I am grateful to Chairwoman Eshoo for including the SAFE Act in today's hearing," stated Rep. Schakowsky. "The SAFE Act is vital for the health of consumers and wellbeing of horses. Horses are ingrained in our national story and deserve far better than being exported in inhumane conditions for slaughter. Many of the substances used to treat horses are banned by the FDA, making horse meat dangerous for human consumption. As a lifelong advocate for consumer protection and animal welfare, I welcome the focus on this legislation." "The slaughter of horses for human consumption is a barbaric practice that has no place in American society," said Rep. Buchanan, who serves as co-chair of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus. "I will continue to lead the charge with Representative Schakowsky to eradicate this cruelty." The Subcommittee heard testimony from Nancy Perry, senior vice president of Government Relations for the ASPCA, who said: "The ASPCA is working resolutely in concert with other organizations across the country to solve equine welfare issues on the ground, but we cannot fully succeed while the slaughter pipeline remains open. With the strong support of the American public and a clear FDA mandate to regulate and ban toxic substances routinely given to horses that threaten public health, it is time to end the slaughter of American horses for human consumption. We thank the committee for hearing this legislation, and we urge Congress to pass the SAFE Act to protect our horses as well as public health." According to Cathy Liss, president of AWI, "The slaughter of horses for human consumption is a very serious animal welfare issue and public health risk. The Animal Welfare Institute has long worked to expose the rampant cruelty and dishonesty inherent in this industryfrom the kill-buyers who mislead horse owners in order to obtain animals, to the brutality inside the slaughterhouse." Liss added: "In addition to the terrible abuse that goes hand in hand with horse slaughter, the food safety threats that plague the industry as a result of the drugs administered to horses cannot be ignored. For these reasons, the Animal Welfare Institute strongly supports the SAFE Act and is grateful for the attention of the Energy and Commerce Committee." "Walk into any stable in this country and you'll find ointments, medications and other products that are clearly labeled 'Not to be used on animals intended for human consumption.' Yet thousands of horses with these toxic chemicals coursing through their veins are shipped to slaughter for that very purpose," said Kitty Block, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "The process is a terrifying and gruesome end for these companions, as it cannot be done humanely due to their anatomy and flight response. The fact is American horses should not be on anyone's dinner menu here or overseas." "That more than 60,000 horsesincluding an unknown number that once roamed freely on our public landsare shipped to their deaths in foreign slaughterhouses each year is an unnecessary and wholly un-American betrayal of the animals that helped us build our country, continue to serve humanity and inspire people around the world as a symbol of the American spirit. There is zero defense for this cruel industry," said Neda DeMayo, president of Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation. "RTF is grateful to Chairwoman Eshoo and Ranking Member Burgess for holding today's hearing and urges swift passage to the floor of this important bipartisan legislation." In recent years, the number of American horses shipped to Canada and Mexico to be slaughtered for human consumption in foreign countries has dropped, making this an opportune time for Congress to close this legal loophole that causes so much suffering. These horses are not raised for food but are purchased by contract kill-buyers at auctions, even when other owners and horse rescues stand waiting to take them. The horses then endure grueling journeys to slaughter plants, packed into large trailers in unfamiliar herds. Due to these fearful, stressful conditions, they can be injured or even trampled to death en route. Once at the slaughterhouse, horses are driven into a "kill box" where they are shot in the head with a captive bolt guna process that can be imprecise due to the biology and fight-or-flight nature of equines and the high-stress environment of the slaughter facility. As a result, some horses endure repeated excruciating blows or may remain conscious during the kill process. The SAFE Act would also protect consumers from dangerous American horse meat, which can be toxic to humans due to the commonplace, unregulated administration of drugs to horses. Horses are not raised for food, and over the course of their lifetimes, are routinely given hundreds of drugs and chemical treatments that are appropriate for horses but potentially toxic to humans if consumed. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration prohibits the use of more than 100 chemicals in animals intended for human consumption. Products as seemingly harmless as fly spray, pain relief, and de-wormersall considered important for good horse carecontain banned, toxic ingredients. The ASPCA, AWI, The HSUS, HSLF, and RTF encourage the public to contact their U.S. representatives and senators and urge them to cosponsor the SAFE Act, H.R. 961/S. 2006, and to do all they can to secure its swift passage, in order to protect America's horses and overall consumer health from horse slaughter. About the ASPCA Founded in 1866, the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) is the first animal welfare organization in North America and serves as the nation's leading voice for animals. More than two million supporters strong, the ASPCA's mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. For more information, please visit www.ASPCA.org, and be sure to follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. About AWI The Animal Welfare Institute (www.awionline.org) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to reducing animal suffering caused by people. AWI engages policymakers, scientists, industry, and the public to achieve better treatment of animals everywherein the laboratory, on the farm, in commerce, at home, and in the wild. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates and other important animal protection news. About The HSUS The Humane Society of the United States is the most effective animal protection organization, as rated by our peers. For more than 60 years, we have celebrated the protection of all animals and confronted all forms of cruelty. We and our affiliates are the nation's largest provider of hands-on services for animals, caring for more than 100,000 animals each year, and we prevent cruelty to millions more through our advocacy campaigns. Read about our more than 60 years of transformational change for animals and people. HumaneSociety.org About HSLF The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. About RTF Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation (RTF) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to wild horse preservation through sanctuary, education, conservation and advocacy since 1998. It also operates the American Wild Horse Sanctuary at four California locations, caring for 465 wild horses and 51 burros. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates about wild horses and burros on the range and at our sanctuary. SOURCE ASPCA Related Links http://www.aspca.org Azure growth for the quarter came in at 62%, decelerating from 76% a year ago but beating an estimate from Goldman Sachs analysts, who predicted growth of 58%, and accelerating from the prior quarter. Microsoft doesn't disclose Azure revenue in dollars. Microsoft shares have been on a steady rise, jumping 63% in the past year, propelled by growth in the company's Azure public cloud business and Office 365 productivity suite. Ahead of the second-quarter earnings report, analysts called for continuing strength at Azure, which trails Amazon Web Services in cloud infrastructure, even though growth has been slowing. On a year-over-year basis Microsoft's revenue rose 14% in the quarter, which ended on Dec. 31, according to a statement . Microsoft stock moved 4% higher in extended trading on Wednesday after the company announced stronger-than-expected fiscal second-quarter results and revenue guidance for the next quarter. "Our partner conversations this quarter continued to emphasize Azure's momentum, which is enabling the company to significantly outpace the overall market's growth," Goldman Sachs analysts led by Heather Bellini wrote in a Monday note. "Partners commented this quarter that they have seen Azure investments continue to increase significantly, as well an effective enterprise sales force focused on driving Azure adoption and usage." The most high-profile win for Azure in the quarter came from the U.S. Department of Defense, which awarded the controversial Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) cloud contract to Microsoft, worth up to $10 billion over a decade. Additionally, rival Salesforce said it would tap Azure to run its Marketing Cloud service. Microsoft included a new risk factor about government work in its latest quarterly earnings statement. "We may be subject to government audits and investigations relating to these contracts, we could be suspended or debarred as a governmental contractor, we could incur civil and criminal fines and penalties, and under certain circumstances contracts may be rescinded," the company said. It did not mention JEDI by name in the risk factor, despite that Amazon is currently challenging the contract award in court. The Intelligent Cloud segment, which holds Azure, GitHub, server products like SQL Server and Windows Server and enterprise services, had $11.87 billion in revenue, up about 27% and more than the $11.40 billion consensus. Microsoft's biggest segment, More Personal Computing, containing Windows, Surface, Xbox and Bing, contributed $13.21 billion in revenue, up 1.6% year over year and above the $12.85 billion consensus among analysts surveyed by FactSet. Revenue from Xbox hardware decreased 43% in the quarter because of lower prices and volumes; the next-generation Xbox Series X will come out this holiday season. The Productivity and Business Processes segment, including Office, LinkedIn and Dynamics, put up $11.83 billion in revenue, up 17% and higher than the FactSet analyst consensus of $11.42 billion. Industry analysis firm IDC said this month that fourth-quarter PC shipments grew 4.8% year over year to 71.8 million, leading to the first full year of growth since 2011. Last year IDC said that businesses were upgrading to Windows 10 before the end of support for Windows 7 this month. Microsoft also stopped supporting the Windows Server 2008 operating system in mid-January, six months after it ended support of the SQL Server 2008 database software. Piper Sandler analysts led by Brent Bracelin, who have the equivalent of a buy rating on Microsoft stock, wrote in a note last week that those actions could "turn into potential growth headwinds this year." End of support for Windows Server 2008 contributed to the Intelligent Cloud growth, Microsoft said on Wednesday. The OEM Pro category, representing revenue from Windows licenses for commercial PCs, grew 26%, up from 19% one quarter earlier and the fastest growth at least since 2014, as companies kept moving to Windows 10. Microsoft's OEM non-Pro revenue, from Windows licenses for non-commercial PCs, increased 4%, the fastest growth since 2016. Other significant developments in the quarter included the unveiling of new Surface devices and the announced acquisition of data migration start-up Mover. With respect to guidance, Amy Hood, Microsoft's finance chief, told analysts Microsoft expects $34.1 billion to $34.9 billion in fiscal third-quarter revenue. The middle of the range, $34.5 billion, implies about 13% annualized growth and exceeds the $34.14 billion consensus among analysts polled by Refinitiv. She said her revenue guidance range for the More Personal Computing segment, at $10.75 billion to $11.15 billion, was wider than usual because of "uncertainty related to the public health situation in China." Hood also said she now thinks that for the full 2020 fiscal year, which ends on June 30, Microsoft will increase its operating margin by 2 percentage points, suggesting about 36%, thanks to the company's results in the first half and the product sales mix in the second half. In July she had told analysts to expect a "stable" operating margin for the fiscal year ahead. Follow @CNBCtech on Twitter for the latest tech industry news. The Rampur administration on Wednesday dropped charges of murder and attempt to murder against 26 out of 34 people arrested during the protest against Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and National Register for Citizens (NRC) on December 21 last year. This comes days after a sessions court in Bijnor dropped charges of rioting and attempt to murder against two accused, and granted them bail. In an application moved before the court here on Tuesday, the investigating officer, Amar Singh said no case of offence under section 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder) of IPC could be made out against 26 out of the 34 arrested for the December 21 anti-CAA protest in which one person was killed. In a separate application, however, Singh added that proceedings under remaining sections which include rioting, assault and damage to public property against the offenders would continue. I had already assured that while no innocent would be booked, we will not spare the guilty at any cost, said District Magistrate Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, adding that the entire investigation was done on the basis of evidence. Most of those arrested for the violence, were so far relying on police assurances that they would be released soon if they were found innocent, said accuseds lawyer Syed Amir Ali Miyan. Amir said he would move the bail application of at least six accused within a day or two. One protester, Faiz Khan, was killed during the anti-CAA protests on December 21 while 34 were arrested by the police for violence that erupted near Haathi Khana Crossing. Twenty-four protestors arrested under the Kotwali police station were charged under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly), 307 (attempt to murder), 302 (murder), 333 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter public servant), 353 (assault or criminal force) and sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984. Another 10 protesters were sent to jail by the Kotwali police station, under charges of rioting, assault on public servants and attempt to murder. I P S Grover, ex-Director of Quality Assurance at Ranbaxy, was looking for investment options post his retirement when an insurance agent told him about a one-time premium payment policy that he claimed would offer better returns than fixed deposits. Grover bought four such policies of Rs 1 lakh premium each. "Later I realised it was not a one-time payment policy. I approached the insurer but they were non-cooperative," Grover said. Grover then approached Insurance Samadhan, a Delhi-based grievance redressal start-up, which helped him draft formal complaint, communicated on his behalf with the insurance company and managed to get 100 per cent money back. This is one among 13,000 complaints that the Insurance Samadhan has resolved so far over the last 18 months. "We don't work on each complaint but only take forward the ones that we know are genuine. On an average we only select three-four cases out of 100," says Deepak Bhuvneshwari Uniyal, co-founder & CEO. Sharing another fraud case, Shilpa Arora, co-founder and COO of the firm says, once a customer was promised Rs 10 lakh loan if he bought a policy of Rs 1 lakh premium per annum with a period of 10 years. "After that person submitted Rs 1 lakh, the agent kept delaying the policy document. So, the free look period of 15 days got over. Needless to say, the person didn't receive any loan and in fact lost Rs 1 lakh," she says. Life insurance with free health insurance is another way in which fraudsters are conning people. "The agents claim to represent insurers that have life and general both verticals, so it all seems credible," Arora says. Insurance Samadhan writes blogs, creates videos and shares those on social media to educate customers to avoid getting duped. Although there is a standard procedure to make a complaint against an insurer, often in the want of time or lack of knowledge, aggrieved policyholders accept insurance company's rejection of their claim. According to Uniyal, it's important to keep emotions aside and communicate in clear legal terminology with insurance companies. "When customers talk to them (insurance companies), they speak with emotions. We communicate with them in legal language. Legal articulation helps in putting forth a clear point of view," says Uniyal. How to file a complaint? If you have a complaint against an insurer, the first step is to approach the insurer via mail or letter with supporting documents and get an acknowledgment of the same. The insurance company is required to address the complaint within 15 days of its receipt. If it doesn't, or if you are not satisfied with the response, you can lodge a complaint with the insurance regulator IRDAI. You can either approach IRDAI's grievance redressal cell of the consumer affairs department (complaints@irda. gov.in) or by calling on 155255 (or) 1800 4254 732, or fill in the complaint via IRDAI's integrated grievance management system (IGMS) - igms.irda.gov.in. As per IRDAI's annual report for financial year 2018-19, IRDA is swamped with customer complaints. Over 2 lakh complaints were filed in 2018-19 compared to 19,83,62 in 2017-18, a jump of 4 per cent or 7,663 complaints. Notably, even after IRDAI's intervention, if the insurer rejects your claim specifying the reason for it, the insurance regulator treats your complaint as resolved. But, if you are still unsatisfied, you can approach the insurance ombudsman. Ombudsman's word is binding on the insurer. If it still doesn't settle your claim, you can approach a consumer court. Although the mechanism is available, policyholders find it difficult to use it due to lack of awareness and financial literacy. "Even complaint registration on IGMS or approaching Ombudsman need guidance and hand-holding," says co-founder Shailesh Kumar. "Insurance companies do have right intentions to resolve cases if those are represented well as per terms of the policy contract. However, complaints are presented emotionally rather objectively. We address this problem by providing end-to-end techno legal support," he adds. Insurance Samadhan charges Rs 500 registration fee, which is valid for each member of the family. Post the resolution of the complaint, the start-up takes 9 per cent share in the claims amount that has been resolved. "Our success rate is 99 per cent. We manage to resolve 90 per cent cases at the insurance company level. Very few go to ombudsman or consumer court level," says Sanjay Aggarwal, Co-Founder & Legal Expert. Also Read: Tata Nexon EV launched at starting price of Rs 14 lakh; can charge from zero to 80% in 1 hour Also Read: Pre-Budget scramble for revenue? Govt blocks IGST refund worth Rs 40,000 crore to exporters Also Read: Sebi summons Rakesh Jhujhunwala over alleged 'insider trading' charges John Bolton eyes Donald Trump.JPG Josh Roberts/Reuters Rep. Eliot Engel in a statement on Wednesday said John Bolton in September expressed concerns to him about the recall of Marie Yovanovitch. Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, was abruptly pulled from her diplomatic post after the president's personal lawyer led what she and other officials have described as a smear campaign against her. In a September phone call, shortly after Bolton was dismissed from the Trump administration, Engel said the former national security adviser "strongly implied that something improper had occurred around her removal." Democrats are currently working to see that Bolton testifies in President Donald Trump's Senate impeachment trial. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. A top House Democrat on Wednesday said that John Bolton in a September phone call "strongly implied that something improper" had occurred in the recall of former US ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch. Rep. Eliot Engel of New York, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Bolton raised concerns about what happened to Yovanovitch "unprompted" during the conversation. The call took place on September 23, according to Engel, not long after Bolton was dismissed as President Donald Trump's national security adviser. "I've known Ambassador Bolton for years; we have a cordial and respectful relationship and I wanted to thank him for his service," Engel said in a statement. "I also wanted to ask if he would talk to the Foreign Affairs Committee, as former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson did, to aid our general oversight efforts of U.S. foreign policy." "On that call, Ambassador Bolton suggested to meunpromptedthat the committee look into the recall of Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch," Engel said. "He strongly implied that something improper had occurred around her removal as our top diplomat in Kyiv." Story continues Engel said he did not make the details of the call public at the time because it was a "private conversation," but said he informed House investigators who were looking into Trump's dealings with Ukraine. "It was one of the reasons we wished to hear from Ambassador Bolton, under oath, in a formal setting," Engel said. "Ambassador Bolton has made clear over the last few months that he has more to say on this issue. And now that the President has called his credibility into question, it's important to set the record straight," Engel added. "It's telling that, of all people, John Bolton is now the target of right-wing ire. It underscores just how important it is that the Senate subpoena Ambassador Bolton as a witness." Bolton was dismissed as national security adviser on September 10, one day after the House launched three investigations into Trump and Ukraine. In the course of the impeachment inquiry, Bolton was invited to voluntarily testify, but he declined. Bolton said he would only testify if subpoenaed and if a court ruled he should comply with it over the orders of the White House, which had moved to bar current and former officials from providing testimony. But in early January, Bolton signaled he'd testify if subpoenaed by the GOP-controlled Senate. Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate is ongoing, and it's still up in the air if witnesses will be called. Democrats are strongly urging their Republican colleagues call Bolton to testify. Bolton's attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider Deepak Puri, CIO for Deutsche Bank Wealth Management, explains why his firm is bullish on energy, industrials, financials and healthcare in the U.S. in 2020. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday will reach his Lok Sabha constituency Wayanad for a two-day visit. The leader will arrive at Kannur airport in the evening and reach Kalpetta, via road, where he will spend the night at a government guesthouse. On Thursday, Gandhi will attend "Save the Constitution" march from a school there to the new bus stand, Kalpetta. Later, he will address the people at 11 am and will fly back to New Delhi by a special flight in the evening. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PUNE A 17-year-old boy from Pimpri-Chinchwad was booked in a case of sexual assault on a 16-year-old girl on Tuesday. On Monday, he allegedly called her to a flat in Nigdi and forced himself upon her, said police officials, adding that the two were known to each other. The complaint in the matter was lodged by the girls 38-year-old mother. A friend of the girl had insisted that she call up the accused on the phone, according to the complaint. The girl did and he called her to a flat in Akurdi. As the girl entered the house, the boy allegedly forced himself on her and raped her, according to the complaint. An assistant police inspector from the Nigdi police station is investigating the case. A case under Section 376 (sexual assault) of Indian Penal Code along with Sections 3,4, 7, 8 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (Pocso) Act at Nigdi police station By Jan. 29, 2020 The art installation called, "Defining Paducah: Honoring the Outstanding Legacy of Local African Americans," is created by the art club students under the direction of Tanya Neitzke and Emily Esau, two of the college's Paducah School of Art and Design faculty and art club advisors. This year's installation will feature portraits of prominent African Americans from the city's rich history, including well-known educator Dr. William Stuart Nelson, as well as paintings of historical landmarks within the community. Portrait painters also included area high school students and members of the Oscar Cross Boys and Girls Club. "This is our second year hosting this event. We are excited that we get to continue helping the community commemorate local African Americans during Black History Month," said Neitzke. The portraits will be unveiled during the February 1 ceremony, followed by a reception at 126 Market Street until 6:00 p.m. The portraits will remain on display throughout February. "We are celebrating in a creative and unique way, with colorful painted portraits, and are looking forward to the downtown display being enjoyed around the clock," said Esau. For more information, contact Tanya Neitzke, tanya.neitzke@kctcs.edu, or Emily Esau, emily.esau@kctcs.edu. West Kentucky Community and Technical College's Student Art & Design Club will again recognize notable African Americans from Paducah in an art exhibit with an unveiling ceremony Saturday, February 1 at 3:00 p.m. at 203 Broadway. The event is free and open to the public. Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/28/2020 -- Advance Market Analytics recently introduced Global Plastic Pellet Market study with in-depth overview, describing about the Product / Industry Scope and elaborates market outlook and status to 2025. Plastic Pellet Market explores effective study on varied sections of Industry like opportunities, size, growth, technology, demand and trend of high leading players. It also provides market key statistics on the status of manufacturers, a valuable source of guidance, direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry. Major Players in This Report Include, DOW (United States), BASF (Germany), DuPont (United States), ExxonMobil (United States), Sabic (Saudi Arabia), LG Chemical (South Korea), Chevron Phillips Chemical (United States), Lyondellbasell (Netherlands) and INEOS (United Kingdom) Definition: Plastic pellets, also known as pre-production plastic resin pellets and nurdles, are small shaped granules, that are heated, molded and transformed into final plastic products. The pellets are considered to be an industrial raw material and most of the consumer products made out of plastic including bottle, plastic bags, toy and other. According to PlasticsEurope, global plastic production has increased by nearly 8.6% year-on-year. The surging demand and growth of plastic pellets are linked to the demand for plastic products across the world. Free Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts @: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/32893-global-plastic-pellet-market Market Drivers - The growth of construction and packaging industry in emerging economies including India, China, Brazil and other - Growing population coupled with rapid urbanization and industrialization across the globe Market Trend - Growing Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) demand for the carbonated soft drink packaging industry Restraints - Environmental concerns raised due to the harmful effects of plastics This research is categorized differently considering the various aspects of this market. It also evaluates the current situation and the future of the market by using the forecast horizon. The forecast is analyzed based on the volume and revenue of this market. The tools used for analyzing the Global Plastic Pellet Market research report include SWOT analysis. The Global Plastic Pellet segments and Market Data Break Down are illuminated below: The Study Explore the Product Types of Plastic Pellet Market: LDPE, PET, HDPE, PE, PVC, PP, ABS, Others Key Applications/end-users of Global Plastic Pellet Market: Automotive, Construction, Electronics, Machinery, Packaging For Early Buyers | Get Up to 20% Discount on This Premium Report: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/request-discount/32893-global-plastic-pellet-market The regional analysis of Global Plastic Pellet Market is considered for the key regions such as Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America and Rest of the World. North America is the leading region across the world. Whereas, owing to rising no. of research activities in countries such as China, India, and Japan, Asia Pacific region is also expected to exhibit higher growth rate the forecast period 2019-2025. Highlights of the report: - A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent market - Important changes in market dynamics - Market segmentation up to the second or third level - Historical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volume - Reporting and evaluation of recent industry developments - Market shares and strategies of key players - Emerging niche segments and regional markets - An objective assessment of the trajectory of the market - Recommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the market Try a limited scope research document specific to Country or Regional matching your objective. GET FULL COPY OF United States Plastic Pellet market study @ USD 2000 And, Europe Plastic Pellet market study @ USD 2500 Strategic Points Covered in Table of Content of Global Plastic Pellet Market: Chapter 1: Introduction, market driving force product Objective of Study and Research Scope the Plastic Pellet market Chapter 2: Exclusive Summary the basic information of the Plastic Pellet Market. Chapter 3: Displaying the Market Dynamics- Drivers, Trends and Challenges of the Plastic Pellet Chapter 4: Presenting the Plastic Pellet 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 Plastic Pellet 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, Plastic Pellet Market is a valuable source of guidance for individuals and companies. Get More Information: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/reports/32893-global-plastic-pellet-market Key questions answered - Who are the Leading key players and what are their Key Business plans in the Global Plastic Pellet market? - What are the key concerns of the five forces analysis of the Global Plastic Pellet market? - What are different prospects and threats faced by the dealers in the Global Plastic Pellet market? - What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors? Definitively, this report will give you an unmistakable perspective on every single reality of the market without a need to allude to some other research report or an information source. Our report will give all of you the realities about the past, present, and eventual fate of the concerned Market. Thanks for reading this article, we can also provide customized report as per company's specific needs. You can also get separate chapter wise or region wise report versions including North America, Europe or Asia. About Advance Market Analytics Advance Market Analytics is Global leaders of Market Research Industry provides the quantified B2B research to Fortune 500 companies on high growth emerging opportunities which will impact more than 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Our Analyst is tracking high growth study with detailed statistical and in-depth analysis of market trends & dynamics that provide a complete overview of the industry. We follow an extensive research methodology coupled with critical insights related industry factors and market forces to generate the best value for our clients. We Provides reliable primary and secondary data sources, our analysts and consultants derive informative and usable data suited for our clients business needs. The research study enable clients to meet varied market objectives a from global footprint expansion to supply chain optimization and from competitor profiling to M&As. Contact Us: Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager) AMA Research & Media LLP Unit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJ New Jersey USA 08837 Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218 sales@advancemarketanalytics.com The Blizzard of 1925, which began in Syracuse on Jan. 29, 1925, was not the worst snowstorm the city has ever faced. The 27.5 inches of snow, although some newspaper accounts measured three to four feet in places, which fell over two days places it far behind the historic storms of 1966 and 1993. Katherine Bernhardt Through Feb. 15. Canada, 60 Lispenard Street, Manhattan; 212-925-4631, canadanewyork.com. People of all ages fell for the cute gnome-like alien at the center of Steven Spielbergs 1982 movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. But some fell extra hard; Katherine Bernhardt, who turned 7 the year the movie premiered, was smitten enough to paint portraits of E.T. in art school. In her latest show, Done with Xanax, she returns to him, pushing her distinctive fusion of Pop Art, Color Field and graffiti toward a more vulnerable, narrative expression and more complex painting process. Ms. Bernhardt has at times seemed stuck in her signature patterns formed by repeating images of popular commodities and motifs cigarettes, sharks, cellphones, slices of fruit and floating emojis on expanses of bright color. She has painted fictional figures like the Pink Panther, Babar the Elephant and Garfield, but E.T. is more dimensional, complicated by a kind of saintliness, otherness and conflict: He is a stranger in an inhospitable land who has healing powers and wants to go home. Ms. Bernhardt renders E.T. single and large, like an icon, often outlined in gold or silver spray paint and frequently raising his glowing forefinger in benediction. She evokes but also takes liberties with moments from the movie, making them vaguely recognizable in the way that scenes from the Bible can be. For example, the paintings Halloween in California and Halloween E.T. + Strawberries show the extraterrestrial wearing the blond wig from the dress-up session in Gerties bedroom and a patterned muumuu that suggests suburban California of a certain era. In others, hes famously aloft, in the basket of Elliotts bicycle, or surrounded by push-button telephones reflecting his oft-stated desire to Phone home! Especially good is Sick, where E.T. is shrouded in a brilliantly white blanket that is unpainted canvas. It symbolizes the way Ms. Bernhardt has opened up her work and her style. Hopefully, her progress will continue. ROBERTA SMITH The Daily Beast Scott Olson/GettyDonald Trump abruptly ended an interview with NPR on Tuesday after he was repeatedly called out on his baseless claims of election fraud in the 2020 presidential election.A video of the interview, published Wednesday morning, shows Trump becoming increasingly irritated as NPRs Steve Inskeep asks him why hes still pushing debunked conspiracy theories about his 2020 defeat.After Inskeep told the ex-president that his fraud claims have repeatedly been proven false, the reporter a The South Korean and American flags fly next to each other at Yongin, South Korea, on Aug. 23, 2016. (Ken Scar/U.S. Army/Handout via Reuters) US Military Warns South Korean Workers of Potential Furlough Amid Stalled Cost-Sharing Talks The U.S. military warned nearly 9,000 South Korean employees on Jan. 28 that they may be placed on unpaid leave starting from April if Seoul and Washington are unable to reach a deal on sharing costs for the upkeep of 28,500 U.S. soldiers in South Korea. U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said the notice was required by law as the current contract, known as the Special Measures Agreement, expired at the end of the year and negotiations have remained at a standstill. Due to the 2019 Special Measures Agreement lapse and the continued absence of a subsequent agreement, United States Forces Korea began providing Korean National employees today with a 60-day notice of a potential administrative furlough that could occur on April 1, 2020 absent an agreed upon SMA, USFK said in a press release. This notice is being provided two months in advance of the furlough date as required by U.S. law. On Oct. 1 (2019), USFK provided the Korean Employees Union with a six-month notice and associated timeline for additional notifications for a potential furlough pending the 2019 SMA lapse. USFK said it had been hosting town hall-style meetings on Tuesday for the nearly 9,000 South Korean employees in an effort to remain open and transparent, provide information, and address questions pertaining to the 60-day notice being issued. All Korean national employees will receive notification letters of their potential administrative furlough before the end of this month, they added. Without the Republic of Koreas continued commitment to share the cost of employing our Korean National workforce, USFK will soon exhaust programmed funds available to pay their salaries and wages. USFK said it greatly values its Korean National workforce and their contributions to the RoK-U.S. Alliance, and will continue to provide them with regular updates in preparation for the potential leave of absence. Unfortunately, without an agreed upon SMA, USFK must provide furlough letters as required by U.S. law as we prepare for a potential furlough, it added. President Donald Trump has previously pushed for South Korea to bear more of the financial burden associated with maintaining a significant presence of U.S. troops in the country as part of the legacy of the 1950-1953 Korean War and continued threats from North Korea. In August last year, Trump said on Twitter that the East Asian nation had agreed to pay substantially more money to the United States in order to defend itself from North Korea. Over the past many decades, the U.S. has been paid very little by South Korea, but last year, at the request of President Trump, South Korea paid $990,000,000. Talks have begun to further increase payments to the United States. South Korea is a very wealthy nation that now feels an obligation to contribute to the military defense provided by the United States of America. The relationship between the two countries is a very good one, he added. However, despite the sixth round of talks taking place between the two nations earlier this month in Washington, they are yet to establish a cost-sharing deal as the United States calls for an increase in spending. Following the latest breakdown in talks, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Jan. 16 penned a joint article in The Wall Street Journal saying South Korea can and should contribute more to its national defense. The U.S.-South Korea alliance is the linchpin of peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia. Shared values of democracy, the rule of law, and open economies form the foundation of an alliance that is as vital today as it was in 1953. Americas longstanding commitment and presence have enabled South Korea to develop a vibrant democracy and the worlds 12th-largest economy. Together, we celebrate this success, they wrote. Pompeo and Esper said that while South Korea has made major contributions to the alliance in past decades, it currently bears no more than one-third of the costs most directly associated with the stationing of U.S. forces on the Korean Peninsula. They added that, As sovereign allies, we must find a better way to share the costs of defense with South Korea and secure a stable and prosperous future for the Korean people. As a global economic powerhouse and an equal partner in the preservation of peace on the Korean Peninsula, South Korea can and should contribute more to its defense. New Delhi: Megastar Rajinikanth clarified that he is fine and sustained some scratches due to thorns while he was shooting with British adventurer Bear Grylls for 'Man vs Wild' on Tuesday. Rajinikanth was in Bandipur Tiger Reserve and National Park in Karnataka when reports of him being injured on the sets of the show surfaced. "I have finished the shooting of an episode of 'Man vs Wild'. There were a lot of thorns and I suffered some pricks. I am alright," the 69-year-old megastar said at Chennai airport. Rajinikanth shot for a day in Bandipur Tiger Reserve. As per a report in news agency IANS, his one-day shoot began at 11 am and ended by 4 pm. An official at Bandipur also dismissed reports that Rajinikanth suffered injuries during the shoot. He told IANS, "It is all false. As per the screenplay, there was a shot in which Rajinikanth had to fall, so while getting down from the rope, he just fell down and everybody rushed. It was all in the screenplay." Later, Rajnikanth got up, completed the shoot and left for Chennai, he added. A video of Rajinikanth arriving at Bandipur forest was shared by news agency ANI earlier on Tuesday. #WATCH Actor Rajinikanth arrives at Bandipur forest in Karnataka for a shoot of an episode of 'Man vs Wild' with British adventurer Bear Grylls pic.twitter.com/Eh2Lwd4BAI ANI (@ANI) January 28, 2020 Rajinikanth, who is also known as Thalaivaa, is the second Indian personality to feature in the show. Before him, Grylls hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 'Man vs Wild'. The episode was shot at the Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand in February 2019 and was aired in August. (With agencies inputs) More than 200 U.S. citizens were recently evacuated from Wuhan, China, according to a report from Fox News. Wuhan has been confirmed as the area of origin for the increasingly deadly coronavirus that is slowly spreading across the globe. According to reports, a Boeing 747 with no windows was chartered by the U.S. government to bring the Americans home. The aircraft was initially scheduled to land at Ontario International Airport in San Bernandino, California, but was later diverted to March Air Force Reserve Base. Curt Hagman, a commissioner at the Ontario International Airport, said on social media that the CDC had informed him of its decision to divert the flight. "Ontario International is one of the repatriation airports for the west coast and we are always prepared to receive our citizens abroad in times of emergencies," Hagman said. "We were prepared but the state department decided to switch the flight to March Air Force Base for logistics that they have." Hagman said he wasn't given any other details about the flight. "It's been very fluid, in terms of the last 36 to 48 hours of information," he said. Hagman also stated that residents of the area were voicing their concerns regarding the flight landing at Ontario International. "People are concerned -- they wanted to make sure the government is protecting them," Hagman told the LA Times. San Bernandino was originally chosen to be the landing point for the evacuees, the Ontario International Airport was designated roughly 10 years ago, but this would have been the first time the airport was used for national health emergency reasons. The Department of State released the following statement regarding the controversial flight. "The Department of State has the lead for the safe and expedient ordered departure of US citizens. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are collaborating with the Department of State on the logistics of public health evaluations for every traveler on the flight. HHS and CDC are working with partners to ensure that any traveler who develops symptoms during their journey receives appropriate medical care." As for the travelers, they were reportedly screened prior to the flight, closely monitored for the duration of the flight, and screened once again when the plane stopped for fuel in Anchorage, Alaska. "[The passengers would be] monitored on the last leg of the flight by medical personnel on board; evaluated upon arrival at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County, California; and then monitored for symptoms post-arrival," the CDC added. China has announced a national cut off from Wuhan and surrounding provinces, stating that no one is allowed to enter, or leave the city in an effort to contain the virus. However, countries such as the U.S., Japan, and South Korea have announced evacuation plans. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates confirmed their first cases of the virus. The first such cases confirmed in the Middle East. Doctors are now treating a family that had just come from Wuhan, according to the country's WAM news agency. The remarkable true story of a heroic Polish farmer turned resistance fighter who infiltrated Auschwitz to expose the horrors of the Holocaust has been named Costa book of the year. Witold Pilecki signed up with the Polish army after the Nazi invasion in 1939 before joining the resistance and purposely getting himself arrested in a Gestapo sweep in Warsaw and sent to Auschwitz a year later. Once inside, he wrote terse dispatches on slips of thin paper that were stitched into the clothes of inmates leaving the camp for forced labour, which allowed the first eyewitness accounts of the Holocaust to reach the outside world. By 1943, Pilecki decided it was time to escape, and during a work trip to a bakery outside the camp grounds he and two comrades overpowered a guard before fleeing to a nearby village, where a priest smuggled them back to the resistance. Tragically though, Pilecki quickly found that even his fellow resistance leaders doubted his first-hand accounts of beatings, torture and mass murder, which were considered too horrific to be true. After the war, Pilecki joined the anti-communist resistance, and in 1947 he was arrested by the secret police on trumped up charges. In a final crippling injustice for the Polish hero, he was executed by the feared force with a single shot to the head. Now his incredible story has been told by Jack Fairweather, 41, who researched more than 3,000 sources over nine years to write The Volunteer, the winner of this year's 30,000 prize at the Costa book awards. Witold Pilecki signed up with the Polish army after the Nazi invasion in 1939 before joining the resistance and purposely getting himself arrested in a Gestapo sweep Pilecki managed to escape Auschwitz before joining the resistance against Poland's new communist regime after WWII. Pictured are mugshots of Pilecki following his arrest by the secret police in 1947 Channel 5 newsreader and former BBC presenter Sian Williams, who chaired the judging panel, said The Volunteer gives hope to those who want to speak out in a time when 'hate speech is on the rise, hate crime is on the rise and anti-Semitism is on the rise'. It is 'as pacy as any thriller or work of fiction but it's not fiction, it's horrific fact', she added. Mr Fairweather's book tells how Pilecki, a member of the Warsaw resistance, volunteered to be arrested and sent to Auschwitz before he knew it was an extermination camp. When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, Pilecki a gentleman farmer did his patriotic duty and volunteered as a soldier. The German forces routed the Poles in weeks, so Pilecki made his way to Warsaw, reduced to ruins by German bombing. There, in a Baroque church, he knelt with others and 'swore to serve God, the Polish nation, and each other'. The resistance movement had begun. In early 1940, Auschwitz was established as a camp for Polish political prisoners. The resistance needed eyes and ears in the camp, so Pilecki agreed to be captured by the Germans and sent there. He was immediately aware he was in a hellish place when a man was beaten to death before his eyes. The SS were in charge, but the day-to-day running of the camp was in the hands of the kapos, inmates given power over their fellow prisoners. The worst of these was 'a giant chunk of meat and fat' named Ernst Krankemann, whose party trick was to harness men to a giant roller used for road construction. Jack Fairweather (right, at the awards ceremony) used more than 3,000 sources to write The Volunteer, which tells Witold Pilecki's extraordinary story (left) He beat them as they pulled it; if any fell, they were flattened beneath the roller. In 1941, after several hundred Soviet PoWs were beaten to death in a gravel pit by kapos with shovels, Pilecki realised that simply surviving long enough in Auschwitz to get word back to Warsaw would be difficult. 'As pacy as any thriller... but it's not fiction': Costa judge's praise for The Volunteer Channel 5 newsreader Sian Williams, who chaired the Costa judging panel, said The Volunteer gives hope to those who want to speak out in a time when 'hate speech is on the rise, hate crime is on the rise and anti-Semitism is on the rise'. Miss Williams said that the book is as pacy as any thriller or work of fiction but its not fiction, its horrific fact.' She continued: This was a story all the judges felt hadnt been told - weve heard stories about Auschwitz but not this story. I think its partly that we salute the courage and bravery of those who were trying to get the message out and youd like to think that, if we were in that position, we would do the same, she said of the books appeal.' Miss Williams said the book doesnt really read like a biography at all and yet we dont feel as though its over-dramatized in any way, the facts speak for themselves, its incredibly well researched. She said that she questioned Why didnt I know this, I should have known this and now hopes people will now take notice of the story. She added: My father in law was a polish Jew who lost all his family at Auschwitz and we didnt hear his story because so many people died with what happened because it was so horrific. Advertisement Then, as plans were made to turn Auschwitz into 'the central hub of the Final Solution', trainloads of people began to arrive. Children and the elderly were gassed immediately; the young and healthy were worked to death in nearby labour camps. Pilecki worked sorting goods taken from the dead, at one point processing hair shorn from the corpses of Jewish women for use as mattress stuffing. He was close to despair. He had sent many messages to the Polish resistance about the staggering crimes he was witnessing, but had they got through? Pilecki is the only person known to have volunteered for Auschwitz. His terse dispatches to the outside world were slips of thin paper stitched inside clothes of inmates leaving the camp or left in nearby fields for others to collect. They included only code names for inmates who were beaten to death, executed by gunfire or gassed. As sketchy as they were, they were the first eyewitness account of the Nazi death machine at Auschwitz. By 1943, Pilecki again began to think of breaking out, but of 173 escape attempts the previous year, only about a dozen had worked. Then one day he and two others ran from a bakery outside the camp grounds to which they had been sent to work, taking with them cured tobacco to scatter on their trail to throw pursuit dogs off their scent and potassium cyanide tablets if all went wrong. It didn't. And they got away after overpowering a guard and dashing out through a door before fleeing to a nearby village, where they were sheltered by a priest before being smuggled back to the resistance. But after the escape, Pilecki found to his horror his dispatches from the hell of Auschwitz had been disbelieved by the resistance leaders. Some thought he was a German agent. Pilecki was falsely accused by the communists of planning to assassinate dignitaries and put on trial (pictured) After escaping, Pilecki rejoined Poland's Home Army resistance force and fought in the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, the city's ill-fated revolt against the Nazis. In 1947, he was arrested by the secret security of the communist regime, imposed on Poland after the war, and falsely accused of planning to assassinate dignitaries. His work for British intelligence also led to a charge of aiding 'foreign imperialism'. On May 25, 1948, he was executed in a Warsaw prison by a single shot to the back of the head. After the return of democracy Pilecki's reputation was rehabilitated and he is now a national hero. Mr Fairweather's book, published by Penguin, beat four others on the shortlist, including Jonathan Coe's Middle England and The Confessions Of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins. On May 25, 1948, the war hero (left) was executed in a Warsaw prison by a single shot to the back of the head The author said he hoped The Volunteer was a 'message for our times' adding that he had 'recognised a voice' in Witold Pilecki. 'I saw in him something of a war reporter who felt disappointed and bitter that what he was saying wasn't being heard,' he said. Sian Williams, whose own father-in-law was a Polish Jew who lost his family at Auschwitz, said: 'The judges were unanimous in choosing The Volunteer by Jack Fairweather. 'It is a story none of us have read before - this is an extraordinary and important book that people need to read.' Pilecki is now remembered at several memorials in Poland, including in Warsaw and the southern town of Oswiecim. Israeli president Reuven Rivlin and Andrzej Duda, president of Poland, lay wreaths at a memorial to Pilecki in the Polish city of Oswiecim on Monday The Volunteer's win follows that of The Cut out Girl by Bart van Es last year, which told the story of a Jewish girl in hiding with the Dutch Resistance. The Costa Book Awards is the only major UK book prize open solely to authors resident in the UK and Ireland, and also recognises the most enjoyable books across five categories First Novel, Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children's Book published in the last year. Anna Dempsey, an American-born writer and teacher from south-east London, won the 2019 Costa Short Story Award and 3,500 for her story, The Dedicated Dancers of The Greater Oaks Retirement Community. Extraordinary newly colourised images of Auschwitz 75 years ago reveal full horror of the Nazis' most notorious concentration camp where 1.1 million people died or were killed between 1940 and 1945 Claudia Joseph for the Daily Mail Wrapped up against the bitter cold, some bearing their few remaining possessions on their shoulders, men, women and children queue up in neat rows of five and wait... to find out whether they are going to live or die. Behind them, mothers and their children each wearing a yellow star to denote their religious status continue to pour out of the train, often leaving their suitcases behind them, as they are herded into lines. Those immediately selected for death will be guided towards the gas chambers. The rest are deemed suitable for work and will have their heads shaved before being marched off to the labour camp where they will endure the harshest conditions. Taken in 1944 by a German photographer billeted to Auschwitz-Birkenau in southern occupied Poland, these extraordinary images are the only known record of scores of Jewish families who arrived at the Nazis' most notorious extermination camp where 1.1 million people died or were killed between 1940 and 1945. Herded like cattle: Newly arrived Jewish inmates are forced by SS officers into two queues one destined for the gas chambers Witnesses to evil: Orthodox Jews realise that time is running out as they see their families being herded away And now for the Channel 4 documentary, Auschwitz Untold, which commemorates the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camp some 37 of the photographs have been recast in colour for the first time, bringing alive the horror of Holocaust for a new generation. In the documentary, Holocaust survivor Judith Altmann, 95, who was arrested in 1944 and transported from her home in Czechoslovakia to Auschwitz, says: 'I've seen it and I cannot erase it from my mind. We were wearing colours. We were not all in grey.' That we are able to witness these photographs let alone in full colour is as remarkable as the harrowing stories they depict. The album, which contains 193 photographs over 56 pages, was discovered by another survivor, Lilly Jacob, the 18-year-old daughter of a horse trader. She came from the small town of Bilke in Hungary, and with her family had been sent to a ghetto in the Carpathian Mountains where she had slept on the floor of a brick factory. Slaves of the Reich: A group of Jewish women selected for slave labour, with the discarded belongings of those sent straight to their deaths piled up in the background. They would be sent to other camps to work on armaments and rockets Those immediately selected for death will be guided towards the gas chambers. The rest are deemed suitable for work and will have their heads shaved before being marched off to the labour camp where they will endure the harshest conditions In May 1944, Lilly and her family were put on a train to Auschwitz. Her parents and five brothers were immediately dispatched to the gas chambers. Lilly was transferred to a series of Nazi labour camps before ending up in Mittelbau-Dora camp in Germany, where the inmates were forced to help manufacture V-2 rocket missiles. There, Lilly contracted typhus just days before the American forces liberated the camp, and was hospitalised in a vacated SS barracks. Freezing cold in her ragged prison garb, and with only thin blankets available to her, she went looking for more clothes in a cupboard in the barracks. It was there, nestled under a pyjama jacket, that she discovered the album. Leafing through its pages, she discovered a photograph of two of her brothers Israel, eight, and Zelig, 10. Shaven-headed Lilly Jacob (centre). Lilly was transferred to a series of Nazi labour camps before ending up in Mittelbau-Dora camp in Germany, where the inmates were forced to help manufacture V-2 rocket missiles Lilly Jacob with the photo album she discovered in Mittelbau-Dora camp. After the war, Lilly took the album back with her to Bilke, where she would turn up at the station to meet the train every day in the hope that some members of her family had survived. Not one of them ever returned Speaking 20 years later at the Frankfurt Trials, which were held between by 1963 and 1965 with the sole purpose of charging 22 Nazis who had served at Auschwitz, she said: 'I recognised a picture of the rabbi who married my parents. And as I was leafing through, I recognised my grandparents, my cousin, even myself.' After the war, Lilly took the album back with her to Bilke, where she would turn up at the station to meet the train every day in the hope that some members of her family had survived. Not one of them ever returned. She married a local butcher and they moved to Miami, Florida to begin a new life she worked as a waitress far from the horrors she had experienced and the challenges of post-war Europe. But word of the album in her possession soon spread among Auschwitz survivors, many of whom still didn't know or refused to believe the fate of their family members. In search of answers, they came from across the world to Lilly's home to see the album in the hope that they might recognise a loved one. On the rare occasion that someone did identify a family member, Lilly would give them the photograph. Entrance to hell: German guards await the shuttered transport trains at Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in occupied Poland. The camp's crematoria can be seen in the far haze Lilly's doomed brothers: Lilly Jacob found this photograph of her brothers Israel (left) and Zelig. They perished with her three other siblings and their parents It was only in 1980 that renowned Nazi hunter Serge Klarsfeld, a Romanian Jew, tracked Lilly down and convinced her that the album should be safeguarded at Israel's World Holocaust Remembrance Centre, Yad Vashem. She agreed and flew to Jerusalem to donate it in person. En route, she visited Auschwitz, to honour those who had died there and to bury her ghosts. 'I want to see for myself that my parents are not there, that my parents are really dead,' she said at the time. 'That's the only way I can rid myself of that memory.' Lilly Jacob died in 1999. Her photographs, now immortalised in colour, live on for all to see and bear witness to the evil rule of Nazi Germany. File picture from Jan. 13, 2020 shows a US soldier standing at a site of Iranian bombing, in Ain al-Asad air base, Anbar, Iraq. AP photo Washington: The Pentagon said on Tuesday 50 US service members were now diagnosed with traumatic brain injury after missile strikes by Iran on a base in Iraq earlier this month, 16 more than the military had previously announced. President Donald Trump and other top officials initially said Irans Jan. 8 attack had not killed or injured any US service members. As of today, 50 US service members have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Campbell said in a statement about injuries in the attack on the Ain al-Asad air base in western Iraq. Symptoms of concussive injuries include headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light and nausea. Thirty-one of the 50 were treated in Iraq and returned to duty, including 15 of those diagnosed most recently, Campbell said. Eighteen of the total have been sent to Germany for further evaluation and treatment, and one was sent to Kuwait and has since returned to duty, he said. This is a snapshot in time and numbers can change, Campbell said. In its previous update on Friday, the Pentagon had put the number of those injured at 34. Trump last week appeared to play down the injuries, saying he heard that they had headaches and a couple of other things. That prompted criticism from a U.S. war veterans group. William Schmitz, national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said on Friday the group expects an apology from the president to our service men and women for his misguided remarks. According to Pentagon data, about 408,000 service members have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury since 2000. Iran fired missiles at Ain al-Asad in retaliation for the U.S. killing of a top Revolutionary Guard general, Qassem Soleimani, in a drone strike at Baghdad airport on Jan. 3. The missile attacks capped a spiral of violence that had started in late December, and both sides have refrained from further military escalation. PR-Inside.com: 2020-01-29 10:03:04 Theme: Japanese Culture Exchange Country: Singapore Japan's Friendship Ties Programs JENESYS 2019 ASEAN Outbound Program 7th Batch Inquiries about the program JENESYS 2019 ASEAN + Timor-Leste Project Implementing Agency JTB Kasumigaseki Operations Department Contact: Junji Mise (Mr.), Yutaka Shintani (Mr.), Takashi Komatsu (Mr.) TEL: +81-3-6737-9447 Weekdays: 9:00-17:30 (Closed on weekends and holidays) [Email] jenesys2019haken@jtb.com Sixteen Japanese university students are scheduled to visit Singapore from February 4th to 12th as part of the Japans Friendship Ties Programs JENESYS 2019 promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The group will visit the Embassy of Japan in Singapore, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Singapore and Japanese companies, they will learn the relationship between Japan and Singapore, and deepen the knowledge of Japanese contribution to Singapore, and through the experience of school exchange, homestay, and observation of traditional industry, cultural property protection, history and art, they are expected to have a better understanding of culture and society of Singapore. They will also appeal Japanese culture during each program. Through this program, we hope the participants proactively share the appeals of Japan and other information after returning to Japan and it ties the relationships between Japan and Singapore. [For reference] Japans Friendship Ties Programs JENESYS 2019 People with the ability and future mission to deliver messages between Japan and the countries and regions of Asia and Oceania are invited and dispatched in order to promote an understanding of Japan with regard to politics, economics, society, culture, history, foreign policy, and the like, and pro-Japanese people and experts on Japan are discovered in order to strengthen Japans message to other countries and expand Japans diplomatic foundation by having the guests and dispatches take the initiative to spread information about the diplomatic stance, appeals, and other facets of Japan. [Participants] 5 students from Soka University, 6 students from Tokai University and 5 students from Meiji Gakuin University (Itinerary) Tuesday, February 4th [Arrival in Singapore] Wednesday, February 5th AM [Orientation] JTB Pte Ltd / JTB Asia Pacific Headquarters PM [Orientation] Embassy of Japan in Singapore [Courtesy Call] Japan Creative Centre (JCC) [City observation] Singapore city, including the Battle Box Thursday, February 6th AM [Lecture] Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. PM [Observation] Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Singapore Friday, February 7th AM [Observation] Local Foundation for Education PM [School Exchange] National University of Singapore (Discussion, presentation etc.) Saturday, February 8th AM [Observation] Marina Barrage PM [Homestay] Sunday, February 9th AM [Homestay] PM [Observation] Bugis/Aarb Street, Chinatown and Little India etc. Monday, February 10th AM [Observation] JTB Pte Ltd / JTB Asia Pacific Headquarters PM [Company visit] Sky Greens [Workshop] Preparation for the Reporting Session Tuesday, February 11th AM [Reporting Session] PM [Departure] View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005 The Public Prosecution Service is reviewing a decision not to prosecute a man accused of raping a young Co Antrim woman. Leigh Collins (21), from Carrickfergus, said she went above and beyond to try and bring her alleged attacker to justice. She was 18 when she says she was attacked in June 2017 by someone she considered a friend in her home town. Last November after a two and a half year wait she was told that the case would not be brought to court. Now officials are reviewing their decision, following pressure from the young woman. Ms Collins has waived her right to anonymity to share her story and quest to bring her alleged attacker to justice with this newspaper. She recalled how, after reporting the attack to police, she was taken to the Rowan Centre where she underwent an examination. The actual examination itself was so violating, she said. It was awful, they went through one part of your body at a time and took photographs of it and any marks on your body. I needed to give another statement then to an officer from the rape crime unit. Ms Collins was interviewed several more times by different police officers. In once instance an officer went to her place of work to gather CCTV evidence. She said she felt communication from police was poor throughout her case. The police had taken my phone and bed linen and clothes and loads of other things, she said. I didnt want them to take my phone it took two and a half years for me to get it back. Whenever I called the police, they were very vague. She later moved away from Carrickfergus, where her family lives, after struggling with seeing her alleged attacker on a regular basis. After two and a half years, she was told by a police officer in November that a decision had been made by the PPS not to bring her case to court. The police officer called me at 9.30am when I was walking in to work and it just floored me, she recalled. I just went home. I said I wanted to request a meeting with the PPS. Up until then I was still willing to do anything I could to find out why it was dropped. Ms Collins said she was blindsided by the decision, adding: I jumped through every hoop they wanted me to and I wasnt being stand-offish. I told them everything I know. The decision led to a meeting a week later where Ms Collins tried to find out why her case was not prosecuted. The Belfast Telegraph put Ms Collins complaint to the PPS to ask why that decision was taken. A PPS spokesperson said: The Public Prosecution Service takes any concerns raised by complainants very seriously. The decision in this case was taken after careful consideration by an experienced Senior Public Prosecutor and our Code for Prosecutors was applied. It is important that complainants clearly understand the reasons for decisions taken. In this case, the reasons for the decision were explained to the complainant in writing and a meeting took place with the prosecutor where further detail was given. We were contacted last week by a representative of the complainant and made aware of the issues she has raised. In light of these concerns, we have decided proactively to conduct a review of the decision taken not to prosecute in connection with this matter. As this review is under way, we cannot comment on the specific details raised by the complainant. We remain fully committed to robustly prosecuting all serious sexual offences, where the Test for Prosecution is met. A PSNI spokesperson said: All allegations of sexual crime are taken seriously by PSNI and are thoroughly investigated by specially trained detectives within Public Protection Branch. This case was robustly investigated by specialist Rape Crime Unit detectives after initial accounts were taken by the first responding uniform officers. A suspect was arrested and questioned on a number of occasions, numerous witnesses were interviewed, physical evidence recovered and a file was submitted to the PPS. Ms Collins said she is not sure what she would tell another person who was deciding whether to report a sexual assault. I wouldnt want anyone to go through what I went through with the justice system, she said. I feel quite empowered knowing Im doing everything I can, I wouldnt be able to settle if I didnt. I had the drive to do the things they should have been doing for me, but if someone didnt have that, it would be even harder for them. Ms Collins said she is undergoing counselling with sexual abuse counselling service Nexus and that her family have been supportive of her case. She added: Im okay talking about the facts, but the feelings, I am really struggling and day-to-day life is hard. I would advise people to be prepared for the worst outcome. I felt like it was my fault and like they thought I was lying, which isnt the case everyone is disheartened when the PPS verdict comes back. Whenever your case gets to court, I know the jury is unpredictable but at least his name would be out there. It is heartbreaking. Pune, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global food service equipment market size is expected to reach USD 47.78 billion by 2026, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.7% during the forecast period. The advent of the hospitality industry around the world has led to the demand for food service equipment. The hospitality and tourism industry encompasses millions of jobs and contributes roughly 10% of gross domestic product (GDP), globally. Furthermore, the food service equipment market growth is also attributable to the rapidly increasing number of food service establishments, especially in European and Asian countries. It has become quite imperative for restaurants, hotels, and catering establishments to install food service equipment as they require technologically advanced and energy-efficient service equipment to perform uninterrupted operations in the kitchen. This factor is expected to boost the food service equipment market revenue during the forecast period. In addition, the improved lifestyle of people owing to the rising disposable income will contribute positively to the food service equipment market share. According to the report, published by Fortune Business Insights in a report, titled Food Service Equipment Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Equipment Type (Cooking & Preparation Equipment, Refrigeration Equipment, Warewashing Equipment, Storage & Handling Equipment, and Others), By Sales Channel (Online, and Offline), By End-user (Full Service Restaurant, Quick Service Restaurant, Hotels & Pub Bar Clubs, and Others) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026 the market size was valued at USD 31.99 billion in 2018. To gain more insights into the market with detailed table of content and figures, click here: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/food-service-equipment-market-102006 The report incorporates several factors that have impacted the energy-efficient equipment market growth and share in recent years. Besides providing insights on the growth stimulators, it reveals a few factors that have restricted the market growth. The report highlights a few of the leading products, significant companies, and considerable industry developments of recent times. The competitive landscape has been discussed in in-depth in the food service equipment market report. Forecast values for the market have been provided in the report for the period of 2019 to 2026. Moreover, the report recognizes areas that have witnessed the highest demand and applications for the product in recent years. Nonetheless, the figures and topics covered in this report are both all-inclusive and reliable for the readers. Incorporation of Automated Technologies in Food Service Equipment to Boost Market Revenue The leading key players are focusing on the development of cost-effective equipment, which will improve the food quality and subsequently aid the food service equipment market revenue. The growing obligatory policies to monitor and cater to qualitative services of any equipment will augur healthy for the food service equipment market trends. Furthermore, the advent of IoT Big Data and Industry 4.0 has led to the modernization of smart industries to manufacture technology-based equipment, hence fostering the growth of the market. The integration of these technologies improves food safety and helps in tracking the overall operation of the food service machines and thus, creating sales opportunities for the market. Additionally, the increasing demand from quick-service restaurants (QSR) for food service equipment to enhance the food delivery services will spur new business opportunities for the market. For instance, franchises such as McDonald, Dominos, KFC, Subway require machines for quick take away food services Request a Sample Copy: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/sample/food-service-equipment-market-102006 Increasing Focus of Restaurants towards Enhancing Customer services to Facilitate Growth in North America North America is expected to witness significant growth in the forthcoming years owing to the increasing number of joints in the region. The growing investment by restaurants to enhance their customer services will foster healthy growth of the market in North America. As per the data shared by the National Restaurant Association of the U.S., in 2019, the country had over one million restaurants. Asia Pacific was valued at USD 8.26 billion in 2018 and is projected to remain dominant during the forecast period owing to the prospering food industry in the region. As per the survey conducted by the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), the countrys food service industry is expected to reach around USD 843 billion by the end of 2023. Additionally, the rising demand for frozen food products in China and Japan is expected to boost the market revenue in Asia Pacific. List of the Prominent Companies Operating in the Food Service Equipment Market Include: Welbilt The Middleby Corporation Ali Group S.r.l. Standex International Corporation Hoshizaki America, Inc. FUJIMAK CORPORATION ITW FOOD EQUIPMENT GROUP Dover Corporation Duke Manufacturing The Vollrath Company, LLC Haier Inc. Smeg S.p.A. Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/food-service-equipment-market-102006 Table of Content: Introduction Definition, By Segment Research Approach Sources Executive Summary Market Dynamics Drivers, Restraints and Opportunities Emerging Trends Key Insights Macro and Micro Economic Indicators Consolidated SWOT Analysis of Key Players Porters Five Forces Analysis Global Food Service Equipment Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2015-2026 Key Findings / Summary Market Sizing Estimations and Forecasts By Equipment Type (Value) Cooking & Preparation Equipment Refrigeration Equipment Warewashing Equipment Storage & Handling Equipment Others (Serving Equipment, etc.) Market Sizing Estimations and Forecasts By Sales Channel (Value) Online Offline Market Sizing Estimations and Forecasts By End-user (Value) Full Service Restaurant (FSR) Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) Hotels & Pub Bar Clubs Others (General & Retail Stores, etc.) Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Region (Value) North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa Latin America Continued..!!! Request for Customization: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/food-service-equipment-market-102006 (Have a Look at Reports Trending in Machinery & Equipment Industry) Browse Related Reports: Food Packaging Equipment Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Equipment Type (Filling, Bottling, Case Cartoning, Labelling and Palletizing), By Application (Bakery and Confectionery Products, Meat and Poultry Products, Dairy Products, Beverages and Others) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026 Food Packaging Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Materials (Glass, Metal, Paper & Paperboard, Wood, and Plastics [Polypropylene, Polyethylene, PET, and Others]), By Product (Rigid, Semi-Rigid, and Flexible) By Application (Fruits & Vegetables, Bakery & Confectionery, Dairy Products, Meat, Poultry & Seafood, Sauces, Dressings and Condiments, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026 Food Processing and Handling Equipment Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Equipment Type (Processing Equipment, Packaging Equipment, and Service Equipment), By Application (Bakery and Confectionery Products, Meat and Poultry Products, Dairy Products, Beverages, and Others) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026 Food Processing Equipment Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Equipment Type (Pre-processing Equipment, and Processing Equipment), By Automation Type (Automatic, and Semi-automatic), By Application (Bakery and Confectionery Products, Meat and Poultry Products, Dairy Products, Beverages, and Others) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026 Automatic Labelling Machine Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Self Adhesive/Pressure Sensitive, Shrink Sleeves and Glue Based), By Configuration (Stand Alone and Integrated), By Industry (Food & Beverage, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Goods and Others) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026 Packaging Machinery Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Machine Type (Bottling Line, Cartoning, Case Handling, Closing, Filling & Dosing, Form, Fill & Deal, Labelling, Decorating & Coding, Palletizing, Wrapping & Bundling and Others), By End User (Food, Beverages, Pharmaceuticals, Personal Care and Toiletries, Household, Industrial and Agricultural Chemicals and Others) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026 Conveyor Systems Market Size, Share and Industry Analysis By Type (Roller Conveyors, Flat Belt Conveyors, Wheel Conveyors, Vertical Conveyors & Other), By Location (In-floor Conveyors, On-floor Conveyors & Overhead), By Load (Unit Load & Bulk Load), By Application (Food & Beverages, Pharmaceuticals, Supply chain & Logistics, Manufacturing, Mining & Others) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026 Fluid Handling Systems Market Size, Share and Global Trend By Component (Pumps, Control Valves, Storage Tanks, Others), By End-Use Industry (Chemical, Food Processing, Power Generation, Marine, Others) and Geography Forecast till 2026 Beverage Processing Equipment Market Size, Share And Global Trend By Equipment Type (Heat Exchangers, Brewery Equipment, Filtration Equipment, Blending & Mixing Equipment, Carbonation Equipment), By Beverage Type (Alcoholic Beverages, Carbonated Beverages, Non-Carbonated Beverages, Dairy-based Beverages), And Geography Forecast Till 2026 Material Handling Equipment Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Equipment Type (Cranes & Lifting Equipment, Industrial Trucks, Racking & Storage Equipment), By Operations (Assembly, Distribution, Others), By Industry (Consumer Goods & Electronics, Automotive, Food & Beverages, Pharmaceutical, Construction, Others), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026 Construction Equipment Market Size, Share and Industry Analysis By Equipment Type (Earthmoving Equipment, Material Handling Equipment & Cranes, Concrete Equipment, and others), By Application (Residential, Commercial, Industrial), 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. 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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/food-service-equipment-market-9538 Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 06:10:02|Editor: yan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations (UN) Riyad Mansour on Wednesday said that the Middle East peace plan revealed Tuesday by U.S. President Donald Trump, which called for a two-state solution while recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided capital," will fail. "We believe that the Trump plan, (or) the Trump-(Benjamin) Netanyahu plan, which is an attempt to destroy the national rights of the Palestinian people, will fail," Mansour told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York. Any changes to the borders of 1967 cannot be agreed to, without the approval of the parties through negotiation and addressing the rights of the refugees on the basis of international law and Resolution 194, he added. Mansour thanked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for issuing a "strong" statement Tuesday, saying that "The position of the United Nations on the two-state solution of Israel and Palestine has been defined, throughout the years, by relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions." "We expect that to be the position of the international community," the Palestinian envoy said. Noting the plan is not a peace plan, Mansour said that "it is a plan, the farthest away from peace." "It is a plan to destroy the national aspiration of the Palestinian people of fulfilling their inalienable rights to self-determination to statehood, and resolving the rights of the refugees," he added. Trump revealed the 80-page plan at the White House along with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that it proposes a "realistic" two-state solution. As the epidemic that has infected thousands sweeps across the country, villages are one of the weakest links in the chain of prevention and control, but the measures there are often some of the toughest and smartest. JINAN, Jan. 29 -- Village chiefs patrolling with loudspeakers, long alert banners hanging on walls, and cars blocking the roads, this is what many Chinese villages are doing in the battle against the new coronavirus. As the epidemic that has infected thousands sweeps across the country, villages are one of the weakest links in the chain of prevention and control, but the measures there are often some of the toughest and smartest. A man disinfects a vehicle at an entrance to Qianzhangjiazhuang Village in Jiangshan Town of Laixi City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 28, 2020. TO GO WITH XINHUA HEADLINES OF JAN. 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) "Fellow villagers, please wear masks, wash your hands regularly and avoid paying New Year visits to others, a phone call is enough!" This message is broadcast three times daily in Li Village in Jiaxiang County, east China's Shandong Province. Paying visits to neighbors and relatives and sharing New Year's greetings is a Chinese New Year tradition. It is preserved better in villages than in urban areas. Wei Deli, Party head of Li Village, said that in order to prevent the spread of the epidemic this year, he urged the villagers to stay at home and launched a plan to block roads to the village. Vehicles are parked in the middle of four roads in and out of the village, its population just 2,000 in number, as two to four village officials patrol the area around the clock. At one road where a car is not wide enough to block the whole road, a villager even lent his own tanker. "Villagers agree with these methods," Wei said. "Epidemic prevention comes first and foremost for everyone." People inspect passengers and vehicles at Sancun Village in Jiangshan Town of Laixi City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 28, 2020. TO GO WITH XINHUA HEADLINES OF JAN. 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) China, with around 40 percent of its population living in rural areas in 2018, has nearly 700,000 villages. Medical facilities in the villages are often not as advanced as those in the cities, and as migrant workers return home during the Spring Festival, the risk posed by the epidemic is high. "At present, the prevention and control of the pneumonia situation is in a crucial period," said He Qinghua, an official with the National Health Commission, on Jan. 27. "We must give full play to the mobilization ability of primary-level communities, including rural communities." Chinese villages are governed by village committees elected by villagers above the age of 18. The committee is an autonomous body that governs all of the village's public issues. This allows for more direct methods for mobilizing and informing local residents. A doctor explains a leaflet on the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus to a resident at Tumen Village of Shuiquan Town in Zaozhuang City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 27, 2020. TO GO WITH XINHUA HEADLINES OF JAN. 29, 2020. (Photo by Liu Mingxiang/Xinhua) Loudspeakers, which were used to disseminate information in rural areas during the era of the collective economy in the 1960s and 1970s, have come in handy in the fight against the epidemic. Shi Xijun, Party head of Yaojiapo Village in Tai'an City, Shandong Province, said he uses the loudspeakers to remind villagers of the newly released diagnostic and treatment plans and raise their awareness of the epidemic. Many of these nostalgic methods have been circulated online. A video showing a village chief in Bozhou City, east China's Anhui Province using a loudspeaker to remind villagers in local dialect not to pay New Year visits has gained 1.59 million views. "They (the measures) appear coldhearted, but in essence, they show care," read one comment. Measures initiated by villages are also trending on China's microblogging site Weibo, with over 500 million views. A medical personnel inspects a driver at an expressway entrance in Tengzhou City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 26, 2020. TO GO WITH XINHUA HEADLINES OF JAN. 29, 2020. (Photo by Song Haicun/Xinhua) Apart from the loudspeakers, other conventional methods were also used. In Shibuzi Village in Linshu County, Shandong Province, there are seven roads in and out of the village and it is difficult to patrol around the clock, so villagers suggested using stones and sand to build up a roadblock. "These are all efforts that rural villagers are making to actively prevent and control the epidemic," said Feng Zijian, deputy head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. "I believe they will all help block the transmission of the disease." FINE Gael has once again been accused of electioneering during a non-political event, with local Green Party councillor Sean Hartigan criticising Minister of State Patrick ODonovan. Just a week after Fianna Fail asked the Standards in Public Office commission to probe what party leader Micheal Martin claimed was Fine Gaels abuse of State events, Cllr Hartigan felt compelled to leave a local event at which Mr ODonovan was speaking. He said the Limerick TD hijacked the European Green Leaf City award at City Hall, in a bid to try to discredit the Green Party. As a result, the City East member left in disgust. He was making out that Fine Gael were greener than green. He said they had fixed the economy and were now going to fix the environment. He took every possible dig he could at the Greens. He was saying things like we are not going to force people to travel on the trains, were not going to stop people cutting turf. It was blatantly obvious that it was dig after dig at the Greens, Cllr Hartigan told The Leader. The first-term councillor claimed that some local authority staff followed him out to apologise. They didnt expect him to turn it into a party political broadcast. To be honest, it showed a certain amount of desperation on his part. He must see The Green party as a threat to his own seat in his own constituency, he added. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar had been accused of abusing a State launch of the National Broadband Plan by making political attacks. Mr ODonovan did not return requests for comment. Whitney Port made West Hollywood her runway while out running some errands on Tuesday afternoon. The 34-year-old The Hills star cut a stylish figure as she headed to her nail appointment at the Bleu Nail Spa for a pampering session. As she headed inside, she appeared to be checking her phone as she carried a Louis Vuitton bag on her arm ahead of her appointment. On the go With Whit: Whitney Port cut a stylish figure as she headed to her nail appointment at the Bleu Nail Spa for a pampering session For her casual outing, she wore a chic cream-colored jumpsuit that had puffy sleeves and buttons down the middle. She accessorized the look with a cheetah print belt and black and nude flats. Her dark hair was long and straight and she sported a handful of rings as she headed inside the salon. What's happening? As she headed inside, she appeared to be checking her phone as she carried a Louis Vuitton bag on her arm ahead of her appointment This outing comes after a bumpy year in which The Hills: New Beginnings star revealed that she had suffered a miscarriage over the summer. 'I didn't want to tell you, and I remember being in the car on the way to the hospital and saying it to myself in my head, and being like "Can I even say this to Timmy?" she revealed to her husband Tim Rosenman on her podcast With Whit about feeling 'ashamed' and 'guilty' about having a baby. She added: 'Is he going to be so hurt and think I'm such a terrible person for even thinking this?' Staying strong: This outing comes after a bumpy year in which The Hills: New Beginnings star revealed that she had suffered a miscarriage over the summer 'It's traumatic to think about your body going through this and something being in you that could have been someone like a Sonny,' she added. 'I feel sad.' 'My identity has been shaken in regards to who as a mom and human being,' she wrote in an Instagram post. 'I'm currently in the process of learning to accept that my feelings are valid no matter what they are. Whether or not people feel the same way as me or not. They are my personal emotions that are the result from my own journey.' She added that she wanted to share her experience in hopes of helping other women along the way. Staying fit: The reality star is spotted heading to a yoga session with a friend just a few days back A desperate search is underway for a 12-year-old girl who vanished from a train station in Brisbane. The girl was last seen at Fortitude Valley train station in Coorparoo at 10.30am on Wednesday. Police are concerned for her wellbeing. The girl is white, slim and about 160cm tall. She has brown eyes, black hair and was last seen wearing a black polo shirt, black shorts and white trainers. Anyone with information should contact Queensland Police. By IANS ROME: The Italian government is organising a flight to the Chinese city of Wuhan - epicentre of the new coronavirus outbreak - to repatriate Italians stranded there, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. The aircraft, operated by the Interforce Summit Operations Command, will depart from Italy on Thursday once the flight receives "the necessary Chinese authorisations" said the statement. ALSO READ | Got call from Embassy, might be evacuated soon: Indian student in Wuhan Uni amid Coronavirus scare Specialist medical personnel, nurses and medical equipment will be on board the direct flight to Wuhan to ensure the Italians are transported back to Italy "safely", the statement said. Upon their arrival in Italy, the Italian citizens airlifted from Wuhan "will follow a health protocol defined by the Ministry of Health," the statement added. The flight is being organised by the Italian Foreign Ministry's crisis unit, in close coordination with the Defence and Health ministries and Italy's National Institute for Infectious Diseases 'Lazzaro Spallanzani', according to the statement. The previously unknown, pneumonia-like virus has killed at least 132 people, infected thousands in China since mid-December and cases have been confirmed in 18 places outside China. Laminate manufacturer Greenlam Industries will invest Rs 175 crore to set up a manufacturing facility at Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, the company said on Wednesday. The new unit would add 1.50 million laminate sheets/boards per annum of the company, Greenlam Industries said in a regulatory filing. This is to cater the growing demands in the domestic and international markets, it added. "We would like to inform you that the Board of Directors of Greenlam South Limited (GSL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Greenlam Industries, has approved to set up a manufacturing facility at Naidupeta, Nellore in Andhra Pradesh for manufacturing of Laminates and allied products," it said. It would be financed through "mix of debt and capital infusion from Greenlam," it added. GSL has been provisionally allotted by Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructural Corporation (APIIC), land admeasuring 65 acres approx in Naidupeta, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As soon as the Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan reached the dias, the national anthem was played but the Opposition members gathered at the well of the House and started the 'Governor go back' slogans soon after it's completion. The Kerala Assembly witnessed high drama on Wednesday. Governor Arif Mohammad Khan faced unprecedented protests inside Assembly; Opposition MLAs were forcibly removed by marshals; and the governor, perhaps for the first time, contradicted his own speech at the floor of the house. The theatrics were predictably fuelled by the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act and the Kerala government's opposition to it. A resolution against the law was passed in the Kerala Assembly, and the state has also challenged the law in a court. Khan, meanwhile, has publically supported the law on more than one occasions. The situation unfurled when MLAs of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) MLAs blocked Khan from reaching the podium in Assembly, from where he was due to give the traditional policy address, made at the commencement of the first session of each year. UDF MLAs raised "go back" slogans against him. This was ostensibly to oppose the governor's 'pro-government' stand on the Citizenship Amendment Act. #WATCH Thiruvananthapuram: United Democratic Front (UDF) MLAs block Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan as he arrives in the assembly for the budget session. CM Pinarayi Vijayan also accompanying the Governor. pic.twitter.com/oXLRgyN8Et ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2020 The incident took place when Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan were ushering in Khan to the Assembly hall for presenting the policy address. Khan faced of sloganeering from UDF MLAs, who also held placards with messages such as "Call Back Governor" and "We the People (of) India Resist CAA", and blocked his way to the podium. Khan, meanwhile, stood and waited patiently while the chief minister appeared to gesture to the Opposition leaders to make way. Though the chief minister and the Speaker repeatedly tried to convince the agitating Opposition members, they didn't budge and continued to raise slogans against Khan for nearly 10 minutes, after which watch and ward personnel physically removed the dissenting members and cleared the governor's way to the dias. Escorted by Assembly marshals, the Governor eventually got to the dias and the National Anthem was played. After it ended, opposition MLAs gathered in the well of the House and started sloganeering. They then boycotted Khan's policy address, and proceeded for a sit-in protest at the gate. Khan read the policy speech, traditionally prepared by the chief minister's office. However, in an unprecedented move, he also registered his objection to a paragraph included in the speech. In his speech, the Governor read out paragraph 18 that contained criticism of the CAA but said that he was doing so at the behest of Vijayan despite his own views contradicting what he's reading out. #WATCH Kerala Governor in state assembly: I'm going to read this para (against CAA) because CM wants me to read this, although I hold the view this doesn't come under policy or programme. CM has said this is the view of government, & to honor his wish I'm going to read this para. pic.twitter.com/ciCLwKac3t ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2020 Khan had earlier reportedly refused to read out the said paragraph. According to The Times of India, sources in the LDF government confirmed that Raj Bhavan wrote to the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) on Tuesday evening, clarifying that he would omit the said paragraph as it did not reflect his views. Meanwhile, The Business line reported that the prepared text handed to him in advance would remain in the official Assembly archives, irrespective of what a governor may choose to read out or omit. Likewise, even his digression from the written text is also unlikely to get into the official records, the experts said. Kerala was the first state to pass a resolution against the contentious law and even challenged the law in the Supreme Court. Both the moves have been criticised by Khan. With inputs from PTI The European parliament has approved Boris Johnsons Brexit deal, paving the way for Britain to leave the bloc at the end of the week. MEPs overwhelmingly backed the treaty by 621 votes to 49, with 13 abstentions meaning it has cleared its last real hurdle ahead of the exit date on Friday. Following the vote, the chamber immediately broke into a chorus of Auld Lang Syne a farewell tribute planned by anti-Brexit MEPs. Member states will formally approve the agreement in writing on Thursday, though they have in effect already approved it at a leaders summit last year. Unusually for the usually rigid European parliament, speeches went half an hour over time so more representatives could bid farewell. Presiding speaker Mairead McGuinness jokingly asked MEPs to defend her if she lost her job for the transgression. Most British MEPs gave speeches often emotional regretting the decision, while MEPs from the other member states wished the UK good luck and thanked it for its contribution. The Brexit Partys contingent was in celebratory mood, and was at one point told off by the speaker for waving miniature Union Jacks after Nigel Farage gave a triumphant speech. Mr Farage said Brexit showed that the British are too big to bully, adding that he was an outright opponent of the European project and that he hoped Britains departure would convince other countries to leave. We dont hate Europe, we just hate the European Union, he said. As the British flag-waving began, the speaker Ms McGuinness intervened, telling the MEPs: Please sit down and take your seats, put your flags away, and take them with you. Labour MEPs leader Corbett predicted that that public opinion will continue to move against Brexit and said that the medias catchphrase over the next few years would be Brexit isnt working thats what people will say. He said his party would vote against the deal because it had not been put to a public vote and was bad for Britain. Liberal Democrat MEP Bill Newton Dunn, whose party also voted against the agreement, attacked Westminster politics, telling his colleagues: The buildings are built for an empire, and they still think they are running an empire. They have never told the British people reality. Even our children in schools are not taught about Europe in the curriculum! Green MEP Molly Scott Cato was close to tears as she delivered an emotional speech, joking here come the tears! as she struggled to hold them back. 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 I hold in my heart that one day I will be back in this chamber, celebrating our return to the heart of Europe, she concluded earning a standing ovation from the public gallery and her colleagues on the floor. Sinn Fein MEP for Northern Ireland Martina Anderson made a fiery contribution, telling the UK representatives that partition is now your problem too. She said that when shady, low-standard products with minimum protection cross the Northern Irish border you will not be long in joining the sensible people in supporting Irish unity. She continued: There is no doubt that Irish MEPs from the North will be back in the European parliament. Mark my words. One of the most forthright contributions from non-British MEPs came from Dutch centre-right representative Esther de Lange. She told the parliament: Brexit or Remain Boris didnt really care, did he? He saw the ticket to Downing Street and made up his mind at the last minute. This is what happens when part of the media get away with misinformation and blatant lies. Spanish conservative Esteban Gonzalez Pons invoked Britains aid for the continent in the Second World War in an emotional contribution, stating: Its been the greatest honour to share the last 46 years with you, but the day will come when we are united again. I dont know how, I dont know when, but as we learned from your parents: surrender is never an option. The only continental MEPs to celebrate the decision were from far-right parties. Finns Party representative Laura Huhtasaari said: Britain will triumph outside of the EU! A shining movement that cannot be stopped. Farewell to the Brexit Party! I love you guys! Jorg Meuthen, a member of the German AfD, added: From now on you will have more freedom than we Remainers have. The Brexit will make Britain great again! Good luck guys! Guy Verhofstadt, the parliaments Brexit coordinator, said the UK had twice given its blood to liberate Europe and that it marked a sad moment. He predicted, however, that the UK would eventually rejoin, with many British people deeply unhappy at the prospect of leaving. Brexit MEPs wave small Union Jack flags following Farage's last EU speech In the last couple of days I have received hundreds of mails from British citizens saying they desperately want to stay or return, he said. So this vote is not an adieu, this vote, in my opinion, is only an au revoir. Michel Barnier, the EUs chief negotiator, gave a preview of the trade negotiations starting next month, telling MEPs: We are going to continue in the year that comes with the same spirit, the same objectivity, without any aggression by firmly, however, defending the interests of the union and its member states. Going beyond Brexit the UK will remain there. It will remain a close partner when it comes to the economy. It will be an ally as it always has been and it will be a friend. Switching from French to English he concluded: In this new beginning I would really and sincerely like to wish the UK well. A gay man has criticised an Uber driver who asked him to 'stop kissing' another man in her car because of her religious beliefs. Finn Davies told Pink News he and the other man, whom he had met that night, were travelling from central London to their homes in east London when they decided to 'smooch' in the backseat of the car. But the driver asked the men to stop, saying 'she was Christian', implying that their behaviour was offensive because of her beliefs. After taking to Twitter to share his experience, Finn was met with comments insisting the driver's behavior was 'not acceptable'. Finn Davies criticised an Uber driver who asked him to 'stop kissing' another man in her car because of her religious beliefs. Pictured, Finn in a photo shared on Instagram After taking to Twitter to share his experience, pictured, Finn was met with comments insisting the driver's behavior was 'not acceptable' Uber responded on Twitter to say the incident was 'certainly concerning' and offered Finn a refund. However Finn said he was still awaiting an apology. Speaking to Pink News, Finn said: 'We were kissing for a minute or so before we heard the Uber driver say: "Stop that please, I'm a Christian". Her tone was stern but calm. We immediately stopped and went silent.' He told that although he originally felt uncomfortable and 'guilty', his embarrassment soon turned to anger and he ended his journey prematurely. According to the publication, the driver has worked with the company for two years and has a respectable 4.93 rating. Finn Davies, pictured, said he and the other man, whom he had met that night, were travelling from central London to their homes in east London when they decided to 'smooch' in the backseat of the car. However they were told to 'stop' by the woman driving On Twitter, Uber insisted the incident was 'certainly concerning' and offered him a refund - however Finn was not impressed, insisting they still hadn't given him an apology Twitter users jumped to the defense of Finn, with one insisting the driver was simply being 'homophobic' and should be 'looking at the traffic not you'. One argued: 'In fact not acceptable in any case because the driver should be looking ahead at the traffic not at you. 'Obviously drivers can check up on their customers for any illegal acts but kissing isn't illegal. I've kissed in taxis before w/out any issue. So she's clearly homophobic.' A second raged: 'Tbh the real question is to society. Would a straight couple feel nervous kissing in a taxi or at a bar? Answer is no. 'Where as the fact that Im not surprised at her response is probs more of a problem. Im always afraid to kiss in public. Even cute pecks and THEY ARE MY FAVE.' Twitter users jumped to the defense of Finn, with one insisting the driver was simply being 'homophobic' and should be 'looking at the traffic not you' Another asked: 'My question to her wouldve been whether shed find it inappropriate if a straight couple did the same thing?' An Uber spokesperson told Pink News: 'What has been described is totally unacceptable. Uber has a zero tolerance policy towards discrimination of any kind and we are currently investigating this incident. 'Any driver found to have violated this policy faces permanent deactivation from the app.' MailOnline has approached Uber UK for comment. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development and Eni company have signed an important agreement worth 600 million euros on Divertor Tokamak Test project, Trend reports citing Eni. The project focuses on the energy of the future, sustainable, safe and unlimited, and it involves the establishment of a scientific and technological centre for fusion DTT (Divertor Tokamak Test) in ENEAs Research Centre in Frascati (Rome) by DDT Scarl, a joint venture owned 25 percent by Eni, 74 percent by ENEA and 1 percent by Consorzio CREATE, reads a message from Eni. Reportedly, the project will have an impact of around 2 billion euros on the national GDP and will create 1,500 new jobs, among which 500 for scientists and technical specialists. The Divertor Tokamak Test will be built over 7 years and will see the participation of the European Union, the Consorzio CREATE, and the European Investment Bank (with a record funding of 250 million euros provided by the European Fund for Strategic Investments, a pillar of the Juncker Plan for investments), the European Consortium EUROfusion (with 60 million euros under the Horizon 2020 funds), the Minister of Economic Development and the Ministry of University and Research (with about 80 million euros), Lazio Region (with 25 million euros as well as the expenses of connection to the national electricity grid) and other 30 million euros given by international partners, said the message. DTT Project was created to deliver scientific and technological solutions for some of the challenges of the fusion process, such as the management of extremely high temperatures and the materials to be used, and it provides support and testing infrastructure for the most advanced technological solutions to be implemented at major international fusion projects. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Joe Biden has claimed that Donald Trump is scared to death that hell be the Democratic nominee, after a Republican senator suggested the ongoing impeachment trial could damage the former vice presidents standing in Iowa. The comments, from Iowa senator Joni Ernst, were quickly seized upon by political observers, who suggested that the Republican was verbalizing what has so-far been an unsaid intent to damage Mr Bidens chances. Caucuses are this next Monday evening, Ms Ernst said on Monday after a session in the Senate where Mr Trumps team mounted its defence. And Im really interested to see how this discussion today informs and influences the Iowa caucus voters, those Democratic caucus goers. Will they be supporting vice president Biden at this point? Mr Biden has seized on those comments, which followed after Mr Trumps legal defence team argued that Mr Biden should be investigated for corruption or abuse of power for his efforts as vice president to ensure the dismissal of Ukraines former prosecutor general, which he did while his son Hunter was on the board of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma. Iowa caucus-goers take note, Mr Biden tweeted. Joni Ernst just spilled the beans. She and Donald Trump are scared to death Ill be the nominee. On Feb 3rd, lets make their day. 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 Mr Trumps impeachment follows after his apparent efforts to coerce the Ukrainian government into launching such an investigation into Mr Biden and his family, which he allegedly attempted to force by using a White House visit and US military aid as leverage. Given his apparent targeting, Mr Biden and his family have been inextricably tied to the claims against Mr Trump, even as the former vice president has maintained that he did nothing wrong during his interactions with Ukraine. Mr Biden is facing an uncertain path to that nomination, having found stiff competition from the likes of Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren. His standing at the top of the polls has diminished recently, and finds himself in second place among averages of national polls in Iowa, which will hold its caucuses next week. While a loss there is not a death sentence, the result could severely undermine any momentum he would have had otherwise, and cut into the narrative that he is the most electable candidate that he has suggested. Goop's chief content officer has insisted that Gwyneth Paltrow's vagina scented candle 'smells delicious' and thinks the brand is pushing wellness ideas 'into the mainstream'. Elise Loehnen, from Santa Monica, appeared on Good Morning Britain today where she defended the controversial $75 candle, which brand founder Gwyneth, 47, has cheekily named 'This Smells Like My Vagina'. The Goop employee insisted that the candle, which smells of geranium and citrusy bergamot, 'smells amazing' and is also statement about the shame women feel towards their sexual organs. But viewers were not convinced, with one branding the candle 'junk' while another said they'd be sticking to more conventional candle varieties. Goop's chief content officer Elise Loehnen (pictured) , from Santa Monica apepared on Good Morning Britain where she said Gwyneth Paltrow's vagina scented candle 'smells delicious' The $75 candle, which brand founder Gwyneth, 47, Los Angeles, has cheekily named 'This Smells Like My Vagina' and smells of geranium and citrusy bergamot Speaking of the wellness brand, she said: 'We think that we're leading and pushing through the brush and taking some of the scratches and pushing these ideas into the mainstream.' When asked whether they 'laughed' while creating the candle, which is currently sold out, Elise teased: 'We laughed hard and we couldn't get you one, because I think Elton John bought them all . 'It came from a conversation between Gwenyth and this amazing perfumer, who runs Heretic. 'They were making candles and she made a joke that it smelled like a vagina and the candle emerged from there.' Viewers were not convinced, with one branding the candle 'junk' while another said they'd be sticking to more conventional candle flavours She went on: 'It smells delicious, it smells amazing and that's the joke. And the idea is too, that women have so much shame around our reproductive organs - so let's make fun of it.' Viewers quickly took to Twitter to brand the woman's comments 'utter nonsense' with one insisting that they'll be opting for 'strawberry and cinnamon' candles. One wrote: 'What a load of utter nonsense.' 'What am I watching really - Ill stick to lavender and Yankee candles.' said another. A third agreed:'I think Ill stick with strawberry and cinnamon smelling candles.' Host Piers Morgan defended the product, insisting: 'I can imagine Gwyneth finding all the faux outrage very funny'. Gwyneth - who founded the website in 2008 -is no stranger to sparking controversy on her lifestyle website, by previously advising readers to purchase a $15,000 24k gold vibrator and vaginal jade eggs Elise replied: 'Yeah and it's really an honour, because it's part of the conversation and people enjoy what we're doing. 'That's one of the things that we try to push, let's have conversations about these ideas, rather than shutting people down. And sometimes she trolls people back, which is also fun.' Despite Piers' comments, more GMB fans fumed about the product, with one insisting that the vagina candle will be one of the 'worst things about 2020'. 'So finally women have a lot more power in the world- and they choose to use it by bringing out vagina candles,' fumed one user. Host Piers Morgan (pictured left) defended the product, insisting: 'I can imagine Gwyneth finding all the faux outrage very funny' The Goop employee insisted that the candle, which smells of geranium and citrusy bergamot, 'smells amazing' and is also statement about the shame women feel towards their sexual organs 'This will be on one of them throwback shows in 2030 (the best and worst of the 20s)' Another said: Please stop the nutters! This is junk, stop buying junk.' According to the product's description: 'This candle started as a joke between perfumer Douglas Little and GPthe two were working on a fragrance, and she blurted out, "Uhhh..this smells like a vagina"but evolved into a funny, gorgeous, sexy, and beautifully unexpected scent. '(That turned out to be perfect as a candlewe did a test run at an In goop Health, and it sold out within hours.) 'It's a blend of geranium, citrusy bergamot, and cedar absolutes juxtaposed with Damask rose and ambrette seed that puts us in mind of fantasy, seduction, and a sophisticated warmth.' The item is currently sold out and Gwyneth - who founded the website in 2008 -is no stranger to sparking controversy on her lifestyle website, by previously advising readers to purchase a $15,000 24k gold vibrator and vaginal jade eggs. From the Archive A Hero to Remember A man pays his respects outside the home of lawyer U Ko Ni who was assassinated on Sunday. / The Irrawaddy Three years ago today, U Ko Ni, a prominent National League for Democracy lawyer and aide to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, was gunned down in broad daylight at Yangon International Airport as he returned from an overseas trip. Many people quickly came to believe that U Ko Ni was targeted because of his staunch support for efforts to amend Myanmars undemocratic, military-drafted 2008 Constitution. Three years on, four people have been convicted in connection with the killing, including the gunman, but the alleged mastermind, former Lieutenant-Colonel Aung Win Khaing, remains at large. To mark the third anniversary of the assassination, The Irrawaddy revisits an editorial published in the wake of U Ko Nis death, recalling his legacy. One of Burmas most prominent lawyers was gunned down at Yangon International Airport on Sunday as he returned from an overseas trip. The assassin knew that U Ko Ni was returning from an official visit to Indonesia where he had held meetings with Buddhist and Muslim religious figures who were involved in addressing tensions in Arakan State. The group aimed to draw on lessons from Indonesias past that could be applied to the current ethnic and religious tension in Burma. As U Ko Ni waited on the sidewalk for a car to pick him up, the assassin approached from behind and shot him. The assassin tried to run away but was subsequently caught by a group of brave taxi drivers. Police have named the suspect as Kyi Lin and said that he is from Kyaukme in Shan State and previously served seven years in prison. He is now in police custody. The assassins precise motives remain unknown, and it is unclear if the gunman had any external support, or whether he simply worked alone. But it is clear that this assassination of Daw Aung San Suu Kyis legal advisor was deliberate and politically motivated. Now the country will require a transparent and credible investigation. U Ko Ni was a prominent Muslim lawyer and close to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Moreover, he was a constitutional expert and strong advocate to amend or replace the 2008 Constitution. That document, which was drafted under the former military government of Burma, grants the army at least 25 percent of all seats in Parliament and control over key ministries. U Ko Ni consistently spoke out to change the Constitution. He is also believed to have played a key role in advising the NLD party to create the position of State Counselor for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi after the NLDs landslide victory in the 2015 election. He was regarded as a rational voice on many sensitive issues including the turmoil in northern Arakan State. He was also behind a push to amend the Race and Religion Protection laws, and it is believed that he received death threats. U Ko Nis visit to Indonesia was believed to have been a successful one. The trip was aimed at sharing the experiences of overcoming inter-religious tensions. In fact, since the NLD came into power in 2016, U Ko Ni played a key role in addressing the growing issue of hate speech and religious discrimination. He recently described the possibility that there could be a new law introduced to curtail hate speech. Until his untimely death, U Ko Ni was a fearless fighter who spoke up for his views, and he was a strong force in the democratic movement. Indeed, he was one of the most high profile Muslim voices in the country, and many admired him. U Ko Ni will be remembered as a friend of many activists and democratshe was a friend of many rational voices who believed in diversity and equality. But some might have found his views uncomfortable, and perhaps they felt that silencing him was their only option. Prominent officials reacted online to Sundays dramatic killing. The UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in Burma, Yanghee Lee, spoke out on Twitter to condemn the assassination. Not only those responsible for [the] death of U Ko Ni [will be] brought to justice but all those killing, torturing, raping innocent people in #Myanmar! she wrote. Former US ambassador to Burma Derek Mitchell shared his condolences on Facebook and said that U Ko Ni was a good friend and a great man. Derek Mitchell urged U Ko Nis cause be our own, everywhere, and said may this awful tragedy inspire rather than incite so his death ultimately will not have been in vain. Friends of democracy across the world learned of U Ko Nis death with great sadness, but remain determined. They salute his work and will remember him as a hero. President Donald Trump's lawyers argued forcefully Tuesday against the relevance of testimony from his former national security adviser, John Bolton, as they concluded their defense and the Senate braced for debate on whether to summon Bolton and other witnesses to the impeachment trial. This should end now, as quickly as possible," White House counsel Pat Cipollone declared, capping a defense presentation that painted Trump as a victim and took dismissive swipes at Bolton, the potential witness who has scrambled Republican hopes for a swift end to the trial. Here are some of the key takeaways: Lawyer: Bolton manuscript inadmissible A day after the defense team largely brushed past Bolton, attorney Jay Sekulow addressed the controversy head-on by dismissing his manuscript said to contradict a key defense argument about Trump's dealings with Ukraine as inadmissible." The argument was meant to preempt calls from Democrats for witnesses including Bolton, who writes in a forthcoming book that Trump told him he wanted to withhold military aid from Ukraine until it helped with investigations into Democratic rival Joe Biden. It is not a game of leaks and unsourced manuscripts," Sekulow said. The argument built on a separate one Monday night from Trump attorney Alan Dershowitz, who said that nothing in the manuscript even if true rises to the level of an impeachable offense. Sekulow also sought to undermine the credibility of Bolton's book by noting that Attorney General William Barr has disputed comments attributed to him by Bolton. The legal team also delved into areas that Democrats see as outside the scope of impeachment, chastising former FBI Director James Comey and seizing on surveillance errors the FBI has acknowledged making in its Russian election interference probe. Trump's attorneys argued that the Founding Fathers took care to make sure that impeachment was narrowly defined, with offenses clearly enumerated. The bar for impeachment cannot be set this low," Sekulow said. Danger. Danger. Danger. These articles must be rejected. The Constitution requires it. Justice demands it. While scoffing at the manuscript, Trump and the Republicans have strongly resisted summoning Bolton to testify in person about what he saw and heard as Trump's top national security adviser. Debate continues over new witnesses, evidence Senate Republicans spent two days behind closed doors discussing ideas to satisfy those who want to hear more testimony without prolonging the proceedings or jeopardizing the presidents expected acquittal. The ideas appear to be losing steam as quickly as they emerge. One Republican, Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, was floating an idea backed by Sen. Lindsey Graham to subpoena Boltons book manuscript so senators can see the evidence themselves in private. However, Chuck Schumer, the Senate's top Democrat, called the proposal, which would keep Bolton out of public testimony, "absurd." "We're not bargaining with them. We want four witnesses, and four sets of documents, then the truth will come out," Schumer said. Other Republicans, including Sen. Pat Toomey, want reciprocity bring in Bolton or another Democratic witness in exchange for one from the GOP side. Some Republicans want to hear from Biden and his son, Hunter, who worked for a Ukrainian gas company. McConnell seeks to move process forward Majority Leader Mitch McConnell gathered GOP senators again late Tuesday to consider next steps. The Republican leader is encouraging senators not to become tangled in such questions that could delay things. He wants a quick finish without new witnesses or testimony. One thing about Mitch McConnell he does not panic, said Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota. Written questions next phase in trial The case now moves toward written questions, with senators on both sides getting 16 hours to pose queries. By late in the week, they are expected to hold a vote on whether or not to hear from any witnesses. Republicans are being warned that even if they agree to call Bolton to testify or try to access his manuscript, the White House will block him, beginning a weekslong court battle over executive privilege and national security. That leaves the few GOP senators, including Romney and Susan Collins, who have expressed a desire to hear new testimony without strong backing. Bolton book unlikely to be blocked by White House Some Republicans say they are happy to read his manuscript on their own time. I don't know that the manuscript would make any difference in the outcome of the trial, said Roy Blunt of Missouri, a member of the GOP leadership. And some said they simply dont trust Boltons word. Rand Paul of Kentucky called Bolton disgruntled and seeking to make money off his time at the White house. John Kelly, Trump's former White House chief of staff, told an audience in Sarasota, Florida, that he believes Bolton. Its a view shared by the GOP chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said he called Bolton on Jan. 7 and asked him to voluntarily appear. White House officials privately acknowledge that they are essentially powerless to block the book's publication, but could sue after the fact if they believe it violated the confidentiality agreement Bolton signed against disclosing classified information. Senate Republicans were to meet behind closed doors to consider next steps. Trump is charged with abusing his presidential power by asking Ukraine's leader to help investigate Biden at the same time his administration was withholding hundreds of millions of dollars in security aid. A second charge accuses Trump of obstructing Congress in its probe. Trump and his lawyers have argued repeatedly that Democrats are using impeachment to try to undo the results of the last presidential election and drive Trump from office. Clips compare remarks made during Clinton, Trump impeachments On Tuesday, as he was resting his case, Cipollone played video clips from House Democrats during the presidential impeachment of Bill Clinton including several who are now managers of the Trump impeachment trial in an attempt to depict them as hypocritical for sounding the alarm then about the partisan dangers of impeachment. What they are asking you do is to throw out a successful president on the eve of an election, with no basis, and in violation of the Constitution," Cipollone said. Why not trust the American people with this decision? Why tear up their ballots? Democrats, meanwhile, say Trump's refusal to allow administration officials to testify only reinforces that the White House is hiding evidence. The White House has had Bolton's manuscript for about a month, according to a letter from Bolton's attorney. No matter the vote on witness, acquittal still seems likely given that Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate and conviction would require a two-thirds majority. ___ Associated Press writers Alan Fram, Mary Clare Jalonick, Andrew Taylor, Matthew Daly, Laurie Kellman and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report. DAMASCUS, Syria Syrian government forces captured one of the largest and most strategic rebel-held towns in the countrys northwest, the Syrian military and opposition activists said Wednesday, part of a Russian-backed military assault that has displaced hundreds of thousands of people fleeing to safer areas. The town of Maaret al-Numan in Idlib province, which had been in rebel hands since 2012, sits on the highway linking Damascus with Aleppo and is considered critical to President Bashar Assads forces. The town is now largely empty as a result of intense bombardment in recent weeks. Its capture is the latest in a series of military triumphs for Assad. His forces have retaken control of most of the country from rebel fighters, largely because of blanket air support from Russia, which helped turn the tide in the nearly nine-year civil war. Syrias nearly nine-year conflict has left more than 400,000 people dead and displaced half of Syrias population, including more than 5 million who are refugees, mostly in neighboring countries. An exception to the Syrian governments success in retaking territory from rebel groups has been Idlib province in the northwestern corner of the country near the Turkish border, which is held by opposition fighters and is dominated by al-Qaida-linked militants. The province is home to some 3 million people, many of them internally displaced. Syrian government forces have been on the offensive for more than a month in Idlib province, the last rebel stronghold in the country. But in recent days, the government captured more than a dozen villages in the area as the insurgents defenses began to crumble. Our armed forces continued operations in southern parts of Idlib with the aim of putting an end to crimes committed by terrorist groups, said army spokesman Brig. Gen. Ali Mayhoub. He listed more than a dozen villages and towns captured, including Maaret al-Numan. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents withdrew from the town late Tuesday. Syrian troops had left a road west of the town opened apparently to give a chance for insurgents to pull out and to avoid street battles inside the town. Syrian state news agency SANA reported that a Syrian reporter working for Russia Today was wounded Wednesday near Maaret al-Numan, saying the woman and her team were subjected to fire by insurgents. SANA said the reporter was in stable condition without giving details about her injury. But the push appears to have angered Turkey, which backs the opposition and has for years coordinated with Russia, a main backer of Assad, during the conflict. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed frustration with Moscow over its failure to halt Syrian government attacks in Idlib. Erdogan said Russia is not loyal to agreements reached with Turkey over the situation in Idlib, including a cease-fire that collapsed earlier this month. He said he is in contact with the Russians to tell them to stop the bombing in Idlib or our patience will run out. Amid intense airstrikes and heavy bombardment, trucks loaded with displaced people from areas surrounding Maaret al-Numan, including Jabal al-Zawiya, headed toward areas near the Turkish border, already bursting with internally displaced people. Only God knows where our destination will be, where we will find a house. We do not know anything, maybe we will sleep in the car, said one woman who was among those fleeing with her family Tuesday. She declined to give her name, fearing for her safety. The Syrian Response Coordination Group, a relief group active in northwestern Syria, reported that until the end of December more than 216,000 people fled their homes in Idlib. In a new release, the group said 167,000 fled since the beginning of January, bringing the total number to more than 383,000 people. Farther north, government forces began an offensive on the western suburbs of Aleppo in an attempt to push insurgents away from Syrias largest city. Around noon Wednesday, Syrian troops captured a major suburb west of Aleppo, according to state media. Maaret al-Numan sits on the highway linking Damascus with Aleppo, once Syrias main commercial hub. With the towns fall, government forces are now closer to retaking the critical north-south highway. In August, Syrian troops captured another town along the highway, Khan Sheikhoun. Now that Syrian troops are in control of Maaret al-Numan, their next target is likely to be Saraqeb, which would become the last major town on the M5 highway that remains outside government control. ___ Mroue reported from Beirut. Associated Press writer Suzan Fraser contributed to this report from Ankara, Turkey. A mine worker is believed to have died as a result of a ground collapse at the underground Diversified Minerals-operated Henty Gold Mine near Zeehan on Tasmanias west coast early last Thursday morning. The worker, a loader operator, has now been identified as 44-year-old Cameron John Goss, a resident of nearby Queenstown. He had been employed at the mine for about two years. At the time of the collapse, around 30 of the mines 120-strong workforce were working at the site. According to a union spokesman, the ground underneath the loader being driven by Goss suddenly collapsed, plunging the man and the machine into a 15-metre deep crevasse that opened up. The miner was working on night shift in the lower levels of the mine using the loader to fill a truck. The truck driver raised the alarm when Goss did not return with a further load. The Tasmania Police and mining services contractor PYBAR have stated that a study of 3D scans and thermal imagery taken by rescue search crews using robotic equipment in the wake of the incident had shown no signs of life. This, and the amount of debris burying the loader, led them to conclude that Goss would not have survived the incident. A spokesman for PYBAR said that the loader was half-covered in rock, with the cabin completely underneath the rock. The conditions that confronted search teams when they entered the mine last Friday were described as extremely dark and extremely dangerous. The situation has now moved from rescue to recovery. However, the extremely unsafe conditions around the area of the collapse have reportedly hampered efforts. According to a spokesman for the Australian Workers Union (AWU), the union that covers miners at Henty, the edges of the hole that swallowed the loader are highly unstable and further dirt and debris is showering down into the crevice. Where the road has given way is quite precarious, it's quite difficult for anyone to get access to it to perform a recovery or to make a true assessment of what is required to make that recovery, the AWU spokesman said. He confirmed that retrieving the trapped mine worker from where he is thought to be located could take long days if not weeks. To date there has been no official explanation from the authorities, the company or the union on how it was possible that a roadway used by weighty mining vehicles carrying heavy loads could have collapsed. However, this extraordinary incident raises serious questions about the prevailing safety conditions right across the entire Henty mining operation, including if safety has been compromisedas has been the case in numerous workplace tragediesfor the sake of expediency. In a statement to the media, the Tasmanian police confirmed the mine was not currently operational and asserted: Mining is a dangerous industry, and anybody that goes underground has an inherent risk. Such an attitude, which is regularly rolled out by mining companies, governments and unions in the wake of mining fatalities, in essence accepts deaths as inevitable and distracts from any real probing of the underlying causes. Such claims were rejected last year by David Cliff, a leading health and safety expert with Minerals Industry Safety and Health Centre. In response to a spate of deaths in the coal industry, Cliff stated that modern safety standards meant all mine workplace accidents should be preventable. You need to be eternally vigilant, Cliff said. The key to fixing things is to predict the precursor events or situations before they become an accident. He added: We need to get a really good reporting culture with no fear of blame. Cliffs response stands in sharp contrast to that of the AWU on the Henty tragedy. In an extraordinarily guarded statement in response to a question by the ABC about safety at the Henty mine, AWU national secretary Daniel Walton replied: In the fullness of time, with the coroner involved, theyll be making a fully formed view into how this happened it would be premature to make any calls on the future of the Henty Mine. Official inquiries rarely lead to any substantial or fundamental changes that would prevent further tragedies. In the past, they have either whitewashed the circumstances that caused deaths or dragged on until the tragedies faded from popular memory. If the fear that Goss was killed in the Henty collapse proves to be correct, his death will be the fifth mining fatality in the area in just six years, including three at the nearby Mt Lyell Copper Mine. Though these three deaths occurred six years ago, they are still the subject of a coroners inquest, which is scheduled to restart again in March. The Henty Gold Mine opened in 1996 employing around 150 people but was placed in care and maintenance in 2015 by its then owner, Unity Mining. At the time Henty was producing up to 50,000 ounces of gold a year but was hit by falling gold prices that plunged by $US300 an ounce from three years previous, cutting the companys annual revenue by $15 million. Henty was reopened in 2016 when gold prices began to rise and after it was acquired by Diversified Minerals, an associate of PYBAR. Gold prices currently stand at $1,485.59 an ounce. Even so, in February 2019 PYBAR announced a cost-cutting restructure, including the axing of 21 jobs, claiming to the AWU that it was making only a 3 percent return on investment. The mining union did nothing to oppose the sackings that would have resulted in pressure for greater productivity from the remaining workforce. Instead, the union justified the companys decision. AWU assistant state secretary Robert Flanagan declared: The company is spending a lot of money on drilling to try and identify ore reserves and obviously this announcement is a part of the company cutting its cloth to suit the reserves that are currently available. The unions reaction to the job cuts was not an aberration but expressed the decades-long collaboration of the mining unions with the major mining corporations. Under the banner of making Australian-based mining operations internationally competitive, the unions have assisted the mining companies to impose cuts to full-time work and conditions and suppressed any opposition from workers. One of the consequences of this process has been the increasing casualisation of the mining industry workforcea development that has contributed to unsafe conditions across the sector. Casual workers are in a precarious position and are more reluctant to complain about safety for fear of reprisal. At the same time, employers are known to regularly cut corners and skirt safe working practices that may hinder the drive for ever greater levels of production. This state of affairs contributes to the fatalities and injuries in the mining sector. Over the past two years there were 19 catastrophic mining fatalities. Moreover, governments, both Liberal and Labor, have over the years aggravated falling safety standards by cutting funding for inspectorates and effectively leaving the oversight of safety at mining sites in the hands of the companies themselves and the unions that collaborate with them. If last weeks tragic incident at Henty Gold Mine has indeed claimed yet another life it will be the third mining fatality this year. On Monday, a 64-year-old contract worker for DIAB Engineering died after sustaining serious injuries in an incident at the Roy Hill iron ore mine in Western Australias remote Pilbara region. Earlier this month a 33-year-old worker died after becoming trapped in machinery at the Curragh coal mine near Blackwater in Central Queensland. Workers cannot place any faith in the unions or in appeals to Labor and Liberal governments that serve the interests of the mining magnates. The turn must be to the construction of independent rank-and-file workplace committees to oversee safety and lead the fight in defence of jobs and working conditions. Authorities are hunting for a police officer after he had allegedly shot four fellow gamblers to death over a quarrel in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday. The suspect, 33-year-old Le Quoc Tuan, was first believed to be already captured in the vicinity of the Tham Luong Bridge in District 12, about 10km from the crime scene in Cu Chi District, a source told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. But the latest reports confirmed that he is still at large. Tuan is a senior lieutenant in the detention unit of the District 11 police bureau. He seemed to be drunk at the time of the crime. Local residents carry a body to the ambulance. Photo: Ai Nhan / Tuoi Tre Tuan gambled at a gambling ring in Tan Thanh Dong Commune, Cu Chi District, which is about 30km from the city center, around Wednesday afternoon, eyewitnesses said. He lost all his money and then engaged in a quarrel with other fellow gamblers. The suspect left the ring, returned with a gun, and shot four gamblers to death. A body in the ambulance. Photo: Ai Nhan / Tuoi Tre The gunshots also injured a fifth victim and killed a dairy cow nearby. Local residents security cameras captured Tuan wearing a face mask, riding a scooter, apparently a Honda SH, and carrying a long gun in his lap on the way to escaping the scene. Police officers are trying to track the suspect. Le Quoc Tuan, 33, is seen in this picture taken from civilian security cameras. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! According to the plea agreement, Sandoval accepted some $250,000 in bribes, though court filings don't name the company or other individuals who might have been involved. Sandoval is well connected in the Illinois Democratic Party. His fast decision to cooperate comes after more than a year of home and office raids against multiple Democrats, several of whom have been charged, and it increases the chances that more charges will follow. In Springfield, the news cast an uneasy pallor over the first day of the General Assembly's spring session. "I don't know if I've ever been more embarrassed than watching the federal government cart cardboard boxes out of the Capitol. It turned my stomach," newly elected Senate President Don Harmon said of the FBI's Sept. 24 raids of Sandoval's offices. Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker called the charges repellent, adding, I expect public servants to serve their constituents, not line their own pockets, and todays guilty plea demonstrates yet again the urgent need for reform." Sandoval faces up to 13 years in prison, though his cooperation could shave years off his sentence. President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Wildwood, New Jersey on Jan. 28, 2020. Read more WILDWOOD President Donald Trump declared Tuesday that he is creating jobs and killing terrorists while Democrats are obsessed with demented hoaxes during a campaign rally at the New Jersey Shore as his impeachment trial entered a potentially perilous new phase. Which is worse, Trump queried thousands of supporters crowded inside the Wildwoods Convention Center, the impeachment hoax or the witch hunt from Russia? The rally offered Trump a respite from the impeachment drama and reports that his former national security adviser, John Bolton, has said in a book that the president had conditioned hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine on that countrys willingness to investigate Democrats. That has raised the prospect that enough Senate Republicans will join with Democrats to compel Bolton and other witnesses to testify. Just days before the Iowa caucuses begin the Democratic presidential nominating contest, Trump made his case for reelection, boasting of the lowest unemployment rate in decades, his new trade deal with Mexico and Canada, and the lethal drone strike he ordered on Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani. As he often does, Trump bashed the news media and railed against so-called sanctuary cities that protect undocumented immigrants. He mocked the Green New Deal energy plan: You dont have too many cows in Wildwood, but if you do, theyre gone, he said. READ MORE: Fact-checking Trump's rally in Wildwood He also tried to make headway on an issue that helped Democrats take control of the House in 2018: health care. Trump blasted Sen. Bernie Sanders Medicare for All plan, noting it would abolish private insurance and saying it would crush the economy. Were making health care better and much, much cheaper," Trump said. "We are protecting people with preexisting conditions, and we always will. The president unsuccessfully tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act which protects people from being charged higher prices because of preexisting medical conditions and his administration has since declined to defend the law in court against a lawsuit that could gut it. And he shared a stage with Rep. Jeff Van Drew, the local congressman who shocked Washington last month when he split with the Democratic Party over impeachment, announcing he would seek reelection as a Republican and pledging his undying support to Trump. READ MORE: Trump and Van Drew completed their political embrace on a winter night in Wildwood Jeff had the guts to defy the left-wing fanatics in his own party, Trump said. Police said earlier Tuesday that they expected to let about 8,500 people into the rally, many of whom had camped out overnight. If the dominant mood for much of the day was celebratory, the nations divisions also were on full display. This is what democracy looks like! anti-Trump protesters shouted in a parking lot nearby. From the boardwalk above them, Trump fans jeered. Wheres Hunter? they yelled, reprising a favorite Trump attack line on Hunter Biden, son of former Vice President Joe Biden. Trumps interest in Hunter Bidens seat on the board of a Ukrainian gas company during the Obama administration helped lead the president down the road to impeachment. Air Force One landed a little after 6 p.m. at Atlantic City International Airport, with Van Drew and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie aboard. The president boarded Marine One for the trip to a landing zone at Cape May County Airport. Van Drew hopes Trumps rally in his congressional district will help him with conservatives in his new party. READ MORE: I will not vote for Trump, Van Drew vowed in a voicemail. Then he pledged undying support for the president Some local Republicans have been skeptical of Van Drew, who represented parts of South Jersey as a Democratic state lawmaker from 2002 until he was elected to the House in 2018. But a leading candidate in the GOP primary endorsed Van Drew on Monday and said hed run in another district. Are we going to allow ourselves just to be like any nation in the world, or are we going to keep America great? Van Drew said to cheers Tuesday. Local officials welcomed the campaign rally as a jolt to the Shore economy, which relies heavily on summer tourism. By Tuesday afternoon, the boardwalk area had turned into a pop-up Make America Great Again festival, with Trump merchandise just about everywhere. Rocky Granata said he has traveled the country in an RV decked out in Trump flags and banners for nearly four years. For the last 42 months, he said, all I do is Trump every day. The Brooklyn native returned to New Jersey, where he lived for 40 years, to sell T-shirts and hats. Motels reported being booked, and bars and restaurants near the boardwalk filled during the afternoon with Trump diehards. Blocks from the boardwalk, the Bolero Resort cued up Fox News coverage of the impeachment trial on a projector. Drink specials included a Russian Collusion and Moscow Mueller. By midday, the line to enter the convention center filled the chutes in the arenas parking lot and snaked out and around several blocks. Southern rock played on a loop. Thousands lined the streets, chanting, Trump! Trump! and USA! USA! as the presidents motorcade pulled up to the convention center just before 7 p.m. Many of those unable to get inside watched the rally on a jumbo TV. READ MORE: Tailgates, Melania lookalikes, and clashes with protesters outside Trumps rally in Wildwood Not everyone was happy. Newly elected Wildwood Mayor Pete Byron, a Democrat, said in an interview that Van Drew informed him he was not welcome. Former Mayor Ernie Troiano, a Trump acolyte, was given a VIP ticket. Ive been informed that Congressmen Van Drew and the president are upset with the fact that I said I think the city should be reimbursed for rally expenses, Byron said. Byron said he told Van Drew he had shown respect for the rally, and that you should show the same respect to me as the mayor.... It shouldnt be about, Im a Democrat or Republican. New Jersey may seem like an unlikely destination for a Trump rally Hillary Clinton carried the reliably blue state by 14 percentage points in 2016 but the president owns multiple properties in the state. Wildwood is about an hours drive south of Atlantic City, where four Trump casinos went bankrupt. Staff writers Ellie Rushing and Craig R. McCoy contributed to this article. The Department of Foreign Affairs is advising against non-essential travel to China because of the coronavirus. 132 people have died from the illness and almost 6,000 people are infected. Irish people who are already in China are being advised to download the Travelwise app to get any alerts about the virus. The Dublin Airport Authority says its in constant contact with health officials about flying, amid concerns over the coronavirus. British Airways has suspended all direct flights to and from mainland China until Friday, as concerns grow over the outbreak which has killed 132 people. Ireland operates no flights into or out of China and the DAA says it takes their guidelines on the virus from the HSE and the Department of Health. Cillian De Gascun, director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory at UCD, says Ireland remains low risk. "The risk at the moment is still quite low," he said. "The concern in the last 24 hours or so is the number of cases in Germany and the fact that that seems to be related to asymptomatic transmission of the virus. That's probably the biggest concern because we see that with influenza every year, people who aren't yet sick can transmit the infection." The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note , which moves inversely to price, fell five basis points to around 1.585%, while the yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was also lower at around 2.048%. The gap between the three-month and 10-year Treasury yields narrowed to less than three basis points Wednesday. The central bank's Federal Open Market Committee voted unanimously to hold interest rate steady in a range between 1.5%-1.75% at the conclusion of its policy meeting Wednesday. "The Committee judges that the current stance of monetary policy is appropriate to support sustained expansion of economic activity, strong labor market conditions, and inflation returning to the Committee's symmetric 2 percent objective," policymakers said in a statement. During a press conference following the rates decision, Fed chairman Jerome Powell said the central bank is "very carefully monitoring" the situation with the fast-spreading coronavirus. "The whole curve is falling," said Jim Paulsen, chief investment strategist at the Leuthold Group. "Yields really started to fall once he [Powell] got to podium and when he talked about the Chinese virus and all of its negatives. That's when the bond market started to tail off It's reignited recession fears." This week's decision marked the second straight meeting the Fed has kept the benchmark funds rate unchanged after cutting borrowing cost three times in 2019. The Fed, however, did adjust the interest it pays on funds stored at the central bank on Wednesday. The central bank hiked the interest on excess reserves rate 5 basis points to 1.6%. Investors also kept an close eye on the coronavirus developments. Chinese authorities confirmed that the death toll has risen to 132 and the number of total cases has reached 5,974. Global investors have shown concerns about the impact of the virus on the overall economy. The White House has reportedly told airlines that it is considering suspending all flights from China to the U.S. On the data front, data showed pending home sales, which measure signed contracts, not closings, dropped 4.9% in December compared with November, as the supply of homes hit a record low during the month. Sales were projected to rise 1% month-to-month. A lastair Stewart has announced he is stepping down from his presenting duties at ITN and apologised for "errors of judgement" following a row he had on social media. His departure comes several weeks after he was involved in an exchange with a black man on Twitter in which he quoted a Shakespeare passage including the phrase "angry ape". In a statement after the news was announced, Stewart said it was a "misjudgement which I regret". He added: "Its been a privilege to bring the news to households throughout the UK for the past 40 years. Stewart was the longest serving male newsreader after joining Southern Television in 1976 before moving to ITN in 1980. It appears that Stewart's Twitter account has been deleted after the announcement was made. The award-winning presenter got himself into a debate on Twitter three weeks ago with Martin Shapland. In the row, they appeared to discuss the relationship between the Crown and taxpayer funds. Stewart said: As a student of history you should know the basis of the financial relationship between the Crown and the tax-payer. It was sealed with the Civil List which was subsequently replaced by the Sovereign Grant & finessed by the John Major tax deal. Stewart later quoted a speech from Shakespeare play Measure for Measure, which includes the words angry ape. Mr Shapland then shared the tweet, adding: Just an ITV newsreader referring to me as an ape with the cover of Shakespeare. Measure for Measure, Alistair is a disgrace. Michael Jermey, director of news and current affairs at ITV, said: Alastair has been a long-standing, familiar figure to viewers of ITV News, both reporting and presenting with distinction. We wish him the very best for the future. ITNs chief executive Anna Mallett added: We would like to recognise Alastairs contribution as one of the UKs foremost journalists and TV presenters and to thank him for his commitment to delivering high-quality broadcast news over many years. Colleagues and presenters from other networks stepped in to pay tribute to Stewart. Sharing an article referencing Stewart stepping down, ITV News presenter Julie Etchingham tweeted: So sad to learn this we have worked on many big stories together & Al is a trusted friend and guide to many of us. ITV News presenter Mary Nightingale tweeted: Very sad about the departure of #AlastairStewart. He was a good friend and mentor to me when I started at Carlton TV, and we worked together for more than 27 years. I will miss him. Sharing a picture of herself with Stewart, ITV presenter Ranvir Singh tweeted: I adore this man. I have adored working alongside him, watching him operate, learning from him, giggling with him, taking his advice, and being able to say to people, I know that news @itvnews legend Alastair Stewart. Its been an honour. Former ITV News boss Richard Frediani, now with BBC Breakfast, tweeted: Alastair Stewart has been a loyal friend, colleague, mentor, guide and much more to many, many journalists. Ive marvelled at his ability to remain calm on air as he heard chaos in his ear in the @itvnews #ITN gallery. Simply the best on and off screen. A broadcasting legend. Anna Botting, a presenter for Sky News, tweeted: Alastair hope you can still read these messages youve always been so supportive and encouragingfor which I am very grateful. I share the sadness at your departure and wish you all the very best. Stewart, 67, was born on June 22 1952 in Gosport, Hampshire, to parents who both served in the Royal Air Force. He attended the state Madras College in Fife, Scotland, before moving to the independent Salesian College in Hampshire, then St Augustines Abbey School in Ramsgate, Kent. Stewart studied economics and politics at University of Bristol before going on to work for the National Union Of Students between 1974 and 1976. His first steps into television came when he joined Southern Television in Southampton as a reporter and presenter. Lubes maker Gulf Oil expects the government to announce vehicle scrappage policy and reforms in the Budget -- to be presented on February 1 -- to boost demand in slowdown-hit auto sector. "We majorly expect some reforms to boost the auto sector as it has seen a significant slowdown. We hope to see measures aimed at increasing liquidity in the hands of consumers (including possible personal income tax benefits) which can stimulate spending in this sector. "We hope to see a robust implementation of the auto scrappage policy. We hope the government continues its thrust on infrastructure to strengthen and propel us forward on the path to higher growth once more," Gulf Oil MD Ravi Chawla said. In 2019, the automobile industry recorded its worst-ever sales decline in two decades, with an unprecedented slowdown hampering vehicle offtake across segments. As per the data released by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) early this month, all vehicle segments reported de-growth last year as low consumer sentiments, weak rural demand and economic slowdown took toll on sales. Overall wholesale of vehicles during the year across categories, including passenger vehicles, two-wheelers and commercial vehicles, saw a decline of 13.77 per cent in 2019 at 2,30,73,438 units as against 2,67,58,787 units in 2018. Stating that the long-term outlook for the automotive industry is "very strong" as both demographically and economically, Citroen India senior vice president for sales and marketing, Roland Bouchara said it is well-positioned for growth in coming years. "We are expecting a pragmatic budget with key focus on providing impetus to manufacturing sector," he added. The sector will also benefit from the government's strong focus on boosting infrastructure, Bouchara said. "We hope the government further encourages the automobile industry and lays down long-term roadmap to help the sector plan its investments in new technologies and skill development," Bouchara said. Tata Technologies believe the government should continue to focus on 'Make in India' in the forthcoming Budget and provide further incentives for investment in manufacturing units, its Chief Financial Officer, J K Gupta said. "Further, GST rationalisation for automotive products can provide great support to OEMs who have been fighting the continued automobile slowdown, while supporting the transition from BS4 to BS6," Gupta stated. Areas of Spring Branch were recently devastated by an explosion at Watson Grinding and Manufacturing in the early morning hours of Friday, Jan. 24. More than 450 structures were reportedly damaged by the blast, which also claimed the lives of two people and injured at least 20 others. While John Watson, who runs the business, has vowed to repair damaged homes in the area, there remains a gap between when homes may be repaired and where residents live now. Memorial Assistance Ministries is stepping in to help fill the gap. Related: Watson CEO promises to repair Houston-area homes damaged in Gessner explosion but offers few details The community always rallies around its neighbors and we will make certain the families affected by this tragedy will get the resources needed to regain safe and stable housing and whatever is needed to establish a new home, Sonja Gee, MAMs president and CEO, said in a news release. MAM reports that a client navigator was on site at an American Red Cross Recovery Center on Monday with offers of guidance to families looking for help. MAM reportedly will help families whose homes have been condemned with help finding new homes and providing items necessary for everyday life. MAMs Resale Store is stocked with items for the entire home and vouchers allow families to shop for exactly what they need to move on with their life. Gift cards will be issued for underclothing, bath towels and other little, but very important items, Gee said. We expect the rehousing assistance efforts to cost as much as $300,000. On HoustonChronicle.com: Neighbors begin filing lawsuits after homes damaged in west Houston warehouse explosion The Houston Chronicle reported that the blast was felt miles away from the plant but in the immediate area, ceilings cracked and glass shattered in peoples homes. Area residents are worried about paying for temporary housing and how to finance long-term repairs. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner visited the area in the days following the explosion and promised long-term help. We are going to be here for a while, Turner said Saturday. If your home was impacted, if you are needing help if you dont have insurance, for example I want people to reach out and let us know so we can assist them. The city is still finalizing a plan to help homeowners, Mary Benton, Turners press secretary, said in an email Tuesday. Meanwhile, the city asks anyone impacted to call 3-1-1. Anyone affected by the explosion is also urged to email disasterhelp@mamhouston.org. Residents should include a name and phone number for MAM staff members to contact. For those who want to donate, go to MAMs disaster relief fund online at https://tinyurl.com/tatxmtn or send donations by mail to: Memorial Assistance Ministries Office of Fund Development 1625 Blalock Road Houston, TX 77080 MAM is a collaborative effort of the faith community, individuals, foundations and companies in the Spring Branch area of Houston. For more information go to www.mamhouston.org. rkent@hcnonline.com Kerala assembly on Wednesday witnessed dramatic scenes as the Congress led UDF MLAs blocked governor Arif Mohammad Khan as he arrived for making the governments policy address on the opening day of the budget session. The Opposition members move was unexpected and extraordinary and it is for the first time in the history of Kerala assembly that governor is heckled by legislators. As the governor entered the assembly hall a group of UDF MLAs blocked him, shouting slogans and carrying placards and banners with go back governor and repeal CAA. Even before the beginning of the session, the UDF MLAs were seen displaying placards saying we the people, India resists CAA. Khan, along with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, waited patiently in front of the protesting MLAs when speaker P Sreeramakrishnan and law minister A.K Balan negotiated with the protesting legislators. As the MLAs were not heeding, the Assembly marshals were called. The MLAs were forcefully removed and the way was cleared for the governor to enter the podium. The marshals escorted him to the chair. As soon as the national anthem ended and the governor started to read out the policy address, the Opposition members again started shouting slogans and assembled in the Well of the House. Later, they boycotted the policy address and staged a sit-in-protest in front of the Assembly building. Khan reads govt policy on CAA, avoids constitutional crisis In an unexpected move, the governor read out the governments policy on CAA which is critical of the Union government. Earlier, Khan had informed the chief minister and the speaker that he would skip the 18th paragraph of the policy address which mentions on the CAA. I am going to read this paragraph although I hold the view that this does not under the definition of policy or programme of the government. But the chief minister told me that this is the policy of the government. To honour his wish I am going to read this out, Khan said. All the details including the state governments suit in Supreme Court against the Act were read out by governor. Opposition alleges double standards Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged that the chief minister is enacting a drama with the support of the BJP nominated governor. Khan is a bridge between the Centre and the Pinarayi government. The government is insulting the people of Kerala, he alleged. The Opposition leader asked the government to take up its resolution demanding recalling the governor. DECATUR The Decatur school board on Tuesday made several steps forward on the district's BOLD facilities plan and extended the contract of a top administrator, over objections from the district's teachers' union. Before the public comments portion of the meeting started, Superintendent Paul Fregeau said he wanted to clarify the different roles of the board and the administration in response to "several news articles and social media posts." "Our role," he said, referring to himself, the assistant superintendents and other administrators, "is to make recommendations to the board. Before we do that, we research and evaluate and make future projections, then decide what is best and make recommendations to the board for their approval. Items like job descriptions, school boundaries, the BOLD facilities plan, openings and closings of school, all are examples of these decisions that are made at the administrative level and simply submitted to the board for approval. We as administrators want stakeholders to know the heart of everything we do is in the best interests of (Decatur Public Schools) students." The BOLD plan aims to reduce the number of schools to 17 from 22, consolidating some buildings and closing others and building a new Johns Hill Magnet School at the current site. The board approved moving forward with seeking bids for construction of a new Johns Hill, with a goal of completing the building and opening to students by August 2021. By this August, the district's goals are to: combine Enterprise and Garfield Montessori schools and rename the program the Montessori Academy for Peace at the former Thomas Jefferson Middle School building; move French Academy to the Enterprise building and rename it American Dreamers STEM Academy; expand Dennis School into a second site, one at the current Dennis building to be known as the Mosaic Campus and the other at the current French building, to be known as the Kaleidoscope Campus; expand South Shores School and install air conditioning there; and close Durfee Magnet School. The board approved the name changes on Tuesday, including the naming committee's recommendation to retain Hope Academy's name and to rename Harris William Harris Learning Academy. Harris was converted to the district's alternative learning site in August and Stephen Decatur Middle School became the district's only middle school at the same time. The board has already approved new school boundaries within the district, and the plan is to make sure families know by the middle of May which building their children will attend for the 2020-21 school year. Durfee students can apply to another magnet program or return to boundary schools. Also during the meeting, the board voted to extend the contract of Assistant Superintendent Jeff Dase to June 30, 2025. Dase was hired in April and officially began work in July 2019. His salary is $156,715, and the new contract calls for a review of his salary annually, and that the district will pay 9.89 percent of his salary toward his pension with the Teachers Retirement system. Several speakers during the public comment portion of the meeting, including Chrissy Pettit, president of the Decatur Education Association, and Paula Busboom, president of the Decatur Federation of Teaching Assistants, spoke against extending Dase's contract only six months into his employment with the district. The teachers' union had released a statement earlier Tuesday urging the board not to approve the contract extension. "Our members feel he is decidedly negative and creating a culture of fear which is not conducive to student-centered learning," Pettit said. Busboom, whose union still has no contract with the district several months into negotiations, said the community, parents, staff and students have lost confidence in the school board. "You obviously don't care," Busboom said. "You have become the most talked-about school board in the state of Illinois." She said the board has approved hundreds of thousands of dollars in salaries and benefits for administrators but hasn't come to an agreement with the teaching assistants over their health insurance. "Morale is at an all-time low, and anxiety and frustration are at an all-time high," she said. The board unanimously approved the contract extension for Dase, who spoke after the vote was taken. "I consider myself a role model for students," Dase said. "I'm happy. This is a blessed moment. As they say, 'Don't let anybody steal your shine.'" He said he visited Durfee and met a boy named Tevyn Ridley, a third-grader, who came up to him and asked, "Are you the future me?" That boy has inspired him, he said, and he plans to make a copy of the contract, frame it and give it to the child and tell him, "Do better than me." ______________________________________________________________ Contact Valerie Wells at (217) 421-7982. Follow her on Twitter: @modgirlreporter Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly 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. By Express News Service BHOPAL: Even as the Narendra Modi government refuses to back down on Citizenship (Amendment) Act despite protests nationwide, a BJP MLA from Madhya Pradesh has taken a different stand, saying the law was creating a "civil war-like situation in every street". BJP MLA Narayan Tripathi said though the CAA was not beneficial to the country, the controversial measure would consolidate the saffron party's vote-bank. I hail from a rural background and so would talk about my village. People from the two communities have stopped seeing each other and in my village, the Muslims who respected us by greeting Panditji paon lagi (greeted by touching our feet) have stopped even seeing us. Peace and prosperity arent possible in any such country, state, district or village where there is internal strife, said Tripathi on Tuesday. We talk about Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam (the world being a family), but if we actually start dividing the country on the basis of religious lines, then this country wont be able to function properly. Whatever Im saying, Im speaking from heart, whether anyone likes it or not, he added. Tripathi, the two-time BJP MLA who had represented the same Maihar seat as Samajwadi Party and Congress legislator in the past, said further, The Constitution declares India a secular state, where division on religious lines isnt possible. But still, the country is being divided on religious lines. Either we respect the Constitution framed by Dr BR Ambedkar or else tear and throw it away. Reacting to the BJP MLAs open opposition to CAA, the Congress state media in-charge Shobha Oza said: The MLA has not only exposed the communal agenda of the RSS and the BJP, but has also blown the bugle of revolt against the divisive forces. The state BJP spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal, however, tried to downplay the matter, saying, Let me first make it clear that Narayan Tripathi is in the BJP and will remain with the party. All his doubts pertaining to the CAA will be cleared within the party. Importantly, six months back, Tripathi and another BJP MLA Sharad Kol (both formerly with Congress) had voted with the Congress and allied MLAs on the criminal law amendment bill in Vidhan Sabha during July 2019. However, few weeks later, both the legislators had reaffirmed their loyalty to the BJP. Also, as per news reports, the Maihar MLA Narayan Tripathis name figured in the first charge-sheet of the high profile honey trap racket. Not first MLA in Madhya Pradesh to have spoken contrary to respective party lines over CAA-NRC Tripathi isnt the first legislator (from any party) in MP to have publicly spoken on CAA contrary to respective party lines. A few weeks back, HS Dang the Congress MLA from Suvasra seat of Mandsaur district, who had in the past backed the abrogation of Article 370, also supported the CAA. Further, Rambai Thakur, the firebrand BSP MLA from Pathariya seat of Damoh district was suspended from the party last month following her public utterances praising PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the CAA. In the January 29 episode of In The News podcast, host Anvita Bansal discusses the most interesting developments in India and the world with Atharva Pandit, Siddhesh Raut and Shraddha Sharma. Pandit shares details on why IndiGo, AirIndia and SpiceJet banned comedian Kunal Kamra from flying with them followed by a quick roundup on the latest in the Nirbhaya rape case, where the Supreme Court has quashed the death row convicts plea against rejection of mercy. Raut talks about Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthys clarification on his comments on the Amazon SMBhav event. Lastly, Sharma provides the latest numbers related to Coronavirus, and about the scientists in Hong Kong who have found a vaccine against the virus. The Venice Commission has been officially notified by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, about the modification of the electoral law in Romania, informs the Social Democratic Party (PSD). The decision was made by 26 votes "in favour" and only 3 "against," according to the same source."Europe is concerned about the modifications of the electoral law in Romania the Orban Government has just assumed responsibility for today. The Venice Commission has been officially notified by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg in relation to the modification of the electoral law in Romania. The decision regarding the notification was approved by 26 votes "in favour" and only 3 "against." The Venice Commission said it clearly that the electoral system cannot be modified less than one year before the elections, and this is exactly what the PNL (ruling National Liberal Party) is doing today," reads the release posted on the Facebook page of PSD on Wednesday.On January 16, PSD Senator Titus Corlatean announced that the Monitoring Committee of the Member States of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe approved, upon PSD's request, the initiation of the investigation against Romania for failing to observe the democratic norms in the case of the Orban Government assuming responsibility for the modification of the legislation on the local elections only four months before the polls. Dr. Jennifer Winward working with students at TGR Foundation in Anaheim Nothing is more powerful than keeping promises to youth, and thats what Winward makes possible every day. The Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity recognized San Diego resident Dr. Jennifer Winward in its 35 Under 35 Award that celebrates young alumnae (age 35 and under) for their accomplishments after college. Dr. Jennifer Winward, the founder and CEO of Winward Academy, received the award for her contribution to education. After tutoring students from the nations most elite private schools for 20 years, Winward took her experience and her passion for teaching to create Winward Academy, an award-winning tutoring platform. Wanting all students - not just those with whom she worked privately - to have access to quality teaching, Winward actively pursues charitable partnerships to support underserved students living in poverty or foster care, moving frequently with parents in the military, or battling cancer or acute illnesses. These students show dramatic increases in their academic performance, ACT and SAT scores and college readiness. With Winward Academy as a resource, these young people have shattered stereotypes and renewed their confidence in themselves and in their futures. Nothing is more powerful than keeping promises to youth, and thats what Winward makes possible every day. Lauren Hearne, Assistant Director of Alumnae Engagement at Kappa Alpha Theta, shared, Jennifer has transformed communities by positively affecting the trajectory of the lives of underserved high school students. Examples of schools and charities supported with Winwards philanthropic outreach include the YMCA, Girl Scouts, AVID, Reality Changers, Barrio Logan College Institute, Promises2Kids, Tiger Woods Foundation and more. Over 10,000 students from these and other deserving organizations were sponsored by Winward Academy last year. Improvements in GPA and ACT/SAT scores allowed these students to apply to colleges they previously considered out of reach and to earn scholarships averaging $100,000/student. The significance of Winwards contribution to education is reflected in the words of Barbara Ybarra, CEO of Barrio Logan College Institute, a nonprofit that supports first generation college students. Equal access to resources is imperative, and were so thankful to Dr. Winward and Winward Academy for their commitment to getting our students access to what they need to set themselves apart and grow the confidence they need to be successful in college and beyond. ### About Winward Academy Test success, college success, and life success they all begin at Winward Academy, a research-based, student-centered learning platform for the ACT, SAT, math class, and college applications. Winward Academy applies a scientific approach to customize learning for each student, enabling growth for students of all levels and learning styles. Winward Academy is a team of passionate adolescent learning researchers committed to thoughtfully developing curriculum that improves learning, retention, and test performance building confidence for life. Winward Academy curriculum is used by students at home, by teachers in the classroom, and by charities in after-school and summer programs. For more information on Winward Academy, see winwardacademy.com or follow the company on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. A construction worker carries materials as new hospitals are built to tackle the coronavirus on Jan. 28, 2020 in Wuhan, China. Wuhan Huoshenshan hospital will reportedly be ready for use on February 3rd with the capacity of 1000 beds. (Getty Images/TNS) The Punjab health authorities on Wednesday asked Ludhiana businessmen not to travel to China where 130 people have died of novel coronavirus, even as a Mohali resident was tested negative for the infection. Officials said the Mohali resident was set to be discharged from Chandigarh's Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER). Meanwhile, reports of the two suspected patients in Haryana are still awaited. A Haryana health official said seven people had travel history to China. The health departments of Punjab and Haryana were put on alert and fully prepared to deal with any emergent situation, officials said. The Mohali resident, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, had returned from China last week and was admitted to the PGIMER on Monday. Confirming that he was tested negative for the virus, the PGIMER in a statement here said, "His throat swab was sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune. He is stable and planned to be discharged." About the advisory to traders, Ludhiana Civil Surgeon Rajesh Kumar said, "We have asked businessmen to refrain from going to China. They should postpone their travel plans." A team of doctors also screened patients at the Amritsar and Chandigarh airports, an official said. Advisories have already issued at the Attari-Wagah border and Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur where travellers have been asked to report about any illness at district hospitals. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delta and American on Wednesday announced they would reduce their China service next month as the coronavirus spreads, driving down demand for flights to the country. More than 6,150 people have been infected by the flu-like virus and more than 130 people in China have died from it, authorities said. Big companies, from Apple to Ford to Kraft Heinz, have restricted their employees' China business travel or scaled back operations because of the virus. Delta said it would halve its flights to China to 21 a week starting Feb. 6 through April 30. The Atlanta-based airline serves Beijing from Detroit and Seattle and offers flights to Shanghai from Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles and Seattle. American Airlines announced earlier on Wednesday that will cancel its flights from Los Angeles to Shanghai and to Beijing from Feb. 9 through March 27. American will continue to operate its China service from Dallas-Fort Worth and from Los Angeles to Hong Kong in that period. American's reservations agents "will contact affected customers directly by email or telephone," the airline said. "We will continue to review our flight schedules to ensure we can accommodate the needs of our customers and will make updates as needed." Pacific-region revenue has been a weak spot for U.S. airlines even before the outbreak and is a small part of their sales overall. American, for example, last week reported Pacific-region revenue dropped 9% last year to $1.5 billion, which equaled less than 4% of its total passenger revenue. The measures follow similar steps by United, Cathay Pacific and Air Canada as demand for China service suffers because of the virus. British Airways earlier Wednesday said it canceled its service to Shanghai and Beijing from London. As of today, the majority of them have been integrated into Russian society, the official said. Head of the Main Directorate for Migration of the Russian Interior Ministry Valentina Kazakova has said about 40,000 Ukrainian citizens have been granted "temporary asylum" in Russia. Read also"DPR" recognizes use of Ukrainian passports in occupied Donbas "Currently, there are about 40,000 Ukrainian citizens registered as temporary asylum seekers in Russia," she told journalists on Wednesday, according to the Russian news agency TASS. "Back in 2014, Russia was able to accept about a million citizens from 'southeastern' Ukraine more than any European state," she said. "In late 2016, about 450,000 Ukrainian citizens found temporary asylum in Russian territory. As of today, the majority of them have been integrated into Russian society, having taken Russian citizenship," she added. The Russian authorities want to simplify the process of granting citizenship to residents of Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Moldova. In particular, the Russian government wants to exempt citizens of those countries from Russian language testing. MEXICO CITY - Mexicos immigration agency announced Tuesday that it has temporarily suspended visits by civic, activist and religious groups to migrant detention centres, though its parent department later seemed to be backing away from the move. Such visits have long served as a safeguard to check on the treatment of migrants, some of whom have complained in the past of crowding, prolonged detention and unsatisfactory conditions. The U.N. Human Rights office in Mexico wrote that the work of such civic groups is a key contribution to migrants. The National Immigration Institute did not give a reason for suspending visits, saying only that rescheduling the visits will depend on the work load of each migrant centre, with the goal of providing services to the migrants to continue without interruption. The institute said it would notify the groups when they would be allowed back into the centres, which are generally closed to the press and public. However, the Interior Department, which oversees the institute, later wrote in its Twitter account that the suspension was not authorized by superiors and said it disavowed the announcement. It was unclear whether that meant visits would now be allowed. The move came just days after hundreds of Central American migrants were detained after attempting to enter Mexico from Guatemala as part of a caravan. The institute said U.N. human rights and refugee officials had been allowed to visit one of the largest detention centres, located in the southern city of Tapachula, on Friday. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Eisya A. Eloksari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 A government program to provide generous tax incentives to companies willing to provide internships and training programs has received little response from business players. The Taxation Directorate General's regulations director, Yunirwansyah, said only 13 companies, mostly involved in heavy machinery manufacturing in East Java, had registered for the program by the end of 2019. All 13 companies have had agreements with local vocational schools and the training program, he told The Jakarta Post during a tax deduction information event in Jakarta on Tuesday. 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 Fellow Ghanaians, in our African street parlance it is often said that a man who alleges to have caught a toad by its tail, "might not" be far from the truth but he is definitely being economical with the facts! For me, and I think many discerning Ghanaians would readily agree with me, that any fixed economy which cannot be confirmed and affirmed by the beneficiaries in the same country where such economic management talent is being displayed but has to only be noticed and praised by people living beyond the shores of that country, is nothing more than a scam and a dangerous propaganda. Before I continue, permit me to confess right away that I had been almost gagged, confused and perplexed in the course of last weekend. I simply did not know what to write on of the plethora of pertinent plagues plaguing our dear country. The majority leader of KNUST students' Parliament House briefed me about the intention of a certain Coalition of Ashanti Students for Development to register their indignation and displeasure about the governing party's obvious political witch-hunting and vampirism meted out to Dr. Kwabena Duffour, the former governor of the Bank of Ghana, which diverted my attention. Earlier, I was working on an epistle to condemn in no uncertain terms, the iconoclasticism and grossly lopsided impressionability of the Electoral Commission boss, Madam Jean Mensa, showcased in the new voter register compilation brouhaha. I began doing a little research on that political "wizardry" unleashed upon the former governor and finance Minister Dr. Kwabena Duffuor by the government then I chanced upon a news item on Starr FM purported to have been issued by the Bantamahene on behalf of his Majesty, Otumfour Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene (perhaps the most influential and powerful King in Africa). The communique simply directed and instructed local government representatives in the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies of the Ashanti Region to vacate their posts for virtually not only being eclipsed as the local government actors but usurping their duties by the government. It further stated that, out of the usual five (5) representatives, only one was allowed by a government that cherishes enlarging the size of government to represent the local government chapter. Just before I started to look into that political betrayal of the Ashanti region that voted the President into office by the Akufo Addo's version of a new NPP administration, I found a bombshell that Moody's rated and predicted Ghana's economy to be moving from "Stable to Positive" which as usual and expected, made Vice President Bawumia broke to a kumbaya song and dance. I finally decide to settle on these latest economic predictions that literally transported the Nation's economics Lord (Dr. Bawumia) to instant Nirvana with his usual pontifications. Fellow Ghanaians, the claim that the Ghanaian economy exited the manipulative arm of the International Monetary Fund is neither here nor there. Every now and then, like the "cold colonialism" (majority call it mental colonization) where after the so-called Independence of African countries for more than sixty years and yet colonial masters still determine what time to sleep with their spouses, the current government, always chin in hand, is looking up to the IMF for a praise of economic success other than the people they serve. I find that strange and insulting to the good people of Ghana. Those so-called competent managers of an economy would egg on folks from outside the jurisdiction of Ghana to pat them on the back for economic growth and not the beneficiaries of that economic growth if there's indeed any, makes President Akufo Addo government the most nauseating ever. How can an economic Think Tank living in the USA, UK, or Canada, like the likes of Moodys or even Bloomberg Platform, determine whether a roasted plantain can be afforded by a poor man in Ghana or not, and thus determine the economic strives chalked by the government? How can a man sitting in an office in the land of Eldorado and Silicon Valley of the developed world, be able to depict the trauma of the poor peasant farmer who has been painfully shortchanged as a taxpayer in the name of Planting for Food and Jobs that never saw the dawn of the day? You see, Moody's Analytics, Bloomberg, or even IMF itself or the World Bank at large, may sometimes not be far from facts of what they report for two reasons. One, they normally consider the not spartan lifestyles of the economic managers themselves and their immediate family members and friends in arriving at certain outrageous conclusions regarding countries' living standards. And as any mad man can also tell, majority of those at the helm of affairs in countries they govern dwell in different universes with first class living standards compared to those they claim to be serving. Unfortunately, the International Community always look at what these "food is ready" economic managers possess as material wealth in their lives then go ahead to generalize the living conditions of all other citizens including those who survive on only GH 1.00 a day in the same country with the leaders. The second prism through which global economic raters and predictors rely on to coming out with their very unfair analysis of countries' economic achievements is by depending on what these countries' governments' propaganda machineries have claimed to have accomplished. Don't you see that President Akufo Addo was rated as the best President in Africa due to his vision as a leader yet he couldn't simply envision the Double-Track system in introducing Free High School education? He couldn't envision the collapse of the private sector that used to be more vibrant than the public sector education. He couldn't envision how to continue with the program. He couldn't envision where it's leading. In short, President Akufo Addo is a visionary leader who sees only what to be done sustainability is not part of the equation. Getting to the finish line and what it entails, have never been a vision. This is myopic as a matter of fact. What's interesting is that the International Community always acts on the face value of reports from Africa regarding what a certain President of Africa or elsewhere is purported to have done or about to do. How shall it be done is not their portion in God's name. They go ahead and report it. But this is Africa where the possible is impossible and the impossible is possible! So, the International Community, according to the body language of the government of Ghana and what it claims to have achieved is what they are reporting. But in actual fact, Ghana is under the influence of economic opium forced on it by the current government, and by virtue of that Ghana does not feel the "pain" or "pressure" or "trauma" that she used to experience. As a result, the International Community is reporting to the world Ghana's achievement of relieving her economic pain. Little did the International Community know Ghana is under the influence of economic painkillers! Haha. Little did the International Community realize that President Akufo Addo and his "able" Vice president have conveniently stolen Peter to pay Paul in their management of the economy? They have made Ghana a drunkard and an addictive to economic drugs and painkillers to relieve her of her economic ordeal and agony momentarily and the International Community is bizarrely popping champagne corks for this. As we all know, a man who takes alcohol to get rid of his trouble only compounds it when the effect of the beer disappears from his system. It is not commonsensical on the part of any car mechanic to make the horns of a car louder because he could not fix the brakes to paraphrase Steven Wright. Such a momentary panacea is more dangerous than fake contraceptives! Therefore, fellow Ghanaians, you and I are aware that the NPP government has metaphorically applied for medicine on unwashed and unclean "wounds" that have been nicely dressed. Very soon the laceration would gap more. Should we fall for this capital folly? Should we accept these commendations from the ignorant International Community that is praise-singing His Excellency Vice President Bawumias economic growth theory of the better growth of the economy, the hungrier and poorer Ghanaians become? I think we must be good citizens enough to expose this dangerous lies by the NPP. An economic growth that impoverishes the citizens is like the man who has claimed to have caught the frog by its tail for a frog has no tail! Long Live Ghana, God Bleed Us All. The Writer, Iddrisu Abdul Hakeem, is a MasterCard Foundation Scholar (National Service Person) @ Kwame Nkrumah University Science and Technology, Department of Religious Studies. CONTACT: 0261669954 (WhatsApp Only) Prime Minister Scott Morrison has re-cast the government's efforts to deal with climate change as protection of the budget bottom line as it prepares for a hit to the nation's finances from the summer's bushfires and the outbreak of the coronavirus. With new research showing the coronavirus will hurt the Australian economy through to the middle of the decade, Mr Morrison said there could be a financial bonus from spending on efforts to adapt and become more resilient to climate change. The government, which has forecast the first budget surplus since 2007-08, has earmarked $500 million this financial year to dealing with the fallout from the bushfires. There are already signs the fires have hit parts of the economy with the key December retail sales figures expected to show a fall in consumer expenditure. Scott Morrison has re-cast spending on climate change mitigation as a way to protect the budget bottom line. Credit:AAP Mr Morrison, addressing the National Press Club on Wednesday, said the nation's economic fundamentals remained solid despite ongoing global uncertainty in areas from technological change to environmental challenges. A Harris County judge, ruling in a case involving the sex trafficking of a 16-year-old girl, temporarily blocked a privacy tool released with much fanfare by Facebook on Tuesday. A Houston attorney, Annie McAdams, won a temporary restraining order against the the social network after what McAdams described as a contentious hearing before State District Judge Tanya Garrison in the 334th District Court. The order, which affects tens of millions Facebook users in the United States, halts the the rollout of its Off-Facebook Activity tool, which lets users disconnect data from their accounts that was collected from their actions on other websites and apps. That data is partly what enables personalized ads on Facebook, and has caused some people to believe Facebook is listening to conversations via users smartphones. The case, Jane Doe vs. Facebook, involves an anonymous plaintiff who claims she was lured into sex trafficking via Facebook. The suit was originally filed in October 2018, and an initial temporary restraining order was issued in August 2019 when the plaintiff argued that the tool could cause evidence in the case to be changed or deleted. Facebook CEO and co-founder Mark Zuckerberg promised the tool in 2018, the result of changes in the way company handles user information in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, which involved a third parties using personal data in ways that violated Facebooks rules. The original TRO delayed the release in the United States, although the tool has been available for a while in a handful of other countries. Facebook has 240 million users in the United States and Canada. HOW TO: Lock down or delete your Facebook account McAdams said Facebooks attorneys have not provided data from the account of the man who lured her client, although they have said the information was preserved. That is what is so alarming, McAdams said. We asked for this evidence, and there has been no objection to providing it. They have not provided it. The lawsuit alleges the man groomed the girl on Facebook, then convinced her to come to a meeting where she was sexually assaulted by seven men. In response to Tuesdays order, a Facebook spokesperson provided a statement: This order is entirely without basis and undermines everyone on Facebooks ability to control their data online. The spokesperson said Facebook will appeal the ruling. The U.S. release of the tool, which was announced in a blog post under Zuckerbergs byline, was timed for Data Privacy Day, an annual event sponsored by the National Cyber Security Alliance. The blog post said the tool will be available for about 2 billion users. Facebook had 2.45 billion users globally in the third quarter of 2019. The temporary restraining order expired after 14 days, and this one has the same time limit, McAdams said. A hearing on the TRO will be held on Feb. 7 before State District Judge Steven Kirkland. Release Notes: Get Dwight Silvermans weekly tech newsletter in your inbox each Monday Off-Facebook Activity lets users control whether data collected as the result of using websites and third-party apps is pulled into Facebook and associated with their accounts. The feature lets them disconnect all such activity from their accounts, but it does not necessarily delete the data. Users can also prevent such activity from being collected in the future, either in general or per site or app. The new feature is buried in privacy settings of the desktop and mobile versions of Facebook Facebook works with online advertising networks that place ads on websites and in apps. Those networks include code that can identify Facebook users and track their activity. The actions they take are then pulled into Facebook and used to help personalize ads and may even determine stories that are shown in a users news feed. The data also may affect the ads you see in sites away from Facebook. For example, if you shop for a car on an automaker's website, you may start seeing ads in your news feed for cars. These ads may also follow you as you use the web or third-party apps. On a web page describing the new tool, Facebook says doing this wont prevent users from seeing ads, but that the ads that you will see may be less personalized to you. Among the things the tool lets users do: See a list of sites and apps that have funneled activity data to Facebook, and prevent them from doing so in the future. Disconnect past off-Facebook data associated with a users account. The data itself is not deleted, however. View and control the information Facebook has collected based on category. Download the information generated by your activity both on and off Facebook. The latter two items have been available on Facebook for a while, but are now included on the Off-Facebook Activity page. The tool is available on the web version of Facebook at facebook.com/off_facebook_activity/. On the mobile app, click the three-bar menu icon, then Settings & Privacy > Privacy Shortcuts. Scroll down to Your Facebook Information and tap View or clear your off-Facebook activity. dwight.silverman@chron.com twitter.com/dsilverman houstonchronicle.com/techburger The global gas glut continues to grow worse, with LNG prices recently dropping to a 10-year low. LNG prices in Asia recently fell below $4/MMBtu, down 40 percent from a year earlier. Prices in NW Europe (TTF) are down by nearly 50 percent, and Europe has record-high inventories for this time of year. Mild weather in Asia, Europe and the U.S. have led to seasonally weak demand, with China in particular proving to be a disappointment to exporters. But a wave of new terminals coming online in the last year has also led to a huge increase in supply, dragging down prices. That means that major markets will exit the winter season with plenty of inventory, which will likely prevent a price rebound. TTF prices (LNG in NW Europe) for summer delivery are trading at around $3.50/MMBtu. Some analysts think LNG prices could fall below $3 by the summer. Importantly, should mild weather or stronger than expected LNG deliveries in NW Europe continue to the point that they would add another 2 Bcm to storagethe market would have to move lower to look for the next lever of adjustment, arguably the curtailment of US LNG exports, Goldman Sachs said in a report on January 27. At current US gas forward prices, we estimate this would be tested with TTF and JKM moving $0.60/mmBtu and $0.80/mmBtu lower from here, the bank said, referring to LNG prices in NW Europe (TTF) and in Asia (JKM). Related: How Reliable Are The Big 3 Oil Forecasters? In other words, if mild temperatures persist, and the glut grows worse, U.S. LNG exporters not under contract may be priced out. The caveat is that some of the LNG trade occurs under rigid contracts. But even as some companies have shipments secured under contract, Goldman said that U.S. exporters would likely be the most affected by another decline in prices. [W]e do not expect other LNG producers to balance the market by curtailing supply. This is consistent with our estimate that US liquefaction facilities face the highest variable cost among LNG exporters given that US gas needs to be bought from the grid as opposed to just getting lifted from the ground, the bank said. To be sure, Goldman Sachs said that this remains a low-probability event, and it would require LNG prices to fall by another $0.60/MMBtu. But it points to how depressed the market has become. Such an occurrence would have ripple effects. If LNG exporters were forced to curtail shipments, that would mean that less gas would be leaving the U.S., which would drag down U.S. natural gas prices further. Further, we note that the resulting decline in US LNG exports would likely pressure NYMEX gas lower still, effectively triggering a race to the bottom, Goldman analysts wrote. This highlights how integrated the global gas glut is with the domestic surplus in the United States. Henry Hub is already below $2/MMBtu, at price levels where most gas drillers cannot make any money. Related: The Three Countries Vying For Ultimate Power In The Middle East The CEO of EQT, the largest gas producer in the country, said late last year that gas selling at $2.50/MMBtu was too low for anyone to make money, which means they are really hurting with gas at $1.90/MMBtu. EQTs credit rating was recently downgraded into junk territory, and its share price has plunged by 40 percent in just the last month alone. Goldman said that in its low-probability scenario of the global gas glut affecting U.S. LNG exports, it would result in Nymex gas prices falling as low as $1.50-$1.90/MMBtu. Another side effect of this gas glut is that the coal industry will continue to get hammered, which would follow a bruising year in 2019. With all of this said, the investment bank said that the bearish cycle might end in 2021. Lower production in Europe and in the U.S., along with higher LNG purchases, would help tighten up the market. But it wont exactly result in a significant rally. Goldman forecasts JKM prices in the winter of 2020/2021 at $5.80/MMBtu, and summer 2021 prices at $5.50/MMBtu. By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.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 Haiti - FLASH : Haiti becomes a member of the Lima Group against the regime of Nicolas Maduro "Following the request of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Haiti [Bocchit Edmond] and a letter from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru, Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, in his capacity as coordinator [of the Lima Group], Haiti has been officially accepted as a member of the Lima Group," confirmed the Peruvian Government. Haiti joins the Lima Group to join efforts to reach a peaceful, democratic and constitutional solution in Venezuela, led by the Venezuelans themselves, through free, fair and transparent general elections. A Latin American diplomat in Washington explained on the Voice of America in a telephone interview that "the entry of Haiti adds one more vote to the countries against the regime of Nicolas Maduro." Note that the Lima Group was created on August 8, 2017 in Peru is composed of 14 member countries, in order to find a peaceful and negotiated solution to the situation in Venezuela. The member countries of the Lima Group are: Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Venezuela and now Haiti, bringing the number of member countries to 15. Recall that last September, the Lima Group declared that its member countries "rejected the repeated and successive blockages of the illegitimate and dictatorial regime of Nicolas Maduro in the negotiation processes with the democratic forces and the National Assembly of Venezuela, in order to achieve to a political exit from the serious crisis in this country, by the holding of free, fair and transparent general elections, under international observation." The members of the Lima Group of countries reiterated "their support for the President in charge Juan Guaido and the National Assembly, as legitimate and democratically elected authorities, and stressed their desire to achieve a peaceful exit led by the Venezuelans themselves. They remain committed to working closely with the international community and urge other countries to join efforts to achieve this goal." See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-28733-haiti-flash-12-countries-whose-haiti-invokes-the-treaty-tiar-against-the-regime-of-nicolas-maduro.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26642-haiti-venezuela-nicolas-maduro-threat-of-reprisals-the-countries-of-the-lima-group.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26627-haiti-flash-haiti-votes-against-the-legitimacy-of-the-regime-of-president-nicolas-maduro.html SL/ HaitiLibre Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 29) A policeman was killed while three others were wounded when a convoy carrying a high-ranking police official was ambushed in Talakag, Bukidnon early Wednesday. Gunmen shot at the vehicle of PBGen Joselito Salido, deputy chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police-Eastern Mindanao. He was on his way to inspect provincial mobile forces in Bukidnon. A police report said Salido survived the shooting. Salido and members of the Operational Readiness and Performance Accounting team were on board two white vans traversing Kilometer 26 road in Baragay Tikalaan-Dominorog. A member of the Regional Mobilie Force Battalion-Northern Mindanao, however, was killed and three others were wounded. A report by PCol Roel Leyaley Lami-ing, Philippine National Police (PNP) provincial director, stated that the New People's Army was behind the ambush. The fatality was identified as Corporal Rowel Sumaylo. The wounded police escorts include Captain Ramil Gighe, Corporal Jerwin Genilla, and Senior Master Sergeant Giovannie Malinab. They were brought to the Bukidnon Medical Hospital. Philippine National Police (PNP) Spokesman Brigadier General Bernard Banac said Salido's convoy was on its way back to the PNP Region 10 Camp in Cagayan de Oro City when the ambush happened. Hot pursuit operation against the unknown armed group is ongoing. "Wala pang matukoy na pagkakakilanlan pero may initial na pinaghihinalaang communist-terrorists [We have not identified the assailants yet, but our hunch is these are communist-terrorists]," he said. In a statement on Wednesday, Banac extended the condolences to Sumaylo's family, and said that ground and air personnel of the military and police have been deployed to arrest "a group of communist CPP-NPA terrorists believed responsible for the ambush." CNN Philippines stringer Alwen Saliring contributed to this report. Cancer treatment is lagging in Britain because NHS watchdogs take too long to approve some of the best new drugs, experts have warned. An increasing numbers of medicines have been licensed since 2000 to target new mutations in cancer. But some are taking more than 20 years to reach NHS patients because regulators are 'too risk adverse', The Institute of Cancer Research said. It compared how quickly innovative and 'exciting' drugs go through approval with those considered more standard. The most innovative cancer drugs took more than three years longer from filing the patent through to NHS patients. Experts said strict regulations are robbing patients of drugs that had the potential to 'transform' their lives. Cancer treatment with some of the best new drugs is lagging in Britain because NHS watchdogs take too long to approve them, experts have warned Study leader Professor Paul Workman, Chief Executive of The Institute of Cancer Research, said the study demonstrated that drug regulation was not keeping pace with advances in science. He said: 'It is taking longer for new drugs to reach patients and, alarmingly, the delays are longest for the most exciting, innovative treatments, with the greatest potential to transform the lives of patients. 'At the moment the whole ecosystem for drug discovery and development involving regulators, researchers and companies is too risk averse.' There are around 363,000 new cases of cancer in the UK each year, with a further 1.8million in the US. Cancer can evolve and become resistant, making targeted cancer treatments that were initially effective of less use. Innovative new treatments are needed as a result, and are invaluable if it means someone with resistant forms of the disease can be given more time. In England and Wales, new drugs must pass through clinical trials and authorisation, and be approved as cost-effective for use on the NHS by the watchdog National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). WHAT WAS IN THE ICR'S MANIFESTO TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO DRUGS? Last year, the Institute of Cancer Research published a ten-point manifesto called for NICE, the body which approves drugs in the UK, to prioritise genuinely innovative cancer treatments which attack cancer in brand new ways. It said drug regulators need to be more flexible in assessing evidence, so that new treatments can reach patients as quickly as possible. And it called for radical action to bring down the high prices of modern cancer drugs - such as tying prices to the benefits that treatments deliver, so that as many patients as possible can benefit from research advances. The manifesto also warned there is very little drug discovery research for children's cancer and that there are far too few clinical trials limiting access to the latest life-saving or life-extending treatments. There needs to be more flexibility on the age limits for clinical trials to avoid denying older children and young adults access to new treatments simply because they are judged too young or old. Advertisement But Professor Workman and his team warned that the UK's entire system for drug discovery and development is too cautious. In the study, which was published in the journal Drug Discovery Today, the researchers looked at drugs licensed by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) from 2000 until 2016. They assigned each drug one of three categories of innovation high, medium or low. The highly innovative category included drugs which worked in a different way to previous drugs, or those which targeted a different aspect of a cancer than previously. The researchers found the most innovative drugs took 14.3 years to become available on the NHS, compared with 13.5 years for medium-innovation drugs and 11.1 years for the least innovative treatments. Some of the most innovative drugs took more than 20 years to reach patients. Mifamurtide, which is used to treat osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, took 20 years to be approved by NICE after being patented. And trabectedin, under the brand name Yondelis for the treatment of soft tissue carcinoma, took 22 years to go through the approval process. More recently, a drug used to treat breast cancer, olaparib, also called by its brand name Lynparza, is waiting to be approved since it was authorised by the EMA last April. It's already available in the US. The findings also show the time it took between a patent being filed to availability on the NHS increased between 2000 and 2016. Drugs first patented from 2000-2008 took 12.8 years to reach patients. This rose to 14 years for drugs first licensed between 2009 and 2016. More positively, Professor Workman and his colleagues found that the rate of drugs licensed by the EMA has doubled, increasing from an average of six per year from 2000-08, to 13.5 per year from 2009-16. There were large numbers of EMA authorisations for certain cancers, such as skin and breast, but none for others, such as brain and oesophageal cancer, which have 'very high unmet need'. The team wrote: 'We found that the more highly innovative drugs did not progress faster through development. 'In fact, we observed that the higher the level of innovation assigned to a drug, the longer on average it took to move from patent priority date to NICE final appraisal determination.' They added: 'Of concern, in view of the need for drugs that work in new ways, our findings suggest that the system for NICE appraisal has not given priority to approving the most innovative cancer medicines.' Some of the blame lies with EMA, because much of the delay occurred between the start of a phase I trial and the treatment being approved by the EMA. It took 8.9 years for the most innovative drugs compared with 6.8 for the least innovative. The researchers found that NICE had made improvements - the time between the treatment being approved by the EMA and NICE starting its technology appraisals had reduced. However, the data showed it was not getting any faster at carrying out the appraisals. The body was also less likely to approve drugs regarded as highly innovative, with just 38.4 per cent being approved. Drugs in the middle tier of innovation saw a 53.3 per cent approval rate, while 40.1 per cent of the lowest tier drugs were approved. The researchers called for the regulations governing clinical trials and licensing to be loosened and they also hope that drug companies are given stronger incentives to produce the most exciting drugs. They also suggest that the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and EMA should adapt their approaches to regulation to make it easier to bring treatments to patients. Professor Workman said: 'Our study details the major progress being made against cancer, with the average number of drugs being licensed each year more than doubling over the last decade. 'But it also makes clear that our regulatory systems are not keeping pace with advances in the science.' The ICR's report comes after the body warned last year that warned that cancer drugs are not reaching patients who need them. One in six people diagnosed with cancer have faced problems getting the drugs recommended by their doctors, according to their earlier findings, which were reported in April. They found that NHS rationing, red tape and hold-ups mean 16 per cent of patients have either faced delays getting cancer treatments or been denied them altogether, polling by the organisation has found. They published a ten-point manifesto calling for action to improve drug access. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 20:38:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Keren Setton JERUSALEM, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Experts say that the Middle East peace plan announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday will not achieve peace. The Palestinians dismissed the U.S. peace plan even before it was published, which outlines a future Palestinian state, without territorial continuity. For Israel, the U.S. plan presents many sweet offerings, including recognizing Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem as its capital. "The plan is extremely one-sided and doesn't take Palestinian interests into account at all," said Eran Ezion, former deputy head of Israel's National Security Council. "This is why it cannot even be used by the Palestinians as the basis for negotiations." "What we saw is exactly the opposite of how a peace plan should be presented," said Nimrod Goren, head of the Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies. The decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict has seen countless initiatives and proposals, attempts and failures. The last time the two sides sat at a negotiating table was in 2014. Since then, the two sides have not talked peace and engaged in several violent exchanges. The Palestinians have boycotted the U.S. administration since it announced the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital in 2017. Israeli media reported that Netanyahu is expected to bring the annexation of the Jordan valley and West Bank settlements for cabinet approval in the coming days. The United States will recognize that annexation against the more common position held by the majority of the international community that considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal. "There will be real damage if Israel takes such steps that decrease the chances of peace in the future," Goren said. "If the status-quo is changed by Israel, this will trigger a response." According to experts, both Trump and Netanyahu announced the plan in order to mobilize support ahead of the next U.S. presidential elections and Israeli parliamentary elections. Trump and Netanyahu also wanted to use the announcement of the plan to save themselves as Trump faces the risk of isolation by the U.S. congress, while Netanyahu is accused of corruption in Israel, the experts said. Anti-China sentiment won't help contain virus People at home and across the globe are increasingly becoming afraid of the rapid spread of a new coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China. It is natural for them to have anxiety about the epidemic. However, it is regrettable to see fake news and disinformation about the virus circulating through the internet and social media. It is wrong to stoke anti-China sentiment just because the country is the source of the virus outbreak. A majority of South Koreans have so far shown a measured reaction to the highly contagious virus. Such a reaction certainly reflects the World Health Organization's evaluation that the outbreak is not yet a global emergency, although it is an emergency for China. We don't have to be gripped by panic. South Korea still reported a relatively low number of confirmed cases only four. Yet the country should take proactive and pre-emptive measures to prevent the further spread of the pneumonia-like illness. Nevertheless, there are growing signs of phobia not only about the pandemic, but also about China and its people. A case in point is a civil petition on the website of the presidential office which calls for a ban on the entry of all Chinese travelers into Korea. More than 577,000 people have signed the petition over the past seven days. Their worries about the virus are understandable. But they seem to have gone too far in making such a demand. In theory the country can close its border to block the influx of Chinese people as a pre-emptive step. But in reality it is difficult to impose such a measure at this point, considering international relations and global human rights norms which respect the flow of human and material exchanges between countries. Of course, it could be possible to enforce a partial entry ban on residents of a specific city, i.e. Wuhan, as part of the fight against the spreading illness. But even in that case, there should be sufficient reasons and careful reviews to avoid any unnecessary controversy. That is why Rep. Lee In-young, the floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), has urged the people to refrain from inflaming hatred about Chinese. He said, "A friend in need is a friend in deed." His saying was seen as stressing the importance of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in bringing the outbreak under control. In this regard, we have to caution against anti-China sentiment that might arise among South Koreans here. Aversion to Chinese people and their exclusion could make matters worse. Such negative feelings are feared to make Chinese residents or travelers hesitate to report possible symptoms of the virus to the health authorities. Some internet users were found to have circulated unfounded stories or urban myths about the Wuhan coronavirus. Others have reportedly spread video footage that contained bad information or disinformation. Fake news about the epidemic will not help the country and its people win the battle against the virus. It will only help the illness make its way into our lives as fast as it can. To root out fake news and disinformation, the authorities should provide correct information about the disease in a timely and transparent manner. George Calombaris was embroiled in a scandal last year after underpaying his staff. And on Wednesday, the former MasterChef judge suffered a rather embarrassing gaffe while raising money for the Australian bushfires. Taking to Instagram, the 41-year-old celebrity chef shared a post promoting the car dealership Remunerator. Scroll down for video Did you spot it? Former MasterChef judge George Calombaris suffered a rather embarrassing gaffe on Wednesday while promoting the car dealership Remunerator on Instagram Remuneration means to pay somebody for a service, a detail seemingly lost on George. Despite the blunder, his promotional post was for a good cause, with Remunerator donating $250 from each order to The Salvation Army to help those affected by the bushfires. In July 2019, George was fined $200,000 and his hospitality company, MAdE Establishment, forced to pay back $7.8million to 500 staff who had been underpaid between 2011 and 2017. Whoops! Remuneration means to pay somebody for a service, a detail seemingly lost on George when he decided to promote Remunerator.com.au To make matters worse, his former MasterChef co-stars, Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan, were later announced as hosts of Channel Seven's new cooking series Plate of Origin - but George didn't make the lineup. In the last seven months, the restaurateur has rebranded four of his popular venues. Despite removing his name from the restaurants, which are led by new chefs, they are still owned by MAdE Establishment. Scandal: In July 2019, George was fined $200,000 and his hospitality company, MAdE Establishment, forced to pay back $7.8million to 500 staff who had been underpaid between 2011 and 2017 In November, he announced the closure of the Brunswick East branch of Hellenic Republic. This leaves him with just three of his Greek restaurants still in operation. George gave a tearful interview with the ABC after the underpayment scandal broke, pleading with customers to stand by his businesses. A bad look? In the last seven months, George has rebranded four of his popular restaurants 'I love the people that have worked for me and I don't want them to suffer right now,' he said. 'Great restaurants are voted by bums on seats and obviously... don't punish my people. 'Just know that when you come into one of our restaurants, know when you pay the bill, that those... my people, are getting paid and paid correctly.' He missed his flight, spending 12 hours in solitary confinement followed by three days in a safe house with guards and was ultimately barred from leaving Iran for seven weeks. But for most of the time, he was allowed to stay in a hotel and was afforded an opportunity to experience more of the country than most visiting journalists get to see. Thank you all for the prayers and support! As I lay in surgery and grappled with the likelihood of losing my sight, I thought of all the things I should have done with it. One of those things, which, thanks to Gods mercy, I will do now is write a short letter to @edmnangagwa, Ndiweni tweeted. Among those with higher genetic knowledge, at-home ancestry tests may decrease beliefs in racial essentialism--the idea that race is purely genetic and determines innate abilities--while increasing such beliefs among people with low genetic knowledge. Wendy Roth of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on January 29, 2020. Genetic racial essentialism holds that genes determine races and associated innate abilities, and is associated with extreme forms of racism. Social science rejects essentialism, holding that race is socially constructed. However, the recent rise of at-home genetic ancestry tests has raised the question of whether the tests might promote essentialist views of race or reinforce that race is socially constructed. Roth and colleagues have now conducted the first randomized controlled trial to address this question. They randomly assigned 802 white Americans to receive at-home genetic ancestry testing or no testing at all, and evaluated the participants' pre- and post-testing views on connections between genetics and race. The researchers found that genetic ancestry testing had no significant average impact on beliefs about essentialism. However, among test takers with high genetic knowledge, racial essentialist views decreased after testing. Meanwhile, essentialist views increased among test takers with the least genetic knowledge. The findings suggest that people's understanding of genetics may influence the impact of ancestry testing and polarize test takers' views on racial essentialism. Further research could help confirm these findings and investigate whether boosting genetic knowledge among people who take at-home ancestry tests could decrease their essentialist beliefs. Wroth adds: "A lot of scholars have worried that taking genetic ancestry tests might make people believe in an essentialist view of race - a view that race is determined entirely by our genes and that races are genetically better or worse at different kinds of things, and that is associated with racist attitudes. The paper shows that overall, taking genetic ancestry tests doesn't change people's belief in racial essentialism on average, but it suggests that their understanding of genetics before they take the test really matters. For people in our study who had the highest knowledge of genetics, their belief in racial essentialism went down after taking a test; but for people with the lowest knowledge of genetics, their belief in racial essentialism went up. I hope that this study helps people realize that it's important to understand the genetics behind these tests before you take them." ### In your coverage please use this URL to provide access to the freely available article in PLOS ONE: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0227399 Citation: Roth WD, Yaylac? ?, Jaffe K, Richardson L (2020) Do genetic ancestry tests increase racial essentialism? Findings from a randomized controlled trial. PLoS ONE 15(1): e0227399. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227399 Funding: This research was funded by grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (#435- 2014-0467; WR), the Canada Foundation for Innovation (#23744; WR), and a UBC Killam Faculty Research Fellowship (WR). Kaitlyn Jaffe is supported by a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and by the University of British Columbia Public Scholars Initiative. Lindsey Richardson is supported by a Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholar award and Canadian Institutes of Health Research New Investigator (MSH 217672) and Foundation (FDN-154320) awards." The funders and Family Tree DNA had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Contact: Emese M. Bordy, emese.bordy@uct.ac.za, Ph.: +27 71 816 3246 Press-only preview: https://plos.io/2TM0nSf Ensuring this emerging industry brings unprecedented economic and social benefits to our communities has been at the heart of our efforts since day one, Lightfoot said in a statement. By working hand-in-hand with city and state officials, community advocates, and industry partners and providing residents with the resources they need to succeed, we can empower those interested in becoming the next employee, business owner or investor in Chicagos newest industry." A group of British academics who were cited by Russia to accuse humanitarian organisations in Syria of staging war crimes has sparked 'serious concern' among diplomats. The Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media (WGSPM) were praised as 'recognised experts and reputable scientists' at the United Nations Security Council by a senior Russian official last week who cited their work while claiming an alleged chemical weapons attack in 2018 did not take place. Another Russian official tweeted a link to the group's work that accused the humanitarian White Helmets group of being 'actively involved' in killing civilians to frame the Syrian government. The group have in the past been accused of 'whitewashing war crimes' and 'unwittingly and naively acting as agents of propaganda for the Russians, or actively support[ing] Russian disinformation', Huffington Post reported, citing Leila Shami, a British Syrian author, who made the claim in 2018. Roughly 40 people were said to have been killed in a chemical weapons strike in Douma in April 2018 - and the WGSPM sought to prove it was staged by the White Helmets in order to justify missile strikes against Bashar al-Assad's Syrian government. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) concluded that a chemical attack did occur, with a report finding that chlorine gas was released from two canisters dropped from the air. US cruise missile is launched in retaliation to a suspected chemical attack by Bashar al-Assad Now, an unnamed European diplomat told HuffPost UK: 'There is wide and serious concern about the extent to which academics in the WGSPM appear to be pursuing issues which so closely overlay with Russian lies and propaganda, particularly on the use of chemical weapons in Syria. 'Russia appears to be using these academics to amplify and bolster their own disinformation, particularly to undermine the OPCW and divert attention from their own activities. 'It is unclear whether these academics are unwittingly and naively acting as agents of propaganda for the Russians or they actively support Russian misinformation. 'Either way, it is difficult to see how their involvement with WGSPM is compatible with having any official role in academia.' Academics in the WGSPM include Professor David Miller of the University of Bristol, professors Tim Hayward and Paul McKeigue from the University of Edinburgh and Dr Tara McCormack of the University of Leicester. Piers Robinson, who used to teach at Sheffield University but left last year following reports he supported 9/11 conspiracy theories, established the group in 2017. Robinson said that his decision to leave had been based on professional goals and personal circumstances, and he had not been criticised or pressured to leave by the university due to his research or public statements. Last week he tweeted: 'It is indeed very likely the victims at Douma were murdered captives. As such a potential warcrime and one that is being covered up by @opcw management, western governments and most of the mainstream media. But the truth is coming out.' Piers Robinson tweeted: 'It is indeed very likely the victims at Douma were murdered captives. As such a potential warcrime and one that is being covered up by @opcw management, western governments and most of the mainstream media. But the truth is coming out' Robinson, who used to teach at Sheffield University but left last year following reports he supported 9/11 conspiracy theories, established the WGSPM in 2017 Brookings Institute senior fellow Shadi Hamid said the academics in the group did not know enough about the Middle East to discern what and is not real, blasting their scepticism as 'bonkers'. The WGSPM have published papers suggesting western governments were responsible for the Skripal poisoning. Eliot Higgins from Belingcat said the theory that the Douma attack was staged by the White Helmets does not have evidence to support it, calling the academics 'useful idiots'. The WGSPM argue that in a separate attack in 2017 Syrian jets could not have carried out the strike due to its location, suggesting that the White Helmets had been involved in 'managing a massacre'. Kristyan Benedict, Amnesty International UK's Syria campaign manager, said that trying to discrediting the White Helmets was also partly about discrediting 'war crimes evidence'. White Helmets search for survivors following reported government airstrike on the rebel-held neighbourhood of Tishrin, on the northeastern outskirts of Damascus, on February 22, 2017 But in December last year Peter Hitchens revealed in the Mail on Sunday that the global chemical weapons watchdog faced renewed questions after fresh details emerged about how it suppressed the findings of its own inspectors who raised serious doubts about the Douma incident. The paper reported that a senior official at the Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) demanded the removal of all traces of a document which undermined claims that gas cylinders had been dropped from the air a key element of the evidence that the Syrian regime was responsible. Unconfirmed reports and videos showing the bodies of adults and children foaming at the mouth in Douma, a rebel-held Damascus suburb, shocked the world in April 2018, and a week later, without waiting for proof that chemical weapons had been used, Britain, France and the US launched a retaliatory missile strike, the biggest Western military action of the eight-year war. It was reported that it was only after the blitz that a team of OPCW inspectors non-political scientists were able to visit Douma to investigate the attack, later detailing their conclusions in a report. Earlier last year The Mail on Sunday revealed details of a leaked email whose authenticity has since been verified by the OPCW which protested that the scientists original interim report had been censored to change its meaning. Fernando Arias, Director-General of the OPCW, insisted that he stands by the independent, professional conclusions of the organisations final report which was released in March. This image released early Sunday, April 8, 2018 by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, shows a child receiving oxygen through respirators following an alleged poison gas attack in the rebel-held town of Douma But the newspaper obtained the teams original, uncensored interim report which differs sharply from all later versions, including the March document. That final report claimed there were reasonable grounds that chlorine gas was used in Douma, but an OPCW whistleblower said only tiny quantities of chlorine were detected in forms possible to find in any household. The original interim report also mentioned for the first time doubts about the origin of the cylinders, saying: The FFM [Fact-Finding Mission] team is unable to provide satisfactory explanations for the relatively moderate damage to the cylinders allegedly dropped from an unknown height, compared to the destruction caused to the rebar-reinforced roofs. In the case of Location 4 [one of two sites where a cylinder was found], how the cylinder ended up on the bed, given the point at which it allegedly penetrated the room, remains unclear. The report called for further studies to clarify the point. Dr McCormack has told MailOnline: 'It is an intriguing approach to journalism when an important story such as the OPCW leaks is not the object of investigation but instead there is an attempt to discredit a handful of academics who have argued against British foreign policy narratives. 'This is a big story, it has been discussed now by Peter Hitchens, who actually interviewed in person one of the whistle blowers as you will know, Jonathan Steel, Robert Fisk, Jose Bustani , Richard Falk, La Republica, questions have been raised in the Dutch Parliament. 'In America, Tucker Carlson (not usually known for being a Russian agent), Tulsi Gabbard and others. 'It is a great shame that post Chilcot, some of our journalists have not taken on board the crucial importance of holding our Government to account when it comes to foreign policy.' Rome's newly-restored Palazzo Bonaparte hosts an exhibition of seldom seen Impressionist paintings. There is something almost private (rather than "secret") about this exhibition, titled Impressionisti segreti. It is a small and intimate show. The paintings come from minor and private collections rather than state museums. Furthermore, the restoration of this small and perfectly proportioned Roman palace has been so beautifully achieved that when you walk into the first floor rooms you feel that this is how it might have been when Letizia Ramolino Bonaparte and her brother lived there from soon after Napoleon's death until her own demise in 1836. Of course the paintings now hanging in the six or seven small rooms in Palazzo Bonaparte would have seemed outrageous to Napoleon's mother; none of the usual grandiose, historical scenes, battle victories, classical myths or pompous political portraits. Even the view over Piazza Venezia would have been different. Instead of the massive Vittorio Emanuele monument there would have been the Ara Coeli church that now nestles behind it and a clutter of houses and winding streets leading off to the grass-covered ruins of the Forum and Colosseum. Changing views If it is difficult to remember how much the view from the famous green balcony has changed, it is no less difficult to appreciate how startling these Impressionist paintings would have seemed when they first appeared in Paris in the 1860s. Outdoor, real-life and colourful scenes, so common now, were unheard of then. Men working in the fields, instead of soldiers marching to war, children playing with their toys and reading books instead of putti or classical gods fluttering overhead. Trees, rivers, fields and very ordinary farm houses, even industrial buildings, who would have wanted these? The new subject matter, as well as the new ideas about mixing colour and putting paint on canvas, led inevitably to a whole range of new buyers, new collectors, new dealers, new galleries, all outside the old academic, salon and patronage networks. The 51 paintings in this exhibition are divided into three themes: landscapes, portraits and Paris life. There is an informality about them, which is precisely what made them so shocking when they first hit Paris. Most of them feel as though they were painted for the sheer pleasure of painting rather than with an eye to a commission or possible patron. There are paintings of friends and of friends' children. Renoir paints the two daughters of Martial Caillebotte (the younger brother of painter Gustave) surrounded by children's books. Achille Lauge paints his wife in Dinanzi alla Finestra looking down at an object on a table by the window; both figures in this austere painting are engrossed in household chores. Manet paints Berthe Morisot with a veil, a seemingly unfinished version of several other portraits he painted of his sister-in-law. In Davanti alla Psiche, Morisot paints the back of a half-dressed woman, pinning up her hair as she looks into a mirror. Both the lone woman from the back (and her featureless face in the mirror) coupled with the intimacy of her task were new departures. Thanks to sensitive hanging there is an equally expressive back in the same room. In Gustave Caillebotte's Interno, donna alla finestra, the back of a woman dressed in black dominates the composition as she gazes out of the window at a chunky building opposite, where a shadowy figure stands at a window. Her husband, seated and reading a newspaper, seems indifferent, even bored, by her presence. A tense anguish hangs over the narrative. Italian Impressionism Another interesting juxtaposition is that of Renoir's Testa di Donna next to Sul Divano [see article's cover image] by Federico Zandomeneghi, the only Italian in the show. Renoir's young woman has a wearisome look in her eyes and her mouth is parted but not in a smile. As the catalogue suggests, this could have been a study for Renoir's Le Bagnanti in Philadelphia (rather than the one in Paris) but the face lacks the feeling in Zandomeneghi's work next to it. Here the expression on the face of the younger woman in profile is intriguing. Is she listening to the older woman perhaps her mother whom we see only from the back with interest, curiosity, indecision, perhaps even scepticism? Pins aux environs de Cagnes (1910) by Pierre Auguste Renoir. Perez Simon Collection, Mexico. Instead of the usual fare of Monet water lilies, cathedrals or watery views of Venice, this exhibition shows the lesser known Meli in fiori in riva all'acqua, a gnarled and crooked tree trunk with staccato blobs of cream paint for the apple blossoms. It is as powerful as Monet's water lilies are serene, and although it is only small (73 x 60 cm) it has such a commanding presence that it seems much larger. Monet's Isle of Nettles is also somewhat unsettling, looming large as it does in its violet-blue mist on the opposite bank of the Seine. Two portraits by Renoir remind us of what painters know but often resent: that portrait commissions are always a sure way to pay off debts and repay favours. Madame Joseph Durand-Ruel presides over the room where her portrait hangs. She was the daughter-in-law of Paul Durand-Ruel, Renoir's friend and the most successful of all Impressionist collectors and gallerists. She may be sitting comfortably in a day dress rather than evening finery, but there is nothing ordinary about her splendid diamond and emerald ring or the floral decoration in the background. This portrait is hung next to an earlier one by Renoir, of the wife of another of the Impressionist patron-collector-gallery owners, Josse Bernheim-Dauberville, an early version of the more famous one of the wife of the other brother, Gaston, which hangs in the Musee d'Orsay. Some of the landscapes in this exhibition seem almost routine today: pretty sea views, river scenes and rolling landscapes. Two vertical scenes by Pissarro stand out. One, I Tetti della Vecchia Rouen, Sole, is a scene of the roof-tops of the Normandy city, probably a winter scene, judging by the light. The other is of a line of spindly trees just beginning to turn to autumn colouring. I grandi faggi a Varengeville was one of eight Pissarro painted near Dieppe in 1899, most of which were bought by Durand-Ruel, and is in the Mexican Perez Simon collection, the largest single named lender of paintings to this show. Devant la psyche (1890) by Berthe Morisot. Fondation Pierre Giannada. Photo Michael Darbellay. One landscape by Renoir, Pini nel Dintorno a Cagnes, is particularly intriguing. It is a late work from 1910, painted a few years after Renoir bought a property in Cagnes sur Mer, close to Nice. In addition to the strong Mediterranean colouring there are echoes of Van Gogh in those undulating olives in the middle distance. In Gaugin's Pescatori Bretoni, the languid river fishermen seem a far cry from the exotic figures of his later Tahiti period. Caillebotte's La Piana di Gennevilliers, which stretches to the far horizon, is cut into mustard-green and rose-brown rectangles, set on the diagonal, crossed horizontally in the foreground by the Seine and an improbably small steamer. Take a leap of the imagination and you are into Abstraction. Women Impressionists Sadly, the women Impressionists, other than Morisot, do not have their due share in this exhibition. There is only one painting by Manet's pupil Eva Gonzales, Indolenza, of a rather wistful young girl (Eva's younger sister Jeanne) looking into the distance. But there is no work by that other great French Impressionist, Marie Bracquemond, or by the American Mary Cassatt. Cassatt was born in Pennsylvania, studied at the highly-regarded Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts and subsequently went to live in Paris. Her friendship there with the collector Paul Durant-Ruel, combined with what must have been a flair for business, was responsible for launching the success of the Impressionists in the USA, where new money was chasing European culture. What a scoop it would have been the viewers to see her sulky and undignified Little Girl in a Blue Armchair (in which Degas had a hand) together with Morisot's Girl with a Doll (dressed in black, no less) and Renoir's painting of the two beautifully behaved daughters of Martial Cailleboit in this jewel of an exhibition. Review by Mary Wilsey The exhibition is open until 6 March. It is curated by Marianne Mathieu, the artistic director of the Monet Marmottan Museum in Paris, who also curated the successful Monet show in Rome in 2017-2018, and by Claire Durand-Ruel, expert on Pissarro and a descendant of collector Paul Durand-Ruel. There are also works by Henri-Edmond Cross, Armand Guillaumin, Paul Signac, Alfred Sisley and Theo van Rysselberghe. Palazzo Bonaparte is owned by Italy's insurance giant Generali Italia and the exhibition is organised by Arthemisia. For visiting details see website. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 00:30:30|Editor: yan Video Player Close BERLIN, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The heads of state of Germany and Israel came together in the German Bundestag (federal parliament) on Wednesday to jointly commemorate the victims of Nazism . The ceremony marked the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp on Jan. 27, 1945. In Auschwitz alone, at least 1.1 million people, mostly Jews, had been murdered. Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that "the lessons of our history can and must be part of how all Germans see themselves, because responsibility in the here and now is something we all bear." Europe is being "visited by ghosts from the past," warned the President of the State of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, stressing that the fight against anti-Semitism must be pursued persistently, generation after generation. "Anti-Semitism and racism still exist in Germany, in many facets," said Bundestag President Wolfgang Schaeuble. He called for a strong and consistently acting state and a courageous civil society to fight anti-Semitism. Every year, the German Bundestag commemorates the victims of Nazism and the World War II in which at least 55 million people died. Throughout Europe, around 6 million Jews fell victim to the Holocaust and Nazi persecution. CALGARY - Alberta's education minister is endorsing a panel report that recommends school children learn all views about climate change along with the value of the province's oil and gas sector. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/1/2020 (713 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A empty classroom is pictured at McGee Secondary school in Vancouver on September 5, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward CALGARY - Alberta's education minister is endorsing a panel report that recommends school children learn all views about climate change along with the value of the province's oil and gas sector. Adriana LaGrange says she is receiving reports from parents of "extremist views" being taught in schools. "There was a particular document that was shown to me recently and I currently have my department exploring in terms of our children being taught that they are the final generation to deal with climate change," LaGrange said. "Climate change is real, but we do want that presented to our children in a balanced way." Asked how climate change would be taught in a balanced way, LaGrange replied: "We would be looking for research, evidence-based knowledge to be transferred to our students, and that will be included in the curriculum at age-appropriate time periods." LaGrange formed the panel last August to explore ways to improve the kindergarten to Grade 12 curriculum. Its report was released to the public Wednesday. One of the recommendations urges the government to "ensure the social studies curriculum reflects a balance of perspectives with respect to the importance of Alberta's resource-rich economic base in relation to the impact on the economy, families, services and government." Panel member Glenn Feltham said environment and climate change need to be taught, but as part of a broader context that includes Alberta's economy, its history and research being done "in things such as the oilsands to lessen the impact on climate." The report echoes a promise by Alberta's United Conservative government to reframe the terms of what it has called a damaging, one-sided debate on climate and the role of the energy industry. The UCP has set up a $30-million-a-year "war room" to promote the oil and gas sector and to challenge what it deems to be deliberate misinformation on the environmental impact of its bedrock industry. NDP education critic Sarah Hoffman said she favours students being given all the facts and taught to think critically, but added that when LaGrange calls for balance, it usually means subliminal imbalance. Hoffman noted that last spring, LaGrange brought in legislation affecting gay-straight alliances in schools. The minister said the changes were designed to balance the rights of children, parents and schools. Hoffman said the result was a disincentive for children to join the social groups, an accusation LaGrange has rejected. "I do think there are ulterior motives here," said Hoffman. "It's very clear this government has a very significant bias. They are spending $30 million a year on a war room to attack facts." Jason Schilling, head of the Alberta Teachers' Association, said teachers are already performing many of the panel's proposals: teaching literacy and numeracy, and making sure all sides are heard on complex topics. He urged LaGrange to contact his organization if she has concerns about speakers in schools or how climate change is being taught, "as opposed to making comments like this in the media. I think it inflames situations." The panel's report made multiple recommendations on how to transform the curriculum, including standardized literacy and numeracy tests in Grades 1 through 5 to catch and correct any learning difficulties. Its members are also urging a focus on basic learning on a foundation of numeracy and literacy. They further say students need to be exposed to future job and career opportunities outside the classroom, and input from employers should be part of curriculum development. Members of the public are invited to review the recommendations in an online survey until Feb. 24. An extensive curriculum review began in 2016 under the former NDP government. It involved all grades at a cost of $64 million. That review was to be completed in stages, but the NDP lost the April election and the UCP put the NDP's revised plan for kindergarten to Grade 4 on hold. The NDP also focused on numeracy and literacy. Feltham said while there are elements worth keeping from it, it could be further strengthened to meet the goals of his panel's report. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2020 By Dean Bennett in Edmonton LAGOS, Nigeria There is an axiom of my elders: The earthworm says it used to own a lot of gold jewelry, but now that it burrows the earth and covers itself in mud, no one believes it. As a Nigerian, Im reminded of that whenever I encounter some of the exquisite objects looted from Benin City, in southern Nigeria, in Western museums. I always feel a strong urge to tell others around me that these works belong to my country, but I know they would doubt me because a revered Western institution claims them as its own. These artworks, recognized as masterpieces but sometimes dismissed as primitive, ethnographic or animist, have inspired my art over the years, even in my few encounters with them. If returned to where they belong, these artworks would have a great impact on the future of Nigerian contemporary art. In 2017, when I was preparing for a solo exhibition in London, I visited the British Museum for the first time to see the famed works known as the Benin Bronzes which, despite the name, are not all bronzes and other artifacts that were looted during a devastating lash of desecration in 1897. That year, British troops sacked Benin City, which was then the capital of the Kingdom of Benin, and ousted the ruler, Oba Ovonramwen. An untold number of artworks were seized from the obas palace. Some of these artworks ended up in other countries, but many are now housed at the British Museum and other British institutions. In recent years, it has become clear that some of the soldiers involved in the expedition carried out to punish the kingdom for an earlier encounter that ended in British deaths also kept objects for themselves, leaving a gaping hole in Nigerias art history. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein made comments Tuesday about letting the 'people judge' adding to the uncertainty over impeachment. The longtime lawmaker from San Francisco made the comment just after lawyers for President Trump finished their defense, as Republicans sorted through an internecine fight over whether to allow witness testimony in the impeachment trial. 'Nine months left to go, the people should judge. We are a republic, we are based on the will of the people the people should judge,' Feinstein told reporters Tuesday. 'That was my view and it still is my view.' 'The people should judge,' said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who later clarified her comments and said Donald Trump withheld 'foreign assistance for personal political gain' Feinstein immediately moved to clarify the comment. Even if Feinstein were to vote to acquit, it would not likely change the outcome. There is not evidence impeachment backers are anywhere near the two-thirds needed to remove a president. Feinstein, 86, said what changed her opinion as the trial went on was realizing 'impeachment isn't about one offense. It's really about the character and ability and physical and mental fitness of the individual to serve the people, not themselves.' Asked about voting to acquit, she said: 'We're not finished.' After the Los Angeles Times reported the comments under a headline indicating Feinstein was a 'maybe' on acquittal, she tweeted Tuesday evening: 'The LA Times misunderstood what I said today. Before the trial I said I'd keep an open mind. Now that both sides made their cases, it's clear the president's actions were wrong. He withheld vital foreign assistance for personal political gain. That can't be allowed to stand,' she said. Feinstein issued a statement seeking to clarify her comments after an LA Times report Feinstein's comments caused confusion among press members closely watching the impeachment The former Senate Intelligence chair retweeted a comment by an Axios reporter who asked the question of her. 'I think the @LATimes has this story backwards. I was the reporter who asked @SenFeinstein these questions. She told me she was initially going to vote against impeachment 'before this,' the reporter wrote. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is telling members of his conference there aren't currently the votes to block witnesses in the president's impeachment trial as a number of influential Republicans diminished the importance of revelations in John Bolton's book manuscript. McConnell's warning came immediately after Donald Trump's lawyers rested their defense, as party leaders stood firm on the question of keeping out impeachment trial witnesses. His acknowledgement came during a closed-door meeting with senators Tuesday after Trump's lawyers ended their defense, and was reported by the Wall Street Journal. Senate Republicans huddled after Trump's lawyers made their final arguments that the president's conduct wasn't impeachable using only half their allotted time in a chamber the GOP controls with a 53-vote majority. Senate Majority Whip John Thune of South Dakota said Bolton's revelations which prompted a political battle over whether he should be believed don't matter. In this image from video, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks during the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. Later, he told fellow Republicans the votes 'I don't think anything he says changes the facts,' Thune said. 'We're kind of confident' the Trump impeachment trial won't extend beyond Friday, he added. 'The consensus is that we've heard enough and it's time to go to a final judgement,' Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming told The Hill. A small number of Republicans have either expressed potential support for hearing from witnesses, or said they were holding out until the end of the week. McConnell's comments is certain to focus minds and potentially bring more outside pressure from President Trump, who has called the trial a hoax and wants it to end. Senators acknowledge there is no deal yet on how to proceed, after Bolton's revelations prompted a series of potential proposals including deals to pair witnesses for each party, or efforts to subpoena his manuscript without putting the witness himself under oath. But with several key holdouts saying they are still waiting to make up their minds, Senate Majority Mitch McConnell is telling colleagues he doesn't have the votes to dispense with witnesses. Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, told Capitol reporters he won't make up his mind until the Senate spends Wednesday and Thursday taking written questions from senators. 'Then I'll make a decision about whether we need more evidence,' he said. One Democrat, Dianne Feinstein of California, appeared to hedge on whether she wold vote to remove Trump from office, only to issue a clarification via Twitter. Trump's defense team concluded its opening arguments Tuesday by taking a hit at Bolton's upcoming book, claiming it is 'unsourced' and insisting the manuscript of the memoir would not be admissible in the trial. 'What we are involved in here, as we conclude, is perhaps the most solemn of duties under our constitutional framework. The trial of the leader of the free world, and the duly elected president of the United States. It is not a game of leaks and unsourced manuscripts,' attorney Alan Dershowitz said during the final day of the defense's opening arguments against the president's removal. In the shortest day of the Senate impeachment so far, Trump's lawyers closed their opening defense arguing against the articles of impeachment abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The Senate convened at 1:00 p.m. and the defense wrapped less than two hours later, only presenting the closing remarks of their opening arguments. Dershowitz, along with the other all-star team of lawyers, including Ken Starr, Jay Sekulow and Pat Cipollone, asserted that the articles being levied against the president are not actually impeachable offenses according to the Constitution. Former National Security Advisor John Bolton is writing a book, and in a leaked manuscript it was revealed that he detailed a conversation where he said Trump directly linked the freeze in millions of military aid to Ukraine to an investigation into his political rival, Joe Biden, and his son Hunter. Donald Trump's defense team, including White House Counsel Pat Cipollone (right) and the president's personal attorney Jay Sekulow (left) concluded their opening arguments Tuesday against removing Trump. They only spoke for about two hours, marking the shortest day, by far, of the trial since it began last Tuesday Attorney Alan Dershowitz, who is part of Donald Trump's defense team, said John Bolton's forthcoming book is 'unsourced' and would be 'inadmissible' in the trial Ousted National Security Advisor John Bolton is writing a book, set for release in mid-March and senators cited revelations from the upcoming book as reasons they want to hear from him. He detailed a first-hand account of a conversation where he said Trump linked Ukraine aid to an investigation into the Bidens The two-day question period for Trump's impeachment that forces senators to put their queries in writing Now that President Trump's lawyers have rested their defense, the Senate enters two consecutive days of question time where lawyers will spar over questions that senators must submit in writing. The period represents the first opportunity for individual senators to shape the debate, outside of the Capitol hallways where only a fraction of them have been addressing reporters who have been assembled in pens during the impeachment trial. Sen. Mitch McConnell The rules only define how the general outlines of how the action will proceed. There are no limits on the topics that the senators may choose although in practice leadership has the ability to screen and order the questions. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell addressed the outlines of the process for the first time after Trump's lawyers wrapped up their defense Tuesday. 'I remind senators that their questions must be in writing and be submitted to the chief justice. During the question period of the Clinton trial, senators were thoughtful and brief with their questions and the managers and counsel were succinct in their answers. I hope we can follow both of these examples during this time,' said McConnell. Notably, he said he worked out the basics with Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer. The two men did not negotiate over the rules for the trial, which Republicans passed on a party-line vote. Chief Justice John Roberts addressed the Clinton impeachment where 100 senators from both sides had reached agreement on the rules. 'Chief Justice Rehnquist advised counsel, quote: 'Counsel on both sides, that the chair will operate on a rebuttable presumption that each question can be fully and fairly answered in five minutes or less,' Roberts said. 'The transcript indicates that the statement was met with quote laughter, end quote,' he noted. He said the Rehnquist limit 'was a good one and [he] would ask both sides to abide by it.' During the Senate's Clinton trial in 1999, then majority leader Trent Lott of Mississippi described how he and minority leader Tom Daschle would work to divide time evenly between the two parties. Lott took the prerogative to deliver the first question, which a Senate staffer delivered then to Roberts. 'Senator Daschle and I will try to make sure that the time stays pretty even as we go through the day,' said Lott. He said Rehnquist would make sure that 'deliberations and the answers are fair' indicating the chief justice had a role in seeing how the debate went forward. McConnell said there would be second eight-hour session on Thursday, as laid out in the rules. Advertisement Dershowitz claimed the information detailed in the book would not be admissible, attempting to deter Democrats for subpoenaing a copy of the unpublished manuscript. 'The vice president's chief of staff issued a statement,' Dershowitz said, then quoted: 'In every conversation with the president and the vice president, in preparation for our trip to Poland,' remember that was the trip that was being planned for the meeting with President Zelensky 'the president consistently expresses frustration that the United States was bearing the lion's share of responsibility for aid to Ukraine and that European nations weren't doing their part. The president also expressed concerns about corruption in Ukraine, and at no time did I hear him tie Ukraine aid to investigations into the Biden family or Burisma.' 'That was the response,' Dershowitz continued. 'Responding to an unpublished manuscript that may be, some reporters have an idea of what it maybe says. That is what the evidence if you want to call that evidence, I don't know what you would call it. I would call it inadmissible, but that's what it is.' 'To argue that the president is not acting in our national interest and is violating his oath of office which the managers have put forward is wrong based on the facts in the way the Constitution designed,' he continued. Immediately following the conclusion of opening arguments Tuesday, the seven Democratic impeachment managers, who presented the prosecution last week, held a press conference on the House side of the Capitol. Schiff called the ending to the defense 'abrupt' and said Trump's team of lawyers were still shaken up from the revelations in Bolton's book. 'I want to begin this afternoon with a few observations on the rather abrupt end to the president's case. It's clear today, I think, that they are still reeling from the revelation of John Bolton's book and what he has to say,' leade impeachment manager Adam Schiff said. H added that Bolton's testimony would be 'relevant' to the case. He also referenced that Trump's former Chief of Staff John Kelly came out Tuesday claiming he believed Bolton's account of his interaction with the president. 'As I'm sure you've seen, the president's own former chief of staff, General Kelly, has stated that he believes John Bolton, and more importantly and that is extraordinary in and of itself, that the president's own former chief of staff believes John Bolton, and by implication does not believe the President of the United States that he worked closely with for such a long time. But more importantly he also recognizes the importance of calling John Bolton as a witness,' Schiff said. The next step following the conclusion of opening statements if that the Senate will spend the next two days on the questioning period, including a resolution on whether to allow the defense and prosecution to call new witnesses to testify in the trial. The president's defense presented a case against the articles abuse of power and obstruction of Congress claiming they are not actually impeachable offenses, according to the Constitution. Trump's legal team opened up an all-out attack on Hunter Biden, former Vice President Joe Biden's son, on the second day of its defense Monday, unleashing White House advisor Pam Bondi to accuse him of cashing in on his powerful father. 'We would prefer not to be talking about this,' Bondi said of the Bidens in the trial where primarily the Democrats and prosecution brought up the father-son duo to make the case that Trump held up millions in security aide to Ukraine to get an investigation of his political rival. 'We would prefer not to be discussing this,' the former Florida attorney general continued in her argument on the Senate floor Monday. 'But the House managers have placed this squarely at issue, so we must address it.' She then opened up an attack on Hunter, whose personal struggles have drawn headlines amid disclosures about his work for the Ukrainian energy firm Burisma. Dershowitz, and the rest of the defense team, also argued that the articles abuse of power and obstruction of Congress are not impeachable offenses as outlined by the Constitution Herschmann suggested that it could have been used to impeach Obama then read his version of the first article of impeachment - abuse of power - changing Trump's name for Obama's and the Ukraine aid allegations for what Obama said. Bondi described how Hunter Biden joined the Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma Holdings as a board member even after warning signs about it, and chose not to relinquish his role amid cautions from his business partners. 'Remember, this is just one month after the United Kingdom serious fraud office opened a money laundering case into Burisma, Hunter Biden joins their board,' said Bondi. Democrats argued during their opening last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani had a key role in the events that led to the impeachment inquiry. But the defense pushed back on this claim Monday, insisting that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was only a 'minor player' and a 'distraction' from the real issues at hand the Bidens potential corruption. Jane Raskin, one of Trump's defense lawyers, downplayed Giuliani's role as an unofficial presidential envoy to the Ukraine government, and lauded him as a 'national hero' for his leadership of New York City after 9/11. 'In this trial, in this moment, Mr. Giuliani is just a minor player, that shiny object designed to distract you,' Raskin said on the Senate floor. 'Senators, I urge you most respectfully, do not be distracted.' Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi defended Donald Trump during the sixth day of impeachment proceedings Monday, tearing into Hunter and Joe Biden. 'We would prefer not to be discussing this,' Bondi said of the Bidens. 'But the House managers have placed this squarely at issue, so we must address it' The defense wants to call Joe (left) and Hunter Biden (right) to testify if witnesses are permitted in the Senate impeachment trial claiming their 'corruption' in Ukraine is at the center of the proceedings Giuliani, Democrats charge, engaged in shadow diplomacy in Ukraine, including corresponding with President Volodymyr Zelensky to open an investigation into Hunter's role at Burisma. The defense also found itself having to address Monday a bombshell report that emerged over the weekend revealing Trump's former National Security Advisor John Bolton details in a new book his first-hand account of the president linking Ukraine military aid to a probe into the Bidens. Alan Dershowitz, a liberal Democrat lawyer brought on to engage in opening arguments against Trump's removal, told senators in a prime-time law lecture Monday that Bolton's revelations about a quid pro quo 'even if true' must not be used to remove Trump from office. Despite the defense's dismissal of the revelations that emerged from the leaked Bolton manuscript, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer suggested the upcoming book just helps the prosecution's case in demanding new witnesses. 'The New York Times reported on several stunning chapters from Ambassador Bolton's book,' Schumer said during a press conference Tuesday morning. 'The same New York Times story places Mick Mulvaney at the center of this plot. He's more important, probably, than Bolton. And the emails from Duffey and Blair the two other witnesses we seek are even more relevant as this information comes out,' Schumer continued. 'So I understand why Leader McConnell and President Trump wanted a very short, incredibly rushed trial: because they longer it goes on, the more likely that new evidence, and more new evidence will comes out that further implicates the president,' he told reporters at the Capitol. Democrats in the Senate want to hear from witnesses they say are relevant: Bolton, acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, his senior advisor Robert Blair and associate director of the Office of Management and Budget's National Security Program, Michael Duffey. Blair was in the room when Trump held the infamous July 25 phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart and Duffey was given authority by the White House to freeze millions in military aid to the Eastern European nation. Dershowitz, a Harvard law professor and former O.J. Simpson attorney, made the impassioned plea as the headliner at Monday's impeachment trial, appearing after numerous other Trump lawyers at the end of the second-day of Trump's defense. He revisited his controversial argument that 'Abuse of Power' does not constitute an impeachable offense, telling senators that the Founders specifically rejected such vague terms when hashing out the Constitution in Philadelphia. Dershowitz said Monday that even if the allegations in the book were true, they could not be used to remove the president READ THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST DONALD TRUMP In 1,414 words, the articles of impeachment passed by the House of Representatives lay out two charges against President Donald Trump. Article I: Abuse of Power Using the powers of his high office, President Trump solicited the interference of a foreign government, Ukraine, in the 2020 United States Presidential election. He did so through a scheme or course of conduct that included soliciting the Government of Ukraine to publicly announce investigations that would benefit his reelection, harm the election prospects of a political opponent, and influence the 2020 United States Presidential election to his advantage. President Trump also sought to pressure the Government of Ukraine to take these steps by conditioning official United States Government acts of significant value to Ukraine on its public announcement of the investigations. President Trump engaged in this scheme or course of conduct for corrupt purposes in pursuit of personal political benefit. In so doing, President Trump used the powers of the Presidency in a manner that compromised the national security of the United States and undermined the integrity of the United States democratic process.' Article II: Obstruction of Congress As part of this impeachment inquiry, the Committees undertaking the investigation served subpoenas seeking documents and testimony deemed vital to the inquiry from various Executive Branch agencies and offices, and current and former officials. In response, without lawful cause or excuse, President Trump directed Executive Branch agencies, offices, and officials not to comply with those subpoenas. President Trump thus interposed the powers of the Presidency against the lawful subpoenas of the House of Representatives, and assumed to himself functions and judgments necessary to the exercise of the 'sole Power of Impeachment' vested by the Constitution in the House of Representatives. In the history of the Republic, no President has ever ordered the complete defiance of an impeachment inquiry or sought to obstruct and impede so comprehensively the ability of the House of Representatives to investigate 'high Crimes and Misdemeanors.'' This abuse of office served to cover up the President's own repeated misconduct and to seize and control the power of impeachment -- and thus to nullify a vital constitutional safeguard vested solely in the House of Representatives. Advertisement He counted it among the 'vague, open-ended, and subjective terms that the framers feared and rejected.' 'Nothing in the Bolton revelations, even if true, would rise to the level of an abuse of power or an impeachable offense,' said Dershowitz, who has been a strong defender of the president's on Fox news and in other venues. 'If a president, any president, were to have done what the [New York] Times reported about the contact of the Bolton manuscript, that would not constitute and impeachable offense,' Dershowitz intoned. 'It is inconceivable that the framers would have intended so politically loaded and promiscuously deployed a term as abuse of power to be weaponized as a tool of impeachment,' he said. At one point he turned to opposing Democratic lawyers, and said: 'I'm sorry, House managers, you just picked the wrong criteria. You picked the most dangerous possible criteria to serve as a precedent for with you we supervise future presidents.' After dissing the language they chose for the name of the articles, he acknowledged that they were not 'saved' by the inclusion of 'somewhat more specific but still non criminal-type conduct.' Among the disclosures reported about from the Bolton manuscript is that Trump told him in August 2019 that he wouldn't release millions in frozen military aid to Ukraine unless it publicly announced it was investigating the Bidens. Democratic impeachment members have repeatedly alleged the episode as part of their case for abuse of power, and demanded the Senate hear from Bolton as a witness under oath. Trump's team resumed its efforts to blast the case against him and defend the president's interactions with Ukraine with Independent Counsel Ken Starr taking making the case that impeachment is invoked 'all too frequently.' Starr, who led the impeachment case in the same chamber in 1999, bemoaned the arrival of an 'age of impeachment' without sufficient justification. 'Like war, impeachment is hell. Or at least, presidential impeachment is hell,' said Starr. Starr began his remarks hours after bombshell revelations in a new book manuscript claimed the president personally tied millions in military aide to Biden investigations. Starr began his remarks not by pointing to fights over Trump's July 25 call with the president of Ukraine or the murky way a whistleblower came to light but with a history lesson that referenced the Nixon impeachment, Iran Contra, and other partisan clashes then went back to the British parliament of the 19th Century. 'Instead of a once in a century phenomenon, which it had been, presidential impeachment has become a weapon,' he said. Democrats included an 'Obstruction of Congress' article after the administration refused to provide documents or make witnesses available for the impeachment inquiry in the House. Republicans senators are saying it's increasingly likely there will be witnesses called in Donald Trump 's impeachment trial in the wake of revelations from John Bolton's forth coming book. 'Like war, impeachment is hell,' former Independent Counsel Ken Starr told senators as a member of President Donald Trump's impeachment defense LEGAL SHOWDOWN AT THE CAPITOL: Trump impeachment attorney Kenneth Starr arrives at the U.S. Capitol on the sixth day of the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, in Washington, DC, Monday, January 27, 2020 Ken Starr, an attorney for President Donald Trump, speaks during the impeachment trial against Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 27, 2020 Mitt Romney and Susan Collins said it's increasingly likely witnesses will be called in Donald Trump's impeachment trial JOHN BOLTON'S KEY REVELATIONS John Bolton makes a series of bombshell claims in his book, according to the part of the manuscript seen by the New York Times. They are: Trump told Bolton in August 2019 that he would not release military aid to the Ukraine until they investigated the Bidens and claims of trying to intervene in 2016 in favor of Hillary Clinton Mike Pompeo privately admitted that Rudy Giuliani's claims Marie Yovanovitch were corrupt were baseless - and that he suspected they were being made to help other Giuliani clients Bolton warned White House lawyers that he feared Giuliani was using his work with the president to help his private clients Mick Mulvaney, the acting chief of staff, was present at least once when Trump and Giuliani discussed Yovanovitch. Mulvaney has told 'associates' he stepped away from such conversations Pompeo told Bill Barr that he was mentioned in the July call with Zelensky. The Justice Department claims Barr did not know until mid-August Trump railed about Ukraine trying to 'damage' him in May 2019 when he met Ron Johnson, a Republican senator who was going to Zelensky's inauguration. And Trump also mentioned the conspiracy theory that Ukraine had a hacked Democratic server Bill Barr expressed concerns about Trump doing personal favors for autocrats including China's Xi and Turkey's Erdogan when Bolton raised the issue with him Advertisement Senators Mitt Romney and Susan Collins - two crucial votes in the Democrats' quest to bring more witnesses in the trial - said it's important to hear from the former national security adviser. They also both said they have spoken with their colleagues about the topic, which could be seen as a warning to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell that support is there for such a move. Democrats need four Republican senators to cross to their side and vote to subpoena witnesses. 'It's increasingly apparent that it would be important to hear from John Bolton,' Romney told reporters on Capitol Hill Monday. 'I of course will make a final decision on witnesses after we hear not only from the prosecution but from the defense,' he said. 'I think at this stage it's fair to say John Bolton has a relevant testimony.' Bolton has said he will testify if subpoenaed by the Senate. Some of the president's defenders, however, have charged Bolton with trying to sell a book. Bolton was fired from the White House in September of last year. 'Truly there's nothing new here. It does seem to be an effort to sell books. I think there's going to be a new revelation every day. Today's just one more day,' said Republican Sen. John Barrasso. 'I don't think it changes any fundamental information of the basic case, that the House has to put the case together,' said Sen. Roy Blunt. McConnell has said the Senate will vote on calling witnesses after opening arguments are made. That would set up a vote sometime this week. President Trump denied the charges in Bolton's book The impeachment trial was upended Sunday night when The New York Times reported on a leaked copy of an unpublished manuscript for the new book Bolton is writing. 'The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir,' is scheduled to be published March 17. In it, Bolton wrote that the president told him he wanted to freeze military aid to Ukraine until the Eastern European nation helped with political investigations into his political rivals. Trump has denied the charge. 'I NEVER told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens. In fact, he never complained about this at the time of his very public termination. If John Bolton said this, it was only to sell a book,' he tweeted in response. The president also told reporters at the White House on Monday that he has not seen Bolton's manuscript. Bolton had sent it to the White House for pre-publishing clear, which is required by federal law when former government employees with security clearances are writing about their time in government service in order to assure classified information is not compromised. Sarah Tinsley, an advisor to Bolton, said in a statement: 'The ambassador's manuscript was transmitted to the White House in hard copy several weeks ago for pre-publication review by the NSC. The ambassador has not passed the draft manuscript to anyone else. Period.' Fjord Fish Mitsui Fudosan America, Inc. (MFA) is pleased to announce an exhibition of paintings by Heidi Johnson in the Lobby Gallery at 527 Madison Avenue through April 10, 2020. Located at 54th Street and Madison Avenue, the show is open to the public 9 a.m to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The exhibition is part of 527 Madisons ongoing program that started in January 2014 showcasing noteworthy emerging and mid-career artists. Spearheaded by Keith Purcell, MFA vice president of asset management and leasing, the program is organized by Jay Grimm, MFAs art consultant for the property. To date, 527 Madison Avenue has hosted 17 artists. The exhibition features five of Johnsons paintings, which depict a constructed world where flora and fauna have overwhelmed their environment, seemingly oblivious to what might be considered chaos. An abundance of birds, animals, insects and plants appear to thrive and delight on the detritus of human existence. Johnsons work is inspired by the conceptual template of Dutch Still Life, where disparate species of flora and fauna meet on the same plane and time is compressed. Her paintings speak to our contemporary personal temporality and reflect a culture overrun by excess and saturation. The works play with the space between the unending highly constructed existence of the internet and the very real and immediate space we dwell in. Although obviously farcical, the paintings emit an anxiety with excess that is very familiar. Johnson was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and attended Tufts University and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. She currently lives and works in the Mott Haven area of the Bronx in New York. About 527 Madison Avenue 527 Madison Avenue, located at the corner of 54th Street in New York City, is a boutique commercial office building designed by celebrated architecture firm FXFOWLE. Completed in 1986, it is owned by an affiliate of Mitsui Fudosan America, Inc., which recently invested in significant upgrades including elevator modernization and a new MdeAS-designed lobby. About Mitsui Fudosan America, Inc. Mitsui Fudosan America, Inc. (MFA) is the U.S. subsidiary of Japan's largest real estate company, Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd., a publicly-traded company with approximately $60 billion of assets. MFA is responsible for Mitsui Fudosan's real estate investment and development activities in North America, and is headquartered in New York, with branch offices in Washington D.C., San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Honolulu. MFA has been active in the United States since the 1970s, and currently owns assets in the New York, Washington D.C., Boston, Dallas, Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Honolulu metropolitan areas. MFAs U.S. portfolio includes 5.6 million square feet of office space, 4.7 million square feet of office space under development, 1,300 residential apartments, 5,000 additional rental units under development, 360 condominiums and townhomes under development, and 753 hotel rooms. The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2018 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement British Airways and other international airlines on Wednesday suspended all flights to mainland China after the number of coronavirus cases rose by more than 1,000 in a single day, surpassing the total number of reported cases in the SARS epidemic of 2002-2003. "Following Foreign Office advice against all but essential travel to mainland China we have temporarily suspended our flights to and from Beijing and Shanghai with immediate effect, until Friday 31 January, while we assess the situation," the flag-carrier said in a statement on its website. The announcement came as the number of newly confirmed cases of the Wuhan coronavirus, officially termed nCoV-2019 (Wuhan) by the World Health Organization (WHO), jumped to 6,057 from 4,409 only a day earlier. The virus has killed 132 people to date, with 125 of those deaths in the central Chinese province of Hubei, of which Wuhan is the provincial capital. The Chinese authorities have now shut down all public transportation to 17 cities, leaving more than 50 million people under quarantine. Local governments and groups of residents have also taken it upon themselves to cut local road links between communities throughout Hubei and surrounding provinces, with many hotels refusing accommodation to anyone with a Hubei-based ID card. Video posted to Twitter by one user showed several rows of people in the waiting room of a major hospital hooked up to drips. The person shooting the video said he was doing it surreptitiously while pretending to make a phone call, and that most of the patients had presented with a fever or other symptoms that wouldn't go away after several days, and were worried enough to seek help in a hospital. Elderly at risk A healthcare worker surnamed Zhang at Wuhan's Xiehe Hospital said hospitals in the city are very short of supplies. "Some people can't be helped at all, and the doctors are in a panic because there's just no medicine," Zhang said. "There is no way to treat them: patients are just left on their own." "A lot of older people have underlying disease, such as high blood pressure or coronary heart disease. If they are infected, their immune system just gets destroyed and they die," he said. "Most [of the deaths] are elderly patients." Patients have been taking to China's social media platforms to ask for help. One WeChat user said he had had a fever for 15 days, and that an injection he received from a community clinic hadn't helped. A resident of Wuhan surnamed Hu said her father had been diagnosed with the coronavirus on Jan. 27, but was denied a bed in hospital. The rest of the family were beginning to show symptoms, but the hospital had ignored their calls, she said. Hu said felt as if she and her family were just "waiting to die." A map showing the latest confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (nCoV) in Asia. RFA Hubei residents shunned There are signs that people who fled Hubei ahead of the lockdown are being excluded from social contact or even placed under house arrest by authorities wherever they end up. A video clip seen by RFA showed the front door of a home in Hebei's Langfang city nailed shut with iron bars and a notice in red warning that the occupants were from Hubei, and shouldn't be contacted. "You don't have to isolate people like this," a local resident surnamed Liu. "They are basically shutting them in to die." Authorities in Dandong city in the northeastern province of Liaoning meanwhile shut down all large shopping malls and markets in the city, citing a need for "epidemic prevention and control." Officials in Daozhen county in the southwestern province of Guizhou issued a noticing banning any vehicles from Hubei, Guangdong, Zhejiang and Chongqing from entering the county. Local governments across China have issued notices and warnings calling on residents to be on the lookout for people from Hubei. One notice read: "People who come from Hubei and don't report [to authorities] are walking time bombs." "People who have a fever and don't report it are class enemies of the people," read another notice seen by RFA. Senior officials die In Hubei, high-ranking government official Yang Xiaobo, who headed the Hubei State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC), died of pneumonia two days after taking part in the provincial People's Congress meeting that ended on Jan. 15, sources told RFA. News of his death emerged just three days after the death of another high-ranking provincial official, Wang Xianliang, of pneumonia at Wuhan Central Hospital on Jan. 26. An official of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, which advises the Hubei People's Congress, said many officials have been told to work from home since the epidemic struck the city. "We are on standby at home right now, not at the office," the official said. "The situation is even more serious now ... the possibility remains [that other officials were infected during the congress]." A medical doctor who gave only her surname He said senior officials, if infected, will likely get priority when it comes to potentially life-saving medications. "This will make effective antiviral drugs and immune-promoting globulins less accessible to ordinary people," she said. "Senior officials will use imported globulins and thymosin to improve their immunity." "There are very few globulins available in China; they're not available in hospitals and can only be bought direct from pharmaceutical suppliers," He said. "Ordinary people can't get hold of them. Even I would have to go from pillar to post to get it, and it might not be available even then," she said. An official who answered the phone at a hospital providing healthcare to more than 180 provincial government officials denied that high-ranking officials have access to globulin injections. He said the hospital wasn't currently taking any fever or pneumonia patients because they hadn't been designated as a hospital dealing with the epidemic. Authorities in Hong Kong said there were 56 patients aged 13 months to 88 years old who met the reporting criteria of severe respiratory disease associated with a novel infectious agent as of Wednesday. "Specimens of the patients concerned have been sent ... for testing ... Five patients are in a ... serious condition," the Hospital Authority said in a statement. Foreign residents evacuated BA isn't the only airline to suspend or limit flights to mainland China. Lufthansa, Air India, South Korea's Seoul Air, and Indonesias Lion Air said they would do the same, while Finnair, Cathay Pacific, and Singapore's Jetstar Asia are cutting the number of flights to and from China. Countries also began evacuating foreign nationals from Wuhan on Wednesday. Chartered flights carrying about 200 evacuees each arrived in Japan and the United States. Four passengers on the evacuation flight to Japan had coughs and fevers, and two were diagnosed with pneumonia, the Associated Press reported. But China has refused requests from the democratic island of Taiwan to evacuate its nationals. Taiwans Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) have requested permission to bring home Taiwan passport holders on charter flights, but China's Taiwan Affairs Office has refused the request. Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Ma Xiaoguang said in a statement that Taiwanese in Hubei are being well taken care of, and that there had been no reported infections among them. Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Wong Siu-san and Sing Man for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. BERKELEY (BCN) The Berkeley City Council at its meeting on Tuesday night will consider a proposed change to the city's municipal code that would allow on-site cannabis consumption in lounges at storefront retailers that install a ventilation system. The proposal being considered by the City Council also would legalize up to seven cannabis delivery services in Berkeley, expand the area where cannabis can be commercially grown, and allow warehouses that take phone and internet deliveries. City staff members recommend that the Council allow cannabis consumption at lounges because such cannabis consumption is prohibited in public, in most businesses and in many apartments. In a report to the council, staff members wrote, "Providing a place to consume cannabis legally is important for patients who have no other options." However, the Berkeley Community Health Commission opposes allowing consumption at lounges because of the risk of secondary exposure to cannabis smoke and vapor and the risk of impaired driving. The commission said it believes that public consumption of cannabis would undermine city policies promoting smoke-free air. The commission also opposes prohibiting the sale of flavored smoking and vaping products and flavored cannabis-flavored beverages. Sabrina Fendrick of the Berkeley Patients Group, which was established in 1999 and says it's the nation's oldest cannabis dispensary, said the group is urging supporters to come to the meeting to urge the Council to approve cannabis consumption at lounges. Fendrick said cannabis supporters might assume that the Council will automatically approve the consumption lounge proposal because of Berkeley's history of supporting medical marijuana, but she said there's been a strong push by some community members to oppose the proposal. In an email to its members, the Berkeley Patients Group said banning consumption lounges would "force patients to use cannabis products in public if they don't have the right to consume in their own home." The group said a ban also would "deprive patients, veterans, cancer victims and others of a like-minded community space where they can support and promote their collective healing." The BPG also said banning cannabis vaping would "drive patients to the illicit market, exposing them to untested products that contain pesticides, mold and other harmful contaminants." The City Council meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the Berkeley Unified School District's board room at 1231 Addison St. in Berkeley. 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. 223 Shares Share I write this hoping to appeal to common sense. When are we going to stop putting the cart before the horse? 99 percent of the rhetoric surrounding health care costs centers on a fair way to pay for it, fair reimbursement levels, and who should pay this fair level of payment, when the real issue is the amount being charged in the first place. What exactly is fair? The real central, causal issue is the very high cost of the care. Health care is the only thing I can think of that we buy without knowing what it is going to cost. The delivery system is convoluted and a mystery to the average person. I had 1 MRI. I got a bill for $350 from the person who conducted the MRI. I got a $600 bill from the facility where the machine is located. I got a bill from another doctor who read the MRI for $500, and another bill from a doctor who guided me through my treatment options. They were all great and did great work, and I am grateful for the treatment I received, but where is the accountability for the charges? Can you imagine buying a TV, then getting a bill on your credit card for $50,000? Of course, it would never happen because you know the cost before you buy it. Every transparency bill sent to the MA legislature has been lobbied against by the Medical industry. Is that fair? My dentist wanted me to have two implants. I asked what it would cost. He told me. I told him if he could justify that price, I would do it. I never heard from him again. Lets face it. Fair means more. Where is this additional money going to come from? The answer is it comes from the patient, either in the form of premiums, deductibles, co-pays, and taxes. Yes, taxes. Where do you think the money comes from to pay the subsidies provided by Obamacare, or the various state Medicaid programs? I am in M, and the state budget for FY2019 is $43.1 billion. Mass Health alone is over 40 percent of that budget. Thats $17.24 billion of health care costs paid for by our taxes. Then there is a little thing called Medicare. In 2018, that was $731 billion, your taxes, and the individual payments made by Medicare beneficiaries. So before we start worrying about who should pay the medical bill, shouldnt we be analyzing and requiring justification of the bill itself? Medicine does three basic things: diagnoses the problem, treats the symptoms, and tries to cure the underlying disease. For the last 30 years, we have done nothing but treat the symptoms. Its about time we did some deep diagnosis and start curing of the disease. Medical costs are on a collision course with the U.S.s sustainable economic structure. Unchecked, it will bankrupt this country. Neal Biron is a benefits consultant. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Forty-three years after entering the world of cinema, Rajinikanth is all set to make his television debut on Discovery Channel's programme with British adventurer Bear Grylls, where the superstar will share his thoughts on water conservation. Discovery has signed Rajinikanth to feature in the first episode of a new format series called 'Into The Wild with Bear Grylls'. The show marks the television debut for Rajinikanth, admiringly addressed as Thalaiva, who has gained cult status for being a humane superstar - simple, humble, generously loved - and adored by millions for more than four decades. 'Into The Wild with Bear Grylls' is an innovative new format inspired by 'Man Vs Wild', which is one of the most-watched wilderness survival television series in the world, according to a statement by Discovery. Last year, 'Man Vs Wild with Bear Grylls and PM Modi' episode disrupted the Indian media landscape, establishing itself as the TV event of the year. Beyond Modi, Grylls has also hosted prominent celebrities in the past such as then sitting American President Barack Obama, Kate Winslet, Roger Federer, Julia Roberts and many more. "Into The Wild is a truly unique show - at one level it offers adrenaline-pumping action, while at another, the show lends itself beautifully to driving a specific purpose for the larger good of society. So, when, officials from Discovery approached me, I agreed to finally make my debut on TV after more than four decades of cinema. Kavithalayaa, the iconic production house founded by my guru, K Balachander also played a significant role," Rajinikanth was quoted as saying. "Bear Grylls has tested the survival skills of multiple celebrity guests, pushing them to their limits. I look forward to the survival challenge in the mesmerising wilderness of India," he said. Talking about raising awareness about water conservation, the actor said, "Every Indian will need to come forward and contribute to conserving water. This war has to be led at all levels including government, community as well as on the individual front. I believe this show on Discovery is a perfect platform to take the message of conserving water to every home across the country." On his part, Grylls was all praises for Rajinikanth. "Our team is all very excited to work closely with Thalaiva. Much more than a cine star, Rajinikanth is a phenomenon who has captivated audiences across the world with his on-screen and off-screen work. He has always shown such energy and flair in all he does and he will need that courage and determination again on our journey into the beautiful wilds of India," Grylls said. "The combination of Rajinikanth in a never seen before avatar and Bear Grylls' edge of the seat challenges, will make the show a must-watch for every Indian," said, Megha Tata, Managing Director - South Asia, Discovery. "We have decided to give a layer of purpose to each episode of the newly commissioned series, Into The Wild with Bear Grylls, as we aim to contribute to humanity in our unique way. Last year, the show featuring Prime Minister Modi, generated much-desired attention on conservation of Wildlife; we are confident that the forthcoming episode featuring Rajinikanth will sensitize each one of us about conservation of water," Tata added. 'Into The Wild with Bear Grylls' is produced for Discovery Communications India by The Natural Studios and Banijay Asia, where Grylls, Delbert Shoopman and Deepak Dhar are executive producers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MANCHESTER, N.Y. -- Frank Fox walked away from a New Years Eve party in 1983 and disappeared. Several people offered to give Fox a lift home from the party in the Finger Lakes, the New York State Police said. But Fox did not want a ride, troopers said, and decided to instead take the 1-mile walk back to his home in Manchester, Ontario County. Fox, 22, left the party on Martin Road around 1 a.m. on Jan. 1, 1983, troopers said. He never made it to his home on County Road 7. Fox has been missing for more than 37 years. And on Tuesday, troopers asked the public for help solving the old missing person case. The state police periodically release information about cold cases in an effort to get new information to help them solve the case. After leaving the party, Fox opted to try cutting through fields instead of walking on County Road 7, troopers said. He was reported missing six days later on Jan. 7, 1983. The state police searched the area -- including a few small bodies of water -- but found nothing, troopers said. Fox lived alone, troopers said, and has not been seen since the day he disappeared. All leads have been exhausted, troopers said. When Fox disappeared, the white man was 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighed about 150 pounds. He had brown hair and brown eyes. Troopers have asked anyone with information to call (585)-398-4100. 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. The Inflight Food Trip. One of the world's first airline food documentary series has been released on Amazon Prime. (TRAVPR.COM) UK - January 29th, 2020 - [LONDON, UK, 29 JANUARY 2020) The Inflight Food Trip. One of the world's first airline food documentary series has been released on Amazon Prime. Nik Loukas, the man behind the famed @inflightfeed Instagram account, came up with the idea to create a series of short stories about airline food back in 2015. After some research he teamed up with James Mellor from Rainbow Trout Films; together they created Inflight Food Films. They first travelled to Riga and Tokyo spending time with Air Baltic and Scandinavian airline SAS back in 2016. Their crowdsourcing campaign on Indiegogo was successful, and the filming took place over the next two years, circumnavigating the globe with several airlines. The filming was a challenge because we often found ourselves with limited time at airports, boarding flights and getting all the footage we needed. I love the fact that we cover a variety of airlines from around the world says James from Rainbow Trout Films. I was shocked when we raised funds, and couldn't believe we were given this opportunity thanks to our backers states Nik. The documentary follows Nik around the globe, as he visits airlines and inflight caterers to get the back story on how airline food is created. Together with James, they visited Paris, Vienna, Athens, Riga, New York, Guangzhou, Istanbul and Tokyo. Filming took place between December 2016 and finished in July of 2017. James then went on to film with Professors, Educators and Specialists within the aviation field. Post-production was then completed in Halifax, the UK in December 2019. The stars of the show are the airlines who all present various stories and a unique perspective on food in the air to the viewers. You will discover what planning goes into your meal and get a feel of what its like to mass-produce food that is suitable for the air. Learn some of the science behind the taste of airplane food and see how even the lights can make a difference. The series appeals to audiences who love travel, food and culture and has something for everyone. We give you behind the scenes access to some great airlines and their kitchens. Learn about First Class flight attendant food training with Swiss Airlines in Zurich and get your taste buds going with Air France economy class pre-order upgrade meals. See how SAS creates a fusion of culture between Japan and Denmark with their nominated caterer in Tokyo. Find out how Air Baltic revolutionised your choice of inflight meal, so you get exactly what you want. Did you know that Turkish Airlines creates some of the tastiest inflight meals (even in economy class) Why not take the breakfast challenge with Austrian Airlines or see how the Greek airline Aegean sticks to their roots by creating tasty inflight Greek dishes. And finally zip around the globe with China Southern Airlines as we get to see meals prepared in China, then jet over to New York for a food tasting competition at a famed New York restaurant. The six-part series is now available on Amazon Prime, and its due to launch on other platforms in the coming weeks. UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B083XKGLBP/ref=cm_sw_em_r_pv_wb_doBZ6rHcoOUok US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B083XFCR1T/ref=cm_sw_em_r_pv_wb_3ccLCdAjjDv0X Updates on www.inflightfoodtrip.com *****END OF RELEASE**** ### Bahrain has participated in the urgent meeting on the new coronavirus, hosted here today by the Communicable Diseases Committee at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)s Secretariat-General. The kingdoms delegation included Epidemiology and public Health Consultant and Chief of Disease Control Section at the Public Health Directorate, Dr. Adel Al-Sayyad, and Infectious Diseases Consultant at the Salmaniya Medical Complex, Dr. Jameela Al Salman. The meeting, chaired by Bahrain, discussed the current status of the novel coronavirus, reviewed the protocol of screening passengers arriving from China and highlighted the real need to prevent travel to places where the virus has been detected. The attendees also discussed the treatment protocol that should be applied whenever a case is discovered in one of the GCC states, and the procedures and measures that must be taken in that situation. They also stressed the importance of the role of the media role in such crises, and the methods used to contain them and try not to cause panic among the local citizens. They also reviewed a media plan related to the coverage of the spread of the virus. Requested by the Kingdom of Bahrain, represented by the Ministry of Health, the meeting aimed to coordinate GCC efforts and exchange experiences in the fields of infection control and precautionary and preventive measures in order to unify GCC efforts for the best interests of the citizens and residents of GCC countries. The delegation highlighted the preventive measures taken by the kingdom to ensure the safety of the citizens and residents, citing the health control measures taken at border entry points to avert any outbreak of the disease. They also shed light on the efforts being made to monitor the developments of the disease, and the preparation of leaflets providing guidelines on how to deal with suspected coronavirus cases. Not only the Ukrainian government was concerned about the "modesty" of taxation of the most dynamic sector of the economy. Ten days ago, the new Romanian Prime Minister, Ludovic Orban (he took office less than three months ago) made a statement that the IT employee benefit could be abolished We have a fixed tax rate of 10%. It's not very high, and I dont think the world would end if everyone had to pay. I dont think this is true for 7 million other people who owe to pay income tax, especially since, in my opinion, there are no more reasonable reasons to continue to offer these tax benefits," Orban said. Let me remind you that since 2003, IT specialists in Romania, subject to a number of conditions (such as having a degree in the relevant field), used the zero tax rate on personal income. The above made the Romanian tax regime the most competitive in Europe (along with the Belarusian and Ukrainian). According to the latest data, the sector accounts for 6% of the country's GDP. According to rough estimates, the initiative will affect about 30 000 people (100 000 work in this industry today), despite the fact that their average salary is 1560 euros per month. For Ukraine, it means a window of opportunity for the acquisition of undisputed European leadership in the IT industry, although for this: - firstly, our economic authorities should convincingly abandon any plans and intentions to increase the tax burden on the industry; - secondly, to seriously work to simplify the business environment (reporting, administration and tax payment procedures), including immigration to Ukraine and the employment of foreign citizens; - thirdly, to "adopt" specialists who want to leave for us from the same Romania, and offer (for all of them) similar conditions for taxation of wages. The point is not that we do not have a chance, but that we miss it over and over again (Tibor Fisher). Nutraceuticals major, Sami- Sabinsa Group on Wednesday announced it would set up a manufacturing facility at Pharma SEZ industrial area at Hassan in Karnataka at an investment of Rs 200 crore. The plant's first phase will house a 40,000 square metres Active Nutraceutical Ingredients (ANI) manufacturing unit, with an annual capacity of 300 tons, and it will be functional by 2021, it said in a statement. The Group's Founder & Chairman Muhammed Majeed said the new unit, when operational, will play a pivotal role in boosting the company's exports and help it double its revenues. The first phase, once functional in 2021, will provide employment to around 400 qualified workforce in the fast- growing industrial region of Hassan, he added. The Hassan plant is the group's sixth manufacturing facility, after the ones located in Peenya, Dobaspet, Kunigal, Hyderabad, Nelamangala and the USA. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says the United Nations remains committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis in resolving their conflict on the basis of UN resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements. He says the UN is also committed to realising the vision of two states living side by side in peace and security within recognised borders, on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, according to his spokesman. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the secretary-general saw the announcement of the US plan for the Middle East, which was presented Tuesday by President Donald Trump. READ | UN Secretary-general Antonio Guterres Demands Bigger Climate Action From Countries Trump's plan calls for the creation of a State of Palestine with its capital in east Jerusalem while recognising Israeli sovereignty over major settlement blocs in the West Bank, and was immediately rejected by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. "The position of the United Nations on the two-State solution has been defined, throughout the years, by relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions by which the Secretariat is bound," Dujarric said. Those resolutions call all Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal and call for a solution based on borders before the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, with agreed land swaps. READ | UN Sec Gen Antonio Guterres Appreciates China's Efforts Against Coronavirus READ | UN Sec-General Antonio Guterres Urges For Peace Amid Rising Global Tensions (Alliance News) - Keras Resources PLC on Wednesday said it has raised a total of GBP310,000 through the placing of 206.7 million shares at 0.15 pence per share. The mineral resource company said the proceeds will be used to fast-track infrastructure development at the Nayega manganese project in northern Togo, held through its 85%-owned subsidiary Societe Generale de Mines SA. Following admission of the placing shares, Keras will have around 2.8 billion shares in issue. In a separate statement, the company said it has appointed Shard Capital Partners LLP as a joint broker effective immediately, joining SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP. Shares in London-headquartered Keras were up 3.5% at 0.16 pence each on Wednesday in London. By Ife Taiwo; ifetaiwo@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. SWEET HOME, Ore. A high school student who was taken into custody Tuesday for bringing a loaded handgun to school expressed an intention to shoot one of his classmates, Sweet Home police said. Students at Sweet Home High School and one of their parents told KEZI the gun fell out of his backpack and that's when his classmates noticed it. They notified the teacher and then the suspect fled the classroom. He was pulled into another room by a teacher where he was arrested by police. The school was on lockdown from 9 to 10 a.m. as police searched the campus for any other potential threats. The junior high was under a lockout as a precaution. The teen faces charges of possession of a firearm in a public building, unlawful possession of a firearm and carrying a concealed weapon. Police said he was to be taken to the Linn-Benton Juvenile Detention Center. Police said added security is in place throughout the week. Superintendent Tom Yahraes said every community, no matter how big or small, needs to prepare for an active shooter situation. "Its a sad and somber day," Yahraes said. "What we often read about and see elsewhere on the news hit close to home. We hope the student gets the care they need." The district thanked police for their swift response and said student safety is their top concern. U.S. President Donald Trump's peace plan faced swift criticism after it was announced on Tuesday stateside. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the deal "nonsense," while Jordan's foreign minister rejected the proposed recognition of Israeli settlements. But one analyst told CNBC that America and Israel may have a "window of opportunity" to push this deal through. That's because there are "looming issues" in the Middle East and priorities in the Muslim world appear to have changed, said Ryan Bohl, Middle East and North Africa analyst at Stratfor. "In a certain way, this is a window of opportunity to push through, push past many of the problems that have kept peace plans from working in previous eras," Bohl told CNBC's "Capital Connection" on Wednesday. "There are bigger issues, bigger fish to fry in the Middle East," he said, citing the possibility of a U.S.-Iran war breaking out. "There's also generational changes amongst Arabs throughout the Muslim world who are no longer prioritizing the Palestinian question the way that they once did," he said. "This is a unique opportunity for these two leaders to assert the Israeli and American vision for Israel that sees Israel strengthened and the Palestinians put on the back foot," he added. Michael Bloomberg is gaining some ground in the Democratic presidential field, but in so doing he is complicating his life as the potential nominee against President Trump. His cock-a-hoop support of solar energy is nonsense, and the country wont take much persuading to see that. There may be some hidden metric of rounding up Democratic primary voters by pitching something that creeps toward the Ocasio-CortezSanders Green Terror, but the country doesnt buy into it. Public perception of solar energy hasnt risen much since Ronald Reagan helped sink Jerry Browns campaign for the U.S. Senate from California in 1982 against Pete Wilson by suggesting that he might appear in Washington with a solar panel on his forehead. The country doesnt like pollution, but it doesnt like quack boondoggles either. More problematic was Bloombergs flippant tweet as President Trump addressed the March for Life on January 25, that in doing so Trump insulted all American women (although most of the marchers were women). That issue has evolved also. It is as if Bloomberg, though living in the countrys largest city, was oblivious, as Washington notoriously is, of how most Americans view these questions. All polls now indicate that the percentages of Americans who support abortion in any circumstances, and those who oppose all abortions, are approximately equal, at between 20 and 25 percent, and that those who support the legality of abortions in some cases and not others is between 25 and 30 percent. The rest, about 30 percent, are undecided not uninterested in the issue, only unsure. Bloomberg has chained himself to Roe v. Wade, and a rather shopworn view of this emotive subject, stating that it is an issue of the right of every woman to decide what goes on in her own body. He is still trying to emancipate women from domineering, enthusiastically procreative men, a rather bygone caricature and one that completely ignores what is now generally seen as the larger question, which is: When do the unborn attain to the rights of people? There are champions of every possible answer to that question, from the moment of conception to the moment of live birth at full term, and some Democrats have endorsed live-birth abortion, i.e. infanticide. This is clearly a political suicide mission, as the overwhelming majority of Americans, Bloomberg presumably included, will not approve the murder of newborn children, as if by an edict of King Herod. Story continues What has happened in other countries, such as the United Kingdom, is a compromise based on presenting non-partisan, free-vote measures outlawing and admitting abortions at every stage of pregnancy, with and without allowance for the mothers health and whether the pregnancy resulted from coerced sex. There is extensive debate, with no party constraint; all legislators vote their consciences, and what generally emerges (and did in the U.K.), is acceptability of abortion to the fetal age of five months and for exceptional reasons after that, when most babies, if given the necessary care, can survive normally even if born four months prematurely. It is fine for Bloomberg, if this is what he believes, or even if he doesnt particularly believe it but thinks it is good politics, to oppose the right-to-life organizations because most of their members disapprove of abortion in most or all cases. But to say that the president is affronting American women by attending the march is foolish as an assertion and politically maladroit. It implies that the interests of women the and children they conceive are necessarily opposed and that abortions should be permissible and officially facilitated in all cases and at every stage of pregnancy. A solid majority of Americans oppose that view, outnumbering those who agree with Bloomberg by more than two to one. But whatever the opinions involved, it is, as Hillary Clinton used to say, so yesterday to equate reservations about abortion to hostility to women. This is just mindless 1970s sloganeering. Bloomberg is not well known for his views on national and foreign-policy issues, and he may have to revise his thinking and refine his arguments if he gets into serious contention for the Democratic presidential nomination. The public outside New York (almost 95 percent of the population, a fact that would astonish and dismay many New Yorkers) would probably best remember him for trying to facilitate construction of a mosque adjacent to the ruins of the World Trade Center, for his intervention in New Yorkers eating habits by portraying himself as a fitness buff and requiring display of the calories in various fast foods, and even for banning automobiles from Times Square, which caused a serious disruption of traffic flows. The country also noticed his flip-flop on stop-and-frisk, a successful crime-reduction measure he should not have renounced. Bloomberg has had a remarkable career, and if nominated, he would come in about even with Trump on prior career accomplishments, and well ahead of any previous presidents except those who were decisive in founding the country (Washington, Jefferson, Madison), or led great armies victoriously in just wars (Grant, Eisenhower), and possibly Herbert Hoover for his relief work in Europe during and after World War I. Bloomberg built from scratch a business in which his interest is now valued at about $35 billion, and was one of just four three-term mayors in New York since the consolidation of the boroughs in 1895 (with Fiorello La Guardia, Robert Wagner, and Ed Koch). The city was clearly tiring of him by his third term, when he spent $170 per vote to win a narrow victory over an undistinguished candidate. The mayoralty of New York necessarily requires sharp focus on local issues in an intense political climate, and it doesnt promote a national or global view or national political popularity. Bloomberg generally comes across as a humorless and authoritarian executive not necessarily disqualifying for a president, but sub-optimal for a candidate. Bloomberg worked hard to be secretary of state, first with Jeb Bush and then with Hillary Clinton, undergoing the grace of conversion to the Democrats when Jebs ship sank. In the present race, he is not just a late arrival in the Democratic party but is overtly trying to buy the nomination. He has no followers to start with apart from some in New York and is suffering the problem of all politicians of the last 85 years who have been elected in New York and try to make the jump to Washington. Thomas E. Dewey, a crusading district attorney and governor, was twice an unsuccessful Republican candidate for president; Governors Averill Harriman, Nelson Rockefeller, and George Pataki and Mayor John Lindsay tried for the nomination rather half-heartedly and without success. Hillary famously tried unsuccessfully too. The last New York politician to come up through the offices of that state and on to national office was Franklin D. Roosevelt. Robert Kennedy might have done it, but he was a special case (and a carpetbagger at that), and Bloomberg is no FDR or RFK. He will, if nominated, have only the ragged army of Trump-haters to lead against the fierce and fervent legions of the presidents supporters. Michael Bloomberg is right that the field of Democratic candidates is unimpressive. Sanders is a declared Marxist and Warren an undeclared Marxist who has real problems with the truth. Joe Biden is very unexciting and bedraggled, as well as increasingly scandal-ridden, and former mayor Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind., is not credible. There are scenarios in which Bloomberg, if he runs well in the Super Tuesday states, especially California and Texas, becomes a hot contender. The party establishment has sandbagged Sanders before and will, if necessary, do it again. If Biden fades, Bloomberg could go down to the wire against Klobuchar, but in that case, he will have to seem a more plausible candidate for the whole country and not just another rich New Yorker tossing off glib reflections on ecology, abortion, and other complicated issues. He has a considerable ego (for good reasons) but will not be a quick or easy sell west of the Hudson. He will not easily catch up with the 25 years the incumbent has spent building his brand throughout the country, nor will the Trump record, liberated at last from the mighty Democratic tainting operation, be an easy target to run against. More from National Review Prime Minister Boris Johnson granted Huawei a limited role in Britains 5G mobile network on Tuesday, frustrating a global attempt by the United States to exclude the Chinese telecoms giant from the Wests next-generation communications. Defying Britains closest ally in favour of China on the eve of Brexit, Johnson ruled that high-risk vendors such as Huawei would be allowed into the non-sensitive parts of the 5G network. Whilst such high-risk companies involvement will be capped at 35%, they will be excluded from the sensitive core, where data is processed, and they will be banned from all critical networks and locations such as nuclear sites and military bases. Such an explicit rejection of U.S. concerns that Huawei could be used to steal Western secrets was welcomed by the Chinese firm, founded in 1987 by a former Peoples Liberation Army engineer, but dismayed the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Johnson and Trump spoke by phone shortly after the decision was made public. The Prime Minister underlined the importance of like-minded countries working together to diversify the market and break the dominance of a small number of companies, the British government said in a statement. Speaking before the call, a Trump administration official said: There is no safe option for untrusted vendors to control any part of a 5G network. We look forward to working with the UK on a way forward that results in the exclusion of untrusted vendor components from 5G networks. U.S. congressional leaders widely criticized Britains decision, with powerful Republican Senator Lindsey Graham saying it could greatly complicate drawing up a new trade agreement after Britain exits the European Union on Jan. 31. A British official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said excluding Huawei would have delayed 5G and cost consumers more, echoing warnings from the telecoms industry. 5Gs much faster data speeds and increased capacity will make it the foundation stone of many industries and a driver of economic growth. In what some have compared to the Cold War antagonism with the Soviet Union, the United States is worried that 5G dominance is a milestone towards Chinese technological supremacy that could define the geopolitics of the 21st century. But as a critical centre for Chinese investment, trading and banking in Europe, Britain sided with Beijing, in one of the biggest public breaks with Washington in decades. I fear London has freed itself from Brussels only to cede sovereignty to Beijing, said Senator Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, adding there should be a review of intelligence sharing with Britain. Canada, which has yet to decide whether to allow the use of Huawei 5G technology, said it was studying Britains decision. CHINA VS USA The United States had repeatedly warned London against allowing Huawei into 5G, arguing the distinction between edge and core will blur as data is processed throughout 5G networks, making it difficult to contain any security risks. If Huawei is allowed into any part of your network, it is allowed into every part of your network, said Tim Morrison, who until recently was a senior director at the White Houses National Security Council. Huawei, the worlds biggest producer of telecoms equipment, has said the United States wants to frustrate its growth because no U.S. company could offer the same range of technology at a competitive price. This evidence-based decision will result in a more advanced, more secure and more cost-effective telecoms infrastructure thats fit for the future, Huaweis vice president Victor Zhang told reporters. The only other large-scale telecoms equipment suppliers are Swedens Ericsson and Finlands Nokia . Huawei has invested heavily to achieve market leadership, despite being excluded from U.S. networks. Zhang said it spent $15 billion last year on research. In 2018, it committed to invest 3 billion pounds in Britain, a country Huawei views as a global innovation hub and strategic location, Zhang said. Huawei UK vice president Jeremy Thompson said the 35% cap was pretty much in line with its expectations. We welcome the diversity element and thats what Im sure our customers will be looking for as well, he told reporters. Huawei has around a 35% share of the non-core 4G mobile network in Britain, a government document said last July. INTELLIGENCE Britain said the decision protected national security while delivering world-class connectivity. It said intelligence-sharing, including with the U.S.-led Five Eyes alliance, would not be jeopardized. How we construct our 5G and full fibre public telecoms networks has nothing to do with how we will share classified data, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told lawmakers after a meeting of the UKs National Security Council chaired by Johnson. Intelligence-sharing will not be put at risk... British cyber security officials said they had put special measures in place to mitigate risks. Weve never trusted Huawei and the (measures) you can see exist because we treat them differently to other vendors, Britains National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of the GCHQ signals intelligence agency, said in a technical post. Huaweis equipment is already used by Britains biggest telecoms companies such as BT and Vodafone , but it has been largely deployed at the edge of the network. Sources told Reuters last week that senior British officials had proposed granting Huawei a limited 5G role, a calculated compromise which could be presented to Washington as a tough restriction, while accepted by British operators. Ahmad said any clawback lawsuit would be filed against the special sales tax district set up to help fund the line and the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, which was involved in getting the $25 million grant. Asked by one Bi-State board member on Friday whether his agency had ever tried to claw back grant money previously, Ahmad said we came close once in another part of the country. But after a letter was sent, the parties involved did come around and complete the project, he said. Ahmad didnt identify the location of that project. Krewson was interviewed Wednesday after a meeting of the East-West Gateway Council, which did not discuss the trolley. St. Louis County Executive Sam Page also was asked Wednesday by a reporter if Bi-State should reconsider. I dont have enough information right now to have an opinion on that, he said. He also said that we need to recognize the federal government may want to claw back some of this money and once they describe that process ... well look at this question again. Venture capital and private equity backed firms have helped to create up to 100,000 high level jobs since 2003. This is according to an economic impact study conducted by DCU Business School which was launched in Dublin today. The report finds that since 2016, venture capital portfolio companies have created 5,000 mostly graduate jobs. Over the last fifteen years up to 2018 inclusive, the DCU research finds that portfolio companies have created 25,046 high calibre jobs, of which 7,098 are represented in the current portfolio and 17,948 were in exits since 2003. Irish venture capital and private equity firms have invested 5bn in Irish SMEs since 2003 and, through syndication, have attracted in a further 3bn in funding from international firms. In 2017, activity levels reached an all-time high with 291 funding rounds raising 994m. During the three year period 2016-18, 748 funding rounds have raised 2.6 billion. Compared to the previous study period (2012-2015), this is an increase of over 60% in the number of fundraising rounds and a 115% increase in the amount of capital raised by SMEs. Commenting on the study, Associate Professor in entrepreneurship at DCU Business School and author of the report, Dr Eric Clinton said, "Based on estimates that these companies support up to three additional downstream jobs means that equity funded companies helped to create up to a further 75,000 jobs or 100,000 in total. This may be a conservative estimate of job creation as our study does not include the growth in employment in equity backed firms since they exited the portfolio due to acquisition or IPO." The DCU report also warns that incentives offered to entrepreneurs in other European countries are overtaking those offered in Ireland. Dr Clinton, who lectures 300 students in entrepreneurship in DCU, said that while many students were still attracted to employment in multinational marquee names like Google and Facebook, recent years have seen much greater interest in starting their own businesses. He referred to a 2016 study which found that five years after graduation, more Irish students (27.4%) were interested in starting their own business than working with a large company (18.6%). Dr Clinton says, "At a time when Ireland remains overly dependent on Foreign Direct Investment, it is vital that the Government creates the environment to harness this appetite for entrepreneurship. For example, current capital gains tax rates are a disincentive to younger members taking over a family firm." Source: www.businessworld.ie NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Aesthetic Society has released its 2020 predictions detailing what plastic surgery trends are expected in the coming year. With more than 2,600 board-certified members, The Aesthetic Society members are the most advanced aesthetic plastic surgeons. Insights include specific trends for surgical and non-invasive options, and a forecast that sees a new generation of patients entering the market in earnest. "Our members use the most cutting-edge tools and techniques to improve outcomes and provide the safest care for our patients," says Charles H. Thorne, MD, President of The Aesthetic Society. "2020 promises to be a landmark year for aesthetic plastic surgery with innovations in nonsurgical procedures, refinements in established surgical procedures and a new generation entering the market." 2020 Predictions Return of the Facelift Patients are realizing that injectable treatments enhance but do not replace surgical treatments for the aging face. The most effective, most natural, most long-lasting and overall most cost-effective treatment for facial aging remains a well performed cheek and necklift. The Daddy-Do-Over The Daddy-Do-Over is the male counterpart to the Mommy Makeover and will rise in 2020. More men are embracing aesthetic procedures as a way to boost their confidence and improve their physical appearance. Men will seek combination therapies, such as liposuction for abdominal and chest contouring, paired with a series of magnetic muscle stimulation (MMS) treatments. High-definition abdominal liposculpting (liposuction and body sculpting with fat transfer) will likely continue to rise in popularity. Procedures for gynecomastia (male breast development) have been on the rise over the last decade and will continue to increase. Non-invasive Tech Advances Expect a windfall of innovation among non-invasive and minimally invasive aesthetic treatments. With continued advancements in nonsurgical techniques, plastic surgeons are capable of improving patient outcomes. An expanding arsenal of non-invasive treatments and techniques allows aesthetic plastic surgeons to further individualize and optimize patient care. "Baby Botox" Baby Botox refers to the use of targeted micro injections of a neurotoxin to achieve a more natural, subtle look. Compared to standard-size injections, "baby botox" lowers the risk of your features appearing to be frozen or weaken muscles that can later lead to drooping. 2020 will see an increase of people who want to look their best, not unnatural, or "done". Gen Z Entering the Aesthetic Market Generation Z, people born in the late 1990s and early 2000s grew up as online natives and look to social media for beauty trends, comparing themselves to their online cohorts. More social channels may ban plastic surgery filter apps yet, Gen Z will continue to favor social media to find a plastic surgeon and research aesthetic procedures. Gen Z will seek out aesthetic procedures earlier in life as a preventative measure and in non-surgical ways. About The Aesthetic Society: The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Inc. (The Aesthetic Society) is recognized as the world's leading organization devoted entirely to aesthetic plastic surgery and cosmetic medicine of the face and body. The Aesthetic Society is comprised of more than 2,600 members in North America and internationally; Active Members are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (USA) or by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and have extensive training in the complete spectrum of surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures. International Active Members are certified by equivalent boards of their respective countries. All members worldwide adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and must meet stringent membership requirements. The Aesthetic Society is at the forefront of innovation in aesthetic plastic surgery and cosmetic medicine globally. Follow us on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/ASAPS Facebook: www.facebook.com/AestheticSociety Instagram: www.instagram.com/theaestheticsocietyasaps/ Read the latest news and find a plastic surgeon in your area: http://www.smartbeautyguide.com/select-surgeon The Aesthetic Society www.surgery.org Media contact: [email protected] SOURCE The Aesthetic Society Related Links https://www.surgery.org Questions surfaced Thursday over whether Israel would immediately seek to annex parts of the West Bank, after US President Donald Trump's controversial peace plan called for extending Israeli sovereignty into the area. The plan, seen as overwhelmingly supportive of Israeli goals, has been firmly rejected by the Palestinians and triggered protests in Gaza and the West Bank, including isolated clashes with Israeli forces. Trump's proposal gives the Jewish state a US green light to annex key parts of the occupied West Bank, including in the strategic Jordan Valley. But uncertainty mounted Thursday over Israel's next moves. After Trump unveiled his long-awaited plan in Washington on Tuesday, his ambassador to Israel David Friedman said the Jewish state "does not have to wait at all". Israeli officials said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a staunch Trump ally, would seek cabinet approval on Sunday to annex settlements and territory that would become part of Israel under the US plan. But Jared Kushner -- Trump's adviser and son-in-law, who spearheaded the Middle East initiative -- said that Washington does not want any moves made before Israel's March 2 election. Asked about the timing of any annexations in an interview with Gzero media, Kushner said: "The hope is they will wait until after the election." "We'll start working on the technical stuff now, but I think we'd need an Israeli government in place in order to move forward," he added. Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat on Thursday called the plan "historic madness". He told journalists in Ramallah that president Mahmud Abbas had written to Netanyahu threatening to cut off security coordination if Trump's plan goes ahead. "We've told the Israelis the consequences of such an idea and they know it," he said. The Palestinians have made such threats multiple times before, without following through. - 'Miss of the century' - Netanyahu heads a caretaker government after failing to form a majority in coalition talks following two elections over the past year. Likud is again neck-and-neck in the polls with the centrist Blue and White alliance led by ex-military chief Benny Gantz, and it remains unclear if either bloc will be able to form a government following a new election scheduled for March. The Israeli premier also faces graft charges as he battles for re-election. Netanyahu's office declined to comment on whether the annexation issue was on the agenda for a Sunday cabinet meeting. The international community views Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank as illegal. An attempt to formally place them under Israeli sovereignty would likely trigger further global uproar. Netanyahu was however facing calls from the Israeli right to act. "Whatever will be delayed until after the election won't ever happen. Everyone understands that," Defence Minister Naftali Bennett said Wednesday. "If we delay or diminish applying sovereignty, the opportunity of the century will become the miss of the century." Netanyahu was in Moscow earlier Thursday seeking to broaden international support for Israel's ambitions. Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, who was travelling with him, told army radio that the government wanted to move on annexation "as quickly as possible, in a number of days". Netanyahu again praised Trump's initiative at the start of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Russian leader did not mention the peace plan in his public remarks. But Russian foreign spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told journalists that Moscow had only "begun to study" Trump's 180-page plan, stressing that "the decision on issues of a long-term and fair peace agreement must belong to the Palestinians and Israelis themselves." - Army presence boosted - Israel's army announced Wednesday it was deploying extra troops to the West Bank and around the Gaza Strip ahead of any further Palestinian demonstrations against the Trump plan. An Israeli military official told AFP the deployment aimed "to minimise the risk of a flareup". But protests against the plan have been relatively muted. The Palestinian Red Crescent said a total of 18 people were injured in the West Bank cities of Ramallah and Hebron on Thursday during demonstrations. In Ramallah, Israeli troops fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse demonstrators. According to the Ramallah-based Palestinian Prisoners Club, 33 protesters have been arrested over the last 24 hours. Police said they had decided to boost their forces in and around Jerusalem ahead of Friday Muslim prayers on the volatile Al-Aqsa mosque compound. A top boarding school has been told it will be closed by Government officials unless it sacks Britain's strictest headmaster. Education minsters issued the warning to the 37,500-a-year school after it emerged headteacher Toby Belfield had sent 'flirty' messages to young girls. In a series of texts married Mr Belfield, 47, called the girls 'cute', 'naughty' and discussing one's virginity. Toby Belfield, Principal of Ruthin School, pictured outside the school, in Denbighshire, north Wales Toby Belfield complimented a student's red dress, said he would visit pupils at University, and asked about their sex lives The texts, sent to six different girls according to sources, are thought to have been circulated in north Wales before being passed to officials. Mr Belfield, who is head of Ruthin School in North Wales, told one girl: 'I'll visit you at university to check you are still an angel.' In another message he said: '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.' 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.' 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 private school boasts a string of successful ex-pupils including Beatle John Lennon's son Julian in the 1980s. Principal Mr Belfield was previously dubbed Britain's strictest headmaster when he sent an email to parents saying he was looking to expel students. Toby Belfield is pictured on the left. There is no suggestion that the student pictured alongside him was the recipient of any messages He told parents that too many students were registered as 'sick' when they were just 'tired' and disapproved of relationships between pupils. Kirsty Williams, Welsh Government Education Minister, said the school must take immediate action. She said: 'The Welsh Government has no powers to direct an independent school to dismiss a member of staff. That is the responsibility of the proprietor of the school or where there is a Board of Trustees or Council of Management. 'However, I expect every independent school to act in the best interests of pupils, and to ensure that they meet their legal safeguarding responsibilities. Mr Belfield (pictured) was previously dubbed Britain's strictest headmaster when he sent an email to parents saying he was looking to expel students 'However, in the event that an independent school does not act to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who are pupils at the school in a way that Welsh Government and other bodies think is appropriate, the ultimate sanction would be to remove the school from the register of independent schools. This would mean the school could no longer offer full-time education. 'In considering such action, any Minister would have to reflect carefully on the significant and far-reaching consequences for the school, staff, pupils and community.' A safeguarding report by Care Inspectorate Wales found the school was putting pupils 'at risk of harm'. Now a report has found the school has 'serious shortfalls' where pupils are 'not appropriately safeguarded.' 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 report also found students did not ask for help with their mental health because they were scared of losing a place at university. Married north Wales teacher Toby Belfield (pictured above) struck up a conversation with Cat in 2018 and inundated her with messages for nine months 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. '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'. The school charges 37,500-a-year for full boarding and up to 14,500-a-year for day pupils. In a reversal of a previous ruling, a Commonwealth Court panel on Tuesday decided that 26 Republican state legislators can intervene in a court battle over the constitutionality of Pennsylvanias Abortion Control Act. At issue is not only the 37-year-old act itself, but an attempt by a consortium of abortion providers to secure a ruling that abortion is a fundamental right under the state constitution, President Judge Mary Hannah Leavitt noted in the courts opinion. Leavitts court initially had blocked the 18 Senate Republicans and eight GOP House members from intervening in the legal battle launched last year by the Allegheny Reproductive Health Center, the Allentown and Philadelphia Womens Centers and several Planned Parenthood agencies. The legislators then won leave to argue the matter again. The fight centers on the Abortion Control Acts prohibition against using Medical Assistance funding to pay for abortions. The Allegheny Reproductive plaintiffs claim that discriminates against low-income women who rely on Medical Assistance for health care. Although the state Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the act in 1985, the Allegheny Reproductive plaintiffs claim public attitudes have changed since then, Leavitt noted. They argue that the 1985 decision conflicts with recent development in Pennsylvania law, and is inconsistent with the modern-day understanding that any restriction on a womans reproductive autonomy is a form of sex discrimination, the judge wrote. In agreeing to allow the legislators to become parties to the case on behalf of the defendant the state Department of Human Services Leavitt found that the outcome of the case could affect their power to legislate, and specifically to appropriate government funding. A ruling in favor of Allegheny Reproductive could bar the General Assembly from tying legislative strings to its appropriation of funds for the Medical Assistance program, the judge wrote. The constitutional authority of the members of the General Assembly to control the commonwealths finances constitutes a legally enforceable interest that entitles them to intervene and be heard before the court rules in this matter, she concluded. The senators covered by the courts order are President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati, Majority Leader Jake Corman, Ryan Aument, Michele Brooks, John DiSanto, John Gordner, Scott Hutchinson, Wayne Langerholc, Daniel Laughlin, Scott Martin, Robert Mensch, Michael Regan, Mario Scavello, Patrick Stefano, Judy Ward, Kim Ward and Eugene Yaw. Sen. Michael Folmer, who resigned last year agter being charged with possessing child pornography, had been among those petitioners, but withdrew. House members allowed to intervene in the fight are Speaker Mike Turzai, Majority Leader Bryan Cutler, Appropriations Committee Chair Stan Saylor, Majority Whip Kerry Benninghoff, Majority Caucus Chair Marcy Toepel, Michael Reese, Kurt Masser and Donna Oberlander. 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. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE A hotly contested bill allowing for court-ordered firearm seizures from New Mexicans deemed to pose a threat to themselves or others is one step closer to a decisive Senate floor vote. The Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order Act, also known as the red flag gun bill, passed the Senate Public Affairs Committee on a 4-3 party-line vote Tuesday, with majority Democrats voting in favor and Republicans in opposition. Sen. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, one of the bills sponsors, cited last years shooting rampage in El Paso in which Hispanics were allegedly targeted and New Mexicos high rates of gun deaths and suicide as reasons to enact the legislation. Its time that New Mexico provide a mechanism for law enforcement and family members to protect themselves when individuals announce their intentions to do harm, Cervantes said. However, critics questioned law enforcement agencies ability to store seized guns and said the proposed law could be misused in divorce cases. One life saved is important, but one life destroyed is something we also need to pay attention to, said Sen. Candace Gould, R-Albuquerque. The hearing featured more than two hours of emotional testimony and debate, with supporters and opponents alike sharing heart-wrenching stories about family members who died by suicide or violent crimes. It was held in the Senate chamber, and in a rare move, the roughly 200 people who showed up were screened for weapons on entering, due to past tensions surrounding gun issues at the Roundhouse. This years red flag gun bill, Senate Bill 5, has divided New Mexicos law enforcement ranks. Thirty of the states 33 county sheriffs oppose the measure, while State Police Chief Tim Johnson and top Albuquerque Police Department officials support it. About 20 sheriffs showed up for Tuesdays hearing they were allowed to carry guns in the chamber and argued the legislation would infringe on individuals constitutional rights. San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari, who last year met with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and other bill backers in an attempt to find common ground on the issue, said supporters have failed to heed suggestions from those opposing the bill. It seems to me theyre hellbent on being part of the red flag club, Ferrari told the Journal. He also said extreme risk protection orders could deprive individuals of their due process rights, saying, Criminals would have more rights than those targeted in these civil cases. Under the bill, a relative, household member or law enforcement officer would be able to file a petition in state court for an order to prohibit someone from possessing firearms. If a judge found probable cause that an individual posed a threat to themselves or others, an emergency 15-day order requiring them to relinquish their firearms would be issued. A one-year order could then be imposed after a court hearing. Similar laws have been enacted in 17 states and the District of Columbia. Although the laws differ, many states enacted them in response to mass shootings, such as the February 2018 shooting in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 dead. Red flag laws have survived court challenges in some states, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts. After Tuesdays vote, Cervantes said hes confident the proposed New Mexico law would be upheld as constitutional if challenged but also said it will be amended in the coming days based on feedback from law enforcement officials and others. Now were going to really roll up our sleeves and get to work incorporating what we heard today and in the last few weeks, Cervantes said in an interview. One potential change could be expanding the list of those who could file a petition for extreme risk protection orders, possibly to include roommates and co-workers. Meanwhile, a similar measure passed the House last year before stalling in the Senate, and House Speaker Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, said he believes this years bill would also pass if it makes it to the House. If it passes in the Senate, we can get it done here, Egolf told reporters Tuesday. The bill now advances to the Senate Judiciary Committee, its last stop before the Senate floor. It could be heard in that committee by as soon as next week, Cervantes said. Elected officials in the states most populous county also threw their support behind a red flag law Tuesday when the Bernalillo County Commission unanimously approved a resolution calling on the state to enact one. What were doing here is saying, We are concerned about this; we are concerned about mental health; we are concerned about suicide, and this is one step we hope you all will consider, said Commissioner Jim Collie, who co-sponsored the resolution with Debbie OMalley. Journal staff writer Jessica Dyer contributed to this report. B ritons stranded in a coronavirus-hit city in China are set to be flown home tomorrow and isolated for two weeks, possibly in a military barracks, to stop the killer infection spreading here. The repatriation plane, which is due to leave Wuhan early tomorrow morning, could fly straight to a military base in the UK. The pilots, attendants and medics will be issued with protective equipment. As the crisis grew, British Airways this morning cancelled flights in and out of China, sparking fears that thousands of UK citizens on holiday, work visits or school trips there could struggle to get home easily. The number of deaths in mainland China rose to 132, while confirmed cases soared to nearly 6,000 more than the 5,327 cases in the 2003 outbreak of Sars. British evacuees will have to agree to be isolated for two weeks, the incubation period for the virus, or will be banned from boarding the government-chartered plane. They will also undergo a health check and will not be able to board if they are displaying any coronavirus symptoms. A government source said: We are working hard to get British nationals back from Wuhan, but public safety is the top priority and we arent taking any chances. Anyone we bring back will be isolated for 14 days. If they dont want to be quarantined then they can stay in Wuhan. 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 The returnees will be quarantined in a secure facility for the 14-day incubation period, whether they are showing symptoms or not. They will be cared for and offered any necessary medical attention. The stringent measures were ordered as health chiefs have become alarmed at how quickly the infection is spreading in China, with a small number of cases in other countries as well. So far, the new coronavirus strain, known as 2019-nCoV, is less deadly than Sars which killed more than 770 people globally in the early 2000s, including 349 in mainland China, but it is believed to be spreading more quickly. Experts in the US believe the real figure for coronavirus cases could already be more than 20,000. Coronavirus: Foreign Office warns against travel to China as UK nationals are set to return Foreign governments are now racing to repatriate their citizens from Hubei province, which is at the heart of the crisis. The British plane, with a doctor on board, was due to leave the UK this afternoon for the 5,512-mile flight to Wuhan, the first of several cities put into lockdown by Chinese authorities. About 250 Britons are believed to be in Hubei province but it was not clear how many of them want to get on the evacuation flight, which could leave tomorrow. The Government could also face the challenge of how to repatriate British citizens if more air routes out of China are shut and there is a surge of foreigners seeking to get out. Cabinet minister Baroness Morgan said the Government had experience of major repatriations to get people home as quickly as we can. British Airways acted after the Foreign Office last night warned against all but essential travel to mainland China. BA, which operates daily flights to Shanghai and Beijing from Heathrow, cancelled these routes for two days to assess the situation. In a statement, the airline said: We have suspended all flights to and from mainland China with immediate effect following advice from the Foreign Office against all but essential travel. We apologise to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority. Virgin Atlantic said it was continuing to operate its flights between Heathrow and Shanghai, with passengers able to rebook or obtain a refund free of charge. Lecturer Yvonne Griffiths, who is in a hotel in Wuhan, said she received news in the early hours today that there was to be an evacuation flight from Wuhan airport to the UK. She told BBC Breakfast that Stansted is a possible destination, but that has not been confirmed and timings have not been either. We have to be on stand-by so that we can go to the airport very early, she said. We have to be there six to seven hours before the flight leaves, and we would have a screening from some health people here in Wuhan. Four cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Germany, making it the second European country to report cases, after France. About 100 people have been tested in the UK with all negative so far, although scientists have predicted it may have entered the country. Some 1,400 people who have returned to the UK from Wuhan since January 10 have been told to self-isolate themselves for 14 days. Listen to today's episode of The Leader: The charges against Patrik Mathews continue to mount, as the disgraced Canadian reservist and neo-Nazi now faces up to 60 years in U.S. prison after two grand juries this week indicted him on five criminal counts. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The charges against Patrik Mathews continue to mount, as the disgraced Canadian reservist and neo-Nazi now faces up to 60 years in U.S. prison after two grand juries this week indicted him on five criminal counts. Mathews faces four firearm-related charges, and an additional count of obstruction of justice for allegedly destroying his cellphone as the FBI raided his Delaware apartment Jan. 16. Patrik Mathews faces up to 20 years in U.S. federal prison and 40 years in state prison. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files) If convicted on all counts, the Manitoba resident faces up to 20 years in U.S. federal prison and 40 years in state prison. There is no parole in the U.S. federal prison system. The Maryland Department of Justice issued a news release Tuesday evening saying the government convened grand juries in Delaware and Maryland this week seeking indictments against Mathews, 27, and his co-accused: Brian Lemley Jr., 33, and William Bilbrough IV, 19. The indictments against the three men were secured Monday and Tuesday. The accused had been scheduled to appear Thursday in U.S. federal court in Greenbelt, Md., for a preliminary hearing. At the hearing which would have been open to the public a judge was set to rule whether there was enough evidence to move forward with a trial. By contrast, grand juries are private and cannot be attended by media. The co-accused were arrested as part of a nationwide crackdown on the Base, a violent neo-Nazi paramilitary group. Other members of the Base remain at large, and its possible the FBI continues to investigate. Mathews is facing two felony charges for transporting a firearm and ammunition interstate with intent to commit a felony, and being an alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Hes also charged with illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of an unregistered firearm, and obstruction of justice. Lemley is facing a multitude of firearm- and alien-related charges. Bilbrough has been charged with helping harbour Mathews, who was in the U.S. illegally. The Winnipeg Free Press exposed Mathews as a neo-Nazi recruiter and active combat engineer in the Canadian Armed Forces in August 2019, following a month-long undercover investigation. 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. Hours after being outed by the Free Press, the RCMP raided Mathews home in Beausejour and seized several firearms. After being briefly taken into custody, Mathews was released without charge. Soon after, Mathews vanished, abandoning his truck near the U.S.-Canada border. Hes alleged to have linked-up with neo-Nazi comrades in the U.S. and begun planning murders and terror attacks while stockpiling guns and ammunition. If convicted, the U.S. Department of Justice is seeking to take possession of items it says was used to commit the offences. The government has identified a 2019 Chevrolet pickup truck for seizure, as well as two firearms and a stockpile of ammunition. If the property in question cannot be located due to the actions of the defendants, the government says it will take possession of different property valued at the same amount. ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @rk_thorpe (Bloomberg) -- The Chinese Embassy to Denmark wants the newspaper Jyllands-Posten to apologize for publishing a drawing that depicts Chinas flag with virus symbols instead of five stars. We express our strong indignation and demand that Jyllands-Posten and [cartoonist] Niels Bo Bojesen reproach themselves for their mistake and publicly apologize to the Chinese people, the embassy said in a statement posted on its website. When asked to comment, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen avoided any direct reference to Jyllands-Postens cartoon. I have nothing to say on the matter other than [to note that] we have a very strong tradition in Denmark not just for freedom of speech but also for freedom of satire, and well continue to have that in the future, she said, according to multiple news media including Politiken. This is a well known Danish position and were not going to change it. Denmarks largest newspaper has faced international backlash over its cartoons in the past. In 2005, the paper printed 12 drawings of the Prophet Muhammad, which angered many nations in which Islam is the main religion and sparked a diplomatic crisis. Back then, Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen also defended freedom of speech and said governments had no place telling newspapers what to write. The Chinese flag was printed in the opinion section of the newspapers Monday edition with a caption titled Corona virus. Editor-in-Chief Jacob Nybroe said the paper wont apologize. We cant apologize for something we dont think is wrong, Nybroe told news agency Ritzau. We have no intention to demean or mock but we dont think this drawing is doing that. (Updates with comment from Denmarks prime minister) To contact the reporter on this story: Morten Buttler in Copenhagen at mbuttler@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Christian Wienberg at cwienberg@bloomberg.net, Tasneem Hanfi Brogger 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. DETROIT - Federal agents in Michigan discovered an invasive beetle when a college student entered the U.S. from Canada last year, the first time that the voracious khapra beetle has been detected at a northern border, authorities said Wednesday. The beetle was among many things seized at Michigan-Ontario border crossings and Detroit Metropolitan Airport, including guns, drugs, counterfeit products, illegal food products and suspicious cash, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said. The agency displayed a sample of the contraband at its cargo facility near the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit. Its no secret that our mission is complex. ... Some of our work goes unknown by the American public, said Christopher Perry, who oversees CBPs Michigan operations. The khapra beetle was found last summer among documents when a Canadian resident entered the U.S. via the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron. The U.S. Agriculture Department calls it one of the worlds most destructive pests, feasting on grain and seeds. It is native to India. This was all unintentional, said Mike Fox, CBPs Port Huron port director. To narrow down where that insect came from in Canada its a long shot. He said the beetle hadnt been found at a U.S. northern border before the Port Huron discovery. The government said it seized 600 pounds of cocaine, 496 pounds of marijuana, 62 guns and $7.8 million in undeclared currency at Michigan-Ontario border crossings and the Detroit airport during the 2018-19 fiscal year. ___ Follow Ed White at http://twitter.com/edwhiteap Moments after comedian Kunal Kamra was banned by IndiGo Airlines for heckling Arnab Goswami who was onboard, multiple domestic airlines joined the bandwagon of banning Kamra. IndiGo Airlines' post was followed by a tweet from Hardeep Singh Puri, who "advised other airlines to impose similar restrictions" on Kunal Kamra. Soon Spice Jet, Air India and Go Air joined the 'ban Kamra' trend. Twitter Twitter, however, seems to have had enough of the apparent hypocrisy and has slammed the way authorities have dealt with the matter. Kamra himself tweeted saying 'Modiji can I walk yaan uspe bhi baan hai..'. 1. Here's a Jet Airways' parody account which seems to have banned Mr Kamra 'until further notice.' In view of the incident onboard @IndiGo6E, JetAirways wishes to inform that conduct of Person concerned is unacceptable. To discourage such behavior onboard flts, Mr Kunal Kamra is suspended from flying on any Jet Airways flt until further notice @HardeepSPuri#JetAirways JetAirways Consumers (@JetAirwaysConsm) January 28, 2020 2. Kamra's 'misconduct' seems to have hurt the tricycle association too. In light upon recent incident happened on Indigo flight we wish to inform that our union has taken unanimous decision of suspending Mr. @kunalkamra88 from riding in Tri Cycles for a period of six months. We would also demand him to give us back his childhood pic with Tricycle. https://t.co/GXDhmZ3CZ9 All India TriCycle Association (@MrSledgeHammer_) January 29, 2020 3. If that wasn't enough even the 'Bus Association' seems to have taken a call. All India Bus Association.. Indian Railway's teamed up with Radio Taxi Association to ban imbecile Kunal Kamra from using services.DR Batra advises Kunal to apply Zalim lotion on affected parts 23 times daily for 326 days.. including Sundays.before resorting to urine therapy. Bala (@ugotbala) January 28, 2020 4. The parody account called 'Uber India' also trolled the 'Ban Kamra' trend. In view of the incident onboard @IndiGo6E, Uber India wishes to inform that conduct of @kunalkamra88 was unacceptable. With a view to discourage such behavior onboard, Mr Kunal Kamra is suspended from traveling on any Uber cab until further notice. Uber Cabs (@Uber_Indian) January 29, 2020 5. Seems like even autowalas are going to refuse Kamra for a lift. In view of the incident onboard @IndiGo6E, Delhi Auto association wishes to inform that conduct of @kunalkamra88 was unacceptable, With a view to discourage such behavior onboard, Mr Kunal Kamra is suspended from traveling on any CNG Auto in delhi until further notice. Delhi Auto Association (@Delhi_Auto) January 28, 2020 6. And the last thing that Kunal Kamra would even imagine commuting on, a bullock cart might also ban him! All of these parodies have come to highlight just how ridiculous the trend of banning Kunal Kamra is. Many on Twitter questioned if it was fair to ban a comedian on grounds of indecency for heckling an anchor who does the same on live TV almost every day! Kamra had on Tuesday posted a video that showed him heckling Goswami on a Mumbai-Lucknow IndiGo flight. In the video, he is seen calling Goswami a coward and mocking him for being a nationalist. The comedian told the journalist he was confronting him for discussing the caste of Rohith Vemulas mother Radhika Vemula on his show. Vemula was a PhD student at Hyderabad Central University. He committed suicide on January 17, 2016, after facing caste discrimination. Goswami, who is the editor-in-chief of Republic TV, did not respond to Kamras comments and kept looking at his laptop with his earphones plugged in. Here's Hardeep Singh Puri's tweet advising "other airlines to impose similar restrictions" on Kunal Kamra. Offensive behaviour designed to provoke & create disturbance inside an aircraft is absolutely unacceptable & endangers safety of air travellers. We are left with no option but to advise other airlines to impose similar restrictions on the person concerned. https://t.co/UHKKZfdTVS Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) January 28, 2020 The Republic TV founder encountered comedian Kunal Kamra yet again on his flight back from Lucknow on Wednesday. "FYI - Arnab Goswami was in my flight again this morning while returning from Lucknow... I again asked him politely if he wants to have an honest discussion he with his verbal arrogant hand jester he asked me to move away and I did that," Kamra tweeted on Wednesday morning. That's when the string of airline bans started. You surely know that riding with feet up on the dashboard is unsafe. The injuries in a crash could be severe, and even a minor accident in which airbags deploy could have dire consequences. But if you can't convince the person who rides shotgun with you, this image should do the trick. The X-ray, which, understandably, is careening around the internet today, shows the aftermath of a car crash in which a young woman in Wales was riding with feet up. One femur is snapped, while one hip is broken in the socket and the other has been dislocated far from where it should be. Police who released the X-ray described the woman's injuries as "life changing." The Daily Mail's account of the X-ray mentions that Audra Tatum, of Chickamauga, Georgia, was permanently disabled in 2015 by a minor accident. Everyone else in the car received minor scratches and bruises. But the deploying airbag threw her foot into her face, breaking her nose, femur, and her ankle in four places. "Basically my whole right side was broken, and it's simply because of my ignorance," Tatum said. "I'm not Superman. I couldn't put my foot down in time." A sad irony is that Tatum was herself an EMT, a job that, two years after the accident, she could no longer do. The Chattanooga, Tenn., Fire Department issued a vivid Facebook post years ago that has been widely shared. It said in part: "Airbags deploy between 100 & 220 MPH. If you ride with your feet on the dash and you're involved in an accident, the airbag may send your knees through your eye sockets." So: Seatbelt on. Sit up straight. Feet on the floor. That's how your car will best protect you. Here is an X-ray of horrific injuries sustained to the front seat passenger who had their feet on the dashboard at the time of a collision. If you see your passenger doing it stop driving and show them this. pic.twitter.com/f3XCT8ePvi Sgt 121 Ian Price (@DPGoSafeSkipper) January 22, 2020 You Might Also Like Hundreds of Brits returning to the UK from the centre of the coronavirus crisis will be placed in quarantine for two weeks to stop the infection spreading. As the death toll hit 132, a flight to the UK is due to leave Wuhan in China on Thursday and passengers may be asked to sign a contract before they board the plane saying they agree to being placed in quarantine. Anyone who does not wish to sign could be asked to stay. The quarantine centre may be at a military base, according to a government source. Tourists in protective masks walk through Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand. (Getty) A pilot in a protective suit parks a cargo plane at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport on Tuesday. (AP) The source said: I think its going to be a military base. We have got the facility ready for them to arrive. Health secretary Matt Hancock has instructed officials to place the 200 citizens into isolation. He tweeted: "We are working hard to get British nationals back from Wuhan. Public safety is the top priority. Read more from Yahoo News UK: As a virologist, I can tell why you can stop panicking about the coronavirus European shares dip as Chinese coronavirus concerns deepen China coronavirus: What are the symptoms, where has it spread and is there treatment? "Anyone who returns from Wuhan will be safely isolated for 14 days, with all necessary medical attention." Around 200 British nationals are thought to be in the Chinese city, the capital of Hubei province. The move comes after Britons returning to the UK expressed fury after being told they must "self-isolate" while also making their own way home from the airport. We are working hard to get British nationals back from Wuhan. Public safety is the top priority. Anyone who returns from Wuhan will be safely isolated for 14 days, with all neccessary medical attention. Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) January 29, 2020 Lecturer Yvonne Griffiths, who is in a hotel in Wuhan, said she received news in the early hours of Wednesday morning that there was to be a flight from Wuhan to the UK. Story continues She told BBC Breakfast that Stansted is a possible destination but that has not been confirmed, and timings had not been been firmed up either. "We've to be there six to seven hours before the flight leaves, and we would have a screening from some health people here in Wuhan, and if we are not showing any symptoms then we'll be able to board that plane, she said. "It has been frustrating up until today. I think the lack of certainty about the time of this flight isn't so worrying as long as we know that it's going to happen. Global cities receiving airline travellers from 18 high-risk cities in mainland China over three month period. (SWNS) Previous advice from Public Health England was that those returning should stay at home for 14 days. Experts in China have said there is evidence that people could transmit the virus without showing any symptoms, although UK experts think the risk is low. The quarantine news comes as British Airways announced it was suspending all flights to mainland China with immediate effect. (PA) In a statement, the airline said: "We have suspended all flights to and from mainland China with immediate effect following advice from the Foreign Office against all but essential travel. "We apologise to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority. "Customers due to travel to or from China in the coming days can find more information on ba.com." The death toll in China from coronavirus has risen to 132, with confirmed infections surging to nearly 6,000. Members of a military medical team head for Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital. (AP) Four cases have been confirmed in Germany, making it the second European country to report cases after France. In Australia, officials unveiled plans to evacuate its nationals from Wuhan and Hubei province, with plans to quarantine them in the Christmas Island immigration detention centre. The World Health Organization said the latest indications are that one in five cases of coronavirus are leading to severe disease, such as pneumonia, or were causing death. The Department of Health and Social Care said on Tuesday that 97 people in the UK had been given the all-clear for the virus, although scientists say it may have already entered the country. Islamabad, Jan 29 : Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to travel to Malaysia next week as part of his governments 'damage control' efforts after Islamabad pulled out of the Kuala Lumpur summit in December 2019. Official sources confirmed on Tuesday that the premier is scheduled to travel to Kuala Lumpur on an official visit on February 3-4, reports The Express Tribune. The visit was due since Islamabad pulled out of the Kuala Lumpur summit at the last moment after Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries voiced their reservations over the gathering of leaders from host Malaysia, Turkey, Iran and Qatar. Saudi Arabia viewed the summit as efforts by certain Muslim countries to create a new Islamic bloc. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, however, dismissed such reports, said The Express Tribune report. Pakistan, which initially accepted the invitation, had to withdraw from the summit on the grounds to maintain its ;neutral position; within the Islamic world. Khan, nevertheless, spoke to his Malaysian counterpart over the phone and offered to visit after the summit. The last round of the tripartite meetings called by the US administration between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam "GERD" kicked off in Washington on Tuesday , the Egyptian foreign ministry said. Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry headed for Washington on Sunday to take part in the two-day talks. The meetings, sponsored by the US and the World Bank, aim to reach an agreement on rules regulating the filling and operation of the Ethiopian dam. The talks were supposed to be concluded mid this month but the three sides failed to reach an agreement and decided to defer them to Tuesday. The three Nile basin countries remained deadlocked over the way the dam will be filled with water during droughts. Ethiopia hopes that the $4.8 billion GERD project on the Blue Nile, which has been under construction since 2011, will allow it to become Africas largest power exporter. Egypt, however, fears that the Ethiopian dam, which is 70 percent complete and set to be fully operational by 2022, will diminish its share of Nile water, which comprises 85 percent of the countrys water resources. Search Keywords: Short link: Burma Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Chastises Myanmar Student Protesters Daw Aung San Suu Kyi speaks at the Education Development Implementation Conference on Jan. 28. / The Irrawaddy NAYPYITAWMyanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi criticized university student protesters on Tuesday as they staged a protest during her address at an educational event in Naypyitaw. Representatives from student unions stood up as the State Counselor addressed the Educational Development Implementation Conference and raised placards with messages that questioned Ministry of Education and university policies. There are many opportunities to complain, if you want to present [your opinions]. There are ways you can use to voice complaints. You can present your opinions openly with your signature. But dont misuse events like this, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi told the student demonstrators during the conference at the Myanmar International Convention Center 2 in Naypyitaw. Students primarily held signs with messages opposing the Education Ministrys plan to extend the school year for one month at basic education schools and criticizing a lack of transparency in the contract to build a new food court on Mandalay University Campus. One of the placards read Can the extension of the school period boost the national economy? The Education Ministry has claimed that the one-month extension is intended to give parents more time to focus on their work. Other placards had messages including Immediately fix mismanagement, No unproven experiments on the education system, Answer the Mandalay University protest immediately and Dont postpone the truth. The Mandalay University Students Union has maintained a protest camp on the schools campus since September over the university rectors decision to award a food court contract to a businessman without following the universitys rules for tenders. The Education Ministry formed a committee to investigate the case soon after the protest began but has not released any results from the inquiry. Tuesdays protest lasted nearly 10 minutes before officials came and attempted to stop the protest, leading to a scuffle between authorities and the students involved. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi then acknowledged the protest as she was delivering her opening address. I cant see the placards from here. It will not be effective, and dont use events like this for yourselves and your organizations. It is unacceptable, she said. She said they should not just focus on their rights, but should also heed their responsibilities and show discipline. Otherwise, the country will not develop, she said. Student demonstrators asked Education Ministry officials to allow them to meet with the State Counselor for 10 minutes but their request was denied. We just want to inform her because we think Daw Aung San Suu Kyi doesnt know [about the school year extension and the Mandalay University protest]. We assume she has not handled these things because she has no knowledge about them. We just want to tell her what is happening, Ko Aung Pyae Sone Phyo, secretary of the Yangon Education University Students Union, told reporters. We just wanted to report those two issues, in addition to the mismanagement of the Education Ministry. We want to ask to what extent a policy which is adopted without listening to the voices of those concerned can be successful, he added. The student demonstrators said they wanted to meet someone who can make decisions about their concerns. Dr. Tin Maung Win, a deputy director-general with the Education Ministry, reportedly told the student demonstrators that he did not want students to bother the State Counselor because her health is crucial for the country. As the State Counselor said, they should have considered the occasion and circumstances before doing what they did, Deputy Education Minister U Win Maw Tun told reporters. He has said the ministry will continue with its plan to extend the school year by one month at basic education schools despite strong opposition from teachers and trainee teachers. Trainee teachers at education universities and colleges across Myanmar have launched a campaign to protest against the one-month extension, using green ribbons as symbols. The committee behind the campaign said that the campaign will be stopped only after the Education Ministry changes it decision. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko You may also like these stories: Myanmars National Dialogue Must Be for All NCA Signatories Ahead of Peace Summit, EAOs Say Rallies Draw Thousands Nationwide in Support of State Counselors Defense of Myanmar at ICJ Two more airlines on Wednesday suspended stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra from flying with them "till further notice" for allegedly heckling journalist Arnab Goswami aboard an IndiGo plane with aviation regulator DGCA saying the action by the four carriers is in complete consonance with its regulations. On Tuesday, IndiGo suspended Kamra from flying with it for six months while Air India banned him until further notice. SpiceJet and GoAir on Wednesday also suspended him from flying with them "till further notice". On the other hand, AirAsia India spokesperson told PTI that the airline's internal committee is reviewing the matter and will take action according to due process. Vistara had given a similar statement on Tuesday, stating that it will "review and follow due process in such cases". The DGCA, meanwhile, said action of the four airlines, who have banned Kamra, is in complete consonance with its regulations. However, it is not clear under which DGCA regulation has IndiGo banned Kamra for six months. "This is to reiterate that the action taken by the airlines is in complete consonance with Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section-3, Series M Part VI on Handling of unruly passengers," a DGCA statement said. "Now the matter is to be referred to the internal committee as prescribed in para 6.1 of the said CAR. Further, as per para 6.4 of the CAR, the internal committee is to give the final decision in 30 days by giving the reasons in writing, which shall be binding on the airline concerned. Punishment for different type of unruly behaviour is also prescribed in the same CAR and the internal committee has to adhere to the same," it added. According to 2017 rules of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for "handling of unruly or disruptive passengers", if a passenger carries a verbal assault, he or she can be banned by the airline till the time its internal committee - which must be headed by a retired district & sessions judge - takes a decision on the matter. The rules clearly state that in case of a verbal assault, the internal committee cannot impose a ban of not more than three months. After IndiGo announced its decision, Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said that he had taken note of the incident and "advised" other airlines to impose similar restrictions on Kamra, adding "offensive behaviour designed to provoke and create disturbance inside an aircraft is absolutely unacceptable & endangers safety of air travellers". Kamra allegedly heckled Goswami, the editor of Republic TV, on IndiGo's Mumbai-Lucknow (6E5317) flight on Tuesday. In a video clip posted by Kamra on his Twitter handle, he is seen asking Goswami if he is a "coward or a journalist". While Goswami can be seen sitting in the plane and watching something on his laptop with his earphones plugged in, Kamra is heard telling him, "Viewers want to know if Arnab today is a coward or a nationalist. Arnab, this is for national interest. I am part of the 'tukde-tukde' narrative. You should deflate me. You should take the enemy of the states down. You should make sure that the country is in safe hands of Narendra Modi." Unfazed by his suspension by airlines, Kamra on Wednesday claimed that he once again approached Goswami, who he said was his co-passenger on a flight from Lucknow, for an "honest discussion" but was turned away. It is not clear on which airline's flight Kamra and Goswami were returning to Mumbai from Lucknow on Wednesday. In 2017, Diwakar Reddy, who was then a TDP MP from Anantpur in Andhra Pradesh, was banned from flying by all six major airlines after his unruly behaviour with an IndiGo staffer at Vishakhapatnam airport. The ban was lifted within a month. In the same year, Ravindra Gaikwad, the then Shiv Sena MP from Osmanabad in Maharashtra, was banned from flying by all major airlines after he slapped an Air India ground staff at Pune airport. The ban was lifted by airlines within 14 days. BJP MP Pragya Thakur, an accused in the Malegaon blasts, was also involved in an incident on a SpiceJet plane last December. SpiceJet had stated that Thakur was asked by the crew on its Delhi-Bhopal flight -- which she was taking on December 21 -- to move to a non-emergency row seat as she was on a wheelchair but she refused, causing the flight to delay. While some restless passengers requested Thakur to change her seat from the emergency row, which is not allocated to passengers on wheelchairs, to a non-emergency row, others requested the crew to offload her as she was refusing to change the seat, according to SpiceJet. However, Thakur was not banned by SpiceJet or any other airline from flying in their flights. Kamra on Wednesday said he just wanted to express solidarity with PhD scholar Rohith Vemula and at no point he was "unruly or disruptive". Vemula, a scholar at the University of Hyderabad, committed suicide in January 2016 allegedly due to caste discrimination on the campus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) DES MOINES, Iowa Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren has announced a plan to prevent, contain and treat infectious diseases as a new viral illness spreads in China. The Massachusetts senator on Tuesday unveiled a plan that includes fully funding the federal Centers for Disease Control and Preventions pandemic prevention and response programs. The agency has faced stiff budget cuts under President Trump, including to emergency funds and global health programs that were established following West Africas Ebola epidemic in 2014. Like so much else, Trumps approach to keeping us safe from disease outbreaks is a mess, Warren wrote in an online post announcing the plan. But when hes gone, we can fix it. Warrens proposal comes as the coronavirus has killed more than 100 people in China and the city at the center of the crisis, Wuhan, remains on lockdown. The U.S. has confirmed cases in Washington state, Illinois, Southern California and Arizona. The timing of Warrens announcement was no accident nor is the fact that shes the candidate drawing up the proposal. During more than a year of campaigning, Warren has embraced the reputation of having a plan for nearly everything. She remains bunched near the top of the polls with former Vice President Joe Biden, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigeig. Warren blamed the Trump administration for proposing billions in cuts to the agencies responsible for fighting and preventing pandemics, a devastating blow that would put lives at risk. Not all of those reductions have been approved by Congress, though. She also promised to push the CDC to develop vaccines against infectious diseases, including a universal immunization against the flu. But it is the National Institutes of Health that has already made a priority of developing a better flu vaccine. Warren said she can mitigate the spread of disease by fighting climate change and moving the U.S. to a universal, government-funded health system under the Medicare for All program. She also wants to increase NIH funding by $100 billion. Although such a high price tag may make it difficult to survive the appropriations process, Warren plans to help with the funding by creating a swear jar. That would be a pot of money requiring private companies to pay some of their profits from publicly funded research back to the NIH. Will Weissert is an Associated Press writer. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 29) Amid the global spread of the novel coronavirus, a lawmaker is seeking the creation of a disease prevention and control center in the Philippines. Albay Rep. Joey Salceda filed Wednesday House Bill 6096 creating the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Act of 2020. This bill would make the country better prepared for what this proposal calls sudden onset health emergencies or those emergencies whose risk exponential increase over time, absent any intervention, Salceda said in his explanatory note. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention that will be created will absorb communicable disease units in a newly established Communicable Disease Prevention Bureau. It will also absorb the Disease Emergency Management Bureau, the Epidemiology Bureau of the Department of Health and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, according to the bill. The functions of the center include active surveillance of diseases through epidemiologic and laboratory investigations, data collection, analysis and distribution; developing operational programs relating to communicable diseases; conducting operational research aimed at developing communicable disease prevention; and recommending the exercise of certain powers by the President in the case of an epidemic. The measure also grants broader quarantine powers to the Health Secretary and authorizes local government units to use calamity funds during a state of health emergency. The center will be headed by an executive director who will be appointed by the President, with the rank of an undersecretary to manage and direct activities and advise the Health Secretary on policy matters. Our lack of institutional capacity to implement comprehensive public health management programs, as well as the present orientation of border law enforcement towards prevention of human trafficking and smuggling, but not towards public health protection, stymies the countrys ability to decisively address the risks of communicable disease, Salceda added. The House of Representatives will be summoning Health Secretary Francisco Duque III for a question hour later in the day to respond to queries on the novel coronavirus and shed light on the Health Departments measures surrounding the issue. Ang tingin namin, the more that the experts answer directly, the less na maniniwala sa fake news (we think that the more that the experts answer directly, the lesser tendency for the public to believe in fake news), Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano told the media in a chance interview. Yung question hour will allow representatives of the people to ask directlyIts not just a report. Its knowing what to do. So kung may suspected case sa ating mga lugar, hindi naman lahat [ng distrito] ay may isolation room, may modernized na hospital (so if there are suspected cases in our area, not all districts have an isolation room or a modernized hospital). So thats the reason why were going to have it today, he added. As of Wednesday noon, at least 5,974 cases of coronavirus have been reported in mainland China, exceeding that of the 5,327 confirmed cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002 and 2003, CNN reported. I was impressed by Danou, a family friend who lived next door to me in rural France, not just because she was significantly older (retired) and smoked Gauloises (one pack a day) and had two dogs (two!), but because her go-to dessert was chocolate mousse. She had a life outside the kitchen, but so much of the time I spent with her was on the weekends, hanging around her house as she got ready for Sunday lunch, helping her make that mousse. It was a process, the same each time, and my responsibilities were fairly small. I cracked and separated the eggs and checked the bowls for egg shell. I broke the chocolate along segment lines and checked the bowl for foil bits. I set a pot of water on to boil, to melt the chocolate. Then I climbed onto the counter to get the Bowl. Danou didnt mess around with martini glasses or tiny coupes, which is another part of what was so impressive about her. She whipped and folded and scraped the dark, airy batter into a giant ceramic bowl and shoved it into the fridge, which was already jammed full. Later, after the batter was set, after dinner, she dared me to turn the bowl upside down over my head it was so heavy, it hurt my wrists. She served mousse family-style, the bowl passed around with an enormous metal spoon, everyone helping themselves. I know it now as a restaurant dessert a chilled ramekin pulled from the fridge but this is the spirit of chocolate mousse. A big bowl going around, again and again, the portions never uniform or predetermined. I dont know anyone who makes chocolate mousse at home now, let alone once a week. Maybe because the traditional method that Danou employed, for which you melt the chocolate over gently simmering water, then beat hot cream into the melted chocolate, and then split your eggs into whites and yolks, and then mix the yolks, at room temperature, into the chocolate, and then whip the whites into a stiff meringue but not too stiff! and then fold the meringue into the chocolate until there are absolutely no streaks, but also not for too long, because the mousse starts to deflate, is so stressful. And because an imperfect mousse will announce itself immediately with tiny lumps of some kind or an unappealing density. As the regime continues to advance into Idleb province, Turkey is making no efforts to stop their progress or help the civilians who are fleeing reports Enab Baladi. The Turkish Defense Ministry has ignored the advance of Syrian regime forces in Idleb and has vowed to respond to any threat against its observation positions in the area. The ministry said in an official statement on its website on Tuesday, that it would, respond to any attempt to endanger the security of observation points operating within the scope of the Astana and Sochi agreements, severely and without any hesitation, within the framework of legitimate defense. The ministry added in a statement, translated by Enab Baladi, that the regime was continuing to kill civilians with land and air attacks despite the truce that was declared on Jan. 12, 2020, in addition to displacing hundreds of thousands from their homes amid difficult winter conditions causing a major humanitarian tragedy in Idleb. This coincides with the increasing severity of the battles in the western Aleppo countryside following repeated attempts by regime forces to advance in the area, which were repelled by rebel forces which announced that they had killed dozens of fighters from the regime forces and militias. Regime forces backed by Russian warplanes carried out a military attack on the eastern and southern Idleb countryside, and took control over a number of areas over the last few days. After managing to cut off the international Damascus-Aleppo M5 highway, it took control over a number of towns on the outskirts of Maarat al-Numan. Enab Baladis correspondent reported that regime forces had taken control over the villages of al-Zalana, al-Dana, al-Babila, al-Soumaa, Tel al-Sheikh, Masran, and the Rodoco area south of Khan al-Subl on the highway. The advance has led to a large displacement in the area, with the Humanitarian Response Coordinators documenting the displacement of more than 10,000 families from the areas of Ariha and Saraqeb and Khan al-Subl over the last 48 hours. The team documented 18,406 families, with a total of 106,754 people, leaving the areas of western and southern Aleppo over the period from Jan. 16 to 28, 2020. The number of people displaced in northwestern Syria in January reached 28,852 families, a total of 167,131 people. 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. The Duchess of Cambridge 'bonded' with a mother about the length of time it took her husband to propose when she visited a London children's hospital this week. Prince William, 37, asked Kate Middleton, 38, to marry him in Kenya in October 2010 - after the couple had been dating for around eight years. Mother Sarah Ibendahl brought up the subject and sympathised with the Duchess during a royal visit to the Evelina London Children's Hospital yesterday - revealing it had taken her husband Ralph the same length of time to pop the question. 'We also bonded over the fact it took our husbands like nine years before they asked us to marry them', said Mrs Ibendahl, whose three-year-old son Benjamin is being treated for an auto-immune condition. 'When I mentioned it she laughed politely and gave a knowing smile.' The Duchess of Cambridge visited a creative workshop run by the National Portrait Gallery's Hospital Programme at Evelina London Children's Hospital yesterday, and reportedly bonded with a mother over how long it took their husbands to propose A mother described how she 'bonded' with the Duchess (pictured) during the visit over how long it took her husband to propose William and Kate met as students at St Andrews University in 2001 but did not start dating until a few years later - and the Duke proposed to his then girlfriend in October 2010. The couple married the following year and are now proud parents to Prince George, six, Princess Charlotte, four, and Prince Louis, one. Kate met Ms Ibendahl during a visit to Evelina London where she learned about the creative workshops run by the National Portrait Gallery for young patients and their siblings. Mrs Ibendahl explained how her son had a slight cold which developed into an auto-immune disease, which has meant he has lost the use of his legs. Prince William, 37, asked Kate, 38, to marry him in the romantic setting of Kenya in October 2010 after the couple had been dating for around eight years. They married a year later (pictured) Sarah Ibendahl said she brought up the subject and sympathised with the duchess during the royal visit (Pictured: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their wedding day) She said: 'He's having ongoing treatment, it takes them a while to stop the pain, stop the disease progressing and for them to remember how to walk. 'Almost everyone makes a full recovery, it just takes time.' The duchess was at the hospital to learn how the creative arts support children's health, wellbeing and happiness. The National Portrait Gallery works in close collaboration with play specialists from Evelina London to take artists into the hospital to deliver workshops to children of all ages, along with their siblings and parents. Activities take place on the ward or in play rooms. The Hospital Programme runs in three other childrens hospitals in London Great Ormond Street Hospital, Newham University Hospital and The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, working with nursing staff, hospital teachers and specialists. Over the past 15 years over 20,000 children (aged 0-18) have benefited from the creative workshops which include photography, animation, sculpture and textiles. Evelina London, which is part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, of which The Queen is Patron, provides comprehensive health services to children and families from before birth, throughout childhood and into adult life. The hospital also offers specialist services for children with rare and complex conditions from across south London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex and beyond. Kate met Ms Ibendahl during a visit to Evelina London where she learned about the creative workshops run by the National Portrait Gallery (Pictured: Kate with patient Anna-Victoria) France and Germany are set to spearhead a ban on the notoriously cruel culling of male chickens. At present, tens of millions of the fowl are slaughtered on hatching in countries including Britain because they do not produce eggs, and are far less meaty than female birds. Didier Guillaume, the Agriculture Minister in Paris, on Tuesday told BFM TV that the practices used to end their lives would stop 'by the end of 2021'. This would be in line with a policy Mr Guillaume has worked out with his German counterpart, Julia Klockner. France and Germany are set to spearhead a ban on the notoriously cruel culling of male chickens because they are worth less than female chickens Producers argue that raising male chickens to adulthood is a waste of money, and that macerating them using a high-speed grinder is the cheapest means of disposal 'It's time to end the shredding of chicks,' said Mr Guillaume. 'France and Germany should be the European motor to advance on this issue.' Producers argue that raising male chickens to adulthood is a waste of money, and that macerating them using a high-speed grinder is the cheapest means of disposal. Anaesthetics are not used in the culling, while asphyxiation by carbon dioxide or a simple snapping of necks are also popular methods of destruction. British animal rights campaigners have regularly called for the practices to be banned in the UK too. The chicken industry began breeding separate meat and egg producing hybrids in the 1920s, meaning there was no need to keep males of the egg-producing hybrid. This led to the male offspring of egg-laying chicken being killed as soon as possible after hatching and sexing. Anaesthetics are not used in the culling, while asphyxiation by carbon dioxide or a simple snapping of necks are also popular methods of destruction There is currently no method of determining the sex of a chicken before it has hatched, and Mr Guillaume said: 'A technique should be found that works on a large scale.' This would enable producers to destroy the egg before the chickens are actually born. German judges ruled in June last year that the slaughtering of some 45 million male chicks a year on birth could continue until it was possible to work out the sex of an embryo in the egg. A 2009 EU directive authorises shredding as long as it causes the immediate death for chicks less than 72 hours old. The proposed ban on culling would be implemented through EU legislation, and is all part of a drive for more humane food production, said Mr Guillaume. He said he also wanted to see a ban on the castration of piglets without anaesthetic being outlawed by 2021. 'There is the question of the well-being of the animals, but also that of the breeder,' said Mr Guillaume. 'I don't know a breeder who wants their animals to be mistreated. They like their animals,' he said. France, Germany and Spain will sign up to a well-being labelling system for animals starting in 2021, said Mr Guillaume added. The global hair care market is poised to grow by USD 14.98 billion during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of over 3% during the forecast period. Request Free Sample Pages This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005447/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled global hair care market 2019-2023. (Graphic: Business Wire) Read the 124-page research report with TOC on "Hair Care Market Analysis Report by Product (Shampoo, Hair color, Conditioner, and Others), by Distribution channel (Online and Offline), by Geography (Americas, APAC, and EMEA), and Segment Forecasts, 2019 2023". https://www.technavio.com/report/global-hair-care-market-industry-analysis Innovation and portfolio extension leading to product premiumization and rise in online sales of hair care products are factors anticipated to boost the growth of the market. Consumers are looking for more efficient and novel products that suit their lifestyle and requirements. To cater to this increase in consumers' demands, hair care product manufacturers are focusing on the development and launch of new and innovative products. They are also launching technologically advanced products that are priced higher than the regular hair care products. For example, Alterna Haircare by Henkel, a premium professional hair care product manufacturer, offers Bamboo Smooth Anti-Frizz AM Daytime Smoothing Blowout Balm and PM Overnight Smoothing Treatment. Such products offer multiple benefits for moisturizing, scalp care, and UV ray protection. The introduction of new advanced products is leading to product premiumization and product line extension. Thus, innovation and portfolio extension is expected to drive market growth during the forecast period. Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free. View market snapshot before purchasing Major Five Hair Care Market Companies: Henkel Henkel is headquartered in Germany and operates the business under various segments such as Adhesives Technologies, Beauty Care, and Laundry Home Care. The company offers conditioners, styling products, shampoos, and colorants under brands such as Syoss, Gliss Kur, Indola, Palette, and others. Kao Corporation Kao Corporation is headquartered in Japan and offers products through the following business units: Beauty care, Human health care, Fabric and home care, and Chemical. The company offers hair care products such as conditioners, shampoos, colorants, and more under the brands Asience, Blaune, Curel, Essential, and others. L'Oreal L'Oreal is headquartered in France and operates under various business segments, namely Professional products, Consumer products, L'Oreal luxe, and Active cosmetics. The company offers conditioners, shampoos, colorants, and more under brands such as the Belle Color, Casting Creme, Garnier, and others. Procter Gamble Procter Gamble is headquartered in the US and offers products through the following business segments: Baby, feminine, and family care, Beauty, Fabric and home care, Health care, and Grooming. The company offers a wide range of hair care products under different brands such as Head Shoulders, Aussie, Herbal Essences, and more. Unilever Unilever is headquartered in the Netherlands and offers products through the following business segments: Personal Care, Home Care, Foods, and Refreshment. The company offers wide range of hair care products under different brands such as Clear, Dove, Dove Men+ Care, Sunsilk, Seda, and more. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Hair Care Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2019 2023) Shampoo Hair color Conditioner Others Hair Care Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2019 2023) Americas APAC EMEA 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 Related Reports on Consumer Staples include: Anti-Aging Hair Products Market Global Anti-Aging Hair Products Market by distribution channel (offline and online) and geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America). 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. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005447/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 A day ago, Paxton had been planning a Super Bowl party for the same house he would be shot at a residence where Wilson also used to live, she said. The two of them planned to go grocery shopping for party snacks later this week. [January 29, 2020] Scale Microgrid Solutions and Schneider Electric Power Indoor Farming Company Fifth Season to Deliver Reliable and Sustainable Food BOSTON, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Schneider Electric , the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, and Scale Microgrid Solutions , a vertically integrated distributed energy and microgrid platform, today announced it will design, build and finance a microgrid for indoor farming pioneer Fifth Season. Scale Microgrid Solutions, will design, build, own, and operate the system for Fifth Season, utilizing its standardized microgrid modules. The microgrid will leverage Schneider Electric battery storage, switchgear, and advanced controls technology to deliver sustainable and dynamic energy management for Fifth Season's newest, highly autonomous vertical farm in Pittsburgh, PA. Indoor vertical farms offer vast improvements compared to traditional agriculture using zero pesticides, 95 percent less water and increased footprint productivity but there are untapped opportunities to make them more productive, sustainable and energy efficient. The Fifth Season microgrid combines distributed energy resources, including a rooftop solar array, a battery energy storage system, a natural gas generator equipped with advanced emissions control technologies, and Fifth Season's precision agriculture platform to help the company reach its goal of efficiently producing 500,000 lbs. of local produce during the new facility's first year of full operation. "Our vertical farm in Pittsburgh is reconnecting consumers to locally grown fresh food. This is a first step in solving some of the largest problems facing society caused by the broken food system, however, this industry must achieve long term economic and environmental sustainability," said Grant Vandenbussche, Chief Category Officer at Fifth Season. "This microgrid enables our journey to create a sustainable system that delivers healthier, fresher greens to local communities through both economic and environmental efficiencies." The microgrid is being financed by Scale Microgrid Solutions' microgrid-as-a-service business model, helping Fifth Season save capital that can be used toward additional operational investments, while also immediately benefiting from more efficient, sustainable and economic energy consumption. Commissioning of the full energy system is scheduled for mid-2020 and it will be the first site of several that are to be constructed for Fifth Season in the next three years. "Fifth Season is cognizant that vertical farming facilities can be energy intensive and by pairing solar generation with batteries to work with the grid, they will enable demand response, peak shaving and time of use pricing," said Drew Gravitt, a manager leading microgrid economic optimization business development for Schneider Electric. "We're excited to work alongside Scale Microgrid Solutions to help Fifth Season improve energy resilience and cost, while enabling renewable integration to meet its clean energy targets." Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure Microgrid Advisor (EMA) , a cloud-based, demand-side energy management software platform, will be integrated to optimize the system's performance. By leveraging predictive and learning algorithms, EMA will empower Scale Microgrid Solutions to better manage the production and consumption of its renewable energy and control energy spend. The system will be equipped to operate in parallel with traditional utility electric services during normal operating conditions, and in "island mode" to ensure that the farm remains powered during unexpected outages. Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure Microgrid Operations (EMO), a complete microgrid controller providing network management, generation management, and protection management for stable and optimization will also be integrated. The hardware and software solution leverages key innovative concepts such as streamlined operator experience, advanced DER and grid management, and scalability and performance with pre-built and pre-tested core features to help customers unlock edge control. With this capability, customers achieve a more stable microgrid by increasing their use of renewable energy DER, improving execution time and enhancing cybersecurity. Scale Microgrid Solutions' vertically integrated operation provides a one-stop-microgrid-shop for commercial and industrial customers. SMS's productized project platform and pioneering microgrid-as-a-service business model unlocks the microgrid value proposition by avoiding the significant capital and time commitments that accompany typical energy infrastructure projects, all while optimizing resources and cash flows to maximize resilience, cost savings, and sustainability benefits. "As a company that already grows produce two-times more efficiently and with two-times the capacity of traditional vertical farming, we're helping Fifth Season's 60,000-square-foot facility reach its full potential with a smart, reliable and green energy system," closes Duncan Campbell, Vice President, Project Development at Scale Microgrid Solutions. "Together with Schneider Electric, we're working to address the energy challenges associated with indoor farming and driving the industry forward to meet the demands of growing populations." About Schneider Electric At Schneider, we believe access to energy and digital is a basic human right. We empower all to make the most of their energy and resources, ensuring Life Is On everywhere, for everyone, at every moment. We provide energy and automation digital solutions for efficiency and sustainability. We combine world-leading energy technologies, real-time automation, software and services into integrated solutions for Homes, Buildings, Data Centers, Infrastructure and Industries. We are committed to unleash the infinite possibilities of an open, global, innovative community that is passionate about our Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and Empowered values. www.se.com About Scale Microgrid Solutions Scale Microgrid Solutions designs, builds, operates, and finances cutting-edge on-site power systems for commercial and industrial facilities throughout North America. Our proprietary microgrid modules enable our customers to reap the benefits of the world's most innovative distributed energy technologies while eliminating the anxieties associated with the traditional microgrid development process. We're building the backbone of the 21st century electric grid, at scale. Learn more by visiting us at: www.scalemicrogridsolutions.com. About Fifth Season Fifth Season combines robotics and AI with vertical farming to disrupt the country's $60-billion produce market with an entirely new category of consumer-connected fresh food. Fifth Season's recently opened 60,000 sq. ft. vertical farm in Pittsburgh will produce over 500,000 lbs. of leafy greens and herbs during its first full year of operation. Learn more by visiting: www.fifthseasonfresh.com Discover Life Is On Follow us on: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn YouTube Blog Hashtags: #PoweringGrowth, #InnovationAtEveryLevel, #EcoStruxure, #IoT, #Microgrid, #VerticalFarming, #robotics View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scale-microgrid-solutions-and-schneider-electric-power-indoor-farming-company-fifth-season-to-deliver-reliable-and-sustainable-food-300995021.html SOURCE Schneider Electric [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] B ritons stranded in a coronavirus-hit city in China could face a longer wait to return home as officials have not yet granted permission for their flight to depart. A planned flight to bring UK nationals back home UK from Wuhan, where the deadly illness first broke out, on Thursday is feared to have been delayed. The British government had aimed to fly around 200 British citizens out of the country but it is understood Chinese officials have not yet granted permission for the chartered flight to take off. A Foreign Office spokeswoman said a number of flights have been unable to depart "as planned" but that transport would be available "as soon as possible". A pilot wears a protective suit in a cargo plane at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan / Cheng Min/Xinhua via AP Britons returning from Wuhan will be put in quarantine for 14 days and officials are looking at taking passengers to a military base once they arrive home, the Department of Health said on Wednesday. The death toll rose to 170 in the new virus outbreak on Thursday as foreign evacuees from the worst-hit region begin returning home under close observation and world health officials expressed "great concern" that the disease is starting to spread between people outside of China. On the latest developments, a Foreign Office spokeswoman said: We are doing everything we can to get British people in Wuhan safely back to the UK. A number of countries flights have been unable to take off as planned. We continue working urgently to organise a flight to the UK as soon as possible. We remain in close contact with the Chinese authorities and conversations are ongoing at all levels. Passengers arrive at Heathrow Airport in London after the last British Airways flight from China touched down before the airline stopped travel to the mainland / PA Downing Street said the Britons returning from Wuhan had agreed to be placed in "assisted isolation". A source said: "We are expecting about 200 British nationals to be on board, there is capacity on the flight for everybody. "On arrival, passengers will be safely isolated for two weeks with all necessary medical attention." 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 Number 10 refused to confirm where the Britons would be taken following the civilian charter flight to airlift them from the region. The move comes after Britons returning to the UK expressed fury after being told they must "self-isolate" - while also making their own way home from the airport. British Airways suspends all flights to China amid coronavirus outbreak Previous advice from Public Health England (PHE) was for those returning to stay at home for 14 days. British Airways earlier suspended flights to and from mainland China amid the outbreak. But Britons due to board the flight back from Wuhan said they had been told by authorities to make their own way through the city to Wuhan airport, and once they land on British soil they are expected to make their own way home, potentially coming into contact with hundreds of people on the way. Experts in China have said there is evidence that people could transmit the virus without showing any symptoms, although UK experts think the risk is low. Listen to today's episode of The Leader: Mumbai, Jan 29 : The stage is set for the grand celebrations of the annual Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra (Chariot procession) in Mumbai's Shivaji Park on January 30, the organisers said here on Wednesday. The huge procession of Lord Jagannath, Baldev and Subhadra Maiya will attract over 3,00,000 devotees, according to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)'s spiritual head, Radhanath Swami Maharaj. "For the first time, the idol of Lord Jagannath, Baldev and Subhadra Maiya will be brought here from Puri (Odisha) for tomorrow's Rath Yatra. The procession will be simultaneously carried out in 192 cities worldwide," Radhanath Swami told IANS. He said this is the only global festival in which "the Lord himself is taken out of the temple to meet his devotees" and the Mumbai event is now ranked as the second-largest Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in the world after Puri. The theme for this year is 'Puri Dham' and a replica has been erected at Shivaji Park with huge seven-feet tall idols of Lord Jagannath, Baldev and Subhadra Maiya, specially brought this year for the Rath Yatra from Puri, seated on the dais. The Maha Aarti for Lord Jagannath will start at 3 p.m. to be performed by Radhanath Swami and then thousands of devotees will pull the Rath from Shivaji Park to Shiv Sena Bhavan, Portuguese Church, Gokhale Road, Prabhadevi and back to Shivaji Park after three hours. While the devotees -- many of them celebrities in their fields -- pull the huge chariot, other groups of devotees will clean the path with special brooms, others will make "rangolis" and shower flower petals on the route for the Lord to pass. En route, 1,008 kgs of specially made "Khaja Prasad" will be distributed to all the devotees as they take "darshan" of Lord Jagannath. After the return to Shivaji Park, there will be an offering of 108 "bhogas" to the Lord prepared by the devotees in decorative pots, which were being made since the past three months. The bhogas comprise several types of rice preparations, 20 vegetables, 11 "paneer" (fresh cheese) dishes, 21 different sweets, 21 "farsans" , 11 "parathas", seven salads and a host of other fruits, dry-fruits and juices. This will be followed by cultural activities and other programmes, and conclude with a dinner "prasad" for all. The founder acharya of ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada had organised the first Rath Yatra in 1968 in San Francisco and now it has become an annual global event celebrated in 192 cities world over. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text A man was stabbed in the chest during a fight involving a group of people at a far north Queensland home overnight and was later declared dead at Cairns Hospital. Detectives found a knife at the house as part of their homicide investigation, with two men and two women in custody and being questioned on Wednesday. Detective Inspector Sonia Smith said police were called to a disturbance at a Downing Street home in the Cairns suburb of Earlville about 11pm on Tuesday. A 28-year-old local man was fatally wounded during the scuffle and was rushed to Cairns Hospital by another man and a woman, before police arrived at the residence. Another billion-dollar energy project is polarizing Canada once again, but this time, its got nothing to do with pipelines, or even LNG terminals. Its the Frontier oil sands mine that the federal government of Justin Trudeau must approve or reject by the end of next month. According to most observers, this decision will seal the fate of Canadian oil sands forever. Trudeau is no stranger to energy policy controversy. In 2017, during a community meeting in Ontario, Trudeau raised pro-oil hackles by saying the oil sands industry needed to be phased out. "You can't make a choice between what's good for the environment and what's good for the economy," the Prime Minister said. "We can't shut down the oilsands tomorrow. We need to phase them out. We need to manage the transition off of our dependence on fossil fuels. That is going to take time. And in the meantime, we have to manage that transition." Time is a relative concept so its anyones guess if Trudeau meant, among other projects, the Frontier mine, which is seen to have a productive life of 40 years, producing 260,000 bpd of heavy crude at its peak. For those committed to Canada reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, 40 years is bound to be too long a time. For those committed to keeping its oil industry going, Frontier is essential for the long-term survival of that industry. The problem for Trudeau is that he is, once again as with Trans Mountain, between a rock and a hard place, and in the end, perhaps no one will be happy. Last year, the Liberals won the elections, but could only form a minority government. This means they cannot make decisions on their own. Related: Does Exxon Know Something About Biofuel That Its Peers Dont? We have got a Liberal minority and the balance of power shifts to the NDP and the Greens, who are completely opposed to any progressive energy policies, the chief executive of Auspice Capital Advisors, Tim Pickering, told Reuters last October, following the election. If that was the end of it, Frontier would probably never see the light of day, especially since the Liberals themselves promised to do more about emissions during this term in office. However, there are many groups that support the project, including not just the Conservative Alberta government, but also a number of First Nations willing to invest in new energy projects. No wonder then that this week the federal Environment Minister, Jonathan Wilkinson, suggested, talking to media, that the government will delay its decision on the Frontier mine project. Cabinet can make a decision to approve, it can make a decision to reject, it can make a decision to delay, Wilkinson said, as quoted by Reuters. It was a statement not particularly informative, but many took it to mean a delay could be the most likely outcome. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney immediately responded to the suggestion of a delay. Their current deadline is the end of February for a decision and Ive been very clear to the prime minister if they say no to this project, then they are signalling his earlier statement that he wants to phase out the oilsands, Kenney said, as quoted by the Canadian Press. Indeed, many see the approval or rejection of the Frontier mine project as crucial in indicating, once and for all, what is more important for the Liberal government, environmental protection or the development of Canadas mineral resources. The public seems to be split on those, but to make matters more complicated, some polls suggest there is also significant overlap between wanting to protect the environment and develop the oil sands. Related: Can Europes Largest Economy Survive Without Coal? Interestingly enough, whatever the federal government decides in February, the company behind the Frontier mine Teck Resources, might decide to not go through with it, as Sharon J. Riley notes in an overview of the issue for The Narwhal. Frontier was planned at a time when oil price forecasts pointed to significantly higher Brent and WTI levels than we are actually seeing. Back in 2016, when Teck Resources submitted its project documentation to a federal panel that had to review the viability of the project, the company expected WTI to rise to $80-90 per barrel this year. Yet the U.S. benchmark is trading below $60 at the moment with little upside potential. Teck even said it in its 2018 financial report: The Frontier contingent resources have been subcategorized as development pending and economically viable. There is uncertainty that it will be commercially viable to produce any portion of the resources. Could this mean the whole approval affair is much ado about nothing? Not really. If the Trudeau government rejects Frontier, it would be a clear indication it is prioritizing environmental commitments over the energy industry. This is bound to anger a lot of people who are already angry at the lack of federal government support for the oil industry. Besides anger, a rejection would worsen an already bad investment climate in Alberta, and it could lead to more companies going under, hitting the economy of the oil heartland. This means that if Trudeau was serious about the phase-out of the oil sands, he would need to come up with an alternative source for the 11 percent of GDP that the energy industry contributes currently. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: US President Donald Trump's defenders on Tuesday completed the presentation of arguments as part of the impeachment procedure against the American leader at the Senate, TASS reported. Advocates and prosecutors will start to answer senators' questions. A total of 16 hours are allocated, but this process is not limited to the number of working days. According to the Politico newspaper, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell agreed with the head of the Democratic minority of the upper house, Chuck Schumer, that on Wednesday and Thursday exactly eight hours will be allotted to questions. Lawmakers will vote on the need to call witnesses to the process and provide any additional documents on Friday. If no witnesses are called, the Senate will vote on each of the two charges: abuse of power and obstruction of the investigation conducted by Congress. In September 2019, the House, with the filing of Democrats, announced the launch of the impeachment proceedings against Trump. The reason for the start of the proceedings was the assumption that he would put pressure on the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a July phone talks in order to encourage Kyiv to help the head of the American administration get elected for a second term in 2020. According to political opponents of the US leader, Republican Trump tried to convince Zelenskyy to start an investigation into the activities in Ukraine of Hunter Biden (the son of the former US vice president) in exchange for providing financial and military assistance to Kyiv. Two articles of indictment against Trump were approved by the Democrats on December 18. The Senate is now acting as a jury, and the House of Representatives is the prosecution. The head of the US Supreme Court is John Roberts. To remove the president from office, support is needed for at least two-thirds of senators (67 people). With the current composition of the Senate, the likelihood of such a development of events is virtually zero, since the Republicans occupy 53 out of 100 seats in the upper house. British Airways on Wednesday said it was suspending flights to and from Beijing and Shanghai. Photo: Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images British Airways on Wednesday said that it had suspended all flights to and from mainland China amid increasing fears about the spread of coronavirus. We apologise to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority, British Airways said. The move comes after the Foreign Office warned late on Tuesday that Britons should avoid all but essential travel to the country. US authorities have also issued similar guidance. There have now been more than 5,700 cases of the virus in China, while the death toll has climbed to 132. British Airways operates daily flights to both Beijing and Shanghai from the UK. Flights to these cities have been suspended until March, a spokesperson said. READ MORE: How coronavirus outbreak is hitting companies around the world Shares in IAG (IAG.L), the owner of British Airways, were up by more than 0.5% on Wednesday morning, having fallen sharply earlier in the week. Separately, Hong Kongs Cathay Pacific said it would reduce flights to mainland China by half after Carrie Lam, the territorys chief executive, said airlines should curb operations in order to slow the spread of the virus. Other airlines, such as US-owned United Airlines, said it would reduce flights to China following a significant decline in demand for travel. Speaking on Wednesday, culture secretary Nicky Morgan said that the British Airways decision would give more impetus to plans by the UK government to offer assistance to Britons who need to get home. The Foreign Office will be working with staff on the ground to identify UK nationals, Morgan said on BBC Breakfast. We will get people home as soon as we can, as soon as we can make arrangements. Morgan said that the UK health system was well prepared. We are not aware of any confirmed cases of the virus here in the UK but we do have the expertise to look after people, to treat and to test should that become necessary. Newsletter Subscribe now to get updates from armenian media & videos... InsureMyTrip says over 16,000 US travelers have active travel insurance policies and live in one of the four states the CDC has identified with a confirmed nCoV case *. Number of Travelers From Affected US States Washington 2,447 California 9,122 Arizona 1,674 Illinois 2,799 Total: 16,042 Based on active travel insurance policies sold on InsureMyTrip. 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) In The US Patients Under Investigation (PUI) in the United States* Positive 5 Negative 32 Pendings 73 Total: 110 *Cumulative since January 21, 2020. Source: CDC. Numbers closed out at 7 p.m. the night before reporting. Includes specimens received and awaiting testing, as well as specimens in route to CDC. Number of states with PUI: 26 Note: According to the CDC, imported cases of 2019-nCoV infection in people have been detected in the U.S. No person-to-person spread has been detected with this virus at the time, and this virus is NOT currently spreading in the community in the United States (Source: CDC 1/29/20). When it comes to public health threats, this is an overview on how general travel insurance benefits apply: Trip Cancellation: a traveler gets ill and must cancel a trip or a traveler must cancel a trip because a travel companion or family member gets ill. Emergency Medical Coverage: a sick traveler must see a doctor and/or go to the hospital during a trip. Emergency Medical Evacuation Coverage: in rare cases, a sick traveler requires an emergency medical evacuation to the nearest appropriate hospital or back home for recuperation. Trip Interruption: an extremely sick traveler cannot continue with a trip and must return home. All claims must be supported by a doctor. In the event a person is afraid to travel due to health risks, consider a travel insurance policy with the optional time-sensitive Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) included. For more, visit InsureMyTrip.com. For additional questions, please reach Meghan Walch at [email protected]. Media Contact: Meghan Walch [email protected] For additional information, please see: About InsureMyTrip It's simple. InsureMyTrip finds you the right travel insurance plan, every time. InsureMyTrip is the authority on travel insurance. We are committed to empowering travelers to make the best possible insurance decisions by leveraging our technology, data intelligence, and expertise. InsureMyTrip is rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau. SOURCE InsureMyTrip WASHINGTON The atmosphere felt more like a celebratory Mar-a-Lago gathering, bringing together really good friends, rather than the usual somber, staid event one might have otherwise expected at a Middle East peace plan rollout. A military band in red dress uniforms played "Hail to the Chief" as US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu entered the White House East Room. Sheldon and Miriam Adelson, the GOP donors and pro-Israel philanthropists, were sitting in the front row, along with the US and Israeli officials and VIPs who had labored on the plan. There were of course members of Congress and other VIPs, including Trump impeachment attorney Alan Dershowitz, former Connecticut Democratic Sen. Joseph Lieberman, now head of the anti-nuclear deal United Against Nuclear Iran, and the ambassadors from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman. No Palestinian officials were present the Trump administration ordered the Palestinian mission in Washington closed in 2018. Trump and Netanyahu both made lengthy congratulatory statements on a 180-page peace plan almost no one had seen prior, frequently interrupted by applause. They took no questions, though a couple hundred journalists stood packed in the back. Of the major American news channels, only Fox News apparently covered the event live, which was hastily scheduled during the last day of the Trump defense teams arguments in Trumps Senate impeachment trial. Trump, sounding relaxed and untroubled by the Senate proceedings, proclaimed his peace vision a historic breakthrough. My vision presents a win-win opportunity for both sides, a realistic two-state solution that resolves the risk of Palestinian statehood to Israels security, he said. Today, Israel is taking a giant step toward peace. Trump said that both Netanyahu and his rival, Blue and White party leader and retired Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, who Trump met yesterday, had agreed to endorse his vision as the basis for direct negotiations with the Palestinians. But it wasnt clear how much Trumps vision left for the Palestinians who rejected the plan to negotiate. The United States will recognize Israeli sovereignty over the territory that my vision provides to be part of the State of Israel, Trump said to applause. Very important. Ticking off all he said he had done for Israel - moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem, recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, getting out of the terrible 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Trump then said it was only fair that he has to do a lot for the Palestinians. He then noted that the applause he had been receiving from the friendly room abruptly stopped. This map will more than double the Palestinian territory and provide a Palestinian capital in eastern Jerusalem where America will proudly open an embassy, Trump said. No Palestinians or Israelis will be uprooted from their homes. Notably, Trumps peace vision seems to count on his reelection later this year to another four-year term. In a letter Trump said he sent today to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, I explained to him that the territory allocated for his new state will remain open and undeveloped for a period of four years, Trump said. During this time, Palestinians can use all appropriate deliberation to study the deal, negotiate with Israel, achieve the criteria for statehood, and become a truly independent and wonderful state. In the near term, Trumps peace vision is likely to exacerbate tensions both between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and between Israel and Jordan, Mideast expert Robert Satloff wrote on Twitter. Satloff, the head of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, wrote that in the longer term, this plan is premised on a second term for Trump. Satloff said, If that happens, the political dynamics may force a re-think by some Arabs [and] Palestinians. If it doesnt happen, I doubt much of this plan survives as US policy. Husam Zomlot, the former head of the Palestinian Liberation Organization mission in Washington and the current PA ambassador to the UK, condemned the Trump document as further shredding prospects for a two-state solution. Israel announced it will annex occupied Palestinian land on Sunday, Zomlot wrote on Twitter. This is the 1st outcome of Trump's peace plan. This is an American president that has killed the prospects of a negotiated two-state solution and undermined international law and order. What a political circus. Netanyahu, for his part, did not seem in any rush for the Palestinians to say yes to negotiations. Mr. President, Israel wants the Palestinians to have a better life, Netanyahu said. Your peace plan offers the Palestinians a pathway to a future state. I know that it may take them a very long time to reach the end of that path, Netanyahu said. It may even take them a very long time to get to the beginning of that path. For at least four years, Israel will maintain the status quo in areas that your plan does not designate as being part of Israel in the future, Netanyahu said. At the same time, Israel will apply its laws to the Jordan Valley, to all the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, and to other areas that your plan designates as part of Israel and which the United States has agreed to recognize as part of Israel. I like that. Former US diplomat Robert Danin noted that the map the Trump document published deprives Palestinian territory of a shared border with Jordan. What the map does there is no contiguity between what will be Palestine and the rest of the Arab world, Danin, now a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy Schools Belfer Center, and who worked on Israeli-Palestinian issues in five US administrations, told Al-Monitor. Palestine will be sandwiched between Israeli territory on the West Bank. It will have no border with Jordan. Jordans Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi stopped short of outright rejecting the Trump plan, but expressed alarm at its departure from Ammans position on the parameters for a two-state solution. The Jordanian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, Jordan today reaffirmed that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on June 4, 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital, living in peace side by side with Israel on the basis of the two-state solution that fulfills the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, in accordance with international law, is the only path to a comprehensive and lasting peace. Netanyahu travels to Russia on Wednesday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin about his consultations in Washington. Abbas has called for an emergency meeting of the Arab League to be held Saturday. Victoria Derbyshire today confronted the chief of BBC News, asking if bosses had lied to her about the axing of her BBC Two current affairs programme. The 51-year-old presenter asked the BBC's director of news and current affairs Fran Unsworth if they had lied to her and her team about the show's goals. Ms Unsworth, who earns 340,000 a year, apologised about the programme being cut, telling the host: 'I'm paid to make really difficult decisions about this.' Victoria Derbyshire, pictured on her show last week, today confronted the chief of BBC News Derbyshire live tweeted from a briefing to BBC staff about the cuts to the news division as part of a cost-reduction drive Ms Derbyshire, who earns 215,000 a year, found out about the cut last week after reading it in a newspaper and admitted she was left 'absolutely devastated'. But Ms Unsworth said during today's meeting at Broadcasting House: 'I'd like to apologise to the team for the way the story emerged, that was not our intention.' Ms Derbyshire condemned claims by the BBC that it is cutting her show because it failed to grow its live audience. She tweeted: 'We were NEVER asked to grow the linear TV audience. Ever. We were asked to grow our digital audience - we did. Presenter Victoria Derbyshire leaves BBC Broadcasting House in London last Thursday This graphic was posted on a screen during the announcement in London today, showing the split between 'outlets', 'story teams', 'specialist production teams' and 'commissioning points' Fran Unsworth said today the plan is to have 'multi-skilled story teams', showing this graphic 'Our digi figures are huge (our successful digital figures appear to be an inconvenience to those making the decisions).' Fran Unsworth, director of news, spoke at BBC's Broadcasting House in London today She added: 'Our remit when we were set up: 1. Original journalism 2. Reaching underserved audiences 3. Growing the digital figures. We achieved all three.' Ms Derbyshire live tweeted from a briefing to BBC staff about the cuts to the news division as part of a cost-reduction drive. She posted an image of a screen from the presentation, entitled Modernising BBC News, which she said was being streamed to staff elsewhere in the BBC. She told her followers: 'Head of internal comms just said to us all, 'enjoy and relax'.' And she wrote of the BBC's director of news and current affairs: 'Fran Unsworth arrives.... 'Cheery' music in room like you hear when you're your put on hold.....' An online petition calling for the corporation to reverse the BBC's decision to cut the programme has more than 30,000 signatures. The spread of SARS from a single patient in Birchmounts Emergency Department is a painful memory, and nobody at Scarborough Health Network wants a repeat with the coronavirus, says the hospitals chief of staff. Dr. Dick Zoutman, an expert on infectious diseases who was chairperson of the SARS Scientific Advisory Committee during the outbreak, doesnt think a repeat is possible. Theres a huge corporate memory here. Everybody knows we have to be well prepared, and we are, he said last Friday, before health officials announced the first case of coronavirus from Wuhan, China had been confirmed at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. In 2003, a commission later concluded, a single patient left for 16 hours in the ER of what was then The Scarborough Hospitals Grace Division transmitted SARS to other patients, sparking a chain of infection that spread through the Scarborough Grace Hospital, then to other hospitals through patient transfers and ultimately killed 44 and sickened more than 330 others. Since then, the Scarborough Health Network has engineered isolation rooms in its ERs which now includes Centenary as well as the Birchmount and General and made certain infectious disease control is baked into everything we do, Zoutman said. That includes asking arrivals at the Birchmount about symptoms if they're coughing, sneezing or exhibiting shortness of breath. People with these symptoms are put in isolation, all the time, said Zoutman. Drills with people acting as patients are going on at all three campuses. We critique each other, we watch each other, Zoutman said of the staff. Im quite impressed with the dedication to the situation. He added that, though more up-to-date information is needed, the Wuhan coronavirus is genetically only 71-per-cent related to the SARS virus, and seems to behave differently. It doesnt seem as lethal as SARS, Zoutman said. The SARS outbreak put a great strain on health-care workers in Scarborough. Tecla-Lai Yin Lin, a nurse who worked at the Birchmount, died after volunteering to care for 14 infected co-workers at another Toronto facility. Zoutman said Scarborough Health Network is paying attention to the welfare of its staff, wanting to make sure they feel supported and safe, which he said includes getting the best available information on the virus to them. Zarif derides US "Vision for Peace" IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Jan 29, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a message undermined the so-called US' "Vision for Peace", saying it is considered as sleepwalking into catastrophe. "The so-called 'Vision for Peace' is simply the dream project of a bankruptcy-ridden real estate developer," Zarif wrote on his Twitter account. He added that but it is a nightmare for the region and the world and, hopefully, a wake-up call for all the Muslims who have been barking up the wrong tree. The White House claimed that this Vision is the most serious, realistic, and detailed plan ever presented, one that could make Israelis, Palestinians, and the region safer and more prosperous. "This Vision is just the first step and provides the basis for historic progress toward peace. The United States hopes this Vision will lead to direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians," it added. Earlier, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said that Muslims must resist the Deal of Century with faith and perseverance. Stressing that the issue of Palestine is a top priority for the Muslims, Ayatollah Khamenei added that conspiracy of the Deal of the Century set by the US and its puppets is a crime against humanity. The Supreme Leader invited the Muslims to actively participate in the fight against the enemy and said that the Deal of the Century is, God willing, doomed to fail. 9376**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China grants permission for India to evacuate citizens from Wuhan India has gained Beijings permission to airlift its citizens from the virus-hit city of Wuhan. A Boeing 747 VT-ESO will leave Mumbai at midnight tonight, India time, to airlift 250 Indians, said reports. Once they are brought back, they will be kept in quarantine for two weeks, said Minister of Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan on Tuesday. Sources said Beijing buckled under pressure from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). A group of Indian students in Wuhan had appealed to the Indian government to make every effort to save them as they ran out of food and water in their dormitory due to the citys ongoing closure. A Boeing 747 VT-ESO has been on standby in Mumbai to airlift 250 Indians from the quarantined city of Wuhan, said reports. Photo courtesy: Air India The stranded students belong to Assam, Delhi, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir. At least 132 people in China have died from the rapidly spreading corona virus, while nearly 6,000 people have been infected so far, national health officials said on Wednesday morning. International Indian airlines such as IndiGo have advised pilots and cabin crew to wear masks and avoid public places during layovers in Thailand, China, Vietnam, and Singapore. Stepping up its preparation to fight the threat of a potential novel coronavirus (nCoV) outbreak, the Indian government on Tuesday said that screening of passengers would be expanded to 20 airports along with adding new laboratories to test the virus. Virgin Money has seen nearly a fifth of shareholders fail to back its pay plans for top bosses (PA) Virgin Money has seen nearly a fifth of shareholders fail to back its pay plans for top bosses after it handed chief executive David Duffy an 89% pay rise last year despite widening losses. The high street lender formerly known as CYBG saw 183.1 million, or 18%, of shareholder votes either made against its pay report or withheld at the annual general meeting. While withheld votes do not count, it still saw more than 17% of votes cast against the remuneration report, with 83% in favour. The overall remuneration policy was backed by 99.5% of investors. It comes after Virgin Moneys 2019 annual report revealed Mr Duffys salary and bonus package soared to 3.4 million last year, up from 1.8 million in 2018. This came despite the Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank owner which rebranded following the 1.7 billion takeover of Virgin Money last year posting pre-tax losses of 232 million for 2018 from 164 million the previous year. And Mr Duffy could also land a potential 5.1 million in pay and bonuses if all targets are met in 2020 on a par with the likes of Alison Rose, chief executive at Big Five lending giant Royal Bank of Scotland. The pay move has raised eyebrows, given that a third of shareholders opposed the groups remuneration report last year, prompting the firm to consult with shareholders. But Virgin Money said it would not be formally consulting with shareholders on pay plans this year as more than 80% of investors approved the 2019 remuneration report. A spokesman for Virgin Money insisted the group was pleased with the outcome of the AGM votes. He added: We will continue to engage regularly with our major holders, as part of our normal interactions, to discuss all relevant aspects of the bank, its operations and policies. Virgin Money has strong relationships with its shareholders and we expect this to continue. The AGM vote comes after figures on Tuesday also revealed ongoing pressure on Virgin Moneys mortgage lending, with a 0.8% drop to 59.6 billion in its first quarter as it held off from slashing rates to attract borrowers. It saw a better performance in its savings arm, with customer deposits up 1.6% to 64.8 billion over the three months to December 31, while business lending rose 2.5% to 8.1 billion. President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan has blamed Russia for breaching its agreements with Ankara and has said Moscow isnt observing the agreements that were concluded in Astana and Sochi. This is what Erdogan told reporters on board a plane flying from African countries to Turkey on January 29, reports DW. According to Erdogan, he is in touch with the Russians in order to convince them to stop bombardments in Idlib which is still under the control of Jihads and the Syrian opposition. - English Reggae band Steel Pulse is set to visit Ghana for a concert - The 1986 Grammy Reggae Album of the Year winners are expected in March - The concert will be held at the Accra International Conference Centre - Already, tickets for the concert have gone on sale Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana READ ALSO: This is how Efia Odo looked 7 years ago when she had a huge backside (photo) Steel Pulse, the Grammy award-winning Reggae band from England, will be visiting Ghana in March 2020, YEN.com.gh has learnt. Steel Pulse, YEN.com.gh understands, will be headlining a concert at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre. According to event organisers, Charter House Ghana, the concert will come off during the weekend of Ghana's upcoming Independence anniversary celebrations. This years edition of the annual Independence anniversary which is celebrated on March 6 will fall on a Friday and will thus be a long weekend making paving way for the concert. READ ALSO: Sarkodie reacts to 'news' of Tracy Sarkcess giving birth to their 2nd child in the UK (photo) Already tickets for the concert have gone on sale on the internet (visit www.ticketpro.com / call or WhatsApp 0501288520 for reservations). READ ALSO: Shatta Wale's 7-year-old daughter releases her first-ever song; video drop For those who do not know, Steel Pulse is widely credited as the first non-Jamaican act to win the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album. The won the Grammy for their 1986 album Babylon The Bandit. Formed in 1975, the band hails from the Handsworth area in Birmingham, one of the biggest cities in England. Ghanaian Traders Share Thoughts on Sales During Christmas | #Yencomgh: 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 The Ramco Cements declined 4.08% to Rs 815.60 after consolidated net profit fell 3.03% to Rs 94.60 crore on a 5.99% increase in revenue to Rs 1,290 crore in Q3 December 2019 over Q3 December 2018. Consolidated profit before tax (PBT) slipped 14.65% to Rs 110.89 crore in Q3 December 2019 as against Rs 129.93 crore in Q3 December 2018. Tax expense during the quarter dropped 48.36% to Rs 15.49 crore as compared to Rs 30 crore in corresponding quarter, previous year. The Q3 result was declared during trading hours today, 29 January 2020. The cement sale volume rose 3.53% to 28.44 lakh tonne units in Q3 December 2019 as against 27.47 lakh tonne in Q3 December 2018. Consolidated EBITDA fell 3.10% to Rs 212.55 crore in Q3 December 2019 as compared to Rs 219.35 crore in Q3 December 2018. During the current quarter, the firm witnessed sluggish demand in its core markets coupled with pressure on prices due to active monsoon. Demand in eastern markets was more visible during the current quarter, but the prices particularly in West Bengal were very poor and the trend in January 2020 is positive with improvement in prices. However, the operating cost continue to remain under control in view of favourable prices of fuels viz., pet coke, diesel during the current quarter. The company has been constantly focussing on various cost reduction initiatives and improving productivity while maintaining highest quality standards. The company is taking continuous efforts to optimise the supply chain efficiency. The company's total borrowings as on 31 December 2019 is at Rs 2,679 crore (including current maturities of Rs 341 crore), out of that Rs 1,382 crore is from banks, Rs 195 crore of debentures and Rs 305 crore of soft/interest free loans are long-term in nature. The average cost of interest bearing borrowing is at 7.54% p.a. As against the proposed capex of Rs 3,530 crore for the above capacity expansion programme, the company has so far incurred Rs.1,837 crores for the period up to 31 December 2019. The company propose to meet the above capex partly through internal accruals and partly through borrowings. On 31 August 2016, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) had imposed a penalty of Rs 258.63 crore on the company towards alleged cartelisation. Against the order, the company appealed to the Supreme Court, which by its order, admitted the appeal and directed to continue the interim order passed by NCLAT. Accordingly, the company re-deposited Rs 25.86 crore being 10% of the penalty. However, the firm backed by legal opinion, believes that it has a good case and hence no provision is made. Ramco Cements' main products include Portland cement, manufactured in eight production facilities that include integrated cement plants and grinding units with a current total production capacity of 16.5 million million tonnes per annum (MTPA) with 10 manufacturing facilities across India. The company has been the forerunner in promoting blended cements from 1997. The company caters mainly to the domestic markets. The company is also engaged in sale of surplus electricity generated from its windmills and thermal power plants after meeting its captive requirements. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) LIMA, Peru - A Peruvian judge on Tuesday ruled that opposition leader Keiko Fujimori must be held in prison for 15 months while she is investigated for possible money laundering. Fujimori is an influential power broker in the Andean nation and is accused of taking money from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht. She says she is innocent. Here are more details on her case. WHO IS KEIKO FUJIMORI? Fujimori is a two-time presidential candidate and heir to one of the countrys most powerful political dynasties. Her father Alberto Fujimori was president in the 1990s and still divides public opinion in Peru. Keiko Fujimori lost the 2016 presidential election by less than 1% of the vote but her party, Popular Force, gained a commanding majority of seats in the nations congress, which it later used to start impeachment proceedings against then-President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski. Popular Force obtained documents that showed Kucyznski had owned a consulting firm that took hefty sums from the Brazilian company, which has acknowledged paying out $800 million in bribes to politicians in a dozen countries. Facing impeachment and little support in congress, Kuczynski resigned in 2018. WHAT IS SHE ACCUSED OF? Prosecutors maintain that Fujimori took more than a million dollars from Odebrecht herself, for her 2011 and 2016 presidential campaigns, violating the nations laws. Prosecutors also accuse Fujimori of hiding the money through a complex network of dozens of frontmen. Fujimori claims she is innocent and is being persecuted by rivals who want to destroy her political movement. In October of 2018, a judge ruled that Fujimori should be jailed while prosecutors investigated her, arguing that she could flee the country if she was not placed in custody. That sentence was overturned last year by a high court, which said her human rights had been violated and that she could not be imprisoned if she hadnt been found guilty of a crime. While Fujimori was in prison, her American husband held a two-week long hunger strike to demand her freedom. WHY IS SHE GOING BACK TO PRISON? After Fujimori was freed from prison last year, prosecutors went back to the courts with new evidence of her alleged dealings with Odebrecht. On Tuesday, Judge Victor Zuniga ruled that Fujimori should return to prison because there is probable likelihood that she was involved in money laundering and because she could still evade justice by escaping from Peru. WHY IS HER ARREST IMPORTANT? Fujimoris arrest is part of a broader crackdown on corruption that Peruvian prosecutors have been waging for years. Over the past decade four former Peruvian presidents have been issued arrest warrants for their alleged dealings with Odebrecht. One former president hid in the United States, was captured and is now awaiting extradition. Another former president committed suicide at his home in Lima as police officers got ready to arrest him. Perus current President Martin Vizcarra dissolved the nations congress last year after parliamentarians refused to back his anti-corruption measures. An election was held on Sunday to pick a new congress. WHAT HAPPENS NOW? Fujimori will have to prepare her defence from behind prison bars, and face a lengthy trial. Meanwhile her political influence is diminishing. In Sundays election Popular Force only gained 12 seats in Perus 130 member congress. Previously the party held 72 seats. The party has been deeply divided since 2018, when Keiko Fujimoris brother, congressman Kenji Fujimori, was expelled from its ranks. Their father, Alberto Fujimori was condemned to 25 years in prison for committing human rights abuses. But many Peruvians still praise the elder Fujimori, arguing that he fixed a broken economy and defeated guerrilla groups that terrorized the country in the 1990s. Lufthansa flies direct to China from its hub in Frankfurt. Photo: Boris Roessler/dpa via Getty Images) German flag carrier Lufthansa said it will suspend all flights between Germany and China from today until 9th February. Lufthansa-owned Swiss and Austrian Airlines will also cancel flights to and from China. The three airlines will fly once more to their Chinese destinations to allow passengers to take booked flights and bring crew in China back, according to a Lufthansa statement. It will continue to fly to Hong Kong. Several major airlines, including British Airways, have suspended or reduced flights to and from China as the number of cases of coronavirus, and deaths from the illness, continue to grow. US-based United Airlines said it was also cancelling flights due to a sharp drop in bookings. READ MORE: British Airways suspends China flights over coronavirus outbreak The German government said on Wednesday that it is planning to evacuate around 100 German citizens out of Wuhan in Hubei province, where the coronavirus originated in the coming days. A Federal Health Ministry spokesperson told Bild that all affected people will be accommodated in an isolation station for 14 days after landing [in Germany] without any symptoms of illness." Lufthansa said today that there was a suspected coronavirus case on board one of its planes from Frankfurt to Nanjing on Wednesday. Passengers sitting near the man believed to be infected, as well as cabin crew were examined upon landing. Germany has so far confirmed four cases of people with coronavirus, all of whom are stabile, according to Bavarian health minister Melanie Huml. READ MORE: Germany confirms three more coronavirus cases The first coronavirus case, reported on Monday, is a 33-year-old German man who works at automotive-supplier Webasto. He contracted the virus from a Chinese co-worker, who had come over from Shanghai to the Bavaria-based Webasto company office for a seminar. She first reported feeling ill on the plane back to China, and was confirmed as having corona shortly after she arrived back. Story continues The German patient was Europes first confirmed case of human-to-human transmission of the coronavirus outside of Asia. The virus has killed more than 130 people in China so far, and infected around 6,000. It has spread to 13 other countries, including the US, Australia, Singapore, and Taiwan. READ MORE: How coronavirus outbreak is hitting companies around the world Amid news of Duane 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' Chapman's shock proposal to Moon Angell, it has been revealed that she was one of late wife Beth Chapman's bridesmaids at their wedding in 2006. In a newly-surfaced photo from the ceremony, Angell could be seen standing right next to the bride at the ceremony in Hawaii as they were apparently so close that they felt like sisters. The 66-year-old Dog's new romantic-interest also reportedly worked as an assistant for Beth over several years. A Dog in heat: Moon Angell (circled in red) was BFFs with Duane 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' Chapman's recently-departed wife Beth as she was even a bridesmaid at their 2006 wedding Three's a crowd? Angell could be seen standing right next to the bride as they were apparently so close that they felt like sisters and she also worked as Beth's personal assistant over several years Interesting: This comes amid Dog's shock proposal on The Dr. Oz Show to Angell just seven months after the death of his wife Just a week after Beth's death, Angell took to Twitter to share a selfie of the two of them with a caption to honor her BFF as she wrote: 'THE WHOLE WORLD LOST A MIGHTY WARRIOR GODDESS FULL OF STRENGTH BEYOND #s. I SEE THE WAVE FORMN ACROSS AMERI [American flag Emoji] & CANADA [Canadian flag Emoji]! STAND UP! STAND UP! 'ALICE ELIZABETH CHAPMAN WEEEEE ALLLLLL LOVE YOU TAPIECES! YOU SAY YOU ONLY REGRET NOT WRITING A BOOK ... Oh Bethi U R THE BOOK [Heart Emoji]' This comes after Dog proposed to Angell just seven months after the death of his wife Beth. The television personality popped the question in a teaser clip from The Dr. Oz Show posted on Twitter on Tuesday. 'THE WHOLE WORLD LOST A MIGHTY WARRIOR GODDESS FULL OF STRENGTH BEYOND #s': Just a week after Beth's death, Angell took to Twitter to share a selfie of the two of them to honor her BFF An obviously emotional Dog could be seen turning to his girlfriend and asks: 'Moon Angell, will you marry me?' The moment appeared to come out of nowhere as his love-interest quickly turned to him with her mouth agape. However the proposal wasn't official as sources close to Dog told TMZ on Wedneday that the reality star was caught up in the moment and that he did not give her a ring during the taping last week thus they are not engaged. Production insiders on set of The Dr. Oz Show set felt like the proposal was actually legit at the time according to the publication. Wow factor: During his soon-to-be-aired chat show appearance, the obviously emotional Dog could be seen turning to his girlfriend and asks: 'Moon Angell, will you marry me?' Shocking: The moment appeared to come out of nowhere as his love-interest quickly turned to him with her mouth agape Their sources also claim that Dog revealed he was talking to God in the bathroom during a break and that God told him that he should propose. The video was captioned by The Dr. Oz Show Twitter: 'A marriage proposal? After weeks of family turmoil, @DogBountyHunter and Moon Angell join me to set the record straight.' The surprising question comes after weeks of bickering among the family and months after the death of his fifth wife Beth in June after battling throat and lung cancer for two years. Moon Angell acknowledges the rift as she says in the clip: 'I have lots of enemies right now.' Dog is also very emotional as he can be seen crying and wiping tears from his eyes as 59-year-old host Dr. Mehmet Oz asks him: 'You were going to commit suicide?' 'I have lots of enemies right now': The surprising question comes after weeks of bickering among the family and months after the death of his wife Beth in June after battling throat and lung cancer for two years Sad: Dog is also very emotional as he can be seen crying and wiping tears from his eyes Asking the tough questions: The 59-year-old host Dr. Mehmet Oz queries: 'You were going to commit suicide?' Highly-anticipated: The shocking episode is set to air on Monday Ultimately he tells the host and physician: 'I am a lot happier when she's around.' The shocking episode is set to air on Monday. The appearance on television came just weeks after Dog defended his romance with his son's ex girlfriend and BFF to his recently-departed wife, saying that he's an empty nester in need of companionship as he mourns Beth. 'Who knows what my future holds, but right now I need her,' the reality TV personality, 66, told Radar. 'There will never be another Mrs. Dog but that doesn't mean I have to be so sad.' The veteran bounty hunter praised Moon as 'a trustworthy and loyal friend to [him] for over 20 years,' and 'experienced' with him and the family dynamic. 'Thank you': This came just weeks after he defended his romance with his son's ex girlfriend, saying that he's an empty nester in need of companionship as he mourns his late wife Beth, who died last June after battling throat and lung cancer for two years 'She has been with my family through many ups and downs,' the Dogs Most Wanted personality said. 'All my children are grown and gone on their own, there's no one left to help me!' Chapman told the outlet he believes the lord answered his prayers in the wake of Beth's June 26 passing at the age of 51 at Queens Medical Center in Honolulu. 'I know Almighty God hears my broken heart and I didn't ask him for another Mrs. Chapman, but I asked him for a friend and He gave me Moon,' said Chapman, who on Tuesday posed in a selfie with Angell on Instagram. The relationship between Dog and Angell is not a romantic one, an insider told People earlier this month, calling her 'a family friend to Beth and Dog for years. Not happy: Lyssa has called Angell 'disgusting' and slammed her for preying on a widower All in the family: Lyssa has been seen on TV working with her dad in the past 'Since Beth's death, she has stepped in to help Dog in his time of need,' the insider said. 'There will never be another Beth.' Chapman's statements came in the wake of bad blood between Angell and his daughter Lyssa, who called Angell 'disgusting' and has slammed her for preying on a widower in his most tender of times. She added: 'Any person who moves in on a man weeks after losing his wife, who you were supposed to be a "friend" to, Is the lowest scum on the planet-Which for you wasnt that far of a step down from where you were before. God will get you MARY!!!' Lyssa also revealed that Angell had dated one of Dog's sons previously though she did not identify which one as the reality star has 10 sons. She wrote: 'If someone who met your family by dating your brother, tried to date your father after your step-mom died what would you do?' Outspoken: Lyssa has gone public with her beliefs about Dog and Moon's relationship Lyssa again referred to the relationship between Angell and her father in a tweet from early January. 'Happiness is granted to all, and all I wish is happiness for my family,' she said. 'When a person who has ill intentions, that my mother specifically warned me about before her passing tries to enter, the war is on. She added: The devil ALWAYS goes for the weakest link. Not today satan.' Staying strong: The widower said, 'There will never be another Mrs. Dog but that doesn't mean I have to be so sad' Tragic: Beth died June 26 at Queens Medical Center in Honolulu following a two-year battle with throat and lung cancer Lyssa, who's mother is Dog's third wife Lyssa Rae Brittain, later said that she entrusts her father to decide what is best for himself, but will not endorse any type of romantic relationship between the two. 'My dad is a GROWN A** MAN,' she said. 'His money. His dynasty. 'But you can guarantee that my name is not going down in history as a person who supported this.' R A woman's body has been found by a passer-by on a popular Queensland beach. Police were called to the Esplanade in Hervey Bay, about three-and-a-half hours north of Brisbane, after the body was seen in the water about 7am on Wednesday. By the time officers arrived at the scene, a member of the public had pulled the body from the water, Fraser Coast Chronicle reported. Detective David Mayes said the incident is not yet being treated as suspicious. 'Although we don't know for sure just yet, it's likely that she had been swimming this morning,' he said. A Queensland Police spokesman said they are still in the process of identifying the woman. More to come Part of Prince Harry and Meghan Markles plan to leave the royal family is becoming financially independent from the crown. But in the weeks following their shocking exit, there was a lot of doubt about how the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would fund their lavish endeavors. Turns out, the couple will make a staggering amount of money if they agree to tell their side of the story to the public. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | Chris Jackson/Chris Jackson/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could make millions on a speaking tour Although Harry is sixth in line to the throne, he and Meghan are currently among the most popular members of the royal family. Their Instagram account, for example, already has more followers than Prince William and Kate Middleton, and it was only launched in 2019. Given their popularity, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could earn hundreds of thousands of dollars to speak at events. According to TMZ, a company called GDA Speakers says that Harry and Meghan would command the same amount of money as their celebrity clients, which includes the likes of Nicole Kidman and Diane Keaton. If that holds true, the Sussexes could make anywhere in the range of $200,000 to $300,000 each for a given speaking gig. Multiple that by however many gigs they could land in a year and the pair could easily fund their various endeavors. And speaking is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to their earning potential. Will Harry and Meghan write a tell-all? Another major source of income could come in the form of a tell-all memoir. Now that they are no longer senior members of the royal family, Harry and Meghan could easily write a book about their experiences with Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, William, and Kate. If they did decide to write a tell-all, a publisher could easily offer them an $8 million advance, which would only be a starting point. From there, Prince Harry and Meghan would likely make money from how many copies the publisher sold, which would boost their earnings even higher. The only problem with this plan is that it would require Harry to throw his family under the bus and reveal their dirtiest secrets. Harry and Meghan may have stepped down as senior members of the royal family, but we arent sure they are at that point just yet. How will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle make money? BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond said royals were usually excluded from doing paid work, but by setting aside their titles Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have gained more freedom. Of course, once you lose the title then you are no longer royal and special, and it may be that your brand is much less attractive to potential partners, he said. Public relations consultant Mark Borkowski said even without their titles, the couple are powerful A-listers in their own right, so theyre going to attract a lot of attention. There have been rumors of a sit-down interview with everyone from Ellen Degeneres to Oprah, but the palace denied the claims, calling them categorically untrue. They former royals could also go the way of Barack and Michelle Obama and sign a deal with Netflix to produce original content for hundreds of millions of dollars. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle plan to split their time between the UK and North America and their global reach could open up a wealth of opportunities. Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 28, 2020 | MCCRACKEN COUNTY By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 28, 2020 | 05:29 PM | MCCRACKEN COUNTY A Paducah man was arrested on drug trafficking and gun charges Tuesday afternoon. According to the McCracken County Sheriff's Office, Deputy US Marshals were conducting surveillance in the Forest Hills area of Paducah when they observed a white Dodge Ram unrelated to their surveillance pull into the parking lot of an apartment complex. Deputy US Marshals stated that they observed numerous individuals enter and exit the truck while it was in the parking lot. As the vehicle was leaving the area, drug detectives with the McCracken County Sheriff's Office stopped the driver for traffic violations. Upon contact with the driver, detectives said they could smell burnt marijuana coming from the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The driver, 26-year-old Javarrius Flemons, allegedly admitted that he had marijuana inside the truck, and detectives said Flemons was carrying nearly $4,500 in cash believed to be the proceeds of illegal drug sales. During a search of the vehicle, detectives reportedly seized a loaded .45 caliber handgun from under the driver's seat, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. Flemons was charged with firearm enhanced trafficking in marijuana (second or subsequent offense), possession of drug paraphernalia, and traffic violations. Flemons has a prior conviction for trafficking in marijuana. He was lodged in the McCracken County Jail. Pet O'Connell looks at the region on the Cork-Kerry border that is such a renowned repository of traditional music and dance Its a long way from Ballinahulla, but Denis Doody is big in Japan. Nearly 6,000 miles from his home near Ballydesmond, the intricacies of the late Sliabh Luachra accordion players 1978 album Kerry Music now come under the scrutiny of eager students in the Pacific. Fellow box player Bryan OLeary is impressed by the appreciation for the music of his homeplace on the Cork-Kerry border, encountered during his 2018 tour of Nagoya, Kyoto, and Tokyo. They loved it in Japan, says Bryan. I thought Id have to fill them in on musicians styles and the next thing, I was being asked dyou know on Denis Doodys album, on track two?And they had Johnny OLeary, Jackie Daly tunes... I was amazed. Bryan shares their admiration for the musicians in whose footsteps he walks - the likes of OKeeffe, Denis Murphy and his sister Julia Clifford, known as the Waivers, and his own grandfather Johnny OLeary Not alone was the 2014 TG4 young musician of the year born into the tradition, but his academic education also encompassed a masters degree in ethnomusicology from the University of Limerick, his thesis examining the Sliabh Luachra button accordion-playing of Doody, Daly, Johnny OLeary, and Jimmy Doyle. But while Bryan is a proud purveyor of the areas distinctive polkas and slides, he admits the deceptive simplicity of its dance rhythms means Sliabh Luachra as a regional style can sometimes get undersold as a poor relation of the jigs and reels of Clare, Sligo, or Donegal. As Matt Cranitch, who wrote a PhD thesis on fiddle master Padraig O Keeffe and the Sliabh Luachra tradition, observes, the relative ease with which the notes of polkas can be played may be inversely proportional to the difficulty involved in creating the appropriate rhythm and swing. And, unless the tune is imbued with these characteristics, then much of its real essence is missing. Not only are Sliabh Luachras signature polkas and slides often misrepresented, adds Bryan, but they have become an overly narrow definition of a style which has a far greater breadth than is commonly appreciated. Bryan agrees that polkas and slides of course are a massive part of the tradition and people of the area are very proud of them. But he points to a wealth of distinctive barn dances, waltzes, reels, jigs, and hornpipes in the playing of Murphy and Clifford, OKeeffe, and his own grandfather. You dont hear too many people playing them outside of Sliabh Luachra. Theres common repertoire that we all share with different traditions but theres also so much material that isnt fully appreciated yet and it needs to get the recognition it deserves. He highlights the fiddle-playing of the late Mikey Duggan of Scartaglin. I called up to the house before he died to listen to him play by the fire. I was amazed - he was playing lovely jigs, reels, slides, polkas, and then he took off playing unusual waltzes that you wouldnt hear outside this niche. If people in other areas only knew the wealth of the repertoire. Were probably the most cut-off regional style and maybe we dont get the same level of promotion. The musical intonation of Sliabh Luachra is something Bryan passes on aurally to his own accordion pupils. In a polka or slide you cant do it justice by writing it out on a piece of paper. It has to be developed by ear. When the emphasis is on the offbeat you cant write that down - that has to be developed from listening upon listening, he says. You need to make the rhythm yourself and lean on the long notes, otherwise it doesnt sound anything like Sliabh Luachra music. Bryan honed his own skills from years of listening and playing with masters of Sliabh Luachra music, though never directly from his grandfather. My earliest memories of Irish music are in his company because when I was young I used to be taken to some of his sessions, and in particular the one in Knocknagree, in Dan OConnells bar, which he played in for close to 40 years. He would have played there in the earlier years with the great Denis Murphy but at the time when I was young going there I didnt fully appreciate that. I had a first cousin the same age as me and if the music was in the front of the bar, we were out the back doing our own thing. So I have great memories of the place but unfortunately I didnt play with him and didnt have a gra for music at that stage. His grandfather did, however, have a profound influence on his musical career, though it was a career that almost ended before it began. Henry Cronin taught me tin whistle in first or second class. I was absolutely useless at it and couldnt bring out a note, he admits. There used to be mornings when he used to come that I used to be crying going down to school because I didnt want to take the tin whistle. After his parents acceded to his requests to give up the whistle, it was the death of Bryans grandfather that sparked his interest in the music which had been around him all his life. It was the day he died it really affected me and I was so upset by it. He was buried in Gneeveguilla and I said to my mother that day I think Im going to start the accordion. She probably thought I was bluffing a bit, but the following week I went down to Henry again, only this time with a new instrument. Classes followed with Nicky McAuliffe, a living encyclopedia of traditional music, who with his wife Anne was last year awarded a TG4 Gradam Ceoil lifetime achievement award. Years of musical immersion saw Bryan learn from the likes of his aunt Ellen OLeary, Jimmy Doyle, and Julia Cliffords son Billy. And I was always listening to Denis Murphy or Padraig OKeeffe or Johnny and I nearly forced myself to learn by ear. At the start I wasnt getting them fully right, but what really helped me in learning by ear was that I came to a session in Killarney, religiously every Sunday all through my teens, with Jimmy Doyle, Joe OSullivan and Paudie Gleeson, in Buckleys bar. With myself and Jimmy there was a special connection straight away because Jimmy had been a great friend of my grandfathers and a great disciple of his music. They grew up neighbours and Jimmy would have learnt all his early music from Johnny so it was a nice link because Jimmy would have passed the local stuff on to me. This passing-on of the local tradition is its lifeblood, and while the vibrant music Bryan now plays, including with the group The Conifers, is anything but old-fashioned, it is informed by his knowledge of generations that went before him. Some people say you should stop looking at the past but I draw my inspiration from the past, he says. Bryan traces the tradition through his grandfather and the Waivers of Lisheen, via their teacher Padraig OKeeffe and another seminal figure on the Sliabh Luachra landscape, Tom Billy Murphy of Ballydesmond. Labyrinthine connections make up the areas cultural identity, and back another generation, OKeeffes teacher was his uncle Cal Callaghan. Cal picked up influences from the music of Scottish fiddle players he worked with in America, and from Corney Drew of Dromtariffe, who also taught Tom Billys teacher, Tadhg O Buachalla, known as Taidhgin an Asail since he, like Tom Billy, travelled the roads by donkey, both being blind or partially sighted. Though some also played other instruments they were, to a man, fiddle players - a not insignificant fact, even in an area where the button accordion is now firmly established in the tradition. The fiddle was always the number one, says Bryan. A lot of the research I was doing was based on the accordion music of the area, but youre always learning about the fiddle music while youre doing that because everything the accordion players did in Sliabh Luachra was based on the fiddle. Regarding his grandfather Johnny, he relates: Padraig OKeeffe gave him two bits of advice when he met him first: First of all was to play C#/D style accordion tuning. He felt that it blended better with the fiddle music. It all came down to what fitted better with the fiddle. The second thing Padraig OKeeffe said to him was to leave off the bass because he felt that would overpower the tightness of the duet between the accordion and fiddle. All the stuff we have of Denis Murphy and Johnny is very sweet, and his accordion was always tuned tightly, like Jackie Daly did with Seamus Creagh - they wanted their accordions to blend with the fiddle - and Johnny would never use the bass when hed be playing with Denis. When I was doing my research I was lucky enough to interview Jackie [Daly] and Jimmy Doyle and its amazing listening to them, that they were completely immersed in the fiddle tradition. Jimmy Doyle said when he was young he used to obsess over Denis Murphy and used to try and imitate the Waiver at everything. One of Jackies main teachers growing up was a man called Jim Keeffe, who was a fiddle player that was a pupil of Padraig, so he was listening to fiddle music from day one. In Johnnys music you can hear some of the double-stopping that fiddle players do, the chording. He might hold down two buttons at once which creates a kind of a chord, a bit of a drone, and thats taken completely from the fiddle music. All the accordion players when they were growing up there were so many fiddle players around, so Jackie struck up the partnership with Seamus Creagh, Jimmy Doyle and Dan Leary; Johnny and Denis Murphy - they were all playing regularly with fiddle players. By experimenting with bass, Daly broke barriers, because even on his first recording, Music from Sliabh Luachra, the way he uses the bass is outstanding... Jackie was the first to make the bass acceptable in polkas and slides. The CD with Seamus Creagh broke more boundaries because they arranged the music. It was exciting and it brought something new to the table. To survive as a living tradition, music must constantly adapt and change, just as the polkas and slides of Sliabh Luachra are thought to have originally accompanied the quadrille dances fashionable across 18th and 19th Century Europe. Bryans own music looks both forward and back, the title of his 2015 CD with Colm Guilfoyle repeating the words of Padraig OKeeffe, who when asked to describe his townland of Glountane once replied it was Where the Bog Is. It would be an admirable attempt too at describing Sliabh Luachra, which literally translates as The Rushy Mountain, but defies precise geographical definition. Trying to pinpoint its location is akin to asking Google Maps for directions to Tir na nOg, the late writer Con Houlihan of Castleisland having famously described Sliabh Luachra not as an exact place, but a state of mind whose location had become a moveable feast. Though its soil quality may be poor, the wild landscape which provided shelter for Rockites, outlaws and various other rebels has proved fertile ground not only for musicians but writers and artists. Bryan says the creativity of the place is witnessed in the Irish language poetry of Aogan O Rathaille and Eoghan Rua O Suilleabhain, both from Gneeveguilla. I always think they must have drawn inspiration from the hilly landscape. Im passionate about where I come from and I get inspired looking out my window at the hills and fields of the place. The link between music, landscape, and people and is never more evident than in the playing of Denis Murphy and Julia Clifford, he says. They kind of painted a picture in your head, and great imagery comes to mind for me when I listen to the older musicians - youre nearly looking at the places they were from. Con Houlihan came out with a comment about Denis Murphy, something along the lines of you can see the sun rising over Knocknaboul when you hear him play, and you can hear the cows being driven in for milking. He said he painted in marvellous colours, which a good musician should do because it should set you on a journey. Sliabh Luachra music and its musicians and dancers have indeed journeyed far afield. Though its heart may beat loudly around Scartaglin, Ballydesmond, Knocknagree, and Gneeveguilla, it is in the blood from Newcastlewest and Listowel to Rockchapel and Freemount, Killarney, Newmarket, and Kanturk, and its soul can be found wherever in the world its rhythms are played. The dance The composer of many tunes, Bryan wrote a polka of special significance this year, in tribute to a central character in the set dancing tradition of Sliabh Luachra, Anne Keane, who died in July. Every year we used play for a set in Milltown Malbay and Anne used to be the main woman, inside at the Westbridge which used to be seen as the Sliabh Luachra bar in Milltown. My mother and father, Ellen my aunt, and Eileen Buckley and Ger Connor used to form the set and it was a reunion for them after Dan Connells [bar in Knocknagree] closed. You knew you were at ease when you played for them. The difference is that the people you were playing for, for the dancing, would happily sit down and listen to you for two or three hours. They were into the music along with the dancing. I played at the funeral with a few more and as the coffin was leaving the church she wanted a set danced up at the top of the church and I thought what a way to go, with a polka set being danced. This inspired the title of a polka in her honour Dance your way to Heaven. Bryan adds: I feel very strongly that people like that should be remembered. Its only a small token but its important to acknowledge her. She was an ever-present at all good things in the trad calendar to do with Sliabh Luachra. The past masters Padraig OKeeffe (1887-1963) from Glountane Cross, Cordal, gave up a career as a school principal for that a travelling music teacher. His pupils included Paddy Cronin, Denis Murphy, Julia Clifford, Paddy Jones, and hundreds more, and he developed a distinctive system of notating bowing and ornamentation. They say he turned the ONeills collection of 1001 tunes inside out, says Bryan OLeary. He told my grandfather he knew every one of them, and the day he was being buried, Denis said to Johnny [OLeary] theres at least 1,000 tunes that we never heard of gone into that grave. I would say theres truth in that because its rare that when Ive been given manuscripts of Padraigs that I wouldnt learn something new out of it. Its just a well, of all different tune types. You never know what youre going to get in any manuscript of his. Hes still teaching us because his repertoire was endless. My grandfather said he would have got a lot of tunes from Tom Billy [Murphy] as well, kind of undercover, because apparently they used to have a bit of war, the two of them. On one occasion the fair was on in Knocknagree and Tom Billy was inside the door of a bar playing and being blind, he was happy out, playing away on the fiddle, and Padraig came in and sat up by the bar and was listening to Tom and any tune that Tom played that Padraig didnt have, he used to go into the pocket and write it down shorthand. Then, before he left, famously, there was another tune that Tom was after playing that Padraig hadnt heard, and he was after writing it down and on his way out he said that was a lovely tune Tom, what was the name of that? Tom knew the voice straight away and apparently he told him where to go. The Future There are certain sets I think every young person in the area should be taught from day dot the Ballydesmond polkas, the Knocknaboul polkas, the sets from the Star Above the Garter album. I find it very hard to teach just one tune when I know theres another to go with it, says Bryan OLeary, who teaches in Tureencahill, Newmarket, and by Skype to students in Japan and South Korea. Wherever in the world a musician comes from, there is no substitute for immersion in the tradition, he says, citing upcoming Kerry musicians Kirill and Michael Healy, both adopted from Russia. The two boys live inside in the Arbutus sessions [in Killarney] with Jimmy Doyle and theyve immersed themselves in it. Their parents take them everywhere and theyve had such a grounding from Padraig Buckley in the Killarney School of Music that they have respect for the music and [know] the significance of being able to sit down in a session with John Brosnan or Jimmy Doyle or going up to Scartaglin and meeting Jackie Daly. The boys are regular attendees and performers at Scaraglins monthly Handed Down series which, Bryan adds, is a massive resource for young musicians and Sliabh Luachra enthusiasts in general. See: worldfiddledayscartaglin.ie By Express News Service KARAIKAL: Three diploma students of a government polytechnic college in Karaikal have been recruited by Nissei Electric, a Japanese electric and electronic manufacturing company. S Priya, studying Instrumentation and Control Engineering, K Kalaivani, studying Electronics and Communication Engineering and R Vijaya, who completed Instrumentation and Control Engineering last year from Womens Polytechnic College in Karaikalmedu were selected in the campus recruitment drive. Nissei Electric is based in Iwata of Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan. Education Minister R Kamalakannan lauded the three students for their achievement. The students will fly to Japan and Vietnam for three to four months of training, before taking up their jobs in Chennai. The campus drive was conducted in December 2019. Nissei Electric Executive Director Hidehiko Kirino and the companys nodal HR manager RC Venkatesh led the placement interviews at the college, for which 50 students appeared. The company has reportedly sent the offer letters to the three students, who have accepted it. All three girls hail from humble backgrounds. Priyas father is a painter from Thirunallar, Kalaivanis father is a farmer from Poovam and Vijayas father is a labourer in TR Pattinam. A six-tonne shipment of respiratory masks and protective suits for health care workers landed in China on Wednesday for distribution in Wuhan, the epicentre of a spreading coronavirus outbreak, the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) said. The United States and Japan flew citizens out of the central Chinese city as the death toll rose to 133 and the first case appeared in the Middle East. There have been 5,974 confirmed cases in China. UNICEF's shipment, weighing six metric tonnes, was sent from its global supply hub in Copenhagen and landed in Shanghai, the agency said in a statement. This coronavirus is spreading at a breakneck speed and it is important to put all the necessary resources into halting it, said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. "We may not know enough about the virus' impact on children or how many may be affected but we do know that close monitoring and prevention are key. Time is not on our side. 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 UNICEF said it was working with other agencies including the World Health Organisation on a coordinated response in China and other affected countries. The WHO announced on Tuesday that China had agreed to a team of international experts visiting to help combat the virus but gave no timetable or details. Coronavirus Goa's first coronavirus suspect, a middle-aged Serbian national had arrived in India after visiting a Chinese city, nearly 750 km from Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus. On Tuesday, he was quarantined at the newly created isolation ward of a top government facility, an official said. The Serbian, whose identity has not been revealed by Goa health authorities, had arrived in India last week via the national capital and is currently under observation at the Goa Medical College near Panaji. "The person has developed a sore throat which is one of the symptoms of the coronavirus. He had visited a city in China which is located around 750 km from Wuhan, where the virus is believed to have originated from," Jose D'Sa, Director of state Health Services department told IANS. "We have kept him under observation and sent samples of his blood and throat swab for examination at the National Institute of Virology in Pune," D'Sa also said. Sources said that the Goa Health Ministry was informed about the past travel records of the Serbian national, based on the information collated from the central immigration department, which keeps records of international arrivals to the country. According to Goa Health Secretary Sanjay Kumar, the state government has taken a string of precautionary measures vis-a-vis the new virus outbreak, which includes conducting meetings with airport, port officials as well with associations of medical professionals in the state in order to sensitise them about the measures which need to be taken to identify suspect coronavirus cases and creating awareness about the deadly disease. "The Health Ministry has also taken stock of available medical equipment to tackle the issue," Kumar told reporters. "As a precautionary measure we have also requested the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation to set up a thermal scanner at the Dabolim international airport in Goa," Kumar added. MEPs expected to ratify terms of Brexit deal after a debate, setting in stone Britains exit from the bloc on Friday. The European Parliament is expected to ratify the terms of Britains exit from the European Union, meaning Brexit will finally be confirmed, three and a half years after the referendum. The historic vote on Wednesday at around 17:00GMT will be preceded by a debate. Some 751 members of the European Parliament from 28 member states are widely expected to usher in the final stage of the ratification process. The United Kingdom will then leave the bloc on Friday at 23:00 GMT. From that moment, the UK will be out of the EU institutions and in a transition period, in which negotiations on future trade relations will take place. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has stressed that the transition period should not go beyond one year, ending at the end of 2020, but European leaders and members of the British opposition say that deadline is unachievable. Some British politicians have suggested Brussels might be flexible on its rules to protect trade flows in talks. In recent days, European politicians have stepped up their rhetoric, calling on the UK to be willing to compromise. In a guest article in the German weekly Die Zeit on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the UK will have to compromise on issues such as consumer rights and environment protection if it wants to maintain full access to the EUs single market. By the end of the year, we need to be clear on the shape of our relationship, Mass wrote. So let me say very openly: Yes, we all want zero tariffs and zero trade barriers, but that also means zero dumping and zero unfair competition. Without similar standards to protect our workers, our consumers and the environment, there can be no full access to the largest single market in the world. On Monday, Michel Barnier, the EUs chief negotiator, said the bloc will never, never, never compromise on the integrity of its single market, saying London must now face reality after underestimating the costs of leaving. Leaving the single market, leaving the customs union will have consequences. And what I saw in the last year, is that many of these consequences have been underestimated in the UK. Barnier said while Brussels was willing to be flexible and pragmatic in trade talks, Britains choices have made frictionless trade with the EU impossible. If no trade agreement is reached, the UK still faces the risk of a cliff-edge Brexit in 2021 when an 11-month status quote transition ends. Earlier, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told the BBC that the EU would have the upper hand in trade talks, having the stronger team due to its larger population and market. Ireland, which is not a part of the UK, will remain a member of the bloc, while Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland will exit along with Britain. The residential sector in the Saudi capital Riyadh has witnessed significant activity levels in 2019, according to new data released by global real estate consultancy firm CBRE. The report reveals that the volume and value of transactions has increased in the Saudi capital by 53 per cent and 63 per cent respectively year-on-year. Meanwhile, residential mortgages for individuals in the kingdom recorded a growth rate of more than 250 per cent in terms of the number of contracts signed from January to November 2019. Figures also demonstrate that the value of contracts rose by more than 160 per cent in the same period year-on-year, it stated. According to CBRE, the Saudi residential sector has been further bolstered by continued government support. Last October, the Ministry of Housing launched an initiative to support residential renovations by providing financing for housing units which are over 15 years old. This will likely result in higher activity among existing aging stock within the central districts of Riyadh, stated the property expert. CBREs study also reveals that beneficiaries of the Saudi Ministry of Housings Sakani initiative aimed at increasing the national rate of home ownership has increased by 14% in 2019, compared to the previous year. As of the end of 2019, the capitals residential supply stood at 1.29 million residential units with an expected delivery of 111,000 additional units by 2023, it added. On the office sector, CBRE said co-working and flexible office working structures have continued to distrupt the global office markets, and in Riyadh too they are expected to reshape the office leasing market. The kingdoms unemployment rate declined in Q3 last year to 12 per cent - down from 12.8 per cent in the same period in 2018. These unemployment rates are expected to continue to decline in the short-term, with a positive impact expected in terms of increased potential office demand, stated the property expert in its report. Construction on the Riyadh metro continued to progress in 2019, with operations expected to commence this year. Upon completion, real estate in proximity to key transport hubs will benefit from enhanced accessibility and connectivity. King Abdullah Financial District is also expected to play a pivotal role in upgrading the capitals office market. The iconic project will provide a number of Grade A office towers aimed at cementing the district as a local, regional and global financial hub. According to CBRE, the commercial real estate sector is also due to be further stimulated by increased investment and business activity, as evidenced in the announcement of a number of projects, with total investment of more than $15 billion during the third edition of the Future Investment Initiative in 2019. Total office stock in Saudi Arabias capital stood at 4.3 million sqm of gross leasable area (GLA) in the last quarter of 2019 with an additional 1.66 million sqm GLA expected to be delivered by 2023, it added. Simon Townsend, Head of Strategic Advisory at CBRE Mena and Turkey and General Manager, CBRE Saudi Arabia, said: "The recent economic and social initiatives and legislation introduced by the Saudi government have already had an extremely positive impact on the countrys real estate sector." "We are already starting to witness impressive growth across major real estate segments including residential, hospitality and retail, and this upwards trajectory is likely to continue in the short to medium term. Increased government spending on large-scale infrastructure and mega-projects is expected to further stimulate the overall market, with a positive trickling down effect on other complementary sectors," stated Townsend. According to him, performance remains soft, and oversupply remains a challenge; however, the innovative spirit employed by the government and private entities alike demonstrates the encouraging direction that the real estate market is moving in and the promising opportunities that are continuing to arise. "Furthermore, significant infrastructure projects are nearing completion, such as the Riyadh Metro, which will add to the positive sentiment both from an occupier and investor perspective. Overall, the country is making great leaps in its efforts to become a global business hub and world-class tourism destination, and the market is expected to continue to react positively to the efforts of the public and private sectors alike," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Alice by Heart opens in the antithesis of Wonderland. The story begins in a London Tube station where a group of children have taken shelter following the Blitz of World War II. The young Alice Spencer tries to sneak past the resident nurse Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in hand to get to her friend Alfred, who is quarantined with tuberculosis. If the two of them can dive into their favorite childhood story just once more, perhaps time can be stopped, fates can be changed, and the world can look a little more beautiful. Though inspired by the dynamic imagination of Lewis Carroll, the musical which had its world premiere off-Broadway at MCC just one year ago is more a celebration of the gift a trip down the rabbit hole can give a reader than an adaptation of Carroll's fantastical stories. That is certainly what the show's lyricist Steven Sater and his fellow authors (Waitress librettist Jessie Nelson and Sater's Spring Awakening collaborator Duncan Sheik) intended for the production, and what Sater is now strengthening in the novel he has spun from that original yarn. Sater who in his early 20s spent months in a hospital recovering from a severe spinal injury with nothing but books to occupy his mind, body, and soul intimately understands Alice and Alfred's urgent need for wonder and escape. A trip to Wonderland is not a frivolous fancy it's a means of survival. So as a gift to his kindred characters, Sater has decided to send them through his novel touching bits of great works that saved his life in the hopes that it might enhance theirswhile there's still time. Alice by Heart book writer and lyricist Steven Sater has written a novel based on the 2019 musical, which he cowrote with Jessie Nelson and Duncan Sheik. (photo provided by ID Public Relations) This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Your musical Alice by Heart is inspired by Lewis Carroll's iconic Alice books. What made you decide to return the musical to book form? The show is all about the power of a book and how a book can get you through the hardest times. Through my childhood and my early 20s when I was hospitalized for so long, books were kind of my everything. The show itself is not just a take on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. It's about what the book means to this girl and how it allows her to go into the wonderland of her mind. So when the producer Kurt Deutsch suggested doing a book, I at first was really put off. But then something about the idea of a book about a book really got to me. It was an opportunity to create a book created of books that I had loved. What do you mean when you say the book is "created of books" that you've loved? The book is almost like a mosaic to me. Proust is a huge influence on this book. James Joyce, Virginia Woolf's diaries of the war a whole history of English literature is hidden in the book. There's Beowulf, there's Chaucer, there's Keats. There's a whole memory that Alice has that's reminiscent of a passage in George Eliot's Middlemarch. Some things the aunts say in Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility I've given Dodgy to say in the book. There's a whole world of books within this book. The story is set after the Blitz in 1940 London, and it doesn't shy away from dark themes like war and illness. Do you continue to lean into those topics in the book, and do you feel like kids appreciate the opportunity to wrestle with heavier issues? You know, when we first worked on Spring Awakening, people would talk to me about young people being a postliterate generation. But teens were showing up at CD signings with the lyrics written up their legs. The lyrics of that show are pretty poetic. And I thought, Why have we given up on young people and their love of poetry? I think a sincere cry from our own heart can touch the heart of everyone else around us. I also don't look at the show or the book as being for children. It draws on a lot of techniques of great 20th century literature. That's what informed my view of literature, so that's the kind of book I began writing. We all want to be challenged. We all want to know all the parts of ourselves. Colton Ryan and Molly Gordon as Alfred and Alice in the 2019 MCC production of Alice by Heart. ( Deen van Meer) Did you incorporate any elements of Lewis Carroll's whimsical writing style into the book? For better or worse, it has really informed the kind of book that I wrote. There's a kind of playfulness about the language and a linguistic self-consciousness that you get from Lewis Carroll. But this book is different because it's more a story of a young woman of modern times. It's more heartfelt, it's more personal, there's more interior world. However, you do go to these fantastical places of language. You wrote in your author's note that you want this book to be in conversation with the original Alice books. What kind of conversation do you imagine them having? About the enduring themes of wonder and language and self. The original Alice books are about growing and about versions of ourselves. Who am I? What me am I today? These are really themes we all feel in our own lives that we're reading the book of our life, that the person we were two years ago is a completely different self than the person we are now. Those themes are evergreen. The story of how we leave childhood behind is a thing that we've brought to Lewis Carroll: to say, How can a book like this become a part of your ongoing life? How do you own those parts of yourself and understand them in a different way? That's how I understand the conversation with those books. There's a quote in the book that stood out to me: "In this wartorn refugee world, even the best words held so little abracadabra." Are you intentionally reaching into the present and giving a nod to today's world through this book? One-hundred percent. I feel like we're in a dark, chaotic time of incredible divisiveness in this country, and I think that the value of facts, let alone the value of fiction, is so radically under question. We've cut arts funding from our schools, we've cut all kinds of programs for community art. The value of words and how we find the truth through fiction was really important to me. I've always felt about our show and the book that it was urgent and contemporary. A dangerous driver who jumped to the back seat of his car during a high speed police chase has been jailed. The dash-cam footage, which was released by Kent Police, shows officers pursue Olumuyiwa Rhoomes, 33, as he dangerously drives through Northfleet in Kent towards the town centre in his grey Hyundai Tucson at more than 40mph. Rhoomes was arrested at the scene and later jailed for 14 months at Maidstone Crown Court. A police officer chases Olumuyiwa Rhoomes, 33, from London, as he drives through Northfleet in Kent towards the town centre in his grey Hyundai Tucson Officers follow the dangerous driver as he travels in his vehicle at more than 40mph on October 10 2019 Officers manage to stop the car and arrest Rhoomes at the scene before charging him with dangerous driving During the clip, which was captured on October 10 2019, a police officer speaks to his colleagues as he follows Rhoomes who overtakes another car in the face of oncoming traffic and nearly collides with members of the public. Moments later, the officer spots movement in the vehicle and tells his colleagues: 'We've got people moving around in the vehicle. Standby. Driver has just got in the back. The driver just swapped seats.' Officers eventually stop the car and capture Rhoomes at the scene. Officers travelling directly behind Rhoomes witnessed him climb into the back seat, leaving the car out of control, while travelling at a speed of more than 40mph before his passenger jumped into the driving seat and pulled the car over. Rhoomes, from London, was arrested at the scene and charged with dangerous driving. He pleaded guilty to the offence and was jailed for 14 months at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday. Olumuyiwa Rhoomes, 33, from London, was charged with dangerous driving and jailed for 14 months at Maidstone Crown Court Officers managed to stop the grey Hyundai Tucson during the chase and captured Rhoomes Investigating officer PC Tom Slocombe said: 'Rhoomes put many lives at risk including his own when he drove at speed through residential streets in an attempt to avoid police. 'He showed a blatant disregard for other road users and it's only luck that no-one was hurt. 'Thankfully he was arrested and put before the courts and will now spend time in prison for his actions. 'He has also been banned from driving for more than three years and will need to take an extended driving test before he's allowed back behind the wheel.' michael barbaro From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily. [music] Today: China says it has made lifesaving reforms since the last time it was the source of a public health crisis 17 years ago. So why is the deadly coronavirus spreading so rapidly across the country? My colleague, Javier Hernandez, reports from the center of the outbreak. Its Thursday, January 30. Javier, how did you first hear about this outbreak? javier hernandez Well, we started hearing reports in early January that there was this mysterious virus that was affecting Wuhan, which is a city in central China. archived recording Staff at Wuhan Hospital are working around the clock to identify a mystery virus. javier hernandez People were falling ill to this kind of pneumonia-like virus, which scientists were calling a coronavirus. archived recording Experts believe this is a new kind of coronavirus, which typically causes symptoms of the common cold, but in some rare cases, can lead to pneumonia. javier hernandez Its a very frightening virus that spreads from animals to humans. It was believed to be behind some very serious respiratory illnesses, so it sounded pretty scary. But the official narrative was that this strain couldnt pass from human to human. It would only go from animals to humans. archived recording The potentially deadly coronavirus is thought to have spread from animals into humans at a live produce market in Wuhan. javier hernandez And at that point, they were saying that it was all originating at a single meat market in central China. This meat market sold wild animals, things like bamboo rats, badgers, wolves even. And the assumption was that people had come into contact with these animals and picked up this virus. michael barbaro And it sounds like because it was one meat market, and because this virus could only pass from animals to humans, that this is a pretty small problem. javier hernandez At this point, the reports were that only about 130 people had been infected and that, of those, only about four had died. archived recording Chinese officials say the outbreak is under control. javier hernandez And so the prognosis was that the outbreak was controllable, that it was treatable and that things would be O.K. michael barbaro And Javier, what are you thinking when you hear the Chinese government talking this way, saying that everything is going to be O.K.? javier hernandez We were a bit skeptical. We knew that the Chinese government had a history of downplaying outbreaks like this. And as we saw more and more reports in the international media of this virus spreading, we began to question whether the officials were being totally upfront about what was happening. michael barbaro And what do you mean when you say a history of downplaying situations like this? javier hernandez Well before this virus, there was the outbreak of SARS 17 years ago. And it turned into this global health crisis that infected more than 8,000 people. It killed more than 800 people. And a big part of the reason that it spread so violently was because the Chinese government didnt tell the world. And there was this period of months and months when it was spreading very rapidly in China, and the world just didnt know about it. And for a lot of Chinese today, that experience with SARS makes them very skeptical of anything that the government says when it comes to public health. michael barbaro And I imagine a reporter like you would be similarly skeptical. javier hernandez Right. We really wanted to make sure that we got this one right. We wanted to double check that this was, in fact, a small scale outbreak as the government was portraying it. And we wanted to talk to people who were getting sick with this virus to get a sense of what it was like for them how severe it was, whether they were getting the care they needed. michael barbaro And so what do you do? javier hernandez So I live in Beijing. So I rushed to our bureau here and grabbed masks, enough to last me a couple days, and then headed to the airport and boarded a flight to Wuhan. And I just remember everyone on board, almost everyone, was wearing a mask. I was just struck by that. You never see people wear masks on this scale. And so it felt like there was this sense of anxiety already in the air even before we landed. [music] Once I got there, I rushed off to meet an ambulance doctor who had been posting on social media about this outbreak. And we had contacted him because he was challenging the official narrative about what was happening. He was saying he didnt believe the official numbers. He thought that this could be another SARS-like outbreak. michael barbaro And what was happening to his posts once they went online? javier hernandez They lasted for a while, and then they would be taken down, just disappeared. It was clear that the government was cleaning and trying to scrub the internet of any critical questions about official data. And so we wanted to talk to him about what he was seeing on the ground. michael barbaro And what did he tell you? javier hernandez He told me that he felt like people werent taking enough precautions, that the government wasnt being urgent enough. And he worked in a hospital and had a lot of interaction with doctors and other medical workers. So he felt like his job could be at stake if he were to come forward publicly. michael barbaro So the numbers the Chinese government is providing are relatively small. This ambulance doctor youre meeting with is saying the problem is bigger. So what do you do to try to reconcile those two pieces of information? javier hernandez We wanted to find the people whose relatives had fallen ill to this virus. And so we were looking online for people who were reporting symptoms of fever, cough, basically anything that was associated with this kind of virus. And we stumbled on a guy from Shanghai. He was a 40-year-old architect, and he told me that his stepmother had died just a couple of days earlier from a mysterious pneumonia-like illness. And so I found him, sent him a message, and we agreed to meet at a cafe. [CHATTER] michael barbaro And what is the story of what happened to his stepmom? javier hernandez He tells me that she was a very healthy, normal 65-year-old woman who, a couple of weeks earlier, had started to feel like she was having a flu. So she had some coughing. She had kind of a sore throat, but it didnt seem like anything that bad. But it suddenly began to worsen. She was having a fever. She needed a respirator to breathe. And all very suddenly she was sent to a contagious disease ward, and the family was told that she would likely die. michael barbaro And what did she or her stepson understand about what was behind her illness? javier hernandez They didnt really understand much. For days and days, according to Mr. Wei, the family had tried to get her tested for this coronavirus, this mysterious virus that was spreading across Wuhan. And the doctors and other medical workers refused. He pulled out his phone and showed me her death certificate, and all it said was that she died of severe pneumonia. michael barbaro But why wouldnt they test her, and what does it tell you that they wouldnt test her? javier hernandez It became clear to me in that moment that there seemed to be something going on here. Were these hospitals just not prepared? Did they not have enough testing kits? Were they running out of tests? Had they tested so many people that they didnt have any tests left? Were they just not counting people anymore because they werent even diagnosing them? And if she wasnt diagnosed with this illness, then maybe she wasnt even included in the official count. And one other thing really stuck with me from my interview with Mr. Wei. And that was that the hospital, according to him, told them that his mothers body had to be burned immediately, had to be cremated immediately. [CHATTER] michael barbaro And what does that tell you? What does that mean to you that theyre burning these bodies? javier hernandez It began to put in my head the sense that the hospital workers were beginning to think that this illness was contagious. And the fact that they wanted that body burned immediately began to suggest that perhaps they thought it posed a threat to other people. Her death got us thinking about whether there were other people like her. And when you went online and search social media, you could quickly find others who were reporting similar experiences people saying that they went to hospitals, they brought their sick relatives and were simply turned away. We began to kind of add things up, and it seemed like the numbers werent right. michael barbaro So at this point, it sounds like your skepticism is growing, and its sounding pretty warranted. So what do you do next? javier hernandez So I head back to my hotel and start to try to make sense of all of this. And as Im sitting there in my room, I begin to see these reports emerging on social media archived recording For the first time since the mysterious pneumonia-like illness broke out in China, the countrys health authorities admitted the disease could be contagious. javier hernandez that one of Chinas top health experts has acknowledged that this virus is now spreading from person to person, which had never been the case before. archived recording (zhong nanshan) [SPEAKING CHINESE] archived recording (translator) We considered risks of this before, but now evidence has confirmed that it is contagious among humans. javier hernandez And hes an 83-year-old guy that they dug out of retirement essentially. He was a renowned expert during the SARS crisis. And suddenly, hes all over social media, telling people that this crisis is much worse than had been previously known. michael barbaro So this doctor is very much validating what you have been hearing. javier hernandez Yes. Hes saying that there was even a case where one patient was able to infect 14 medical workers. michael barbaro Wow. javier hernandez And I begin to see the panic kind of spread across social media. archived recording 1 Say I have coronavirus. Could I give it to you right now? archived recording 2 Its possible, if youre coughing and sneezing. If you have a fever, it can be transmitted. archived recording 3 But the spread of Corona virus is accelerating. javier hernandez This is the moment when the world begins to wake up. archived recording 1 Meanwhile, new cases are being confirmed outside of China as well. archived recording 2 Thailand has reported the first case of the Wuhan coronavirus found outside of China. archived recording 3 because now theyre talking Thailand, Singapore, possibly Scotland. The U.K. is bracing for it to go in there. We have airports here in the United States very concerned about it archived recording 4 That are doing surveillance. archived recording 5 here in New York, Chicago and L.A. Every day it seems growing exponentially. archived recording 6 It is. Its growing. javier hernandez The numbers after that point just keep spiraling and spiraling. archived recording 1 The number of people who have died archived recording 2 The death toll climbing once again overnight. archived recording 3 The death toll from a deadly viral outbreak of the new coronavirus archived recording 4 26 deaths so far from the archived recording 5 has now passed 40. archived recording 6 [SPEAKING CHINESE] archived recording 7 Its not just Chinese people who are worried. Everyone is worried. Theyre all afraid of dying. javier hernandez You just hear people wondering whether the virus is ever going to be contained. michael barbaro Well be right back. And Javier, what are you thinking and feeling at this moment? Because youre in this city. Youre interacting with people who are taking care of those who are sickened and infected by this illness. javier hernandez Yeah. michael barbaro Are you anxious? javier hernandez Well Im beginning to feel like this is much worse than I thought. And I think a sense of paranoia can easily settle in sometimes in these situations. I had masks. I was washing my hands all the time. But I couldnt help but think about every button in the elevator that I touched, every surface and every cough or sniffle that I saw around me. The virus could be anywhere, so I had to be careful. michael barbaro I mean, understandably. javier hernandez So I finished up my reporting, and I grabbed a flight back to Beijing. archived recording Just one day before Chinas massive Lunar New Year holiday, as hundreds of millions crisscross the country to celebrate with families, an unprecedented act. javier hernandez And then the very next day, I hear archived recording Today, the entire city of Wuhan, population 11 million, is on lockdown. javier hernandez The Chinese government has placed this entire city under lockdown. michael barbaro Wow. archived recording Trains, flights, buses, and ferries have been canceled. Even public transport within Wuhan has ground to a halt. michael barbaro So the city you have just left has basically told everybody else who remains that theyre not going anywhere. javier hernandez Right. This city is being closed off in a way that China has never done before or even any other major modern city, really, hasnt done it in recent times. archived recording Across China tonight, an expanding lockdown to contain an epidemic. javier hernandez And it was quickly becoming clear to the government that this wasnt just a local problem. archived recording Travel bans in over a dozen cities affecting 35 million people. javier hernandez They quickly expanded it to not just Wuhan, but to other cities, so that there were tens of millions of people who were essentially forced to stay at home and not allowed to go out. Theyve just put in place the biggest lockdown that weve ever seen and what experts are saying is the biggest experiment in public health that theyve ever seen. archived recording 1 Despite their efforts, authorities say the virus has not been stopped. archived recording 2 Much depends on whether the measures set in place by the Chinese government will prove effective. michael barbaro Its hard to imagine most any other country being able to mount that kind of a response. I mean, Im just trying to fathom an American city somehow being locked down. javier hernandez So this is what it looks like when Chinas authoritarian system is in full force. Theres no choice for people to leave. Many people are stuck there. They are going to hospitals that are overcrowded, but they cant get the health care they need. Doctors are complaining about a lack of medical supplies and critical items like masks and goggles. And you get the sense that people are kind of stuck with what they have, and thats the bargain theyve made by living in this system. They have no choice but to follow the governments orders. They cant push back. They cant swim against the current here. Everyones essentially forced to comply with this mass lockdown. michael barbaro You know, from everything weve learned about China and its authoritarian government, it seems like it controls every aspect of its citizens lives and it surveils every aspect of citizens lives. And youve just walked us through how they were able to essentially suddenly drop a wall around Wuhan. So knowing all that, shouldnt Chinas government have been able to identify and control this outbreak before it got out of hand? javier hernandez You would think that, because the government is so well known for being able to pull off these massive displays of citizen mobilization its been known to be able to pull off these technological feats. But at the same time, theres a flip side of this coin, which is that Chinas authoritarian culture, in many ways, set the stage for this crisis. michael barbaro What do you mean? javier hernandez Well for decades, China has built this system, this ruthless system in which if you are an official in the Communist Party, you are expected to be almost perfect. If anything goes bad, you are the one who is going to take responsibility. You are the one who is going to fall. And this has created an incentive system where local officials fear saying anything about bad news. They worry that if they are found to have done something wrong, that they will lose their power. So in a situation like this, the incentive is to cover up. Its to conceal. Its to delay. Its to try to get a handle on these problems on your own, hoping that perhaps nobody will ever hear about it. michael barbaro So by the time something like, say, a medical crisis gets really big, it may be too late for the local officials who have been trying to contain it themselves and keep it from Beijing. javier hernandez Exactly. These kinds of dynamics played a huge role in the scale of the SARS outbreak. It was clear in this case that local officials knew exactly what was going on. They knew that people were dying of this illness. But for months and months, they didnt want to report it up the chain. Instead, they tried to cover it up. They tried to see if they could perhaps deal with it secretly, and maybe nobody would ever find out about it. They hoped that Beijing would know about it. But eventually it broke. michael barbaro So did China learn from that experience with SARS, that dynamic that led to that breakdown, that cover-up? javier hernandez China said it would make a lot of changes to its system after the SARS crisis. It said that it would expand its disease reporting system so that these kinds of reports from the local provinces would come to the central government in a more timely fashion. They promised to be more transparent in the release of data and other things. But what they didnt change was this authoritarian culture, where people fear bringing bad news. And so that has actually gotten worse under President Xi. michael barbaro Why? javier hernandez He has made himself out to be the most powerful leader since Mao. He is somebody whos always speaking about this great ascendant moment for China in which China is going to be this superpower. And anything that goes against Xis vision of this harmonious, resurgent China is going to be seen as a problem. And the people who are creating that problem will pay the consequences. And when I was there in Wuhan, I could sense the fear just rippling across all parts of the society. There were people like the ambulance doctor, who was afraid of challenging the official statistics. There were hospitals that seemed to be paralyzed, that didnt want to test patients for fear of knowing the results. They didnt want to be seen as speaking out or telling the truth or bringing this unsavory story into public view. michael barbaro So that had trickled down all the way to the frontline health care workers, who are supposed to be treating this and sounding the alarm. javier hernandez Right. Theyre fearful of being seen as responsible for this crisis. They dont want to stand out. And when you think about where this virus might be headed next to other provinces, to other cities you have to wonder if these same dynamics would be playing out again. If people will stay silent, if they will not report official cases, because they fear for their jobs and they fear for their livelihoods. michael barbaro So it seems like whatever reforms the Chinese government made after the failures of SARS, that in the end, none of them really matter, because it hasnt changed the problem thats at the root of this. javier hernandez At the root of all this is a sense of fear that is both the Communist Partys strength, but its also a huge weakness. They can mobilize entire cities to be on lockdown. They can convince people to stay indoors. They can scrub social media of information that counters their narrative. Thats all very effective when youre trying to get the public behind your policies. But at the end of the day, the fear is also a huge vulnerability. It creates this system where people are unwilling to speak out, unwilling to bring problems that are really important and that affect peoples lives. michael barbaro Right. I mean, for the Chinese leadership, that works until it doesnt, right? Until you very much need for people to stop being afraid and to speak out about something like a public health crisis. javier hernandez Exactly. And so when you look at the culture, you wonder whether China can actually contain these viruses, whether we will continue to live in a world where the internal politics of the party are going to put lives around the world in danger. michael barbaro Javier, thank you. javier hernandez Thanks, Michael. michael barbaro On Wednesday, the total number of people infected by the coronavirus in mainland China surpassed those infected with the SARS virus during that epidemic. As of Wednesday evening, the virus had infected more than 6,000 people in mainland China. Later today, the World Health Organization will convene its emergency committee to determine whether the outbreak amounts to a public health emergency of international concern, its most severe classification. Well be right back. Heres what else you need to know today. The Times reports that the White House has sent former national security adviser, John Bolton, a letter, warning him not to publish a book in which he recounts speaking to President Trump about the quid pro quo with Ukraine at the heart of the impeachment trial. In the letter, the White House claims that the book contains significant amounts of classified information that could harm U.S. national security. The letter was sent before The Times published a story describing the books contents, a story that has further fueled calls for Bolton to testify in the Senate trial. Senators are expected to vote on whether to call witnesses like Bolton later today. [music] The wreck of the Titanic was hit by an adventure firm's submarine last year but the crash was kept secret by the US government, a court has heard. Officials never revealed that an underwater vehicle hired by a British company had hit the sunken liner, according to legal papers seen by 'The Daily Telegraph'. Last night, the expedition leader admitted that a 27m (32m) Triton submersible ran into the wreck in July when "intense and highly unpredictable currents" caused the pilot to lose control. Eyos Expeditions, an adventure firm based in the Isle of Man, took scientists from Newcastle University to the Titanic in the first visit to the site for 14 years. The submersible is the only one in the world capable of diving below 7,000 metres - more than four miles. On its return, the expedition made headlines around the world after revealing that the captain's bathtub had disappeared inside the deteriorating wreck, lost to bacteria and salt water corrosion. Rob McCallum, the Eyos expedition leader, confirmed last night that there had been "contact" with the Titanic but insisted any damage could only have been minor. "We did accidentally make contact with the Titanic once, while we were near the starboard hull breach, a big piece of the hull that sticks out," he said. "Afterwards we observed a red rust stain on the side of the sub. But the submersible while underwater is essentially weightless - it's not a battering ram." The claims emerged ahead of a landmark court battle set to decide the future of the wreck, more than a century after it went down in the North Atlantic. Next month a US salvage firm, RMS Titanic Inc (RMST), will seek permission to retrieve artefacts from inside the rusting wreck for the first time, including a Marconi wireless described as the "voice of Titanic". The company has been the official salvor in possession of the wreck since 1994. However, its plans are fiercely opposed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the US government weather agency, which holds responsibility for protecting deep-sea wrecks. In a legal filing at the District Court of Eastern Virginia ahead of the hearing, RMST will attempt to cast doubt on NOAA's stewardship of the Titanic, alleging it knew that the two-man EYOS submarine had struck the Titanic in July but officials monitoring the dive failed to inform the court even though an NOAA observer was on board the surface ship. Instead it took more than five months for EYOS to admit the collision. An NOAA spokesman said: "NOAA takes its role in protecting the Titanic wreck and wreck site from disturbance very seriously. NOAA first learned of EYOS' accidental contact with the sea floor and on one occasion the Titanic through EYOS' report. "After NOAA completed its review of the EYOS report, NOAA reminded EYOS legal counsel of EYOS' obligation to provide a copy of the report to the court and RMST, which EYOS did on January 8." If RMST wins the court case, the company plans to recover the Marconi wireless this summer. ( Daily Telegraph, London) With the slogan Egypt, Africa, Cultural diversity, the black continent is at the core of many events and activities at the 51st Cairo International Book Fair (CIBF, 22 January-5 February). One year after Egypt was chosen to lead the African Union for 10 months, Senegal was selected as the guest of honor with a programme that includes plenty of activities in addition to Senegalese publications in Arabic and in French. Major Senegalese intellectuals and cultural figures have been invited to participate including minister of culture Abdoulaye Diop, who made a short visit to Cairo during the opening on which he met with the Egyptian minister of culture Enas Abdel Dayem and other high ranking cultural figures. He described choosing Senegal as a guest of honor as a great choice that reflects the depth of Egyptian-Senegalese relations on the cultural, diplomatic, political, and religious level. Diop also mentioned that the plan was to reflect the diversity of the Senegalese arts and culture in a range of publications in French and Arabic. The Senegalese programme in the Cairo Book Fair aims to exploring and reflect the similarities between the two countries cultures. During his meeting with Abdel Dayem, Diop talked about an initiative to establish an Egyptian cultural centre in Senegal where Egyptian researchers would be welcome to study on the Senegalese art and culture. He also mentioned a cultural exchange where Senegalese researchers and expertise would visit Egypt to explore its ancient civilisation. Both parties agreed on choosing Egypt as the guest of honor at the 2021 Dakar International Book Fair. The Senegalese pavilion in the Book Fair has a variety of fiction and nonfiction books by the most prominent Senegalese writers including the acclaimed Senegalese poet and Sufi thinker Ibrahim Niass (19001975) and the novelist Aboubacar Ndiaye. Prominent Senegalese figures are also celebrated in this years book fair including the late Cheikh Anta Diop (1923-1986) who was chosen as the African Idol for all African countries. Diop was a Senegalese historian, anthropologist, physicist and politician who studied the human races origins and pre-colonial African culture. Egyptology was among his areas of interest and he was one of the earliest African scholars to spread interest in ancient Egypt to a wider African context. The CIBF is also celebrating Leopold Sedar Senghor (1906-2001), the Senegalese poet, politician, and cultural theorist who, for two decades, served as the first president of Senegal. A seminar was organised to explore Senghors life and achievements, attended by Egyptian and Senegalese writers. The seminar also explored his influence on the idea of an African identity based on understanding the others cultures. Senghor was popular in post-colonial Africa, favoring the maintenance of close ties with France and the western world. The participants also reflected on Senghor as one of the prominent poets of the continent. His poetry was widely acclaimed as in 1978 he was awarded the Prix mondial Cino Del Duca, among many other honours he received. He is regarded by many as one of the most important African intellectuals of the 20th century. Among the participants in the seminar is the Senegalese writer, poet and civil servant Hamidou Sall. The Senegalese programme also includes other seminars: A look at Senegalese Literature in Arabic, Senegalese Literature in French: the Legacy and Directions, and Senegalese Literature in the Local Languages. Celebrating cultural diversity on the African continent, a new prize was initiated this year for the best book about Africa which went to the prominent professor and writer Dr Awatef Abdel Rahman for her book Journalism and the African Media.Several seminars and activities were also organised to discuss the horizons of African-Egyptian dialogue: Arab African Cultural Diplomacy, African Culture: Reality and Expectations, The Reality and Challenges of African Unity, Women and Youth in Africa: A Pioneering History, Investment and Development in Africa: Future Visions, International Cooperation and Democracy Constants, African Literature: Linguistic Diversity and Identity Constants, Cultural Resources and Diverse Civilisation, Natural Resources and the Horizons of Development and Industry, African Security: the Imperative of Cooperation and Reconstruction Strategies, Climate, Energy and Future Challenges, and Integration Policies: the Africa that We Want.A series of seminars entitled Africa in a Book was organised for the first time to discuss books on different topics in Africa by writers from all over the world.Among the African cultural figures invited to this years CIBF is Ndileka Mandela, the granddaughter of the prominent African Leader Nelson Mandela. Ndileka, a social activist and former nurse, and the head of the Thembekile Mandela Foundation in South Africa, was the guest of an open discussion with the audience.12 African ambassadors in Egypt are invited to participate in a daily event organised in the Youth of Africa Hall where youth initiatives are to be announced in an open discussion with the audience.The 51st Cairo International Book Fair (CIBF) at its new venue, New Cairos Egypts International Exhibitions Centre (EIEC), runs has a record number of 900 publishers representing 38 countries, and 41 vendors of used books, housed in 808 wings. This years Person of the Fair is the renowned Egyptian geographer Gamal Hemdan (1928-1993). *A version of this article appears in print in the 30 January, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: A demonstrator carries a sign reading 'Capitalism is killing us!' at a pension-reform strike in Paris on 9 January. Photo: Samuel Boivin/NurPhoto via Getty Images Global leaders clustering at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this week may disagree, but the latest survey from US public relations firm Edelman found that over half of people think that capitalism has failed them. Edelman surveyed 34,000 people in 28 markets, including China and the US, between October and November 2019 for its Trust Barometer. It found that, overall, 56% of respondents agreed with the statement that capitalism as it exists today does more harm than good in the world." In the 35-54 age group, that climbed to 59%. The index measures the trust of the public in its core institutions: government, business, NGOs, and the media. We are living in a trust paradox, said Edelman chief executive Richard Edelman. Since we began measuring trust 20 years ago, economic growth has fostered rising trust. This continues in Asia and the Middle East but not in developed markets, where national income inequality is now the more important factor. Despite a strong global economy and near full employment, a majority of respondents in every developed market do not believe they will be better off in five years time, the survey said. Fears are stifling hope, and long-held assumptions about hard work leading to upward mobility are now invalid, Edelman said. READ MORE: Worlds 2,153 billionaires richer than 60% of global population Broadly, more than 80% of workers are worried about losing their jobs to the growing gig economy, recession, cheaper foreign competition, immigrants taking their jobs or their jobs being automated. Two-thirds feel technological change is happening too fast. Incompetent and unethical Peoples expectations of institutions have led us to evolve our model for measuring trust, said Edelman. Trust today is granted on two distinct attributes: competence (delivering on promises) and ethical behavior (doing the right thing and working to improve society). It is no longer only a matter of what you do its also how you do it. Story continues READ MORE: World's elite head to Switzerland for Davos He added that for many, businesses have taken over the role vacated by populist and partisan governments and expectations on CEOs have changed to reflect that. More than 90% of employees say CEOs should speak out on issues of the day, including the ethical use of technology and income inequality, and 75% believe CEOs need to take the lead to make change instead of waiting on governments. It can no longer be business as usual, with an exclusive focus on shareholder returns, Edelman said. While none of the four institutions are regarded as both competent and ethical, business ranks by far the highest when it comes to competence. However, despite being perceived as incompetent and unethical, people trust the government more than twice as much as business when it comes to tackling wealth inequality and climate protection. While fake news has largely damaged trust in the media 57% said they dont think the media is doing a good job at differentiating opinion from fact news coverage is as important to people as ever. It is winter in Delhi but the political temperature in the national capital is rising. Delhi goes to polls on February 8. The three major political parties Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress are leaving no stone unturned to woo the voters during Delhi Assembly elections 2020. The results will come out on February 11. The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP won a record mandate in 2015, securing 67 of the 70 Vidhan Sabha seats. The BJP got just three seats, while the Congress drew a blank. The Election Commission is doing its bit to make Delhi Assembly polls 2020 a success. The poll panel is using technology for voters advantage by uploading all the necessary information on its website. From voter list to election schedule and constituency info, the website has it all. The Election Commission has also decided to station over 90,000 officials to conduct the Delhi assembly elections 2020 in a transparent manner. The voting in Delhi will take place at 13,750 polling booths. As per the election schedule, the filing of nominations will close on January 21, while scrutiny of documents will take place on January 22. Candidates can withdraw their candidature till January 24. Voters should read affidavits of the candidates contesting from their constituency to make an informed choice. Every candidate files his/her affidavit while filing nomination. Affidavit is a document containing information about a candidates total assets, liabilities, pending criminal cases, educational qualification etc. How to see affidavits of candidates: Go to the official website of Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi. You can also visit the website using the direct link - https://ceodelhi.gov.in/home.aspx Select the Candidate Affidavit option given in Delhi Legislative Assembly Election 2020 section. You can also go to the candidate affidavit page by clicking on the link - https://affidavit.eci.gov.in/ On the affidavit page, you have to select your state and constituency. Upon selecting the state and constituency, you can see the affidavit of the candidates contesting from your assembly seat. In a 2015 interview, Vargas said she and Price were attending a graduation party for her nephew on Prairie Avenue on June 6, 2015, when a fight broke out between Jimenez and other attendees. Price had broken up an initial fight, and he and Vargas were in their car, trying to leave, when Jimenez opened a car door and stabbed Vargas, authorities said. A tiny gene fragment may explain why some autistic people have cognitive impairments, a new study suggests. The segment, known as an eIF4G microexon, plays a large role in brain development and the processing of information. In research conducted on mice, scientists found that rodents missing this fragment had poorer social skills as well as difficulties with learning and memory. The team, from the University of Toronto in Ontario, Canada, says the findings provide evidence that gene therapy to reintroduce this segment could one day be an effective treatment for autism. However, many in the autism community believe the disorder doesn't need treatment at all. A new rodent study from the University of Toronto in Ontario, Canada, has found that a missing gene segment could explain why autistic people struggle with social interaction, memory and learning (file image) 'It's very important to understand the mechanisms that underlie autism, especially in idiopathic forms where it is not clear what the underlying causes are,' said lead author Thomas Gonatopoulos-Pournatzis, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder in which sufferers have a hard time communicating and with behavior. It encompasses several conditions - including autism, Asperger's syndrome and other disorders with language and motor skill delays - and symptoms can range from mild to severe. Children are usually diagnosed by age two after they exhibit signs such as reduced eye contact, not responding to their name and performing repetitive movements. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in 59 children has ASD, and boys are up to four times more likely to have the condition than girls are. The team, in previous research, had found a link between autism and tiny gene fragment called microexons, which are primarily found in the brain. They looked at a specific microexon in a gene known as eIF4G, which plays a role in helping cells make proteins. Results showed that this short segment is often missing or deficient in eIF4G genes in the brains of autistic people. For the new study, published in the journal Molecular Cell, researchers bred mice that lacked the eIF4G microexon and compared them to control mice that were not missing the fragment. Mice without the segment had issues with social behavior such as avoiding interaction with other mice. The rodents missing the microexon also did not perform well on a learning and memory tests compared to the control mice. Removing this single small gene segment appeared to trigger many of the most classic traits seen in people on the autism spectrum. 'We could not have imagined that a single microexon would have such an important impact not only on social behavior but also on learning and memory,' said Gonatopoulos-Pournatzis. 'Not only have we identified a new mechanism that contributes to this disorder, but our work may also offer a more rational development of therapeutic strategies.' The team believes the results could explain the cause of some autism cases that don't have any other genetic clues. Uganda has been ranked as the second strongest country in the East African Community (EAC) in terms military strength and 15th on African continent. According to 2019 Global Fire Power (GFP), a US base website, Uganda follows Kenya whose global ranking is 86 and 15 in Africa with 1.4177 power index rate. Uganda is ranked 93 out of 137 countries currently considered for the annual GFP review. It holds a power index rating of 1.5802. Stories Continues after ad Tanzania is raked 97 in the world, 17 in Africa, Rwanda is not ranked world and Africa, South Sudan is ranked 113 in the world and 24 in Africa. According to the GFP, Uganda has 48 air crafts that is to say 10 fighter jets, 10 attacker jets, two transporters, 10 trainer jets, 26 helicopters, and five attack helicopters. Yesterday one helicopter crashed while on training mission. In terms of land strength, GFP indicates that that the country has 471 combat tanks, 630 armored fighting vehicles, six self-propelled artillery, 53 towed artillery and 26 rocket projectors. African Powers alluding to the website, are ranked by Military Strength and each nation detailed of the GFP is accessed on individual and collective values. For centuries, the African continent has been beset with fighting, political upheaval and oppression. The rankings are based on Manpower, air power, Army Strengths, Naval Power, Financial Resources, Logistical Resources, Natural Resources, Geography among others. The GFP list makes use of over 50 individual factors in their in house formula to determine a given nations power index score. This provides the final ranking while also allowing smaller, more technically advanced, nations, to compete with larger, lesser developed ones. Some bonuses and penalties are added for refinement that in the end we hope presents unbiased look into potential conventional military strength of the world. African countries by rankings Libya, Zambia, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, Chad, Tanzania, Mali, Botswana, Cameroon, Ivory coast, Ghana, Mozambique, South Sudan, Niger, Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Namibia, Gabon, Mauritania, Somalia, Central African Republic, Sierra Leon and Liberia. Worldwide, USA emerged superior followed by, Russia, China, India, France, Japan, South Korea, UK, Turkey, and Germany and so on. One of the students injured in violence at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University, when police had entered the campus, moved the Delhi High Court on Wednesday seeking a court-monitored probe by a committee or an SIT into the incident. The petition was moved by Md Minhajuddin who lost vision in one eye in the violence and is battling to save sight in his other. His petition seeks compensation commensurate with his qualifications, for the injury suffered by him, and also registration of an FIR against the police personnel involved in the incident. The plea seeks directions to the Centre, the Delhi government and the police to bear expenses of his treatment and to provide him a permanent job commensurate with his qualifications. In December last year, the national capital had witnessed violent scenes when several buses, motor-bikes and private vehicles were set ablaze during anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests near south Delhi's Jamia Nagar area. The police had later entered the Jamia campus and fired tear gas shells, baton-charged students and detained several protesters. Several students, including the petitioner, were injured in the police crackdown. Saoirse Ronan attends the 20th Annual AFI Awards at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on January 03, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for AFI) **BESTPIX** Saoirse Ronan attends The BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on January 04, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images) Hollywood star Saoirse Ronan is to fly the flag for Irish film as the first-ever official ambassador for the Irish Film Institute. The Oscar nominee from Co Carlow has agreed to a three-year commitment to promote the work of the IFI which champions Irish films going back as far as 1897. She has agreed to volunteer her time to promote the institutes vast archival library as well take part in its promotion of Irish film in public exhibitions and events, according to a spokesman for the IFI. She is currently busy preparing to strut the red carpet at both the BAFTA awards in London and the Academy Awards in Hollywood next month after being nominated for Best Actress awards for her role as Jo March in Little Women. However, she will be on hand to promote the work of Irish film at public events at venues like the Irish Arts Centre in New York when her busy schedule permits, he said. The actress, who is not only a household name in Ireland but around the globe, said she is both delighted and honoured with the role. Film in Ireland is always something I will support. Our industry is going from strength to strength through the incredible projects being produced at home and abroad by Irish filmmakers, and by producers from across the pond also, she said in a statement. IFI has always cared about great cinema, and I am honoured to play a small part in their effort to share the brilliant work that is out there with as many people as possible. The appointment follows on from her work with the IFI in 2011 in which she appeared in a fundraising video promoting its vast collection of 30,000 film cannisters that are stored in a special climate-controlled repository at Maynooth University. Among the work she will be promoting will be iconic films from Irish filmmakers like John Huston, Neil Jordan, Jim Sheridan and Lenny Abrahamson as well as archival material, including footage of Dublin and Belfast shot in 1897 by the French founders of cinema, the Lumiere brothers, inventors of the first motion picture camera and projector. The Myth Makers, Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein, at 1401 Federal Street in Camden. The two have been selected to produce a public art installation at the site as part of A New View, a project funded by a $1 million Bloomberg Philanthropies grant. Read more When its completed, the new amphitheater on Federal Street in East Camden will look like a phoenix rising from the ashes. The metaphor is purposeful. That new space will be one of the art installations popping up in Camden in May. Camden won a $1 million Bloomberg Philanthropies grant to support creating large-scale public art in former illegal dumping sites. The eight winning artists and firms selected were announced Wednesday on the campus of Rutgers University-Camden. Camden is one of five cities to receive the Bloomberg award, following Anchorage; Coral Springs, Fla.; Jackson, Miss.; and Tulsa. Were encouraging what I dub inclusive prosperity. Were encouraging residents from the surrounding neighborhood to make that a common space, said Camden Mayor Frank Moran. Were not doing the same thing and expecting different results as weve done historically. Were doing different things, thinking outside the box. Leading the collective project, called A New View, along with the city of Camden are Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts and Coopers Ferry Partnership. Curators Judith Tannenbaum and Kimberly Camp combed through 131 applications to select eight winners, for six sites and two projects that will appear in locations throughout the city. The installations of A New View are temporary and will run until Halloween. Camden is no longer a dumping ground, said Meishka Mitchell, vice president of Coopers Ferry Partnership. Thats both literally and figuratively. Cyril Reade, director of the Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts, said while the city changes, art shouldnt be overlooked. The kinds of transformations that I see are the big corporations that have come and theyre installing themselves, you know, Subaru and American Water, he said. If Camden has a heart, and it has a soul, and if we want to tap into that, you do that through the arts, not through big buildings. Heres a rundown of the eight installations coming to Camden. Invincible Cat DKLA Design, a Santa Fe-based firm led by Don Kennell and Lisa Adler, will place a mammoth black panther in Whitman Park. The 36-foot-long feline will be made from car hoods, a nod to the impacts of carbon emissions. Bio-Informatic Digester In the Gateway neighborhood, there will be a machine that will allow mealworms to eat away at Styrofoam. One goal will be to turn an environmental process into a spectacle that passersby can watch. The Brooklyn-based architecture think tank Terreform ONE will be building the digester. Turntable In North Camden, the New York firm SLO Architecture will construct a spinning, cylindrical sculpture from reused plastics, including thousands of soda bottles. Touching the Earth Also in North Camden, the winning artists will count on help from Camden residents to create a new public space, encapsulated by three sculptures and anchored by a mini park (urbanist term: a parklet) that will feature greenery and vegetables. The artists leading this project are indigenous ceramicist Athena Steen and public artist Josh Sarantitis. Mechan 11 By the pedestrian bridge in Cramer Hill, Portlands Tyler FuQua Creations will fabricate a 15-foot metal robot sculpture, representing the character of a litter collector. The character will have a glowing heart, to symbolize the need to care for the earth. The Phoenix Festival Bostonians Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein of the Myth Makers will build two 22-feet tall bamboo phoenixes, with an amphitheater in the center. The Myth Makers plan to work with volunteers in Camden to make the amphitheater a reality and then active space for events. No one really goes there, so were hoping that it becomes a pop-up park for people to come [to] maybe have lunch, said Dodson. Were going to be partnering with Coopers Ferry and therell be concerts and performances featuring local artists. Camden Is This photography project will appear on billboards throughout the city. The Erik James Montgomery Foundation will present dozens of portraits of Camden residents, showing a human side to Camdens resilience. Theres a lot of unsung heroes in the city not only schoolteachers, artists, and people of that nature, business people, entrepreneurs, but also people that are recovering from drugs and alcohol, Erik James Montgomery said. I want to give a panoramic of individuals from Camden to give a proper representation of this great city. Pod Park In various locations, the project will include pods made from salvaged materials. The roofed pods will be like chill spots, where people can sit during the summertime for shade. Leading this will be Camden native Tom Marchetty, who owns the Factory, a makerspace in Collingswood. Marchetty said that while driving around Camden, its apparent that there could be more art in town. Hopefully this kind of opens up [peoples] eyes. Actually, Im hoping its a starting point. October, I hope it doesnt end there, he said. This might be a great catalyst for people to start building and making these sites more usable. New Delhi [India], Jan 29 (ANI): BJP's star campaigner Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address two rallies in the final week of the Delhi assembly poll campaigning. "One rally of the Prime Minister will be held in East Delhi at Karkardooma on February 3. The other rally will be held in Dwarka on February 4," a senior party leader said. The Prime Minister addressed a rally at Ramlila Maidan in the capital on December 23. The Prime Minister's appeal is likely to be used by the party as a final push for votes. The party feels that Prime Minister Modi's appeal can be effective in garnering votes of undecided voters. Sources said the two rallies have been planned after the Union Budget. "The dates have been chosen as the BJP wants to utilise the Prime Minister when the campaign is at its peak," sources added. The party's senior leadership -- led by BJP chief JP Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah -- has been in overdrive ever since the announcement of the Assembly polls. Other leaders, including Union Cabinet Ministers and Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states, have also been campaigning across the city. Delhi is scheduled for Assembly polls on February 8. 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.) BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - The United States and Japan flew nationals out of Chinas virus epicenter on Wednesday and some big-name airlines suspended flights as deaths leapt to 133 and a senior economist predicted a major impact on growth. Beijings plans to slay the devil coronavirus may have won the trust of the World Health Organization (WHO), but confirmation of another 1,459 cases - taking the total to 5,974 in China - only fueled global public alarm. Deaths from the flu-like virus also rose by 27 to 133. Almost all have been in the central province of Hubei, the capital of which is Wuhan, where the virus emerged last month in a live wild animal market. The situation remained grim and complex, Chinese President Xi Jinping acknowledged. In many Chinese cities, streets were largely deserted with the few who ventured out wearing masks. Starbucks coffee shops required people to have temperatures taken and masks on. Its my first time here in Asia, I feel very unlucky, said Brazilian tourist Amanda Lee, 23, cutting short a trip. I couldnt even see the places I wanted, like the Great Wall. There was relief, however, among evacuees from Hubei province, home to about 60 million people and under virtual lockdown. I was extremely worried that I was stuck there, said Takeo Aoyama, who arrived in Tokyo on a chartered plane carrying 206 Japanese out of Wuhan. The United States flew about 210 citizens out of Wuhan, to be screened several times on arrival in California. Britain said it would put 200 citizens on a charter plane on Thursday. The virus is weighing heavily on the worlds second-biggest economy, with companies cutting corporate travel to China and tourists cancelling trips. Various airlines are cutting flights, from British Airways and Lufthansa to Tanzanias national carrier that postponed maiden flights. A government economist said the crisis could cut Chinas first quarter growth by one point to 5% or lower as the crisis hits sectors from mining to luxury goods. Hong Kong stocks took a beating on the first day of trading after the Lunar New Year break. Casino and financial stocks led the Hang Seng index 2.5% lower to a seven-month trough. Regional markets, however, arrested their slide, with stocks in Japan, Australia, South Korea and India steady or firmer and currencies mostly stable. In our view, the worst is yet to come, securities firm Nomura said, warning of a severe, near-term blow to Chinas economy. SPREADING AT BREAKNECK SPEED But in a potentially major step toward finding a vaccine, scientists in Australia said they had developed a lab-grown version of the virus, the first recreated outside China. The researchers at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity said they would share the sample, grown from an infected patient, with the WHO and global laboratories in the hope of hastening immunization and detection. Australias government said it would help some citizens leave and quarantine them on Christmas Island, best known for housing asylum seekers. The number of cases in China now exceeds its tally of 5,327 infected with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) that killed about 800 people globally in 2002 and 2003. While some experts believe the new strain, known as 2019-nCoV, is not as deadly as SARS, alarm has grown over its rapid spread and many unknown attributes, such as how lethal it is. There have been more cases in China, but so far with a lower death rate than the SARS outbreak, said Michael Head, a health researcher at Britains University of Southampton. A pandemic is typically called by the World Health Organization after there has been sustained transmission across many countries. Though there have been cases reported in several countries now, were not quite at that stage of sustained transmission yet. Like other respiratory infections, the new virus is spread by droplets from coughs and sneezes, with an incubation time between one and 14 days. About 60 cases, but no deaths, have been reported in 15 other countries. In the first known cases in the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates diagnosed four members of a Chinese family who arrived from Wuhan with the coronavirus. Hubei governor Wang Xiaodong said the outbreak in Huanggang city was also severe and it must not be allowed to become a second Wuhan. Companies in the province should not resume work before Feb. 13, he told reporters. The most difficult part is to be at home most of the day. It is more safe to stay away from other people, said Emilia, 28, a research scientist and Russian national in Wuhan. U.N. childrens agency UNICEF sent six tonnes of masks and protective suits for healthcare workers. This coronavirus is spreading at a breakneck speed and it is important to put all the necessary resources into halting it, said executive director Henrietta Fore. CAIRO - Total losses from the closure of Libyas major oil fields and production facilities has accelerated, reaching more than $502 million over a 10-day period, the countrys national oil company said Tuesday. The announcement came as an artillery shell exploded close to a school south of the capital, Tripoli, killing at least three children, health authorities said. The oil closures came when powerful tribal groups loyal to military commander Khalifa Hifter earlier this month seized several large export terminals along Libyas eastern coast as well as southern oil fields. Hifter controls eastern Libya and much of the southern part of the country. The moves were meant to challenge Hifters adversaries in the internationally backed but weak rival government that controls Tripoli and western areas. The National Oil Corporation, which dominates Libyas critical oil industry, said, The total value of losses since the beginning of the blockades has reached $502,289,339 as of Monday, January 27, 2020. It put the average daily loss at $50.2 million. The corporation said oil production had fallen from over 1.2 million barrels a day before the seizures to 271,204 barrels on Monday. Seeking to reassure Libyans, the corporation said fuel levels in the countrys central and eastern regions remain sufficient. It added, however, that the western and southern regions have faced some supply shortage due to the deteriorating security situation because of the fighting between Hifters forces and Tripoli-allied militias. The oil shutdown was seen as part of Hifters efforts to take control of Tripoli and punish his adversaries there for sealing security and maritime agreements with Turkey, opening doors for unlimited military support from the Turks. Oil, the lifeline of Libyas economy, has long been a key factor in the civil war, with rival authorities jostling for control of oil fields and state revenue. Libya has the ninth largest known oil reserves in the world and the biggest oil reserves in Africa. The closure came just two days before world powers with interests in Libyas long-running conflict pledged at a conference in Berlin to respect a much-violated arms embargo and push opposing factions to reach a cease-fire. Hifters self-styled Libyan Arab Armed Forces began the offensive against the capital last April, and fighting with an array of militias loosely allied with the Tripoli-based government have killed over 3,000 people and displaced 200,000 in the city. Tripoli health authorities said three children were killed Tuesday when a shell hit close to a school in the southern town of al-Hadaba al-Badri. Another child was critically wounded. The Tripoli fighting has threatened to plunge Libya into chaos rivaling the 2011 conflict that ousted long-time dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who was later slain. Hifter is supported by Egypt, Russia and the United Arab Emirates, while the embattled U.N.-backed government is aided by Turkey and Qatar. WILMINGTON, Del., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Arkieva, a leading provider of Advanced Planning and Scheduling software tools for manufacturing companies, today announced that Lavazza Professional has implemented the Arkieva Demand Planner to create an enhanced demand planning process. Lavazza Professional, North American subsidiary of Luigi Lavazza S.p.A., a 120-year old global Italian manufacturer of high-quality coffee products and coffee machines has implemented the Arkieva Demand Planning solution. "We needed to move our demand plan from an over-simplified and rigid spreadsheet model to a systemized solution that could provide us with a higher degree of statistical rigor. We selected and implemented Arkieva as the best-fit solution to help ensure that sales, marketing, and operations are all working with the same information and focused on the same business goals," said Ashley Holladay, Demand Planning Manager for Lavazza Professional. The Arkieva Demand Planner helps manufacturers profitably and quickly react to market shifts, supply disruptions, and special events. Arkieva provides solutions for "what-if" scenario analyses across demand, sourcing patterns, capacity, and distribution. "We are very excited and pleased that Lavazza has implemented the Arkieva Demand Planning solution," said Jelle Clement, Practice Director, Arkieva. About Luigi Lavazza S.p.A. and Lavazza Professional Founded in 1895 in his small grocery shop in Turin, Luigi Lavazza invented the concept of blending: the art of combining different coffee varieties and origins, which even today distinguish all of Lavazza products. The Group consists of about 30 companies managed directly or indirectly by the parent company Luigi Lavazza S.p.A. based in Turin. Lavazza Professional is a B2B division of Lavazza that sells the FLAVIA system of office coffee solutions in North America. Visit their website here. https://www.lavazzapro.com/ About Arkieva Supply Chain Software Arkieva (www.arkieva.com) is more than a supply chain software technology company. We are a team of dedicated supply chain consultants helping global and national manufacturers transform supply chain complexities into a competitive advantage one supply chain link at a time. Arkieva is used in some of the world's largest corporations, including Nouryon, Sunsweet Growers, Wonderful brands, Neuhaus, LUSH Cosmetics, Duvel, and Grande Cheese. Contact: Hellen Oti-Yeboah, [email protected] SOURCE Arkieva Related Links arkieva.com New York, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CFA Society New York is proud and excited to announce the results of 2020 Society Elections and welcomes dedicated member Dr. James Adams, CFA, to its Board of Directors. 2020 ELECTION RESULTS New Board Director Electee Dr. James Adams, CFA - New York University Reelected Board Directors Deepika Sharma, CFA - BlackRock - BlackRock Sammy Suzuki, CFA - AllianceBernstein (AB) - AllianceBernstein (AB) Maria Weitzer, CFA - APG Asset Management U.S. The presiding board members have been instrumental to the evolution of New Yorks local CFA Institute chapter, overseeing historic gains in recent years by way of, yet again, establishing new benchmarks in areas related to membership, event attendance, volunteer participation and revenue. Such steady progress, and the new heights that have been attained, highlight an auspicious trend; one in which both persisting and incoming elected officials will be certain to continue to leverage in service of the Societys mission to advance the investment industry, and to forge new paths forward for the largest CFA Institute member society in the world. I am pleased to welcome James Adams to the Board of Directors of CFA Society New York, Board of Directors Chair Jonathan Prin, CFA, said. James brings a welcome new perspective to Society leadership, and his experience across both industry and academia will be a valuable complement to the existing proficiencies of the Board. We are grateful to the many members who took time to participate in the 2020 Society Elections. Elected Board Director DR. JAMES ADAMS, CFA Adjunct Professor of Finance and Risk Engineering - Tandon School of Engineering Visiting Clinical Assistant Professor School of Professional Studies New York University During Adams 26-year tenure at J.P. Morgan, he led client coverage teams in Derivatives, Rates, Foreign Exchange and Investor Services covering major institutions across the globe and spent several years in Europe managing major multinational corporate relationships. In his most recent role as Managing Director at J.P. Morgan, he managed sales and relationship management for North American Asset Owners and Consultant Relations in Investor Services, as well as emerging technology client outreach globally for Investor Services. He was also active in recruiting, training and mentoring professionals at J.P. Morgan. Dr. Adams has published peer-reviewed academic articles in corporate finance, derivatives and pension risk management and co-authored several CFA Institute curriculum readings. Dr. Adams earned a Ph.D. and M.A. in Economics from The Ohio State University and a B.A. in Economics from Wayne State University. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and active member of the CFA Society New York. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of two publicly traded Canadian companies (Sokoman Minerals Corporation and Visionstate Corporation). We are proud that CFA Society New York remains committed to the highest level of governance standards, including democratic elections to decide its leadership, Prin said. CFA Society New York is in a strong position to continue as the leading global CFA Society. Outgoing Board Chair JONATHAN PRIN, CFA Managing Director and Head of Research Greylock Capital Prior to joining Greylock, Prin was a portfolio manager and member of the Global Fixed Income Group at JP Morgan Asset Management. At JP Morgan, Mr. Prin was responsible for managing and trading emerging market high yield corporate debt portfolios. Prior to joining JP Morgan, he was a credit analyst at Bear Stearns Asset Management. Previously, Mr. Prin was a research analyst in the Leveraged Finance Department of Credit Suisse First Boston, as part of an Institutional Investor-ranked group. Mr. Prin has a B.A. in from the University of Pennsylvania and received his CFA charterholder designation in 2009. On behalf of our members, the Society thanks Jonathan Prin for his service to the Board and for his recent leadership as Board Chair, CFA Society New York CEO Daniel Dagen, CFA, said. He has made key contributions to the growth of the Society. Throughout his tenure, the Society faithfully advanced professionalism in the industry and developed a greater capacity to continue serving this purpose well into the future. We look forward to his continued engagement in the years to come. Since 1937, CFA Society New York remains steady as a leading forum for the investment community. CFA Society New Yorks mission is to raise the standards of the investment profession by engaging a dynamic community of local investment professionals and creating thought leadership for the global industry. CFA Society New York thanks all of its members for participating in its 2020 election process and expresses sincere appreciation and gratitude to each nominee and departing director for their invaluable contributions to the CFA Society New York membership community. # About CFA Society New York CFA Society New York is the largest of more than 150 member societies of CFA Institute. Its activity began in 1937, when value investing pioneer Benjamin Graham began organizing regular meetings of local security analysts. Throughout its history, the society has remained a volunteer-led, member-driven forum for the investment community with the broad, basic aims of: establishing and maintaining a high standard of professional ethics, improving analytical techniques, supporting the interchange of ideas and information among analysts, and promoting a proper public understanding of the function of security analysis and the operation of the securities markets. CFA Society New York works in conjunction with CFA Institute to develop the industrys future professionals and to raise the standards of professionalism in the investment management industry. For more information, visit www.cfany.org or follow us on Twitter @CFANY. Attachments Farmers are being advised on what actions can be taken after the recent wet weather could impact crop diversification requirements for subsidy claims. With soils already saturated, making land impassable, this could have an impact on farmers meeting their crop diversification rules under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) for 2020. If bad weather or flooding prevents farmers from meeting their crop diversification requirements, they may be able to claim force majeure due to the impact of forces beyond their control, according to Fisher German. Although this may not become relevant until the spring, the firm advises those affected to be prepared and to collect any evidence now that could help explain why the wet weather has prevented them from meeting their BPS rules. Matthew Ayres of Fisher German says: We would hope that the Rural Payments Agency will recognise the problems farmers have faced recently due to the adverse weather conditions well in advance of the Basic Payment Scheme application deadline and issue much needed further guidance sooner rather than later, to ease concerns. Mr Ayres adds that evidence should include details of the actions taken or that farmers were unable to take, with an explanation of the events and the dates they occurred. Examples of appropriate evidence Rainfall data related to a farm or local area showing that rain was exceptional during the period when they would normally be drilling or planting crops. Seed invoices supported by delivery notes. Evidence of original cropping plans for 2020. Letters from suppliers unable to supply the seed wanted. Photographs illustrating the conditions in the fields. Ideally these should be date-stamped and contain reference features that can be related to a map so that the location can be identified. Mr Ayres advises farmers to forward plan and keep additional records to support any unforeseen circumstances which may result in them not being able to drill crops as originally planned. It should also be noted... Land temporarily flooded remains eligible for Basic Payment Scheme and can be claimed on as normal. If the area is fallow, and temporary grass and leguminous crops together make up more than 75 per cent of your arable land, they will be exempt from crop diversification requirements. A further exemption may apply if more than 75 per cent of all the agricultural area (all of the claimed land apart from woodland and ineligible areas) is permanent or temporary grassland. Spring and winter varieties count as different crops independent of their sowing date. Failed crops can count as the crop originally established or be managed to count as fallow land. However, supporting evidence will be required (for example, seed invoices and delivery notes, crop records or photographs) if it is no longer possible to identify the crop was in the field. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With the latest numbers coming out of China showing the new coronavirus death toll has risen over 100, calls continued to grow for a federal emergency declaration in the U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) called on federal officials to declare a public health emergency that would allow the Centers for Disease Control access to $85 million for various efforts against the virus, which, as of Tuesday, has five confirmed cases in the United Stares. Speed is essential in dealing with infectious diseases that threaten all Americans, he said in a Tuesday media release. "Thats why Im calling on the Department of Health and Human Services to formally declare a public health emergency so our government can respond quickly to contain the threat. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) started calls Sunday for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to declare the health emergency, which he fell short of doing at a Tuesday press conference. The funds, secured in a budget agreement negotiated by Schumer, would provide for things like case monitoring, enhanced screenings, and public awareness campaigns. Schumers negotiations increased the Infectious Disease Rapid Response Reserve Fund from $50 million to the current $85 million. If we have learned anything from the risks that new viruses pose to public health it is that a stitch in time saves nine, and the more we can do to be proactive, the better off the public will be, Schumer said in a Sunday statement. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar speaks at a news conference, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, in Washington, about the federal government's response to a virus outbreak originating in China that has has sickened thousands of people and killed more than 100. Standing with Azar are, from left, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease Director Nancy Messonnier and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)AP U.S. EXPANDING SCREENING Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said experts are monitoring for when an emergency designation may be needed adding that the Trump administration is expanding virus screening for travelers arriving from the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the outbreak was first identified, from five to 20 U.S. airports and land crossings. Screenings have been ongoing at Kennedy International Airport, but a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates all three local airports, said they had not yet received information as to whether Newark and LaGuardia airports would be part of the additional 15. Federal officials did not provide a list of the ports of entry conducting screenings. All direct flights between the U.S. and Wuhan, including those at JFK, have been cancelled as the Chinese government continues its quarantine of the city of 11,000,000 people in the countrys Hubei province. The U.S. Department of State has issued level 4 and level 3 travel advisories for the Hubei province, and the rest of China, respectively. A level 3 advisory urges travelers to reconsider going somewhere, while a level 4 asks that they not go. Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) echoed Schumers and Buchanans calls for the federal government to declare a public health emergency Tuesday. "Declaring a public health emergency is an important step to bring the full force of the federal government to address this outbreak, he said. Mayor Bill de Blasio said Friday that the city is proceeding under the assumption that the newest strain of the virus will eventually arrive in the city. So we are preparing on the assumption that its not a question of if but a question of when we start to have cases of coronavirus here in New York City, he said at a Brooklyn press conference. The U.S. has repeatedly offered additional CDC assistance to China, which has more than 4,500 reported cases of the virus, either directly or through the World Health Organization. Chinese officials have not yet accepted that offer, but negotiations remain ongoing. WHO officials also announced Tuesday that they would be sending international experts to visit China as soon as possible to work with Chinese officials combatting the disease. This latest outbreak, which began in December, was caused by a novel strain of the coronavirus, which is also responsible for the SARS and MERS outbreaks of recent decades. Symptoms are flu-like, including runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat, and fever, according to the CDC. As of Monday, 73 possible cases of the new strain are pending review by the CDC, but Azar urged calm as research into the disease and possible cases continues. Americans should know this is a potentially very serious public health threat, but at this point Americans should not worry for their own safety, he said. This is a very fast-moving, constantly changing situation. Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) is the term given to a group of rare hereditary diseases characterised by the wasting and weakening of the hip and shoulder muscles. LGMD type 1G (LGMD1G) is associated with two possible genetic mutations in a protein called hnRNPDL. Little is known about this protein, except that it exists in cells in three functional forms (isoforms) and that it may contain the genetic mutations linked to the disease. A research team led by the Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine at the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (IBB-UAB) now explains the behaviour of this protein, its role in the cells and the phenotype caused by the genetic mutations associated with LGMD1G, in an article published in Cell Reports. The research establishes that one of the protein's isoforms demonstrates a greater tendency to form amyloid fibrils - toxic protein aggregates - and this tendency to aggregate occurred significantly faster when the protein contained the genetic mutations related to the disease, which prevented it from performing correctly. "For the first time we can provide solid proof of the effects genetic mutations have on the process of the hnRNPDL protein aggregation", affirms Salvador Ventura, IBB-UAB researcher and coordinator of the study. "Based on data obtained with the Drosophila fruit fly, we were able to suggest a possible mechanism for the disease: that it is the loss of protein function, once the aggregates are formed, that triggers the dystrophy. A hypothesis corroborated by the first data we are beginning to obtain with humans, and that opens the door to search for possible treatments". Differential Behaviour To conduct the study, researchers first analysed the presence and behaviour of the three isoforms in which the protein is found within the cells: with three, two or one protein domains, or independent regions. Then they studied the effects of the genetic mutations in the most common variant. The isoform with two domains is most common in cells and, surprisingly for researchers, is also the one with the greatest tendency to form aggregates. The researchers also saw that the isoform with three domains has a greater tendency to undergo a process known as phase separation, discovered a few years ago and of great biological importance, which could act as a prevention against the aggregations. "What we have seen is that the more tendency towards phase separation, the less aggregates are formed. Until now, it was thought that phase separation was a process occurring after amyloid-type aggregation, and we have now seen that it is not always so", explains Salvador Ventura. The study was conducted both in vitro and in human cells. It was also conducted on a transgenic model of the Drosophila fruit fly, in which the flies expressed their natural variant or each of the forms associated with the disease. ### The research, in which IBB-UAB pre-doctoral researcher Cristina Batlle also participated, was conducted with the collaboration of researchers from the J. Paul Taylor research group of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, and the research group of Xavier Salvatella at the Biomedical Research Institute of Barcelona. President Donald Trumps defense team ended its arguments in his Senate trial Tuesday by broadly dismissing the elephant in the room: a leaked firsthand account from John Bolton, the former national security adviser, that the president directly tied aid to Ukraine to his demands for the country to investigate political rival Joe Biden. Meanwhile the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post reported that Republican leadership doesnt currently have enough votes to block impeachment witnesses when the Senate votes later this week. The Bolton revelation, which emerged Sunday from a draft of Boltons upcoming book, has undercut the presidents defense and splintered Republicans as the trial heads into a crucial stage. On Wednesday senators are planning to start their public questioning of both the defense team and the Democratic House impeachment managers, with votes following on whether to call witnesses. Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow urged the Senate on Tuesday to examine the case on the merits of the arguments and to ignore the recent reports about Bolton. Impeachment, Sekulow said, is not a game of leaks and unsourced manuscripts. That is politics unfortunately. Alexander Hamilton, he continued, put impeachment in the hands of this body, the Senate, precisely and specifically, to be above that fray. The Senate, Sekulow said, should end the era of impeachment for good. Read on for full coverage of the trial and related developments. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The meeting is set for 31 January-1 February. Participants will include people from 160 different parishes, the private sector and policy experts who will work to develop recommendations and solutions. The event is a key part of the celebrations of 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. Cebu City (AsiaNews/Agencies) The Archdiocese of Cebu, in the eponymous province in the Visayas Islands, is heeding Pope Franciss call for action to fight climate change. On 31 January-1 February, local Catholics will take part in the first archdiocesan conference on the climate emergency. People from 160 different parishes, representatives of the private sector and policy experts will try to develop recommendations and solutions to the most pressing environmental issues. This morning, the local archbishop, Mgr Jose Serofia Palma, held a press conference (pictured) in which he reiterated that the protection of Creation has become a priority for the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). "Allow me to inform you, even in the CBCP, [that] much of our gathering has been focused on what we can do to respond to the many forms of [environmental] degradation, Palma said. The meeting will also look at the ways our environment had been destroyed by natural disasters like volcanic eruptions, typhoons, earthquakes, floods and [at] what we can do from the perspective of faith. For Archbishop Palma, the climate emergency conference will be a key part of the celebrations for the fifth centennial of Christianity in the Philippines, which the local Church is preparing to celebrate next year. We must act together in the face of climate emergency, he said. This, to me, is a very important aspect of the preparations. The main activities related to the jubilee will take place in Cebu. The province is considered the "cradle of Christianity" in the country. When Spanish missionaries arrived in 1521, the first baptism took place on Cebu island and the native population received the icon of the Santo Nino (the Baby Jesus). The archbishop hopes that the devotees of Santo Nino will show as much passion for the protection of Creation as they do for the icon. In his Sunday homily on 19 January, Mgr Palma said that "A true believer Santo Nino loves the environment. S hares in Avast tanked today after reports emerged that the antivirus firm had been flogging users data to giants like IBM, LOreal and Expedia. Avast scraped data from the software it provides to customers and handed the information to marketing subsidiary Jumpshot, which then repackaged the information and sold it for millions of dollars. While Avast required users to opt in to this data sharing, the investigation found many were unaware Jumpshot was then selling on their data. The revelations emerged late yesterday following a joint investigation by trade publications Motherboard and PCMag. The data sold includes Google searches, Google Maps location searches, activity on companies LinkedIn pages, YouTube visits and data on people visiting porn websites. Avast, headquartered in the Czech Republic, bought US marketing company Jumpshot in 2013. The firm tracks what website users visit, when they visited them and on what device. The allegations also raise questions whether Avast broke GDPR rules, regulations introduced to give individuals control over their personal data. Avast did not deny the allegations and said it had moved to stop the data-sharing practices. The company said: In December 2019, we acted quickly to meet browser store standards and are now compliant with browser extension requirements for our online security extensions. At the same time, we completely discontinued the practice of using any data from the browser extensions for any other purpose than the core security engine, including sharing with our subsidiary Jumpshot. Avast shares lost 46p to 436p. In the top flight the FTSE 100 was up for a second straight session, 9.38 points to 7490.07. Private equity firm 3i was the top riser after analysts at Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock. The firm has performed well over the past 12 months and the US bank believes there is more share price growth to come. Further down the league table Pendragon fell 0.4p to 11.2p after the car dealership chain warned annual profit would be around the bottom end of its expectations as demand weakened in the run-up to the December election. Builders merchant Travis Perkins was another notable riser, up 29p to 1599p. The firm reported solid fourth-quarter sales at subsidiary Wickes, following an uptick in DIY activity over the Christmas period. Drivers should consider the advantages and disadvantages of changing their current insurance provider, before making a decision., said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. Changing their insurance provider is a move that drivers have to analyze it carefully. There are many reasons for drivers to change their insurance company, from unfair premiums, up to rude and unsatisfactory customer support. Drivers that want to switch their carriers should consider following these steps: Deciding when to make the move. The ideal time for switching carriers is three to four weeks before policy renewal. This will guarantee the policyholders have enough time to find a policy and to qualify for an early shopper discount. Buy a new policy before canceling the old one. Insurance gaps can be costly, not only when drivers have accidents, but also if their states laws penalize registered cars without continuous coverage. Policyholders should consider important life changes. Drivers can change their insurance carrier at any time, but some changes in their lives can make the switch to happen earlier. Important life events, like getting married, moving to a better neighborhood, or the purchase of a better safer vehicle can make the policyholders save money on their premiums. Acknowledge the consequences. Some insurers will charge the policyholders an early cancelation fee. If they stayed with the same insurer for some years, and they decide to cancel their policy, drivers will lose their loyalty discount. Some insurance carriers will offer discounts for new drivers, and a part of the losses that are incurred by switching providers can be compensated. Drivers should consider canceling their old policy in writing. Their old insurance company may ask for the new policy number so that the authorities will know they are continuously covered. Confirm cancelation and ask for a refund. Policyholders should make sure their old insurance company confirms the cancelation. Otherwise, the old insurance company will automatically renew their policy and cancel them for nonpayment. Policyholders can get a refund for their unused premium if they cancel early. Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. For more information, please visit http://compare-autoinsurance.org. photo Chandigarh :Responding to Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singhs request and efforts, the Centre has given approval for the establishment of a new Government Medical College at Hoshiarpur, besides up-gradation of the existing local Civil Hospital. The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare conveyed its approval to the State Government on Tuesday evening, under the centrally sponsored scheme for establishment of new medical college attached with existing District/Referral Hospital (Phase-III), according to an official spokesperson. Advertisement As per the communique, the new GMC would be set up at a cost of Rs.325 crore, of which Rs. 195 crore, i.e. 60% share, would be met by the Centre. The remaining 40% to the tune of Rs. 130 crore would be contributed by the Punjab Government as the states share for the college. The upcoming GMC is the first-of-its-kind in the Kandi region, with an intake capacity of 100 seats, and would be instrumental in providing quality healthcare and diagnostic services, besides giving impetus to medical education and research in the region. Conceding a request from Captain Amarinder Singh, the Centre has also cleared a proposal for up-gradation of the Civil Hospital, Hoshiarpur, thereby enhancing its bed capt from the existing 200 to 500, with the latest medical infrastructural facilities added to the hospital. Advertisement Notably, there are three Government Medical Colleges already functioning in the State - at Amritsar, Faridkot and Patiala. Two other GMCs are already being set up at SAS Nagar Mohali and Kapurthala, with the Sixth now sanctioned for Kapurthala. WESTPORT A reimbursement dispute between the town and the Westport Museum of History and Culture has placed the nonprofit under the microscope this week. Finance Director Gary Conrad said the town is seeking a refund for money it paid to museum staff for hosting the second annual First Light celebration in December, which was apparently granted in error. It was never our intent to subsidize the costs of non-town employees, and Im concerned about the potential inappropriate use of town funds for this purpose, First Selectman Jim Marpe told news blog 06880. The revelation that payments had been made to museum staff, seemingly unbeknownst to Marpe, sparked controversy among many Westporters. However, Museum Executive Director Ramin Ganeshram said there was never an intention to deceive the town, adding she and the first selectman had several previous conversations outlining cost-sharing for the event. A funding request was also sent to the town that illustrated the shared costs. I put all of our staff hours for this and I included all costs we would incur and pay for, as well as what we were asking the town to pay for, Ganeshram said. A copy of the funding request, obtained by the Westport News, shows an even split of costs between the town and museum, with the town paying half the costs for hours worked by museum staff a total of $2,450. Ganeshrams hours worked were fully covered by the museum. Conrad said the funds came from the $7,000 budgeted for First Night in the 2019-20 town budget. He confirmed seeing the funding request outlining specific staff costs, but said he did not know that was a problem at the time. I was not aware the agreement was not to pay their staff. I was not privy to that, Conrad said. I presumed when I got something from their director, everything was laid out. ... Were now sending a request for them to refund the town for the hours paid. Ganeshram claimed when Marpe first contacted the museum about continuing the family-friendly New Years Eve tradition, she was clear there would have to be cost sharing. I told him we would be happy to do it, but we would need support, she recalled. Its not a mission-based item for us, and I couldnt pay my staff to do non-museum work. Although he ultimately authorized the total payment, Marpe said he did not see the detailed funding request. Once it was brought to his attention, he realized the mistake. People may differ in their recollection of discussion, but I was always of the belief the town would provide funds for the cost of certain activities, Marpe said this week. The controversy marks a difficult month for the museum, which received heavy backlash for renaming the Sheffer Gallery as the Daniel E. Offutt III Exhibition Hall, after a recent contributor. Fierce criticism over the allegation of misused funds alongside name changes caused Marpe to address the recent events at Sundays State of the Town. While comparing some comments to cyberbullying, he expressed concern for the tone of the conversation. For Ganeshram and her staff, the tone has taken a turn for the worse. My staff and myself have been personally harassed over this, she said. Weve received phone calls bordering on threatening. The museum also lost money due to First Light costs coming in higher than predicted, she said, adding theres sometimes a misunderstanding the museum is a town organization or funded by the town. Even when weve received money from the town, it wasnt funding, Ganeshram said. It was very specifically for services rendered on behalf of the town. The Representative Town Meetings Library, Museum and Arts Committee will meet on Wednesday to discuss the museum and arts funding. dj.simmons@hearstmediact.com Iran said Tuesday that US President Donald Trumps Israeli-Palestinian peace plan amounted to the treason of the century and was bound to fail. The shameful peace plan imposed by America on the Palestinians is the treason of the century and doomed to fail, the foreign ministry said in a statement. Trump on Tuesday unveiled long-awaited details of a US plan for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying Jerusalem would remain Israels undivided capital. Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Twitter that the so-called Vision for Peace is simply the dream project of a bankruptcy-ridden real estate developer, in reference to Trump. But it is a nightmare for the region and the world and, hopefully, a wake-up call for all the Muslims who have been barking up the wrong tree, wrote Zarif, whose country does not recognise Israel. Iraq president gives parliament 3 days to name new PM Baghdad, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2020 Iraq's president on Wednesday threatened to unilaterally name a successor to the country's premier, who resigned in December, if parliament did not nominate a candidate within three days. "If the concerned blocs are unable to resolve the nomination issue by no later than Saturday, February 1... I see an obligation to exercise my constitutional powers by tasking whomever I find most acceptable to parliament and the people," Barham Saleh wrote in a letter seen by AFP. Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi resigned in December after two months of deadly protests against his government, but he has stayed on in a caretaker role, as deeply divided political parties have failed to agree on a replacement. According to Iraq's constitution, parliament's largest bloc must nominate a prime minister within 15 days of legislative elections. The candidate is then appointed by the president and tasked with forming a government within one month. But Iraq is in uncharted waters, as the constitution makes no provisions for the prime minister's resignation and the 15-day period since Abdel Mahdi stepped down has long expired. Any candidate would need stamps of approval from not only the fractured political class, but also the Shiite religious authority, neighbouring Iran, its rival the US and the anti-government civil campaign that has gripped Iraq since October. In late December, Saleh formally declined to nominate the governor of the oil-rich province of Basra, Assaad al-Aidani, saying he would be too "controversial". Iraq has grown increasingly unstable since then, with protest-related violence killing more than 480 people and tensions between the US and Iran prompting each to carry out air strikes on Iraqi soil. Warning of even further deterioration, Saleh urged lawmakers to "resume constructive and serious political dialogue in order to agree on a new candidate for the premiership who has the people's approval". "We believe that the biggest obstacle lies in reaching reasonable parameters to agree on a new candidate for prime minister. Continuing in this current situation is certainly impossible and risks making things more dangerous and complex," he wrote. Protests erupted in Iraq's capital and Shiite-majority south in October in outrage at rampant corruption and unemployment, quickly escalating to calls for the government to resign. The unprecedented grassroots movement has scored partial wins with the premier's resignation and the passing of a new electoral law, but the bill failed to address many of their demands and Abdel Mahdi remains caretaker premier. Possible successors that have been floated include an adviser to the president, an intelligence chief, political operatives and former top officials, among others. Many have been rejected outright by the street, with protesters hanging up their portraits overlaid with large X marks and insisting on a politically independent candidate. A senior government official told AFP that parties had been unable to reach a consensus because of the absence of two key brokers -- Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Both were killed in a US drone strike near Baghdad's international airport on January 3 that bolstered Iraqi factions' calls for US troops to leave the country. "Abu Mahdi and Soleimani both played a unifying role in times like this and no one has been able to fill that vacuum yet," the government official said. Sacrifice, integrity, patriotism, commitment, courage and citizenship: those are the six defining character traits of medal of honor recipients. With the upcoming February opening of the Charles H. Coolidge Medal of Honor Heritage Center, General William B. Raines went before both the City Council and County Commission to raise awareness of the center and its message. They may see someone being bullied, and they can have the moral courage to go up to them sand say Thats not right, dont do that, said General Raines on how children can take those traits and use them in their own lives, outside of combat and the military. And they can exercise that form of leadership in a board room or a city council meeting. Sometimes, people dont speak up to correct wrongs or on behalf of what they think is right. And so, moral courage is one of those. General Raines spoke of plans to teach this in every school in Tennessee, telling the council and commission that Governor Bill Lee has endorsed this plan. When telling his audience about the kind of character a person needed to possess and the kind of actions they needed to do to earn the medal, he honored a man he served with in Vietnam. The gentleman who fell on the grenade in my unit in Vietnam, he didnt have time to process that and think about it, the speaker said. He knew he wanted to take care of his men and he did the right thing. It was instinctive. So were hoping these character traits will be learned and absorbed by the young people. The Feb. 22 grand opening will be attended by the oldest Medal of Honor recipient, Charles H. Coolidge. Few have exemplified the traits of the Medal of Honor like the Signal Mountain resident, both during and after his time serving, it was stated. He not only lived and exercised the traits in combat, but he continued to live that when he came back here, said General Raines. And thats why Coolidge Park was named after him, thats why we have the other types of memorials in his honor, so we should not forget the contributions he made for the world and his men. Charles Coolidge earned his medal during World War II, when he gallantly lead and inspired his men against overwhelming odds. But that was not the only reason his medal of honor is so notable. He had a lot of young recruits, and his lieutenant had been killed, so he had to assume responsibility of untrained and green recruits, said General Raines. He had to encourage them to stay in there, and not run for two days! And it was two tanks and two companies of Germans. That was quite a force to fend off, so thats the heroic part. The second was that the award was presented in the combat field. General Eisenhower had his closest friend, a lieutenant general, come and award that in the field. Typically, its awarded at the White House. So it was so significant they wanted to award it now. The Heritage Center will have 22 Medal of Honors on display. The center will utilize interactive exhibits to educate visitors about the history of the award and its recipients. Youre going to come out and realize there have been some very heroic acts on behalf of us for our nation and our values and the freedom that we have, said General Raines. [January 29, 2020] Legal Services Industry Procurement Intelligence Report | Adoption of Technology Will Increase Service Providers' OPEX | SpendEdge SpendEdge has been monitoring the global legal services industry and the industry is poised to experience spend growth of more than USD 190 billion between 2019-2024 at a CAGR of over 3% during the forecast period. Request Free Sample Pages. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005484/en/ Read the 121-page research report with TOC and LOE on "The Global Legal Services Industry - Procurement Intelligence Report, Pricing Outlook in Geographies that include APAC, North America, South America, and MEA, and insights into best practices to optimize procurement spend." An increase in the frequency of mergers and acquisitions that are being observed in the industrial and manufacturing sectors is requiring buyers to consult with legal service providers to gain an in-depth understanding of the rules and regulations pertinent to such corporate activities. The increase in the stringency in regulations related to employment, incentives, pensions, and other HR-related activities are further contributing to the demand growth of legal services for employment and benefits. Companies in North America are expanding their operations to new and emerging markets such as South Africa, India, and Thailand. This is driving demand in the legal services industry in this region. Buyers in countries such as India, Australia, and China are exhibiting high demand for technology-enabled legal services. These services have the capability to offer easy-to-use, standardized, and reasonably priced services, including documents related to company structure, employment agreement, and registration of a company with regulators, for emerging SMEs in the region. This is contributing to spend growth in the legal services industry in those regions. Subscribe to our procurement platform to get instant access to over 1000 market-ready procurement intelligence reports without any additional costs or commitment. Insights into the industry price trends Legal service providers will incur a substantial rise in technology costs that will include expenses made on predictive analytics and cloud-based platforms to improve their service offerings. These expenses will increase during the forecast period due to the rising employee costs associated with analytics and cloud-based services, owing to their high demand worldwide. With the advent of alternative legal service providers, prices are becoming competitive as buyers are shifting from conventional legal service providers to alternative legal service providers that make use of technologies to handle routine legal services. What are the strategies to adopt to optimize procurement spend in this industry? Achieving the right mix of traditional and non-traditional firms At present, the alternative legal service provider segment of the legal services market in the US is experiencing rapid growth, which indicates an increase in outsourcing from several industries. Therefore, it is important for large organizations to maintain an optimum mix of both traditional and non-traditional firms to save costs and segregate tactical and strategic areas of spending. Leveraging competition in the industry It is imperative for buyers to invest in benchmarking studies that help category managers to enhance their knowledge on market pricing or billing rates of legal consultants by job role and function. This allows them to reduce costs as well as negotiate with service providers better. With a highly competitive market and fragmented supply base, client retention and attraction are essential for large and small legal service providers. Buy 1 report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 reports and get the third for free. Download the free sample of this report on the legal services industry. Some of the key topics covered in this report are: Legal services industry spend segmentation by region Total cost of ownership analysis in the legal services industry Regional spend opportunity for legal service providers Legal service providers cost structure Legal services pricing models analysis Legal services procurement best practices Category management objectives Cost saving opportunities in the legal services industry Free sample of reports that you may like: Global Litigation Services Market - Procurement Intelligence Report Global Incident and Emergency Management Software Market - Procurement Intelligence Report About SpendEdge: SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. To know more, https://www.spendedge.com/request-free-proposal View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005484/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] So Kunal Kamra confronted Arnab Goswami on an Indigo flight and the Internet broke after seeing how silent the ever loud TV journalist was. Indigo flight banned Kunal Kamra for six months, which in some ways can be justified as his behaviour was so out of line. But then Air India banned him too, until further notice. And here is the thing. Can an airline which is over Rs 60,000 crore in debt really afford to ban people who had absolutely nothing to do with them? YouTube Air India is so unwanted that when the government tried to sell it the first time, there were no bidders, and now the government is trying to sell it again. Air India is like that person who no one wants on their team and who, to save face says 'Mujhe khelna hi ni hai.' For those who may not know this, the government, for the second time in two years, is trying to sell Air India by inviting bids to sell its 100 per cent stake in AI and AI Express, and its 50 per cent stake in the ground handling JV AI-SATS, reports TOI. Interested parties will need to submit their expression of interest (EOI) by March 17, 2020. Traveller Oh, and before banning people, Air India should consider banning rodents that lounge on their airplanes. People onboard an Air India flight at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport in Varanasi found a rat on board and consequently the flight was stalled. But kisi ko interest hi nahi hai yaar. So the airlines that the government is trying to get rid of so desperately and that no one is interested in buying (and if no one does, it will possibly shut down) is not really being brave by standing up for Arnab Goswami. Netizens are so amused by the move that they went, 'Tum kya Kamra ko ban karoge, hum tumhe ban karte hai.' #BoycottAirIndia has been trending on Twitter as if it needs any further boycott. Public: kab Tak ban Kiya h? 6months Air India: pic.twitter.com/PQyijBrxeA Mohsin Raza (@itzmohsinr7) January 29, 2020 Air India should've been empathetic to Kunal..after all they successfully exterminated rats from their flights! pic.twitter.com/abONQSIvtm VT (@ItsMeVersailles) January 28, 2020 Banning someone from travel is fine on misbehave conduct..but then why is Sadhvi Pragya Singh not banned ..? Rules should be equal to everyone #kunalkamra #BoycottIndigo #BoycottAirIndia Groot (@KhabariLala) January 29, 2020 NOW NO ONE WRITE #BoycottAirIndia COZ IT'S ALREADY IN SHUTDOWN MODE@kunalkamra88 Abhishek Chaurasia (@Acrail3258) January 29, 2020 People tweeting #BoycottIndigo & not #BoycottAirIndia just shows nobody flies Air India Irena Akbar (@irenaakbar) January 28, 2020 Well, clearly whatever Air India was trying to do, it backfired. The White House has objected to the publication of a book written by US President Donald Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton that depicts Trump as playing a central role in a pressure campaign on Ukraine, as the Senate impeachment trial entered a new phase. A letter from the White House National Security Council to Bolton's attorney said the manuscript based on a preliminary review appeared to contain "significant amounts of classified information" and could not be published without the deletion of this material. Some of the material was considered top secret, according to the letter. "Under federal law and the nondisclosure agreements your client signed as a condition for gaining access to classified information, the manuscript may not be published or otherwise disclosed without the deletion of this classified information," the letter said. Democrats view Bolton as a key figure who could help them solidify their case against the president, and reports about the book's contents appear to boost their arguments in the trial. Democrats want to call Bolton, a foreign policy hawk in several Republican administrations, and a small number of other officials to testify but many Republican senators have so far resisted the idea of having any witnesses. The letter said the White House would be in touch with Bolton's lawyer with "detailed guidance" for manuscript revisions. Senators began the first of two planned days of posing questions to both Trump's legal team and the Democratic lawmakers in the House of Representatives who have served as prosecutors in the trial on charges of abusing power and obstructing Congress arising from his request that Ukraine investigate political rival Joe Biden. Expand Close Joe Biden (AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Joe Biden (AP) Democratic senators used their questions to cast doubt on the veracity of the Trump defense and make their case for witnesses including Bolton. The Senate is expected to acquit Trump but allowing witnesses such as Bolton could inflict political damage on the Republican president as he seeks re-election on Nov. 3. Biden is a leading candidate for the Democratic nomination to challenge Trump. Contradicting Trump's version of events, Bolton wrote in an unpublished book manuscript that the president told him he wanted to freeze $391 million in security aid to Ukraine until Kiev pursued investigations into Democrats, including Biden and the former vice president's son Hunter Biden, the New York Times reported. Bolton's allegations go to the heart of the impeachment charges. Democrats have said Trump abused his power by using the security aid - passed by Congress to help Ukraine battle Russia-backed separatists - as leverage to get a foreign power to smear a political rival. Trump's legal team has argued that the evidence supporting that allegation is based on hearsay. A Bolton spokeswoman had no comment on the White House letter. Neither his publisher nor lawyer immediately responded to requests for comment. The Senate is expected on Friday to vote on whether to call witnesses including Bolton. Democrats need four Republican senators to join them in order to get a majority in the 100-seat Senate. Republican leaders are hoping to vote as quickly as possible to acquit Trump, leaving him in office. Removing Trump from office would take a two-thirds majority. There are 53 Republican senators and none has publicly advocated removal. The Democratic-led House impeached Trump last month. Trump lashed out at Bolton on Twitter. He said Bolton "couldn't get approved for the Ambassador to the U.N. years ago, couldn't get approved for anything since, 'begged' me for a non Senate approved job" and added that "if I listened to him, we would be in World War Six by now." Trump added that Bolton, who left his White House post in September, "goes out and IMMEDIATELY writes a nasty & untrue book. All Classified National Security. Who would do this?" Trump, who has denied Bolton's account, has said he fired Bolton. Bolton, a foreign policy hawk who served as a temporary "recess appointee" as American ambassador to the United Nations under Republican former President George W. Bush, has said he quit. Responding to a question by top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer, lead House prosecutor Adam Schiff responded that there would be no way to have a fair trial without witnesses. "And when you have a witness as plainly relevant as John Bolton who goes to the heart of the most serious and most egregious of the president's misconduct, who has volunteered to come and testify - to turn him away, to look the other way, I think is deeply at odds with being an impartial juror," Schiff said. Senators submitted questions in writing to be read aloud by U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts, who is presiding over the trial. Democrat Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, took issue with Trump's contention that Bolton never said anything about the Ukraine matter when he left his post. Engel said Bolton suggested to him in a Sept. 23 phone call that the panel should look into Trump's removal last May of Marie Yovanovitch as American ambassador to Ukraine, a pivotal event in the Ukraine matter. Trump ousted her after his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and others mounted a negative campaign against her at a time when Giuliani was pressing Ukraine to pursue the politically motivated investigations at the center of the impeachment drama. Expand Close Rudy Giuliani, an attorney for President Donald Trump (Charles Krupa/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Rudy Giuliani, an attorney for President Donald Trump (Charles Krupa/AP) Ukrainian-born U.S. businessman Lev Parnas, who worked with Giuliani to pressure Ukraine, arrived in Washington from New York and headed toward the U.S. Capitol, but was refused entrance. He was trailed by TV cameras, photographers and sign-toting demonstrators. Parnas stopped by Democratic Leader Schumer's office to pick up tickets to the trial. No electronics are allowed in the Senate visitors' gallery, and Parnas has been ordered to wear an ankle bracelet to track his location as he awaits trial on federal campaign finance charges. Parnas indicated willingness to testify in the trial, adding, "The president knew everything that was going on with Ukraine." Business Amidst Increase in Head Lice Cases Lice Clinic Opens 3 New York Locations 29.01.2020 08:15:16 - In a radical move, Lice Troopers is doubling it's efforts to completely get rid of lice across the northeast. The national lice treatment company expands in the northeast with new locations launching in Glen Cove, Merrick, & Port Washington New York (live-PR.com) - January 28, 2020 - New York, NY - In a radical move, Lice Troopers is doubling it's efforts to completely get rid of lice across the northeast. Lice Troopers, the all-natural head lice removal service is proud to announce the openings of three additional New York state treatment centers in Port Washington, Glen Cove, and Merrick. With other lice removal - January 28, 2020 - New York, NY - In a radical move, Lice Troopers is doubling it's efforts to completely get rid of lice across the northeast. Lice Troopers, the all-natural head lice removal service is proud to announce the openings of three additional New York state treatment centers in Port Washington, Glen Cove, and Merrick. With other lice removal services nearby one might wonder if the market is too saturated, but CEO, Arie Harel says it's not. "We opened our first New York based treatment center in Lawrence not even a year ago and business is booming, which indicates that head lice infestations are stubborn and recurring. After intense market research, these additional areas were selected because we saw that there weren't any professional large-scale clinics in the area and we wanted to be the first to fill that need." According to Harel there are some mom and pop outfits, but they can't possibly meet the demand especially in peak seasons like back to school (Fall), after seasonal holidays (Winter), and Spring Break. Lice Troopers uses a tried and true process to completely rid the hair of lice and nits quickly and thoroughly. Considered by many experts to be the most comprehensive and effective in the world they utilize a manual strand-by-strand removal technique. Its three-step process has been proven for more than a decade. The technicians evaluate the stage of infestation, physically "nit-pick" the active lice and eggs from the head and provide treatment to condition the scalp and discourage immediate re-infestation. All of the lice treatment products used during treatment are 100% natural and non-toxic and are completely safe for babies and pregnant women. In Florida, where the company has an additional 9 locations, they also partner with local school districts. "Lice Troopers is excited to extend school screening services and educational program to the New York region as well. We really enjoy helping families and schools become lice free and want to continue to bring awareness, prevention tips, and safe solutions to even more communities," says Ginette Grey, Director of Marketing and Communication who also oversees the company's school outreach program. Lice Troopers currently has a team which includes members with medical backgrounds, patient care experience, education certifications, and emergency services training who will provide the utmost care for our clients. The three newest locations, open 7 days a week are located at the addresses below. With extended hours from 8 a.m. - 10 p.m and a house call option, getting rid of lice can be as stress-free and convenient as possible. Appointments can be made by calling 800.403.5423. o 2 Haven Avenue, Suite 201 Port Washington, NY 11050 o 52 Cedar Swamp Road, Glen Cove, NY 11542 o 1825 Merrick Road, Merrick, NY 11566 # # # About Lice Troopers Lice Troopers is an All-Natural, guaranteed Head Lice Removal Service (TM) that manually removes head lice safely and discreetly, in one of our 15 private salon settings or any chosen location. Providing safe solutions for frantic families, Lice Troopers have successfully treated thousands of families nationwide and offer a 100% guarantee. Our services are recommended by hundreds of schools and pediatricians and we are committed to helping families be and remain lice-free. Education and awareness are among our top priorities and we partner with local communities to provide free prevention tips and affordable treatment on a sliding scale should there be an economic need. services nearby one might wonder if the market is too saturated, but CEO, Arie Harel says it's not. "We opened our first New York based treatment center in Lawrence not even a year ago and business is booming, which indicates that head lice infestations are stubborn and recurring. After intense market research, these additional areas were selected because we saw that there weren't any professional large-scale clinics in the area and we wanted to be the first to fill that need."According to Harel there are some mom and pop outfits, but they can't possibly meet the demand especially in peak seasons like back to school (Fall), after seasonal holidays (Winter), and Spring Break. Lice Troopers uses a tried and true process to completely rid the hair of lice and nits quickly and thoroughly. Considered by many experts to be the most comprehensive and effective in the world they utilize a manual strand-by-strand removal technique. Its three-step process has been proven for more than a decade. The technicians evaluate the stage of infestation, physically "nit-pick" the active lice and eggs from the head and provide treatment to condition the scalp and discourage immediate re-infestation. All of the lice treatment products used during treatment are 100% natural and non-toxic and are completely safe for babies and pregnant women.In Florida, where the company has an additional 9 locations, they also partner with local school districts. "Lice Troopers is excited to extend school screening services and educational program to the New York region as well. We really enjoy helping families and schools become lice free and want to continue to bring awareness, prevention tips, and safe solutions to even more communities," says Ginette Grey, Director of Marketing and Communication who also oversees the company's school outreach program.Lice Troopers currently has a team which includes members with medical backgrounds, patient care experience, education certifications, and emergency services training who will provide the utmost care for our clients.The three newest locations, open 7 days a week are located at the addresses below. With extended hours from 8 a.m. - 10 p.m and a house call option, getting rid of lice can be as stress-free and convenient as possible. Appointments can be made by calling 800.403.5423.o 2 Haven Avenue, Suite 201 Port Washington, NY 11050o 52 Cedar Swamp Road, Glen Cove, NY 11542o 1825 Merrick Road, Merrick, NY 11566# # #About Lice TroopersLice Troopers is an All-Natural, guaranteed Head Lice Removal Service (TM) that manually removes head lice safely and discreetly, in one of our 15 private salon settings or any chosen location. Providing safe solutions for frantic families, Lice Troopers have successfully treated thousands of families nationwide and offer a 100% guarantee. Our services are recommended by hundreds of schools and pediatricians and we are committed to helping families be and remain lice-free. Education and awareness are among our top priorities and we partner with local communities to provide free prevention tips and affordable treatment on a sliding scale should there be an economic need. Contact information: Lice Troopers, Inc 333 W 41st Street #514 Contact Person: Ginette Grey Director of Marketing and Communications Phone: 7866257651 eMail: eMail Web: http://www.licetroopers.com Author: Ginette Grey e-mail Phone: 8004035423 29.01.2020 08:15:16 - 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. NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday said that the Indian embassy in China has begun the process for the evacuation of Indian citizens stranded in Hubei Province which is said to be most affected by the coronavirus outbreak. ''The embassy is working hard to ensure smooth evacuation of our citizens from Hubei Province. We are already in touch with many sections of the Indian Community in Hubei, including our students,'' the Indian embassy in Beijing said. The Indian embassy also made ''an appeal to the Indian citizens from Hubei who have not yet contacted them to do so urgently on the hotline numbers (+8618610952903, +8618612083629, +8618612083617) or dedicated email ID helpdesk.beijing@mea.gov.in.'' The Indian Embassy in Beijing, which is coordinating the efforts of the evacuation of the Indian nationals, also circulated registration forms and consent notes for the Indians in Wuhan and Hubei province to be filled by them. The embassy has reportedly compiled a list of Indians to be flown out. According to reports, there are over 250 Indian nationals, mostly students and professionals, who need to be evacuated from the Hubei province. The embassy further informed the stranded Indians that upon their arrival in India they need to undergo a 14-day quarantine in a designated city, the name of it which has not yet been revealed. The quarantine is necessary as experts say the incubation period of the new virus was on average three to seven days, with the longest being 14 days. Live TV Meanwhile, the Centre has also requested the Chinese government for permission to operate two flights to bring back its nationals from Hubei Province. Reports also said that an Air India 747 Boeing has been kept ready to fly them back to India. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also separately said that the government has begun preparations for the evacuation of its nationals affected by the situation arising out of the coronavirus outbreak in China. While the government has started the process to airlift its citizens from Wuhan - the epicenter of the deadly coronavirus outbreak - China on Wednesday said that it would make all appropriate arrangements and provide necessary assistance if any country "insists" on evacuating its nationals. Besides India, several other countries including the US, France, Japan, South Korea, are making arrangements to airlift their nationals from central Hubei province and its capital city Wuhan. The deadly coronavirus continues to wreak havoc in China with 25 new fatalities reported from Hubei province, taking the death toll to 132 and the confirmed infection cases to nearly 6,000. The Chinese Foreign Ministry, which is coordinating the evacuation of the foreign nationals, said that it would make appropriate arrangements if any country "insists" on evacuating its nationals. "China attaches great importance to protecting the lives and health of citizens of all countries in Wuhan, Hubei province, and will continue to take active and effective measures to address their legitimate concerns and demands in a timely manner," its Foreign Ministry said in response to a question. "If a country insists on evacuating its citizens in Wuhan, China will make appropriate arrangements and provide necessary assistance and convenience in accordance with international practice and China's relevant provisions on epidemic prevention," the Ministry said. A large number of foreign nationals from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh from the neighbourhood besides African countries were reportedly stranded in Hubei province. World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday that the UN health body "does not recommend the evacuation" of foreign nationals from virus-hit Hubei province as he called on the international community to remain calm. Seoul, Jan 29 : Food shortages, natural disasters and other humanitarian issues in North Korea were not adequately known to the outside world, making the country the world's sixth-most underreported humanitarian crisis last year, an international relief group has said. "Due to the political isolation of North Korea and the ban on journalists in the country, the dire humanitarian situation of large parts of the population remains hidden from the eyes of the world," South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported citing CARE International as saying in an annual report of the top most underreported humanitarian crises released on Tuesday. The report highlighted the urgent health crises in North Korea, pointing out that more than 40 per cent of the population does not have access to clean drinking water and suffers from malnutrition. Food shortages were further affected last year as natural disasters, such as droughts and floods, have led to a decline in crop production. Around 10.9 million North Koreans are in need of humanitarian assistance to meet their food, health, water, sanitation and hygiene needs, according to the UN. The country lacks up-to-date media coverage and public awareness as the country hardly ever grants access to journalists. The remaining nine countries are from the African continent, with Madagascar topping the list, followed by the Central African Republic and Zambia. Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association 'The state of Texas will continue to create an environment that allows independent producers to innovate, thrive and create a stronger future for our great state. Texas Governor Greg Abbott The Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) today released the fifth edition of its State of Energy Report, offering a detailed analysis of national and state trends in oil and natural gas employment, wages and other key economic factors for 2019. TIPROs State of Energy Report series was developed to help quantify and track the economic impact of domestic oil and natural gas production with an emphasis on the state of Texas. According to the associations new report, the U.S. oil and gas industry employed 895,629 professionals in 2019, an increase of 8,454 jobs compared to 2018. The industry paid a national annual wage averaging $114,745 last year, more than double average private sector wages. Payroll in the U.S. oil and gas industry meanwhile totaled $103 billion in 2019. Additionally, total U.S. goods and services purchased in 2019 by the oil and gas industry exceeded $538 billion from over 900 business sectors, notes TIPRO. In Texas, the oil and gas industry continued to provide unmatched economic support, accounting for 40 percent of all oil and gas employment in the nation last year. The industry supported a total of 361,271 direct jobs in Texas in 2019, a net increase of 5,550 jobs over the previous year, despite a downturn in oil and gas employment in the second half of 2019. This is compared to an increase of 398 jobs in Oklahoma for a total of 68,468 industry jobs, and an increase of 758 jobs in New Mexico for a total of 24,720 jobs in the same time frame. These jobs also pay extremely well, with an average annual wage of $132,104 in Texas, which is 130 percent higher than average private sector wages in the state. Oil production in Texas, meanwhile, totaled 1.8 billion barrels (bbl) in 2019, surpassing a previous record set in 2018. The second largest producer of oil in 2019 was the state of North Dakota (507 million bbl), followed by New Mexico (316 million bbl), Oklahoma (213 million bbl) and Colorado (188 million bbl). Total natural gas production in Texas topped 10.1 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) in 2019, breaking a previous record of 9.6 Tcf set in 1972. The second largest producer of natural gas last year was Pennsylvania (6.8 Tcf), followed by Alaska (3.3 Tcf), Louisiana (3.1 Tcf) and Oklahoma (3 Tcf). "The Lone Star State is proud to lead the nation in oil and natural gas production and is setting new records as the industry continues to grow," said Texas Governor Greg Abbott. "In addition to employing hundreds of thousands of Texans, the oil and gas sector has played a crucial role in making the United States energy independent. The state of Texas will continue to create an environment that allows independent producers to innovate, thrive and create a stronger future for our great state. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) previously announced that annual average U.S. crude oil production reached an estimated new record of 12.2 million barrels per day (MMBbl/d) in 2019. According to a recent report from analytics and data provider Enverus (formerly Drillinginfo), U.S. oil production growth is expected to continue, albeit at a slower rate due to a slowdown in growth from U.S. shale. The new Enverus outlook for oil market fundamentals for 2020-2021 projects total U.S. production growth to be 650,000 bbl in 2020, with similar production growth forecasted for 2021. As operators continue to be constrained by free cash flow generation capabilities, they will take a more modest approach to their activities in the coming years. Operators are working on returning cash to shareholders rather than reinvesting it in the drill bit. As focus shifts from volume growth to optimizing returns, the 1 MMBbl/d growth experienced in 2019, and 1.9 MMBbl/d production increase achieved in 2018, will certainly calm, but not cease. A reduction in available capital led to a slowdown in industry activity and a decline in employment during the second half of the year in 2019, with further cuts expected in the first quarter of 2020, said Eugene Garcia, chairman of TIPRO and president of Hurd Enterprises LLC. Despite numerous challenges that faced domestic producers in 2019, the Texas oil and gas industry has remained a cornerstone of the economy providing high-paying career opportunities, as well as significant taxes and royalty payments made to state, local and federal government entities, added Garcia. Between 2010 2019, total state taxes and state royalty payments paid by the industry in Texas exceeded $116 billion, including a record $16.3 billion contributed in 2019. These funds have continued to support all aspects of the state economy, including infrastructure investment, water conservation programs, schools and education, and first responders, to name a few. In 2019, the Texas oil and natural gas industry also purchased U.S. goods and services in the amount of $202 billion, 80 percent of which came from Texas businesses. Additionally, Texas is home to approximately 2.5 million mineral owners, of the 12.5 million mineral owners in the U.S., with oil and gas royalties generating billions of dollars for Texas families last year. Thanks to the hard work of thousands of Texans in the oil patch, America has become the largest producer of oil and gas in the world, bringing us energy sovereignty and national security," said Railroad Commission Chairman Wayne Christian. Texas' independent oil and gas producers are fueling our nation and our economy, while providing billions of dollars in taxes for our schools, roads and first responders. TIPRO notes several recent policy developments in the organizations new report, including the finalization of the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), signing of the first phase of the China trade deal and the new Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule, all of which will provide benefit to U.S. oil and natural gas producers. USMCA will help maintain and protect the ability to sell U.S. natural gas, oil and other refined products tariff-free to Texas' two largest international trading partners, Mexico and Canada. Also, China remains the largest importer of oil and the second largest importer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the world. The energy trade section of the deal signed in January commits China to increasing its purchases of American crude oil, refined products, liquefied natural gas and coal from levels seen in 2017, a high-point for U.S. exporters before the trade war began to strain bilateral relationships. Finally, the new WOTUS definition replaces the federal government's interpretation of federally-regulated water sources from a 2015 rule which was set by the Obama Administration. WOTUS was an effort by the previous administration to expand the federal governments authority over land and water use across the nation, resulting in the need to acquire significantly more government permits and fulfill bureaucratic regulatory requirements. The new rule will offer clarity, predictability and consistency for the U.S. oil and natural gas industry. TIPRO remains focused on supporting a targeted federal policy agenda, while protecting and strengthening an already robust business and regulatory environment in Texas, said Ed Longanecker, president of TIPRO. Key priorities for TIPRO at the state level during the next legislative cycle will include a long-term solution to funding transportation investment in energy-producing areas, workforce development, and a balanced approach to critical infrastructure needs that recognizes the dominance of the mineral estate, existing laws and regulations, and private property rights. What does Oil & Gas mean for Texas? Texas led the nation in oil and gas jobs with 361,271 people employed in this industry, altogether representing 40 percent of all oil and gas jobs nationwide in 2019. The top four positions held in the Texas oil & gas industry in 2019 were Oil & Gas Roustabouts (24,391), Oil, Gas, & Mining Service Unit Operators (24,221), Heavy & Tractor-Tailor Truck Drivers (15,241) and Petroleum Engineers (13,526). Oil and gas jobs in Texas paid an annual average wage of $132,104, 130 percent more than the average private sector job in the state. Texas had the highest oil and gas payroll in the country in 2019 ($48 billion), with California coming in at a distant second ($9.2 billion), followed by Oklahoma ($6.9 billion). Texas held the highest number of oil and gas businesses in the nation last year with 11,996, representing 29 percent of all oil and gas businesses nationwide. Texas experienced the largest increase in industry jobs (5,550) in 2019, followed by New Mexico (758), North Dakota (529), Louisiana (466) and Oklahoma (397). Oil production in Texas totaled 1.8 billion barrels in 2019, breaking a previous record set in 2018. Texas led the country in natural gas production with 10.1 Tcf produced in 2019, breaking a previous record of 9.6 Tcf set in 1972. Between 2010 2019, the Texas oil and natural gas industry paid over $116 billion in state taxes and state royalty payments. Total U.S. goods and services purchased by the Texas oil and gas industry exceeded $202 billion in 2019, 80 percent of which were purchased from Texas businesses. The State of Energy Report series is published exclusively by the Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association. A full list of the data sources used to develop this report can be viewed in the methodology section of the report. Download a copy of TIPROs 2020 State of Energy report here. About TIPRO The Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO) is a trade association representing the interests of nearly 3,000 independent oil and natural gas producers and royalty owners throughout Texas. As one of the nations largest statewide associations representing both independent producers and royalty owners, members include small businesses, the largest, publicly-traded independent producers, and mineral owners, estates, and trusts. You may not think twice about spending hundreds of pounds on a mattress or armchair for yourself, but what about for your dog? Furniture for your favourite four-legged friend has become big business, with some dog beds costing almost 1,000. So what are people wanting to seriously pamper their pooch paying for? We have picked three examples of dog beds with significant price tags. This luxury breed of designer dog beds range from one with a royal connection, to some designed for specific needs - including dogs needing extra warmth for a cosy night's sleep. KzW Pet Interiors Hand-painted frames, from 945 These high-end dog beds from KzW Pet Interiors have hand-painted frames Our first pick is not only fit for a princess, but it was actually designed by one. Austrian Princess Katalin zu Windischgraetz ran her own fashion brand in Vienna, before moving into the high end pet furniture business with KzW Pet Interiors. She brings all of her fashion experience to the designs of her stylish dog beds, which include high-end hand-painted frames starting at 945. However, a more affordable range is available, including the Chien Parisien dog bed, costing 88. Each bed comes with removable covers. These beds have a much softer appearance as, unlike their more expensive counterparts, they have no wooden base. Instead, they have delicate piping and bow-styled designs. Princess Katalin zu Windischgraetz is behind this range of high end pet furniture The princess ran a fashion brand in Vienna and brings her fashion experience to the designs Charley chau Charley Chau Snuggle Dog Bed, from 85 This Snuggle Bed was designed specifically for dogs that love to burrow The Charley Chau Snuggle Bed has a 'sleeping bag' design and a considerably more accessible price tag. It stems from an understanding and 'nerdy fascination' with how to make a dog really comfy, according to co-founder Christine Chau. Christine set up the Charley Chau business with her sister Jenny Chau. She said: 'The simplest way to describe the Snuggle Bed is a super-cosy sleeping bag for dogs with a deep-filled luxury mattress in the base. Dogs can climb in and snuggle up to stay cosy and warm under the blanket top even if there's no human there to tuck them in.' The beauty of the Snuggle Bed is that a dog can get under the cover on their own The Snuggle Bed was designed specifically for dogs that love to burrow. Lots of breeds have this instinct, whether it's Terriers bred to chase after vermin in tight, dark places, Dachshunds bred to go to ground, or short-coated hounds such as Whippets and Italian Greyhounds that feel the cold easily and just want to curl up somewhere warm. 'The beauty of the Snuggle Bed is that a dog can get under the cover on their own - no more being woken up in the middle of the night by a cold dog crying to be covered up with a blanket,' Christine added. Pippa & Co Medium Signature bed, 350 Pippa & Co's products are designed to look beautiful in the home, while being practical Pippa & Co focuses on the importance of having a luxury dog bed that you can put in the washing machine. The company's founder Jennifer Taylor said: 'As owners of an energetic Weimaraner, we know the importance of being able to wash the dog beds. 'We were fed up of throwing away dirty beds with smelly pillows, which we never liked the look of anyway. With a big dog, you can't fit the whole bed in a washing machine, and so a creative solution was needed. 'Our water resistant liners protect the cushion from smells and damp, and with our beds you can wash the cover and the liner, and don't need to worry about the pillow getting wet.' The products have been designed to look beautiful in the home, while being practical for pet owners. Jennifer added: 'Our blankets and sofa throws are perfect for snuggling up under after a long day in the office or muddy walk. 'If your dog wants to join you on the sofa, they have the practical element of being machine washable. A win for the home and for your pup.' He's king of the kitchen back home. And even in the I'm A Celebrity jungle, Miguel Maestre, 40, still reigns supreme after sharing his paella recipe. Miguel's wife, Sascha Newport - who is managing his social media - posted a photo of the Spanish-born chef cooking the delicious seafood dish in a very large pan. 'Start cooking good looking!' I'm A Celebrity's Miguel Maestre (pictured) has shared his tasty paella recipe. Miguel's wife, Sascha Newport - who is managing his social media - posted a photo of the Spanish-born chef cooking the delicious seafood dish in a very large pan 'Start cooking good looking,' she wrote in the caption - sharing a link to her husband's recipe. The dish involves frying marinara mix, with sofrito - a mix of tomato, garlic, peppers, parsley and chives - and extra virgin olive oil in a pan on high heat. Then adding chicken stock and simmering with rice on a medium heat until all the stock is absorbed and peas added on top. High praise: This comes after recent campmate Perez Hilton (pictured) spoke highly of Miguel in his post-eviction interview on The Project on Tuesday It is then cooked for an extra two minutes to create a crust on the bottom of the pan, and seasoned with salt and a squeeze of lemon to serve. This comes after recent campmate Perez Hilton spoke highly of Miguel in his post-eviction interview in The Project on Tuesday. The gossip blogger, 41, described The Living Room star as 'one of the most phenomenal, inspiring people that I have ever met'. 'I have met Madonna. I have met Oprah Winfrey. I have met some of the most phenomenal people alive,' he said, before pausing and adding, 'I'm not going to cry.' 'He really needs to win': The gossip blogger, 41, described The Living Room star as 'one of the most phenomenal, inspiring people that I have ever met' He continued: '[Miguel] was home to me. He was healing to me. He is the heart of that camp, and I just pray that everybody watching today and every day gets it right and he wins,' he continued. Before adding tearfully: 'He really needs to win.' But Perez still wasn't finished heaping praise on Miguel, branding him 'as much an Australian as anybody else', despite the fact 'he comes from Spain originally'. 'To me, Miguel is just as much an Australian as anybody else in that camp and the most deserving person to win,' he said. Photo: Karlis Dambrans/Flickr Missed the most recent top news in San Francisco? Read on for everything you need to know. Report: San Francisco Public Works director arrested on alleged public corruption charges Federal agents have arrested the head of San Francisco's Public Works department, according to published reports. Read the full story on KPIX CBS San Francisco Bay Area. SF company gave doctors free software rigged to encourage prescribing opioids, prosecutors say It was 2015, and the company identified only as "Pharma Co. X" in court documents had a problem on its hands. The number of people dying of opioid overdoses was spiraling at an alarming rate, and doctors nationwide were being forced to reckon with the growing crisis. Read the full story on SFGATE. Car break-ins surge in SF neighborhood that used to have hardly any Car break-ins are down slightly down in San Francisco, but one neighborhood is bucking the trend. New data from the San Francisco Police Department shows that smash-and-grabs have surged over the last year at the Diamond Heights Shopping Center, and in the roughly 1,000-foot-wide area surrounding it. Read the full story on SFGATE. Tiny Telephone SF to close, foreshadowing an arts hub's uncertain future In addition to Tiny Telephone's departure, big changes are slated for historic San Francisco arts compound the Farm. Read the full story on KQED. 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. Apple and Tesla reign supreme in their markets and a Russian firm has combined each of the firm's most sought after products into a Tesla Cybertruck-style iPhone. Called the 'Cyberphone', the modified iPhone 11 Pro is encased in titanium with a foldable front cover that resembles the bed of a truck. The 'truck bed' folds out to create a stand for the smartphone, allowing it to sit upright. However, Caviar, the maker of the modified device, seems to poke fun at Telsa's vehicle in a promotional video. The firm notes that the design has 'absolute screen protection' while playing a clip of the Cybertruck's windows being smashed during its unveiling last November. Scroll down for videos Apple and Tesla reign supreme in their markets and a Russian firm has combined each of the firm's most sought after products into a Tesla Cybertruck style iPhone. Called the 'Cyberphone', the modified iPhone 11 Pro is encased in titanium with a foldable front cover that resembles the bed of a truck The 64GB Cyberphone starts at $5,256 and only 99 units will be made for purchase. 'The design of the smartphone is based on the concept of a new headline-making crossover model by Elon Musk,' the Russian firm Caviar, which designs luxury goods, shared on its website. 'Caviar created a modified iPhone 11 Pro in the Tesla Cybertruck style: in the device, one can trace the deliberate geometry of lines, simplicity of forms and versatility of materials.' The titanium casing is said to protect the iPhone 'all round from any outer mechanical impact.' Caviar, the maker of the modified device, seems to poke fun at Telsa's vehicle in a promotional video. The firm notes that the design has 'absolute screen protection' while playing a clip of the Cybertruck's windows being smashed during its unveiling last November (pictured) However, the firm notes that the armor like covering will not interfere with the smartphone's functionality. 'If you wish to use your favorite apps with comfort or have video calls, the folding titanium screen protection is transformed into a comfortable holder,' Caviar explains. 'The design of the body is inspired by the geometry of Tesla Cybertruck. At the same time, it is improved aesthetically.' 'Accurate lines are explained not only by the functionality, but also create a visual component nice to look at.' The 'truck bed' folds out to create a stand for the smartphone, allowing it to sit upright. The 64GB Cyberphone starts at $5,256 and only 99 units will be made for purchase About 24 seconds into the Cyberphone's promotional video, Caviar highlights that the casing provides 'absolute screen protection' and in the background is a clip of Tsla design chief Franz von Holshausen attempting to prove the glass was 'shatterproof' by throwing a heavy metal ball at close range but showing the glass instead shatter on live camera. Musk was heard muttering 'oh my f***ing God' when the glass smashed. Musk appeared confused and asked Holzhausen to try another window, which also promptly smashed, but Musk pointed out it 'didn't go through' the glass. 'Ah not bad,' the CEO added to laughs from the audience. 'There's room for improvement.' The firm notes that the armor like covering will not interfere with the smartphone's functionality. 'We threw wrenches, we threw everything, we even literally threw the kitchen sink at the glass and it didn't break,' he said about testing the strength of the windows. 'For some weird reason it broke now, I don't know why. 'We'll fix it in post.' Days after the embarrassment, Musk explained why the the windows of his Cybertruck broke during a failed strength test at its launch event last week. Musk explained in a tweet that the base of the glass window had already been weakened during a previous demo. Designer Franz von Holzhausen had hit the car's door with a sledgehammer to prove its toughness and, while it appeared to go unscathed, this 'cracked the base of [the] glass', according to Musk. The 'Cybertruck', which looks like an armoured vehicle with a futuristic angular body in gunmetal grey, will go into production in 2021, Musk said at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Thursday. The pickup, which Musk said will cost $39,900 (31,000) and up, will have an estimated battery range of up to 500 miles. Information, if it spreads to the floor of the U.S. Senate, can cause GOP lawmakers to experience extreme nausea, truth recognition and, in rare cases, spine formation. In worst case scenarios, the information virus can result in presidential impeachment, which explains why Republicans are doing everything they can to keep witnesses out of Trumps trial. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The statistical surveying report on the global Military Apparel Market has been presented by using professional or expert knowledge through standard and modified research approaches and forecasts. The yearly forecast and predication for the years 2020 to 2025 have been enclosed by the report along with comprehensive analysis for all market segments and regions. The statistical data derived from authentic resources and assisted by industry experts. It likewise assesses the market by evaluating market elements, including drivers, restraints, opportunities, threats, challenges, growth prospects, and other market elements. The global military apparel market report presents a complete research-based study of the industry including details such as company shares, forecast data, in-depth analysis and an outlook of the market on a worldwide platform. The report further highlights the market drivers, restraints and the top manufacturers at the global and regional levels. For a thorough understanding, the report also offers market segmentation and regional analysis for the forecast period from 2020 to 2025. Get FREE Sample Report Copy @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-42493 Military Apparel is a standardized dress worn by members of the armed forces and paramilitaries of various nations. According to this study, over the next five years, the Military Apparel market will register an xx% CAGR in terms of revenue, the global market size will reach US$ xx million by 2024, from US$ xx million in 2020. In particular, this report presents the global market share (sales and revenue) of key companies in the Military Apparel business, shared in Chapter 3. This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of the Military Apparel market by product type, application, key manufacturers and key regions and countries. The key manufacturers covered in this report: Breakdown data in Chapter 3. Jihua Group Jiangsu Hongdou Industry Alpha Clothing Wyedean American Apparel Crye Precision IBENA Textilwerke Royal TenCate Cortman Textiles Drifire Invista Manifattura Landi Milliken Realm & Empire Others View More about this Market @ Global Military Apparel Industry Report This study considers the Military Apparel value and volume generated from the sales of the following segments: Segmentation by product type: breakdown data from 2014 to 2019, in Section 2.3; and forecast to 2024 in section 11.7. Outerwear Underwear Other Segmentation by application: breakdown data from 2014 to 2019, in Section 2.4; and forecast to 2024 in section 11.8. Air Force Land Army Navy This report also splits the market by region: Breakdown data in Chapters 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Americas United States Canada Mexico Brazil APAC China Japan Korea ......... In addition, this report discusses the key drivers influencing market growth, opportunities, the challenges and the risks faced by key manufacturers and the market as a whole. It also analyzes key emerging trends and their impact on present and future development. Buy Complete Global Military Apparel Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-42493 Other Related Report Provide by DecisionDatabases.com is - Global Microfiber Cleaning Cloths Market Growth 2019-2024 About Us: DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research report provider, enriching decision makers and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research reports, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains. Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed. For more details: DecisionDatabases.com E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com Phone: +91 90 28 057900 Web: https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ Amid US-Iran tensions, many Iranian Americans fear they will face increased discrimination. Some already have. New York City, United States In the weeks following the US killing of top Iranian commander Qassem Soliemani, fears of increased Iranophobia have gripped some in the Iranian-American community amid the escalation of tensions between Iran and the United States. Iran fired more than a dozen missiles at Iraqi bases housing US troops earlier this month after the killing of Soliemani on January 3. Responding to the attacks, the US announced it was imposing additional sanctions on Iran, including sanctions on eight Iranian officials it said were involved in destabilising activities in the Middle East. Iranian Americans have watched the latest developments with concern for family and friends in Iran, but also with renewed fears of a backlash against their communities in the US. The spread of Iranophobia in western media is leading to our dehumanisation, Monna Sabouri, an Iranian American, told Al Jazeera. Iranian Americans are being stripped of their constitutional rights. And of our humanity. Immediately after the US assassination of Soleimani, cities in the US were on alert for possible retaliation. It makes people feel scared to say they are Iranian in fear of how others might react because all over the news they are telling you that Iranians are terrorists and you should be afraid. Lily Tajaddini, Iranian-American activist Despite the US Department of Homeland Security announcing there was no specific, credible threat against the homeland, officials in cities such as New York put out statements saying they were prepared to respond to any threats from Iran. We will have to be vigilant against this threat for a long time to come, tweeted New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio immediately following the drone strike on Soleimani. Law enforcement in Los Angeles stepped up patrols at potential targets, sources told local media, though they acknowledged there were no specific threats. Such rhetoric and actions, Iranian Americans said, often unfairly puts them on the defence, and makes them targets for possible discrimination. Posts like this insinuate that Iran is a terrorist country and thus Iranians are terrorists, Lily Tajaddini, an Iranian-American activist in Washington, DC, told Al Jazeera. It makes people feel scared to say they are Iranian in fear of how others might react because all over the news they are telling you that Iranians are terrorists and you should be afraid. Tajaddini said she, too, believes this kind of rhetoric leads to the spread of Iranophobia. State officials say they take these actions to make our communities safer, but who is really safer when they are targeting members of their communities for being Iranian? she asked. Tensions escalated following the US drone strike that killed a top Iranian commander in Iraq [Eduardo Munoz/Reuters] For some, the fear has become a reality, with reports of increased interrogation and visa denials for those trying to enter the US. Last week, Mohammad Shahab Dehghani Hossein Abadi, a 24-year-old Iranian student enrolled in a university in Boston, Massachusetts, was deported despite a court order halting his removal. At least a dozen other Iranian students have been returned home despite having visas, US media reported. Just after the killing of Soleimani, a group of dozens of Iranians and Iranian Americans were detained some for up to 10 hours at a border crossing in Blaine, Washington, and asked about their political affiliations. At the time, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) denied there was a directive specific to the detention of travellers of Iranian descent, but reports over the weekend cited a US lawyer who was reportedly contacted by a CBP agent who countered the official narrative. Old wound, new fear For Iranian Americans who have been in the US during other times of escalation, such fears and experiences of Iranophobia bring up memories of a dark past. Such practices, even though infrequent, make this community worried that they are being typecast, said Mehrzad Boroujerdi, an Iranian American and director of the School of Public and International Affairs at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. For some of us old enough to have experienced mandatory fingerprinting during the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979-1980, there is a sense of discomfort emanating from a guilt-by-association mode of reasoning, Boroujerdi told Al Jazeera, referring to US embassy student takeover in which 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days in Tehran. Reza H Akbari, a graduate student who was born in Iran but has US citizenship, said he has heard countless stories from his parents and grandparents about the way they were treated during the crisis and afterwards. But he said things have gotten worse in recent times owing to social media and how easily false and alarmist information can be shared. Theres been an increase on social media unjustly and wrongfully asking Iranian Americans to prove their loyalty to the US, he said, adding that these instances cause a lot of anxiety among a population where many consider the US their home, or at least their second home. To be forced like you dont belong or getting questioned to prove a negative that you are a good citizen and believe in the nation is something thats a big concern in the community, he told Al Jazeera. Attendees hold flags from Iran and the US as Iranian Americans from across California converge in Los Angeles to participate in the California Convention for a Free Iran [Patrick T Fallon/Reuters] There are between 500,000 and one million people of Iranian descent living in the US, according to the US Department of State, with the largest concentration in Southern California. A survey by the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans, a non-profit for Iranian Americans, suggested that more than 50 percent of Iranian Americans oppose any kind of action by the US against Iran. The survey was conducted before the latest escalation with Iran. About 66 percent of survey respondents rated Trumps handling of US-Iran relations as poor. Some 71 percent of those who responded to a similar survey in 2016 the last year of former President Barack Obamas presidency rated his handling of US-Iran relations as excellent or good. In 2018, Trump withdrew the US from the landmark 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which tightly restricted Tehrans nuclear programme in exchange for ending sanctions that had severely damaged its economy. Trump has since established a maximum pressure policy towards Iran, including the reimposition of sanctions, and tensions between the two countries have mounted. Diverse community Some sections of the Iranian-American community agree with harsher measures on Iran, no matter who is implementing them, said Mana Kharrazi, an Iranian-American community organiser who until recently worked out of New York. There are those folks who are very directly connected to that trauma of 1979, and for that generation, in particular, that trauma and the anger they feel about that is what drives them the most, Kharrazi told Al Jazeera. The group that would talk of regime change at any cost; for them, its not a question of the Trump administration, but they just want someone who is hard on Iran. But for those who grew up in the US, the concerns are different. Were very much alarmed and afraid of this all turning into a huge trauma for the generation of young people who are growing up now in the US, Kharrazi said. People are going to school in a climate full of World War III memes [that] all their classmates are joking about, and for them, its not a joke, its about their grandparents and their relatives and this identity they dont fully understand yet, she said about Iranian-American students having to go to school in the immediate aftermath of the crisis. Kharrazi is not alone with her concerns. Los Angeles-based writer and producer Mahyad Tousi felt a similar fear about his seven-year-old son returning to school amid these conversations. Tousi, who was born in the US and then lived in Iran for a few years before returning at the age of 13, remembers coming back to a country in 1986 that was suddenly very hostile to his Iranian identity. He had to sit down with his son to explain whats going on before sending him to school at the start of the year. It became very visceral to me, that feeling, he told Al Jazeera about having his own childhood trauma come back in light of the situation. People know hes Iranian, hes wearing it on his sleeve, hes proud of it culturally and talks about it a lot and you throw something like this at the situation and all of a sudden that thing that you love, and thats a part of you that you understand as one half of your identity, becomes the part that people attack you about. As for the Iranophobia experienced by some, Tousi says he has experienced it his entire life, so there was no specific uptick he has personally felt. But the differences in experience for different Iranians is perhaps what most accurately represents the Iranian-American communitys diversity in terms of their opinions about the current situation. The Iranian-American community is a rather large and diverse community and the track record of the has helped to create cleavages among this community. Mehrzad Boroujerdi, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Even for the most laid-back critics, the latest escalation has them on edge. An Iranian-American student at Syracuse University in New York said this time around, many who usually hold back are now expressing their fears. The student, who wished to remain anonymous due to security concerns, was born and raised in Syracuse. I usually look to people who have already survived a war, already survived a revolution, already survived living in Iran during these things, the student told Al Jazeera. I look to them to see whether Im panicking too much, but it seems like everybody is pretty much scared right now and its still uncertain, the student said. It feels like overnight something really big happened. Meanwhile, experts such as Akbari warn that it is important for policymakers to acknowledge that the Iranian-American community is huge, and has differing opinions, and that overgeneralisation and treatment of the community with one school of thought only causes more problems. From the get-go, it seems like the nuances of the community that are living in the US is completely missed by decision-makers in the US, Akbari said. Boroujerdi, from Virginia, agreed. The Iranian-American community is a rather large and diverse community, he said, and the track record of the Islamic Republic has helped to create cleavages among this community. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 29) President Rodrigo Duterte is encouraging Cabinet officials to boycott travel to the United States indefinitely as part of his administration's toning down of relations with the Philippines traditional ally. Yung mga Cabinet member ko (My Cabinet members), I will ask them to not to go to the United States in the meantime, parang (its like a) boycott, Duterte told reporters Wednesday on the sidelines of the founding anniversary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Duterte made the announcement following his threat to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the US in response to Washington's cancellation of Senator Ronald Bato dela Rosas visa. But Duterte said that he had made up his mind about terminating the VFA and is no longer waiting for the US to correct the cancellation of the former top cops visa. I am terminating the VFA. I was not joking. The day I said it was the day that I decided it should be terminated, Duterte said. The Philippine government has to tell the US in writing that it wants to end the treaty. The agreement will remain in force for 180 days after this notice is sent. Duterte added that he first thought of terminating the VFA upon learning about the US Senate resolution which called on President Donald Trump to deny US entry and block all US-based transactions of Philippine officials who are involved in extrajudicial killings and the arrest and detention of opposition Senator Leila de Lima. Duterte insisted that his move was not capricious and that he was doing it for every Filipino. Trump had also signed the US 2020 spending law which contains a reference to a US Senate committee report calling on US State Secretary Mike Pompeo to prohibit the entry of foreign officials involved in the "wrongful imprisonment" of De Lima. Still under review Prior to Dutertes pronouncement on Wednesday evening, government officials had said that they were still evaluating the impact of a possible pullout from the VFA a 1998 agreement with the US on the treatment of its personnel in the Philippines. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, chaired by Duterte ally Senator Koko Pimentel, is set to review the VFAs with the US and Australia. The review will cover the VFA, the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, another deal between the US and the Philippines which allows US troops to use and control five bases in the country. Recommendations by the Senate panel will be forwarded to Malacanang, Pimentel said. The VFA is seen as a complementary agreement to the MDT, a treaty between the Philippines and the US which guarantees that the two countries will provide military aid to each other in case their metropolitan areas or their territories in the Pacific are attacked by a foreign force. EXPLAINER: The Visiting Forces Agreement Napakahalaga ng agreement na ito (This agreement is so important). The President should be careful when he makes these remarks, Senator Richard Dick Gordon said separately. Deputy Speaker Johnny Ty Pimentel, a key administration ally in the House of Representatives, also hit the proposed pullout from the VFA as an impulsive decision. Pimentel said the country will lose military and economic benefits if the VFA is terminated. Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario had warned that terminating the VFA can make the implementation of the MDT harder, as the relaxed immigration rules and waived fees for the entry of US military equipment would no longer be in place. Defense analyst Jose Antonio Custodio also warned that China, which has maintained its aggressive presence in the contested South China Sea, may take advantage of the termination of the VFA. CNN Philippines Paolo Barcelon, Rex Remitio and Pia Garcia contributed to this report. Haiti - Politic : Resumption of discussions with the moderate and radical opposition Following the failure of mediation with the opposition to the Apostolic Nunciature (the diplomatic seat of the Vatican) last December https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29551-haiti-flash-crisis-failure-of-the-mediation-to-the-apostolic-nunciature.html , a new session (except unforeseen) of exchanges, opens this Wednesday at the nunciature with representatives of President Moise, signatories of the Kinam agreement (opposition moderate), that of the Marriott (radical opposition) and members of civil society, with a view to reaching a solution to end the crisis, which does not necessarily mean forming a government of consensus, clarified one of the participants. These discussions should last 3 days... According to our sources, leaders of political parties independent of these agreements and members of the international community will also take part in this meeting. Reacting to the announcement that signatories to the Mariott agreement would be around the table at this meeting, Andre Michel, a fierce opponent of President Moise and Spokesperson for the radical opposition of the so-called "Democratic and Popular Movement" recognizes the right of certain signatories to participate in their own name in these exchanges, stating, however, that neither the "Democratic and Popular Mvement" nor the "Consensual Alternative" will participate in these discussions, continuing to refuse any collaboration with a possible Government of national union with Moses and now invariably as a prerequisite the resignation of the Head of State. Clarens Renois, the leader of the "UNIR" party, welcomes the opening of a dialogue between the Executive and the radical opposition with a view to reaching a political agreement, hoping that the participants will rise above their interests. personal for the good of the Nation. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29551-haiti-flash-crisis-failure-of-the-mediation-to-the-apostolic-nunciature.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29543-haiti-flash-at-the-diplomatic-headquarters-of-the-vatican-in-haiti-political-actors-dialogue.html TB/ HaitiLibre Europes recent trade deals with Canada and Japan took seven years. Still, Mr. Johnson has repeatedly ruled out extending the transition date. The prime minister has often demonstrated willingness to confront the British political class and European leaders with supposedly unbreachable lines only to find flexibility. Perhaps, as the year progresses and the stakes get real, he may accept some sort of politically palatable euphemism for an extension, allowing trade to continue unhindered while talks go on. But if Mr. Johnson holds firm, that raises two potential outcomes, neither conducive to expanding fortunes. Either Britain and Europe strike a narrow trade deal that governs some manufactured goods, while leaving out services the bulk of the British economy or Britain crashes out of the European bloc with no deal at all. Even the threat of a no-deal exit would entail costly mayhem, as companies on both sides of the English Channel stockpile goods in anticipation of customs snafus and choked ports. That is what unfolded for much of last year as the British political system lurched toward a Brexit deadline without an agreed-upon plan, bringing a no-deal scenario into stark relief. Adding to the risks, Mr. Johnsons administration has declared intentions to break from European rules governing labor, the environment and product safety. European authorities have warned that the more Britain deviates from European standards, the more they will restrict access to the Continents enormous marketplace. Given that Europe is the customer for nearly half of Britains exports, any impediment would threaten jobs. [Read: Battered at the polls, pro-Europe Britons gird for the next fight.] For Scotland, the unknowns are amplified by the revival of independence aspirations. The ruling Scottish National Party rose to power in 2011 with independence at the center of its agenda. But in a referendum held in 2014, Scottish voters decisively rejected leaving the United Kingdom, in large part because of warnings that such a step would entail grave economic costs. The leader of the Scottish National Party, Nicola Sturgeon, has taken Brexit as impetus for another referendum, asserting that leaving Europe whatever the final details will cost jobs and livelihoods. She has argued that Brexit presents a dramatic change to Scottish life and therefore justifies a second independence vote.Mr. Johnson recently denied her request for a new referendum, but public pressures appear to be building. Economic and political uncertainty have gripped Scotland for years, said Graeme Roy, who heads the economics department at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. This is now the new normal. Wednesday, January 29th, 2020 (12:08 pm) - Score 4,351 Ofcom has today implemented softer rules to support Openreachs (BT) IP (VoIP) and FTTP UK migration trials in Salisbury and Mildenhall (here), which aim to test the processes for moving customers off older copper broadband ISP and telephone services. Discounts and a new bulk migration process are part of the changes. Just to recap. Openreach is investing 8m to roll-out FTTP broadband to c.20,000 premises in Salisbury by April 2020, which will effectively give them universal coverage of the city. Due to this the city has also been chosen for their Exchange Upgrade trial (i.e. switching off copper and going full fibre). Meanwhile the Mildenhall trial will focus on the move from analogue telephony to digital voice services. The trial will help them to prepare the industry for the upgrade to VoIP technology, as well as the withdrawal of wholesale products and services that run over the traditional telephone network (due to close in 2025). Both of the aforementioned trials are set to run until December 2022 or later and Ofcom has said that they expect Openreach to cover an entire exchange area (100%) with fibre (they include both FTTP and G.fast into this definition) before they start to move the regulatory focus away from copper (the transition period for this will take several years). Moving masses of consumers on to the new platforms like this will not be easy and requires new processes, as well as targeted discounts, to help soften the blow for consumers and ISPs alike. The Key Changes * Ofcom has approved Openreachs new Bulk Grouping provision capability, which is a voluntary new installation process that will allow ISPs to upgrade their standard broadband (e.g. ADSL) customers to superfast (FTTC / VDSL2) products in batches at a given street cabinet, and at a lower price per line (i.e. savings from engineering efficiencies created by bulking jobs). Related orders will thus be exempt from certain Quality of Service (QoS) regulation requirements for the remainder of the 2018-2021 review period. This change is not specific to the Salisbury and Mildenhall trials, but is related. * Ofcom has agreed to limit the application of their current rules which require Openreach to provide wholesale access to standard and superfast broadband on its copper network. In Salisbury, where fibre is available, Openreach will no longer be required to provide new copper services when customers move house, change service or switch ISP. Instead, it will be able to offer broadband over its fibre network only. * To allow Openreach to vary its charges to encourage participation in the Salisbury and Mildenhall trials, Ofcom has also decided to limit the application of three of their rules in the trial areas. These changes will enable Openreach to: 1. Waive selected wholesale connection charges for migration from legacy to replacement services; 2. Maintain wholesale rental charges at the legacy service rate for one year after migration; and 3. Waive certain ancillary charges associated with migration. NOTE: The rules mentioned above are an obligation not to discriminate unduly when providing network access, including the requirement to provide identical wholesale services to all telecoms providers (equivalence of inputs); and the rule which specifies that in areas where Openreach has deployed fibre and has withdrawn its copper-based broadband services, it must offer a 40Mbps download, 10Mbps upload fibre based broadband service at the same regulated price it charges for the equivalent copper-based service elsewhere in the UK ( The rules mentioned above are an obligation not to discriminate unduly when providing network access, including the requirement to provide identical wholesale services to all telecoms providers (equivalence of inputs); and the rule which specifies that in areas where Openreach has deployed fibre and has withdrawn its copper-based broadband services, it must offer a 40Mbps download, 10Mbps upload fibre based broadband service at the same regulated price it charges for the equivalent copper-based service elsewhere in the UK ( more background ). These amendments will apply only to certain charges offered by Openreach for the Salisbury and Mildenhall trials and for a limited time. Ofcoms rules will continue to apply in full elsewhere in the UK. We will be working with industry to put appropriate safeguards in place for the protection of vulnerable customers during the trials, including the ability to pause their migration or to restore their copper services at short notice if necessary, said Ofcom. Ofcom now intend to closely monitor Openreachs trials in order to inform their plans for future regulatory changes. In relation to the Salisbury trial, the consent limiting the application of the relevant Significant Market Power (SMP) Conditions, which will enable Openreach to stop providing new connections where fibre is available, takes effect from 1st December 2020. In relation to the Salisbury and Mildenhall trials, the direction disapplying the relevant SMP Conditions, which will enable Openreach to offer its proposed commercial offers in the trial areas, takes effect for the period from 3rd February 2020 to 4th May 2021. As for the new bulk grouping provision capability, only Cityfibre raised some concerns with the proposals. In particular, Cityfibre claimed that the proposals would run the risk of promoting FTTC take-up and undermine investment incentives for FTTP deployment, including leading to a delay in migration of customers to FTTP which would leave customers worse off overall. Ofcom said they do not share Cityfibres concerns. You can check out both of Ofcoms related statements here and here. Lee Enterprises Inc., the parent company of The Sentinel, announced Wednesday that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway to acquire BH Media Groups publications and The Buffalo News for $140 million. Kevin Mowbray, president and chief executive officer of Lee Enterprises, said Berkshire Hathaway will finance all debt. The deal adds 31 local daily news publications to the companys holdings, bringing the total portfolio of newspapers to 81. In 2018, Lee Enterprises, which is based in Davenport, Iowa, announced it would take over management of papers that had been assembled into the BH Media Group. My partner Charlie Munger and I have known and admired the Lee organization for over 40 years, Buffett, Berkshire Hathaways chairman and CEO, said in a news release. They have delivered exceptional performance managing BH Medias newspapers and continue to outpace the industry in digital market share and revenue. We had zero interest in selling the group to anyone else for one simple reason: We believe that Lee is best positioned to manage through the industrys challenges, Buffett said. No organization is more committed to serving the vital role of high-quality local news, however delivered, as Lee. I am confident that our newspapers will be in the right hands going forward, and I am also pleased to be deepening our long-term relationship with Lee through the financing agreement. This is a compelling and transformative transaction for Lee, said Mary Junck, Lees chairperson. It both refinances our long-term debt on attractive terms and provides new revenue opportunities as well as operational synergies across an expanded portfolio. Through the agreement, Berkshire Hathaway is providing about $576 million in long-term financing to Lee at a 9% annual rate, and proceeds of the financing will be used to pay for the acquisition, refinance Lees $400 million of existing debt and provide cash for the termination of Lees revolving credit facility, according to the news release. Berkshire will be Lees sole lender after the deal closes. Lee said it expects to eliminate about $20 million in annual costs as part of the deal primarily by cutting administrative expenses at the newspapers. Lee said it also expects to increase revenue by about $5 million by focusing on growing digital revenue and changes to subscription pricing. Email Naomi Creason at ncreason@cumberlink.com or follow her on Twitter @SentinelCreason Love 0 Funny 0 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. NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 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 rswilloughby@pomlaw.com 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 units [beneficial operation] schedule. On this news, Sasols 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. (ANSA) - Paris, January 29 - Italian actress and director Asia Argento feels Italy's conscience has been revived following an outcry against abuses of power. After she was one of the first to speak out against sexual assault by powerful producer Harvey Weinstein, she said, right-wing sections of Italy's media had attacked her in a "rather disgusting" manner. Since then, however, much has changed, she said. Argento made these comments during an interview with Le Monde at the Festival du Film Fantastique in Gerardmer, where she is this year's head of the jury. She added that Europeans had been more "far-sighted" than Americans concerning the "injustices" she had suffered, noting that many had understood that an actor accusing her of sexually assaulting him as a minor, Jimmy Benett, had been "exploited". The actress and director said that she had been "touched" by this solidarity, since she had experienced a "terrible 2017-2018". She also noted that the #Metoo movement had initially focused on speaking out against serious abuses of power but had over time become a "Hollywood product", "something that makes you stupid, a bit fake and bigoted" and comparable to "the Christian Democrats in all their splendour". TUNIS, Tunisia Hager Barcous, a local official for the Ennahda movement in Nice, France, announced Jan. 15 that she would withdraw her membership from the movement. She argued that Ennahdas decisions, discourses and activities no longer represent her. She also demanded serious internal structural reforms before she resumed her partisan activity with Ennahda. Earlier, on Jan. 14, another Ennahda member, Ziad Boumakhla, resigned from the party in a post on his Facebook account, without stating the reasons. Boumakhla had been active with Ennahda for over 10 years. On the same day, active Ennahda leader Hisham Laarayedh, who is also the son of the movements deputy head and former Prime Minister Ali Laarayedh, followed suit. He announced that he is quitting in a Facebook post. He had been an active member of Ennahda for a decade. He, also, did not reveal in his post the reasons for his resignation. These resignations are not new for Ennahda. Zubair al-Shahoudi, who served as office director of Rachid Ghannouchi, the head of Ennahda, had resigned on Sept. 17, 2019. He urged Ghannouchi to retire from political work. Ennahda parliament member and former Minister of Development, Investment and International Cooperation Ziyad al-Athari had renounced on Nov. 28, 2019, all leadership positions in the movement. He resigned from his post as the partys acting general secretary and as a member of its executive office. He cited dissatisfaction with the movement's political line, its nomination of Habib Jemli to head the government. These resignations, coinciding with the 11th Ennahda National Congress to be held on a date to be determined, stem from diverging positions on political options. Jemli, nominated by Ennhada, failed to gain the confidence of parliament. Add to this the movement battled internal differences, most notably regarding the controversial amendment of its internal organization regulations so as to allow Ghannouchi to remain at the party helm. A large segment in Ennahda opposed the amendment. For Ali Laarayedh, the resignation of his son and a number of the movements leaders is only normal in a movement that has dominated the political scene for nine years and is now witnessing an internal overhaul. The partys young members have gained [political] maturity and are seeking a higher post within the party, he told Al-Monitor. The partys youths want quick change in relation to the formation of the government and the management of public affairs. He explained the recent resignations are a message to the movements supreme leaders that change and evaluation are necessary: Ennahda is facing a very difficult situation. It is seeing its popularity dwindle in light of its weak choices and inclinations after the legislative and presidential elections. In an interview with Radio Mosaique on Jan. 15, chairman of Ennahdas Shura Council Abdelkarim Harouni said the movement continues to hold dialogue with the young members to persuade them to renege on their resignations to preserve the unity of the movement. Mohamed Baoud, a political analyst, told Al-Monitor these resignations are more like a rebellion inside the movement, which lost parliamentary seats going from 89 in 2014 to 54 in the 2019 legislative elections. Baoud said that Ennahda has begun to lose its grip on the political scene, especially after its failure to form a government on Jan.11, as a result of Ghannouchis wrong political choices and monopoly of decision. There is a clash between two movements in Ennahda. The youth camp [within the movement] is calling for leadership and administrative change within the party. The second is the group that has political legitimacy and won in the movement's 10th congress in May 2016 and is represented by the leadership of the movement, its executive office and official institutions, Baoud said. Ibrahim al-Omari, a professor of political science at the Center for Economic and Social Research in Tunisia, told Al-Monitor that the frequent resignations in Ennahda are linked to the unstable political situation in the country in general and to the movements disorganized policies given the differences in views. These resignations within the movements have been ongoing since 2011. Omari said they were the results of two factors: the differences in political stances and clashes over the distribution of ministerial portfolios. The latter led to the resignation of Ziyad al-Adhari. Ennahda has been the ruling party for nine years, and the internal differences have begun to emerge to the surface through these resignations and the harsh public criticism, which reflects a deep organizational problem that could lead to further dissidence and divisions within the movement. For his part, Abdul Jabbar al-Madouri, editor-in-chief of Sawt Achaab newspaper, expected more resignations in the coming period and the deepening of division within the movement with the upcoming National Congress of the movement, which will witness fierce competition between the partys leaders over Ghannouchis succession. He explained that these resignations are a negative indication of the beginning of the collapse of Ennahda a scenario similar to that of the Popular Front, Nidaa Tounes and the Congress for the Republic following Tunisia's 2011 Jasmine Revolution. Moad Bennsir, a researcher in sociology, told Al-Monitor that the resignations of young members from Ennahda is only normal given the nature of the young generation to rebel against what is tradition, especially when it comes to partisan organization. He explained that since the Jasmine Revolution, young Tunisians abandoned all socio-cultural legacies and established an independent position for themselves in the general political sphere. Bennsir said some of the resignations are because of a loss of confidence in the movements leaders, and young Tunisians are calling more and more for an alternative to traditional political parties. A businessman who admits he was "the frontman" for a massive tax fraud has claimed he was threatened with "very serious consequences" if he named the mastermind behind the scheme. Kevin Rabbitte said it was "no coincidence" his wife's car had been "driven off the road recently", in an affidavit filed with the High Court. Mr Rabbitte (48), of Clonberne, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, yesterday consented to being disqualified as a company director over his role in the fraud, which involved the failure to pay VAT on millions of euro of plant machinery imported into Ireland. But the court was told he was claiming another person, who he is "petrified" of and refuses to name, directed him and was behind the illegal operation. Mr Rabbitte also claimed he received a commission of only 10,000 for his role in the fraud, and that his company, Westman Plant and Civils Ltd, never benefited. In an affidavit, he said: "I stupidly committed myself to be the frontman for the purchase of machines by this third party, which were never paid for by the company and for which I received a very modest commission payment. "Both myself and my wife are petrified of this third party who has threatened me in no uncertain terms. "I have been threatened with very serious consequences, both for myself and my family, in the event that I disclose this third party's name." Mr Rabbitte's firm was wound up in 2017 following an application by the Revenue Commissioners. An investigation by liquidator Myles Kirby, of Kirby Healy Chartered Accountants, found the company had been used as part of a major VAT carousel fraud. This involved exploiting EU rules that allow a purchaser to pay VAT in their own country on goods bought abroad. Mr Rabbitte used his firm's VAT number to buy plant machinery at auctions in the UK and import it to Ireland, but no VAT was paid. Mr Rabbitte instructed his accountants to file nil VAT returns. Mr Kirby found that between July 2014 and June 2015, the company's VAT number was used to import nearly 8m of plant and machinery into Ireland, but some 3.2m in VAT payments was evaded. The High Court heard Mr Rabbitte had "robustly denied fraud" until shortly before an application by the liquidator was due to be heard yesterday. Mr Justice Brian O'Moore was informed the businessman was now admitting to attending 18 auctions, where the value of machinery bought was just over 4m. The court was told the loss to the Revenue due to unpaid VAT on these transactions was 1.2m. The liquidator's counsel, John Kennedy SC, instructed by Sam Saarsteiner, of Clarke Hill Solicitors, said Mr Rabbitte had consented to his disqualification as a director and the only question for the court was how long the disqualification should be. He said that, given the nature of the fraud and Mr Rabbitte's behaviour as a company director, a lengthy disqualification was in order. Mr Kennedy said Mr Rabbitte also consented to a declaration that while an officer of Westman Plant and Civils Ltd he was knowingly a party to the carrying on of the business of the company with intent to defraud creditors, including the Revenue Commissioners. The barrister said Mr Rabbitte was also consenting to an order making him personally liable for the debts of the company, capped at 1.5m. Mr Kennedy said the sole activity of the company in its life was "as a vehicle for fraud" and that Mr Rabbitte's actions made him "a wholly unsuitable person to act as a director in the long term". "There have been consistent, persistent and deliberate failings of his duties as a director of this company," he said. Mr Rabbitte was not in court for the hearing, but his solicitor Robert Dore said his client "accepts the gravity of what is involved here" and had "put his hands up". Mr Dore said there was "a particular background" to the matter and urged the judge to take this and Mr Rabbitte's admissions into account and to consider a disqualification "in the lower to middle level". Mr Justice O'Moore will decide on the period of disqualification tomorrow. Kate Spade has a new face and voice. Naomi Watanabe, the Japanese comedian, actor, and fashion designer that first came to prominence from her bombastic cover of Beyonces Crazy in Love, will be representing the brand in 2020. The company announced the Japanese Beyonce would repping the Big Apple as its new global ambassador via a press release and Naomis bringing a healthy dose of color and spunk with her. While Naomi might not yet be a household name in the U.S., in Japan and beyond shes a superstar she currently boasts over 9 million Instagram followers. In 2018, she was the most followed person on Instagram in Japan, and she also made Time magazines 25 Most Influential People on the Internet list that same year. Aside from numbers, Naomis style and charm have made her a face to watch all around the fashion world. The partnership between these two powerhouses will officially begin with a digital campaign in celebration of the spring 2020 handbag collection. Spotlighted are the labels popular Margaux bags, offered in a variety of colors and styles that pair perfectly with Naomis trademark bright and bubbly wit. As the embodiment of confidence, joy, and originality, Naomis passion for life is inclusive, explained the label. She encourages women to express their individuality every day. Nicola Glass, the labels creative director, is in agreement. At Kate Spade New York, 2020 is about celebrating how women express their own spirit and personal style through our brand, she said in a statement. To us, Naomi represents all women. Her humor and love of life perfectly align with our brand values, and she makes our product shine. Together, we hope to continue inspiring multi-generational self-styled and self-motivated women to live their lives with substance, sophistication and a smile. Story continues Kate Spades venture with Naomi Watanabe officially launched on January 27. Let us slide into your DMs. Sign up for the Teen Vogue daily email. Want more from Teen Vogue? Check this out: The Long Leather Coat Is This Seasons Must-Have Trend Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Before they can get started at their field site - a giant cave studded with stalactites, stalagmites and human artifacts - 15 undergraduate students must figure out how to use their virtual hands and tools. They also must learn to teleport. (VIDEO) This is ANTH 399, a course designed to bring the archaeological field school experience to undergraduate students who never leave campus. Designed by University of Illinois professors and computer science graduate students, the course satisfies the field school requirement for those pursuing an archaeology degree at Illinois. "Field school is a requirement of most archaeological programs across the country," said Illinois anthropology professor Laura Shackelford, who led development of the class with U. of I. education policy, organization and leadership professor Wenhao David Huang and computer science graduate student Cameron Merrill. "But traveling to a field school site can cost anywhere from $500 to $5,000." This, and the fact that traditional field school expeditions are often scheduled during breaks, makes it difficult or impossible for many students to attend - cutting them off from the study of archaeology altogether. "This class makes it possible for many more students to get an education or explore a career in archaeology," Shackelford said. The class is also accessible to students with physical limitations who are unable to travel to or navigate a field site. The virtual cave is modeled in part on a real cave that was excavated in the 1930s. It contains both ancient and more recent human artifacts, all of which are accessible to students who dig in the right place. The students learn the archaeological techniques required in any excavation. They set up a research grid on the cave floor and systematically locate and record any artifacts they find on the surface. They draw a map with all of the surface details and then decide where to excavate. They take photos of special features or finds. They dig. They collect artifacts. They conduct laboratory analyses. They keep track of their progress in a field notebook. All of these tasks are accomplished in the virtual world. Building this virtual archaeological experience is a computational and creative challenge, said computer science graduate student Merrill, the lead programmer on the project. This class is his doctoral thesis. "You can't just import lectures into VR and expect to have good results," Merrill said. "We're not creating a 3D model viewer for looking at artifacts or to tour an existing site. We're trying to build an immersive educational experience." Students need to feel they are actually engaged in excavating a cave, he said. It's also important for them to use realistic tools to accomplish the tasks at hand. But designing virtual tools for an archaeological dig is tricky, Merrill said. "A lot of the challenge has to do with the trade-off between making something as realistic as possible versus making something more accessible to people," he said. For example, the designers created a virtual tape measure that requires two hands to operate. But reading tiny measurements in the virtual world is problematic, so a pop-up screen shows the user the readout on the tape. Virtual digging was another challenge. "We needed to simulate dirt that the students can modify in real time," Merrill said. "But simulating something like soil is very computationally complex." The team came up with a solution that allows students to extract the dirt in chunks that reflect the light in a realistic manner. The design also incorporates haptic feedback, so that students can "feel" the solidity and texture of the dirt when they make contact. The team uses insights from game design to engage the students, Shackelford said. "We're giving them less instruction and providing multiple scenarios," she said. "And so it's possible different teams of students will experience different things." The students choose where to dig, which influences the information they gather - or miss, Shackelford said. And there are risks, too. Dig too far into a wall and it might collapse. In the first iteration of the class held last year, students gave the designers immediate feedback about how the tools worked or didn't work, allowing Merrill and his colleagues to tweak them. He and his colleagues have created more than 110 artifacts, many of which are virtual versions of actual relics in the university's collections. "When we want them to learn how to do some ceramic analysis and sorting, we'll bring the real things to class and they'll be going back and forth between the real and virtual worlds," Shackelford said. The students work in pairs, taking turns in the virtual world while their partner guides them, following their progress on a computer monitor and stopping them from bumping into any real-world objects. The excavations lead to laboratory work, which also occurs in the virtual realm, Shackelford said. "There's a lab on faunal analysis, there's a lab on pollen analysis," she said. "They're doing ceramic sorting and identification. They're doing seriation, which is putting things in the correct chronological order." They also learn stratigraphy, the art of reading how layers of soil were deposited over time. "The pattern and the timing of that deposition of soil tells us a lot about how a site was formed, Shackelford said. The team is evaluating the efficacy of the program to determine if the skills the students learn are equivalent to those obtained in a real-world dig. In the earlier version of the class, professors took the students to a real-world "mock excavation" site near campus at the end of the semester. This site allowed the students to excavate in real dirt, testing their VR-acquired skills and understanding. "We found that a lot of things that were frustrating for students in the virtual reality world were just as frustrating in the real world," Shackelford said. "And with a little practice and self-correction, they were able to do everything that we asked them to." ### The researchers presented VRchaeology to an audience of anthropologists at the 2020 meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology in Boston. Shackelford also is a professor in the Carle Illinois College of Medicine. The National Science Foundation supports this work. Editor's notes: To reach Laura Shackelford, call 217-265-6741; email llshacke@illinois.edu. To reach David Huang, email edhuang@illinois.edu. To reach Cameron Merrill, email cmm2@illinois.edu. More information about VRchaeology is available online. [LINK: https://www.vrchaeology.com/] Le Net and Vu Thi Thinh from LNT & Partners Vietnam is a developing country with an abundance of infrastructure potential. While the country has been notably successful in foreign direct investment attraction in recent times, such investment in infrastructure is still limited. Public-private partnership (PPP) projects operating in Vietnam have primarily been in the form of build-transfer or build-operate-transfer and mostly focus on transportation, electrical energy, and several other fields. The potential of Vietnams infrastructure market is highly valued by international investors, and it will surely offer them more opportunities when barriers are demolished and PPP projects in the country align with international norms. In less than 10 years, Vietnam has three times made efforts to introduce, revise, and improve the legal framework governing PPP. These include Decision No.71/2010/QD-TTg by the prime minister in parallel to Decree No.108/2009; Decree No.15/2015/ND-CP, which replaced those two documents; and Decree No.63/2018/ND-CP which replaced Decree 15. Decree 63 took effect in June 2018 as the key PPP legislation. Decree 63 is the current legal instrument for relevant projects and includes provisions in line with international practices such as guarantees to keep the land use plan unchanged, to supply public utilities, and guarantees for covering the risk of government expropriation of assets or covering contracting authority obligations. However, the mechanism to share revenue risks has not yet been included. Decree 63 also allows for government guarantees to be granted to make foreign currency available to the project company. Such a guarantee is important, especially now that the VND is not freely convertible due to restrictions on currency conversion. However, there is no clear policy on the circumstances on which such government guarantees can be provided. The language of the decree is vague based on the socio-economic development orientation, foreign exchange management policy, ability to balance foreign currency in each period, and the target and the nature of the project, the prime minister shall decide balance of foreign currency for projects, subject to approval. This lack of a clear policy and guidelines for providing a foreign currency convertibility guarantee is potentially impeding lenders and private investors from entering into Vietnams PPP market. Solutions in the new decade The country can increase its attraction to PPP projects only when all the barriers are solved. As Vietnam enters the last year of the 2016-2020 development period, the country needs more resources to serve its rapid development demands. Together with recognising the determining role of infrastructure in national development, PPP is regarded as an important tool to promote infrastructure improvement. During 2019, the government was active in submitting a more complete legal mechanism to serve as a basis and a premise for infrastructure development for example in organising seminars and requesting comments from the private sector, including associations and domestic and foreign enterprises. The draft law on PPP submitted to the National Assembly does not only serve as an elevation of regulations into a position of greater constitutional prominence compared to Decree 63, but also answers investor concerns relating to sovereign support. The mechanisms for sharing revenue risks and foreign currency convertibility guarantees are introduced into the PPP draft law by the Ministry of Planning and Investment. In the submission, the government decides to apply a revenue risk sharing mechanism for qualified PPP projects in the form of adjustment of product prices, service fees, or adjustment of contract terms. The government commits to sharing with investors and project enterprises no more than 50 per cent of the decrease between the actual revenue and the committed revenue in the contract. In exchange, the investors and enterprises commit to sharing with the government no less than 50 per cent of the increase in revenue. In terms of foreign currency convertibility guarantee, it may be up to 30 per cent of project revenue in VND after subtracting the amount spent in the same currency. The PPP draft law also specifies three criteria to grant such a guarantee, thus enhancing its real-life applicability. It can be seen that the draft not only benefits investors through guarantee of the projects outcome but also benefits the state as it promises to attract more investment capital to Vietnam. To maintain the fast pace of development and industrialisation, the country needs more new infrastructure works. However, public financial resources are inadequate to fulfil these requirements, thus the mobilisation of private capital is of the essence. The law draft has provided solutions to such concerns. The draft law is expected to be passed and promulgated in 2020, opening a new chapter in the countrys attraction of private investment when a new development period starts. It will provide legal guarantees and ensure a reasonable risk-sharing structure for projects. Therefore, it shall create expectations and attract new projects not limited to traditional areas like roads, energy, and water supply, but also those requiring large capital, advancing national competitiveness, and creating a great number of jobs such as rail and aviation. Key to attracting investors A key factor in investor decision making is cash flows as business by nature comes down to pursuing profit. They also serve as a useful tool for investors to call for project financing from lenders or sponsors. Cash flows include both the input revenues received from the off-takers or customers and output, as in the money spending for the projects interests (see chart). Capital providers shall invest in a project if its estimated profitability has potential, together with considering the internal rate of return. To control these cash flows, investors need to allocate and mitigate the risks generated from a PPP project. In practice, the determining factors of a PPP projects cash flows, among others, are categorised into three main groups: the capability of the investors, the revenue risk sharing mechanism, and foreign currency convertibility guarantee. The capability of investors is the assessment in all aspects that affect the outcome of a project, including the financial situation, experience, business connections, and more. Revenue risk sharing means reducing the likelihood and impact of uncertainties, while the foreign currency convertibility guarantee ensures that capital providers receive their domestic currency in spite of market fluctuations. While the risk sharing, to some extent, ensures the revenue gained by the investors, the foreign currency convertibility guarantee aims at the liquidity of such revenue and provides investors with an effective tool to attract more capital. While the first factor falls under the responsibility of investors, the state should assist its private partners with the two remaining mechanisms as a PPP project benefits both parties. In nature, a PPP project is implemented to provide public services using private capital and/or private management. It means that in case the private sector is not engaged, the state must spend its budget or mobilise official development assistance loans (meaning the state must bear all risks and responsibilities). Therefore, if the state wants to call for financial resources and exploit the knowledge and management capacity from all economic sectors to make up the budget deficit, it must also ensure the feasibility of the project through supports and guarantees in exchange. Therefore, to improve PPP investment in Vietnam, the state should focus on the revenue risk sharing mechanism, and the foreign currency convertibility guarantee. Considering the improvements from current PPP regulations and the effects possibly arising, the law on PPP should be passed and promulgated soon. The law is highly anticipated to be one of the most important legal changes in 2020 and in following years, thus contributing the countrys socio-economic development for the new five-year term and longer. Experts believe that together with the introduction of this law, if the state plans not to increase the debt ceiling but still increase the economys size through several methods for instance, careful selection of investors and consultants the countrys economic picture will be greatly and positively influenced. A 52-year-old taxi driver broke down and wept as he was cleared yesterday of sexually abusing a teenage fare who claimed he had then abandoned her by the roadside, leaving her to make her own way home. It had taken the Belfast Crown Court jury of seven men and five women just under four-and-a-half-hours, over two days, to clear taxi driver Robert Francis Wellington by majority of the single count of sexually assaulting the 18-year-old after picking her up outside Club 14 in Tomb Street in the early hours of November 1, 2018. A member of Mr Wellington's family sitting in the public gallery had to be comforted by other family and friends as she too broke down, gasping audibly as the jury foreman announced their majority verdict of at least 10 to two. By the verdict they accepted his claims he'd "done absolutely nothing wrong", and had ordered her out of his fonacab after she tried it on with him. Mr Wellington, from West Circular Road in Belfast, had always denied the charge against him. He maintained that he believed the teenager's erratic behaviour was due either to drink, drugs or both, and that she even confessed to being "off her face". His trial last week viewed a videotaped police interview of the young woman in which she described how Mr Wellington claimed he'd been sent by her friend to collect her, as he couldn't make it. The girl said she had only asked the fonacab driver if his taxi was free. However, the court heard that in his police interviews Mr Wellington maintained his innocence and that the teenager was "off her head... rambling and shouting", and when he was about to drop her off he was told to "keep driving". He further claimed that after she came on to him, he stopped his cab and ordered her to get out. Defence counsel Luke Curran had also claimed her evidence to the jury was lies, telling her that what she claimed "simply did not happen... he didn't put his hand on your leg.... 100% definitely... he has done absolutely nothing to touch your leg or anywhere else", and the only sexual contact between them was when she pulled his hand towards her. Vaping and e-cigarette products are displayed in a store in New York City on Dec. 19, 2019. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) States Update Vaping Cases: 60 Deaths Confirmed, Over 2,700 Hospitalized The number of deaths caused by EVALI, the newly identified lung disease linked to vaping, has risen to 60, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said. In a media release on Jan. 28 the CDC announced the updated number of hospitalized e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI) cases and deaths. The CDC said that as of Jan. 21 60 deaths had been confirmed in 27 states and the District of Columbia, from Alabama to California. More deaths are still under investigation it added. As of that same date, 2,711 cases of hospitalized EVALI or deaths were reported by all 50 states, the District of Columbia, as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. However, the CDC noted that emergency department visits related to e-cigarette products continue to decline after peaking in September 2019. National ED data and active case reporting from state health departments around the country show a sharp rise in symptoms or cases of EVALI in August 2019, a peak in September 2019, and a gradual, but persistent decline since then, the CDC said in a statement. It noted that there may be a number of reasons for the decline, including increased public awareness regarding the risks associated with THC product vaping, the removal of vitamin E acetate from some products, and law enforcement actions in regard to illicit products. The CDC added that it continues to monitor and evaluate hospitalized cases or deaths related to EVALI in coordination with the FDA and states. Vitamin E Acetate According to the CDC, vitamin E acetate, an oil chemical used to dilute THC, is strongly linked to the EVALI outbreak and has been found in product samples tested by FDA and state laboratories and in patient lung fluid samples tested by CDC from geographically diverse states. Vitamin E acetate has not been found in the lung fluid of people that do not have EVALI, it said. Vitamin E acetate should not be added to any e-cigarette, or vaping, products. Additionally, people should not add any other substances not intended by the manufacturer to products, including products purchased through retail establishments, it added. Tetrahydrocannabinol In updated guidance published earlier this month, the CDC said it is now focusing on vapes and vape products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from marijuana, as national and state data suggest they are linked to most cases of EVALI, and play a major role in the outbreak. Tetrahydrocannabinol is the chemical responsible for marijuanas psychological effects and has a similar structure to the brain chemical anandamide, allowing the body to recognize THC and alter normal brain communication, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The CDC found that 82 percent of hospitalized patients with data on substance use reported using THC-containing products; 33 percent reported exclusive use of THC-containing products. The agency warned people against acquiring tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products, particularly from informal sources like friends, family, or in-person or online dealers. Warning In a Twitter post on Jan. 27, CDC director Dr. Robert R. Redfield continued to warn against the use of e-cigarettes. If you use e-cigarette, or vaping, products, get medical care right away if you have symptoms like those reported in this outbreak, such as cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, fever, chills, or weight loss, he added. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - A family of four Chinese tourists in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday became the first cases in the Mideast of a new Chinese virus that causes flu-like symptoms, with an Emirati doctor saying the first to fall ill only showed symptoms after over a week on vacation. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. People queue up waiting to purchase face masks outside a shop in Hong Kong, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. A viral outbreak that began in China has infected more than 6,000 people in the mainland and more than a dozen other countries. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - A family of four Chinese tourists in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday became the first cases in the Mideast of a new Chinese virus that causes flu-like symptoms, with an Emirati doctor saying the first to fall ill only showed symptoms after over a week on vacation. Dr. Hussein al-Rand, an assistant undersecretary at the UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention, told The Associated Press that there was no reason to panic over virus. However, he acknowledged Emirati officials now were tracing the family's steps since landing in this federation of seven sheikhdoms that includes Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Their condition is stable, they are awake, they are all receiving all the measures, al-Rand said. I would say to the public: Please, don't be panicked. The health condition within the United Arab Emirates is safe. Among those sick in the family are a grandmother, her daughter, the daughter's husband and the couple's 9-year-old daughter, al-Rand said. The family from Wuhan, the epicenter of the viral outbreak, entered the UAE on Jan. 16, al-Rand said. He declined to name the airline the family flew on and the airport at which they arrived. The UAE is home to long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways and is a hub for global air travel. Al-Rand also declined to say which cities they visited during their vacation. Visitors and exhibitors wear masks at the Arab Health Exhibition in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday confirmed the first cases in the Mideast of the new Chinese virus that causes flu-like symptoms, saying doctors now were treating a family that had just come from a city at the epicenter of the outbreak. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili) Authorities at Abu Dhabi's airport and Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest for international travel, began screening passengers and crew from incoming China flights on Jan. 23. That's the day China shut down Wuhan's airport and other transportation in the city to stop the spread of the virus. The lockdown has since expanded to include 17 cities with more than 50 million people in all. That same day, Jan. 23, the grandmother among the family fell ill and sought medical care, al-Rand said. Public awareness about the virus had spread widely and doctors tested the grandmother for the new coronavirus and got a positive result. Authorities admitted the other three shortly after and they too tested positive. On Wednesday, six days after the grandmother fell ill, the UAE announced the cases, initially providing little information. They later confirmed the number of those ill and their nationality. The World Health Organization, which is keeping track of those who fall ill from the new virus, reported the four cases in the UAE late Wednesday night. Emirati officials are taking "all the necessary precautions in accordance with the scientific recommendations, conditions and standards approved by the World Health Organization," the Health and Prevention Ministry said. The general health condition is not a cause for concern." State-run and government-supporting media in the UAE carefully announced the news Wednesday, stressing that authorities said they had the situation under control. However, reports quickly emerged of face masks selling out at pharmacies as a popular online retailer had them as a top trending item. At Arab Health, a major trade show happening this week in Dubai, a few Emiratis and others attending wore surgical masks while walking among the crowds. A few tourists also wore face masks while visiting sites in Dubai. A man wears a mask as he visits the UAE ministry stand during the Arab Health Exhibition in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday confirmed the first cases in the Mideast of the new Chinese virus that causes flu-like symptoms, saying doctors now were treating a family that had just come from a city at the epicenter of the outbreak. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili) Al-Rand declined to name the Emirati hospital the four now are receiving treatment. He also declined to say how many people Emirati health authorities had contacted while tracing the family's travel in the UAE. Emirates meanwhile said it continued its flights to Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai, as well as Hong Kong. We are providing masks and hand sanitisers to all crew on our flights to China, the company said in a statement. Our crew who serve passengers with any symptoms have been advised to wear masks onboard. The new type of coronavirus first appeared in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December. It causes flu-like symptoms, such as cough and fever and in severe cases pneumonia, that are similar to many other illnesses. It's from the coronavirus family, which includes those that can cause the common cold as well as more serious illnesses such as SARS and MERS. The viral outbreak that began in China has infected more than 6,000 people in the mainland and more than a dozen other countries. China's death toll has passed 130. Several countries have confirmed cases of the virus, with most of them being Chinese visitors, people who visited Wuhan or family members in close contact with the sick. The source of the virus and the full extent of its spread are still unknown. However, the WHO said most cases reported to date have been milder, with around 20% of those infected experiencing severe illness. Facing lower oil prices and a slumping housing market, the UAE has been aggressively pursuing more Chinese tourists to this country home to the world's tallest building. Chinese visitors to the country can get visas on arrival to the UAE. Malls in Dubai now have Chinese on their signs alongside Arabic and English, with tour groups tramping through and high-end shoppers targeting luxury stores. Dubai alone welcomed 989,000 tourists from China in 2019, up 15% from 857,000 in 2018, according to the city-state's tourism department. ___ Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP. ___ Associated Press writers Fay Abuelgasim and Kamran Jebreili in Dubai contributed to this report. Emma De Souza is taking her campaign to the US (Niall Carson/PA) A Northern Ireland woman who is challenging a court ruling that she is British and not Irish is taking her campaign to the United States. Emma De Souza, from Magherafelt, Co Londonderry, lodged a challenge in the Court of Appeal in Belfast in November, following a ruling that those born in the region are automatically British citizens. She won a case against the Home Office in 2017, after it deemed she was British, when her US-born husband Jake applied for a residence card. But in October an immigration tribunal upheld an appeal brought by the Home Office. Expand Close Emma De Souza and Jake De Souza outside the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Emma De Souza and Jake De Souza outside the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA) Government lawyers argued that people born in Northern Ireland are British citizens according to the 1981 British Nationality Act, even if they identify as Irish. The Good Friday Agreement allows people to identify as British, Irish or both, but the Home Office says the agreement did not supersede the 1981 British Nationality Act. Ms De Souza is set to visit Washington, Philadelphia, New York and Boston over a 10-day period from Sunday. She said she intends to seek support to put pressure on the UK Government to change its nationality laws. The UK Government has failed to give domestic legal effect to a key provision of the Good Friday Agreement, she said. Instead of addressing this implementation gap it is seeking to rewrite the intent and scope of the provision and continues to challenge the purpose of this provision through the British courts. Fundamental change is required and political pressure must be brought to bear on the British GovernmentEmma De Souza The Good Friday Agreement gives the people of Northern Ireland an explicit right to identify and be accepted as Irish or British or both, as they so choose. The British Governments position is out of step with this commitment and its nationality laws are inconsistent with both the letter and the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement. Fundamental change is required and political pressure must be brought to bear on the British Government. This is why Ill be travelling to Washington to meet with members of Congress to seek a resolution in the house, calling on the British Government to give domestic legal effect to the birthright entitlement of the people of Northern Ireland so that we can exercise our free choice to be accepted as Irish or British or both. The majority of Northern Irelands political parties and the Irish Government agree that legislative changes to the UKs nationality laws are required. It is my hope that added political pressure will bring the British Government to the table. Here, we will look at the speech in more detail. Maryam Rajavi began by saying that the overthrow of the regime was within reach and the people will not stop until the mullahs are removed from office, as we saw during the nationwide November and January uprisings. Then, she moved onto the Iranian Regimes top general and notorious terrorist Qasem Soleimani. She said: The regime had not had anyone like [him] over the past 40 years. Single-handedly, he embodied the depravity and ruthlessness of the mullahs regime. All of the regimes internal factions were united in supporting him. But how did this murderous criminal become the regimes indisputable number 2? Maryam Rajavi said that Soleimani had spent his whole career-killing people on behalf of the Iranian regime. She then spoke about one of the most horrific things that Soleimani did, the 2013 massacre in Camp Ashraf, Iraq. On September 1, 2013, 52 members of the Iranian Resistance were killed and seven more taken hostage during an attack that Soleimani planned and directed. Maryam Rajavi said that three days later, Soleimani had attended a session of the Assembly of Experts to report on his crime and described it as more significant than the regimes military operation against the Resistance in 1988, which actually led to the murder of 30,000 political prisoners. Maryam Rajavi said that Soleimani was, before and after this massacre, the main official responsible for over 90 terrorist operations against the Iranian Resistance in Iraq, including: the missile attack on Faezeh base camp on June 22, 1997 the vicious rocket attack on Camp Liberty on October 29, 2015, which led to the death of 24 Resistance members the slaughter of Resistance members on July 28 and 29, 2009, where 13 people were shot and axed to death the attack of April 8, 2011, when they ran over Resistance members with Humvees and shot them at point-blank range, killing 36 residents She said: He was truly the embodiment of the Velayat-e Faqih dictatorship. His death signals the end of the regime. Soleimani was the architect of the regimes strategy of export of fundamentalism and terrorism. Maryam Rajavi explained that his crimes were not limited to the Resistance or even the Iranian people, but that he also posed a threat to the people of Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq. She said: [The regimes] strategy of exporting fundamentalism and terrorism is disintegrating altogether as the people of the Middle East are rising up. To this end, the elimination of the commander of the terrorist Quds Force represents a turning point. For this reason, the political groups and parties, Iranian and non-Iranian, who benefit from the continued rule of the mullahs regime are reeling over Soleimanis termination. Maryam Rajavi accused the regime apologists of the hypocrisy of criticizing Soleimanis execution using human rights as an excuse, but not mentioning human rights when the regime kills 1,500 protesters or arrests 12,000 of them. Commander General of the Italian Guardia di Finanza, Mr Giuseppe Zafarana, discussed existing and future cooperation with Eurojust today, during a visit to The Hague. With an increasing number of economic crime-related cases, such as carousel fraud (MTCF), being opened at Eurojust, the aim of of Mr Zafarana's visit was to strengthen the collaboration between the Italian authorities and judicial systems across the European Union. Mr Zafarana, who took office in 2019 as the highest in command at the Guardia di Finanza, met with Eurojust's President Mr Ladislav Harman and Vice-President and National Member for Italy Mr Filippo Spiezia, and the Agency's entire Italian desk. The Italian Ambassador to the Netherlands Mr Andrea Perugini participated in the visit as well. The Commander General was introduced to the operational achievements of Eurojust and multiple services made available to national authorities through Eurojust's recently reinforced legal framework (1727/2018 regulation). General Zafarana's visit was the first of its kind made by a Commander General of the Guardia di Finanza to Eurojust. Over the past years, there has been a strong increase in economic crime-related cases reported to Eurojust. The Guardia di Finanza has been actively involved in over half of the cases opened by the Italian desk at Eurojust , concerning for instance customs and VAT-fraud or drug trade and smuggling. Financial crime is often linked to other types of criminal activity, as it regularly serves money laundering purposes. The Guardia di Finanza is one of three major national law enforcement agencies in Italy. It falls directly under the Ministry of Economy and Finance and is the primary police agency for patrolling Italy's territorial waters, border and customs control, and for tackling financial criminality. Photos Eurojust. Mr Giuseppe Zafarana, Commander General of the Guardia di Finanza, with Eurojust President Mr Ladislav Hamran, Vice-President and National Member for Italy Mr Filippo Spiezia, and the Italian desk at Eurojust Mexico military fighter planes forced a 'narco jet' transporting $12 million in cocaine to land in an airfield in the Caribbean coastal state of Quintana Roo on Tuesday after it was detected in international airspace. The Secretariat of National Defense said the small aircraft was traveling from Argentina and was scheduled to land on the island of Cozumel, a popular destination for tourists near Cancun and Playa del Carmen. Several Air Force planes were dispatched and forced the drug traffickers to a landing strip in Mahahual, a fishing village which over the last decade was developed into a resort town that attracts international cruise liners. Military servicemen on the ground arrested two male Bolivian nationals with no incident and seized 32 large bags each packed with cocaine. Mexican Air Force fighter jets were deployed Tuesday after an aircraft traveling from Argentina was detected in international airspace. The 'narco jet' was set to land in Cozumel and was transporting $12 million in cocaine. It's the second drug filled jet seized in two days The Secretariat of National Defense said the cocaine was divided into 32 bags. Although it was assessed a value of $12 million, the drug shipment's final weight was not provided The drug shipment's final weight was not provided as of Wednesday morning. The multi-million dollar bust was the second for the Mexican military in two days and the second time an aircraft transporting drugs from South America landed on Mexican soil in as many days. Mexican security forces have confiscated $32 million on cocaine this week Security forces in the Quintana Roo municipality of Bacalar, located south of Cancun and near the Belize border, seized a twin-engine Beechcraft King Air aircraft on a two-lane highway Monday morning. A unit from the 34th Military Zone were engaged in a shootout by a group of traffickers who had loaded all of the modified two-seat jet's $20 million cocaine stash into a minivan. At least one soldier was killed and three military members were wounded in the raid. The military arrested at least two men and confiscated several high-powered assault rifles. The Mexican National Defense Secretary said that the twin-engine aircraft (pictured) that was landed by drug smugglers on a highway in the Caribbean coast state of Quintana Roo on Monday was registered in the United States. At least $20 million worth of cocaine was seized The cocaine was split into 26 bags, each containing between 30 to 40 kilos The Secretariat of National Defense found that the jet was registered in the United States. Located on Mexico's Caribbean coast, Quintana Roo is home to some of the country's top tourist destinations. However, the state's tourism image has taken a hit in recent years due to the ongoing violence with local gangs and cartels competing for the lucrative control of drug turf. A passenger from Beijing is screened as part of measures to prevent coronavirus infection at Hazrat Shahjalal International airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh (AP/Al-emrun Garjon) World health officials have expressed concern that the coronavirus is spreading between people outside China. The new virus has now infected more people in China than fell ill during the 2002-2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) outbreak. The number of cases has jumped to 7,711, surpassing the 5,327 people diagnosed with Sars. The death toll, which rose to 170 on Thursday morning, is lower than the 348 people who died in China from Sars. Scientists say there are still many questions to be answered about coronavirus, including how easily it spreads and how severe it is. The World Health Organisations (WHO) emergencies chief told reporters that China was taking extraordinary measures in the face of an extraordinary challenge posed by the outbreak. Dr Michael Ryan spoke at a news conference after returning from a trip to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other senior government leaders. He said the epidemic remains centred in the city of Wuhan and in Hubei province but that information is being updated and is changing by the hour. Mr Ryan said the few cases of human-to-human spread of the virus outside China in Japan, Germany and Vietnam were part of the reason the UN health agencys director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has reconvened an expert committee to meet on Thursday. It will assess whether the outbreak should be declared a global emergency. The vast majority of new #coronavirus cases have been recorded in #China. Most cases reported outside are in people with a travel history from , or have been in contact with people who have been there. But there are some signs of person-to-person transmission outside . pic.twitter.com/yufRiQdqtf Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) January 29, 2020 The first cases in the Middle East have been confirmed as a family-of-four from Wuhan that was visiting the United Arab Emirates. Australia and Singapore are among the countries reporting new cases, as the number outside China topped 70. The vast majority are people who came from Wuhan. To date, about 99% of cases are in China. Mr Ryan estimated the death rate of the new virus at 2%, but said the figure was very preliminary. With fluctuating numbers of cases and deaths, scientists are only able to produce a rough estimate of the fatality rate and it is likely many milder cases of the virus are being missed. In comparison, the Sars virus killed about 10% of people who caught it. Expand Close WHO officials, from left, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Michael Ryan and Maria van Kerkhove (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp WHO officials, from left, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Michael Ryan and Maria van Kerkhove (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP) Mr Ryan noted there were several aspects of the new virus outbreak that are extremely worrying, citing the recent rapid spike in cases in China. He said that while scientists believe the outbreak was sparked by an animal virus, it is unclear if there are other factors driving the epidemic. Without understanding that, its very hard to put into context the current transmission dynamics, he said. Meanwhile, countries began evacuating their citizens from the Chinese city hardest-hit by the virus. Chartered planes carrying about 200 evacuees each arrived in Japan and the United States as other countries planned similar evacuations from the city of Wuhan, which authorities have shut down to try to contain the virus. Barco India has launched its next-generation wireless conferencing solution, the ClickShare Conference. The new launch, which is all set to revolutionize conferencing, is based on the concept of BYOM (Bring Your Own Meeting), as it takes away all the friction points related to hosting video conferences from your own device. Whether used in huddles spaces, meeting rooms or boardrooms, ClickShare Conference works seamlessly with your video conferencing software, your camera brand, your laptop, and most importantly, makes remote meetings as intuitive as having a face-to-face meeting. The new range that includes 3 models: the entry-level CX-20, the CX-30 and the high-end CX-50, provides users freedom to choose how they collaborate securely as the solution is triple-agnostic. They can join the meeting from any device and space while enjoying all the familiar benefits of the Unified Communication or videoconferencing tools and AV USB-peripherals available in the room. Speaking on the launch, Marc Remond, Vice President of Sales, Meeting and Learning Experience Solutions, Barco APAC said, As more and more organizations embrace new ways of working in the Asia Pacific region, the demand for remote collaboration solutions is exploding. While software and cloud-based conferencing solutions have made it easier and more affordable to join virtual meetings from anywhere using any device, there are still many unsolved issues related to team meeting experience in various work-spaces. Barco aims to simplify the experience and increase the adoption of video meetings across spaces with the launch of a differentiated meeting room solution that is agnostic by design. Introducing the concept of Bring Your Own Meeting, the new ClickShare Conference portfolio enables IT and AV teams to support any conferencing, communication and streaming tool in the market and offers an improved meeting experience to all participants, both local and remote. ClickShare Conference will make remote meetings faster, hassle-free and truly impressive, connecting users to cameras, speakerphones, soundbars and other USB-peripherals in the room for a better, more immersive meeting experience. Commenting further, Rajiv Bhalla, Managing Director, Barco India said, The workplace is undergoing a fundamental transformation. With the automation of jobs, a peak in freelance work and the gig economy, offering flexible and remote work environments is crucial. Millennials and Gen Z, who have grown up with online sharing technologies like Google docs, online gaming, social media, cloud-based apps and more, prove to be natural collaborators. Their expectations for business technology are driven by their digital lifestyles. Workplace strategy is key to companies who want to attract and retain young talent and unlock the productivity of their workforce. Barcos new ClickShare Conference solution will revolutionize meetings and wireless conferencing. Combining connectivity, security and innovation, ClickShare Conference offers a solution for the high-pressure put on IT departments to support different conferencing tools and brings person-centric experiences and multi-purpose collaboration spaces to the work environment. Conference. Collaborate. Click ClickShare Conferencing Button instantly makes meeting room USB-peripherals available to laptops. Users can plug in the Button and share all the video and audio streams with the meeting room peripherals. The ClickShare Collaboration App, that can be employed while using the Button is accessible via the additional Quick Button. Additional features include retrieving a local view of the room display, allowing to share the room content remotely, pause content, ideation, moderation and control of AV equipment. The presence detection function in the ClickShare Collaboration App allows users to instantly connect to the meeting room from laptop or mobile devices and have immediate access to wireless presenting, interactive sharing and feature-rich collaboration. A New Portfolio Connected, Secure and Enterprise-Grade The new ClickShare Conference range consists of 3 different models: the entry-level CX-20, the CX-30 and the high-end CX-50. The CX-20 is ideally suited for huddles and small meeting rooms, offering the key functionalities of wireless collaboration and conferencing. The CX-30, the perfect companion for standard meeting rooms, adds a set of interactivity features such as touch back support, moderation, blackboarding and annotation to make users truly connect and click in meetings. The high-end CX-50, for large meeting rooms and boardrooms, brings a premium AV collaboration experience with superior audio and video quality and offers the best possibilities to integrate into your IT or AV environment. ClickShare Conference is designed to perfectly fit into and evolve with your business network. This built-in flexibility for the future means it is one of the smartest and most secure investments you can make. Moments after his legal counsel paused their defence of the president in his impeachment trial, Donald Trump attacked "rage-filled" Democrats at a campaign rally in New Jersey. In one of his shortest rallies, speaking for roughly an hour, the president addressed thousands of supporters in the seaside town of Wildwood, represented in Congress by Jeff Van Drew, who recently switched his party allegiance from Democrat to Republican. It was the president's first rally in the state since taking office. He urged the crowd to "get out and vote Republican. Get rid of these clowns." He also turned his attention to healthcare, insisting that former president Obama "chose not to" end the AIDS epidemic, despite the administration spending more than $10billion in research for HIV/AIDS. Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Show all 18 1 /18 Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian protesters burn pictures of US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a demonstration in the West Bank against the expected peace plan proposal AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan US President and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announce Trump's Middle East peace plan in the White House AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Reuters Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Reuters Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AP The president also claimed Republicans prevented insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions, saying "we are protecting people with pre-existing conditions and we always will. The Republican party ... we saved it" despite those protections being established under Obama's Affordable Care Act, parts of which the Trump administration has attempted to repeal. Trump also singled out Bernie Sanders, who has climbed in polls ahead of elections in early primary states, for his proposed Green New Deal. Mr Trump said: "Pipelines are good. They're underground. Environmentally sound." He boasted about "America's energy independence" as the world's top producer of oil and gas, which it earned in 2012 under the Obama administration. The president attacked California cities spending billions of dollars to address homelessness, saying Democrat-controlled governments in that state "don't know what the hell they're doing". The president falsely claimed that "thousands upon thousands" of MS-13 gang members have been removed from the US by immigration agencies, and said Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers "start swinging" into a "pack" of immigrants, "and they end up standing up. That's the end of that." He said: "You have criminals on the street who should be taken the hell out of the country and brought back to wherever the hell they came from." Mr Trump boasted about his win at the US Supreme Court, which sided with the administration in its attempts to deny immigrants seeking permanent legal status if they're enrolled in public benefits. He said: "We will now finally be able to enforce federal law [and] ensure people are able to support themselves financially and not abuse taxpayer-funded programs." As the crowd chanted to "build a wall" on the US-Mexico border, the president insisted that Mexico will "ultimately and very nicely" pay for its construction despite being unable to fulfil that election pledge. British citizens evacuated from Wuhan, the epicentre of a deadly virus outbreak, will be isolated for two weeks with "all necessary medical attention", Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Wednesday. "Anyone who returns from Wuhan will be safely isolated for 14 days, with all necessary medical attention," he wrote on Twitter. "We are working hard to get British nationals back from Wuhan," Hancock added. "Public safety is the top priority." Britain is preparing to evacuate hundreds of its citizens from the central Chinese city following in the footsteps of several other countries this week. Thousands of foreigners are among millions of people stuck in the metropolis as China struggles to get to grips with the spread of a SARS-like virus which has claimed 132 lives and begun to spread around the world. In London, the Foreign Office, which is coordinating the evacuation of British nationals, declined to give details of the arrangements being made. Once back on British soil, evacuees will be held at a facility likely on a military base, Britain's domestic Press Association agency reported. The Department of Health and other relevant agencies did not immediately respond to AFP requests for further details on the quarantine arrangements. Britain on Tuesday evening warned nationals against "all but essential travel" to mainland China, not including Hong Kong and Macau, and against all travel to the worst-hit Hubei province. On Monday, UK health officials told about 1,500 people who had come to Britain from Wuhan in the last 14 days to "self-isolate" at home. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Carles Puigdemont in the European Parliament earlier this week. ELYxandro Cegarra / Panoramic / Bestimage (GTRES) The vice-president of the European Parliament, Ewa Bozena Kopacz, announced on Thursday that the institution had put into action the procedure to vote on whether or not Catalan politicians Carles Puigdemont and Toni Comin should have their immunity as Members of the European Parliament (MEP) lifted. The move comes in the wake of a request from the Spanish Supreme Court, which has been seeking the arrest of Puigdemont and Comin the former Catalan premier and an ex-regional minister, respectively to face trial for their role in the 2017 secessionist drive. The pair, along with several other members of the government, fled Spain that year to avoid arrest. Twelve of their colleagues in the independence movement, however, did face trial and nine are currently serving prison sentences for offenses such as sedition and misuse of funds. Carles Puigdemont and Toni Comin after collecting their credentials as MEPs. GONZALO BOYE (TWITTER) The request from the Spanish justice system will be examined by the parliaments Committee on Legal Affairs, which will then send a recommendation to the chamber. MEPs will have the final say in a vote, which will require a simple majority (more yes votes than no) for approval. European conservatives, social democrats and liberals have already indicated that they will give the green light to the request. But Puigdemont, whose Together for Catalonia party in Spains Congress of Deputies recently aligned itself with right-wing parties to vote against the investiture of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, questioned on Thursday whether the Socialists are planning on voting with the fascists from [far-right Spanish party] Vox. Puigdemont and Comin, along with jailed Catalan Republican Left (ERC) leader Oriol Junqueras, successfully stood in last years European elections, but faced a legal battle to take their seats from that moment on. It was not until a ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in December that procedures began in the European Parliament to officially register the three as MEPs. Despite doubts about when Junquerass immunity became effective, the European Parliament recently accepted rulings from the Supreme Court and withdrew his status as a deputy given that his prison sentence means he is barred from such a role. If Puigdemont and Comin were to lose their immunity, they would still be MEPs until convicted of an offense back in Spain. Whats more, in order for them to be extradited back to their home country to face trial, a Belgian judge will have to rule on the European arrest warrant against them. The judges work on the issue was halted once the pair acquired immunity as MEPs. No room at the Greens Carles Puigdemont (l) speaks to Britain's Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage in the European Parliament this week. FREDERICK FLORIN (AFP) Since their arrival in the European Parliament, Carles Puigdemont and Toni Comin have been seeking to join the Greens-European Free Alliance group, which is made up of environmental and regionalist parties. However, the Greens have so far rejected these advances, which leaves the pair in the Non-Inscrits MEPs who do not sit in one of the recognized groups, and whose number include the United Kingdoms Brexit Party. The spokesperson for the Greens, Philip Lamberts, said that there would be a lack of coherence if Puigdemont were to join their group in the European Parliament, and suggested instead that they join their Belgian best friends, in reference to the anti-immigration New Flemish Alliance party, which has been the main source of support for Puigdemont in Belgium. This would mean that Puigdemont and Comin would be members of the European Conservatives and Reformists, which counts on Spanish far-right party Vox among its number. Jordi Cuixart granted prison leave Jordi Cuixart Camilo S. Baquero / EL PAIS, Barcelona One of the jailed leaders of the Catalan independence movement, Jordi Cuixart, was released from prison last night on a 48-hour leave. The Catalan regional justice department this week granted leave to Cuixart, the president of Omnium Cultural, and Jordi Sanchez, the former president of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC), both of which are pro-independence civic associations. The pair were handed down nine-year prison sentences for sedition by the Supreme Court for their role in the 2017 secessionist drive in the northeastern Spanish region. They were involved in a protest outside the regional Economic Affairs Department on September 20, 2017, which, according to the public prosecutor, was aimed at "impeding" Civil Guard raids ahead of the planned referendum. Sanchez and Cuixart were placed in pre-trial custody without bail on October 16, 2017, and have remained behind bars since then. Having served a quarter of their sentences already, the pair were able to apply for their first leave. Additional reporting by Alvaro Sanchez. English version by Simon Hunter. Ashiana Housing, one of the pioneers in developing concept homes in India, and Dentsu India, the brand solutions agency from the house of Dentsu Aegis Network (DAN), have launched a new campaign to promote the brands three kid-centric projects. The projects are a part of the brands 'India's First Kid-Centric Homes' offering. The campaign comprises a medley of three films and various digital assets - rolled-out on digital, print and OOH. The kid-centric promise of the brand 'Behtar Parvarish Ka Pata' remains unchanged in the campaign. Modern urban living often means sacrificing time spent with our families. The campaign focuses around the belief that providing our children with a wholesome upbringing is the first step towards molding better citizens. The first two brand films reinstate the fact that if children begin to learn early on, they learn for life. It does not just shape their future as working professionals but also as human beings. The third film is more tactical in its approach. It highlights the fact that the property maybe a little further from your current residence (in some cases a mere 30 minutes away) but it makes a significant difference during a child's formative years, made possible due to the environmental amenities and activities at Ashiana Kid-Centric Homes. Speaking about what Kid-Centric Homes stand for, Varun Gupta, Director, Ashiana Housing said, "The five pillars of Kid-Centric Homes come together to create an environment that fosters physical, intellectual and emotional growth of children, making them better human beings. It will shape them as winners not just at the workplace but in life as well. "Our positioning for Ashiana Kid-Centric Homes has never been about selling four walls but more a way of life for kids today, to make them better citizens tomorrow. As a follow up to the original launch campaign Behtar Parvarish Ka Pata, with this new set of films, weve planted another new thought Bachchey aaj jo seekhenge, wohi to kal duniya ko seekhayenge (what kids learn today, they will teach the world tomorrow). Ashiana Kid-Centric Homes which are truly designed to provide quality upbringing for your kids, deliver this promise beautifully, added Malvika Mehra, Chief Creative Officer, Dentsu India. Asheesh Malhotra, Executive Vice President and Branch Head, Dentsu India - Mumbai said, Ashiana is a citizen-first brand that embodies the true spirit of human values, which is reflected in their products like the Kid-Centric Homes. Not many housing brands can take such a sharp stance over the fear of limiting the larger target audience. Adding more to the campaign, Vijay Narayana, Head of Marketing & Communications, Ashiana Housing commented, It is important for any parent to provide the best for their kids; and at Ashiana Housings kid-centric projects, we have some of the best arrangements and facilities for the holistic development of the child. It is with this underlying thought that we have associated our newly launched campaign with building values in kids to make them better individuals. Ashiana Housing, which has been a pioneer in launching senior living and assisted living, has now also delivered Kid-Centric Homes in South Gurgaon, Bhiwadi and Jaipur with 1200+ families residing there. its already the largest player in the category. As a real estate company, Ashiana has a proven track record over 40 years with a presence in 10 locations and over 55+ projects across India. Pennsylvania State Police is asking for the publics help to find the vehicle, and the driver, that struck a state trooper on January 26. The incident happened at 1:55 a.m. in the area of mile marker 2.1 in Swatara Township in Dauphin County, according to a Pennsylvania State Police at Harrisburg statement. The statement was released Wednesday. Troopers said they were conducting a traffic stop on I-283 north in Swatara Township, Dauphin County when the wanted driver hit a trooper in his left arm with the passenger-side mirror. The driver fled and evaded troopers, state police said. The vehicle is likely a red 2011-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Any persons who may have witnessed the incident or have recently observed a vehicle matching the description missing its passenger-side mirror is asked to contact the Pennsylvania State Police Harrisburg Station at 717-671-7500 or text to 717-645-3275. Another option is calling the Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers Toll Free number at 1-800-4PA-8477. All callers remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward. 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. By Padraic Halpin DUBLIN (Reuters) - Irish nationalists Sinn Fein will withhold support for the government after a Feb. 8 election without a commitment to immediately start planning for a referendum on the unification of Ireland, its leader said on Tuesday. The governing Fine Gael and main opposition Fianna Fail, the favorites to lead the next government, both refuse to govern with Sinn Fein, the former political arm of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) that fought British rule of Northern Ireland before a 1998 peace deal. However opinion polls suggest Sinn Fein is set to strengthen its position as the third largest party and close the gap on the two bigger ones. Sinn Fein says it is willing to form a coalition with either party and that it offers the only viable alternative to another minority government. Under the 1998 Good Friday Agreement that mostly ended three decades of violence between Catholic nationalists seeking union with Ireland and Protestant unionists who want Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom, Britain's minister for the region can call a referendum if it appears likely it would pass. A vote would also be required in the Irish Republic. In its election manifesto, Sinn Fein said it wanted to establish a parliamentary committee and citizens assembly to plan for Irish unity and seek to secure a referendum within five years. "Of course for us that is a core issue, I cannot see a situation in which Sinn Fein would be in government without that work being undertaken," Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald told a news conference on Tuesday. "Let's be clear about it - the calling of such a referendum in the real politik will be made at 10 Downing Street and that call, I believe, will only be made when Dublin is proactively planning for unification and looking for that referendum." While a Northern Ireland withdrawal from the United Kingdom remains a distant prospect according to opinion polls, Britain's exit from the EU has increased calls for unity given that the province voted 56%-44% to remain in Europe in the 2016 Brexit referendum. Story continues Both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have said they would ultimately like to see the unification of the island, which was partitioned almost a century ago, but now is not the time. Fianna Fail has pledged to start preparations on how Dublin should approach a possible unification vote but not the kind of detailed preparations proposed by Sinn Fein, whom Fianna Fail say are exploiting the issue for short-term gain. (Editing by Giles Elgood) With the Kevin-centered (Justin Hartley) episode on This Is Us tonight, we find ourselves wondering what led up to these moments between him and Sophie (Alexandra Breckenridge). Lets take a look at everything in the series so far that we know about the relationship between Kevin and Sophie. [Warning: This Is Us Seasons 1-4 spoilers ahead] Justin Hartley and Alexandra Breckenridge | Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images Kevin and Sophie met through Kate at age 10 Kevins (Parker Bates) sister, Kate (Mackenzie Hancsicsak), was best friends with Sophie (Sophia Coto) as a child. Back in season 1, we met young Sophie when the big three had their tenth birthday party. Sophie leaves Kates area of the party to hang out with Kevin. From that point forward, the two were close. The pair were inseparable throughout childhood and high school In 1992 the two attend a school dance together. Kevin ropes a reluctant Sophie into a prank on the principal, and they eventually have their first kiss. On an eighth-grade class trip to New York City, the pair shared a kiss at a small diner, which Kevin returns to try to win back Sophies heart in season 1. In 1998, Sophie (Amanda Leighton) and Kevin (Logan Shroyer) graduated from high school and moved together to New York City. While in the city, they frequent that same diner and sit in the same booth. Let me remember you at 10 or 17 or 20. Just let me remember you when it was good, an older Sophie tells Kevin. Although we havent seen their entire history from 10 to 20 years old, we know that they were happy and in love throughout that decade. Kevin and Sophie were married at 18-years-old on a whim To Kevins familys dismay, he marries Sophie without telling anyone. After hearing the news, Rebecca invites them over for a dinner party. Its during that evening that we find out the details about the spur of the moment wedding. He arrives at Rebeccas (Mandy Moore) new home carrying Sophie over the threshold. They refer to each other as husband and wife, and then Kevin tells the story of their engagement and wedding. He proposed to Sophie after getting several clear signs. He was walking through the streets of New York City when he walked by a theater playing their favorite movie, The Princess Bride. At the same time, church bells began ringing across the street, and a vendor selling bracelets walked by. Thats when Kevin knew he couldnt wait another second to start their lives together. The two divorced after only a few years of marriage We found out late in season 1 that Sophie and Kevin divorced because the actor cheated on her, presumably while in Los Angeles. The pair decided together for him to go to L.A. to work on his acting career and Sophie to stay in NYC. However, the decision did not go as planned because they divorced sometime after. They gave it a second-try 12 years laterit didnt work out 36-year-old Kevin professes his love to Sophie at the end of season 1, and she agrees to meet him at their diner. The actor waits in their favorite booth, with her favorite dish, lava fries. The food wins her over, and they end up talking. After several episodes of Kevin begging and a few plates of lava fries later, the two end up back together. The rekindled relationship is short-lived. Kevin falls more dangerously into alcoholism and an addiction to pain medication. Their relationship begins to deteriorate and he ends up breaking it off with Sophie. Kevin goes to see Sophie for a third-try, but shes engaged Kevin moves on to a new relationship, with Zoe (Melanie Liburd), but it comes to a head after he finds out that she does not want to have kids. He goes to talk to Sophie but finds out that shes engaged. The two have a friendly chat at a coffee shop where his ex-wife tells him that the reason hes not used to making decisions is because he always gets what he wants anyway. Decide what you want. You always get it, Sophie gives Kevin a last bit of advice. At that point, Kevin tries to make it work with Zoe, but ultimately he realizes that he does want children and cannot stay with her. Is Kevin going to ask for that third-try once again? In tonights episode, Kevin goes to Pittsburgh to support Sophie after her mother dies. He brings her a box of donutsand we notice a theme of Kevin winning over her heart with food. The episode is full of flashbacks to Kevin and Sophies happy times together. However, we still do not get our answers regarding whether or not Sophie is Kevins mystery fiance in the future. Read More: This Is Us: What is the Hidden Meaning With the Donuts in Kevin and Sophies Relationship during tonights episode? Agartala, Jan 29 (UNI) Tripura government has decided to request the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to pursue its Bangladesh counterpart to allow the state to erect advertisement of Tripura tourism in Akhaura railway station and other important locations of their national highway passing near the border. The government spokesperson and education minister Ratan Lal Nath said in view to promote tourism, the council of ministers in a meeting last night has adopted a tourism policy to harness the best potential for economic growth of Tripura. As per the record, about 3.80 lakh tourists had visited Tripura during April to December last year where the highest number of international tourists came from Bangladesh followed by USA, Canada and the UK. The tourists from Indian states, mostly from West Bengal, have visited the state during the period and the government has planned to extend it across the country. The estranged husband of a Long Island, New York, nursing student who was found strangled in her home two weeks ago has been charged with killing her, allegedly after she revealed to him that she was expecting their second child. Michael Owen, 27, a retired US Marine, was arrested in St James, New York, on Tuesday evening and charged with second-degree murder in connection to the slaying of his estranged wife, 27-year-old Kelly Owen. CBS New York news cameras recorded the suspect being led out of the Nassau County Police Department in handcuffs on Wednesday morning. Michael Owen, 27 (left), a retired US Marine, has been charged with first-degree murder in the strangulation death of his estranged wife, nursing student Kelly Owen, 27 (right) Owen is pictured being led in handcuffed out of the Nassau County Police Department en route to his arraignment on Wednesday #DEVELOPING: 27 y/o Michael Owen just walked out of @NassauCountyPD , hes going to be arraigned on 2nd degree murder charges in death of estranged wife Kelly Owen of South Farmingdale. Waiting for presser with police to begin now @CBSNewYork pic.twitter.com/sZNXyWDsRM Lisa Rozner (@LisaRoznerTV) January 29, 2020 He was arraigned late Wednesday morning at Nassau First District Court in Hempstead. Kelly was found dead in the Farmingdale home she shared with her six-year-old daughter, her parents and her brother at about 3.40pm on January 15. Police said Kelly died from asphyxiation and the Medical Examiner ruled her death a homicide. There was no signs of a break-in at her home. Investigators said during a press conference on Wednesday that Michael and Kelly got married in May 2013 and welcomed their daughter in August of that year, reported ABC 7 NY. Michael was honorably discharged from the US Marine Corps after eight years of service, and later was hired by a cellphone tower construction company. His marriage to Kelly began unraveling under the strain of persistent financial disagreements, and their relationship reached its breaking point in December 2018 when police were called to the family's home over a domestic dispute. A month later, he and Kelly split up and she moved back in with her parents, but the estranged couple maintained a sexual relationship, even as they continued arguing about money and health insurance, police said. Detective Lieutenant Stephen Fitzpatrick, with the Nassau County Homicide Squad, said that Kelly had enrolled in a nursing school and wanted to stay on Michael's medical insurance plan, but he would not have it. Police believe Michael, who by that point had begun dating and living with another woman, strangled his estranged wife after she told him she was pregnant again. Homicide detectives believe Owen (left) killed his estranged wife (right) after she told him she was pregnant with their second child Michael (pictured in a Sherk costumer) allegedly was upset at Kelly because she was seeking financial support and wanted to remain on his health insurance plan 'He did want this child, he did not want to give her medical insurance, he had this new relationship he was involved in, and he was in a bad position,' Fitzpatrick told reporters during the press conference. The investigator added that he believes Michael headed to his in-laws' home on the afternoon of January 15 with the intent to kill Kelly. On the morning of her death, Kelly prepared her daughter for school before she was driven there by the woman's father. Her father grew concerned when he noticed her car in the driveway that afternoon, as she had meant to be helping out with her daughters after-school program at 3pm. Her parents entered the home to find Kelly unconscious and not breathing and immediately dialed 911. First responders pronounced her dead at the scene. - France has raised concerns about a possible reduction in military support from the United States of America in Africa - According to France, there are still areas in Africa that are considered trouble spots in the sub-region - At a meeting held in January 2020, five francophone heads of state in Africa agreed that it is better France stays Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in France has expressed fears about the possibility of the United States of America (USA) reducing its military activities in West Africa. Of greater concern to France is the likelihood that the USA may cut down support for its (France) military activities in the sub-region. This follows a shift in the list of priorities of the U.S with regard to defence in West Africa. Source: cfr.org Source: UGC READ ALSO: Soldier leads 'jama' session on his wedding day; Ghanaians react as video drops YEN.com.gh understands that there has been a shift in the focus on counter-terrorism to competition for power. Per a report by cfr.org, USs Department of Defense has been mulling over a reduction in its assets in Africa, especially West Africa. In Frances opinion, this would be a mistake, as there are still trouble spots in the region with regard to terrorism. Information available shows that there has been an exponential rise in terrorism in countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad. Frances president, Emmanuel Macron, has intimated that his country would only stay at the request of the governments in the region. At a meeting with five francophone heads of states in early January 2020, they reaffirmed their desire for the French to stay. In other news, Apple Incs revenue for the first quarter reached GHc510,137,465,400 or $91.8 billion, mainly due to its wearables. The company positioned itself for the strongest holiday season in its history as it trimmed the prices of most iPhone models ahead of the 2019 holiday. It, therefore, launched a number of new services in a bid to boost its subscription numbers. An announcement of its fiscal first-quarter 2020 results left everyone surprised; a $91.8 billion in quarterly revenue compared to $84.3 in the year 2019 as well as $88.3 in the first quarter of 2018. Per a report by venturebeat.com, the result is significant because the company provided a wide estimate range in the range last quarter, predicting revenues between $85.5 and $89.5 billion. These numbers were higher than its famously troubled pre-holiday performance but potentially either falling short or exceeding the 2018 holiday season. READ ALSO: Heartbreaking video of children using cement blocks as tables pop up online Enjoyed reading our story? Download YEN's news app on Google Playstore now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news! Ghanaian Traders Share Thoughts on Sales During Christmas | #Yencomgh Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish on YEN.com.gh? Please contact us on Facebook or Instagram now! Source: YEN.com.gh Around 2 million is being spent each year on the separation of republican and loyalist prisoners at Northern Ireland's high-security Maghaberry Prison, it has emerged. This is despite such prisoners only accounting for 3% of the inmate population at the facility - prompting criticism of the value for money of the system. Dissident republican and loyalist prisoners are held in two separate blocks at Maghaberry - Roe House and Bush House - for safety reasons. Read More New figures released by the Department of Justice (DoJ) show that, as of January 1 this year, there were only 29 prisoners across the two wings. The over population at Maghaberry as of December 31, 2019 was 892. In response to an Assembly question tabled by the Ulster Unionist justice spokesperson Doug Beattie, the DoJ said the "population of separation" fluctuates, but the overall number of separated prisoners has decreased in recent years. At the beginning of 2018, there were 39 prisoners in the separation wings. "The Northern Ireland Prison Service have estimated that it costs approximately 2m per annum to operate separation as a distinct unit within Maghaberry Prison," the spokesperson added. Doug Beattie previously tabled a motion in 2016 calling for the system to be phased out, however an amended motion was instead passed calling for a review into the separation regime. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Mr Beattie said the system was not value for money and harmful to other prisoners. "My point on the matter is two-fold. First of all on the cost. It is absolutely clear to see that 2m is going to 29 prisoners out of something in the region 900 total prisoners," he said. "Those extra funds [maintaining the separation system] and the way the regime works has a detrimental effect on the other prisoners and how the limited prison service staff and infrastructure is able to work. So it's not value for money," he said. "The second point I will make is that we have a society that is not balanced. Out on the street and in everyday life we are saying that paramilitaries are nothing more than criminals, with many of them involved in drug dealing, extortion and intimidation. Expand Close Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie has criticised the system / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie has criticised the system "We go after them, quite rightly, and when we prosecute them and jail them as criminals we then put them in a separate prison regime and give them the title of 'brigadier'. So when they come out they have this status that we don't want them to have. It's completely unbalanced." Mr Beattie again proposed an nine-year "phasing out" process of the system, whereby there would be special measures for dealing with long-term prisoners that were previously segregated. Read More Sinn Fein MLA Raymond McCartney, however, disagreed with Mr Beattie. This is an issue of prisoner safety and welfare and the cost of forced integration could potentially be much higher," he said. In 2003, the then-Northern Ireland Security Minister Jane Kennedy decided to segregate loyalist and republican prisoners at Maghaberry, following recommendations contained in a safety review by the former head of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, Sir John Steele. The decision was made during a period of direct rule. Speaking in 2016, Mr Beattie claimed the decision was made against the recommendations of the Prison Officers' Association, the Prison Governors Association and the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee. The Department of Justice has been contacted for a comment. Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra again took to Twitter on Wednesday morning, saying he met Arnab Goswami on his flight back from Lucknow, and the journalist refused to talk to him. FYI - Arnab Goswami was in my flight again this morning while returning from lucknow... I again asked him politely if he wants to have a honest discussion he with his verbal arrogant hand jester he asked me to move away & I did that, Kamra said on Twitter. FYI - Arnab Goswami was in my flight again this morning while returning from lucknow... I again asked him politely if he wants to have a honest discussion he with his verbal arrogant hand jester he asked me to move away & I did that... Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) January 29, 2020 Kamra has been banned by IndiGo after he allegedly heckled Goswami aboard a Mumbai-Lucknow plane of the private airline on Tuesday. Government-run Air India soon followed suit and imposed a similar ban on Kamra. Another private carrier SpiceJet also tweeted on Wednesday morning that the comedian has been banned from flying. SpiceJet has decided to suspend Mr. Kunal Kamra from flying with the airline till further notice. @MoCA_GoI @DGCAIndia @HardeepSPuri @IndiGo6E SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) January 29, 2020 Reacting to it, Kamra tweeted on Wednesday, I used to earlier make calculated decisions using my mind & I use to care about how the work I put out makes me look... The mind is a coward & takes calculated risks & measures rewards, Im no more a mathematician I now follow my heart. Also Watch l Comedian Kunal Kamra trolls TV anchor Arnab Goswami on flight, faces action While IndiGo suspended Kamra from flying with it for a period of six months, Air India and SpiceJet put him on a no-fly list until further notice. Sharing a video from the incident, Kunal tweeted, I did this for my hero, I did this for Rohit. He also issued a statement responding to the entire controversy. Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri took notice of the incident and advised airlines in India to impose restrictions on Kamra, stating offensive behaviour designed to provoke & create disturbance inside an aircraft is absolutely unacceptable & endangers safety of air travellers. Following the ministers remarks, Vistara said it will review and follow due process in such cases, news agency PTI reported. In a video clip posted by Kamra on his Twitter handle, he is seen asking Goswami if he is a coward or a journalist. While Goswami can be seen sitting in the plane and watching something on his laptop with his earphones plugged in, Kamra is heard as telling him, Viewers want to know if Arnab today is a coward or a nationalist. Arnab, this is for national interest. I am part of the tukde-tukde narrative. You should deflate me. You should take the enemy of the states down. You should make sure that the country is in safe hands of Narendra Modi. You should fight against dynasts like Rahul Gandhi, who I support, on 10 Tughlaq Lane. Arnab, you should have a reply, Arnab. Arnab, are you a coward or are you a journalist? Are you a coward or are you a journalist or a nationalist? Who are you, Arnab? Who are you? Kamra can be heard as saying in the video clip. You know, you do not deserve my politeness. This is not for you. This is for Rohith Vemulas mother whose caste you were discussing on your...show. I know this is not allowed. This is fine. Its fine if it is not allowed. Id go to jail for this. But this is for Rohiths mother. And go... find time and read that 10-page suicide letter that Rohith wrote so that you have some emotion or some heart or you just become human. Do that. Do that you in your free time. You nationalist, Kamra can be heard as saying. San Francisco took an ambitious stand against cars Wednesday. Private cars, including Lyft and Uber vehicles, are now banned from the busiest two-mile downtown stretch of Market Street. The change is permanent, and aims to make the roadway safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. It also emphasizes public transit with the intention of improving service and performance times. S.F. resident Jean-Paul Torres frequently rides his bicycle on Market Street and noticed a difference on Wednesday morning. "It was energizing and refreshing to ride on a quieter Market," Torres said. "It felt safer to ride because it was easier to hear Muni vehicles and less nerve-wracking to have to keep a watchful eye out for private cars." Torres added, "I have a couple of friends who are Muni operators and they mentioned they were looking forward to car-free Market and not having to navigate around cars." Many took to social media to celebrate the car ban, posting images and videos showing the street dominated by bicycles. The hashtags #CarFreeMarketStreet and #BetterMarketStreet were both trending on Twitter. "Its so awesome to have a new, low stress way to get from BART to Caltrain," shared a cyclist on Twitter. "This is Market Street, not Amsterdam," joked another on Twitter, referring to the European city where bicycles have long ruled roads. The mood on the street was celebratory, and while the road is still far from being entirely vehicle-free, many noted this was a step in the right direction. ALSO: San Francisco's Market Street is closing to car traffic: What you need to know Wednesday marks what city officials are calling the "Quick-Build" phase of a multi-year project that will create a safer and greener space for the half-million pedestrians and hundreds of cyclists who use the city's main downtown thoroughfare. This first step mostly involves rerouting traffic, installing signs, striping streets, extending Muni lanes, and creating new safety and loading zones and bike lanes. While private cars have been banned, city-regulated taxis, commercial vehicles, emergency vehicles, public transit and paratransit are still allowed. All traffic is able to cross Market Street on cross streets. Where private cars are barred is a little confusing because the no-car zones vary depending on which direction you're traveling. Private cars aren't allowed to travel eastbound from 10th Street to Main Street and westbound between Steuart Street and Van Ness. (See map in the gallery above.) With Lyft and Uber being pushed off Market, the city is adding passenger zones on some side streets to facilitate drop-offs and pickups. "We have coordinated with Uber and Lyft to have the white zones added to their apps, so that passengers wishing to have a pick-up on Market Street will be redirected to the closest cross-street white zone for their pick-up," SFMTA said in a statement. Vehicles with commercial license plates (e.g., delivery vehicles) can only access the car-free stretch of Market during certain times to minimize conflict with pedestrians, bicyclists and transit. Starting Wednesday, officials are helping direct cars and educating drivers on the change. In coming weeks, drivers who turn onto car-free sections will be cited for a moving violation with a fine of $238 and a point on your license. Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com. Photo: Contributed UPDATE: 9:05 a.m. The RCMP has stated that all legal claims have been settled in the case with the satisfaction from both sides. "We regret this incident and remain committed to improving how our employees respond to victims and investigate allegations of sexual assault," said Sgt. Janelle Shoihet, the Kelowna RCMP spokesperson. "This incident highlighted the importance for the RCMP to continue to review and update our sexual assault investigative training, practices and policies." ORIGINAL: January 28, 9:30 p.m. After years of silence and fighting the system, Aden Withers has settled her sexual assault case with the Kelowna RCMP. In 2012, when Withers was 17, she was sexually assaulted by a 20-year-old man. When she was questioned by the RCMP, things didn't go as she expected. The RCMP grilled her for hours, and the officer was skeptical about her claim, asking if she was "turned on during this at all". After the interview, she attempted suicide, and she now lives with constant anxiety and post-traumatic stress. She filed a civil suit against the Kelowna RCMP in June of 2019. A settlement was reached on January 27, and Aden was satisfied with her end of the deal. "I'm just hoping that now I can move on with my life," she says. "I want to get a house and settle down." While the details of the settlement are confidential, Aden hopes this agreement will affect more than just her situation. "I hope that this changes the way the police view sexual assault," she says. Castanet has reached out to the Kelowna RCMP for a comment. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 14:19:24|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close HERAT, Afghanistan, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Two Taliban commanders have been confirmed killed as fighting planes struck a Taliban hideout in Zawal district of Afghanistan's western Herat province, provincial governor's spokesman Jilani Farhad said Wednesday. According to the official, acting upon intelligence report, the fighting planes struck Taliban's hideout in Zawal district late Tuesday night, killing "two notorious commanders" on the spot. The official identified one of those killed in raids as commander Mullah Naem alias Edris, describing him as in-charge of target-killing in Herat province but failed to identify the second one, saying the physical elimination of these commanders could deal a major blow to the insurgents in Herat and its vicinity. Taliban militants haven't commented yet. WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed into law a major rewrite of the rules of trade with Canada and Mexico, celebrating the fulfilment of one of his top campaign promises while declining to share the moment with Democratic lawmakers whose support was essential to getting it over the finish line. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Wildwoods Convention Center Oceanfront, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, in Wildwood, N.J. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed into law a major rewrite of the rules of trade with Canada and Mexico, celebrating the fulfilment of one of his top campaign promises while declining to share the moment with Democratic lawmakers whose support was essential to getting it over the finish line. Trump said renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement was probably the No. 1 reason that I decided to lead this crazy life that I'm leading right now." Today, we're finally ending the NAFTA nightmare," Trump said in a ceremony on the South Lawn. The event featured hundreds of business and farm leaders from around the country and scores of Republican officials. No Democratic members of Congress were on the White House guest list. Trade experts say the impact of the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement will be modest. Canada and Mexico already represent the top two export markets for U.S. goods. The independent U.S. International Trade Commission last year calculated that the deal would add 0.35%, or $68 billion, to economic growth and generate 176,000 jobs over six years. That's not much of a change for a $22 trillion economy with 152 million nonfarm jobs. It's a blip,'' said Syracuse University economist Mary Lovely, who studies trade. The main thing is what it isn't: It isnt a continuation of uncertainty, and it isnt a major disruption'' to business. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., accompanied by Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Richard Neal, D-Mass., left, and other House members, laughs during a news conference to discuss the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade agreement, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) The new pact, along with the signing of a phase one agreement with China, dials down trade tensions that have contributed to slowing economic growth globally. It also gave the president a chance to at least briefly shift the focus in Washington, where Trump's impeachment trial has occupied centre stage for weeks. I keep my promises, and I'm fighting for the American worker," Trump said. Still, Trump couldn't resist making a few indirect references to impeachment in his remarks. He noted, for example, that Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, was headed back to the Capitol to ask questions at the trial. He's got some beauties, I'll bet, Trump said. The leaders of the U.S., Canada and Mexico signed the deal in late 2018. But it still faced a long road to ratification. Legislation implementing it received overwhelming, bipartisan support in Congress after several months of behind-the-scenes negotiations between Democratic lawmakers and the Trump administration. President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, left, and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, arrive for an event at the White House to sign a new North American trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Trump made a point of praising Republican legislators for their work in passing the deal. He singled out one Republican lawmaker after another during the ceremony, those from farm states, those from battleground states in tight reelection races and, of course, GOP leadership. Trump did not mention the role of Democrats, but they said that even if they weren't at the signing ceremony, their influence was being felt. What the president will be signing is quite different from what the president sent us, said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. We were able to make vast improvements. If we weren't, we would not have been able to pass the bill. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, chairman of a House trade panel, said inviting Democratic lawmakers to the ceremony would have underscored the inadequacies of the president's initial agreement and the fact that Democrats made the agreement possible. Its a clear illustration of how Trump operates with division, hyperpartisanship and childishness," said Blumenauer, D-Ore. White House spokesman Judd Deere said Democrats were invited but chose not to attend. He would not say how many or identify them. President Donald Trump speaks before signing a new North American trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, during an event at the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, in Washington. The president is joined by from left, senior advisers Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., and others. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) NAFTA, which took effect in 1994 under President Bill Clinton, tore down trade barriers between the three North American countries, and commerce among them surged. But Trump and other critics said NAFTA encouraged factories to leave the United States and relocate south of the border to take advantage of low-wage Mexican labour. Trump threatened to leave NAFTA if he couldn't get a better deal, creating uncertainty over regional trade. His trade negotiator, Robert Lighthizer, pressed for a revamped pact designed to bring factory jobs back to the United States. The new agreement, for example, requires automakers to get 75% of their production content (up from 62.5% in NAFTA) from within North America to qualify for the pact's duty-free benefits. That means more auto content would have to come from North America, not imported more cheaply from China and elsewhere. At least 40% of vehicles would also have to originate in places where workers earn at least $16 an hour. That would benefit the United States and Canada not Mexico, where auto assembly workers are paid a fraction of that amount. Lighthizer worked behind the scenes to strike an agreement that ended up being endorsed by the AFL-CIO and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Democrats successfully pushed to strike language allowing countries or companies to avoid sanctions simply by refusing to participate in dispute-settlement panels. They also insisted on ensuring enforcement of provisions intended to protect workers from intimidation and violence, and they pressed for a committee that will monitor Mexicos labour reforms. The Democrats also won a significant concession from the administration on drug prices. Gone is what Democrats considered a giveaway to the pharmaceutical industry: a provision that offered expensive biologic drugs, which are made from living cells, 10 years of protection from cheaper knockoff competition. 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. Lighthizer noted that trade agreements since NAFTA generally have passed with increasingly narrow majorities and often along party lines. He thanked Republicans and Democrats, who worked so hard on this agreement." The House voted 385-41 for the bill, with 193 Democrats among those supporting it. The margin in the Senate was 89-10. Critics include environmental groups concerned that the agreement does not address global warming. Some conservatives say the agreement will make cars and other products more expensive for consumers. The president won't waste any time highlighting the deal in battleground states that will determine who wins this years presidential election. On Thursday, he planned to be in Michigan, where some of the states auto workers should benefit from a deal that encourages more manufacturing in the United States. ___ Associated Press writers Andrew Taylor and Deb Riechmann contributed to this report. Koh Young Helps PCBX Digitally Transform its Manufacturing Published: 29 January 2020 by Chelsey Drysdale by Chelsey Drysdale Atlanta, Georgia Koh Young is delighted to announce the release of a new case study exploring how a low volume contract manufacturer with an almost fanatical approach to quality used automated solder paste inspection (SPI) to improve the performance of their printing and of their whole process. PCBX bought Koh Youngs 8030-3 SPI in 2019 and hasnt looked back since. The addition of the equipment has more delivered on their expectations, improving their quality, and expanding the performance and life of their screen printer. As Matt Polak, PCBX CEO, says The SPI saves us money, because nearly all defects caught previously were printer related, and now we eradicate those much earlier. We literally dropped to 0% rework on most boards after installing the Koh Young SPI. Koh Young Americas President said, We are delighted to be a trusted partner of PCBX as they continue their digital journey, adding, it is really pleasing to see customers like PCBX gain even more value from our solutions than they bargained for, we know PCBX will be a long-term Koh Young partners and user. You can watch the interview that SCOOP and Forbes writer, Philip Spagnoli Stoten carried out with PCBX CEO, Matt Polak, at the Koh Young YouTube page or through this link: https://youtu.be/0l8B0Hz_2aQ Two suspected narcotic smugglers were arrested on Wednesday after 40 kg poppy straw was seized from their vehicle in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. Gagandeep Singh and Amandeep Singh, both residents of Ludhiana (Punjab), were apprehended during checking at Jakhani on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, they said. In a separate incident, a drug peddler, identified as Mohammad Majid, was arrested after 10 grams heroin was found on him at the Jakhani Chowk area, a police official said. Another peddler, Jeevan Singh of Ramnagar, was nabbed from the Circular Road area with seven grams heroin, he said. The official said three separate cases were registered under the NDPS Act against the arrested people and further investigation was underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday pardoned an Israeli-US woman sentenced by a Russian court to seven-and-a-half years in jail for drug trafficking, the Kremlin said. The pardon came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected later Wednesday in Moscow where he is due to meet Putin. Naama Issachar, 26, was arrested at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport in April 2019 as she travelled from India to Israel. Russian authorities said they found nine grammes (three ounces) of cannabis in her checked luggage. "Guided by the principles of humanity, I pardon Naama Issachar," said the decree cited by the Kremlin. Issachar made a written request for a pardon, her lawyers said in a statement quoted by Russian press agencies on Sunday. Issachar's mother Yaffa met Putin when he was on an official visit to Israel last week. Following the meeting, the mother told media that Putin had "promised" he would send her daughter back home. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yaffa Issachar had already asked Putin several times to free the young woman. In December, Issachar lost an appeal against her sentence which Netanyahu has described as disproportionate. The Israeli foreign ministry had called the verdict "harsh and disproportionate" and President Reuven Rivlin had appealed to Putin's "mercy and compassion" when asking him to intervene in the case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The global invisible orthodontics market is evolving dramatically with the rapid technological advances in dentistry. Invisible orthodontics have gained extensive popularity over the past few years, and a number of products such as bracket-less aligners and clear retainers have launched recently. Moreover, the growing incidences of dental diseases and inclination towards the correction of teeth deformities are accelerating the growth of the market on the global platform. According to Market Research Future (MRFR), the global invisible orthodontics market had reached a valuation of USD 2598.8 Million in 2018, which is further projected to grow at 13.99% CAGR during the assessment period (2019 2025). The growing focus of Public as well as private organizations on catering to changing needs of customers by providing demos, conducting campaigns, and dental check-ups, is in turn, encouraging the growth of the invisible orthodontics substantially. Latest Free Sample PDF Available @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/8581 Besides, increasing support by regulatory authorities, in terms of investment and product approvals, acts as a significant growth driver for the invisible orthodontics market. Additionally, the rising prevalence of dental diseases fuels the growth of the market, pushing the need for newer treatment options. Moreover, the presence of a large number of players, increasing awareness among consumers, and advancements in dental technology have been driving the invisible orthodontics market. On the other hand, high costs of invisible orthodontics are impeding the market growth, especially in developing and underdeveloped nations. Also, the emerging grey market for dental distribution, involved in illegal selling of low cost, poor quality products is hampering the growth of the market. In addition, poor compliance of patients with dentists instructions would inhibit the market growth, leading to other complications of using these products. Invisible Orthodontics Market Segments The report is segmented into four main dynamics to widen the scope of understanding, By Product Type : Clear Braces, Aligners, Retainers, and others. By Age Group : Below 15, 16-35, and Above 35. By Application : Excessive Spacing, Crowding, Malocclusion, and others. By Regions : Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and Rest-of-the-World. Global Invisible Orthodontics Market Regional Analysis North America accounts for a significantly larger share in the global invisible orthodontics market. The market is majorly driven by strategic approaches employed by prominent players in the major countries in the region. Besides, major strides in 3D technology and its early implementation in the development of dental products foster the growth of the market. Also, factors such as high per capita healthcare expenditures and the proliferating healthcare sector led by the well-developed economy in the region act as major growth propellers for the market growth. Additionally, the high GDP allows North America to gain an edge over other regions in terms of every aspect. Resultantly, the overall demographics in these regions take aesthetical approaches for every aspect of life. With the presence of a large aesthetician population, the North American invisible orthodontics market is projected to retain its dominance throughout the predicted period. Europe holds the second-largest share in the global invisible orthodontics market due to the increasing support from regulatory authorities as well as the large presence of distributors across the regional countries. Besides, well-spread awareness for oral health and efforts that people take to maintain oral health, functions, and appearance, foster the growth of the European invisible orthodontics market. Countries such as Canada, the US, and the UK support market growth on a large scale. The invisible orthodontics market in the Asia Pacific region is emerging as a lucrative market. Burgeoning industries such as dental treatments and cosmetic dentistry drive market growth, hugely. Direct marketing initiatives by the manufacturers are playing a substantial role in the development of the regional market, increasing the target audience, and thus increasing the market size. Also, strategic alliances between key players are contributing to the growth of the market. APAC countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia contribute to the regional market growth substantially. The APAC Invisible Orthodontics market is expected to create a considerable revenue pocket over the forecast period. Invisible Orthodontics Market Competitive Analysis Highly competitive, the invisible orthodontics market appears to be fragmented, with several well-established players forming a competitive landscape. These players are adopting strategic initiatives such as mergers & acquisitions, collaborations, and innovations, to meet their business expansion plans. Also, the well-established players involved are vigorously focusing on product approvals to expand their customer base and brace their position in the market. To ensure their mission success, they acquire promising companies in emerging markets, focusing on optimized situational awareness. They also make heavy investments in R&D activities and build state-of-the-art facilities that can aid in the development of a cost-effective product portfolio and a stable marketing network, which can help them to gain the leadership position in the market. Major Players: Players leading the global invisible orthodontics market include 3M (US), Clarus Company (US), Align Technology, Inc. (US), ClearPath Healthcare Services (US), Dentsply Sirona (US), Danaher Corporation (US), DynaFlex (US), Institut Straumann AG (Switzerland), Henry Schein, Inc. (US), and Ormco (US), among others. Industry/ Innovation /Related News: January 17, 2020 - Western Dental & Orthodontics (the US), a countrywide leader in accessible, affordable oral healthcare and the leading orthodontics provider, launched new orthodontic aligners ClearArcto offer affordable care. ClearArc is being rolled out to 233 Western Dental offices in California and Texas in January and in Arizona and Nevada, in February. Developed after extensive research and testing, ClearArc is available for 40% less than the leading brand and offers unique advantages over rivals. To view the full report, visit at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/invisible-orthodontics-market-8581 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 Oishani Mojumder By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Five more people with suspected symptoms of Coronavirus from Hyderabad have been admitted to Fever Hospital here on Tuesday. The test samples of all the five people have been sent to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, for confirmation. Along with them, the boy, who came back from Wuhan and was the first suspected case of Coronavirus in the State, was re-admitted in the isolation ward due to gastrointestinal problems and was kept under 24-hour observation before being discharged on Tuesday night. ALSO READ| IT companies in Hyderabad take precautions to keep Coronavirus at bay Speaking to Express, Dr K Shankar, superintendent of Fever Hospital, said, "The three persons who came to Fever Hospital on Tuesday morning had returned from China a week ago. The mother, father and daughter developed symptoms such as running nose, cold and cough and they came to the hospital voluntarily. On Tuesday night, two more people with similar symptoms were admitted in the hospital. They are all kept under observation and their swab samples have been sent to NIV, Pune. We are expecting the results in 24 hours." Central team visits Fever Hospital and Hyderabad airport to inspect facilities "People also need to understand that not all cases of fever, cold and cough are being considered as Coronavirus. Only those with travel history to China and its neighbouring countries in the last couple of months have the probability of contracting the infection. The incubation period of this virus is very long - 14 to 28 days, and all the suspected cases, even if discharged, are kept under observation in their respective residences. They have been asked not to go to crowded places. Our Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) teams are checking their symptoms twice every day," he said. He added, "We were sending the samples in private cars to NIV, Pune, along with a human courier. This was taking six to eight hours. However, now we will be sending the samples via three courier services which have been recognised by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare." ALSO READ| Hyderabads ICMR facility to be made testing centre for Coronavirus This step will increase the efficiency of the sample sending procedure. Meanwhile, the three-member multidisciplinary team comprising Dr Anitha Varma, epidemiologist, Prof Ajay Chauhan, respiratory medicine and Dr Shubha Garg, a microbiologist from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), visited the Fever Hospital and the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport to inspect steps taken should there be an outbreak of Coronavirus. The team was also accompanied by Dr Shankar and Dr Anuradha Medoju, chief, airport health organisation. Dr Shankar said, "The team inspected the isolation ward and its arrangements, whether the ward is placed at a distance from other patients and wards, waste disposal methods, cleaning of wards, tracking of treatment chart and training regarding biohazard material or waste. They seem to be quite satisfied, but they have also given us various suggestions that we will follow." Another official added that the staff would be taught the correct procedure of disinfecting vehicles, proper usage of mask, how to collect samples from suspected patients, and how to use sanitizers. Express also witnessed an impromptu training session where the team members questioned a paramedic of the Fever Hospital ambulance about how to dispose off an infected face mask. The paramedic pointed to a regular green colour waste bin, but was quickly corrected by the experts that mask is a biohazard material and should be disposed off only in a yellow biohazard waste bin. Infinitus (China) Company Ltd., a purveyor of healthy products and solutions, set up a new coronavirus epidemic prevention and control group as soon as they heard the first news reports about the new disease and received guidance from the government authorities. The firm adjusted the production and operation in a timely manner, and also it implemented the measures as per the requirements and initiatives put in place by governments and responsible authorities at all levels. After learning about the initiatives of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese calling for donations from members of Chinese communities worldwide, Infinitus donated 5 million yuan (approx. USD720,000) to the Overseas Chinese Charity Foundation of China through the Si Li Ji Ren Foundation as a special fund to combat 2019-nCoV. The donation was sent directly to the affected areas in and around Wuhan. At the same time, in response to the urgent demand for various kinds of protective supplies at Nanfang Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Infinitus immediately communicated with the hospital and donated one million yuan (approx. USD144,000) in supplies, including hand sanitizers and air purifiers, to help prevent and control the epidemic in Guangdong province. Infinitus will continue to pay attention to the development of the epidemic and provide more assistance in combatting it. SOURCE Infinitus (China) Company Ltd. At least seven children were killed when the roof of their house collapsed on Wednesday in a tribal district in northwest Pakistan bordering Afghanistan, police said. The incident took place in Mamond tehsil of Bajaur tribal district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Seven children died on the spot. Five others, including a woman were critically wounded in the tragedy, Assistant Commissioner Habibullah Khan Wazir said. The wounded persons were taken to the district headquarters hospital in Khar for treatment where conditions of some were stated to be critical. According to the residents, the victims belonged to the same family. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Although Kejriwal has been trying to keep the poll narrative away from the CAA and Shaheen Bagh, a recent statement by Sisodia has changed matters. Three weeks ago, when the Election Commission announced the Delhi Assembly election schedule, it seemed that the Aam Aadmi Party's slogan "Achhe beete 5 saal, lage raho Kejriwal' was resonating with voters. It was widely believed that the AAP, with its freebie politics and positive publicity, was riding high and that the election result would be a mere formality. The only question seemed to be whether or not the party would repeat its feat of winning 67 out of 70 seats. On the other hand, BJP workers' morale was low, and the party seemed unable to counter Arvind Kejriwal's campaign blitz. It was feeling the absence of a worthwhile state-level challenger. The Congress was (and still is) nowhere in the picture. That seemed to have made the BJPs task tougher and, by consequence, the AAPs task easier. But in politics, one wrong move by a political party, or even its supporters, has the potential to change the 'hawa'. The shrill anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in Shaheen Bagh seem to have worked in favour of the BJP as campaigning enters the final phase. While Kejriwal still has an advantage, the BJP is fast gaining momentum. Three things are noteworthy here The first point is that home minister Amit Shah's recent rallies have energised BJP workers. On Sunday, Shah at a rally urged people to press the (EVM) button with such anger that the current is felt at Shaheen Bagh." He also sought to puncture Kejriwal's much-hyped governance plank. With Shah's recent rallies, BJP workers now believe that the party is in the fray and can win the election if it fights with vigour. The rally on Sunday gave BJP workers talking points that they could disseminate among the people. The home minister has been addressing several rallies every day, and has been holding review meetings at night with BJP chief JP Nadda and other senior leaders. Nadda has also been holding review meetings at the mandal or block levels to resolve intra-party conflicts and ego clashes. In this context, communal remarks made in Shaheen Bagh and other protest sites provide more fodder for the BJP's campaign. Incidentally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has largely been missing from the action, although posters featuring him can be seen across Delhi. Modi has held only one rally till now in Ramlila Maidan, and is expected to hold a few more rallies towards the end of campaigning. Nevertheless, the issue of Shaheen Bagh has been aggressively picked up by BJP leaders. For instance, at a recent meeting with the Tyagi community in the Rohtas Nagar constituency of north east Delhi, several local leaders spoke about protests that have come up at Shaheen Bagh and other places, and the "ominous messages" emanating from there. Manoj Sinha, the BJP's in-charge of north east Delhi, further said, "In Uttar Pradesh, the government has started recovering money from rioters and protesters for damage to public property. Do you want similar action to be taken in Delhi? If so, vote for the BJP." Sinha also took on Kejriwal for his slogan "Achhe beete 5 saal, lage raho Kejriwal", and called the Delhi chief minister a "dapor shankh" (loudmouth). However, Sinha got the loudest response from the crowd when he castigated the Shaheen Bagh protesters. The second reason that gives the BJP hope is the statement by AAP's second-in-command Manish Sisodia that he stands with the people of Shaheen Bagh. The BJP is likely to try and cash in on this statement. Third, JNU student and one of the organisers of the Shaheen Bagh protest, Sharjeel Imam was seen on video recently talking about how protesters can cut off Assam from the rest of India for at least a few months. This speech has polarised voters, and is working against the AAP. Although Kejriwal has been trying to keep the poll narrative away from the CAA and Shaheen Bagh, the recent statement by Sisodia has changed matters. It has dragged the AAP into the narrative that the BJP is building. There may now be a twist to the Delhi elections. A High Court injunction limiting the extent of a protest against the greyhound racing industry outside Shelbourne Park track has been lifted following settlement talks. The order was discharged as part of an agreement entered into between the protesters and the operators of Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium Ltd, which obtained the injunction last November. As part of the settlement the protesters will continue their peaceful protests outside the track on Saturday evenings and will abide by certain agreed conditions. The protesters, whose legal costs are to be paid by the track operators, acknowledge the operator's right to promote and organise greyhound racing events at the track. The protesters also acknowledge in the agreement the entitlement of the track's patrons and employees to attend such events. As part of the agreement the operators said they were happy to remove any insinuations made during the proceedings that the protesters had any involvement with leaflets sent to the track's neighbours. Those leaflets contained threats that the resident's property would be damaged unless they supported the protests. The protesters had denied any involvement with the leaflets which are the subject of a Garda investigation. The injunction prevented the six named protesters, and any other person who had knowledge of the order from conducting what has been an ongoing action within 50 meters of the track's entrance. It also restrained the defendants from impeding, obstructing or interfering with the access to the stadium. The protests at the centre of action began last year following an RTE television expose of certain practices in the greyhound industry. The operators, in seeking the order, claimed that protests have gone beyond what could be described as being a peaceful protest and claim that protesters had intimidated, and verbally abused patrons attending the track. The claims were denied, and the defendants had argued that there was no basis for the granting of the order against them. On Tuesday, the operators returned to the Court seeking to have an order limiting the protests, but was not seeking to have the 50m exclusion zone retained, kept in place until the full dispute had been determined. However, following talks between the parties Mr Justice Tony O'Connor was informed by Rossa Fanning SC for the plaintiff today that the case had resolved and the proceedings could be struck out. As part of the agreement Catherine Woods of East Wall Ringsend, Bernie Wright Foxhaven, Shallon, The Ward, Co Dublin and Conor Brady and Noiren Carrigg both of Carnoustie, Annaghlong, Gorey, in Co Wexford will ensure certain protocols will be put in place during the protests. Those defendants, represented by Peter Bland SC, who said his clients were "delighted with the outcome, and instructed by solicitor Donal O'Neill, will ensure stewards in high visibility jackets will be put in place during the protests. The stewards will ensure certain protocols will be put in place including that the protests will take place on a public path at least 3.5m from the stadium entrance. The protesters will also confine the content of their posters, banners and slogans to the plight of greyhounds and not about customers or employees of the track operators. The two other defendants Laura Broxson and Tawnie Ocampo of Burnell Green, Northern Cross, Malahide, Co Dublin,represented by Conor Devalley SC agreed to abide by the protocol at any future protest outside the track they attend. Mr Justice Tony O'Connor welcomed the settlement. The Judge said he was not being critical of any party in the action, or their advisiors. However, with the benefit of hindsight the judge said that it would have been better for all sides had the defendants been put on notice of the proceedings before the ex-parte injunction was sought last November. Some of the events referred to in the action, the judge added, had occurred some months before the injunction was sought. The Irish Council of Civil Liberties (ICCL) which has concerns about the order, has been added as an 'amicus curiae' or friend to the court. It became involved as it says the case raises important issues concerning the rights to freedom of speech and to assembly. Today we are going to look at REM Group (Holdings) Limited (HKG:1750) to see whether it might be an attractive investment prospect. Specifically, we'll consider its Return On Capital Employed (ROCE), since that will give us an insight into how efficiently the business can generate profits from the capital it requires. First, we'll go over how we calculate ROCE. Second, we'll look at its ROCE compared to similar companies. Finally, we'll look at how its current liabilities affect its ROCE. Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What is it? ROCE is a measure of a company's yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. All else being equal, a better business will have a higher ROCE. In brief, it is a useful tool, but it is not without drawbacks. Renowned investment researcher Michael Mauboussin has suggested that a high ROCE can indicate that 'one dollar invested in the company generates value of more than one dollar'. So, How Do We Calculate ROCE? Analysts use this formula to calculate return on capital employed: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) Or for REM Group (Holdings): 0.13 = HK$26m (HK$269m - HK$65m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2019.) Therefore, REM Group (Holdings) has an ROCE of 13%. See our latest analysis for REM Group (Holdings) Does REM Group (Holdings) Have A Good ROCE? One way to assess ROCE is to compare similar companies. In our analysis, REM Group (Holdings)'s ROCE is meaningfully higher than the 8.1% average in the Electrical industry. We would consider this a positive, as it suggests it is using capital more effectively than other similar companies. Regardless of where REM Group (Holdings) sits next to its industry, its ROCE in absolute terms appears satisfactory, and this company could be worth a closer look. We can see that, REM Group (Holdings) currently has an ROCE of 13%, less than the 44% it reported 3 years ago. This makes us wonder if the business is facing new challenges. You can click on the image below to see (in greater detail) how REM Group (Holdings)'s past growth compares to other companies. Story continues SEHK:1750 Past Revenue and Net Income, January 28th 2020 When considering this metric, keep in mind that it is backwards looking, and not necessarily predictive. ROCE can be deceptive for cyclical businesses, as returns can look incredible in boom times, and terribly low in downturns. This is because ROCE only looks at one year, instead of considering returns across a whole cycle. You can check if REM Group (Holdings) has cyclical profits by looking at this free graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow. REM Group (Holdings)'s Current Liabilities And Their Impact On Its ROCE Short term (or current) liabilities, are things like supplier invoices, overdrafts, or tax bills that need to be paid within 12 months. Due to the way the ROCE equation works, having large bills due in the near term can make it look as though a company has less capital employed, and thus a higher ROCE than usual. To counter this, investors can check if a company has high current liabilities relative to total assets. REM Group (Holdings) has total assets of HK$269m and current liabilities of HK$65m. Therefore its current liabilities are equivalent to approximately 24% of its total assets. Current liabilities are minimal, limiting the impact on ROCE. What We Can Learn From REM Group (Holdings)'s ROCE Overall, REM Group (Holdings) has a decent ROCE and could be worthy of further research. REM Group (Holdings) looks strong on this analysis, but there are plenty of other companies that could be a good opportunity . Here is a free list of companies growing earnings rapidly. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. 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. Tokoly, of Slovakia pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving A young businesswoman was left in a wheelchair after a horror smash with a van driver who veered onto the wrong side of the road has emotionally revealed in court how her life was wrecked in an instant. Lauren Woodward, 21, left the entire courtroom in tears as she spoke about being in a wheelchair for life following the collision with Lubomir Tokoly, 63, who was sat awaiting his fate after admitting he caused her injuries through dangerous driving. Gloucester Crown Court was told Miss Woodward's father was driving her to work in his Vauxhall Astra on the A436 in the Cotswolds when Tokoly's Fiat Ducato crossed double white lines and smashed into them. Lauren Woodward, 21, left the entire courtroom in tears as she spoke about being in a wheelchair for life following the collision with Lubomir Tokoly, 63, who was sat awaiting his fate after admitting he caused her injuries through dangerous driving Although Miss Woodward's father stepped from the wreckage relatively unharmed, she suffered devastating injuries which are still blighting her life 10 months later. The court heard she suffered a broken right foot, a large open wound, a broken left ankle that required metal plates, multiple fractures to her pelvis and lower vertebra as well as multiple internal injuries. In her victim impact statement, read to a tearful courtroom, Miss Woodward said: 'Waking up in pain every single day has been life changing. It is exhausting and draining. Even the simplest of tasks become impossible. 'I have trouble concentrating in everything I do. I struggle to remember words,' GloucestershireLive reported. Tokoly, of Piatanova Kosice, in Slovakia pleaded guilty to causing serious injury to Lauren by driving dangerously. He was jailed for 16 months and banned from driving in the UK for four years. Prosecutor Sam Jones told the court that Miss Woodward's father Tim is now her full-time carer, calling the ordeal any parent's 'worst nightmare'. The court heard that while Mr Woodward suffered some minor injuries to his chest and face, the front passenger seat took the brunt of the impact. The court heard she suffered a broken right foot, a large open wound, a broken left ankle that required metal plates, multiple fractures to her pelvis and lower vertebra as well as multiple internal injuries 'The vehicle was technically sound and I wasn't driving fast. However I am not used to driving on the left in the UK as I drive on the right in Slovakia,' Tokoly stated. Mr Woodward said his daughter had made very little physical progress since the accident. She is confined to a single bed in the dining room of their family home, he added. Lauren, in her victim statement added: 'The driver of the van's blank expression will haunt me forever as will the last image, the headlight right in front of me.' Tokoly was sentenced to 16 months in prison and disqualified him from driving in the UK for four years. He was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of 140. Fuel Your Pipeline. Close More Deals. Our full-service marketing programs deliver sales-ready leads. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee! Learn more The United States Department of Homeland Security last week released a report outlining its plans to combat online counterfeit product sellers. The value of counterfeit goods traded internationally rose from US$200 billion in 2005 to $509 billion in 2016, according to DHS. Infringing goods valued at $1.4 billion were seized at U.S. borders in 2018, compared with $94 million worth in 2003. More than 85 percent of the contraband seized arrived from China and Hong Kong. China is the single largest producer of counterfeit goods in a variety of industries. The ease of setting up an e-commerce platform has exacerbated the situation. The DHS report was prepared in coordination with the U.S. Secretaries of Commerce and State, the Attorney General, and various other federal government agencies and departments, with input from the private sector. The Need for Government Action If a new product is a success, counterfeiters will attempt, often immediately, to outcompete the original seller with lower-cost counterfeit and pirated versions while avoiding the initial investment into research and design, the DHS said. Selling counterfeit and pirated goods especially counterfeit pharmaceuticals is highly profitable, the DHS noted. The risk of detection is relatively low. Preventing counterfeit medicines from entering the U.S. is especially difficult, according to DHS, because nearly 40 percent of drugs are made overseas and approximately 80 percent of the active medicinal components of drugs are imported. Further, many of these drugs are expensive so lower prices attract consumers. People who sell illicit goods online are exposed to relatively little risk of criminal prosecution or civil liability under current law enforcement and regulatory practices in many countries. The key is getting federal law enforcement in other countries where these counterfeit products are made, said James Thomson, a partner at Buy Box Experts and former Amazon executive. Making an example of counterfeit product sellers should help curtail their activity, suggested Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group, as it would help showcase there are unacceptable risks connected to noncompliance. The DHS Action Plan The DHS will undertake the following actions immediately, and it recommends that other departments and agencies follow suit, to combat the trafficking of counterfeit and pirated goods: Ensure entities with financial interests in imports bear responsibility; Increase scrutiny of the Section 321 environment; Suspend and debar repeat offenders and act against noncompliant international posts; Apply civil fines, penalties and injunctive actions for products imported in violation; Leverage advance electronic data for mail mode; Form ACTION plan Anti-Counterfeiting Consortium to Identify Online Nefarious Actors; Analyze enforcement resources; Create a modernized e-commerce enforcement framework; Assess contributory trademark infringement liability for platforms; Re-examine the legal framework surrounding non-resident importers; and Establish a national consumer awareness campaign. The good news is, the DHS will do more random checks of imported products, Buy Boxs Thomson told the E-Commerce Times. However, all that happens is the product is seized and doesnt enter the country, he pointed out. You havent solved the problem of changing incentives for people to sell counterfeits. Enforcement will be difficult without enforcing provenance of data, observed Ray Wang, principal analyst at Constellation Research. For example, was that medicine being sold online kept at the right temperature throughout the whole process? Is it at the right level of efficacy or was the product diluted? One effective tactic might be to place data in a blockchain or other immutable database to track products and validate their legitimacy, he told the E-Commerce Times. The technology used by counterfeiters is getting really good, Buy Boxs Thomson observed. Even some brands cant tell whether what appears to be their product is counterfeit. Historically, the government isnt very effective in policing technology, noted Rebecca Wettemann, principal at Valoir. Given the complexity of this problem, e-commerce is unlikely to be any different, she told the E-Commerce Times. Adding to the uncertainty, President Trump tends to underfund his efforts, which would dramatically reduce the effectiveness of this DHS effort, Enderle told the E-Commerce Times. Suggested Best Practices The DHS outlined 10 best practices for e-commerce platforms and third-party manufacturers, including the following: A D V E R T I S E M E N T additional vetting; comprehensive terms of service agreements; limitations on high-risk products; an indemnity requirement for foreign sellers; clearly marked country of origin; and conducting transactions through banks complying with U.S. enforcement requests for information. Foremost among these best practices is the idea that e-commerce platforms, online third-party marketplaces, and other third-party intermediaries such as customs brokers and express consignment carriers must take a more active role in monitoring, detecting, and preventing trafficking in counterfeit and pirated goods, the DHS said. Amazon already has said that it may be unable to prevent sellers from offering counterfeit, pirated or stolen goods on its platform. The company currently is locked in battle with the American Apparel & Footwear Association, which has asked the U.S. Trade Representative to include the online platform on its Notorious Markets list. Amazon is not alone. Alibaba, eBay and other B2C online platforms also have been accused of letting sellers offer counterfeit or pirated goods online. Amazon has invested more than $400 million to combat fraud, including in the form of counterfeit or noncompliant products, and it has programs and processes that exceed its obligations under current U.S. law, a spokesperson said. In addition to blocking them, Amazon will begin reporting confirmed counterfeiters to law enforcement. It also will file civil and criminal lawsuits against counterfeiters. More than 99 percent of products people view on Amazon do not draw complaints about counterfeits, according to the company. However, that doesnt mean much, suggested Thomson, because a consumer would have to make a purchase and then be knowledgeable enough to spot a fake before considering whether to lodge a complaint. Spider-Man star Tom Hollands future in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was up in the air last year. Thankfully, Disney and Sony reached an agreement to keep Spider-Man in the MCU for a third installment of the popular franchise. The studio has not released any details about Spider-Man 3, but Holland reportedly wants this Avengers: Endgame star to join him in his next stand-alone flick. Spider-Man himself Tom Holland | Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for Disney Which Avengers: Endgame stars will join Tom Holland? Spider-Man has featured some important cameos in the first two movies of the franchise. Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) showed up in Spider-Man: Homecoming and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) was in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Inside sources previously claimed that Marvel was thinking about teaming Peter Park with Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), Ms. Marvel, or Captain Marvel (Brie Larson). But it now sounds like Cumberbatchs schedule is too busy and the studio wants to hold back Ms. Marvel and Carol Danvers for now. With those superheroes out of the picture, the door is open for someone else to collaborate with Holland. According to We Got This Covered, Holland is urging Marvel to bring Spider-Man and Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) together in Spider-Man 3. Although both characters appeared in Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Endgame, they really did not interact much. If Holland has his way, that is going to change in a big way in the near future. It should be noted that Marvel has not confirmed these reports and a lot could change before Spider-Man 3 starts filming. When will Spider-Man 3 get underway? Because of Spider-Mans uncertain future in the MCU, Marvel did not announce a release date for Spider-Man 3 this past summer. But now that the studio has confirmed that fans will see Holland reprise the role in Spider-Man 3 and at least one future MCU film, it is only a matter of time before production gets underway. Production on Spider-Man 3 will reportedly run from July to November and film in Atlanta, New York City, Los Angeles, and Iceland (via @ComicBook) pic.twitter.com/Ja1sbdEoBU Marvel Facts & News (@MarveIFacts) January 17, 2020 Unless something changes, filming for Spider-Man 3 is expected to start up this summer. The movie is slated for release in July of 2021, which does not give the studio much wiggle room. With the movie set to begin production this summer, we may get confirmation about which character will make an appearance in a few months. Considering how Spider-Man and Ant-Man are set to play big roles in the MCU moving forward, it would be great to see the characters team up. Everything we know about Tom Hollands return to the MCU In addition to a production date, sources say that some of the shooting locations include Iceland, Atlanta, Georgia, New York, New York, and Los Angeles, California. As a note, Thor: The Dark World was also filmed in Iceland. If the Iceland rumors are true, then it is possible that the main villain in Spider-Man 3 will be Kraven the Hunter. The villain is one of Spider-Mans foes in the comics and is a world-renown big game hunter. Have Black Panther come to New York for some political visit in Spider-Man 3, Kraven sees it as an opportunity to take down both Spidey and Panther Have a John Wick 2 situation where they have to survive in the city as people led by Kraven try and hunt them down. Best MCU movie pic.twitter.com/WiiyawjEkB Cade Onder (@Cade_Onder) October 1, 2018 Villains aside, we also know that Peter Parker will be dealing with some fallout after his identity was exposed at the end of Far From Home. As fans will recall, J. Jonah Jameson (J.K. Simmons) revealed to the world that Peter Parker is Spider-Man. With production set to ramp up this summer, Marvel should start casting in the next few months. Hopefully, the casting calls will tell us more about the movie and where the story is going. Will Rudd appear in Spider-Man 3? Rudd, unfortunately, has not commented on the reports surrounding Ant-Mans cameo in Spider-Man 3. Rudd is fully expected to reprise his role as the superhero in Ant-Man 3, which is reportedly going to hit theaters in 2022. Rudd only has one movie, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, scheduled to come out in 2020 (and its already in post-production). He is credited for a voice cameo in Marvels upcoming series, What If?, but it looks like his schedule is wide open to work on Spider-Man 3 this summer. While we wait to hear more about Spider-Man 3, the next film in Marvels lineup is Scarlett Johanssons Black Widow, which is set to open in theaters on May 1. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29 2020 As most developed countries have steadily reduced their refugee intake, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is being forced to formulate alternate pathways to a third country. The newly appointed UNHCR representative to Indonesia, Ann Maymann, said the alternate pathway was an umbrella term her organization had been using to describe efforts to develop other solutions for refugees beyond the traditional approaches of resettlement, voluntary repatriation and local integration. Its actually not precisely defined because we are still working with states on finding more alternatives because as resettlement goes down, people cant go back because their countries are still at war and local integration is very difficult to obtain, she said at a media briefing on Tuesday. 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 BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 By Ilkin Seyfaddini Trend: Working groups of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan discussed the joint construction of a hydroelectric power plant on Zarafshan River in Tajikistan, Trend reports via Uzbekistan's Ministry of Energy. Negotiations were held in Tashkent on 28 January 2020. For this purpose, a representative delegation of Tajikistan, headed by Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources Jamshed Shoimzoda, arrived in the country. During the meeting with First Deputy Minister of Energy of Uzbekistan Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, the subject of discussion was the draft agreement between the Government of Uzbekistan and the Government of Tajikistan on the procedure and conditions for shared participation in the construction and operation of hydroelectric plant on the Zarafshan River. The construction of hydropower plants is planned to be carried out in stages: at the first stage, the construction of the Yavan hydroelectric station with an estimated cost of $282 million, a capacity of 140 MW and the generation of 700-800 million kWh of electricity. At the next stage, the parties will consider the possibility of building a hydroelectric station on the Fandarya River with an estimated cost of $270 million, a capacity of 135 MW and the generation of 500-600 million kWh of electricity. The constructed hydroelectric power stations will generate up to 1,400 million kWh of ecological clean electricity exclusively for the needs of Uzbekistan. The Tajik delegation pointed out that the meeting is the first step towards the implementation of the project and expresses the will of the leaders of the two states. The delegation also noted the speed of ongoing reforms in Uzbekistan in the field of energy. Work on the joint construction of two hydroelectric power stations with a total capacity of 320 MW on the Zarafshan River in Tajikistan was envisaged in the Joint Statement of Uzbekistan's President and Tajikistan's President signed on 17 August 2018. GODFREY Lewis and Clark Community College has a variety of events planned in February to celebrate Black History Month. The major plus about our Black History Month calendar is that every event is free and open to the public, said Student Activities Coordinator Jared Hennings. We want the community to feel welcome at any of the activities. The month-long celebration will kick off in Reid Memorial Library at 10 a.m., Monday, Feb. 3, when KSDK Broadcaster Rene Knott will talk about his career and co-anchor position on the Today in St Louis morning show. The three-time Emmy winner who covered the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea will discuss the changing face of mass communications in 2020 and what it takes to be successful in media today, while using his journey as a journalist as an example. A blues lecture and performance is planned 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, when Big George Brock visits Reid Cafe. Brock was born May 16, 1932, in Grenada, Mississippi, the son of a sharecropper. Through the years, his playing at Mississippi jukes and his own St. Louis clubs allowed him to share stages with blues greats like Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Jimmy Reed and Albert King. He has earned the titles King of the St. Louis Blues and Heavy Weight Champion of the Blues. Judge Veronica Armouti will join community members in Reid Memorial Library at noon, Monday, Feb. 10, to talk about her career and the local justice system. Armouti was appointed an associate judge in the Third Judicial Circuit to fill the vacancy left when former judge Jennifer Hightower was not reappointed to the bench. The Third Judicial Circuit includes Madison and Bond Counties. She will highlight her background as an example as a how to guide in motivating students to strive for excellence. Armouti grew up in Madison and Alton before becoming a longtime resident of Edwardsville, where she has been for the past 26 years. She earned her bachelors degree in 1986 and her masters degree in 1988 from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville. She earned her Juris Doctor degree in 1997 from Saint Louis University. She was admitted to the Missouri Bar Association in 1997 and the Illinois Bar Association in 1998. The annual Underground Railroad Tour is set for 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13. Guide J. E. Robinson will provide the history and expertise, describing noteworthy destinations throughout the Riverbend area where slaves sought refuge as they escaped the South. The bus will depart from the parking lot next to the Security Building at the north entrance of L&Cs Godfrey Campus. Reservations are required for this event; contact Hennings at 618-468-6400 or jhenning@lc.edu. College employees and community members have recorded profiles of Black American Moments in our nations history, which will play on College Radios Best WLCA 89.9-FM all month long. Some of the personalities include President Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Carter G. Woodson and Maya Angelou. Spotlights will run once every three to four hours as part of the stations regular programming. For more details, contact Hennings at 618-468-6400 or jhenning@lc.edu. [January 29, 2020] NACA Announces MOU with DHS, DOT Against Human Trafficking The National Air Carrier Association (NACA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Transportation (DOT) to help combat human trafficking in partnership with the aviation industry. The partnership aims to raise general awareness and increase reporting of suspicious activity through education and training of aviation industry personnel. "NACA is proud to join the U.S. government's efforts to combat human trafficking," said NACA President George Novak. "This MOU between NACA and DHS and DOT solidifies the partnership between government and industry and deepens our cooperation on this crucial effort. We look forward to working with the government to educate aviation industry personnel to provide protection for the victims of human trafficking and better cooperate with law enforcement." The Blue Lightning Initiative (BLI) was initiated to coordinate and enhance the efforts of DHS and DOT to bring an end to humantrafficking. BLI protects victims of human trafficking and encourages their cooperation with law enforcement through information on immigration relief and other forms of victim assistance. In concert with training programs for thousands of Federal, State local and international law enforcement, as well as for aviation industry personnel, BLI aims to discourage human trafficking activity by helping the transportation industry recognize the signs of suspicious activity and report them to law enforcement. The MOU provides for the use of official logos on educational materials and establishes an opportunity for government staff to attend top-level NACA meetings to distribute and discuss information regarding the Initiative. Both parties believe the increased awareness driven by the MOU will enhance industry participation in BLI and bring us closer to the goal of ending human trafficking. To read the MOU, please visit NACA's website here: https://naca.aero/naca-signs-mou-with-dhs-and-dot-against-human-trafficking/. ABOUT NACA Founded in 1962, NACA is a trade association comprised of air carriers certificated under Title 14, Part 121 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Our members are a diverse group of air carriers, providing scheduled and non-scheduled passenger and cargo services. NACA carriers fill a unique niche in the air carrier industry, offering services in response to ever-changing demands from the U.S. military, the traveling public, and businesses. NACA members include: Air Transport International, Amerijet, Allegiant Air, Atlas Air, Everts Air Cargo, Frontier Airlines, Kalitta Air, Lynden Air Cargo, Miami Air International, Northern Air Cargo, Omni Air International, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, Swift (News - Alert) Air, USA Jet Airlines, Western Global Airlines, and World Atlantic Airlines. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005639/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] When a close family member was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March 2019, Ballyronan schoolgirl Naoishe Devlin had a plan: to raise 1,000 for research into the deadly disease. Ten months later - through a combination of imaginative fundraising activities and generous donations from friends, farmers and a leading businessman - the 17-year-old has blown her target out of the water. The Year 14 pupil at St Pius X College in Magherafelt says she was inspired not only by cancer arriving at the door of her own family, but by the death from cancer of a childhood friend in 2016. This girl and I grew up together in Ballyronan and were in the same class at primary school, Naoishe explained. Her family moved away some years ago but we kept in touch and her death hit me very hard. So, when my close relation was diagnosed with cancer last year, I thought it would be great to do something not only to help fund research for his benefit but as a tribute to my friend at the same time. Naoishes fundraisers have included a coffee morning in Loup Primary School, a raffle at St Pius X College and a circuit training session organised by Marty Breen Fitness. The local farming community has also rallied to the cause, with generous contributions from farmers attending the livestock markets in Swatragh and Ballymena. Naoishe with the final total raised after a year of fundraising. Ballyronan residents stumped up willingly during a door-to-door collection while a second raffle, organised by Francis Connon from Kells, helped swell the fundraising coffers. Naoishe, who is studying biology and double award health and social care at A level, even launched an appeal on Facebook, and friends responded in their droves. With the amount growing steadily, the schoolgirl made the brave decision to have her hair chopped off in November - coincidentally Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. Hairdresser Debbie Shivers, of Studio 6 at Hillhead Road near Castledawson, gave her services free of charge, more money came flooding in and Naoishes long, flowing, blonde locks were donated to the Little Princess Trust. At this juncture, one of Irelands best known businessmen, Larry Goodman, became involved, promising to match the fundraising total to date - with his company the APB Food Group duly donating a staggering 5,000. The teenager said: It was an absolutely fantastic donation and it helped bring the tally to well over 10,000 by Christmas. The total amount raised to date stands at 12,568. But Naoishe, who has her sights set on becoming a social worker or an occupational therapist, isnt finished yet! I want to thank everyone who has donated or helped with my fundraising in any way, she said. Its a fantastic amount but the deadline is February 29 so theres still plenty of time to add to it. *To make a donation, log on to Naoishes Facebook and go to the link https://fundraise.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/fundraisers/naoishedevlin/crew-cut-cancer-challenge Deirdre Morley and Andrew McGinley with their children Conor (9), Darragh (7) and Carla (3) A woman has appeared in a Dublin court charged with the murder of her three children. Deirdre Morley, of Parsons Court, Newcastle in Dublin, appeared before Dublin District Court this evening. Ms Morley (43) is charged with three counts of murder at an address in Parsons Court on Friday, January 24 last. Her three children, Conor (9), Darragh (7) and Carla (3) McGinley were found dead at the property that evening. Det Sgt Dara Kenny, of Clondalkin Garda Station, gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. He said Ms Morley was arrested at 2.06pm today for the purpose of charge at Clondalkin garda station. She made no reply to each of the charges when they were put to her. Det Sgt Kenny also applied for the accused to be remanded in custody until next Wednesday, February 5. Defence solicitor Jonathan Dunphy asked for his client to be afforded appropriate medical treatment while in custody. Judge Paula Murphy also acceded to a request for Ms Morley to be given continuing psychiatric assessments while in custody and granted her free legal aid. The accused, wearing a cardigan, black top and blue jeans, did not speak during the brief hearing. She was remanded to appear before the court this day next week. The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that authorises financial and travel sanctions against Chinese officials who interfere in the process of selecting the successor to the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader based in India. Introduced by Congressman James P McGovern, Chairman of the House Rules Committee and the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, the bill was passed by a overwhelming vote of 392 to 22 on Tuesday. The bill, if passed by the Senate and signed into law by the president, will also prohibit China from opening any new consulate in the US until Beijing allows Washington to open its diplomatic station in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital. According to the bill, the succession or reincarnation of Tibetan Buddhist leaders, including a future 15th Dalai Lama, is an exclusively religious matter that should be decided solely by the Tibetan Buddhist community. Under the draft legislation, Washington would freeze any American asset and ban US travel of Chinese officials if they are found to be involved in "identifying or installing" a Dalai Lama approved by Beijing. Meanwhile in Beijing, the Chinese foreign ministry said the legislation "grossly interferes in China's internal affairs". It asked the US to do more to benefit mutual trust and cooperation between China and the US rather than the contrary. The Dalai Lama fled to India in early 1959 after a failed uprising against the Chinese rule. While Beijing views the Dalai Lama as a separatist who seeks to split Tibet from China, the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate says he only seeks greater rights for Tibetans, including religious freedom and autonomy. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the bill sends Beijing a clear signal that it will be held accountable for interfering in Tibet's religious and cultural affairs. The proposed legislation, she said, makes it clear that "Chinese officials who meddle in the process of recognising a new Dalai Lama will be subject to targeted sanctions, including those in the Global Magnitsky Act". The Global Magnitsky Act allows the US to sanction foreign government officials implicated in human rights abuses anywhere in the world. Pelosi said the bill deploys America's diplomatic weight to encourage a genuine dialogue between Tibetan leaders and Beijing. "It is unacceptable that the Chinese government still refuses to enter into a dialogue with Tibetan leaders...We are supporting the Tibetan people's right to religious freedom and genuine autonomy by formally establishing as US policy that the Tibetan Buddhist community has the exclusive right to choose its religious leaders, including a future 15th Dalai Lama," she said. Though introduced as a stand-alone piece of legislation, the bill serves as an amendment to the Tibet Policy Act of 2002, which codified the US position of support for the Tibetan people. "Our bill updates and strengthens the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 to address the challenges facing the Tibetan people. But perhaps as importantly, it reaffirms America's commitment to the idea that human rights matter. That we care about those who are oppressed, and we stand with those who are struggling for freedom," Congressman McGovern said on the House floor. "It should be clear that we support a positive and productive US-China relationship, but it is essential that the human rights of all the people of China are respected by their government," he asserted. Last year, the US Congress passed the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, demanding that American journalists, diplomats and tourists be given the same freedom to travel to Tibet that Chinese officials have to travel freely in the US. "The Dalai Lama should be commended for his decision to devolve political authority to elected leaders. The Tibetan exile community is also to be commended for adopting a system of self-governance with democratic institutions to choose their own leaders, including holding multiple 'free and fair' elections to select its Parliament and chief executive," McGovern said. The bill also mandates the US State Department to begin collaborative and multinational efforts to protect the environment and water resources of the Tibetan Plateau. "We are protecting Tibet's environmental and cultural rights: working with international governments and the business community to ensure the self-sufficiency of the Tibetan people and protect the environment and water resources on the Tibetan Plateau. It is really important to sustainability of our planet," Pelosi, a longtime advocate for Tibet, said. SPRINGFIELD - One of 19 defendants charged in connection with a drug-trafficking ring that brought lethal batches of fentanyl-laced heroin to the region was sentenced to time served in U.S. District Court on Tuesday. Juan Perez, of Springfield, ran a heroin mill at 152 Lebanon St. in Springfield, according to federal agents -- a sparsely furnished, multifamily home that appeared vacant but for cots set out for employees of the drug ring tasked with milling and bagging the heroin for sale. The heroin at issue was marketed with Hollywood and Donald Trump labels and contributed to the overdose deaths of eight people across New England during a short period of time in late 2015 and early 2016, investigators have said. The drugs were laced with fentanyl, a powerful narcotic, which, coupled with heroin, has become an increasingly popular and deadly elixir for addicts. Perez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin in July. Although he has been out on bail, Perez spent 30 months in prison after his arrest in 2016. Judge Mark Mastroianni sentenced him to time served plus six months in a community corrections setting, ruling the recommended sentencing guidelines were bloated and his role in the conspiracy was overstated. The government was seeking a 6-year prison sentence, noting in a pre-sentencing memo that there have been nearly 18,000 opiate-related overdose deaths in the commonwealth, and Springfield had been particularly hard hit. Clearly, at the time the defendant was working to distribute massive amounts of heroin in Western Massachusetts, he was doing so despite his product having a catastrophic effect on the region and the city in which he lived, wrote Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Desroches. Yet, the defendant chose to profit from this destruction and advance his financial interests without a concern for the many lives lost and the countless more ruined. The case -- built on months of wiretaps, search warrants and other investigative tactics by the FBI and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration -- has brought a parade of defendants to court. Many of them hail from the Dominican Republic, the source of the drugs, according to court records. The lead defendant, Alberto Marte, is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 11. Perez, 32, was characterized by Desroches as Martes right hand, which defense attorney Vincent Bongiorni disputed, arguing he was roped in by Marte when the stash house on Lebanon Street began doing business in 2015. Agents recovered a large amount of heroin from that site, court records unsealed early in the case showed. Mastroianni hung his sentence largely on Perezs lack of prior criminal record and the years he already spent behind bars. Before he was brought into this organization by Mr. Marte, he was doing well for himself He was employed; he was maintaining a job; he was not a problem for law enforcement, the judge said, noting that Marte allegedly recruited several of his relatives as his support staff in the conspiracy. Mastroianni recently came under public fire by Holyoke Police Chief Manuel Febo after the judge on Nov. 15 sentenced Jean Carlos Rivera, 30, to 35 days of time served and three years of probation for selling crack cocaine. Rivera has since been charged with the Jan. 9 murder of 21-year-old Holyoke resident Jesus Otero-Marrero. Febo labeled Rivera a validated member of the La Familia street gang. Febo on Jan. 14 issued a statement, arguing Otero-Marreros death may have been prevented had Mastroianni sentenced Rivera to even the low end of federal sentencing guidelines. A spokesman for the police department said Rivera was well known to law enforcement despite not having a prior violent criminal record. He is very well known to the police Department and all of our law enforcement partners including the FBI and the state police, said Holyoke Police Lt. James Albert. We are very, very relieved he is in custody. Rivera pleaded not guilty to murder at his arraignment in Holyoke District Court. Judges are prohibited from discussing cases outside remarks made during public court proceedings. The Republican has requested transcripts from Riveras case. A drug dealer who admitted he's 'never worked a single day' but flaunted his lavish life on social media by kissing wads of cash has been jailed for five years for laundering 45,000. Dan-Gabriel Aiyegbusi dressed in expensive designer clothes and drove around in a flash white Mercedes while posting photos on social media showing off his millionaire lifestle The 23-year-old used a fake Facebook profile of 'Muyiwa Oluwafemi', to cover up his role as a middle-man in a series of scams. Aiyegbusi (pictured flaunting his lavish lifestyle on social media) has been jailed for five years after acting as a middle-man in the scams The scammer first came to the attention of police when officers found him with 49 rocks of cocaine and then saw him kissing cash in bizarre videos he'd shared online (pictured) He had been accused of rinsing 94,900 as part of 2,090,000 belonging to a Highland salmon farm on 19 July 2017. He was cleared last month of involvement in the phishing scam on Wester Ross Fisheries following a trial at Southwark Crown Court. But Aiyegbusi earlier admitted five separate counts of conspiracy to transfer criminal property, totalling 45,000. Aiyegbusi had admitted to never working a day in his life and admitted he was an international money launderer - but not on the scale the prosecution claimed. Denying involvement in the fisheries scam Aiyegbusi insisted: 'I wouldn't bite off more than I could chew.' 'I don't do jobs I can't handle,' he told the court. 'I don't like being a failure. I don't like stressing myself out. I don't like owing money, it's not something I enjoy - being a failure, being looked down on. 'I'm not gonna sit here and plead guilty and take the wrap for something I didn't do. I understand the totality of loss to Wester Ross Fisheries. I heard they lost something like 50 employees. 'Somebody needs to be punished for that but unfortunately I'm not the person for it and I have no relation to it.' Aiyegbusi (left, after his arrest, and, right, posing on social media) would try and attract people to his scam by presenting himself as affluent on Facebook, using a fake name in an attempt to throw police off despite making no effort to hide his face Aiyegbusi added: 'My grandfather is actually an elder at a church. I would never lie in the name of God, never.' Prior to his arrest by the Met's Cyber Crime Unit for money laundering offences, Aiyegbusi had been stopped by officers from Essex Police in Colchester and found to be in possession of 49 rocks of crack cocaine. His Facebook account was being used to advertise compromised online bank accounts, with the username and password often having been acquired through cyber-dependent crime such as 'phishing'. The profile also contained photos of compromised online bank accounts being emptied of funds, plus videos of cash, expensive watches and cars. Aiyegbusi used the posts to attract other individuals to provide use of their bank account to him, which he would use as 'mule' accounts to receive and cash-out the proceeds of his online fraud operation. He was arrested in Luton on 26 June last year after an undercover police officer known as Kath posed as a client and set up several meetings. In his police interview the launderer denied all criminal involvement involving Wester Ross Fisheries. 'He was told that Kath was in fact an undercover officer, and he expressed some surprise at that,' said Anthony Hucklesby, prosecuting. 'He accepted his interactions with Kath and observed that the police had more or less tracked his place in the food chain and not demur from their categorisation of him as a mule herder. 'He went on to explain how the money comes from frauds originating from call centres in India and referred to them as 'India jobs'. 'He offered some insight into the cash out process. He maintained, however, that he was not involved in transfers of anything like 95,000 from Wester Ross. 'The biggest job he'd ever cashed out was in relation to one of the cards provided to him by Kath. He accepted having been shopping in Selfridges with that card.' Aiyegbusi, of Leicester, denied and was cleared of three charges of conspiracy to transfer criminal property, including 94,900 to belonging Wester Ross Fisheries, 57,410 belonging to Hampshire roofing firm D Adams and Sons, and 10,000 belonging to a Valerie Stewart. But he admitted five separate counts of conspiracy to transfer criminal property, and possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and cannabis. Judge Christopher Hehir jailed him for a total of five years on Tuesday. Detective Inspector Philip McInerney, from the Met's Central Specialist Crime - Cyber Crime Unit, said: 'Aiyegbusi didn't have a care in the world as he stole people's hard-earned cash and then flaunted it all over social media to boost his ego and brag about it.' 'Aiyegbusi admitted in court that he had never worked a day in his life, instead acquiring huge sums of money from innocent members of the public, through large-scale cyber-enabled fraud committed across the UK banking sector. 'I would like to thank our partners in the banking sector and the Cyber Defence Alliance for their support and assistance during this investigation.' One of Aiygebusi's victims, who is 80, said: 'I was so pleased to hear the good news, as it has caused me and my husband a lot of stress and worry. 'I would receive numerous telephone calls from someone purporting to be from a telephone company saying there is a fault. I've been too scared to answer the phone in case the same thing happens again.' A Barclays spokesperson said: 'We continue to be committed to supporting law enforcement in its efforts to combat criminality and protect customers' funds. 'We worked with the Metropolitan Police Service during its investigation and welcome the outcome of the proceedings.' The Platinum Breakout & Bull Market of 2020 Platinum has setup into a longer-term FLAG formation and has recently broken the APEX of this FLAG. The long term potential for Platinum, in conjunction with the advance in Rhodium, Palladium, Gold, and Silver, is a new Bullish Price Trend. Our researchers believe Platinum must move above $1200 for this new Bullish trend to anchor a Breakout Base formation. The current investment environment suggests a new metals rally is setting up. Fear is starting to take hold of the markets and industrial and manufacturing demands are still driving prices and supply demands higher and higher. As investors pile into the metals as a form of safety, we expect Platinum to rally above $1200 within the next 4 to 6+ months and begin a much broader rally to levels above $1600 overtime. Demand for Platinum has increased because of two main reasons: 1) Rapid increase in consumption in SE Asia 2) Increase in acceptance of fuel cells. As we learn more about the industrial and manufacturing demands for Platinum. It becomes evident that a new upside bias in trend may just be getting started. Traders need to understand and consider the opportunities presented by this incredible longer-term setup in Platinum. Could platinum DOUBLE in price within 12 months? Could it TRIPLE? Follow our research to stay ahead of this incredible opportunity for skilled technical traders and learn how we can help you find great trades. 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. Grinkmeyer Leonard Financial, a financial advisory services firm in Birmingham, Alabama, today announces that its co-founder, Valerie R. Leonard, AIF, CPFA, has been named to Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list for 2020. The list was published on Forbes.com, and a condensed listing is available in the February issue of the magazine. With more than 15 years of experience, Valeries mission is to help people find better ways to manage their money and time. Her commitment as a leader in the financial industry and retirement community has earned her numerous recognitions throughout the United States. She specializes in 401(k) consulting for companies and in managing investment portfolios for and offering financial advice to high net worth individuals. Wayne Bloom, CEO of Commonwealth Financial Network, Grinkmeyer Leonard Financials Registered Investment Adviserbroker/dealer, said, Congratulations to Valerie on this well-deserved recognition by Forbes. Valerie is committed to providing expert guidance and essential support to her clients, and we are proud to provide Grinkmeyer Leonard Financial with the business solutions they need to power their practice. It is my sincerest delight to help Alabamians realize their financial dreams and manage their investments prudently, said Valerie. Im grateful to work with a caring team that undoubtedly plays an enormous part in serving our clients well. As we look toward the uncertain investment landscape in 2020 and beyond, we remain focused on empowering our clients to make wise choices about their money so they can be confident in their financial futures. The 2020 ranking of the Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors(1) list was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person and telephone due-diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively and on a ranking algorithm that includes client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations, and quantitative criteria (including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms). Overall, 32,000 advisors were considered, and 4,000 (12.5 percent of candidates) were recognized. The full methodology(2) that Forbes developed in partnership with SHOOK Research is available here. About Grinkmeyer Leonard Financial Grinkmeyer Leonard Financial has been providing individuals and organizations with financial guidance since 2007. Located at 2279 Valleydale Road, Suite 210, Birmingham, Alabama, 35244, the firm prides itself on offering clients independent, customized service solutions including full-service investment management, financial planning advice, and 401(k) services. For more information, please visit http://www.grinkmeyerleonard.com. (1) This recognition and the due-diligence process conducted are not indicative of the advisors future performance. Your experience may vary. Winners are organized and ranked by state. Some states may have more advisors than others. You are encouraged to conduct your own research to determine if the advisor is right for you. (2) Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. SHOOK does not receive a fee in exchange for rankings. # # # ST. PAUL A Marcell, Minn., logging company on Monday, Jan. 27, filed a civil suit against a suspect charged in a separate criminal case with the sabotage of more than $30,000 worth of heavy machinery. Scheff Logging and Trucking seeks more than $100,000 in damages from Shawn Ray Etsitty of Mentore, New Mexico. Etsitty currently faces criminal charges in St. Louis County for allegedly helping to disable equipment at a Scheff work site near Cloquet, Minn., last February. He is charged with aiding and abetting damage to property in the criminal proceeding. Attorneys from the Upper Midwest Law Center, which is representing Scheff in the civil case, said they filed the suit to deter future acts of what they said amounts to "eco-terrorism." "This can't continue," said Douglas P. Seaton, the group's founder and president. Speaking at a press conference held at the Minnesota State Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 28, Seaton compared the actions of the vandals to those of protesters who sought to disrupt oil pipeline developments in the Dakotas, Washington and Pennsylvania. The law firm, which describes itself as "pro-freedom" and "center-right," said the vandals believed the work site was affiliated with the Line 3 oil pipeline replacement project although that is not the case. ADVERTISEMENT Canadian energy company Enbridge is seeking to build the new $2.9 billion Line 3 oil pipeline to carry more than 30 million gallons of oil a day from Alberta, Canada, to a terminal in Superior, Wis. An attorney listed in criminal court documents for Etsitty, who remains free on bail, could not be reached Tuesday. In August, Etsitty and another man pleaded guilty to vandalizing an Enbridge work site in Carlton County. He was given probation and fined. The Upper Midwest Law Center said the vandals did damage at the Scheff site to four machines by tearing wiring, stealing keys and disabling hydraulic lines. Revenue lost because of the damage and wages spent to address it factor into the damage figure sought in the civil suit. The firm also alleges that the vandals were trained by environmentalist groups active in Minnesota. Seaton said additional individuals and groups may be charged in the suit as new information comes to light. Seaton said that Scheff is a family owned company with approximately 25 employees. The company is joined in the civil suit by the Associated Contract Loggers and Truckers of Minnesota, a trade group. As of Tuesday morning, Etsitty had not responded to the suit. QUEBEC - A Muslim Quebecois rapper addressed the solemn crowd gathered Wednesday night to commemorate the third anniversary of the Quebec City mosque attack, and his words reflected the inherent politics of the tragedy and its aftermath. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A Quebec flag with the word "Open" written on it is shown in remembrance of six victims of a shooting at mosque during a vigil in Quebec City on January 30, 2017. Events are being held Wednesday in Quebec City to mark the third anniversary of the deadly mosque shooting that claimed six lives. Organizers from the citizens group "We remember January 29" said the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre where the killings occurred will open its doors to the community this afternoon, with a dinner and speeches later at an area church. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson QUEBEC - A Muslim Quebecois rapper addressed the solemn crowd gathered Wednesday night to commemorate the third anniversary of the Quebec City mosque attack, and his words reflected the inherent politics of the tragedy and its aftermath. In front of survivors, politicians, gun control activists and city residents, the artist and historian who goes by the name Webster said Quebec society is still afraid to face its Islamophobia three years after a gunman shot dead six men in a mosque on Jan. 29, 2017. "Don't tell me that this commemoration tonight isn't political because it is, especially now," he told the crowd gathered at St-Mathieu Church. Earlier, the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre where the killings occurred opened its doors to the community. Hours later, at the church a few blocks away, Premier Francois Legault and other politicians spoke about the need for all Quebecers to come together against hatred. The event's organizers said 300 free tickets for the event had been reserved in just over 24 hours. But despite the warm words and the sense of unity, the provincial government's Bill 21 passed in the legislature last June still cast a cloud over the gathering. And Webster wasn't prepared to let the issue go. "Are we going to let the government decide what women can wear and when they can wear it?" he asked rhetorically, to extended applause and chants of "Bravo!" from those in the church. Bill 21 bans some civil servants from wearing religious symbols at work something civil rights groups and many in the Muslim community say directly targets Muslim women. The men who died included: Mamadou Tanou Barry, 42, Abdelkrim Hassane, 41, Khaled Belkacemi, 60, Aboubaker Thabti, 44, Azzeddine Soufiane, 57, and Ibrahima Barry, 39. They left behind their wives and 17 children between them. Several other worshippers were injured when a gunman opened fire as evening prayers drew to a close. Legault didn't hear Webster's words, because he left the ceremony before the rapper took the mic. Earlier, the premier told the gathering that the shooting is a giant scar on all of the province. "I wanted to come here to send you a message in the name of all the Quebecois people," Legault said. "To tell you, the families and people close to the victims: 'we are by your side.' " Quebec City Mayor Regis Labeaume said the shooting was a disaster for the city. He told the crowd that love was not out of fashion, and that the community needed to evolve together. Earlier in the day, one of the survivors, Ahmed Cheddadi, said the mosque attack was a horrifying event that shocked Quebec society and should spur a move to eliminate discrimination. "We are here to denounce this act, barbaric and inhuman, that took place in our democratic, secular country, where the rights of people and liberty of religion are guaranteed by the Constitution," Cheddadi said at a news conference, calling for an inclusive Quebec where love triumphs over hate and racism is defeated. Choking back tears, Cheddadi said everyone has a moral responsibility to come together. "We will never accept that days like Jan. 29, 2017, ever happen again, in a mosque, in a church or in a synagogue." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau acknowledged the anniversary by calling on Canadians to honour the memory of the victims. "Today, we mourn those who were senselessly killed, and suffered at the hands of ignorance, Islamophobia, and racism," Trudeau said in a statement. Boufeldja Benabdallah, president of the mosque, said the provincial government hasn't done enough to help restore bridges with the Muslim community, speaking of a fractured Quebec society where minorities do not feel protected. He said it is the responsibility of legislators to adopt laws to protect citizens, whatever their origins or their beliefs, adding that the goal should be laws and programs "designed by the government to ensure society is balanced and not unbalanced as it is today." In a recent interview, Benabdallah said that despite some recent progress, including the creation of the region's first Islamic cemetery and a million-dollar project to enlarge and secure the mosque, the province's controversial Bill 21 continued to be a source of frustration. "Once again, we feel in the minority and targeted, especially the Muslim woman who finds herself penalized," Benabdallah said, calling the legislation a significant setback. Legault told reporters before the ceremony that he disagrees that Bill 21 targets the Muslim community. "Bill 21 is putting a framework to make sure we don't have extremes in Quebec, including racism," said Legault. He said the law aimed at public servants accounts for just one per cent of jobs. "I think that it's a fair deal, a good compromise, a moderate law, it's less than what we have in many European countries," the premier added. Alexandre Bissonnette pleaded guilty to the killings and last year was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole for 40 years a sentence that was the subject of appeals by both the Crown and defence during a hearing at the Quebec Court of Appeal Monday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2020. Photo: The Canadian Press Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne looks on as Minister of Health Patty Hajdu responds questions in Ottawa. Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Tuesday Ottawa is "looking at all options" to help Canadians quarantined in China during the outbreak of a new coronavirus. China began drastic containment efforts to limit the spread of the virus last week, cutting plane, train and bus links to Wuhan, a city of more than 11 million people. Several other nearby cities have been quarantined since, cutting off an estimated 19 million people. Champagne said 250 Canadians have registered with Global Affairs Canada to say they are in Wuhan and 126 of them have asked for help to get home. He said his officials are trying to contact each one of them to assess their needs. "Every Canadian that has reached out to us for consular assistance will receive it," he said. He said Canada will tailor its response based on what it finds after all the Canadians asking for help have been contacted. He noted the number of Canadians seeking help keeps changing as more and more people register via the Global Affairs Canada website the previous day, the number of Canadians registered in the region was 167. Champagne said help could include sending a plane to fly them home, but that Canada is also working with other countries in similar situations. Canada doesn't have a diplomatic office in Wuhan but other countries do and are evacuating their workers. In some cases, others of their citizens are leaving alongside the diplomats. Champagne said Canada is in contact with the Chinese government about making sure Canada can help its citizens. Health Minister Patty Hajdu says she doesn't yet know whether any of the Canadians in quarantine in China are sick or would be quarantined in Canada if they do come home. William Green Photo provided by the office of Attorney William H. "Billy" Murphy, Jr. Prince George County Police have charged one of its officers with murder. Cpl. Michael Owen Jr. allegedly shot William Green seven times while Green was handcuffed in his police cruiser. Police could not find evidence that a struggle preceded the shooting. Chief Hank Stawinski said that he was unable to provide a "reasonable explanation" for what happened. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. A Maryland police officer accused of firing seven shots at a handcuffed man sitting in a cruiser was charged with murder Tuesday. Cpl. Michael Owen Jr., a 10-year veteran of the Prince George's County Police Department was charged with the second-degree murder of William Howard Green of Washington DC. "This is the most difficult moment of my tenure as your chief of police," Police Chief Hank Stawinski said in a live-streamed press conference on Tuesday. "I am unable to come to our community this evening and provide you a reasonable explanation for the events that occurred last night." A preliminary investigation showed that Owen was one of several officers who responded to a traffic incident involving Green at 7:20 p.m. on Monday. The officers, who believed Green was under the influence, removed him from his car, handcuffed him, and placed him in the front seat of Owen's cruiser, according to police While they were waiting for a drug recognition expert to arrive, Owen got into the front seat of his cruiser next to Green and shot him seven times with his service gun, according to police. Stawinski said that the events leading up the shooting remain under investigation, but that unlike initial reports there was no evidence thus far to confirm that there was a struggle in the cruiser before the shooting. Owen was not wearing a body camera during the shooting. The American Civil Liberties Union released a statement condemning the department for not outfitting every officer with cameras, citing two recent instances where Prince George County officers were allegedly involved in the shooting or beating of black men. Story continues Cpl. Michael Owen Price George's County Police Department "It is completely unacceptable for a police department that is currently under investigation by the Department of Justice and being sued by its own Black and Latinx police officers for fostering a culture of racism to still not have body-worn cameras equipped on all of their officers, especially given that PGPD's BWC program was rolled out in 2017," Deborah Jeon, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland, wrote in her statement. "It is absolutely senseless for full transparency to not be a number one priority for this department. It should have been a top priority years ago, but these recent tragic events only make this need more urgent." In the press conference, both Stawinski and Prince George's County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks said they supported the use of body cameras. At this time, only a portion of the department has them, but the total rollout will be funded in the upcoming budget, she said. Owen, who has been charged with second-degree murder, voluntary and involuntary manslaughter, first-degree assault and use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence, was taken into custody Tuesday. He will be in court over the next few days, State's Attorney Aisha N. Braveboy said. A grand jury will be convened. "Even after today's announcement of the charges, I have ordered an independent review of our department's training practices and methods to ensure that an incident like this never ever has the opportunity to occur again," Alsobrooks said. A representative from the office of Attorney William "Billy" Murphy, who is represting Green's family, said that the office and relatives are not giving interviews on Wednesday. A press conference including the attorney will likely be held on Thursday. Read the original article on Insider The UK has rebuffed US attempts to have Huawei banned from British 5G mobile network rollouts, deciding instead to allow "high risk" telecoms equipment vendors such as Huawei to take up to 35pc of network configurations. The move will be seen as a major blow to US president Donald Trump's broader attempts to put further pressure on China in the ongoing trade war between the two superpowers. In a controversial decision on the eve of Brexit, Johnson ruled that while "high-risk vendors" would be allowed into the non-sensitive parts of the 5G network, they will be excluded from the sensitive core, where data is processed, and they will be banned from all critical networks and locations such as nuclear sites and military bases. The United States had repeatedly warned London against allowing Huawei into 5G, arguing that the distinction between "edge" and "core" will blur as data is processed throughout 5G networks, making it difficult to contain any security risks. But Huawei, which employs 300 people in Ireland and is used in of Eir's 5G network here, welcomed the move. "This evidence-based decision will result in a more advanced, more secure and more cost-effective telecoms infrastructure that's fit for the future," Huawei's vice president Victor Zhang told reporters. Huawei, the world's biggest producer of telecoms equipment, has said the United States wants to frustrate its growth because no US company could offer the same range of technology at a competitive price. 5G, which will offer much faster data speeds and become the foundation stone of many industries and networks, is seen as one of the biggest innovations since the birth of the internet itself a generation ago. In what some have compared to the Cold War antagonism with the Soviet Union, the United States is worried that 5G dominance is a milestone towards Chinese technological supremacy that could define the geopolitics of the 21st century. But as one of the biggest centres for Chinese investment, trading and banking in Europe, Britain sided with Beijing - one of the biggest public breaks with Washington in decades. "There is no safe option for untrusted vendors to control any part of a 5G network," a Trump administration official said. "We look forward to working with the UK on a way forward that results in the exclusion of untrusted vendor components from 5G networks." Eir CEO Carolan Lennon yesterday backed Huawei as an equipment supplier to its 5G mobile network, the biggest in the country. "I find that hard to accept that it's not to do with the China-US trade issue," she said. "We're not concerned, we're very happy with them. Most of the telcos in Europe are using them." The recent killing of a 24-year-old Dalit man in Madhya Pradesh has triggered a war of words between the Opposition BJP and the ruling Congress, with the latter on Wednesday accusing the saffron party of disturbing the communal harmony for its vested interests. Bhopal: The recent killing of a 24-year-old Dalit man in Madhya Pradesh has triggered a war of words between the Opposition BJP and the ruling Congress, with the latter on Wednesday accusing the saffron party of disturbing the communal harmony for its vested interests. The Congress's allegation comes a day after the BJP held a protest over the man's killing in the Sagar city in the state, where it had criticised the Kamal Nath government for adopting the policy of "minority appeasement". The Congress also accused two BJP MLAs of disrespecting the man's corpse during the cremation. The victim, Dhanprasad Ahirwar (24), was allegedly set on fire by four people in Dharmshri Colony in Sagar, around 170 kilometres from Bhopal, on 14 January. He suffered 70 percent burns and succumbed to his injuries in a New Delhi hospital on 23 January. According to police, the four accused Chhuttu, Ajju Pathan, Kallu and Irfan who were arrested after the incident, wanted Ahirwar to withdraw a police complaint he had lodged. Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, MP Congress working president Surendra Chaudhary said, "This saddening incident was a result of the enmity between two families. The aggrieved family does not want any political intervention, but the BJP leaders are out to disturb the communal harmony for their vested interests." "The BJP leaders even forced the wife of the deceased to share the stage with them during their protest even before the family's 13-day mourning period ended. This is shameful," he said. State Congress media cell chairperson Shobha Oza also alleged that BJP MLAs Shailendra Jain (Sagar) and Pradeep Laria (Naryaoli) tried to snatch the corpse from the family members and raised slogans during the last rites of the deceased. Congress leaders claimed that the government has cleared a proposal about providing a job to a family member of the deceased. Financial help of Rs 4.12 lakh has been given to the deceased's family and more assistance is being provided, they said. BJP MLA Jain denied the charges against him saying, "Instead of extending help to the wife of the deceased, the Congress government is playing politics on the issue. We attended the cremation and did not raise any slogans. But Congress woke up only after BJP's protest." During their protest in Sagar on Tuesday, the BJP leaders had accused the Congress government in the state of adopting a policy of minority appeasement. Former state chief minister and BJP national vice president Shivraj Singh Chouhan had alleged that the accused in the case wanted to kill Ahirwar in 2019 as well, but police did not take action. "It was the government's duty to arrest the accused, but it did not do so as they belonged to a minority community," he had said. The BJP leaders also alleged that the crimes against Dalits were rising in the state under the Kamal Nath dispensation and the party's high command will have to answer. Pennsylvania State Police took a man into custody for allegedly stabbing someone after intervening in a dispute the victim was having with a woman, according to a news release. The incident unfolded Tuesday morning at the Gateway Motel in Ross Township, Monroe County, just outside Wind Gap. Suspect Constantine Galicas was taken into custody at the scene and will face charges, state police said in the release Wednesday. Galicas went to the motel to help Alyson Tolino after she told him about an argument she'd had Monday night with Thad Starner, according to the release. When Starner returned to the motel Tuesday morning, Galicas began recording video on his phone of Starner and telling Starner to leave, police said. "Starner threw several firewood logs at Galicas," police wrote in the release. "They both engaged in verbal bantering and eventually this resulted in a physical confrontation and Galicas stabbed him in the arm with a knife." Police said they viewed video of continued "verbal bantering between Galicas and Starner" following the stabbing. Police did not immediately comment on Starner's condition. A police spokesman said he could not comment on the relationships between the people involved, or between the people and the motel. A woman who answered the phone at the motel Wednesday morning declined to comment other than to say everyone involved was cooperating in the investigation. Galicas, Starner and Tolino could not be reached immediately for comment. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Rome prepares to show La Fornarina in blockbuster show. Rome art conservation experts are conducting three days of in-depth studies on La Fornarina, Raphael's celebrated portrait of his lover and muse, before the masterpiece leaves Palazzo Barberini for the upcoming blockbuster exhibition at the Scuderie del Quirinale. The research into the masterpiece, which was completed between 1518 and 1519 - a year before the artist's death aged 37 - is described as a unique opportunity to unlock the secrets of one of the most iconic pieces of Western art. For the duration of the studies, from 28-30 January, experts at Rome's National Gallery of Ancient Art will use the latest technology to conduct scans and detailed photographs of the painting. Experts study La Fornarina in Rome. Photo La Repubblica. These ultra high-definition images offer far greater magnifications than the human eye can perceive, capturing colours, pigments, details, sharpness and lighting not otherwise achievable. To allow for the up-close studies, experts removed the frame from Raphael's painting, conserving the canvas in a climabox, a protective glass case with a climate-controlled environment. "In the first draft there was a landscape in the background which Raphael then decided to replace with a myrtle bush and a branch of quinces, a symbol of fertility", Chiara Merucci, head conservationist at Palazzo Barberini, told Italian newspaper La Repubblica. Detail of La Fornarina by Raphael One of the gallery's most popular works, Raphael's portrait was considered provocative at the time, as a bracelet worn by the bare-breasted woman featured the artist's signature: Raphael Urbinas. Who was La Fornarina? The woman traditionally identified as La Fornarina was Margherita Luti, the daughter of a baker in Trastevere, hence the portrait's name. When x-ray analysis was carried out on the painting in 2001, experts were amazed to discover a ruby ring on the third finger of La Fornarina's hand, hidden for almost five centuries. The painted-over ring has led to speculation of a secret engagement between Raphael and his adored model. Their secret love affair had to be hidden, as Raphael was already engaged to be married to Maria Bibbiena, the niece of his rich and powerful patron, a Roman cardinal. However the artist postponed the wedding date continuously for six years, immortalising his true love in his paintings. Raphael 500 in Rome Rome will play a central role in the world's celebration of the 500th anniversary of the death of Raphael. In addition to the major exhibition at the Scuderie del Quirinale, the Vatican will display Raphael's great tapestries in the Sistine Chapel, for one week only, from 17-23 February, under Michelangelo's ceiling. Italy is honouring Raphael, who was born in the city of Urbino but spent the last decade of his life in Rome, by placing a red rose on the artist's tomb in the Pantheon on each day of 2020. For details of where to find Raphael's art in the Eternal City, see our guide. MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Berger Montague, working together with Dave Maxfield and Stone Law Firm, LLC, has filed a class action lawsuit against South Carolina's Lexington Medical Center ("LMC") on behalf of anyone from whom LMC has unlawfully collected debt. The case is Jones, et al. v. Lexington Health Services District, Inc. d/b/a Lexington Medical Center. Lexington Medical Center uses South Carolina's Setoff Debt Collection Program ("SDCP") to intercept patients' state tax refunds. LMC then uses the money to pay patients' medical debts. In 2017 alone, LMC intercepted $19.2 million in consumer tax refunds using the SDCP program. Plaintiffs allege that LMC engaged in these collection efforts despite receiving bankruptcy discharge and/or stay notices, meaning LMC knew that the debt it was collecting was uncollectable or void but seized Plaintiffs' tax refunds regardless. Berger Montague Attorney Joe Hashmall, who is working on the case, stated: "It is very important that individuals who go through the bankruptcy process get the fresh start that they are entitled to. These tax return seizes deprive people of this important opportunity." Berger Montague is a national class action and complex litigation law firm headquartered in Philadelphia with offices in Minneapolis, San Diego, and Washington, DC. The Firm litigates complex civil cases and class actions in federal and state courts throughout the United States. Berger Montague serves both public and private sector clients within the antitrust, securities, consumer, employment, environmental, civil and human rights, whistleblower, and insurance domains. In over 50 years of operation, the Firm has pioneered the use of class actions in America and recovered well over $35 billion for its clients and the class members it has represented. Please Contact: Joe Hashmall Berger Montague Associate 612.594.5996 [email protected] SOURCE Berger Montague Related Links https://bergermontague.com by Karlene Lukovitz @KLmarketdaily, January 29, 2020 Disney+ is on the verge of signing a multi-year integration deal with European pay-TV provider Sky, reports the Telegraph. The deal may reportedly be similar to one that Sky signed just a week ago as part of a renewal with Netflix. The terms would let Sky fully integrate Disney+ with other programming, whereas Sky competitors such as Virgin Media and BT could only carry the Disney+ app, according to the report. Disney+ would launch on Sky as part of its launch in the U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria and Switzerland on March 24. Under Sky U.K.s Netflix integration deal, Sky pay-TV subscribers will continue to have access to some Netflix content via the Netflix app. In addition, subscribers to the premium Sky Q TV box will have the option of paying 5.99 per month, as an item on their Sky bill, for Netflixs basic plan. Djibouti and Somaliland are at loggerheads over the installation and proposed route of the DARE1 (Djibouti Africa Regional Express 1) submarine cable. The cable is set to connect Djibouti City, Somalias capital of Mogadishu, and the Kenyan city of Mombasa. However, installation has been halted after Somaliland coast guards ousted a Djiboutian ship which was laying cable within Somaliland territorial waters. Somalilands objection is essentially due to its exclusion from the project. Somalia-headquartered Somtel is a major shareholder in DARE1 (together with Djibouti Telcom and Telkom Kenya); at the projects launch, Djiboutian authorities indicated that Somaliland would benefit from the 30Tbps capacity delivered by the cable. However, the route planned by TE SubCom does not connect the cable to Somaliland nor track a course through the regions territorial waters, and Somaliland authorities have stated that they were not consulted over the matter. The regions communications minister Dr Abdiwali Sheikh Abdillahi Suufi said: We are not aware of the said installation of the submarine cables for the DARE1 system While access to the DARE1 system that delivers up to 30 Tbps of capacity would have been very welcome to our country we have policies in place that dictate on process of availability. Djiboutis communications minister Ridhwaan Abdillahi Bahdoon stated to the BBC that the cable would pass through the regions major port city Berbera, describing it as a misconception [that] Somaliland waters have been infringed upon. The dispute is significant as Djibouti and Somaliland have thus far been close allies with a stable socioeconomic relationship. LONDON, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As detailed in ARCM's press release on 24 January 2020 (available here), and further to its statement on 27 January (available here), ARCM continues to pose questions to the Company relating to the proposed acquisitions, which ARCM believes will expose the Company and its business to significant incremental risks. For the benefit of all stakeholders, we call upon the Company to provide full and transparent responses to these questions. In response to enquiries received from stakeholders, ARCM has also updated the FAQ section (available here) of the website in an effort to answer all of the questions received to date. In Question List #2 published on 27 January (available here), ARCM questioned whether the NAVs presented by the Company for the Shearwater and Tolmount gas fields were based on realistic assumptions and what these NAVs would be at the current forward prices, which are 20-50% lower than the assumptions used by the CPRs. In this third series of questions, ARCM's focus is on (i) the fact that these acquisitions will significantly increase the Company's exposure to the UK gas market, where the forward market is pricing in worsening supply/demand conditions; and (ii) the risk of negative economic returns on the Shearwater acquisition based on the forward curve. Pro Forma Exposure to the UK Gas Market As indicated by the forward curves shown below, the UK gas market is faced with difficult supply/demand fundamentals. This dynamic is primarily driven by (1) the rapid growth in global LNG export capacity resulting in LNG oversupply and (2) Russian gas suppliers defending market share against LNG supply into Europe . Source: Bloomberg on 24 January 2020. In order for stakeholders to be able to understand the incremental risks associated with the proposed acquisitions which significantly increase the Company's exposure to UK gas, we call on the Company's management to provide answers to the following questions: What percentage of its total production is expected to be gas in 2021-23 after these potential acquisitions and the full ramp up of Tolmount and Andrew LC? Specifically, what percentage of its total production will be UK gas in 2021-23? What are the Company's UK gas price assumptions used for planning and budgeting relative to the forward curve? Risk of Negative Economic Returns on the Shearwater Acquisition The Company's creditors are being asked to extend maturities by 2.5 years in order for the Company to pursue these high-risk acquisitions. It is important for the creditors to evaluate the risks associated with each of these assets based on the forward UK gas curve. As the first example, ARCM makes the following observations on the Shearwater acquisition based on the Company's 7 January presentation and RNS. As shown in the table on Page 12 of the Company's presentation on 7 January (available here), based on the $175 million bid price and 15 mmboe of 2P reserves, the Company is paying $11.7 /boe for 2P UK gas and gas condensate reserves, before considering any decommissioning related liabilities. The Company, in its 7 January presentation and RNS, did not disclose the decommissioning liabilities associated with Shearwater. However, the total disclosed pre-tax amount for the proposed acquisitions is $600 million . Shearwater accounts for 26% of total 2P reserves of the proposed acquisitions. Without having any incremental data points, if Shearwater, say, accounts for 20-25% of the decommissioning liabilities, that would be $120 - $150 million , or $8 -10/boe based on 15 mmboe of 2P reserves. Although the Company did not disclose the operating cost estimate for Shearwater in its presentation, it disclosed that the "Andrew operating costs were $17 /boe in 2019" and that "the combined opex of Andrew, Shearwater and Tolmount is expected to be less than US$20 /boe for the period between 2019 and 2024". Even if one adopts a lower opex for Shearwater, say $15 /boe, the annual spend should be higher once maintenance capex and overhead allocation are accounted for. Overall, based on the above, we are looking at an asset that is acquired for $11.7 /boe (15.4p/therm) (based on 2P reserves), has annual run-rate costs in the $15 -20/boe (19.8-26.4p/therm) range in addition to potentially $8 -10/boe (10.6-13.2p/therm) of decommissioning liabilities. These figures have to be considered in the context of UK gas prices. Currently, the Calendar 2020 UK gas forward price is 28p/therm, the equivalent of $21 /boe. Calendar 2021 UK gas forward price is 37p/therm, the equivalent of $28/boe and Calendar 2022 UK gas forward price is 41p/therm, the equivalent of $31 /boe. Gas condensate would receive a premium to these prices. Based on these figures and the forward curve it is very difficult to see how the Shearwater acquisition is in the best interest of creditors who are being asked to once again extend maturities. We, therefore, call on the Company to answer the following questions: Considering the significant acquisition cost and decommissioning liabilities, what is the Company's expected return on the Shearwater investment based on the current forward curve? What is the projected decommissioning expense associated with Shearwater? Would the current forward curve, which is much lower than the CPR estimates, impact the timing of the projected decommissioning? Note: The price/boe to p/therm conversions above is based on GBP:USD exchange rate of 1:1.305765 as of 27thJanuary 2019 and boe to therm conversion factor of 1:58 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1083376/UK_Gas_Forward_Price_Infographic.jpg Greenbrook Communications arcm@greenbrookpr.com +44(0)207-952-2000 The doctoral thesis of former Katy ISD Superintendent Lance Hindt has apparently been removed from the University of Houstons archival website following a review of alleged plagiarism, renewing questions about a $750,000 payout by the suburban district to its former head. UH announced in October 2018 that it was reviewing questions about the dissertation of Hindt, who had resigned five months earlier amid an uproar over decades-old bullying allegations against him. The university said at the time that it takes any charge of academic or research misconduct seriously and thoroughly investigates any such charge, including the allegations against Dr. Hindt. Sean Dolan, a Katy ISD parent who brought the complaint, said he received a letter from the university on Jan. 13 telling him that his allegations into research misconduct had concluded and that a final institutional decision was reached. As of December, he said, the dissertation could no longer be found on UHs archival website. A URL that used to link to Hindts dissertation on the universitys website now shows a message that says, Resource not found. UH would neither confirm nor deny whether the dissertation had been taken down, citing federal privacy laws and university policy. A university spokesperson, however, directed a Houston Chronicle reporter to its online Take Down Policy, which says a thesis or dissertation will only be removed under special circumstances, including copyright violations, plagiarism, or falsification of data. The university is prohibited from confirming the status or completion of disciplinary proceedings or providing information about any disciplinary proceedings involving students or former students, with the exception of other individuals authorized under state and federal law and university policies to receive the information, the university said in a statement. Critics say the revelations are troubling, as was the Katy ISD boards decision to pay Hindt $750,000, the equivalent of two years of his base pay, when he abruptly announced in May 2018 that he planned to resign at the end of the year. His announcement came shortly after news reports about the plagiarism allegations. UH has said a finding of academic misconduct could result in degree revocation. The message it sends to the students and the community, that you can cheat at the highest level in education and be rewarded with almost a million dollars, plus an insane pension thats not the message we need to send to people, Dolan said. Efforts to reach Hindt were unsuccessful, and his attorney did not respond to requests for comment. The school district had defended the superintendent when the allegations surfaced, with a spokeswoman saying there was zero truth to the claims of academic misconduct. The board even voted during a May 2018 board meeting to hire the law firm of Feldman & Feldman to pursue a defamation case on Hindts behalf. Board members did not respond to requests for comment, and the school district would not comment on the status of the dissertation or any litigation. Katy ISD has not been contacted by the University of Houston concerning the matter, the district said in a statement. Hindt, a graduate of Katy ISD schools who returned in 2016 to lead the 80,000-student district, drew praise during his first two years for backing teacher pay raises, developing a $609 million bond package that voters approved and establishing a five-year plan for the district. He previously led Allen ISD. But his fortunes took a turn on March 19, 2018, when Greg Gay, a former middle-school classmate of Hindts, stepped up to the lectern at a Katy ISD board meeting and alleged that he had bullied him in middle school. Hindt appeared to laugh at the accusation during the video clip but later denied the claim. Another former student came forward and backed Gays claim, while a judge in Alabama whod attended Taylor High School with Hindt spoke out, describing the former football player as a vicious bully. The clip of the board meeting confrontation soon went viral, with some parents calling for the superintendent to resign, while many others added their names to a petition supporting him. As the bullying accusations drew national attention, Dolan began looking into Hindts academic record. In April 2018, Dolan says, he ran the dissertation through a plagiarism checker, Copyleaks, and discovered the similarities. The next month, he brought the matter to UH. The superintendent resigned that same month, decrying what he called a smear campaign but walking away with the $750,000 payout, as well as the districts promise to pay for a potential defamation suit against his accusers. Hindts doctoral thesis, The Effects of Principal Leadership on Teacher Morale and Student Achievement, was considered similar to Georgia educator Keith Rowlands own dissertation, The Relationship of Principal Leadership and Teacher Morale, published four years earlier. Rowland, a school principal in suburban Atlanta, previously told the Houston Chronicle it was clear Hindt had lifted portions of his own dissertation without attribution. There were a lot of similarities, he said. A lot of the sections were just flipped and copied. Dolans website highlights entire sections of Hindts dissertation that make the same points, often using similar language, and provides 20 examples of similarly or identically written sentences. In one example, Rowland writes, The surveys were placed in the teachers boxes in each schools mailroom. Hindt writes, The surveys were then placed in the teachers boxes in each schools mailroom. In another, Rowland writes, Teachers received an email from the researcher describing the purpose of the research prior to receiving the surveys. Hindt: Teachers received an email from the principal describing the purpose of the research prior to receiving the surveys. Peter Wood, the president of the New York-based National Association of Scholars, has called on Katy ISD to rescind the payout given to Hindt in light of the dissertation being take down. He also urged UH to be transparent about whether Hindts doctorate has been revoked. Wood wrote a letter to UH President Renu Khator in July 2018 that raised concerns about Hindts dissertation. It appears that there was a degree of excessive confidence by the board in Mr. Hindts integrity, Wood said of the Katy ISD school board. That confidence went so far as to overlook real, present evidence of misconduct on his part. Dolan agreed the university should say publicly whether the dissertation has been removed, noting how five other dissertations have cited Hindts dissertation since 2012. I feel like theres a responsibility because this dissertation exists out there and it looks legitimate, Dolan said. Theres a duty, theres an ethical duty, to let others know not to cite this. Wood also wondered why it took the university more than a year to investigate the plagiarism claims. He said he was alarmed that Hindt was originally able to get away with presenting a dissertation that was plagiarized and wonders if there are other dissertations like Hindts within the university. Asked Wood, How many other dissertations were similarly treated as proper evidence of earning a doctoral degree without being properly supervised or scrutinized? . Mike Glenn contributed to this report. brooke.lewis@chron.com Atalaya Mining Plc. ("Atalaya" or "the Company") Update on Proyecto Touro Permitting NICOSIA, CYPRUS / ACCESSWIRE / January 29, 2020 / Atalaya Mining Plc. (AIM:ATYM)(TSX:AYM) notes the recent press release issued by the regional government of Galicia ("Xunta de Galicia") relating to Proyecto Touro (the "Project"). The "Direccion Xeral de Calidade Ambiental e Cambio Climatico", (the General Directorate for the Environment and Climate Change of Galicia), announced yesterday that a negative Environmental Impact Statement for Proyecto Touro (Declaracion de Impacto Ambiental) had been signed and will be formally communicated to the Mines, Energy and Industry Department of the Xunta de Galicia. The short release stated that the decision is based on two reports which form part of a wider evaluation consisting of fifteen reports produced by different departments of the Xunta de Galicia. These two reports challenge the ability of the Company to guarantee that there will be no environmental impact of the Project on the Ulla River and related protected ecosystems which are located downstream. The Company is currently awaiting the formal communication from the Xunta de Galicia. In the meantime the Company, along with its advisers, will evaluate potential next steps for the Project, which could include an appeal of the decision made by the Xunta de Galicia, and/or the clarification of the questions raised by the reports. The Company will update the market on any development in due course. Alberto Lavandeira, CEO, commented: "Proyecto Touro has been designed with a fully lined tailings storage facility, constructed downstream using compacted rocks and with a guaranteed zero discharge policy following international standards and best practice. "We are very surprised by the public statements made by the representative of the Environmental Department of the Xunta de Galicia. "We will continue to explore all possible avenues to develop the Proyecto Touro and shall build on the excellent work performed by a very large team of world class specialists, including all the Universities of Galicia, for over 2 years and containing over 15,000 pages of reports, all of which have been questioned without the Company being further consulted." This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) no 596/2014. Contacts: Newgate Communications Elisabeth Cowell / Adam Lloyd / Tom Carnegie + 44 20 3757 6880 4C Communications Carina Corbett +44 20 3170 7973 Canaccord Genuity (NOMAD and Joint Broker) Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor / James Asensio +44 20 7523 8000 BMO Capital Markets (Joint Broker) Tom Rider / Michael Rechsteiner / Neil Elliot +44 20 7236 1010 Peel Hunt LLP (Joint Broker) Ross Allister / David McKeown +44 20 7418 8900 About Atalaya Mining Plc Atalaya is an AIM and TSX-listed mining and development group which produces copper concentrates and silver by-product at its wholly owned Proyecto Riotinto site in southwest Spain. In addition, the Group has a phased, earn-in agreement for up to 80% ownership of Proyecto Touro, a brownfield copper project in the northwest of Spain which is currently in the permitting stage. For further information, visit www.atalayamining.com This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Atalaya Mining Plc View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/574457/Atalaya-Mining-PLC-Announces-Update-on-Proyecto-Touro-Permitting Australian Federal Police accessed the private telecommunication data of six journalists in just one year in an attempt to discover their sources. The probes, detailed in the latest annual report into federal telecommunications access laws, will add further fuel to the debate over balancing national security and press freedom laws. AFP officers are able to access both an individual reporter's and their employer's data if a journalist information warrant has been granted. The federal police was granted six of these warrants between 2018 to 2019, up from two in the year before. On 20 out of 58 occasions the AFP was authorised to access information or documents. Australian Federal Police officers searched the home, computer and mobile phone of Canberra-based News Corp Australia journalist Annika Smethurst (pictured) last year Australia's press freedom has been under intense security after the AFP raided two media outlets last year. Officers raided the Sydney headquarters of the ABC, and the Canberra home of a News Corp journalist, over separate stories based on leaked government information. The ABC was raided last year over stories published in 2017 containing allegations Australian soldiers may have carried out unlawful killings in Afghanistan, based on leaked Defence papers. News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst's home was raided over the 2018 publication of a leaked plan to allow the ASD to spy on Australians. The journalists involved could still face charges. Australian Federal Police investigators leave the main entrance to the ABC building located at Ultimo in Sydney on June 5 2019 Under the nation's tightening national security laws it's illegal for Commonwealth Government officers to leak documents or publish the information. The raids prompted the 'Australia's Right To Know' campaign late last year, which called for freedom of information reform, whistleblower protections and public interest exemptions from national security laws. Attorney-General Christian Porter has since flagged potential changes to laws protecting whistleblowers and the FOI regime. Apple will reportedly open its online store in India in Q3 this year. The company had initially planned on selling its products online in the country in the first quarter of 2020. However, Apple is still working on the logistics of the store and now plans to launch it between the July-September quarter. If Apple manages to meet this deadline, it would mean that the online Apple Store launches in India right around the time the company announces its new 2020 iPhones. Apple is also working on opening its first physical retail store in India. The store will be located in Mumbai and it will open up a few months after the online store. There is a possibility that the store might not open this year. Apple products are currently available for purchase online through Amazon India, Flipkart, and Paytm Mall. These online retailers heavily discount Apple products which the company frowns upon. It is possible that Apple opening its online store could put an end to such heavy discounting. India is an important market for Apple and after struggling for the past few years, the company managed to grow by 6% in the region in 2019. This was largely due to the company pricing the iPhone 11 correctly and not charging exorbitant prices for it as it does for the iPhone 11 Pro series. [Via TechCrunch The wine industry in New York state -- from grape growing to bottle sales -- generates an annual economic impact of $6.65 billion, according to a new report. New York is the nations 3rd leading wine-producing state. The wine and grape business created almost 80,000 jobs, with wages totaling $2.79 billion, according to the analysis commissioned by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation. It was conducted by John Dunham & Associates of New York City. The number of wineries in New York state grew to 470 in 2019. A similar study conducted by Dunham & Associates in 2017 showed the states wine industry had a direct impact of $5.5 billion. The wine industry had 450 producers and 62,000 direct jobs paying $2.4 billion in wages, according to the 2017 report, also commissioned by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation. Despite its size, New Yorks wine and grape business remains mostly under the control of of small, family-owned producers, NYW&G Foundation director Sam Filler noted. Were generally a tasting-room and tourist-driven model, Filler said. Whats special about industry is that because our wineries are family-owned, our visitors are able to make a special connection with the people who make the product. In general, Filler said of the report, Its encouraging to see the industry continue to grow and our tourism impact continue to be strong. Heres an inside-the-numbers look at some of the notable findings in the new report: National ranking New York is the 3rd largest wine-producing state in the country, after California and Washington. Its just ahead of Oregon and produces more than double the next nearest East Coast competitor, Pennsylvania. New York produced 28 million gallons of still wine in 2017 (the most recent year for which numbers are available). It produced 3.1 million gallons of sparkling wine, second only to California. Tourism New Yorks wineries and vineyards attracted about 1.43 million visitors who made 4.71 million individual visits, the report found. They spent money both at the wineries and in related parts of the economy, on such things as food, lodging and transportation. The reports estimates the total economic impact of wine tourism is about $1.8 billion. Wine vs. Juice New York has 11,000 acres devoted to wine-grape growing -- but has significantly more planted in juice grapes. In all, some 35,000 acres of New York farmland are used to grow grapes. The wine-specific vineyards produce about 57,000 tons of wine grapes with a total value of $37.28 million. The state produces about 128,000 tons of juice grapes with a value of $28.80 million. Its one of the nations top producers in that category. The most widely planted grapes are the native varieties Concord and Catawba, which are primarily used as juice grapes. They account for 80 percent of New Yorks vineyard production. About 20 percent of New Yorks vineyards are planted with vinifera grapes -- the European varieties that produce acclaimed wines like Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling, the primary vinifera of the Finger Lakes. Direct sales While most wine nationwide is sold through wholesalers (who buy from producers and then sell to retailers), that is no the case in New York, the report found. Just 37 percent of the wine produced in New York is sold through wholesalers. Most New York wine is sold directly by the wineries in their tasting rooms, or is distributed by the wineries to local stores or restaurants. Thats because of our small family-business model, Filler said. Taxes New Yorks wine and grape industries paid $1.07 billion in federal business taxes and $1.12 billion in state and local government business taxes in the most recent year, the report found. The consumption of wine in New York generated $58.97 million in federal tax excise and sales taxes, and $179.37 million in state and local sales and excise taxes. The total taxes generated by the wine and grape industry came to $2.4 billion. Related: -- Top drinks trends of the 2010s and how they played out in Central New York -- Cuomos budget ignores call for bigger beer tax Don Cazentre writes about craft beer, wine, spirits and beverages for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. 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. Top Music Business Analysts Share Trends To Watch With 2019 now solidly in the rear view mirror, were checking in with some of the sharpest minds in the music biz to get an idea of where the industry is headed in the coming year. Guest post by Emma Griffiths. This article was originally featured on Synchblog, Synchtanks music industry blog which provides insight into music copyright, licensing and royalties. Subscribe to their weekly newsletter for the latest content. Its that time of year again! As 2019 comes to a close, we asked some of the brightest minds in the music industry to talk through their predictions for the trends and issues that will shape 2020. Cherie Hu Journalist & Author of the Water & Music Newsletter Its difficult to predict the future. Its much easier to track what were talking about in droves today, the narratives around which will often influence our decisions and manifest into action tomorrow. There are three general trends Ive noticed bubble up among industry conversations in 2019, that I think will flesh themselves out in full in 2020: We want better solutions for customer/fan relationship management (CRM). A crucial feature of the shift towards an all-you-can-eat streaming model isnt just that subscribers dont own their music; its also that artists dont own their audiences. At worst, this can end up mirroring the world of pay-for-play social media, with particularly frustrating implications for the very community that many of these streaming services claim to serve on the backend, namely independent and emerging artists. Theres a reason why even the biggest celebrities are now sharing their phone numbers on social media and asking fans to text them: artists want to own the information around whom their fans are, and make that insight readily accessible in a centralized place instead of fragmented across several middlemen. We want alternative, sustainable sources of capital for recording artists. If you ask a signed artist why they decided to go with a label deal instead of releasing music independently, they will likely mention the upfront advance as one of the most appealing factors of their arrangement. While many labels do incredible work, I dont think theres any reason why the vehicle of a label contract alone should still maintain such a stronghold over funding for recorded music. Some startups have recently launched ambitious experiments in equity crowdfunding, whereby fans can invest in artists future albums in exchange for a share of royalties (e.g. Corite and Stampede Live). The downfall of PledgeMusic, while bitter, has unearthed a new market gap in direct-to-fan funding and marketing tools that needs to be filled if we truly believe in a more democratic playing field for artists. We dont know who actually owns the music industry yet. Is it the publishers? BMG just launched its own artist-management division, Downtown Music Holdings now owns CD Baby and Kobalt Music Group has long used AWAL to fuel the formers foundational publishing business. Or is it the managers? After all, they oversee all aspects of their artists businesses, and are arguably the best positioned to diversify into multiple revenue sources and integrate vertically yet nimbly (e.g. Scooter Braun acquiring Taylor Swifts Big Machine catalog). Or is it the tech companies? Its no coincidence that two of the hottest players in the global music landscape right now are also Chinese tech conglomerates with literally dozens of other revenue streams (Tencent and ByteDance). This question becomes even more complicated once you realize that all kinds of music companies are now encroaching on each others commercial territory. Our understanding of where power is really clustered in the music industry will be continually warped and challenged in 2020. Follow Cherie here Mark Mulligan Managing Director of MIDiA Research The biggest changes are most often best seen over multiple years rather than in 12 months. Indeed, when looking at the future the old adage is that it is easy to over estimate the short term impact and underestimate the long term effect. So, on the cusp of a new decade, my predictions here are for longer term trends that will shape the coming decade: 1. The decade of creator empowerment: The 2020s will be the decade of the independent creator. The late 2000s saw the rise of the independent artist (and please, lets stop using the term DIY, it is pejorative and demeaning). That trend will continue but the 2020 dynamics will have bigger scope. As most independent artists are also songwriters, expect to see more services meeting their needs in the way that the likes of CD Baby and Tunecore do for artists. Also, with the rise of podcasts, more artists will become audio creators in a wider sense. Finally, independence is becoming a state of mind. Traditional music companies are already having to adapt their business models to independent artists needs. In the 2020s their worldviews will define the music business. 2. Distribution versus rights: The Spotify versus the labels battle may have died down for now, but this is a truce not a peace. Ultimately, Spotify and other DSPs will progressively work their way down the value chain. By the end of the 2020s the label / distribution relationship will have been redefined. For better or for worse 3. Tech majors will become the powerhouses: Amazon and Apple in particular will become the engine rooms of digital content, bundling content services with other products. Both are already experimenting with device bundles, but this is just the start. Music will become just one component of multi-content subscription bundles. E.g. the iPhone 12 Premium Edition could come with Music, TV+, Arcade, News+ and more for 18 months included. 4. Discovery crisisand solution: Streaming services objectives are not always aligned with those of listeners. In the race to drive engagement and listening, streaming services fall into the same trap online media does: playing it safe and delivering large volumes of snackable content. This abundance overload is creating aa discovery crisis. We are hearing a lot more music, but not really discovering much. Nor are we developing meaningful relationships with enough artists. Streaming is becoming a dead end for artist-fan engagement. This crisis will get worse before it gets better. But it will get better. More tools and inputs will be used to driver personalization which will enable more risks to be taken. Biometric recommendations may happen too. 5. Catalogue valuations reimagined: The current music catalogue gold rush is based heavily on traditional views of how to value music. However, streaming has transformed how music is consumed, shifting the market from a portfolio market to a songs economy. One in which the decay rate of songs is not only redefined but also in which catalogue performance is entirely rebalanced. With so much institutional investment pouring into music catalogues, the old valuation methodologies will soon buckle. The smart money will operate with radically new ways of defining value. 6. Fandom will become the new currency: Western streaming services have done a fantastic job of monetizing consumption. But as streaming revenue growth slows, more prompts will be taken from Eastern music services such as those in Tencents Chinese portfolio. These monetize fandom. In China this is the most monetizable asset, in the West it will be a way of driving new, additional revenue, especially among younger audiences. Gaming companies like Fortnite have been doing this for years in the west, music services will follow suit. Facebook will hope to be the market maker for fandom in the West, but Bytedance may prove to be the bridge between East and West, between consumption and fandom. Follow Mark here Dan Runcie Journalist & Author of the Trapital, the Hip Hop Business & Strategy Newsletter Mental health will play a bigger role in how artists approach their business in 2020. Summer Walker and Nonames recent challenges with live performances show that the standard live performance grind isnt for everyone, and thats fine. Technology advancements in VR, AR, and mixed reality can provide alternate ways to engage with fans in settings that are more controlled and more creative for both the artist and fans. More artists will also rely on their multi-hyphenate status and build businesses in new media spaces, focus on merchandise sales, and more. Artists will also continue to do occasional festival stops on their schedule without being subjected to tours that can be both mentally and physically demanding. It may be disheartening to hear about the anxiety that our favorite artists have on their concert tours. But we should also feel encouraged that there are more options today than ever before. Follow Dan here Michael Donaldson founder of 8DSync & 8sided.blog Over the past decade, artists and labels using technological tools have become increasingly independent, capturing control and ownership of publishing, masters, and avenues of distribution. But independent marketing fell into the trojan horse of social media, with many artists exclusively relying on the likes of Facebook to get the message out. The keys to discoverability were firmly in the hands of a new crop of corporate gatekeepers. Undesirable actions by these platforms such as algorithmically cutting access to fans and unrepentant involvement in political and privacy scandals started opening eyes to the pitfalls of this reliance. Displeasure continues to grow as these companies fight back by further segmenting audiences and requiring even larger boosts to reach ones fans. The 2020 election a looming social media shit-show will move this dissatisfaction even more into the mainstream. Thus, independent artists are increasingly introducing homegrown strategies that are entirely within their control. We see this in the rising talk of reclaiming fandom, direct support of artists, and the importance of individual stories. And we see new twists on old concepts. Email lists, creative artist sites, blogs, localized grassroots outreach tactics that predated social media, now coming together with the latest technological innovations to form a new breed of DIY. In the aftermath, social media will remain a tool, but merely a tool downgraded but still handy. Its a hammer, not a house. Independent artists will understand that, along with increased interest in owning masters and administering rights, control over how artists reach and interact with their audiences is just as vital. Follow Michael here Emma Griffiths is the main contributor to & curator of Synchblog, a blog created by Synchtank to provide insight into the management & monetization of music copyright. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for the latest Synchblog posts & key industry news in your inbox every Tuesday. Share on: Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 29) A 29-year-old man from Yunnan, China, who was under observation in San Lazaro Hospital in Manila for a possible novel coronavirus infection and tested positive for HIV died Wednesday morning due to pneumonia, health officials have confirmed. Health officials, however, clarified that the man had not yet tested positive for infection of novel coronavirus, officially known as 2019-nCoV. There is nothing in the preliminary test results that would show that this death is caused by novel coronavirus, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said during Question Hour at the House of Representatives Wednesday afternoon. Duque said samples from the man have been sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) to be tested for 2019-nCoV. He said samples from the man had twice tested positive for HIV and for infection of Staphylococcus aureus a bacteria that causes numerous kinds of illnesses. In an earlier briefing, San Lazaro Hospital director Edmundo Lopez said the man, who was admitted Monday, was thin, had several lesions and lung findings. HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, attacks CD4 cells in the body which helps it fight off infections. If left untreated, HIV can advance to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS and leave the body extremely vulnerable to infections. READ: HIV 101: The basics, how to prevent it, and where to get tested Samples from the man had been taken to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine for testing for the novel coronavirus, officially known as 2019-nCoV. San Lazaro Hospital officials also confirmed earlier in the week that three Chinese nationals who have exhibited symptoms similar to 2019-nCoV infection have been admitted and are under investigation. Two of them, a couple from Wuhan the Chinese city at the center of the coronavirus outbreak had been admitted since Friday. Only the man exhibited flu-like symptoms, but his partner was also admitted. Another Chinese man from Hubei province, where Wuhan is located, was also admitted to the San Lazaro Hospital. San Lazaro Hospital spokesperson Dr. Ferdinand de Guzman told CNN Philippines Newsroom Ngayon on Tuesday that the three are stable and recovering. Duque said that 23 people are now under investigation in local health facilities for 2019-nCoV, with four other people having been released earlier. He said the four are still being monitored. Seventeen of them are in Metro Manila, two are in Central Visayas, and there is one person under investigation each in Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Davao. The DOH previously reported that there is one person under investigation in Northern Mindanao, but this is no longer included in its latest report on 2019-nCoV. The number of people infected with 2019-nCoV has exceeded the number of cases during the 2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak, with at least 5,974 confirmed cases in mainland China, including 132 deaths, CNN reported. The number of cases grew by almost 1,500 from Tuesday, an increase of over 30%. The figures do not include Hong Kong, Macau, and the self-governing island of Taiwan that China considers as its province. The three areas have reported a small number of cases. The virus has also spread outside of China, with cases being reported in South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Sri Lanka and Australia. OTTAWA - New Brunswick MP John Williamson framed the ongoing Conservative leadership race as a colour war Wednesday, with progressive "reds" and traditional "blues" set to battle over the direction of the party. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Prime Minister Stephen Harper welcomes new MP John Williamson at the start of caucus meetings in Ottawa, Wednesday June 1, 2011. Another Conservative MP is testing the waters for a leadership bid. New Brunswicks John Williamson is considering entering the race. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld OTTAWA - New Brunswick MP John Williamson framed the ongoing Conservative leadership race as a colour war Wednesday, with progressive "reds" and traditional "blues" set to battle over the direction of the party. His assessment came as he announced he's exploring his own leadership bid, calling the race "wide open." "I think it's clear that Peter MacKay has sewn up the Red Tory bloc and there is a huge element of blue conservatives on the right which are looking for a candidate," he said. "Erin O'Toole is moving in that direction, trying to occupy that space, but that's not his natural home." O'Toole, in launching his campaign this week, described himself as a "true blue" Conservative. In the past, though, O'Toole has been understood to be closer to the wing of the party once led by MacKay. The former MP from Nova Scotia was at the helm of the Progressive Conservatives the reds when the party merged with the Canadian Alliance the blues to form the current Conservative Party of Canada. Both O'Toole and MacKay are the only two candidates to have submitted full application packages to the party so far: answers to a lengthy questionnaire, the first $25,000 of the non-refundable $200,000 entry fee, and a third of the required signatures. MacKay's application has now been formally approved, while O'Toole is awaiting sign-off. Alberta MP Garnett Genuis said Wednesday what he's looking for is a conversation during the race that bridges all the divides. Conservative MP Michael Chong speaks to reporters as she arrives for a Conservative caucus retreat on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. Chong says he's not running for leadership of his party. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang "I think as a party we can talk about issues and ideas that are particularly relevant to Canadians but I don't think we're a group of three or four narrowly defined sub-tribes," he said. "I think we're a vast group of Conservatives with different combinations of different views on different issues." Genuis was responding to the frustration among many in the party with two prospective candidates, who in recent days have put forward highly controversial viewpoints opposing LGBTQ rights and access to abortion. Both Richard Decarie and Derek Sloan are seeking to enter the leadership race as social conservatives, the moniker attached to people in the party who believe "traditional" values are under siege by more modern factions. Social conservatives have, in the past, had a powerful presence in the party. But, current leader Andrew Scheer's alignment with them is widely seen as having cost his party victory in the fall federal election. Among other things, he's refused to march in LGBTQ Pride parades. Whether a candidate would do so has become an early defining policy point in the current leadership race. MacKay has applied to march in the Toronto parade, which will take place the same weekend as the leadership vote, while O'Toole said he'd march in a parade but not one like Toronto, where police are barred from participating. Marilyn Gladu, who has submitted part of the application to the party to run, though is still gathering signatures, has also said she will march. Williamson said what he thinks party members are looking for in the race is a "movement conservative" a phrase applied to people active in the centre-right in Canada, but outside the traditional political party structure. As the past national director of one of the larger communities in that sphere, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, he is seen to fit that mould. That particular space in the race could have belonged to Pierre Poilievre, who until last week was intending to run. Though a longtime Conservative MP, he was widely respected within the party for his dedication to traditional conservative ideology and philosophy. While some leadership candidates appear to be moving swiftly to try and shift the party's thinking on social conservative issues ahead, one Conservative noted for his relatively progressive environmental policy said Wednesday the party isn't moving fast enough on that subject. Michael Chong, who ran for party leadership in 2017 on a platform that included a revenue-neutral carbon tax, declared Wednesday he won't run again. The party's thinking on environmental policy, foreign aid spending and defence spending is taking its time evolving, he said, and the time isn't right yet for him to try for leadership. "The first time you can run to put some ideas out there and make sure they are part of the discussion," he said. "The second time you run, you have to have a path to victory." Former Quebec premier Jean Charest and Rona Ambrose, who served as interim party leader after Stephen Harper stepped down, are also out. There are, however, at several others people actively engaged in signing up supporters and raising funds to enter the race. That includes Alberta businessman Rick Peterson, who launched his bid Wednesday his second time vying for the job. Several others are thinking over whether they could meet the requirements. Conservative party members will elect a new leader on June 27. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2020. More than two-thirds of countries along with many of the worlds most advanced economies are stagnating or showing signs of backsliding in their anti-corruption efforts, according to the 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released today by Transparency International. Countries in which elections and political party financing are open to undue influence from vested interests are less able to combat corruption, analysis of the results finds. Frustration with government corruption and lack of trust in institutions speaks to a need for greater political integrity, said Delia Ferreira Rubio, Chair of Transparency International. Governments must urgently address the corrupting role of big money in political party financing and the undue influence it exerts on our political systems. The CPI ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, drawing on 13 expert assessments and surveys of business executives. It uses a scale of zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). More than two-thirds of countries score below 50, with an average score of only 43. Since 2012, only 22 countries have significantly improved their scores, including Estonia, Greece and Guyana. Twenty-one have significantly declined, including Australia, Canada and Nicaragua. The research shows several of the most advanced economies cannot afford to be complacent if they are to keep up their anti-corruption momentum. Four G7 countries score lower than last year: Canada (-4), France (-3), the UK (-3) and the US (-2). Germany and Japan have seen no improvement, while Italy gained one point. Analysis shows that countries that perform well on the CPI also have stronger enforcement of campaign finance regulations and a broader range of political consultation. Countries where campaign finance regulations are comprehensive and systematically enforced have an average score of 70 on the CPI, whereas countries where such regulations either dont exist or are poorly enforced score an average of just 34 and 35 respectively. Sixty percent of the countries that significantly improved their CPI scores since 2012 also strengthened regulations around campaign donations. The lack of real progress against corruption in most countries is disappointing and has profound negative effects on citizens around the world, said Patricia Moreira, Managing Director of Transparency International. To have any chance of ending corruption and improving peoples lives, we must tackle the relationship between politics and big money. All citizens must be represented in decision making. Countries with broader and more open consultation processes score an average of 61 on the CPI. By contrast, where there is little to no consultation, the average score is just 32. A vast majority of countries that significantly decreased their CPI scores since 2012 do not engage the most relevant political, social and business actors in political decision-making. Since its inception in 1995, the Corruption Perceptions Index has become the leading global indicator of public sector corruption. In 2012, Transparency International revised the methodology used to construct the index to allow for comparison of scores from one year to the next. For more information, visit www.transparency.org/research/cpi For years, jail-reform advocates and bail bondsmen have argued over whether making defendants post bail while awaiting trial keeps New Orleans safer. On Tuesday, the New Orleans City Council was presented a data analysis saying that defendants released without paying bail are no more likely to be arrested for a new crime. The analysis also found that jacking up the amount of a cash bail doesnt seem to correlate with a lower recidivism rate, potentially signaling that judges are correctly assessing defendants' risk to public safety and setting higher bails in response, according to crime analyst Jeff Asher, who conducted the analysis for the council. In fact, Asher found that people released on bail above $25,000 were actually more likely to be arrested again, 28% of the time, compared to people with bails under $1,000, who were rearrested 9.7% of the time. "It certainly suggests that the amount of bail does not have a ton of impact on whether or not an individual is going to appear for their court appearances," Asher said. The findings come at a critical moment for the bail reform debate in New Orleans. Under mayors Mitch Landrieu and LaToya Cantrell, the city has pushed judges at Criminal District Court to release more defendants on their own recognizance without forking over money to a bondsman. The goal was to reduce the citys jail population. And earlier this month, civil rights lawyers asked a federal judge for an injunction that would prevent Magistrate Judge Harry Cantrell from requiring any cash bail until the Legislature creates an alternative funding structure for his court. Those lawyers had won a 2017 case against Cantrell, arguing that he had an inherent conflict of interest in setting cash bail when some of those fees supported his court's budget. Cantrell has appealed that decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. Still, if the advocates win their injunction, New Orleans could immediately see a rapid increase in the number of defendants released on their own recognizance, without any bail. Whether or not the court agrees to the injunction, the push to release more defendants has already had an effect. According to Asher's report, 8.3% of arrestees were released without putting up cash bail last year, up from 1.9% of arrestees a decade ago. The analysis, however, was not without some fodder for critics of scaling back the cash bail system. Defendants released without paying bail were twice as likely to skip future court dates than those who posted cash, Asher found. But he said he suspects there is a simple explanation: When defendants are required to take a regular drug test, which counts as a court date, they have more opportunities to screw up. Defendants released without paying bail are much more often required to submit to testing, Asher found. +4 New Orleans City Council approves use of temporary jail building, creates new inmate cap The New Orleans City Council on Thursday unanimously approved a zoning change that will allow the Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office to use a tem Overall, reform advocates like Jon Wool, the director of justice policy for the Vera Institute in New Orleans, which backs a simple "release or detain" system where money is not factored into decisions on whether to release arrestees, said Asher's research supports his group's position. Wool said that Ashers research supports what people familiar with experience in our money-based system know: There is no connection between being released with or without having to pay money and the thing we care most about, whether the person will be rearrested during the pretrial period. The survey didnt attempt to determine whether there was a cause-and-effect relationship between money bail and missed court dates or crime. But a recent study of courts in Philadelphia showed that after a new district attorney there stopped asking for cash bail for many offenses, defendants kept showing up for court at about the same rate as before the policy was enacted. The defendants also weren't more likely to be arrested again, the study found. 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 Aurelie Ouss, an assistant professor of criminology at the University of Pennsylvania who co-authored the Philadelphia study, said the research attempted to control for factors like increased drug testing that could skew the results. We were really able to isolate the effect of financial collateral on compliance, she said. We find no effect on compliance when we were able to isolate this single change. +2 Could New Orleans end money bail? Advocates say tools are in place to do so Criminal justice advocates look at New Orleans successful reduction in jail population -- 1,200 inmates now compared to more than 6,000 pre-K Reformers also argue that in some cases, pre-trial release conditions like drug testing could do more harm than good by burdening defendants with obligations that dont actually help them stay sober. In New Orleans, defendants have to pay $10 for drug tests and sometimes have to wait hours to speak with a judge about the results, Asher said. Judges are far more likely to order drug tests for defendants released on their own recognizance, Asher found. Thirty-one percent of people released without financial obligations have to take drug tests, compared to only 1.6% of people who pay bail. One possible explanation is that people accused of felony drug crimes are released without having to pay bail far more often than some other crime categories. Fifty-seven percent of felony narcotics cases resulted in a recognizance release. Wool argued that Ashers results should prompt court officials to rethink their drug testing program. We have to be more thoughtful if we want to help people meet their pretrial obligations. We should be offering support, not imposing conditions, Wool said. However, Rafael Goyeneche, president of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, warned that even if they dont impose cash bail, judges shouldnt do away with release conditions entirely. He thinks drug tests may benefit defendants by giving them a reason to stay away from drugs. If somebody has a drug addiction and all were going to do is release the offender instead of providing them with any services, are we doing justice to the offender? And are we doing justice to the community, if that offender is released? Goyeneche asked. Meanwhile, one local bail bondsman urged caution about the larger shift away from cash bail. New Orleans bail bondsman settles civil rights lawsuit, but activists keep up pressure on judge New Orleans bail bondsman Blair Bouttes companies have reached a settlement with civil rights lawyers in a federal lawsuit that accused his b Bail bondsmen generally have no objection to releasing people accused of minor, nonviolent crimes on their own recognizance, said Stephen Adams, the owner of #1 Bail Bonds & Recovery and president of the Association of Louisiana Bail Underwriters. But Adams argued that bondsmen provide a valuable service in rounding up clients who fail to show up in court, and that additional releases could eventually lead to an increase in crime. We ensure the court that this defendant is going to come to every appearance, said Adams. I make sure she gets back to court at no cost to the taxpayer, at no burden to local law enforcement. RFE/RLs Romanian Service, known locally as Europa Libera, has relaunched after closing over a decade ago to help strengthen public trust in the media and address the spread of disinformation. Fast Facts RFE/RLs Romanian Service, known locally as Europa Libera, was relaunched in January 2019 to provide accurate and balanced coverage of the most important local, regional, and national news and events. It is an entirely digital operation, operating out of a bureau in Bucharest, available through its website and on social networks. The Service has a distinguished reputation, built over decades and culminating in its coverage of the 1989 revolution. A powerful voice in support of freedom and democracy then, it is dedicated now to providing unflinching coverage of corruption and the abuse of authority by state officials. The Service has pursued its renewed mandate with numerous interviews, political profiles, and journalistic investigations. Its explainer series is a popular video product that helps audiences navigate political, cultural, social, historical, and religious topics. News Fast Forward is a weekly feature for audiences on Facebook. A continuous fact-checking project helps keep disinformation in check. Already, the Service has established a standard for high-impact reporting, and come to play an influential role in setting the countrys political agenda. Its interviews are often a top news event, and its news reports routinely receive numerous daily citations. The Service has placed a priority on reaching young, urban, educated Romanians who are the most avid consumers of online information and the most willing to mobilize for positive change. Responding to Russian disinformation is among the Services primary challenges. A Romanian-language version of the pro-Kremlin Sputnik platform gets approximately 250,000 monthly visits. Russia Today reaches audiences in English and Russian via satellite. Reporters Without Borders ranked Romania 47 out of 180 in its 2019 World Press Freedom Index. Citing corruption, politicization of media ownership, censorship, and disinformation, it said that Romanias media was under greater threat than ever. Impact January December, 2019 Website : 5.5 million visits, 6.9 million page views, 3.8 million unique visitors : 5.5 million visits, 6.9 million page views, 3.8 million unique visitors Facebook : 12.5 million video views, 47,000 followers, 4.3 million engaged users : 12.5 million video views, 47,000 followers, 4.3 million engaged users YouTube: 93,000 views, 775 subscribers Updated: March 2020 8:24pm: Holland can earn $1.25MM upon making the Royals roster with another $1.125MM available via incentive pay, tweets Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com. 7:53pm: The Royals have agreed to a minor league contract with right-hander Greg Holland, tweets Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Hell be in Major League camp this spring and look to secure a spot in the teams bullpen. The agreement marks a reunion between the two sides, as Holland was a 2007 draftee of the Royals and starred in their bullpen from 2011-15 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Hollands return from Tommy John surgery in 2017 proved to be a success, as he anchored the bullpen for a Rockies club that secured an NL Wild Card playoff berth and paced the senior circuit in both games finished (58) and saves (41). Holland logged a 3.61 ERA and averaged 11 punchouts per nine innings that year, but he showed some worrying red flags late in the summer and struggled to find the type of lucrative deal hed hoped in free agency. The right-hander eventually signed an Opening Day deal with the Cardinals (where current Royals skipper Mike Matheny was managing at the time), locking in a $14MM salary for the 2018 campaign. Holland sprinted through a minor league tuneup and was in the big leagues just nine days after signing, and the veteran closer never seemed to find his footing. He posted a disastrous 7.92 ERA in 25 innings as a Cardinal before being released in a summer bullpen shakeup only to latch on with the Nationals and rattle off 21 1/3 innings of 0.82 ERA ball. A once-again resurgent Holland landed a one-year deal with the Diamondbacks last winter and posted a 4.54 ERA with 10.3 K/9 against an unpalatable 6.1 BB/9 before being released in August. Kansas City is clearly hoping that the reunion will yield dividends, although five full seasons have elapsed since the now-34-year-old Holland turned in a full, dominant season of relief work. That said, the Royals bullpen is hardly a collection of juggernaut relievers, either. Starter-turned-closer Ian Kennedy is again in line for ninth-inning duties, but the entire setup is unproven. Hard-throwing Scott Barlow showed flashes of brilliance in 2019 but lacked consistency. Right-hander Kevin McCarthy was a durable middle man but struggled to miss bats. Southpaw Tim Hill has had mixed results in his two big league seasons but is coming off a quality 19 campaign. Other options in the K.C. pen include injury reclamation Jesse Hahn, waiver claim Randy Rosario, injury-prone former first rounder Kyle Zimmer and Rule 5 pick Stephen Woods. Suffice it to say, theres plenty of room for Holland (and others) to force his way into the mix if he can impress Royals decision-makers this spring. Its quite arguable, in fact, that the Royals shouldve done more to address such an uncertain unit this winter, although much of the relief market has already been picked clean. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MYM Nutraceuticals Inc., (CSE: MYM) (CSE: MYM.CN) (OTC: MYMMF) ("MYM" or the "Company") announces it has closed the second tranche of the non-brokered private placement previously announced on January 14, 2020. The second tranche issued 3,683,416 units at a price of $0.06 per unit for gross proceeds of $221,005. There was $2,664 in finders' fees payable on this tranche. Each unit consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share at a price of $0.10 for a period of three years from the issue date. The warrants are subject to an acceleration provision that allows the Company to give notice of an earlier expiry date if the Company's weighted average share price on the CSE (or such other stock exchange the Company may be trading on) is equal or greater than $0.20 for a period of 10 consecutive trading days. The offering was priced in the context of the market based on a price reservation made by the Company with the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE"). The private placement is subject to the approval of the CSE and the securities will be subject to a four-month hold period under securities laws. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the private placement for working capital purposes. About MYM Nutraceuticals Inc. MYM is uniquely positioned to opportunistically acquire and/or invest in companies within the cannabis and hemp industries that are in need of capital and management support. Our senior management team is made up of experts engaged in a wide array of disciplines - upper level management of public companies, finance, law, master growing, plant pathology, agricultural economics, pharmaceutical, engineering, global marketing, product development and branding, distribution and seed genetics. MYM is a shareholder in two production projects in Quebec and is actively looking to acquire complementary businesses and assets in the cannabis sector. MYM shares trade in Canada, Germany and the United States under the following symbols: (CSE: MYM) (OTC: MYMMF) (FRA:0MY) (DEU:0MY) (MUN:0MY) (STU:0MY). ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Howard Steinberg, CEO MYM Nutraceuticals Inc. www.mym.ca Investor Relations investors@mym.ca Keep up to date with MYM on our social media channels: Twitter: @mymnutra Facebook: @mymnutra Instagram: @mymnutra This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results. Such statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims and does not undertake any intention or obligation to revise or update such statements, except as required by applicable law. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis dated October 28" 2019 (the "MD&A") and other disclosure filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are posted on www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements relating to the Company's ability to acquire complementary businesses and assets in the cannabis and hemp industry or cannabis sector. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE or CNSX Markets), nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the CSE), accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein in the United States. The securities described herein have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities law and may not be offered or sold in the "United States", as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration requirements is available. Contact: Investor Relations investors@mym.ca +1-778-522-2261 WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy was the only Democratic senator Tuesday to receive a White House briefing on new Israeli-Palestinian peace plan, before President Donald Trump announced it Tuesday afternoon. Murphy, D-Conn., was invited to meet with Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and White House assistant to the President, and David Friedman, U.S. ambassador to Israel, to discuss the plan. Tuesday afternoon Murphy said he will request Senate hearings on the proposal due to its implications for U.S. national security. Three years in the making, Trumps plan offers Palestine a path to statehood if it meets certain American conditions. It awards Israel U.S. recognition of long-disputed Israeli settlements on the West Bank. The proposal includes a territory map outlining the two states. The Palestinian state would be double the size of land that Palestinians currently control and would be connected by roads, bridges and tunnels. Shortly before his impeachment trial resumed, Trump announced the plan at the White House mid-day Tuesday side-by-side with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was indicted on corruption charges in Jersusalem Tuesday. No Palestinians were at the White House event, and the president of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas rejected the proposal. Murphy, the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committees subcommittee on the Middle East, said the plan abandons decades of U.S. work toward a two-state solution. It seems to be guided by political, not policy, objectives, Murphy said. During my meeting this morning with Jared Kushner and Ambassador Friedman, I expressed to them my deep concern that this proposal, negotiated with no one but the Israelis, will eliminate any room to negotiate a real deal by setting up hard lines that the Israelis will now never be willing to cross. I also conveyed my alarm that this plan envisions the United States taking unilateral actions to cement the terms of this plan before a single negotiation takes place between Israel and the Palestinians." Kushner and Friedman were not persuaded, Murphy said. They are right that there has been no peace plan that has succeeded in the past, Murphy said. I think they are of the opinion that they need to take a dramatically different approach and that dramatically different approach is to pre-negotiate the entire deal with Israel and then back the Palestinians into a corner. I dont think their approach is going to work. Friedman told press the plan was a realistic two-state solution for ending conflict that has divided Palestine and Israel since the countrys founding in 1948. For the first time in 52 years, the State of Israel has delineated not just in words, but in pictures and a map as well the State of Israel has delineated the terms under which it is prepared to make territorial compensations for the creation of a Palestinian state, the terms and conditions under which it would do so, the size of that territory, and the requirements that would be in place for a final agreement, Friedman said. To win recognition, Palestine would have to dismantle terrorist groups, establish a justice system and principles like freedom of religion, human rights and an end to corruption, Friedman said. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., did not receive a briefing Tuesday, but said he will now seek a briefing on the proposal. I have received no briefing, no information about the plan, what I can see of it is it seems to undermine the two state solution and other foreign policy goals in the Mid East, Blumenthal said. He added the administration should have consulted Congress more on its development. Some Republican senators were also briefed on the plan Tuesday. Murphy described it as a small group. The White House is not likely to seek more congressional input on the plan, but may take steps to recognize annexations or settlements administratively, Murphy said. Murphy and Blumenthal agreed Congress should hold hearings on the proposal. This has grave implications for U.S. national security so we should hold hearings, Murphy said. I certainly will request that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hold hearings on the plan and Mr. Kushner and others come an testify as to why they decided to negotiate a plan with no one except for themselves and the Israelis. emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson 29.01.2020 LISTEN Ibrahim Mayaki, chief executive officer of the New Partnership for Africas Development (NEPAD), which is currently transforming into the African Union Development Agency (AUDA)the implementing arm of the AU. AUDA-NEPAD was created in Niamey, Niger, in July 2019, during the African Union summit. Its creation was one result of the AU reforms championed by Rwandas president, Paul Kagame, former chairperson of the AU. In an interview with Africa Renewals Kingsley Ighobor in New York, Dr. Mayaki spoke on AUDAs role in Africas development agenda and discussed regional integration and his agencys plan to create a million jobs. These are excerpts: Africa Renewal: What are the main differences between AUDA and NEPAD? Dr. Mayaki: AUDA has a broader mandate. It is expected to address implementation challenges regarding decisions made by the African Union. For example, we are now the African Unions technical focal point with development partners such as China, India, the United States, the G20, the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). This is very important in order to track the implementation of agreements reached with these partners. AUDA will also focus on resource mobilisation and the connections between sectors to avoid a siloed approach, which as you know is a key aspect of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For example, when we deliver in agriculture, we also look at water, energy, land, etc. There is now a division of labour between the AU Commission, the Regional Economic Communities and AUDA in implementing the AUs strategic frameworks at the national and regional levels. You have reiterated that regional bodies play a bigger role in Africas development. Are there often tensions between regional institutions and national governments? Your question is fundamental because regional integration will only progress if national governmentswhich manage regional bodiesimplement regional decisions. We see national governments push for regional development strategies. In the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for example, agriculture ministers meet regularly to discuss agricultural transformation in their region. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) meets regularly on a common strategy on energy. The problem is how regional decisions essentially derived from continental frameworks are implemented country by country. Thats where our role becomes important. We need to make sure that there is coherence between regional strategies and national plans. Africas new free trade area, for example, is a continental initiative. Until June this year, Nigeria and Benin were holding out. How do you ensure that national governments implement AU projects? One of the critical factors of success in regional integration is having everybody on board. If the consensus is strongand that takes time to buildwe can have strong agreements and start thinking about an implementation roadmap. The more buy-in you have in the design of a project, the less resistance you have during implementation. Also, our budget is approved by AU member states. These programmes reflect member states priorities because it is their money, so, for example, if we have a programme in renewable energy in East Africa, it must be a priority in that region. Given AUDA-NEPADs new development focus, what hopes do you have for regional integration on the continent? The AU has really made great strides, particularly in the continental free trade area. It took time to be designed and to get everybody on board. We know the technical skills we need, and there is political determination to implement the agreement. In the current global uncertainty, we need to increase trading within our regional markets; otherwise we wont tackle our development challenges. Implementation will not be easy because of the high-levels of financing needed as well as the need to harmonize policies between states, but we are on the right path. You have also advocated for a bottom-up approach to development. Doesnt that contradict the objectives of the regional frameworks, which are top-down? No, it cannot be top-down, because none of the frameworks will work if you do not empower the local communities. For example, you know that access to electricity in Africa is very lowmore than 60% of our rural population has no access to electricity. But agricultural productivity will not increase if the energy issue is not addressed. The best way to solve the energy problem is to have decentralized energy services at the local community level, managed by local communities. This is what I call bottom-up. You can have the big strategy, but in terms of implementation, in terms of innovation, it must come from the bottom. Colonialism was a system of illicit financial flows, you said recently at an event at the UN headquarters. What do you mean by that? Look at our infrastructure in pre-independence Africa, and even before. If it was a road, it was one linking a mine to a port. So, all the infrastructure projects, except in countries and places where colonizers were thinking of settling in a definitive manner, all other infrastructure projects were geared toward extraction, extraction, extraction! Extraction of minerals, extraction of agricultural produce, and so on. The infrastructure of the colonial period still stands in most of Africa, albeit modernised. What should be done about that? Thats why we created the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA). It reverses that trend of extractive-based infrastructure by focusing on regional projects and transport corridors that ease movement and spur development. That way we boost intra-Africa trade. You have announced a plan to create 1 million jobs. How will you achieve that? The African Union member states wanted to be very concrete regarding the creation of a decent jobs agenda. They said we should have a quantifiable objective so that we are accountable. We said, OK, lets set a target of 1 million jobs over the next three years. But as you know governments do not create jobs; the private sector creates jobs, and the private sector in Africa is dominated by small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The African Development Bank tells us that 60% of our SMEs have less than 20 employees and the other 40% have less than 10. So, if we assist 100,000 SMEs, we can achieve that agenda of 1 million jobs. Doesnt Africa need more than 1 million new jobs? Yes. Every year we need to create 20 million jobs. For the next three years, Africa needs to create 60 million jobs, but we can only target 1 million jobs for now. However, we want to harness best practices regarding SME creation, incubation centres, protection of intellectual property, financing of SMEs by national development banks, conducive environment, incentives, and others. We want these best practices to be replicated in all countries. Given the lopsided strengths of African economieswith SMEs concentrated in more economically advanced countriesit appears poorer countries will benefit the least from this programme. We target least developed countries. The money we get from the African Union is rarely used for projects in Egypt, South Africa or Nigeria. The aim of regional integration is to uplift the least developed countries, and this is the beauty of the African Union. Regional integration is fundamentally based on solidarity, and we know that solidarity is not only moral. It has an economic dimension that benefits everyone. A man implicated in the gruesome slaying of his mother 26 years ago has been ordered to return to the Rusk State Hospital. Millet Harrison, 71, of Beaumont, spent two decades in the mental institution after being found not guilty by reason of insanity in connection with his mothers violent death. He was released in 2015, when a judge ordered him into outpatient treatment. On Tuesday, state District Judge Raquel West announced she had issued a warrant to have Harrison returned to Rusk for a review of his medication compliance and treatment plan. Related: Millet Harrison to be released from Rusk Harrisons lawyer, Dustin Galmor, said he had not been notified of the warrant, but believed it was a routine procedure. There could be a thousand reasons for the warrant, Galmor said. It could be something small like a his doctor requested he changes medication or it could be something bigger like he had a dispute with someone. Galmor said he speaks with Harrison weekly. Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox During a psychotic episode on Feb. 1, 1994, in which Harrison said he heard voices telling him he was ending the suffering of his mother, Harrison stabbed 67-year-old Louise Harrison to death, beheaded her and removed her heart, eyes and other organs, placing them neatly on the bed beside her. Harrison had been under treatment for paranoid schizophrenia for about 20 years before the crime. He had no prior criminal record. chris.moore@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/chris_moore09 Ryan Gallagher believes that it's only a matter of time before a participant on Married At First Sight 'harms themselves'. The 31-year-old, who appeared on season five in 2018, told Hit105's Stav, Abby and Matt on Wednesday that he fears a bride or groom 'may go too far' if they are upset. 'Eventually, maybe something will happen and someone will obviously go too far and be upset that much they might even harm themselves,' he said. Dire warning: Ryan Gallagher (pictured on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!) believes that it's only a matter of time before a participant on Married At First Sight 'harms themselves' 'It's happened in other countries and I hope it doesn't happen here,' he added, seemingly referring to the suicides of British reality stars Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon. However, Channel Nine is taking steps to protect the mental health of MAFS participants past and present. In October last year, the network set up a 24-hour helpline for former cast members. At the time, a spokesperson said: 'While we won't comment on this matter as it's private and confidential, both former and current participants are given access to support.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment. Fears: Ryan said on Wednesday that he worries a contestant 'may go too far' if they are upset Ryan, who was eliminated from I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Australia on Tuesday, went on to discuss his experience in the South African jungle. 'I've been asked to do other reality love shows since MAFS and I'm just not interested [because] I don't believe in them to be honest,' he said. 'With Celebrity, it's not that, they aren't trying to push that on people. It's a family show that shows people for who they are.' Ryan rose to fame on MAFS' fifth season in 2018, which is widely considered the year in which the social experiment took a darker turn. He was infamously cheated on by his 'wife' Davina Rankin, and was forced to stay in their 'marriage' for weeks after discovering her betrayal. Bad experience: Ryan rose to fame on MAFS' fifth season in 2018, which is widely considered the year in which the social experiment took a darker turn. Pictured with Davina Rankin (right) He discussed Davina's affair on I'm a Celebrity, telling his campmates she had warned him on their honeymoon that she was going to be unfaithful. 'We were on the honeymoon, and we were intimate and stuff like that. You sort of get lost in the moment,' he began. 'And as we were flying back, as we were landing, [Davina] goes, "You know, when we get back we meet other people and you can hook up with anyone." And I was like, "I don't think that...!"' Ryan went on to explain that Davina eventually left him for another groom, Dean Wells, before the affair was exposed at a commitment ceremony. If you, or someone you know, needs support please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 Scottish politicians put themselves on a collision path with Westminster today as they backed plans for a second independence referendum. MSPs voted this afternoon for a nationwide poll on tearing apart the United Kingdom, six years after the first saw the country vote to stay, 55-45. The vote was driven by the SNP First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who insisted a second vote on independence is necessary to protect the country from the consequences of a Tory government and Brexit. Two days before the UK leaves the European Union, the Scottish First Minister said independence is now the only realistic way that Scotland can be part of Europe. And MSPs backed her plea, voting 64 to 54 in favour of the new referendum - although it is unlikely that Boris Johnson will allow it to proceed. The vote was driven by the SNP First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who insisted a second vote on independence is necessary to protect the country from Brexit MSPs backed her plea, voting 64 to 54 in favour of the new referendum - although it is unlikely that Boris Johnson will allow it to proceed. Ms Sturgeon had earlier warned of the consequences of both Brexit and a Boris Johnson government for Scotland, she said: 'Given what the Tories have in store, proposing a further decision on independence isn't simply legitimate - it is necessary.' She also hit out at UK Government ministers, accusing them of being 'completely deaf to Scotland's interests, needs and voice', and adding that their vision for the UK is 'driven on the part of some by jingoism and xenophobia'. Independence, she argued, would give Scotland an alternative future. Ms Sturgeon insisted Brexit is an 'affront to democracy', after almost two-thirds of voters north of the border backed Remain in 2016. With Scotland leaving the EU 'against the will of the vast majority of the Scottish people', she insisted this marked a 'material change in circumstances' from the reasons behind the first independence vote in 2014. The First Minister said: 'We stand just two days from losing our EU membership and all of the rights that go with it. 'In my view it is beyond doubt now that the only realistic way for Scotland to return to the heart of Europe and to ensure we get the governments we vote for is to become an independent country. 'What should be beyond any democratic argument, in light of the material change in circumstances that Brexit represents, is that it must be Scotland's choice to make. 'And it must be for this Parliament, not Westminster, to determine when and on what basis an independence referendum should take place.' She hit out at the Tories, Labour and the Liberal Democrats for their opposition to a second ballot, saying: 'It is hard to escape the conclusion that it is their fear of the choice Scotland would make on the substantive question that is driving the anti-democratic position of the opposition parties. 'It is only ever parties that know their arguments are bust that have to resort to blocking democracy. 'I know not everyone agrees with my position on independence, but I am happy to have that debate and let Scotland decide.' But opposition leaders accused her of a 'contemptuous use of power' for debating Scottish independence at Holyrood rather than the issues of education, policing or the health service. Interim Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw said the debate was a 'ridiculous charade' from an SNP Government 'divided' over independence. He added: 'If only this Government spent the same amount of attention on police and schools as it does on polling and spin, we might have the safest streets and the best schools in Europe. 'Instead of a laser-like focus on education, health and the economy, they all have been sidelined in favour of this First Minister's singular priority.' Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said dealing with the consequences of Brexit should take priority over an independence vote this year. He insisted 'nobody in this chamber really believes that there will be a referendum this year', as he branded the Government motion being debated as 'synthetic, political manufacture, dressed up as high principle'. Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie claimed the First Minister's actions were an attempt to appease factions within her own party rather than to push Holyrood to make a decision on the constitution. But Green co-leader Patrick Harvie backed the First Minister, saying: 'Scotland is not being given the respect for that claim of right, that sovereignty that was given to the people, and the only way to change that is for Scotland - the people who live here - to be given the right to make that decision for themselves again.' Tourism industries in many countries around the world, including Turkey, are bracing for a heavy hit amid a deadly virus that has prompted travel restrictions in China and is sending shockwaves across the industry, which has become increasingly reliant on big-spending visitors from China, Daily Sabah reports. Turkey, which has been enjoying growing numbers of Chinese visitors, is facing cancellations in February tour bookings, according to tourism officials, who say the outbreak will impact the arrival of Chinese tourists. "Tour package sales in China are at standstill," said Hamid Kuk, a board member at the Turkish Travel Agencies Association (TURSAB). Sales at travel agencies fell by 50% last week, Kuk told Turkish daily Dunya on Tuesday, warning that travel restrictions would bring this figure to 100%. He stressed that 5,000 holidays were canceled last week, corresponding to the arrival of around 10,000 Chinese tourists, adding that cancellations could increase to 20,000 this week. The number of Chinese tourists visiting Turkey jumped by 9% in the first 11 months of 2019, reaching 403,739, according to official data. Turkey was looking to reach 1 million tourists in the coming period, a target agreed upon by both Beijing and Ankara. Shock news has hit the Laois town of Mountmellick with the announcement of the closure of a factory plant. Workers at the Standex plant in Acragar were told this morning January 29 that all their jobs are going. Some 22 staff work at that plant, many with over 30 years of service to the company which manufactures pumps. Standex Ireland has a second plant with about 40 more workers in the MDA campus in Irishtown who are are believed not to be affected. The Acragar workers were gathered and told the bad news this morning at 9am by the General Manager of Procon, the US company which owns Standex Ireland. Employee John Guinan the Shop Stewart for the SIPTU union spoke to the Leinster Express. "It dropped like a bombshell. We thought there would be a small number of redundancies but it's bigger," he said. He said they were told that the redundancies will be done in three waves over the coming year. Eight to ten jobs gone by March, the same again by autumn, and all gone in 12 months. "Staff are pretty bitter. Standex has a second plant in Mountmellick and we are interchangeable. There are people with 30 plus years of service told they are being made redundant, but people with maybe 10 years in Irishtown are guaranteed their jobs," he said. SIPTU was due to meeting management at 2pm on Wednesday to discuss how the redundancies will be carried out and what packages offered. "This will take a lot of spending power out of Mountmellick. It is the biggest factory, and it had a knock-on effect for local businesses. We as a union now will work to get the best outcome for employees," Mr Guinan said. There were ominous signs for jobs when all staff were put on shorter hours before Christmas, with a seasonal downturn in demand for their products cited. Standex Ireland Ltd was set up in 1978 in the Acragar plant in Mountmellick, employing 28. The IDA said the job losses were a matter for the company and would not be commenting. It confirmed however that it continues to support jobs at the firm. SIPTU has issued a statement confirming that more than 22 jobs are threatened. Read it here. Chinese President Xi Jinping is facing a major political crisis from the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, experts said. By the end of Tuesday, there were 5,974 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in mainland China, according to the country's National Health Commission. The death toll was 132. To contain the spread of the virus, Beijing is taking measures like locking down cities housing millions, restricting travel and extending the Lunar New Year holiday. Economists expect the economic fallout to hit tourism and consumption in and outside China. The rapid escalation of the viral outbreak since it was first identified in late December likely made Xi realize that it was "not just a public health crisis," said Allison Sherlock, China researcher at the Eurasia Group, a risk consultancy. "This is the probably the greatest political challenge that he's faced since taking office in 2012," Sherlock told CNBC's "Squawk Box." "At the central level, President Xi and his right-hand man, Premier Li Keqiang, I think they understand that the stakes are very high here." "The mishandling of the virus didn't just lead to the rapid spread of the outbreak, it also eroded trust in the government. And they're going to try to do everything in their power to ensure that people start believing in their local officials again," she added. Volker Stanzel, a former German ambassador to China, said the coronavirus outbreak is the biggest, foreseeable test for the Chinese Communist Party leadership this year. A constant factor in the last 70 years of Communist China is that of the party holding onto power "ruthlessly, relentlessly and not giving in," said Stanzel, who is now a senior distinguished fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, SWP. Xi in particular has managed to consolidate power at the very top of the political ladder. "As soon as you have stress factors not fully managed in the way the Communist Party claims it will do it, then the authority of the Communist Party, and first of all, the person at the top of the Communist Party will be put into question and you see the first symptoms of that not after (the social unrest in) Hong Kong, not after (the elections in) Taiwan, but as is reported in our media, you see it with the coronavirus," Stanzel said at a discussion on Tuesday to discuss China's outlook for 2020 hosted by Mercator Institute for China Studies in Berlin. China's tightly controlled official media is reporting all-out government efforts to control the virus, but social media anger at how the outbreak has been handled has prevailed, often in coded terms to evade censors. "Here, suddenly, obviously, it is not even possible anymore for the internet censors to control the cynical questions in the internet of the population whether the leadership is really managing this crisis in the right way," Stanzel said, according to a live stream of the discussion. "So here, we have the first time ... obviously and openly, for all to see who go on the internet, the authority of Xi Jinping is put into question," Stanzel said. On Tuesday, Reuters reported that Xi told the head of the WHO on Tuesday that the new coronavirus is a "devil" and that China is confident of winning the battle against it. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 00:26:30|Editor: yan Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi President Barham Salih on Wednesday asked the Iraqi political blocs to nominate a candidate by Feb. 1. to succeed resigned Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi. The Iraqi president "called on the political blocs to resume a serious and constructive dialogue to choose a prime minister for the new government," said a letter by Salih sent to the political blocs. Salih warned that if the political blocs fail to nominate a candidate by next Saturday, he will use his constitutional powers to assign whoever he finds "most acceptable to the parliament and the people," according to the letter. Since Abdul Mahdi submitted his resignation last November in response to anti-government protests, the political blocs have been in tough negotiations over nominating a new head of government which must be accepted by Iraqi demonstrators. According to the constitution, the largest coalition in parliament should nominate a candidate for the vacant post to the Iraqi president who will task the new prime minister-designate with forming a new cabinet. The prime minister-designate has 30 days to form a cabinet and present it to parliament for approval. The parliament must approve each minister in separate absolute majority votes. Mass anti-government demonstrations have been continuing in the capital Baghdad and other cities in central and southern Iraq since last October, demanding comprehensive reform, fight against corruption, better public services and more job opportunities. Harriet Frank Jr., who collaborated with her husband, Irving Ravetch, on provocative screenplays that explored the social conflicts and moral questions of postwar American life in movies like Hud and Norma Rae, died on Tuesday at her home in Los Angeles. She was 96. Her death was announced by Michael Frank, her nephew. To film industry peers and moviegoers who paid attention to the credits, the wife-and-husband team of Ms. Frank and Mr. Ravetch, who died in 2010, stood out among Hollywoods most successful and literate script writers. The two generated 16 screenplays from 1958 to 1990, many inspired by the works of William Faulkner, William Inge, Larry McMurtry, Elmore Leonard and other best-selling authors. Ms. Frank and Mr. Ravetch dramatized the charms of a brawling, arrogant Texas rogue (Paul Newman) in Hud (1963); the struggles of a teacher (Jon Voight) against the effects of poverty and racism on black children in a South Carolina island school in Conrack (1974); and the union fight of a worker (Sally Field) against labor injustices in a North Carolina cotton mill in Norma Rae (1979). Salvation is not an abstract concept its a three-year contract, Vincent Canby wrote in his review of Norma Rae in The New York Times. These are sentiments that Martin Ritt, the director, and Irving Ravetch and Harriet Frank Jr., his screenwriters, understand and fervently evoke in their often stirring new film. (Corrects paragraph 1 to say Tuesday instead of Monday) CAIRO, Jan 28 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates' ambassador to Washington said in a statement on Tuesday that the UAE believes Palestinians and Israelis can achieve lasting peace and genuine coexistence with the support of the international community, the UAE Embassy in Washington said on Twitter. Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba also announced the UAE's appreciation to continued U.S efforts to reach a Palestinian-Israeli peace agreement. The peace plan announced today offers an important starting point for a return to negotiations within a U.S-led international framework, the ambassador said. U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed the creation of a Palestinian state with a capital in East Jerusalem, in an effort to achieve a breakthrough. Under the proposed plan, the United States will recognize Israeli settlements on the occupied West Bank and in exchange, Israel would agree to accept a four-year freeze on new settlement activity while Palestinian statehood was being negotiated. (Reporting by Hesham Abdul Khalek Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) US Supreme Court approves linking use of public benefits to green card A divided Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Trump administration to put in place a policy connecting the use of public benefits with whether immigrants could become permanent residents. The divided chamber's five conservative justices outvoted their four progressive colleagues to support a request by President Donald Trump to lift a New York court injunction that had blocked the rule's application. The courts four liberal justices, Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, would have prevented the policy from taking effect. The new policy can be used to deny green cards to immigrants over their use of public benefits, including Medicaid, food stamps and housing vouchers, as well as other factors. "Today the Court (rightly) grants a stay, allowing the government to pursue (for now) its policy everywhere save Illinois," the Supreme Court ruling said. The justices order came by a 5-4 vote and reversed a ruling from the 2nd US circuit court of appeals in New York that had kept in a place a nationwide hold on the policy following lawsuits that have been filed against it. Federal appeals courts in San Francisco and Richmond, Virginia, had previously overturned trial court rulings against the policy. An injunction in Illinois remains in effect, but applies only to that state. The lawsuits will continue, but immigrants applying for permanent residency must now show they wouldnt be public charges, or burdens to the country. The new policy significantly expands what factors would be considered to make that determination, and if it is decided that immigrants could potentially become public charges at any point in the future, that legal residency could be denied. Trump has made clamping down on immigrants a cornerstone of his presidency, and Monday's ruling is the latest by the Supreme Court in favor of his migrant-related policies. The new rules threatened to set back the citizenship hopes of millions of mostly Hispanic migrants The White House lauded the ruling, calling it a "massive win for American taxpayers, American workers, and the American Constitution" in a statement. Under the changes, the 22 million non-citizen residents of the United States using food stamps, public healthcare and other welfare will not be able to obtain green cards or US citizenship, according to the White House. Additionally, hopeful migrants will not be granted resident visas if they are deemed too poor and likely to need public assistance. Immigration officials will have more leeway to deny the entry of immigrants or to grant a certain migrant status to those receiving public assistance. A coalition of states in August quickly sued Trump's administration over the rule. They said it was unconstitutional and disproportionately targeted non-white immigrants. Ken Cuccinelli, acting Director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services, welcomed Monday's ruling. He said the Supreme Court "is fed up" with injunctions by judges whom he said are trying to impose policy rather than enforce the law. Russias patent agency upholds denial of Alcoholics Anonymous brand registration RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 13:02 29/01/2020 MOSCOW, January 29 (RAPSI) The Chamber for Patent Disputes has upheld an earlier Russian Federal Agency for Intellectual Property, Patents and Trademarks (Rospatent) decision to refuse registration of American Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. brand A.A., the agency records read. The applicant appealed against a Rospatent decision of January 28, 2019. According to Alcoholics Anonymous, the designation A.A. it sought to register was well-known not only in Russia, but also worldwide, as it was an acronym of the name of the organization; in Russia the brand has been used since mid-1980s, mostly with respect to printed materials. Yet another argument was that the applicant owned the Alcoholics Anonymous trademark in Russia and in many other countries. Nevertheless, Rospatent dismissed the application saying that the designation was just a combination of letters without original graphical design lacking any additional level of perception different from the perception of its individual elements, neither of which was under patent protection. Moreover, the applicant failed to present sufficient evidence that the designation had acquired distinctiveness in Russia as it had submitted only reference materials in support of its position; any data on the volumes of production and sales were also lacking, the patent agency said at that time. Rospatent also refused to take into account the fact that the designation was registered in other countries, since those had their own national requirements not applicable in Russia. As leadership crisis continues in the Congress Karnataka unit, senior party leader G Parameshwara on Wednesday urged the high command to announce appointments for the posts of state president and legislature party leader at the earliest in order to function as an effective opposition. Targeting the ruling BJP over the delay in ministry expansion, he predicted challenging days ahead of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, once the exercise is carried out. "We have insisted the high command (Congress) to announce (appointees) soon. As Delhi elections are on, most probably they are busy with it, but still I request once again our high command to clear this confusion soon, so that we can actively work as opposition to awaken this ineffective government in the state," Parameshwara said. Speaking to reporters here, he said as there is legislature session from February 17, the party will have to raise issues like "collapse of administration and failure in implementing developmental work." So the party cannot sit quiet with such a situation and the appointments to these posts should be made at the earliest so that workers can function effectively, he said. "There may be difference of opinion amongst us, but keeping them aside we will have have to work together in the interest of the party," the senior leader said. Pointing out that he had called a meeting of senior Congress leaders recently to evolve consensus to work together, Parameshwara said everyone has agreed to that and if the state president is appointed immediately, he can take the responsibility of taking everyone together. CongressLegislature Party leader Siddaramaiah and stateCongresschief Dinesh Gundu Rao had quit their posts last month after the party posted a poor show, winning only two of the 15 seats in the Decemberbypolls while it had held 12 of them. Recently power struggle within the state Congresshad come to the fore, with senior leaders openly contradicting each other on appointments for key vacant posts besides issues like splitting posts of Leader of Opposition and CLP leader and creation of multiple Working Presidents post. While senior leader D K Shivakumar is seen as the front runner for the post of KPCC president, Siddaramaiah is said to have pushed for his confidant M B Patil. He is also said to have demanded four working presidents if his candidate is not considered for the KPCC chief post. Aimed at retaining the posts that he had resigned from, Siddaramaiah had recently saidthe CongressLegislature Party (CLP) leader and Leader of Opposition (LOP) posts in the state should not be "separated", and be held by one person. However, Parameshwara and another senior leader H K Patil who are aspiring for the CLP leader post have favoured the split. Targeting the BJP leadership and Chief Minister Yediyurappa over the delay in the Ministry expansion, Parameshwara claimed there will be more confusion within the ruling party after the cabinet expansion. "....17 (defectors), they have to give minister post, but now reports suggest 8 or 9 of them will be given, once the cabinet is expanded everything will be clear," he said. "There will be more confusion after expansion as it will be difficult for Yediyurappa to convince anyone and there are a lot of challenges ahead of him, which is actually causing the delay in expansion, he added. According to BJP sources, there are talks within the state BJP that the expansion of the Ministry was likely to take place on Friday, and Yediyurappa may travel to New Delhi on Thursday to get final approval from party high command. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A new report has revealed that Iran was active in Syria at the outset of the revolution, supporting the regime and helping to suppress protests reports Brocar Press. A news agency close to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard has revealed that Iranian police were involved in the repression of Syrian protesters who went out in 2011 as part of the revolution against the Syrian regime. The report came days after the Syrian regimes defense minister confirmed that the Iranian Quds Force commander, Qassem Soleimani, was involved in the first battle against rebels in Homs city. The agency said in its report, Fighters Without Borders Know Them Better, that Iranian military and police forces went to Syria to help the police in repressing what it called a street rebellion, in a reference to the protests at the time. Iranian security experts gave instructions to Syrian regime fighters in order to repress the protests, according to the report. The Radio Farda site said that the report about Iranian security officials had noted that the Syrian regime had at first, lack sufficient information to deal with protesters and so for the same reason the regime had resorted to a military solution, rather than security one, which led to the situation deteriorating, according to the Al-Hurra website. Earlier this month, regime Defense Minister Ali Ayyoub revealed that the Iranian regime had militarily intervened on the regimes side from 2011, the first year of the revolution. Ayyoub said in a video recording that: I knew Qassem Soleimani since 2011. The first battle that we planned and entered together was the battle of Baba Amr in Homs city. Ayyoubs statements were an official acknowledgement of the participation of the Quds Force commander in fighting on its side, after it had been denying what the opposition had been claimingwhich was that Iranian militias and snipers had been targeting peaceful protesters. The regime denied the Iranian intervention during the first years of the revolution, while massacres were carried out against peaceful protests. It then thanked the Iranian ally officially for standing alongside it. Iran continues to form militias in Syria, with new militias formed under the name Assoud al-Mahdi. 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. DES MOINES It has become political lore, repeated on cable airwaves and by Democratic campaign consultants, even presidential candidates. In 2008, as the story goes, black voters were uncertain about Barack Obamas presidential candidacy until he won the Iowa caucuses, after which they rallied around him over the onetime front-runner, Hillary Clinton. Some Democrats had suggested that a win in next Mondays Iowa caucuses could have a similar influence among black voters in South Carolina and elsewhere, to the detriment of former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who leads among African-Americans in polls. But in reality, according to historical polling data and interviews with some advisers from the Obama campaign, Mr. Obamas political strength with black voters was stronger than many remember even as Mrs. Clinton was ahead in many polls in late 2007 and early 2008. The persistence of the narrative that Iowa made Mr. Obama has long irritated some of his advisers, who said that this recollection from 2008 had led campaigns astray since then, discounted the agency of black voters and minimized the robust grass-roots strategy that Mr. Obamas team undertook in the South. Cornell Belcher, Mr. Obamas chief pollster in South Carolina, said internal campaign polling data showed Mr. Obama surpassing Mrs. Clinton among black voters in South Carolina as early as November 2007, and leading throughout the entire state before Iowa voted. Public polling shows Mr. Obama with clear leads among black South Carolina voters through that November and December, with his numbers growing further after the Iowa caucuses. Director Cathy Yan, right in front row, talks about the new film "Birds of Prey" at a live video conference held at Yongsan CGV in Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Warner Bros. Korea By Kwak Yeon-soo "Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn," which is told entirely from Harley's point of view, is an ensemble film where each of the characters has many shining moments, according to director Cathy Yan. In a video conference held at Yongsan CGV in Seoul, Tuesday, the director and cast discussed adapting characters from DC Extended Universe comics and the theme of sisterhood. "A big takeaway from the film is that it shows raw, imperfect characters becoming empowered in the end. All characters go on their own, similar journey and later join forces to defend a young girl from a villain," Yan said. Talking about the film, Yan said that it pays homage to the entire history of the comic book, but has original elements too. "What's lovely is that although the film is inspired by the entire history of the character in the DC comic, a lot of it is based on an original story," she said. In the upcoming film, Harley is depicted as an antihero after splitting up with the Joker, with whom she first appeared in 2016's "Suicide Squad." The film is about Harley trying to push past a painful breakup, joining superheroes Black Canary, Huntress and Renee Montoya to save a young girl, Cassandra Cain, from crime lord Roman Sionis, aka Black Mask. On returning as Harley Quinn, Margot Robbie said there was so much to explore about the character that is different from what is seen in "Suicide Squad." "I didn't want to stop playing Harley because such a female ensemble action film is rare, and I love hanging out with the girl gang," Robbie said. "In the beginning of the film, Harley is in a vulnerable state, not coping well after the breakup with the Joker. However, she tries to become independent and finds herself joining forces with other female superheroes." Jurnee Smollett-Bell, who plays Black Canary, said she loved how her character encompasses duality. "There is a quality of Black Canary that's grounded, but at the same time she has compassion. As an actor, it was fun to play out both her strength and vulnerability," Smollett-Bell said. Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who plays Huntress in the film, shared that it was fascinating to learn about her character. "Physicality is much of Huntress's identity, so I spent months in physical training," Winstead said. Ella Jay Basco, who plays Cassandra Cain, explained that she tried to express the character's vulnerability until she finds Harley, her new "mother figure." Director Yan said she tried to cast actors who embody the soul of their characters. "Mary's personality shines by the end of the film and Jurnee is the moral compass in the story," she said. "It's difficult to separate Margot from Harley as both are unpredictable, willing to take risks and fully committed. Ella brought authenticity to the role." Poster for "Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn" / Courtesy of Warner Bros. Korea Officers have wrestled an injured child from the arms of an allegedly aggressive and drunk woman after she crashed into a parked truck in northwest Sydney, police say. They said the 30-year-old woman became aggressive when officers found her walking from the scene of the crash - about 9.45pm on Tuesday in Kellyville - with the preschooler in her arms. The four-year-old girl had been in the back seat of the car and sustained minor injuries, NSW Police said on Wednesday. Police officers had to wrestle four-year-old child from an alleged drunk driver who they say had just crashed into a parked car (stock image) Officers took the child from the woman following a 'short struggle', they added. The woman was charged with high-range drink driving after blowing 0.172 in a breath alcohol test. She is due to appear in Parramatta Local Court on March 5. No lockdown in Delhi for now but some curbs, says Arvind Kejriwal amid Covid surge Delhi polls: Why is BJP bringing outsiders asks Kejriwal India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 29: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the BJP of insulting the people of the national capital by bringing in "outsiders" to campaign for the February 8 assembly polls. Kejriwal said the Bharatiya Janata Party has brought 200 MPs, 70 ministers and 11 chief ministers from outside to defeat him. "They are bringing 200 MPs, 70 ministers and 11 chief ministers because people of Delhi did not support them so now they are bringing in outsiders. They are coming to defeat the people of Delhi," he said at the Gokapluri constituency while campaigning for AAP candidate Surendra Kumar. Exposed: Amit Shah tweets video to attack Arvind Kejriwal over schools "They are coming to defeat your son Kejriwal. They are coming to insult all of us. They will come and say your schools are in bad condition, your mohalla clinics are in bad shape. Will you keep quiet?" Kejriwal asked to which the audience responded with a resounding "no". Kejriwal urged people to recount the development works done in Delhi in the past five years in front of the BJP leaders when they visit different areas asking for votes. NEWS AT NOON JAN 29th, 2020 "This fight is between the two crore people of Delhi and 200 BJP MPs. When they come, recount all the works done in the last five years and send them back to their states. Do not let them insult Delhi," he said. Addressing his party supporters, Kejriwal said he has worked as an elder son of the family. "I paid the electricity and water bills like an elder son of your family, I arranged for a good education for the children of the family, I took care of the health of your family and arranged for their medicines, I arranged for pilgrimage for the elders of the family as an elder son," he said. "If they visit your area, welcome them properly, ask them they are from which state and then ask them about Delhi. Please also ask them about the number of hours that their states receive electricity and its price. And then tell them that Delhi receives 24-hour free electricity," he added. Delhi CM Kejriwal claims crime rate reduced in areas where CCTV cameras installed Kejriwal also asked people to tell the BJP leaders about mohalla clinics. "Ask them about the water bills that the people of their states receive. If they quote a price, tell them that Delhi has a free water supply. Ask them whether their states have mohalla Clinics, and show them one if need be. Ask them the results achieved by their school students, and tell them that students of Delhi have received 96 per cent. "And when all this is done, serve them tea and advise them to go back and handle their states instead of giving speeches in Delhi," he added. Kejriwal also held roadshows in Karawal Nagar. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, January 29, 2020, 7:30 [IST] US President Donald Trump's plan has prompted a lukewarm response from Europe and the UN, and a furious rebuke from key Muslim countries who denounced it as betrayal of the Palestinians. Here are some of the reactions from around to the world to the plan, which had already been resoundingly rejected by Palestinian leaders before Trump launched it on Tuesday alongside Israeli Prime Minister The Palestinian Authority Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, who has taken part in previous US-led peace talks with but stayed away Trump's proposal, vowed that "this conspiracy deal will not pass". He pledged to "resist the deal in all its forms" after meeting with various Palestinian factions in the West Bank city of Ramallah. "Our people will take it to the dustbin of history." Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell said the bloc will "study and assess" Trump's proposals on the basis of its commitment to a "negotiated and viable two-state solution that takes into account the legitimate aspirations of both the Palestinians and the Israelis."Germany, the EU's most powerful player, echoed Borrell's point by calling for a balanced approach. "Only a negotiated two-state solution, acceptable to both sides, can lead to a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said. Britain, which is leaving the EU on Friday and has long had a special relationship with Washington, gave the warmest reaction. "This is clearly a serious proposal, reflecting extensive time and effort," British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement. Earlier, Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to Trump to discuss the plans. Downing Street said the proposal "could prove a positive step forwards". The UN The United Nations said it remains committed to a two-state solution based on the borders in place before the 1967 war, when seized the West Bank and Gaza. "The position of the United Nations on the two-state solution has been defined, throughout the years, by relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions by which the Secretariat is bound," said Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Russia Russia said it would study the plan and called on Israelis and Palestinians to negotiate directly to find a "mutually acceptable compromise." Introducing a note of doubt, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said: "We do not know if the American proposal is mutually acceptable or not. We must wait for the reaction of the parties." Turkey Turkey, a strong advocate of the Palestinian cause, condemned the plan. "The United States' so-called peace plan is stillborn," Turkey's foreign ministry said in a statement. "This is an annexation plan aimed at killing a two-state solution and extorting the Palestinian territory." Iran Iran, which does not recognise and has been in a confrontation with the Trump administration, denounced the plan as a threat to regional stability. "The shameful peace plan imposed by America on the Palestinians is the treason of the century and doomed to fail", the Iranian foreign ministry said. Hezbollah Lebanon's Iranian-backed movement Hezbollah, which Washington calls a terrorist group, said the plan represented an attempt to "wipe out the Palestinian people's rights", adding that the "shameful move... could not have been made without the complicity and betrayal of a certain number of Arab regimes." UAE The United Arab Emirates, which sent its ambassador to Trump's announcement alongside Netanyahu despite not recognising the Jewish state, praised the plan. "The plan announced today offers an important starting point for a return to negotiations within a US-led framework," the UAE embassy in Washington said on Twitter. Egypt Egypt called on "the two concerned parties to undertake a careful and thorough examination of the US vision to achieve peace and open channels of dialogue". The foreign ministry added that negotiations should aim for "a comprehensive and just peace and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state". Jordan Jordan's foreign ministry said that an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders was "the only path to a comprehensive and lasting peace". A woman has been jailed for two years and eight months after she tricked her friend to take redundancy in an elaborate scam and left her 50,000 out of pocket. Helen Dove, 31, met Kimberley Baker, 43, at a riding school in St Helens, Merseyside, in January 2017 and pretended to be an adoption worker when Ms Baker told her she wanted to pursue a career in child safeguarding. Ms Baker went on to leave her job when Dove said she could help with an employment application. Helen Dove, left, pictured with Kimberley Baker. Dove met Baker at a riding school in St Helens, Merseyside, in January 2017 and pretended to be an adoption worker when Ms Baker told her she wanted to pursue a career in child safeguarding Helen Dove, who has been jailed for two years and eight months at Liverpool Crown Court Kimberley Dove pictured at horse stables. On Wednesday, Dove, of Prescot Road, St Helens, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court after she pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to two counts of fraud by false representation Dove then created an elaborate web of lies for the next seven months as she pretended to be 15 people in various roles at either Warrington Council or education watchdog Ofsted. She doctored bank statements, forged contracts of employment and faked job interviews through numerous false email accounts, said Merseyside Police. Her cash-strapped victim eventually sought other work as no job materialised but Dove prolonged the fraud as she persuaded her the start date had been delayed because of administrative errors and she would receive backdated pay. Kimberley Baker pictured with her partner Phillip Baker outside court Dove's fraudulent activity came to light when her victim carried out checks after receiving a document and identified Dove as the person sending the letter, said police. On Wednesday, Dove, of Prescot Road, St Helens, was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court after she pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to two counts of fraud by false representation. Helen Dove. Dove's fraudulent activity came to light when her victim carried out checks after receiving a document and identified Dove as the person sending the letter, said police She must also pay Ms Baker 1,500 compensation and not contact her for 10 years. Detective Sergeant Paul Kay said: "This was a really unusual case and I have never seen anything like it before in my career. "Dove made no monetary gain from this but the victim suffered unnecessary disruption and a loss of salary by Dove's ongoing actions." Robert Greenberg (center) with the Alexander String Quartet. | Photo: Courtesy of SF Performances Robert Greenberg has a difficult job: to share his love of music with an audience, with words as his only instrument. For almost 30 years, "Dr. Bob" has gone up on stage seven times a year to open for the Alexander String Quartet, explaining classical music to a lay audience. The quartet often joins him for these mini-lectures, playing some illustrative examples as Greenberg explains the music and its background. Then Greenberg leaves the stage, and the quartet takes it from the top. But don't call him a teacher. "I'm a contextualizer," he says. "And, to a certain degree, an entertainer." Greenberg grew up in the suburbs of New York City, attending Princeton University for his undergraduate degree. Afterwards, he did actually work as a teacher at a high school for a couple of years. But his passion for music never waned, and he soon found a place in the Ph.D. program in composition at UC Berkeley. He landed in Berkeley in 1978, and after just six hours, "I said to myself: 'I'm home, this is it.'" "The sky is sapphire blue," he recalls. "Everything looks magnified, like you could touch Marin with your hands from Berkeley. The air had that beautiful, pure smell you never, ever have on the East Coast. I've never left." Greenberg eventually earned his Ph.D., but rather than enter the academic rat race as a university professor, he decided to shift into composing and teaching music history to whoever would listen. In 1992, Ruth Felt, the founder and then-director of SF Performances, came up with the idea of using Greenberg's gift of gab to provide accessible, informed, yet fun program notes as part of the show. Greenberg is now the music historian in residence at SF Performances. He also pens weekly columns on his website, and he's creating a 10-lecture podcast series for Audible on Beethoven, whose 250th birthday is this year. Greenberg precedes SF Performances programs on Saturday mornings, a time slot he loves because it's an opportunity for people to come into the city and spend the day there, with no dress code or parking hassles. Story continues "It's the easiest day unless you're an orthodox Jew," he says. "But God wouldn't mind if you listened to some Beethoven for a change." Robert Greenberg (right) and the Alexander String Quartet. | Photo: Courtesy of Robert Greenberg The 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth doubles as the theme for this season's Saturday-morning series, with seven performances surveying the composer's string quartets. Greenberg says he's confident there's something fresh to say about such a well-known composer. "It's how you tell the story," he says. "Can you give information people can absorb, that's analogous to their own lives? Can you create metaphors to understand who he was?" Greenberg notes that Beethoven had a very unhappy childhood, and was aggressively ambitious and driven. "When it came to music, Ludwig had no self-doubt, but for everything else, he was plagued with fear," he explains. "The man worked like a dog on his music he wasn't a Mozart, who sat down and just wrote it down." Greenberg lives in Oakland's Montclair neighborhood. He's a father of four and a soon-to-be grandfather he has grown children who are 33 and 30, while his younger children are 11 and 13. "I hang out a lot at the dinner table, or doing homework," he notes. The musical tastes of younger people do not scare or faze Greenberg. Hip-hop, for example, allows him to educate and contextualize via the blues, which developed after the Civil War in the American South. The genre has diverse roots: West African micro-tonal melody, West African polyrhythms and European instruments and harmonic practices. "Rap is 20th-century blues," he explains. "We've got protest poetry, set to rhythms of African drumming, where an American underclass finds outlet in a music of protest. It's a safety valve. It's a way of dealing with issues that a community has endured for centuries." He's also sanguine about why teens embrace hip-hop, rather than, say, Beethoven. "Teenage kids are filled with angst: their bodies are changing, their minds are changing, they don't want to be like their parents," Greenberg notes. "They're trying to find something cool and hip and modern they can embrace, and that reflects their own misgivings and foolish anger. I take a certain amount of solace in that knowledge." A knowledge that he's always willing to share. Robert Greenberg and the Alexander String Quartet will next appear this Saturday, January 25 at Herbst Theater (401 Van Ness Ave.) Tickets start at $45. SALEM, Ore. Officials at the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) underscored on Tuesday that a Trump administration rule change now in effect across the country flies in the face of the agency's mission to help people receive adequate healthcare. "This rule is in direct conflict with our agencys mission which is to help people and communities achieve optimum physical, mental and social well-being and improve access to quality, affordable health care," OHA said. For more information on the programs affected by this new rule: https://t.co/VKEH6PJM5t We encourage anyone who has questions/concerns to seek counsel from a qualified immigration attorney: https://t.co/bGLOHfz9iB. OR Health Authority (@OHAOregon) January 28, 2020 The rule change will expand the concept of public charge, making it more difficult for immigrants seeking a green card or visa to qualify if they have used most forms of Medicaid, food stamps, or housing vouchers. Previously the rule applied to a much more narrow spectrum of public assistance. While the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services first tried to impliment the rule change back in August, legal challenges blocked it from going into effect for months. On Monday, the Supreme Court allowed it to go forward while the case continues to be argued. "The Supreme Court on Monday issued a ruling that lifted the injunction on the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys public charge rule a rule that makes it more difficult for immigrants to get green cards," OHA said. "Federal appeals courts had previously issued injunctions blocking the rule." "Monday's ruling means the policy can go into effect in Oregon and every state, except for Illinois which is covered by a separate injunction," the agency continued. "The lawsuits are not over, but the Supreme Courts decision allows the rule to go into effect during the litigation." The agency went on to list types of public assistance in Oregon and around the country that will be affected by the public charge rule as well as those for which it does not apply. Benefits now included under public charge: Non-emergency Oregon Health Plan (i.e., Medicaid) coverage for non-pregnant adults 21 and older. Medicaid-funded long-term care. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or food stamps. Federal, state or local cash assistance programs. This includes: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Section 8 rental assistance (i.e., housing choice vouchers). Project-based Section 8 housing and subsidized housing. Federal and state programs not affected by public charge: Oregon Health Plan coverage for youth younger than 21 (i.e., Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance Program, or CHIP). Oregon Health Plan coverage for people who are pregnant including 60 days after giving birth (i.e., Medicaid, Citizen-Alien Waived Emergent Medical (CAWEM) Plus, etc.). Oregon MothersCare (OMC) program. Emergency Oregon Health Plan coverage for people of all ages (i.e., CAWEM). Oregons Cover All Kids program. Special education services funded by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that Medicaid covers. Early Head Start and Head Start/Oregon PreKindergarten. Employment Related Day-Care child-care reimbursement. School based health services for school-aged children. Free and reduced School Lunch Program (exception: the new rule would consider this if there was a referral to this program through SNAP). Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) supplemental nutrition program. Commercial health insurance premium subsidies through Oregons Health Insurance Marketplace. Oregon Food Bank programs and services. Older Americans Act (OAA) programs. State-funded programs to aid older adults and people with disabilities (e.g., Oregon Project Independence). Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy (LIS). Many other health and social services programs not listed here. "OHA encourages anyone who has questions or concerns about how public charge may affect them or members of their family to seek counsel from a qualified immigration attorney," the agency said. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC has shut down Panda Supermarket, Jabi in abundance of caution considering Coronavirus. FCCPC says it found out that the supermarket located at Jabi, discriminated and had a concealed area for Asian nationals. Read Also: Coronavirus Spreads To 15 Countries With 106 Persons Dead It says credible reports found also that seafood and animals were imported illegally from China discovered in the supermarket. In a tweet, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), which is the apex consumer protection agency in Nigeria, wrote: UPDATE: FCCPC inspected Panda Supermarket; Jabi on credible reports that it discriminated & had a concealed area for Asian nationals. Allegation confirmed, seafood & animals imported illegally from China discovered. Store closed in abundance of caution considering Coronavirus. Products with expired & irregular shelf life were also discovered at Panda Supermarket, Jabi, Abuja yesterday. Regulatory activities to remove all offensive products from the Supermarket continues. See post below New appointments at rose spirit brand Lanique Fast-growing spirit brand Lanique has made two major new appointments to its team. The company has hired Claudio Iucolino as brand ambassador and Jaala Pickering as events and partnerships manager. Folllwing the first distillation of its trademark pink spirit, made with rose essence, in 2015, Lanique has increased in popularity. It is currently growing at 130 per cent year-on-year, prompting strategic team expansion. Claudio has more than seven years' experience at leading London bars, including at Inception Group and Chiltern Firehouse, and was a finalist or winner in many international bartending and cocktail competitions in 2018 and 2019. In his role as brand ambassador, Claudio will focus on sales leads and new accounts, on-trade training and new product development as well as creating and driving new cocktail listings. Jaala has a wealth of drinks industry experience, including at creative agency RPM where she worked with brands including Diageo and Heineken. She joins Lanique from WiseHead Productions, where she was global brand activation manager. As events and partnerships manager, Jaala will be responsible for identifying and managing brand partnerships, ensuring consistency across global marketing channels, and managing events and activations. 29 January 2020 - Bethany Whymark Current terms dont benefit city The city of Grand Coulee wants to renegotiate a contract under which city police provide law enforcement services to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for nearly $600,000 a year. The city is currently operating on a six-month extension on a contract that expired in November of 2019, a contract in which the citys police provide additional security at the Grand Coulee Dam. That contract adds fo... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Made Anthony Iswara (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 12:46 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20617da03 1 Business Indonesia,Krakatau-Steel,bank-mandiri,bni,bank-BRI,BCA,CIMB-Niaga,imports,China Free State-owned steelmaker Krakatau Steel has received approval from its creditors to restructure its loans totaling US$2 billion (Rp 27 trillion) by, among other changes, rescheduling repayment to 2027 in order to be able to revive its business. Krakatau Steel president director Silmy Karim said in Jakarta on Tuesday that the debt restructuring would cut interest payments to $466 million from $847 million and cut costs by around $685 until 2027. Today, we have delivered on one of the ministers key performance indicators, boasted Silmy, referring to State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Minister Erick Thohirs promise to improve Krakatau Steels finances within his first 100 days in office. The reorganization could save the countrys largest steelmaker from bankruptcy. The debt restructuring agreements with 10 local and foreign banks were signed in stages from Sept. 30, 2019, to Jan.12. The creditors are Bank Mandiri with total loans of $618.29 million, Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) with $425.92 million, Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) with $337.39 million, ICBC Indonesia with 44.27 million, Exim Bank (LPEI) with $79.83 million, Bank Central Asia (BCA) with $48.69 million, Bank DBS Indonesia with $48.62 million, Bank OCBC NISP with $138.66 million, Standard Chartered Bank with $25.62 million and CIMB Niaga with loans of $238.34 million. Erick called the move the largest debt restructuring in Indonesian history after mistakenly citing the figure of Rp 40 trillion ($2.9 billion) on Tuesday morning instead of the supposed Rp 27 trillion or $2 billion. He later clarified, saying the earlier figure had also accounted for the company's subsidiary restructuring. Erick acknowledged Krakatau Steels efforts to handle its liabilities but warned that the move alone would not solve the companys longstanding problems. I dont want this to be merely labeled as the largest loan restructuring in Indonesian history. But whats next? Erick asked. After the restructuring, the operational activities should be proper, dont let there be any problems later on. Responding to the prompt, Silmy of Krakatau Steel said the company would scrutinize its subsidiaries to determine their profitability. He also assured the minister that it would optimize operations and focus on steel-related business ventures going forward. As part of the restructuring, Slimy said the company would transfer about 2,000 employees to its subsidiaries to make the company more efficient and productive. It initially led people to believe that the company would lay off thousands of employees, which the company quickly denied. Up until the third quarter of 2019, the steelmakers losses increased by 572 percent year-on-year (yoy) to nearly $212 million from about $37 million in the equivalent period of 2018. The company's revenue over the same nine-month period slumped 17.5 percent yoy to around $1.05 billion. Then-vice president Jusuf Kalla said in July 2019 that outdated technology and management problems meant local steel producers were unable to compete with their Chinese rivals, which could sell their products in the Indonesian market at lower prices. The Indonesian Iron and Steel Industry Association (IISIA) has expressed concern over the influx of imported steel and urged the government to issue a trade policy to protect the local steel industry from cheaper imported products. Imports of iron and steel continue to increase from year to year. According to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), steel imports increased by 6.7 percent to 6.3 million tons in 2018. During the year, iron and steel were the third-largest import product with an import value of $10.25 billion, or 6.45 percent of the countrys total imports. Iron and steel imports totaled 5 million tons in the January-September period and were estimated reach 6.7 million tons for the full year of 2019, which would mark an increase of 7.5 percent from the preceding year and cost an estimated $7.63 billion. In addition to the influx of Chinese steel, suspected bribery related to project procurement also rocked the state-owned steelmaker, allegedly involving the company's former production and technology director, Wisnu Kuncoro, and three other executives. IndiGrid, India's first power sector infrastructure investment trust (InvIT), has approved the acquisition of East North Interconnection Company Ltd (ENICL) transmission company at a value of Rs 1,020 crore. The acquisition will be funded by internal accruals, proceeds from the preference issue done in May 2019 and new debt. It will increase assets under management of IndiGrid by 10 per cent to Rs 1,210 crore. ENICL is part of Inter-State Transmission Scheme (ISTS) network and consists of two 400 kilovolt transmission lines with a total 900 circuit km across Assam, Bihar and West Bengal. It is a strategic asset which is crucial for power exchange across the northeastern and eastern region of India. IndiGrid had signed an extension of the right of first offer (ROFO) deed with Sterlite Power for ENICL. "Our strategy is to focus on accretive acquisitions to provide superior total returns to investors," said IndiGrid's Chief Executive Officer Harsh Shah. "We are committed to growing IndiGrid with the accretive acquisition of operating projects with long-term stable cash flows and low counterparty risks to achieve Rs 30,000 crore of assets under management by 2022 while providing predictable and growing distributions to our investors," he said in a statement on Wednesday. IndiGrid owns eight operating projects consisting of 18 transmission lines with more than 4,900 circuit km length and four substations with 7,735 megavolt amp transformation capacity. It is managed by Sterlite Investment Managers Ltd which is majority-owned by KKR. . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. An English daily journalist and his mother were killed in a road accident at Avanashi in neighbouring Tirupur district on Wednesday, police said. R K Rajasekharan, the Tirupur correspondent of 'Times of India' along with his family members was travelling to Mettupalayam in car when a government bus rammed into the vehicle, killing his mother on the spot. The journalist succumbed to injuries at a private hospital here, police said. His sister and two-year old nephew, who were injured in the mishap, were hospitalised, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Private sector lender Yes Bank said on Wednesday that India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) has maintained its long-term issuer rating of A on rating watch negative (RWN) and withdrawn its short-term issuer rating of A1. Ind-Ra continues to await developments on Yes Bank's equity raising which in the agency's opinion is critical for providing sufficient cushion to the possible credit cost impact from the stressed asset pool on regulatory capital requirement in the short- and medium-term. This rating action is a follow up of the rating rationale published by the agency on December 18 last year where Ind-Ra had stated that the rating will be reviewed in January 2020. The agency has withdrawn the bank's short-term rating since there is no outstanding against the same. Although the liquidity position of the bank seemed adequate at September-end (liquidity coverage ratio of 114 per cent), Ind-Ra said that in the absence of any swift capital raise, the bank's ability to manage its asset and liability maturities could get tested further. The bank continues to remain in discussions with various potential investors. However, Ind-Ra believes raising sizeable capital in the near term could be challenging and require various regulatory and other approvals. The rating will be reviewed again next month. For rating AT1 instruments, Ind-Ra considers the discretionary component, coupon omission risk, and write-down or conversion risk as the key parameters. The agency has recognised the unique going-concern loss-absorption features of these bonds and differentiated them from the bank's senior debt (by two notches in this case). Ind-Ra envisages coupon deferrals and principal write-down risk as a modest possibility in view of Yes Bank's revenue reserve buffers. . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UPDATE: Woman to get minimum 25 years in daughters malnourishment death GRAND RAPIDS, MI The tiny girls emaciated body, lying on a urine-soaked mattress in a crib, shocked jurors. Her fathers reaction to finding her lifeless body was equally stunning: He called his parents, both lawyers, searched details of a rappers kidnapping on the internet then texted a man about selling a goat. At least 90 minutes passed before he called 911. If it was my child, Id have been on the phone right away calling 911, a 43-year-old female juror, who asked that her name be withheld, told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. He was searching things on a rapper on the internet and tried to sell a goat. Who tries to sell a goat? Your child just passed away. Seth Welch, 28, was convicted Monday, Jan. 27, of felony murder and first-degree child abuse in the death of Mary Welch. His wife and the girls mother, Tatiana Fusari, 29, is scheduled for trial on the same charges on Monday, Feb. 3. Felony murder carries a mandatory penalty of life in prison without hope for parole. The juror said it was hard to imagine the girls nightmare. Her body was so broken she could not move her arms and legs. Her cries went unanswered and upset her father, testimony showed. She was left alone at least 19 1/2 hours before her father found her dead. There was a hole in her bedroom door that he used to look in on her. It was quite horrific, looking at all of the pictures and everything else, she said. You see the kids from Ethiopia starving (on television). This was even worse than that. There was nothing left of her. Investigators said photos of the girl were as disturbing as they had seen. A veteran crime-scene investigator wiped tears on the witness stand. As a prosecutor you see a lot of bad things, Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker wrote on Facebook. This case was about as bad as it gets. The photos of this baby were horrible, I can't imagine what it was like for the jurors to look at them, not being used to things like this. Thank you to them for their service. Assistant Prosecutor Kimberly Richardson said in her closing argument that the victim was so malnourished she had no muscle - and died a torturous death. The juror said she wont forget the photographs. Jurors reviewed evidence before reaching a verdict in an hour, 20 minutes, after three days of testimony. Everyone was convinced of Welchs guilt, the juror said. We didnt want to send somebody to prison unless they really are guilty, she said. The victim weighed only eight pounds at death. Jurors could not help but notice Welch appeared overweight in recorded police interviews soon after the death. The 5-foot-8 Welch weighed 250 pounds at the time of his arrest, Kent County Jail records showed. He had money to get himself food, the juror said. He appeared to have lost weight while locked up. Inmates cant have belts in jail - his pants were visibly loose when he entered the courtroom each day before jurors were seated. Jurors did not think Welch showed remorse. His sobs during a doctors testimony were probably meant to distract, rather than a genuine emotion, the juror said. We really didnt buy it, she said. He didnt have any tears. None of us saw any tears. The juror found many troubling aspects. She said the girls condition had to be apparent for weeks or months. She doesnt know why the parents didnt help her. She is convinced that others family or friends had opportunities to intervene. Nobody did," she said. Also on MLive: This is torture:' Seth Welchs baby suffered cruel, starvation death, prosecutor says Man who told 911 that daughters death just another day goes on trial Daughters dead: Just another day. It is what it is, dad tells 911 Investigator emotional about babys death, dad had no apparent reaction to loss The National Republican Senate Committee on Wednesday criticized Georgia Representative Doug Collins for entering the states U.S. Senate race against fellow Republican Kelly Loeffler. The shortsightedness in this decision is stunning, the NRSC said in a statement. All he has done is put two Senate seats, multiple House seats, and Georgias 16 electoral votes in play. The NRSC stands firmly behind Sen. Kelly Loeffler and urges anyone who wants to re-elect President Trump, hold the Senate GOP majority, and stop socialism to do the same. Collins also drew fire from the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC that works to advance a Republican majority in the Senate. Its so selfish of Doug Collins to be promoting himself when President Trump needs a unified team and Senator Loeffler is such a warrior for the President, SLF president Steven Law said in a statement. As weve said before, Senator Loeffler is an outsider like Trump, not just another DC politician. Well have her back if she needs us. Georgia governor Brian Kemp appointed Loeffler in December after Republican senator Johnny Isakson retired due to ongoing health issues. Kemp reportedly chose Loeffler, a multimillionaire businesswoman, to broaden GOP appeal to suburban and female voters. However, in doing so Kemp bucked President Trump and allies, who preferred that Collins be appointed to the Senate. Collins was a staunch supporter of Trump during House impeachment hearings. Loeffler must win a 2020 special election in order to complete Isaksons term. The freshman senator, who has been criticized by conservatives for her record on abortion, has strongly condemned the effort to impeach the president since taking office. More from National Review Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas will visit the UN within two weeks to address the Security Council on his rejection of the new US Mideast plan, his ambassador to the body has said. At that time a draft resolution will be submitted to the council, Riyad Mansour told reporters on Wednesday, without specifying a date for the visit. He said Abbas would take part in an Arab League meeting on Saturday and an African Union summit in February. Before coming to the UN the president might also meet with European Union officials, Mansour said. The diplomat expressed hope that by then agreement would have been reached on a draft resolution. Palestinians have rejected the Israeli-Palestinian peace plan unveiled Tuesday by President Donald Trump. Among other concessions to Israel, it would give the Jewish state control over Jerusalem as its "undivided" capital and let Israel annex the settlements it has built on Palestinian land in the West Bank. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Express News Service The Indian Air Force (IAF) has reaffirmed that it was Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman who brought down the technologically superior F-16 of the Pakistan Air Force after a brief hot aerial pursuit before his MiG 21 was brought down on February 27 2019. Abhinandan Varthaman was awarded the Vir Chakra on Independence Day last year. The events of aerial battle have come out for the first time which elaborates minute by minute sequence. 'Despite the enemys immense numerical and technological superiority, Wing Commander Varthaman proceeded to courageously engage the enemy aircraft package with utter disregard to his personal safety,' mentions the citation of the gallantry award. India had decided to strike the Jaish-e-Mohammed training facility at Balakot in a pre-dawn mission on February 26 last year. Pakistan Air Force launched a retaliatory strike the very next day penetrating the Indian Air Space into the Nowshera Sector where the aerial duel between the two air forces took place. The Pakistan fighters included the advanced F-16 and JF-17 fighters and they were armed with beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missiles and advanced high-calibre air-to-ground stand-off weapons. Wing Commander Varthaman was part of the mission launched from the Srinagar airbase to intercept the incoming enemy fighters. The Citation mentions Varthamans quick thinking and says, 'Displaying exceptional air combat acumen and knowledge of the enemys tactics, Wing Commander Varthaman scanned the low-altitude airspace with his airborne intercept radar and picked up an enemy aircraft that was flying low to ambush the Indian fighter interceptors,.' He alerted his other mission members and mounted charge on the enemy. 'Wing Commander Vardhaman alerted the other formation pilots towards this surprise threat. He then consolidated the riposte by gathering his wingman in an offensive formation against the hostile Pakistani aircraft now dropping weapons on Indian Army positions,' it says. As per the citation, 'This audacious and aggressive manoeuvre forced the enemy aircraft into tactical chaos. All the enemy aircraft thereafter turned back, including the rear echelon aircraft who were yet to launch their air-to-ground weapons,.' Wing Commander Varthaman, in his MiG-21, then pursued a 'retreating enemy fighter/bomber aircraft, and in the ensuing aerial battle 'shot down the F-16 with his onboard missile', mentions citation. The enemy from its side employed its all the tactical moves and fired multiple missiles. It was one of which hit his MiG-21 and led to his ejection in the enemy territory. Mentioning his bravery the citation says,'Despite being captured by the enemy, he continued to display exceptional resolve in dealing with the adversary in a stoic, brave and dignified manner till he was repatriated on March 1,' Further, the citation adds, 'His actions raised the morale of the armed forces in general and the IAF in particular. He showed conspicuous courage, demonstrated gallantry in the face of the enemy while disregarding personal safety and displayed an exceptional sense of duty.' A picture taken in a laboratory shows a biohazard sticker on the entrance of a room. Photo: Getty Images Europes first case of human-to-human transmitted coronavirus was confirmed in Germany on Tuesday. The infected 33-year-old man from the Starnberg area of Bavaria caught the virus from a company colleague visiting from China. Both work at automotive supplier Webasto, headquartered near Munich. The Robert Koch Institute said that the case in Germany is the first recorded instance of the virus being transmitted outside Asia. The Bavarian health ministry said that there appears to be no more cases in Germany, and that the risk of the infection spreading is low. The Chinese employee from Shanghai had come to Webastos German headquarters for a seminar on 21 January, but started to feel sick on the flight home on 23 January, head of the Bavarian state office for health and food safety, Andreas Zapf, said on Tuesday. READ MORE: 'Mild' rebound for stocks despite rising coronavirus death toll From left: Bavarian health and nursing minister Melanie Hum, president of state office for health and food safety Dr Andreas Zapf, and head of the task force of infectious diseases Dr Martin Hoch address a news conference in Munich, after Germany declared its first confirmed case of the coronavirus on 28 January. Photo: Michael Dalder/Reuters She tested positive for the coronavirus on her return to China. The womans parents, whom she had met in the days before she travelled to Germany, were from the Wuhan region of China, where the virus originated. With the death toll from the coronavirus rising, Chinese president Xi Jinping and World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus have met in Beijing to talk about how to protect foreigners and Chinese people from the illness and explore alternatives to evacuations, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said today. The coronavirus has killed more than 100 people in China so far, and infected over 4,500. It has spread to 13 other countries, including the US, Australia, Singapore, and Taiwan. Americans have been advised by the US government to avoid going to China, and Facebook has told staff not to travel to the country. A number of big car firms are planning to evacuate their employees: French automotive group PSA said it will bring home French workers from Wuhan, while Honda and Nissan said they will evacuate their Japanese staff from the city, which is at the epicentre of the virus. Story continues At a press conference on Tuesday afternoon in Berlin, federal health minister Jens Spahn said that Germany was very well prepared to deal with the virus, and no one should panic adding, theres no need for excessive worry. READ MORE: China builds hospital in just four days as coronavirus death toll passes 100 Summit in DRC comes almost two weeks after world powers met in Berlin to end foreign meddling in North African state. African Union leaders are expected to renew calls for greater involvement in efforts to resolve Libyas long-running conflict at a summit held on Thursday in the Republic of the Congo. The meeting in Brazzaville will be held almost two weeks after international stakeholders including many who back opposite sides in the months-long battle over Libyas capital, Tripoli gathered in Berlin and agreed to push the warring sides for a permanent ceasefire and respect an existing United Nations arms embargo. The oil-rich North African country has been beset by war and insecurity since the 2011 overthrow and killing of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi during a NATO-backed uprising, with rival factions and militias fighting over control of the county. Libya has since been split into rival western and eastern administrations: the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) holds Tripoli in northwestern Libya, while a rival administration in the east is aligned with renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar, whose forces in April 2019 launched a military offensive to seize the capital. The whole African continent is worried about the consequences of what is happening in Libya, Senegalese President Macky Sall said on Tuesday during a news conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Dakar. Sall called for the blocs involvement in any search for a solution, which he said could only be political. Proliferation of arms The push for greater AU say is led by the countries bordering Libya, especially in the Sahel region, which fear the crisis will have a greater knock-on effect on an escalating conflict with armed groups operating across the region including in Chad, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Mauritania. The worsening violence in the region involves fighters linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS) and last year killed more than 4,000 people. At the root of the Sahelian countries concerns is the number of arms flowing into the region from Libya. Theres no doubt that the 2011 war in Libya had ripple effects across the Sahel in the form of weapons being transferred from Libya into neighbouring countries to the south, Claudia Gazzini, senior Libya analyst for the International Crisis Group, told Al Jazeera. 200120173256106 What that is creating is a different perspective between Sahel countries and European countries on what the solution in Libya should be, she added. Divisions among European countries, particularly France and Italy, have hampered efforts to find a solution to the conflict, with Rome backing the UN-brokered GNA and Paris widely seen as supportive of Haftar. [In Africa,] Chad sees Haftar as the necessary strongman for Libya. It has encouraged other African countries to take a pro-Haftar line at the expense of support for the GNA who Sahel countries do not see as a strong and long-term counterpart, Gazzini said. Armed groups operating in the Sahel, especially Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), are also able to find safe haven within some of most Libyas most unstable regions, where aligned armed groups hold territory. Heni Nsaibia, a senior researcher for the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), said the links between Libya and the Sahel consist of movements by Sahelian [mostly JNIM] militants back and forth between the two locations, especially along Libyas border with Niger and Algeria. The links to Ubari are strong, he told Al Jazeera. Located in southwestern Libya, Ubari has long been used by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and Ansar Dine fighters for leisure and recovery. Several senior AQIM trainers have been repeatedly targeted by US drone attacks there. Niger meanwhile shares border with Nigeria to the south, which has allowed armed groups from all three countries to form a geographical chain from North to sub-Saharan Africa for example, Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) was recently incorporated into Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) or Boko Haram, which has its origins in Nigeria. The Sahel is suffering from this crisis. Proliferation of arms in the region has facilitated the spread of terrorism, Chads Foreign Minister Mahamat Zene Cherif said last week. Consistently fallen flat The Brazzaville gathering will not be the first time the AU has sought to play a more prominent role in solving the Libyan crisis. Previous efforts however have failed, including a bid last year for a joint UN-AU envoy for Libya, and Thursdays meeting of the AU High Level Committee on Libya looks unlikely to offer a breakthrough. The AU has been in and out of peace negotiations in Libya for the last 10 years, Judd Devermont, director of the Africa Program at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, told Al Jazeera. The African Union regards Libya as within its mandate, even though its peace initiatives there have consistently fallen flat, he said. Libya remains a top priority for the UN Security Council and so far the body has given little attention to AU calls for more involvement. 200119162228201 Egypt, another stakeholder in the peace talks which shares a border with Libya, sees Libya as an Arab issue and is also unlikely to give backing to any AU-brokered deal. When peace talks started nine years ago, African presidents who tried to become involved in brokering peace found difficulties establishing links with rebels based in Benghazi. AU countries meanwhile have only a small diplomatic presence in Libya and in neighbouring Tunisia, where many of the international stakeholders embassies are located and meetings on peace in Libya usually take place. They keep a relatively low profile apart from demanding a greater role to solve the conflict, Gazzini said. This demand is not matched with political knowledge about the conflict. New Delhi, Jan 30 : Former Congres President Rahul Gandhi has come out in suport of comedian Kunal Kamra, who has been banned by four airlines for allegedly accosting and a heckling journalist on board a flight. He has attacked the airlines for their acts. Gandhi tweeted "The ban imposed on #kunalkamra by 4 airlines is the act of a coward leveraging his influence with the Govt to silence a critic.' Rahul Gandhi also took on the journalist without taking his name. "Those who use their "news" cameras as 24x7 tools of propaganda, should show some spine when the camera is turned on them. " Harmful emissions from the agriculture sector are increasingly scrutinized as the climate changes. Now, energy companies want to help New Mexico dairy farmers reduce emissions. Virginia-based Dominion Energy and Vanguard Renewables Ag of Massachusetts have announced a $200 million partnership to convert methane from cow manure into renewable natural gas. The money will fund projects at dairy farms in New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and Georgia. This is a huge win for the environment, for family farms and for our customers, Ryan Childress, director of gas partnership business development at Dominion Energy, told the Journal. Its exciting to cross industries to team up agriculture and energy. Agriculture produced 11% of New Mexicos greenhouse gas emissions in 2018, according to the states climate change task force report released in November. As manure breaks down, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas with a greater warming potential than carbon dioxide. Instead of allowing methane to escape into the atmosphere, the companies capture the gas on the farms by placing manure in anaerobic digester tanks with large inflatable bladders on top. Low-pressure pipes transport the gas to a nearby Dominion-run processing facility, where it is cleaned to industry standards and goes into existing distribution systems as a power source for homes and businesses. Natural gas collected from each cluster of dairy farms could power 2,800 to 4,000 homes. Dairy farmers will receive payments from Dominion and Vanguard for the manure they place into the digester tanks, which the companies praised as a way to provide another revenue stream to local farmers. This allows the next generation of dairymen to focus on sustainable practices and better nutrient management, said Kevin Chase, CEO of Vanguard Renewables Ag. This is a 100% investment by our companies, at no cost to dairy owners. After methane is removed from the manure, the dairy farmers can use the nutrient-rich waste on their farms for fertilizer. The companies worked with the Dairy Farmers of America to identify where dense clusters of dairies would make transport to processing facilities more efficient. Final locations of the farm projects havent been announced, but Chase did say southeast New Mexico is ideal for methane capture. Nearly 40 regional dairies supply milk to the Southwest Cheese Plant in Clovis. Were excited to collaborate on this opportunity with Dominion Energy and (to be) helping our family farm owners in their commitment to sustainability and renewable energy, the Dairy Farmers of America said in a social media statement. Vanguard has five anaerobic digesters on dairy farms in Massachusetts and one under construction in Vermont. Dominion and Vanguard will soon file for project permits with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, and Chase said the goal is to break ground on the digesters this year. The $200 million could fund projects at 10 to 20 farm clusters, depending on the size of each dairy. Theresa Davis is a Report for America corps member covering water and the environment for the Albuquerque Journal. Welcome back to Tech Chronicle. If you want a newsletter that never fakes it but will help you make it, please do subscribe. I wrote last week about Hoan Ton-That, the founder of a facial-recognition startup with troubling implications for our privacy and a troubling track record in tech. There have been a few developments: Twitter has sent his company, Clearview AI, a cease-and-desist letter ordering it to stop scraping tweets for images. And BuzzFeed News reported that many of Clearviews claims about its work with public-safety agencies arent real. Twitter has taken more action against Ton-That than it has revealed. In addition to the cease-and-desist, it has suspended @_hoan_, an account that old tweets and the Internet Archive clearly show took the place of Ton-Thats original account, @hoan. (Exchanges between Ton-That and his then-wife, Chantelle Tibbs, with whom he also performed in a band, still appear in Twitters archive.) A Twitter spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on the suspension, nor did a spokeswoman for Ton-That. So what is Clearview? A clear and present danger to our privacy with billions of images scraped from the web, or a startup with unproven technology and a customer list made up of exaggerations and prevarications? Heck, maybe its both. The strategy of imagining a future and then creating it and hoping no one notices the messy gaps in between is as old as Silicon Valley. A microprocessor, a website, a smartphone: These things all seemed impossible until someone built them. Mark Lennihan / Associated Press 2014 The problem comes when you decide to drag other people into your future. Like Pim Techamuanvivit of Kin Khao, the high-end Thai restaurant in downtown San Francisco. She doesnt do delivery or takeout orders, so she was surprised to see her restaurant listed on DoorDash and Grubhub. Were still untangling the web of blunders and deceit that may have led to this result apparently parking lots, machine learning and SoftBank are somehow involved but the economic motivation is clear. Grubhub, a Chicago company which is publicly traded and hence answerable to investors, used to be the biggest player in online food delivery, and it only worked with restaurants it had vetted and signed deals with. Then Softbank invested $535 million in San Franciscos DoorDash in 2018, and the smaller rival started pulling ahead in market share. Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle 2016 One key differentiator DoorDash had was that it would list any restaurant, whether or not it had a revenue-splitting deal or even the restaurants permission. That meant that consumers saw more choices when they popped open DoorDashs app or did a web search. The downside is that DoorDash would sometimes send a courier to a restaurant when it wasnt even open, or with an order for items it didnt serve and bear all the costs, since the restaurant wasnt paying a commission. In-N-Out Burger sued DoorDash in 2015 over unauthorized deliveries (the lawsuit was later dismissed). Despite all these drawbacks, Grubhub decided to mimic the startup. In a startling frank October letter to shareholders, Grubhubs top executives wrote: For restaurant inventory, we will rapidly expand our recent pilots of putting non-partnered restaurants on the platform. For reasons weve discussed many times, we believe non-partnered options are the wrong long-term answer for diners, restaurants and shareholders. It is expensive for everyone, a suboptimal diner experience and rife with operational challenges. Dreamstime/TNS Suboptimal is putting it mildly. Techamuanvivits complaint drew widespread attention, with other restaurateurs saying they found themselves subject to Grubhubs new, non-partnered approach to business. Its one thing to say youre coming out with an app next year, even if you know the delivery date might slip. Its quite another to make the world your unwilling beta testers grabbing social media photos or restaurant menus and doing with them whatever seems convenient at the time. Owen Thomas, othomas@sfchronicle.com Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Quote of the week His job is to Viking a town and get every resource out of it. Its like killing sheep versus shearing them. An unnamed colleague of Apple executive Tony Blevins to the Wall Street Journal, complimenting his cost-cutting skills Coming up More tech earnings: Facebook and PayPal Wednesday, followed by Alphabet Monday. What Im reading Joseph Cox on the secretive market for extremely detailed data about your web browsing. (Motherboard) Mallory Moench explains how scooter-rental company Lime is using data to detect when users illegally ride the vehicles on sidewalks. (San Francisco Chronicle) Alex Nicoll and Meghan Morris report that WeWorks beer taps have permanently shut down; the company had previously stopped serving beer to tenants in California over regulatory concerns. (Business Insider) Tech Chronicle is a thrice-weekly newsletter from Owen Thomas, The Chronicles business editor, and the rest of the tech team. Follow along on Twitter: @techchronicle and Instagram: @techchronicle New rule makes it legal to grow hemp THAILAND: The cabinet has pushed through a ministerial regulation allowing hemp to be produced, imported and exported after the Public Health Ministry sought to remove the plant from the list of narcotics last year. agricultureenvironment By Bangkok Post Wednesday 29 January 2020, 09:52AM New regulation allows hemp to be produced, imported and exported in Thailand. Photo: AFP Deputy government spokesperson Traisulee Traisoranakul said the new regulation will override the existing one governing the use of hemp. She added that the new regulation will allow individuals and juristic entities registered in Thailand to grow hemp for commercial use. To be eligible, juristic entities must be at least two-thirds owned by Thais or have as many on the executive board. Once permitted, individuals or juristic entities can produce, sell, possess, import or export hemp. This move aims to have hemp promoted as a cash crop and to improve indigenous Thai varieties. Similarly, families that traditionally use hemp material to make clothes will be allowed to devote up to 1 rai to the plant, provided they have a licence. In July last year, the Public Health Ministry granted permission to the Highland Research and Development Institute to grow local hemp strains in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nan, Tak and Phetchabun provinces. Most hemp strains in Thailand have outstanding fibre quality with low levels of THC and CBD - two of the main cannabinoids found in cannabis - the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said. The FDA believes the country will benefit because the plant can be used as a key ingredient in many food and cosmetic products. AKRON, Ohio Akron Municipal Court is partnering with the Summit County Historical Society to offer Leap Day weddings Saturday, Feb. 29 at the historic Perkins Stone Mansion. Akron Municipal Court Judge Annalisa S. Williams will officiate the weddings from 10 a.m. to noon at the historical mansion, which is located at 550 Copley Road in Akron. Built in 1837, the Perkins Stone Mansion was built by Colonel Simon Perkins, son of Akrons founder, General Simon Perkins, according to the Summit County Historical Societys website. The Summit County Historical Society bought the house in 1945 and later turned it into a house museum. A collection of vintage wedding dresses will be on display at the mansion during the event. The court has offered off-site Halloween and Valentines Day weddings for several years, but this is the first time the court is offering Leap Day weddings. Akron Municipal Court chose to celebrate Leap Day weddings and partner with the Summit County Historical Society because Leap Day is unique, said Community Outreach and Grants Coordinator Nicole Hagy. We meet a lot of couples who want to mark the happiest day of their lives in a unique way and we thought this would be the perfect opportunity for everyone involved. Our off-site weddings have always received a wonderful response from area couples and we are excited that 2020 has a Leap Day for us to celebrate. A limited number of appointments are available and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. To secure an appointment, follow these steps: Obtain a marriage license from Summit County Probate Court. Then, pay a cash-only ceremony fee at the Akron Municipal Court Clerks Office in Room 837 of the Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center, 217 South High Street. The fee is $25 for couples who live in the courts jurisdiction (Akron, Fairlawn, Bath, Richfield, Springfield Township, Lakemore and the Summit County portion of Mogadore). The fee is $40 for couples who live outside the courts jurisdiction. After paying the fee, take the receipt to Room 901 in the Stubbs building to secure an appointment. All appointments must be scheduled and paid for before Feb. 29. Wedding ceremony fees will be deposited into the courts general fund. Professional photographers are not permitted at the venue. For more information about scheduling, contact Akron Municipal Court Chief Service Bailiff Patricia Williams at 330-375-2592. Want more Akron news? Sign up for cleveland.coms Rubber City Daily, an email newsletter delivered at 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. War criminal John Demjanjuk is pointed out in a photograph. Photo: TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP via Getty Images Historians in Germany have released previously unseen photos of the Nazi Sobibor death camp, including what they believe are images of John Demjanjuk, who was sentenced in 2011 for his role in the killing of 28,000 people there. Ukraine-born Demjanjuk, who had been No 1 on the Simon Wiesenthal Centre's list of 'Most Wanted Nazi War Criminals', was deported to Germany from the US in 2009, where he had spent much of his life as a car worker, to face trial. The photos, described by historian Martin Cueppers as representing a "quantum leap in the visual record on the Holocaust in occupied Poland", had belonged to Johann Niemann, once deputy commandant of Sobibor. Few photos of the camp, razed before the end of World War II, have survived. Police helped to identify Demjanjuk. "The conclusion that it is probably John Demjanjuk was a combination of the most modern police methods and historic research," said Mr Cueppers. By Tuesday, they finally felt a little more free to simply defend the president by saying that nothing he did warrants his removal from office. Alan Dershowitz, the celebrity lawyer and emeritus Harvard law professor, spent an hour Monday evening outlining his belief that nothing Trump had been accused of necessitated his ouster from office. The Mayilyan and New Artsakh Parties have formed an alliance. This is what Minister of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) Masis Mayilyan wrote on his Facebook page. On January 29, the administrative bodies of three political parties of Artsakh, including the Ramkavar Liberal Party of Artsakh, Identity and Unity Party and Artsakh of Tomorrow Party, held a joint session at Europe Hotel in Stepanakert and discussed the formation of a pre-election alliance. During the joint session, the administrative bodies of the three political parties reaffirmed the stances of their respective political parties congresses and formed the Mayilyan-New Artsakh pre-election alliance which will support Masis Mayilyan during the upcoming presidential elections. Masis Mayilyan will also be the first on the alliances proportional list during the parliamentary elections. During the session, representatives of the three political parties gave speeches in which they attached importance to the role and significance of the upcoming nationwide elections in the formation of a qualitatively new government to resist the internal and external challenges facing the country, the improvement of public life and the solution to the current issues related to the protection of citizens rights and within the state. Mayilyan expressed his greetings to the participants of the session and expressed his deep gratitude for the great trust. Mayilyan added that he hopes there is close cooperation with different layers of society in Artsakh and individuals and public figures who enjoy the trust and respect of the public. The Indian Army reacted to the comments of activist Tapan Bose where he insulted the armed forces and stated that the Pakistani and Indian Army were 'alike', stating that they 'reject' the attempt to malign the image of the Indian Army. In a shocking statement, Bose had said, "Pakistan is not an enemy country, ruling class of India & Pakistan are alike. Our armies are alike too, their army kills their people and our army kills our people, there is no difference between them." Reacting to this, the Indian Army tweeted a list of its values and morals which sent a clear message on how 'different' the Indian Army was to its Pakistani counterpart. Read: Maj Gen GD Bakshi tells Tapan Bose to visit National War Memorial after insult to forces Indian Army officials on activist Tapan Bose's comment "Pakistan Army&Indian Army are alike": Indian Army strengthens the idea of India&lives by the national values. Army is dedicated to preserve national interests, safeguard sovereignty, territorial integrity&unity of our Nation pic.twitter.com/vPBycyWwJI ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2020 Read: Ruling class, armies alike:Tapan Bose's shocking comparison of India, Pak at anti-CAA stir 'Indian Army upholds the ideals of the Constitution' The Indian Army tweeted on how throughout these years it has upheld the Constitution and fought internal and external wars working only on the directions of the Government of India. It is no hidden fact that the Pakistan Army throughout history has caused political turmoil in Pakistan. Although the country 'claims' to be a democracy, since its creation in 1947, it has spent several decades under military rule, and even as recently as the 2018 elections, was accused of planting Imran Khan in the Prime Minister's seat. Read: Balochistan activists protest against Pakistan in Germany's Frankfurt "We uphold the ideals of the Constitution, thwart proxy wars, defeat internal threats, assist our Government and the people of India and all our actions are dedicated to the Nation. Indian Army doesn't discriminate on account of caste, creed or religion," read the Indian Army's statement. Read: Maj Gen GD Bakshi tells Tapan Bose to visit National War Memorial after insult to forces OPINION: "This should be a no-brainer, so whats the problem? Some members of the RTA board are hesitant to change the scope of the First Avenue project. They appear to want Tucson to build a six-lane roadway because it was the project scope promised in the 2006 plan and the RTA must do what was promised no matter the need or the cost. Decisions by the RTA Board should be made based on facts and data, not out of fear of public perceptions and long ago promises," write Tucsonans Ruth Reiman and Jane Evans. The OEC, whose General Assembly will function on the democratic basis of one country, one vote, ensuring accountability to its Member States which will benefit from its support, will also count civil society and academic organisations as Associate Members with limited rights. The OEC will be established with a wholly-owned financial subsidiary, accountable to the General Assembly, capable of generating funds ethically and sustainably in support of educational reforms. This subsidiary, structurally directed towards investments in socially and ecologically responsible projects in its member states, will eventually fully finance the organisation's operations and provide funds for the OEC to support Member States' education systems with solidarity-based financing. The OEC is designed with a rational, streamlined structure, follows a strategy of efficient systematic intervention, and puts education at the service of communities, of society and of national development as required by the commitments made in the UDBIE. The OEC's first Secretary General has been elected with the task of setting up and presiding a Preparatory Committee, which will lay the groundwork for the OEC until the Constitutive Charter of the Organisation enters into force, upon its ratification by a minimum of 10 of the founding State signatories. The Constitutive Charter's entry into force will trigger the convening of the first General Assembly. All signatories to the UDBIE embrace the four key pillars of balanced and inclusive education: Intraculturalism, Transdisciplinarity, Dialecticism and Contextuality. They commit to applying these principles within their education systems, with the cross-sectoral support of the OEC, based on the contextualised needs of their populations, their national priorities, and the global imperative of sustainable development. 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 ForumBIE 2030 series of conferences began when I 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. 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 Nearly 50 people became U.S. citizens at the Brown vs. Board of Education National Historic on Wednesday. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services welcomed 43 people to the country. The candidates becoming citizens hail from all over, with the new citizens coming from South America, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Some of the people gaining their citizenship had to wait over 20 years, like Sara Mezquita from El Salvador. "I'm so happy the United States of America gave me this opportunity to be a part of this great country," Mezquita said. "Thank you, and thanks to everybody who made this possible." The ceremony recognized the anniversary of Kansas' statehood as well. UCLA researchers are part of an international team that reported the use of a stem cell gene therapy to treat nine people with the rare, inherited blood disease known as X-linked chronic granulomatous disease, or X-CGD. Six of those patients are now in remission and have stopped other treatments. Before now, people with X-CGD which causes recurrent infections, prolonged hospitalizations for treatment, and a shortened lifespan had to rely on bone marrow donations for a chance at remission. With this gene therapy, you can use a patients own stem cells instead of donor cells for a transplant, said Dr. Donald Kohn, a member of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA and a senior author of the new paper, published today in the journal Nature Medicine. This means the cells are perfectly matched to the patient and it should be a much safer transplant, without the risks of rejection. People with chronic granulomatous disease, or CGD, have a genetic mutation in one of five genes that help white blood cells attack and destroy bacteria and fungus using a burst of chemicals. Without this defensive chemical burst, patients with the disease are much more susceptible to infections than most people. The infections can be severe to life-threatening, including infections of the skin or bone and abscesses in organs such as lungs, liver or brain. The most common form of CGD is a subtype called X-CGD, which affects only males and is caused by a mutation in a gene found on the X-chromosome. Other than treating infections as they occur and taking rotating courses of preventive antibiotics, the only treatment option for people with CGD is to receive a bone marrow transplant from a healthy matched donor. Bone marrow contains stem cells called hematopoietic, or blood-forming, stem cells, which produce white blood cells. Bone marrow from a healthy donor can produce functioning white blood cells that effectively ward off infection. But it can be difficult to identify a healthy matched bone marrow donor and the recovery from the transplant can have complications such as graft versus host disease, and risks of infection and transplant rejection. Patients can certainly get better with these bone marrow transplants, but it requires finding a matched donor and even with a match, there are risks, Kohn said. Patients must take anti-rejection drugs for six to 12 months so that their bodies dont attack the foreign bone marrow. In the new approach, Kohn teamed up with collaborators at the United Kingdoms National Health Service, France-based Genethon, the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health, and Boston Childrens Hospital. The researchers removed hematopoietic stem cells from X-CGD patients and modified the cells in the laboratory to correct the genetic mutation. Then, the patients own genetically modified stem cells now healthy and able to produce white blood cells that can make the immune-boosting burst of chemicals were transplanted back into their own bodies. While the approach is new in X-CGD, Kohn previously pioneered a similar stem cell gene therapy to effectively cure a form of severe combined immune deficiency (also known as bubble baby disease) in more than 50 babies. The viral delivery system for the X-CGD gene therapy was developed and fine-tuned by Professor Adrian Thrashers team at Great Ormond Street Hospital, or GOSH, in London, who collaborated with Kohn. The patients ranged in age from 2 to 27 years old; four were treated at GOSH and five were treated in the U.S., including one patient at UCLA Health. Two people in the new study died within three months of receiving the treatment due to severe infections that they had already been battling before gene therapy. The seven surviving patients were followed for 12 to 36 months after receiving the stem cell gene therapy. All remained free of new CGD-related infections, and six of the seven have been able to discontinue their usual preventive antibiotics. None of the patients had complications that you might normally see from donor cells and the results were as good as youd get from a donor transplant or better, Kohn said. An additional four patients have been treated since the new paper was written; all are currently free of new CGD-related infections and no complications have arisen. Orchard Therapeutics, a biotechnology company of which Kohn is a scientific co-founder, acquired the rights to the X-CGD investigational gene therapy from Genethon. Orchard will work with regulators in the U.S. and Europe to carry out a larger clinical trial to further study this innovative treatment. The aim is to apply for regulatory approval to make the treatment commercially available, Kohn said. Kohn and his colleagues plan to develop similar treatments for the other forms of CGD caused by four other genetic mutations that affect the same immune function as X-CGD. Beyond CGD, there are also other diseases caused by proteins missing in white blood cells that could be treated in similar ways, Kohn said. The research was supported by grants from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine; the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, both at the National Institutes of Health; the Wellcome Trust; Boston Childrens Hospital; the National Institute for Health Research Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre; the Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University College London; the Great Ormond Street Hospital Childrens Charity; the AFM-Telethon, French Muscular Dystrophy Association; and the European Commission through the Net4CGDconsortium. Trump unveils controversial Middle East peace plan People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:59, January 29, 2020 WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday revealed the long-awaited political aspect of his controversial Middle East peace plan, calling for a two-state solution while recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided capital." Trump outlined the 80-page plan at the White House along with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that it proposes a "realistic" two-state solution. Trump said the new plan recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided capital," while claiming that the Palestinians' capital will include areas of East Jerusalem. The Trump administration has postponed several times the publication of its "Deal of the Century" for peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, a proposal that had been criticized repeatedly by the Palestinians who had little engagement in it. The Palestinian Authority said earlier on Tuesday that the new U.S. Middle East peace plan aims to establish an isolated Palestinian entity in the Gaza Strip. Also on Tuesday, thousands of Palestinians demonstrated in Gaza against the plan. In the plan, Trump also promised to double Palestinian-controlled territory and proposed a four-year freeze of Israeli development in the area expected to be part of a Palestinian state. Washington's role as an Israeli-Palestinian conflict mediator has been questioned following the Trump administration's pro-Israeli policies in the past three years including recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moving the U.S. Embassy there, and slashing hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars in humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. Experts pointed out that the announcement of the plan came at a time when Trump needs a distraction from the impeachment proceedings and Netanyahu is struggling with corruption charges. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Boris Johnson has defied Donald Trump by giving the green light for Chinese firm Huawei to have a limited role in the UKs 5G network. The National Security Council, in a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister in Downing Street which lasted for less than 90 minutes, decided that high-risk vendors should be permitted to play a peripheral role in the network. But advice issued to telecoms operators by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said such vendors should be barred from all safety-related and critical networks and locations including military bases and nuclear facilities. High-risk firms will also have their presence limited to no more than 35% in the periphery of the network, known as the access network, which connects devices and equipment to mobile phone masts. The Government has promised to legislate at the earliest opportunity to put the new guidance into law. Mr Trumps administration had lobbied against the UK allowing Huawei access as the US engages in a global struggle for influence with China. Huawei Statement Regarding UK 5G Decision from Victor Zhang, Vice-President, Huawei. pic.twitter.com/PGyvJN1Vns HuaweiUK (@HuaweiUK) January 28, 2020 Washington was informed of the Governments decision only after it was announced, although Mr Johnson later spoke to Mr Trump by telephone to brief him on the move. The Prime Minister underlined the importance of like-minded countries working together to diversify the market and break the dominance of a small number of companies, a No 10 spokesman said. Senior Republicans in the US were quick to hit out at the announcement. Liz Cheney, a congresswoman and daughter of former vice president Dick Cheney, said it was tragic that the Prime Minister had chosen the surveillance state over the special relationship. Story continues By allowing Huawei into U.K. 5G network, @BorisJohnson has chosen the surveillance state over the special relationship. Tragic to see our closest ally, a nation Ronald Reagan once called incandescent with courage, turn away from our alliance and the cause of freedom. @UKinUSA Rep. Liz Cheney (@RepLizCheney) January 28, 2020 Senator and former presidential nominee Mitt Romney said: The UKs decision to incorporate Huawei into its 5G network is a disconcerting sign. By prioritising costs, the UK is sacrificing national security and inviting the CCPs surveillance state in. I implore our British allies to reverse their decision. The UKs decision to incorporate Huawei into its 5G network is a disconcerting sign. By prioritizing costs, the UK is sacrificing national security and inviting the CCPs surveillance state in. I implore our British allies to reverse their decision. Senator Mitt Romney (@SenatorRomney) January 28, 2020 Republican congresswoman Elise Stefanik blasted the move as wrong, dangerous, and a grave shortsighted mistake. The US administration warned that British sovereignty would be put at risk by the move, and has issued threats over an impact on intelligence sharing due to Huaweis close ties to the Beijing government. But Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told MPs there would be no impact on the Five Eyes alliance the partnership between the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. I want to be absolutely clear that nothing in this review affects this countrys ability to share highly sensitive intelligence data over highly secure networks both within the UK and with our partners including the Five Eyes, he said. GCHQ have categorically confirmed that how we construct our 5G and full fibre public telecoms network has nothing to do with how we share classified data. Huawei vice-president Victor Zhang welcomed the UKs evidence-based decision. Huawei is reassured by the UK Governments confirmation that we can continue working with our customers to keep the 5G roll-out on track, he said. Culture Secretary Baroness Morgan vowed that upgrades would not be at the expense of our national security. The Government has reviewed the supply chain for telecoms networks and concluded today it is necessary to have tight restrictions on the presence of high-risk vendors, she said. This is a UK-specific solution for UK-specific reasons and the decision deals with the challenges we face right now. It not only paves the way for secure and resilient networks, with our sovereignty over data protected, but it also builds on our strategy to develop a diversity of suppliers. In its evaluation, the NCSC said that without Government intervention, commercial factors could cause the UK to become nationally dependent on Huawei within three years, which would be a significant national security risk. Insisting that the risks could be managed, it said placing backdoors in Huawei equipment would not be the lowest risk, easiest to perform or most effective means for the Chinese state to perform a major cyber attack on UK telecoms networks today. Sir Iain Duncan Smith was among the senior Tories who spoke out against the move (Stefan Rousseau/PA) US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrives in London on Wednesday for talks with Mr Raab, where he is likely to voice Washingtons concerns.Mr Pompeo who will also see the Prime Minister had made a last-ditch plea to ministers to reject Huawei when making the momentous decision. Senior Tories have also hit out at the decision, with former party leader Sir Iain Duncan-Smith, saying it beggars belief to allow Huawei to play a role while We have a cyber war going on with China. Senior MP Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee in the last parliament, said the decision left many concerns and does not close the UKs networks to a frequently malign international actor. 1. As the UKs 4G networks rely on Huawei, achieving zero presence today would be near impossible so the reduction to 35% is welcome. But will this reduce over time to wean operators off the Chinese provider or will 35% be an enduring figure? 2/8 Tom Tugendhat (@TomTugendhat) January 28, 2020 For Labour, shadow culture secretary Tracy Brabin said: The Tories refused to take our technological sovereignty seriously and failed to invest in home-grown alternatives to Huawei. As a result theyre in the ludicrous position of having to choose between the UKs security concerns and our infrastructure needs. But Confederation of British Industry policy director Matthew Fell said: This solution appears a sensible compromise that gives the UK access to cutting-edge technology, whilst building in appropriate checks and balances around security. The implementation of 5G is expected to bring with it download speeds 10 times faster than what 4G currently offers. SCOTTSBORO, Ala. - Authorities and relatives say a woman and her five children are among the dead in a dock fire that killed eight people at a north Alabama marina. Jackson County officials say 40-year-old Grace Annette Watson Miles died in the blaze early Monday, along with five children ranging in age from 7 to 19. Miles husband is among the survivors. But another man and a woman died in the fire at Jackson County Park Marina. Authorities say the victims were living in boats at the dock. An official says the dock had fire extinguishers that were last inspected in October. Russia plans to allocate an additional 4.13 trillion rubles ($66.7 billion) as part of a nationwide effort to address its dwindling population amid bleak long-term demographic trends. Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on January 29 that the bulk of the new spending -- 91 percent -- would come from the federal budget, with the remainder sourced from regional budgets. "An unprecedented volume of funds will be allocated to the implementation of the pledge to provide citizens with social support," Siluanov said. "These decisions will not affect budget and macroeconomic stability." Siluanov added that his ministry would send the requisite budget-amendment proposals to the government by February 11, to release the funds as soon as possible. The new spending adds to the 25.7 trillion rubles ($417 billion) that President Vladimir Putin ordered in 2018 for the government's National Projects, which seek to improve lives in such policy areas as demography and infrastructure. Putin made ensuring population growth a top priority when he started his current term in 2018 and at his yearly news conference on December 19, the president acknowledged Russia was "haunted" by the demographic losses of the 1990s. Rosstat, the government's statistics agency, last month predicted Russia's population would shrink in 2019 for the third consecutive year. The decline was foreseen at more than 300,000, a loss three times greater than the previous year. Government policies include offering payments for low-income families with small children and allowances for first-time mothers. Families with three children also qualify for $7,350 in mortgage credit. "I know this isn't enough," Putin said. "We need to broadly increase living standards as a whole, to achieve growth in wages and people's real incomes." Other main problems contributing to the demographic crisis, according to economist Aleksei Ulyanov, are abortion and the consumption of alcohol and tobacco. Current UN projections say that, under a "pessimistic" scenario, Russia's population could drop to 124.6 million by mid-century. With reporting by Reuters British film stars including Carey Mulligan and Gemma Arterton have come up with alternative nominees for the BAFTA awards after criticism that this year's list is not diverse enough. Top industry figures nominated their winners in a campaign organised by Time's Up UK a group set up to fight sexual harassment to highlight movies and performances overlooked by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years A Slave. "The awards season is upon us and while there are some great films and outstanding performances nominated, there have been glaring omissions," said Time's Up UK chairwoman Heather Rabbatts. "This invisibility is even more shocking given the choices which were available and the strength of films and performances where black talent was apparent this year." Renfes new low-cost AVE train. Tickets for Spains new low-cost high-speed rail service, known as AVLO, will go on sale for as little as 5 a ticket on Monday. The cut-price offer from state operator Renfe will last for 10 days, with a thousand tickets available each day. Thats according to the transport and mobility minister, Jose Luis Abalos, who was speaking at the Fitur tourism fair in Madrid on Thursday. Once the initial offer is over, the prices of AVLO tickets will range between 10 and 60 per journey The tickets will cover the popular Madrid to Barcelona route, and will be available for travel between April 6 and August 31. Once the initial offer is over, the prices of AVLO tickets will range between 10 and 60 per journey, depending on the route required, demand and whether the tickets are bought in advance. Young travelers under the age of 14 who are accompanied by an adult will pay just 5 for their tickets. Tickets will be available for purchase on the AVLO website. Renfe chief Isaias Taboas in front of an AVLO train. The president of Renfe, Isaias Taboas, said at the Fitur fair that the company wanted to take advantage of the service to explore the possibilities for low-cost rail travel. Renfe is hoping that the venture will be profitable and that it will considerably increase its passenger numbers, given that it will compete with other forms of transport on the basis of price and journey time. According to a press release from Renfe, each passenger will be able to travel at no extra cost with an item of hand luggage and a handbag. In the style of low-cost airlines, the AVLO will provide extra services at a cost in order to offer the most competitive basic prices possible. In the style of low-cost airlines, the AVLO will provide extra services at a cost in order to offer the most competitive basic prices possible The current price of the high-speed AVE train between Madrid and Barcelona in economy class, without promotions, is between 40.95 and 152, meaning AVLO is offering an average discount of 60%. Renfe has rushed the new AVLO service to market before the liberalization of domestic rail markets in the European Union in December 2020, something that is attracting other major European operators to Spain. AVLO will initially be offering just the service between Madrid and Barcelona, with a stop in Zaragoza. This is currently the Spanish route with the highest number of passengers, and the one that is in fiercest competition with air-travel options. There will be three services each way per day, although just two of these will stop at Zaragoza. Later in the year another service will be added, with a fifth due in September. Renfe has said that it wants to roll out this low-cost train to the rest of the Spanish network. English version by Simon Hunter. Canadian-born model Tara Moss, 46, took to Instagram to debut her new hairstyle and colour on Wednesday. The crime author shared a photo, showing off her new bob haircut and grey streaks, almost two years after she vowed to stop colouring her locks. In the photo, Tara is smiling and posing on the verandah of her home while holding a piece of her hair towards the camera. New hair, don't care! Tara Moss has proudly showed off new bob cut and grey streaks... two years after vowing to stop colouring her locks Tara also shared another picture, while tilting her head to the side to give her fans a closer look at her natural coloured streaks. She captioned the post: 'Shout out to the independently-minded grey hairs that just gotta to go their own way. Respect.' '[I'm] 21 months into my dye free grow out and it was time for another chop today.' She added: 'There's just a bit of old dyed hair on the ends now, and the rest is smoky salt and pepper me - independently-minded 'wisdom highlights' and all.' Tara's post comes after she opened up about her decision to embrace her greying locks. Natural: Tara shared another picture, while tilting her head to the side to give her fans a closer look at her natural coloured streaks 'I find it very attractive': Tara's post comes after she opened up about her decision to embrace her greying locks Speaking to Stellar magazine in November, the beauty said: 'Men look amazing with silver hair. I find it very attractive. I find it very attractive on women as well.' 'Not everyone is going to like what I look like or my hair and I can't really care about that,' she said. Tara added: 'I've become the woman in the backstreet bar in the film noir. Somehow it fits. I like the fact there is an integrated quality between my hair and my age.' TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Elementor, the leading WordPress website builder platform with a presence in 152 countries, today announced that its user base has built over 4 million websites using its code-free, drag-n-drop platform. Using the intuitive features and functionality provided by Elementor, a new WordPress site is created every 10 seconds. Elementor hits 4 million websites in record time With a rapidly expanding customer base and a range of new updates released in 2019, Elementor has increased the total websites built with its plugin by nearly a million in just five months. Within the past twelve months alone, the total number of websites built using Elementor & Elementor Pro has doubled from two million to four million, representing a 100% rate of year to year growth. The increase of users and total sites built using the GPL-V3.0 licensed Elementor platform in the past year can be directly correlated to the number of 5-star reviews the product has received on WordPress.org. Elementor has over 4,500 5-star reviews and currently is rated as the most popular website builder on WordPress. Another prominent factor leading to the rapid increase of active installs of the Elementor platform has been its broad offering of new product features and updates. In 2019 alone, Elementor introduced over 283 new features including the popup builder, table of contents, dark mode and website template kits - among other features - to increase the robust product offering of the free and premium versions of its platform. According to Elementor CEO Yoni Luksenberg: "Elementor's goal is to let every web creator build the most beautiful, feature-rich and hassle-free websites possible. By listening to the needs of our community, understanding broader WordPress market trends, and the evolving technical capabilities to simplify UX, Elementor has taken massive steps in the past year to become the most comprehensive and easy-to-use WordPress plugin on a global scale and that shows in the achievement of Elementor's four millionth site built." About Elementor Elementor is an intuitive, website building platform over WordPress that reduces the need for web creators to code with its cutting-edge platform. Elementor serves a rapidly growing customer base of web professionals including developers, designers, and marketers in 152 countries. Elementor has more than 4,000,000 active installs and has close to 5,000 five-star reviews. Elementor strives to make a significant contribution to the ongoing evolution of web design, on an international scale, to accelerate small and medium business growth. SOURCE Elementor Related Links https://elementor.com/ MANCHESTER A former nursing home employee has been sentenced to prison for taking painkillers from hospice patients for her own use. Judge C.J. Williams sentenced Katie Louise Boll, 31, of Manchester, to four years on a plea of tampering with a consumer product resulting in injury and acquiring oxycodone by deception on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids. The sentence was below the advisory guideline calculation. She will be on supervised release for three years following her prison time. Unscrupulous healthcare providers who steal patient medications hurt those vulnerable patients they have promised to help. This office will always stand ready to protect our most vulnerable members of society, said U.S. Attorney Peter E. Deegan Jr. We especially thank the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations and the Iowa Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for their outstanding work investigating these cases. Boll, a registered nurse, had worked at the Good Neighbor Home in Manchester starting in September 2018. Authorities allege that at least 50 times, Boll checked out hydrocodone for two patients pain relief and swapped it out for Tylenol that she gave the patients, keeping the hydrocodone for herself. On Dec. 24, 2018, she allegedly took a part of hospice patients morphine solution for herself and diluted the remainder with mouthwash, putting the patient, who was suffering from a terminal illness, at risk of increased pain, court records state. She had undertaken a similar swap with another patient, records state. Boll is also accused of opening medication cartridges to obtain narcotic pain pills including oxycodone, morphine, tramadol and codeine on Dec. 29, 2018. She then replaced the medications with other Tylenol, Lasix and other substances, according to court records. The swap lead to $593 in false billing for Medicare, Medicaid and the patients. Before working at Good Neighbors, Boll had been employed at Regional Medical Center in Manchester and UnityPoint-St. Lukes Hospital in Cedar Rapids. She allegedly stole pain medication from hospice patients at those establishments, sometimes keeping signed-out medications for herself and other times taking leftover medication instead of discarding it in a procedure known as wasting, records state. She had been terminated from the hospitals for inaccurate narcotic documentation and failing to follow pain medication protocols, according to court records. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 5 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. ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, American Trucking Associations leaders hailed the signing of the newly ratified United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement during a ceremony at the White House, where ATA President and CEO Chris Spear and 12 professional truck drivers from ATA member companies were in attendance. "Today's signing ceremony is the beginning of the next phase in our strong and productive relationship with Mexico and Canada," said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. "ATA and our members are proud to have been engaged throughout the process, attending the ministerial conferences and working with the administration and our trucking partners in Canada and Mexico to shape this final outcome. We commend President Trump for making this a top priority of his presidency and seeing it through to completion." USMCA is projected to increase annual U.S. exports to Canada and Mexico by a combined $33 billion above the current NAFTA baseline. The agreement is also expected to increase U.S. GDP by $68 billion, stimulating broad sectors of the economy that the trucking industry serves, like agriculture and manufacturing. The following professional truck driversmembers of America's Road Teamwere in attendance, representing a combined 33.2 million safe-driving miles throughout their collective careers: Ina Daly , XPO Logistics , XPO Logistics Steve Fields , YRC Freight , YRC Freight David Green , Werner Enterprises Inc. , Werner Enterprises Inc. Rhonda Hartman , Old Dominion Freight Line , Old Dominion Freight Line John Lex , Walmart Transportation , Walmart Transportation Don Logan , FedEx Freight , FedEx Freight Charlton Paul , UPS Freight , UPS Freight Dion Saiz , FedEx Freight , FedEx Freight Russ Simpson , Holland , Dee Sova , Prime Inc. , Prime Inc. Tony Spero , ABF Freight System , ABF Freight System Derrick Whittle , Cargo Transporters In 2018, trucks moved more than $770 billion worth of goods between the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and transnational trade between the three countries supported roughly 90,000 U.S. jobs in the trucking industryincluding 60,000 truck drivers. Those figures should only increase as USMCA is implemented. "Trucks move 70% of all freight in the U.S. and 76% of the freight that moves between the U.S. and our closest neighbors, so we expect trucking will see significant benefits from USMCA as the agreement boosts exports to Canada and Mexico and generates a measurable increase in our gross domestic product in the years ahead," ATA Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of International Trade Policy and Cross-Border Operations Bob Costello. "We look forward to working with leaders in all three countries to ensure smooth enactment of USMCA." American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Trucking Moves America Forward SOURCE American Trucking Associations Related Links http://www.trucking.org There probably isnt a human being alive who mentions the name Barack Obama more often than Joe Biden. At the same time, there probably arent two politicians more dissimilar. In addition to being, as Biden put it, the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy, Obama has always been personally popular, even when his ideas didnt go over particularly well. Obama engendered passion and loyalty from his idealistic fans and was rarely baited into saying anything impolitic or damaging. Needless to say, Obama is all the things Biden isnt. When asked by an Iowa voter earlier this week if he would support ceasing production of all fossil-fuel pipelines, or some other such nonsense, Biden responded: You gotta go vote for someone else The three-time presidential candidate followed up by pointing out, Youre not going to vote for me in the primary. Im going to vote you in the general if you treat me right, the voter says. Yeah, I know . . . well, Im not, responded Biden. Bidens irritable reaction to this Iowan a guy who treats his caucus vote like a United Nation Security Council veto makes me like the candidate more. But one suspects that insulting swing-state Democrats whove conceded theyll support you in a general election is not the optimal approach to winning the presidency. When a town-hall participant recently brought up Hunter Bidens shady consulting gig in Ukraine, an issue that has a legitimate chance of damaging his prospects, Biden was presented with a great opportunity to unveil a defense of his sons honor. Instead, the irascible candidate called the questioner a damn liar and fat. When the elderly man persisted by mentioning Bidens advanced age, another topic that holds some interest for voters, the former vice president challenged him to a contest of physical and intellectual strength. If you want to take my shape, Biden said, lets do push-ups together, lets run, lets do whatever you want to do. Lets take an IQ test. Story continues If virility is really a valuable criterion for judging candidates, as Biden seems to suggest, wouldnt we be better comparing him with other candidates rather than a random octogenarian at a town-hall event? Why bring it up? And why bring up IQ tests? Most people, no doubt, have heard that Bidens 1987 run for the presidency was a debacle. In a famous incident in New Hampshire, Biden, after being pressing about his academic credentials, told a voter, I think I have a much higher I.Q. than you do, I suspect. That might have been true, but Biden, not content to let the guy off the hook that easily, added that he also happened to have attended law school on a full academic scholarship and graduated in the top half of his law-school class. Turned out it was malarkey. Biden had actually graduated 76th in a class of 85 at Syracuse College of Law a number even those with run-of-the-mill IQs can figure out is not in the top half and didnt go to school on an academic scholarship. Not only had Biden plagiarized Bobby Kennedy and lifted an entire speech from British politician Neil Kinnock, but he pulled the credentials card, challenging the intelligence of voters. He dropped out soon after. (There seems to be an unhealthy obsession over IQ numbers among presidential candidates of a certain age. Perhaps Donald Trump and Joe Biden will have a Battle Royalestyle IQ test should they run against each other.) Even after his disastrous candidacy, Biden kept flirting with the idea of running, finally giving it another shot in 2008. He finished fifth in Iowa, with 1 percent of the total vote, and dropped out soon after. Some insinuate that Bidens faux pas are merely a reflection of age. After reading through Bidens old speeches and hundreds of pages of his Senate testimony, one can clearly see that the former senator has been passionately and confidentially saying ludicrous things for decades. After sliding into the Senate by beating a pro-Nixon candidate on the heels of Watergate, and then tethering his ride to a series of Senate guardians, including segregationists sometimes even George Wallace is right, Biden explained in a debate over a tough-on-crime initiative in 1981 Biden owns a middling record as a politician. Obama, looking to fill the veep seat with the most non-threatening establishment type he could find, saved the old senators career. Of course, being a mediocre politician doesnt make you a bad person maybe the opposite. Yet, Ive never met anyone in my life who was legitimately pumped up about a Biden presidential candidacy. Those who witnessed the 2008 Denver coronation of Obama, or the rise of Trump, can attest to the importance of passion in politics. The entire foundation of Bidens case for the presidency is series of banal considerations: his (highly overstated) time in the Obama White House, his Senate experience (though hes tried to whitewash 40 years of votes to mollify progressives), and his electability as a supposedly moderate option. Maybe that will be enough to put him over the top in primaries, and perhaps even into the White House. But boy, is he bad at this. More from National Review Chinese officials have temporarily banned the trade of wild animals, following an outbreak of coronavirus in the central city of Wuhan. Officials noted that they will strengthen inspections and severely investigate and punish violators. The ban will continue until the epidemic situation is lifted nationwide. They also urged the public not to eat wild animal meat. Officials have confirmed at least 106 people have died and more than 4,500 have been infected with the virus. The virus is thought to have spread to people from wild animals sold at a market in Wuhan. A group of 19 well-known researchers had called for the government in China to increase inspections and to enforce strong measures against wildlife markets. The researchers come from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the nations top universities. Meanwhile, the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society, called for an end to wildlife markets everywhere, not just in China. Zoonotic diseases Zoonotic diseases are ones that can affect humans, but they first appear in other animals. They represent a large share of human infectious illnesses. Christian Walzer is executive director of the Wildlife Conservation Societys health program. He told the Associated Press the rise of such diseases is a numbers game. If these markets continue to operate and humans continue to eat the meat sold there, then the public will continue to face heightened risk from new viruses. Researchers have not yet identified the exact source for this latest outbreak. One of the first measures Wuhan officials took was to close the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, where 41 of the first infections began. Jon Epstein is an expert on the spread of diseases with the Ecohealth Alliance. He helped with efforts to find the virus that caused the 2002 epidemic known as SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. The epidemic sickened more than 8,000 people and killed about 800. They linked the disease to eating the meat of wild animals carrying the virus. Epstein said researchers suspect but have not proven that the Wuhan virus came from bats. Bats are known to carry coronaviruses, but scientists have yet to fully understand the new virus and how it moved from animals to people. Crackdown on wildlife trade A crackdown on wildlife trade lasted only about six months after the SARS outbreak slowed in 2003. Only in 2014 did China make eating the meat of protected animals illegal with a law listing a maximum three-year jail term. But it also has permitted commercial farming of some animals, including tigers. Activists say this supports the illegal trade of protected animals. Court records show that officials in Hubei, the province where Wuhan is located, investigated 250 cases related to wildlife trade in 2019 alone. Local media reported that since 2018, an estimated 16,000 wild animals were hunted in the province of more than 60 million people. A photo of the offerings from a seller in the Wuhan market called Wild Game Livestock for the Masses, appeared online. It showed more than 110 kinds of animals for sale. The solution is simple, Christian Walzer of the Wildlife Conservation Society said. In the sense that we know where the problem is. Im Pete Musto. Joe McDonald, Sam McNeil, Penny Yi Wang and Elaine Kurtenback reported on this story for the Associated Press. Pete Musto adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story outbreak n. a sudden start or increase of fighting or disease epidemic adj. an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people crackdown n. a serious attempt to punish people for doing something that is not permitted province n. any one of the large parts that some countries are divided into US special forces discipline hit by repeat deployments: Pentagon Washington, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2020 Repeated deployments by US special forces have affected discipline within the ranks, says a Pentagon report published Tuesday which called for changes in oversight. The report concluded that near-constant assignments by special forces to Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Africa have reduced to a minimum the rest periods that ensure unit cohesion, but it did not find any general ethical problem that would explain a series of disciplinary incidents. "We have a 'can do' culture with a bias toward action," said General Richard Clarke, commander of US Special Operations Command, presenting the report. "Nearly 20 years of continuous conflict have imbalanced that culture to favor force employment and mission accomplishment over the routine activities that ensure leadership, accountability, and discipline," Clarke said. Serving and retired officers as well as civilians in the Department of Defense prepared the report, which Clarke commissioned last summer after a series of scandals. President Donald Trump intervened last year to support Navy SEAL platoon leader Edward Gallagher, who was acquitted of murder by a military jury but convicted of having posed for a picture next to the body of an Islamic State group fighter. The incident led to the firing of Navy Secretary Richard Spencer, who said he and Trump did not share an understanding about "the key principles of good order and discipline." It fueled reports that the US military leadership was angered by Trump's interference in disciplinary cases. The president also granted clemency to West Point graduate Matt Golsteyn, an ex-member of the US Army Green Berets. He was charged with premeditated murder in the shooting death of an alleged Taliban bombmaker in 2010. Special operations troops also were involved in the death of a fellow US soldier, a Green Beret, in Mali, and SEALs have been accused of using cocaine and other drugs. In general, promotion of special forces soldiers is based on combat experience rather than leadership, the report says, recommending an approach relying more on human values and discipline of officers. "We need to improve our leader development programs and improve accountability in our training and management processes," Clarke said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) Three people were shot dead while their two companions both minors were wounded in an ambush in Taguig City Tuesday afternoon. The National Capital Region Police Office said the victims were onboard a black car traversing General Santos Avenue in front of the Department of Science and Technology's central office in Bicutan when four unidentified men fired shots at them. The suspects immediately fled the crime scene, where police recovered two deformed bullets and a magazine with two live ammunitions. Two Chinese nationals aged 40 and 43 were killed, along with a 38-year-old Filipino company driver. Two girls, aged 5 and 12 were rushed to the Taguig Pateros District Hospital for treatment after sustaining gunshot wounds to the back and left leg, respectively. Police said they are in stable condition now. The wife of one of the Chinese nationals was unharmed, police said. The NCRPO is investigating the incident. Telecom operators in Ireland have rejected possible new regulations that would help consumers avoid bill shock where they receive unexpectedly large bills after going over their monthly allowance. Communications regulator ComReg is examining if new regulations are required that would compel the mobile phone and broadband firms to provide usage or spending alerts to warn consumers when they are likely to exceed their monthly allowances. The call for inputs by ComeReg was on the back of research which found that one in five householders have experienced bill shock. However, Vodafone, Eir, Tesco Mobile, Sky, Three, and Virgin all made submissions to ComReg claiming bill shock was not a major issue for consumers in Ireland, and that specific regulations would be costly to implement and would ultimately be counterproductive. ComReg said alert facilities are currently not uniform or standardised here. There is very little ability for consumers to select a spend alert or spend cap, and where these do apply, the limit is pre-set by the service providers and is in excess of the plan monthly fee. In their submission, Eir said the propensity for bill shock arising from fixed and mobile voice calls is declining. It is not clear that there is adequate justification for the provision of spend alerts to be mandated. It should be noted that the billing system functionality to support new alerts (usage or spend) may be expensive and time consuming to implement and any such requirements must be fully justified. In their submission, Tesco Mobile said consumer apathy was an issue and that addressing this with further alerts is misplaced and ultimately counterproductive as a consumer could receive a further two or four messages on top of any service or marketing messages they already receive.We believe that this would be excessive, confusing and ultimately, counter-productive. Tesco Mobile said that ComeReg should instead conduct an information awareness campaign similar to the Central Banks Tracker Mortgage ads which they said would greatly increase consumers knowledge about ways to manage their costs and reduce bill shock. Three Ireland said it would not be a good idea for ComReg to impose rules around proactively providing tariff advice to consumers but said: Three would not be opposed to the development of a voluntary code of practice which operators would sign up to in order to deliver usage/spend alerts specific to their business and customer needs. Virgin Media and Vodafone said such requirements would be complex and take time to implement and said they already offer their customers the ability to monitor their usage. An Post and bulk mail operator Tico Mail also made submissions and said postal communications should be used to notify consumers of important information. The provision of paper notification to consumers of crucial contractual information, and the protection of choice in billing mediums, leads to an improvement of consumer awareness of the terms of their contractual relationships with service providers, and the avoidance of Bill Shock or similar financial harms, An Post said. A professor of Thakur Prasad Singh College was shot in broad daylight on Wednesday here in Patna under limits of Kankarbagh police station, police said. According to police, the assailants shot Professor Shivnarayan Ram of TPS College. The injured professor was shifted to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH). After receiving the information, the police arrived at the spot and started an investigation into the matter. Further details are awaited. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bats have been identified as the likely source of the killer Wuhan coronavirus and scientists say closely monitoring the flying mammals could help fight the infection. Information garnered from the analysis of the animal DNA and the viral DNA trapped within also help scientists predict 'hotspots' of any future outbreaks. Researchers have created a cheaper and quicker test than the current method which requires a lung sample, which scans the DNA of a host for signs of infection. It then reveals information on its virology, evolution and geographical spread. They are also hopeful this information can be used to predict how viruses, including the current outbreak of 2019-nCoV, will spread in both bats and humans. Complex data on the genetic status and evolution of the virus can then be fed into a computer model to predict likely hotspots for future contamination. It comes as research published in the Lancet used a similar method to determine bats are the most probable cause of the original host of the virus. Samples taken from the lungs of nine patients in Wuhan was traced back to reveal it is genetically different to the deadly SARS virus. They suggest that bats passed the disease on to an 'intermediate' host which was at the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan before being passed on to the 'terminal host' humans. However, 2019-nCoV and human SARS virus have similar structures, despite some small crucial differences. As a result, the authors of the latest suggest that 2019-nCoV might use the same molecular doorway to enter the cells as SARS (a receptor called ACE2). Scroll down for video Pictures emerging on Twitter shows soup cooked with a bat. Bats are used in traditional Chinese medicine to 'treat' a series of illness, including coughing, malaria and gonorrhea. Bats have been confirmed as the most likely source of the infection A pilot wearing a protective suit parks a cargo plane at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province Samples taken from the lungs of nine patients in Wuhan was traced back to reveal it is genetically different to the deadly SARS virus. They suggest that bats passed the disease on to an 'intermediate' host which was at the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan before being passed on to the 'terminal host' humans THE KILLER VIRUS MAY HAVE COME FROM BATS, SCIENTISTS SAY The killer coronavirus sweeping across the world may have come from bats, scientists have said. Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the People's Liberation Army and Institut Pasteur of Shanghai came to the conclusion. In a statement, the team said: 'The Wuhan coronavirus' natural host could be bats but between bats and humans there may be an unknown intermediate. Tests of the virus, which has yet to be named, have revealed it targets a protein called ACE2 just like its cousin SARS, the South China Morning Post reported. Tracing the evolution of the virus, the team of experts found it belonged to betacoronavirus, making it structurally similar to SARS. Authorities have pointed the blame on food markets in Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the outbreak that scientists are scrambling to contain. Rodents and bats among other animals are slaughtered and sold in traditional 'wet markets', which tourists flock to see the 'real' side of the country. Advertisement Academics from the US and China improved a new method to help track deadly viruses. A total of 133 people have died in China and more than 6,000 around the world have caught the highly contagious infection which can cause pneumonia-like symptoms. Cases of coronavirus have tripled since Sunday and jumped 30 per cent in the last 24 hours - now infecting people in 19 different countries. Dr Sterghios Moschos, an associate professor in cellular and molecular sciences at Nothumbria University, who was not involved with the research or the development of the test, told MailOnline a similar method has been used to speed up assessment of infectious diseases in recent years. However, the current tests involve taking samples from lungs of suspected cases and this requires time, money and high levels of expertise. He predicts future outbreaks of infectious diseases will have cheap and non-invasive tests but they will not be ready in time to aid the current outbreak. He said: 'To do this non-invasively we need a way of getting the sample from the suspected or confirmed patients by not going into their lungs. 'Right now we have to go deep into their lungs, because the data published on the Lancet on Friday show that a cotton swab of the nose isn't reliable for detecting the virus.' CORONAVIRUS VIRUS IS DIFFERENT TO SARS, SCIENTISTS SAY Research published in the Lancet used a similar method to enrichment to determine bats might be the original host of the virus. Samples taken from the lungs of nine patients in Wuhan was traced back to reveal it is genetically different to SARS and it may have passed into humans via the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan. For this reason, the future evolution, adaptation and spread of this virus requires urgent investigation. Scientists assessed data of nine patients who were diagnosed with viral pneumonia of unidentified cause. Eight of the patients had visited the Huanan seafood market. One patient had never visited the market, but had stayed in a hotel near the market before the onset of their illness. Authors found that 2019-nCoV and human SARS virus have similar structures, despite some small differences. As a result, the authors suggest that 2019-nCoV might use the same molecular doorway to enter the cells as SARS (a receptor called ACE2). Professor Guizhen Wu, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said: 'In both SARS and MERS, bats acted as the natural reservoir, with another animal acting as an intermediate host, and with humans as terminal hosts. 'This again highlights the hidden virus reservoir in wild animals and their potential to spill over into human populations.' Advertisement He added: 'We use these techniques right now to see how the virus is evolving in the patients, practically in real time. 'In the 2014 West African Ebola outbreak the first sequence data of the virus took months to come out. 'But for this outbreak, it's taking just days to hours. 'But it's still not cheap enough though to test everyone going through Heathrow for the virus, for example.' The coronavirus began making people sick in Wuhan, China in December after jumping from animals into humans. This jump between species is rare and makes the virus zoonotic capable of infecting different species. Bats are unaffected by the pathogens in their bloodstreams but people have no protection to the viruses as they are foreign to human immune systems. And once in humans, it can then be easily passed from person-to-person through coughs or sneezes. Dr Lin-Fa Wang at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore, who created the new cheaper method, said coronaviruses in bats are particularly important to monitor. He said: 'The coronavirus that caused 2003's deadly outbreak of SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, is closely related to those found in bats and likely originated with the animals. 'The same is true of the viruses behind a mysterious January 2020 outbreak in Wuhan, China, and the 2018 outbreak of swine acute diarrhoea syndrome, or SADS.' Dr Wang believes his method of next-generation sequencing (NGS) could offer a solution. The killer coronavirus outbreak has now killed 132 people and struck down more than 6,000. Cases have been spotted in Canada, US, France and Australia 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 WHAT IS NGS ENRICHMENT? Professor Bill Keevil from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Southampton spoke to MailOnline about NGS enrichment. It only works for known viruses. 'From all the known published virus sequences you choose a small common fragment to provide a template.' 'Researchers then synthesise the complementary nucleic acid fragment in the lab. 'This is then used as a primer in the PCR amplification of the whole genome.' Dr Sterghios Moschos of Northumbria University likened the process to photocopying the contents inside an envelope. Academics can then sequence the genome to identify the strain and assess it. This analysis then reveals key traits on the virulence, origin and evolution of the virus. Advertisement It involves a method called enrichment which tracks down the virus hiding inside the bat's genetic material. But experts warn this has historically been an expensive endeavour. The researchers have therefore published a paper in the journal mSphere on how to make a cheaper version, making widespread roll-out more likely. It outlines the ability to analyse DNA of a known viruses lying dormant in bats. Individual bats are caught and their DNA is analysed via either faeces or blood samples. Hiding inside the bat DNA is evidence of the viral DNA which can be dangerous to humans. The genetic material is then purified and enriched before being sequenced to see what it contains. The end result of a several-step process allows scientists to look for minor or major changes to the genome of the virus in patients - either animal or human. Professor Professor Bill Keevil from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Southampton told MailOnline: 'Rapid changes mean faster mutation. 'Knowing some of the key genes means might be able to predict if becoming more infectious or lethal.' He added the data could then be fed into computer models to predict the spread of the virus and how it will change. Dr Wang warned however that their method is unlikely to solve all testing issues. 'We don't want to declare that enrichment is the panacea for all NGS challenges, but in this case, I do think it's a step in the right direction,' he said. Dr Wang said the downside of his technique is that you 'only find the viruses you know'. The bat coronavirus, like all viruses, are also constantly changing which makes it difficult to keep tabs on the diseases, even with the new technology. Professor Keevil says: 'It works well until the original fragment sequence changes in a mutated or new strain.' Dr Wang said: 'Coronaviruses, especially those that are bat-borne, remain an important source of emerging infectious diseases. 'During 'peace-time', researchers can build up-to-date banks of probes associated with known forms of coronaviruses. 'During 'war time', they can use that information to track the evolution of viruses and spread of infections, in animal and even human populations.' While the outbreak of coronaviuus will conclude eventually, academics are warning against complacency. Dr Moschos said: 'The scientific community called for these kinds of studies in the middle of the West African Ebola outbreak, only this time for bats and primates (these can carry Ebola). 'Not much was done to support this monitoring, but what little was done showed us there are tens of viruses circulating in these animals with no obvious damage which could at some point jump to humans. 'Even when the outbreak is over we will still need to keep an eye what is happening in the wildlife, to prevent people from getting infected,' he adds. CLARIFICATION: A previous version of this story cited reports from the fire department that people had jumped from the sixth floor to escape the fire. The fire department later corrected the statement, saying that people only contemplated jumping." Authorities are investigating the cause of a raging fire in a 25-story residential high-rise Wednesday in Los Angeles that left 11 people injured, including a 3-month-old girl, the city's fire department said. "Right now, we're labeling this a suspicious fire," Los Angeles City Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas said. Arson investigators were on the scene, combing through debris and speaking with witnesses, public information officer Erik Scott said in an afternoon news conference. Investigators were looking into whether the fire could have been related to a similar blaze two hours earlier and three blocks away. "Right now, there's no information that they are connected," Deputy Chief Justin Eisenberg said. "The only reason we would look into that is because they're close ... in time and proximity." Terrazas initially said authorities had a suspect in custody, but Eisenberg later said no one was in custody. Eisenberg did not say whether a suspect had been held earlier in the day. "It's very, very early in this investigation," Eisenberg said. "We dont know really whether we have an arson or an accident at this time." A helicopter flies over a residential building that was on fire in Los Angeles on Jan. 29, 2020. Of the 11 people injured, six were taken to a local hospital, Scott said. One man, 30, required CPR and was in grave condition Wednesday afternoon. Another man, 30, was in critical condition. The four others taken to the hospital included a 26-year-old woman, a 25-year-old man, a 20-year-old woman and a 3-month-old girl, Scott said. Most of the injured suffered from smoke exposure, but some may have been burned, Scott said. Scott said it was likely that the two most critically injured people were both in the unit where the fire began, on the seventh floor of the building, which is the sixth occupied floor. Story continues Despite initial reports from the fire department that people had jumped from the sixth floor of the building to escape the blaze, officials later said no one had jumped. "We had two people who had contemplated jumping," Deputy Chief Armando Hogan said. "No one jumped. There are no fatalities at this incident." The department was able to contact people inside the building and instructed them to go to the roof for evacuation, Hogan said. Fifteen people were rescued from the roof, Terrazas said. The American Red Cross established an evacuation center for displaced residents at the Westwood Recreation Center. More than 300 personnel and four helicopters responded to the blaze, the fire department said. Nearby Santa Monica Fire Department, the LAPD, the L.A. Sheriff and other agencies also responded. The 240-unit Barrington Plaza high-rise, built in 1961, does not have a sprinkler system because it was constructed in an era when sprinklers weren't mandatory, Terrazas said. Authorities also were investigating whether the building's smoke alarms were functioning and whether the building had been inspected recently, Scott said. Personnel "knocked down" the fire just before 10 a.m., said Hogan, who called it a "herculean effort." Firefighters were searching floor to floor for additional victims. The fire broke out before 8:30 a.m. in the Sawtelle neighborhood. At the time, firefighters were still on the scene of a fire in a 26-story office building three blocks away. The nearby fire started around 6:30 a.m. on the bottom three floors of the building. More than 50 building occupants were safely evacuated, and one man was taken to the hospital, the department said in a statement. The Barrington Plaza high-rise is located along Wilshire Boulevard near a string of restaurants and gyms. A fire that erupted on the 11th floor of the same building in 2013 displaced up to 150 residents and injured two people, according to the Los Angeles Times. In 2014, 71 of the city's roughly 200 residential high-rises didn't have sprinkler systems installed, according to the Times. Follow USA TODAY's Grace Hauck on Twitter at @grace_hauck. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Los Angeles high-rise building fire: 11 injured, officials say Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung Wed, January 29, 2020 15:57 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20618a6bf 1 National Sunda-Empire,Fraud,keraton-agung-sejagat Free The West Java Police have arrested the self-proclaimed "royals" involved in the "Sunda Empire" and named them fraud suspects. The force's spokesperson Sr. Comr. Saptono Erlangga said the suspects the so-called grand prime minister Nasri Banks, royal imperial highness Raden Ratna Ningrum and general secretary Rangga Sasana were charged under articles 14 and 15 of the 1946 Misinformation Law, which carry maximum sentences of 10 and two years imprisonment, respectively. Investigators from the police had questioned dozens of witnesses in the case, including historians and cultural experts, in relation to the narrative promoted by the group, such as claims that the Sunda Empire had existed since 323 BC and that the United Nations was under the empire's control. "We have come to the conclusion that all of the claims are lies," Saptono said. Read also: Sunda Empire as mesmerizing as '2045' vision The investigation was launched following a report filed by the head of the Sundanese Customary Assembly, Ari Mulia Subagja, who feared that the hoax spread by Sunda Empire would lead to disorder. The emergence of the so-called Sunda Empire-Earth Empire in West Java's provincial capital of Bandung, which the group claimed as the home city of the world's diplomatic corps, has caused a sensation online. In a nine-minute video, which has gone viral on YouTube and Facebook, a man is seen passionately explaining about the empire's existence in a room full of people wearing light blue berets. Sunda Empire-Earth Empire is a Sun empire, an Earth empire. It isnt linked to the Sundanese [people] because this is a hereditary empire from dynasty to dynasty and currently it is the Sundakala dynasty, said the man whose name was recorded on the video as HRH Rangga. He said at that time that all countries could register with the empire, which would fight "to settle debts at the World Bank by 2020". Read also: Self-proclaimed successors of ancient Majapahit Empire named fraud suspects Following his arrest, Rangga Sasana said that he had prepared legal assistance to help him. "The historical mix-up is understandable," he said. The Sunda Empire came into spotlight shortly after social media was rocked by the emergence of "Keraton Agung Sejagat" or World Empire, an apparently fictitious kingdom based in Purworejo regency, Central Java, which claimed itself to be the successor of the ancient Majapahit Empire. The Central Java Police have charged the "king and queen" of Keraton Agung Sejagat, Totok Santoso Hadiningrat and Fanni Amanadia, with violating Article 14 of the 1946 law. During the declaration of the kingdoms existence early this month, Totok and Fanni claimed that their destiny was to fulfill a promise made 500 years ago by the Majapahit Kingdom which controlled much of maritime Southeast Asia during its peak in the 14th century when it collapsed in 1518. The Central Java Police had asked academic experts from Diponegoro University in Semarang to find out whether the claims made in the case were based on any historical evidence. The results were reportedly negative. (vny) An Egyptian court on Monday sentenced 37 people to jail for joining or supporting the Islamic State (IS) group in the Sinai Peninsula. The defendants were accused of planning attacks and spreading IS ideology. Eight of them were handed life sentences. Egypt has for years been struggling to contain an Islamic insurgency spearheaded by a local affiliate of the extremist Islamic State group in northern Sinai. The areas have seen a militant insurgency, which has led to the deaths of hundreds of security personnel. The Peninsula has remained the epicenter of a militant insurgency since 2013, when the army ousted Mohamed Morsi Egypts first freely elected president in a military coup. Morsi died in June during a trial session on espionage charges. The Egyptian military has launched a major operation early last year to hunt down Daesh-linked militants based in the peninsula. Since then, courts have held mass trials and sentenced hundreds of people to death. Human Rights Watch has accused the military of committing serious and widespread abuses against civilians, some of which it said amounted to war crimes. A report by the US-based group last year alleged that the security forces were making arbitrary mass arrests, using torture, carrying out extrajudicial killings, and possibly launching air and ground attacks against civilians. Athlone Institute of Technology is making a commitment to assist, encourage and inspire senior cycle students at Ard Scoil Chiarain Naofa, Clara, by providing them with valuable first-hand insight and experience of the working world. As part of the newly established partnership, 5th Year students will take part in the Skills @ Work programme, where volunteer employees will give them an insight into the world of work through a range of sessions including site visits, Day in the Life employee presentations, CV preparation and mock interviews. Students will also be encouraged to develop their teamwork and presentation skills through these interactive sessions. The partnership is an initiative of Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI), leading advisers in sustainability and CSR. Representing AIT, Ms Michelle McKeon-Bennet, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Hospitality and past pupil of Ard Scoil Chiarain Naofa, said: It is important that students get an opportunity to engage with people working in their locality, and to broaden their horizons in terms of the training and career opportunities that exist within their communities. They will meet positive people and hear their life stories, why they chose their career and what ongoing development they are pursuing. This programme is beneficial for the future of these students, but also for the employees of AIT who get an opportunity to develop their presentation and communication skills, whilst making a valuable contribution to the lives of young people in the community. The Skills @ Work programme at Ard Scoil Chiarain Naofa will begin in the coming weeks. During the year employees of AIT will model the real-life skills required in the workplace, such as team work, communication and presentation skills. They will run A Day in the Life session, to assist the students in recognising the value of completing their education and help them explore possible career paths. The students will also be brought on a site visit to AIT and witness the many career opportunities that exist in the education and training sector. Roger Geagan, Principal from Ard Scoil Chiarain Naofa speaking about the partnership programme added: This programme gives students them an opportunity to visualise themselves working in different environments and possibly pursuing careers not previously considered. It broadens horizons, helping students to view their future in terms of a career as opposed to just a job and to think outside the box, as well as looking at traditional areas. It improves students confidence, helps students feel proud of their school and themselves, and it encourages them to dwell on their strengths Funded by the Department of Education and the participating businesses, The Schools Business Partnership (SBP) has matched 225 post primary schools in Ireland with a local business to date. Fintech company to offer investments in consumer credit, coming soon to Canadians TORONTO, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- goPeer announced today that it has received its registration as an exempt market dealer in Ontario and Quebec. This marks an important milestone, as goPeer becomes Canadas first regulated peer-to-peer lending platform for consumer loans. By cutting banks and other intermediaries out of consumer lending, goPeer connects credit-worthy Canadians with eligible investors, resulting in better rates for borrowers and lenders alike. goPeer is on a mission to improve Canadians financial well-being by eliminating market inefficiencies and increasing transparency in the consumer lending process, says Marc-Antoine Caya, CEO of goPeer. Automating the archaic and laborious loan underwriting process and investor compliance requirements allows goPeer to deliver a seamless experience and better rates to its members. Qualified consumers borrow through goPeer to lower the cost of their credit and enjoy a better end-to-end experience than that provided by traditional lenders. The capital to fund loans comes from individual Canadians seeking to invest in a previously inaccessible asset class with attractive risk-adjusted returns. Individual lenders can lend as little as $10 per loan and earn monthly repayments of capital and interest. Caya added, financial disintermediation offers a unique value proposition to Canadians: half of Canadians surveyed would prefer the interest paid on their loan to benefit a peer rather than a bank. goPeer facilitates this while maintaining the highest professional standards. As a registered firm, goPeer must, amongst other things, comply with securities laws, maintain an effective compliance system and meet prescribed financial reporting, working capital, insurance and bonding requirements. Join now to receive early access To become a lender or borrower and receive early access to the goPeer platform, sign up here (https://goPeer.ca/coming-soon). Story continues About goPeer goPeer is a Canadian financial wellness company that makes responsible lending accessible to everyone. Our technology disrupts the traditional lending model and enables us to help individuals take control of their finances. goPeer is able to offer better rates to borrowers than traditional lenders while allowing everyday Canadian investors to access a previously inaccessible asset class. For more information on goPeer, visit www.goPeer.ca and find goPeer on Twitter , Facebook , LinkedIn , and Instagram . For further information: Joseph Buaron, media@gopeer.ca, 647-264-8202 It is no secret that Mexico is an extremely dangerous place. Violence in the country has seen a steady rise despite the efforts of the current administration headed by President Andres Obrador. While cartels are known for trafficking drugs, guns, and even humans, it seems as though they now have their sights set on the agricultural industry as well. According to recent reports, Mexican cartels are now attempting a forceful takeover of Mexico's booming avocado industry. While there are no reports as of yet of the cartels invading existing avocado producing areas, there are reports of one group, the Viagras cartel, taking over protected land with the intent of farming and selling avocados. However, some of the land owners and farmers are not lying down while their livelihoods are being stolen, instead they are fighting back. "The threat is constant and from all sides," Jose Maria Ayala Montero explained to the Los Angeles Times. According to the LA Times, Ayala Montero is employed by "a trade association that formed its own vigilante army to protect growers." What is the goverment doing? Reports suggest that local authorities are attempting to thwart the invasions, but in true Mexico fashion, they have been virtually ineffective. One local authority said in an interview with the AP that the cartels are coming in, setting up orchards, and then placing drug labs within those orchards. He continued to state that because of their influence in the rural areas, the local police are rather helpless. A local Police Chief said that the cartels have "done everything - extortions [and] protection payments," leaving the police feeling as if their hands are tied. Unfortunately, that's not the only problem citizens of these areas are facing. With the avocado industry in the Mexican state of Michoacan seeing more than two billion dollars in revenue a year, it's no wonder the cartels want in. And where there's money to be made, there's heavy competition, it's safe to assume that most cartels will want a piece of the avocado pie. As we are well aware, where there are cartles, there is violence. Why are the cartels just now getting in on the avocado market? Way back in 1914, the United States placed a ban on Mexican avocados in hopes of stopping the spread of certain pests, such as weevils, to American orchards. Once the ban was lifted, after more than 80 years, the avocado industry has since been experiencing rapid growth. This has also been facilitated by growing food trends such as the ever popular avocado toast and everyone's favorite, guacamole. But why Mexican avocados? Apparently, Mexico has the perfect climate for avocado farming, America, on the other hand, does not. And with the only other option for the fruit being the West Indies, it's only natural that the cheaper importation from Mexico would be a significant factor. Hence, the market is booming. According to studies, Mexican avocados "contain the highest oil content and taste the creamiest," while avocados from the West Indies "have the least amount of oil but grow to the largest size." However, there is a hybrid avocado, called Guatemalan, that is a mix of both Mexican avocados and the avocados coming from the West Indies. These are rumored to be the healthiest. But no matter how oily, creamy, or healthy avocados may be, it's frighteningly obvious that an avocado war is coming. What does that mean for the American consumer? Well, the price of avocados is likely to skyrocket. Sue Altman of New Jersey Working Families speaks during a public hearing in July 2019 in Trenton. This week, Gov. Murphy's office forwarded a complaint by Altman about the DRPA to the New Jersey Comptroller's office for review. Read more New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphys administration has referred a complaint about land deals involving the Delaware River Port Authority to a state watchdog agency after progressive political groups wrote a letter calling for a probe of the authoritys real estate activities and the role of special interests. "I request that your office review the complaints highlighted in the letter and take whatever actions you determine to be necessary, the governors acting chief counsel wrote to the Office of the State Comptroller on Monday. Earlier this month, leaders of New Jersey Working Families and Pennsylvania Working Families asked the governors of both states to open an investigation, and told members of the DRPA board in person that they were concerned about the authoritys connections to a political machine that in our opinion prioritizes the lining of its own pockets. The Working Families groups highlighted two parcels of land that the DRPA sold or optioned for development projects in Camden amid a boon in state tax incentives for businesses willing to relocate to the long-struggling city. One of the pieces of land a three-acre parking lot worth $2.3 million was the subject of an Inquirer story in December about investments by political power broker George E. Norcross III. Both the DRPA and the Camden Redevelopment Agency held rights to the lot, and the DRPAs own interest was valued at $800,000. The DRPA sold the parking lot to developer Liberty Property Trust for $800,000, which in turn sold the lot to an investor group including Norcross for $350,000. An attorney for the Norcross investor group has described the $350,000 transaction as part of a swap with Liberty, saying the investors gave up their rights to park on other waterfront land that Liberty needed for a major development project. Port Authority CEO John Hanson has said that the authority received fair market value for its rights to the three-acre parcel, and that he did not know a partnership involving Norcross would end up with the land. The second parcel was a nine-acre lot that the DRPA optioned to a developer of a ShopRite supermarket project that never came to fruition. The supermarket project was represented by the law firm led by Philip Norcross, George Norcross brother, Politico has reported. The law firm has also done work for the DRPA. DRPA Board Chair Ryan Boyer pledged to meet with the Camden County NAACP about the status of the land when the groups president, along with the Working Families leaders and other activists, addressed the board at a Jan. 15 meeting. The DRPA maintains four bridges that connect New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and operates the PATCO commuter line. The authority came under scrutiny from the state comptroller in a 2012 report, which found that a culture of weak policies had contributed to wasteful spending and mismanagement of funds. "Given that the Comptrollers Office conducted a review pertaining to the Delaware River Port Authority in 2012 and the comptroller is responsible for reviewing finances and efficiency within government agencies, the administration believes referral to the comptroller is appropriate, said Murphy spokesperson Darryl Isherwood. The DRPA said it is proud of its financial stewardship and hasnt raised tolls since 2011. A spokesperson called the Working Families complaint misguided." The authority has conducted these [land] transactions in an appropriate, legal, and ethical way, said spokesperson Mike Williams. All of the authoritys business is conducted in the most transparent process possible. The actions referenced in the complaint were presented and voted on during open public meetings. The referral was addressed to acting Comptroller Kevin Walsh on his first day on the job. Murphy nominated Walsh to the post last week, and on Monday Walsh was sworn into the role in an acting capacity by a Superior Court judge. Walsh awaits confirmation by the state Senate. The Comptrollers Office confirmed that it had received the referral. Spokesperson Andrew Cliver said the office doe not comment on investigative work. A civil rights attorney and affordable housing advocate, Walsh most recently worked as executive director of the Fair Share Housing Center. Walsh takes over the office from Philip Degnan, whose scathing audit of the states multibillion-dollar corporate tax-break programs laid the groundwork for investigations that have roiled New Jersey politics over the past year. The tax-break programs were revamped under a law signed by Gov. Chris Christie in 2013. Since then, the Economic Development Authority (EDA) has approved about $1.6 billion worth of tax incentives for businesses that pledged to move operations and create jobs in Camden, one of New Jerseys poorest cities. The comptrollers audit found significant problems with the EDAs oversight of the programs, including a failure to determine whether companies actually created or retained the jobs in exchange for the tax incentives. We are pleased that Gov. Murphy has asked the comptroller to review special interests control over the DRPA," Sue Altman, state director for New Jersey Working Families, said in a statement. "The secretive agency needs to reform its practices and work on behalf of toll payers and local communities not the politically connected. Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reportedly posed a rhetorical question to an NPR reporter: Do you think Americans care about Ukraine? By scheduling his own visit to Ukraine on Friday, Jan. 31, Pompeo is demonstrating that they should. Indeed, his visit is a timely reminder that this vast European countrys success in overcoming Russian aggression and reforming a corrupt politico-economic system is far more important to the United States than merely serving as a backdrop for U.S. domestic political battles. Ukraine is a nation of more than 40 million people, the largest country geographically that is fully within Europe, a potential agricultural and economic powerhouse, a barometer of the possibilities for success among other former Soviet states, and a country whose people share American values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and rule of law and who seek security in an existentially difficult environment. Ukraines successas a reforming democracy, a future member of trans-Atlantic institutions, and a bulwark against Russian aggressionis therefore of immense national security importance to the United States. If the United States can stop and reverse Russian aggression in Ukraine, it can prevent it elsewhereincluding against existing NATO allies, which the United States is obliged to protect. If Ukraine, the cradle of Slavic civilization predating Moscow, succeeds as a freedom-loving, prosperous, and secure democracy, it gives the world enormous hope that Russia itself can one day change. Just imagine if one dayinstead of spending massive resources to defend itself and its allies against a belligerent Russiathe West can work together with a Russia that is focused on providing a better life for the Russian people. Imagine if Russia were to overcome its current plague of authoritarianism, corruption, aggression toward neighbors, subversion of NATO allies, and opportunistic support for disruptive forces and regimes globally. Amid these threats and opportunities, Ukraine is key. It is therefore a tragedy for both the United States and Ukraine that U.S. partisan politics, which have culminated in the ongoing impeachment process, have left Ukraine and its new, reform-minded president, Volodymyr Zelensky, exposed and relatively isolated. The only one who benefits from this is Russian President Vladimir Putin. Pompeos visit is a critical opportunity to get U.S. support for Ukraine back on track. And back on track is exactly the point. For the first two and a half years of the Trump administration, U.S. policy toward Ukraine was quite strong. In the early days of the Trump administration, there were major, complicated questions about the direction of U.S. policy. Would the administration lift sanctions against Russia? Would it make some kind of grand bargain with Russia, in which it would trade recognition of Russias seizure of Ukrainian territory for some other deal in Syria or elsewhere? Would the administration recognize Russias claimed annexation of Crimea? Would it just become another frozen conflict? There were also a vast number of vacancies in key diplomatic positions; at the time, no one was really representing the United States in the negotiating process about ending the war in eastern Ukraine. Beginning in mid-2017, and continuing until the impeachment investigation began in September 2019, U.S. policy toward Ukraine was strong, consistent, and enjoyed support across the administration, bipartisan support in Congress, and support among U.S. allies and in Ukraine itself. The administration deliberately changed the language that had previously been used to describe the war. Instead of the Ukraine conflict, the Trump administration referred to Russian aggression and occupation. Instead of a Non-Government-Controlled Area, the administration referred to Russian-controlled territory. Instead of Russian-backed separatists, the administration referred to Russian-led forces. Instead of calling for both sides to show restraint, the United States called for the withdrawal of Russian forces and the dismantling of the so-called Peoples Republics. This change in language helped to clarify Russias responsibility for the war, maintain strong European opposition to Russias occupation, sustain and strengthen U.S. sanctions, and keep EU sanctions against Russia in place. The Trump administration also coordinated Ukraine policy closely with allies in Europe and Canadamaintaining a united front against Russian aggression and in favor of Ukraines democracy, reform, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Ukraine policy is one of the few areas where U.S. and European policies have been in lockstep. The administration lifted the Obama-era ban on the sale of lethal defensive arms to Ukraine, delivering, among other things, Javelin anti-tank missiles, coast guard cutters, and anti-sniper systems. Despite the recent furor over the pause in U.S. security assistance this past summer, the circumstances of which are the topic of impeachment hearings, U.S. defensive support for Ukraine has been and remains robust. On July 25, 2018, Pompeo issued the Crimea Declaration, whichlike the Welles Declaration of 1940 concerning the Baltic Statesclearly and definitively laid out the United States policy of nonrecognition of Russias claimed annexation of Crimea. Despite major flaws in the Minsk agreements, the administration recognized that they are the only post-conflict documents in which Russia formally recognizes Ukraines territorial integrity. The administration therefore insisted on the full and faithful implementation of the Minsk agreements by Russia, which includes Russia handing back control of the Ukrainian side of the international border to Ukrainian authorities. Whereas France and Germany have been reluctant to put pressure on Russia publicly, instead calling on both sides to take steps, the United States was more outspoken and direct in calling on Russia to fulfill its obligations under Minsk, including the withdrawal of foreign forces, disbanding of illegal armed groups, and dismantling of the so-called Peoples Republics. Since September 2019, these U.S. policeswhile unchangedhave lacked focus and energy. Partisan politics, and in particular the impeachment process, caused most officials dealing with expertise on Ukraine either to leave government or hunker down to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. As a result, there was little U.S. engagement and coordination in the run-up to the Normandy format summit, which took place on Dec. 9, 2019. In the press conference that followed, Putin, sitting beside French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, rejected any Russian responsibility for the war, instead saying the conflict was an internal Ukrainian matter and calling on Ukraine to negotiate directly with the separatist regimes (which Russia controls). Neither Macron nor Merkel pushed back, and no U.S. voice was heard afterward. On returning to Moscow, Putin further said that restoring Ukrainian control of its side of the international border with Russiaa critical element of the Minsk agreementswould lead to another Srebrenica-like massacre. Putins statement, which directly contradicts Russias obligations under Minsk, went uncontested by the United States and Europe. On Dec. 23, Russia took a further step toward cementing its grip on Crimea. Putin rode the first railroad train across the Kerch Strait bridge to Crimea, opening a new supply route to the peninsula directly from Russian territory. The European Union condemned the move. The United States was silent. On Jan. 15, Putin replaced Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, and on Jan. 25, Vladislav Surkov, until then Russias point person on the Ukrainian occupation (as well as its support for Abkhazia and South Ossetia, in Georgia), reportedly resigned. These changes have potentially major implications for Russias Ukraine policy. Again, silence from the United States. Ma Anand Sheela, the controversial former secretary of godman Osho Rajneesh, claimed on Wednesday that she finds meditation "boring", and would prefer to be a "criminal" rather than "spiritual". "People sell meditation and enlightenment," she said, seeking to debunk the hype surrounding spiritual leaders. The 70-year-old Sheela, who was convicted of crimes in the United States and served a jail term, was speaking at the annual Tiecon, a conclave of start-up entrepreneurs, here, She would prefer being "a criminal" over being spiritual as crimes are committed with "honesty", she said. Sheela returned to public consciousness with "Wild Wild Country", a documentary about how Rajneesh's ambitious 'Rajneeshpuram' commune in Oregon, USA, unraveled. Sheela claimed that she finds meditation "boring" and never meditated herself. "People sell meditation and enlightenment. Spiritual leaders make false promises. I do not want to discourage anybody here who is meditating or who is spiritual or is into enlightenment, but I cannot be duped by that," Sheela, who lives in Switzerland, said. A native of Vadodara in Gujarat, Sheela said she was never into meditation herself and during one of their many private meetings, Osho himself told her not to worry about it as her work was her meditation. Painting walls in prison in USA and thus saving USD 150,000 for the jail authorities helped her shorten her jail term in the 1980s, she said. As the "queen" of the Oregon commune, she owned up to all the charges levelled by US law enforcement agencies, including attempt to murder for trying to poison local voters, and thus shielded fellow commune members, Sheela claimed. Rajneesh had leveled several accusations against her, prompting her flight from Oregon and subsequent arrest in West Germany. However, Sheela on Wednesday said that Rajneesh was still the best man she had met in her life. She also said that Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt reminds her of her younger self. She also joked about Deepika Padukone tying the knot with Ranveer Singh, asking why she had to marry at all. Sheela, who visited India for the first time three months ago after a 34-year hiatus, said she is pained by the amount of filth on the streets and wants to start a movement to do her bit to clean up the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson (R) welcomes US President Donald Trump (L) to the NATO summit at the Grove hotel in Watford, northeast of London on December 4, 2019. Peter Nicholls | AFP | Getty Images For decades, some within Britain and the U.S. have celebrated a "special relationship" historically, politically, economically and culturally. That bond looks set to be challenged after the U.K.'s decision to allow Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei to take part in its next-generation mobile networks. Known as 5G, those networks promise super-fast data speeds but also provide the technology to underpin critical infrastructure in the future. Washington has maintained that Huawei represents a national security threat because its networking gear could be used by the Chinese government for espionage. The Trump administration has also raised concerns about the link between Huawei and the Chinese Communist Party. Huawei has denied that its equipment could be compromised and says it has no links with Beijing. The U.S. piled pressure on the U.K. to block Huawei. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Britain had a "momentous decision ahead on 5G." But Britain chose to allow Huawei to participate in parts of 5G networks called the Radio Access Network. This is essentially the part of the network that hooks up your devices with the actual 5G signal. Huawei can participate in the RAN, but no more than 35% of a single vendor's equipment in this part of the network can come from the Chinese vendor. Britain's decision has "disappointed" the Trump administration and now U.S. lawmakers are warning about deteriorating relations between the U.K. and U.S. "Here's the sad truth: our special relationship is less special now that the U.K. has embraced the surveillance state commies at Huawei," Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., who is a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said in a statement on Tuesday. "The Chinese Communist Party has infected Five Eyes with Huawei, right at a time when the U.S. and U.K. must be unified in order to meet the global security challenges of China's resurgence." Five Eyes refers to an intelligence-sharing alliance involving Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab suggested that intelligence sharing was not at risk. Intelligence-sharing at risk? "This decision is deeply disappointing for American supporters of the 'Special Relationship'. I fear London has freed itself from Brussels only to cede sovereignty to Beijing," Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., tweeted, referring to Britain's exit from the European Union. "The short-term savings aren't worth the long-term costs. In light of this decision, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence should conduct a thorough review of U.S.-UK intelligence-sharing," he added. Earlier this year, Cotton introduced a bill that would stop the U.S. from sharing intelligence with countries that use Huawei equipment for their 5G networks. But analysts said this was unlikely to happen. "It is highly unlikely that the U.S. will follow through with threats to cut off or curtail intelligence sharing over the U.K. decision," Paul Triolo, practice head for geotechnology at Eurasia Group, told CNBC. "The U.K. has tried to carefully balance the economic and security concerns around Huawei and 5G by raising the bar substantially on vendor and carrier security posture, while restricting high-risk vendors from key portions of the network. It is more likely the U.S. will work with the U.K. government to ensure high security standards are met. Blowing up the Five Eyes intelligence sharing partnership over this is just not on the cards." Trade deal complications? [January 29, 2020] D.C. Area-Based U.Group Continues Rapid Growth with Expansion into Indianapolis Market ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- D.C. area-based digital transformation partner, U.Group, is marking a year of record growth with news of expansion into the Midwest. With plans to locate in Indianapolis' Northside neighborhood, the company aims to hire 12 people immediately with more than 100 high-skilled positions to become part of its Midwest operations by the close of 2020. The move is part of the company's long-term strategy to diversify its prospective talent pool and partner base. An established leader in IT innovation, the expansion is the result of U.Group's tremendous success in 2019. The company's rapid growth and reputation for delivering game-changing solutions earned it several accolades, including a spot on the Northern Virginia Technology Council's Tech 100 list for most innovative tech leaders, the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing companies list, and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce's Fantastic 50 growth list as well as its recognition as the state's Top Services Company. "2019 has been an incredible year for us, and we don't plan on slowing down anytime soon," said CEO Lena Trudeau. "Expanding our operations to a new city enables us to further accelerate our momentumit will allow us to deliver broader capabilities, deepen existing customer relationships as well as forge new ones, and amplify the impact we create for our customers." U.Group's Vice President of Strategy & Operations, a native Hoosier, had this to say about the expansion: "When we were considering a new hub for U.Group, Indianapolis made perfect sense. The city is a great fit for U.Group from a culture, collaboration, and talent perspective and we feel right at home," explained Anuj Vedak. "With an incredible mix of tech startups and mature corporations, expanding into Indianapolis also affords us the opportunity to be part of this next phase of the city's growth. We look forward to being an early partner in their innovation ecosystem." The company's Midwest presence will play an invaluable role in the fulfillment of a recently-awarded three-year, $100M contract for DevSecOps services, the largest in company history, and the expansion of existing relationships with local partners. With nearly 300 employees, primarily in its D.C. area and Portland, Oregon offices, U.Group will continue to hire new talent and amplify its presence in all three major markets. Interested applicants may apply online. About U.Group U.Group is a digital transformation partner helping organizations solve their most complex problems and create new strategic opportunities. Consistently named among Inc. Magazine's Fastest Growing Companies, U.Group uses human-centered design, data science, engineering, and ingenuity to help organizations inside and outside the federal government work more efficiently and reach their audiences more effectively. Headquartered in Arlington, VA with over 280 employees nationwide, U.Group is proud to be a woman-led organization. To learn more visit www.u.group. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dc-area-based-ugroup-continues-rapid-growth-with-expansion-into-indianapolis-market-300993624.html SOURCE U.Group [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] State-owned PrivatBank on Wednesday paid UAH 21.8 million to Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant (Dnipropetrovsk region), executing the decision of Kyiv's business court dated December 17, 2019, the bank has said in a press release. According to the press release, at the same time, the bank appealed the court's decision, finding the judgement of the court of first instance unlawful, and the actions of the picket organizers as another attempt to pressure the bank. "The execution of the decision of the court of first instance makes absolutely groundless the holding of the mass picket of the "employees" of the plant, which continues from September 2019 in front of the central offices of the bank in Dnipro and Kyiv. The protests were designed to harass and interrupt the operations of the bank, to put pressure to our employees and customers," the bank said. The picketers resort to deliberate actions provoking conflicts with the bank employees, blocking passageways and exits from the bank offices and impeding the normal operation of the office. In total, 134 complaints from bank employees and other citizens were registered by the police on the facts of the violations of the law. As reported, before the nationalization of PrivatBank, the plant acted as a guarantor on the refinancing loan, which the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) issued to PrivatBank. In May 2018, the NBU filed a lawsuit with the Economic Court of Dnipropetrovsk region seeking foreclosure on movable property owned by the plant. This property was pledged as security for the obligations of PrivatBank on the refinancing loan. The business court in Dnipropetrovsk region on August 28, 2019 approved an amicable agreement between the NBU and the plant, the initiator of which was the latter. According to the agreement, the plant undertook to repay the debt of PrivatBank on the refinancing loan in the amount equal to the market value of the collateral property to which the NBU foreclosed in this process. The company had time to repay the entire amount of obligations in the amount of UAH 21 million under the agreement within 12 months in equal installments without a commission. However, on September 6, 2019 the plant ahead of schedule fulfilled its obligations to the NBU under the amicable agreement. In September 2019, plant employees began picketing the head office of PrivatBank in Dnipro, and in November-December last year they took part in rallies near the buildings of the NBU in Kyiv. The co-owners of Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant are former shareholders of PrivatBank Ihor Kolomoisky and Hennadiy Boholiubov. N R Narayana Murthy, the co-founder of software giant Infosys who chairs a Sebi panel on alternate investment policy advisory, pitched for pension funds and banks to invest money in Indian startups. Speaking at the annual Tiecon event, Murthy said a bulk of the money which gets invested as risk capital in the upcoming companies is from abroad and there is a need for domestic money to play an important role in this. At the same event, Murthy's former colleague at Infosys T V Mohandas Pai, who is now associated with Ispirit, an advocacy group for startups, said only a tenth of the USD 60 billion invested into Indian startups since 2014 has come from domestic investors. Pai warned that "we risk the prospect of turning into a digital colony" by 2025, seeking to draw parallels with imperialism. He said there will be 1 lakh startups in India with a collective valuation of over USD 500 billion by 2025. There will be at least 100 unicorns among them and over 65 of them will be majorly owned by foreign investors. "This is one of the most important issues that we have been discussing (at the Sebi panel). That is, what are the policy changes that are required to make sure that there is more of Indian and domestic money coming into the startup sector because today it is by and large from abroad," Murthy said. "To do that, pension funds must be allowed, corporations must be allowed, banks must be allowed," he added. Pai sounded more disappointed with Indian billionaires who are willing to invest in real estate and even bank deposits, but have a tendency to overlook the startup sector. In an apparent reference to the spate of frauds, Pai said the billionaires also tend to pass the risk on money invested to banks. He said the biggest letdown has been from financiers in Mumbai, and asked startup entrepreneurs to educate such professionals on the need of the hour. Pai said why Indian pension funds or insurance companies cannot invest, questioning how companies in the same sector from abroad are coming in and taking interests here. Meanwhile, Murthy also clarified on a recent controversy over cutting short his speech at an event where he shared stage with American e-commerce giant Amazon's chief executive Jeff Bezos. He said Bezos had come on time to the venue, but the "indisciplined" crowd at the venue in New Delhi mobbed the entry gates which resulted in the delayed start for the event. Bezos was very understanding and smiled at the act of cutting short the speech, Murthy said, adding that this is so because the visiting honcho is himself a disciplinarian. T his is the 16-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in front of commuters at a London train station. He was attacked on a footbridge over the platforms and staggered down stairs before collapsing near a ticket barrier, witnesses said. Despite the efforts of paramedics and the London Air Ambulance he was pronounced dead at the scene a short while later. Forensic officers at East Croydon railway station following the stabbing / NIGEL HOWARD A A 16-year-old boy has now been arrested by detectives investigating the fatal stabbing. The arrested boy was detained in Balham in connection with the murder of Mr Johnson, but details of the arrested boy's alleged involvement in the incident have not yet been disclosed. Louis is the first teenager to be stabbed to death this year after 2019 saw 25 knife killings, an 11-year high in the capital. Police said the attack was 'senseless'. Emergency services are pictured at the scene / Twitter / @M_CPFC Detective Chief Inspector Sam Blackburn, of British Transport Police, said: This was a senseless killing at an extremely busy time of the day, and my thoughts are with Louiss family. For such a young man to lose his life in these circumstances is truly devastating, and I would like to reassure everyone that a thorough investigation is well under way. We continue to appeal for anyone with information to get in touch as a matter of urgency. The incident was over within a matter of 40 seconds, but I know many other passengers or members of the public would have seen what happened. If you have not already spoken with police, please get in touch. As scientists race to find a vaccine for the deadly Wuhan virus, the Indian government said Wednesday that ancient homeopathy and Ayurveda remedies could hold an answer. The ministry that promotes the country's booming yoga, naturopathy and homeopathy sectors released an advisory listing herbal oils to be rubbed into the scalp to purportedly ease the symptoms. It also suggested ingesting Arsenicum album-30, a homeopathic treatment. "The dose should be repeated after one month by following the same schedule in case coronavirus infections prevail," the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homoeopathy) said in a statement" The ministry also issued general advice on maintaining personal hygiene to prevent the spread of the virus. The advisory came as the Dalai Lama, in exile in Dharamsala in India, said on Facebook that followers concerned about the virus should chant a mantra that would be "helpful" in dealing with the situation. India claims to have natural remedies for everything from cancer to the common cold. The government in recent years has launched a drive to promote traditional remedies as it seeks to cash in on the multi-billion dollar global market for holistic medicine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a yoga practitioner, has said he wants the world to make Ayurveda "a way of life". Ayurvedic medicine -- which means the "science of life" in Sanskrit -- treats the physical and mental sources of illness through, for example, prescribing herbs in conjunction with yoga or massage. The ministry said that homeopathy, the treatment of diseases with alternative medicines prescribed in minute doses, is the main source of healthcare for some 10 percent of India's 1.3-billion population. The Unani system is a mix of traditional medicines from Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Persia, India, China and other Middle East countries, according to the ministry. Apart from the recommended Ayurvedic, homeopathy and Unani treatments, the ministry also advised Indians who fear they have been infected to "wear a mask and contact your nearest hospital immediately". New Delhi family physician Sanjiv Zutshi told AFP the recommended course of action for patients suspected of having the virus was for them to be tested and treated in hospital. No cases of the virus have been reported in India. An Indian ministry says homeopathy and other traditional remedies could help fight the new China virus "We would like to thank GoldSpot Discoveries and their professional team for the utmost attention to detail in managing the data compilation and interpretation. The combination of traditional and machine learning targeting has led to us to a discovery hole and New Found Gold looks forward to the continued advancement of this project and partnership with GoldSpot." - Greg Matheson, COO of New Found Gold Corp. Artificial Intelligence (AI) yields positive results in greenfields exploration. AI exploration program results in a new discovery with the first drillhole. NFGC-19-01 returns 19m of 92.86 gpt Au and 6m of 285.2 gpt Au. GoldSpot team compiles and processes all historic and current datapoints to engineer new maps and features to assist in targeting. GoldSpot historically invested $750,000 CAD into NFGC in exchange for shares and royalties. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 29, 2020) - GoldSpot Discoveries Corp. (TSXV: SPOT) (the "Company" or "GoldSpot") announces that its client, New Found Gold Corp. ("NFGC"), benefiting from GoldSpot's AI technology and exploration expertise, has reported a significant new high-grade gold discovery at its Linear (renamed "Queensway") project located in Central Newfoundland, west of the Town of Gander. NFGC has reported that drill hole NFGC-19-01 returned high-grade intercepts. Visible gold (VG) was recorded within 17 metres of the 19 metres interval with gold grains observed throughout. The new intersection is within a quartz-iron carbonate breccia hosted by black shales and mixed sediments of the Davidsville Group and in the Appleton fault zone. The intercept, 96 meters downhole, remains open for expansion down-dip and along strike. The true width of this intercept is estimated to be 70% based on drill core angles. For more information on NFGC's drill results, see the press release issued on January 28, 2020 by Mexican Gold Corp., which has entered into a binding letter agreement to acquire 100% of NFGC's shares, at mexicangold.ca/_resources/news/2020-01-28.pdf. The 100% NFGC-owned Linear land package consists of 56 mineral licenses across 3,290 claims covering approximately 823 km2. GoldSpot's AI-based approach combines traditional geological expertise with proven methods in artificial intelligence and is scaled to match the size of the property and data effectively. This method allowed NFGC to narrow down potential targets, which reduces financial risk by prioritizing the ideal locations for exploration spending. Hole NFGC-19-01 is the first of ten reconnaissance holes that have been drilled across the project and is the only one with results returned as of the date of this press release. A strength of the GoldSpot AI approach to exploration is the ability to take large land packages and distill all available geological information to identify the most efficient and cost-effective way to explore prospective terrain. As is standard in GoldSpot's workflow, all public data encompassing geochemical data, grab samples, trench and channel reports, historical drilling, geological mapping, geophysical data and structural interpretations was compiled and synthesized for the Linear property and surrounding areas. As part of the data gathering process, GoldSpot's personnel also spent two months in the field with NFGC's geological team conducting an intensive program of data collection to further refine its geological understanding of the property and mineralization controls. This process included visiting over 600 outcrops and recording various rock types, collecting grab samples and documenting a wide range of geological features. Additionally, 1,278 new structural measurements were collected by the field team and used to reinterpret the current understanding of the structural regime of the land package. A clear pattern of gold development at the intersection of the ENE trending EM interpreted faults and NNE trending principal faults (Figure 1). Intra-wedged second order structures are very favorable for fluid activity and mineral deposition. These structural insights were compiled with the extensive geological and geophysical information forming the components utilized in the AI targeting exercise. Figure 1: Structural Regime of the Linear Project To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5844/51924_enhanced.jpg A crucial part of this process was refining outdated geological maps with the addition of magnetic and EM survey data in order to produce an updated map with advanced AI techniques (Figure 2 and 3). This resulted in a new high-resolution geological map and was key to the prospective targeting exercise. Figure 2: Machine Learning geological map using unsupervised approach. To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5844/51924_9ceb7b1ef47ed955_003full.jpg Figure 3: High definition geological map produced using GoldSpot semi-supervised AI algorithms. To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5844/51924_9ceb7b1ef47ed955_004full.jpg Structural, geological and geophysical components were all analysed through GoldSpot's proprietary AI tools to produce the final high-priority targets for exploratory drilling. GoldSpot's multidisciplinary team of experts analyzed these datasets with NFGC, using traditional methods to sculpt a preliminary validation program (Figure 4). Figure 4: GoldSpot AI targeting results. To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5844/51924_goldspot.jpg GoldSpot CEO and co-founder Denis Laviolette said, "We are extremely pleased to see the results of the first drill hole from the targets we provided to NFGC. Our collaborative approach to combining geology with artificial intelligence has yet again proven itself in the field, allowing our clients to be cost effective and efficient with their exploration program. We look forward to seeing future results from our work with NFGC, and to continuing our fruitful and successful partnership." GoldSpot and NFGC first announced their partnership on March 4, 2019 (see GoldSpot's press release at goldspot.ca/news/goldspot-discoveries-corp-announces-acquisition-of-royalties-in-two-prolific-districts-covering-over-900000-hectares-and-closing-of-strategic-partnership-with-manitou-gold). At that time, GoldSpot was identified as the ideal partner for NFGC based on the strength and experience of the GoldSpot machine learning approach to exploration. The scientific and technical content of this press release has been approved by Chris MacInnis, P.Geo. Vice President and Chief Geologist, GoldSpot, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Denis Laviolette is President & Chief Executive Officer and a director of both GoldSpot and NFGC. Pursuant to the terms of an investment agreement between GoldSpot and NFGC, GoldSpot acquired a 1% net smelter return royalty ("NSR") over the majority of NFGC's Linear property. The total land package consists of 82,255 hectares (ha). GoldSpot's work to date has focused on the contiguous Linear North and South package, over which GoldSpot has a 1% NSR on 69,080 ha (83.58% of Linear North and South) and a 0.4% NSR over 5,475 ha (6.66% of Linear North and South). Pursuant to an agreement with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Triple Flag Mining Finance Bermuda Ltd. ("Triple Flag"), the NSR is currently held 50/50 as between GoldSpot and Triple Flag. In addition, GoldSpot participated in a financing of NFGC for the aggregate amount of $750,000 and entered into a services agreement to evaluate and identify of possible mineral and drill targets on the Linear property for a period of six months. Hole No. Azimuth () Dip () Length (m) UTM E UTM N NFGC-19-01 300 -45 199 658148 5427245 QA/QC True widths of the new exploration intercepts reported in this press release have yet to be determined but are estimated to be 60 - 80% of reported core lengths. Additional drilling is planned for the immediate area which will enable the true width determination. Assays are uncut, and calculated intervals are reported over a minimum length of 2 metres using a lower cutoff of 3.0 g/t Au. All HQ core assays reported were obtained by either whole sample rock metallic screen/fire assay or standard 30-gram fire-assaying with ICP finish at ALS Minerals in Vancouver, British Columbia. The whole sample metallic screen assay method is selected by the geologist when samples contain coarse gold or any samples displaying gold initial fire assay values greater than 1.0 g/t Au. Drill program design, Quality Assurance/Quality Control and interpretation of results is performed by qualified persons employing a Quality Assurance/Quality Control program consistent with NI 43-101 and industry best practices. Standards and blanks are included with every 20 samples for Quality Assurance/Quality Control purposes by the corporation as well as the lab. Approximately 5% of sample pulps are sent to secondary laboratories for check assays. About GoldSpot Discoveries Corp. GoldSpot is a technology company that leverages machine learning to reduce capital risk, while working to increase efficiency and success rates in resource exploration and investment. GoldSpot combines proprietary technology with traditional domain expertise, offering a front to-back service solution to its partners. GoldSpot's solutions target big data problems, making full use of historically unutilized data to better comprehend resource property potential. GoldSpot has developed a monetization strategy into multiple verticals of the mining and investment industry, including service offerings, staking and royalty acquisition, and the development of its own artificial-intelligence driven trading platform. For further information please contact: Denis Laviolette, President, CEO and Director GoldSpot Discoveries Corp. 647-992-9837 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) 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/51924 top states for higher education Because getting a higher education is important in many professional fields, it can drastically change a workers earning potential and therefore his or her ability to save. According to 2017 statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median weekly salary for someone with a bachelors degree was $1,173, while it was only $800 for a person with just a high school diploma. Going to college isnt cheap, of course. There are some states, though, where it is more affordable than others and offers a greater ROI. To find the best states for students seeking higher education, SmartAsset analyzed data from all 50 states across the following five metrics: undergraduate graduation rate, average net price, student-faculty ratio, 20-year return on investment and in-state attendance rate. For details on our data sources and how we put all the information together to create our final rankings, check out the Data and Methodology section below. This is SmartAssets sixth annual study on the best states for higher education. Check out the 2019 version here. Key Findings East Coast states perform well. While the top 10 of the study includes states from all four main Census regional divisions the Northeast, the Midwest, the South and the West six of the top 10 states for higher education are located on the East Coast: Delaware, Virginia, New Jersey, Connecticut, North Carolina and New York. Consistency at the top. Eight of this years top 10 states ranked among the 10 best states for higher education in all six editions of this study. The two exceptions are Indiana and Connecticut, which have finished 16th or higher over the past six years. 1. Delaware Delaware ranks third overall in three of the metrics we considered: student-to-faculty ratio, at almost 14 students per faculty member; 20-year return on investment, at $433,667 and in-state attendance rate, at 52%. Delaware also finishes in the top 15 of the study for the average net price across all of its four-year public colleges and universities, at $12,807. For recent graduates in the state looking for help managing any outstanding student debt, it might be time to speak to a professional financial advisor. Story continues 2. Virginia Although it has the fifth-lowest average net price nationwide, at $18,166, Virginia ranks first overall for the metric of undergraduate graduation rate, at 72%. The Old Dominions four-year public colleges and universities also finish in the top 10 of the study for a low student-to-faculty ratio at roughly 15 students per faculty member as well as for a high 20-year return on investment, at $388,913. Its important for prospective and current students to be mindful of the lifetime costs of student loans as they consider their long-term financial plans. 3. New Jersey New Jersey finishes second for the metric of undergraduate graduation rate in its four-year public colleges and universities, at 69%. It also finishes seventh-best for its 20-year return on investment, at $409,195, and 13th-best for student-to-faculty ratio, at almost 16 students per faculty member. 4. Indiana Indianas four-year public colleges and universities have the eighth-lowest net price in our study, at just $10,958. The state also has the 13th best in-state attendance at its four-year public colleges and universities, at 37%, and the 14th-best student-to-faculty ratio, at roughly 16 to 1. 5. Connecticut (tie) Tying for fifth place in our rankings with Michigan and North Carolina, Connecticut comes in fourth for the metric of undergraduate graduation rate, at 66%. The state also finishes seventh-best for student-to-faculty ratio at approximately 15 to 1. Furthermore, the state ranks within the top 15 for its relatively high 20-year return on investment, at $367,803. Graduates who are looking to cut down on residual costs of an investment in their degree might consider an education refinance loan that best meets their needs. 5. Michigan (tie) Michigan ties for fifth-best state for higher education along with Connecticut and North Carolina. Michigan doesnt rank in the top 10 for any particular metric, but it finishes within the top 15 of the study for the metrics of in-state attendance, at 38%, and student-to-faculty ratio, at approximately 16 students per instructor. Furthermore, the state ranks within the top half of the study for the remaining metrics. 5. North Carolina (tie) North Carolina ties for fifth place, along with Connecticut and Michigan. It comes in seventh for its relatively high undergraduate graduation rate, which is 65%. Graduates who are looking for opportunities after receiving their degree might wish to stay in the state, as two North Carolina cities are ideal for young professionals. Even though the state ranks within the bottom half of the study for 20-year return on investment, at $257,462, it ranks 14th-best for its relatively low average net price, at $12,910. 8. New York New York ranks in the top half of the study for four out of five metrics, all except in-state attendance. The average net price of the four-year public colleges and universities in the state of New York is the third-lowest in the study, at $10,167. Despite the relative affordability, it might still be wise to look into New Yorks 529 College Savings Program if youre a guardian planning to start saving for a childs future education. The state also ranks 18th-best for two metrics a low student-faculty ratio, at approximately 16 students per instructors, and a high 20-year return on investment, at $344,490. 9. California California performs the best in the metric of 20-year return on investment on a four-year public college or university education, at $461,667. While the state unfortunately finishes last in the study for its high student-to-faculty ratio, it cracks the top 20 for the other metrics, including 19th-best undergraduate graduation rate, at 57%, and ninth-lowest average net price, at $11,032. 10. Wyoming Wyoming ranks fifth-best for student-faculty ratio, at about 15 students per instructor. The state also comes in 15th overall for both its relatively low average net price, at $12,999, and its relatively high 20-year return on investment, at $360,000. For those looking to get the most bang for their buck in the work force after graduating from college, take a look at SmartAssets roundup of the most in-demand jobs for bachelors degree holders. Data and Methodology To find the top states for higher education, SmartAsset analyzed data in all 50 states for the following metrics: Undergraduate graduation rate. Data comes from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and is for the 2017-2018 school year. Average net price. The metric considers the average yearly price for first-time, full-time undergraduate students. Data comes from IPEDS and is for the 2017-2018 school year. Student-faculty ratio. Data comes from IPEDS and is for the 2017-2018 school year. 20-year return on investment. This is the total dollar amount earned by a bachelor-degree-holder over the course of 20 years of median pay (or 24 years of median pay for a high school graduate) minus the costs of attending the higher education institute for four years. Data comes from PayScale. In-state attendance rate. This is the percentage of students who graduated from high school in 2017 and attended an in-state college. Data comes from IPEDS and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. Data for metrics were found using a weighted average of the schools in each state. We ranked each state in the five metrics. We then found each states average ranking, giving a double weighting to graduation rate. Using this average ranking we created our final score. We graded our score on a curve, with the top 15% of states receiving a grade of A and the bottom 15% receiving a grade of F. Tips for Managing Your Money to Pay for Higher Ed Invest in some professional financial instruction. Make sure you plan for education early possibly using a financial advisor. Finding the right financial advisor that fits your needs doesnt have to be hard, though. SmartAssets free tool matches you with financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. If youre ready to be matched with local advisors that will help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Consider a 529 plan. Given the rising cost of tuition and mounting student debt, you might want to put your money in a 529 college savings plan, which also offers strategic tax breaks. Master the ABCs of budgeting. A budget can help you save for college. Use SmartAssets budgeting tool to see what your budget can look like as you sock away money for your childs future education. Questions about our study? Contact press@smartasset.com Photo credit: iStock.com/sengchoy The post Top States for Higher Education 2020 Edition appeared first on SmartAsset Blog. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 04:27:53|Editor: yan Video Player Close GENEVA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The director general of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that China deserves the international community's gratitude and respect for having taken very serious measures to contain the novel coronavirus outbreak and prevent exporting cases overseas. Addressing journalists at a press conference in Geneva, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus thanked the Chinese government for the extraordinary steps it has taken to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. Tedros reiterated that almost 99 percent of cases and all deaths have been in China, with only 68 confirmed cases and no deaths in 15 countries and regions outside China. "For that, China deserves our gratitude and respect ... China is implementing very serious measures and we cannot ask for more," he said. The WHO chief returned to Geneva on Wednesday from China, where he met with the Chinese leadership to discuss cooperation on implementing containment measures in Wuhan (the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak) and public measures in other cities and provinces, as well as on conducting studies on the severity and transmissibility of the virus, and sharing data and biological material. The WHO chief also thanked China for having identified the pathogen in a short time and shared it immediately, which has led to the rapid development of diagnostic tools. "China has been completely committed to transparency, both internally and externally, and has agreed to work with other countries that need support," the WHO chief reiterated, citing the latest case in Germany which, due to the immediate notification and sharing of information by the Chinese government, was very quickly identified and given medical care. The cooperation between China and Germany in responding to the outbreak is a good illustration of how China is engaging with the WHO and other countries based on the principles of solidarity and cooperation, Tedros said. While a WHO team of international experts is to visit China as soon as possible to increase the understanding of the outbreak and guide global response efforts, the WHO chief announced that he is convening again the WHO Emergency Committee on Thursday to discuss the outbreak. Earlier, the committee already met twice on Jan. 22 and Jan. 23 but decided that the outbreak had not been a "public health emergency of international concern," citing major reasons that the cases of infection outside China were still limited in number and that the Chinese authorities had already implemented very forceful containment measures. The Casablanca Mohammed V international airport, the largest in Morocco, has rammed up screening for passengers coming from mainland China wherein the novel coronavirus has so far killed 132 persons and infected more than 9000. At the airport, Moroccan medical staff has been deployed, wearing face masks, white hazmat suits and gloves with thermal scanners. They check body temperature of all arriving travellers from China. The airline crew is urged to report passengers showing signs of fever or respiratory illness. Inbound travelers are also asked whether they have been in contact with a sick person. Thermal screening is also conducted at Tanger-Med port, Moroccos largest port. Although the risk remains low in Morocco where no case has been reported, the authorities have stepped up precautionary measures, beefed up medical staff and logistics to quarantine and handle properly any suspicious case in line with WHO protocols and guidelines. On Monday, King Mohammed VI ordered the repatriation of about one hundred Moroccans, mostly students, from Wuhan, the center of the new coronavirus outbreak. According to news outlet le360.ma, the Moroccans repatriation will take place on a specially chartered RAM flight, which will leave Casablanca airport on Friday January 31, and return on Sunday February 2. The United States and Japan have already evacuated some of their citizens. Other countries such as Australia, France, India, South Korea and the UK are preparing to fly back their citizens from China. Nearly 60 million people are under partial or full lockdowns in Chinese cities to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Its death toll has surpassed the number of Chinese SARS cases during the deadly 2003 outbreak. The virus has spread around the globe as 91 cases have been confirmed in over a dozen countries in the world. Bengaluru: Japan's leading financial institution Credit Saison is partnering with Indian financial technology non-banking finance company (NBFC) Capital Float for providing digital financing to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the country, an official said on Monday. "We have jointly developed a co-organisation model to provide capital to MSMEs as they will be able to apply for our loans online and receive approvals at the earliest through our technology and Credit Saison's underwriting platform," Capital Float co-founder Sashank Rishyasringa told IANS in an e-mail interview. The six-year-old city-based Capital Float leverages technology and big data analytics to offer credit to businesses across the country through proprietary digital loan underwriting and domain expertise. "We plan to invest in India in a big way and build a loan book of $1 billion over the years, with a major part of it in the MSME sector. Our alliance with Capital Float will enable us to deploy a major part of the capital to the MSME sector," said Credit Saison Managing Director (Asia-Pacific) Kosuke Mori on the occasion. The Union Finance Ministry has encouraged co-lending of MSME loans as a game-changer for scaling up lending to the underserved and unbanked businesses and individuals. "We have also integrated at a technology stack and API (application program interface) level, enabling a seamless experience for the end-borrower," Mori said. Capital Float has lent Rs 8,500 crore in digital credit across the country over the last six years since it was co-founded, and manages the largest co-origination ecosystem in the sub-continent. Credit Float plans to lend an additional Rs 1,500 crore to MSMEs in the ensuing fiscal (2020-21) with Credit Saison, with which we will double-down on their segments where the credit demand is underserved, especially in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. "Our focus will be on providing credit to small manufacturing and services firms, followed by small retailers using digital payment modes," said Rishyasringa. Credit Float has raised funding from marquee investors such as SAIF Partners, Sequoia India, Aspada Investments, Creation Investments Capital Management LLC, Ribbit Capital, and Amazon. Check out: Top Technology Companies By Indians A joint motion, combining five different resolutions tabled by Members of the European Parliament against India's Citizenship Amendment Act, was debated at the Plenary session in Brussels, with an expected vote on the motion on Thursday postponed until March. The debate opened with a statement by Helena Dalli, the Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who spoke strongly in favour of the "rich, frank and open" relationship the European Union (EU) shares with India. She highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Brussels in March for the 15th India-EU Summit. "We believe that it is the role of the Supreme Court of India to assess the compliance of the law with the Constitution and we are confident that the ongoing judicial process will contribute to appeasing the tensions and violence witnessed over the past weeks in the country," said Dalli, who concluded the debate with a message to "pursue and intensify" dialogue with India as a "respected democracy" and valued EU partner. Two Indian-origin MEPs, Dinesh Dhamija and Neena Gill, were among a host of members who spoke up in India's favour to point out elements of "disinformation" around the CAA and the NRC within the parliamentary motion. Thierry Mariani, a French MEP, alluded to the "hand of Pakistan" in the motion being tabled, while others condemned it as meddling in another country's internal affairs. Pakistan-origin MEP Shaffaq Mohammed and others such as S&D's John Howarth and VERTS/ALE's Scott Ainslie described the CAA as a "highly discriminatory" legislation and alleged that the EU had crumbled in the face of India's diplomatic lobby and prioritised trade and business interests over human rights concerns by postponing a vote on the motion. "The only lobby that has won today is that of common sense and respect," countered ECR's Polish MEP Ryszard Czarnecki. Earlier, the European Parliament had announced that the vote on the motion would be postponed to the Plenary session in March. "Following a decision by MEPs at the opening of Wednesday Plenary session in Brussels, the vote on the resolution on India's Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) 2019 has been postponed to the March session, said a statement from the European Parliament. One of the groups behind the motion, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D), said the reason for the postponement was because the CAA was undergoing a legal process in India. "As the Supreme Court in India will rule in the coming days linked to this issue and, as such, the law may be adapted, it was considered better to vote on the resolution in the European Parliament when there is full clarity on the situation," a spokesperson said. However, another group GUE/NGL, objected to the postponement, saying they "disagreed" with the delay. Meanwhile, the government sources in Delhi claimed a diplomatic victory over the vote delay and said friends of India prevailed over those of Pakistan in the European Parliament. "Strenuous efforts of outgoing British MEP Shaffaq Mohammad to have a resolution passed by the European Parliament against India on the penultimate day before Brexit were defeated," a source said. The motion takes note of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) statement last month, which described the CAA as "fundamentally discriminatory in nature", and also of other UN as well as the European Union (EU) guidelines on human rights as it calls on the Indian government to "repeal the discriminatory amendments". The debate on CAA on Wednesday followed the European Parliament's historic ratification of the Brexit bill, under which the UK is set to formally leave the economic bloc on Friday. "While the CAA's stated goal of protecting persecuted groups is welcome, an effective national asylum and refugee policy should be just and holistic in nature and apply to all those in need," notes the motion, which describes the CAA as "discriminatory in nature and dangerously divisive". The Indian government has maintained that the CAA, which was passed by the Indian Parliament last month, is an internal matter of the country and stressed that the goal is to protect the oppressed minorities of neighbouring countries. It has been extremely critical of the move in Brussels, which the European Commission the executive arm of the economic bloc has sought to distance itself from. "As members of Inter Parliamentary Union, we should respect sovereign processes of fellow legislatures, especially in democracies," Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday wrote to European Parliament President David Maria Sassoli. The European Parliament motion is critical of any protection being denied to Muslims and that even though India also shares a border with Bhutan, Burma, Nepal and Sri Lanka, the CAA does not bring Sri Lankan Tamils under its purview, who form the largest refugee group in India and who have been resident in the country for over 30 years. "Amnesty International India has pointed out that the CAA does not bring under its purview other persecuted minorities, including Muslim populations such as the Rohingya in Burma, Ahmadis in Pakistan, Hazaras in Afghanistan and Bihari Muslims in Bangladesh," it notes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Foot-tapping music and soulful classical renditions reverberated at Vijay Chowk on Wednesday as the Republic Day celebrations culminated with the Beating Retreat ceremony here with 26 performances by the bands of the armed forces and central and state police contingents. From "Abhiyan" to "Nritya Sarita" and "Ganga Jamuna", Indian tunes were the flavour of the Beating Retreat ceremony. The function began with President Ram Nath Kovind arriving at the venue in his ceremonial motorcade. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane, Air Force Chief Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria and Navy Chief Admiral Karamvir Singh were present on the occasion. The Army, Navy, Air Force, state police and Central Armed Police Force bands performed over two dozen tunes. There were 25 tunes composed by Indian musicians, including "Madhumari", "Marhapeka", "Jauna Solti" and "Vijay Bharat". Christian hymn ''Abide With Me'', a favourite of Mahatma Gandhi, drew loud cheers from the gathering. There was uncertainty over its inclusion at the ceremonial event this year. The event came to a close with the ever-popular tune 'Sare Jahan se Acha'. This year, 15 military bands, 16 pipes and drums bands from regimental centres and battalions participated in the ceremony. As the bugle was sounded for the retreat, the Raisina Hill complex lit up in a riot of colours, the illumination provided by LEDs rather than the traditional incandescent bulbs. Principal conductor of Beating the Retreat ceremony was Flying Officer Rupachandra, while Army Military bands conductor was Risalda Major Rajender Singh. Navy and Air Force band conductors were Master Chief Petty Officer Vincent Johnson and Junior Warrant Officer Ashok Kumar respectively. The ceremony held on January 29 every year marks the culmination of the four-day-long Republic Day celebrations. Beating Retreat marks a centuries old military tradition dating from the days when troops disengaged from battle at sunset. As soon as the bugglers sounded the "retreat", the troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms and withdrew from the battlefield. It is for this reason that the custom of standing still during the sounding of "retreat" has been retained to this day. Colours and standards are cased and flags lowered. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang is studying the building of a new tourism product on the basis of swift raising in close association with environment protection so as to attract more tourists. Swifts gather to their nestles in Giong Rieng district of Kien Giang province. Over the past 10 years, swift raising has been developing very well and bringing about high economic efficiency. Kien Giang is rich in potential to develop swift raising with advantages like suitable environment, and diverse and rich feeds. The trade is bringing about relatively high economic efficiency. If successful, each 100 square metres can yield from one to two kilogrammes of nestles. From 2007 to the end of 2013, the whole province counted only 270 households engaged in swift raising with a combined area of 48,000 square metres. But the number of the swift raising households at the end of 2019 was 2,245 who harvested about 12,700 kg of nestles. The largest localities doing the job are Rach Gia city with 672 households and Hon Dat district with more than 400. However, swift raising in Kien Giang is spontaneous, that is why it fails to meet requirements on environment hygiene, eco safety, noise, diseases, etc., thus adversely affecting the daily life activities and health of locals. Many households make full use of their housing or expand their space to attract swifts. Provincial relevant authorities have been implementing a zoning plan to effectively, safely and stably utilise the economic potential from swift raising in the locality. They are tightening the management of the trade and banning the building of new spaces for swift raising in a number of key localities. Organisations and individuals wishing to build spaces for swift raising must obtain licenses and make report on environmental impact assessment. On the other hands, authorities also ban and show a strong hand against those activities that adversely impact or cause harm to the natural swifts, and work out concrete provisions on attracting swifts and food safety relating the processing of their nestles. According to Nguyen Xuan Quang, director of the Planning Research and Development Office of the Kien Giang Tourism Department, the building of concentrated areas for swift raising as well as the model of the spaces for the trade in association with the development of ecotourism will create an attraction for visitors, thus helping diversify and enrich the provinces tourism products. The official added that it is necessary to study the building of the tourism form of city tour on the basis of connecting Rach Gia city, Hon Dat district and Kien Hai island district, as each locality possesses typical potential for tourism development, especially those sites housing cultural and historical heritages. Tourism products based on swift raising in association with tours can help visitors gain interesting experiences when they come to Kien Giang. The contents should be carefully built and prepared so as to inspire curiosity from visitors. In the Rach Gia Hon Dat Kien Hai city tours, visitors will be introduced to the quality of swift nestles, guided on how to differentiate from the real and the fake, and briefed on products from swift nestles, domestic trademarks, as well as the impact of swift nestles on human health. They will have an insight on the development stages of the bird. In the time to come, Kien Giang tourism authorities will develop more sites in swift raising villages with a view to helping develop the Rach Gia Kien Hai Hon Dat tourism region./.VNA Fugitive Colombian former senator Aida Merlano, who was jailed for vote buying, has been captured in Venezuela almost four months after she escaped during a trip to the dentist, Venezuelan police said. A FAES police special forces unit arrested Merlano in Maracaibo, capital of the northwest border state of Zulia, FAES director Miguel Dominguez posted on Instagram on Monday. The former senator "entered Venezuelan territory illegally in the company of an undocumented Colombian citizen," he added. The message was accompanied by a photo of the pair from the back with wigs, documents and several cell phones seen on a table. Merlano was sentenced to 15 years in prison in September 2019 for buying votes during the 2018 general election that saw her elected senator for the Conservative Party. During a visit to a medical center in Bogota to see a dentist on October 1, she managed to slip away from her escorts, climb out a window, and slide down a rope, landing on the sidewalk in front of surprised passersby before calmly escaping on the back of a waiting motorcycle. A video of her daring escape shot by a nearby security camera went viral on social media. Justice Minister Margarita Cabello fired the head of the women's prison in Bogota where Merlano had been held and who had authorized the medical visit. Colombia is no stranger to spectacular prison escapes. The most famous was in 1992, when drug kingpin Pablo Escobar and 12 of his men absconded from La Catedral, a prison that he himself helped build. However less than 18 months later Escobar was shot dead by police in his home city of Medellin. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 20:09:01|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem (5th R) meets with visiting UN special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen (6th L) in Damascus, Syria, on Jan. 29, 2020. Walid al-Moallem and Geir Pedersen on Wednesday discussed the work of the constitutional committee, according to the state news agency SANA. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua) DAMASCUS, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem and the UN special envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Wednesday discussed the work of the constitutional committee, according to the state news agency SANA. They also underscored the need to stick by the rules and measures of the work of the constitutional committee and to preserve its independent decision without any foreign intervention. Both sides discussed the political solution for Syria's long-standing crisis and the efforts needed to make the political solution a success. In October of last year, the Syrian Constitutional Committee made up of opposition, civil society and government delegations, each with 50 members, began its work for the first time in the same room inside the UN headquarters in Geneva. The decision to establish the Syrian Constitutional Committee was adopted in Sochi, Russia, in January 2018. (Photo : Screenshot from Official Facebook Page of Google Philippines) (Photo : Screenshot from Official Twitter Page of Android) Google, in all it's wisdom in regards to anything tech-based is now providing Android support over Twitter. In an announcement over Twitter, Google told people and even encouraged users to reach the company with anything Android-related technical issues that they might be experiencing using the hashtag #AndroidHelp. Read Also: From Android WhatsApp to iOS: How to Transfer Your Data What #GoogleHelp can do for you Users had to rely on Google's support forums or any tech websites to fix their problems but this is a step in the right direction. Make sure to keep your questions or concerns strictly within the premise of Android to increase the chances of your questions to be answered quickly and promptly. On this note here are the things Google will assist you with: General troubleshooting Identity and Authentication Accessibility Security And many other Android features As mentioned above this is a step in the right direction when it comes to companies catering to the public especially if it's their own brand or concerns en masse. This is, however, just a step and there are still a lot of improvements that can be done with this angle since there are many other concerns that are not addressed properly as per the users in Reddit mentioned. Read Also: Google Drive's Crash Causes Havoc on Twitter: Is Google Still Reliable? Google and its Innovations Google LLC is considered one of the Big Four of the technology companies around the globe and that's saying something, alongside Apple, Amazon, and Facebook. Founded in September 1998. The company's rapid growth is due to partnerships aside from their massively popular search engine. Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, Duo, Hangouts, Google Translate, Google Maps, Waze, Google Earth, Street View, Youtube, Google Keep, Google Photos. All these are owned and worked on by the giant that they are. Google also leads in the development of the Android OS for mobile phones. Over the years Google has switched from software onto hardware devices by establishing their own mobile devices like the Nexus, Pixel, Google Home smart speaker, Google Wifi mesh wireless router, Google Daydream virtual reality headset. Google's search engine, Google.com is the most visited website in the world as the time of writing. Several of their services are ranked in the top 100 most visited websites like Youtube and Blogger. Google got the renown they deserved back in 2017 when the brand was named the most valuable brand in the world. Read Also: Google Assistant's New Features Include Beta Support for New G Suite Business Tools No questions have been answered as of yet but knowing Google and their massive employee roster it's only a matter of time. So far the company continues to make great strides in the innovation of technology and it doesn't seem that there is anything that can hinder the progress they provide for humanity. All people can do is wait for the improvements they will contribute to society as a whole. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Damascus, Jan 29 : The Syrian army declared on Wednesday that it has recaptured a key rebel-held city in Idlib province. The army recaptured the city of Maarat al-Numan, along with several other villages and towns in the province, Xinhua news agency reported. It stormed the city on Tuesday before declaring it fully recaptured on Wednesday morning. The army added that the fight will continue until liberating all Syrian areas from terrorist groups. Capturing Maarat al-Numan is a key step towards securing the Hama-Aleppo road as part of an agreement reached in Russia in 2018 that aims to secure the official road to Aleppo, which extends all the way south to the capital Damascus. Since the Hama-Aleppo road is under rebel control, people have travelled to Aleppo through another extension of the road. The army is now prioritizing the recapture of the entire road between Hama and Aleppo, which will enable the travel movement to return to its pre-war time from Damascus in the south to Aleppo in the north without rerouting to other roads. Iran and its allies have vowed to oppose a US plan to carve up Israel and the Palestinian territories. But the proposals, which were put together by Donald Trumps son-in-law and lobbyists in Washington, were welcomed by White House allies in the Arabian Peninsula. The Twitter account of Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, cited comments he made more than 18 months ago, when Ivanka Trumps husband, real estate developer scion Jared Kushner, first began touting a Middle East peace initiative. Let the American leadership go blind, but by the will of God Americas satanic and evil policy for Palestine named the deal of the century will never succeed, he was quoted as saying. The Palestine issue will never be forgotten and definitely the Palestinian nation and all Muslim nations will stand against them and not stand for this. Iran which along with Palestinians and many other Arab actors, was left out of the consultations on the Trump administrations plan has a history of using its proxies to sabotage attempts to implement American schemes in the region, including in Lebanon in the 1980s, Israel and the Palestinian territories in the 1990s, Iraq in the 2000s, and Syria and Yemen in the 2010s. The so-called deal of the century was praised by Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, who attended the Tuesday unveiling of the plan, saying it was a great deal for Israel and a great deal for peace. Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Show all 18 1 /18 Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian protesters burn pictures of US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a demonstration in the West Bank against the expected peace plan proposal AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan US President and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announce Trump's Middle East peace plan in the White House AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Reuters Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Reuters Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AP During a press briefing on Wednesday, David Friedman, US Ambassador to Israel, insisted its a little too early to gauge Palestinian reaction. But the negative response was swift and broad, equally rejected by numerous Palestinian factions in a rare show of unity. Mahmoud Abbas the Palestinian president and the head of rival Hamas, the militant group which runs Gaza, vehemently rejected the deal as nonsense and held a rare joint meeting to discuss their response. I say to Trump and Netanyahu: Jerusalem is not for sale, all our rights are not for sale and are not for bargaining, Mr Abbas said on Tuesday. And your deal, the conspiracy, will not pass. Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas official added, Trumps statement is aggressive and it will spark a lot of anger. The deal gives Israel complete control over the contested city of Jerusalem, instead offering the Palestinians a capital in the eastern outskirts of the city, which are behind Israels controversial security wall. It also allows Israel to annex the strategic Jordan Valley area along the border with Jordan as well as nearly all its settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are deemed illegal under international law. According to Mr Trumps maps, the Palestinian state meanwhile is comprised of parts of the West Bank connected by corridors as well as the blockaded Gaza enclave and territory south of the strip which would be handed over in a land swap. The plan denies the right of return of Palestinian refugees into lands they fled or were forced from decades ago that are now inside Israel. It says that Israel will maintain security responsibility for the future state of Palestine that had to be demilitarised. Mr Friedman insisted to reporters that the reaction from the region has been extraordinarily constructive. But immediate opposition to the deal cut across the sectarian and political divides that have rattled the Middle East for years. The Arab states endorsing the plan are unlikely to think it has a chance of success HA Hellyer, analyst Both sides in Yemens years-long civil war, the Iranian-backed Houthis and the internationally recognised government backed by Saudi Arabia, denounced the plan. The deal was predictably criticised by Irans allies such as the Lebanese Shia militia Hezbollah, but also by Iraqs top Shia religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, considered a foe of Tehran, who demanded that Jerusalem be returned to the sovereignty of its Palestinian owners no matter how long it takes, and neighbouring Jordan, a staunch Sunni-dominated US ally which is host to millions of Palestinian refugees and signed a peace deal with Israel in 1994. The foreign ministry of Qatar, which hosts a major US military base, said the agreement must include the right of return and the right to a sovereign state on the 1967 borders, otherwise peace cannot be sustainable. Nato member Turkey, which has been accused by Israel of supporting Hamas, warned the deal would only stir conflict in the troubled region. This plan is an annexation plan that is aimed at killing the two-state solution and stealing Palestinian lands, the Turkish foreign ministry said. Few of the players in the Middle East detailed how they would oppose the Trump scheme, which Israel hopes to speed forward by annexing parts of the West Bank as early next week. But Irans foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, said that he hoped the announcement would serve as a wake-up call for all the Muslims who have been barking up the wrong tree, suggesting Tehran may use the unpopular scheme to whip anti-American sentiment in the region. Iran has demanded US troops leave the Middle East for years, intensifying those calls following the assassination of Revolutionary Guard commander Qassem Soleimani in an airstrike. Some Western officials and Arab states urged the Palestinian leadership not to reject the agreement outright and instead consider the proposals Dominic Raab, the British foreign secretary, called it a serious proposal, reflecting extensive time and effort and urged all sides to give it genuine and fair consideration. This was echoed by Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt, which said that the plan offered an important starting point for the return to negotiations. All three countries have close ties to the Trump family, and have invested politically and financially in getting the White House to overlook human rights concerns, including the kidnapping, torture, murder, dismemberment and disappearance of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the hands of Saudi operatives from the court of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Netanyahu: Israeli leader formally charged with corruption after dropping bid for immunity Egypt called for open channels of dialogue to enable further discussions on the plan. Egypt calls on the two relevant parties to undertake a careful and thorough consideration of the US vision to achieve peace and open channels of dialogue, under US auspices, for the resumption of negotiations, said a statement from the foreign ministry. Analysts described the endorsements by the Arab nations as a way to continue to game a Trump administration that has repeatedly demonstrated it is capable of being manipulated by foreign powers. The Arab states endorsing the plan are unlikely to think it has a chance of success, HA Hellyer, a scholar at the Royal United Services Institute and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told The Independent. Its more probable this is about positioning vis-a-vis future engagements with the United States. Meanwhile, The Elders, a coalition of world leaders founded by the late South African leader and anti-Apartheid pioneer Nelson Mandela, warned that the US proposals would make a two-state solution impossible. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 29, 2020 / Vanadium One Iron Corp. (the "Company") (TSXV:VONE), is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Alonso Sotomayor as Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Mr. Sotomayor will replace Mr. Jacques Arsenault who resigned to pursue other business interests effective January 31, 2020. Mr. Sotomayor is a Chartered Professional Accountant (Ontario) with over 10 years of progressive financial reporting experience in the mining sector. Mr. Sotomayor started his career in a mining-specific role with accounting firm McGovern Hurley LLP, followed by progressively senior roles in the Toronto Mining Groups at KPMG LLP and Deloitte Canada overseeing files on numerous Canadian listed mining companies. Since 2017, Mr. Sotomayor has held the position of Corporate Controller of Ascendant Resources Inc and as Corporate Controller of the Company since November 2019. He holds a B.B.A. in Management and Accounting from the University of Toronto. Mr. Hale-Sanders, President and CEO, expressed his thanks on behalf of the Board to Mr. Arsenault for his professional contribution to the Company over many years and wishes him well in his future endeavours. In addition, the Company announces that the Board of Directors has approved the granting of stock options to two directors of the Company to acquire an aggregate of 300,000 common shares of the Company, exercisable at C$0.10 per common share, for a period of 2 years from January 24, 2020. About Vanadium One Iron Corp.: Vanadium One Iron Corp. is a mineral exploration company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The Company is focused on advancing its Mont Sorcier, Vanadium-rich, Magnetite Iron Ore Project, in Chibougamau, Quebec. The goal is to continue defining the extent of this resource and demonstrate its economic viability. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF VANADIUM ONE IRON CORP. Cliff Hale-Sanders, President & CEO Tel: 416-819-8558 info@vanadiumone.com www.vanadiumone.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: 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. This news release contains "forward-looking information" including statements with respect to the future exploration performance of the Company. This forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements of the Company, expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, as well as others, are disclosed within the Company's filing on SEDAR, which investors are encouraged to review prior to any transaction involving the securities of the Company. Forward-looking information contained herein is provided as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation, other than as required by law, to update any forward-looking information for any reason. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking information. SOURCE: Vanadium One Iron Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/574564/Vanadium-One-Iron-Announces-Appointment-of-New-Chief-Financial-Officer The first humans to settle in North America were more diverse than previously believed, according to a new study of skeletal fragments. US scientists analysed four skulls recovered from caves in Mexico that belonged to humans that lived sometime between 9,000 to 13,000 years ago. The researchers were surprised to find a high level of diversity, with the skulls ranging in similarity to that of Europeans, Asian and Native American groups. The study means the initial tribes that ventured from Asia into North America likely had a high level of biological diversity. This suggests that even from the beginning of the human history in the US there were settlers from different parts of the world. Original position of the skeletal remains inside submerged cave of Muknal near Mexico's coast The findings also contradict the theory that ancient American settlers were all very similar, based on earlier studies of skeletons found in South America. The first Americans were much more complex, much more diverse than we thought, said Professor Mark Hubbe at the Ohio State University. We have always talked about the settlement of the Americas as if North America and South America were the same. But they are different continents with different stories of how they were settled. Whatever we thought about the settlement of the Americas is probably not the whole story we still have a lot to learn. Archaeologists discovered the four skulls in caves submerged in water in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico, between 2008 and 2015. When the four people were alive, the caves were above sea level, but due to the melting of ice sheets, sea levels have risen around 390 feet in the last 10,000 years. Now, the coastal, mostly flooded limestone cave system in the city of Tulum in Quintana Roo encompasses at least eight different sites with ancient human remains. The skulls were from Naharon, Palmas, Muknal and El Pit four caves from giant underground networks along the coastline facing the Caribbean sea. The skulls were analysed with a CT scan, which combines data from multiple x-rays to form a 3D image. The research team used the detailed scans to find specific bony landmarks distinct features of the skull. They then compared the skulls with a reference dataset of worldwide modern human populations and found unexpected high diversity in the skulls. The oldest, recovered from Naharon, showed close morphological associations with modern Arctic North Americans in Greenland and Alaska quite distinct from native Americans. The cranial remains were estimated to be from a young adult female and were fragmented, accounting for only the calvaria the top part of the skull. The second-oldest skull, recovered from El Pit, showed affinities with modern European populations and a very different cranial vault the space the encases the brain compared with the other specimens. The four skulls analysed were taken from four different locations in a network of caves near the coast of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo The four skull fragments showed a level of biological diversity that was unexpected, including the remains from the Naharon cave, which were estimated to be from a young adult female and was closely associated with modern Arctic North Americans, compared to the Las Palmas skull, which showed associations with Asian and Native American groups Of the remaining two, Las Palmas appeared to show associations with Asian and Native American groups, while Muknal was linked to Arctic populations and some modern South American features. Previous studies have not shown this level of diversity, suggesting North American colonisers may have been a highly diverse bunch. However, that diversity would have reduced when some populations dispersed into South America. Between 300 to 400 skeletons that are more than 8,000 years old have been found in South America, compared to fewer than 20 in North America. This is why South America has tended to account for studies into the human settlement of the Americas, but with this new research paper, this should change, Professor Hubbe thinks. We always assumed that what was happening in South America was true in North America now we need to revise that he said. We need to stop talking about the settlement of the Americas. 'We should talk about the settlement of North America and the settlement of South America as very different. The study of the skulls has been published in PLOS ONE. Here's what every major analyst predicts for Facebook's earnings after the bell Published Wed, Jan 29 2020 12:18 PM EST A New York man who spent 25 years in prison for a rape he didn't commit has finally been exonerated after new DNA evidence proved he wasn't the attacker. Rafael Ruiz, now 60, had his 1985 rape conviction officially thrown out in the State Supreme Court in Manhattan on Tuesday. Ruiz, who was joined in court by his family and supporters from the Innocence Project, broke down in tears when the judge threw out his conviction. 'I have my freedom and now I can go on with my life,' Ruiz said. His supporters, who were wearing shirts with 'exonerated' written on them, screamed out 'free at last' in court. Rafael Ruiz, now 60, had his 1985 rape conviction officially thrown out in the State Supreme Court in Manhattan on Tuesday The Bronx man, who was 25 at the time, was sentenced in 1985 to between eight to 25 years for gang raping a woman on a Harlem rooftop. Ruiz was released on parole back in 2009 after serving the full 25-year prison sentence. Prior to being wrongfully convicted, Ruiz had rejected four deals from New York prosecutors that would have seen him serve a three year sentence if he had pleaded guilty to the rape. The ordeal began back in 1984 when Ruiz was accused of gang raping an 18-year-old woman on the roof of an East Harlem public housing complex. The victim had told police a black man named 'Ronnie' had driven her to the building the night she was attacked. She said the man took her to an apartment before leading her to the roof where she was raped by at least three men. When police started investigating, the victim led detectives to the apartment she thought she had been prior to the attack. They found Ruiz at the apartment where he was staying with his brother and questioned him. Ruiz, who was joined in court by his family and supporters from the Innocence Project , broke down in tears when the judge threw out his conviction His supporters, who were wearing shirts with 'exonerated' written on them, screamed out 'free at last' in court Ruiz, who is Hispanic, willingly went to the police station where the victim identified him as one of her attackers despite him not matching her initial description. During his trial, Ruiz argued that he couldn't be the attacker because he wasn't black like the victim had initially described, he had never been called 'Ronnie' and he couldn't drive. 'I was a man who went to court and went to trial to prove his innocence, but I was treated like I was already guilty when I stepped in there,' Ruiz said. After being sentenced and losing an appeal, Ruiz hired a new lawyer - William M. Tendy, Jr. - to re investigate the case as he tried to clear his name. That attorney discovered that a woman living across the hall from Ruiz and his brother at the time had a boyfriend named Ronnie who neighbors described has having a history of violence against women. His attorney believed the victim accidentally led police to Ruiz's apartment, which led to him being investigated. The attorney, with the help of the Innocence Project, spent a decade trying to track down the rape victim. She was interviewed by prosecutors in September 2018 and admitted feeling pressured at the time to identify a suspect. The victim's rape kit was discovered in late 2019 and DNA testing found that samples did not match that of Ruiz. The ordeal began back in 1984 when Ruiz was accused of gang raping an 18-year-old woman on the roof of an East Harlem public housing complex (pictured above) Ruiz admitted that he had almost given up hope of clearing his name until the Innocence Project contacted him to say they were taking up his case. 'I guess now I might be one of the cases or life stories in those law books that someone can use and hopefully it can help them out with their cases. 'That makes me feel good because I would like to see (innocent) people who got accused of doing a crime not go back into the system or lose their families or loved ones.' Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance issued a statement following Ruiz's exoneration, saying: 'A prosecutor's job is not just to seek convictions, but to seek justice. 'Today, attorneys from my Office's Conviction Integrity Program moved to vacate the 1985 conviction of Rafael Ruiz and to dismiss the indictment against him on the grounds of newly discovered DNA evidence. 'We were pleased to be joined in today's motion by the Innocence Project and I'm grateful for their continued partnership. I'd also like to thank the prosecutors in our Conviction Integrity Program the first on the East Coast who work every day to review claims of innocence, and just as importantly, to improve prosecutorial practices on the front end and prevent wrongful convictions from happening in the first place.' The countrys health ministry says it diagnosed the virus in a family from China. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has confirmed the first cases in the Middle East of the new deadly coronavirus, saying that doctors were treating a family that had recently come from a city at the centre of the outbreak. The UAEs Ministry of Health said on Wednesday it had diagnosed the coronavirus in a four-member Chinese family. All family members are in stable condition and the situation was contained by following the most necessary precautionary measures adopted globally when dealing with infected cases., the ministry said in a statement carried by the state news agency WAM. It was not immediately clear in which of the seven emirates the cases had been detected but the ministry emphasised that the diagnosis is not a cause for concern. Officially known as 2019-nCoV, the virus was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year. It has so far killed at least 132 people and infected some 6,000 others globally, surpassing the number of cases diagnosed during the SARS epidemic of 2002-2003. 200129001353421 Cases have been confirmed in several countries in the Asia-Pacific region as well as Europe and North America. These include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and the US. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization, who is on a visit to Beijing, has acknowledged the respiratory illness is an emergency in China but said last week it was too early to declare the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. The agency has described the global risk from the virus as high. More Australians are choosing healthier drinks, such as kombucha, probiotic potions and fresh juices, over alcohol, indicating a shift in our attitudes towards drinking. In a new study, University of South Australia researcher Dr Rob Hallak interviewed 400 managers of pubs, restaurants and cafes to understand the impact of a growing demand for healthier options. Kombucha is replacing alcohol as a popular choice in bars as drinking habits shift towards more healthy alternatives. Credit:Fairfax Media Drink sales account for 40 per cent of the countrys $45 billion annual spend on eating out, with health drink sales reaching $2.1 billion in 2018. Kombucha sales alone have increased by more than 700 per cent in recent years. The Greater Sacramento region is the fastest growing large community in California, and due to its high concentration of colleges and universities, has access to abundant talent. More than 30% of the region has a bachelors degree and half of those are in a STEM field. Sacramento starts 2020 with an impressive recognition. The city ranked 10th in the category of job creation and 26th overall in Inc.s 2020 Surge Cities list, a guide to the best 50 cities in America for starting a business. Sacramento climbed 2 spots from its #28 ranking on the list last year. Sacramentos rising ranking, especially in job creation, comes as no surprise to those familiar with the citys favorable business climate. The Greater Sacramento region is the fastest growing large community in California, and due to its high concentration of colleges and universities, has access to abundant talent. More than 30% of the region has a bachelors degree and half of those are in a STEM field. Those degrees are hard at work in the region in the past five years, there has been a 45% increase in computer, engineering and science occupations in Greater Sacramento. Sacramento is a city on the rise. Being added to this prestigious list is validation that we are taking the right steps to bring in not just new businesses, but diverse businesses making the region inclusive to all skill levels and backgrounds. That is the essence of an up-and-coming city, says Barry Broome, CEO of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council. Businesses succeed in Sacramento in part because innovation is the force that fuels the citys institutions. Startups and tech companies see Greater Sacramento as a growing innovation hub. Since 2015, there has been a 57% increase in the number of investment deals for startups. The region will also be home to two giant initiatives - Aggie Square and the California Mobility Center, added Barry. Aggie Square, a unique research park planned by UC Davis, is a real estate development project that will consist of a mix of research labs, office space, classrooms, and co-working space. It will serve as a hub for high-tech innovation, research and development and encourage collaboration across disciplines including life sciences, food systems, mobility, civic technology and more. The park is expected to result in 10,000 direct jobs. Similarly, the California Mobility Center is an up and coming site dedicated to funding, testing and commercializing advancements in mobility technologies including electric vehicles, autonomous transportation, battery storage, public transit and new business models for the international stage. With two centers of excellence underway that are backed by such prestigious institutions like UC Davis, the Greater Sacramento region is set to be at the forefront of life-science and mobility advancements that will lead the nation in technology and policy in these fields, said Broome. The future of innovation is here. About the Greater Sacramento Economic Council The Greater Sacramento Economic Council is the catalyst for innovative growth strategies in the Capital Region of California. The organization spearheads community-led direction to retain, attract, grow and scale new businesses, develop advanced industries and create jobs and investment throughout a six-county region. Greater Sacramento represents a collaboration between local and state governments, market leaders, influencers and stakeholders, with the sole mission of driving economic growth. The Sacramento Region was founded on discovery, built on leadership and fueled by innovation. We have suspended all flights to and from mainland China with immediate effect following advice from the Foreign Office against all but essential travel. We apologise to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority. Customers due to travel to or from China in the coming days can find more information on ba.com. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Every day seems to bring a new outrage when it comes to New Yorks wrong-headed bail reform program. On Wednesday it was reported that six suspected drug dealers, accused of running a $7 million fentanyl operation, were released without bail. Cops said that when they raided the rings bundling headquarters, an apartment in the Bronx, they found hundreds of thousands of glassine envelopes filled with the deadly powder, covering two tables and overflowing from boxes, according to the New York Post. The envelopes were tagged with the name fire. Because branding, you know? The drugs were apparently headed for the streets of New York and New England. The suspects, some with connections to the Dominican Republic, were made to surrender their passports in court. None had criminal records. Their alleged crime didnt fall under the new bail guidelines. See ya! Their family members were there to support them in court. Heartwarming, right? Fentanyl has cut a swath of death across America for years. Its pretty much the drug of death these days, right up there with painkillers and heroin. Your first taste could literally be your last. Its that lethal. These people who got arrested werent just casual drug users, who might get the benefit of the doubt and a little leniency. Theyre accused of being major dealers, intent on spreading destruction across the region. How many deaths might they have been responsible for had they not been caught? The very definition of a deadly threat to society. But progressive New York lawmakers tell us that ts OK to just dump them back onto the street, without having to post bail. A judge should have had the option to hold such people in jail. We were told that bail reform would not lead to increased crime. But the NYPD has pretty much eviscerated that argument. NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea recently said that a spike in crime citywide, including on Staten Island, can be traced to the no-bail measure. Roughly since no-bail went into effect, the majority of crimes increased citywide compared to the same period last year, including robberies, which increased by 27%, and burglaries, which increased 8.6%, according to the NYPD CompStat report. Robberies on Staten Island saw a 61% spike, from 13 instances from Dec. 23, 2018 to Jan. 19, 2019, to 21 cases in the same period this year, NYPD data shows. Sex crimes saw a 27% increase with three more cases reported to police, the data shows. There has also been an increase in stolen car cases, Shea added. Shea called the citywide spikes significant. So either we forgot how to police New York City or there is a correlation, Shea said. Bet on the latter. Bail reform is just the straw that broke the camels back when it comes to crime. New York City had already stepped down its enforcement of quality-of-life offenses, shattering the foundation of broken-windows policing that kept us the safest big city in America for decades. Fare-beaters and turnstile-jumpers have little to fear for their theft. Marijuana has basically been de-criminalized. Graffiti is starting to creep back into the city subway system. Cops have been attacked in the streets. Even if you do manage to do something that gets you arrested, it doesnt matter, because youll be put right back on the street without having to post bail. Even if you assault somebody. Even if you kill them while driving drunk. Whats to discourage people from committing crimes? Whats to encourage them to return for their court dates? Its a free play for criminals in New York these days. Scary to think what kind of city well be left with if state lawmakers dont undo this bail-reform madness. FILE PHOTO: The sun sets behind the chimneys of the Total Grandpuits oil refinery southeast of Paris By Scott DiSavino NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil futures edged up on Tuesday after falling for five days, gaining support from a rebound in Wall Street stocks and talk that OPEC and its allies might tighten the market amid fears the coronavirus could weigh on oil demand. U.S. stocks rose as gains in technology and financial shares helped major indexes recover from their biggest selloff in about four months on worries over a coronavirus outbreak and its possible impact on global growth. Brent futures rose 19 cents, or 0.3%, to $59.51 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 34 cents, or 0.6%, to $53.48. "The bulk of today's oil market advance appeared to reflect spillover from the strong rebound in the equities," Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates in Galena, Illinois, said in a report, noting the strong dollar also restricted "buying enthusiasm in the energy complex." The U.S. dollar <.DXY> rose to its highest since early December against a basket of currencies. Oil prices are usually priced in dollars so a stronger greenback makes crude more expensive for buyers with other currencies. On Monday, both oil benchmarks dropped to their lowest since October with Brent down as much as 18% and WTI falling as much as 21% from highs hit earlier in January due to U.S.-Iran tensions. The contracts were on track for their biggest monthly declines since May. The market is also awaiting weekly U.S. oil inventory reports, with data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) at 4:30 p.m. EST expected to show a 500,000-barrel crude build last week, while gasoline stocks likely extended their gains to a 12th successive week. Saudi Arabia, de-facto leader of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, has sought to calm market jitters, urging caution against gloomy expectations on the impact of the virus on global oil demand. OPEC officials have also started weighing options such as extending current oil output cuts until at least June, with the possibility of deeper reductions if oil demand in China is heavily hit by the virus, OPEC sources said. OPEC+, the producer group that includes allies like Russia, has been reducing oil supply to support prices, agreeing in December to hold back 1.7 million barrels per day (bpd) of output until the end of March. President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that China was sure of defeating a "devil" coronavirus that has killed 106 people, but international alarm was rising as the outbreak spread across the world. (Additional reporting by Jessica Resnick-Ault in New York, Katya Golubkova and Shadia Nasralla in London and Aaron Sheldrick in Tokyo; Editing by Marguerita Choy and David Gregorio) A merican presidential hopeful and billionaire Michael Bloomberg left those following his campaign befuddled when he greeted a dog by shaking its jaw. The former Mayor of New York is standing against other high profile politicians including Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren to become the Democratic Partys nominee for president and face Donald Trump in the upcoming 2020 presidential election. While on a tour in Burlington, Vermont this week, instead of greeting a furry attendee at an official event by taking his paw, he was caught on video gently grabbing and shaking its upper snout. He then tickled the dog's head in a more usual greeting. Photographic illustration of Michael Bloomberg pictured with a dog A CBS news reporter posted the video, and former Obama White House staffer, Christopher J. Hale, commented: I regret to inform you that Mike Bloomberg attempted to shake a dogs mouth. But the incident appears to have won over some American voters. One, Terence, wrote on Twitter: As awkward as this is, it improved Bloombergs likability rating with me. While a Washington Post reporter managed to prove it was not a one-off interaction of this kind between the former Mayor of New York and a canine. Aaron Blake unearthed and posted a photograph to social media showing the former Mayor previously attempting to greet a dog by shaking its snout . Photo: When it comes to craft beer in the Houston area, 2020 is off to a great start. Local breweries started tapping new beers and re-released hits on day one. Heres what try where. 8th Wonder Brewery The EaDo brewery started the year with the re-release of a crowd favorite, Peanut Butter Mission Control Porter (4.8% ABV). More recently 8th Wonder released its first ever bottled beer, Viet-Irish Coffee an iteration of Imperial Rocket Fuel, a Vietnamese coffee porter, aged in Jameson barrels as well as re-released the popular S.L.A.B IPA. Eureka Heights Brewing Company Eureka kicked off with a limited release of Rose Nylund, a White IPA brewed with Galaxy, Citra and Mosaic hops then aged in Rose Hips. This beer, 7% ABV, rolled off the lines in honor of Betty Whites 98th birthday. It also released Business Time, a hoppy, orange-Starburst tasting IPA brewed with Galaxy, Mosaic and Simcoe hops (7.5% ABV). Great Heights Brewing Company The Oak Forest brewery released Drip, a stout brewed with a mix of Latin American coffee beans from Boomtown Coffee, with 7.7% ABV. Up next: Galactic Fruitier Pellets, a variation of their New England-style IPA. Holler Brewing Co. Holler released a new iteration of a 2019 brew, Dont be Tarty for the Party, an apricot kettle sour (4.7% ABV). Holler also has two newly canned beers, too: Malt Life, a malty ale with toffee and molasses (5.3% ABV), and Major Hazer, a hazy double IPA (7.9% ABV). Ingenious Brewing Co. Ingenious came out swinging in 2020, unveiling an imperial sour ale smoothie with mango, guava and passion fruit (9% ABV) called Fruit Madness 3 Scoops. It is part of the brewerys first collaboration with The Answer, a brewpub in Richmond, Va. (Expect another beer from this collaboration in February.) Ingenious also has debuted a small batch of the Smarty Shake Passion Fruit Yuzu, a sour New-England Style IPA with passion fruit and yuzu (7.3% ABV). No Label Brewing Co. The brewery called it Pumpkins in January! as it released Nightmare on 1st St imperial pumpkin ale (8.1% ABV) earlier this month. Last weekend No Label introduced Sitting Sidehaze New England-style IPA (6.7% ABV). Saint Arnold Brewing Company Texas oldest brewery came out with a limited release of Double Art Car IPA, described as an amplified version of its Art Car IPA. For the Double Art Car IPA Saint Arnold added a Citra dry hop and increased the malt bill to bring up the alcohol a little bit up to 8.3% ABV. This week the brewery rolled out Bishop Barrel No. 25 (9.2% ABV), their Baltic Porter Divine Reserve No. 17 aged in Tawny Port barrels. SpindleTap Brewery The brewery has released Diamonds in my Mouth DIPA and Sleeper Hold DIPA, part of their Wrasslin double IPA series (both 8% ABV). Other recent additions include Atomic Leg Drop DIPA (8% ABV) and Lift Off, a Russian imperial coffee stout made with SpindleTab Coffee (9.6% ABV). True Anomaly Brewing Two releases include Bens House IPA, described as a (Mostly) West Coast IPA brewed with Columbus, Cascade, Centennial and Amarillo hops (6.4% IPA); and Armstrong, a West Coast Double IPA with old-school west coast hop resin and the tropical flavors of Columbus, Chinook, El Dorado, and Simcoe hops (8.8% ABV). Walking Stick Brewing The new Humbodlt Hazy New England-style IPA was recently released at Walking Stick, which describes this new brew as heavily dry hopped using Citra hops. It has 5.2% ABV. Democrats have more going on than just impeachment. As the Senate's impeachment trial of President Trump continues Wednesday, House Democrats are set to unveil a massive plan to rebuild America's infrastructure. It calls for $760 billion in spending over five years, with large chunks of that dedicated to improving transportation systems, railways, and nationwide broadband access, The New York Times reports. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), one of the leaders who developed the plan, calls it a "definitive departure from our last 70 years, since Eisenhower," per Politico. Instead of highway-centric infrastructure bills of the past, this one will include "$329 billion for investment in transportation systems, including improving safety measures for bicyclists and pedestrians," the Times writes. Another $105 billion will go to transit agencies, and $55 billion is allocated for improving and expanding railways nationwide. And in a diversion from traditional roads-and-bridges infrastructure, a massive $86 billion will go toward expanding broadband access. Along with additional funds for clean water preservation and toxic chemical cleanups, the public transit-focused bill is aimed at "defossiliz[ing] transportation" and meeting "the goals of the Green New Deal," DeFazio said. Wednesday's plan comes about a year after President Trump and Democratic leaders met to agree on Trump's $2 trillion infrastructure deal, though that went bust when Trump stormed out of a meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) More stories from theweek.com Mitch McConnell's rare blunder John Bolton just vindicated Nancy Pelosi 7 witheringly funny cartoons about the GOP's John Bolton problem Bondy and Parnas have been on a media blitz in recent weeks, doing a number of press interviews in which Parnas said Trump knew the full extent of his and Giulianis efforts regarding Ukraine. He has been pushing the #LetLevSpeak campaign, insisting he is a valuable resource to the process, and is handing over documents requested by subpoena to Congress, while Parnass co-defendant Igor Fruman has refused to do so. Pedro Sanchez during the television interview with RTVE. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will meet with Catalan premier Quim Torra the first week of February in Barcelona to discuss issues relating to Catalonia. The meeting is part of the agreement the leader of the Socialist Party (PSOE) made with the separatist Catalan Republican Left (ERC) in order to ensure he could be sworn back into office by Congress. The ERC agreed to abstain from Sanchezs investiture bid on the condition that the PSOE commit to negotiations about the political situation in Catalonia and the future of the region. The right has a problem and cant accept the election results Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez We have agreed with the ERC to a bilateral commission between governments that is perfectly constitutional to resolve this political crisis, Sanchez said on Monday night in a television interview with Spains public broadcaster TVE, the first he has given since being voted back in as prime minister. We are aware that there are deep differences: [the Catalan separatist parties] are defending the right to self-determination, and we are defending self-rule. We want to vote for an agreement, not a disagreement, which is what happens in a referendum, he added. The negotiations are also key to ensuring that the PSOE and anti-austerity Unidas Podemos coalition is able to pass a new budget. The government, which lacks an absolute majority in Spains lower house of parliament, needs the ERC to abstain from the vote in order to push through its financial plans in Congress. But without talks, there will be no political term, warned ERC congressional spokesman Gabriel Rufian during the investiture debate to swear in Sanchez. The prime ministers earlier failure to secure approval for his 2019 budget blueprint led to early elections in April of last year, followed by a repeat vote of November. The prime minister, however, said he is confident that he can have a new budget approved before the end of summer in September. During the interview, Sanchez added that he wanted to seek solutions to the situation in Catalonia outside of the courts. Politicians cannot stand behind the Supreme Court. There has been neglect of duties, a failure of politics, he said. Sanchez also announced that he wanted to meet not just with Torra, but with all regional leaders in Spain. This time I will be the one who goes to the government headquarters. This legislature has to be one of consensus, he said. No Spanish prime minister has ever before visited the Spanish regions in this way. Political U-turn At the outset of the interview, Sanchez was shown footage of himself defending positions that have since radically changed: for example, a commitment that he would not talk with Torra and him saying that the biggest obstacle to a coalition government with Unidas Podemos was its leader Pablo Iglesias who is now a deputy prime minister. On why he had done these political U-turns, Sanchez maintained his composure and explained: In politics, reality comes before your wishes. And the people make reality. They spoke at the [November 10] elections and said that they wanted a progressive coalition. I understood this and I accepted it. Hopefully others can too and will not obstruct us, he said, in reference to the conservative Popular Party (PP), which has vowed to fight the new government every step of the way. The prime minister also criticized the PP for working with the far-right party Vox, which has struck governing agreements with the party in many regions and city halls, and for failing to address the crisis in Catalonia. According to Sanchez, the problem has fallen to the new government due to the inaction of former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy of the PP. It was during Rajoys time in office that the illegal referendum of 2017 was held, followed by a unilateral declaration of independence. When the PSOE is in government, there are always problems, conflicts. The right has a problem and cant accept the election results. They are bad losers. We have had 40 years of democracy, he said. English version by Melissa Kitson. Charles Shabaquay walked into the Kinsmen Sherbrook Pool on Wednesday morning, just as he's done for most of his adult life. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Charles Shabaquay walked into the Kinsmen Sherbrook Pool on Wednesday morning, just as he's done for most of his adult life. He goes there to use the computers, to read books on the community shelf, check postings on the bulletin board, and, of course, swim. Some people use the city-run building to stay warm in the winter. Shabaquay is often at the pool twice a day; it's near his home, and free. But the nearly 90-year-old facility which reopened in 2017 after five years and more than $4 million in repairs is one of dozens of public services facing closure under the City of Winnipeg's proposed 2020-23 budget, expected to be delivered by Mayor Brian Bowman in early March. Dozens of activists and community members gathered Wednesday in front of the Kinsmen Sherbrook Pool for the launch of Budget For All Winnipeg, a coalition dedicated to preventing cuts to what it calls "life-sustaining" services around the city. Proposed cuts made during the budget process include shuttering the Windsor Park and Happyland outdoor pools in 2021, followed by the Sherbrook and Transcona indoor pools in 2022. Other potential closures include the Westwood and West Kildonan libraries this year, and the Fort Garry branch two years down the road. The shutdown of several arenas, including Terry Sawchuk, is also on the table. To members of the group, the Kinsmen Sherbrook Pool was a prime example of a life-sustaining service. "We call on our elected officials to do more and find creative ways to limit or avoid all of the currently proposed cuts," said Barret Miller, chairman of the Friends of Sherbrook Pool community group. "The impacts (of these cuts) will be real." While Shabaquay and others convened in the lobby, speakers from several community organizations took turns explaining why they felt cuts to such services would hurt the city. Carlos Sosa, a local advocate for people living with disabilities, said he does support work for a client with a disability, and the two of them go to the Sherbrook pool about four times per month. If the pool closed, his client would be excluded from an essential part of his life, he said. "His options to be part of the community are already limited. Inclusion is what's at risk here," Sosa said. After more than four years out of commission, the Sherbrook Pool reopened as the Kinsmen Sherbrook Pool in early 2017 following more than $4 million in repairs and renovations and another $245,000 for a new pool tank recirculation system. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files) Molly McCracken, director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, pointed to her organization's alternative municipal budget, developed two years ago, as a way to prevent cuts to essential services while boosting city revenue. "We need to increase revenues, not cut services," she said. Suggestions include an increase of property taxes a move the centre calculated would earn $28.5 million in additional revenue along with a variety of alternative revenue generators, such as a commuter charge and an increased tax on vacant sites or surface parking lots. Buck Doyle, of the grassroots organization Winnipeg Police Cause Harm, said the police budget, which represents nearly one-third of the city's annual spending, would make a better target for cuts than libraries, pools or arenas. Representatives from the Canadian Federation of Students, Functional Transit Winnipeg, and Manitoba Energy Justice Coalition voiced similar concerns. Asked whether he truly thought the Sherbrook Pool would be on the chopping block despite the recent investment made to repair it, Miller said he had no reason to believe otherwise. 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. "I believe it enough that I am going to fight with all that I have and all the resources that I can bring to bear to make sure this facility, and all facilities that currently offer aquatic programming and other vital life-giving programming to Winnipeggers, do stay accessible," he said. The coalition is also planning a "pool party" protest Thursday at city hall. Earlier, Shabaquay was perusing the community bulletin board. He hadn't yet heard his daily visit to the pool might one day be impossible to make, but wasn't happy when considering what that would mean. "I don't know what I'd do," said Shabaquay, noting the centre offers programs such as women's self-defence and seniors' classes. "I'd have to spend more money to go bus somewhere else," he said. "I really don't know where I'd go." ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca NORWALK, Conn., Jan. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Media Network (HMN), a leading and trusted OOH/Digital Point of Care media company, is pleased to announce that Carlo DiMarco will be joining the company in the new role of EVP, Corporate Development and Pete Thomas will be joining in the role of SVP, PetCareTV Sales. In addition to new hires, Bhandhavi Sangaru will be stepping up to the new role of Director, Data Analytics and Ann Brown will be taking over all marketing duties for HMN brands. For more information, visit: https://www.hmnads.com/blog/health-media-network-expands-leadership-team/ About Health Media Network (HMN), & PetCareTV (PCTV) Health Media Network (HMN) and PetCareTV (PCTV) provide targeted health and wellness focused programming, custom published resources and a mobile network for Physician & Veterinarian Waiting Rooms. With a combined national footprint in the top 204 DMA's, HMN & PCTV generate over 325 MM+ annual impressions across all media platforms including the most robust mobile network in the marketplace. Share this: Twitter: @HMN Useful links: Health Media Network: HMNads.com HMN Twitter: twitter.com/HMN_ads Media Contact Ann Brown Executive Vice President, Marketing 212-358-4043 [email protected] SOURCE Health Media Network Related Links http://www.hmnads.com Sony/ATV has also acquired THiS Music, the Nashville-based publishing company Gaston co-founded with Nashville 'Songwriters Hall of Fame' inductee Tim Nichols and acclaimed songwriter Connie Harrington . Jon Platt, Chairman and CEO, Sony/ATV said: "Rusty is one of music's most influential executives today, and his success in developing game-changing opportunities for songwriters makes him the perfect leader to step into this important role at Sony/ATV. I'm excited to work alongside Rusty and our Nashville team on nurturing the next generation of music's hitmakers." Rusty Gaston, CEO, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville said: "It is a tremendous honor to join Jon and the Sony/ATV family. The Sony/ATV Nashville catalog is the undisputed greatest collection of country music on the planet. As a music lover, I am in awe of the legacy of the songs and the songwriterspast, present and futureand I look forward to working with this amazing team and roster." THiS Music's roster includes Ben Hayslip, two-time ASCAP 'Songwriter of the Year' winner and member of The Peach Pickers--the most awarded songwriting trio in the history of country music, as well as Grammy award winning artist Emily Weisband, who has written major pop hits for BTS, Halsey and Camila Cabello, among others. Gaston is a graduate of Belmont University and also attended Texas Wesleyan University in Nashville, TN. He serves as a Board Member of the Academy of Country Music and a Board Member for Nashville's Studio Bank. SOURCE Sony/ATV Related Links sonyatv.com Former Foreign Minister Josep Borrell and Brexit Minister Steve Barclay in September. EP (EL PAIS) Britains imminent departure from the European Union means that Spain is embarking on a special task: negotiating Gibraltars own exit from the European club. In mid-January, the Spanish government and the United Kingdom will begin talks on the British Overseas Territory, a disputed piece of land covering 6.7 square kilometers that sits at the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula. Ceded to Great Britain in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht, it has been an enduring source of political friction with Spain. The priority of the government of Gibraltar is to ensure that our departure from the EU does not negatively affect the lives of citizens who cross the border in either direction Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo Nearly four years after citizens voted in a referendum, the UK is getting ready to leave the EU on January 31. Although more than 95% of Gibraltarians voted to remain, it will by default stop being part of the EU as a result of Brexit. This creates a situation that affects Spain uniquely: Gibraltars departure will have an impact on a range of issues, including the status of approximately 10,000 Spaniards who work in Gibraltar as cross-border workers. As for the post-Brexit scenario, involving Europes relationship with the territory where Spain holds a veto right Madrid is working on a series of red lines with the ultimate goal of aligning the conditions on both sides of the border separating Gibraltar from La Linea de la Concepcion and the wider Campo de Gibraltar, in Cadiz province, an area with high unemployment rates. In late 2018, Madrid and London dealt with what is known in diplomatic language as irritants. Now, both governments will create committees to address each of these contentious issues, said Marco Aguiriano, Spains secretary of state for the European Union, in a conversation with EL PAIS. An aerial view of Gibraltar. EFE Technical delegations from both countries will meet in Madrid on January 14 and 15 to set a timetable and an agenda for the meetings. The goal is to deal with any tension or misunderstanding that might arise during Britains departure and during the transition period extending to December 31, 2020. The committees mirror the four memorandums of understanding that Madrid and London signed in November 2018 to tackle issues of concern such as the rights of cross-border workers, the fight against smuggling, environmental protection, and cooperation on law enforcement and border control. Those topics are being bundled into three committees that will attempt, among other things, to disincentivize tobacco smuggling from Gibraltar, which is the biggest entry point for illegal tobacco products into Spain. Madrid is also targeting Gibraltars practice of expanding its territory through landfill in disputed waters. The committees will additionally attempt to define clear tax residency rules. The British delegation will include representation from the government of Gibraltar, while the Spanish one brings on board regional and local officials. A fourth committee presided by the European Commission will address the status of around 15,000 EU citizens who work in Gibraltar, most of whom are Spanish. We are almost done defining the priorities and red lines Marco Aguiriano, Spanish Secretary of State to the EU Around 28,500 people cross the border daily, and keeping traffic flows smooth is a priority for all parties involved. The priority of the government of Gibraltar is to ensure that our departure from the EU does not negatively affect the lives of citizens who cross the border in either direction. By working together, we can ensure smooth border flows for all interested parties, said Chief Minister Fabian Picardo in a written reply to this newspaper. As for the British government, it is being very reserved about the priorities it will bring to the negotiating table. We are committed to all the agreements described in the Withdrawal Agreement. Together with the government of Gibraltar and the kingdom of Spain, we will apply the Gibraltar protocol and associated commitments, said a spokesperson in Madrid. As for the future trade relations after December 31, 2020, Spain is preparing a document to send to Brussels in early January. We are almost done defining the priorities and red lines for the European negotiation mandate in the trade agreement to be negotiated with the UK, said Secretary of State Marco Aguiriano. English version by Susana Urra. LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- Chicago-based choreographer-director Jon Martinez is making his Beck Center for the Arts debut, overseeing the Baldwin Wallace University Music Theatre Program collaboration of The Scottsboro Boys, which runs Feb. 7-23 in the Mackey Theater. But this isnt his first Northeast Ohio show. Martinez was in Cleveland last year when he directed and choreographed the regional premiere of Be More Chill at Playhouse Square, also in association with Baldwin Wallace University. It was a somewhat unique experience, considering that at the same time the production was running in Northeast Ohio, it was also making its Broadway debut. I did get to see the New York City production, Martinez said. Id give us an A, because its an artistic testament to how you can do the same show based on the same material, but it can be two alternate universes essentially and still get the story across, just in a different way. Its this same mindset that hes using when tackling The Scottsboro Boys, which is the last production created by the venerable songwriting team of composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb (Cabaret, Chicago). Martinez said it was only a few years ago that he saw a production in his hometown that hes using as his jumping-off point. Presented as a minstrel show, the powerful musical is based on the true story of a landmark case that helped give rise to the Civil Rights Movement and changed history. The Scottsboro Boys tells the story of nine African-Americans -- ages 13 to 20 -- who in 1931 were falsely accused of raping two white women on a train in Alabama. The case, which dealt with racism and the right to a fair trial, made its way to the Supreme Court. A show like The Scottsboro Boys is a comment on our legal system and then a truly American art form -- minstrel shows -- which most Americans would like to forget about, Martinez said. To take some of these dancing production numbers that are supposed to be entertaining, but using them to enhance the audiences experience, thats like a playground for a director and a choreographer. Also, whats super captivating for me is Kander and Ebbs amazing ability to write a really good, American-sounding song that really takes us back to that time period. To prepare for the choreography of the show, Martinez said he took a deep dive into Bob Fosse, whose influence is evident in The Scottsboro Boys. The director was also focused on maintaining a level of honesty and authenticity that was faithful to the story. Despite the fact that the actual events behind The Scottsboro Boys took place nearly 90 years ago, Martinez said the topics tackled in the musical are not only still relevant today, but also illustrate a dichotomy in society. There still is an incessant glorification of African-American culture in American society, Martinez said. A lot of people love to celebrate African-American culture, but the fact of the matter is a movement like Black Lives Matter is still relevant. Thats still happening. This show definitely does put up a mirror, because everyone loves when theyre being entertained, but when real problems happen or were able to see the difference between colors of our skin, then suddenly everyone doesnt quite want to glorify or celebrate another race -- specifically the African-American culture. Read more news from the Sun Post Herald. Tourism Ireland aims to surpass the performance of 2019 and to grow revenue from North American visitors by 4% in 2020. The marketing body has set its sights on continuing to prioritise North America as a market which offers a strong return on investment with 1.96 billion expected to be generated by 2.13 million visitors in the coming year. It comes as Tourism Ireland launched its marketing plans for 2020 at an event in New York yesterday. As part of its global campaign, Tourism Ireland's television advert Fill Your Heart With Ireland, which features some of our less-visited attractions and locations such as Trim Castle and the Waterford Greenway, is being run on American TV networks. The ad is airing around popular programmes such as The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Big Bang Theory which attract a large viewership in the US and is expected to target a culturally curious audience. Galway 2020 was also showcased at the launch, reminding those in attendance that the city is European Capital of Culture this year. Get you an island that can do it all! #DollyPartonChallenge pic.twitter.com/jGe9i1tF4Z Tourism Ireland US (@GoToIrelandUS) January 27, 2020 Speaking at the launch in New York, Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said: In 2019, we welcomed over two million North American visitors to the island of Ireland, delivering revenue of around 1.89 billion for the economy. "Looking to the year ahead, we are confident that our strategy will deliver further growth. We are placing a strong focus on spreading overseas tourism business more evenly around the entire island and encouraging more people to visit in the off-season. About to launch our marketing plans in New York City. Great to launch @galway2020 with over 190 local USA industry present including @AerLingus @metcalfealison1 pic.twitter.com/i5Fb0O3t1o Niall Gibbons (@NiallGibbons) January 28, 2020 "We look forward to welcoming more of our great friends from North America this year and in the years to come. Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Irelands Head of North America and Australia, said: We have a very clear focus for the year ahead and that is to deliver a +4% increase in visitor numbers and +4% increase in revenue from North America. "We will achieve this by working in close collaboration with our Irish and American tourism partners and by rolling out an extensive programme of high impact campaigns and promotions which will target those consumers with greatest potential to travel to the island of Ireland. For hundreds of years, practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine have used an herb called Stemona sessilifolia as a remedy for parasitic infections, such as those caused by pinworms and lice. Now, researchers reporting in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry have identified 10 compounds that might be responsible for the herb's effectiveness. But there's a twist: The insecticides are produced by symbiotic microbes that live within the plant's cells -- not by S. sessilifolia itself. Endophytes are microorganisms that live inside plant cells but do not cause apparent disease. Instead, some endophytes help plants survive by enhancing growth, nutrient acquisition, or resistance to drought or pests. Therefore, scientists are investigating endophytes as potential sources of new medicines and agrichemicals. Xiachang Wang, Lihong Hu and colleagues wanted to screen endophytes from S. sessilifolia for insecticidal activity. To isolate endophytes, the researchers spread fresh, cut-up pieces of S. sessilifolia on agar plates. They then collected the bacteria that grew on the plates, analyzed the DNA and identified the microbes as Streptomyces clavuligerus. Using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, the team purified 10 new compounds from the bacteria with structures similar to a class of insecticides known as pyrroles. Testing the substances on insects revealed that they were strongly toxic to aphids and moderately toxic to spider mites. A bacterial extract containing all of the compounds had greater lethal activity than any compound alone. These substances, or the bacteria that produce them, could be promising new natural pesticides, the researchers say. ### The authors acknowledge funding from the National Key R&D Program, the Nature Science Foundation of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China, the Outstanding Scientific and Technological Innovation Team Program of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Jiangsu Provincial "Double Creation Program" and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions. The paper's abstract will be available on January 29 at 8 a.m. Eastern time here: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jafc.9b06755. For more research news, journalists and public information officers are encouraged to apply for complimentary press registration for the ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Exposition in Philadelphia. The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS' mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and its people. The Society is a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, eBooks and weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News. ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a specialist in scientific information solutions (including SciFinder and STN), its CAS division powers global research, discovery and innovation. ACS' main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio. To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org. Follow us: Twitter | Facebook Last week, the Star published an opinion piece by Anne Levesque on the appointment of Kelly Burke as the new French languages commissioner operating within the ombudsmans office. That position used to be a stand-alone officer of Parliament. Levesque found little hope that Burke will be effective championing the rights of Ontarios francophones. You need at least two ingredients for oversight offices to operate effectively. First, you need to have the right person in the job, who is not afraid to speak truth to power and be models of transparency. The person needs to fearlessly flash the spotlight on problems. Ontarios current Ombudsman Paul Dube is someone who has not shown that he is up to the job of being a fearless watchdog. He operates in the backwaters in stealth mode and without a flashlight. There should be a natural tension between the overseen and the overseer, which is palpably absent since Dube was appointed. Hes been acting more like lapdog than a watchdog. The newly appointed Burke, a career Ontario public service bureaucrat appears to be a clone of Dube, to whom she reports at the same level as the deputy ombudsman. But perhaps we should give her an opportunity to prove us wrong. Hopefully, she doesnt use Dube as her role model. If Dube isnt ready to properly do his job, he should give ample independence for Burke to do hers. And for both of them to give a press conference emphasizing their impartiality and to say that this includes refraining from expressing their position publicly is simply wrong. As overseer, sure theyre impartial in receiving a complaint, but they are paid to investigate and express an opinion on whether the states decisions, among other things, are reasonable and if not, tell the government how to fix, and if necessary, in a public report. All of this is spelled out in the Ombudsman Act. The second ingredient to the Ombudsmans success is having a properly constituted infrastructure and the resources to fulfil its mandate. The Ombudsman Act was enacted by a Progressive Conservative government in 1975 and has withstood the test of time. The act was modernized over time and its budget received a substantial increase, almost doubling to $20.18 million in a matter of a few years. Government agencies, boards and commissions that operate arms length from government almost invariably and chronically lament that they are underfunded. Its definitely not the case for the Ombudsman office. Having the right tools in their tool kit, and the necessary resources to do their work, Burke and Dube should take advantage of their position of trust and fight for the rights of the francophone community and the public respectively. There is no reason to believe either one doesnt truly understand the power of their office to influence meaningful change, even if it means using their bully pulpit from time to time. Because of four employees infected with the new coronavirus, the automotive supplier Webasto will close its headquarters by 02.02.2020. Among the employees of the automotive supplier Webasto additional cases of infection with coronavirus have been detected. Due to the recent developments the decision has been made to extend the measures which had been already implemented to protect the workforce of Webasto. We have currently notice of three further employees who tested positive and at the moment we are investigating the colleagues who were in contact with them, explains Holger Engelmann, CEO of the Webasto Group. Like the employee whose infection was announced on January, 27th, the three other colleagues work at the companys headquarters in Stockdorf (Starnberg district close to Munich). The company remains in close contact with the responsible authorities and follows the recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute. Webasto had already cancelled all business trips to and from China for at least the next two weeks and employees at the Stockdorf location were offered to work at home this week. Given the newly arisen situation, further steps have been taken: Giant mosquitos the size of a 20-cent coin are being discovered in increasing numbers. Toxorhynchites - or elephant mosquitos - have been reported near the Gold Coast in Queensland at Coombabah, Paradise Point and Biggera Waters. There has been an alarming spike in mosquito numbers across Queensland, prompting a warning the state could suffer an outbreak of the incurable Ross River virus. The elephant mosquito is almost five times the size as the typical mosquito but they feed off other mosquito larvae rather than human blood. The monster insect was found in a Killara backyard on the Gold Coast, a region which is also suffering a spike in standard mosquito populations. Swarms of the insects have prompted local government action up north, around the hot spots of Coombabah, Paradise Point, and Biggera Waters. Gold Coast Councillor Cameron Caldwell said area has suffered 'plague proportions of mozzies' in the past week. Swarms of the insects have prompted local government action up north, around the hot spots of Coombabah, Paradise Point, and Biggera Waters The council has been conducting aerial sprays or 'fogging' around particularly bad areas in response to ongoing community concerns. Gold Coast council has been conducting aerial sprays or 'fogging' around particularly bad areas One resident claimed the situation was so bad 'it's like being a prisoner in your own home.' The recent weather and subsequent flooding in the state has experts on the edge of a potential outbreak of the Ross River Virus. The last significant outbreak in 2015 led to nearly 700 infections of the incurable insect borne virus. Queensland health detected only 118 cases of the disease in 2019. The Coombabah wetlands are a breeding ground for mosquitos on Queensland's Gold Coast Griffith University disease ecologist Eloise Skinner told the Gold Coast Bulletin the conditions are right for a serious event in 2020. 'It does tend to come in cycles, every three to five years, so we haven't seen an outbreak yet,' she said. 'But we have conditions conducive with something like that, given the increase in numbers, the movements of animals and the weather.' Brian Bickell has been the CEO of Shaftesbury PLC (LON:SHB) since 2011. This analysis aims first to contrast CEO compensation with other companies that have similar market capitalization. Next, we'll consider growth that the business demonstrates. And finally we will reflect on how common stockholders have fared in the last few years, as a secondary measure of performance. This process should give us an idea about how appropriately the CEO is paid. View our latest analysis for Shaftesbury How Does Brian Bickell's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies? At the time of writing, our data says that Shaftesbury PLC has a market cap of UK2.8b, and reported total annual CEO compensation of UK1.1m for the year to September 2019. That's below the compensation, last year. While we always look at total compensation first, we note that the salary component is less, at UK508k. When we examined a selection of companies with market caps ranging from UK1.5b to UK4.9b, we found the median CEO total compensation was UK1.7m. This would give shareholders a good impression of the company, since most similar size companies have to pay more, leaving less for shareholders. While this is a good thing, you'll need to understand the business better before you can form an opinion. The graphic below shows how CEO compensation at Shaftesbury has changed from year to year. LSE:SHB CEO Compensation, January 28th 2020 Is Shaftesbury PLC Growing? Over the last three years Shaftesbury PLC has shrunk its earnings per share by an average of 20% per year (measured with a line of best fit). Its revenue is up 3.9% over last year. Few shareholders would be pleased to read that earnings per share are lower over three years. The fairly low revenue growth fails to impress given that the earnings per share is down. These factors suggest that the business performance wouldn't really justify a high pay packet for the CEO. Shareholders might be interested in this free visualization of analyst forecasts. Story continues Has Shaftesbury PLC Been A Good Investment? Shaftesbury PLC has generated a total shareholder return of 11% over three years, so most shareholders would be reasonably content. But they would probably prefer not to see CEO compensation far in excess of the median. In Summary... It looks like Shaftesbury PLC pays its CEO less than similar sized companies. Brian Bickell is remunerated more modestly than is a normal at similar sized companies. But the business isn't growing earnings per share, and the returns to shareholders haven't been wonderful. There is room for improved company performance, but we don't see the CEO pay as a big issue here. CEO compensation is one thing, but it is also interesting to check if the CEO is buying or selling Shaftesbury (free visualization of insider trades). Arguably, business quality is much more important than CEO compensation levels. So check out this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity 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. Taylor is a great addition to our team, said principal and managing shareholder Ernest Cory. She is a smart, capable attorney committed to providing exceptional service to our clients. We look forward to her success here at Cory Watson. Cory Watson Attorneys, a nationally-recognized personal injury law firm, is proud to welcome Taylor A. Pruett as a new associate attorney in the Birmingham office. Taylor A. Pruett earned her degree in Communication and Political Science from Auburn University before going on to earn her Juris Doctor degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. Her devotion to seeking justice brought her to the Class Action practice group at Cory Watson, where she is currently handling cases involving product liability, mass torts, and consumer protection. Taylor is a great addition to our team, said principal and managing shareholder Ernest Cory. She is a smart, capable attorney committed to providing exceptional service to our clients. We look forward to her success here at Cory Watson. Click here to learn more about Taylor A. Pruett. ABOUT CORY WATSON ATTORNEYS Cory Watson Attorneys is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm with offices in Birmingham, Alabama; Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee. The firm has recovered more than $2.7 billion for clients across the country. Cory Watson Attorneys are frequently at the forefront of major class actions and multidistrict litigations involving dangerous pharmaceuticals and product liability, and are often appointed to leadership positions in national cases. Firm practice areas include Personal Injury, Product Liability, Class Action, Asbestos, Business & Commercial Litigation, Dangerous Pharmaceuticals, Defective Medical Devices, and Environmental/Toxic Torts. To learn more, visit CoryWatson.com. Israeli PM to visit Russia to discuss 'deal of century' "On Jan. 30 in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who will pay a brief working visit to Russia," the Kremlin press office said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Russia on Jan. 30, the Kremlin said in a statement. MEETING AIMS TO FIND RADICAL SOLUTIONS According to the media reports, Putin and Netanyahu will discuss the US-proposed solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the so-called "deal of the century". On Tuesday, speaking at a news conference in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was skeptical about the deal. He said the US attempts "to find radical solutions" to international problems do not bring any positive developments. Referring to the US proposal, he said the most important thing will be to find out the positions of the parties, including, above all, the Palestinians, as it comes to the establishment of a Palestinian state. "And, of course, we will need to understand the reaction of the Arab friends of Palestine, the Arab League, given that it is the Arab peace initiative that has been approved by the world community as an integral part of the solution to the problem of two states - Israel and Palestine," Lavrov said. The boss of Sukhoi Russias troubled national plane maker is expected to resign this week, Russian daily Vedomosti has reported. Igor Ozar, who has been with the company for more than 20 years, was placed on sick leave last week, and is slated to tender his resignation at a board meeting on Thursday, the paper says, citing industry insiders. The departure comes after a dismal 2019 for the plane maker, which produces military aircraft for Russias armed forces as well as civilian planes. In May, 41 passengers died when an Aeroflot Sukhoi Superjet 100 made an emergency landing at Moscows Sheremetyevo airport with full fuel tanks the Superjets second fatal crash in its eight-year history. Following the disaster, regional carrier Yamal Airlines canceled an order for 10 Superjets, and commentators began to question the future of the aircraft. The company was also forced to delay delivery of its hyped Su-57 stealth fighter to the Russian Aerospace Forces, after it crashed during a test flight in Russias Far East last December. The first units were just days away from being delivered, and had already been combat-tested in Syria. Sukhoi is owned by the United Aircraft Corporation, which is 91%-controlled by the Russian government. Read the full story here. Engineers from the New Zealand army have bid their Australian counterparts an emotional farewell after spending weeks working helping fight bushfires. The soldiers returned to New Zealand on Monday after a ceremony was held in their honour in appreciation of the efforts they have put in helping clear Kangaroo Island, off the coast of South Australia, following the horrific blazes. Video footage showed the soldiers gather against the backdrop of the ocean to perform the ceremonial dance. The engineers returned to New Zealand on Monday after a ceremony was held in their honour in appreciation of the efforts they have put in helping clear Kangaroo Island following the fires The group performed the haka as Australian representatives from the Defence force and firefighting service watched on. Onlookers clapped and cheered at the heartfelt gesture from their counter-parts from across the Pacific Ocean. Colonel Don Hogben from the Australian Army said the soldiers also gave the local council a flag to be flown at the New Zealand war memorial in Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island. 'Having New Zealand support Australia in this time of need has been wonderful,' Colonel Hogben said. 'It is always a pleasure to work with New Zealanders between their Defence Force and ours. 'The local community has been appreciative of the efforts of the Australian Defence Force but also our international friends - none more so than New Zealand. They have done great work over here.' Video footage showed the soldiers gather against the backdrop of the ocean to perform the ceremonial dance Animal habitats - including wallabies - have been destroyed on Kangaroo Island following bushfires Colonel Hogben said it was another chapter of cooperation between the two countries. He thanked every engineer and wished them the best in their future. The engineers from New Zealand were working as part of Operation Bushfire Assist, which is made up of three task forces in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. On Kangaroo Island the joint task force was responsible for clearing roads, removing damaged fences, debris and trees and fixing sign posts. They also helped provide civil agencies with rations and environmental health support. Two lives were lost on the island and 140 homes were lost in South Australia - as crews continue to work on damage to trees and infrastructure Countries such as Papua New Guinea, Fiji, New Zealand, Singapore and Japan have been part of the effort. Bushfires in South Australia claimed three lives - including a father and son on Kangaroo Island. Well-known outback pilot Dick Lang, 78, and his 43-year-old son, Adelaide surgeon Clayton Lang, died after their car was trapped by flames. A total of 140 homes are believed to have been lost in blazes across the state and the devastating environmental impact may never be known with an estimation of 25,000 koalas having died on Kangaroo Island alone. Colonel Don Hogben from the Australian Army said the soldiers also gave the local council a flag to be flown (pictured) at the New Zealand war memorial in Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island On 12-14 January 2020, a delegation from Iraqs National Defence College visited Ukraines National Defence University in Kyiv. The visit was conducted within the framework of the NATO Defence Education Enhancement Programme (DEEP). This programme supports the NATO Mission Iraqs commitment and efforts towards the further development of Iraqi professional military education institutions. It is part of the broader endeavors aimed at reforming Iraqi national security structures. During the visit, the Dean, Secretary General and Senior Instructor of Iraqs National Defence College exchanged views with counterparts from Ukraines National Defence University on priorities for military education advancement, curriculum development, and the training of military specialists. They also discussed areas of possible future cooperation between Iraq and Ukraine, including on distance learning, educational programming on integrity and the prevention of corruption, faculty and student exchanges, digital lectures and the planning of joint trainings and exercises. As a NATO partner country that has recently undertaken a transformation of its professional military education system with NATO support, Ukraine serves as an excellent model for the achievements that the Atlantic Alliance aims to foster within Iraq's defence education institutions. The NATO Defence Education Enhancement Programme is a vehicle for reform of security structures. It provides tailored practical support to individual countries as they develop their own professional military education institutions. Through faculty development, curriculum development and peer-to-peer consultations, this programme fosters defence capacity and institution building. In Iraq, the National Defence College is one of three colleges of the Defence University for Military Studies participating in the programme. In addition to the programme in Iraq, NATO is currently running similar programmes in 15 other countries, including Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritania, the Republic of Moldova, Morocco, North Macedonia, Mongolia, Serbia, Tunisia, and Ukraine. For more information on DEEP, visit the DEEP webpage. Students of the BA (Hons) in Film & Television Production at Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT), have announced an open filmed casting call for actors to be showcased on an actor's database for up and coming student productions. Previous short fiction films made on this course have gone onto be screened and win awards at film festivals such as the Fastnet Film Festival, Richard Harris Film Festival, Celtic Media Festival, Galway Film Fleadh, Belfast Film Festival, Cinemagic Film Festival, G, Kerry Film Festival, Clones Film Festival, amongst many others. Actors can register their interest on the form at this link for 10 minute open audition slot Auditions take place in Dundalk IT on Thursday February 6. All details will be provided to actors via email after registering their interest. Actors are requested to prepare a maximum 5-minute monologue which will be recorded with quality camera, sound & lighting by the 3rd year students and a copy of the audition will be made available via WeTransfer shortly afterwards to the actor for use on their own showreels. Currently, the students are casting for the following age group/genders but all are welcome to audition to be part of the database for future roles: Male, aged 30-40 Male, mid 20s Female, late-teens-early 20s X 6 Male, early 20s Female, mid 50s Male, mid 60s-70s X 2 Female, mid 60s X 2 Male, mid 50s Male, late-teens-early 20s X 3 Please note all actors should be over 18. More information on the course can be found at https://www.dkit.ie/courses/school-of-informatics-and-creative-arts/creative-arts-media-and-music/ba-(hons)-in-film-and-television-production.html 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. GUATEMALA CITY - A former member of Guatemalas paramilitary community patrols was arrested Wednesday on charges of crimes against humanity, after he was deported from the United States. Francisco Cuxum Alvarado allegedly participated in mass rapes of indigenous women between 1981 and 1985, during the countrys 36-year civil war. He was a member of a civil militia that helped government forces violently remove, rape and massacre Maya Achi people from the Rio Negro area. The 64-year-old Cuxum Alvarado was found in Waltham, Massachusetts, in 2018 working as a landscaper. He was sentenced to six months in prison for illegal reentry into the U.S.. Friend of slain Texas mom Heidi Broussard is indicted on murder charge originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Magen Fieramusca, the close friend of slain Texas mom Heidi Broussard, has been indicted on a charge of capital murder in Broussard's death. Fieramusca was initially charged with kidnapping her long-time friend after Broussard's decomposing body was discovered in the trunk of Fieramusca's Nissan Versa near Houston on Dec. 19, according to officials. MORE: Shocking details alleged in Heidi Broussard, baby Margot kidnapping case Broussard, 33, and her infant daughter, Margot, had been missing from their Austin home for a week when authorities made the discovery. Margot was found alive and was reunited with her father, Shane Carey, on Christmas Eve. Fieramusca had allegedly been telling people that she was expecting a child, an official told ABC News. Fieramusca's ex-boyfriend, Christopher Green, told investigators that "he never saw Magen Fieramusca's bare stomach during the pregnancy," but he believed she was pregnant with his child, according to court documents. The two still lived together, although they were broken up, the documents said. PHOTO: Magen Fieramusca was charged with tampering with a human corpse and kidnapping. (Harris County Sheriff's Dept.) Fieramusca told investigators she brought her baby home on Dec. 12 -- but shortly thereafter, when investigators in Houston showed Green a flyer of missing baby Margot, Green replied, "that's the baby at my house," according to Fieramusca's arrest affidavit. A grand jury on Tuesday returned a capital murder indictment against Fieramusca alleging that she, on or around Dec. 12, did "intentionally cause the death of Heidi Broussard by ligature strangulation, and by asphyxiating Heidi Broussard with a leash." A second indictment alleged that Fieramusca did "intentionally and knowingly abduct M. Carey, a minor child." MORE: Exclusive: Father on death of fiance killed in alleged baby theft plot Attorney Brian Erskine, representing Fieramusca, said in a statement after the indictments were handed up that Fieramusca's defense team has yet to receive any evidence from the government. Story continues "Exculpatory and mitigating evidence has a shelf-life, and too many individuals in our criminal justice system have been delayed or denied this information," the statement said. "We cannot act to fairly and vigorously represent our Client when we start defending her with our hands tied and eyes blindfolded." PHOTO: Police have released this photo of Heidi Broussard and 2-week-old Margot Carey after they were reported missing. (Austin Police Department ) Carey, Broussard's fiance, told Good Morning America earlier this month that he was in disbelief after Fieramusca was arrested for kidnapping. "I want to look at her straight in the eyes and ask her why?" he said of Fieramusca. "That's all I want to say. There's no reason for any of this. I believe somebody talked her into it. I mean, from knowing Magen, I would never imagine it." Fieramusca is expected in court on Feb. 3. Every biopsy tells a story. To a cancer patient, their tiny bit of tissue tells a profoundly human one. It speaks of fear and pain and uncertainty. To a computer, the story is bits and bytes. Lots of them. In the era of DNA sequencing, a single patient can generate a terabyte or two of data. Researchers sift through that data for genetic clues that could guide the development of new treatments. Collectively, data from every cancer patient might add up to a story of breakthroughs. All that data might hold hidden insights that could change all our lives. But right now it cant. Because in cancer research, data doesnt move. Its siloed divvied up in databases across research centers. Enter the Cascadia Data Discovery Initiative, launched by Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and sponsored by Microsoft. CDDI aims to establish a regional data-sharing ecosystem. It brings together institutions from across the Pacific Northwest with a simple goal: to make it easier for researchers to find and share biomedical data, and to collaborate. President Trump on Wednesday signed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a trade deal meant to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement. We have replaced a disastrous trade deal, Trump said at the signing ceremony. This is something we really put our heart into. Both the Senate and House passed the USMCA by wide margins with bipartisan support. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer called the agreement a bipartisan success, and said he was grateful to the leadership of the House and Democratic and Republican lawmakers for their work. The USMCA updates certain aspects of NAFTA in light of technological advances made over the past two decades. The new agreement sets parameters for the free exchange of information among North American countries. The USMCA also updates certain rules on tariffs. Auto manufacturers will be required to produce a greater amount of parts in the U.S., while U.S. farmers will be granted unfettered access to the Canadian market. The agreement includes new labor laws and enforcement mechanisms, aimed at giving Mexican workers an easier shot at unionizing. These new provisions were instated after complaints by Democrats and manufacturers that Mexican workersa inability to demand fair pay applied pressure on U.S. jobs. While Mexico has already approved the USMCA, Canadas parliament still must ratify the agreement, a process which may extend into April. Once that is complete, the North American countries must carry out steps prescribed by the agreement and verify that those steps have been completed in order for the deal to take effect. More from National Review Children should be dropped one kilometre from the school gates and walk the rest of the way to tackle obesity, campaigners say. Authorities in Victoria have been desperately trying to handle the state's obesity problem, which has seen children struggling to exercise and gorging on junk food. In the South Grampians region in the state's west, more than half of people are overweight and 20 per cent are obese. One school, Hamilton North Primary, set up an 800-metre drop-off so children can walk the rest of the way. Children at Hamilton North Primary School are being encouraged to walk 800m from their parent's car to the school gates to help with health and fitness (stock image) It was one of 400 suggestions put forward by residents of Hamilton, where 35 per cent of children are overweight or obese, according to ABC. One family who have taken to the new scheme is the Mansons, whose children Willow, 7, and Harley, 11, never walked to school. But they now relish the opportunity to be active, and are now involved in other sports. 'It's helping me with how I'm going in my sleeping habits,' Harley said. The children's teachers are also finding them better to work with and say the walk is making students more focussed. Teachers reported that children who walk to school were better behaved in the classroom and found it easier to focus. Hamilton North Primary introduced the measures in 2018 (pictured) 'Their focus is a lot better, we find that often we take brain breaks with the kids so we get them outside moving for five to 10 minutes so that they can sit and refocus again, it works really well,' their teacher Renee Riley said. Other ideas from the Hamilton community include encouraging breastfeeding and creating a food co-op, a community-run produce shop focussing on fresh and local ingredients. Childhood obesity in the area has already dropped 4 per cent since the ideas were brought in. Students in Hamilton have been encouraged to walk to school, with teachers saying the policy had improved some children's concentration (stock image) The New South Wales town of Tamworth was recently crowned the fattest town in Australia, with almost two-thirds of its adult residents classified as obese. The NSW town has an astonishing 61.2 per cent obesity rate, compared to a 31.3 per cent rate nationally. This is the equivalent to an average 172cm man weighing 90kg or more. Nationally, more Australians are overweight or obese than ever before, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Tamworth (pictured) was recently named Australia's fattest town, with 61.2 per cent of people obese - and 77 per cent of people doing 'little to no exercise' Australia's fattest towns at a glance (% of obese people) 1) Tamworth West, NSW (61.2%) 2) Bridgewater, TAS (57%) 3) Davoren Park, SA (55.5%) 4) Melton West, VIC (53.9%) 5) Mount Druitt, NSW (52.8%) 6) Smithfield/Elizabeth North, SA (52%) 7) Kurri Kurri, NSW (51.9%) 8) Redbank Plains, QLD (51.9%) 9) Melton/Rockbank, VIC (51.7%) 10) Moree, NSW (49.5%) Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics Advertisement Australian men are far more likely to be overweight than women - with 75 per cent now needing to drop kilos compared to 60 per cent of females. The amount of Australians at a healthy weight plummeted to just 31.7 per cent in 2017-18. Meanwhile, the proportion of Australians who are obese has nearly doubled to a whopping 31.3 per cent, up from 18.7 per cent 25 years ago. More than one third of Australians are overweight, and 31 per cent are obese. Around 70 per cent of Australians living in areas of most disadvantage were overweight or obese, compared with 63 per cent in the least disadvantaged areas. Experts said a greater number of parks and exercise areas, particularly in poverty-stricken towns, could help. For years, the loudest voices in the climate-change conversation sounded like overwrought teenaged girls, so it is only natural that the loudest voice in the climate-change conversation eventually should be that of an actual overwrought teenaged girl, Time magazine person of the year Greta Thunberg. Why settle for Paul Krugman when you can have the real thing? Listen to the science! they lecture any would-be deviationist, pretending that a question of politics is a question of science. Its a fun little status game, if that and being scolded by teenaged girls is what floats your personal boat. De gustibus, etc. But it does pay to check in with the scientists every now and then. And, as it turns out, they do not sound like overwrought teenaged girls. Not at all. They sound pretty sensible and dont tell poor Greta, or poor Professor Krugman! surprisingly optimistic. In the closing days of 2019, the International Energy Agency released its annual guidance report, the World Energy Outlook. According to the IEA report, writes David Wallace-Wells of New York, who is not famously an exponent of climate deviationism, given only current carbon policies, which nearly everyone studying climate considers terribly weak, the world is on track for about 3 degrees Celsius of warming by 2100, which could, if existing pledges were implemented, be brought down as low as 2.7 degrees about one and a half degrees less warming than is suggested by the U.N.s IPCC reports in what is often referred to as the business as usual RCP8.5 scenario. What does that mean, exactly? That the window of possible climate futures is probably narrowing, Wallace-Wells writes, with both the most optimistic scenarios and the most pessimistic ones seeming, now, less likely. In the interest of giving an accurate view of Wallace-Wellss very interesting write-up for those who do not follow my recommendation to go and read it in full, please understand that he views the current situation as really quite dire but certainly better than Ive thought. But the very worst-case scenario, and scenarios close to the very worst case, are in this view less likely to come to pass. Story continues Thats a rare bit of good news from the apocalypse desk, and Wallace-Wellss essay is much more illuminating reading than How dare you! But we live in a How dare you! world. We live in the world of Stephen Porter of London, who writes in the Financial Times: I would reject all moderate predictions on climate change and would trust only the most extreme, accepting that even the latter will probably greatly underestimate the true consequences of not taking immediate action to counter the human influences on our climate. Upon what does he base that attitude? His view that most cosmic events are sudden and cataclysmic. Most cosmic events. In the Financial Times, this is, that salmon-tinted citadel of fuddy-duddery. Over at Bloomberg, Mark Buchanan effectively argues against honesty (excessive honesty, hed say) in the climate-change conversation under the headline: Climate change: Scientists honesty is killing their cause. (Please, do read the entire thing if you suspect I am misrepresenting the article.) Citing psychological research, Buchanan suggests a new kind of discourse, one with certain inconvenient uncertainties suppressed. He tries to have it both ways, naturally, since it is unseemly for a journalist to be caught writing a brief for more effective propaganda, and so he backtracks a little: Acknowledge some uncertainty, he says, but not too much, and whenever possible, put quantitative bounds on it. . . . But theres a danger in going too far and hiding behind the awesome complexity of the climate system to avoid making strong statements. Why put quantitative bounds on uncertainty? Because doing so offers a more accurate representation of scientific findings? No, because psychological research suggests that this makes for more effective marketing. Some of you will remember this infamous quotation from the late Steven Schneider: On the one hand, as scientists we are ethically bound to the scientific method, in effect promising to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but which means that we must include all the doubts, the caveats, the ifs, ands, and buts. On the other hand, we are not just scientists but human beings as well. And like most people wed like to see the world a better place, which in this context translates into our working to reduce the risk of potentially disastrous climatic change. To do that we need to get some broad based support, to capture the publics imagination. That, of course, entails getting loads of media coverage. So we have to offer up scary scenarios, make simplified, dramatic statements, and make little mention of any doubts we might have. This double ethical bind we frequently find ourselves in cannot be solved by any formula. Each of us has to decide what the right balance is between being effective and being honest. I hope that means being both. Some of my fellow conservatives can from time to time take a pretty boobtastic attitude toward climate change, that it is a hoax or a conspiracy cooked up in Beijing. But one of the reasons some people suspect that climate-change activists are not being entirely straight with them is the fact that climate-change activists keep publishing essays rationalizing why they dont think they should be entirely straight with skeptics or the uncommitted members of the general public. This isnt science it is salesmanship. Science enjoys well-earned and widespread prestige, and so it makes a handy cudgel in political debates. But the scientific forecasts are the beginning of the climate debate, not the end of it. Properly understood, this is a question of risk mitigation: How much climate risk are we willing to bear, and how much are we willing to pay for a certain level of risk reduction? In my view, there is an excellent case for a Pigovian tax on fossil fuels (and perhaps on some other products) that are likely to exacerbate the risks associated with climate change the U.S. government is sure to bear much of any climate-change costs, it will need money to do so, and getting that revenue by putting a levy on the negative externalities in question looks like a pretty good policy. I dont think weepy teenaged girls, or grown men and women in responsible jobs doing their best imitations of weepy teenaged girls, adds anything of great value to that. (I have a harebrained scheme: Why not substitute a carbon tax for taxes on personal and business income? Lets make a deal!) There is some good news on climate change, and our policy debate should incorporate that. But it wont. Nobody in our Trump-Warren-Kardashian doofus culture is very interested in the IEA they are interested in Greta Thunberg, in artfully shot heroic photographic portraits, in ritual, redemption, and reconciliation, in the apocalyptic legends familiar from myth and religion, and, of course, in dreaming up ways to shoehorn their preexisting personal desires and political demands into the new mystical-political paradigm. Financial crisis and a subsequent recession? Professor Krugman recommends a big, expensive infrastructure program. World in flames from global warming? Professor Krugman recommends a big, expensive infrastructure program. Psoriasis? Try infrastructure. Why try infrastructure? Because, as Professor Krugman writes, scientific persuasion is running into sharply diminishing returns, and needs to be supplanted by an effective political strategy. He insists that powerful forces on the right know your enemy! are determined to keep us barreling down the road to hell. The IEA suggests otherwise. Does that matter? Does that matter to Professor Krugman? Does that matter to you? Or perhaps you simply have a poetical conviction that you possess an ineffable understanding of the true nature of most cosmic events. One cult is as good as another, and mood affiliation is a kind of faith. More from National Review The father of a girl who was seriously injured in a Pembroke car crash last month that killed 13-year-old Claire Zisseron is suing the man accused of causing the crash as well as the Rockland company he worked for that hosted a holiday party which he had allegedly been drinking at, according to reports. The lawsuit was filed Monday in Plymouth Superior Court in Brockton by Gary Zemotel, whose 13-year-old daughter, Kendall Zemotel, was a passenger in a white Subaru on Dec. 29 when 31-year-old Gregory Goodsell allegedly crashed his work-issued pickup truck into the car, The Patriot Ledger reported. The crash killed Zisserson and severely injured Zemotel as well as Zissersons 50-year-old mother. A vigil was held for the 13-year-old earlier this month after her death. Goodsell is accused of driving drunk and being under the influence of cocaine at the time of the crash. A bottle of whiskey and a beer can was found in his car, the Plymouth District Attorneys office said. He is now facing manslaughter and drunken driving charges. Zemotels lawsuit names Goodsell and the transportation company he worked for, Hi-Way Safety Systems, as well as its owner, Kenneth Horn, and his wife, Kathy DeLong, all as defendants, according to the Ledger. The Marshfield resident was allegedly leaving a Christmas party at his bosss home the morning of the crash. Hi-Way Safety Systems, Horn and DeLong are accused of distributing alcohol to the guests at the party and either giving or allowing them to use cocaine, which the lawsuit alleges led to the crash, the Ledger reported. The suit also alleges negligence by all the plaintiffs as well as negligent entrustment by Hi-Way Safety Systems, Horn and DeLong for allowing Goodsell to use the companys truck, according to the newspapers report. Kendall Zemotel was left with a traumatic brain injury after the crash. She also suffered injuries to her neck, shoulder, pelvis and legs, according to the suit, the newspaper reported. Hi-Way Safety System, which terminated Goodsell, said in a statement in January he ignored co-workers warnings to hand over the keys to the truck before the crash. The transportation company also said the Marshfield resident violated several of the businesss policies, including repeatedly driving a company vehicle for personal use and having alcohol in the vehicle. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation ruled earlier this month that Hi-Way Safety Systems can no longer bid on state contracts, revoking the companys pre-qualification certification until further notice. Related Content: Roman Kemp has revealed that Caitlyn Jenner and Ricky Gervais had the 'most awkward encounter ever' at the National Television Awards on Tuesday night held at London's 02 Arena. The radio DJ, 27, who starred with Caitlyn, 70, on the latest series of I'm A Celebrity, made the confession on his Capital Breakfast show on Wednesday - something which Ricky, 58, has since denied. Roman claimed that Caitlyn 'ain't a fan' of Ricky after his 2016 Golden Globes jibe and several digs made about her during his Humanity tour, which the comedian was accused of being transphobic. 'Awkward': Roman Kemp has revealed that Caitlyn Jenner (pictured) and Ricky Gervais had the 'most awkward encounter ever' at the National Television Awards on Tuesday night held at London's 02 Arena Martin Kemp's son told co-host Vick Hope: 'Everyone was there including Caitlyn Jenner, so obviously there's a lot of people who want to come up to Caitlyn and want to be able to say "hello", meet her for the first time. 'She's one of the most inspirational human beings on the planet. So I just want to kind of set the scene for you. So, I'm there, Caitlyn's there, we're all chatting, everyone's around' Listing off some of the eventgoers, he continued: 'There's Phillip Schofield, there's Holly Willoughby, Graham Norton's over there everyone's chatting, everyone's mingling 'I hark your mind over to a couple of years ago where Ricky Gervais is on his world tour, his Humanity Tour. The entirety of the Humanity Tour is basically ongoing gags about Caitlyn Jenner, and let me tell you, Caitlyn ain't a fan of Ricky Gervais.' 'She ain't a fan!': The radio DJ, 27, who starred with Caitlyn, 70, on the latest series of I'm A Celebrity, made the confession on his Capital Breakfast show on Wednesday Denial: Ricky has since denied Roman's claims, saying there was 'no snubbing, no awkwardness and no rudeness' Roman went on to reveal that Caitlyn's thoughts on Ricky were made clear on I'm A Celebrity, he explained: 'It came up a few times in the jungle. Someone would say "Oh I love The Office" and she'd just have this stare of just like "no". 'In Caitlyn's mind, she has that constant hashtag of #RickyGervaisiscancelledparty, do you know what I mean? That is it.' Going back to the story, Roman continued: 'Yeah, so I'm minding my own business, you know, just kinda chatting around and then all of a sudden I look over and Ricky Gervais is walking over to Caitlyn Jenner, but then I realise I'm in a conversation with someone else. 'So I'm going: "Oh, yeah, so, sorry, it's a lovely night" Oh my God she's going to shake his hand! This is really happening!"Erm, yeah, so the jungle was a really nice place to go, it was really tough, it was really tough". 'Feud': Roman claimed that Caitlyn 'ain't a fan' of Ricky after his 2016 Golden Globes jibe and several digs made about her during his Humanity tour, which the comedian was accused of being transphobic Claims: Roman said: It happened the most awkward encounter ever, Ricky Gervais reaches out his hand and says "Caitlyn (pictured), so lovely to meet you." Caitlyn literally looks out the corner of her eyes and goes "yeah."' 'Ricky's gonna say something to her! What's he gonna say? Oh my word!... "Is your dad here tonight?" "No, he's not here tonight, no, no, no, I think he's with my mum, I think he's with my mum."They're about to talk to each other! 'And it happened the most awkward encounter ever, Ricky Gervais reaches out his hand and says "Caitlyn, so lovely to meet you." Caitlyn literally looks out the corner of her eyes and goes "yeah."' And when asked whether she stayed for a conversation by Vicky, Roman said 'nope', to which she continued: 'Did she walk away? Oh you know what though, why be polite? If you wanna walk away, walk away! Fair play to both of them!' Ricky has since denied Roman's claims on Twitter, reacting to the news, he tweeted: 'This is absolutely false. She was lovely and gracious. She said she loved my Golden Globes monologue & I said I loved her stint in I'm a Celebrity.' 'Snubbed': And when asked whether she stayed for a conversation with Ricky (pictured), Roman said 'nope' He added: 'And that was it. No snubbing. No awkwardness. No rudeness. @Caitlyn_Jenner.' Ricky famously caused controversy at the 2016 Golden Globes where he was accused by fans of being transphobic after he made a dig about Caitlyn in his opening speech. He said: 'What a year she's had. She's become a role model for trans people everywhere, showing great bravery and destroying stereotypes. Pals: Roman developed a close friendship with Caitlyn on the latest series of I'm A Celebrity (pictured with their fellow campmates Jacqueline Jossa, Caitlyn Jenner, Myles Stephenson, Cliff Parisi, Andrew Maxwell, Adele Roberts and Kate Garraway) 'She didn't do a lot for women drivers. You can't have everything, can you, not at the same time.' In February 2015, Jenner was involved in a fatal multiple-vehicle collision, in which one woman, Kim Howe, was killed. Prosecutors declined to file criminal charges in the case. At the time, Ricky hit back at transphobic claims, he tweeted: 'Suggesting a joke about Caitlin Jenner is automatically transphobic is like suggesting a joke about Bill Cosby is automatically racist.' Controversy: Ricky famously caused controversy at the 2016 Golden Globes where he was accused by fans of being transphobic after he made a dig about Caitlyn in his opening speech (pictured) Hitting back: At the time, Ricky hit back at transphobic claims, he tweeted: 'Suggesting a joke about Caitlin Jenner is automatically transphobic is like suggesting a joke about Bill Cosby is automatically racist.' While the comedian addressed the 2016 Golden Globes with The Hollywood Reporter earlier this year ahead of his 2020 presenting duties. Ricky told the publication: 'I was very careful that the joke was about her being a bad driver. The joke was about stereotypes. 'I started off being correctly inclusive saying she's brave, breaking down barriers. And then I [said] she didn't do a lot for women drivers.' Back for more: Ricky's 2020 Golden Globes opening speech was equally as controversial as he made jokes about 'woke' Hollywood, Jeffrey Epstien, Harvey Weinstein and Prince Andrew, while tackling topics such as MeToo and ISIS When asked how he responds to accusations he is transphobic, he told the publication: 'I just say I'm not [transphobic].' Ricky's 2020 Golden Globes opening speech was equally as controversial as he made jokes about 'woke' Hollywood, Jeffrey Epstien, Harvey Weinstein and Prince Andrew, while tackling topics such as MeToo and ISIS. The comedian left his A-list audience, which included Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro and Gwyneth Paltrow, both wincing and gobsmacked over his monologue. Within hours, police identified the suspected drug dealer as Collis Lee and arrested him. But days later, investigators discovered they had the wrong man. They arrested Jerome Baker and assured the public that he is the right suspect. The father who killed his family in their Disney home had first suffocated his wife and two children but stabbed his teenage son with a kitchen knife when he fought back, before then slicing his wife and other son to make sure they were dead, a source familiar with the investigation exclusively told DailyMail.com. Anthony Todt, 44, was arrested on January 13 and charged with four counts of murder for the killings at his home in Celebration, Florida, a gated community designed and developed by Disney. Police entered the home and found the rotting bodies of his wife Megan and their children Alek, 13, Tyler, 11, and four-year-old Zoe wrapped up in blankets after concerned relatives told police they hadn't heard from the family for awhile. Everyone but Zoe had stab wounds and while the local medical examiner hasn't officially determined the cause of death, a source told DailyMail.com that Todt first suffocated his family members one by one. But when Todt got to Alek last, the teenager fought back by scratching and biting him, leading Todt to stab him with a kitchen knife. Todt then went back and stabbed his wife and second son to make sure they were dead. DailyMail.com can also reveal that the local sheriff's department were called to the Orlando-area home at least five times during the two-week period that no one had seen the family, but no one entered the home until January 13. Anthony Todt, 44, was arrested on January 13 and charged with four counts of murder for killing his wife Megan and children Alek, Tyler and Zoe (all pictured) at their home in Celebration, Florida, a gated community designed and developed by Disney A source told DailyMail.com that Todt first suffocated his family members one by one. But when Todt got to Alek (right) last, the 13-year-old fought back by scratching and biting him, leading Todt to stab him with a kitchen knife. Todt then went back and stabbed his wife and second son to make sure they were dead. Zoe wasn't stabbed DailyMail.com can also reveal that the local sheriff's department were called to the Orlando-area home at least five times during the two-week period that no one had seen the family, but no one entered the home until January 13 Documents show that Todt's sisters were calling the Osceola County Sheriff's Office from Connecticut, where the Todts lived part-time, sometimes daily to ask deputies to check on the family because they suspected something wrong. The Todts' landlords in Florida were asking questions, too, as well as FBI agents who were asking the sheriff for help locating Tony, who was under investigation for Medicaid fraud. Todt was arrested and admitted to killing his family. A source at the sheriff's office said authorities believe they were killed shortly after New Year's Day. After refusing to release detailed information about the murders for more than a week, the office of Sheriff Russ Gibson made available a slew of reports about the brutal murders and audio tape of 911 calls made by worried family members, acquaintances and FBI agents. The reports show deputies drove to the house in Celebration, a quiet community developed by the Walt Disney Company in the mid-1990s, at least five times between December 31 and January 13 but didn't notice the smell of decomposition. According to the reports, a neighbor even offered a deputy a key to the Todts' home on January 11. The neighbor said she held a key because the couple often asked her to walk their dog. The deputy declined to use it. Sheriff Gibson, who's running for reelection, didn't respond to an email asking for comment. Documents show that Todt's sisters were calling the Osceola County Sheriff's Office from Connecticut, where the Todts lived part-time, sometimes daily to ask deputies to check on the family because they suspected something wrong But Mike Fisher, Gibson's opponent and a former 30-year employee of the Osceola County Sheriff's Office, said the case was mishandled by the agency. 'This case has been plagued by a calamity of errors,' Fisher said. 'There's a culture of laziness in that agency. No sense of urgency. It's unclear when the victims died, so they possibly could've been saved. 'There were enough reasons for the deputies to enter the home way before they did. The victims had been reported missing by their families up north. That in itself was enough.' Reports show a sheriff's deputy first knocked on the door on December 31 to serve an eviction notice. He reported no answer and left his card in the door. On January 9 and January 10, another deputy alerted by Tony's sister in Connecticut knocked on the front and back doors, then headed to an apartment the couple owned less than a mile away and knocked there too. He canvassed the neighborhood, noting the family's only car was parked in the backyard and found the neighbor with the key. Another deputy returned the next day, arriving at the house at 12:39pm and leaving at 12:52pm after the Todts' landlord asked for a 'wellness check,' according to the reports. And again, yet another deputy returned January 12, but he took no action. Finally, on the morning of January 13, federal agents on surveillance spotted Todt entering the house shortly after 9am. In a 911 call, Todt's sister revealed Megan 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 The agents and several deputies knocked on the door. No one inside responded. One deputy grabbed the door handle and saw the door was not locked. Agents and deputies entered and called for Tony to come to the door. There was 'a foul odor emitting from inside the residence,' one deputy noted on his report. Tony was first spotted walking down the staircase from the second floor with difficulties, holding on the railing. He needed to be assisted after telling authorities he tried to kill himself with a high dose of Benadryl. His body, the report notes, was shaking uncontrollably. At first, he told deputies asking about his wife that she was asleep upstairs. 'I went upstairs and observed a bedroom door to the right that was open,' one deputy wrote. 'I could see inside the bedroom that one 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.' On the bed, the deputy uncovered the body and found Megan, 'deceased for a fair amount of time.' Tyler and Alek were on the mattress on the floor. It took a while longer for the deputy to find little Zoe but found her wrapped in a blanket at the foot of her mother's bed. A woman in her 40s has been charged in connection with the deaths of three children in Co. Dublin. Nine-year-old Conor, seven-year-old Darragh, and three-year-old Carla McGinley were found dead at a house in Parsons Court, Newcastle on Friday evening. The buildings shape slowly shifted away from Utzons competition drawings. His new curves were detailed in the Red Book, a complete set of plans, sections and elevations sent to the NSW government in March 1958, which expanded on the schematic drawings from his competition entry. The roofs ridge profiles had become higher and more pointed; the end shell form no longer cantilevered like a cliff over the sea. These higher profiles also allowed for more volume for the stage towers and auditoriums. Yet the drawings contained in the Red Book were structurally unsound, with difficult bends near the roofs footings. Each shell was different. The lack of a defining geometry would make it impossible for the builders to reuse formwork and would add to the buildings costs. As the years and iterations continued without a satisfactory solution, resolution of the issue went from pressing to critical. By late 1961, three years had passed since Utzon had bent his plastic ruler on a table and a solution to building the shells had still not been found. Utzon was even asked by the NSW government whether he should consider another engineering firm but the architect refused to look elsewhere, convinced his collaboration with Arup would yield the solution. In the end the solution would come from Utzon himself. Various myths surround the discovery of the so-called Spherical Solution, the unified answer to the problems of buildable shells. The iconic sculptural form of the Sydney Opera House essentially relies on the form of these shells, so the importance of finding the best solution to the roof cannot be underestimated. As one of the more popular myths has it, Utzon had a eureka moment while peeling an orange. While its true that the solution can be demonstrated in this way, it had in fact been architect Eero Saarinen who, over breakfast one morning years earlier, cut into a grapefruit to describe the thin shell structure of the roof of his TWA Building, and later used an orange to explain the shape of the shells to others. By his own account, Utzon was alone one evening in his Hellebk office with a number of the most intractable Sydney Opera House problems weighing heavily on his mind. Utzon was stacking the shells of the large model to make space when he noticed how similar the shapes appeared to be. Previously, each shell had seemed distinct from the others. But now it struck him that as they were so similar, each could perhaps be derived from a single, constant form, such as the plane of a sphere. The simplicity and ease of repetition was immediately appealing. It would mean that the building's form could be prefabricated from a repetitive geometry. Not only that, but a uniform pattern could also be achieved for tiling the exterior surface. It would become the single, unifying discovery that allowed for the distinctive characteristics of Sydney Opera House to be finally realised, from the vaulted arches and timeless, sail-like silhouette of the Opera House to the exceptionally beautiful finish of the tiles. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With hate crimes on the rise throughout New York Citys transit network, the MTA has announced a new public awareness campaign aimed at ameliorating the issue. The Hate Has No Place in Our Transportation System campaign will promote kindness, respect and solidarity throughout the citys transit network, with ads appearing on over 7,000 digital screens across the citys subways, buses and commuter rails. The new campaign comes following a 42% increase in hate crimes investigated by the NYPD Transit Bureau in the past year -- jumping from 53 hate crimes in 2018 to 75 hate crimes in 2019. Hateful vandalism and graffiti make up a bulk of these crimes, like the hate symbols found on the Guy V. Molinari Staten Island Ferry earlier this month. New York is built on diversity, openness and inclusion, said MTA Chairman and CEO Patrick Foye. Every New Yorker should be able to travel free of harassment and feel safe while riding with the MTA. We want to do what we can to put a halt to these despicable crimes. We hope that our campaign will not only help reduce bias activity but will remind everyone of the core New York values of kindness, respect and solidarity. The MTA is encouraging riders to report all bias-motivated threats, harassment, discrimination or graffiti by calling 1-888-392-3644 or texting HATE to 81336. New York City Transit has zero tolerance for bias-motivated threats or harassment in our subway or bus systems, said Sarah Meyer, New York City Transit chief customer officer. The increase in incidents we have witnessed is appalling. Lets show our fellow New Yorkers how much we care and work together to combat these incidents. The campaign launched on Monday, Jan. 27, the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, following a series of attacks on Jewish communities over the past two months in the New York metro area, including the December machete attack in Monsey, N.Y. Grafton Thomas allegedly carried out the attack in Monsey on a rabbis home during celebrations for the seventh night of Hanukkah. Ahead of the attack, Thomas used the internet to search for a number of Jewish sites, including Zionist Temples of Staten Island," according to a federal criminal complaint. Temple Israel Reform Congregation in Randall Manor, headed by Rabbi Michael Howald, is one of the local sites that appears in such a search on Google. I wanted to make sure that people understand that an attack on anyone in the Jewish community is an attack on us all, Howald said when community leaders gathered in St. George to speak out against hate. "It was very scary for me and for our members as well to think that were all so vulnerable in the lives that we lead. He said his synagogue on Forest Avenue has stepped up security in recent months. The doors are now locked during Saturday services, requiring those who want to come in to utilize a special entry system. He has also engaged with Rep. Max Rose (D-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) to see if more can be done with grants at the federal level. Rose, along with other members of the citys congressional delegation, urged New Yorks non-profit institutions to take advantage of a $90 million increase in security grant funding passed as part of the remaining fiscal year 2020 budget. On Jan. 12, elected officials, Jewish community leaders and members of the NYPD were joined by over 150 borough residents at the Lew Stolzenberg Social Hall inside of the Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Sea View to discuss ongoing security concerns amid a rise of anti-Semitic and hate crime attacks across New York City. Community questions and in-progress security measures took center stage at the meeting, which was organized by the Council of Jewish Organizations (COJO) on Staten Island. Many in attendance voiced fears about the increased frequency of acts of anti-Semitism, from swastikas drawn in public spaces, to attacks that threaten the community. Earlier this month, a set of flyers promoting a New Jersey hate group were found in New Dorp. A similar series of flyers were found in the neighborhood months before. In response to the increased attacks, the NYPD recently announced that it would add hate crimes to its publicly-available crime database CompStat for the first time since the stat-tracking sites inception. Additionally, the NYPD unveiled the Racially and Ethnically Motivated Extremism REME unit, which is focused on any trends and any signs of racially and ethnically motivated extremism, Mayor Bill de Blasio said after the shooting in Jersey City. Assistant Chief Kenneth Corey, the NYPDs borough commander, has said that NYPD officers on Staten Island have increased their visible presence outside places of worship, but also called on the community to reach out to the NYPD in instances where they see suspicious activity. 1.5k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard President Trumps impeachment lawyer Alan Dershowitz knows Trump is corrupt, and in 2016 said that Trump would continue to be corrupt were he to win the election. He also warned that Trump would embolden and strengthen some of the fascist elements in our society. I think she and the Clintons generally could have done a better job of preserving the appearance of propriety. And appearances are very, very important. But when you compare that to what Trump has done with Trump University with so many other things, I think theres no comparison between who has engaged in more corruption and who is more likely to continue that, if elected President of the United States. Dershowitz knows the dangers Trump presents. He said then that he worried Trump would embolden and strengthen some of the fascist elements in our society: There is a kind of fascist mentality in the world today. I dont worry that Donald Trump will try to govern that way. I do worry that he will embolden and strengthen some of the fascist elements in our society. Heres the audio from an October 2016 Trending Today USA radio interview shared by Andrew Kaczynski and Em Steck, who flagged it for CNN: Students who said they were duped by Trump won a $25 million settlement in 2018 against Trump University. NBC News reported at the time, Students had alleged that Trump University, which was open from 2005 to 2010, used false advertising and high-pressure sales techniques to lure them to free investor workshops at which they were sold expensive seminars and told they would be mentored by real estate gurus, leading to the loss of thousands of dollars in tuition. A one-year apprenticeship at the educational institute cost $1,495; a membership over $10,000; and Gold Elite classes ran $35,000. Dershowitz has a habit of defending the worst of humanity. Over a decade ago he got Jeffrey Epstein that sweetheart deal in Palm Beach County, Florida that allowed him to continue sexually abusing and exploiting minors. He has also defended Claus von Bulow, O.J. Simpson, and Mike Tyson. Dershowitz responded to CNNs request for comment writing, I was campaigning for Clinton. Thats what I believed at the time based on media reports. I didnt know Trump. I knew Clinton. This is the same man who claimed later that he didnt know Jeffrey Epstein except as a friend who had an office at Harvard. In an interview with NPRs Noel King, he said: King: As I understand it, youve been an overnight guest at his homes. You flew with him on his private jet a number of times. You borrowed his Palm Beach house for a family vacation. That doesnt sound like an academic relationship. Dershowitz: I never had a kind of social relationship where we had dinner together or we had discussions about our personal lives. Our relationship was predominantly academic. The New Yorker pointed out that sometimes Dershowitz himself has been painted with the same brush as his clients, In 2014, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, one of Epsteins victims, stated in a court filing that Epstein lent her out for sex to his friendsDershowitz among them. Criminal defense lawyers dont always like their clients. Dershowitz told New Yorker writer Connie Bruck, Every honest criminal lawyer will tell you that he defends the guilty and the innocent. But it is not every criminal lawyer who would argue against his or her own country and the rule of law itself. And perhaps that is why Trump ended up with Dershowitz in the first place. After all, his lawyers are failing at their impossible task. Respected constitutional expert Lawrence Tribe pointed out that Dershowitz argument was wrong, .@AlanDersh said even if a President commands the power of state to corrupt a future election, by seeking the intervention of a foreign power thats not something that impeachment would be appropriate for. WRONG! Thats why we have impeachment! Dershowitz knew how corrupt Trump is and knew that Trump would push us toward fascist elements, which is just another way of saying that Alan Dershowitz is not stupid. Today he finds himself defending a corrupt president against evidence that is indisputable, and so he is arguing that we shouldnt impeach Trump even if he were to command a foreign power to corrupt an election for him, which is what he did. Again. Yes, people. We should use that corrupt election that Trump is going to rig. That is our remedy, according to Dershowitz. [January 28, 2020] Aegon Life iTerm Plan's Dual Protect Option: A Feature Beyond Regular Term Insurance MUMBAI, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Term insurance plans may be preferred for their low premium charges, but they typically only offer death benefits to the nominee of the deceased policyholder. In case the life assured survives the policy, no benefits are paid out to the investor. Aegon Life, with its Dual Protect Option, has helped bridge these gaps in traditional term plans. This option is a new variant of the company's flagship insurance product - the Aegon Life iTerm Insurance Plan. Rolled out to investors in November 2019, the Dual Protect Option ensures that the premiums paid by the policyholder do not amount to nothing. Survival benefits form a key part of this variant of the term plan. Important features of the iTerm Insurance Plan Policyholders can invest in this plan as early as 18 years of age, or as late as 65 years (in case of single pay option). The eligible maturity age ranges from 70 years to 100 years, thus ensuring whole life coverage. The plan allows for three different premium payment options, namely regular payment, single payment, and limited payment. Premiums can be paid on a monthly, half-yearly, or annual basis. Survival benefits offered by the Dual Protect Option The survival benefits offered by the Dual Protect Option set this variant apart from other conventional term plans. If the policyholder survives past the age of 60 and the policy continues to remain in-force, Aegon Life pays out the following survival benefits. A lump sum payout equivalent to 5% of the base sum assured. A regular monthly payment amounting to 0.1% of the base sum assured, made to the policyholder till the date of maturity of the plan. In case the insured person dies or is diagnosed with any terminal illness before the date of maturity, the regular monthly payments will be stopped. Instead Aegon Life shall pay out the effective sum assured to the claimant and then terminate the policy. Understanding these survival benefits: An illustrative example If a 30-year-old investor purchases a Dual Protect iTerm Insurance Plan with a base sum assured of ?1 crore, this is how the timeline of the policy and payouts would play out. The investor pays out the premium regularly from the age of 30 to the age of 60. On the policy anniversary that follows the policyholder's 60 th birthday, Aegon Life pays out 5% of the base sum assured as a lump-sum payment. This amounts to ?5 lakhs. birthday, Aegon Life pays out 5% of the base sum assured as a lump-sum payment. This amounts to ?5 lakhs. Thereafter, at the end of each policy month, the investor receives 0.1% of the base sum assured as regular payments from the company. This translates to a monthly income of ?10,000. These payments continue until any one of the following three events occur: The policy reaches the date of maturity. The policyholder dies. The policyholder is diagnosed with a terminal illness. In case the policyholder dies or is diagnosed with terminal illness, Aegon Life pays out the effective sum assured to the nominee or the insured person. More reasons to opt for the Dual Protect iTerm Insurance Plan What sets the Dual Protect iTerm Insurance Plan apart from other traditional term plans is that it offers both term protection as well as survival benefits. By investing in this flagship product from Aegon Life, policyholders enjoy a protective life cover, 100% payout on diagnoses of terminal illness, and regular monthly earnings from the age of 60 till the policy matures. The advantages of the Dual Protect iTerm Insurance Plan don't end there. This comprehensive term insurance plan also offers the following additional benefits. Flexible premium payment options. Policy term ranging from as low as 20 years to as high as 82 years. Additional rewards for policyholders who quit smoking and switch to a healthier way of life. Instant life coverage benefits. Tax benefits as per section 80C of the Income Tax Act. An option to enhance coverage with the Aegon Life AD Rider, which comes into play in case of accidental death of the insured. With its monthly payout feature, the Dual Protect variant of the Aegon Life iTerm Plan makes up for the lack of survival benefits under conventional term plans. As Vineet Arora, the MD & CEO of Aegon Life Insurance explained, "This new avatar of the term plan provides monthly earnings after the age of 60 and coverage up to 100 years of age. This not only secures the future of the policyholder's family financially, but it also provides them with a regular income to fall back on after retirement." About Aegon Life Insurance Company Aegon Life, one of the leading digital insurance companies in India, is a new-age digital service company and is amongst the first companies to launch Online Term Plan in India. Being the online protection specialists, AEGON Life has a company-employed service team that is fully geared to provide customers the highest levels of service. With a vision to be the most recommended new age Life Insurance Company, the company's Direct to Customer focus establishes a direct dialogue with the customers to make for greater clarity and transparency. For more information, visit: https://www.aegonlife.com/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] FILE PHOTO: Freeport-McMoran CEO, Richard Adkerson poses for a picture during an interview with Reuters at the CRU's World Copper Conference in Santiago By Ernest Scheyder (Reuters) - Freeport-McMoran Inc , the world's largest publicly traded copper producer, would consider acquisitions, mergers or other deals once three ongoing expansion projects finish by 2022, Chief Executive Richard Adkerson said in an interview on Tuesday. Demand for copper is projected to surge this decade because of the rising popularity of electric vehicles, which use twice as much copper as internal combustion engines. That, in turn, is expected to fuel an M&A wave across the sector. Despite that, Phoenix, Arizona-based Freeport's shares are worth half what they were in 2010, dragged down by uncertainty over the company's stake in a major Indonesian mine and debt from an ill-fated oil and gas venture. But those issues are largely behind the company, which is about to open a copper mine in the United States, is expanding Indonesia's Grasberg mine and has launched an analytics program to boost production in Peru. Those projects should double the company's cash flow and boost the company's stock price, giving the company ammunition to consider deals, Adkerson told Reuters. "I'm looking forward to having a new experience in my career toward accessing alternatives and deciding which way we go," said Adkerson, an accountant by training who became CEO in 2003. Those alternatives could include buying part or all of another company, building new mines or other deals, he said. "We don't have a clear directive now on what that direction could be, but we will be attractively situated and will have an opportunity to add value through investments," said Adkerson. According to recent news reports, Barrick Gold Corp CEO Mark Bristow has spoken favorably of Freeport's assets and a potential combination. Adkerson declined to comment. A Barrick spokeswoman declined to comment. Adkerson, 73, said he has no plans to retire and is in good health. Story continues "This is not a time that I'm thinking about walking away," he said. Adkerson called the outbreak of a deadly coronavirus in China a "real black swan event." The term is a reference to the book "Black Swan," which looks at the potentially catastrophic effects of unpredictable events. Copper prices have dropped more than 10% this month on concerns the virus could affect the global economy. Copper prices are closely linked to global economic health because the metal is used for construction and manufacturing. Freeport's stock dropped more than 9% last Thursday due in part to virus concerns even as the company posted better-than-expected quarterly results. Its shares were 2.5% higher at $11.175 in afternoon trading, along with a broad rally in global equity markets as investors took a less pessimistic view of the potential economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak. (Reporting by Ernest Scheyder; Editing by Marguerita Choy) The Mueller report, which I have read in its entirety, is a road map of Trump's abuse of power as a strict authoritarian. The tactics he uses in running his business empire, he is using to control our government, capitalizing on his power as U.S. president. He does this by demanding oaths of obedience, ridiculing his opponents, threatening subordinates with job loss and using the lawsuit process to gain leverage over anyone who opposes his financial goals. (Natural News) Theres a new virus on the rise in China and the culprit behind its spread may just be crawling around the corner. Dubbed the Alongshan Virus after the northeastern Chinese town where it was first discovered, the virus is linked to a number of symptoms, including fevers, headaches, fatigue, nausea, rashes and in extreme cases, falling into coma. While the sickness is currently found only in northeastern China, experts from several leading universities and institutions in the country, through a report published in the New England Journal of Medicine, say it could potentially gain a much wider range thanks to the spread of ticks native to the region. Initially thought to be a case of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), the sickness was first identified in 2017 in a 42-year-old farmer from Alongshan, who, after developing a fever, went to a county hospital in Hulunbuir City, in inner Mongolia. However, the man, who also reported having a history of tick bites, tested negative. Succeeding tests soon showed that the patient was infected with a virus genetically different from TBEV and other known viruses, the report revealed. After identifying the new virus, the researchers started examining blood samples from patients who exhibited the same symptoms as the Alongshan farmer. Of the 374 who met the criteria, 86 were confirmed to be infected with the Alongshan virus. Nearly all of them were farmers or forestry workers, the report said. The Alongshan virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), belongs to a family of viruses called Flaviviridae, the same family that includes TBEV, as well as mosquito-borne viruses such as the dreaded dengue fever, the West Nile virus and the Zika virus. The researchers, in their report, said the Alongshan virus generally had an incubation period of three to seven days. Aside from causing persistent moderate headache, fatigue and nausea in infected persons, the virus also causes symptoms such as poor appetite, depression, rashes and muscle and joint pains. (Related: Deadly outbreak of monkey fever virus, spread by ticks, has killed 19 in India.) As noted in their study, all 86 patients were treated based on their symptoms, all of which soon went away in about six to eight days of treatment. Although the patients spent an average of 10 to 14 days in the hospital, all of them eventually recovered without any long-term complications. The researchers suspected the taiga tick (Ixodes persulcatus) a species commonly found throughout China, Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Russia and parts of eastern Europe of being the virus main vector. However, upon conducting tests in both ticks and mosquitoes in the region, the researchers found that the virus was present in the systems of both animals. Our findings suggest that [the Alongshan virus] may be the cause of a previously unknown febrile disease, and more studies should be conducted to determine the geographic distribution of this disease outside its current areas of identification, the authors concluded. Avoid getting bit by ticks Aside from the Alongshan virus, ticks also spread other serious diseases and infections. Among the most common are the following: Lyme disease This tick-borne disease causes joint pain, and in extreme cases, brain tissue inflammation and complications within the nervous system. This tick-borne disease causes joint pain, and in extreme cases, brain tissue inflammation and complications within the nervous system. Rocky Mountain spotted fever A serious tick-borne disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever can potentially lead to multiple organ failure if not treated immediately. A serious tick-borne disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever can potentially lead to multiple organ failure if not treated immediately. Anaplasmosis People with anaplasmosis will often have fever, headache, chills and muscle aches. If left untreated, this infection may disrupt the bloods clotting process, which can lead to organ failure. People with anaplasmosis will often have fever, headache, chills and muscle aches. If left untreated, this infection may disrupt the bloods clotting process, which can lead to organ failure. Babesiosis A malaria-like disease, this infection is caused by the parasite Babesia. Among its symptoms are the development of blood clots, unstable blood pressure and possible organ failure. With this in mind, its best to start proactively avoiding these tiny pests. Some of the things one can do to avoid getting bitten by ticks are the following: Do not go to tick-infested areas. Apply natural and organic insect repellent on your skin before going outdoors. Essential oils extracted from lemongrass, cedar, peppermint and thyme have been proven effective. Spray a solution of white vinegar and water on affected, tick-infested areas. Clean your surroundings: mow your front yard, take out the trash. Ticks love living in dirty, dark places. For more news and studies on infectious diseases spread by ticks and other insects, visit Health.news. Sources include: LiveScience.com NEJM.org CDC.gov Healthline.com The town sign of Starnberg is seen after Germany has declared its first confirmed case of the deadly coronavirus; a man from Starnberg, 30 kilometers southwest of Munich, has been confirmed as suffering from the virus, in Starnberg, Germany January 28, 2020. REUTERS/Michael Dalder A man confirmed as Germany's first case of the coronavirus that emerged in central China is believed to have been infected by a Chinese colleague who visited his workplace, authorities said. Another three cases were confirmed later on Tuesday, all connected to the first. The 33-year-old man from the Starnberg area south of Munich was in isolation at a Munich hospital as a precaution, officials in Bavaria said. However, they stressed that his condition is good. The man took part last Tuesday in a training session at his workplace that also included an employee of the same company visiting from China, said Andreas Zapf, the head of Bavaria's office for health and food safety. The woman, who had not previously shown any symptoms, flew home on Thursday and went to a doctor after feeling ill on the flight, Mr Zapf said. She then tested positive for the new virus. The woman lives in Shanghai, but had been visited a few days earlier by her parents, who come from the worst-affected Wuhan area. On Monday, the German company was informed of the positive test, and it notified authorities and employees. An employee who had been at the training session came forward and said he had experienced bronchitis-like symptoms over the weekend, though they had receded and he came to work on Monday. Authorities decided when they received positive test results on Monday evening to admit him to a hospital and put him in isolation for monitoring. Auto parts supplier Webasto confirmed that it was the company involved and that the man works at its headquarters in Stockdorf, south of Munich. It cancelled all travel to and from China for the next two weeks and said employees at Stockdorf are free to work from home this week. Later on Tuesday, Bavaria's state health ministry said another three cases of the virus had been confirmed and all were employees of the same company, news agency dpa reported. Authorities decided to admit those patients to the same Munich hospital, where they were in isolation. Authorities did not immediately give further details of the three new cases. Germany is the second European country to report confirmed cases of the virus. Authorities in France confirmed three cases in recent days - all Chinese citizens who recently travelled there. The new type of coronavirus has infected thousands of people in China. Nearly all of the cases outside China are among people who recently arrived from there. Russia's emergency services rescued 536 ice fishermen after they got stranded on a giant ice floe that broke off the island of Sakhalin in eastern Siberia, officials said. Around 60 more people were able to get back on the shore on their own Tuesday evening, emergency officials said. The rescue operation lasted for almost seven hours. Footage of the incident showed groups of people using smaller pieces of ice as rafts and trying to row to the coast on them, as the ice floe with stranded fishermen slowly drifted further away from the land. According to some of the fishermen, by the time they had been rescued the rift between the ice floe and the coast was already 200 meters wide. It is the third time in a week that emergency services in the Sakhalin region had to rescue ice fishermen stuck on drifting glacial masses. On Jan. 22, around 300 people got stranded on an ice floe, and on Sunday 600 others did. Local authorities blamed the incidents on fishermen ignoring safety warnings and going ice fishing despite the danger of being stranded on ice floes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) FILE PHOTO: A traffic jam is seen next to a Vodafone mobile phone advertisement featuring Liverpool's Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah in Cairo By Patrick Werr and Alexander Cornwell CAIRO/DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Telecom Co (STC), the kingdom's biggest telecom operator, has struck a preliminary deal to buy Vodafone Group's 55% stake in Vodafone Egypt for $2.4 billion, as it seeks growth in the Arab world's most populous nation. With 44 million subscribers and a 40% market share, Vodafone Egypt is the country's biggest mobile operator. The non-binding deal, which could be STC's biggest in over a decade, values Vodafone Egypt at $4.4 billion and the two companies have agreed an arrangement over the long-term use of the Vodafone brand and other services in Egypt. Selling the stake is in line with Vodafone's efforts to streamline its operations to focus on Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, Vodafone Chief Executive Nick Read said. "It will reduce our net debt and unlock value for our shareholders," he said. Vodafone said the transaction was expected to close by June. STC said the non-binding agreement was valid for 75 days from Wednesday and could be extended by mutual consent. "Vodafone Egypt is the leading player in the Egyptian mobile market and we look forward to contributing further to its continuing success," said STC Chief Executive Nasser al-Nasser. The deal would be STC's biggest since it bought 35% of Oger Telecom for $2.6 billion in 2008. The price equates to an enterprise value of 7 times core earnings, Vodafone said, a premium on the multiples of both joint-venture partners in the operator. Vodafone trades at 6.1 times, while majority state-owned Telecom Egypt, which holds a near 45% stake in Vodafone Egypt, trades at 4.3 times, according to Refinitiv data. Telecom Egypt operates a separate mobile network under the brand "We". Naeem Brokerage said the price offered by STC was "tempting enough for Telecom Egypt to also cash out ... our view, is that the company could be open to the idea of a sale." Story continues At 1545 GMT, Telecom Egypt shares were up 10% at 11.22 Egyptian pounds. Vodafone Group shares were down 0.6% at 155.74 British pounds. Telecom Egypt said on Wednesday it was closely monitoring the deal. The company said on Sunday it had no intention of selling its stake in Vodafone Egypt. STC and Vodafone will soon begin due diligence expected to last up to three months, Vodafone Egypt executives said. The agreement is subject to approvals by STC and Vodafone, and regulators. STC said no other parties were involved in the potential deal. STC is majority owned by Saudi Arabia's state fund the Public Investment Fund (PIF). Vodafone Egypt CEO Alexandre Froment-Curtil said that after the sale his company would have a commercial agreement giving it access to Vodafone Group's preferential roaming and other services such as its IoT (Internet of Things) platform. Vodafone Group would also continue operating and expanding its 7,800-employee service centre in Egypt, he said at a news conference. (additional reporting by Stephen Kalin, Ehab Farouk and Paul Sandle; Editing by Saeed Azhar and Mark Potter) There's one aspect of "Mud" where Nichols writes himself into a corner: The climactic gunfire and morally untroubling slaughter feels wrong for this movie (and maybe for any movie). But in an expansive story of fathers and sons and a search for belonging, Nichols takes time and care to make everyone on screen worth watching. Michael Shannon, who appeared in Nichols' previous features, returns here in the droll supporting role of Neckbone's uncle, who oyster dives for a living. The entire adult cast is splendid. Sheridan and Lofland are that, plus something more: Their friendship, as they act it, or live it, for the cameras (the movie was shot in supple widescreen 35 mm), carries epic strength and resilience. Now and then Nichols can't resist a dialogue exchange with a poetic flourish at the expense of forward momentum. "Mud" doesn't need such flourishes. It has so much else. White House claims John Boltons book contains national security secrets and wants to prevent Trumps national security advisor from testifying in Senate impeachment trial. By James DiGeorgia Donald Trump is still threatening another lawsuit to prevent another book from being published, something he has done several times in the past when he has gone on the defensive against books that have exposed his immoral and scandalous behavior. The White House issued a formal threat to former national security adviser John Bolton and his publisher Simon and Shuster warning them against publishing an upcoming book that among other things alleges the President admitted to Bolton that his withholding $391 million of Congressionally authorized funds for the defense of Ukraine was in order make sure the countrys new President and government would announce opening an investigation into Trumps political foe former Vice President Biden, his son Hunter and other Democrats. According to sources familiar with the contents of Boltons soon-to-be-released book The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir, said the Ukrainian bribery/extortion attempt is just the tip of the iceberg of instances of President Trumps abuse of his presidential powers and contains a firsthand witness account outlining key allegations of Trumps misconduct. The warning from the White House came in the form of a letter claims the manuscript of Boltons book contains significant amounts of classified information, including information classified as top secret. The warning to Bolton and Simon and Shuster comes after Trump posted multiple derisive tweets about Bolton Wednesday morning, criticizing the GOP foreign affairs conservative icon book as being untrue. Bolton is widely seen as a critical witness in Trumps ongoing impeachment trial, but many GOP Senators want to ignore his books claims and keep him from testifying. We already know from Congressional testimony from several White House officials that Bolton disagreed with Trumps conduct at the time and actively worked to stop it. Bolton refused to testify to the House Intelligence Committee in December, announced on January 6, 2020; he was willing to testify if subpoenaed by the impeachment trial currently taking place in the Senate. Trump's allies in the U.S. Senate have argued against Boltons testimony creating the appearance of censorship even before the attempt to prevent Boltons book from being published. Before the White House threatened both Bolton and Simon and Schuster on Monday, Utah Sen. Mitt Romney said it seems increasingly likely GOP Senators will vote to have Bolton testify. Romney was quoted as saying... I think its important for us to hear from John Bolton. President Trump threatened to sue the author of Fire and Fury, Michael Wolf and his publisher Henry Holt and Company in 2018 and exploded in rage at Pulitzer Prize-winning Bob Woodward of Watergate fame when he published his book Fear: Trump in the White House also in 2018 in which among others things claimed The things that Trump did and does jeopardize the real national security. Donald Trump promised to write the real book on his presidency, to correct a record he says is misrepresented by Bob Woodward, veteran author of fear. Trump was quoted as the narrative of Woodwards book was becoming public as saying The Woodward book is a JokeJust another assault against me, in a barrage of assaults, using now disproven unnamed and anonymous sources. Many have already come forward to say the quotes by them, like the book, are fiction. Democrats cant stand losing. Ill write a real book! President Trumps turning against John Boltons and attacking his former National Security Advisor is another in a long list of those who have worked for the Administration in a key role only to find themselves under attack and siege after leaving the administration. President Trump, whom the Washington Post says has lied or made inaccurate statements almost 16,000 tweeted yesterday I NEVER told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens. In fact, he never complained about this at the time of his very public termination. If John Bolton said this, it was only to sell a book. In response, his former Homeland Security Secretary and former Chief of Staff John Kelly was quoted as saying in response to Trumps denial If John Bolton says that in the book, I believe John Bolton. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell admitted yesterday he doesnt have the votes to prevent witnesses, including John Bolton from being subpoenaed by the Senate during the ongoing impeachment trial. GOP senators are worried that the Boltons book will embarrass them with other disclosures and while leaning towards calling Bolton are hinting that they will likely call both former Vice President Biden and his son Hunter Biden as witnesses in an attempt to muddy up the trial. One can only wonder what new disclosures will come from testimony by John Bolton and others as the impeachment trial continues, and after through the election. The customs department seized gold necklaces and earrings worth Rs 22.5 lakh from a Saudi Airlines flight at the Chennai International Airport here on Wednesday. Earlier this week, the customs department seized 2.6 kg gold valued at Rs 1.1 crore from a male passenger's possession at the Chennai airport on January 20. The passenger had arrived at the Chennai airport from Abu Dhabi, the customs official said. The gold was concealed in the battery of emergency light. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Apple posted record profits in the final three months of last year after a surge in demand for iPhones in the run-up to Christmas. Revenues and profits both beat analysts expectations in the October to December period, allaying fears that Apples growth was under threat as consumers hold onto their smartphones for longer before upgrading. iPhone sales grew for the first time in a year while the Apple Watch, which the company started selling nearly five years ago, gained new converts. The latest version of Apples wireless earbuds AirPods sold well during the festive season. Shares in the company rose 1 per cent after the announcement. Apple has more than doubled in value since a low last year, adding more than $725bn (560bn) to its market capitalisation and cementing its position as Americas most valuable company. Apple sold $56bn-worth (43bn) of iPhone 11s in the quarter, following the launch of the latest iteration of the firms flagship handset in September. A cheaper versoin of the new phone also proved popular. Tech giants to be hit by new tax in France Show all 7 1 /7 Tech giants to be hit by new tax in France Tech giants to be hit by new tax in France Amazon Amazon reported revenue of $232 billion worldwide in 2018 AFP/Getty Tech giants to be hit by new tax in France Alphabet Google's parent company reported revenue of $136 billion worldwide in 2018 AFP/Getty Tech giants to be hit by new tax in France Apple Apple reported revenue of $265 billion worldwide in 2018 AFP/Getty Tech giants to be hit by new tax in France Facebook Facebook reported revenue of $55 billion worldwide in 2018 AFP/Getty Tech giants to be hit by new tax in France Microsoft Microsoft reported revenue of $110 billion worldwide in 2018 Getty Tech giants to be hit by new tax in France Cisco Cisco reported revenue of $49 billion worldwide in 2018 AFP/Getty Tech giants to be hit by new tax in France Criteo Criteo reported revenue of $2.3 billion worldwide in 2018 AFP/Getty Overall, sales in the last three months of 2019 rose 8 per cent year-on-year to $91.8bn (75bn), while net profits jumped 11 per cent to reach $22.2bn (17bn). Wary that consumers appetite for constantly replacing their smartphones may soon reach its limit, Apple has focused on expanding its offering of services to sell to owners of the 1.5 billion of its devices already in use. The company has mounted a big push of its new Apple TV Plus video-streaming services, which launched in October to take on Netflix, offering US customers a free years subscription with every new iPhone. However, hardware still accounted for $79bn (61bn) of quarterly revenues, dwarfing the $12.7bn (9.8bn) generated by services. The contrast with a year ago could hardly be bigger, said Russ Mould, AJ Bell investment director. Recommended Apple reveals design for Mac made entirely out of glass Apples first-quarter results for 2018-19 followed on from a January profit warning and showed the first year-on-year drop in earnings per share for 10 quarters. The results for the first three months of 2019-20 show the first revenue growth from the iPhone in five quarters, renewed sales and earnings momentum across the company as a whole and feature guidance for the second quarter. Apple chief executive Tim Cook said the company is concerned about the coronavirus outbreak in China, which is both a major market and home for large amounts of its manufacturing business. Mr Cook indicated that Apple had given a wider prediction for its next quarter than usual because it was unclear how the virus outbreak would hit its business. We have limited travel to business-critical situations as of last week, he said. The situation is emerging, and were still gathering lots of data points and monitoring it very closely. Apple has suppliers in the Wuhan area, the heart of the outbreak, but has alternatives, Mr Cook said. Factories outside Wuhan area will not reopen after the lunar new year holiday until 10 February, Mr Cook said, but Apple built the delayed restart into its wider revenue forecast. Additional reporting by agencies While many may disagree at this moment, China's trusted friend Pakistan has given way to Myanmar's army an excuse for doing so. The backbone of Myanmar's military attack on the Rohingya was made by Pakistani military intelligence agency ISI, being a trusted friend of China. The intelligence agency formed an extremist militant group called the 'Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA)' within the Rohingya of Arakan. by Swadesh Roy writing from Dhaka My friend, author and journalist Gajalakshmi Paramasivam, headlined one of his articles Tamils out and China in. Gajalakshmi writes about the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils almost daily in newspapers, portal and blogs. There are many descriptions of the Tamil genocide of the largest genocide of this century, in the book 'Naan Australian' by Gajalakshmi. One of the best,who has done good work about the Tamil genocide, is writer and journalist friend Francis Harrison.Before reading her stupendous work 'Still Death Counting', I could not imagine that there are so much details of the genocide that could be worked on. Coincidentally, they both are women. But they did not accept any gender in bold. The work of Francis Harrison indicates portray of genocide unabashedly. Gajalakshmi herself is a Tamil. For this reason her writing may seem a bit biased. But the combination of the two works gives a clear idea about the matter.How brutally human beings are killed and become refugees for economic or business interests? After Chinese President Xi Jinping's January 5 visit to Myanmar, I think writing a column about his visit. Whose headlines will be Rohingyas out China in; but the title of Gajalakshmi is preventing the conscience from imitating or stealing the idea that we are about the same age in journalism and writing, maybe my education is a little lower than the other two, but why is it less in sense of responsibility? The MoU signed between China and Myanmar for the construction of Kyaukpyu Deep Sea Portinthe Bay of Bengal, on the outskirts of the Arakan state, and at the same time the MoU was signed for the construction of a Kyaukpyu Economic Zone. China has long been talking about the New Silk Route or the Twenty-first Century Silk Route. They are talking about the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor. I have always kept an eye on these topics for professional reasons.I try to read more or less about China's One Belt One Route. It is a complex topic in reality.Many Indian economists and strategists disagree on this subject. There are various opinions about the implementation of this route in China as well.Together these have come out of China and India's own discourse, trying to reconcile that Asia, which will be the key regulator of the economy by the end of this century, what are the necessities of this silk route?It seems that if China wants to emerge as a subsidiary of Asia's multipolar economy without becoming another USA, and think abouta Silk Route, then that supposed not to be bad, but good.But the Sri Lankan government and the Myanmar government, which killed and made people refugee in Sri Lanka and Myanmar for the Hambantota and Kyaukpyu Deep Sea Port and KyaukpyuEconomic Zone, committed not just a black wound on human rights but a brutal aspect of the economy. This brutality can never happen to innocent people in the 21st century, especially in this century of technology. Gajalakshmi is exactly the same judge who wrote 'Tamil out and China in', the same trial saying that what happened in Arakan state of Myanmar by putting the economy zone and deep sea port in front of "Rohingya out China in".But the major failure of our Bangladeshi writers and journalists, including myself, is that we have not done any detail work on this aspect of economic aggression. Even as Harrison worked on the Tamil genocide, no one did the details on the Rohingya genocide.This is not exactly what professional researchers need most;working with journalistic eyes like Gajalakshmi or Francis Harrison would have made that clear. Because, here is a lot of things that come out of information about China's investment in theKyaukpyueconomic zone and the direction of the future trade line. I wrote different times and told in the talk show that this deep sea port is the root cause of the Rohingya upheaval. As this seaport will reduce the distance of goods from Indian ports to China by five thousand kilometers, so it will increase China's dominance in the Bay of Bengal. China is building a huge oil reservoir near the sea port. From there, they will take oil to their country through pipeline. According to the experience of Hambantota, Myanmar will also be forced to lease the entire area to China once it joins the port, oil reserve and economy zone. Myanmar will never be able to return the invested money by China through the profit of this port. Following this policy of 'buildup infrastructure and occupy it ', China has been successful in many areas like Sri Lanka, Laos and many countries in Africa before. So they will be successful in Myanmar too. Another aspect of this economic expansion of China is that Chinese citizens gradually settle in wherever they invest. As a result, their citizens can enjoy the majority of the employment that they invest. Chinese citizens will also come to Arakan in the future.The Rohingyas have been ousted by Myanmar's army to create the context. While many may disagree at this moment, China's trusted friend Pakistan has given way to Myanmar's army an excuse for doing so. The backbone of Myanmar's military attack on the Rohingya was made by Pakistani military intelligence agency ISI, being a trusted friend of China. The intelligence agency formed an extremist militant group called the 'Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA)' within the Rohingya of Arakan. And with militant groups they launched one or two attacks on the police. Excluding that, Myanmar's army began indiscriminate genocide, rape of women. The main purpose which was to kill the Tamils of Sri Lanka, just as the empty soil was extracted, to do the same here.If Bangladesh's leader, Sheikh Hasina, did not open the border with immediate decision, at least one million Rohingya would have been massacred. The evidence of the greater power associated with this economic aggression was attributed by the United Nations to Muslim refugees who came to Bangladesh as refugees. This is a new tactic of the West. The Middle East has been in turmoil for the past few decades. The unrest has been created by the West. As a result of this turmoil, millions of Libyans, Lebanese, Syrian, and Iraqi people are being called refugees in the West, not calling them on countries or nations, such as Iraqi or Syrian refugees. They say Muslim refugees. That is what happened to the Rohingya all over the world, including Bangladesh. The reason for this is that it is very straightforward to see a little vision. Whenever the Myanmar refugees or Iraqi refugees are called, they will have full access to the common people as refugees. On the other hand, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the West has introduced the Muslim population to the whole world in a way that means Muslims are terrorists. So whenever a group of refuge was called Muslim refugee, the ordinary people would assume that they are not worthy of such sympathy because they are terrorist groups. Rohingya refugees found in Bangladesh have been identified as Muslim refugees and pushed into the same line. Before they came here, Pakistan helped them in the name of ARSA identified as militants. Looking around the Rohingya camp now and looking intensively, no longer looking ARSA for a mirror.What is available now is that they are being made into different types of militants through various groups. And this is also helping China's trusted friend, the Pakistani intelligence service ISI, and the money that is terrorizing a group of Muslims in the Middle East who have their money. The primary purpose of the Rohingya militancy is clearly seen. One, making them militants can be used to destabilize many countries, including India in South Asia - that will weaken economic competitors. Two, if the Rohingyas are identified as militants, no one can pressurized Myanmar the return of them to Arakan. Myanmar will tell the world that they are, in fact, a militant group, so the issue of Rohingya repatriation will then be covered in militant costumes which called `militant Al Khella. And with that Chinese investment in Arakan within that time, the Chinese will also be able to enter. This is why Gajalashami's title has to be replicated to express the truth; in fact, 'Rohingyas out China in'. Swadesh Roy, Senior Journalist, Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is a highest state award winning journalist and can be reached at swadeshroy@gmail.com New Delhi, Jan 29 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has found diversion of Rs 12,773 crore from Dewan Housing Finance Ltd (DHFL) to the accounts of 79 companies routed through one lakh fictitious retail customers as loans, sources said. The agency found that the loans were diverted between 2011 and 2016 and the 79 companies were allegedly associated with the promoters of DHFL. The corrupt practice came to ED's notice when the agency inspected the book of accounts of DHFL pertaining to Rs 2,186 crore loan given to five companies -- Faith Realtors Pvt Ltd, Marvel Township Pvt Ltd, Able Realty Pvt Ltd, Poseidon Realty Pvt Ltd and Random Realtors Pvt Ltd, which were later amalgamated with Sunblink Real Estate Pvt Ltd. Later, the ED stumbled upon one lakh allegedly fictitious retail customers and got inputs regarding 79 beneficiary companies, said sources. The ED found out that Sunblink Real Estate bought three Worli-based properties allegedly belonging to late gangster Iqbal Memon alias Iqbal Mirchi for Rs 225 crore. The revelation came days after the ED arrested Kapil Wadhawan, the promoter of DHFL, for alleged money laundering linked to properties belonging Mirchi. Wadhawan, who is the fifth arrest in the case filed last year, is claimed to have played a 'crucial role' in diverting funds from DHFL to shell companies, which later got amalgamated with Sunblink Real. As per the ED, three properties in Worli -- Rabiya Mansion, Sea View and Marium Lodge, belonging to Mirchi who was declared an absconder accused of multiple crimes -- are proceeds of the crime. The agency claimed that Dheeraj Wadhawan, also a promoter of DHFL, expressed interest in buying the properties and after negotiations and meetings between him and Mirchi, it was decided that the properties would be bought through one of his companies, Sunblink. An amount of Rs 111 crore paid towards the deal was arranged as loan from DHFL to Sunblink, which was later shown to be repaid through a loan from RKW Developers. The ED alleged irregularities in these loans to five companies, claiming that none of the prescribed policy to grant loans by DHFL, a non-banking financial company, were followed. As per the ED, these persons have deposed that the beneficial owners of these companies were Kapil Wadhawan and Dheeraj Wadhawan. "Thus, it appears that these five companies were dummy entities without any asset, created with the sole purpose of siphoning off public money as no business seems to have been conducted in those companies," the sources said. DHFL became the first non-banking finance company (NBFC) to be referred to the bankruptcy court for resolution by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in November 2019. It owes Rs 83,873 crore to banks, mutual funds and investors. The central bank has superseded the board of DHFL and has appointed a three-member advisory body to advise the RBI appointed administrator of the company. The Qimam Fellowship program has announced that applications are now open for the third edition of the highly selective leadership development programme. Students from across the kingdom participating in bachelors and masters programmes in Saudi Arabia or abroad are eligible to apply. The application period will last from January 28 to February 27. Fifty successful applicants will be notified by March 31 and the two-week intensive programme will take place from June 2 and conclude on June 13. The Qimam Fellowship programme was founded by McKinsey & Company and Dr Annas Abedin, a McKinsey alumnus and entrepreneur, on the premise that Saudi is rich with untapped local talent with great potential to contribute to the kingdoms ambitious transformation. Qimam was launched to identify, equip and empower the most promising university students in the country with advanced skillsets needed to lead in todays ever complex world. The programme has seen tremendous growth since its inception in 2018, beginning with 13,000 applicants in the first year and growing to 18,000 applicants in 2019. Last year, 50% of the 50 candidates selected were women. Students with a wide variety of scholastic interests and experience apply from all over the kingdom. The programme provides fellows with one-on-one mentorship from senior public and private sector leaders, leadership training by industry experts and professionals, and visits to the Saudi Arabian offices of top national and international companies. Selected candidates also gain exclusive membership in the Qimam Alumni Network as well as award for their distinctiveness upon completion of the programme during a widely attended, high-profile ceremony. Abdullah Saidan, Associate Partner at McKinsey Middle East, said: Given the vast pool of intellectually-curious, emerging talent in Saudi Arabia, the countrys youth has immense potential to have a direct impact on the transformations underway. Strategic initiatives like the Qimam Fellowship have highlighted the many reasons the nation should be optimistic for its future, as the Program has gone from strength to strength. Nurturing young talent in the kingdom is an obligation we take to heart. And its why it makes me proud to be able to contribute and give back in a way that matters so much to the future of our country. Dr Annas Abedin, co-founder of Qimam, said: Qimam offers high-potential university students access to some of the Kingdoms most prominent industry leaders. The one-to-one mentorship, counsel and professional advice they receive will give them unique perspectives and opportunities to achieve on their tremendous potential. The programme targets bachelors and masters students at any Saudi university, as well as Saudi nationals studying for a bachelors or masters degree at universities abroad. Fellows will be selected based on their academic achievements, their level of initiative-taking outside of the classroom, and their efforts or ideas related to social responsibility. The application form and more details about the Qimam Fellowship can be found on www.qimam.com In its 2020 edition, Qimam partners with 30 local and international companies who are working together with Qimam to empower promising university graduates and student leaders in Saudi Arabia. These partners are: Aberkyn, Al Arabiya News Channel, Al-Khaleejiah Advertising & Public Relations Company, Arabnet, Bab Rizq Jameel, Banque Saudi Fransi, Bupa Arabia, Careem, Cisco, Elm, General Electric, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC), Korn Ferry, Saudi Arabian Mining Company Maaden", Majid Al Futtaim, McKinsey & Company, Microsoft, Noon Academy, The Olayan Group, Oqal, Pearson, Qiddiya, Rocket Internet, SAP, Seera Group Holding, Saudi Pharmaceutical Industries & Medical Appliances Corporation (SPIMACO), Saudi Telecom Company (STC), STV, Udacity and Unilever. TradeArabia News Service If the Democrat primary polls are correct, Bernie Sanders may end the primary season as the last man standing. Recent polling shows that Bernie is breaking away from the pack, something that worries those Democrats who don't want a socialist takeover in America. A California Democratic Primary poll has Bernie in the lead with 26% of those polled favoring him, versus 20% for Warren (his nearest ideological rival) and 15% for Biden (the supposedly "moderate" candidate). An Iowa Democratic Presidential Caucus poll has Bernie leading at 30%, with Biden at 21% and Klobuchar in third at 13%. A New Hampshire Democratic Presidential Primary poll has Bernie at 29%, Biden at 22%, and Warren at 16%. And a Utah Democratic Primary poll also puts Bernie at the top, with 27% to Warren's 14% and Biden's 12%. As we learned in 2016, though, polls are imperfect. While one Iowa poll has Bernie with a soaring lead (noted above), another one gives Biden the big lead, with Sanders and Buttigieg running neck and neck behind him. Polling is more art than science. Still, one can't deny that Bernie seems to have the momentum. Even as Biden sinks deeper into dementia and dishonor, Warren lies compulsively, and Buttigieg kicks people out of the Democrat Party, Bernie is consistent: he wants socialism (i.e., total government control over the means of production and over the way in which people run their lives), and he wants it now. Some old-style Democrats who haven't joined the hard Left push that's currently driving the Democrat Party are getting worried as they watch Bernie's ascension. Jonathan Chait has written an essay at the New York Intelligencer calling a possible Bernie nomination "insane." Although all the Democrat candidates have problems, none is like Bernie's: [T]he totality of the evidence suggests Sanders is an extremely, perhaps uniquely, risky nominee. His vulnerabilities are enormous and untested. No party nomination, with the possible exception of Barry Goldwater in 1964, has put forth a presidential nominee with the level of downside risk exposure as a Sanders-led ticket would bring. To nominate Sanders would be insane. Sanders has gleefully discarded the party's conventional wisdom that it has to pick and choose where to push public opinion leftward, adopting a comprehensive left-wing agenda, some of which is popular, and some of which is decidedly not. Positions in the latter category include replacing all private health insurance with a government plan, banning fracking, letting prisoners vote, decriminalizing the border, giving free health care to undocumented immigrants, and eliminating ICE. (I am only listing Sanders positions that are intensely unpopular. I am not including positions, like national rent control and phasing out all nuclear energy, that I consider ill-advised but which probably won't harm him much with voters.) Additionally, unlike Warren, a leftist who pretends she's governing within the American tradition, Bernie is an out-and-proud socialist. Bernie is also utterly unprepared for the pushback he would get in a general election: Sanders has never faced an electorate where these vulnerabilities could be used against him. Nor, for that matter, has he had to defend some of his bizarre youthful musings (such as his theory that sexual repression causes breast cancer) or the suspicious finances surrounding his wife's college. Democrats are rightfully concerned about attacks on Hunter Biden's nepotistic role at Burisma, but Sanders is going to have to defend equally questionable deals, like the $500,000 his wife's university paid for a woodworking program run by his stepdaughter. There's more, and what Chait has to say is worth reading, for he discusses the forces within the Democrat Party pushing Bernie to the fore. What Chait doesn't address is that Bernie himself is not the only problem. He also trails in his wake a lot of open Marxist-Leninists and Anarchists who are lusting for battle, re-education camps, seizure of all private assets, and a deep yearning to repeat Lenin in 1917 or Mao in 1949. Project Veritas has already exposed two of the radicals working for Bernie and Bernie's campaign has said nothing and done nothing about them. On Tuesday, Project Veritas returned with two more radicals working for Bernie in South Carolina. Mason Baird is rather sweet in that he really doesn't want to hurt anyone and, instead, imagines using momentum to scare away those opposed to a total communist takeover. The other man, Daniel Taylor, is a cheerful, stone-cold leftist who believes that violence is the inevitable means by which Bernie will consolidate power. He accepts that Bernie might not win in 2020 but is optimistic that Bernie is building a power base that will ultimately result in a socialist takeover. Watching these two men is truly chilling: Friends of a Biloela Tamil family detained on Christmas Island want federal government assurance they won't be put in danger by coronavirus evacuees. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a plan on Wednesday to evacuate Australians trapped at the epicentre of China's deadly virus and quarantine them on the remote island for 14 days. Sri Lankan couple Priya and Nades Murugappan, and their Australian-born daughters Kopika and Tharunicaa have been in detention on the island since mid-2019. Angela Fredericks says the prime minister must give the family a promise they won't be exposed to the danger. Sri Lankan couple Priya and Nades Murugappan, and their Australian-born daughters Kopika and Tharunicaa have been in detention on the island since mid-2019 Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a plan on Wednesday to evacuate Australians trapped at the epicentre of China's deadly virus and quarantine them on the remote island (pictured) for 14 days 'This is confirmation that this is a place we use to isolate Australians, and that's exactly what they are doing to this family,' Ms Fredericks told AAP. 'We want an assurance that they will not be put at risk, and even more so let's bring the family back home ... there is a whole town here waiting for them.' Ms Fredericks will visit the family next month to give support during their next legal bid to stay in Australia. Kopika and her younger sister Tharunicaa were born in Biloela in central Queensland, however the government has rejected claims for refugee status made on behalf of Kopika and her parents. They fear persecution if they are deported because of links to the banned militant group known as the Tamil Tigers. Their case, which will focus on a visa for Tharunicaa, will be heard in the Federal Court in late February. Australians trapped in China will soon be evacuated following the deadly coronavirus outbreak. Pictured: People wearing protective masks queue to take a taxi at the Beijing railway station Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Wednesday the government is preparing a 'plan' to provide some assisted departures for vulnerable Australians stranded in Wuhan Christmas Island will be used as a quarantine centre to house and treat people transported under the plan. They will be kept on the remote island for at least 14 days. There are more than 600 Australian citizens in Hubei province, who have registered with consular officials. Qantas has offered to help evacuate Australians trapped in Wuhan, which is the Hubei province's capital. 'I want to stress to all Australians is this is an issue we are dealing with constantly on the basis of the best advice that we have available,' Mr Morrison said. 'We will continue to take decisions to protect Australians, their safety, their well-being, whether here or whether they may be in a position of vulnerability overseas.' Christmas Island (pictured) will be used as a quarantine centre to house and treat people transported under the plan. They will be kept on the remote island for at least 14 days CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA NEW SOUTH WALES: 4 Four people in NSW have been diagnosed with coronavirus, including three men and one woman. January 25 Three men aged 43, 53, and 35 who had recently travelled to China are confirmed to have contracted the disease. Two flew in from Wuhan while the other arrived in Sydney from Shenzhen, south China. They are being treated in isolation at Westmead Hospital and are in stable condition. January 27 A 21-year-old woman is identified as the fourth person to test positive for the illness in NSW. The woman, a student at UNSW, flew into Sydney International Airport on flight MU749 on January 23 and presented to the emergency department 24 hours later after developing flu-like symptoms. She is being treated in isolation at Westmead Hospital. VICTORIA: 4 January 25 A Chinese national aged in his 50s becomes the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in Australia. The man flew to Melbourne on China Southern flight CZ321 from Wuhan via Guangzhou on January 19. He is now in quarantined isolation at Monash Hospital in Clayton in Melbourne's east. January 29 A Victorian man in his 60s is diagnosed with the coronavirus. He became unwell on January 23 - two days after returning from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak. The man was confirmed as positive on January 29 and was subsequently seen by doctors at the Monash Medical Centre. He was assessed as being well enough to stay at home. January 30 A woman in her 40s falls ill with the coronavirus. She was visiting from China and mostly spent time with her family. She is being treated at Royal Melbourne Hospital. February 1 A Melbourne woman aged in her 20s is at home recovering. She returned from Wuhan on January 25 and fell ill two days later. She was not infectious on the flight, and has remained in isolation since being tested. QUEENSLAND: 2 January 29 Queensland confirms its first case after a 44-year-old Chinese national wass diagnosed with the virus. He is being treated at Gold Coast University Hospital. January 30 A 42-year-old Chinese woman who was travelling in the same Wuhan tour group as the 44-year-old man tests positive. She is in Gold Coast University Hospital in stable condition. SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 2 February 1 A Chinese couple were placed in isolation in a public hospital. The man and a woman both aged 60, were from Wuhan and visiting relatives in South Australia. SA Health said the pair isolated themselves at home when they developed symptoms and awaited the results of the coronavirus test. Australia has raised the travel alert level to 'do not travel' for the city of Wuhan - the epicentre of the outbreak - and for the entire Hubei province. Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy says unless people have contact with someone who is unwell and has come from that part of China, there is no need for current concern. Advertisement One-million face masks will also be delivered to GPs around the country in a bid to stop the spread of the virus. 'We'll be supporting the public and GPs through the allocation of up to 1 million masks for general practises,' Health Minister Greg Hunt said. It is not yet known when the first lot of Australians will be evacuated by Qantas flights from China. Wuhan, the 11-million-strong epicentre of the outbreak, was put into lock-down last Thursday, amid growing fears over the rapid spread of the deadly virus. The death toll has passed 130 in China, while confirmed cases of infection in the Hubei province have jumped past 6,000. Mr Hunt said the outbreak had the potential of becoming a 'pandemic' in Australia - where five cases have been confirmed and several more are expected to emerge. Australians have been urged to reconsider any travel to China and not to visit Hubei Province under any circumstances as the country struggles to contain coronavirus. Government website Smarttraveller updated its travel advice for China early on Wednesday morning. 'Due to the outbreak of novel coronavirus we now advise you 'reconsider your need to travel' to China overall and 'do not travel' to Hubei Province,' the Smarttraveller advice read. 'Chinese authorities have restricted travel for parts of the country and may extend these restrictions at short notice. 'Travellers may be quarantined, due to their health condition or previous location.' A Canberra university student trapped in Wuhan says she hasn't been outside in more than a week to protect herself from the deadly virus. Helen Chen (pictured) is a Canberra university student trapped in Wuhan. She hasn't been outside in a week Symptoms of the virus include fever, cough, sore throat and shortness of breath WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF THE CORONAVIRUS? Once someone has caught the virus it may take between two and 14 days for them to show any symptoms. If and when they do, typical signs include: a runny nose a cough sore throat fever (high temperature) The vast majority of patients at least 97 per cent, based on available data will recover from these without any issues or medical help. In a small group of patients, who seem mainly to be the elderly or those with long-term illnesses, it can lead to pneumonia. Pneumonia is an infection in which the insides of the lungs swell up and fill with fluid. It makes it increasingly difficult to breathe and, if left untreated, can be fatal and suffocate people. Advertisement Helen Chen, a student at ANU, says she's worried and uncertain but has tried to keep herself busy with university assignments while trapped inside her Wuhan family home for one-week. 'The last time I went out was probably a week ago, I wore a mask, and most people were wearing masks,' she told Reuters. 'And when my parents went out this morning to do groceries they wore masks as well, I made sure they brought hand sanitisers and they wore gloves, just to be extra careful.' Mother-of-two Jenny Zhu is also stuck in Wuhan and has begged the Australian government to bring her children home. Ms Zhu and her Australian-born sons, Thomas, 9, and Andrew, 5, haven't been outdoors in seven days due to the outbreak. 'Last time they went out of the house was on the 20th. They only get some fresh air on the balcony every day,' she said. She said the family just want to return home to Sydney and hopes the Australian government is considering the wellbeing of all the children involved. 'My youngest boy has asked every day when he can go to kindy because he's really looking forward to school,' Ms Zhu said. More than 11-million people were left stranded and unable to travel in or out of Wuhan after China stepped up preventive measures to limit the spread of coronavirus. The virus, which belongs to the same family as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), has spread to 17 countries. No deaths have been reported outside of China so far. Pictured: Medical staff with coronavirus patient in Wuhan, China A state appeals court reinstated a lawsuit Tuesday by a former Bay Area California Highway Patrol officer who said fellow officers harassed and endangered him for years because he was gay, and the patrol did nothing to protect him. Jay Brome spent 20 years with the CHP in San Francisco, Contra Costa and Solano counties, before taking disability retirement in February 2016 because of stress that he said had led him to the brink of suicide. His lawsuit, filed in September 2016, alleged a long series of abuses, ranging from daily locker-room insults and mockery to the Solano County offices refusal to provide backup assistance, leaving him to handle hazardous pursuits and crashes on his own. The Solano County office, where Brome transferred in 2008, named him its officer of the year in 2013 and then chose not to display his photograph in the office, instead leaving up the picture of the previous years winner, the suit said. A Solano County judge dismissed the suit in 2018, agreeing with the CHP that Brome should have filed it by December 2015, a year after he suffered the last incident that led him to go on leave and apply for workers compensation. Superior Court Judge Michael Mattice also said that Bromes working conditions had not been intolerable, so any lawsuit he was allowed to pursue could not include a claim that the CHP had effectively fired him. But the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco said Tuesday that the usual one-year deadline could be extended in Bromes case because his successful claim against the CHP for a workers compensation claim was based on the same allegations of harassment, discrimination and supervisory indifference that he later raised in his lawsuit. Bromes superior officers were well aware of his discrimination concerns while addressing his workers compensation claim through October 2015, said Justice Gordon Burns in the 3-0 ruling. After years of harassment and hostility due to anti-gay bias at the patrol, he said, Brome had a basis for his failure to sue until 11 months later. He also said Brome can try to prove he was constructively discharged, or forced to retire. Unlike his colleagues, Brome was routinely forced to respond to high-risk enforcement and accident scenes on his own, Burns said. He said the evidence, though in dispute, could support a finding that the patrol knowingly permitted the intolerable conditions. Brome, now 55 and living in Vallejo, said he looks forward to taking his case to a jury. Any time I brought up the issues, it was more about killing the messenger, he said in an interview after the ruling. I did everything I could within the system. The system is meant to gloss over it. I miss my job, said Brome, who joined the CHP at age 31. I thought it was important to find a career where I made a difference. I guess I was too idealistic. 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. Brome did everything he could to try to have his concerns addressed internally by the CHP, said his lawyer, Lisa Ells. Besides disciplining one officer who failed to back him up, she said, no one ever did anything. In support of his case, gay-rights organizations, led by the National Center for Lesbian Rights, said in a court filing that Bromes experience was not unusual for LGBT law enforcement officers in California. Verbal insults, refusals to provide backup, denials of career opportunities, and other forms of discrimination have plagued LGBT law enforcement officers for decades, the group said. In response to the ruling, the CHP said in a statement that it holds its employees to high standards of conduct and strictly enforces its Equal Employment Opportunity policy designed to ensure a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko Mumbai: Bollywood star Katrina Kaif was spotted at an event hosted by Picture Pathshala, an organisation that produces content made by children and supports children's cinema for change. "I think it's really very special to be able to do something like this in a fun way, and in a way where you are allowing kids to interact and participate, and listen to what they want to talk about," said Katrina. She also expressed curiosity over how Picture Pathshala was started and what inspired the founders. Co-founded by Shweta Parekh and Ayaan Agnihotri, Picture Pathshala has produced 200 short films in the last five years, which have been screened across 47 International film festivals. Scenes from some of the short films were screened at the event. The organisers of the event also used the occasion to thank Salman Khan's Being Human Foundation and Book A Smile for supporting them over the years. Present at the event were also Salman's sister Alvira and her husband Atul Agnihotri, Salman's brothers Sohail and Arbaaz Khan, and Sunil Grover. Addressing the kids after a screening at the event, actor-comedian Sunil Grover said: "I loved the videos. You guys speak in such a mature way and give such nice expressions! You are lucky to get a chance to work like this at this age. All of you are very talented. I wish you all the best. Work hard and shine brighter." Picture Pathshala's initiative 'Cinema School In A Sandook' has reached out to Cherivali village in Raigadh, Pinguli Village in Sindhudurg, Raisar village in Bikaner, Dandi Village in Navsari, and the last village of India Turtuk in Ladakh. They are now planning to arrange similar workshops in Jaisalmer, Assam, West Bengal and Kanyakumari. Talking about the initiative, co-founder Ayaan Agnihotri said: "We had been on a road trip around India and got a chance to meet and interact with children of remote areas. We wanted to know what these children feel, what their problems are, what they have to say. These are places where you don't even find an original mineral water bottle. We feel kids from such places should be allowed to express themselves so that they feel they have the power to make a difference." Co-founder Shweta Parekh expressed: "All schools have a curriculum for media studies and community service. What we do is we combine these two and make it fun for the children. At the same time, they spend either time doing something which they don't see just as a subject but something by which they will be touching lives, something which they take back with them. That's the whole idea of Picture Pathshala." "We support children's cinema for change. We would request everyone to come forward and support us in this cause. We want to reach out to 717 districts across the country," she added. For many, the main point of investing is to generate higher returns than the overall market. But even the best stock picker will only win with some selections. At this point some shareholders may be questioning their investment in Compagnie du Cambodge (EPA:CBDG), since the last five years saw the share price fall 14%. View our latest analysis for Compagnie du Cambodge We don't think that Compagnie du Cambodge's modest trailing twelve month profit has the market's full attention at the moment. We think revenue is probably a better guide. Generally speaking, we'd consider a stock like this alongside loss-making companies, simply because the quantum of the profit is so low. It would be hard to believe in a more profitable future without growing revenues. In the last five years Compagnie du Cambodge saw its revenue shrink by 61% per year. That's definitely a weaker result than most pre-profit companies report. On the face of it we'd posit the share price fall of 3.0% compound, over five years is well justified by the fundamental deterioration. We doubt many shareholders are delighted with this share price performance. It is possible for businesses to bounce back but as Buffett says, 'turnarounds seldom turn'. You can see how earnings and revenue have changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). ENXTPA:CBDG Income Statement, January 29th 2020 Take a more thorough look at Compagnie du Cambodge's financial health with this free report on its balance sheet. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. In the case of Compagnie du Cambodge, it has a TSR of -7.8% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! Story continues A Different Perspective Compagnie du Cambodge shareholders gained a total return of 3.6% during the year. But that return falls short of the market. On the bright side, that's still a gain, and it is certainly better than the yearly loss of about 1.6% endured over half a decade. It could well be that the business is stabilizing. 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. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Compagnie du Cambodge (1 can't be ignored) that you should be aware of. But note: Compagnie du Cambodge may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on FR 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 reported talks come as Victoria's Secret's overtly sexy style has clashed with a new attitude from young women who want more inclusive fits. And it's facing increasing competition from lingerie online natives like Adore Me and ThirdLove, which use more diverse models and offer more comfortable styles. While Victoria's Secret has made some moves to change its marketing, the efforts haven't been enough to stop sales declines. During the holiday season, Victoria's Secret suffered a 12% drop in same-store sales. AAP has asked the Election Commission to impose a 48-hour campaigning ban on Union Home Minister Amit Shah for allegedly tweeting a "fake" video on Delhi government schools, party leader Sanjay Singh said on Wednesday. AAP leaders Singh and Pankaj Gupta complained to the EC against the circulation of the "fake" videos of Delhi government schools by BJP leaders to "falsely defame" Delhiites. The AAP, in its complaint to the EC, also said BJP MPs - Gautam Gambhir, Parvesh Verma and Hans Raj Hans - made "false and fabricated" videos to put out a wrong picture of Delhi government schools to the people. The AAP has also sought action against the three BJP MPs. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday had asserted that the videos of alleged deficiencies in the city's government schools shared by Home Minister Amit Shah were false. UK reality star Charlotte Crosby was a surprise elimination last night on Im a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. The brash Geordie Shore star followed her showmance boyfriend Ryan Gallagher who was eliminated the night before. Crosby had been widely tipped to make it to the finale on Sunday but this week some fans questioned the authenticity of their relationship and took to social media after the pair argued with Perez Hilton & campmates. But Crosbys outspoken manner occupied plenty of screentime across the series and she is due in Australian in coming weeks for an undisclosed role. Miguel Maestre, Rhonda Burchmore, Dale Daisy Thomas and illusionist Cosentino are now competing for the series title on Sunday, with one more to be eliminated tonight. Reuters United Airlines is canceling some flights to China as Facebook and other global companies restrict travel to the country, with concerns over a flu-like virus deepening. The coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China has killed 106 people in the Asian country and spread across the world, rattling financial markets. The United States warned on Monday that Americans should reconsider visiting all of China, while South Korea elevated its travel warning on Tuesday, advising its citizens to stay away. Facebook became the first major US company to announce a travel suspension after the US government's warning, saying it had asked employees to halt non-essential travel to mainland China and to work from home if they had travelled there. (Also read: Everything there is to know about the new coronavirus, the mystery virus from Wuhan, China) Chicago-based United said it was suspending 24 US flights to Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai between 1 Februaru and 8 Februaru due to a significant drop in demand. Europe's biggest bank, HSBC, banned all staff travel to Chinese-ruled Hong Kong for two weeks and to mainland China until further notice, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters. The British-based lender, which has the largest presence among foreign banks in China, also asked staff who have recently visited the country to undergo a self-imposed 14-day quarantine. US rival Goldman Sachs imposed similar measures, according to a memo seen by Reuters. In South Korea, home appliances maker LG Electronics put a complete ban on travel to China and has advised employees on business trips in the country to return home as quickly as possible, a company spokeswoman said. (Also read: Coronavirus update: AIIMS preps isolation ward, death toll reaches 106, new vaccine in the making and more) South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix Inc said it was urging employees to avoid all non-essential travel to China, while banking group Standard Chartered restricted travel to both mainland China and Hong Kong. In Germany, auto supplier Webasto, which has 11 sites in China, including in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei, has halted all corporate travel to and from China following the virus and the infection of an employee. Japan's Honda Motor Co Ltd said it recommended employees avoid travel to China, while Nissan Motor Co said it plans to evacuate its Japanese staff and their families in Wuhan via a government-chartered flight. Falling Travel Demand Aside from United, other airlines said they were adjusting schedules as companies reassessed the risk of travel to China. South Korean budget carrier Air Seoul said it will halt all flights to China, while Taiwan's China Airlines announced a further rescheduling of its flights to China from Friday to Feb. 10, cancelling five flights and rearranging the schedules of others. Taiwan's Eva Airways also said some flights to China may be cancelled. Germany's Lufthansa said on Monday bookings for its flights to and from China were slightly subdued due to the coronavirus outbreak. Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd said it was reducing overnight layovers for crew at all points in mainland China as much as possible, resulting in some changes to its flight schedule. International SOS, a medical and travel security services firm that advises companies on travel, said its guidance for now was that business travel to China outside Hubei could continue. But this could be updated if there were major flight cancellations throughout China and more disruptions to ground transport, including rail, International SOS Regional Security Director James Robertson said. "Many of our clients have chosen to defer or cancel upcoming travel based on their own individual assessments," Robertson said. "If people do choose to travel they need flexible itineraries accounting for extra time for temperature and health screenings." Trump Plan: Arab League, violation of Palestinians' rights 'But we are open to serious efforts in favour of peace' (ANSAmed) - CAIRO, JANUARY 29 - The Arab League condemned the plan for Middle East peace put forward by US President Donald Trump, calling it a "great violation of the rights of the Palestinians". "We will meticulously study the American proposal and we are open to all serious efforts in favour of peace," said Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit in a statement. He said, however, that after a preliminary reading of the report, "a consistent violation of the legitimate rights of the Palestinians emerges".(ANSAmed). A Danish newspaper refused to apologise to China on Tuesday over a satirical cartoon it ran about the deadly new virus that has killed dozens and infected thousands more. The cartoon, published in Jyllands-Posten on Monday, depicted a Chinese flag with the yellow stars normally found in the upper left corner exchanged for drawings of the new coronavirus. China's embassy in Denmark called the cartoon "an insult to China" that "hurts the feelings of the Chinese people". The embassy said the cartoon crossed the "ethical boundary of free speech" and demanded that the paper and cartoonist Niels Bo Bojesen "reproach themselves for their mistake and publicly apologise to the Chinese people". After breaking out in the city of Wuhan, the official number of confirmed cases of the new virus reached more than 4,000 in China as of Tuesday, with over 100 deaths. Some 50 infections have also been confirmed elsewhere in Asia, Europe and North America. On Tuesday, Jyllands-Posten's chief editor Jacob Nybroe said they would not "dream of" poking fun at the situation in China but also refused to apologise. "We cannot apologise for something we don't think is wrong. We have no intention of being demeaning or to mock, nor do we think that the drawing does," Nybroe said. "As far as I can see, this here is about different forms of cultural understanding." Several Danish politicians backed the paper, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen quoted by the Politiken newspaper as saying "we have freedom of expression in Denmark. Also to draw". Jylland-Posten is no stranger to controversy. In 2005, it published several cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed, which later contributed to violent protests in some Muslim countries. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 Trend: The world is developing as a multipolar one today, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in an interview with Rossiya-24 TV channel of Russia on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trend reports. There are several centers of power, Ilham Aliyev noted. Of course, there are issues of concern to us, the escalation of tension in our region. But we also see positive dynamics, when countries that did not previously have such close interaction are acting almost like allies today and making a great contribution to regional stability. Therefore, a multipolar world is already a reality. I think that these trends will be strengthened over time. And this is positive because it is a guarantee of stability in the world. The Azerbaijani president added that large countries always have their interests outside these own boundaries, and each country wants to secure better conditions for itself and expand its sphere of influence. This is nothing new in that, said Ilham Aliyev. We have been observing this for centuries with a varying degree of intensity. Therefore, this is not the question. The question is that the current structure of the world order, including the structure of international relations, is such that it implies multi-polarity. If we look at permanent members of the UN Security Council, it is a reflection of the multi-polarity of the world. And no decision can be made without the consent of one of the permanent member-countries. Therefore, I think that countries shouldnt strive to ensure unipolarity for themselves, but, on the contrary, find elements of cooperation that will benefit everyone. PROVINCETOWN, Mass. - Cape Cod has its first legal pot shop. Curaleaf opened a recreational marijuana store in Provincetown, Massachusetts, on Wednesday after town officials granted the Wakefield-based company local approval. The store is located along the famous resort towns bustling downtown of shops, restaurants and bars. The company says it expects to employ about 30 people. There are currently more than 30 retail marijuana shops open in Massachusetts, which legalized recreational use of the drug in 2016. The first shops in the state didnt open until 2018, and Cape Cod communities have been reluctant to allow the shops to open there. One dispensary for medical marijuana patients operates in the region, but most towns specifically ban retail marijuana sales. Provincetown, at the tip of the Cape, is one of just six on the peninsula to allow it. Curaleaf is one of the nations biggest marijuana companies, with roughly 50 dispensaries in 12 states. ___ Follow APs complete marijuana coverage: https://apnews.com/Marijuana. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said a thousand nos Tuesday to the Mideast peace plan announced by President Donald Trump, which strongly favors Israel. The Palestinians remain committed to ending the Israeli occupation and establishing a state with its capital in east Jerusalem, Abbas said at a press conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah, where the Western-backed Palestinian Authority is headquartered. After the nonsense that we heard today we say a thousand nos to the Deal of The Century, he said. The plan would create a Palestinian state in parts of the West Bank, but would allow Israel to annex its settlements in the occupied territory. The plan would allow the Palestinians to establish a capital on the outskirts of east Jerusalem but would leave most of the city under Israeli control.- We will not kneel and we will not surrender, Abbas said, adding that the Palestinians would resist the plan through peaceful, popular means. The Islamic militant group Hamas rejected the conspiracies announced by the U.S. and Israel and said all options are open in responding to the Trump administrations plan. We are certain that our Palestinian people will not let these conspiracies pass. So, all options are open. The (Israeli) occupation and the U.S. administration will bear the responsibility for what they did, senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya said as he participated in one of several protests that broke out across the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Protesters burned tires and pictures of President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Abbas held an emergency meeting with other Palestinian factions, including Hamas, to discuss a unified response to the plan. Abbas had rejected the deal before it was announced saying the U.S. was hopelessly biased toward Israel. The Palestinians cut off all contacts with the Trump administration after it recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel more than two years ago and moved the embassy there. Late on Tuesday, Palestinian protesters clashed with Israeli forces on the outskirts of Ramallah, near the Jewish settlement of Beit El. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Trumps initiative provides an occasion to re-launch the urgently needed efforts towards a negotiated and viable solution to the conflict. He said the EU would study and assess the proposals put forward. He reiterated the blocs commitment to a negotiated and viable two-state solution that takes into account the legitimate aspirations of both the Palestinians and the Israelis, respecting all relevant U.N. resolutions and internationally agreed parameters. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the United Nations supports two states living in peace and security within recognized borders, on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, according to his spokesman. The position of the United Nations on the two-state solution has been defined, throughout the years, by relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions by which the Secretariat is bound, the spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said. Those resolutions call all Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal and call for a solution based on borders before the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, with agreed land swaps. Jordan meanwhile warned against any Israeli annexation of Palestinian lands and reaffirmed its commitment to the creation of a Palestinian state along the 1967 lines, which would include all the West Bank and Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem. Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi warned of the dangerous consequences of unilateral Israeli measures, such as annexation of Palestinian lands. Egypt urged Israelis and Palestinians to carefully study the plan and said it appreciates the administrations efforts. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Tuesday that it favors a solution that restores all the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people through establishing an independent and sovereign state on the occupied Palestinian territories. Jordan and Egypt are the only two Arab countries to have made peace with Israel. SOURCE: AP | PHOTO: AFP Spox: Iran Foreign Ministry issues preventive instructions on coronavirus IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Jan 28, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Ministry issued required instructions on preventing coronavirus to Iranian diplomatic missions in China, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman said. Speaking to reporters, Abbas Mousavi expressed the Iranian Foreign Ministry's readiness for maintaining cooperation with the related bodies since the start of the crisis. He added that Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has proposed holding a ministerial meeting with the attendance of ministers of health, tourism, and road and urban development. He went on to say that the Iranian Foreign Ministry has released necessary recommendations to Iranian nationals in China. Crisis management committees were also established in the Iranian embassy in Beijing and Iran's consulate in Shanghai, Mousavi said. Due to lack of food in Wuhan, Iranian diplomatic mission rendered food packages to Iranian students in dormitories, he noted. He reiterated that the Foreign Ministry is also reviewing the request of the students' families for their exit from quarantine. The coronavirus was first seen in late December 2019 in Wuhan, central China. It has so far killed 41 and affected 729 while there are 1,287 suspected cases. Earlier, Iran's Health Minister Saeed Namaki said no case of Coronavirus has so far been observed in Iran, saying that visas for Chinese citizens will be issued if they have a clean health card. Namaki said that SARS coronavirus had a considerable mortal rate in 2002, adding that it became viral in 2012 under the name of the Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV). 9376**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Clients of Manitoba's Public Interest Law Centre are questioning a proposal to stop the advocacy centre from operating within Legal Aid Manitoba. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Clients of Manitoba's Public Interest Law Centre are questioning a proposal to stop the advocacy centre from operating within Legal Aid Manitoba. For 38 years, lawyers at the Public Interest Law Centre have been part of the province's legal aid program, focusing on representing Manitobans at the centre of human-rights disputes, including Indigenous people and people with disabilities who have faced discrimination. Their work has created legal changes in Canada, and they've argued cases at the country's highest court. Earlier this week, a government-commissioned review of legal aid was released recommending the Public Interest Law Centre no longer be part of legal aid services offered by the province. It has been running at arms-length from government since 1982, tackling systemic issues that community groups and individuals can't afford to fight on their own. But in the future, the centre could become entirely independent to encourage private donations, according to the report by lawyer Allan Fineblit. Download REVIEW OF LEGAL AID MANITOBA Very little of the Public Interest Law Centre's funding comes from the provincial government, according to Fineblit's report, which was released publicly Monday. The annual cost to the government amounts to between $250,000 to $350,000. With that in mind, community organizations that have relied on the Public Interest Law Centre to fight for them are left scratching their heads at the recommendation. "I really wonder, why the push to separate it?" said David Kron, executive director of the Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba. Two of its members are currently involved in a PILC case arguing Manitoba should continue to provide supports to adults with disabilities, instead of cutting them off when they turn 18. "Being a non-profit charity myself, there's certain things that the government really needs to do, and systemic, human-rights-based law is something that the government needs to support. I'm really tired of the government off-loading their responsibilities onto the private and public sector, the charity sector. It really is mind-boggling," Kron said. The government needs to support human-rights-based law, says David Kron. (Shannon VanRaes / Winnipeg Free Press files) The suggestion that PILC become fully independent is one of 15 recommendations included in the report, which Fineblit first submitted to the justice department in December 2018, a year before he was appointed as chairman of Legal Aid Manitoba's management council. The same council is now tasked with reviewing the report and deciding whether to implement the recommendations. Fineblit said the Public Interest Law Centre is one of Legal Aid Manitoba's "shining star programs." His intention was to "preserve and enhance" the centre, not see it cut off from government funding, he said in an interview. The centre often argues against government positions in the course of its work, but Fineblit said he doesn't believe the province is trying to get rid of it. "They asked me to look into every aspect of Legal Aid, and again the mandate includes the Public Interest Law Centre as one of the shining star programs. I have no doubt that they're interested in the Public Interest Law Centre because it is a high profile, sometimes annoying program, but I can say without any hesitation that nobody gave me marching orders to do something to shut down the Public Interest Law Centre, or anything like that. The mandate was pretty clear to look at every aspect of legal aid service delivery," Fineblit said. His report notes that similar legal advocacy centres in other provinces operate independently, and he suggests the PILC has lost out potential donations from people who aren't comfortable giving to a government agency. Kate Kehler, executive director of Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, said she would be concerned if PILC had to rely on private donations. Allan Fineblit called the Public Interest Law Centre one of Legal Aid Manitoba's 'shining star programs.' (Ken Gigliotti / Winnipeg Free Press files) 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. "Because it's called the Public Interest Law Centre, it needs to be funded by the government to serve the public interests. There is already an abundance of people and community organizations who are fighting over the same private dollars, so I would be concerned that somehow it would be a given that there would be private donations in order to maintain this really important public service." The Social Planning Council is currently involved in a case with PILC that argues Manitoba's practice of requiring people on social assistance to start collecting their old-age security payments at age 60 entrenches them in poverty. The case hasn't yet been decided. Justice Minister Cliff Cullen declined an interview request about the legal aid review. In a statement, his office made no commitments to implement the recommendations, saying they've been forwarded to Legal Aid Manitoba's management council for consideration with stakeholders. Separating PILC from Legal Aid Manitoba would require changes to provincial legislation. katie.may@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @thatkatiemay Palestinian demonstrators burn images of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a demonstration in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday: AFP via Getty Images Iran and its allies vowed to oppose a plan to carve up Israel and the Palestinian Territories touted as a peace initiative by the administration of Donald Trump while White House friends in the Arabian Peninsula welcomed the scheme, which was assembled by the presidents son-in-law and a coterie of lobbyists in Washington. The Twitter account of Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, cited comments he made more than 18 months ago, when Ivanka Trumps husband, real estate developer scion Jared Kushner, first began touting a Middle East peace initiative. "Let the American leadership go blind, but by the will of God America's satanic and evil policy for Palestine named the deal of the century will never succeed, he was quoted as saying. "The Palestine issue will never be forgotten and definitely the Palestinian nation and all Muslim nations will stand against them and not stand for this." Iran, which along with Palestinians and many other Arab actors, was left out of the consultations on the Trump administrations plan, has a history of using its proxies to sabotage attempts to implement American schemes in the region, including in Lebanon in the 1980s, Israel and Palestine in the 1990s, and Iraq in the 2000s, and Syria and Yemen in the 2010s. The so-called deal of the century was praised by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who attended the Tuesday unveiling of the plan, saying it was a great deal for Israel and a great deal for peace. During a press briefing on Wednesday, David Friedman, US Ambassador to Israel, insisted its a little too early to gauge Palestinian reaction. But the negative response was swift and broad, equally rejected by numerous Palestinian factions in a rare show of unity. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the head of rival Hamas, the militant group which runs Gaza, vehemently rejected the deal as nonsense and held a rare joint meeting to discuss their response. Story continues I say to Trump and Netanyahu: Jerusalem is not for sale, all our rights are not for sale and are not for bargaining, Mr Abbas said on Tuesday. And your deal, the conspiracy, will not pass. Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas official added, Trump's statement is aggressive and it will spark a lot of anger." The deal gives Israel complete control over the contested city of Jerusalem, instead offering the Palestinians a capital in the eastern outskirts of the city, which are behind Israels controversial security wall. It also allows Israel to annex the strategic Jordan Valley area along the border with Jordan as well as nearly all its settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are deemed illegal under international law. According to Mr Trumps maps, the Palestinian state meanwhile is comprised of parts of the West Bank connected by corridors as well as the blockaded Gaza enclave and territory south of the Strip which would be handed over in a land swap. The plan denies the right of return of Palestinian refugees into lands they fled or were forced from decades ago that are now inside Israel. It says that Israel will maintain security responsibility for the future state of Palestine that had to be demilitarised. Mr Friedman insisted to reporters that the reaction from the region has been extraordinarily constructive. But immediate opposition to the deal cut across the sectarian and political divides that have rattled the Middle East for years. HA The Arab states endorsing the plan are unlikely to think it has a chance of success HA Hellyer, analyst Both sides in Yemens years-long civil war, the Iranian-backed Houthis and the internationally recognised government backed by Saudi Arabia, denounced the plan. The deal was predictably slammed by Irans allies such as the Lebanese Shia militia Hezbollah, but also by Iraqs top Shia religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, considered a foe of Tehran, who demanded that Jerusalem be returned to the sovereignty of its Palestinian owners no matter how long it takes, and neighbouring Jordan, a staunch Sunni-dominated US ally which is host to millions of Palestinian refugees and signed a peace deal with Israel in 1994. The foreign ministry of Qatar, which hosts a major US military base, said the agreement must include the right of return and the right to a sovereign state on the 1967 borders otherwise peace cannot be sustainable. NATO member Turkey, which has been accused by Israel of supporting Hamas, warned the deal would only stir conflict in the troubled region. This plan is an annexation plan that is aimed at killing the two-state solution and stealing Palestinian lands, the Turkish foreign ministry said. Few of the players in the Middle East detailed how they would oppose the Trump scheme, which Israel hopes to speed forward by annexing parts of the West Bank as early next week. But Irans foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, said that he hoped the announcement would serve as a wake-up call for all the Muslims who have been barking up the wrong tree, suggesting Tehran may use the unpopular scheme to whip anti-American sentiment in the region. Iran has demanded US troops leave the Middle East for years, intensifying those calls following the 2 January assassination of Revolutionary Guard commander Qassem Soleimani in an airstrike. Some Western officials and Arab states urged the Palestinian leadership not to reject the agreement outright and instead consider the proposals British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab called it a serious proposal, reflecting extensive time and effort and urged all sides to give it genuine and fair consideration. This was echoed by Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt, which said that the plan offered an important starting point for the return to negotiations. All three countries have close ties to the Trump family, and have invested politically and financially in getting the White House to overlook human rights concerns, including the kidnapping, torture, murder, dismemberment and disappearance of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the hands of Saudi operatives from the court of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Egypt, whose leader Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, was described by Mr Trump as his favourite dictator, called for open channels of dialogue to enable further discussions on the plan. Egypt calls on the two relevant parties to undertake a careful and thorough consideration of the US vision to achieve peace and open channels of dialogue, under US auspices, for the resumption of negotiations, said a statement from the foreign ministry. Analysts described the endorsements by the Arab nations as a way to continue to game a Trump administration that has repeatedly demonstrated it is capable of being manipulated by foreign powers. The Arab states endorsing the plan are unlikely to think it has a chance of success, HA Hellyer, a scholar at the Royal United Services Institute and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told The Independent. It's more probable this is about positioning vis-a-vis future engagements with the United States. Meanwhile, The Elders, a coalition of world leaders founded by the late South African leader and anti-Apartheid pioneer Nelson Mandela, warned that the US proposals would make a two-state solution impossible. Read more Palestinian leaders vehemently reject Trumps peace plan Trump releases map of proposed Israel Palestine state borders Netanyahu appears to accidentally reveal Israel has nuclear weapons Yair Netanyahu calls for UK diplomats to be expelled from Israel Amaravati, Jan 29 : A row has erupted over the report of an expert committee constituted by Andhra Pradesh, which allegedly opposed Visakhapatnam as one of the three state capitals due to its vulnerability to cyclonic storms. While the opposition alleged that the Jagan Mohan Reddy government kept the panel's report secret and pushed the coastal city as the executive capital, the government claimed that a section of media distorted the report and maintained Visakhapatnam is suitable to be one of the capitals. A six-member committee comprising experts had last month submitted 147-page report to the government. According to reports in a section of vernacular media, the panel did not favour Visakhapatnam as the capital on various grounds. "Visakhapatnam presents an eco-fragile zone with potential threat of severe cyclones, floods and rise in sea levels. It is compounded with CRZ (Coastal regulation Zone) constraints and coastline erosion. Infiltration of saline water into ground water table is a cause of concern. Oil spillage has been noticed several parts of the port. There are issues of industrial pollution including that from the steel plant and port related activities. "The Metropolitan Region also poses a security threat considering the fact that the region hosts the Eastern Naval Command and possible (nuclear) submarine activities. Any major new governance activity is neither required from a settlement pattern point of view nor desirable under the constraints discussed," says the panel's report. "Furthermore, substantial chunks of government lands are not available in and around the city. Several institutions are already awaiting land allocation. The location of the proposed airport in Bhogavaram (Bhogapuram) and the related activities also need review in the light of these constraints. The ongoing preparation for the Master plan for Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region 2041 seems to have overlooked some of these considerations," added the report by the committee headed by former IAS officer G.N. Rao. The excerpts of the report kicked up a row, a week after the Assembly passed two Bills to create three state capitals - Amaravati, Visakhapatnam and Kurnool. The move, however, hit a roadblock in the Legislative Council, dominated by the opposition as the Chairman referred the Bills to a select committee. Irked over the development, the Assembly on January 27 passed a resolution to abolish the Council. The three capitals decision was taken by the government on the basis of expert committee and Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The BCG also reportedly expressed concern on the vulnerability of Visakhapatnam to cyclones. The government reacted sharply to the media reports and termed them false. Urban Development Minister Botsa Satyaranarayana blamed opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for creating a controversy. "Is Visakhapatnam going to be washed away," asked the minister and pointed out Chennai and Mumbai are also state capitals. "There is no threat to Vizag. In fact there is flood threat to Amaravati," he said defending the government's move to shift key capital functions from Amaravati to Visakhapatnam and Kurnool. Rao also addressed a news conference to clear the air. He claimed that what is published in a section of the media is only a part of discussion but not from recommendations or operational portion of the report. "We have analysed the strengths and constraints of Visakhapatnam, Machilipatnan and Vijayawada for the capital. The capital function was suggested to be set up in northern most part of Visakhapatnam city, far away from the core city and the sea shore," he said. In Spain, food is a religion. That's why there are bars and restaurants where a specific tapa may be an object of worship. EL PAIS SEMANAL tried 10 places around the country where people flock for a taste of deceptively simple dishes, prepared the right way. Book your omelette now Bar Nestor, San Sebastian The tortilla de patatas at Bar Nestor (Calle de la Pescaderia, 11) in San Sebastian is the stuff of legend. Getting your hands on a slice requires two trips. The first one should take place an hour in advance, just to make your reservation. The second one delivers the object of desire. Potato, free-range eggs, olive oil, onion and green peppers work together to create this miracle. Only two omelettes are made a day; one is served at 1pm and the other one at 8pm. In the summer there can be lines of around 30 people, so run for it! A slice of history Casa Labra, Madrid Founded in 1860, Casa Labra (Calle de Tetuan, 12) is one of Madrids historic taverns, politically and gastronomically. It was here that the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) was founded in 1879, although few people visit for this reason. They come instead for its exquisite and famous piece of cod (tajada de bacalao). The fish is juicy, tasty and flakey, denoting freshness, and it melts in the mouth. The flood of customers never ends. People lining up outside Casa Labra, founded in 1860 and famous for its pieces of cod. Alfredo Arias Mushrooms, a path to happiness Bar Soriano, Logrono Naturally you could order something else at Bar Soriano (Travesia del Laurel, 2) in Logrono, but it would be like asking for a glass of chardonnay at a winery in La Rioja. So ask for mushrooms with shrimp (champinon con gamba). Theyll make it for you straight away. You can look at it, smell it, taste it. The oil will permeates through the bread, creating a masterful substance. Youll weep for joy. The see-through omelette Casa Balbino, Sanlucar It almost looks like a net that caught some shrimp. And that's what a good shrimp omelette (tortilla de camarones) should look like. This fried dish is a pillar of Cadizs gastronomy. But the secret to this omelette lies with the people in Casa Balbino (Plaza del Cabildo, 14), in Sanlucar de Barrameda, who claim it was told to them by a local sailor. Shrimp omelette in Casa Balbino, Sanlucar (Cadiz). Alejandro Ruesga An orthodox Russian salad Restaurante Nerva, Malaga For Restaurante Nerva (Calle del Cristo de la Epidemia, 55), in Malaga, simplicity is key. Thats why their ensaladilla rusa comes with no eccentricities: just boiled monalisa potatoes with the skin on, carrots, eggs, tuna, langoustines and onion create a perfect dish that is topped with mayonnaise made with extra virgin oil and a hint of sunflower oil. Pride of the Mediterranean La Pilareta, Valencia Valencians say that clotxines are tastier than mussels. In reality, they're all mussels, but clotxines, which are harvested in the Mediterranean during the summer, are smaller and have a special taste. This is confirmed by the waiter at La Pilareta (Carrer del Moro Zeid, 13), a bar that has been serving this delicacy for 102 years. The long bar is decorated with tiles and bottles and on it, thousands of diners have enjoyed this Valencian recipe: steamed clotxines with water, salt, lemon, a pinch of paprika and grated chili. A waiter from La Pilareta, in Valencia, serves clotxines, or 'true mussels' from the Mediterranean. Monica Torres The king of fried food El Brillante, Madrid The calamari sandwich (bocata de calamares) from El Brillante is, without a doubt, a fundamental Madrid classic. The experience goes beyond the sandwich itself. El Brillante, (Plaza del Emperador Carlos V, 8) will create an impact before you even enter thanks to its luminous storefront sign. Once inside, sitting on a stool at one of the long bars, you can enjoy the trained voices of the waiters who sing the orders as if they were performing in an operetta. In terms of the bocata, which is really what we came for, its pure simplicity should be noted. Just two slices of bread and some fried squid in the middle has earned itself a place of honor in the aristocracy of Spanish fried food. The essence of the fried egg La Ponderosa, Cuenca A bar, nothing more. There are not even stools to sit on. And yet it is impossible to forget a visit to La Ponderosa (Calle de San Francisco, 20) in Cuenca. Besides the mushrooms, tomatoes, mussels and partridge that are also served to the Royal House, the masterful fried egg stands out from their menu. And it is not just for the superior quality of the eggs or the fact that they raise their own chickens, but also for the vinegar dressing that makes them truly unique. Memorable chickpea stew Pinotxo Bar, Barcelona Chickpeas sauteed with Burgos blood sausage (morcilla) is one of the most typical dishes at Pinotxo Bar (Mercado de la Boqueria), the establishment that has served the most stews in the whole of the Boqueria Market in Barcelona. Despite being inundated by tourists, this spot is worth a visit because it is still an oasis of good cooking, with dishes to dip your bread into like chickpea stew (guiso de garbanzos), baby squid with beans, or tripe (cap i pota). A customer eats a serving of chickpea stew at Pinotxo Bar in Barcelona's Boqueria Market. Carmen Secanella Sumptuous patatas bravas Docamar, Madrid Docamar (Calle de Alcala, 337) boasts about having the best bravas in Madrid since 1963. This is a big statement and it will attract a range of opinions, but whats certain is that what they serve is delicious: some fat,crispy potato wedges covered with the bars own secret sauce. The ingredients are special, for example the paprika from La Vera that we use, says the waiter Javier Peralvo. There are other elements that go into the sauce of course, but theyre secret. The result is a well-balanced taste with enough spice to give a kick to these patatas bravas. English version by Alicia Kember. YARDLEY BOROUGH >> The Yardley Borough Police Department report the following incidents and arrests: WARRANT (DOMESTIC ASSAULT) >> At approximately 7:55 p.m. on January 11 a victim fleeing a domestic assault in her vehicle was entering the parking lot at police headquarters when her car was struck by another vehicle. The striking vehicle fled prior to police arrival. A follow-up investigation... (Alliance News) - Wealth manager Brewin Dolphin Holdings PLC on Wednesday announced the departure of Chief Executive David Nicol later this year. Nicol has been head of Brewin Dolphin since 2012. He will step down on June 14, but will stay on until July 29 to help with the transition. He is being replaced by Robin Beer, who currently serves as head of the company's intermediaries, charity, professional services, and digital businesses. Beer originally joined Brewin Dolphin in 2008, having previously worked at National Australia Bank Ltd, Gerrards, and Barclays PLC. Chair Simon Miller commented: "On behalf of the board, I would like to thank David for his outstanding contribution to Brewin Dolphin's success. He has demonstrated great professionalism, re-focused the group's strategy, improved the quality of the organisation and built a strong team. "Under his leadership, Brewin Dolphin has seen funds under management almost double from GBP26.0 billion to GBP48.5 billion. Our client proposition has deepened, we have invested in our office network, and both client satisfaction and employee engagement are at record levels. "At the same time, we are delighted to announce Robin's appointment as David's successor. Robin understands both the broad landscape in which we operate and has a deep knowledge of our business and culture," Miller continued. "Since joining the executive committee in 2016, he has been a key member of the executive team and is the ideal person to continue the execution of our successful strategy, while sustaining and nurturing our well-established client-focused approach." Brewin Dolphin, in another statement, reported total funds rose 7.8% over its first quarter ended September to GBP48.5 billion. Without acquisitions, funds rose 1.8%. Discretionary funds increased by 4.2% in the quarter to GBP41.8 billion, and rose 1.7% organically. London-based Brewin Dolphin's total quarterly income was 15% higher year-on-year at GBP89.6 million. Discretionary income also rose 15% from a year before to GBP76.5 million due to growth in funds and higher commission income, while financial planning income jumped 37% to GBP8.5 million, helped by acquisitions. Outgoing CEO Nicol commented: "I am pleased with our performance in the quarter, particularly our positive organic net inflows in challenging market conditions. We have diversified our business mix through building more client choice and client-centric propositions, which is supporting our growth. "We remain on-track with the implementation of both our new client management system and core custody and settlement system. The integration of our acquisition in Ireland is progressing well and we remain confident about the long-term growth opportunities. Market sentiment appears to be improving and we look forward to capitalising on this as the year progresses." Shares were 0.1% lower on Wednesday morning in London at a price of 359.00 pence each. By George Collard; georgecollard@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Tuesday she still hasnt decided if she will vote to convict President Trump, but shes closer than she was before the Senates impeachment trial began. I was going to vote against it, the California Democrat told reporters after attorneys for the president finished three days of arguments against impeachment. She said her feeling was that with less than 10 months to go before Novembers presidential election, the people should judge. Thats my view and it still is my view. But her feelings on impeachment have changed, Feinstein said in response to a question by Alayna Treene of Axios, who tweeted a transcript of her interview. Impeachment isnt about one offense, the senator said in the interview. Its really about the character and ability and physical and mental fitness of the individual to serve the people, not themselves. But Feinstein, who said before the impeachment trial began last week that she was prepared to listen to the evidence and decide on the articles of impeachment based on the merits, still isnt ready to commit to ousting Trump. Im in the process of deciding, Feinstein said in the interview, noting that the trial isnt finished. Feinsteins comments on impeachment, which Treene said in a tweet were a very confusing back and forth, prompted the senator to clarify her comments after media reports went up saying that she was leaning toward acquitting Trump. Before the trial I said Id keep an open mind, Feinstein said in a tweet Tuesday afternoon. Now that both sides made their cases, its clear the presidents actions were wrong. He withheld vital foreign assistance for personal political gain. That cant be allowed to stand. Feinstein has never been an out-front supporter of impeachment and has declined to give a hint of how she will vote, saying only that the Constitution and the people of America expect and deserve an impartial but informed jury. Thats a contrast to many of her colleagues, Republicans and Democrats alike, who have been willing and often eager to say how they will vote. Feinstein also complained when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, waited for weeks before sending the impeachment articles to the Senate, saying, If its serious and important, send them over. If it isnt, dont send it over. She later backed away from that comment, saying Pelosi had good reason to delay. Feinstein is one of 27 senators who also voted in 1999 on the impeachment of President Bill Clinton, which she has called a sobering experience. Since Trumps trial is only the third presidential impeachment ever, the weight of history falls heavily on these decisions, Feinstein said. While she voted to acquit Clinton, she led the effort to censure him, saying the presidents conduct in having an affair with a White House intern and lying about it had been immoral, deplorable and indefensible. The censure effort failed. Trump is accused of abusing the power of his office by withholding military aid to Ukraine and leaning on Kyiv to announce investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden and a discredited theory that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 presidential election. A second impeachment count accuses Trump of obstructing Congress investigation. Feinstein and other senators will have an opportunity Wednesday and Thursday to question Trumps lawyers and the House impeachment managers. Their questions will be read by Chief Justice John Roberts, who is presiding over the impeachment trial. John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- It takes incredible bravery to launch and grow a businesswhich is why the theme of "Brave Is" will take center stage when the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) heads to Austin, Texas on September 21-23, 2020 for its annual National Women's Business Conference (WBC) 2020 and 45th anniversary celebration. Proudly joining NAWBO again for the eighth consecutive year is WBC Presenting Sponsor Bank of America. "Every entrepreneurial woman wants to be courageous in life and business, whether she has taken the risk and is just starting out or has already done business the world over, met with senators and members of Congress and served on executive boards," said Jeanette Armbrust, NAWBO National Board Chair. "The WBC is an incredible opportunity for women business owners to connect with other like-minded women, put themselves out there, push through their fears and say 'yes' to life and business even more." Each year, the WBC attracts nearly a thousand women business owners representing diverse backgrounds, geographies, industries and stages of growth who come for the connections, learning and inspiration, but always leave with more. This year, these women will experience a new format that allows more time to explore the beautiful city of Austin, including its local small businesses, and to connect with peers, sponsors and exhibitors in an energetic, resource-rich exhibit hall environment. The conference keynote is always a major highlight and this year is no different. Glennon Doyle, author of the forthcoming memoir UNTAMED, #1 New York Times bestseller LOVE WARRIOR, an Oprah's Book Club selection, and New York Times bestseller CARRY ON, WARRIOR, will be inspiring from the main stage. An activist, speaker and thought leader, she is also the founder and president of Together Rising, an all-women-led nonprofit organization that has revolutionized grassroots philanthropyraising over $22 million for women, families and children in crisis, with a most frequent donation of just $25. Glennon has created an online community and social media following with millions of readers who experience her shameless and hilarious writings about marriage, motherhood, faith, mental health, addiction, recovery and connection. She was named among OWN's SuperSoul 100 inaugural group as one of 100 "awakened leaders who are using their voices and talent to elevate humanity." Other 2020 highlights include: Leading ladies panel of highly successful women entrepreneurs sharing their obstacles, risks, wins, what's nextand bravery through it all Next gen track for up and coming entrepreneurial young women Workshops to help women work on their business and realize real results Power talks on timely topics like personal, business and planet sustainability and trends and opportunities in the digital economy NAWBO 45 th anniversary celebration anniversary celebration Awards Gala sponsored by Bank of America and featuring the Women Business Owner of the Year award View the current agenda here . "Women business owners create their own power and influence through their unique brand of courage," said Jill Calabrese Bain, Managing Director, Enterprise Payments at Bank of America. "At this year's annual conference, we will look back at all that NAWBO has accomplished in its 45 years while looking forward to what women business owners can achieve in the new decade and beyond. Bank of America is proud to play a role in this celebrationserving as presenting sponsor for the conference and the Women Business Owner of the Year Award." About NAWBO Founded in 1975, NAWBO is the unified voice of America's more than 10 million women-owned businesses representing the fastest growing segment of the economy. NAWBO is the only dues-based organization representing the interests of all women entrepreneurs across all industries. NAWBO develops programs that help navigate women entrepreneurs through the various stages of their business growth. To learn more, please visit www.nawbo.org . SOURCE National Association of Women Business Owners Related Links http://www.nawbo.org WASHINGTON - Its Mitt Romneys big moment, again. The 2012 Republican presidential nominee has for a year been a freshman senator from Utah. Hes sitting in judgment of the president he has called unfit for office. And hes defying President Donald Trump by calling for one witness in particular, former national security adviser John Bolton, as the Senate weighs the impeachment allegations against the nations 45th president. The trial is a chance for Romney to build influence in the Senate as an independent GOP voice or become one of the Republicans standing by the president when its time to be counted. Votes, not words of concern about the presidents behaviour, are what matter most. For now, the Utah senator has been clear about wanting more than the manuscript of Boltons book, which alleges that Trump directly linked the release of military aid to Ukraines willingness to investigate Democrats. Id rather hear from Mr. Bolton, Romney, 72, told reporters on Tuesday. He may yet get the chance. On Tuesday night, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Republicans in a closed session that they lacked the 51 votes to block the 100-member Senate from calling any witnesses. A motion to call them would pass if Romney and at least three other Republicans voted with all Democrats. Its far from clear whether Bolton or other witnesses end up testifying before the Senate, or whether Romney, in the end, votes with other Republicans to acquit Trump. Right now, Romney is focused on witnesses, not party, said Jason Perry, director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah. I dont believe that he believes he has broken ranks with the party, Perry said. I believe he thinks he is helping the party, because he believes he is fulfilling the constitutional role of being an unbiased juror. The vote math is one of the factors that makes impeachment a rich opportunity for Romney to elevate his status as a rare independent voice in the Trump-dominated Republican Party. Another is the fact that Romney is as safe as a Republican can be under the payback-loving president. He isnt up for reelection for nearly five years. Utah is polarized over Trump, but not between Republicans and Democrats. Even as Never Trumpers have faded nationally, a strong current of discomfort with the president remains in polite, immigrant-welcoming Utah. Also, Romney has survived Trumps attacks, some profane, before. Trump used crude terms to describe Romneys appeal for an endorsement in 2012. In the heat of the 2016 GOP presidential primary, Romney delivered a speech in which he said Trump lacks the temperament to be president, is a fraud and, on an assortment of issues, is very, very not smart. Trump never forgot it. Victory in hand over Democrat Hillary Clinton, Trump said he was considering nominating Romney for secretary of state. Romney met him for an awkward dinner that produced awkward photographs. Later, Trump said he never really considered Romney for the post. Mitt Romney never knew how to win. He is a pompous ass who has been fighting me from the beginning, Trump tweeted last year. Asked last week whether he can really be unbiased after that last crack, Romney dismissed it as irrelevant. Going against Trump is a risk for any Republican. Mitt Romney is familiar with that. He can handle it, said Sarah Longwell, executive director of Republicans for the Rule of Law. She said the group is spending more than $1 million on ads this week calling for witnesses. But in contrast to the ads in places like Colorado, where Republican Sen. Cory Gardner is in a tight reelection race, the ads running in Utah arent focused on just Romney, Longwell said. One goal, she said, is to educate his constituents on why he wants witnesses to testify. This is Ambassador John Bolton, intones the narrator over a photo of Bolton with his mouth taped shut. Are Senate Republicans willing to do their duty to listen? Theres been a bit of blowback, influenced like everything else about impeachment by the looming 2020 election. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., tweeted Monday that Romney wants to appease the left by calling witnesses who will slander the president. She included Trumps Twitter handle, in an effort to ensure he saw her support. By Wednesday it seemed clear why: Rep. Doug Collins, one of the presidents top defenders during the House impeachment proceedings, announced he was challenging her for the seat. Were ready for a good time down here to keep defending this president, Collins said on Fox News Channels Fox & Friends. Inside the Senate, Romney is part of the whip, or vote-counting, team. But theres scant evidence that hes giving, or getting, any lobbying about witnesses. After the defence rested on Tuesday, Senate Republican whip John Thune ambled over to Romneys seat in the back row, two chairs from the corner, just before the big meeting in McConnells office. The two chatted for a few seconds. The presidents defence team has showed little if any interest in pressing Romney on the Senate floor. And an official close to the senator said there is no lobbying effort afoot on Romneys part. Romneys conduct in the chamber would seem to support that. Hes mostly sat, or stood by his chair, taking notes and occasionally chatting with seatmates Mike Braun of Indiana and Dan Sullivan of Alaska. Romney is famously a sticker for rules. Technically, only water and milk are allowed on the Senate floor. On Tuesday, Romney was seen with a bottle of chocolate milk, from the Brigham Young University creamery. But a bottle is against the rules. He was later seen with what looked like chocolate milk in a glass. ___ Associated Press writer Lindsay Whitehurst in Salt Lake City contributed to this report. ___ Follow Kellman on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/APLaurieKellman Priya Prakash, the founder and CEO of HealthSetGo a healthcare organisation that runs school health programs in India and supports the UNs sustainable development goals of health and education, was conferred with the prestigious award that includes a US $250,000 prize money HealthSetGo founder and CEO Priya Prakash has won the Global Citizen Cisco Youth Leadership Award for 2019 for her school health program that aims at providing 360 degree healthcare support to children at the school. The prestigious award honors an individual aged 18 - 30 who is bringing about a positive change in the world by solving some of its biggest global challenges. The award includes a US $250,000 prize paid to the individuals organization to which the individual contributes, to further their mission of accelerating global problem solving. The Cisco Youth Leadership Award for 2019 was given to Prakash by Cisco Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer Fran Katsoudas, in December of 2019 at the Royal Albert Hall, London. The prestigious finalist group, which Prakash was a part of, included four other individuals who are each working continuously to shape the world like never before. Prakashs HealthSetGo is a healthcare organization that supports the UNs global sustainable development goals and is dedicated to improving the health and lives of children. From 6th grade through college, she suffered weight-related bullying that eventually had a devastating impact on her emotional wellbeing and mental health. She finally decided to take charge of her life, and adopted a healthy lifestyle that not only led her into maintaining a healthy weight, and gaining self confidence, but also becoming a state-level weightlifter. Having brought about a positive change in her life, she now wanted to help others in leading a healthy life. Speaking on the occasion Priya said, Today, I encourage all schools to take steps to ensure that they are fostering a health promoting environment. Lets give every child a chance of a healthier life. With a vision to empower parents, doctors, schools, and governments, Prakash founded HealthSetGo - a company that uses digital technology to make data-driven decisions to improve the health and lives of children. The company creates a digital health report card with the help of artificial intelligence & data analytics that provides complete information about a childs health aged 2 - 17 which helps in finding the diseases or other issues he or she might have. During health examination, doctors record the information in real time on HealthSetGos proprietary app and make it instantly shareable, thereby providing a single place for medical records to be stored. HealthSetGo has also introduced HealthSetGo CAREBox, which contain health curriculums for specific age groups that help teachers in teaching children about hygiene and sanitation, physical health, mental well-being, and food and nutrition in a fun way with the help of activities. The aim of the CAREBox is to drive behavioral change in habit formation and enable kids to make healthy seeking choices. Under her leadership, the organization, in a span of 4 years has become India's largest healthcare organization for schools which currently operates in over 77+ cities across the country, impacting 250,000 students and parents. Prakash has decided to use the prize money provided by Cisco to expand access to healthcare services, and ensure that they reach those who need health support the most to continue creating a sustainable intervention. MEXICO CITY - A high-level financial operator for the Sinaloa Cartel and two other prisoners facing extradition to the United States escaped from a Mexico City jail Wednesday with the help of guards, authorities said. Officials gave few details on how or precisely when the escape occurred. But Hazael Ruiz Ortega, the deputy chief of the capitals penitentiary system, said it appeared some six to 10 workers at the jail were involved. The inmates would have had to pass through five locked doors to reach a patio where they could escape, and none of those locked doors was broken so someone had to have opened them, he said. Authorities were searching surrounding neighbourhoods. The biggest name among the escapees was Victor Manuel Felix Beltran, who was designated by the U.S. Treasury in 2015 under the Kingpin Act. The designation described him as a high-ranking Sinaloa Cartel trafficker, who operates from Culiacan and Guadalajara. It noted that he was the son of drug trafficker Victor Felix Felix, who moved cocaine and laundered money for Joaquin El Chapo Guzman. The Mexico City prosecutors office said in a statement that Luis Fernando Meza Gonzalez and Yael Osuna Navarro were the other two escapees. Meza Gonzalez was being held on drug charges and Osuna Navarro was held for alleged criminal association. Felix Beltran took over after his fathers 2011 arrest and most recently was a key lieutenant for Guzmans sons, according to the U.S. Treasury designation. An indictment was unsealed for him in January 2015 in Illinois. The escape brought renewed attention to the problem of security in Mexicos lockups. Capital officials said they had petitioned to have the prisoners transferred to high-security prisons, insisting that the city jails are for lower-level offenders awaiting trial. In the case of Felix Beltran, he entered the jail on Mexico Citys south side on Oct. 28, 2017, and was transferred to the maximum security Altiplano prison in Mexico state six days later two years after Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquin El Chapo Guzman escaped it through a tunnel. But on Nov. 9, 2018, a federal judge ordered that Felix Beltran be returned to the jail, said Rosa Icela Rodriguez, the capitals government secretary. The presence of inmates of this profile in Mexico Citys penitentiaries has put at risk the safety of those held there and of course affects the governability, Icela said. Thats why we have insisted on the need to transfer them to high security prisons outside the city. Ruiz said there were about 3,400 inmates being held in Mexico City jails on federal charges and about 70 of them were high-profile criminals or subject to U.S. extradition. Ahead of the Delhi Assembly election, sources have stated that BJP president JP Nadda will be meeting with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday evening. In a possible U-turn for SAD, sources further stated that Sukhbir Singh Badal along with Nadda will address a joint press conference after their meeting. Earlier, Shiromani Akali Dal had decided not to contest Delhi Elections over their differences with BJP regarding their stand on Citizenship Amendment Act. Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday indicated that the alliance with the BJP was in place in Punjab, days after its ally decided to contest the Delhi elections alone. Asked whether the SAD and BJP would fight the 2022 assembly elections separately, Badal told reporters in Amritsar that these (such reports) are just in the media and he has been hearing such reports for the last 20 years. READ | 'Where Is The Jan Lokpal?': BJP Chief JP Nadda Targets Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal The SAD had earlier announced in Delhi that it would not contest the Delhi polls next month after it was asked by ally BJP to change its stand on the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act. On Punjab CM opposing the CAA, Badal asked Amarinder Singh whether he did not want thousands of persecuted Sikhs, Hindus, Jains and others in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan get relief under the amended Citizenship Act. Badal accused Singh of following orders of the Gandhi family to save his chair. Badal also slammed rebel Akali leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and other splinter groups like SAD (Taksali), accusing them of trying to weaken the SAD. READ | EC Cracks Down On Anurag Thakur, Orders BJP To Remove MoS From Delhi Star Campaigners List Delhi Assembly Elections 2020 New Delhi will go to polls in a single-phase on February 8 and the counting of votes will take place on February 11. The last day of filing nominations for the candidates was on January 21. The BJP has fielded Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha president Sunil Yadav against Delhi CM Kejriwal from New Delhi constituency, and the Congress has fielded former NSUI Delhi president Ramesh Sabharwal against him. The BJP and Congress are yet to name their Chief Ministerial faces. For the BJP, names such as Manoj Tiwari, Hardeep Puri and Harsh Vardhan have been floated. Amit Shah, however, has stated in the absence of a formal name, the BJP would contest under PM Modi's leadership. READ | Delhi Polls: Amit Shah, JP Nadda & Arvind Kejriwal To Hold Multiple Rallies Today READ | Sukhbir Badal Dismisses Reports Of SAD-BJP Fighting 2022 Punjab Polls Separately (with agencies input) Tamil Nadu: Risky work, no govt support: The seaweed divers by Mahera Dutta January 29,2020 | Source: The News Minute Sayagraj, 57, was inspired by a video on seaweed harvesting done in Indonesia 12 years ago. He tried to replicate the procedure as a business venture along the Threspuram coast in Tamil Nadus Thoothukkudi by designing plots in the sea. It paid off. Sayagraj, who began as an amateur some years ago, is now well-versed in the technical knowhow and machinery provided by companies that have tapped into the profitable export business. Seaweed harvesting, a traditional occupation for many in Tamil Nadu, sustains a Rs 28,445 crore global market, as per 2017 estimates. Seaweed is used in the food and cosmetics industries. Particularly, the extract from red seaweed in Tamil Nadu is utilised in the manufacture of agar, a gelatinous thickener used in beverages and ice cream. Seaweed, collected in bottles tied along a 15-metre rope, has to be harvested for 40 days. It is of value only in its spongy form and not after it becomes brittle. However, the job, done in 21 villages along the Tamil Nadu coast, is laborious and risky, calling for tact, skill and observation. We have to constantly guard the seaweed from shoals of fish which can pass by at any given time. This requires monitoring and repeated diving into the ocean waters, Sayagraj says, explaining the process of harvesting. Before diving 18 feet into the ocean, ropes have to be anchored properly to ensure they are not loose. Sayagrajs son, Paulraj, 34, talks about the injuries he has suffered during harvesting. The wounds on my feet sting in the salty water. There are times when sharp and poisonous weeds get in the way of harvesting. We rub seaweed extracts, which have antiseptic properties, on our feet, he says. Leave alone physical injuries, it is a thankless job, say seaweed harvesters. While major industries rely on seaweed, the labour and skill of the harvesters often goes unrecognised. Harvesters do not have a legitimate identity. As per government norms, they are neither fishermen nor farmers. Fishermen get compensation through their associations during off-season or bad weather. But we get no such benefits. Late rains in November and December last year affected harvesting but we had to live with it, Paulraj adds. Among the other problems are rising sea temperatures, falling seaweed yield and labour shortage. Many fishermen dont want to get involved as it is tedious work. Younger people are now migrating from the village in search of better job opportunities, leaving only a few of us behind, says Sayagraj, who was formerly a farmer. In another disheartening development for the divers, harvesting is no longer a Tamil Nadu monopoly. Seaweed is now being exported from states such as Gujarat too. This means tough competition. Export companies have begun to mushroom in Ramanathapuram and Madurai. The demand for seaweed is rising but the odds are mostly against us, Paulraj says. Oscar Bradfield was nervous and excited, or as his friends say, "nervecited". And justifiably so; his was no ordinary first day of high school. The 12-year-old and his peers were the first to wear the uniform, the first to use the new classrooms, and the first to call themselves students of the long-awaited, $135 million Inner Sydney High School. "I loved it, I kind of wanted to not stop," he said at the end of the day. "I was very excited about starting high school, but also it was incredible to be one of the people to start a new school. Oscar Bradfield, 12, poses for first-day-of-high-school photos as he heads off to the brand new school, Inner Sydney High. Credit:Kate Geraghty "It's very special, to be able to create the culture." A Melbourne paedophile who filmed and photographed himself sexually abusing 47 boys across four countries will spent at least 28 years behind bars. Boris Kunsevitsky, 53, produced more than 35,000 photos and 4800 videos of abuse across the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia between between 2002 and 2017. Supreme Court of Victoria Justice John Champion on Wednesday jailed Kunsevitsky for a maximum of 35 years, labelling the paedophile's appetite for sexual abuse as insatiable and the offending the worst the judge had seen. Most of the abuse was committed against boys in the Philippines, with Kunsevitsky making the boys perform sexual acts on themselves and each other, and filming and photographing it, among other depraved acts. Boris Kunsevitsky, 53, produced more than 35,000 photos and 4800 videos of abuse across the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia between between 2002 and 2017. Source: Facebook "You chose destinations where you could easily and readily access young boys," Justice Champion said. Kunsevitsky also abused one boy in Melbourne between 2004 and 2005, with German police years later finding 55 images of the abuse in a folder labelled "jailbait". The paedophile was never charged with distributing any of the child pornography but went on to plead guilty to 59 offences including sexual intercourse with a child and producing child pornography material while outside Australia. Justice Champion described the images and videos as "difficult to look at and it is deeply disturbing, sordid and sad". "You are a child abuser of appalling ... proportions," the judge added. Kunsevitsky's Australian victim went on to develop depression, anxiety and attempt suicide. He ended up $100,000 in debt because of a subsequent drug habit, lost his job and suffered a marriage breakdown. "There is no sentence that I can pass that will undo the tremendous pain you have caused (the victim)," Justice Champion said. Some of Kunsevitsky's overseas victims have never been identified. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. By PTI BEIJING: As India prepares to airlift its citizens from Wuhan, the epicentre of the deadly coronavirus outbreak, China said on Wednesday that it would make all appropriate arrangements and provide necessary assistance if any country "insists" on evacuating its nationals. Besides India, several other countries including the US, France, Japan, South Korea, are making arrangements to airlift their nationals from central Hubei province and its capital city Wuhan. The deadly coronavirus continues to wreak havoc in China with 25 new fatalities reported from Hubei province, taking the death toll to 132 and the confirmed infection cases to nearly 6,000. ALSO READ | Coronavirus outbreak: Airlines across globe halt China flights as virus toll hits 132 India has made arrangements to evacuate its over 250 nationals, mostly students and professionals, from Hubei province. The Chinese Foreign Ministry which is coordinating the evacuation of the foreign nationals told PTI here on Wednesday that China would make appropriate arrangements if any country "insists" on evacuating its nationals. "China attaches great importance to protecting the lives and health of citizens of all countries in Wuhan, Hubei province, and will continue to take active and effective measures to address their legitimate concerns and demands in a timely manner," the foreign ministry said in response to a question. "If a country insists on evacuating its citizens in Wuhan, China will make appropriate arrangements and provide necessary assistance and convenience in accordance with international practice and China's relevant provisions on epidemic prevention," the ministry said. ALSO READ: In 'a game changer for diagnosis' Australian scientists first to grow novel coronavirus outside China A large number of foreign nationals from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh from the neighbourhood besides African countries were reportedly stranded in Hubei province. World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday that the UN health body "does not recommend the evacuation" of foreign nationals from virus-hit Hubei province as he called on the international community to remain calm. The Indian Embassy in Beijing, which is coordinating the efforts of the evacuation of the Indian nationals, on Wednesday circulated registration forms and consent notes for the Indians in Wuhan and Hubei province to be filled by them. WATCH The embassy has reportedly compiled a list of Indians to be flown out. Reports also said an Air India 747 Boeing has been kept ready to fly them back to India. The embassy has informed the stranded Indians that upon their arrival in India they need to undergo a 14-day quarantine in a designated city, the name of it which has not yet been revealed. The quarantine was necessary as experts say the incubation period of the new virus was on average three to seven days, with the longest being 14 days. The Indian embassy has opened three hotlines to help the Indians in Wuhan to cope up with the crisis. Many Vietnamese famous brands have fallen into foreign hands or disappeared from the market. Meanwhile, others are struggling with big foreign rivals to survive. The sale of Sabeco to Thai investors some years ago added one more name to the list of Vietnamese famous brands falling into foreigners hands. Sabeco, more than 100 years old, was the pride of Vietnamese, as the brewery, together with Habeco and Huda, successfully dislodged Chinese beer brands out of the Vietnamese market tens of years ago. However, with the deal, Sabeco is no longer a Vietnamese company. Many Vietnamese brands have seen the same fate. Co Ba soap competed equally with imports from France and the US in 1930-1980s, but began fading away in 1995, when it teamed up with Procter & Gamble (P&G) to set up a joint venture. Da Lan toothpaste also could not protect its name after a joint venture with Colgate was set up. P/S, another toothpaste brand, still exists in the market, but it no longer belongs to Vietnamese as it was sold to Unilever in 2003. Da Lan toothpaste also could not protect its name after a joint venture with Colgate was set up. P/S, another toothpaste brand, still exists in the market, but it no longer belongs to Vietnamese as it was sold to Unilever in 2003. Analysts commented that cosmetics is the industry where most Vietnamese brands have disappearred. Colgate threw Da Lan into the past, while Unilever eliminated Viso and Haso, and replaced it with OMO. When taking over Co Ba, P&G marketed Tide detergent. Other Vietnamese brands still exist, including Net, Duc Giang and Lix, but they operate on a modest scale. As a result, the personal and family care sector, worth $3.1 billion, is being controlled by foreign companies, including Unilever which accounts for 54.9 percent of market share and P&G 16 percent. Analysts said that detergents are overvalued in the market, which means that consumers have to pay higher than their real value. So, with 80 percent of market share, foreign cosmetics companies are making fat profit in Vietnam. However, foreign investors haven't always succeeded in their hostile takeover deals, especially in recent years. In 2016, a South Korean corporation tried to take over Visan, the Vietnams No 1 fresh meat processor in its plan to complete its strategy of a closed meat production and distribution chain in Vietnam. But it failed. Visan remains a Vietnamese enterprise. In another case, Vietnamese investors successfully gained the upper hand over the foreign rival after many years of struggling for power in Bibica, a sweets brand. The plan of Lotte, the company from South Korea, to take over Bibica and rename it failed. Masan Group, through its subsidiary Masan Home & Personal Care (Masan HPC) has bought 60 percent of shares in Net, a Vietnamese detergent company, at $43 million. Net was a famous brand with 50-year history, but it now only has 1.5 percent of market share and in order to exist, it has to do outsourcing for foreign companies. Duy Anh What will Vinamilk do with the Moc Chau milk brand? In early 2019, Vinamilk offered to buy shares of GTNFoods, the company which owns Moc Chau milk brand. In December 2019, Vinamilk completed the takeover deal. Robert Hyde, a congressional candidate whose text messages are part of the impeachment inquiry, is selling his Simsbury home and the sales price increased by 31 percent last week. Hyde gained notoriety this month when his communications with an associate of President Donald Trump were released publicly by House Democrats as part of their impeachment inquiry. The messages between Hyde and Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas suggested that Hyde was involved in an effort to surveil the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, an allegation which both Hyde and Parnas deny. NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Jetty , the financial services company on a mission to make renting a home more affordable and effortless for everyone, today announced its exclusive national partnership with Cortland , one of the largest apartment owners and operators in the United States with more than 60,000 units across Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. With Jetty as a partner, Cortland has doubled its protection per unit, while lowering move-in costs for its residents. Jetty's adoption rate speaks to its renter-friendly model, with the majority of residents opting for Jetty instead of a cash deposit at Cortland communities. The result is a measurably positive impact to both Cortland renters and its communities. "At Cortland, we strive to find new ways to improve the resident experience, through every interaction with our brand," said Jonathan Kirn, Director of Ancillary Services at Cortland. "Jetty is a tool that provides our residents with an option for an easier, less stressful experience at leasing. We get a double benefitin addition to an improved leasing process, our communities get meaningful, increased financial protection." As a brand-focused, forward-thinking owner and operator, Cortland is at the forefront of resident experience and innovation. This partnership with Jetty marks a step towards complete removal of tedious, time-consuming practices like bank fees and escrow accounts that increase operational costs, while also improving the resident experience at leasing. Jetty works with top property managers across the country to increase lease conversion rates, reduce bad debt, and streamline operationsthereby increasing net operating income. Partners include Greystar, LivCor, Related, Pinnacle, MG Properties, Trammell Crow, Griffis Residential, ZRS Management, and many more, representing more than one million units nationwide. Jetty's products are written on A-rated paper, and are admitted in 49 U.S. states and D.C, meaning they have been approved by each state's Department of Insurance, which provides additional consumer protections. ABOUT CORTLAND Cortland is a product-to-people, multifamily real estate investment, development, and management company headquartered in Atlanta. Cortland in-sources most of its multifamily development, design, construction, renovation, management, and ownership functions with the goal of providing its residents excellent, hospitality-driven living experiences. Cortland is invested in, directly or indirectly, and manages more than 180 apartment communities with over 60,000 homes in the US with regional offices in Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Houston, and Orlando. Internationally, Cortland maintains a global materials sourcing office in Shanghai and a development platform in the UK. Cortland is a National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) Top 50 Owner and Manager and is ranked 6th among Atlanta's "Top 25 Largest Workplaces" (2019). For more information, please visit www.cortland.com. ABOUT JETTY Jetty is on a mission to make renting a home more affordable and effortless for everyone. As a financial services company, Jetty's solution helps property managers increase lease conversion, reduce bad debt, and streamline operations. For the renter, Jetty lowers the barrier to entry, saving residents thousands of dollars on move-in costs. Jetty is available nationwide, was founded by Mike Rudoy and Luke Cohler, and is headquartered in New York. To learn more about how Jetty can benefit your property, visit www.jetty.com. CONTACT Jetty Hadley Stecker, 978-473-1754 [email protected] SOURCE Jetty Related Links http://jetty.com The largest Christian adoption agency in the United States announced that after 15,000 international adoptions over its 37-year history, it will no longer be bringing children into the US and will instead focus on supporting children in their home countries. Bethany Christian Services shared in a blog post last week that its international adoption accreditation will expire in 2021, and it will no longer accept new applications. Our decision to phase out international adoption is not a criticism of the program, but a reflection of our desire to serve children in their own communities, wrote Kristi Gleason, the vice president for global services at Bethany. The future of adoption is working with local governments, churches, and social services professionals around the world to recruit and support local families for children and to develop and improve effective, safe in-country child welfare systems. Through these efforts, we served more children around the world in 2019 than we previously served in a single year. Bethany, like fellow agencies, has seen the orphan care landscape shift and evolve over the years, particularly in the past two decades. International adoptions to the US dropped from nearly 30,000 children in 2004 to just over 4,000 in 2018, after years of historic lows. The decline is not due to lack of interest from American familiesin fact, funding to orphan care ministries has been on the rise. Instead, places like Russia, Guatemala, and Ethiopia have eliminated international adoption, and others are following suit with tighter restrictions and regulations around the practice. Another factor is that other countries are growing their capacity to care for children in need. Gleason said Bethany praises God that child welfare systems are improving so orphaned children need not leave their communities to find a safe and loving home. Working domestically makes Bethanys involvement more effective and impactful. It makes sense to empower local families to care for children in their own community, not just because of the benefits for the children and the community, but also financially, she said. For example, the average international adoption for one child through Bethany costs approximately $50,000. With that same amount of money, we can help 50 children in our Africa programs leave an orphanage and find loving foster or adoptive homes nearby. Bethany reports partnering with governments in more than 10 countries over the past 30 years to help establish in-country foster care and adoption programsin some places, the first of their kind. The move away from international adoptions parallels greater concern from orphan care advocates around prioritizing family unity and a deeper understanding of the childhood trauma that often accompanies adoption. About 1 in 7 Protestants say someone at their church has adopted a child from another country, according to LifeWay Research. In the US, Bethany has helped care for unaccompanied minors who enter the US and provides foster care and/or adoption programs in 35 states. As CT previously reported, Christians have also begun to challenge the place of orphanages and institutional care for needy children. Krish Kandiah, who works with children in the UK, recently wrote The Christian Case Against the Orphanage. Earlier this month, Bethany was awarded a $920,000 USAID grant to work with the Ethiopian government to transition children from orphanages to family-based care. Haiti - News : Zapping... A police offcier killed in Tabarre Monday in the early afternoon in Tercel (Commune of Tabarre), Elissaint Montas, an agent of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) who was riding a motorbike was killed by several bullets, one in the head and one another neck by unidentified individuals confirmed PNH. Nippes : 2 robbers of motorists arrested Wisnel Decembre the Spokesman of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) in the department of Nippes confirmed the arrest of 2 thugs identified as Adolphe Jean Dalor and Dorival Jean Fritz, specialized in the robbery of motorists on the RN2 in the Morne Moussignac area. A 9mm caliber pistol was also seized. Moise threatens the intellectual perpetrators of banditry Tuesday at the National Palace on the sidelines of a ceremony of presentation of more than 2,000 credit checks to small merchants https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29888-haiti-politic-ceremony-of-delivery-of-more-than-2-000-checks-of-25-000-gourdes-to-the-national-palace.html President Jovenel Moise has promised "Soon the intellectual perpetrators of banditry and the accomplices of the bandits will be arrested by the forces of order," affirming by threatening "[...] those who encourage young people to attack the population : those who provide ammunition to these young people from popular neighborhoods. The masterminds of crime who use insecurity as a means of raising the people against their leaders, I tell you it is too late. We will put you out of harm's way" See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29835-haiti-flash-the-pnh-will-be-equipped-with-armored-vehicles-and-weapons-of-war.html Petion-ville / Taiwan cooperation As part of the cooperation between the town hall of Petion-ville and the Embassy of Taiwan (Republic of China) in Haiti, the Municipal Council met the ambassador, Bernard Bang-Zyh Liu in order to strengthen the links between the municipality and Taiwan. Coronavirus : Preventive hygiene advice The Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) invites the population to apply and respect the following hygiene rules as a preventive measure: Wash your hands regularly with soap and water; Cover your mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing; Cook the meat and eggs completely; Avoid touching your mouth, eyes and nose; Avoid close contact with anyone with symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29879-haiti-health-chinese-coronavirus-the-ministry-of-health-is-reassuring.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29858-haiti-flash-chinese-coronavirus-haiti-is-preparing-and-activating-its-alert-system.html New Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia This Tuesday, January 28, Bocchit Edmond received the style copies of the new Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Haiti, Faisal Almandeel. This Wednesday, January 29, the diplomat will present his credentials to President Jovenel Moise at the National Palace. HL/ HaitiLibre Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) Many travel agencies are taking blows over the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, since a lot of Filipinos who are planning to travel to other Southeast Asian countries are canceling their trips. A number of Chinese tourists who are supposed to fly to Boracay from this month to May, have also canceled their flights. In a nutshell, the expectation of losses is very huge, the impact is very significant as far as travel and tourism is concerned, said Philippine Travel Agencies Association President Ritchie Tuano. National Association of Independent Travel Agencies President Robert Lim Joseph also said that people are worried and are expected to cancel travel. Anyway, the airlines are there because there are fears already. They do not know who they are beside with so they dont want to take the risk, he added. There have been no confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the Philippines, but infections have been confirmed in neighboring countries namely Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam. According to Bureau of Immigration data, 22 percent of the 7.5 million visitors to the Philippines between January and November last year were Chinese tourists. Despite these reports, the Department of Tourism released a statement saying that they are optimistic that Philippine tourism will be resilient. We will undertake strong initiatives with industry partners in pursuit of the goals set in the National Tourism Development Plan, said the Department of Tourism in a statement. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Here we go again. Thats one phrase that could be used to describe the 1993 comedy Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell and Chris Elliot. In the movie, arrogant Channel 9 weatherman Phil Connors (Murray) is tasked with covering a story on a weather-predicting "rat" at the Punxsutawney Groundhog Day Festival -- for the fourth year in a row. When a blizzard forces Connors, his producer Rita (MacDowell) and his cameraman Larry (Elliot) to spend another night in the small town, the weatherman wakes up to discover that it is Groundhog Day -- again! Groundhog Day is currently available to watch via various streaming services, including Amazon and Hulu. As we approach Groundhog Day 2020 in New York City, where people will gather at the Staten Island Zoo in West Brighton on Feb. 2 to see if the local furry weather-prognosticator Chuck will see his shadow, we thought wed take a look at some facts about the movie Groundhog Day. 1. TOM HANKS? It's often hard to imagine our favorite films with different actors playing the leads. However, that's almost exactly what happened in "Groundhog Day." Michael Keaton and Tom Hanks were both considered for Murray's role, but weren't chosen because Director Harold Ramis thought they were "too nice." 2. TWICE BITTEN Murray was bitten by the groundhog twice when shooting the film. He had to have anti-rabies injections because the bites were so severe. If you recall, Mayor Michael Bloomberg was bitten by Staten Island Chuck in 2009. 3. BROTHERS In the movie, the town mayor is played by Brian-Doyle Murray, Bill Murrays brother. 4. PHILOSOPHICAL INSPIRATION Storywriter Danny Rubin and Ramis got the inspiration for the plot of "Groundhog Day" from "The Gay Science," a famous work from German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. In what Nietzsche described as "the most personal of all [his] books," he describes a man who lives the same day over and over. 5. A NATIONAL TREASURE In 2006, Groundhog Day was added to the United States National Film Registry. Films are added to the registry if they are considered culturally, historically or aesthetically significant. Trump's proposal to create a Palestinian state as part of a Middle East peace plan drew Palestinian condemnation for imposing strict conditions, and praise from Israelis for allowing Israel to maintain control of long-contested West Bank settlements. Trump set in motion a four-year timeline for Palestinians to agree to a security arrangement with Israel, halt attacks by the Islamist militant group Hamas and set up governing institutions in order to establish a Palestinian state with its capital in Abu Dis, a part of East Jerusalem. I had very nearly retired Power Lines coveted Green Weenie Award, as the always fierce competition was seemingly ended forever with the arrival of Greta Thunberg. How could anyone possibly compete with that spectacle? Well, there are a lot of greenies who step up every day and boast, hold my green beer. One worthy contender is the group of folks who thought solar photovoltaic roads were a good idea. Youd expect the Germans to try out this idiocy, but no, it was the French: It was a solar experiment that seemed ingenious in its simplicity: fill a road with photovoltaic panels and let them passively soak up the rays as cars drive harmlessly above. The idea has been tried a few times, notably in rural France in 2016 with what was christened the Wattway. Three years later, even the most optimistic supporters have deemed the Wattway a failure. . . . The engineers of this project surely did not think about the tractors that would roll over, Pascal and Eric, two local roofers leaning on the counter of the Cafe de Paris, Tourouvre-au-Perche, told the French newspaper Le Monde in 2019. While the resin coating might be strong enough to keep a big rig from crushing the solar panels, the two said that driving over it generates so much noise that locals required the roads speed limit to be lowered to 70 km/h, or a paltry 43 mph. The durability and noise of the road bed werent the only problems. The story gets truly comical with this detail: There proved to be several problems with this goal. The first was that Normandy is not historically known as a sunny area. At the time, the regions capital city of Caen only got 44 days of strong sunshine a year, and not much has changed since. Whatthey were expecting Normandy to get sunnier somehow? And this: If they really want this to work, they should first stop cars driving on it, Marc Jedliczka, vice president of the Network for Energetic Transition (CLER), which promotes renewable energy, told the Eurasia Times. At this point I had to doublecheck to make sure I wasnt being had on by the Babylon Bee. But even this compound idiocy doesnt get the Green Weenie. The latest prize goes to Mother Jones magazine for this story: Study: Global Warming Will Cause 180,000 More Rapes by 2099 Global warming isnt just going to melt the Arctic and flood our citiesits also going to make Americans more likely to kill each other. Thats the conclusion of a controversial new study that uses historic crime and temperature data to show that hotter weather leads to more murders, more rapes, more robberies, more assaults, and more property crimes. Looking at the past, we see a strong relationship between temperature and crime, says study author Matthew Ranson, an economist with the policy consulting firm Abt Associates. We think that is likely to continue in the future. Just how much more crime can we expect? Using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes warming projections, Ranson calculated that from 2010 to 2099, climate change will cause an additional 22,000 murders, 180,000 cases of rape, 1.2 million aggravated assaults, 2.3 million simple assaults, 260,000 robberies, 1.3 million burglaries, 2.2 million cases of larceny, and 580,000 cases of vehicle theft in the United States. At a time when progressives are doing everything they can to get the crime rate back up, youd think theyd welcome this additional boost. They might run into a bit of trouble, though, when you remember that the crime rate in the U.S. fell substantially in the 1990s when warming was happening the fastest. I have little doubt that if anyone wants to take a serious look at crime trends and causation, youll easily find the numbers of prospective temperature-related crimes claimed in this study disappear as mere noise behind demographic and enforcement variables. But since the progressives are going to jail climate skeptics under President Bernie Sanders anyway, there should be plenty of prison space available. P.S. For a less tendentious view of climate-related risks, see this recent article from Global Environmental Change: Authorities in Florida say they have found the body of a man who matches the description of a father sought by police in a newborn babys disappearance. The 1-week-old baby is still missing. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued an Amber Alert for the father and baby after three women were found shot dead. After featuring Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 'Man Vs Wild', Discovery is now all set to feature southern superstar Rajinikanth in the first episode of their forthcoming show 'Into The Wild with Bear Grylls'. The adventure show will mark Rajinikanth's debut on the small screen where he will join the globally known adventurer Bear Grylls. The show, a tweaked version of 'Man Vs Wild', is one of the most widely watched adventure television series in the world. "Into The Wild is a truly unique show - at one level it offers adrenaline-pumping action, while at another, the show lends itself beautifully to driving a specific purpose for the larger good of society. So, when, officials from Discovery, approached me, I agreed to finally make my debut on TV after more than four decades of Cinema," said, Rajinikanth. "Bear Grylls has tested the survival skills of multiple celebrity guests, pushing them to their limits; I look forward to the survival challenge in the mesmerizing wilderness of India," the actor added. Further elaborating on the importance of water conservation, the actor said, "Every Indian will need to come forward and contribute in conserving water; this war has to be led at all levels including government, community as well as on the individual front. I believe this show on Discovery is a perfect platform to take the message of conserving water to every home across the country." The 69-year-old actor also took to Twitter to express his happiness about the shoot and thanked Bear Grylls for the experience on Wednesday. "Thank you very much dear @BearGrylls for an unforgettable experience ... love you. @DiscoveryIN thank you #IntoTheWildWithBearGrylls "Our team is all very excited to work closely with Thalaiva! Much more than a cine star, Rajinikanth is a phenomenon who has captivated audiences across the world with his on-screen and off-screen work," said, Bear Grylls. "He has always shown such energy and flair in all he does and he will need that courage and determination again on our journey into the beautiful wilds of India," added Grylls. The managing director of Discovery's South Asia unit, Megha Tata, said, "The combination of Rajinikanth in a never seen before avatar and Bear Grylls' edge of the seat challenges, will make the show a must-watch for every Indian. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said the quiet part out loud on Monday when she told reporters she was "really interested" in seeing how Iowa voters react to President Trump's impeachment lawyers attacking former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. "Iowa caucuses are this next Monday evening," Ernst said. "And I'm really interested to see how this discussion today informs and influences the Iowa caucus voters, these Democratic caucusgoers. Will they be supporting Vice President Biden at this point?" While meeting with Iowa voters on Tuesday, Biden said Ernst "spilled the beans. She just came out and flat said it. You know, the whole impeachment trial for Trump is just a political hit job to try to smear me, because he is scared to death to run against me, and he has good reason to be concerned." Ernst is up for re-election this year, and with her Biden comments, she has invited "Democratic activists to look at her," Sue Dvorsky, a former chairwoman of the Iowa Democratic Party, told The New York Times. Brian Bruening, chairman of the Clayton County Democrats, said the Trump legal team's arguments had "zero effect on actual caucus voters. I don't know any Joe Biden supporter whose support of Biden has lessened because of any of the impeachment issues." More stories from theweek.com It's 2020 and women are exhausted Did John Bolton actually do Trump a favor? Michael Flynn now claims he was pressured into saying he lied to the FBI The hunt is on for a 'poopertrator' who has been using the streets of a wealthy suburb as a toilet. The unknown person has been excreting along Glenhaven Road, Glenhaven, in Sydney's north-west, once or twice a week for the last six months. Faeces have been found just metres away from a daycare centre, as the community rallies for the 'serial excretor' to be exposed. Photos show a poo that was left earlier this week that was just metres down the road from a daycare centre on Glenhaven Road One resident is demanding The Hills Shire Council set up security cameras along the road. 'Most incidents happen very early Saturday or Sunday morning although uncharacteristically there were multiple drops made over the recent Christmas and New Year period,' the resident told the Hills Shire Times. 'This stretch of road is driven over by parents carrying young children to and from the centre.' The resident is calling for the council to expose the unknown person who has left droppings multiple times a week for six months He said the only response from the council has been to send out a cleaner. He also noted during the holiday season there was an increase in droppings found along the street. 'During the Christmas holidays we saw a massive spike in the number of attacks - there were new droppings lining the street every few days,' he said. But the council said they were unable to confirm whether the poo was from animals or humans. A spokesperson said security contractors investigated the area but no unusual activity was found. Police officers in the area have also been notified. This weeks Acton Commentary focuses on a Supreme Court case that could strike down an eighteenth-century statute, borne of anti-Catholic animus, that now locks poor children in underperforming schools. A clear understanding of economics and solid Supreme Court precedent could sweep this relic of anti-Catholic discrimination, known as the Blaine amendment, into the past. After tracing Americas deep and pervasive history of anti-Catholic bigotry, the Commentary moves on to the present case, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue: In 2015, the Montana legislature gave a dollar-for-dollar tax deduction of up to $150 to anyone who donated to a private, nonprofit scholarship fund for needy schoolchildren. The independently administered scholarship let parents send their children to any private school, religious or secular. But state officials told Kendra Espinoza not to apply, because she sends her two children to a Christian school in Kalispell. There is reason to believe the Supreme Court will overturn [the Montana Supreme Courts] ruling, and more reason people of faith should hope it does, the essay continues. Examples of Supreme Court precedents could be multiplied beyond those in the article, such as the ruling in 1925s Pierce v. Society of Sisters, which states: The fundamental theory of liberty upon which all governments in this Union repose excludes any general power of the State to standardize its children by forcing them to accept instruction from public teachers only. The child is not the mere creature of the State; those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right, coupled with the high duty, to recognize and prepare him for additional obligations. The Acton Commentary goes on to note the way state-sponsored bigotry backfires, the difference between a tax deduction and a subsidy, and the preeminence of parental rights. Read the full commentary here. (Photo credit: Public domain.) (H/T: Kevin Schmiesing for the Pierce ruling.) , We're sorry, this article is not currently available Pentagon says 31 of the 50 were treated in Iraq and returned to duty, including 15 of those diagnosed most recently. The Pentagon said on Tuesday that 50 US soldiers were now diagnosed with traumatic brain injury after missile attacks by Iran on a base in Iraq earlier this month, 16 more than the military had previously announced. President Donald Trump and other top officials initially said Irans January 8 attack had not killed or injured any US service members. Later, Trump appeared to play down the injuries, saying he heard that they had headaches and a couple of other things. As of today, 50 US service members have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Campbell said in a statement about injuries in the attack on the Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq. Symptoms of concussive injuries include headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light and nausea. A total of 31 of the 50 were treated in Iraq and returned to duty, including 15 of those diagnosed most recently, Campbell said. Eighteen of the total have been sent to Germany for further evaluation and treatment, while one was sent to Kuwait and has since returned to duty, he said. This is a snapshot in time and numbers can change, Campbell said. In its previous update on Friday, the Pentagon had put the number of those injured at 34. Trump earlier said the injuries were not very serious, prompting criticism from a US war veterans group. Senator Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat and former Army Ranger, called on Trump to apologise. TBI is a serious matter, Reed said in a statement referring to brain injuries. It is not a headache, and its plain wrong for President Trump to diminish their wounds. He may not have meant to disrespect them, but President Trumps comments were an insult to our troops. He owes them an apology. William Schmitz, national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, also said on Friday the group expects an apology from the president to our service men and women for his misguided remarks. According to Pentagon data, about 408,000 service members have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury since 2000. Iran fired missiles at Ain al-Asad in retaliation for the US killing of a top Revolutionary Guard general, Qassem Soleimani, in an attack at Baghdad airport on January 3. The missile attacks capped a spiral of violence that had started in late December, and both sides have refrained from further military escalation. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 08:08 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206169649 1 Editorial #Editorial,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus-in-Indonesia,Wuhan-lockdown,wuhan,China-Indonesia,#coronavirus,#Wuhan Free To date, the World Health Organization has not yet declared the global spread of the new coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern, but it has nevertheless urged China to continue to cooperate by providing information about all related developments. WHO director general Tedros A. Ghebreyesus visited Beijing on Monday to meet with Chinas officials and experts. The WHO has conveyed expectations that Chinas swift measures, including locking down cities suspected of having cases of the infection, would effectively contain the virus in a short period. Despite the world bodys trust in the Chinese government, various governments that have citizens in China, particularly in Hubei province where the city of Wuhan is located a major hub where the new coronavirus was first detected have been preparing to relocate their citizens. Among them are Japan, the United States and South Korea, while Indonesia has not announced its decision. We expect the government to do everything within its power to protect Indonesian citizens and relocate them for their safety, as part of its constitutional responsibility. The Foreign Ministry says it is continuing to coordinate with Chinese authorities and the Indonesian missions in China, which unfortunately do not exist in Hubei, where about 200 Indonesians, including students, are living. Several Indonesians told the press they hope to return home and are worried about supplies amid a rise in food prices following the lockdown. So far 107 fatalities in China have been reported as a result of contracting the virus, for which a cure does not yet exist. Confirmed cases across China have reached 4,515 and there are about 40 in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Australia. China has had to deal with a huge number of people traveling domestically for the Lunar New Year holiday. The Indonesian government has experience in rescuing citizens from war zones like the Middle East, but this time around the operation, if any, would be different and certainly more complicated. The government needs to heed the guidance of the WHO, particularly concerning international travel safety measures amid an outbreak. Experts have called for draconian travel restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. However, this could lead to indefinite lockdowns on traveling outside China and increasing uncertainty regarding the well-being of Indonesian citizens. At home the government would need to step up measures to train all health workers at the ports of entry on the standard procedures for screening incoming travelers, including those arriving evacuees, who display symptoms such as fever, coughing and difficulty breathing. We have not gone as far as Malaysia, which has stopped issuing visas for Chinese citizens from Wuhan and other areas around Hubei province. All travelers from China entering Indonesia have been requested to fill in health alert cards, which should be given to the health authorities when they feel the above symptoms. We, like the WHO, would like to trust China in caring for all our citizens, but worried Indonesian nationals have the right to their governments protection. Especially if they fall sick, they would likely prefer to be nearer to their kin. Meanwhile, the original source of the new coronavirus remains unconfirmed, but this should not deter us from doing what it takes to save more souls from the threat. The ACLU of Maryland submitted written testimony saying it is opposed to getting rid of the two-year statute of limitations. Lobbyist Bruce Bereano, who was convicted of fraud in 1994, cautioned lawmakers against expanding the definition of a public official, suggesting that doing so could mean that regular citizens appointed to state boards would be subject to investigation by the state prosecutor. President Donald Trumps deal of the century will probably not produce peace between Israel and the Palestinians. The plan unfreezes the West Bank real estate on which Israel has been building settlements for decades, allowing it to annex some 30% of West Bank territory, and perpetuates the reality of two peoples crowded together on a single piece of land, one of them the ruler, the other the ruled. There is, however, another way of looking at the Jan. 28 unveiling of Trumps plan: The Israeli political right under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a resounding yes to an American plan that includes the eventual establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, the division of Jerusalem and territorial exchange. Trumps blueprint is almost identical to the one Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin charted out as the basis for negotiations with the Palestinians on the Oslo Accords (1993). Rabin talked about a demilitarized state minus for the Palestinians on 75% of the West Bank. He pledged to preserve a unified Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, but hinted that under certain circumstances he would agree to cede parts of East Jerusalem to the Palestinians. Rabin did not, however, agree to territorial exchanges that would hand over chunks of sovereign Israeli territory, so in this sense, the Trump-Netanyahu plan to give the Palestinians land in the western Negev is even more far-reaching. The question therefore arises as to why Rabin had to be assassinated, removed from the picture, almost 20 years ago. He was close to President Bill Clinton, almost to the same extent as Netanyahu is to Trump. Presumably, Clinton would not have sought to impose far-reaching concessions on Rabin to which he could not accede. From this perspective, what appears to be the ultimate victory for Netanyahu and the right is in principle a victory for the Israeli left: a solution comprising two states between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean with their capitals in Jerusalem. That said, the facts on the ground undermine the thesis. Trump, inspired by Netanyahus people, presented a long and impossible list of conditions that the Palestinians must fulfill before they can declare a sovereign state. No Palestinian leader can accept the deal of the century. Even if one were found, there is no way he would be able to dismantle Hamas, demilitarize Gaza, halt financial support to the families of convicted terrorists and educate the younger Palestinian generation to love Israel, as per the plans dictates. The above is why the majority of the Israeli right is ignoring the sticks in Trump's plan while loudly cheering the carrots. Netanyahu plans to annex all the Israeli settlements on the West Bank over the coming weeks and to celebrate this mind-boggling achievement all the way to election day, March 2. The opposition to the plan by the Judea and Samaria Settlement Council because it theoretically allows for a Palestinian state only helps him. It will divert a limited number of votes from the Likud to Yamina, the alliance of right-wing parties contesting the elections, but will also provide Netanyahu with inroads into the political center, recover some of the so-called soft Likud voters who abandoned the party in the two 2019 elections and perhaps win over some of those who voted for the rival centrist Blue and White. Trumps plan, in fact, was designed to salvage Netanyahus political career. It will not engender Israeli-Palestinian peace, but boost the prospects of Netanyahu being able to garner enough votes for the 61-seat Knesset majority he needs to form a government, a goal that eluded him in the two previous elections. The greatest magician ever to appear on the stage of Israeli politics has yet again extricated himself from his political grave. What does Netanyahu ultimately get out of it all? In a historic twist of fate, Jan. 28 was at once the greatest day of Netanyahus life and the worst. Some 24 hours before the White House unveiling of Trump's plan, Netanyahu had announced from Washington that he was withdrawing his request for Knesset immunity from prosecution on three counts of corruption. Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit wasted not a single second in filing the indictment with the Jerusalem District Court, making Netanyahu the first incumbent prime minister in Israeli history to be officially charged in court with bribery, fraud and breach of trust. There is no way back on the path Netanyahu has chosen. Netanyahu cannot ask the next Knesset for immunity once the indictment is served; his trial will take place. Even if the Likud wins 80 seats in March, Netanyahu will stand as a defendant in a criminal trial shortly thereafter. He might be the only person who sees a way to extricate himself from this dire strait; no one else can. The centrist Blue and White, having smelled victory in recent weeks, was dealt a painful blow on the same day. By obtaining a separate meeting with Trump the day before the presentation of his plan, Blue and White Chair Benny Gantz managed to minimize the potential damage from the trap set by Netanyahu of portraying him as just another guest at the White House festivities, an extra on the set of Netanyahus great triumph. Gantz's escape, however, did not diminish Netanyahus East Room celebrations. Gantz and the rest of his party's leadership attribute Trumps dramatic last-minute rescue of Netanyahu to two ambassadors. Ambassador [David] Friedman was the driving force behind the sensitive timing of the presidential move, a Blue and White leadership source told Al-Monitor, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Ambassador [Ron] Dermer is Netanyahus branch office at the White House, and he pulled all the strings. According to Blue and White sources, Trumps son-in-law and special envoy, Jared Kushner, had objected to the publication of the plan so close to the Israeli elections because he thought the president would lose points and be perceived as meddling in Israeli politics. Netanyahu sidestepped Kushner, using all the tools at his disposal in Washington (and he has many), and the Trump gave in. That was why Kushner helped us get the separate meeting with Trump, another top Blue and White official told Al-Monitor, speaking on the condition of anonymity. When they realized that we were angry and did not intend to travel to Washington, it was Kushner who convinced the president to meet separately with Gantz in a dignified manner and rectify the impression. The impression of US presidential meddling may have been fixed, but the resonating effect of the political bang generated by the plan plays fully to Netanyahus electoral advantage. Blue and White has retreated to conduct a damage assessment. The party is in a bind. It can't reject Trump's plan after Gantz expressed his support for it and will also find it difficult to object to the annexation of West Bank territory as Netanyahu now plans. Blue and White's leadership is mostly hoping the effect of the plan's presentation will dissipate in the coming days, and the political agenda will revert to Netanyahus indictment and upcoming criminal trial. This could allow them to mercifully resurrect the party's campaign slogan, We Must Move Forward, which they need because Netanyahu is the only one who has moved significantly in that direction in the past few days. CLEVELAND, Jan. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of International Data Privacy Day, McDonald Hopkins has identified the top data privacy and cybersecurity trends for the coming year. McDonald Hopkins data privacy and cybersecurity attorneys Dominic Paluzzi, Christine Czuprynski and Emily Johnson authored the blog on cybersecurity and data privacy trends to expect in 2020. In October, they looked at 2019's trends and made some predictions on what was to come in 2020. In the fast-paced, ever-evolving world of data privacy and cybersecurity, it is not hard to believe that a lot has happened since then. Read on for their insights on the current risks facing all organizations. Exploitation of remote access vulnerabilities Election security State-sponsored cyber attacks Regulatory scrutiny and state data privacy/security legislation Ransomware Business email compromise Count on the McDonald Hopkins Data Privacy and Cybersecurity team to stay on top of the 2020 cyber trends. Subscribe or visit the McDonald Hopkins Data Privacy Solutions blog regularly for the very latest as it unfolds and learn how McDonald Hopkins' attorneys can provide critical strategies to help businesses minimize the risk of a data breach and prepare for a data breach emergency. About McDonald Hopkins Since 1930, McDonald Hopkins has thrived by building long-lasting relationships with businesses and individuals who share an entrepreneurial spirit. As the business advisory and advocacy law firm celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2020, it has a renewed commitment to providing exceptional client service and insight for the challenges at hand and on the horizon. To learn more, visit mcdonaldhopkins.com. CONTACT: David Carducci McDonald Hopkins LLC 600 Superior Avenue, East, Suite 2100 Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Phone: 216.348.5814 Email: [email protected] SOURCE McDonald Hopkins Related Links http://www.mcdonaldhopkins.com Thousands of Winnipeggers will nervously bite their fingernails on Saturday when the Kinsmen Jackpot Bingo gets underway with more than $600,000 estimated on the line. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Thousands of Winnipeggers will nervously bite their fingernails on Saturday when the Kinsmen Jackpot Bingo gets underway with more than $600,000 estimated on the line. It is the highest jackpot ever for the weekly televised bingo game and it has led some Winnipeggers to catch bingo fever. The Kinsmen Jackpot Bingo Facebook page removed this post later in the day. (Facebook) The Kinsmen Club of Winnipeg, which runs the event, said in a social media post Monday that people have been chasing the groups courier in an effort to get their hands on the elusive bingo cards for the upcoming game. "I will no longer post a list of stores in Winnipeg that are receiving deliveries. We have hordes of people driving dangerously, following our courier driving like paparazzi and putting him in danger," the post reads. "This is not cool at all. I can no longer share information here. I have directed our courier to come back to our office and we will continue deliveries secretly at a later time." The Kinsmen Club donates money made through the bingo game to various charities and organizations in Winnipeg and Manitoba. The bingo cards for this Saturday are reportedly sold out at almost every location where they can be purchased. The Kinsmen Jackpot Bingo website appears to have repeatedly crashed in recent days due to high traffic volume. The weekly televised bingo gamewhich runs on CTV every Saturdayis selling a record number of cards due to its high jackpot. Last week, an estimated 40,000 cards were sold when the jackpot climbed to more than half-a-million dollars. This week, the jackpot is expected to eclipse $600,000. The Kinsmen Jackpot Bingo cards for this Saturday are reportedly sold out at almost every location where they can be purchased. (Twitter) In the social media post, the Kinsmen Club, which did not respond to a request for comment prior to deadline Monday, said its not only worried about the safety of their courier in Winnipeg, but also potentially of Canada Post employees outside the city. 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. "Seeing how people are putting our courier in danger in Winnipeg, I will not be posting any updates or answering phone calls about rural deliveries anymore, for fear of people doing the same thing to Canada Post," the social media post reads. The post also claims that people have gotten so worked up over the record jackpot theyve started hurling abuse at Kinsmen Jackpot Bingo volunteers. "If you are going to call our office and yell and swear at our staff accusing us of hoarding cards and playing favourites, Im not going to share information anymore," the post reads. The Kinsmen Jackpot Bingo said it will supply a five-month card pack from Feb. 1 to June 27 for loyal customers. ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @rk_thorpe Kate Winslet in Contagion (Credit: Warner Bros) The 2011 movie Contagion is re-appearing in movie rental charts in the UK and the US, in the wake of the outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan, China. Steven Soderbergh's terrifying thriller, which was inspired by the 2003 SARS epidemic and the 2009 flu pandemic, tracked the spread of a deadly virus from discovery through its global spread to, finally, a vaccine being created. But not before the fictional deaths of 26 million people worldwide 26 days after the virus's discovery, followed by instances of social disorder and widespread societal breakdown. Contagion (Credit: Warner Bros) Why people would wish to revisit the movie now remains a mystery, but yesterday it emerged from obscurity to climb into the number 10 slot in the iTunes movie rental chart in the US (though it's since dropped down a few places to number 15). Some UK charts are placing the movie in a considerably higher spot than would be expected for a movie that's nearly a decade old, one placing it at 35 and another even higher at 21. The virus, said to have originated in a live animal market in China's seventh biggest city, which at over 11 million people has a population larger than London, has killed more than 100 people. Read more: Coronavirus spreading quicker than Sars A further 4,500 cases have also been confirmed, with British nationals who are returning from the city now set to be quarantined for 14 days. The Foreign Office is now warning against all but essential travel to China, with British Airways having already suspended all flights. Gwyneth Paltrow in Contagion (Credit: Warner Bros) In Soderbergh's movie, it's discovered in the final scenes that the virus was initially spread from a bat, disturbed by jungle clearance, which drops infected food into a pig pen. Gwyneth Paltrow's businesswoman later becomes the virus's 'patient zero'. District Judge Barney McElholm was speaking after three men were convicted of charges linked to an illegal dissident republican parade on Easter Monday 2016 (stock photo) A judge has said he had hoped there would be no Easter Rising commemoration in Londonderry less than a year after the murder of a journalist in the city. District Judge Barney McElholm was speaking after three men were convicted of charges linked to an illegal dissident republican parade on Easter Monday 2016. All three, who were sentenced to two months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, are to appeal against their convictions and sentences handed out at Derry's Magistrates Court yesterday. The trio are Mark Anthony Canning (43), from St Eithne's Park; James Anthony Kelly (59), from Chamberlain Street; and Eamonn Barry Millar (35), from Raftery Close. Each was convicted of a single charge of wearing items of clothing - namely a beret, sunglasses, a scarf, a military-style jacket, a jumper, trousers, boots and gloves - in such a way as to arouse suspicions that they were members of a proscribed organisation, namely the IRA. Kelly and Millar were also convicted of taking part in the unnotified public procession on March 28, 2016, while Canning was acquitted of the same offence. A PSNI inspector told Judge McElholm that shortly before the parade started he went to Rathmore Business Park in Creggan where he saw Canning and another man "dressed in full paramilitary uniform and carrying flags". CCTV footage taken from a police helicopter showed several men getting into a white van. When the van was stopped and searched by police they found Canning inside still in uniform. The inspector said he also identified Millar and Kelly, from police CCTV footage and from photographs, taking part in the parade in uniform. Mr McElholm accepted a submission by defence barrister Eoghan Devlin that there was no evidence of Canning taking part in the parade. Mr Devlin also questioned the reference in the charge to the IRA. "All that can be adduced is that there were people wearing military fatigues," he said. Referring to a planned republican parade due to take place in Creggan this Easter, Mr McElholm said: "I would have hoped that as it is barely a year since Lyra McKee's murder there would have been no Easter parades this year." After sentencing, the three men were granted leave to appeal on condition that they did not go within 500m of any illegal parade. Hong Kong virologist Guan Yi was pessimistic that the outbreak could be 10 times worse than SARS The number of confirmed cases in the new virus outbreak in China reached 5,974 today, overtaking the number of people infected in the country by the SARS epidemic from November 2002 to 2003, AFP reports. China's National Health Commission reported more than 1,400 confirmed new cases today, as the death toll climbed to 132. There were 5,327 confirmed cases in mainland China during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ( SARS) epidemic. That outbreak killed more than 770 people globally, including 349 in mainland China. Meanwhile, renowned University of Hong Kong virologist Guan Yi told mainland media that Wuhan may have missed the golden opportunity to contain the disease spread. He was pessimistic that the outbreak could be 10 times worse than SARS. A key part of our health defense is to stop probable cases at the border. The SAR's first case was intercepted at the West Kowloon express rail terminus. The second case, however, was able to slip through the monitoring due to a lack of identifiable symptoms. It is most likely that Hong Kong will see more cases in the coming days with the risk of so-called "invisible patients" becoming a greater cause for concern. While the health chief should review the system regularly to boost the defense line, people in general must react to the changing situation calmly and not panic. Meanwhile, issuing a statement about nCoV and our pandemic exercise the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, noted that in October 2019, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security hosted a pandemic tabletop exercise called Event 201 with partners, the World Economic Forum and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Recently, the Center for Health Security has received questions about whether that pandemic exercise predicted the current novel coronavirus outbreak in China. To be clear, the Center for Health Security and partners did not make a prediction during our tabletop exercise. For the scenario, we modeled a fictional coronavirus pandemic, but we explicitly stated that it was not a prediction. Instead, the exercise served to highlight preparedness and response challenges that would likely arise in a very severe pandemic. We are not now predicting that the nCoV-2019 outbreak will kill 65 million people. Although our tabletop exercise included a mock novel coronavirus, the inputs we used for modeling the potential impact of that fictional virus are not similar to nCoV-2019, the centre clarified. Meanwhile, Huang Chaolin, vice director of Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, revealed in a recent interview with business magazine Caixin that there might be multiple places from which the virus was first transmitted to humans. Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital is one of Wuhan's designated hospitals for infected patients. Huang and his team have recently published a paper in the Lancet, the world's leading general medical journal, about some early findings on the clinical data of the first 41 novel coronavirus cases. The first patient, who was admitted to Huang's hospital on December 1, 2019, had no direct exposure to Wuhan's Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, which was previously considered as the source of the epidemic. His family had no fever or respiratory symptoms, according to the paper. Among the following three patients who were admitted on December 10, two had no exposure to the seafood market. In total, only 27 of the 41 cases had exposure to the marketplace, said the paper. "Judging from the whole situation, the seafood market may not be the only source. [The origin of the novel coronavirus] might be multi-source," Huang said. But so far, there are no clues about other sources. Two men who authorities say preyed on elderly victims were sentenced to long prison terms on Tuesday. Joshua Small, 52, and Joni Amber Johnson, 36, both of Princeton, West Virginia, were sentenced by Chief Judge Pamela Reeves in the United States Courthouse in Knoxville for their roles in a conspiracy to assault, kidnap, and rob their senior victims. Small received 30 years in federal prison with 5 years of supervised release. Johnson received 25 years in federal prison with 5 years of supervised release. Both Small and Johnson were also ordered to pay over $8,000 in restitution. Prosecutors said from May 2018 to July 2018, Small and Johnson went on a spree of armed home invasions and kidnappings throughout West Virginia, Virginia, and East Tennessee. Small and Johnson targeted the homes of elderly victims, forcing entry into their residences, holding victims at gunpoint, and binding their hands and feet. Small and Johnson would then ransack the homes, stealing jewelry, valuables, heirlooms, and cash. The home invasions were noteworthy for the egregious amount of violence directed towards the victims. I n a home invasion in Dandridge, Tennessee, Small struck a 72-year-old man in the neck, bound his hands and feet with power cords, and shoved him down a flight of stairs into the basement. During a home invasion in Princeton, West Virginia, the two surreptitiously entered the home of an 88-year-old woman, holding her at gunpoint and ripping off her Life Alert necklace. Small then struck her in the head, knocking her unconscious and causing a substantial injury before fleeing the home with her pocket book. In Jefferson County, Tennessee, Small and Johnson forced their way into an 81-year-old mans home, struck him in the head and neck, bound his hands and feet, gagged him, robbed him of $3,200 and fled. In total, Small and Johnson attacked, terrorized, kidnapped and robbed seven elderly victims. The Department of Justice will always stand firmly against those who seek to terrorize, take advantage of, and abuse our countrys citizens. While this case is noteworthy for the extreme violence and the large geographical area of the crime spree, we know that this is not an isolated incident. Preventing further crimes such as those committed by Joshua Small and Joni Amber Johnson is one of our greatest priorities, said U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Overbey. This investigation demonstrates that the victimization of our elderly citizens will not be tolerated by law enforcement. These offenses were vicious and had significant physical and mental impact on their victims. I am proud of the diligent work of Special Agent Leatham along with our local and federal law enforcement partners who worked to identify, arrest, and bring to justice these predators so they cant victimize anyone again, said FBI Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico. Assistant United States Attorneys Alan Kirk and Kevin Quencer represented the United States at trial and sentencing. A Manitoban whose eye surgery requires a followup operation is dismayed he must wait up to two years with vision so bad he can't drive or work. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A Manitoban whose eye surgery requires a followup operation is dismayed he must wait up to two years with vision so bad he can't drive or work. Kris Stevenson, who had been working as an educator in a northern community before he had eye surgery last August, says it was that procedure, known as a vitrectomy, which left him with a cataract in his left eye just 24 hours later. "It's not a complication this is an acknowledged issue," he said this week. "It's known through Canada and the states. As a risk, they said a cataract may occur. But 96 per cent of patients develop a cataract. That's not a may, that's a usually will." Stevenson said the lessened vision in his left eye prevents him from doing his job and operating vehicles. He relies on help from his wife and his two children for even simple tasks. "Before my surgery, it was like looking through an oil slick," he said. "Now it is like looking through two pairs of sunglasses and at night I can't see at all. "This is affecting my health and my quality of life." But when Stevenson met with his doctor again at Misericordia Health Centre, he was told there was an 18 to 24 month waiting list and the earliest he could have surgery again would be December. That's when he decided to meet with his local MLA, Liberal leader Dougald Lamont, and send a letter to Health Minister Cameron Friesen. While Lamont, who has also since sent a letter to the health minister, met with him, Stevenson is still waiting for a response from Friesen. Currently, according to a provincial website, the median waiting time for people needing cataract surgery at Misericordia is 12 weeks. The website says the shortest waiting time -- six weeks -- is at the Brandon Regional Health Centre and Western Surgery Centre, while the longest is 28 weeks at the Swan Valley Health Centre. There were 9,564 cataract surgeries performed at Misericordia in 2018-2019, while there have been 8,223 since last April. Kris Stevenson says the cataract feels like he is constantly looking through two pairs of sunglasses, and at night he can't see at all. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press) When asked for comment, Friesen's office directed the Free Press to speak to the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority on the matter. A WRHA spokesman said they couldn't speak about individual cases, but he said wait times vary for each patient. "Ophthalmologists make that determination on a case-by-case basis, and it is a medical decision based largely on the health condition and diagnosis of the individual patient," a spokesman said. "The ophthalmologist can recommend an earlier surgery date for patients based on medical need, including for patients who have had vitrectomies, but that is a medical decision made at the discretion of the ophthalmologist." The spokesman said there currently is no overall policy saying post-vitrectomy patients will get faster cataract surgery. But Lamont said that's not acceptable. "It is concerning that vitrectomy surgery led to visual cataracts led to visual blindness through cataracts, and that the surgery is offered without follow-up services," he 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. "His cataract is a direct result, and a predictable and even likely side-effect, of the procedure he underwent. If Manitoba Health is going to offer such procedures, it is absolutely critical and necessary that cataract surgeries are paired with this procedure." As well, with data showing cataract surgery wait times have grown every year under the Tory government, Lamont said the cap on the number of cataract surgeries performed each year should be lifted. Stevenson said he is not asking for his case to leap the queue -- he's asking for it to be in a different line. "I understand there are other people with cataracts needing surgery, I'm not saying they don't matter, but there should be something in place for people like me," he said. "This was because of the surgery." kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca Nissan Philippines, however, doesn't have an extensive or as new a line-up as Toyota. There are gaps in their model range that have not yet been filled; Nissan Philippines has no competitor in the small hatchback category, they had discontinued the US-made Altima in the executive D-segment class, and there is no Innova challenger in the larger MPV class. In 2019 the company sold 42,694 units, the most they have ever sold in a year, and elevated their ranking in the market to third overall right behind fellow Alliance brand Mitsubishi Motors in second and Toyota in first. Toyota has a commanding lead with a 35.9% market share in CAMPI. Nissan, by comparison, has a 22.2% market share in CAMPI. They could get a small MPV in the form of the Xpander-based Nissan Livina from Indonesia in the future to fill the gap, and revamp their small car line with the new generation Almera which has just been launched in Thailand, as well as the Nissan Kicks to replace the Juke, but those models are still a long way off. For now, the company is banking on the strong sales of the Terra SUV, the Navara pick-up, and the NV350 Urvan to comprise the lion's share of their sales volume. But one key segment they are not present in is the premium minivan class; the class that is dominated by the Toyota Alphard. To a certain extent, the Honda Odyssey can be considered a competitor, but size-wise and height wise, it's not too close. Nissan, however, does have a direct competitor in their home market of Japan: it's called the Elgrand, and there are some very promising versions of it that can rival the Alphard, up to and including a variant that is really a limousine on wheels. What we've just learned after a conversation last night with the president of Nissan Philippines, Mr. Atsushi Najima, is that he actually wants that model in the company's local model line-up. When I first came into Nissan [Philippines], I asked GHQ [Nissan's headquarters in Japan] for Elgrand, said the president and Managing Director of Nissan Philippines. But we're not a focus market yet to justify it. What Najima-san was referring to was while Nissan does have an Elgrand in Japan to directly compete against the Toyota Alphard and Vellfire in the premium or luxury MPV class, there is no production for left-hand drive versions of the current third generation model. Given that they are unsure of what the Philippine sales volume would be like, it is reasonable to surmise that the company is apprehensive about justifying LHD production of the model. To put that in perspective, Toyota Motor Philippines sold 1,642 units of the Alphard in 2019. The executive also pointed out that the current Nissan Elgrand is already an aging model, having been in production since 2010. The current Elgrand was facelifted and updated in 2014; that means the facelifted model pre-dates the current generation Alphard which was launched in 2015 and facelifted in 2018. But here's the thing: the Elgrand is a prime candidate for a new generation model. If Nissan does come up with a new generation Elgrand soon, would the Philippines (now fast becoming an important market for the brand) be receptive to a left hand drive model that can be a direct Alphard competitor? Let us know in the comments below. This time of year, San Francisco local residents are looking at self-improvement goals to live a healthier, happier life. Good oral care is a critical piece to better health San Francisco Dental Implants, a team of professional dental implant specialists serving not just San Francisco but also nearby communities such as Oakland and Marin County, is proud to announce a new blog post for the Bay Area community. The post focuses on the goal of improving one's smile for 2020 and the way in which a dental implant consultation could be a first step towards that goal. "This time of year, San Francisco local residents are looking at self-improvement goals to live a healthier, happier life. Good oral care is a critical piece to better health," explained Dr. Alex Rabinovich, chief oral surgeon of San Francisco Dental Implant Center. "Our January post discusses the physical benefits of a clean, healthy smile and how dental implants might be a tactic towards achieving that goal." The new post can be read at https://www.sfdentalimplants.com/blog/if-you-are-looking-for-dental-implants-in-the-sf-bay-area-you-need-a-specialist/. Persons who want to know about the health benefits of oral surgery, can visit the company's sister website at https://www.oralsurgery-sf.com/. In both cases, interested persons are urged to reach out for a consultation with a specialist to create an individualized treatment plan. SAN FRANCISCO DENTAL IMPLANT SPECIALISTS HELP THE COMMUNITY AVOID 'HACKS' AND PLAN SOLID GOALS FOR BETTER HEALTH IN 2020 Here is the background for this release. Trendy terms on social media sites can include the practice of 'hacks' to improve one's life. Bay Area residents short on time might appreciate simple tips for health-focused hacks in 2020. Online advice concerning simple changes to one's daily health regime might be beneficial. Tips about drinking more water, eating properly, and regular exercise are basic steps to achieving a healthier lifestyle. Different, more creative hacks could end up offering varied results. People might consider scrutinizing advice promising long-term health benefits before starting a new habit. One 'hack' to consider might be dental implants; another might be speaking with an oral surgeon on health issues such as wisdom teeth removal. In summary, San Francisco residents ready to make positive changes to their health might consider speaking to a team of dental implant specialists. ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO DENTAL IMPLANT CENTER San Francisco Dental Implant Center, under the direction of Dr. Alex Rabinovich and on the Web at https://www.sfdentalimplants.com/, focuses on the placement and restoration of dental implants, making its team among the most experienced in the Bay Area. Dr. Rabinovich is a Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon specializing in the field of dental implants. The new Trefoil dental implants have been added to the list of procedures the professional oral surgeon provides. This additional training, along with his years of experience, sets Alex Rabinovich MD DDS apart from the growing number of general dentists offering dental implant treatments. Dr. Rabinovich provides services for the San Francisco Bay Area, Marin County, Peninsula, and surrounding North Bay Cities. Oil continued its recovery from a three-month low as traders reassessed the threat to demand from Chinas coronavirus, and as U.S. industry data showed a drop in crude inventories. Futures traded near $54 a barrel in New York in tandem with improved sentiment across financial markets, which pushed equities slightly higher. While the number of confirmed infections in China has overtaken the official number recorded during the 2003 SARS epidemic, its still unclear how severely world oil consumption will be affected. There are also further signs that supplies are tightening around the world. Libyan exports remain halted by a political dispute, while the American Petroleum Institute reported that nationwide stockpiles fell by 4.27 million barrels last week. Official government figures are due later on Wednesday. The main driver is risk sentiment, said Giovanni Staunovo, an analyst at UBS Group AG in Zurich. If strength in Chinas demand isnt there, then global demand growth will suffer very quickly. But market fundamentals are still on track to tighten towards the middle of the year. Traders have also taken some reassurance from comments by Saudi Arabia and other OPEC members that theyre prepared to act to shore up the market. The alliance, which has already cut production, will consider prolonging curbs to the end of the year -- or even deepening them -- when it gathers in early March, a delegate said on Jan. 27. West Texas Intermediate for March delivery rose 49 cents to $53.97 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange as of 10:10 a.m. London time. The contract settled up 0.6% on Tuesday. Brent for March settlement advanced 0.9% to $60.04 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. U.S. crude stockpiles are currently at a three-month low after big declines in December. Contrary to the API figures, analysts surveyed by Bloomberg are forecasting a 1.29 million-barrel increase in inventories ahead of the official Energy Information Administration data. Description GIS 29 January, 2020: The Non-Resident Ambassador of Switzerland to Mauritius, Dr Nicolas Bruhl, met the Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Home Affairs and External Communications, Minister of Rodrigues, Outer Islands and Territorial Integrity, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, today at the New Treasury Building in Port Louis. In a statement, Ambassador Bruhl highlighted that discussions with the Prime Minister were very productive and fruitful, and that the two countries will further strengthen their bilateral cooperation in the political and economic areas. One specific area of collaboration, he underscored, relates to the pharmaceutical and health sector. Switzerland looks forward to working in closer collaboration with Mauritius in this field, he concluded. Dr Nicolas Bruhl, based in Pretoria, South Africa, is also the extraordinary and plenipotentiary Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa, the Republic of Botswana, the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Republic of Namibia and the Kingdom of Eswatini. STAMFORD OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma is reportedly the company that federal prosecutors say made a $1 million kickback to a health IT firm that agreed this week to a nine-figure payout to settle investigations of software fraud. San Francisco-based Practice Fusion will pay $145 million to resolve criminal and civil probes of its electronic health records, the U.S. attorneys office in Vermont announced this week. As part of the agreement which contains the largest criminal fine in Vermonts history Practice Fusion admitted that it solicited and received payments from a major opioid company in exchange for using its software to influence physicians who prescribed opioids. That unnamed company is Stamford-based Purdue Pharma, according to unnamed sources cited by Reuters. Purdue Pharma was not criminally charged in the case. Practice Fusions conduct is abhorrent, Vermonts U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan said in a statement. During the height of the opioid crisis, the company took a million-dollar kickback to allow an opioid company to inject itself in the sacred doctor-patient relationship so that it could peddle even more of its highly addictive and dangerous opioids. A message left Wednesday for the Vermont USAO, asking whether Purdue Pharma was the pharmaceutical company in question, was not immediately returned. In a statement, Purdue Pharma neither confirmed nor denied that it was the implicated pharmaceutical firm, but it said it was cooperating with investigative demands by various components of the U.S. Department of Justice in connection with criminal and civil investigations of the company. Starting around the fall of 2013, Practice Fusion solicited remuneration from Pharma Co. X in exchange for creating and embedding a clinical decision support alert in its electronic health records, according to case documents. The initiative led to doctors increasing prescriptions of Pharma Co. Xs extended-release opioids. OxyContin is an extended-release treatment, but the publicly available case records do not mention the drug. Among its features, Practice Fusions alert suggested treatments, including opioids, without regard to the medical appropriateness of each option, prosecutors said. The companies illegally conspired to allow the drug company to have its thumb on the scale at precisely the moment a doctor was making incredibly intimate, personal, and important decisions about a patients medical care, including the need for pain medication and prescription amounts, Nolan said. Purdue Pharma has faced federal scrutiny for years. In the past year, negotiations between Purdue Pharma and prosecutors have reportedly focused on civil and criminal probes examining the companys possible failure to report doctors who were illegally prescribing opioids and the firms order-monitoring systems. Purdue Pharma is engaged in ongoing discussions with the DOJ regarding a potential resolution of these investigations, and therefore the company has no comment at this time, Purdue Pharma added in its statement. A Connecticut USAO spokesman declined to comment Wednesday on the status of the offices probe of Purdue. In the fall of 2017, Purdue Pharma publicly confirmed it was cooperating with that offices inquiry. Alongside those probes, Purdue Pharma is trying to settle through its Chapter 11 bankruptcy case approximately 2,700 civil lawsuits that allege the company fueled the national opioid crisis through deceptive OxyContin marketing. The company has denied those complaints allegations, but it has offered a settlement plan that it values at more than $10 billion. Connecticut and about two-dozen other states have rejected that proposal because they say it does not do enough to tackle the opioid epidemic. Last week, the judge overseeing Purdue Pharmas bankruptcy approved a controversial $1.3 million bonus for CEO Craig Landau. pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 29, 2020 / Compare-autoinsurance.org (http://compare-autoinsurance.org/) is a top auto insurance brokerage website, providing car insurance quotes online from trustworthy agencies all over the United States. This website offers car insurance info about different coverage types, available discounts, and money-saving tips. The number of vehicles that are running on the United States roads has dramatically increased in the past decades. Likewise, the number of traffic accidents also increased. The need for drivers to have financial coverage is greater than ever. In order to find cheap car insurance, drivers must carefully navigate the insurance market. The best way to find cheap car insurance is by using online quotes. Insurance quotes provided by the car insurance companies will ask data about the driver's identification details and info regarding the car he drives. Information like car make, model, year of production, value as new, VIN, and mileage, is typically required. A quick online search will show the drivers who are the most significant car quotes sites. In order to get the best results, drivers should choose to use the sites that look familiar or more established. Car insurance companies carefully analyze car owners driving records. Traffic violations, DUI driving, and other details from a driving record can significantly affect the insurance premium. Insurance companies may also use other factors like the credit score when they determine the premium. Car owners can tweak their coverage and raise the deductibles in order to get lower insurance rates. When drivers are talking with the auto insurance company directly, they have a lot of chances to cut down that initial car insurance policy quote to an offer that is more affordable. Quick quotes do not usually take preferred driver discounts, safety features, and other cost-lowering factors into account, and with some good self-representation or cost limiting tools, car owners could come out with a lower-priced policy. For additional info, money-saving tips and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org Compare-autoinsurance.org iis an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Car insurance quotes will help you customize the policy and get the coverage you need at better prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing Company Person for contact Name: Gurgu C Phone Number: (818) 359-3898 Email: cgurgu@internetmarketingcompany.biz Website: https://compare-autoinsurance.org SOURCE: Internet Marketing Company View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/574460/Best-Car-Insurance-Guide-2020--How-To-Find-Cheap-Car-Insurance-With-The-Help-Of-Online-Quotes The course will touch on the legal status of medical marijuana in New Jersey, the basics of growing, harvest and processing and the available products. It will also provide an intro to the endocannabinoid system, a bodily system that regulates processes like sleep, appetite and mood and interacts with cannabinoids (the compounds, most notably THC and CBD, found in the cannabis plant). A business case for a new medical hub at a key site along Derrys riverfront is nearing completion, the Derry News has learned. The Western Trust has revealed that its final business case will be handed over to the Department of Health (DoH) for approval in February. Last February, the Trust entered an initial twelve-month agreement with site owner the Department for Communities (DfC) to enable the Trust to further develop the proposal of locating a new Cityside Health and Care Centre at Fort George. During that time no further marketing of Fort George took place. The DfC has however said that once it receives the complete business case it will consider the best way to maximise the sites potential. A Western Trust spokesperson commented: The Western Health and Social Care Trust can confirm that as part of the business case development process for the provision of a major city side health and care centre, it has been engaged in the identification of a site suitable for the purposes of bringing together GP and associated healthcare services in an integrated model. Fort George is likely to be the recommended site deemed suitable for future service provision within the city. The Trust and Department for Communities have entered into a joint Memorandum of Understanding allowing the Trust to progress the completion of the business case and to secure the necessary Departmental approvals. The business case is at an advanced stage in preparation and is anticipated to be submitted to the Department of Health for consideration within the next four weeks. The development of a Cityside hub is anticipated to bring up to 500 whole time equivalent permanent jobs, new and relocated, which will deliver mostly nursing, social work, allied health professional and administrative roles. It would enable both Trust and GP Medical Practices to work together to further expand and enhance local health and social care services currently spread across the city. If delivered, the hub is expected to support people in improving their health and well-being, particularly around the areas of physical activity, nutrition, smoking cessation, alcohol misuse and mental health. Once established, it would optimise the potential of communities to become more active in improving their own health and well-being. No timescale At a Derry City & Strabane District Council meeting in November 2019, a new project was put on the table for a 150m - 200m multi-purpose development at the Fort George site. This would comprise of a world-class Maritime and Emigration Museum, 5-star hotel, public realm development, office space incorporating a technology and research & development hub, plus two residential blocks with car parking at the former army base. Speaking at that meeting, well-known Derry businessman, Garvan ODoherty said projects brought forward by the city lacked ambition and with central government support the museum could be the fourth major tourism pillar in Northern Ireland alongside Titanic Belfast, The Giants Causeway and the Wild Atlantic Way. He felt the health hub could be located at a different site, adding, it is imperative to look after both the economy and people of the city. A Department for Communities spokesperson explained that it is awaiting the Western Trusts final business case before considering the best way forward for the site but could not put a timescale on that process. He said: The Department is awaiting receipt of the final Business Case from the Western Health and Social Care Trust but officials have been regularly engaging with the Trust and significant progress has been made. Once the final Business Case has been received, consideration will have to be given to the optimum way to develop Fort George. At this stage we do not have a timescale for when that decision will be made. Trump lawyers discount Bolton President Trumps defense team appealed to the Senate on Tuesday to disregard a new account by the former national security adviser John R. Bolton that bolsters the impeachment case against the president. But by days end, Republican leaders working feverishly to block testimony from Mr. Bolton or other witnesses indicated they had not yet corralled the votes to do so. On the final day of arguments on Mr. Trumps behalf, Jay Sekulow, one of the presidents private lawyers, sought to raise doubts about Mr. Boltons claim in an unpublished manuscript that Mr. Trump tied the release of military aid to Ukraine to investigations into his political rivals, calling it an unsourced allegation that was inadmissible in his impeachment trial. Two Republicans, Senators Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine, have said they would most likely vote for witnesses, but Democrats would need four Republicans to join them in order to prevail. (New York Times) Featured stories Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska., left, talks to reporters Tuesday at the Capitol in Washington. (Manuel Balce Ceneta, Associated Press)AP Analysis: Trump defense team makes compelling case for Bolton testimony (NBC News) Anatomy of a smear: How John Bolton became a target of the pro-Trump Internet (Washington Post) 3 things to know after Tuesdays Trump impeachment trial (ABC News) Pentagon now says 50 service members suffered brain injuries from Iran attack (ABC News) Coronavirus risk in U.S. remains low even as federal officials take steps to protect public (NBC News) Hundreds of US evacuees land in Alaska from China as coronavirus outbreak grows (CNN) National news U.S. national debt will rise to 98% of GDP by 2030, CBO projects (Wall Street Journal) Kobe Bryants body, 8 others recovered from copter that lacked key terrain warning system (USA Today) Harvard scientist charged with lying about ties to Chinese university; two Chinese nationals accused of economic espionage (Boston Globe) Lawyers for indicted Giuliani associates spar over records sent to Congress (Politico) Washington Post clears reporter who tweeted link to Kobe Bryant rape allegations (Washington Post) NPR sends letter to State Dept. demanding answers for reporters removal from trip (The Hill) A Maryland cop was charged with murder after a man was shot 7 times inside his police cruiser (CNN) Dylann Roof appeals conviction, death sentence in Charleston massacre (CBS News) It could take months to identify all 8 victims of Alabama boat blaze, fire chief says (NBC News) Several high-rise buildings in Miami were evacuated after a powerful earthquake hit the Caribbean (CNN) World news Trump leaps into Middle East fray with peace plan that Palestinians denounce (Reuters) Netanyahu indicted in court after removing immunity request (The Guardian) 2 bodies recovered after U.S. military plane crashes in Afghanistan (NBC News) Assad regime captures town in Syrias last rebel-held territory (The Guardian) West Libyan forces claim downed drone as Turkish support arrives (Reuters) Floods leave more than 40 people dead in Brazil (CNN) (Alliance News) - Budget carrier Ryanair Holdings PLC on Wednesday said it signed a new four-year pay agreement with Irish pilots, following a dispute which even led to strike action being threatened in August. The deal with union Forsa, will see Ryanair adopt a new pay structure and implement a fixed 5/4 shift pattern, consisting of five successive days of work, followed by four days off. The four-year collective labour agreement was arranged by Kieran Mulvey, an independent mediator. The airline said: "Ryanair would like to thank Kieran Mulvey for his contribution and expertise in overseeing this mediation process which has now concluded." In August, Irish pilots voted in favour of industrial action over pay, trade union Forsa said. Around 180 pilots directly employed by the budget airline in Ireland, and who are members of the Irish Air Line Pilots' Association, were eligible to vote. A 94% majority favoured the industrial action. Ryanair branded the vote as "unlawful" and took the matter to the Dublin High Court, which approved the airline's bid to stop the proposed strike. That same month however, the company lost a High Court bid to block strike action by its UK pilots. On Tuesday, Reuters reported that Ryanair is planning potential base closures and job cuts due to delays in the delivery of Boeing Co's 737 MAX aircraft into the autumn. According to an internal memo dated Tuesday, Ryanair said it expects the aircraft maker to not deliver the first 737 MAX until September or October at the earliest, according to Reuters. The 737 MAX was grounded by aviation regulators last year following two fatal crashes. Shares in Ryanair were 0.3% higher at EUR14.94 each in London on Wednesday. By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Building upon the success of previous editions, India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) and Exhibition India Group are set to return with the 28th edition of Convergence India expo, co-located with the Internet of Things India expo, EmbeddedTech India expo and Mobile India expo. This year also marks the launch of the much-awaited Fintech India expo as well as the Gamethon expo. The Convergence India 2020 expo is an international platform for overseas and Indian exhibitors to showcase cutting-edge innovations and latest digital technologies on: Broadcast & digital media; wire/wireless technologies (broadband, 4G, 5G); IoT; Cloud & Big Data; AR/VR; M2M; artificial intelligence; robotics; drones, and much more. Conference sessions organised alongside the expo will see informative discussions by sector experts, government representatives, digital innovators, international business gurus, etc. Visitors coming to the exhibition and the conference will get an opportunity to observe, interact and learn from the best in the industry, even as hectic business activity and negotiations take place behind the scene. The FinTech India expo, with the theme Exploring the era of Digital Money, will provide an opportunity for fintech leaders, start-ups, professionals and industry experts to engage and explore the latest activity in the realm of emerging, new-age financial technologies. The FinTech sector has the potential to change the ways businesses function and bring them closer to the dream of Digital India. The expo will display applications and innovations in fields such as cryptocurrency, e-wallets, mobile banking & smartphones, cyber security, and electronic trading. Also showcased will be latest developments in risk management, financial/capital markets, start-ups/financial investors, banks/insurance and much more. Some of the domain leaders that have already confirmed participation including the Paytm Payment Bank, Tally Solutions, SettleMint India, Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance Ltd., etc. Other leading players participating in Convergence India 2020 include: Mediatek, Amazon, Dell, PTC, Panasonic, HiSilicon, Vector Informatik, BBNL, A2Z, etc. Shri Prem Behl, Chairman, Exhibitions India Group, said, India is experiencing the advantages of Industry 4.0 on the back of a new generation of thinkers, innovators and businessman who are constantly pushing frontiers with the aim of advancing the countrys tech ecosystem. Fortunately, this breed of domain leaders is supported by a strong political will. As a result, technologically-intensive industries in India have gone from strength to strength in recent years. This event is envisioned as a collaborative platform for new partnerships and opportunities for global innovators to capitalise on and lead a tech-driven transformation on the national and international level. The 28th edition of the expo will be held from 19 -21 February 2020, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. There will be a congregation of more than 25,000 trade visitors, 750+ exhibitors from 30 countries, 1,500 delegates, and over 200 speakers in 40 sessions. Experience state-of-the-art capabilities of modern products and services across communications, broadcast, IT, IoT, automation, and digital domains. During this same year, the airline added three new domestic destinations to its network increasing the total number of destinations across its network to 11 domestic destinations across all four corners of the Kingdom. Today, flyadeal flies to to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Qassim, Gizan, Abha, Tabuk, Madinah, Hail, Yanbu and Taif and are linked by 18 routes via 98 daily flights. Flyadeal continued to grow during the past twelve months, transporting over four million passengers, supported by Everyday Low Fares, a growing network of domestic destinations, and a fleet equipped with the latest aircraft consisting of 14 Airbus 320 CEO. The company has also won three international awards in the field of pioneering low-cost air travel in the region. WASHINGTON Not long ago, they called him too extreme, aggressively and dangerously wrong and downright dangerous. They called him nutty, reckless and far outside the mainstream. Now they would like to call him their star witness. Suddenly, John R. Bolton, the conservative war hawk and favorite villain of the left, is the toast of Senate Democrats, the last, best hope to prove their abuse-of-power case against President Trump. Democrats who once excoriated him are trumpeting his credibility as they seek his testimony in Mr. Trumps impeachment trial. On the other side of the aisle, some of Mr. Boltons longtime Republican friends are just as abruptly tossing him to the curb, painting him as a disgruntled former adviser who just wants to sell books. Some of the same senators who allied with him, promoted his career, consulted with him on foreign affairs and took his political action committee money are going along as he is painted as a tool for the radical Dems and the deep state, as he was termed on one of the Fox News channels, part of the network where he worked for 11 years. Its a totally upside-down world, said Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland who two years ago denounced Mr. Boltons history of warmongering when he was appointed Mr. Trumps national security adviser. But what we should all agree on is we want to get to the truth of the matter about the impeachment charges and we should accept his testimony under penalty of perjury. We want to be as flexible as possible, because we want to get this project done. There is $13 million in federal funds on the line, and its an important public project, he said. The longer we delay it, the risk we are exposing ourselves (to) is increased construction costs. If we let contractors keep idle, they will come back and claim damages for the delays." At least 132 people have died of the rapidly spreading coronavirus in China, while nearly 6000 people have been infected so far, national health officials said Wednesday morning. As many as 1459 new confirmed cases were reported in 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) within 24 hours on Tuesday. At least one fatality and 91 infections were reported from Beijing and one death and 80 cases in Shanghai. The infection has now spread to all parts of China with the first case being reported from the Tibet Autonomous Region. As of 24:00 on January 28, the National Health Commission has received a total of 5,974 confirmed cases from 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities), the national health commission (NHC) said Wednesday morning. There are at least 9238 suspected cases of the disease, the health officials added. According to the latest figures released by the agency, Japan airlifted about 200 of its nationals out of the city, and the US evacuated about 240 Americans by air. Chinese President Xi Jinping called the virus a demon during talks with the head of the World Health Organisation in Beijing on Tuesday, and pledged a timely release of updates about the crisis. Both WHO and China noted that the number of cases being reported, including those outside China, is deeply concerning. Better understanding of the transmissibility and severity of the virus is urgently required to guide other countries on appropriate response measures, the Geneva based organisation said in a statement after its DG, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met Xi and state councillor and foreign minister, Wang Yi in Beijing. WHO is continually monitoring developments and the Director-General can reconvene the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee on very short notice as needed. Committee members are on stand-by and are informed regularly of developments, the statement added. Tens of millions of people are under a lockdown in several cities in the central Chinese province of Hubei including its capital, Wuhan, where the outbreak first began possibly in December, in a bid by authorities to contain the infection that has since spread to other cities and to other countries as well. According to the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, Zhong Nanshan, one of Chinas top respiratory diseases experts, said on Tuesday that the outbreak has yet to reach its peak and that he expected to come within a week to 10 days, adding that there should be no massive increase afterwards. However, University of Hong Kong academics have predicted that the number of infections in five mainland megacities Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Chongqing will peak between late April and early May, the newspaper reported. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 14:44:26|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Chinese conductor Yu Long conducts "The Butterfly Lovers" with the orchestra during a Lunar New Year Concert by New York Philharmonic in New York, the United States, Jan. 28, 2020. The New York Philharmonic presented its ninth annual Lunar New Year Concert on Tuesday night with celebrated and emerging artists to ring in the Year of the Rat. Featuring famous musical pieces from America and Asia, the program included a violin concerto The Butterfly Lovers with American violinist Gil Shaham as soloist, and George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with 29-year-old Chinese pianist Zhang Haochen. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) NEW YORK, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The New York Philharmonic presented its ninth annual Lunar New Year Concert on Tuesday night with celebrated and emerging artists to ring in the Year of the Rat. Featuring famous musical pieces from America and Asia, the program included a violin concerto The Butterfly Lovers with American violinist Gil Shaham as soloist, and George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with 29-year-old Chinese pianist Zhang Haochen. The event also marked Zhang's Philharmonic debut. As the Gold Medalist of the 2009 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Zhang studied under American classical pianist Gary Graffman, who was the soloist for the New York Philharmonic's performance of Rhapsody in Blue on the soundtrack of Woody Allen's 1979 film Manhattan. The virtuoso performance given by the young pianist won a standing ovation from over 2,700 people at the David Geffen Hall. Many of them were New Yorkers who grew up listening to the piece, which as a composition for solo piano and jazz band premiered in New York in 1924. During a meeting with local press on Monday, the Shanghai-born pianist described the concert's program as a beautiful musical exchange between China and the United States. "I think the Chinese traditional music and the American jazz are as remote as you could get in terms of artistic aesthetics," said Zhang. With a program in which a Chinese pianist gets to play The Rhapsody in Blue and an American violinist plays The Butterfly Lovers, "it really made a statement of what musicians are trying to do with music in cultural exchange," he added. Shaham, one of the most acclaimed violinists in the world, recorded The Butterfly Lovers with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in 2007. His performance on Friday night demonstrated his special connection with the classic piece, with an interpretation that blended both Chinese and Western music styles. The concert also marked the U.S. premiere of China-born composer Zhou Tian's Gift, and the New York premiere of Korean composer Texu Kim's Spin-Flip. The Philharmonic was under the baton of world-renowned Chinese conductor Yu Long, who has conducted a highly acclaimed list of orchestras throughout the world, including New York, Los Angeles, Munich, and Tokyo philharmonic orchestras. Currently vice president of the Chinese Musicians Association and artistic director and chief conductor of the China Philharmonic Orchestra, Yu collaborates frequently with many of the world's most celebrated soloists, such as Lang Lang, Yo-Yo Ma, and Wang Yujia. The New York Philharmonic has welcomed the Lunar New Year with an annual celebration since 2012. This year's Lunar New Year fell on Jan. 25. As these monumental developments take place, liberal Zionists have watched with alarm. For some time now, they have begun to see that the "two-state solution" proposed by the Oslo accords is passe. It is now clear that Israel will never evacuate hundreds of thousands of settlers; that a town like Ariel (with 20,000 inhabitants and a research university) will not be removed from the West Bank's centre. Clinging to the two-state idyll is like climate change denial: it flies in the face of fact. Since Palestinian representatives were not invited to the White House for the policy's announcement (Trump told reporters last week that the details of the program had been discussed with Palestinian leadership only "briefly"), the policy's significance seems to lie outside the formal proposal that is, in how Israel, backed by the United States, will respond once the Palestinians reject the offer. But Israeli progressives have not offered a politically viable counterpoint. Partly, that's because today Zionists of every political stripe believe that Jews need sovereignty their own state. And partly it's because, in order for that state to be democratic, it must have a Jewish majority. Since Palestinians account for about 50 per cent of the combined population of Israel and the occupied territories, a Jewish and democratic state is impossible without a two-state solution. Loading Also, Israeli nationalists, who support annexations, want to protect Israel's Jewish majority. So a politics of "transfer" code for ethnic cleansing is emerging on their agenda. Transport Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who is also a member of the cabinet, openly advocates for expulsions of Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Avigdor Lieberman, the country's former defence minister and likely future partner of Israel's centre-left, even supports removing Arab Israelis from the Israeli towns where they live. For these reasons, a two-state solution seemed like the only hope for progressives who don't want to trample another people's rights. Understandably, they now despair. Yet this anguish is based on a false premise. Zionism today is based on the idea that Jews have the right to their own sovereign state, but the movement's founders held a more nuanced view. Intense ideological disagreements divided Theodor Herzl, Ze'ev Jabotinsky and founding Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, but they all agreed on the distinction, now often forgotten, between Jewish self-determination and Jewish sovereignty. And, until very late in Zionist history, they were all committed to the former but denied the latter. They believed the Jews had the right to exercise political self-rule to run their own lives and revive Jewish culture but they did not think that this should be done in a sovereign Jewish state. Herzl, for example, envisaged the Jewish state as a mere political autonomy, existing under a multinational imperial authority. He rejected the idea that the Jewish state should ever gain independence and become an ethnic nation-state "like the new Greece", which he thought would become parochial and provincial. Jabotinsky, whose Zionism is commonly regarded as the nationalist alternative to Herzl's, supported to the end of his life the principle that "the future of Palestine must be founded, legally speaking, as a 'binational state'". In such a federation, he explained, "the Jewish and the Arab ethno-communities shall be recognised as autonomous public bodies of equal status before the law". Hannah Arendt could have written this sentence just as well. It could be the home of a real-life Wernham Hogg, the fictional firm in Ricky Gervais's hit comedy The Office. The nondescript unit is in an 'office village' on the outskirts of the Oxfordshire town of Banbury, close to the M40 motorway and in the shadow of an enormous Amazon warehouse shipping goods around the UK. But in fact this is the home of a secret operation nicknamed 'The Cell', tasked with making sure that Chinese tech giant Huawei isn't helping the Communist state to spy on Britain. And it's totally tip-top secret - right up to the massive sign on the front that announces the presence of the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre (HCSEC) - as The Cell is more correctly called. It is immediately visible to anyone wandering past - admittedly probably not that many - but also to millions via Google Street View. Part of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), this is where spooks decided that Huawei could be allowed to take part in the UK's 5G network, a decision that has angered Washington and Tory back-benchers alike. Boris Johnson today defended the Government's decision, saying it would not do anything to compromise the country's critical national security infrastructure. Mr Johnson told MPs at Prime Minister's Questions: 'I think that it is absolutely vital that people in this country do have access to the best technology available but that we also do absolutely nothing to imperil our relationship with the United States, to do anything to compromise our critical national security infrastructure, or to do anything to imperil our extremely valuable co-operation with Five Eyes security partners.' It's totally tip-top secret - right up to the massive sign on the front that announces the presence of the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre (HCSEC) Covert: Endeavour House, on the outskirts of Banbury, has tinted windows that protect the highly confidential work going on inside The set of rooms in Endeavour House is owned by Huawei and is the home base of around 35 staff from the HCSEC, which was set up in 2010. At a glance: What is the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre? It's a joint operation set up in 2010 'to mitigate any perceived risks arising from the involvement of Huawei in parts of the United Kingdoms critical national infrastructure'. What does it do? It checks Huawei's latest hardware and software products to make sure they are not being used as a cover for spying or data theft by the autocratic Communist state. Or as its oversight board says, it provides 'security evaluation for a range of products used in the UK telecommunications market'. Who works there? There are around 35 British staff there who are employed by Huawei. Since 2014 their work has been monitored by GCHQ, the Cabinet Office and Home Office. Where is it? It is on the northern edge of Banbury, a market town in Northern Oxfordshire better known for having a medieval cross mentioned in a nursery rhyme. The set of rooms, owned by Huawei, are in Endeavour House. Its neighbours include the British Valve And Actuator Association. Advertisement At this out-of-the-way site they test equipment supplied by Huawei, destined for use in the UK. Crucially, the Cell has the only access to Huawei's confidential 'source code' and is the only facility that can really test whether there are vulnerabilities that could allow 'back-door' access to networks. Since 2014 the work of the British nationals employed there has been monitored by GCHQ, the Cabinet Office and Home Office. The Cells British cyber security experts who are nonetheless on the Huawei payroll have to go through developed vetting, the top level of clearance for people with access to top secret information. Their work is monitored by Government officials on the HCSEC oversight board, set up after Parliaments Intelligence and Security Committee, led by former Defence Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind, expressed concern about the firms grip on the UK telecoms market in 2013. According to its 2019 report, the HCSEC's oversight board is made up of a mixture of security service and civil service figures and senior Huawei managers. The board is chaired by Ciaran Martin, the NCSC's chief executive, with Huawei's executive director Ryan Ding as his deputy. While Huawei is a private firm, critics say it is part of China's state security apparatus and could be used as a cover for espionage, which is why yesterday's 5G decision is so controversial. The Government acknowledged Huawei is a 'high risk vendor' but argues that it will not have a role in the core parts of the 5G network Mr Johnson was earlier accused of defying misgivings from his own ministers to press ahead. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace is said to have urged the PM at a crunch National Security Council meeting to heed warnings from the US over the Chinese tech giant. Why is Huawei's involvement in UK 5G controversial? Huawei has come under scrutiny over allegations of close ties to the Chinese state. Founder Ren Zhengfei's past links to the military have been cited as a concern, as has China's history of state sponsorship and surveillance. Chinese law can also compel firms to co-operate with Chinese national intelligence work, which some critics have suggested could see Beijing require Huawei to spy on people through so-called 'back doors' in its telecoms equipment. Huawei has vehemently denied the allegations of any ties with the Chinese state and says it abides by the laws of every country in which it operates. Advertisement Mr Wallace branded Beijing a 'friend of no-one', according to the Times - but eventually accepted the decision to allow the firm 'limited' involvement in the infrastructure project. The wrangling emerged as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo flies into Britain for what could be a turbulent visit. The White House voiced 'disappointment' over the decision, after intensely lobbying for the UK to shun Huawei. And the same document, released last March said its work 'has continued to identify concerning issues in Huawei's approach to software development bringing significantly increased risk to UK operators, which requires ongoing management and mitigation'. As the Government gave the green light for the controversial Chinese tech firm to play a limited role in the UK's 5G network, the NCSC said the risk of its involvement was 'manageable'. Huawei is already subject to oversight arrangements which ensure that any 'embedded malicious functionality could be detected should it exist', the analysis said. The NCSC said: 'Due to the UK's mitigation strategy, which includes HCSEC as an essential component, our assessment is that the risk of trojan functionality in Huawei equipment remains manageable. Why is Huawei so important to 5G? Huawei has invested billions of pounds into research and development around 5G network infrastructure and, as a result, is now considered the industry leader in 5G technology. It is also already part of the existing network infrastructure in a number of countries, including in the UK. As a result, using one of Huawei's rivals, and most likely alternatives - Ericsson or Nokia - for the building of 5G networks, would likely cause a delay and add cost to the introduction of widespread 5G in the UK. In contrast, none of the four largest mobile carriers in the United States use Huawei equipment in their networks. Advertisement 'Placing ''backdoors'' in any Huawei equipment supplied into the UK is not the lowest risk, easiest to perform or most effective means for the Chinese state to perform a major cyber attack on UK telecoms networks today.' The NCSC did raise concerns about any single supplier of equipment being allowed to play a dominant role in the network. The guidance issued by NCSC excludes 'high-risk vendors' such as Huawei from 'core' parts of the network, and sensitive locations including nuclear sites and military bases. They will also be limited to a minority presence of no more than 35% in the periphery of the network, known as the access network, elements which connect devices and equipment to mobile phone masts. The NCSC stressed that it was 'important to avoid the situation in which the UK becomes nationally dependent on a particular supplier'. It added: 'Without government intervention, the NCSC considers there to be a realistic likelihood that due to commercial factors, the UK would become ''nationally dependent'' on Huawei within three years.' Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's hit comedy The Officer was set in the nondescript, soul-destroying offices of paper manufacturer Wernham Hogg National dependence on a high-risk vendor would present a 'significant national security risk', the NCSC said. Restrictions being placed by ministers on 'high-risk' 5G vendors The advice being issued to UK telecoms operators is that 'high-risk vendors' should be: Excluded from all safety related and safety critical networks in critical national infrastructure Excluded from security critical 'core' functions, the sensitive part of the network Excluded from sensitive geographic locations, such as nuclear sites and military bases Limited to a minority presence of no more than 35 per cent in the periphery of the network, known as the access network, which connect devices and equipment to mobile phone masts Advertisement NCSC technical director Dr Ian Levy said Huawei had always been treated as a high-risk vendor and the authorities have 'worked to limit their use in the UK'. 'We've never 'trusted' Huawei and the artefacts you can see (like the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre (HCSEC) and the oversight board reports) exist because we treat them differently to other vendors,' he said. 'We ask operators to use Huawei in a limited way so we can collectively manage the risk and NCSC put in place a wider mitigation strategy, of which HCSEC is the most visible part.' Ciaran Martin, chief executive of the NCSC, said: 'This package will ensure that the UK has a very strong, practical and technically sound framework for digital security in the years ahead. 'The National Cyber Security Centre has issued advice to telecoms network operators to help with the industry roll-out of 5G and full-fibre networks in line with the Government's objectives. 'High-risk vendors have never been, and never will be, in our most sensitive networks. 'Taken together these measures add up to a very strong framework for digital security.' Boris Johnson scrambles to stop Huawei's 5G role wrecking Special Relationship with Donald Trump as he faces first Tory mutiny in Commons - and stormy meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Boris Johnson today vowed the Huawei row will not 'imperil' the Special Relationship amid claims he defied misgivings from his own ministers to give the firm a role in the 5G network. The PM is desperately trying to contain a Tory mutiny after it emerged Defence Secretary Ben Wallace warned against the involvement of the Chinese tech giant at a crunch National Security Council meeting. Mr Wallace reportedly branded Beijing a 'friend of no-one' - but eventually accepted the decision to allow the firm 'limited' involvement in the infrastructure project. The wrangling was revealed as Mr Johnson faces the prospect of his first major Commons revolt on the issue - with former Cabinet ministers saying his huge 80-strong majority might not be enough to save him from defeat. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is also flying into Britain later for what could be a stormy visit. The White House has voiced 'disappointment' over the decision, after intensely lobbying for the UK to shun Huawei. But challenged on the issue at PMQs this afternoon, Mr Johnson said: I want to assure the House and indeed the country that I think it is absolutely vital that people in this country do have access to the best technology available... 'But that we also do absolutely nothing to imperil our relationship with the United States, to do anything to compromise our critical national security infrastructure or to do anything to imperil our extremely valuable cooperation with Five Eyes security partners. Boris Johnson insisted he would not do anything to 'imperil' relations with the US as he took PMQs today Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (pictured left arriving for the National Security Council meeting yesterday) is said to have urged the PM at a crunch National Security Council meeting to heed warnings from the US over the Chinese tech giant The wrangling emerged as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (left) flies into Britain for what could be a turbulent visit. He is expected to hold talks with Mr Johnson (right) tomorrow There have been warnings that intelligence-sharing could be at risk, although the government insists there is no link between 5G and dissemination of classified material. Mr Johnson spoke to Donald Trump by telephone yesterday to explain the move in an attempt to defuse the row. Former Cabinet minister Damian Green warned this morning that Mr Johnson could face a damaging Commons revolt on the issue - despite his huge 80-strong majority. Pointing out that a slew of Tory MPs criticised the decision during a debate yesterday, Mr Green told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'One of the things that that frankly surprised me was the breadth of the opposition to the current stance of the government on the Conservative back benches. 'We dont know yet, when push comes to shove and votes happen, how many people will actually put their heads above the parapet. But certainly its very widespread.' With Washington focused on the unveiling of the president's Middle East peace plan, the official response to the news from London was muted. However a series of senior congressional figures spoke out to condemn the move - warning it could damage Boris Johnson's hopes of a swift, post-Brexit trade deal. Senator Lindsey Graham, a strong supporter of the president, said he was 'very concerned' and urged the UK to think again. 'This decision has the potential to jeopardise US-UK intelligence sharing agreements and could greatly complicate a US-UK free trade agreement,' he tweeted. 'I hope the British government will reconsider its decision.' Senator Mitt Romney, a former Republican presidential candidate, described the decision as 'disconcerting'. 'By prioritising costs, the UK is sacrificing national security and inviting the Chinese Communist Party's surveillance state in. I implore our British allies to reverse their decision,' he said. Senator Tom Cotton, a member of the Senate intelligence committee called for a 'thorough review' of intelligence sharing arrangements with the UK. 'I fear London has freed itself from Brussels only to cede sovereignty to Beijing,' he said. 'Allowing Huawei to the build the UK's 5G networks today is like allowing the KGB to build its telephone network during the Cold War.' However, Culture Secretary Baroness Morgan said Britain's use of Huawei equipment in its 4G network meant the UK was better placed than others to monitor possible spying by China within the 5G network roll-out. The Cabinet minister told BBC Breakfast: 'We've had conversations with our other allies around the world to make absolutely clear that yesterday's decision in no way affects the ability for the UK to share classified data with our allies and partners, including the US. Mr Johnson called Donald Trump (pictured in Washington last night) to explain the Huawei decision, but the White House made clear it was 'disappointed' 'But the US start from a different position from us because they haven't had Huawei in their 4G networks. 'We've got that expertise, we've had the oversight of Huawei for quite a number of years now, which gives our agencies the ability to give reassurance that having them involved in the periphery of the network does not present the security challenge I think others are worried about.' Mr Pompeo's two-day visit - during which he will meet Mr Johnson and Dominic Raab - is likely to offer the first real indication of the extent of any damage to the so-called special relationship. The US administration has consistently argued that giving Huawei a role in 5G could allow the Chinese a 'back door' into the telecoms network through which they could carry out espionage or cyber attacks. President Trump raised the issue personally with Mr Johnson at December's meeting of Nato leaders in London while a high-level delegation was dispatched from Washington earlier this month in a last ditch attempt to persuade ministers not to go ahead. The Government has acknowledged Huawei is a 'high risk vendor' but argues that by banning it from the most sensitive elements of the network and restricting its involvement to 35 per cent, it can manage the risks. The clash comes at sensitive moment in US-UK relations - just as Mr Johnson is hoping to make rapid progress on a trade deal. The US has already threatened to retaliate with tariffs on the UK car industry, if the Government goes ahead with a planned tax on big tech companies. The two countries are also at odds over the Iran nuclear deal and the refusal of the US to extradite the wife of an American intelligence official charged with causing the death of 19-year-old motorcyclist Harry Dunn. Meanwhile Mr Johnson is facing a backlash at home from Tory MPs fiercely opposed to the Huawei decision, including former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith and ex-Brexit secretary David Davis. Ministers have said they will legislate at the 'earliest opportunity' to put the new guidance on telecoms providers into law, opening up the prospect of a potentially damaging Commons revolt. Mr Johnson however appears to have concluded that honouring his general election pledge to 'level up' the 'left behind' areas of the country must be the priority. Rolling out 5G across the country is regarded as key to improving economic performance and excluding Huawei would mean delays and higher costs. Rio De Janeiro, Jan 29 : Flamengo have secured striker Gabriel Barbosa from Inter Milan on a permanent deal, the reigning Brazilian and South American champions has said. Barbosa, who spent 2019 on loan at the Rio de Janeiro club, signed a five-year contract after Inter Milan reportedly agreed to a 17 million-euro ($18 million) transfer fee, reports Xinhua news agency. "You can celebrate, Flamengo fans. He is staying," read the opening line of a statement on the club's official website. Barbosa scored 43 goals in 59 matches across all competitions for Flamengo last year, helping them to their first Brazilian Serie A title since 2009 and just their second Copa Libertadores crown. Gabigol, as he is known in Brazil, was considered one of the world's most promising young forwards in 2016, when he joined Inter for 30 million dollars from Santos. However the 23-year-old's stock fell after he scored just once in 10 matches for the Italian club and then had an equally unsuccessful six-month loan spell at Benfica. He returned to form while on loan at Santos in 2018, scoring 27 times in 53 matches. Li Hui, a post-80s young man, gives free masks to citizens outside the Baotou Donghe Railway Station. (Photo/baotounews.com) A post-80s man recently attracted attention up and down the country thanks to his good deed of giving free masks to citizens all around Baotou in Northern China's Inner Mongolia, Baotou Evening News reported. Li Hui, a self-employed businessman selling disposable meal boxes and single-use face masks, has now gifted a total of 20,000 masks to citizens at his store and the Baotou Donghe Railway Station. "Originally, I bought 20,000 to sale as usual before the Spring Festival. However, as the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak continues to spread across our country, I hoped I could be of any assistance," Li said. Therefore, he came up with the idea of gifting the masks to citizens, and the idea immediately won support from his family members. With the simple idea of giving the masks to people in need, Li went outside to hand them out. Because very few people visited his store during the Spring Festival holiday, he carried the masks to the railway station where there was a large flow of travelers. At the same time, Li's family, his mother and his 9-year-old daughter, also handed out free masks to pedestrians at the store. Starting from Jan. 26, free masks were handed out at Li's storefront as well as outside the Baotou Donghe Railway Station. When the masks were first taken out, everyone thought they were for sale. Yet regardless of who might ask how much they were selling for, Li would say, "For free." Many of those who took the masks would say a hearty "thank you" to him. "Their warm words make me feel very happy," Li said. When asked whether he had ever thought about selling those masks, Li answered, "I didn't think that much, I just wanted to render a little assistance to other people." While most people stay at home in the midst the public health crisis, Li Hui and his family chose to put themselves in harm's way in an endless stream of people to help fight the contagious virus. "Generally, I give about two masks to each person, and more to taxi drivers and bus drivers because they will inevitable be in contact with many more passengers, Li said. The story of Li Hui immediately went viral on Chinese social media and his deed of giving away 20,000 masks to the public for free has won high praise from netizens. In fact, Li did not realize that he had already become a cyber celebrity. He only had a simple idea in his mind -- he hopes the coronavirus can be conquered quickly and wishes all the best to everyone around him, to Wuhan and to the entire country. Air India has kept a 423-seater jumbo plane ready in Mumbai to evacuate Indian citizens stuck in China's Wuhan city due to the coronavirus outbreak. The airline is expected to operate a flight using Boeing 747. Earlier, India's civil aviation regulator DGCA gave its clearance to the airline to operate the Mumbai-Delhi-Wuhan flight. The government sources said, "the aircraft is ready with all necessary resources like the team of doctors and paramedical staff with a sufficient number of masks for the passengers as well as the cockpit and cabin crew". The major worry with regards to evacuating Indians from Wuhan and other affected areas is about screening the people boarding the flight. Moreover, the passengers have to be constantly monitored during the flight and have to be quarantined after reaching Delhi. "Do we have the required infrastructure to deal with this? The aircraft, crew and the passengers from Wuhan have to be isolated and only after ruling out infection they are to be allowed to leave," a source said. He added that it is a complicated issue as India cannot shrug off its responsibility. "So, infected or not infected, they have to be brought back," the source said. The new virus, which is of the same genre as SARS which broke out in 2003, was first reported in the WHO Disease Outbreak news on January 5, 2020. It has progressively spread across many countries from its epicentre in Wuhan. In a bid to curb the spread of the virus, Chinese authorities have closed transportation services across many parts of the country, including Wuhan. The new virus has spread at a much faster pace than the 2003 SARS epidemic. Wuhan is the hub of transport and industry in central China. What appeared to be a White House bid to stop former national security adviser John Bolton from publishing his book, which may have explosive claims about his interactions with President Trump, is really just a standard letter regarding classification review, according to legal experts, albeit one launched into the middle of a high-stakes political struggle. On Wednesday, multiple news organizations reported that a National Security Council official had written to Boltons attorney one week ago stating that his forthcoming book contained information classified at the top-secret level and that it may not be published or otherwise disclosed without the deletion of this classified information. While the letter may not be a direct bid to stop publication, it is still a significant development in the confrontation between the White House and Bolton, with implications for the ongoing Senate impeachment trial, since it raises the issue of what the former national security adviser could be allowed to divulge publicly. Based on our preliminary review, the manuscript appears to contain significant amounts of classified information, wrote Ellen J. Knight, the NSC senior director for records, access and information security management. It also appears that some of this classified information is at the TOP SECRET level. In the event that Bolton appears as a witness in the impeachment trial or his manuscript is subpoenaed, Knights determination that his manuscript contains significant classified material could buttress calls from Republican senators to conceal his information from the public. Bolton late last year had submitted his manuscript for the White Houses prepublication review process, which gives the government the opportunity to redact classified information. His attorney, Charles J. Cooper, wrote in a Dec. 30 letter that Ambassador Bolton has carefully sought to avoid any discussion in the manuscript of sensitive compartmented information or other classified information. Story continues Some of the manuscripts contents burst into public view in recent days after the New York Times reported that Bolton had written, among other things, that Trump had ordered the withholding of foreign aid to Ukraine until the country acceded to his request for investigations into Joe Biden and his son Hunter and the hack of a Democratic National Committee server during the 2016 election. That alleged quid pro quo is now a central issue in the impeachment trial. John Bolton and his book, due out in March. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: AP [2], Amazon) The first New York Times story about Boltons manuscript appeared three days after the date of Knights letter. Initial reports about Knights letter implied that the White House had threatened to keep Bolton from publishing his book in any form. If true, that would raise the specter that the White House might try to use untested arguments based on executive privilege or other doctrines to stop the presses at Boltons publisher altogether, setting up a major First Amendment conflict. However, when the text of Knights letter came to light, attorneys familiar with the federal governments prepublication review process described it as a fairly routine communication in the management of classified information. Under well settled existing US law, the only info that US govt can censor in prepub cases is that which is classified, Mark S. Zaid, an attorney who handles national security issues, wrote in an email to Yahoo News, using a shorthand for prepublication review. Zaid represents the anonymous whistleblower whose complaint last year sparked the ongoing impeachment proceedings. Of course, this is why you submit for prepub review and go through the process lawfully, Zaids partner, Bradley P. Moss, wrote on Twitter after the letters text had emerged. If you publish without getting review approval, and they find classified info, you face criminal or civil liability. While Knights letter received significant attention due to the political environment surrounding Trumps impeachment trial, Moss told Yahoo News it was not an unusual development. Ive seen countless similar letters, he said. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the letter. Responding to a question in the Senate impeachment trial Wednesday afternoon about whether the White House has sought to block Boltons book, Trumps attorney Patrick Philbin criticized initial reports about the Knight letter, saying that there was some misinformation put out into the public realm earlier today. Philbin then read the Knight letter to the senators. Government employees with security clearances are required to sign an agreement not to divulge classified information and not to publish any information relating to their work without prior clearance. There are criminal penalties for mishandling classified information; moreover, if clearance holders fail to submit to the prepublication review process, the government may seize the proceeds of their books or other publications. The Supreme Court upheld these agreements in a 1970s case, Snepp v. United States, allowing the government to seize the proceeds of a book published by a CIA agent without the agencys approval. The issue was revisited last fall when excerpts of a book by former CIA case officer Amaryllis Fox appeared, containing information about the CIAs methods that the agency usually seeks to redact, including its ways of communicating with sources. Fox reportedly had not submitted her manuscript to the prepublication review process before it was published; its unclear whether she will face any civil or criminal penalties. While its still unclear what exactly Bolton says in his book, its clear that it will not paint Trump in a good light. On Wednesday, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel disclosed for the first time that Bolton had encouraged him and his committee in a private phone call to look into the removal of Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch from the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv. The call occurred on Sept. 23, 2019, according to Engel, a few weeks after Bolton left his post as national security adviser, and at a time when the investigations prompted by the whistleblower complaint were ramping up. Bolton strongly implied that something improper had occurred around her removal as our top diplomat in Kiev, Engel said in a statement. Presumably those details and others are in the book, which according to its Amazon page is due out in mid-March. But the prepublication review process could frustrate his publishers desire to meet that date. Bolton still has to wait until the manuscript is approved, Zaid told Yahoo News in a text message. In my 25 years of experience, my clients often spend 1-3 years waiting for approval, but senior officials often see much quicker reviews, although the books usually arent negative. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: In a world first, Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort is giving guests an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend the night observing Thailands majestic elephants in their natural habitat while staying in unique transparent Jungle Bubbles. Unfolding across 160 acres of Northern Thailands ancient jungle, Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort is perched on a hill overlooking the Mekong and Ruak rivers. The secluded location is exclusively positioned to take in majestic three country views over the confluence of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, and grazing elephants in the most stunning of natural settings below. Located in the jungle, the two Jungle Bubbles are perched on raised wooden decks offering uninterrupted views of the elephants, as well as stargazing at night. The Jungle Bubbles were custom designed by Eye In The Sky and are constructed with high tech polyester fabric using exclusive Precontraint Serge Ferrari technology to create an milieu in which guests can enjoy an immersive, close-to-nature experience. The well-appointed bubble accommodation is fully air-conditioned, offering 22 square metres of indoor floor space; a 4.5-diameter bedroom and living space with a king bed and seating area under a transparent roof; and an enclosed, nontransparent en-suite shower and vanity. Guests at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort can purchase the Jungle Bubble experience as an optional activity and spend the night from dusk till dawn, returning to the hotel in the morning. Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort is world famous for its elephant camp that, along with the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF), were set up primarily to help elephants that cannot help themselves: for those that find themselves, through abuse or through circumstance, unable to provide and maintain an income for themselves, for their mahouts and their families. Read the full press release (Bloomberg) -- Leon Li is the rarest of Chinese crypto magnates -- one whos won Beijings backing. The founder of Huobi Group is now set to play a pivotal role in Chinas effort to build a homegrown crypto-industry. The former Oracle Corp. coder, who started one of the worlds largest Bitcoin exchanges six years ago, enjoys unusual access to Chinas central bank and government officials thanks to methodical engagement and measured expansion. While rivals Binance and OKEx irked regulators by stoking Bitcoin mania, Li curried favor by discouraging speculation, co-founding the countrys first state-backed blockchain platform along the way. Huobi even set up a Communist Party committee in-house -- a first for any crypto firm. Thats why, keen to explore homegrown alternatives to Facebook Inc.s Libra and a Western-led blockchain, Chinese central bank and government officials are turning to Li -- among others -- to help develop a local blueprint for crypto supremacy. The still-nascent blockchain arena offers the worlds second-largest economy a rare chance to become an early influencer. Washingtons concerted campaign to contain China has only strengthened Beijings resolve to wean itself off American technology. Once in a lifetime, said Li, a bookish-looking 36-year-old with thick black glasses. Its my hope that well not just be a participant but a driver, even the leader of blockchain history. Read more: Why Chinas Rushing to Mint Its Own Digital Currency: QuickTake Li co-founded Huobi in the fall of 2013 and later received backing from well-connected ZhenFund and Sequoia China. But the tale of how he and Huobi came to occupy its privileged position really begins in 2017, at the height of Beijings paranoia about the potential for unchecked Bitcoin speculation to foment social upheaval. Word trickled down to Li in the summer of that year that officials were preparing a major crackdown on the industry. His instinct was to rush back from medical leave and instruct his team to get Huobis almost 2 million registered users to withdraw their funds. But he also began delivering daily progress reports to local regulators and briefed officials whenever requested. Story continues Watching his counterparts collapse like dominoes, he realized that regulators meant life-or-death in his world. Lis since made it his mission to get on Beijings good side, from hosting seminars and classes for officials to organizing conferences under the auspices of local government. In addition to consulting for the Peoples Bank of China on Libra, Huobi more recently threw itself behind research into blockchain applications that serve the real economy -- a passion project of President Xi Jinping. Its one of 14 founding members of Chinas first state-backed blockchain platform -- an effort led by the countrys top economic planner that will power everything from storing digital contracts to tracing food and drug deliveries. Other members include state enterprises like China Telecom Corp. and China UnionPay Co. Huobi could play an important role in the local crypto industry, because authorities would probably prefer to see trade go through an entity that they trust, rather than being pushed underground, said Emily Parker, co-founder of Asia-focused blockchain data site and incubator LongHash. Good relations with Beijing could be viewed as a sign of stability, as well as a local advantage over a company like Binance, which does not appear to enjoy the same level of trust. Those years of cultivation paid off during a late-2019 clampdown. While Binance and its co-founder got tossed off Chinese microblogging site Weibo and other outfits got shut down, Huobi emerged unscathed. As the crackdown wound down in December, Li hosted a days-long conference on the fast-liberalizing southern island of Hainan that serves as his second base after Beijing, in a show of support for local government efforts to become a global hub for blockchain technology. At the event, Li pledged to lend his companys cloud and blockchain expertise to nations participating in Xis signature Belt and Road Initiative, and called on his country to counter Libra. From the perspective of safeguarding national financial sovereignty, autonomy and control are really important issues, he told delegates. Can we rely on ourselves to build something as good as Libra? A spokeswoman for Binance said its larger user base is among its key advantages over Huobi. OKEx representatives declined to comment for this story. Read more: From Pigs to Party Fealty, China Harnesses Blockchain Power In the years since Binance and other competitors fled China, Huobi was one of the few major crypto businesses that stayed put and thrived. True, he moved Huobis main exchange business to Singapore. But the companys blockchain consultancy and training arm, Huobi China, remains in-country and around 100 staffers work out of sleek offices built on reclaimed wasteland on Hainan. That unit -- which the company says is profitable -- has instructed more than 1,000 students from Party cadres to executives at state-owned and private companies. Huobis own senior executives, Li included, are based in Beijing, as are key teams from coding to business development. His exchange is estimated to have raked in roughly $680 million in revenue for 2019, according to Bloomberg calculations of data by Huobi on token buybacks. Success has come at a cost of personal freedom for Li, who was born into a working-class family in central China and graduated from Beijings prestigious Tsinghua University -- Xis alma mater. After China shut down exchange trading, the heads of Chinese crypto platforms were reported to have been banned from departing the country. Li said hes never received any official notice prohibiting him from leaving China but hes chosen not to, unsure of the risks that would entail. In the longer term, his companys closeness with Beijing could also be a liability. Huobi may be aiming for a global leadership role in the industry by molding to regulatory requirements, said Matthew Graham, chief executive officer of Sino Global Capital, a Beijing-based blockchain consultancy. Certainly one risk is that this could lead to a loss of trust with overseas customers. To contact the reporters on this story: Zheping Huang in Hong Kong at zhuang245@bloomberg.net;Colum Murphy in Beijing at cmurphy270@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Peter Elstrom at pelstrom@bloomberg.net, Edwin Chan 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. A group known as Coalition of Progressive Yoruba Islamic Groups (COPYIG) has described Ishaq Akintola, director of Muslim Rights Conce... A group known as Coalition of Progressive Yoruba Islamic Groups (COPYIG) has described Ishaq Akintola, director of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), as a big threat to southern Nigeria. Reacting to Akintolas call for the rebranding of Amotekun, a regional security outfit, COPYIG alleged that Akintola has an agenda to tear the country apart. The MURIC director had said Amotekun has a biblical origin. He had also accused governors who floated the outfit of recruiting only Christians into Amotekun which he described as a militia. The Western Nigeria Security Network is code-named Amotekun, Yoruba word for leopard. Mukthar Okunade, national coordinator of the coalition, said Akintola is promoting rebellion against Yoruba people. It is unfortunate that one Akintola who leads MURIC has consistently fan embers of disunity in Yorubaland hiding under the guise of Islam to set brothers against brothers, communities against communities and men against women, he said. Akintola has no followers. He is an extremist and a sadist. He appears to have suicide instinct. We urge him not to attempt to drag the entire Yoruba along on his pathway of mischief and treachery against the Yoruba people. In his riotous mind, blind rage and in a show of complete lack of wisdom, he claimed Amotekun is a Christian outfit. This shows how shallow and irresponsible Akintola is. The head of Amotekun in Ogun state is a retired AIG, Subair; the man in charge of Amotekun in Ondo state is Aliu Tijani, a retired senior police officer, the person in charge of Amotekun in Ekiti State is Chief Jinadu. Aare Ona Kakanfo Iba Gani Adams who has been supporting Amotekun is a Muslim. The Alaafin Oyo who backs Amotekun is a Muslim. We caution Akintola to halt is hatred for the Yoruba Nation.We urge him to learn to read books and bail himself out of his state of psychological disorder. Akintola is a big threat to Southern Nigeria, especially the Yoruba, Igbo and South South who owe the key to the liberation of Southern Nigeria from Fulani stranglehold The coalition also called on the Lagos State University (LASU) to sack Akintola, describing his ideas as injurious to the search for knowledge in any decent society. By ANI NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday fixed a 10-day period for concluding the hearing on the petition seeking women's entry into Sabarimala temple, mosques, and Parsi Agiyari. A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde, was hearing the petitions pertaining to the discrimination against women at places of worship. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta mentioned the matter before the top court and said that all the lawyers from various parties in the case sat together and discussed the issue but could not reach a consensus on the matter, which is to be heard by a 9-judge constitution bench. The Supreme Court had on January 13 said that it will only hear the questions referred to in the review order passed by it in November last year in the Sabarimala temple case, which allowed women and girls of all age groups to visit the shrine in Kerala. The top court had in November last year, observed that the entry of women into places of worship is not just limited to the Sabarimala temple but also includes issues like allowing Muslim and Parsi women to enter religious practice. The court is hearing a clutch of petitions seeking reconsideration of its September 2018 judgment that lifted the bar on menstruating women from worshipping in the Sabarimala temple in Kerala. The apex court in a landmark 4:1 ruling had set aside decades-old restrictions on the entry of women of menstruating age inside the temple. The verdict had sparked a series of protests across the state, which eventually led to the filing of several petitions seeking review of the top court's order challenging the authority of the court to intervene in a belief of the people. (ANI) Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 22:25:16|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close A tank of Syrian army is seen in Maarat al-Numan city, Idlib Province, Syria, on Jan. 29, 2020. Following days of an intense military operation, the Syrian army captured Maarat al-Numan, the second largest city in Idlib Province in northwestern Syria, the Syrian army said Wednesday. (Str/Xinhua) DAMASCUS, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Following days of an intense military operation, the Syrian army captured Maarat al-Numan, the second largest city in Idlib Province in northwestern Syria, the Syrian army said Wednesday. In a statement, the Syrian army announced the capture of the strategic city of Maarat al-Numan and 28 villages and towns from the rebels in the southern countryside of Idlib over the past days. The Syrian army will continue to fight "terror groups" until liberating all the Syrian areas, the statement added. Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said the Syrian forces carried out over 6,000 airstrikes and ground shelling on Maarat al-Numan and its surrounding areas over the past four days. A total of 75,000 civilians have fled their homes from the same area over the past few days as a result of the military showdown there, according to the Britain-based monitor. Capturing Maarat al-Numan is a key step toward securing the Hama-Aleppo road from the rebels as part of an agreement reached in the Russian city of Sochi in 2018, as the road extends all the way south to the Syrian capital Damascus. Since the Hama-Aleppo road is under rebels' control, people have travelled to Aleppo through another extension of the road. The army is now considering the recapture of the entire road between Hama and Aleppo as a top priority, in order to restore the travel route from Damascus to Aleppo to the pre-war time without a detour. The Palestinian leadership has roundly rejected Donald Trumps long-awaited peace plan for the Middle East calling it the slap of the century. The deal, released with a flourish on Tuesday, is widely seen to meet Israels key demands in the decades-old conflict while creating a Palestinian state with limited control over its own security and borders. Flanked by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr Trump unveiled the so-called deal of the century from the White House calling it a win-win for everyone. Together we can bring about a new dawn in the Middle East, he said to rounds of applause. Mr Netanyahu, who agreed to endorse the deal, heaped praise on Mr Trump for being the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House. Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Show all 18 1 /18 Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian protesters burn pictures of US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a demonstration in the West Bank against the expected peace plan proposal AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan US President and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announce Trump's Middle East peace plan in the White House AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Reuters Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Reuters Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AP Its a great plan for Israel and a great plan for peace, he said beaming. But the usually fractured Palestinian leadership were quick to join forces in their condemnation of the agreement calling it nonsense. The 181-page document carves out a Palestinian state in Gaza and parts of the West Bank but would allow Israel to annex the Jordan Valley and nearly all of its settlements in the occupied territory. It places the contested city of Jerusalem under complete Israeli control, offering the Palestinians a capital in the eastern outskirts of the city that are currently behind the Israeli barrier. The plan also denies the right of return of Palestinian refugees into lands they fled or were forced from decades ago that are now inside Israel. It said that Israel will maintain security responsibility for the future state of Palestine that had to be demilitarised. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, who was not consulted in the drafting process and who cut ties with Washington years ago, said the Palestinian people would not accept the deal or surrender. I say to Trump and Netanyahu: Jerusalem is not for sale; all our rights are not for sale and are not for bargain. And your deal, the conspiracy, will not pass, Mr Abbas said in a televised address in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. He said it is impossible for any Palestinian, Arab, Muslim or Christian child to accept a state without Jerusalem. Israel captured the eastern part of the city along with the West Bank and Gaza in a 1967 war. He called the deal nonsense and urged Palestinians to resist the plan through peaceful, popular means. Recommended Trump releases map of proposed Israel Palestine state borders We say a thousand nos to the deal of the century, he concluded. In a rare show of unity, Mr Abbas held an emergency meeting with other Palestinian factions, including chief rivals Hamas, the militant group that runs Gaza, to discuss a unified response to the plan. Ismail Haniyeh, Hamass political leader, also expressed his wish that Palestinians should stand side by side, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. At a protest in Gaza, senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya re-iterated the unified front and said all options are open in responding to the Trump administrations plan. We are certain that our Palestinian people will not let these conspiracies pass. So, all options are open. The [Israeli] occupation and the US administration will bear the responsibility for what they did, he said. Despite significant resistance from the Palestinians who were not invited to Tuesdays conference, Mr Trump pressed ahead with the launch of the plan which he claimed would create 1 million new Palestinian jobs and wipe out poverty in the groups areas. Many speculated that the timing of the plan hinged on the US domestic political schedule: it was tabled just an hour before Mr Trumps impeachment trial in the Senate was slated to resume. White House aides acknowledged portraying a close relationship with Israel should help assuage his conservative base. Political strategists say he will need a big turnout from that bloc in six or seven key battleground states to secure a second term as president. It also helped Mr Netanyahu who is campaigning for re-election himself under the shadow of three corruption cases: he was formally indicted just hours before the peace plan press conference started. Mr Netanyahu thanked Mr Trump for being the first US president to recognise all Israeli settlements in the West Bank. They are deemed illegal under international law. His spokesperson later said he will ask his cabinet on Sunday to approve his plan to immediately annex the Jordan Valley, prompting praise from Israel but further uproar from the Palestinians. The Palestinian leadership cut contact with the US two years ago after Washington announced it would move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, recognising the city as Israels capital. The US administration further angered the Palestinians by slashing all Palestinian aid and funding to the United Nationss Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA. They have previously denounced a $50bn economic revival plan laid out by Mr Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner last July which steered clear of confirming Palestinian right to statehood. On Tuesday before details of the plan was even revealed, thousands of Palestinians staged rallies in Gaza and the West Bank. Sporadic clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinian protesters erupted in the afternoon. A member in the Fatah Revolutionary Council even threatened that a new intifada or uprising could be the only choice for the Palestinians in an interview with The Independent. We are left with no choices but a new Intifada, Mohamed al-Laham said. The unacceptable conditions in the plan and the silence we receive from most of our Arab neighbours tie our hands and promote violence, he added. According to sources in Ramallah, young activists in the Fatah Youth Movement, which has direct links to the Palestinian Authoritys leadership are on their toes due to increasing calls for protests. Netanyahu is setting fire in the whole peace settlement, and he will be burnt by it, Mr Laham said. Meanwhile, in Gaza City crowds shouting, Trump is a fool, Palestine is not for sale! waved Palestinian flags while they burnt pictures of Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu. Mr Abbas and Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh had called on Arab envoys to boycott the peace plan. However, Mr Trump noted during Tuesdays press conference that Oman, Bahrain and the UAEs ambassadors were present. There was a divided response from the region with countries including Turkey and Jordan largely dismissing the plan while the Emirates cautioned against rejecting it. A key witness failed to corroborate corruption allegations at the heart of the trial of Eni SpA and Royal Dutch Shell Plc over a Nigerian oil deal, potentially bolstering the companies defense in one of the industrys biggest graft cases. Testimony from Isaac Eke, a high-ranking retired Nigerian police officer, at a court in Milan offered no evidence to back up claims from former Eni manager Vincenzo Armanna that the proceeds from the 2011 transaction were distributed as cash bribes. The failure of what could have been a key prosecution witness helps Shell and Eni, whose Chief Executive Officer Claudio Descalzi is among the accused. Both companies, and the current and former executives that are also defendants, have consistently denied any wrongdoing. Shell reiterated that position on Wednesday and had no further comment. Eni wasnt immediately able to respond to a request for comment. At the center of the case is the $1.1 billion payment Shell and Eni made to the Nigerian government for Oil Prospecting License 245 in the Gulf of Guinea. Prosecutors allege that most of this money was subsequently redistributed as bribes to company and government officials in the West African country. Armanna, who is also a defendant in the trial, has alleged that a bodyguard working at then-President Goodluck Jonathans villa, said to be Eke, showed him pictures of trolleys full of cash being taken to a private jet. Eke told the court he had never set foot in the residence and didnt meet Armanna until three years after the alleged events took place. At one point, the judge interrupted cross-examination to prevent the witness potentially incriminating himself for making false statements to the court. The testimony effectively reversed statements in a document signed by Eke previously submitted to the court. The originally submitted letter said Eke was introduced to Armanna at a dinner in 2009 and was told he was the main point of contact for Agip Nigeria, Enis unit in the country. The letter says Eke is willing to testify, but that there will be no press coverage and identity must be protected. In the court room, Eke said that while he had signed the letter, it was written by a friend. Eke also testified that a mutual friend told him Armanna would pay for his trip to Milan and the accommodation, but eventually he covered the expenses from his own funds. The former police officer said he came to the trial unaware that it was a criminal proceeding. The judge denied a request from Armannas lawyer to cross-examine Eke directly. Twists and turns This is the second time prosecutors have failed to corroborate Armannas allegations. A witness called in December, who was said to be the presidential bodyguard, turned out to be the wrong person. Eke was one of the prosecutions last two witnesses, and the trial in Milan will now go into its final phase with concluding arguments from both sides before a verdict in the coming months. The Italian legal system is notoriously slow, with lengthy deliberations and repeated opportunities for appeals after the initial verdict. It is not infrequent for the statute of limitations to kick in before a final conviction has been reached. The case has had many twists and turns. In September 2018, two middlemen were found guilty of corruption in a separate fast-track trial related to OPL 245. Emeka Obi and Gianluca Di Nardo were found to have helped arrange a payment between the companies and the Nigerian government for the license. In March 2019, a retired Swiss oil executive withdrew accusations against Shell and Eni executives, saying earlier statements that they were part of a network of bribes and kickbacks had been made under pressure. While the criminal trial in Milan is in its final months, the dispute has spread to courtrooms across Europe. In a London lawsuit, the Nigerian government is seeking more than $1 billion in damages and the rights to revoke the license from Shell and Eni. In the Netherlands, where Shell is headquartered, the company has said it is facing prosecution from the public prosecutors office. At least 13 members of Afghanistans security forces have been killed when Taliban fighters attacked checkpoints in the northern province of Kunduz, officials say. The militants launched the attack in Dasht-e Archi district overnight, Safiullah Amiri, a member of the provincial council, said on January 29. Eight soldiers and at least four policemen were injured in the fighting while at least three others were taken captive by the Taliban, according to Amiri and an unidentified security source. District Governor Saduddin Sayyed said the clashes continued through the morning. Sayyed said the attackers seized weapons but said the checkpoints were now back under the control of government forces. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which came a day after at least 10 police officers were killed in a Taliban assault on a police station in the northern province of Baghlan. Meanwhile, Afghan special forces freed 62 security forces from a Taliban prison in the northwestern province of Badghis, the Defense Ministry said on January 29. It said five militants were detained during the overnight operation, while several others were killed or wounded. Najmuddin Burhani, a spokesman for Badghiss governor, told RFE/RL that those freed had been held by the militant group for more than a year. The Taliban has not immediately commented. U.S. and Taliban negotiators earlier this month kicked off another round of talks aimed at putting an end to the 18-year war in Afghanistan. Based on reporting by dpa, TOLOnews, AFP, and RFE/RLs Radio Free Afghanistan The protest in Shaheen Bagh is "totally communal" and has left others worried, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said on Wednesday as he defended the controversial comments of BJP leaders during the Delhi poll campaign, arguing they stand for the country's integrity while the other side is "against" it. Here to campaign for the BJP, Rupani in an interview to PTI also spoke against the Arvind Kejriwal government's freebies like free power and free transport, saying states cannot progress through such "cheap popularity" and that money should be spent in building infrastructure and schemes to boost people's income. Slamming the anti-CAA protests, especially in Shaheen Bagh here, Rupani said they serve no purpose and are meant to "mislead and instigate" people despite statements from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah that the amended citizenship law is not about taking away anybody's citizenship. "Who are the people sitting there (Shaheen Bagh)? Which community do they belong to? Why are they sitting there? It is totally communal. So it is natural that others are worried. "Unfortunately, people who are working against the country's integrity are behind the Shaheen Bagh protest. For this reason, it has become an issue in the Delhi polls. People of Delhi are worried and are thinking of national interest while those part of 'tukde tukde' have communalised the protest," he said. He blamed the Congress, Kejriwal and groups linked to JNU for the protest. The BJP has been pulling out all the stops to oust the ruling Aam Aadmi Party from power, with its top brass pitchforking the Shaheen Bagh protest at the centre of their intensive campaign which has seen participation of its senior leaders, including chief ministers and Union ministers besides Home Minster Amit Shah and party president J P Nadda. Asked about the controversial comments of some BJP leaders, including a slogan raised by Union minister Anurag Thakur, Rupani shot back, asking what about slogans personally targeting Modi and Shah. The Election Commission has ordered removal of Thakur and BJP MP Parvesh Verma as star campaigners of the party over their objectionable remarks. "Let's not confine it to controversies. You should also consider underlying ideologies. Issues of nationalism and national interest are being spoken about by one side (BJP) while the other side is taking about breaking up the country," Rupani said. He added that Kejriwal should go and meet Shaheen Bagh protestors as "they are your people" and stated that there is no point in BJP leaders going to meet them as their agitation is against the party. Asked about anti-CAA protests in Gujarat, which also saw participation from some students and faculty members of IIM Ahmedabad, the chief minister said only a handful of people from the institution and elsewhere in the state attended them while people anywhere between 10,000 and 25,000 participated in rallies in support of the law in many towns there. In Delhi, he said, the BJP is also fighting on development plank as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has "failed" in fulfilling most of his promises, rejecting the allegation that the saffron party is trying to polarise voters in the national capital. Asked about the AAP government's development claims, he said, "Yamuna could not be cleaned. People are getting contaminated drinking water. No new teacher has been appointed in government schools but Kejriwal claimed that he built 20,000 new classes. But where are teachers? He is totally lying about his developmental claims." To a question about freebies of the Kejriwal government, he said governments should work to empower people to alleviate poverty and not encourage the mindset of freebies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Climate activist Greta Thunberg said today she has applied to trademark her name and that of the international school strike movement she inspired. The Swedish teenager announced on Instagram today she has applied to register her name and that of the Fridays For Future movement she founded in 2018, which has gone global and catapulted her to international fame. The move is meant to protect the movement from misuse for commercial purposes. It would allow legal action against persons or companies trying to use her name or the movement's which are not in line with its values, she said. 'I assure you, I and the other school strikers have absolutely no interests in trademarks. But unfortunately it needs to be done,' she said on the social network. Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg holding up a sign featuring the slogan of her movement, 'School strike for the climate', after speaking to participants at a climate change protest in Switzerland last week Greta Thunberg leaving after a climate strike protest during the 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland Thunberg said she had also applied to trademark 'Skolstrejk for klimatet', school strike for the climate in Swedish - the wording on the placard she has held since she started her one-person protest outside the Swedish parliament in 2018, for which she missed school. She said trademark protection is needed because her name and that of the movement 'are constantly being used for commercial purposes without any consent whatsoever'. 'My name and the #FridaysForFuture movement are constantly being used for commercial purposes without any consent whatsoever. 'It happens for instance in marketing, selling of products and people collecting money in my and the movement's name,' she wrote on her Instagram account. 'Fridays For Future is a global movement founded by me,' Thunberg said. 'It belongs to anyone taking part in it, above all the young people. It can - and must - not be used for individual or commercial purposes.' Thunberg waiting for media as she arrived for a news conference at the 50th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last week Registering the trademarks was also required to receive pro bono legal assistance in taking action act against people or companies that try to use her name and the name of Fridays for Future for purposes that are not in line with that of the movement, Thunberg said. Thunberg added that she and her family also are setting up a nonprofit foundation to handle money from such things as book royalties, donations and prizes transparently. The foundation's aim 'will be to promote ecological, climatic and social sustainability as well as mental health,' she wrote. Thunberg, who took centre stage at the Global Economic Forum in Davos this month, and her fellow young activists in the movement want politicians to listen to climate scientists and take action to curb global warming. Its another election year, which means that voter ID laws are back in the news. Already, Kentucky Republican legislators introduced a new bill requiring voters to present a limited form of ID when they show up to the polls before casting a ballot. If passed, the voter ID law, which is supported by Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams, would be in place for Novembers general elections. A similar push is being made by Republican legislators in Nebraska, while implementation of North Carolinas new voter ID law was recently blocked by a federal judge for being discriminatory. North Carolinas new law was meant to replace a previous iteration struck down in 2016 for targeting African-Americans with almost surgical precision. Today, more than 30 states have adopted some type of voter ID law. Of those, 10 states have strict requirements pertaining to the forms of identification that qualify or extra steps voters without IDs must take to prove their identity. That voter ID laws keep materializing is practically maddening given all we know about them, namely that such requirements are discriminatory and virtually pointless. Besides disproportionately harming historically underrepresented groups, voter IDs are redundant and have repeatedly proven unnecessary. For instance, voters are already required to attest to their identity and eligibility when they vote. Moreover, death by lightning strike is more common than occurrences of in-person voter impersonation, the only kind of fraud voter IDs purport to prevent. Studies demonstrating the negative effects of voter ID laws are well-documented, widely reported, and have been repeated ad nauseum. Any conservative lawmaker claiming ignorance is either incompetent or lying. Or, perhaps, theres something much bigger and more nefarious at play. Ive written elsewhere that conservative lawmakers who introduce and promote voter ID laws know these laws are harmful and violate the fundamental right to vote. But why would they keep introducing a policy they know is bad to address a problem that is virtually nonexistent? Despite claims by voter ID proponents, the goal of these laws is not to protect the integrity of our elections, but rather to tip elections in their favor. By making it harder for certain groups to vote, conservative lawmakers who promote voter IDs can insulate themselves from accountability and maintain political control. It is not a coincidence that groups disproportionately affected by voter ID laws passed by conservatives generally favor progressive-leaning candidates. Voter ID requirements represent just one of many tools in a big bag of tricks conservatives rely upon to circumvent normal democratic processes and manipulate electoral outcomes. Other favorites include closing polling places in communities of color, restricting voting opportunities on college campuses, engaging in discriminatory voter purges, restricting voting rights for justice-involved people, and adopting exact-match signature requirements for absentee voting. Although not unique to conservatives, gerrymandering is another preferred ploy, as is opposing common-sense campaign finance limits. And when their attempts to keep people from voting fail, Republican legislators resort to blatant power grabs like those witnessed in Michigan and Wisconsin in the aftermath of the 2018 elections. Conservatives have long relied upon voter suppression and anti-democratic strongarm tactics to preserve their own power. This is why it was so richly ironic when Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, who has personally pushed for voter ID requirements at the federal level, penned a January 2019 op-ed condemning H.R.1, the For the People Act, as a naked attempt to change the rules of American politics to benefit one party. In fact, the act, which passed with the support of every House Democrat but (tellingly) no Republicans, would actually remove barriers to voting by undoing or neutralizing many troublesome policies such as voter ID laws conservatives have advanced as part of their real, decades-long power grab. In coming weeks and months, voters will cast ballots in consequential primary and general elections that will determine who controls the levers of political power. Uncoincidentally, during this same time, proposals for new voter ID requirements will surely increase in frequency. Although such proposals will be couched in fearmongering over baseless claims of voter fraud and other fabricated excuses dreamt up by conservatives, Americans will not be fooled. Rather than being based upon good, sound policy decisions, voter IDs true purpose and utility is to help conservatives win elections nothing more, nothing less. Danielle Root is the associate director of Voting Rights and Access to Justice at the Center for American Progress. She wrote this for InsideSources.com. New Delhi, Jan 29 : Two members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and Rehab Foundation India (RFI) were questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday over the alleged funding of Rs 120 crore for the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in several parts of the country. The ED has also sent multiple teams to Uttar Pradesh to identify the people who deposited cash into the bank accounts of the PFI and the RFI. According to the ED officials, PFI's state president Mohammed Parvez Ahmed and RFI's Shahid Abu Bakr appeared for questioning at the financial probe agency's headquarters in south Delhi's Khan market area. The ED has served summons to the PFI and RFI offices located in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh and Jamia area on Monday. The ED official said that they will be questioned about the funds received in the bank accounts of these organisations through cash transactions and through NEFT or IMPS mode of transaction. The official further said that the agency will also question them about when and why the amounts to the tune of Rs 120 crore was transferred to the associate branches of the organisations in last one month. The ED in its report to the Ministry of Home Affairs has informed that the PFI and RFI through its 73 bank accounts transferred money to the tune of Rs 120 crore to support anti-CAA and NRC protest across the country. An ED source said that it has also sent multiple teams to Uttar Pradesh to identify the people who deposited cash in the bank accounts of these organisations. The source said that the ED team will also collect the CCTV footages from the banks, where they deposited the cash on the basis of the transaction history of those accounts. According to ED officials, in several districts of western Uttar Pradesh like Hapur, Shamli, Bahraich, Bijnor, Dasna and others, amount worth Rs Rs 41.5 crore was deposited in the bank accounts associated with the PFI and the RFI. The PFI and several other senior lawyers, including Congress leader Kapil Sibal, who is said to have received Rs 77 lakh through bank cheque, has rejected the ED's charge. Sibal in his defence has said that he received the amount as litigation fee for appearing in Hadiya-Shafia Jahan marriage case in the Supreme Court. And he received the amount from August 2017 to March 2018, much before the CAA became the law in 2019. File Photo /Phil Noel / File Photo NEW HAVEN - Metro-North will host Station Talk at the New Haven station from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday. The railroads New Haven district manager welcomes comments and suggestions on your New Haven station. Springing a surprise, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Wednesday read out the references on the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) resolution passed by the state assembly, while presenting his policy address of the Left government in the House. The governor, who has been at loggerheads with the government over the anti-CAA resolution passed by the assembly and the petition moved in the Supreme court against the law, said though he has reservations and disagreement over the subject, he would read paragraph 18 of the policy address, to honour the Chief Ministers wish. Para 18 is regarding the anti CAA resolution. I am going to read this para (paragraph 18) because the Honorable Chief Minister wants me to read this, although I hold the view that this does not come under the definition of the policy or programme, he said. Watch l Kerala Governor reads anti-CAA paragraph, says hes only honouring CMS wish Referring to the recent correspondence with the CPI(M)- led LDF government in this connection, Khan said the CM himself had said in his letter that this is the view of the government. The Governor said though he disagreed on this, he was going to read the paragraph to honour the wish of Chief Minister Vijayan. Reading out the anti-CAA stand of the state government, he said, our citizenship can never be on the basis of religion as this goes against the grain of secularism which is part of the basic structure of the constitution. This august body (Kerala Assembly) unanimously passed a resolution requesting the Centre to abrogate the CAA 2019, which my government believes goes against the cardinal principles underlying our Constitution. The government has also filed a petition in the Apex court invoking Art 131 of the constitution, he noted. Strong states and strong centre are pillars of our federalism. The voices of genuine apprehension of the state needs to be considered by the central government in the right spirit, keeping broad national interest in mind particularly when constitutional values are involved and there are widespread anxieties and apprehensions among a large number of citizens, he added. "Tina and Rick's gift is a historic investment in our school, in our students and in our endowment. Their generosity to Loyola will affect generations of Cubs to come," said Fr. Gregory M. Goethals, SJ '73. "To inspire our students to become future leaders, we must be able to provide them with state-of-the-art facilities that contribute to a thriving educational and spiritual community. Once completed, the 1901 Venice Boulevard Project will transform our campus." The 1901 Venice Boulevard Project includes the building of Caruso Hall, formerly known as Xavier Center, from the ground up. The 26,188 sq. ft. Caruso Hall will be used for more than 200 events a year. It will include: a dedicated sacristy to service liturgies; hidden operable walls that transform the Grand Hall into three separate rooms with multi-area capacity for AP testing and/or events; state-of-the art integrated communications and AV equipment; a full-service banquet kitchen, capable of serving 800 guests; a multi-purpose student kitchen; and ADA-compliant restrooms. The 1901 Venice Boulevard Project will also enhance Hayden Circle with a new front entrance gate and eco-friendly landscaping as well as a Graduate-at-Graduation Walkway that showcases the attributes Loyola students aspire to have once they graduate. In addition, a Veterans' Memorial will be erected in tribute to Cubs who have served and are serving our country. The Caruso Scholar endowment reflects Rick and Tina's long legacy of supporting educational institutions that help transform the lives of children living in poverty throughout southern California. This particular program offers high-performing, low-income students access to the world-class curriculum offered at Loyola and enhances the school's commitment to an already diverse student body. "Through my work on Loyola's Board and as the parent of a Cub graduate, not only have I witnessed firsthand the academic excellence this institution instills in all its students, but equally as important - the spiritual growth that is integral to turning young men into positive contributors to society," said Mr. Caruso. "Tina and I are proud to be part of the reimagining of the southwestern part of Loyola's 21-acre campus as well as supporting promising students from low-income neighborhoods in their pursuit of a quality high school education." Beginning in the 2020-2021 academic year, Loyola will have its first Caruso Scholar who will enjoy a four-year scholarship, fully endowed by the Caruso Family Foundation. The student will be chosen based upon the following criteria: Demonstration of Financial Need Demonstration of Academic Achievement Family Support and Commitment to Higher Education Underserved Local Areas About Loyola High School Celebrating its 154th anniversary as the oldest continually operated educational institution in Southern California, Loyola High School of Los Angeles is an academically rigorous Jesuit college preparatory, located just west of downtown Los Angeles and counts with more than 16,000 alumni. Loyola's student body of over 1,250 young men represents a remarkable geographic diversity, drawing on over 215 zip codes from throughout and beyond Los Angeles County. The school is also ethnically diverse with more than 45 percent of the student body of Latino, Asian-Pacific or African-American descent. To enable students to achieve the goal of being "Men for and with Others," Loyola students must complete at least 140 hours of community service work before graduation, with many contributing nearly 200 hours. Over the past two decades, Loyola students have donated more than 1.7 million hours of community service, primarily to inner-city schools, neighborhoods and agencies. Please visit us at http://www.loyolahs.edu. Contact: Maite Saralegui Berry Loyola High School of Los Angeles [email protected] 213.381.5121, x 1313 (O) 213.500.2122 (M) SOURCE Loyola High School of Los Angeles Related Links http://www.loyolahs.edu/ Phnom Penh All parties in the Kem Sokha trial spent a majority of the afternoon session on Wednesday squabbling over minor procedural issues and taking offense at comments made in court, with the presiding judge even calling a defense lawyer arrogant. As the afternoon session resumed, there was little discussion about the subject at hand - Kem Sokhas time as the head of the Human Rights Party. The defense, prosecution and government lawyers went around in circles misrepresenting each others comments and quibbling over minor details in the case. At one point, Ang Oudom, a new lawyer on Kem Sokhas legal team, was called arrogant by presiding judge Kuy Sao and asked to go back and learn the criminal code. Ang Oudom had asked the presiding judge to explain the procedural roles of all parties and other practices pertaining to a trial, eliciting quick reactions from the presiding judge. In a back-and-forth with defense lawyer Meng Sopheary, government lawyer Ky Tech said the defense got angry when their procedural mistakes were pointed out. They get angry when we point it out, he said. The judge should have strict implementation of the internal policy of the court. Ky Tech and Ly Chanthola also took offence to the defenses suggestion that the prosecution and government lawyers were working in cahoots against Kem Sokha. Can you show me the proof of this? he asked the defense. The little time the court spent on Kem Sokhas activities, as the head of the Human Rights Party, also did not reveal much evidence or information about how it pertained to the charge of treason. Calvert Batchelor, 37, attacked PC Paul Newman after being cornered by police (Picture: West Midlands Police) A gunman who forced a police officers head underwater during an escape bid has been jailed. Calvert Batchelor, 37, attacked PC Paul Newman after being cornered by officers near a small stream when he fled a traffic stop in Walsall on July 17 last year. When he realised hed run into a dead-end, he lunged at the policeman, gouging his eyes and grabbing his mouth so hard he punctured a hole under the officers tongue, West Midlands Police said. During the struggle both men fell in the brook, where the veteran traffic officers head was forced underwater, leaving him fearing for his life. A loaded Glock-style blank-firing pistol was found in the suspect's car (Picture: West Midlands Police) Batchelor was eventually hand-cuffed on the banks of the brook by PC Newman and a colleague. Police searched his car and in the drivers side pocket found a loaded Glock-style blank-firing pistol, illegally converted to fire potentially lethal live ammunition. Batchelor, of Newtown, Birmingham, admitted possession of a gun and ammunition and wounding at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday. He was jailed for nine years and four months. PC Newman, an officer with 20 years on the force, has still not returned to policing. Calvert Batchelor was jailed at Wolverhampton Crown Court (Picture: PA) Chief Inspector Rachel Joyce, of the Central Motorway Police Group, said: This was a grotesque, violent attack on a brave police officer. PC Newman suffered nasty facial injuries and is still managing the long-term psychological impact of being involved in such a traumatic incident. READ MORE YAHOO UK NEWS HERE: Police sniffer dog helps man find wedding ring he threw out after row with wife School bus with 20 children on board crashes into barber shop in Sheffield Pictured: Louis Johnson, 16, who was killed outside East Croydon station Attacks like this are totally unacceptable and we will always push for the toughest possible penalty against anyone who abuses our staff. Im glad the courts have recognised the severity of this incident and handed Batchelor a long jail term. We all wish Paul the very best in his continued recovery and hope to welcome him back to the police family when he is ready. Lev Parnas, the indicted sidekick of Rudy Giuliani, arrived on Capitol Hill Wednesday for Donald Trump's impeachment trial but watched the proceedings from a 'safe' location instead of the Senate visitors gallery. Parnas could not enter the Senate chamber because of a GPS tracking device attached to his leg. No electronics are allowed during the trial. After he and his attorney Joseph Bondy picked up tickets from Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer's office, Bondy said his client would be watching from a 'safe' place while he watched from the Senate chamber. In a bizarre twist, Ted Cruz tweeted that Parnas had been 'ejected' from the public gallery, even though the indicted Soviet-born former Trump had not in fact tried to enter it. Cruz's tweet was apparently designed to imply he was an eyewitness and said: 'Minutes ago, Parnas was ejected from the gallery...because he's wearing an ankle bracelet mandated bc he's a criminal defendant accused of serious felonies! #CantMakeItUp' In fact no eyewitness saw such a scene raising the possibility that Cruz had in fact made it up. Lev Parnas and his attorney Joseph Bondy arrive on Capitol Hill Selfie time: The Rudy Giuliani sidekick perhaps best known for his selfies with Donald Trump was asked to pose with people outside the Capitol Thisis how you do it: Selfie expert Lev Parnas have an anti-Trump protester a tutorial in his favorite skill Lev Parnas and his attorney Joseph Bondy pose for - of course - a selfie in Senate Democratic minority leader Chuck Schumer's office Lev Parnas goes through a security check point at the Dirksen Senate Office Building Ankle monitor: Lev Parnas looks at his phone as he waits in Sen. Chuck Schumer's office Bondy and Parnas also told reporters on Capitol Hill that Parnas has additional recordings of the president, including some from Mar-a-Lago, with some being short videos and the other about 38 minutes long. Bondy said some of them may be released. Schumer said his office gave Parnas viewing tickets like they would do for any constituent from New York. 'His lawyer called us up and asked for tickets like many New York constituents. And we said you can get tickets. We give them out to the many New Yorkers who have asked. I'm not sure Parnas would be allowed in because of the electronics around his ankle,' he said during his press conference on Wednesday. Parnas said he was willing to testify, adding that he would be a good addition to former National Security Adviser John Bolton. 'My goal is hopefully to look at the senators and have them look at me and see that we need to call witnesses. The truth needs to come out. I'm here. I'm one of the most important witnesses. Me and John Bolton. The two of us put all the dots together,' he said. But Schumer said senators didn't need to hear from Parnas, who is facing federal charges of illegal campaign contributions. 'Lev Parnas wasn't in the room where it happens,' the senator said. Parnas got permission from a New York judge for his bail conditions to be relaxed for him to come to Washington D.C. and attend the trial. He and Bondy came down Wednesday morning via the train from New York and are expected to return later in the day. Bondy wrote in a tweet: 'Although we couldn't arrange to have Lev Parnas watch the trial with us because his GPS ankle monitor is not allowed, Lev will join us in DC tomorrow to show support for a fair trial, with witnesses & evidence.' Parnas and associate Igor Fruman had worked with Rudy Giuliani to try to convince Ukraine to announce an investigation into Joe and Hunter Biden. The two men have both been indicted. Members of the media surround Lev Parnas when he arrives on Capitol Hill Lev Parnas with Rudy Giuliani in September 2019 Parnas said he wants to testify in Donald Trump's impeachment trial Last week a tape revealed Trump 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. The video was made during a fundraiser dinner on April 30, 2018 at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC and released on Saturday by an attorney for Parnas. Parnas and Igor Fruman were present at the dinner, and Fruman made the video, an audio clip from which was previously released on Friday by ABC News. Parnas found a copy of the full video that Fruman had sent to him, according to his attorney Joseph Bondy, who released the video and is lobbying for Parnas to be called to testify at Trump's impeachment trial. The 83-minute video begins with a roving view of the place-settings at a table set for roughly 14 people, as people mingle in the background. Place cards for 'Mr. President' and Donald Trump Jr are seen in the middle of one of the long sides. Trump and his son Don Trump Jr are seen entering the room at the beginning of the dinner. The camera is then tipped to the ceiling and records audio of the rest of the dinner Trump is heard on the tape saying of Yovanovitch (above) 'Get rid of her! Get her out tomorrow. I don't care. Get her out tomorrow. Take her out. OK? Do it.' 'Some people may not want their picture taken, just be aware,' a male voice is heard warning Fruman as he roams the room with his cell phone camera. Donald Trump is then seen entering to applause, and the phone is placed on the table filming the ceiling for the remainder of the dinner. About 42 minutes into the video, 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.' Trump then appears to say, 'Where? The ambassador to Ukraine?' Parnas replies, 'Yes. She's basically walking around telling everybody 'Wait, he's gonna get impeached, just wait'.' A few seconds later, Trump appears to say, 'Get rid of her! Get her out tomorrow. I don't care. Get her out tomorrow. Take her out. OK? Do it.' After the partial audio clip of the dinner leaked on Friday, Trump defended himself, saying he had every right to fire Yovanovitch. 'I am not a fan of that ambassador,' Trump said in an interview with Fox News defending his actions on Friday. 'She wouldn't put my picture up, she was an Obama appointee I believe.' 'I make no bones about it,' he continued. 'I have every right, I want ambassadors that are chosen by me. I have a right to hire and fire ambassadors.' Yovanovitch's attorneys have already denied that she did not put his picture up. Yovanovitch was a career diplomat who had been appointed an ambassador by both George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Asked if the order to fire Yovanovitch was directed at Parnas, a fixer who arranged interviews in Ukraine for Giuliani as he pursued his freelance investigation into alleged corruption, Trump demurred. 'I would probably say it was Rudy there or somebody,' Trump responded when asked whom the order was directed at. Giuliani has no position in the federal government and is Trump's personal attorney. It was unknown until now that he was at the dinner. 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. 'He's somebody that I guess, based on pictures that I see, goes to fundraisers,' Trump commented in the Friday interview, with Raymond Arroyo. The interview ran on Fox News, where Arroyo is a contributor, but he is also an anchor on the conservative Catholic EWTN channel, which was founded by TV nun Mother Angelica. Trump also denied knowing Parnas 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.' MANASSAS, Va., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Paycheck Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sareen and Associates that has been providing HR and Payroll services to small businesses nationwide for over two decades, has expanded its service offering this month. The HR/Payroll services provider has added the following to its business services menu: Paycheck Inc. Workers Comp 401k Timekeeping and Attendance ESS (Employee Self-Service Portal) Payroll Direct Deposit Option For Employees Arun Sareen, the president of Paycheck Inc., stated, "For us, it's always been all about service and making it easier for small business owners to manage their business and stay in regulatory compliance while doing so, and, to do this in the background, quietly, requiring a minimum of effort on the business owner's part. We've been doing this for 23 years now, nationwide. We pay people the right amounts, on time, and keep our clients out of trouble with all the regulatory entities." "Now, we're excited and proud to offer a more expansive array of HR and Payroll Services that are designed to work in the same way, with minimal effort on the client's part and maximum convenience, while providing our customary excellent service quality." "And we don't require our clients to take a bundle that contains services they don't need or want. They can pick and choose the ones they want, cafeteria-style. A customized package for their business, if you will. Just another way we cater to our small business clients." "We're really looking forward to helping our small business clients in these new ways with these new services." About Paycheck Inc.: A full-service HR and Payroll company, Paycheck Inc. has been in business for over 23 years. Bonded, licensed and insured, they have their corporate headquarters in Manassas, Virginia, and service clients nationwide. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sareen and Associates, Inc. Contact phone number of corporation is 703-686-0255. About Sareen and Associates: The company was started in 1993 by Arun Sareen with the original aim of simply turning around local small to mid-size businesses in the Washington, D.C., Metro area that were losing money. Sareen and Associates quickly grew into a professional CPA firm that offers tax, accounting, HR/Payroll and business consulting to clients in the U.S. and abroad. There are four offices in Virginia and one office in Florida, and all those offices service clients nationally and globally. Related Images image1.png Related Links Website SOURCE Paycheck Inc. As United States President Donald Trump unveils the long-awaited Middle East peace plan alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on January 28, it sparked reactions globally. President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan denounced the Israeli-Palestinian peace truce on January 29 and called it 'completely unacceptable'. An international media quoted the Turkish President who claimed that Israeli capital, Jerusalem is 'sacred for Muslims'. According to Trump's 'vision for peace,' Jerusalem becomes a twin capital which Erdogan cites as 'ignoring Palestinians' rights' while 'legitimising Israel's occupation'. Similar to Turkey, Iran also issued a statement calling the peace truce as 'shameful' and also the 'treason of the century'. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abbas Mousavi not only denounced the peace plan, which according to Trump will put an end to one of the oldest ongoing wars, between Israelis and Palestinians but called it a betrayal to the Islamic community. Read - Donald Trump's Peace Plan 'great Waste' Of Palestinians Rights: Arab League The peace plan devised by Trump administration proposes to create the State of Palestine with its capital in east Jerusalem while acknowledging the sovereignty of Israel over important settlement blocs in the West Bank. However, Iran believed such plans are 'vicious' and are 'bound to defeat'. Furthermore, according to Iran's Foreign Minister, the plan is a 'nightmare' for the Middle East as well as the entire world. Read - Iran Denounces Middle East Peace Plan By Trump, Calls It 'treason Of Century' Palestinians reject peace plan Palestinian leaders who had dismissed the plan even before it was unveiled have reportedly called the long-delayed plan biased and deserving to go into the 'dustbin of the history'. Among other reactions, Saudi Arabia 'appreciated' Trump's efforts to devise a peace plan for the Middle East and also called for initiating direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians. The Gulf nation called for an agreement 'that achieves the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people'. Jordan has reportedly given a calm reaction to the peace plan, while Egypt, which was the first Arab country to reach a peace deal with the Jewish state, has urged Israelis and Palestinians to carefully study the peace deal. The UAE's ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba issued a strikingly positive response to Trump's plan and called it a 'starting point' to return to negotiations. Read - Donald Trump Unveils Middle East Peace Plan Alongside Israeli PM Netanyahu Read - US President Donald Trump To Unveil Middle East Peace Plan Amid Skepticism TRENTON There, there, Mr. Mayor. The city chief party planner was dealt a blow after officials canceled Trentons second annual Chinese New Year celebration over concerns about the deadly coronavirus. Some of the performers scheduled to participate in the weekend bash were traveling from China the epicenter of the deadly outbreak and withdrew from participating in the event, Gusciora said. The city announced the dashed plans in a Facebook post. It is with great regret that the City of Trenton will be cancelling our Chinese New Year celebration for 2020. The decision came after unforeseen circumstances forced many of our performers and vendors to withdraw from the event over concerns regarding the Coronavirus. Many were travelling from mainland China, where concerns for the public health have caused travel restrictions. We hope to put all allocated resources towards next years celebration. In this regard, the public health is above all our top priority, the statement read. The deadly virus has infected at least 4,500 people worldwide and resulted in more than 100 deaths in mainland China, according to reports. New Jersey had two suspected cases of coronavirus but both patients tested negative, health officials said. Hundreds of people attended last years inaugural event, which included a surprise visit from Gov. Phil Murphy, who sported a pair of lucky reds shoes and he walked the streets of Trenton. The celebration featured a dragon dance performance and many of Trentons downtown restaurants offered Chinese cuisine. The governor, who received an invitation again this year but hadnt confirmed whether he planned to attend, credited Gusciora for the brilliant idea. Following up on what the mayor thought was the unprecedented success of last year, the city planned to make this years event even bigger. Gusciora said the city spent months planning the event, with help from officials in West Windsor and Plainsboro, but those plans were dashed after performers and vendors pulled out. City officials even had fortune cookies made up with special Trenton-inspired messages for this years celebration the Year of the Rat. There was no way to salvage it [without the performers], the mayor said. Youre coming to watch the traditions. Im disappointed. Its the Year of the Rat, and this was my year in Chinese astrology. Its terrible. I tried everything to keep it going. City officials have committed to bringing the celebration next year. A former London police officer who blew up his Queensland home in a huge explosion before fraudulently attempting to make an insurance claim has been denied bail. Eamonn Charles Coughlan applied for bail in the High Court ahead of an appeal hearing against his conviction for arson and fraud following the destruction of his Bribie Island holiday home, north of Brisbane, in July 2015. But his application was dismissed on Wednesday, with Justice Stephen Gageler saying the appeal hearing had been brought forward to February 12. Eamonn Charles Coughlan blew up his Queensland home in a huge explosion in July 2015 (stock) 'The appellant by that time will have served the greater part of the custodial period of his sentence, some five months,' he said. '(But) there is no reason to expect the decision on the appeal will be handled anything but expeditiously.' Coughlan was jailed for three-and-a-half years in July 2019 after representing himself at a trial where he blamed his prosecution for arson on corrupt local police. District Court Judge Leanne Clare acknowledged there had been 'questionable conduct' by Queensland police during their investigation, but he was ultimately found guilty by a jury. He was also convicted of attempted fraud after making a $435,000 insurance claim, which Justice Clare said would have brought him little profit given he had recently completed a $90,000 renovation on the house. The former London metropolitan police officer was denied bail in the High Court of Australia on Wednesday Coughlan attempted to have his conviction overturned in the Queensland Court of Appeal, however this was dismissed. His lawyer Stephen Keim said the judgment dismissing the appeal was flawed and that the Crown was continuing to ignore defects in the evidence. '(They) are confusing things that are properly proven ... and things that are not properly proven, which are of no assistance in regard to establishing a circumstantial case,' he said. He said this raised 'real questions about the safety of the verdict'. The requested page is currently unavailable on this server. Back to [RTHK News Homepage] Sharjeel Imam was arrested on Tuesday for making allegedly inflammatory speeches at the Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi and in Aligarh New Delhi: Situation at Patiala House Courts Complex remained tense on Wednesday after Delhi Police informed that Sharjeel Imam, arrested on sedition charges, will be produced before the magistrate at the court complex. Imam was arrested on Tuesday for making allegedly inflammatory speeches at the Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi and in Aligarh. He reached Delhi on Wednesday and is going be produced in the Patiala House court, the police said. Some lawyers raised slogans against him and made posters calling him a 'traitor', demanding that he be hanged. Heavy security was deployed outside the courts premises with about 20 police personnel including the CRPF officials. One of the lawyers said, "We Are here to protest against those who talk about breaking the country. All the lawyers are united against such traitors. He does not deserve to be outside jail. Strict action should be taken against him." In December, Freedom Mortgage employees collected more than 3,000 toys for underprivileged children, distributed through various charities across the U.S. In doing so, they far surpassed last year's drive. Charities that received toys included the Camden Salvation Army Kroc Center in New Jersey; Toys For Tots in New York and Maryland; the Ontario Rec Center in California; Daniel's Kids in Jacksonville, Florida; the Indianapolis Children's Bureau in Fishers, Indiana; and the Tempe Corps Salvation Army and Ryan House, both in Arizona. Freedom Mortgage successfully exceeded other 2018 philanthropic efforts in 2019. For example, the company collected and distributed over 5,800 backpacks and school supplies for military families across the country through various USOs around the country. The collection was more than twice last year's number of approximately 2,600 backpacks. The company also sent over 1,700 handwritten postcards to troops traveling through USO airport lounges, up from approximately 1,100 postcards in 2018. In addition, Freedom continued its commitment to help fight hunger through its national partnership with Feeding America. Now in its fourth year, the 2019 Team Freedom Cares Food Drive collected over 47,000 cans of food a whopping 28 tons for Feeding America food banks in Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. That's nine tons more than last year, when the company collected approximately 32,000 cans of food. In 2019, Freedom Mortgage provided mortgages to over 213,000 consumers and families nationwide totaling over $57 billion in origination volume. In addition to 2019 being the company's best year, Freedom Mortgage set a quarterly record with over $17 billion in volume, representing over 63,000 closed loans. Freedom Mortgage is proud to service over 1.1 million homeowners across the country, representing over $220 billion in mortgage loans. In conjunction with Freedom's mission to foster homeownership, Money.com cited Freedom Mortgage as "Best for FHA and VA Loans" in its December 27th, 2019 publication, "Best Mortgage Lenders of 2020." The article highlights Freedom's success in securing mortgages for first-time home buyers and borrowers who would otherwise struggle to qualify for conforming mortgages backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. "It's definitely been an incredible year for supporting homeownership and community giving, and I wouldn't want it any other way," said Freedom Mortgage CEO Stanley C. Middleman. "Witnessing our team surpass all of last year's numbers is a testament to our company culture and commitment to make a real difference in the lives of others, especially within our military community." Freedom Mortgage is an active supporter of various military and civilian non-profits nationwide. In 2019, company employees volunteered well over a thousand hours to many national and local charities. "Giving back to military veterans and their families and helping those less fortunate is such an important part of our mission," Middleman said. "I'm proud of all the work we do and the generous nature of the entire Freedom family. Everyone is always ready to step up and lend a hand. Next year, we look forward to delivering even more help and smiles to those who need it mostnot just during the holidays, but all year long." About Freedom Mortgage Founded in 1990 and headquartered in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, Freedom Mortgage is a non-bank, full-service mortgage company that provides mortgage loans through retail, wholesale, and correspondent channels. One of the nation's largest loan originators and servicers, the company is licensed in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Freedom Mortgage is a leader in VA mortgage lending and one of the mortgage industry's largest philanthropic supporters of the USO and military families. The company is also renowned for its vibrant work environment where its team members can thrive. For more information, please visit FreedomMortgage.com. Established in 2013, Team Freedom Cares provides Freedom Mortgage employees, family members, friends and customers information on activities that benefit local communities, as well as active duty, reserve and veterans of all branches of our military. Team Freedom Cares also encourages employees to take action for the betterment of their community. For more information, visit http://www.teamfreedomcares.org/ . CORPORATE CONTACTS: Audrey Shapiro Freedom Mortgage Corporation 856-380-9073 [email protected] Shari Senior Freedom Mortgage Corporation (856) 712-7034 [email protected] PRESS CONTACT: Henry Drennan Account Supervisor Strategic Vantage (615) 497-8358 [email protected]cVantage.com SOURCE Freedom Mortgage Related Links http://FreedomMortgage.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 02:17:43|Editor: yan Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army on Wednesday captured new areas in the western countryside of Aleppo during the ongoing campaign against the rebel groups, state news agency SANA reported. Following battles with the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, the Syrian forces captured the Rashidin-5 area, as well as rebel-held military bases and arms depots in the western countryside of Aleppo, SANA said. The Syrian forces destroyed the first defense line of the rebels with the help of heavy artillery fire against the rebels' positions before entering the areas. Citing a military field officer, SANA said the military operation is continuing against the ultra-radical rebels. The Syrian army has recently declared the launch of a military offensive against the rebels in the western countryside of Aleppo Province to help prevent the rebels' mortar fire from reaching the residential neighborhoods in the provincial capital city. The military campaign in western Aleppo comes in tandem with a military offensive against the rebels in nearby Idlib Province, where the Syrian army is making strides in the battles against the rebels. The aim of the simultaneous attacks is to secure the road connecting Aleppo in the north and the capital Damascus in the south through Idlib. We are excited to join forces with THG, Siracusa said. Now, as part of a top-25 national broker with full-service capabilities, we will be able to offer our existing customers more robust coverage options, access to additional markets, and many value-added services. GBIA has a comprehensive array of product offerings that are well-aligned to further expand our employee benefits solutions in our New England region, said Ricky Spiro, CEO of THG. We are thrilled to welcome John and his associates to THGs New England team. The outbreak in China is rapidly spreading, posing a threat to other countries in an interconnected world New coronavirus (nCoV) causes 15 more deaths in China, reports read Sunday morning, pushing the death toll up to at least 80 in total. Across China, over 650 cases were reported this past weekend, bringing the number of confirmed diagnoses up to a staggering 2,500 cases. There is global concern as a handful of cases have also been reported in 12 other countries, including the United States, South Korea, Thailand, Australia and other countries in Europe. A seafood market in the central city of Wuhan, which also sold wild animals, has been shut down, being identified as a source for this novel coronavirus. Some areas in China have been quarantined, with 60 million people in cities around the country facing partial or full lockdowns in response to the virus. WHAT IS A CORONAVIRUS?: According to the World Health Organisation, coronaviruses are a group of viruses that cause diseases in animals. Coronaviruses are zoonotic, which means they can be transmitted from animals to humans. In humans, the virus can cause fatal respiratory infections. Symptoms include those of a common cold or pneumonia. The novel coronavirus is a new strain that has been compared to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) which killed around 800 people in 2003, similarly due to wet markets that spread the virus from dead and alive animals to humans. According to former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb, the new coronavirus is likely more contagious than SARS but less severe than the previous epidemic. We probably will have some isolated outbreaks [of coronavirus in the US], but that doesnt mean itll translate to an epidemic, Gottlieb told CNBC. Dr Yazdan Yazdanpaneh is a French doctor who also believes the novel coronavirus is less serious than other strains of the coronavirus family. Dr Yazdanpaneh has been treating a couple that arrived to France from Wuhan and showed signs of the virus a few days after arrival. The two patients are isolated in a hospital. The exact mode of transmission of the virus remains uncertain. COMPLEXITIES OF THE OUTBREAK: Chinese authorities have been intensely looking into the issue and according to the head of Chinas National Health Commission, Ma Xiaowei, it has been noted that it is still possible for people who do not show any signs of the virus or its symptoms to carry it and infect other people. This trait is one that distinguishes the new coronavirus from SARS and makes it even more difficult to contain the spread of the outbreak. The epidemic has entered a more serious and complex period, said Dr Ma. SYMPTOMS OF THE NEW CORONAVIRUS: The symptoms of the new coronavirus are similar to those of a common cold. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), those who have contracted the virus can show little to no symptoms whilst others can show symptoms including a fever, cough, shortness of breath and a general feeling of being unwell. As for the incubation period, though it remains unknown, Dr Ma foresees that it could take from 10 to 14 days based on medical research on previous coronaviruses. WHAT ABOUT EGYPT?: Measures are being taken in preparation for cases reaching Egypt. Egypts Ministry of Health has distributed guidelines to help the citizens understand how to avoid contracting the virus. The guidelines advise that people refrain from touching any live or dead wild animals, as well as putting emphasis on washing ones hands and covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. As for Egyptians that are currently in China, the Egyptian Embassy in China has advised that if they experience any cold-like symptoms they should seek medical help immediately. According to Reuters, Cairo International Airport has started screening passengers arriving from China for traces of the virus. Flights between Egypt and China are many, as tourism and business are major sectors in both countries. With the new coronavirus spreading, many have cancelled their trips to the East Asian country in fear of picking up the virus. I was due to travel on a business trip to China but our company cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak. It is only a precaution until the outbreak is under control, or at least until a vaccine or treatment is found, said a telecommunication company employee. *A version of this article appears in print in the 30 January, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: If you dont know the math of how many voters each candidate needs to gain a delegates vote, and you dont know which candidate you want, its extremely difficult to be strategic. But if its too much like a primary, we lose our first-in-the-nation status, Ms. Bribriesco said when I asked her if the Democratic caucus process needed to change. She spoke positively of it all despite the fact that this year, the caucus site she will attend in Bettendorf will include 12 precincts packed into the Quad Cities Waterfront Convention Center. Kathy Laird from Bettendorf (who happens to be Ms. Bribriescos cousin) recalled that in 2016, she had chosen Mr. OMalley during the first round but had to choose between Mr. Sanders or Mrs. Clinton after Mr. OMalley didnt gain enough voters and was ousted from the ballot. The four Iowans in the OMalley group were bombarded by supporters for the other candidates trying to convince them to join. Usually, voters get around 15 minutes to decide. But things would be different this year, with 12 candidates to choose from. She expects pure chaos to reign. In the last election cycle, Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Sanders were almost exactly matched with the tip to Mrs. Clinton by a 0.3 percent margin and in individual precinct counts, numbers are rounded up and down to determine whether someone receives a delegate vote. How can we trust the Iowa indicator? Ms. Bribriesco said that in 2016, getting a total head count for each candidate was like herding cats. This year, at least, there are paper ballots to keep track of the number of people in each candidates corner. This way, people whose candidate moves on can leave after the first round; the paper becomes their placeholder, and votes cant be changed after the second round. Some precincts, we learned, would flip a coin or draw straws to break a tie. It was disillusioning to hear that some delegate votes were left up to chance, given how close the caucus was last time even if now most people agree that the luck of the draw couldnt have changed the outcome of 2016. Two newcomers to the party at the caucus training, the former registered Republican Dave Scott from Bettendorf and his wife, want to beat President Trump, even if it means putting a Democrat in the house. The death toll in mainland China following the outbreak of coronavirus has risen to 132 while nearly 6,000 people are infected, authorities have said. There were 26 deaths recorded in the last 24 hours, with all but one recorded in Hubei province. Authorities added there had been an increase in the number of cases to 5,974, up by 1,459 from Tuesdays figure. Countries on Wednesday began evacuating their citizens from the Chinese city hardest-hit by the outbreak, Wuhan. Earlier in the morning, a plane carrying Americans who had been in Wuhan left for Anchorage, Alaska, where they will be re-screened for the virus before flying to Ontario, California. Hospitals are prepared to treat or quarantine people who may be infected. A Japanese-chartered flight carrying 206 evacuees from Wuhan landed early Wednesday at Tokyos Haneda airport. Employees disinfect ticket gates in hopes to prevent the contraction of the coronavirus at a subway station in Seoul, South Korea (Ahn Young-joon/AP) The British Government is warning against all but essential travel to mainland China amid the outbreak. British Airways and Asian budget carriers Lion Air and Seoul Air are suspending all flights to China, and several other airlines including Finnair, Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific and Singapore-based Jetstar Asia are reducing the number of flights to the country as demand drops. Hong Kong will cut all rail links to the mainland and halve the number of flights to stop the spread of the virus. South Korea also said it will send a plane for its citizens and France, Mongolia and other governments have also planned evacuations. It comes as the United Arab Emirates confirmed the first cases of the virus in a family who recently returned to the Middle East from Wuhan. China has cut off access to Wuhan and 16 other cities in Hubei province to prevent people from leaving and spreading the virus further. The outbreak has caused a shortage of face masks (Eugene Hoshiko/AP) The lockdown has trapped more than 50 million people in the most far-reaching disease control measures ever imposed. A Japanese aircraft was bringing 20,000 face masks and protective gear, all in short supply as Hubeis hospitals grapple with a growing number of patients. Story continues Wuhan is building two hospitals in a matter of days to add 2,500 beds for treatment of patients with the virus. Experts worry the new virus may spread more easily than originally thought, or may have mutated into a form that does so. The coronavirus family is responsibile for causing the common cold as well as more serious illnesses such as Sars. Saudi Basic Industries Corp (Sabic) posted a fourth-quarter net loss of SR720 million ($192 million), compared to a profit of SR3.22 billion ($857.90 million) during the same quarter a year earlier, said a report. The first quarterly loss in over a decade was due to lower average selling prices and a writedown at an affiliate, added the Reuters report. Sabic CEO Yousef Al-Benyan said a slowdown in economic growth, particularly in China and Europe, had weighed on the petrochemicals industry. By Express News Service KOLKATA: Two people were shot dead and three others received gunshot injuries at Jalangi in Murshidabad district on Wednesday afternoon in a clash between anti-CAA protesters from the Citizens Forum and Trinamool Congress supporters. The protesters, who blocked the roads, accused the local Trinamool Congress of opening fire and hurling bombs at them. Imdadul Haque, one of the protesters, said the Citizens Forum was formed shortly after the amended Citizenship Act was passed in Rajya Sabha. "It is an apolitical platform. A bandh was called in protest against the amended Act and we were staging a demonstration blocking a local road. Suddenly, two vehicles came to a screeching halt and Trinamool supporters opened fire and hurled bombs, Imdadul said. Imdadul alleged that the ruling party realised the newly formed Citizens Forum was organising a large-scale protest in the area. "Trinamool leaders in the area wanted to join the movement with us but we did not allow them because our platform was an apolitical one. They realised that the control of the movement against CAA was going out of their hands and todays attack was a fallout of it, he said. The protesters alleged Trinamools local block president led the attack and he was seen sitting in one of the vehicles that reached the spot where the roadblock was put up. Tahiruddin, however, refuted the allegation and said, "It was a clash between supporters of the CPM and the Congress. None of our supporters was involved in it. CPM politburo member Mohammad Selim said Dilip Ghosh talked about shooting protesters like a dog. "The incident proved that Trinamool Congress is implementing BJPs plan to suppress peoples movement against CAA, he said. As news of the deaths spread, anti-CAA protesters set a motorcycle ablaze and ransacked several houses owned by Trinamool supporters in the area. A large contingent of police force reached the spot to bring the situation under control. Looking at the full story of Brexit, in the longer sweep of modern history, there are two really important achievements which made it possible. And, perhaps unusually, they operated in tension with one another. The first is the simple fact of the survival of the Eurosceptic or anti-EU movement at all. The fact that the movement which lost the 1975 referendum so heavily, which was rebuffed so resoundingly in the 1983 election, and which stood every chance of dwindling away to nothing actually kept going for all those years is itself quite remarkable. For a long time, there were more bleak years than warm days. The mid-1980s saw the Eurosceptic left in full retreat, both inside and outside the Labour Party, while Margaret Thatcher, the dominant force on the right, pushed on with the ambition of cementing market principles at a European level. In 1988, Jacques Delors pulled off the feat of flipping the trade union movement from a Eurosceptic to a pro-integration position, essentially by holding out the prospect that a federal EU could entrench left-wing policies just as easily as it could embed the competitive ideas which Thatcher advocated. Here was a way to bypass the difficulty Labour faced in actually winning elections. The rise of Blairism brought with it EU-enthusiasm as an article of faith for anyone who considered themselves ambitious and modern in a Labour Party which was extremely keen to reject the errors and defeats of the past. Things werent much better on the Conservative side. Through the disastrous Major years, the institutions of the Conservative Party in particular developed an ingrained dislike of Eurosceptics the bastards had caused endless trouble over Maastricht, supposedly accompanied by the flapping of white coats and there was a concerted effort to follow Labour in equating opposition to the EU with division and unpopularity. David Cameron uttered his complaint about Tories banging on about Europe in 2006, in his first conference speech as leader, but he was expressing a frustration picked up in the 1990s. On both sides of politics, the anti-EU position was associated with defeat and navel-gazing; the prevailing cultures and dominant institutions in both main parties actively worked to prevent people who espoused that view from getting elected. These were the background conditions that produced the extraordinary situation that Philip Davies recounted yesterday: in 2005, he found himself elected to a Parliament in which there were no MPs publicly saying the UK should leave the EU. The wilderness years How did the idea itself live on through those hostile conditions? A core of activists, donors and politicians kept it alive, on life support, perhaps, but alive nonetheless, through dogged persistence. Some of the organisations founded before the UKs entry to the Common Market fought on after the 1975 referendum the Campaign for an Independent Britain (CIB), the Anti Common Market League, Labour Euro-Safeguards despite a dwindling hearing in Westminster. They held speaker meetings, and ran newsletters, and wrote to the papers, sold merchandise and organised raffles to keep themselves going and keep their cause alive. While the flare-ups of new-found Euroscepticism in countries like Denmark and France tended to be young, and media-friendly, the UKs longer history of opposition inevitably made for a more aged movement, a scourge which affects organisations as much as individuals. Their persistence required a sense of humour as well as determination. I remember visiting a branch of one such organisation as a guest speaker some time at the tail end of Tony Blairs premiership, to find that the meeting would be recorded not as a podcast, as it might be now, or for YouTube, but on a gigantic two-reel tape recorder which looked older than me. I was warned in advance that a chap in the front row would signal if the tape needed switching, at which point they would greatly appreciate it if I could pause mid-speech to wait for them to change the reels. They sold copies of the audio tapes to members, to support their next leaflet drop. (I could fill a column with similar anecdotes; for now I simply refer readers to the words Godfrey Bloom stamped on my face.) Being anti-EU wasnt cool, or something anyone did to get ahead in their career. It was easy for shiny Blairites, and equally polished Cameroons, to mock the Eurosceptics and take their unfashionability as confirmation that they were wrong. Easy, but mistaken; because they had another powerful asset to sustain them in addition to a stubborn refusal to give up. The EU kept proving its critics right, and rallying people to the Eurosceptic cause. The sacrifice of democratic control involved in the Maastricht Treaty alarmed many people; the obvious risks of a Single Currency reached millions more; the insistence that referendums be repeated if they didnt go the right way began to rankle, and the lesson became obvious over time that this was a ratchet, operating inexorably in only one direction. That process kept the original activists motivated, provided a growing source of new recruits, and also drove the creation of new organisations. Outfits sprang up like the Bruges Group, an expression of Thatcherite disenchantment with the European project; the Referendum Party, Jimmy Goldsmiths timely effort to save the pound; and the UK Independence Party, originally the Anti-Federalist League. The emergence of new political parties was a symptom of the hostile environment facing Eurosceptics in Labour and the Conservatives. For those inside the main parties, it seemed to be a confirmation that this was now a fringe interest. But the fact that these new competitors were capable of winning election-changing numbers of votes should have inspired at least a little reflection. The Referendum Party was sufficient threat in 1997 that it secured referendum pledges from both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, while UKIP won its first MEP seats in 1999. They had an audience. Renewal If the first achievement which served as a pre-condition for Brexit was the survival of the Eurosceptic idea through the long wilderness years, then the second achievement was just as hard-won: the development and implementation of a route back from that wilderness to the mainstream and then on to victory at the ballot box. Survival was itself a victory, but by the turn of the millennium it was reasonable to wonder which victories anti-EU campaigners had actually won. The threat of the Euro had been forestalled, but beyond that the previous 25 years had largely been a story of rearguard actions and defeat. In every strand of Euroscepticism, some people began to grow impatient, and wonder if it was possible to grow beyond the accustomed tactics and functions which had sustained their campaign so far. Nigel Farage was one symptom of that impatience; UKIPs rising star experimented, essentially in public, with new ways to communicate his message and to campaign. Dominic Cummings, too, was studying and trying out new approaches, first as campaign director of Business for Sterling, intended to be the No campaign in a possible referendum on the Euro, and then in the North East Regional Assembly referendum. Similarly, the centre rights new media outlets in the age of the blogosphere sites like ConservativeHome, Guido Fawkes and Iain Dales Diary also came with a more Eurosceptic tone than the more establishment voices they were disrupting. The disruption applied to the existing culture of Euroscepticism, too. The experiments of Farage, Cummings and others were starting to show potential, but they produced some challenging conclusions about what was necessary in order to win. Within UKIP, a debate raged about how far to professionalise; while they cultivated an image of happy-go-lucky relaxation about gaffes, Farage also developed a steely (and sometimes brittle) intolerance of people he saw as playing at politics to the expense of the end goal. When he finally felt free to speak his mind without restraint, he famously described UKIPs NEC as total amateurs who come to London once a month with sandwiches in their rucksack, and carefully designed the Brexit Party not to feature any such encumbrances on his decision-making. Winning More broadly, the question was what was the best strategy and message to advance the anti-EU position? The tight-knit subculture which had developed in the wilderness years had its own language and hobby horses. The problem was, they were of limited appeal beyond those who already agreed. I remember sitting in on focus groups run by James Frayne, over a decade ago, in which he asked potential swing voters to discuss and define the word sovereignty. They all agreed they liked sovereignty, and wanted to defend it. They also, almost universally, defined it as referring to the Royal family and the existence of the monarchy. That was the Eurosceptic challenge in microcosm. Sovereignty is at the heart of the anti-EU case, but the jargon, the terms guaranteed to fire up the base, were of no use or, worse, were actively damaging among those voters whose support would be needed if they were ever to win. Combine that with the inherently negative position of a movement formed in opposition to a project, and there was a clear need for a new message: a positive pitch, in terms that people understood and found convincing. As Philip Davies kindly mentioned, that was the thinking which underpinned the Better Off Out campaign which he and I helped to co-found in 2006. Others, like Daniel Hannan and Douglas Carswell, came to the same conclusion, as had Cummings and Matthew Elliott. It wasnt universally popular on their own side; they were asking people to give up the things they found fun to do, or which theyd always done, or which got them the easiest round of applause from the existing audience, and instead to challenge themselves to do what might actually work to win over the electorate. For some that was a perceived insult to their experience something Vote Leave ran up against with some Conservative MPs in the referendum campaign. For others it was a weak compromise the critique deployed by Leave.EU against people they felt were insufficiently robust. And most difficult of all, it was simply a change from what Eurosceptics had grown used to doing. And yet, to their lasting credit, when the referendum came enough of them weighed up the opportunity to finally win, and bit the bullet. When it was presented to them, they recognised the effectiveness of the ultimate and decisive answer to that need for a positive, clear and convincing message which communicated the Eurosceptic case to the required mass audience: Take back control. So they did. Technavio has been monitoring the global commercial drones market since 2017 and the market is poised to grow by USD 20.39 billion during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of more than 36% during the forecast period. Request free sample pages This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005364/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled global commercial drones market 2020-2024. (Graphic: Business Wire) Read the 120-page report with TOC on "Commercial Drones Market Analysis Report by Product (Software and Hardware), End-users (Infrastructure, Agriculture, Public safety, Energy, and Others), Geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America), and the Segment Forecasts, 2020-2024". https://www.technavio.com/report/commercial-drones-market-industry-analysis The market is driven by the rise in the application of drones. In addition, technological advances in commercial drones are anticipated to boost the growth of the commercial drones market. Commercial drones are increasingly being adopted in diverse applications such as mapping, logistics, and surveillance. For instance, in the logistics sector, several companies such as DHL International GmbH and Amazon Inc. are adopting drone delivery services to deliver goods in a shorter time. Similarly, many players operating in the F&B sector such as Dominos Pizza Inc. and Uber Eats are planning to introduce drone delivery options. Commercial drones also find many applications in the field of agriculture, weather forecasting, mining, town planning, etc. Therefore, the expanding application areas of commercial drones are expected to fuel the growth of the global commercial drones market during the forecast period. Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free. View market snapshot before purchasing Major Five Commercial Drones Market Companies: 3D Robotics Inc. 3D Robotics Inc. operates its business through segments such as Products and Industries. The company offers a wide range of drones for commercial applications. Some of the key offerings include Site Scan and 3DR H520-G. AeroVironment Inc. AeroVironment Inc. operates its business through its unified segment. The company offers a wide range of drones for commercial applications. Quantix and AV DSS are the key offerings of the company. Autel Robotics Autel Robotics operates its business through segments such as Drones, Accessories, and Support. EVO is the key offering of the company. It is capable of recording 4k resolution videos with up to 60 frames per second and a recording speed up to 100mbps. FLIR Systems Inc. FLIR Systems Inc. operates its business through segments such as Industrial business unit, Government and Defense business unit, and Commercial business unit. The company offers a wide range of drones for commercial applications. Some of the key offerings include Unmanned Aerial Systems and sUAS Cameras Kits. Intel Corp. Intel Corp. operates its business through segments such as Client Computing Group, Data Center Group, Internet of Things Group, Non-Volatile Memory Solutions Group, Programmable Solutions Group, and All other. The company offers a wide range of drones for commercial applications. Intel Falcon 8+ System and Intel Sirius Pro Drone are some of the key offerings of the company. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Commercial Drones Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2020 2024) Software Hardware Commercial Drones End-users Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2020 2024) Infrastructure Agriculture Public safety Energy Others Commercial Drones Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2020 2024) APAC Europe MEA North America South America 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 Related Reports on Industrials are: Global Tethered Drones Market- Global tethered drones market by end-users (defense, telecommunication, and others) and geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America). Global Drone Navigation System Market Global drone navigation system market by end-users (military drones and consumer and civil drones) and geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America). 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/20200129005364/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 www.technavio.com The Chairman of the Political Council of the Opposition Platform - For Life Party, Ukrainian MP Viktor Medvedchuk, during a meeting with members of Bundestag, discussed a Parliamentary Dimension of the Normandy Format. He also spoke about the problems Ukraine faces on the way to peace. Of course, last year there were two election campaigns in Ukraine - presidential and parliamentarian one. We hoped that the issue of peace, which was the main one in virtually all programs of those who claimed both for the presidency and the parliaments seat, was not only expressed, but many of them said, promised and realized that the main problem for Ukraine is peace. Moreover, according to all sociological studies of recent years, 70-80% of Ukraine's population, believes that peacemaking in Ukraine, peace in the south-eastern part of the country. is the main problem that needs to be solved. And, indeed, the first steps of the new government, Mr. Zelensky, an elected president, were aimed at establishing, although not very active establishing, of contacts with the Russian Federation in the issues related to studying and exploring the situation in Donbas and changes in what is happening. It took several months, and it was crowned with the success that we expected, and these expectations were very high. I mean the meeting of the Normandy format, which took place in Paris on December 9 last year," the opposition politician said. But these expectations, including the expectations of ours and our party and many people in Ukraine who sincerely want peace, want Donbas return to Ukraine, and Ukraine to Donbas since this is the main strategic objective of our plan, remain unfulfilled so far, although its been more than a month and a half after the Normandy Four meeting. At the meeting of the Normandy Four, the first face-to-face meeting for almost more than 3 years since 16, a series of solutions were adopted. These solutions may really lead to setting peace in Ukraine today", - Medvedchuk said. What was there in the communique, signed in Paris on December 9, 19, what did the heads of states of the Normandy Format agree on? First, they agreed that the Minsk agreements are the basis for the Normandy format activities, namely: the protocol signed on September 5, 2015, the memorandum of September 19, 2014, and the set of measures on February 12, 2015. The heads of states of the Normandy Format established that the Minsk agreements, namely the three acts that I have listed, are rigorous for their full implementation (I quote the communique on Dec 9). In Paris, it was decided to establish a permanent ceasefire by the end of December 19, as well as to implement the Steinmeier formula, which refers to the establishment of the special status of uncontrolled territories, that is, the territories of Donbas, first on a temporary, and then under certain conditions, which are the content of the Steinmeier formula, on an ongoing basis," he said. As it was reported earlier, Viktor Medvedchuk, the MP and Chairman of Political Council of the Opposition Platform - For Life party had a meeting with French lawmakers and senators on January 23, where he presented the "Parliamentary dimension of the Normandy Format". A Dutch court said on Wednesday it was not able to hear a war crimes case about a deadly 2014 Israeli air strike in which politician Benny Gantz was a named defendant. The case was lodged by a Dutch-Palestinian man, Ismail Ziada, six of whose relatives were killed in Operation Protective Edge, a major Israeli military operation targeting Gaza. But the court said that under international law it could not hear the case, which named Gantz the main political rival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli air force chief Amir Eshel. The district court has ruled that the Dutch court is not competent to hear the case, because the former Israeli officials have functional immunity from jurisdiction, Judge Larisa Alwin said at The Hague district court. This form of immunity, a legal concept in customary international law derived from state immunity, applies to acts carried out in the performance of a public duty, she said. The air strike in the Gaza Strip, in which six of the claimants relatives were killed, is an example of an act carried out in the performance of a public duty. Gantz was the chief of general staff of the Israeli defence force at the time of the Gaza bombing as part of Operation Protective Edge. Ziadas mother, three brothers, a sister-in-law, a young nephew and a friend were killed in the strike on Bureij refugee camp in Gaza on July 20, 2014. Israel said it launched Protective Edge at the time to stop rocket fire against its citizens and destroy tunnels used for smuggling weapons and militants. At a hearing in September Ziada told judges he was seeking justice and would not get a fair hearing before an Israeli court. The claimant believes that he cannot file his claim anywhere else and that the case has sufficient ties with the Netherlands, because he holds Dutch nationality and lives in the Netherlands, the court said. In total, Operation Protective Edge left 2,251 dead on the Palestinian side, most of them civilians, and 74 on the Israeli side, most of them soldiers. MANZINI - The recent high temperatures which hit the country left a number of farmers in the broiler growing industry counting losses. This is because towards the end of last week, the scorching sun baked to death tens of thousands of chickens belonging to the farmers. Most of the affected farmers are in the Manzini Region at places including Malkerns, Nhlambeni and Luve among others. Some of them supply the largest poultry industries in the country. According to one of the affected farmers, the least affected farmer lost about 2 000 chickens, while another saw his reduced by about 8 000 and the latest incident took place last Sunday. Since the farmers sell their chickens in kilogrammes at E15.22/kg on average, and a broiler usually weighs about 1.85kg, it means the least affected farmer lost over E56 000 while the most affected one suffered a loss of over E225 000. Aaron Dlamini, a farmer from Nhlambeni, said he had stocked a total of 60 000 chicks and the heat killed about 8 000 chickens last Sunday. Normal This did not include the normal mortality, which most of the time would be around 4.5 per cent of the total stock. The farmers said they had special doctors who were hired by the companies and they came to assess the situation. Their conclusion was that the birds did not die because of a virus, but it was due to excessive heat, the farmers said. Meanwhile, the Acting Director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Nhlanhla Shongwe, said they had not received the reports about the dead chickens. However, he encouraged the affected farmers to contact their poultry officer. He said this was because as a ministry, they needed to visit the site for inspection purposes because the farmers could think their birds were being killed by the sun yet it was a disease. He emphasised that the ministry had to be sure about the cause of death. If the cause turns out to be some form of disease, we have to spring to action and also alert the nation, the acting director said. Furthermore, he said even the chicken sheds needed to be inspected to determine if they allowed enough space as there could be other factors that led to the death of the birds. It is worth noting that this is not the first time excessive heat kills chickens in the country as it happened some few years back and the most affected farmers were from the Manzini Region. GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The shareholders of Opus Group AB (publ), Reg. No. 556390-6063, with registered office in Gothenburg, are hereby invited to the extraordinary general meeting on Thursday 20 February 2020 at 09:00 CET at Advokatfirman Vinge, Nordstadstorget 6, in Gothenburg, Sweden. Registration starts at 08:30 CET. NOTIFICATION ETC. Shareholders who wish to participate in the meeting must be registered in the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB no later than on Friday 14 February 2020 and must also notify the company of their intention to attend the meeting via link www.opus.global/registerEGM, via telephone +46 771 246 400 or in writing to Computershare AB, "EGM Opus", Box 5267, 102 46 Stockholm, Sweden, no later than on Friday 14 February 2020. The notification must state the shareholder's name, address, personal identity number/registration number, telephone number and, if applicable, information about the attendance of any assistants (maximum two) and name and personal identity number of the proxy. Information submitted in connection with the notification will be computerized and used exclusively for the extraordinary general meeting. See below for additional information on the processing of personal data. Shareholders represented by proxy must submit a dated power of attorney. A proxy form is available at the company's webpage www.opus.global. If the power of attorney is executed by a legal person a certified copy of the certificate of registration or equivalent should be attached. The power of attorney may not be older than one year, however, it may be older provided that the power of attorney according to its wording is valid for a longer period, although, not more than five years. The certificate of registration must not have been issued earlier than one year before the extraordinary general meeting. The original power of attorney and the certificate of registration should be delivered to the company at the address mentioned above no later than on Friday 14 February 2020. NOMINEE-REGISTERED SHARES Shareholders whose shares are registered in the name of a nominee through a bank or a securities institution must re-register their shares in their own names in order to be entitled to attend the general meeting. Such registration, which may be temporary, must be duly effected in the share register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB no later than on Friday 14 February 2020. The shareholders must therefore advise their nominees well in advance of this date. PROPOSED AGENDA 1. Opening of the meeting. 2. Election of a chairman of the meeting 3. Preparation and approval of the voting register. 4. Approval of the agenda. 5. Election of one or two persons to attest the minutes. 6. Determination of whether the meeting was duly convened. 7. Determination of the number of board of directors to be elected by the meeting. 8. Determination of fees for the board of directors. 9. Election of the board of directors. 10. Closing of the meeting. ELECTION OF A CHAIRMAN OF THE MEETING (Item 2) The board of directors proposes that Anders Strid, member of the Swedish Bar Association, from Advokatfirman Vinge, shall be appointed chairman of the extraordinary general meeting. OGRAI BIDCO AB's PROPOSALS FOR ITEMS 7, 8 AND 9 Ograi BidCo AB ("Ograi"), having announced on 16 January 2020 the acquisition of 79.4 percent of the total number of outstanding shares and votes in the company, will submit proposals regarding items 7, 8 and 9 on the agenda no later than during the extraordinary general meeting. NUMBER OF SHARES AND VOTES As per the date of this notice, the total number of outstanding shares and votes in the company is 290 318 246. All shares are of the same series of shares. As of the date of this notice the company holds no treasury shares. ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS ETC. Documents pertaining to the meeting are available via the company's website, www.opus.global, and will be sent to shareholders who so request. INFORMATION AT THE MEETING The board of directors and the CEO shall, if any shareholder so requests and the board of directors considers that it can be done without material harm to the company, provide information at the extraordinary general meeting on matters that may affect the assessment of an item on the agenda in accordance with Chapter 7, Section 32 of the Swedish Companies Act (2005:551). PERSONAL DATA For information on how your personal data is processed, see www.euroclear.com/dam/ESw/Legal/Privacy-notice-bolagsstammor-engelska.pdf. Opus Group AB (publ) The Board of Directors For additional information, please contact: Helene Carlson, Director of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Tel: +46 765 25 84 93 E-mail: helene.carlson@opus.se Katarina Bonde, Chairman of the Board E-mail: katarina.bonde@kubicorp.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/opus-group/r/notice-of-extraordinary-general-meeting-of-opus-group-ab--publ-,c3018369 The following files are available for download: Four Indian airlines bar Kunal Kamra from flying after he berates right-wing journalist Arnab Goswami during a flight. New Delhi, India An Indian stand-up comedian has been slapped with a flight ban by four Indian airlines after he heckled a popular right-wing television presenter on board an aircraft. Kunal Kamra, 30, on Tuesday tweeted a two-minute video of himself berating Republic TVs editor-in-chief, Arnab Goswami, during a Mumbai-Lucknow flight, in which he asked the right-wing journalist if he was a coward or a nationalist. Goswami is known for his high-decibel debates, during which he is seen shouting at his panelists, attacking critics of the government, and even calling people traitors and anti-nationals. On his popular show, the 46-year-old journalist has called for war against Indias neighbour Pakistan and once sought to shut down a rival news channel for airing a documentary. Some people have criticised Kamra for the harsh measure he took to confront Goswami, saying he mocked the news anchor the same way the latter shouts at his guests on live TV. Goswami is known for his high-decibel debates, during which he shouts at panelists [File: Sujit Jaiswal/AFP] Viral video The video shows Goswami wearing sunglasses and earphones, maintaining his composure, as Kamra calls him a coward and a nationalist. 200129094754814 Kamra said he grilled Goswami to avenge the presenters alleged bad portrayal of his late friends mother. This is for Rohiths mother, Kamra can be heard saying at the end of the video. Read that 10-page suicide letter that Rohith wrote so that you have some emotion, some heart or you just become human. Rohith Vemula, a student at the University of Hyderabad who was from the Dalit caste (an ethnic group once called the untouchables), committed suicide in 2016 after the university allegedly withheld his monthly stipend over his political activism. I did this for my hero I did it for Rohit pic.twitter.com/aMSdiTanHo Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) January 28, 2020 Minister calls for action Shortly after Kamras video went viral, IndiGo barred Kamra from flying for six months. The private airline made the announcement on Twitter and tagged Indias civil aviation minister. 170523194045529 In light of the recent incident on board 6E 5317 from Mumbai to Lucknow, we wish to inform that we are suspending Mr Kunal Kamra from flying with IndiGo for a period of six months, as his conduct onboard was unacceptable behaviour, Indigo tweeted. Hereby, we wish to advise our passengers to refrain from indulging in personal slander whilst onboard, as this can potentially compromise the safety of fellow passengers. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri advised other airlines to impose similar restrictions on the comedian. Soon, state carrier Air India and two other private airlines SpiceJet Limited and GoAir followed suit. Later, Indias head of civil aviation regulatory authority told the Huffington Post website that the flight ban was not a violation of its rules. Meanwhile, Kamra, who has been critical of the hyper-nationalistic TV media and often parodies popular TV presenters peddling a pro-government narrative, defended his conduct. Fact of the matter is that at no point was I disruptive and at no point did I not follow orders of the cabin crew or the captain. At no point did I endanger the safety of any passenger on board, the only damage I caused was to the inflated ego to the journalist Arnab Goswami, Kamra said in a statement on Wednesday. 190615102209693 To my limited knowledge, no formal complaint has been made by the crew of Arnab or anyone else taking the flight, he added. But a ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesman supported the flight ban against Kamra. The action against Kunal Kamra is in accordance with the established policy and guidelines already in force. Hence, even before the civil aviation minister advised against the individual, IndiGo airlines initiated action as per the policy, BJP spokesman GVL Narasimha Rao told Al Jazeera. Is Mr Goswami a state dignitary? The ban on Kamra triggered a huge debate on social media, with the controversy quickly becoming one of the top trends on Twitter. Many called out the airlines for resorting to double standards. An old video of Republic TV has also gone viral. In it, its reporter can be seen heckling a politician from Bihar state on board a flight, despite him repeatedly refusing to answer. Dear Journalist, Its easy to abuse politicians but difficult to live their life. We dont hv any privacy anywhere but u hv. We are into a great thankless job of serving people & u r in bootlicking job of pleasing ur paymasters. Whos brat of Whom country knows it inside out? https://t.co/eJiifxKxHP Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) January 29, 2020 Many also raised questions about why no action was taken against BJP parliamentarian Pragya Singh Thakur, who last month entered into an argument with flight attendants that delayed a flight. 180614103115577 Delhi-based activist Yogendra Yadav described the action against Kamra astonishing and wondered at the governments quick response in support of Goswami. Is Mr Goswami a state dignitary? Why this special treatment to him? asked Yadav while talking to Al Jazeera. Has the government followed similar norms in the past or there are special rules for the friends of this regime? Yadav said Goswami is seen as a friend of the BJP government and Kamra is viewed as an outspoken critic. The interesting thing is the response from the airlines. It gives us a sense of what this regime is all about, he said. Dave Ferreira is an active-duty Army officer with more than 10 years of service, including time in command and staff positions. He is currently assigned to the Joint Strategy and Plans Directorate of the Joint Staff. As an Army officer who cares deeply about fitness and nutrition, I read an opinion piece by Emma Moore titled The ACFT and the Problems with the Military's Cult of Physical Fitness and was nearly immediately triggered." I thought, "How could someone be arguing that creating a healthier force, doubling down on a better total fitness regimen, and setting the foundation for the long-term health of our force be a bad thing?" Well, it turns out that she agrees that it isnt a bad thing, and my initial response of being triggered was a little off. I contacted Emma on Twitter and, to my surprise, she responded to my message. After initial pleasantries, we shared thoughts on where we agreed on aspects of her op-ed and areas where there was friction. She absolutely is a proponent of a fit and healthy force, but disagrees that it should be the most important benchmark of readiness Army-wide. We agreed that women will face challenges with this test, particularly in combat military occupational specialties -- especially with the leg tuck exercise. We also concurred on recruiting challenges the Army faces, as the pool of able-bodied men and women is rapidly shrinking. Lastly, we agreed that this test will be challenging to manage at the unit level; however, we disagreed over some particulars as to why. There are two areas that I want to focus on after reading her article many times and exchanging ideas with Emma. First is the way that she characterizes lethality, or glosses over it in her op-ed. I know the article is short, but this is important. Throughout military history, you can find consensus on one thing -- that ground combat power tends to be the most significant asset to winning in conflict. Air and sea power are important, but not to the same extent. Does this mean that we will be marching thousands of troops from Winterfell to Kings Landing any time soon? Of course not, but that doesnt change the fundamental purpose of what the Army needs to be able to do and the physical nature of it. The majority of Army MOSs are designed to directly or indirectly support the warfighter -- on the battlefield, training for it, resourcing it or recovering it. The point is that we need to be able to fight and, in my opinion, that can never be lost. The second major area where we disagree is why the ACFT is challenging for units and what success looks like. The ACFT will be demanding at the platoon and company level because it requires more equipment, a more diligent training plan, and a level of expertise that many units just do not have. The Army is full of athletes who did Olympic-style lifts in high school and in college as part of their training programs. However, that doesnt qualify those individuals to instruct on proper forms for complex movements such as deadlifts. The Army knows this, but Emma's idea for a Permanent Training Instructor is a bridge too far. We have master fitness trainers in the Army, and it is a great program. Units who have them and leverage their capability tend to do well. It is the units that dont have them, and do not prioritize the importance of getting that instruction that suffer. The idea of permanent training instructors is drawn from allied nations such as the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Emma states, Should the Army be serious about revolutionizing fitness, it has to make Physical Fitness Instructors a full-time MOS and implement them on a broader scale throughout the Army. The problem here is scale. The British Army has around 75,000 personnel, the Australian Army has 60,000, and New Zealand only 4,700. All three combined do not equal 30% of the U.S. Army, which has around 480,000 troops. Emma's ideas are well-placed, and many of them are utilized in non-standard units that are much smaller in size and managed differently based on their mission sets. This isnt to say that we cant do better, but applying a solution for New Zealand's Army, which is less than the size of one U.S. brigade combat team, to the entire U.S. Army, is just not feasible. Further, adding the fitness personnel needed for an organization this size would certainly require either an increase in end strength authorization from Congress or cutting the combat power that already resides in the force to accommodate a new MOS. Either way, readiness is harmed. This is undoubtedly why the Master Fitness trainer was the Army's preferred route and can remain so going forward. Creating a decentralized unit PT plan to support the ACFT is not a full-time job. Where units need outside help is on recovery and nutrition -- areas that have not seen as much progress and are an entirely different debate that Emma has also written great things about. I know she uses parallels like the Rangers and Special Forces, but that model does not seem feasible for the entire force. This discussion was a lesson in humility for me, after I originally found her op-ed borderline insulting to my profession. Emma took me to school in our initial flurry of emails and really laid out her points thoughtfully. The Army needs healthy soldiers, a healthy culture and the institutions to support it. We arent there yet, but creating a more comprehensive fitness test and programs associated with it is a step in the right direction. To Emma, I say that the test should not be the only relevant element of readiness, but it cannot just be decoupled without major ramifications. So lets figure it out! -- 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. It is strikingly bullying and bullish. US officials have been less than reserved in their threats about what Britains proposed dealings with Huawei over admitting it to its 5G network might entail. Three Republican Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas, John Cornyn of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida have taken it upon themselves in the circus of the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump to send a letter to the UKs National Security Council, not to mention cool notes to a whole swathe of UK ministers, including the Attorney General, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Defence. The language is terse and unequivocal. The companys actions show a clear record of predatory and problematic behaviour. For the sake of the US-UK special relationship and the health and wellbeing of a well-functioning market, it was in the best interest of the United Kingdom to exclude Huawei. The letter is also noteworthy for doing the opposite of what it claims to. We do not want to feed post-Brexit anxieties by threatening a potential US-UK free trade agreement when it comes to Congress for approval. Nor do we want to have to review US-UK intelligence sharing. Except that they do. Within the Trump administration, officials are also keen to sound the note of warning, flavoured with threat, though the voice is a touch discordant. US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin is a regular on the critical circuit warning that admitting Huawei to the fold is much like admitting thieves to the party. But were Huawei to be scrubbed from contention of applying its 5G technology to Britain, the US would dedicate a lot of resources of getting a trade deal done and dusted with it. Those in London know that a hypocrisy is in the making. Despite the righteous stand being maintained in Congress and some in the Trump administration, opponents against a full freezing out of Huawei can be found. They have sanctuary in the Departments of Defense and Treasury. The concern here, as the Wall Street Journal notes, is that not allowing US firms to ship to Huawei will squeeze revenue in a competitive market. For one thing, it will chill progress in research in the field that might enable money and research to be spent on developing better alternatives. According to Defense Secretary Mark Esper, speaking 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. Thats the balance we have to strike. Keeping up their letter writing obsession on Huawei, Rubio and Cotton, this time with Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska to keep them company, badgered Esper for an explanation. Huawei is an arm of the Chinese Communist Party and should be treated as such. The British have been rather surly on this; the suggestion that the US have priority in being listened to over a balanced deal that might be struck with a dominant Chinese company, albeit heavily subsided by an authoritarian regime, is grating. Besides, no UK official would willingly compromise the digital channels of communications with Washington by letting in a potential digital burglar. The approach of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as with much else, is to puzzle and dare. On Tuesday, Johnson approved the limited use of Huawei equipment in the countrys fifth-generation mobile phone networks, albeit designating it a high risk vendor. (The designation suggests that Britains ministers are concerned enough to regard the company as subject to Beijings direction.) The UK National Security Council signed off on the arrangement, but only to a market share of 35 percent within the 5G infrastructure. Sensitive core functions will also remain out of reach for the Chinese giant, including networks in the Critical National Infrastructure and sensitive geographic locations, such as nuclear sites and military bases. According to a government press release, UK ministers determined that UK operators should put in place additional safeguards to exclude high risk vendors from parts of the telecoms network that are critical to security. Guidance on the matter will be sought from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). Some concession has been made by means of a promise on the part of the UK that its ministers liaise with fellow five eyes alliance members US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand on developing alternatives in future. The true victor here is Huawei, even if the victory seems clipped. It is being treated as the innovator-in-chief in a technology market that has become addictive and hyper-competitive. To ban Huawei is to spit in the face of speedy progress. To ban Huawei, goes this line of reasoning, is to prevent the development of 5G and cognate broadband technologies by anywhere up to two or three years. We are also left with some speculation as to how the technology developments will unfold. As ITVs political editor Robert Peston maintains with relevant acuity, The problem is that for 5G, important data processing such as for a new generation of driverless cars may well migrate outside of the core network to the periphery. The gamble being made here, as Peston reiterates, is that Huaweis market share falls over time, something that can only happen if the UK brings in other providers (Samsung and NEC) and make all equipment interoperable. Given Britains fabulously bad record in dealing with such infrastructure decisions, marked by bungles and poor choices, this is anybodys bet. The sense of British pride, mighty as it is, is evident. While they remain dupes of international relations politics when it comes to backing Washington on various fronts, the Huawei threat was one step too far. Perhaps it said as much about Washingtons fears than it does about Britains own confidence: that it can strike a balance with Huawei better than others can. As the Johnson government boasts, the NCSC had carried a technical and security analysis that offered the most detailed assessment in the world of what is needed to protect the UKs digital infrastructure. Huawei may well burst that bubbly presumption in time. Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: [email protected] WASHINGTON Two area lawmakers on Wednesday applauded new trade rules with Canada and Mexico. U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, said the legislation President Donald Trump signed into law is a big step forward. U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, called it a historic moment for American farmers, manufacturers, and workers. In signing the agreement, Trump said the pact replaces the nightmare of a Clinton-era agreement and will keep jobs, wealth and growth in America. Canada and Mexico already represent the top two export markets for U.S. goods. But the new pact, along with the signing of a phase one agreement with China, dials down trade tensions that contributed to slowing economic growth globally. Things are looking up for Americas farmers, with USMCA expected to strengthen exports for our farmers by an expected $2.2 billion annually, opening markets up to American dairy, wheat, and poultry products, Bost said. The agreement is expected to create over 176,000 new U.S. jobs, Bost said. And it will give the nearly 70,000 Illinoisans whose jobs depend on fair and free trade with Canada and Mexico the certainly they deserve. Davis attended the signing ceremony at the White House Wednesday morning. This new trade deal expands markets for agriculture, bolsters American manufacturing, and incentivizes higher wages, he said. I am hopeful this agreement paves the way for stronger trade deals with other countries throughout the world. Illinois Farm Bureau president Richard Guebert, Jr., a Randolph County grain farmer, said the passage of the USMCA will be stability to the marketplace that Illinois corn farmers desperately need. Mexico is the largest purchaser of corn and dried distillers grains with soluables, he said. Canada is the second largest purchaser of ethanol. Together, our neighbors make up our largest and most reliable customers for corn and 25 percent of U.S. agricultural trade. Officials with Archer Daniels Midland also released a statement applauding the pact, saying it was a good deal for the agriculture and food industries in all three countries. The Illinois Soybean Growers, the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois and the Illinois Manufacturers Association also backed the pact. This is a cutting-edge, state-of-the-art agreement that protects, defends, and serves the great people of our country, Trump said in an outdoor signing ceremony at the White House, where the invitation list included more than 70 Republican members of Congress but no Democratic legislators. Together we are building a glorious future that is raised, grown, built and made right here in the glorious U.S.A. The leaders of the U.S., Canada and Mexico signed the deal in late 2018. Legislation implementing it received overwhelming, bipartisan support in Congress after several months of behind-the-scenes negotiations between Democratic lawmakers and the Trump administration. What the president will be signing is quite different from what the president sent us, said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. We were able to make vast improvements. If we werent, we would not have been able to pass the bill. NAFTA, which took effect in 1994 under President Bill Clinton, tore down trade barriers between the three North American countries and commerce between them surged. But Trump and other critics said NAFTA encouraged factories to leave the United States and relocate south of the border to take advantage of low-wage Mexican labor. The new agreement requires automakers to get 75% of their production content (up from 62.5% in NAFTA) from within North America to qualify for the pacts duty-free benefits. That means more auto content would have to come from North America, not imported more cheaply from China and elsewhere. At least 40% of vehicles would also have to originate in places where workers earn at least $16 an hour. That would benefit the United States and Canada not Mexico, where auto assembly workers are paid a fraction of that amount. The independent U.S. International Trade Commission last year calculated that the U.S.-Mexico-Canada deal would add 0.35%, or $68 billion, to economic growth and generate 176,000 jobs over six years not much of a change for a $22 trillion economy with 152 million nonfarm jobs. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Russias state-owned Gazprom says it will complete the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project under the Baltic Sea on its own without the help of foreign companies. "The Nord Stream 2 project, which is already 94 percent complete, will be finished by the Russian side," Gazprom deputy head Yelena Burmistrova reportedly told the European Gas Conference in Vienna on January 28. Last month, the United States imposed sanctions in the form of a cease-and-desist order for the foreign firms working on the Russia-to-Germany natural-gas pipeline project. That pushed back the timetable of its completion, with Russian officials having given various estimates of when it would go online -- from the end of 2020 to early 2021. It remains unclear how Gazprom would finish the project without international assistance. Options on the table, according to the Financial Times, include using vessels owned by Gazprom and other Russian pipe-laying contractors. The foreign companies building the pipeline -- all not part of Gazprom's project consortium -- were Finnish, Swedish, and Danish. The two most crucial companies facing sanctions were Swiss pipelayer and undersea construction firm Allseas, as well as Italian pipeline contractor Saipem. Upon completion and in addition to Gazproms sister Nord Stream 1 pipeline, Russia technically wont be reliant on Ukraines pipeline network for transiting gas to Europe. Infographic: Pipeline From Hell? Nord Stream 2 And Why It's So Contentious Both sides, however, in late December signed a five-year, $7 billion gas transmission agreement. Under the new contract, Kyiv this year is expecting to ship a minimum of 65 billion cubic meters (bcm), or about 22 bcm less than it did in 2018. Minimum volumes will decrease further to 40 bcm in 2021-24. With reporting by the Financial Times, Forbes, Ukraine Business News, Interfax, and Seeking Alpha Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has said digitisation of the economy has helped in the fight against corruption. We will talk about the digital economy. We have embarked on a major digitization exercise and that exercise is already yielding fruits and I think that when we all come together, Ghana will be a different country as far as digitization is concerned. One area where digitization has really helped is the fight against corruption. It has really helped The Vice President said this at the opening ceremony of the Ghana-EU political dialogue in Accra. The Ports, Lands Commission, Ministry of Tourism and the Passport Office are a few state agencies that have migrated to digital platforms to enhance efficiency. The Vice President said corruption is non-existent at these agencies due to digitization. If you go to the ports today, we have curbed corruption at the ports. If you go to DVLA we have curbed corruption because of digitization. NHIS is the same in terms of digitizing the hospitals so it is a very very important aspect of the fight against corruption. We have implemented the e-justice programme at the court. We have automated the court so the issue of missing dockets that used to be a problem has been addressed. The Vice President also indicated that the government is putting in place a lot of policies to help deprived communities. Many say governments digitization efforts had led to reforms at various agencies. The introduction of the technology at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority has gradually eliminated the ''goro boys'' which was formerly a problem. Government intends to introduce more reforms to push its digitization agenda. ---citinewsroom Chennai, Jan 29 : Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) President M.K. Stalin on Wednesday demanded a CBI probe into the recruitment malpractices in Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) relating to Group IV posts. In a statement issued here, Stalin said the Central Bureau of Investigation should probe the TNPSC recruitment scam. He also said in order to restore the unemployed youths' confidence in TNPSC, the probe should be monitored by a High Court judge. According to Stalin, the government has said during 2018-19 a total of 17,648 persons have been recruited through TNPSC exams in various cadres including Group IV while the total recruitment during the AIADMK rule during 2017-2019 was 22,250 persons. Stalin said suspicion arises as to the kind of transparency that was followed in the recruitments made between 2017 and 2019 given the recruitment scam that has come to light now. Satlin, who is the leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu assembly, also demanded the dismissal of D. Jayakumar, Minister for Fisheries and Personnel and Administrative Reforms. According to TNPSC, the recruitment exam for 9,398 vacancies under Group IV category was held on September 1, 2019. A total of 16,29,865 aspirants appeared in the exam. The TNPSC said a complaint was made as the first 100 ranks were secured by those from outside but who wrote the exam in Rameswaram and Keezhakari centres in Ramanathapuam district. A probe revealed that 99 persons, on the advice of middlemen, had opted for exam centres in Rameswaram and Keezhakari and had first marked their answers with an ink that would vanish after sometime. Later with the help of those involved in the conduct of exams and the middlemen, correct answers were marked in the answer sheets. According to the TNPSC, such a scam did not happen in other exam centres. By Kim Bo-eun Most major Korean banks have become mired in a series of investment scandals involving the sale of high-risk, high-return products that have caused major losses for investors. This has led to many people seeking more reliable institutions to manage their assets. Foreign banks here, which are free from involvement in the DLF and Lime cases, have benefited from the situation. A growing number of individual investors, particularly the wealthy, have pulled their money out of local banks, and moved to foreign banks that they believe will manage their assets in a safer and more systematic manner. Woori and KEB Hana Bank currently face sanctions for having mis-sold derivative-linked funds (DLFs) last year that led to large scale losses for investors. They also face allegations of failing to notify investors of the risks of investing in funds managed by Lime Asset Management for which redemptions have been halted. Shinhan faces the same allegation as the two banks in mis-selling investment options managed by Lime. The fiasco over DLF options began in the latter half of last year, and allegations surrounding Lime Asset Management began surfacing around the same time. Data shows new wealth management customers at Standard Chartered (SC) Bank Korea from January through November last year grew 28 percent year-on-year. Citibank also saw the number of new wealth management customers grow 50 percent in the same period. The scale of Citibank's retail investors' assets last year grew 24 percent. "We had many customer inquiries in the latter half of last year," an SC Bank official said. "We believe this is based on the bank's strict compliance standards." SC Bank not only examines an investment option, but also the asset manager or brokerage that designs the option. Citibank is known to have a system that ensures investment diversification. This is included in the performance evaluation of private bankers. "The key performance indicator not only measures sales achievements but also consumer protection," a Citibank official said. "We did focus on wealth management since the beginning of the year, but the growth in new customers is seen to be partly due to the DLF, Lime cases as well." Both banks said they decided not to sell the troubled investment options after examining them according to their screening standards. Local banks have sold the options without sufficient warnings of associated risks due to sales pressure amid growing competition amid a tough market situation for lenders. Shinhan Bank, the flagship firm of Shinhan Financial Group, the nation's largest financial group by assets and profits, is suspected of promoting the troubled funds managed by Lime as its brokerage unit is alleged to have worked closely with Lime in enabling the sale of the options. An official at a local bank said, "We have been keeping an eye on wealth management customers, many of whom are our long-term clients, as their assets have been on a gradual decline." It is very important to me that we carefully determine our patients health and lifestyle to help avoid any potential implant complications and to most carefully plan for their care. This way, we can work together to avoid implant complications." Dr. Todd Britten is a dental implant specialist in Clearwater, Florida, who says dental implants are being placed in more patients than ever before. Certain medications or existing medical conditions can make implant success a challenge, and careful planning is more important than ever, says Dr. Britten. It is widely known that implant complications are more likely to occur in patients who have a history of smoking, diabetes or patients taking bisphosphonate prescription drugs. (Bisphosphonate drugs such as Actonel, Fosamax, Boniva, and Reclast or Zometa are used for people with osteoporosis, Paget's disease, multiple myeloma, primary hyperparathyroidism, or other conditions that exhibit bone fragility.) With smokers, Dr. Britten says that current evidence indicates that there is a higher risk of implant failure directly related to smoking history, such as number of years, packs per day and cigarettes per day. Dr. Britten says that smokers are encouraged to stop smoking permanently if possible, and if not, at least 2-6 weeks prior to dental implant placement and eight weeks following placement. According to Spear Digest and Dr. Hunter Dawson, A systematic review of 6,283 implants included the frequency of peri-implant mucositis at 30.7% and peri-implantitis was 9.6%. This frequency estimate increased to 36.3% for smokers. In addition to smoking, a history of periodontal disease can also put patients at a higher risk for implant failure. Regular care in the dental hygiene chair (often increased to 3 to 4 month dental cleanings) and close monitoring of the implants with yearly x-ray examination of the implant is encouraged. Dr. Britten states that there is a high prevalence of peri-implant disease in patients that do not continue supportive hygiene maintenance following implant placement. Recent studies are even now indicating two other classes of drugs that may contribute to implant complications. These are Proton pump inhibitors (PPI), which showed an increase in failure rates by 4.3% as well as drugs used for mental illness such as anxiety and depression, particularly serotonin reuptake inhibitors which showed an estimated a 7.5% associated failure rate. It is very important to me that we carefully determine our patients health and lifestyle to help avoid any potential implant complications and to most carefully plan for their care. This way, we can work together to avoid implant complications. I also stress to patients that they commit to a lifetime of supportive or maintenance care to protect their investment of dental implants. With careful planning and care, many dental implants last for decades, and even a lifetime, and that is always our hope! Dr. Britten states being a dental implant specialist has provided him the training to carefully consider any and all the risks involved in treatment planning for dental implant patients. Dental implants today are not only considered the gold standard of care for tooth replacement, but are usually now considered to be the superior or ideal treatment option for damaged or lost teeth, Dr. Britten said. I am excited about the many advancements in implant planning, placement and technology. Britten Periodontics & Implant Dentistry is a periodontal practice offering patients personalized dental care in implant dentistry in Clearwater, Florida. Dr. Todd Britten received his Bachelor of Science & Doctorate of Dental Surgery from University of Florida, a Masters Degree and Certificate in Periodontology and Implant Dentistry; and completed extensive training at the Institute of Advanced Laser Dentistry. He is one of the only board-certified periodontists in Pinellas County. He is a member of the American Academy of Periodontology, American Dental Association, Florida Association of Periodontists, Upper Pinellas County Dental Association, Hillsborough County Dental Association, Hillsborough County Dental Research Association and Florida West Coast Dental Association. To learn more about Dr. Britten and his dental implant or periodontal services, call (727) 586-2681 or visit http://www.brittenperio.com. As the only leader of a legal network included on the list, Samaha has been recognized for helping to shape the legal profession now and into the future. Helena Samaha, President of Lex Mundi, has been named to the Hot 100 List, published by The Lawyer. The Lawyer Hot 100 List recognizes the most daring, innovative and creative lawyers from in-house, private practice and the Bar. Nominations come from across the legal profession. As the only leader of a legal network included on the list, Samaha has been recognized for helping to shape the legal profession now and into the future. Samaha started her new role in June 2019, becoming the first woman president in Lex Mundis history. As noted by The Lawyer, she hit the ground running as she met with dozens of member firms around the world. In 2020, her strategy centers around revamping the services that Lex Mundi provides its members with a client-centric focus and agenda. She will concentrate on ways of improving the retention of legal talent, supporting members in their business and client development, and modernizing both Lex Mundi and its members technology and innovation strategies. She would also like to incorporate more firms from North Africa and the Middle East into Lex Mundi's membership. Having worked at Clifford Chance and DLA Piper, as well as in-house as GC at Virgin and Liberty Global in the UK, AlixPartners in Paris and Orbit Showtime Network in Dubai, Samaha is in a unique position to improve the global legal market through Lex Mundis 160 firms. The coming year will see her strive to help members of the network build bridges to better serve their clients. About The Lawyer Hot 100 The 2020 edition of the list includes a broad spectrum of lawyers: well-known names from the top ranks of the profession; experienced figures who have recently come to prominence after years of hard work; and rising stars who we will all become very familiar with in the decades to come. You can view the complete list here. About Lex Mundi Lex Mundi connects the worlds independent leading law firms with collaborative processes and smart technology to deliver lean solutions across borders, industries and markets. Our 160 member firms with 600 offices draw on deep relationships and cross-border opportunities to create an unparalleled pool of expertise, comprising more than 21,000 lawyers worldwide. Lex Mundi provides a unique service platform for delivering coordinated and tailored solutions for clients complex cross-border challenges. The selection criteria for Lex Mundi membership are rigourous and membership is reviewed on a continuous basis. As a result, member firms share common values around continuous improvement, great client care, and they adhere to levels of legal excellence supported by ongoing training and knowledge sharing through Lex Mundi. Our member law firms are located throughout Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America, the Caribbean and North America. Through our non-profit affiliate, the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation, members also provide pro bono legal assistance to social entrepreneurs around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.lexmundi.com and http://www.lexmundiprobono.org. English French The Corporation implements a sale and investor solicitation process Settlement of the Court case with holders of the Senior Secured Bonds Claims procedure begins in collaboration with the Monitor MONTREAL, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nemaska Lithium Inc. (Nemaska Lithium or the Corporation) provides today an update on its restructuring efforts under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act (the CCAA) initiated on December 23, 2019 under the supervision of the Superior Court of Quebec (the Court) and PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc., as monitor of the business and financial affairs of the Corporation (the Monitor). Implementation of Sale and Investor Solicitation Process The Corporation today obtained an order from the Court that approves Nemaska Lithiums proposed sale and investor solicitation process (the SISP) to be conducted in consultation with the Monitor and the Corporations financial advisors, National Bank Financial Inc. and Clarksons Platou Securities AS. These financial advisors have significant knowledge of the Corporations affairs as well as relevant expertise regarding SISP procedures. The SISP is intended to generate interest in either a recapitalization of the Corporation, or in the business or its assets, with the goal of maximizing return in respect of the Corporations assets and potentially creating the foundation of a plan of compromise or arrangement for all stakeholders of Nemaska Lithium. The SISP procedures will commence on February 28, 2020 with the transmission of a teaser letter to potentially interested parties. The deadline for submission of non-binding letters of intent is April 17, 2020, with a target closing date of the transaction in mid-August 2020. Potential interested parties wishing to obtain more information on the SISP procedures may consult the Monitors website: https://www.pwc.com/ca/en/services/insolvency-assignments/nemaska-lithium-inc/sale-or-investor-solicitation-process--sisp-.html. Settlement of the Court Case with Holders of the Senior Secured Bonds The Corporation has reached an agreement in principle with the Nordic Trustee to settle its Court case with the holders of the Senior Secured Bonds issued pursuant to the bond offering announced on May 10, 2018 (the Bonds and the Bondholders). The settlement provides that the Corporation is released of its obligations towards the Bondholders and obtains the discharge of the security which secured the Bonds, in exchange for a lump sum payment of USD 30M. The settlement, which is conditional upon its formal approval by Bondholders holding in excess of two thirds of the principal amount of the Bonds and by the Court, is a meaningful progress in the Corporations restructuring efforts under the CCAA. The Bondholders are set to hold a Bondholders meeting on February 12, 2020, to vote on the proposal. The Corporation has filed an application with the Court to seek approval of the settlement and expects that such application will be heard by the Court on February 13, 2020. For further information regarding the Court case with the Bondholders, please consult Nemaska Lithiums press releases dated September 17, 2019, September 25, 2019, and December 5, 2019. Claims Procedure Begins in Collaboration with the Monitor The Corporation today obtained an order from the Court that approves Nemaska Lithiums proposed claims procedure in order to proceed as soon as possible with the review and determination of the number and quantum of claims against the Corporation and its subsidiaries, as well as their directors and officers. Pursuant to the Claims Procedure Order of the Court, persons having claims against the Corporation, its subsidiaries, and their directors and officers must file their proofs of claim at the latest on March 31, 2020, failing which these persons will be barred from asserting their claims. For further information regarding the claims procedure, please consult the Monitors website: https://www.pwc.com/ca/en/services/insolvency-assignments/nemaska-lithium-inc/claims-process.html. About Nemaska Lithium Nemaska Lithium Inc. is a developing chemical company whose activities will be vertically integrated, from spodumene mining to the commercialization of high-purity lithium hydroxide. These lithium salts are mainly destined for the fast-growing lithium-ion battery market, which is driven by the increasing demand for electric vehicles and energy storage worldwide. With its products and processes, the Corporation intends to facilitate access to green energy, for the benefit of humanity. The Corporation intends to operate the Whabouchi mine in Quebec, Canada, one of the richest lithium spodumene deposits in the world, both in volume and grade, and the spodumene concentrate to be produced thereat will thereafter be processed at the Shawinigan plant using a unique membrane electrolysis process for which the Corporation holds several patents. More information regarding the Corporations situation, decisions or actions will continue to be provided on an ongoing basis, as required by applicable law or as may be determined by the Corporation or the Court. For more information, visit www.nemaskalithium.com. You can also refer to the Monitors website for more information on the CCAA procedures at https://www.pwc.com/ca/en/services/insolvency-assignments/nemaska-lithium-inc.html. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release including, but not limited to, those relating to the aforesaid settlement, the CCAA application and proceedings and the Corporations activities and its ability to meet its obligations, constitute forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of certain securities laws and are based on expectations and projections as of the date of this press release. Certain important assumptions by the Corporation in making forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the approval of the aforesaid settlement by Bondholders holding in excess of two thirds of the principal amount of the Bonds and by the Court, and the achievement of a Court-approved arrangement under the CCAA to allow the resumption of the project construction and engineering activities. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, those related to (i) the outcome of the CCAA proceedings, (ii) the approval of the aforesaid settlement by Bondholders holding in excess of two thirds of the principal amount of the Bonds and by the Court, (iii) the ability of the Corporation to secure additional financing and to complete the necessary preparation to allow an orderly resumption of the project, (iv) the Corporations ability to generate interest, under the SISP, for a recapitalization of the Corporation or in its business or assets with the goal of maximizing return, (v) the potential foundation of a plan of compromise or arrangement for all stakeholders of the Corporation, (vi) the number and quantum of claims to be processed and the eventual outcome thereof, and (vii) generally, the above About Nemaska Lithium paragraph which essentially describes the Corporations outlook. Forward-looking statements 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. In addition, there is no assurance that the aforementioned settlement will be approved by Bondholders holding in excess of two thirds of the principal amount of the Bonds and by the Court, that the Corporation will emerge from the CCAA process by completing a project refinancing, and that there will be any residual value for shareholders under the CCAA process. 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 the Whabouchi mine and/or the electrochemical plant in Shawinigan will be commissioned and will begin production, as future events could differ materially what is currently anticipated by the Corporation. In addition, there can be no assurance that the CCAA proceedings will result in the maximization of the return in respect of the Corporations assets and those of its subsidiaries. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future experience. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about managements expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important risk factors and future events could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates, assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those made in our other filings with the securities regulators of Canada including, but not limited to, the cautionary statements made in the Risk Factors section of the Corporations Annual Information Form dated September 30, 2019, and the Risk Exposure and Management section of the Corporations quarterly Management Discussion & Analysis. The Corporation cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive, and new, unforeseeable risks may arise from time to time. 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. Further information regarding Nemaska Lithium is available in the SEDAR database (www.sedar.com) and on the Corporations website at: www.nemaskalithium.com. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Gabrielle Tellier Media Relations 514 348-0466 gabrielle.tellier@nemaskalithium.com Annagasagan pub and restaurant The Glyde Inn is celebrating today after winning A Gold Excellence Award and the status of Best Lunch in Ireland at the CIE Tours International Annual Awards of Excellence which took place in Dublin last night. The Awards which are now in their 30th year and recognise the best hotels and tourist attractions across Ireland based on feedback from over 25,000 customers throughout the year. Each winner achieved a customer satisfaction rating of over 92% from CIE Tours International visitors with Gold Award Winners achieving the highest satisfaction ratings in their categories. This was The Glyde Inns first time in the Awards and to win a Gold Award on their first outing is a tribute to the focus on excellence and hospitality at the county Louth establishment. The Award was presented to Conor and Paul ONeill by Fiona Ross, Chairman, CIE Tours International. In total 84 hotels and tourist attractions from across the island of Ireland won awards, with 13 overall category winners being awarded a Gold Award. The Glyde Inn took to Facebook to say: "Cant believe it ... Irelands Best Lunch @cietours Awards " Speaking at the presentation of CIE Tours International Annual Awards of Excellence Elizabeth Crabill said; 30 years ago CIE Tours International introduced its annual Awards of Excellence to recognise Irelands hospitality ambassadors the people and businesses throughout the country who put Irish tourism on the global stage through the warmth of welcome and quality of service provided to our international visitors. Since then Irelands tourism sector has changed utterly and grown in reputation but the demand for excellent experiences remains constant. Ireland remains an attractive tourism destination for visitors from North America drawn by the diversity and richness of the experiences offered and the warmth of the traditional Irish welcome which should not be underestimated. The Irish holiday experience is unique and continues to grow in popularity, so much so that were launching new winter tour holidays to Ireland for the first time in 2020. This growth is driven in no small part by our Tour partners, many of whom we are recognising tonight, who are continuously improving their offering. I warmly congratulate tonights winners from Mayo on their achievements and I thank all our partners who work closely with us throughout the year. Alaska Air Group (ALK) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.46 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.41 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.75 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items. This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of 3.55%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this airline would post earnings of $2.62 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.63, delivering a surprise of 0.38%. Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times. Alaska Air, which belongs to the Zacks Transportation - Airline industry, posted revenues of $2.23 billion for the quarter ended December 2019, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.34%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $2.06 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters. The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call. Alaska Air shares have lost about 3.6% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 0.4%. What's Next for Alaska Air? While Alaska Air has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock? There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately. Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions. Story continues Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Alaska Air was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.48 on $1.99 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $7.11 on $9.24 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year. Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Transportation - Airline is currently in the top 17% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1. 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 To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research YONKERS, N.Y., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CTG (Crestwood Technology Group) is very pleased to announce being honored as one of 75 top companies to receive the New York State Society for Human Resource Management (NYS-SHRM) and Best Companies Group award for its 2020 Best Companies to Work for in New York State. This 13th annual statewide survey and awards program identifies, recognizes and honors the best places of employment in New York, whose practices benefit the state's businesses, economy and workforce. To be considered for participation, organizations had to fulfill specific registration eligibility requirements, and then participate in a two-part survey of employee satisfaction and engagement, as well as workplace practices and policies. "Our mission to serving our customers in the defense and aviation industries and our communities around us, is reflected in our employee dedication, satisfaction and enthusiasm as part of a holistic team that recognizes and rewards quality work," said Joe Mancino, CEO, CTG. Among the benefits CTG provides to its employees are a matching 401k, daily catered lunches, company events, contests and awards, and opportunities to give back to the communities and veterans we serve through charitable events and gifting. CTG also provides employees career enhancement and exploration through educational courses and cross-training. About CTG CTG (Crestwood Technology Group, Corp) provides supply chain solutions designed to keep fleets and systems operational, ready and safe. We are a leading supplier of parts, material and obsolescence management solutions to many of the world's largest airlines, MRO's and aircraft manufacturers, as well as the Department of Defense and its contractors. CTG maintains one of the largest on-site inventories of parts for fixed-wing, rotorcraft, power plant and ground-support equipment. We specialize in expendables, rotables, and consumables sourcing, kitting and tooling, inventory management and AOG services. Companies like Sikorsky, Boeing and Lockheed Martin have recognized CTG's commitment to quality and customer service as award-winning. CTG is the first and only distributor in the industry to earn AC7402 CAAP (Counterfeit Avoidance Accreditation Program) certification recognized by both customers and industry in setting the highest Aerospace quality management and inspections standards for suppliers and distributors. To find out more, please visit www.CTGNOW.com About NYS-SHRM NYS-SHRM is an affiliate of the national Society for Human Resources Management, the world's largest association devoted to human resources, serving the needs of and advancing the interests of the HR profession About Best Companies Group Best Companies Group is an independent research firm specializing in identifying and recognizing great places to work. Related Links https://www.bestcompaniesny.com/images/PDFs/2020_Press_Release.pdf https://www.ctgnow.com SOURCE Crestwood Technology Group (CTG) At the same time, Brown insisted her proposal is not a requirement that women do anything following an abortion. It's just informing women of all the options for humane disposal, she said. In response, state Sen. Jean Breaux, D-Indianapolis, said Brown's legislation is not needed, since state law already advises women that aborted fetuses must be buried or cremated by clinics or hospitals where surgical abortions are performed. Breaux also said it's unrealistic and unsanitary to expect women to "reach into the toilet" to scoop out the grape-size clump of blood and cells expelled in a pill-induced abortion which Indiana law requires be completed in the first nine weeks of pregnancy and take it back to an abortion provider that may be located hundreds of miles from their homes. She was the sole committee member to oppose the measure. The 10 other Democratic and Republican senators on the panel, led by state Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, appeared to agree Brown's proposal is harmless because it doesn't restrict abortion access and doesn't impose much of a burden on abortion providers. Turkey blamed France on Wednesday for Libya's instability, after French President Emmanuel Macron accused his Turkish counterpart of failing "to keep his word" to end meddling in the north African country. "The main (actor) responsible for the problems in Libya since the crisis started in 2011 is France," Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a statement. "It's no secret that this country has given unconditional support to (military strongman Khalifa) Haftar in order to have a say regarding natural resources in Libya," he added. Macron claimed earlier on Wednesday at a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis that Turkish ships accompanying Syrian mercenaries arrived on Libyan territory in recent days. The French leader said the action was a "clear violation" of what Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised at the Berlin conference on January 19 where world leaders vowed to stay out of the Libyan conflict. "It is a failure to keep his word," Macron said. But Aksoy said Macron "was once again trying to set the agenda with fanciful claims." Turkey supports the UN-recognised Government of National Accord in Tripoli against Haftar, who controls much of the south and east of Libya. The strongman launched an assault in April 2019 to seize Tripoli, and has the support of the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, countries with whom Turkey's relations are tense. Aksoy said France's support alongside other countries giving military assistance to Haftar who is attacking "the legitimate government" was "the most serious threat to Libya's territorial integrity and sovereignty." The Turkish ministry spokesman added: "If France wants to contribute to decisions of the (Berlin) conference being applied, it should first end its support for Haftar." Ties between Paris and Ankara are increasingly strained over multiple issues including Syria and the eastern Mediterranean. When Macron declared NATO "brain dead" last year, Erdogan said the French leader was "in a state of brain death". And Aksoy in his statement also accused France of welcoming "terrorists who threaten Syria's territorial integrity" to the Elysee in a reference to Syrian Kurdish officials meeting Macron last year. Libyans take part in a demonstration against eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar -- who is backed by France, Russia and others -- and in support of the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), at Martyrs' Square in the GNA-held capital Tripoli The healthcare market in the GCC is estimated to be worth $70 billion, and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5 percent, said experts at a forum on the penultimate day of the four-day Arab Health 2020 in Dubai, UAE. Conversation at the inaugural Healthcare Investment Forum focused on the drivers of change in healthcare investing in the region and offered a platform for discussion on what the future holds for the healthcare investment landscape in the Middle East. Jad Bitar, managing partner and director, BCG, Dubai, UAE, said: Although there is enormous room for growth, the GCC is only spending around half of what mature markets spend on healthcare. As such, there are several factors creating investible opportunities in healthcare in the region including underperforming systems and players, shifts in strategic focus such as disease burden and geographic footprint, the outsourcing of operations such as manufacturing and supply chain, as well as capacity build through digitisation and value-based healthcare and the current state of fragmentation in service provision. Attendees were also given an overview of both local and global experiences in investing in healthcare technologies and innovative startup companies. General manager of International Business at Jawbone Health, Bandar Antabi, shared the companies insights into investing in healthcare tech from a global perspective, while Dr Ihsan Almarzooqi, managing director of Glucare in Dubai, highlighted local learnings and experiences in the market. Over the past two years in the US alone, digital health startups have raised well over $10 billion in funding across nearly 1,000 deals, according to data from Pitchbook and Crunchbase, commented Ross Williams, exhibition director, Arab Health. This is hugely indicative of the current focus on optimising healthcare workflows, improving healthcare access and offering lower-cost distribution models. Arab Health is designed to showcase these opportunities as we get set for another strong year for innovation and venture investing in this sector. In a recent report by Informa Markets, organisers of Arab Health, titled Voice of the Healthcare Industry Market Outlook, respondents shared their experience regarding investment opportunities in the healthcare market in the GCC. The UAE and Saudi Arabia remain the strongest markets in the GCC, both in terms of current performance and in participants expressed level of attractiveness for the next two years. The overall outlook of the survey was positive for 2020 globally, with 79.3 per cent of respondents expecting an increase in revenue compared to 2019, and 15.4 per cent expecting a stable performance. Paul McGrade, former EU policy adviser to two British Prime Ministers and now Senior Counsel at Lexington Communications, one of the UKs leading strategic consultancies, said: With Brexit imminent, the UK will be putting increasing effort and resources into growing trade globally, and the Middle East will be an important part of that. The regions demand for world-class healthcare, and historic links to the UK market, make this a priority sector for growing UK trade. Continuing the investment theme, Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg visited Arab Health where he had the opportunity to meet various exhibitors from Luxembourg who were showcasing a range of products at the show. During the meeting, held at Qasr Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed welcomed Prince Guillaume and his delegation and hoped that the visit would contribute in furthering ties of friendship and cooperation between the UAE and Luxembourg. Delegates will return to the Healthcare Investment Forum tomorrow (January 30) to hear about private equity investment strategies and cross border collaboration, as well as developing a venture capital (VC) funding strategy around how to deeply funding capital in order to maximise the returns on investment. The final day of the Innov8 Talks agenda will also get underway tomorrow, with eight innovative SMEs and entrepreneurs presenting their latest groundbreaking healthcare ideas to a panel of judges. Some of the companies presenting their pitches include Ampersand Health - the first scientifically validated digital therapy for long term inflammatory conditions; NoulsAI analysis in diagnostics; and AI-powered health-tech company Prognica. With 14 conferences, Arab Health Congress is one of the largest CME-accredited multi-track medical conferences in the world. Running from January 27 - 30 at the Dubai World Trade Centre and Conrad Dubai and organised by Informa Markets, more than 400 expert speakers and 5,200 delegates are expected to attend. TradeArabia News Service The family of John Brady attended the findings of his inquest in Omagh on Wednesday (Michael McHugh/PA) A former IRA prisoner impulsively killed himself three minutes after he was left alone in a police station in Northern Ireland, a coroner has said. John Brady, 40, died through hanging in an empty consultation room at Strand Road barracks in Londonderry in October 2009. His solicitor John Finucane had just told him he was to be charged with an offence following an altercation with his brother-in-law. Mr Finucane had left the room to talk to police and returned to find that his client had killed himself, a court heard. Coroner Joe McCrisken said there had been failings in Mr Bradys treatment by police. There was a critical failure to supervise (Mr Brady) properly when he was placed into a consultation room after the decision to charge was takenJoe McCrisken, Coroner It seems to me that he acted impulsively having been told of the decision to charge, potentially having spent a short time ruminating about a further period of time in prison, he said. I have said this before in other inquests, but it always bears repeating: suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. The PSNI officer in charge of the police custody suite thought Mr Brady had been placed in a cell with standard anti-suicide provisions built in. He was actually in the consultation room alone and unsupervised, the coroner told the dead mans family at Omagh courthouse in Co Tyrone on Wednesday. Mr Brady was from Strabane in Co Tyrone and was on temporary release from prison when the suspected offence happened. He is a big part of our life that has been taken away from us and we will never get it backLorna Brady, John Brady's sister The coroner said he was arrested in a proportionate fashion and properly assessed as being of low risk. He did not criticise the decision to press charges. Mr McCrisken added: Certain steps were taken to protect Mr Brady while he was in custody but there was a critical failure to supervise him properly when he was placed into a consultation room after the decision to charge was taken. Following the inquest, Mr Bradys sister Lorna Brady said she remained devastated, a decade after his death. She said: The familys life have been put on hold. He was a son, a brother, a loving uncle. He is a big part of our life that has been taken away from us and we will never get it back. The third of October turned our lives upside down and will never be the same again, has not been and never will be. In May 1991, Mr Brady was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of reserve constable David Black. He was also charged with 41 other terrorist offences. Custody staff should be trained to expect the unexpectedJoe McCrisken, Coroner He served eight years in prison before his release on licence in October 1999 under the Good Friday Agreements provisions on paramilitary prisoners. In 2003, he was returned to jail after being charged with possession of a firearm, a prosecution which was subsequently dropped. Mr Brady did not know the reason why his early release licence remained revoked and he was not freed. The model prisoner, with friendships across the community divide, had only six weeks left to serve when the incident which caused his arrest happened, the coroner told the inquest. Following a family disagreement, he met brother-in-law John Kennedy while collecting his sisters children from school during temporary release. The coroner said a physical altercation took place between the pair, who differed on who started the fight. The coroner said the layout of the police custody suite was unsatisfactory and unhelpful since the officer responsible for the safe detention of suspects had no proper view of the cell area or corridor. He criticised systemic police failings, while exonerating individual officers, and said there was no prior indication that Mr Brady might self-harm. A shift change in the sergeant in charge of the custody suite was noted. The coroner said: Custody staff should be trained to expect the unexpected. He said Mr Brady was expecting to be charged when he died. It is possible that up until then, he had been ruminating in a pathological way about his potential return to prison and considering a lengthy court process which may, once again, result in the revocation of his licence when he was so close to being released, the coroner added. He said the attendance of intelligence officers at the custody suite seeking to speak to him did not cause or contribute to his death since Mr Brady did not know they were there. The coroner urged Stormonts new Health Minister Robin Swann to take serious steps to tackle the issue of suicide in the short and long term. Following the inquest, Derry City and Strabane District Commander Chief Superintendent Emma Bond gave a statement. She said: We recognise how difficult this inquest process has been for all involved and our thoughts are with the family and friends of Mr Brady. It is highly regrettable that this death took place within a police station and we hope todays outcome provides some measure of clarity for his family. In 2010 an investigation by the Office of the Police Ombudsman resulted in a number of recommendations relating to custody practices which were all actioned in compliance with Health and Safety legislation and Home Office standards. In 2011 a formal reform project was established to rationalise the police custody estate. Work continues to deliver the transformation of custody healthcare to ensure detainees are afforded and have access to quality care in custody. We will take some time to fully review the information presented over the course of the inquest to identify and implement any further actions as necessary. Two women polio workers were killed in northwestern Pakistan when unidentified assailants attacked a vaccination team on Wednesday, according to a media report. The incident happened in Swabi town of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan ordered the authorities concerned to take strict action against the culprits, The Express Tribune reported. "The polio campaign is in the best interest of Pakistan and we will not let it fail," Khan said. Pakistan is one of the only two countries where the crippling disease remains endemic. Attempts to eradicate the disease have been seriously hampered by deadly attacks on vaccination teams in recent years by militants, who oppose the drives, claiming the polio drops cause infertility. Last year in December, gunmen killed at least two policemen in an attack on a polio vaccination security team in Lower Dir district of the province. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday met the Inspector General of Police, Adamu Mohammed, in Abuja over the controversy generated by the recently launched South-west security outfit, Amotekun and the resumption of sacked state local government chairmen. A statement issued by the governors media office said the governor made this known while speaking with journalists at the premises of Police Force Headquarters in Abuja. The statement quoted the governor as declaring that his administration would not condone violence in the state, adding that he came to brief the police boss on the two developments. READ ALSO: We are here basically to discuss two things. You all must have heard about the issue of local government administration in Oyo State, he said. There is a court order yesterday restraining the IG, the CP, the AIG from giving unilateral order regarding the issue of local government administration in Oyo State. I came to brief the Inspector General that this is the situation. We do not want chaos in Oyo State. I personally, I am law-abiding; if there is a court judgement, I would obey it. He (IGP) has given me the assurance that once he gets the copy of the court order, he would do the needful. Secondly, everybody is aware of the issue with Amotekun. We deliberated on it and we had an agreement in principle to have the governors of the South-west meet with him to review the situation. Amotekun is work in progress, we are trying to operationalise it and in doing that, all the relevant stakeholders would have to align. We are trying to build a new country where the rule of law is supreme, so everybody should be law-abiding, ensure that they dont do anything that would create lawlessness, Mr Makinde said The Governor in the statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Taiwo Adisa, said his principal would obey the judgment of the court once the pending appeals on the local government dissolution in the state are decided. Mr Makinde disclosed that the South-west governors will soon meet as a body with the IGP to review the situation on Amotekun. The recent launch of the security outfit, to curb insecurity in the region, led to a confrontation between the governors and the federal government, who referred to it as illegal. However, the two parties promised to work towards a legal framework after a meeting was called by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Local government tussle A judge on Tuesday restrained the 68 elected chairpersons of the 33 local government areas and 35 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) of the state from forceful takeover of the council offices. The judge also restrained the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar; Commissioner of Police, Oyo State, Shina Olukolu; and the state APC chairman, Akin Oke; from taking further steps in taking over of the council secretariats. The council bosses who were sacked last year by Mr Makinde returned to their various offices on Monday at the back of directives by federal authorities. The officials were elected in 2018 during the administration of former governor, Abiola Ajimobi. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Djemi Amnifu (The Jakarta Post) Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara Wed, January 29, 2020 16:35 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20618d27c 1 National Rote-Island,coronavirus,refugee,Chinese-citizens,China,Indonesia,Australia Free Six Chinese nationals have been stranded on Rote Island, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), following a failed attempt to reach Australia in a wooden boat. Before going aground on the island's shore, the boat, which sailed from the coastal province of Jiangsu in China, has reportedly been floating in the waters near Rote Timur district after an Australian patrol vessel drove it away from its territory. Rote Ndao Police chief Sr. Comr. Bambang Wibowo said the Chinese citizens identified as Fan Shenghong, Cui Henggo, Hang Yongsheng, Wang Sisen, Han Baolin and Chu Kaishan were still on board their boat as of Tuesday evening and were under police custody because they did not possess complete travel documents. "The [Chinese citizens] were previously questioned in the middle of the sea on board an Australian patrol boat for two nights before they finally got released and escorted to Indonesian waters," Bambang said on Tuesday. Two Indonesians who accompanied the Chinese on the boat, identified as Aba and Madan residents of East Flores and South Sulawesi, respectively were questioned by the Rote Timur Police as they were accused of helping to smuggle the foreigners to neighboring Australia. According to the police, the six Chinese nationals initially attempted to sail to Australia in a wooden boat identified as the KMP Indah. The journey took three nights. After getting intercepted by the Australian authorities, the latter gave the Chinese nationals a new boat and two jerry cans of fuel after confiscating the KMP Indah. However, they ran out of fuel just after arriving in Indonesian waters at about 8:15 a.m. Indonesian Central Time. They proceeded to drop anchor close to the FaiFua salt mine in East Rote district. They were found by two patrol boats from Polairud [a water and air police unit] and the Rote Navy base, which were patrolling together at that time. They found the Chinese residents when they were inspecting the boat, Bambang said. The police summoned health officers from Rote Ndao to see if the Chinese residents were infected by coronavirus. The result was negative, he added. The police are still coordinating with the Kupang immigration office to see if the Chinese residents could be moved to Kupang. (dpk) The mother of three young children, whose bodies were discovered in their South Dublin home last weekend, has been arrested on suspicion of their murder. Conor (9), Darragh (7) and little sister Carla McGinley (3) were found in their home at Parson's Court, Newcastle, Co Dublin, last Friday evening. The children's mother Deirdre Morley - a Dublin-based nurse - has been undergoing treatment in Tallaght hospital for a suspected overdose after she was found wandering in a disoriented state shortly before the shocking tragedy emerged. Confirming the arrest last night, a garda spokesperson said: "A woman in her 40s has been arrested on suspicion of murder in relation to the discovery of the bodies of three children at a property in Parson's Court, Newcastle, Co Dublin on January 24. "The woman arrested was found at the scene and has been receiving medical attention at Tallaght University Hospital following the incident. "She is currently detained at Clondalkin Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984." In a statement earlier yesterday, the children's father Andrew McGinley spoke of his utter devastation at their loss and has urged parents to cherish every moment with their own children. Sharing a photograph of both parents with their children for the first time, dad Andrew McGinley said "every breath is a struggle" following the tragedy. In a statement released through An Garda Siochana, Mr McGinley said: "There are no words. There is only devastation, grief and anguish. Every breath is a struggle. "Conor, Darragh and Carla are adored. They all had beautiful, bright futures ahead of them with family, friends and a community who love them. "To all parents, cuddle your children whenever you get a chance, tell them how much you love them as often as you can, spend every spare minute with them reading, playing and enjoying their wonderfulness. "The future has now become our enemy but we will battle it every day to keep the memory of Conor, Darragh and Carla alive." He signed the statement, "Andrew". Fr John Gilligan, who represents Saggart, the family's old neighbourhood, and Newcastle, said the statement released by Mr McGinley showed "selfless compassion and bravery" and he praised him for "bringing back light into a community in darkness". "The words Andrew has used when we are lost for words, have helped this community," the priest said. "He and all who loved and knew the children, have suffered a great loss. They were beautiful children and little Carla's lovely smile lit up a room, I've been told. Statement "It was remarkably brave for a father who has lost so much, who's enduring such pain, to release a statement to help all parents across Ireland reflect." Fr Gilligan said the words reminded everyone that, like all other Irish families, "this father had been trying to make a living for his children". "They worked hard as a family and moved from Saggart to a bigger house in Newcastle to give their children more room, to give them the best and it's a reflection of all the hard work they put into them," he said. Fr Gilligan said there are 22,000 children within the communities of Newcastle, Saggart, Rathcoole and Brittas - areas which all fall under his parish. "Family is everything to our communities and our community is rallying round to offer support. He is incredibly brave and his statement has taken my breath away," he added. Gardai are awaiting toxicology results to determine the exact substance which is suspected of being consumed by the children. It is not suspected that any drugs were administered to the children by injection as no visible marks were found on their bodies. However, it is suspected that some, or all, of the children may have been smothered after being sedated. Gardai are not looking for anyone else in relation to the tragedy and have recovered two notes from the house in Newcastle including one that read "call 999, don't go upstairs". The award honors Medical Directors from across Alteon's 125 clinical sites who exhibited exemplary leadership and professionalism in 2019, mentoring their physicians and advanced practice providers while improving department performance. Justin Meiser, Vice President of Operations at Alteon, nominated Kelley, noting how under his leadership, the Portage Hospitalist program has transformed from one of the lowest-performing departments in University Hospitals to a system-wide leader in many quality metrics. The success has come in part as a result of Kelley's aggressive campaign to recruit a staff of highly skilled full-time clinicians who thrive on teamwork and are dedicated members of the hospital team and the community. "Dr. Kelley is one of the most clinically skilled physicians we have," Meiser said. "He leads by example and is always willing to be self-reflective and looks for ways to improve both personally and professionally. This translates to the entire UH Portage Hospitalist team." Kelley was one of three awardees selected by a panel of clinicians from Alteon's Executive Leadership Team. Trisha Anest, MD, MPH, FACEP, Director of Emergency Medicine at Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital in Newport News, Virginia, was honored as Facility Medical Director of the Year for Alteon's Southern Division. Tom Wulf, MD, Director of Emergency Medicine at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center in Roswell, New Mexico, was selected for the North Division. "I really must thank my team for their willingness to work hard on patient care while incorporating new processes. I would like to especially recognize my Associate HM Medical Director, Dr. Khalid Elamin, for his contributions as well," said Kelley, who has led Portage's Hospital Medicine program since 2010. Kelley graduated from the Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health in 1994, specializing in internal medicine. In addition to his role as Medical Director, he serves on the hospital's credentials, quality and medical executive committees and was elected by his peers as secretary/treasurer of the medical staff. Kelley's success at Portage helped Alteon solidify its strong partnership with University Hospitals. When UH acquired Portage, which was then Robinson Memorial Hospital, in 2015, it was Alteon's only Hospitalist contract in the system. The Portage Hospitalist team's outstanding clinical performance has helped Alteon expand its business to 17 UH facilities, including a total of three HM programs. "Thanks in part to Dr. Kelley's outstanding leadership, we now have the privilege of serving patients all across Northeast Ohio," said Jose Aguirre, MD, SFHM, President of Alteon's Hospital Medicine Division, when presenting the award at the company's National Leadership Summit in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on January 16. "His vision, drive and commitment to the best possible care are exactly what we look for in a successful Medical Director." About Alteon Health With more than 1,700 clinicians serving more than 125 practice locations nationwide, Alteon is a leading provider of emergency medicine, hospitalist medicine, critical care, post-acute care and virtual and home health services. The physician-led practice is equipped with nearly 50 years of experience in providing high-quality, industry-leading and patient-focused care in diverse medical markets. For more information, visit alteonhealth.com . SOURCE Alteon Health Related Links https://www.alteonhealth.com The opening arguments in President Trump's impeachment trial officially wrapped up Tuesday, with a little help from 1990s Democrats. Trump's defense team concluded their arguments hours early on Tuesday, with White House counsel Pat Cipollone saying he "had kind of a lengthy presentation prepared, but ... I think we've made our case." Democrats previously utilized old clips of Republicans like Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) during their opening arguments, and Trump's team did the same, playing a montage of Democrats during former President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial making similar points as Trump's team. "There must never be a narrowly voted impeachment, or an impeachment supported by one of our major political parties and opposed by the other," House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) says in one 1990s-era clip. In another clip, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voices concern that "we've lowered the bar on impeachment" and that "when a Republican wins the White House, Democrats will demand payback." "You were right," Cipollone quipped after the montage played. "But I'm sorry to say you were also prophetic." Cipollone concluded by echoing language previously used by Ken Starr, asking the Senate to "end the era of impeachment for good." With opening arguments concluded, the question period in Trump's impeachment trial will begin Wednesday, while a vote on whether to call witnesses will take place on Friday. Schumer in 1998: "I expect history will show that we've lowered the bar on impeachment so much, we have broken the seal on this extreme penalty so cavalierly, that it will be used as a routine tool to fight political battles." "You were right," WH counsel Pat Cipollone says. pic.twitter.com/Ow3vARTbmK CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) January 28, 2020 More stories from theweek.com It's 2020 and women are exhausted The 3 kinds of Republicans that Bolton's testimony would reveal Bolton reportedly received a formal threat from White House to prevent book publication We have at last reached the impeachment trial phase in which senators are given the opportunity to address questions to each side. Questions by the Republicans and Democrats are to be submitted and vetted by their respective leadership to avoid duplication and irrelevancy. They will then be submitted to Chief Justice John Roberts, who will pose them alternately to the House impeachment managers and President Trumps defense team. Each side presumptively has five minutes to answer, with the caveat that, on rare occasions when a question truly demands it, the partys time to respond may be expanded slightly. This process will go on for no more than 16 hours eight hours over the next two days. Everyone who has been observing the Ukraine kerfuffle through the House impeachment inquiry and the Senate trial probably has some questions. I doubt close watchers will have very many, though. The case against the president is very thin, in the sense that a finite set of events that took place over a relatively short time to an inconclusive end has been lavished with months of investigative attention, with the result that the Democratic-controlled House, on a strictly party-line vote, voted two articles of impeachment. The charges are so vague that Democrats repeatedly shifted their theory about what to call the presidents alleged misconduct campaign-finance violation, attempted extortion, quid pro quo, bribery, and more recently, a budget-law transgression before ultimately settling on a nebulous abuse of power claim, coupled with obstruction of the Houses inquiry. We all have a good idea where things stand, and thus most of us are probably skeptical that this phase of questions by the Senate could change any minds. Still, I think its possible. There is, after all, a significant issue the resolution of which remains uncertain: Should there be additional witnesses, or should the trial end in the next few days with the presidents inevitable acquittal? Story continues Conviction is unattainable since Democrats would need to hold their entire 47-vote bloc together plus draw 20 Republicans to their side to assemble the required two-thirds supermajority. Right now, it is unlikely any Republicans would vote to convict the president, and there may be some Democratic defections for acquittal. Thus, the final result is not in doubt. That itself may sway the preliminary vote on subpoenas for witnesses and documentary proof. Who, after all, wants to sit through what could be weeks of additional evidence if the effort would make no difference to the final disposition? Consequently, while I could bore you with a hundred questions, Im going to try to boil it down to just three. They are questions I believe bear directly on both the ultimate conclusion and the issue of additional witnesses. To the House Managers: What is the evidence that announcement of a Ukrainian investigation would have had any material impact on the U.S. election? It has surprised me that neither House Republicans nor the presidents lawyers have taken on the underlying premise of the Democrats impeachment case, to wit: That an investigation of the Bidens by the Ukrainian government, or at least the announcement of such a probe, could have materially influenced the 2020 U.S. presidential election. As I opined earlier this week, that is a preposterous assumption. Understand what we are talking about here. There is nothing conceivably improper in the Trump campaigns calling attention to the Bidens record of self-dealing of the likelihood that the former vice presidents son Hunter, and perhaps other Biden family members, profited on Joe Bidens political influence. There is, moreover, no problem whatsoever with the Trump campaigns pointing out that (a) Hunter Biden took a lucrative board position with a corrupt foreign company in a sector (energy) in which he had no experience, facts that powerfully suggest influence peddling; and (b) Vice President Biden knowingly operated under a blatant conflict-of-interest in playing point-man on Obama administration Ukraine policy such that he may have been corruptly influenced, and even if he was not, he created the appearance of impropriety that government officials are supposed to avoid. (And Ukraine may not be the only country in connection with which Biden created this unsavory appearance.) All of that is fair game. Campaign arguments could properly be made about it, wholly apart from whether the current Ukrainian regime took any investigative action. Democrats, however, allege that the dispositive fact is that the Ukrainian government as opposed to, say, the American media might have opened a corruption investigation at Trumps behest. What plausible evidence is there that this would have had any real impact on the 2020 election? Bear in mind: Ukraine is a notoriously, pervasively corrupt country. What it may be most infamous for is the exploitation of its criminal-justice processes, by whatever party is in power, as a weapon against political rivals, and to curry favor with Russia or the West, depending on what seems expedient to the incumbent rulers. Indeed, the Mueller probe reconfirmed that Ukrainian regimes serially and corruptly investigate their political adversaries. In a flash, Paul Manafort went from high-level adviser to one Ukrainian regime to criminal suspect of the next Ukrainian regime. The Ukrainian justice system has no credibility. Even the House managers investigation acknowledged that corruption is endemic in the prosecutorial ministry. So why would anyone in America care whether Ukraine was investigating the Bidens for potential violations of Ukrainian law? If the Bidens activities in Ukraine were actionably corrupt in a manner of consequence to American voters, the Justice Department would have been investigating them. If there were reason to believe Joe or Hunter Biden had violated American laws, that would be a big deal in the 2020 campaign. To the contrary, no sensible American cares what the Ukrainian government does. Foreign governments and actors constantly claim that American officials are guilty of war crimes, corruption, fraud, meddling, etc. It comes with the territory of being a high-level representative of the United States government. Presumably, moreover, Vice President Biden would have had immunity from any claimed violation of Ukrainian law based on his official acts. An investigation would have been pointless as well as irrelevant. Dont get me wrong. Personally, I would far prefer that American presidents took the position that Ukraine should be punished if it harassed former U.S. officials or American citizens regardless of whether they were political rivals. A president should not encourage foreign investigations of Americans. If there is criminal activity in a foreign country that our government cares about, the Justice Department should handle it and it should be based only on suspected violations of American law. But all that said, it is overwrought to suggest that a Ukrainian investigation of Joe Biden would have influenced the U.S. election. Democrats have just concocted a Ukraine straw-man to impede Republicans and the Trump campaign from making perfectly reasonable campaign arguments about potential Biden corruption. What is the evidence that President Trump is actively corrupting the 2020 election? Democrats claim that the sovereign, the American people, should not be permitted to decide President Trumps fate for themselves in the November election, just a few months away. The political class must preempt a democratic election, Democrats say, because the president, right this minute, is actively plotting with foreign powers to undermine the election. What is the evidence of that? The Democrats have not presented a shred of evidence that the president has threatened the U.S. voting process. They have not even alleged much less provided a sliver of proof that the president has asked any regime, other than Ukraines, to take action that could conceivably corruptly influence the U.S election in the slightest way. And, as weve just seen, President Trumps cockamamie effort to prompt a Ukrainian investigation of the Bidens which was aborted without commencement of any such investigation would have had no impact on the U.S. election. The Democratic House impeachment managers nevertheless proclaim, as if it were established fact, that the president is actively undermining the November election. It is the central assumption of their case, the rationale for insisting that president must be removed from office immediately. Where, in the hundreds of hours and thousands of pages of testimony, is there any proof any evidence at all that President Trump is presently working with any foreign government to corruptly influence the outcome of the 2020 election? We dont impeach and remove American presidents on supposition and surmise. What is the hard evidence? For the Presidents Defense Team: Why not subpoena John Bolton for four hours of narrow testimony on a single aspect of his communications with President Trump, or alternatively draw a negative inference against the president? For reasons that continue to baffle me, the president has not limited his defense to the positions that (a) the House has failed to charge impeachable offenses that approach the constitutional standard of egregiousness, and (b) nothing of consequence happened here the Ukrainians got their defense aid; President Zelensky got an audience with the president; there was no undermining of Ukrainian security, much less of American national security; Ukrainian investigations were neither conducted nor announced; and the Ukrainians say they did not feel pressured. Instead, the presidents team continues to claim that everything was perfect, nothing inappropriate whatsoever happened, and there was no quid pro quo tying the transmission of congressionally authorized American security aid for Ukraine to Kyivs conducting of investigations President Trump wanted probes of the Bidens and Ukraines alleged interference in the 2016 election. The president does not need to establish these facts in order to demonstrate that he should not be impeached and removed. But he has nevertheless insisted on putting these matters in issue. With that as background, there are now reported indications that former national-security adviser John Bolton is prepared to testify that, in at least one conversation between them, the president said he was delaying the security aid for Ukraine to induce Kyiv to announce that it was conducting the investigations. These reports have not been confirmed. They are press accounts of a version of events Bolton is said to have included in a memoir of his time in the Trump White House. He has submitted the manuscript to the government for a classification review because he hopes to publish it in March. That said, the press reports seem credible: They line up well with the testimony of other witnesses and are consistent with Boltons publicly expressed assertion that he has relevant testimony that he would be willing to share with the Senate. The president and his supporters argue that (a) Boltons testimony is covered by executive privilege and should be suppressed, and (b) if the impeachment trial is going to be extended by witness testimony from Bolton, the president should be entitled to call witnesses that were denied him during the House investigation. As noted above, it is unlikely that anyone wants to see the trial extended when the outcome is not in doubt. And it is certainly important to protect executive privilege as Democrats would concede if a Democrat were in the White House. On the other hand, the president has chosen (foolishly in my view) to make the quid pro quo question an issue in the trial; and he and his surrogates have chosen (foolishly in my view) to mount public attacks on Boltons credibility. Furthermore, legal confidentiality privileges are shields, not swords. A litigant is not supposed to be able to inject an issue of fact into a case (e.g., there was no quid pro quo) and then deny the fact finder access to probative evidence on that same issue. If you want to rely on your privilege, you need to steer clear of the issue. It seems to me that there is an easy way out of this quandary. What I will now propose would neither require nor foreclose the presidents opportunity to call other witnesses, such as the Bidens, the whistleblower, et al. The Senate could pass a resolution that would authorize a four-hour deposition of John Bolton by the Senate Judiciary Committee. There would be 90 minutes of questioning for each side, with the remaining hour reserved for members of the committee to pose questions. To move things along, Chief Justice Roberts would preside, subject to the Judiciary Committees review (it is highly unlikely that senators would have reason or gumption to overrule the chief justice on a point of admissibility). The subject would be: What if any communications did Bolton have with Trump on the lone subject of conditioning Ukrainian defense aid on Kyivs conduct of investigations? This would respect executive privilege by narrowly limiting the testimony to the only relevant issue, not permitting a fishing expedition into the former national-security advisers discussions with the president. The presidents defense would be able to avoid Boltons deposition by stipulating that he would testify that there was a quid pro quo. The presidents defense would also be permitted to renew its call for more witnesses after hearing Boltons testimony and deciding whether it was really necessary to extend the trial further for that purpose. I am betting that either (a) the presidents team would stipulate, since it is probably true and makes no difference to the outcome of the case; or (b) the lack of a difference to the outcome would be so clear after Boltons testimony that the presidents team would not press for more witnesses seeking, instead, to move on to final arguments and a verdict of acquittal. Presumably, the limited testimony, or stipulation to what the testimony would be, would satisfy such senators as Mitt Romney, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski Republicans said to be leaning toward voting to subpoena Bolton. By this process, the trial could be wrapped up by early next week. But for now, heres the question for the presidents team: If you are claiming that there is no quid pro quo, shouldnt we hear very limited testimony from Bolton on that question; or, if you dont want to have testimony from Bolton, shouldnt we just assume he would testify that there was a quid pro quo? Editors Note: This article has been emended since its initial publication to correct two mistaken references in the last paragraph to Biden. The correct references are to Bolton. More from National Review A mom allegedly on the run and wanted for questioning in the disappearance of her two kids in Idaho last fall has five days to produce them after she and her new husband were tracked to Hawaii. Lori Vallow and her husband, Chad Daybell, who abruptly vacated their Rexburg, Idaho, home last November as local police carried out search warrants related to the disappearance of the children, were located Saturday in Kauai, Hawaii, according to police on the Hawaiian island. Kauai police said the couple had been staying on the island for an unconfirmed period of time. In a separate statement to PEOPLE, Rexburg police said Vallows children were not with the couple when they were stopped on Saturday, and there is no evidence the kids were ever in Hawaii. An order obtained by the Madison County, Idaho, Prosecutors Office and handed to Vallow on Saturday requires her to physically produce the children 7-year-old Joshua J.J. Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan to the state Department of Health and Welfare or to Rexburg police officers within five days, or risk civil or criminal contempt of court. RELATED: Mom of 2 Missing Idaho Kids Who Refuses to Cooperate Allegedly Believes Shes God Reincarnated Lori Vallow | Rexburg Police Department Vallows children were last seen in September, according to Rexburg police, who also are investigating what they term suspicious circumstances surrounding the October death of Daybells then-wife, Tammy. Investigators discovered that Daybell and Vallow had married within a couple of weeks after Tammy Vallow died. Chad Daybell is a religious author who writes about prophecy and the end of the world, and Vallow allegedly believes she is a God assigned to carry out the work of the 144,000 at Christs second coming in July 2020, according to a court filing by the childrens father, Charles Vallow, who cited her beliefs as a factor in the couples divorce. Story continues Charles Vallow was shot and killed in a confrontation with Lori Vallows brother in July at Lori Vallows home in Chandler, Arizona, reports AZFamily.com. The brother, Alex Cox, told authorities the shooting was in self-defense and he was not arrested; Cox himself died in December. Before moving to Arizona, the Vallows previously had lived on Kauai, reports AZFamily. After Charles Vallows shooting, Lori Vallow moved to Idaho, where she married Daybell. Chad Daybell | Rexburg Police Department The case of the missing kids began after police conducted a welfare check on November 26 after receiving calls from concerned relatives. According to a police press release, Vallow and Daybell told authorities that Joshua was with a family friend back in Arizona. But police later learned the boy, who is adopted and has special needs, was not staying with the friend. RELATED: Brother of Missing Idaho Kids Begs Mom to Help Investigators Find Them Police later issued another statement, alleging the mother has refused to work with law enforcement to help us resolve this matter. We know that the children are not with Lori and Chad Daybell and we also have information indicating that Lori knows either the location of the children or what has happened to them, said the statement. It is astonishing that rather than work with law enforcement to help us locate her own children, Lori Vallow has chosen instead to leave the state with her new husband, the release added. We strongly believe that Joshua and Tylees lives are in danger. 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. After being served Saturday with the order to present her children to authorities, Vallow and Daybell were stopped again Sunday but not arrested by authorities who used a warrant to search them and their rental vehicle, Rexburg police Capt. Greg Hagen tells PEOPLE. There are no pending criminal charges or related warrants for their arrest, say police on Kauai. KPDs desire is to continue to assist the Rexburg police in whatever way we can with their efforts to locate the missing children, said Kauai Police Chief Todd G. Raybuck in a statement posted to his agencys Facebook page. Its our sincere hope that the children have a safe return. Anyone with information about either missing child is asked to call Rexburg police 208-359-3000 or 1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678). Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell leaves the chamber during a break in the impeachment trial (J. Scott Applewhite/AP) US Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell has told senators privately that he does not yet have the votes to block new witnesses in Donald Trumps impeachment trial. Mr McConnell convened a closed-door meeting of his partys senators shortly after Mr Trumps legal team made its closing arguments in the trial on Tuesday. The third and final day of defence proceedings was punctuated by revelations from former national security adviser John Bolton. A Republican familiar with the meeting was not authorised to describe it and requested anonymity. Mr McConnell faced a handful of potential defections but several days remain before any potential witness vote would be taken. Expand Close Senator McConnell speaks during the trial (Senate Television via AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Senator McConnell speaks during the trial (Senate Television via AP) A decision to call more witnesses would need 51 votes to pass. With a 53-seat majority, Republicans can only afford to lose three Republicans to prevent more debate over witnesses. Mr McConnell has been trying to prevent a prolonged trial. Republicans were warned that subpoenaing testimony from Mr Bolton or other witnesses could run quickly into legal challenges that could drag out for weeks. But Republican senator Mitt Romney has said he wants to hear what Mr Bolton has to say. Expand Close Former national security adviser John Bolton wrote in a manuscript that President Trump wanted to withhold military aid from Ukraine until it committed to helping with investigations into Democratic rival Joe Biden (Luis M. Alvarez/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Former national security adviser John Bolton wrote in a manuscript that President Trump wanted to withhold military aid from Ukraine until it committed to helping with investigations into Democratic rival Joe Biden (Luis M. Alvarez/AP) Two other Republican senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, also want to hear from more witnesses. The White House has blocked its aides from appearing in the impeachment proceedings and would almost certainly claim some sort of executive privilege or national security objections over Mr Bolton testifying. One closely-watched Republican, retiring senator Lamar Alexander, told reporters as he left the private meeting he would wait for the next few days of the trial and make his decision. Some senators have discussed trying to reach a deal with Democrats in which each side would call a witness for example, Mr Bolton and Hunter Biden, the son of former vice president Joe Biden, whose work in Ukraine has been referenced by Mr Trumps team in the impeachment proceedings. However such a deal has had few takers as most Republicans do not want to hear from Mr Bolton and few Democrats want to draw the Bidens into the impeachment proceedings. Patna: After today, it is all but a matter of time before Prashant Kishor, once considered a gold standard in the Indian political game of strategy and shrewd maneuvering, is shown the exit door of the Janata Dal-U for daring to criticize the judgment of his boss. Talking to reporters in Patna, Kumar, showing visible annoyance at the mention of Prashant Kishor's name, once again reiterated that if he wanted to remain in the party then he was free to do so but if he wanted out of the party, that was also fine with him. Issuing not-so-veiled warning to his national vice president, the Chief Minister, following the meeting of his party leaders in Patna on Tuesday, said that if Kishor wanted to remain in the party, he would have to learn the basic structure of the party. "He is already working for other parties so he is free to go anywhere but if he wishes to remain with the JD-U, he must adopt the party structure and adhere to it," Kumar said. The Chief Minister was not done by any means. He went on to suggest that he did a favor to Kishor by letting him join the JD-U and not because he needed him to salvage his faltering position in Bihar in the aftermath of his breaking ties with the Grand Alliance in 2017. "Do you know how he joined the party? He was recommended to me by Amit Shah," Kumar, insinuating Kishor was not hired for his political skills but because of Shah's recommendation, said. Meanwhile, Kishor, now in full combative mode against his boss, fired back at Nitish calling him a liar who, he called, had fallen from grace Stating that he and Nitish Kumar were not made of the same color, the political strategist fired off a tweet saying it was a lame attempt on the part of the Chief Minister to paint both in the same color. "@NitishKumar, what a fall for you to lie about how and why you made me join JDU!! Poor attempt on your part to try and make my colour same as yours! And if you are telling the truth who would believe that you still have courage not to listen to someone recommended by @AmitShah?" Kishor tweeted. With his fierce opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Registration of Citizens (NRC), the political strategist who is now helping both Arvind Kejriwal of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi and Mamata Banerjee of Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, said that he will respond to Nitish Kumar once he gets to Patna in the next few days. Some in the JD-U are saying Kishore has already resigned from the party and will make it public after holding a talk with the Chief Minister in Patna. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 04:17:36|Editor: yan Video Player Close TIRANA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Albania presented "Gender Equality Index 2020" report, the first of its kind in the country, here at a ceremony, the Albanian Telegraphic Agency reported on Tuesday. The ceremony was attended by Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu and Director of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) Virginija Langbakk. Speaking at the ceremony, Manastirliu said that gender equality and empowerment of women and girls are priorities of the Albanian government. According to the minister, this report is the basis for any initiative to measure achievements and set realistic objectives in terms of gender equality, empowering women and girls, reducing gender gaps and inequalities and equal access in services. "This is the first step Albania will take in this regard towards its aspiration to become a member of the European family," Manastirliu added. For her part, Langbakk congratulated Albania on its first Gender Equality Index and said that it will enable the country to monitor progress on gender equality. "Albania's high score in the domain of power is particularly noteworthy," Langbakk said. According to the report, Albania's score of 60.4 points is slightly below the European Union (EU) average of 67.4 points, ranking the 17th place among 28 EU countries, as well as Serbia and North Macedonia. In the domain of power, Albania's score is 60.9, placing the country the 6th among EU countries, and Serbia and North Macedonia, thanks to a high representation of women in political and economic bodies. 29 Jan MOMOLAND's Nancy recently assured that everything is well with her upcoming Filipino TV debut, "Soulmate Project". As reported on ABS-CBN News, the K-pop idol who was asked about the project that she will star in with Filipino actor James Reid, stated that she has already attended several acting workshops when she was last in Manila and will be going to more soon. "There are workshops planned with James in the near future," she added. Nancy also stated that the series will be filmed mainly in the Philippines, though some of the scenes will be shot in South Korea as well, as she plays the role of a Korean-American woman living in the Philippines. "I am going to stay here for a while. It's planned in Korea too," she said. However, when asked to elaborate more on the storyline, she smiled and responded, "It's a secret." (Photo Source: Nancy Instagram) At an impoverished, forlorn zoo in Sudans capital, the park's few remaining lions are starving in rusted cages their ribs protruding, eyes glassy and skin flaccid, desperate for food and water. The unsettling images, shared on social media by a local animal rights advocate, drew impassioned responses from thousands around the world. In this photo, a malnourished lion is seen standing inside its cage at the Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum, Sudan. (Image: Reuters) The Mumbai Police on Wednesday denied permission to the LGBT community to take out their 11th Pride March. Humsafar Trust in association with Queer Azadi conducts a public march at Mumbai's August Kranti Ground every year, where people from all communities and classes take part in this March and raise their voice against the discrimination against LGBT community. Speaking to ANI, Tinesh Chopde, Advocacy Manager of Humsafar Trust, said: "It's a huge disappointment that we didn't get permission to take out the march, which is supposed to happen on February 1 this year." "The police denied the permission to us because they are worried that the group of miscreants may take advantage and join it anonymously to create problems," he added. He said that as there will be about 1,50,000 people this year, so the Mumbai Police are worried as it will be difficult for them to figure out the miscreants and this will also be a threat to the life of people taking part in the march. "We are still trying to reach out to the government so that we get the permission for the march. We are getting many calls from the people, who have already planned for the march," he said. Senior Police Inspector Rajendra Mohite, Police Station, Gavdevi, has issued a letter to Humsafar Trust, mentioning that August Kranti Ground has been restricted under the IPC Act 149. The letter said the police got information that people will raise slogans against the CAA and the Register of Citizens (NRC) and hence was denied the permission. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump released his Middle East peace plan this week. According to the BBC, Trumps plan calls for an independent Palestinian state and declares Israel as sovereign over West Bank settlements. The plan would also keep Jerusalem as Israels capital. Trump said during his presentation of the proposal this week at the White House that this could be the last opportunity for Palestinians. However, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the plan a conspiracy. "I say to Trump and Netanyahu: Jerusalem is not for sale, all our rights are not for sale and are not for bargain, he said in a televised address this week. And your deal, the conspiracy, will not pass. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels prime minister, also attended Trumps proposal presentation this week. Trump said the plan will create a far better life for Palestinians. Today, Israel takes a big step towards peace," Trump told officials and reporters at the White House. "My vision presents a win-win opportunity for both sides, a realistic two-state solution that resolves the risk of Palestinian statehood to Israel's security, he said. Under the plan, Israel would be sovereign over the previously disputed territory with Jerusalem maintaining its status as Israels capital. Palestinian territory would be doubled and a Palestinian capital would also be placed in eastern Jerusalem. The plan additionally promises not to uprooted any Palestinians or Israelis from their homes and proposes that Israel work with the king of Jordan to keep Jordan as the governing body over the Temple Mount. Finally, under the plan, territory allocated to Palestine would remain undeveloped for four years but Palestine would have an opportunity to become its own independent state one day. Both Netanyahu and Trump are facing controversy. The U.S. Senate is considering impeachment for Trump, although political experts say its unlikely. Netanyahu, meanwhile, had asked for immunity for charges of corruption. He has since rescinded his request. Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Ronniechua Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner. Boeing reported its first annual loss in more than two decades Wednesday as the lengthy grounding of the 737 MAX dragged down revenues and added to costs. The aerospace giant reported a $1.0 billion loss in the fourth-quarter and a $636 million loss for all of 2019, the company's first annual loss since 1997. The MAX has been grounded since March following two fatal crashes. Boeing estimated additional costs of $9.2 billion connected to the grounding to compensate to customers and account for the impact of lower production levels on expenses. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Dakota's Republican secretary of state says he is "very comfortable" with his hire of the state's new election director, despite the man's history of reported fallouts. Democrats believe Brian Newby is an "ineffective leader." Newby began his duties Dec. 16, succeeding John Arnold, who is now deputy insurance commissioner. From 2015 to 2019, Newby was the executive director of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, an independent, bipartisan agency tasked with ensuring compliance and providing guidance in administering elections under the Help America Vote Act of 2002. Before that role, he was the Johnson County (Kan.) election commissioner for 11 years. Politico in 2019 reported mismanagement troubles at the small federal agency under Newby's tenure, including allegations of his blocking election and cybersecurity development and training, micromanaging staff and ignoring employees' questions. He also drew controversy in 2016 for granting requests from Alabama, Georgia and Kansas to require proof of citizenship on a federal form for voter registration, which was criticized as contradicting policy and precedent. A federal appeals court later blocked Newby's decision. Newby attributes the workplace allegations to "a political environment" at the federal agency. He said he is "extremely proud of what was accomplished" during his tenure, such as Congress in 2018 approving $380 million in grant funds to states for improving elections. The commission in September voted 2-2 on party lines not to renew the four-year terms of Newby and the commission's general counsel. The Associated Press in 2016 reported on audit findings that Newby misused a subordinate's credit card while county election chief in Kansas to avoid fiscal oversight for "lavish" expenses. The AP also reported an affair between Newby and the subordinate. Newby said the reported affair "was not true," and that "there was no misuse or circumvention" of expenditures. He countered that the Johnson County Board of Commissioners wanted to control his office, which is independent from county boards and is appointed by the secretary of state. He pointed the Tribune to a 2017 Kansas attorney general opinion that stated "the board of county commissioners is required to include in its budget the expenses necessary to pay salaries and operate the office of election commissioner, as certified by the election commissioner." 'Very comfortable' North Dakota Secretary of State Al Jaeger said he and Deputy Secretary of State Jim Silrum reviewed Newby's background and experience and found him to be the most qualified candidate of about a dozen who applied for the job. "We're very comfortable with him," Jaeger said. "We wouldn't have made that decision if we didn't know everything that we do know about those circumstances and stuff." Donnell Preskey Huschka, executive director of the North Dakota Auditors & Treasurers Association, said she didn't know enough about Newby's history to comment on his hire. North Dakota's county auditors work closely with Jaeger's office regarding elections. "That relationship is so valuable and important, to have leadership and folks at the secretary of state's office that work hand in hand with our counties," she said. In a statement to the Tribune about Newby's hire, North Dakota Democratic-NPL Executive Director Michael Taylor said "the swamp appears to be draining right into North Dakota." "At a time where election security is crucial, Newby has proven to be an ineffective leader with an unwillingness to take it seriously," he said. Newby said he wants to share his local elections perspective in his new role in North Dakota, where he says Jaeger and Silrum have respected reputations. He also wanted to return to the Midwest. Most recently he has been aiding local election officials' training on new electronic pollbooks to be distributed to counties in coming weeks. The pollbooks and previously distributed new voting equipment, including 425 ballot scanners replacing 15-year-old machines, will be in place for the June 9 statewide primary election. 'I want to be as responsive as I can' North Dakota's voter ID law, passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature in 2017, drew controversy and legal action in 2018 over a perceived burden on Native Americans in requiring a residential street address to be able to vote. Street addresses often don't exist on Native American reservations. Newby said he "really was struck" to learn at a conference in 2018 of the "address difficulties" Native Americans face. "When you talk about mailing a ballot, that's all well and good unless maybe they don't have an address," Newby said. "When you talk about polling places and ... typically people vote within 5 miles of their home, but in some areas of the country and nearing reservations ... it's incredibly onerous to get to a polling place, and I just had no idea of those issues." "To me, accessibility is very important, whether that's persons with disabilities, persons with language, and in this case -- I don't know how to categorize it other than they're just unique issues related to addresses and making sure everyone can vote," he said. "So I have a sensitivity there, that I imagine I will encounter situations here and I want to be as responsive as I can to that." Jaeger said an accessibility issue "depends on how you define accessibility." He maintains the voter ID law, which is disputed in two federal lawsuits filed by tribes, "doesn't apply differently to any voter in North Dakota." "What we believe in North Dakota is that every qualified voter is qualified to vote, and to establish voting residence you need to provide your name, you need to provide a street address and you need to provide your birth (date)," Jaeger said. "And that's the same for every North Dakotan regardless of where they live in North Dakota." Gov. Doug Burgum at a tribal relations conference this month pledged his and Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford's "fullest and highest and unequivocal support" for North Dakota residents' ability to vote. Bismarck attorney Tim Purdon, a former U.S. attorney who is representing the Spirit Lake Nation and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in the 2018 federal lawsuit over North Dakota's voter ID law, said he welcomes Newby "to the battle." "If he is sincere in his comments on wanting to work hard to make sure that Native Americans' right to vote, their franchise here is protected and maximized -- if he's sincere in that desire, he's in a great place to make a difference: at the North Dakota secretary of state's office," Purdon said. Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 10 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. The event, which took place before the two deals are approved at a plenary session of the EP scheduled for mid-February, brought together the EUs trade commissioner Phil Hogan, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh, Chairman of the EPs Committee on International Trade (INTA) Bernd Lange, INTAs rapporteur to EVFTA Geert Bourgeois, EU Ambassador to Vietnam Giorgio Aliberti, and nearly 120 delegates who are European parliamentarians and representatives of EU organisations as well as business associations. Phil Hogan said the economies of Vietnam and EU members are reciprocal. Therefore, the agreements would help the EU enhance its access to the Vietnamese market and pour more investment into the Southeast Asian nation. He described the signing of the deals as a milestone in EU-Vietnam relations, expressing his hope that they will sail through the EP during the upcoming plenary session. Speaking at the workshop, Khanh said trade accounts for more than 200 percent of Vietnams gross domestic product (GDP), and has helped nearly 30 million Vietnamese people escape from poverty over the past two decades. Vietnam has actively committed to implementing the multilateral trade policy despite increasing protectionism, he said, taking advantage opportunities generated by the EVFTA to European firms once the deal comes into action. He stressed the pact will benefit not only businesses but also consumers and labourers. The Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade submitted the dossier recommending the ratification of the two agreements to the National Assembly, the official said. According to Geert Bourgeois, the ratification of the agreements will reflect that the EU is a trust-worthy partner in the negotiations and signing of FTAs. He lauded the Vietnamese Governments commitment to the rights of employees, human rights and the environment, and called for the strong support of European parliamentarians and Vietnamese legislatures so that the deals can be ratified and become effective. Some European parliamentarians expressed their concerns over such issues as the rights of labourers, the possible impacts of some Vietnamese agricultural products on EU member countries, the popularisation of benefits brought by the FTA among Vietnamese small-and medium-sized enterprises. Their concerns have been cleared up by representatives of EU organisations operating in Vietnam, namely, trade commissioner Phil Hogan and Deputy Minister Khanh. State and local governments have been leading the legal fight against the opioid industry, seeking payouts to help them deal with the fallout from the nations addiction crisis. Average Americans are about to get their shot. Last Friday, the federal judge overseeing the bankruptcy case of Purdue Pharma set a June 30 deadline to file a claim against the company. That includes governments, entities such as hospitals and, for the first time, individuals who have personal injury claims. Its not clear how much money might be at stake. Purdue reached an agreement with some states and local governments that could be worth more than $10 billion over time as part of its bankruptcy filing. But Judge Robert Drain emphasized during the hearing in White Plains, New York, that no final settlement is in place. Once a settlement and restructuring deal for Purdue is approved, the next step will be deciding how to divide the companys assets. There is no guarantee those who became addicted to opioids or their families would receive any money, and the judged emphasized that the claims would be open only to people who believe they were harmed by Purdues products, not opioids generally. Still, lawyers for plaintiffs say people should file claims even if theyre not sure Purdues drugs were involved in their injuries. Dede Yoder of Norwalk, Connecticut, is among those who plan to file. Her son, Christopher, was prescribed a 30-day supply of painkillers, including OxyContin, during a series of surgeries when he was 13 and 14 years old. He died in 2017 at age 21 of a heroin overdose after years of rehab and relapses. His mother is now on a committee of victims seeking input in the process. I spent my whole retirement. I probably spent almost $200,000 on rehab and doctors, she said. I would like to get my retirement back; Im not looking for this huge payoff. In bankruptcy proceedings, notices for claim deadlines are usually made in ads in publications or in letters mailed to people who might be eligible to file. Purdues case is different because so many people might be able to assert legal damages against the company. Prescription and illicit opioids have been linked to more than 400,000 deaths in the U.S. since 2000. Perhaps millions of other people have struggled with addiction to them, and an estimated 500,000 children were born in opioid withdrawal. Purdue, a privately held company based in Stamford, Connecticut, plans to spend $23.8 million to advertise the claim-filing deadline, an unusually large amount to notify potential creditors in a bankruptcy case. The ad campaign is intended to reach 95% of U.S. adults, with ads in newspapers, movie theaters and on Facebook. Billboards will promote the deadline in four hard-hit states: Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia. The budget also includes hiring a public relations firm to encourage news outlets to report on the deadline and the website to file claims. The publicity push also is getting help from victims themselves. Another member of the victims committee, 33-year-old Garrett Hade, said he has been sober for nearly five years after a long odyssey through addiction that began with OxyContin when he was a teenager in Florida. He said he would donate any money he receives from Purdue. Now, as an organizer with the Recovery Advocacy Project, he said hes telling people that they will be able to make claims. People need to know that as a person there is some recourse out there, said Hade, who now lives in Las Vegas. Also on Friday, the bankruptcy judge said he would allow Purdue CEO Craig Landau to collect a bonus this year up to $1.3 million, on top of his $2.6 million salary. Landau had previously agreed to reduce his bonus to that amount and delay it. A group of states continued to object to the bonus. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Claims A Dartmouth-led study finds that two common economic interventions in Afghanistan designed to improve economic livelihoods and win the "hearts of minds" of civilians was ineffective in reducing support for the Taliban in the long run. When civilians support the insurgency, they are more apt to provide assistance to combatants, such as by providing food or tips on the government's whereabouts, or even by joining the insurgent effort. The study is the first to examine how cash transfers and vocational training administered by a humanitarian organization affect combatant support in an active conflict zone. The findings are published in the February 2020 issue of American Political Science Review. Working with Mercy Corps, the Dartmouth-led research team assessed how vulnerable youth's political attitudes towards the Afghan government and Taliban was affected by two economic interventions: job training and cash. The program, Introducing New Vocational Education and Skills Training (INVEST), was designed to help lift at-risk youth (age 20+) in Kandahar, Afghanistan, out of poverty and minimize the likelihood that they would join the insurgency. Approximately 2,600 Afghan men and women (average age of 20), took part in the study. Nearly 80 percent had shared Pashtun ethnicity with the Taliban, and just over half of them had experienced forced displacement in the past by either the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force or Taliban. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four economic interventions, where they received either job training, cash, job training and cash, or no aid at all. The job training was comprised of either three or six months of coursework at one of the local vocational training centers in Kandahar, as well as other skills building. As for the cash, a one-time, unconditional cash transfer of US $75 was wired to a recipient's cell phone. The amount was a significant cash shock, as it was comparable to nearly four months of an average salary. The recipients were informed that the cash came from a "foreign donor" and not from Mercy Corps. By attributing the funds to a foreign source, this could indirectly help build credibility for the current government by signaling to civilians that the government's effectiveness was responsible for attracting foreign funds. Two weeks and eight months after they had completed the training and/or received the cash, participants were surveyed through in-person interviews on their attitudes towards the Afghan government and Taliban, and violence. The results of the study were striking. Despite the vocational training, the program had only a modest effect in helping recipients improve their economic livelihoods. There was a 5 percent increase in both the likelihood of recipients earning cash and owning land. Employment outcomes were nominal; participants reported working just one day more per month than before they had completed the training. The intervention also did not appear to have an effect on pro-government sentiment. If anything, the intervention just raised people's expectations. With very few jobs available, supporting the Taliban became an appealing option, where they could stand to earn US $15 a day and receive other perks. As for the cash infusion, two weeks after receiving the cash transfer, there was increased support for the Afghan government among recipients. Nine months later, however, this trend was reversed. Recipients reported anger towards the government and increased support for the Taliban. Participants had spent most, if not all of the cash on consummables and once that money was gone, their lives really had not improved. In contrast, there was modest progress among participants who had received both the cash and the vocational training. Support for the Afghan government increased. Yet, if they received the cash or job training separately, the intervention had the adverse effect of increasing support for the Taliban rather than steering participants away from it. "Throughout the world, the humanitarian industry is spending a tremendous amount of money in conflict areas providing job training and infusing cash; yet, there is little evidence that these aid programs work," explained Jason Lyall, the inaugural James Wright Chair in transnational studies, director of the Political Violence FieldLab and an associate professor of government at Dartmouth, who led the research project, and has conducted fieldwork in Afghanistan. "In conflict zones, non-governmental organizations often aim to offer vocational training as a way to help civilians break into the market; yet, this approach may be flawed by creating false hope in areas that may have a struggling economy and a limited number of jobs," he added. "Cash transfers are the number one instrument used in the field for dealing with refugees, especially in conflict settings, as this type of intervention is inexpensive and has little overhead. Our research in Kandahar, Afghanistan, demonstrates how a one-time cash infusion in a war zone ultimately increased combatant support, and that from a moral point of view, is problematic," explained Lyall. With the study's findings, the researchers hope that the humanitarian community will strive to be more rigorous in their methods before implementing aid projects in conflict zones, so as to minimize the potential for a backlash effect. ### Jason Lyall is available for comment at: Jason.Lyall@Dartmouth.edu. The study was co-authored by Yang-Yang Zhou at the University of British Columbia and Kosuke Imai at Harvard University. The global intraocular lens (IOL) market size is projected to reach USD 5,318.8 million by 2026, thereby exhibiting a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period. However, the market was worth USD 3,159.3 million in 2018. This information is published in a recent report by Fortune Business Insights, titled, Intraocular Lens (IOL) Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type [Monofocal Intraocular Lens and Premium Intraocular Lens (Multifocal Intraocular Lens, Toric Intraocular Lens, and Others)], By Material [Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and Foldable (Hydrophobic Acrylic, Hydrophilic Acrylic, and Silicone & Collamer)], By End User (Hospitals & Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Specialty Clinics, and Academic & Research Institutes) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026. The report further states that the market is set to gain impetus from the rising number of NGOs offering free cataract surgeries and eye examinations. The report covers: Global Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy Treatment Market trends, with detailed analysis on consumer trends & manufacturer trends. Overview on supply analysis covering trends across raw material suppliers, technology providers and distributors. Key areas of investments identifying market opportunities and challenges in forecast timeframe. Competitive analysis of the industry players along with the overview on strategic management. Comprehensive company profiles of the major industry players. Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/intraocular-lens-market-101220 Leading Players operating in the Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy Treatment Market are: Key players are involved in mergers and acquisition to strengthen their market position. Owing to increasing competition frequent innovations are taking place in the market. Some of the companies operating the industry are: Alcon Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. Bausch & Lomb Incorporated HOYA Corporation STAAR SURGICAL Rayner Intraocular Lenses Limited Oculentis Hanita Lenses SIFI S.p.A Biotech Other key market players Monofocal IOL Segment to Lead Stoked by Favorable Government Reimbursement Policies By type, the market is grouped into premium intraocular lens and monofocal intraocular lens. Amongst these, the monofocal intraocular lens is expected to lead by gaining the maximum IOL market share in the coming years. This growth is attributable to the rising number of favorable government reimbursement policies as well as cost-effective nature. The premium intraocular lens segment, on the other hand, consists of sub-segments, namely, toric intraocular lens, multifocal intraocular lens, and others. This segment has less penetration as compared to monofocal IOLs. This mainly occurs as multiple government-aided insurance policies do not cover the cost of premium intraocular lens. Thus, the patient has to pay for the same from their expenses. However, this segment is anticipated to showcase growth during the forecast period owing to the rising preference for toric lenses and their possession of numerous benefits. For more information in the analysis of this report, visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/intraocular-lens-market-101220 Rising Government Initiatives to Eliminate Cataract Will Boost Growth The incidence of cataracts is rising at a rapid rate nowadays. It is, in turn, causing huge health as well as an economic burden in several countries. Therefore, the governments of these countries are launching various initiatives to eliminate cataracts. One such global initiative is called Vision 2020. It was put forward by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) to remove the major causes of avoidable blindness from the world. Additionally, the governments are conducting eye checkup camps and launching favorable reimbursement policies to achieve their target of Vision 2020. It is expected to augment the intraocular lens market growth during the forecast period. Detailed Table of Content: Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions Executive Summary Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Key Insights Prevalence of Cataract For Key Countries/Regions Number of Cataract Surgery For Key Countries/Regions Overview of Government Cataract Initiatives Regulatory Scenario For Key Countries/Regions Reimbursement Scenario For Key Countries/Regions New Product Launches Key industry Developments Mergers, Acquisitions and Partnerships Global Intraocular Lens (IOL) Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2015-2026 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Type Monofocal Intraocular Lens Premium Intraocular Lens Multifocal Intraocular Lens Toric Intraocular Lens Others Stimulation Devices Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Material Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) Foldable Hydrophobic Acrylic Hydrophilic Acrylic Silicone & Collamer Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By End User Hospitals & Ambulatory Surgery Centers Specialty Clinics Academic & Research Institutes Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts:https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/intraocular-lens-market-101220 Report Focus: Extensive product offerings Customer research services Robust research methodology Comprehensive reports Latest technological developments Value chain analysis Potential Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy Treatment Market opportunities Growth dynamics Quality assurance Post-sales support Regular report updates Reasons to Purchase this Report: Comprehensive analysis of the Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy Treatment Market growth drivers, obstacles, opportunities, and other related challenges. Tracks the developments, such as new product launches, agreements, mergers and acquisitions, geographical expansions, and joint ventures. Identifies market restraints and boosters. Identifies all the possible segments present in the market to aid organizations in strategic business planning. User Also Search For- intraocular lens replacement, multifocal intraocular lens, monofocal intraocular lens,, intraocular lens cost Related Reports: Cardiac Pacemakers Market Global Industry Growth Analysis, Segmentation, Size, Share, Trend, Future Demand and Leading Players Updates by Forecast to 2026 Medical Robotic Systems Market Size, Share, Opportunities, Development and Global Trend Analysis till 2026 Ultrasound Equipment Market Key Growth factors and Forecast 2026: Siemens, GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY and more 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. 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Phone: US :+1 424 253 0390 UK : +44 2071 939123 APAC : +91 744 740 1245 Email:sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com Linkedin | Twitter | BLogs Brexit Day on 31 January 2020 is to be set in stone this Wednesday when the European Parliament casts a final ballot in Brussels copper-fastening the terms of Britain's divorce deal from the EU. Today's historic legislative act -- the last for the 72 remaining British MEPs who will leave immediately after the ballot -- will allow Brexit to officially take effect on Friday at 2300 GMT, midnight for most of continental Europe and 11:00 pm in Britain. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has insisted that date will see Brexit "done". But the European Union has underlined that the next, thornier phase of the split -- working out a treaty to define the future relationship between the two sides -- is about to begin. Those negotiations are set to go to late this year. By the end of 2020, a transition period easing Britain out of EU rules and regulations will expire, unless extended by both sides -- something that Johnson has ruled out. Status quo for 11 months The transition period, a standstill provision, means ordinary Britons and EU citizens will see little visible change, and indeed London will continue to contribute to the EU budget. However from this weekend onward, Britain will be excluded from the EU's institutions and decision-making. It will officially be what the bloc calls a "third country" -- a non-EU state. A close neighbour, and an important trade and security partner, but on the periphery of Europe's single-market, reduced to 27 nations with a combined population of 450 million. The "withdrawal agreement" being ratified today, protects the rights of EU and British citizens currently residing in each other's territory, Britain's financial obligations, and a customs regime that will keep the UK territory of Northern Ireland largely under European rules. Britain's Johnson and Queen Elizabeth II and Brussels' most senior officials signed off on the accord last week. Ratification by the European Parliament is a formality, albeit a necessary one under European law. Keeping a lid on jingoism in post-Brexit Britain Meanwhile, Prime Minister Johnson, conscious of UK divisions entrenched since the 2016 referendum that ushered in Brexit, is steering clear of a public display of triumphalism. He recently dismissed pro-Brexiteer proposals to have London's Big Ben temporarily revived from a costly renovative hiatus to symbolically chime in the moment. Although bolstered by a big parliamentary majority, he faces resentment from British "remainers", a resurgent independence push in anti-Brexit Scotland, and fears among UK businesses about what the loss of frictionless access to the EU's single market will mean for revenues and jobs. Above all, he has to demonstrate the UK can navigate alone in a world increasingly roiled by geopolitical tussles between the three biggest players -- the US, the EU and China -- that are affecting policies on trade, technology, security guarantees and climate change. There may be trouble ahead Neither the United States nor the European Union are likely to offer Britain an easy ride. Johnson riled Washington on Tuesday by approving plans to use technology from Chinese telecoms giant Huawei in rolling out 5G networks across the UK, despite US warnings that it poses a data security threat. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is visiting London this Wednesday and is expected to hammer home his opposition to the move -- a point that could raise obstacles to an offer to strike a US-UK trade deal. And Brussels has signalled that it intends to make demands for EU fishermen to operate in British waters a priority in its negotiations with the UK, linking it to London's hopes of securing financial services access to the EU. EU chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier,recently warned "it is absolutely clear that there will be negative consequences" from Brexit. Speakin in Belfast on Monday Barnier underlined "whatever agreement we reach on our future relationship, Brexit will always be a matter of damage limitation." US prosecutors charged a leading academic at Harvard University Tuesday with hiding his alleged role in a Chinese government program that security officials say steals trade secrets. The arrest of Charles Lieber, the chairman of Harvard's chemistry and chemical biology department, is the latest development in a long-running saga over suspected intellectual property theft. US sleuths are investigating hundreds of cases of alleged theft by Chinese scientists working in or visiting the United States. Two other scientists, both Chinese nationals, were also charged Tuesday, the Department of Justice said in a statement. One is a Boston University science student who prosecutors say failed to inform US immigration that she was a member of China's armed forces, the People's Liberation Army. The other is a cancer researcher who is accused of trying to smuggle vials containing biological research out of the US in his socks. Lieber's arrest is unusual because he is not of Chinese descent and is a prominent figure at one of the world's most respected universities. Prosecutors allege that Lieber was paid $50,000 a month and received more than $1.5 million to set up a lab at Wuhan University of Technology. They say he lied to investigators about his affiliation with Wuhan University and his involvement in the Chinese government's Thousand Talents Plan. The program seeks to recruit international experts in scientific research, innovation and entrepreneurship. The US government has described it as a threat to national security, however. "This is a small sample of China's ongoing campaign to siphon off American know-how and technology for China's gain," Massachusetts prosecutor Andrew Lelling told reporters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BEIRUT, Lebanon In unveiling his plan Tuesday for solving the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, President Trump confidently declared that Arab countries would play a key role in its success. But none of the United States Arab allies formally endorsed the plan or made concrete commitments to back it, raising questions about how helpful they will really be in bringing it to fruition. Mr. Trump announced the plan in an appearance at the White House with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, describing it both as necessary for Israels security and as an opportunity for the Palestinians to govern themselves and grow their economy. There are many, many countries who want to partake in this, he told Mr. Netanyahu, predicting that you are going to have tremendous support from your neighbors and beyond your neighbors. DENVER, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Atlas Real Estate, a full-service real estate company specializing in investment brokerage, property management and institutional acquisition, renews its support of the community and announces the opening of its new Denver headquarters. At the close of 2019, Atlas offered rent-relief to families experiencing financial hardships, and in January paid their rent in full. Also, the company gave team members generous donations to give any charity of their choice, and the entire team supported Save Our Youth and participated in Joshua Station's Toy Drive. "As I reflect upon the year past, I am deeply grateful for the Atlas team and the community, clients and friends that have demonstrated interest in and support of our work," says Tony Julianelle, CEO. "In 2019, we doubled our staff, tripled in size and increased our efforts to support the vibrant communities we love. In 2020, our rallying cry is 'onward!'" This year, Atlas will provide free real estate investment education at over 24 community events at various locations, including Atlas' new headquarters at 970 Yuma St. Real estate investing has helped community members achieve financial independence, including a single mom who attended an Atlas event. "Jen & Lisa really took care of me. They carved a path to financial freedom I never knew possible. They took my condo and turned it into eight doors with enough passive income so I don't have to work full-time. This is huge for a single mom! I love the support I receive from the Atlas Women's REIH team." Sasha, Single Mother of 3 "At Atlas, we know firsthand how real estate investment can change your life, and I feel lucky to be able to provide our community with the tools needed to positively impact their financial future," says Michael Hills, VP of Investment Brokerage. "Event turnout continues to increase and it's been wonderful getting to know and help new folks in the community." Atlas holds Real Estate Investment Hours (REIH) in Denver, Colorado Springs and Fort Collins, as well as in Phoenix, Arizona. For media inquiries, please contact Andrea Mazzola at [email protected]. About Atlas Real Estate: Atlas is a full-service real estate company specializing in Investment Brokerage, Property Management and Institutional Acquisition. Serving Colorado, Arizona and Nevada, the group transacts more than $1 billion in real estate annually and manages more than 3,200 residential units. To learn more, please visit www.RealAtlas.com. SOURCE Atlas Real Estate Less than a week before Caucus Day in Iowa, a pair of Democratic frontrunners have emerged: former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. A Monmouth University poll shows Biden, whos led national polling averages since he entered the race last year, edging Sanders out by just 2 points, at 23% to 21% support among likely caucusgoers. The poll showed a fairly tight five-way race including Biden, Sanders, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. Buttigieg, who has led prior Iowa polls, picked up support from 16% of likely Democratic voters compared to Warrens 15% and Klobuchars 10%. Support for Sanders rose by three points since Monmouths last poll, and Biden and Buttigieg each lost a point; Warren held steady at 15%. But half of those who responded in the poll said they are still open to changing their minds on Caucus Day, giving any of the top tier candidates a shot. Caucus electorates are the most difficult to model in polling. The smartest takeaway from this, or any Iowa poll for that matter, is to be prepared for anything on Monday, Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute, said in a statement. Other candidates in the crowded primary, including billionaire and environmental advocate Tom Steyer and entrepreneur Andrew Yang, did not crack 5%, while several hovered at 1% or less. Mike Bloomberg, who has climbed in recent national polls amid aggressive ad buys, was not part of Monmouths poll because he is not participating in the Iowa race. Monmouth said even small shifts in turnout, which varies widely for caucuses, can have a large impact on the outcome. The 2016 caucuses drew about 170,000 voters, about 70,000 lower than the record of of nearly 240,000 in 2008. On average, less than a third of registered Democrats (about 600,000) take part in the presidential caucuses, but Monmouth predicts a turnout on Monday similar to 2008s high, based on the number of potential voters contacted for the poll who screened through as likely caucusgoers. The Ukrainian side said during a meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) in Minsk that first of all it is necessary to tackle a bloc of security issues for the implementation of the Minsk Agreements. "During the meeting of the TCG, the Ukrainian side clearly stated: the settlement of the security issues the ceasefire, withdrawal of the armed groups and military equipment and establishment of control over the border is the priority task for the implementation of the Minsk Agreements," Darka Olifer, press secretary for Ukraine's TCG Representative Leonid Kuchma, wrote on Facebook on Wednesday. "The global experience of settling armed conflicts shows that it is impossible to build peace without the establishment of the government's control over its border," Kuchma said. The statement reads that the security situation in Donbas remains difficult as the illegal armed groups, including snipers, of the ORDLO continue mounting shelling attacks and sabotage and reconnaissance groups are working on the contact line. "[The sides] agreed to continue working on the settlement of a bloc of security issues which are the key ones for Ukraine and the global community," Olifer said. She added that today's meeting was the last one with the participation of Martin Sajdik, who has passed the powers of Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson in Ukraine and the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) to Heidi Grau. The McKameys' Eli Fortner and Alexia Lauren were engaged on Sunday, Jan. 26. The McKameys posted an online announcement about the engagement, saying simply, "BIG NEWS!!" Eli, the son of Roger & Connie Bean Fortner and grandson of Ruben & Peg McKamey Bean, played guitar and was a featured vocalist with The McKameys, who toured for nearly 40 years before their Nov. 2019 retirement. On Sunday, Jan. 26, the 25-year-old proposed to Alexia Lauren atop Bluff Mountain in Ashe Country, North Carolina. Alexia, who hails from Waynesville, North Carolina, works as a makeup artist and esthetician. In a post on Sunday evening, Eli shared, "She's been my best and closest friend for 3 years. Today she said yes to marrying me." The McKameys are a family group based out of Clinton, Tennessee, entering in their sixth decade of spreading God's message of love and hope through their music. There have been a few changes throughout the years after beginning as 3 sisters to the group now consisting of one of those original sisters, Peg McKamey Bean along with her husband, Ruben, their daughter Connie Fortner along with her husband, Roger Fortner, their son, Elijah Fortner; and Sheryl Farris, Peg and Ruben's younger daughter. The wonderful harmonies of this family along with great songs gives them a unique opportunity to share God's love as well as encourage the saints. Whether they are performing one of their classics like "Right On Time", "I've Won", "Unspoken Request", "There Is Jesus", their signature song, "God On The Mountain" or a new release, there is an undeniable energy that carries them through each performance. Tags : The McKameys the mckameys news eli fortner The McKameys' Eli Fortner and Alexia Lauren eli fortner engaged CHICAGO, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BenchPrep , the provider of the configurable cloud-based learning platform for corporations, training organizations and nonprofits, today announced that it has achieved significant growth year-over-year, doubling Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) and increasing employee headcount by 70 percent. The number of learners on the cloud-based learning platform reached 6 million in 2019, up 30 percent versus the prior year. In 2019, BenchPrep also welcomed several high-profile new customers into its portfolio, most notably Relias , American Board of Emergency Medicine , and American Bankers Association , among others. In addition to new relationships, BenchPrep has enabled several existing customers with new products including key customers like CFA Institute, Richardson, and AAMC. To support its continued growth for 2020 and beyond, BenchPrep made six executive-level hires to fill out its leadership team, including a CFO and Vice Presidents of Learning Design & Strategy , Product , Marketing , Sales , and Customer Success . The learning world is changing fast and we are honored to be paving the way. We have had an outstanding year and are excited about substantial growth opportunities, said Ashish Rangnekar, co-founder and CEO, BenchPrep. Our differentiated approach to creating high impact learning programs for our customers and focus on innovation continue to set us apart in the industry. With our leadership team now in place, we are well-positioned to execute our growth strategy. BenchPrep received numerous industry awards in 2019, recognizing both its learning platform and company culture, including: 2019 Training Industry Top 20 Training Delivery Company 2019 Talented Learning Awards: Best Learning System 2019 Training Magazine Network Choice Awards - Learning Portal/LMS 2019 SIIA CODiE Awards finalist for Best Corporate/Enterprise Learning Solution 2019 Growjo - #9 Fastest Growing Learning Company 2019 Crains Chicago Business 2019 Best Places to Work in Chicago 2019 Timmy Awards finalist for Best Tech Work Culture Built in Chicagos 50 Best Small Companies to Work For in Chicago 2019 BenchPreps award-winning advanced online learning platform helps education and training organizations increase learner engagement, improve outcomes, and drive additional revenue. The technology delivers streamlined content management and instructional design, along with advanced educator tools, analytics dashboards, and reporting, in one comprehensive solution. BenchPrep is actively looking to continue expanding its team. For a full list of employment opportunities, visit https://www.builtinchicago.org/company/benchprep/jobs . About BenchPrep BenchPrep is a configurable cloud-based learning platform that delivers the best learning experience and drives revenue for corporations, training companies and nonprofits (credentialing bodies & associations). With an award-winning learner-centric platform, BenchPrep increases learner engagement, improves long-term learner retention, and reduces dropout rates. Many of the largest credentialing bodies, associations, and training organizations in the world now deliver learning programs through BenchPrep, including ACT, Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), CFA Institute, CompTIA, Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), Hewlett Packard Enterprise, HR Certification Institute, Richardson Sales Training, Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM), American Institute of Architects (AIA), Relias, National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE), ProLiteracy, Hobsons, McGraw Hill Education, and OnCourse Learning. More than 6 million learners have used BenchPreps platform to attain academic and professional success. To discover more about BenchPrep, please visit benchprep.com . Media Contact: Jon Aderson Director of Marketing BenchPrep 312-650-5135 jon@benchprep.com A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/df7b332c-2d40-4581-86d2-c3e322ace132 Firms here should now apply themselves to making sure the Northern Ireland protocol to the Brexit withdrawal agreement will work instead of hoping it might be amended again, a business leader has said. In a speech this week, former EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier warned that checks on goods travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland would be an "indispensable" part of the withdrawal agreement. However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed that there will be no checks. But in a speech at Queen's University, Belfast this week, Mr Barnier said the checks would be required to protect the single market. And he said the agreement and protocol could not be reopened again. Declan Billington, the chief executive of animal feed firm Thompsons and a board member of the NI Food and Drink Association, said firms in Northern Ireland now needed to accept the realities of working within the protocol. The UK will leave the EU on Friday, though trading arrangements will not change as a year's transition agreement will then begin. But Mr Billington said firms here needed to turn their sights to the future arrangements. He said: "We have a short window of time to nail down exactly how our protocol works in respect of goods coming to Northern Ireland, and the related costs and complexities." Under the protocol, Northern Ireland firms trading with Great Britain are expected to need to complete paperwork. Mr Billington said firms need certainty over what protections they will be afforded for trading into Great Britain so that they are not at a disadvantage. He said his own firm had spent "a lot of time and expense" on preparing for a no deal Brexit and he was glad that such an outcome had been averted with the withdrawal agreement. The company had devised "complex customs facilitations structuring and new business entities" to ensure it could continue trading with customers in the Republic, he said. Bullock and Graham described the incident but could not provide much detail on the relationship between Rieves and McMullan, which remains unclear to investigators, Wilke said. He noted, though, that Rieves and McMullan seemed to know each other from the Humidor. Washington would double the amount of federal funding in basic science research per a new proposal by Oklahoma Rep. Frank Lucas, the top Republican on the House Science and Technology Committee, as a way to address climate change. The big picture: Lucas' policy as part of House Republicans broader efforts on the matter is far narrower than the sweeping draft legislation Democrats unveiled Tuesday that aims to slash emissions over the next 30 years. Driving the news: Lucas legislation, introduced Tuesday, would increase basic science research funding from roughly $16 billion to $32 billion over 10 years. Its unclear how much of that funding would go toward reducing emissions. The focus of Lucass bill is as much on ensuring Americas leadership in science and technology as climate change itself. Why it matters: While the policy is unlikely to pass with Democrats controlling the House, it is nonetheless the latest concrete policy we can expect Republicans to push as they face pressure from voters to acknowledge and address climate change. What theyre saying: Lucas, like nearly all congressional Republicans, rejected the idea that Washington should pass a carbon tax as a stick to push clean-energy technologies, as opposed to continuing to rely on carrot policies incentivizing new tech. A lot of folks I work with advocate carbon taxes, rules and regulations all sorts of ways to compel consumers to do things that are at least in the short- and medium-term not in their best economic interest. ... I just fundamentally believe thats not the direction that will ultimately get to where we and the world wants to go. Frank Lucas said in an exclusive interview previewing the bill Go deeper: Whats in Republicans new climate-change push (Newser) Connecticut murder suspect Fotis Dulos is in critical condition after an apparent suicide attempt came extremely close to succeeding. Police say the 52-year-old is being treated for carbon monoxide poisoning after officers who conducted a welfare check Tuesday found him unresponsive in the garage of his Farmington home, the AP reports. Sources tell the Hartford Courant that first responders initially believed Dulos had died and family members were informed. But after about 30 minutes, a faint pulse was detected while Dulos was being taken to a hospital. The Courant's sources say Dulos is now on life support at the Jacobi Medical Center in New York City, which has a hyperbaric chamber to treat victims of carbon monoxide poisoning. story continues below Dulos, who is accused of murdering estranged wife Jennifer Farber Dulos last year, had been due in court for a bail hearing Tuesday. Attorney Norm Pattiswho was among those initially informed that Dulos had diedtells NBC Connecticut that Dulos had been dealing with the "devastating news" that he might have his $6 million bond revoked due to problems with the collateral, meaning he could be sent back to jail to face trial. Some people will "obviously take some grim satisfaction in todays events but my message to each and every one of them is shame on you," the lawyer says. The Courant reports that a bail hearing will be held Wednesday without Dulos present. New York City bondsman Ira Judelson, whose high-profile clients include Harvey Weinstein, says he has agreed to take over the bond. (Last week, a judge rebuked Dulos for interfering with a memorial to his wife.) President Donald Trump's idea of "Make America Great Again" is making it easier for wealthy American trophy hunters like his sons, who are unfazed by six-digit price tags, to slaughter vulnerable, threatened and endangered wildlife. It is more than time for New York state the biggest port of entry for wildlife trophies to take steps towards ending this cruel industry. Donald Trump Jr.'s latest hunting escapade in Mongolia where he shot a rare endangered Argali sheep, and only received a permit to do so after the kill, on a trip last August that also included some schmoozing with the Mongolian president is evidence of the unfair system that leaves vulnerable animal species prey to wealthy Americans, including New Yorkers who hunt African wildlife. From 2005 to 2014, 159,144 animals were imported into New York as trophies including 1,541 lions; 1,130 elephants and 83 pairs of tusks; 1,169 leopards, and 110 white rhinos and three pairs of horns. Last year the state Senate passed the Big 5 African Trophies Act, which is co-sponsored by Sen. Luis Sepulveda, D-Bronx, and Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, D-Manhattan. It would ban the importation, possession, sale or transportation of the trophies of African giraffes, leopards, lions, elephants, and black and white rhinos and their body parts throughout New York all threatened and endangered species. The thousands of dollars in fees hunters pay to safari companies does little to help protect these animals. Studies show that less than 3 percent of revenue from trophy hunting returns to the communities. Meanwhile, the population of elephants has declined by 90 percent in the past century, with losses attributed to the commodification of elephants for their ivory and skin. This is in addition to the challenges they face from habitat destruction and climate change. There are fewer than 23,000 lions left in Africa, according to a recent study by the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at Oxford, The number of Argali sheep has plummeted more than 60 percent, with just 18,000 remaining in Mongolia. And while permits by countries that allow the hunting, and permits issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agency to hunt threatened and endangered species and import the dead body parts of the animals killed overseas, are supposed to regulate the industry to ensure a species' survival, the truth is obtaining the permits are often a matter of political influence and the only difference between "illegal" poachers and trophy hunters with permits is wealth and political connections. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. New York City Councilman Keith Powers has introduced a resolution supporting the state trophy ban legislation. The council should approve it, and the state Assembly should act in its upcoming session to end the imports here. New York should lead the nation in standing up for vulnerable species who belong in the wild, not on walls. Priscilla Feral is the president of Friends of Animals, an international, nonprofit animal advocacy organization. Young artists transform public spaces to raise awareness about new law which goes against countrys secular ethos. New Delhi, India A large poster of a woman wearing hijab in the three colours of the Indian flag hangs over a highway signboard near Shaheen Bagh in the Indian capital of New Delhi. Speak, for your lips are free, the woman in the poster commands. She appears again on a metro pillar nearby and again in the hands of protesters in Shaheen Bagh and across India. For more than six weeks now, protesters across India have taken to the streets to oppose a controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which they say discriminates against Muslims as it makes faith a basis for granting Indian citizenship. The Hindu nationalist government says the law is meant to help persecuted minorities from three neighbouring countries, but critics say it undermines the countrys secular Constitution. Muslims, Dalits and other marginalised groups in particular fear the planned nationwide counting of citizens (National Register of Citizens or NRC) could potentially render them stateless. A similar exercise in Assam state excluded nearly two million people from the citizenship list last year. Celebration of democracy In New Delhis Shaheen Bagh and elsewhere, protesters have transformed public spaces with art. Art helps you resist and persist, says Tanzeela, an advertising professional and the artist behind the now-iconic image of the woman in the tricolour hijab. Tanzeela found inspiration for her art in anger. It broke me in so many ways that I was enraged, she says. Art is the medium through which I express myself best. I had stayed quiet for far too long, and I could no longer do so in the face of a clearly divisive law. Lamya Khan, graphic designer Tanzeela posted the image on her Instagram page as a form of self-expression. I never thought my artwork would be shared across the country, she says. From left to right, artists Vidyun, Akshay, Gargi, Lokesh and Shefalee with their artwork outside Jamia Millia Islamia University campus in New Delhi [Courtesy of Gargi Chandola] For Tanzeela, the illustration is closely linked to her identity. It depicts an Indian-Muslim woman in a tricolour hijab and she is shouting the words of poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz, she says, referring to Urdu poem Hum Dekhenge (We shall see) by the Pakistani Marxist author that has become an anthem of the biggest protests since Narendra Modi took over as prime minister in 2014. It is like a call to actually speak because now enough is enough. What started as protests have turned into a celebration of what democracy is and what dissent can be, says experience designer Anirban Ghosh. A visit to Shaheen Bagh inspired Ghosh to create an illustration of the women there leading the protest. Holding candles and the Indian flag, the women in Ghoshs artwork raise their fists in triumph. These protests are unlike any other in recent history, says Ghosh, who is based in Kolkata. They are a manifestation of the Gandhian philosophy of non-violence in such a spectacular way. Before Shaheen Bagh, Ghoshs illustrations were not political. Everyone has their own threshold, of taking a stand and starting to react, he says. His art now covers the walls of Shaheen Bagh. Art as a tool of solidarity For 21-year-old self-taught graphic designer Lamya Khan, staying silent was no longer an option. This law is the catalyst which galvanised me into action, she says. Art is the medium through which I express myself best. I had stayed quiet for far too long, and I could no longer do so in the face of a clearly divisive law. One of Khans illustrations depicts three women and raised fists a tribute to the resilience of women protesting. Art is one of the most powerful tools to resist any authoritarian regime. Gargi Chandola, artist The common narrative is that Muslim women are weak, and are not allowed to participate in politics. The stereotype is especially true for women in hijab. The Shaheen Bagh protest has shown us that these women can not only carry their own weight but also lead the way for an inclusive, secular platform to register dissent, Khan told Al Jazeera. An illustration of the resilience of women at Shaheen Bagh and depiction of police action against protesters [Courtesy of Lamya Khan] Khan believes art is a powerful tool for resistance as it can garner more attention by being provocative. She says she wants to see her art widely used, as this process builds a sense of community. Art as a tool of solidarity is very important, says new media artist Akshat Nauriyal, who created an Instagram filter that enables users to take selfies with visuals against the CAA. The filter had 80,000 impressions within two days. Nauriyal created the filter to test how social media platforms can be used to engage with movements. A large young population and the increasing penetration of digital technology makes the online space as important as offline, says Nauriyal. Seen in the context of the Citizenship Amendment Act, online protest and mobilisation helped drive people to the offline protests, he adds. Nauriyal thinks art helps bridge this space between online and offline protest. When the aesthetic of a protest improves, people also participate, and feel like they can participate in a lot more ways, he told Al Jazeera. Art has the power to dispel the barriers between a serious issue and the people, by making it accessible and easier to understand, he says. Creative expression is meant to transfer ideas. Were seeing that happen through this protest art. A visit to Shaheen Bagh inspired Anirban Ghosh to create this artwork [Courtesy of Anirban Ghosh] In Shaheen Bagh, a 40 foot-high (12 metres) iron and mesh installation of the Indian map symbolises the transfer of ideas. The map gives a visual representation to the demands of the protesters here, explains Rakesh Kumar, a social worker who designed and built the map with the help of colleagues and residents. When you take up an issue, the art itself is a point of interaction with people, and it helps communicate the importance of the issue to the wider public, Kumar says. This installation is on public streets, for everyone to see. Its a map of India, and it says We the people of India, reject CAA so it represents the voice of protest, and says that we will not accept this black law; we reject it. The installation took eight days to complete. Locals donated iron, gave us their time, and helped with whatever we needed and together we built this iron map of India, Kumar says. An iron and mesh map of India installed at Shaheen Bagh says: We the people of India wont accept CAA and NRC [Courtesy of Rakesh Kumar] Respect existence or expect resistance Artist Gargi Chandola calls this the creative collective conscience flowing across the artist community and the wider public. Art has the power to invoke the silent majority to come join the movement, as we are seeing with these protests, she says. Chandola discovered through social media that artists were gathering at the Jamia Millia Islamia university campus in New Delhi following a brutal police crackdown on students protesting the new citizenship law last month. Every day, we sat outside the university gate, displaying different posters on the footpath. We wanted to let the people of Jamia know that they were not alone, she says. Chandola believes art is central to dissent because people have limited peaceful ways to protest. Art is one of the most powerful tools to resist any authoritarian regime, she says. The people on the other side, the oppressors, cannot do art, Ghosh said. What they can do is detain artists, break down installations, destroy or threaten. Tanzeela hopes her art will break the cycle of fear and help future generations assert themselves. It is important for us to speak so that 10 years from now, a generation does not have to feel insecure, she says. Pasted next to Tanzeelas image of the woman in the tricolour hijab on the signboard near Shaheen Bagh is a smaller poster with these words: Respect existence or expect resistance. An Australian artist who lost both her legs in a freak accident on the New York subway has been dealt another blow after she was targeted by scammers. Visaya Hoffie, 23, had to have a double amputation after she fell into the path of an oncoming train at 14th Street station in Manhattan earlier this month. She also suffered a broken back, several head wounds and severe cuts and bruises from seven carriages running her over. She only avoided being hit by a second train - surely killing her - because its driver spotted her pink jumper. Miss Hoffie, from Brisbane, is still recovering in intensive care but vented her anger on Wednesday when it emerged that she had fallen victim to fraudsters. A crowdfunding page set up in her name had already attracted numerous donations by the time she spotted it, and none of the money put towards the fundraiser will go towards her recovery. Visaya Hoffie (pictured on the Subway), 23, had to have a double amputation after she fell into the path of an oncoming train at 14th Street station in Manhattan earlier this month Miss Hoffie, from Brisbane , is still recovering in intensive care but vented her anger on Wednesday when it emerged that she had fallen victim to fraudsters A fake fundraiser was set up in her name and had already attracted several donations before it was taken down (pictured: Miss Hoffie warning others not to donate via her Instagram page) The brave 23-year-old issued a furious plea from her hospital bed in New York on Wednesday. Do not donate to this page. It is a scam, she said, sharing a photo of the offending page. The site that hosted the fundraiser, Donorbox, said the account that shared the fundraiser had been banned. 'Regarding the fake fundraiser, the page was taken down within a matter of hours of being created and the account was banned,' a spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia. 'Less than $260 was raised, and the donors will be contacted regarding refunds. We've implemented anti-fraud measures to detect these fake fundraisers more quickly. 'We are also working on ways to effectively block such scams from our platform entirely.' On Wednesday, the 23-year-old underwent further 'corrective amputation' on her left leg and is taking aspirin to avoid the risk of blood clotting Visaya's work was showcased at the Queensland College of Fine Art's graduates collection in 2016, under the name Visaya Bose. Her mother Pat and late father Santiage Bose were both well-known in Brisbane's art scene Miss Hoffie has tried to remain upbeat in the days following her emergency surgery, posting pictures on Instagram from happier times. She also thanked friends for their support, saying: 'Thanking everyone for the love right now. Praying for a speedy recovery.' The aspiring artist was taken off breathing support earlier this week and said her first words, her mother, Professor Pat Hoffie, said. 'Visaya is now off breathing support, and has started to eat. She is sedated but is optimistic and has already muttered, "I'm going to have to deal with this",' Mrs Hoffie said. 'The process of recovery will be very slow and we will probably be here a long time. 'Thank you to those of you who are already sustaining her by your prayers and good wishes.' Mrs Hoffie remains alongside her daughter with her brother and Visaya's friend Wayan (right) who had shared photos on social media of the two in New York City days earlier Miss Hoffie was due for another surgery earlier this week for 'corrective amputation' on her left leg and has suffered a pseudoaneurysm, also known as a 'false aneurysm' to her femoral artery, which occurs when the vessel is penetrated and begins to bleed. The injury is being monitored by a neck brace, which Miss Hoffie will have to wear for 'many months to come', her mother said. The young woman has also received a row of staples to her skull. Visaya Hoffie remains in intensive care after she was run over by seven carriages when she tripped and fell onto the tracks Mrs Hoffie remains alongside her daughter with her brother and the young artist's friend Wayan, who had shared photos on social media of the two in New York City days earlier. The mum also issued a heartfelt post thanking friends and family for the support. 'From the depths of our hearts, thank you for your online support. One of the nurses in ICU said to me, "A lone wolf dies in the winter. In times like this, keep with your pack". 'And it's been true the support and love from each of you surrounds Visaya (and myself) with increased strength deep gratitude to each one who has written expressing support and love.' Miss Hoffie, who was visiting a friend from Brisbane, was struck by seven carriages on January 11 and left unconscious on the tracks for about 20 minutes. She avoided being hit again by a second oncoming train when the driver caught sight of her bright pink top and slammed on the brakes. 'It's difficult at the moment,' Mrs Hoffie told The Courier Mail earlier this week from a New York City hospital. 'But we are in the best possible medical home but we just have to put our heads together and work through it. 'We're in the middle of a very trying time.' Mrs Hoffie shared a photo of her daughter taken just moments before the horrific incident wearing the pink top that essentially saved her life. During the horror, Ms Hoffie also suffered a broken back, head wounds and several cuts and bruises 'This image of her [Visaya] was taken hours before the accident,' she wrote. 'The bright pink colour of her top is what alerted the engine driver of the second train to the fact that someone was lying across the track. 'When the first train had rolled across her unconscious body twenty minutes earlier, her black puffy jacket and black jeans had made her invisible to the driver. 'In the words of the investigating police, 'it's a miracle she survived.' Please pray that she continues to survive and to heal and to come home.' Miss Hoffie's work was showcased at the Queensland College of Fine Art's graduates collection in 2016, under the name Visaya Bose. Her mother and late father Santiage Bose are both well-known in Brisbane's art scene. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed in a statement they were providing consular assistance to an Australian woman in the United States. 'Owing to our privacy obligations we will not provide further comment,' the statement said. The "City Hostel" in Berlin may look fairly innocuous from the outside -- but it now faces closure in an unlikely legal drama over international sanctions against North Korea. Situated just a stone's throw from Checkpoint Charlie, the hostel offers cheap accommodation for backpackers visiting the German capital. Yet for the last few years, authorities have been attempting to shut it down over accusations that it funds Pyongyang and the repressive regime of Kim Jong Un. The hostel, which opened in 2007 and is run by a Turkish company called EGI, is located on the premises of the North Korean embassy. On Tuesday, an administrative court in Berlin threw out an EGI lawsuit against the district authorities, who had ordered them to cease operations. The court decided that the hostel contravened a 2017 EU directive implementing United Nations sanctions against North Korea. "The hotel on the premises of the North Korean embassy... has to close," the court said in a statement, adding that EGI had the right to appeal. Critics said the hostel paid the embassy -- and therefore the North Korean government -- around 38,000 euros ($42,000) a month to use the five-storey Soviet-Style building. In a city where hotel prices have been rising sharply in recent years, the hostel offers a bed for the night at just 17 euros -- which perhaps explains why it is so popular, even with the North Korean flag flying next door. - UN sanctions - Acquired by Pyongyang in the 1960s, the premises were used to host relatives of North Korean diplomats in the communist former East Germany. Initially shut down after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the embassy reopened in 2001 and set about sub-letting rooms and parking spaces at the site. "Nowhere else in the world has the North Korean regime earned so handsomely as in Berlin," wrote German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung last year. In 2017, local authorities decided enough was enough. Backed by Chancellor Angela Merkel's government, they attempted to shut down the hostel on the basis that it was breaking international sanctions imposed on North Korea over its nuclear programme. Story continues According to a 2016 UN Security Council resolution, North Korea's foreign representations are obliged to "restrict themselves to diplomatic and consular activities". "Any kind of commercial activity on the site of the embassy or in relation to the embassy is prohibited," according to the German foreign ministry. Referencing an EU directive based on the UN resolution, local authorities in Berlin's upscale Mitte district demanded the hotel stop using the building. - 'Model' for others - But the hostel's management, Turkish-based EGI, fought back. Though they refuse to speak to media, EGI claimed it was "ready to use all methods available to us" to defend the guesthouse in a rare public statement in 2017. That included legal action against the district authorities, which the court threw out on Tuesday. EGI claimed that the local district does not have the jurisdiction to shut down its operations. According to the court, they also claimed not to have paid rent directly to the North Korean embassy since April 2017. Yet the court rejected these claims, saying that the very use of the building contravened the EU directive. EGI's lawyers have not responded to AFP's attempts to contact them. The hostel had remained open until now, despite lawmakers' best efforts. "Sanctions and regulations concerning international trade have to apply to the North Koreans in Berlin," said Tom Schreiber, a Social Democrat MP in Berlin's state parliament. The situation in the German capital is "a chance to show the regime which boundaries it cannot cross," he told AFP. It could also provide "a model" for similar situations where North Korea's presence is "less visible", he added. WEST PALM BEACH, FL / ACCESSWIRE / January 29, 2020 / Listed as a member in good standing and eligible to practice law in Florida, seasoned and well-respected attorney Reginald Giles Stambaugh, from West Palm Beach, Florida, has once again been recertified as a specialist in real estate law by The Florida Bar. The third-largest such bar in the United States, The Florida Bar is the integrated bar association for the state of Florida. Duties of The Florida Bar include the regulation and discipline of attorneys to ensure the highest standards of legal professionalism in Florida. "Established to protect the public by preventing the unlicensed practice of law, The Florida Bar is dedicated to serving its more than 100,000 member attorneys, and all Floridians," explains Stambaugh. "Any lawyer wishing to practice law in Florida," he adds, "must be a member of The Florida Bar." The Florida Bar boasts more than 20 sections and divisions which, alongside real property, probate, and trust law, of which attorney Reginald Giles Stambaugh is a part, include alternative dispute resolution, business law, criminal law, elder law, environmental and land use law, labor and employment law, and public interest law. Stambaugh is a graduate of Stetson University College of Law, located in Gulfport, Florida. Founded in 1900, Stetson University College of Law, part of Stetson University, is Florida's oldest law school. "Located in Gulfport, Florida, the private university occupies the historic Rolyat Hotel," reveals Stambaugh, "designed by architectural firm Kiehnel & Elliott of Miami under the direction of project architect Paul Reed." Specializing in all facets of real estate law, including litigation, transactions, and estate matters, Reginald Giles Stambaugh heads up the private law practice Stambaugh Law Firm, headquartered in Palm Beach County, Florida. "Effective November 1, 2019, I am, once again," adds Stambaugh, wrapping up, "proud to have been recertified as a specialist in real estate law by The Florida Bar, and look forward to continuing to serve clients both new and existing." Reginald Giles Stambaugh is a Florida Bar licensed real estate attorney, certified since 1999 as a specialist in his field. Attorney Stambaugh is AV rated-the highest ranking the firm provides-by the Martindale-Hubbell attorney directory. Stambaugh is also ranked by the Avvo attorney directory, receiving a 10.0 score, which, again, is the highest ranking possible. Following his graduation from Stetson University College of Law in 1992, Stambaugh returned from Gulfport, Florida, to his hometown of Palm Beach, Florida, where he remains settled to this day. CONTACT: Caroline Hunter Web Presence, LLC +1 7862338220 SOURCE: Web Presence, LLC View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/574407/Reginald-Giles-Stambaugh-Recertified-as-Specialist-in-Real-Estate-Law-by-Florida-Bar The two authors, Paul Stockmann and Dr. Daniel Van Opdenbosch, with the reactor in which the polymerizable monomer was produced from the natural product 3-carene. A research team from the Fraunhofer Society and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) led by chemist Volker Sieber has developed a new polyamide family which can be produced from a byproduct of cellulose production a successful example for a more sustainable economy with bio-based materials. Polyamides are important plastics. They can be found in ski bindings and in cars or items of clothing. Commercially, they have been made predominantly from crude oil up until now; there are just a few green alternatives, such as polyamides based on castor oil. Bio-based compounds are often significantly more expensive to produce and have therefore only been able to penetrate the market before now if they have had particular properties. A team led by Volker Sieber, Professor of the Chemistry of Biogenic Raw Materials at TU Munich, has now developed a completely new polyamide family which can be produced from a byproduct of cellulose production. New polyamide family The biogenic starting material, (+)-3-carene, is made up of two rings which are fused to one another. The chemists at the TUM and the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology (IGB) in Straubing have now modified one of the rings in such a way that it can be opened up, yielding a long chain of molecules, a polymer. The second ring remains intact here. In this way, instead of a linear polymer chain like in traditional polyamides, a chain which bears many small rings and other side groups emerges. This gives the polymer completely new functions. Special properties The new polyamides impress thanks to their special properties which make them attractive for many applications. For example, they melt at higher temperatures than the competing crude oil derived products. In addition, the new compounds can be produced transparently as well as in a partially crystalline manner, which increases its later application possibilities using the same starting substance. By way of reaction conditions and catalysts during synthesis, we can easily control whether we will obtain a transparent or partially crystalline polyamide in the end, explains Sieber. However, the basis for this is offered above all by the specific structure of the bio-based starting material which would be very expensive to obtain from fossil raw materials. Increasing sustainability From an industrial point of view, it is important that the synthesis basically takes place in one reaction container. This one-pot process would not just allow a significant reduction in costs, but would also mean a clear increase in sustainability, according to Sieber. The biogenic starting material (+)-3-carene can actually be distilled at a high purity and comparatively low cost from the turpentine oil produced as a secondary product in the cellulose industry. Up until now, the turpentine oil was only heated in the cellulose factories. We use it as a vital starting material for plastics, says Sieber. This is an enormous increase in value. No competition with food production Sieber points out that with turpentine oil being a side product of the forest industry, in contrary to the use of castor oil, we are not competing against food production. The researchers are not yet completely satisfied with the achieved overall yield of the process, this is at 25 percent by mass. Thanks to the simple scalability, the potential for an efficient process is very high, says Paul Stockmann, whose doctoral thesis at the TUM is based on the findings. At the Fraunhofer IGB, the chemist is now working on establishing (+)-3-carene-based polyamides on the market as alternatives to crude-oil-based high-performance polyamides. With the help of new genomic sequencing and assembly tools, plant scientists can learn more about the function and evolution of highly destructive plant pathogens that refuse to be tamed by fungicides, antibacterial, and antivirals. But using these genomic technologies is not an easy task. The process not only requires time, but also money. In a recent paper published in Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, David Haak and John McDowell, from the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, proved that these costly processes can be improved by combining two generations of technology. What used to take a year-and-a-half and $2 million to complete can now be done within nine days for $1,000 - and the technology performs with greater accuracy and field applicability than ever before. "Think of it as analogous to a library full of books that are two-thirds or three-quarters completely written. What David has developed is a technology through which he could go to the library and finish those books really quickly and really accurately for a really low price point," said McDowell, the J. B. Stroobants Professor of Biotechnology. Before this project began, Haak, an assistant professor, and his team had been trying to prove that it was possible to generate a completed assembly in a relatively short period of time - but they needed a relatively complex genome to test their theory. A few hallway conversations later, Haak and his students joined forces with McDowell and his team to unravel the complex genome of Phytophthora capsici. "P. capsici is a representative of a really destructive group of pathogens. Its evolutionary cousin is the pathogen that caused the Irish Potato Famine in the 19th century, which killed at least a million people and caused at least a million more to relocate. These pathogens are still causing difficulty today," said McDowell. "One of the reasons for that is because their genomes are exquisitely configured to enable them to evolve ways around interventions that farmers put in place in the field." A microscopic image of a large root, which divides the photo into two diagonal sections. On each side of the root, there are many P. capsici spores, which resemble lollipops. An image of P. capsici spores that are attached to an Arabidopsis root and initiating the process of penetration. John Herlihy for Virginia Tech. In this species of pathogen, virulence genes are often located in gene-poor regions interspersed with repetitive regions within the genome. These repetitive regions are prone to rapid evolution and are the key to understanding its pathogenicity, or its ability to cause disease. To better understand the inner workings of P. capsici, scientists must extract a DNA sample from the pathogen and perform genetic sequencing. Genetic sequencing is a process that determines the order of the nitrogenous bases - or the As, Cs, Gs, and Ts - that make up an organism's DNA. However, genomic sequencing can read only a certain amount of DNA segments at one time. Scientists must then take these small sequences and re-assemble them so that the DNA is presented in the right order. "Generating the sequence data, isn't really the problem. It's assembling that data. It's putting together the sequence information in the right order. The repeat-rich regions make us sometimes put two genes together that don't belong together or separate a full gene into two halves because we think a repeat goes right in the middle," said Haak. All in all, resolving the genome of an organism requires powerful technology - and patience. And although bioinformatic technology has made great leaps and bounds over the years, each generation isn't necessarily better than the last. Each generation of technology has its own forte. Using first-generation technology, it would take one-and-a-half years and around $2 million to sequence the P. capsici genome. But with Haak's technology, it will take just nine days from DNA extraction to a polished assembly - and only cost $1,000. To make things even better, this technology will be able to sequence 100,000 times more information in roughly 1.5 percent of the time. And the technology is the size of a thumb drive. Second-generation technology performs short read assemblies, which are extremely accurate; however, they do not span across repetitive regions well. And when scientists must go back and reassemble the genome, there is a reasonable chance of error. "What happens with the short reads is that we don't know where those repeats begin and end, so we don't know where to put them to arrange them appropriately," said Haak. Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) MinION, or long-read sequencing, is the third generation of sequencing technology, but it has the opposite problem: it is far less accurate but it can give them a better overall picture by spanning across these critical repetitive regions. Haak and his team combined these second- and third-generation technologies to exploit the accuracy of the former with the ability to span the repeated regions of the latter. It's the best of both worlds. Upon using this new technology on P. capsici, Haak and McDowell got quite a shock. Haak and his group revealed that the genome is 1.5 times bigger than previously thought. "That's 30 percent of the genome that we didn't even know existed, and that particular fraction of the genome is, undoubtedly, enriched with the sorts of genes that really make a difference in helping us understand what interacts with the plant or responds to fungicides or farmers' spray," said McDowell. For Haak, the most exciting thing about the results of this paper is its proof-of-concept. "We have something called the sequence archive database, which is full of all sorts of short-read sequences. We can actually leverage all of that existing data with this newer technology to be able to produce more genomes of this quality," said Haak. Haak's new generation of technology is expected to revolutionize the way in which scientists collect genomic data. With their newly acquired, affordable, real-time data, scientists will be able to improve previous assemblies and quickly generate new ones that they can share to the sequence archives database. On a grander scale, this technology will advance the field of plant genomics and the worldwide effort to save the crop industry from destructive pathogens. Now that Haak and McDowell have an estimated 97 percent of the genome for P. capsici in their grasps, they plan to use this information as supporting data for two new grant proposals. One proposal will focus on tomato and soybean diseases caused by pathogens of the Phytophthora group and the other proposal will focus on lavender, yet another victim of Phytophthora. For Haak, this project was special because it was supported by a grant from the Fralin Life Sciences Institute at Virginia Tech with funds allocated to support the Global Systems Science Destination Area. McDowell added, "I think it speaks to the environment here at Virginia Tech, promoted by Fralin, that enables these sorts of collaborations to come together and get some critical support in the early phase." ### Vineet Upadhyay By Express News Service DEHRADUN: After sounding an alert over Coronavirus, the Uttarakhand Heath Department has cancelled all leaves of medical staff including medical ones. The decision came after reports of suspected Novel Coronavirus cases emerged across the country. Madan Kaushik, Uttarakhand cabinet minister and spokesperson of the state government said, 'The alert had already been issued across 13 districts in the state. We have also cancelled all the leaves of employees of health department including doctors, for now, to deal with any situation concerning Coronavirus.' ALSO READ | Coronavirus outbreak: Airlines across globe halt China flights as virus toll hits 132 The State health department has also instructed to take into account the travel history of any person with symptoms similar to the fast-spreading virus. As of now, no positive cases has been reported in Uttarakhand as well as in the country. However, the number of deaths in China has thrown people into tizzy. Vijay Singh, a resident of Dehradun whose relatives were in Wuhan city which is considered to be the epicentre of the deadly virus, said 'We were really scared as the infection is fatal. However, after screening it was clear that my relatives were alright.' ALSO READ | India among top 30 countries at 'high risk' from coronavirus spread: Study In 2018, Uttarakhand High Court, in a series of directions, ordered the state government to provide the latest equipment and machinery required under the minimum standard requirements of a medical college. They also ordered to accord necessary permission for the creation of posts in nephrology, neurology, urology and heart disease departments within a period of one week. Keeping in mind the health sector of the state, orders were made to complete the selection process of 138 assistant professors within a period of six weeks and issue the appointment letters within a period of four weeks. The High Court also asked to deploy 61 newly acquired ambulances within a period of four weeks. When US President Donald Trump announced last week that he will unveil his plan for peace between Palestinians and Israelis, known as the Deal of the Century, it was important to recall public denouncements of the plan by the Palestinians. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said in statements after Trumps announcement: Once again, we reiterate our rejection of US decisions on Jerusalem and recognising it as the capital of Israel. There are also a series of US decisions that contradict international law. Abu Rudeineh continued: We reiterate our position demanding an end of Israeli occupation of the territories of the Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. These statements mean that the Palestinian Authority (PA) knew the details of the deal, and it may have directly told Trump that it will not agree to an independent Palestinian state at any price. Also, that the PA insists on rejecting the deal because it gives Israel sovereignty over many areas in the West Bank and most of East Jerusalem. Trump revealed that the Palestinians were aware of the details of the deal when he was asked if there was communication between his administration and the Palestinians, who had previously announced their refusal. Trump vaguely said: We spoke to them briefly. He did not give much more detail, but added: I am confident they will at first respond negatively, but [the plan] is actually very good for them. The deal is clearly in Israels favour, it included recognition by the US of Jerusalem as Israels undivided capital, as noted by Trump during the announcement of the deal on Tuesday, without negotiating with Palestinians about the demarcation of Palestinian presence in the eastern sector of the city. The deal also asserted the legitimacy of Israel keeping Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Trump knows that Palestinian rejection of the deal, since they have frequently stated this, is understandable because they will have to give up a large part of their narrow dream: a small state within the borders of 4 June 1967. Their leadership will not have the courage to promote the deal to the Palestinian people or the left-wing and religious hawks in the Arab world. What is not understandable for Trump is why Israel could object or at least show disapproval of a deal that gives them a unified Jerusalem and sovereignty over settlements. The deal also gives them extensive security arrangements on the border with the future Palestinian state. That is why Trump invited Binyamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, the leader of Kahol Lavan Party, to come to the White House before announcing he will soon unveil his proposal. Trump understands that the two leaders are competing for votes in the elections slated for early March by outbidding each other about the decisions they will take on Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley if they win. Gantz and Netanyahu agree on several issues, including unification of Jerusalem and unwillingness to discuss the status of the city or fate of its Palestinian residents in East Jerusalem during settlement talks with the Palestinians. However, statements by Gantz and Netanyahu also highlight their differences. For example, Gantz disagrees with Netanyahu about the future of the West Bank. He does not want to declare sovereignty over any part of the West Bank because it would violate international law. Gantz also believes in a two-state solution, while Netanyahu wants to derail any attempt at a two-state solution out of fear he will lose the support of right-wing radicals. But Netanyahu is also worried about openly rejecting a two-state solution because that would upset Trump. Netanyahu wants to pre-empt any pressure by the US preventing him from annexing the Jordan Valley region, which is protected by international law, and hints he will ask for a joint defence agreement with Washington if Trump insists on blocking him from annexing the valley. Trumps invitation to Gantz and Netanyahu was an attempt to use them to push through the deal in Israel by making each of them a source of pressure on the other. It is certain that Netanyahu hopes the Palestinians will continue to dig in their heels against the deal because it will benefit him. First, it would maintain the cohesiveness of the right-wing front in Israel which mostly rejects a two-state solution. Second, Israel would be able to stand up to the Europeans who accuse it of obstructing peace, since Palestinian rejection of the deal will be evidence that Palestinians, not Israelis, are the real obstacle to peace in the Middle East. Third, Palestinian rejection of the deal will quiet down the voices of the Boycott, Divest, Sanctions (BDS) movement which is hounding Israel and trying to strip it of its legitimacy. BDS accuses Israel of practices on a par with crimes against humanity. Fourth, Palestinian refusal gives Israel an excuse and begs US support for declaring sovereignty over territories where settlements are located in the West Bank. Fifth, it will confirm that Netanyahus approach of ignoring international law is the correct course, unlike Gantzs mistake of thinking that upholding international law is in the interest of Israel. This would give Netanyahu a substantial advantage at the polls against his top opponent, Gantz. As for Trump, his Democratic rivals believe he chose this timing to talk about the deal to distract from his impeachment trial. But that doesnt necessarily ring true. The domestic front in the US will remain focused on impeachment and no other issue will distract from this. In fact, Trump may take advantage of Palestinian rejection to attack and accuse them of wasting an opportunity to achieve peace, which would guarantee him the support of the Jewish and Christian lobbies in the US against attempts by Democrats to remove him from power. *A version of this article appears in print in the 30 January, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: TUKWILA, Wash., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters Local 117 stands in solidarity with nearly 8,000 Swedish Medical Center workers who began a three-day unfair labor practices strike Tuesday morning. The workers are members of SEIU Local 1199NW. Health care workers at seven Swedish Medical Center campuses in King and Snohomish Counties are fighting for quality patient care and good, family-sustaining jobs. These nurses and caregivers report that they face understaffing which impacts patient safety, along with disrespect and discrimination from management. According to their union, instead of bargaining in good faith for a contract with reasonable wages, management has spent $11 million on an agency to temporarily replace workers during the strike. "The Teamsters Union represents over 50,000 health care workers, including hundreds who are members of Teamsters 117. Our members work long hours, often with limited resources, in stressful environments to provide critical, ethical care. We stand with our labor partners at SEIU 1199NW to ensure that workers in the profession are treated with dignity and respect," said Michelle Woodrow, President of Local 117 and Western Region Representative for the Teamsters Health Care Division. "In Washington State and nationally, we want Swedish Medical Center workers to know that we have their backs. We stand by them as they fight for what's rightfair treatment and quality care for patients," said Nina Bugbee, Director of the Teamsters Health Care Division. "Nurses and caregivers touch every life and every community," said John Scearcy, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters 117. "As a community, we need to come together and support them in their fight for fair working conditions, racial equity and patient safety. We are committed to standing with the striking workers until their demands are met." Contact: Paul Zilly, 206-794-6673 [email protected] SOURCE Teamsters Local 117 A medical student who recently returned to India from Wuhan in China was on Tuesday admitted to a hospital in Ujjain where he has been kept in an isolation ward to test for possible infection of coronavirus. District Magistrate Shashank Mishra said, "The patient returned from China some time ago. He is kept in isolation and his blood samples have been sent to Pune for tests". The student, who was residing in China's Hubei province of Wuhan, reported to be the origin of the dreaded novel Coronavirus, arrived in Ujjain on January 13. In a recent development, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday approved an Air India flight to Wuhan for the evacuation of Indian citizens from the coronavirus-hit Chinese city. As a preventive measure against the outbreak of the deadly novel coronavirus, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has been conducting thermal health screening of passengers, arriving from China including Hong Kong, in seven airports in India. These airports include -- Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata respectively. All the seven identified airports have virus screening and prevention signage displayed boldly at the strategic locations. . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Australia's internet speed has fallen to 68th in the world behind Estonia, Kosovo and Vietnam. Average download speeds reached just 41.78 megabytes per second Down Under in the latest month-to-month report - almost half the global standard of 73.58Mbps. With similarly sub-par upload speeds of 18.77Mbps, less than half the global average, Australia fell three spots in Speedtest Global Index's rankings between November and December. An NBN contractor works on the network's roll-out in Sydney in 2017. Australian average internet download speeds of 41.78Mbps mean the country ranks 68th in the world - lower than Kosovo and Vietnam The results also left Australia sitting fourth from bottom out of 35 countries within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development - whose economies are of a similar size. Curtin University's associate professor of internet studies Tama Leaver said the NBN - which is six months from completion - was significantly lagging behind countries of similar wealth. '[The NBN was] supposed to future-proof Australian internet speeds and capacity and has instead failed to meet even current speed and capacity requirements,' he told The New Daily. Dr Leaver said the NBN's lack of fibre connectivity to every home was linked to the low speeds indicated in December's rankings. RMIT associate professor of network engineering Mark Gregory added the Coalition had justified a lower internet quality by saying they were providing internet to all. In 2009, then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced they would bypass the existing copper network by constructing a new national network. 'High-speed broadband will spur innovation and enhance our economy's growth and productivity in the long term,' Mr Rudd said at the time. In 2011, the goal was set at fibre-to-the-premises for 93 per cent of Australian homes. But when the Coalition come to power in 2013, incoming prime minister Tony Abbott promised a scaled-down version of the NBN. A network engineering expert said the Coalition had justified a lower internet quality by saying they were providing internet to all (stock image) It would be based on fibre-to-the-exchange instead of direct fibre-to-the-home, in a bid to save on costs and reduce delays. In response to the December rankings, an NBN Co spokesperson said speeds had more than doubled in six years from 16Mbps to 40Mbps, according to AlphaBeta reports. 'We're extremely proud of what we're doing with the NBN access network to deliver high-speed broadband to eligible Australian homes and businesses and help raise the digital capability of the nation,' a spokesperson said. Fastest countries for fixed broadband Internet - December 2019 1. Singapore 2. Hong Kong 3. Monaco 4. Romania 5. South Korea 6. Switzerland 7. Liechtenstein 8. Taiwan 9. France 10. Sweden Advertisement 'Theres no perfect ranking of fixed-line broadband performance but, clearly, there are flaws with some of the popular speed tests, with wildly fluctuating and unrepresentative samples and results, and no accountability for the actual availability of broadband to the whole community.' AlphaBeta director Andrew Charlton added his company's metrics took into account validated data and 'robust methodology'. 'When we looked at how countries are often compared for broadband performance, we quickly found many popular measures are based on poor quality data,' he said. NBN Co is expecting the access network to be completed by June 2020, with 11.5million homes able to connect. Beijing, China: A drugstore in the Chinese capital will be fined 3 million yuan ($434,530) for hiking the price of masks by almost six times the online rate amid a spreading virus outbreak, the Beijing municipal market regulator said on Wednesday. The coronavirus outbreak, which started in the central city of Wuhan late last year, has killed 132 people, with nearly 6,000 infected in China. An administrative penalty notice has been issued to the Beijing Jimin Kangtai Pharmacy for sharply raising the price of N95 masks, the regulator said in a statement on its website. The store raised the price of a box of 3M brand masks to 850 yuan while the online price was just 143 yuan, state television said. Since Thursday, the regulator has investigated 31 price violation cases, it said, as it boosted supervision of prices of protective gear and punished illegal activities, such as hoarding or fabricating information about price hikes. In the commercial capital of Shanghai, the municipal market regulator has ordered the closure of a drug store that sold sub-standard masks, the city government said. The regulator has asked the store to refund buyers and dispose of unsold ones, it said on its official account on the Weibo app. New details about Samsungs next folding phone expected to be called the Galaxy Z Flip have been revealed in a comprehensive leak. German tech publication Winfuture uncovered fresh information about the highly-anticipated smartphone, revealing previously unknown specs, features and images. The phone ditches the horizontal folding mechanism of the Galaxy Fold, which opens like a book, and instead opts for a vertical-folding design similar to the recently announced Motorola Razr. It features a 6.7-inch screen that comes with "Ultra Thin Glass" to help protect it from the wear and tear that comes with opening and closing it multiple times per day. Like the Galaxy Fold and Motorola Razr, it appears to come with a small front-facing screen that can be used to check notifications. 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 Inside the device, Samsung has put a top-of-the-line Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. A 3,300 mAh battery is smaller than the dual capacity of the 4,380mAh battery in the Galaxy Fold, however the smaller size of the Galaxy Z Flip means real-world usage will likely be similar or better than its predecessor. The leaked photos also reveal two rear cameras, which are expected to be a 12MP main lens and a 12MP ultra-wide angle lens. The next Samsung Galaxy Fold could adopt a different method of folding to the original (Weibo) The only major details not covered by Winfuture's leak are the price and release date of the device, though previous rumours suggest it will be unveiled at Samsung's Unpacked event on 11 February. An official teaser video for the event includes square shapes similar to the profile of the folded Galaxy Z Flip and includes the tag line "Change the shape of the future". Samsung does not comment on unreleased devices but the company previously hinted that its next folding smartphone would be a significant departure from anything that it has made before. "This brand-new form factor that we're now exploring will not only easily fit in your pocket, but it also changes the way you use your phone," Hyesoon Jeong, Samsung Mobile's head of framework and R&D, said at the firm's 2019 developer conference. Samsung was one of the early pioneers of foldable smartphones, first unveiling the Galaxy Fold in late 2018. It ran into a number of issues, however, and was forced to delay the roll out of the handset by several months. Other smartphones expected to be announced at the Unpacked event include Samsung's flagship Galaxy S20, S20+ and S20 Ultra. If some Arab countries go along with Trumps plan on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it is only because Iran has ramped up its threats towards its Arab neighbours US President Donald Trump will finally unveil his long-awaited Deal of the Century, or roadmap for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Underlining the event, Trump invited the Israeli prime minister to the White House. Trump's peace plan has already been rejected by Arabs and Palestinians and caused much dismay in the Arab world, angered that the deal is heavily in Israels favour. The relocation of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and the recognition of the city as Israels capital as planks of the US presidents Middle East policies only added to distrust of his Deal of the Century. Above all, mediation for or acceptance of any agreement needs the presence of both sides of any conflict. Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, who does not consider Mr Trumps administration credible and qualified to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and was absent from the decision-making process. Thus, the Trump plan is null and void. Among pre-conditions envisaged in the Deal of the Century are: disarmament of Hamas and the whole of the Gaza Strip; permanent military presence of Israeli forces at the borders with Jordan; permanent annexation of Jewish settlements in the occupied territories; and other concessions in favour of Israel. Now, let us look at Palestinians and the condition under which they live. Palestinian aspirations, and the freedom movement that once inspired freedom fighters across the world, are history now. The worlds image of Palestine is one of extremism, violence and terror, poverty, and the desperation of besieged people who are neither welcome by other nations nor by being locked in by Israel enjoy freedom of movement. It is fair to say that the shattered dream of a "two-state solution" and the disintegration of Palestine into a hundred pieces is not necessarily the result of Trumps imposing policies, or Netanyahus attempts to take advantage of the current situation. Futile wars of recent years between Israel and Lebanon, and Israel and Gaza, provoked and supported by Iran which only served the Islamic Republics interests, made the life of the ordinary Palestinian that much harder and more complicated, and strengthened the presence and power of extremist and jihadi groups. It is said that the unveiling of Trumps Deal of the Century is partly aimed at boosting his re-election campaign (to gain American Jewish votes), realising his election pledges, muddying his impeachment process in Congress. and diverting attention from Netanhayus indictment on corruption charges. I think these reasons are not sufficient. I think the most important reason for inviting Netanhayu to Washington to unveil the so called Deal of the Century is to take advantage of the atmosphere created by Irans threats against Israel and the region as a whole. Iran has, over the past two weeks, launched the most serious security threat in its history against Israel and Middle East countries. Irans missile attacks against US bases in Iraq, along with its threats against countries that would allow the US to use their territory for undermining Irans interests (meaning the Gulf countries) alerted the whole region and put these countries in a difficult situation. Security is the most important concern of the countries of the region, but Trump has repeatedly talked of the security of Israel only. Palestinian aspirations are considered an Arab issue. This is a sacred ideal, but in the face of Irans threats, perhaps Trump could with the cooperation of other countries shrewdly conjure up an agreement that would pave the way for his Deal of the Century. The Peace and Prosperity Workshop for Palestinians held in Bahrain back in summer was received coldly by Arab countries. The US administration had hoped that the rich countries of the Gulf region would be persuaded to invest in Gaza and the West Bank. Jared Kushners economic plan for attracting $50 billion at the Bahrain conference did not bear fruit. High level delegations from Arab countries were absent from the conference. Israel did not send its officials and Mahmoud Abbas kept to his position of boycotting any gathering initiated by Trump and his administration. Before committing themselves to any participation in economic programmes, rich countries of the Gulf region first and foremost wanted to know the political arrangements of Trumps Deal of the Century. Arab countries are not prepared to accept Trumps position on Jerusalem and the unilateral annexation of the Golan Heights to Israel. On the other hand, serious threats from Iran and concern over their national security might put them in a position where they find themselves obliged to submit to Trumps pressure for participation in the Deal of the Century, and even give some concession towards it. Perhaps the dream of an independent Palestine will never materialise. But the end of this dream does not mean more security for Israel and the end of tensions in the region. The disintegration of this dream would confront the region with more crises and more challenges. It would encourage antisemitism and the growth of more extremist groups in Palestinian areas. The only peace agreement that would bear fruit is the one in which Palestinians and their representatives are part of. To reach that goal, peace negotiations should be brokered between Hamas and Fatah. The only peace agreement with Israel that would be sustainable is the one in which Arab countries that have a stake and influence in the region are included in negotiations and bless it with their support. They have repeatedly said that they favour the late King Abdullahs roadmap for peace and recognition of Israel. In the absence of such a framework, their participation in such gatherings and their cooperation with the US is not out of support for Trump's plan, but because threats from Iran have forced them to do so. Irans change of position toward its Arab neighbours could have been a key factor in the annulment of Trumps Deal of the Century, but it is most unfortunate that Iran itself is the main factor for its fruition. Search Keywords: Short link: [January 28, 2020] SCORPIO-V's Mobile SpaceLab to Study Human Biology on International Space Station (ISS) The Mobile SpaceLab, a fully automated, microfluidic and imaging platform will perform biological experiments on the International Space Station (ISS). SCORPIO-V, the biological sciences division of HNu Photonics, designed the tissue and cell culturing facility, which can perform biology experiments in space without the need for crew operations for as long as a month. SCORPIO-V's team of scientists will design and execute experiments to test the effects of microgravity on neurons and will control and monitor the experiments from Earth. On Sundy, February 9, 2020, Northrop Grumman's (News - Alert) 13th commercial resupply mission for NASA, a Cygnus spacecraft on an Antares rocket, is scheduled to launch from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility and carry the Mobile SpaceLab to the ISS. "As the U.S. and other nations and organizations around the world expand space exploration, it has become imperative to better understand what life in space does to the human body in order to mitigate potential health risks," SCORPIO-V Principal Investigator Caitlin O'Connell, Ph.D. remarked. "Furthermore, the neuron studies performed on the ISS with the Mobile SpaceLab hope to lend additional insights into our understanding of earth-bound age-related cognition and decline." Dr. O'Connell and SCORPIO-V Chief Biologist Devin Ridgley, Ph.D. will discuss the Mobile SpaceLab and mission in a NASA media teleconference at 1 p.m. EST on Wednesday, January 29. Members of the media who wish to join the teleconference may request dial-in information. Audio of the teleconference will be streamed live online at: http://www.nasa.gov/live. In 2019, HNu Photonics was the first instrument builder to successfully be awarded a grant from NASA's Space Biology Program to use the Mobile SpaceLab for its own biological experimentation during a roundtrip mission to the ISS. HNu Photonics was also previously awarded a grant from NASA to include its instrument on a Blue Origin launch and have a Space Act agreement with NASA. About SCORPIO-V SCORPIO-V is a division of space technology company HNu Photonics and based in Kahului, Hawaii. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200128005863/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Autism is characterized in part by an individual's challenges communicating and interacting socially with others. These difficulties have typically been studied in isolation by focusing on cognitive and behavioral differences in those with autism spectrum disorder, but little work has been done on how exchanges for autistic people unfold in the real world. Researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas recently turned the spotlight on social interaction in autism by examining it as a two-way street. Their results, published in December in the journal Autism, suggest that successful interactions for autistic adults revolve around partner compatibility and not just the skill set of either person. "Most studies attempting to understand social disability in autism focus exclusively on individual characteristics," said Dr. Noah Sasson, an associate professor in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences (BBS) and corresponding author of the study. "This presumes that any difficulties in social interaction are driven solely by the autistic person. But how each person influences and is influenced by the other is key to understanding affiliation and social quality." The study focused on the so-called "double-empathy problem," which predicts that two people who are neurologically different and have distinct modes of communication and understanding may have trouble connecting with each other, as commonly occurs in interactions between autistic and non-autistic adults. "It's not just that autistic adults can struggle to infer the thoughts and motivations of typically developing adults, which has been well documented; the reverse is true as well. Non-autistic people struggle to infer what autistic people are thinking," Sasson said. "Anecdotally, many autistic people often report better quality of social interaction when engaging with other autistic people. We set out to test this empirically." Kerrianne Morrison MS'16, PhD'19, the paper's lead author, explained that the concept of a social-interaction difficulty being a two-sided, relational problem -- and not simply a shortcoming of the autistic person -- is only beginning to take hold. "Autism is such a young field of study. Examining differences depending on the context of social situations rather than dysfunction across all contexts is starting to gain traction in academia," she said. "We believe this represents a better understanding of how people with autism can thrive in the right contexts." In the study, 125 adults held a five-minute, unstructured "getting-to-know-you" conversation with an unfamiliar person. Sixty-seven of the participants had been diagnosed with autism. Each participant then independently evaluated the quality of the interaction and their first impressions of their partner. Autistic adults were not rated as less intelligent, trustworthy or likable by either the autistic or typically developing cohort, and importantly, autistic participants' interactions with other autistic adults were viewed by them as more favorable than those with typically developing partners. "While typically developing participants preferred future interaction with other typically developing partners over autistic partners," Sasson said, "autistic adults actually trended toward the opposite, preferring future interaction with other autistic adults. They also disclosed more about themselves to autistic partners and felt closer to their partners than did typically developing participants." Autistic adults were rated as more awkward and less socially warm than typically developing adults by both autistic and typically developing partners. Some judgments were more favorable than those from Sasson's previous studies in which people evaluated autistic adults in videos. "Direct interaction seems to lessen some negative evaluations of autism," Sasson said. "This aligns with previous work suggesting that direct experience and knowledge of autism can reduce stigma and promote inclusion." Typically developing participants also rated the conversational content with autistic and typically developing partners to be of similar quality. This shows that negative evaluations of autistic adults by non-autistic adults may be based more on social presentation differences and not their actual conversations. "These findings suggest that social interaction difficulties in autism are not an absolute characteristic of the individual," Sasson said. "Rather, social quality is a relational characteristic that depends upon the fit between the person and the social environment. If autistic people were inherently poor at social interaction, you'd expect an interaction between two autistic people to be even more of a struggle than between an autistic and non-autistic person. But that's not what we found." Sasson said that he hopes this work shows that studying actual social interaction elicits a deeper understanding than studying individual abilities alone. "Social disability in autism is context-dependent and emerges more in interactions with typically developing partners," he said. "This likely reflects a mismatch in cognitive and communication styles that may improve with increased familiarity and acceptance." Morrison believes that this research is illuminating a crucial portion of the story for the autistic community. "We're moving beyond the existing research, which has fixated on social abilities in isolated, standardized contexts, and addressing this blind spot of real-world outcomes," she said. "Particularly in adults, this is the information we need." ### Other authors affiliated with the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences include Dr. Robert Ackerman, associate professor of psychology; cognition and neuroscience doctoral student Kilee DeBrabander; and psychological sciences doctoral student Desi Jones. Daniel Faso PhD'16 is also an author. The work was funded by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's Autism Grant Program and internal funding. Beijing: Increasing day by day, the havoc of coronavirus is causing difficulties in the lives of people, till now this virus was spread only in some province of China but now slowly it is being seen in our country i.e. India too. Coronavirus panic is spreading rapidly in other countries of the world. If Russia has sealed the borders with China, then dozens of countries including Britain, Japan, America have started to airlift its citizens from China or are preparing to call back. Sri Lanka, with the withdrawal of its 204 students, has stopped the facility of granting visas to Chinese citizens as soon as they arrive at the airport. On the other hand, three more cases of coronavirus have also been confirmed in Germany. These include colleagues of the first person who was found to be coronavirus positive in Germany. Pakistan: Fire breaks out in Perfume factory, 11 killed, 2 injured In the search, it has been found that Russia is going to close the three eastern borders with China till 7 February 2020. As the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday, he will make full arrangements for the return of the citizens of his country. The US has appealed to its citizens to reconsider the visit to China. After getting the first patient suffering from Koranavirus in Sri Lanka, the government there has stopped giving visas on arrival with the arrival of Chinese people. Earthquake intensity of 7.7 rages in Jamaica At the same time, it is also being said that the virus has been confirmed in Sri Lanka in China, which came to Sri Lanka on 19 January. Sri Lanka has called a total of 204 students back to their country within three days. But in Canada and Cambodia, the virus was confirmed in every patient on Tuesday, after which the governments there have been alerted. Foreign Minister of Japan Tosimitsu Motegi has also said that we have made all preparations. Talk has been made to China and soon the special stranded Japanese people will be brought back to their country. There are about 650 students and people from Japan, of which 200 people have returned so far. Horrific road accident in Iran, 9 dead, 17 injured Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called Coronavirus as a monster. He said that China is fighting this monster. He said that the matter has been discussed with the World Health Organization. There is every hope that in the coming time, the havoc of the deadly virus will cease with joint efforts. Australia's volunteer firefighting force has fallen to its lowest number in a decade, dropping almost 20 per cent after taking account of population growth. In the 2018/19 financial year, there was 824 volunteers per 100,000 people, according to a Productivity Commission report released on Wednesday. That's fallen 18.8 per cent since 2009/10 when there was 1015 volunteer firefighters and support staff for every 100,000 people. While the rates have steadily declined over that period, overall numbers are also down after non-paid firefighter numbers peaked at 173,017 in 2012/13. Overall, volunteer numbers including support staff peaked in 2015/16 at 226,509 before falling to a decade-low of 207,445 in the most recent financial year. The paid firefighting workforce grew in the same period, but the rise isn't in line with the decline of volunteers. There were almost 20,700 employees in fire services, including 15,223 tasked with battling blazes and the remainder support staff last financial year. That's grown steadily from 17,278 in 2009/10 to from 20,297 in 2017/18 but only slightly year-to-year with the 2018/19 figure at 20,692. The rates per 100,000 people were calculated using the estimated residential population of a financial year and from 2016 included Norfolk Island, which has a population of just over 2000. The commission's report on government services also found the value of fire insurance claims fell below $1 billion last year to $978.6 million, the first decrease in a decade, after a peak of $1.325 billion in 2017/18. The claims exclude major disasters in which the total claims exceed $100 million, meaning the current bushfire crisis is unlikely to cause a major spike in the next round of data. Fire deaths continued on a downward trend to 3.5 people in every one million last financial year, the lowest rate since the first figure reported of 10.4 in 1989. There were record amounts spent on fire services in 2018/19, with the $4.95 billion equating to $196.55 per person, up from $177.08 in the previous year. [January 29, 2020] Teleperformance Earns Sixth Consecutive Global Verego SRS Certification Regulatory News: Teleperformance (News - Alert) (Paris:TEP), the global leader in outsourced omnichannel customer experience management, today announced it has received the enterprise-wide Social Responsibility Standard (SRS) Certification Award from Verego for the sixth consecutive year. Teleperformance maintained exceptionally strong scores that, on average, are the highest in the entire industry. The Verego SRS Certification provides a comprehensive framework for ensuring the effective management of corporate responsibility initiatives. It is awarded to companies that excel in terms of policies and practices in five key areas: Leadership, Ethics, People, Community, and the Environment. "Over the last six years, Teleperformance has continued to demonstrate their leadership in responsible business practices. Not only has the organization achieved SRS Certification at the enterprise level, but it has also been able to demonstrate that these responsible policies and programs are implemented across their global sites. Leading industry best practices, Teleperformance has continued to develop policies and programs, particularly in the areas of human rights, community engagement, environment and sourcing" said Carole Kerrey, Lead Certification Assessor at Verego. Daniel Julien, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Teleperformance Group, stated: "The high scores and consistent attainment of the independent Verego SRS certification confirm our ongoing global commitment to social responsibility. Providing a great work environment for the entire Teleperformance family and caring deeply about the communities where we operate is part of our cultural DNA As the worldwide leader in its industry, Teleperformance sets a benchmark of excellence as an ethical company that is a socially and environmentally conscious citizen of the world." ABOUT TELEPERFORMANCE GROUP Teleperformance (TEP - ISIN: FR0000051807 - Reuters: TEPRF.PA - Bloomberg (News - Alert): TEP FP), the global leader in outsourced omnichannel customer experience management, serves as a strategic partner to the world's leading companies in a wide variety of industries. Its customer care, technical support, customer acquisition, consulting & analytics, digital integrated business service solutions and other high-value specialized services ensure consistently positive customer interactions that are reliable, flexible and intelligent. The company has established the highest security and quality standards in the industry and uses proprietary deep learning technology to optimize flexibility on a global scale. The Group's 300,000+ employees, spread across 80 countries, support billions of connections annually in 265 languages and dialects and enhance the customer experience with every interaction. In 2018, Teleperformance reported consolidated revenue of 4,441 million (US$5,256 million, based on 1 = $1.18). Teleperformance shares are traded on the Euronext Paris market, Compartment A, and are eligible for the deferred settlement service. They are included in the following indices: CAC Large 60, CAC Next 20, CAC Support Services, STOXX 600, SBF 120, S&P Europe 350 and MSCI Global Standard. They have also been included in the Euronext Vigeo Eurozone 120 index since December 2015 and the FTSE4Good Index since June 2018 with regard to the Group's performance in corporate responsibility. For more information: www.teleperformance.com / Follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @teleperformance ABOUT VEREGO Since 2012, Verego has enabled companies around the world to improve the social and environmental responsible performance of their management systems by evaluating their implementation of the Verego Social Responsibility Standard, a common framework of Corporate Responsibility best practice. Developed in collaboration with the Verego Steering Committee, a group of sustainability and procurement experts from across the globe, the standard sets forth the management approaches necessary to be a responsible organization in today's modern business world. In addition to certifying organizations against its best practice standard, Verego offers additional software solutions and audit management support that enable companies to expand the effectiveness of their responsible sourcing and supply chain programs. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005523/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday said that a 163-year-old tradition was broken when he was forced by the protesting students to leave the Calcutta University without awarding the degrees at the convocation ceremony. "Yesterday's chain of events did not happen spontaneously. 163 years of tradition was broken when the Chancellor (the Governor) was forced by an unruly mob, to leave the Calcutta University without awarding the degrees at the convocation," Dhankhar told reporters at a press conference here. "The Chancellor was duly invited and enjoyed authority, obligation, and privilege to preside over the ceremony. This was not a loss of one person but of entire academia," he said. Scores of students at Calcutta University blocked the car of Dhankhar on Tuesday. The Governor had gone to attend the convocation ceremony at the University. The students with placards also raised slogans like 'Governor Go Back". Some of them also marked their protest against the Register of Citizens (NRC), Population Register (NPR) and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Answer Man: What are they doing with the huge pile of dirt at the fairgrounds? -- Darlene Stephan Darlene: Thank you for the question. It offers me a chance to remind people how important it is to read this column every day. I addressed a similar question in September , long before snow started covering Mt. Graham Park. The pile of dirt is the result of ongoing work being done as part of a two-phase master plan that involves many potential changes. The first phase is the construction of a new parking lot, and the second phase is the creation of a large tree trench to accommodate the lots drainage. ADVERTISEMENT For further clarification, a tree trench is a system of trees connected by an underground infiltration structure. The system involves digging a trench along the surface and topping it with trees and materials to allow stormwater to drain into the soil instead of running off the surface and flooding sewers or nearby waterways. Mat Miller, the countys director of facilities and building operation, had hoped to see the nearly $1.2 million parking lot project completed last year, but work obviously remains incomplete, which keeps the project on the original timeline to have the tree trench in place later this year. The goal is to create a community gathering place that operates and attracts crowds throughout the year. Already, the park has seen a growing number of activities in its remodeled buildings. Most recently, Gov. Tim Walz recommended the state consider borrowing $12.5 million to help Olmsted County build a new multiuse arena and expo building at Graham Park. The total project cost is $25 million. Its only a portion of the $2.03 billion Walz proposed to borrow for projects that include state emergency planning, military facilities, roads and bridges infrastructure and safety improvements to correctional facilities and state buildings. The proposed Olmsted County project and other potential state bonding expenses will be discussed by state lawmakers when they return to St. Paul next month, but its unlikely that the final bill will be close to what Walz put on his list. Of course, its still important to remember the chief takeaway here is that you should be reading this column every day. Its not too late to start a new resolution for 2020 or change one thats been failing in recent months, so Id suggest setting a new goal of becoming as well informed as possible. Why are Republican senators not allowing witness testimony during President Trumps impeachment trial? If they believe in the presidents innocence, they should welcome relevant testimony and documents. The president himself, on Dec. 3, said he would love for Mike Pompeo, Mick Mulvaney and Rick Perry to testify during the Senate trial, when he believed he would be treated fairly. (Strangely, he has blocked them from participating in any investigations). According to a new poll from Reuters, 72% of American adults (accounting for 84% of Democrats and 69% of Republicans) believe the impeachment trial "should allow witnesses with firsthand knowledge of the impeachment charges to testify." If our GOP senators believe the president acted admirably regarding the Ukraine situation, surely they want to hear from witnesses to help clear his name? And if not, why dont they want to confront the facts? Are they willing to excuse any behavior from the leader of their party? This might be a good time to call our Republican senator, Steve Daines, to find out. Julie Lue, Florence You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 3 Funny 3 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 I am proud of the progress that has (been) made over the last two years to advance scholarship and service opportunities for women while promoting the importance of inclusivity and diversity, Hopper said in a statement to The Press of Atlantic City. OTTAWA, Ontario and LAKE GENEVA, Wis., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. (TSXV: CMI), the world's leading designer and manufacturer of commercial grade, auto-acquire mobile satellite antenna systems, and reseller partner, Isotropic, the trusted provider of global Internet services offering unrivalled certainty, have collaborated on the integration of the iDirect iQ 200 modem with C-COM's iNetVu antenna controllers. The new modem is now fully compatible on all C-COM antenna systems using OpenAMIP interface. C-COM utilized Isotropic's extensive teleport facilities on Lake Geneva to test auto-pointing satellite acquisitions and data transfers. The compatibility of the iNetVu Controllers with the iQ 200 satellite router provides an advantage to C-COM partners who are currently using, or considering using the latest iDirect modem. C-COM's 'Best-in-Class' antenna controllers now offer interoperability with 14 different modem manufacturers and over 35 different modems. "Combining good quality hardware products, especially high-performance products like the iQ series, with the robust services offered by Isotropic, should create new markets for C-COM Driveaway, Flyaway and Manpack antenna products in many different verticals," said Drew Klein, Vice President for C-COM Satellite Systems, Inc. C-COM is also developing a Comms-on-the-Move, electronically steered Ka-band phased array antenna in conjunction with the University of Waterloo. "Once this flat panel technology has been commercialized, we hope to test it with Isotropic Networks," Klein continued. The iDirect iQ 200 modem can deliver aggregate data transmission rates over 200Mbps with network configurations based on DVB-S2/S2X/ACM. "We are delighted to reinforce our longstanding partnership with C-COM," said Hank Zbierski, CEO, Isotropic. "As a premier iDirect Host Network Operator, it is great to see the combination of such innovative technology that will enable customers to go further and to do more than ever before. Isotropic is proud to enable these advancements with the highly reliable service that we deliver through our network," Zbierski added. "Our iQ 200 modem is ideally suited to the mobility requirements of C-COM's antenna series and we are pleased to offer our technologies that will help to enhance flexibility and performance, and enable C-COM's customers to make headway in new markets and applications," said Toni Kousiafes, Vice President, Product Management, ST Engineering iDirect. "We also look forward to building further on our strong partnership with Isotropic Networks, which has been our valued partner for many years." C-COM mobile antennas with iNetVu controllers, compatible with the iDirect iQ 200 modems, are available for immediate delivery. About C-COM SatelliteSystems Inc. C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. is a pioneer and world leader in the design, development, and manufacture of mobile satellite-based antenna systems. The Company has developed proprietary, auto-acquisition controller technology for rapid antenna pointing to satellite with just the press of a button, enabling Broadband Internet via Satellite where terrestrial markets have failed, are overloaded or don't exist. C-COM has sold more than 8,500 antenna systems, in over 100 countries, through a dedicated dealer network that provides service to a wide range of vertical markets such as Oil & Gas Exploration, Military Communications, Disaster Management, SNG, Emergency Communications, Cellular Backhaul, Telemedicine, Mobile Education, Government Services, Mobile Banking, and others. The Company's iNetVu brand is synonymous with high quality, reliability and cost-effectiveness. C-COM is in late stage development of a potentially revolutionary Ka-band, electronically steerable, modular, conformal, flat panel phased array antenna technology. The Company is engaged in joint cooperation with the University of Waterloo to design this unique antenna such that it can provide low cost, high-throughput mobility applications over satellite for land, airborne and maritime verticals. iNetVu is a registered trademark of C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. The company is publicly traded on the Canadian Venture Exchange (CVE: CMI) or on the US OTC Exchange (OTC: CYNSF). About ST Engineering iDirect ST Engineering North America is the U.S. headquarters of ST Engineering, a global technology, defense and engineering group specializing in the aerospace, electronics, land systems, and marine sectors. Based in Alexandria, VA, it has major operations across 17 cities in 13 states and employs about 5,000 people providing innovative products and solutions to commercial and government customers across diverse market segments. ST Engineering iDirect, a subsidiary of ST Engineering North America, is a global leader in satellite communications (satcom) providing technology and solutions that enable its customers to expand their business, differentiate their services and optimize their satcom networks. Through the merger with Newtec, a recognized industry pioneer, the combined business unites over 35 years of innovation focused on solving satellite's most critical economic and technology challenges, and expands a shared commitment to shaping the future of how the world connects. The product portfolio, branded under the names iDirect and Newtec, represents the highest standards in performance, efficiency and reliability, making it possible for its customers to deliver the best satcom connectivity experience anywhere in the world. ST Engineering iDirect is the world's largest TDMA enterprise VSAT manufacturer and is the leader in key industries including broadcast, mobility and military/government. In 2007, iDirect Government was formed to better serve the U.S. government and defense communities. For more information on iDirect platforms please visit www.idirect.net. For Newtec platforms please visit www.newtec.eu. About Isotropic Networks Isotropic Networks, Inc. (Isotropic) is a global provider of satellite internet services and network management solutions. With the best uptime in the satellite industry, we deliver unrivalled certainty for leaders in high-risk, high-pressure industries including oil and gas, maritime, and enterprise solutions. Isotropic is built on high standards for troubleshooting and solving technically complex problems with the latest technologies. Our team of highly-trained hardware and software engineers delivers personalized services and solutions that support our clients when and where they need it mostnow and into the future. Isotropic is connecting the planet and continually raising the bar for what satellite connectivity can be. www.isotropic.network 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 Isotropic Networks, Inc. Related Links https://isotropic.network/ WASHINGTON - The Pentagon on Wednesday released the names of two Air Force officers killed in the crash of their Bombardier E-11A electronic surveillance plane in Afghanistan. They were identified as Lt. Col. Paul K. Voss, 46, of Yigo, Guam, and Capt. Ryan S. Phaneuf, 30, of Hudson, New Hampshire. Voss was assigned to Air Combat Command headquarters at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia. Phaneuf was assigned to the 37th Bomb Squadron at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. The cause of Mondays crash is under investigation, but officials have said there is no indication the plane was downed by hostile action. Im pretty confident there was no enemy action involved. Aircraft mishaps happen, Gen. Frank McKenzie, commander of U.S. Central Command, told reporters Wednesday at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. The remains of the two airmen were recovered from the crash site in Ghazni province by American forces on Tuesday. McKenzie said that as far as he knows, the U.S. troops did not meet any resistance going to the site. The main resistance was from the weather, which was really significant back there, he said, adding that appropriate precautions were taken in moving the recovery team to the site because the last thing you want to do is have another mishap or have other people lose their lives in attempt to get up there. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has joined forces with its US affiliate, the National Writers Union (NWU), to demand the rights of authors are protected as sweeping changes to copyright laws are implemented across Europe. EU institutions and member states are currently in the process of enacting regulations and national laws to implement the EU Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market, adopted in April last year. One of the directives sections - Articles 8 to 11 - authorizes the scanning and use of out-of-commerce works included in European library collections. The text will have an impact on EU-based authors but also on non-European writers around the world. The IFJ has co-signed a position paper submitted jointly with the National Writers Union (NWU), and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc.(SFWA) to the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) defending authors' interests when addressing works that are deemed to be "out of commerce". A work is considered "out of commerce" when the work, in all its versions, is not available through customary channels of commerce. The joint submission seeks to ensure that authors, including US authors, have as wide a choice as possible, which can be exercised as easily as possible, as to whether their works are included in EU exceptions and limitations to copyright. Concerns about the impact of such changes have previously been expressed in earlier submissions to EU institutions involved in the legislative process. The IFJ and NWU have also joined efforts with other international allies - including the International Federation of Reprographic Rights Organisations( IFRRO)and other US organizations of authors, including members of the Authors Coalition of America- in a bid to ensure greater protections for authors. The Directive charges EUIPO with developing and operating a single portal through which authors will be able to search for works that have been deemed out of commerce in any EU member state. The EU body can exclude any or all of an author's works from various exceptions and limitations to copyright created by the Directive, which requires that this opt-out process be made easy and effective. But the IFJ and its allies have warned that the process currently proposed by the EUIPO's planned out-of-commerce works portal would be neither easy nor effective, especially if opt-out requests have to be submitted separately to each of the 27 EU member states. It would entail itemizing an authors lifetime of works, or require authors who want to opt out, to search the portal every few months, and wait until after each work is identified as out of commerce, before it can be excluded. Instead, the submission co-signed by the IFJ recommends: Integrating the orphan works and out-of-commerce works portals to avoid duplication of effort both by the EUIPO and by rights holders, minimizing the burdens on authors and avoiding violating the provisions of the Berne Convention. Ensuring authors can effectively exclude any or all of their works from exceptions and limitations (because any such use would be unremunerated), at any time, even before they have been deemed out-of-commerce. Including non-EU authors as a distinct class of stakeholders in the dialogues required by Article 11 of the Directive, and ensuring that foreign authors and other foreign stakeholders can participate remotely. The IFJ, NWU, and SFWA have already indicated their desire to participate in these stakeholder dialogues with the EUIPO. IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: The IFJ and its allies will continue to monitor the implementation of the EU Directive on Copyright and to speak up for the interests of writers worldwide. For more information on the IFJs Authors rights programme, consult this page : https://www.ifj.org/what/workers-rights/authors-rights.html For more on the NWUs Copyright defence programme click here: https://nwu.org/issues-we-care-about/copyright-defense/ BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 Trend: At the initiative of US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Lee Litzenberger, a meeting has been held with Head of the Azerbaijani community of Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh region Tural Ganjaliyev, Trend reports Jan. 29 referring to the community. During the meeting, Ganjaliyev informed the US ambassador in detail about the Azerbaijani community of Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh region. The community head said that the members of the community are supporters of peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as conveyed to ambassador the main wishes and demands of the community members for the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories, the return of all Azerbaijani IDPs to their homes, restoration of the violated fundamental rights and freedoms, including property rights. Ganjaliyev also informed that as part of the extraordinary parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan, he put forward his MP candidacy from the Khankendi constituency No. 122, and, along with other candidates from this constituency, conducts an election campaign on equal and fair terms in accordance with the requirements of the law. Lee Litzenberger emphasized that he is closely following the activities of the Azerbaijani community of Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh region and is pleased with the meeting. 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. Cork is losing its only ferry connection to Spain as Brittany Ferries shifts services to Rosslare in response to hauliers calls for quicker access to Dublin. Brittany Ferries said today its twice-weekly sailings between Cork and the Spanish port of Santander will switch to a new Rosslare-Bilbao service effective February 28. It is offering ticket refunds or compensation for transfer costs for people already booked on cancelled Cork sailings. Chief executive Christophe Mathieu said Brittany Ferries' two-year trial window offering a Cork link with Spain had proved economically unviable. This was not a decision we took lightly and follows extensive consultation with our freight customers who sought better road connections and reduced driving distances, Mr Mathieu said. While passenger numbers have been encouraging, the reality is that freight numbers - which are key to route viability - were not sufficiently robust, he said. Cork business leaders said they regretted Brittany Ferries move, which would reduce options for Munster-based hauliers. This surprising decision by Brittany Ferries is very disappointing, the Port of Cork said in a statement. However we will continue to pursue other options for linking Cork and northern Spain. Cork Chamber also expressed disappointment. However we encourage operators to consider future options, particularly in the context of direct connectivity post-Brexit, it added. Aidan Flynn, general manager of the Freight Transport Association of Ireland, said the move would do little to address the growing need for more and faster ferry links to the European mainland to cope with Brexit. Creating new routes rather than replacing existing ones needs to be a priority for the ports of Ireland, Mr Flynn told the Irish Independent. We particularly need to create more options on the south and southeast coast for the freight distribution and logistics sector in Ireland. He said Ireland-Spain routes would be important for expanding and developing new markets but increased connectivity with France was critical. Brexit stipulates that we need more direct routes to continental Europe, especially with Le Havre and Calais, to protect the competitiveness of the international haulage sector in Ireland, he said. Brittany Ferries said its weekly service connecting Cork and the French port of Roscoff would continue unaltered. That seasonal service runs from March to October and carries around 100,000 people annually, mostly tourists. Glenn Carr, general manager of Rosslare Europort, said the Rosslare-Bilbao link will be attractive for trade and tourism alike. We very much welcome that this service is being launched because of demand from freight customers, due to Rosslares strategic position and access to key markets, Mr Carr said. Brittany Ferries will also benefit from our 25m investment in port facilities, infrastructure and technology as part of the ports strategic plan. We look forward to working closely with Brittany Ferries to ensuring the success of their new service. Brittany Ferries says it plans to include a Roscoff stop-off once a week on its Rosslare-Bilbao services, which will offer travellers a new option for reaching France by sea. Mamata Banerjee offers to talk with PM if CAA is withdrawn West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she is willing to talk with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the new law that empowers persecuted religious minorities from neighbouring Islamic states who sought refuge in India, only if the centre first withdraws the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Banerjee said protesting against the decisions of the centre doesn't make opposition parties anti-national and iterated that she will not implement CAA, NRC or NPR in the state. "It is good that the prime minister is ready for talks but the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) must be revoked first. They (Centre) did not call an all-party meeting before taking a decision on Kashmir and CAA. "We are ready for talks but first withdraw this Citizenship Amendment Act," Banerjee said while addressing a protest programme against CAA through paintings. The West Bengal assembly had on Monday passed a resolution against the CAA, becoming the fourth state after Kerala, Punjab and Rajasthan, to do so. The state assembly had earlier passed a resolution against the NRC. Last month, she also suspended work on the National Population Register (NPR). The Trinamool Congress (TMC) boss who relies on migrant Bangladeshi votes for her partys success, has been at the forefront of anti-CAA protests in Bengal. She also justified her partys opposition to the new central legislation saying that the Congress, Left parties and students have also staged protests against the amended citizenship Act which bestows Indian citizenship on non-Muslims from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who arrived in India on or before 31 December 2014. On Monday, she had urged Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Congress to put aside narrow political differences and jointly fight the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre. NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Rowley Law PLLC is investigating potential securities law violations by Delphi Technologies PLC (NYSE: DLPH) and its board of directors concerning the proposed acquisition of the company by BorgWarner, Inc. (NYSE: BWA). Stockholders will receive 0.4534 shares of BorgWarner common stock for each share of Delphi Technologies stock that they hold. The transaction is valued at approximately $3.3 billion and is expected to close the second half of 2020. If you are a stockholder of Delphi Technologies PLC and are interested in obtaining additional information regarding this investigation, please visit us at: http://www.rowleylawpllc.com/investigation/dlph. You may also contact Shane Rowley, Esq. at Rowley Law PLLC, 50 Main Street Suite 1000, White Plains, NY 10606, by email at [email protected], or by telephone at 914-400-1920 or 844-400-4643 (toll-free). Rowley Law PLLC represents shareholders nationwide in class actions and derivative lawsuits in complex corporate litigation. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit http://www.rowleylawpllc.com . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. SOURCE Rowley Law PLLC Related Links http://rowleylawpllc.com No evidence of a real crisis yet Brown University In 2001, fresh from college, Katherine Mason seized upon an opportunity to teach English in China. Then, mere miles away from her home and workplace, a deadly virus struck: severe acute respiratory syndrome, better known today as SARS. I got evacuated by the program that was sponsoring me, she said. When I returned to the United States, my parents tried to quarantine me in my sisters apartment. Between 2002 and 2004, SARS killed at least 774 people worldwide and instilled fear in the hearts of Americans early in its spread. But that fear, Mason observed, didnt strike China as quickly. So many flu-like viruses come through that part of China that they didnt start panicking until it began to spread all over the world, she said. Mason, who had majored in molecular biology, became interested in this cultural gulf between two nations grappling with the same virus. Today, she is an assistant professor of anthropology at Brown and a leading expert on the historical, social and political context of public health in China. Her 2016 book, Infectious Change: Reinventing Chinese Public Health After an Epidemic, examines how the outbreak of SARS reimagined public health as a professionalized, biomedicalized and technological machine one that has frequently failed to serve the Chinese people. Now, Mason has joined millions of medical professionals, scholars and members of the public in closely following the trajectory of another illness a type of coronavirus that broke out in Wuhan in December 2019 and has since spread to at least six countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). As in the early aughts, she believes medical anthropologists can add crucial perspective to global conversations on epidemics, from SARS to H1N1 to coronavirus. I think that its just as important to understand the social and political context behind an epidemic as it is to understand the symptoms and causes of the virus, Mason said. When it comes to the spread of a virus, government transparency is just as important as good medical care, and public panic is just as detrimental as poor medical care. Following news of the first two reported cases of coronavirus in the U.S., Mason answered questions about the virus, the history of Chinas public health system and the inverse relationship between government transparency and public panic. Q: First, what is coronavirus? What are its symptoms? Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that range in seriousness from the common cold to things like SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome). The symptoms are similar to a lot of other respiratory viruses: coughing, fever, sore throat. Its difficult to distinguish among respiratory viruses. One question right now is, is it possible that some people may have been infected with a milder version of this coronavirus that is no more dangerous than the common cold? Another issue is, many people are showing up to hospitals with a fever and are worried that they have this particular virus, but their fever could be due to any number of things. Q: On Jan. 24, Brown sent out an advisory to its campus about signs and symptoms to look for to what extent should people worry about coronavirus spreading to the Northeast? I dont think we need to worry very much about that right now. Only two cases of this coronavirus have been reported in the United States; one is on the other side of the country, and the other is in Chicago. Q: Does this virus have the potential to affect us as deeply as SARS did? I think the fact that the WHO has declined at this point in time to declare this a "public health emergency of international concern" which they did declare for SARS in 2003 is important. That is a sign that this particular coronavirus should not worry people in Rhode Island right now, unless they plan to travel to Wuhan soon. I think that the world is more ready to handle an epidemic on the level of SARS today. SARS did not end up killing as many people as many imagined it would, but it scared people, and it pushed governments to do a huge amount of behind-the-scenes work to prepare for similar situations in the future. Everyone is always worried about the possibility of the sort of global flu pandemic we saw in 1918 and 1919. I think thats why theres a certain amount of overreacting happening now because people dont want to be accused of underreacting. On the one hand, you could argue that its better to overreact, that it protects our health and safety more. On the other hand, you can only cry wolf so many times. If this virus turns out not to be as serious an epidemic as people are worried it is, the overreaction might diminish the extent to which people take future epidemics seriously. Q: What made the SARS epidemic so serious? A number of things. First, it had close to a 10% fatality rate, which is quite high. Second, it was new and unfamiliar. And third, the Chinese government was slow to react at both the local and national levels partly because they were not being forthcoming about how many cases they had, and partly because they didnt think it was as important as the international community thought it was. They didnt treat it with real seriousness until a whistleblower at a Beijing hospital revealed that the government had covered up hundreds of fatalities there. Once the cat was out of the bag, they were quarantining whole universities and apartment complexes. Q: Whats different about Chinas response to the coronavirus outbreak today? The response today has been much swifter and more serious. They are now quarantining entire cities. They are suspending public transit and other travel. The Chinese government is taking some dramatic steps to say to everyone, including its own citizens, Look, were doing something. When SARS broke out, China got a lot of bad press for their response and lack of transparency, so they want to show the world in as visible a way as possible that theyre taking action. Q: How has China changed since SARS? First, the public health system has been completely overhauled. A huge amount of resources were dedicated to building a health surveillance system with a strict chain of command. As in the past, if a doctor in China were to speak to a news reporter about the number of coronavirus cases theyve seen, they would be in huge trouble. But now there are much stricter rules and better systems for information sharing, and those cases are supposed to be shared with a direct supervisor, then it gets moved up the chain all the way to a central authority. But note that it doesn't always work that way local authorities often cover up the truth. Second, the leadership in China is very different today. [President] Xi Jinping is one of the more conservative and purely authoritarian leaders theyve had in a while. He is more focused on cracking down on internet regulations and the spread of information. I think those public health reforms, combined with the lack of transparency in this administration, have led to a response to this virus that is starting to backfire. Chinese people know that what the government is telling them is a sanitized version of whats really happening. When people dont have reliable, transparent information about what is going on, they might assume the worst case scenario is happening and panic. When people panic, its hard to handle. No government has the capacity to handle a city of 11 million people panicking, visiting the hospital and sharing videos from the hospital on social media, which is whats happening right now in Wuhan. Q: Here in the U.S., what should members of the public keep in mind as they follow news and social media coverage about coronavirus? A new virus that is causing panic in China and has made its way to the United States is of a kind that often lives in bats. It's also among the viruses responsible for the so-called SARS outbreak of 2002, and the MERS outbreak of 2012, according to an article co-authored by Dr. Catharine Paules, an infectious disease expert at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. The article was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and sheds scientific light on the new coronavirus thats causing global alarm because of its rapid spread in China. Human coronaviruses are responsible for the common cold and normally aren't cause for major concern. But on occasion, a coronavirus harbored in animals changes genetically and jumps to humans, often spreading fast among humans and causing serious illness and death. The new virus marks the third time it has happened since 2000, according to the JAMA article. It's possible bats are the main reservoir for the viruses, spreading them to other animals that live near or among humans and then to humans. The SARS outbreak -- severe acute respiratory syndrome -- eventually spread around the world and is blamed for 774 deaths -- about ten percent of the people who got it, according to the JAMA article. Between 20 and 30 percent of those stricken had to be put on a breathing ventilator. In the case or MERS -- Middle East respiratory syndrome -- 50 percent or more needed ventilators and 36 percent died, according to the JAMA article. In 2017, the World Health Organization raised the priority level of such viruses with a goal of driving more research and control measures. The new coronavirus was first reported in Wuhan in central China in late December. As of early Wednesday, there were nearly 6,000 known cases -- up nearly 25 percent from Tuesday -- and 132 deaths. People sickened by it have symptoms similar to those caused by pneumonia, with some developing respiratory failure and needing a breathing ventilator, Paules says in an informational video created by Penn State Health. As of early Wednesday, there were four known cases in the United States and no deaths. Experts say it seems to be killing about two percent of those who get it. As of early Wednesday, no deaths had been reported outside China, according to The New York Times. In Wuhan in China, there are reports of an overwhelmed health care system and shortages of medical items including protective masks. There has also been a public rush on protective masks, which have been selling out of stores at inflated prices. The government last week announced plans to build two hospitals in just six days to deal with the outbreak. Numerous countries including the United States are flying citizens out of China, and about a half-dozen U.S. airports with high traffic from Asia have enacted screening measures. Pennsylvania, through a special information sharing network, has for more than a week been delivering updates to Pennsylvania hospitals and health care providers. That includes directing them to ask about the travel history of people with respiratory illness, to isolate people who potentially have the new coronavirus, and to quickly report possible cases to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Photo: Delicate silk billows across the stage, its fluidity complementing the passionate romanticism of a tragic tale set against the rigid hierarchical structure of ancient Egypt and its monolithic scenery. Starting Friday, the Houston Grand Opera, led by artistic and music director Patrick Summers, will present the return of Giuseppe Verdis Aida to the Wortham stage in a new rendition by London-based director Phelim McDermott one that lacks elephants, but not extravagance. His modernized version of the timeless story, a co-production with the English National Opera and the Grand Theatre de Geneve, features silk choreography by visionary artist Basil Twist that amplifies the impact of the already expressive costumes by Kevin Pollard, the dramatic lighting by Bruno Poet and the powerful geometric sets by Tom Pye. We wanted to create something that was a bit more atmospheric, McDermott said of his vision, which was largely inspired by a hieroglyphic that he encountered while conducting research for his 2016 staging of Philip Glasss Akhnaten. Throughout his artistic process however, McDermott, who is co-artistic director of the British theater troupe Improbable, maintained an acute awareness of the fact that although society knows what the ruins of the civilization look like, the understanding of daily life during this time period is pieced together through archeological discoveries and architectural details that have been appropriated by modern culture. In the image, a sharp obelisk emerges from one end of a straight horizontal line. This four-sided tapered monument would come to hold meaning throughout the show albeit unconsciously, he said; its existence dominates much of the stage just as destiny looms over the two star-crossed lovers Aida, a captive Ethiopian princess, and Radames, an Egyptian army general who is chosen to lead an assault on her homeland. In the midst of war, Aida must choose between true love and loyalty to her country. I can pretend Im a really clever director and say it symbolized their fate, McDermott said of the obelisk, but it is like a presence of something thats inextricable and unavoidable. Its written in the stars that at the end of the opera, something tragic is going to happen. Houston Grand Operas run of six performances, which spans three weekends, showcases a combination of familiar faces, including celebrated American soprano and HGO Studio alumna Tamara Wilson in the title role, and those making their debut with the company, such as tenor Russell Thomas as Radames. In addition to a large chorus, there are also acrobatic dancers, who function as the primary animators for the silk, Twist explained. Silk is endlessly fascinating. It has a lot of kinetic power hidden inside of it, said the third-generation puppeteer, who began working with the material as a direct extension of his 1998 underwater marvel, Symphonie Fantastique. The delicate fabric not only makes a grand gesture that is appropriate for the grand opera, but it also boasts a feminine, sensuous quality that fittingly illustrates the emotions within the tender moments of the tragedy. In the first aria delivered by Radames, for example, a swelling of white silk is used to represent the warriors fondness for Aida, presenting a striking counterpoint to the minimalistic, stone-like texture of the rest of the scenery, Twist said. Of course, from one opera company to the next, the logistics, particularly surrounding the silks movement in conjunction with the rest of the production, are adjusted according to the performance space. The chance to continue to fine-tune a project after its debut, McDermott said, is a rare opportunity and one he approaches with eagerness. Its a bit like when youre focusing a lens, he said. You slowly turn the lens, and the first time, its a little bit fuzzy, and then the next time, you make it clearer. I would say Im really excited about how were bringing the whole thing into focus. Lawrence Elizabeth Knox is a Houston-based writer. Aida When: 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Sunday Where: Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4501 Woodway Details: Per family of up to 4, $20 for members, $40 non-members; $5 per additional family member. Family Owl Prowl at Houston Arboretum & Nature Center When: 6 p.m.- 8 p.m. Saturday Details: $30 members, $45 non-members. $15, ages 5-12. (Ages 5 and up only); houstonarboretum.org Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei now has a Twitter account in Russian to post his statements and speeches. "In the Name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful," the first message says in Russian. Senior research fellow of the Institute for Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladimir Sazhin, speaking to Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that Iran needs to strengthen its influence in Russia as one of its few political partners. "The prospects for preserving the nuclear deal are very vague, it is on its last legs. It is possible that Iran will withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as well, which will cause its further isolation, as in this case Europe will officially join the U.S. sanctions. As a result, Iran has quite a few partners, and one of them is Russia," Vladimir Sazhin stressed. In addition to the Russian Twitter page, Khamenei maintains Twitter accounts in several languages, including in English, Farsi, Arabic, and French. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 06:13:03|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close Guests attend a signing ceremony of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on Jan. 29, 2020. U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed the revised United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in an outdoor ceremony at the South Lawn of the White House. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed the revised United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) into law in an outdoor ceremony on the White House South Lawn. Hundreds of guests were invited to attend the ceremony, including U.S. workers, farmers, CEOs, lawmakers, and officials from Mexico and Canada. Democratic leaders who negotiated with the administration for months over the revision and helped secure the House passage, however, were absent. "We have replaced a disastrous trade deal," the U.S. president said in the ceremony, referring to the 26-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). "The USMCA is the largest, fairest, most balanced, and modern trade agreement ever achieved," Trump said, calling it a "colossal victory" for U.S. farmers, ranchers, energy workers and factory workers. The agreement is estimated to add another 1.2 percent to U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and create countless new American jobs, said the president. While the Trump administration has touted the USMCA as pro-growth, a recent analysis published by the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) showed that the deal is "a net negative" for all three economies. The USMCA modernizes trading rules and strengthens the enforcement of labor and environmental rights, but its restrictions on auto trade and investment and on auto production "will hurt U.S. industry," said PIIE trade economists Mary Lovely and Jeffrey Schott, authors of the analysis. "The Trump administration's stated goal was to ensure that more of the vehicles will be produced in North America. But the outcome will be just the opposite," the economists said. Leaders of the three countries signed the USMCA in Argentina on the sidelines of the G20 summit in late 2018, and the agreement needs to be ratified by lawmakers in each country before it could be implemented. U.S. House Democrats and the administration had negotiated for months over issues including labor and environmental enforcement, as well as pharmaceutical provisions before finally reaching an agreement in December 2019. The House approved a bill to implement the revised USMCA with a 385-41 vote. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who wasn't invited to the ceremony, said earlier that the revised agreement was "light years" ahead of what the Trump administration negotiated with Canada and Mexico. AFL-CIO, the largest labor federation in the United States, said that "we are thankful" to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her allies on the USMCA working group, who pushed to "remedy numerous shortcomings" contained in the original USMCA text. Despite the landslide bipartisan vote, some Democratic lawmakers still argued that the USMCA doesn't go far enough to protect U.S. jobs, while some Republicans have expressed concern over concessions the Trump administration made to get Democrats' support for the trade deal. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, had also said that the revised USMCA is "not as good as I had hoped." Regardless, the measure passed the Senate in an 89-10 vote two weeks ago, before being sent to President Trump for signing into law. Mexican Congress has already approved the deal, but it still needs to be ratified by Canada's parliament before it can take effect. To rapturous applause on Tuesday, Donald Trump and his close friend, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, launched what they described as the opportunity of a century to fix one of the trickiest conflicts of our time. The UK, the EU, Egypt and most of the Gulf states made noises of commendation, saying the 181-page peace plan was a workable starting point to jump-start long-dead negotiations. But the fractured Palestinian leadership, in a rare moment of unity, condemned it as nonsense and a conspiracy. Israeli human rights groups, meanwhile, said that rather than building peace it "delivered apartheid". One said it was as detached from reality as it was eye-catching". So which is it? This sprawling document, which has polarised opinion so dramatically, is almost bizarrely detailed in some respects. At one point, 100 pages in, it allocates funds for specific year-long Palestinian internships abroad. Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Show all 18 1 /18 Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian protesters burn pictures of US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a demonstration in the West Bank against the expected peace plan proposal AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan US President and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announce Trump's Middle East peace plan in the White House AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Reuters Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Reuters Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AP At other intervals, however, it sweeps vaguely through some of the rawest issues at the centre of the conflict, such as what to do about the more than five million registered Palestinian refugees scattered across the globe who have, for decades, kept the right to return home so close to their hearts. Few would, however, disagree with the idea that it is the most pro-Israeli vision for a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to come out of the White House. It states that Jerusalem will be the undivided capital of Israel and that Israel can annex the Jordan Valley and nearly all its settlements in the occupied West Bank, although they are illegal under international law. There will be land swaps and a cap on settlement expansion, but otherwise it appears to answer most of the key Israeli demands. This is why Mr Netanyahu agreed to sign the document and called it the best plan for Israel and the best plan for peace. But it is also why it is doomed to remain just a vision the Palestinians have roundly rejected it. Instead, it serves another purpose. The plan erodes previously accepted principles of peace and the language which makes that up so far as to do them irreparable damage. By re-framing the terms of the conflict, it sparks a paradigm shift in attitudes towards what the baselines should be. This peace plan, unlike the economic segment that Mr Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner launched last year, does anchor its vision on a two-state solution, the widely accepted way to resolve the conflict. But the plan acknowledges that what constitutes a state for the Palestinians must and will change, and so with it the notion of self-determination. Sovereignty is an amorphous concept that has evolved over time begins the section outlining the future state of Palestine, which is to have little to no control over its borders, internal security, airspace or sea. Pragmatic and operational concerns, chiefly Israels security, must come first, the plan says. If the Palestinians agree to sign the agreement, the new state of Palestine can enjoy $50bn of investment over the next decade. Although the plan does not explain where that money will come from, the economic segment highlights an impressive array of investments in hospitals, waste facilities, roads, industries and education as well as into Israel and Palestines neighbours transport links to Lebanon, power plants in Sinai and desalination projects in Jordan. But aside from this carrot, it appears to be all stick. It is hard to see how the new state will have any sovereignty at all. Israeli rights group BTselem goes as far as to compare Mr Trumps vision to the Bantustans of South Africas apartheid regime, saying Palestinians will be relegated to small, enclosed, isolated enclaves, with no control over their lives. Breaking the Silence, another such group, echoed these words, saying: It is cementing occupation, fragmentation and discrimination which means apartheid. According to the plan, Israeli security forces will continue to be posted inside Palestine, which would have to be demilitarised. The same security forces will have control over all international crossings into the country. Palestine, which does have a seafront in Gaza, will be permitted no seaports for now but rather designated terminals in Haifa Ashdod and, if the Jordanians agree, Aqaba. The Israelis will have operational control over Palestines airspace. There will be no Palestinian airport. The Israeli navy will have the right to block prohibited weapons and weapon-making materials from entering Palestine. In practice this includes a number of goods, such as cables for solar panel, which are often banned under the dual-use argument despite having no military purpose. Israel will have the right to launch incursions into Palestine, which will not have its own armed forces. Expansion of Israeli settlements cannot continue, but demolition of Palestinian homes can if Israel deems the structures to pose a safety risk or if it is part of punitive measures following acts of terrorism. The definition of key terms like refugee is questioned in the document. The right of return of any Palestinian refugee into Israel is forbidden. Slipped into a sub-point on page 43 is that the Palestinian Authority must dismiss all pending actions against Israel in the International Criminal Court and all other tribunals. The ICC has said recently that it plans to launch an investigation into war crimes committed in the Palestinian Territories. But it is the actual shape of the new country that speaks volumes. (The White House/AFP/Getty) Mr Trumps map, which he tweeted out, shows a perforated foetus-shaped landlocked island within Israel, with the separate territory of Gaza and a thin string of villages south of it. Palestinian neighbourhoods within Israel will be connected to each other via corridors that may be converted to high-speed trains. Its capital will not be Jerusalem a key demand of the Palestinians who want a return to the borders before the 1967 Arab-Israel war. Instead, the capital will be based in an eastern outskirt of the city, currently behind Israels controversial wall. And so rights groups have roundly criticised the plan as much as the Palestinians. Oxfam said it undermines chances for just and lasting peace while breaching international law. Benjamin Netanyahu says Donald Trump has been 'the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House' Peace Now, an Israeli group, says it would not bring stability, instead giving a green light for Israel to annex the settlements in exchange for a perforated Palestinian state. One of Mr Netanyahus first actions following the launch was to announce he would bring a proposal to annex Israeli settlements to his next weekly cabinet meeting. This was initially supported by US ambassador to Israel David Friedman, who on Wednesday cycled back his enthusiasm a little by saying that the US and Israel would form a committee to determine details first before anything goes ahead. However, it seems inevitable that annexation will happen soon. Mr Friedman, who vehemently rejected the apartheid comparison, maintained that the Trump administration has done what no other administration has done before by producing a hard offer. Not diplomatic speak but a real, documented offer to form a Palestinian state with defined borders, he said. I dont think any other president has done more. Experiencing the changes of space and time, yet Hoi An ancient streets still keep their old beauty, and relic complexes are maintained intact along with a huge intangible cultural base. Hoi An ancient street Hoi An is an ancient town of the Vietnamese. It is located in the lower reach of Thu Bon River in the coastal plain in Quang Nam province, about 30 km south of Da Nang city. Hoi An has been known in the international market with various names like Lam Ap, Faifo, Hoai Pho and Hoi An. The only Southeast Asian port-market in Vietnam and very rare in the world, Hoi An keeps almost intact 1,360 architectural relics like streets, houses, assembly halls, communal houses, pagodas, shrines, clan houses, ancient wells and tombs. They bear both the Vietnamese traditional art characteristics and the convergence of eastern and western cultures. Through centuries, yet customs and practices, rites, cultural and belief activities as well as traditional foods of Hoi An are still kept and preserved along with generations of ancient street dwellers. Hoi An also boasts a natural environment which is healthy and peaceful with small suburban villages engaged in crafts like carpentry and pottery. The cultural and economic exchanges that ran from the 16th to the 19th centuries have left in Hoi An ancient town most of the forms of Vietnams ancient architectures, grouping traditional national arts enriched with sketches of foreign arts. Researchers hold that the ancient architecture in Hoi An was renewed in the early part of the 19th century, but their real starting point can be much earlier. The ancient architecture is clearest seen in the ancient quarter located inside Minh An ward, covering about 2 square km and housing most of the famous relics in Hoi An. The streets in the ancient quarter are short, narrow and crisscrossing. Architectural works in the ancient quarter were mostly built from traditional materials, including brick and wood, and they are not higher than two storeys. It is easy for tourists to recognise traces of the time not only in the architectural design of each construction but everywhere, from moss-covered tile roofs, walls, sculptures depicting a strange creature or an ancient story. It must be a convergence of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Cham artisans as each construction now still bears the cultural hallmarks of many nations. At present, Hoi An is still the dwelling place of thousands of residents, serving as a living museum in terms of architecture and urban lifestyle. On December 4, 1999, in Marrakech city of Morocco, the 23rd session of the World Heritage Committee of the UNESCO officially included Hoi An ancient town into the list of worlds cultural relics as it met two necessary criteria. Hoi An is the dwelling space of people of various classes, origins and nationalities. It is a cradle of Catholicism and Buddhism in Vietnams southern part, one of the two cradles of the Romanised Vietnamese script in the 17th century, and a convergence of the civilisations of Cham, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Indian and western countries. Hoi An sees traditional cultural festivals almost all the year round, including those of riverside communities. The traditional festive atmosphere in Hoi An creates a unique attraction. The full-moon festival, held in the night of every 14th day of each lunar month, is a special case in point in which the streets are lit only by lanterns and moonshine which creates a romantic beauty for the streets. Visitors can also plunge themselves into folk games by locals. Statistics show that Hoi An is home to 1,360 relics, including 1,068 ancient houses, 11 ancient wells, 38 clan houses, 19 pagodas, 43 shrines, 23 communal houses, 44 ancient tombs and a bridge. It is where visitors can find a relic complex kept almost intact. The nucleus of the complex is the ancient street architecture, considered as a living museum as for generations, Hoi An residents have been living together with and for ancient streets. A common type of the architecture of the ancient houses is that they are of the shape of a tube: long but narrow. The front serves as a shop, there is a yard and living rooms in the middle, and the back gate faces another street or the river. Hoi An is the only case in Vietnam and among the very rare cases in the world. With its values, Hoi An has been recognised by the UNESCO as a worlds cultural legacy and honoured by many famous travel magazines. In July 2019, with 90.39 points, Hoi An was elected by the Travel and Leisure travel magazine as the most attractive city in the world in the year. It is also the first tourist site in Vietnam honoured by the Google Doodle./.VNA Michael Freilich just got a very big, and very rare, honor. An Earth-observation satellite scheduled to launch this fall was just named after the recently retired Freilich, who headed NASA's Earth Science division from 2006 to 2019. The Sentinel-6A/Jason CS satellite a collaboration involving the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Commission, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, NASA and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will now be known as Sentinel-6A Michael Freilich, NASA officials announced today (Jan. 28). Related: Planet Earth: Facts About Its Orbit, Atmosphere & Size Artist's illustration of the Sentinel-6A satellite, which NASA and several partners have renamed in honor of noted Earth scientist Michael Freilich. The Earth-observation spacecraft is scheduled to launch in November 2020. (Image credit: ESA/NASA) This rarely happens; people whose names grace space missions are almost always dead. (See Ferdinand Magellan, Johannes Kepler, Galileo Galilei, Edwin Hubble, Enrico Fermi and Vera Rubin , among many others.) NASA made a big exception to this unwritten rule recently with its record-breaking Parker Solar Probe mission, which was named after pioneering solar physicist Eugene Parker, who's 92 years old. (The spacecraft was previously known as Solar Probe Plus.) Sentinel-6A Michael Freilich is half of the two-satellite Sentinel-6 mission, which is part of the European Union's Copernicus program. Sentinel-6's chief task is to continue mapping sea-level rise a consequence of human-caused climate change through the 2020s and 2030s. (The second Sentinel-6 craft will launch in 2025, if all goes according to plan.) "Records show that, on average, global sea level rose by 3.2 mm a year between 1993 and 2018, but hidden within this average is the fact that the rate of rise has been accelerating over the last few years," ESA officials wrote in a mission description . "Taking measurements of the height of the sea surface is essential to monitoring this worrying trend and the Sentinel-6 mission is on the way to being ready to do just this." It's fitting that Sentinel-6A now bears Freilich's name, NASA and ESA officials said. Freilich worked as an oceanographer for nearly four decades, and, as NASA's Earth Science chief, he ramped up the development of satellites that keep tabs on our planet. In 2014 alone, for example, five NASA Earth-observation missions got off the ground. "This honor demonstrates the global reach of Mike's legacy, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a statement . "We are grateful for ESA and the European partners' generosity in recognizing Mike's lifelong dedication to understanding our planet and improving life for everyone on it," Bridenstine added. "Mike's contributions to NASA and to Earth science worldwide have been invaluable, and we are thrilled that this satellite bearing his name will uncover new knowledge about the oceans for which he has such an abiding passion." Sentinel-6A Michael Freilich is scheduled to launch in November atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Mike Wall's book about the search for alien life, " Out There " (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate ), is out now. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook . It's been a rollercoaster... Brexit is happening. Boris Johnsons Withdrawal Agreement will clear its final hurdle on Wednesday when it is ratified by the European Parliament. It will mean Britain is leaving the EU at 11pm on Friday, marking the (official) end of one of the most divisive periods in recent British history. But how did we get here? Yahoo News UK takes you through the key moments of the past few years: 15 April, 2015 David Cameron speaking at University Technical College in Swindon at the launch of the Conservative Party manifesto in 2015. (PA) The day all the fun starts. David Cameron, terrified at Nigel Farages Ukip posing a genuine electoral threat, launches the Conservative manifesto for the 2015 general election and it contains a pledge to hold a referendum on EU membership by 2017. 7 May, 2015 The Tories unexpectedly win a majority in the election and are free of Lib Dem shackles from the previous coalition government. 12 September, 2015 Jeremy Corbyn smiles after being announced the new leader of the Labour Party in 2015. (AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth) A little-known backbench socialist named Jeremy Corbyn is elected the new Labour leader. In the following years, his deep-seated Euroscepticism contrasted with Labours natural pro-Europe position causes chaos in the party and is ultimately exploited by Boris Johnson in the 2019 election. 20 February, 2016 Cameron, a staunch Remainer, announces the referendum is to be held on 23 June, 2016, keeping his manifesto promise. Ministers in his government are free to campaign for Leave. 21 February, 2016 Boris Johnson announces he will campaign for Leave in the 2016 referendum. (PA) In a huge blow to Cameron, mayor of London Boris Johnson tells reporters outside his Islington townhouse that hell be campaigning against EU membership. The Leave campaign has its figurehead. 23 June, 2016 Nigel Farage celebrates the referendum result in London. (PA) In an unexpected result, Leave campaigners win the referendum by 52% of the vote to Remains 48%. 24 June, 2016 David Cameron, watched by wife Samantha, announces he will resign in the wake of the referendum result. (AP/Matt Dunham) Cameron, humiliated by his failed referendum gamble, is left powerless and resigns outside 10 Downing Street. 30 June, 2016 Boris Johnson announces he will not run for the Tory leadership in 2016. (AP/Matt Dunham) At a press conference, frontrunner Johnson dramatically rules himself out of the subsequent Tory leadership race. He is widely seen to have been knifed in the back by his supposed campaign ally Michael Gove, who decides to enter the contest at the last minute. Story continues It ultimately paves the way for 11 July, 2016 Theresa May and husband Philip enter Downing Street. (AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Theresa May to take over as leader. She doesnt even need an election, after her one remaining rival Andrea Leadsom drops out of the race. May, who campaigned for Remain, promises Brexit means Brexit and officially replaces Cameron as prime minister two days later. 29 March, 2017 May invokes Article 50, beginning the supposed two-year process to leave the EU on 29 March, 2019. 18 April, 2017 The PM stuns the country by calling a snap general election. Its a plot to gain a bigger Tory majority in the Commons and get a deal over the line. Brenda from Bristol isnt happy. 8 June, 2017 Theresa May on election night. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images) Polling day. May has had a disastrous election campaign while Corbyn flourished. The PM duly loses her majority. She cobbles a government together by entering into a shaky-looking confidence-and-supply arrangement with the Democratic Unionist Party. The government hobbles along until the real trouble starts one year later... 8 July, 2018 David Davis poses for a picture following his resignation as Brexit secretary. (PA) David Davis, Mays Brexit secretary, resigns in protest at her strategy following an infamous Chequers getaway of Cabinet members. Foreign secretary Johnson quits soon after. 10 months of turmoil begins. 14 November, 2018 Mays Withdrawal Agreement is published. It is much-maligned, particularly by the hardline Brexiteer Tories on whom she is relying to get her deal through the Commons. In another blow, Dominic Raab, who replaced Davis as Brexit secretary four months before, immediately quits. 15 January, 2019 Remain and Leave protesters on Parliament Square ahead of the first 'meaningful vote'. (Richard Gray/EMPICS) Amid fervent scenes inside and outside of Parliament, the Withdrawal Agreement is put to a Commons vote for the first time. May suffers unprecedented humiliation, losing by a massive 230 votes. 12 March, 2019 The bill is put to a second vote. She loses again, by 149 votes. 22 March, 2019 Brexit isnt happening on 29 March. An Article 50 extension to 22 May is agreed. 29 March, 2019 On the day Brexit was supposed to happen, the bill is put to a third vote. May loses again, by 58 votes. 10 April, 2019 Article 50 is extended to 31 October. 24 May, 2019 Theresa May announces her resignation. (Dinendra Haria/Sopa Images/Sipa USA) The moment that felt inevitable for two years. A tearful May announces her resignation outside Number 10. 24 July, 2019 Boris Johnson after he was announced as the new Conservative Party leader, having beaten Jeremy Hunt. (PA) Johnson wins the subsequent Tory leadership contest, easily defeating Jeremy Hunt in the final ballot to become prime minister. 28 August, 2019 Protesters outside Downing Street three days after Boris Johnson's move to prorogue Parliament. (Steve Taylor/Sopa Images/Sipa USA) Johnson whose aggressive approach to Brexit negotiations alienates scores of Tory MPs who either resign or are sacked for not towing the government line sparks further uproar as he announces he will prorogue Parliament until 14 October. The PM claims it is necessary to plot the governments domestic agenda. But with the scheduled return day just two weeks before the 31 October deadline, it is seen as a way of silencing Parliament and forcing a no-deal exit. His move sparks massive protests on the streets of London three days later. 24 September, 2019 Commons Speaker John Bercow in Westminster after announcing MPs will return to Parliament following the Supreme Court ruling that Boris Johnson's prorogation was unlawful. (PA) Supreme Court judges sensationally rule that Johnsons prorogation was unlawful. MPs return to Parliament. 17 October, 2019 Brexit secretary Steve Barclay, Boris Johnson, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier after a Brexit deal was agreed. (AP/Francisco Seco) Johnson agrees a revised Withdrawal Agreement deal with the EU. 19 October, 2019 The PM fails to make progress in a special Saturday sitting of Parliament. As Parliament hasnt given its consent to the deal by this day, the Benn Act is activated and Johnson is forced to ask for another Brexit extension until January 31, 2020. Johnson, who had previously said he would rather die in a ditch than request an extension, pointedly refuses to sign his name in the letter to European Council president Donald Tusk. 31 October, 2019 After yet more parliamentary deadlock, Johnson is finally granted his wish for a general election. The campaign starts the following week. 12 December, 2019 Boris Johnson at the election count in Uxbridge. (AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Johnson enjoys spectacular success in the poll, destroying Jeremy Corbyns Labour with a majority of 80 Tory MPs. Brexit, to repeat the PMs famous campaign motto, is officially getting done. 20 December, 2019 The first sign of Johnsons new-found parliamentary muscle after years of Brexit deadlock. With an army of Tory MPs behind him, the PMs Withdrawal Agreement Bill sails through the Commons at its second reading with a majority of 124. 23 January, 2020 After easing through its nine remaining parliamentary processes, the bill receives royal assent and becomes law. 29 January, 2020 The Withdrawal Agreement is due to be ratified by the European Parliament, meaning Brexit is officially happening at 11pm on Friday 31 January. Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News N Augusta Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed Nirbhaya case convict Mukesh Kumar Singh's petition challenging the rejection of his mercy plea and said its "quick consideration" does not suggest non-application of mind by the president. With a three-judge bench headed by Justice R Banumathi turning down his plea, it's the end of the legal road for Mukesh, one of the four men on death row in the 2012 gangrape and murder case of a physiotherapy intern in Delhi scheduled to be executed at 6 am on February 1. However, the other three -- Pawan Gupta, Vinay Kumar Sharma and Akshay Kumar -- still have avenues left. Convicts have the option of moving a mercy petition before the president only after the apex court dismisses their curative plea. On Wednesday, Akshay moved the top court with a curative petition, the last recourse in a court of law. The apex court has already rejected the curative petition of Vinay and the fourth convict, Pawan, is yet to file a curative plea. The trial court has issued black warrants for their execution on February 1, three days away, but it is unlikely it will be carried through. According to apex court guidelines, convicts cannot be hanged until 14 days after their mercy plea has been rejected. Moreover, Delhi Prison Rules, 2018, stipulate that all prisoners convicted in the same case have to be executed together. Hearing Mukesh's plea, the apex court held that President Ram Nath Kovind took into consideration all documents, including the verdicts delivered in the case by the courts, past criminal history of convict, economic condition of his family, while rejecting the mercy petition. The bench, also comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and A S Bopanna, said alleged sufferings in jail cannot be a ground to seek judicial review of the executive order passed under Article 72 of the Constitution, which deals with the power of the president to grant pardons and to suspend, remit or commute sentences in certain cases. "In the result, we do not find any ground for exercise of judicial review of the order of the President of India rejecting the petitioner's (Mukesh) mercy petition and this petition is liable to be dismissed," the bench said in its 25-page order. It observed that documents, including DNA and odontology reports, dying declaration, case diary and charge sheet of the case were already considered by the trial court, high court as well as the apex court. The defence put forth by Mukesh was already rejected. "It is not necessary that each and every material relied upon by the petitioner-accused should have been placed before the president. There is no merit in the contention of the petitioner that relevant materials were kept out of the consideration of the president," the bench said. It did not accept the contentions of Mukesh's counsel that he was allegedly kept in solitary confinement for over eight months. The apex court referred to an affidavit filed by Director General (Prisons) which said he was kept in a separate room with iron bars open to air for security reasons and this cannot be equated with solitary confinement. "This cannot therefore be a ground for review of the order rejecting the petitioner's mercy petition," the bench said. Dealing with arguments of the convict's counsel that the mercy plea was rejected with "lightning speed", the bench said, "As held by the constitution bench..., the court shall keep in mind that where the power is vested in a very high authority, it must be presumed that the said authority would act carefully after an objective consideration of all the aspects of the matter. "Merely because there was quick consideration and rejection of the petitioner's mercy petition, it cannot be assumed that the matter was proceeded with pre-determined mind." The apex court agreed with Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's contentions that a delay in disposal of a mercy petition might be a ground for seeking judicial review of the order passed under Article 72 of the Constitution. "But the quick consideration of the mercy petition and swift rejection of the same cannot be a ground for judicial review of the order passed under Article 72/161 of the Constitution. Nor does it suggest that there was pre-determined mind and non-application of mind," the bench noted. It said that exercise of the power under Articles 72 and 161 (power of the Governor to grant pardons and to suspend, remit or commute sentences in certain cases) is a matter of "discretion" and the apex court has taken the consistent view that executive orders under these Articles "should be subject to limited judicial review". The court also went through two files with communications from the Home ministry, the Delhi government and the office of Delhi's Lieutenant Governor as well as the file containing the note put up before the president. "By perusal of the note, we have seen that all the documents were taken into consideration and upon consideration of the relevant records and the facts and circumstances of the surrounding crime, the president has rejected the mercy petition," it said. Mukesh had also alleged he was tortured and sexually abused in the prison. The 23-year-old woman, who came to be known as 'Nirbhaya', the fearless one, was gangraped and savagely assaulted on the night of December 16, 2012, in a moving bus in south Delhi. She died of her injuries a fortnight later in a Singapore hospital. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Duane 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' Chapman proposed to his son's ex-girlfriend Moon Angell just seven months after the death of his wife Beth. The 66-year-old television personality seemingly popped the question in a teaser clip from The Dr. Oz Show posted on Twitter on Tuesday. An obviously emotional Dog could be seen turning to his girlfriend and asks: 'Moon Angell, will you marry me?' The moment appeared to come out of nowhere as his love-interest quickly turned to him with her mouth agape. Interesting: Duane 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' Chapman proposed to his son's ex-girlfriend Moon Angell just seven months after the death of his wife Beth However the proposal wasn't official as sources close to Dog told TMZ on Wedneday that the reality star was caught up in the moment and that he did not give her a ring during the taping last week thus they are not engaged. Production insiders on set of The Dr. Oz Show set felt like the proposal was actually legit at the time according to the publication. Their sources also claim that Dog revealed he was talking to God in the bathroom during a break and that God told him that he should propose. The video was captioned by The Dr. Oz Show Twitter: 'A marriage proposal? After weeks of family turmoil, @DogBountyHunter and Moon Angell join me to set the record straight.' Wow factor: An obviously emotional Dog could be seen turning to his girlfriend and asks: 'Moon Angell, will you marry me?' Shocking: The moment appeared to come out of nowhere as his love-interest quickly turned to him with her mouth agape The surprising question comes after weeks of bickering among the family and months after the death of his fifth wife Beth in June after battling throat and lung cancer for two years. Moon Angell acknowledges the rift as she says in the clip: 'I have lots of enemies right now.' Dog is also very emotional as he can be seen crying and wiping tears from his eyes as 59-year-old host Dr. Mehmet Oz asks him: 'You were going to commit suicide?' Ultimately he tells the host and physician: 'I am a lot happier when she's around.' The shocking episode is set to air on Monday. 'I have lots of enemies right now': The surprising question comes after weeks of bickering among the family and months after the death of his wife Beth in June after battling throat and lung cancer for two years Sad: Dog is also very emotional as he can be seen crying and wiping tears from his eyes Asking the tough questions: The 59-year-old host Dr. Mehmet Oz queries: 'You were going to commit suicide?' Highly-anticipated: The shocking episode is set to air on Monday It has also been recently revealed that not only has Moon Angell been romantically involved with one of Dog's sons, according to his daughter Lyssa, but she was also one of Beth's closest friends. In fact, Angell was even a bridesmaid at Dog and Beth's wedding in 2006 and the two were apparently so close that they felt like they were sisters. Dog's new romantic interest also reportedly worked as an assistant for Beth over several years. Complicated: Angell (circled in red) was BFFs with Dog's recently-departed wife Beth as she was even a bridesmaid at their 2006 wedding 'THE WHOLE WORLD LOST A MIGHTY WARRIOR GODDESS FULL OF STRENGTH BEYOND #s': Just a week after Beth's death, Angell took to Twitter to share a selfie of the two of them to honor her BFF Just a week after Beth's death, Angell took to Twitter to share a selfie of the two of them with a caption to honor her BFF as she wrote: 'THE WHOLE WORLD LOST A MIGHTY WARRIOR GODDESS FULL OF STRENGTH BEYOND #s. I SEE THE WAVE FORMN ACROSS AMERI [American flag Emoji] & CANADA [Canadian flag Emoji]! STAND UP! STAND UP! ALICE ELIZABETH CHAPMAN WEEEEE ALLLLLL LOVE YOU TAPIECES! YOU SAY YOU ONLY REGRET NOT WRITING A BOOK ... Oh Bethi U R THE BOOK [Heart Emoji]' The appearance on television came just weeks after Dog defended his romance with his son's ex girlfriend and BFF to his recently-departed wife, saying that he's an empty nester in need of companionship as he mourns Beth. 'Who knows what my future holds, but right now I need her,' the reality TV personality, 66, told Radar. 'There will never be another Mrs. Dog but that doesn't mean I have to be so sad.' The veteran bounty hunter praised Moon as 'a trustworthy and loyal friend to [him] for over 20 years,' and 'experienced' with him and the family dynamic. 'Thank you': This came just weeks after he defended his romance with his son's ex girlfriend, saying that he's an empty nester in need of companionship as he mourns his late wife Beth, who died last June after battling throat and lung cancer for two years 'She has been with my family through many ups and downs,' the Dogs Most Wanted personality said. 'All my children are grown and gone on their own, there's no one left to help me!' Chapman told the outlet he believes the lord answered his prayers in the wake of Beth's June 26 passing at the age of 51 at Queens Medical Center in Honolulu. 'I know Almighty God hears my broken heart and I didn't ask him for another Mrs. Chapman, but I asked him for a friend and He gave me Moon,' said Chapman, who on Tuesday posed in a selfie with Angell on Instagram. The relationship between Dog and Angell is not a romantic one, an insider told People earlier this month, calling her 'a family friend to Beth and Dog for years. Not happy: Lyssa has called Angell 'disgusting' and slammed her for preying on a widower All in the family: Lyssa has been seen on TV working with her dad in the past 'Since Beth's death, she has stepped in to help Dog in his time of need,' the insider said. 'There will never be another Beth.' Chapman's statements came in the wake of bad blood between Angell and his daughter Lyssa, who called Angell 'disgusting' and has slammed her for preying on a widower in his most tender of times. She added: 'Any person who moves in on a man weeks after losing his wife, who you were supposed to be a "friend" to, Is the lowest scum on the planet-Which for you wasnt that far of a step down from where you were before. God will get you MARY!!!' Lyssa also revealed that Angell had dated one of Dog's sons previously though she did not identify which one as the reality star has 10 sons. She wrote: 'If someone who met your family by dating your brother, tried to date your father after your step-mom died what would you do?' Outspoken: Lyssa has gone public with her beliefs about Dog and Moon's relationship Lyssa again referred to the relationship between Angell and her father in a tweet from early January. 'Happiness is granted to all, and all I wish is happiness for my family,' she said. 'When a person who has ill intentions, that my mother specifically warned me about before her passing tries to enter, the war is on. She added: The devil ALWAYS goes for the weakest link. Not today satan.' Staying strong: The widower said, 'There will never be another Mrs. Dog but that doesn't mean I have to be so sad' Tragic: Beth died June 26 at Queens Medical Center in Honolulu following a two-year battle with throat and lung cancer Lyssa, who's mother is Dog's third wife Lyssa Rae Brittain, later said that she entrusts her father to decide what is best for himself, but will not endorse any type of romantic relationship between the two. 'My dad is a GROWN A** MAN,' she said. 'His money. His dynasty. 'But you can guarantee that my name is not going down in history as a person who supported this.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 00:47:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities emphasized the treatment of patients and the supply of medical resources at a high-level meeting on the novel coronavirus prevention and control on Wednesday. The meeting, chaired by Premier Li Keqiang, noted that the prevention and control efforts are in full swing and have been intensified, but the epidemic keeps spreading, with a rapid rising trend in some regions. The situation remains grim and complex, according to the meeting of the leading group of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on the prevention and control of the outbreak of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus, with Li as the head. Targeted measures must be taken to curb the spread of the epidemic in the country, the meeting stressed, adding that further epidemic prevention and control should be carried out in central China's Hubei Province, and Wuhan, the provincial capital and center of the coronavirus outbreak. The meeting required dispersed clinical reception and centralized treatment, and severe patients should be sent to hospitals of best conditions or attended to by intensive-care experts. Noting that the development of vaccines should be sped up, the meeting also demanded to step up approval for medicines which initially proved effective in clinical research for extensive use as soon as possible. Stressing all-out efforts to ensure the supply of medical resources, the meeting asked local administrations to organize enterprises to resume the production of resources including medical protective clothing, masks, and medicines. Local authorities are required to guide logistic enterprises, including e-commerce entities, to smooth delivery, according to the meeting. The supply of daily necessities and vegetables in key areas was emphasized at the meeting. The meeting also stressed efforts of epidemic prevention and control amid the return trips of people after the Lunar New Year holiday, adding that proper postponement of return should be allowed. Methods such as ventilation and sterilization at public transportation vehicles, stations and ports should be implemented, it said. Delays in business operation and school opening should be applied, among other necessary measures, in Hubei Province and other places facing relatively serious epidemic. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and deputy head of the group, attended the meeting. WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations (CSRO) physicians are voicing concern for patients who will fall victim of a dangerous new prescription policy. New requirements from BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) of Tennessee, which may be a bellwether for other insurers, are reversing the trend providers have achieved in keeping prices down for physician administered medications. Normally provider administered drugs are obtained via a "buy and bill" system where a provider purchases medication and bills the insurance company under a patient's medical benefit. The new BCBS policy moves the acquisition of these administered medication away from the physician to the patient's pharmacy benefit, handled by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs.) The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) dashboard purports that prices of Part D medications, those managed by a PBM, rise at much faster rates than physician "buy and bill" Part B medications. "Now PBMs and insurers are integrated, they finally have the chance to move payments away from the medical side and put it on the pharmacy side, where more money is made with rebates and hidden fees," said Dr. Madelaine Feldman, president of the CSRO. "This policy is about one thing, profits," Dr. Feldman, continued. "PBMs construct formularies encouraging pharmaceutical manufacturers to raise prices of drugs. The higher the price, the more money PBMs make, resulting in PBMs choosing higher priced drugs for the preferred tier." Another consequence of this new policy will be that physicians will no longer be able to infuse patients in their office. Dr. Robert Levin of the Alliance for Transparent and Affordable Prescriptions (ATAP) added, "We make decisions based on the needs of our patients, including how and where care is given. Needlessly driving up prices and making treatments more complicated to obtain is moving health care in the wrong direction. Patients deserve better." "Patients will be increasingly forced into expensive sites for care such as hospitals or where there is no direct supervision by physicians, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants," said Dr. Aaron Broadwell, rheumatologist from Shreveport, Louisiana. The CSRO is comprised of 43 state and regional professional rheumatology societies formed to advocate for excellence in rheumatologic disease care and ensure access to the highest quality care for the management of rheumatologic and musculoskeletal diseases. CONTACT Dan Rene of kglobal 202-329-8357 or [email protected] SOURCE Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations Related Links https://csro.info/home.aspx Realty firm Tulip Infratech will invest Rs 275 crore to develop a luxury housing project in Gurugram, Haryana, in partnership with a local land owner, a top company official said on Wednesday. The company will construct 780 apartments, including 150 for the economically weaker section (EWS), in this project. "We have partnered with a local landlord who owns nearly 8 acre land parcel in Gurugram. The company will develop a premium housing project on this land," Tulip Infratech's CMD Parveen Jain said. Jain, who is also vice-chairman of the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO), did not disclose the name of the local partner. The construction work will start soon and project would be completed in the next four years. The company has fixed the selling price at Rs 5,100 per sq ft. The price of an apartment starts from Rs 96 lakh. On investment, Jain said the project cost is estimated at around Rs 275 crore and the same would be funded through internal accruals. "We are a zero debt company," he added. Tulip Infratech has so far completed around 12 projects comprising over 5,000 apartments. It recently started construction of an another project comprising 80 units with an investment of around Rs 45 crore. On housing market, Jain said the overall demand is subdued, but sales are happening in projects of those developers who have good execution track record. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 By Elnur Baghishov - Trend: Iran's Bagheran Cement Plant, located in the country's South Khorasan province, exported 600,000 tons of cement to Afghanistan in the first 10 months (from March 21, 2019 to Jan. 20, 2020) of the current Iranian year, the plant's CEO Mehdi Kazemi said, Trend reports via IRIB. The plant's revenues from the cement exports in the reported 10-month period amounted to $8 million, Kazemi said. The plant exported 370,000 tons of cement to Afghanistan in the preceding Iranian year (from March 21, 2018 to March 21, 2019), Kazemi added. According to the CEO, 85 percent of the plant's cement is exported to Afghanistan. Bagheran Cement Plant was commissioned in 2017. Since its establishment, 24.5 million euros and 2.5 trillion rials (roughly $59.5 million) have been invested in the plant. The plant has the capacity to produce over one million tons of cement per annum. The hospice and palliative care industries are changing rapidly as the government is starting to focus more on this part of the care continuum Hospice News, an Aging Media Network publication, is hosting the first annual ELEVATE Conference, an event that will explore the business and innovation driving the future of the fast-growing hospice and palliative care industry. (https://hospicenews.com/event/elevate/) Attendees will get an inside look at the financial, operational, regulatory, and technology trends impacting leaders today. The conference will be held on November 5, 2020, at Convene, located at 311 W. Monroe, Chicago, Illinois 60606. The full-day event starts at 8 am and will finish at 4 pm giving attendees eight hours to network, learn, and connect with colleagues and industry partners. The event will bring together hospice leaders, executives, analysts, and will highlight emerging payment models; mergers and acquisitions; clinical and business models for palliative care; and the rise of telemedicine and other technologies. The hospice and palliative care industries are changing rapidly as the government is starting to focus more on this part of the care continuum, said John Yedinak, president, and co-founder of Aging Media. We are excited to bring leaders from these fast-growing industries together and provide unparalleled access to some of the best and brightest minds shaping their future. The conference is expected to attract 200-300 business executives and professionals from across the U.S. and Canada and will provide opportunities for networking and business development. ELEVATE presents a variety of opportunities for table top exhibitions, private meeting rooms, and experiential marketing. For Hospice News ELEVATE sponsorship opportunities, please contact events@agingmedia.com. About Aging Media Network / Hospice News Aging Media Network is an innovative publishing company based in Chicago, Illinois, and is the publisher of Senior Housing News, Reverse Mortgage Daily, Home Health Care News and Skilled Nursing News, Hospice News, and Behavioral Health Business. Hospice News is the leading source for news and information covering the hospice industry. Visit https://hospicenews.com/ for more information. The novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak may reach its peak in one week or around 10 days, renowned Chinese respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan said Tuesday. By the end of Monday, 4,515 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus had been reported in 30 provincial-level regions. A total of 106 people had died of the disease, according to the National Health Commission. GUANGZHOU, Jan. 28 -- The novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak may reach its peak in one week or around 10 days, renowned Chinese respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan said Tuesday in an exclusive interview with Xinhua. "It is very difficult to definitely estimate when the outbreak reaches its peak. But I think in one week or about 10 days, it will reach the climax and then there will be no large-scale increases," Zhong said. Zhong is the head of a national team of experts set up for the control and prevention of the novel coronavirus-caused pneumonia and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Renowned Chinese respiratory scientist Zhong Nanshan receives an interview with Xinhua in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Jan. 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei) "There are two keys to tackling the epidemic: early detection and early isolation. They are the most primitive and most effective methods," he said. Zhong said fever and weakness are the typical symptoms of the novel coronavirus infection for the majority of patients. Ten to 14 days is a sound period for isolation and observation: When the incubation period ends, those who fall sick will get timely treatment and those who do not will be just fine. He suggested that hospitals should be staffed with not only infectious disease specialists, but also specialists in treating severe cases to better save patients. By the end of Monday, 4,515 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus had been reported in 30 provincial-level regions. A total of 106 people had died of the disease, according to the National Health Commission. Aerial photo taken on Jan. 28, 2020 shows the construction site of Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. The construction of Huoshenshan Hospital, a makeshift hospital for treating patients infected with the novel coronavirus, is underway in Wuhan. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu) Among the total, Hubei Province in central China reported a total of 2,714 confirmed cases of the pneumonia caused by the virus. Wuhan, the provincial capital, is the center of the outbreak. Epidemiologically, the novel coronavirus is homologous to the virus discovered in a type of bat in 2017, said Zhong, adding that the 2019-nCoV probably has an intermediate host that may be a certain kind of wild animal. "The SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak lasted about six months, but I don't believe the novel coronavirus outbreak would last that long," said Zhong. The country has taken a series of powerful measures, especially early detection and early isolation. "We have sufficient confidence in preventing a major outbreak or a recurrence as long as the two measures are in place, although we still need to conduct much scientific research," he said. Noting that a key for Wuhan is how to reduce infections inside hospitals, Zhong said he supported the construction of makeshift hospitals in the city to control the infectious disease. Members of a medical team heading for Wuhan of Hubei Province board the plane in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Jan. 28, 2020. A team comprised of 135 medical workers from Qinghai left for Wuhan on Tuesday to aid the novel coronavirus control efforts there. (Xinhua/Zhang Long) Zhong said the activation of top-level public health emergency response was aimed at reducing the chance of infection. The vaccine development may need three to four months or even longer, said Zhong. "Now scientists are speeding up research of neutralizing antibodies of the virus, but it takes time." "With help from across the country, Wuhan, a heroic city, will pull through," Zhong said. (Reporting by Wang Pan, Xiao Sisi, Li Laifang, Lou Chen, Cui Enhui) If you own shares in Nordic American Tankers Limited (NYSE:NAT) then it's worth thinking about how it contributes to the volatility of your portfolio, overall. In finance, Beta is a measure of volatility. Modern finance theory considers volatility to be a measure of risk, and there are two main types of price volatility. The first category is company specific volatility. This can be dealt with by limiting your exposure to any particular stock. The second type is the broader market volatility, which you cannot diversify away, since it arises from macroeconomic factors which directly affects all the stocks on the market. Some stocks are more sensitive to general market forces than others. Some investors use beta as a measure of how much a certain stock is impacted by market risk (volatility). While we should keep in mind that Warren Buffett has cautioned that 'Volatility is far from synonymous with risk', beta is still a useful factor to consider. To make good use of it you must first know that the beta of the overall market is one. A stock with a beta greater than one is more sensitive to broader market movements than a stock with a beta of less than one. Check out our latest analysis for Nordic American Tankers What does NAT's beta value mean to investors? Given that it has a beta of 0.86, we can surmise that the Nordic American Tankers share price has not been strongly impacted by broader market volatility (over the last 5 years). This means that -- if history is a guide -- buying the stock would reduce the impact of overall market volatility in many portfolios (depending on the beta of the portfolio, of course). Share price volatility is well worth considering, but most long term investors consider the history of revenue and earnings growth to be more important. Take a look at how Nordic American Tankers fares in that regard, below. NYSE:NAT Income Statement, January 29th 2020 How does NAT's size impact its beta? Nordic American Tankers is a small company, but not tiny and little known. It has a market capitalisation of US$556m, which means it would be on the radar of intstitutional investors. Small companies often have a high beta value, but they can be heavily influenced by company-specific events. This might explain why this stock has a low beta. Story continues What this means for you: Since Nordic American Tankers is not heavily influenced by market moves, its share price is probably far more dependent on company specific developments. It could pay to take a closer look at metrics such as revenue growth, earnings growth, and debt. This article aims to educate investors about beta values, but it's well worth looking at important company-specific fundamentals such as Nordic American Tankerss financial health and performance track record. I highly recommend you dive deeper by considering the following: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for NATs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for NATs outlook. Past Track Record: Has NAT been consistently performing well irrespective of the ups and downs in the market? Go into more detail in the past performance analysis and take a look at the free visual representations of NAT's historicals for more clarity. Other Interesting Stocks: It's worth checking to see how NAT measures up against other companies on valuation. You could start with this free list of prospective options. 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. Americans Evacuated From Epicenter of Coronavirus Likely Staying in Quarantine for at Least Three Days The around 200 Americans flown out of Wuhan, China, due to the coronavirus outbreak arent required to stay under quarantine, health officials said on Jan. 29, but all of the passengers indicated theyd stay at the California air reserve base for at least three days. Officials initially said there were 201 passengers on the plane, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) later clarified that figure included the pilots, crew members, and government employees. These people are not under federal quarantine orders. Ive personally talked to them when they were disembarking and after they went through their first screening checks. They were happy to be here. They were very much cooperative with the questions, Dr. Christopher Braden, deputy director of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, said at a press conference on Wednesday. When I talked to them about their willingness to stay to be fully evaluated over three days or so, all those that I talked to were very willing to do that. Americans as young as one month old were at the March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County after being evacuated from Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus, earlier this week. Most were State Department employees or relatives of those employees. Dr. Christopher Braden, deputy director of the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, speaks at a press conference in Riverside County about the Americans who were flown to the United States from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, on Jan. 29, 2020. (Matt Hartman/AFP via Getty Images) The evacuees would be monitored twice a day, with checks for symptoms and fevers. None of them showed indications of possibly having the coronavirus when they were checked when the plane refueled in Alaska; one wasnt let on board in China because they had a fever. After three days, the people will be free to leave if they give no indication of being high risk, such as having contact with a known patient or having symptoms. They have the option to then go on in their travels with active monitoring where they will be going, Braden said. Some of them may choose to leave after 72 hours. Some of them may choose to stay for their entire 14-day period of incubation and the base is ready to accommodate that. The active monitoring will continue for the people who leave the base, conducted by state and local health departments at their final locations. Its possible some people might leave before 72 hours elapse if test results come back negative, Rear Adm. Dr. Nancy Knight, the director of the CDCs Division of Global Health Protection said. They can leave, however, they are sitting in the middle of a military base. Any discussion around departure would be just that, would be a discussion, she said when pressed on whether people were forced to stay on the base. If someone demands to leave right now, that is where all of the partners would come together and talk about what needs to be done. And this would be discussed up to the highest levels within the U.S. government as well. If we think the person is a danger to the community, we can institute an individual quarantine for that person, Braden added, saying he hoped to clear up confusion about whether the Americans were being quarantined. Personnel in protective clothing unload luggage from the airplane carrying U.S. citizens being evacuated from Wuhan, China, at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, Calif., on Jan. 29, 2020. (Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP Photo) If checks show someone has the virus on the base, theyll be rushed to a hospital, CDC and Department of Defense officials said previously. The CDC said in a statement on Wednesday that passengers not exhibiting symptoms of exposure will be asked to stay on the base in housing to allow CDC medical officers to perform more thorough screening and to better understand each individuals exposure. The group was originally slated to fly into Ontario International Airport, about 35 miles east of Los Angeles. The flight was diverted to the base primarily to make the group comfortable, Baden said. They could be at the base for up to two weeks so we think that the base is probably the most comfortable accommodation that we could find for them, Baden said. The Department of Defense said earlier Wednesday that department personnel wouldnt directly be in contact with the evacuees, who wouldnt have access to any locations on base other than their assigned housing. The Port of Cork says it will continue to pursue other ferry link options to Spain after confirmation from Brittany Ferries that it is axing its Cork-Santander route after just two years over low freight numbers. Following days of speculation, the ferry company confirmed that it is moving its Ireland-Spain sailings from Cork to Rosslare Europort, with a new arrival port in Bilbao. The first sailing is due to take place on February 28. Like the service being axed, it will operate twice a week and will incorporate a weekly Ireland-France rotation. All customers already booked on affected sailings from Cork will be given the option of transferring their booking to sailing between Rosslare and Bilbao or Roscoff. The company said an allowance will be given to cover additional transfers, or a full refund will be provided to those who choose to cancel. The company emphasised its continuing commitment to the popular Cork-Roscoff service which carries nearly 100,000 holidaymakers between Ireland and France every season. Brittany Ferries CEO Christophe Mathieu said the decision to relocate its Ireland-Spain route from Cork to Rosslare was not taken lightly and follows extensive consultation with freight customers who sought better road connections and reduced driving distances. We opened the route in 2018 with a two-year trial window, he said. While passenger numbers have been encouraging, the reality is that freight numbers, which are key to route viability, were not sufficiently robust. However I want to make it clear that we remain committed to Cork, with our flagship Pont-Aven cruise-ferry service to Roscoff. Were also committed to an Ireland-Spain route, now via Rosslare, and well look after existing passengers whose future travel will be affected by this change. The ferry company said hauliers have told them that Rosslare, given its proximity to Dublin and the east coast road network, is a preferred option. Hauliers operating on the European mainland have also said that Bilbao is more attuned to freight traffic and has easier transport links into Europe. In a statement this lunchtime, the Port of Cork said the ferry companys decision was surprising and very disappointing. However we will continue to pursue other options for linking Cork and Northern Spain, a spokesperson said. We remain supportive of Brittany Ferries who have operated out of Cork for over 40 years and we will continue to facilitate Brittany Ferries on their weekly service from Cork to Roscoff re-commencing in March 2020. The Cork-Santander route which was launched in 2018 was primarily aimed at the freight market into Europe although it also carried holidaymakers, with an economie no-frills onboard experience. The company said the new route out of Rosslare will again concentrate on freight with an option for holidaymakers. Glenn Carr, the general manager of Rosslare Europort said they were delighted to welcome the service. This new Rosslare to Bilbao service will be attractive for trade and tourism alike, he said. We very much welcome that this service is being launched because of demand from freight customers, due to Rosslares strategic position and access to key markets. Brittany Ferries will also benefit from our 25m investment in port facilities, infrastructure and technology, as part of the Ports strategic plan. We look forward to working closely with Brittany Ferries to ensuring the success of their new service. Brittany Ferries moves Ireland to Spain departure port from Cork to Rosslare Original reporting by Breda Graham Brittany Ferries has announced that it is to move its Ireland to Spain sailings from Cork to Rosslare Europort in Co Wexford. The new Spanish arrival port from Rosslare will be Bilbao, the largest city of the Basque Country in northern Spain. The decision to pull the Cork to Santander route, which launched in 2018 with a two-year trial window, was made following consultation with freight customers who sought after better road connections and reduced driving distances. The route was primarily aimed at the freight market into Europe, although it also carried holidaymakers. According to Brittany Ferries CEO, Christophe Mathieu, freight numbers were not strong enough to continue the route from Cork. "While passenger numbers have been encouraging, the reality is that freight numbers, which are key to route viability, were not sufficiently robust," he said. Mr Mathieu said that the shipping company remains committed to Cork following today's announcement with the continuation of its Ireland to France sailing from Cork Harbour to Roscoff. "I want to make it clear that we remain committed to Cork, with our flagship Pont-Aven cruise-ferry service to Roscoff. "Were also committed to an Ireland-Spain route, now via Rosslare, and well look after existing passengers whose future travel will be affected by this change," he assured. In response to Brittany Ferries decision to finish the Cork to Santander route, Port of Cork said in a statement: The Port of Cork have been informed by Brittany Ferries that the weekly Ro-Pax ferry service from Cork to Santander which includes a midweek Roscoff sailing is to cease operating. This surprising decision by Brittany Ferries is very disappointing, however we will continue to pursue other options for linking Cork and Northern Spain. "We remain supportive of Brittany Ferries who have operated out of Cork for over 40 years and we will continue to facilitate Brittany Ferries on their weekly service from Cork to Roscoff re-commencing in March 2020." The new Ireland to Spain route out of Rosslare will again concentrate on freight with an option for holidaymakers. Glenn Carr, General Manager, Rosslare Europort said: We are delighted to welcome Brittany Ferries to Rosslare Europort. This new Rosslare to Bilbao service will be attractive for trade and tourism alike. We very much welcome that this service is being launched because of demand from freight customers, due to Rosslares strategic position and access to key markets. "Brittany Ferries will also benefit from our 25 million investment in port facilities, infrastructure and technology, as part of the Ports strategic plan. We look forward to working closely with Brittany Ferries to ensuring the success of their new service. The first sailing of the new Rosslare to Bilbao route is due to take place on February 28. All customers already booked on affected sailings from Cork will be given the option to transfer their booking to sailing between Rosslare and Bilbao with an allowance to cover additional transfers. Alternatively, a full refund will be provided to those who choose to cancel. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 Trend: A mobile training team of NATO's Joint Forces Command in Brunssum (the Netherlands) holds the NATO Exercises Planning Process Training Courses in Baku, in accordance with the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) for 2020 between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan and NATO, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. During the courses, which are conducted with the participation of servicemen from various types of troops of the Azerbaijan Army, NATO representatives give presentations on the Operations Planning, Design and Evaluation Process, as well as Data Analysis in the North Atlantic Alliance and other topics. Group practical exercises are also held. PR-Inside.com: 2020-01-29 08:55:31 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 828 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 29, 2020 / Noram Ventures Inc. ("Noram") (TSXV:NRM)(Frankfurt:N7R)(OTCPINK:NRVTF) is pleased to announce the results for three remaining drill holes completed in the November 2019 Phase IV drill program on the Zeus lithium claystone property and the extension of the Zeus Lithium Deposit. The first three drill holes of this program were reported in a news release dated January 15, 2020.Results for drill holes 48, 51 and 52 are reported in Table 1 below and shown in simplified drill logs in Figure 2. Drill hole 51 resulted in 56.4 meters with an average of 1230 ppm Li, and drill hole 52 has 39.6 m at 1060 ppm Li immediately below the 2019-02 inferred resource. These values are expected to add significantly to the current inferred resource of 145 million tonnes at 1145 ppm Li (900 ppm cutoff: Peek and Barrie, 2019, see www.noramventures.com) Figure 1. Google Earth image of Zeus lithium property, Clayton Valley, Nevada, adjacent to Albemarle's lithium brine operations to west (see evaporation pond to upper left). The Esmeralda Formation lithium claystone is under a thin (0-5 m-thick) veneer of alluvium shed off of high hills to the east. The contours represent the 300 ppm, 600 ppm and 900 ppm cutoff lines for the NI43-101 resource estimate which included 145 million tonnes @1145 ppm Li (900 ppm cut-off, = 0.88 million tonnes lithium carbonate equivalent (Peek and Barrie, 2019; see www.noramventures.com) Figure 2a. Summary log for drill hole CVZ-48, with lithium values.Figure 2b. Summary log for drill hole CVZ-51, with lithium values.Figure 2c. Summary log for drill hle CVZ-52, with lithium values.Noram President and CEO C. Tucker Barrie comments: " These three drill holes will add significantly to our current inferred resources, and they verify that the deposit thickens and increases in grade to the south and east, where where there is >2 km2 of untested ground on the property. In the near future, we will have a new resource calculation and NI43-101 report for this deposit. We aim to further define this very large lithium resource with more deep drilling, and to initiate engineering studies to determine the most effective recovery methods. "Noram's Zeus lithium property is located in Clayton Valley, Nevada, immediately adjacent and to the east of Albemarle's Silver Peak lithium brine operations, currently North America's only lithium producer. The Phase IV drill program was designed to test the Esmeralda Formation claystone beneath earlier drill holes that extended only to ~30 meters depth (Figure 1).The Phase IV drill program followed NI 43-101 procedures for sample preparation, analyses and security as described in Peek and Barrie (2019). All samples were sent to ISO-17025 accredited ALS Laboratories in Reno, Nevada for analysis. Each sample was then analyzed using ALS' ME-MS61 analytical method which uses a Four Acid Digestion and MS-ICP technologies.The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Bradley C. Peek, MSc and Certified Professional Geologist who is a Qualified Person with respect to Noram's Clayton Valley Lithium Project as defined under National Instrument 43-101.About Noram Ventures Inc.Noram Ventures Inc. (TSX - Venture: NRM / Frankfurt: N7R / OTCPINK: NRVTF) is a Canadian based junior exploration company, with a goal of developing lithium deposits and becoming a low - cost supplier. The Company's primary business focus since formation has been the exploration of mineral projects. Noram's long term strategy is to build a multi-national lithium minerals company to produce and sell lithium into the markets of Europe, North America and Asia.Please visit our web site for further information: www.noramventures.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS/s/ "C. Tucker Barrie, Ph.D., P. Geo." President and CEOOffice: (604) 553-2279Neither 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. This news release may contain forward-looking information which is not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding, among other things, the completion transactions completed in the Agreement. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, regulatory approval processes. Although Noram believes that the assumptions used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, including that all necessary regulatory approvals will be obtained in a timely manner, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Noram disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.SOURCE: Noram Ventures Inc. Theres something so delightful about watching The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond on TV. Maybe its her refreshingly down-to-Earth personality or how shes so undeniably good at whipping up hearty country meals. Whatever the reason, fans cant get enough of her. Drummond enjoys national name recognition thanks to her Food Network show, The Pioneer Woman, plus multiple books and a colorful product line at Walmart. But Drummond is most famous in her tiny hometown of Pawhuska, Oklahoma. You could even say shes a local celebrity. Ree Drummond | Monica Schipper/Getty Images for The Pioneer Woman Magazine The Pioneer Woman runs a restaurant in Pawhuska Drummonds restaurant Mercantile (nicknamed The Merc) in Pawhuska is a surprisingly popular tourist destination. Its located hours from any major city, but that doesnt stop fans from flocking there to shop, eat, and hopefully catch a glimpse of the television show host herself. Even years after the grand opening, fans still line up for hours for the rare privilege of dining at this local hotspot. Drummond and her husband Ladd arent at the restaurant every day, but they do make periodic appearances when they have time. Recently, The Pioneer Woman shared a photo to her Instagram showing exactly what she liked to order for breakfast. Ree Drummond picked a non-traditional breakfast item off the menu The 51-year-old cookbook author is known for her classic, treasured recipes that almost anyone can prepare at home. But for her order at The Merc, Drummond chose something a little more offbeat compared to what she normally whips up. On her romantic breakfast date, Drummond shared that she ordered Migas, a Tex-Mex breakfast dish made with guac, sour cream, Pico de Gallo, and breakfast potatoes. She also had a biscuit with jam on the side. But thats not all. Drummond also said she stole a few bites of Ladds more traditional pancake breakfast. The photo made it look like a hearty, delicious way to start the day! Her cinnamon rolls are legendary and theyre on the menu, too Drummond is known for her modesty and doesnt typically boast, but when she has a hit, shes not afraid to share it. The Pioneer Woman has gone on record saying her cinnamon rolls are the best in the world, and luckily for anyone who visits The Merc, theyre available on the menu. Even though Drummond didnt order cinnamon rolls during her recent breakfast date, its easy to imagine that shed encourage visitors to try the gooey, sticky treats at least once while visiting. Dont expect to find any bananas at The Merc One thing you wont be able to sample at The Pioneer Womans restaurant? Banana pancakes. Or banana muffins. Thats because Drummond has a legendary hatred of bananas thats so extreme she refuses to eat or serve them. I hate, abhor, loathe, and recoil at the sight of bananas, Drummond explained. Ive disliked them my entire life, even when I was a baby In my entire forty-two years on this earth, Ive never eaten a whole banana. Ive had accidental bites here and there, half of which were promptly spit out into a napkin. So for anyone planning a trip to Ree Drummonds restaurant, remember to try the cinnamon rolls, sample the Migas, and never, ever say the word banana! Appointment 29 January 2020 Virgin Hotels, the lifestyle hotel brand by Sir Richard Branson, is pleased to welcome two new members to its corporate leadership team: Rick Colangelo as Senior Vice President of Operations and Guy Lindsey as Vice President of Construction.Rick Colangelo, a seasoned hospitality industry veteran with a diverse background in branded and lifestyle hotels, starts as Senior Vice President of Operations for Virgin Hotels. In this role, Rick assumes direct oversight responsibilities for Virgin Hotels' existing and forthcoming properties, while working with the corporate leadership team on broader strategic initiatives. Prior to joining the Virgin Hotels family, Colangelo worked for Hyatt Hotels Corporation as Senior Vice President of Field Operations for the brand's Two Roads Hospitality Lifestyle Portfolio. Ahead of Hyatt's purchase of the portfolio, Colangelo served as Executive Vice President of Operations, overseeing the sales, revenue, restaurants, bars and nightlife of Two Roads' $500 million portfolio of 35 hotels and resorts, as well as their 15 properties in development. He was also pivotal to the integration of the two companies, establishing quality standards and new sales and revenue systems and enhancements, while continuing to add value to existing properties. Additional experience includes a 10-year tenure as Vice President of Operations for Kimpton Hotels in the Northeast and Southeast. Rick will be based in Miami, FL. Guy Lindsey brings extensive experience with strategic lodging development and renovation projects to the role of Vice President of Construction for Virgin Hotels, where by he will support current efforts in the design area and streamline opening processes as the brand continues to grow. In a career that has spanned more than 35 years, Guy has been involved in all phases of construction management, including hotels, residential, mixed use and office building projects. In addition to serving as one of the industry's most valued consultants, Lindsey previously held the position of Senior Vice President of Design & Construction at Park Hotels and Resorts, a company born out of Hilton Worldwide, where he developed and supervised the internal and external project management and engineering team. He also served as Senior Vice President of Design & Construction at Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc., where he worked on projects that include the Marriott Wailea and Hyatt Regency San Francisco. Throughout his career, Lindsey has had direct experience with $3 billion worth of renovation, conversation and repositioning projects across all major brands and property types. A graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Building Science, Lindsey will be based in Miami, FL. 29 January 2020 One Media iP Group Plc ("One Media", or the "Company") Change of Broker One Media iP Group plc (AIM: OMIP), the digital media content provider which exploits intellectual property rights around music, video and copyright technology, today announces the appointment of Cenkos Securities plc as sole corporate broker to the Company. Cairn Financial Advisers LLP remains the Company's nominated adviser. This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014. The person who arranged the release of this information is Michael Infante, Chief Executive Officer of the Company. One Media iP Group Plc +44 (0)175 378 5500 Michael Infante - CEO www.omip.co.uk Claire Blunt - Chairman www.omip.co.uk + 44 (0)175 378 5501 Cairn Financial Advisers LLP (Nominated Adviser) +44 (0)20 7213 0880 Liam Murray Jo Turner Ludovico Lazzaretti Cenkos Securities plc (Broker) +44 (0)20 7397 8900 Max Hartley Max Gould Michael Johnson (Sales) Yellow Jersey PR (PR & IR) +44 (0)20 3004 9512 Charles Goodwin Dominic Barretto About One Media iP Group Plc One Media iP is primarily a music rights owner and digital distributor focused on the acquisition and exploitation surrounding recorded music, publishing, the writers shares of income and video intellectual property 'Rights'. The Company has a deep understanding of digital content and the various industry monetisation models and, as such, offers Rights Owners a route in which to divest their music IP holding and for investors to share in its potential success in corporate growth. The Company is growing through targeted acquisitions of music content, expanding into various genres and territories that stand to see increased returns driven by the global growth of streaming. Its team of in-house creative technicians then ensure that its existing and newly acquired content reaches its full potential for monetisation, by digitising it and creating the highest quality metadata prior to ingesting to over 600 digital retailers such as iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube and Google Play globally. In addition the Groups music is widely used for synchronization in film, TV and digital gaming. The Group also operates over 20 You Tube channels as a certified partner. One Media has created and developed the Technical Copyright Analysis Tool ("TCAT"), a SaaS product monitoring where tracks appear, safeguarding copyright, and providing invaluable data regarding distribution opportunities for its creative technicians. This tool is not only employed for Company use but also licenced and operated in partnership with major music distributors and major record labels. A Chippewa Falls woman will spend two years on probation for exposing her child to methamphetamine. Alexis L. Spickler-Brummond, 18, 13 N. Grove St., pleaded no contest recently in Eau Claire County Court to a misdemeanor count of neglecting a child and unrelated misdemeanor counts of bail jumping and possession of marijuana. Judge Michael Schumacher fined Spickler-Brummond $1,404. As a condition of probation, Spickler-Brummond must comply with the Eau Claire County Department of Human Services. Spickler-Brummonds record will be expunged upon successful completion of her probation. According to the criminal complaint: Spickler-Brummond and her mother had their former Eau Claire residence searched by a police officer and social worker on Sept. 5. Items that tested positive for the presence of marijuana were found in Spickler-Brummonds bedroom. The mother admitted some friends had been using methamphetamine at her residence. Spickler-Brummond admitted to using methamphetamine in early September. Hair follicle tests for the mothers 10- and 9-year-old children and Spickler-Brummonds 6-month-old child were positive for the presence of methamphetamine. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 2 Angry 4 82 mm mortar mine in the ground, Donbas Open source On January 28, Russian mercenaries landed nine attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donbas. Two servicemen of Ukraine's government forces were injured as they stepped on a landmine. This is mentioned on the Facebook page of Joint Forces Operation HQ. "The enemy shelled our positions from the Minsk-banned 120 and 82 mm mortars, as well as grenade launchers of various systems, heavy machine guns and small arms... On January 28, two servicemen of the Joint Forces sustained combat wounds due to the explosion of a non-specified explosive device", reads the message. Three attacks took place in Donetsk region - twice in Lebedynske and once in Berezove. In Lebedynske, the Russian bandits fired 82 mm mines. In Luhansk region, militants opened fire in Novouhanske, Orikhova and Novotoshkivske. A number of mines and rocket-propelled grenades landed in Novotoshkivske. Earlier, Valentina Kazakova, the head of the Main Directorate for Migration of Russias Ministry of Internal Affairs claimed that last year, Russian passports were given to 227,000 inhabitants of the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Facebook, HSBC, Goldman Sachs and LG Electronics are also among the companies restricting travel to and from China. Scheduled carriers, including United Airlines and British Airways, have said they are cancelling flights to China as demand fell sharply and global companies told their employees not to travel due to deepening fears over the spread of a flu-like virus. The new coronavirus that originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan has killed at least 132 people in China and spread across the world, rattling financial markets. The United States warned that Americans should reconsider visiting China, while the United Kingdom advised against all but essential travel to mainland China. South Korea also advised its citizens to stay away. Chicago-based United Airlines said it was suspending 24 US flights to Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai between February 1 and February 8 due to a significant drop in demand. British Airways has suspended all direct flights to and from mainland China after the UKs warning. BA.com, the airlines website, showed no direct flights to China available in January and February. We apologise to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority, BA said in a statement to Reuters news agency on Wednesday. Customers due to travel to or from China in the coming days can find more information on BA.com. Airlines were not the only companies imposing restrictions. Facebook Inc became the first significant US company to announce a travel suspension after the US governments warning, saying it had asked employees to halt non-essential travel to mainland China and to work from home if they had travelled there. Europes biggest bank, HSBC Holdings PLC, banned all staff travel to Chinese-ruled Hong Kong for two weeks and mainland China until further notice, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters. The UK-based lender, which has the largest presence among foreign banks in China, also asked staff who have recently visited the country to undergo a self-imposed 14-day quarantine. The virus has an incubation period of up to 14 days. US rival Goldman Sachs Group Inc imposed similar measures, according to a memo seen by Reuters. In South Korea, home appliances maker LG Electronics Inc put a complete ban on travel to China and has advised employees on business trips in the country to return home as quickly as possible, a company spokeswoman said. South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix Inc said it was urging employees to avoid all non-essential travel to China, while banking group Standard Chartered PLC restricted travel to mainland China and Hong Kong. In Germany, auto supplier Webasto, which has 11 sites in China, including in Wuhan, has halted all corporate travel to and from China after an employee was infected. Japans Honda Motor Co Ltd said it recommended employees to avoid travel to China, while Nissan Motor Co Ltd said it plans to evacuate its Japanese staff and their families in Wuhan via a government-chartered flight. Toyota Motors Corp said it would halt operations in China until February 9, having already restricted travel to Hubei province, based on the guidelines from Japans foreign ministry. Falling travel demand Aside from United Airlines and British Airways, other carriers said they were also adjusting schedules as companies reassessed the risk of travel to China. South Korean budget carrier Air Seoul said it will halt all flights to China, while Taiwans China Airlines Ltd rescheduled and cancelled some flights to China until February 10. Taiwans Eva Airways Corp also said some flights to China may be cancelled. Air Canada said it was cancelling some of its 33 weekly flights to China and Germanys Lufthansa pointed to subdued bookings to and from the country. Hong Kongs Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd said it would be progressively reducing capacity to and from mainland China by 50 percent or more from January 30 to the end of March, in line with a government directive as well as market demand. International SOS, a medical and travel security services firm that advises companies on travel, said its guidance, for now, was that business travel to China outside Wuhans province of Hubei could continue. But this could be updated if there were significant flight cancellations throughout China and more disruptions to ground transport, International SOS Regional Security Director James Robertson said. GLEN CARBON Village public works officials have been busy testing water in preparation for evaluation by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). During a brief conference call Wednesday, Village Administrator Jamie Bowden and Public Works Director Jennifer Doody explained the steps theyve taken over the past few months. Doody said pipe sections have been harvested and loop testing is underway, with results sent to IEPA monthly. Were sending them as much information as they need, Doody said, adding that a separate but related pipe-scale analysis of the water is also in progress. Last fall, Illinois-American Water (IAW) agreed to pay for the testing as part of its commitment to help the village switch over from the city of Edwardsvilles water, which Glen Carbon has used since June 18, 1996. About three weeks ago, IEPA signed off on changing half of the pipes in the testing over to IAWs, she said. Bowden said within 60 to 90 days he and other village officials intend to follow-up with IEPA on the latest results. If they check out, as soon as were allowed to, well make the switch, he added. Official first mentioned switching water services almost a year ago, with a change to IAW by September 2019. Water would be primarily sourced from IAWs plant in East St. Louis while its Granite City plant would function as a secondary source. A big reason for the change was economic. Village Administrator Jamie Bowden said the city had plans for $20 million in upgrades to continue servicing the village. The village would have owed $5 million, which would have translated to higher residential bills. Edwardsvilles Public Works Director, Eric Williams, said the city plans to renovate or replace parts of its Water Plant #1 by 2028. He said Glen Carbon used 26 percent of the citys service and during FY2017-2018, the village used about 427 million gallons of water. Due to previous water supply contamination incidents in Michigan, New Jersey and near Chicago, the federal EPA put a hold on supply switches until more rigorous testing protocols were put in place. To comply, the village had to harvest a loop section of copper piping with soldered joints from Edwardsvilles and IAWs water systems and pump water through them for a year in a laboratory setting, sampling them monthly for lead contamination and noting any differences between the systems. That left the village to ask Edwardsville if Glen Carbon could remain on its water system until May 1. Village residents are charged the in-city water rate, $5.19 per 1,000 gallons used. In September 2019, Glen Carbon had discussions with Maryville about using its water service, particularly during the fall and winter, then supplement that supply with Edwardsville water until a long-term solution could be found. Last October, IEPA officials recommended Glen Carbon complete a pipe-scale analysis and case study documentation concurrent with the loop study. The analysis and case study would provide additional details that might allow the village to end its loop study sooner than anticipated. These changes also eliminated using Maryvilles water in the short-term. Glen Carbons contract with IAW requires the village to buy water for five years after leaving Edwardsville and the IEPA will require testing of any new source. Maryville remains a long-term possibility, as does Glen Carbon building its own water plant. According to its website, Glen Carbon is responsible for the operations and maintenance of 90 miles of water mains and related equipment, more than 85 miles of sanitary sewer mains and 29 lift pumping stations. The villages water treatment plant, 500,000-gallon clear well and a one-million-gallon storage tank are at the same site, on Route 162. The elevated storage tank at Glen Carbon Road and Route 159 holds another half-million gallons of water. Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at (618) 659-5735 on Wednesday said it will move the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) against the National Company Law Tribunal for accepting an insolvency case against its subsidiary Calcom Cement. GuarantCo Ltd, part of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG), had moved the Guwahati bench of the in October 2019 to initiate insolvency proceedings against Calcom Cement, in which holds 75 per cent stake, for alleged failure to repay dues of around Rs 100 crore. " will challenge at NCLAT, the Guwahati bench judgment admitting the case for interest payment to the development fund Guarantco," a Dalmia Cement spokesperson told PTI. The cement company is guided by RBI norms and directions, and there stands a strong legal ground for quashing of the order, he said. "We are surprised that GuarantCo application has been admitted by the Hon'ble NCLT, Guwahati bench, whereas we had prayed for dismissal of the same," the spokesperson said. Dalmia Cement claimed it has been regularly paying the principal repayment amount as per the agreed schedule against the total original outstanding of Rs 112 crore, the guarantee amount paid by the foreign financial institution on behalf of Calcom. Calcom Cement was acquired by Dalmia Cement in 2012 and at the time of acquisition, it was facing financial crisis and under corporate debt restructuring, and "yet, Dalmia Group was honouring the liabilities of the erstwhile promoters", the official said. The spokesperson said the company had also sought direction from the RBI on rate of interest for the loan, and the central bank put a cap of 8.5 per cent on the interest. "Calcom has been quarterly paying back the principal amount and has also paid all the interest as per the agreement... post receipt of the RBI approval," he claimed. In 2008, GuarantCo had guaranteed a loan availed by Calcom from Axis Bank and HDFC Bank. "In 2012, GuarantCo initiated legal action against Calcom which was later withdrawn, after an MoU was signed between the two on repayment of the due amount, which later got the approval of the RBI in 2017," GuarantCo's counsel Manoj K Singh had said. Singh claimed Calcom had failed to honour the terms of the MoU as well as the RBI approval, especially payment of interest. File image Senior BJP leaders from various states, including former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, slammed the ruling AAP in Delhi and dubbed the February 8 Assembly polls in the national capital as a fight between "nationalism" and "anarchy". Addressing poll meetings in the Kalkaji, Deoli and Badarpur constituencies, Fadnavis said Sharjeel Imam's arrest had proved that the Modi government was not going to spare those involved in "anti-national" activities. "The entire Opposition is supporting the Shaheen Bagh protest in Delhi. If (Chief Minister) Arvind Kejriwal had not supported the tukde tukde gang, there would have been no Shaheen Bagh," he said. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was in favour of nationalism, the Opposition was supporting "anarchists", Fadnavis said. "The Delhi election is a fight between nationalists and anarchists and the people here have to decide who do they want in power," he said. Campaigning for the party candidate from the New Delhi constituency, Sunil Yadav, BJP national general secretary Bhupendra Yadav alleged that Kejriwal, his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress were standing with "anti-nationals". "This election is a fight between nationalists and anti-nationals and Arvind Kejriwal, along with Congress leaders, is standing with anti-nationals," he said. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur also addressed poll meetings in Shakur Basti and Trinagar, and claimed that Delhi had taken steps backward, instead of moving ahead, under the AAP government. Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi said people of other states played a crucial role in Delhi's development, but Kejriwal considered them as "infiltrators". Addressing a poll meeting in support of the BJP candidate from Adarsh Nagar, Raj Kumar Bhatia, he asked the crowd, "Do people from Bihar need Kejriwal's permission to visit Delhi?" Meanwhile, the Delhi chief minister said in a tweet that 250 senior leaders of the BJP, including 200 MPs and 11 chief ministers, were reaching the national capital to defeat Delhiites and their "son" Kejriwal. MPs yesterday unanimously voted for a proposal to oblige the government build a mosque in Amwaj Islands. This came during the regular weekly meeting of the Council of Representatives, held yesterday in Gudaibiya. During the session, the MPs reviewed a report submitted by the Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee in the council on the proposal. Submitted by five MPs, the proposal stipulates building a mosque in Amwaj Islands, which has been constructed around 20 years ago and still lacks a mosque, according to the MPs who submitted the proposal. The MPs demanded the government in their proposal to build a mosque in the area, as they referred to the importance of prayers considering that Bahrain is an Islamic country and all areas must have mosques in them. Residents and visitors of Amwaj Islands are forced to go to the nearby areas to pray. Amwaj Islands is a tourist attraction and receives most of the Kingdoms visitors. Bahrain is an Islamic country and this must be reflected across all of its areas, the MPs said. The five MPs who submitted the proposal were Khalid Buanq, whos the parliamentary representative of the area, Ibrahim Al Nefaiee, Zainab Abdulameer, Adel Al Assoomy, who submitted a similar proposal in 2014 but it was shelved, and Mohammed Al Abbasi. We hope to see more mosques constructed in Amwaj Islands, which is a big area of around 11 square kilometres, and especially that more people are moving in this area to live, Mr Al Assoomy commented during yesterdays session. All the attending 29 MPs voted for the proposal, which is now referred to the government for reviewal. THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and TransUnion Philippines signed a data sharing agreement Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, in which DTI will provide publicly available data of business enterprises to TransUnion, the countrys largest credit bureau. The data sharing agreement will allow TransUnion to develop a firm bureau database to expand the distribution of its credit information to not only individuals but to firms as well. This criterion is measured by the World Bank in its Doing Business (DB) Report under its depth of credit information index. Todays signing of the data-sharing agreement between DTI and TransUnion is part of the governments continuing effort to improve our competitiveness ranking. This partnership signals greater collaboration between the government and the private sector in using data analytics to help us in policy making and program development, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said. Lopez further said: This initiative is hitting two birds with one stone. By working closely through information-sharing with TransUnion, we are confident that we will secure additional points under the Getting Credit Indicator. More importantly, the publicly available data we provide will be processed together with their rich database to be used in determining borrowers credit worthiness. In the end, this will contribute to increasing the banks efficiency in processing loan applications. Following the data protest filed by the Philippine government in 2018, the WB accepted the data correction request of the Philippine government when it confirmed that TransUnion is the largest credit bureau in the country with an 8.47 million adult population in its database. This is 13.5 percent of the total adult population in the Philippines, exceeding the 5 percent WB threshold. The data correction request resulted in a 35-point increase in the Philippines score for Getting Credit and a significant +52 notches increase in the indicator ranking. At TransUnion, we use information to empower our lending partners in giving financial access to more consumers. In order to do this, we at TransUnion continually strive to bring in more extensive credit information from various sources into our database. The more diverse and extensive data that we have, the more efficient our business partners will be in making decisions to extend credit to both consumers and businesses, said Pia Arellano, president of TransUnion Philippines. (PR) This article by Jeff Schogol originally appeared on Task & Purpose, a digital news and culture publication dedicated to military and veterans issues. The Navy SEAL accused of strangling Army Special Forces Staff Sgt. Logan Melgar was promoted to chief petty officer two months after Melgar's death, according to a new report from The Daily Beast. Chief Special Warfare Operator Tony E. DeDolph is charged with murder for allegedly choking Melgar to death during a June 4, 2017 hazing incident in Bamako, Mali, that involved three other U.S. special operations, a British service member, and a Malian security guard. Kevin Maurer of The Daily Beast first reported that DeDolph was one of the sailors who was selected to become chief petty officers in August 2017. DeDolph was frocked the following month and began receiving chief's pay that December. Indeed, Task & Purpose confirmed that DeDolph's name appeared on the list of fiscal 2018 active-duty chief petty officer selectees that was included in an Aug. 4, 2017 Navy Times story by reporter Mark Faram. According to his Navy biography, DeDolph officially became a chief petty officer on Dec. 16, 2017. An unnamed defense official told Maurer that DeDolph was not formally charged or a person of interest in connection with Melgar's death at the time he was promoted. The date listed on his official charge sheet is Nov. 4, 2018. Capt. Tamara Lawrence, a spokeswoman for Naval Special Warfare Command, declined to discuss why DeDolph was allowed to advance to chief petty officer shortly after Melgar's death. "I'm not going to comment on details surrounding an ongoing investigation," Lawrence said in a statement. "SOC DeDolph has remained a member of Naval Special Warfare throughout this process. It is paramount that the rights of the service member are protected, thus any additional information regarding this case will not be discussed." Phillip Stackhouse, DeDolph's attorney, had little to say about the issue when contacted by Task & Purpose, stating that the timing of when sailors get promoted depends on the command and the individual. "His command promoted him," Stackhouse said. "It's not like anything was a secret or shady that was going on. Conceivably, they could have done something different conceivably. Like in the Marine Corps, they have the ability to delay things. For whatever reason, they didn't delay it." More articles from Task & Purpose: Federal prosecutors announced Tuesday that the city of San Francisco's public works director and a restaurant owner have been charged with a scheme to bribe a San Francisco International Airport commissioner for help in obtaining an airport restaurant lease. Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru, 58, of San Francisco, and Lefty O'Doul's restaurant owner Nick Bovis, 57, of San Mateo, were each charged with one count of honest services wire fraud. U.S. Attorney David Anderson said at a news conference in San Francisco that the two men were arrested on Monday and were each released on a $2 million bond by a federal magistrate in the city on Tuesday. A proposed state law that aims to raise the age at which people accused of crimes are automatically tried as adults was introduced in the California Legislature last week. On Friday, state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, introduced Senate Bill 889, which would raise the age at which suspects in California are tried as adults from 18 to 20. The bill is at least partly based on research that shows the human brain isn't fully developed in 18- and 19-year-olds, according to the announcement from Skinner's office. While it has not yet taken an official position on the bill, officials with the California District Attorneys Association are skeptical. The Berkeley City Council at its meeting on Tuesday night will consider a proposed change to the city's municipal code that would allow on-site cannabis consumption in lounges at storefront retailers that install a ventilation system. The proposal being considered by the City Council also would legalize up to seven cannabis delivery services in Berkeley, expand the area where cannabis can be commercially grown, and allow warehouses that take phone and internet deliveries. City staff members recommend that the Council allow cannabis consumption at lounges because such cannabis consumption is prohibited in public, in most businesses and in many apartments. However, the Berkeley Community Health Commission opposes allowing consumption at lounges because of the risk of secondary exposure to cannabis smoke and vapor and the risk of impaired driving. The commission said it believes that public consumption of cannabis would undermine city policies promoting smoke-free air. The commission also opposes prohibiting the sale of flavored smoking and vaping products and flavored cannabis-flavored beverages. In 2012, Susan Gorin was elected to her first term as Sonoma County's District 1 Supervisor, and David Cook was elected to his first term on the Sonoma City Council. Cook, a former volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician and a fourth-generation farmer, is challenging Gorin's attempt for a third term on the board in the March 3 primary election. At a candidates' forum Monday, Cook and Gorin both alluded to the 2017 wildfires in the Santa Rosa and Sonoma Valley area, and responded to around two dozen questions submitted by the public. Regarding rent control, Cook said the Sonoma City Council rejected it but he is willing to study it further as a supervisor. Gorin said the Board of Supervisors has not yet addressed the issue, but said the county needs to build housing for middle-income workers who are priced out of the housing market and employers must increase wages. The Marin County Sheriff's Office has identified a tree service business worker who died when a tree fell on him Monday morning as Edgar Martin Ramos Martinez, 37, a native of Guatemala who was living in San Rafael. Martinez was removing trees on behalf of a homeowners' association between Blue Jay Way and Chamberlain Court in Mill Valley. He was struck by a falling tree and suffered traumatic head and body injuries, Chief Deputy Coroner Roger Fielding said. Martinez was in cardiopulmonary arrest when paramedics arrived and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The Sheriff's Office and the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) are investigating the death. Cal/OSHA spokesman Frank Polizzi identified Clements Tree Service Inc. of Mill Valley as the tree removal business. He said the fatality occurred at 803 Chamberlain Court in Mill Valley, and the investigation will cover worker safety and training procedures. A woman was shot near the former site of the Candlestick Park stadium in San Francisco on Monday afternoon, according to police. The shooting was reported around 1 p.m. at the site near the southeastern edge of the city. The woman was treated at a hospital for gunshot wounds that are not considered life-threatening, police said. No arrest has been made in connection with the shooting and no suspect information was immediately available. Four people were arrested after allegedly stealing merchandise from a Dick's Sporting Goods store in Fairfield and returning it at another store in Petaluma for gift cards, according to police. The quartet of alleged thieves was reportedly seen at the Dick's store in Petaluma at 4:29 p.m. Monday, returning items that were reported stolen from the Fairfield store just hours earlier, Petaluma police said. Police said the suspects were identified on video surveillance as the same ones from the Fairfield theft. The suspects were able to return the items for gift cards, but were pulled over by Petaluma police as they drove away from the store parking lot at 401 Kenilworth Drive. The suspects, identified as Jovon Jenkins, 21, of Oakland; Doshanie Johnson, 22, of Vallejo; Jordan Henry, 18, of Oakland; and Rayshaan Johnson, 19, of Oakland, were all arrested and booked into Sonoma County Jail. A 29-year-old Antioch man was arrested Friday night following a vehicle pursuit through Antioch and Pittsburg that also involved a law enforcement helicopter, the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday. Denzal Ashford-Greene was wanted on multiple felony warrants for vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, burglary and probation violation, sheriff's spokesman Jimmy Lee said. Ashford-Greene was pulled over by a sheriff's "J Team" specialized patrol unit at about 11 p.m. Friday in Antioch. As deputies approached the car, it fled at a high rate of speed, and deputies pursued the vehicle on streets in Antioch and Pittsburg, as well as on state Highway 4, Lee said. The deputies in their vehicle stopped the pursuit when the sheriff's helicopter joined it. The helicopter crew tracked the suspect to Rock Island Drive in southeast Antioch, where Ashford-Greene stopped and got out of his car. The helicopter crew guided the sheriff's ground units to Rock Island Drive, where Ashford-Greene was arrested. Ashford-Green was later booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on suspicion of felony evading, unlawful possession of tear gas, probation violation, in addition to the outstanding warrants. He is being held without bail. 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. Most of Tuesdays group failed to cross the border, and the four who managed to enter Hungary were intercepted. A Hungarian security officer fired three warning shots early on Tuesday after about 60 migrants and refugees tried to force their way through a checkpoint on the border with Serbia. No one was wounded in the incident, which took place at the Roszke/Horgos border crossing, Hungarian police spokeswoman Szilvia Szabo said. Serbian police said later they had arrested 37 people for trying to cross the frontier illegally. Hungarian police said the group tried to enter the European Union member state at the crossing at about 04:30 GMT, prompting the security officer on site to fire the warning shots. 190711081059016 There are thousands of refugees and migrants stuck in Serbia, with more than 6,000 living in government-operated camps. On Tuesday, in the village of Horgos, on the Serbian side of the border crossing, a group of about two dozen from Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Morocco said they were beaten up by Hungarian police and sent back to Serbia. Some showed cuts and bruises, but Reuters was not able to verify their accounts. My friends they have tried to cross the border and the police of Hungary, they reacted badly about that, they were hitting them, they broke their phones, said Mohab, a migrant from Morocco, who acted as an interpreter for the group. They shoot bullets in the air and people run, he said. The crossing was the scene of a large-scale clashes at the peak of Europes migrant crisis in 2015, when police faced off with hundreds trying to break through the frontier into the EU. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban subsequently ordered a steel fence erected along Hungarys border, curbing arrivals. But migrant traffic started increasing again late last year and there are currently several hundred attempted undocumented crossings per week. Most of Tuesdays group failed to cross the border, and the four who managed to enter Hungary were intercepted, police said, adding that the crossing had been closed. A larger highway checkpoint for international passenger and freight traffic remained open, police said. A rch Brexiteer Nigel Farage has conceded that even he will somewhat miss the EU as he reminisced about being its "pantomime villain". Mr Farage, who has served as a Member of the European Parliament since 1999, spoke of the disdain he has drawn during his tenure and said: "I will miss, of course, some of the drama. "I will miss being the pantomime villain, the guy who gets up and 500 people start booing." Brexit: Two days until Britain is scheduled to leave the EU Ahead of giving a speech today, he added: "I've got my last speech this afternoon - I'll try my best to get some audience participation." Despite his nostalgia, he said he will be "celebrating the fact that the will of the people has triumphed". Speaking ahead of the moment of Britain's departure, set for January 31, Mr Farage said he hoped Brexit would spark a conversation in other EU member states. Mr Farage, who is currently the Brexit Party leader, said he wanted to "get Europe to leave the European Union", as he spoke of loving the continent but loathing the EU. He said he thought the European Union was "not just undemocratic" but "actually fundamentally anti-democratic". A new scheme has been unveiled which offers three farmers in the UK the use of a New Holland machine for a year. The competition is open to any British farmer who can justify how the loan of a machine will help their agri-business develop. New Holland Agriculture has partnered with the Princes Countryside Fund as part of their 'Up to Speed' initiative. In particular, the firms are looking for a new entrant who could use the machine to kickstart their business, or an existing farmer who is looking to become more efficient on farm. A farmer who is looking to develop or diversify their current enterprise could also win the use of a New Holland machine. There are three different kits available for loan: a Boomer Compact tractor, a T6 or T7 tractor and a TH telehandler. JB Gill, JLS band member, and ambassador for the Princes Countryside Fund said: Over the past ten years the Fund has been championing British farms and encouraging their sustainability. This partnership with New Holland is a fantastic opportunity for farmers to make a real difference to their business. Applicants must be aged 18 and over, with a British driving or tractor licence, UK citizen with a UK passport and a resident in the UK. Applicants must fill in an application form and upload a short supporting video explaining why they deserve the machine. Applications open at 12pm on Monday 27 January and close at midnight on Sunday 1 March. Wildlife activists have expressed concern over ace adventurer Bear Grylls shooting his show featuring superstar Rajinikanth at Bandipur Tiger Reserve during the "fire season". "It is disturbing to learn that Bear Grylls was in Bandipur along with superstar Rajinikanth, they are welcome to Bandipur at any point of time... But at this critical time when the entire forest force is worried about the fire- as this is the fire season, and they need to be working, people were there giving them security. This is not we expect of sensible people to do," Joseph Hoover, a city based wildlife activist, said. Noting that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has granted them the permission, in a video statement, he said "that's fine, but there has to be some sensibility that they cannot be involved in such shooting, during a fire season." Calling it a "critical time", while pointing out that 4,800 hectares of forest land was lost last year due to the 'negligence' of the forest department, he said they are doing a fantastic job this year, but added that these type of intrusions are not going to help forest at all. "If the government is keen on promoting wildlife tourism, they should first protect the forest...they could have done it at any other time during monsoon or after the monsoon. The Ministry of and Forest and the Karnataka forest department needs to be clear about when they need to do and how to go about it. It is very disappointing," he added. Amid reports that shooting was done in Kalkere and Moolehole ranges in Bandipur, some activists pointed out that even tourism is not allowed in the area and expressed reservation over the permission granted to them. Noting that there was valid permission to carry out shooting, forest department officials have said the shooting started on Tuesday and would go on till Thursday. The forest department has imposed several conditions while permitting the shooting such as filming at own risk and not allowing the crew to use explosives and inflammable materials, according to officials. Rajinikanth is the second high profile figure in the country to appear in Grylls show after Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The actor had returned to Chennai last night after finishing shooting of an episode. "After our episode with Prime Minister @NarendraModi of India helped create a bit of TV history, (3.6 billion impressions), superstar @Rajinikanth joins me next, as he makes his TV debut on our new show #IntoTheWildWithBearGrylls on@DiscoveryIN. #ThalaivaOnDiscovery" Grylls tweeted on Wednesday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Joe has the FX domain and marketing expertise to manage the rapid growth we're experiencing due to compliance mandates like MiFID II, PRIIPs, and the FX Global Code of Conduct," said John Galanek, FXT's CEO. "Our sophisticated and loyal client base continues to demand new ways to improve FX oversight and lower trading costs. Everything we build is client-driven, and we are lucky to have some of the brightest investors in the world as our clients." Conlan joins FX Transparency with more than 25 years of foreign-exchange experience, most recently as global head of sales for digital-currency startup San Juan Mercantile Bank. Prior to that he ran the FX sales team at INTL FCStone for 11 years. Earlier in his career, Conlan helped migrate the CME's FX futures from the Exchange Floor to e-trading platform Globex, and worked in senior FX sales roles for EBS, Congotec, Integral, and Currenex. "FXTanalytics delivers sophisticated data-mining tools as a complementnot a replacementto our expert consultations where actionable directives are prescribed to help our clients reduce trading costs," said Conlan. "Personal attention to each client has always been this company's differentiator in the FX TCA space, and I will continue to build on that high level of service that our customers expect from us." About FX Transparency, LLC FX Transparency is the largest independent provider of foreign-exchange transaction cost analysis (FX TCA) and currency-execution consulting globally. The firm's mission is to quantify and reduce currency-trading costs exclusively for institutional buy-side market participants. FX Transparency was founded in 2009 and has offices in Framingham, MA, and Melbourne, Australia. For more information about FX Transparency's TCA services or to see how your company's execution costs compare to others using the FXT Peer Universe program, please visit our website at www.fxtransparency.com. SOURCE FX Transparency, LLC Related Links http://www.fxtransparency.com By IANS NEW DELHI: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) in an affidavit in the Supreme Court on Wednesday said the entry of women into mosques is permitted, and that there is no restriction on men and women praying together. The affidavit was filed in response to a petition filed by a Maharashtra-based Muslim couple demanding that women should be allowed to "worship in all mosques" and cited discrimination against them currently in practice at various mosques. The issue will also be taken up by nine-judge bench constituted to examine the legal question associated with the discrimination against women in connection with their entry into various religious places, which includes Sabarimala temple. The Board in its response said, "The present respondent (AIMPLB) has taken a stand, as per Islamic texts, that entry of woman into mosque for namaz is permitted. Any other 'fatwa' to this effect may be ignored." However, the Board also contended that the sanctity of 'fatwa' is an opinion based upon religious texts, doctrine and their interpretation and has no statutory force, and the court has no jurisdiction to restrain 'fatwa'. "In case, if some believer of Islam is of the opinion that he/she needs religious opinion/fatwa, based upon interpretations of religious texts, then delivering of 'fatwa' on that issue cannot be restrained by judicial order of this court as the same shall directly hit the right and freedom of religious belief of an individual", said the Board in the affidavit. In October 2019, the apex court had issued notice on the plea of Yasmeen Zuber Ahmad Peerzade and Zuber Ahmad Nazir Peerzade, who contended restrictions on entry of Muslim women in mosques across the country were unconstitutional and violates fundamental right to life, equality and gender justice. The plea sought direction to the government authorities and Muslim bodies to allow entry of Muslim women into mosques to offer namaz there. The plea also contended that in mosques where women are allowed, there should be no segregation -- separate entry, exit or a separate praying area. The Board said it does not want to comment on any contrary religious opinion to this effect. "Islam has not made it obligatory on Muslim women to join congregational prayer nor is it obligatory for woman to offer Friday namaz in congregation though it is so on Muslim men. The Muslim woman is differently placed because as per doctrines of Islam, she is entitled to the same religious reward for praying as per her option either in masjid or at home", said the affidavit. However, it said the practice of religion on the places of worship are purely private bodies regulated by 'Muttawalis' of the Mosques. We being body of experts, without any state powers, can only issue advisory opinion, based on Islam. "The answering Respondent (AIMPLB), and this court for that matter, cannot enter into the arena of detailed arrangements of a religious place, which is completely privately managed entity for religious practices of believers in a particular religion", contended the Board. President Donald Trumps Mideast peace proposal may be dead on arrival, as critics like to say. But the plan could also have the long-term effect of seriously circumscribing at a minimum future U.S. attempts to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The proposal unveiled Tuesday, which was overseen by Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, is heavily sided toward Israel. Although it does not rule out a future Palestinian state as some feared, it lays out tough conditions for Palestinians to meet before being granted statehood. And the vision for the states borders is highly unlikely to be accepted by the Palestinians. Standing beside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the president said Tuesday that the plan, titled Peace to Prosperity, was a win-win path for both sides. But he also warned that his proposal could be the last opportunity for the Palestinians to achieve their goals after more than 70 years of conflict. Netanyahu, meanwhile, appeared ready to take Trump's proposal to the limit. He repeatedly praised the president for recognizing Israeli "sovereignty" over disputed lands and is reportedly planning to bring the idea of annexing those areas to a Sunday vote by his Cabinet. The announcement of the plan follows an array of other pro-Israel moves by Trump, including shifting the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, shutting down the Palestinians office in Washington, and cutting off financial aid to the Palestinians. The Palestinian Authority long ago cut off its communications with the Trump team. Overall, Trumps actions appear designed to pressure the Palestinians into some sort of peace deal, even if its a far cry from what they want. So far, the Palestinians have resisted; on Tuesday, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said his people were responding with a thousand nos. In the long run, however, by creating certain facts on the ground, in the argot of the peace process, Trump may have dramatically redrawn the boundaries of politically acceptable terms for a U.S. administration Democratic or Republican to endorse if it wades into the conflict. Story continues Itll change realities on the ground in a way thats going to be harder to un-ring that bell, said Ilan Berman, senior vice president of the conservative American Foreign Policy Council. The traditional U.S. position has been that "final status" issues are best resolved between the two parties, meaning that Israel and the Palestinians should agree on the most sensitive topics. Each side has staked out non-negotiable demands, and U.S. officials have long sought to craft compromises on what are often utterly incompatible positions. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, speaks during a meeting with the Palestinian Central Council, a top decision-making body, at his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed,l) But now, future U.S. presidents might be hard-pressed, for instance, to reverse Trumps decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital, a diplomatic carrot Americans had previously withheld. Some Democrats running to replace Trump have already signaled they wont negate the recognition nor move the U.S. Embassy back to Tel Aviv. Its unlikely, too, that future U.S. presidents will reverse Trumps recognition of Israels annexation of the Golan Heights, territory claimed by Syria. Future U.S. leaders also might find it hard to walk back Trumps effort to limit who counts as a Palestinian refugee. Some might even find useful the Trump definition, which would not cover all descendants of original displaced Palestinians, because it could ease Israeli concerns about agreeing to a broad right of return for Palestinian refugees. It could be difficult to unravel Trumps promises to Israel in part due to the precedents they set within Israeli politics, which have shifted decidedly against the Palestinians in recent years. Another consideration: the domestic political price a future U.S. president might pay by provoking a fight with a close ally that retains strong support in Congress. In the American political context, the unfortunate reality is that Trumps plan will shape U.S. domestic perceptions of what is politically possible, a former U.S. official who worked on Israeli-Palestinian issues told POLITICO. "On refugees, Jerusalem, borders, it will almost certainly make it more difficult for a future president to support proposals that are more forthcoming for the Palestinians. Still another reason future presidents hands might be tied is that Israeli leaders have already signaled they will implement pieces of Trumps plan even without Palestinian assent. The plan envisions Israeli control over the Jordan River Valley and Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Netanyahu on Tuesday vowed that Israel would start to apply its laws to those areas, a move critics said would mean a de facto annexation. The Israeli prime minister faces an election in just weeks, as well as a raft of legal troubles he was formally indicted on corruption charges hours before he met with Trump. Yet, according to Israeli media, Netanyahu plans to have his Cabinet consider a vote to start annexing parts of the West Bank and the Jordan Valley as early as Sunday. Such a move could face legal challenges. Through land swaps, Trump says hell ultimately be putting in Palestinian hands twice the amount of territory they already control. But detractors said the lands that Palestinians would ultimately receive are not exactly useful. The swap areas they are giving the Palestinians is a bunch of desert entirely disconnected from the rest of their state while taking prime real estate in the middle of the West Bank, Ilan Goldenberg, a former U.S. official and Democrat who follows Israeli-Palestinian issues, tweeted Tuesday. The administration of Barack Obama tangled early and often with Netanyahu, including a first-year battle over settlements. The Obama team openly worried that Israel's actions were making a future Palestinian state impossible, and leaned on Netanyahu to freeze settlement growth to entice the Palestinian side to negotiate. Israeli officials pointed to past commitments by the George W. Bush administration, including a letter Bush sent to then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon shifting the U.S. position on so-called natural growth of existing settlement blocs. The Obama administrations efforts to retract that promise generated harsh criticism from Israels allies in the United States, including current State Department official Elliott Abrams. The blowup over settlements deepened the mistrust between Obamas team and Netanyahu's, and in some ways the relationship never recovered. Last year, the Trump administration reversed decades of policy by deciding that the U.S. no longer views Israels West Bank settlements as inconsistent with international law. Trumps defenders argue he is making hard calls that past presidents have dodged and stripping away illusions that have long prevented the conflict from being resolved. Mere opposition to this vision is simply a declaration of support for the hopeless status quo that is the product of decades of stale thinking, the White House said in a document released Tuesday that echoes past remarks by Kushner. Danielle Pletka of the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute acknowledged that Trump forces some hard questions for the Palestinians but said he also is pushing some hard choices on the Israelis. Look at Bibi talking about a Palestinian state that's important, Pletka said, using Netanyahus nickname. The Israeli prime minister has long downplayed the possibility that such a state could exist. In comments reported by the Israeli press, Trumps former ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said this week the top priority of the plans architects was always the national security of Israel. We knew that we couldnt do anything that was going to compromise the security of Israel. But we also knew that the Palestinians deserve a better way of life. To that end, the Trump plan tries to coax the Palestinians to the table by promising them billions of dollars in economic assistance. And while it recognizes many existing Israeli settlements in Palestinian-claimed land as part of Israel, it also calls for a four-year freeze on settlement construction, though it was not quite clear when that freeze would take effect. Trumps plan also insists that Jerusalem will be the undivided capital of Israel, but at the same time, it calls for a future Palestinian state with a capital in parts of East Jerusalem. Former U.S. officials said Trump is engaging in word play that could in the long run undermine talks. There are a lot of parts that Israel calls Jerusalem that Palestinians dont consider Jerusalem, Goldenberg noted. He added that many key Arab neighborhoods of the city may not wind up in a future Palestinian state as envisioned by Trump. That state, as envisioned by a map included in the plan, would for the most part be encircled by Israel, and is not contiguous. The plan also appears to give Israel control over security affairs in that state, noting: A realistic solution would give the Palestinians all the power to govern themselves but not the powers to threaten Israel. The White Houses peace plan envisions the Gaza Strip as a part of a future Palestinian state. That area remains under the control of the militant group Hamas, however, and is the source of rocket fire and other attacks on Israel. Israel also worries about aggression from Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group in nearby Lebanon. The White House has said the Palestinians can assume more security responsibility over time, but analysts say its unlikely Israel will allow for Palestinian control of security anytime soon. The plan repeatedly talks about giving the Palestinians a better life and creating more prosperity in the region. But Palestinian leaders say they cannot be bribed into accepting an agreement that does not offer them genuine political autonomy. After the nonsense that we heard today we say a thousand nos to the Deal of The Century, Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president, said Tuesday in the West Bank city of Ramallah, mocking past descriptions of the plan. The Palestinians have support from some U.S. lawmakers, including Democrats who say they are mindful of Israels security needs. Any claim that this plan envisions a Palestinian state is just false, tweeted U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). The plan allows Israel to control all security matters inside the Palestinian state, and thus it's not a state at all. But the fraught topic of Israel has often divided Democrats in recent years, with some in the party pushing for a more critical line toward Israel. The emergence of loudly pro-Palestinian voices in Congress, including Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), has led at times to open clashes on Capitol Hill, with House leaders rebuking Omar for her comments on Israel. The fault lines also have emerged in the 2020 presidential campaign trail, with one front-runner for the Democratic nomination Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders defending Omar. The cracks in once-solid Democratic support for Israel are one reason that some former U.S. officials and analysts argue that Trumps moves now may give more space for Democrats to maneuver on the Israeli-Palestinian issue by making it clear past playbooks are not binding. For example, some Democrats say the U.S. should go ahead and open a U.S. diplomatic mission perhaps an embassy in parts of East Jerusalem claimed by the Palestinians. And some Democratic presidential candidates have expressed openness to the idea of conditioning U.S. military aid to Israel on whether it keeps building settlements. Palestinian leaders have avoided contact with the Trump team for many months and none were present for Tuesdays announcement. On Monday, during a separate appearance with Netanyahu, Trump alluded to the seeming oddity of announcing a peace plan where only one side was on board. So people have been working on this for many, many years, and I think were relatively close, he said, but we have to get other people to agree with it also. There were, however, a handful of officials from Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates, at Tuesday's event underscoring how much the regions dynamics have changed over the past decade. The Palestinian cause is not the motivating issue it once was for Arab leaders. Many of those leaders now view Irans rise and aggression in the region a more pressing concern, and theyre willing to stay quieter about the Palestinians if it means they can get cooperation from the United States and Israel in containing the Islamist regime in Tehran. But notably, in a sign that Trumps team still had more diplomatic spadework to do, neither of the region's two Arab heavyweights Egypt and Saudi Arabia sent officials to the White House rollout. Another key player, Jordan, also stayed away. And those Arab countries present made it clear the road to Mideast peace remains a long one. This plan is a serious initiative that addresses many issues raised over the years, the UAE Ambassador to Washington, Yousef Al Otaiba said on Twitter. He added, however, that the plan offers an important starting point for a return to negotiations within a U.S.-led international framework. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 13:46 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206180056 1 National Yasonna-Laoly,Law-and-Human-Rights-Ministry,Visa,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,China,Indonesia,visa-free Free Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly is saying that Indonesia cannot abruptly stop its visa-free policy for all Chinese nationals, citing concerns over diplomatic relations, despite mounting calls for the government to do so to keep the archipelago free of a deadly coronavirus that started in China. We have received such requests, but we need to be selective. We will further discuss it with more specific details, Yasonna told journalists at the State Palace on Tuesday. Yasonna explained that not all cities and provinces in China were infected by the virus. Therefore, the government could not go forward with the hard-edged approach of declaring the entire country compromised and roll back its visa-free policy for Chinese tourists. Such a rejection, he added, might negatively impact the diplomatic relations between Indonesia and China. Not all regions [in China] are affected [by the viral outbreak]. We also need to take diplomatic relations into account, Yasonna said. We understand the situation has shocked not only Indonesia, but also many other countries. We hope the Chinese government can resolve it soon. Since the coronavirus was first identified in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December, the pneumonia-like ailment has spread and sickened more than 6,000 people in four continents to date, although the majority of infections and deaths remain in China. Read also: As number of coronavirus infections grow globally, Indonesia claims zero cases so far Indonesia has had reported no confirmed cases of coronavirus so far. However, concerns over the possible spread of the virus have been mounting, especially as some neighboring Southeast Asian countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, have confirmed cases of infection. House of Representatives lawmaker Charles Honoris from the ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) previously demanded the government stop the visa-free policy for Chinese passport holders, saying that it could prove to be an effective anticipatory measure for limiting the number of Chinese visitors amid fears over the coronavirus infection. The government should be more systematic in curbing the impact of a coronavirus outbreak on the country. Issuing travel warnings and increasing security at airports and seaports are not enough we have to reinstate our visa requirement for Chinese nationals who wish to visit Indonesia, Charles said. China's national health commission reported that the death toll from the new virus outbreak has risen to 132 as of Wednesday, with at least 5,974 confirmed cases on the mainland, AFP reported. (rfa) As fears of a deadly virus sweep the globe, panicked members of the public are depending on a flimsy first line of defence -- surgical masks that are coveted, but in short supply and of limited use. While Asian commuters cover their noses and mouths with the blue-green paper-thin covers -- and social media buzzes with mask emojis, rumours of stockpiles and shortages -- the humble medical mask has become an essential weapon in the battle against an invisible enemy. Cheap, mass-made and usually readily available at convenience stores, experts dispute the usefulness of masks as a tool to block transmission of the new SARS-like virus. While the basic, loose-fitting mask can help restrict the spread of cough droplets from infected people, they are a "one-way" defence and do not create an effective barrier to breathing in dangerous airborne microbes. "It is not one of the recommended barrier measures" for people who have not been contaminated, according to France's health minister Agnes Buzyn. Satoshi Hiroi, a senior researcher at the Osaka Institute of Public Heath, told AFP, that high-quality masks could be effective, referring to more expensive, tight-fitting respirators used to filter fine particulates of dust and pollution. "But as always, there is no 100-percent guarantee," he said, adding, the science was still out on exactly how the virus -- which has so far killed 106 people and infected over 4,000 -- is transmitted. Still, on Bangkok's streets many members of the public put faith in surgical masks on Tuesday, an act of self-defence in worrying times. "I'm very concerned about the virus," Tanyamon Jamophast, 28, told AFP. "Everywhere I go (in addition to a mask) I also bring alcohol and gel sanitiser to clean my hands and avoid areas with Chinese tourists." Others wore heavier duty -- and more effective -- PM2.5 or 3M (N95) masks, in a city shrouded for weeks by damaging pollution. Fourteen infections, all but one detected in Chinese visitors, have been reported in Thailand, a peak season destination for the tour groups from the mainland. - Sold out - For chemist Suphak Saphakkul that has led to the most intense panic-buying of medical items he has witnessed since the SARS epidemic in 2002/3. "All our (mask) suppliers are out of stock. These masks are made in China and the country itself is out of stock," he said. "We know that it does not provide 100 percent protection but it is better than nothing... (and) it can also reassure the public." Even for those who have one, there is a proper method to masking up. On Monday the mayor of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, took an online battering after wearing his mask inside-out. "You can inhale the virus if there is a gap between the mask and the face," added Satoshi Hiroi of the Osaka Institute of Public Heath. Meanwhile the Hubei provincial governor was pilloried for not wearing a mask during a press conference -- contravening an order to cover-up in public. Regular hand washing with soap, alcohol rubs and avoiding touching one's face as well as crowded places are endorsed by the World Health Organization as effective personal hygiene habits against infection. The advice has not stopped a run on the shelves, stockpiling or price hikes for medical masks, from Cambodia to Tokyo and Hubei to Hong Kong, where queues stretched outside the remaining retailers with stocks. In Bangkok, it is a case of better safe than sorry. "I just want to be as careful as I can," said 50-year-old commuter Apinya Sukprasitchai. burs-apj/fox You look at the consequences from the change and you address them which we are all open to doing, Mr. Cuomo said. But lets do it intelligently and not politically or in some knee-jerk fashion. The new law was passed by lawmakers last spring, as part of a raft of progressive legislation that aimed to modernize the states long-stagnant criminal justice statutes. Under the new law, judges are not allowed to set bail for a long list of misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies, including many instances of burglary, robbery, drug offenses, assault and arson. Bail originally was used as a way to guarantee that defendants returned to court for trial, but activists say the system had been corrupted and abused by law enforcement to unfairly jail poor defendants while releasing wealthy offenders. That paradigm found a vivid, and tragic, example in 2010 when a Bronx teenager, Kalief Browder, spent three years on Rikers Island because his family could not raise $3,000 for bail. The charges against Mr. Browder, who had been accused of stealing a backpack, were dropped for lack of evidence in 2013; he later committed suicide. But as soon as the new bail law took effect, critics began highlighting a parade of instances where recently released defendants allegedly committed more crimes once freed. In one example, a man who had been charged with stealing or attempting to steal from four New York City banks was released without bail; hours later, the police said, he robbed a Chase bank in Brooklyn. No sound, rational and fair criminal justice system requires the pretrial release of criminal defendants who demonstrate such determination to continuously commit serious crimes, Mr. Donoghue, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said after the suspect was rearrested earlier this month. When we think of climate change, we tend to think about greenhouse gases, fossil fuels and pollution. Most of us don't think about fungi. But Kathleen Treseder does. Treseder, an ecologist at the University of California, Irvine, studies how fungi can affect climate and vice-versa. "Fungi are important to consider," she says. "They can influence nearly every aspect of ecosystems, especially processes that occur in soils." New research from her lab shows that fungi can have different lifestyles in response to climate change. These findings can be incorporated into computational models that simulate ecosystems. "We may be able to better predict shifts in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and climate change," says Treseder. "That can help us estimate how much, when and where climate change will affect human societies." It's important to be able to forecast which places will be hit by climate change and how quickly. These early warnings can help preparations, such as building sea walls or flood channels, or direct the development of new crop varieties. Fungi are terrific decomposers. They break down organic material to get nutrients and energy. In doing so, they turn complex chemicals into simpler elements, such as carbon. In fact, "fungi are an integral part of the global carbon cycle," says Treseder. "They can move carbon from decomposing material into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide." But fungi don't just release carbon. They can also store it. For example, environmental stress can cause fungi to strengthen their cell walls. They do so by using organic compounds that contain carbon. These carbon compounds can stay in soils for years to decades or even longer. Treseder's research explores how fungi decide whether to use limited energy and resources to decompose material or for other processes. "No one can do everything well, and the same goes for fungi," says Treseder. "If fungi invest resources into one activity like decomposition, then those resources won't be available to support another activity like tolerating environmental stress." These resource allocation decisions become even more important in a world with changing climate. "For example, will more extreme climates select for fungi that tolerate stress well, but cannot decompose dead material as efficiently?" says Treseder. "If so, then their production of carbon dioxide might decrease, slowing climate change." To answer these questions, Treseder traveled to Alaska and Costa Rica. Experiments were set up in Alaskan Boreal forests and the cloud forests of Costa Rica. " "We chose these locations because they are both endangered by climate change," says Treseder. "Northern ecosystems are warming particularly fast. Clouds are disappearing from the mountaintops of Costa Rica." Treseder and colleagues exposed areas of the forests to drought-like conditions or more mellow environments. They collected soil samples from the different experimental areas. Then they analyzed products made by fungal genes. These gene products served as indicators for whether the fungi were investing more resources toward decomposition or strengthening cell walls. "We found that where drought stress increased, the amount of fungi that invested more in strengthening cell walls and less in decomposition tended to increase," says Treseder. In contrast, in more moderate conditions, the reverse occurred. Fungi that decomposed more efficiently became more common. These findings suggest that fungi might store more carbon as global climate becomes more extreme. On the other hand, they might release more carbon dioxide in moderate climates. "These opposing feedbacks would not have been apparent without examining trade-offs among fungal traits," says Treseder. Treseder is working to incorporate these findings into new and existing models of climate change. One particular area of focus are Earth system models that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change uses for its official predictions. "We hope our research improves predictions of future trajectories of climate change," says Treseder. ### Treseder presented her research at the 2019 International Annual Meeting of the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America. This research was funded by the US Department of Energy and National Science Foundation. Fran Unsworth, director of news, spoke at BBC's Broadcasting House in London today BBC journalists today criticised the corporation for saying it will slash nearly 500 from its news division as it revealed cuts today in a drive to save 80million. News director Fran Unsworth confirmed today that the BBC would cut 450 jobs from its total news staffing of 6,000, as she outlined the plans to a gathering of about 130 staff at Broadcasting House. A BBC World Service employee has said that any cuts should be to management roles. The employee, who did not want to be named, said: 'They have always found the cuts [in programming] and never at a managerial level.' He added that the BBC's journalism is 'all moving to digital' because traditional broadcasting formats are 'declining in popularity'. 'The BBC will continue to lose shares of the audience,' he said. A BBC journalist said he had learned more about cuts at the corporation from media reports than from his employer. The reporter, who did not want to be named, said: 'I'm just interested that I sat in a meeting about the cuts and I found stuff out from The Guardian that wasn't said in the meeting.' Plans to axe Victoria Derbyshire's BBC Two programme were confirmed today having already been leaked, with the host admitting she is 'devastated'. There will be a cut to Newsnight's budget, job losses at 5 Live and the World Service will lose shows. Presenter Victoria Derbyshire leaves BBC Broadcasting House in London last Thursday Ms Unsworth, 62, who earns 340,000 a year, said today that the plan was to have 'multi-skilled story teams', telling staff at the offices in London: 'With great sadness I will announce some job losses. 'This organisation has to face up to the changing way that audiences are using us. We have to adapt. We need to create a modern newsroom that is built for the future and not for the past. What will now change at the BBC and where will the job losses be? The BBC is proposing to make the following changes to its output: The Victoria Derbyshire programme on television will end 'later this year' Reduction in films on Newsnight, which will lead to job losses Job losses at 5Live driven by 'changing listening habits' World Update on World Service English will be closed Review of the number of presenters the BBC has and how they work Advertisement 'We need to be honest with ourselves we are spending too much of our resources on traditional linear broadcasting and not enough on digital.' The BBC said there will be more investment in digital news, with a new version of the BBC News app, and more journalists will be based outside London. She said: 'Never in my career have I felt that the BBC is so under threat as it is today.' Ms Unsworth said the BBC covers 100 'story topics' a day - which was too many - and rival programmes were sending crews to cover the same story in different ways. She said: 'I understand why programmes want to make distinctive content simply for their audiences. But a modern newsroom needs to work smarter.' Ms Unsworth added: 'I believe we did a really excellent job in the general election.' This graphic was posted on a screen during the announcement in London today, showing the split between 'outlets', 'story teams', 'specialist production teams' and 'commissioning points' Ms Unsworth also made an apology to Victoria Derbyshire, who earns 215,000 a year, saying: 'I'd like to apologise to the team for the way the story emerged, that was not our intention.' 'Did you lie to me?' Furious Victoria Derbyshire confronts BBC News boss Fran Unsworth over axeing of her show as 300,000-a-year chief Fran Unsworth tells her: 'I'm paid to make really difficult decisions' Victoria Derbyshire today confronted the chief of BBC News, asking if bosses had lied to her about the axing of her BBC Two current affairs programme. The 51-year-old presenter asked the BBC's director of news and current affairs Fran Unsworth if they had lied to her and her team about the show's goals. Ms Unsworth, who earns 340,000 a year, apologised about the programme being cut, telling the host: 'I'm paid to make really difficult decisions about this.' Ms Derbyshire, who earns 215,000 a year, found out about the cut last week after reading it in a newspaper and admitted she was left 'absolutely devastated'. But Ms Unsworth said during today's meeting at Broadcasting House: 'I'd like to apologise to the team for the way the story emerged, that was not our intention.' Ms Derbyshire condemned claims by the BBC that it is cutting her show because it failed to grow its live audience. She tweeted: 'We were NEVER asked to grow the linear TV audience. Ever. We were asked to grow our digital audience - we did. 'Our digi figures are huge (our successful digital figures appear to be an inconvenience to those making the decisions).' She added: 'Our remit when we were set up: 1. Original journalism 2. Reaching underserved audiences 3. Growing the digital figures. We achieved all three.' Ms Derbyshire live tweeted from a briefing to BBC staff about the cuts to the news division as part of a cost-reduction drive. She posted an image of a screen from the presentation, entitled Modernising BBC News, which she said was being streamed to staff elsewhere in the BBC. She told her followers: 'Head of internal comms just said to us all, 'enjoy and relax'.' And she wrote of the BBC's director of news and current affairs: 'Fran Unsworth arrives.... 'Cheery' music in room like you hear when you're your put on hold.....' An online petition calling for the corporation to reverse the BBC's decision to cut the programme has more than 30,000 signatures. Advertisement Ms Derbyshire asked BBC bosses if they lied to her and her team about the show's goals. Ms Unsworth apologised about the programme being cut, saying: 'I'm paid to make really difficult decisions about this.' Ms Derbyshire also condemned claims by the BBC that it is cutting her show because it failed to grow its live audience. The presenter previously revealed that she learned her show would be axed as part of a string of cuts when it was reported in a newspaper. Ms Derbyshire wrote on Twitter today: 'we were NEVER asked to grow the linear Tv audience. Ever. We were asked to grow our digital audience - we did - our digi figures are huge (our successful digital figures appear to be an inconvenience to those making the decisions).' She added: 'Our remit when we were set up: 1. Original journalism 2. Reaching underserved audiences 3. Growing the digital figures We achieved all 3.' Ms Derbyshire live tweeted from a briefing to BBC staff about the cuts to the news division as part of a cost-reduction drive. She previously posted an image of a screen from the presentation, entitled Modernising BBC News, which she said was being streamed to staff elsewhere in the BBC. She told her followers: 'Head of internal comms just said to us all, 'enjoy and relax'.' And she wrote of the BBC's director of news and current affairs: 'Fran Unsworth arrives.... 'Cheery' music in room like you hear when you're your put on hold.....' Ms Derbyshire used the briefing to confront Ms Unsworth about the decision to axe her show. BBC News has to save 80million as part of financial pressures on the corporation, including paying for free TV licences for over-75s on pension credit. The move comes ahead of the mid-term and the renewal of its charter in 2027, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson reportedly open to reviewing the licence fee and the BBC facing a series of ongoing gender pay gap disputes. It is expected that BBC radio bulletins across different stations will share more resources. There will be a reduction in the number of films produced by Newsnight, which will lead to job losses. The flagship political programme recently made headlines with its interview with the Duke Of York. There will also 'be post closures at 5Live driven by the changing listening habits of the audience and demand for digital content'. In addition, World Update on World Service English will be closed. The corporation said it wanted to 'reduce duplication' and would have a review of 'the number of presenters we have and how they work'. There will also be 'a reduction in the overall number of stories covered'. Ms Unsworth said today the plan is to have 'multi-skilled story teams', showing this graphic Ms Unsworth told the BBC News channel: 'We are trying to change the model of how we produce news, because at the moment we have lots and lots of outlets and programmes who all have the power to commission their own stories to send their own teams to places. Last-minute reprieve for BBC Red Button text service after protests Separately, the BBC suspended the closure of its Red Button text service after protests, just one day before it was due to have started closing. It comes after a petition organised by The National Federation of the Blind of the UK warned that axing the service could isolate 'vulnerable' people in society was handed into Downing Street on Monday. They said the red button is vital for people with limited sight and hearing and who do not use the internet. The organisation said it is 'concerned that by withdrawing the Red Button Teletext service, it will leave many people, who are already vulnerable, further isolated and marginalised from society'. The decision to close the service would mean people will no longer be able to read headlines, football scores, weather and travel news on their TVs. Advertisement 'So what we want to do is co-ordinate that much better so that teams will actually co-operate and collaborate with each other so that we don't get lots and lots of different teams all going at different times to do stories.' She added: 'We want to eliminate some of the unnecessary wastage and commissioning that goes on at the moment. 'We are producing an awful lot of stories every day and we think our duty is to keep the public informed and we can do that at the same time as taking quite a lot of money out.' More than 19,000 people are employed by the BBC's public service arm, with its annual news and current affairs budget at 355million. The cuts also come amid payouts to some female staff, with radio presenter Sarah Montague getting a 400,000 settlement and Samira Ahmed winning an employment tribunal in a dispute over equal pay, while the future of the TV licence also remains uncertain. The cost cutting was announced as the corporation starts the search for a new director-general with Lord Tony Hall announcing he will step down from the role in the summer. Speaking at the Edelman Trust Barometer 2020 event yesterday, Lord Hall said: 'We've got to look at our part in the nature of political discourse. Lord Tony Hall left, in London last week) will step down as director-general in the summer. BBC director of news and current affairs Fran Unsworth (right, in London in December 2015) told staff the move to end Derbyshire's daily programme had 'not been an easy decision' 'I'm a great believer in the long form political interview where you can explore at length, not in soundbites, the real policy decisions that politicians are making.' 'Give MPs a break': Outgoing BBC boss Lord Hall slams the broadcaster's aggressive journalism aimed at 'catching out' politicians Outgoing BBC Director-General Lord Tony Hall has criticised the corporation for contributing to a toxic discourse with political journalism aimed at trying to 'catch out' politicians. Lord Hall, who will move into a top role at the National Gallery after leaving the broadcaster, said the BBC had to more carefully consider its role. 'I'm a great believer in the long form political interview where you can explore at length, not in soundbites, the real policy decisions that politicians are making,' he said in comments carried by The Times. The 68-year-old was speaking at the launch of the Edelman Trust Barometer a day before the BBC announced cuts to its news division as part of a cost-cutting drive. Plans to axe Victoria Derbyshire's BBC Two programme have already been leaked, while flagship shows like Newsnight must also make efficiencies. Lord Hall said the corporation's journalism should reflect the difficulties of making political decisions. 'Exploring those sort of nuances is an important part of what we should do.' His comments come as senior Tories continue to boycott BBC Radio 4's Today at the request of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's special adviser, Dominic Cummings. Newsnight lead presenter Emily Maitlis responded to Lord Hall's comments by warning against scripted interviews, insisting 'engaging' encounters would ensure audience retention. 'That doesn't mean everything has to be a battle, far from it, but you do have to leave the audience feeling if they look away they will miss something,' the journalist told The Times. Lord Hall's departure takes place during a turbulent time for the broadcaster, with job cuts at the top of the agenda along with equal pay disputes, political bias, diversity and TV licences. Advertisement Ms Unsworth previously told staff the move to end Derbyshire's daily BBC Two current affairs programme had 'not been an easy decision'. Ms Derbyshire, 51, said she first found out about the plans in a newspaper. She said her Bafta-winning show had delivered on its remit, breaking original stories and 'attracting a working class, young, diverse audience'. A petition to save the programme has reached more than 30,000 signatures. The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) general secretary Michelle Stanistreet described the BBC cuts as 'damaging'. Ms Stanistreet said: 'Against this backdrop, the BBC's very existence is being threatened with public service broadcasting under unprecedented threat. 'If the government goes ahead and decriminalises non-payment of the licence fee, we know the impact will be further losses for the BBC of around 200million a year and increased collection costs of 45million.' Conservative MP Damian Collins, who is standing for re-election as chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee, said on Twitter: 'There will be concerns about proposed BBC news cuts. 'They should explain how it'll impact the BBCs ability to reach people. @VictoriaLIVE & @bbc5live serve different audiences to other parts of BBC news. I bet the consultants had fun with these charts....' Bectu (Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union) national secretary Noel McClean said: 'It would be easy to point the finger at BBC management, and we will absolutely hold them to account, but Bectu knows that the reality is much more complicated and that Government policy (including decisions around free licences for over 75s) has led to the pressures that impact our members and audiences. 'Bectu will be doing everything it can to minimise the impact of today's announcement. We have already met with the BBC to start consultation about their proposals and timescales about how staff can be deployed to other areas rather than losing their jobs. 'The unprecedented constraints faced by the BBC will leave our members under even more pressure to deliver the output and service that has made this essential public service the envy of the international broadcasting community and risks its future viability.' WASHINGTON Ways and Means Chairman Rep. Richard E. Neal told the committee Wednesday that passenger rail connecting Boston, Worcester, Springfield and Pittsfield will be a priority as the U.S. House of Representatives considers a $760 billion infrastructure program Democrats introduced Wednesday. Neal opened a transportation funding hearing praising the 18-month-old CTrail Hartford Line, which links Springfield with New Haven, Connecticut. A pilot program continues service farther north along the Connecticut River valley. For me the concept of east-west rail expansion in Massachusetts will be a priority, said Neal, D-Springfield. The success that we had with the north-south rail link that we had with Springfield and Northampton was a substantial achievement. The hearing was broadcast on the Ways and Means Committees YouTube channel. Earlier Wednesday, Neal and his colleagues in the House majority introduced their plan to spend $760 billion over five years and create 10 million jobs through improvements to roads, bridges, transit systems, railways, airports, seaports, inland waterways, wastewater and drinking water systems, brownfields, and broadband internet. At the hearing, Neal expressed his desire to apply a budget concept called dynamic scoring to any upcoming discussions of infrastructure investment. Dynamic scoring means that lawmakers and analysts consider economic benefits from changes in behavior. For infrastructure, that would mean considering the jobs and business opportunities created by better infrastructure, like people in Springfield having an easier, quicker commute in to Boston. With each dollar spent, our nation becomes more competitive and prosperous, Neal said. Neal reminded Republicans that dynamic scoring was used to justify President Donald Trumps tax cuts back in 2017. 1/15/2020 -Springfield- The CTrail 1:50pm train pulls out of Springifeld's Union Station. The Springfield to New Haven CTrail line has been well received by people who commute to the Hartford area. (Don Treeger / The Republican) Connecticut transportation officials said ridership on the CTrail Hartford Line passed the 1 million mark over the Thanksgiving weekend. The route launched June 18, 2018. Hartford Line ridership grew at 25% year-over-year, according to the Connecticut Department of Transportation. The route is now expected to exceed 750,000 passenger trips during its second year, outpacing the 666,960 passenger trips originally forecast. Massachusetts officials are studying the feasibility of east-west passenger rail, with a report expected this spring. The project advisory committee meets Feb. 6 in Springfield, and there is a public meeting set for 6-8 p.m. Feb. 12 at the UMass Center in Tower Square. At a meeting this summer, state officials said a commuter train trip from Springfield to Boston could take 80 to 105 minutes, but only if the state builds a new rail line along the Massachusetts Turnpike and connects it to Springfield Union Station and Worcester Union Station. The trip is about 90 minutes to just under two hours if new rails are built basically along the existing freight rights of way with curves straightened out. At Wednesdays hearing in Washington, U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., said how to pay for it is always the sticking point with infrastructure. Youll hear great agreement up here until it comes to how do we pay for this, Larson said. Then it becomes the dance of the tarantulas. No side is willing to stick its head out because the other side will lop it off. A man walks on the Yalu River Broken Bridge, with the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge behind, in the border city of Dandong, in China's northeast Liaoning province on February 23, 2019. Authorities in North Korea have suspended all trade with China in an attempt to prevent the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus into the country, as several confirmed cases of infection have occurred in Chinese cities on the border with North Korea, RFA has learned. Sources say that trade between North Korea and its northern neighbor came to a halt Friday, and the North Korean consulate in China has posted a notice saying that it is suspending the issuance of visas for travel to North Korea. From today, freight-car-traffic from Dandong, China through the Sinuiju customs office [in North Korea], has been completely stopped, a source in North Pyongan province told RFAs Korean Service Tuesday. Although the customs offices of both countries have not officially closed, North Korea has preemptively blocked trade with China, the source said. This morning, the Chinese trading partner of a North Korean trade worker tried to check in with its North Korean counterpart in Sinuiju but was denied entry because authorities today ordered the cessation of freight transport across the border in response to the horrible epidemic spreading in China, the source said. The source said that North Korean health officials are investigating a list of trade officials and people who have entered China for other reasons that have returned to North Korea through Sinuiju since mid-January. They want to see if they have been infected with the new coronavirus, the source said. People are saying that only a limited number of people are allowed to enter North Korea from China and that the customs office is conducting strict health screening, the source added. The source said that trade workers in China are stranded and people within North Korea that have exit visas are only allowed to leave the country on a limited basis. In addition, the movement or residents of the border area to inland areas [of North Korea] is also being strictly controlled, the source said. Another source, a North Korean resident visiting Shenyang, China told RFA Tuesday, An official notice was posted at the North Korean consulate in Shenyang yesterday, saying they will not issue visas to enter or leave North Korea because of the outbreak of the new virus. The notice shows that North Korean authorities are doing what they can to prevent Wuhan pneumonia from entering North Korea, the second source said. The second source also said that staff at the consulate in Dandong had special orders. [They] were told to refrain from having contact with Chinese people, to take special measures to prevent the virus from infecting them, and to report to authorities immediately if they believe [one among them] is infected, the second source said. Virus spreads in Chinese border cities Sources say North Korean and Chinese traders are currently on high alert because several cases of Wuhan pneumonia have been confirmed in Dandong. As of this morning, four confirmed coronavirus cases have been reported in Dandong, a trade source in Dandong said Tuesday. The news of the confirmed patients is spreading rapidly through the online messaging platform WeChat, the third source said. This morning news of those four [in Dandong] and six in nearby Dalian and Shenyang is spreading like wildfire, the third source added. The actual number of confirmed cases may be higher, considering that intercity bus service as well as the express bus service to the Dandong outskirts have been suspended since the afternoon of the 25th, the third source said. Kaesong quarantine Meanwhile in the southern region of North Korea, authorities are tightening quarantine inspections of South Korean personnel at the inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong. Seouls Ministry of Unification told reporters Tuesday that North Korean authorities have asked South Koreans in Kaesong to wear masks, and are being screened with a thermal imaging camera. The ministry added that all visitors to the North are provided with hand sanitizer and masks by the South Korean government. Reported by Hyemin Son, Joonho Kim, and Jeong Eun Lee for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Scottish lawmakers on Wednesday voted to keep the European Union flag flying outside the devolved parliament in Edinburgh after Brexit. The group that manages parliament had planned to lower the flag at 11.00 pm (2300 GMT) on Friday, when Britain officially leaves the EU. But members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) voted by 63 to 54 to overturn the decision after heated debate. Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh had warned ministers that flags "should not become a political issue" and that they "reflect our relationships in law". Scotland voted by 62 percent to 38 percent to remain in the EU during the 2016 referendum but Britain as a whole voted out, and will leave on Friday. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who leads the pro-EU Scottish National Party, had urged for the EU flag to keep flying, angering opposition parties. The Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats insisted that the "non-political" ruling of the Parliamentary Corporate Body should have stood. The motion passed by MSPs said that the flag should stay up "as a sign of support and solidarity with those EU nationals who have made Scotland their home". Separately, and as expected, MSPs endorsed Sturgeon's calls by 64 votes to 54 for a second referendum on Scottish independence, after a previous vote in 2014 saw the proposal rejected. Sturgeon and the SNP argue that Brexit has changed the "material circumstances" of Scotland's relationship with the rest of the UK, because of its majority vote to remain in the EU. Her motion calls on the UK government in London to "reach an agreement with the Scottish Government on such a referendum taking place on a date and in a manner determined by the Scottish Parliament". UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has consistently ruled out holding another referendum. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rating: 3.5 /5 Star Cast: Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, Scarlett Johansson, Taika Waititi, Sam Rockwell Director: Taika Waititi Language: English Duration: 108 minutes Story: Written and directed by Taika Waititi, Jojo Rabbit is based on Christine Leunens's book Caging Skies. The film follows the life of Jojo Betzler, a Nazi fanatic, as he finds out his mother has been hiding a Jew girl in their attic. Review: Jojo Rabbit has been filmed from the point-of-view of a child, one that wishes to join Adolf Hitler's personal guard, and of course also be his best friend. However, for the time being, Adolf is his imaginary friend, at least the version of Adolf, a 10-year-old could come up with. Johannes aka Jojo has been living with his mother in Germany run by the Nazis, towards the end of World War II. His father who was supposed to be fighting on the Italian front has lost contact and his sister earlier died of Influenza. Jojo wishes the best for his fuhrer, Adolf and takes every word by his men as the ultimate truth. At the start we see Jojo enlist for a Nazi training camp, where they are taught, Jews are vermins and have to be extinguished. As the camp proceeded he begins to realise, killing is not something he can choose to do. For him following Hitler meant glory, but he didn't know the cost at which it came. Away from the camp back home, Jojo finds out about the Jew girl, Elsa Korr, his mother has been hiding in their attic. While he thinks about snitching, the counteroffer to study a Jew and save his own life feels more fitting. For the rest of the run time, we follow Jojo as he makes up his mind, to either follow the other Nazis or see the truth for himself. Jojo Rabbit is more about the effects that war has than, the war itself. The adults in the film are well aware they are at the end of the war and are loosing. You can see them give up on their loyalties but only put up a facade to survive. In several scenes, the lead actors, repeat 'Heil Hitler' to each other, and with every repetition, their conviction dies a little. World War II was fought on the bases of information or lack of it, and its effect can be seen in the film. False information and lack of communication, about what kind of species jews are spreads widely, and develops the stereotype that they are vermins. But Jojo sees the truth for himself when he actually begins communicating with Elsa. The version of Jojo's imaginary Adolf goes through drastic changes from the start of the film to the end. While he was a supportive friend at the start, he turns into a dictator, as Jojo perception about him changes. Which is also an indication of how the information war was won and lost. From boosting Jojo's confidence at first, we see him become the monster who would feast on a unicorn, alone! Adolf shows his true colours of a man who is filled with hatred. Waititi also pays homage to a gay couple in the film, to how women were treated as birthing machines and how most people are gullible if you tell them anything with confidence. There are all kinds of people and their different ideologies, which are portrayed in the film. We get to see them make their own decision and seal their fate without regret. Film's casting has been incredible, from Jojo to his best friend, Yorki who appears only for a few shots, are still a delight to watch. Scarlett Johansson as Rosie (Jojo's mother) is an anti-Nazi. She is not the only adult we truly get to meet, but her suffering and loss, is felt deeply with the few scenes we get with her. Sam Rockwell as Army officer is the most you bond with. He is the wise man who knows the right from wrong and has the courage to do the right thing. The comedy and drama in the film go hand in hand. Most of the time, it is the irony that makes you laugh. The screenplay written by Waititi is short and simple, without layering the emotions, we get to see and hear exactly what the maker wants us to feel. Jojo Rabbit is not a slap on the face for the genocide and the suffering. It is a reminder to the youth today that we get to decide the future for the next generation. Are we to become their Adolf or their Rosie who will support them and let them chose for themselves? With Jojo Rabbit, director Taika Waititi will lead you to believe that there is still hope for us. But the movie also tells you right in the face that there is only a slim chance of what you are hoping for. We recommend you watch Jojo Rabbit for the laughs, and also a lesson. Bad Boys For Life Movie Review: Will Smith And Martin Lawrence Get It Right This Time February 2020: What To Watch On Netflix And Amazon Prime? Unilever Ghana registered a huge loss of GHS141 million last year against a profit of GHS59 million in 2018. As a result of the loss, its basic earnings per share for 2019 was a loss of GHS2.26 per share as against GHS3.05 gain in 2018. Operating loss margin was 51.7% as against a profit of 69.7% in 2018. According to its unaudited 2019 financial statement, revenue for 2019 was GHS339.8 million, compared with GHS632 million in 2018. The results the company said reflected challenging trading conditions as well as the prioritisation of inventory reduction in its distribution network as highlighted in September 2019. However, despite the loss, management remains optimistic about the outlook. Management remains positive outlook for the business in the long term, an extract revealed. Over the years, Unilever Ghana has been complaining of unfair trade practices including inferior and unbridled goods on the Ghanaian market. It is unclear whether Unilever Group will follow suit the action they took by dissolving the Nigerian management of the Ghanaian subsidiary. Unilever is presently selling at GHS16.40 per share on the Ghana Stock Exchange. ---classfmonlin.com Workers from the local disease control and prevention department in protective suits disinfect a residential area following the outbreak of a new coronavirus, in Ruichang, Jiangxi Province, China on Jan. 25, 2020. (cnsphoto via Reuters) Coronavirus Destroying Chinas Global Supply Chains News Analysis The coronavirus outbreak in China is disrupting global supply chains because no one will travel for business, according to China Law Blog, a website that caters to elite attorneys involved in cross-border business and run by international law firm Harris Bricken. According to China Law Blog editor Dan Harris, the coronavirus is impacting pretty much everyone in China. Getting to international airports is difficult and whole cities in China are closed off. Applying for visas to other countries has slowed to a crawl; while expatriates and Chinese citizens are afraid to leave China because they may be denied entry into the country of destination and may not be able to return to their place of residence. Foreign embassies and consulates in China have already scaled down to essential personnel, with plans to eventually evacuate them as well. This explains why foreign governments are arranging evacuation flights from China for their officials and citizens. Scores of people have been infected by the coronavirus, or Wuhan pneumonia, but China Law Blog states that nobody believes the official numbers because virtually nobody trusts the veracity of the Chinese government. Hospitals that have run out of coronavirus testing kits are labeling new deaths as pneumonia or other sicknesses. A Yale epidemiological study predicts 190,000 infections in Wuhan alone by Feb. 4. Zhou Xianwang, the Mayor of Wuhan that is at the epicenter of the epidemic, said that 5 million people had left the city for Chinese New Year before the travel quarantine was imposed. Many are worried that these people have the potential to spread the disease widely. The mayor recently came under fire for saying that the city had enough medical supplies to contain the coronavirus during a Jan. 26 press conference. The Financial Times reported that several big companies near Shanghai like Foxconn, Johnson & Johnson, and Samsung Electronics have been ordered to shut down temporarily. To put on a more positive face, many cities are prolonging the current holiday by a week. But China Law Blog reports that huge numbers of Chinese factories across the nation are effectively already closed because employees do not want to work cheek by jowl with 3,450 other people, some of whom might be spreading the coronavirus. Even those factories that remain open are reporting dramatic increases in quality control failures. Massive Chinese layoffs and furloughs without pay are accelerating as inventories of raw material and subassembly are consumed. Most coastal factory workers are part of the 150 million rural migrants that as temporary workers cannot claim unemployment benefits under the system of hukou permanent residence permits. They can return to the farms, but rural villages rely on family remittances for about a third of their income. President Trump in a Monday morning tweet stated: We are in very close communication with China concerning the virus. He added: We have offered China and President Xi (Jinping) any help that is necessary. Our experts are extraordinary! But by Monday evening, the U.S. State Department issued its first general travel advisory to reconsider travel to China due to novel coronavirus. The basis for the updated risk advisory is the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issuing a Level Three Warning to avoid all nonessential travel to China. The State Department has also acknowledged that it has ordered the departure of all its non-emergency U.S. personnel and family members from Hubei Province and that the Chinese regime may put travel restrictions on Americans with little or no advance notice. Four Christian aid workers from France and Iraq have gone missing in Baghdad, according to SOS Chretiens dOrient (Christians of the Middle East). The nonprofit organization had sent its four employees to complete administrative formalities, according to the BBC. So far, no ransom has been demanded, nor has any group taken responsibility. The disappearance occurred near the French embassy in Baghdad. Their names have not been revealed for security reasons, as reported by Faithwire. The aid workers were to renew their visas and register the association with Iraqi authorities, according to France 24. They were also intending to inspect the charitys activities in the city. The director of the nonprofit said the men are experienced staff members who have been working with us for years and had perfect knowledge of conflict zones. The French Foreign Ministry has been notified of the situation and are actively working to gather more information. SOS Chretiens dOrient has worked in Iraq since 2014 to help persecuted Christians remain [in the region] and rebuild. The organization also works in Syria, Lebanon and Egypt, visiting Christian families and teaching the French language. Christians in Iraq have suffered tremendous persecution since ISIS overran the country. Before the US invasion of Iraq, an estimated 1.5 million Christians lived in the Middle Eastern country. That number has dwindled down to less than 200,000. Our tormentors confiscated our present while seeking to wipe out our history and destroy our future, said The Archbishop of Irbil, Rev. Bashar Matti Warda at an event in London last year. In Iraq, there is no redress for those who have lost properties, homes and businesses. Tens of thousands of Christians have nothing to show for their lifes work, for generations of work, in places where their families have lived, maybe, for thousands of years. Christianity in Iraqis perilously close to extinction. Those of us who remain must be ready to face martyrdom. Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Romanista Mikaela Mathews is a freelance writer and editor based in Dallas, TX. She was the editor of a local magazine and a contributing writer for the Galveston Daily News and Spirit Magazine. Shaun Weiss, an actor best known for playing Greg Goldberg in The Mighty Ducks," was arrested Sunday in California and charged with burglary and for being under the influence of methamphetamine. Weiss was arrested after a homeowner called police when he saw an intruder in his garage, police said. Weiss was found by police sitting in a car in the garage. Police said he got into the car by smashing the passenger-side window. Weiss displayed symptoms of being under the influence of methamphetamine and said he did not reside at this residence. Weiss also said the vehicle he was filtering through was not his, police said in a statement. He is being held on $52,000 bail, police said. In 2018, Weiss, 41, was arrested for public intoxication. Along with The Mighty Ducks movies, Weiss also appeared in Heavyweights, Boy Meets World, Freaks and Geeks and The King of Queens. READ MORE A man who was found to be in the possession of 1,500 worth of cannabis with the intent for sale or supply was jailed for ten months at Naas District Court on Thursday, January 23. Jordan Hall with an address listed as 2522 Maryville, Melitta Road, Kidlare town came to the attention of gardai on November 9, 2017 after a house search. Gardai found cannabis to the value of 1,500 and a weighing scales. He had one previous conviction. His barrister, Aisling Murphy, said that a probation report on her client had been handed into the court. He is someone who is very vulnerable, she said. He is an active addict who wants to engage with services. She requested that the case be adjourned for six months so that her client could attend the relevant addiction services. She added that the defendant is 24 years old. Judge Desmond Zaidan said that he had read the probation report in detail. Drugs is an evil trade, Judge Zaidan said. It destroys lives. the judge added. I will impose a sentence and recommend direct medical attention and counselling in prison. A graffiti tagger arrested after allegedly spray painting 'Penis Man' dozens of times around a town in Arizona has said there could be more like him around - after revealing he was just a follower who did a few taggings. Former Arizona State University student Dustin Shomer evaded capture since November 2019 as he scrawled the offensive words around the city of Tempe, Arizona. But he was allegedly caught in the act on Thursday, January 23. Shomer, who claims he was arrested by 25 heavily armed SWAT officers, has now revealed that he is just one of many 'Penis Man' enthusiasts who tag the words onto various buildings and objects. Dustin Shomer was arrested by Tempe police on Thursday last week and identified as the 'Penis Man' tagger Dustin Shomer created 'Penis Man' graffiti around Tempe to protest 'local government' 'I'm not the original,' Shomer told the New Phoenix Times on Monday. 'There are hundreds of copycats with very distinctively different handwriting.' Revealing how he was inspired to go around tagging the words 'Penis Man, Shomer said he heard some people in a Tempe bar talking about the 'real,' seemingly phantom-like Penis Man and got inspired to do some of his own. 'I thought it was a good message,' he explained. And on Facebook he wrote: 'Penis Man is neither man nor woman, you nor me. We are ALL Penis Man.' Shomer, a native of Phoneix, Arizona, was allegedly caught red-handed by the Arizona State University Police Department at approximately 5:30PM. They called in the Tempe police to make the arrest. Tempe Arizona Police Detectives arrested Dustin Shomer after an investigation revealed he was responsible for multiple graffiti incidents of 'Penis Man' Dustin Shomer created a YouTube video in which he wrote out his name to 'prove' who he was 'Tempe Police Detectives arrested Dustin Shomer after investigation revealed he was responsible for multiple graffiti incidents of "Penis Man" throughout the City of Tempe and across Arizona State University as well,' Detective Greg Bacon told the Daily Mail. 'Dustin was booked into the Tempe City Jail on 16 counts of aggravated criminal damage, 8 counts of criminal damage and one count of criminal trespassing in the first degree.' According to Shomer's Facebook page, he is a former student of the Japanese Language and Literature in Arizona State University, which has a campus in Tempe. Many of the 40-plus tags as 'Penis Man' appeared on the college campus. In one of his social media posts, Shomer reportedly spoke about how 'Penis Man' was a protest against 'corrupt local government'. 'Penis Man' had been active since November when an early January ABC15 Arizona news report made him a local celebrity. A 'Penis Man Fans' Twitter page was created to document the new locations where the graffiti appeared and even Presidential campaign badges were created by his fans. 'Penis Man' struck 40-plus locations throughout Tempe, Arizona Fans of 'Penis Man' created their own Twitter page to track the new locations and copycats Isaac Chavira, Tempe's transportation maintenance manager, said stunt wasted resources The city's maintenance managers were initially lenient about the wide spread tags as the few tens of locations were nothing in comparison to the 300,000 cases of graffiti logged in Tempe in 2019. The police had also received no official complaint and so an investigation was not opened. But the tagging became a problem when local historical landmarks began to be targeted, including the historic Hayden Flour Mill, the 'A' landmark on Hayden Butte and the front door of Tempe's municipal building. 'Penis Man' tags began to appear in more peculiar locations around Tempe, Arizona 'Penis Man' went vital after a TV broadcast showcased some of his more bizarre tags 'Penis Man' appeared to be opportunistic in his approach to tagging 'It's like, I get that anything longer than it is wide is phallic, but at a certain point, you just shake your head,' Tempe Vice Mayor Lauren Kuby told New Times. 'The public works staff has to work extra hours to clean that up.' 'There's a lot of time, material and resources that's being utilized to abate the graffiti so yes, I would like to see this stopped,' said Isaac Chavira, Tempe's transportation maintenance manager. Shomer himself engaged in the hype on social media surrounding 'Penis Man'. Dustin Shomer engaged in the social media debate about 'Penis Man' Shomer appeared to claim 'Penis Man; was a protest against 'corrupt local government' Without identifying himself, Shomer revealed more about 'Penis Man' through his posts In a post to 'Unmodded - NEIGHB'rhood Group', he posted a picture of a tag saying 'Penis Them' stating: 'Can't stop them from coming and coming and coming all over the place.' While not identifying himself, he commented several times in response to other users, telling one: 'if you don't like Penis Man, you're more than welcome to organize a significant movement that is effective in weakening the influence of venture capital and corrupt local government.' He also commented: 'LGBTQ+ is a function of capitalist identity politics. Although anyone should be free to be who they are, they should not need a particular label in order to achieve validity in their sexuality or orientation.' [January 29, 2020] Saki America Demonstrates New Inspection Systems and Software at IPC APEX Booth 2025 Saki Corporation, an innovator in the field of automated optical and X-ray inspection and measurement equipment, will demonstrate new automated inspection products, software, and capabilities and announce new personnel, offices, and collaborations at IPC APEX, San Diego, CA (News - Alert). On display will be a new combination 3D automated optical inspection (AOI) with 3D solder paste inspection (SPI) system, an automated X-ray inspection (AXI) system for printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs), new self-programming software with self-tuning, and advanced M2M capabilities. Saki's combination AOI/SPI system fits NPI, high-mix/low-volume, and high-volume applications, enabling all companies to use both SPI and AOI inspection to ensure the quality of their manufacturing process and products, even when using 01005 and 0201 metric components and board sizes up to 27" x 34". Multiple sensors of 7m, 12m, and 18m accommodate the inspection needs of almost all manufacturing operations. Common software and a common user interface enable Saki's SPI, AOI, and AXI results to be viewed together, and programming is easy and intuitive, taking minutes instead of hours and providing automated data analytics and line performance dashboards. Saki's 3Xi-M110 3D-CT AXI machine for printed circuit board assemblies ensures the quality of hidden solder joints for bottom-electrode packages such as BGAs, LGAs, QFNs, flip-chip, and package-on-package and provides precise volumetric measurements and shape reconstruction to find voids, head-in-pillow, and other defects that are difficult to idetify. The new X-ray tube reduces X-ray exposure up to 70% by powering the X-rays on only at the moment of image capture. The tube doesn't need periodic maintenance or spare parts and the system reports when the tube needs replacing. Saki's new system delivers high-resolution from 10m to 30m and selectable stop-and-go. The 3Xi-M110 is 40% lighter and 25% smaller, saving floorspace. Image capture speed is increased by 30%, reducing production-line takt time. Saki's new software solutions include its QD Analyzer which it co-developed with Cogiscan. This advanced software for manufacturing production quality and control presents actionable KPI data to accurately identify the cause of defects based on inspection results, while simultaneously monitoring machine performance and collecting traceability data. The software includes a defect-analysis dashboard detailing line performance, including drilling down to the exact pin of a reference designator to discover exactly what's hindering productivity. "IPC (News - Alert) APEX will be a chance to introduce Saki America's new personnel and offices," said Norihiro Koike, president of Saki Corporation. "Saki technical experts from Mexico, Brazil, and Japan, as well as the United States, will be available to assist with your inspection needs. Please visit our booth #2025 at IPC APEX 2020, being held at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA from February 4-6." For more information contact Saki at [email protected], or visit our website at www.sakicorp.com or www.sakiglobal.com. Photo available at: www.sakiglobal.com/inspection-lineup.png About Saki Corporation Since its inception in 1994, Saki has led the way in the development of automated recognition through robotic vision technology. Saki's 3D automated solder paste, optical, and X-ray inspection and measurement systems (SPI, AOI, AXI) have been recognized to provide the stable platform and advanced data capture mechanisms necessary for true M2M communication, improving production, process efficiency, and product quality. Saki Corporation has headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, with offices, sales, and support centers around the world. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005264/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Islamic texts do not prohibit entry of women into mosques and all fatwas that contradict this tenet should be ignored, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board has told the Supreme Court in an affidavit. The Muslim Personal Law Board said Muslim women were free to enter a mosque for prayers but underlined that it was not obligatory on women, unlike men, to offer Friday prayers in congregation. The Boards affidavit came on a petition filed by a Maharashtra-based Muslim couple who asked the top court to declare prohibition on entry of women into mosques as illegal and unconstitutional. .. such practices are not only repugnant to the basic dignity of a woman as an individual but is also violative of the fundamental rights, the petition had said. The petition argued that women could only offer prayers at mosques of the Jamaat-e-Islami and Mujahid denominations but were barred from mosques under the predominant Sunni denomination. And even if they are allowed, there are separate entrances and enclosures for them to worship. The petition had drawn on the top courts Sabarimala verdict that ruled that religion could not be used as cover to deny rights of worship to women. Thailand being a tropical country, tourists would love to go for easy-breezy and short clothes when asked what to wear in Thailand. However, there are a few dos and donts in the country when it comes to the dress code. Here is the dress code that every tourist should follow according to reports of reputed travel portals: Dress code in Thailand for everyday outfits For men, when it comes to what to wear in Thailand a leading travel blog mentions, polo t-shirts and button-down collared shirts with a Bermuda short can be the best option. But they should not walk around with their shirts unbuttoned or wear singlets as mentioned by a leading travel magazine. For women, a few shorts, summer dresses and tops will suffice. Also Read: Hippie Places In India Where One Can Go To Enjoy The Typical Hippie Culture What to carry for footwear Walking in Thailand is a must for every tourist and one of the best ways to see the country. So one must remember to bring along comfortable footwear. However, since it rains a lot in the country, rubber or plastic sandals or flip-flops are advisable. High heels or boots will be very difficult to walk in as the sidewalks are said to be in bad conditions perennially. One must remember to take their shoes off when entering a temple or someones house as it is a custom there. Walking barefoot in the country is strictly against the rule, as mentioned in leading travel portals, and considered offensive according to the dress code in Thailand. Also Read: Bhrigu Lake Trek Itinerary; Here Is How One Can Reach This Beautiful Lake On Foot For visiting temples Like almost everywhere in the world, people visiting the temples in Thailand are advised to wear modest clothes. One can wear loose and long pants, shirts, or sarong. In many temples, sarongs are available on rent for tourists. Shoes without laces are a good option as one needs to be barefoot inside the temple. Also Read: Heritage Hotels That One Can Plan Their Stay In During Their Trip To Shimla Also Read: Kolkata Guide: Where To Eat, Shop And Stay In Indias 'City Of Joy' PR-Inside.com: 2020-01-29 22:12:00 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 498 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 29, 2020 / Vanadium One Iron Corp. (the "Company") (TSXV:VONE), is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Alonso Sotomayor as Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Mr. Sotomayor will replace Mr. Jacques Arsenault who resigned to pursue other business interests effective January 31, 2020. Mr. Sotomayor is a Chartered Professional Accountant (Ontario) with over 10 years of progressive financial reporting experience in the mining sector. Mr. Sotomayor started his career in a mining-specific role with accounting firm McGovern Hurley LLP, followed by progressively senior roles in the Toronto Mining Groups at KPMG LLP and Deloitte Canada overseeing files on numerous Canadian listed mining companies. Since 2017, Mr. Sotomayor has held the position of Corporate Controller of Ascendant Resources Inc and as Corporate Controller of the Company since November 2019. He holds a B.B.A. in Management and Accounting from the University of Toronto.Mr. Hale-Sanders, President and CEO, expressed his thanks on behalf of the Board to Mr. Arsenault for his professional contribution to the Company over many years and wishes him well in his future endeavours.In addition, the Company announces that the Board of Directors has approved the granting of stock options to two directors of the Company to acquire an aggregate of 300,000 common shares of the Company, exercisable at C$0.10 per common share, for a period of 2 years from January 24, 2020.About Vanadium One Iron Corp.:Vanadium One Iron Corp. is a mineral exploration company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The Company is focused on advancing its Mont Sorcier, Vanadium-rich, Magnetite Iron Ore Project, in Chibougamau, Quebec. The goal is to continue defining the extent of this resource and demonstrate its economic viability.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF VANADIUM ONE IRON CORP.Cliff Hale-Sanders, President & CEOTel: 416-819-8558info@ vanadiumone.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: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.This news release contains "forward-looking information" including statements with respect to the future exploration performance of the Company. This forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements of the Company, expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks, as well as others, are disclosed within the Company's filing on SEDAR, which investors are encouraged to review prior to any transaction involving the securities of the Company. Forward-looking information contained herein is provided as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation, other than as required by law, to update any forward-looking information for any reason. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking information.SOURCE: Vanadium One Iron Corp. My pals at the Institute of Governmental Studies here at UC Berkeley (where I remain a fellow against all oddsstory to follow some day soon) today released their latest poll on the state of the presidential race here in the once Golden State ahead of the March primary. I know the IGS pollster, Mark DiCamilo, quite well (in fact we shared an office for a time), and I think he is one of the best in the polling business. One of these days hell be a guest on the Power Line podcast. Anyway, guess what Mom? Bernie is surging: Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is now the outright leader in voter preferences in Californias upcoming March 3rd Democratic presidential primary. The latest Berkeley IGS Poll completed last week finds Sanders to be the choice of 26% of likely voters in the Democratic primary. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren is second at 20%, followed by former Vice President Joe Biden at 15%. No other Democrat is in double digits. . . Support for Warren has been fading since September when a Berkeley IGS Poll had her in the lead. Sanders has been the chief beneficiary of Warrens decline, as he now receives 41% backing from strongly liberal voters, up from 31% in September when he was trailing Warren. . . Sanders support is even more striking among the states younger voters, as he currently receives the backing of 54% of voters under age 30 and 39% of voters age 30-39. . . Bidens base of support is derived primarily from older voters and political moderates. Yet, his backing among these constituencies has been declining throughout the campaign. This chart is interesting, as it shows Bernies steady rise, Bidens slow descent, and Mayor Petes roller coaster ride: Two other interesting findings stand out. First, we keep hearing that selecting a candidate most able to beat Trump is the number one priority of Democrats. Well maybe, but not so much here in California apparently: Likely voters in the Democratic primary were also asked which was more important to them in deciding whom to support for President in the primarythe candidate with the best chance of defeating President Donald Trump in November or the candidate who most agrees with them on major issues. The results indicate that the states Democratic electorate is almost evenly divided on this, with 53% attaching a higher priority to voting for candidates with the best chance of defeating Trump in the fall and 47% favoring candidates who most agrees with them on the issues. . . By a wide 80% to 20% margin, voters under the age of 30 are intending to back candidates who most agree with them on the issues. That tells me that Bernie is going to romp here, like McGovern did in 1972, and perhaps elsewhere, too. That whole best person to beat Trump theme is likely a conceit of CNN and MSNBC. Second, California has complicated rules on awarding delegates in the primary, and it may favor Bernie over Lizzie: The stakes in capturing Californias delegates to the Democratic National Convention are high since it will be sending 495 delegates to the convention, by far the most of any state. . . The manner in which Californias pledged delegates are awarded to the candidates is rather complex since they are based not only on the statewide election returns but also from the returns within each of the states 53 congressional districts (CDs). . . [A] candidate like Sanders who receives a 26% share of the statewide vote, would be expected to be in a very strong position to reach the 15% threshold to be awarded delegates in a large majority of CDs. And, according to the poll, this is indeed the case, as he is seen as capturing at least a 15% share of the vote in 48 of the states 53 CDs. Thus, he is in position to be awarded delegates not only from the statewide vote but within virtually all of the states CDs as well. . . By comparison, a candidate with a 20% share of the statewide vote, like Warren, would be expected to reach the 15% threshold in somewhat fewer CDs. And, again the poll finds this is indeed the case, as she does so in 38 CDs. On the other hand, a candidate, like Biden who is receiving only a 15% level of the statewide vote, is in a much more perilous position. Not only does he need to avoid falling below the 15% threshold in the statewide vote, from a statistical standpoint he would be expected to fall below this threshold in a much larger number of CDs. And, the poll indeed finds this to be the case, as Biden reaches this threshold in just 26 of the states CDs. Translation: Bernie is in a great position to get a disproportionate share of Californias Democratic delegates. If this happens, it might well be Game Over. Meanwhile, this from the latest Gallup Poll yesterday is why Trump should be favored for re-election: Technavio has been monitoring the conveyor systems market in Europe and it is poised to grow by USD 875 million 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/20200129005345/en/ Technavio announced its latest market research report titled conveyor systems market in Europe 2019-2023. (Graphic: Business Wire) Warehouse space expansion in Europe has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, volatility in raw material prices might hamper market growth. Request a free sample report Conveyor systems market in Europe 2019-2023: Segmentation Conveyor systems market in Europe is segmented as below: End-User E-Commerce and 3PL Automotive Food and Beverage Retail Others Type Unit Handling Bulk Handling Geographic segmentation Western Europe Eastern Europe 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=IRTNTR30309 Conveyor systems market in Europe 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 conveyor systems market in Europe report covers the following areas: Conveyor systems market in Europe size Conveyor systems market in Europe trends Conveyor systems market in Europe industry analysis This study identifies the rising demand for customized conveyor systems as one of the prime reasons driving the growth of the conveyor systems market in Europe during the next few years. Conveyor systems market in Europe 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the conveyor systems market in Europe, including some of the vendors such as BEUMER GROUP, Daifuku, Interroll Group, KION GROUP and SSI SCHAEFER. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the conveyor systems market in Europe 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 Conveyor systems market in Europe 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023 Detailed information on factors that will assist the market growth in Europe during the next five years Estimation of the size of conveyor systems market in Europe and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the conveyor systems market in Europe Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of vendors in conveyor systems market in Europe 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/20200129005345/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/ Calling The Sun's report "completely groundless", a spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in London said on Monday that "China has provided necessary assistance and facilitation to countries who wish to bring back their citizens from Wuhan in accordance with internationally accepted practice and epidemic prevention rules." On January 27, 2020, The Sun reported that the UK planned to send a rescue plane to bring back hundreds of British citizens who are trapped in Wuhan, but "a Foreign Office source revealed" that Chinese "officials have told all countries its lockdown will not be lifted for repatriation flights." The spokesperson said that China has provided necessary assistance and facilitation to countries who wish to bring back their citizens from Wuhan in accordance with internationally accepted practice and epidemic prevention rules. The British Embassy in China has clarified that "the news is completely inaccurate. FCO in London is contacting the journalist to correct their understanding of this case. We can assure you that these inaccurate messages have not come from our government." The spokesperson emphasized that since the outbreak of the disease in Wuhan and other places, the Chinese government has demonstrated a strong sense of responsibility for the people in China and around the world. Firm measures have been taken to combat the virus and prevent its spreading. "People throughout China are mobilized to fight the disease shoulder to shoulder, with the confidence, resolve and capability to beat the virus. Here in Britain, people from all walks of life have also come forward to offer their help, which is touching and encouraging,"said the spokesperson. The spokesperson accused The Sun of fabricating stories and creating chaos. "The relevant report of The Sun does nothing but disrupt the disease prevention and control efforts at a critical moment when people throughout China are joining hands to bring the virus under control. This is immoral, irresponsible and unacceptable. The Sun should right the wrong and clarify immediately." The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday wrote to the Election Commission urging the poll-body to ban Union Home Minister Amit Shah from campaigning for 48 hours in the Delhi assembly elections. "This is in reference to violation of Model Code of Conduct by Amit Shah and other BJP leaders/MPs by posting false, fabricated and concocted videos in order to malign the image of Aam Aadmi Party, Delhi Govt schools, their teachers and students and play fraud against people of Delhi," a memorandum from the AAP reads. It further states, "In the last five years, the AAP-led Government in Delhi has made revolutionary changes in the education system of Delhi which has been recognised worldwide." "It is submitted, Amit Shah, his MPs of Delhi and other leaders in their public utterances made false claims that 'nothing has been done by the Aam Aadmi Party government for the betterment of government schools in Delhi'. In response to this, Arvind Kejriwal invited Shah to visit Delhi govt schools with him. But he, along with his MPs in a well-planned manner, with ulterior motive to spread false propaganda against Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and AAP, manufactured and published false and fabricated videos on Twitter and other media platforms," the memorandum said. It further said, "BJP sitting MPs Gautam Gambhir, Parvesh Verma, Hans Raj Hans on the direction of Amit Shah made false and fabricated videos to put the wrong picture of Delhi government schools before the people of Delhi." "We would urge the Election Commission to direct Amit Shah and above mentioned BJP MPs and leaders to remove these videos from Twitter. Delhi police to register FIR against the above-mentioned persons for posting false, fabricated and concocted videos. Impose ban on Amit Shah and above-mentioned MPs for violating Model Code of Conduct," the memorandum added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Texas universities are clamping down on travel to China, concerned about the mysterious new coronavirus thats now infected more people in that country than SARS did. The University of Houston System, Rice, Baylor College of Medicine, UTHealth, the University of Texas and Texas A&M have instituted temporary policies to stop all but the most essential travel to China. The institutions cite advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While the UH System places great value in our work and on our many partnerships in China, including exchange programs, and intends to continue these initiatives, our highest priority is the health and well-being of our UH System community, Paula Myrick Short, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs, wrote faculty, students and staff in an email Tuesday. At this time, the health risks associated with the uncertainty about where in China and how rapidly the virus is spreading outweigh our institutions academic and research endeavors and necessitate travel restrictions. The UH policy prohibits all travel to Wuhan, the Hubei province where the outbreak originated, and non-essential travel to China outside Hubei. The strongest policy was adopted Wednesday by Rice University, a suspension of all school-sponsored travel to China by faculty, students and staff. The suspension marked a stricter stance than Tuesday, when the school only advised against non-essential travel to China, following the State Departments lead. Both UT and Texas A&M have suspended all university-sponsored travel to China for undergraduate students but are allowing essential travel by faculty, staff and graduate researchers. Requests must be approved after review. Texas A&Ms policy urges people to give serious evaluation before requesting travel to China. Baylor and the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston instituted similar policies. On HoustonChronicle.com: Why Houston is uniquely situated to be better prepared for the coronavirus threat Five coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the U.S. none in Texas; all were infected in Wuhan but didnt develop symptoms until they returned to the U.S. A student at Texas A&M and a student at Baylor University in Waco were suspected to have the virus but turned out not to have it. The number of confirmed cases in China is now 5,974, more than the 5,327 diagnosed there with Severe Acute Respiratory System in 2002-2003. Chinas death toll, 132, is still lower than that from SARS. Nearly 350 died in that outbreak. The virus has been confirmed in 18 countries besides China. In most, there have been only a handful of cases. The CDC earlier this week added George Bush Intercontinental Airport and 14 other U.S. airports to the five previously selected to screen travelers from China. A spokesman said Wednesday that airport officials are waiting for CDC guidance before beginning such screenings. Five flights from China arrive in Houston weekly, none from Wuhan, said the spokesman. In all, those flights carry about 2,000 passengers. todd.ackerman@chron.com The Associated Press contributed to this story. The State Supervision Service of Armenia has launched a study at the Ministry of Defense. Spokesperson of the State Supervision Service Seda Aghbalyan confirmed the news in an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am. The Services report stated that it is conducting a study on the acquisition of fuel, actual data about natural losses of fuel and the lawfulness of construction of sheds at the Ministry of Defense. The State Supervision Service is also focused on the ministrys procurement, that is, the procedures for procurement of shoes and boots with military and official specifications. Seda Aghbalyan said the State Supervision Service is also conducting a study at Zinar CJSC of the Ministry of Defense and that it had launched inspection at the ministry in December 2019. More than 60 financial firms have moved some operations to Luxembourg to insulate themselves from the effects of Brexit, a industry group said Wednesday. As EU lawmakers voted in Brussels to confirm Britain's departure from the bloc, public-private agency Luxembourg for Finance released its figures. According to the group, 60 firms "have publicly announced the relocation of activities to Luxembourg due to Brexit," and at least ten more will do so. "Since the Brexit referendum in 2016, Luxembourg has seen a spike in interest from firms planning for their future EU and cross-border activities," it said. "A further Brexit outcome has been that Luxembourg law is increasingly being chosen by international institutions active in financial markets." The City of London is by all measures the biggest financial centre in Europe, and is likely to remain powerful after the United Kingdom leaves the EU. But the City's ability to freely provide financial services within the remaining member states will depend on a future cross-Channel trade deal. This will be negotiated during an 11-month transition period after Brexit, and some firms are already looking to move some or all of their business. Landlocked low-tax Luxembourg, a Grand Duchy in the heart of Europe, has a reputation for financial services -- and discreet bankers. According to accountants KPMG, Luxembourg has welcomed 65 firms owing to Brexit, ahead of Ireland on 64 and the Netherlands and France on 30 each. These companies include banks and their departments, insurers and stock brokers shifting operations from the City toward continental locations. Luxembourg for Finance CEO Nicolas Mackel said the duchy would be "an EU hub for firms considering their post-Brexit plans. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BOCA RATON, Fla., Jan. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ADT Inc. (ADT) (the Company or ADT ), a leading provider of security, automation, and smart home solutions serving consumer and business customers in the United States, announced today that Prime Security Services Borrower, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the Issuer ), and Prime Finance Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Co-Issuer and, together with the Issuer, the Issuers ), its indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, have completed their previously announced offering (the Offering ) of $1,300 million aggregate principal amount of 6.250% second-priority senior secured notes due 2028 (the Notes ). The Notes are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act ). The gross proceeds from the Offering were $1,300 million and, together with borrowings under the Issuers revolving credit facility and cash on hand, were used to (i) redeem in full the outstanding $1,246 million aggregate principal amount of the Issuers 9.250% Second-Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2023 (the Prime Notes ) and (ii) pay related fees and expenses in connection with the transaction. The Notes were offered only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in the United States pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and to persons outside of the United States in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from registration requirements or a transaction not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act or any state securities laws. Redemption In addition, the Issuers delivered a Final Notice of Redemption today with respect to their outstanding Prime Notes to announce the satisfaction of the previously announced financing condition. The Final Redemption Notice was issued pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, dated as of May 2, 2016, as amended, among the Issuers, the guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the Trustee ), pursuant to which the Prime Notes were issued. Consequently, the Issuers will redeem all of the outstanding Prime Notes on February 15, 2020 at a redemption price of $1,046.25 per $1,000 of outstanding principal amount of the Prime Notes plus the accrued and unpaid interest on the Prime Notes so redeemed (the Redemption ). Because the redemption date is not a business day, payment of the redemption price will be made on February 18, 2020. Story continues Satisfaction and Discharge In connection with the Offering and the Redemption, the Issuers irrevocably deposited funds with the Trustee to satisfy and discharge all of the Issuers remaining obligations under the indenture governing the Prime Notes. In accordance with the terms of the indenture governing the Prime Notes, the Trustee acknowledged the satisfaction and discharge of the obligations with respect to the Prime Notes and, upon such satisfaction and discharge, the indenture governing the Prime Notes is generally no longer in effect. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offering, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This press release is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135c under the Securities Act. About ADT ADT is a leading provider of security, automation, and smart home solutions serving consumer and business customers through more than 200 locations, 9 monitoring centers, and the largest network of security professionals in the United States. The Company offers many ways to help protect customers by delivering lifestyle-driven solutions via professionally installed, do-it-yourself, mobile, and digital-based offerings for residential, small business, and larger commercial customers. For more information, please visit www.adt.com or follow on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. Forward-Looking Statements ADT has made statements in this press release and other reports, filings, and other public written and verbal announcements that are forward-looking and therefore subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this document are, or could be, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are made in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided thereunder. These forward-looking statements relate to anticipated financial performance, managements plans and objectives for future operations, business prospects, outcome of regulatory proceedings, market conditions and other matters. Any forward-looking statement made in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. ADT undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Forward-looking statements can be identified by various words such as expects, intends, will, anticipates, believes, confident, continue, propose, seeks, could, may, should, estimates, forecasts, might, goals, objectives, targets, planned, projects, and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on managements current beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. ADT cautions that these statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of ADTs control, and could cause future events or results to be materially different from those stated or implied in this document, including among others, risk factors that are described in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the sections entitled Risk Factors and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained therein. Investor Relations: Jason Smith ADT investorrelations@adt.com Tel: 888-238-8525 Media Relations: Paul Wiseman paulwiseman@adt.com Tel: 561-356-6388 Australian women celebrated historic anniversaries in the march towards gender equality in 2019 the 125th anniversary of womens suffrage in South Australia and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the principle of equal pay for equal work but in 2020, we stand at a crossroads, as key campaigners warning a fight will be needed jut to "hold ground", quite apart from working to close persistent gaps. A few key milestones this year will focus minds on areas in which equality has yet to be achieved for Australian women with sometimes-devastating consequences. On a variety of measures, gender equality is a work in progress in Australia. Credit:AFR Australian women still retire with, on average, 47 percent less super than men (and experts have warned of the nightmare that is expected to hit many Australian women as they age), so a rumoured follow up to the Federal Government's Women's Economic Security statement could and should include measures to help close the enduring 14 per cent gender pay gap. Former Minister for Women, Kelly O'Dwyer, launched the statement in 2018 and her successor, Senator Marise Payne, is said to be considering where to next. Further action would be welcomed by a non-government womens sector also keen to know how the struggle to cut the toll of family violence on Australian women will continue once the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women expires in 2022. While repeating assurances the province is prepared for potential cases of the new coronavirus, Health Minister Cameron Friesen said the flu currently poses a greater health risk to Manitobans. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. While repeating assurances the province is prepared for potential cases of the new coronavirus, Health Minister Cameron Friesen said the flu currently poses a greater health risk to Manitobans. "Everyone should still be concerned about seasonal influenza," Friesen told a news briefing Tuesday. "There are things we can do to protect ourselves, and we're asking people to do that. If they're sick, stay home. Go get the flu vaccine. Wash your hands often." Friesen said while the public is concerned about the coronavirus, it should take comfort in knowing the system is organized and is responding appropriately and the risk to Manitobans remains low. British Columbia health officials reported Tuesday a man in his 40s from the Vancouver area is presumed to be infected with the coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed or presumptive cases in Canada to three. China reported 25 more deaths Tuesday from the viral disease, raising the total to at least 106. Most of the deaths have occurred in the Wuhan area. Global Affairs Canada announced Monday that Canadians should avoid all travel to Hubei province in China, where Wuhan is located. Locally, paramedics and 911 operators have been directed to ask about a patient's travel history if they have a fever or cough, or show flu-like symptoms or other signs of respiratory illness. The province revealed Tuesday, out of an abundance of caution, two Manitobans with "uncertain travel histories" and symptoms compatible to that of the coronavirus were tested in recent days. Both tested negative for the virus and positive for the common cold. 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 have been reports of medical masks flying off local store shelves in recent days a sign of growing concern among Winnipeggers about the illness. Dr. Brent Roussin, the province's chief provincial health officer, says donning a mask in public to avoid infection is unnecessary and "likely not to be effective." "We do not recommend that the general public rush out and buy masks or to wear them in public," he said. Friesen said while the health system has had to deal with the effects of the flu and other respiratory diseases in recent weeks, it is still capable of "marshalling additional resources" if the coronavirus were to arrive in Manitoba. He said Manitobans should also take comfort that, with the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, they are assured of receiving test results promptly. larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca The US-owned company which is cutting jobs in Laois was described just two years ago as a "fantastic example" of a multinational company operating in a regional area by the boss of the State agency responsible for brining foreign investment and jobs Ireland. But less than two years after Martin Shanahan, IDA Chief Executive, also wished Standex continued growth, it is cutting its workforce by a third in Mountmellick. The multi-national owned firm has two facilities in the town. One is located the Mountmellick Development Association with the original facility located in Acragar where the jobs are being cut. In late 2019, all production staff at both factories agreed to take got on shorter working hours until 2020. This was compromise agreement reached after Standex planned to put nearly half of their 60 staff on a three day week from late October. A seasonal loss in demand for their products are pump components, was cited. Standex Ireland Ltd was established in 1978 in Mountmellick employing 28 people in its first year. It celebrated 40 years in the Laois town in May 2018 when special presentations were made to its longest-serving workers. In a statement issued at the time, the IDA identified Standex as "a great example of a small multinational company in a regional location". IDA Ireland chief, Mr Shanahan congratulated to Standex management and staff on their 40 year anniversary. "This is a fantastic example of a small multinational company continuing to operate in a regional location and employing local people. We wish them many more successful years and our continued support, he said. At the time General Manager of Standex Ireland, Kevin Egan praised the location and looked forward to growth. Mountmellick has proven to be a great location for the business and to be in operation for 40 years is a great testament to the workforce many of whom have been with the company for over 30 years, indeed there are three employees with the company since the very beginning. "Going forward Standex Ireland plans grow over the next five years. We have recently added personnel to the sales, engineering and quality departments to drive this growth. The company must also continue to improve its operational excellence and become even more customer-focused. "The company began to implement a lean programme over two years ago and aims to continue on the path of continuous improvement. This together with some shrewd capital investment and further employee development should ensure that Standex Ireland is in a strong position to meet the challenges of what is a very competitive market," he said. The company manufactures pump components and carries out assembly and testing on the full range of Procon pumps, precision rotary vane pumps and other small gear and micro vane pumps destined for the European market. The end product applications for Procon pumps include coffee machines, cold drink dispensers, kidney dialysis machines, reverse osmosis systems and x-ray machines. Standex Ireland also manufactures rotors for Procon pumps which are shipped to Standex Mexico for use in pumps for the American and Asian markets. When the company first opened annual production was about 50,000 pumps, now the figure is closer to 250,000 per year. Standex Ireland Ltd is part of Standex International Corporation who have their headquarters in Salem New Hampshire and operates manufacturing plants and distribution facilities throughout the U.S, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico, India, Turkey, South Africa, Singapore and Europe. The Corporation is divided into 11 operating units organised into five reporting segments, Food Service, Engineering Technologies, Electronics Group and Hydraulics group. The company currently employs 5,100 people. Standex Ireland is part of the Procon operating group within the foodservice equipment segment. Press Release January 29, 2020 Press Statement of Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto Recto: Nat'l aid should start falling like volcanic ash on hard-hit areas Government rehabilitation programs "should now start falling like volcanic ash on areas affected by the Taal eruption," Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said. "It is time to start blanketing these areas with aid to help them get back on their feet again," Recto said. "What government does on the ground is important for signalling purposes. So people will be assured that work on the crucial phase of reconstruction has begun. Hope is also an important commodity in disaster areas," Recto said. Recto said presence of road clearing equipment, repair crews, resettlement specialists, alternative livelihood experts, pati yung magce-census ng mga nawalang kabayo on the ground in Batangas will boost the morale of the people. "They must hear the sound of machinery helping them. Sasabihin nila, 'May kabakas kami.' Bago tumigas ang abo, dapat nandoon na ang tulong." he said. He said the initial target of submitting a "post disaster needs assessment" by NDRRMC by April is too far away. "By that time, papasok na ang tag-ulan. Mawawala yung tinatawag nilang good weather window for construction," Recto said. "There's also the human factor to be considered. Baka restless na ang mga tao. Mahaba pansensya nila, pero baka Batangueno naman mag-alburoto, Recto said. Recto said one high priority is the resettlement of eight to ten thousand persons, or two thousand families, all from the volcano island, who will no longer be allowed to return to their homes and farms. "This is a test case of the newly-created Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development. May lupa ang probinsya, ano ang equity ninyo?" the senator said. The Department of Agriculture should also get into the act, Recto said. "Backyard fishpond ng Manila ang Taal Lake. Maraming magsasaka ang nadale." "And I would also like to jog the memory of our Tourism officials that the Taal-Tagaytay-Tanauan-Talisay zone was a huge contributor to tourism receipts. Ano na ang pwedeng isukling alalay sa kanila?" Recto said. He urged national agencies to put up frontline and field offices in disaster areas. "Alangan namang pumunta pa 'yan sa Maynila. Tulad sa mga nasirang bahay, humigit-kumulang 20,000 na bahay o pamilya, anong mga tulong ang pwedeng ibigay sa repair?" Batanguenos who will start rebuilding their lives are not asking the government to foot the entire bill, Recto said. "Hindi kami ganoon. Ang importante may kontribusyon ang pambansang pamahalaan." Recto agreed with the observation that with the Calamity Fund at P21 billion, there is no need for a supplemental budget yet in the very short term. "But I think what the national government should do is, based on needs, immediately set aside an initial amount for the rehab phase of Tulong Taal, Bangon Batangas. Alam naming may bagyo at baha na darating pa sa ibang lugar sa taong ito na mangangailangan rin ng Calamity Fund," he said. The senator expressed thanks to executive officials present in today's Senate hearing for assuring him that they will come up with an initial action plan by next week. (Natural News) For many people, social media provides the ultimate escape, an opportunity to peer into the daily lives of the rich and famous, or even just to see what their neighbors across the road are getting up to. What many of us dont realize, however, is that several studies have linked social media use to an increase in depression and other mental health disorders. The reality is that continuously feasting on images of other peoples supposedly perfect lives can create feelings of envy, sadness and isolation. A recent study by researchers in Indonesia has found that this is particularly true in developing countries like Indonesia. (Related: Is social media making you depressed? Science concludes yes.) The burden of social media As reported by EurekAlert, social media is amazingly popular in Indonesia. Around 54 million of its 272 million inhabitants are active on Facebook making it fourth in the rankings of Facebook-using countries in the world and 22 million Indonesians regularly comment on Twitter making it the worlds fifth largest Twitter-using country. Despite having the third fastest growing economy among all the G20 countries, however, Indonesia is a country of stark inequality, with an emerging consumer class that has left behind a large number of people who have not enjoyed the same employment and education benefits. After examining the effects of Facebook, Twitter and chat use on 22,423 study participants located in 300 districts in the country, the research team found that this gap between the haves and the have-nots is cruelly highlighted on social media, with images of apparently happy, successful people creating envy and resentment among those who are struggling financially and have no real way to improve their circumstances. Indonesia is also a country that has been struggling for decades to establish a democratic form of government. In fact, it has tried to implement three different types of democracy, all of which have failed. These political struggles and failures are also regularly featured on social media, with negative results. EurekAlert reported: A cacophony of news about government failures, corruption, crime, conflicts and poverty is amplified on social media on a daily basis providing little escape for the countrys citizens. As the economic gap between the privileged class and those with little means has widened, and social media use has increased, the number of people diagnosed with mental health problems has increased exponentially, placing a significant burden on the country. Indonesias 2018 Basic Health Research Survey revealed that around 11.8 million Indonesians struggle with a mental health disorder. Its a strong reminder that these technologies can have a downside, warned Global Development Institute researcher, Gindo Tampubolon. We would like to see public health officials think creatively about how we can encourage citizens to take a break from social media or be aware of the negative consequences it can have on mental health. (Related: Is social media addiction a new type of psychiatric condition?) Not just a problem in developing countries The link between social media use and mental health problems has not only been established in developing countries, however. As reported by the Independent, social media use can affect anyones mental health negatively in at least six different ways: It can negatively affect your self-esteem, leading to depression; It makes forging bonds and connecting with others in real-time harder, creating feelings of isolation; It can distort the way in which we remember things, because it tends to only highlight the good things that have happened in our lives; It interferes with our sleep patterns by suppressing the release of the sleep hormone melatonin, which can increase feelings of anxiety; It interferes with your attention span, meaning you are easily distracted; and Studies have found that many social media users report that it makes them feel anxious, sad and depressed. Clearly, whether we live in a prosperous country or in the developing world, there are good reasons to limit the amount of time we spend on social media each day. Learn more about the link between social media and mental health disorders at Psychiatry.news. Sources include: EurekAlert.org Independent.co.uk APCSS.org[PDF] Boeing revealed on Wednesday that it took a $410 million charge last quarter in case NASA requires the company to re-fly last month's failed astronaut test mission. "NASA is evaluating the data received during the December 2019 mission to determine if another uncrewed mission is required," Boeing said in its earnings release. The $410 million charge caused Boeing's Defense, Space & Security unit to see a 0.5% decrease in fourth-quarter operating margin. Although Boeing successfully landed its Starliner spacecraft after the mission, the flight test was cut short and did not achieve its objective of docking with the International Space Station. The capsule was supposed to fly to the space station, deliver cargo and return to demonstrate its capabilities and safety. But, after an issue with its autonomous flight control system during the launch, Starliner's engines fired at the wrong time and the capsule ended up in a different orbit than planned. No one was on board Starliner, as this flight was intended to be one of the final tests before NASA flies astronauts. NASA has awarded Boeing nearly $5 billion to develop Starliner, which is built to carry as many as five people. NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine wrote in a blog post earlier this month that the agency and Boeing had formed an independent task force to investigate the issues from Starliner's orbital flight test. He said the investigation will likely take about two months, with a final assessment expected in March. A push to set up restorative justice programs in all northern Manitoba communities is underway. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A push to set up restorative justice programs in all northern Manitoba communities is underway. In the wake of a Free Press series detailing systemic problems with northern courts, and after Manitoba Court of Queens Bench Justice Chris Martin ruled two northern Manitobans had their charter rights violated because of long bail-hearing delays, the leader of an Indigenous political advocacy organization says hes working on a plan to expand restorative justice across the North. "Every community needs to have this, because its a cultural practice. Historically, weve always found ways to find balance in our communities, and Im a firm believer that our ways work for our people and I think its time that we be given the opportunity to use our ways to deal with justice," said Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee. Only about half of northern First Nations communities represented by MKO currently have their own restorative justice programs. Settee said hes met with Manitoba Justice Minister Cliff Cullen to discuss how that can change. "He was very respectful and very sincere in his discussion with me," Settee said of Cullen. "So I think theres a hope, a possibility and potential for us to work together." Settee said MKO hopes to present a plan to the justice department for the programs expansion. The Indigenous advocacy group was one of the first to offer restorative justice programs in Manitoba decades ago, but low wages for staff and a general lack of resources for programming have hampered their progress, Settee said. The meeting with Cullen before Christmas focused on restorative justice services, Settee said. It happened after MKO chiefs unanimously passed a motion in November, calling for an overhaul of restorative justice programs in the North and for the construction of a jail in Thompson. 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 provincial government has publicly committed to neither. Cullen was unavailable for an interview Tuesday. Asked whether he would support the expansion of such programs in the North, his office responded with a statement, saying the province increased restorative justice funding last year, including an extra $250,000 for northern communities, in addition to $2.8-million annual spending. "Recommendations from the Martin decision, including the need for a remand facility in Thompson, continue to be carefully considered. In the meantime, we have been working diligently to improve and modernize the administration of justice for northern Manitobans," read the statement. katie.may@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @thatkatiemay Hong Kong Partially Closes Border With Mainland China As Virus Deaths Mount 2020-01-28 -- Authorities in Hong Kong on Tuesday shut down rail connections from mainland China on Tuesday as the number of deaths in the Wuhan coronavirus epidemic passed 100. Trains are no longer running on express routes connecting Hong Kong to neighboring cities in mainland China, nor on the high-speed rail line to West Kowloon station, the city's government told a news conference. Flights coming in from mainland Chinese cities will be cut by around half, while all cross-boundary ferry services between Hong Kong and mainland China are suspended, it said. The number of confirmed cases of illness caused by the novel coronavirus, officially termed nCoV-2019 (Wuhan) by the World Health Organization (WHO), rose to 4,409 in China on Tuesday, with the majority still clustered in Hubei, according to a website set up by researchers at Johns Hopkins University to track the epidemic. The number of deaths in the epidemic rose to 107, with a handful of confirmed cases reported in Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, the United States, Japan, Malaysia and South Korea. Bus services plying cross-border routes including across the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge will be reduced, in a bid to "significantly reduce the flow of people" coming from mainland China into Hong Kong, chief executive Carrie Lam told reporters. The ruling Chinese Communist Party said it would no longer issue visitor passes to Chinese nationals wishing to visit Hong Kong. While post-handover Hong Kong was promised control of its own borders under the terms of the "one country, two systems" framework, commentators have noted that it has no meaningful way to refuse entry to residents of mainland China once a permit has been issued. Government hospitals in the city will also start charging people full treatment fees if they don't have residency status or a valid employment visa, the government said, in a bid to discourage healthcare tourism by people infected with the Wuhan coronavirus. Residents of the central Chinese province of Hubei, whose capital Wuhan has been at the epicenter of the epidemic, have been restricted from entering Hong Kong since Jan. 27, although hundreds are believed to have already done so, and will likely be contacted for checkups by hospitals. No need for a total closure of Hong Kong But Lam said there was no need for a total closure of the city's borders. "The number of visitors from mainland China has greatly reduced, and 70 percent of those going through immigration control are Hong Kong residents," Lam said. "Why then would we shut down the borders and prevent Hongkongers from coming and going?" "There are a lot of Hong Kong people in mainland China or other places right now: should we close the borders and tell them they're not welcome to come here?" Lam said the government had dropped plans to use a newly built public housing project as a quarantine site for people who had been in contacted with known cases of the Wuhan virus, but denied it was in response to an arson attack on the empty building by protesters from nearby residential areas, who said it was an inappropriate site for a quarantine camp. The Hong Kong authorities are concerned over a shortage of surgical masks, and are trying to source more supplies internationally, she said. Hong Kong has eight confirmed cases to date, with the same number reported in Thailand. France has reported three known cases and Vietnam two, while single cases have been confirmed in Cambodia, Canada, Germany, the Ivory Coast, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The WHO has revised its assessment of the level of threat posed by the coronavirus outbreak from medium to high for the Asia Pacific region, and maintained its assessment of "very high" for China. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met with President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday to discuss ways to manage the epidemic. 'We cannot let the devil hide' Xi told Tedros: "The virus is a devil and we cannot let the devil hide," according to state broadcaster CCTV. "China will strengthen international cooperation and welcomes the WHO participation in virus prevention ... We believe that the WHO an international community will give a calm, objective and rational assessment of the virus and China is confident of winning the battle against the virus," Xi was quoted as saying. A month into the coronavirus epidemic, the ruling Chinese Communist Party has sparked an unprecedented level of public criticism on the country's tightly controlled internet over its handling of the biggest public health crisis since the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic left hundreds dead in 2002-2003. A resident of Wuhan who gave only his surname Ding said the local government hadn't taken enough steps to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, including warning local residents about a public health emergency in their backyard. He said local residents also have no way of informing the authorities of the situation on the ground in a quarantined city of 11 million. "I tried calling the mayor's helpline but I couldn't get through; there was just a computerized message, no member of staff," Ding said. "If you try calling 110 for an ambulance you can't get through either." "You can't get through on any of the numbers listed for supermarkets online even if you can find them, so actually we have no way to tell anybody anything," he said. "The government isn't doing anything." "They didn't hand out face masks [as promised] ... and you can't get the good ones anywhere," Ding said. "You can only find the regular ones." "We're all going crazy because all we can do when we've ... finished work is to go home," he said. Wuhan resident Li Yuqin said many people were sick in her district, but were turned away from overwhelmed hospitals, and are left to fend for themselves in the community, with no treatment or testing for the coronavirus. "They tried a bunch of hospitals a few times, including Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan People's Hospital, and No. 4 Hospital, but they all said there were no beds," Li told RFA. 'Marginalization of officials with know-how' A video circulating on social media showed a woman in Wuhan calling the hospital to pick up a 62-year-old patient Zhou Jiqing who was diagnosed with the coronavirus but had been turned away by the hospital. "There are a lot of these cases now, and there aren't any [beds]," a member of staff at one hospital is heard telling the woman in the video clip. Wu Qiang, former politics lecturer at Beijing's prestigious Tsinghua University, said a taskforce set up to manage the epidemic under premier Li Keqiang was unlikely to be able to achieve much. "Can this small committee fully mobilize everyone do a professional job of containing the epidemic? I doubt it," Wu told RFA. "They are mainly party officials and bureaucrats, and they are not led by public health experts." "The key thing to note about this committee is the lack of public health technicians." Chinese dissident Wang Aizhong said China doesn't lack public health expertise, but the political environment has skewed sharply away from technical know-how since Xi Jinping came to power. "[We see instead] an emphasis on political priorities and the marginalization of officials with know-how," Wang said. "We can see the consequences of this in the Wuhan pneumonia epidemic." "It shows a lack of professionalism and confusion, [which] is obviously the inevitable result of the current political climate," Wang said. Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Gao Feng for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Copyright 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content January not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Fuel Your Pipeline. Close More Deals. Our full-service marketing programs deliver sales-ready leads. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee! Learn more Public relations companies long have been known for reshaping perceptions to favor their clients. Taking that practice to an extreme, some now engage in black PR that is, the calculated spread of disinformation and misinformation online, according to a Buzzfeed report published Monday. For example, Taiwan-based entrepreneur Peng Kuan Chins Content Farm Automatic Collection System harvests online articles and posts written in Chinese, reshapes them, and posts them on websites under its control. Thousands of fake social media accounts owned by his company, Bravo-Idea, then spread this manipulated content across the Internet. We see a lot of these black PR firms, remarked Ray Wang, principal analyst at Constellation Research. A lot of them work today in local politics with big developers, lobbyists fighting individual activists and so on, he told the E-Commerce Times. The Evil That Black PR Does Nearly 70 percent of 6,100-plus Americans who participated in a Pew Research Center poll last year said that fake news greatly affected their confidence in government institutions. Fifty-four percent said it hurt their confidence in other people. About 60 percent blamed political figures and their staff, and 53 percent blamed activists. Seventy-nine percent believed steps should be taken to restrict fake news. Black PR is manipulation at scale for money without any concerns for the damage to the planet, country, or even individual safety, observed Rob Enderle, principal at the Enderle Group. The danger is not only the damage this does, but given people dont like to be made fools of, the repercussions when they find out they were played, he told the E-Commerce Times. Recall what happened with Gawker and Peter Thiel, Enderle said. Where Black PR Is Going Black PR per se is not new. For example, Hill & Knowlton famously orchestrated fake testimony about Iraqi troop atrocities in Kuwait that helped push the U.S. to launch the Gulf War. The Internet has made it easier, and much cheaper, to publish and disseminate misinformation and disinformation, however. Last year, 19 online information operations were attributed partially or wholly to PR or marketing firms, according to a Buzzfeed review . Since 2011, there have been 27 such operations. The black PR market is growing, and likely will expand through the 2020 U.S. election year, said Mike Jude, research director at IDC. Fighting Black PR Closing down accounts of people or organizations disseminating misinformation isnt enough, because they just pivot to a new account, Enderle said. Eventually, well use artificial intelligence for this, but the corrective tools are lagging at the moment. Tech companies are fighting back. Twitter last month announced the removal of more than 5,000 accounts involved in a state-backed information operation. Facebook has taken a series of actions: Last month, it took down hundreds of accounts, pages and groups in two unconnected networks conducting operations on Facebook and Instagram; Last spring, it banned Israeli black PR firm Archimedes Group for creating hundreds of fake social media accounts to influence elections in various countries; and Early last year, it banned Philippine digital marketing company Twinmark Media Enterprises and its subsidiaries from its platform for coordinated inauthentic behavior. Facebook, Google and Twitter last year teamed up with the BBC and publishers to fight fake news. The Dangers Black PR Poses No market expands forever, IDCs Jude told the E-Commerce Times. To the extent that black PR begins to do serious damage to individuals, expect governments to step in. Germany, Malaysia, France, Russia, Singapore and China have made it a crime to create and distribute misinformation. The EU in 2018 introduced a voluntary code of practice to battle online disinformation. Facebook and other tech companies have signed on. Australia has pressured tech companies to fight fake news. Actively censoring the news feeds to protect people from their own ignorance seems a bit extreme, Jude suggested. Turn the trial lawyers loose on this space and establish a few landmark cases, and I think the problem will be greatly diminished. The Possibility of Self-Policing Meanwhile, the PR industry is trying to police itself. ICCO, the International Communications Consultancy Organization an umbrella group representing PR trade groups around the world has established the Helsinki Declaration, 10 principles it urges member groups to support. ICCO also has a page on ethics in digital communication on its website. In 2017, the UKs Public Relations and Communications Association expelled London-based PR firm Bell Pottinger for stoking racial tensions in South Africa for a billionaire client. The answer isnt more centralization, Constellations Wang said. Its more decentralization that allows individuals to report fakes to others who will also apply techniques and algorithms to be vigilant. [January 29, 2020] 2020 Widen Connectivity Report Explores Struggle to Balance Quality Visual Design and Business Success MADISON, Wis., Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Widen, a provider of digital asset management (DAM) software, today released their third annual Widen Connectivity Report. They surveyed 293 marketing and creative professionals from global brands and conducted in-depth interviews with 10. The report documents a gap between the perceived importance of visual design and the lack of C-level attention it receives. The Connectivity Report is an ongoing study about the challenges and opportunities marketers and creatives face in balancing technology with a human touch. Understanding this balance is increasingly difficult as marketers feel pressure to connect communications, experiences, and audiences in more efficient, data-driven ways. The 2020 Connectivity Report is the first to focus exclusively on how quality visual design shapes marketing connectivity. The respondents overwhelmingly agreed on the importance and power of visual design. 91% of respondents said they invest in quality graphic design for their marketing content. 98% felt that quality graphic design in marketing content enables stronger relationships with their audience. 85% felt that the ability to scale creative and marketing work is important or very important to business success. However, graphic design does not garner the degree of spport and technological investment one might expect given how much brands value visual communication. Only 8% said that visual design lives at the C-level within their organization, meaning that its considered a tactical issue, not a strategic priority, at the other 92% of brands. Although 70% scale their marketing work by templatizing layouts, reusing and repurposing assets, and sharing assets across teams, just 30% automate creative workflows. Only 24% use artificial intelligence (AI) to scale marketing, suggesting that AI is still overhyped or undervalued. Our interviewees differentiated between quality design and successful design because the two arent necessarily the sameand brands measure them very differently, said Nina Brakel-Schutt, Director of Creative and Brand Strategy at Widen. While some brands value qualitative signals like team pride and positive feedback from salespeople, others prioritize quantitative metrics like web traffic, content conversions, click-through rate, and time on site. To strike a balance between quality and success, we think brands need to use both approaches. The results might address the contradiction we see in the data: that brands value graphic design but hesitate to move it up the ladder to the C-level, where the business impact would be magnified. To learn more, download the 2020 Widen Connectivity Report at www.widen.com/connectivity About Widen Established in 1948, Widen builds high-performing software that empowers organizations to create impactful, measurable, and consistent brand experiences. Its platform spans brand management, marketing resource management, video, and creative management solutions and has enabled 600,000+ marketers, content creators, and technologists at over 660 global brands to better connect with audiences. Customers include Progressive, Zippo, Energizer, Trek, Zeiss, Salvation Army, Citizen Watch, the Atlanta Falcons, Carnival Cruise Line, Yankee Candle, FINCA, and many more. Headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, USA and with a European office in London, UK, Widen has the highest customer loyalty in the digital asset management (DAM) industry. Visit www.widen.com . Contact: Jake Athey VP Marketing 608-443-5472 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Supreme Court of India (SC) on January 29 rejected a petition of Mukesh Kumar Singh, one of the four death row convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case. Singh had filed a petition challenging the rejection of his mercy plea by the President Ram Nath Kovind on January 17. A three-judge bench headed by Justice R Banumathi said that expeditious disposal of mercy plea by the President does not mean non-application of mind by him. The court also said that alleged sufferings in prison cannot be grounds to challenge the rejection of mercy petition. The bench said all relevant material including judgments pronounced by trial court, High Court and Supreme Court were placed before the President when he was considering the mercy plea of the convict. The four death row convicts in the case are scheduled to be hanged at 6.00 am on February 1. Questioning the grounds on which the clemency plea was rejected, Mukesh's lawyer had accused President Ram Nath Kovind of non-application of mind. Arguing before the Supreme Court, the convicts lawyer also alleged that all the records of the torture Mukesh was subject to were not sent to the President. Therefore, the lawyer argued, his decision to reject the mercy plea was arbitrary and malafide. Mukesh had on January 28 claimed that he was sexually abused inside jail multiple times. However, the apex court had turned down the convicts plea to show documents to President Kovind to prove he was abused and assaulted in prison. (With inputs from PTI) NPR's Mary Louise Kelly authored a New York Times op-ed Tuesday about her encounter with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and why she's refused to back down on her reporting. What she's saying: "There is a reason that freedom of the press is enshrined in the Constitution," Kelly said. "There is a reason it matters that people in positions of power people charged with steering the foreign policy of entire nations be held to account. The stakes are too high for their impulses and decisions not to be examined in as thoughtful and rigorous an interview as is possible." Flashback: Kelly's scuffle with Pompeo went viral last week after the reporter made details public. Kelly said Pompeo shouted at her in his private living room following an interview Friday in which she asked questions about the ouster of former Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch. She said he also made her point to Ukraine on an unmarked map. Pompeo released a statement saying that Kelly had lied to him when setting up the interview and that she'd agreed to keep the post-interview conversation off the record. saying that Kelly had lied to him when setting up the interview and that she'd agreed to keep the post-interview conversation off the record. NPR's senior vice president of news Nancy Barnes defended Kelly, stating: "Mary Louise Kelly has always conducted herself with the utmost integrity, and we stand behind this report." defended Kelly, stating: "Mary Louise Kelly has always conducted herself with the utmost integrity, and we stand behind this report." The State Department later removed a different NPR journalist from a reporting pool set to travel with Pompeo. Kelly wrote in her op-ed: "Journalists dont sit down with senior government officials in the service of scoring political points. We do it in the service of asking tough questions, on behalf of our fellow citizens. And then sharing the answers or lack thereof with the world." Axios has contacted the State Department for comment. Go deeper: Trump to Pompeo: "You did a good job on" NPR reporter ALBANY Criminal justice reformers in New York were riding high last spring after the Legislature passed an overhaul that eliminated cash bail for most nonviolent crimes. But now, a backlash over the bail law may have diminished their chances of winning additional reforms on issues like parole eligibility, solitary confinement and police accountability. Advocates who cheered the bail overhaul find themselves on defense amid significant criticism from prosecutors and law enforcement officials, who say the new bail law has jeopardized public safety. Most of the concerns revolve around instances of defendants being released under the new law and then committing new crimes. Since the beginning of the year, uproar over the bail law has largely dominated conversations about criminal justice at the Capitol. That has made it difficult to talk about any other aspect of the criminal justice system that needs repairing, said state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, a New York City Democrat. A Siena College poll of 814 registered voters, surveyed two weeks ago, found declining support for the bail law among Democrats, Republicans and independents. It found that 49% of poll respondents said the bail changes were bad for New York while 37% said they were good for the state. State Sen. Julia Salazar, another New York City Democrat, said that while her own commitment to change is unshaken, the criticism over the bail law will lead to a more muted desire for additional reforms. Members of the party from moderate districts are facing serious backlash over the law, she said. The wish list for reforms entering 2020 is still substantial. Proposed legislation includes making it so prisoners cannot be held in solitary confinement for more than 15 days and mandating parole hearings for inmates who are over 55 years old and have served at least 15 years in prison even if they have not completed their minimum sentence. Backers of the parole legislation argue that even people convicted of horrible crimes deserve a chance to prove they have reformed. John Flanagan, the Republican state Senate minority leader, criticized that last proposal as especially bad and ill-timed. Just to show how tone deaf the Democrats are, how can you possibly bring that up when you're talking about these (instances) with bail?" he said. State Sen. Gustavo Rivera, a New York City Democrat who backs parole reform, said it's too early to tell if criticism of the bail law will derail other reforms. He said Republicans see attacking the bail law as a way to gain ground in a Legislature where they have lost power. State lawmakers overhauled bail rules to address what they saw as an unfair bias in the system against the poor. In most cases, wealthy defendants are able to raise the cash, even if bail is set at tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Meanwhile, poor people, even those charged with very minor offenses, languish in jail for months in jail because their families were unable to raise $1,000 or $2,000, or less. The elimination of cash bail for low-level offenses has led to some instances of defendants being released, then getting arrested again. For example, a man who was charged with robbing several New York City banks. He was freed under the new law, then was arrested after police said he robbed another bank. It remains unclear how or if lawmakers will amend the bail law. Leading Democrats including Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, have said they are open to changes. State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, also a Democrat, said he wants to let the reforms play out without changes. Republicans have called for a full repeal. Cuomo, who often uses the state budget to push through his policy priorities, didn't make criminal justice reform a centerpiece of his budget proposal this year. Steve Zeidman, a professor at CUNY law school in New York City who supports the bail law, said there are fears the intense criticism about the reforms will paralyze elected officials from acting on other issues like parole reform and solitary confinement. The bail controversy has highlighted ideological splits between moderate Democrats, who want to rollback portions of the law, and liberal-leaning legislators, who have resisted. One bill backed by state Sen. James Gaughran, a Democrat who represents a swath of Long Island, would expand the list of crimes where a judge could set bail. The measure has support from other Democrats on Long Island. Not all Democrats are the same color blue, said Christina Greer, an associate professor of political science at Fordham University. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Ahn Cheol-soo, a co-founder of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party, speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday, to announce that he will leave the party following a rift with current party leader Sohn Hak-kyu over how to reform the party. The software mogul-turned-politician, who returned to politics earlier this month, plans to create a new political party dedicated to pragmatic and centrist politics. / Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun LONDON, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Intent HQ is pleased to announce its partnership with IESE Business School. Last week, Jonathan Lakin, CEO of Intent HQ signed a five-year co-operation agreement with IESE Business School to create the school's first Marketing chair. The Chair will be led by the prominent academic Professor Jose Luis Nueno and will support his research into understanding changing consumer behaviours within the context of emerging technologies. The Chair's objective is to enhance understanding at an academic, commercial and institutional level of modern consumer trends and behaviour patterns. It will also contribute to the increasingly urgent conversation regarding the new skills required of marketing executives and managers, and help align those with the demands of contemporary, and future, consumers. The Intent HQ Chair will revolve around the following main objectives: Conduct robust research into consumer behaviour that will serve as a reference point for business managers, entrepreneurs and the public sector. Through the accumulated research performed, create teaching tools (e.g. case studies, academic publications, symposiums etc.) that aid executives in aligning their practices with modern, constantly in-flux consumer patterns. Provide thought-leadership in the data-driven prediction and influence of consumer behaviours. Become a repository of knowledge and point of reference for leading executives. Prof. Nueno, who will be leading Chair said: "The objective of the Intent HQ Chair in Changing Consumer Behaviour is to advance the knowledge about consumers through best-in-class models and processes based on digitally-acquired mass data, while creating an unparalleled test bench where we will be able to test quantitatively different customer models in real-world-environments." Jonathan added, "We are delighted to be working with Prof. Nueno and IESE; the Chair in Changing Consumer Behaviour addresses a very exciting area of business insight development. New technologies, new channels and changing consumer perspectives together create a context in which traditional approaches can become obsolete. At Intent HQ we are excited by the predictive power of data and the ability to add value for consumers through the timely application of insight." About Intent HQ Intent HQ is the first privacy-safe Customer Intelligence Platform (CIP) designed to uniquely build human-like profiles to enable 1-to-1 personalisation at scale. Our CIP turns user actions into interest and intent data, then makes these insights ready to activate in every customer interactionacross marketing, sales, ecommerce and customer support. Our clients benefit from improvements in segmentation, targeting, open and conversion rates, customer experience, customer satisfaction and loyalty. By enabling our clients to create human-like profiles, we help them understand customers, in a deep and meaningful way. W: www.intenthq.com LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/intenthq Twitter: https://twitter.com/Intent_HQ SOURCE Intent HQ By Trend A mobile training team of NATO's Joint Forces Command in Brunssum (the Netherlands) holds the NATO Exercises Planning Process Training Courses in Baku, in accordance with the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) for 2020 between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan and NATO, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. During the courses, which are conducted with the participation of servicemen from various types of troops of the Azerbaijan Army, NATO representatives give presentations on the Operations Planning, Design and Evaluation Process, as well as Data Analysis in the North Atlantic Alliance and other topics. Group practical exercises are also held. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The US warned that Huawei poses a real risk to security as Boris Johnson insisted allowing the Chinese firm to be involved in the UKs 5G network would not damage transatlantic security co-operation. Secretary of state Mike Pompeo said the firm was an extension of the Chinese Communist Party and Washington would evaluate the UKs decision. Mr Pompeo has arrived in the UK for talks with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and the Prime Minister with the shadow of the Huawei row hanging over them. The Chinese tech giant has always rejected claims it represents a security risk. But speaking to reporters on the plane to the UK, Mr Pompeo said: Our view of Huawei has been that putting it in your system creates real risk. This is an extension of the Chinese Communist Party with a legal requirement to hand over information to the Chinese Communist Party. He added that American information only should pass through trusted networks, and well make sure we do that and suggested the UK could relook at the decision in the future. After Mr Raab met Mr Pompeo on Wednesday evening, a brief Foreign Office statement did not reference the Huawei controversy. A spokesman said: The Foreign Secretarys discussions with Secretary Pompeo this evening focused on future opportunities for economic and security co-operation between the UK and US. The pair discussed the US proposal for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and the situation in Iran and Yemen, and the Foreign Secretary underlined the need to de-escalate regional tensions. The Prime Minister said allowing Huawei to play a limited role in the UKs 5G infrastructure would not imperil our relationship with Donald Trumps administration as he faced a backlash from both Tory MPs and US Republicans. The Prime Minister defied the president by giving the green light to the Chinese firm despite US warnings that it could hamper intelligence-sharing with Washington and the other members of the Five Eyes alliance. Story continues Mr Johnson, who spoke to Mr Trump on Tuesday, said the Governments decision would not damage the extremely valuable security co-operation with the Five Eyes alliance which includes the US. Answering questions from the public on Facebook he said he had interrogated the security and intelligence agencies about the issue and whether Huawei could be allowed to play a role while preventing any kind of risk of leaks or interference with our security. There is no doubt in their mind that we can do it and we can allow Huawei into some aspects of 5G but not compromise our intelligence-sharing ability with America, Australia, Canada or New Zealand the so-called Five Eyes. Im very confident we can do that. The decision has caused deep unease on the Tory benches, with discussion of a possible rebellion when the matter comes to the Commons, although the Prime Minister can normally rely on a comfortable majority. The UKs National Security Council (NSC) agreed on Tuesday to allow high-risk vendors to play a limited part in building the 5G network. At a 90-minute meeting, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace argued against the move, according to The Times, but was said to have been a lone voice. Government assurances about the decision have done little to quell what Damian Green, former de facto deputy prime minister under Theresa May, called widespread (and) strong unease on the Tory benches. Ministers have said they will legislate at the earliest opportunity to put the new guidance on telecoms providers into law, opening up the prospect of a potentially damaging backbench revolt. One of the things that frankly surprised me was the breadth of opposition to the current stance of the Government on the Conservative back benches, Mr Green told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. We dont know yet, when push comes to shove and votes happen, how many people will actually put their heads above the parapet but it is very widespread. Former de facto deputy prime minister under Theresa May Damian Green (Kirsty OConnor/PA) Senior Tory MPs including former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith and ex-Brexit secretary David Davis are among those to express displeasure. Mr Trump has refrained from a Twitter outburst on the decision but officials in Washington said they were disappointed by the UKs decision. There is no safe option for untrusted vendors to control any part of a 5G network, an official said. A series of senior congressional figures spoke out to condemn the move. Tom Cotton, a member of the Senate intelligence committee, said: Allowing Huawei to build the UKs 5G networks today is like allowing the KGB to build its telephone network during the Cold War. Allowing Huawei to the build the UKs 5G networks today is like allowing the KGB to build its telephone network during the Cold War. The CCP will now have a foothold to conduct pervasive espionage on British society and has increased economic and political leverage over the UK. Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) January 28, 2020 The European Union also unveiled security guidelines for the next generation high-speed wireless networks that stop short of banning Huawei, in a further blow to the US campaign against the firm. Mr Pompeos two-day visit is likely to offer the first real indication of the extent of any damage to the so-called special relationship. The US administration has consistently argued that giving Huawei a role in 5G could allow the Chinese a back door into the telecoms network through which they could carry out espionage or cyber attacks. The Government has acknowledged Huawei is not a trusted supplier but argues that by banning it from the most sensitive elements of the network and restricting its involvement to 35%, it can manage the risks. The clash comes at a sensitive moment in US-UK relations, just as Mr Johnson is hoping to make rapid progress on a trade deal. The PM appears to have concluded that honouring his general election pledge to level up the left-behind areas of the country must be the priority. Rolling out 5G across the country is regarded as key to improving economic performance and excluding Huawei would mean delays and higher costs. Because of all the growth the city of Katy is experiencing, officials plan to spend millions to build an elevated and a ground water storage tank at Water Plant No. 7 at Young Ranch. Katy City Council awarded construction contracts at its Jan. 27 meeting. Maguire Iron Inc. of Sioux Falls, S. Dakota, received the contract to build the 500,000-gallon elevated storage tank. The total contract amount is $1,246,391, which includes contingencies, engineering and the base bid. A contract for $1,061,160 for the one million gallon ground storage tank belongs to Schier Construction Co. of Houston. City Engineer David Leyendecker said the city received three bids on Jan. 8 for the elevated storage tank. The low bid came from Maguire at $1.043 million. The city received eight bids on Jan. 8 for the ground storage tank. Schier Construction submitted the low bid at $888,000, Leyendecker said. Both tanks will be near Kingsland Boulevard and Pederson Road. Leyendecker said the projects are necessary because the city is growing. Funds for the ground storage tank are to be paid from Reserve Funds of the Water and Sewer Fund. In other action, council awarded a construction contract for the Goldeneye Storm Sewer Project to HTI Construction Inc. of Rosenberg. The contract amount totals $119,714. Leyendecker said the city received eight bids for the Hunters Terrace project and the low bid of $97,450 came from HTI Construction. The subdivision is off Katy Hockley Road. In response to questions from Ward B Councilwoman Janet Corte, Leyendecker said he expected construction to start in 30 days. Eight property owners are affected by the project. He said he notified property owners of the project and met three of the homeowners as he visited the homes to leave a project notice at their door. Everyone is ecstatic that the ditch will be closed in, he added. City Council also approved two special-use permits that drew no comments during public hearings. Both permits were recommended to council by the City Planning and Zoning Commission, which met Jan. 14 to consider the requests. Jesus Rescue International Church, 6193 Highway Blvd. received a one-year special-use permit. Andrew Allemand of Beacon Land Services, the applicant for the permit on behalf of the church, introduced himself, and said he was available to answer questions. The report from Anas Garfaoui, city planner, said the board of adjustment last fall granted a parking variance for the church at Tiger Square shopping center, which is located in a C-2 general business district at the corner of Highway Boulevard and FM 1463, across from Katy High School. The church will occupy a 3,750-square-foot space that formerly served another church. Planning staff recommended City Council approved a five-year special-use permit for Aristoi Classical Academy, a charter school, that operates at 5618 Eleventh St., which is zoned commercial. A letter from Brenda Davidson, the academy superintendent, said the open enrollment charter school has operated at this location since 2002. City Council also authorized the mayor to sign a development agreement with Davoody M & J which owns slightly more than 18 acres, which are in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Houston plus 16 acres that are in the city of Katys extraterritorial jurisdiction. The developer wants Katy to annex the property now in the Houston ETJ and has applied to Houston to release the tract. The property is intended for residential development and is near Spring Green Boulevard in south Katy. karen.zurawski@chron.com (Alliance News) - US Solar Fund PLC on Wednesday said it will acquire a 177 megawatt portfolio of 22 operating utility-scale solar power projects located in the US states of North Carolina, Oregon, and California. The fund will buy the solar power project portfolio from an affiliate of Heelstone Renewable Energy LLC. No financial details of the deal were disclosed. The power projects commenced operations between 2016 and 2018 and sell 100% of their electricity output under fixed price long-term power purchase agreements to a variety of investment grade offtakers, US Solar Fund said. The power purchase agreements have a weighted average term remaining of 12 years. US Solar Fund will fund the equity purchase price for acquisition with available cash, it said. The expected returns from the power projects are in line with the company's investment objective, the investment fund said. The power projects are expected to generate revenue for US Solar Fund immediately upon acquisition close, expected in early February. US Solar Fund shares were untraded in London on Wednesday afternoon, last closing at USD1.05. By Tapan Panchal; tapanpanchal@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Australian singer Natasha Stuart has died of cancer, aged 43. Stuart was a contestant on The Voice last year, where she joined Delta Goodrem's team before being eliminated from the show. Stuart was surrounded by her family when she died at St Vincent's Hospital on Wednesday. Earlier in the week performers she had worked with including Tina Arena, Leo Sayer, Jimmy Barnes and Richard Clapton, gathered by her bedside to spend time with her. Britains departure changes the balance within the E.U. and creates a power vacuum, said Mark Leonard, the director of the European Council on Foreign Relations. The absence of Britain will make the relationship between France and Germany even more toxic, he said. But it also destabilizes a lot of the countries, like the Dutch and the Nordics, on issues like the free market, anti-Russia policy and trans-Atlanticism, Mr. Leonard added. And it will further the imbalance between the eurozone and non-eurozone countries, leaving those like Poland, Sweden and Denmark more exposed. Central European countries, Turkey and countries hoping to join the bloc may also feel Britains absence. The Turks are quite concerned, because Britain has been a friend in terms of Turkish integration, even if accession is not on the cards, Mr. Lesser said. The European Council, made up of European governments, has already approved the deal, but will make a final, pro forma vote in writing on Thursday. Britains economy is roughly the size of Frances, the second-largest in the European Union, and is an important security player, a nuclear power with a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. Britain has a close relationship with Washington and, even after its famous rebate, is the second-largest net contributor to the blocs budget, putting in nearly 12 percent. Already, as European governments debate the next seven-year budget always a sour process there are angry disagreements on how large it should be, given the need to fill the hole the British will leave behind when the transition period ends in December. By Abdul Kerimkhanov Iran Energy Exchange (IRENEX) company will offer two new oil products, namely Propylene and Normal Hexane, for the first time next week, local media reported, quoting the managing director of IRENEX. After the offerings of propylene and normal hexane products at IRENEX, the countrys demand will be met through domestic resources, Seyed Ali Hosseini said. Note that IRENEX consists of three markets - physical, derivatives and subsidiary. Hosseini noted that Shazands Emam Khomeini Oil Refinery which is the current supplier of the mentioned products has committed to offering 80 percent of its annual output, which is 40,000 tons and 60,000 tons of propylene and normal hexane, respectively, at IRENEX on a monthly basis. Hosseini explained that normal hexane is used as a solvent in the petrochemical and lubrication industries and propylene is commonly used as a feedstock for petrochemical plants. In the past few months, the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and its subsidiaries have been constantly offering various oil products at IRENEX. NIOC has managed to sell millions of dollars of oil products via IRENEX over the past two years. In May 2019, NIOC decided to halt the offering of oil and gas condensate at IRENEX to prepare new guidelines for the later offerings. Accordingly, for the 10th round of light crude oil offering, which was the third round of offerings in the new Iranian calendar year (started on March 21) NIOC decided to offer two million barrels of light crude instead of the previous one million barrels. The least amount of purchase was also reduced to 10,000 barrels from the previous 35,000 barrels. However, clearly even those adjustments had some flaws and were not enough to attract buyers, so NIOC decided to once again make new changes in its regulations. Removing some of the barriers regarding approval of the bidders and strict pre-payment rules, the new regulations are aimed at encouraging domestic buyers for more engagement in the countrys oil and condensate trades. Offering crude oil and gas condensate at IRENEX is to materialize the objectives of Resistance Economy for diversifying methods of selling these products and benefitting from the capabilities of private sector for exporting them. National Iranian Oil Company offered light crude oil at IRENEX first on October 28, 2018. Offering gas condensate at IRENEX came after the successful offering of crude oil at this market. And then the turn came to heavy crude. Offering heavy crude at IRENEX came after NIOC offered light crude at this stock market in eight rounds. Now, after one year, the released reports show that sales of these products has not been so successful and welcomed. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz DNA on a glove found near a getaway car allegedly connects a man to a suspected gangland murder, the High Court has heard. Prosecutors claimed 24-year-old Jake O'Brien is forensically linked to the item containing firearm residue located following the shooting of Malcolm McKeown in Waringstown, Co Down. McKeown, 54, was shot six times in the head and body at a petrol station on August 19 last year. Police have said the killing is tied in with a drugs-related feud between rival criminal groups. O'Brien, of Rectory Park in Lurgan, Co Armagh, is one of two men charged with his murder. He denies involvement in the attack. During a bail application Crown lawyer Fiona O'Kane said McKeown was found dead in his car parked on Main Street. CCTV footage shows a Volkswagen Passat speeding away from the garage within a minute of the shooting, she contended. About ten minutes later that car was set on fire, with two men in boiler suits viewed running away. Four police officers have examined the CCTV footage and identified O'Brien as being one of the pair, the court heard. Mrs O'Kane also contended that black latex gloves were later recovered on a route away from the Passat. "They were forensically examined and came back with an indication of a firearm particle and a positive match for Mr O'Brien's DNA," she said. In police interviews the defendant denied it was him on the footage. He confirmed that he worked with vehicles and carried gloves in his van. "He said that he's not the tidiest person and the gloves may have blown away," Mrs O'Kane added. Following prosecution submissions legal discussions centred on the evidence advanced. Defence lawyers then confirmed their intention to challenge the strength of the case against O'Brien at his next magistrates remand hearing. Adjourning the bid to secure bail, Lord Justice McCloskey told them: "I'm strongly hinting that the timing of the application to this court is inappropriate." Update Jan 29: Aoife has been found. Gardai have thanked the public for their help in locating her. Earlier: Gardai and family members are concerned for the well-being of a woman who went missing today. T he UK will leave the European Union on Friday with a deal in place after the European Parliament overwhelmingly approved the Withdrawal Agreement. MEPs in Brussels voted for the agreement by 621 votes to 49, ratifying the plans which will see January 31 mark the official departure date. There were emotional scenes in the parliament as the result was announced with MEPs linking hands to sing a final chorus of Auld Lang Syne. The EUs chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier told the European Parliament: In this new beginning I would really and sincerely like to wish the UK well. Referring to the referendum, he said: Many of us here regret that decision. We continue to regret the vote, but we respect it. European Commission Chief Negociator Michel Barnier delivers a speech on Wednesday / AFP via Getty Images Mr Barnier added: What we have tried to do in this treaty in an objective fashion, in a patient fashion, with all due respect, is to try and come up with responses, or legal assurances for all of those, and all sectors, where Brexit as with a divorce will generate insecurity and uncertainty for many citizens. And their rights have always been at the centre of our deliberations. Pro-Remain MEPs in the European Parliament / AFP via Getty Images Mr Barnier said: "We are going to continue in the year that comes, this current year with the same spirit, the same objectivity, without any aggression by firmly, however, defending the interests of the union and its member states. "Going beyond Brexit the UK will remain there. "It will remain a close partner when it comes to the economy. It will be an ally as it always has been and it will be a friend." Nigel Farage And Brexit Party MEPs Rebuked During EU Debate For Waving Union Jack Flags It comes after the withdrawal agreement passed Parliament before it was formally signed by the presidents of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in Brussels and Mr Johnson in Downing Street. The agreement settles the terms of Britain's departure and tees up an 11-month transition period, during which the UK will continue to follow EU rules while talks take place on a fresh agreement for trade. It included future citizens' rights, the arrangements on the Northern Ireland border and the UK's divorce settlement. MEP's hold hands and sing after a vote on the UK's withdrawal from the EU / AP In the wake of the latest vote there will be a farewell ceremony for the British MEPs leaving for the last time. Before the vote, Brexiteer foreign secretary Dominic Raab said the decision marked a "historic moment". "It is the start of a new chapter for an independent, sovereign Britain, looking forward to a decade of renewal and opportunity," he said. "Whether we are reducing trade barriers between nations, tackling climate change, or improving lives around the world, our vision of a truly global Britain will be a force for good." Key Brexit quotes as Britain's EU departure looms It now sets Britain on course for crunch talks with the European Union over a future trade deal. The PM has long insisted he will aim for free trade - though the bloc has pushed back that this will be dependent on the extent to which Britain follows EU regulations. Brexit day: Britain is set to depart on January 31 / AFP via Getty Images Brexit secretary Steve Barclay said there are not plans to diverge "for the sake of it", though the government and particularly Brexiteers have insisted moving away from alignment was a key motivation for leaving the EU in the first place. Britain will officially leave the EU on January 31 at 11pm GMT - with a raft of celebrations due to take place in central London. The Ghana Police Service (GPS) is among Ghana's numerous public sector organisations. However, its service is under the control of the Ghanaian Interior Ministry. Besides, the sector is highly principled and make an effort to provide valuable services. Ghana Police Service logo. Photo: @GhPoliceService Source: Facebook Ghana Police Service is the primary law enforcement agency for the country. It protects and preserves the internal security of Ghana, ensuring that citizens remain at peace. Also, it is an essential stakeholder for ARAP's anti-corruption efforts in Ghana. GPS focuses on crime prevention, detection, and even the prosecution of offenders. History and vision of the Ghana Police Service The British Colonial Authorities introduced professional policing to the "Gold Coast," currently the Republic of Ghana. The body was formalised in 1894 with the passing of the police ordinance and gave legal authority to form a local police force, now the Ghana Police Service. In 1902, the civil police force was separated into four major parts: Escort, General, Mines Police, and Railways; it was legalised in 1904 by the Police (Amendment) Ordinance. Finally, in 1916, the Marine police were born but later replaced by Preventive Service and Customs excise in 1942. The Criminal Investigation Department started in 1921, and the fingerprint section operated entirely in 1922. Then, in 1948, after major riots in the nation, the Police Reserves Unit was born to work on the riotous mobs. Governor of the Gold Coast, Sir Charles Noble Arden Clark, formed the wireless and Communications Unit in June 1950. As a result, a massive group of Africans were listed in the Police Force as junior officers in 1952. However, the women section of the service came up to be ruling for juvenile offences and crimes committed by women. In 1958, Mr E. R. T. Madjitey received the first Ghanaian Police Commissioner appointment. Officers in parade. Photo: @GhPoliceService Source: UGC The key vision of the Ghana Police Service is to be an exceptional Police Service with the capacity of giving democratic, peaceful and also planned services up to standards of globally best practices. Ghana Police Service ranks Every organised movement has levels to ensure things run smoothly. So any person serving in the force is allotted to a particular section and has a position. These ranks are divided into two, which are the superior and subordinate officers. Here is a list of the ranks in Police service in Ghana, beginning from the topmost level. Superior officers Inspector-General of Police Deputy inspector general Commissioner Deputy Commissioner Assistant commissioner Chief Superintendent Superintendent Deputy Superintendent Assistant superintendent Subordinate police officers Chief Inspector Sergeant Corporal Lance corporal Constable Ghana Police Service symbols Ghana Police Service symbols for each rank. Photo: @flatprofile.com Source: UGC For the Ghana Police Service, every rank has a different logo. These symbols are essential for official Ghana police identification and signify a specific position. Below are descriptions of the symbols peculiar to the Ghana Police ranks and their names in the department: Inspector-General of Police This is the most senior rank in the force, and every other rank reports to whoever is in this position. The distinguishing symbols of this office are a star, two eagles touching wings, and a star encircled by two laurel leaves, all arranged vertically. Deputy Inspector General The DIG is next in rank to the IG. The symbols that differentiate this position from other ranks are two eagles opposite each other and touching wings above a star enclosed in laurel leaves. Commissioner The Commissioner of Police is in the third-highest position in the GPS. Symbol symbols include two stars and laurel leaves encompassing another star arranged vertically. Deputy Commissioner The DCP is next in line to the CP, and the distinguishing symbols include a star on top of another star surrounded by laurel leaves. Assistant Commissioner You can identify the ACP in the force with the singular symbol of a star encircled by two laurel leaves. Chief Superintendent (CSP) Chief Superintendent Officer in the GPS is easily identifiable by the symbol of a star atop two eagles on the opposite side of each other touching wings. Superintendent (SP) You can recognise an officer in this rank when you see only the symbol of two eagles on opposite sides of each other. Deputy Superintendent The DSP is a rank beneath the SP, and you will know an officer in this rank when you see the symbol of three stars on top of one another. Assistant Superintendent The ASP is a rank easily identifiable by the two stars arranged atop each other. Chief Inspector An officer in this position can be identified with the symbols of four black stars, each embedded in a rectangular box and arranged atop one another. Inspector An IPO is a rank below the Chief IPO, and the difference between their symbols is the absence of one star enclosed in a rectangle, which means that instead of four, there are three black stars in this rank. Sergeant The officers in this position in the GPS are easily recognisable by the symbol of a star on top of the Ghana Police logo, which sits atop three V-shaped stripes. Corporal The position of the corporal comes immediately after the sergeant. It is easily distinguishable by the symbol of a star sitting on top of the Ghana Police logo, which sits atop two V-shaped stripes instead of three. Lance Corporal This rank is just beneath the corporal, and the symbols that differentiate them from other ranks are a star, the Ghana Police logo, and a single V-shaped stripe, all arranged atop each other. Members of the country's police force. Photo: @GhPoliceService Source: Twitter Constable The constable is the lowest rank in the Ghana Police system, and the symbols that will help you recognise an officer in this position are a single star sitting on top of the Ghana Police logo. How to apply for Ghana Police Service 2022 The newsletter containing the Ghana Police Service recruitment latest news revealed that the recruitment/enlistment exercise carried out by the law enforcement agency ended on the 14th of November, 2021. Therefore, by implication, interested candidates can wait until 2022 before applying again. Nevertheless, for the Ghana Police Service recruitment 2022 application, the interested persons will log in to the agency's official website, police.gov.gh, and submit their request. Applicants must meet the following criteria for them to be eligible: Applicants must be Ghanaian by birth; Must be Ghanaian over 18 years and less than 25 years by the 1st of December, 2021; Height (173 centimetres or 5 feet 8 inches for male and 165 centimetres or 5 feet 4 inches for female); Well conversant with the English language; both written and spoken; Be knowledgeable in basic computer applications; Educational qualification as advised by the Appointment, and Promotion Advisory Board, of the Ghana Police Service; Applicant must have clean records from the Criminal Records Department; Must meet the standards of Ghana police service medical examination; Must be of good character; Should own a valid phone number and an active email account; Should enrol for the Basic Police training and conform to other forms of training. Ghana Police Service training school Ghana Police College was established in 1959 in Tesano, Accra. However, all senior officers were trained in the United Kingdom before its establishment. It ensures the trainees acquire the professional skills necessary to discharge their duties in full conformity. After the training, trainees can perform their roles with minimum or no supervision. Below is the Ghana Police Service Training School address: College Name : National Police Academy & Training School : National Police Academy & Training School Address : Police Depot Tesano Accra : Police Depot Tesano Accra Location : Accra : Accra Country : Ghana : Ghana Telephone Number: 030 2228744 Ghana Police Service headquarters The GPS headquarters are in the capital city of Ghana, Accra. The head of the offices is the inspector general. During emergencies, call 18555 (Vodafone/MTN Toll-free) or 191 (Toll-free for all mobile communication networks). However, its contact address is given below: P. O. Box: 116, Accra. 116, Accra. Ghana Police Service contact numbers: +233 302 773906, +233 302 787373 +233 302 773906, +233 302 787373 Email : hq.pro@police.gov.gh : hq.pro@police.gov.gh Website: police.gov.gh Thanks to the Ghana Police Service for such efforts, it seeks to strengthen international integrity and accountability. The service stays true and focused on its motto, service with integrity. It is also a crucial actor in Ghana's anti-corruption chain and one of the leading investigating and prosecuting agencies. Although everyone has their way of defining who is beautiful to them, a recent post on Yen.com.gh discussed some of the most beautiful women in the world. According to the post, Bella Hadid is the most beautiful woman, followed by Adriana Lima. But then, how did they make the list? Read the post to discover the uniqueness of these amazing women who take the world stun with their beauty. Source: YEN.com.gh With Iowa and New Hampshire voters preparing to cast ballots in the coming weeks, a new national poll shows Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts faring better than Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in a one-on-one matchup with former Vice President Joe Biden. Sanders this week surged in recent Iowa polling, and hes also leading several polls in New Hampshire, a primary he won in 2016. Progressives have been concerned that Sanders and Warren could eventually split the left-wing vote, leading to Biden picking up the nomination. Politico reported that an online survey testing hypothetical matchups showed Biden and Warren nearly neck-and-neck with Biden garnering 47% support compared to Warrens 45%. A Biden-Sanders matchup showed a bigger divide, with 53% of likely Democratic voters picking Biden and 41% backing Sanders. The poll, commissioned by progressive group Data for Progress and conducted by YouGov Blue, showed that in a three-way race, 42% said theyd vote for Biden, 30% for Warren and 23% for Sanders. Related Content: fotis dulos Erik Trautmann/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP Farmington Police said they found Fotis Dulos unresponsive while conducting a welfare check around noon on Tuesday, when he failed to show up for a court date. Sources told multiple local outlets that the 52-year-old had attempted suicide. Dulos was accused of killing his estranged wife Jennifer, who disappeared last May, and was out of jail on $6 million bond while he awaited trial. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Fotis Dulos, the man at the center of one of the nation's most talked-about crime stories, is in critical condition after an apparent suicide attempt. At a Tuesday afternoon press conference, police in Farmington, Connecticut, said they were asked to conduct a welfare check at Dulos' home around noon. Officers looked through a window and saw Dulos unresponsive in a car in his garage, so they immediately forced entry and started life-saving measures. Dulos was initially taken to UConn Health, before later being transferred to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, New York, to receive treatment in a hyperbaric chamber for carbon monoxide poisoning, his attorney Norm Pattis told CNN. According to NBC New York, Dulos remained in critical condition on Wednesday, and Pattis said he may not recover. While police didn't release any details on why Dulos was found unresponsive, sources told the Hartford Courant that Dulos had attempted to kill himself. The Courant and other local outlets had initially reported that Dulos had died, but later amended their reports to say that he was still alive and that medics were trying to revive him. fotis dulos home CBS New York The 52-year-old was out on $6 million bail while awaiting trial in the death of his estranged wife Jennifer Dulos, who disappeared last May. Dulos was supposed to be in court on Tuesday for an emergency bond hearing, but didn't show. He faced the possibility of having his bail revoked and being sent back to jail, due to an issue with his insurance company possibly not being able to support his bail, CT Post reported. Story continues Pattis told NBC New York that the news of the possible bail revocation was devastating for Dulos, but "not once did it ever occur to me that he might be a risk of suicide." "I feel that I let him down, that he trusted me to be his good shepherd through the valley of the shadow of death and perhaps he reached out and I didn't hear what he needed, and I feel a sense of responsibility for his welfare," Pattis added. Shortly before the reports about the suicide attempt started coming out, aerial footage from WFSB showed someone performing CPR on a body outside of Dulos' house. Reporters were gathered outside the house waiting to capture Dulos leaving for his bond hearing. A case with twists and turns like a crime novel jennifer dulos 1 New Canaan Police Department Though Jennifer's body was never found,her husband was arrested earlier this month and charged with murder in connection to her death. His former girlfriend, 44-year-old Michelle Troconis, and civil lawyer, Keny Mawhinney, were also arrested at the same time, and charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Jennifer, a mother of five, went missing on May 24, 2019, after dropping her children off at school. She was in the middle of a contentious divorce from her husband. Fotis and Traconis were persons of interest early on in Jennifer's disappearance, when police discovered that the two had disposed of garbage bags containing items with Jennifer's blood on them shortly after her disappearance, according to Fox 61. Fotis professed his innocence in his wife's disappearance, telling NBC New York in July that he never wished her harm. "I had my differences with Jennifer like many people do when they go through a marriage, but that doesn't mean that I wish her ill in any way ... I never wanted Jennifer out of the way, " he said. His legal team has proposed the theory that Jennifer ran away and framed her husband for her murder in a move reminscent of the popular novel "Gone Girl." Read the original article on Insider Pentagon: 50 Troops Suffered Brain Injuries in Iran Strike The Pentagon on Tuesday, Jan. 28 raised to 50 the number of U.S. service members who suffered traumatic brain injuries in Irans missile strike earlier this month on an Iraqi airbase, the third time the number of injuries has been increased. Days after the attack, the military said 11 service members were injured. Last week, the Pentagon said that 34 U.S. service members were hurt. Lt. Col. Thomas Campbell, a Pentagon spokesman, said Tuesday that 16 additional service members were diagnosed with traumatic brain injury. Of the 50, Campbell said, 31 service members had returned to duty. A U.S. soldier stands at a site of Iranian bombing, in Ain al-Asad air base, Anbar, Iraq, on Jan. 13, 2020. (Qassim Abdul-Zahra/AP Photo) The service members were treated in Iraq, or at military health centers, including Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the largest U.S. military hospital outside the continental United States, and a U.S. military medical facility in Kuwait. The troops were injured from the Jan. 8 missile strike on Iraqs Ain al-Asad air base, which Iran carried out as retaliation for a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad that killed Irans most powerful general, Qassem Soleimani, on Jan. 3. 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. 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) Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, became a bigger concern for the military in recent years as medical science improved its understanding of its causes and effects on brain function. It can involve varying degrees of impairment of thinking, memory, vision, hearing and other functions. The severity and duration of the injury can vary widely. The Defense Department has said more than 375,000 incidents of TBI occurred in the military between the years 2000 and 2018. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says a severe TBI may lead to death or result in an extended period of coma or amnesia. Boeing Co (BA.N) on Wednesday swung to its first annual loss since 1997 as 737 MAX costs approach $19 billion and indicated it would again cut production of its bigger 787 Dreamliner aircraft, currently its main source of cash, Trend reports citing Reuters. Boeing, which has halted 737 MAX production and is immersed in compensation talks with airline customers as it battles the biggest crisis in its history, had previously estimated a more than $8 billion price tag for the MAX fallout. The aircraft was grounded in March after two crashes that killed 346 people and deliveries remain frozen. The Chicago-based planemaker has been updating the 737 MAX flight control system and software to address issues believed to have played a role in both crashes. On a conference call, President and CEO David Calhoun said he believed the company could meet a goal to win regulatory approval for the planes to fly again by mid-year. Boeing had initially targeted 737 MAX approval in 2019, a timeline that proved overly optimistic and, coupled with criticism over the companys culture, contributed to former CEO Dennis Muilenburgs departure. Calhoun rebuffed recent media suggestions that he was a Boeing insider ill-suited to introducing radical change, but acknowledged he had had a front row seat as a member of Boeing board for past 10 years and pledged to overhaul the companys culture. Costs related to the global grounding of Boeings once fast-selling 737 MAX reached $14.6 billion in 2019 and the planemaker warned of another $4 billion in charges in 2020 due to the expense of slowly re-starting production. The amount does not include potential settlements or damages from more than 100 lawsuits the company is facing victims families in both crashes. It is also the target of a U.S. criminal investigation into matters related to the 737 MAX plane. Ive got to restore trust, confidence and faith in the Boeing company, Calhoun said on the call. Boeing shares were 1.4% higher, as some analysts had expected an even larger charge for 737 MAX costs. The stock has lost about a quarter of its value since early March 2019. Boeings core operating loss was $2.53 billion, or $2.33 per share, compared with a profit of $3.87 billion, or $5.48 per share, a year earlier. Analysts on average expected Boeing to post earnings per share of $1.47 in the quarter, though several had predicted a loss amid a wide range of forecasts due to uncertainties over the cost of the 737 MAX crisis. The company also booked more charges on its military tanker and space programs. The mom of "Success Kid," the empowered toddler who has become a popular meme, has filed a cease-and-desist letter against Republican Rep. Steve King of Iowa for alleged copyright infringement. With his fist raised and a determined expression on his face, then-toddler Sam Griner was transformed into a meme shortly after his mother, Laney Griner, posted the photo on Flickr in 2007. According to the Flickr caption, the photo was taken in Jacksonville by his mother when Sam was just 11 months old. Griner registered the copyright on the photo in 2012, according to the letter. But for more than a decade, the meme has been used countless times, including by the White House in 2013 to push changes in immigration laws. When the Florida woman noticed King had used the meme of her son in fundraising efforts, she took to Twitter to protest the usage: Griner tweeted Thursday that King is a "vile man" and that she did not give permission to either him or his "disgusting party" to use her son's image to promote his agenda. Just so its clear - I have/would never give permission for use of my sons photo to promote any agenda of this vile man or that disgusting party. https://t.co/AVdl9dxXCs Laney Griner (@laneymg) January 23, 2020 In a Facebook post that has since been deleted, King used Sam's image with the message "FUND OUR MEMES," in white block letters on a blurred background of the U.S. Capitol. The post linked to the conservative fundraising site WinRed and asked people to donate if they enjoy the memes King posts on his page. King became a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2003. He has represented Iowa's 4th District since 2013. Live impeachment trial updates: Trump to Republicans: Don't let Democrats 'play you' on witnesses Story continues Through the law firm King, Holmes, Paterno & Soriano, LLP in Los Angeles, Griner sent the cease-and-desist letter to King, his campaign and WinRed. In the letter, attorneys say King and his campaign are "willfully infringing our client's copyright and violating her son's rights in his likeness" to raise money for his campaign. It alleges that King implied "Success Kid" is associated with his campaign, and the use "has harmed and continues to harm" the friendly message of the meme. Laney Griner has filed a cease and desist against U.S. Rep. Steve King for the unauthorized use of the "Success Kid" meme, which she owns and features her son. The letter also states that people may be hesitant to purchase products associated with "Success Kid" due to King's use. The firm asks in the letter that King remove "Success Kid" from all websites he owns or controls, post a message on all websites where he used the meme saying he posted it to solicit funds and did not have permission, and provide a list of all the money he received in response to the meme. It also demands that King provide proof that the campaign "has refunded or is in the process of refunding all such funds to the payors," and has notified them that the meme was unauthorized and the owners are not affiliated with his campaign. The letter asks that King contact the firm to discuss compensation for using the meme. What's next in impeachment?:16 hours of questions. How that will work Griner's lawyer, Stephen Rothschild, said the law firm has not heard back from King, his campaign, or WinRed. "We hope they will do the right thing and apologize for this blatant misuse of our clients copyrighted work and their attempt to associate Sam with their extremist views," he said in an email. The letter states that if King has not complied with the Griner's requests by 11 a.m. Wednesday, Griner will sue King, his campaign and WinRed for copyright infringement. A media representative for King did not return requests for comment. Sarah LeBlanc covers trending news for the Register. Reach her at sleblanc@registermedia.com. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Mom behind 'Success Kid' meme files cease and desist against Rep. Steve King The Indian embassy on Wednesday sent out registration and consent notes to be filled up by Indians who are stuck in the Coronavirus-hit central Chinese province of Hubei as part of the process to evacuate them and asked them to be ready for a 14-day quarantine period once in India. The Indians are expected to be flown out of Wuhan in a special aircraft to India. The Indians who decide to take up the offer will be screened before boarding the vehicle that will take them out of Wuhan. Their application will be rejected if found with the symptoms of the disease. The consent note with all required information has to be emailed back to the Indian embassy by 1600 hours (China time) on Wednesday. The email ID is: helpdesk.beijing@mea.gov.in The US and Japan have evacuated the first group of their citizens from Wuhan since last night. South Korea is expected to do so as well. More than 300 Indians mostly students and working individuals are currently stranded in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, which is said to be the origin of the novel Coronavirus that has killed 136 and infected upwards of 6000 people in China and globally. In a message circulated among Indians who are in Hubei, the Indian embassy said it was working on finalising the date and the logistics of the evacuation. As informed earlier, Embassy is working on finalising date and logistics of the evacuation of Indian nationals from Hubei Province. In the meantime, those intending to avail of the option for evacuation are requested to confirm their willingness in writing to the Embassy, the Indian embassy said in message circulated via the social media platform of WeChat. The embassy added that once the consent note along with all required information is received, the individual will be issued a unique token number as individual identification. Individuals will be directly informed about the date and logistics of the evacuation, the message added. The Indians who would take up the option to evacuate from Hubei will have to consent to be put in quarantine for two weeks once in India. I am aware that availing this option, I will have to undergo a mandatory 14 days quarantine on arrival in India, the consent not from the Embassy said. The note also said that the individual would have to agree that she or he could be rejected for evacuation on the basis of medical checks preceding the evacuation. They could also be quarantined in China if symptoms show up during the medical check. Tens of millions in Hubei are either in lockdown or facing public transport-restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus. More than 90 percent of the virulent Coronavirus cases have been traced to a now-closed seafood and fish market in Wuhan, which also traded in wildlife. The evacuation of foreign nationals including Indians from Hubei and Wuhan remain mired in logistical issues especially about not allowing the virus to spread through those being evacuated. It has been complicated by the fact that an infected person can pass on the virus to another even during the one-day-to-14-day incubationperiod. Resistance has mounted over the last several days to Microsoft's decision to change the default search engine of Google's Chrome to Bing on personal computers running Office 365 ProPlus. Microsoft quietly announced the move Jan. 21 on its Microsoft 365 Roadmap page, then on Jan. 22 published support documents with additional information and a blog post that stated the company's rationale. Commentary on Microsoft's blog, the support document and elsewhere including an Office 365 website dedicated to user requests was almost universally negative. "I can't believe you think this is an acceptable business practice," asserted Rickey Roach in a comment appended to the Office 365 team's blog post. "This is ... overreach," opined Tom Arbuthnot on that same blog. Arbuthnot was identified as an MVP, a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional. "Microsoft might be doing this because they think it will give the user a better experience, but doing it by default without even asking the user or the organization is too much. I'm pretty sure Google won't be too pleased with this either." (Arbuthnot expanded on his criticism on his personal blog.) It's all about Microsoft Search Microsoft's scheme to switch Chrome from its designated search choice to Bing was part of the firm's Microsoft Search strategy. "By making Bing the default search engine, users in your organization with Google Chrome will be able to take advantage of Microsoft Search, including being able to access relevant workplace information directly from the browser address bar," Microsoft contended in a Jan. 23 support document. Microsoft Search, which the company unveiled in May 2019, was designed to make search in the enterprise in Microsoft-made and third-party applications more productive. Rather than return just website links, Microsoft Search would find information from files and those applications' content, bringing to the forefront not only matches and near matches but also what the algorithms believed the user really was after. In Edge, the service is dubbed "Microsoft Search in Bing." Microsoft Search is a key component of Microsoft 365, the uber subscription that bundles Office 365, Windows 10 and management tools, and appears to be a major initiative. (One way to gauge the latter: the comprehensive Microsoft Search in Bing adoption kit, a cache of email, poster and evaluation templates companies can use to educate workers on the service and convince them to try it.) Apparently, Microsoft was so set on spreading the new search service that it decided to force it on those enterprise users the ones running Office 365, anyway who have Chrome as their default browser. Microsoft made this decision even though it had to know that the plot would receive serious pushback and could easily guess the forms of that criticism. Browser hijacking? Not surprisingly, much of the blowback equated the unsolicited search change to the practices of malware makers and scammers. "Force-changing the settings on a user for arbitrary reasons circles the drain of 'unlawful,' and is effectively browser hijacking," said someone labeled only as camxct on GitHub, where comments attached to support documents appeared. "Browser hijacking like in the 90s. Are you nuts?" asked kgbvax, perhaps not rhetorically. The phrase "browser hijacking" and others, including PUP, for "potentially unwanted program" harked back years to a time when that practice was common. Malicious actors would infect a system with malware that changed a browser's settings typically its default search engine and/or home page to drive traffic to specific sites where they could collect advertising revenue. Google spent significant time and effort in blocking hijackers from taking over Chrome and in barring unofficial add-ons those not hosted in the Chrome Web Store, more or less from installing, all part of a years-long process to lock down the browser. Now, Microsoft is attempting to do to Chrome just what Google has tried to stop. "Chrome is not your browser, leave it alone!" said someone identified only as Andrew on the User Voice site Microsoft runs to solicit feedback and requests for Office. "This is adware at best! I am absolutely flabbergasted by this stunt!" (As of 2 p.m. ET Jan. 28, that item on User Voice had been upvoted more than 900 times and had collected more than 180 comments.) Others swore revenge. "This really makes me regret pushing Office 365 so hard where I work. You guys are putting egg on my face," wrote Daniel Prince on the User Voice site. "I'm in charge of 90,000 Windows and Mac devices. Next week, we are blocking Bing.com at the firewall level. Hope this little stunt you pulled was worth it." Software should obtain your consent, says Microsoft Microsoft's add-on has already appeared on Google's Chrome Web Store, hinting that Google at least implicitly approved of the extension. Dubbed Microsoft Search in Bing quick access, it was updated as recently as today. A pair of users objected to the extension in the Store, too. "Unwanted plugin, should not be allowed to install without consent," argued Michael Studte. "Mess with Chrome Edge all you want, but don't touch non-Microsoft browsers!" The thing is, Microsoft's own policies have or still do; it's unclear forbid changing a browser's default search engine without authorization. "All extensions for Microsoft Edge must be deployed from the Microsoft Store," stated the Microsoft browser extension policy for the old-school Edge. "The installation must be initiated and completed by the user, using only the user experience provided by Microsoft Edge and the Microsoft Store" (emphasis added). Elsewhere, Microsoft's own definition of unwanted software included phrasing that may match how it plans to distribute the Chrome extension. In the support document "How Microsoft identifies malware and potentially unwanted applications," under "Unwanted software," Microsoft said, "Software should obtain your consent before installing." Microsoft has said nothing thus far about user consent when it rolls out the next update to Office 365 ProPlus. Neither Google or Mozilla replied to requests for comment on Microsoft's plan to issue add-ons for Chrome and Firefox in new installations of Office 365 ProPlus and the next update to ProPlus. The MEA said permission was sought from China, adding that the Indian embassy in Beijing was working on the logistics with the Chinese authorities. New Delhi: The Union health ministry on Wednesday asked Indians to refrain from travelling to China where the novel coronavirus has claimed over 130 lives. A number of airlines are seeing heavy cancellations over the outbreak of coronavirus in China, and on Wednesday Air India and IndiGo announced cancellations of some of their flights to China. While IndiGo said it has decided to suspend its flights on the Bengaluru-Hong Kong route from February 1 and on the Delhi-Chengdu route from February 1 to 20 due to the coronavirus outbreak, Air India said it will suspend flights on the Delhi-Shanghai route from January 31 to February 14. India has also requested China for permission to operate two evacuation flights from Hubei province to fly back Indian nationals from Wuhan city and other parts of the province in view of the coronavirus outbreak. The MEA said permission was sought from China, adding that the Indian embassy in Beijing was working on the logistics with the Chinese authorities. Air India has six flights a week on the Delhi-Shanghai route and IndiGo has three daily flights to China. Both these airlines, along with SpiceJet, have waived ticket cancellation/rebooking charges till February 24. In view of the #CoronavirusOutbreak, SpiceJet is offering waiver of cancellation/change fee (fare difference if any will be applicable) for all flights to/from Hong Kong between 24th January and 24th February 2020, Spicejet tweeted. After carefully assessing the current coronavirus situation in China, IndiGo is taking some safety measures for its customers, crew and staff. Due to China travel restrictions, we have seen a high number of cancellations from China on our Delhi-Chengdu route and vice versa. Therefore, we are suspending our flights between Delhi and Chengdu from February 1 until February 20. We are also suspending our Bengaluru-Hong Kong flight effective February 1, IndiGo said. We understand that these measures will cause inconvenience to our customers and we will be refunding the full amount to the impacted passengers, it added. However, IndiGo clarified that for now, it will continue to operate the Kolkata-Guangzhou flight which it is monitoring on a daily basis. And for our operating crew, we are ensuring that they return to India on the inbound flights without any layover in China, it said. The crew of airlines operating on the China route have been told to take utmost precautions and wear masks while not on duty and to avoid public places. In India, many people are under observation in hospitals for suspected infections, including in Maharashtra, Goa, Odisha and the national capital. People returning to the country after visiting China are being regularly screened for the deadly virus at airports across the country. The virus, which has killed 132 people and affected at least 6,000 others in China, is a novel strain not seen before. The Ayush ministry has issued an advisory and recommended that homeopathic and unani medicine could be effective in the prevention of novel coronavirus infections. It also mentioned some Ayurvedic practices which can help recess the symptoms of respiratory tract in possible coronavirus infected cases. On Tuesday, the scientific advisory board of the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), under the Ayush ministry, discussed ways to prevent the nCoV infection through homoeopathy. It recommended that homoeopathic medicine Arsenicum album 30 could be taken empty stomach daily for three days as a preventive medicine against the infection. The dose should be repeated after one month in case the nCoV infection prevails in the community, the advisory said, adding that the same was also advised for prevention of influenza-like illnesses. The advisory suggests general hygienic measures for prevention of airborne infections such as washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, and avoiding close contact with people who are sick. India is among the top 30 countries at high risk from the spread of the deadly coronavirus, according to a study based on the number of air travellers predicted to arrive in countries from the worst-hit cities in China. Researchers from the UKs University of Southampton have compiled a list of cities and countries they believe are at high risk from the novel coronavirus. The most at risk countries or regions worldwide are Thailand (1), Japan (2), and Hong Kong (3). The United States is sixth on the list, Australia 10th, the UK 17th and India 23rd, the researchers said in the study released on Tuesday. A significant number of Indian students study at Wuhan, the central Chinese industrial city which is the epicentre of the outbreak. It is an educational hub with prestigious technical and medical education institutes. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday asked Indians to refrain from travelling to China where the novel coronavirus has claimed over 100 lives. The ministry issued a fresh travel advisory and also urged people travelling to China to monitor their health closely. It asked people to use 24x7 helpline (011-23978046) for queries related to respiratory infection. "In the view of the spurt of cases being reported in China and travel related cases appearing in many countries....all non-essential travel to China to be avoided," it said. As part of the preparedness, India has also increased the number of airports from seven to 21 where thermal screening of passengers is being done for a possible exposure to the deadly nCoV. These include airports at Gaya, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, Varanasi, Goa, Bhubaneswar and Lucknow besides the seven designated airports identified earlier. 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 health ministry also has established four more laboratories apart from the NIV-Pune for testing samples. The four labs for the testing samples have been made functional at Alleppey, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Mumbai. India is also planning to evacuate its nationals, mostly students, stuck in Wuhan, the epicentre of the viral outbreak. Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba had on Tuesday reviewed the preparedness to deal with the deadly virus after which the government said India has made a formal request to China for facilitating evacuation of Indians from Wuhan. The Civil Aviation Ministry will make necessary arrangements for evacuation after the approval of Chinese authorities is received. Asserting that there was no confirmed case of the nCoV, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had on Tuesday said India was making all efforts to detect and check the spread of the virus even as more than a dozen countries around the world have confirmed cases. Several states, including Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan have kept some people, with travel history to China, under observation after they showed novel coronavirus-like symptoms. Apart from increasing the number of airports to conduct thermal screening of passengers, the Centre has stepped up vigil in areas bordering Nepal in view of a confirmed case of nCoV detected there. The health minister had said he has also written to all chief ministers, requesting them for personal intervention to review the states' preparedness for control and management of the spread of the virus. China had reported 24 more deaths on Tuesday from the coronavirus epidemic, taking the number of fatalities to 106 as the confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the outbreak stood at 4,515, the Chinese health authorities said. The health minister has urged passengers who have a travel history to China since January 1, 2020, to come forward for self-reporting to the nearest health facility if they experience any symptoms such as fever, cough, respiratory distress, etc., and also inform their treating doctor. Three persons with a travel history to China have been kept under observation at an isolation ward of RML Hospital in New Delhi for a possible exposure to novel coronavirus. A 24x7 NCDC Call Centre has been made operational to monitor the list of contacts furnished by the Ministry of External Affairs, provide details of district and state surveillance officers to those who seek them, and in case of any clinical query, direct the concerned to the relevant Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) officer. The Health Ministry has asked passengers to follow certain dos and don'ts if they are in China or if they are travelling or returning from China. The advisory stated that during their stay in China, if they feel sick and have fever and cough, then they should cover their mouth while coughing and sneezing, seek medical attention promptly and report to the Indian Embassy in China. It said if they feel sick on flight, while travelling back to India from China, they should inform the airline crew about their illness, seek mask and self-reporting format from the airline crew, avoid close contact with family members or fellow travellers and follow other directions of crew and airport health officer. Officials say bedbugs are not a public-health issue. Tell that to the people whose homes have been infested by the bloodsucking parasites. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Officials say bedbugs are not a public-health issue. Tell that to the people whose homes have been infested by the bloodsucking parasites. The reason Manitoba, like other jurisdictions, does not categorize bedbugs as a public-health issue, a designation that could trigger much-needed resources and funding, is that the insect is not known to spread disease. Thousands of Manitobans living in bedbug-infested misery Click to Expand Cimex lectularius OR bed bug - Photo Courtesy Postmedia. FOR POSTMEDIA WEEKLY FEATURES PACKAGE NOVEMBER 22, 2010. For Jeff Heinrich (Montreal Gazette). FEAT-BEDBUGS Posted: 7:00 PM Jan. 24, 2020 Elizabeth Warbansky desperately needs to scratch. Her arms. Her scalp. Her backside. The constellation of red dots all over her body taunted her before she was prescribed anti-itching cream. If a bedbug isnt sucking on her blood, phantom pests are. Its been this way for the better half of the last six months, when the 66-year-old first learned her one-bedroom apartment in south River Heights was infested. Read Full Story Thats small consolation to the many Manitobans battling bedbugs, for whom its definitely a critical issue, personal if not public. The psychological, social and economic effects of a bedbug infestation can be overwhelming. People lose sleep, literally, knowing the pests typically hide in the seams of mattresses, awaiting the opportunity to emerge and feed on their hosts. They experience considerable stigma as workplaces, schools and friends are cautious about welcoming people who may unwittingly transport bedbugs. Repeated remediation treatments can cost thousands of dollars, and the disruption in a familys life can be tumultuous. Unfortunately, an increasing number of Manitobans can personally confirm a recent resurgence of bedbug infestations. Two local pest-control companies say they alone performed 9,264 bedbug-related chemical and heat treatments last year. Among Canadian cities, Winnipeg is second only to Toronto in bedbug infestations. More complete statistics are unavailable because Manitoba has no single authority assigned to the bedbug issue, an absence of oversight that should be rectified. The bedbug scourge doesnt currently fall under a specific municipal or provincial department, leaving citizens without an abundance of accurate information regarding the extent of the problem in Manitoba and what measures, if any, are underway to contain it. This lack of government initiative might surprise the unfortunate citizens who discover the pests and immediately start looking for help. Manitoba could follow the example of other jurisdictions by tasking leadership with coordinating an offensive against bedbugs. The first step is identify the bugs, which are reddish brown and about the size of apple seeds. In Toronto, the public health department will accept samples of suspected bedbugs and corroborate the dreaded suspicion. But in Manitoba, no civic or provincial authority will accept samples for identification purposes. 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. Are government subsidies or tax breaks available to help Manitobans dealing with bedbug infestations? Yes, a small amount of financial help is available to help defray the considerable expenses, but the funding is not widely publicized. Also, the criteria to qualify for financial help, which is typically distributed through non-profit community organizations, have been tightened and are of assistance mostly to people dealing with hoarding or sanitation issues. How about helping prospective tenants by listing multi-family units and apartment buildings that have had bedbug problems? In California, government officials are required to provide in writing the bedbug history of a building when asked. In Manitoba, renters are afforded no similar help from government. The stress caused by bedbug infestations can be overwhelming. (Mike Deal / Free Press files) Instead, Manitobans have to rely on alternatives that are, lamentably, open to misuse. There are crowdsourced websites that list the addresses of buildings purported to have had bedbugs, but in those online settings anyone can add an address, creating the risk of unethical renters falsely reporting infestations in an effort to harm the reputations of landlords with whom they are involved in disputes. Manitoba could follow the example of other jurisdictions by tasking leadership with co-ordinating an offensive against bedbugs, investing in public education and providing funding to help people on the margins afford treatments before bedbugs migrate to neighbouring suites and houses. Everyone who has had bedbugs agrees on one point: you cant ignore the problem and hope it goes away. The bedbugs are currently winning in Manitoba, and beating them will require the province to step up its action. The Chinese Spring Festival is a time when the whole nation shuts down. Restaurants, shops, grocery stores, and movie theaters close their doors as some 3 billion trips are made and people head home for the holiday and take a break. This mass return to ones place of origin is recognized as the largest recurring human migration on the planet. This year, however, has taken on a different tone. Instead of the typical Spring Festival notices, closed storefronts have posted signs about the Wuhan coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Its unclear when many will open again. Instead of getting together with friends and relatives, most people are opting to hunker down and stay at home. Advertisement On Wednesday, Chinese officials confirmed that 5,974 cases have been identified in the country. The number may be higher but cannot be confirmed, as there is a shortage of medical test kits. Thus far, 130 people have died. In an effort to restrain the viruss spread, the Chinese government implemented one of the most extreme measures possiblemedical quarantine. The largest in history, it includes several central cities and affects some 50 million people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond this, the Spring Festival holiday has been extended by two days for employees of any state-owned enterprise, another government effort to slow the spread of the virus. Its a largely unprecedented move. (In China, vacation time can be a misnomer; days off are often compensated for by scheduling additional work days on the weekends. The idea of work-life balance is a foreign luxury.) Universities and schools have told students to not return to campuses until further announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Naturally, the coronavirus has become an unavoidable topic of conversation, particularly on social media. Every day, friends, family, and colleagues share reminders to wear face masks and avoid public places. Theres a constant flow of contentvideos, audio files, screenshots, postersabout the virus. Government censors are doing double time trying to control discussion of the topic, hoping to lock in a government monopoly on information about the virus. One of the Chinese Communist Partys greatest fears is loss of control. Mass panic in the worlds most populous country is something no one, in China or abroad, wants to see. This burdens the Chinese government with two problems: a public health crisis and a public relations crisis. But from the start, officials have had a disadvantaged position due to Chinas lackluster transparency track record. Freedom Houses most recent assessment of press freedom in China gave a score of 87, with 100 being the least free. Under President Xi Jinping, media restrictions have tightened for both foreign and domestic press. Advertisement Advertisement In true strongman fashion, Xi gave a speech saying that, faced with the grave situation of an accelerating spread of the new coronavirus it is necessary to strengthen the centralised and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee. He instructed officials to guide public opinion. This can mean correcting misinformation, but also stifling the truth; in China, it is illegal to spread information that disrupts social ordereven when the information may be factual. Its one of the reasons Chinas state media lacks credibility. Yet it is the only sanctioned source of information, heightening the tension about the virus. Advertisement Advertisement Paradoxically, Chinas censorship undermines state media attempts to quash outlandish rumors (Caucasians are immune from the novel virus) and mistruths (wearing multiple layers of face masks can protect against the virus). Still, the Peoples Daily, Chinas largest newspaper and a mouthpiece for the Communist Party, has launched a Rumor Refuting campaign. Taking to the widely used social networking app WeChat, the newspaper is distributing shareable digital posters that address the most pernicious rumors. These brief, lilac-hued announcements, in turn, shed light on which rumors have reached the widest audiences and/or which the government deems most harmful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Dont believe these rumors! series has addressed a range of percolating fears: A man traveling by train had a 10-minute layover in Wuhan and was infected with the virus. SARS is a biological warfare attack. A Beijing hospital had an infected patient who ran away. Drinking indigo woad root and smoked vinegar can help prevent contracting the virus. Each rumor is then debunked. In response to the biological warfare rumor, for example, the poster explains that it is an unfounded conspiracy theory that provides no benefit to preventing the spread of the virus. It criticizes the rumor as absolutely unfounded and without merit; it only creates terror and adds chaos to chaos. If the rumor-refuting campaign is a defensive measure, the Peoples Daily is also going on the offensive to steer public opinion by issuing other shareable posters via its WeChat channel. These posts have been viewed by more than 100,000 readers, and many are upvoted by several tens of thousands. One reads, Confidence is a long-lasting vaccine in the face of an epidemic; another reminds people that combating the epidemic is not equivalent to being afraid of Hubei people. (Wuhan, where the virus originated, is the capital of central Hubei Province.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some people may be spreading false rumors for personal benefit. Shops that sell face masks are benefiting from the rumor that layering masks is an effective method to avoid the coronavirus, for instance. In an op-ed released by the Peoples Daily, the author criticized a drugstore in Beijing that was charging about $122 for 10 masks, a price 280 times the usual. The store was penalized the maximum fine of $3 million RMB ($432,482). The author warned that in times like these, you have to use a bulls knife to kill chickens. Such phrasing advises other sellers to not attempt the same. China wants to prove to the world, and its citizens, that it learned its lesson from SARS, when it was accused of underreporting the number of infected patients and downplaying the true threat. In any country, when a crisis arises, there is sudden, intense pressure for a trusted entity to provide constant, comprehensive, factual information. Its an almost impossible task for any large bureaucracy to manageand especially for Chinas. Advertisement One of the core issues is that Chinas bureaucracy has an ascending structureofficials are responsible to their superiors. It is an officials boss who makes the final decision about whether the official will advance. There are no constituents to hold bureaucrats accountable. While there have been warnings from the highest levels of government that those who conceal information run the risk of being nailed to the pillar of shame for eternitythe system ultimately still rewards falling in line with ones direct supervisor, even if their guidance runs counter to instructions from the top. On Wednesday evening the nightly news featured an interview of a man who had been discharged from the hospital. He had contracted the virus but recovered, went home, and is undergoing an additional two weeks of self-imposed quarantine, just to be sure. It seemed to be an encouraging case. His face was blurred out, which may have been to protect his privacy, but also might have been because the story was fabricated to calm people. Sometimes, we can only hope that the good news is true. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Donald Trump has slammed John Bolton as Democrats call for him to testify in the presidents impeachment, claiming he would have helped start four more World Wars had he not been removed from his post. Frankly, if I had listened to him, we would be in World War Six by now, Mr Trump wrote in a series of scathing tweets. The president also decried Democrats attempts to get his former national security adviser who was ousted in September of last year to deliver testimony, following a leaked manuscript of Mr Boltons upcoming book. No matter how many witnesses you give the Democrats, no matter how much information is given, like the quickly produced Transcripts, it will NEVER be enough for them, Mr Trump wrote on Tuesday night, later retweeting himself and a second tweet that derided Mr Boltons claims. Why didnt John Bolton complain about this nonsense a long time ago, he added, when he was very publicly terminated. He said, not that it matters, NOTHING! 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 manuscript reportedly revealed Mr Trump demanding political investigations from Ukraine into one of his 2020 political rivals, Joe Biden, while discussing withholding of crucial military aid to the country in conversations with his former adviser. After it was reported earlier this week, Mr Boltons new book revelations added fuel to Senate Democrats demands for witnesses in the impeachment trial against the president. Mr Trump sought to remind his supporters on Wednesday morning that Mr Bolton was apparently bad news, despite appointing him to a prominent role on the national security team in March 2018. In a long-running sentence, the president attacked Mr Bolton for not being able to get approved for the Ambassador to the UN years ago and having allegedly begged for a non-Senate approved position. He went on to list many more mistakes made by Mr Bolton, including mocking him over when he mistakenly says Libyan Model on T.V. Mr Trump then slammed Mr Bolton for going out IMMEDIATELY and writing a nasty [and] untrue book. All Classified National Security, he added. Who would do this? Meanwhile, it remains unclear how the new revelations from Mr Boltons manuscript will impact Republican senators in their vote on whether to support adding witnesses to the impeachment trial. That vote which could arrive as early as Friday or Saturday afternoon would require four Republicans to join the entirety of the Democrats in the Senate in demanding witnesses. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment There is much to study and digest in President Trumps just unveiled Deal of the Century, but allow me here to offer some immediate reflections. First, it is true that many evangelical Christians and Messianic Jews are dead set against a two-state solution (or a divided Jerusalem) in any sense of the word. They feel that to divide the land is to defy God and His Word (see Joel 3:2; another interpretation of this verse is that it refers to nations dividing up the land between themselves for their own use). There are also pragmatic concerns about any type of two-state solution, as argued eloquently by Caroline Glick in her book, The Israeli Solution: A One-State Plan for Peace in the Middle East. That being said, if this proposal has the enthusiastic support of Prime Minister Netanyahu, his rival General Benny Gantz, and our ambassador David Friedman, then who am I to reject it? In the words of INSS (The Institute for National Security Studies), This is the most favorable plan for Israel ever presented by an international player. (See here for their detailed assessment.) Overall, I know that lasting, true peace can only come to the region through Jesus the Messiah. But if there can be temporary respites that help all the inhabitants of the region, so be it. Second, if I understand things correctly, what the Palestinian people as a whole want more than anything is personal dignity, self-respect, the right to self-determination, and good educational and vocational opportunities for themselves and their children. To the extent the Trump plan can make this happen, it should be embraced by the Palestinians. (Again, there is much to digest in the plan, and these are only my immediate reactions to the announcement.) What would they have to give up in exchange? Realistically, they would have to give up systemic hostility to Israel. They would have to accept Israelis living in their midst (just as roughly 2 million Palestinian Arabs live within Israels recognized borders). They would have to dismantle Hamas. They would have to renounce all support of terror. Will they? As far as the populace as a whole, I believe many would gladly embrace this. After all, they are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, husbands and wives, young and old. They have aspirations and dreams and desires like everyone else, and to live without dignity and without hope is oppressive. The vast majority are not terrorist or terroristic. Not only so, but realistically, with the growth of Israeli settlements in the so-called West Bank (Judea and Samaria), there is little, realistic expectation that they will ever gain complete autonomy with a Judenfrein (Jew-free) state. So why not embrace the proposal? This leads me to the third and final point. There have already been bloody, civil wars between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas remains popular with many Palestinians. Thats because Hamas identifies with their struggle for freedom, and Hamas also does humanitarian work in their midst (speaking of Gaza, in particular). And in the minds of many Gazan Palestinians, Hamas is not the cause of their rampant unemployment and many hardships, Israel is. How in the world would the Palestinian Authority disarm Hamas? Would the Palestinian Authority really provide a much better government than Hamas? And would the Palestinian Authority abandon its financial support of Palestinians imprisoned for acts of terror against Israel? Or withdraw financial support for the families of Palestinian martyrs? Or cease inciting hatred toward Israel through education and media propaganda? To all these questions, the answer would appear to be an emphatic No! Thats why, immediately after the peace plan was unveiled, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said the plan should be tossed into the trash (literally, into the dustbin of history). And thats why there were reports of thousands of Palestinians protesting in Gaza before the plan was even released (who even knows what version of the plan they heard?). Yet, if the Palestinian populace as a whole could see a way forward to peace and prosperity, wouldnt they want to achieve it? And what if the surrounding Muslim nations said, Yes, do this and we will help you prosper as well!? What then? But here is the rub: the Palestinian leadership has a history of corruption. Yet the peace plan basically says this: The state will only come into existence in four years if the Palestinians accept the plan, if the Palestinian Authority stops paying terrorists and inciting terrorism and if Hamas and Islamic Jihad put down their weapons. In addition, the American plan calls on the Palestinians to give up corruption, respect human rights, freedom of religion and a free press, so that they dont have a failed state. If those conditions are met, the U.S. will recognize a Palestinian state and implement a massive economic plan to assist it. Frankly, without massive pressure from the populace as a whole, joined by other Muslim nations, I do not see this happening. And that is the crux of the problem. Middle East scholar Efraim Karsh wrote an important volume titled Palestine Betrayed, outlining how the Arab leadership consistently failed its people in agreeing to terms of peace and co-existence with Israel. And I would expect nothing less than that today, sad to say. And this brings me to the famous quote attributed to Golda Meir. She said, Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us. Doesnt that remain the biggest issue until this day? Pressure is mounting on ministers to ramp up building to tackle the UK's housing crisis. Work started on just 39,510 new homes between July and September last year, down 11 per cents on a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Over the 12 months to the end of September, work began on 157,550 new homes, down 7 per cents on a year earlier. Slowdown: Work started on just 39,510 new homes between July and September last year, down 11 per cent on a year earlier, according to Government figures Clive Docwra, managing director of construction, consulting and design agency McBains, said: 'The Government has set a target of 1m homes in five years, yet today's figures show that the industry is way off those rates. 'The Government needs to set out how it intends to boost building, such as freeing up more land and cutting red tape on planning.' The report showed 46,000 homes were completed between July and September, up 11 per cent on a year earlier. Homes completed in the 12 months to September rose 9 per cent to 177,980. 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The research study enable clients to meet varied market objectives a from global footprint expansion to supply chain optimization and from competitor profiling to M&As. Contact Us: Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager) AMA Research & Media LLP Unit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJ New Jersey USA 08837 Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218 sales@advancemarketanalytics.com The Central Information Commission (CIC) on Wednesday said an Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO) official not providing information on sale of flats in Noida casts a "rather murky shadow on the affairs of the organisation" and referred the matter to the Army Chief. The transparency panel made the comments while hearing an RTI applicant's plea seeking information from the Army Headquarters on sale of flats of a defaulter private builder's project at Noida's Sector 143 to Army personnel as advertised by the AWHO in February 2018. During the hearing AWHO Secretary Colonel Abhishek said he would not be sharing the information under the RTI with the Army Headquarters even after the CIC's orders. To this, Information Commissioner Divya Prakash Sinha marked his order to the Army Chief, who is the AWHO's patron, to "reflect upon the obscurity in the affairs of the AWHO exhorted by its secretary". Under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, only public authorities, which fulfil given criteria under the law, are answerable to applications seeking information. The Delhi High Court had observed that the AWHO is not a public authority under the Act. However, the RTI Act also empowers a chief public information officer (CPIO) of a public authority to gather information from a private body which can be accessed by it under any other law in force for the time being. The applicant approached the CIC, the highest adjudicating body in RTI Act matters, after the Army Headquarters did not provide any information. For the hearing, Col Abhishek was accompanied by the Army Headquarters' CPIO, even though he was not required to be present or make any submissions, Sinha noted. "Col Abhishek, Secretary, AWHO nonetheless insisted that even if the commission treats the AHWO as a private body and directs the CPIO, IHQ of the MoD (Ministry of Defence) (Army), to access information from the AWHO in accordance with Section 2(f) of the RTI Act, he will not provide any information. "Even further, he emphasised vehemently that if the AWHO allows access of information to the IHQ of MoD (Army) on the commission's directions, it will be set as a precedent," Sinha said. Noting that the assertions of the AWHO representative to not part with information "casts a rather murky shadow on the affairs of the organisation", the commissioner marked his order to the Army Chief to take note of his observations and "reflect upon the obscurity in the affairs of the AWHO exhorted by its secretary." "In other words, the contention and the apprehensions of the representative of the AWHO are inconsequential to the statutory duty cast upon the CPIO, Army HQ, by virtue of Section 2(f) and 2(j) of the RTI Act. "Therefore, it will not be an inappropriate deduction that the conduct of the representative of the AWHO depicts a pre-emptive obstruction to the right to information of the appellant," Sinha said. The AWHO representative said like the organisation's other office bearers, he is also a serving army officer working on deputation with the AWHO, which has its headquarters at Kashmir House on the MoD's premises and for which rent is paid. The very purpose of incorporation of the AWHO necessitates probity and transparency in its functioning and even if it is not amenable to the RTI Act, it cannot shroud information accessible under the Act to a public authority on the "pretence of setting precedents", Sinha said. He also mentioned that the RTI application was filed in context of a report, published a few days after the AWHO's advertisement, about builders who allegedly diverted crores of rupees for completion of projects thus stalling possession of flats to buyers for years together. "It was reported that the Noida Authority has issued notices to these private builders and since the private builder project under reference was also one of the alleged defaulters, this triggered the appellant's curiosity as a potential buyer," Sinha underlined. In the said circumstances, the fact that the AWHO representative appeared before the bench with an "obstinate assertion" that no information will be shared, "seemingly validates" the apprehension of the RTI appellant regarding the fate of the AWHO-sponsored sale of the alleged defaulter project, he pointed out. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Samvidhaan or Constitution has been dubbed as the Oxford Hindi Word of 2019 by Oxford University Press (OUP) on Tuesday, saying it received widespread attention in the year which was witness to the spirit of the Indian Constitution being embraced across segments of the society. It said the word was chosen as 2019 saw the values of democracy, secularism, justice, liberty, equality and fraternity being tested on the touchstone of the Constitution or Samvidhaan. Oxford University Press justified their decision by saying that the Indian Constitution was until this year only something which was relevant to trained professionals like members of the government, police, lawyers, judges and legislators, but it was in 2019 that the Constitution found renewed significance among common citizens.The Oxford Hindi Word of the Year is a word or expression that has attracted a great deal of attention and reflects the ethos, mood, or preoccupations of the past year. OUP said Samvidhaan means a body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organisation is acknowledged to be governed. The word Samvidhaan first received widespread attention in August 2019, with the abrogation of two key constitutional provisions - Article 370 and Article 35(A) of the Indian Constitution, on August 5, which effectively removed the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir. Some major decisions by the Supreme Court also significantly contributed to Samvidhaans prominence in 2019: the Sabarimala verdict, the floor test in Maharashtra and upholding of the order of the former Speaker of the Karnataka legislative assembly disqualifying 17 MLAs under the anti-defection law, an OUP statement said. The Oxford Hindi Word of the Year for 2019 is... SAMVIDHAAN, the Constitution. In 2019, the Indian Constitution gained renewed significance, truly becoming a peoples document given by the people to themselves. Learn more about why it was chosen: https://t.co/fXj3u2NmM4 pic.twitter.com/B35poJdDZs Oxford Languages (@OxLanguages) January 28, 2020 According to Kritika Agarwal, Hindi Language Champion for Oxford Languages, The Hindi Word of the Year for 2019 is a fitting choice reflecting the mood of the masses as also the focus of the decision makers... In 2019, the Constitution moved from being an academic concept to a movement in real time. The Oxford dictionaries team invited entries for the Oxford Hindi Word of the Year through its Facebook page and received several hundred diverse and thoughtful entries. The Oxford Hindi Word of the Year was chosen by the Oxford Dictionaries team in India with the help of an advisory panel of language experts. Aadhaar was Oxford Dictionaries inaugural Hindi Word of the Year for 2017, followed by Nari Shakti, or womens power, in 2018. (With inputs from PTI.) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter WSJs Shan Li and Stephanie Yang traveled to Hubei, the Chinese province at the center of the new coronavirus epidemic. As authorities impose tighter quarantine rules, they were asked to spend 14 days indoors and undergo a strict routine. Photo: Arek Rataj/Associated Press On cross-examination, Mr. Weinsteins lawyers sought to undermine the womens credibility, pointing out, for instance, that Ms. Dunning had shared parts of her story in several television interviews but had never said Mr. Weinstein touched her genitals. The defense lawyers also raised questions about the reliability of Ms. Wulffs memory. Mr. Weinstein, 67, has pleaded not guilty to five felony counts, including rape and predatory sexual assault. Those charges stem from allegations made by two women: Miriam Haley, a production assistant on Project Runway who has said he forced oral sex on her in 2006, and Jessica Mann, a former actress who told authorities he raped her in 2013. On Monday, Ms. Haley, who recently changed her name from Mimi Haleyi, told the jury that Mr. Weinstein had physically held her down and assaulted her in his Manhattan loft. Last week, the actress Annabella Sciorra, best known for her role in The Sopranos, testified that in the winter months of either 1993 or 1994, Mr. Weinstein pushed his way into her apartment in New York and raped her. The states statute of limitations bars Ms. Sciorras allegation from being charged as a separate crime, but prosecutors are using it to bolster a charge of predatory sexual assault, which requires the state to prove that Mr. Weinstein committed a serious sex crime against at least two women. The trial has asked the jury of seven men and five women to consider complicated questions of consent and power dynamics in professional relationships. Mr. Weinsteins lawyers have argued all the sexual encounters were not only consensual but also transactional. The women, they have said, agreed to sex in the hope Mr. Weinstein might give them work. Ms. Dunning, 40, who is now a costume designer, said that Mr. Weinstein struck up a conversation with her at the now defunct PM Lounge where she waited tables, expressing an interest in her as an actress. They met several times to discuss her career, she said. Villages around the epicentre of China's coronavirus outbreak are flocking to prevent residents from the largely quarantined Hubei Province from fleeing into their land, it has emerged. Videos and pictures circulating on social media purport to show frightened locals living near the border of Hubei resorting to various methods - including destroying roads and using weapon-wielding guards - in a desperate bid to stop people escaping from the other side. Six villages in the province of Hebei, which does not adjoin virus-ravaged Hubei, even started to build brick walls to barricade themselves and stop outsiders, a report revealed yesterday. Various videos online purport to show villages near China's coronavirus-ravaged Hubei Province destroying or blocking their roads to prevent outsiders from fleeing to their land It seems that some villages have set up unofficial checkpoints manned by guards holding spears and blades to stop the coronavirus from spreading to their homes. The deadly coronavirus has killed at least 170 people - all in China - and sickened at least 7,175 worldwide Apart from strict checks, local officials are also blasting messages with loudspeakers, banning the locals from having gatherings or visiting relatives and urging them to wear face masks The deadly coronavirus has killed at least 170 people - all in China - and sickened at least 7,175 worldwide. It has so far been spread to 18 other countries and regions. The intensifying outbreak has led authorities to quarantine at least 56 million people in Hubei Province, including its capital city Wuhan, and halted all means of transport going in and out of many of its cities. Hubei is situated bang in the middle of China and surrounded by five provinces - Shaanxi, Henan, Anhui, Jiangxi and Hunan - as well as one populous municipality, Chongqing. The infection has spread to at least 18 countries or regions outside of China, including the US, Canada, France and Germany, and infected more than 7,100 people around the world One trending picture shows Chinese officials sealing one house which is said to contain people recently coming back from Wuhan. A large red banner was put across the gate and it reads 'This household has members returning from Wuhan, please do not interact' Another social media picture shows one community putting a warning at its entrance urging people to report those who just returned from Wuhan. The banner, which is erected on a pile of mud, reads: 'Inform and report immediately once [you] discover people returning from Wuhan' One video released by Chinese video news outlet Pear shows the village of Yichuan in Henan Province, which borders Hubei on the northern side, using a digger to secretly destroy a road in the middle of the night. Another clip captures the road, also said to be in Henan, firmly blocked by mud. A signboard is seen placed on top of the obstruction and it reads 'new type of pneumonia, control and prevention of the outbreak, no through traffic'. In a third piece of footage, Henan village officials are seen blasting messages with loudspeakers, banning the locals from having gatherings or visiting relatives and urging them to wear face masks. One piece of footage (left) shared on Twitter appears to show a county blocking its entrance to stop people escaping from another country on lockdown; another video (right) purports to show Hubei residents trying to go to Hunan on a boat after allegedly being stopped on land Residents in Xikangzhuang, close to the border of Shanxi province, have built entire walls out of brick, reportedly to 'stop outsiders coming to our village' Six villages in Hebei the province surrounding the capital Beijing, where dozens of cases have been confirmed have taken measures to lock down, Sky News reported Pictured, the wall in Xikangzhuang, which is in Hebei the province surrounding the capital Beijing, where dozens of cases have been recorded WUHAN 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 lung 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 the Wuhan coronavirus kill? Yes 170 people have so far died after testing positive for the virus. What are the symptoms? Some people who catch the Wuhan coronavirus may not have any symptoms at all, or only very mild ones like a sore throat or a headache. Others may suffer from a fever, cough or trouble breathing. And a small proportion of patients will go on to develop severe infection which can damage the lungs or cause pneumonia, a life-threatening condition which causes swelling and fluid build-up in the lungs. How is it detected? The virus's genetic sequencing was released by scientists in China and countries around the world have used this to create lab tests, which must be carried out to confirm an infection. Delays to these tests, to test results and to people getting to hospitals in China, mean the number of confirmed cases is expected to be just a fraction of the true scale of the outbreak. 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 around China and are known to have spread from person to person. 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. SCROLL DOWN TO SEE MAILONLINE'S FULL Q&A ON THE CORONAVIRUS Advertisement Other videos on Twitter (here and here) seem to show similar activities around the quarantined areas, but MailOnline cannot independently verify their authenticity. One video shared by Shanghai-born, Australia-based artist Badiucao appears to show desperate Hubei residents using small boats to try to escape to Hunan, the province to the south. According to the audio of the footage, those residents had allegedly been stopped by police on the other side while trying to go there by land. In other viral pictures, villages officials have apparently sent weapon-wielding guards to prevent outsiders from entering their communities, and some of the guards can be seen holding blades and spears. Sky News found six villages in Hebei the province surrounding the capital Beijing, where dozens of cases have been confirmed taking drastic measures to lock down into their own hands. Residents in Xikangzhuang, close to the border of Shanxi province, have built entire walls out of brick, reportedly to 'stop outsiders coming to our village'. Dongyinzhuang citizens have planned to create their own guardhouse a portcabin that has been winched into place by worried residents who have yet to hear from Government officials about what to do. The central government on Tuesday issued order to ban local officials from setting up checkpoints and block roads without authorisation. And on Monday China's state newspaper, CCTV, urged its citizens not to discriminate people from Hubei. Workers in the Chinese city of Wuhan are busy building its second coronavirus hospital as the country desperately tries to contain the accelerating outbreak after the death roll soared to 162 as of Thursday. Amazing time-lapse footage shows heavy-duty vehicles working in full gear to construct the Leishenshan Hospital which is expected to open in a week. The drone video emerged after China's first coronavirus hospital yesterday started to treat patients in Huanggang following just two days of building works. More than 7,000 people around the world are now confirmed to have been infected with the Wuhan coronavirus and 162 have died in China. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become the latest country to declare cases an unknown number among a family travelling from China and Germany has now diagnosed four people with the infection. Germany also yesterday revealed it had hosted the first human-to-human transmission in Europe, between a German man and a woman travelling from China. Diners who visited a Melbourne Chinese restaurant on Australia Day may have been exposed to the deadly coronavirus. Victoria's health department confirmed on Wednesday evening that a man in his 60s had become infected while travelling in China's Hubei province. The department said the man started to feel unwell on January 23 and remained isolated before having dinner in Melbourne's south-east with his family on Australia Day. An man infected with coronavirus visited The House Of Delight restaurant in Glen Waverley, Melbourne's south-east, with his five family members between 5.30pm and 7pm on January 26 The man started to feel unwell on January 23 and remained isolated before having dinner in Melbourne's south-east with his family on Australia Day. Pictured: The restaurant where the man dined The man visited The House Of Delight restaurant in Glen Waverley with his five family members between 5.30pm and 7pm on January 26. Victoria's Chief Health Officer Dr Brett Sutton urged anyone who was at the restaurant during this time to be aware of symptoms. 'That restaurant is OK to go to now, people don't need to avoid the area or indeed anywhere else,' he said. Dr Sutton said health authorities had followed up with the restaurant, as well as patrons who were there on that evening. Victoria's Chief Health Officer Dr Brett Sutton urged anyone who was at the restaurant during this time to be aware of symptoms Dr Sutton said health authorities had followed up with the restaurant A sign believed to be stuck on the door of the restaurant suggests it has shut up shop until February 9. 'Dear customer, in order to minimise the risk of the Novel Coronavirus, our restaurant is closed from 29th Jan, 2020, to 9th Feb 2020,' the sign read, according to a picture shared online The man's three adult and two child relatives have been isolated with him. One has already tested negative for the virus, while the children are being kept from school. Pictured: The House of Delight restaurant in Glen Waverley CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA NEW SOUTH WALES: 4 Four people in NSW have been diagnosed with coronavirus, including three men and one woman. January 25 Three men aged 43, 53, and 35 who had recently travelled to China are confirmed to have contracted the disease. Two flew in from Wuhan while the other arrived in Sydney from Shenzhen, south China. They are being treated in isolation at Westmead Hospital and are in stable condition. January 27 A 21-year-old woman is identified as the fourth person to test positive for the illness in NSW. The woman, a student at UNSW, flew into Sydney International Airport on flight MU749 on January 23 and presented to the emergency department 24 hours later after developing flu-like symptoms. She is being treated in isolation at Westmead Hospital. VICTORIA: 4 January 25 A Chinese national aged in his 50s becomes the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in Australia. The man flew to Melbourne on China Southern flight CZ321 from Wuhan via Guangzhou on January 19. He is now in quarantined isolation at Monash Hospital in Clayton in Melbourne's east. January 29 A Victorian man in his 60s is diagnosed with the coronavirus. He became unwell on January 23 - two days after returning from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak. The man was confirmed as positive on January 29 and was subsequently seen by doctors at the Monash Medical Centre. He was assessed as being well enough to stay at home. January 30 A woman in her 40s falls ill with the coronavirus. She was visiting from China and mostly spent time with her family. She is being treated at Royal Melbourne Hospital. February 1 A Melbourne woman aged in her 20s is at home recovering. She returned from Wuhan on January 25 and fell ill two days later. She was not infectious on the flight, and has remained in isolation since being tested. QUEENSLAND: 2 January 29 Queensland confirms its first case after a 44-year-old Chinese national wass diagnosed with the virus. He is being treated at Gold Coast University Hospital. January 30 A 42-year-old Chinese woman who was travelling in the same Wuhan tour group as the 44-year-old man tests positive. She is in Gold Coast University Hospital in stable condition. SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 2 February 1 A Chinese couple were placed in isolation in a public hospital. The man and a woman both aged 60, were from Wuhan and visiting relatives in South Australia. SA Health said the pair isolated themselves at home when they developed symptoms and awaited the results of the coronavirus test. Australia has raised the travel alert level to 'do not travel' for the city of Wuhan - the epicentre of the outbreak - and for the entire Hubei province. Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy says unless people have contact with someone who is unwell and has come from that part of China, there is no need for current concern. Advertisement But a sign believed to be stuck on the door of the restaurant suggests it has shut up shop until February 9. 'Dear customer, in order to minimise the risk of the Novel Coronavirus, our restaurant is closed from 29th Jan, 2020, to 9th Feb 2020,' the sign read, according to a picture shared online. 'Sorry for any inconvenience caused.' The man's three adult and two child relatives have been isolated with him. One has already tested negative for the virus, while the children are being kept from school. The Melbourne restaurant is usually open seven days a week, for lunch and dinner, dishing up hotpots, seafood, Wagyu steaks, stir-fries and 'everything else in between'. The department said there is no current evidence that passengers or crew on the flight the man took to return to Melbourne are at risk. Up to 14 people in Victoria await results of their tests, while another 61 have tested negative. There are now seven confirmed cases of the virus in Australia, including four in NSW, two in Victoria and one in Queensland. A 44-year-old man from Wuhan - the Chinese city at the centre of the outbreak - is in isolation at the Gold Coast University Hospital. He's the first person in the state to test positive for the deadly virus. Testing for the virus is ramping up in NSW as authorities await laboratory results for 16 new possible cases referred for investigation. Anyone in Australia who has been to China's Hubei province should now isolate themselves at home for 14 days after the visit, Health Minister Greg Hunt said. Wuhan, the 11-million-strong epicentre of the outbreak, was put into lock-down last Thursday, amid growing fears over the rapid spread of the deadly virus. The death toll has passed 130 in China, while confirmed cases of infection in the Hubei province have stretched over 6,000. Australians have been urged to reconsider any travel to China and not to visit Hubei Province under any circumstances as the country struggles to contain the virus. THE regional president of Ibec, Limericks Catherine Duffy has called for the new government to include big infrastructure projects in its programme. Catherine Duffy, who is Ibecs regional president and the general manager at Northern Trust, says public infrastructure and services need investment to grow proportionally with the rapid rise in private sector investment and employment. We are hearing a consistent message from business across the region which see investment in public infrastructure and services as key to remaining competitive and easing the problems evident in housing, education, transport and health, she said, The Mid-West needs critical infrastructure to support growth and enhance regional connectivity and competitiveness, which are vital to a thriving regional economy. Read also: Limerick LEO launches new business training events programme She warned the lack of public infrastructure is having a direct effect on companys expansion plans, as well as business productivity, the quality of life of employees, and the ability of firms to attract and retain talent. Overhauling the regime for planning consents and appeals is essential to ensure fewer projects get bogged down in lengthy delays. Delays with key infrastructure projects have significant costs implications and pose a real threat to economic growth and competitiveness, Ms Duffy said. She also warned the targets delivered for the region in Project Ireland 2040 although considered modest by many may not be delivered without public investment. If we want to continue to attract investment and jobs and grow the regional economy as planned, infrastructure investment and its timely delivery must be a priority," she added. Ms Duffy stated, We are calling on all election candidates to publicly get behind the need for quality infrastructure and shape the future direction of the region. We must harness the rewards of economic success over recent years to make real and meaningful improvements to the quality of everyday life for people. Ensuring that we match record private investment with a renewed and expanded public infrastructure will be the defining challenge of the coming years. It will be up to the next government to make this happen. ANN ARBOR, MI Jason Polan, the quirky artist who left his mark on Ann Arbor and later made a name for himself in New York, will be laid to rest this week in Michigan. His funeral is set for noon Thursday, Jan. 30, at the Ira Kaufman Chapel, 18325 W. Nine Mile Road, in Southfield, with interment at Franklin Cemetery. The 2004 University of Michigan alumnus and Franklin native, known for his giant ant mural and other works while in Ann Arbor, moved to the Big Apple after college. His illustrations were featured in The New Yorker, The New York Times and other publications, as well as a line of T-shirts featuring Marvel Comics characters. He died Monday, Jan. 27, in New York after a battle with colon cancer. He was 37. The Times published a story about his life and career on Monday, describing him as one of the quirkiest and most prolific denizens of the New York art scene. University of Michigan alumnus and New York artist Jason Polan.Fritz Swanson Perhaps most famously, the former Ann Arborite set out several years ago on a quixotic quest to draw everyone in New York City, filling sketch pads with quick doodles of people at Grand Central Terminal or wherever he found inspiration, including a Taco Bell off Union Square. He eventually drew more than 30,000 people and published his book Every Person in New York, Volume 1 in 2015. He kept updating his Every Person in New York blog with new sketches until last month. I never thought somebody doing these little doodle drawings could be so successful, yet he was borderline famous in New York, said Ann Arbor-area resident Sharon Popp, a family friend who knew Polan since he was a young boy and remembers him being sweet, upbeat and loving. Polan is survived by his father Jesse, mother Jane and sister Jamie. Another sister, Jennifer, died in 2000. Even though many of the artists ideas came off as lighthearted, he worked hard on them, his mother once told The Ann Arbor News, saying theres a difference between being goofy and goofing off. "He's more inventive than anybody I know, she said. Read more about Jason Polan. Wednesday, January 29th, 2020 (12:47 pm) - Score 12,590 Cable ISP Virgin Media UK has criticised BTs dubious, unsubstantiated advertising of their full fibre broadband products in the city of Bristol, which via several large billboard promotions warned locals not to settle for Virgin and to instead get more reliable speeds than Virgin M200 and M350 from their FTTP. In response Virgin Media hired a van (or several vans) and drove them around the city (part of their #BornFast stunt), often leaving them parked in front of BTs billboards. Each brightly lit van has B*** ***T brandished in big bold print on the side, which could also be seen as masked swearing for a particularly common phrase. Beneath that it said, Our fastest average speed in Bristol is 516Mbps. Thats loads faster than BT. Enough said. Separately the cable operator said that their network covers almost 300,000 premises in the city and that they will be able to offer 1Gbps speeds by the end of 2021 as part of their DOCSIS 3.1 network upgrade. Virgin said their aim is to ensure that residents get the message in a fun and humorous way all in the spirit of clarity and competition. The stunt is also being supported by content on Virgin Medias social media channels with the potential to bring the billboards to other areas in future. Virgin Media added that theyve also formally challenged BTs advert (we assume this means theyve complained to the Advertising Standards Authority) and has contacted the provider directly, although it wont come as too much of a surprise to find that BT has not yet responded with evidence to justify the claims made on their billboard (theyre unlikely to respond to Virgin directly). Cilesta Van Doorn, Brand and Marketing Director at Virgin Media, said: BTs broadband bunkum just couldnt go unchecked. Residents of Bristol wont be fooled by BTs babble and we look forward to welcoming anyone who wants to experience life in the fast lane with our superior ultrafast speeds. With a reliable future-proof network that is bringing gigabit speeds to Bristol and more of the UK, Virgin Media is, as always, leading the charge catch us if you can. So whats the truth in all this? Firstly, theres no denying that Virgin Media currently offers the fastest download speeds (BTs top tier offers average downloads of 300Mbps), although their 516Mbps average speed package only advertises 36Mbps for upload speed, while BTs rival 300Mbps tier offers 49Mbps for upload. BTs network provider Openreach, much like Virgin, also has a 1Gbps consumer tier on the way (due to launch on 23rd March 2020) and that will offer uploads of 115Mbps while Virgins 1Gbps package comes with the same upload as on their 516Mbps plan. On the other hand we dont yet know which Openreach based ISPs will offer the new 1Gbps tier and it may be more expensive than Virgins. Coverage is another problem. At present Openreachs FTTP network only covers about a third of premises in Bristol and rising, while Virgin Medias network can already reach the vast majority of the city. As for reliability, gauging that tends to be more complicated and were not sure if either promotion has provided enough hard evidence to support a more reliable claim.. yet. Overall BT would probably do well to ensure that their FTTP coverage is at least close to Virgin Medias current level before trashing their rival. On top of that both sides really should consider upload performance in such promotions too. Personnel in protective clothing approach an aircraft, chartered by the U.S. State Department to evacuate government employees and other Americans from the novel coronavirus threat in the Chinese city of Wuhan, after it arrived at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County, California on Jan. 29, 2020. (Mike Blake/Reuters) Plane With Americans Evacuated From China Lands in California A plane carrying some 200 Americans who were in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the new coronavirus started, landed in California on Jan. 29, footage from local stations showed. The plane landed around 8:15 a.m. local time at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County. It was originally slated to land at Ontario International Airport about 35 miles east of Los Angeles. The Americans, including U.S. contractors, State Department personnel, and other U.S. citizens, first landed in Alaska to refuel. Everyone passed two medical screenings, Alaska health authorities said in a press release. Passengers were also screened twice before departing Wuhan and monitored while on board. A Boeing 747 aircraft sits on the tarmac of Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Anchorage, Alaska on Jan. 28, 2020. (Michael Dinneen/AP Photo) For many of us directly involved, this has been a moving and uplifting experience, said Alaskas Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink in a statement. The whole plane erupted in cheers when the crew said, Welcome home to the United States. It is easy to stay focused on all that we had to do in a short period of time to prepare and respond, but at the end of the day, this mission was about people. It was about American citizens, some of whom were working to serve our country. It was about families, and it was about helping each other in a time of need. The passengers will undergo additional screening in California before being placed in temporary housing. Officials havent said how long the passengers will be isolated. In a statement Tuesday morning, Department of Defense press secretary Alyssa Farah said: March Air Reserve Base and the Department of Defense stand ready to provide housing support to [the Department of Health and Human Services] as they work to handle the arrival of nearly 200 people, including Department of State employees, dependents and US citizens evacuated from Wuhan, China. The support wouldnt negatively impact operations at the base. Department of Defense personnel wouldnt directly be in contact with the evacuees, who wouldnt have access to any locations on base other than their assigned housing, the statement said. If people who are quarantined get sick, theyll be transported to a local civilian hospital. People wearing face masks walk on a street in Nara, western Japan, on Jan. 29, 2020. (Nobuki Ito/Kyodo News via AP) Five people in America have tested positive for 2019 Novel Coronavirus, which originated in China last month, including two in California. All six were in Wuhan before traveling to the United States. Dozens of others are in isolation as officials await test results. There were reports that the U.S. government was considering suspending flights from China amid the outbreak. Health Secretary Alex Azar said that the option is on the table but a final decision hasnt been made yet. Azar told reporters on Tuesday that screening would be expanded from five to 20 airports as officials continued to assess the rapidly evolving situation. Georgian Mining Corporation (LON:GEO) shareholders are doubtless heartened to see the share price bounce 95% in just one week. But that doesn't change the fact that the returns over the last half decade have been stomach churning. Like a ship taking on water, the share price has sunk 89% in that time. While the recent increase might be a green shoot, we're certainly hesitant to rejoice. The important question is if the business itself justifies a higher share price in the long term. While a drop like that is definitely a body blow, money isn't as important as health and happiness. See our latest analysis for Georgian Mining We don't think Georgian Mining's revenue of UK232,997 is enough to establish significant demand. We can't help wondering why it's publicly listed so early in its journey. Are venture capitalists not interested? As a result, we think it's unlikely shareholders are paying much attention to current revenue, but rather speculating on growth in the years to come. It seems likely some shareholders believe that Georgian Mining will find or develop a valuable new mine before too long. Companies that lack both meaningful revenue and profits are usually considered high risk. You should be aware that there is always a chance that this sort of company will need to issue more shares to raise money to continue pursuing its business plan. While some such companies go on to make revenue, profits, and generate value, others get hyped up by hopeful naifs before eventually going bankrupt. Some Georgian Mining investors have already had a taste of the bitterness stocks like this can leave in the mouth. When it reported in June 2019 Georgian Mining had minimal cash in excess of all liabilities consider its expenditure: just UK232k to be specific. So if it hasn't remedied the situation already, it will almost certainly have to raise more capital soon. That probably explains why the share price is down 35% per year, over 5 years . The image below shows how Georgian Mining's balance sheet has changed over time; if you want to see the precise values, simply click on the image. The image below shows how Georgian Mining's balance sheet has changed over time; if you want to see the precise values, simply click on the image. Story continues AIM:GEO Historical Debt, January 29th 2020 Of course, the truth is that it is hard to value companies without much revenue or profit. What if insiders are ditching the stock hand over fist? I would feel more nervous about the company if that were so. You can click here to see if there are insiders selling. A Different Perspective Georgian Mining shareholders are down 62% for the year, but the market itself is up 17%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 35% per year over five years. Generally speaking long term share price weakness can be a bad sign, though contrarian investors might want to research the stock in hope of a turnaround. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. To that end, you should learn about the 6 warning signs we've spotted with Georgian Mining (including 4 which is are potentially serious) . If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on GB 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 All-Party Parliament Group on Traditional Medicines organized a meeting at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium with the objective of devising a roadmap to legalize Ayurveda in Europe and to integrate it with their healthcare systems. As a part of a distinguished group of Ayurveda luminaries, Dr Partap Chauhan discussed with his European counterparts the key strengths of authentic Indian Ayurveda in resolving the world's need for a holistic healthcare blueprint that could potentially reduce dependency on synthetic medicines by leveraging the body's innate ability to heal itself, which by principle is the definition of Ayurveda. At the event, Dr Chauhan emphasized on the need to encourage acceptance by legalizing the classical Indian health science in European nations. He also noted that until recently there was a lack of understanding and misconceptions in the West about Ayurveda's potential and effectiveness. "The attitude towards Ayurveda in Europe is undergoing a sea-change. The earlier scepticism has given way to curiosity and would soon lead to acceptance. There are many areas like mental health and chronic diseases for which modern medicine is found wanting but Ayurveda has an effective solution," said Dr Chauhan. On the context of the world's search for a holistic healthcare system, it must be noted that the Nobel Prizes for Medicine in 2016, 2017 and 2018 have gone to researches that looked inwards at the 'natural' aspects of human biology emphasizing the shift towards holism and naturalism vis-a-vis pursuits of symptomatic relief. With an estimated market valuation of USD 2 billion in India alone, Ayurveda has witnessed exponential growth over the last few decades, and Jiva Ayurveda is uniquely positioned to collaborate strategically at international forums thanks to insights the organization has gained through a series of ground-breaking technological and evolutionary innovations which has strengthened the classical discipline of Ayurveda and enhanced its acceptability as a validated, data-driven and universal health science. In addition to the Indian Ambassador to European Union, Gaitri Kumar and Geoffrey Charles Van Orden, the British Conservative Member of European Parliament, the event was attended by members of the European Parliament, Ayurveda practitioners and enthusiasts, policymakers, academicians, and several representatives and delegates from EU nations and other major regions of the world. Ayurveda Day was first celebrated at the European Parliament on November 21, 2018. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A New York-based company plans to open a 217-room, 25-story hotel dubbed Dream San Antonio along the River Walk. Whether its nothing but a pipe dream remains to be seen the company wont reveal whos developing the project or where. In an announcement this week, Dream Hotel Group described the boutique hotel as the centerpiece of a large mixed-use development that includes office space and private residences. The hotel itself is to feature a rooftop pool deck, two street-level restaurants, fitness facilities, meeting space and a bar and lounge. The company declined to disclose an address or name the local developer handling the project. The developer still is raising funds for it and owns the land the hotel will be built on, spokeswoman Katie Fontana said. On ExpressNews.com: Omni Hotels sued for more than $1M over falling ketchup bottle that struck boy on San Antonio River Walk According to Danny Chavez, former vice president at the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation who now works for the McKinney Economic Development Corp. in North Texas, the hotel is destined for 107 E. Martin St. A building once home to the Korova, a live music venue, sits on that property, which is across from the Wyndham Hotels parking garage. Chavez said he was introduced to the project through architects and real estate officials while working for SAEDF. The hotel developer hasnt yet filed design plans with the Historic and Design Review Commission, Fontana said. Construction is expected to begin next year, with Dream San Antonio opening in 2023. CUBE3 Architects is designing it. San Antonio is one of the most authentic, passionate and diverse cities in America, as seen through its bold culture, rich history and burgeoning art, music and culinary scenes making it an ideal destination for the Dream Hotels flag, said Jay Stein, the companys CEO. On ExpressNews.com: Former hotel building downtown could be turned into mixed-income apartments The hotels location within a federally designated Opportunity Zone appealed to the partners in the project, the company noted in its announcement. The program, established by President Donald Trumps 2017 tax bill, is intended to spur development in low-income communities by providing investors with tax breaks on capital gains if they reinvest the capital within the zones. There are 24 Opportunity Zone tracts in Bexar County, including much of downtown San Antonio, parts of the East and West Sides near downtown, Port San Antonio, chunks of the South Side, Stinson Municipal Airport and the Northeast Corridor. Dream Hotel Group manages hotels in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, Bangkok and other cities, its website states. madison.iszler@express-news.net Major foreign policy mistakes Kenya has made threaten to unravel its relations with Somalia and endanger its security. After gaining independence in 1963 and throughout the Cold War, Kenya tried to stay away from the internal and external struggles of its neighbourhood. While Ethiopia allied itself with the erstwhile USSR and Cuba, Somalia aligned with the United States and Tanzania became the intellectual hotbed for the Third World left, Kenya maintained poised neutrality and a policy of non-intervention. Daniel Moi, the countrys second president after independence, sought to firewall Kenya from spillovers of regional conflict by maintaining a foreign policy of ideological ambivalence being neither a friend nor a foe of regional and international powers. Moi also took up mediating conflicts in the region and made it the main feature of Kenyan diplomacy which carried on even after the end of the Cold War. During his presidency, Kenya became the venue for peace negotiations between the warring sides in Sudan, Somalia, and Uganda. Various agreements were negotiated and concluded in Nairobi, including the 1985 peace deal between the Ugandan government of Tito Okello and the National Resistance Army (NRA), a rebel group led by Yoweri Museveni and the 2005 peace agreement between the Sudanese government and southern rebels, which ended Africas longest-running civil war. Kenya also played an important mediation role in the Somali conflict, hosting the negotiations and the signing of the agreement that led to the creation of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in 2004. This strategy not only ensured Kenyas internal affairs were undisturbed by regional developments but also earned it a certain diplomatic reputation in the region. Today, both of these are on the line because of repeated mistakes Kenya is making in its policies towards Somalia. Kenyan military presence on Somali land has entered its ninth year, which has now metastasised into entanglement in Somalias internal affairs and encouraged more al-Shabab violence on Kenyan territory. Kenyas imprudent stance on its maritime dispute with Somalia also threatens to erode its international reputation. From intervention to occupation For decades, bilateral relations between Kenya and Somalia remained warm and cordial. But in 2011, the Kenyan government decided to send troops to its neighbour, which since then has been a source of considerable friction between Nairobi and Mogadishu. Kenyas intervention in Somalia was in line with the zeitgeist of the war on terror launched by the US in 2001. Packaging the intervention as an anti-terror operation automatically guaranteed domestic support and international immunity for human rights violations. The official justification for the military intervention was the pursuit of al-Shabab members who allegedly abducted aid workers in northern Kenya and kidnapped tourists along the coast. The intervention has since degenerated into an occupation. Currently, there are more than 3,600 Kenyan troops in Somalia, primarily deployed in the semi-autonomous southern Somali region of Jubaland. Over the past eight years, the Kenyan forces have been accused of committing various human rights violations against civilians and being involved in illicit smuggling activities. The Somali government has demanded that Kenyan troops leave, but it has not followed up with any serious effort to expel them, given its own limited capacity to provide security. At the same time, the Kenyan military presence has done little to secure Kenya from al-Shababs attacks or Somalia itself for that matter. In fact, violence has escalated since the intervention. Kenya has witnessed a number of large-scale al-Shabab operations, like the ones in Westgate Mall in 2013, and the Garissa University in 2015, which took the lives of hundreds of civilians, as well as numerous low-grade and low casualty ones. Since October, there have been on average two al-Shabab attacks every week in Kenya and Somalia. In the first half of this month alone, the armed group raided a military camp used by Kenyan and US soldiers in southern Kenya and then launched four other attacks, killing 10 civilians. The intervention has revealed the underbelly of Kenyas security policy, its failed military strategy and the inability to police its own borders. Support for Jubaland Alongside the military intervention, Kenya has also involved itself in the maelstrom of Somali domestic politics. Its principal vehicle of involvement in Somalia is Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islam, also known as Madobe, an Islamist militia commander from the Somali Ogaden clan. Madobe is seen as a rather controversial figure, having switched sides in Somalias civil war multiple times. He was part of various Islamist armed groups since the 1990s. He has fought against the government in Mogadishu as an ally of al-Shabab for years and was involved with militants seen as supportive of the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), a separatist group who has fought for Somali self-determination in eastern Ethiopia. In 2007, a year after Ethiopia sent troops to Somalia to back the TFG against the Islamist insurgency, Madobe was hit by a US bombing and captured by the Ethiopians, who offered him a political deal. He accepted to join the TFG in 2009, but shortly after he deserted his new post and with his Ras Kamboni militia joined al-Shabab in their fight against government and African Union troops. In 2011, he struck another deal, this time with Nairobi, and the following year, his militia, backed by Kenyan troops, managed to expel al-Shabab from Jubalands capital, Kismayo, which is also a strategic port city. Over the next two years, Madobe presided over clan reconciliation and in 2015, with Kenyan backing, he was elected president of Jubaland. In the 2019 presidential election in the semi-autonomous state, Nairobi again supported his candidacy, despite the fact that the Somali government opposed it. Kenyas backing for Madobe has revealed that all along it was not only interested in containing al-Shabab, but in establishing a sphere of influence through Jubaland a satellite statelet, remote-controlled from Nairobi. This misguided support for Jubaland, however, is something anyone with a basic understanding of the dynamic in the Horn of Africa would have counselled against. For the fragile government in Mogadishu, the strengthening of Jubaland means the weakening of its powers. For Ethiopia, Kenyas interference in a region predominantly populated by the Ogadens, the largest Somali clan, whose members also live in southern Ethiopia and have a fraught with the government, is creating unnecessary tension. Thus, Kenya is not only endangering its relationship with the Somali government but also with Ethiopia, a neighbour and a major regional power, with whom it has a decades-old defence pact to ensure regional stability and curb Somali irredentism. The maritime dispute If Kenyas original sin was the 2011 intervention, its natural outcome is the needless maritime dispute with Somalia. Both Nairobi and Mogadishu claim a narrow triangle of about 100,000 square kilometres off their coasts in the Indian Ocean. The territory supposedly has oil and gas deposits. The dispute could have been resolved amicably had Kenyan officials taken the issue seriously and had they regarded their Somali counterparts with some modicum of respect rather than assuming Somalia is a failed state incapable of mounting any defence. As a result, the case eventually ended up at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which last year decided to delay its ruling to 2020 to let the two sides negotiate further. Instead of correcting their earlier mistakes, Kenyas ministry of foreign affairs officers dug in their heels and started engaging in petty moves like denying Somali officials entry into the country and reintroducing flight stopovers in Wajir for security checks for all flights to and from Somalia, substituting petulance for diplomacy. For decades, Somalia has regarded Kenya as a neutral arbiter compared with Ethiopia which Somalis have resented for its multiple military interventions. The overarching danger is that, in the end, Kenyas intervention and meddling in Somalias internal affairs, coupled with the self-aggrandisement of a bubbling and venal elite, could ruin Kenyan-Somali relations. This will also undermine the authority and capacity of the federal Somalia government to administer the country, especially if AMISOM troops depart as scheduled by December 2020. The net winner of these squabbling and reckless diplomacy will be al-Shabab, which will continue to enjoy enough space to launch attacks in Kenya and within Somalia. The ultimate loser will be the Somali people who have endured decades of conflict. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. In a diplomatic win for India, there will be no voting in the European Parliament on the resolution on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on Thursday, government sources told ANI. The voting in the Parliament was scheduled for Thursday on a five-page resolution. The resolution alleged that the CAA is not only "discriminatory" and "dangerously divisive" but also a "violation of India's international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights". "In a diplomatic victory for India, there will be no voting on the EU resolution on CAA tomorrow. Friends of India prevailed over friends of Pakistan in the European Parliament today," government sources said. A Pakistan-origin Member of European Parliament (MEP) Shaffaq Mohammed is reportedly behind the draft resolution against the CAA. The sources said that Mohammed's efforts to get the resolution passed were "defeated". "Strenuous efforts of outgoing British MEP Shaffaq Mohammed to get the resolution passed by the European Parliament against India on the penultimate day of Brexit was defeated," the sources added."CAA is a matter internal to India and has been adopted through a due process through democratic means. We expect that our perspectives in this matter will be understood by all objective and fair-minded MEPs," the sources added. Although there has been no official reaction from the External Affairs Ministry on the resolutions, sources had earlier said that the CAA is an internal matter of India adopted through a democratic process after a public debate in both Houses of Parliament. The sources had also called on those members of the European Parliament (MEPs), who intended to move the resolutions, to engage with the Indian government to get "full and accurate assessment of the facts before they proceed further". The amended Citizenship Act 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. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India Begins Process to Evacuate Nationals Affected by China's Coronavirus Outbreak Sputnik News 13:17 GMT 28.01.2020 New Delhi (Sputnik): The deadly Novel Coronavirus, which drew public attention less than a month ago in China, is spreading in countries across the globe, with a total number of confirmed cases globally reaching 2,014 including 1,985 in China. India has begun the process of evacuating its nationals from the affected areas of China where an outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus has led to a state of emergency, the External Affairs Ministry confirmed on Tuesday. "Our Embassy in Beijing is working out the logistics and is in touch with the Chinese government authorities and our nationals on this matter," the ministry said in a statement. The decision has come given the spike in the death toll from the Coronavirus to 106 as of 28 January. "We have begun the process of preparing for the evacuation of Indian nationals affected by the situation arising out of the Corona-2019 virus outbreak in Hubei Province, China," the MEA statement added. However, the Indian government has not yet issued any clarification on whether all citizens will be brought back or just those raising concerns over the situation. The State-run carrier, Air India, has kept one of its 423-seater jumbo planes on standby in Mumbai to undertake the evacuation process. Meanwhile, similar steps are also being taken by the US, Sri Lanka, Germany, France, Japan, and Australia to evacuate their citizens from China, which is currently under travel restrictions. The Sri Lankan Embassy in Beijing confirmed that more than 200 students had been repatriated today. France will send its first plane to China's Wuhan to repatriate its nationals on Wednesday; Japan will send a charter plane on Tuesday night. Germany is also set to evacuate some 90 citizens trapped in China's Wuhan region, and Morocco will airlift 100 of its citizens, mostly students. Taking cognizance of the outbreak, India's Health Ministry has confirmed all hospitals in the country are ready to handle the situation if needed, and no cases of coronavirus have yet been confirmed. A 24X7 helpline number has also been set up to attend to the queries of citizens regarding the viral outbreak. "No positive cases of novel coronavirus have been detected in India, although we have suspected cases in isolation in Kolkata, Jaipur, Chandigarh and Patna. Of the 17 cases, 14 samples were tested, and they have come back negative for the virus so far," Indian daily, The Hindu, quoted a health ministry official as saying. However, large numbers of cases with virus-like symptoms are being reported in various cities in India, despite not having been verified as Novel Coronavirus so far. The previously unknown strain of viral pneumonia was first reported in China's city of Wuhan in early January and has since been confirmed by China and the World Health Organisation to be a new strain of the Coronavirus, currently labelled 2019-nCoV or Novel Coronavirus. The symptoms of the virus are said to include coughing, fever, sneezing and difficulties in breathing. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Inside Hook Youre more likely to see stars sporting winter gear than chic red carpet attire at Sundance Film Festival, but as a New York Times piece points out, that doesnt mean there isnt a highly exclusive item of clothing attendees are desperate to get their hands on. Canada Goose, a sponsor of the festival, is gifting 400 directors and judges with a limited edition gray puffer jacket with reflective panels and a Sundance 2020 logo on the sleeve, and as the Times notes, those who have been lucky enough to get one are seen as the festivals elite because they have a special badge of in-dom and status that advertises the wearer as part of a privileged group. Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi on Wednesday said she had sent a report to President Ram Nath Kovind on the "crass and crude behaviour" of Chief Minister V Narayanasamy at the "At Home" reception hosted by her at Raj Nivas on Republic Day. Talking to PTI over phone, she claimed the CM refused to even present a shawl as a courtesy to the two Padma awardees writer Manoj Dass and terrracota artist Munusamy from the union territory. "Narayanasamy shouted and insulted a very respected senior officer of Raj Nivas, Comptroller Asha Gupta, openly before the invitees. He shouted at her on how the Padma awardees could be invited without informing him. Later he walked out," Bedi said. She said she has also sent a report on this to Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. The former police officer, who retired in the rank of DGP in Delhi, said, "I have placed on record and sent a report of the crass and crude behaviour" of the CM at the event to the president and others. "Narayanasamy is under the impression that for every event we hold at Raj Nivas we need to take his prior permission. It is so strange a belief," Bedi said, adding his behaviour was a serious disrespect to the two Padma awardees and harassment towards a senior female officer of Raj Nivas. "An audience of over 500 was aghast at their CM's behaviour. We did not react. He also disrespected the art and culture troupe of J&K and Arunachal Pradesh, who had come all the way to perform at Raj Nivas. He walked away without acknowledging them," the governor said. The Magsaysay awardee also said that the CM's behaviour "was a spoiler of our national function and media reported this event in place of J&K and Arunachal artists performing". The behaviour of the elected leadership has sent poor signals to the youth, she said. Besides Narayanasamy, Welfare Minister M Kandasamy and Speaker V P Sivakolundhu attended the event. Sources close to the CM had said then that he was unhappy at the "surprise programme" to honour the Padma awardees without prior information to him and hence left the venue after a few minutes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a decision long awaited around the nation, a split Louisiana Supreme Court Wednesday overruled Jefferson Parish, finding that the big online marketplaces, like eBay, Etsy, and in this case Wal-Mart, don't have to collect sales taxes on internet transactions they handle for small businesses. National groups from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to the Tax Executive Institute had weighed in, volunteering their opinions, backing Wal-Marts contention that state legislators need to decide not the courts. Only seven states have passed laws that require a marketplace facilitator to collect sales taxes for online sales involving third party vendors. The 4-3 Louisiana Supreme Court majority said in Normand v Wal-Mart.com USA, basically, legislators are going to have to join the seven and draft a new law that specifically addresses the responsibilities of everyone involved with this relatively new way of doing business if the state wants to collect taxes on third-party transactions. Otherwise, barring the judges abruptly changing their minds, which is unlikely, this decision applies in all 64 parishes from now on. Marketplace Supreme Court decision Newell Normand v Wal-Mart.com USA decision by the Louisiana Supreme Court, Jan. 29, 2020 Other states out there have old statutes that look like Louisianas, and they would have said, 'If Louisiana prevails then maybe we should try the courts too,' said Bill Backstrom, who heads the tax practice at Jones Walker law firm in New Orleans. Backstrom specializes in state and local taxes and was not involved in this case. The decision, maybe, sends a message to other states, as well, that their legislators are going to have to tackle these pretty dramatic changes in the way business is done, he added. We agree that existing Louisiana state law does not support the actions taken by Jefferson Parish, Randy Hargrove, Wal-Marts senior director of corporate communications, said in a prepared statement. As a long-time leader in the movement to level the sales tax playing field for all retailers, we remain committed to supporting Louisianas elected lawmakers toward the passage of a state law that requires marketplace facilitators to collect sales tax on behalf of third-party sellers. Jefferson Parish had argued that the states laws on dealers, which is about 30 years old, was good enough to require a marketplace facilitator to collect and remit sales taxes for third-party transactions. Small businesses contract with companies that have a large web presence, called marketplace facilitators that will, for a fee, include the product on the larger website. Facilitators handle the transaction, collect the money and subsidize shipping. In addition to opening the product to millions of potential buyers, the facilitators cover most of the costly problems that prevent small vendors from expanding their businesses. But the contracts require the third-party sellers to remit the sales taxes to the proper jurisdiction. Amazon reports that about 60% of its total sales in 2019 roughly $200 billion were from the 3 million active third-party sellers associated with the largest marketplace facilitator. In the laws and regulations put in place after a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing the collection of taxes for online sales by vendors located out-of-state, Louisiana exempted small businesses that have few transactions with consumers in this state. When Wal-Mart and other large online sellers peddle one of their products, however, sales taxes must be collected and sent to the appropriate state and local authority. Legislators set a July 1 deadline to streamline a system for collecting the 4.45% state sales on internet sales along with whatever local taxes are levied and to remit those taxes to the proper authorities. They excluded vendors from other states who sold less than $100,000 or had less than 200 transactions sold for delivery in Louisiana. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up +5 Louisiana's new internet sales tax collection system might be delayed until 2020; here's why Putting together the software necessary to collect taxes on internet sales is taking longer than expected, so legislation sitting on the gover But the laws and regulations dont mention how to handle the big "marketplace facilitators that sell products from small businesses that otherwise are excluded from having to collect sales taxes. From 2009 through 2015, Wal-Mart paid its taxes for sales in Jefferson Parish both online and in their stores. But the company did not report or remit the sales taxes for sales made by the third-party retailers. Arguing that Wal-Marts online store amounted to a dealer under Louisiana law, then-Sheriff Newell Normand, who is the ex-officio tax collector for Jefferson Parish, in February 2017 demanded $1.89 million along with interest and penalties for the uncollected taxes on third-party sales. Judge Stephen D. Enright Jr., of the 24th Judicial District Court, and the Louisiana 5th Court of Appeal agreed, for the most part, with Jefferson Parish's reasoning. The Louisiana Supreme Court did not. Writing for the majority, Associate Justice John L. Weimer likened online marketplaces to auctioneers, who are not parties to the sales but merely facilitate the transactions. It is not in the province of the judiciary to create an exception (in the context of a retail sale) to the seller's obligation to collect sales tax for a marketplace facilitator, similar to that legislatively enacted for auctioneers, he wrote. Associate Justices William J. Crain, Scott J. Crichton, James T. Genovese, joined Weimer to form a majority. Chief Justice Bernette J. Johnson and Associate Justice Jefferson D. Hughes III and Justice ad hoc Freddie Pitcher Jr. dissented from the majority. Brantley Gilbert Supports Farmer Veteran Coalition With Locally Sourced Tour Catering Country star Brantley Gilbert is partnering with the Farmer Veteran Coalition to purchase a selection of locally sourced food for his catering at each concert stop. Gilberts tour caterer, Taste Event, will work with farmers at each of his 25+ tour dates for locally sourced meats, dairy and produce. The farmers who furnish the food will be invited to dine with the tour, meet Gilbert and stay for the show. Gilbert is also teaming up with Musically Fed, a non-profit that distributes excess food each night to organizations tackling hunger in each market. I still live in the town where I grew up, and I know that excitement for a show doesnt start when doors open, it has the power to rally the community well ahead of when we show up to load-in and soundcheck, shares Gilbert. Our goal is to help boost local economies, showcase the best foods from the region and spend a bit of time thanking these great folks for all they do. Farmer Veteran Coalition is a nonprofit that helps veterans pursue careers in farming or adjacent agricultural professions. The organization currently represents more than 18,000 veterans and operates programs that include Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund, Homegrown by Heroes certification. FVC also organizes a National Conference and regional state chapter conferences and has been instrumental in directing millions of dollars of USDA funds appropriated for farmer veterans and the groups that support them. Musically Fed is honored to be a partner with Brantley Gilbert on his Firet Up 2020 Tour and Farmer Veteran Coalition. What a great way to be associated with and working alongside veterans to serve these communities in ways that will benefit many, says Insight Managements Maria Brunner, Founder of Musically Fed. Our goal is to leave a footprint for it to continue. Special thanks to Brantley Gilbert and his entire team. Gilberts latest tour Firet UP kicked off on January 23rd with a pair of shows in Canada. Its currently slated to hit 32 cities in the US and feature special guests Chase Rice, Dylan Scott, and Brandon Lay. Share on: Theresia Mumbi is a bearded 34-year-old woman who works as a matatu conductor in Nairobi. She opened up on the struggles of having a beard in an interview with BBC, saying she has had a lot of hair since her school days. I saw having a lot of hair as a normal thing and it didnt bother me that much, she said. But after completing high school, Mumbi started job hunting in 2005 and thats when she noticed how fast her facial hair was growing. She tried shaving but this only made the beard grow back faster. I found it hard hiding my facial hair by shaving every time. I grew tired and decided to stop shaving altogether. Her decision, however, was met with ridicule, stares, and name-calling. The mother of one, who was working as a waitress in a city hotel at the time said she had an easy time at work as the customers were used to her beard. However, once she stepped outside her workplace, the ridicule continued. When at home, I never left the house during the day. I would wait till dark to go to shops to buy food. Even though I had no issues at work, I used to feel ashamed of my neighbours gossiping about my beard, said Mumbi. When it became too much, Mumbi sought medical attention for her condition and was informed that it was caused by hormonal imbalance. She also narrated an unforgettable encounter she had at the hands of police while working as a matatu tout. After failing to pay Sh400 bribe to the cops, she was arrested and locked up with other female remandees. However, a policewoman started questioning her gender and ordered her to strip. We are not sure about your gender and we suspect that you might be a man, so we would like to frisk you to ascertain your gender, Mumbi was told. Mumbi said the experience made her question God on why she was created with a beard. She even contemplated committing suicide at some point but her 7-year-old son gave her a reason to live. Photograph: Erik S Lesser/EPA Republicans do not yet have the needed votes to block witnesses from appearing at the Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump, the majority leader, Mitch McConnell, told his caucus in a meeting on Tuesday night, according to multiple reports. With an unknown number of Republican senators still undecided on the question of calling witnesses, McConnell could still get the votes he needs to block witnesses and stop the trial from reeling off into unpredictable and potentially hazardous territory for the president. At least four Republicans would need to join Democrats to force witness testimony. Related: Trump impeachment team concludes opening arguments with plea to 'end this now' live Trumps defense team and his Republican allies have argued vehemently against the inclusion of witnesses at the trial, saying they already had enough information to decide the case and that the Senate should not be burdened by what they have framed as an incomplete process in the House of Representatives. But those arguments appear not to have been persuasive to the necessary number of senators. Trumps lawyers concluded their opening arguments on Tuesday. Led by Trumps personal lawyer Jay Sekulow, the defense team dismissed objections to Trumps conduct towards Ukraine as policy disagreements and warned senators not to lower the bar of impeachment by voting to convict the president. The defense team briefly grappled with charges reportedly appearing in an unpublished manuscript written by the former national security adviser John Bolton that Trump had conditioned security aid for Ukraine on the delivery of personal political favors. Even if Trump did that, his lawyers said, it would not be impeachable. But reports about the Bolton book were in any case inadmissible as evidence, Sekulow argued, owing to the secondhand nature of those reports. You cannot impeach a president based on an unsourced allegation, Sekulow said. Responding to an unpublished manuscript that maybe some reporters have an idea of maybe what it says if you want to call that evidence, I dont know what you want to call that Id call that inadmissible. Story continues A two-thirds majority of voting senators is required to convict Trump. An acquittal, much more likely, could be voted on as early as Friday. In the final visible hurdle remaining between Trump and acquittal, senators planned to vote, also on Friday, on whether to call witnesses in the case. Related: What are the articles of impeachment against Donald Trump? Before McConnell told his caucus that he was short on votes, Republicans had threatened to respond to witnesses called by Democrats with a call for witnesses whom Democrats say are irrelevant to the case but whom Trump has been very much focused on: former vice-president Joe Biden, his son Hunter Biden, the whistleblower whose complaint launched the impeachment inquiry and potentially others. Hearing from numerous witnesses could extend the impeachment trial, which began last week and so far has had a brief run by historical standards, into next month and potentially beyond. But if Sekulows argument sounded like a call for Bolton to testify, that was an aberration from the strong posture of the defense team against witnesses and in favor of ending the trial as quickly as possible. The White House was reportedly spreading the word to senators on Tuesday that calling Bolton or other witnesses would result in a court battle that would prolong the trial indefinitely. Republican senators were to meet on Tuesday afternoon to discuss strategy for the next phase of the trial, a two-day question period in which queries submitted by senators in writing will be read aloud by the chief justice, John Roberts, who is presiding. It is still far from certain that witnesses including Bolton will testify, but since Sunday night, when Boltons manuscript was first reported, some more moderate Republican senators have voiced openness to the prospect, a sticking point for congressional Democrats in the impeachment trial. Certainly a few days ago [the chance of witnesses being called] was zero and now its something, Republican strategist Rob Jesmer told the Guardian. I think that will massively prolong the trial. Chuck Schumer speaks to the media on Tuesday. Photograph: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP In a Quinnipiac poll released on Tuesday, 75% of registered voters responding said that witnesses should be allowed to testify in the impeachment trial, versus 20% who did not want witnesses. Support for witness testimony included 49% of Republicans. Congress was still digesting the news, reported by the New York Times on Sunday, that Bolton says Trump told him he wanted to keep withholding nearly $400m of security aid to Ukraine until officials there agreed to help investigate political rivals including former vice-president Joe Biden and his family. On Monday night, the New York Times returned to the well, reporting that in the forthcoming book The Room Where It Happened, Bolton writes that he told the attorney general, William Barr, he was concerned Trump was doing personal favors for autocratic foreign leaders. News of Boltons book has spurred some more moderate Republican senators Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine to signal openness to supporting the calling of witnesses. On Tuesday, the minority leader, Chuck Schumer, said the drip, drip, drip of information from Boltons manuscript was reminiscent of Watergate, the scandal that led to the resignation of Richard Nixon. The longer it goes on, the more likely that more new evidence will come out that further implicates the president Chuck Schumer Sekulow found another construction to describe the impeachment proceedings in his closing statement on Tuesday: Danger, danger, danger. He said: To lower the bar of impeachment based on these articles of impeachment would impact the functioning of our constitutional republic and the framework of that constitution for generations. To have a removal of a president based on a policy dispute? Thats not what the framers intended. While Trumps lawyers have painted Trumps alleged efforts to force the Ukrainian president to announce an investigation into Biden as a policy, Democrats have argued it amounted to election tampering, with the goal of providing Trump with a means to smear his potential 2020 rival. Trumps defense team could be pressed during the next question period of the trial to explain why not hearing from Bolton personally is preferable to calling Bolton, who has pre-emptively agreed to testify, as a witness. airlines said on Wednesday that due to the novel outbreak in China, it has decided to suspend its flights on the Bengaluru- route from February 1 onward and on the Delhi-Chengdu route from February 1 to February 20. The low-cost carrier said that for now, it will continue to operate the Kolkata-Guangzhou flight which it is "monitoring on a daily basis". "Due to China travel restrictions, we have seen a high number of cancellations from China on our Delhi-Chengdu route and vice versa. Therefore, we are suspending our flights between Delhi and Chengdu from February 01, 2020 until February 20, 2020. We are also suspending our Bengaluru- flight effective February 01, 2020," the airline said in a statement. Kotak Commodity Services Pvt., one of Indias top cotton exporters, will stop selling new cargoes to China on concern the spread of coronavirus may force the top buyer of the fiber to close ports and banks. The Mumbai-based company will look for new buyers of cotton in countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, Taiwan and Vietnam to make up for any possible shortfall in sales to China, Vinay Kotak, director of the company, said in an interview by phone on Tuesday. Lets not panic today, but if the virus keeps spreading and is not controlled in the next 10 to 15 days, then ... TORONTO, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- African Gold Group, Inc. (TSX-V: AGG) (AGG or the Company) is pleased to report the final results for the Phase 1 drilling campaign at the Kobada Gold Project. The Phase 1 drilling campaign focused on confirming and upgrading the confidence level of the resource in the feasibility study from 2016 (the 2016 Feasibility Study) and the previously established structural mineralization model. The Company expects to issue an updated mineral resource statement in February 2020. The results from the Phase I drilling campaign returned better than expected grades within the central zone of the Kobada main shear and reinforced the predictiveness of our geological model. High-grade intersections over a greater thickness together with additional resources in the satellite orebodies is expected to complement the resource model favourably. Highlights include: Drill hole KP19_P1_03 returned 1.65 g/t gold over 4.90 m, including 3.09 g/t gold over 2.5 m Drill hole KP19_P1_11 returned 12.60 g/t gold over 1.0 m Drill hole KP19_P1_12 returned 5.34 g/t gold over 6.0 m including 29.70 g/t gold over 1.05 m Drill hole KP19_P1_17 returned 1.59 g/t gold over 11.0 m, including 19.0 g/t gold over 0.8 m Drill hole KP19_P1_17 returned 1.40 g/t gold over 5.0 m, including 6.39 g/t gold over 1.0 m Drill hole KP19_P1_18 returned 0.94 g/t gold over 49.0 m, including 2.11 g/t gold over 5.71 m Drill hole KP19_P1_18 returned 11.60 g/t gold over 1.55 m and 5.96 g/t gold over 1.0 m Drill hole KP19_P1_20 returned 26.50 g/t gold over 1.0 m Drill hole KP19_P1_21 returned 1.67 g/t gold over 21.60 m, including 11.9 g/t gold over 2.0 m and 7.14 g/t gold over 1.1 m Drill hole KP19_P1_31 returned 2.67 g/t gold over 5.61 m, including 5.25 g/t gold over 2.61 m Drill hole KP19_P1_33 returned 1.58 g/t gold over 15.06 m, including 12.40 g/t gold over 1.4 m Drill hole KP19_P1_36 returned 12.30 g/t gold over 1.0 m and 3.14 g/t gold over 1.5 m Drill hole KP19_P1_37 returned 1.45 g/t gold over 19.0 m, including 4.96 g/t gold over 1.82 m and 13.20 g/t gold over 1.3 m The very compact high-grade intersections over several metres in the area of the future open pit are very encouraging, says Dr. Andreas Rompel, Vice President Exploration of the Company. We are very pleased with the completion of the Phase 1 drilling program and are keenly expecting the revised resource model and more positive results from Phase 2. The Kobada ore body is exhibiting significant upside potential and our focus now is on targeting extensions to the main shear zone where the drilling has been focused, but also to explore other shear zones on the concession. To date we have still only drilled approximately 4km of the main shear zone, in which the updated resource will be targeted. There are an additional 26 strike kilometres of identified shear zones, exhibiting identical geological characteristics to the Kobada shear. Based upon the work done to date, it becomes obvious that there is great potential to significantly increase the Kobada resource on the back of additional exploration drilling. The Phase 1 drilling campaign, which focused on confirming and upgrading the confidence level of the previous Mineral Resource, has confirmed a strong correlation with the geological model of the 2016 Feasibility Study. AGG drilled 34 drill holes totaling 5,302.8 metres of core during Phase 1. The returned assays were tested by fire assay with AAS finish in the accredited SGS laboratory in Bamako, Mali. The laboratory operates a quality system according to the ISO 17 025 standards. AGG has implemented quality assurance and quality control (QAQC) protocols for the drilling campaign to ensure consistent quality. Every 10th sample is either a blank sample, certified reference material (CRM) of various grades or duplicate samples. All samples were core samples of HQ or NQ size. The laterite, saprolite and transition zones were drilled HQ size and the harder, less weathered sulphide zone was drilled using NQ. Overall core recovery throughout Phase 1 was approximately 85% in Saprolite and 95% in fresh/hard rock. Phase 2 Drilling Campaign The Phase 2 drilling campaign is already 75% complete and is progressing to the north of the central zone with the aim to expand the total Mineral Resource. The Company is anticipating the assay results for Phase 2 over the coming weeks. Continuous mineralization north of the central zone is expected to further confirm our view that the Kobada project is larger than previously suggested in the 2016 feasibility study. The completion of Phase 1 ahead of schedule, and commencement of Phase 2 drill programme is an exciting advancement of the Kobada project, says Danny Callow Chief Operating Officer of AGG. Not only have we updated and gained significant confidence as a result of Phase 1 drilling, the upside potential from Phase 2 and the Gosso target is potentially huge. As part of the definitive feasibility study work, we intended to upgrade the resource model, the ESIA and deliver a very robust study document that will allow us to move quickly into construction on this project. Everything we have seen so far points to a better than expected orebody, which is easy to mine and process, with oxide ore close to surface and mineralized throughout the Phase 1 holes. I am excited to start to deliver key components of the DFS throughout this first quarter and the resource model due at the end of January is the first key document. Qualified Persons The scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed, prepared and approved by Dr. Andreas Rompel, PhD, Pr. Sci. Nat. (400274/04), FSAIMM, Vice President Exploration of AGG, who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) and by Mr. Uwe Engelmann (BSc (Zoo. & Bot.), BSc Hons (Geol.), Pr.Sci.Nat. No. 400058/08, MGSSA), a director of Minxcon (Pty) Ltd and a member of the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions. About African Gold Group African Gold Group is a Canadian listed exploration and development company on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX V:AGG) with its focus on developing a gold platform in West Africa. Its principal asset is the Kobada Project in Mali. Assay standards: Samples <3.0kg are dried in trays, crushed to a nominal 2 mm using a jaw crusher, then <1.5 kg is split using a Jones type riffle. The reject sample is retained in the original bag and stored. The split is pulverised in a LM2 to a nominal 85% passing 75um. Approximately 200g sub-sample is taken for assay, with the pulverised residue retained in a plastic bag. All the preparation equipment is flushed with barren material prior to the commencement of the job. A 50g sub sample is fused with litharge-based flux, cupelled and prill dissolved in aqua regia and gold determined by flame AAS - Detection Limit 0.01ppm. For more information: Stan Bharti Chairman (416) 861 2267 Cautionary statements This press release contains "forward looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward looking information includes, but is not limited to, managements, the Companys development and exploration plans for the Kobada project, expectation of grade and resources at the Kobada gold project, expectation of drill results at the Kobada project, the timeline for the completion of the Phase 2 drilling program, the definitive feasibility study and the updated resource model, expectations for mineralization and location of extensions at the Kobada gold project and expected mining methods at the Kobada gold project, and other statements with respect to the future plans or intentions of the Company. Generally, forward looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", aims, "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", 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". Forward-looking information 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: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; the actual results of exploration activities; regulatory risks; risks inherent in foreign operations; and other risks of the mining industry. 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 statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, 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. Table 1: Significant Intersections (Above 1 g/t) BHID From To Intersection Length (m) Au_Final (g/t) KB19_P1_02 63.00 64.00 1.00 1.87 KB19_P1_02 64.00 65.00 1.00 2.20 KB19_P1_02 149.00 150.00 1.00 2.00 KB19_P1_03 21.00 23.50 2.50 3.09 KB19_P1_03 82.00 83.00 1.00 1.55 KB19_P1_03 83.00 84.60 1.60 2.13 KB19_P1_03 115.35 116.15 0.80 1.46 KB19_P1_03 116.15 118.00 1.85 1.57 KB19_P1_04 85.00 86.00 1.00 1.94 KB19_P1_05 67.50 68.80 1.30 1.44 KB19_P1_05 68.80 69.80 1.00 1.66 KB19_P1_06 74.00 75.00 1.00 1.55 KB19_P1_06 114.00 115.00 1.00 2.01 KB19_P1_06 118.50 120.50 2.00 3.06 KB19_P1_07 102.76 103.75 0.99 2.02 KB19_P1_07 103.75 104.81 1.06 2.61 KB19_P1_08 47.00 49.00 2.00 1.90 KB19_P1_17 58.40 59.20 0.80 19.00 KB19_P1_17 113.00 114.00 1.00 6.39 KB19_P1_17 125.00 126.00 1.00 1.65 KB19_P1_18 12.60 14.00 1.40 1.22 KB19_P1_18 15.89 18.90 3.01 2.35 KB19_P1_18 18.90 21.60 2.70 1.84 KB19_P1_18 24.00 25.00 1.00 1.41 KB19_P1_18 44.10 45.65 1.55 11.60 KB19_P1_18 56.00 57.00 1.00 5.96 KB19_P1_10 0.00 1.00 1.00 2.81 KB19_P1_10 8.00 9.00 1.00 1.47 KB19_P1_10 37.00 38.00 1.00 1.12 KB19_P1_09 6.50 9.00 2.50 2.09 KB19_P1_11 37.00 38.00 1.00 2.02 KB19_P1_11 56.00 56.70 0.70 1.21 KB19_P1_11 60.90 62.15 1.25 1.20 KB19_P1_11 88.00 89.40 1.40 1.97 KB19_P1_11 128.00 129.00 1.00 1.46 KB19_P1_12 158.00 159.05 1.05 29.70 KB19_P1_13 32.00 33.00 1.00 2.12 KB19_P1_13 84.00 85.00 1.00 1.67 KB19_P1_13 89.00 90.00 1.00 3.24 KB19_P1_13 93.00 94.25 1.25 2.16 KB19_P1_15 90.15 91.06 0.91 1.05 KB19_P1_20 62.25 63.50 1.25 1.14 KB19_P1_20 77.00 78.00 1.00 1.18 KB19_P1_20 120.00 121.00 1.00 4.08 KB19_P1_20 123.91 125.10 1.19 1.30 KB19_P1_20 189.00 190.00 1.00 26.50 KB19_P1_20 206.00 207.00 1.00 1.44 KB19_P1_21 18.00 20.00 2.00 11.90 KB19_P1_21 22.10 23.20 1.10 7.14 KB19_P1_21 86.90 88.50 1.60 2.94 KB19_P1_21 88.50 89.50 1.00 2.78 KB19_P1_21 97.50 98.80 1.30 4.93 KB19_P1_21 104.30 105.50 1.20 1.75 KB19_P1_21 108.50 109.50 1.00 1.57 KB19_P1_21 112.40 113.40 1.00 1.20 KB19_P1_21 123.00 124.50 1.50 1.11 KB19_P1_28 123.00 125.50 2.50 1.32 KB19_P1_28 146.63 147.63 1.00 1.95 KB19_P1_28 183.10 184.10 1.00 2.80 KB19_P1_28 189.70 190.70 1.00 1.25 KB19_P1_28 193.70 194.70 1.00 4.13 KB19_P1_28 229.67 230.67 1.00 1.64 KB19_P1_23 46.55 50.00 3.45 1.93 KB19_P1_23 76.00 77.00 1.00 2.59 KB19_P1_23 81.05 82.75 1.70 1.57 KB19_P1_23 83.33 84.45 1.12 1.40 KB19_P1_23 85.45 86.45 1.00 1.75 KB19_P1_23 101.13 102.19 1.06 1.33 KB19_P1_23 105.00 107.00 2.00 1.35 KB19_P1_23 132.00 133.00 1.00 1.71 KB19_P1_23 138.65 139.52 0.87 1.08 KB19_P1_23 141.05 141.96 0.91 5.41 KB19_P1_23 149.95 151.00 1.05 1.44 KB19_P1_27 33.50 35.00 1.50 4.18 KB19_P1_27 39.00 40.00 1.00 1.84 KB19_P1_27 44.00 45.00 1.00 1.37 KB19_P1_32 54.40 55.50 1.10 5.12 KB19_P1_31 126.79 129.40 2.61 5.25 KB19_P1_31 139.00 141.00 2.00 4.79 KB19_P1_31 142.50 143.60 1.10 1.34 KB19_P1_31 153.47 158.10 4.63 1.34 KB19_P1_31 291.72 292.72 1.00 3.76 KB19_P1_33 30.10 33.00 2.90 1.46 KB19_P1_33 36.00 36.80 0.80 6.05 KB19_P1_33 55.65 57.80 2.15 1.17 KB19_P1_33 71.15 72.00 0.85 1.70 KB19_P1_33 98.00 102.00 4.00 1.64 KB19_P1_33 124.44 125.60 1.16 1.80 KB19_P1_33 128.64 129.50 0.86 3.41 KB19_P1_33 130.40 131.80 1.40 12.40 KB19_P1_33 217.12 217.90 0.78 1.72 KB19_P1_35 61.90 64.20 2.30 1.51 KB19_P1_35 83.90 84.90 1.00 1.50 KB19_P1_36 8.80 9.80 1.00 12.30 KB19_P1_36 30.30 31.80 1.50 3.14 KB19_P1_37 63.00 64.00 1.00 5.67 KB19_P1_37 70.00 71.00 1.00 1.97 KB19_P1_37 76.72 77.50 0.78 1.57 KB19_P1_37 79.42 82.60 3.18 4.16 KB19_P1_37 96.00 97.00 1.00 2.00 KB19_P1_37 107.80 109.30 1.50 1.77 KB19_P1_37 134.00 135.82 1.82 4.96 KB19_P1_37 149.70 151.00 1.30 13.20 Table 2: Mineralization Zones [January 29, 2020] Suspensions, Exclusion and Moving From School to School Are Barriers to Successful High School-to-College Transition for Many Foster Youth, Report Finds Educational Results Partnership (ERP), a non-profit organization that applies data science to help improve career readiness throughout the educational system, in conjunction with California College Pathways (CCP) and John Burton Advocates for Youth, have published a new report on foster youth outcomes in the California education system. The report builds on prior research conducted by ERP and CCP, which indicated that despite recent statewide policy efforts to improve outcomes for California's foster youth, significant achievement gaps persist. The new report, Pipeline to Success: Supporting California's Foster Youth from High School to Community College, linked longitudinal student data between K-12 and community college systems to identify the factors that hinder or contribute to the success of foster youth in California's high school to community college pipeline. "Foster youth deserve the same opportunities to succeed as all other students," said Dr. James Lanich, ERP's President and CEO. "Using a data-informed approach, our new report identifies factors that reduce the academic success of foster youth, as well as factors that contribute to their academic success. These findings can help K-12 districts, community colleges and other government agencies adopt practices that will ensure a successful transition to college for foster youth." Overall, the report found foster youth in California experience persistent challenges as they transition from high school to postsecondary education. The findings indicate that the most detrimental factors to foster youth experiencing worse academic outcomes than their peers in both high school and community college are: higher rates of suspension or exclusion during 12th grade and attending multiple high schools. These barriers to success in high school have a lingering impact on academic performance in college. Conversely, the report states that foster youth college students who receive financial aid, living expenses, counseling and education planning have higher GPAs and earn more credits in their first year of postsecondary work - an indicator that funding for such support programs is having a positive impact. "This research was about better understanding foster youth's unique academic experience and illuminating the disparities that exist in their transition from high school to community college," said CCP Project Director Debbie Raucher. "By identifying progress and challenges, we can develop and enact policies and tools that will improve studentoutcomes and career trajectories." Other key takeaways from the latest ERP report include: Foster youth are suspended or excluded from high school at nearly three times the rate of non-foster students. Students who attended a greater number of high schools had a lower GPA and earned fewer credit units in their first year of community college than students who went to fewer high schools. Just 54 percent of foster youth students complete high school in four years, compared to 83 percent of the general student population. Foster high school students are applying to community colleges at a higher rate than non-foster students. Only half of foster students who apply to community colleges end up enrolling. The average GPA for foster youth in their first year of college is 25 percent lower and they earn one-third fewer credit units than their non-foster peers. There is a need for secondary and postsecondary institutions to work more closely with one another to provide and link valuable data on student educational and career outcomes. There is a need for consistent definitions and matching data between the California Department of Social Services and the community college system. "We hope the collaborative support that made this report possible leads to actions that will improve coordination between agencies that are focused on helping foster youth succeed," said Dr. Lanich. Pipeline to Success: Supporting California's Foster Youth from High School to Community College is funded by the Stuart Foundation and Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and is available at www.edresults.org/blog. About Educational Results Partnership Educational Results Partnership is a non-profit organization that applies data science to help improve student outcomes and career readiness throughout our educational system. In partnership with educators and employers, ERP is charting the pathways that lead to academic success and living-wage jobs with the goal of ensuring that more students are equipped to enter the workforce with the skills today's global economy demands. Learn more at: www.edresults.org . About California College Pathways California College Pathways (CCP) is a public-private partnership that is helping foster youth across the state achieve their higher education goals and move on to fulfilling careers. CCP supports campus networks of programs for foster youth, provides training and technical assistance for emerging and established campus programs, advocates for policies and regulations to improve higher education outcomes for foster youth, and collaborates to create a more seamless pipeline to college for K-12 foster youth. Learn more at: www.cacollegepathways.org . About John Burton Advocates for Youth John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) is a statewide nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, working to improve the quality of life for California's foster, former foster, and homeless youth. It was founded in 2005 by progressive champion John Burton, a former member of Congress, the California State Assembly and President Pro Tem of the California State Senate. John Burton Advocates for Youth works in three areas: education, housing and health. Learn more at www.jbaforyouth.org . View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005231/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Boeing has swung to its first annual loss since 1997 on mounting 737-Max costs and indicated it would again cut production of its bigger 787 Dreamliner aircraft currently its main source of cash. Costs related to the global grounding of Boeings once fast-selling 737-Max reached $14.6bn (13.2bn) in 2019 and the planemaker warned of another $4bn in charges in 2020 due to the expense of freezing and slowly restarting the jets production. Boeing, facing the biggest crisis in its history, had previously estimated an around $8bn price tag for the Max fallout. The aircraft was grounded in March after two crashes that killed 346 people. Boeing has since frozen production of the aircraft as deliveries, the moment when the planemaker receives most of its cash, remain halted. We recognise we have a lot of work to do, Boeing president and CEO David Calhoun said. His predecessor, Dennis Muilenburg, was ousted last year. Boeing shares rose by as much as 3% as some analysts had expected an even larger charge for 737-Max costs. The stock has lost about a quarter of its value since early March 2019. Boeing faces some considerable challenges in the near-term, but we expect the market to focus on the level of free cash flow that the company can generate in the early-2020s on a sustainable basis, once the Max returns to service, Redburn analyst Jeremy Bragg said. The Chicago-based planemaker has been updating the 737-Max flight control system and software to address issues believed to have played a role in both crashes. The US Federal Aviation Administration has suggested it could approve the Max to fly again before mid-year, longer than Boeing had initially expected. Mr Calhoun said he believes the company can meet the certification timeline. Boeings core operating loss was $2.53bn, compared with a profit of $3.87bn a year earlier. Adding to Boeings pain, demand for its bigger and more profitable jet the 787 Dreamliner has waned in the face of the US-China trade war, prompting the company to cut production, hurting cash flow at a time when its debt is mounting. Boeing, which is producing the 787 Dreamliner at 14 aircraft per month, said in October it expects to lower the production in late 2020 to 12 per month, amid a drought of orders from China. The company now expects to further lower 787 Dreamliner production to 10 per month in early 2021. - Ankit Ajmera and David Shepardson, Reuters ALTON A man who phoned in a terrorist threat to Lewis and Clark Community College in 2018 pleaded guilty Wednesday and was sentenced to seven years in prison. Mintai A. Bedford, 34, whose last known address was in Godfrey, was charged Aug. 18, 2018, with allegedly calling police and saying someone is going to shoot up Lewis and Clark Community College today. The call was intended to intimidate or coerce and significant portion of the population, according to the charging document filed in August 2018. The charge is a Class X felony, punishable by a prison term of between six and 30 years. The state sentence may be served concurrently with a 2009 federal conviction for possession with intent to deliver cocaine. He was sentenced to 72 months in prison on that charge, but released on parole. After the most recent charges, Bedford was ordered back to federal prison where he must serve out his term. He will also have to serve three years of supervised release on his terrorist threat charge consecutive to his federal sentence. Bedford also has convictions for aggravated battery, carrying a firearm near a public school, two counts of violation of probation and seven misdemeanor convictions. Bedford previously filed a notice in court that he will not accept any plea agreement. I have to be proven guilty; no preponderance elements. I look forward to seeing you in court, he wrote. Ophthalmic anti-infectives are anti-infectives contained in a product formulated especially to be instilled or applied in the eye or eyes. Ophthalmic anti-infectives include eyedrops, gels or ointments. Anti-infectives are drugs that can either kill an infectious agent or inhibit it from spreading. Anti-infectives include antibiotics and antibacterials, antifungals, antivirals and antiprotozoals. 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All the segments taken into consideration for the research have a look at are analyzed on the basis of percentage, consumption, boom fee, client choice, and numerous other parameters.Scope of the Report:In terms of region, the global ophthalmic anti-infective market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America is expected to dominate the global ophthalmic anti-infective market due to availability of advanced drug formulations in the region. Awareness among people about diseases is also a major factor boosting the market in the region. The ophthalmic anti-infective market in Asia Pacific is anticipated to expand at a rapid pace due to increase in incidence of eye infection in the region. Lack of awareness about diseases and unavailability of advanced medication and formulations in underdeveloped countries, such as Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus, Turkey, and Iraq are likely to restrain the growth of the ophthalmic anti-infective market in Middle East & Africa.The worldwide market for Anti-infective Ophthalmic is expected to grow at a CAGR of roughly xx% over the next five years, will reach 1410 million US$ in 2024, from 1410 million US$ in 2019, according to a new GIR (Global Info Research) study.This report focuses on the Anti-infective Ophthalmic in global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversNovartis, Allergan, Valeant Pharmaceuticals, Santen Pharmaceutical, Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Apotex, AkornMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversAntibacterial, Antiviral, Antifungal, Anti-parasitic, OthersMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoHospital Use, Clinic Use, Household, OtherThe content of the study subjects, includes a total of 15 chapters:*Chapter 1, to describe Anti-infective Ophthalmic product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market driving force and market risks.*Chapter 2, to profile the top manufacturers of Anti-infective Ophthalmic, with price, sales, revenue and global market share of Anti-infective Ophthalmic in 2017 and 2018.*Chapter 3, the Anti-infective Ophthalmic competitive situation, sales, revenue and global market share of top manufacturers are analyzed emphatically by landscape contrast.*Chapter 4, the Anti-infective Ophthalmic breakdown data are shown at the regional level, to show the sales, revenue and growth by regions, from 2014 to 2019.*Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to break the sales data at the country level, with sales, revenue and market share for key countries in the world, from 2014 to 2019.*Chapter 10 and 11, to segment the sales by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2014 to 2019.*Chapter 12, Anti-infective Ophthalmic market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2019 to 2024.*Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Anti-infective Ophthalmic sales channel, distributors, customers, research findings and conclusion, appendix and data source.Request for Sample with TOC@ https://www.researchtrades.com/request-sample/1823967 Add Others Information Of Report.Answers that the research report acknowledges:- Market length and growth rate throughout the forecast period.- The important thing factors of the market of Anti-Infective Ophthalmic Market.- Key market trends have dampened the growth of the Anti-Infective Ophthalmic Market.- Challenges for market boom.- The main vendors of the market of the Anti-Infective Ophthalmic Market .- Targeted swot analysis.- Possibilities and threats going through current vendors in the worldwide Anti-Infective Ophthalmic Market.- Trend elements influencing the marketplace in geographic regions.- Strategic tasks focused on key suppliers.Contact Us:call us : +1 6269994607 (US)/+91 7507349866 (IND)skype id: researchtradesconEmail: sales@ researchtrades.com web: www.researchtrades.com PR-Inside.com: 2020-01-29 17:05:29 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 694 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Speakers include Andrew Churchill, Iana Vidal, Jenny Knott, Thomas Naegle, Marta Belcher, and moreNEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / January 29, 2020 / GlobexUS Holdings, Corp. (Horizon) the Blockchain-as-a-Service company, and RSM UK (RSM), a leading global provider of audit, tax and consulting services, today announced the second forum in Horizon's exclusive speaker series bringing industry thought leaders and regulators together for intimate and productive dialogues surrounding blockchain, fintech, compliance, and the evolution of capital markets. "Dialogue with the Regulators: Navigating Blockchain & Fintech Across Europe" will take place Thursday, March 19, 2020 at RSM in London, England. Interested attendees may request an invite here: https://horizon-globex.com/events/DWRLondon The event follows the successful forum in New York which brought together senior regulators from the SEC, FINRA, and CFPB; along with key industry leaders including Gemini, Coinbase, Paxful, and BlackRock, among others. DWR London will bring together government and industry leaders from across Europe.Confirmed speakers include Andrew Churchill, Standards Director and Lead Author of the British Standards Institute (BSI) Code of Practice on Digital Identification & Authentication under the MIDAS Alliance task force; Iana Vidal, Head of Policy and Government Affairs at Innovate Finance who leads the organization's engagement with government, regulators and other key stakeholders in the UK; Thomas Naegle, Co-author of the Liechtenstein Blockchain Act; Jenny Knott, venture capital investor for early stage fintech companies and top innovator in financial technologies; and Marta Belcher, attorney and blockchain law pioneer who has spoken on blockchain before the New York Senate, the European Parliament and the U.S. Congress. More speakers are to be announced as the event approaches. Media partners include 100 Women in Finance, AmaZix, Department for International Trade, Finceler8, Innovate Finance, and Ropes & Gray."Compliance surrounding blockchain technology isn't just a U.S. concern, it's a global initiative," says Horizon Risk and Regulatory Affairs Lead Amy Poster. "We look forward to bringing our uniquely designed forum to Europe, fostering critical cross-border relationships and providing attendees with timely information directly from the source." "As with the rest of the world, much of Europe has really embraced blockchain technology and we have some great examples of how Financial Services firms are utilizing it right here in the UK. Many countries in Europe have a supportive regulatory environment helping to provide fertile grounds for innovation," says RSM's Peter Allen, Co-head of Financial Services. "We are thrilled to host Dialogue with the Regulators at RSM UK and explore the path for the future as blockchain, cryptocurrency and regtech gain traction in the global economy." The event is designed for C-Level Executives and fintech industry leaders. This is a free, invite-only event with a limited number of tickets. At the regulators' request, no press will be allowed to attend. For speaker, sponsorship, and attendance inquiries, please visit https://horizon-globex.com/events/DWRLondon About RSM UK LLP:RSM UK is a leading audit, tax and consulting firm to the middle market with nearly 3,800 partners and staff operating from 35 locations throughout the UK. For the year ending 31 March 2019, RSM UK generated revenues of 335m. RSM UK is a member firm of RSM International - the seventh largest network of audit, tax and consulting firms globally. The network spans more than 120 countries, 810 offices and 43,000 people, with a fee income of $5.74bn.About Horizon:Horizon offers a suite of integrated blockchain software applications for compliant issuance through secondary trading of digital securities. Truly a compliance-first business, our solutions combine Wall Street and Silicon Valley to power the next generation of exchanges and securities offerings in the U.S. and globally.Current product solutions include asset tokenization through Tokenetics ( tokenetics.com); a white-label KYC smartphone app to onboard and verify investors through KYCware ( kycware.com); anti-money laundering screening against a database of global sanctions, watchlists, & PEPs through AMLcop ( amlcop.com); transfer agent custody tools through ( custodyware.com) , and an advanced retail trading app for compliant secondary trading on affiliated digital securities marketplaces through Open Order Book ( openorderbook.com) . All software applications can be utilized independently or integrated with one another. Learn more at https://horizon-globex.com/ Press Contact:Vanessa MaloneVanessa@ Horizon-Globex.com (805) 637-1963SOURCE: GlobexUS Holdings, Corp. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} I can adjust so that I go above and beyond the call of duty, he said. I have a desire to excel such that Im just another red shirt and Ill observe what all the other red shirts do and Ill figure out what I need to do to distinguish myself above all the other red shirts. Club members at all the tables gave students helpful feedback with critiques that the students felt would serve them well in the future. Heather Tindell, a senior human resource management major from Dothan, was asked a similar red shirt questions from her interviewer who asked what she could bring to the table to his company. Ive never been asked questions like that so that got me thinking about that and how I would answer those type questions, Tindell said. Overall, she said the interviews were a good experience and positive feedback gave her confidence in her abilities that she will carry with her in her efforts to obtain a summer internship in the area. Brad Kimbro, president of the Dothan Tuesday Rotary Club, said he felt like the event was a success and a testament to the clubs slogan of service above self. LAS VEGAS, NVRoxanne Price, a licensed sex worker working in Pahrump, is more than a little upset over the launch of Las Vegas' first sex doll brothel, fearing that the doll brothel is a first step to a sex robot takeover of the legal Nevada sex industry. Price is taking aim at Sex Doll Experience, a doll brothel located within the city limits of Las Vegas that claims to be the first of its kind in Sin City. Price discovered the existence of the doll brothel, which opened in November of 2019, when word of the establishment started circulating throughout the Vegas sex work community and she stumbled upon the doll brothels website. Price is currently a sex worker at Sheris Ranch, a legal brothel located on the outskirts of Vegas in Pahrump, Nevada, where prostitution is legal in the form of regulated bordellos. Shes outraged that, in order to lawfully practice her trade, she must travel to a neighboring county and abide by strict prostitution regulations, while a sex doll den can apparently operate freely in the city and take full advantage of the multitude of libidinous tourists flocking to Vegas annually. Prostitution is legal in all counties in Nevada except Washoe County, where Reno is located, and Clark County, where Las Vegas is. I love my job as a Vegas-area legal prostitute. I work hard to comply with all of the regulations in Nevada and Im happy to travel to nearby rural areas in order to legally sell my sexual services. But this doll brothel is a slap in the face to me and the other hard-working sex workers that are trying to make our way in the world. Pahrump is located about an hours drive from Vegas in neighboring Nye County, where regulated brothels are permitted. Price is unaware of any laws that restrict or regulate sex doll bordellos in Nevada. On the other hand, legal prostitutes are regularly screened for sexually transmitted diseases to ensure client health. Price believes that doll brothels, if left unchecked, may eventually lead to sex robot brothels popping up throughout the city as sex technology continues to advance and legislators struggle to keep up with rapid advances in sex tech. This sex doll brothel could be a stepping stone to a sex robot takeover of the Las Vegas area sex industry, Price said. While human prostitutes are mired in legal red tape, doll brothels dont have to worry about complying with any restrictive legislation. Its as if sex dolls and sex robots have more rights and freedom than actual human sex workers. This sex doll brothel may look like a quaint novelty today, but in a couple of years, with advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics, a proliferation of sex robot brothels could create serious competition for human sex workers, she added. Price believes that the answer to a potential catastrophe for human sex workers is to legalize prostitution in Las Vegas. Sex dolls and sex robots shouldnt have an edge over human sex workers, Price declared. We should be given a fighting chance against sex dolls. Sex-for-money transactions between consenting adults should no longer be criminalized in Las Vegas so that human sex workers are no longer marginalized and stigmatized. An inanimate object should never have more freedom that a human being, Price said. This is not the first time Price has lifted the lid on the potential negative consequences of sex doll brothels. In 2018, when doll brothels started popping up in Europe, Price told The Sun that sex doll clients may be conditioned to treat human sex workers disrespectfully. "The idea that women should be like dolls, unresponsive and lethargic during sex, is downright dangerous," said Price. "I feel that sex doll brothels support the idea that sex workers are mere objects, devoid of agency, to be used and abused by their patrons. Sex dolls are 'rape-fantasy' objects that men can mistreat and abuse without consequences. Men should not be using sex dolls as training wheels for seeing a human sex worker." Roxanne Price, 25, is a licensed sex worker currently working as a featured courtesan at Sheris Ranch in Pahrump, Nevada. Originally from Texas, Price has been practicing her trade as a legal prostitute since she was 19, beginning her career at Dennis Hofs Love Ranch in Carson City, Nevada before moving to the Las Vegas area. She is a vocal advocate for the legalization of prostitution throughout the United States. Those interested may find her on Twitter at @RoxannePriceGFE. 'Entry of woman into mosque for Namaz is permitted in Islam': Muslim board to SC India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Jan 29: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court saying that Muslim women were free to enter a mosque for prayers but highlighted that it was not obligatory on women, unlike men, to offer Friday prayers in congregation. The Board's submission comes after a petition filed by a Maharashtra-based Muslim couple who asked the top court to declare a prohibition on entry of women into mosques as illegal and unconstitutional. It will be considered by a nine-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde. The bench is dealing with legal and constitutional issues relating to discrimination against women in various religions and at religious places including Kerala's Sabarimala Temple. "Considering the religious texts, doctrine and religious belief of the followers of Islam, it is submitted that entry of women in the Mosque for offering prayer/ Namaz, inside the Mosque, is permitted. Thus, a Muslim woman is free to enter Masjid for prayers. It is her option to exercise her right to avail such facilities as available for prayers in Masjid. "The All India Muslim Personal Law Board does not want to comment on any contrary religious opinion to this effect," Mohammed Fazlurrahim, Secretary of AIMPLB, said in his affidavit filed through lawyer M R Shamshad. However, the AIMPLB has contended it would not be appropriate for the Court to enter into the religious practices based upon beliefs of the religion by invoking Articles 14, 15, 21, 25 and 29 of Constitution. The petition by Pune couple, Yasmeen Zuber Ahmad Peerzade and Zuber Ahmad Nazir Ahmad Peerzade contended that "there is nothing in the Quran and the Hadith that requires gender segregation". "The act of prohibition of females from entering Mosque is void and unconstitutional as such practices are not only repugnant to the basic dignity of a woman as an individual but also violative of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 15, 21 and 25 of the Constitution", it added. The plea said there was no gender segregation in Islam and claimed separate enclosures for women in certain mosques were a form of discrimination that violated their fundamental right to dignity. In April 2019, a bench led by Justice S.A. cited the majority verdict in the Sabarimala case - that devotion can't entail gender bias - and asked the central government, the AIMPLB and the Central Wakf Board to submit their views on the petition. By Trend In the case of joining the Southern Gas Corridor, Ukraine will be able to get Azerbaijani gas in the second or third phases of expansion of the corridors capacity, Ukraines Ministry of Energy and Environmental Protection told Trend. The ministry said that Ukraine is interested in diversification of natural gas supply routes and sources. "Moreover, we are interested in expanding the cooperation in arranging crude oil supply and are ready to consider the possibility of liquefied natural gas supplies from Azerbaijan to Ukraine," said the ministry. Ukraines Ministry of Energy and Environmental Protection and Azerbaijans Energy Ministry have worked out a draft memorandum of cooperation. "It is planned to hold a meeting of Ukraine-Azerbaijan working group on cooperation in energy sphere," said the ministry. The Southern Gas Corridor is one of the priority projects for the EU and envisages the transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian region through Georgia and Turkey to Europe. The launching ceremony of the first stage of the Southern Gas Corridor was held in Baku on May 29, 2018, while opening ceremony of TANAPs Phase 0 was held on June 12, 2018 in the Turkish city of Eskisehir. TANAP-Europe connection was opened on Nov.30 in Ipsala, Edirne, Turkey. Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) were connected on the Turkish-Greek border. --- (L-R) Rep. Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, who has announced he is switching from the Democratic to Republican Party, shakes hands with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on Dec. 19, 2019 (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Van Drews Top Republican Opponent Switched Districts, Will Challenge Andy Kim Instead Republican David Richter, has switched districts and joined the race for Congress in the district represented by Rep. Andy Kim (DN.J.). He was the top Republican opponent of Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) before Van Drew left the Democratic party over House Democrats impeaching President Donald Trump. I have endorsed Jeff Van Drew and will support his re-election campaign, said Richter according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. The decision was announced the day before President Donald Trumps rally in Wildwood, NJ, in the district represented by Van Drew. On Jan. 28, Richter attended the Trump rally in Wildwood and gave a speech. Richter said, Jeff [Van Drew] is going to win in November because he knows how to deliver for South Jersey, Hes tough. He gets the job done Jeff is going to win in November because he stood with President Trump and voted against this impeachment farce, as reported by New Jersey Globe. Richter is the former Chief Executive Officer of Hill International, a New York Stock Exchange-listed global professional services firm that provides construction management services on building and infrastructure projects worldwide, according to the website David Richter for Congress. He holds five degrees in management, civil engineering, and law from the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, and the University of Oxford. Richter, 53, said, he became interested in running for Congress because he wanted to help restore Republicans to the majority in the House. He originally decided to challenge for Van Drews seat, according to Burlington County Times. However, after Van Drew flipped parties, Richter, a native of Burlington County, where he grew up and where the headquarters of his family business, Hill International are located, decided to run for congress in the district. Burlington is his home county, which is currently represented by Kim, reported Burlington County Times. While running in the neighboring district for the seat of freshman Democrat Andy Kim, Richter will compete with three Republican candidatesKate Gibbs, a former Burlington County freeholder, who is already endorsed by the county GOP, also John Novak who currently serves as the Mayor of Barnegat, NJ, and Anthony Porto, a former Mayor of Hainesport, NJ. No Democratic competitor has filed for the primary, according to Ballotpedia. Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) speaks during a rally and news conference ahead of a House vote on health care and prescription drug legislation in the Rayburn Room at the U.S. Capitol on May 15, 2019, in Washington. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Campaign Promises Kim, a freshman Democrat, was elected in 2018 and won by a slim margin of fewer than 4,000 votes, defeating Republican Tom MacArthur, according to Ballotpedia. In 2016 Trump won this district by six points, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. Richter promises to use his private-sector experience to promote reforms that will reduce government spending to balance the federal budget and work to enact reforms to incentivize entrepreneurship, cut taxes, and promote the growth of small and family-owned businesses, according to website David Richter for Congress. He also supports securing the southern border and the immigration reform that will oppose across-the-board amnesty, and seek to ban so-called sanctuary cities and states, He will defend the Second Amendment, and promote market-based health care reform, that will drive down the cost of medical care and prescription drugs, while improving its quality, according to his statement on the website. A Kim campaign slogan says, Serving the American People. Not Corporations, according to his campaign website. His promises include introducing campaign finance reform, fight corruption in government, and end gerrymandering. Kim supports tax cuts, unions, project labor agreements, a livable wage, safe work environments, and other critical initiatives that help American workers navigate the uncertainty, states the campaign website. He proposes to improve the health care system by covering everyone, reducing prescription drug costs, and other means. At the beginning of the year, Richter had $515,000 in campaign funding, mostly from his assets, and Gibbs had $135,000. Kim had $2.2 million, reported The Philadelphia Inquirer. China Asked To Allow Kazakh Students To Leave Locked-Down City By RFE/RL's Kazakh Service January 28, 2020 NUR-SULTAN -- Kazakhstan's government says it has asked Beijing to allow 98 Kazakh students to leave the city of Wuhan, the epicenter of a virus outbreak that has killed more than 100 people. "We are considering the possibility of evacuating our citizens from the city of Wuhan," Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Shakhrat Nuryshev said on January 28, adding that there were currently 1,300 Kazakhs in China. Wuhan has been in lockdown with strict transport restrictions in and out of the area to control the spread of the new coronavirus. The death toll from the virus now stands at 106, with the number of infections reaching more than 4,500. It has spread across China and to at least 16 countries. Nuryshev said there are no plans to completely close the border with neighboring China, as that would stop Kazakh citizens from returning home. Among those who have returned from China, four people have been hospitalized with suspected respiratory infections and are being tested, Health Minister Yelzhan Birtanov told the same briefing. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/china-asked -to-allow-kazakh-students-to-leave- locked-down-city/30401858.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese Premier Li Keqiang speaks to medical workers in a hospital where coronavirus patients are being treated in Wuhan, China. / Reuters BEIJING/SHANGHAI Toyota Motor Corp's production plants in China will stay closed through Feb. 9, the Japanese automaker said on Wednesday, in response to the spread of a new coronavirus that now includes a sharp rise in fatalities. Toyota, which runs plants in regions such as the northern city of Tianjin and the southern province of Guangdong, said the closures after the Lunar New Year holidays were in line with transport lockdowns in some places, and as it assesses its parts supply situation. The United States and Japan evacuated their nationals from the quarantined city of Wuhan, while British Airways suspended flights to mainland China. Deaths have leapt to 132, and a Chinese government economist predicted a huge hit to the economy. Beijing's pledge to slay the "devil" coronavirus has won the trust of the World Health Organization (WHO) but confirmation of another 1,459 cases taking the total to 5,974 in China only fueled public alarm worldwide. Geely and our global family are united in support of the fight against the new coronavirus. We have established a 200 million RMB fund to support the prevention and control of the epidemic. @volvocars@lotuscars@LondonEVCompany@GeelyWorldwidehttps://t.co/vLAaQavGNT Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (@GeelyHolding) January 28, 2020 Travelers with the illness were identified around the world, including in the United States, but almost all of the cases of the illness have been in the central province of Hubei, the capital of which is Wuhan, where the virus emerged last month in a live wild animal market. Story continues The situation remained "grim and complex," Chinese President Xi Jinping acknowledged. In many Chinese cities, streets were largely deserted, with the few who ventured out wearing masks. Starbucks stores in Beijing required people to have temperatures taken and posted notices saying it was a state requirement to wear masks inside. "It's my first time here in Asia, I feel very unlucky," said Brazilian tourist Amanda Lee, 23, reluctantly cutting short a trip. "I couldn't even see the places I wanted, like the Great Wall." There was relief, however, among those evacuated from Hubei province, home to about 60 million people and under virtual lockdown. "I was extremely worried that I was stuck there," said Takeo Aoyama, who arrived in Tokyo on a chartered plane carrying 206 Japanese out of Wuhan, with more flights planned. Two of the Japanese evacuated had symptoms of pneumonia, but coronavirus had not been confirmed, medics said. The virus is weighing heavily on the world's second-biggest economy. Companies are curbing travel to China, and airlines are cutting flights, with British Airways one of the biggest names in aviation to do so. But in what could be a major step towards taming the disease, scientists in Australia said they had developed a lab-grown version of the coronavirus, the first to be recreated outside China. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said about 210 Americans had been flown out of Wuhan. Those on board the aircraft would be screened several times and evaluated on arrival in California, it said in a statement released via the U.S. embassy in Beijing. A U.S. government official told Reuters 50 diplomats and contractors were among the passengers. U.S. officials said the White House was weighing whether to suspend flights to China. It was holding daily meetings on the outbreak and monitoring China-U.S. flights as a likely source of infection, sources briefed on the matter said, though it had decided against suspending air traffic for the time being. The number of cases in China now exceeds its tally of 5,327 infected with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) coronavirus that killed about 800 people globally in 2002 and 2003. While some experts believe the new strain, known as "2019-nCoV", is not as deadly as SARS, alarm has grown over its rapid spread and many unknown attributes, such as how lethal it is. Like other respiratory infections, it is spread by droplets from coughs and sneezes, with an incubation time between one and 14 days. There are signs it may spread before symptoms show. About 60 cases, but no deaths, have been reported in 15 other countries, including the United States, France and Singapore. Press Release January 29, 2020 Department of Disaster Resilience will help remedy 'lengthy' calamity fund release process, says Bong Go Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go said on Wednesday, January 29, that the current 'lengthy' process to download calamity funds will be remedied with the creation of a Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR) as the senator continues pushing for the passage of a bill which seeks to form the said executive department. During a Senate Joint Committee Hearing of the National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation; Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation; Ways and Means; and Finance Committees, Go bemoaned the long process the government has to go through just to download funds for its disaster preparation, management and mitigation efforts. "Ang tagal po ng proseso ng pag-download natin ng pera. Ang haba-haba ng calamity fund process flow. Baka mamaya, ilang linggo pa bago ma-release 'yung pondo. Kailangan meron talaga tayong in charge. Handa dapat tayo," he said. Go added that the government should not be afraid of enhancing the bureaucracy or changing it for the better to streamline the delivery of government services in preparation for and in response to disasters. "Bawat oras na hindi natin inaayos ang ating mga batas at ang ating burukrasya, inilalapit natin sa kapahamakan ang ating mga kababayan. I appeal to my colleagues, let us not be afraid of change," Go said. "There is nothing wrong with changing how our bureaucracy works if the goal is to make the delivery of government services more efficient, more effective, and more responsive to the needs of the Filipino people," Go added. Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Acting Secretary Wendel E. Avisado concurred with the senator, saying that the creation of DDR will pave the way for a much easier and faster flow of calamity funds. "We are in agreement on the need to improve the government's ability to respond to calamities," Avisado said. "We want to ensure our people don't get angry, especially when they say ang DBM kase hindi ni-release ang pera. Paano namin ire-release, ang haba ng process flow. Eh kung isang department lang, nasa GAA 'yan comprehensive ang release n'yan. Whether we like it or not, antimano nasa department 'yan (pondo)," the DBM secretary added. Go filed in July last year Senate Bill (SB) No. 205 or the "Department of Disaster Resilience Act of 2019" which proposes for the creation of DDR, "an empowered, highly specialized department with clear unity of command and primarily responsible in ensuring safe, adaptive and disaster-resilient communities." The bill seeks to establish a clear system of responsibility for disaster preparedness and response in all levels of the government, given the increasing number and devastation brought about by various disasters. The senator, in his statement during the hearing, also detailed the destructive effects recent natural disasters have inflicted on the country. "All of us must be aware of the ongoing havoc caused by the recent eruption of the Taal Volcano in Batangas. Billions of pesos worth of losses have been incurred, and the lives, health, and well-being of at least 270,000 Filipinos have been put in peril," Go said. "And what makes the situation worse for the national government is that the eruption came on the heels of a series of strong earthquakes in the southern parts of Mindanao and of two typhoons that hit parts of the Visayas and Luzon," he added. While Go acknowledged that natural disasters "are beyond the control of man", he said that there are so much the government can do to mitigate their negative effects. "Unfortunately, our existing laws do not provide us the best mechanism to do this," he said. Go cited that lack of unity in command and direction and a central authority to oversee the efforts as the main concerns that must be addressed through legislation. "This measure seeks to address these concerns. Sa pamamagitan ng DDR, magkakaroon tayo ng cabinet secretary - isang point person na iisa lamang ang focus ng trabaho - with a clear mandate and that is to handle all the concerns related to disaster preparedness, mitigation, rehabilitation and disaster resilience," he said. "Iisa na lamang ang magiging boses ng pamahalaan. Wala ng turuan, wala ng sisihan," he added. Currently, NDRRMC is chaired by the Secretary of the Department of National Defense and its executive director is the administrator of the Office of Civil Defense. "Masyado na pong maraming ginagawa ang ating DND Secretary at ang iba pang miyembro ng gabinete na kasama sa NDRRMC. Sa oras ng sakuna, madalas ay iba-iba ang pananaw ng mga ahensiya ng gobyernong nakapaloob sa NDRRMC dahil iba-iba rin ang kanilang mandato. Walang iisang focus. Walang iisang layunin," Go said. "Sa halip na mabigyan ng pag-asa ang mga taong nasalanta, lalo pang dumadagdag ang pahirap sa kanila dahil hindi nila alam kung sino ang dapat lapitan. Pati po ang Pangulo, nahihirapan rin dahil sa kawalan ng sole authority na dapat gumanap ng tungkulin para i-address ang problemang idinudulot ng madalas na sakuna sa ating bansa," he said. Go also stressed the need to having a point person with a rank of cabinet secretary in charge of disaster preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery. He cited the difficulty being encountered by the current structure where in departments and agencies encounter problems in coordination in the absence of a sole authority in charge. "Sa totoo lang po, 'yun talaga ang gobyerno ngayon. Kailangan talaga mayroong in-charge para maiwan (at tumutok) dito, para mas handa tayo," he said. Ending his statement, Go reiterated that a more proactive approach to disaster management is needed to mitigate the impact of natural disasters and calamities. "Hindi natin dapat hintayin pa na magkaroon pa ng isa pang sakuna. Matuto na tayo. We must do it now. Hindi dapat ad hoc ang pag-iisip natin pagdating sa kalamidad na kung kailan lang magkaroon ng sakuna saka pa lang tayo aaksyon. Ilang beses na ito nangyari sa ating bansa. Dapat, proactive tayo," he said. According to Go, more than structural change in the bureaucracy, the measure is also pushing for a more proactive mindset and approach. He added, "Kung handa ang gobyerno, magiging mas handa ang Pilipino." The Senator, therefore, called on his fellow lawmakers to support the creation of the DDR and "give the people what they need." "Ito ang rason kung bakit po ako nananawagan sa aking mga kasamahan, let us give the people what they need. Sama-sama nating isulong ang pagbuo ng Department of Disaster Resilience," he ended. - The project involves construction of accommodation facility for cancer patients - It entails construction of a three-floored building with capacity of 140 patients - Simba cement maker said it would support its construction as part of CSR Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) has received a major boost towards the construction of a cancer centre after cement maker Devki Group donated KSh 100 million. The group chairperson Narendra Raval said on Tuesday, January, 28, the company would support the national referral as part of its corporate social responsibility. READ ALSO: Babu Owino pays first installment of KSh 2.5M, finally leaves remand prison A artistic impression of the cancer treatment centre. Cement maker Devki Group donated KSh 100 million towards it construction. Photo: Kenyatta National Hospital. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Mtangazaji Victoria Rubadiri asherehekea miaka 34 tangu kuzaliwa kwake The hospital announced in July 2019 that it would put up a three -floored building with capacity of 140 patients, a day respite area, a cancer resource centre, a restaurant and other support services. As a result, the KNH made a public appeal for financial help from well-wishers to finance the KSh 300 million mega project. Devki Group boss Narendra Raval speaking during official launch of Simba cement factory in Nakuru. Photo: State House Kenya. Source: Facebook "It is in this regard that KNH is calling upon all people of goodwill to own and support this project by contributing via M-Pesa Paybill No- 474444, KNH Hope Hostel. A little will go a long way. Let us come together and give hope a home in Kenya," the health facility said. A study conducted in 2019 showed many patients from other regions faced accommodation challenges while seeking treatment at the KNH. "The survey data indicated that 29% of patients missed or delayed treatment and indicated that the main barriers to treatment were accommodation while in Nairobi and transport to and from the hospital," the hospital said previously. 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. Behind the scenes in babu Owino's Day in court | Tuko TV. Source: TUKO.co.ke In its efforts to promote Gujarat as an hub, its Department of organised a roadshow called -- Study in Gujarat -- here on Wednesday. "The state under the guidance of Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has undertaken an initiative to promote Gujarat as an hub of India," said Ganpatsinh Vasava, Forests and Tribal Welfare Department Minister. The 'Study in Gujarat' campaign has been initiated by the state government with the objective of inviting students from other states and abroad to the state. The roadshow was organised in collaboration with Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, which was the lead partner for the event. Sixteen universities from Gujarat participated in the roadshow and interacted with university representatives from Hyderabad. Earlier, the Department of Education organised 'Study in Gujarat' roadshows in Kuwait and Dubai this month to attract more students from foreign countries to the state. Similar roadshows have also been held in Guwahati, Lucknow, Patna, Ranchi, and Indore. The Gujarat government is also slated to host such roadshows in cities including Raipur and Nasik this month. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 13 people were killed early Tuesday when a cargo truck collided head on into a minibus on a highway in Bolivia's La Paz department, Trend reports citing Xinhua. The accident occurred along the highway linking La Paz and Carabuco in the west, the head of the local transit William Cordero told reporters. "We have registered 13 deaths. The other three injured are in a very delicate condition," said Cordero. "The accident happened around 9:30 a.m. (1330 GMT) in the Quilima district, located 20 minutes from Carabuco." Preliminary police report said the driver of the cargo truck fled the scene of the accident. Police said reduced visibility might have caused the crash. A New Jersey man who smuggled more than 1,000 box turtles from Oklahoma to his home state has been ordered to pay $350,00 in penalties. A federal judge sitting in Tulsa on Tuesday ordered William T. Gangemi to pay a $100,000 fine and $250,000 in restitution, according to a court document. Gangemi will also be on probation for two years. Gangemi, 27, of Freehold, was part of a syndicate of wildlife smugglers where protected turtles were exchanged between the United States and China in 2017 and 2018, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma said. Federal officials said in October that Gangemis crime violated the federal Lacey Act, which prohibits the purchase or sale of illegally gathered wildlife with a market value of more than $350. Oklahomans respect and value wildlife, and we dont appreciate those who would seek to exploit our vulnerable wildlife populations for their corrupt greed," the U.S Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma Trent Shores said following Gangemis conviction in the fall. Gangemi also previously pleaded guilty to additional federal charges for trafficking wildlife in South Carolina and New Jersey, according to officials. A 2016 scheme included hiding about $410,000 in rare or endangered turtles in candy wrappers or socks and shipping them overseas, involving dealers in Hong Kong, the Carolinas and New York. Three others - all with South Carolina ties - previously pleaded guilty and were sentenced to varying prison sentences with the longest being slightly more than a year. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. On Monday, 350 Amazon employees issued public statements on Medium in their own names. The authors were deliberately violating a company ban that forbids employees from commenting publicly on the company's business without obtaining prior permission. Some of the statements criticized Amazon's actions thus far on climate change, calling them insufficient. Some did not comment on climate change, but criticized the no-public-statements policy itself. Some even complimented Amazon, encouraging it to continue its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint -- but that didn't matter, since any kind of public statement violated the policy. All the statements came with the same implicit challenge: "Fire us -- all 350 of us -- if you dare." These statements are not the first time Amazon employees have made their voices heard on the subject of climate change. About 1,700 of them joined a widespread walkout by tech employees last fall, and six months before that, 4,520 of them sent an open letter to Jeff Bezos demanding that the company take climate change seriously after media reports that Amazon was aggressively pursuing oil and gas customers for Amazon Web Services. Amazon had this no-public-statements policy in place for years, although it was not routinely enforced against activist employees. But two weeks before the September walkout, as employees were sending around emails to organize their participation, Amazon updated its policy, streamlining the process for requesting permission to issue public statements and requiring a "business justification" for such requests. Then, in November, at least two employees who had been quoted in a Washington Post story received emails from Amazon's legal team reminding them of the policy and warning that further violations could result in disciplinary actions, including termination. (It seems a mind-bending irony that a company owned by Jeff Bezos would fire employees for talking to another company owned by Jeff Bezos.) One employee, Maren Costa, told the Post that she'd also been called into a meeting with human resources about the matter, which she called "scary." Rather than being cowed, Costa went back to Washington Post reporter Jay Greene and showed him the email. And then the employees took the next logical step of organizing this week's joint statement, inviting other Amazonians to send in their own comments and promising that nothing would be made public until at least 100 employees had done so. An Amazon spokesperson told Inc.com, "While all employees are welcome to engage constructively with any of the many teams inside Amazon that work on sustainability and other topics, we do enforce our external communications policy and will not allow employees to publicly disparage or misrepresent the company or the hard work of their colleagues who are developing solutions to these hard problems." Asked what form, if any, such enforcement will take in the case of the 350 employees who made this week's public statements, the spokesperson said that the company will not comment on individual personnel matters. Honestly, it probably doesn't have to. The moment any of these employees are fired, they're likely to make it known through their Twitter account and the press. Amazon faces unpleasant choices. It's hard to keep from thinking that Amazon has painted itself into a corner here. If it does nothing, it will be seen as backing down, and its policies may not be taken seriously. If it fires some or all of the employees who wrote the Medium post, it risks an exponentially larger amount of the negative publicity Google got after it fired two activist employees late last year, even though Google said the firings were because the employees had violated policies about accessing and sharing internal documents, and not because of activism. Besides, in today's tight labor market, Amazon probably doesn't want to fire these employees. It seems likely that those who'd be most willing to put their names to the public statements are those who know they'll easily find work elsewhere, either because they have hard-to-find skills or because they're really good at what they do. If Amazon takes disciplinary action without firing them, it risks having them leave anyway. And, of course, once they're out of the company, they can say whatever they want with little fear of further repercussions. Amazon noted in a comment to the Post that many other companies have similar policies, and of course that's very true. Google's over-the-top confidentiality policy makes Amazon's look generous. It forbids employees from discussing their work with anyone outside of Google, even their spouses. It even bars employees from publishing a novel about "someone working at a tech company in Silicon Valley," unless that novel has been reviewed and approved by Google's lawyers. The only problem with all this is that it might very well be illegal under both federal and California law, which guarantee employees the right to discuss their working conditions with each other. Google has been sued by at least one employee because of this policy. It's time to ask: Is it really worth it? Companies like Amazon and Google are known for hiring the best and brightest, and the best and brightest are unlikely to be intimidated by overreaching confidentiality policies. In a booming economy with historically low unemployment and stiff competition for tech talent, even the threat of losing their jobs probably won't scare them very much. London, Jan 29 : US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has left for Britain for talks amid American concern over UK's decision to allow Chinese tech giant Huawei to have a role in the country's 5G network, it was reported on Wednesday. In a statement on Tuesday, the US State Department said Pompeo's visit was an opportunity to "reaffirm the special relationship following the UK's departure from the EU and discuss ways to broaden and deepen trade ties", the BBC said in a report. During his visit, Pompeo is slated to also meet Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The visit comes after the UK's National Security Council's decision on Huawei on Tuesday which was taken despite the US warning Britain that giving the firm a role in 5G could allow the Chinese government a "back door" into the telecoms network through which they could carry out espionage or cyber attacks. But the UK said the firm will be barred from sensitive locations, such as nuclear sites and military bases and its share of the market will be capped at 35 per cent. Following the announcement, Johnson spoke to US President Donald Trump to explain the decision and try to allay Washington's concerns. A Trump administration official said the US was "disappointed" with the decision. Pompeo had previously urged the UK to prioritise its own and its allies security interests when dealing with Huawei during his last visit to Britain in May 2019. The UK's decision also faced a criticism from some senior Conservative MPs. Tom Tugendhat, former chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, tweeted that the government's "statement leaves many concerns and does not close the UK's networks to a frequently malign international actor". But Defence Secretary Ben Wallace downplayed such concerns, telling the BBC that the UK should not be "paranoid" that the decision would lead to "Big Brother from China watching us". Mumbai, Jan 29 : The Mumbai Police have refused permission to the annual Queer Azadi Mumbai Pride 2020 scheduled for February 1 on grounds that they may carry anti-government and CAA/NRC/NPR placards, an activist said here on Wednesday. The organisers have been informed in writing that the clearance is not given as they have information that placards and slogans criticising the government and the CAA/NRC/NPR may be raised at the event. The letter from the Gamdevi police station's Senior Inspector Rajendra Mohite says prohibitory orders are in place in entire Greater Mumbai from January 23 to February 6, banning assembly of five or more persons. The procession and subsequent rally was expected to be held at the historic August Kranti Maidan in which over 15,000 LGBTQIA community would join. Now, the organisers are planning to conduct the march to Azad Maidan, but the status of police permission for the new venue is not yet available, according to one of the organisers, Harish Iyer of the Humsafar Trust, Mumbai. "In view of the denial of permission, we are presently consulting amongst our various constituents on the next steps," Iyer told IANS. The first such procession was held in February 2019 to celebrate the Supreme Court verdict which decriminalized Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, said Iyer. Last year's event had attracted several Bollywood personalities, celebrities from different fields, foreigners and representatives of various NGOs and groups working for the LGBTQIA communities. A North Side mother of two said she and her husband told the children they couldnt put up Hanukkah decorations. The woman, who asked not to be identified because of her safety concerns, told the Tribune her family has a small Jewish scroll decoration on the front door, but the couple opted not to display a more prominent menorah and a decoration containing a Star of David. EMERYVILLE, Calif., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Berkeley Research Group (BRG) announced today that experts Michael A. Williams, Ph.D., and Wei Zhao, Ph.D., have joined the firm from Competition Economics, LLC. In conjunction with their arrival, a group of leading academics are affiliating with BRG, including chaired professors and former chief economists at the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). "This distinguished group of economists brings considerable strength to our firm," said BRG Chairman and Principal Executive Officer David J. Teece. "As we continue to attract top talent, this addition reinforces our reputation as the firm with great minds capable of working on high-stakes, unstructured problems." An Emeryville-based managing director, Dr. Williams specializes in analyses involving antitrust, industrial organization and regulation. He has provided testimony before more than 30 federal and state courts and public utility commissions. He has been retained as an economic consultant by the Antitrust Division of the DOJ, the FTC and the Canadian Competition Bureau. Dr. Zhao, a director also based in Emeryville, specializes in analyses involving antitrust, industrial organization, econometrics and damages. He has worked on price-fixing, merger and product-liability matters involving numerous industries, including IT, financial, automobile, telecommunication, retail chain, health, chemical, manufacturing, transportation, food and labor. "The addition of these outstanding economists further enhances BRG's ability to undertake the most complex engagements in both antitrust litigation and merger analysis, healthcare, IP, complex damages calculation, class certification, product liability and other matters requiring state-of-the-art economic analysis," said BRG President Tri MacDonald. "We are delighted to join BRG," said Dr. Williams. "The firm's organizational structure, business strategy and impressive performance make it a very attractive platform." BRG's new academic affiliates include: David S. Sibley, the John Michael Stuart Centennial Professor of Economics at the University of Texas at Austin. He previously served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Economic Analysis in the Antitrust Division of the DOJ, the highest-ranking economics position in the Antitrust Division. Professor Sibley has been retained as an expert in cases involving price fixing, class certification, monopolization, patent misuse and mergers for government and private clients. In 2012, he advised the DOJ in its investigation of AT&T's proposed acquisition of T-Mobile. He also supervised the FCC staff in its 2018/2019 analysis of a current telecommunications merger. His antitrust research includes papers on vertical and horizontal mergers, spectrum purchases and vertical restrictions. Luke M. Froeb, the William C. and Margaret M. Oehmig Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise at Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management. His merger models are used by competition agencies around the world. He has served as chief economist of both the Antitrust Division of the DOJ and the FTC. Previously, he was a staff economist at the DOJ, and taught econometrics at Tulane University. Simon J. Wilkie, Dean of the Faculty of Business & Economics and head at Monash Business School. Professor Wilkie is a former Chief Economist at the FCC. His research has particularly focused on game theory, its application to business strategy, economic and regulatory policy design and the economics of the communications industries. R. Lawrence Van Horn, Professor of health care management and faculty director of the Health Care Program at the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University. He is a leading expert and researcher on healthcare management and economics. Kenneth Hendricks, the Christensen Chair of Economics at University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is an associate editor of the American Economic Journal: Microeconomics and is on the editorial board of the Journal of Economic Literature. He is a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research and a Fellow of the Econometric Society. His primary field of research is industrial organization. Philip J. Reny, the Hugo F. Sonnenschein Distinguished Service Professor in Economics at the University of Chicago. Professor Reny is a Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a Fellow of the Econometric Society. His primary research is in game theory and auctions. He is the author of numerous articles on these topics, which have been published in leading economics journals, and he is coauthor of the book Advanced Microeconomic Theory. Mikhael Shor, Associate Professor of economics at the University of Connecticut. He specializes in the study of behavioral game theory and its applications to firm-level decision making. Guofu Tan, Professor of economics at the University of Southern California. His economic research in the fields of industrial organization, antitrust economics, auction theory, anti-monopoly law and the Chinese economy has been widely published. Previously, Professor Tan held the T.D. MacDonald Chair in Industrial Economics at the Canadian Competition Bureau. As a consultant, he has provided advice to public- and private-sector clients with respect to competition and regulatory matters in numerous industries. Steven Tschantz, Associate Professor of mathematics at Vanderbilt University, where he has taught since 1984. Along with Professor Froeb, Professor Tschantz has developed many of the merger models used by competition agencies around the world. Among his classes at Vanderbilt, he teaches mathematical modeling in economics. In addition, Michael J. Doane, a founder of Competition Economics, will be an affiliate at BRG. He has over 35 years of experience conducting economic research in the areas of antitrust, regulation and complex business litigation. He served as a consultant to the DOJ in the Microsoft antitrust case and has participated in some of the largest merger investigations in U.S. history, including those involving oil and gas, computer software, hospitals and telecommunications. About BRG Berkeley Research Group, LLC (BRG) is a global consulting firm that helps leading organizations advance in three key areas: disputes and investigations, corporate finance, and strategy and operations. Headquartered in California with offices around the world, we are an integrated group of experts, industry leaders, academics, data scientists and professionals working beyond borders and disciplines. We harness our collective expertise to deliver the inspired insights and practical strategies our clients need to stay ahead of what's next. Visit thinkbrg.com to learn more. SOURCE Berkeley Research Group, LLC Related Links https://www.thinkbrg.com The Coronavirus or the 2019-nCoV infection currently spreading through China and beyond has proven to be deadly with a staggering 4,559 confirmed cases and 106 people declared dead. The government has quarantined 50 million people in central China and the lockdown has expanded to 17 cities. Reuters According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the reported illnesses have ranged from infected people with little to no symptoms to people being severely ill and dying. Symptoms can include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. While people in China and across the world are bracing themselves with masks and plastic suits to not contract the infection, there are some who don't seem to care too much and it's the older generation in China. In the digital world, it's the Chinese millennials who are expressing panic and frustration over their parents taking the outbreak too lightly. INSIDE #CHINA: People entrench themselves and lock the door for fear of being infected with the deadly #coronavirus by other citizens. Trust in the state is different.#CoronavirusOutbreak #WuhanCoronavirus pic.twitter.com/RKHHSRIsFq ISCResearch (@ISCResearch) January 29, 2020 According to Netizens on Chinese social media website Weibo, many from the older generation get their information from mainstream media, which is often flawed and fabricated. In fact, according to some Weibo users, some parents are saying that the whole situation has just been blown out of proportion. Some children literally locked their parents at home. I cant persuade them to wear face masks anymore. In order to convince my mum not to leave the house, I wracked my brains and this is all Ive got. Bicycle locks are useful, shared one Weibo user. Twitter Several other netizens also revealed that they had called the cops. According to the Sichuan Observer, a local woman called the cops on her parents after they went out to a teahouse to gamble. Another user shared just how difficult it was to reason with their 'stubborn adults' writing, 'I didnt allow my dad to go out to play cards, and now he is angry and locked himself in his room, not eating or drinking for almost a day. It's very difficult.' Reuters Amid parents who refuse to accept the spread of Coronavirus, there are young people on Chinese social media doing their best to spread precautionary measures and urging people to stay home. According to reports, no one outside China has died, but both Germany and Japan on Tuesday confirmed cases of human-to-human transmission of the disease. Health authorities and scientists say the same precautions against other viral illnesses can be used: wash your hands frequently, cover up your coughs, try not to touch your face. A majority of questions addressed to the Union home ministry for its response during Parliaments upcoming budget session relate to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), the National Population Register (NPR), a pan-India National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the crackdown on student protesters in Delhi, according to a list of the queries seen by HT. Ministers of state for home G Kishan Reddy and Nityanand Rai will respond to these queries on February 4 and 5, officials in the ministry said. Union home minister Amit Shah may also make a statement on the issues during the session that will begin on Friday. The passage of the CAA last month to fast-track the citizenship process for non-Muslims who entered India from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh before 2015 triggered protests across the country. Opponents of the law 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 the proposed pan-India NRC. A process to identify undocumented immigrants in Assam led to the exclusion of around 2 million people from the NRC last year. The ministry and the government have since clarified there are no immediate plans for a national NRC. The NPR is a comprehensive biometric database of all usual residents in India as opposed to the Census, which is a database of households. It has generated controversy with the Opposition parties contending the exercise is linked to the National Register for Indian Citizens aimed at identifying undocumented immigrants. The government has in the past described NPR as the first step towards a nationwide NRC. It now maintains that there is no link between the two. Out of 63 questions listed for the ministry in Parliaments upper House, Rajya Sabha, for February 5, 19 seek details on the countrywide anti-CAA protests, number of arrests related to them, data on illegal immigrants, and details of citizenship given to refugees including Muslims. They also seek to know the concerns of protestors, and information on cases referred to Foreigners Tribunals, detention of refugees, detention centres, modalities of NPR, documents required to prove citizenship, as well as the exclusion of people from the NRC in Assam last year. Seven queries are likely to be raised in the Upper House on the same day related to the attack on Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students on January 5 and the December 15 Delhi police action against Jamia Millia Islamia students. A mob of masked assailants attacked JNU students and left several students, including student leader Aishe Ghosh, injured. The Delhi police, which was accused of inaction, is yet to make any headway in its probe into the mob attack. A question listed to be asked in Rajya Sabha seeks details on police brutality on Jamia students and rules for entry of police into a university campus. The Delhi police entered the Jamia campus on December 15 and allegedly thrashed students protesting against the CAA. Similarly, out of 47 tentative questions listed for the ministry in Lok Sabha on February 4, 16 seek details on anti-CAA protests, and details of citizenship provided to refugees including Muslims. Srinagar, Jan 29 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Director General Yogesh Chander Modi on Wednesday reviewed the ongoing investigation into disgraced Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Davinder Singh's case at Jammu. The NIA DG arrived in Jammu on Tuesday. Davinder Singh was arrested with two Hizbul Mujahideen militants from a car on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway earlier this month. The case was initially investigated by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, and was later handed over to the NIA. According to the sources four others who have been arrested in the case so far, continue to be interrogated by the NIA in Jammu. NIA has taken a two-week remand of Singh. Initially, the NIA wanted to take him to Delhi for further questioning. According to sources, the NIA teams from Delhi and Jammu are currently questioning him in Jammu. On Tuesday, the NIA DG met Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Girish Chandra Murmu at the Raj Bhavan here and discussed issues relating to the internal security in the Union Territory. The Lt Governor advised close surveillance on all fronts to meet the security challenges for ensuring safety and security of the people. As a precautionary measure in the backdrop of Coronavirus outbreak in China, a special ward was set up at the Government Rajaji Hospital here on Wednesday, authorities said. The ward will have eight beds while two lung specialists, two PG students and general physicians would be part of a team that would be in-charge of it. The ward has been set up as a precautionary measure at the hospital, they said. Thermal screening of passengers arriving from China is being carried out at various airports across the country as part of precautionary measures and hundreds of people remain under observation in many states though there was no detection of novel coronavirus case. So far in Tamil Nadu, eight people have been advised against mingling with public for 28 days after they arrived from China at the Coimbatore airport. However, none of them showed any symptoms of the virus that has so far claimed 132 lives in China. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Autism can bestow brilliance as well as cognitive difficulty, but how either scenario plays out in the brain is not clear. Now a study by University of Toronto researchers has found that a tiny gene fragment impacts the brain in a way that could explain swathes of autism cases that come with mental disability. Researchers led by Benjamin Blencowe, a professor of molecular genetics in the Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, and Sabine Cordes, a senior investigator at Sinai Health System's Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute (LTRI), have identified a short gene segment that is crucial for brain development and information processing. Writing in the journal Molecular Cell, the researchers describe how an absence of this segment is sufficient to induce altered social behaviour--a hallmark of autism--in mice, as well as learning and memory deficits, which are seen in a subset of autism cases. Best known for difficulties in social interaction and communication, autism is thought to arise from mishaps in brain wiring during development. It can strike in various ways--those who suffer from it can have superior mental ability or need full time care. Where on the autism spectrum a person falls depends in large part on their genetics, but most cases are idiopathic, or of unknown genetic origin. "It's very important to understand the mechanisms that underlie autism, especially in idiopathic forms where it is not clear what the underlying causes are," says Thomas Gonatopoulos-Pournatzis, a research associate in Blencowe's lab and lead author of the study. "Not only have we identified a new mechanism that contributes to this disorder, but our work may also offer a more rational development of therapeutic strategies." Blencowe's team had previously uncovered a link between autism and short gene segments, known as microexons, that are predominantly expressed in the brain. Through a process known as alternative splicing, microexons are either spliced in or left out from the final gene transcript before it is translated into a protein. Although small, microexons can have dramatic effects by impacting a protein's ability to bind its partners as required during brain development. However, how individual microexons contribute to autism is not clear. The team focused on a specific microexon located in a gene known as eIF4G, which is critical for protein synthesis in the cell. They found that this microexon is overwhelmingly excluded from eIF4G gene transcripts in the brains of autistic individuals. To test if the eIF4G microexon is important for brain function, Gonatopoulos-Pournatzis together with Cordes' team bred mice that lack it. These mice showed social behaviour deficits, such as avoiding social interaction with other mice, establishing a link between the eIFG4 microexon and autistic-like behaviours. A surprise came when the researchers found that these mice also performed poorly in a learning and memory test, which measures the animals' ability to associate an environment with a stimulus. "We could not have imagined that a single microexon would have such an important impact not only on social behaviour but also on learning and memory," says Gonatopoulos-Pournatzis. Further analysis revealed that the microexon encodes a part of eIF4G that allows it to associate with the Fragile X mental retardation protein, or FMRP, which is missing from people affected with Fragile X syndrome, a type of intellectual disability. About a third of individuals with Fragile X have features of autism but the link between the two remained unclear--until now. eIF4G and FMRP associate in a complex that acts as a brake to hold off protein synthesis until new experience comes along, as the break is removed by neural activity, the researchers also found. "It's important to control brain responses to experience," says Gonatopoulos-Pournatzis. "This brake in protein synthesis is removed upon experience and we think it allows formation of new memories." Without the microexon, however, this brake is weakened and what follows is increased protein production. The newly made proteins, identified in experiments performed with Anne-Claude Gingras, Senior Investigator at LTRI, form ion channels, receptors and other signaling molecules needed to build synapses and for them to function properly. But, making too many of these proteins is not a good thing because this leads to the disruption of the type of brain waves involved in synaptic plasticity and memory formation, as revealed by electrode recordings of mouse brain slices, in experiments performed with the teams of Graham Collingridge, Senior Investigator at LTRI, and Melanie Woodin, a professor of cell and systems biology at U of T. Moreover, an excess of similar kinds of proteins occurs in the absence of FMRP, suggesting a common molecular mechanism for Fragile X and idiopathic autism. Researchers believe that their findings could help explain a substantial proportion of autism cases for which no other genetic clues are known. The findings also open the door to the development of new therapeutic approaches. One possibility is to increase the splicing of the eIF4G microexon in affected individuals using small molecules as a way to improve their social and cognitive deficits, Blencowe said. ### The study would not have been possible without a close collaboration among multiple teams contributing diverse expertise. Blencowe and Gonatopoulos-Pournatzis also worked closely with Julie Forman-Kay, a professor of biochemistry and Program Head and Senior Scientist in the Molecular Medicine Program at the Hospital for Sick Children, and Nahum Sonenberg, a professor of biochemistry at McGill University. Ethan, who lives with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), will share his story alongside current 2019-2020 National Ambassador Tana Zwart, a 35-year-old South Dakota resident who lives with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). As an MDA National Ambassador, Ethan and his family will participate in MDA events across the US, raising awareness of the need for critical funding to support innovative research and care for more than 250,000 individuals in the United States living with neuromuscular diseases. Ethan has gained independence and confidence to assume this role from his community of friends and family and from his time at MDA Summer Camp, which he will attend again this summer. "Being an MDA National Ambassador is great because I want people to know that while all kids and adults with these diseases have a harder time doing things in general, especially traveling on airplanes, at the end of the day, we are no different than all other people, and we want to live life to its fullest," Ethan said. Ethan, a fifth grader from Decatur, Alabama, was diagnosed with DMD in June 2011, two days before his second birthday. He went through a series of tests to see why he was not gaining weight, a challenging diagnostic odyssey which finally led to the diagnosis. He is still ambulatory but tires easily and periodically uses his power chair, which he calls "Bumblebee" for his favorite Transformer, as in Paramount Pictures film "Bumblebee." Jordan, Ethan's mother, is a high school counselor and Josh, Ethan's father, is a special education high school teacher. Ethan has a supportive younger sister, Chloe. "We are thrilled to take on this role as a family to support Ethan as MDA's National Ambassador," said parents Jordan and Josh. "We have been part of the MDA family since the diagnosis nine years ago. Being a part of the MDA community connects us to the MDA Care Center at Children's of Alabama and MDA Summer Camp at Camp ASCCA. Getting involved in fundraising for research is part of who we are as a family." Ethan and his parents are committed to helping MDA connect children to care by promoting early detection of neuromuscular diseases, including DMD, through newborn screening. Newborn screening allows infants with certain serious, treatable conditions to access innovative care and therapies right away by eliminating the diagnostic odyssey. For 70 years, MDA has worked with more than 40 national ambassadors who have shared their stories to raise awareness for the urgent need to fund research for treatments and ultimately cures for neuromuscular diseases. They have traveled the nation to meet with partners, volunteers, supporters and luminaries including US presidents, and have made national television appearances. Today, MDA Ambassadors continue to play an essential role in motivating millions to help MDA through donations, advocacy or volunteer action. Former ambassadors have grown up to achieve distinction, transitioning into adulthood while earning advanced degrees and making their marks as authors, educators, bloggers, musicians, artists and successful business professionals. Their unique voices advocate with great passion and intelligence to raise standards of accessibility in travel and in gaining treatments, for early intervention through newborn screening, for research and care for all members of the MDA family, and for the community of people living with disabilities in general. "We are honored to welcome Ethan as our newest MDA National Ambassador and are grateful to have him and his family share their incredible story of action with the public," said Scott Wiebe, MDA Training & Community Relations Manager. "Ethan is a true advocate and has committed himself with his family to finding ways to create a movement to fund research and care for our community. We are thankful for all of our local and national MDA Ambassadors past and present, as they play an integral role in furthering MDA's mission of transforming the lives of people living with neuromuscular diseases," Scott continued. About the Muscular Dystrophy Association The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) is committed to transforming the lives of people affected by muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related neuromuscular diseases. We do this through innovations in science and innovations in care. As the largest source of funding for neuromuscular disease research outside of the federal government, MDA has committed more than $1 billion since our inception to accelerate the discovery of therapies and cures. Research we have supported is directly linked to life-changing therapies across multiple neuromuscular diseases. MDA's MOVR is the first and only data hub that aggregates clinical, genetic and patient-reported data for multiple neuromuscular diseases to improve health outcomes and accelerate drug development. MDA supports the largest network of multidisciplinary clinics providing best-in-class care at more than 150 of the nation's top medical institutions. Our Resource Center serves the community with one-on-one specialized support, and we offer educational conferences, events and materials for families and health care providers. Each year thousands of children and young adults learn vital life skills and gain independence at MDA Summer Camp and through recreational programs, at no cost to families. For more information, visit mda.org. SOURCE Muscular Dystrophy Association Related Links https://www.mda.org Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is slated to give her second State of the State address Wednesday evening in Lansing, where she will lay out her priorities for the upcoming year. Starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, members of the legislature and their guests in the Michigan House chamber will get a first look at what Whitmer wants to accomplish in 2020. Observers should expect to hear about Whitmers new direction on coming up with more road funding. After clashes with the Republican-led legislature over her proposed 45-cent gas tax last year, Whitmer suggested her current priority is to triage Michigan roads in comments to reporters earlier this month. How to tune in: The state of Michigan will have a livestream available on the governors official website, and several media outlets will also host livestreams, including ClickOnDetroit and WKAR. MLive will be posting periodic updates and analysis of the address, so keep checking back to get the rundown. Follow MLive reporters Lauren Gibbons and Emily Lawler on Twitter for live updates as well. For television viewers, the Michigan Association of Broadcasters is providing a pool feed to channels across the state. Michigan Public Radio Network affiliates will also be broadcasting the address starting at 7 p.m. By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Prince Harry has spoken of his sadness at being forced to give up his royal duties in a deal with Queen Elizabeth and senior Windsors, saying there was no other option if he his wife Meghan were to seek an independent future. Buckingham Palace and the queen announced on Saturday that Harry and Meghan would no longer be working members of Britains monarchy, no longer use their "Royal Highness" titles and would now pay their own way in life, freeing them to forge what they call a "progressive new role". The new arrangement was struck to end a crisis the couple sparked by announcing earlier this month they wanted to cut down on official engagements and spend more time in Canada and the United States, while remaining active royals. In a speech to the Sentebale charity on Sunday, a clearly upset Harry said the final outcome was not what he and his American wife, a former actress, had wanted. "Our hope was to continue serving the queen, the Commonwealth and my military associations without public funding. Sadly that wasn't possible," the prince, the sixth-in-line to the throne, said. "I've accepted this knowing it doesn't change who I am, or how committed I am. But I hope that helps you understand what it had come to, that I would step back from all I have ever known to take a step forward into what I hope can be a more peaceful life." Under the arrangement, Harry will remain a prince and the couple will keep their titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex as they begin a new life split between Britain and North America, where they will spend the majority of their time. But they will not take part in any future ceremonial events or royal tours. Royal commentators said it amounted to an "abdication" from the "firm" - as the royals are known - and showed that, beneath the warm words in which she said Harry and Meghan were much loved, the queen had taken a decisive line by insisting on a clean break. Story continues "NO OPTION" "It brings me great sadness that it has come to this," said Harry. He said the decision to step back had followed months of talks and had not been a decision he had come to lightly. They were not walking away, he explained. "As far as this goes, there really was no other option." He told the audience at the charity he co-founded to help children with HIV in Africa that he wanted them to hear the truth from him "not as a prince, or a duke, but as Harry, the same person that many of you have watched grow up over the last 35 years but with a clearer perspective". "The UK is my home and a place that I love. That will never change," he said. The couple's plans for independence, announced after a long break over the Christmas period in Canada, caught the rest of the royal family by surprise and left the queen and other senior members hurt and disappointed, according to royal sources. However, in a TV interview aired in October, both had made it clear how they were struggling with the immense media attention. The couple had also started legal action against a newspaper for printing a letter she sent to her estranged father, Thomas Markle. Harry said he felt his wife had faced "bullying" from some tabloids similar to that faced by his mother Princess Diana who died in a car crash while trying to escape paparazzi photographers. "When I lost my mum 23 years ago, you took me under your wing. You've looked out for me for so long but the media is a powerful force and my hope is one day our collective support for each other can be more powerful because this is so much bigger than just us," he said. Buckingham Palace have said the couple would no longer receive public money and that they would repay the cost of refurbishing their cottage in Windsor, which official figures show amounted to 2.4 million pounds . But certain details, such as their future security arrangements or whether the couple could continue to use the "Sussex Royal" title for their website and branding, have either not been finalised or publicly revealed. Meghan is currently in Canada with their baby son Archie and Harry is expected to join her soon. The royal crisis, which has dominated the British news agenda for almost two weeks, overshadowing Brexit and tensions over Iran, exposed a deep rift among the Windsors and poses questions about its role in the modern world. The Sun newspaper said Harry and his elder brother William, with whom he acknowledged he had fallen out, had ended their feud but he remained at loggerheads with his father Prince Charles, the heir-to-the-throne. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he believed the whole of Britain would want to wish the couple the very best. However, Meghan's father was less generous, accusing them of damaging the monarchy. "They are destroying it, they are cheapening it, they're making it shabby," Markle told Britain's Channel 5. (Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Alison Williams) The deal constitutes an important political victory for Mr. Trump and his second trade win of the month. The president signed an initial trade pact with China at the White House just two weeks ago, giving him crucial talking points as he heads into his re-election campaign. While his deals with China and other countries like Japan and South Korea are smaller than traditional trade agreements, Mr. Trump will be able to claim that he has renegotiated trade terms with countries responsible for more than half of American trade. The president wasted little time in touting the new North American trade deal, calling it a colossal victory for farmers and factory workers and the largest, fairest, most balanced and modern trade agreement ever achieved. Mr. Trump has long derided the original NAFTA, and he frequently threatened to rip it up entirely if Canada, Mexico or congressional Democrats would not agree to his new rules. He came into office with an executive order drafted to begin the process of withdrawing from NAFTA and nearly signed it on several occasions. But more moderate advisers and business contacts repeatedly dissuaded the president from scrapping the deal. The 26-year-old agreement, which was negotiated by the George Bush administration and signed into law by President Bill Clinton, has since become a political target, derided for encouraging American companies to move factories and jobs to Mexico. Many economists have a more sanguine view of NAFTAs legacy, saying the deal provided a positive, if small, benefit to American wages and employment. It allowed industries to reorganize their supply chains around North America and take advantage of the differing resources and strengths of the three countries. The deal helped to more than triple Americas trade with Canada and Mexico. But the opening of borders has come at a cost. Some Americans, particularly those with less education, lost out as factories moved to Mexico, taking jobs with them. On Wednesday afternoon in Washington, DC, a little-known United States House of Representatives subcommittee is set to take a first consequential step that could throw the Trump administrations plan to land astronauts on the moon in 2024 and the aerospace companies that have been developing lunar landing systems into turmoil. The US House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics Chair, Representative Kendra Horn (a Democrat), told Al Jazeera that not only has the ranking member, Representative Brian Babin (a Republican and a strong supporter of the administration), cosponsored the bill with her, but that it is in direct response to repeated requests made by her subcommittee and others to NASA that have gone unanswered. We have yet to receive a detailed plan and cost estimates that show us a pathway from here to 2024. And those things are required, Horn told Al Jazeera. She asserted that the bill, HR 5666, or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2020, gives certainty and clarity to NASA and helps assure that there is a sustainable pathway, especially in the exploration section. It is responsible for taking care of our taxpayers investment. In its essence, the legislation scraps the administrations Artemis Program as it was unveiled in May and its key policy to buy commercially provided and maintained lunar landing services, as a foundation for a human Mars mission in the 2030s. In its place, the committee proposes focusing NASAs human exploration efforts on a simplified Mars mission that would necessarily rely heavily on a single contractor Boeing. Additionally, the bill would push any lunar landing back to 2028. China intends to send its citizens to the moon in 2025, with Russia promising to do the same by 2030. Industrial gnashing of teeth Reaction to the proposed bill has been swift. The bipartisan bills introduction has come weeks, possibly just days, before many expect NASA to announce partnerships with possibly three aerospace companies to develop a lunar human landing system (HLS). The coveted 10-month contracts should be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, with the potential of future deals being worth billions. SpaceX, the maker of this Dragon commercial cargo craft, has been one of the companies vying for contracts linked to NASAs lunar human landing system, which would help to return people to the surface of the moon [File: NASA handout via Reuters] Critics contend that the bills flags and footprints strategy, prioritising the sending of astronauts to Mars by 2033, effectively kneecaps a rapidly maturing US-based commercial space transportation industry. Eric Stallmer, president of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, wrote in a letter shared with Al Jazeera and sent to the House Committee on Science & Technology as well as the subcommittee on Monday, that the proposed legislation will set back Americas national space enterprise for decades, ceding ground to global competitors. He added, The House Science Committees bill explicitly and unfairly excludes the participation of the American commercial spaceflight industry, irrationally barring fair competition from NASAs deep space exploration initiatives. Stallmers analysis is based on a section of the bill, which if passed would direct NASA to forego engaging a variety of commercial space companies that have ambitions to provide lander transportation as a service. Instead, NASA would be required to outright own an HLS that is fully integrated with Boeings Orion space capsule and that companys Upper Stage-enhanced Space Launch System the rocket. The companies vying to participate and obviously cash in on the current HLS programme include new space entrants such as Elon Musks SpaceX, Jeff Bezos Blue Origin, Maxar, and Sierra Nevada Corp, as well as experienced hands like Boeing and Lockheed Martin. If this legislation goes forward, it is all but sure that the investment all those companies, save one, made in developing and submitting their proposals to NASA will be lost. NASAs view What makes the timing of this action on this bill even more of a zinger is the fact that representatives from the companies named above and more than 80 other commercial space transportation companies gathered on Wednesday in the US capital for the opening of their annual joint conference with the Federal Aviation Administration, and with NASAs Administrator Jim Bridenstine in attendance. NASA has come under pressure by the US Congress to submit its estimates for how much it would cost to land astronauts on the moon by 2024 [File: Carlos Jasso/Reuters] Bridenstine also wrote to Congress on Monday and said if commercial partners were barred from participating and therefore competing to produce the safest, most cost-effective space exploration technologies and transportation systems then our chances of creating a sustainable exploration program are significantly diminished. He took specific issue with the idea that NASA should own its lander system instead of paying for transport services. The current plan is for astronauts to fly on Boeings Orion spacecraft to a gateway, to be constructed near the moon, and then transfer to a service providers lunar lander. The approach established by the bill would inhibit our ability to develop a flexible architecture that takes advantage of the full array of national capabilities government and private sector to accomplish national goals, he said. The festering question of cost Calls for NASAs administrator to provide Congress with detailed plans and cost estimates to accomplish the goals he and the White House wish to accomplish are months old. Horn said the bill at once addresses national goals and provides for good governance. We cant do this by the seat of our pants, Horn told Al Jazeera. She said, We have to have [a detailed plan]. And the Congress has to have that sufficiently funded. Because if we dont know, even a ballpark idea of how much this is going to cost, how do we fund it? If we dont have a detailed plan of how to get from here to there, how do we assess it? In May 2019, the White House brought up the launch date to send Americans to the moon by four years, to 2024, and asked for an additional $1.6bn to cut down on the time needed to make that deadline. In December, Congress responded by allocating $22.6bn to NASA, but held back on fully funding the HLS programme, earmarking $600m when NASA had asked for $1bn. Separately, in October, Jose Serrano, a Democrat and chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, put NASA Administrator Bridenstine on notice during testimony, stating, To date, NASA has not provided the committee with a full cost estimate despite repeated requests. Bridenstine told the committee that NASA would provide those answers in February, which is still a few days away. About 43 Tunisians are currently held in prisons in Libya over membership in terrorist organizations charges, the director general of consular affairs has said. The foreign ministry official who was speaking Monday before the parliament over the government plan to protect Tunisian expats in Libya also indicated that the North African country is working to repatriate 36 children of Tunisian Islamic State fighters killed in the oil-rich country. Tunisia last week repatriated six children whose parents died in fighting with ISIS. The kids were in Misrata since 2016 following the seizure of Sirte from ISIS. There were 150 Tunisians in Libyan prisons in 2015. The North African country was then in a UN report rated the leading country in supply of foreign combatants for terror groups. Around 5,000 were reportedly identified in Libya, Syria and Iraq. President Donald Trump used a signing ceremony for a new North American trade agreement Wednesday to praise Republicans who have defended him during his impeachment trial and inviting half the sitting GOP senators who are hearing his case. With the full Senate meeting just hours later during a critical new phase of his impeachment trial, Trump made no effort to mask the power play he and his advisors orchestrated. As he read through the list of 27 individual GOP senators invited to attend the event, Trump observed: 'Maybe I'm just being nice to them because I want their vote.' President Donald Trump holds up the signed United States - Mexico -Canada Trade Agreement, known as USMCA, during a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, January 29, 2020. He read through a list of 27 invited Republicans amid impeachment He singled out Indiana Mike Braun for his defenses of the president, saying he has become 'a big fixture on television and has been doing a great job. Braun regularly has appeared with other Republicans to do interviews during trial breaks. Trump said Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas was 'dying to get back there and ask those questions' referencing the next impeachment trial phase. 'He's got some beauties, I bet. Thank you, Ted, you've been incredible.' Cruz has also been facing the cameras to defend Trump during impeachment. And he said new appointed Georgia senator Kelly Loeffler has been 'really great,' adding: 'They already like you a lot.' She torched Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah for saying he wants to hear from John Bolton in the trial. Trump on Twitter has waged a campaign to attack Bolton and argue against his appearance as a witness. Also there was Transportation secretary Elaine Chao, the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is spearheading Trump's defense and drafted the rules that put off a key Senate vote on allowing witnesses. Trump joked that he didn't need House members' votes House Republicans already voted against his impeachment on two articles. 'Hey Congressmen, I already got your vote, 196 to nothing. To hell with you,' he quipped. The article charging Abuse of Power passed 230 to 197, and the Obstruction of Congress article passed 229-198, with every House Republican opposed to each. After he ran through the list of Republican senators, Trump joked: 'The rest of you I don't have to bother with,' Trump said. 'You know the way it works in life, right Ivanka?' Trump said, mentioning his daughter,' he said. Trump made the comments in an outdoor ceremony at the White House to be attended by about 400 guests - but not the key Democrats who helped secure congressional passage of the deal. Trump signed a renegotiated trade pact between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada White House senior adviser Jared Kushner arrives with White House adviser and first daughter Ivanka Trump both attended the event Trump began the morning blasting former national security advisor John Bolton Also there was Transportation secretary Elaine Chao, the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Guests invited to the South Lawn signing include lawmakers from around the country, workers, farmers, and CEOs, as well as officials from Mexico and Canada, a White House official said. Not invited were House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal and other Democrats who negotiated for months to expand the pact's labor, environmental and enforcement provisions and ensure the approval of the Democratically-controlled House, said sources familiar with the situation. Neal also took part in the House Democratic impeachment inquiry and has led an effort to gain access to Trump tax return information. The event takes place in the middle of Trump's impeachment trial, amid signs that some of his fellow Republicans may allow the calling of witnesses like former national security adviser John Bolton. President Donald Trump displays, after signing, a new North American trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, during an event at the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, in Washington Trump's legal team on Tuesday sought to minimize the importance of an unpublished book manuscript by Bolton that describes Trump's central role in a pressure campaign aimed at getting Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden, a top contender for the Democratic nomination to face Trump in this year's election. Trump had made renegotiating the 26-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) a major campaign issue in 2016, and plans to tout its replacement at events in coming weeks as he campaigns for a second term in office. 'Along with members of Congress, state and local leaders, and workers from across the country, including farmers, ranchers, and entrepreneurs, President Trump will celebrate another promise made, promise kept to the American people when he signs the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA),' White House spokesman Judd Deere said. 'USMCA rebalances trade in North America, replaces the job-killing NAFTA, ends the outsourcing of American jobs, and invests in the American worker,' he said. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement must still be ratified by Canada before it can take effect. The U.S. Senate this month overwhelmingly approved the legislation, sending the measure to Trump for him to sign into law. The Mexican parliament has already approved the deal. Congressional aides said it could take several months before the trade accord is implemented, since the three countries must show they are meeting its obligations before the clock starts ticking on an effective date. The USMCA includes tougher rules on labor and automotive content but leaves $1.2 trillion in annual U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade flows largely unchanged. Last fall, Drew Dilkens, the mayor of Windsor, Ont., set out to make the city the first Canadian urban centre to connect to the Amazon Ring network, which the company calls the new neighbourhood watch. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion Last fall, Drew Dilkens, the mayor of Windsor, Ont., set out to make the city the first Canadian urban centre to connect to the Amazon Ring network, which the company calls "the new neighbourhood watch." Ring promises to keep more neighbourhoods safe, but will smart surveillance systems really make Canada safer? Only if the safety priority is our Amazon packages. Ring is a suite of "smart" home security devices from Amazon, based around video doorbells and an app called Neighbors. The system allows Ring customers to post and view footage from their front doors and report suspicious activity. Customers pay monthly fees to be part of the security network. They can also purchase connected indoor security systems, smart lighting and an integration with Amazons Alexa, a smart-home device. Framed as a way to crack down on "porch pirates" stealing packages from doorsteps, the Ring system not only makes money for Amazon, it conveniently saves the company from losses on stolen deliveries. Amazons "Key" feature even allows smart system users to grant remote keyless entry to their homes, garages or cars to Amazon delivery drivers, so no package need ever go astray. Amazons all-seeing eye of passwords, access and surveillance infiltrating into communities is not solely a corporate system; it is increasingly connected to civic power. At the annual CES (formerly Consumer Electronic Show) conference in 2020, Amazon announced that at least 400 police departments in the United States had partnered with Amazon Ring in the previous year. When a crime is reported, police can ask for footage from Ring homes within a radius, bypassing warrants if Ring owners comply. At least one law enforcement agency, Floridas Lakeland Police department, appears to have been contractually obliged to promote doorbells as a result of the partnership. What does this mean for citizens and safety? Beyond the companys own cheery anecdotes, there is minimal data proving Rings effectiveness. There is one positive 2016 report from Los Angeles that predates Amazons acquisition of Ring; the methodology of that report has not been made public. Still, as the pioneering urbanist Jane Jacobs or anyone from a small town could tell you, additional eyes on a street can serve to deter crime. Your Uncle Bob peering out the window, however, is not the same as Ring. Actually knowing and looking out for your neighbours is not the same as a surveillance network. Ring represents an emerging governance system that, once established, we can neither vote for nor pull the curtains against. Framing Ring as a simple safety app fails to paint an accurate picture of the dangers of a makeshift corporate surveillance infrastructure. People may assume theres no risk to them, so long as they have nothing to hide. Regardless, surveillance of this kind still creates risks. At the societal level, the ocean of datafication created by pervasive smart technologies blurs the boundaries between financial, consumer and governmental systems. The datafication of our personal information ultimately reduces citizens to a collection of data points, open to misinterpretation, manipulation and monetization. Do we want a societal surveillance system where public crime data is owned by a corporate entity? Amazons interests are in profits and prevention of package loss, not in protecting citizen rights. All smart systems create safety risks, not only of criminals hacking in but also for customers. Recent news has been full of stories of smart tech and Amazon security lapses, including a hacker who accessed the camera and speaker of a Ring security system in the bedroom of an eight-year-old Mississippi girl and told her he was Santa Claus. In addition to hacking, user data leaks are becoming commonplace with cybersecurity systems. Notably, Rings December 2019 leak of thousands of customer passwords was denied by the company. More safety or more problems? Amazon has indicated publicly and in leaked documents that its interested in building out the facial recognition possibilities of Ring. According to documents reviewed by the Intercept, the system would notify Ring owners any time an established "suspicious person" appeared on their property. Some citizens would bear the brunt of that perceived risk more than others. Along with Ring, companies like NextDoor and Citizen show that fear-based neighbourhood social media is already on the rise. Notifications about so-called suspicious persons feed race and class biases and encourage vigilante behaviours. And even minor misdemeanors like egging cars can seem like a reason to call the police if theres video on hand. 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. Worse, facial recognition technology is particularly poor at correctly identifying the faces of women and people of colour. Innocent brown and Black community members stand to be mistakenly harassed and even hurt. U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey wrote an open letter to Amazon in September 2019, expressing concerned that Ring facial recognition has serious potential to "catalyze racial profiling and harm people of colour." As Canadian cities grapple with racism, classism and discrimination, tools like Ring will only undermine efforts towards breaking down bias. In the long run, we all stand to be harmed by the happenstance creation of an integrated police-Ring surveillance network. The smart tech promise gets safety backwards. Civil and civic rights matter, and we shouldnt abandon Canadas stringent police surveillance regulations for a shiny new version of property security. A society where people are less important than packages is no society at all. Windsor and Canada would be wise to say "no" to Amazon Ring. Bonnie Stewart is an assistant professor of online pedagogy and workplace learning at the University of Windsor. This article was first published at The Conversation Canada: theconversation.com/ca. DAKAR, Senegal - Weapons that have been used in intercommunal violence that has killed thousands of people in northern Nigeria have been trafficked from Ivory Coast, Libya and Turkey, according to a new report by the Conflict Armament Research group. Fighting between farmers and semi-nomadic herders over land has gone on for decades in Nigerias central belt and north. Attacks on civilians by armed groups aligned with the communities have killed more than 3,600 people and displaced 300,000 since 2014, according to the study. Armed groups involved in the fighting in Kaduna, Katsina and Zamfara states possessed significant numbers of factory-produced small arms manufactured in Europe, East Asia, the Middle East and North America, according to the three-year study. Some of the weapons were from Turkey and were linked to a major organized trafficking network, the group said. Assault rifles from Iraq and similar to ones used by Islamic extremist groups in Mali and Niger also were found. However, the organization said that while weapons may have come from the same illicit source, that did not demonstrate a connection between the conflict in Nigeria and Islamic extremist groups. Nigerian authorities have made strides in gathering illicit weapons from these communities over the last three years, said Conflict Armament Researchs head of regional operations in West Africa, Claudio Gramizzi. Preventing their rapid replacement requires efforts by law enforcement across the Sahel, as well as targeted interdiction of new arms being trafficked from Europe and Western Asia. Two years ago, Emese M. Bordy, a sedimentologist at the University of Cape Town, was flipping through an obscure dissertation from the 1960s when a clue leapt out at her. It was an image of a footprint on a farm located on the northern Karoo Basin of South Africa. The Karoo region contains huge volcanic flood basalts that chronicle the final epoch of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana before it broke apart about 180 million years ago during a period of tectonic and volcanic catastrophe. Geologists have been studying it for decades to understand this major change in the layout of Earths landmasses, which coincided with a mass extinction event. But the image suggested to Dr. Bordy that there was more to learn about the prehistoric animals that had lived on that dying supercontinent. That initial hunch sparked something like a paleontological detective tale. First, Dr. Bordy and her colleagues were able to track down the farms owner with the help of a local historian. He gave her team permission to hunt for fossils on his property. There, the team not only found the pictured footprint, but also discovered two dozen other prints left 183 million years ago by carnivorous and herbivorous dinosaurs, as well as small creatures called synapsids. JERSEYVILLE The trial of a Jerseyville resident accused in a 2010 murder and kidnapping is set to begin with jury selection March 9. Roger Carroll of Jerseyville was charged in April 2018 in Jersey County with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of concealing a homicide. Those charges were amended later that month to include a third first-degree murder charge and aggravated kidnapping charges. He has been in custody in the Jersey County Jail since his arrest. As we move closer to trial, the states ever-confident that the evidence we have to present will result in a conviction, Jersey County States Attorney Ben Goetten said. The charges were the result of new evidence discovered after a March 2018 domestic incident when Carroll was found on his property in what investigators said was a suicide attempt. Bonnie Woodward last was seen June 25, 2010, near her vehicle in the parking lot of the Eunice Smith Nursing Home, where she had worked for 27 years. In April 2018, investigators said multiple witnesses reported seeing Woodward near the car talking to a man and several saw her leave with the man. Part of the initial investigation centered on the disappearance of Woodwards stepdaughter, Heather Woodward, then 17. In 2018, investigators said Carroll had used her as bait. Investigators said Heather Woodward moved out of their home on June 10, 2010. She later walked into the East Alton Public Library and told them police were looking for her. Investigators said Carroll kidnapped Bonnie Woodward with the help of his son, Nathan Carroll, who was 16 at the time. After the woman was killed, the two men tended a fire for more than a week in an attempt to destroy the body, according to records. Nathan Carroll, who testified before a grand jury, had been given full immunity, in part because he was a juvenile and was dragged into the incident, Madison County States Attorney Tom Gibbons said. The case will be prosecuted by Goetten, former Madison County Assistant States Attorney Jennifer Mudge, who now is a special prosecutor with the Illinois Appellate Prosecutors Office, and Madison County Assistant States Attorney Crystal Uhe. Mudge will be the lead prosecutor. Jennifer and Crystal have been working this case since its inception some 12 years ago, Goetten said. Jennifer and Crystal have dedicated their careers to advocate for victims and bring to justice those that harm the public. Were all looking forward to the opportunity to bring justice to Bonnie Woodward and her family. A blind man, his wife and their ten-year-old son were evicted last week from their property in Kells, Co. Meath. Photographs and a video of John Lloyd (43) being evicted from his home have been viewed by over one million people on Facebook since they were posted over the weekend. The family have lived in the house for 14 years and said that they are 'traumatised' by the ordeal. John, a former civil servant, told the Irish Sun that the family 'have been treated worse than animals'. "We were in our bare feet and nightclothes," he told the Irish Sun. "I pleaded, please don't do this to us. I begged and I begged. But it's what the bank ordered. Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp "We're in despair. Our home has been taken from us". The video shows a number of people congregated at the door of the property. An argument can be heard coming from inside. John's wife Fiona (44) said the family had been 'making repayments as best we could'. John and Fiona's son is said to be 'distressed' since the incident, which left the family cat 'Mittens' in the property. The family lodged a motion in the High Court last Wednesday to stop the bank selling the house. In a statement, the National Land League of Ireland said that 'the family that were evicted are being accommodated by friends'. "A recap of today's events is that a family comprising a young boy, his mother and blind father were evicted from their home without warning by the Sheriffs of Meath and Louth and bailiffs and locksmiths," they said. "Friends of the family come to support them through the traumatic experience were denied access as were numerous activists. One local NLLI activist did manage to gain access and reported a terrible scene". "The family has asked NLLI to thank the many people who have offered both moral and practical support over the day". Stepstone Mortgages told the Irish Sun that they have a "policy of not discussing the details of any individual cases... out of respect for client confidentiality". Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman courageously engaged the enemys aircraft package despite its immense numerical and technological superiority -- the citation, published in the Gazette of India in December 2019, for the Vir Chakra awarded to him for shooting down a Pakistani F-16 jet last year, said. It said his aggressive manoeuvres forced the enemy aircraft into tactical chaos. The February 27 dogfight in which Abhinandan was involved took place a day after the Indian Air Forces Mirage-2000s struck targets in Balakot in response to the Pulwama suicide attack in Kashmir in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers were killed on February 14. The citation for his Vir Chakra was not released by the government when the award was announced on Independence Day last year. The Vir Chakra is Indias third-highest wartime gallantry award, after the Param Vir Chakra and the Maha Vir Chakra. Abhinandan, then 35, had scripted the militarys aviation history by downing an F-16, seconds before his own MiG-21 Bison was hit by a missile forcing him to eject. He was captured after he bailed out of his aircraft, but Pakistan returned him to India on March 1 after holding him captive for almost 60 hours. The citation said, Despite being captured by the enemy, he continued to display exceptional resolve in dealing with the adversary in a stoic, brave and dignified manner till he was repatriated on March 1, 2019. Abhinandan was then posted with a MiG-21 Bison squadron and was on operational readiness platform duty at air force station Srinagar when a large Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft package was detected heading towards the Line of Control (LoC). The hostile jets were armed with advanced Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missiles and modern air-to-ground stand-off weapons. Abhinandan was scrambled to intercept this package five minutes after it was detected. Displaying exceptional air combat acumen and knowledge of the enemys tactics, Abhinandan scanned the low altitude airspace with his airborne intercept (AI) radar and picked up an enemy aircraft that was flying low to ambush the Indian fighter interceptor aircraft Abhinandan alerted the other formation pilots towards this surprise threat, the citation said. He then consolidated the riposte, by gathering his wingman in an offensive formation against the hostile Pakistani aircraft now dropping weapons on Indian Army positions. This audacious and aggressive maneuver forced the enemy aircraft into tactical chaos, it further said. The citation said the wing commander then pursued a retreating enemy fighter bomber aircraft and in the ensuing aerial combat, shot down an F-16. However, in the melee, one of the enemy aircraft fired multiple advanced BVR missiles, one of which hit his aircraft forcing him to eject in enemy territory. Abhinandan showed conspicuous courage, demonstrated gallantry in the face of the enemy while disregarding personal safety and displayed exceptional sense of duty, the citation added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama, on Wednesday joined the growing list of federal lawmakers calling for radon protections in public housing following a yearlong investigation by The Oregonian/OregonLive. In a letter to Ben Carson, secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Jones called the newsrooms investigation troubling and alarming. Given the troubling results of this investigation, HUD should make every effort to ensure public housing across the country is tested for radon and, if found, also mitigated expeditiously, Jones wrote. Jones letter to Carson comes two weeks after a bipartisan group of 10 senators, led by Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden, pressed Carson to protect tenants from radon exposure. Jones is now the 15th federal lawmaker to publicly call for money or action to address the problems disclosed by the newsrooms Cancer Cloud investigation. Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in America and is estimated to kill 21,000 people annually. Congress in 1988 required HUD to protect tenants in public housing from hazardous levels of exposure. But HUD does not require testing and waited until 2013 to strongly encourage local housing authorities to check for the gas. The newsrooms investigation surveyed 64 housing authorities nationwide, finding that fewer than one in three could produce radon testing records. The Huntsville Housing Authority in Alabama was among those that could not document testing results, although officials said they tested apartments in the 1990s. Teaming with The Oregonian/OregonLive on the investigation, reporters for AL.com tested a sampling of public housing units in Huntsville. Reporters found seven units with high radon. After retesting, the average results in three units were still high enough that radon professionals would recommend a removal system. Jones staff worked behind the scenes trying to obtain answers from HUD about the situation in Huntsville but never heard back. Jones formalized his inquiry Wednesday, asking Carson to include money in the agencys upcoming budget request for radon testing and mitigation. HUD must ensure Americans living in federally subsidized housing are free from the risks posed by high radon levels, Jones wrote, asking for a timely response from Carson. As of Wednesday, Carson had yet to respond to the group of 10 senators who two weeks ago requested a meeting to discuss radon hazards. Carson is expected to be in Iowa on Monday, according to the New York Times, working as a political surrogate to President Trump on the day of the state caucuses. -- Brad Schmidt; bschmidt@oregonian.com; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Despite some recent high-profile closures in Canada, an industry observer assured that the nations retail segment is not plunging into certain doom just yet. Retail Council of Canada senior advisor Michael LeBlanc noted that while multiple closures by top brands such as Bench and Lowes might be cause for serious concern, these recent retreats do not indicate the retail sectors lack of viability. I dont think the broader industry is at risk; it isnt a retail apocalypse, LeBlanc said in an interview with the Financial Post. The best meal I have had in a very long time was no surprise. I would have been astonished if it had been anything but excellent. The restaurant was Davies and Brook at Claridges Hotel in London (Gordon Ramsay used to run a restaurant in the same room, a decade or so ago) and all its reviews have been raves. Fay Maschler, the Queen of Londons restaurant critics, gave it five stars, her highest rating. The chef is Daniel Humm, whose Eleven Madison Park has held three Michelin stars in New York for nearly a decade and has also topped the list of the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants. By some coincidence, Humm was in London, at the restaurant, when I went and we know each other so I was not anonymous though it didnt seem to make any difference to the food or the service. (Every table got loads of attention.) The first thing that struck me about the restaurant was how Humm had managed to make stuffy, claustrophobic old Claridges, a little more like his warm but airy New York restaurant. In Gordon Ramsays day, the windows of this room had been covered up. Now, the walls had been ripped open and sunlight filled the restaurant. Eleven Madison Park is one of the worlds friendliest three-star restaurants (Humm wants guests to be relaxed and have fun) and Davies and Brook has that same sense of hospitality. I knew the meal was going to be different when I saw the wine list (well, at least, the French section which was the only bit I knew anything about). The wines had been sourced from the best growers and negociants. Most of them came from vineyards with small productions and would have been impossible to find even at good wine shops. But, at Davies and Brook, the sommeliers went further. Many of these wines were available by the carafe (the size of a half bottle) so you could have both excellent whites and hard-to-find reds at the same meal. The food blew my socks off. There was an amuse-bouche of delicate hand-dived scallop. (I have no idea what giving a diver scallop away free as an amuse does to the restaurants food cost.) Even as I was enjoying that, I tried a little of the flakey croissant-like bread which (as I said on Instagram at the time) was the best bread of any London restaurant I know and knew that this was going to be fun. The plates were very Daniel Humm: simple, stark and without needless frippery. The food had the concentrated flavours that have now become Humms trademark. A foie gras tart with cocoa and plum had it all: texture, lightness, flavour and intensity. A simple baingan (aubergine or eggplant) with roasted garlic and coriander tasted more of baingan than any baingan I have had. The dry-aged duck with lavender and honey, Humms signature dish from Eleven Madison, is on this menu too and of course, it lived up to its reputation. Milk and Honey is the chefs most famous dessert and Davies and Brook serves the fifth version of the dish. Buried in the set menu (though they will serve it a la carte if you ask) is the dish that marked Humms transformation from being merely a very good chef (he already had three stars when he created it) to becoming the leading American chef of his generation. (He is Swiss by birth but is an American for all practical purposes.) Humm took a classic French technique of poaching a chicken in a pigs bladder and turned it around by using a vegetarian ingredient: celeriac. His Celeriac With Black Truffle is one of the most influential dishes of its time because it merges his philosophy (simple intense flavours that retain the taste of the ingredients on stark, clean plates) with the techniques of classic French cuisine. It was, as you would expect, spectacular. Michelin is reluctant to give three stars to new restaurants so I imagine Davies and Brooks will start at two and then move up to the three it deserves. But if you are in London: go. You wont regret it. If that was the best modern European meal I had in London, how about the best one I had in Mumbai? Alex Sanchez is an American chef who cooked at The Table in Mumbai for years. He then left for an extended sabbatical during which he did what he calls his Eat-Pray-Love thing which included spending a lot of time in Italy, learning how to make perfect pizza in Naples, pasta from nonnas in Piedmont, etc. He came back to India and opened Americano in South Mumbai and the restaurant has been packed from Day One. I tried to get a booking twice and failed. So when I finally got in, my expectations were high. But Sanchez more than lived up to them. I ate half the menu (because I was reviewing the restaurant!)and everything was wonderful. My favourites though were the Italian-inspired dishes. I had two house-made pastas, one of which was served with a beautiful clear consomme. The veal was bursting with flavour. (I am guessing it was young buffalo though that did not matter so much because of the cut he used.) There was lamb, crying out for good red wine. (The list is small but well-chosen by Sanjay Menon.) And the vegetarian options were delicious. There were charred broccoli, crisp Brussels Sprouts, delicious corn ribs, potatoes cooked as a sort of hommage to patatas bravas and easily the best pizza to be had in Mumbai. The baking is outstanding (great sourdough bread) overall and though I am not a tiramisu fan, the Americano version was very nice. If you left it to me to choose a restaurant for dinner in Mumbai, this is where I would go every night. (Assuming I could get a table, that is.) Two more good meals --- both in London that are worth remembering. Brooks in St Jamess was founded in 1764 as a gentlemans club in an era when that phrase did not refer to lap-dancing establishments. It is still very hard to get into. I dont think women can be members. And it is part of an Establishment London that foreigners (or most English people for that matter) never really see. I was in London for a trustees meeting of the Inlaks Foundation and Theo Shivdasani took us trustees for lunch there after the meeting. All of us were a little leery and expected nursery-style club food. But actually, the food was light, modern and made with top-class ingredients. I had avocado and crab salad while others had a Creme Fraiche and Spring Onion tart. I went traditional for my main course (rack of lamb, though even that was cooked extremely well) but there was also a very nice cep and pea shoot risotto. And the wine, from the Clubs cellars, was excellent. The other good meal I had in London was at Noble Rot. This is a wine bar with a restaurant attached and though everyone raves about the wine which is well-chosen and invitingly priced (I was quite boring and stuck with a cant-go-wrong Chablis from Dauvissat) I thought the food was very good too: oysters with chorizo and roast pheasant. If you like wine and are in London this summer, this is a good non-touristy choice. Heres where you should not go. The Goring is one of the last old-style family-owned hotels in London. Its dining room has a Michelin star and is usually recommended for people who want a taste of old England. The restaurant was nearly full (tourists and hotel guests, mainly) when I went, service was perfunctory and the food was second-rate: stodgy Beef Wellington, a rubbish seafood cocktail with a historic name, half-witted wine service and an air of just going through the motions. It is funny, eating in London these days. An American revives the Claridges restaurant. A centuries-old Gentlemens club serves light modern-style food. And a Michelin-starred restaurant serves the kind of food you would eat at an end-of-term dinner in a boarding school or a college. To read more on The Taste With Vir, click here Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, and LINCOLN, Neb., Jan. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Abcam and LI-COR are pleased to announce the publication of a jointly-authored manuscript in the peer-reviewed Journal of Biological Chemistry (JBC)1, aiming to improve reagent reproducibility standards across the life sciences industry. The new paper by Pillai-Kastoori et al., "Antibody Validation for Western blot: By the User, for the User" makes best practice recommendations on suitable standards for antibody validation, and provides effective strategies to demonstrate antibody specificity, selectivity, and reproducibility in Western blotting. Over the past few years the poor quality of life sciences reagents, including antibodies2, has impacted the entire industry and contributed to a global reproducibility crisis. In an attempt to address this issue four years ago, Abcam incorporated several advanced technologies to their in-house antibody validation, including knockout (KO) cell line testing as negative controls. To date, more than 2500 antibodies have been validated with this tool in order to confirm their specificity an unprecedented scale within the industry. The in-depth knowledge and learnings from this initiative have been combined with LI-COR's Western blotting expertise to create valuable insights that are now accessible to scientists through the JBC publication. Dr. Alejandra Solache, vice president new product development at Abcam, commented: "We are dedicated to providing scientists with only the highest-quality reagents and fully support initiatives that improve reproducibility across the life science sector. Consistency and reproducibility are integral elements of our product development, manufacturing and antibody validation at-scale, and sharing our methods in a well-recognised journal such as JBC allows us and our collaborators at LI-COR to make a bigger impact on the industry. We hope this paper will provide the scientific community with access to the most up-to-date knowledge and know-how on Western blotting for antibody validation." Dr. Lakshmi Pillai-Kastoori, co-first author and biotechnology R&D scientist at LI-COR, said: "Inconsistent use of antibodies leads to variability in Western blotting and other immunoassays. Researchers should be able to consistently achieve reproducible results within and between Western blot experiments. A synergistic effort between antibody vendors and researchers is also critical to solving the current crisis, which is why it was important that we collaborated closely with Abcam on this paper." The publication follows the recent launch of Abcam's KO cell lysates, the largest available portfolio on the market that provides validated positive and negative control samples suited to antibody validation and a variety of Western blotting applications. References Pillai-Kastoori, L. and Heaton, S. et al., 2020. Antibody Validation for Western blot: By the User, for the User. J Biol Chem. 295(4): pp YY-Z. Bradbury A. et al., 2015. Reproducibility: Standardize antibodies used in research. Nature. 518(7537): pp 27-9. About Abcam plc As a global life sciences company, Abcam identifies, develops, and distributes high-quality biological reagents and tools that are crucial to research, drug discovery and diagnostics. Working across the industry, the Company supports life scientists to achieve their mission, faster. Abcam partners with life science organizations to co-create novel binders for use in drug discovery, in vitro diagnostics and therapeutics, driven by the Company's proprietary discovery platforms and world-leading, antibody expertise. By constantly innovating its binders and assays, Abcam is helping advance the global understanding of biology and causes of disease, which enables new treatments and improved health. The Company's pioneering data-sharing approach gives scientists increased confidence in their results by providing validation, user comments and peer-reviewed citations for its 110,000 products. With eleven sites globally, many of Abcam's 1,100 strong team are located in the world's leading life science research hubs, complementing a global network of services and support. To find out more, please visit www.abcam.com and www.abcamplc.com. About LI-COR Biosciences LI-COR Biosciences offers research solutions for Targeted Therapeutics Development and Robust Western Blotting. The company is an industry leader in imaging systems, analysis software, and IRDye infrared dye reagents for quantitative protein and small animal imaging. From academic discovery through preclinical validation, whether characterizing a pathway or validating a therapeutic candidate, LI-COR technology helps move research through the development process. More at www.licor.com/bio. SOURCE LI-COR Biosciences; Abcam Related Links https://www.licor.com/ Following IndiGo and Air India, SpiceJet has now barred stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra from using its services. SpiceJet has decided to suspend Mr. Kunal Kamra from flying with the airline till further notice. @MoCA_GoI@DGCAIndia@HardeepSPuri@IndiGo6E SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) January 29, 2020 GoAir has suspended Mr. Kunal Kamra from flying with the airline till further notice @MoCA_GoI @DGCAIndia @HardeepSPuri @IndiGo6E GoAir (@goairlinesindia) January 29, 2020 The airline tweeted: "SpiceJet has decided to suspend Mr. Kunal Kamra from flying with the airline till further notice." (sic), and tagged the Ministry of Civil Aviation, DGCA India, Minister of State (MoS) for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri and IndiGo's twitter accounts.GoAir also followed suit, joining the list of airlines that have now announced that they won't be allowing standup comic Kunal Kamra to fly with them. The move comes hours after IndiGo suspended Kamra from flying in its aircraft for the next six months after he had accosted journalist and Republic TV founder Arnab Goswami on an IndiGo flight. After IndiGo had announced its decision to suspend Kamra from using its flight services, Puri, put out a tweet where he advised other airlines to "impose similar restrictions on the person concerned". "Offensive behaviour designed to provoke create disturbance inside aircraft is absolutely unacceptable and endangers the safety of air travellers. We're left with no option but to advise other airlines to impose similar restrictions on the person concerned," Puri said in a tweet. IndiGo has said in the tweet that Kamra's conduct onboard was "unacceptable behaviour". @MoCA_GoI @HardeepSPuri In light of the recent incident on board 6E 5317 from Mumbai to Lucknow, we wish to inform that we are suspending Mr. Kunal Kamra from flying with IndiGo for a period of six months, as his conduct onboard was unacceptable behaviour. 1/2 IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) January 28, 2020 State-owned carrier Air India has also suspended Kamra from its flights "until further notice". #FlyAI: In view of the incident onboard @IndiGo6E, Air India wishes to inform that conduct of Person concerned is unacceptable.With a view to discourage such behavior onboard flts, Mr Kunal Kamra is suspended from flying on any Air India flt until further notice. @HardeepSPuri . Air India (@airindiain) January 28, 2020 "In the view of the incident onboard IndiGo, Air India wishes to inform that conduct of Person concerned is unacceptable. With a view to discourage such behavior onboard flts, Mr Kunal Kamra is suspended from flying on any Air India flt until further notice," the airlines said in a tweet. On his part, Kamra in a tweet issued a statement saying he gave Goswami a "monologue" on his opinion on Goswami's journalism. "I did exactly what Republic TV journalists do to people in their private/public spaces and I dont regret it. Im not sorry for it. I dont think I did anything wrong/criminal. Dont let this be about my bravado. I do apologise to every passenger except one," Kamra said in his statement, adding that he did it for "Rohit", referring to Rohith Vemula, a Dalit PhD scholar whose suicide in 2015 sparked nation-wide agitations. Boris Johnson today praised Donald Trump's proposed Middle East peace plan after the US President's blueprint was welcomed by Israel but condemned by Palestinian authorities. Mr Trump unveiled the long-awaited plan, which envisions a disjointed Palestinian state that turns over key parts of the West Bank to Israel, alongside Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday. The proposals were instantly described as siding with Israel on key contentious issues but Mr Johnson said he believed the document could provide a path to peace as he criticised Jeremy Corbyn for outright rejecting the suggested way forward. The Labour leader raised the matter at Prime Minister's Questions as he said Mr Trump's route map was 'not a peace plan' because it would 'deny Palestinian people their fundamental rights'. Boris Johnson today said 'no peace plan' is perfect as he urged Israel and Palestinian authorities to engage with Donald Trump's proposed peace plan Jeremy Corbyn said Mr Trump's plan 'will not bring any move towards peace' and 'has no support from any Palestinian anywhere in the world' Speaking as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was due to arrive in the UK for talks, Mr Corbyn asked Mr Johnson: 'Will you make it clear that the British government will stand for a genuine internationally-backed peace plan rather than this stuff proposed by Trump yesterday?' But Mr Johnson hit back and said: 'Let's be clear, this is a problem that has bedeviled the world for decades and the Middle East of course in particular. 'No peace plan is perfect but this has the merit of a two state solution. It is a two state solution. 'It would ensure that Jerusalem is both the capital of Israel and of the Palestinian people and I urge you rather than being so characteristically negative, to reach out to your friends, to my friends, our friends in the Palestinian authority, to Mahmoud Abbas for whom I have the highest respect, and urge him for once to engage with this initiative, to get talking rather than to leave a political vacuum.' Mr Corbyn said the plan 'will not bring any move towards peace' and 'has no support from any Palestinian anywhere in the world' as he urged the PM to tell Mr Trump: 'On this you are wrong.' The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas immediately dismissed the plan as 'nonsense' and vowed to resist it. But Mr Netanyahu called it a 'historic breakthrough' equal in significance to Israel's declaration of independence in 1948. Mr Trump's plan states that Israel would have to make 'significant territorial compromises' and argues that a Palestinian state should have territory 'reasonably comparable in size to the territory of the West Bank and Gaza pre-1967'. However, a map of what the two state solution could look like shows a disjointed Palestinian state with Israeli and Palestinian enclaves linked to their respective states by what the plan calls 'pragmatic transportation solutions', including bridges, tunnels and roads. The Jordan Valley, which accounts for around a quarter of the West Bank, 'will be under Israeli sovereignty'. Meanwhile, the plan would leave most of annexed east Jerusalem, including its Old City and holy sites, under Israeli control while allowing the Palestinians to establish a capital on the outskirts of the city outside Israel's separation barrier. It said Jerusalem's holy sites, sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims, should be open to worshippers. The plan would also allow Israel to immediately annex virtually all its settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are viewed as illegal by the Palestinians and most of the international community. The Palestinians seek all of the West Bank and east Jerusalem - areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war - for an independent state and the removal of more than 700,000 Israeli settlers from these areas. T his is the moving moment pro-Remain MEPs burst into a chorus of Auld Lang Syne as the European Parliament signed off on the Withdrawal Agreement. After the vote, MEPs stood, holding hands, joining in an emotional chorus of Auld Lang Syne. Some were seen wearing or holding blue and red scarves bearing the Union Jack that read: Always United. MEP's sing and wear banners after a vote on the UK's withdrawal from the EU / AP Speaking after the vote, European Parliament President David Sassoli said MEPs were "deeply saddened" to see the UK leave the EU. Paying tribute to the departing UK members, he said: "We truly appreciate all the work you have done over the last few years. "You are leaving the European Union, but you will still be part of Europe". Quoting Labour MP Jo Cox, who was murdered during the Brexit campaign, he added: "We have a lot more in common that what divides us." In contrast, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage was greeted by cheers and the waving of Union Flags by his partys MEPs as he declared Britain was never coming back during his final speech to the Parliament. The EUs chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said during his speech: In this new beginning I would really and sincerely like to wish the UK well. President Muhammadu Buhari has downplayed the claims that certain individuals among his aides and relatives, often called cabals, have an influence on his government. I was the one who went round the country on campaigns, and I was the one voted into office as President, twice. No one else did, and no one else took the oath of office, and can exercise the powers of a President, Mr Buhari said when he fielded questions in an exclusive interview with The Interview Newspaper. Many Nigerians, prominent among whom is the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, have claimed that there is a cabal, whose influence on the decisions taken by Mr Buhari and the presidency, is immense. Mrs Buhari, at several instances, had accused these people of controlling her husband at the expense of Nigerians, who entrusted Mr Buhari with their mandate. Those routinely fingered as members of the cabal include the presidents relative, Mamman Daura; his associate, Isa Funtua; and his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari. Recently too, Mrs Buhari asked an aide to the president, Garba Shehu, to resign or be relieved of his position after she accused Mr Shehu of receiving instructions from the said cabals much to the detriment of her husband and the first family. Mr Shehu had also admitted the existence of cabal within the inner cycle of the presidency. He maintained that they are not hungry people; rather, they are respectable people who deserve respect because they have achieved a lot. Unlike Mr Shehu, however, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, described the existence of a group of people called cabal as myth. Economic team Mr Buhari was further asked why not much has been heard from the Doyin Salami-led Economic Advisory Council after its inauguration last October. He assured that the committee is fulfilling its mandate in the background and results would soon be seen. They dont have to play to the gallery in doing their work, Mr Buhari was quoted saying, adding: They dont have to do it on the pages of newspapers, but rest assured that they are working quietly and efficiently. Results are what matter, and you will see their influence on our economic policies in due course. On his promise to lift 100 million Nigerians from poverty in ten years in the face of surging population growth, the president reaffirmed his administrations resolve to meet the target with an assurance that he would hand over the baton to a successor. Asked to describe his relationship with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, he responded, Perfect. Or has he complained to you? CARBONDALE Last May, the nonprofit Joyce Foundation together with a state education council put out a challenge to communities across Illinois: Convince more high-schoolers to become teachers. The state had seen a 53% decline in graduates from teacher preparation programs between 2010 and 2016, outpacing even the national downturn in interest in the profession among young people, according to the Illinois State Board of Education. Meanwhile, over half of all parents nationwide, including those who work as teachers, now say they do not want their children to become teachers, the PDK Poll revealed in 2018. Its the first time in the polls 50-year history that a majority of parents dont want their kids to teach. The response in Southern Illinois is about changing the narrative, said Southern Illinois University professor Nancy Mundschenk, coordinator of the Southern Illinois Network for Future Teachers, one of eight winners of the Joyce Foundation grant. High school is a place to inspire students, Mundschenk said. We need to highlight and celebrate how teachers change lives, and we need to stoke the passions of young people who are service-oriented and want to give back. In the last year, the seven high schools in the network Anna-Jonesboro High School, Carbondale Community High School, Carterville, Cobden, Du Quoin, Johnston City and Vienna have all introduced a new extracurricular program called Educators Rising, which gives high-schoolers hands-on experience in teaching through classroom observations, assistant teaching and tutoring at area elementary schools. Participants receive individual plans to take them from high school through college and into their own classrooms, Munschenk said, plus career exploration, college counseling and scholarship help. The response to the new clubs has been tremendous, Mundschenk said. One partner high school said they had to cap the club because theyve had such a response, Mundschenk said. Students take a lot of pride in being out in the schools, doing service to their communities. To build on that success, the network is now working with its community college partners to help high-schoolers begin working toward a future in teaching, Mundschenk said. Over the next few years, two local community colleges, John A. Logan and Shawnee, will help the seven partner high schools offer dual-credit courses fulfilling education degree requirements for the community colleges and for SIU Carbondales College of Education and Human Services. This is the first time that college-level education credits will be available at Southern Illinois high schools, Mundschenk said. The early career exposure that dual credit provides has already shown benefits in other disciplines, said Stephanie Chaney-Hartford, John A. Logans dean of academic affairs. The colleges high school nurse assistant training has become a touch point for students interested in the medical field, Chaney-Hartford said. We have had an explosion of growth in that particular high school course and because of it we have more nursing applicants than ever before, she added. Its a very beneficial form of career exploration, and it helps students know whether they're on the right path. The college expects to introduce the first high school dual credit education courses in fall 2020, said Rachel Sveda-Webb, John A. Logan Colleges director of dual credit and partnerships. Carbondale is getting its paperwork ready and we have several other schools interested, Sveda-Webb said. One challenge to expansion across the high schools in the network will be finding educators who meet the state qualifications to teach a college course, holding at least a masters degree in an education discipline, like educational administration, education leadership, or curriculum and instruction, Chaney-Hartford said. Educators who teach the classes will receive support from John A. Logan College faculty, Sveda-Webb added, and high school students will not be charged any tuition to enroll. These students will be building towards their futures among a community of other young people with the same interests, Mundschenk said. Meanwhile, theyll be getting hands-on experience in the classroom. Moving forward, Mundschenk hopes to see Educators Rising spread to other Southern Illinois high schools, and eventually become fully integrated into the school day, like Future Farmers of America, which is often offered as an in-school elective, instead of an after-school club. We want to move from extracurricular to co-curricular, she said. By 2021, she hopes to see at least 20 Educators Rising participants headed to college as future teachers. From there, shell continue monitoring their progress, to see whether they stick with teaching, and whether they end up working in Southern Illinois, where 92% of school districts report struggles staffing teacher positions, according to a survey by the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools. How many actually complete their program? Do they teach in schools in Illinois? How long do they continue in the teaching profession? These will be critical questions to evaluate our success, Mundschenk said. Retention is just as important as recruitment. She and other local education leaders believe the Network for Future Teachers is poised to grow if the state continues to prioritize high school pipelines in coming years. Now weve got a system in place for how we drive future teachers, Mundschenk said. Were a small network, but were the impetus for really impressive growth in supporting schools and career pathways, not just into education, but into other fields. This is a great opportunity to shape the future. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly 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. Shaun Weiss, the actor best known for playing Greg Goldberg in The Mighty Ducks, was arrested on Sunday for residential burglary and being under the influence of a controlled substance. Weiss, 41, was booked into the Yuba County Jail and is being held on $52,500 bail after he was found by police to be inside the garage of a house and inside of the homeowners vehicle. The homeowner said he was the only person that lived at this residence and no one had permission to be inside, a press release by the Marysville Police Department read on Facebook. (Marysville, California is northwest of San Francisco and north of Sacramento.) Mighty Ducks Star Shaun Weiss Arrested for Residential Burglary While High on Meth: Police When police entered the garage, they found Weiss inside of the car, the press release said. Weiss forced entry to gain access into the vehicle by shattering a window, the press release read. Officers noticed shattered glass on the ground and observed that the passenger window to the vehicle was broken. Officers ordered the male out of the vehicle and took him into custody. The former child star displayed symptoms of being under the influence of methamphetamine and said he did not reside at this residence. Weiss also said the vehicle he was filtering through was not his, the press release read. After further investigation, it was determined that Weiss starred in several movies [sic] and television series. Weiss was previously arrested in August 2018 in Northern California after police found him allegedly high on drugs and acting bizarrely with a flashlight. The former Mighty Ducks star was found with three other individuals, according to police Lt. Chris Nicodemus. The group was behaving erratically with flashlights such as Weiss shining a light in his own face and the officers suspected they might be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Nicodemus says. During subsequent contact with the individuals, authorities determined that Weiss was high on drugs, according to Nicodemus, though he did not know which specific substance it was. A blood sample was not taken. Story continues RELATED: Mighty Ducks Actor Shaun Weiss Arrested After Behaving Erratically While High on Drugs: Police The actor was held behind bars for a few hours until he sobered up and then was released without charges, Nicodemus says, which is a routine occurrence in public intoxication arrests in California. He cited a state law permitting just such a release, without charges, in cases of people who are intoxicated and where no further proceedings are desirable. Nicodemus said Weiss was far from combative at the scene instead amusing the officers with his humor. He was witty, according to the arresting officers with whom Nicodemus spoke. This was Weiss first contact with Oroville police, Nicodemus said, but it was not his first drug arrest: He was charged with misdemeanor meth possession in California in 2017 and sentenced to 90 days in jail, according to E! News. Weiss last appeared on screen in the 2016 short Netflix & Chill, according to IMDB, and his widest-seen release before that was 2008s Drillbit Taylor, starring Owen Wilson, in which he had a small role. The man who was arrested after driving a snowplow into the Platte River on Tuesday morning has been charged in federal court with possession of child pornography. Scott Robertson, 57, was indicted in U.S. District Court in Omaha on Wednesday. The unsealed indictment charges him with a single count of possession of child pornography last July. He was driving a Nebraska Department of Transportation snowplow on Nebraska 31 south of Gretna at about 8:30 a.m. when U.S. marshals and Sarpy County sheriff's deputies began to follow the vehicle, based on information they'd received that a federal fugitive was in a snowplow in the area. Robertson, a DOT employee, then drove the plow into the river near Schramm State Park. Authorities retrieved him from the water and took him to an Omaha-area hospital, where he was treated and released. He was booked into the Douglas County jail Tuesday, and he remained there as of Wednesday evening. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Moms have been shamed for breastfeeding for years. They've been forced to cover up, feed their babies in bathrooms or their cars, or generally made to feel unwelcome. The latest mom to suffer the embarrassment was Samantha McIntosh, who last week was breastfeeding her 7-month-old daughter in the back of a Chick-fil-A in Augusta, Georgia, when a store manager walked up, handed her a jacket, and told her she'd received complaints from other customers and wanted her to cover up "for the other children in the restaurant." McIntosh was mortified, and felt that she was keeping it modestshe had chosen a back booth at the restaurant, and was wearing a nursing tank and a long-sleeved shirt, so no skin was exposed. She stopped breastfeeding and stewed about the situation, as her 9-year-old niece was wondering aloud why breastfeeding wasn't allowed. That's when another mom tried to advocate for McIntosh's right to breastfeedand the manager came back again to tell her that McIntosh had to cover up. All this despite the fact that public breastfeeding is legal in all 50 states (and that includes at Chick-fil-As). David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe/Getty Images McIntosh's Facebook post about the incident went viral and received more than 5,000 comments, many of which were from fellow moms showing support. And the support didn't end there: Several mothers in the area also held a nurse-in at the restaurant the following night to stand up for McIntoshand breastfeed their babies. The owner of the restaurant later apologized to McIntosh, and decided to take this as a learning moment and train his staff on how to deal with these situations the right way moving forward. "I have been in contact with the owner of this Chick-fil-A and he seemed genuinely apologetic and very open to training his staff on ways to better handle incidents like this one in the future," McIntosh told CNN. "My only goal was to encourage education!" Hopefully, this will help other restaurant managers understand the rights of breastfeeding momsand let them feed their babies in peace. HOUSTON - (Jan. 29, 2020) - The next time you're thinking about whether to cook dinner or order a pizza for delivery, think of this: Plants have been doing pretty much the same thing for eons. Researchers in Rice University's Systems, Synthetic and Physical Biology program detailed how plants have evolved to call for nutrients, using convenient bacteria as a delivery service. Their open-access report in Science Advances looks at how plants read the local environment and, when necessary, make and release molecules called flavonoids. These molecules attract microbes that infect the plants and form nitrogen nodules -- where food is generated -- at their roots. When nitrogen is present and available, plants don't need to order in. Their ability to sense the presence of a nearby slow-release nitrogen source, organic carbon, is the key. "It's a gorgeous example of evolution: Plants change a couple of (oxygen/hydrogen) groups here and there in the flavonoid, and this allows them to use soil conditions to control which microbes they talk to," said Rice biogeochemist Caroline Masiello, a co-author of the study. The Rice team, in collaboration with researchers at Cornell University, specifically analyzed how flavonoids mediate interactions between plants and microbes depending on the presence of abiotic (nonliving) carbon. Their experiments revealed, to their surprise, that an excess of dissolved -- rather than solid -- carbon in soil effectively quenches flavonoid signals. Understanding how carbon in soil affects these signals may provide a way to engineer beneficial interactions between plants and microbes and to design effective soil amendments (additives that balance deficiencies in soil), according to the researchers. Plants use flavonoids as a defense mechanism against root pathogens and could manipulate the organic carbon they produce to interfere with signaling between microbes and other plants that compete for the same nutrients. Overall, they showed that higher organic carbon levels in soil repressed flavonoid signals by up to 98%. In one set of experiments, interrupting the signals between legume plants and microbes sharply cut the formation of nitrogen nodules. Rice graduate student Ilenne Del Valle began the study when she became interested in the subtle differences between the thousands of flavonoids and how they influence connections between plants and microbes in soil. "We had studied how different soil amendments change how microbes communicate with one another," said Del Valle, co-lead author of the paper with former Cornell postdoctoral associate Tara Webster. "The next question was whether this was happening when the microbes communicate with plants. "We knew that plants modulate symbiosis with microbes through flavonoid molecules," she said. "So we wanted to learn how flavonoids interact with soil amendments used for different purposes in agriculture." Because she counts two Rice professors -- Masiello and synthetic biologist Joff Silberg -- as her advisers, she had access to tools from both disciplines to discover the mechanisms behind those subtleties. "We came into this thinking there was going to be a big effect from biochar," Silberg said. "Biochar is charcoal made for agricultural amendment, and it is well-known to affect microbe-microbe signals. It has a lot of surface area, and flavonoids look sticky, too. People thought they would stick to the biochar. "They didn't. Instead, we found that dissolved carbon moving through water in the soil was affecting signals," he said. "It was very different from all of our expectations." The Rice and Cornell team set up experiments with soils from meadows, farms and forests and then mixed in three slightly different flavonoids: naringenin, quercetin and luteolin. They found the most dramatic effects when dissolved carbons derived from plant matter or compost were present. Plants employ naringenin, a variant of the flavonoid that gives grapefruit its bitter taste, and luteolin, expressed by leaves and many vegetables, to call for microbial nitrogen fixation. These were most curtailed in their ability to find microbes. Quercetin, also found in foods like kale and red onions and used for defense against pests, did not suffer the same fate. Masiello noted there's a cost for plants to connect with microbes in the soil. "These relationships with symbionts are metabolically costly," she said. "Plants have to pay the microbes in photosynthesized sugar, and in exchange the microbes mine the soil for nutrients. Microbial symbionts can be really expensive subcontractors, sometimes taking a significant fraction of a plant's photosynthate. "What Ilenne and Tara have shown is one mechanism through which plants can control whether they invest in expensive symbionts," she said. "Among a wide class of signaling compounds used by plants for many purposes, one specific signal related to nutrients is shut off by high soil organic matter, which is a slow-release source of nutrients. The plant signal that says 'come live with us' doesn't get through. "This is good for plants because it means they don't waste photosynthate supporting microbial help they don't need. Ilenne and Tara have also shown that signals used for other purposes are slightly chemically modified so their transmission is not affected at the same rate." The researchers checked flavonoid concentrations in soil with standard chromatography as well as unique fluorescent and gas biosensors, genetically modified microbes introduced in 2016 with the support of a Keck Foundation grant, which also backed the current project. The microbes release a gas when they sense a particular microbial interaction in opaque materials like soil. "The gas sensor ended up being very useful in experiments that looked like tea, where we couldn't image fluorescent signals," Silberg said. ### Co-authors of the paper are Rice alumna Hsiao-Ying Cheng, graduate student Mary Kaitlyn Miller and Zachary Ball, an associate professor of chemistry; Janice Thies, an associate professor of soil chemistry, Andre Kessler, an assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, and Johannes Lehmann, the Liberty Hyde Bailey professor of soil biogeochemistry and soil fertility management, all at Cornell; and Kevin MacKenzie, an associate professor of pathology and pharmacology at Baylor College of Medicine and an adjunct professor at Rice. Masiello is a professor of Earth, environmental and planetary sciences at Rice. Silberg is the Stewart Memorial Professor of BioSciences. The Taiwan Ministry of Education Scholarship, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy Office of Science and the U.S. Department of Agriculture also supported the research. Read the paper at https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/5/eaax8254 This news release can be found online at https://news.rice.edu/2020/01/29/ordering-in-plants-are-way-ahead-of-you/ Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews. Related materials: Biochar quiets microbes, including some plant pathogens: https://news.rice.edu/2013/09/30/biochar-quiets-microbes-including-some-plant-pathogens/ Gas sensors 'see' through soil to analyze microbial interactions: http://news.rice.edu/2016/07/18/gas-sensors-see-through-soil-to-analyze-microbial-interactions-2/ Masiello Lab: https://www.masiellolab.org Silberg Lab: https://www.silberglab.org Rice Department of BioSciences: https://biosciences.rice.edu Rice Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences: https://earthscience.rice.edu Systems, Synthetic and Physical Biology program: https://sspb.rice.edu/ Images for download: https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2019/10/1021_SOIL-1E-WEB-2.jpg (Credit: Illustration by Ilenne Del Valle/Rice University) https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2019/10/1021_SOIL-2E-WEB-2.jpg (Credit: Illustration by Ilenne Del Valle/Rice University) https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2019/10/1021_SOIL-7-WEB.jpg Rice University graduate student Ilenne Del Valle used unique fluorescent and gas biosensors to learn new details about how plants read the environment around them and communicate with nearby microbes to bring them nutrients. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University) https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2019/10/1021_SOIL-4-WEB-2.jpg Rice University graduate student Ilenne Del Valle holds samples of soil with various concentrations of organic carbon and proteins produced by plants that regulate the acquisition of nutrients and pest control. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University) https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2019/10/1021_SOIL-5-WEB.jpg Rice University researchers used a trio of soil amendments to test the process by which plants communicate with microbes to obtain nutrients and ward off pests. Clockwise from top left are mesquite chips, maple chips and charcoal made from maple chips. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University) https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2019/10/1021_SOIL-6-WEB.jpg Rice University graduate student Ilenne Del Valle, left, and biogeochemist Caroline Masiello oversee an experiment during their study of how plants communicate with microbes in soil and how organic carbon in soil can block signals in ways that ultimately benefit plants. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University) Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,962 undergraduates and 3,027 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 4 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance. Jeff Falk 713-348-6775 jfalk@rice.edu Mike Williams 713-348-6728 mikewilliams@rice.edu Let the witnesses testify. The Senate trial of President Donald Trump cant end with the worlds greatest deliberative body refusing to deliberate all available evidence before voting for acquittal or conviction. And the American people want to hear from them, according to a Quinnipiac University national poll, released Tuesday, showing 75 percent of registered voters believe witnesses should testify. That means hearing from John Bolton and if this is what it takes to get the presidents former national security adviser that means hearing from Hunter Biden, former Vice President Joe Bidens son, whose employment with the Ukrainian company Burisma has been a focus of Trump and argued as reason enough to withhold aid from that Eastern European country. With Democratic House impeachment managers and Trumps legal team having rested their cases, the Republican-led Senate will soon vote on whether witnesses will be allowed. That a trial on which a presidency hangs in the balance could conclude without witnesses is absurd. Aside from debating to send the nation into war, Congress has no more important and solemn duty than deciding if a president should be removed from office. To be clear, we are arent for or against impeachment. We believe facts are important and Congress should make every effort to gather all the facts as members execute their sworn duty. The Senate has conducted 15 impeachment trials of 13 federal judges and two presidents and heard from witnesses in each one. During the 1999 impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, three witnesses, including Monica Lewinsky, were heard from. Clinton also turned over thousands of pages of documents. By contrast, Trump, impeached by the House of Representatives on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of justice, has provided not a single document or witness to contest the specific charges against him. Senate Republicans, including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Texas John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, have argued against the need for witnesses. But would they make the same argument if this were a Democratic president? Besides, that argument was undermined this week when the New York Times reported that Bolton, in a forthcoming book, wrote that Trump told him the nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine was conditioned on politically motivated investigations into the Bidens. Bolton is willing to testify under oath. Senate Democrats need four Republicans to vote with them to allow witnesses. Republicans have said that if Bolton is subpoenaed, Hunter Biden must also be. Democrats have balked, arguing its a distraction. Perhaps. But both sides should be able to call witnesses. And if such a witness exchange brings us closer to the truth, we will all be better for the clarity. In 1999, former U.S. Sen. Slade Gorton, R-Wash., found President Bill Clinton not guilty of perjury, but guilty of obstruction of justice and voted to remove him from office. These are votes he still stands by. In an op-ed in Mondays USA Today, Gorton called for the Senate to allow witnesses. In a presidential impeachment, Gorton wrote. Senators are not jurors but finders of fact and then judges of whether those facts are of sufficient gravity to remove the president from office. In reaching that judgment, senators may consider not only the case presented by the House prosecutors but any other facts they deem relevant. On Tuesday, as Trumps legal team rested its case, one member told the Senate, Anyone who spoke with the president said that the president made clear that there was no linkage between security assistance and investigations. What senator isnt curious about the discrepancy between Trumps defense and the eyewitness claims of Bolton? The American people are very much divided on the merits of impeachment, and this board has been divided on the issue, too. The timing in an election year is challenging, and the politics on both sides are inextricable. But having more information is never a bad thing. Its not only the United States Senate that deserves to hear all available evidence. Thats a right belonging to the American people and to history. An airplane that a federal official said was evacuating as many as 240 Americans from a Chinese city at the center of a virus outbreak departed Wednesday has landed in the US. The US government chartered the plane to fly out diplomats from the US Consulate in Wuhan, where the latest coronavirus outbreak started, and other US citizens. The plane is making a refueling stop in Alaska before flying on to Southern California, the US Embassy in China has said. The white cargo plane with red and gold stripes and no passenger windows arrived at the mostly desolate North Terminal just after 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, local time. The jetway was extended from the end of the terminal, but it also had no windows. Passengers were not visible. Media were held in a concourse between the airport's two terminals, about 100 yards (91.4 meters) from the plane. Airport workers were buzzing around the plane after it landed. Alaska health officials said a conference will be held later. Tuesday night, it was announced that the plane would land at March Air Reserve Base in California's Riverside County instead of at Ontario International Airport in neighboring San Bernardino County. Curt Hagman, an Ontario airport commissioner, said the Centers for Disease Control announced the diversion. We were prepared but the State Department decided to switch the flight to the airbase, Hagman said. Wuhan is the epicenter of a new virus that has sickened thousands and killed more than 100 and the official said Tuesday that the plane left the city before dawn Wednesday, China time. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak publicly. In Anchorage, Alaska, passengers were set to go through customs and Centers for Disease Control screening. Then they will put them back on the plane and then send them on to their final destination, said Jim Szczesniak, manager of the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. He didn't know how long it would take beyond hours. The passengers are being isolated in the airport's international terminal, which lies mostly dormant in the winter months. Szczesniak stressed the terminal is not connected to the larger and heavily used domestic flights terminal, and each has separate ventilation systems. The lobby in the international terminal was nearly empty Tuesday afternoon, and an airport employee was seen jogging through though the facility that has closed counters for companies like Korean Air, China Airlines and Asiana Airlines. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PARIS Renault's board is set to meet later on Tuesday to approve the nomination of Luca de Meo, the former head of Volkswagen's Seat brand, as its next chief executive, two sources familiar with the matter said. The Italian-born executive, who stepped down from Seat earlier this month, is not due to take up his post at the French carmaker until towards July, due to negotiations around his contract, according to one of the sources. Renault declined to comment. De Meo is not expected to face any last minute hurdles in his nomination, and has already won tacit backing from parties including the French government, a Renault shareholder. His appointment fills one of the major gaps left at the firm as it tries to move past a year of turmoil following the 2018 arrest in Tokyo of former boss-turned-fugitive Carlos Ghosn, and reset its strained alliance with Japan's Nissan. Ghosn, who forged and oversaw the Renault-Nissan partnership for almost two decades, has since fled Japan and resettled in Lebanon, from where he has contested the financial misconduct charges against him and said the alliance was at risk of collapse. De Meo, along with Renault Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard, brought in last January from tire maker Michelin, will have his work cut out to turn around the firm. Like rivals, Renault is grappling with a downturn in demand, and has said it expects a slight decline in the car market in Europe, Russia and China this year. The firm has also presented 2020 as a make-or-break year for the alliance with Nissan and is under pressure to deliver on cost savings and joint projects. Automakers face pressure to meet stringent new emissions targets with less polluting models, and are also competing to produce innovations such as self-driving cars, which require large investments. De Meo, who speaks French, will be one of a growing handful of outsiders in senior company jobs in France. The 52-year-old started his career at Renault and has worked at Fiat and Audi among other brands. Story continues He is credited with revitalizing sales at Barcelona-based Seat, imbuing it with a more sporty image, though his portfolio will be markedly larger at Renault, whose brands include Dacia and Lada. Renault's finance chief Clotilde Delbos has been CEO on an interim basis since last October, when Thierry Bollore, a former Ghosn ally, was ousted by the board. Related Video: Click here to See Video >> The receptionist's seat is empty, the five-star hotel's restaurant is no longer serving customers and staff flee at the sight of any guests. Welcome to the Marco Polo in Wuhan that is haunted by the spectre of the deadly novel coronavirus that has infected nearly 6,000 and originated in this central Chinese city. Wuhan and its 11 million residents -- plus anyone who was visiting -- are now cut off from the rest of the world, quarantined until the government in Beijing can get a handle on the outbreak. The luxury Marco Polo is one of the few hotels to have remained open as the crisis erupted, despite fears about human-to-human transmission. But the minute you step foot in the hotel on the banks of the Yangtze River, it's clear that this is not business as usual. The lobby desk is unstaffed and the silence is eerie -- a strange contrast with the brightly coloured Lunar New Year decorations celebrating the Year of the Rat. The usually bustling, modern hotel is more or less empty, and the staff struggles to combat sheer boredom -- when they're not confined to a room for mandatory periods of rest. To keep active the staff engage in group exercises at 10am daily to try and stay healthy. "After doing it we feel much more relaxed," said one hotel staffer, Zhu Juhua. "This kind of activity can enhance our physical resistance as well as our mental resistance," said another, Xiao Fan. The threat posed by the virus has prompted some changes in usual behaviour at the high-end hotel. All guests must wear face masks on the property, and whenever anyone goes out they are looked upon with the utmost suspicion. Every time someone enters or leaves the hotel, a security guard checks his or her temperature for any signs of fever. "It's ok if the temperature is within 37.3," says Xiao, who is in charge of measuring the temperature of staff and guests. "If it is higher than 37.3 we will take necessary measures." Adding to the sense of fear, an ambulance took a child suffering from fever out of the hotel earlier this week. Guests are asked to fill out forms explaining their movements. One of the questions asks, "Have you been in contact with anyone infected with the coronavirus in the past two weeks?" -- a reference to what is believed to be the maximum incubation period. The Marco Polo has 356 rooms, and is usually about 80 percent full during the busy Lunar New Year period, an employee told AFP on condition of anonymity. But now, only about 20 guests remain, the employee said. Most of them are simply stranded because the city is under quarantine, with no travel in or out by road, rail or air. Only two of the hotel's 34 floors currently have guests. The restaurant is closed to prevent any spread of the illness -- although guests can still order room service. "When I opened the door, the housekeeper set the tray on the floor and fled as if she had seen a ghost," said one guest from Latin America. Some employees were seen in the hotel's hallways in full protective suits. "We're all in the same boat... for the health of both guests and staff, we can't take any risks," said another employee, his face hidden behind a mask. The menu is sparse, and mostly includes just noodles. Each day, the list gets shorter, as the hotel's food stash is whittled down, with deliveries cut off. The Marco Polo staff nevertheless say the cooks have been helping to prepare meals for local hospitals in recent days. "It's the least we can do right now," said a worker. Some hotels in Wuhan are actively trying to push their guests out the door, while others provide minimal service while refusing to take new reservations. "We're closed," a staff member at the Fairmont Hotel told AFP, even though it is technically open. The same applies for the Marco Polo. "We know our current guests but accepting anyone else would be too risky, because we don't know if those people might have been in contact with people who are sick," an employee said. "Of course we can't close the hotel either, because our guests would have nowhere to go. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There's quite a few stuff whizzing around in low-Earth orbit. Given the numbers of old spacecraft that could no longer communicate with Earth, it is sudden how seldom satellites collide; however, a spacecraft collision might happen soon. IRAS (a decommissioned space telescope released in 1983) and GGSE-4 (a retired technological science payload released in 1967) are expected to collide, according to space debris tracking carrier LeoLabs. The two spacecraft, according to LeoLabs' data, will pass within just 15 to 30 meters (50 to 100 feet) of each other at an altitude of approximately 900 kilometers or 560 miles on January 29, at 23:39:35 UTC. Since both spacecraft are broken, there is no way Earth could talk with them to conduct evasive maneuvers. LeoLabs calculated that there's a one in 100 risks that they may collide. (IRAS image credit: NASA) 1/ We are monitoring a close approach event involving IRAS (13777), the decommissioned space telescope launched in 1983, and GGSE-4 (2828), an experimental US payload launched in 1967.(IRAS image credit: NASA) pic.twitter.com/13RtuaOAHb LeoLabs, Inc. (@LeoLabs_Space) January 27, 2020 Space archaeologist Alice Gorman of Flinders University told ScienceAlert that such collisions have passed off in the beyond for sure. The space archaeologist explained that spacecraft had taken evasive maneuvers to avoid things that are in the 60-kilometer radius. If this does undoubtedly come to skip, Gorman said there is doubtlessly a large amount of debris that will be created. She said the expected crash is among the most "dangerous viable collisions" that the space scientists would see. The spacecraft aren't any lightweights. IRAS weighs 1,083 kilograms (2,388 pounds). GGSE-4 is a whole lot smaller, at merely 4.5 kilograms (10 pounds). According to Harvard-Smithsonian astronomer Jonathan McDowell, Poppy 5 (AKA 1967-053G) -the decommissioned and only relatively recently declassified military satellite - is attached to another satellite. The NASA/NIVR IRAS satellite and the NRO/USN POPPY 5B satellite (aka GGSE 4) are predicted to make a close approach on Wednesday. POPPY 5B has 18-meter-long gravity gradient booms so a 15-to-30 meter predicted miss distance is alarming https://t.co/H1UckcoaAH Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) January 27, 2020 And the speed is going fast. Their average pace is 9.1 miles per second (14.7 kilometers per second). The smaller one may obliterate, producing a cloud of new debris if the two spacecraft collide, according to Gorman. The large one might likely remain intact, but now not without some damage, producing even additional trash. The collision poses no harm on Earth to be 100 percent clear. Any debris de-orbiting will harmlessly deplete on atmospheric re-entry and won't even make it to the ground. The collision might not occur just yet. But with increasingly more satellites accomplishing the end of their lives and being decommissioned, similarly to an increasing number of satellites being despatched up into low-Earth orbit, collisions are certainly going to be a problem. It's very tons a matter of while, now not if. The good information is that efforts are already underway to try and start cleaning up the great quantity of trash we've got left in space. The bad news, as demonstrated by using this upcoming near encounter, is that we maybe only a titch too late. Gorman said launching satellites and carry out space operation would be more challenging if the space scientists don't work out how to get rid of some of the debris from the satellite collision in the next decade. Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday ordered the military to "shoulder responsibility" to contain the coronavirus outbreak that has killed 132 people, infected 6,000 others with six foreigners contracting the disease for the first time in China and spread to 17 countries. President Xi, who heads the People's Liberation Army, told the military to keep their mission firmly in mind and shoulder responsibility to contribute to winning the battle against the novel coronavirus, which he has described as a "demon", state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Already, the military is pressing thousands of its medical personnel into Wuhan, the epicentre of the deadly virus outbreak, to assist the doctors. Xi's call to the military came as the number of confirmed cases of the fast spreading virus infection in mainland China reached 6,078 with 70 cases abroad, surpassing the cases witnessed during the SARS or severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak, which had caused havoc in China in 2002-03. Over 800 people, mostly in China, died during the SARS epidemic. The coronavirus, which first emerged in Wuhan in late December, has killed 132 people, infected over 6,000 others and spread to at least 17 countries, amid warnings by health experts that the epidemic may reach its peak in the next 10 days resulting in a big increase in number of cases. The Chinese health authorities announced on Wednesday that 5,974 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus had been reported in 31 provincial-level regions by Tuesday. China's National Health Commission said in its daily report that 1,239 patients remained in critical condition and 9,239 people were suspected to be infected with the virus. For the first-time, Tibet too reported a suspected case of coronavirus. A total of 65,537 close contacts had been traced, the commission said, adding that among them 1,604 were discharged after medical observation on Tuesday. A total of 59,990 people were still under medical observation. For the first time since the virus surfaced in December, six foreigners, including four Pakistanis and two Australians, have contracted the virus, raising concerns among thousands of foreigners working in China. Pakistan confirmed that four of its nationals, all students, have been infected with the virus in Wuhan. Over 500 Pakistani students were in Wuhan. Chinese officials said one of the Pakistani students who contracted the virus was found in Guangdong province. Guangdong health commission deputy head Chen Zhusheng said the Pakistani and two Australians were in a stable condition but it was not known how they contracted the virus. Chen did not give details of the Australians, but said the Pakistani was a student studying in Wuhan, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. Over 23,000 Indian students of which 21,000 are medical students are studying in China. India is preparing to airlift over 250 Indians from Wuhan and Hubei province. India has requested China for permission to operate two flights to bring back its nationals from Hubei province, officials said. Meanwhile, a flight carrying 201 American passengers out of Wuhan is now flying to California following health screenings, US officials said. As more countries evacuated their nationals from Wuhan, China reacted angrily reminding them about the confidence expressed by World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during his meeting with President Xi on Tuesday about Beijing's ability to deal with the virus. "Under the strong leadership of the Chinese Communist party and the government, the nationwide prevention and control system is being advanced in a scientific and orderly way," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a statement to PTI here. "The epidemic is generally preventable, controllable and treatable. China has taken a series of decisive measures to prevent the spread of the epidemic. We have the confidence, the capability and the resources to win the fight against this outbreak," she said. Ghebreyesus "spoke highly of China's political determination and strong measures to prevent and control the epidemic. He disagreed with false statements and over reactions, and emphasized WHO's confidence in China's ability to prevent and control the outbreak," she said. Hua, however, said China would make appropriate arrangements and provide necessary assistance and convenience for evacuation of foreigners from Wuhan. Meanwhile, several global airlines, including Air India, British Airways, Lion Air and Indigo airline on Wednesday suspended their flights to Chinese cities as Beijing struggled to contain the rapid spread of the virus. India, the US, the UK and Germany have already issued travel advisories against travelling to China. Beijing too has been asking Chinese not to travel at home and abroad because of the virus. On Wednesday, the UAE reported the first known case in the Middle East. Other airlines, including United Airlines, Air Canada, Cathay Pacific Airways, Lion Air have already cancelled some flights to China. Air France suspended its three weekly flights to Wuhan on January 24, but as of Wednesday morning said it was maintaining its 23 weekly flights to Beijing and Shanghai. Air India suspended its flights on Delhi-Shanghai route from January 31 to February 14. IndiGo airlines also suspended its flights on the Bengaluru-Hong Kong route from February 1 and on the Delhi-Chengdu route from February 1 to 20. Also Watch: Coronavirus outbreak: How it will affect world economy Also Read: Coronavirus: Starbucks sees financial hit as it shuts 2,000 shops in China Also Read: IKEA closes around 15 stores in China due to virus outbreak Health Minister Robin Swann said he is coordinating with Westminster and other devolved regions in terms of coronavirus (PA) Northern Irelands Health Minister has said he is working with Westminster and the other devolved regions in preparation for a case of coronavirus. As of Wednesday evening there had been no cases of the virus either in Northern Ireland or the rest of the UK. Robin Swann took part in a Cobra meeting with ministers from Westminster and the devolved regions at which he said a firm commitment was given to a coordinated approach. Health Minister Robin Swann updates MLAs on Coronavirus in a written statement to the Assembly https://t.co/nfPphZClpm pic.twitter.com/VOO1RsD4E5 Department of Health (@healthdpt) January 29, 2020 The city of Wuhan in China is the epicentre of the outbreak of the virus which has spread across an estimated 16 countries, including Thailand, France, the US and Australia. More than 130 people have died in China and close to 6,000 have been infected. Mr Swann issued an urgent statement to the Stormont Assembly following the Cobra meeting to say that his priority remains to ensure effective measures are in place within Northern Ireland. The minister described the situation as rapidly evolving, with numbers of cases changing very frequently. It is not unreasonable to assume at some point we will have a positive case in Northern IrelandRobin Swann As of 2pm today, there are 130 confirmed negative results in the UK. Given the relatively small numbers at this time, we will continue to provide aggregated UK numbers to protect individual patient confidentiality, he said. I have agreed with my UK counterparts that any confirmed UK positive result will be announced by the CMO of the region concerned, followed by a statement by the CMO for England and a ministerial statement. It is not unreasonable to assume at some point we will have a positive case in Northern Ireland. The minister added: While the current risk is assessed as low for the UK, members will appreciate this is a rapidly evolving situation. Hence this risk assessment is under constant review. Mr Swann also advised any Northern Ireland residents currently in China to follow the advice of the local authorities and leave if they are able to do so. I want to reassure members that my department and the Public Health Agency continue to work closely with the relevant authorities and public health organisations across the UK and Ireland to ensure Northern Ireland is well prepared to deal with the situation as events unfold, he said. US President Donald Trump intends to veto a possible Congressional decision to limit military operations with Iran, the White House warned on Tuesday. The House intends to vote on two possible bills this week. One of them blocks the financing of offensive military operations against Iran without the permission of Congress, and the second cancels the presidents permission to use military force in Iraq, issued in 2002. It was this permission that the administration used when attacking Iranian targets in Iraq. Meanwhile, both bills are unlikely to pass the Senate. According to the White House, if adopted, these documents will give strength to US enemies. The lack of funding will prevent the administration from pursuing a policy towards Iran and protecting US interests in the Middle East, the White House stated. The US conducted an operation in Baghdad on January 3 to eliminate Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, while Iran launched rocket attacks on Iraqi bases, where US troops are stationed. Expecting possible US attacks, the Iranian military mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane the same day, killing 176 people. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) probably doesn't need a lot of reminders about the 2012 election, but he's getting them anyway. Romney on Wednesday was at the center of some hypothetical scenarios drawn up during the Senate's impeachment trial. First, the House's lead prosecutor Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) posed a scenario in which former President Barack Obama was caught asking former Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev for an investigation into Romney Obama's 2012 presidential challenger in exchange for military aid against Ukraine. He was trying to get senators to think about what the Republican response would be in a situation mirroring the exchange between President Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky. Afterwards, Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) pulled a similar trick, submitting a question to Schiff about whether Obama would have had the authority to ask for an investigation into Romney's son if he was being paid by a corrupt Russian company and "Romney had acted to benefit that company." In that instance, Romney and his son are playing the role of former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, while the Russian company is a stand in for Ukrainian gas company, Burisma (there's no evidence the elder Biden did anything to benefit Burisma.) All this, of course, was said right in front of Romney, who despite losing the bid for the presidency, has since worked his way back into politics as a senator. The former Republican nominee, for what it's worth, was reportedly a good sport about the whole thing. Romney stood behind his desk, shook his head, smiled and raised his arms in a "c'mon" gesture as the chief justice read the question aloud https://t.co/zwmn6aq4uW Alayna Treene (@alaynatreene) January 29, 2020 More stories from theweek.com Mitch McConnell's rare blunder John Bolton just vindicated Nancy Pelosi 7 witheringly funny cartoons about the GOP's John Bolton problem The Stand Up For Mental Health Limerick campaign have condemned the spending of a reported 400,000 by Limerick City and County Council on rebranding. It is outrageous that the Council insisted they had no funds available for mental health in their budget, in the midst of a crisis, yet they can spend almost half a million on something as trivial as rebranding" said Seonaidh Ni Shiomoin. "It really shows where Government parties priorities lie! We just can't accept this - it's a blatant slap in the face for mental health protesters and affected families, who urged the Council to take some leadership in an escalating crisis. These politicians are machines with no empathy, and have no sense of responsibility, added Ms Ni Shiomoin. Read also: Councillors to demand emergency funding for University Hospital Limerick We need to show the main parties that we are sick to the back teeth of being ignored! We are urging people to show their frustration by coming out and joining the mental health contingent at the Midwest March for Healthcare demonstration on the February in Limerick." "A mass demonstration is needed to send a very strong signal that those complicit in allowing massive public funds to be used for trivial matters will be punished at the ballot box come the election, said Antoinette Sheppard, an activist with the campaign. The Health demonstration will be held this Saturday, February 1 at 1.30pm starting at St John's Hospital Prince Andrew and the FBI were locked in a furious war of words yesterday over whether he has ignored requests for help in the inquiry into paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The Duke of York's friends earlier claimed he would be happy to speak to US investigators but 'hasn't been approached yet'. However, the Americans yesterday insisted that was untrue, claiming they had tried 'several' times to arrange an interview with Andrew about his friendship with Epstein. The FBI said the prince had not cooperated, claiming they had tried 'several' times to arrange an interview with Andrew about his friendship with Epstein. Geoffrey Berman pictured The financier, 66, killed himself last year as he awaited trial on child sex abuse charges. On Monday, New York attorney Geoffrey Berman accused the prince of 'zero co-operation' in the Epstein investigation. He gave a press conference outside Epstein's New York mansion where Andrew had stayed and said the Queen's son had failed to keep his promise to help police probing 'co-conspirators'. He claimed the FBI and US prosecutors had written to Andrew's lawyers seeking an interview but were snubbed. The Duke of York's friends earlier claimed he would be happy to speak to US investigators but 'hasn't been approached yet' On Tuesday an anonymous source close to the duke said 'nothing could be further from the truth' and stressed that Andrew, 59, was 'more than happy to talk to the FBI but he hasn't been approached by them yet'. Yesterday, Mr Berman's office dismissed this claim, stressing the FBI had 'made several attempts to contact' Andrew's representatives. Lawyers for some of the alleged victims of Epstein yesterday called on the duke to arrange an interview with the FBI immediately. Gloria Allred, who represents five women, said: 'What else does Prince Andrew need? Does he need a gold-plated invitation delivered on a silver platter? Andrew on the Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis. Andrew has always strenuously denied knowing Epstein was sexually abusing girls 'Rather than appearing to twist himself into a pretzel trying to come up with excuses to explain why the meeting with the FBI has not taken place, he should arrange a meeting ASAP, without conditions, without excuses and without delay. 'It is time for him to put justice for Jeffrey Epstein's victims first and his apparent discomfort with being interviewed by the FBI last. Justice delayed is justice denied.' Lisa Bloom, who represents another five women, said: 'I would assume requests have been made in writing. Let's see the receipts.' Andrew has always strenuously denied knowing Epstein was sexually abusing girls. The City of Laredo Tax Department is issuing an urgent reminder to all citizens that City of Laredo 2019 property taxes are due on Friday, Jan. 31. Property tax statements were mailed October 2019. READ MORE: Webb Countys oil and gas revenue set to fall dramatically, facing $7-8M shortfall City property taxes provide more tax dollars for local services in Texas than any other source. Property taxes help pay for city streets, police, fire protection and many other services. For this reason, it is very important to pay taxes on time. City of Laredo 2019 property taxes not paid by Jan. 31 will become delinquent and assessed penalty and interest in accordance with the Texas Property Tax Code, as pictured in the accompanying chart. A taxpayer can avoid paying penalties, interest and attorney fees by paying their 2019 property taxes before they become delinquent on Feb. 1. In addition to penalties, interest and attorney fees to be collected for delinquent taxes, there may be further action taken such as seizure of property, issuance of tax warrants and filing lawsuits against taxpayers that owe delinquent taxes. Taxpayers who qualified for an Over 65, Disability, or Veteran Homestead Exemption may pay their 2019 property taxes in four installments. Please notify the City of Laredo Tax Department, on the first payment, that taxes will be paid in the following installments: First installment must be paid by Jan. 31; and Second installment must be paid by March 31; and Third installment must be paid by May 31; and Fourth installment must be paid by July 31 For taxpayers who took advantage of the Split Payment Option, the second payment is due by June 30. If any of the due dates mentioned above fall on a Saturday, Sunday or national holiday, the due date will be extended to the next regular business day. Normal business hours are from 8 a.m. 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Payments can be made at the main office located at the City Hall Annex (1102 Bob Bullock Loop) or at City Hall (1110 Houston Street). Payments are accepted in the following currency: cash, checks, cashiers checks, money orders and credit cards. Additionally, the City Hall Annex (1102 Bob Bullock Loop) also offers a convenient drive-thru service during regular business hours from 8 a.m. 5 p.m. Other payment options still available to our customers include: Online payments via the Citys website at www.cityoflaredo.com. (credit/debit cards only) Payment Night Drop at City Hall Annex, 1102 Bob Bullock Loop or at City Hall, 1110 Houston Street. (Checks or Money Orders only) Mail Payments to City of Laredo, P. O. Box 6548, Laredo, Texas 78042. (Checks or Money Orders only) READ MORE: Bond granted for Laredo man that allegedly shot at police with AR-15 If you have any questions on any of the above, please call the City of Laredo Tax Department at (956) 727-6403. (Repeats story published late on Tuesday) LONDON, Jan 28 (Reuters) - A whopping $200 billion was wiped from European stocks at the start of this week as the deadly coronavirus prompted investors to cut back exposure to companies with a strong presence in China, the world's fastest-growing consumer market. The plunge on Monday saw European luxury goods makers, airlines and miners among the stocks hit hardest as the outbreak led to ramped-up travel bans, business shutdowns and extended Lunar New Year holidays. Hundreds of millions of people have been preparing to travel for the Chinese holidays, stoking concerns infection rates may accelerate during the period - which is also a peak retail season in China and overseas. The virus - which Chinese President Xi Jinping has described as a "devil" - has had a bigger impact on European companies than their U.S. peers due to their high revenue exposure to China. Some analysts have drawn comparisons with SARS, a deadly virus in 2002-2003, but the read across is limited as China's share of global gross domestic product has quadrupled since then to 16%. Investors have singled out the biggest names in Europe's fashion industry, including France's LVMH, Italy's Moncler and Britain's Burberry, as proxies for the coronavirus outbreak. Chinese consumers have become the sector's main growth engine over the past decade. In a research note published on Tuesday, UBS analysts said a 30% drop in Chinese demand, their worst-case scenario, was likely to hit the sector's earnings by as much as 7% in 2020. Meanwhile, early data showed civil air travel in China dropped 41.6% on the first day of Lunar New Year due to travel curbs. In Europe, shares of long-haul operators Air France and Lufthansa were among the worst hit. In the hospitality sector, Intercontinental Hotels Group and Accor were also beaten down. Topping it all, the non-consumer facing mining sector was the hardest hit in Europe, falling 7% on concerns that the coronavirus will cut China's gigantic appetite for commodities. The graphic below shows how Europe's miners have among the biggest revenue exposures to China. (Reporting by Julien Ponthus, Thyagaraju Adinarayan, Joice Alves and Danilo Masoni; Editing by Pravin Char) Members of the Nehru-Gandhi family had received many artefacts as gifts during their visits to the Northeastern region, and Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi has donated the objects to the Don Bosco Museum here, officials said on Wednesday. The museum has dedicated a special gallery of the artefacts donated by Gandhi, which included a Naga headgear, ornaments, tools and boots, besides traditional garments such as shawls and lungis (wraparounds), they said. Many of the items were gifted to Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi when they were prime ministers and some were presented to Sonia Gandi during her visits to the region, the Congress interim president said in a letter to museum Director Fr Manoj Churuliyil. "I am confident that it is the rightful home for these artefacts. I know they will be cared for and hope that they enrich the experience of visitors who come to the Centre," she said in the letter. Sonia Gandhi had visited the museum in 2010. The special gallery was inaugurated by Congress MLA Charles Pyngrope on Tuesday. The museum, run by the Salesians of Don Bosco in North East India, is a major tourist attraction showcasing the tradition and culture of the people of different tribes of the region. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sunday night, Kadir Nelson turned off the ringer on his phone and planned to sleep in. When his wife awakened him to suggest he check his text messages it was already 10 a.m. in Californianearly five hours after the rest of the world had learned that The Undefeated (HMH/Versify), an ode written by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Nelson, had won the 2020 Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children. [The committee] called several times, but they called at 3 a.m. so I just slept right through it, said Nelson, who has received the call twice beforein 2007 when Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom was named a Caldecott Honor book and in 2008 when Henrys Freedom Box was also given an Honor. Nelson said he wasnt aware the awards were being announced on Monday but said he makes a deliberate effort not to pay too much attention or get his hopes up. You dont want to set yourself up for heartbreak. The Undefeated, a paean to the struggles and accomplishments of African-Americans throughout history, was also recognized for both illustration and text by the Coretta Scott King Awards, and Alexander won a Newbery Honor for the text. It is only one of three titles since the institution of the Newbery and Caldecott medals to be cited for distinction in both artwork and writing. The other two were A Visit to William Blakes Inn (Harcourt, 1981) by Nancy Willard, illustrated by Alice and Martin Provensen, and Last Stop on Market Street (Putnam, 2016) written by Matt de la Pena and illustrated by Christian Robinson. The awards, announced Monday at the American Library Associations midwinter conference in Philadelphia, are considered the top prizes in young peoples literature. The selection of The Undefeated represents another achievement for Alexander, who published the book on his first list from his new diversity-focused imprint, Versify. It is also Nelsons first book with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. He did not know Alexander before they worked together on the book; they are good friends now after having toured together in support of the title. The original artwork for The Undefeated goes on its own museum tour next, beginning February 1 in Grand Rapids, Mich. Author and illustrator spoke briefly today about their respective victories. We were patting each other on the back, Nelson said. Were looking forward to celebrating in June. June is when ALA will formally hand out the awards at its annual convention, this year in Chicago. Its also when Nelson, who has attended the Newbery/Caldecott dinner twice before, will have to deliver a speech. Ive received those Caldecott Honors twice and its very nice. You only have to hold out your hand and say, Thank you, he said. So this time Ill be busy writing my speech. Thats the cross I have to bear, but its very welcome. Donald Trump joined with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House Tuesday to publicly unveil what the US president described as his vision for peace in the Middle East. It was a farcical proposal, endorsing all of the policies of the Israeli right while guaranteeing rejection by the Palestinian people. Trump meets with Netanyahu on Monday, January 27 [Credit: The White House] The timing of the release of the vision, which is supposedly the brainchild of Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner and the product of over two years of work, was patently set to meet the immediate political needs of both Trump and Netanyahu. It came as Trumps impeachment trial in the US Senate continued into its second week and only hours after Netanyahu was formally indicted on charges of fraud and bribery. The indictment came after Netanyahu dropped a futile attempt to win a vote in the Israeli Knesset granting him immunity from prosecution. Trumps announcement clearly was aimed at boosting the badly tattered image of Netanyahu, who faces his third election contest in less than a year. During the last round of voting, Trump similarly tried to promote the Israeli prime ministers chances by announcing US recognition of Israels illegal claim to the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. The Trump administration has also recognized Jerusalem as Israels capital, moving its embassy there, and has cut off hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to the Palestinians. Late last year, it announced that it no longer regarded Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian territory as inconsistent with international law. In what amounted to self-parody, Trump proclaimed a historic breakthrough for the plan on the grounds that he had succeeded in winning approval from both Netanyahu and his rival in the Israeli elections set for March 2, Benny Gantz, the Blue and White Party candidate, who is a former chief of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Gantz, in an attempt to offset the obvious effort to boost Netanyahus status as a world statesman, flew to Washington on Monday and met with Trump privately before flying back to Israel for the anticipated vote on Netanyahus bid for immunity. That this breakthrough included absolutely no discussion, much less agreement, with any Palestinian representative was taken as a matter of course. The US president allowed that the Palestinians would have four years to accommodate themselves to the US-Israeli diktat, while his son-in-law threatened that this would be their last chance to obtain an independent Palestinian state. A conceptual map showing the proposed Palestinian state in green The audience assembled to hear the proclamation of Trumps vision consisted of his own cabinet members, right-wing supporters, Israeli officials, and prominent American Zionists, including the casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson, a major funder of both the Republican Party and Israeli settlements, who occupied one of the prime front-row seats. They interrupted Trumps and Netanyahus remarks with applause over 70 timesmost of them standing ovationsincluding whoops of joy when the US president bragged of assassinating Iranian Gen. Qassem Suleimani and ripping up the Iran nuclear agreement. The plan announced by Trump essentially formalizes the facts on the ground established by relentless Israeli aggression and land grabs in the occupied territories. It provides a US seal of approval for formal annexation of these territories and the consolidation of an apartheid regime. While Trumps and Kushners vision claims to grant Palestinians a realistic two-state solution, offering a viable path to Palestinian statehood at some point in the future, its rewards to Israel are immediate. Trump said in his White House remarks that Washington would recognize Israeli sovereignty over any land that my vision provides to be part of the State of Israel. Taking him at his word, Netanyahu announced that he would organize a vote of his cabinet on Sunday to immediately impose Israeli sovereignty over the vast areas of the occupied West Bankincluding the entire Jordan valleygranted to Israel under the Trump plan. Netanyahus move followed a demand for such a vote by his defense minister, Naftali Bennett, of the right-wing religious Yamina party, who insisted that Israel would never accept a Palestinian state nor give one centimeter of ground to the Arabs. The Trump plan was issued in the form of a 181-page document, replete with maps drawing the conceptual borders of an expanded Israel and a supposed Palestinian mini-state. The maps make clear the travesty of the supposed Palestinian entity to be carved out of Israeli occupied territories, while masking the full extent of the absurdity of the proposal. They show a patchwork of Palestinian cantons surrounded by Israeli territory, linked one to another by a series of Israeli-controlled bridges, tunnels and roads. The cantons themselves are peppered with what the plan describes as Israeli enclave communities, i.e., Zionist settlements that will be walled off, linked by apartheid-style Israeli-only security roads, and protected by Israeli security forces. On the map are five areas inside the supposed Palestinian territory that are marked as strategic sites, i.e., Israeli military bases. The statement moreover makes clear that the 15 enclaves listed cannot be interpreted as all-inclusive. Meanwhile, every border, the airspace and access to the sea will be controlled by Israel. The proposal makes the infamous bantustans created by apartheid South Africa seem a model of national self-determination. What is being proposed for the West Bank, as in Gaza, is a giant open-air prison. In return for this gift, the Palestinians are ordered to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, relegating Israeli Palestinians to a permanently oppressed status. They must disarm the Gaza Strip, renounce terrorism, along with support for the victims of Israeli security forces and accept what amounts to the imposition of a US-organized colonial administration. Demonstrations erupted in both the West Bank and Gaza even before Trump and Netanyahu spoke at the White House, as details of the proposal became known. The Israel Defense Forces sent reinforcements into the occupied territories in anticipation of far wider protests on Wednesday. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and the Islamist Hamas movement, which administers Gaza, held a rare joint emergency meeting Tuesday night to discuss the Trump plan. Abbas stated that the proposal would never be accepted and that discussions were underway on changing the role of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in accordance with resolutions taken by the PLO. While he did not spell out these changes, the PA has previously threatened to end its policing of the Palestinian population in cooperation with the IDF. In the US, the Democratic Party, Trumps ostensible opposition, has attempted to prove its own unconditional support for Israel in conjunction with the Trump plan. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led a congressional delegation to Israel last week to assure state officials that proposed legislation placing conditions on US military aid and requiring Trump to seek congressional approval for a war against Iran should not be seen as a threat to Israeli interests. Leading Democrats have also expressed concerns that the Trump plan exposes too openly the bankruptcy of the entire so-called peace process and two-state solution. Trump announced on Tuesday that present in the audience were the ambassadors of the Gulf sheikdoms of Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. One purpose of the farce of the Trump plan is to solidify an alliance between the Israeli state and the reactionary Persian Gulf oil monarchies, in preparation for all-out war against Iran. Not present, however, were Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, which would play the central roles in pressuring the Palestinian Authority and Hamas to capitulate. The shameless performance organized by Trump and Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday represented only one more nail in the coffin of the two-state solution. For millions of Palestinian workers and youth, the bankruptcy of this tactic has been made abundantly clear, not only by the crimes of Washington and Tel Aviv, but also by the perfidious role played by the Palestinian bourgeoisie. Neither the Palestinian Authority of Abbas, which has functioned as an outright stooge and policeman for the Israeli occupation, nor the Islamist Hamas faction, has provided any way forward in the struggle against the conditions of oppression, displacement, poverty and violence that have been inflicted upon the Palestinian people. Putting an end to these conditions can be realized only through the unification of Israeli and Palestinian workers with the working class through the Middle East and internationally in the fight for a Socialist Federation of the Middle East, as part the struggle to put an end to capitalism on a world scale. Have you ever dreamt of an extended island escape? Airbnb is making that dream and the opportunity to help rebuild a hurricane-damaged destination a reality for a select few people. The five people chosen by the company will drop everything and head to the Bahamas for the months of April and May. The process any society has to ensure that doctors who take care of patients' health are duly trained and knowledgeable in their fields, with the right set of skills and abilities to practice their profession is through the establishment of strict compliance and ethical standards. In Mexico, this is achieved through a peer certification process, established by medical councils, which in turn must be governed by the State Councils of Primary Care. Through this process, doctors can be certified as having the necessary knowledge to treat patients. This certification must be renewed every five years. How Do You Know If Your Physician Or Surgeon Has The Required Certification? All physicians or surgeons that practice their specialties in Mexico must be certified and recertified every five years by the CONACEM (The National Council for Medical Specialties). Once a doctor has been certified by this institution, they obtain their license and are allowed to practice and treat patients int heir field. There are several online sites that allow you to verify the status of your doctor's license and recertification. What Training Do Plastic Surgeons In Mexico Receive? The training of a plastic surgeon begins in medical school (approximately 6 years), followed by three or four years of training in General Surgery and finally three years in Plastic Surgery (Aesthetic and Reconstructive). At the end of this specialization, doctors will present a written and oral exam of a high degree of difficulty to ratify their knowledge. After this, new doctors receive a certification of their professional capacity that is granted by the Mexican Council of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery. This medical association is formed by professors of postgraduate courses in this specialty. Once certified, the surgeon continues to prepare in this specialty by attending courses, lectures, and conferences, both nationally and internationally. Plastic surgeons who meet these qualifications may request membership in the AMCPER (Mexican Association of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery). What Should You Look For When Considering Plastic Surgery In Mexico? Mexico is well regarded as a plastic surgery center. Still, besides the lower cost, which is definitively an attractive enough reason to consider plastic surgery in Mexico, you should look for a first-class clinic to have your procedure like the Riviera Institute. A clinic that is hidden in a backstreet may offer you better prices but the results may not be what you expect. It may be worth it for you to visit the clinic prior to your surgery, interview the surgeon and walk around the facility. Check your doctor's credentials and, if possible, talk to a few patients to get a clearer idea of their results. Additional Considerations Being able to combine plastic surgery with a nice vacation is something to consider. The Riviera Institute for Plastic Surgery is located in the beautiful city of Cancun where you can not only find spectacular beaches but plenty of archeological attractions. Think about expanding your stay to give yourself the opportunity to visit Tulum, Uxmal and Chichen Itza with their unforgettable Mayan pyramids. These sites feature a combination of jungle shade, spatial surroundings, and first-class nearby accommodations while offering you the peace and quiet you search for while recovering from your procedure. That will be the main thing to protect national industries, he said. The imports may be good news for Baltimore in the short term, and we should be happy about that. But it wont make a difference for the industry long-term. Whats here to stay is climate change. Both business and government need to come up with solutions because this will get worse and worse. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 00:44:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli soldiers at an Israeli checkpoint, east of the West Bank city of Tubas, Jan. 29, 2020. A large strike in the Gaza Strip has been launched and protests continue in the West Bank against the U.S. Middle East peace plan. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua) RAMALLAH/GAZA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- For the second day in a row, the Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip joined on Wednesday the mass protests against the announced U.S. Middle East peace plan, also known as the Deal of the Century. Officials and eyewitnesses said clashes broke out between hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers in several West Bank towns, mainly in the areas of the Jordan Valley. The U.S. deal "is serving Israel's interests and ruins their dreams of having an independent Palestinian state on all the territories occupied by Israel in 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital," they noted. Dozens of Palestinian demonstrators and foreign peace activists rallied in the Jordan Valley area before clashes broke out with Israeli soldiers when they were banned from reaching the territory, the witnesses said. Jihad Abu el-Assal, Palestinian governor of the Jordan Valley area, told reporters that the rally was organized to express clear rejection of Israel's decision to annex the territory. "The lands of the Jordan Valley are owned by its citizens and no one has the right to annex it," he said. "The territory is vital and strategic for the Palestinians, and U.S. President Donald Trump doesn't have any right to give it to Israel," he added. The Jordan Valley, which represents 30 percent of the West Bank, was occupied by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war. The territory is important for the Palestinian economy, agriculture, and tourism. Clashes also broke out in the West Bank cities of Bethlehem, al-Beereh, Tulkarem, and Hebron, where demonstrators burned tires and threw stones at the Israeli soldiers who fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse them. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that at least 41 Palestinian demonstrators were injured: four were shot by Israeli soldiers' rubber gunshots while others suffered suffocation after inhaling tear gas. Meanwhile, a general strike dominated the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip where all stores closed, as hundreds of young men and schoolchildren took to streets in protest against the U.S. peace plan. The office of the Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said in a press statement that Haniyeh, who is currently in Qatar, welcomed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' decision to send a delegation from the West Bank to Gaza next week. "Sending a Fatah delegation to the Gaza Strip to discuss unity after the U.S. Deal of the Century was declared is a positive step that prepares for a new stage in the Palestinian dialogue for unity," the statement said. The internal Palestinian division between Fatah and Hamas began after the latter forcibly seized control of the Gaza Strip and routed the security forces of Abbas in the summer of 2007. Some lawyers have spoken on the legal options available to Maryam Sanda, a woman found guilty of stabbing her husband to death with a kitchen knife. The conviction has also brought to the fore the argument over the death penalty in Nigeria as punishment for capital offences such as murder, culpable homicide and kidnapping. While many perceived the judgment of Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court as harsh, others believe it is well deserved. But the convict can still appeal her conviction, according to Nigerias constitution. This has raised the question of whether she will get a softer landing at appeal as well as the various options left for her lawyers to explore. PREMIUM TIMES spoke to a number of lawyers who gave legal opinions on Mrs Sandas conviction and how she can get a lenient sentence if and when her lawyers appeal the judgment of the high court. Legal Options Two lawyers, Nzube Akunne and Kanayo Okafor, highlighted several options the convict can explore. Mr Okafor said even though Ms Sanda has been condemned to death, her sentence is not automatic. The FCT minister will have to sign her death warrant before she will be executed, he noted. Mr Okafor listed the options to include filing a notice of appeal and a motion for a stay of execution at the appeal court. By that, the convict has stayed her conviction at the high court pending the outcome of the appeal. In these circumstances, the accused can even seek bail but it can only be granted on the rarest occasion since her presumption of innocence has been lost because the court found her guilty of murder. Mr Akunne, a Lagos-based lawyer, said if the convict did not get a favourable judgment at the appellate court, she can still take the matter up to the Supreme Court. Ms Sandas sentence can be commuted from death to life imprisonment and perhaps, subsequently reduced to jail time if her lawyers present a strong appeal, according to Frank Tie-tie, a human rights lawyer. Jiti Ogunye, lawyer and legal commentator, also agreed that Ms Sanda has several legal options to explore. Read Also: She can appeal at the court of appeal in the first instance, then to the Supreme Court and at these two levels, her sentence may be set aside and converted to life imprisonment. These courts have the power to say she is guilty of manslaughter and not culpable homicide. Mr Ogunye said if both courts still confirm the death sentence, the only remedy left is for her to explore the presidential prerogative of mercy. The governors have the power to commute sentences or grant pardon to convicts. But since the crime was committed in the FCT, it is the president through the minister that can exercise the power of granting prerogative of mercy. So when she exhausts her appeal, they can now explore that. Divergent views Meanwhile, Mr Ogunye also delved into why the judge gave the maximum punishment. The lady committed the act by using a knife to stab the husband and nobody is contesting that it was undiluted culpable homicide under our laws. The punishment for it is the death penalty and the judge did the right thing and was not swayed by sentiment in applying the law at the justice of the case required, he said. The lawyer argued that there could not have been any soft landing in Sandas case at the high court since there was no plea for leniency or mercy that could have swayed the judge. Throughout her trial, Ms Sanda kept pleading not guilty to the crime, insisting that her husband died from a wound on the chest by a broken Shisha pot. He pushed me and as I was falling down, I mistakenly broke his Shisha bottle and the water inside spilled on the floor, she narrated to the court. The accused said the deceased fell against the broken Shisha pot in an attempt to hold her down. I saw a broken bottle pricked into his chest which I removed and covered the chest with a scarf. Advertisements But Justice Halilu in his final judgment discredited the Shisha pot story, describing it as a smokescreen hatched to mislead the court and cover the truth. The judge said the compelling versions of multiple prosecuting witnesses (PW) has proven that the Shisha pot was broken after the death of Bilyaminu. Mr Ogunye said the judge had no option but to pronounce the death sentence on the accused having found her guilty of culpable homicide. He said it is not the duty of the judge to determine the sentencing range since there is no option of statutory minimum or statutory maximum punishment. Once its murder, armed robbery, treason or culpable homicide, it is death and that is what the law pronounced, Mr Ogunye who described himself as an advocate of the death penalty said. Mr Tei-tie, the human rights lawyer, disagreed with Mr Ogunye and Justice Halilus judgment. The lawyer argued that the murder was not premeditated as the judge pronounced, noting that there were mitigating factors that led to the commission of the crime. Her inability to control her mental faculties which were overwhelmed by having to stay in an abusive marriage is a very strong fact that can be considered, he said, adding that the convict committed the crime in hot blood. In her testimony before the court, Ms Sanda admitted that her two years of marriage with the victim, Bilyaminu Bello, the son of a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Haliru Bello was fraught with quarrels. The mother-of-two said trouble started on the ill-fated night after she discovered nude pictures of another woman in her late husbands phone and confronted him before arguments which continued late into the night snowballed into a fight. Once you are able to show that it is infidelity or trap marriage which has led to built-up emotions that makes the person to lose her mental capacity, will that not be a mitigating factor? Mr Tie-tie said. DAKAR, Senegal - As extremist violence grows across Africa, the United States is considering reducing its military presence on the continent, a move that worries its international partners who are working to strengthen the fight in the tumultuous Sahel region. The timing is especially critical in the Sahel, the vast arid region south of the Sahara Desert, where militants with links to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group have carried out increased attacks in the past six months. In Niger and Mali, soldiers have been ambushed and at times overpowered by hundreds of extremist gunmen on motorcycles. More than 500,000 people have been displaced by violence in Burkina Faso. The pending decision is part of a worldwide review by Defence Secretary Mark Esper, who is looking for ways to tighten the focus on China and Russia. My aim is to free up time, money and manpower around the globe, where we currently are, so that I can direct it toward Asia or return forces to the United States to improve combat readiness, Esper said Monday after meeting with French Defence Minister Florence Parly, who travelled to Washington to urge the U.S. not to reduce forces in the Sahel. High-profile Republicans and Democrats have warned that such a decision would undermine national security. They argue that cuts in Africa could hand over influence on the booming continent of 1.2 billion people to China and Russia. The commander of U.S. forces in Africa, Gen. Stephen Townsend, is scheduled to testify Thursday to the Senate Armed Services Committee about the role of American forces in Africa. Talk of a possible troop reduction is reinforcing a view in West Africa that the U.S. is not interested, that it does not see it as a strategic importance and that it is going to cut and run and abandon its African allies, Judd Devermont, director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies Africa Program, told The Associated Press. The U.S. has about 6,000 personnel on the continent. In West Africa, the Africa Commands mandate is to advise and assist, whereas in East Africa, where most of the U.S. troops are located, forces also accompany African troops on missions. More than 1,000 U.S. personnel are currently in the Sahel. The U.S. has also constructed a $110 million drone base in northern Niger. Nigerias information minister, Lai Mohammed, urged the U.S. not to cut back, citing an increase in terrorism in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Cameroon and Chad since the defeat of ISIS in Syria. So I think what we need now is more support, Mohammed told the AP. Im not talking in terms of physical soldiers, American soldiers. But I think we need more support. Otherwise we will inadvertently be strengthening the hand of the terrorists. The looming U.S. decision comes as former colonizer France pledges more support than ever before to Sahel countries. France already has sent more than 200 additional troops to reinforce its already 4,500-strong operation in the Sahel, and French Chief of Staff Francois Lecointre says he will request even more troops. The mission in the Sahel is a classic case of burden sharing, where limited U.S. support leverages an immense effort carried out by France and Europe, Parly said, speaking alongside Esper on Monday at a Pentagon news conference. Parly joined top Portuguese, Swedish and Estonian military officials on a visit to Niger, Chad and Mali last week to discuss how to proceed with an international anti-terrorism coalition dubbed Takouba. At a summit with West African leaders this month, French President Emmanuel Macron said he hopes to convince U.S. President Donald Trump that the fight against global extremism is also at stake in this region. West African leaders at the summit said they hoped the U.S. would maintain its military presence in West Africa. The heads of state for the G5 Sahel, a group that includes Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Chad, asked for a continuation of American and French military engagement in the region and pleaded for a strengthening of the international presence alongside them, according to the closing statement for the summit. The U.S. footprint in West Africa, where the cuts would most likely happen, is light compared to other regions. But the effect of its force presence, training programs, development aid and military assistance is important, leaders say. Col. Thomas Geiser, deputy commander of special operations for the Africa Command, said the biggest risk is allowing al-Qaida affiliates and the Islamic State to expand and potentially consolidate safe havens there. He emphasized the need for a strengthened regional and multi-national approach to the violence and for more broad support of communities, saying African partners must lead efforts. But a regional security force assembled by the G5 Sahel has struggled to fund its efforts and end the violence. The G5 Sahel force will now focus most of its efforts in the tri-border region between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, targeting Islamic State Grand Sahara, Parly said. However, progress in the Sahel has been minimal, and the problems there need to be solved by those regional governments, the assistant secretary for the U.S. State Departments African affairs division, Tibor Nagy, said Monday during a telephone press briefing. The U.S. is actively involved through a number of programs in the Sahel region, Nagy said. It takes political will to counter terrorism. It is unclear also how the newly constructed drone air base in northern Niger will be affected. Last week, the U.S. handed over a C-130 hangar at Niger Air Base 201 to the Nigerien Air Force. Col. Abdoul Kader Amirou, deputy chief of staff for the Nigerien Air Force, said the hangar will boost capabilities for the armed forces and strengthen joint actions between the Nigerien and U.S. forces. ___ Associated Press writers Robert Burns in Washington, Andy Drake in London and Thomas Adamson in Paris contributed to this report. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 29 Former Health Secretary and now Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin on Wednesday called on the Health Department to release regular advisories on the novel coronavirus in order to help stop the spread of misinformation amid the outbreak of the respiratory illness around the world. The problem is if it takes too long and the Sec (Health Secretary Francisco Duque) is busy, no one dares to speak up, Garin said during a House hearing on the countrys international health response. These are factors that I think, the DOH should start explaining to the public. Because refusal to speak is misconstrued as hiding something when in fact there is nothing being hidden, she added. But apart from issuing timely updates, the lawmaker also dished out a piece of advice to her former colleagues: simplify the technical medical terms. There are medical terminologies within the confines of the rooms na hindi alam ng tao (that people are not aware of) You have to laymanize. Garin, in a separate interview with CNN Philippines, said fake news is thriving in the digital world due to the lack of information dissemination from appropriate authorities. At least 132 people have been killed by the mysterious respiratory illness in China, CNN reported Wednesday. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases there has also soared to over 6,000. The Philippine government is currently monitoring 23 patients for possible infection of the virus, the Health Department said Tuesday. However, authorities stressed there are no confirmed cases in the country. The Bureau of Immigration has also temporarily stopped issuing visas upon arrival to Chinese nationals to slow down group tours amid fears over the virus. Disclosing hospitals will only create panic' Apart from the campaign against false information, Garin also appealed to authorities to stop disclosing the names of hospitals where suspected patients are being observed. The former Health chief said doing so will only create panic among Filipinos. That should not be the case. What help will it do? It will create more panic than help people, Garin told CNN Philippines' The Source. And you start discriminating the patients and the health workers from that hospital. Walang add-on yun eh (there is no add-on). The Health Department said 27 individuals were previously under investigation for possible coronavirus infectionincluding patients from Metro Manila, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Mimaropa, Eastern Visayas, and Northern Mindanao. Three of them have already been discharged, while one died due to pneumonia. The Health Department said 27 individuals were previously under investigation for possible coronavirus infectionincluding patients from Metro Manila, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Mimaropa, Eastern Visayas, and Northern Mindanao. Three of them have already been discharged, while one died due to pneumonia. READ: Man under observation for possible coronavirus infection dies due to pneumonia in San Lazaro Hospital The US has ramped up air bombings since Donald Trump was elected president in 2016. US forces in Afghanistan dropped a record number of bombs last year, more than at any other time in at least 10 years, according to the US Air Force. The US has dropped 7,423 bombs on targets in Afghanistan in 2019, marking a rise from the 7,362 munitions dropped in 2018, US Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT) said in a report released on Monday. The figure represents a dramatic increase in bombings in Afghanistan in contrast to 2009 when 4,147 bombs were dropped under former President Barack Obama. The US has now ramped up air bombings since President Donald Trump was elected in 2016 as Washington removed a requirement that said the targets should be proximate to US or Afghan forces in order to prevent civilian casualties. The United Nations and rights groups have repeatedly expressed concerns over the increase in air raids across the country by US and Afghan forces that have resulted in a dramatic rise in civilian casualties. On Sunday, at least seven civilians, including three children were killed in government air raids in Afghanistans northern Balkh province that triggered protests from residents. Earlier this month, more than 60 civilians were killed or wounded in a US drone attack targeting a top Taliban splinter-group commander in the western Afghanistan province of Herat. Resolute Support, NATOs mission in Afghanistan, said in a statement that it launched a defensive air strike in support of Afghan forces, with a spokesman confirming US participation in the operation. In October, UN said it had credible reports of US air attacks on alleged Taliban drug laboratories resulting in the death of at least 30 civilians, including children. The US-led mission in Afghanistan quickly disputed the claim. The raids targeted 60 sites in Farah Province and neighboring Nimruz Province. In the first half of 2019, 717 civilians were killed by government forces, including US, representing a dramatic increase of 31 percent from a year earlier, the UN reported last year. The spike in hostilities comes as the US and the Taliban continue to push for a possible agreement that would see US troops withdrawing from Afghanistan in return for security guarantees. Multiple sources close to the talks said the Taliban had agreed to scale down attacks against US forces and Afghan government forces. The US demands a ceasefire from the group before any agreement could be finalised. The Arab League Foreign Ministers will hold an emergency meeting in Cairo Saturday at the request of the Palestinian Authority (PA). The emergency meeting will discuss actions to take following the announcement of the US Peace Deal in the conflict with Israel, while the United Nations rejected US President Donald Trumps deal of the century and reiterated that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be solved based on UN resolutions and international law. PA leader Mahmoud Abbas is expected to take part in the Cairo meeting. US President Donald Trump Tuesday unveiled his peace plan for the Palestine-Israeli conflict, in the presence of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who traveled to Washington for the occasion. The plan touted by the US leader as win-win deprives Palestinians of East Jerusalem that they hope to make the capital of their future state. It also grants Israel the rights to continue its annexation of the Palestinian territories and fully recognizes the disputed city as Israels capital. Monday, prior to the announcement, Abbas called on the international community to boycott the plan. The PA has since 2017 cut ties with the Trump administration. Also on Monday, various Palestinian factions came together to reject the so-called deal of the century. Hamas, Fatah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine members marched in the locked Gaza Strip to denounce the plan. Demonstrations were also staged throughout the Palestinian territories to reject the US plan that eliminates the two-state solution, and the chances of establishing an independent and sovereign Palestinian state, ignoring the 1967 borders and putting all of Jerusalem under full Israeli sovereignty. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE and Qatar welcomed the proposal but called for negotiations between the two sides to clear roadblocks. However, the United Nations has rejected deal of the century and reiterated that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be solved based on UN resolutions and international law. The position of the United Nations on the two-State solution has been defined, throughout the years, by relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions by which the Secretariat is bound, said Stephane Dujarric, a spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, in a statement. He added: The United Nations remains committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis in resolving the conflict on the basis of United Nations resolutions, international law, and bilateral agreements and realizing the vision of two States Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, on the basis of the pre-1967 lines. A French-Brazillian tourist who ran a sophisticated ATM skimming scam has been sentenced to jail with the court hearing he tried to run the scam again while on bail. Douglas Da Silva Rangel, 32, fleeced ATM customers for $77,256.00 in the scam which police said has not be seen before in Australia. After weeks of covert surveillance, detectives caught the Queensland resident red-handed trying to use fake ATM cards to withdraw cash. The scam involved placing an ATM skimming device inside the card reader and then transferring the information onto blank cards. CCTV of the arrest of Douglas Da Silva Rangel, 32, who fleeced ATM customers for $77,256.00 in the scam which police said has not be seen before in Australia The type of skimmer used in the scam is installed in the card reader so is harder to spot than external skimmers This type of skimmer does not sit on top of the card reader, making it a lot harder to spot. 'It's also a lot more technical and a lot harder to do,' Detective Senior Constable Sarah Boniface told 9 News. Small cameras were also placed on the ATMs to record customer's PIN numbers. Detectives from Queensland's Financial and Cyber Crime Group said the man was capable of installing the device in as little as 40 seconds. Detectives said the man was working alone rather than as part of a criminal gang. When police raided his Spring Hill home in July, they said they found $22,100 in cash, five ATM deep skimming devices, two false ATM ceiling panels with cameras as well as blank iTunes cards and gift cards. In court, the man claimed he had committed the offences to support his son and ex-girlfriend with a brain injury who were living overseas. The court also heard he purchased a luxury BMW with the stolen cash. After being arrested and granted bail Da Silva Rangel tried the scam again and was re-arrested. On Wednesday he was sentenced to 3.5 years but will be eligible for parole in in June after already serving seven months. 'You weren't someone's lowly soldier receiving orders... you were organising it (the scheme) which, in my view, makes it more serious,' Judge Julie Ryrie said, reports The Courier Mail. Nigel Farage is spending his final day in the European Parliament before Brexit today. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo) With Brexit just two days away, Nigel Farage has said he believes the UKs departure will mark the beginning of the end for the European Union. The leader of the Brexit Party and a soon-to-be ex-MEP said that other EU countries would now be able to see it was possible to leave the bloc. Mr Farage told the BBC: "I think, two years down the road, there'll be a big debate going on in many other countries about what kind of Europe people want. "Do they want a Europe of trading co-operation or a Europe run by these institutions in Brussels? And I think the UK's departure really will mark the beginning of the end of this European project. Britain is set to leave the EU on Friday (PA) Mr Farages comments come as the European Parliament prepares set the seal on Britain's departure from the EU in a final vote on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit deal. MEPs meeting in Brussels are expected overwhelmingly to back ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement, paving the way for the UK to leave on Friday. Asked about polling suggesting that support for the EU had risen since Brexit, Mr Farage added: "That's because we made such a Horlicks of leaving. "I think many of the Eurosceptic groups around Europe began to shake their heads and say 'Oh, perhaps it is not possible to leave. Read more from Yahoo News UK: 16 pictures that tell the story of five years of utter Brexit chaos Steve Baker warns Leavers not to wind up Remainers on EU exit day Outgoing BBC boss's parting shot at 'catch out' political journalism "Now it's actually happening, if we chart a clear path - and provided that Boris Johnson sticks to the very clear promises that he made in his manifesto - then I think all of that will change a couple of years down the line. Mr Farage, who is packing up his offices and leaving Brussels ahead of Brexit day on Friday, said he would miss being the "pantomime villain" at the European Parliament. He said Brexit was a "victory for grassroots campaigning" in the face of opposition from the "entire UK establishment. Story continues "Whatever my criticisms may be of the political system in the UK and its need for urgent reform, in the end what this shows is that it still actually works," he said. Mr Farage said he would miss being the "pantomime villain" at the European Parliament (AP) "So, I'm going to be celebrating the fact that democracy and the will of the people has triumphed at 11 o'clock this Friday. As British MEPs arrived in the European Parliament, a sign above the chamber could be seen reading: "It's not goodbye, it's au revoir. The message had been put up by the S&D, a coalition of socialist parties. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK TRENTON A Village Charter School official has been scolded for violating the School Ethics Act. Caroline Clarke, a member of the charter schools board of trustees, failed to complete mandatory training in a timely fashion, incurring the wrath of state education authorities. Dr. Lamont Repollet, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education, on Jan. 3 reprimanded Clarke as a school official found to have violated the School Ethics Act. He concurred with the School Ethics Commission, which recommended the softest sanction in the legal toolkit as opposed to a tougher censure, suspension or removal from office. School board members in New Jersey, including charter reps like Clarke, are legally required to complete a training program. These mandatory exercises are intended to equip board members with necessary skills and knowledge to serve on an academic governing body. The New Jersey School Boards Association offers this training online or in-person, making it easy for board members to fulfill their statutory obligations. Clarke, however, fell short of the obligation despite the NJSBA repeatedly telling her to complete the training on time. The NJSBA, the Mercer County Office of Education and the School Ethics Commission had all notified Clarke of her legal shortcoming, her failure to complete the training by June 30, 2019, according to public records. On Oct. 25, 2019, the School Ethics Commission issued a so-called Order to Show Cause (OTSC) directing Clarke to explain why she had failed to complete her mandatory training by June 30, 2019. Clarke, after getting served with the OTSC, finally completed her training requirement Oct. 30, 2019, but did not respond to the SECs inquiry as to why she failed to meet the June 30 deadline, according to the commission. At a public meeting held Nov. 19, 2019, the SEC found that Clarke had violated the School Ethics Act and state administrative code and formally passed a resolution asking Repollet to punish the charter school trustee with a penalty of reprimand. Repollet obliged in his decision dated Jan. 3, reprimanding Clarke for her failure to timely honor an obligation placed upon charter school trustees by law and for causing the unnecessary expenditure of administrative and adjudicative resources at both State and local levels. Legal expert In addition to being a Village Charter School trustee, Clarke is an active attorney who often speaks against racism and injustice. She previously worked for the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development as a government representative and equal employment opportunity officer, records show. A Trenton property owner, Clarke earns money in real estate by renting commercial property on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, according to her 2019 personal disclosure statement to the School Ethics Commission. Village Charter School is located at 101 Sullivan Way in Trentons West Ward. The institution is governed by a board of trustees that includes Clarke, who failed to attend several board meetings last year, according to meeting minutes. While state education authorities were moving to hold Clarke accountable for violating the School Ethics Act, the charter school trustee was notably absent from the September 2019, October 2019, November 2019 and December 2019 board meetings. When reached for comment Tuesday night, Clarke acknowledged the reprimand. I was late in taking my training. There is no dispute in that, she said. Based on my own personal family medical issues I did not complete my training in a timely manner. I was wrong. I didnt do it on time and so by the time I did do it, obviously that was not sufficient for the board and they did what they did. Clarke did not wish to elaborate upon the ongoing medical issue affecting her family. A distinguished resident of the capital city, I served on many boards for many years, she told The Trentonian, and this is the first time this has happened. She may appeal Repollets decision to the Appellate Division of the Superior Court. Congratulations, girlsroomsoftex.com got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: Girlsroomsoftex.com scored 70 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 3.5/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 28 Jun 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. girlsroomsoftex.com is very popular in Facebook. Furthermore its facebook page has 88231 likes. Add a widget like this on your site: click here This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the girlsroomsoftex homepage on Twitter + the total number of girlsroomsoftex followers (if girlsroomsoftex has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the girlsroomsoftex homepage on StumbleUpon. The total number of people who shared the girlsroomsoftex homepage on Delicious. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the girlsroomsoftex homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if girlsroomsoftex has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the girlsroomsoftex homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. Basic Information PAGE TITLE Home DESCRIPTION Put the description of this page here KEYWORDS Put keywords for this page here separated by commas OTHER KEYWORDS 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. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. Domain and Server DOCTYPE XHTML 1.0 Transitional CHARSET AND LANGUAGE English UTF-8English DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER Apache/2.2.24 (Unix) mod_ssl/2.2.24 OpenSSL/0.9.8e-fips-rhel5 mod_bwlimited/1.4 PHP/5.3.23 mod_perl/2.0.6 Perl/v5.8.8 (PHP/5.3.23) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux 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) The language of girlsroomsoftex.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for girlsroomsoftex.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/GirlsRoomSoftex DESCRIPTION Girls Room adalah Official Facebook page dari Softex. Room untuk cewek asik seperti kamu LIKES 88231 PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT 187 PAGE TYPE Health/beauty TIMELINE PAGE TIMELINE 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 like website Facebook page. 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 total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND Just nine days after ending his last fast on January 18, 1948, to bring sanity in Delhi which was engulfed in unprecedented communal violence, and three days before he was assassinated on January 30, weak and weary 79-year-old Mahatma Gandhi was visiting the Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki Dargah in Mehrauli. Vivek Shukla Just nine days after ending his last fast on January 18, 1948, to bring sanity in Delhi which was engulfed in unprecedented communal violence, and three days before he was assassinated on January 30, weak and weary 79-year-old Mahatma Gandhi was visiting the Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki Dargah in Mehrauli. It was freezing cold in Delhi and he reached there before 8 a.m. to see the damage done to it during the communal orgy. He was very upset that in the name of religion, Muslims were attacked in their own land. He was there with Maulana Azad and Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur. Even though it was Urs time there, yet the mood was sombre and Bapu was unwell as he was on fast till recently. After this holy place was attacked and vandalised, many local Muslims left their homes for safer places. Even staffers of the Dargah abandoned it as they feared for their lives. They too moved to safer places. Those were the days when only villages constituted the entire Mehrauli area. IIT and various South Delhi colonies like Green Park, Hauz Khas and Safderjung Development Area(SDA) came up only after mid 50s. Pyare Lal Nayar, Bapu's PA, writes in 'Mahatma Gandhi Purnahuti', "Bapu was devastated to see some part of the dargah damaged. It was being attacked by refugees coming from Pakistan. They were given make-shift accommodation close to the Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki Dargah by the government." At the dargah, he appealed to everybody to live peacefully. He asked refugees to rebuild the damaged area. Gandhiji had asked Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to get the dargah repaired as it had sustained extensive damage during the riots. Further, Gandhiji asked Nehru to allocate Rs 50,000 for the damages. Of course, it was a huge amount in those days. After his visit, Gandhi himself wrote, as per his collected works (Volume 98 pg 98-99): "Esteemed as second only to the shrine at Ajmer, it (the Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki Dargah) is visited every year not only by Muslims but by thousands of non-Muslims too." Before leaving the dargah, Gandhiji told the large assembly, "I have come on a pilgrimage. I request Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs who have come here with cleansed hearts to take a vow that they will never allow strife to raise its head, but will live in amity, united as friends and brothers. We must purify ourselves and meet even our opponents with love." Visited shrines only twice In his 744-day stay in Delhi between April 12, 1915, and the fateful January 30, 1948, he visited religious places only twice even though he was a devout Hindu. He inaugurated the Birla Mandir on September 22, 1939, on the condition that the entry of dalits would not be barred there. The second time when he visited any shrine, it was the dargah. Yes, he lived in a tiny room at Valmiki Mandir in Delhi where he used to teach kids of Valmiki families. That black board is still intact which was used by none other than Gandhiji during his classes to teach his students. Bapu stayed at Valmiki Mandir in then Reading Road (now Mandir Marg) for exactly 214 days from April 1, 1946 to June 10, 1947. Here Louis Fischer used to interview him before writing his great biography 'The Life of Mahatma Gandhi'. "This shrine was subjected to the wrath of mobs. The Muslims living in the vicinity for the last 800 years had to leave. Though Muslims love the shrine, today no Muslim can be found anywhere near it. It is the duty of the Hindus, Sikhs, the officials and the government to open the shrine again and wash off this stain on us. "The time has come when both India and Pakistan must unequivocally declare to the majorities in each country that they will not tolerate desecration of religious places, be they small or big. They should also undertake to repair the places damaged during riots," Gandhiji had said. Bakhtiyar Kaki Dargah comes alive every year during autumn when 'Phool Walon Ki Sair', the annual Delhi festival which celebrates communal harmony, takes place here. It is indeed a tribute to Gandhiji who stood firm that India has to survive on secular ethos. The seven-day festival was revived by the then Prime Minister Nehru in 1961. During the festival, both Hindus and Muslims offer floral 'chaadar' and 'pankha' at the dargah. Floral 'pankha' and canopy are also offered at the ancient temple of Devi Yogmaya, also in Mehrauli. Alas, there is no plaque at the dargah that can give an idea that this place has very strong connections with Gandhiji. Sadly enough, those who work at the dargah have no clue as to why Gandhiji came here on January 27, 1948. (The writer is a senior journalist) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text A powerful storm that battered Spain this week has claimed at least 13 lives four people remain missing and devastated coastal areas along the Mediterranean with record rainfall, wind and waves. The latest fatality is a fisherman who was dragged out to sea in LAmetlla de Mar (Tarragona) on Thursday. Authorities are still searching for another sailor who was swept away by a wave in Palamos, a young man who was canyoneering in Mallorca, and two more people who went missing in Ibiza. Barceloneta Beach in Barcelona. EP Spains Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday flew over affected areas in Catalonia and surveyed the storm damage in the Balearic Islands. The leader of the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) has called an emergency meeting with several members of his cabinet to craft a response to the effects of Storm Gloria. The unusual weather system has ruined crops, destroyed seaside promenades and damaged beachfront buildings along the 518 kilometers of coastline in the Valencia region. Storm Gloria also affected 699 km of coastline in Catalonia as well as many parts of the Balearic Islands, where some locations were pounded by six-meter waves that swept away entire beaches. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visiting areas affected by Storm Gloria in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands. The regional premier of Valencia, Ximo Puig, on Thursday demanded swift decisions from the central government in order to conduct storm restoration in time for the Easter holidays, one of the peak periods for the tourism industry. With an alliance of the public and private sectors, we will forge ahead. We are saddened by this disaster and the recovery will be very tough, but we are going to rise above this, said Puig at Fitur, a tourism fair currently taking place in Madrid. Disaster zones Numerous municipalities in Catalonia continued to experience travel disruption on Thursday, and 130,000 students stayed home from school. In the city of Girona, authorities said that the Ter River has burst its banks in the neighborhoods of Pedret and Pont Major. The towns of Deltebre and Alcanar, in Tarragona province, have asked to be declared disaster zones. Early estimates place storm damage in Deltebre, where 25 meters of coastline have been swallowed up and 3,000 hectares of rice fields ruined, in the range of 9.5 million. A dismembered tuna fish in lAmpolla. JOSEP LLUIS SELLART The Ebro River Delta region in Catalonia has been severely affected by the storm, which pushed waves as far as three kilometers inland, ruining crops and altering fishing activities in the area. The damage is particularly visible in coastal towns between LAmpolla and Deltebre, on the left bank of the Ebro. The sea has covered thousands of hectares of rice fields, where the salty water will damage soil fertility. This means ruin, said Josep Colomines, captain of a fishing vessel from LAmpolla. A dozen red tuna fish lay mangled on the badly damaged seafront promenade, their heads still intact. Knives in hand, several people were busy cutting out the edible parts. (l) The Roman bridge in Besalu in 2015, and on Wednesday. Getty / Agusti Ensesa Every beach in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB), from Castelldefels to Montgat, has sustained the worst damage seen in the last 30 years. According to the AMBs head of beaches, Dani Palacios, the damage to beach equipment alone is expected to be in excess of 250,000, and that is without counting the destruction of boardwalks and promenades, or the new sand that will have to be brought in to restore the areas to their former state. Valencia In the Valencia region, the storm has swallowed up entire beaches and dragged sand, seaweed, cane, driftwood, oil drums and even buoys hundreds of meters inland. In Oliva, where authorities allowed residents to keep homes that were built too close to the coastline, one homeowner begged reporters not to publish photographs of the state of his property or else theyll take away even more land from us. Ive never seen anything like this. Maybe in 1982, said a woman named Teresa inside one of the few cafeterias still open in the area. In Javea, the ground-floor premises of the buildings located along its small port promenade have been ravaged despite efforts to stop the waves with metal sheets and wooden planks. Never before has there been so much damage, with such strong waves, said Diego, who works at La Bodeguita, a seafront restaurant in this popular tourist destination. With reporting by Marta Rodriguez, Ferran Bono and Marc Rovira. English version by Susana Urra. SPRINGFIELD Gov. J.B. Pritzker delivers his first State of the State address today and is expected to make a pitch for his signature initiative, a graduated-rate income tax, before a legislature roiled by a federal corruption investigation that led to a guilty plea a day earlier from a powerful ex-state senator. The income tax proposal, which goes before voters in November, is the centerpiece of Pritzkers long-term plans to stabilize the states chronically shaky finances. But the governors case has not been helped by the federal probe that on Tuesday, the first day of the legislative session, saw former Sen. Martin Sandoval plead guilty to taking $250,000 in bribes while in office. The corruption case could bolster one of the primary arguments opponents have deployed against the graduated income tax proposal -- that Illinois taxpayers shouldnt trust Springfield politicians with any more of their tax dollars. In his midday address to both chambers of the legislature, Pritzker is expected to recount the legislative successes from his first year in office -- including legalizing recreational marijuana and approving a $45 billion infrastructure improvement plan -- and push for his priorities for 2020, including passing another balanced budget and improving early childhood education. The federal investigation has spurred bipartisan calls for a range of ethics changes in Springfield, and Pritzker has repeatedly said wrongdoers need to be rooted out of state government. Hes expected to repeat that call in his speech. Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons. In pleading guilty to bribery and tax charges, Sandoval agreed to cooperate in a widespread public corruption probe. The plea came four months after federal agents raided the Chicago Democrats Springfield office. The new Senate president, Don Harmon, will need to navigate his Democratic caucus through any potential additional fallout from the probe. I dont know if I have ever been more embarrassed than watching the federal government cart cardboard boxes out of the Capitol, Harmon said of the federal raid on Sandovals Springfield office in September. The chapter is certainly not over, but I think its best that Marty Sandoval is no longer a member of the Senate. It reminds us how important it is that we turn our attention to real, meaningful ethics reform. Two other Senate Democrats have been ensnared in the federal probe. Sen. Tom Cullerton of Villa Park has pleaded not guilty to charges alleging he had a no-show job with the Teamsters union. A source has told the Chicago Tribune that Sen. Terry Link of Vernon Hills wore a wire for the FBI and is a cooperating witness against former state Rep. Luis Arroyo of Chicago, who is charged with bribing a state senator to support sweepstakes gambling legislation. Link has denied cooperating with investigators. Arroyo is scheduled to be arraigned next week. Theres a sense of unease around the state Capitol about where the investigation might lead next. Every person that was mentioned or referenced in the Sandoval search warrant, whether by name or by letter or by number, should be very concerned about their future, said House Republican leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs. Ethics are one of the top priorities for the Senate Republican caucus, GOP leader Bill Brady said in an interview Tuesday. Brady suggested that penalties need to be higher for public officials who are found to have taken a bribe or bribed someone and said there needs to be more transparency about the activities of elected officials. Gov. J.B. Pritzker will deliver his first State of the State address on Wednesday and is expected to make a pitch for his signature initiative, a graduated-rate income tax, before a legislature roiled by a federal corruption investigation that led to a guilty plea a day earlier from a powerful ex-state senator. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 HUNTSVILLE, Ala., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Avion Unmanned, the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) division of Avion Solutions, Inc., signed a Participating Addendum with the State of New Mexico's agencies, commissions, institutions, political subdivisions and local public bodies allowed by law. Under New Mexico Statewide Price Agreement #00-00000-19-00041AA, this contract opens the door for Avion Unmanned to provide UAS services to state and local government agencies in New Mexico. "Providing a simplified direct path for government agencies at all levels to request unmanned aircraft operations is finally a reality. With the signing of this Participating Addendum with New Mexico, Avion Unmanned has been selected to provide critical data collection services to organizations who desperately need it, but have never before had a contract vehicle to acquire vetted, legal, and safe operations in a timely manner," said Taylor Abington, Senior Program Manager of Avion Unmanned. Based on proven expertise, Avion Unmanned has been chosen to provide UAS services nationwide through the National Association of State Procurement Officials (NASPO) ValuePoint Cooperative Purchasing Organization. Among the UAS services Avion Unmanned can provide are: Emergency Services, Law Enforcement Support, Aerial Inspection and Mapping Data Services, support to Agricultural and Gaming, as well as Agency Media Relations and Marketing. Virginia's Department of General Service (DGS) and NASPO are working together through Contract E194-79435 to provide agencies easier access to UAS or drone services to organizations like Avion Unmanned. "Avion Unmanned's solutions are true force multipliers that provide actionable data, reduce operational risks, and improve efficiency in critical areas from disaster response to law enforcement, infrastructure and construction development/monitoring, and even agriculture management," said Chad Donald, President and CEO of Avion Solutions. "Under this new contract, Avion will partner with agencies nationwide to enable better decision-making, improve operations, and save lives." For more information, visit https://www.naspovaluepoint.org/portfolio/unmanned-aerial-vehicle-drone-services-2019-2024/avion-solutions-inc/. About Avion Unmanned Avion Unmanned, the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) service provider of Avion Solutions, Inc., provides UAS flight Operations, Red Team support, aerial inspections, training, and program development for commercial, military and non-military government agencies. The UAS team seeks to improve the efficiency, safety, and effectiveness of organizations through quality UAS services. About Avion Solutions Avion Solutions, Inc. is an employee-owned innovative engineering and logistics solutions provider for complex military-grade projects. Headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama with a presence in multiple states across the U.S., Avion Solutions has provided solutions to Department of Defense customers and commercial clients since 1992. Our broad range of technical expertise includes engineering, logistics and technical services, data analysis, software development, small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and drone services, and development of a full spectrum of training solutions ranging from on-site classroom training to interactive multimedia instruction (IMI) programs. Avion Solutions is a 2019 Best Places to Work award winner. To learn more, visit www.avionsolutions.com. Contact: Michael Jones, Marketing Manager Phone: 256-327-7155 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Avion Solutions Inc. Related Links http://www.avionsolutions.com As as the world continues to grapple with the little-understood Wuhan coronavirus, Malaysias Health Ministry this morning confirmed another three cases in the country, bringing the total number of cases to seven. Of the three new cases, two were among the group of Patients-Under-Investigation (PUI) suspected of carrying the virus, while another was an individual who had close contact with infected patients. All seven of the affected individuals in Malaysia are Chinese nationals. One of the two new PUI cases was a 4-year-old girl in Langkawi, and the other was a 52-year-old male receiving treatment in Johor Baru. The third new case is the daughter-in-law of Singapores first coronavirus case. She had previously tested negative, and had decided to stay in Malaysia to care for her two infected children, who are being treated for the disease here. In the month of January, 78 patients have been hospitalized under observation over fears they may have contracted the virus. Thirty-nine of them were Malaysian, 36 Chinese, and one each from Jordan, Brazil, and Thailand. Three have tested positive, and results are still pending on a fourth case. Previously, Malaysias Health Ministry Director-General Dr. Noor Hisham had reported that 25 individuals who had close contact with coronavirus cases in Singapore and Johor had been identified, and were quarantined and tested. Meanwhile, four Malaysians have found themselves on the wrong side of the law after being investigated for allegedly spreading fake news via social media by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). One suspect, a Bangi man, found himself under arrest yesterday afternoon over an unspecified erroneous Facebook statement he made on Sunday. Officers are still looking for the other three individuals. Government agencies have been busy updating social media accounts with constant posts warning of the circulation of fake news on the virus. Senarai berita palsu berkenaan novel #coronavirus di negara ini. Kenyataan rasmi mengenai novel coronavirus hanya dikeluarkan KKM dari semasa ke semasa. #WuhanCoronovirus#2019nCoV pic.twitter.com/P3Asn2gGF9 KKMPutrajaya (@KKMPutrajaya) January 29, 2020 Health Ministry officials have released a list of 26 hospitals across the country that will provide services to patients suspected or confirmed to be suffering from the virus. Story continues Fifteen of those hospitals are on the Malaysian peninsula, while four are in Sabah, six are in Sarawak, and one is in Labuan. Funds to provide more heat scanners to be placed at entry points into the country were also approved yesterday. Confirmed infections have soared to more than 6,000 across China, mainly in Wuhan, which authorities have effectively sealed off, along with around 10 other Chinese cities, in a bid to contain the virus. As of this morning, the death toll has reached 132. Prior to government orders to quarantine the city, some five million people managed to leave Wuhan, mayor Zhou Xianwang told reporters on Sunday. Zhou also confessed to withholding information about the outbreak. The novel coronavirus has spread to at least 16 other countries outside of China: Thailand has reported 14 cases; Hong Kong has eight; the United States, Taiwan, Australia, and Macau have five each; Singapore, South Korea, and Malaysia each have reported four; Japan has seven; France has four; Canada has three; Vietnam has two; and Nepal, Cambodia, and Germany each have one. There have so far been no deaths outside China. Several nations including France, Thailand, and Australia said they would evacuate their citizens from Wuhan. Japan has already evacuated some of their citizens. China has been rushing to build a hospital in Wuhan to treat coronavirus patients, and it is expected to be complete by this week. The SARS-like virus, also known as 2019-nCoV, is a never-before-seen member of the coronavirus family. Like other coronaviruses, it comes from animals, and is believed to have emerged at a now-shuttered market that sold exotic wildlife such as bats. China has temporarily suspended all wildlife trade. The head of the World Health Organization was in Beijing today to discuss the outbreak, days after he said the Wuhan pneumonia virus did not yet constitute a global health emergency due to the limited number of cases abroad. This article, Malaysia confirms 7 coronavirus cases, one man arrested for spreading fake news on disease, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters! The Indian Institute of Welding (IIW) - India's Mumbai Chapter is hosting 5th International Welding Congress and 13th Weld India Exhibition of the country in association with the International Institute of Welding from 6 February to 9 February 2020 in Navi Mumbai. The theme of the exhibition is 'Advanced Welding Technology and Quality Systems for Developing Economies.' Weld India 2020 an exhibition of leading welding equipment and consumables, and the various automation techniques are being displayed by the Industries. The use of digitalization, artificial intelligence are the key success to improve the fabrication quality in the country. Over 75 leading manufacturers and entrepreneurs are participating in this four-day welding Congress and the exhibition of the country. Representatives from 18 countries, and from SAARC countries participation are the highlights. There are two exclusive workshops on skill development needs of the country and the National Welding Capabilities are being conducted. Multiple government departments like the Ministry of Skill Development, Ministry of Science and Industrial Research, CGHS, NSDC, Sector skill council, and Industrial Representatives from Automobile, Heavy Industries captains will discuss and deliberate the issues affecting the growth of Small and Medium sector Industries. In the weld India exhibition, the state of the art Welding facilities are being demonstrated which saves considerable energy are few of the Highlights. This will give an opportunity to Small, Medium and MSME sectors to network with the leading welding technologists and understand the methods of optimizing the facilities to suit our requirements are the important takeaways. "Industries will be benefitted largely by associating with this event, as over 150 Technical papers are likely to be presented and an opportunity is created by The IIW India to the Indian Industries by bringing over 250 highly experienced persons from all over the world to interact with the Indian Industries so that The Indian Government Mission of Make In India is achieved at all levels," said R Srinivasan, Past President and Co-Chairman of the National Organizing Team, IIW. The Weld India 2020 aimed at providing over 10,000 Indian visitors with exposure on par with the best in Global Welding and Fabrication Technology is a must-visit event for Indian Fabricators, Scientists, Welding Professionals and Students. Entry to Exhibition is Free. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinas microblogging site Weibo has exploded over the novel Coronavirus outbreak. Hundreds of millions of posts have flooded the social media site; the number of discussion threads is almost impossible calculate. No one topic has triggered so much discussion among Chinas netizens as this outbreak has in recent years, and the intensity of discussion is unlikely to subside any time soon. A lot of it has been critical of the government, especially of the Wuhan authorities. Chinas social media platforms are very much behind the so-called great firewall of Chinas multi-layered censorship. But this time around, both Weibo and WeChat, Chinas wildly popular mobile phone app, have become channels for criticism, and questioning the authorities on the handling of the rapidly spreading crisis. Users have openly asked about the resignation of the Wuhan mayor for what neitizens thought was a slow response to the epidemic, which initially started in a trickle before changing into a deluge of cases for which Wuhan was clearly not prepared. Every move and announcement of the government especially Chinas local and national health commissions was scrutinsed and dissected. The governor of Hubei came in for some sharp criticism earlier this week after he held a press conference. The yearly output of face masks is 10.8 billion, Wang Xiaodong said at the briefing Sunday, only having to correct himself after he was handed a piece of paper. Its actually 1.8 billion, he said. Minutes later, Wang admitted it was 1.8 million masks. If he can mess up the data multiple times, no wonder the disease has spread so severely, one Weibo user said. Besides Weibo, WeChats moments section is another channel where netizens are reposting stories from WeChat official accounts about frontline medical workers and patients suffering during the outbreak and adding critical comments. Where is our national system!! a Wuhan native surnamed Chen wrote in her WeChat Moments when reposting a story about how patients in her hometown could not get proper treatment, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. Of course, there were a substantial number of posts urging the country and its citizens to fight the crisis together. For sure, the window to be critical about local governments and officials is an open one only temporarily possibly a deliberate decision taken by the ruling Communist Party of China to allow the citizens to vent. [January 29, 2020] Applications Open for the TAG FinTech South Innovation Challenge FinTech South, the Southeast's largest event dedicated to financial innovation, is now accepting applications for the FinTech South Innovation Award. The annual program recognizes Georgia's innovative, early-stage FinTech companies by showcasing them at the state's premier FinTech startup competition. The winner will take home one of the nation's biggest awards of its kind - $50,000 cash. Part of the FinTech South conference, hosted by the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), the FinTech South Innovation Challenge is open to early-stage companies based in Georgia or committed to locating their headquarters here. To qualify, eligible FinTech startups must first apply and be accepted into the four-week Innovation Challenge Education and Mentoring program. Eight to ten startups will be selected to participate in the program, which offers relevant educational sessions, mentoring from industry veterans, as well as access to a network of industry leaders based in Georgia. The program concludes with a "pitch night," where a panel of judges will select three finalists to present and compete for the $50,000 FinTech South Innovation Award, presented at FinTech South on April 20-21, 2020 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. "This unique program and substantial cash award honors the exciting and transformational innovation happening right here in Georgia's FinTech sector," said Larry K. Williams, President and CEO of TAG. "Leading start-ups are offered an incredible opportunity to be mentored by the industry's top veterans and to gain visibility on a global stage at one of the most important FinTech sector gatherings of the year." The deadline for applications is February 14, 2020. For eligibility requirements and to apply, visit https://www.tagonline.org/tag-fintech-innovation-award/ Join TAGas we host the largest fintech conference in the Southeast - FinTech South 2020 April 20-21 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. FinTech South a global exchange of insights, innovations and trends fueling tomorrow's financial tech industry. Attracting international companies and speakers across multiple industries, FinTech South is your opportunity to engage with the 1500+ international executives that will gather in Atlanta, a global fintech hub, generating $72+ billion in revenues and attracting $1.1+ billion in venture capital in 2019 alone. The FinTech South content program will feature 100+ speakers across 36+ sessions covering the hottest and most relevant trends in the fintech industry today. Register Now! About the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) TAG is the leading technology industry association in the state, serving more than 30,000 members through regional chapters in Metro Atlanta, Athens, Augusta (News - Alert), Columbus, Macon/Middle Georgia, and Savannah. TAG's mission is to educate, promote, influence and unite Georgia's technology community to foster an innovative and connected marketplace to fuel the innovation economy. The association provides networking and educational programs; celebrates Georgia's technology leaders and companies; and advocates for legislative action that enhances the state's economic climate for technology. TAG hosts over 200 events each year and serves as an umbrella organization for 27 professional societies. Additionally, the TAG Education Collaborative (TAG's charitable arm) focuses on helping science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education initiatives thrive. For more information visit the TAG website at www.tagonline.org or TAG's community website at www.hubga.com. To learn about the TAG-Ed Collaborative visit http://www.tagedonline.org/. About TAG FinTech TAG FinTech was founded in 2010 to address the specific needs of companies, individuals and investors serving the financial industry both domestically and abroad. Financial technology or FinTech encompasses products, solutions, services and information providers, which drive decisions, process payments and facilitate transactions for financial institutions. TAG FinTech's mission is to build recognition of Georgia as the hub of choice for the world's leading financial technology providers with the goal of accelerating the accumulation of capital by its members. For more information about TAG FinTech, visit http://www.tagonline.org/chapters-and-societies/fintech/. Georgia FinTech Website The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) has launched a new interactive website highlighting Georgia's thriving FinTech ecosystem. The website georgiafintech.org spotlights one of Georgia's hottest tech sectors, providing a detailed look at the more than 120 public and private organizations that comprise the Georgia FinTech community, along with detailed data on the size and scope of the economic infrastructure that makes the state's FinTech ecosystem a global leader. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005206/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Casoro Group, an award-winning multifamily-focused real estate investment firm with a mission to provide better homes for better lives, has named Melissa Oliver as President of CLEAR Property Management, and Tom Parker as Director of Investor Relations for Upside Avenue, both subsidiaries of Casoro Group. At a recent State of the Union held in Casoros headquarters in Austin, Texas, and broadcasted live to all its subsidiaries throughout the state, CEO Yuen Yung announced the promotions along with goals for 2020 and beyond. Melissa has established herself as a strong leader who is well-respected in the property management industry. Her ability to inspire and lead the CLEAR team and the trusted relationships she has built with owners have contributed to the growth of the company, said Yuen Yung, CEO of Casoro Group. We are excited to see what Melissa will accomplish and where she takes CLEAR as the new President. As President, Oliver will oversee the operations and growth of CLEAR Property Management and financial health of the portfolio. My main focus in 2020 is to ensure we have the infrastructure in place to aggressively grow, said Oliver. I am excited to take on this role and Im ready to kill it in 2020 and beyond. Oliver first joined CLEAR as a Regional Manager in 2016 and shortly after was promoted as Vice President of Operations in 2017. She gained many achievements throughout her career including Property of the Year, Manager of the Year, Region of the Year, and Regional of the Year. Prior to joining CLEAR, Oliver served as Senior Regional Manager at Trinity Property Consultants, supervising a portfolio of 4,205 units in multiple markets. She also served as Director of Operations for Riata Apartment Homes, overseeing operations of 2,044 units. Tom Parker joined Upside Avenue in 2018. As Director of Investor Relations, Parker is responsible for establishing and managing the relationships with Upside Avenue investors and financial advisors. Prior to joining Upside Avenue, Parker worked in the Press Office for the Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott where he worked closely with the Director of Media Relations and the Press Secretary. He also spent time at Trammell Crow Residential where he worked with the Quality Assurance Team where he was responsible for alleviating challenges on various assets. Upside Avenue is known for its customer service. When investors need assistance, our team is always just a phone call or chat message away, Parker said. My goal is to strengthen our investor outreach and continue providing the transparency and connectedness our investors have already come to expect. Parker has a B.A. in Political Science and Government and a minor in Corporate Communications from The University of Texas at Austin. He also holds certification from UTs Real Estate Finance Program. ### About Casoro Group Casoro Group is an award-winning multifamily-focused real estate investment firm with a mission to provide better homes for better lives. Casoro seeks multifamily investment opportunities in the U.S. Sunbelt region for its family office, high-net worth, and institutional clients. As a vertically-integrated real estate investment firm and parent company of CLEAR Property Management and Upside Avenue multifamily REIT, Casoro is in a position to create opportunities for investors to enjoy all the benefits of multifamily real estate ownership. Attachments The RPI (A) will stand with Muslims if mosques are "touched", party president and Union minister Ramdas Athawale said on Wednesday, days after MNS chief Raj Thackeray had questioned the use of loudspeakers on the place of worship of the minority community. Athawale, a BJP ally, criticised Thackeray over his statement on the use of loudspeakers on mosques. The Union minister maintained the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), whose enactment has triggered nationwide protests, was not against Muslims. "The position taken by Raj Thackeray about removing loudspeakers on mosques is wrong. Nobody should take position that's detrimental to national unity," a statement quoted Athawale as saying. "The RPI(A) will stand with Indian Muslims if mosques are touched," Athawale said. Athawale said Thackeray is pitching for driving Bangladeshi infiltrators out of the country, but on the other hand is "opposing" the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as he charged the MNS president with "double standards". He stressed the CAA is not anti-Muslim and said his party will stand with the community if the law troubles it. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) B TS fans have found an unusual and touching way to thank James Corden for hosting the K-pop stars on his US chat show. The seven-piece appeared on the Late Late Show on Tuesday (January 28) night, performing their latest track Black Swan and taking part in a hilarious game of hidenseek. Fans were delighted with their star turn, especially as the nature of the sketches and interview meant the band could get involved despite language barriers. One fan group on Twitter then found the perfect way to thank Corden, digging out a tweet in which he voiced his support for the Magic Breakfast charity. BTS: The world's biggest boyband - In pictures 1 /46 BTS: The world's biggest boyband - In pictures November 19, 2017 BTS perform during the 2017 American Music Awards Getty Images March 19, 2014 BTS attend the 100th episode of MBC Show Champion 2014 in Seoul AFP/Getty Images December 31, 2017 BTS performs onstage during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2018 in Los Angeles, CA, USA Getty Images for dcp January 15, 2020 Ariana Grande shares a picture of her with BTS Instagram August 10, 2014 BTS attends the Mnet America show Danny From LA KCON 2014 - Day 2 in Los Angeles, CA, USA Getty Images August 10, 2014 K-pop group BTS arrive on the red carpet during the K-CON 2014 in Los Angeles, CA, USA AFP/Getty Images January 22, 2015 BTS arrive for the 24th Seoul Music Awards n Seoul, South Korea Getty Images January 28, 2015 BTS arrive for the 4th Gaon Chart K-POP Awards 2015 at the Olympic Park in Seoul Getty Images May 21, 2017 BTS accepts the Top Social Artist award onstage during the 2017 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, NV, USA Getty Images November 19, 2017 BTS perform during the 2017 American Music Awards Getty Images November 19, 2017 BTS pose in the press room at the 2017 American Music Awards Invision/AP November 19, 2017 V and Jungkook of BTS perform during the 2017 American Music Awards Getty Images November 19, 2017 BTS perform during the 2017 American Music Awards Getty Images December 31, 2017 BTS attends Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2018 in Los Angeles, CA, USA Getty Images for dcp December 31, 2017 BTS performs onstage during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2018 in Los Angeles, CA, USA Getty Images for dcp May 20, 2018 BTS perfrom during the 2018 Billboard Music Awards Getty Images May 20, 2018 BTS attend the 2018 Billboard Music Awards Getty Images May 20, 2018 BTS perfrom during the 2018 Billboard Music Awards Getty Images May 20, 2018 Tyra Banks with BTS attending the 2018 Billboard Music Awards Getty Images May 20, 2018 BTS accepts the Top Social Artist award during the 2018 Billboard Music Awards Getty Images October 14, 2018 BTS performs during a Korean cultural event as part of South Korean President official visit in France AFP/Getty Images October 14, 2018 BTS performs during a Korean cultural event as part of South Korean President official visit in France AFP/Getty Images October 14, 2018 BTS members stand on scene after they performed during a Korean cultural event as part of South Korean President official visit in France AFP/Getty Images October 14, 2018 BTS performs during a Korean cultural event as part of South Korean president official visit to France AFP/Getty Images October 14, 2018 South Korean President Moon Jae-in greets the members of South Korean pop group BTS during a Korean cultural event as part of South Korean President official visit in France AFP/Getty Images December 14, 2018 V, Suga, Jin, JungKook, Jimin, J-Hope and RM of BTS attend the 2018 Mnet Music Awards in Hong Kong Getty Images January 15, 2019 BTS attend the Seoul Music Awards Getty Images May 1, 2019 BTS perform onstage during the 2019 Billboard Music Awards Getty Images May 15, 2019 Kim Tae-hyung, Park Ji-min, Jungkook, Suga, Kim Seok-jin, RM and J-Hope of BTS perform on "Good Morning America" Getty Images May 1, 2019 South Korean boy band BTS poses in the press room with their awards during the 2019 Billboard Music Awards AFP/Getty Images December 6, 2019 BTS attends 102.7 KIIS FM's Jingle Ball 2019 Presented by Capital One at the Forum on December 6, 2019 in Los Angeles Getty Images December 31, 2019 BTS performs during the Times Square New Year's Eve 2020 Celebration in New York Getty Images January 26, 2020 BTS attends the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards Getty Images for The Recording A January 26, 2020 BTS perform with Lil Nax X AT the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards Getty Images Jan 29, 2020 South Korean boy band BTS with James Corden on The Late Late Shaw The organisation provides meals to schoolchildren and in December, Corden urged his Twitter followers to donate any cash they could. On Wednesday morning, a BTS fan quoted Cordens post, adding: So James Corden treats BTS and ARMY always so kindly and makes everyone feel welcomed at his show. "There is a charity called @magic_breakfast that he supports. Maybe we could donate there to say thank you!. And it didnt take long for the donations to start rolling in. On Wednesday afternoon, a spokesperson for the charity confirmed to Standard Online that over 5,000 had been donated so far - which is enough for 17,744 breakfasts and support for children at risk of hunger at the start of the school day. Needless to say, we are extremely grateful and overwhelmed by the generosity of BTS fans, and James Corden, they added. The hashtag #ThankYouJamesCorden also began trending on Twitter as the TV host added that the gratefulness was mutual. "Oh man. This BTS army is real and full of love and its great!" he wrote. "You have no idea how many children you have helped. Thank you thank you thank you x." Its been a big week for BTS, who made their performing debut at the Grammys on Sunday (January 26). DURHAM, N.C. -- Biomedical engineers at Duke University have demonstrated that at least 25 percent of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria found in clinical settings are capable of spreading their resistance directly to other bacteria. At the same time, the study shows that, despite common beliefs, the use of antibiotics does not significantly affect the rate at which the genes responsible for resistance are swapped between bacteria. Researchers used a new high-throughput method of measuring the rate at which bacteria exchange the packages of DNA that bestow resistance. The speed and ability to automate much of the process could allow new insights into what variables affect transfer rates. Such efforts could help doctors slow--or even reverse--the spread of resistance in certain human pathogens. The results appears online on January 24 in the journal Science Advances. "Our previous research showed that antibiotics do not affect the rate at which bacteria spread their resistance directly to their community in laboratory strains of E.coli," said Lingchong You, professor of biomedical engineering at Duke. "But we wanted to see if this is also true for clinical strains of pathogens that are actually out there in the world." Each antibiotic-resistant pathogen carries a genetic recipe for its resistance. But like chocolate chip cookies, not all recipes are the same, and not all of them are easily taught to others. One way of transferring resistance, however, is for that genetic recipe to be neatly written into a sharable book of sorts called a plasmid, which is then picked up and read by a neighboring bacteria through a process called conjugation. As resistance to antibiotics grows around the world, scientists are trying to figure out how to stop it from spreading. But because a lot of antibiotics come from natural sources, it would be impossible to completely eliminate resistance in the wild, which means there will always be reservoirs of bacteria filled with recipe books for resistance. "So the real problem is the resistance making its way into pathogens that harm humans," said Jonathan Bethke, a PhD student working in You's laboratory and first author of the new paper. "We're looking to gain a good understanding of what factors affect their rate of conjugation, because if you can slow that process down enough, the plasmids carrying the genes for resistance can fall out of a population." One major challenge in accomplishing that, however, is the classical method of measuring the rate of plasmid conjugation. Besides being labor intensive, researchers must wait 16 hours for a new generation of bacteria to grow in Petri dishes before they can get the results. This restriction makes this approach difficult to use when dealing with hundreds of bacterial strains and dozens of tweakable variables. Rather than taking years to finish the experiment, Bethke and Allison Lopatkin, a former graduate student in You's laboratory who is now an assistant professor at Barnard College, developed a method that uses automated machinery and takes only five hours to deliver results. It involves mixing two strains of bacteria -- a donor strain with resistance to one antibiotic that can be shared through plasmid conjugation and a recipient strain with resistance to a different antibiotic that cannot be shared. After letting the strains mingle and the plasmid conjugation process take place for a set amount of time, the bacterial mixture is transferred to vials containing nutrients and both antibiotics. This promotes the growth of the recipient bacteria that have successfully received the donor's plasmids for resistance while stunting the growth of all the rest. The researchers then wait to see how long the newly dual-resistant population takes to hit a certain threshold, which indicates how many there were to begin with. "This method opens up the ability to test many more drugs or environmental factors to see how they influence the rate of plasmid conjugation," said Bethke. "It will also allow us to determine if there's some sort of genetic determinant that is playing a greater role in terms of the transfer rate." You and Bethke collaborated with Joshua Thaden, assistant professor of medicine at Duke, and Vance Fowler, professor of medicine at Duke, to obtain 219 clinical isolates of pathogens - bugs found in real patients. All carried resistance to beta-lactamase, the most common form of antibiotic in use today. By measuring the rate of plasmid conjugation both with and without beta-lactamase antibiotics present, they showed that, except for one outlier, these antibiotics do not increase the rate of sharing resistance. They also discovered that more than 25 percent of the strains studied are capable of sharing their resistance at rates fast enough to detect. "We were surprised to discover that it was that high," said You. "And of course antibiotics do promote the spread of resistance, but our study indicates that it is primarily through selective population dynamics rather than through an increased rate of plasmid conjugation." The researchers also examined how slight variations in the genetics of the resistance plasmids themselves affect their conjugation rate. Working with Minfeng Xiao's laboratory at BGI Genomics in Shenzhen, China, the team sequenced the plasmids and analyzed their DNA. They then categorized the plasmids into "mobility groups" based on how they jump between cells and "incompatibility groups" based on how they replicate. Much to the researchers' surprise, they discovered that while there were only two mobility groups present in their sample library, neither of which affected the rate of conjugation, there were seven incompatibility groups -- and they very much did affect the rate of conjugation. "This is a preliminary but potentially big discovery because these two classifications are genetic, which makes them easy to identify," said Bethke. "If we can start to build a library of genetic markers that indicate what a pathogen's ability to spread its resistance directly to its neighbors is likely to be, then we can start to make large predictions about things like horizontal gene transfer networks and maybe start understanding how bacteria are evolving through this process at large." "Such a library would also have direct implications for how doctors use antibiotics in the field," said You. "This knowledge would help doctors make patient-specific decisions on whether or not to administer antibiotics." ### This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01GM098642, R01AI125604), the Army Research Office (W911NF-14-1-0490), and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. CITATION: "Environmental and Genetic Determinants of Plasmid Mobility in Pathogenic Escherichia Coli," Jonathan H. Bethke, Adam Davidovich, Li Cheng, Allison J. Lopatkin, Wenchen Song, Joshua T. Thaden, Vance G. Fowler Jr., Minfeng Xiao, Lingchong You. Science Advances, 24 Jan., 2020: Vol. 6, no. 4. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aax3173 Forensics examining the scene outside a petrol station in Co Down (David Young/PA) Detectives investigating the death of a man shot six times at a petrol station have questioned a 26-year-old man. Malcolm McKeown, 54, was found dead in his car behind the filling station in Waringstown in August. He had been shot six times in the head and body. The 26-year-old was taken to the Musgrave Street PSNI station in Belfast and later released. A PSNI spokesman said: The incident remains under investigation. Two men were charged with murder last year. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is launching a campaign this year to encourage hunters and anglers to recruit their friends, family or anyone they know to go hunting or fishing. The Refer-a-Friend campaign rewards licensed hunters and anglers who refer anyone to buy their first license in Tennessee. As a reward, TWRA will send you and your friend a thank you. Licenses go on sale on Feb. 18 for the 2020-2021 license year. The TWRA is teaming up with Tennessee State Parks for the first perk of the year. If you refer a friend before Feb. 29, you will receive a special promo code for 15 percent off cabins or 25 percent off camping. We are trying new ways to get new people to enjoy the great outdoors that Tennessee offers," said Ed Carter, executive director of TWRA. "We want to say thank you to hunters and anglers that take the time to carry on the tradition of hunting and fishing by taking a friend or being a mentor as well as encouraging more participation in hunting and fishing. The discount codes are valid for the promotional period through April 30. Discounts expire April 30. If a stay carries over past the promotional period, normal rates will apply. The discount is valid for new reservations only and not valid prior to the start of the promotional period. The discount is based on availability and certain other restrictions may apply. A two night minimum applies on cabin reservations. NEW DELHI: The Punjab-based Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday announced that it will support its long-term NDA ally - BJP in the upcoming assembly;y election in Delhi. Making the announcement, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said, ''the alliance is not just a political one. It is bound by emotions, for peace, the future, and interests of Punjab and the country." ''We never broke the alliance. We just decided to contest the election separately. We've been supporting CAA from the beginning. We went to Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah for granting citizenship for Sikhs who have been subjected to persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan,'' the SAD chief said. The SAD leader further stated that ''there were some misunderstandings that have been sorted out." BJP president JP Nadda too said that the party's alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for the Delhi Assembly election is back on track. ''The alliance of BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal is the oldest and strongest. I thank Akali Dal for supporting BJP in the Delhi elections,'' Nadda said. Live TV The SAD had on Monday announced that it will not contest the Delhi Assembly election after it was asked by its ally BJP to change its stand on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Addressing a press conference, SAD leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that the BJP had earlier asked the SAD to reconsider its stand on the Act. Sirsa asserted that SAD chief Sukhbir Badal has clarified the party's stand on the CAA, which is to include people from all religions. He added, "The BJP leadership wanted us to reconsider this stance. So, we decided to not fight these polls instead of changing our stand." The SAD leader also added, "Shiromani Akali Dal has its principal, its stand is clear, the country will not be divided on religion and caste. The alliance of SAD with BJP has been there for a very long time but we have preferred that we will not contest the election. In three of our meetings, it has been decided that we will not change our stand on the CAA." He also clarified the party's stand on the National Register of Citizens (NRC) saying, "Our stand is that NRC should not be brought. We want that there should be no law which makes people stand in queues and prove their credentials. This is a great nation and there is no space for communalism." Ahead of the assembly election in Delhi, the BJP forged an alliance with Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) and Ramvilas Paswan-led LJP with an offer of a couple of seats each to them. Concurs repetat pentru selectarea unei companii sociologice, care sa efectueze un studiu tematic "Barometrul opiniei publice in domeniul schimbarilor climatice" When you think of Bernie Sanders, it is easy to picture the presidential candidates slightly unkempt white hair and glasses. But, Mr Sanders wasnt always the grandfather-esque man he is today, and the revelation has some people shocked. On Tuesday, two pictures began circulating on Twitter of the Vermont senator from his younger years and theyve left fans of the presidential candidate swooning. Young Bernie Sanders has incredible podcast dude energy, the pictures, showing the politician with curly dark hair and glasses, are captioned. The post has since been liked more than 47,000 times by people agreeing with the attractive-yet-smart assessment of the young Mr Sanders. Im very attracted to him, one person tweeted, while another said: Im envious of those curls. I want to get lost in those curls, someone else commented. 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 The pictures also prompted comparisons between the 78-year-olds appearance during his younger years and various other notable people, including comedian Richard Ayoade, Jemaine Clement, Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney and Andy Samberg. While the exact time period of the photos is unknown, the pictures appear to be from a school yearbook, possibly taken during Mr Sanders time at James Madison High School in Brooklyn, where he ran track. According to the senators own memory of his time as a runner, his best mile time was 4:37. The pictures could also be from Mr Sanders college years at the University of Chicago prior to his graduation in 1964. Mr Sanders is not the only presidential nominee whose younger appearance has been the subject of praise recently. In October 2019, a photo of Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren from 1979 gained attention over what many called a picture of her in the perfect pair of jeans. Im so sorry I know this is so irrelevant and probably counterproductive but can we discuss the bangin denim choices of Elizabeth Warren circa 1979? writer Summer Brennan wrote on Twitter at the time. I want these jeans. Mr Sanders, Ms Warren, Joe Biden and Michael Bloomberg, who are all in their 70s, are the oldest Democratic candidates running for president. The hand that rocks the cradle If we look at his early life, George Washington (17321799) appears an unlikely candidate to lead an army against the British and earn the title Father of His Country. In 1746, encouraged by his half-brother Lawrence as well as by others, 14-year-old Washington considered joining the British navy. And in the French and Indian War (17561763), Washington served with the British against the French, fighting for Crown and Parliament at Fort Necessity, the first battle of the war, and surviving the disastrous defeat of General Braddocks forces at Fort Duquesne, where four bullets passed through Washingtons cloak and two horses were shot from under him. Washington was one of the richest men ever to be elected to the presidency, eclipsed only by John Kennedy and Donald Trump, with some of his fortune deriving from his marriage to the wealthy Martha Custis. At one point, he owned 50,000 acres of land. A Leader of Rebels Clearly, Washington had much to lose by entering into rebellion. So why did he become a revolutionary? Why take command of the American army and fight the British? Some historians believe that Washington chafed under British rule for financial reasons, that Britains plans for America after the defeat of the French would limit the opportunities and westward growth of the colonies. Others contend that his four years of service in the British army during the French and Indian War caused him to resent the British for their arrogance and their contempt for the colonials. And some historians argue that Washingtons mother bred in him a penchant for rebellion. A 1916 photomechanical print of a portrait of Mary Ball Washington called Mary Ball Washington at the Age of About Four Score, attributed to Robert Edge Pine. Library of Congresss Prints and Photographs division. (Public Domain) Widow, Mother, Exemplar Orphaned at a young age, Mary Ball (1707?1789) in 1731 married widower Augustine Washington. In addition to the three living children from Augustines first marriage, the Washingtons had six more childrenGeorge was the oldest, and the youngest died an infant. In 1743, Mary became a widow when Augustine died after complaining of stomach pains. Unlike so many widows of her time, Mary Washington never remarried, choosing instead to raise her children and operate her properties alone. She focused much of her attention on Ferry Farm, a 276-acre plantation located near Fredericksburg, Virginia. Marys responsibilities must have seemed crushing at times. She had to see to the upbringing and education of her many children, run a large farm, and manage the slaves who worked the land. She was not impoverished, but she lacked the means to provide George with a classical education like that attained by fellow Virginians Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, and was not a part of the upper echelon of Virginia society. In some ways, George may have benefited from these circumstances, learning at an early age to keep household accounts and operate a farm. Mary was a pious woman who believed strongly in such concepts as duty and honor, and she passed these virtues to George by example and by instruction. We see in the son the mothers character, described by Washington Irving as strong plain sense, strict integrity, and an inflexible spirit of command. George Washington and His Mother, from John Cassells Illustrated History of England, Volume 5. (Public Domain) Historical Takes on the Widow Washington After her death, George Washingtons first biographers paid Mary homage for her sacrifices and for her hand in the formation of Georges character. Later, other historians investigated her and cast Mary in a different light, describing her as crude, whiny, and self-centered. These were the historians who found Mary particularly overbearing and protective in her refusal to allow George to join the navy, and greedy in her later requests for money from him. In a new biography The Widow Washington: The Life of Mary Washington, Martha Saxton takes a different view, pointing out the many similarities between mother and son: their love for the outdoors, their religious views, their careful attention to money matters, their stoicism, their sometimes prickly temper. She also shows us the rigors of Marys daily life and the obstacles as a single woman with which she had to contend. Coincidentally, Craig Shirley, author of such books as Reagans Revolution and Citizen Newt, has also written a revisionist biography of Mary. In Mary Ball Washington: The Untold Story of George Washingtons Mother, he writes of Mary that she is seen as a saint or a villain, nothing in between, and then adds that Marys seemingly contradictory character traits complimented each other. Marys kindness and control were one and the same. A Complicated Relationship In several places in Mary Ball Washington, Shirley cites Lawrence Washington, Georges cousin, who offered this observation of Mary: I was often there with George, his playmate, schoolmate, and young mans companion. Of the mother I was ten times more afraid than of my own parents. She awed me in the midst of her kindness, for she was indeed truly kind and even now, when time has whitened my locks, and I am the grandfather of a second generation, I could not behold that majestic woman without feelings it is impossible to describe. To answer those historians who believe that Marys influence was negative or inconsequential, Shirley directs us to a quote from George himself, that it was his mother by whose Maternal hand (early deprived of a Father) I was led to Manhood. He reinforces this evidence with another quote from Georges cousin Lawrence: Whoever has seen that awe-inspiring air and manner so characteristic in the Father of his Country, will remember the matron as she appeared when the presiding genius of her well-ordered household, commanding and being obeyed. General George Washington at Trenton, 1792, by John Trumbull. Gift of the Society of the Cincinnati in Connecticut, Yale University Art Gallery. (Public Domain) Honored Madam As a teenager, George may have felt constrained by his mothers demands, though he also spent a large amount of time in the homes of his relatives. As an adult, he quarreled with Mary over control of Ferry Farm, which Augustine had left to him. He may have also felt removed from Mary when, like Thomas Jeffersons mother, she refused to support the American Revolution. On the other hand, in 1772 George purchased a house for his mother in Fredericksburg, where she lived until her death, and had water delivered to her daily from the medicine springs on Ferry Farm. In her will, Mary made George her chief executor and left him the bulk of her property. Such acts seem to indicate a bond of affection and trust. Perhaps their tangled relationship is revealed, too, in the salutation with which Washington greeted Mary in their correspondence: Honored Madam. As Shirley points out, This salutation served two purposes: it showed his respect for her while holding her at arms length. Martha Saxtons words in The Widow Washington may sum up their relationship best of all: Like mother, like son. On battlefields around the world, soldiers have cried out for their mothers as they lay dying. And memorably, Abraham Lincoln once said, All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother. In our series The Hand That Rocks the Cradle: Mothers and Sons, we will look at a number of famous men strongly influenced by their mothers. Not all these women were angels, but their love, disposition, and sense of principle left an indelible stamp on their sons. Jeff Minick has four children and a growing platoon of grandchildren. For 20 years, he taught history, literature, and Latin to seminars of homeschooling students in Asheville, N.C., Today, he lives and writes in Front Royal, Va. See JeffMinick.com to follow his blog. (CNN) The former king of Belgium, Albert II, has acknowledged that he fathered a daughter in an affair in the 1960s, marking the end of a paternity suit that he has contested for seven years. Belgian artist and sculptor Delphine Boel launched a lawsuit in 2013 to see the king, now aged 85, recognized as her father. Boel claims the king had an affair with her mother, Sibylle de Selys Longchamps, resulting in her birth in 1968. In May last year, Albert II submitted a DNA sample for paternity testing under the orders of a Belgian court. Those test results confirmed that he was Boel's father, Albert II's lawyers acknowledged in a statement released Monday to Belgian media. "Legally, he will end the legal battle there and accept that Delphine Boel is his fourth child," said the statement, according to public broadcaster RTBF. It added that although the legal procedure was "debatable," Albert II wished "to put an end with dignity and honor to this painful procedure." The statement also argued that "legal paternity is not necessarily a reflection of biological paternity," pointing out that Albert II had not been involved in Boel's upraising and that he'd respected her relationship with her "legal father." The statement accused Boel of choosing to "end her legal and socio-emotional bond with her father and to change family" by pursuing the paternity suit. Alain Berenboom, the former king's lawyer, told CNN affiliate VTM News that Albert II would now include Boel in his will along with his other children. "The king will treat all his children as equal," Berenboom said, according to VTM News. "King Albert now has four children." A seven-year battle The former king's admission marks a stunning conclusion in a legal battle that has stretched on for seven years, amid swirling rumors that began more than 20 years ago. Albert II married Paola Ruffo di Calabria, later Queen Paola of Belgium, in 1959 and became king in 1993. Rumors about a child born from an extramarital affair began floating around just a few years after his ascension to the throne, fueled by allegations published in a 1999 biography about Queen Paola. The scandal, and Boel's name as the alleged child, were splashed across front pages of newspapers. She began speaking openly about the case to media in the following years, despite the king's repeated denials of paternity. In 2013, at the age of 79, Albert II abdicated the throne in favor of his son Philippe, citing concerns over his age and health. That same year, Boel launched a legal case to see Albert II recognized as her father. In October of 2018, the Brussels Court of Appeal ruled in her favor and ordered Albert to submit to a DNA test. The appeals court then ruled that Albert must submit to a test by a court-appointed forensic expert. After he failed to submit to the test, the court ruled last May that he would face a daily fine of 5,000 ($5,600) until he took the DNA test which he finally agreed to. This story was first published on CNN.com, "DNA test forces former Belgian king to admit fathering a child in extramarital affair." With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu standing by his side, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday unveiled his long-delayed Middle East plan, claiming that it would lay the foundations for a realistic two-state solution in the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestinian leaders had rejected the plan even before its release and were absent during its unveiling. Following the announcement at the White House, Palestinians denounced the proposal as utterly biased in favour of Israel and insisted that Jerusalem is not for sale. Trump called his plan an historic opportunity for Palestinians to achieve an independent state of their own by doubling the territory currently under their control. But under the proposal, the United States said Jerusalem would remain the undivided capital of Israel and it would recognise Israeli sovereignty over parts of the occupied West Bank. The Palestinians want both occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank to be part of a future state. As many Palestinians used social media to express anger and, at times, mock the proposal, others warned that it would lead to apartheid within a single state. Here are some of the key points included in Trumps proposal: Borders According to the plan, Israel would annex the vast majority of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank which would be connected to the rest of Israel with their own access roads and a transportation system. Ninety-seven percent of Israelis living in the West Bank would be incorporated into Israeli territory. The Jordan Valley would also be under Israeli sovereignty, giving Israel a permanent eastern border along the Jordan River. The Gaza Strip would be connected to the West Bank with a high-speed transportation link, crossing over or under Israel. The plan also lays out the possibility that Israels current borders could be redrawn. The so-called Triangle Communities consisting of 10 Palestinian towns in Israel: Kafr Qara, Arara, Baha al-Gharbiyye, Umm al Fahm, Qalansawe, Tayibe, Kafr Qasim, Tira, Kafr Bara and Jaljulia could possibly be transferred to the State of Palestine. According to Edo Konrad, editor-in-chief of Israeli news website 972 Magazine, 257,000 Palestinian citizens of Israel could find themselves outside the borders of Israel. Trump's plan puts forth possibility that the borders of Israel will be redrawn such that 10 Arab towns and cities INSIDE Israel will find themselves on the Palestinian side. That means 257,000 Israeli citizens might find themselves outside the borders of the country. Edo Konrad (@edokonrad) January 28, 2020 Jerusalem Jerusalem would be the capital of Israel and Al Quds (or another name selected by the State of Palestine) should be internationally recognised for the State of Palestine, according to Trumps plan. The separation barrier would serve as a border between the two capitals. The Palestinian state would not include any part of Jerusalem inside the current separation barrier which includes the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque located in the Old City and areas where most East Jerusalemites live. The capital of Palestine will be in East Jerusalem, located in areas which Israel previously cut off with its separation barrier including Kafr Aqab, the eastern part of Shuafat and Abu Dis. Demilitarised state The plan calls for the demilitarisation of all of Palestine and the disarmament of Palestinian factions in Gaza such as Hamas and the Islamic Jihad. Security Israel would control security at all international crossings into Palestine. It would also continue to carry out surveillance of Palestinians within their own territory. Israel would rely on blimps, drones and similar aerial equipment to reduce the Israeli security footprint within the State of Palestine. Refugees There would be no right of return of any Palestinian refugees or their descendants into Israel. According to the plan: Their Arab brothers have the moral responsibility to integrate them into their countries as the Jews were integrated into the State of Israel. Upon the signing of an agreement as proposed under Trumps Middle East plan, Palestinian refugee status would cease to exist and the United Nationss agency for Palestinian refugees would be terminated. Prerequisites for a Palestinian State Israel and the US would review the Palestinian school curriculum as a prerequisite for the creation of a Palestinian state. The Palestinians shall have ended all programs, including school curricula and textbooks, that serve to incite or promote hatred or antagonism towards its neighbours, or which compensate or incentivize criminal or violent activity, the plan said. ABBOTSFORD, British Columbia, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Silver Hills, the parent company behind better-for-you-brands Silver Hills Bakery and Little Northern Bakehouse, today announces Robert Isabella to the new role of Chief Supply Chain Officer effective February 3, 2020. A 16-year veteran of Weston Foods, Robert began at the company as a Transport Manager, culminating in his appointment of Director of Transportation. In 2008, he became Vice President of Logistics Quebec, honing his skills in logistics and manufacturing and eventually rising to Vice President of Manufacturing Canada in 2018, wherein he was responsible for 11 manufacturing facilities across the country. As the newest member of the Executive Leadership Team, Robert will be responsible for leading all Operational aspects of Silver Hills Bakery including Production, Procurement, Warehouse, Logistics, Sanitation, and Maintenance. He will report to Stan Smith, co-founder and President. "We're delighted for Rob to join the Silver Hills team and are looking forward to the leadership and experience he will bring to our growing business," says Smith. "We are confident that his expertise in management and operations, as well as his passion for driving productivity through positive company culture, will make him a valuable addition to the team." "The role at Silver Hills provides me the wonderful opportunity to focus on my professional passions for continuous improvement, people development and mentorship, and safety," says Isabella. "I'm thrilled to be joining the team and looking forward to getting started." About Silver Hills Established in 1989, Silver Hills grew out of the Silver Hills Guest House, where one of the company's founders began baking bread from sprouted whole grains. Starting with Silver Hills Sprouted Bakery, the company began establishing other brands to align with healthy dietary choices and then launching the gluten free brand Little Northern Bakehouse in 2015. Silver Hills' goal is to produce wholesome vegan, non-GMO products to inspire healthier living through healthier choices. The company operates a large, world-class GFSI-certified sprouted bakery facility based in Abbotsford, BC, Canada. SOURCE Silver Hills Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 15:04:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on Jan. 28, 2020 shows the sky turned red by the Orroral fire at the Namadgi National Park in Canberra. (Xinhua/Chu Chen) A bushfire south of Canberra is recognized as the most serious bushfire threat since 2003 and has engulfed more than 10,000 hectares in the remote Orroral Valley. CANBERRA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- A bushfire in the south of Canberra is recognized as the most serious bushfire threat to the Australian capital since 2003, according to local sources on Tuesday. The fire, believed to be started on Monday by the landing of a defence helicopter, has engulfed nearly 8,000 hectares as of 7:30 p.m. local time, said a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "This is the most serious situation we have faced since the 2003 bushfires," said Andrew Barr, Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Fires entered the suburbs of Canberra in 2003, killing four people, injuring 430 and destroying hundreds of homes. The Department of Defence said that the fire was possibly caused by a helicopter, the landing lights of which set the grass on fire with heat. Residents in south Canberra near the fire zone are urged to closely monitor the situation and activate their survival plans. The ACT Emergency Services Agency believed that the upcoming heatwave would make it difficult to control the fire. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath will inaugurate the state's first air cargo terminal at Raja Bhoj Airport in Bhopal on February 10, a state minister said on Wednesday. The old terminal building of Raja Bhoj Airport has been developed into an air cargo terminal and the chief minister will inaugurate this facility on February 10, the state's public relations minister P C Sharma said. The facility will provide much needed connectivity to Bhopal for shipping cargo to all major metropolitan cities in the country, the minister said. Moreover, the facility will also promote industrial growth and invite investment in the state, besides generating employment in the air cargo sector, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A virus similar to the SARS pathogen has claimed 106 lives since emerging in a market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, and spread around the world. Here are the places that have confirmed cases of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus: - CHINA - As of Tuesday, more than 4,500 people have been infected across China, the bulk of them in and around Wuhan. Most of the 106 who have died were in that region, but officials have confirmed multiple deaths elsewhere, including the first in the capital Beijing. Macau, a gambling hub hugely popular with mainland tourists, has confirmed seven cases as of Tuesday. In Hong Kong, eight people are known to have the disease. Of those, six arrived via a newly built high-speed train terminal that connects the city to the mainland. - ASIA-PACIFIC REGION - - Australia - Five cases have been confirmed in Australia -- all of whom arrived in the country from Wuhan. The patients are being treated in hospitals in Sydney and Melbourne. - Cambodia - Cambodias health ministry reported the countrys first case of the virus on Monday: a 60-year-old man who arrived from Wuhan and is now stable in an isolation room. - Japan - Japans health authorities had confirmed seven cases as on Tuesday, including its first case of human-to-human transmission. According to Japanese authorities, the infected man in his 60s had not visited Wuhan but had recently transported tourists from the area on his bus. - Malaysia - Malaysia confirmed its fourth case on Sunday. All are Chinese nationals on holiday from Wuhan who arrived in the country from Singapore. - Nepal - Nepal said a 32-year-old man arriving from Wuhan had the disease. The patient, who was initially quarantined, recovered and was discharged. - Singapore - Singapore has so far confirmed seven cases of the coronavirus -- all of them arrivals from Wuhan. - South Korea - South Korean media reported the countrys fourth case on Monday, citing the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The three men and a woman all travelled from Wuhan. - Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka confirmed its first case of the virus on Monday -- a 43-year-old Chinese woman who entered the country as a tourist last week from Hubei province. She is being treated in hospital, a spokesman at the Infectious Diseases Hospital near Colombo told AFP. - Taiwan - Taiwan has uncovered seven cases so far, the latest two female Chinese nationals in their seventies, who arrived in the country as part of a tour group on January 22. - Thailand - Thailand announced 14 confirmed infections Tuesday -- the highest outside of China. Health officials said that of the six new cases -- all Chinese passengers from Wuhan -- five of them were in the same family, ranging in ages six to 70. - Vietnam - Vietnam has so far confirmed two cases of the virus. An infected man arrived in Ho Chi Minh City earlier this month from Wuhan, and possibly passed the virus on to son, who had been in the city a few months earlier - NORTH AMERICA - - Canada - Canada confirmed its first case of the virus on Monday, a man who travelled to Wuhan, and has reported a second suspected case -- his wife, who made the trip with him. - United States - The US has confirmed five cases of the virus in patients who had recently entered the country from Wuhan -- two in California and one each in Arizona, Chicago and Washington state. - EUROPE - - France - There are four known cases of the coronavirus in France, the first European country to be affected by the outbreak. The fourth case, an elderly Chinese tourist, was in serious condition in hospital on Tuesday, health officials said. - Germany - The countrys first case -- and the first case of human-to-human transmission on European soil -- was confirmed on Tuesday in the southern Bavarian region. The patient caught the disease from a Chinese colleague who visited Germany last week, officials said. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. ) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter MUNICH (dpa-AFX) - Linde said that it signed a 15-year contract with the Korea Expressway Corporation to build, own and operate four Hydrogen Refueling Stations or HRS in Chungnam, South Korea. The Hydrogen Refueling Stations will be supplied with hydrogen from Linde's manufacturing facilities in the nearby Pyeongtaek area. All four HRS are expected to start operating in December 2020. Linde has been building out HRS infrastructure in the South Korean market since 2016. The company is a member of the global Hydrogen Council and a member of the board of directors of H2 Korea, the Korean hydrogen alliance founded in 2017 to promote and establish a hydrogen ecosystem through policy planning, infrastructure and technology development. 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. Trump outlines contentious Palestine scheme, says Quds will be Israel's 'undivided capital' Iran Press TV Tuesday, 28 January 2020 6:26 PM US President Donald Trump has repeated his hugely-controversial endorsement of occupied Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel's "undivided capital" as he outlined his administration's self-styled plan for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which Palestinians have already dismissed. Defying international outcry, Trump on Tuesday announced the general provisions of the plan that he has dubbed "the deal of century" at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his side. The entire scheme, he added, has been penned in 80 pages, 50 of which, according to Reuters, encompass political courses of action, while the rest details an economic proposal that Washington announced last July. Trump endorsed his contentious recognition in December 2017 of the al-Quds as Israel's "capital," a move he took in the face of historic Palestinian demands that the city's eastern part serve as the capital of their future state. He said the plan envisages the city as the regime's "undivided capital." "Under this vision, Jerusalem will remain Israel's undivided very important undivided capital," he said of the plan. For years, the US had avoided declaring Jerusalem al-Quds the capital of Israel in the absence of a deal, as Palestinians also want the holy city as their capital. In a hazy afterthought, though, Trump added that Palestinians too could have a capital in East Jerusalem. The economic portion promises $50 billion in monetary allocations to Palestinians, Jordan, and Egypt. Palestinians have denounced the latter part of the US scheme as a means of bribing them into selling their rights. The Palestinian sides who had already rejected any such scheme in unison were conspicuously absent from the ceremony, which experts view as largely ceremonial and an attempt to score a political win while each of the leaders on stage faces domestic crises. Occupied territories More than 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory of the West Bank. Trump said under his plan, no one would be "uprooted," apparently recognizing the settlements built on occupied Palestinian land. Senior administration officials, briefing Reuters on the details of the plan, likewise said it features the recognition of the structures. The US president, however, alleged that Israel would be freezing its settlement activities for four years "while Palestinian statehood is negotiated," the agency added. Tel Aviv has never fully committed to such freezes, causing any negotiation process to break down. Trump said his proposal encompasses a map outlining "two states," and claimed that the Palestinian state would be "double the size" of the land that Palestinians currently control. "My vision provides a win-win opportunity for both sides. A realistic two-state solution that resolves the risk of Palestinian statehood to Israel's security." Both Netanyahu and his main rival, former general Benny Gantz had met with Trump in advance of the White House event, giving all-out support for the supposed deal, including the contours of the purported map. Reuters, however, cited a US official as saying that, "In doing the map, it's incredibly difficult to try to create contiguity for a Palestinian state based on what's happened over the past 25 years," referring to the popping up of settlements across the occupied territory over the course. Another official said the plan refrains from moving the settlers as it is "based on a principle that people should not have to move to accomplish peace." The US chief executive, meanwhile, verbalized a withering attack on Hamas, the resistance movement that has freed the Gaza Strip from Israeli control in 2005, and has been defending it against almost-daily Israeli incursions. Netanyahu hails Trump Netanyahu said Trump's plan recognized Israeli sovereignty over other large areas of Palestinian territory, including Jordan Valley, and that the deal would seek to fully disarm Hamas. He called the scheme "a great plan for Israela great plan for peace," and "a realistic path" that "strikes the right balance where others have failed." "Given all that you have already done for Israel, I'm not surprised. You have been the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House," he told Trump. Hamas slams Trump's Quds plan as 'nonsense' Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri reacted to the event, calling Trump's statements on his plan "aggressive" and his proposals for al-Quds "nonsense." "Trump's statementwill spark a lot of anger," he said, adding that al-Quds "will always be a land for the Palestinians." As Trump began his speech, Palestinian leaders from rival Fatah and Hamas movements held an emergency meeting to discuss the scheme. Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas' Political Bureau, and Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, which is based in the city of Ramallah in the West Bank, held a rare phone conversation prior to the White House event. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address N igel Farage insisted the UK is never coming back as he and his fellow Brexit Party MEPs were rebuked for waving Union Jack flags around during his final speech at the European Parliament. Mr Farage and his allies had earlier jeered European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during the session in Brussels. Later Brexit Party MEPs gave Mr Farage three cheers as he said thats it, were out after being told not to disobey rules and to "get rid of" the flags. In his speech, Mr Farage appeared to address Brexit co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadts prediction the UK would eventually rejoin the EU by telling the session were never coming back. He said: This is it, the final chapter, the end of the road, a 47-year political experiment that the British frankly have never been very happy with, he said. Im not particularly happy with the agreement were being asked to vote on tonight but Boris has been remarkably bold in the last few months and, Ms Von Der Leyen, hes promised us there will be no level playing field and on that basis I wish him every success in the next round of negotiations. What happens at 11pm this Friday, January 31, 2020, marks the point of no return, once weve left we are never coming back and the rest, frankly, is detail. Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage, shows off his Union flag socks / AP We are going, we will be gone and that should be the summit of my own political ambitions. He continued to say that the UK had shown it was too big to bully by sticking to the result of the Brexit referendum. I want Brexit to start a debate across the rest of Europe, he said. Im hoping this begins the end of this project. Its a bad project, it isnt just undemocratic its anti-democratic. Mr Farage added: There is a historic battle going on now across the West in Europe, America and elsewhere. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen / REUTERS It is globalism against populism. And you may loathe populism, but Ill tell you a funny thing its becoming very popular. And it has great benefits. No more financial contributions, no more European Court of Justice, no more common fisheries policy, no more being talked down to, no more being bullied, no more Guy Verhofstadt. As she bid farewell to UK MEPs, Ms Von Der Leyen said we will always love you and we will never be far. No new partnership will bring back the benefits of being part of the same union but we have the duty to seek the best for the British and for the European people in a post-Brexit world, she said. To our British friends and many perhaps not all but many of our British MEPs here in the room, I want to use the words of the famous British poet George Eliot. She said, Only in the agony of parting do we look into the depth of love. The Syrian army has captured a strategic town in the countrys last rebel-held bastion, one of a number of advances in a major offensive that has sent hundreds of thousands of civilians fleeing. Opposition fighters largely abandoned the town of Maarat al-Numan in Idlib province late on Tuesday, following days of heavy airstrikes. The government also made gains west of the city of Aleppo, according to state media and opposition activists. Our armed forces continued operations in southern parts of Idlib with the aim of putting an end to crimes committed by terrorist groups, said army spokesperson Brigadier General Ali Mayhoub, adding that more than a dozen towns and villages had been taken. The capture of Maarat al-Numan represents an important strategic victory for the Syrian government, which has slowly regained control over most opposition-held territory with the help of its allies Russia and Iran. The town, which had a population of about 100,000 before residents fled the fighting, sits on the main highway that links Damascus with the commercial hub of Aleppo, the reopening of which has been a goal of government forces for some time. Syrian officials have said the link between the two cities is vital for the countrys economy, which has been devastated by the war. Syrian regime bombards Idlib Show all 23 1 /23 Syrian regime bombards Idlib Syrian regime bombards Idlib Members of the Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, recover a wounded boy from the rubble of a building following a regime air strike on a vegetable market in Syria's last major opposition bastion of Idlib AFP via Getty Syrian regime bombards Idlib The regime air strikes killed at least nine civilians, striking bustling areas of Idlib city AFP via Getty Syrian regime bombards Idlib An injured woman waits to receive treatment at a makeshift hospital AFP via Getty Syrian regime bombards Idlib Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, searching through the rubble of a building AFP via Getty Syrian regime bombards Idlib A Syrian boy is evacuated AFP via Getty Syrian regime bombards Idlib AFP via Getty Images Syrian regime bombards Idlib The wreckage of a car AFP via Getty Images Syrian regime bombards Idlib A Syrian boy cries as he is evacuated AFP via Getty Images Syrian regime bombards Idlib Rescuers search for survivors EPA Syrian regime bombards Idlib AFP via Getty Images Syrian regime bombards Idlib A Syrian boy grimaces in pain after he was wounded in the airstrikes AP Syrian regime bombards Idlib A Syrian youth stands at the site of a regime air strike in Ariha town AFP via Getty Syrian regime bombards Idlib Rescuers search for survivors under the rubble of a collapsed building EPA Syrian regime bombards Idlib AFP via Getty Syrian regime bombards Idlib Firefighters try to extinguish flames EPA Syrian regime bombards Idlib Emergency services look for survivors AP Syrian regime bombards Idlib AP Syrian regime bombards Idlib A boy wounded in airstrikes is treated in a hospital AP Syrian regime bombards Idlib Syrian White Helmet civil defense workers extinguish a burning car Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP Syrian regime bombards Idlib A Syrian walks on the rubble of a building AFP via Getty Syrian regime bombards Idlib AP Syrian regime bombards Idlib AP Syrian regime bombards Idlib AP The loss of the town also deals a symbolic blow to those opposing Syrias president, Bashar al-Assad. During the countrys nearly nine-year civil war, the town has become known for its adherence to the original, democratic ideals of the Syrian uprising. Despite pressure from both sides, residents held regular protests against both Assads regime and jihadi armed groups, countering the governments characterisation of the war as a battle between a secular state and extremists. From 2011 until the last demonstration, people took to the squares and streets for freedom and justice, Fared Alhor, a journalist and photographer from the town, told The Independent. The demonstrations were calling for the toppling of the Assad regime and Russia, but they also demanded the fall of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), he said, referring to the al-Qaeda offshoot that now controls large parts of Idlib province. On Tuesday, Mr Alhor watched with despair as Syrian government soldiers and allied Russian troops began posting videos from inside the town. This date will remain in my mind until death, he said. Elizabeth Tsurkov, a fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, said the town has an immense significance to the Syrian uprising. It was the city in Idlib that witnessed some of the largest protests in the history of the revolution and it was able to resist the imposition of jihadist rule until 2019, long after many other towns in Idlib came under the control of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, she told The Independent. The town was a hub of social activism, including human-rights organisations, women empowerment groups, organisations assisting children and the displaced. This legacy of activism lives on in the minds of those who have experienced it, but Maarat al-Numan itself will now be repopulated only with Syrians who agree to be docile subjects of the Syrian regime. Mr Alhor left the town in May last year when Syrian government jets bombed his home, killing his aunt and injuring several family members. Hundreds of thousands of people have made the same journey towards the Turkish border in recent months, and the United Nations has warned of the growing risk of a humanitarian catastrophe. Idlib province is home to 3 million civilians, almost half of whom were displaced from other parts of the country. On Monday, the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, condemned unjustifiable attacks against the people of northwest Syria. He said that the US calls for an immediate ceasefire and full access to the affected areas by humanitarian organisations to alleviate the suffering of the hundreds of thousands that have fled the incessant bombing. The Syrian Response Coordination Group, a relief group active in northwest Syria, reported that more than 216,000 people fled Idlib in December. In a new statement, the group said that 167,000 have left their homes since the beginning of January, bringing the total number to more than 383,000 people. The fighting in recent days has prompted another exodus from towns near the front line. Images from the province show roads full of families crowded into cars and on the back of pickup trucks. Meanwhile, to the north of Maarat al-Numan, government forces have moved to capture rebel-held territory in the western suburbs of Aleppo. Its just bombs, bombs, bombs, said Abdulkafi Alhamdo, a university lecturer who survived the siege of Aleppo and is now living in the west of the province, close to where fighting is taking place. In my village, there are still some people, but the areas closer to the fighting are almost empty, he told The Independent by phone. There is no place to go now. Some of my friends said they would rather die here than live in camps. The situation is horrible. Its unspeakable. Additional reporting by agencies India has a long and rich heritage of creating fables with fabrics and textiles which have always had the ability to leave people spellbound. Of the present crop of these storytellers (read designers) who have made a momentous impact on the zeitgeist of traditional menswear, Raghavendra Rathore, both as a brand and as a name is one, which can never be left out. Rathore At a time when deconstruction, kitsch, pastiche and asymmetry are all the rage, Raghavendra Rathore has managed to remain unapologetically (and for a change, refreshingly) traditional and true to his Jodhpuri roots. From the King of Jaipur, Maharaja Padmanabh Singh aka Pacho, to the king of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan, his creations have often graced stalwarts from various fields, with an aesthetic sensibility that is modernistic, aristocratic, and at its core, regally Indian. Rathore Not many people know this, but Rathore himself is a blue-blooded aristocrat and a part of the Royal Family of Jodhpur. We sat down with this prince of Jodhpur and had a casual chat about Indian fashion, how individuality will always be at the core of style, and how fashion and fashion buying function in the day and age of Instagram. Edited Excerpts: Rathore Considering your illustrious legacy of over 25 years, how would you say as a veteran of Indian Fashion, has the industry grown over the years? Fashion is something which evolves or changes with time, which is structured in the 'fashion world' as 'season'. The phenomenon is acknowledged globally. Driving these 'seasons' and changing trends are big money and business; hence the industry is more competitive now than ever. What you see with designers today transcends first to top end opinion-makers mainly movie stars; then to stores, and finally to streetwear. Fashion, therefore, is transient- it catches a moment; hence there are so many changes that one could see. Your creations have a regal and aristocratic appeal, especially in your bespoke creations. What mindset do you work with when you create ensembles for someone like Shah Rukh Khan, or Maharaja Padmanabh Singh, for that matter? Our work ethos and artistic sensibilities remain the same and don't vary from person to person. However, when we cater to someone as charming as Shah Rukh Khan, we make sure that his individuality of that romantic aura reflects well with the kind of clothes he wears. On the other hand, Maharaja Padmanabh Singh is as royal as our design inspiration and can make any outfit look grand and spectacular. Instagram/raghavendra.rathore What direction do you see the Indian fashion industry taking? It won't be wrong to say that the Indian fashion industry is moving at a pace which is not only noteworthy but also looked upon as a profitable hub by our western counterparts. Undoubtedly, the country is increasingly becoming a focal point for the fashion industry, thanks to the rapidly growing middle class and an increasingly powerful manufacturing sector. What is that one current trend that we see today on the ramp, that has the potential of making it big among regular people in the future? Fashion goes through various highs and lows with some red carpet appearances making global trends, and thereby bringing fashion from the ramps to the rack. And if you want to see how the fashion industry is moving, take a cue from menswear trends. Some of the most sought after styles that have the potential to make way to the daily lives of ordinary people is the fashion from the '80s and the '90s that are coming back. Bright colours, clean cuts and smart appliques are again in style. Instagram/raghavendra.rathore What creative and commercial directions do you plan to take? For someone instrumental in single-handedly putting the Bandhgala on the fashion map of the world, I believe in making India a textile inspiration for the world and giving weavers the best of livelihood. Raghavendra Rathore Jodhpur is definitely on the mission to become one of the world leaders in the bespoke and luxury segment, and every small step certainly adds to the goal. Your creations tend to be very fluid and an amalgamation of classic silhouettes with contemporary and modern aesthetics. Where do you draw your inspiration from? We leave no stone unturned when it comes to reviving the ancient hand-weaving techniques through our brand and as a result making Bandhgalas and Jodhpuris a global phenomenon. For us, luxury is not only about everything extravagant, elaborate or things that are larger than life; one can find it in subtle styling as well. Also, our quintessential designs are the most excellent examples of how one can translate luxury in exquisite detailing, artistic craftsmanship and eco- friendly designs. Instagram/mrkhanna What is that one trend in men's fashion that you don't like, or don't agree with? Every trend makes people learn, unlearn of what is needed and what should be left there only. Instagram/jimmysheirgill How do you think the industry as a whole is dealing with this issue of sustainable and eco-friendly fashion? Responsible fashion is the need of the hour, and as a brand, we believe in staying away from synthetic and fast fashion and keeping the design aesthetics as ethical and meaningful as possible. Our brand philosophy lies in designing and manufacturing bespoke clothes in a way that benefits weavers and artisans without impacting the climate and environment. We have given some of the finest and most innovative and luxurious trends in menswear, thereby providing a makeover to not only sustainable fashion but also changing the definition of luxury fashion in India. We are working tirelessly with weavers and craftspeople to produce clothes that are considered royalty in their way and makes for a perfect gentleman's choice. The conscious urban Indian with high disposable income is aware of the side effects of fast fashion and hence going the greenway when it comes to adding luxury to their closet is a choice they want to make deliberately. Instagram/anilskapoor What are your views on the debate around Maximalism vis-a-vis Minimalism? There was a time when everything jazzy and over the top was grabbing eyeballs, and this was undoubtedly the age when fashion was an untouched territory. Now with a growing number of designers and international inspirations, people, especially fashion connoisseurs, have come to terms that what was eye-catchy a few days back is out of taste now. Minimalism is the need of the hour for the kind of elegance it exudes. Given how Instagram lets designers connect directly with their customers, do you think fashion shows are relevant today? After all, these are the platforms that set the trend and let the world know what's happening in the Indian fashion scene. Virtual exposure is entirely different from what you experience in person, and this is where the difference lies. Tell us something about your creative process. How do you go about coming with themes and motifs for your creations Our design inspirations go back to the aesthetic and august arras of the rich landscape of my royal heartland in the form of classic designs that never go out of fashion and give your individuality a new high. We as a brand with all my heart and soul believe in promoting India in the best way possible, and this is showcased in our minute detailing and analytical techniques of tailoring on hand-spun fabrics. Instagram/rheakapoor Where do you think men's fashion in India is heading? When we talk about trends in menswear, some consumers follow a particular direction, while others let their individuality speak. The market is getting extremely competitive, and brands are taking a step back to understand the consumer persona, where social media acts as a boon, and then define the trend. But with ever-changing tastes and preferences, men's fashion is moving in the right direction for sure. What according to you are five essential must-haves for Indian men when it comes to traditional, ethnic menswear? A classic Bandhgala jacket, a sherwani, Jodhpuri pants, a well tailored Achkan, and some elegant vests for kurtas Instagram/anilskapoor Three words you'd use to describe your signature style. Elegant, effortless and an enigma for unnerved What is your favourite historical era in terms of menswear, and why? I believe in living in the present and focusing on what I would love to see in the future. For me, every era holds a kind of enlightenment for those who are ready to take up challenges. Instagram/ranveersingh Do you think traditional Indian menswear is evolving? Of course yes and so many designers stepping into menswear and expanding it to cater to the most handsome looking men is a testimony to that. One celebrity who can teach everyone else a lesson or two on how to pull off the Indian aesthetic elegantly, when it comes to menswear. Every individual has their identity. What looks good on someone may never bring out another's personality as much, so to each to their own. Instagram/harbhajan3 One thing men should never do while dressing up in traditional Indian wear. To match the entire outfit in one family of colour and overdo their accessories. One traditional Indian menswear item you believe every Indian man should have in his wardrobe. A well-tailored Jodhpuri pant or a nicely done Bandhgala Men's fashion in India slipped through the cracks of the mainstream fashion scene and has stayed under the radar for far too long. Take a look at any fashion event - fashion weeks, fashion shows et all, and you'll see how in most of them, menswear seems to be an afterthought. Furthermore, shows focussing exclusively on menswear are a rarity. As a series, 'Ace Indian Designers' is an earnest attempt to celebrate the changing phase of men's fashion in India, and those pioneering geniuses who have come to define our sartorial sensibilities. China Issues Harsh Warning to Silence Social Media Postings on Wuhan Pneumonia The outbreak of Wuhan coronavirus has made many mainland Chinese realize that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its media mouthpieces do not tell the truth or tell the whole story. Social media users in Wuhan, especially doctors and nurses, share their experiences and post videos on social media to alert everyone of the true situation, which the authorities find embarrassing. According to Xinhua News, the Chinese regimes main newspaper, Chinas most popular social media WeChat published a notice on Jan. 25 announcing new regulations and punishments for those who spread rumors about the new form of pneumonia. A variety of unsubstantiated comments posted to the internet constantly stir up public panic, the notice read, All those who spread fake news and thus disturb social order will face up to three years in prison, detention, or disciplinary action. Those who have caused serious consequences will be given 3-year to 7-year prison terms. The notice also claimed that WeChat is now working with a rumor defying agency to refute and delete any rumors appearing on WeChat. Accounts of those users found spreading rumors may be suspended. A leaked document from Cyberspace Administration of China also stated that starting on Jan. 26, all social media groups are forbidden to publish any news about Wuhan pneumonia that are not from official sources. The police will arrest all those who spread unconfirmed news. Freelance writer Jiang Lijun revealed on Twitter on Jan. 26 that his WeChat account was permanently closed because he called on top officials of Wuhan City and Hubei Province to apologize for their actions and step down, and posted several articles about Wuhan pneumonia. Ever since medical researchers identified the new coronavirus, local authorities have been working to dispel rumors and make arrests. As a result, residents of Wuhan were uninformed about the disease and didnt institute preventative measures until the whole city was put into lockdown. When the new WeChat regulation was announced, Chinese netizens became outraged. One person wrote, The officials information blockade is precisely the reason that caused Wuhan pneumonia to spread quickly. How shameless you are to continue silencing whistleblowers. Three Corpses on Hospital Floor A video showing three corpses, wrapped in white cloth, lying on a hospital floor was widely circulated online recently. Meanwhile, the nearby waiting area was crowded with people waiting for treatment. The person videotaping the scene said, These three corpses have been here for the whole morning. One person passed away in the early morning and still no one has come to remove the bodies. Now, doctors, nurses, and patients all have to endure such an environment. The corpses of patients with contagious diseases pose a danger to other people and require special treatment when handled by mortuary personnel. They should not be left in a public area. The post was soon deleted, but had already been shared by others on Instagram and Twitter. Chinas Youth League then refuted the video, saying, After investigation, we found that this video does not reflect the truth. An outraged netizen furiously disputed the Youth Leagues words: Who is spreading rumors? It is you. A good friend of mine works in this hospital. She worked in the emergency department on Chinese New Years Eve until 3 a.m. Working at ground zero, she certainly knows whether the three on the floor were dead or alive. Medical personnel at the frontline are now desperate and crying for help. Another posted video showed a doctor in a state of mental collapse. Wearing a protective suit, he asked to speak to the president of the hospital on the phone, yelling: I am here working overtime, four shifts a day. I cannot even pause to take a moments rest. What have you done [to share our workload]? Remove those [corpses] on the floor. Remove them all! Arrests According to Chinese state media, several social media users have been arrested for spreading rumors. A woman surnamed Xi, 29, was placed under detention on Jan. 25 for reporting fake numbers of infected Wuhan pneumonia patients on Jan. 24. Changsha County Police Department of Hunan Province put a man surnamed Zhou in detention because he said four residents in his community had been diagnosed with Wuhan pneumonia. The police insisted that the diagnosis was confirmed for only one patient. However, the communitys management team later put up a notice announcing that there were indeed four confirmed cases. At the same time, more and more Chinese netizens are directing their anger at the Chinese Communist Party. A young man from Wuhan posted a video on YouTube begging for international help. Today is the Chinese New Year, but Wuhan is like hell, he said. I call on all conscientious people to help us. He also urged the international community to differentiate Chinese people from the rotten Chinese government. Trust me, many Chinese my age, who were born in the 80s and 90s, are not silly supporters of the Chinese regime. We are not brainwashed, he said. The foremost civil Rights advocacy group HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has expressed shock that the commander-in-chief of the Nigerian armed forces president Muhammadu Buhari has publicly accepted that he is overwhelmed by the deluge of security nightmares in Nigeria currently. HURIWA reminded President Muhammadu Buhari that his primary duty which is the essence of government in the modern World in line with the constitutional provisions is to protect, to provide and to invest in the human development of the citizens and should he be overwhelmed by the deluge of security threats in the Country he has only one option which is for the betterment of the Nation state-RESIGN FORTHWITH. In a media statement in reaction to the public affirmation by president Muhammadu Buhari that he is surprised by the rates of insecurity in Nigeria, the Rights group-HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has asked president Buhari to resign forthwith if he has no practical solution to the widening spectres of insecurity and terrorists attacks because public wailing is not why he was elected. The group lamented that for five years now, the President has continued to assured Nigerians that his administration will deal ruthlessly with terrorists and armed bandits but he has failed to do so just as his administration has never prosecuted even a single mass murderer in what is now been regarded as partiality due to the fact that majority of the mass murderers arrested and paraded for these gruesome killings all across Nigeria are Fulani who share same cultural and religious affiliations with the President and almost all the heads of strategic national/internal security platforms such as Nigerian Customs; Nigerian Immigration services; Head of national Police; Head of secret police; head of external spying agency and top commanding officers within the military. HURIWA has told President Muhammadu Buhari emphatically to adhere by the Constitution and rejig the heads of these internal security institutions because doing so would infuse a sense of patriotism, nationalism and competency to confront these armed hoodlums headlong and restore national security. Speaking through the National coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA has also challenged the National Assembly to live up to the constitutional duties assigned to them by compelling the president to comply with extant provisions of the constitution and appoint top security officers to head the internal security architectures in such a way to reflect the Federal character principles as enshrined in section 14(4) of the Nigerian constitution or be impeached for violating the constitution. Section 14(4) of the Nigerian constitution states thus: The composition of the Government of a State, a local government council, or any of the agencies of such Government or council, and the conduct of the affairs of the Government or council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognize the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the people of the Federation. Similarly section 14(3) speaks to the issue of the legal obligations to adhere to federal character principle in making national appointments. HURIWA has also carpeted the senate president Mr. Ahmed Lawan for failing to provide legislative leadership to ensure that the ongoing undermining of national security due to the incompetence and/or outright compromises based on ethno-religious sentiments of top security heads are ended and for Nigeria to be professionally secured. The National Assembly under this weak leadership of Senator Ahmed Lawan has done nothing to compel President Buhari to change the non-performing heads of customs and immigration who have failed spectacularly to check the inflow of sophisticated arms and weapons of mass destructions through the border posts which has even led to the closing of all Nigeria land borders. The National Assembly by virtue of section 4 has the legislative powers of the Federation and is empowered to compel all relevant agencies of government to either perform optimally or be refused public funding because the National Assembly has the powers of appropriation in line with several provisions of the constitution including section 80(1) of the 1999 constitution which provides thus: All revenues or other moneys raised or received by the Federation (not being revenues or other moneys payable under this Constitution or any Act of the National Assembly into any other public fund of the Federation established for a specific purpose) shall be paid into and form one Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation. Sections 80(2); (3) and (4) empowers the National Assembly to control the expenditures of public fund and these powers can be used to compel the Nigerian President to sack incompetent federal government heads of agencies or they are starved of funds. Even before the vote on witnesses occurs, the Senate will spend 16 hours over Wednesday and Thursday engaged in what could be a revealing question-and-answer period, modeled on a procedure followed during the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton. The senators, who have been forced to remain silently in their seats throughout the eight-day trial, will be able to ask questions of the White House defense team or the House impeachment managers. The questions will have to be submitted in writing and will be read aloud by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who is presiding over the trial. Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaways chairman and CEO, said, My partner Charlie Munger and I have known and admired the Lee organization for over 40 years. They have delivered exceptional performance managing BH Medias newspapers and continue to outpace the industry in digital market share and revenue. Buffet said Berkshire Hathaway had zero interest in selling the group to anyone else for one simple reason: We believe that Lee is best positioned to manage through the industrys challenges. No organization is more committed to serving the vital role of high-quality local news, however delivered, as Lee. Lee President and CEO Kevin Mowbray said, Over the past 18 months, we have developed a strong bond and shared culture with the outstanding operators at BH Media. This highly collaborative relationship has driven digital and subscription revenue growth, margin expansion and continued innovation. We are confident we can achieve even greater success as one, integrated company. This is a compelling and transformative transaction for Lee, Mary Junck, Lees chairman, said in a news release. We have enjoyed a strong, long-term relationship with Berkshire Hathaway, which has been a significant investor across our capital structure for years. We look forward to capturing the tremendous value of this transaction for readers, advertisers and shareholders. A view of the interior of the House of Lords as the European Withdrawal Agreement Bill is debated in London on January 21, 2020. - Britain's House of Lords is debating the European Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which is due to pass through its final stages before returning to the House of Commons. (Photo by Kirsty Wigglesworth / POOL / AFP) (Photo by KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) How Brexit Tilts EU Political Alliances BRUSSELSThe United Kingdom is leaving the European Unioncardboard boxes and Union Jack socks and all. With the Brexit moment set for Jan. 31 at midnight Brussels time ( 6 p.m. EST) some UK legislators at the European Parliament in Brussels who have been fervent Brexit pushers are wasting no time getting ready to get out the door. Lawmaker Nigel Farages office on Jan. 28 was a jumble of boxes and mementos ready to be packed and shipped. For most of the Parliaments legislators and many of the departing British lawmakers, the EU remains one of the greatest experiments in peace-building and democracy following the devastation across Europe from World War II. Among the British backers of the EU are members of the Greens party, who lit lights outside the European Parliament against the darkening sky, a symbolic Well leave a light on action in case British lawmakers ever do return to Brussels. EU Parliament chief David Sassoli will bid the UK legislators a formal farewell during the plenary on Jan. 30, where the Brexit vote will take place. Even the UKs representation offices will change their name and become the UK Mission to the European Union. For insiders, UKReps will become UKMis, and they will still be just as busy, as both Britain and the EU still need to figure their future relationship and trade deals. Trade Talks Britains exit from the EU is reshaping the balance of power in Europe, removing one of the blocs two big military powers and one of the top contributors to its budget. Britain has been an outspoken supporter of free trade, close ties with the United States, and a tough sanctions policy toward Russia. Britain and France, the EUs two nuclear-armed U.N. Security Council permanent members, have long been by far the blocs leading military powers. Britain was also the blocs only member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing group, giving it privileged access to the output of U.S. spies. To contain the damage from Britains exit, the bloc is keen to keep London in a tight security and defense relationship in the future. The departure of a traditional proponent of trans-Atlantic ties will leave more say to Paris, which has greater ambitions for the integration of European defense. Britain has been a key backer of sanctions against Russia over Ukraine, with the most important economic sanctions now in place only until the end of July. Other Russia hawks, including Sweden, Poland, and the Baltic states, will see their hand weakened in discussions with peers such as Italy, Hungary, and Cyprus that are keen to resume business ties with Moscow. Britain and the EU will find themselves in separate trade talks with the United States and China, which will change the negotiating leverage of the worlds most important trade relationships. Within the EU, the free-traders lobby will be weakened, leaving the Netherlands at the helm of a group that also includes Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, and other smaller states. With Germany seen leaning more toward a traditional French model of a strong state role, Britain will be an absence in discussions about industrial policy, vetting foreign investment, state aid to industry, and creating national champions. Macron in the Driving Seat Without Britain, the Franco-German engine of the union becomes more important. But as Angela Merkel nears the end of her long tenure as the German chancellor, French President Emmanuel Macron could get a bigger say in EU affairs. Macron wants to reform the EU and deepen its integration, creating a rift with newer eastern EU members such as Poland, which had seen euro-skeptic Britain as an ally. The eastern members want to compete within the EU through lower prices and reject French proposals to harmonize more rules. They support expanding the bloc into the Balkans, which Macron has resisted, and they strongly back NATO as a bulwark against Russia, while Macron called the alliance brain dead. The EU is entering a period of horse-trading over its budget for 202127 and the departure of Britain leaves a gaping hole. Other net contributors dont want to pay more, while recipients dont want to give up aid. Britain was by far the largest EU state outside the eurozone, meaning the other eight countries that have kept national currencies lose their most important ally when their interests diverge from those of states that use the euro. Were passing the point of no return, said Farage. Reuters contributed to this report. Pennridge to vote on one textbook; further review on other one Panama, 1890s: The French effort to construct a canal linking the oceans failed miserably. The main culprit was malaria, with thousands dying at the rate of more than 200 per month. A cure wasnt discovered because researchers didnt understand the disease vector, and, therefore, were looking in all the wrong places. In a particularly ironic move with devastating consequences many scientists and project personnel declared that malaria was spread by ants. To combat this, they placed all bed legs in buckets of water. The theory was that malaria ants would drown as they attempted to make their way up the beds. Not only were they dead wrong, literally, but their countless buckets of water became perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes the real vector for malaria. That blindness allowed the mosquito population to explode, perpetuating the cycle of death. So how is it that, over a hundred years later, with our unparalleled scientific knowledge, we are making the same kind of mistakes? The answer is human nature, particularly a combination of hubris and lack of common sense. Ebola never became a global pandemic, nor went viral in America, because we had Lady Luck on our side. In other words, we emerged relatively unscathed in spite not because of our efforts to combat it. But with the new coronavirus emanating from Hubei Province in China now reaching across the globe, with more cases reported each hour, we may not be so lucky this time. Thankfully, this isnt a mutated form of bird flu a viral strain that would make the Black Plague look like a walk in the park but it is the real deal. And because China, the U.S. and the world community failed to act quickly by not implementing timely containment protocols, and continued espousing contradictory statements, the cat is out of the bag. Anxiety may soon turn to panic. This column will analyze the coronavirus and its effects in an ongoing series. Here are some initial observations: 1) China wasnt forthcoming with its own people, let alone the rest of the world. No surprise there. We can talk all day about how its culture believes admitting mistakes is taboo, but thats no excuse when lives are at stake potentially millions if this coronavirus, or the next one, evolves into a pandemic. In an extraordinary admission, the Mayor of Wuhan, the city at the epicenter, stated: We havent disclosed information in a timely manner, and also did not use effective information to improve our work. Hows that for an understatement? But Chinese dishonesty is nothing new. In 2003, the government finally disclosed the existence of the nefarious SARS virus to the World Health Organization (WHO) a full three months after SARS had been spreading unchecked. Even after disclosure, Chinese leaders strongly discouraged its national media from reporting on SARS, withheld or fabricated medical reports to WHO, and even hid SARS patients from WHO inspectors. It didnt take much to surmise it was worse than what they were saying. For months, China had refused access to scientific teams trying to visit the province where SARS began. And then, after being forced to admit that SARS in Beijing was 10 times (yes, 10) worse than the government stated, Chinese leaders fired the health minister, making him the fall guy. They chose a scapegoat rather than attack the problem. 2) Not much has changed. Despite the ability to detect such viruses from an early stage and thus share that information with people in affected regions, as well as other countries China sat on its hands. By remaining silent for the first three weeks after this coronavirus surfaced, China allowed it to spread to such an extent that back-tracking investigations (where scientists attempt to contact every person with whom the infected were in proximity) are now impossible. The size of these Chinese cities is unimaginable. Wuhan has a staggering 11 million people (2.5 million more than New York) where many live in close proximity to each other. On top of that, millions have been traveling throughout China for lunar New Year celebrations. Those conditions create an ideal breeding ground for such an aggressive virus, especially given its stealthy 14-day incubation period where no symptoms are exhibited (yet the infected are likely contagious). Add in air travel, which can transport viruses around the world in mere hours, and you have a perfect storm. So whether its ignorance spreading disease, such as in Panama, or a deliberate cover-up, the result is the same. 3) Chinese leaders may not have told anyone about the threat, but they certainly knew its possible implications. Thats why they have been building several hospitals in Wuhan that will exclusively serve those with coronavirus. That was an expected move, but its the timing that illustrates just how worried they really are. Working around the clock with every resource available, they will complete, stock and fully staff a 1,300-bed hospital in 10 days. Thats not a misprint 10 days. Americans would spend months arguing about labor negotiations, construction contracts and lawsuits about where to build before any ground would be broken. So on that note, give credit where its due: huge kudos to the Chinese. 4) Further evidence that China is a hell of lot more worried than it is letting on is the fact that it has executed the largest quarantine in world history, locking down more than 55 million people the equivalent of telling half of those on the East Coast of the U.S. that they cant leave their houses. Transportation is shut down, offices sit vacant, and streets are completely deserted. And if someone dares venture outside, theyll be looking down the barrel of a gun. That said, it is inexcusable that Chinese leaders announced the quarantine before implementing it. That window allowed countless, and now untraceable, numbers of citizens (and non-citizens) to cut out before enforcement commenced. Put another way, if 1 percent fled, that would be half a million people some undoubtedly infected traveling to God knows where. Even one-tenth of 1 percent would still yield 50,000 people on the run. Such a shortsighted decision makes no sense, especially for a totalitarian country that has no problem enforcing the law with the strongest of hands. 5) Many wonder where this new strain originated. The standard answer is a massive seafood and exotic animal market in Hubei Province, but not so fast. While not necessarily likely, dont be surprised if, at some point, evidence points to an accidental release from a nearby bio-weapons lab. But assuming the market to be the source, several points: First, the animal reservoir (where the virus resides) is being hotly debated. Some scientists believe it is snakes, while other think it may be livestock or bats. But there are so many animals in that market, both carcasses and alive from ostrich to bamboo rats to cicadas that it will take an exorbitant amount of work to determine the carrier. Second, SARS also originated in such animals. As a result of that epidemic, China has been pressured to outlaw such exotic markets to avoid another outbreak. Unfortunately for the world, it has not done so. The result speaks for itself. Given that human life hangs in the balance, this demand should be at the very top of trade negotiations with the Chinese. Accomplish that, and well be on our way to dealing with Corona the right way with a lime. The next installment will analyze the reactions and failures of the worlds response. Concourse Federal Group has been named to the annual Vet100 list a compilation of the nations fastest growing veteran-owned businesses. The ranking, created in partnership with Inc. magazine and Syracuse University's Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), was born out of the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies based in the U.S. Both distinctions are considered hallmarks of entrepreneurial success. Concourse provides a full-service advisory group that offers solutions for their clients most difficult challenges. Concourse has more than ten years of experience providing services to federal clients in architecture and engineering, real estate, technology and management consulting. Concourse was nominated Best Small Business of the Year by Veteran Affairs VISN 22 and has served several federal clients. Concourse has also dedicated more than 50,000 hours serving the nations veterans. Business growth is a real economic driver in this country and the fact is that most of the new jobs in the economy over 87 percent are created by private businesses, says Eric Schurenberg, CEO of Mansueto Ventures, publisher of Inc. Magazine. Veteran entrepreneurs contribute their share to the job story, employing over 5.5 million. They deserve to be recognized for their continued service to the country. Military experience provides veteran entrepreneurs with skills and knowledge we know to be valuable in the business world, said Mike Haynie, Syracuse University Vice Chancellor and IVMF Founder and Executive Director. The growth of this years list is a hopeful and inspiring indication of how important and valuable veteran entrepreneurs are to our society and economy. These businessmen and women not only served in defense of our collective freedom and security, they now continue to serve by bettering the economies in their communities and across the country. We are proud to partner again with Inc. magazine and are grateful for their efforts to shine a spotlight on the success of veteran-owned businesses. The Vet100 list will be announced on March 7 in Dallas at the Vet100 Awards dinner during IVMFs Veteran EDGE national conference. EDGE is the first-of-its-kind coalition of large companies supporting the success of veteran-owned businesses, connecting them with entrepreneurial education, training, resources and networking opportunities. For more information on the Inc. Vet100 list, visit https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/Vet100/. About Concourse Federal Group Concourse Federal Group is a certified Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) that provides full-service consulting and aspires to be the standard of excellence. Concourse has been providing the federal government professional services in Architecture & Engineering, Real Estate, Technology, and Management Consulting to clients nationwide since 2009. Concourse also provides solutions in cyber-security, real estate portfolio management, transition planning & medical facility outfitting, and healthcare planning. To learn more about Concourse Federal Group, visit http://concoursefederal.com/home. About Inc. and the Inc. 5000 Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures, Inc. is the only major brand dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies, with the aim to deliver real solutions for today's innovative company builders. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com. The Inc. 5000 is a list of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. Now in its 39th year, this prestigious list of the nation's most successful private companies has become the hallmark of entrepreneurial success. About Syracuse Universitys Institute for Veterans and Military Families Syracuse Universitys Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) is the first interdisciplinary national institute in higher education focused on the social, economic, education and policy issues impacting veterans and their families. Through its professional staff and experts, the IVMF delivers leading programs in career, vocational, and entrepreneurship education and training, while also conducting actionable research, policy analysis and program evaluations. The IVMF also supports communities through collective impact efforts that enhance delivery and access to services and care. For more information, visit ivmf.syracuse.edu. Media Contact: Geoffrey Perkins (gperkins@concoursefederal.com) The Assam Rifles has constructed a combined war memorial in Nagaland for the 357 Army and Assam Rifles personnel killed while fighting insurgency in the northeastern state, a senior Assam Rifles officer said on Wednesday. The memorial has been built at Mokokchung, which is also the cultural and intellectual centre of Nagaland. "This memorial is the first of its kind in Nagaland, which also has the famous Second World War Cemetery at Kohima. Christened "Veer Samriti", the memorial is spread over 13,500 sq ft and was built by 44 Assam Rifles," the officer told PTI. Nagaland has seen decades of insurgency, leading to loss of lives for the security forces and Naga insurgents. "Since 1955 when insurgency first cast its ugly shadow in Nagaland, lives of 357 personnel from the Army and Assam Rifles have been lost. Their sacrifice has not been in vain for Nagaland today is limping back to normalcy and is an important cog in Indias Act East Policy," he said. "The Assam Rifles authorities in Nagaland felt it was necessary to have a memorial that was befitting the supreme sacrifice made by our men in uniform and one which also acts as a beacon of motivation for future generations in the state and country," he said. In the last six decades, many battalions from the Army and almost all battalions of Assam Rifles participated in the counter-insurgency operations, the officer said. The war memorial has been designed in a concentric circular form, with outer rectangular flower beds as boundary wall. The central arena, the heart of the memorial, comprises two circular podiums with a 19-feet high main memorial mast having three converging posts signifying the Army, Air Force and Assam Rifles. The names of the 357 martyrs have been carved, each on a single granite stone. Mokokchung was chosen as the site for the war memorial due to its centrality, richness in culture and because a large number of soldiers were martyred in the district in the line of their duty, he said. "The sacrifice of these brave men has been the reason why peace and near normalcy has been restored in Nagaland. One of the most decorated officers of the Army, Colonel N J Nair, Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra of 16 Maratha Light Infantry, was also martyred in Mokokchung in 1993," the officer said. From Nagaland, the martyrs include Naik Nikhuni Mao, Riflemen Lukhubi Sema, Alalmba Ao, Y Nokte, Dule Luwang, Kumar Rangmai, H Konyak and AS Ringphami, all from Assam Rifles and Rifleman H Konyak from 164 Territorial Army Battalion. The war memorial is located in the Assam Rifles Battalion location and is expected to become an important place of visit for locals, ex-servicemen and other visitors to Mokokchung, he said. The memorial, which was conceptualised, planned and executed by the Inspector General Assam Rifles (North), will be inaugurated soon, he added. The nearly 55,000-strong Assam Rifles has been guarding India's 1,640-km long border with Myanmar and also parts of Arunachal Pradesh border opposite China during war under the operational control of the Indian Army, he said. The Assam Rifles, which was raised in 1835, has also been carrying out counter-insurgency operations in militancy- infested states in the northeastern region. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) GLADE SPRING, Va. A fire in the historic Glade Spring Town Square last week is believed to be suspicious in nature, according to the Virginia State Police. The VSP and Glade Spring Police Department continue to investigate after fire damaged a building in the Town Square on Thursday, Jan. 16. The origin and cause remain under investigation, a VSP news release states. No other information about why the fire is considered suspicious has been released. No one was injured in the fire. On Jan. 16 at 7:07 p.m., a 911 call was received at Washington County dispatch about a fire at a commercial building in the 100 block of East Glade Street. The entire building was damaged by fire. The building, owned by Bristol, Tennessee, residents Jamie and Robert Greeson, is divided into commercial and residential space. Its the former site of a brewery and restaurant, and also contains residential space. The couple purchased the building last year and is preparing to restore the structure. The fire was the first major blaze in the Town Square in years, town officials said. Assistant Fire Chief Ricky Stumbo said when he went to the fire, he feared the worst that the flames had spread to other structures. The Fire Department, and other responding departments, absolutely saved Town Square, Stumbo said. It could have spread, he said. It would have been very hard to control it by hand. Abingdon and Chilhowie firefighters used ladder trucks to drown the flames, he explained. It was starting to spread upstairs, and once it was up there, it could have started traveling quickly, Stumbo said. Glade Spring Vice Mayor Steve White added, It was a team effort. These guys got in it quick. Stumbo said that although the building suffered significant damage, including a collapsed roof, the structure can be rebuilt. The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Wytheville Field Office is encouraging anyone with information concerning the fire to contact 276-889-7660 or by email at questions@vsp.virginia.gov. (Bloomberg) -- In July, Facebook Inc. quietly hired Miranda Sissons, a 49-year old human rights activist whose previous work has included stints at the Australian diplomatic service and the International Center for Transitional Justice. The hiring, which was never formally announced, is part of a broader effort by the company to atone for more than once failing to stop online abuse on Facebook from spilling over into real-world violence. Human rights advocates in places like Sri Lanka, the Philippines, India and Brazil have long complained that the company has refused to acknowledge mounting evidence about the dangers of digital hate. As Facebook pursued world-changing growth, particularly in developing countries, it didnt always have local staff there, or even employees who spoke the language. In Myanmar, a wave of online hate preceded a campaign of violence against the countrys Rohingya minority that led to thousands of deaths and the displacement of over 700,000 people. An independent report Facebook commissioned in 2018 found that it bore partial responsibility for fueling the conflict. Immediately after taking the job, Sissons took a five-day trip to the country. I was deeply, deeply aware of the criticism of Facebooks inaction in Myanmar, and deeply aware of the struggles humankind is facing with the impact of social media, Sissons told Bloomberg News earlier this month in her first press interview in her new role. This is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Sissons work is part of a broader reckoning within the technology industry, which has been forced to reexamine its role in world conflicts. Several months before Facebook hired Sissons, Twitter Inc. brought on Cynthia Wong, a former researcher at Human Rights Watch, to be its human rights director. As with Facebook, Twitter never announced the hiring. In discussions with more than a dozen people familiar with Facebooks work on human rights, a picture emerges of a company that has been moving rapidly but, according to its skeptics, not always effectively. One Facebook employee, who asked not to be identified discussing private information, said its shortcomings have not always been the result of having too few people dedicated to human rights, but at times having so many people involved that theyre working at cross-purposes. Story continues Human rights advocates outside the company acknowledge Facebooks effort to hire experts, and say it has become far more responsive. But they worry that internal advocates like Sissons wont be adequately empowered, and many are withholding praise until the company makes more concrete changes. They are hiring people who have the right knowledge, experience and sensibility to tackle human rights problems, said Matthew Smith, chief executive of Fortify Rights, a human rights group. So far, though, thats clearly not enough. Sissons human rights education started early. Her father was a prominent Australian historian who served in the occupation force of Hiroshima after World War II, then worked as an interpreter in the Australian-led tribunals of Japanese officials accused of war crimes. My early childhood was completely taken up with discussions of war crimes, war criminals, the Second World War, and notions of justice, she said. After attending the University of Melbourne, Sissons spent time in East Timor, researched Middle Eastern issues and took several posts with the Australian diplomatic corps, including a frustrating stint answering phones at an Australian embassy in Egypt. My Arabic wasnt very good, she confessed. People would ring me up and shout at me about all kinds of things, and I would have to find a solution. Eventually, Sissons went on to work on her own high-profile tribunal as an independent observer of the trial of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, and she did stints at Human Rights Watch and the Australian diplomatic corps. In 2011 Sissons switched her focus to the relationship between human rights and technology. She had been working in the Middle East, where the Arab Spring was just getting underway, and many people believed social media could shift the balance of power between citizens and oppressive regimes. It was a time of unmatched optimism about the potential of social media in political organizing. The good feelings didn't last. As early as 2014 there were credible reports emerging of coordinated incitement on Facebook against the Rohingya in Myanmar. The online abuse foreshadowed a wave of violence that began in earnest in 2016. By the time Facebook began looking for a human rights director in 2018, the conventional wisdom on tech from a few years earlier had effectively reversed. The killings in Myanmar and elsewhere, coupled with Russian-led disinformation campaigns in Donald Trumps presidential election, had darkened popular opinion. Companies that were accustomed to being revered were suddenly being accused of simultaneously squelching free expression and tolerating active manipulation of their platforms. The tech industrys first halting steps to control the flow of abuse initially won few fans. In an online essay in late 2018 Cynthia Wong, then senior internet researcher for Human Rights Watch, said it was time for a moral reckoning in Silicon Valley. If regulators, investors, and users want true accountability, they should press for a far more radical re-examination of tech sector business models, especially social media and advertising ecosystems, she wrote. In some cases, the companies started hiring their critics. Twitter brought on Wong as its legal director of human rights in April 2019. The company declined to make her available for an interview, and said in a statement that it was uniquely positioned to help activist and civic-minded people around the globe make their voices heard." Other attempts at reform were wholly unsuccessful. In early 2019 Ross LaJeunesse, then Googles global head of international relations, saw Facebooks posting for a human rights director, and used it to argue for the creation of a similar structure at his company. He failed, and left the company soon after. LaJeunesse, who is currently running for the U.S. Senate in Maine, now says tech companies cant handle these issues on their own. There has to be government oversight, he said. Sissons, who reports to Facebooks head of global policy management Monika Bickert, has over the last several months been quietly incorporating human rights protections into Facebooks policies, and making sure that people with human rights training are in the meetings where executives sign off on new product features. She said the company had made progress before she arrived, including the reform of its 2018 decision to begin removing misinformation in situations where it could lead to physical harm. There are now a lot of resources in place, Sissons said. The challenge is to quickly identify local signs of trouble, then block or slow the spread of certain content, or take swift action against particular users. We are testing continuously in crisis environments to try and predict what resources well need, she said, and to ensure theyre in place. When Sissons went to Myanmar with Facebook she made a stop in Phandeeyar, a tech hub and community center in downtown Yangon. Jes Kaliebe Petersen, its CEO, said hes been meeting with Facebook employees for yearshe helped the company develop local community standards almost five years ago. But the encounters have calcified into a depressingly predictable routine. They send a bunch of people who have never been here before, and they talk to us, said Petersen. And we never hear from them again. A spokesman for Facebook said it has held many introductory meetings at the request of local advocates, and argued the company has taken significant strides in the country. Besides hiring Sissons, it shut down hundreds of pages and accounts, including that of the head of Myanmars army, for spreading misinformation and hatred. It has hired a Myanmar head of public policy for the first time. And it assembled a team of 100 content moderators who speak Burmese. That group will be able to support escalations in other languages used in the country as well, Sissons said. The company also set up an independent review board for thorny content moderation issues, and in an unusual step, commissioned independent human rights assessments of what happened in Myanmar and other trouble spots. In November 2018, it published a 60-page report on Myanmar from the nonprofit group Business for Social Responsibility, in full. They deserve praise for putting it out there, said Dunstan Allison-Hope the lead author of the report. You dont see that. But Facebook has never made the results of a similar assessment in Sri Lanka public, despite calls to do so. Sissons declined to say whether it had plans to publish those results. And there are currently no Facebook staff members working in Myanmar full-timesomething that many advocates have called for. Representatives for Facebook say its staff based in Singapore and elsewhere are regularly in Myanmar, and that it has spent well over a year taking hundreds of meetings with people in the country. One person who said he'd never gotten an invitation to meet with Facebook is Nickey Diamond, a local advocate working for Fortify Rights. Diamond said he has been the target of harassing posts from the government for years, and still faces a menacing atmosphere online. Theyre sharing my picture with the word traitor in Burmese, he said. Every human rights defender is in the same situation. The broader problem Facebook is confrontingthe vigilant monitoring of an ever-evolving social network used by 2.3 billion peoplecan seem almost impossibly daunting. The company now has content moderators examining posts in approximately 50 languages, Sissons said, a number that is unchanged from its count last April, and is fewer than half of the languages that Facebook actively supports. Facebook has said only technological improvements can combat problems at scale. It has automated tools that scan for hate speech, as well as image recognition technology monitoring for obscene content regardless of language. About 80% of the posts that Facebook acts on for violating its hate speech policies are now first identified by its automated filters, up from about 24% a year earlier. Soon, the challenges of monitoring the spread of abusive posts could become even more difficult. Facing pressure to increase user privacy, Facebook has prioritized private communications, meaning more content is encrypted so that even the company itself wont know what it says. In those cases, Sissons said the company is working on tools that will look for patterns associated with problematic content, so it can either remove such messages or impede them from spreading so rapidly. Facebook is aware of the scope of its challenges, said Rebecca MacKinnon, the director of Ranking Digital Rights, an online advocacy group. Facebook is making an effort to engage. Whether that will make a difference in the real world, well see, she said. Theyre dealing with some problems that no one knows how to solve. When Sissons met with members of the Phandeeyar team last November in Myanmar, they came prepared with a handful of suggestions for actions Facebook should take before the national elections there, which are expected to take place later this year. While Phandeeyar staffers had been deeply engaged in the specifics for months, Sissons was still just getting her feet under her, and there wasnt enough time in the hour-long meeting to get much resolution, said Phandeeyar CEO Petersen. Theres always lots of goals for improvements. Hopefully Miranda has a sound plan for how to get there, he said. The thing is, we dont really have that much time. (Clarifies that Petersen was not in the meeting with Sissions in the penultimate paragraph of article published Tuesday. An earlier version of this story corrected the dates of Sissons' hiring and trip to Myanmar.) To contact the author of this story: Joshua Brustein in New York at jbrustein@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Anne VanderMey at avandermey@bloomberg.net, 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. Eminent Assamese litterateur Sashi Sarma died here of age-related ailments, family sources said on Wednesday. He was 89. He died on Tuesday night, they said, adding that he is survived by his wife and three daughters. His son had predeceased him. Sarma also an academic, intellectual and a living example of Hindu-Muslim unity in Assam had authored nearly 100 books. His writings ranged from that on the 15th-century Assamese Vaishnavite saint-scholar and social-religious reformer Srimanta Sankardeva to Maxim Gorky and the age-old religious brotherhood in the state. The last book of the retired professor of Nalbari College was titled 'Antim Jatra' which was released last year. The Nalbari Deputy Commissioner Bharat Bhusan Dev Choudhury placed the national tricolour on Sarma's mortal remains and a 21-gun salute was given to his body. Sarma had received the Soviet Nehru Award in 1968 and the Sitanath Brahma Chowdhury Award. As per Sarma's wish to donate his body for medical research, his mortal remains were taken in a procession from Nalbari and handed over to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital on Wednesday. His eyes were donated to the Sri Sankardeva Netralaya hospital. The writer has donated his residential house here to the CPI(M), party sources said. During the final journey, Sarma's body was taken to Nalbari college, All Assam Students Union (AASU) office, CPI(M) office and the state's apex literary body Assam Sahitya Sabha office here and Guwahati for last respect. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, BJP state unit president Ranjeet Dass, AASU leaders, besides social-cultural, political organisations, including Assam Sahitya Sabha, have condoled his demise. Describing Sarma's death as an irreparable loss to Assam, the chief minister said his contributions to society through his books and writings will remain immortal. Assam Sahitya Sabha president Dr Paramananda Rajbangshi and secretary Padma Rajkhowa in a joint condolence message said the state lost a scholar and thinker who always was concerned about the social condition of people. "Sarma wrote nearly 100 books on varied subjects. This shows his intellectual stature. But beyond this, he was a living example of Hindu-Muslim unity of our state," said Sitanath Lahkar, the filmmaker of the only documentary on Sarma's life. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A South African billionaire businessman has apologised for telling US President Donald Trump that "Africa loves you" after his remarks sparked a debate among his countrymen who questioned his right to speak on behalf of the continent. Patrice Motsepe, former India-Africa CEOs Forum co-chair, made these remarks during the World Economic Forum in Davos last week. The mining magnate came under fire for his remarks as politicians and economists from across the continent dissociated themselves from the statement as Trump had earlier used offensive language to refer to African countries. In 2018, Trump said African nations were shithole countries, prompting a call from the African Union at the time for him to apologise for what was considered to be racist remarks. "I do not have the right to speak on behalf of anybody except myself," Motsepe said in a statement issued here on Tuesday. "I have a duty to listen to these differing views and would like to apologise. Motsepe said his comments were intended to encourage discussion between Trump's administration and African business and political leaders. The businessman emphasised that he had worked for many decades to unite people across race, ethnicity and religion. "I've worked with political, business, societal and other leaders whose view and policies I do not share and will continue to do so in Africa and globally," Motsepe said. "My remarks at the dinner (in Davos) were partly aimed at encouraging discussion between the Trump administration and African political and business leaders, particularly in the context of the incoming feedback from certain American political and business leaders that South Africa and some African countries are anti-America. This perception has had an impact on our ability to attract foreign investment and create jobs, Motsepe said. Motsepe was once the co-chair of the India-South Africa CEOs forum alongside Ratan Tata, aimed at boosting trade between the two countries. The forum has been dormant for some years now. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Stand-up comedian-satirist Kunal Kamra, who has been banned by four airlines for accosting a TV channel editor on an IndiGo flight, on Wednesday said the imposition of the fly ban was "not shocking" for him. "It's not shocking at all to me that for exercising my right to speech, which falls under Article 19 of our Constitution, airlines have given me a temporary ban from flying," said Kamra in a statement. Speaking of the incident that occurred on Tuesday onboard the IndiGo flight 6E 5317 from Mumbai to Lucknow, Kamra said that neither was he disruptive and nor did he refuse to follow the instructions of the cabin crew or the captain. "The fact of the matter is that at no point was I disruptive and at no point did I not follow orders of the cabin crew or the captain. At no point did I endanger the safety of any passenger on board, the only damage I caused was to the inflated ego to the 'journalist' Arnab Goswami'," he said. Kamra claimed that no formal complaint has been made by the crew or even Republic TV editor Arnab Goswami whom Kamra had accosted, or anyone else on that flight. "To my limited knowledge, no formal complaint has been made by the crew or Arnab or anyone else taking the flight. Whenever there was an intervention by any member of the crew I complied," he said. Taking a dig at Goswami, he said: "If expressing myself to an important public figure who himself points a camera day in and day out catching people off guard, is a crime then both of us are criminals." On Tuesday, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had "advised" the airlines to ban Kamra from flying. Taking a cue, Air India, SpiceJet and GoAir declared its ban on the Comedian until further orders while IndiGo has barred him from flying for six months. "Offensive behaviour designed to provoke and create disturbance inside an aircraft is absolutely unacceptable and endangers safety of air travellers. We are left with no option but to advise other airlines to impose similar restrictions on the person concerned," Puri posted on Twitter. Notably, all the airlines tagged Puri in their tweets announcing their compliance. Kamra and Goswami were travelling in an IndiGo flight 6E 5317 from Mumbai to Lucknow on Tuesday when the incident happened. In the video posted by Kamra on his Twitter handle, Goswami, who can be seen glued to his laptop, did not respond to the former's rant. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. 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 . Students at Ball State University in Indiana walked out in protest on Tuesday demanding the retirement of a tenured professor who called the police when a black student refused to change seats for a second time. The peaceful protest followed a confrontation between white marketing professor Shaheen Borna and business major Sultan 'Mufasa' Benson on Tuesday, January 21. Video of the incident went viral and Borna was forced to apologize for his actions. Students at Ball State University in Indiana walked out in protest on 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 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, January 21 On Tuesday, a crowd of 200 to 300 students and faculty gathered on the university green calling on Iranian-born Borna to retire and serve community service. The protest also called for mandatory diversity and conflict training for all faculty. Chicago-born Benson addressed the crowd outside the Whitinger Business Building, where the senior business-administration major last week left the classroom of long-term faculty member Shaheen Borna when the cops were called. 'You gonna call the police? On a young black man not doing nothing but in class learning?' Benson said to the crowd. 'You gonna call the police on somebody trying to further their education? You gonna call the police while I'm paying attention to what you're teaching? 'You gonna call the police while the rest of these students are trying to learn? We all know how situations with the police go with young African-American men, correct?' Benson explained that Borna, who is white, asked him to relocate from his assigned seat in the second row to a free seat in the back when another student took his spot. During the class, another student left early leaving a space free in the front row and the professor asked Benson to move for a second time. When Benson asked why he needed to move again, Borna proceeded the call the cops and Benson decided to leave the classroom rather than relocate. Benson said he had not wanted to move again because he had set up his laptop and it was still plugged in and charging in a wall outlet. Video footage posted on social media shows the moment a white professor at Ball State University in Indiana called campus police on a black student who wouldn't change seats 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' after the campus police were called into his classroom 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.' A video posted on social media shows 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 later tweeted he was 'totally disappointed' by the incident, to which the university responded back that it was conducting a review of what happened. Borna, who has taught at BSU since 1983, has since apologized for his actions in a letter to Benson and the other students in which he claims that his is charged with an 'excellent educational experience'. 'I am sorry that my actions today did not contribute to that,' Benson wrote, the Star Press reports. More than 100 other faculty members have signed a letter condemning the professor and his 'rapid escalation of the situation and involvement of the police' questioning whether he was guilty of 'either an ignorance of or disregard for a national context where the over-policing of black communities and the criminalization of black children has been extended into every aspect of black life'. 'We firmly believe that the police have no place in classroom management and should be relied upon only when real threats to the safety of those in the room or building exist,' the letter reads. Students gathered on Tuesday shouted 'King' at Benson as they held signs reading 'It's Not Going Away,' 'This is Not Right,' 'Dear White People,' and 'Boot Borna.' Also attending the rally was Ball State University President Geoffrey S. Mearns who last week called Borna's actions a 'gross error' and had an 'unwarranted overreaction'. Mearns wrote to 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. He added that school officials met with Bona 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'. 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 The president said 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, in an interview with told WTTV, 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 really want Ball State to do something,' he added '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.' Ramallah: Palestinian leaders on Tuesday rejected US President Donald Trump's peace proposal as an unacceptable capitulation to Israel that tramples on the long-standing aspirations of their people. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas vowed the initiative unveiled in Washington would fail. "This conspiracy deal will not pass. Our people will take it to the dustbin of history," he said after a meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah of various Palestinian factions including Islamist group Hamas, which pledged to "resist the deal in all its forms". Trump's proposal included a long list of measures directly in line with Israeli interests, notably recognition of Jerusalem as the "undivided capital" of the Jewish state. "If Jerusalem is not the capital of the Palestinian state, how will we accept that?" Abbas asked, stressing that it was "impossible for any child, Arab, Muslim or Christian," to do so. Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya said the Islamist group which controls Gaza would never "accept any substitute for Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state". "We warn the whole world not to go along with this deal," he said. Trump's plan triggered immediate condemnation on the streets of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, with demonstrations expected to continue through the week. Thirteen people were wounded in the West Bank in clashes with the Israeli army on Tuesday, the Red Crescent said. One person was taken to hospital after being hit with a rubber bullet, while 12 others were suffering from exposure to tear gas, a spokeswoman said. An AFP reporter said around 200 Palestinians confronted Israeli forces near Ramallah, burning photos of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 'A Traitor' Trump delivered his plan in Washington alongside Netanyahu, his staunch ally. In Ramallah, some ignored Trump's presentation, preferring to drink coffee and play cards, while others watched the television coverage of Trump and Netanyahu with disdain. "There is no Palestinian or Arab who accepts Jerusalem is Israel," 23-year-old Firas Ladadwa said. "Anyone who accepts this is a traitor." Trump touted his plan as a boon to the Palestinian economy that would bring billions of dollars in investment. But Mohammed al-Najjar, a 69-year-old sitting in a cafe in central Ramallah, dismissed such promises as "empty talk". "What Trump announced was not accepted by any Palestinian," he added. Canada has a plane being prepared to fly Canadians out of the province in China at the centre of an outbreak of a new coronavirus, Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Wednesday. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Tom Williams along with his wife Lauren and son James are seen in this undated handout photo. Tom Williams is a British expat who has been living and working for about five years in Wuhan, which is the capital of Hubei province in China. His wife Lauren, who is from Langley, B.C., is about 35 weeks pregnant, he said in a telephone interview from Wuhan. He also has a two-and-a-half-year-old son, James, who was born in White Rock, B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Tom Williams *MANDATORY CREDIT* Canada has a plane being prepared to fly Canadians out of the province in China at the centre of an outbreak of a new coronavirus, Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Wednesday. The government is also advising all Canadians to avoid "non-essential" travel to China and has also scaled back its diplomatic presence in the country because of the outbreak. The next step in the evacuation process is to secure co-operation from China to assist the 160 Canadians who have requested some form of help, Champagne said. Not all of them want to leave, he emphasized in an appearance on Parliament Hill. Canada's chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, later warned that not everyone who wants to come back to Canada may be able to leave. "The Chinese authority will not let anyone who might be infected on the plane," she told the House of Commons health committee. China has all but sealed off one of its central provinces where the novel coronavirus was first detected. The virus causes respiratory symptoms similar to the common cold, but it can be deadly in very severe cases. At Champagne's side, Health Minister Patty Hajdu said the government still has to decide what will happen with the Canadians who leave China, so as to prevent any spread of the illness. Asked whether returning travellers would be held in quarantine, Hajdu replied: "We will always work to ensure the health of Canadians, whether they're abroad or whether they're here. So, yes what we're looking at is a scenario where we have all the measures in place to protect Canadians from exposure to the virus. Having said that, that's about as far as I can go." Officials say the 201 Americans taken to the United States from the Chinese city at the centre of the virus outbreak are undergoing three days of monitoring at a southern California military base to make sure they do not show signs of the virus. Hajdu said the U.S. has a process that is working "efficiently." Champagne said Canada is working with allies to co-ordinate plans and make the logistics work, and that could take more time. Some other countries have promised similar help for their citizens stuck in the province of Hubei particularly those that have diplomatic offices there, which Canada does not and Champagne said Canada isn't far behind them. "The only plane which has landed is a U.S. plane that was scheduled to be there," Champagne said, which was then followed by a plane sent by Japan earlier Wednesday. He said Canada was at the "forefront" of the international response. The virus has killed 170 people and infected more than 7,700 on the Chinese mainland and abroad. A Twitter message by the Canadian Embassy in China said that as of Wednesday its diplomatic missions are working with reduced staff due to the coronavirus. It urged Canadians in need of emergency consular assistance to call or email the emergency response centre of Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa. It also posted the contact phone number of 1-613-996-8885 and the email address of sos@international.gc.ca. A teacher who is living with his pregnant Canadian wife and child in a city that is the epicentre of China's coronavirus outbreak had been hoping to leave the country on a British flight. Tom Williams is hoping to get his wife, Lauren, who is about 35 weeks pregnant, out of Wuhan, the Hubei city that has been essentially locked down with the emergence of the disease. The couple also has a two-and-a-half-year-old son, James, who is Canadian. Williams is a British expat and his wife and son are from British Columbia. "We're just currently waiting to hear confirmation whether we've got space on the British flight," Williams told The Canadian Press in a FaceTime interview from China on Wednesday, before Champagne's announcement. The family received a call from officials in Ottawa earlier this week, who asked permission to share his wife's file with the British Embassy, he said. "We have some stuff laid out in case it's a last-minute departure." At least 250 Canadians have registered with Global Affairs Canada to say they are in Wuhan, said Champagne, who added that officials are trying to contact everyone to assess their needs. Williams said looking at options isn't really helping people on the ground, although he understands that Canada doesn't have a diplomatic presence in Wuhan, a city of 11 million. Canadian offices in Beijing and Shanghai are closed until Sunday for the Lunar New Year holiday. "We're just a little anxious and hoping for some answers pretty soon," said Williams, who added that he and his family are "still healthy and still OK." The family went out during the day Wednesday and the streets were "very quiet," he said. They take their temperatures whenever they enter and leave their apartment complex. James was watching "Toy Story" Wednesday afternoon. "He's a little bit clingy, but we're doing our best with train sets and different things. Trying to keep him entertained." Canadian Wayne Duplessis, who teaches in China, said he and his family registered with the emergency response centre in Ottawa to know what help may be available in Wuhan. But Duplessis, who is originally from Espanola, Ont., said he is not looking to leave. Most people he knows are taking the situation in stride, although he said there is "a certain resignation" and "despair." Duplessis and his family members take their temperatures every morning at breakfast. More restrictions have been placed on cars and some people are worried those might affect day-to-day activities such as getting groceries, he said. From his 28th-floor balcony, Duplessis said he could see the highway, usually buzzing with activity, was empty. "The IKEA mall across the street is empty, which is too bad. There's great lunches there," he said. "An IKEA meatball lunch would be nice right now." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2020. with files from the Associated Press The Supreme Court will on Wednesday pronounce its order on a petition filed by Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder convict -- Mukesh Kumar Singh -- challenging the rejection of his mercy petition by President Ram Nath Kovind.A three-judge bench of the apex court headed by Justice R Banumathi and also comprising Justice AS Bopanna and Justice Ashok Bhushan had heard the arguments in the matter on Tuesday and will pronounce its order at 10.30 am today.Four people -- Mukesh Kumar Singh, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Vinay Kumar Sharma, and Akshay Kumar Singh -- are facing execution on February 1 in the matter.Advocate Anjana Prakash, appearing on behalf of Mukesh, has alleged that her client was physically and sexually assaulted in Tihar jail and put under solitary confinement.The counsel said that the "Presidential pardon is a Constitutional duty of great responsibility, which must be exercised keeping in mind greater good of the people"."Solitary confinement and procedural lapses are the grounds for considering this case ... Undue delay in hearing the petition and the due and prescribed procedure was not followed in this case," advocate Anjana told the court. She said that the documents were placed before the President of India without application of mind.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing on behalf of the Delhi government, said that even death convicts have to be treated fairly under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution but opposed the plea of the death row convict.He highlighted that the trial court, Delhi High court, and the Supreme Court had awarded and upheld the death penalty to the convicts in the case while considering their medical condition.The 23-year-old paramedical student was brutally gang-raped in a moving bus on December 16, 2012, by six people including a juvenile in Delhi. One of the accused, out of five adult accused, Ram Singh had committed suicide in the Tihar jail during the trial of the case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A passenger from Beijing is screened as part of measures to prevent coronavirus infection at Hazrat Shahjalal International airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh (AP/Al-emrun Garjon) World health officials have expressed concern that the coronavirus is spreading between people outside China. The new virus has now infected more people in China than fell ill during the 2002-2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) outbreak. The number of cases has jumped to 7,711, surpassing the 5,327 people diagnosed with Sars. The death toll, which rose to 170 on Thursday morning, is lower than the 348 people who died in China from Sars. Scientists say there are still many questions to be answered about coronavirus, including how easily it spreads and how severe it is. The World Health Organisations (WHO) emergencies chief told reporters that China was taking extraordinary measures in the face of an extraordinary challenge posed by the outbreak. Dr Michael Ryan spoke at a news conference after returning from a trip to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other senior government leaders. He said the epidemic remains centred in the city of Wuhan and in Hubei province but that information is being updated and is changing by the hour. Mr Ryan said the few cases of human-to-human spread of the virus outside China in Japan, Germany and Vietnam were part of the reason the UN health agencys director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has reconvened an expert committee to meet on Thursday. It will assess whether the outbreak should be declared a global emergency. The vast majority of new #coronavirus cases have been recorded in #China. Most cases reported outside are in people with a travel history from , or have been in contact with people who have been there. But there are some signs of person-to-person transmission outside . pic.twitter.com/yufRiQdqtf Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) January 29, 2020 The first cases in the Middle East have been confirmed as a family-of-four from Wuhan that was visiting the United Arab Emirates. Australia and Singapore are among the countries reporting new cases, as the number outside China topped 70. The vast majority are people who came from Wuhan. To date, about 99% of cases are in China. Mr Ryan estimated the death rate of the new virus at 2%, but said the figure was very preliminary. With fluctuating numbers of cases and deaths, scientists are only able to produce a rough estimate of the fatality rate and it is likely many milder cases of the virus are being missed. In comparison, the Sars virus killed about 10% of people who caught it. Expand Close WHO officials, from left, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Michael Ryan and Maria van Kerkhove (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp WHO officials, from left, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Michael Ryan and Maria van Kerkhove (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP) Mr Ryan noted there were several aspects of the new virus outbreak that are extremely worrying, citing the recent rapid spike in cases in China. He said that while scientists believe the outbreak was sparked by an animal virus, it is unclear if there are other factors driving the epidemic. Without understanding that, its very hard to put into context the current transmission dynamics, he said. Meanwhile, countries began evacuating their citizens from the Chinese city hardest-hit by the virus. Chartered planes carrying about 200 evacuees each arrived in Japan and the United States as other countries planned similar evacuations from the city of Wuhan, which authorities have shut down to try to contain the virus. Outbreak Death Toll Rises to 132, as China's Xi Vows to Defeat 'Devil' Coronavirus By VOA News January 28, 2020 Chinese President Xi Jingping vowed the country will conquer the fight against a "devil" coronavirus outbreak that has killed 132 people and sickened thousands in China and around the globe. President Xi made the vow during his meeting Tuesday in Beijing with Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the World Health Organization, according to state-run news outlets. Xi was quoted telling Ghebreyesus "we cannot let this devil hide." Chinese health authorities announced 26 more deaths Tuesday, including the first fatality reported in the capital city of Beijing. The total number of confirmed cases in China now stands at well more than 5,974. Authorities have imposed a virtual quarantine on the central city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus, banning people from traveling in and out of the city. Several other cities in Hubei province, of which Wuhan is the capital, are facing heavy restrictions on movement. Wuhan is racing to complete two new field hospitals to treat the growing number of patients. Japan and the United States are among several countries that are evacuating or considering evacuating their citizens from Wuhan. Japan sent a chartered jet to Wuhan Tuesday to evacuate about 200 of the 650 Japanese nationals in the city. While the U.S. government chartered a flight that evacuated 240 Americans and diplomats early Wednesday from Wuhan. The plane will fly to Ontario, California, officials with the U.S. Embassy in China said. The flight will stop in Alaska for refueling, and the passengers will be rescreened for virus symptoms, which include fever, cough, and in severe cases shortness of breath. France, Russia and other nations also have announced plans to evacuate their citizens from Wuhan. Germany and Sri Lanka reported their first cases of the virus Monday, joining Australia, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Nepal, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. The World Health Organization says most of those are people who had a travel history in Wuhan, with several others having contact with someone who traveled there. There have been no reported deaths linked to the virus outside of China. U.S. President Donald Trump has offered China any help needed to combat the deadly coronavirus. In a Monday tweet, Trump said, "We are in very close communication with China concerning the virus," adding, "We have offered China and President Xi (Jinping) any help that is necessary. Our experts are extraordinary!" U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said at a Washington news conference Tuesday the U.S. has offered to help China three times, including a Jan. 6 offer to send a team of health professionals to China. Azar said he "hopes the Chinese government will take us up" on the offer. U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci told reporters the government is developing a vaccine against the virus and that it could be ready for trial in three months. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is expanding background checks on international travelers. The CDC had already been checking arrivals at five U.S. airports that provided direct flights from Wuhan. But it said it is expanding screenings to 15 "quarantine stations" at airports and other places where health workers routinely check arriving travelers for signs of illness. The White House said Tuesday it would not suspend flights from China to the U.S., however, a senior government official said. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited the city of Wuhan on Monday to meet with health officials and examine the response to the outbreak. Separately, in an effort to stop the virus from spreading, Mongolia closed its vast border with China, while Hong Kong and Malaysia announced they would ban entry to visitors from Wuhan. Hong Kong also announced Tuesday that it was suspending all high-speed rail and ferry services from the mainland beginning Friday. Global stock markets plunged Monday as investors feared the economic impact from the coronavirus. The virus hit China just as it was beginning celebrations to mark the Lunar New Year, resulting in the canceling or the scaling back of festivities for tens of millions of Chinese. Chinese officials took an extra step Sunday to extend the Lunar New Year holiday three extra days to cut down on group gatherings. Chinese National Health Commission Minister Ma Xiaowei said Sunday little is known about the virus. But doctors do know it has an incubation period that can range from one to 14 days. Ma said the virus is infectious during the incubation period, when no signs or symptoms of the disease are present. The virus is believed to have emerged late last year at a Wuhan seafood market illegally selling wildlife. Chinese authorities have imposed a temporary ban on the selling of wildlife. Tourist destinations are closed and school closings have been extended in an effort to stop the spread of the virus. Public transportation has been severely restricted. Many businesses have closed or asked employees to work from home. The WHO recommends several steps to help protect people against acute respiratory infections. They include avoiding close contact with those already infected, frequent hand-washing and avoiding unprotected contact with farm animals and wild animals. VOA's Margaret Besheer contributed to this story. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In Washington, old hands often say things like, "Never bet against Mitch McConnell." Well, the Kentucky Republican has some work to do. McConnell is known as a deft behind-the-scenes tactician. Critics will say other than a 2017 Republican tax bill that passed with nary a Democratic vote, he has no major legislative victory over his long congressional career. But critics and allies alike acknowledge Mitch McConnell usually gets what Mitch McConnell wants. So the language out of a Tuesday evening Senate Republican conference meeting was notable. Sources close to the majority leader noted he had informed his members he lacks the votes to block witnesses in the impeachment trial "at this time". With three full business days ahead before an expected Friday evening vote on the matter, Washington's ultimate inside player has time to lean into Republicans as he tries to bring the trial to an end. House Democratic prosecutors and Mr Trump's defence team will be back on the Senate floor on Wednesday afternoon after the president's legal team closed their case on Tuesday by again not denying their client tried to use taxpayer-funded US military aid to get Ukraine's government to investigate his domestic political rivals. Rather, they attacked House Democrats' case, bashed the other party's process used to impeach Mr Trump in the House, questioned whether his "political sins" are even impeachable while at the same time contending he did not one thing wrong. The bipartisan comity in Washington as the Senate trial reaches a crescendo is almost non-existent. Mr Trump signed his NAFTA-replacing trade pact with Canada and Mexico on Wednesday morning. Despite it receiving ample Democratic votes in both chambers, he didn't invite a single member of the party that impeached him. 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 Here are three things to watch as the Untied States' third presidential impeachment trial heads into unchartered waters. Whip in chief Mr McConnell prefers to count votes and try to flip members to his side mostly in private. But the leader of the Republican Party has a different approach, and it was on display on Wednesday morning. The president lit into John Bolton, the one-time White House national security adviser he fired and whose leaked account described the president's alleged desire to use the military aid as leverage, in the kind of tweet that GOP lawmakers fear. Mr Trump described Mr Bolton, who could end up offering damning testimony in the Senate trial, as someone who "'begged' me for a non Senate approved job." He then said he made the longtime conservative hawk and Iraq war proponent a job as his top national security adviser "despite many saying 'Don't do it, sir'." GOP lawmakers have mostly stood by the president despite his brash and sometimes personal attacks on friends and foes because they fear one presidential tweet lashing out at them could produce a primary challenger or the shutting off of the Republican Party campaign funding spigot Mr Trump controls. So his tweet thread about Mr Bolton should be taken as a warning to any Republican senators thinking of breaking ranks and voting to bring in the former White House official in an impeachment trial that could now drag on for weeks or even months. The commander in chief surely got Republican lawmakers' attention when he criticised his former subordinate for "many ... mistakes of judgement", saying he fired Mr Bolton "because frankly, if I listened to him, we would be in World War Six by now". McConnell's move Backed by Mr Trump's heavy hand, the majority leader needs to keep 51 of the chamber's GOP senators in line. "The consensus is that we've heard enough and it's time to go to a final judgement," Wyoming Senator John Barrasso said on Tuesday, referring to his Republican mates. Mr Barrasso is a member of Mr McConnell's leadership team, meaning his comments are a signal to Senate Republicans that the majority leader is ready to move to a still-expected vote at some point to acquit Trump on both impeachment articles passed by the House. Rank-and-file GOP senators are publicly making the same case for a handful or more of their witness-curious colleagues. House Democrats "have not charged an impeachable offence or alleged impeachable conduct. Period. Let's vote," Missouri GOP Senator Josh Hawley tweeted. See you in court? Mr Trump said last week he would use executive privilege to block the testimony of a subpoenaed Mr Bolton, who says he would do so if presented with a legal summons. The president contends allowing a former senior adviser to testify before lawmakers would create a "national security problem". There is a long history of a handful of top adviser-to-presidents positions being immune from appearing before Congress; the idea is to allow them to give commanders in chief their most candid advice in private. In fact, House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, the lead Democratic impeachment manager, said again this week that he opted against issuing Bolton a subpoena during his investigation to avert a long and bruising court fight. If Mr McConnell cannot wrangle his caucus, Mr Trump will face a historic decision. So what happens if he moves to block Mr Bolton's testimony? "The real answer is that no one knows. No president has attempted to use executive privilege to block testimony or evidence in a Senate impeachment trial. There are no Senate precedents dealing with executive privilege in impeachment," according to Jonathan Shaub, a former Justice Department official. "Executive privilege itself is so widely disputed and poorly understood that anyone who purports to provide the answer about its operation, particularly in these unprecedented circumstances, is either deluding herself or deceiving everyone else," according to Shaub. "There are only analogies, constitutional theories, judicial precedents and historical examples on which to draw to try and discern potential answers or frameworks for decisions." Interim leader of the PSD (Social Democratic Party) Marcel Ciolacu on Wednesday evening said the party needs 5-6 more votes for the planned censure motion to be adopted by the Parliament and claimed negotiations are ongoing with some MPs who consider joining the Social Democratic group. "Nowhere in Europe, at this moment, no power dared to modify the electoral laws so close to the elections, regardless of what elections we are talking about. In this case we are talking about local elections. No one before during the 30 years of democracy in Romania, which is still a young democracy, dared to modify the electoral laws to their own benefit as the current government is doing right now. This is the most serious abuse of power. (...) Tomorrow we will submit the motion of censure (...) We still need 5-6 more votes at this point," Ciolacu told Antena 3 private television broadcaster.He also claimed negotiations are on with some MPs want to join the PSD group."There are some MPs with whom we are negotiating right now who want to join the PSD group. (...) I am optimistic about this censure motion's chances to pass," said Ciolacu. A panel of three judges on Wednesday adjourned to February the case in which former Mosolotshane-Moralane Ward Councillor, Mogalakwe Mogalakwe has taken the IEC to court. This is to allow Mogalakwes attorneys to furnish the defence with more details. The panel composed of Justices Gaopalelwe Ketlogetswe, Itumeleng Segopolo and Omphemetse Motumise adjourned the matter to February 10-15h at 830 am after only two witnesses out of the scheduled 11 including Mogalakwe himself had given evidence, while the third was still on the stand Mogalakwe petitioned the IEC and the BDP, wanting the outcome of the October 23, 2019 poll for the Mosolotshane/Moralane Ward elections in the Shoshong constituency declared null and void because the elections were not free and fair. Originally, the judges had set this week from Monday to Wednesday as trial dates but that had to change as both the petitioners attorney Faustino Nganda and Patrick Kgoadi of Kgoadi, Legwaila, and Ngandu Partners law chambers, and IEC attorneys Advocate Andrew Redding SC appearing with Advocate Rammidi as well as Attorney Busang Manewe of Bogopa, Manewe, Tobedza and Company spent all Monday addressing the five points of law raised by the court. This led to the trial starting on Tuesday after the court released its interlocutory ruling in favour of the applicants. The court had asked all the parties to advise as to whether the petition was compliant with sections 117, 118 and 119 of the Electoral Act. Ngandu argued that his client has given security hence the petition is compliant with Electoral Act provisions. Further he said Mogalakwes surety was sufficient as it was never challenged by any of the respondents. BDP lawyer Manewe argued that the petition was not compliant with the stated provisions of the Act and was as such a nullity. He argued that the point in limine raised by the court were in relation to mandatory provisions of Section 117 of the Act dealing with security, arguing that in accordance with Sections 117, 118 and 119, the petitioner must bind himself and have at least four sureties and since Mogalakwe has failed to comply, his petition must be dismissed with costs. Advocate Redding argued that they never objected to Mogalakwes petition, but in their response to the points in limine raised by the court, said the law states that when filing a petition, in relation to issues of security, the petitioner, who is the principal debtor, must be supported by sureties. When reading the majority ruling Justice Motumise said that the court has found that the petition of Mogalakwe has complied with the regulations or the provisions of the Electoral Act hence the trial would proceed. He said he however, holds a different view that the petition does not comply, but two of his brothers Justices Gaopalelwe and Segopolo differed. On Wednesday afternoon, the judges adjourned the trial after ordering Mogalakwes attorney to give more statements to both the IEC and BDP attorneys. The attorney for both parties asked the court to order Mogalakwes attorney to furnish them with more details because the witnesses for Mogalakwe are saying more than what is in the statements in their possession. They argued that they need more information in order to prepare their defence sufficiently. The court ordered Mogalakwe's attorney to furnish them with more details. Mogalakwe's Attorneys promised to furnish both IEC and BDP attorneys with detailed statements on Monday The trial started on Wednesday with Mogalakwe giving his evidence in chief led by his attorney of record. Mogalakwe singled out the names of people from IEC, police and BDP in his evidence-in-chief as the chief culprits in the electoral scam. He accused IEC officers of refusing to extend voting hours when many potential voters were around the polling station fence at closing time.He said IEC officers were biased and operated outside their mandate. He cited one Bajeleng Kaudimba a BDP political activist whom he accused of being the lead actor in making the Moralane ward election not free and fair. He allegedly interfered with the electoral process from opening time at 6:30 am to closing at 7pm by always being in the voting line and telling voters to cast their votes for BDP candidates. A curative petition was on Tuesday filed by Akshay, one of the convicts in the December 16 gang rape case in the Supreme Court, said Tihar Jail officials. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will on Wednesday pronounce its order on a petition filed by the gang rape murder convict -- Mukesh Kumar Singh -- challenging the rejection of his mercy petition by President Ram Nath Kovind. A three-judge bench of the apex court headed by Justice R Banumathi and also comprising Justice AS Bopanna and Justice Ashok Bhushan heard the arguments in the matter today and will pronounce its order at 10.30 am tomorrow. Four people -- Mukesh Kumar Singh, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Vinay Kumar Sharma, and Akshay Kumar Singh -- are facing execution on February 1 in the matter. The 23-year-old paramedical student was brutally gang-raped in a moving bus in south Delhi on the night of December 16, 2012, by six people including a juvenile. One of the accused, Ram Singh, allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail in March 2013 during the trial. Another convict, who was a minor at the time of the crime, was sent to a reform facility and released after three years of the crime. Russian prosecutors push for rarer placing of criminal defendants in detention RAPSI, Natalia Vaneyeva 16:19 29/01/2020 MOSCOW, January 29 (RAPSI) Russian prosecutors believe that investigators ask courts to detain defendants in minor and medium gravity criminal cases far too frequently, a statement released on the official website of the Prosecutor Generals Office reads. Extension of pre-trial investigations bodies practice concerning appliance of non-custodial measures of restraint is needed, according to the news release. According to the Prosecutor Generals Office, cooperation between detention centers and courts is to be improved and fostered in order to down the number of detained people. Up to date, 9 detention facilities included in the Federal Target Program on the Penal System Development (2007-2016) have not been built, the statement reads. It is also noted that the Prosecutor Generals Office has drafted measures to strengthen the prosecutor's supervision in order to decrease detention over-crowding. D avid Schwimmers entrance to the National Television Awards had ITV viewers in hysterics thanks to the unusual choice of backing track. Former Friends star Schwimmer presented the new drama award to Chernobyl - but before he even opened his mouth to speak, fans at home watching the live show were left baffled. The actor walked out to Giggs' 2010 hit track Look What The Cat Dragged In and fans who noticed the opening bars of the UK rappers song flooded to Twitter with their reactions to the apparently "random" choice of music. One social media user pointed out that the song seemed out of place, writing: Why did David Schwimmer walk on with Giggs playing in the background? Lmaooo that was like the worst ring walk ever #NTAs #NTAAwards [sic]" David Schwimmer and David Walliams at the National Television Awards / ITV Another added: Why did David Schwimmer just come out to Giggs - Look What The Cat Dragged In What. David Schwimmer walking on to present an award at the NTAs to Giggs' 'look what the cat dragged in' is my 2020 mood cos honestly wtf is that, a third shared. While social media erupted over the hilarious moment, Schwimmer told the crowd: Im currently in a new comedy called Intelligence on Sky. NTA host David Walliams then quipped: Im sure both of Skys viewers will enjoy it. Walliams, who won in the TV judge category this year, stepped up to host the awards for the first time after Dermot OLeary, who held the position for nine years, announced last year he would no longer presenter the show. STAMFORD A Superior Court judge has ordered Fotis Dulos to be rearrested as he remains in dire condition at a New York hospital following his apparent suicide attempt at his Farmington home where police returned with a search warrant late Wednesday. A convoy of state and Farmington police went to Dulos home at 4 Jefferson Crossing after a search warrant they had been waiting for was signed. As a part of their continued investigation, the Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crimes detectives have obtained and are executing a search warrant at the home of Fotis Dulos, Farmington Police Lt. Timothy McKenzie said. Police had been guarding the property since they found Dulos unresponsive in his garage Tuesday afternoon when he failed to show up for a bond hearing. Attorneys for Dulos said they are concerned their client has little chance of recovery after police and paramedics performed CPR for about 30 minutes before a pulse was detected Tuesday. He is in critical condition," defense attorney Norm Pattis said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family." More News Latest developments in Fotis Dulos suicide attempt Pattis said he cant speculate on why Dulos attempted suicide. Fotis Dulos, 52, had been released on house arrest on $6 million bond after being charged this month on murder, felony murder and first-degree kidnapping in the death and disappearance of his estranged wife, Jennifer Dulos. However, an emergency bond hearing was called Tuesday when Palmetto Surety Corporation, which posted the bond, was concerned about the collateral real estate properties Fotis Dulos had put up from his struggling business, Fore Group. In a motion filed Tuesday, Palmetto claimed its risk analyst found imperfections in the collateral provided by Dulos. The concerns listed by Palmetto included an inflated valuation of Fotis Dulos New Canaan residence by $325,000. The Sturbridge Hill Road home and his Jefferson Crossing property are also under foreclosure. Dulos failure to identify these concerns in his application for bond, Palmetto claims, have caused the company to exceed the limitations of risk as set by state statute. After being notified of the hearing, Dulos called a bail bondsman who had put up two $500,000 bonds for him last year when he was charged with tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution in the case. When the bondsman called him back at 10:34 a.m. Tuesday, Dulos told him he was all set. Probation officers monitoring Dulos location before his bond hearing noted that he had not left his residence for Stamford Superior Court less than an hour before he was scheduled to appear at noon. Around 11:40 a.m., probation officers attempted to contact Dulos via cellphone and again at 11:46 a.m. Both calls went unanswered, prompting the officers to respond to his residence with Farmington police, according to court documents filed Wednesday by Robert LaPlant, a chief probation officer in Hartford. Farmington police said they found Dulos unresponsive inside his running Chevy Suburban in the garage. Dulos was initially considered dead. Pattis said it was his understanding that police notified his clients relatives and his estranged wifes family of his death before a weak pulse was detected. He was eventually flown in critical condition to Jacobi Medical Center in Bronx, N.Y. Barbara Delorio, a spokeswoman for the hospital, said Wednesday she could not provide information on his condition. The scene at the hospital was quiet on Wednesday with a few media trucks parked nearby. There were no signs of Fotis Dulos relatives from Greece who were expected to arrive on Wednesday and the media was asked to stay off the hospital property. Dulos is being treated in the hospitals hyperbaric chamber that allows a patient to breathe in pure oxygen three times higher than normal air pressure. Pattis said the defense is relying on doctors to determine the reasonable prognosis for recovery. If Dulos recovers from the carbon monoxide poisoning and is released from the hospital, he will be rearrested, Superior Court Judge Gary White said Wednesday during the rescheduled bond hearing. White slightly raised the bond to $6.5 million $500,000 more than the previous amount. White said New York authorities in the meantime will protect Dulos while hes in the hospital. Pattis said his client is on the functional equivalent of a psychiatric hold. The arrangement will make it easier for family and those authorized to visit, especially if these happen to be his last days, according to attorney Kevin Smith, who is part of the Dulos legal team. Todays agreement is a recognition of the difficulty of his medical condition, Pattis said. Weve agreed that (Dulos) can be in re-arrest status when and if hes capable to returning to court and the court indicated theyre open to hearing our motion to vacate the re-arrest. In other words, that will return the clock to where it is. At that point, New York high-profile bondsman Ira Judelson will take over the bond. Judelson has been called the bail bondsman to the stars, assisting Harvey Weinstein, MMA fighter McGregor, former NFL player Lawrence Taylor and others. Pattis said the legal team would address the issues in the bond revocation motion, including the claim that there is inadequate security to hold the bond. Last week, White threatened to double the bond to $12 million after Fotis Dulos was accused of removing items from a memorial set up for his estranged wife near his home. According to arrest warrants, Jennifer Dulos was last seen on a neighbors security camera at 8:05 a.m. May 24, returning to her Welles Lane home after dropping off her children at a nearby school. Police believe Fotis Dulos was lying in wait and attacked her in the garage, the warrants indicate. Dulos and his former girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, were caught on video that night in Hartford dumping bags that were later determined to contain Jennifer Dulos blood and clothing, according to arrest warrants. Jennifer Dulos blood was also found on the seat of a pickup truck belonging to an employee of Fotis Dulos, according to arrest warrants. Police say Fotis Dulos used the truck on the day his wife was killed, arrest warrants said. Like Dulos, Troconis, 45, was charged last year with two counts of tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution. Troconis and Dulos close friend and former lawyer, Kent Mawhinney, 54, were each charged this month with conspiracy to commit murder. Police said they helped Fotis Dulos try to cover up the killing, including by creating bogus alibis. A man from Uttar Pradesh's Maharajganj has been suspected to have contracted the deadly Coronavirus. On Monday, blood, mucus and spit samples of the medical student returning from China were collected at the district hospital Maharajganj. The samples have been submitted to Pune's National Institute of Virology for examination, further treatment of the patient will be decided after receiving a report. The family members said that the student was suffering a mild cough in China. Upon receiving the information of his return, he was admitted to the district hospital by the health department on Saturday night. The student is an MBBS student at Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, China. Live TV While every passenger returning from China has to be examined at the special investigation centre at the airport, this medical student did not get the tests done and left for his home. As soon as government and health department officials heard about this incident through the airport authorities, they extracted the student's residential information from his passport and he was admitted to the district hospital. There is an alert on the CoronaVirus on the Indo-Nepal border, Maharajganj shares a border with Nepal, so tourists coming to India are being examined at a camp set up by the health department on the border. Meanwhile, Wuhan and 12 other cities have been completely sealed by the Chinese authorities to stop the virus from spreading. As on Tuesday, the death toll in China due to coronavirus was 106 with 4,515 confirmed cases. It was a dramatic illustration of Idaho States impact on health science education throughout the state and the universitys commitment to prepare thousands of students a year for successful careers in dozens of disciplines from the arts, nuclear engineering and chemistry to business, math, cybersecurity and technology. Bengals of all stripes, we celebrate the impact of ISU, said Gov. Brad Little as he proclaimed Jan. 28 Idaho State University Day in Idaho. The Capitol health screening was similar to the comprehensive screenings ISU-Meridian students and faculty provide six times a year at various locations throughout the Treasure Valley. The goal is to provide preventive health care for adults who have no health insurance or limited access to health services. Since the program started in 2010, student and faculty clinicians have screened more than 1,200 adults, said Glenda Carr, screening organizer and Idaho State University-Meridian clinical assistant pharmacy professor. Services included basic medical, dental and vision exams, flu vaccinations, nutrition assessments, medication reviews, hearing and mental health screenings, HIV and blood sugar testing, and health education. Participants who need immediate medical care are referred to low-cost or free clinics for treatment. The next full screening in the Treasure Valley in Feb. 13. Students at the Jan. 28 event represented physician assistant studies, pharmacy and accelerated nursing programs. ISU Student Ambassadors and university mascot, Benny, were also on hand to celebrate and visit with lawmakers and the public. The Armenian branch of U.S. billionaire George Soross Open Society Foundations (OSF) on Wednesday accused radical anti-government forces of conducting an unprecedented smear campaign against it and its local partners. A large-scale counterpropaganda and an unprecedentedly aggressive information campaign, accompanied by hate speech and often overt calls for violence, is waged against the foundation and our partners for quite some time, the OSF-Armenia director, Larisa Minasian, told a news conference. Minasian said that the effort is aimed at preventing OSF from supporting various reforms announced by the Armenian government. We realize that the civil societys potential to demand and support systemic changes in Armenia is what made us and our partners the target of this smear campaign, she said. Also targeted is public trust in our countrys democratic institutions, the legitimately elected National Assembly and the government formed by it. Minasian complained that some Armenian media outlets help OSF detractors spread false claims about Soros and activities financed by his charity in Armenia and other countries. She insisted in particular that the prominent philanthropist has never provoked or assisted in any anti-government revolt. George Soros made his fortune in the financial markets of democratic countries that are strictly regulated by regulatory bodies, she added. Minasian also dismissed claims that OSF has been promoting a resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict which would benefit Azerbaijan. The foundation has never financed any propaganda of pacifism towards Azerbaijan or any initiative related to the Karabakh conflict, she said. Nationalist groups as well as some individual activists opposed to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians government have increasingly attacked OSF in their public statements made since the 2018 Velvet Revolution. They allege that the government is furthering Soross secret political agenda in Armenia which they say poses a serious threat to national security and traditional Armenian values. Some of them have gone as far as to claim that Soros was behind the revolution that brought Pashinian to power. Minasian already shrugged off those claims during a March 2019 news conference in Yerevan. In a separate statement issued at the time, OSF-Armenia said it will continue to support civil society organizations and all Armenians working to advance sustainable, systemic reforms. Over the past two decades OSF has provided a total of about $53 million in grants to Armenian non-governmental organizations and individuals. They have been spent on hundreds of projects implemented in a wide range of areas, including education, human rights, judicial reforms and media. The Countess of Wessex opened new medical facilities at the University of Surrey today, amid rumours she's set to take on more responsibilities for the Queen in the wake of Megxit. Sophie, 55, sported an off-white coat buttoned up over a salmon pink dress as she was led by staff around the Guildford premises named after an NHS doctor who died from cancer. The new Health Sciences Institute at the University is named after Kate Granger MBE, a NHS doctor who sadly passed from an aggressive formed of cancer called sarcoma in 2016. Before her death, Kate spurred a social media campaign called #hellomynameis, aimed to encourage better communication between doctors and patients. Royal experts have recently claimed that Sophie is set for a more prominent role in the spotlight, with one royal expert telling Femail that she is the perfect' person to 'pick up the slack' in the wake of the Sussexes' departure and Prince Andrew's 'retirement'. Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, 55, visited the University of Surrey's Health Sciences Institute in Guildford today The Countess listened carefully to the explanations of staff during her tour of the premises. Pictured looking at a mannequin with student midwives The Queen has in recent years been handing over various patronages and duties to younger family members, but the departure of three working royals will inevitably increase the need for more hands on deck. Speaking to FEMAIL last week, veteran royal reporter Phil Dampier, said Sophie had the 'potential to be a royal superstar'. Predicting the Countess would take on more responsibility, he explained: 'I think she wants to do more and would happily step up to the plate and take over more duties if asked.' Prince Edward's wife today met with midwives and student paramedics during her visit at the Institute today, who talked her through their training. Sophie looked relaxed during the visit and joked with student midwives in the Kate Granger building A member of staff talked Sophie through a prodecure she performed on a mannequin's head as the countess took a closer look During today's engagement, the countess looked stylish in the white and pink outfit, which she sported with black tights and a dotted black and white clutch bag, and a pair of black boots. Showing off an impeccable blow-dry, she wore a few well-selected pieces of jewellery including a discreet silver and gold watch, her wedding ring and a pair of earrings adorned with off white gems. She listened carefully to the trainees in attendance and other members of staff who demonstrated the range of treatments and care the teaching Institute offers. The research facilities include life-like mannequins for students to practice on, and Sophie was talked through some of the procedures, listening diligently. Sophie later met with student paramedics who demonstrated some of their training to her (pictured) The Countess observed diligently as the focused students continued on with their training (pictured) The Countess was wearing an off-white coat buttoned up over a salmon dress, and accessorised with a black and white dotted clutch bag After the visit, she was seen heading out of the Institute holding a bouquet of flowers that was gifted to her by staff and students. The institute's goal is to offer the most complete training of healthcare professionals as well as several course in postgraduate research. It is named after Kate Granger MBE, who spent the last years of her life fighting sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that affect 5,300 people in the UK per year. What is sarcoma? Sarcoma is an uncommon form of cancer which affect 5300 people in the UK each year. There are around 100 different sub-types of sarcoma., and the condition and can affect any part of the body, from the inside to the outside, including the muscle, bone, tendons, blood vessels and fatty tissues. People can survive their sarcomas if they are diagnosed early, and early referral is extremely important. Almost eight in 10 people (78 percent) diagnosed with sarcoma in the UK will live up to a year. The five-year survival rate for sarcoma is 55 percent. Source: Sarcoma.org.uk Advertisement Inspired by the impersonal manner in which she was treated after her cancer diagnosis and treatment, she started the #hellomynameis campaign on Twitter, which was later endorsed by more than 400,000 doctors, nurses, therapists and other healthcare professionals. Kate travelled the country to raise awareness on the importance of compassionate care, and even was invited to 10 Downing Street and the Scottish Parliament, On top of her campaign and managing her illness, Kate also raised 250,000 for the Yorkshire Cancer Centre. After all her efforts, the NHS laiunched the Kate Granger Awards for Compassionate Care, which celebrates outstanding patient care. She also received an MBE in Buckingham Palace in the summer of 2015, before sadly passing away in 2016. Sophie, who is married to the Queen's youngest son Prince Edward, 55, has a particularly close relationship with her mother-in-law and already represents the Crown both at home and overseas. As well as having a close relationship with the Queen, she is said to be 'very popular' with other senior royals including Prince Charles, 71, and the Duchess of Cornwall, 72. Insiders have claimed Sophie will take on more royal responsibilities after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they would be stepping back from royal duties in early January. Pictured: the pair leaving Canada House, in London on 7 January It is believed Sophie is seen by the Queen as the Royal Familys safest pair of hands, because her marriage to Prince Edward has lasted, while Charles, Anne and Andrew have all been divorced. Last week, Sophie and Prince Edward spent her birthday serving the Queen alongside Prince William, 37, and Kate Middleton, 38, at a reception for the UK-Africa investment summit at Buckingham Palace. She also visited Sierra Leone last week for a packed two-day solo trip becoming the first royal to visit the continent since Prince Harry and Meghans African tour in October. Sophie Wessex is deemed the Queen's favourite by royal insiders. Pictured: The Queen speaking to her daughter-in-law at a reception celebrating the work of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust at Buckingham Palace on October 29 2019 It comes following months of seismic change for the Royal Family that saw Prince Andrew step back from public duties in the wake of his car crash Jeffrey Epstein TV interview, and the Sussexes' announcement that they would step back as senior royals. On Saturday Buckingham Palace announced that from the spring Harry and Meghan will stop using their HRH titles and withdraw from royal duties, including official military appointments. However the couple will be allowed to maintain their private patronages and associations. Prince Harry was at today's UK-Africa Investment Summit in London for a number of private meetings with heads of state. It is thought he will soon fly out to join Meghan and one-year-old son Archie in Canada, where they have been living in a multi-million pound Vancouver Island bolthole since before Christmas. By Bill Griffin, Special Contributor to New Frontier Data Though the North American cannabis industry rode out a turbulent market in 2019, Europe was generally spared the respective swings of the green rush. While investors in Canada and the United States were stifled by oversupply and regulatory uncertainties, a smoother path seems likely for markets in the European Union (EU) and Switzerland. Adult Use For now, plant-touching business opportunities remain prohibited throughout most of Europe (with limited options existing in countries including German, Italy, and the Netherlands). In 2019, the Netherlands saw an estimated 520 coffeehouses distributing cannabis tolerated in a legally grey area, though not legalized. Cannabis cultivation remains strictly prohibited, with rigorous enforcement. That figure is down from an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 coffeeshops in the mid-1990s. Though the number of distribution outlets has been reduced, the demand has not, meaning that a cultivation license could be very lucrative: For now, 10 cultivation licenses are up for grabs to supply 79 coffeeshops in 10 municipalities. "Based on the sum of the parts, including extra cash needed if bank finance does not improve, we estimate that between [10 million to 15M] is required in single investments to be a serious contender for the Dutch Weed Experiment," said Michael Kraland of Plethora Partners, a Dutch consultancy firm specialising in finance and science for the cannabis industry. "Given that a maximum of 10 growers will be selected, we could be looking at a minimum of 100M of required investments." The "Dutch Weed Experiment" is due to commence in 2021. However, the application process for tenders is not yet open. Participating markets are in small cities, with but a few coffeeshops in each. The jewel of the Dutch recreational market is Amsterdam, with about 250 coffeeshops. Should the experiment prove successful and the scheme be broadened to encompass other cities, early investment in cultivation and processing facilities there could offer great potential. Story continues Regarding who would be likely to invest in such facilities, Kraland who also heads up the annual Amsterdam-based cannabis investment event, Cannabis Capital Convention clarifies that "the major (Canadian) listed companies are demonstrating a retreating movement in Europe; for example, Aurora Cannabis recently suspended construction of a huge facility in Denmark. We expect private equity funds (some of them already active in Europe) to step in." Medical Use Medical cannabis has long offered entrance to the European market. A successful pilot in Denmark is already underway. A somewhat scaled back, but pilot nonetheless, is due to commence in France. Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy all have established medical cannabis programmes. Other European countries also have programmes in place or are announcing plans to do so. Even the U.K., whose medical cannabis programme stalled due to a reported lack of clinical evidence from the British medical establishment, has announced plans for a major cannabinoid research conference that will include high level policy makers alongside the world's top cannabis scientists. It remains clear that there is money to be made in Europe's medical cannabis segment. As North American firms are scaling back, other options for large cash injections are required. The launch of the first European medical cannabis Exchange Traded Fund (The Medical Cannabis and Wellness UCITS ETF) could help. It will enable Europeans to invest directly in the European medical cannabis sector through their usual investment channels. Until now, European investors have experienced restricted access to the cannabis market. With the launch of the ETF, investors looking to dabble in the European medical cannabis industry can do so via a fund without having to research each individual company. Wellness Market Despite lacking regulatory clarity, CBD in the wellness market is thriving in Europe. The U.K., in stark contrast to its medical cannabis market, has a booming CBD economy. The U.K. CBD market is currently estimated to stand at around 320 million per year, increasing by 16% annually. "The U.K. is definitely one of the key markets in Europe, as demonstrated by the market-size and growth forecasts," said Shomi Malik, director for the Association for the Cannabinoid Industry. "A lack of regulatory guidelines is not stopping the flood of companies hoping to capitalise on its popularity. We expect the number of newcomers to taper off as regulators clamp down on bad actors, thus raising the price of entry to the market." It's no wonder that North American firms with deep pockets are looking to the U.K. to snap up some of the more established CBD brands. World High Life recently announced completing acquisition of Love Hemp Ltd, a leading supplier of CBD and hemp and investments to ramp up as the market matures. Engagement in the European market avoids some of the limitations found in the U.S., where building a national brand will be problematic until federal reform allows for products to be transported across state lines. Want to learn more about cannabis investments in Europe? Apply to the InterCannAlliance Europe Symposium to connect with executives, government officials and other early shapers in the region. The post Investment Opportunities in Europe's Emerging Cannabis Market appeared first on New Frontier Data. The preceding article is from one of our external contributors. It does not represent the opinion of Benzinga and has not been edited. Image Sourced from Pixabay 0 See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. The United States said Tuesday it was developing a vaccine against a deadly virus that originated in China, and urged Beijing to step up its cooperation with international health authorities. The US government is keen to place its own teams on the ground to review the raw data and learn more about the pathogen, which has so far claimed more than 100 lives. "We have already started at the NIH and with many of our collaborators on the developing of a vaccine," National Institutes for Health (NIH) official Anthony Fauci told reporters. The process would take three months to start the first trial, three more months to gather data, before being able to move into its second phase. "But we are proceeding as if we will have to deploy a vaccine," said Fauci. "In other words, we're looking at the worst scenario that this becomes a bigger outbreak." China was severely criticized for its handling of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic of 2002-03, which claimed hundreds of lives, mostly on the mainland and in Hong Kong. During that health emergency, scientists had begun to develop a vaccine, but it was never deployed, Fauci said. US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said the United States has offered China assistance three times in dealing with the crisis -- so far without success. "We are urging China -- more cooperation and transparency are the most important steps you can take toward a more effective response," Azar told reporters. "On January the sixth, we offered to send a CDC team to China that could assist with these public health efforts," said Azar. "I reiterated that offer when I spoke to China's minister of health on Monday, and it was reiterated again via the World Health Organization's leadership today in Beijing." China was quick to sequence the genome of the 2019 novel Coronavirus and make it public, allowing scientists around the world to develop diagnostic tools and winning praise for its efforts, including from US President Donald Trump. Just four days ago, Trump tweeted: "China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency." But the new revelation by Azar raises questions about how much China has truly cooperated. "CDC experts are standing by ready, willing and able to go immediately to China, either on a bilateral basis or under the auspices of the World Health Organization," Azar said. This would be necessary so that "we can see raw data, raw evidence and help design the types of studies and analytics" to answer critical questions such as incubation period and whether the infection can be transmitted while patients don't have symptoms. (Image credit: PTI) New Delhi, Jan 29 : The Aam Aadmi Party has asked the Election Commission to impose a 48-hour campaigning ban on Union Home Minister Amit Shah for allegedly tweeting a fake video on Delhi government schools. The application, moved by party leader Pankaj Gupta, complained against the circulation of the fake videos of Delhi government schools by BJP leaders to "falsely defame Delhiites". AAP Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh told media that the BJP has been "completely baffled" by Delhi's education model, and "Shah is running a campaign to insult" the 16 lakh children of Delhi, the 32 lakh parents of Delhi and the thousands of teachers. "This shows that in these elections in Delhi, BJP is a party without any mission or vision. It's difficult to even imagine that the Union Home Minister is circulating a fake video and insulting the entire education system of Delhi. Shah is insulting all those children of Delhi government schools who are working hard and showing better results than even private schools. It is also insulting to all parents and teachers of Delhi. Shah should apologize to all people and students, teachers and parents in Delhi for insulting them for their shameless conduct," he said. Singh said that AAP leaders met Election Commission and demanded that Amit Shah be banned for 48 hours from campaigning. "FIR should also be lodged against all their leaders who made and circulated such fake videos and all such tweets be deleted," he added. - Prophet Badu Kobi is asking Ghanaians to be vigilant and also not trust the EC - He is alleging that the EC is plotting something bad that may create confusion - Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in The founder of the Glorious Wave Church, Prophet Emmanuel Badu Kobi has cautioned Ghanaians to be critical of the Electoral Commission to ensure they deliver a clean, free and fair elections. According to Prophet Badu Ghanaians should not trust the EC to do a good job in the upcoming 2020 polls. Speaking in an interview on Power FM in Accra, the renowned preacher revealed that the Commission will be engaging some persons to assist with the coalition of the election results, and this is likely to spark violence. READ ALSO: Ghana ranked 5th best country in Africa I have said it already that dont trust the EC. Be vigilant or else something will happen, he said. I have already said it and people know so we have to be careful. Things are not going the right way; I see darkness befalling Ghana, he added. Prophet Kobi, who also alleged that the EC is seeking help from Nigerias electoral management body ahead of the December polls. The December 7 polls will be a keenly contested one between the incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo and his closest contender, NDCs John Dramani Mahama. ATTENTION: Read the best news on Ghana #1 news app. Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana The Electoral Commission of Ghana has come under immense pressure following the decision by the body to compile a new voters' register in April. READ ALSO: Sammy Gyamfi names first NPP candidate NDC will prosecute The opposition National Democratic Congress( NDC) and some Civil Society groups have questioned the need for a new voter register. YEN.com.gh earlier reported that embattled former deputy governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Asiama is blaming the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta for the collapse of uniBank. According to Dr. Asiama, the finance minister refused to save uniBank during its liquidity crisis. In a statement issued by lawyers of Dr. Asiama, the former official of the central bank opined that the Minister declined suggestions to settle payments due the struggling uniBank to save it. This is what makes 4-year-old Nii Omanye aka Kwame Nkrumah the smartest child in Ghana| #Yencomgh READ ALSO: Another dormitory in Accra Academy SHS gutted by fire 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 LX610 is the only inkjet desktop color label printer in the world to combine high-resolution color label printing with digital die cutting. 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Inks and Substrates With LX610, two different types of ink and a wide variety of substrates are available. Dye-based ink prints bright and vibrant colors that are perfect for prime label applications. Pigment-based ink prints labels that stand up to sunlight and water for extended periods of time. Substrates can include gloss and matte paper, PVC, polyester and polypropylene. Included Software An innovative printer like LX610 is only as good as its software. That is why with every printer purchased a copy of PTCreate Standard is available for free download. This highly intuitive software allows all typical print and cut functions, including import of bit-mapped images such as .jpg, .png, .bmp and more. Also included is a library of shapes such as circles, squares, ovals, rectangles, starbursts and more. Upgraded software, called PTCreate Pro and sold separately, further extends the capabilities of LX610 by adding many additional tools including import of vector files such as .psd, .ai and .pdf. Powerful features such as layering, export of images and contour cutting around intricate artwork are also part of PTCreate Pro. An auto-trace and cut function is especially useful for printing and cutting complicated shapes and designs. Price and Availability LX610 costs just $2495.00 (USD). PTCreate Pro software sells for $149.99 (USD). Both are available now from Primera's global Authorized Resellers and Distributors. In the USA, factory-direct orders are welcomed at www.primera.com. About Primera Technology Headquartered in Plymouth, Minnesota, Primera Technology, Inc. is one of the world's leading specialty printer manufacturers. The company sells its products either factory-direct or through Primera Authorized Resellers and Distributors in more than 200 countries and territories. In USA and Latin America, contact Primera Technology, Inc. at +1-763-475-6676, email at [email protected] or visit online at www.primera.com. In Canada, contact Total Solutions, Inc. at 1-888-878-4765, by email at [email protected] or online at www.primerastore.ca. For Europe, Middle East and Africa, contact DTM Print in Germany by phone at +49-(0) 611-92777-0, by e-mail at [email protected] or online at www.dtm-print.eu. For Asia Pacific, contact Primera Asia Pacific in Australia by phone at +61 3 9798 8720, by email at [email protected] or online at www.primera-ap.com. *Within the maximum print/cut width of the printer, which is 4.1" wide. All prices are MSRP in USD. SOURCE Primera Technology, Inc. Related Links http://www.primera.com Jon Ola Sand is not a man who minces his words. The veteran Eurovision Song Contest producer pulls no punches when it comes to Australia's chances in the iconic European song competition. "You can win, of course you can win," he says. "We have already seen that you've been very well placed on the scoreboard almost every year and I'm confident that for the viewers and the juries, when they cast their votes, it's not a population behind it. It's really what they like and what they hear and what they see," Sand says. Kate Miller-Heidke soars at Eurovision in 2019. Credit:AP Australia has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest five times since 2015, landing in second, fifth, ninth (twice) and 20th place out of some 40-odd competing countries each year. Our best performance was Dami Im's Sound of Silence in 2016. Many see our competitive weakness being that we do not properly sit in a voting bloc within Europe that is, the emerging trend in which clusters of neighbouring countries vote favourably for each other. Sand does not believe those blocs vote politically, but rather are reacting to cultural commonalities, particularly where there is a high level of familiarity with an artist or song. CAMEROON, Cameroon - U.N. Security Council members clashed Wednesday over humanitarian needs in war-torn Syria, weeks after the groups contentious decision to halve the number of border crossing points for aid. With U.N. humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock warning that medical supplies unable to reach the needy and tensions may be mounting because of the inadequate humanitarian response, Britain and the United States accused Russia and China of cutting away at a lifeline for millions of Syrians. China, in turn, said its critics were politicizing aid. The jabs came as hundreds of thousands of Syrians have fled during a more than month-long Syrian government offensive in the northwestern province of Idlib, where al-Qaida-linked rebels have their last stronghold in the country. Syrian troops this week captured one of the largest and most strategic rebel-held towns in the area. An estimated 20,000 people in Idlib have been displaced in just the last two days, Lowcock said, calling the violence in Syrias northwest deplorable. Under current conditions, humanitarian responders do not have the capacity to meet the level of need we are seeing, he said. In 2014, the Security Council began authorizing aid to Syria through four border crossings. The U.N. has said it supported about 4 million people in northwest and northeast Syria via cross-border aid deliveries. But council members split late last year over renewing the system. Germany, Belgium and Kuwait, backed by the U.S., Britain, France and other council nations, initially wanted to add a fifth crossing point. But key Syrian ally Russia, joined by China, vetoed that plan. They argued the situation in Syria had changed enough to warrant cutting two crossing points, both on the Turkey-Syria border, and working more closely with the Syrian government to handle aid. Their proposal ultimately prevailed in a vote hours before the Jan. 10 renewal deadline. Now, 400,000 medical items are stuck on trucks in Iraq, where a crossing point closed, Lowcock said. The U.S. and United Kingdom pointed fingers at Russia and China, with British deputy ambassador Jonathan Allen saying they acted to prevent life-saving aid reaching those in need while the Syrian government failed to do so. Acting U.S. deputy ambassador Cherith Norman Chalet said the push to close the two crossings was part of a clear strategy to completely sever the cross-border lifeline. We cannot let that happen, she said. The remarks drew a sharp rebuke from Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jun, who called the claims a totally groundless and unwarranted display of power politics. Do you think we are still in a period of colonialism and the whole world has to side with the U.S. and the U.K.? he asked. The time has long gone. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said U.N. humanitarian officials should establish effective co-operation with Damascus instead of whipping up passion here. Syrian U.N. Ambassador Bashar Jaafari suggested that champions of the cross-border aid system want to continue to interfere in our domestic affairs. Hnery Cuellar's primary challenger Jessica Cisneros has announced another high-profile endorsement, this time from Vermont Senator and Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. READ MORE: Webb Countys oil and gas revenue set to fall dramatically, facing $7-8M shortfall This is the most important election in our lifetime and Im proud there are so many candidates running for Congress who understand that real change comes from the bottom on up, not the top on down, Senator Sanders said in a statement. Jessica is a strong advocate for real change and together we will build a movement to transform this nation so that it works for all our people. The endorsement was one of nine Sanders made early Wednesday, which also included affirmations of Vermont's Peter Welch and Minnesota's Ilhan Omar. Cisneros is battling 15-year incumbent congressman Henry Cuellar in the primary election for the District 28 seat, which is set to be contested in March. The news comes on the heels of previous endorsements of Cisneros made by high-ranking Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Ayanna Pressley. Cisneros had also previously announced an endorsement from another Presidential candidate, Senator Elizabeth Warren. The young challenger also made headlines recently when she received an endorsement from the state's largest labor group, the AFL-CIO. Cuellar recently released his own list of endorsements, totaling 225 names, including a number of current local officials from Webb County such as the Constable, multiple Webb Co. Commissioners and City of Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz. While our opponent focuses on out-of-district and celebrity endorsements, we are focused on endorsements from people who actually live and work in the district. Cuellar campaign spokesman Colin Strother told The Texas Tribune. READ MORE: Cuellar-Cisneros primary battle gets national spotlight on HBO show The deadline to register to vote for the primary election is Monday, February 3. Military medics help screening at airports as number of detected cases in Thailand rises to 14 THAILAND: Military medical personnel have been sent to help with the screening of passengers at international airports as another six Chinese nationals entering Thailand were found to be infected with the Wuhan coronavirus yesterday (Jan 28), bringing the total number of cases detected in the country to 14. healthChinesedeathSafetyCoronavirusCOVID-19 By Bangkok Post Wednesday 29 January 2020, 08:55AM Workers disinfect the cabin of a Thai Airways International jet at Suvarnabhumi airport yesterday (Jan 28) to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus. Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb Col Sirichan Ngathong, deputy spokeswoman for the Royal Thai Army, said yesterday that Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed the army, navy and air force to send mobile medical units to help public health officials screen arrivals at 10 international airports across the country as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the virus. Permanent secretary for public health Sukhum Kanchanapimai said yesterday there had been six new cases reported. All were Chinese nationals, and five were members of a family, aged 6-70 years old, visiting from Wuhan, Dr Sukhum said. The new cases brought the number of coronavirus infection detected in Thailand to 14, he said. The six new patients were being treated at Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute in Nonthaburi province, Dr Sukhum said. The premier yesterday appointed a national committee to prevent the spread of the virus. The committee comprises 59 experts and officials from relevant agencies and is to be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul. Gen Prayut said that evacuation plans are already in place to bring Thais in China back home straight away once China gives permission. Addressing the evacuation plans, Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai said that the ministry was closely coordinating with Thais living in China. To my knowledge, there are 64 Thais residing in Wuhan and all are healthy. So far, no countries have sent planes to evacuate their people from China. We have to cooperate with China. Some countries wanted to evacuate their citizens but they must receive permission from China first. Now, all countries, including Thailand, have prepared for evacuation, said Mr Don. However, Reuters reported yesterday that Japan sent a chartered Boeing 767 to retrieve a number of its nationals in Wuhan. Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said he had asked the Corrections Department chief to order prisons across the country to closely monitor the health of prisoners, particularly 14 Chinese inmates imprisoned this month. To control the spread of the virus by sea, the Port Authority of Thailand has designated a pier in front of Samut Prakans provincial hall as a checkpoint to monitor and screen crew members of boats and ships coming from China. Sopon Iamsirithaworn, director of general communicable diseases at the Department of Disease Control, said that medical teams have been sent to closely monitor the health of 13 Thai students who returned from studying in Hubei province on Sunday (Jan 26). After an initial examination, the students, who all live in the deep South, are in good health, Dr Sopon said. The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovations is now advising Chinese students studying in Thailand who returned to China during Chinese New Year and university students who have visited countries with confirmed coronavirus cases to stay away from classes for at least 14 days. This is a new virus and its specific nature is currently unclear. However, it appears that you can contract the virus at an early stage and not show any symptoms, the ministrys deputy secretary-general Pathom Sawanpanyalert said yesterday. This incubation period is currently considered to be 14 days. If a student still attends their classes while showing symptoms, universities can exclude them if they believe with reasonable grounds they may have a communicable disease, he said. According to the ministry, there are 11,738 Chinese students studying at 87 universities in Thailand at present, while the number of Thai students studying in China is estimated to be over 1,000, with 58 in Wuhan. Houston Housing Authority / Houston Housing Authority The Houston Housing Authority voted to appoint Mark Thiele interim president in a meeting Tuesday evening. The decision came two weeks after the board voted at a special meeting not to extend Tory Gunsolley's contract as president and chief executive, a decision Gunsolley called shocking in a letter to his colleagues. Chinese girl, 4, from Wuhan cleared of coronavirus in Phuket PHUKET: A 4-year-old Chinese girl from Wuhan who along with her sister, parents and six others travelling together on a package tour was not allowed to board her flight home last Friday (Jan 24) has tested negative to the virus and been discharged from hospital. ChinesetourismtransporthealthCoronavirusCOVID-19 By Tanyaluk Sakoot Wednesday 29 January 2020, 10:44AM Passengers at Phuket International Airport are checked for elevated body temperatures, Photo: Phuket Tourist Police "A secretions sample from the girls nose was sent to the Health Control Division in Bangkok to test for the virus, Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) Deputy Chief Dr Krit Sakulpat told The Phuket News. The test confirmed that she is not infected with the Wuhan coronavirus, The girls condition is improving. It is just the flu. She left Vachira Phuket Hospital on Monday, he said. Dr Krit explained that the girl landed in Phuket on a direct flight from Wuhan on the night of Jan 19. She was travelling with her parents, her sister and six others on a package tour, he said. However, when the group went to board their flight home at about 11am last Friday, a flight attendant checking passengers body temperatures at the boarding gate found that the girl had a high temperature of more than 38C, Dr Krit explained. The girl and the rest of the group were not allowed to board the plane. The girl with her sister and parents went to health officers so the girl could be tested. Health officers confirmed that the girl had a fever and had her taken immediately to Vachira Hospital in Phuket Town to be kept under observation in an isolated area, he said. The girls parents, her sister and the other six people travelling together all have not exhibited any signs of infection, Dr Krit said. The six travellers from Wuhan not related to the girl departed Phuket last Saturday (Jan 25), Dr Krit noted. Now that the girl has been discharged from hospital, officers are not tracking her movements, he added. We wont follow up where she is going because this girl is normal, he said. Meanwhile, PPHO Chief Thanit Sermkaew yesterday morning (Jan 28) confirmed in the daily Wuhan virus report that seven people in Phuket are currently suspected of being infected with the virus. They are still recovering. All are in isolated areas under observation and receiving treatment for flu symptoms. Three are at Vachira Phuket Hospital, two are at Bangkok Hospital Phuket, one is at Patong Hospital and one is at Thalang Hospital, Dr Thanit said. They are still waiting for their blood tests. All seven people are in stable condition. They can breathe normally, with no need for a respirator, he said. British Airways has today suspended all flights to mainland China with 'immediate effect' amid the escalating coronavirus crisis which has killed 130 people. The airline halted all bookings on its website for direct flights from London to Beijing and Shanghai until March, following the Foreign Office's unprecedented advice last night urging Britons not to travel to mainland China unless their visit is essential. Flights to Hong Kong will continue - but passengers will have to use a different airline to head on to the Chinese mainland. It is not yet clear how BA will bring back its thousands of customers booked on flights to the UK from China over the coming weeks. The coronavirus outbreak has killed 133 people across China and more than 6,000 around the world have caught the highly infectious pneumonia-like infection, with cases having risen dramatically in the past week. A woman wearing a face mask packs her suitcase in the departures area of Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport, after it was announced British Airways has suspended all services to and from China Passengers wait to hear news of their flight at Heathrow Airport as BA announced the cancellation of all flights to mainland China The BA website shows there are no direct flights to China from the UK for the next month - instead they suggest flying to Hong Kong with BA and then connecting with a partner airline such as Cathay Pacific or Dragonair to head to the mainland Medics in protective gear treat a patient with coronavirus at the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, in Wuhan - the outbreak's epicentre - on Tuesday A BA spokesman said: 'We apologise to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority. Customers due to travel to or from China in the coming days can find more information on BA.com.' United Airlines, the biggest US carrier to China, has also announced it will be cutting 24 flights in near-term to China and the White House is said to be considering stopping all US-China flights completely to stop the virus spreading. Culture Secretary Baroness Morgan said BA's decision to suspend all flights to China would give 'more impetus' to the Government's bid to arrange for Britons to travel home - amid growing pressure on British ministers to step up the landmark evacuation mission. 'The Foreign Office will be working with staff on the ground to identify UK nationals,' the Conservative peer told BBC Breakfast. 'We will get people home as soon as we can, as soon as we can make arrangements. 'Obviously, today's decision by British Airways provides more impetus to the Government to make other plans and communicate those. 'The health system is well prepared. We are not aware of any confirmed cases of the virus here in the UK but we do have the expertise to look after people, to treat and to test should that become necessary.' The infection has spread to at least 18 countries or territories outside of China, including the US, Canada, France and Germany WUHAN 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 lung 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 the Wuhan coronavirus kill? Yes 170 people have so far died after testing positive for the virus. What are the symptoms? Some people who catch the Wuhan coronavirus may not have any symptoms at all, or only very mild ones like a sore throat or a headache. Others may suffer from a fever, cough or trouble breathing. And a small proportion of patients will go on to develop severe infection which can damage the lungs or cause pneumonia, a life-threatening condition which causes swelling and fluid build-up in the lungs. How is it detected? The virus's genetic sequencing was released by scientists in China and countries around the world have used this to create lab tests, which must be carried out to confirm an infection. Delays to these tests, to test results and to people getting to hospitals in China, mean the number of confirmed cases is expected to be just a fraction of the true scale of the outbreak. 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 around China and are known to have spread from person to person. 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. SCROLL DOWN TO SEE MAILONLINE'S FULL Q&A ON THE CORONAVIRUS Advertisement Rory Boland, travel editor for consumer watchdog Which?, said a lack of clear guidance from BA would spark panic for passengers stranded in China. He said: 'British Airways' decision to cancel flights to and from China is understandable following the Foreign Office travel warning. 'But a lack of clear information about what this means for BA passengers currently in China and due to fly home with the airline in the coming days is going to cause distress. 'These passengers will be worried that they are now stranded. BA and the Foreign Office must urgently clarify what options it can provide to customers - particularly those already in China - so they can amend their plans accordingly and get home.' Airlines around the world have announced they are reducing services to China or stopping them altogether: action has been taken by Air France, Air KBZ (Myanmar), Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Lion Air, Myanmar Airways International, Myanmar National Airlines and Urals Airlines (Russia). Kazakhstan has also announced it will stop all flights from February 3, and Hong Kong will halve the number of planes travelling to mainland China. In the US, United Airlines said it would 'trim' its services to China because of a drop in demand. US health officials have advised against all but essential travel to China as a whole, the same measure taken by the UK Government. United said flights from the US to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong from February 1 were currently unaffected. It comes after the announcement Britons will be quarantined at a UK military base for two weeks after they have been airlifted out of the Chinese city of Wuhan on a coronavirus evacuation flight. Up to 200 British expats who have scrambled for a place on the emergency flight out have finally been told the government has chartered a plane to rescue them and it will leave tomorrow. But furious evacuees with a coveted seat on the flight say they have still not been told exactly when the flight it is or where it will land other than at 'a London airport'. They say they were also told by officials they would be expected to make their own way home, sparking fears they could infect thousands of British people by being allowed to walk around. Health Secretary Matt Hancock was today forced to announce that everyone on the emergency flight from Wuhan would be placed into quarantine at an undisclosed military airbase for 14 days upon landing. The Government has been under immense pressure to bring home citizens stranded in the city. In a tweet Mr Hancock said: 'We are working hard to get British nationals back from Wuhan. Public safety is the top priority. 'Anyone who returns from Wuhan will be safely isolated for 14 days, with all necessary medical attention.' FAMILIES TORN APART IN SCRAMBLE TO ESCAPE WUHAN The scramble to evacuate coronavirus ground zero is tearing families apart, including one British man who says he is being forced to leave his Chinese wife behind to get his daughter to safety. Up to 200 Britons are due to be evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan tomorrow and will be quarantined for two weeks in a UK military base. British teacher Jeff Siddle is among them, along with his nine-year-old daughter Jasmine but Beijing is barring his Chinese wife Sindy from boarding the rescue flight. Mr Siddle and his family flew to Hubei province to spend time with his partner's family and celebrate the Chinese New Year before the warnings were in place about the deadly coronavirus epidemic. Mr Siddle said today: 'My wife's a Chinese citizen, although she's got a permanent residency visa for the UK as a spouse. 'But what the Foreign Office is saying is they are going to be doing an airlift, possibly tomorrow, but it's only [for] British citizens. Chinese authorities are not allowing any Chinese residents to leave. Mr Siddle and his wife and daughter flew to Hubei before the outbreak to celebrate Lunar New Year 'I was put in the position to make a decision to either leave my wife here in China, or the three of us stay here (in Wuhan). We have to basically have a nine-year-old child separated from their mother. Who knows how long that is going to be for?' Other expats stranded in Wuhan and the wider Hubei province - including PE teacher Kharn Lambert and Malcolm Lanyon - have chosen to stay in the region. Mr Lambert said he had given up his seat on the rescue flight because he does not want 'to come home and put everybodys health at risk', while Mr Lanyon refused to leave his Chinese wife behind. Advertisement Some 133 people have now died across China and more than 6,000 around the world have caught the pneumonia-causing infection, with cases tripling since Sunday and jumping 30 per cent in the last 24 hours. Nobody in the UK has yet been diagnosed with the condition, although experts do expect a case at least 97 people have been tested and all got the all-clear. Passengers may be asked to sign a contract before they board the plane saying they agree to being placed in quarantine or be left behind if they refuse. The US, which flew 240 Americans home from Wuhan last night, first took them to Alaska to have medical screening. The flight will next head to a military base in Riverside, California. A local official in San Bernadino said only that they were 'prepared for the worst.' One British man in Wuhan who contacted the embassy there said he was told he would have to make his own way home and stay there if he was flown back on the evacuation flight. PE teacher Kharn Lambert, who has since decided not to come back on the flight, told Sky News: 'This morning I was on the phone to the embassy and theyve basically told us via a script they were given by the Foreign Office that the flight will be leaving tomorrow, theyre not sure what time. 'It will be arriving at a London airport and once we arrive there that basically the Government will not provide any transport whatsoever and we have to find our own way back to our hometowns and then self-isolate for 14 days, which is absolutely ludicrous. Mr Lambert said he decided to stay in Wuhan so he didn't 'put everybody's health at risk' but said his grandmother would have to fly home because she was frail. British teacher Jeff Siddle is among those due to be evacuated from Wuhan with his nine-year-old daughter Jasmine tomorrow. But Chinese officials are reportedly barring his wife Sindy, a Chinese citizen, from boarding the rescue flight. Mr Siddle's family flew to Hubei province to spend time with his partner's relatives and celebrate the Chinese New Year before warnings were in place about the deadly coronavirus epidemic. Mr Siddle said today: 'My wife's a Chinese citizen, although she's got a permanent residency visa for the UK as a spouse. 'But what the Foreign Office is saying is they are going to be doing an airlift, possibly tomorrow, but it's only [for] British citizens. 'Chinese authorities are not allowing any Chinese residents to leave. 'I was put in the position to make a decision to either leave my wife here in China, or the three of us stay here [in Wuhan]. 'We have to basically have a nine-year-old child separated from their mother. Who knows how long that is going to be for?' Mr Siddle told the Guardian there were no health warnings in place when they flew out on January 15. 'My head is spinning,' he said. 'It's just horrendous. 'This ordeal just turned into our worst nightmare. How can they put a family in this position? Having to leave Sindy in China would be the worst thing that anyone could be put through. How am I going to tell Jasmine that her mum has to stay behind?' Mr Siddle said he and his daughter will have to make their own way to Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, where the US and Japan have flown residents out of the city from. But he added that he is a three-hour drive away from the airport and that all the roads are on lockdown. Another expat stranded in the region, Malcolm Lanyon, said he has chosen to stay in the region because he doesn't want to leave his Chinese wife behind. British PE teacher Kharn Lambert - who is stuck in Wuhan with his visiting 81-year-old grandmother Veronica Theobald and last week begged the Foreign Office to 'come and get them' - revealed he has been in contact with the British embassy in Beijing for the first time Mr Lambert, 31, told Sky News this morning the Foreign Office had given him assurances the evacuation will take place tomorrow, but there was no set time yet GLOBAL AIRLINES CANCEL OR REDUCE FLIGHTS TO CHINA British Airways suspended all flights to mainland China with 'immediate effect' today amid the escalating coronavirus crisis which has killed 133 people. The airline halted all bookings on its website for direct flights from London to Beijing and Shanghai until March, following the Foreign Office's unprecedented advice last night urging Britons not to travel to mainland China unless their visit is essential. Flights to Hong Kong will continue - but passengers will have to use a different airline to head on to the Chinese mainland. It is not yet clear how BA will bring back its thousands of customers booked on flights to the UK from China over the coming weeks. United Airlines, the biggest US carrier to China, has also announced it will be cutting 24 flights in the near-term to China and the White House is said to be considering stopping all US-China flights completely to stop the virus spreading. Virgin Atlantic will continue to operate its flights between Heathrow and Shanghai, the company said, but passengers who no longer want to travel will be able to rebook or obtain a refund free of charge. Airlines around the world have announced they are reducing services to China or stopping them altogether: action has been taken by Air France, Air KBZ (Myanmar), Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Lion Air, Myanmar Airways International, Myanmar National Airlines and Urals Airlines (Russia). Kazakhstan has also announced it will stop all flights from February 3, and Hong Kong will halve the number of planes travelling to mainland China. Advertisement For US citizens stranded in the crisis-hit Wuhan, a flight chartered by the US Government yesterday retrieved 240 people and flew them back to America. The plane first landed in Anchorage, Alaska to refuel. It was then due to fly on to Ontario, California, but was diverted to a military base in Riverside. San Bernardino County Supervisor Curt Hagman said: 'The CDC just let us know the flight [would] be directed to March Air Force Base.' He offered no explanation as to why, adding: 'We were prepared for the worst.' In the US there have been five cases of the Wuhan coronavirus confirmed already, and dozens more people have been tested in more than 20 states. The Japanese government has also evacuated citizens from Wuhan and flown them to Tokyo. One of the evacuees, Takayuki Kato, said the atmosphere had turned dark inside Wuhan after it became clear how quickly the virus was spreading. Mr Kato said: 'Everyone in the city began wearing masks. On the 23rd, when transport was shut down, I became very alarmed. He said the evacuation went smoothly and added: 'The flight was quiet. People were cool-headed'. Five passengers who said they felt unwell were hospitalised on arriving in Japan but there has not yet been confirmation of whether they were infected with the virus. The Japan flight arrived in Wuhan overnight, carrying emergency relief supplies including 15,000 masks, 50,000 pairs of gloves and 8,000 protective glasses, the country's foreign ministry said. Four medical officials were also on board to monitor returning passengers and administer health questionnaires. All passengers will be tested for the new strain of coronavirus, which has killed more than 130 people and infected thousands. Everything we know we know about the deadly coronavirus in China: But how worried should we be? Someone who is infected with the Wuhan coronavirus can spread it with just a simple cough or a sneeze, scientists say. At least 133 people with the virus are now confirmed to have died and more than 6,000 have been infected in at least 18 countries and regions. But experts predict the true number of people with the disease could be 100,000, or even as high as 350,000 in Wuhan alone, as they warn it may kill as many as two in 100 cases. Here's what we know so far: What is the Wuhan coronavirus? A coronavirus is a type of virus which can cause illness in animals and people. Viruses break into cells inside their host and use them to reproduce itself and disrupt the body's normal functions. Coronaviruses are named after the Latin word 'corona', which means crown, because they are encased by a spiked shell which resembles a royal crown. The coronavirus from Wuhan is one which has never been seen before this outbreak. It is currently named 2019-nCoV, and does not have a more detailed name because so little is known about it. Dr Helena Maier, from the Pirbright Institute, said: 'Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that infect a wide range of different species including humans, cattle, pigs, chickens, dogs, cats and wild animals. 'Until this new coronavirus was identified, there were only six different coronaviruses known to infect humans. Four of these cause a mild common cold-type illness, but since 2002 there has been the emergence of two new coronaviruses that can infect humans and result in more severe disease (Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronaviruses). 'Coronaviruses are known to be able to occasionally jump from one species to another and that is what happened in the case of SARS, MERS and the new coronavirus. The animal origin of the new coronavirus is not yet known.' The first human cases were publicly reported from the Chinese city of Wuhan, where approximately 11million people live, after medics first started seeing infections on December 31. By January 8, 59 suspected cases had been reported and seven people were in critical condition. Tests were developed for the new virus and recorded cases started to surge. The first person died that week and, by January 16, two were dead and 41 cases were confirmed. The next day, scientists predicted that 1,700 people had become infected, possibly up to 4,500. Just a week after that, there had been more than 800 confirmed cases and those same scientists estimated that some 4,000 possibly 9,700 were infected in Wuhan alone. By that point, 26 people had died. By January 27, more than 2,800 people were confirmed to have been infected, 81 had died, and estimates of the total number of cases ranged from 100,000 to 350,000 in Wuhan alone. By January 29, the number of deaths had risen to 133 and cases were in excess of 6,000. 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 Where does the virus come from? Nobody knows for sure. Coronaviruses in general tend to originate in animals the similar SARS and MERS viruses are believed to have originated in civet cats and camels, respectively. The first cases of the virus in Wuhan came from people visiting or working in a live animal market in the city, which has since been closed down for investigation. Although the market is officially a seafood market, other dead and living animals were being sold there, including wolf cubs, salamanders, snakes, peacocks, porcupines and camel meat. Bats are a prime suspect researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences said in a recent statement: 'The Wuhan coronavirus' natural host could be bats but between bats and humans there may be an unknown intermediate.' And another scientific journal article has suggested the virus first infected snakes, which may then have transmitted it to people at the market in Wuhan. Peking University researchers analysed the genes of the coronavirus and said they most closely matched viruses which are known to affect snakes. They said: 'Results derived from our evolutionary analysis suggest for the first time that snake is the most probable wildlife animal reservoir for the 2019-nCoV,' in the Journal of Medical Virology. So far the fatalities are quite low. Why are health experts so worried about it? Experts say the international community is concerned about the virus because so little is known about it and it appears to be spreading quickly. It is similar to SARS, which infected 8,000 people and killed nearly 800 in an outbreak in Asia in 2003, in that it is a type of coronavirus which infects humans' lungs. Another reason for concern is that nobody has any immunity to the virus because they've never encountered it before. This means it may be able to cause more damage than viruses we come across often, like the flu or common cold. Speaking at a briefing in January, Oxford University professor, Dr Peter Horby, said: 'Novel viruses can spread much faster through the population than viruses which circulate all the time because we have no immunity to them. 'Most seasonal flu viruses have a case fatality rate of less than one in 1,000 people. Here we're talking about a virus where we don't understand fully the severity spectrum but it's possible the case fatality rate could be as high as two per cent.' If the death rate is truly two per cent, that means two out of every 100 patients who get it will die. 'My feeling is it's lower,' Dr Horby added. 'We're probably missing this iceberg of milder cases. But that's the current circumstance we're in. 'Two per cent case fatality rate is comparable to the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918 so it is a significant concern globally.' How does the virus spread? The illness can spread between people just through coughs and sneezes, making it an extremely contagious infection. And it may also spread even before someone has symptoms. It is believed to travel in the saliva and even through water in the eyes, therefore close contact, kissing, and sharing cutlery or utensils are all risky. Originally, people were thought to be catching it from a live animal market in Wuhan city. But cases soon began to emerge in people who had never been there, which forced medics to realise it was spreading from person to person. There is now evidence that it can spread third hand to someone from a person who caught it from another person. What does the virus do to you? What are the symptoms? Once someone has caught the virus it may take between two and 14 days for them to show any symptoms but they may still be contagious during this time. If and when they do become ill, typical signs include a runny nose, a cough, sore throat and a fever (high temperature). The vast majority of patients at least 97 per cent, based on available data will recover from these without any issues or medical help. In a small group of patients, who seem mainly to be the elderly or those with long-term illnesses, it can lead to pneumonia. Pneumonia is an infection in which the insides of the lungs swell up and fill with fluid. It makes it increasingly difficult to breathe and, if left untreated, can be fatal and suffocate people. What have genetic tests revealed about the virus? Scientists in China have recorded the genetic sequences of around 19 strains of the virus and released them to experts working around the world. This allows others to study them, develop tests and potentially look into treating the illness they cause. Examinations have revealed the coronavirus did not change much changing is known as mutating much during the early stages of its spread. However, the director-general of China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Gao Fu, yesterday said the virus was mutating and adapting as it spread through people. This means efforts to study the virus and to potentially control it may be made extra difficult because the virus might look different every time scientists analyse it. More study may be able to reveal whether the virus first infected a small number of people then change and spread from them, or whether there were various versions of the virus coming from animals which have developed separately. How dangerous is the virus? The virus has so far killed 133 people out of a total of at least 6,000 officially confirmed cases a death rate of around two per cent. This is a similar death rate to the Spanish Flu outbreak which, in 1918, went on to kill around 50million people. However, experts say the true number of patients is likely considerably higher and therefore the death rate considerably lower. Imperial College London researchers estimate that there were 4,000 (up to 9,700) cases in Wuhan city alone up to January 18 officially there were only 444 there to date. If cases are in fact 100 times more common than the official figures, the virus may be far less dangerous than currently believed. Experts say it is likely only the most seriously ill patients are seeking help and are therefore recorded the vast majority will have only mild, cold-like symptoms. For those whose conditions do become more severe, there is a risk of developing pneumonia which can destroy the lungs and kill you. Can the virus be cured? The Wuhan coronavirus cannot currently be cured and it is proving difficult to contain. Antibiotics do not work against viruses, so they are out of the question. Antiviral drugs can, but the process of understanding a virus then developing and producing drugs to treat it would take years and huge amounts of money. No vaccine exists for the coronavirus yet and it's not likely one will be developed in time to be of any use in this outbreak, for similar reasons to the above. The National Institutes of Health in the US, and Baylor University in Waco, Texas, say they are working on a vaccine based on what they know about coronaviruses in general, using information from the SARS outbreak. But this may take a year or more to develop, according to Pharmaceutical Technology. Currently, governments and health authorities are working to contain the virus and to care for patients who are sick and stop them infecting other people. People who catch the illness are being quarantined in hospitals, where their symptoms can be treated and they will be away from the uninfected public. And airports around the world are putting in place screening measures such as having doctors on-site, taking people's temperatures to check for fevers and using thermal screening to spot those who might be ill (infection causes a raised temperature). However, it can take weeks for symptoms to appear, so there is only a small likelihood that patients will be spotted up in an airport. Is this outbreak an epidemic or a pandemic? The outbreak has not officially been confirmed as either an epidemic or a pandemic yet. This is likely because, despite the global concern, the number of people who have been confirmed to be infected is still relatively low. A pandemic is defined by the World Health Organization as the 'worldwide spread of a new disease'. An epidemic is when a disease takes hold of a smaller community, such as a single country, region or continent. The Bharat Bandh called by several organisations against the CAA and the proposed nationwide NRC on Wednesday evoked mixed response in Bihar. Leaders of various political parties hit the streets in the state capital which was, by and large, unaffected by the bandh with shops and offices remaining open. However, roads in Patna witnessed major traffic snarls due to demonstrations staged by leaders of parties such as former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's HAM, former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha's RLSP, muscleman-turned-politician Pappu Yadav's Jan Adhikar Party and the Left. Insisting that the bandh was successful and people were "up in arms against the draconian legislation (CAA)", Manjhi attributed normal functioning of commercial establishments to "restraint and discipline" on part of the bandh-supporters. He also claimed that many shops have downed their shutters voluntarily. Asked about anti-CAA protests getting a bad name in the wake of Sharjeel Imam's arrest on sedition charges, Manjhi said, "I do not think the young man holds views detrimental to national integrity. Nonetheless, let the matter be probed. If he is found guilty, he would face appropriate action. A few black sheep do not imply that the cause has been defeated." Supporters of Pappu Yadav, who had wrought havoc during the state-wide bandh called by Left parties last month leading to a major police crackdown, appeared subdued. They avoided indulging in violence but caused disruption of traffic through processions and lying down on roads claiming it to be a Gandhian type of civil disobedience. Yadav himself took part in a few processions but stayed away from the antics of the previous occasion when he had paraded on the streets wearing handcuffs and with his feet chained. Workers of Lalu Prasad's RJD, known for their strong- arm tactics during shutdowns, were conspicuous by their absence on the streets though its state unit issued a statement claiming it had "fully supported" the bandh which was "a complete success". Bandh-supporters pelted with stones at policemen in Siwan and they dispersed after a lathi-charge. A case was being registered, police sources said. Long queues of vehicles were seen on highways near districts like Begusarai, Muzaffarpur and Araria as bandh supporters squatted for hours raising slogans against the contentious legislation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Trend Leadership of the European Coordination Center of Azerbaijani Musavat party, headed by Ilham Hasan, let the authorities of the Federal Republic of Germany down by its criminal acts, journalist living in Europe Yafez Akramoglu, said to members of the European Coordination Center. Perhaps, you have already been summoned for investigation, or will be summoned, Akramoglu said on Facebook, Trend reports. Otherwise, you should go there yourselves. Don't be afraid to tell it how it was in the European Coordination Center. Let each and everyone of you tell what he/she seen or heard. Either way, almost the entire activity of the European Coordination Center is of criminal nature. I know that most of you failed to obtain refugee status while some individuals are expecting deportation every minute, the journalist said. The European Coordination Center deceived you, issued (sold) certificates, persuaded not to be afraid, promised protection. Meanwhile the center threatened to write a denunciation to the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) and make sure you're deported, if you protest." The journalist also warned what the individuals who have been deceived by the European Coordination Center, will face if they do not give testimony to the German authorities. By cooperating with the investigative bodies, they will become important witnesses, the journalist said. At least until the end of the investigation, no one will deport you, because you are important witnesses, said Yafez Akramoglu. This is prescribed in the law, and the investigation will last for a couple of years. This way, you can once again legally seek asylum. This time you will have more chances. By its unlawful actions, the management of the European Coordination Center of Musavat Party led by Ilham Hasan betrayed the German state. This state knows how to value loyalty, but doesnt forgive betrayal, said the journalist. Remember, if you bought documents from the European Coordination Center, you arent responsible. Rest assured! You are a victim of a crime. Fraudsters took your money by cheating. After all, you have nothing to lose after getting refusal for your asylum claims. Akramoglu added that he will support anyone who tells, or wants to tell the truth to the investigation. Dont be afraid of anyone, the journalist noted. The criminals are being watched, they themselves know it perfectly. They cant threaten you. They are only 5-10 people awaiting their arrest. However, having made a confession, you will deserve protection of the German state. In November 2019, a scandal broke out, when German law enforcement authorities detained former members of the Musavat party. Local federal courts chose a preventive measure in the form of arrest for a period of six months in relation to the detained. As a result of an investigation conducted by the German police, those arrested involved in emigration business in Germany, are suspected of smuggling of at least 20 people to Germany. In accordance with the decision of the German judicial authorities, former head of correctional institution of Azerbaijans penitentiary system Elchin Akbarov; Chairman of the Musavat partys European Coordination Center, former head of the Kalbajar executive power Ilham Hasan; party member, Deputy Chairman of the Coordination Center Mehdi Khalilbayli; Musavat party activist Abdin Javadov; and former MP Sabir Rustamkhanlis brother, Head of Leqat Integration Center, former police chief Alovsat Aliyev, have been arrested. Among those arrested were also Mehdi Khalilbaylis driver Rashad Mammadov and Musavat party member Elshan Abdullayev. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz As an investor its worth striving to ensure your overall portfolio beats the market average. But its virtually certain that sometimes you will buy stocks that fall short of the market average returns. We regret to report that long term Beijing Enterprises Water Group Limited (HKG:371) shareholders have had that experience, with the share price dropping 28% in three years, versus a market return of about 20%. Unhappily, the share price slid 1.0% in the last week. See our latest analysis for Beijing Enterprises Water 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). Although the share price is down over three years, Beijing Enterprises Water Group actually managed to grow EPS by 16% per year in that time. This is quite a puzzle, and suggests there might be something temporarily buoying the share price. Or else the company was over-hyped in the past, and so its growth has disappointed. Since the change in EPS doesn't seem to correlate with the change in share price, it's worth taking a look at other metrics. Given the healthiness of the dividend payments, we doubt that they've concerned the market. It's good to see that Beijing Enterprises Water Group has increased its revenue over the last three years. But it's not clear to us why the share price is down. It might be worth diving deeper into the fundamentals, lest an opportunity goes begging. The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). SEHK:371 Income Statement, January 29th 2020 Beijing Enterprises Water Group is well known by investors, and plenty of clever analysts have tried to predict the future profit levels. So it makes a lot of sense to check out what analysts think Beijing Enterprises Water Group will earn in the future (free analyst consensus estimates) Story continues What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. In the case of Beijing Enterprises Water Group, it has a TSR of -20% for the last 3 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return. A Different Perspective Investors in Beijing Enterprises Water Group had a tough year, with a total loss of 11% (including dividends) , against a market gain of about 3.3%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 1.7% over the last half decade. 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 Beijing Enterprises Water Group better, we need to consider many other factors. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for Beijing Enterprises Water Group (1 is significant) that you should be aware of. If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). 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. Much of Australia's southeast faces severe to extreme heatwave conditions over coming days, bringing elevated bushfire danger and uncomfortable nights. A hot air mass that has delivered scorching temperatures across large parts of Western Australia is expected to move across the country ahead of an approaching cold front, the Bureau of Meteorology says. 'The combination of these really warm conditions and also an increase in humidity is going to lead to very warm daytime temperatures and very warm night-time temperatures as well,' BOM meteorologist Diana Eadie told AAP on Wednesday. Much of Australia's southeast faces severe to extreme heatwave conditions over coming days, bringing elevated bushfire danger and uncomfortable nights Australians near the coast are expected to hit the beaches to cool off with hot and sunny weather predicted for this weekend 'As a result we're expecting severe to extreme heatwave conditions to develop across much of the southeast of Australia.' Temperatures are set to exceed 40C in Adelaide, Canberra and Melbourne, while some places such as Cummins in South Australia, Echuca in northern Victoria and Griffith in inland NSW are expected to reach 45C. Ms Eadie said many areas will experience uncomfortable overnight temperatures including Adelaide where it will not drop below 28C on Friday. 'That's why we're seeing those severe to extreme heatwave conditions because when you don't get those temperatures dropping off overnight, it doesn't allow the body to recover.' Very high and severe fire danger warnings will be in place across NSW over the coming days for an extreme heatwave expected to hit the state. Firefighters are urging communities near blazes in southeast NSW to remain vigilant, with high temperatures lingering through the weekend. 'Elevated fire dangers are set to return over coming days ... it is important that you're prepared in the event a fire threatens,' the NSW Rural Fire Service tweeted on Wednesday. A heatwave is expected in the next few days as a hot air mass makes its way east from Western Australia Bureau of Meteorology acting state manager Jane Golding said ongoing fires, dry conditions and increased temperatures would cause an elevated fire risk. She said temperatures in central and western NSW will surpass 40C this weekend, making for some uncomfortable evenings. This is because a system of hot air moving south of the Australian continent will help drag hot air across the NSW coast. 'Broad areas of western NSW, out towards the South Australian border and into the western slopes may not drop below 30 degrees for some nights over the next few days,' Ms Golding said in a statement on Wednesday. 'The difference in temperatures for some places from Saturday to Monday will be 15 degrees.' The heatwave will see temperatures in some areas of NSW, Victoria, and South Australia exceed 40 degrees There are currently 71 fires burning across the state, while the housing toll for this bushfire season is almost 2400. The death toll climbed to 25 on Friday when a 59-year-old man's body was found in a NSW south coast home. Ms Eadie said the elevated fire dangers will be highest on Thursday in South Australia, Friday in Victoria and Tasmania, and Saturday in fire-affected areas including the ACT and southern parts of NSW. She noted humidity levels will also be quite high. 'Whilst we'll see those warm temperatures and strengthening winds, it's not as dry as what we've seen with previous events which is why at this stage we're only forecasting severe fire dangers. 'It's not quite as dangerous as previous situations just because we do have that moisture over fire-affected areas.' They were still in their pajamas and sipping their morning coffee when Sun Naitian proposed to Dacil Sanchez. It took her a few moments to process the information, and at first she thought it was a joke. But as soon as she realized that it was for real, her answer came spontaneously: yes. Now, after two years of marriage, Dacil is facing a much more complicated choice. The couple lives in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus technically known as 2019-nCoV that has already caused some 132 deaths and infected more than 6,000 people, according to official figures. Its very nice to get out of here, but its very tough to leave your family behind The Spanish government has launched an effort to repatriate citizens trapped in the Chinese city, where residents were quarantined on January 23. Chinese authorities have clearly said that none of their own citizens will be evacuated. This means that Dacil has to make a choice: either flee the heart of this global epidemic, leaving her husband behind without knowing when she will see him again, or stay in Wuhan with him, without knowing when theyll be able to get out. This is the first time in four days that we have gotten out of the house, they note. The couple lives on the other side of the Yangtze River, in the district of Wuchang, far from the area where the infection started to spread. Maybe that is why there are still a few people out on the streets here. Naitian is 31, Dacil is 26, and it is hard to distinguish their faces through the double masks that each one is wearing an additional protection measure that many people have adopted in recent days. The couple walks hand in hand as we head for a local restaurant where they share their story. There are no other customers there. Eight years ago Sun Naitian, a young man from the small city of Chifeng (small by Chinese standards: the population is 4.3 million) in Inner Mongolia, decided to move to Beijing in search of a job. He had a degree in chemical engineering, but was forced to accept all kinds of work in order to make a living: waiter, photographer, radio host... even personal trainer. It was at the gym that he met Dacil Sanchez, a young woman from Santa Cruz de Tenerife who had moved to Beijing with her family in 2014. When her parents returned to Spain, she was forced to choose, and she chose to stay behind out of love. People wearing face masks leave after stocking up on food at a market in Wuhan on January 26. HECTOR RETAMAL (AFP) Dacil and Naitian speak with each other in a combination of Chinese, Spanish and English. A couple of years ago they moved to Wuhan, where she ran the only Spanish restaurant in town, named Alioli. That was until a year ago, when the entire street where the restaurant was located was demolished following a local ordinance. Since then, Dacil has been making a living by offering Spanish lessons. Fortunately, none of her students are infected, she notes. Sun Naitian is in charge of a restaurant specializing in hot pots. He works 12 hours a day and gets one day off a week. Or rather, this was their life until the outbreak. The coronavirus caused a large amount of people to quickly leave the city. Around Monday, January 20, people started to leave, lots of people. The metro was full of suitcases, recalls Dacil. By Wednesday, a day before the city was quarantined, they bought food just in case. It was a wise move. If you go to the market now, you wont find any fruit or vegetables, and thats if the market is open at all, because most of them are closed. In those days people were lining up to buy face masks, and some places were selling them for 30 [230 yuan, when the regular price is around 30 yuan]. The speculation ended when the government stepped in to guarantee the supply of essential goods as well as price stability. Chinese authorities are not allowing the evacuation of their own citizens, not even those who are married to foreign nationals or children with dual citizenship I was told that the Spanish consulate was searching for Spaniards living in Wuhan, so I got in touch with them and explained our situation, says Dacil. But as the consulate noted, Chinese authorities are not allowing the evacuation of their own citizens, not even those who are married to foreign nationals or children with dual citizenship, a concept that Chinese legislation does not recognize. Up to six families could be in this situation, although the consulate has not confirmed this figure. In a message, consulate officials said they were in talks with the relevant authorities in China. Were going to keep trying right to the end, I still have hope, says Dacil. If we dont manage it, I will leave by myself, but it will be with bittersweet feelings. Its very nice to get out of here, but its very tough to leave your family behind. Every day I ask myself the same questions and I never find any answers, and its very frustrating, adds the Spaniard. If I leave and something happens to him, what will we do? Ill be in Spain and I wont be able to do anything from there. But Naitian is encouraging his wife to go. Even if they dont let me leave, she should go in any case. Her family will feel better, knowing she is all right. There is another dimension to their dilemma: once they say goodbye, they dont know when theyll see each other again. This outbreak has been going on for over a month, and nobody knows how long it will last, says Dacil. If I leave, I will probably have to spend some time in quarantine, and even after that, its still unclear when Ill be able to come back. During the SARS outbreak of 2002-2003, it was seven months before the situation stabilized. We dont know how long it will be before we see each other, or what will happen after that. English version by Susana Urra. Augmented Intelligence Autonomous Things Blockchain Tracking & Records Management Lands Record Management: Wyoming has partnered with Overstock.com to put land records on Blockchain Tracking transactive energy marketplace / peer-to-peer transactions where customers can buy and sell energy from each other Faster ID management on Blockchain for food safety Digital Identity Blockchain voting app (Denver, Colorado ran pilot for Blockchain Voting through Smart phones to allow Voters Cross Border, Active Military Members to cast Vote using Voatz a blockchain mobile app.) Swiss Government Using uPort to Register Zug Citizens. Citizens of Zug, have their own digital, decentralized, sovereign identity. This identity can be used to take part in all government related activities like casting vote, proving identity, etc. Continued Cloud Adoption and Anything as a Service (XaaS) Data Insights and Innovation (including Privacy): The California Consumer Privacy Act aims to give consumers more control over their personal data at a time when breaches are rampant and personal information is mined, sold and used in ways consumers have little say over. Florida recently followed with a proposed bill seeks to take similar steps for consumer data privacy, showing that the CA bill is the harbinger of similar measures that we will see across the country in 2020. Transparency/Traceability may not be a new trend for data insights, but its one that is still hot and will require constant evaluation and updated as the availability of and demand for data increases. Additional goals will include improving data use, the use of linked data to drive policy and decisions, and knowledge management in policy areas. Increased Funding and Activity in Cybersecurity Accessibility Legacy Modernization and Digital Government: Customer/citizen experience 5G Expansion Conclusion In our first article on Accelerating Exponential Growth we asked the question:The answer lay within the(from):1. Visionary Customer Advocacy2. Data-Driven Experimentalism3. Optimistic Realism4. Extreme Adaptability5. Radical Openness6. Hyper-ConfidenceCatch up on the entire series at directtechnology.com/exponential-gov/"Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together." James C. PenneyPunxsutawney Phil isnt the only beloved character to make an annual appearance and forecast the future., Public Sector Prognosticator, once again pronounces Direct Technologys pragmatic Groundhog Day predictions.Our outlook is grounded in, the third characteristic of Exponential Leadership by Ismail ( series overview page ): Leaders who are able to articulate a positive outcome through any scenario, even downside scenarios, will be able to help maintain objectivity within their teams. This is particularly important in assessing and planning technology enablement for government agencies.While AI traditionally has meant Artificial Intelligence, AI is meant to assist humans in their daily lives. We believeenhances human capability rather than replaces it. We predict more automation and greater use of AI to help solve difficult social problems such as educating homeless youth about HIV and AIDS in Los Angeles ( VIDEO ).We see a lot of investment in innovation for autonomous things. From a local perspective, City of Sacramento is investing heavily in smart traffic management California, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, and NY are considering blockchain to help manage state records. In addition, Delaware recently awarded a contract to design the electronic distributed ledger, which will be based on the Hyperledger Fabric blockchain framework. Some practical uses of blockchain are:DYou might not think of the cloud as a new trend anymore but the 2019 Gartner CIO Survey found that 39% of government organizations plan to invest the lions share of new or additional funding on cloud services , according to Gartner. Public sector entities will spend time and effort in 2020 and beyond to figure out how to provide constituents "useable and digestible information and help public and private organizations understand and navigate laws and regulations concerning protected data; and put in place human-centered design principles in the development of programs and services.Recent cyber-attacks to cities and municipalities has made this a top priority in spending for local, state and, federal government . We believe this will be an area that will see a greater focus in 2020 and beyond.This may be farfetched, but were going out on a limb and declare this a trend for 2020 and beyond. There is a lot of attention on Accessibility after the passing of Assembly Bill 434 in California and after Dominos Pizza and Beyonces company were sued for not having an accessible website. State legislatures outside California are now heavily discussing Accessibility and there could even be a federal law soon. One thing is for sure: public sector is spending a lot of their funding to make sure their websites and documents are accessible.The topic of Accessibility is a priority for many agencies in early 2020 as many private sector organizations are commissioned for document and web remediation, getting organizations up to standards. Once compliant, public agencies will need to train their employees toup to standards.This is another one of those trends that has been in the works for the last few years, but public sector will continue to spend funding to enhance, renovate, and replace legacy platforms and improve business processes in 2020 and beyond. The solicitations coming out of California DMV are a good example.will remain a hot button. In CA, DMV is the prime example of where improvement is mandated. But for any public agency, scrutiny is constant on how quick and satisfied the customer is after a transaction. The push to digitize as much of the experience to keep customers from having to come into an office building is part of the equation.One recent advancement key to many of the innovations above, as well as accessibility for underserved communities, is the roll-out of 5G. Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles and Sacramento have led the way in deploying the worlds first commercial 5G networks . Verizon credited forward-looking state policy and local leaders who embraced innovation and developed a strategic vision for how 5G could be a platform to attract new investment, businesses and next generation services for residents.At Direct Technology, were optimistic about the ways advances in technology will accelerate innovation to the public sector. Were also realistic about the need to assess, prioritize and create a roadmap that balances customer-centric innovation with fiscal stewardship. In 2020, we will continue our focus on the human side of technology, accelerating technology assessments, modernization roadmaps, cloud migrations, and data-driven applications that provide real, measurable impact for constituents.Do you forecast changes ahead for your government agency or organization? A great place to start is with an Accessibility Assessment that ensures your organization serves ALL its customers. Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, will continue its strategic expansion, both in terms of adding more destinations and more planes to the fleet, Gulf Airs Chairman Zayed R Alzayani has said. "2020 promises to be a big year for us. We will continue with our strategic expansion as we have announced a number of new boutique destinations to be added to our network starting from the summer," he said at the annual internal commercial conference of the airline. The conference was attended by the airlines chairman, executive management and station managers from the entire network and officials from the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), Bahrain Airport Services (BAS) and Gulf Air Holding Group. The conference provided a substantial platform for the airlines executive management and its country managers to discuss the 2020 plans, targets, budgets, opportunities and Gulf Airs expansion plans. The event included opening remarks by Alzayani and the airlines CEO Kresimir Kucko, as well as a number of workshops covering various topics and fields such as revenue management, marketing, human resources, network planning, region specific challenges and team building activities. Alzayani said: "Our fleet modernisation programme is on target and our fleet age will be one of the youngest in the region by end of 2023 when we have all our orders delivered. He added: It gives me great pleasure to see the Gulf Air family in full throttle from all our stations here today. We are heading towards one direction, which is promoting our beloved kingdom to the world and turning the national carrier into a sustainable business contributing to the national economy of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Gulf Air will continue its fleet modernisation programme in 2020 and will receive the final three Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners of the 10-aircaft order and will take deliveries of the brand new Airbus 321neo aircraft which will be dominantly deployed on the European long-haul routes. The airline recently announced its 2020 expansion plans with a number of European destinations: Milan as year-round with daily flights and Mykonos, Munich, Malaga and Nice as seasonal destinations all starting from summer 2020. Moreover, on the eastern side, Kuala Lumpur will be launched in July 2020 with daily flights operated by the Dreamliner and Salalah, seasonally, in the summer. - TradeArabia News Service An agreement between Rochester Public Schools and the owner of land tabbed for a new middle school has been extended a second time. The Rochester School Board on Tuesday approved extending the due diligence period outlined in the $2.9 million purchase agreement of between the district and Jarris LLC to May 30. That agreement was approved by the board in March last year contingent on the outcome of the Nov. 5 referendum, which passed. The 150-acre site, along 40th Street Southwest about a mile west of U.S. Highway 63, would also have room for future construction of an elementary school and high school. However, under the citys " Planning 2 Succeed " long-range plan, part of that parcel is not set for urban expansion for more than 20 years . ADVERTISEMENT The middle school would be built on a portion identified for development before 2040 by plan maps, said Rochester Schools Superintendent Michael Munoz. Extending the due diligence period of the purchase agreement allows both parties to withdraw without cost from the agreement if the city declines to annex the land. Munoz said city leaders indicated the city council will not take up annexing the land until March. "Were still hoping the Southwest plan still works," Munoz said during an interview after the meeting. This is the second time the district has extended the due diligence period -- and likely the last, Munoz told the board during the meeting. "I dont anticipate wed extend it much beyond that," he said. "If we do, we might not meet our open date (of the new school)." Under current design and construction timetables, construction of the middle school is scheduled to begin in fall this year, with the school opening fall 2022. Board compensation ADVERTISEMENT In other business, board members Melissa Amundsen and Julie Workman presented information on increasing board members compensation. Board members first received compensation for their time serving on the school board in 1974. The last increase came in 1987 to $7,200 per year. Adjusting for inflation under the consumer price index, $7,200 would be more than $16,600, Amundsen said. Low compensation might be keeping some members of the community from running for the position. Workman said the presentation wasnt a suggestion for increased compensation now, but was informational to look at and discuss whether it should be raised before the candidate filing period begins May 19. "Its actual financial barriers that prevents this board from looking like the community it represents," Amundsen said. Munoz cautioned a sharp increase in board compensation could send a "wrong message" to school district employees. "I dont think theres any district employee who has not had their salary increased since 1987," Workman said. ADVERTISEMENT Pool plans The board also approved hiring Widseth Smith Nolting and Associates, of Baxter, as architects and designers of the upcoming pool projects voters approved in November. That referendum provides $9 million in funds for construction of a pool at Century High School and reconstruction of the pool at Mayo High School. Under the plan, bids for that pool construction would be sought in June and bids for renovating the Mayo pool would be sought in December. Construction on the Mayo pool wouldnt begin until after the Century pool is completed, said Scott Sherden, executive director of operations. The plan also calls for decommissioning the pools at Kellogg, John Adams and Willow Creek middle schools. That would occur after the Mayo pool is renovated. Mecklenburgs top prosecutor unveiled plans for a sweeping crackdown against violent crime Wednesday, from taking more murders and gun crimes to trial to calling on the legislature to revamp the states bail laws. District Attorney Spencer Merriweather also said he wants to streamline the states largest local criminal-justice system by accelerating the hand-off of cases from police to prosecutors and by persuading District Court judges to handle more low-level felonies, a change the judges have resisted up to now. Merriweather said the judges opposition amounts to self-inflicted harm to an already under-resourced criminal justice system. The Democratic prosecutor also called on North Carolinas Republican-controlled General Assembly to revamp how it pays for the courts in order to pump more money and personnel into urban centers where violent crime is highest. Its important for the community to understand that the prosecutors and staff of the district attorneys office are seeking to redouble our efforts to seek safety, peace and justice for the people of this county, said Merriweather, a former homicide prosecutor who was appointed district attorney in 2017 and was elected to a full term the next year. Merriweathers remarks follow a year in which Charlotte was rocked by 107 murders, the most since 1993. His office was also the subject of a Charlotte Observer investigation, which found that prosecutors in Mecklenburg have dismissed more than two-thirds of weapons charges and that those whose charges are dropped often are rearrested for more serious crimes, including murder. Prosecutors drop gun charges over and over. Some suspects go on to kill. In announcing his offices agenda for 2020, Merriweather said gun crimes whether involving a burglary, drugs or a carjacking will be placed at the top of the priority trial list for his prosecutors. He said his office also will look to partner with federal prosecutors on violent crime. U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray was Merriweathers former boss at the district attorneys office. Story continues Meanwhile, the offices homicide prosecutors are scheduled to take 20 cases to trial in 2020, up from 13 in 2019. That will begin to reduce the existing caseload of 75 cases in which accused killers have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial, the largest backlog in at least five years. It stands to worsen as more of the killings from 2019 enter the criminal-justice pipeline. By taking more homicide cases to trial, Merriweather said, prosecutors will shorten the ordeal of the victims families. The kind of grief a family faces when theyve lost a loved one is compounded as they wait for the person who has stolen a life to be brought to justice, he said. Merriweather said the emphasis on taking more accused killers to trial will also persuade other homicide defendants to accept plea bargains which offer lighter sentences. Lisa Crawford, with Mothers of Murdered Offspring, hugs the mother of a murder victim at a February 2019 press conference to decry Charlottes surging murder toll. Mecklenburg prosecutors have announced plans to try to reduce the growing backlog of homicide defendants awaiting trial. Taking on bail reform Merriweather also weighed into the dispute over granting bond to violent-crime defendants, including those accused of first-degree murder. In December, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney announced that his officers will no longer offer electronic monitoring to first-degree murder defendants who are freed on bond before trial. Some judges give Charlotte murder suspects ankle bracelets. No more, CMPD says Superior Court Judge Bob Bell told the Observer last month that not all first-degree murder cases are the same, and that some homicide defendants are not threats to commit other crimes or flee if given bonds. Merriweather called for a statewide solution based on the federal courts model. Known as preventative detention, judges would make decisions about pretrial release in all felony cases based not on an amount of money but on whether defendants pose a risk to public safety. If they do, they remain in custody. If they dont, they are freed. Under the current N.C. system, judges generally can hold defendants without bond only in first-degree murder cases. Merriweather says the current system of cash bonds gambles with public safety. District Attorney Spencer Merriweather announced plans Wednesday for a sweeping crackdown on Charlottes crime. If a person has repeatedly been violating the sanctity of home after home after home in a given neighborhood, a judge has no recourse to protect the community ... except to bet that a dollar amount is high enough to keep that person in custody, he said. In an era when the General Assembly has frequently been at war with its biggest cities, Merriweather also called for a revamping of what he described as the outdated formula used to staff courthouses with judges, prosecutors, public defenders and clerks. The current system doesnt reflect the modern demands placed on urban courthouses such as Charlottes, from the crush of cases and investigations to the strain of serving so many non-English speaking members of the public. Let me be clear. What is equal is not equitable, Merriweather said. I am calling on our General Assembly to wholly reconsider the way that large jurisdictions like this one are staffed and served in the name of justice. That is critical to the way we will develop as a state and as a county in the years to come. A deadly year: 2019 murder rate was Charlottes worst in more than a decade Community prosecution Merriweather also sketched out a plan Wednesday for what he described as community prosecution, which he began discussing in 2019. His plan would put more prosecutors in neighborhoods victimized by crime to build better relationships, find more effective witnesses, and work with neighbors intent on making their streets safer. Having a DA presence in those communities is critical for confidence in our justice system, Merriweather said. What form it takes and how Merriweather will pay for it remains to be seen. But its an approach that has proven successful elsewhere. In Milwaukee, District Attorney John Chisholm said his community prosecutors dont simply handle criminal cases they go to some of the citys poorest neighborhoods to help solve community problems. For instance, he said, prosecutors might work with neighborhood leaders to improve street lighting or tear down dilapidated buildings used by criminals. This is one way of changing the relationship between the DAs office and the community were serving, Chisholm told the Observer last year. In a highly unusual move, the United States attorney in Manhattan publicly scolded Britains Prince Andrew for failing to cooperate with authorities investigating Jeffrey Epstein and his associates for sex trafficking. To date, Prince Andrew has provided zero cooperation, prosecutor Geoffrey Berman said Monday, when asked if the prince had been cooperative, according to the New York Times. Berman acknowledged that his office rarely comments on ongoing investigations, but said it was fair to do so in this case since Prince Andrew pledged to cooperate with investigators in November. That pledge came in the wake of Andrews much-criticized interview with the BBC, in which the prince, who is the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II, failed to acknowledge Epsteins victims. Prosecutors and the FBI have reached out to Andrew's legal team three times and not gotten a response, the Times reported. Lisa Bloom, a lawyer representing five of Epsteins victims, caused a stir Tuesday by suggesting the Trump administration reconsider its refusal to extradite Anne Sacoolas, the wife of an American diplomat whose alleged dangerous driving in an unrelated case killed a British teenager. I understand diplomatic immunity, but this is not a good look, Bloom tweeted. If we want cooperation, we must cooperate in their investigations too. Prince Andrew. (Photo: Associated Press) Former senior federal prosecutors say that Bermans decision to chastise Andrew for his failure to cooperate is a strong indication that authorities do not have enough evidence to charge the prince. Unless Andrew is charged, he cannot be extradited to the U.S. They could request a procedure at which he is questioned by the British authorities, Scott Fredericksen, a former federal prosecutor and independent counsel who is now a managing partner at Foley & Lardner, told Yahoo News. I think thats unlikely to happen. If that were going to happen, I dont think they would have gone public. Fredericksen said that Andrews status as a prominent member of the British royal family has likely constrained prosecutors. Theyre kind of stuck here because he is a royal and there are limited options for the government to do anything, Fredericksen said. What theyd like to do is at least question him, but whether they can persuade the U.K. authorities to ask him to be questioned. ... It would be highly unusual and would have to be approved at the highest levels of the U.S. government. Story continues U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman, standing with victims of childhood sexual abuse. (Photo: Craig Ruttle/AP) Fredericksen said that while it is possible for U.S. authorities to issue a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) request to British authorities in a bid to question Andrew, it is unlikely prosecutors see that as an effective strategy, particularly given the State Departments refusal to extradite a woman married to someone in a fairly low-level [diplomatic] position in an auto accident. Sacoolas killed British teenager Harry Dunn while driving on the wrong side of the road in England. U.S. officials refusal to send Sacoolas back to England to answer for her alleged dangerous driving has caused a furor in Britain. "Its certainly not a banner time for the U.S. to be asking the U.K. for favors, but the MLAT process is mechanical and important to both countries," said Roger Burlingame, a former federal prosecutor who now represents European clients in the London office of Dechert. That said, theres play in the joints, and if the U.K. were unenthusiastic because of the Dunn case or other sensitivities, its not something the U.S. can enforce. Andrew also would likely have diplomatic immunity, Fredericksen said. The U.K. is not going to extradite a royal, he said. Prosecutors have little leverage against Andrew other than a public statement trying to embarrass the royal family, he added. A former high-ranking federal prosecutor who requested anonymity because he is no longer working for the Department of Justice told Yahoo News that most people dont realize the relationship between the British and the Americans isnt as wonderful as people think it is on extradition. He added that unless Andrew makes the mistake of visiting the U.S., it will be hard for authorities to secure his cooperation in the Epstein investigation. The only way you force the process on Andrew is if he makes a stupid decision to make a trip to the U.S. and then he can be forced to appear before a grand jury, the former prosecutor said. Disney is one of the most effective tools the government has to pressure people to testify. ... Kids pressure their criminal parents to go to Disney and when they get here they are surprised that Customs knows who they are. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Mayflower Wind Energy LLC (a joint venture of Shell New Energies US LLC and EDPR Offshore North America LLC) has awarded a contract for the fabrication and delivery of the Mayflower Wind project's offshore substation approximately 40 kilometres south of Nantucket, Massachusetts, to a joint venture comprised of long-standing business partners Bladt Industries and Semco Maritime. The offshore substation project will be initiated in January 2020. Bladt Industries and Semco Maritime have formed a joint venture for the design and construction of the 1,200 MW offshore substation. The offshore substation will consist of a topside of 4,700 tons and a 3,000 tons jacket foundation. The project scope comprises engineering, procurement and construction works, including steel structure and jacket foundation by Bladt Industries, as well as design, procurement and installation of electrical equipment, auxiliary systems and inter-array cables by Semco Maritime. The offshore substation is scheduled for delivery from Bladt Industries' site in Denmark in 2024. "We are proud that Mayflower Wind has selected Bladt and Semco for this comprehensive offshore substation project on the US East Coast. We consider it an important recognition of our joint competencies and our strong focus on HSE during the construction phase," says Nils Overgaard, Chief Sales Officer, Bladt Industries. "We are very much looking forward to the close cooperation with the strong team behind Mayflower Wind, and we do hope this will be the first of several projects." "Semco and Bladt's strong track record of providing competitive turnkey offshore wind electrical infrastructure is a door opener in the market. The Mayflower Wind project provides a unique opportunity to firmly establish our companies as highly experienced pioneers in the nascent and promising US offshore wind industry. We will build strong relationships with Mayflower Wind's parent companies - Shell and EDP Renewables - as well as other involved parties. We will draw on the experience gained, as well as the resources and capabilities, that we have built up over the years to put further focus on our offerings to bring offshore energy to shore," says Carsten Nielsen, Senior Vice President, Renewables, Semco Maritime. The Mayflower Wind project has been chosen by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to supply 804 MW of clean, renewable energy from offshore wind with expected start-up in 2025. Once in operation, the project will provide enough electricity to power approximately half a million homes in the state and eliminate 1.7 million metric tons of CO2 emissions annually. "Mayflower Wind is focused on launching a safe and reliable offshore wind project to help meet Massachusetts's greenhouse gas reduction goals. We look forward to working with Bladt Industries and Semco Maritime - companies with a proven track-record in the industry. Recent changes to U.S. tax law now allow projects that meet qualification standards in 2020 to secure Federal Investment Tax Credits at the 18% level. This contract is a key step for us to meet these standards and secure tax credits that would ultimately result in a lower rate for electricity customers in Massachusetts", Michael Brown, Chief Financial Officer, Mayflower Wind Energy LLC, said. Bladt Industries and Semco Maritime will act as equal partners in the new joint venture. Contact Carsten Nielsen Senior Vice President, Offshore wind can@semcomaritime.com +45 7916 6802 After the 1967 War, when Israel conquered the remaining 22 percent of Palestine, as well as the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt and the Golan Heights from Syria, Israel illegally established settlements in the territories it occupied and created a regime with separate laws for different groups Israelis and Palestinians living in the same territory. In 1980, Israel formally annexed East Jerusalem. As with Israels settlement activity, there was some international finger wagging and condemnation, but American financial and military backing for Israel only strengthened. Opinion Debate Will the Democrats face a midterm wipeout? Mark Penn and Andrew Stein write that "only a broader course correction to the center will give Democrats a fighting chance in 2022" and beyond. write that "only a broader course correction to the center will give Democrats a fighting chance in 2022" and beyond. Matthew Continetti writes that time and again, the biggest obstacle to a red wave hasnt been the Democratic Party. Its been the Republican Party. writes that time and again, the biggest obstacle to a red wave hasnt been the Democratic Party. Its been the Republican Party. Ezra Klein speaks to David Shor, who discusses his fear that Democrats face electoral catastrophe unless they shift their messaging. speaks to David Shor, who discusses his fear that Democrats face electoral catastrophe unless they shift their messaging. Michelle Cottle examines two primary contests that will shake the parties well beyond the states in play. In 1993, the Oslo Accords granted limited autonomy to Palestinians in a scattering of disconnected islets. The accords did not demand the dismantling of Israeli settlements or even a halt to settlement growth. The first American plan for Palestinian statehood was presented by President Bill Clinton in 2000. It stated that large Israeli settlements would be annexed to Israel and that all Jewish settlements in occupied East Jerusalem would also be annexed. The Palestinian state would be demilitarized and contain Israeli military installations as well as international forces in the Jordan Valley that could be withdrawn only with Israels consent. As with the deal of the century, this plan, which formed the basis of all subsequent ones, gave the Palestinians increased autonomy and called it a state. There are now more Palestinians than Jews living in the territory under Israels control, according to the Israeli military. Whether in Mr. Trumps vision or Mr. Clintons, American plans have confined most of the majority ethnic group into less than a quarter of the territory, with restrictions on Palestinian sovereignty so far-reaching that the outcome should more appropriately be called a one-and-a-half-state solution. Mr. Trumps plan has many severe faults: It prioritizes Jewish interests over Palestinian ones. It rewards and even incentivizes settlements and further dispossession of the Palestinians. But none of these qualities represent a fundamental break from the past. The Trump plan merely puts the finishing touches on a house that American lawmakers, Republican and Democrat alike, spent dozens of years helping to build. During the last several decades, as Israel slowly took over the West Bank, putting more than 600,000 settlers in occupied territory, the United States provided Israel with diplomatic backing, vetoes in the United Nations Security Council, pressure on international courts and investigative bodies not to pursue Israel, and billions of dollars in annual aid. Some of the Democrats now running for president have spoken of their disapproval of Israeli annexation, even as they propose nothing to stop it. Thus a mainstream Democrat like Senator Amy Klobuchar could declare her opposition to annexation and sign a letter criticizing the Trump plan for its disregard [of] international law, when she had also co-sponsored a Senate resolution expressing grave objection to a 2016 United Nations Security Council resolution that demanded Israel halt illegal settlement activity. Other Democrats, such as Senator Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg, say they would be unwilling to provide American financial support for Israeli annexation. But that is little more than a slick formulation that allows them to sound tough while threatening nothing, since American assistance to Israel would not, in any event, go directly toward the bureaucratic tasks involved, such as transferring the West Bank land registry from the military to the Israeli government. PHOENIX, Jan. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- National Catholic Schools Week is celebrated at Catholic schools throughout the country every year. Now entering its 46th anniversary year, it kicked off on January 26 and will end February 1. National Catholic Schools Week originated in 1974 and often has a specific theme. This year's theme is: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed. Typically, schools celebrate for the entire week with meaningful activities each day. Overall, the celebrations are meant to focus on the value Catholic education adds to our society. Catholic schools provide an opportunity for children to develop high standards, engage in strong academic preparation, provide service to the community, and become aware of the unique gifts they possess. Nancy Padberg, President & CEO of Catholic Education Arizona, shared, "We are thrilled to sponsor National Catholic Schools Week in Phoenix. Our schools emphasize academic excellence, provide a safe and welcoming environment and instill in students the value of service to others. We will provide lunch at the rally on Wednesday and pizzas for all the school faculty meetings." Diocese of Phoenix Catholic High Schools boast: 99% graduation rate 97% of graduates matriculate to college or military service 1000s of hours of community service are conducted annually "During Catholic Schools week, schools truly show the best of who they are through beautiful liturgy, meaningful service and the joy of their communities. It is a week of celebration and gratitude," stated Colleen McCoy-Cejka, Director of Strategic Partnerships. The week's festivities include: Diocesan Spelling Bee, Catholic Schools Week Mass and the Catholic Schools Week Rally at Wesley Bolin Plaza. Schools host grandparents, celebrate special masses, and honor members of the community. Each school designates a day to celebrate principals, teachers, and students in different ways. "We are thankful for our teachers and school administration for their commitment to the students, families and communities in forming future leaders," said Deb Preach, Chief Development Officer. Catholic Education Arizona is the largest provider of scholarships to underserved families attending private schools. Last year $18.3 million in tax credit donations was made to assist 45% of Arizona's Catholic school students. Since 1998, over $230 million in tuition scholarships has been awarded to 125,000 families. Changing lives one scholarship at a time. www.ceaz.org 602-218-6542 Contact: Debra Preach, Chief Development Officer Catholic Education Arizona [email protected] (602) 469-4594 SOURCE Catholic Education Arizona Related Links www.ceaz.org CAMERON, Louisiana With this weeks LNG export milestone placing Houstons Cheniere Energy among industry elites, it has no intention of relinquishing its dominant lead in U.S. shipments. The company shipped its 1,000th cargo of liquefied natural gas Monday from its Corpus Christi terminal just four years after it exported the first from the continental U.S. a cargo from its Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana. With the milestone behind it, the company sees further growth opportunities in China after U.S. and Chinese officials signed a tentative trade deal this month. It also is developing more flexible business models that include partnerships with natural-gas producers in the Permian Basin of West Texas. We just feel like were now just getting started, Cheniere Energy CEO Jack Fusco said. This validates that were the real deal. Were now a force to reckon with. Milestone: Cheniere Energy's 1,000th LNG cargo headed to France More Information U.S. LNG Shipments by Company (Jan 2019 through Nov 2019) Company Cargoes Cheniere Energy 400 Dominion Energy 65 Sempra Energy 20 Freeport LNG 8 Source: U.S. Department of Energy See More Collapse The milestone shipment puts Cheniere among global LNG exporters such as Qatargas, Total, Petronas, Chevron, Shell and BP whose exports number in the thousands. Through the first 11 months of 2019 alone, Cheniere had exported 400 shipments while its nearest competitor had 65. Chenieres rise comes as global demand for liquefied natural gas is growing and four competing export terminals have come online in the U.S., where horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have created a record surplus of natural gas that needs to be exported. When the company started exporting, global demand for liquefied natural gas was at 270 million tons per year. That demand now stands at 380 million tons and is expected to grow to 500 million tons by 2030 with the greatest growth in China, which is converting more power plants to natural gas from coal. The trade war between the United States and China, however, sent LNG exports to that nation plunging from 26 in 2018 to just three in 2019. Two of those shipments came from Chenieres Sabine Pass terminal and one came from Corpus Christi plant. But LNG is at the top of the list of U.S. commodities that will be headed to China after the U.S. and China signed an initial trade deal Jan. 15. The pact does not require congressional approval. Cheniere already had an LNG supply deal with China National Petroleum Corp. when trade tensions began but the companys Beijing office was reported to be in talks with other buyers. China has surpassed Japan and Korea, Fusco said. Theyre the No. 1 importer of LNG. Their LNG import capabilities even during trade tensions grew over 10 percent last year. Its forecast continues to be over 10 percent this year and can be much greater than that if they want it to be. Fuel Fix: Get energy news sent directly to your inbox Cheniere makes most of its money from the fees it charges for liquefying natural gas and shipping it to customers around the world. The company in 2018 reported a $471 million profit and revenue of $8 billion. As the largest buyer of natural gas in the United States, Cheniere purchases an average of 6 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day from more than 70 producers. Fusco says he expects that number to grow. Were buying close to 10 percent of U.S. natural gas production every day, Fusco said. Domestic production is around 70 billion cubic feet per day right now. Were taking about 6 billion. But thats going to grow when we bring more two trains online. It is probably going to be least 7.5 billion. Although the companys earlier business model relied on long-term supply deals with overseas utility companies, Cheniere has since changed things up. In September, Cheniere announced long-term partnerships with Houston oil companies EOG Resources and Apache Corp. Under the deals, Cheniere buys gas from the two companies at Permian well-head prices, sells the LNG at market price and gives the difference to EOG and Apache. Cheniere profits from its processing and shipping fees. The deal provides an outlet for the vast amount of natural gas produced in the Permian, the excess of which is typically burned off in a process known as flaring. Cheniere is one of several companies sending much of the Permians natural gas through hundreds of miles of new pipelines to Corpus Christi, a major hub for the natural gas business. Cheniere epitomizes the type of blue-chip customer the Port of Corpus Christi values, Port of Corpus Christi CEO Sean Strawbridge said. Chenieres Corpus Christi liquefication LNG exports continue to balance the burgeoning national trade deficit and provide a cleaner, reliable fuel source to major markets throughout the globe. sergio.chapa@chron.com @SergioChapa on Twitter CHICAGO/SHANGHAI/SEOUL (Reuters) - United Airlines Holdings Inc (UAL.O) is cancelling some flights to China as Facebook Inc (FB.O) and other global companies restrict travel to the country, with concerns over a flu-like virus deepening. The coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China has killed 106 people in the Asian country and spread across the world, rattling financial markets. The United States warned on Monday that Americans should reconsider visiting all of China, while South Korea elevated its travel warning on Tuesday, advising its citizens to stay away. Facebook became the first major U.S. company to announce a travel suspension after the U.S. governments warning, saying it had asked employees to halt non-essential travel to mainland China and to work from home if they had traveled there. Chicago-based United said it was suspending 24 U.S. flights to Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai between Feb. 1 and Feb. 8. due to a significant drop in demand. Europes biggest bank, HSBC (HSBA.L), banned all staff travel to Chinese-ruled Hong Kong for two weeks and to mainland China until further notice, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters. The British-based lender, which has the largest presence among foreign banks in China, also asked staff who have recently visited the country to undergo a self-imposed 14-day quarantine. U.S. rival Goldman Sachs (GS.N) imposed similar measures, according to a memo seen by Reuters. In South Korea, home appliances maker LG Electronics Inc (066570.KS) put a complete ban on travel to China and has advised employees on business trips in the country to return home as quickly as possible, a company spokeswoman said. South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix Inc (000660.KS) said it was urging employees to avoid all non-essential travel to China, while banking group Standard Chartered (STAN.L) restricted travel to both mainland China and Hong Kong. In Germany, auto supplier Webasto, which has 11 sites in China, including in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei, has halted all corporate travel to and from China following the virus and the infection of an employee. Japans Honda Motor Co Ltd (7267.T) said it recommended employees avoid travel to China, while Nissan Motor Co (7201.T) said it plans to evacuate its Japanese staff and their families in Wuhan via a government-chartered flight. FALLING TRAVEL DEMAND Aside from United, other airlines said they were adjusting schedules as companies reassessed the risk of travel to China. South Korean budget carrier Air Seoul said it will halt all flights to China, while Taiwans China Airlines (2610.TW) announced a further rescheduling of its flights to China from Friday to Feb. 10, cancelling five flights and rearranging the schedules of others. Taiwans Eva Airways (2618.TW) also said some flights to China may be canceled. Germanys Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) said on Monday bookings for its flights to and from China were slightly subdued due to the coronavirus outbreak. Hong Kongs Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd (0293.HK) said it was reducing overnight layovers for crew at all points in mainland China as much as possible, resulting in some changes to its flight schedule. International SOS, a medical and travel security services firm that advises companies on travel, said its guidance for now was that business travel to China outside Hubei could continue. But this could be updated if there were major flight cancellations throughout China and more disruptions to ground transport, including rail, International SOS Regional Security Director James Robertson said. Many of our clients have chosen to defer or cancel upcoming travel based on their own individual assessments, Robertson said. If people do choose to travel they need flexible itineraries accounting for extra time for temperature and health screenings. The first real test of the renewed special relationship between Britain and the US has ended in accusations and recriminations, with warnings from Washington that trade deals and intelligence-sharing are in danger of being jeopardised. The announcement that the Chinese company Huawei will be allowed into the UKs 5G network, despite intense and sustained efforts to block it by the US, is a significant blow to the extra-special rapport which was supposed to blossom between the Trump administration and Boris Johnsons government. There was flickering hope among Whitehall officials that Trump, who is in the habit of declaring diplomatic victories where none may exist, will be satisfied with claiming that the restriction of Huawei to the non-core fringe, and capping its market share to 35 per cent of the UK 5G network, was the result of his tough messages to Johnson. The Cabinet has approved raising the permissible limit for abortion from 20 weeks into a pregnancy to 24 weeks, in an amendment to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) (Amendment) Bill 2020. This is welcome. The earlier MTP Act allowed for abortion only up to 20 weeks, provided two doctors concurred. Beyond this, only a possible threat to the mothers life or severe foetal abnormalities could be the basis for extending the period for abortion, but only with the courts permission. Given the delays in the judicial system, the 20-week mark often passed, leaving many, including rape survivors, with unwanted pregnancies. This move gives the woman great autonomy over her body. The issue of abortion has been a tricky one in India due to the confusion between legal abortion and the sex selection law. Many doctors refuse to perform legitimate abortions fearing criminal charges under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994. While the new amendment is welcome, more needs to be done. One, though a minor under the current law can get an abortion, subject to the consent of her guardian, under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, sex with a minor is actionable and the doctor concerned is bound to report it, despite the confidentiality clause in the MTP Act. This means many teenagers may turn to quacks rather than qualified doctors for fear of the police or their families getting to know of the pregnancy. Two, the current provision of allowing contraceptive failure as a basis for seeking an abortion should be extended from married women to all women. It is time to have a wider discussion on the subject. Eight Democrats competing to represent New Mexicos 3rd Congressional District turned out in Santa Fe on Tuesday night for a candidates debate sponsored by Girls Inc. of Santa Fe. The event featured teens querying the candidates on issues such as abortion, gun control and climate change. The forum drew nearly a full house at the New Mexico School for the Deafs James A. Little Theater, which seats about 380 people. Republicans running in a district that has been a Democratic stronghold since its inception in 1982 were invited, but none came. At least six Republicans are in the race for the seat being vacated by Democratic Rep. Ben Ray Lujan as he runs for the U.S. Senate. The evening began with the question, If you could have a superpower, what would it be? When it was Marco Sernas turn to answer, he covered his face and fought back tears as he answered, Healing. Serna, district attorney in the 1st Judicial District, revealed that his month-old son is in the hospital. Asked about reproductive rights, all three of the female candidates Teresa Leger Fernandez, Laura Montoya and Valerie Plame said they oppose any kind of government restrictions, as did three male candidates Serna, John Blair and Kyle Tisdel. Leger Fernandez noted she has won the support of both Emilys List, a political action committee that aims to help elect pro-choice Democratic female candidates, and the NARAL Pro-Choice America PAC. State Rep. Joseph L. Sanchez said he was opposed to late-term abortions. Dineh Benally, a former Navajo Nation presidential and vice presidential candidate, said, When a lady conceives, its a gift from God. There was little disagreement among the candidates about whether more gun controls are needed, although Sanchez and Benally stopped short of calling for a ban on assault weapons. I live in a community where it can take 45 minutes before the police come, said Sanchez, who lives in Alcalde. Tisdel, a public interest attorney with an emphasis on the environment, said that the proliferation of mass shootings nationwide can be traced to the expiration of the assault weapons ban in 2004. Blair told the crowd that its unacceptable that students at Santa Fe High School, his alma mater, must learn how to protect themselves from an active shooter before they tackle the curriculum. On climate change, the candidates agreed that it will take more than bans on single-use plastic bags to protect the states agricultural economy and water. Although Montoya drew chuckles when she quipped, Im Mexican, so everything gets used more than once, many in the crowd nodded at Tisdels assertion that systemic change is needed. I used to think there was only one existential threat, said Plame, a former CIA operative. Now, she said, there are two dangers to civilization nuclear weapons and climate change. By Trend A meeting has been held in the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers on the instruction of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, dedicated to preventive measures against the coronavirus outbreak announced by the World Health Organization and the Chinese government, spread in Chinas Wuhan city and recorded in other parts of the world, Trend reports referring to the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers. The meeting, chaired by Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov, was attended by heads of the relevant government agencies. Discussions on measures to prevent the epidemic from entering Azerbaijan were held at the meeting. It was decided to carry out the following measures provided for such cases: - transition to enhanced mode at border crossing points; - mandatory thorough medical examination of all persons coming from China, in particular, epidemic zones, and taking them under control; - preparation of a list of food products from the high-risk category through which the virus may spread and strengthening control over these products in food markets; - creation of a hotline in health-care facilities; - enlightening the population about the virus and methods of combating it; - regular informing the population about the situation. The population has been informed that there are enough medical supplies in Azerbaijan required in such cases. Presently, there are no cases of infection with the mentioned virus in Azerbaijan. The situation regarding the populations healthcare is under Azerbaijans full control and there are no grounds for concern. A decision was made at the meeting to create a working group under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and with the participation of appropriate structures. The WHO relevant recommendations are taken into account, close contact is maintained with the Azerbaijani embassy in China and the Chinese embassy in Azerbaijan within the ongoing measures. The Azerbaijani embassy in China maintains constant contact with the Chinese state structures and the Azerbaijani citizens who are in China. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Greece plans to install a 'floating fence' in the sea to stop migrants reaching its islands from the nearby coast of Turkey. The 1.7-mile barrier will be put in place within the next three months after the government has found a private contractor to build it. The Defence Ministry announced the plans on a government procurement website and invited private firms to bid for the contract which it estimates will cost 500,000 euros (423,000). The 'floating fence' will be installed to prevent migrants such as these crossing the sea from Turkey. Pictured here are rescuers helping migrants to shore on the Greek island of Lesbos The 1.7-mile barrier will be put in place within the next three months after the government has found a private contractor to build it. It is not yet known where the barrier will be placed, but migrants have often used the route from the Turkish coast to the Greek islands in a bid to reach the EU A young boy stands outside a tent at a makeshift camp next to the overcrowded refugee camp of Moria, on the island of Lesbos, where 3,000 migrants have already arrived this year The plans for the netted barrier come after a surge in the number of migrants and refugees arriving on eastern Greek islands, including Lesbos, Samos and Chios where camps are severely overcrowded. It is not clear exactly where the barrier will be placed but a likely place would be along the coast of Lesbos where thousands of migrants, including 6,000 children are forced to live in squalor in an overcrowded refugee camp. Last week thousands of Greek protesters took to the streets on the islands demanding that other EU countries share the burden. The barrier would rise 50cms above the water and be designed to hold flashing lights, the submission said. Protesters wave Greek flags during a rally outside the Municipality of Mytilene, on the Aegean island of Lesbos last week where more than 3,000 migrants have already arrived this year A child rides a scooter next to piles of rubbish at a makeshift camp next to the refugee camp of Moria, on the Greek island of Lesbos last week The cost of the project includes four years of maintenance. The Greek Government said the 'floating barrier system' needs to be built 'with non-military specifications' and 'specific features for carrying out the mission of (maritime agencies) in managing the refugee crisis'. A Government official said: 'This contract process will be executed by the Defence Ministry but is for civilian use, a process similar to that used for the supply of other equipment for (camps) housing refugees and migrants.' Greece's six-month old centre-right Government has promised to take a tougher line on the migration crisis and plans to set up detention facilities for migrants denied asylum and to speed up deportations back to Turkey. The islands of Lesbos, Samos and Chios staged a general strike, shutting down shops and public services and rallying in central squares, many protesters waving Greek flags (pictured: thousands on the streets of Mytilene on the island of Lesbos in Greece last week) A man stands next top makeshift tents at the refugee camp in Moria, in the island of Lesbos Under a 2016 migration agreement between the European Union and Turkey, the Turkish Government was promised up to six billion euros (5.1 billion) to help stop the mass movement of migrants to Europe. Nearly 60,000 migrants and refugees made the crossing to the islands last year, nearly double the number recorded in 2018, according to data from the United Nations refugee Agency. Last week thousands of Greek protesters demanded asylum seekers be removed from their islands amid overcrowding and violence at the refugee camps. The islands of Lesbos, Samos and Chios staged a general strike, shutting down shops and public services and rallying in central squares, with protesters shouting: 'We want our islands back, we want our lives back.' The largest camp of Moria on Lesbos island, with a capacity for 2,840 people, hosts more than 19,000 asylum seekers. The overcrowding is equally severe on other islands, and rights groups and medical charities have repeatedly criticised the living conditions at the camps. The government announced plans in November to build larger camps on Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Kos and Leros, which currently host a total of nearly 42,000 migrants and refugees and where outbreaks of violence are frequent. The day of protest was organised by regional governors and mayors who plan to travel to Athens on Thursday to present their demands to the government. Nearly 75,000 people crossed illegally to European Union member Greece from Turkey in 2019, according to the U.N. refugee agency, an increase of nearly 50% from the previous year. Two young asylum-seekers have been fatally stabbed in brawls at the Moria camp this month. An 18-year-old Afghan girl was also seriously injured in a knife attack this week and remains in hospital. And three asylum-seekers in Greek custody have committed suicide in recent weeks. Poor sanitation, no hot water, lack of food, smoke from makeshift stoves and torrents of mud created by winter downpours have led to a surge in chronic diseases in children at the Moria camp on the Greek island of Lesbos. Pictured: A mother carries her child across a shabby bridge over piles of rubbish at the camp The camp on Lesbos has a safe area for children in the government-run side of the camp, but it is over-subscribed with fewer than 100 places available. Pictured: Children warm themselves around a camp fire in the rain 'We demand the immediate shutdown of Moria,' read a banner carried in the Lesbos demonstration. But the new camp plans have been strongly opposed by local officials, who want smaller facilities after hosting thousands of asylum seekers for the past five years. 'What we want is for people to be transferred to the mainland in greater numbers, for the camp to be phased out and closed, and for any new facility to be located far away from populated areas,' Yiannis Mastroyiannis, the leader of Moria's municipal council, told protesters at the main square on Lesbos. 'The people in this area have suffered enough.' Greece last year again became the main entry into Europe for migrants and refugees, many fleeing war or poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Syria. The UN refugee agency in 2019 recorded more than 59,000 arrivals by sea and more than 14,000 via the land border with Turkey. Already more than 3,000 have arrived so far this year. Only a fraction are allowed passage to the Greek mainland while the rest spend months in the camps, waiting for their asylum applications to be processed. The maker of Imperial Leather has pinned its hopes in the UK on a range of environmentally friendly soaps as it said that the second half of the year is likely to be better than a meek first six months. Revenue at PZ Cussons fell 3.1% over the first half to 293.3 million. On an adjusted basis, pre-tax profit dropped by 11.9% to 28 million. The company said it expects profit before tax to improve in the second half of the year, as long as the tough market does not worsen. It hopes that a range of refillable hand wash containers, and other products due to be launched later this year, can help the UK kick off again, stabilising its troubled business in the country. The group's adjusted results for the first half of the year were impacted by challenging market conditionsCaroline Silver, chair PZ Cussons said it had managed to grab market share in the UKs washing and bathing market in the last six months, despite a difficult trading market. The groups adjusted results for the first half of the year were impacted by challenging market conditions across our key geographies, said chair Caroline Silver. The company made an operating loss of around 600,000 in Africa after serious congestion around the port in Lagos, Nigeria, ate into its bottom line. The news comes just days before chief executive Alex Kanellis, who has been in the role for more than a quarter of a century, is set to step down. Ms Silver said that plans to appoint his successor are well advanced. Mr Kanellis leaves the business after its started shedding parts of operations in a bid to refocus on its core assets. Last year, it sold the Greek food-maker Minerva for 41 million, to a Luxenbourg-based investment company. Shares in the company pushed around 1.3% higher to 197.2p. Lime wants to clean up its e-scooters' reputation for being a pedestrian's nightmare by imploring riders to take their excursions off the sidewalk. This week, the company launched a pilot program in San Jose, California that uses on-board sensors to detect when a rider is using the scooter on the sidewalk and then sending a push notification to their phone asking them to stop. 'We began developing sidewalk detection over a year ago as a commitment to the safety of the communities we quickly became a part of,' Nick Shapiro, Limes Head of Trust and Safety, said in a statement. 'We know that micromobility can only be successful if riders and communities feel safe, and at Lime, were dedicated to advancing safety for all.' On the left is a picture showing how Lime may send riders a map of where they veered off course. On the right is a sample notification of how Lime will urge riders to ride on the street Lime says that it will use a mixture of data from on-board accelerometers and even sensors that judge vibrations caused by whatever surface the scooter is riding on to determine if a rider is taking a forbidden route. That data is then crunched by a 'sophisticated statistical' AI which the company claims can detect what surface a rider is on with 95 percent accuracy. Lime says it will only reach out to users who spent 50 percent more of their journey riding on the sidewalk and in the future will send riders a map of where exactly they rode their scooter out-of-bounds. The company's decision to introduce such technology to its increasingly popular brand of e-scooters follows mounting backlash against the startup's presence in major metro hubs. Lime scooters have come to be loathed by urbanites who complain that riders often drive dangerously on sidewalks, reaching up to 16 mph. Those negative feelings manifested on social media in 2018 with viral pictures of people throwing e-scooters, including those made by Lime, into garbage cans and into pools. Last year, electric scooters also drew scrutiny from municipalities across the country after reports spread of serious injuries that involved some riders flying over the handlebars. In Australia, some doctors warned against riding one of the scooters last year. Chair of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Trauma Committee Dr John Crozier even called for legislation liming the vehicles. 'We also urge that the safety of pedestrians and other road users is considered in any future decisions regarding the use of scooters as we have seen that the injuries are not isolated to scooter users alone,' he said last year. Residents in Los Angeles County were vandalizing electric scooters provided by companies Bird and Lyft in 2018 'Its great to see Lime answering our call to action, adopting sidewalk detection technology for riders,' said San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo. 'This innovative approach enhances San Joses micromobility and pushes the entire industry to make it safer for scooters and pedestrians to equitably share our streets.' Without the faith of regulators and the communities that Lime operates in, the company may struggle to correct its course. This month, Lime laid off 14 percent of its workforce. Wiles believes that Christians who are devoted to Jesus are immune to the virus Wiles blames 'sexual immorality' and 'filth on TVs and in movies' as being linked to the outbreak which has already killed 131 and infected more than 5,500 'My spirit bears witness that this is a genuine plague thats coming upon the Earth. And God is about to purge a lot of sin off this planet,' he said Pastor Rick Wiles says he believes the coronavirus was sent by God to purge sin A right-wing evangelical pastor has claimed the coronavirus is God's 'death angel' and says parents 'transgendering little children' and 'the filth on our TVs and our movies' are to blame for the outbreak. Christian Pastor Rick Wiles, who is the creator of the TruNews streaming channel, described China as having a 'godless communist government,' in an attempt to explain why the country had been hit so badly by the virus. He noted, 'plagues are one of the last steps of judgment' and warned Americans to 'get right with God.' The deadly coronavirus has left 131 people dead, with confirmed infections at around 5,568 across the world. Pastor Rick Wiles says he believes the coronavirus was sent by God to purge sin. 'My spirit bears witness that this is a genuine plague thats coming upon the Earth. And God is about to purge a lot of sin off this planet,' he said The virus has spread across China and to at least 16 countries globally. Five people have been confirmed to have the virus in the United States. All of those infected had all recently returned from Wuhan. The new coronavirus is thought to have emerged from illegally traded wildlife at a seafood market in Wuhan. On Tuesday, China agreed for WHO to send international experts to the country as soon as possible to help understand the virus and guide global response efforts. Wile addressed the deadly outbreak in his evening broadcast on Monday, saying: 'Look at the spiritual rebellion that is in this country, the hatred of God, the hatred of the Bible, the hatred of righteousness. A number of people posting on Twitter appeared to be appalled by Pastor Wiles' sentiments 'Just vile, disgusting people in this country now, transgendering little children, perverting them. Look at the rapes, and the sexual immorality, and the filth on our TVs and our movies. 'Folks, the Death Angel may be moving right now across the planet. This is the time to get right with God.' In comments that were first noted by Right Wing Watch, Wiles said that his 'spirit bears witness that this is a genuine plague that is coming upon the Earth, and God is about to purge a lot of sin off this planet.' The Pastor has previously called President Barack Obama a 'demon from Hell' and warned 'there's gonna be violence' if President Donald Trump is removed from office. In comments that have been described as anti-Semitic, he recently described President Trump's impeachment as 'a Jew coup' planned by 'a Jewish cabal'. People line up to receive free face masks to protect themselves against the Wuhan coronavirus which has killed TruNews was founded by Wiles as an online radio program in 1999 called Americas Hope. Wiles has a history of spreading conspiracy theories and warning of an imminent apocalypse. A former soldier and aspiring MP has confirmed he will challenge long-serving member Kevin Andrews, setting up a fierce battle for the prized eastern suburbs electorate. Melbourne barrister Keith Wolahan has submitted his nomination for the Menzies electorate in an attempt to overthrow Mr Andrews, as internal tensions reverberate throughout the Victorian Liberal Party. Nominations for preselections closed on Wednesday afternoon. Kevin Andrews will have to defend his seat from a challenge by a former soldier. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Mr Wolahan said he would challenge Mr Andrews, a former minister and prominent Liberal conservative, but declined to comment further due to party rules forbidding preselection candidates from talking to the media. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan.29 By Leman Zeynalova - Trend: In the case of joining the Southern Gas Corridor, Ukraine will be able to get Azerbaijani gas in the second or third phases of expansion of the corridors capacity, Ukraines Ministry of Energy and Environmental Protection told Trend. The ministry said that Ukraine is interested in diversification of natural gas supply routes and sources. "Moreover, we are interested in expanding the cooperation in arranging crude oil supply and are ready to consider the possibility of liquefied natural gas supplies from Azerbaijan to Ukraine," said the ministry. Ukraines Ministry of Energy and Environmental Protection and Azerbaijans Energy Ministry have worked out a draft memorandum of cooperation. "It is planned to hold a meeting of Ukraine-Azerbaijan working group on cooperation in energy sphere," said the ministry. The Southern Gas Corridor is one of the priority projects for the EU and envisages the transportation of 10 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas from the Caspian region through Georgia and Turkey to Europe. The launching ceremony of the first stage of the Southern Gas Corridor was held in Baku on May 29, 2018, while opening ceremony of TANAPs Phase 0 was held on June 12, 2018 in the Turkish city of Eskisehir. TANAP-Europe connection was opened on Nov.30 in Ipsala, Edirne, Turkey. Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) were connected on the Turkish-Greek border. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn The death toll from a new coronavirus in China rose sharply to 132 on Wednesday with nearly 1,500 new cases, heaping pressure on Beijing to control the disease as U.S. officials said the White House was weighing whether to suspend flights to the country. The White House is holding daily meetings on the outbreak and monitoring China-U.S. flights as a likely source of infections, sources briefed on the matter told Reuters, though it had decided against suspending air traffic. A senior Trump administration official said the administration had not asked airlines to suspend flights, after CNBC reported that the White House had told airline executives it was considering such as drastic move. Fears of the spreading virus have already pushed airlines around the world to reduce flights to China and global companies to restrict employee travel to the country, while sectors from mining to luxury goods have been shaken by concerns for global growth in the event of a worst-case pandemic. Chinas National Health Commission on Wednesday said the total number of deaths from the flu-like virus rose by 26 on Tuesday to 132, almost all in Hubei province which is under virtual lockdown, while the number of confirmed cases rose by 1,459 to a total of 5,974. Several countries are trying to evacuate their citizens from Wuhan, the city in Hubei at the centre of the epidemic. A U.S. government official who declined to be identified told Reuters a U.S. charter plane had departed from Wuhan earlier on Wednesday, without elaborating on the number of passengers on board. The U.S. Embassy in Beijing earlier said a chartered plane would pick up its consular staff on Wednesday. Australia said it would help some citizens leave Hubei and quarantine them on Christmas Island, a remote speck in the Indian Ocean best known for housing asylum seekers. New cases were reported around the world including Germany, where four people from the same company were infected after one of them contracted it from a colleague while visiting their workplace in China. The German cases raise concerns about the human-to-human spread of the virus which can be transmitted in droplets from coughs and sneezes and has an incubation period of up to 14 days. SCIENTISTS GROW VIRUS Known as 2019-nCoV, the newly identified coronavirus has created alarm because it is spreading quickly and there are still important unknowns surrounding it, such as its lethality and whether it is infectious before symptoms show. It emerged late last year in Wuhan, a major transportation hub and capital of central Hubei province with a population of 11 million people. China has since moved to lock down most of Hubei, with a population around the same as Italy. Health authorities believe the virus originated from an animal and have pointed to a seafood market in Wuhan where wildlife was traded illegally. A team of scientists in Australia said on Wednesday they had developed a lab-grown version of the coronavirus, the first to be recreated outside of China, in a breakthrough that could help combat the global spread of the disease. The researchers at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne said they would share the sample, which was grown from an infected patient, with the World Health Organization and laboratories around the world. Having the real virus means we now have the ability to actually validate and verify all test methods, and compare their sensitivities and specificities, the Doherty Institutes virus indentification laboratory head, Julian Druce, said in a statement. The virus has spread to more than a dozen countries and cases such as those in Germany show it is spreading through human contact and not only through travellers from China. The virus is a devil and we cannot let the devil hide, state television quoted Chinese President Xi Jinping said during a meeting with World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Beijing on Tuesday. China will strengthen international cooperation and welcomes the WHO participation in virus prevention... China is confident of winning the battle against the virus. Asian stock markets <.MIAPJ0000PUS> erased earlier gains on Wednesday with Hong Kong shares <.HSI> tumbling to a seven-week low as the surge in new cases fuelled fears about the economic impact of the virus.From France to Japan, governments were organising evacuations, while Hong Kong - scene of anti-China unrest for months - planned to suspend rail and ferry links with the mainland. United Airlines said it was suspending some flights between the United States and China for a week from Feb. 1 due to a significant decline in demand. The outbreak has forced extensive travel curbs in China, with many local officials trying to identify people who are from or have visited Hubei province, and some communities trying to exclude all outsiders. Some apartment blocks have forbid delivery drivers from entering, forcing them to drop off their parcels outside building gates. The European Commission said it would help fund two aircraft to fly EU citizens home, with 250 French nationals leaving on the first flight. A lawmaker of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has raised questions on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA, saying the country should not be divided on religious lines. I am from a village and I am speaking looking into the present circumstances of villages. First of all, either we should respect and follow Baba Bhim Rao Amedkars Constitution or tear it away. It has been enshrined in the Constitution that a division is not possible in the secular country on the basis of religion. Despite this the division is being effected. This proves a point that either you are with the Constitution or against it, BJP MLA Narayan Tripathi said in Bhopal on Tuesday. A poor man in village or urban area keeps on wandering due to want of information to get his Aadhar card made. Hence, collecting so many papers to get the citizenship paper is an impossible task, he further said. Tripathis remarks came on a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his government brought in the CAA to correct historical injustices and recalled the Nehru-Liaquat pact to assert that the law fulfills Indias old promise to religious minorities in neighbouring countries. But Tripathi said the country is facing civil conflict (griha kalah) because of the new law. People have stopped looking at each other. In my village Muslims used to give us respect and used to wish us every time we met but today they dont like to see us. In a country, village, home and locality which is affected by a civil conflict (grih kalah) peace is not possible over there. We talk of global brotherhood (Vasudhaiv kutumbkam) and unity but if we divide the society in the name of religion the country cant go ahead, thr BJP MLA said. He, however, said that this was his personal opinion and wished to convey it through media. Tripathi was with Samajwadi Party (SP) before he joined the BJP. Tripathi had embarrassed his party in July last year when he, along with another BJP MLA Sharad Kol, voted for a Congress government bill despite Opposition BJP abstaining from voting. After maintaining distance from the party for more than a couple of months, he showed up at the state BJP headquarters again in Bhopal in October while claiming he had never left the party. State Congress media in-charge Shobha Oza said, BJP MLA Narayan Tripathi exposed the BJPs communal agenda which is being pushed by the central government to divert the attention of people from its failure on all the fronts of governance. State BJP spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal said, The BJP MLA didnt speak against the party or party leadership. He has some confusion in his mind about a particular act. The party will try to allay it by apprising him of the correct information. A 35-year-old man wanted in a MCOCA case has been arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police, officials said on Wednesday. The accused, Ajay Mann alias Goli, is a resident of northwest Delhi's Khera Khurd village. He is a close aide of gangster Parvesh Mann and was carrying a reward of Rs 1 lakh for his arrest, they said. He has been involved in more than half-a-dozen cases of murder, attempt-to-murder, Arms Act and Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA Act), police said. A trap was laid at Khera Khurd village after police received inputs regarding the movements of Ajay Mann and he was arrested in the wee hours on Tuesday, said Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell). During interrogation, the accused disclosed that he was first arrested in a case of robbery in 2003 and since then he has remained active in carrying out crimes. In 2015, he joined the gang of Parvesh Mann and since then is his close aide and associate, the officer said. He has committed several heinous crimes along with Parvesh Mann and his other gang members, the officer said, adding, his previous involvements in crimes are being verified. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Keira Wright and Chayut Setboonsarng JAKARTA/BANGKOK (Reuters) - The colourful dances of Bali's annual Kintamani Festival have fallen victim to coronavirus -- and travel restrictions to halt its spread could prove costly for other places that rely on Chinese tourists. Promoted by the Indonesian island as a draw for Chinese holidaymakers, the Feb. 8 festival to celebrate the marriage of an ancient king of Bali to a Chinese princess has been called off in anticipation of a collapse in visitor numbers. In other Asian destinations, too, fear of the virus is accompanied by worries that business is about to disappear. "Restaurants, tourist attractions and small businesses in the villages will be affected," said Ketut Ardana, a business owner and vice-chairman of the Bali Tourism Board. "It will have a big impact on everyone." With a growing area of China in lockdown to try to stop the spread of the virus and overseas group tours banned, he said Bali had already seen nearly 10,000 tourist cancellations. Just weeks after the disease emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan, it has already infected more than 4,500 people and killed at least 106. Thailand, the top destination for China's holidaymakers, forecast that Chinese tourist numbers would fall by as much as 2 million this year from 11 million in 2019. "If they close China, we will die," complained Teerawat Buakaw, 33, who sells clothes at a Big C store popular with Chinese tourists in Bangkok, the world's most-visited city because of its Chinese tourist numbers. "All the shops around here will go. What will we do?" China's boom in outbound tourism has created a pattern of international travel unprecedented in human history and driven the growth of businesses to serve Chinese travellers around the world. From a trickle in the 1980s, Chinese tourist numbers grew to estimates of more than 160 million in 2019. Coronavirus may have pulled the plug. Story continues VULNERABLE "Among the most vulnerable sectors to the Wuhan virus epidemic are the Asia-Pacific travel and tourism sectors," wrote Rajiv Biswas, Asia Pacific Chief Economist at IHS Markit. "The Thai economy is particularly vulnerable to the new Chinese travel restrictions." Thai stocks fell further on Tuesday to a new three-year low after slumping as much as 3% on Monday. Thailand earned an estimated $18 billion from Chinese tourists in 2019. Other countries popular with Chinese tourists include Japan, with nearly 10 million visitors, and Vietnam with around 5 million. The Tourism Authority of Thailand said it hoped other countries would make up for the lack of Chinese tourists, but Thailand must also contend with having had more coronavirus infections than anywhere outside China -- 14 so far. Luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent Thailand Ltd., which has no Chinese customers, said it had not had cancellations yet. Elsewhere in the region, immigration authorities in the Philippines said they would stop issuing tourist visas on arrival to Chinese nationals to try to keep the country free of the virus -- hurting a growing business there. Malaysian authorities said their "Visit Malaysia 2020" plan to boost tourist numbers by 5 million to 30 million would take a jolt, but they still hoped to make up the numbers. Malaysia had nearly 5 million Chinese visitors last year. Hoteliers in the beach playground of Bali hoped the same. China has become an ever bigger source of tourists for them -- their number regularly surpassing that of the traditional Australia hordes. "Bali only has tourism. If there are no tourists, it is difficult for us," Ardana said. "We hope that other countries will still be coming." (Additional reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng, Orathai Sriring and Kay Johnson in Bangkok; Krishna N. Das and Liz Lee in Kuala Lumpur; Editing by Catherine Evans) The Conversation How do you support people forever attached to a landscape after an inferno tears through their homelands: decimating native food sources, burning through ancient scarred trees and destroying ancestral and totemic plants and animals? The fact is, the experience of Aboriginal peoples in the fire crisis engulfing much of Australia is vastly different to non-Indigenous peoples. Colonial legacies of eradication, dispossession, assimilation and racism continue to impact the lived realities of Aboriginal peoples. Added to this is the widespread exclusion of our peoples from accessing and managing traditional homelands. These factors compound the trauma of these unprecedented fires. As Australia picks up the pieces from these fires, its more important than ever to understand the unique grief Aboriginal peoples experience. Only through this understanding can effective strategies be put in place to support our communities to recover. Seeing people start to ask what is going on in Australia?! Ongoing colonisation, thats whats going on. This land was nurtured in reciprocal relationships with First Nations peoples for some 120,000 + years. THIS is the result of 200 odd years of extractive yt invasion. Amy Thunig (@AmyThunig) January 5, 2020 Perpetual grief Aboriginal peoples live with a sense of perpetual grief. It stems from the as-yet-unresolved matter of the invasion and subsequent colonisation of our homelands. While there are many instances of colonial trauma inflicted upon Aboriginal peoples including the removal of children and the suppression of culture, ceremony and language dispossession of Country remains paramount. Dispossessing people of their lands is a hallmark of colonisation. Australian laws have changed to partially return Aboriginal peoples lands and waters, and Aboriginal people have made their best efforts to advocate for more effective management of Country. But despite this, the majority of our peoples have been consigned to the margins in managing our homelands. Aboriginal people have watched on and been ignored as homelands have been mismanaged and neglected. Oliver Costello is chief executive of Firesticks Alliance, an Indigenous-led network that aims to re-invigorate cultural burning. As he puts it: Since colonisation, many Indigenous people have been removed from their land, and their cultural fire management practices have been constrained by authorities, informed by Western views of fire and land management. In this way, settler-colonialism is not historical, but a lived experience. And the growing reality of climate change adds to these anxieties. Its also important to recognise that our people grieve not only for our communities, but for our non-human relations. Aboriginal peoples cultural identity comes from the land. Read more: Our land is burning, and western science does not have all the answers As such, Aboriginal cultural lives and livelihoods continue to be tied to the land, including landscape features such as waterholes, valleys and mountains, as well as native animals and plants. The decimation caused by the fires deeply impacts the existence of Aboriginal peoples and in the most severely hit areas, threatens Aboriginal groups as distinct cultural beings attached to the land. As The Guardians Indigenous affairs editor Lorena Allam recently wrote: Like you, Ive watched in anguish and horror as fire lays waste to precious Yuin land, taking everything with it lives, homes, animals, trees but for First Nations people it is also burning up our memories, our sacred places, all the things which make us who we are. For Aboriginal people then, who live with the trauma of dispossession and neglect and now, the trauma of catastrophic fire, our grief is immeasurably different to that of non-Indigenous people. Bushfire recovery must consider culture As we come to terms with the fires devastation, Australia must turn its gaze to recovery. The field of community recovery offers valuable insights into how groups of people can come together and move forward after disasters. Read more: New research turns Tasmanian Aboriginal history on its head. The results will help care for the land But an examination of research and commentary in this area reveals how poorly non-Indigenous Australia (and indeed, the international field of community recovery) understands the needs of Aboriginal people. The definition of community is not explicitly addressed, and thus is taken as a single socio-cultural group of people. But research in Australia and overseas has demonstrated that for Aboriginal people, healing from trauma whether historical or contemporary is a cultural and spiritual process and inherently tied to land. The culture-neutral standpoint in community recovery research as yet does not acknowledge these differences. Without considering the historical, political and cultural contexts that continue to define the lives of Aboriginal peoples, responses to the crisis may be inadequate and inappropriate. Resilience in the face of ongoing trauma The long-term effects of colonisation has meant Aboriginal communities are (for better or worse) accustomed to living with catastrophic changes to their societies and lands, adjusting and adapting to keep functioning. Experts consider these resilience traits as integral for communities to survive and recover from natural disasters. In this way, the resilience of Aboriginal communities fashioned through centuries of colonisation, coupled with adequate support, means Aboriginal communities in fire-affected areas are well placed to not only recover, but to do so quickly. Read more: Australia can expect far more fire catastrophes. A proper disaster plan is worth paying for This is a salient lesson for agencies and other non-government organisations entrusted to lead the disaster recovery process. The community characteristics that enable effective and timely community recovery, such as close social links and shared histories, already exist in the Aboriginal communities affected. 11 I hope itll recover. I hope that Indigenous knowledge & expertise takes precedence in the forward management of natural environments. This requires Indigenous people & systems leading the process, not being tacked on, or our knowledges excerpted & cropped into failing models pic.twitter.com/h86RJZHzzM Vanessa Cavanagh (@nessscavvv) January 7, 2020 Moving forward The agency in charge of leading the recovery in bushfire-affected areas must begin respectfully and appropriately. And they must be equipped with the basic knowledge of our peoples different circumstances. Its important to note this isnt special treatment. Instead, it recognises that policy and practice must be fit-for-purpose and, at the very least, not do further harm. If agencies and non-government organisations responsible for leading the recovery from these fires arent well-prepared, they risk inflicting new trauma on Aboriginal communities. The National Disability Insurance Agency offers an example of how to engage with Aboriginal people in culturally sensitive ways. This includes thinking about Country, culture and community, and working with each communitys values and customs to establish respectful, trusting relationships. Read more: How should leaders respond to disasters? Be visible, offer real comfort and don't force handshakes The new bushfire recovery agency must use a similar strategy. This would acknowledge both the historical experiences of Aboriginal peoples and our inherent strengths as communities that have not only survived, but remain connected to our homelands. In this way, perhaps the bushfire crisis might have some positive longer-term outcomes, opening new doors to collaboration with Aboriginal people, drawing on our strengths and values and prioritising our unique interests. Bhiamie Williamson is a Research Associate and PhD Candidate, at Australian National University. He is affiliated with the ACT Bushfire Council. Jessica Weir is a Senior Research Fellow at Western Sydney University She receives funding from the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Council. Vanessa Cavanagh is an Associate Lecturer, School of Geography and Sustainable Communities at theUniversity of Wollongong. She receives funding from The NSW Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub. She is affiliated with Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Join the Conversation After more than 40 years at Mayo Clinic, a well-known doctor is leaving to take a job with a German medical device maker. Cardiologist Dr. David Hayes, who started at Mayo Clinicin 1979 and has served as medical director of the Mayo Clinic Care Networkfor many years, is taking the position of chief medical officer for Biotronik Inc. Biotronik is a med-tech company that creates cardiovascular and endovascular devices like stents. It's based in Berlin, with U.S. offices in New York City and Lake Oswego, Ore. Mayo Clinic and Hayes have a history of working with Biotronik on clinical studies and product development. In the announcement of the hire, Hayes is quoted: "This is an opportunity for me to drive change and create positive patient impact from a very different perspective ... Were ready to challenge norms and shake things up. Cardiology is an area of healthcare that should always be evolving and advancing. Were making sure that happens." ADVERTISEMENT In his new role, Hayes will oversee the development of cardiovascular devices with "a focus on advancing unique, proven innovations that help physicians and health systems deliver on their commitment to patient care." Hayes was not available Tuesday to discuss the timeline of the transition. He is married to Mayo Clinic professor of cardiovascular medicine Dr. Sharonne Hayes , who also serves as the clinic's director of diversity and inclusion. Biz buzz It smells like more coffee is brewing for Northwest Rochester. Moka, which is known for its two coffee and tea drive-thrus in north and south Rochester, as well as a sit-down cafe downtown, has filed for some building and sign permits along West Circle Drive. It looks like the caffeine purveyor is likely to be a tenant in the First Alliance Credit Union 's under-construction branch at 2483 Commerce Drive NW. The original plans for the "Commons" branch describe it as "a new business center to house five tenants. One tenant will be First Alliance Credit Union, which will have two drive-thru lanes on the south side. Another tenant is anticipated to be a bistro." If Moka is settling in with First Alliance, that will put it in the stretch that includes Five West , Smoak Barbecue , Tap House West , as well as franchises like McDonald'sand Dunkin' Donuts . ADVERTISEMENT I should have more details soon. Representative image Rahul V Kumar Famous American economist Milton Friedman once commented that one of the greatest mistakes is to judge policies and programmes by their intentions rather than their results. Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal has come up with a proposal ahead of the Union Budget to reduce the quota of liquor that can be purchased from airport duty free shops. From the earlier quota of two bottles a traveller can purchase while coming to India, the new proposal plans to cut it to one bottle per traveller. This has been suggested at a time when the Association of Private Airport Operators (APAO) has requested the government increase the quota to four bottles per passenger. Goyal has further argued that India cannot afford to be liberal when it comes to liquor and cigarettes sales. This statement smacks of the governments patronising nature when it comes to deciding what should be consumed and by whom. The logic behind this quota reduction is based on two arguments. The first is that liquor forms part of approximately 200 items that the government considers as unnecessary imports or non-essentials. Reducing the import of these items will hence narrow the trade deficit. The second is the usual argument that liquor and cigarette are sin goods that should be banned. Calculations show that a cut in duty free liquor imports will save a meagre 0.01 per cent of Indias total import bill. With a sufficiently large foreign exchange reserves of approximately $461 billion, the possibility of immediate trade deficits affecting the economy is also out of question. On the other hand, the fact that liquor and cigarettes account for approximately 75-80 per cent of the sales in duty free shops indicates the possibility of huge revenue loss from reduced sales. Estimates also indicate that the revenue loss in duty free sales will have to be compensated with a hike in aeronautical charges including landing and parking charges. This in turn is likely to be transferred to the customers with higher passenger fare, which is undoubtedly bad economics. Governments have always acted naive when it comes to dealing with alcohol. In India, Article 47 of the Constitution has time and again been used as a justification to impose partial or complete ban on intoxicating substances. However, the contributions from the sale of such substances have been significant to state coffers. The liquor market in India is an imperfect market with different federal states having discretionary policies and measures to control or promote the business. In addition, the tax laws governing the market are also significantly different. This imperfect competitive structure of the industry has often led to distortions that have proved costly for the consumers. Consumers either end up paying a higher price or often resort to cheaper and adulterated brands. The State is aware that liquor can be brewed by anyone and this is one of the prime reasons why the manufacture and sale of liquor has been controlled by it. However, government control of the industry and the restrictive policies have limited the choices available to the average consumer. It should be noted that foreign liquor brands operate in a competitive environment ensuring quality and attracting consumers. Less availability of such brands limit the choices of the low-income groups. Cross-shopping is possible and affordable for higher-income group travellers who can access the same products at a higher price from illegal markets or while travelling outside India. On the other hand, low-income travellers will have to switch to other cheaper products available in the local market. If the government feels that it cannot be liberal when it comes to liquor, it needs to justify further the proposal to restrict imports. For instance, more clarity is required on what will be the health cost of an additional unit of liquor bottle procured from duty free stores. How big or small will it be compared to a lot of other health hazards faced by citizens? Moreover, history shows that reducing availability has not reduced the consumption of liquor. If so, the words of the minister needs to be weighed for its actual intentions. Economists, such as Ludwig von Misses, have warned us of the consequences of politicians becoming judges of individual welfare. According to him, what starts as a well-intentioned judgement to protect individuals from the harmful effects of their own choices would finally lead to judging everything that individuals consume. The policy of sin tax adopted across the world shows us that nothing is off limits to government intervention. However, the good intentions of the government can sometimes turn out to be bad economics and bad politics. It has a brilliant twist: The Palestinians do not have to say yes or no for four years. That means their bottom-line response would not come until the very end of Mr. Trumps next term, if he is re-elected. In the meantime, Israel would freeze settlements in the territory that Mr. Trump has set aside for the Palestinians, much of it areas the Israelis have little interest in. That proviso defers all the hard questions for several years of negotiations with their inevitable breakdowns and crises. But it gives Mr. Trump the campaign-trail talking point that he has fulfilled a 2016 promise and proposed an actual solution, rather than just a process. The proposal, of course, helps Mr. Netanyahu by moving the goal posts. The status of Jerusalem is set out in the Trump document, rather than being a subject of negotiation. And while past presidents lectured Mr. Netanyahu about his creation of Jewish settlements in territories that are subject to negotiation, Mr. Trumps plan makes them a permanent feature. To critics, that is the fatal flaw. Senator Christopher S. Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, who was among the lawmakers briefed by Mr. Kushner at the White House, called it a total abandonment of decades of U.S. Middle East policy. He was referring to the longtime American support for a deal that would include only modest adjustments to the Israeli borders drawn in 1967, the year of the Arab-Israeli War, and by a process created in the Oslo Accords, which began in 1993 and largely ended with the failed summit in 2000 at Camp David. The premise of those talks was that the Israelis and Palestinians would set up a complex process and inch their way toward agreements on borders, settlements, political rights and the withdrawal of the Israeli military from Palestinian lands. There were years of talks, stalemates, road maps to peace, collapsed negotiations and intifadas. Mr. Trump, the disrupter, has made it clear he does not believe that approach would work. On Tuesday, he noted that every president since Lyndon B. Johnson had tried and failed to negotiate a peace deal. Always the real-estate mogul, Mr. Trump has declared that he is more interested in working with existing facts on the ground than on creating processes. So his plan, three years in the making, is less about future negotiations and more about cementing what exists today and making deals around the edges. If the Palestinians take it, he suggested, riches would follow. There would be a million new jobs, he said, and poverty would be cut in half. Mr. Trump has offered a similar incentive to the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said that no force can stop the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and that if Narendra Modi is Lord Ram, Amit Shah is Lord Hanuman who do not fear any threats. "No force in the world can stop the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act. Narendra Modi is a Prime Minister who does not fear threats. He is a lion. If Narendra Modi is Lord Ram, then Amit Shah is Lord Hanuman," Shivraj said while addressing a public meeting at Matiala constituency here. "Sharjeel Imam is arrested now and whoever talks like him will get jailed. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi should tell people if they read the amended citizenship Act and where it is written that Indian Muslims will be thrown out of the country. They are only spreading rumours for votes. Congress is helping those people who want to break this country, which we will not bear this," he added. The CAA grants citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian refugees 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.) ABC News, FILE(NEW YORK) -- Alan Dershowitz, a key member of President Donald Trumps legal team amid the ongoing impeachment trial, joined ABCs The View on Wednesday, arguing that his job is to defend the constitution, "not any particular president." "I'm here to defend the constitution, not any particular president," he said. "I'm here to defend future presidents, as well as the current president." His arguments against impeachment have largely been constitutional during the Senate trial, centered on the idea that the two articles of impeachment brought forth by the House against Trump -- "abuse of power" and "obstruction of Congress" -- are not impeachable offenses. Dershowitz, a celebrity lawyer and Harvard emeritus, told the hosts he would have made the same argument regardless of the president on trial. "I would have been making exactly the same argument if Hilary Clinton was elected president and if she had been impeached for abuse of power or obstruction of Congress," he said, adding "the framers rejected terms just like that. They rejected maladministration as a potential term. And maladministration is virtually the same as abuse of power." News broke on Sunday of an unpublished manuscript by former national security adviser John Bolton detailing a conversation between him and Trump about the nearly $400 million in aid to Ukraine being held up pending an investigation into the president's political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. The New York Times article in a way changed the conversation on whether witnesses should be allowed on the Senate floor during the impeachment trial -- and what Bolton, if subpoenaed, would say has been the source of much speculation. When asked about the news, Dershowitz told The View hosts that he won't argue against witnesses, but said Bolton's testimony still wouldn't hold up against the president. "Nothing in the Bolton revelations, even if true, would rise to the level of an abuse of power or an impeachable offense," he said, adding that House Democrats can't change that just by using words like "quid pro quo" and "personal benefit." Bolton and other current and former White House aides have been barred by the White House from testifying, although Bolton said he would testify under subpoena. "The one thing that's very clear is that if witnesses are permitted on one side, they have to be permitted on both sides," Dershowitz said in an interview on This Week with George Stephanopoulos on Jan. 19. "And if witnesses are permitted, it will delay the trial considerably, because the president will invoke executive privilege as to people like John Bolton that will have to go to the court and we'll have to have a resolution of that before the trial continues." Talking over each other and Dershowitz, the hosts also pressed the lawyer on why he seems to be the only constitutional scholar arguing that Trump's conduct wasn't impeachable. "I made the constitutional arguments. My sole role in the case was to argue constitutional," he said, later adding, "It is not treason, bribery [or] high crimes and misdemeanors ... Congress is not above the law." He further argued the point he made during the Trump legal team's opening arguments on the Senate floor, saying the articles brought forth by the House trial managers were too "vague" and "open-ended." "This is the key point in this impeachment case, please understand what I'm arguing, is that purely noncriminal conduct, including abuse of power and obstruction of Congress are outside the range of impeachable offenses," Dershowitz said on the floor Monday evening, adding "The framers did intend to limit the criteria for impeachment to criminal-like conduct akin to treason and bribery." Dershowitz has not said the president's conduct in Ukraine was right or wrong -- but did say it hasn't been declared criminal. Despite the Government Accountability Office report on Jan. 16 concluding that Trump did violate the law by withholding the aid, Dershowitz argued that Congress doesn't have the "jurisdiction to conclude its a crime." "The president conducts foreign policy," Dershowitz said. " He has the right to withhold funds." Dershowitz, who was also on the legal team during impeachment trial of former President Bill Clinton, was questioned by "The View" hosts on why he changed his mind on impeachment. "It certainly doesnt have to be a crime," Dershowitz said in a 1998 interview on CNN of the trial. "If you have somebody who completely corrupts the office of president, who abuses trust and who poses great danger to our liberty, you dont need a technical crime." Host Whoopi Goldberg brought up what he said during the interview, pointing out what she called the "only difference" between the two trials. "The only difference between then and now is that your side was flipping out for the same reasons the democrats were flipping out," she said. "The difference is one president followed the law and sat down and did what he was supposed to do." Dershowitz said the issue during Clinton's trial was not whether or not you needed a crime to impeach a president, but "whether or not Clinton had committed a high crime." Goldberg continued to question his wavering opinion, saying, "I have not seen any briefs about your change of heart when it comes to impeachment." "Academics change their minds on the basis of research," Dershowitz responded without flinching. "I didnt do it on a partisan basis." Host Meghan McCain also questioned the lawyer about his connection as a lawyer to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who committed suicide in his cell in August. Dershowitz said he was candid about their connection when Trump expressed interest in bringing him on as a defense lawyer. "I told him this [connection] would be raised, and he should seriously consider if he wants me as his lawyer," Dershowitz said. The announcement of Dershowitz joining Trumps legal team came as a surprise to some. "While Professor Dershowitz is non-partisan when it comes to the Constitution -- he opposed the impeachment of President Bill Clinton and voted for Hillary Clinton -- he believes the issues at stake go to the heart of our enduring Constitution," his office said in a statement. "He is participating in this impeachment trial to defend the integrity of the Constitution and to prevent the creation of a dangerous constitutional precedent." However, Trump told his associates he wanted a "high profile" legal team that could perform on TV, explaining why Dershowitz and former independent counsel Kenneth Starr both ended up on the team. Although critics argue Dershowitz statements from the past contradict his stance on impeachment now, Dershowitz continued to defend himself in a previous statement to ABC News. "Thats still my position. It has to be criminal -- like, akin to treason or bribery," he said of impeachment. "Not abuse or obstruction." Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Passengers arrive at Heathrow Airport in London after the last British Airways flight from China touched down in the UK following an announcement that the airline was suspending all flights to and from mainland China with immediate effect amid the escalating coronavirus crisis. Steve Parsons/PA Wire Foreign governments flew their citizens out of the epicentre of China's coronavirus outbreak on Wednesday, as the number of deaths jumped to 133 and the World Health Organization voiced "grave concern" about person-to-person spread in three other countries. The WHO said its Emergency Committee would reconvene behind closed doors on Thursday to decide whether the rapid spread of the new virus from China now constitutes a global emergency. "In the last few days the progress of the virus especially in some countries, especially human-to-human transmission, worries us," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference in Geneva, naming Germany, Vietnam and Japan. "Although the numbers outside China are still relatively small, they hold the potential for a much larger outbreak." Expand Close Passengers wear mask to prevent a new coronavirus outbreak, as they wait for a Mass Transit Railway (MTR) subway train in Hong Kong, China, January 29, 2020. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Passengers wear mask to prevent a new coronavirus outbreak, as they wait for a Mass Transit Railway (MTR) subway train in Hong Kong, China, January 29, 2020. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu There have been 6,065 cases of the flu-like virus in 15 countries worldwide - all but around 70 in China - according to the latest WHO figures. All the deaths so far have been in China, where the National Health Commission said there had been 132 fatalities as of end-Tuesday. Another death was reported in Sichuan province on Wednesday. The situation remained "grim and complex", said Chinese President Xi Jinping, who on Tuesday had vowed to defeat the "devil" virus. U.S. President Donald Trump said he had spoken to Xi and his administration was working closely with China on containing the outbreak. Some major airlines suspended flights to China, and a senior economist predicted a major impact on growth. The WHO's panel of 16 independent experts twice last week declined to declare an international emergency, but will re-evaluate the situation on Thursday. "We are at an important juncture in this event. We believe these chains of transmission can still be interrupted," said Mike Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO's Health Emergencies Programme. Ryan also praised China's response, saying: "They are taking extraordinary measures in the face of what is an extraordinary challenge." Expand Close Passengers wear masks at Hong Kong West Kowloon High Speed Train Station Terminus, before temporary closing, following the coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong, China, January 29, 2020. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Passengers wear masks at Hong Kong West Kowloon High Speed Train Station Terminus, before temporary closing, following the coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong, China, January 29, 2020. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu STREETS DESERTED In many Chinese cities, streets were largely deserted. Tourist attractions were closed, while Starbucks coffee shops required people to have their temperatures taken and to wear masks. "It's my first time here in Asia, I feel very unlucky," said Brazilian tourist Amanda Lee, 23, cutting short a trip. "I couldn't even see the places I wanted, like the Great Wall." Almost all the deaths so far have been in the central province of Hubei, home to about 60 million people and now under virtual lockdown. The virus emerged last month in a live wild animal market in the provincial capital Wuhan. "I was extremely worried that I was stuck there," said Takeo Aoyama, who arrived in Tokyo on a chartered plane carrying 206 Japanese out of Wuhan as some governments began evacuating their citizens. The United States flew about 210 Americans out of Wuhan, to be screened several times on arrival in California. France said a first flight of French nationals would leave on Wednesday night and Britain said it would put 200 citizens on a charter plane on Thursday. Canada was also organising evacuations. Expand Close Passengers wear masks at Hong Kong West Kowloon High Speed Train Station Terminus, before temporary closing, following the coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong, China, January 29, 2020. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Passengers wear masks at Hong Kong West Kowloon High Speed Train Station Terminus, before temporary closing, following the coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong, China, January 29, 2020. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu The virus is weighing heavily on the world's second-biggest economy, with companies cutting corporate travel to China and tourists cancelling trips. Various airlines are cutting flights, from British Airways and Lufthansa to Tanzania's national carrier that postponed maiden flights. A government economist said the crisis could cut China's first quarter growth by one point to 5% or lower as the crisis hits sectors from mining to luxury goods. Hong Kong stocks took a beating on the first day of trading after the Lunar New Year break. Casino and financial stocks led the Hang Seng index 2.5% lower to a seven-month trough. "In our view, the worst is yet to come," securities firm Nomura said, warning of a severe, near-term blow to China's economy. 'LESS DEADLY THAN SARS' But in a potentially major step towards finding a vaccine, scientists in Australia said they had developed a lab-grown version of the virus, the first recreated outside China. The researchers at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity said they would share the sample, grown from an infected patient, with the WHO and global laboratories in the hope of hastening immunisation and detection. The number of cases of the new virus in China now exceeds the 5,327 that were infected with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which also originated in China and killed about 800 people globally in 2002 and 2003. While some experts believe the new strain, known as "2019-nCoV", is not as deadly as SARS, alarm has grown over its rapid spread and many unknown attributes. "There have been more cases in China, but so far with a lower death rate than the SARS outbreak," said Michael Head, a health researcher at Britain's University of Southampton. Like other respiratory infections, the new virus is spread by droplets from coughs and sneezes, with an incubation time between one and 14 days. Donald Trump has applauded Mike Pompeo after the secretary of state was accused of bullying a prominent female journalist. The US presidents comments, which garnered laughter and some claps from the audience, were made while he announced the administrations plans for peace in the Middle East. Mr Trump made the remarks after praising Mr Pompeo, who gained a standing ovation from those attending the event. The president said: Whoa. That was very impressive, Mike. That reporter couldnt have done too good a job on you yesterday. I think you did a good job on her actually. Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Show all 18 1 /18 Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian protesters burn pictures of US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a demonstration in the West Bank against the expected peace plan proposal AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan US President and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announce Trump's Middle East peace plan in the White House AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Reuters Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Reuters Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AP The remarks come after Mary Louise Kelly, a well-known broadcaster who hosts All Things Considered on National Public Radio (NPR), said Mr Pompeo had launched into an expletive-filled tirade at her in his private living room in the state department. Ms Kelly alleges Mr Pompeo yelled and swore after she used an interview to press him about his involvement in the Ukraine scandal at the core of the impeachment investigation of Mr Trump. Mr Pompeo is reported to have then requested aides to get a blank map before asking Ms Kelly, who has a masters degree in European Studies from Cambridge, to locate Ukraine. The reporter, who is also a crime fiction writer, said she was able to situate Ukraine on the map. Mr Pompeo released a statement on Saturday which accused Ms Kelly of breaking the basic rules of journalism and decency and claimed the reporter said the post-interview conversation would be off the record. The White House official also claimed Ms Kelly had gestured to Bangladesh rather than Ukraine. But Ms Kelly insisted her meeting with Mr Pompeo after carrying out the recorded interview had not been decided to be off the record. Emails exchanged prior to the interview which were cited by the Washington Post reveal Ms Kelly openly set out the fact Ukraine would be discussed. On Monday, Michele Kelemen, a prominent NPR reporter who is the non-profit media outlets diplomatic correspondent, was blocked from travelling with Mr Pompeo and other journalists to Eastern Europe despite having previously been allowed to accompany him. Mr Trump waded into the row over the weekend and lent his support to remarks which branded the prestigious independent station, which garners 120 million monthly listeners, a big-government, Democrat party propaganda operation and asked: Why does NPR still exist? The president argued this was a very good question!. New Delhi, Jan 29 : A sharp decline in the economic activity in the country hurt the circle rates and hence the compensation given to farmers during the land acquisition for the Rs 30,000 crore mega airport in Greater Noida fell, B.N. Singh, District Magistrate, G.B.Nagar said on Wednesday. Singh was addressing the media after the final stage of land acquisition for the first phase of proposed mega airport in Greater Noida was completed earlier this week, albeit on a serious note, as some land-owners protested lower compensation for their land. "Economic slowdown hurt the circle rates in areas where the land parcels were acquired for the development of the airport. However, we made sure we give the best price to the farmers," Sing said. On the protests, B.N. Singh said: "A group of farmers had earlier approached the High Court, but the court had already said it found no merit in the writ petitions; and it was dismissed." Singh said he conducted many public meetings to convince the farmers. However, farmers claim the region was recently deemed as semi-urban, attracting lower compensation for land, while the area has been traditionally recognised as rural for many years. With the district administration not agreeing to the demand for higher land price, farmers resorted to agitation on Monday. A group of about 50 farmers allegedly turned violent and threw stones at officials, including the Sub- Divisional Magistrate. MEXICO CITY For Mexico, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, an updated version of the North American Free Trade Agreement, is certainly better than having President Trump scrap the pact altogether, as he threatened to do in 2017. Beyond the debate about whether the agreement, which was finally approved by Congress recently and is to be signed into law by Mr. Trump today, has more pluses or minuses for Mexico, the real question is whether it can truly become a powerful lever for the countrys long awaited modernization. At a cost, it could. The U.S.M.C.A. will put an end to the uncertainty that has rattled the Mexican economy since Mr. Trump became the Republican presidential candidate in 2016. Rules of trade, investment and intellectual property as well as dispute settlement mechanisms are enshrined in an international covenant, and not subject to the Mexican governments whims. Most importantly, the labor and environmental provisions established in the pact will push Mexico to modernize its economy, work force and institutions over the next decade or so. Rapid-response dispute-settlement mechanisms, international arbitration, the deployment of American so-called labor and environmental attaches in Mexico and placing the burden of proof on the party that is said to violate the agreement not on the victim may insure that Mexican workers will enjoy rights that they have never known in real life. The rules set out in the agreement include provisions for free elections by secret ballot for unions and their leadership, public posting of labor contracts on which union members are free to vote, multiple unions in each plant and transparency and accountability in union business. Couldnt Mexico achieve all of this on its own? The experience of the last century suggests otherwise. The agreement may be the equivalent of what the European Economic Community, the precursor to the European Union, meant militarily, socially and economically for countries like Spain and Portugal more than 30 years ago. In addition to labor rights, U.S.M.C.A. also lays out environmental regulations, although its silence on climate change is not encouraging, which several Democratic senators in the United States pointed out in voting against it. Just 8% of those who rented in Dublin's Docklands last year were Irish. Rents in the business hub are 20% higher than the Dublin average and are expected to go up again by 4% this year. Turkey criticizes Belgium for protecting PKK terrorists Turkish Foreign Ministry in a statement said that the verdict blocks prosecution of YPG/PKK terrorists supports terrorism. Turkey on Wednesday slammed a court ruling in Belgium blocking the prosecution of 36 suspects linked to the terrorist group YPG/PKK. "BELGIUM'S HYPOCRISY ENCOURAGES TERRORISM" A Belgian Supreme Court ruling upholding a 2010 decision not to prosecute YPG/PKK-linked suspects amounts to an explicit attempt to undermine the law, said a Turkish Foreign Ministry statement. The ruling "exonerates a terrorist organization with ideological motives"and is especially egregious "as it comes from a country that presumes to lecture Turkey on the rule of law," said the statement. The ruling amounts to clear support for the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist group by Turkey and the EU and is responsible for the death of over 40,000 Turkish citizens, including civilians, children, and even infants, said the ministry. The court decision is based on the misunderstanding that even if a terror group massacres people in other countries, there is no problem if it launches no attacks in my country, said the statement. "It is an example of hypocrisy; ignores the fact that terrorism poses threats to all nations and encourages other terrorist organizations," the ministry added. The ministry said the ruling is based on political rather than legal criteria and contains grave contradictions. The Belgian decision is inconsistent with the acquis communautaire of the EU which Belgium hosts as a founding member," and poses an obstacle for Belgium fulfilling its international counter-terrorism obligations in relation, it added. Launches 10 new innovation driven products in Advanced Imaging modalities and Critical Care & Life Support segment, at Arab Health 2020 conference in Dubai Trivitron Healthcare launches 10 new innovation-driven products in Advanced Imaging modalities and Critical Care & Life Support segment, at Arab Health 2020 conference in Dubai. The new products launched include Elite Flat Panel Digital C-arm with motorized movements, SonoRad V10 Color Doppler Ultrasound System, Breast Imaging solutions, Ventilators, Dialysis systems & consumables, Modular OT solutions, Monitors, ECG, Syringe pumps and Anesthesia systems. Kiran Medical Systems, the radiology division of Trivitron Healthcare, has been a frontrunner in research and development of advanced imaging modalities and with the launch of Elite Flat Panel Digital C-arm with motorized movements & SonoRad V10 Ultrasound, the imaging portfolio of Kiran is furthermore enhanced suiting different global imaging market needs. With recent developments in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Digitization in healthcare, Trivitron launches Digital OR integration with seamless connectivity with all Imaging data and Modalities to the surgeons in the OR with all modalities under one roof. With the launch of Trivtrons State of the art Dialysis machines & Ventilators, with lowest life cycle and running cost brings unique value proposition and comprehensive package thereby only company providing complete Solutions in Critical care life support systems. Trivitron is committed to quality healthcare delivery in the countries in the Middle East and Africa through its subsidiaries Trivitron Healthcare Middle East and Trivitron Healthcare Africa. In addition to the entire Kiran imaging portfolio, the subsidiaries provide end to end turnkey solutions by bringing in world-class OT, ICU, Renal Care products. Trivitrons Kiran Elite C-Arm features high-resolution digital image acquisition with 1K X 1K Flat Panel Detector and 16-bit image processing. With World-Class 5 kW, 40 kHz X-Ray Generator with ABS for optimized dose, Elite delivers superior images with the higher grayscale resolution to view remarkably minute details and improves the workflow in a significant way with completely motorized & smooth movements that aid in accurate positioning. With a Touch Panel User interface on the C-Arm, choosing the parameters becomes comfortable and efficient. Elite offers Clinical features like DSA - Digital Subtraction Angiography for Vascular applications and Road Mapping that allow surgeons to find the path to reach the target location in branches during the surgery. The Model comes with User-friendly Workstation and a storage capacity of more than 100,000 images and offers extra power for complex cases and active cooling to prevent overheating during long procedures. Elite has wide clinical applications in Cardiovascular, Interventional Radiology, Orthopedics and Urology. With a focus on offering comprehensive imaging solutions to customers, Trivitrons Kiran has launched its 2nd model in Ultrasound -SonoRad V10 Whole Body Color Doppler, an ergonomically designed Color Doppler with Dual Image Display on the 19 HD LED Monitor with larger image area, as well as the 10.1 touch panel which makes the workflow easier. It features intelligent software for efficient and precise measurements in OB. Quantitative Elastography, Panoramic Imaging, 4D features like Depth View & Virtual HD, 210 O Wide-angle TV Probe etc deliver Superior Clinical Value. SonoRad V10 supports a wide range of Clinical applications like Obstetrics/ Gynecology, Radiology, Cardiology etc with high performance. Kirans portfolio of radiology products includes the Felicia Digital Mammography, Ultisys range of Mobile & Fixed Radiography systems with the option of digital image acquisition chain, Infinity and Elite series surgical C-Arm systems available in 3.5kW and 5.0kW generator power options, Premium Digital Radiography solution, a comprehensive range of Radiation Protection Products, Anti-scatter X-ray grids and a wide range of Imaging Accessories & Consumables. The manufacturing facilities of Kiran comply with the most stringent quality standards and are registered with US-FDA, SGS-UK, Health Canada and PMDA-Japan amongst others. Speaking on the occasion Mr Satyaki Banerjee, CEO- Medical Imaging Division, Trivitron Healthcare commented, Kiran is committed to the field of Medical Imaging and has been offering Research Oriented World Class products for 4 decades. The Launch of Elite Motorized Digital C-arm and SonoRad V10 Color Doppler are in line with our plan to offer incremental as well as a breakthrough innovation in Advanced Imaging modalities that will significantly impact care-delivery. Kiran is also focusing in a major way to create Products and applications with the Power of Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning. We foresee a paradigm shift in the way overall patient care will be delivered and in 2020 Kiran is preparing itself for exciting launches in Radiology and Imaging with these advanced technologies Commenting on this development Dr GSK Velu, Chairman and Managing Director, Trivitron Group of Companies said, Trivitron Healthcare is driven by innovations in Med-Tech to make Healthcare Affordable and Accessible to everyone across the Globe. We consider quality healthcare a fundamental right of people and envisage making top-notch, cutting edge healthcare technology available for people of all classes. With the launch of new advanced imaging and critical care & OT products, we are one more step closer to our plan to offer a full suite of Radiology, Imaging & Critical Care Products in the next couple of years. With the global distribution strength of Trivitron Healthcare Group, I am confident that these new launches will truly bring a difference in Healthcare delivery across the World BJP president J P Nadda on Wednesday said that ally Shiromani Akali Dal, which had decided not to contest the Delhi assembly polls over differences with the saffron party, will support his party in the February 8 elections. At a joint press conference with SAD president Sukhbir Badal, Nadda hailed the SAD as an old and strong ally, while Badal asserted theirs is not merely a political but also an "emotional alliance." "I am grateful to the SAD that they have decided to support the BJP in Delhi assembly elections. I thank Sukhbir Badal...The SAD is one of the oldest constituents of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. The SAD has always been at the forefront of serving the society. The strong coalition between the BJP and the SAD will remain intact," Nadda told the press conference at Badal's residence. Nadda drove down to Badal's residence here and was welcomed by the SAD president. The two leaders had a long meeting before their joint press conference. "The BJP-SAD alliance is in national interest, and is meant for Punjab, its people and the Sikhs across the country," Badal said, asserting his party carder in Delhi will work for victory of BJP candidates. Badal said the SAD had never broken their alliance with the BJP but just decided not to contest the elections. "There were some misunderstandings that have been sorted out. SAD extends full support to the BJP in the upcoming Delhi VS polls," he later tweeted. Earlier, the BJP ally had announced it wouldn't contest elections in the national capital due to differences with the party. The Akali Dal's decision to not contest the polls had triggered concerns in the BJP that it may alienate a section of Sikh voters, which can influence more than a dozen seats in the national capital. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Pune police crime branch seized at least 1,410kg of adulterated paneer (cottage cheese) from a wholesale shop in Parvati. The seizure was done by Unit 4 of the crime branch led by senior police inspector Anjum Bagwan. Police hawaldar Ganesh Salunkhe of Unit 4 received information that a shop in Vishnu Society at Mitra Mandal chowk in Parvati is selling adulterated paneer in large quantities. The paneer was found to have been sourced from Wada area of Palghar, according to the police. The nameless shop was being run by a man named Harikrushna Murlidhar Shetty. The police did not find the required Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permit required for the sale of food products at the shop. The samples collected from the shop were found to be below the quality level prescribed by the FDA. The police seized 1,410kg of paneer worth Rs 2,53,000 which was present in the shop. The product has been shifted to a cold storage and sealed, according to the police. France has said it welcomes U.S.President Donald Trump's latest efforts to strike a peace deal between Israel and Palestinians, adding however that Paris would have to study the proposals closely. On Tuesday U.S. President Donald Trump proposed creating a Palestinian state as part of a Middle East peace plan, drawing condemnation from the Palestinian leadership for imposing strict conditions and agreeing to let Israel maintain control of long-contested West Bank settlements. In a statement released by the French foreign ministry, "France welcomes President Trump's efforts and will study closely the peace programme he has presented." The statement also reiterated France's desire for a two-state solution on Israel and Palestine. Palestinians reject the proposal President Donald Trump has boasted that his Middle East plan will find support but most experts believe its unabashed backing of Israel and tough conditions for the creation of a Palestinian state mean it is doomed to fail. Accroding to Steven Cook, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, "the Palestinians have rejected it out of hand as have Israeli settlers who are opposed to any form of Palestinian sovereignty" Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has no intention to negotiate the plan and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who joined Trump for the announcement at the White House on Tuesday, appears to be counting on Abbas to reject it. As the Trump administration spent three years working on the 80-page plan the Palestinian leadership boycotted Trump's efforts, considering him biased after major steps such as recognizing disputed Jerusalem as Israel's capital. A Palestinian capital east of East Jerusalem Contrary to some expectations, the plan does speak of a Palestinian state and a Palestinian capital around Jerusalem. Howver the capital would be in eastern areas such as the adjacent Palestinian village of Abu Dis, with Israel exerting sovereignty throughout the entirety of the holy city.. The plan, spearheaded by Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, freezes Israeli settlements for four years in areas slated for a Palestinian state and would connect the West Bank and Gaza through a corridor with high-speed transportation, one of a slew of economic development promises. Tactical advantage for Israeli security The Council on Foreign Relations has said "at a tactical level there are some good ideas, but without the promise of statehood for the Palestinians, they are meaningless." The Jordan River will become Israel's eastern security buffer with a future Palestinian state, without relocating hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers in from the occupied West Bank. The White House says that Israel would not implement it until it approves of the rulers of Gaza, the densely populated coastal enclave led by the Islamist militant movement Hamas. This essentially means Hamas would have to disarm, renounce violence and recognise the right of Israel to exist. What choice for Palestinians? Under the deal, Israeli annexation in the West Bank would become a fait accompli to Palestinians in the guise of a peace plan. The question is where this will push the Palestinian movement. Whether intended or not, the plan seems likely to hasten the day when it changes from a struggle for an independent state to a South Africa-like struggle for rights. Despite the Palestinian rejection, the Trump plan enjoyed an upbeat reception from several US allies in the Arab world, which have found common cause with Trump and Netanyahu in their opposition to Iran. Egypt, the first Arab state to make peace with Israel, encouraged the Palestinians to "undertake a careful and thorough examination" of the proposal. US peace to prosperity proposal could stoke conflict in Middle East, with annexation likely to have negative effects. As United States President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared jointly on Tuesday to endorse the new US political framework for peace in the Middle East, analysts rushed to count the cost of imminent changes on the ground. The latest details of the Trump administrations long-awaited plan were released as the second part of a one-two punch, with the first the economic component having been announced with great fanfare by White House senior adviser Jared Kushner last June in Bahrain. But analysts say the slick presentations and hard sells could deliver the opposite of the deals promised prosperity and not just to the Palestinians. The economic future of Israel could also suffer, they argue. As the Trump plan does not seem to generate negotiations but [to] potentially enhance the political conflict between the Palestinians and Israel, as well as between Israel and Jordan there is no reason to think that it will have an economic positive impact [for Israel] in the short run, said Zvi Eckstein, dean of the Tiomkin School of Economics at IDC Herzliya. The long term depends on the overall reduction of potential and actual conflicts, which does not seem to be an immediate outcome or even medium-run result, he told Al Jazeera. Uncertain horizon Netanyahu hopes to achieve a domestic political windfall from Trump-sanctioned annexation of land recognised as Palestinian by international law, in addition to regional peace dividends potentially unlocked. But if a security crisis emerges as a result of inflamed tensions, it could put a damper on any such benefits. Israels internal political deadlock, which has seen the country move towards its third election in less than a year, has stalled passage of a new 2020 government budget. And pending the next national vote on March 3, Netanyahu has been formally indicted by an Israeli court for corruption on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Netanyahus finance minister, Moshe Kahlon, is one of the few Israeli officials with a record of consistent engagement with his Palestinian counterpart. But he announced this month that he will not seek re-election. Credit agencies began raising doubts in September about whether political uncertainty poses a major risk to Israels credit profile, as Moodys said the ongoing failure to form a government was becoming perilous. While Israels economy did expand by 3.3 percent in 2019, it was the lowest annual growth rate since 2015. Gross domestic product per capita is not growing above the average for OECD [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development] countries, Eckstein said, referring to the two-percent population growth that helps boost the labour force but also raises demand. Costs of annexation Critics of the Trump concept for Israeli-Palestinian peace argue that the outline is one-sided, representing a way for Netanyahu to proceed with the absorption of settlements in the occupied West Bank. Certainly, if Israel is allowed to annex our natural resources, tourism, archaeology, etc, this would be good for them, at least initially, said Saeb Erekat, secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization. The question is whether this is sustainable, Erekat told Al Jazeera. Any economy needs a political system to sustain it. Netanyahu enjoys promoting dates, wines and cosmetics from settlements, but one day there will be consequences for such actions. This annexation plan is not going to fly, he added. A demonstrator in the Jordan Valley hoists a Palestinian flag and rides on a tractor during a protest against US President Donald Trumps Middle East peace plan [Raneen Sawafta/Reuters] Though the term annexation does not appear in the text of the initiative, it describes a series of incentives to transform and improve the lives of the Palestinians and the people of the region by unleashing economic growth. J Street, the Jewish-American political group that bills itself as pro-Israel, pro-peace said in a statement that the proposal by Trump is a peace sham. Coming in the midst of an Israeli election campaign, this is an attempt to hand the prime minister a political gift and a distraction from the very serious charges he is facing, J Street said, criticising US empowerment of Israel to seize disputed territory. Israel Policy Forum (IPF), a US-based organisation advocating for a Jewish, democratic and secure Israel maintains an Annexation Watch feature on its website detailing the ramifications of whole or partial West Bank territorial incorporation. Annexation threatens to impose serious security, economic, institutional, and political problems on Israel, says an IPF policy document, adding that dissolution of the Palestinian National Authority could bring nearly three million Palestinians into the Israeli social services system and lead to a severe budgetary strain for the state. Such a scenario assumes the collapse of what remains from the 1993 Oslo peace accords. But Netanyahu has been quick to highlight opportunities available to Israel further afield, despite a lack of rapport with the Palestinians. Regional dividends One of the biggest advantages of the new proposal, its backers argue, is the opportunity for Israel and Palestine to develop deeper regional economic ties. The deal envisages a proliferation of trade links between Israel and its neighbours, as well as Gulf Cooperation Council nations. The countries in the region can become a global hub for the movement of goods and services from Asia to Africa and Europe, says the plan. Israel has over the last decade increased its geopolitical importance to energy markets by developing offshore natural gas fields in the Eastern Mediterranean. Egypt and Jordan both began importing gas from Israeli fields earlier this month, although the latter arrangement has met with sharp political resistance in Amman. Jordanian police officers gather in Amman during a protest against the governments agreement to import natural gas from Israel [Muhammad Hamed/Reuters] Erekat says that despite deepening energy ties for Israel in the region, there is no bypassing Palestinian interests with a US deal that the Palestinians had no hand in drafting. Israel could try to go around us, but it is not just that it is not going to succeed, said Erekat. The first good deal Israel should be concerned to sign is one that sets the basis for future coexistence through fully ending the Israeli occupation that began in 1967. DiamondRock Hospitality Company (NYSE:DRH), which is in the reits business, and is based in United States, saw significant share price movement during recent months on the NYSE, rising to highs of US$11.35 and falling to the lows of US$9.82. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether DiamondRock Hospitality's current trading price of US$9.96 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at DiamondRock Hospitalitys outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change. Check out our latest analysis for DiamondRock Hospitality Is DiamondRock Hospitality still cheap? Great news for investors DiamondRock Hospitality is still trading at a fairly cheap price. My valuation model shows that the intrinsic value for the stock is $17.94, but it is currently trading at US$9.96 on the share market, meaning that there is still an opportunity to buy now. Although, there may be another chance to buy again in the future. This is because DiamondRock Hospitalitys beta (a measure of share price volatility) is high, meaning its price movements will be exaggerated relative to the rest of the market. If the market is bearish, the company's shares will likely fall by more than the rest of the market, providing a prime buying opportunity. What kind of growth will DiamondRock Hospitality generate? NYSE:DRH Past and Future Earnings, January 29th 2020 Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so lets also take a look at the company's future expectations. Though in the case of DiamondRock Hospitality, it is expected to deliver a relatively unexciting earnings growth of 3.6%, which doesnt help build up its investment thesis. Growth doesnt appear to be a main reason for a buy decision for the company, at least in the near term. Story continues What this means for you: Are you a shareholder? Even though growth is relatively muted, since DRH is currently undervalued, it may be a great time to accumulate more of your holdings in the stock. However, there are also other factors such as financial health to consider, which could explain the current undervaluation. Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping an eye on DRH for a while, now might be the time to enter the stock. Its future outlook isnt fully reflected in the current share price yet, which means its not too late to buy DRH. But before you make any investment decisions, consider other factors such as the track record of its management team, in order to make a well-informed investment decision. Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters the fundamentals before you make a decision on DiamondRock Hospitality. You can find everything you need to know about DiamondRock Hospitality in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in DiamondRock Hospitality, 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. The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on Wednesday arrested Dr Kafeel Ahmed Khan, a former assistant lecturer at Gorakhpurs BRD hospital from Mumbai for allegedly delivering an inflammatory speech during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in December, an official said. Dr Khan, a paediatrician, hit the headlines after the death of 60 children in the BRD hospital in September 2017 allegedly due to disruption in oxygen supply over unpaid bills to the vendor. He was suspended and spent more than seven months in jail before being released in April 2018. He allegedly made a provocative speech during the Open Talk in AMU campus during the protest and was then booked. Activist Yogendra Yadav was the other speaker at the event. Inspector General of Police (STF) Amitabh Yash confirmed that Dr Khan was arrested for making an objectionable statement during the Aligarh protest. An FIR was registered against him under section 153-A (Promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion) of IPC at the civil lines police station on December 13. Last September, Dr Khan was given a clean chit in the 2017 hospital tragedy. He had then claimed that he was made a scapegoat and punished for a crime he never committed. Defendant David Serrano glances at Julens parents during the court hearing today. D. G. (EFE ) The sole defendant in the court investigation into the so-called Julen case, a man named David Serrano, will not be going to prison for his role in the death of the Spanish toddler. In a court hearing today that lasted just 30 minutes, Serrano, the owner of the land where Julen Rosello fell into a borehole last January, sparking a massive rescue effort, was given a suspended jail sentence of one year and ordered to pay 180,000 in compensation to the parents of the two year old, Victoria Garcia and Jose Rosello. Serrano admitted his guilt for the tragic accident that cost the life of Julen The two sides in the case had reached an agreement before the hearing began on Tuesday in a Malaga courthouse, in southern Spain. Serrano has been ordered to pay 663,982.45 to the Andalusian regional government to cover the cost of the attempted rescue. Serrano also admitted his guilt for the tragic accident that cost the life of Julen. The two-year-old fell into the 25-centimeter-wide borehole on January 13, 2019 at around 2pm. The hole was 110 meters deep. Once the alarm was raised, a massive rescue operation swung into action, lasting 13 days and involving more than 300 people ranging from Civil Guard officers to specialized engineers. The operation concluded when a team of miners found the lifeless body of the child around 70 meters down the hole in the early hours of January 26. An autopsy revealed he had died during the fall. After the court proceedings concluded on Tuesday, Julens father, Jose, was clearly hurt but relieved. Ill never be satisfied, he told reporters. Tragically, the couple had lost another child, Oliver, several years earlier from a sudden heart attack when he was aged three. I want to ask the parents for forgiveness for the damage done Defendant David Serrano The court ruling found that the offense of negligent manslaughter had been proved, but both the public prosecutor and the private prosecution brought by the childs parents agreed to limit the sentence to just a year due to two extenuating circumstances. The first is that Serrano has already paid the amount of 25,000 of the total 180,000 to Julens parents the rest will be paid in monthly quotas of 50 each. The second is that he has admitted to the facts of the case. I want to ask the parents for forgiveness for the damage done, Serrano said. At no time did I want anything to happen to the child. The two sides have also agreed not to file an appeal against the sentence. Under Spanish law, if a defendant has no prior convictions, prison sentences under two years are usually as in this case suspended. However, the judge did impose several conditions on that suspension, including a two-year period with no new offenses committed. Serrano will also have to inform the court of any change of residence and employment status, and register with the court every six months. I asked for forgiveness from the heart, said Serrano after the hearing. Ive had a great weight lifted from me, although I will always carry it around, he added. Serranos lawyers had been trying to reach a deal in recent months, but an agreement was only forthcoming in the last phase before the actual trial. The accord was the result of a three-hour conversation between Rosello and Serrano last Thursday. Serranos lawyers admitted that it is highly unlikely that their client will be able to pay the 850,000 in compensation due to the childs parents and the Andalusian regional government. He couldnt pay it over several lifetimes, stated his lawyer, Antonio Flores, who added that the 25,000 that Serrano had already paid out was a donation from a businessman who preferred to remain anonymous, but who wanted to avoid the justice system committing an injustice. No employment Last fall, Serrano declared bankruptcy, claiming that he had no fixed income nor property, and in the last three years had worked barely 69 days. The judge in charge of the investigative phase of the case seized Serranos land in Totalan where the accident happened, but the value covered just a small part of the compensation owed. The public and private prosecutions had been calling for Serrano to serve three to three-and-a-half years in jail on the charge of negligent manslaughter. This was based on the accusations that he had not warned Julens parents about the borehole on his property, and because the hole drilled in search of water did not have the proper permissions and was not properly covered up. In response, Serranos defense lawyers first tried to blame Antonio Sanchez, the man who had drilled the hole, for not having respected safety measures. Later, his attorneys blamed the rescue operation for the death of the child, claiming that he had died due to impacts from a pick sent down the borehole in a bid to clear the earth that had accumulated on top of the childs head. The youngsters autopsy definitively disproved this theory. Serranos defense team also accused Julens parents of not having paid attention to their child when on his land. English version by Simon Hunter. A joint motion, combining five different resolutions tabled by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) against India's Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), has been placed on the final agenda for debate at the Plenary session in Brussels on Wednesday. The motion takes note of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) statement last month, which described the CAA as "fundamentally discriminatory in nature", and also of other UN as well as the European Union (EU) guidelines on human rights as it calls on the Indian government to "repeal the discriminatory amendments". The debate on CAA on Wednesday will follow the European Parliament's historic ratification of the Brexit bill, under which the UK is set to formally leave the economic bloc on Friday. "While the CAA's stated goal of protecting persecuted groups is welcome, an effective national asylum and refugee policy should be just and holistic in nature and apply to all those in need," notes the motion, which describes the CAA as "discriminatory in nature and dangerously divisive". The Indian government has maintained that the CAA, which was passed by the Indian Parliament last month, is an internal matter of the country and stressed that the goal is to protect the oppressed minorities of neighbouring countries. It has been extremely critical of the move in Brussels, which the European Commission the executive arm of the economic bloc has sought to distance itself from. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday wrote to European Parliament President David Maria Sassoli over the resolutions, saying it is inappropriate for one legislature to pass judgement on another and the practice can be misused by vested interests. "As members of Inter Parliamentary Union, we should respect sovereign processes of fellow legislatures, especially in democracies," Birla said in the letter. The European Parliament motion is critical of any protection being denied to Muslims and that even though India also shares a border with Bhutan, Burma, Nepal and Sri Lanka, the CAA does not bring Sri Lankan Tamils under its purview, who form the largest refugee group in India and who have been resident in the country for over 30 years. "Amnesty International India has pointed out that the CAA does not bring under its purview other persecuted minorities, including Muslim populations such as the Rohingya in Burma, Ahmadis in Pakistan, Hazaras in Afghanistan and Bihari Muslims in Bangladesh," it notes. There is also a reference to the Indian government's "push" for a nationwide citizenship verification process, the National Register of Citizens (NRC), which it says "aims to strip Muslims of their citizenship rights while protecting those of Hindus and other non-Muslims". The motion combines the separate resolutions tabled by the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D), Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) (PPE), Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance (Verts/ALE), Renew Europe Group (Renew) and European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) Group, representing around 560 of a total 751 MEPs. A sixth group, the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR), had withdrawn its resolution and references to the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in some of the resolutions have not found their way into the final motion. Such a move, which has been characterised under the "Relations with Asian countries" section by the economic bloc, are used as a basis for engagement of EU member countries with specific nations. If it is passed during a vote scheduled on Thursday, it will be formally sent to the Indian government and Parliament as well as to the European Commission chiefs. While EU officials are keen to highlight that the motion reflects individual views of MEPs and does not reflect an EU-wide stance, the impact of the motion is likely to resonate with the EU-India relationship as the motion notes that the Strategic Partnership between the European Union and India is based on the shared values of democracy and respect for human rights. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Catalan premier Quim Torra (center). MASSIMILIANO MINOCRI Catalan premier Quim Torra announced on Wednesday that there will be a snap election in the northeastern Spanish region once the regional budget is passed by parliament, a process that could take between two and three months. Torra made the announcement during a surprise institutional statement, after the Catalan parliament earlier this week decided to support a judicial ruling stripping the premier of his seat in the regional parliament. This move has evidenced a rift in the governing coalition, which is made up of the separatist parties Together for Catalonia (JxCAT) and the Catalan Republican Left (ERC), with the support of smaller pro-independence groups. No government can function without unity The term had no political future if unity cannot be maintained, he said on Wednesday. No government can function without unity. [...] We have to recover the path of unity, resume our shared struggles. Torra on Monday refused to give up his seat in the regional parliament, ignoring decisions by the Supreme Court and the Central Electoral Board stripping him of his credentials after he was found guilty of disobeying electoral rules. The separatist leader called on the speaker of the Catalan parliament, Roger Torrent of ERC, to also ignore these orders, but the latter refused and warned Torra that if he took part in the days voting, his vote would not be counted. In the end, Torra got all the representatives from JxCAT to abstain from voting on four motions that were on Mondays agenda. The move triggered renewed calls for early elections from the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC). The opposition has called on Sanchez to cancel his scheduled meeting with Torra The ERC was crucial in getting Pedro Sanchez of the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) back into office as prime minister at an investiture vote held in early January. In exchange for its abstention, the ERC secured a pledge from Sanchez to hold talks on the political situation in Catalonia, which has been immersed for years now in an independence drive. As part of this deal, Sanchez will meet with Torra in Barcelona on February 6. After Torras announcement, Carlos Carrizosa, from the center-right party Ciudadanos, called on Sanchez to cancel his meeting with the premier. What is clear from [Torras] appearance is that the separatist movement sets the schedule, he said. Pablo Casado, the leader of the conservative Popular Party (PP), also blamed Sanchez for the situation in Catalonia. We dont understand why Sanchez is keeping his meeting with Torra, when he is no longer the premier of Catalonia, he said at a meeting with self-employed workers in Madrid. According to Casado, Torra cannot be considered premier given he has been stripped by the courts of his position as lawmaker. The leader of the PP added that he will denounce the premier for usurpation of public functions. English version by Susana Urra. Karan Johar is on the seventh sky as the actor is honoured with Padma Shri, which is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Interestingly, Kangana Ranaut is the only Bollywood star, who is honoured with Padma Shri this year and despite all the cold war between her and Karan, the latter is all praises for her. When asked about Kangana being honoured with Padma Shri along with him, Karan told Mumbai Mirror, "So much has been said about Kangana, me and some kind of rivalry or simmering tension. But at every public event we've met, we've greeted each other graciously. Whatever may have been said or insinuated in print, I think I'm too old and wise to hold any kind of malice in my heart for anybody." Karan also said that as a filmmaker, he respects Kangana's talent, craft, and what she brings to the table. He believes that she is an actor who has proved her mettle and is deserving of the honour. Karan also added that besides Ekta Kapoor and Adnan Sami, he is honoured to receive the Padma Shri alongside the Fashion actress. When asked if Karan would ever collaborate with Kangana in future over a film, the Ae Dil Hai Mushkil director rather gave a positive reply and said, "Tomorrow, if I have a film for which I need Kangana, I will pick up the phone and call her. Whatever the problem, whatever may have been said on social media, is irrelevant to me. I'm a filmmaker and she's an artiste and no amount of personal bias should come in the way of that relationship. I believe in that and will stand by it." Alia Bhatt On Sending Kangana Ranaut Flowers: 'Let Them React The Way They Want, I Am Happy For Her' On a related note, Karan is in a prep-mode for his much ambitious project, Takht, which casts Ranveer Singh, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt, Anil Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Janhvi Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar. A species of fluorescent pink slug that live on just one mountaintop in NSW has miraculously survived devastating bushfires. The unusual slugs live on Mount Kaputar, an extinct volcano, and can grow longer than a human hand. It was feared the colourful molluscs had been wiped out completely by the blazes which devastated 18,000 hectares of land. But around 60 were spotted by National Parks and Wildlife Service rangers after recent rainfall. Malacologist Frank Kohler told the Guardian that the Mount Kaputar slugs probably survived the bushfires by retreating into rock crevices. A species of fluorescent pink slug that live on just one mountaintop in NSW has miraculously survived devastating bushfires The unusual slugs live on Mount Kaputar, an extinct volcano, and can grow longer than a human hand However Mr Kohler said the slugs would probably struggle to bounce back as the fires would have destroyed their main source of food, fungi moss and mould. He also said that around 90 per cent of the population had most likely been wiped out which had serious implications for the wider ecosystem. The slugs support three species of carnivorous snails found nowhere else in the world. While it could take around five years for the slugs to recover it could take around 20 for the snails to bounce back because they live longer and have fewer offspring, Mr Kohler said. It was feared the colourful molluscs had been wiped out completely by the blazes which devastated 18,000 hectares of land. More than a billion animals have been destroyed this bushfire season. Data published by the Department of the Environment and Energy last week showed 49 species had seen more than 80 per cent of their known or likely habitat damaged in the fires. More than a billion animals have been killed in bushfires 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. Koala populations have been severely affected by the fires, with an estimated 8,000 being killed in northern NSW in addition to the 30,000 destroyed on Kangaroo Island. The critically endangered regent honeyeater (pictured) is also feared to have been affected, with much of their habitat has been destroyed in NSW The native Australian marsupial was already an endangered species due to land clearing, deforestation and climate change, with their habitats decreasing again due to the fires. Koalas lost a total of 24 per cent of their NSW habitat, seven per cent of their Queensland habitat and 50 per cent of their koala habitat. The quokkas Stirling Range in Western Australia, where also impacted along with the the critically endangered regent honeyeater in NSW. James Corden has thanked BTS fans for donating money towards a childrens charity that he supports, enabling the organisation to provide 14,000 breakfasts for children in need. Magic Breakfast is a London-based charity that offers nutritious breakfasts to disadvantaged children across the UK. The organisation has previously received support from Corden, who in December 2019 made a donation that provided 1,000 vulnerable families with breakfasts throughout the Christmas period and 1,330 children with healthy breakfasts for an entire year. On Tuesday 28 January, K-pop group BTS, whose fanbase spans across the globe, appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden. After the appearance on the talk show, one of their fans shared a message on Twitter urging fellow BTS enthusiasts to donate money towards the charity. So James Corden treats BTS and ARMY always so kindly and makes everyone feel welcomed at this show,[sic] the tweet read. There is a charity called @magicbreakfast that he supports. Maybe we could donate there to say thank you! Corden shared a tweet expressing his thanks for their kind gesture. Oh man. This BTS army is real and full of love and its great! he wrote. You have no idea how many children you have helped. Thank you thank you thank you x. The Twitter account for Magic Breakfast then joined in the conversation, revealing the extent to which the donations made by the BTS fans benefited the organisation within a day. We can tell you @JKCorden. Just this morning @BTS_Army have donated enough to provide over 14,000 Magic Breakfasts for disadvantaged children. #BTS_Army you are phenomenal! Recommended BTS play hide and seek with Ashton Kutcher on The Late Late Show On the Magic Breakfast website, it states that for every 30p donated, a nutritious breakfast can be provided to a child who may otherwise go without. Therefore, in order to provide 14,000 breakfasts, the donations made by the BTS fanbase would have totalled approximately 4,200. If one should choose to donate towards Magic Breakfast, a 4.88 donation can provide one month of breakfasts in addition to wrap-around support, the organisation outlines. A 15 donation can provide 50 breakfasts while a 58.50 donation can provide a year of breakfasts and support for children. During their appearance on The Late Late Show, BTS took part in a game of hide-and-seek with Corden and actor Ashton Kutcher. James Corden's Carpool Karaoke best moments Show all 12 1 /12 James Corden's Carpool Karaoke best moments James Corden's Carpool Karaoke best moments Corden texts Leonardo DiCaprio from J Lo's phone ...and he replies! 'Hey baby,' Corden writes. 'I'm kind of feeling like I need to cut loose. Any suggestions, let me know. J Lo (you know, from the block).' Leo's reply? 'You mean tonight, boo boo? Club wise?' YouTube James Corden's Carpool Karaoke best moments Sia explains why she wears her face wig 'I don't wear this unless there's cameras around,' she said. 'I only wear this just to try and maintain a modicum of privacy.' Fair dos. James Corden's Carpool Karaoke best moments Elton John sings 'Circle of Life' as Corden's mind is blown Who wouldn't love a car journey with the legend singing the likes of 'Your Song'? James Corden's Carpool Karaoke best moments Chris Martin reveals Coldplay used to be called Starfish Doesn't quite have the same ring to it does it? This one also featured a tribute to David Bowie as the pair sung along to 'Heroes' James Corden's Carpool Karaoke best moments Corden drives Justin Bieber to the Grammys Where he went on to win his first gong from the awards! Check out those tuxedos. Looking suave guys. James Corden's Carpool Karaoke best moments Adele showcases her love for the Spice Girls With a top rate rendition of 'Wannabe' no less. She also promised not to name yet another album after her age. James Corden's Carpool Karaoke best moments One Direction succumb to their boyband status and dress in denim Asking One Direction to perform his favourite album track, he fills them in on a choreographed dance routine and provides them with matching denim jackets. James Corden's Carpool Karaoke best moments Stevie Wonder forms a supergroup with James Corden Namely The Wonder Cats. Telling Corden they're going to write new lyrics to his songs, the two do just that with a rendition of Wonder's classic Signed Sealed Delivered. James Corden's Carpool Karaoke best moments Jennifer Hudson sings to a drive-through takeaway employee Pulling into a drive-through, Hudson belts out hers and Corden's takeaway to the awe of the employee on the other side of the intercom. James Corden's Carpool Karaoke best moments Iggy Azalea goes wedding dress shopping Ahead of her wedding, Corden takes it upon himself to stop off at a wedding dress shop to sample the best there is on offer - and naturally gets involved himself. James Corden's Carpool Karaoke best moments Mariah Carey shows off her accents The singing icon uses the opportunity to sample her British and Southern American accents to the delight of Corden. James Corden's Carpool Karaoke best moments Jason Derulo gives a lesson in swag Rapper Jason Derulo helps James Corden become "the swaggiest dude in the club." They also delivered their first ever live televised performance of the band's new single Black Swan, in addition to discussing their forthcoming album Map of the Soul: 7. While taking part in a recent interview with The New Yorker, Corden explained why he called out comedian and TV host Bill Maher for making fat-shaming comments. The Cats star said Mahers remarks were out of touch with actual people, stating: You cannot forget what most peoples lives are like. A joint motion, combining five different resolutions tabled by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) against India's Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), has been placed on the final agenda for debate at the plenary session in Brussels on Wednesday. IMAGE: European Parliament in Brussels. Photograph: Yves Herman/Reuters The motion takes note of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) statement last month, which described the CAA as 'fundamentally discriminatory in nature', and also of other United Nations as well as the European Union (EU) guidelines on human rights as it calls on the Indian government to 'repeal the discriminatory amendments'. The debate on CAA on Wednesday will follow the European Parliament's historic ratification of the Brexit bill, under which the United Kingdom is set to formally leave the economic bloc on Friday. 'While the CAA's stated goal of protecting persecuted groups is welcome, an effective national asylum and refugee policy should be just and holistic in nature and apply to all those in need,' notes the motion, which describes the CAA as 'discriminatory in nature and dangerously divisive'. The Indian government has maintained that the CAA, which was passed by the Indian Parliament last month, is an internal matter of the country and stressed that the goal is to protect the oppressed minorities of neighbouring countries. It has been extremely critical of the move in Brussels, which the European Commission -- the executive arm of the economic bloc -- has sought to distance itself from. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday wrote to European Parliament President David Maria Sassoli over the resolutions, saying it is inappropriate for one legislature to pass judgement on another and the practice can be misused by vested interests. 'As members of Inter Parliamentary Union, we should respect sovereign processes of fellow legislatures, especially in democracies,' Birla said in the letter. The European Parliament motion is critical of any protection being denied to Muslims and that even though India also shares a border with Bhutan, Burma, Nepal and Sri Lanka, the CAA does not bring Sri Lankan Tamils under its purview, who form the largest refugee group in India and who have been resident in the country for over 30 years. 'Amnesty International India has pointed out that the CAA does not bring under its purview other persecuted minorities, including Muslim populations such as the Rohingya in Burma, Ahmadis in Pakistan, Hazaras in Afghanistan and Bihari Muslims in Bangladesh,' it notes. There is also a reference to the Indian government's "push" for a nationwide citizenship verification process, the National Register of Citizens (NRC), which it says 'aims to strip Muslims of their citizenship rights while protecting those of Hindus and other non-Muslims'. The motion combines the separate resolutions tabled by the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D), Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) (PPE), Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance (Verts/ALE), Renew Europe Group (Renew) and European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) Group, representing around 560 of a total 751 MEPs. A sixth group, the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR), had withdrawn its resolution and references to the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in some of the resolutions have not found their way into the final motion. Such a move, which has been characterised under the 'Relations with Asian countries' section by the economic bloc, are used as a basis for engagement of EU member countries with specific nations. If it is passed during a vote scheduled on Thursday, it will be formally sent to the Indian government and Parliament as well as to the European Commission chiefs. While EU officials are keen to highlight that the motion reflects individual views of MEPs and does not reflect an EU-wide stance, the impact of the motion is likely to resonate with the EU-India relationship as the motion notes that the Strategic Partnership between the European Union and India is based on the shared values of democracy and respect for human rights. TORRINGTON Prime Time House recently received a $5,000 grant to develop a new youth mental health educational program, Mental Wellness and You, which will initiate the important conversation of mental health with school age children, in a familiar and educationally based setting, according to a statement. The grant comes from the Torrington Savings Foundation, an initiative of Torrington Savings . Our goal is to reach as many children in Litchfield County as possible and help provide the words needed to be able to talk about mental health said Christina Emery, executive director of Prime Time House, in a statement. It is important that children develop an understanding at a young age that their mental well-being is as important as their physical well-being. Emery said the grant will allow Prime Time House to develop a classroom program and distribute a coloring/activity book that describes different topics of mental wellness and mental illness in an age-appropriate manner. The program is expected to be ready to be presented in schools by spring. We believe that encouraging children to talk to a trusted adult about their emotions, feelings and what to do if those thoughts and feelings become overwhelming and dont seem to go away will help them build life-long coping skills and self-awareness, Emery said. We have witnessed what ignoring and downplaying mental health concerns can do to a community and we will continue to fight against the stigma of mental illness and make talking about mental health as normal as talking about physical health. Those interested in bringing this free program to a local school can contact Christy Tellier at ctellier@primetimehouse.org or 860-612-8983. According to its mission statement, Prime Time House Inc. empowers local individuals with mental illness to lead productive and independent lives by providing opportunities for education, employment, friendship, housing and transportation. Members are treated with dignity, respect, and as equal partners in their recovery. Prime Time is dedicated to reducing stigma and finding meaningful ways for members to better themselves both as individuals and as part of a community. Learn more at www.primetimehouse.org. So (my boyfriend) went to go adopt him, and hes like, Oh, hes going to be in the Puppy Bowl. And I was like, Ohmigod, my dream. So we had no idea, but it was actually like one of the contingencies to adopt him. We either had to fly him out (for the taping) or we had to let One Tail at a Time fly him out for us, Klappa-Cales told the Tribune. We were going to get him regardless, but it was just a neat little perk that we realized afterwards. The Peoples Democratic Party said it had held a meeting with the United States Consul General, Ms Claire Pierangelo, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, and reported the actions of the All Progressives Congress government. The partys National Deputy Chairman, Yemi Akinhanmi, disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking with journalists in Abeokuta. He said the PDP believed that unless the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), was prevailed upon to sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law; democracy might continue to be in danger. The PDP chief, who accused the Independent National Electoral Commission and the judiciary of compromise, declared that the activities of the APC-led government had drawn democracy in Nigeria backward. He said, The only way forward in this country is that the President should be prevailed upon and let him sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law. The bill has been on the table of the President for over four years and it should be signed and as well monitor our democracy because for democracy to thrive in the entire black race, it must be monitored in Nigeria, otherwise, the coming generation will not hear of democracy. We have told the Consular General how the PDP has advanced democracy in Nigeria in 16 years. We told her how we took democracy from the grass to the top. Akinhanmi said former President Goodluck Jonathan should be commended for his gesture to have handed over power to Buhari without rancour. When asked for the purpose of her meeting with the PDP, Pierangelo said she was out to speak with the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, among other notable persons in the state. She said, I am here in Ogun State on my first visit to talk to the governor among other notable people to know what is happening exactly so that we can suggest possible cooperation between the United States particularly commercial opportunities, agricultural opportunities and educational opportunities. Baharampore, West Bengal: Two persons were killed and one was injured in a clash between two groups in West Bengal's Murshidabad district on Wednesday, a senior police officer said. The incident occured after an argument broke out between the groups at Jalangi over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). The injured has been rushed to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital here, the officer said. The Birmingham Board of Education denied two charter school applications during a special-called meeting Tuesday night, including one that would have led to the opening of the states first LGBTQ-affirming charter school. Birmingham Aids Outreach, an organization that has provided multiple services to the LGBTQ-community and those living with HIV and AIDS for 35 years, turned in its application to open Magic City Acceptance Academy in December. Birminghams review committee, which is responsible for reviewing charter school applications, recommended board members deny MCAAs application due to its lack of detail when it comes to educational program design, an operations plan and financial plan. The board accepted the review committees request for denial with a 5-3 vote. Board member Sandra Brown abstained. Board members Cheri Gardner, Michael Millsap and Mary Boehm voted for the charter. Michael Wilson, who left his principal position at Glen Iris Elementary School in Birmingham to become principal of Magic City Acceptance Academy, said he felt disappointed. "We were really hoping to form a collaborative partnership with Birmingham City (Schools) to work with youth who are having difficulties not only in the city, but in the surrounding areas, "Wilson said. The school board also unanimously rejected the application for Knowledge Unlimited Public Charter School, also known as Knowledge U. Knowledge U, which includes grades K-5, hoped to open in Birminghams Ensley neighborhood to increase students math, reading and science proficiency rates in that area. The review committee said the application doesnt meet requirements necessary for approval under the guidelines of Birmingham city Schools. Knowledge U Founder Jeanisha Whetstone said the concerns the review committee presented to the board were clarified during the charter schools internal and external review. As an educator, she has taught students who have struggled in her classroom. Im currently on the frontlines. So each and every day, I have students in my class who cannot read. I have students in my class who cant count past 100, Whetstone said. Its kind of like a slap in the face because I see it everyday, and I have been told, You have been denied already." During public comments before the vote, Knowledge U Founder Jeanisha Whetstone, addressed some of the criticism towards her charter application. As an educator, Whetstone said have taught students who cant read or count well. Denying the application was a slap in the face. pic.twitter.com/O6zkiI2xOk Jonece Starr Dunigan (@StarrDunigan) January 29, 2020 Charter schools are public school that still receive state and federal funds, but function independently from local districts. In exchange for that flexibility, a charter school is held accountable and receives strict oversight from a charter authorizer, which is the Birmingham school board in this case. Each charter school sets goals. If a charter school doesnt meet those goals, it could be shut down. In its application, BAO promises to create a safe learning environment for LGBTQ students and their allies in sixth through 12th grade who are either falling behind or dropped out of traditional schools or are enrolled in home school. Advocates say LGBTQ youth often face a hostile school environment and are 3x more likely to drop out of school. Magic City Acceptance Academy carries almost the same name as the Magic City Acceptance Center, which was founded by BAO in 2014 to provide multiple service to LGBTQ youth. BAO also opened the Magic City Wellness center in 2016 to provide LGBTQ-inclusive mental and medical healthcare. Both centers are located in south Birmingham in the Lakeview neighborhood. Applicants hoped to open the academy in August 2021 with a total of 250 students in sixth through 12th grade. Knowledge U planned to use culturally-relevant, academically-rigorous material in its K-5 charter school. During a public hearing earlier this month, applicants for the school detailed a STEM curriculum, with a focus on aviation and aerospace. The school wanted to open during the fall of 2021. The community made their voices heard during public comments. Those against charter schools stressed concerns that funding would be taken away from Birmingham City Schools. Those for the charters expressed the need for educational environments that are free from LGBTQ-based harassment and that will help students increase their reading and math skills. The majority of the five individuals who spoke in favor of Magic City Acceptance Academy held back tears they talked about the consequences of not having affirming spaces for LGBTQ youth. Amanda Keller, director of the Magic City Acceptance Center, said her staff has sat through nine funerals of LGBTQ students who have died of suicide over the past few years. One womans voice quivered as she talked about her grandson who died of suicide after being bullied. He would have greatly benefited from a school like this because he was bullied, she said. He had extreme anxiety going to school everyday dealing with what they had to deal with. Applause from audience members wearing rainbow-themed Magic City Acceptance Academy T-shirts filled the room as three board members - Gardner, Millsap and Boehm - expressed their support for the LGBTQ charter. Gardner said she didnt know about the Magic City Acceptance Center until last April, the same month an openly-gay, black teen named Nigel Shelby died of suicide in Huntsville. Shelbys family members said he was bullied due to his sexuality. After visiting the center that April, Gardner was impressed by what the center was doing for LGBTQ youth. Gardner expressed her strong faith in the academys leadership to support students. She said she is often asked on the campaign trail if she is for or against charter schools. My response at every stop was that I will weigh each application on its merit. I believe that each application will have its pros and I believe that each application will have its cons, Gardner said. But I also believe that every child should be in a safe and secure learning environment. I recognize the challenges of this group of students that the school is designated to serve." Despite the support, Magic City Acceptance Academy didnt get enough votes from the board. Despite the vote, Wilson said he will remain hopeful. I think the most important thing is that we are showing the need and we are losing kids, Wilson said. If we can save one student, we can save five students. If we can provide a safe space for students to succeed academically, thats what we are supposed to do. This is the fourth and fifth time Birmingham school board members have turned down charter school applications since becoming an authorizer in 2016. They rejected i3 Academys application almost exactly a year ago. In 2017, the board denied the application of STAR Academy, which is now Legacy Prep. Both Legacy Prep, located in the Daniel Payne Community Plaza in west Birmingham, and i3 Academy, located in the citys Woodlawn neighborhood, were able to reverse the Birmingham school board denials by gaining approval on appeals to the Alabama Public Charter School Commission. The Birmingham school board has yet to approve a charter school application and must provide a written denial to applicants within 30 days telling them why the applications were denied. After an official denial is received, the applicants can appeal to the Alabama Public Charter School Commission. Wilson said MCAA plans to appeal the boards decision. Whetstone didnt make a comment on whether or not she will appeal, but she does plan to address the school boards concern about her application. All recommendations will be corrected, if necessary, and Knowledge U will move forward with opening the school for the 2021-22 school year, Whetstone said. Public charter schools are fairly new to Alabama, and only four have opened to students so far. Nationwide, charter schools remain embroiled in controversy, with traditional public school supporters like teachers unions opposing them. The Alabama Education Association--which says it is not against all charter schools, only bad ones--is engaged in a lawsuit against an unopened charter school in south Alabama. The AEA has filed multiple lawsuits against the state charter school commission but was unsuccessful in those suits. The law governing charter schools varies from state to state, and Alabamas is considered to be one of the strongest laws in the country. Charter schools are so new, though, that the law hasnt yet been tested fully. Legacy Prep opened in August with 250 students in kindergarten through second grade and i3 Academy will open this coming August with 450 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. ACCEL Academy in Mobile, the states first charter school, opened at the start of the 2017-18 school year to serve students who are at risk of or have already dropped out of high school. University Charter School opened in west Alabama in August 2018. Montgomerys first charter school, LEAD Academy, joined Birminghams Legacy Prep in opening at the start of the current school year. Woodland Prep in south Alabama, along with i3 Academy in Woodlawn, are scheduled to open at the start of the 2020-21 school year. Related: Alabama Public Charter School Commission remade: Heres their track record so far PR-Inside.com: 2020-01-29 16:46:37 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 438 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Advanced Capital Solutions, along with their Partners, Donated 40 Televisions to veteransLOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 29, 2020 / The founders of Advanced Capital Solutions are pleased to announce that they recently made a very generous donation to a worthy organization. Advanced Capital Solutions donated to the Canton VA Outpatient Clinic Christmas party on December 3, 2019; along with their partners, they gave a total of 40 televisions to veterans.To learn more about Advanced Capital Solutions and the services that they offer, please visit https://advancedcapsolutions.com/ As a company spokesperson noted, the founders of Advanced Capital Solutions and their partners are all grateful for the service that veterans have given to the country. In order to help say thank you to the great group of people who are part of the Canton VA Outpatient Clinic, they decided to play Santa's helpers at their annual Christmas party.There were 350 veterans in attendance at the amazing event, the spokesperson noted, adding that Ron Craze and Paul Sims from Advanced Capital Solutions, Inc, Ohio not only donated 10 televisions, they also volunteered at the party.The partners and their contributions are as follows: Advanced Capital Solutions, Inc, Ohio - Sam Galbo and Paul Sims - 10 TVs Phoenix Enterprise Solutions LLC, Ohio- Ray Bertka and Chris Cutter - 4 TVs Capital Mitigation Services LLC, New York - Mary Burris - 1 TV Torriere Holdings, LLC, New York - Jake and Joseph Torriere - 5 TVs Wyoming Casing, OH - Brian Steele - 6 TVs and helped with transportation cost from NY to OH Diverse Funding Associates, New York - Dan Mendez and Larry Schiavi - 10 TVs Allegiant Capital, LLC, New York - Dan Bienko - 4 TVsThe fact that Advanced Capital Solutions and their partners donated 40 televisions to such a worthy cause will not surprise their many clients. The debt recovery solutions firm has not only earned a well-deserved reputation for their outstanding services, but also for their commitment to giving back to the community whenever possible.About Advanced Capital Solutions:Advanced Capital Solutions is a full-service Accounts Receivable Management (ARM) firm led by a strong team of industry leaders with more than 60 years combined experience in call center solutions and debt collection. They offer flexible ARM services for the following industries: Healthcare; Credit Card, Bankcard and Financial Services; Utilities, Auto Deficiencies and Care Credit, just to name a few. With their call centers located in the United States, their clients find their representatives and collectors are knowledgeable in their respective industry and considerate when interacting with their customers and borrowers. For more information, please visit https://advancedcapsolutions.com/ Contact:Ron Crazercra@ advancedcapsolutions.com 330-338-4252SOURCE: Advanced Capital Solutions VANCOUVER - A third case of a new coronavirus that's behind deaths in China has been confirmed in Canada by health officials in British Columbia, who say a man in his 40s tested presumptively positive after a business trip to the Chinese city of Wuhan. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. British Columbia Health Minister Adrian Dix looks on as Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry addresses the media during a news conference at the BC Centre of Disease Control in Vancouver B.C, Tuesday, January 28, 2020. Dix and Dr. Henry announced Tuesday that British Columbia has confirmed its first case of coronavirus and the person in question is being treated. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward VANCOUVER - A third case of a new coronavirus that's behind deaths in China has been confirmed in Canada by health officials in British Columbia, who say a man in his 40s tested presumptively positive after a business trip to the Chinese city of Wuhan. Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, said the man who lives in the Vancouver area returned last week and had symptoms about 24 hours later, when he voluntarily isolated himself at his home and called a clinic. The man is doing well at home and no members of his family have shown any symptoms as they are being monitored by health officials, Henry added. A second test will be done at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg and results are expected in the next two days, Henry told a news conference Tuesday. "Given the history of travel and the contact that this person had in Wuhan city, and they were showing symptoms, we are confident that this is truly a case of this novel coronavirus," she said. The patient spent most of his time in the port city of Guangzhou and visited Wuhan, the city at the centre of an outbreak in that country, where millions of people have been quarantined and the number of cases has increased to almost 6,000 across China. Chinese authorities report that more than 100 people have died there of the novel virus that is believed to have originated at a market in Wuhan, where meat was sold alongside live animals. The man who returned to Vancouver contacted a primary health-care provider on Sunday to say he had travelled to Wuhan. He had no symptoms on the plane back to Vancouver, said Henry, who expects more people in B.C. to test positive for the virus. Several people have been assessed in the province and the risk of the virus spreading remains low, she said. "We need to be very careful about listening to rumours and third- and fourth-hand information," she said, adding people should rely on credible sources for information. "It's very challenging and what's concerning to me, having been in the city of Toronto during the SARS outbreak and being one of the people responding there, is how easily those rumours can lead to discrimination, inappropriate discrimination against people, and I think we need to take all those rumours with a grain of salt and recognize they are just that rumours." B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix said the province will provide ongoing information to the public and all the necessary precautions are being taken, adding social media has allowed rumours to spread quickly, something that didn't happen during the SARS outbreak in 2003, when 44 Canadians died. "We are determined to provide the information that the public needs," he said. Multiple systems are in place to prepare for, detect and respond to infectious diseases, Dix said. The BC Centre for Disease Control has developed a diagnostic test for the new coronavirus and is working to ensure potential cases can be detected quickly and accurately. Several countries have flown their citizens out of China as the novel virus spreads in that country and beyond to countries including Cambodia, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Nepal, Australia, France, Germany, the United States and Canada. Unlike some other countries including the U.S., Canada has not repatriated any citizens. Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu said Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne is considering ways to bring Canadians back if they wish to return. "Not all residents or visitors in the area that are Canadians do want to come back. And so we're working through some of those details about what that might look like," she said in Ottawa. Canadians considering a trip to China should adhere to travel advisories, she said. "There are increased advisories for the area of Hubei, the province of Hubei, to let travellers know that non-essential travel should not be considered at this time," she said. "That's not so much about, by the way, contracting the illness. It's because of the significant quarantine making it very difficult to move around the region. There is no transportation in and out of 18 cities in China. That number may grow." Hajdu echoed Henry's concerns about misinformation sparking fears and said people should rely on government sources to ensure they are not unnecessary being fearful of a virus that remains at a low risk to spread in Canada. The federal government will be putting additional public health officials at airports to meet passengers from Chinese flights and ensure they have written information and can speak with someone who can explain the steps they need to take if they end up developing symptoms, she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 28, 2020. Note to readers: This is a corrected story.An earlier story said man spent the majority of his time in Wuhan. By IANS CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government will monitor the health condition of those returning from China for 28 days to see whether they are affected by Coronavirus, said a senior official in Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. He said passengers coming from Chine and landing in Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore and Trichy airports are monitored and their details are being collected. ALSO READ: Eight China-returned persons under observation in Coimbatore "Till Wednesday morning 78 passengers -- 68 Indians and 10 Chinese -- have landed in four airports in Tamil Nadu. A self-declaration form on their health condition has been obtained and their body temperature was also gathered," said P. Sampath, Joint Director-Epidemic, Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. He said the district-level health officials would daily visit the homes or the place of stay of those who have come from China to monitor their health condition. "This will be done for 28 days. Isolation wards have been set up in government hospitals in Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy and Madurai," he added. He said passengers who show symptoms of being affected by coronavirus will be admitted in the any one of the four hospitals and samples of blood, nasal and throat secretions will be sent to National Institute of Virology, Pune. VIEW GALLERY: Coronavirus outbreak - Precautions you need to take while travelling According to Sampath, none of the 78 persons who landed in the four airports in Tamil Nadu have shown symptoms of being affected by coronavirus. Due to the U.S. sanctions on Iran, Tehran is unable to use or transfer US$5 billion in revenues it has received from Iraq for supplying natural gas and electricity to its neighbor, an Iranian official told local media on Wednesday. Even after the U.S. slapped sanctions on Irans energy exports, Iraq continues to import natural gas and electricity from Iran under a special waiver that the United States has regularly extended to Iraq. 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. Despite the U.S. waiver for energy trade between Iran and Iraq, Iran is unable to use the money Iraq has paid in Iraqi dinars for the energy it imports from Iran. Up to $5 billion sits in an escrow account at the central bank of Iraq, but Iran cannot touch it because of the U.S. sanctions, Hamid Hosseini, a spokesman for Iranian Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters Association (OPEX) told Iranian news outlet Press-TV on Wednesday. Iran has been cut off from the global SWIFT payment system, and because of this, it hasnt found a way yet to have the money transferred, according to Press-TV. The situation highlights how the U.S. sanctions are crippling Iranian revenues and how Iran cannot access money from its energy exports even if those exports are allowed under the U.S. sanctions. Iraq, for its part, 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 last week. 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 last week. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: An Eastern Montana jury acquitted a former Absarokee man this week in a homicide case after he was accused of running over another man with his car. Michael Thomas Holtz was acquitted on charges of negligent homicide, evidence tampering and failure to stop at a scene involving death or personal injury. The verdict was delivered around 4 p.m. on Tuesday, according to Dawson County Clerk of Court Tammy Helmuth. Jurors began deliberating around 11 a.m., she said. Holtz was accused in the July 28, 2013, death of 27-year-old Forest Dana. Danas mother found him dead in the alley behind their home. An autopsy ruled his spinal cord was severed when a car drove over his head. According to prosecutors, Holtz had been drinking the night of the death, and witnesses saw him speed down the alley where Danas body was found. Investigators later found DNA on Holtz car that matched Danas DNA, charges stated. Wheel, an Austin, Texas-based digital health company building the infrastructure required for virtual care to realize its full potential, raised $13.9m in Series A funding. The round was led by CRV, with participation from Tusk Venture Partners and Silverton Partners. The company intends to use the funds to continue to expand operations and its business reach. Founded in 2018 by Michelle Davey, CEO, and Griffin Mulcahey, Chief Compliance & Strategy Officer, and also led by Rafid Fadul, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Wheel provides healthcare companies with a tech-enabled platform to scale virtual care offerings compliantly, and access to a flexible workforce of specialized virtual care clinicians. Its core offering is a virtual care workforce and technology platform that matches the right clinician to the right patient. FinSMEs 28/01/2020 CLAY, N.Y. -- Two more retailers are pulling out of Great Northern Mall in Clay. Yankee Candle has announced its last day of operation is Wednesday. The retailer still operates a shop in Destiny USA. Yankee Candle closed its location in ShoppingTown Mall in January 2017. Also closed is the AT&T.store, which has a sign on its front gate saying it is closed, directing customers to the Fulton location. AT&T has a number of other retail outlets around the area. Great Northern Mall has been struggling in recent years, as tenants including Macys and Sears have closed. Victorias Secret closed in March 2019, and Spencers Gifts closed in mid-September. The mall is operated by the Kohan Retail Investment Group, an investment company that primarily buys endangered or troubled shopping malls. Kohan owns about 27 malls across the United States. 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. U.S. Secretary Of State Mike Pompeo has arrived in London at the start of a five-country tour. Pompeo, whose visit comes as Britain prepares to leave the European Union at the end of the month, is set to meet his British counterpart, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson following their decision on January 28 to allow Chinese tech giant Huawei to take a limited role in Britain's 5G networks. U.S. President Donald Trump has long backed Brexit and Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the hope he will set Britain on a more pro-U.S. course. However, Johnson has sided with Europe on everything from the need to save the Iran nuclear deal that Trump abandoned to the importance of Huawei to speedy 5G mobile. Pompeo said Britain's decision to give Huawei a limited but still leading role despite U.S. warnings was "something we'll have a conversation about." "We will make sure that when American information passes across a network we are confident that that network is a trusted one," Pompeo told reporters on his way to London. "It's a little unclear precisely what they're going to permit and not permit so we need to take a little bit of time to evaluate that." Johnson told Parliament his government will "do absolutely nothing to imperil our relationship with the United States." But a senior British official who spoke on condition of anonymity conceded that Pompeo's private dinner on January 29 with Raab and meeting with Johnson on January 30 in Downing Street might be tense. Johnson also sounded a positive note about a Middle East peace plan that the Palestinians rejected even before Trump unveiled it alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on January 28. Besides Ukraine, Pompeo will also visit Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. With reporting by AFP, Reuters, and AP LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Ryanair Holdings plc. (RYA.L) on Wednesday confirmed that it had accepted recommendations of independent mediator Kieran Mulvey on a 4 Year Collective Labour Agreement or CLA with Irish pilots. The company said it accepted the recommendations before Christmas. The 4 Year CLA is with the pilot union Forsa, to cover all Ryanair's directly employed pilots in Ireland to 2024. Ryanair will now implement the terms of this CLA, which will deliver a new pay structure along with a fixed 5/4 roster for the next four years. In London, Ryanair shares were trading at 15.05 euros, up 1.07 percent. 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. I watched online yesterday as President Trump presented his Middle East peace plan. He announced his proposal alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the East Room of the White House. The plan calls for a two-state solution including the state of Israel and the future state of Palestine with a capital in East Jerusalem. How the plan benefits Palestinians The presidents plan offers significant benefits to the Palestinians. They would have a contiguous state in the West Bank that would be connected via a tunnel with the Gaza Strip. The proposed map would more than double the Palestinian territory, according to Mr. Trump, who stated that no Palestinians or Israelis will be uprooted from their homes. Israel would freeze new settlement activity for four years while Palestinian statehood is negotiated. Israel would ensure Muslim access to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and respect Jordans role regarding holy sites. The plan also creates a $50 billion economic revival fund for Palestinians, Jordan, and Egypt. Mr. Netanyahu and his opponent in Israels March 2 election, Gen. Benny Gantz, have both agreed to implement the plan. This is the first time Israel has accepted a Palestinian state with defined borders. How the two sides are responding However, the plan also contains elements that are certain to meet with Palestinian objections. The US would recognize Israeli sovereignty over major portions of biblical Judea and Samaria, including the entire Jordan Valley. The Palestinian pathway to statehood requires that they recognize Israel as a Jewish state with its capital in Jerusalem, disarm Hamas, stop payments to terrorists, and eliminate incitement in schools. The Jerusalem Post calls the plan the best one Israel has ever been offered. By contrast, Palestinian leaders have already stated that the plan doesnt constitute a basis for resolving the conflict. They largely broke off relations with the White House after the president moved the US Embassy to Jerusalem in 2017. For Israel to unilaterally annex much of the West Bank carries enormous risks. It could undermine Israels strategic peace treaties with Jordan and Egypt and could fuel Palestinian unrest or a violent reaction in the region. For the Palestinians to reject the plan or continued negotiation, however, leaves them divided between Gaza and the West Bank with no state and no road map for the future. The ultimate solution to human conflict I believe strongly that both Israel and the Palestinians deserve a homeland. Across thirty trips to the Holy Land over twenty-five years, I have yet to meet an Israeli or a Palestinian who disagrees with me. Whether President Trumps plan will become the pathway to such peace remains to be seen. Hamas (which governs Gaza) is led by militants who profit from conflict with Israel. Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of Fatah (which governs the West Bank), said he refused to speak with President Trump by phone and has called for a Day of Rage to protest the plan. Negotiations between such intractable opponents are predictably challenging. Israeli and Egyptian leaders nearly failed in their efforts to achieve the peace that eventually resulted from the Camp David Accords. Relations between Jordan and the US were severely damaged by the 1990 Kuwait crisis, but the two eventually worked with Israel to create an enduring peace. The ultimate solution to human conflict is mutual commitment to the Prince of Peace. The One who transformed the persecutor of the church into its global apostle (Acts 9) can change any heart that is given to him. As soon as God becomes real Unfortunately, our secularized culture views God as irrelevant to our lives and world. In the media coverage of the Middle East peace plan, I have not seen a single reference to his sovereignty in this region. It would seem that Gods miraculous creation of the Jewish nation never happened or that his love for Ishmaels descendants is irrelevant to the Arab people (Genesis 21:12-18). And it would seem that peace in the future depends entirely on the frailties of fallen humans. It is not surprising that secular people would focus on secular solutions to perennial problems. What is surprising is the degree to which their worldview can influence our own. Do you live in light of Gods sovereignty over your world? Do you acknowledge his reality in every place and moment of your life? Do you remember that he is watching all you think and do? That you will stand before him in judgment one day? One of the strongest deterrents to temptation I have found is remembering the reality of God, the fact that Jesus is praying for me right now (Romans 8:34) and his Spirit lives in me (1 Corinthians 3:16). Every sin grieves him (Ephesians 4:30), but every act of obedience pleases and honors my Lord (Galatians 1:10). Oswald Chambers: The one thing for which we are all being disciplined is to know that God is real. As soon as God becomes real, other people become shadows. Nothing that other saints do or say can ever perturb the one who is built on God. Are you built on God today? Publication date: January 29, 2020 Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Lior Mizrahi/Stringer For more from the Denison Forum, please visit www.denisonforum.org. The Daily Article Podcast is Here! Click to Listen Reed Morano's 'The Rhythm Section' is a thriller about a female assassin. But, it is not a female James Bond movie contrary to the speculations. E! News reports, the leading lady of the movie, Blake Lively has been rumoured to play the female version of 007, as Barbara Broccoli, the magnate producer whose family has been solely responsible for the franchise, is producing the movie, but there is no truth to it. In the upcoming release, Blake's character receives her training as an assassin from an exiled MI6 agent living in Scotland and-- in the course of her revenge -- disguises herself as a chemical blonde one moment and a German anarchist the next. "Everyone's saying, 'Oh, can a woman be James Bond?' Why would a woman want to be James Bond!" Broccoli asked, walking the red carpet at a special screening of 'The Rhythm Section' in New York City on Monday evening, hoping to dispel the constant chatter that the "Bond" producer was up to something tricky. She added, "A woman wants to be Stephanie Patrick, a complex, interesting character." The movie is based on Mark Burnell's thriller novel with the same title and depicts the tale of a young woman tortured by the death of her family in a terror-driven plane crash. The espionage thriller is set to hit the Indian screens on January 31. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) John McGory brushed off his brother's concerns about pneumonia in Wuhan, the Chinese city where John has been an expat for years. 'Oh there are stories like that all the time in China. Im not worried,' John told his brother. 'Itll be fine.' Things didn't feel fine by January 20, when a man with a bullhorn demanded he and his fellow passengers get off the subway car they were riding as the city shut down public transit. Now, he's among the Americans trapped in Wuhan, a locked-down ghost town at the center of the coronavirus outbreak that's sickened more than 6,000 people around the globe and killed 133 - most of them right there in the southern Chinese city. John McGory (left) is trapped in Wuhan where he's long taught English amid the coronavirus outbreak (pictured: with a friend riding a train before the shut down) John, originally from Columbus, Ohio, has watched in awe as the Chinese city that's become his home has transformed before his eyes. Last week, the university where he's taught English for the last six years traded a festive teachers' luncheon planned ahead of the Lunar New Year for frozen foods with packaging that protected them from outside germs. Administrators handed out face masks and hand sanitizer. The next day, January 23, the entire city was placed on lockdown, blocking anyone from entering or leaving the city where new cases of coronavirus were being reported at an alarming clip. 'My first thought is, "get some food,"' he writes on his blog on American Speech Company. Public places like malls are now deserted Grocery stores seem then to be the only places with any business. Malls and streets are otherwise nearly deserted, John writes. Fresh vegetables have been quickly bought up but things were otherwise well stocked when John went to a Walmart near his apartment. Face masks, on the other hand, sell out quickly and John was only allowed to enter and exit the university where he works if he's wearing one. John is 65. His age is of particular concern to him because most of the patients who have developed severe illnesses or died from coronavirus have had underlying conditions or been older adults. 'The fear of getting sick envelops everyone,' John writes. 'My own mind jumps from all is well to fear. 'I continually wonder, "is my throat getting sore? I think it is." Every cough brings worry to my 65-year-old body.' So far, coronavirus's fatality rate is about two percent, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday. That's far less than the 14 to 15 percent of SARS sufferers who died after infection - but about 100 times the mortality rate of the flu. 'I'm not afraid to say I'm worried,' John writes. Panicked Wuhan citizens flooded grocery stores in masks amid the lockdown Green vegetables were sold out almost immediately, but John said frozen foods were plentiful 'We live most of our lives managing risks the best we can but living in a virus-infected, Chinese city of 11 million frightened people creates a whole different environment for daily living.' Now neither he nor other people living in Wuhan can go to work now, and spend most of their time hold up in their homes. John told USA Today that the US offered him a seat on the evacuation flight that returned some 201 Americans from China today, but a passport problem lost him his spot. There's no telling when, or if John will get out of Wuhan. 'Wuhan seems like it stepped into a Twilight zone episode,' John writes. 'Rod Serling said this in the shows first episode "Where is everybody?" 'Im an American, caught at the center of this chaos in a southern Chinese megacity that has gone from a comfortable, well-run city to the verge of being freaked out.' According to earlier testimony and court documents, Weigel emailed the Valparaiso woman to tell her Browne had accessed his phone and downloaded compromising pictures the woman sent to him. Browne allegedly then sent these images to the woman and threatened to send them to her childrens school. The Valparaiso woman also sought an order of protection against Browne. A woman on fire (File photo) A Nigerian woman has lost her life after setting ablaze over jealousy and rivalry in Gayawa area, Ungogo Local government area of Kano State. According to a report by Vanguard, the housewife identified as Rabi was unhappy with her husband before the sad incident. It was gathered that Rabis husband, Badamasi married another wife some times back and this didnt go down well with Rabi leading to her action to set herself ablaze. The action of Rabi has put her relatives in the state of mourning as they expressed unhappiness with the circumstances surrounding her death. When contacted, the spokesperson of the police, DSP Abdullahi Haruna said he was trying to make an inquiry from the Divisional Police Officer, DPO of the area. However, as at the time of filing this report, DSP Haruna is yet to issue any official statement on the incident. The statement of probable cause does not say what statements, if any, Owen made to police, either at the scene or in any subsequent interviews, about why he fired his gun. As potential criminal defendants in such cases, police officers are not required to give statements to criminal investigators, as their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination allows. They are required to cooperate with internal-affairs investigations, but those statements cannot be used against them in court because they are compelled statements, in violation of the Fifth Amendment. TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nuweba , the FaaS platform making serverless technology 10x faster and safer, today announced an expanded seed funding round of $10.2 million led by Blumberg Capital with participation from Magma Partners and Target Global . Nuweba is pioneering development of the next wave of serverless platforms, and plans to use the new funds to support further technological development of the platform and build a variety of solutions on top of it. Nuweba is bringing serverless technology to the forefront of cloud computing, producing a solution with enhanced speed and unmatched application security and visibility. Nuweba technology enables companies to use serverless for user-facing applications, mission critical and other core workloads, all without having to leave the companies' current ecosystem or change code or configuration. Less than a year after emerging from stealth in February 2019, Nuweba became the first serverless platform to support the use of graphics processing units (GPUs). Recognizing a market need for a high-speed serverless option, Nuweba is bringing serverless to the mainstream with the most optimal architecture for AI/ML use cases. "Serverless technologies are exciting and believed to be the future of cloud, but speed, security and visibility still remain the top obstacles to adoption," said Ido Neeman, CEO, Nuweba. "We're honored to be leading the charge with solutions to these problems, and this additional funding will help continue momentum towards bringing serverless technology mainstream." "It's impressive to see a newcomer to the serverless cloud computing space like Nuweba rise above the competition," said Yodfat Harel Buchris, Managing Director, Blumberg Capital. "The strength and experience of the Nuweba team is undeniable. We're excited to back a company changing the way businesses operate applications in the cloud by solidifying serverless as a leading architecture for modern workloads." For more information, visit www.nuweba.com . About Nuweba Nuweba rearchitected serverless from the kernel up to enable companies to use serverless for applications that require scalability, high performance, advanced application security and deep visibility in real-time. Our fast and secure FaaS platform is compatible with leading serverless platforms, so you can start using Nuweba with only one click and without any changes to your code or configuration. Unleash the full power of serverless with Nuweba. Contacts: Ido Neeman [email protected] Rachel Zucker, PAN Communications [email protected] SOURCE Nuweba Related Links https://www.nuweba.com Ather Energy unveiled an advanced performance and intelligent electric scooter, Ather 450X. The super scooter comes packed with brand new features, advanced 4G connectivity and a brand new ownership model, at INR 99,000 (Bengaluru) up front and a monthly subscription. Ather 450X comes in three new colours; Grey, Green and White. The scooter is powered with a 6kW PMSM motor, a new 2.9 kWh lithium ion battery and comes with 4 riding modes. In addition to Eco, Ride and Sport, Ather is introducing a new high-performance mode, Warp. Ather 450X can go from 0 to 40 kmph in just 3.3 sec in the Warp mode, making it the quickest electric scooter in its category and the perfect choice to navigate through city traffic. The revolutionary improvement in its battery has enabled a projected Indian Drive Cycle (IDC) range of 116 km and a real life range of 85 km in city conditions. Ather 450X will also charge 50% faster than before at 1.5km per minute, making it the fastest charging rate in the electric two-wheeler category. Ather 450X will have a 4G SIM card and Wi-Fi along with Bluetooth connectivity, allowing riders to manage phone calls and music on the touchscreen dashboard. The new 7 touchscreen dashboard, comes with a color depth of 16M and a Snapdragon Quad Core processor. Ather 450X utilises Android Open Source to offer map navigation, On-board diagnostics and other unique features like Over-the-air updates, Auto Indicator off and Guide-me-home lights. The Ather mobile app will continue to offer personalised ride statistics, charging status, push navigation and more functionalities like theft & tow detection, live location & vehicle state tracking, voice assistant and welcome lights. Ather 450X will support connected accessories like smart helmets and tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). Ather recently signed an MoU with the Tamil Nadu government to build a new 400,000 sq ft facility and is now moving to the next phase of its growth. Ather is scaling up its operations across the country with Ather 450X being available across 10 major cities in India beginning with Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad along with Bengaluru and Chennai. Ather 450X Specifications Welcome to Morningstar.co.uk! You have been redirected here from Hemscott.com as we are merging our websites to provide you with a one-stop shop for all your investment research needs.To search for a security, type the name or ticker in the search box at the top of the page and select from the dropdown results.Registered Hemscott users can log in to Morningstar using the same login details. Similarly, if you are a Hemscott Premium user, you now have a Morningstar Premium account which you can access using the same login details. That gave Zuabi his entree to a story that reflects more innocently on the values of an America that can indeed dream big. It was for this playwright-director of mixed heritage I grew up between the Montagues and Capulets, he says also a vehicle for laying bare the dualities that inform his own life. Zuabi is married to a Jewish woman and describes himself as Jewish, but his Muslim forebears figure with as much emotional vigor. And, he says, as a self-identified Palestinian, he moves seamlessly in and out of the tightknit theater world of the West Bank. BAYOU BLUE, La. - A man accused of riding a mower on someone elses land turned out to be a fugitive from Utah who had lived in Louisiana for more than a decade, living without an ID and working only for cash. Lafourche Parish deputies stopped 49-year-old Richard Schleininger in Bayou Blue where residents had recently complained about trespassers after seeing him ride his mower past several no trespassing signs, Sheriff Craig Webre said in a news release Tuesday. He said Schleininger had lived in Bayou Blue for about 11 years. This man was hiding in plain sight, the sheriff said. Other than an animal complaint he made in 2014, we had no other interaction with him until his arrest. He also only worked odd jobs for cash, and by avoiding traditional employment, he was never forced to verify his identity. He carried no ID and gave a false name when arrested Jan. 8 but fingerprints identified him as Schleininger, wanted in Bountiful, Utah, on aggravated assault and felony theft charges from 2003 and 2004, the statement said. He was released from jail Jan. 9 on $1,000 bond but was taken back into custody Jan. 23 after Utah authorities notified the sheriffs office that they plan to extradite him. Lt. Brennan Matherne, a sheriffs office spokesman, said he did not know whether Schleininger has an attorney who could speak for him. In Lafourche Parish, he faces charges of criminal trespassing and resisting an officer. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 29, 2020) - NetCents Technology Inc. (CSE: NC) (FSE: 26N) (OTCQB: NTTCF) ("NetCents" or the "Company"), a disruptive cryptocurrency payments company, is pleased to announce that Nicolas Genko has joined the Company's Board of Advisors. "I am delighted to have Nicolas join our Board of Advisors, Nicolas is an accomplished CTO with deep expertise in the blockchain, cryptocurrency, and banking industries," said Clayton Moore, CEO and Founder of NetCents Technology. "His international experience and keen insights will service the Company well in his role as technical advisor and I'm looking forward working closely with him and Daniel on our upcoming trip to Germany and Switzerland." Mr. Genko brings a breadth and depth of technical knowledge to the advisory board having been heavily involved in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space since 2013. During this time, he has served as the CTO and technology advisor for multiple firms developing smart contracts, multi-currency debit cards, government regulation, exchange platforms, cryptocurrency investment funds, and PCI certification and compliance, as well as end-to-end development and management of large-scale IT infrastructure projects. Prior, Mr. Genko lead data management, business intelligence, and innovation projects for the banking, financial services, and insurance sectors including Credit Suisse and Allianz Global Assistance. Mr. Genko spearheaded innovation projects for Swiss Mobiliar, streamlining their product offerings and developing the process and tools to identify upcoming trends and solutions to keep firms product offering ahead of the curve. Mr. Genko holds a Master's Degree in Sciences majoring in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Ecole Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne, and Institut Superieur Electronique de Paris. "I'm extremely excited to join NetCents' Board of Advisors as the company builds momentum in the global payments field," stated Nicolas Genko. "Having spent the last 7 years' spearheading blockchain and cryptocurrency initiatives in Europe, I'm honoured and excited to leverage this experience to support NetCents' mission of disrupting the global payments industry." About NetCents NetCents Technology Inc, the transactional hub for all cryptocurrency payments, equips forward-thinking businesses with the technology to seamlessly integrate cryptocurrency processing into their payment model without taking on the risk or volatility of the crypto market. NetCents Technology is registered as a Money Services Business (MSB) with FINTRAC. For more information, please visit the corporate website at www.net-cents.com or contact Sonja Bakgaard, Investor Relations: sonja.bakgaard@net-cents.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors NetCents Technology Inc. "Clayton Moore" Clayton Moore, CEO, Founder and Director NetCents Technology Inc. 1000 - 1021 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC, V6E 0C3 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and 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. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates, and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51912 Common Desk, a Dallas-based coworking and hospitality company, plans to open a branch of its Fiction Coffee brand in the lobby of the 1400 Post Oak Blvd. office building in early March. The craft coffee shop, operating in about 700 square feet, will be a new amenity for tenants in Four Oaks Place, a multi-tenant office campus totaling 2.3 million square feet in the Uptown/Galleria area. Four Oaks Place is owned by a joint venture of Allianz and Nuveen Real Estate and leased and managed by Transwestern. CLEVELAND, Ohio Director Steven Soderbergh has the coronavirus outbreak to thank for the surge in popularity of his 2011 film Contagion. The movie starring Matt Damon, Marion Cotillard and Gwyneth Paltrow has moved into the top 10 on iTunes as people are starting to believe it was about nine years ahead of its time. The plot focuses on a mysterious virus that kills more than 25 million people around the world, baffling the Centers for Disease Control. Spoiler Alert: Paltrows character winds up being patient zero after contracting the virus from a chef in Honk Kong who handled a slaughtered pig that had been infected by a bat. Why does this have people freaking out over the coronavirus? Well, the virus, which presents with flu-like symptoms, showed up first in China, possibly originating at a seafood market that sold rats, wolves and other wildlife for human consumption. On Tuesday, two Miami University students who traveled to China were being tested for the coronavirus. The CDC calls the virus an emerging, rapidly evolving situation. Though the risk of getting the virus is extremely low, the CDC had confirmed five cases of coronavirus in this country, with 110 potential cases under investigation throughout the U.S. Two patients in Broome County have tested negative for the coronavirus, as the death toll and infection rate for the disease continue to reach new heights in China. The Broome County Health Department told WBNG-TV that the adult patients were being tested for the disease after returning from China on separate flights. Testing was conducted at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Both patients exhibited respiratory conditions upon their return from China. They were isolated in their homes while testing was completed. No other people in Broome County are being tested, according to the health department. Coronavirus causes fever, difficulty breathing, fatigue and coughing, and has killed more than 130 people and sickened nearly 6,000 around the world, especially in China. In the United States, more than 100 people are being monitored for the virus across 26 states. Binghamton University Health Services put out an alert this week, notifying students and staff that it is carefully monitoring the coronavirus outbreak. Any student who has been in Wuhan, China, in the last 14 days and has fever, cough or shortness of breath is asked to call the office (607-777-2221) before arriving for clinical care, the statement instructed. Elsewhere in Upstate New York, a patient being monitored in Onondaga County also tested negative for the disease. Five cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in California, Arizona, Illinois and Washington. New York had previously announced that four patients had been isolated for testing. The incubation period for the virus is anywhere from two to 14 days, and there is no evidence to suggest that people can be infected without symptoms showing. The CDC has already begun screening people who travel from Wuhan to the U.S. for fevers and other signs of illness at airports in Atlanta (ATL), Chicago (ORD), San Francisco (SFO), New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX). This is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation and CDC will provide updated information as it becomes available, in addition to updated guidance, the CDC website states. CDC is closely monitoring this situation and is working with World Health Organisation. 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 teacher sent flirty messages to a 15-year-old former student weeks before she molested him at a popular beach. Cassandra Hingeley organised to meet the teenager at Woolongong, south of Sydney, January 2017 after the pair exchanged messages, raunchy photos and discussed sex over a few weeks. A few days before Christmas 2017, the 39-year-old told the student she was headed his way and discussed meeting up. The pair knew each other having met when he was a primary student at the school she was teaching at. A teacher sent flirty messages to a 15-year-old former student weeks before she molested him at a popular beach (stock) 'You know I was thinking of coming down this weekend,' Hingeley wrote to him on Instagram. The boy told her he could 'easily' sneak out to meet up with her if she travelled to his hometown, The Daily Telegraph reported. 'F**k I'm seriously thinking about coming down now. How much do you want it,' she responded. 'So f**king much,' he replied. Hingeley then made the two hour and 10 minute drive to meet the former student, according to court documents. She proceeded to pick him up from his house and drove to a beach where they 'kissed and hugged', court documents revealed. The documents also revealed Hingeley began to stroke the young boy's groin area outside of his pants. The pair exchanged messages for several weeks before agreeing to meet up when Hingeley told the boy she was planning on heading his way The pair then walked back to the car and Hingeley dropped him off close to his house. Hingeley was arrested on January 14, 2019, after the teenager told a Life Without Barriers employee. On Wednesday, the court heard Hingeley had a history of depression and was suffering from 'social isolation' at the time of the incident, the publication reported. She was sentenced to eight-month jail term with an 11-week non-parole period and a further three year community corrections order. An AVO was also placed preventing her from contacting the teenager for at least two years. With time already served, Hingeley walked free from court on Wednesday. Vodafone Group has struck a preliminary deal to sell its 55% stake in its Egyptian unit to Saudi Arabias largest telecoms operator STC 7010.SE for $2.4 billion, the companies said on Wednesday. The non-binding deal values Vodafone Egypt at $4.4 billion and the two companies have agreed a arrangement over the long-term use of the Vodafone brand and other services in Egypt. Selling the stake is in line with Vodafones efforts to streamline its operations to focus on Europe and sub-Saharan Africa, Vodafone Chief Executive Nick Read said. It will reduce our net debt and unlock value for our shareholders, he said. Vodafone said the transaction was expected to close by June. STC said the non-binding agreement was valid for 75 days from Wednesday and could be extended by mutual consent. Vodafone Egypt is the leading player in the Egyptian mobile market and we look forward to contributing further to its continuing success, said STC Chief Executive Nasser al-Nasser. The binding agreement is subject to approvals by STC and Vodafone, and regulators. STC said no other parties were involved in the potential deal. STC, also known as Saudi Telecom, is majority owned by Saudi Arabias state fund the Public Investment Fund (PIF). Telecom Egypt, which also owns a stake in Vodafone Egypt, said on Wednesday it was closely monitoring the process to study all available alternatives for it to handle its investments in Vodafone Egypt. The state-owned company said on Sunday it had no intention of selling its stake. Search Keywords: Short link: Firefighters from Meath and Dublin have joined forces to tackle an industrial fire in north County Dublin. Crews from Ashbourne, Dunshaughlin and Navan are at the scene in The Naul along with units from Balbriggan and Skerries. Vancouver, January 29, 2020 - Salazar Resources Ltd. (TSXV: SRL) (FSE: CCG.F) ("Salazar" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the Osos project, El Oro province, Ecuador, and to announce the appointment of Merlin Marr-Johnson as Executive Vice-President: Highlights Extensive sulphide mineralization within porphyries, metamorphic rocks and hydrothermal breccias mapped and tested, peaking at 14.5 g/t gold over 0.6 m in a veined quartzite Apparent correlation of gold and copper grades with sulphide intensity Numerous old workings for gold-silver in high-grade veins and in some hydrothermal breccia zones Targets identified for imminent drill program Fredy Salazar, CEO of Salazar Resources commented, "Work at Los Osos has returned excellent results with extensive mineralization identified in porphyritic intrusions, metamorphics, and in hydrothermal breccia bodies to date. Sampling and mapping of the extensive network of adits and galleries is ongoing, and we have already drawn up drill targets on previously untested bodies. What makes the Osos project so compelling is that it is only 10 km south of the 17 Moz Cangrejos gold project and Pacho Soria, our Chief Geologist, led the discovery team at Cangrejos. He knows the geology at Cangrejos intimately, and recognizes a very similar mineralizing system at Los Osos. Extensive artisanal work at Los Osos historically focused on high-grade, narrow veins. The potentially higher tonnage bodies with disseminated mineralization will be drill-tested for the first time by Salazar Resources this year. We also congratulate Merlin on his promotion to Executive Vice President. Merlin is already an integral member of the management team and will continue to contribute leadership as Salazar Resources focuses on delivering value through discovery in Ecuador." Los Osos Location The Osos project is located in the southwest of Ecuador, in El Oro province, 35 km to the southeast of the town of Machala (population ~240,000), and 10 km to the southwest of the Cangrejos project. Cangrejos is the flagship project for Lumina Gold which contains 16.7 million ounces of gold in the measured and indicated categories, as per the NI 43-101 report published in November 2019. Exploration history Past exploration including mapping, sampling, and an airborne magnetic survey has been carried out by a number of companies, notably Newmont Overseas Exploration (1992-2001) and Kinross Ecuador (2005-2012). Salazar Resources has inherited a partial database of geological, geochemical and geophysical data, including 813 soil samples and 500 rock samples taken from surface and underground in the Kinross era. Separately the company also has maps and magnetic survey data from work done by Newmont. In the past six months Salazar Resources has collected 334 rock samples, re-mapped the area, and digitized historic data. Figure 1. Map of Los Osos Licence area and other licences of interest nearby To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4631/51895_918287f2a4b18a8e_002full.jpg Regional Geology The southwestern part of Ecuador hosts a Miocene porphyry intrusive belt typified by multiple nested late Oligocene to Early Miocene intrusions that are in turn punctured and intruded by a number of porphyry dikes and breccia pipes. The approximately 20 Ma age of the intrusions in the intrusive belt is the same as that of the giant Chilean copper-gold porphyries which range in age from 10-40 Ma years. Local geology and mineralization The geology of the property is comprised of metamorphic rocks, intruded by Tertiary andesites and diorites. Mineralization is present in multiphase hydrothermal breccias, stockwork zones, and porphyry intrusions. When present, the mineralization in the rocks is pervasive and widespread, consisting of pyrite and chalcopyrite in varying quantities. There appears to be a correlation between the intensity of sulphide mineralization and gold and copper grades. In the northeast of licence area there are several NE-SW trending quartz-breccia veins that are up to one meter in thickness and can be traced over several hundred meters. These arsenopyrite-pyrite-chalcopyrite veins contain significant gold and silver values, and have been extensively worked by artisanal miners. Intense propyllitic-argillic alteration and silicification can be observed across the property. Figure 2. Prospect Geology and Mineralisation To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4631/51895_918287f2a4b18a8e_003full.jpg Results Salazar has taken 334 rock samples from both the mineralization in hydrothermal breccias and the veins worked by artisanal miners. The main exploration target for Salazar Resources are the potentially large-tonnage porphyry-related hydrothermal breccias, and to date multiple breccia bodies have been identified within the concession area, some up to 300 m by 200 m in size. As noted above, there is abundant sulphide mineralization in the area and mapping and sampling is ongoing. Results shown below are from two separate areas (Areas A and B shown in Figure 2 above) that the Company believes are illustrative of the type of mineralization present in Los Osos. Area A exhibits porphyritic intrusions into metasediments visible in the walls of a stream gully in the central portion of the licence area. The mineralization can be traced over approximately 50 m, despite limited exposure. Four samples were taken from the gully ranging from 0.4 g/t gold over fault zone, to 14.5 g/t gold from a channel sample in veined quartzite. Results from Area A, sampled over 50 m Sample # Sample type Width m Au_ppm Ag_ppm Cu_ppm Zn_ppm As_ppm Lithology 52455 Panel 0.1 0.4 0.3 271 42 242 Fault zone 52456 Panel 0.6 14.5 8.8 3430 19 >10000 Quartzite / Vein 52457 Panel 0.5 8.1 43.5 7117 23 >10000 Quartzite 52458 Channel 0.8 0.6 4.3 215 14 256 Quartzite Area B is traceable as a broadly continuous breccia body in underground workings over approximately 100m, and mappable at surface approximately 600 m northeast of Area A. Thirty three samples were taken from the underground workings, and range in grade from six separate samples that returned 0.1 g/t gold in channel samples, to a panel sample in breccia that returned 4.5 g/t gold. Results from Area B, sampled over 100m Sample # Sample type Width m Au_ppm Ag_ppm Cu_ppm Zn_ppm As_ppm Lithology 52254 Panel 1.0 0.2 3.7 314 3 922 Breccia 52255 Panel 0.5 0.3 3.1 350 13 446 Breccia 52256 Panel 0.8 0.2 3.7 1357 260 113 Intrusive 52258 Channel 0.8 0.7 0.5 105 3 219 Vein 52261 Panel 1.0 0.3 0.3 901 41 332 Intrusive 52263 Panel 0.6 0.4 0.2 106 10 106 Breccia 52264 Panel 0.5 0.3 4.1 8291 98 22 Intrusive 52267 Panel 0.7 0.7 4.6 244 7 1436 Breccia 52268 Panel 0.8 1.1 5.2 632 3 1168 Breccia 52269 Panel 1.2 0.2 4.9 151 11 517 Breccia 52271 Panel 0.9 0.6 2.3 1307 49 6118 Breccia 52275 Panel 1.2 0.2 5.6 160 3 263 Quartzite 52276 Channel 3.0 2.5 3.5 201 3 863 Breccia 52277 Panel 1.0 0.1 0.3 57 3 350 Breccia 52278 Panel 0.8 4.5 15.5 281 3 >10000 Breccia 52279 Channel 0.0 0.7 1.4 1246 64 >10000 Fault 52281 Channel 0.1 0.2 0.8 776 122 9177 Fault 52284 Panel 0.7 0.2 0.4 125 17 83 Quartzite 52285 Panel 1.0 0.1 0.1 55 61 50 Quartzite 52287 Channel 0.0 0.2 0.4 98 125 248 Vein 52291 Panel 0.8 0.1 0.4 179 20 507 Quartzite 52294 Panel 1.0 0.3 0.7 233 30 17 Quartzite 52295 Panel 1.0 0.4 0.4 275 24 23 Intrusive 52296 Panel 0.8 1.2 0.6 65 8 8889 Breccia 52298 Panel 1.0 0.1 0.3 130 37 17 Quartzite 52301 Chips 5.0 0.1 0.1 37 3 10 Breccia 52366 Panel 1.0 0.2 4.6 1377 44 742 Quartzite 52367 Panel 1.0 0.1 1.6 346 29 196 Quartzite 52371 Panel 1.0 0.1 1.3 167 9 152 Quartzite 52375 Panel 1.0 0.1 2.8 549 31 166 Intrusive 52376 Panel 1.0 0.5 1.6 291 31 123 Intrusive 52384 Channel 0.6 0.3 0.1 134 12 86 Fault 52386 Channel 0.6 0.2 5.4 222 20 545 Fault / Breccia Results from the underground vein sampling in the far northeast of the concession returned extremely high grades. Of 63 underground vein samples in this area, 32 were in the range of 3.0 to 79.8 g/t gold, and 52 of the samples were 1.0 g/t gold or above. The results from these samples are included below. Results from NE-SW veins in the northeast of the licence area Sample # Width m Au_ppm Ag_ppm Cu_ppm Zn_pp, As_ppm Lithology 50831 1.0 12.9 27.7 1548 19 >10000 Vein 50832 0.5 0.1 1.4 97 45 987 Vein 51996 0.8 22.6 27.7 1708 527 >10000 Vein / Breccia 51998 0.8 2.3 13.0 454 190 >10000 Vein / Breccia 51999 0.5 2.8 28.3 572 897 3255 Vein / Breccia 52156 0.1 18.5 28.2 3144 54 >10000 Vein 52157 0.2 2.5 4.3 213 16 >10000 Vein 52158 0.2 7.5 13.2 832 415 >10000 Vein 52159 0.4 1.9 12.8 1251 809 8088 Vein 52160 0.2 32.7 81.9 8828 1699 >10000 Vein 52161 1.0 1.2 10.8 367 152 2418 Vein 52162 0.1 1.1 12.0 499 68 2598 Vein 52167 0.2 0.1 1.5 67 19 116 Veinlets 52168 0.4 1.3 8.3 1664 111 2495 Vein 52169 0.1 4.2 14.6 557 206 >10000 Vein 52171 0.1 46.1 46.6 224 160 2008 Vein 52173 0.1 1.9 1.5 19 21 432 Vein 52175 0.4 6.0 2.9 107 35 612 Vein 52178 0.1 1.0 7.6 66 27 2348 Vein 52182 0.1 0.3 5.0 112 135 343 Vein 52185 0.5 8.5 16.5 1118 190 >10000 Veinlets 52186 0.8 0.3 2.0 303 25 978 Veinlets 52188 0.5 0.1 1.3 51 124 282 Veinlets 52192 0.1 1.0 29.7 361 98 2878 Vein 52196 0.6 0.4 33.6 51 46 740 Veinlets 52197 0.7 0.5 21.3 143 115 4388 Veinlets 52201 0.6 0.2 5.3 74 190 414 Veinlets 52204 0.3 3.5 25.0 1384 7670 >10000 Vein 52209 0.4 10.9 43.8 922 95 >10000 Vein 52211 0.2 6.8 7.6 970 2531 >10000 Vein 52212 0.4 14.7 36.3 657 183 >10000 Vein 52214 0.3 5.3 12.7 447 740 >10000 Vein 52215 0.2 31.1 94.1 2778 40370 >10000 Vein 52225 0.3 14.0 65.0 1414 8253 >10000 Vein 52233 0.1 18.3 4.0 10 103 >10000 Vein 52237 0.1 79.8 124.8 1809 39830 >10000 Vein 52243 0.4 11.8 63.1 1055 3540 >10000 Vein 52245 0.4 3.3 17.9 846 144 >10000 Vein 52302 0.4 1.2 6.6 464 177 5259 Vein / Breccia 52304 1.0 1.8 13.1 684 126 6061 Vein / Breccia 52306 0.8 0.9 6.3 597 27 6773 Vein / Breccia 52308 1.0 29.4 74.0 5514 106 >10000 Vein / Breccia 52311 1.0 31.1 116.8 1151 71 >10000 Vein / Breccia 52313 1.2 3.2 19.7 221 54 >10000 Vein / Breccia 52318 3.0 1.1 5.4 387 185 2118 Vein / Breccia 52319 1.5 8.8 9.5 664 113 >10000 Vein / Breccia 52320 1.3 1.3 3.1 41 7 3955 Vein / Breccia 52321 1.3 0.4 2.5 30 13 341 Vein / Breccia 52323 0.7 2.1 2.5 145 44 >10000 Vein / Breccia 52330 0.7 6.4 64.2 8511 325 >10000 Vein / Breccia 52331 0.2 36.4 40.7 1091 1428 >10000 Vein 52332 0.2 2.0 10.4 941 545 >10000 Vein 52334 0.4 15.7 13.5 751 189 >10000 Vein 52335 0.5 1.2 15.5 79 19 726 Vein 52338 0.3 34.6 11.2 486 303 >10000 Vein 52339 0.4 2.8 19.0 109 24 5208 Vein 52342 0.3 3.2 23.5 2081 163 >10000 Vein 52343 1.1 1.7 5.5 319 25 >10000 Vein 52352 0.2 4.7 22.6 1141 666 >10000 Vein 52355 0.9 2.5 59.5 75 34 3578 Vein 52356 0.6 28.1 41.8 158 131 6978 Vein 52358 0.7 0.6 8.1 552 66 378 Vein 52359 0.3 22.0 60.4 468 563 >10000 Vein Interpretation and plans Salazar notes the similarities in the geological setting of Los Osos to the Cangrejos deposits. Francisco "Pacho" Soria, Chief Geologist for Salazar Resources spent five years exploring the Cangrejos deposits, taking the project through targeting, soil and rock chip sampling, mapping, and the first twenty nine drill holes, all of which intersected mineralization. Collating Pacho's experience, the historic database and recent assay results, the Company believes that the distribution of gold mineralization visible to date at Los Osos is highly encouraging. A drill plan targeting areas of intense sulphide mineralization is being developed and the Company aims to start drilling at Los Osos in Q2 2020. The high grade veins in the northeast of the concession area illustrate that the mineralizing systems at Los Osos are metal rich. The veins do not, however, represent a priority exploration target for Salazar Resources. QAQC Salazar maintains a rigorous chain-of-custody and quality assurance/quality control program that includes the insertion of certified standard control samples and blanks, and re-analysis of samples with high levels (over limit) of gold, copper and zinc. All samples were analysed by Inspectorate Services Peru S.A.C. (Bureau Veritas), a certified ISO 17025:1999 and ISO 9001:2000 laboratory. The laboratory also maintains a QAQC program that includes insertion of blanks, standards and duplicate reanalysis of selected samples. Gold was analysed by fire assay - atomic absorption spectroscopy (FA-AAS). Silver, copper, zinc and other elements were analyzed by aqua regia extraction with an Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) finish. Qualified Person Kieran Downes, P. Geo., a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and verified the technical information provided in this release. Corporate Salazar Resources is pleased to announce the appointment of Merlin Marr-Johnson as an Executive Vice President of the Company. Mr Marr-Johnson joined the company in January 2019 as VP Corporate Development. About Salazar Salazar Resources (SRL.V) (CCG.F) is a mineral resource company engaged in the exploration and development of mineral deposits in Ecuador and Colombia. The company has a proven Ecuadorian discovery team led by ex-head of Newmont Ecuador, Fredy Salazar; a team of 40 people including fifteen geologists; three drill rigs and an unrivalled Ecuadorian 'grass roots' network. The Salazar team has been involved with many discoveries in Ecuador, including including Curipamba (Adventus Mining and Salazar Resources), Fruta Del Norte (Lundin Gold), the Mozo deposit, Cangrejos (Lumina Gold) Rio Blanco (Junefield Mineral Resources and Hunnan Gold), and Gaby (ENAMI). Salazar Resources aspires to be Ecuador's leading project generator with the right partners at the right time making the company self-funding. Salazar Resources has a farm-out agreement with Adventus on the Curipamba VMS discovery, whereby Adventus can earn 75% of the project by funding exploration and development expenditures of US$25 million before October 2022. A feasibility study is expected to be completed during 2021, after which Adventus is required to fund 100% of the development and construction expenditures to commercial production. In addition, Salazar Resources has a funded exploration alliance with Adventus on two other projects, Pijili and Santiago, within a defined Area of Interest. Salazar Resources is advancing its 100% owned Ruminahui, Macara, and Los Osos projects with the aim of making Ecuador's next significant copper-gold discovery. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF Salazar Resources Ltd. Fredy Salazar Salazar Resources (Chief Executive Officer) fsalazar@salazarresources.com Tel: +593 (0) 99 733 6152 Merlin Marr-Johnson Salazar Resources (Executive Vice President) merlin@salazarresources.com Tel: +44 20 7389 5023 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 news release. This press release contains "forward -looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, identified by words or phrases such as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "is expected", "scheduled", "estimates", "pending", "intends", "plans", "forecasts", "targets", or "hopes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "will", "should" "might", "will be taken", or "occur" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information herein includes, but is not limited to, statements that address activities, events or developments that Salazar expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Although Salazar has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Salazar undertakes to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51895 Campus News Business of cannabis topic of new bridge course The UB School of Law bridge course "The Green Rush" addresses the legal issues surrounding both medical and recreational marijuana. SCHOOL OF LAW STAFF The war on drugs made it taboo to talk about marijuana. But now its a real business, its a career for a lot of lawyers, and its something thats going to blossom. And in New York, were right on the edge. Aleece Burgio, UB Law alumna and instructor The Green Rush UB Law alumna Aleece Burgio is convinced that marijuana is going to be the next boom industry. Its an industry that needs a legal framework and guidance for its entrepreneurial growers, processors and retailers. And thats the substance of Burgios practice at the Buffalo office of Barclay Damon, where she heads the firms multidisciplinary cannabis practice team. And its the basis of the bridge course she is co-teaching at the law school this month, called The Green Rush. The course is co-taught by UB alumna Lee Williams, corporate counsel at the Dent Neurologic Institute, where she oversees the legal and compliance program for the Dent Cannabis Clinic. The Dent clinic has certified more than 10,000 patients under New Yorks medical marijuana program and performs some of the foremost research in the world on cannabis as a treatment for chronic conditions. Cannabis touches so many areas of the law, says Williams. Our goal is to expose law students to that reality and equip them to analyze each emerging issue. Overall, the recognition and enthusiasm from the law school and its students is really encouraging. Cannabis is a broad umbrella, Burgio explains, encompassing both recreational marijuana, which is legal in 11 states, and medical marijuana, which is available in 33 states, as well as hemp and the suddenly popular CBD products. The course, which has more than 40 registered students, covers the history of the plant, the science behind it, and how federal, state and local governments have sought to regulate its use and reap tax revenue from its sale. Lee Williams 16 (left) and Aleece Burgio 15 are co-teaching "The Green Rush" bridge course in the School of Law. PHOENIX A confirmed case of a virus outbreak from China at Arizona State University has left students feeling alarmed, despite the schools attempts to tamp down panic. From putting on masks to signing a petition to cancel classes, students are questioning whether the university and health officials were doing enough. The university said in a statement that its Tempe campus was open. Officials also reiterated the Arizona Department of Health Services findings that the risk to the general public of contracting the strain of coronavirus was low. State health officials confirmed Sunday that one person in Maricopa County was infected with the new virus. The patient has ties to the ASU community but does not live in school housing. The person had traveled to Wuhan, China, which is at the epicenter of the outbreak. Officials with the state Department of Health Services said the patient wasnt severely ill and was isolated at home to keep the illness from spreading. The department said it would not release potentially identifying information on the person, including the gender and age, and declined to say whether the person was a student or faculty member. Public health is communicating with individuals exposed to the case who are at risk of becoming infected. If a person has not been contacted by Maricopa County Public Health, they are not at risk, spokeswoman Sonia Singh said. A university call center received about 60 calls Monday asking about whether classes would be canceled, according to the school. Nearly 20,000 students, meanwhile, have signed a Change.org petition calling on the university to do more. The petition is demanding the university cease classes until more precautions are taken such as disinfecting areas the patient visited. David Klein, a junior who lives in an apartment building not far from campus, is going to class. But he is making sure to wash his hands often. Im not completely buying into all the hysteria, Klein said. But Im staying diligent about pushing elevator buttons with the back of my elbow or my wrist just general winter flu precautions. One of his roommates, however, opted to stay at his girlfriends for the next 10 days. And other residents in his building are making temporary living arrangements. Some students are wearing masks around campus and have also taken to social media to complain about stores in and around Tempe running out of masks. There have been four other coronavirus cases reported in the U.S. two in Southern California and one each in Washington state and Chicago. All are people who had recently traveled from central China. Memo to David Schwimmer: Friends was not the first Friends." While fans have been holding out for a revival of the NBC show, the actor, known for playing Ross on the hit 90s sitcom, recently commented that maybe an all-black or all-Asian cast could be a new take on the popular series. Except Friends" was already a new take on a show with an all-black cast. For anyone, like Schwimmer, who seems to have forgotten that fact along with the whole concept of living in a 90s kind of world" that show was Living Single." The concept for the show, which aired on Fox and is currently available on Hulu, proved attractive to NBC, only with an all-white cast. Schwimmer made the comment in an interview with The Guardian. Maybe there should be an all-black Friends or an all-Asian Friends, the actor said. But I was well aware of the lack of diversity and I campaigned for years to have Ross date women of color. One of the first girlfriends I had on the show was an Asian American woman, and later I dated African American women. That was a very conscious push on my part." Those who fondly remember Living Single" immediately seized on the ridiculousness of Schwimmers statement and took the opportunity to educate anyone unaware of the link, getting Living Single trending on Twitter Tuesday night. Newarks own Queen Latifah starred as magazine editor Khadijah James in the series about a group of friends. The show, created by Yvette Lee Bowser, ran from 1993 to 1998. NBCs Friends," created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, premiered in 1994, running with the format of a series that revolved around six friends only this time it was Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Ross, Joey and Chandler, not Khadijah, Overton, Maxine, Regine, Synclaire and Kyle. Erika Alexander co-starred as attorney Maxine Shaw. She took notice of Schwimmers comment, tweeting that he should remedy his ignorance of Living Single with no less than a 4 yr edutainment" session, presumably meaning he should binge the entire series. Help me school him, she said, calling on Latifah and co-stars Kim Fields, Kim Coles, T.C. Carson and John Henton. Alexander linked to an interview with Shadow and Act in which she talks about the differences between the marketing of and reception to Living Single and Friends. Latifah previously addressed the connection between the two shows. We knew we had already been doing that," she told Andy Cohen in a 2017 interview on Bravos Watch What Happens Live. It was one of those things where it was a guy called Warren Littlefield that used to run NBC, and they asked him when all the new shows came out, they said, If theres any show you could have, which one would it be? And he said Living Single. And then he created Friends. At the time, Latifah said she was working on a Living Single series revival. Friends was an all-white reboot of Living Single. https://t.co/zno13ka3se Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) January 28, 2020 Living Single was created by Yvette Lee Bowser for Warner Bros & debuted in 93. One of the original suggested titles was Friends. Asked if he could have any show on TV, NBCs pres. said Living Single. In 1994 Warner Bros debuted a new production on NBC Friends michaelharriot (@michaelharriot) January 28, 2020 Yes, Friends was a ripoff of Queen Latifahs Living Single. This, from 1996: Friends is a really good sample of Living Single. https://t.co/fynLg6PfKx pic.twitter.com/ELGicwkZ3m Joe Black (@joeblackzw) January 28, 2020 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. Francis began a cycle of catechesis, dedicated to the Beatitudes, which are a message for all humanity". God, to give himself to us, often chooses unthinkable paths, perhaps those of our limits, of our tears, of our defeats. Vatican City (AsiaNews) Pope Francis today began a new cycle of catechesis dedicated to the Beatitudes, globally framing Jesuss words, which he will follow with commentaries on each Beatitude, one by one. The latter are "the path Jesus proposes to us", the Christian 'identity card because they define the face of Jesus himself, his lifestyle, for whom blessed is not someone who is doing well, but someone who is in a condition of grace, who progresses in Gods grace, who progresses on Gods path. The Pope stressed first of all how the proclamation of this message came about. Jesus spoke from a mountain and his message was addressed to the disciples, but on the horizon, there were crowds, that is, all of humanity. It was a message for all humanity. Jesus began to teach a new law: to be poor, to be meek, to be merciful ... These 'new commandments' are much more than rules. In fact, Jesus did not impose anything, but revealed the path of happiness, his path, by repeating the word 'blessed' eight times. Each Beatitude is made up of three parts. The first always has the word 'blessed'; then comes the situation in which the blessed find themselves poverty in spirit, affliction, hunger and thirst for justice, and so on; and finally, there is the reason for the beatitude, introduced by the conjunction 'why'. It would be nice to learn them by heart in order to have in mind and heart the rules Jesus gives us. Let us heed this fact: the reason for beatitude is not the current situation, but the new condition that the blessed receive as a gift from God for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, [. . .] for they will be comforted [. . .] for they will inherit the land, and so on. "In the third element, which is precisely the reason for happiness, Jesus often uses a passive future: 'they will be comforted', 'they will inherit the earth', 'they will be satisfied', 'they will be forgiven', 'they will be called children of God'. But what does the word 'blessed' mean? The original Greek term makarios does not indicate someone who has a full belly or is doing well, but a person who is in a condition of grace, who progresses in Gods grace, who progresses on Gods path. God, to give himself to us, often chooses unthinkable paths, perhaps those of our limits, of our tears, of our defeats. It is the Easter joy of which the Eastern brothers speak, the one that has the stigmata but is alive, has gone through death and experienced the power of God. It is the path that leads to joy. It will do us good today to heed the Gospel of Matthew 5:1-11 and read the Beatitudes, to understand the path that Jesus proposes to us. The Beatitudes, the Pope noted in greeting French-speaking pilgrims, teach us that God, to give himself to us, often chooses unthinkable paths, those of our limits, of our tears, of our defeats. Let us ask the Lord for the Spirit of the Beatitudes so that we can experience the power of God, manifested in our daily sufferings. In his greeting in Arabic, the pontiff added that the Beatitudes "are a map of life: they do not ask for superhuman actions, but to imitate Jesus in everyday life. Finally, in his greeting in Polish, Francis noted that next Sunday, on the solemnity of the Presentation of the Lord, the Day of Consecrated Life will be celebrated. Let us pray for the men and women religious who dedicate themselves to God and to their brothers and sisters in daily service, according to their own charism, so that they may always be faithful witnesses of Christ's saving love. Let us also pray for new vocations to consecrated life. The figure has been set in an agreement signed between Endesa's general director of Marketing, Javier Uriarte, and the general director of FEDA, Albert Moles From 2021, the total amount of energy with green certification will be 70 GWh/year and this will enable the provision of cleaner energy to citizens The rest of the electricity imported into the Principality will continue to be provided by Endesa Endesa will guarantee, starting next year, that 33% of the energy Andorra receives from Spain will be renewable in origin. This was stipulated in the agreement signed today (1/21), Tuesday, between Endesa's general director of Marketing, Javier Uriarte, and the general director of FEDA (the electricity producer, importer and distributor in Andorra), Albert Moles. The contract is underpinned by the will of the two companies to firmly commit to reducing CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. Specifically, the agreement foresees that 70 GWh of electrical energy will be imported annually with the certification of renewable origin issued by the National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC), which is equivalent to approximately one third of the electrical energy that is imported into the Principality from Spain. The remaining energy consumed annually in Andorra, up to 210 Gwh, will continue to be supplied by Endesa, as before, and with the energy mix offered by the market. Thanks to this commitment, acquired for the next 10 years, Andorra's citizens will receive cleaner energy and it is expected that, in the future, the proportion of certified renewable energy will continue to increase as the importance of green energy grows, which will gradually displace fossil fuels. During the signing of the agreement, the general director of FEDA, Albert Moles, stated that the organisation is increasingly committed to renewable energy and reducing CO2 emissions, and that this commitment cannot only relate to its own electricity production, but that it has to be extended to the energy that is imported, since it still represents most of what is consumed. For his part, Endesa's general director of Marketing, Javier Uriarte, explained that signing this agreement demonstrates Endesa's firm commitment to continue leading the energy transition and the fact that it is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In addition, he indicated that it reinforces the Company's commitment to 100% decarbonise the energy mix by 2050, with a roadmap that sets out ambitious objectives for the coming years, while continuing to meet needs customer and improve services. FEDA and Endesa have maintained a close relationship since 1998 and have wanted to strengthen ties with the signing of this agreement, since the two companies share a commitment to the energy transition with the aim of fighting climate change. With more people infected with the coronavirus than had been with SARS, Chinas healthcare system is feeling the strain. Chengdu, China On January 20, Fubins father started coughing and running a fever. As residents of Wuhan, they knew about a deadly new coronavirus that had originated in the central Chinese city weeks ago, but decided to stay home and hope the symptoms would subside. Four days later, when his fathers body temperature soared to 40 degrees, Fubin rushed him to hospital. Together they headed to the Wuhan Union Hospital but, at reception, they were turned away. They were told they had to go to one of seven hospitals the government had designated for fever patients. The two men went to Wuhan Red Cross Hospital, one of the designated facilities, and found the line of people waiting to get checked was so long they would have to wait outside potentially for hours in the cold and rain. They decided to try their luck elsewhere. The second and third hospital were both packed. It took Fubin two days to get his father admitted to Wuhan No 5 Hospital, and he is one of the lucky ones. As thousands, if not tens of thousands, of fever patients who fear they might have caught the novel coronavirus that has now killed more than 100 people rush to Wuhans hospitals, the outbreak is testing Chinas healthcare system on a scale not seen since the country was hit by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, 17 years ago. The response from the government has been utter chaos, said a nurse who works in Wuhan and preferred not to disclose her name. The current healthcare system was completely unready for a situation like this. The nurse works at one of the designated hospitals, treating victims of a virus that has already infected nearly 10,000 people. You would think the government and hospitals had learned something from the SARS outbreak and prepared ourselves for another emergency like this, she said angrily over the phone. But no they learned nothing. Most Chinese go straight to hospital when they are sick, leading to huge queues for treatment [cnsphoto via Reuters] First line of defence There have been urgent appeals for medical supplies not only in Wuhan and the province of Hubei, but beyond. The government has blamed the Lunar New Year holiday, when factories traditionally close, for the shortages of masks, goggles and other crucial supplies, saying it is hard to step up manufacturing during the festive season. Shortly after the SARS epidemic, the Chinese government established and updated several times a medical materials reserve system that was supposed to ensure sufficient supplies in the event of any public health emergency. However, reports filed with the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention suggest reserves at some hospitals have not been maintained. In a 2019 article detailing Guiyang provinces emergency medical supplies reserve, the provincial CDC said that, of the 11 items needed in the event of a public health emergency, only five items were fully stocked at the local level. There are priorities in our expenditure budget and none of us couldve expected an emergency like this, an officer from Sichuans provincial CDC told Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity. So I believe sometimes the supplies reserve might not be ideal. For ordinary patients like Fubin, it is not just the lack of medical supplies. In China, a lack of properly trained general practitioners means the first line of defence often does not exist. There is a lack of trust in clinics and GPs, who are often difficult to find, and people prefer to go straight to hospital as soon as they need medical care. In Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, that meant a flood of patients in the initial days of the outbreak as people lined up in front of hospitals, hoping to get treatment. China is building new field hospitals to cope with the surge in patients as a result of the coronavirus. The first 1,000-bed hospital is expected to be completed by 3 February [Yuan Zheng/EPA] Health inequality The majority of people rushed to a limited number of well-known hospitals, also known as a Grade III Level A hospitals, the highest category determined by the Ministry of Health. Grade III Level A hospitals have attracted the most qualified medical staff and modern equipment, and the well-known concentration of resources has put immense pressure on these hospitals. Of course, Id only go to Grade III Level A hospital, Fubin said. I doubt other hospitals have doctors good enough to treat diseases properly. Many experts have said that a sudden rush to these medical facilities might have contributed to the widespread cross-infection. Authorities are now building two more temporary hospitals to accommodate the expected thousands of cases. We understand that a lot of patients are choosing top hospitals over others, the Municipal Party Secretary of Wuhan said during a news conference. But were trying to change the mentality now so more people could get treated. But that does not address a larger problem: the unequal distribution of medical resources across China. The level of medical care available in an area almost directly correlates with a provinces level of development. In Hubei province, 44 out of 88 Grade III Level A hospitals are located in Wuhan, home to 11 million of the provinces more than 50 million people. In China overall, most of the best hospitals are found in the more developed, and wealthier, eastern coastal cities. Such inequality also extends to the provision of medical staff in different locations. In Beijing, the capital and home to approximately 20 million people, there are 100,000 registered doctors, whereas in Sichuan, a western province of more than 80 million people, there are 200,000, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. That means while there are 4.63 doctors per 1,000 people in the capital, there are only 2.46 per 1,000 in Sichuan. A medic at the Wuhan Union Hospital in Wuhan. China has deployed nearly 6,000 extra health workers to Wuhan to cope with the demand caused by the coronavirus [Xiao Yijiu/Xinhua via AP Photo] Hubei province has only 150,000 doctors, the majority of whom are stationed in Wuhan. To relieve the pressure on the limited number of medics currently fighting on the front line, close to 6,000 doctors and nurses from across China have been parachuted into Wuhan and other surrounding cities, in the hope of containing the outbreak. Work harder But the lack of doctors is not specific to Wuhan: China simply does not have enough of them, especially those who work in intensive care. The World Health Organization says that China has 17 doctors for every 10,000 people, well behind the worlds best 82 per 10,000 people in Cuba. And, while the country has made progress in improving health indicators over the past decade, few see much incentive to become a doctor. The hyper tension and mistrust between the patients and doctors, the low salary of most doctors, and unpredictable hours all contribute to the lack of motive to become a doctor in China, said Zhou, a surgeon at Chengdus Huaxi Hospital who preferred not to share their full name. This outbreak has revealed some of the major problems in our healthcare system that shouldve been addressed before, Zhou added. I have confidence that these problems will be fixed soon. In Wuhan, having had three days of treatment, Fubins father is on the mend. His son is relieved. I would be lying if I said that I wasnt terrified that my father might not be able to get treatment, he said. Im glad that hes getting better, but there are still so many people unable to get treatment, and the government should really work harder to address the problem. Airlines across the globe suspended more flights to China, as governments tightened up on travel to help stop the spread of the deadly Wuhan virus. British Airways halted daily flights to Beijing and Shanghai from Londons Heathrow airport, after U.K. officials advised against non-essential travel. The U.K. flag carrier said it would reassess over the next few days. Hong Kongs Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. said separately it would cut capacity to China by 50% or more starting Thursday, in another blow to a carrier already under strain from protests in Hong Kong. In the U.S., United Airlines Inc. said it would reduce flights to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Governments have stepped up efforts to stop the spread of the disease as clusters of the infection began cropping up in countries outside of China, including Germany. Thats caused airlines, which had already pulled back from Wuhan, to place other other Chinese destinations off limits. Wuhans airport handles about 25 million passengers a year. The number of confirmed cases in China soared to 5,974 -- overtaking the countrys official count of SARS patients -- while 132 people were reported to have died of the coronavirus. Germany said Tuesday it identified a cluster of local patients infected by a woman from Shanghai who had been visiting Europe, a worrying sign as it suggests the potential for additional spread outside China. The increased alarm has already had an effect on travel within China during the Lunar New Year holiday season. Domestic travel on railways, road, water and airplanes in China fell 7.4% between Jan. 10 and Jan. 28, Peoples Daily reported, citing the Ministry of Transport. Several South Korean carriers have also halted flights to Chinese cities, including Asiana Airlines Inc., Jeju Air Co. and Jin Air Co., while Finnair Oyj and Air Macau Co. are among others taking similar steps. Bloomberg Intelligence analysts James Teo and Chris Muckensturm said China Southern Airlines Co. could face the biggest blow among the countrys big three carriers as it controls 30% of Wuhans seat capacity, with routes to and from the capital of Hubei province accounting for 3.6% of its seats. That compares with 1.5% for Air China Ltd., which is also vulnerable, the analysts wrote in a report. Passenger traffic at airlines such as Cathay and China Southern plunged 32% to 37% in the first half of 2003 because of the SARS pandemic, Teo and Muckensturm added. This time, international airports swift implementation of preventative measures can help blunt the impact, they said. China Southern shares fell as much as 6.7% as trading resumed in Hong Kong following the Lunar New Year break, while Air China slid 5.5% and China Eastern Airlines Co. dropped as much as 7.7%. A French police officer was seriously injured on Tuesday during clashes between riot police and firefighters demanding better pay. Paris police chief Didier Lallement condemned the violence during a hospital visit to the patient. The first signs of trouble emerged Tuesday when firefighters tried to block traffic on the inner ring road of Porte de Bagnolet in the east of Paris, sparking rebuke from the prefecture's office on social media for not respecting the agreed protest route. The itinerary for Tuesday's protest, attended by thousands of firefighters, was planned for Avenue de la Republique to Nation in central Paris. However, before reaching the route's end, scuffles broke out between demonstrators and riot police, who fired teargas and used batons. Videos of the clashes went viral on social media adding pressure on the government over French police tactics of crowd control. Hit by bomb On Wednesday, French media reported that a police officer had been seriously injured in the foot after being hit by a homemade bomb. He was later transported to a nearby hospital. The following morning, Paris police chief Didier Lallement visited him. Lallement, who expressed his support to the officers and gendarmes deployed during the protest, issued a press release condemning the violence. Mortar shells also burnt two other officers during the clashes, according to the Unite SGP police union. Firefighters are demanding better pay and conditions, including an increase in their hazard bonus, which has not changed since 1990. Dressed in uniform, in defiance of a police ban, some set their uniforms alight as a symbolic gesture before colleagues put out the fires. In October, firefighters also protested in Paris, calling for better pay, guarantees of their pension benefits and greater respect for their profession. Palestinian president dismisses Trump's plan as 'conspiracy' Iran Press TV Wednesday, 29 January 2020 12:57 AM Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has adamantly dismissed as a "conspiracy" the Washington's so-called peace plan for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Abbas made the remark on Tuesday as he warned US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the Palestinian people's rights were "not for sale." "I say to Trump and Netanyahu: Jerusalem is not for sale, all our rights are not for sale and are not for bargain. And your deal, the conspiracy, will not pass," Abbas said in a televised address in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah. The Palestinian president also warned that the people of Palestine would never accept Trump's proposal, saying, "What should I wait for? If Jerusalem is not part of it (a Palestinian state) will we accept a State without Jerusalem? It is impossible for any Palestinian, Muslim or Christian child to accept this. Therefore, we told them from the beginning, No!" Abbas's remarks in Ramallah came after a meeting with Palestinian factions including the resistance movements of Fatah and Hamas, which both rejected the plan. Hamas said it would confront Trump's "aggressive" proposals and accused him of talking "nonsense" about Jerusalem al-Quds. "This is our land and this is our capital, we will not accept any alternative, we will not accept only part of it nor part out of it. Jerusalem is Palestine's capital and we don't care about Trump. Jerusalem will stay ours with all its churches, al-Aqsa mosque and all the sacred sites," said Khalil al-Hayya, a senior member of the Hamas political bureau. Earlier in the day, Trump repeated his highly controversial endorsement of occupied Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel's "undivided capital" as he outlined his administration's self-styled plan for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which Palestinians have already dismissed. Defying international outcry, Trump announced the general provisions of the plan he calls "the deal of century" at the White House with the Israeli premier at his side. He endorsed his contentious recognition in December 2017 of Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel's "capital," a move he took in the face of Palestinian demands that the holy city should serve as the capital of their future state. He said the plan envisages the city as the Israeli regime's "undivided capital." The so-called peace plan is widely expected to take the US's pro-Israeli brinksmanship to a whole new level, with various reports warning that it seeks to lay the groundwork for Israel's annexation of about half of the West Bank, which the regime occupied in 1967, including most of the Jordan Valley. Thousands of Palestinians protested in Gaza, and people across the West Bank and Jerusalem voiced their objection and anger over the contentious plan. Local reports said 13 Palestinians had been injured by Israeli forces during protests against the US president's so-called peace plan in the occupied West Bank. One person was taken to the hospital after being hit with a rubber bullet in the city of Ramallah and 12 others suffered exposure to tear gas. US 'deal of shame' dangerous for West Asia: Hezbollah The Lebanese Resistance Movement of Hezbollah also on Tuesday said Trump's so-called peace plan is a means to destroy Palestinians' rights. Hezbollah said Arab courtiers are complicit in a "deal of shame" that bodes ill for the region. "The settlement project under this deal is one of the biggest dangers and aims to do away with the right of return...and to create social and demographic tension and sedition that only serve the enemy's interests and expansionist goals," the movement said in a statement. "Hezbollah condemns and rejects the deal of shame that the savage Trump administration launched against the Palestinian people, their land, their holy sites and their legitimate and natural rights," it added. "This deal would not have happened without the complicity and betrayal of several Arab regimes who are secret and public partners in this conspiracy," without naming the countries. Moreover, Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah movement denounced the US-proposed plan as a blatant act of aggression against Palestinians. Israeli PM to ask for annexation approval Meanwhile, Netanyahu is reportedly due to call on his cabinet to approve on Sunday Israel's annexation of parts of the West Bank. The annexation would include the occupied Jordan Valley and the illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. More than 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory of the West Bank. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A Pakistani man arrested earlier this month in Islamabad in connection with the 2005 killing of a female police officer in the UK does not want to be extradited and has asked to be tried in his home country. The 71-year-old suspect, Piran Ditta Khan, appeared before a court in Islamabad for a second hearing over the UKs extradition request. His arrest was the result of close co-operation between Pakistani authorities and British detectives, police said. His lawyer, Raja Ghaneem Aabar, said the court is expected to review Pakistani investigations into the case before considering a final decision on the UKs extradition request. The next hearing is due within 10 days, he added. My client can respond to any questions from British police via video linkLawyer Raja Ghaneem Aabar Khan refused to answer questions by reporters as to whether he was involved in the fatal shooting of police officer Sharon Beshenivsky, a 38-year-old mother-of-three killed outside a travel agency in Bradford while responding to an armed robbery call. After the killing, six men were arrested in Britain but Khan, who was suspected of being the armed gangs organiser, had fled abroad. In 2016, police in Britain issued a fresh appeal for Khan, who remained at large despite a reward of 20,000 for information leading to his arrest. Mr Aabar said Khan has maintained his innocence during the investigation in Pakistan and that he would fight to prove his clients innocence. He added that he believed Khan was falsely implicated in the case. Pakistani investigators are yet to complete their report into the 2005 crime that was committed in Britain, he said. My client is suspected of links to that offence and he wants to be tried in Pakistan as he is a Pakistani citizen. His trial should be held in Pakistan. My client can respond to any questions from British police via video link. Almost all the major players on Capitol Hill have lamented that these are dangerous times in Washington. But if you want to know why -- it depends who you ask. President Donald Trump's lawyers gave their reasons on Tuesday, as they wrapped up their presentations on the Senate floor. Led by Jay Sekulow, a personal attorney to the President, they hammered home the point that Trump's impeachment sets a dangerous precedent. "You've now heard from legal scholars from a variety of schools of thought, from a variety of political backgrounds, but they do have a common theme with a dire warning -- danger, danger, danger," Sekulow said, using a phrase that he repeated several times on the Senate floor. "These articles must be rejected," Sekulow later said. "The Constitution requires it. Justice demands it." His argument, in a nutshell, paints Trump as the victim of a long-running Democratic plot to undermine his presidency and ultimately undo his election victory. Sekulow pointed to the Russia investigation, which began before Trump won in 2016, and touted a laundry list of legitimate gripes about the probe, blended with allegations that touched on conspiracy theories. If senators rewarded Democrats by convicting Trump, Sekulow claimed, they'd tarnish the nation's democracy forever. He also relied on legal arguments that are rejected by most scholars, that Trump can't be removed from office because he hasn't been accused of any crimes. This was the exact opposite of what senators heard form House Democrats last week. Led by Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, the House impeachment managers pleaded with their colleagues to consider the ramifications of allowing a president to use his official powers to secure political favors from foreign governments -- the centerpiece of the abuse-of-power case against Trump. Trump's actions "endangered out elections and it sent our country on a dangerous path that if left unchecked will cause irrevocable damage to the balance of power contemplated in our Constitution," Schiff said last week. "If someone sacrifices the national interest in favor of his own and is not removed from office our democracy is in jeopardy. It's just that simple." As they argued during the House impeachment inquiry, Democrats said they didn't relish the opportunity to potentially remove him from office, but instead considered it a patriotic necessity. "He is who he is, that will not change," Schiff said. "And nor will the danger associated with him." Both sides encouraged senators to put themselves in someone else's shoes, urging them to step away from their own political leanings and consider an alternate view -- if just for a moment. Schiff wanted senators to consider how former US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch felt when Trump publicly smeared her reputation and ended her coveted diplomatic career in Kiev. Sekulow told senators to imagine how suspicious they'd be of US law enforcement if they, like Trump, learned early on in their presidency that the FBI was investigating their campaign. Many senators say they're keeping an open mind while the trial is ongoing. It's not clear how many of them are leaning into the rhetoric and actually considering the views of both sides. Only Democrats voted to impeach Trump in the House, and only Republicans voted to approve the trial rules in the Senate. (Both votes were bipartisan in President Bill Clinton's impeachment.) For their part, the framers of the US Constitution also warned of some dangers -- of unyielding partisans who put factions over their country. They might not like what they're seeing today. Danyliuk said that "it was a panic" inside the Zelensky administration after the initial news broke, saying Zelensky was convinced there had been some sort of mistake. Former Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine Oleksandr Danyliuk has said President Volodymyr Zelensky's team was shocked by the U.S. White House's decision to withhold military aid to Ukraine. Speaking in an interview for The Daily Beast, Danyliuk mentioned a meeting in Washington, D.C., last summer that was attended by former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton and U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland. Read alsoTrump threatened Zelensky to freeze all aid to Ukraine if probe into Joe Biden wasn't announced Giuliani's associate "Sondland interrupted the conversation to bring up the demands from Trump that Zelensky agree to the investigation of the Bidens. Soon after Sondland's interjection, Bolton ended the official meeting," the official said. According to Danyliuk, the White House made it clear to him and Zelensky aide Andriy Yermak that it was the only way the two countries could develop a meaningful relationship. Danyliuk also said he had first found out that the U.S. was withholding aid to Ukraine by reading Politico's article published on August 28. "I was really surprised and shocked. Because just a couple of days prior to that I actually had a meeting with John Bolton. Actually, I had several meetings with him. And we had extensive discussions. The last thing I had expected to read was an article about military aid being frozen," he said. Danyliuk said that "it was a panic" inside the Zelensky administration after the initial news broke, saying Zelensky was convinced there had been some sort of mistake. Two-time Grammy Award nominee Steve Aoki is coming to Harrisburg. The concert, presented by Harrisburg University, will be held at Riverfront Park on June 26. The show comes only a few weeks after the university will host Of Monsters and Men at the same outdoor venue. Aoki is the founder of Dim Mak records, the label that launched artists such as The Chainsmokers, Bloc Party, The Gossip and The Kills. He has also collaborated with a lengthy list of artists, including will.i.am, LMFAO, Linkin Park, Iggy Azalea, Fall Out Boy and more. He will be joined at the Harrisburg show by the Los Angeles-based DJ Deorro. Tickets go on sale starting at 10 a.m. on Jan. 31. For more info, check out the Harrisburg University Concert Series website. FINE Gael refused to allow Senator Catherine Noone to do broadcast interviews to explain herself after she described the Taoiseach as "autistic". Ms Noone held talks with Fine Gael officials where she requested that she be allowed to explain herself in a broadcast media interview. However senior party figures, including director of elections Paschal Donohoe and general secretary Tom Curran, decided against this after she went underwent a mock interview with officials from the Fine Gael press office. Earlier today, a Fine Gael election candidate said Senator Noone should no longer be running for the party after she described the Taoiseach as "autistic". Councillor Thomas Walsh, who is running in Sligo-Leitrim, was speaking on RTE's Drivetime on Wednesday when he was asked why Fine Gael had taken no action against Ms Noone but had expelled - and later reinstated - Jude Perry and his mother over the promotion of former Fine Gael minister John Perry's by-election campaign. "You'd have to question that," Mr Walsh said. "I think Catherine has apologised and so she should and I think she should get a better understanding of autism. We have taken this very seriously, we've invested in services, we've more ASD services than ever before." Asked if Ms Noone should still be running, Mr Walsh said: "In my opinion, no." Ms Noone has apologised profusely to a leading autism awareness campaigner after she described the Taoiseach as autistic. Ms Noone called AsIam founder and chief executive Adam Harris, who is a brother of Health Minister Simon Harris, on Tuesday night to apologise. A spokesman for AsIam said on Wednesday: "As far as we're concerned, the personal issue about Catherine Noone is closed. She apologised profusely, we accepted her apology. There is a broader issue in relation to autism awareness, but that's the end of the matter insofar as it relates to Catherine Noone as far as were concerned. Fine Gael has faced calls to abandon the Ms Noones Dail campaign. The Fine Gael candidate in the Dublin Bay North constituency, said she was "truly sorry" and withdrew remarks made about Mr Varadkar to a journalist from 'The Times' website while she was canvassing last week. "He's autistic like, he's on the spectrum, there's no doubt about it. He's uncomfortable socially and he doesn't always get the inbetween bits," she said. Speaking in Wexford as he opened the New Ross bypass bridge on Wednesday, Mr Varadkar said the senator had contacted him of her own volition to apologise for the remark. "She called me this morning to offer her apologies to me," he said. "I said she did not need to apologise to me - she needed to apologise to the members of the autism community - people who may have autism in their families, many of whom were hurt by what she had to say." "She is doing that - she is going to engage with the autism charities and advocacy groups and apologise to them." "She is going to learn a little bit more about this issue." "Certainly one of the things that the Government is doing, as you know, is that we have set aside about 2m for an autism awareness and education campaign." "It is evident to me from this and from many other things that there are a lot of people in our society who do not understand autism - who see it as some form of illness or disorder rather than being a condition in the way it is." "There is an opportunity for a lot of people and not just in politics to learn from this and learn a little bit more about neuro-diversity." Mr Varadkar said he did not have to indicate to Ms Noone that an apology over her controversial remark was required. "I think she knew very well herself that she had to do that," he said. Mr Varadkar indicated that this was the end of the matter as far as he was concerned. Tanaiste Simon Coveney had earlier slated the comments as "offensive, ignorant and wrong." Speaking at Fine Gael campaign event in Dublin, Mr Coveney said: "She is following up on that to try and reinforce that point by writing to organisations and the families concerned "This should not have happened. "As deputy party leader I want to apologise for the fact that it happened. The apology is very sincere and comments like that type are not acceptable. "I hope we can put that issue to bed." Mumbai, Jan 29 : Former actress Tanushree Dutta feels that choreographer Ganesh Acharya should be boycotted by Bollywood and other film industries. Her assertion comes a day after assistant choreographer Divya Kotian filed an FIR against Acharya alleging that he had forced her to watch pornography. "It's time Bollywood and the other Indian film industries boycott choreographer Ganesh Acharya completely. Hiding behind the male superstars who work with this despicable man, he has been abusing his power and position to harass, bully and take advantage of vulnerable newcomers in the industry," Tanushree said. She has in the past accused Acharya of being 'complacent' in her #metoo allegations against her "Horn Ok Pleassss" co-star Nana Patekar. "Even though Ganesh Acharya was party to all the harrassment I faced on 'Horn OK Pleassss' set, he went on to spoil my name and reputation thereafter, the leading men and heroes of Bollywood continued to work with him and give him film after film," she added. Recalling her ordeal, Tanushree wrote: "Nobody had any regard for me and how much I had suffered psychologically and financially because of the turmoil I went through because of these people. I left the industry because I was so scarred and hurt over the atrocious treatment meted out to me on Horn Ok Please set." "Now, after all the information of fraud, non-payment of dues, sexual harassment of dancers, bullying and intimidation, and even physical abuse of dancers, is coming out about Ganesh Acharya in the media, if the actors, directors and producers still work with him, it would mean that they themselves are engaging in such acts also," stated the former actress, clearly taking a dig at industry members who continue to collaborate with the choreographer. Tanushree also warned the film industry people saying that if they don't stay away from Ganesh Acharya, their own reputation will also be tarnished because many more youngsters will open up against him in the future. Acharya is a leading choreographer in Bollywood and has choreographed for movies like "Simmba", "Zero", "Sanju", "Baaghi 2" and "Padmaavat" among others in recent times. By Jonathan Tamari, of The Philadelphia Inquirer WASHINGTON Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Pat Toomey sent the strongest signal yet that he wont support calling witnesses in President Donald Trumps impeachment trial, saying Wednesday he is very, very skeptical any witness could change how he would ultimately vote on Trumps political fate. As Ive said from the beginning, my decision about a witness is going to be whether or not there is a fact in dispute that a witness can shed enough light on that it could resolve the dispute, and do so in a way that would change my mind about how I ought to vote on the final question," Toomey said. "And Im very, very skeptical... that that criteria is going to be met. Toomeys stand on one of the only major questions left in the trial leaves Democrats with dwindling options when it comes to convincing Republicans to agree to call witnesses who might shed additional light on Trumps conduct with Ukraine. Democrats need support from at least four GOP senators to subpoena additional witnesses and documents, including John Bolton, the former Trump national security adviser who has reportedly written in a forthcoming book that the president was personally involved in a scheme to withhold military aid in order to pressure Ukraine to investigate Democrat Joe Biden. Bolton, who has said he would testify if subpoenaed, could be the first witness with firsthand information to directly link Trump to the plot. The revelation about his book has rocked the impeachment trial after weeks of Republican resistance to calling witnesses. Look, the publics going to hear it. Theyre going to read a book, Toomey said when asked if theres a public interest in having the former Trump aide testify under oath. I expect that hes going to be doing a tremendous amount of media interviews. I think theres going to be a lot of information out there. The job before us is not to entertain, you know, all kinds of possible discussions about this. Its to evaluate the articles of impeachment that have been brought over by the House. Toomey spoke to The Inquirer and The Morning Call of Allentown on Wednesday morning, the day after opening arguments in the impeachment trial concluded and as Republicans began to truly confront the question of whether any of them would vote to call witnesses. A vote on the issue is expected as soon as Friday, after senators spend Wednesday and Thursday posing questions to impeachment managers and the White House defense team. Without witnesses, a final vote on impeachment could occur Saturday. Toomeys vote against Trumps removal appears virtually certain. He said Wednesday that Democrats presented a very weak case, a very badly flawed case and that I have not yet seen even the allegation of an act that rises to the level of impeachment. Toomeys comments came one day after sources close to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) told reporters that Republicans dont yet have enough votes to block witnesses, a clear sign to those wavering to make their intentions known. Toomey, who won reelection in 2016 by vowing to be an independent voice in the Senate and has criticized some of Trumps behavior and policies, largely echoed the White House and GOP arguments on this issue, including by raising questions about Hunter Biden, son of former Vice President Joe Biden. Democrats this week have escalated their insistence that Bolton be called to testify. The New York Times reported Sunday that Bolton wrote Trump personally told him he was withholding $391 million in military aid to Ukraine unless the country began an investigation into the Joe Biden and his son Hunter, confirming the central accusation in the impeachment charges. Republicans are tying themselves in all kinds of pretzel knots to avoid the truth, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) said Wednesday. He accused the GOP of prioritizing Trumps acquittal above seeking more information. Talk about being political. Talk about being cynical. ... We, the Senate, Democrats and Republicans, have an obligation to seek the truth. A fair trial matters, whatever the outcome. Toomey said that if witnesses are called, it would only be fair for both parties to have the opportunity to call them, and that the GOP would almost certainly seek to hear from Joe or Hunter Biden. He said Hunter Biden would be important because his past position on the board of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma offers another explanation for why Trump might have withheld aid. The House managers have rested a tremendous amount of their case on the notion that President Trump could not possibly have had any motive whatsoever for asking for an investigation into Burisma and the Bidens except his corrupt personal political motive, Toomey said. But when you look at the facts involving Hunter Biden and Burisma, its begging for an investigation about corruption. He noted that Hunter Biden, with few qualifications, landed a lucrative seat on the board of the energy company while his father was vice president and spearheading policy toward Ukraine. Democrats have scoffed at the notion that Trump was concerned about nepotism or corruption, noting that Trump only raised alarms about Burisma once Joe Biden entered the 2020 presidential race. Trump also pressured Ukraine to investigate a debunked conspiracy theory about 2016 election interference. Joe Biden, as vice president, led a push to oust a Ukrainian prosecutor while his son sat on the energy companys board. But Biden was carrying out the official policy of the United States and its European allies in trying to oust a prosecutor noted for being soft on corruption. Hunter Biden was not accused of any wrongdoing, and the investigation into Burisma was dormant at the time. Sen. Bob Menendez (D., N.J.) said that despite Hunter Bidens Burisma, job the Trump administration approved 45 installments of aid to Ukraine worth $1.5 billion until June 2019, a few months after Joe Biden became a presidential candidate. Hunter Biden is irrelevant and a distraction, Schumer said. One Democrat, the moderate Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who has partnered with Toomey in the past in pushing gun control legislation, said Wednesday morning on MSNBC that Hunter Biden would be a relevant witness to call. Earlier this week, Toomey had reportedly floated a proposal with Republican colleagues that would essentially amount to a witness trade, in which each party would get to call one witness. Democrats sharply criticized that idea on Tuesday. Toomey said that he was not advocating for additional witnesses, only that if there are any called, both parties should do so. Attorney General William Barr warned New Yorks Cardinal Timothy Dolan of an organized, militant secular effort to suppress religion in the marketplace of ideas in an interview Wednesday. The problem today is not that religious people are trying to impose their views on non-religious people, Barr told Dolan on his SiriusXM radio show Conversation with Cardinal Dolan. Its the opposite its that militant secularists are trying to impose their values on religious people, and theyre not accommodating the freedom of religion of people of faith. Citingd Democrats efforts to coerce religious employers to violate their conscience rights as well as their ongoing effort to expand abortion access, Barr has used his platform as attorney general to speak out about what he sees as encroachments on religious liberty. He drew a torrent of criticism in October over a speech at Notre Dame Law School in which he said religiously convicted Americans face social, educational, and professional ostracism. The attorney general explained Wednesday that the Founders believed in the centrality of religion to the health of American democracy, and that a loss of popular religiosity was a danger to the republic. We believe in the separation of church and state, Barr stated. But what permits a limited government and minimal command and control of the population and allows people to have freedom of choice in their lives and trust in the people is the fact that they are a people that are capable of disciplining themselves according to moral values. Barr also discussed his relationship with President Trump in the interview, and told Dolan how it compared to his time as attorney general in George H.W. Bushs administration. Theyre very different, he explained. I love both men H.W., was more low-key. He had a very strong interest in foreign policy in which he really focuses attention on. The interesting thing about President Trump is that he is very hands on, hell bring people in to explain things to him, hell reach down and bring the experts in, and he listens. More from National Review Politicians constantly talk about how they are pro-jobs. But you cannot be pro-jobs and anti-business, nor can you be pro-jobs and anti-worker. An upcoming vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act will provide a clear litmus test of which members truly care about creating jobs and protecting workers rights. In September of 2019, Democrats forced the PRO Act through the House Education and Labor Committee along a party-line vote. I sit on that committee and voted against the legislation because of its deleterious effects on workers free choice and privacy rights. FARMERS BACK TRUMP AS TARIFF UNCERTAINTY WEIGHS Soon, Democrats will bring this radical bill before the full House for a vote. Our nation is experiencing the greatest economy in generations, with the lowest unemployment rate for all categories of Americans since I was four years old. Congress should not pass legislation that would slow economic growth, stifle job creation, and limits workers free choice and privacy. Yet, that is exactly what the PRO Act would do. I worked in private industry for 25 years, first as a rip saw operator in a factory before managing that factory. During that time, I saw firsthand that the vast majority of employers care about their employees, both professionally and personally. Our nation has adopted many reasonable regulations to protect workers against unfair and discriminatory practices. As innovation and technology reshape our economy, Congress should continue to take steps to ensure that workers rights are protected. However, Congress should not penalize employers and employees who get it right with more regulation and government interference. To be sure, the PRO Act would have many harmful effects on workers. Cloaked in the language of employee protection, the real result of the PRO Act is providing workers with fewer choices, fewer rights, and an inability to speak for themselves. Story continues STEPHEN MOORE: ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10, HOW DOES THIS JOB MARKET RATE? For instance, by federally mandating Californias three-part ABC test to determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor, the PRO Act will eliminate flexibility and opportunity for countless workers. The California ABC test makes it very difficult to qualify as an independent contractor, thereby eliminating the ability for workers to set their own hours and meet the on-demand needs of a changing social economy. This change would effectively cripple the ability of those in the gig economy, including freelance reporters and app-based employees, like Uber drivers, to work. Additionally, the PRO Act would eliminate 28 states Right-to-Work laws, which allow employees to choose whether to join a union and protect them from retribution if they wish to not affiliate. Of the 10 states that have seen the highest rates of wage growth, seven of them are Right-to-Work states. North Dakota, a state with Right-to-Work protections, has seen wages grow 110 percent the highest in the nation. GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE The ability of smart and hardworking people to use their skills to find gainful employment on their own terms is paramount in a free society. Barriers to that happening include requiring employees to join or pay a portion of their hard-earned income to an organization that does not represent their interests or views on matters of public importance. But that is exactly what the PRO Act does. Finally, the PRO Act would diminish workers privacy rights. The bill mandates that employers must share employees personal information with union organizers without employees approval, exposing them to unwanted contact and harassment. Moreover, the bill expands unions ability to organize without a vote by employees, shortens the time frame for union elections in order to silence debate about the possible disadvantages of unionization, undermines secret ballot elections of union leaders, and replaces the freedom to contract with binding arbitration, forcing employment terms on employers and employees whether or not either side agrees. To shine a light on the truly anti-worker provisions in this bill, I recently held a roundtable in the heart of Pennsylvanias 12th Congressional District with employees and employers. The message was clear: The PRO Act is a bad bill that needlessly inserts the government in the employer-employee relationship, harming both employers and employees. If Congress really cares about jobs, the economy, and workers rights, it should say no to the PRO Act. Congressman Fred Keller (R-PA) represents the 15 counties of Pennsylvanias 12th Congressional District and currently serves on the House Oversight and Reform Committee and the House Education and Labor Committee. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS Related Articles Russia committed war crimes and violated international law using human shields, "little green men" and treachery during its illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014. These are the findings of the study by the President's Office in Crimea and human rights activists who authored the report, titled "Without signs, without a name, hiding behind the backs of civilians." "Firstly, we analyzed the issue of using human shields while encircling, blocking and seizing military units of Ukraine's Armed Forces and administrative buildings. The use of human shields is new for the International Criminal Court. Such facts, of course, already existed, but "human shields" were mainly used by organized armed groups rather than states. Russia used just such a prohibited method of warfare," Permanent Representative of Ukraine's President to Crimea Anton Korynevych said at a press conference in Kyiv on Wednesday. He pointed out that the key to this is the subjective intention to achieve a military advantage, to use civilians for this and to avoid the use of force by the Ukrainian military. Korynevych said Russia also used "little green men," soldiers in uniform without insignia. "Yes, there have been such cases in world history, but again it wasn't on the part of states," he said. Korynevych said Russia's third major crime was treachery, the illegal use of emblems, uniforms of Ukraine's Naval Forces and police when blocking and seizing objects on the peninsula in 2014. Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union lawyer Maksym Tymochko said that the study is based on materials collected during visits to Criema by human rights activists, including interviews with eyewitnesses and internally displaced persons who witnessed the blocking, seizures of Ukrainian military facilities in Crimea and the use of uniforms of Ukrainian law enforcement agencies by Russian soldiers. Videos not publicly available were also used. Crimean Prosecutor Ihor Ponochevny said the study helps law enforcement officers understand the holistic picture of what happened in the beginning of 2014 in Crimea. "I hope that the results of this study will form the basis of the accusations that will be made to representatives of the occupying state and representatives of the occupation administration in Crimea," he said. Regional Center for Human Rights lawyer Vitaliy Nabukhotny said the case involving the occupation of Crimea is the first since the creation of the UN, when "one state openly admits that it seized the territory of another state." "There are many difficulties, because many norms of international law get their first application precisely in connection with Russia's annexation of Crimea," he said. He said study is the basis of the message that was sent to the International Criminal Court in February 2019. This article was produced in partnership with The Connecticut Mirror, which is a member of the ProPublica Local Reporting Network . Frustrated with the lack of options for low-income families in Connecticuts tony suburbs, the governor and the leader of the state Senate are calling for new measures to entice towns to build more affordable housing. Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, said that he is poised to tie state spending on transportation upgrades in affluent communities such as new or renovated train stops to local approval of more affordable housing projects. If you want some funding for that transportation hub, I want affordable housing to be a big part of that, the governor said. The comments, made during a wide-ranging interview taped Wednesday for the CT Mirrors Steady Habits podcast, follow a series of articles published by the Mirror and ProPublica showing the lengths wealthy towns have gone to block affordable housing, and by extension the people who need it. These exclusive zoning requirements have rendered Connecticut one of the most segregated states in the nation. The governors comments appear to be a retreat from his administrations previous stance, which emphasized local control, and came as other leaders in the state demanded action. Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney, a Democrat from New Haven, said that breaking up pockets of poverty will be a priority in the legislative session that begins in less than two weeks. There are too many communities in this state that have ignored their obligation entirely to accept some affordable housing, Looney said. We have to break through the hypocrisy of the reasons that people give in many cases for not supporting family housing in their communities. We have to continue to bear witness to the fact that we do not have the degree of affordable housing that we should, he continued. And that communities should not be able to rely upon local zoning and local practices to the extent that they are right now, to bar the development of that in their communities. Its an issue where the needs of the state need to take precedence over the needs of or the wishes of individual towns. Looneys remarks came during a press conference the Senate Democratic Caucus held Thursday to unveil the top issues they plan to take on this legislative session. The mayor of Hartford, a city where 39 percent of the housing is reserved for poor people, said the state needs to abandon policies that have left neighborhoods throughout the city segregated. We talk always in our cities about combating poverty and trying to help families lift themselves up, but the truth is that we have a high poverty rate in our communities, in part, because we have by policy made this a community that can only be poor, Mayor Luke Bronin said during a press conference last Friday in Hartfords Clay Arsenal neighborhood. It was the first time that Bronin, just two weeks into his second term, publicly focused on housing policy that has fueled the concentrated poverty in Connecticuts cities. The press conference, called in response to local residents simmering frustrations with their housing conditions, gave the mayor a venue to air his concerns. Ive thought about this for a while, but the more time I spend in this office, the more I see the profound consequences of our policy choices on housing, and on development, that have resulted in some of the starkest disparities youll find anywhere in the nation, Bronin said in a subsequent interview. Bronin was joined last Friday by Connecticuts U.S. senators, Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, both Democrats. They called on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to build more mixed-income housing in Hartford, instead of focusing on housing entirely reserved for the poor. They also asked the federal agency to raise the amount Section 8 vouchers are worth, so that voucher holders can afford to live in better neighborhoods, and to increase the enforcement of fair housing laws to reduce discrimination. The Mirror and ProPublica reported this month that while federal Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers were created years ago with the intention of giving recipients a choice about where to live, the subsidy often traps people in struggling communities. Bronin and the governor met last week to discuss specific steps that can be taken. I want to get more market-rate housing here in Hartford, Lamont said on the podcast taped Wednesday. I dont want this to be a place [just] for poor people. I want this to be a place for everybody. The governor pointed to communities like Simsbury and others in Fairfield County, including his hometown of Greenwich, which were featured in the Mirror and ProPublicas investigation. You know, I think they are nuts not to allow their downtowns to develop a little bit, not to have more multifamily housing, not to have more affordable housing, not to allow more of their community to live where they work, he said. Local officials in towns that have rejected affordable housing point to frail public infrastructure, clogged streets, a lack of sidewalks and concerns about overcrowding as reasons for denying projects. Lamonts administration has not always been so forceful. Asked numerous times over the course of his first year in office to discuss his affordable housing policy, the governor said he preferred to leave decisions about what gets developed or doesnt to local officials. A carrot or a stick? The Lamont administration and Senate Democrats agree that more incentives are needed for towns to build more low-income housing. They have different views, though, on whether those who dont should face consequences. I would like to start with a carrot to tell you the truth, Lamont said. Either way, the director of the House Progressive Caucus, which comprises 44 of the 151 members of Connecticuts House of Representatives, released a statement on behalf of the caucus saying lawmakers are just pleased this debate is finally being brought to the forefront. The Progressive Caucus is supportive of any legislative efforts to make housing more affordable, the statement from Eli Sabin, the director of the progressive coalition, reads. He pointed to numerous bills that its members have introduced in previous legislative sessions to tackle exclusive zoning by town officials and fair housing legislation. We are committed to advancing meaningful bills again this year. Relying on incentives, however, has its skeptics. Civil rights attorneys said they believe linking transportation funding to affordable housing will have only a small impact. Thats because some affluent communities arent all that interested in bringing in public transportation, said Erin Boggs, the leader of Open Communities Alliance, a nonprofit advocacy group in Connecticut. They are perfectly happy without this money, she said. In the history of segregation and civil rights in our country, this cannot be accomplished by incentives alone. We absolutely need a well thought through system to address towns who do not comply. Likewise, State Sen. Saud Anwar, D-South Windsor and co-chair of the legislatures Housing Committee, said that he prefers using incentives, but there are communities where there is a role for a firmer approach. Maybe thats a place where we use a stick, he said. John Dankosky, the host of CT Mirrors Steady Habits podcast, contributed to this report. Jacqueline Rabe Thomas is a staff reporter for The Connecticut Mirror covering education and housing. Email her at jrabe@ctmirror.org and follow her on Twitter @jacquelinerabe . Treasury Wine Estates chief executive Michael Clarke has defended the company's presence in the United States after a top analyst accused the company of "destroying value" with its foray into the world's largest economy. In a fiery conference call after a shock profit downgrade, Merril Lynch analyst David Errington blasted the company for its poor performance in the US. "Why are you persisting with this, why do you keep throwing money at it, why do you keep throwing the best resources that you've had ... the smartest minds are in this market and all it's doing is destroying value," he said. Shares in Treasury Wine, the owner of Penfolds, plummeted on Wednesday in the wake of a profit downgrade. Credit:Tamara Dean Treasury shares tumbled from the market opening in response to the profit downgrade, which was delivered after the market closed on Tuesday. The stock closed down 26 per cent at $12.35. The fall wiped more than $3.1 billion off the company's market capitalisation in a session. Treasury is the owner of major wine labels including Penfolds and Wolf Blass in Australia. Its brands in the US include Beringer, Main & Vine, and Coastal. After 1948 Arab-Israeli war, 750,000 Palestinians fled abroad. But Trumps plan their rescinds right of return. When Israel was created in 1948, 750,000 Palestinians were forced to flee their homes for Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. Many have been living in refugee camps in neighbouring countries since they left home. Under US President Donald Trumps newly released Middle East plan, displaced Palestinians are denied the right of return to communities from which they were pushed out. Al Jazeeras Sara Khairat reports from Beirut. 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. [January 29, 2020] Zoom Video Communications, Inc.'s Founder and CEO To Keynote At Enterprise Connect 2020 SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enterprise Connect , the leading conference and exhibition for enterprise communications and collaboration, is pleased to announce several program additions for Enterprise Connect 2020, taking place March 30th April 2nd at the Gaylord Palms in Orlando. Eric S. Yuan, Founder and CEO of Zoom Video Communications, Inc. has joined a distinguished lineup of Keynote Speakers including executives from Microsoft, Cisco, Slack and Amazon Connect. In addition, leaders from across the industry will participate in conference General Sessions that discuss the latest trends and groundbreaking shifts in the unified communications and collaboration space. Recently added programming includes: Zoom Video Communications Keynote Presentation Eric S. Yuan, Founder & Chief Executive Officer Eric S. Yuan founded Zoom in 2011, and Zooms video-first unified communications platform continues to dramatically transform the way leading global enterprise companies communicate. Under Yuans leadership, Zoom was one of the highest-performing tech IPOs of 2019. Has Transformation Finally Arrived for Communications & Collaboration? Jim Burton, Founder & CEO / Co-Founder, C-T Link / BCStrategies Lorrissa Horton, VP/GM Webex Teams, Cisco Smita Hashim, Director of Product Management, Google Amrit Chaudhuri, SVP of Product and Solutions Marketing, RingCentral Alan Masarek, CEO, Vonage Transformative technologies including cloud, ubiquitous video, team collaboration and advanced contact centers are making their power felt in enterprise communications and collaboration. These technology transformations are also driving new relationships between enterprises and their communications/collaboration vendorsand among the vndors themselves. In this session, top executives from leading companies will discuss and debate the best way for enterprises to chart a course through the disruption thats moved from vision to reality in the industry. Transforming Customer Experience: Wheres the True AI Payoff? Sheila McGee-Smith, Founder & Principal Analyst, McGee-Smith Analytics Anthony Bartolo, EVP and Chief Product Officer, Avaya Omar Tawakol, VP/GM Contact Center, Cisco Rowan Trollope, CEO, Five9 Barry O'Sullivan, VP and General Manager Genesys Core, Genesys Charanya Kannan, Sr. VP, Product & Product Marketing, Talkdesk In this session, executives from leading contact center vendors will discuss the ways in which AI (and other advanced contact center technologies) will drive next-gen customer experience. Theyll debate the relationship between AI-enabled advances and the technologies that have been driving the contact center marketspecifically cloud and omnichannel. Theyll suggest strategies for delivering quick wins with new technology, and where youll need to invest toward a longer-term payoff. "Enterprise Connect prides itself on welcoming relevant and timely speakers to its Keynote and General Session stage from the most important strategic vendors within the industry," said Eric Krapf, Enterprise Connect General Manager and Program Co-Chair. The 2020 keynotes and general sessions will offer attendees valuable insight and unique perspective into the future of the enterprise communications and collaboration space." Enterprise Connect 2020 takes place March 30th April 2nd at the Gaylord Palms in Orlando. For more information and to register for the event, visit www.enterpriseconnect.com/orlando . Media and industry analysts who are interested in attending Enterprise Connect 2020 can apply for a complimentary press badge here . About Enterprise Connect For 30 years, Enterprise Connect has been the leading conference and exhibition for enterprise Unified Communications and Collaboration in North America. Enterprise Connect brings corporate IT decision makers together with the industry's vendors, analysts and consultants to focus on the issues central to enterprise networks and communications. Enterprise Connect owns and produces No Jitter, (nojitter.com), providing daily blogging and analysis of enterprise communications, and it also serves the community with a weekly email newsletter, research surveys and a Webinar Series. For more information, visit enterpriseconnect.com/orlando . Enterprise Connect is brought to you by Informa Tech . About Informa Tech Informa Tech is a market leading provider of integrated research, media, training and events to the global Technology community. We're an international business of more than 600 colleagues, operating in more than 20 markets. Our aim is to inspire the Technology community to design, build and run a better digital world through research, media, training and event brands that inform, educate and connect. Over 7,000 professionals subscribe to our research, with 225,000 delegates attending our events and over 18,000 students participating in our training programs each year, and nearly 4 million people visiting our digital communities each month. Learn more about Informa Tech . Media Contact: Briana Pontremoli Informa Tech [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Kuwait on Wednesday asked its nationals not to travel to the Chinese city of Shanghai due to the coronavirus outbreak, state news agency KUNA said. Search Keywords: Short link: The projects identified in the plan that range from the closure of schools and the construction of new ones to renovation projects have an estimated price tag of $710 million. Unified officials say the funds would be used to pay for $598 million worth of projects, plus debt services. Some sort of improvement and construction work is planned for each of Racine Unifieds schools that are not set to close. The Unified administration plans to maintain a stable tax rate by recapturing existing levies above the revenue limit beyond their current expiration dates. These levies include the Aquatic Center construction levy that is set to be $2-$7 million per year and will drop off in 2021. Another is the energy efficiency levy at $6.5 million per year and is set to expire in 2026. The plan also includes a recapture of the $8.5 million per year that is currently being collected, approved through a 2014 referendum, and is set to expire in 2030. The question to be placed on the spring ballot will read: Israel allows temporary cement supply into Gaza Strip ICR Newsroom By 29 January 2020 Israel will temporarily allow the supply of cement and tyres to the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom trade crossing under Israeli control, according to a senior official. Deliveries would be allowed from Tuesday evening to Wednesday morning. "We hope it will be permanent and not temporary," said Jihad Isleem, spokesperson for the private sector association in Gaza. Israel has banned deliveries of cement and other raw materials to Gaza, arguing that activists used them to produce weapons and build tunnels from eastern Gaza to Israel. Published under This is another advancement in our strategy to expand and serve our growing lifestyle portfolio, said Michael Mendillo, president, FirstService Residential. He will ensure our lifestyle communities are being managed optimally with a commitment to service excellence to take us to the next level. FirstService Residential, the leading residential property management company in North America, has promoted Ted Gammon, formerly a regional director, within its East Region executive leadership team. Gammon is now vice president of the lifestyle communities the company serves in New Jersey and New York. This announcement is another advancement in our strategy to expand and serve our growing lifestyle portfolio in those areas, said Michael Mendillo, president, FirstService Residential. Teds vision, experience and entrepreneurial spirit, as well as his knowledge and ability to live the culture of FirstService Residential, will serve him well as he works closely with our business development and operations teams to achieve common goals. He will ensure our lifestyle communities are being managed optimally and with a commitment to service excellence as we position ourselves for the next level. Gammon started with FirstService Residential in 2009, bringing more than 14 years of commercial and residential real estate management experience to the team. He will now report directly to Mendillo and work closely with the leadership team to accomplish aggressive goals to grow the portfolio in the market. FirstService Residentials premier Lifestyle Division serves active adult and multi-generational lifestyle community associations throughout the New Jersey/New York market, providing its communities with a unique approach to programming, amenity management and service excellence. http://www.fsresidential.com About FirstService Residential FirstService Residential is North Americas property management leader, partnering with 8,000 communities across the U.S. and Canada, including low-, mid- and high-rise condominiums and cooperatives; single-family communities; master-planned, lifestyle and active adult communities; and mixed-use and rental properties. HOAs, community associations and condos rely on their extensive experience, resources and local expertise to maximize property values and enhance their residents lifestyles. Dedicated to making a difference, every day, FirstService Residential goes above and beyond to deliver exceptional service. FirstService Residential is a subsidiary of FirstService Corporation (FSV), a North American leader in the property services sector. For more information, visit http://www.fsresidential.com. Tullamore native Rory Bracken says he will be effectively homeless when he is discharged from the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore following hip surgery. Mr Bracken underwent surgery last weekend after breaking his hip while helping a friend move bales of hay in Co Laois. He had been staying with a friend there as he had nowhere else to go but he says that is not a longterm solution. He has tried to contact a number of public representatives in Offaly with a view to getting a more permanent housing solution. Mr Bracken arrived back in Ireland from Kenya in October of last year after a legal battle over his visa. He spent time in a Kenyan prison having been arrested for visa discrepancies but he was later cleared in court. He is now in the middle of taking legal action against the authorities as a result and says he fears for his life if when he returns to the African country. Speaking to the Offaly Express from the trauma ward in the hospital this week, Mr Bracken said: "I'm in a bad situation. A fella put me up and then I couldn't get rent allowance and then they put me out, which is understandable when you're not paying them rent." He explained that he is currently trying to sort out help with social welfare and said, "in fairness to the girl there, she is trying to help me out." He was planning on transferring his social welfare to Limerick after being offered a place there but that plan is no longer viable following his surgery. Rory's situation is complicated by the fact he left a HAP house a number of years ago to travel to Africa to help with the missions. He had been preaching in Kenya for a number of years before returning. His wife is from and is still living in Uganda. He says she is trying to get a visa to join him in Ireland. Saying he will have nowhere to go when he leaves, Rory has asked for help through the hospital to be placed in contact with possible services but says he's "not too happy" about the help forthcoming. "They say they have no one in the hospital that deals with this but they have to be able to tell you if there is a homeless shelter locally or the Simon Community; someone, somewhere that can help. "If I stand my ground, I suppose they can't discharge me. They have to wait and see what I'm going to do," he added. He said he is not in a position to walk. "Not at all, I'm in a bad way, not able to move," he said. Doctors have told him it could take three months to fully recover from the surgery. "As far as I'm concerned, I've nowhere to go," he explained. A lot of his family are living away in America and elsewhere. "So, I'm waiting for these people [hospital staff] to see if they can refer me to someone that can help me, so I don't know what's going to happen." In an appeal to authorities to help him, he said: "I'm an Irish citizen. I've given my time to mission work helping poor people in Africa and it's a sad day to be left in this situation where the Irish government can't find you a place in an emergency like this." Rory says he came home to Ireland planning to stay for at least a year but says he may be required to go back to Kenya for the conclusion of his legal action against authorities in the coming months. When contacted by the Offaly Express, a spokesperson for the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore said: "The HSE cannot comment on individual cases. Prior to discharge from Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore (MRHT), patients who present as homeless are given the relevant contact numbers and clinic dates. "Should the patient require home supports on discharge the MRHT Discharge Co-ordinator links directly with the local homeless officer regarding same." The memory of the fallen heroes was honored with a moment of silence. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has commemorated the Kruty Heroes, the young Ukrainians executed by the Bolshevik Red Army near Kruty on January 29, 1918. Read alsoFrom Kruty to Rostov Zelensky laid flowers to the Kruty Heroes Memorial Cross at Askold's Grave in Kyiv, according to the president's press service. The memory of the fallen heroes was honored with a moment of silence. The national anthem of Ukraine was played. The honor guards saluted from personal weapons. Zelensky also laid flowers to the graves of participants in the Anti-Terrorist Operation who died in eastern Ukraine, as well as visited St. Nicholas' Church in Askold's Grave Park. UNIAN memo. On January 29, 1918, the railway station of Kruty in Chernihiv region was where 300 Kyiv cadets, who were deployed to defend approaches to Kyiv, fought a 6,000-strong Bolshevist army under the command of Mikhail Muraviev, who among other Russian commanders led the offensive on the Ukrainian People's Republic. All students were either killed on the battlefield or taken prisoner and later brutally executed. The Battle of Kruty delayed the Bolsheviks' offensive for four days. These days became decisive for Ukrainian diplomacy in order to obtain from the international community the recognition of independent Ukraine. Officially, Ukraine started marking Day of Remembrance of the Kruty Heroes in 2007. By removing protections to local wetlands under the Clean Water Act, the Trump administrations new Waters of the United States rule exposes our region to new flood risks. Throughout the Houston metro area and out to the coast, wetlands play a key role in protecting against floods, while also providing wildlife habitat and filtering surface water that makes its way into the citys drinking water supplies. With Texas made up of mostly privately-owned land, rules to protect these natural landscapes, and the benefits they offer to the public, matter. Houston famously was founded in 1836, nearly 150 years before the passage of the Clean Water Act, by the Allen brothers: two real estate developers intent on manipulating a wet landscape into a place people would be willing to call home. Since then, Houston has been developed and redeveloped, and developed once more to accommodate a growing population aided in part by technologies that make life here more comfortable, like air-conditioning. The result: Almost no wetlands remain in the oldest and most developed parts of our city around Buffalo Bayou, White Oak Bayou and Brays Bayou. Had wetlands fringing our bayous been left in place, some of the worst flooding over the last decade could have been avoided. The Clean Water Acts rules governing development over wetlands, only recently modified under the Obama administration to expand protections for local wetlands, are intended to avoid these impacts. Before beginning construction, developers must plan their projects to avoid impacts to wetlands with a connection to federal waters like the bayous found across our city. Where that isnt feasible, they must enhance existing wetlands and flood detention or create new wetlands. While this process has been far from perfect in the greater Houston area, these basic protections provide a safeguard to overdevelopment in these natural areas and accountability to residents already living within these watersheds. By gutting these basic watershed protections, the Trump administration will potentially cause significant harm to communities across the greater Houston area. The change poses the greatest threat to the eastern parts of our region, where relatively pristine expanses of wetlands remain intact including around Trinity Bay, the San Jacinto Rivers East and West forks and Cedar Bayou. As the Grand Parkway continues to be built out to the east of Houston into Liberty County, these wetland-dense areas will be especially vulnerable to rapid development, particularly under the administrations new rule, which amounts to a rollback. Without any other rules to place common-sense limits on this development, these remaining wetlands may be lost. We already know what happens when development regulations arent consistently applied or enforced: New developments are built in flood zones, removing natural flood protection for neighboring communities and creating new hazards. Ongoing development in the western portion of the Grand Parkway has filled in and paved over the mosaic of wetlands that connects to the Katy Prairie, increasing long-term flood risks while physically raising homes out of the floodplain. In the new Woodridge Village development in Kingwood, residents have raised concerns that a developer bypassed the Clean Water Acts previous protections to clearcut 268 acres that included well-documented wetlands. Already, local residents contend, this new development has flooded existing neighborhoods twice. In the southeast, the residents of Bayou Brae, a small middle-class subdivision built in League City in the early 1960s, are concerned that a neighboring development built over several acres of wetlands will flood their previously safe community in the next big storm. It may be that the Trump administrations new rule falls flat under the weight of legal challenges, which are already under way. If not, due to an absence of protections (and, presumably, antagonism) at the state level, it will be up to local municipalities and counties to fill the gap. Development regulations restricting development within the floodplain, such as those passed in the city of Houston and some local counties post-Harvey, offer a good, but imperfect start for our urban core. These protections do not explicitly require wetlands to be preserved and could result in them being filled in to raise new property above the floodplain, creating new risks for neighboring communities. Further, they wont mean anything if developers do not consistently comply with them. Meaningful resilience requires all of us residents, our local governments, and, yes, developers as well to take steps to limit the worst effects of flooding and storm surges. Stripping protections for wetlands undermines that goal - and sets the stage for disaster when the next Harvey, Imelda, or other unnamed heavy rainstorm comes our way. Macha is the executive director and waterkeeper for Bayou City Waterkeeper, and Schlemmer is the organization's legal director. Bayou City Waterkeeper works to protect and restore local wetlands throughout the Greater Houston-Galveston region. In a new turn in the history of the Middle East, the Palestinian cause is facing another challenge from the administration of US President Donald Trump. Trump announced on Tuesday a deal that will extend Israeli sovereignty over what remains of the Palestinian territories, and prevent the creation of an independent Palestinian state. This threatens more turmoil in a region that is already suffering the repercussions of civil wars and weak national governments in many countries. The US move comes at a very fragile moment in the Arab world, when regional institutions are not as effective on the Palestinian cause or any other issue. Most political settlement decisions are being taken in capitals outside the region, which has encouraged Washington and the government of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to forge ahead with a plan that muzzles the rights of Palestinians. The announcement by Trump that he intends to unveil the Deal of the Century triggered anger among Palestinians. Fatah said Trump used the deal to support Netanyahu in the upcoming Israeli elections scheduled for March. Saeb Erekat, Secretary General of the PLOs Executive Committee, said the new US plan is the scam of the century. The US move also comes at a time when political settlements in Syria, Yemen and Libya are still floundering and conditions in Iraq, Lebanon and Sudan are on the verge of disaster, while key countries in the region most notably Egypt are confronting one wave of terrorism after the next due to conspicuous support by some countries in the region. Regional countries are also the target of increasing interference by major world powers in their internal affairs, while Turkey and Iran continue their dubious involvement in domestic conflicts and support for radical militias across the Arab world. They are taking advantage of the strategic vacuum created after the state of chaos that struck the region amid the Arab Spring. The biggest threat to stability in the Middle East today is the continuation of ongoing open-ended scenarios. The US administration is adding another burden to events in a chaotic region, and destroying the capabilities of countries by abandoning its role as an honest broker in the peace process, despite strong objections inside the US and in major Arab capitals to its ideas. It is also giving a free hand to extremists who could take advantage of this unilateral move to promote their ideologies and start new cycles of violence in the region. This would make any peaceful settlement impossible any time soon. Taking advantage of the fragile state of affairs in the Arab region by imposing measures that serve the interests of Israel is not a good idea, and demonstrates extreme ignorance and arrogance when dealing with the people of this region. It also ignores the fact that historic rights do not have a statute of limitation; nor are they buried by time. Not listening to the people of the region and leaders of countries involved in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, while other major powers, such as China and Russia, stand silently by, as well as the absence of the UN in this proposal, will lead to a more dangerous path. The deal will exacerbate the anger of the Arab masses who still believe the Palestinian cause is the top Arab priority, and that there is no alternative to a national Palestinian homeland as the product of a two-state solution. This is what the US always sought under previous administrations, and until recently insisted was the basis for a solution. *A version of this article appears in print in the 30 January, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: Bystanders reportedly refused to give CPR to a Chinese man who had a heart attack and died over fears he had coronavirus, which has killed 133 people and infected more than 6,000. The 60-year-old man died from a cardiac arrest outside a Masuya Suisan restaurant in Sydney's Chinatown on Tuesday night. Paramedics tried to revive the man at the Chinese restaurant on Campbell Street in Haymarket at around 8.30pm, but he died at the scene. Restaurant managers said they were told by staff a man had collapsed outside, the Daily Telegraph reported. Scroll down for video Paramedics tried to revive the man at the Chinese restaurant on Campbell Street in Haymarket at around 8.30pm, but he died at the scene The 60-year-old man died from a cardiac arrest across the street from Masuya Suisan restaurant in Sydney's Chinatown The deadly coronavirus has infected more than 6,000 people around the world after spreading last month from the Chinese city of Wuhan - the epicentre of the outbreak - where more than 11million people are currently in lockdown. Seven people have the virus after returning to Australia from Wuhan; four in NSW, two in Victoria and one in Queensland. All are stable and being treated in hospital. The latest case - and Queensland's first - was confirmed on Wednesday night involving a 44-year-old Chinese national. He was staying in a Gold Coast hotel and is now in isolation in a Gold Coast hospital. The federal government plans to evacuate Australians from Wuhan with about 400 citizens registering to get out. Restaurant managers said they were told by staff a man had collapsed outside New South Wales Police said emergency services were called to Masuya Suisan restaurant on Campbell Street in Haymarket (pictured) just after 8.30pm They will be flown to Christmas Island and put in quarantine for two weeks. In New South Wales, coronavirus testing is ramping up as authorities await lab results for 16 new possible cases referred for investigation. NSW chief medical officer Kerry Chant urged recent visitors to the Chinese province of Hubei to come forward. 'We want to get the message out that people with low-level symptoms need to come forward,' she said. 'We want to detect those cases and it will help us to better understand the disease.' Dr Chant on Wednesday afternoon confirmed 16 possible coronavirus cases were being investigated in NSW, including a two-year-old child. Two people confirmed to be infected in NSW have improved significantly and could soon be released from hospital isolation, Dr Chant added. There have been more than 40 people tested for the infection in NSW. One million face masks will also be delivered to GPs around the country in a bid to stop the spread of the virus. Coronavirus has killed 133 people and infected more than 6,000 worldwide since it spread last month from the Chinese city of Wuhan 'We'll be supporting the public and GPs through the allocation of up to 1 million masks for general practises,' Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Wednesday. Mr Hunt said the outbreak had the potential of becoming a 'pandemic' in Australia - where seven cases have been confirmed and several more are expected to emerge. Australians have been urged to reconsider any travel to China and not to visit Hubei Province under any circumstances as the country struggles to contain coronavirus. Mr Hunt advised anyone in Australia who has been to China's Hubei province to now isolate themselves at home for 14 days after the visit. The outbreak in mainland China is now bigger than the 2003 SARS epidemic, when 5,327 cases of the killer virus were confirmed. However, it is still behind the total toll of the outbreak, which infected 8,000 people. As stressed by the World Economic Forum (WEF), the cultivation of leaders with exceptional character and skills is critical to Africa's development. However, WEF also goes on to state that "it is too late to teach someone who occupies a high position in government how to lead". What is the answer to overcoming Africa's leadership deficit in order to tackle the grave challenges the continent faces? The solution for Africa lies in developing the next generation of leaders. Image source: Gallo/Getty Forward-looking lens Hatim Eltayeb, dean, Africa Leadership Academy Committing to change With the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) deadline looming ever closer, there is a growing focus on and urgency for achieving the various defined objectives. And while it is imperative to mobilise both African and global communities into action and to take positive steps towards realising each of the goals, our efforts often treat the symptoms and not the cause. For example, foreign aid and support is essential to address issues such as healthcare, poverty, hunger and clean water. However, in itself, aid does not deal with why Africa faces such dire challenges. Of course, there are historical factors, inequalities and other injustices which have played a direct role in the development of these societal issues. But focusing only on the past is not going to help solve these problems we need to look to the present and very importantly - the future.When we adopt a forward-looking lens, it is clear that leadership is undeniably one of the most influential factors on economic stability, unemployment and socio-political progress. The type of leaders a country has affects every aspect of how it operates from how it attracts foreign investment to job creation and policies that either promote or impede growth. Africa needs to find, nurture and support the emergence of a critical mass of young leaders who can shift the needle for the continent - leaders with big ideas and dreams, energy to innovate, and mindsets which wont settle for the status quo. The kind of leaders we need sitting at the proverbial decision-making table, influencing outcomes for the Africa we want.In order to breed the kind of young change agents Africa needs, it is imperative that we look at the education system on the continent with a more critical lens. In our experience at the African Leadership Academy (ALA), a well-rounded education system must be supported by three key pillars: first, school must foster a strong academic foundation and equip young people with transferrable and relevant skills. We must also offer young leaders networks that support their leadership journeys by embracing them in communities of like-minded people, made up of established leaders and other young leaders with similar inclinations for change in various sectors. Finally, we need to focus on impact and outcomes related to the causes that drive young leaders, and emphasise that personal success - material or otherwise - and social impact are not mutually exclusive.Social impact and transformation can only be accomplished by leaders who genuinely care and are committed to achieving change for generations to come. An ethical, innovative, collaborative and forward-thinking approach to pedagogy is required to get us there. As succinctly stated by Graca Machel, Africa does not need leaders who are 75 or 65 years old. We need leaders who are young, vibrant, innovative and who the continents youth can relate to. Intervening at the adolescent stage of a potential leaders life has the most impact. This is because around adolescence, an individual has enough sense of self to be self-reflective and mentored to build positive habits that will last long term, yet they have not already built undesirable habits that cannot be changed.Through strategically designed and executed educational methods, Africa can incubate and develop young leaders - and a real shift in the African landscape (and beyond) can be achieved. These young trailblazers will positively influence decision-making and start closing the leadership gap. And a leadership revolution is just what is needed to move Africa and the world forward economically, socially and progressively as we work to achieve a common continental and global development agenda. Africa is ready for change and it is time to answer the call. As the former chief executive officer of the largest psychiatric hospital in N.C., I constantly saw the need for a place for those suffering with persistent and chronic mental illness to go during their periods of crisis or discharge from being an inpatient. Mental illness affects millions of people in our country and is not unlike physical illness that requires follow up care after a major event or hospitalization. These illnesses affect people that are our family, friends and neighbors. No one wants a mental illness, and while largely treatable, services such as a community service clubhouse is an essential part of effective treatment. Burke County has no such service but is home to Broughton Hospital. I have seen the benefit of such a caring service in other counties and Burke County, of all places, should have one as well. People with severe and persistent mental illness need our help as they struggle to get well with all of the same day-to-day struggles we all have. This is a treatment and respite place we all should support. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 Trend: The World Economic Forum (WEF) is a unique platform and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is among the world leaders who are invited annually and participate in special sessions of this forum, Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov said. Jabbarov made the remark in Baku during the Diqqet merkezinde ("In the Spotlight") telecast of the Azerbaijani Public Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, Trend reports referring to the company. The minister stressed that taking the Sustainable Development Goals as a basis, Azerbaijan is trying to maximally use the WEF opportunities. This is becoming possible in this format for a number of reasons: first, because the world business leaders, representatives of the companies interested in the region, heads of international development structures, delegations attend the forum, said the minister. The direct discussions related to the economies of various countries are held, and important investment projects are presented; in brief, opinions are formed and decisions are made at the bilateral and multilateral meetings during the discussions, sessions within the forum, Jabbarov said. "Therefore, I believe that the great importance of the World Economic Forum for Azerbaijan lies in the wide use of these opportunities." The economy minister stressed that Azerbaijan is one of the few countries where a regional center of the Davos Economic Forum will be created. "We live in the period of the fourth industrial revolution. This entails the transformation of economic and social life. On the other hand, the state faces new challenges. The digitalization of the economy, the development of the innovation and artificial intelligence sectors, as well as new economic sectors, requires the implementation of an appropriate state policy to increase the knowledge and skills of citizens needed in these areas," the minister said. "At the same time, one of the main issues is the creation of an ecosystem that encourages innovative thinking and innovative business," continued Jabbarov. "The founder of the Davos Economic Forum Klaus Schwab came up with an initiative to cooperate with countries with high potential, recognizing the importance of these areas and encouraging this in their domestic politics." "Azerbaijan is one of the rare countries with which a corresponding document is signed. As part of the document, discussions will be held with the relevant Azerbaijans structures and organizations over the next months, Jabbarov said. Following the discussions, the development and expansion of digital commerce defined as a priority area as part of the fourth industrial revolution, presented projects and the application of state policy in this area will be evaluated. The minister added that such a regional center is being created in the region for the first time. Speaking of the region, I mean the Caspian littoral states, the countries located in Central Asia and the South Caucasus, Jabbarov noted. As for the significance of this issue, first of all, it should be emphasized that the development of the innovation economy is one of the priorities in the country. By the corresponding decision of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, the position of Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan - Head of the Department of Economic Issues and Innovative Development Policy, who is responsible for these issues, has been created at the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan. This is a clear indicator of the importance that the state attaches to this area, said the minister. The minister also touched upon the reasons for the interest of foreign investors in Azerbaijan within the World Economic Forum in Davos. "Generally speaking, Azerbaijan today is recognised in the world as a rapidly developing country with a growing population, which initiates and participates in large-scale projects and plays a key role in the oil and gas, transport and other sectors, the minister added. Investors know what factors are important for successful investment. Among them are the political and macroeconomic stability in the country, development prospects, openness to the region and the world in the sense of having the opportunity to enter not only local markets, but also foreign ones, the minister said. At the same time, the development of our transport infrastructure, trade relations with neighbors - excluding one, and stable political relations are also important factors. "All these factors exist in Azerbaijan. I would like to emphasize that one of the reasons for the growing interest, of course, is the next stage of socio-economic reforms carried out in the country under the leadership of the head of state, which are already yielding results. In particular, the depth and scale of the reforms over the past two years have been clearly emphasized in questions and in the comments of the analysts participating in the Davos Forum. In a word, the prospect of further improving the business environment to attract investments to the country and such factors as discussion of pressing issues, as well as measures taken in the country to solve them, increase investors' interest in Azerbaijan," added Jabbarov. The minister went on to say: "What do these investments give the country? These investments mean knowledge and skills. It is known that the modern economy is based on knowledge. Foreign investment means not only material means, but also new technologies, industrial solutions, new jobs. In other words, this makes a significant contribution to resolving issues related to the two main components of sustainable development - economic growth and employment." He emphasized that the population's employment is one of the main tasks, which is constantly set by the head of state. "This task was also set at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers on the discussion of socio-economic issues, chaired by the head of state on Jan. 13, 2020," Jabbarov added. If we analyze the outcomes of 2019, we can see that as a result of the reforms carried out in the country, 157,000 new jobs were created, 99,000 jobs of which accounted for the non-oil sector, said Jabbarov. This is the area where the state applies special tax benefits. This also contributed to official registration of existing jobs and their removal from the shadow economy. Another important challenge is that we must achieve sustainability in the creation of new jobs. Therefore, speaking of economic development, we always take the concept of sustainable development as a basis. Jabbarov noted that growing population means growing power of a state, and from an economic point of view, this means an increase in purchasing power. New schools, hospitals are being built in Azerbaijan, and it is well known that a lot of work is being done in this regard, said the minister. Number of schools built over the past 16 years is nearing 3,300, and hundreds of hospital buildings were built and new roads laid. Growing population also means growing consumption. Demand for products and services is one of the main driving forces in the economy. Growing population also means new families, new apartments and other things, Jabbarov added. From this point of view, population growth opens up new opportunities. The main task is to correctly analyze all these factors, namely from a strategic point of view to ensure consistent approach to this matter. The Presidency has lashed out at Abia senator, Enyinnaya Abaribe, after the lawmaker said President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to protect Nigerians and should resign. Mr Abaribe spoke Wednesday as senators discussed rampant insecurity in the country. Several Senators called for the resignation of service chiefs, but Mr Abaribe said the man who appointed them should also go. The senator wondered why the president would claim to be surprised at the rising insecurity in the country. If you want to treat an issue, you go to the head. We did not appoint the IG or the security chiefs. We will go to the president and ask him to resign, the lawmaker said. The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, interrupted the lawmaker and asked him to focus on how to tackle insecurity. Nigerians voted APC because they promised to tackle insecurity but they have failed, Mr Abaribe, a member of the opposition PDP, continued. READ ALSO: In a response late Wednesday, the Presidency said the call for Mr Buhari to step down was foolish. It added, however, that should he leave, there are millions of other Nigerians who need to resign, including Senator Abaribe who unlocked the door to enable the escape of traitorous and treasonable suspects. Read the full statement by spokesperson Garba Shehu below: President Buhari to resign on what basis? Just because some characters think that President Buhari should resign, then they expect him to quit. That call does not represent the opinion of the country. This is the opinion of an arm chair critic, known for making stray comments. If a leader like President Buhari needs to resign, there are millions of other Nigerians who need to resign, including Senator Abaribe who unlocked the door to enable the escape of traitorous and treasonable suspects. He signed the bond for the court to release Nnamdi Kanu on bail, from which moment the suspect disappeared into the thin air. Senator Abaribe has failed repeated deadlines to return Kanu to the court for trial, yet he has the effrontery with which to accuse someone of failing to the bidding of the law. This is a man who should have replaced the suspects he failed to produce in the correctional facility. Abaribes party raped the nation and left it collapsing in 2015 and President Buhari is fixing things up all the years he is in office. President Buhari is working hard to keep Nigeria and Nigerians out of the harm terrorists have unleashed in the entire Sahel and Sub-Saharan Africa with the support of Nigerians and our foreign friends, he is going to finish off these terrorists. He alone can do it. The Chief Executive of Match Group is stepping down for personal reasons, an internal memo has revealed. Mandy Ginsberg, the CEO of Match - the parent company of dating apps Hinge and Tinder - sent an unusually personal letter to members of the company. In the memo, Ms Ginsberg revealed she had been through a series of 'health hiccups' over the past four months, which she had found personally trying. Match Group's current President Shar Dubey, who oversaw the team who launched Tinder Gold, will take over the helm from Ms Ginsberg as CEO on 1 March. In the email, the CEO wrote that she had undergone a preventative double mastectomy 15 years ago after testing positive for the BRCA1 gene. This was after two maternal family members died from ovarian cancer. The Chief Executive of Match Group, Mandy Ginsberg (pictured Washington in 2019) is stepping down for personal reasons, an internal memo has revealed In this photo illustration Tinder logo is seen displayed on a smartphone. Match Group is the parent company of dating apps Tinder, Hinge, POF and Match.com Shar Dubey, pictured, will take over the helm from Ms Ginsberg as CEO of Match Group starting on 1 March this year The BRCA1 gene, if inherited, can cause breast and ovarian cancer at a younger age. People familiar with the matter said it was not unusual for Ms Ginsberg to discuss the BRCA1 gene with employees. Last Friday, she again went under the knife after the implants she received were recalled for links to cancer. 'So why am I leaving now? These last 4 months have been personally trying,' she wrote in the memo. 'Its been a lot to handle,' she added. 'And while I expect to have a clean bill of health, short term I need to take care of myself and so will take some time off this year to do just that.' I n addition to health concerns, a tornado ripped through Ms Ginsberg's home last year. CEO of the Match Group Mandy Ginsberg attends Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit 2018 at Ritz Carlton Hotel on October 3, 2018 in Laguna Niguel, California Pictured is a copy of the memo sent to employees at Match Group from CEO Mandy Ginsberg 'In October, Dallas experienced a tornado that barreled through the city destroying many homes in its wake,' she revealed. 'Thankfully no one was killed, but the tornado hit my home, making it unlivable. 'This has definitely impacted my family.' The CEO of the matchmaking company is married for the second time and has two children, who she lives with in Dallas. Ginsberg rose through the ranks of the Match Group after joining in 2006. In a 2018 interview she spoke of her passion for the role as head of the company connecting potential partners. 'This isnt about making, I dont know, tables,' she said. 'I really believe that we are having a profound impact on peoples lives.' OTTAWA - Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Tuesday Ottawa is "looking at all options" to help Canadians quarantined in China during the outbreak of a new coronavirus. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/1/2020 (715 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA - Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Tuesday Ottawa is "looking at all options" to help Canadians quarantined in China during the outbreak of a new coronavirus. China began drastic containment efforts to limit the spread of the virus last week, cutting plane, train and bus links to Wuhan, a city of more than 11 million people. Several other nearby cities have been quarantined since, cutting off an estimated 19 million people. Wayne Duplessis, right, and his wife Emily Tjandra pose for a photo in their home in Wuhan, China in this handout photo. A Canadian teacher who has been living in China for about six years has some advice for those who want to evacuate from the epicentre of an outbreak of a new form of coronavirus. Don't. Wayne Duplessis, a teacher at Wuhan Optics Valley Weiming Experimental School, in Hubei province said he doesn't think it's wise. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Wayne Duplessis *MANDATORY CREDIT* Champagne said 250 Canadians have registered with Global Affairs Canada to say they are in Wuhan and 126 of them have asked for help to get home. He said his officials are trying to contact each one of them to assess their needs. "Every Canadian that has reached out to us for consular assistance will receive it," he said. He said Canada will tailor its response based on what it finds after all the Canadians asking for help have been contacted. He noted the number of Canadians seeking help keeps changing as more and more people register via the Global Affairs Canada website the previous day, the number of Canadians registered in the region was 167. Champagne said help could include sending a plane to fly them home, but that Canada is also working with other countries in similar situations. Canada doesn't have a diplomatic office in Wuhan but other countries do and are evacuating their workers. In some cases, others of their citizens are leaving alongside the diplomats. Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne looks on as Minister of Health Patty Hajdu responds to a question in the Foyer of the House of Commons in Ottawa, Tuesday, January 28, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld Champagne said Canada is in contact with the Chinese government about making sure Canada can help its citizens. Health Minister Patty Hajdu says she doesn't yet know whether any of the Canadians in quarantine in China are sick or would be quarantined in Canada if they do come home. Not all Canadians in the affected part of China want to leave. Wayne Duplessis, working in China as a teacher, says he and his family are hunkered down in their home just outside of Wuhan's city centre. He, his wife, Emily Tjandra, and their 15-year-old son Wyatt have spent the last two weeks chatting with people online, watching videos, movies, and the news, and listening to music. Duplessis said in a Skype interview that he doesn't want to spend hours in the air with people who could be sick. Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief medical officer, has said symptoms of the new coronavirus are similar to those of the common flu and it can take up to two weeks for an infected person to start showing signs. Duplessis is originally from Espanola, Ont., and he teaches at Weiming International High School in Dongxihu. He said he thinks it's best to wait it out in Wuhan "no matter how difficult that is." His advice is to maintain routine. "Get up in the morning, make your bed, brush your teeth, make breakfast, so some things are the same way every day ... follow that routine so there is a structure to your day." China has confirmed nearly 6,000 cases of the new virus, with more than 100 deaths though cases can also be mild and go undiagnosed. Most of the confirmed cases have been in Wuhan. "Pretty much since they announced the lockdown ... last week it's been ridiculously quiet. Eerily quiet," Duplessis said. "It's been described by various people here like something out of a dystopian movie or something out of 'The Walking Dead.'" Duplessis said when he last visited the grocery store about a week ago, he saw a few people in masks and gloves and some wearing swim goggles. The epidemic has revived memories of the SARS outbreak that originated in China in 2003 and killed nearly 800 people. Chinese authorities were criticized for reacting slowly and failing to disclose information. 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. Duplessis, who has lived in Asia since 1996 and was in China during SARS, said the cities weren't locked down then and it didn't seem as immediate. "We moved around relatively freely. We still gathered together," he said. "There wasn't isolation as there is now." But credit cards, electronic money and the internet have helped people "effectively still be in contact with everyone," he said. "That has reduced the isolation or at least the feeling of isolation if not the cabin fever." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 28, 2020. Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version gave an incorrect day of the week for Champagne's remarks.And a previous version gave an incorrect name of the school where Duplessis teaches. Delhi Police on Wednesday registered an FIR in connection with brandishing a pistol here at Shaheen Bagh, where the protest against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) has been ongoing for several days now. South-East Delhi District DCP Chinmay Biswal, while talking to ANI, said: "We have registered an FIR and started an investigation. The video is being investigated. Visuals are being studied. The owner of the pistol was questioned. The pistol has been found to be licensed." "The FIR was registered under Section 336 (Act endangering life or personal safety of others), Section 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Arms Act," he informed. Luqmaan Chaudhary, the owner of the pistol that was brandished at Shaheen Bagh on Tuesday, has said that he had gone to the protest site to "peacefully" urge the demonstrators to allow ambulances and school going children to pass through. According to police, the pistol belonged to Luqmaan Chaudhary but was brandished by another person at the protest site. The pistol was seized by the police. Further investigation is underway. Protests have been going on at Shaheen Bagh since December 15 last year against the CAA due to which Kalindi Kunj road has been shut for traffic movement. A petition was also filed in the Supreme Court last week seeking appropriate directions to the police to open Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch contending that the road closure is causing huge inconvenience to the people. The CAA grants citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, who came to India on or before December 2014. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Philadelphia police are looking for a man accused of raping a woman in the citys Love Park, then eluding police by jumping 25 feet down onto a subway concourse. The incident occurred around 5:20 a.m. Saturday after a 41-year-old woman had gotten off of the El Train at 15th Street in Center City, Action News 6 ABC is reporting. She was taking a shortcut to work through the popular park when the suspect came up from behind, punched her several times, knocked her to the ground and raped her, NBC 10 is reporting. According to reports, witnesses heard her screaming for help and called 911. Police soon got to the scene and chased the suspect through the park to the escalators of a SEPTA station at 15th and Market streets. Three officers caught up with him there and struggled until the suspect jumped 25 feet down to the concourse below, reports indicate. He evaded capture, but appeared to be injured, caught on surveillance camera stumbling and falling as he got away. Love Park is near Philadelphia City Hall and is home to Robert Indianas most famous LOVE sculpture. Anyone with information should call the police, 215-686-TIPS. 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. Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray said on Wednesday that policies will have to tailored to meet the challenge of climate change, and we have ignored policies "for too long". He was speaking at the release of policy roadmap 'Making Pune Metropolitan Region Carbon Neutral by 2030' at the Pune International Centre. "We have to stop being selfish as we have been ignoring our policies for too long," he said. "At present we have been promising to set up WiFi- hotspots in the city, but in future we will have to promise oxygen hotspots (because of rising pollution)," he said, advocating use of renewable energy. "We have to adapt to climate change and build systems to counter it," he added. The state government was keen to work on solid waste management, urban forest-planning and electric transport, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday said he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president JP Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Thursday, to discuss the much-awaited cabinet expansion in the state. Earlier today, Yediyurappa visited Shivamogga to attend MLC Ayanuru Manjunath's daughter's wedding and made the announcement of his visit to Delhi while addressing media persons here. "I will go to Delhi by 11 am tomorrow, I will meet Prime Minister Modi, JP Nadda and Amit Shah. The cabinet expansion is pending for a long time. Probably expansion will be done in two days. I will return on Saturday," he said. The Chief Minister also said that he will present the Budget on March 5 and the main focus will be on the agricultural sector. "I will present the Budget on March 5 and priority will be on agriculture. No additional funds are required for Shivamogga's development. Existing works will take at least two years to be completed with sufficient funds," he further said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Hyonhee Shin and Sangmi Cha SEOUL (Reuters) - More than half a million South Koreans have signed a petition calling for a ban on visitors from China as Seoul announced on Tuesday it would evacuate citizens from the epicentre of the new coronavirus outbreak. A petition filed with the presidential Blue House last week had gathered more than 540,000 signatures by Tuesday, highlighting a growing fear in South Korea that the coronavirus could spread. South Korea has found four cases of the virus. The first was a Chinese national but the other three are South Koreans who travelled from the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where the outbreak started. That has not stopped the calls for Chinese visitors to be banned. "Coronavirus is spreading from China. Even North Korea is banning Chinese people from entering," wrote the anonymous author of the petition, adding that even a temporary ban would help stop the virus from spreading too widely. The Blue House has not directly responded to the petition. When asked about other countries' bans on Chinese entries, its spokesman said only that the issue should be handled in close consultation with the World Health Organisation. The newly identified coronavirus has created alarm because many of its details are still unknown. It can cause pneumonia, which has been deadly in some cases. It is still too early to know just how dangerous it is and how easily it spreads. "The government must respond to the petition and come up with strong measures such as barring Chinese tourists," said a passerby in Seoul, a man in his 50s who only gave his surname Chae. He was wearing a surgical mask. Kim Eun-kyung, 40, a social worker with two children, said she was also concerned about the outbreak but she also worried that a ban on visitors could upset China and bring "political, economic risks". EVACUATION PLANS The South Korean government says it is making "all-out efforts" to head off an outbreak and announced it would send at least four flights to Wuhan this week to evacuate nearly 700 South Korean citizens. Story continues "We've come to this decision because our citizens there can't return on their own due to the lockdown in the region, and they were unable to get proper medical treatment as local clinics are at full capacity," vice foreign minister Lee Tae-ho told a briefing. People hoping to leave would be screened before they boarded the flights, he said. The evacuated citizens are expected to be quarantined for about two weeks at two government facilities south of Seoul. On Tuesday, President Moon Jae-in visited a hospital that had been treating one of the four patients, and sent a message to Chinese President Xi Jinping promising to help contain the spread of the virus. (This story has been refiled to correct headline to 'S.Koreans'). (Reporting by Hyonhee Shin and Sangmi Cha; Additional reporting by Chaeyoun Won; Writing by Josh Smith; Editing by Gerry Doyle, Robert Birsel) File photo by Norm Cummings The Prisoner of War/Missing In Action Connecticut Forget-Me-Nots group in New Milford hosted it 35th annual bell-ringing ceremony Jan. 26 at St. Francis Xavier parish center on Elm Street. The event marked the 47th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Peace Agreement, a document to end active involvement in Vietnam at which time all prisoners of war would be returned within 90 days. Above, veterans from the Greater New Milford and Danbury area bear the colors during a gathering Jan. 26, 2014 for a commemorative reading of names and bell ringing. If you have a Flashback photograph youd like to share, contact Deborah Rose at drose@newstimes.com or 860-355-7324. Mixing police and politics, San Francisco police union leader Tony Montoya is calling on Police Chief Bill Scott to step up or step out after District Attorney Chesa Boudins decision to withdraw charges against a man accused to attacking officers in the Mission. Montoya says the citys top cop has been virtually invisible to the rank and file and shows them little support. My members are feeling more support from Eddie Garcia in San Jose than from their own chief, Montoya said, referring to the San Jose police chief, who tweeted his support for courageous men and women of the SFPD. At issue is Scotts reaction to newly elected Boudins decision to hit the brakes on the prosecution of a man shot by police in the Mission after he allegedly attacked the officers with an empty vodka bottle. Boudin said he was still investigating the Dec. 7 incident in which 24-year-old Jamaica Hampton stands accused of attacking police officers responding to a call. Hampton remains hospitalized one of his legs was amputated after being shot three times. Boudin can still file charges. After Boudins announcement, Scott sent out a message to the troops that read in part, The DA indicated that this withdrawal is not a dismissal of the case. This unprovoked attack was a violent, criminal act, Scott wrote. I want you to know that we remain committed to working with the DA to see that justice is done in this case for our officers. In contrast, Garcia tweeted: This is both shocking and despicable. I feel terrible for the courageous men and women of the SFPD. Mayor London Breed felt compelled to send her own letter to the rank and file on Monday: I have no doubt that this decision has created a great deal of confusion, frustration and anger within the department. ... You deserve to know that when you do this work on behalf of the people of San Francisco, that any act of violence taken against you will be met with firm resolve. Montoya has a reaction to that: We appreciate the mayors response, but the person at the helm is MIA, Montoya said. Where was he on the day of the shooting? He was being escorted around by his staff. He doesnt talk with anyone. The feelings have been building for some time. This is kind of a tipping point, Montoya said of his members sentiment toward the chief. But Montoyas jabs probably arent just about needling the chief union politics could be at play here as well. Montoya is in a tight race to hold on to his job as Police Officers Association president. Montoyas rival in the race, Sgt. Rich Cibotti, declined to comment, saying, At this point it is a union matter, and I would prefer to talk about it with the union members, not in the press. Montoya also admitted that his call for the U.S. attorney to intervene in the Hampton shooting case was largely a publicity grab and that he knew there was little chance the feds would take the case. The main goal was to bring attention to this and, obviously, it did, Montoya said. Scott stuck up for himself, saying in an email: I meet regularly with officers to hear their concerns and suggestions on how we can make our department even better and our city safer. During these difficult and uncertain times, our members have remained laser-focused on their mission to protect the public and provide safety with respect to everyone. The men and women of this department have my unyielding support and I believe they deserve the full support of the public that they serve. Jessica Christian / The Chronicle Watch out: Starting Wednesday, getting caught driving along Market Streets new downtown no-car zone could wind up costing a driver north of $289. 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. First comes the $35 base fine for violating special traffic control markers thats for not paying attention to the no drive signs that have been posted along the route. Then comes the $202 in additional state and county penalties that are added to traffic tickets in California, bringing the total ticket cost to $237. If the defendant elects to attend traffic school to avoid getting a point against his or her license, there is an additional $52 fee, which would bring the total ticket cost $289. A driver in the red carpet bus lane could be cited for driving in a transit lane, which carries a $25 base fine. Add on the $171 in additional penalties and assessments and the total comes to $196, but theres no point against the drivers license. As for enforcement, the plan is to have two teams of motorcycle cops cruising Market eastbound from 10th Street to Main Street and westbound from Steuart Street to Van Ness Avenue during the morning and evening commutes. Also all officers in the Northern, Central and Tenderloin (police) districts that the route crosses through have been put on alert, Cmdr. Daniel Perea said. In addition, parking control officers from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency will also be on hand at 11 intersections. We are prepared to cite for violations, MTA spokeswoman Erica Kato said. Someone could get a warning or a citation, Perea said. We are not trying to be punitive, but we cannot have people willfully disregarding the signs or the instructions of the parking control officers. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Phil Matier appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KGO-TV morning and evening news and can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call 415-777-8815, or email pmatier@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @philmatier Georgia to ban flights from China, evacuate citizens from Wuhan - GeorgianJournal The total number of deaths from the flu-like virus rose by 26 on Tuesday to 132, while the number of confirmed cases rose by 1,459 to a total of 5,974 in China, said the countrys National Health Commission on Wednesday. The number of people confirmed with the virus rose to over 4,500 globally on January 28, the greatest number being in China. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday (January 28) met President Xi Jinping of the Peoples Republic of China in Beijing. They shared the latest information on the novel coronavirus 2019 (2019-nCoV) outbreak. The National Health Commission presented Chinas strong public health capacities and resources to respond and manage respiratory disease outbreaks. The discussions focused on continued collaboration on containment measures in Wuhan, public health measures in other cities and provinces, conducting further studies on the severity and transmissibility of the virus, continuing to share data, and for China to share biological material with WHO. These measures will advance scientific understanding of the virus and contribute to the development of medical countermeasures such as vaccines and treatments. The two sides agreed that WHO will send international experts to visit China as soon as possible to work with Chinese counterparts on increasing understanding of the outbreak to guide global response efforts. Stopping the spread of this virus both in China and globally is WHOs highest priority, said Dr Tedros. We appreciate the seriousness with which China is taking this outbreak, especially the commitment from top leadership, and the transparency they have demonstrated, including sharing data and genetic sequence of the virus. Much remains to be understood about 2019-nCoV. The source of the outbreak and the extent to which it has spread in China are not yet known. While the current understanding of the disease remains limited, most cases reported to date have been milder, with around 20 per cent of those infected experiencing severe illness. Both WHO and China noted that the number of cases being reported, including those outside China, is deeply concerning. Better understanding of the transmissibility and severity of the virus is urgently required to guide other countries on appropriate response measures. Meanwhile, the White House was contemplating suspending flights to the country, US officials were quoted as saying in a Reuters report. Fears of the spreading virus have already pushed airlines around the world to reduce flights to China and global companies to restrict employee travel to the country, while sectors from mining to luxury goods have been shaken by concerns for global growth in the event of a worst-case pandemic, the report said. A multidisciplinary team of engineers and scientists has developed a new class of filtration membranes for a variety of applications, from water purification to small-molecule separations to contaminant-removal processes, that are faster to produce and higher performing than current technology. This could reduce energy consumption, operational costs and production time in industrial separations. Led by Manish Kumar, associate professor in the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, the research team describes their new high-performance membranes in a recent issue of Nature Materials. The team's new filtration membranes demonstrate higher density of pores than that of commercial membranes and can be produced much faster -- in two hours, versus the several-day process currently used. Until now, integrating protein-based membranes into current technology used for industrial separations has been challenging because of the amount of time needed to create these membranes and the low density of proteins in resulting membranes. This comprehensive and collaborative research effort brought together engineers, physicists, biologists and chemists from UT Austin, Penn State University, University of Kentucky, University of Notre Dame and the company Applied Biomimetic. The work presents the first end-to-end synthesis of a true protein-based separation membrane with pores between half a nanometer and 1.5 nanometers in size. A nanometer is just a few times the size of a water molecule and a hundred thousand times smaller than the width of a human hair. The membranes created by the team are biomimetic, meaning they mimic systems or elements of nature, and imitate those that naturally occur in cell membranes for transporting water and nutrients. They recently published another paper highlighting the inspiration for their method. High-density packing of these protein channels into polymer sheets forms protein pores within the membrane, similar to those seen in human eye lenses, but within a nonbiological polymer environment. Three different biomimetic membranes were fabricated by the team and demonstrated a sharp, unique and tunable selectivity with three different pore sizes of membrane protein channels. The methods described can be adapted with the insertion of protein channels of different pore sizes or chemistries into polymer matrices to conduct specifically designed separations. "In the past, attempts to make biomimetic membranes fell far short of the promise of these materials, demonstrating only two to three times improvement in productivity," said Yu-Ming Tu, a UT Austin chemical engineering doctoral student and lead on the project. "Our work shows a surprising 20 to 1,000 times improvement in productivity over the commercial membranes. At the same time, we can achieve similar or better separation of small molecules, like sugars and amino acids, from larger molecules, like antibiotics, proteins and viruses." This high productivity was made possible by the very high density of pore proteins. Approximately 45 trillion proteins can fit onto the membrane, if it were the size of a U.S. quarter; the membranes created were 10-20 times larger in area. This pore density is 10 to 100 times higher than conventional filtration membranes with similar nano-sized pores. Additionally, all the pores in these membranes are exactly the same size and shape, allowing them to better retain molecules of desired sizes. "This is the first time that the promise of biomimetic membranes involving membrane proteins has been translated from the molecular scale to high performance at the membrane scale," Kumar said. "For so long, engineers and scientists have been trying to find solutions to problems only to find out nature has already done it and done it better. The next steps are to see if we can fabricate even larger membranes and to test whether they can be packaged into flat sheet and spiral-wound-type modules like the ones common in industry." The research was funded by the National Science Foundation. A young woman accused of deliberately running down and killing a Perth teenager was 'seeking vengeance' after attacks on her siblings, a jury has been told. Aya Hishmeh, 22, is on trial in the WA Supreme Court charged with murdering 17-year-old Jacob Cummins in December 2017 and attempting to kill his teenaged friends, Robert Bell, Augustine Janga, Mark Kickett and Anwre Ige, who were seriously injured. The court heard at the start of the trial that Hishmeh had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death but prosecutors had rejected the plea. Aya Hishmeh, accused of deliberately running down and killing a Perth teenager, was 'seeking vengeance' after attacks on her siblings, a jury has been told Aya Hishmeh, 22, is on trial in the WA Supreme Court charged with murdering 17-year-old Jacob Cummins (pictured) in December 2017 Prosecutor Les Hobson on Wednesday delivered his opening address and showed the jury confronting CCTV footage of Hishmeh's Nissan Skyline speeding down a residential street in Canning Vale and onto the footpath where the boys were standing. The jury was told Hishmeh was 'upset and angry' after her younger brother was struck during a brawl between rival groups of boys at a park. Mr Hobson said Hishmeh and four of her siblings confronted the boys at a nearby McDonald's restaurant. Hishmeh chased some of the boys down the street before returning to McDonald's, where she discovered her younger sister had been slashed in the arm. Mr Hobson said there was no evidence to suggest any of the victims had been carrying a knife. But he said multiple witnesses, including police officers, would testify they heard Hishmeh say she was going to kill the boys. Prosecutor Les Hobson on Wednesday delivered his opening address and showed the jury confronting CCTV footage of Hishmeh's Nissan Skyline (pictured) speeding down a residential street in Canning Vale and onto the footpath where the boys were standing Hishmeh chased some of the boys down the street before returning to McDonald's, where she discovered her younger sister had been slashed in the arm Hishmeh has admitted she got into her car in search of the boys, with her then-fiance in the passenger seat. The jury was shown footage of Hishmeh's car turning a corner then mounting the footpath where the victims were gathered near a bus stop. She was driving at 78km/h in a 50 zone. One of the victims went 'flying into the air', the prosecutor said, while Mr Cummins suffered multiple injuries and was pronounced dead after failed CPR attempts by Hishmeh's fiance and a male driver who stopped to help. Mr Hobson said the evidence pointed to Hishmeh having a clear motive to kill or seriously injure the victims. 'That motive was to seek vengeance against that group of boys,' Mr Hobson told the jury. Defence lawyer Tony Elliott conceded his client had been angry but suggested she had cooled down by the time she got into the car. He said she had been planning to find the boys so she could inform police of their whereabouts, and it was up to the prosecution to prove Hishmeh had intended to cause them serious harm and had not simply taken the corner too fast. 'Her purpose when she went around the bend is what is critical,' Mr Elliott said. 'By the time she saw the boys, her intention was to confront them rather than to kill them.' The trial continues. Auto major India on Wednesday said it has initiated a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for its manufacturing line associates at Greater Noida plant in Uttar Pradesh order to increase productivity and efficiency. The scheme, which is in agreement with workers' union at the facility, will be operational between January 28 and February 17, 2020. "TheVoluntary Retirement Scheme has been offered to our manufacturing line associates which is a regular industry practice to increase efficiency and productivity in operations," a India Ltd (HCIL) spokesperson said when contacted over the issue. The scheme is fully voluntary and benefits offered have been developed after taking suggestions from many associates so that it provides a win-win situation for both the organisation and the associates, it added. "The schemewill provide an opportunity to our manufacturing lineassociates to take pre-retirement from the company and explore new dimensions in their life and career," the spokesperson said. The Japanese automaker rolls out models like City, Civic and CR-V from the Greater Noida facility. The company also has a manufacturing facility at Tapukara (Rajasthan) where it manufactures models like Amaze, WR-V Jazz and BR-V. The capacity utilisation at the Greater Noida plant currently remains low due to limitedproduction of BS-VI compliant models, the spokesperson said. Honda has come up with VRS at a time when the industry is going through an unprecedented slowdown. The automobile industry recorded its worst-ever sales decline in two decades in 2019. With such market conditions, manufacturers have been forced to take drastic steps like production cuts and in some cases even reduction in workforce. Last year, Toyota Kirloskar Motor had initiated a voluntary retirement scheme for the employees of its manufacturing facility in Bidadi, Karnataka. The company, which is a joint venture between Japanese auto major Toyota and Kirloskar group, had commenced the scheme for its unionised employees and supervisory category with a minimum of five years of service at the plant. Similarly, two-wheeler market leader Hero MotoCorp had also come up withVRS for its employees last year. Earlier, Tata Motors had also offered VRS to a particular set of employees to trim costs as part of restructuring. If your mother says she loves you, check it out. This sound advice, handed down by generations of crusty newspaper editors with unkempt hair and mustard stains on their ties, used to serve reporters well. At the City News Bureau of Chicago, which for decades steered coverage for area reporters, the legend appeared on a huge sign posted on the wall. The place closed in 1999. Too bad. A whole generation of reporters has grown up since then, and many of them seem not to understand the difference between journalism and activism. I say this on a kind of anti-holiday for the news media. Its January 29: one year ago Jussie Smollett went to the police with a dumb story about MAGA ruffians patrolling the pre-dawn streets of Chicago wielding nooses in case there were any gay black television actors on the streets after midnight on a frigid night. The New York Times, CNN, ABC News, the Washington Post, CBS News and NBC News all ran false assertions. These statements are in most cases still uncorrected on the respective websites. CNN: Empire star Jussie Smollett attacked in possible hate crime. False. The underlying story asserts flatly, Empire actor Jussie Smollett was attacked in the early morning hours on Tuesday. Not true. In type so tiny it could easily be missed, CNN appended, Editors note: Read an update here, which links to a story three months later describing how Smolletts version of events fell apart. Good Morning America: Empire star Jussie Smollett brutally attacked, hospitalized in possible hate crime. Hospitalized? Getting treated at a hospital you took yourself to is not the same thing as being admitted to one. False and false. The story remains uncorrected. The New York Times: Jussie Smollett, Star of Empire, Attacked in What Police Call a Possible Hate Crime. Wrong. The story remains uncorrected. The underlying article by Sopan Deb says, Jussie Smollett, one of the stars of the Fox television show Empire, was attacked in Chicago early Tuesday morning by two people who yelled racial and homophobic slurs and wrapped a rope around his neck, according to the police . . . But the police could not have known this. They were not present. They were simply relating what Smollett said. Reporters should understand such distinctions. Story continues Police also noted on that first day that Smollett had not initially told them his attackers shouted, This is MAGA country, a detail that his camp instead gave to TMZ. When police heard about that, they contacted Smollett again, at which point he passed along that detail. Why would he have left out the seemingly crucial possible motive for this otherwise unexplained assault? Sources directly connected to Jussie also told TMZ his assailants poured bleach on him, but Smollett told police the liquid poured on him was an unknown chemical substance. The same sources told TMZ his attackers were white men, but Smollett told police he could not identify the race of his supposed attackers. Arent reporters supposed to be skeptical when the subject of a story tells a more sensational story to the press than he does to police? This story had more red flags than Bernie Sanderss honeymoon. Amusingly, the papers own readers had better bushwa detectors than their staff: The first comments beneath the Times initial story are full of skepticism. Did the attackers pause in mid-assault to make a noose in frigid weather? Or were they carrying a noose around with them? Why would they do either of those things? Why would they describe Chicago as MAGA country? Why didnt Smollett call 911 right away? Why did he still have the rope around his neck later when he talked to police? All valid questions that occurred to Times readers but not Times editors. Even more amusingly, the police tried, without being insensitive, to alert reporters to be skeptical right away. Deb and his editors completely missed it: The police said in a statement that the area where Smollett said the attack occurred had very high density of city and private surveillance cameras. Detectives had viewed hundreds of hours of video but unfortunately, thus far we have not found any helpful information on a suspect or a suspects vehicle to be able to share. Experienced, cynical reporters (the Venn diagram here is a circle, or rather it used to be) read this and say, Oh, come on. What the police were delicately indicating is that Smollett had taken them to the spot where the assault supposedly took place and the cops noted that a security camera was right there pointed the other way. How convenient! The cops must have told each other. Cops, like reporters, learn to be very aware of the human capacity for lying. Heres a headline that isnt false, from the Chicago Tribune: Chicago Police Investigating Report of Assault on Empire Actor Jussie Smollett. Not so hard, is it? Smollett made a claim. That claim was newsworthy. Relevant facts had yet to emerge. There was no need to state as fact things that had yet to be established. Yet the pile-on of false reports generated national hysteria and anguish. Nobody felt the need to await the whole story because virtually all major news outlets had baldly stated that Smollett had been attacked. Cory Booker tweeted, The vicious attack on actor Jussie Smollett was an attempted modern-day lynching. Wrong. Kamala Harris also called it a modern-day lynching. President Trump said, That I can tell you is horrible. It doesnt get worse. The Smollett story showed that a certain kind of reporter thinks hes in the profession of advancing the progressive cause, which in turn is heavily dependent on stories of American villainy by suspect groups such as fraternity brothers (the U.VA. rape hoax), lacrosse players (the Duke rape hoax), and military youth (the Army-Navy circle-game panic). Instead of having a nose for bushwa, such reporters exhibit blindness for red flags. They urgently want to believe theres a terrible story where there is only a ridiculous lie. Journalism comes to resemble a deranged performance of Peter Pan in which the professionals in the spotlight urge the audience to clap along with the make-believe. But instead of fairies, they beg the crowd to think that America is an irredeemable land of bigotry, a sexist, homophobic haven of rapists and racists who rampage with impunity through our most enduring institutions and our toniest neighborhoods. A never-ending credulousness with regard to hate crimes leads journalists to join in an assault upon the truth fueled by a loathing of their own culture; even the most prestigious journalistic institutions work to perpetuate hate slime. More from National Review Coronavirus. Kobe Bryant. Trump's impeachment trial. It's all anyone can talk about at the moment. We'll get to it, but I promise to give you some other news you should know today, too. It's Ashley. Here's what you missed. But first, a reminder that the world is good: An amazing video shows a dozen strangers lifting an SUV off a woman pinned underneath. The Short List newsletter is a snappy USA TODAY news roundup. Subscribe here! Let's get right to the point Is it us, or has the news lately been a little redundant? In an effort to keep The Short List fresh and interesting, here's a brief recap of the latest developments on the big stories we've been following: Powerful 7.7 earthquake strikes the Caribbean A 7.7 magnitude earthquake has been reported in the Caribbean Sea between Jamaica and Cuba, the U.S. Geological Survey said. Its not immediately clear if there is any damage or injuries. However, the earthquake caused very strong to severe shaking in portions of far western Jamaica, capable of moderate to heavy damage, the USGS said. The quake was felt as far away as South Florida, according to posts on social media, and buildings were being evacuated in Miami due to the quake. Here's the latest on this developing story. What everyones talking about Story continues Miami's unfriendly history with NFL players Why are so many NFL players arrested in Miami? Besides the Super Bowl, metro Miami has been the site of at least 60 NFL player arrests and citations since 2000 far more than any other city according to a database of incidents compiled by USA TODAY. Fifty-six of the 60 incidents involved African American players. None were white. Such lopsided numbers raise an issue that former players say is a major reason Miami leads the league in arrests: a long-standing pattern of racial profiling in South Florida. But they say there's another important factor in the citys high arrest count. Counterfeit dollar, dollar bill yall U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials report seizing almost $1 million in counterfeit cash all of it in singles. The dollar bills () were discovered in Minnesota back in December in a rail shipment originating from China, according to a statement from CBP. An investigation found 45 cartons filled with singles, which were confirmed to be fake by the Secret Service. Apparently single-dollar bills, according to the Federal Reserve, have stayed the same since 1963 because the "note is infrequently counterfeited." The dollar bills were discovered in December at the International Falls Port of Entry in Minnesota in a rail shipment originating from China. Real quick Police identified the mystery hero who saved a baby from the mass shooting at an El Paso, Texas, Walmart. I think you did a good job on her. Trump praised Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for blasting an NPR host. A man handcuffed behind his back and sitting in the front seat of a police car was shot to death in Maryland. Trump unveils his 'Deal of the Century' for Middle East peace Trump unveiled details of his long-stalled plan for peace between Israelis and Palestinians on Tuesday, intended to defuse decades of hostilities. In a surprise move, the initiative called for an independent Palestine sitting alongside Israel a "two-state" solution with East Jerusalem serving as its capital. Trump described the plan as a "historic breakthrough" and said that he had written to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, saying that territory set aside for the Palestinian state would remain open for a "transition" period of four years. The plan more than doubles the territory currently under Palestinian control. A break from the news This is a compilation of stories from across the USA TODAY Network. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus, Kobe Bryant, Trump impeachment trial: Tuesday's news Weather Alert ...Winter Storm System to Impact the Region this Weekend... A strong winter storm system will push east through the Quad State Saturday into Sunday. Wintry precipitation will spread eastward into southern Illinois and southeast Missouri late Friday night, and then southeast over the remainder of the region Saturday morning. The evolution of the storm for the remainder of the weekend is quite uncertain at this time. The ultimate path and intensity of the storm system, along with the temperature forecast, will determine how impactful it will be across the Quad State. For now you are encouraged to monitor the latest forecasts and follow your winter weather preparedness plans ahead of this potentially impactful winter storm. One of my energy sector predictions for this year was that oil prices would not drop below $50 a barrel. This may turn out to be the fastest falsified prediction I have ever made. Since I made that prediction, China has experienced an outbreak of coronavirus, an illness similar to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). So far, the virus has killed at least 41 people in China, and around 1,400 people have been infected. The country has taken dramatic measures to contain the spread of the virus. The Chinese government has quarantined millions of people in Wuhan, with travel networks shut down or severely restricted. Cases have now been reported in many other countries in southeast Asia, but cases have also been reported in Europe and the U.S. Oil prices have already been under pressure as a result of oversupply and slowing economic growth in China. However, travel restrictions will further reduce demand. There is precedence for a real economic impact from these sorts of outbreaks. Oil prices fell nearly 20 percent during the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak, but the impact was relatively short-lived as the outbreak was brought under control. The ultimate impact on demand will depend on how quickly the outbreak is contained, but last week West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent respectively fell nearly 6 percent and 7 percent. WTI is presently trading at $54.19/bbl only 8 percent above that $50 level. By Robert Rapier More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: L GBT+ History Month has returned and, up and down the country, LGBTQ+ people and allies are coming together under the rainbow flag. The past year has seen homophobic attacks in London rise by more than 22 per cent nearly 55 crimes every week, and thats only the ones that have been reported. There has never been greater visibility for queer people, which is an opportunity to celebrate for some but for others like the trans community is accompanied with added dangers. This month is a time to look back at the moments that shaped the community today and see where much-needed improvements must still be made. What is LGBT+ History Month and who started it? LGBT+ History Month is a month-long observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer history, as well as a means of raising awareness for the issues faced by LGBTQ+ people. This years theme is Poetry, Prose and Plays. The month was originally started in the US in 1994 to coincide with National Coming Out Day. It was taken up in the UK in 2005 by teachers Sue Sanders and Paul Patrick as part of the Schools OUT UK project, which educates young people on issues faced by queer communities. Its primary focus is teaching young people about the gay rights movement and working to put a stop to homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, though the remit has increased in reach over the years. Four queer writers from throughout history have been selected to represent LGBT+ History Month: E.M. Forster, Lorriane Hansberry, Dawn Langley Pepita Simmons and William Shakespere. You can find out more about why they were chosen here. This year LGBT+ History Month is dedicated to journalist Lyra McKee, who was shot and killed during riots in Derry last year. LGBTQ+ documentaries you need to watch 1 /10 LGBTQ+ documentaries you need to watch The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson Trans women of colour led the fight that helped LGBTQ+ people secure rights, even if this has been forgotten by many in the decades since. Awareness is returning thanks to todays trans and queer activists and two trans women, Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, will soon have a monument in New York. Both were at the forefront of the queer liberation movement for most of their lives, and played an integral part in the Stonewall uprising. Johnsons death in 1992 was ruled as suicide when her body was pulled from the Hudson River, but those who knew her believe she was murdered. Rivera is among the voices in this documentary, talking about Johnsons continuing impact on the rights we have today. Its an essential reminder of a person who gave up everything for her community. Netflix Mala Mala The lives of Puerto Rican trans and gender non-conforming people and drag queens come into the spotlight in Mala Mala. Addressing the overlap between gender identity and cultural identity, the film features drag queen April Carrion, well-known for participating in RuPauls Drag Race, alongside hair salon owner Soraya, who talks about her struggle with gender dysphoria, and Samantha, who resorted to taking black market hormones with debilitating side effects. The film becomes all the more poignant with the chronicling of the Butterfly Trans Foundations activism, which influenced the passage of a law banning employment discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation. IMDB Paris is Burning The ballroom scene in Harlem gave black and Latinx queer people a safe place away from the danger of the outside world. Many were homeless, living in poverty and at risk of being killed. The documentary goes inside the houses, which served as tight-knit families for people who often had nowhere else to go, and follows them as they compete in balls for trophies and glory. Through candid interviews, Paris Is Burning captured the struggle to survive and the importance of a chosen family. The culture of modern American drag was born in these rooms: shows such as RuPauls Drag Race owe everything to the ball scene, from their vernacular (shade and reading), to voguing. Kiki A quarter of a century on from Paris Is Burning, a new generation of LGBTQ+ youth created their own subculture in New Yorks streets. The Kiki scene, which continues today, draws inspiration from the early ballrooms, and much is still the same: they offer a safe place for young, queer people of colour, battling with homelessness, illness and prejudice. But this film and the characters it follows are also rooted in current issues. As a minority within a minority, Kiki shows how LGBTQ+ people of colour face police brutality and homophobia, and many are living with HIV. Its co-created by Twiggy Pucci Garcon, founder of the scenes largest house, and the documentary is intertwined with all the activism and passion that the movement was born from. Sundance Selects Jewel's Catch One Catch One was the unofficial Studio 54 of the west coast, a gay disco club that played host to Madonna, Grace Jones, Eartha Kitt and Gloria Gaynor. Its owner Jewel Thais-Willliams ran the club for 42 years, fending off armed police raids and suffering all the prejudice a black lesbian had to deal with. The documentary features interviews with Sharon Stone, Thelma Houston and more, all talking about Jewels efforts to provide spaces for queer and black people and how she has become a model of how to deal with discrimination and help others. Netflix We Were Here San Francisco was a relatively safe haven for the queer community in the 1970s. But in the decade that followed, everything changed when a man was diagnosed with AIDS, marking the start of an epidemic across the country. We Were Here traces the affect of this on the community and the fear of a mysterious gay cancer that meant sex could kill. The documentary revolves around five main interviews including an HIV positive artist who lost two partners to AIDS and a florist who supplied flowers to many funerals of people who died from the illness. As well as being a heartbreaking history, David Weissmans film shows the strength of the queer community in a time of crisis and how certain individuals managed to change the course of treatment for so many. IMDB Dykes, Camera, Action! Just as there arent many documentaries focusing on queer womens experiences, representation in the rest of the media isnt too great either. The dead lesbian trope is all too real queer women in film and TV tend to wind up dead or with men. Dykes, Camera, Action! looks at the ways in which women behind the camera have contributed to queer cinema over the years. It features filmmakers such as Desiree Akhavan, the creative force behind Appropriate Behaviour, The Bisexual and The Miseducation of Cameron Post, as well as Rose Troche, writer and director of The L Word. IMDB Of Love and Law Japan may have a seemingly progressive position on queer rights but, as Of Love and Law demonstrates, theres still a lot to be desired. Gay couple Fumi and Kazu run Japan's first LGBTQ+ law firm. Their clients include an artist Rokudenashiko, whose vagina-inspired art led to her being sued for obscenity by the police. The two men are an endearing presence, exuding a contagious love for each other and their cobbled together family, as well as an intense dedication to their work. When is LGBT+ History Month taking place? The month of February has been dedicated to LGBT+ History Month in the UK since it began in 2005, despite the celebration taking place in October in the US. February was chosen to coincide with the abolition of Section 28, which formerly stated that local authorities werent allowed to intentionally promote homosexuality. How is the UK observing LGBT+ History Month? More than 1,500 events are taking place across the country throughout February and March, which you can find here. There are talks and discussions from prominent figures, as well as queer tours around the city and access to Londons archive material on LGBTQ+ history. And don't forget all the performances that are set to take place to honour this month's theme. What LGBTQ+ events are happening in London? Washington Republicans lack the votes to block witnesses at President Donald Trump's impeachment trial, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell conceded late Tuesday, a potentially major hurdle for Trump's hopes to end the trial with a quick acquittal. Earlier, Trump's lawyers concluded his defense with a plea to move on. Several Republicans apparently are ready to join Democrats in considering in-person testimony from former national security adviser John Bolton and perhaps others. McConnell told colleagues in a private meeting that he did not yet have the votes to block Democrats from summoning witnesses. That outcome would prolong an election-year trial that Trump and his legal team had hoped was on track, as one lawyer said, to "end now, as soon as possible." McConnnell's statement was an acknowledgment of the extent to which revelations from Bolton have scrambled the trial's schedule and the desire for testimony. Bolton writes in a forthcoming book that Trump told him he wanted to withhold military aid from Ukraine until it helped with investigations into Democratic rival Joe Biden. That assertion, if true, would undercut a key defense argument and go to the heart of one major article of impeachment against the president. A decision to call more witnesses would require 51 votes to pass. With a 53-47 majority, Republicans can afford to lose only three. McConnell convened the private meeting shortly after Trump's legal team concluded its arguments in the trial, arguing forcefully against the relevance of testimony from Bolton and insisting that nothing Trump had done amounted to an impeachable offense. While scoffing at Bolton's manuscript, Trump and the Republicans have strongly resisted summoning him to testify in person about what he saw and heard as Trump's national security adviser. Senate Republicans spent considerable time in private discussing how to deal with Bolton's manuscript without extending the proceedings or jeopardizing the president's expected acquittal. Chuck Schumer, the Senate's top Democrat, called a proposal for senators to be shown the manuscript in private, keeping Bolton out of public testimony, "absurd." Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Senators are being warned that if they agree to call Bolton to testify or try to access his book manuscript, the White House will block him, beginning a weeks-long court battle. That had seemed to leave the few senators who have expressed a desire to hear new testimony, including Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, without strong backing. Other Republicans want reciprocity bring in Bolton or another Democratic witness in exchange for one from the GOP side. Trump's attorneys argued that the Founding Fathers took care to make sure that impeachment was narrowly defined, with offenses clearly enumerated. "The bar for impeachment cannot be set this low," Jay Sekulow said. "Danger. Danger. Danger. These articles must be rejected. The Constitution requires it. Justice demands it." Before consideration of witnesses, the case now moves toward written questions, with senators on both sides getting 16 hours to pose queries. A police corporal in Maryland was charged with second-degree murder on Tuesday in the fatal shooting of a suspect who had been handcuffed in the front passenger seat of his patrol car the previous night, the authorities said. The corporal, Michael Owen Jr., a 10-year veteran of the Prince Georges Police Department, shot William H. Green seven times after a traffic stop on Monday night in Temple Hills, Md., on the outskirts of Washington, Henry P. Stawinski III, the county police chief, said Tuesday evening at a news conference. Corporal Owen and another officer had been responding to a series of motor vehicle accidents in which Mr. Green, 43, had hit several cars and was suspected of being under the influence of an unknown substance, the chief said. The officers had been waiting for another officer to arrive to evaluate Mr. Green for drugs when Corporal Owen opened fire, according to the chief, who said Mr. Greens hands were cuffed behind his back at the time. WASHINGTON Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn raised nearly three times as much money over the past three months as any of the Democrats hoping to challenge him in November, and has now amassed more than $12 million to fend off that challenge. Cornyns campaign announced it brought in $2.75 million in the final quarter of 2019, dwarfing the $1.1 million raised during that period by former Air Force pilot MJ Hegar, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committees pick to face Cornyn in November and the Democrat who has raised the most cash to challenge him. Cornyn has an $11 million lead over her. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox While the DC insiders talk themselves in circles on impeachment, Texans are noticing the massive influx of liberal money from the DSCC meddling in the Senate race to hundreds of thousands pouring into state legislative races, Cornyns campaign manager John Jackson said in a statement. Regardless of our opponent, Senator Cornyn will be ready to defend the values that made Texas great versus those of the coastal elites. Its the second bit of bad news for Texas Democrats on Wednesday, following a duo of polls showing most voters still have yet to warm to any of the dozen Democrats vying to take on Cornyn. Hegar led the pack in both polls, but 42 percent of voters were still undecided in one poll, and 59 werent sure who to pick in the other. More Information Texas primary election dates Feb. 3 - Last day to register to vote in time for the Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections Feb. 18 - The first day of early voting Feb. 28 - Early voting ends March 3 - Election day See More Collapse Democrats say they arent surprised by Cornyns haul, accusing him of being beholden to special interests. The party points out hes taken the most of anyone in the Senate this cycle from the oil and gas industry and ranks sixth in contributions from gun rights groups, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Senator Cornyn continues to depend on the special interests he works for big pharmaceutical companies, the private prison industry, and the gun lobby who have already given his campaign millions, said Abhi Rahman, a spokesman for the state party. Unfortunately for Senator Cornyn, Texans are sick and tired of being sold out and are ready for a senator who will fight for them, not wealthy special interests. For subscribers: Gates staves off Markowitz in 'bellwether' Fort Bend runoff Cornyn has a reputation as an effective fundraiser. He led the Senate GOPs campaign arm, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and in 2016 then-Minority Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly declared him the best NRSC Senate chair Republicans have ever had." Cornyns campaign said two-thirds of donations were from Texans and 94 percent were $100 or less. He received contributions from 12,000 donors, the campaign said. ben.wermund@chron.com The World Health Organization warns the evacuation of nationals from China to their home countries carries the risk of spreading the deadly coronavirus. The WHO reports 4,428 cases of the disease in China, including 106 deaths. Another 45 cases are confirmed in 13 countries. WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is wrapping up several days of talks with Chinas President Xi Jinping and other high-level officials in Beijing. They have been discussing measures to protect the health of Chinese citizens and foreigners during the coronavirus outbreak. WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier says officials also have considered possible alternatives to the evacuation of foreigners from China to ensure no infections are imported back to their home countries. He calls that a real possibility as the incubation period of the coronavirus is between one and 14 days. That means people can transmit the virus during that period. "There are possibilities that also asymptomatic people, people showing no symptoms at all, could be infectious, are definitely interesting and concerning and have to be closer looked at," he said. "That is all I can say so far It is one of the big unknowns about this virus, which has to be solved. Lindmeier tells VOA that the WHO does not yet have a position on the pros and cons of quarantining nationals upon their return. He says the WHO is waiting for clarification on the dangers of transmitting the disease during the incubation period before issuing advice. "Closely monitoring or even isolating people who are coming back might be a measure yet if we see symptoms," he said. "Monitoring, closely monitoring or, as some countries refer to isolating them even for a certain amount of time is a measure possible. It could help the scenario prevent the further spread of the virus. The good news says Lindmeier is that there has not been any major spread of the infection outside of China. The WHOs latest risk assessment of the coronavirus rates the regional and global risk level as high, and that of China as very high. While the virus is not rapidly spreading outside of China, the WHO urges countries to remain vigilant and be prepared. On Sunday 26 January, Indian Ambassador to Egypt Rahul Kulshreshth and Mrs Shefali Kulshresth held a celebration to mark the 71st Republic Day of India. On this occasion, he applauded the current cooperation between the two countries, reiterating his countrys eagerness for more coordination with Egypt. At the Conrad Hotel in Cairo, Kulshreshth welcomed guests including the ambassadors of the USA, Germany, Australia, Philippines, Canada, Finland, and South Korea. The reception party was also attended by Ali Mosselhy, Egypt's minister for home trade, ambassador Hani Selim, assistant foreign minister for asian affairs, ambassador Mohamed Hegazy, foreign affairs advisor to the minister of local development, former chairman of the General Authority of Suez Canal Economic Zone Ahmed Darwish, Staff Major General Mamdouh Gouda Aly, and renowned Egyptian author Mohamed Salmawy. In his inaugural speech, Ambassador Kulshreshth said, "Relations between India and Egypt are rooted in antiquity. Some scholars have even suggested that Queen Hatshepsut sent ships to India. What is more certain is that maritime contacts between India and Egypt existed several centuries before Christ. Mahatma Gandhi, as we all know, had a special connection with Egypt. Gandhiji was impressed by Egypts nationalist leader Mustafa Kamel Pasha, and Mahatma Gandhi and Saad Zaghloul shared a common vision for independence. The friendship between Nehru and Nasser is of course well known. India and Egypt worked together in NAM and the United Nations. In the more recent past, two visits by His Excellency President El-Sisi to India have provided renewed impulse to bilateral ties. Our leaders have agreed to create a new partnership for a new era. It is indeed a matter of satisfaction that while bilateral ties between India and Egypt are marked by warmth and friendship as they have always been, India and Egypt also continue to share close political understanding and similar perceptions on bilateral, regional and global issues. Indian foreign policy has been driven by the impulse to share Indias experience, skills, knowledge and expertise with other developing countries. The ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Programme), launched on 15 September 1964, is a shining example of South-South partnership in capacity building. Every year, 200 ITEC slots are assigned for Egypt for training in 54 institutes, offering courses in 280 disciplines including IT, renewable energy, English language, skill development and employment generation. It is also our approach that development cooperation incorporating the idea of partnership should be guided by mutual benefit, by the priorities of our partners, and should reach out to people and make a difference to their lives. "Last year, we capped the year-long celebrations of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi with a seminar and photo exhibition held in collaboration with the League of Arab States. Later, on 6 November 2019, Egypt Post released a commemorative stamp on Mahatma Gandhi. A bronze bust of Mahatma Gandhi was also unveiled at Al-Horreya Park in Cairo. We take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the government of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the people of Egypt for making the celebrations a resounding success. "I take this opportunity to convey my gratitude to the government and people of Egypt for their continued support and cooperation. I also thank and commend the Indian community in Egypt. They have been ambassadors for India, have earned good will and respect, and helped in strengthening ties between India and Egypt. Good wishes to all Indians and friends of India in Egypt on this joyous occasion," the ambassador said. Search Keywords: Short link: US President Donald Trump said Jerusalem "will remain Israel's undivided capital" as he unveiled his Middle East peace plan aimed at solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, describing it as historic and a "giant step" towards peace. Standing along with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House, Trump proposed a two-state solution and said no Israelis or Palestinians would be uprooted from their homes. He said that under his vision, Jerusalem "will remain Israel's undivided, very important capital." He proposed Palestinian capital in Eastern Jerusalem and that US will set up its embassy there. "My vision presents a realistic two-state solution," he said. Together we can bring a new dawn in the Middle East, Trump said as he urged the Palestinians to accept his deal and bring peace in the region. Calling it a "historic opportunity" for the Palestinians to achieve an independent state, Trump said he has written to Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in this regard. No Palestinian official was present at the launch. The ambassadors from three Arab nations -- Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain -- were at the White House. Palestinians have already rejected the leaked proposals. Thousands of Palestinians protested in the Gaza Strip earlier on Tuesday. The plan, Trump said, calls for a four-year freeze in Israeli settlement activity, doubling of Palestinian territory. Asserting that his peace plan will more than double the size of Palestinian territory, Trump said that Palestinian people deserve a far better life" than being trapped in a cycle of terrorism and violence." Lamenting "the amount of needless bloodshed and squandered opportunity" in the Middle East, Trump said it's time for this sad chapter in history to end quickly and end now. Netanyahu hailed Trump's plan as 'historic day' for Israel. He compared Trump's Plan with the day to May 14, 1948, when the then President Harry Truman became the first world leader to recognise the State of Israel. The plan, he said, will strike the "right balance" where other plans have failed. Netanyahu said that he is now willing to negotiate peace with the Palestinians "on the basis" of the US peace. Gone are the days when hosting a dinner party meant worrying about ironing tablecloths, using the best china, and slaving away for hours to create a three-course culinary masterpiece. Now, thanks to the latest trend, your guests can simply cook all the food themselves. Dubbed social dining, the meal is cooked as everyone is at the table, with the aid of a portable heated gadget in the centre. It started with the return of retro cheese fondue parties, but now theres a feast of tasty options; from melting cheese on a Swiss-style raclette heater or cooking in a Chinese hot pot (a huge simmering bowl of broth), to searing or grilling meat, fish and veg on a hot lava stone, Japanese-style teppanyaki grill, or even an indoor smokeless barbecue no sunshine required. While this all sounds like a clever excuse for a lazy chef, the idea is that cooking together family style is less stressful than a formal dinner party. It gets everyone talking, means food can be cooked according to personal preferences and, most importantly, allows the host to escape the kitchen. Jenny Wood gave verdict on a selection of the latest gadgets for embracing the trend for 'social dining', pictured: Table Top Chinese Hot Pot Social dining is as much about the experience as the food, says Danielle Bliss, from cheesemongers Paxton & Whitfield, which has seen a big rise in customers buying melting Alpine cheeses for raclette parties. It used to be a specialist thing, but all ages are doing it. People are holding social dinner parties not only to entertain and impress their friends, but to show off on social media, too a big spread is all very Instagrammable. As well as the fun factor, the other big draw is the lack of preparation required just chopping a variety of bits (meat, fish, vegetables, cheese or bread) to cook at the table. These days, people are less interested in trying to imitate silver-service dining at home, says Nick Metcalf, of hot lava stone makers SteakStones (steakstones.co.uk). Cooking like this means they can deliver a fun, memorable meal that doesnt take an age to prepare, and provides a great talking point. Its often healthy, too. Many social dining methods, such as grills and hot stones, dont require oils or fats; and, if you choose, everything can be vegetarian or vegan-friendly. Theres one drawback you may get through more food than at a traditional dinner party as people pick their way through the options. Definitely over cater, says Danielle. Be generous and fill the table, as youll be surprised how much food people eat. So, are the new social dining gadgets that easy to use, or do they just make a meal of things? Jenny Wood found out . . . Whip up a family feast in a hot pot Table Top Chinese Hot Pot, 59.50, souschef.co.uk Hot pot or steamboat is a traditional Chinese way of eating, where guests cook pieces of raw food in a steadily boiling broth. This set includes a plug-in heater and a 33cm steel cooking pot which sits on top. Theres a partition down the middle of the pot, to allow for two different broths; a glass lid, cool-touch handles and two heat settings. However, the instructions are sparse. Its assumed you know what youre doing. I didnt, so I had to search the internet for recipes and advice. Preparing the broths, sauces and raw ingredients is time-consuming, but cooking and eating it is a fun experience. Ease of use: 2/5 Fun factor: 4/5 Melt yourself a no-frills dish Boska Raclette Quattro Concrete, 135, hartsofstur.com Jenny said Boska Raclette Quattro Concrete (pictured) looks classy and can easily be used to cover bread in runny cheese It may look like an instrument of torture, but the idea behind this gadget is simple spear a segment of cheese on the swivelling copper spikes and position it under the heat lamp. Once the top layer starts to melt, scrape off the runny cheese on to a hunk of bread. The concrete base is reassuringly heavy to stop it toppling over, and the copper tones look classy. Its best to use cheese with a rind, to stop it turning into a melty mess. Ease of use: 4/5 Fun factor: 3/5 Mix-and-match raclette set Paxton & Whitfield Raclette Set, 30, paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk and John Lewis Jenny was impressed with Paxton & Whitfield Raclette Set (pictured) for being simple, quick and fun with hardly any prep A sweet little set that serves two, you can line up several of these on the table if you have more guests. Setting it up couldnt be easier place the eight supplied tealight candles on the stand; then melt chunks of cheese in the trowel-like pans on top. Once the cheese is runny, there are two plastic spatulas to help pour the cheese over potatoes, cold meats or vegetables. Simple, quick and fun, with hardly any prep, its far less fuss than a full fondue. Ease of use: 5/5 Fun factor: 5/5 Make big dinners go with a sizzle MisterChef XL Teppanyaki Grill, 43.99, amazon.co.uk Jenny said MisterChef XL Teppanyaki Grill (pictured) has an annoyingly short cord but comes with a handy booklet of ideas Not for those with scant kitchen storage, this huge, flat, rectangular pan is 68cm long by almost 30cm wide and can serve up to six guests all cooking food such as meat, stir-fries or fajitas at the same time. The one-metre cord is annoyingly short, so you may need an extension lead, but once its plugged in, turn up the heat and youre ready to cook on the non-stick surface using the bamboo spatulas provided. It also comes with a handy ideas booklet. However, while its easy and fun to use, its less enjoyable to clean, as it cant go in the dishwasher and the non-stick coating needs to be handled with care. Ease of use: 4/5 Fun factor: 4/5 Food thats fun and good for you Philips Smokeless Indoor Grill, 166, amazon.co.uk Jenny said Philips Smokeless Indoor Grill (pictured) is bulky and doesn't achieve the same smoky outdoor flavour as a traditional barbecue Barbecue fans rejoice! Now you can sizzle away indoors to your hearts content even in winter. Once plugged in, the grills bright, infrared lamps take a few minutes to heat up, and then it works like a normal barbecue. The grid leaves charred lines across your food; while any fat drips into a removable tray, allowing for healthier cooking. Its bulky, and without any charcoal and very little smoke, you dont get that smoky outdoor flavour; but its big enough to cook eight burgers at a time and, when finished, the grid can be popped in the dishwasher. Ease of use: 3/5 Fun factor: 2/5 Turn up the heat with a lava stone The SteakStones Sizzling Steak Set (SS001), 75, steakstones.co.uk Jenny revealed The SteakStones Sizzling Steak Set (pictured) is able to make delicious food, but can't be used around small children This professional way of cooking steak, fish or vegetables involves flat stones made from the lava of an Italian volcano. Each guest has their own stone; or you can place a larger, communal stone in the middle of the table. Heating up the stones is slightly nerve-wracking they need to reach 280 c to 350 c, which takes 20 to 40 minutes in an oven or directly on a hob (special gloves to handle them cost 30 extra). The hot stone then sits in a steel tray on a bamboo base, and guests place steaks on top. Dinky little sauce bowls and a side platter for chips or salad are included in the set, and its all a doddle to wash. This method delivers delicious food, but its not for small children as the stones are sizzling hot. Ease of use: 3/5 Fun factor: 5/5 Troopers from the Michigan State Police are working with local sheriffs departments to target poor driving today, Wednesday, Jan. 29. The efforts will see troopers and deputies from both the Macomb County and Oakland County sheriffs offices on both M-59 and M-53. The traffic enforcement efforts will be during two periods of time: from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and then again from 8 p.m. to midnight. Just drive right, the state police tweeted yesterday in announcing the initiative. While speeding and seat belts could draw traffic stops, the state police did identify aggressive driving as one thing the extra patrols will be looking for. Other efforts will be on the Lodge as well. Bureaucrat-turned-activist Kannan Gopinathan on Wednesday slammed the combination and the chronology of the CAA, NPR and NRC, saying their implementation will contribute to corruption and hatred in the country. The CAA, NPR and NRC are exercises of hatred, exercises of corruption, he told reporters here. The farther the process continues, the more hatred it will create, he added. Gopinathan quit the IAS last year, saying the people of Jammu and Kashmir were being denied freedom of expression after the abrogation of the special status for the state under Article 370. The CAA is against constitutional and secular values and, therefore, the people are opposing it, he said, criticising the amended citizenship law. He also criticised the planned implementation of the National Population Register (NPR) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The NPR and the NRC are document-based exercises which are against the poor, tribals and women, and will also encourage corruption, he said. The people have understood the combination of CAA, NPR and NRC and the chronology of implementing the decisions. He suggested that a section of the people may be helped by the CAA while others could be termed intruders if they do not produce the required documents during the NPR and NRC exercises. The CAA fast-tracks citizenship for Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Christians, Parsis and Buddhists who entered the country before 2015 from three neighbouring countries following religious prosecution. Muslims don't figure in the list. Gopinathan said the people and different state governments have indicated their opposition to the CAA, NPR and NRC, and it is now for the Centre to take a call on the issue. He questioned the reasoning behind choosing only three neighbouring countries Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan -- and making religion the basis for granting citizenship, which he said was against constitutional values. Gopinathan said people who question the government are being targeted and given tags. If an urban intellectual raises a question, he is called an urban naxal. Students are called 'tukde tukde gang'. If he is a Muslim, he is termed a terrorist. If poor, he is called a Maoist and if a Hindu poses a question, he is called anti-national. Gopinathan said the Centre took the decision on Article 370 without any consultation with the Kashmiri people and deprived them of their freedom of expression. He said people in the rest of the country did not stand with them. There was an awful silence over the issue and therefore I decided to quit. We should have stood by the Kashmiri people, he said. Gopinathan said instead of accepting the resignation, the government has issued him a memo which says that by talking to the media he has created an adverse image of the country and the government. He said that the government wants to dismiss him instead of accepting his resignation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 2020 Honda CR-V Lease Offer The American Honda Motor Company currently produces and releases the Honda HR-V, Honda C-RV, Honda Pilot, Honda Passport, Honda Ridgeline and Honda Odyssey models. These larger vehicle builds from the Honda brand are classified as SUVs in the case of the HR-V, CR-V, Pilot and Passport models, as a truck in the case of the Ridgeline model and as a minivan in the case of the Odyssey model. The Atlantic Honda dealership has many of the latest 2020 models of these Honda SUVs, trucks and minivans in stock within their new vehicle inventory for drivers in the Long Island area to test drive, lease and finance. 2020 Honda SUV models in stock at Atlantic Honda include the following. There are 32 2020 Honda HR-V models with the LX, Sport, EX, EX-L and Touring trim levels in stock. There are 94 2020 Honda CR-V models with the LX, EX, EX-L and Touring trim levels in stock. There are 75 2020 Honda Pilot models with the LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, Elite and Black Edition trim levels in stock. There are 13 2020 Honda Passport models with the EX-L and Touring trim levels in stock. 2019 Honda Ridgeline truck models are currently in stock at Atlantic Honda, but 2020 versions of the model are not yet available at the location. 2020 Honda minivan models in stock at Atlantic Honda include the following. There are 47 2020 Honda Odyssey models with the LX, EX, EX-L, Touring and Elite trim levels in stock. Additional information on available 2020 Honda SUV, truck and minivan models can be explored by browsing through the Atlantic Honda inventory online or on-site. Drivers in the Long Island area of New York can also contact the Atlantic Honda staff to learn more. Atlantic Honda representatives can be reached at the number 631-665-0005, through online messaging on the dealership website or with a visit to the store location. The Atlantic Honda dealership is located at 1375 Sunshine Hwy., Bay Shore, New York 11706. Turkeys' Foreign Ministry has criticized the Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office's decision to ratify a ruling by the Belgian Chamber of Indictments to prevent an investigation into 36 terrorist PKK-linked suspects for disregarding the law. The ministry said while Belgium has been trying to lecture Turkey on the rule of law, it has acquitted the terrorist group based on ideological considerations, with no regard for the law. "The decision by the Belgian justice is an explicit example of support for the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by the EU and is responsible for over 40,000 Turkish citizens, including civilians, children and babies," Daily Sabah cited the statement as saying. According to the ministry, Belgium's decision has not only contradicted EU legislation but also shows that it will be an obstacle for the country to fulfill its obligations under U.N. Security Council resolutions and international law. BAD AXE The Huron County Board of Commissioners approved long-awaited funding for a future Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly wellness center in Bad Axe. The commissioners had put off appropriating $750,000 in funding for the center for the past few meetings because the original plan was for all the funding to come from the Older Citizens Fund, which did not have enough money in it. Of the $750,000 pledged for the Wellness Center, $365,800 comes from the Older Citizens Fund, $112,500 from the Veterans Affairs Fund, and $271,700 comes from the revolving 100% tax payment fund, which acts as a 0% interest loan to the Older Citizens Fund and would be paid off in five years. The planned construction costs of the facility are between $2 million and $3 million. The majority of the costs would come from Region VII, which has over $20 million in its fund balance to cover additional costs for the facility. The center is for senior citizens who qualify for the PACE program, where they can see a variety of doctors in one place without having to move into a nursing home. The plan is for the facility to be located next to the Huron County Senior Center on Nugent Road in Bad Axe. Commissioner Ron Wruble said that during the finance committee meeting where funding was figured out, commissioners wondered whether it would be better if the center was closer to McLaren Thumb Region Hospital and the Huron County Medical Care Facility. Commissioner Steve Vaughan explained that the site next to senior center was chosen so the two buildings can be connected with an enclosed corridor so that, if successful, Region VII can contract a kitchen staff to provide meals, which need to be transported in an enclosed space. Vaughan also said the county veterans affairs office has given its verbal approval for the project and Region VII will make a presentation for the office at its March meeting. The commissioners also advertised vacancies for the mental health services board and the planning commission, with a deadline to apply set at 5 p.m. on Feb. 20. There are four vacancies on the mental health board for three-year terms and three vacancies open on the planning commission for three-year terms. A Derry apprentice who has been officially named as the best dry-lining student in the UK, is encouraging local young people to consider the apprenticeship route when making the next step in their education or career path. Speaking ahead of next weeks Apprenticeship Week at the North West Regional College (NWRC), Brendan Duddy said he chose an apprenticeship, knowing he would be guaranteed employment, during, and at the end of course. Brendan, 20, from Bishop Street, enrolled for an apprenticeship at NWRC after he completed his A-Levels at St Josephs Boys School. He explained: I knew 100% that I wanted to get a trade. At University I could spend years of my life studying to work in an oversubscribed area, so when I saw the apprenticeship opportunity with NWRC and Errigal Contracts, I knew it was for me. The joint enterprise between NWRC and Errigal was launched in 2017, offering two-year apprenticeship opportunities in a number of skills areas. During the two-year programme, students are given the skills in college to achieve a City and Guilds Award; work with top professionals on jobs across the UK and Ireland, all while earning top apprenticeships wages. Brendan, who won the gold medal in dry-lining at the Live UK Worlds Skills Finals in Birmingham and will now go on to represent the UK at the 2021 world finals in Shanghai, said his apprenticeship had given him the opportunity to work all around the UK, in Manchester, Liverpool, and Belfast, learning his trade. Hes now looking forward to the Skills Olympics next year when hell go head-to-head with the worlds best. The competition in Birmingham was tough, he said. As you work you are aware of the thousands of people who are looking at you. When I won gold I was shocked and Im delighted to now be going on to compete in Shanghai. Ive really enjoyed the opportunities that studying with NWRC and working with Errigal has given me and Id encourage more young people my age to give it a go. Im now working full time with Errigal and its been great. From, 3-7 February, a series of events are being held across the Derry City and Strabane District Council area promoting the opportunities available for apprentices locally. North West Regional College will host two events to celebrate Apprenticeship Week. The Construction Futures event will be held at the Student Zone at Strand Road campus on Tuesday, February 4 from 10-1 p.m. An information evening on Higher Level Apprenticeships (HLA), will be held at the Strand Road campus the following night (Wednesday, 5 February) at 6.00pm. This event is open to everyone. 1. The impeachment trial of President Trump moved into cross-examination. After a week of silently hearing the case, senators submitted written questions to the legal teams representing the president and the House. Both sides used the opportunity to poke holes in their opponents case. Todays session is expected to last into the night and resume again on Thursday. Follow along here. One of Mr. Trumps lawyers, Alan Dershowitz, argued that any action taken by the president to help his own re-election would be, by definition, in the public interest. Thats an extraordinarily expansive view of executive power. Tedros Adhanom (L), Director General of the World Health Organization, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) prior to their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, 28 January 2020. EPA/NAOHIKO HATTA Liu Chunhua (R), a member of a medical team leaving for Wuhan of Hubei Province, wears a face mask with a drawing of smiling face by her daughter Ren Shuyao (L) at Xinjiang Medical University in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Jan. 28, 2020. A team comprised of 142 medical workers from Xinjiang left for Wuhan on Tuesday to aid the novel coronavirus control efforts there. (Xinhua/Wang Fei) China is battling a "demon" virus that has so far killed more than 100 people, President Xi Jinping said Tuesday, as nations readied planes to airlift foreigners trapped at the epicentre of the outbreak. Xi made his remarks during talks with the head of the World Health Organization in Beijing amid growing global concerns about a novel coronavirus that has infected thousands in China and reached more than a dozen other countries. In a development that could cause more jitters abroad, Japan and Germany reported the first confirmed cases of human-to-human transmission outside of China. The infection is believed to have originated in a wild animal market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where it jumped to humans before spreading rapidly across the country, prompting authorities to enact drastic nationwide travel restrictions in recent days. Countries are also concerned about the fate of thousands of foreigners stuck in Wuhan, a city of 11 million people that has been sealed off by Chinese authorities in a bid to contain the disease. Tokyo deployed a plane to the virus-stricken metropolis late Tuesday that was scheduled to repatriate Japanese nationals on Wednesday, the same day that a US aircraft is expected to bring American citizens back to their homeland. France and South Korea are also planning to fly out their citizens later this week, and several other countries, including Germany, were considering doing the same. "Chinese people are currently engaged in a serious struggle against an epidemic of a new type of coronavirus infection," Xi told WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "The epidemic is a demon, and we cannot let this demon hide," the Chinese leader said, pledging that the government would be transparent and release information in a "timely" manner. His comments came after anger simmered on Chinese social media over the handling of the health emergency by local officials in central Hubei province. Some experts have praised Beijing for being more reactive and open about this crisis as compared to its handling of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic of 2002-2003. Korea, China coordinating response to virus epidemic Here's what's new in the outbreak linked to an emerging virus in China South Korea to cover all treatment costs of Wuhan virus-infected patients Hong Kong to cut rail links as virus from China spreads US developing vaccine against new coronavirus But others say local cadres were more focused on projecting stability earlier in January than adequately responding to the outbreak during regional political meetings. Since then, the number of cases has soared doubling to more than 4,500 in the past 24 hours. Members of a medical team are seen on a ceremony before their departure to Wuhan of Hubei Province, at the Hedong International Airport in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Jan. 28, 2020. A team comprised of 135 medical workers from Ningxia left for Wuhan on Tuesday to aid the novel coronavirus control efforts there. (Xinhua/Wang Peng) Medical materials are unloaded from a plane at the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 28, 2020. Three cargo airplanes arrived at the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport on Tuesday, bringing over 60 tons of medical and protective materials, including face masks, medical caps, latex gloves, protective clothing, disinfectant, etc.. (Xinhua/Cheng Min) The WHO last week stopped short of declaring the outbreak a global emergency, which could have prompted a more aggressive international response such as travel restrictions. Until Tuesday, all reported cases in more than a dozen countries had involved people who had been in or around Wuhan. But in Japan, a man in his 60s apparently contracted the virus after driving two groups of tourists from the city earlier in January, the health ministry said. And a 33-year-old German man contracted the disease from a Chinese colleague from Shanghai who visited Germany last week, according to health officials. Vietnam has been investigating a possible case of human-to-human transmission. The development came after countries including Sri Lanka, Malaysia and the Philippines announced tighter visa restrictions for people coming from China. China has taken its own drastic steps to stop the virus, which health officials say is passed on between people through sneezing or coughing, and possibly through physical contact. Zhong Nanshan, a renowned scientist at China's National Health Commission, told the official Xinhua news agency on Tuesday that the outbreak could peak in a week or 10 days. Authorities initially sealed off Wuhan and other cities in Hubei province late last week, trapping more than 50 million people. China has since extended the Lunar New Year holiday to keep people indoors as much as possible, and suspended a wide range of train services. On Tuesday, authorities urged Chinese citizens to delay any foreign travel "to protect the health and safety of Chinese and foreign people". Wuhan, meanwhile, has been turned into a near ghost-town under a lockdown that has largely confined the industrial hub's residents to their homes. With a ban on car traffic, the streets were nearly deserted apart from the occasional ambulance although the city's hospitals are overwhelmed. Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, the chairman of the European Solidarity party, has called on NATO to demonstrate a strategic vision and make a political decision to grant Ukraine a Membership Action Plan (MAP). He said this at a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Inter-Parliamentary Council in Brussels on January 28, the party's press service reported. "Petro Poroshenko called on NATO to demonstrate a strategic vision and make a political decision to grant Ukraine a Membership Action Plan as a powerful factor in strengthening our country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He called on countries of the Alliance to continue supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities, including direct supplies of defensive lethal weapons," the report reads. In his speech, Poroshenko emphasized the importance of maintaining the unity and solidarity of the international community with Ukraine in the context of Russian aggression. He expressed concern about the trend towards the international "detoxification" of the Russian leadership, despite numerous violations by Russia of international law, international security and human rights. Poroshenko said that Russia is continuing a conscious strategy to undermine the territorial integrity of neighboring countries and carry out hybrid aggression in different parts of the world. Poroshenko warned the international community against meeting Russia halfway in organizing the so-called meeting of the nuclear five permanent members of the UN Security Council, which, according to the Russian plan, should create an alternative to the "Group of Seven," undermine the effectiveness of the UN Security Council, minimize the role of Germany, Italy, Japan and others key Western countries on the global agenda. Poroshenko said that Russia is deliberately torpedoing the Minsk agreements and continuing the policy of creeping annexation of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait. He stressed the need to maintain international pressure on the Russian leadership, including by increasing sanctions, in order to establish peace in Donbas, preserve freedom of navigation and restore the territorial integrity of the country, including Crimea. In the context of discussing the internal situation in Ukraine, he emphasized the need for the new authorities to uphold democratic values, ensure the real protection of human rights and avoid the instrumentalization of justice for the fight against political opponents. op Wall Street analysts and traders viewed the results favorably, sending Boeing shares up about 2 percent in midday trading. Taken together, the 737 items are a bit less than we feared, said Jonathan Raviv, an analyst at Citi. But we acknowledge theyre both moving numbers lacking regulator clarity. This was the companys first quarterly earnings report with David L. Calhoun at the helm, after the ouster of the previous chief executive, Dennis A. Muilenburg. Since taking over this month, Mr. Calhoun has tried to set himself apart from Mr. Muilenburg, who was pushed out after alienating airline customers and the Federal Aviation Administration with overly optimistic projections about when the Max would return to service. We recognize we have a lot of work to do, Mr. Calhoun said in a statement. We are focused on returning the 737 Max to service safely and restoring the longstanding trust that the Boeing brand represents with the flying public. We are committed to transparency and excellence in everything we do. There is still no precise timeline for the return of the Max. Last week, Boeing said it did not expect regulators to approve the plane to fly until June or July, though that estimate was conservative. If regulators do not find any additional problems with the plane, the Max could return to service before then, though new issues cropped up earlier in the process. The company has enjoyed rare bits of good news in recent weeks. It successfully completed the first flight test of the 777X, its new wide-body jet. And the trade deal that the White House struck with China included a commitment for the sale of new American aircraft to Chinese customers. The comedy world is in mourning on Tuesday, with the passing of comedic actor, writer and producer Jack Burns. The comedian passed at the age of 86 on Monday from respiratory failure in Toluca Lake, California, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Burns' manager, Peter Santana, confirmed that he had been living in senior care for the past two years, and had celebrated his 31st year of sobriety in December. RIP: The comedy world is in mourning on Tuesday, with the passing of comedic actor, writer and producer Jack Burns Burns was born November 15, 1933 in Boston, and he started his long career in comedy in 1959 when he teamed up with iconic comedian George Carlin. They both teamed up while working for KXOL radio station in Fort Worth, Texas, before heading to California to work together for a few more years. The 1963 album Burns & Carlin at the Playboy Club Tonight features some of their material during their partnership together. Early life: Burns was born November 15, 1933 in Boston, and he started his long career in comedy in 1959 when he teamed up with iconic comedian George Carlin Burns and Carlin: They both teamed up while working for KXOL radio station in Fort Worth, Texas, before heading to California to work together for a few more years After Burns and Carlin went their separate ways, Burns teamed up with Avery Schreiber at Chicago's Second City. They would perform together at Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall, The Merv Griffin Show and The Ed Sullivan Show, plus other variety shows. He gained even more notoriety when he starred in The Andy Griffith Show as new character Deputy Wayne Ferguson, replacing the departing Don Knotts' Barney Fife. Notoriety: He gained even more notoriety when he starred in The Andy Griffith Show as new character Deputy Wayne Ferguson, replacing the departing Don Knotts' Barney Fife He would continue acting and performing while also writing as well, working on shows like Hee-Haw, the ABC Comedy Hour and a number of comedy specials for Flip Wilson, Paul Lunde and others. Burns also wrote a TV movie adaptation of Peter Pan in 1976, starring Mia Farrow as Peter Pan and Danny Kaye as Captain Hook. Perhaps his best known work as a writer was co-creating The Muppet Show in 1976 with The Muppets creator Jim Henson, and co-writing The Muppet Movie in 1979 with Jerry Juhl. Comedy: He would continue acting and performing while also writing as well, working on shows like Hee-Haw, the ABC Comedy Hour and a number of comedy specials for Flip Wilson, Paul Lunde and others 'Burns was honored in passing by Kelly Carlin, the daughter of his late partner George Carlin, who passed in 2008 at the age of 71. 'A foundational piece of the Carlin legacy has gone to the big comedy club in the sky. Jack was one of the sharpest motherf*****s I knew. He shaped my fathers mind in unique ways. RIP Jack Burns,' she said. Burns was nominated for two Primetime Emmys, for outstanding comedy-variety or music series and outstanding writing, both for The Muppet Show in 1976, and likewise was nominated for a Hugo Award for best dramatic presentation with The Muppet Movie in 1980, WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Launched in 2014, the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and embodies the United States' commitment to invest in the future of Africa. YALI was created in 2010 and is celebrating its 10th anniversary supporting young Africans as they spur economic growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa. Since 2014, nearly 4,400 young leaders from every country in Sub-Saharan Africa have participated in the Mandela Washington Fellowship. Twenty-seven U.S. educational institutions in 20 states will host Leadership Institutes for approximately 700 Mandela Washington Fellows. This summer, all Fellows will receive a letter from President Trump welcoming them to the United States for their program. The six-week Institutes, held on college and university campuses, will support the development of Fellows' leadership skills through academic study, workshops, mentoring, networking with U.S. leaders, and collaboration with members of the local community. Each Institute will also offer insights into American society and will help strengthen connections between the United States and Africa by establishing partnerships between Fellows, local communities, and private businesses. In addition to the knowledge and skills they bring back to Africa, Fellows enrich their U.S. host communities through public service, cultural exchange, and the lasting personal ties they create during their stay in the United States. During the 2016-19 Institutes, Fellows contributed more than 39,000 volunteer service hours to their host communities, and since 2014, Fellows have connected with Americans at more than 2,300 organizations across the United States. Americans also have the opportunity to apply to travel to Africa and collaborate on projects with Fellows through the Reciprocal Exchange. 2020 Leadership Institutes Leadership in Business Institutes are tailored to Fellows aspiring to become leaders in the private sector or to start their own business ventures in Africa. The Institutes introduce participants to business and entrepreneurial approaches in the United States, including those that address social issues. Institutes also help Fellows build technical and leadership capacity in areas such as innovation and technology, business plan development, financial management, business ethics, the intersection of business with civil society and government, and the role of public-private partnerships. The institutions hosting 2020 Leadership in Business Institutes are: Leadership in Civic Engagement Institutes are tailored to Fellows who are civically engaged and serving the public through non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, or volunteerism. The Institutes expose Fellows to civic engagement in the United States while building technical and leadership capacity in areas such as advocacy, strategic planning, organizational development, and the intersection of civil society with business and government. The institutions hosting 2020 Leadership in Civic Engagement Institutes are: Leadership in Public Management Institutes are tailored to Fellows who work, or aspire to work, in all levels of government, regional or international organizations, or other publicly-oriented groups and think tanks. The Institutes introduce Fellows to U.S. models and best practices in public management while building technical and leadership capacity in areas such as citizen engagement, resource management, financial management systems, and the intersection of government with business and civil society. The institutions hosting 2020 Leadership in Public Management Institutes are: Up to 70 competitively-selected Fellows will remain in the United States for an additional four weeks after the Institutes to participate in Professional Development Experiences with U.S. organizations in the public, private, or non-profit sector. Fellows will also have the opportunity to participate in Alumni Programming after they return home to further build their professional skills and networks. To get involved in Fellowship activities near you, please contact [email protected]. Press inquiries should be directed to [email protected]. The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX. For more information about the Mandela Washington Fellowship, visit mandelawashingtonfellowship.org. SOURCE IREX Related Links http://www.irex.org Actor Rajinikanth on Tuesday shot for the new episode of Discovery Channels Man Vs Wild with host Bear Grylls. The latter posted a picture with Rajinikanth on Wednesday. Sharing the picture, he wrote: After our episode with Prime Minister @NarendraModi of India helped create a bit of TV history, (3.6 billion impressions), Bollywood superstar @Rajinikanth joins me next, as he makes his TV debut on our new show #IntoTheWildWithBearGrylls on @DiscoveryIN. #ThalaivaOnDiscovery. The picture shows Rajinikanth and Bear standing together, with arms around each other. After our episode with Prime Minister @NarendraModi of India helped create a bit of TV history, (3.6 billion impressions), superstar @Rajinikanth joins me next, as he makes his TV debut on our new show #IntoTheWildWithBearGrylls on @DiscoveryIN. #ThalaivaOnDiscovery pic.twitter.com/WKscCDjPZc Bear Grylls (@BearGrylls) January 29, 2020 It was later reported that Rajinikanth had got injured during the shoot at the Bandipur National Park, a tiger reserve in Karnataka. However, an IANS report said that while the actor suffered a few scratches, he wasnt injured as such. Quoting T Balachandra, the reserves director and conservator of forests, on Tuesday, it said, It is all false. As per the screenplay, there was a shot in which Rajinikanth had to fall, so while getting down from the rope, he just fell down and everybody rushed. It was all in the screenplay. Later, Rajnikanth got up, completed the shoot and left for Chennai, Balachandra added. He was fine. That shot was from the Mysuru airport, Balachandra said, referring to a video which went viral, showing Rajinikanth walking to the airport in Mysuru. Also read: Alia Bhatt doesnt regret sending flowers to Kangana Ranaut despite Rangolis mocking tweet: Let them react how they want to We gave permission for 6-8 hours to Discovery Channel to shoot in Bandipur Tiger Reserve, said Balachandra. He said the one-day shoot began at 11 am on Tuesday and ended by 4 pm. They paid as per the norms. Per day they have to pay documentary fee, vehicle fee and others. For four days, they paid Rs 10 lakh, Balachandra said. Balachandra added that Rajinikanth spent five hours in the forest and will not return as his shoot was only for one day. Bandipur Tiger Reserve, an 874 sq km national park, was formed by integrating most of the forest areas of erstwhile Venugopala Wildlife Park established in 1941, and later enlarged to its current state in Chamarajanagar district, about 220 km southwest of Bengaluru. The tiger reserve lists 28 species of mammals to be present in the forest, including royal Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, common leopard, bonnet macaque, Indian pipestrelle and barking deer, among others. However, according to a report in Mint, wildlife experts protested against the shoot, as it took place in an ecologically sensitive zone. The report said that Rajinikanth and team were shooting in Kalkere and Moolehole sections of the national park. They said not only does it endanger animals, but also raised fears of igniting forest fires given the prevailing dry conditions. Joseph Hoover, a Bengaluru-based wildlife activist was on Tuesday quoted in the report, as saying, They could have filmed in the monsoons as fires can start and spread very quickly during the summer months. Meanwhile, the states chief wildlife warden Sanjay Mohan said that this was not the first time a Discovery Channel documentary was shot in the reserve. Lot of documentaries were shot in Bandipur. I have urged Discovery Channel that they must show the efforts being made by the Karnataka forest department day and night in saving the forest wildlife, Mohan told IANS. In August 2019, Grylls had hosted Prime Minister Modi in the show, which was shot at the Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand in February last year. (With IANS inputs) Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Sudan hopes to cut fuel subsidies over the course of 18 months, starting as early as March, and replace them with direct cash payments to the poor, the country's finance minister said in an interview. The comments by Ibrahim Elbadawi came after his government stepped back from discussing subsidies late last year and dropped proposals related to subsidy removal in the 2020 budget. Elbadawi told The Associated Press that the plan is to gradually lift fuel subsidies, which take up 36% of the nation's budget, as early as March, after an economic conference with civil society groups, and continue into next year. The former World Bank economist said gasoline subsidies would be removed first, before tackling diesel mid-year. A decision on subsidies will be the most fateful to be taken by the country's new leadership as it navigates a treacherous transition to civilian rule. Two-thirds of Sudan's more than 40 million people live in poverty, and slashing the fuel subsidies could lead to de-stabilizing protests reminiscent of the large-scale demonstrations that ended the 30-year-rule of strongman Omar al-Bashir in April. At the same time, sweeping economic reforms are required to re-integrate Sudan into the international economy and win support from international lenders. For decades, the country has been an international pariah, after it was placed on the United State's list of states which sponsor terror more than two decades ago. This largely excluded it from the global economy and prevented it from receiving loans from international institutions like the International Monetary Fund. Hi, Isnt the month appearing a rather long one to you? Feels like we exchanged those New Year greetings months back. (It also doesn't help that our wallets are groaning and empty bank accounts are waiting for the salary to hit.) Yet, when the year would end, it would feel like the year went by rather quick. Its the same feeling every year. But here we were talking about this month not the year. The month of January. Not that the month was extra long, it just felt like it was. Maybe you dont feel that. Maybe it went by rather quick for you. Time and its passage are relative for us. For some of us, the journey from 2012 to now has been as quick as the blink of an eye. For others, it has been a never-ending ordeal. Asha Devi, the mother of the Delhi gang-rape victim, has been fighting a battle to ensure the rapists and murderers of her daughter be hanged till death since 2012. Today, the Supreme Court rejected the review of the presidential order that rejected Mukesh Singhs mercy petition. Nirbhaya's rapist and murderer Mukesh Singh. (Source: India Today) A convict, who has been sentenced to death, can appeal for mercy. The President of India can reject that mercy plea. Now, the convict can challenge the ground on which the mercy plea has been rejected. Some may think the process is too long. But then, since we cant return to life a person who has been given the death sentence, it is only fair to give that person all opportunities to appeal. One of the grounds on which Singh had wanted his mercy plea be reconsidered was that his was the fastest rejection of a mercy petition ever. You can read about the other grounds mentioned in Singh's plea here. There is, however, no timeframe within which a mercy petition needs to be decided upon no upper or lower limits exist. Singhs petition was rejected in four days flat. But this back and forth of petitions and pleas has ensured that death sentences take a very long time to be carried out. Let us tell you that death sentences can be cancelled if there is a long gap between the sentencing and the actual hanging. Why, you may ask. The Supreme Court thinks it is a violation of a person's human rights to have to deal with this uncertainity for too long. In India, however, things do take time. Even the quickest execution took three years. No, it wasnt the death sentence awarded to terrorist Ajmal Kasab. Kasabs was the second fastest. The fastest was the one given to Ramchandra alias Raoji. Now, Raoji was a native of Banswara in Rajasthan. So what did he do? Why the death sentence? Well, the man killed his family, including his pregnant wife and their three children. The fifth person Raoji killed was his neighbour. Raoji suspected that his wife had an extra-marital affair and that the three boys he killed were born out of his wifes physical relations with other men. After killing four of his own family, Raoji went to his neighbour's house and tried to kill a woman who was deep in sleep. As the womans father-in-law woke up and came to her rescue, Raoji attacked him with the same axe he had used to kill his family. The father-in-law died. All this happened on May 6, 1993. Raoji was executed on May 4, 1996, three years after the killing. His mercy petition had gone to the then-President Shankar Dayal Sharma. It got rejected within six days. While Raoji suspected his children were not actually his children, former Belgian king, Albert II, refused to accept that his daughter, Delphine Boel, was his daughter. Boel then made Albert II undergo a paternity test, forcing him to accept that he indeed was the father. Read the full details of the case here. Did you think only former chief minister and Congress leader ND Tiwari did that to his son Rohit Shekhar Sharma? Both Delphine and Rohit were born out of wedlock, so it was easy for Tiwari and Albert II, respectively, to refuse to acknowledge them as their children. However, both sets of parents and child had to go through long legal battles to prove the truth. Rohit, however, didnt live long after that. In 2019, he was killed by his own wife. What a terrible murder it was. If you want to know about that murder in detail which we are sure you do read this. But we were talking about paternity tests. Do you know how the worlds first paternity test was conducted? Legend has it that in the 12th century, a distraught woman approached priest St Anthony. The woman had just delivered a child but her husband refused to acknowledge the child as his own. After the womans persuasion, Anthony agreed to visit the womans home. Once he reached there, he turned to the infant and asked, Tell me child, who is your father? The baby pointed to husband. What next? They lived happily ever after. Do you find that hard to believe? We do as well. Anyway, paternity tests today aren't as simple (thankfully). Through much of the 19th and 20th centuries, paternity remained an answerless riddle. The first advancements, however, came around 1930s. Now, blood groups were discovered a little before that, but in 1930s, scientists found out that blood groupings were hereditary. This, for sure, wasnt really a test that could give you THE answer. It was better at predicting who is not a childs father, than who is. The modern DNA testing, which Tiwari and Albert II had to undergo, came around 1980s. From Belgiums Boel, lets get you back to India and what is preoccupying India at the moment the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and pan-India National Register of Citizens (NRC) protests. The protesters of Shaheen Bagh have now decided to move their agitation to Jantar Mantar. You might be wondering why they are moving. We thought so too. The thing about protests is that it needs to constantly keep experimenting and trying new things, else it gets boring. Pretty much like every other thing in life. The Shaheen Bagh protests got famous and all, but then it is so possible for many even in Delhi to dismiss it as a protest limited to a certain area of the city. The National Capital Territory of Delhi covers an area of 1,484 square kilometres. Shaheen Bagh is just a tiny speck in that 1,484 sq-km area. To reach out to a larger audience and to keep the government on the edge, the protesters moved. The Dadis of Shaheen Bagh, as the women have come to be called since a lot of elderly women participated in the protests and spoke out against NRC and CAA, were joined by students from JNU and Jamia. Let us take a moment to take you back to the beginning of all this. You might recall that the first major clash with regards to CAA and NRC happened in Jamia Millia Islamia. That happened over a month ago, on December 15, 2019. And somehow, as we were thinking about Jamia, the word caught our fancy. And you have guessed it right, Jamia, is indeed our Word Of The Day. In Arabic, Jamia means gathering. This gathering could be a mosque, or more generally, a university. In the latter sense, it refers to a modern university as opposed to the medieval madrasa. Have you ever been corrected for writing or saying Jamia Millia Islamia University? Since Jamia itself means university, adding university at the end of Jamia Millia Islamia is simply useless. And now since you know it, you can correct people who say Jamia Millia Islamia University. You can also add that Millia means national and Islamia comes from Islam, which essentially means peace. Oh! But we forgot to mention today happens to be Basant Panchami. Some celebrate the day as Saraswati Puja, to pay their tributes and say their thanks to the Hindu Goddess of Learning and Wisdom. Hope you found the time to celebrate, in case you do like celebrating this one, that is. Some are celebrating it tomorrow too. And we have no clue as to which one is the right day. We suggest celebrate both days. Nothing better than celebrations in these anyway-dreary times. But whether you celebrate Basant Panchami or Saraswati Puja, you might know that wearing yellow is important. Some even like to eat dishes that are yellow in colour. Want to know how to cook a meal, which is all yellow in colour? Read this. (Noooo! Yellow dal is not on the menu.) While we cant help you decide whether Basant Panchami is today or tomorrow or on both the days, we can help you know why yellow is the colour of the festival. Yellow is basically the colour of sunshine. Its related to vibrancy and considered to bring health and happiness (in these coronavirus-affected, gloomy days, a bit of both would be very welcome). But before everything else yellow is the colour of spring. Basant Panchami is also the time when mustard crops flower and entire fields turn yellow. Such a done-to-death background for photos and yet so lovely. Do you even have a count as to how many times you watched that song 'Tujhe Dekha To Ye Jaana Sanam' from Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge, shot in that mustard field? Here, watch again if you want to: Bright yellow is an attention-snatching colour, and when used with black, it creates one of the easiest colour combinations to read and see from long distances. Reason why those milestones by the road are a combination of black and yellow. Did you notice that the Aam Aadmi Party too has most of its advertisement material painted or written in yellow this election season? So, yellow is all about happiness and warm sunshine? Not if you are in Egypt. In Egypt, it is the colour of mourning. But you stay happy and healthy. Meet you tomorrow! Also read: DailyOh! Why Parvesh Vermas father refused to leave a plane, what left Dia Mirza in tears Michelle Bridges confirmed her split from Steve 'Commando' Willis earlier this week, after being caught allegedly drink driving on Australia Day. While the news may have shocked fans, rumours of an impending break-up had actually been circulating for several months. Michelle, 49, and Steve 43, were reported to have split three times in the past year, and were said to be 'always arguing'. The beginning of the end? How Michelle Bridges and Steve 'Commando' Willis faced split rumours for MONTHS before finally confirming their break-up this week. Pictured in October A source told Woman's Day in May 2019 that Michelle and Steve were 'constantly bickering over everything, from work to parenting to what to have for dinner'. The insider added that Michelle had been against the idea of Steve leaving his family for weeks to appear on Australian Survivor in 2018. 'Michelle hated that he was going to be away for so long, and that the cast included several attractive young women,' they said. Where there's smoke, there's fire: Michelle, 49, and Steve 43, were rumoured to have split three times in the past year, and were reportedly 'always arguing' In February 2019, the pair were rumoured to have split shortly after Michelle's stint on Dancing with the Stars. Around this time, Steve took to Instagram to share a cryptic quote about 'lessons in loneliness'. The quote read: 'The washing machine chugs to a stop, and the lack of white noise pries me away from my thoughts. 'I suddenly feel hemmed in by the enclosing quiet... In the months leading up to her departure, I worried about the emptiness I expected to feel without her.' Drama: In February 2019, the pair were rumoured to have split shortly after Michelle's stint on Dancing with the Stars. Pictured with her dance partner, Aric Yegudkin However, Steve denied split rumours during an interview on the Today show in May. 'Put that aside. Michelle and I are still going strong,' he said. Michelle also hit back at the gossip, sharing a photo to Instagram of herself, Steve and their son, Axel, alongside the caption: 'Ummm whatever.' Denials: However, Steve denied split rumours during an interview on the Today show in May. Michelle also hit back at the gossip, sharing this photo to Instagram of herself, Steve and their son, Axel, alongside the caption: 'Ummm whatever' Two months later, in July, Michelle and Steve were spotted having a tense conversation while watching Axel play at the park in Sydney. The pair appeared to be growing increasingly agitated throughout the discussion. In September, Michelle told New Idea that she found it challenging to juggle work and family life. Tension: Two months later, Michelle and Steve were spotted having a tense conversation while watching Axel play at the park in Sydney. Pictured on July 28 'There have been moments when the wheels have completely fallen off,' she said. 'It's that feeling when you're completely pushed against the wire trying to keep everything in life balanced. 'You feel completely overwhelmed, anxious, pressured, as though you're not getting anything accomplished.' What's going on? On December 26, tensions between the couple appeared to reach boiling point when they spent the day at the beach with their son On December 26, tensions between the couple appeared to reach boiling point when they spent the day at the beach with their son. And they looked equally tense days later during another trip to Tamarama Beach. Michelle seemed downcast and often glanced down at her iPhone as Steve played with Axel in the water. Distant: They looked equally tense days later during another trip to Tamarama Beach Michelle was caught allegedly drink driving on Sunday morning. According to police, she was over the limit with a child in the vehicle on New South Head Road, in the Sydney suburb of Bellevue Hill, at about 11.25am. While describing her actions as 'inexcusable', she revealed in the wake of her arrest that she had been dealing with 'emotional turmoil' following her split from long-term partner Steve, whom she met on The Biggest Loser. She told the Daily Telegraph: 'I would like to express my deep regret for breaking the law, this was a terrible mistake and an error of judgement.' Feeling the strain? In September, Michelle said that she found it challenging to juggle work and family life. Pictured: Michelle, Steve, Axel, and Steve's children from a previous relationship 'This behaviour is inexcusable, and I am absolutely devastated and embarrassed to find myself in this position,' she added. 'It has been a very difficult time for me the last few weeks dealing with the break-up of my long-term relationship. 'This is by no means an excuse for my behaviour but I feel the emotional turmoil I have been going through has impacted my decision making. I am extremely sorry for my actions.' Legal woes: Michelle was caught allegedly drink driving on Australia Day. According to police, she was over the limit with a child in the vehicle in Bellevue Hill, Sydney, at about 11.25am Michelle and Steve met while filming The Biggest Loser in 2007, at a time when they were both in relationships with other people. They began dating in 2013 and a year later welcomed a son, Axel. Michelle was issued with a Future Court Attendance Notice for mid-range PCA. She will face Waverley Local Court on Tuesday February 18. Imprisonment, in recent times, has moved from the era of human warehousing to that which seeks to correct the offending behaviour of offenders. The shift in focus, undoubtedly, requires from the Ghana Prisons Service newer treatment modules which focus on filling behavioural and intellectual gaps of offenders to empower them for fruitful and law-abiding lives upon discharge to keep the revolving door of crime shut. An emerging module employed by the Ghana Prisons Service in this regard is formal and non-formal education. The drive seeks to provide opportunities for prisoners who desire to continue their education or receive literacy training to do so. Most of Ghanas prisons run Junior and Senior High Schools, Technical and Vocational Training, as well as literacy classes through the Non-Formal Education Division of the Ghana Education Service. This fulfils a provision in the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners which states that so far as is practicable, the education of prisoners shall be integrated with the educational system of the country, so that after their release, they may continue their education without difficulty. Less education, more offenders Statistics gathered over the years suggest that persons with little or no formal education are more likely to come into conflict with the law. According to the 2018 Annual Report of the Ghana Prisons Service, out of the 9,034 persons admitted into prison, 5,888 had been educated up to the basic level whereas 1,495 had no formal education at the time of admission. These offenders, mostly, had little or no access to educational opportunities probably due to circumstances such as extreme poverty and broken homes. Educational programmes behind bars mostly attempt to right the educational wrongs inflicted on societys marginalised. It has the tendency of reducing ones likelihood of returning to criminal activity as higher academic attainment ensures greater opportunities for employment, improve skill set for economic flexibility and affords the individual stronger decision-making skills required to ensure their compliance with the law upon release. Positive intervention On the 18th of January 2020, 59 inmates of the Nsawam Medium Security Prison were matriculated to read various diploma programmes through distance learning from the College of Distance Education of the University of Cape Coast. The tripartite agreement between Plan Volta Foundation, University of Cape Coast and the Ghana Prisons Service has the vision of rolling out the programme across Ghanas 44 prison establishments for qualified inmates. The programme comes at a time when the Service was struggling to secure a partner for prisoners tertiary education, as those who had successfully completed secondary education either before their incarceration or from within the walls of our prisons had no opportunities for further studies. The gap in the continuum demotivated prisoners from subscribing to available educational programmes as there was no opportunity to continue beyond the secondary level. An investment in public safety Any investment to assist the Ghana Prisons Service deliver on its constitutional mandates of safe custody, welfare, reformation and rehabilitation of prisoners is an investment in public safety. Newman et al in their 1993 work, Prison Literacy, assert that, appropriate education leads to a more humane and more tolerable prison environment in which to live and work, not only for the inmates but also for the officers, staff and everyone else. Prisoner education kills boredom which reminds them of the pains of imprisonment as the pressures of academic work affords them little or no time to grieve over their predicaments. This presents to the prison administrator a fertile ground to implement rehabilitation modules with the overall aim of improving public safety. Related areas of need While we commend Plan Volta Foundation and the University of Cape Coast for this intervention, it is important to note that, the module requires the strengthening of certain pillars to prevent a situation where it turns into an effort in futility. The Service continues to grapple with a daily feeding rate of GH 1.80 per inmate. The amount, which is obviously inadequate, leaves prison administrators in very tight corners as it is almost impossible to convince a virtually hungry offender to subscribe to reformation and rehabilitation modules. There is an urgent need for an upward adjustment of the rate to reduce the burden on prison administrators. Overcrowding remains a challenge in Ghanas prisons as the 2018 Annual Report of the Service pegs the rate at 52.5%. With the attendant health implications that overcrowding brings, corporate Ghana and faith-based organizations are encouraged to follow the example of the Church of Pentecost to intervene by providing infrastructure required to ease the congestion and present to prisoners a humane environment capable of supporting their reformation. Finally, when beneficiaries of prison educational modules are released, society should offer them equal employment opportunities as persons who received same training outside. This would serve as a motivation for those in prison to subscribe to prison educational programmes as Dorothea Dix, an American mental health advocate rightly put it, while we diminish the stimulant of fear, we must increase to prisoners the incitements of hope, in proportion as we extinguish the terrors of the law, we should awaken and strengthen the control of the conscience. DSP. DANIEL MACHATOR DEPUTY CHIEF PRO GHANA PRISONS SERVICE File image: Arif Mohammad Khan (Twitter/@KeralaGovernor) In an unprecedented move, opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) blocked Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan inside the state Assembly on January 29 with 'go back' slogans and placards. They were protesting against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The incident took place when Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan ushered Khan to the Legislative Assembly hall for presenting the policy address. Though the chief minister and the Speaker repeatedly tried to appease the agitating opposition members, they did not budge and continued to raise slogans against Khan and his stand in support of CAA. #WATCH Kerala Governor in state assembly: I'm going to read this para (against CAA) because CM wants me to read this, although I hold the view this doesn't come under policy or programme. CM has said this is the view of government, & to honor his wish I'm going to read this para. pic.twitter.com/ciCLwKac3t ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2020 After almost 10 minutes of protest, watch and ward personnel removed the opposition members using force and cleared the Governor's way to the dais. As soon as the Governor reached the dais, the national anthem was played. But, the opposition members gathered in the Well of the House, started the 'Governor go back' slogans soon after the national anthem completed playing. When Khan began his policy address, the opposition members walked out of the Assembly hall raising slogans. After boycotting the policy address, they staged a sit in protest at the gate of the Assembly. (With inputs from PTI) British newspapers are routinely glamorising combat by creating a moral separation between combat and non-combat injuries, according to new research published in the journal Media, War and Conflict. Academics from Anglia Ruskin University's Veterans and Families Institute for Military Social Research (VFI) examined the reporting of injuries sustained by British military personnel during the height of the UK's war in Afghanistan in 2009, and a comparison period in 2014, in all daily and Sunday UK national newspapers. They found that representation of injured personnel differed substantially between articles reporting on combat and non-combat injuries, with wounds suffered in battle being framed as more 'heroic' than those sustained in other situations, such as during training or in road traffic accidents. Newspapers tended to provide factual descriptions of non-combat injuries, but in reports of wounds suffered in battle, there was a tendency to add emotive terms, such as "horrific" or "harrowing", and provide more details and context. Figures from the Ministry of Defence show that 2,201 personnel were admitted to the Field Hospital at Camp Bastion between 2009 and 2014 with combat injuries. During the same period, 2,019 were admitted as a result of non-battle injuries, including crushing accidents, accidental small arms fire, slips, trips and falls, demonstrating the wide variety of injuries sustained by military personnel during times of conflict. Lead author Dr Nick Caddick, Senior Research Fellow at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), said: "The media plays a key role in how the public understands war and it generates and amplifies the heroic rhetoric that sticks to soldiers and veterans during times of conflict. "The consequences of media framing are rarely benign and can skew the perception of combat. Media constructs and reinforces powerful meanings about particular topics or social groups, such as injured soldiers and veterans. "We found that reporting describing combat injuries was highly charged, sensational and emotive. At the same time, bland, factual descriptions were used when reporting on military personnel serving in Afghanistan whose injuries were not sustained on the battlefield. Glamorising combat injuries as a more worthy form of heroic sacrifice obscures the reality that there is nothing glamorous about the often hideous day-to-day realities of war and its aftermath. "It is worth emphasising that deployment to a warzone is not the only military activity that carries a risk of death and injury. Using language in this way may create risks to the mental health of soldiers and veterans who have received non-combat injuries, as they may feel that they are somehow less worthy or valued by the population than those who have been wounded in battle." ### WASHINGTON - Senators emerged from an Iran briefing Tuesday frustrated by what they described as the Trump administration's persistent unwillingness to engage Congress on military decisions, blasting State Department officials for holding a closed-door session when none of the information they shared was classified. "The position of this administration, and probably most of the recent administrations, is they don't care what Congress thinks, and they don't believe they need any authorization for any war ever," Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said, after the meeting with Trump's special representative for Iran, Brian Hook, and others. The contentious briefing comes as the House prepares to vote on two measures this week seeking to restrict President Donald Trump's ability to engage in hostilities against Iran and as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pledged to testify about related policy at a date to be determined, according to Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. It was the latest in a series of such engagements between lawmakers and administration officials since the president's controversial decision to kill a senior Iranian commander early this month. In the weeks since Trump ordered the strike in Baghdad that killed Qasem Soleimani, lawmakers in the House and Senate have rallied around measures to restrain the president's ability to conduct hostilities against Iran absent explicit congressional authorization. Some of those bills, including the two before the House this week, reflect measures that passed that chamber as amendments to the annual defense bill last year. The first is a measure to repeal the 2002 authorization to use military force in Iraq, which the administration cited as part of its legal justification in the Soleimani strike; the second would forbid federal funds from being used in hostilities against Tehran except in cases of self-defense. While both measures face difficult odds in the Senate, the effort to pass them as stand-alone bills is part of a building momentum among lawmakers to demand answers from the administration and reassert their constitutional right to be consulted in advance of such attacks. In the weeks since the strike that killed Soleimani, administration officials have given conflicting reasons for why they believed they had legal basis to carry it out absent congressional approval. Some officials have said it was to ward off an imminent threat that Soleimani posed to U.S. troops in the region; others, including Trump, have suggested it was retaliation for various acts of Iranian aggression, including proxy support for terrorist groups and the killing of a U.S. contractor in Iraq. The shifting rationale is part of what drove the House and Senate to rally around war powers resolutions aimed at restraining Trump's authority to launch fresh hostilities against Iran. A nonbinding resolution passed the House this month on a vote of 224 to 194; a potentially binding resolution that has enough votes to pass in the Senate has stalled while the chamber sits for Trump's impeachment trial. Officials did not deliver a clearer rationale for the strike during Tuesday's briefing, senators said. "There's a lot of frustration that the administration really had so many changing explanations," Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., said, emerging from Tuesday's briefing. He said the officials claimed "there was important classified information to back up their strategy," but "while we were there, we didn't hear it." Administration officials also did not commit to being more forthcoming with Congress, in deference to its war powers, than they have been in the weeks since the Soleimani strike. "They are expressly not committing to any such prior consultation or authorization," Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Del., said. Several senators said there was no reason for the briefing to have been classified and expressed disapproval to officials for insisting on closed-door hearings that could have been held in the open. A man walks among debris, after an earthquake in Cevrimtas, Turkey, January 27, 2020. (Photo : REUTERS/Umit Bektas) Turkish authorities are "seriously preparing" on the possible scenario of a magnitude 7.5 earthquake in Istanbul - Turkey's largest city and economic hub. Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu made such pronouncement in a televised interview Sunday a deadly magnitude 6.8 earthquake hit Elazig and Malatya. "We [are expecting] a [magnitude] 7.5 earthquakes in Istanbul. We are seriously running on the possible situation of the earthquake," he told broadcaster CNN Turk. Government agencies, according to Soylu, set up regular meetings between 28 working groups to prepare for the event of a magnitude 7.5 quake. The Interior Minister noted that attending matters from what to do to protect national treasures in the Topkapi Palace to the wishes of the citizens in the meeting places is a "very complicated study." According to the Turkish authorities, Friday's disaster killed at least 38 people - 34 in Elazig and 4 in Malatya - and injured more than 1,600. Soylu said rescue operations are being conducted since late Sunday; however, rescuers have been still searching for three people in Elazig - about 550km (342 miles) east of the capital, Ankara. The teams reached that the disaster area three hours after the earthquake happened was included, Soylu added. "We are still hopeful; we haven't lost hope," he said. Those rescued included a 35-year-old woman and her infant daughter within the Mustafa Pasa district of Elazig. Rescuers who heard their screams took several hours to get them in freezing temperatures, state media said. Rescue employees in a nearby neighborhood stood on mountains of debris where the earthquake had broken up an apartment building in half. The rescuers dug through using buckets, blowing whistles when they needed silence to listen for trapped people. Turkey's AFAD disaster authority said rescue groups supported by thousands of emergency employees from different provinces and by hundreds of volunteers pulled 45 people below the rubble because of the earthquake. Support for victims Speaking on Saturday during his visit to Elazig and Malatya, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said steel-framed homes might be built for the displaced residents. The Turkish President said on Sunday that new and permanent homes would also be supplied soon. He said the government "do not have the luxury of being slow," adding that they "no longer allow" any delays. AFAD sent more than 10,400 tents, 17,000 beds, 37,000 blankets, heaters, and food supplies to affected regions. AFAD had received 7 million lire ($1.18m) from a public donation campaign, according to Soylu. The company stated 1,521 buildings were broken, which includes 645 heavily damaged and seventy-six collapsed structures. In a statement, it said it had transferred 3 million lire ($504.five) in emergency aid to each of the municipalities in Elazig and Malatya. It warned residents now not to go into damaged buildings because of the hazard of collapse and similarly aftershocks. It stated there had been 844 damaged buildings. Turkey is known for having strong earthquakes. More than 17,000 people were killed in August 1999, while a 7.6 magnitude quake struck Izmit, a city southeast of Istanbul. Another tremor hit the eastern city of Van in 2011 that killed more than 500 people. The Ministry of Education suggests that students and scholars postpone their travel abroad due to the ongoing novel coronavirus epidemic. The ministry said on Tuesday that due to the entry control measures implemented in some countries and regions, people should arrange their travel reasonably. It said that if it is not necessary to go at once, postponing the travel is recommended. If there is a special need, they should get to know the current rules on entry to their destination countries, such as arriving at the port of departure in advance to allow sufficient time for quarantine checks. People with fever, cough and other symptoms of acute respiratory infections should immediately stop traveling and go to the hospital. Up to Sunday, screening measures have been put in place at border entries such as airports and harbors in a number of countries, including Laos, Bangladesh, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Turkey, Bahrain, Uganda and Zambia to check for signs of infection from the virus. But the people who turn on the president are notable for the large number of them and their prominence, as well as for the public and private havoc their grievance-airing often brings. The stories shared in Boltons book, for instance, promise to be especially devastating, according to early news reports, with Bolton not just personally implicating Trump in the matter for which he was impeached, but slamming the president and his advisers in a wide-ranging critique of his year and a half in the administration. Korea's chronic trade deficit with Japan fell to the lowest level in 16 years last year due to a boycott here after Japan imposed export curbs on high-tech materials. According to the Korea Customs Service on Tuesday, Korea's trade deficit with Japan stood at US$19.16 billion last year, the lowest since 2003's $19.03 billion. Korea imported $47.57 billion worth of products from Japan, down 12.9 percent from the year before, accounting for 9.5 percent of Korea's total imports. Exports to Japan totaled $30.53 billion, down 6.9 percent. A Korea Customs Service staffer said, "Imports of semiconductor manufacturing equipment dropped sharply following Japan's export ban, narrowing the trade deficit." Last July, Japan made it difficult for Korean businesses to import three key materials used to manufacture microchips. Meanwhile, Korea achieved a record trade surplus with Hong Kong last year of $30.14 billion as well as a $28.99 billion surplus with China and a $27.16 billion surplus with Vietnam. The Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus is anticipated to be the larger-sized version of the S20 line of phones that may boast higher specs, a bigger battery, and possibly even more features than the Samsung Galaxy S20. It was initially expected to be called the Galaxy S11 Plus but Samsung was confirmed to be skipping S11-S19 to align the nomenclature with the year 2020. The Galaxy S11/Galaxy S20's launch date is the 11th of February 2020 during Samsung Galaxy Unpacked in San Francisco. Samsung's "new and innovative" Galaxy devices will be exhibited. The S20 name was officially confirmed by Samsung in a meeting behind closed doors at CES 2020, said the Korean media. There is a circulating promo image showing off the camera bumps on the S20 Plus and the S20 Ultra. Posted by renowned tipster Evan Blass, it also shows the upcoming Galaxy Buds Plus and seemingly they will be included for free with preorders of the two more expensive S20 phones. The Galaxy S series is always one of the most anticipated smartphone releases annually. 2019's Galaxy S10 lineup had a unique approach with an all-new Infinity-O design for the display, triple rear cameras, and even a third "budget" model. This is also following February release date reports from fansite SamMobile and leaks Ice universe. Samsung's next-generation flagships will be unveiled on the aforementioned date and we will be learning about major changes in store. For the imaging stack, one S20 variant, in particular, is set to offer a groundbreaking new camera-equipped to capture whopping 108-megapixel pictures, courtesy of Samsung's breakthrough, ultra-large Isocell image sensor. Leaks of Samsung phones tend to escalate as the launch gets closer to the Feb. 11 announcement. From the photos, it is shown that the front is all display, save for the camera hole punch centered at the top of the screen. SM-G980, SM-G985/6, SM-G988 are anticipated to be the model numbers for these devices and the codename is thought to be Hubble, like the telescope, for the S20 Ultra. The Galaxy S20 range is known as Picasso because of its camera. The company has decided to change branding and call the Galaxy S11e the Galaxy S20, the Galaxy S11 the Galaxy S20+ and is considering calling the Galaxy S11+ the Galaxy S20 Ultra. Photos of Galaxy S20 posted online reveal the S20 Plus 5G. It is speculated that the S20 Plus will be a 5G phone because the next flagship chipset in line, the Snapdragon 865, requires a 5G modem installed on the device. But to reduce costs, we could also see a 4G model. The role S20 Plus will play is in question now that the S20 Ultra is rumored to sit above it as the maximum-speed model in the S20 line. Both the S20 Plus and the S20 Ultra are tipped to come with quad-lens rear cameras, though the specs of the S20 Ultra array will be better in quality. The S20 Ultra is also rumored to be providing an epic 10x optical zoom and 100x digital zoom with its rear camera setup. RELATED ARTICLE: From Samsung to Apple: 5 Best Must-Have Gadgets For Savvy Jetsetters NAPLES - The diplomatic negotiations that brought about independence and the birth of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 1971 will be remembered in a photo exhibition planned from March 17 to December 12 at the Etihad Museum in Dubai. The exhibition, titled "Photographs in Dialogue UAE - 1971 - UK", will highlight relations between Great Britain and the UAE between the 1960s and the 1970s. The photographs show political leaders from both countries in diplomatic negotiations to end Great Britain's political presence in the area. Included in the exhibition are some photographs on loan from the National Portrait Gallery in London and some from private collectors in the UAE, in addition to archive materials. There is a photograph of Queen Elizabeth II and a rare series of shots taken in 1961 of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, then head of the emirate of Dubai. The current territory of the UAE is made up of six states that were under the British protectorate. In 1968, the English decided to end the protectorate, a decision that brought, three years later, the union of the six countries in the UAE. 99math, a Tallinn, Estonia-based startup that created eSports style competitions for math students, raised $500k in funding. Change Ventures led the funding round, joined by the Good Deed Education Fund and Martin Villig, co-founder of Estonian unicorn startup Bolt. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate its growth. Co-founded by a 19-year-old Estonian recent high school grad and gaming lover, Timo Timmi, 99math has already had 30,000 elementary students from around the world participate in its eSports style math league. The learning platform created Math Game Days where math students face-off in real-time math battles with live viewers. The platform is free to use for both kids and teachers. Tonis Kusmin, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Tebo, a platform of teacher-generated lesson content has also joined the team. FinSMEs 29/01/2020 Ben Roback is Head of Trade and International Policy at Cicero Group. As we prepare for the Government to publish details of its trade objectives with the EU and USA in the first two weeks of February, our United States counterparts and the White House are watching political developments in Westminster with a keen interest. Yesterdays decision to give the green light for Huawei to build non-core parts of the UKs 5G network has laid down an important early diving line in talks that are yet to enter even their nascent stage. The United States has engaged in a furious bout of lobbying in London, of both ministers and officials, but to no effect. Washington is incensed; Beijing could hardly be happier. Not just because of the critical technology role it has embedded itself into, but because of the wedge it has driven between London and Washington at a time when the two are actively working to achiever greater proximity, not divergence. Abroad, Washington further fears that the UKs green light could create a permission structure for Germany and France to do the same. The dilemma in Downing Street will not have been viewed as a binary choice between trade with the US and Chinese FDI. Instead, they will have made its decision with, naturally, the Red Wall in mind. The Government is rightly committed to asking itself a simple question before making big decisions on Huawei and HS2: Will this help us deliver our pledge to level up the country? If Huawei is the only company capable of delivering the technology required to provide 5G coverage nationwide, then it must be viewed as a tangible form of levelling up. Small businesses cannot thrive in Bishop Auckland or Blyth Valley, Durham North West or Devizes, if connectivity is patchy. That has not prevented caution from the Conservative benches in the Commons. It was a famous Frost the American poet Robert, not Chief Brexit Negotiator David who wrote that Good fences make good neighbours, a viewpoint echoed in the Commons on Monday by Neil OBrien, who urged caution in granting an extension of the Chinese state access to our technological infrastructure. Echoing that view, the Government has sought a compromise: partial access, but with a barrier protecting core parts of the system. Dont discount the reaction in Congress The response amongst Conservative MPs has been divided, to say the least. Notable figures on the backbenches, including Tom Tugendhat and Iain Duncan Smith, described the prospect of granting access like allowing the fox into the hen house and utterly bizarre respectively. Alarmingly for Downing Street, concerns echoed by Tugendhat were retweeted by Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, who warned of a momentous decision ahead. Yet whilst the reactions from senior Tories matter in isolation, the size of the Governments majority, and the fact that Parliament will have no say in approving future trade deals, means the objections are in effect moot. Not so in Congress, where the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee have primary congressional jurisdiction on trade matters. The Subcommittee on Trade plays the lead role in drafting trade legislation in the House of Representatives, and also plays a key oversight role of executive action on trade issues. What members of the House and Senate think about the UKs Huawei decision therefore matters as we look ahead to a US-UK FTA. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, the youngest Republican woman ever elected to Congress and a rising star on the right, said: wrong, dangerous, and a grave shortsighted mistake. Congress must work on a bipartisan basis to push back on this decision by the UK to open their arms to Chinas surveillance state. Senator Tom Cotton did not pull his punches, saying: This decision is deeply disappointing for American supporters of the Special Relationship. I fear London has freed itself from Brussels only to cede sovereignty to Beijing. Meanwhile Mitt Romney warned: By prioritising costs, the UK is sacrificing national security and inviting the CCPs surveillance state in. I implore our British allies to reverse their decision. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank that is well connected on both sides of the Atlantic and has hosted British Ministers in recent years, could not have been clearer: The consequences of his choice will impact not only the security of the United Kingdom, but the long-term strength of the U.S.-U.K. Special Relationship. It is hard to find a supportive voice of the decision on Capitol Hill cause for deep concern in Westminster even before reckoning with the scope for the Governments proposed Digital Services Tax to cause further alarm in Washington. In short, we risk alienating our most important political and diplomatic ally at the exact same time we are trying to negotiate a new trade deal; and we might anger our most important defence ally while in the midst of a comprehensive defence and foreign policy review. To flourish on the world stage, Global Britain will inevitably ruffle a few feathers. But we cannot act solely with our international allies in mind, while forgetting the voters at home who put us into office in the first place. In Westminster, journalists and politicos will reflect on a decision born out of pragmatism, and recognition that the Chinese role in our infrastructure is for now something of a necessary evil. Arguably, it delivers on two manifesto pledges investing in infrastructure around the UK, and taking back control. Many during the 2016 referendum thought that we would take back control from Brussels. Few thought wed also take it back from Washington. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 00:02:28|Editor: yan Video Player Close RABAT, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- A Moroccan minister said on Wednesday that his country will help Somalia build its capacities in water management and dealing with flooding and drainage issues. The remarks were made by Moroccan Minister of Equipment, Transport, Logistics and Water Abdelkader Amara during his meeting with his Somali counterpart Fawzia Mohamed in the capital Rabat, according to a statement by Amara's office. The two countries agreed to establish a bilateral partnership framework aimed at providing technical assistance to Somalia through the sharing experiences and exchanging visits by experts. This partnership will also include the development and management of water resources, preservation of water quality, transfer of technology and aspects related to improving water governance. After Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar to feature in Bear Gryll's Man vs Wild India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Jan 29: After superstar Rajinikanth, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar will be making his way to Bear Gryll's Man vs Wild show, that has left everyone impressed. According to reports, the team of Bear Grylls spent their day today looking for a suitable place inside Bandipur Tiger Reserve to shoot with Akshay Kumar. Akshay, along with the wanderer, known for his daredevilry in traversing and surviving in some of the most treacherous terrains in the world, will shoot in the Bandipur woods, noted for its tiger reserve and biodiversity. However, wildlife activists had expressed concern over ace adventurer Bear Grylls shooting his show featuring superstar Rajinikanth at Bandipur Tiger Reserve during the "fire season". Rajinikanth injured while shooting for Bear Gryll's 'Man vs Wild' "It is disturbing to learn that Bear Grylls was in Bandipur along with superstar Rajinikanth, they are welcome to Bandipur at any point of time... But at this critical time when the entire forest force is worried about the fire- as this is the fire season, and they need to be working, people were there giving them security. This is not we expect of sensible people to do," Joseph Hoover, a city-based wildlife activist, said. Noting that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has granted them the permission, in a video statement, he said, "that's fine, but there has to be some sensibility that they cannot be involved in such shooting, during a fire season. " Calling it a "critical time", while pointing out that 4,800 hectares of forest land were lost last year due to the 'negligence' of the forest department, he said they are doing a fantastic job this year, but added that these type of intrusions are not going to help forest at all. A woman in her 40s has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the discovery of the bodies of three children in Dublin. The two boys and girl, all under the age of nine, were found dead on Friday in their home at Parson's Court in the village of Newcastle, south-west of Dublin city. The woman, who was found at the scene, is currently being detained at Clondalkin Garda Station under Section 4 of Ireland's Criminal Justice Act 1984. Andrew McGinley with his three children, nine-year-old Conor, seven-year-old Darragh and three-year-old Carl. (PA) Garda forensics at the house in the village of Newcastle, south-west of Dublin city, where the three children were found dead on Friday. (PA) Earlier on Tuesday the father of the children said they all had "beautiful, bright futures" ahead of them and urged parents to cuddle your children whenever you get a chance. Andrew McGinley spoke of his devastation and grief at the deaths of nine-year-old Conor, seven-year-old Darragh and three-year-old Carla. Read more from Yahoo News UK: China 'could find easier ways to cyber-attack UK than using 5G' Theresa May rolls her eyes as Tory MP criticises her in Commons Prolific paedophile hunter has devices seized In a statement issued through gardai, Mr McGinley said: "There are no words. There is only devastation, grief and anguish. Every breath is a struggle. "Conor, Darragh and Carla are adored. "They all had beautiful, bright futures ahead of them with family, friends and a community who love them. Flowers outside the house following the discovery of the bodies. (PA) "To all parents, cuddle your children whenever you get a chance. Tell them how much you love them as often as you can, spend every spare minute with them reading, playing and enjoying their wonderfulness. "The future has now become our enemy but we will battle it every day to keep the memory of Conor, Darragh and Carla alive. NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Public Securities Group LLC will host a webcast for the Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc. (NYSE: RA) (the Fund) on Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at 4:30pm ET. Brookfield will provide an update on the Fund and on general market conditions. There will be an opportunity to ask questions about the Fund during the webcast. Questions may also be submitted ahead of the webcast by sending an e-mail to publicsecurities.enquiries@brookfield.com. Registration and Webcast Link: https://onlinexperiences.com/scripts/Server.nxp?LASCmd=AI:4;F:QS!10100&ShowUUID=772C8EB0-17BE-42C8-8C8B-A83CEDD470C5 A replay will be available via this link shortly following the webcast. A transcript of the webcast will also be available by calling 855-777-8001 or emailing publicsecurities.enquiries@brookfield.com. 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. The Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc. is managed by Brookfield Public Securities Group LLC. The Fund uses its website as a channel of distribution of material company information. Financial and other material information regarding the Fund is routinely posted on and accessible at www.brookfield.com. COMPANY CONTACT 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 Real Assets Income Fund Inc. The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the plea by Mukesh Kumar Singh, one of the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case, challenging the rejection of his mercy petition by the President. A three-judge bench headed by Justice R Banumathi said that expeditious disposal of mercy plea by the President doesn't mean non-application of mind by him. The court also said that alleged sufferings in prison can't be grounds to challenge the rejection of mercy petition. The bench said all relevant material including judgments pronounced by trial court, high court and Supreme Court were placed before the President when he was considering the mercy plea of the convict. The bench also comprising justices Ashok Bhushan and A S Bopanna rejected the contentions of the counsel appearing for Singh that entire materials of the case were not placed before the President when he was considering his mercy plea. The bench, while referring to two files placed before it by the Centre on Tuesday, said that as per the January 15 covering letter which was sent by the Delhi government to the Ministry of Home Affairs, all relevant documents were sent. The bench noted that detailed judgements of trial court, high court and the Supreme Court, curative petition filed by Singh, his past criminal history and his family background were sent to the Home Ministry by the Delhi government. "All the documents were taken into consideration by the President while rejecting the mercy petition," the bench said. The bench also dealt with submissions advanced by the convict's counsel, who had argued that the mercy plea was rejected at "lightning speed". The bench said that if a mercy petition is expeditiously dealt with, it cannot be assumed that it has been adjudicated upon in a pre-conceived mind. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) STAMFORDA city teen is accused of exposing himself in two stores in downtown Stamford last week. Nybree Hill, 18, of Knapp Street, was charged with two counts of public indecency, breach of peace and interfering with police. Police were called to Target just at about 3:45 p.m. on Jan. 20 on the report of a male customer flashing a female customer. Police spoke to a 27-year-old woman who told them that she was on the second floor of the store when she noticed a man on the next aisle over looking at her. The woman told police that before she knew it, the man was in her aisle and after he stopped about six feet away from her she noticed that the man made eye contact with her. Then she looked down and saw the mans penis hanging out of his fly, according to Hills three-page arrest affidavit. The woman blurted out the word no and backed out of the aisle and went up to the nearest store employee to tell them what happened. The suspect left before police arrived. Employees were quickly able to find the man on their closed circuit television system and police took pictures of the man on video tape and the picture of the suspect was shown around downtown to see if anyone recognized him. A Ferguson Library security supervisor advised police that the man was on the second floor of the library earlier that day. Video tape of the man was found and a better picture of the man was then lifted from that video. The woman involved in the incident identified the man in the library video tape as the same man who exposed himself to her. The next day at Macys, police were called on the report of a man masturbating in the store at about 3:25 p.m. In that incident a middle aged female reported seeing the man masturbating near another woman, who did not notice what he was doing, the affidavit said. The physical description of the man matched that of the man at Target the day before and the officers working the cases recognized the suspect as being one and the same, the affidavit said. After providing patrol officers with the physical description, Hill was found and arrested within the hour Tuesday. Hills court appearance bond was set by Judge Bruce Hudock at $25,500 and he is currently being held at the Bridgeport Correctional Center. His public defender told the judge that Hill would probably benefit from a mental health evaluation and treatment. jnickerson@stamfordadvocate.com Were proud of the staffers who stood up and made their voices heard to help our campaign improve and be more inclusive, Buttigieg said. We realize that we can always do better and these honest discussions are how we make progress, and we will continue to provide our staff the safe space to have them. His campaign provided the statement in response to questions about the operation. LAS VEGAS -- A 26-year-old man who was being held in Michigan after his conviction for misdemeanor crimes has been returned to Las Vegas to face charges of murder and robbery, according to the Associated Press. Derrick Decoste was booked into the Clark County Jail Monday ahead of a court appearance where hes expected to to be charged in the murder of former priest John Capparelli. Decoste met and exchanged messages with Capparelli for several weeks prior to Capparellis death. The men began speaking after Decoste answered an internet ad for male wrestlers, the AP said. Investigators believe Decoste shot and killed Capparelli during a robbery at a home in Henderson, Nevada last March. Shortly after Capparelli was killed, police interviewed Decoste on unrelated petty theft and trespassing charges before throwing out those cases and eventually extraditing him to Michigan to face charges of theft, fraud and impersonating a police officer. However, while Decoste was incarcerated in Michigan, investigators say Decostes girlfriend gave them a handgun belonging to Decoste, according to the AP. Police were able to match the gun to the weapon used to kill Capparelli. Police also found items belonging to Capparelli, including a wristwatch. The AP reports Capparelli was defrocked as a priest in 1992 after being accused of abusing teenage boys in the 1970s and 1980s. After being defrocked, he worked as a teacher in public schools in New Jersey before more allegations came out in 2011. Two panda cubs born at Berlin Zoo last year charmed local media on Wednesday, a day before their debut in front of the general public. Five-month-old males Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan, whose names mean "long-awaited dream" and "dream come true", were seen climbing over boulders as they explored their enclosure, watched by their mother Meng Meng and members of the press. The two cuddly cubs were the first pandas to be born in a German zoo, and have been nicknamed "Pit" and "Paule" by their carers. The births were particularly rare as it is notoriously hard to breed pandas. The zoo is expecting a surge in visitors when the pandas are put on public display for the first time on Thursday. Zoo directors are planning to open more ticket desks to avoid long queues, and have arranged for security personnel to guard the panda enclosure. Alongside their parents Meng Meng and Jiao Qing, the twins are the only pandas currently visible in Germany. On loan from China, the panda couple had arrived in Berlin in June 2017 to great fanfare. Famed for its "panda diplomacy", China has dispatched its national treasure to only about a dozen countries as a symbol of close relations. Berlin Zoo pays $15 million (13.4 million euros) for a 15-year contract to host the two adult pandas, with most of the money going towards a conservation and breeding research programme in China. While the cubs were born in Berlin, they remain Chinese and must be returned to China within four years after they have been weaned. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Britain's Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage (C) speaks to the press after the European Parliament ratified the Brexit deal in Brussels on Jan. 29, 2020. (JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images) UK Lawmakers Leave European Parliament for Final Time BRUSSELSThe United Kingdoms raging divisions over Brexit showed few signs of dissipating as the countrys elected representatives in Brussels bowed out with tears, laughter, and singing. Most of the UKs 73 members of the European Parliament left their seats for the final time moments after the chamber voted 621 to 49 to give its backing to Prime Minister Boris Johnsons deal on Jan. 29. During a final debate on Brexit, euroskeptics frequently booed and jeered their pro-EU counterparts, who, in turn, clasped hands and sang the traditional Scottish song Auld Lang Syne in protest as the vote passed. Most of the chamber stood for several minutes to sing the folk tune to words penned by Robert Burnswhich is usually belted out on New Years Eveand there was loud cheering and applause at the end. Nigel Farage, the veteran Brexiteer who has been a thorn in the side of successive Conservative governments, ended up casting his ballot in favor of an agreement he once described as the second-worst in history. The leader of the Brexit Party likened those Brexiteers holding out against the deal to King Canute, who has come to be known in popular culture as incompetent and cowardly, despite his historic accomplishments. Farage, who said he would miss being the pantomime villain of the piece, bowed out of Brussels politics after more than 20 years with a series of jibes at the EUs anti-democratic nature that drew loud protests. He told the final Brexit debate in the European Parliament that while he doesnt like Johnsons deal, hes been reassured by the prime ministers promises of a clean break with EU rules. The long-serving member of the European Parliament (MEP) left the chamber for the last time in an antagonistic style fitting of his tenure. First, he had his microphone cut off for waving a Union Jack flag at the end of his speech, which is against the Parliaments rules. Then he and his fellow euroskeptic MEPs joined in a chorus of cheers before they marched out triumphantly. In a speech, Conservative MEP Dan Hannan, a key architect of Brexit from Johnsons ruling party, blamed Brussels for the UKs exit. Faced with the departure of its second financial contributor, the EU still was not prepared to allow any devolution of powers. That made a parting of ways inevitable, Hannan said. He told his fellow representatives from across Europe: I wish you well. You are losing a bad tenant, but gaining a good neighbor. However, even at the point of Britains exit from the EU after its 47-year membership, more UK representatives voted against the agreement struck by the two sides than for it. There were emotional scenes and anger as pro-European members from Britain and their anglophile colleagues from across the continent stood up to express dismay that the UK is leaving. Green MEP Molly Scott Cato, who represented South West England, burst into tears as she gave her final speech. She was hugged by a colleague as she collapsed into her seat and others around her stood to applaud. Caroline Voaden, from the pro-EU Liberal Democrat party, described the mood as very somber and defiantly vowed, Were still Europeans. For now we say merci, au revoir. This is not goodbye. Representatives from across Europe also expressed sadness and anger at the loss of the UK, and there were repeated cries of lies from the chamber as pro-Brexiteers spoke. Nathalie Loiseau, a former French Europe minister, said: My deep feeling is there is no good Brexit. Im still convinced were better off together than we will be apart. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also showed some emotion while quoting British poet George Eliot in her goodbye message to the UK representatives. Only in the agony of parting do we look into the depths of love. We will always love you, and we will never be far, she said to warm applause. As a parting gift, each of the UKs 73 MEPs was handed a specially covered book about European history, paid for by the Parliaments president, David Sassoli. Instagram influencers have been posing in face masks amid the deadly coronavirus outbreak. Photo: Instagram/stevendivish. Instagram influencers have been raising eyebrows amid the coronavirus outbreak by sharing images of themselves posing up a storm in fashion-forward outfits while wearing face masks. Steven Divish, a Russian YouTuber who lives in Hong Kong, China, posted a photo of himself decked out in Nike sportswear and a black face mask on Tuesday. Vibe check, he captioned the snap that sees him standing in a grimy-looking alley in Nanshan District, Shenzhen, about 1,000km south of the deadly viruss epicentre in Wuhan. He made sure to include the hashtags, #china #coronavirus #shenzhen #stevendivish #maskon, posing questions around the motivation of his post - to raise awareness of the virus thats claimed over 100 lives to date, or to simply go viral? While many of the comments on Stevens post have been positive - with several urging him to take care - one follower called it, #ridiculous. Stephen, they say masks don't help, pointed out another. Dangerous, wrote one. Jeii Pong has gained 28k likes for her coronavirus post. Photo: Instagram/jeii_pong. Elsewhere, a Malaysian-Chinese YouTube star, Jeii Pong, shared a thigh and belly-baring photo of herself posing in a black crop top, plaid mini-skirt and blue face mask with her 422k followers. In her caption, Jeii urges people to take care and protect themselves by wearing a mask before pointing to her Stories for tips on which mask to be worn. Her post - which has received 28k likes and counting - was taken at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia and has attracted some criticism from followers. When u gonna die but photos shoots are life, joked one commenter. Influencers, wrote another. Jada Hai Phong Nguyen shared this photo to raise awareness about coronavirus. Photo: Instagram/hai_phong_nguyen. In a similar vein, Vietnamese Instagrammer Jada Hai Phong Nguyen took to her own account to spread awareness in our communities to fight this outbreak. In her caption, she encourages others to wash their hands, avoid contact with sick people and wear a mask - she suggests Cambridge Mask N99 pro from UK and KF94 ( made in Korea). Story continues The photo she uploaded, however, was slightly at odds with her concerned message, showing her posing on a windowsill with a pot of flowers and a pug between her legs while sporting a black and white crop, matching trousers and a black face mask. HONG KONG, CHINA - 2020/01/28: Pedestrians with sanitary masks to prevent infections. Since the spread of the corona virus, the death stands at 106, with the number of infections almost doubling in a day to more than 4,500. (Photo by Miguel Candela/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) What is coronavirus? Coronavirus is a virus that causes a type of pneumonia and belongs to the same family of coronaviruses as SARS which killed nearly 800 people globally during the outbreak in 2002. Coronavirus symptoms include a high fever and difficulty in breathing, which are similar to many other respiratory diseases and pose complications for screening efforts. The World Health Organisation began responding to cases of unexplained pneumonia in the Chinese city of Wuhan on December 31. Wuhan - now known as the epicentre of the virus - was placed into lockdown last week. The current death toll stands at 106 and there are now more than 4,500 confirmed cases of infection across mainland China, including 91 in the nations capital Beijing, 1100km north. On January 27, a young woman who was on the last flight out of Wuhan to arrive in Sydney tested positive to coronavirus, taking the number of people being treated in Australia for the potentially deadly illness to five. On Tuesday, authorities in Japan, Vietnam and Germany confirmed patients had contracted the virus despite not travelling to China. Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com The African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC) has fired Ernest Byaruhanga after a disciplinary hearing on 13 December. This is according to a statement issued by AFRINIC CEO Eddy Kayihura. The disciplinary hearing was held following a report about Byaruhangas alleged involvement in the theft and sale of Internet Protocol addresses. Given the serious nature of the allegations, a disciplinary hearing was held on 13 December 2019 after which management decided to summarily dismiss Ernest Byaruhanga with immediate effect on grounds of very serious professional misconduct, Kayihura said. MyBroadband has seen an email from Kayihura to an AFRINIC members-only mailing list, in which he confirmed that Byaruhanga was suspended from the organisation on 5 December. The report was produced by MyBroadbands editor-at-large Jan Vermeulen and Internet investigator Ron Guilmette whose work first suggested a link between Byaruhanga and large blocks of stolen IP addresses. Guilmette found that great swaths of African IP address space, estimated to be worth over R800 million, had found themselves registered to suspicious entities in the AFRINIC WHOIS database. These stolen blocks of IP addresses are so valuable because everyone online needs an IP address, whether you are trying to browse the web or host a website. Unfortunately, most of the Internet is still using an old addressing system and older IP addresses have become a relatively scarce resource. Co-founder of AFRINIC If you think of IP addresses as Internet real estate, then the AFRINIC WHOIS database is like the deeds office. The report unearthed strong evidence which showed that an AFRINIC insider had manipulated the records of this deeds office. Several of these records traced back to Byaruhanga, meaning that he had control over the stolen IP address space. Other pieces of evidence showed that Byaruhanga had received money for selling stolen IP address space. Money for a block of IP addresses was paid to a Ugandan company called Amiek Holdings. Byaruhanga, his wife, and three minors with the surname Byaruhanga are the registered shareholders of Amiek Holdings. Byaruhanga is also one of the people who helped found AFRINIC. He was the second employee hired at AFRINIC in 2004, after former CEO and Internet Hall of Famer Adiel Akplogan. Police charges against Byaruhanga The disciplinary hearing at AFRINIC was in addition to a case being opened against Byaruhanga with the Mauritius Police Force, Kayihura said. Kayihura stated that AFRINIC had opened a case with the Central Criminal Investigation Division of the Mauritius Police Force on 10 December 2019 (AFRINIC is headquartered in Mauritius). The office of the Commissioner of Police in Mauritius confirmed to MyBroadband that Kayihura opened the case against Byaruhanga for breaching the countrys Computer Misuse and Cybercrime Act. Additionally, Kayihura said that AFRINIC is working to restore the accuracy of its WHOIS database. AFRINIC is also reinforcing existing controls to eliminate potential internal or external threats to its operations, stated Kayihura. Since we expect a higher workload at times, the Member Services Team will be doing their level best to provide services to members tickets within the 48 hours as stipulated in the AFRINIC SLC. Now read: AFRINIC insider stole and sold Internet resources Coronavirus patients are trying to spread the disease by deliberately spitting at health care workers, it has been claimed. A South African teacher trapped in Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the outbreak, said the infected were also spitting on elevator buttons. She is too 'afraid to go outside' in case she is struck with the deadly disease, as figures show cases have tripled in just three days. Coronavirus can be spread from person to person via a sneeze or cough, and this strain has been regarded as highly contagious. The number of people confirmed to have been infected with the Wuhan coronavirus has now exceeded 7,100 since the outbreak began almost a month ago. Some 170 people have now died, most of whom lived in Wuhan, now a deserted city because of an unprecedented lockdown by Chinese officials. Jessika Bailing, a South African teacher trapped Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the outbreak, said the infected were also spitting on elevator buttons Coronavirus patients are deliberately spitting at health care workers to try and spread the killer disease, it has been claimed. Pictured, a patient at the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University being treated by medical staff in protective suits Ms Bailing said: 'I covered myself from head-to-toe with gloves on my hands, glasses to cover my eyes and of course, my mask' Jessika Bailing said a viral video showed a patient spitting on elevator buttons. Pictured, medical staff treat a patient with the new coronavirus at the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan World Health Organization figures show just 2,014 patients had been struck down with the SARS-like infection by Sunday, January 26. This has now risen dramatically to 7,087, with cases in the US, Australia and Canada. As well as a dramatic increase in cases of the never-before-seen virus, figures also show the number of deaths have spiralled Ms Bailing, 23, is 'so scared' to go outside and had only done so to do a 'terrifying supplies run' Ms Bailing, the South African teacher trapped Wuhan, told the Metro: 'I've heard shocking stories about infected people going out of their way to contaminate others by taking off their masks and spitting in doctors' faces. 'I saw one video of a man spitting on all of the buttons in an apartment elevator.' The 23-year-old said she is 'so scared' to go outside and had only done so to do a 'terrifying supplies run'. She added: 'I covered myself from head-to-toe with gloves on my hands, glasses to cover my eyes and of course, my mask.' The killer coronavirus outbreak has now killed 170 people and struck down more than 7,000 in 19 different countries. Cases have been spotted in Canada, US, France and Australia WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THIS CORONAVIRUS? 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 lung 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 the Wuhan coronavirus kill? Yes 170 people have so far died after testing positive for the virus. What are the symptoms? Some people who catch the Wuhan coronavirus may not have any symptoms at all, or only very mild ones like a sore throat or a headache. Others may suffer from a fever, cough or trouble breathing. And a small proportion of patients will go on to develop severe infection which can damage the lungs or cause pneumonia, a life-threatening condition which causes swelling and fluid build-up in the lungs. 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 around China and are known to have spread from person to person. CLICK HERE TO SEE MAILONLINE'S FULL Q&A ON THE CORONAVIRUS Advertisement As cases of the new coronavirus rise, fears are growing that the outbreak in mainland China is now bigger than the 2003 SARS epidemic, when 5,327 cases of the killer virus were confirmed. There were just 445 cases of coronavirus by Wednesday last week - meaning the outbreak that is continuing to escalate has increased in size by almost 14-fold in the space of seven days. Cases have tripled since Sunday, while deaths have doubled. Fifty-six deaths were recorded by the end of Sunday, but have reached 106 as of yesterday. China's National Health Commission warned the spread of the infection is only going to get worse, with Dr Zhong Nanshan fearing the crisis will peak 'in the next 10 days'. Leading scientists have made stark warnings that there could be tens of thousands of patients already infected far more than the official toll. As Wuhan and other cities in the Hubei province remain in lockdown, sources claim hundreds of British nationals stuck in coronavirus-hit Wuhan are gearing up to be flown back to London tomorrow. Health officials in the capital Beijing today warned cases are on the rise. The city has one confirmed death and 102 confirmed cases of the virus so far. And the United Arab Emirates has become the latest country to confirm cases, announcing four patients from the same family had caught the infection. Britons are due to be evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan tomorrow and will be quarantined for two weeks in a UK military base. Around 200 British nationals are thought to be in the Chinese city. Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, announced the news following criticism over the handling of Britons returning from the city in previous weeks. In a desperate attempt to prevent an outbreak on British soil, Mr Hancock begged travellers to stay indoors, avoid contact with anyone and ring NHS 111 if they have any symptoms. Furious Brits said it's a 'bit f****** late' to tell travellers from Wuhan to 'self-isolate' amid fears the killer coronavirus is spreading between people even if they do not show any symptoms. Experts in China have said there is evidence that people could transmit the virus without showing any symptoms, although UK experts think the risk is low. 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 PHOENIX, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With new pets joining families across the country and National Cat Health Month around the corner, it is the perfect time for pet parents to focus on their cats' well-being. PetSmart's resident veterinarian and pet care expert, Jennifer Freeman, DVM, shares tips to help your kitty live a happy, healthy life. #1: Preventative Care Nearly two in three cats are overweight. Help your cat maintain a healthy weight by feeding them high-quality food in appropriate portions. Consult with a vet to help develop a comprehensive weight management plan for your cat. Feeding them healthy treats such as Authority Weight Management Cat Treats can help them achieve and maintain an ideal weight. Freeman suggests one to two annual vet visits to help keep your cat healthy. During these visits, be sure to discuss preventative care treatments such as parasite control, vaccinations and baseline bloodwork to help catch diseases early or prevent them altogether. Cats are prone to a common disease called Chronic Kidney Disease, which is the progressive loss of kidney function over time and is most common in older cats. Bringing your cat to the vet for regular check-ups and baseline bloodwork can help catch kidney disease early on and better the chances of finding and treating an underlying cause or slowing progression. "Always provide access to fresh water and seek veterinary care if you notice increased thirst and urination in your cat," said Freeman. Actually getting your cat to the vet in the first place can be a challenge of its own, as carriers and car travel can be stressful for cats. Freeman suggests developing low-stress ways of acquainting your cat with their carrier so that a trip to the vet isn't terrible for all parties involved. "Acquainting your cat with their carrier days to weeks prior to a vet visit by having it out in the open with treats and encouragement helps to ensure that your cat won't run away and hide the day of your appointment," said Freeman. Comfortable carriers like the Sherpa Original Deluxe Pet Carrier can help cats feel safe during car rides. #2: Enrichment Cats depend on us for enrichment, including attention, affection and interactive play. "Playtime with humans can be the most effective way to enhance your cat's environment," said Freeman. "Playing with your feline friend helps them live out those predator instincts and is great exercise." Try toys like the Whisker City Laser Cat Toy to help satisfy your cat's natural instincts for hunting, chasing and realistic play. Cats love to climb and hang out in high places. Consider providing a 'cat tree' or other safe vertical climbing structure for them to enjoy with a window for outdoor viewing if possible. The Whisker City Cozy Inn Cat Tower provides multiple levels and comfortable places for cats to perch. #3: Safety Keep your cat looking stylish yet safe with the Whisker City Breakaway Glitter Cat Collar and an identification tag that will help get your cat back home if they get lost. Microchipping also increases the chance of being reunited with your cat if they stray too far from home. For more feline health tips and products, visit www.petsmart.com or talk to a PetSmart associate. About PetSmart PetSmart, Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets, and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart's passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so they, together, can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities. PetSmart employs approximately 56,000 associates and operates more than 1,660 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart PetsHotel dog and cat boarding facilities. The retailer provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products, as well as services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart Doggie Day Camp and pet adoption. PetSmart, PetSmart Charities and PetSmart Charities of Canada work with more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 9 million adoptions, more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary. Find PetSmart on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/PetSmart See PetSmart on Instagram: @PetSmart Follow PetSmart on Twitter: @PetSmart See PetSmart on YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PetSmart PetSmart homepage: http://www.petsmart.com/ Turn your passion for pets into a career you'll love! Visit careers.petsmart.com to learn more about corporate, retail store and Distribution Center opportunities. SOURCE PetSmart Related Links http://www.petsmart.com A too-harsh crackdown on online rumours during China's deadly viral epidemic had undermined public trust, the country's top court said Wednesday, in a highly rare rebuke of the police force. China has been battling the spread of infection that has surpassed the global reach of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 2002-03. Authorities suspect the disease originated in a wild animal market in the central city of Wuhan, and told the World Health Organization about the new virus on the last day of 2019. A day later, eight people were detained by police after claiming online that Wuhan was in the grip of a fresh SARS outbreak. The group were punished for "publishing or forwarding false information on the internet without verification", a police statement at the time said. But Supreme Court judge Tang Xinghua wrote Wednesday that officers should have been more lenient. "If the public had believed these 'rumours' at the time, and carried out measures like wearing masks, strictly disinfecting and avoiding wildlife markets... it might have been a good thing," he said. Tang said the indiscriminate crackdown on online rumours could have "become negative textbook material for weakening public trust in the government" or a "vicious event" eroding support for the Communist party. Wuhan police responded in a post on the social media platform Weibo that they had only given "education and criticism" to the eight and had not meted out harsher punishment such as "warnings, fines, or detention." But some users were unhappy with the reply, with one demanding the police apologise and asking: "Is it so hard to acknowledge you have done wrong?" The novel coronavirus outbreak has killed at least 132 people and infected around 6,000 others. Authorities in Wuhan have already been criticised online for withholding information about the infection until the end of last year, despite knowing about the new illness weeks earlier. Earlier on Wednesday, authorities in the northern city of Tianjin said they had sacked a municipal health commission member for dereliction of duty, in what appeared to be one of the first punishments of an official in connection with the outbreak. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three Trenton-based heroin dealers were recently sentenced to prison for selling thousands of bags of heroin and fentanyl in New Jersey and across the river in Pennsylvania, authorities said. Cornelius Bell, 29, Jalmed Marks, 28 and Aaron Gyampo, 27, all of Trenton, were part of a drug operation that sold hundreds of bags of heroin a day to people in Trenton and Lower Bucks County, Pennsylvania, the Bucks County District Attorneys Office announced Monday. An investigation by police in both states began looking into the organizations drug peddling activities which were headed by Bell, the admitted leader of the group, in March 2018, the office said. During the investigation, undercover officers bought heroin and fentanyl to learn the groups hierarchy and to find the source of the supply of the drugs, police said. Their purchases included four bricks of heroin, which each contained about 50 bags, labeled Tom Brady. Court papers also showed that police also found heroin labeled with the brand names, Scorpion, Armani, Way to Go, Sick Call, Hellfire and White Castle over the course of the months-long probe. Bell was also the organizations most frequent seller as officers made seven controlled purchases of heroin from him between March 2018 and November 2018 and watched several other transactions, according to a statement from the district attorneys office. By the end of the investigation, detectives seized 2,500 bags of heroin in Trenton, officials said. But for the hard and collaborative work of these police agencies, these defendants might still be flooding our streets with poison," Bucks County Deputy District Attorney Thomas C. Gannon said in a statement. Our communities are made safer every day by the extraordinary work of these outstanding police agencies. The trio admitted they used their drug proceeds to fund their rap music group and that they worked together on heroin sales using a cell phone number they changed periodically, the office said. Bell, Marks, 28, and Gyampo, 27, have all pleaded guilty to corruption, conspiracy and other drug-related charges. Bell was ordered on January 22 to serve nine and half to 30 years in state prison in Pennsylvania after he pleaded guilty earlier this month, authorities said. Marks, who pleaded guilty in October 2019, was sentenced to seven to 20 years in state prison and Gyampo, who admitted his guilt in August 2019, received a sentence of two to six years. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrsheldon 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. Fotis Dulos remains in a 'dire' condition in the hospital, his lawyer said on Wednesday after appearing in court for a bond hearing without him. The 52-year-old was found unresponsive in his parked car in his garage in Farmington on Tuesday after failing to show up at court for an emergency bond hearing. He is awaiting trial on murder charges for allegedly killing his wife Jennifer in May. The company which insured his $6million bond and got him out of jail reneged on it on Tuesday. Sources told DailyMail.com he was 'losing his mind' at the prospect of having to go back into custody and that he tried to take his own life because of it. On Tuesday night, he was airlifted to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx where he remains in a 'perilous' condition. On Wednesday, New York bail bondsman Ira Judelson went to Stamford to offer up the bond. Dulos' attorney Norm Pattis was also there. The judge issued a warrant for Dulos re-arrest and added $500,000 to his bail. In practical terms, it puts the case on hold until he is no longer in a critical condition. Fotis Dulos is transported into Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx on Tuesday after attempting to kill himself with carbon monoxide poisoning in his garage in Connecticut before a court appearance Fotis is filmed being put into a helicopter at UConn Health in Connecticut on Tuesday Fotis Dulos was found in his home in Connecticut on Tuesday where he attempted suicide. He was awaiting trial for murdering his wife Jennifer. Prosecutors repeatedly asked for him to be denied bail as recently as last week, but the judge allowed him to remain on house arrest Emergency workers are shown trying to revive Fotis Dulos at his home in Farmington, Connecticut, on Tuesday. Officials said he died after trying to poison himself with carbon monoxide in his garage Fotis was found in his car inside his garage. The exhaust pipe he used to try to kill himself is shown attached to his vehicle Speaking after the hearing, Pattis said he never anticipated his client would try to take his own life. 'A lawyer's commitment is to be a shepherd to his client and to walk them through the valley of the shadow of death... 'Sometimes you make a call where you think your client is self destructive. That is based on the best judgement you can see. 'I saw nothing that made me believe that so I look back and wonder what I missed,' he said outside court. Dulos, 52, had been on strict house arrest since last Thursday and could only leave his mansion to see a lawyer, a doctor or attend a religious service. He faced the prospect of having his $6m bond revoked at emergency court hearing Tuesday over doubts over the equity of the real estate assets he put up as security. Pattis said that the potential for bond revocation was 'devastating'. Fotis was due in court at noon on Tuesday, but when he failed to show up, police were asked to check on him at his home. Dulos' attorneys Norm Pattis (right) and Kevin Smith (left) in court on Wednesday at the bond hearing Pattis with Stamford State's Attorney Richard Colangelo after the bond hearing on Wednesday They arrived and saw him through a window, sitting in his vehicle in the garage, showing 'obvious signs of medical distress'. They broke into the car to drag him out into the fresh air and perform CPR. He was then taken to UConn Health via ambulance where he remains in a critical condition. He was airlifted to the hospital in the Bronx to have treatment in a hyperbaric chamber, later in the afternoon. Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy is used to raise the level of oxygen in a patient's blood and to reduce carbon dioxide levels as quickly as possible in cases of acute carbon monoxide poisoning. The patient typically lies down on a stretcher before being slid into a giant acrylic tube before the pressure is raised and oxygen is pumped inside. Medics say serious carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to severe long-term cognitive damage, raising the prospect that Fotis could have suffered irreparable brain damage. Dulos is shown being wheeled into Jacobi Medical Center after the air ambulance on Tuesday He is expected to be put in a hyperbaric chamber to increase the oxygen levels in his blood and decrease the amount of carbon monoxide in his system 'There's a real possibility of permanent brain damage and damage to the heart. He may never be the same again,' a friend told DailyMail.com. 'Of course that raises the question of whether he will ever be fit to stand trial or provide answers about Jennifer's death. It's a tragedy for both families.' Pattis told NBC that his main concern for his client is that he may never recover. 'Not once did I consider he was at risk of suicide,' he said. 'He was held up to the world as a man who murdered his wife... I think the weight of it is difficult to bear. I don't think that people who haven't been accused can understand the savageness of the criminal justice system. 'People have a presumption of innocence in this country for a reason and all the folks who harped on Mr Dulos can take some grim satisfaction from today's event. My message to each and every one of them is - shame on you.' A woman, who has not been named publicly but has been identified by local outlets as a friend of Fotis and local businesswoman whose signature is on his bond, went to the house at 11.18am. It is unclear if she got inside or if she spoke to him. The call to police for a wellness check did not come in until 11.54am. It is unclear if she has any significant role in what happened on Tuesday. Friends told DailyMail.com that Fotis had 'lost his mind' on house arrest. 'Fotis was calling people up and telling them he was losing his mind being stuck at home,' a friend told DailyMail.com. Police are refusing to confirm whether or not Dulos left a suicide note. 'He was so desperate to get out of the house he even tried to schedule an impromptu meeting with his legal team just as excuse. 'He was told in no uncertain terms that it would be a violation of his house arrest unless he had permission. 'The prospect of having his bond revoked and being locked up again would have sent him completely off the rails.' The friend added, ominously: 'If he tried to kill himself once, he will try it again. As far as Fotis is concerned, he definitely isn't going to jail. 'He gives the impression he's in control and that he's a tough guy but he's terrified of being locked up.' There was initial confusion over Dulos' condition. When he was found, multiple media sources reported he was dead. Doctors shielded Dulos behind a sheet as he was stretchered onto a chopper to be taken to a different hospital Dulos is shown being removed from the ambulance and wheeled towards the air ambulance Jennifer's family are also believed to have been told that he was dead after he tried to kill himself. Fotis faced the prospect of going to jail on Tuesday. The company which insured his $6million murder bond, Palmetto Surety Company of Columbia, South Carolina, had expressed doubt over some of the collateral he offered and they wanted to revoke it. DailyMail.com understands that on Tuesday morning, New York bail bondsman Ira Judelson was asked by Fotis' team if he would step in to replace Palmetto should they back out. Judelson said he'd agreed but was then blind-sided by news of Fotis' apparent suicide attempt. Fotis was awaiting trial on murder charges for the death of his wife Jennifer, who vanished last May after dropping their five kids off at school. Fotis and Jennifer were in the middle of a contentious divorce and custody battle when she vanished and Fotis was swimming in debt. TIMELINE OF THE FOTIS DULOS CASE 2004: Fotis Dulos and Jennifer Farber get married. It is his second marriage In the same year, her father Hilliard starts loaning him money for his property business, Fore Group. 2015: Fotis and Michelle Troconis start taking trips he paid for which he claimed were for business. They later start an affair. January 2017: Hilliard Farber dies March 2017: Gloria Farber takes over his estate June 2017: Jennifer files for divorce, saying she is afraid of her husband February 2018: Gloria Farber sues Fotis Dulos for unpaid loans May 24 2019: Jennifer vanishes after dropping off her five children at school June 2019: Fotis and Michelle Troconis are arrested for evidence tampering Gloria Farber files an order for custody of the children. August 2019: Troconis 'turns' on Dulos in police interviews, admits she lied when she said she had an alibi for him September 2019: Fotis is arrested again for evidence tampering January 2020: Dulos and Troconis are charged with murder January 28: Dulos is found unresponsive at his Farmington home Advertisement He always denied having anything to do with his wife's death and vowed to fight the charges. Prosecutors repeatedly asked for him to be denied bail including as recently as last week, but the judge allowed him to remain on house arrest. He was accused of attacking Jennifer in the garage of her rented home in New Canaan in May after she returned from dropping their five kids off at school. Police never found her body, but they did find pools of blood in her garage which someone had attempted to mop up and clean. They also found traces of her blood in her car - which was later found abandoned in a parking lot - and in the vehicle Jennifer was driving on the day she vanished. Fotis and his then girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, were also allegedly filmed on surveillance footage dumping trash bags at various locations in Connecticut which were later found to contain traces of Jennifer's blood. Troconis initially gave her boyfriend an alibi and said they had been together all morning. She then flipped her story in a second interview with police and, according to arrest affidavits, said he'd given her an 'alibi script'. Fotis maintained that he was innocent. He said police had no evidence against him and at one stage, his lawyer Norm Pattis suggested Jennifer had killed herself in a Gone Girl-style plot to exact revenge on him. The suggestion sickened her friends and family who said she was afraid of him. In their divorce papers, Jennifer said she was afraid her husband would hurt her. She described him as a brutally strict parent to their children. It has since emerged in unsealed arrest affidavits and search warrants that their nanny described seeing him chase her through their home. The nanny also said Jennifer once told her Fotis had tried to run her over. It was Fotis' second marriage. A Greek native and competitive wake boarder, the pair got married in 2004. The scene outside Dulos' home in Farmington, Connecticut, where he is believed to have tried to take his own life by inhaling carbon monoxide in his garage before a court date which could have sent him to jail The scene in Dulos' garage on Tuesday after he was found in his car having tried to kill himself Cop cars were seen parked outside the mansion in the hours after he tried to take his own life Jennifer came from a wealthy family and her parents, Hilliard and Gloria, embraced him. After they got married, Hilliard started giving Fotis loans to bolster his real estate development business. Hilliard put up the cash for him to buy properties and flip them. When he sold them for a profit, he repaid his father-in-law the loan plus interest. Their marriage started to disintegrate in 2017 when, according to court papers, Dulos had an affair with Troconis. Michelle Troconis, Fotis' live-in girlfriend, is also awaiting trial for murder She filed for divorce and sought immediate custody of all five kids. He disagreed and they were granted shared custody until the end of the divorce proceedings. 'I am afraid of my Husband. I know that filing for divorce, and filing this Motion will enrage him. 'I know he will retaliate by trying to harm me in some way,' she said. He was still allowed to keep seeing them under supervision, however. In February 2018, Jennifer's mother Gloria filed a lawsuit seeking $2.5million from her estranged son-in-law. She said he owed it to her family's estate in unpaid loans from her late husband, who by that point had died. Fotis fought it. He moved Michelle Troconis into his palatial mansion in Farmington, one of many homes he owned under his property company. On May 24, a week after an unsuccessful attempt by Fotis to have unsupervised visits with his children, Jennifer vanished without a trace. She dropped the kids off in the morning but then missed several appointments in New York City which raised the alarm with friends and family. Her car, a Chevrolet Suburban, was found not far from her home, abandoned in a parking lot. They found her phone there but there was no sign of her. Police combed surveillance footage and phone records from the state and, specifically, from where Fotis had been. It revealed crucial gaps in the timeline of the morning Jennifer vanished. Dulos phone remained in the area of Farmington throughout the day. Financial decline: $7m in debit and funneling insurance payments The desperate state of Fotis' finances were revealed in court documents after he was charged. He was $7 million in debt, was lapsing on loan interest payments and funneling money from his and his wife's joint checking account into his own personal account. By the end of May 2019, at the time Jennifer disappeared, Fotis' total outstanding debts at added up to $4.5 million, in addition to mortgages taken out on his various properties, the documents say. Fotis and Jennifer were married between 2004 and 2017 He also faced lawsuits from Jennifer's own mother, Gloria Farber, who accused him of failing to pay back various loans. Fotis had claimed they were gifts that he wasn't obliged to repay. In early 2019, Fotis began scrambling to inject cash into the main bank account of his business Fore Group. He opened a new line of credit with People's United Bank as he maxed out an existing credit line with the Savings Bank of Danbury, investigators say. In March, April and May, he missed interest payments on the People's United Bank loan, which totaled about $530,000, according to documents. Then in April 2019, he received a wire for $149,500 from a cash advance operation based in Utah the type of high-interest loan that businesses turn to in moments of desperation. It was during this time period that Fotis received three checks from Chubb Insurance Group totaling $193,610.50 and made out to 'Fotis and Jennifer Dulos.' Bank records show that all three checks were deposited into a joint checking account held by Fotis and Jennifer, but that Jennifer did not sign any of the checks. Following each deposit, the funds were immediately withdrawn and deposited into Fotis' personal bank account, some of which was then transferred to the Fore Group account, according to investigators. None of the insurance money went to Jennifer. Investigators say that each of the Dulos' five children had a trust fund established by Gloria and her late husband, Hilliard Farber. 'In the event of Jennifer's disappearance, and in the subsequent event that Dulos gained custody of his children, Dulos would have expected some level of access to the children's trust funds,' cops wrote in the warrant affidavit. Divorce turns ugly as they battle for custody of children Fotis met Jennifer when they were students at Brown University, and the couple married in 2004. He went on to complete an MBA in finance at Columbia University, and worked as a builder and developer of luxury homes in Connecticut's Farmington Valley. The couple raised their five children in a massive $4.2 million mansion in Farmington - a palatial 15,000-square-foot residence with six bedrooms and 7.5 baths. But investigators say that behind the opulent facade lurked dark secrets. Jennifer had filed for divorce in 2017 and moved out of the Farmington mansion. The divorce battle turned ugly as the pair battled for custody of their children. Court documents filed in the divorce case say Jennifer feared Dulos would harm her in some way in retaliation and she noted he had a gun. Jennifer's rented home in New Canaan where she vanished on May 24 Jennifer had primary custody of the children with their father getting to see them every other weekend. After Jennifer went missing, Dulos asked the divorce case judge to grant him custody of the children. Jennifer's mother Gloria filed a custody motion on the same day Fotis was arrested for evidence tampering and hindering prosecution in relation to her disappearance. Her mother was given full custody and continues to care for them in her Upper East Side apartment on Fifth Avenue. At one point, Garber's apartment was being guarded by armed security. Dulos had attempted to visit his children on the weekend that his estranged wife went missing but was turned away by the private security. Extensive search for Jennifer's body and the explosive evidence against Dulos Despite extensive searches, Jennifer's body has never been found after she was last seen dropping the children off at school in May. Investigators are convinced that she is deceased. It emerged in court documents that Chief Medical Examiner James Gill had determined that Jennifer likely was killed by 'some combination of traumatic, blunt-force injuries such as a bludgeoning/beating, and/or sharp-force injuries such as a stabbing/slashing.' Gill concluded there was so much blood loss - evidenced by bloodstains at her home, apparent cleanup efforts and blood spatter analysis - that there was no way Jennifer would have survived without medical treatment. Fotis Dulos in his first mugshot (left) and Michelle in hers (right) It took eight months for murder charges to be brought against Fotis in his estranged wife's case. His arrest warrants listed a wealth of physical evidence, including trash bags and zip ties covered in Jennifer's DNA. The warrants also reveal why investigators are so convinced that Jennifer is dead -including a complete lack of financial and cell phone activity following her disappearance and extensive blood stains discovered in her Land Rover and home. Police say they have surveillance video from Hartford allegedly showing Dulos in a pickup truck with girlfriend Troconis disposing of garbage bags of items, some of which were later recovered and found to be stained with Jennifer's blood. Sources told the Hartford Courant that police later recovered blood-soaked sponges and a Vineyard Vines shirt that Jennifer was wearing when she went missing. They also have traffic and school bus camera footage of a man they believe was Dulos driving a pickup truck to New Canaan on the morning Jennifer disappeared; surveillance video of Dulos getting the truck washed and detailed days after she vanished; and evidence that Jennifer's DNA was found on the truck's passenger seat, according to the warrant. A page from the hundreds of warrants show the list of the blood stains found inside Jennifer's garage Dulos is shown on May 29 withdrawing $500 cash before visiting a car wash to clean his employee's car on the day Jennifer vanished Surveillance footage (pictured) shows the last known images of Jennifer driving home, where police say Dulos 'lay in wait', after she dropped her children at school at around 8am on May 24 State's Attorney Richard Colangelo Jr. said in court last year that Jennifer's blood also was found mixed with Dulos' DNA on the kitchen sink faucet of her home in New Canaan. In the warrant, authorities alleged that Dulos drove an employee's red Toyota Tacoma truck to New Canaan, lay in wait for Jennifer to return home from the school run and later drove her body away. Shortly after 8am, Jennifer was pictured arriving home from the school run. 'This photograph is the last known photograph of Jennifer alive,' the warrant states. Sometime in the next two hours police say 'the crime and clean up' takes place. At around 10.20am, Jennifer's SUV was seen leaving her house but police claim that Dulos was driving the car. It is unclear where the Toyota Tacoma was at this stage. Dulos was then allegedly picked back up by surveillance cameras at 11.20am, in the Tacoma again, making his way back to Farmington. He is not thought to have gone home, instead driving to a property which he owned. He then had lunch with Troconis at 1.30pm. The most explosive claims in the warrant came from Pawel Gumienny, the employee whose Toyota Tacoma truck Dulos allegedly used. Gumienny told police that on May 24 he drove one of Dulos' cars - a Ford Raptor - to New Canaan for a job. It was common for him to use his boss's vehicles, he said. His car, the red Toyota Tacoma, was at Dulos' home in Farmington. Gumienny said that at 2.30pm, he received a text from Dulos asking when he would be returning to 'the office' and he responded 4.30pm. When he arrived at Dulos' home, his boss was not there. He then found Dulos, Troconis and his truck at a different property where they appeared to be 'cleaning'. Dulos asked him to help him shuttle some other vehicles there back to his home. By the time Gumienny got back to the property for his Tacoma truck, Troconis had vanished with the keys, he said. Dulos, he says, then urged him to keep his Raptor for several more days but Gumienny declined, saying he wanted the Tacoma back. Five days later on May 29, Gumienny was surprised to learn that Dulos and Troconis had taken his Tacoma truck to be washed without his knowledge. Over the course of the following days, Dulos urged Gumienny to remove the Tacoma's seats and replace them. He described Dulos as insistent and 'pushy', to the point of Dulos growing angry that he had not yet changed out the seats. In future conversations, Dulos, he said, referred to the seats as hardware. The tribute outside Fotis home in Farmington to Jennifer, the wife he is accused of murdering By May 31, when police first encountered Gumienny at Dulos' home, he had switched out the backseat of his truck with seats from a Porsche, which belonged to Jennifer. When interviewed, Gumienny said that Dulos instructed him to do it and that he also instructed him to get rid of the Tacoma's seats. Gumienny told police that when he asked Dulos why he was so adamant about changing or getting rid of the truck, Dulos provided a story that on May 12, Mother's Day, he hugged Jennifer during a visit to her home. Dulos claimed that because his estranged wife had been missing for days and no suspects were named, he was worried police might find a 'hair' in the backseat and try to link him to her disappearance. Suspicious, Gumienny said he decided to keep the Tacoma's original seats and gave police permission to test them. Police said they found a 'bloodlike substance' containing Jennifer's DNA, despite Dulos' alleged attempts at cleaning the car as seen in surveillance video from Russell Speeders Car Wash. Fotis and his attorneys, however, have previously argued that Jennifer is not really dead. They have argued she likely faked her own death and planted blood in an attempt to frame her estranged husband for murder. The ex-girlfriend and a civil attorney: The other two charged in Jennifer's disappearance Kent Mawhinney, Dulos' civil attorney Dulos' girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, and his friend and civil attorney, Kent Douglas Mawhinney, are charged with conspiracy to murder for their alleged roles in plotting and covering up Jennifer's death. Dulos and Troconis had previously been charged with evidence tampering and obstruction in Jennifer's disappearance. Dulos' criminal attorney has previously proposed that Mawhinney could provide an alibi that cleared him of wrongdoing. Troconis is accused of helping him dispose of evidence on the day of Jennifer's disappearance. They were both captured on surveillance disposing of the items that tested positive for Jennifer's blood. Mawhinney is accused of digging a grave and stocking it with lime before she disappeared. The grave was later discovered and found not to have been used. According to arrest warrants, Mawhinney had a prearranged meeting with Dulos on the morning of his wife's disappearance, was at Dulos's office and had his cellphone with him. He also was mentioned in what police described as 'alibi notes' found in the trash at Dulos' business, according to the warrants. Mawhinney once represented Dulos in lawsuits filed by Jennifer's mother, who claims Dulos never repaid her late husband for about $3 million in loans he gave Dulos to develop expensive homes. Mawhinney is charged in another case with sexually assaulting his estranged wife in South Windsor last year and violating a protective order. He has pleaded not guilty. In court documents in those cases, Jennifer told authorities she believed Mawhinney was plotting to have her killed and Dulos made contact with her as part of the plot. LIMA, Peru - Opposition leader Keiko Fujimori can be held 15 months in prison while she is investigated for possible money laundering, a Peruvian judge ruled Tuesday, shortly after official vote returns showed her party was trounced in weekend congressional elections. Judge Victor Zuniga said Fujimori, 44, must return to detention while prosecutors investigate her alleged participation in a money laundering scheme tied to Odebrecht, the Brazilian construction giant that has confessed to paying out almost $1 billion in bribes to South American governments. Prosecutors allege Fujimori illegally received more than $1 million from Odebrecht for one of her presidential campaigns and hid it through a complex network of front men. Fujimori insists she is innocent. She already spent a year in prison under detention, but had been released in November by Perus constitutional court, which said she had lost the capability to interfere in the investigation. Fujimoris Popular Force party was the dominant bloc in the previous congress, but fared badly in Sundays elections, falling from 72 seats to just 12 in the 130-member legislature. The vote followed President Martin Vizcarras decision to disband the body last year and call new elections as he sought to strengthen his campaign to root out endemic corruption. Analysts said the Popular Forces fall was a major setback for the Fujimori political dynasty. Her father, Alberto Fujimori, is a former Peruvian president who was sentenced to 25 years in prison for committing human rights abuses. [January 29, 2020] Medigene, IRICoR and Universite de Montreal Sign Collaboration and Exclusive Licensing Option on Novel Cancer Antigens MARTINSRIED, Germany and MUNICH, Germany and MONTREAL, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medigene AG (Medigene, FSE: MDG1, Prime Standard), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company focusing on the development of T cell immunotherapies, announces today that it has entered into a research collaboration on novel cancer antigens for highly specific immunotherapies with the Universite de Montreal (UdeM) and IRICoR, a pan-Canadian drug discovery research commercialization center. UdeMs research team, led by Drs. Claude Perreault and Pierre Thibault at the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), will provide Medigene with tumor-specific antigens (TSAs) which they discovered using their proprietary platform, as novel targets for various cancer indications, particularly for solid tumors. Under the terms of the agreement, Medigene will evaluate a number of proprietary TSA targets provided by UdeM through IRICoR, and will receive an option to exercise an exclusive and worldwide license to develop and commercialize T cell receptors (TCRs) against up to 5 of these novel cancer antigens. Upfront and near-term payments by Medigene to UdeM and IRICoR could potentially reach mid to high single-digit millions over the course of the next five years. Additionally, UdeM and IRICoR are eligible to receive development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, along with tiered royalties, on a per target basis. Prof. Dolores Schendel, CEO and CSO of Medigene AG: "The goal of immunotherapies is to fight cancer using the immune system. Medigenes TCR-based therapies aim to modify the patient's own T cells so they can specifically recognize and eliminate tumor cells. It is essential that the immune system differentiates precisely between cancer cells and healthy tissue. The research work from UdeM on tumor antigens is fascinating and offers a broad and complementary development opportunity for Medigenes TCR therapies. These TSAs are uniquely found in tumor cells but are not present in healthy tissue, and are therefore particularly interesting as targets for tailor-made immunotherapies. We believe that this cooperation could expand our portfolio with promising, novel targets that are solely expressed in cancer cells. Dr. Nadine Beauger, Chief Executive Officer of IRICoR: IRICoR is delighted to be a part of this new partnership. The foundational funding provided by IRICoR to develop this unique proteogenomic approach led to the unprecedented discovery of human TSAs coded by potentially all genomic regions using high-throughput mass spectrometry. These newly-discovered targets open countless avenues for more targeted cancer treatments for the benefit of patients worldwide. Dr. Steven Klein, Vice-President, Business Development of IRICoR added: IRICoR has a strong track record of collaborating with international partners such as Medigene and negotiating the necessary agreements to ensure that these relationships are successful in transforming innovative technologies, such as the TSA platform, into new therapies. Michel Bouvier, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Investigator, IRIC; Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Universite de Montreal: UdeM and its researchers at IRIC are at the forefront of developing novel therapies for cancers with high unmet medical need. The exciting research of Drs. Perreault and Thibault is a concrete example of how world-class fundamental research carried out at IRIC can be translated into potential new therapies through the financial and business support of IRICoR. We look forward to a very fruitful collaboration between UdeM, IRICoR, and Medigene and to seeing these new T cell-based therapies reach patients who are in need o new therapeutic options. About UdeM/IRICoR TSAs A key role of T lymphocytes is to act as extrinsic tumor suppressors and thereby mediate cancer immunosurveillance. Tumor-specific Antigens (TSAs) can be targeted for T-cell based cancer immunotherapy. TSAs are truly cancer-specific and immunogenic because their presence is induced by cancer-specific somatic mutations. In two murine cancer cell lines and seven human primary tumors, Drs. Perreault and Thibault identified a total of 40 TSAs, about 90% of which derived from allegedly noncoding regions and would have been missed by standard exome-based approaches. Moreover, most of these TSAs derived from nonmutated yet aberrantly expressed transcripts (such as endogenous retroelements) that could be shared by multiple tumor types. Reference : Laumont et al. "Noncoding regions are the main source of targetable tumor-specific antigens" Science Translational Medicine 05 Dec 2018:Vol. 10, Issue 470, eaau5516 About IRICoR Designated as a Centre of Excellence in Research and Commercialization (CECR) by the Canadian government, IRICoR is a project maturation cluster in the field of drug discovery based at the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the Universite de Montreal. IRICoR's mandate is to accelerate the discovery, development, and commercialization of novel therapies in cancer, immunotherapy, and related fields. Since 2008, IRICoR has been successfully investing in and supporting selected cutting-edge projects in order to rapidly translate early-stage innovation into potential new therapies, through either co-development partnerships with the biopharmaceutical industry or the creation of spin-off companies. IRICoR seamlessly integrates its business-related expertise with access to industry-level drug discovery capabilities, providing selected academic and industry projects with access to its network of experts and cutting-edge infrastructure, including one of the largest academia-based medicinal chemistry groups in Canada. For more information about IRICoR: www.iricor.ca About the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC) of the Universite de Montreal An ultra-modern research hub and training centre located in the heart of the Universite de Montreal, the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer of the Universite de Montreal was created in 2003 to shed light on the mechanisms of cancer and discover new, more effective therapies to counter this disease. The IRIC operates according to a model that is unique in Canada. Its innovative approach to research has already led to discoveries that will, over the coming years, have a significant impact on the fight against cancer. For more information: www.iric.ca About Medigene Medigene AG (FSE: MDG1, ISIN DE000A1X3W00, Prime Standard) is a publicly listed, clinical-stage biotechnology company headquartered in Martinsried near Munich, Germany. The Company is developing highly innovative immunotherapies to target various forms and stages of cancer. Medigene concentrates on the development of personalized T cell-based therapies, with associated projects currently in pre-clinical and clinical development. Read more about Medigenes company profile: https://www.medigene.com Other news: 22 May 2019, Medigene announces clinical trial agreement for HA-1 TCR immunotherapy MDG1021 with University of Leiden 9 May 2019, bluebird presents preclinical data of first TCR candidate from Medigene collaboration. Start clinical development 2020 4 April 2019, Roivant and Sinovant Launch Cytovant Sciences in Partnership with Medigene to Develop Cellular Therapies in Asia This press release contains forward-looking statements representing the opinion of Medigene as of the date of this release. The actual results achieved by Medigene may differ significantly from the forward-looking statements made herein. Medigene is not bound to update any of these forward-looking statements. Medigene is a registered trademark of Medigene AG. This trademark may be owned or licensed in select locations only. Contact Medigene Dr Gary Waanders, Claudia Burmester, Dr Anna Niedl +49 89 2000 3333 01 [email protected] Contact IRICoR Sandy Thibert, Communication Advisor, Public Relations 514 343-6111, ext. 43197 [email protected] Contact IRIC Noemie Desbois Mackenzie, Communication Advisor, Public Relations 514 343-6111, ext. 34730 [email protected] In case you no longer wish to receive any information about Medigene, please inform us by e-mail ([email protected]). We will then delete your address from our distribution list. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Episode 1 is available for free viewing now. It follows 57-year-old businessman Dean Neuls as he breaks the stereotypes about aging while racing in Europe's Porsche SportsCup. VANCOUVER, Jan. 29, 2020 /CNW/ - Dean Neuls was lined up on the starting grid against 40 other drivers. They were less than half his age, and 10 times more experienced. No wonder he was shaking in the driver's seat at the start of his very first race in the Porsche SportsCup! In 60 seconds, the green flag would drop and he'd be screaming down the track, finally realizing his dream to race cars Neuls is one of the headliners in the new video series At Any Age . The docuseries joins inspirational men and women as they perform feats usually reserved for young adrenaline junkies. Episode 1 of At Any Age is available to view now. Discover how 57-year-old Dean Neuls fared racing a 170-mph car 20 years after most drivers have retired. Neuls battles with osteoarthritis and injury to make the starting grid in Europe's Porsche SportsCup Racing Series . Episode 2 - The world's oldest female solo skydiver (coming soon): 86-year-old Dilys Price is the world's oldest female solo skydiver. Watch the Guinness World Record holder and discover how free-falling from 20,000 feet is still a regular pastime for her. The goal of the video series is to give viewers the inspiration to chase their dreams, and live life to the fullest no matter what stage of the journey they're at. "There's a mindset behind staying independent as we age. My hope is that this new At Any Age series helps people tap into that mindset and adds a helpful dose of inspiration too!" says Dean Neuls, the CEO of AlgaeCal - the company behind At Any Age. (Dean is also the star of the first episode). AlgaeCal will release further At Any Age episodes in the near future, and is searching for new inspirational people to profile. They encourage anyone who defies the conventional approach to aging to reach out using the contact information below. At Any Age is produced by AlgaeCal, a calcium supplement company dedicated to helping women and men make informed, conscious decisions about their health - specifically their bone health. The company has expanded its efforts to visual storytelling via the At Any Age series to inspire people of all ages to follow their dreams and live life to the fullest. Rachel Carson lived from May 27, 1907 to April 14, 1964. A biologist, she is known for her role in bringing awareness to the environmental movement in its early days. Her book, Silent Spring, continues to be an influential and foundational reading for anyone involved in environmental work. Early Life And Education Rachel Carson was born the third child of Robert and Maria Carson, who lived in a small town in Pennsylvania. Carson grew up on her parents farm and it was there that her love of and familiarity with nature began. As a child she wrote stories from a young age and animals often featured prominently in them. Some of her work was even published in childrens magazines when she was only 10! Carson graduated from her local high school in 1925 and then proceeded to attend the Pennsylvania College of Womenwhich is now known as Chatham University and study English. Her hope was to become a writer. Midway through her coursework, Carson changed her major to biology and graduated magna cum laude in 1929. From there, she attended Johns Hopkins University, where she earned her masters degree in zoology; although she had planned on working on her doctorate she was unable to because of family responsibilities after her fathers sudden death. In 1931 she began to teach at University of Maryland while also teaching at the Hopkins summer school program from 1929-1936. Working Life And Early Publications In 1936, Carson began to work for the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries as a writer. She was only the second woman to be hired by them and her main responsibility was writing radio scripts that were educational in nature. Initially, her role was temporary, however because of her skill and expertise, her supervisor helped secure her a full-time permanent role. Her job became that of a junior aquatic biologist. Carson stayed with the Bureau for 15 years. By the time she left, she was working as Editor in Chief and responsible for all publications for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. While working at the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries, Carson wrote articles for the Baltimore Sun and The Atlantic Monthly in order to supplement her income and provide herself a creative outlet. Her article, Undersea for The Atlantic Monthly (1937) formed the basis for her first book, Under the Sea-Wind, published by Simon & Schuster (1941). Both the article and book examine the behavior of organism life alongside the Atlantic Coast. The book follows three creatures (a sanderling, a mackerel, and an eel) over the course of a year. Although the book was well-received at the time, it was considered a financial flop. The Sea Around Us (her second book) was published in 1951 and won a National Book Award; Under the Sea-Wind was reprinted after this success and became its own bestseller. The success of these works allowed Carson to resign from her work with the government in 1952 and devote her attention and time to writing full-time Silent Spring During the 1950s, Carson continued to research and write. Her research on pesticides (among them, DDT) and their environmental impact led her to write what would become her most well-known work, Silent Spring. Carson gathered much research and spent several years drafting the book. Its completion was slowed by signifiant health concerns, such as cysts in her breast and a subsequent mastectomy. Initially the work was serialized in The New Yorker; it was published in 1962. The main focus of Silent Spring is the role of pesticides in the natural world and the impact that humans have on the ecosystem. Several of the chapters also addressed the impact of the pesticides on humans, including cancer. Much of the book called into question the accepted practices of agricultural scientists working alongside the government. As a response to her work, many chemical companies attempted to weaken her credibility by accusing her of being a Communist. Many companies also threatened her with lawsuits, however she stood her ground. Unfortunately, Rachel Carson died in 1964 after a long battle with breast cancer and was never able to see the long term effects of her work. Silent Spring is credited with beginning the environmental movement which still fights today for the planet and its ecosystems. Honors And Legacy Rachel Carson was given medals by multiple organizations in recognition of Silent Spring. Among them were the National Audubon Society and the American Geographical Society. Additionally, Carson was granted membership in the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 1980, she was honored posthumously with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. There are places of education from elementary schools to colleges and wildlife refuges that still bear her name today. Her homes are considered historic landmarks. Research vessels that still operate are named after her. Awards bear her name as well. Only time will tell the extent of her legacy. U.S. President Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu discuss Middle East peace plan proposal at the White House in Washington By Stephen Kalin and Amina Ismail RIYADH/CAIRO (Reuters) - Arab powers appear to be prioritising close ties with the United States that are vital to countering Iran over traditional unswerving support for the Palestinians in their reaction to President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan. At a White House event on Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump proposed creating a Palestinian state but demilitarised and with borders drawn to meet Israeli security needs, while granting U.S. recognition of Israeli settlements on occupied West Bank land and of Jerusalem as Israel's indivisible capital. The plan diverges from previous U.S. policy and a 2002 Arab League-endorsed initiative that offered Israel normal relations in return for an independent Palestinian state and full Israeli withdrawal from territory captured in the 1967 Middle East war. Saudi Arabia's response exemplified the careful balance now required from Gulf Arab monarchies, Egypt and Jordan which rely on U.S. military or financial backing and find themselves aligned with the United States and Israel in confronting Iran. The Saudi Foreign Ministry expressed appreciation for Trump's efforts and support for direct peace negotiations under U.S. auspices. At the same time, state media reported that King Salman had called the Palestinian president to reassure him of Riyadh's unwavering commitment to the Palestinian cause. Egypt and Jordan, which already have peace deals with Israel, as well as Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) used similar language that swung between hope for re-starting talks and caution against abandoning long-held stances. Despite Palestinians' rejection of the plan and boycott of Trump over perceived pro-Israel bias, three Gulf Arab states - Oman, Bahrain and the UAE - attended the White House gathering in a sign of changing times. In a bitterly divided Arab world, backing for Palestinians has long been seen as a unifying position but also often a source of internal recriminations over the extent of that support, especially as some states have made independent, pragmatic overtures to historical adversary Israel. Story continues Trump and Netanyahu praised the UAE, Bahraini and Omani ambassadors for attending the White House announcement: "What a sign it portends - I was going to say 'of the future' - what a sign it portends of the present," Netanyahu said to applause. Critics were less kind, condemning the envoys' presence as a "shameful" abandonment of the Palestinian cause. "No government or ruler wants to be seen to sell Palestine so cheaply and hand Netanyahu such a victory and, in fact, end up footing the bill," said Neil Quilliam, senior research fellow at Britain's Chatham House think-tank. "At the same time, all states except perhaps Egypt are dependent upon the U.S. and will not risk angering Trump, given his propensity to act like a petulant child." A THOUSAND NO'S Saudi King Salman has previously reassured Arab allies he would not endorse any plan that fails to address Jerusalem's disputed status or Palestinian refugees' right of return, amid perceptions Riyadh's stance was changing under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is close to Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, the plan's main architect. Palestinian officials say Prince Mohammed, the de facto Saudi ruler, has pressed Abbas in the past to support the Trump plan despite serious concerns. Saudi officials have denied any differences between the king and crown prince. Naif Madkhali, a prominent Saudi who tweets often in support of the government, blasted Trump's plan: "No and a thousand no's," he wrote under the hashtag #Down_with_the_deal_of_the_century. In Bahrain, which hosted a U.S.-led conference last June on the Palestinian economy as part of Trump's broader peace plan, opposition groups came out strongly against the proposal. "Whoever today gives up the Holy Land of Palestine will tomorrow give up his land in order to preserve his seat," tweeted Waad party leader Ibrahim Sharif. "Treachery is a stab in the back and is not a point of view." Any change to the consensus on refugees' right of return to what is now Israel and the Palestinian Territories would reverberate loudest in Jordan, which absorbed more Palestinians than any other country after Israel's creation in 1948. Palestinians, which by some estimates now account for more than half of Jordan's population, hold full citizenship but are marginalised and seen as a political threat by some people of Jordanian descent. "The biggest risk is to Jordan, where sentiment towards the issue and rising levels of discontent converge," said Quilliam. Analysts predicted most Egyptians would reject the plan but not present a problem to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's government, which has already cracked down harshly on dissent. "I feel angry and helpless as an Egyptian, an Arab, a Muslim and above all a human..." prominent blogger Zainab Mohamed wrote of Trump's plan. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry criticised Arab countries after their generally positive comments on Trump's plan. "Following the revelation of details of the American-Israeli conspiracy, it is unacceptable to hide behind ambiguous and murky statements in order to escape confronting this conspiracy," it said in a statement. However, a spokesman for Abbas said later he had received calls from Saudi King Salman and Lebanese President Michel Aoun "supportive of the Palestinian position". (Reporting by Stephen Kalin in Riyadh, Lisa Barrington and Alexander Cornwell in Dubai, Amina Ismail and Ulf Laessing in Cairo, Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza and Ali Sawafta in West Bank; Writing by Stephen Kalin; Editing by Mark Heinrich) Seven workers injured in a 2016 explosion at the Sunoco Logistics plant in Nederland have reached a financial settlement with two Sunoco contractors. A civil trial scheduled to begin last week in Jefferson County was expected to last for several weeks, but an attorney for the plaintiffs said representatives for Cleveland Integrity Services and Carber Holdings agreed to settle for an undisclosed sum as jury selection was about to begin. You usually want these kind of cases to resolve because it takes away the risks that can come from a trial, but only if the other parties are being fair with their offers, attorney Benny Agosto Jr. said. We had our pretrial motions, went into selection and were staring at the jury panel when the insurance company wanted to talk. Luis Valencia, Jorge Castro, Jose Estrada, Darwin Lopez, Jose Ramos, Miguel Reynaga and Jose Torres Vera were seeking multimillion-dollar claims against the two companies. Six of the workers suffered various broken bones and burns, and Valencia was completely disabled, said Agosto, a partner with Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Aziz. The federal investigation into the incident, which the U.S. Chemical Safety Board described as a flash fire, is ongoing. Preliminary reports and expert investigators hired by Agostos firm cited an improperly installed isolation tool installed by Carber for Sunoco. The lawsuit also sought damages from Cleveland Integrity Services, the main company charged with safety oversight on the project. It contracted the seven employees through Lexicon. The men were working on a 30-inch pipe as a part of Sunocos new pipeline project when vapors, allegedly released from the faulty tool, ignited, the CSB report and Agostos investigation found. Valencia, who was welding on the inside of the pipeline, was hit in the head, neck, and shoulder and was also severely burned. Castro, Estrada, Lopez, Ramos, Reynaga and Torres were found to have broken bones after trying to escape the blast at the Nederland plant. The CSB has investigated too many incidents involving hot work. My thoughts go out to the workers and their families affected by this tragedy, Vanessa Allen Sutherland, then-CSB chair, said in a 2016 statement referencing issues with safety during welding operations. Agosto said he currently is working on cases involving eight similar incidents over the last two years, including the ITC fire and TPC Group explosion. He said he has settled two others. Representatives from Carber Holdings and Cleveland Integrity Services could not be reached Tuesday. jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/jdickjournalism Pakistani army soldiers stand guard on a border terminal in Ghulam Khan, a town in North Waziristan, on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Jan. 27, 2019. (Farooq Naeem/AFP via Getty Images) Pakistan Shuts Main Afghan Border Crossing After Mortar Fire PESHAWAR, PakistanPakistan closed the main border crossing with Afghanistan on Wednesday after mortar bombs landed in Pakistani territory from across the border, a Pakistani official said. The Torkham border crossing, at the top of the Khyber Pass, through which thousands of vehicles pass every week, is the main trade link between the uneasy neighbors. In September last year, Pakistan opened the crossing for 24 hours a day to boost trade. Some mortars were fired from across the border in Afghanistan and landed inside Pakistan. They caused some damage to vehicles, Mahmood Aslam Wazir, deputy district commissioner of the area on the Pakistani side, told Reuters. Pakistan and Afghanistan are both U.S. allies but their relations have rarely been close. Afghanistan has for years accused Pakistan of supporting Taliban terrorists. Pakistan denies doing so and in turn accuses Afghanistan of supporting terrorists fighting the Pakistani government. Exchanges of fire across a border Afghanistan has never recognized are common. A Pakistani army soldier stands guard on a border terminal in Ghulam Khan, a town in North Waziristan, on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Jan. 27, 2019. (Farooq Naeem/AFP via Getty Images) An Afghan official denied that Afghan forces had fired into Pakistan. Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province, on the Afghan side of the border, suggested that Pakistani forces had fired the mortar bombs as a ruse. In the past, Pakistan has played the same game whenever they want to close the Torkham crossing, Khogyani told Reuters. Pakistan was angered this week when Afghan President Ashraf Ghani condemned the arrest in Pakistan of a Pakistani ethnic Pashtun rights activist. Pashtuns live on both sides of the border. Pashtuns in Pakistan have been protesting recently against their government in a campaign for greater rights that many Pashtuns in Afghanistan support. It was not clear how long the border would remain closed. By Jibran Ahmad and Abdul Qadir Sediq Highlights Apple CEO Tim Cook on Tuesday announced that they have limited employee travel to China. Xi Jinping and Tedros Adhanom, Director-General of WHO, met to discuss the ways to control the coronavirus outbreak. Apple has also provided medical kits to employees in Wuhan area and keeping a regular check on the temperatures of their employees In the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak, tech giants like Facebook and Apple have limited their employee travel to China. Apple has also closed one retail outlet in China and reduced working hours for other retail locations. Earlier, it was being reported that Facebook has asked all its employees to stop any non-essential travel to China in a bet to stop the virus from spreading. Any employee who is planning to visit China will have to take special permission from the authorities citing a valid reason. Not just that, Facebook has also asked the employees returning from China to work from home for some time. "Out of an abundance of caution, we have taken steps to protect the health and safety of our employees," a Facebook spokesperson told Reuters. The situation in China is alarming as the virus has claimed the lives of 100 people and the virus has spread to 10 other countries. Apple CEO Tim Cook on Tuesday announced that they have limited employee travel to China. We have closed one of our retail stores and a number of channel partners have also closed their storefronts, Apple said in a statement. Apple has also provided medical kits to employees in Wuhan area and keeping a regular check on the temperatures of their employees. Interestingly, the majority of Apple's supply chain is in China. The move taken by the tech giants like Facebook and Apple might adversely affect the business of the brands. For instance, Facebook's hardware division requires frequent travel to China to oversee product development but in a case like this, where the employees cannot travel, the work will get massively affected. The Chinese government has extended the Lunar New Year holiday so that the people can stay home and avoid contracting the virus. President Xi Jinping and Tedros Adhanom, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), met to discuss the ways to control the coronavirus outbreak. Stopping the spread of this virus both in China and globally is the WHO's highest priority. We appreciate the seriousness with which China is taking this outbreak, especially the commitment from top leadership, and the transparency they have demonstrated, including sharing data and genetic sequence of the virus. WHO is working closely with the government on measures to understand the virus and limit transmission. WHO will keep working side-by-side with China and all other countries to protect health and keep people safe, Tedros said in a statement. Back in India, three cases of the coronavirus have been suspected in Delhi and over 100 patients have been kept under observation. Bexar County Commissioners approved selling two acres in downtown San Antonio to the University of Texas System on Tuesday for construction of a new building for the UTSA College of Business. The $5.7 million land deal, subject to approval in late February by the UT Board of Regents, would include demolition of the former Bexar County Jail and provide revitalization on the west side of San Pedro Creek, between Dolorosa and Nueva streets. That segment of the creek is undergoing upgrading and beautification under the countys San Pedro Creek Culture Park project. Taylor Eighmy, president of the University of Texas at San Antonio, said construction of the new building, part of an expansion of the universitys downtown campus, would affect the universitys trajectory and its catalyzing benefit to downtown San Antonio. On ExpressNews.com: Old county jail shutting down This is important for UTSA, for the city and the future of the folks that we educate, he said. Programs operating out of the new building would include existing and new internships and entrepreneurships that would allow us to deeply connect to the business community downtown, Eighmy said. In the next eight years, UTSA hopes to double its business student enrollment to about 15,000, he said. Perhaps the only major obstacle complicating the sale is the cost of demolishing the old jail, under the countys obligation to make the site suitable for redevelopment by UTSA. The real estate contract sets a cap on demolition costs at $2.5 million. If environmental remediation or other factors drive the costs beyond the cap, the county and UTSA could revisit the agreement, officials said. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said the UTSA project will make a huge difference in how were able to bring life to the central city. Wolff has called the old jail, now known as the countys Laredo Street Detention Center, an eyesore. The facility served as the county jail from 1962 to 1987, then housed federal pretrial inmates. Commissioners, citing declining revenues from the old jail, voted last year to end the countys contract with the U.S. Marshals Service. The GEO Group, the Florida-based private company that recently has run the facility, notified 156 employees there in November that their jobs would end in early January. Ive taken a tour of that jail. It is in horrible condition. I cant believe human beings were kept in that facility, Wolff said Tuesday. Regardless, at some point, were going to have to take that thing down. On ExpressNews.com: Officials, residents tour San Pedro Creek project The county razed its Fire Marshal Annex at the site in 2018. Plans to demolish the old jail are expected to be refined in the weeks ahead and presented to commissioners by March. The project would complement other UTSA campus expansions east of Interstate 10, including construction of a new National Security Collaboration Center and School of Data Science on two parcels owned by the city of San Antonio on the east side of the creek. Completion of those two buildings is scheduled for 2022. Casa Navarro State Historic Site, which is just west of the old jail, will have a permanent pedestrian connection to the improved creek under the deal. Eighmy said an architectural team designing the business school building will ensure it is functionally and aesthetically compatible with the Culture Park and Casa Navarro, the historic home of 1800s Tejano patriot Jose Antonio Navarro. Scott Huddleston covers Bexar County government and the Alamo for the San Antonio Express-News. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | shuddleston@express-news.net | Twitter: @shuddlestonSA By Express News Service KOZHIKODE: A 40-year-old woman has been put under observation in the coronavirus isolation ward of Government General Hospital (Beach Hospital) here with symptoms of fever and cough. According to officials, the woman was referred from a private hospital under suspicion that she is likely to be a carrier of the virus. It is understood that she has been living in Kozhikode for years. She went to Singapore on January 22 and returned on Monday, said a source in the health department. The hospital authorities said that her samples would be sent to National Institute of Virology in Pune on Wednesday morning. This is the first coronavirus suspected case reported from a hospital in the district. As on Monday, 117 persons are under surveillance at their homes and all of them had visited China recently. They are students and businessmen. All of them have been asked to stay put at home for 28 days. Another isolation ward has been set up at Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital (KMCH) also. Patients and staff at KMCH have been directed to enter the casualty section wearing masks and hospitals have been asked to keep sufficient stock of hand sanitizers and triple-layer masks. Health advisory District medical officer (DMO) Dr V Jayashree has directed people who had visited China recently to report to the nearest government hospital. Information can be given on: coronakkd@gmail.com or at: 0495-2371471 and 0495-2376063. The district surveillance officer can be contacted at: 9947068248. Those who had visited foreign countries and are seeking treatment for fever, cough, sore throat, cold or breathing issues at private hospitals should report about their visit. Such cases should be reported to the district medical office. In case of any suspected case, the patient could only be transferred in ambulance with special facilities to the two hospitals where isolation wards have been set up. For ambulance service, contact: 0495-2371471. Two discharged; two more admitted to MCH Kochi: Following negative test results from National Institute of Virology (NIC), Pune, two patients who were admitted to Ernakulam Medical College under suspicion of novel coronavirus (nCoV) last week were discharged on Monday. One of them was diagnosed with H1N1 and both will be put under house surveillance for the next 28 days. Meanwhile, two more persons were admitted to the isolation ward under suspicion on Monday evening. One of them is a native of Ramapuram and the other is from Edappally. Their samples have been sent to NIV for advance tests. The third person, a 21-year-old from Changanassery remains at a private hospital in the city. Currently, 98 persons have been home quarantined in the district till Tuesday. Brexit could mark the beginning of the end for the European Union, Nigel Farage said in his farewell speech in Brussels. As the European Parliament prepared to back the Withdrawal Agreement paving the way for Brexit on Friday, Mr Farage said the UK is never coming back. The Brexit Party leader, who said he would miss his role as pantomime villain in the parliament, said leaving the European Union should be the summit of my own political ambitions. But he suggested that Brexit could trigger a wider debate about the future of the EU. Im hoping this begins the end of this project. Its a bad project, it isnt just undemocratic its anti-democratic. Mr Farage and his allies waved Union Flags as he finished his final speech. As he was rebuked from the speakers chair for the display, the Brexit Party MEPs gave Mr Farage three cheers. This is it, the final chapter, the end of the road, a 47-year political experiment that the British frankly have never been very happy with, the veteran MEP said. What happens at 11pm this Friday, January 31 2020, marks the point of no return, once weve left we are never coming back and the rest, frankly, is detail. We are going, we will be gone and that should be the summit of my own political ambitions. Australia's chief medical officer Professor Brendan Murphy has confirmed health experts believe the new coronavirus is contagious before people show symptoms. The major update in advice from health authorities comes as Victoria's chief medical officer confirmed there is a second case of coronavirus in that state. Professor Murphy told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday that contacts of any confirmed coronavirus cases "now must be isolated in their home following exposure". Australia's chief medical officer Brendan Murphy has changed the health advice on coronavirus after reports of transmission without symptoms. Credit:Jason South The updated advice follows a meeting of the Australian Health Protection Principal committee on Wednesday afternoon, Professor Murphy said. Fine Gael was facing calls last night to abandon the Dail campaign of senator Catherine Noone after she described the Taoiseach as "autistic". Ms Noone, a Fine Gael candidate in the Dublin Bay North constituency, said she was "truly sorry" and withdrew remarks made about Leo Varadkar to a journalist from The Times while she was canvassing last week. "He's autistic like, he's on the spectrum, there's no doubt about it. He's uncomfortable socially and he doesn't always get the in-between bits," she said. The Times reported that Ms Noone subsequently denied using the word "autistic" and then said she "did not mean it literally". She gave examples of potentially offensive words that could be used out of context, including "special" and "n***er". Clarified She then clarified that she would never use the n-word, and said it was a bad example. In a statement yesterday, Ms Noone apologised unequivocally" and withdrew all of her remarks, describing them as "completely unacceptable". "My choice of language was inexcusable and wrong. I am truly sorry," she added. On the campaign trail in Galway, Mr Varadkar said Ms Noone's apology and withdrawal of her remarks was "good enough for me". However, Fine Gael figures at all levels were furious with Ms Noone, whose comments also angered autism advocacy groups. A senior party figure said she had "caused an awful lot of upset", and the party's election campaign had been overshadowed by the controversy. Fine Gael senator James Reilly, whose son Jamie was diagnosed with autism, said: "It was ill-informed, unwise and I am very glad she has withdrawn it. As a parent of a child with autism who has nothing but empathy, I am deeply upset." Disabilities Minister and outgoing Independent Alliance TD Finian McGrath suggested Fine Gael should abandon her candidacy. "If she was an Independent candidate, I wouldn't be backing her. If I was in Fine Gael, I wouldn't be backing her," Mr McGrath told the Herald. "I think they should seriously look at her candidacy for the Seanad elections. I am very unhappy about the comments. I would be concerned that any person involved in public life would be allowed to express views like that." He said people with autism should be treated as equals in line with the UN Convention for the Rights of Persons with a Disability. He called Mr Varadkar a "strong supporter" of people with a disability and pointed to investment that would not have been delivered without his support. "I accept Ms Noone's apology, but we will need to focus on our new Autism Plan which will deliver an awareness-raising campaign, a national training programme for clinicians and improvements to the assessment process," Mr McGrath added. Mr Varadkar was asked about Ms Noone's remarks while campaigning in Galway city. "She has withdrawn her remarks and apologised and that's good enough for me," he said. "It's not about me. I just think we all need to be very aware and very respectful of people who have autism, people who are on the autism spectrum, and we need to understand that those terms should never be used in a pejorative way at all." Sanctioned He defended the Government's record on supports for people with autism, including more special classes and an autism awareness campaign. "We know that isn't enough, but it is a good start and we're going to build on it," he said. Mr Varadkar said Ms Noone will not be sanctioned, repeating that she "apologised to those people who she's offended and that's enough for me". Asked if he is still encouraging people to vote for her, he said: "I'm encouraging people to vote for all of our Fine Gael candidates. "Richard Bruton and Cath- erine Noone are our candidates in that constituency." He said a canvass with Ms Noone in Dublin Bay North is not on the schedule, but added "I'm sure it will at some point." Earlier, Health Minister Simon Harris, whose brother Adam is an autism awareness campaigner, tweeted: "Autism should never be used as a slur or a negative. One in 65 people can be on the autistic spectrum - including someone I know and love dearly. "As a society, we need to become much more aware in relation to Autism and not use casual stereotypes." A senior party source said last night that, as it stands, it is unlikely Fine Gael would suspend or withdraw support from Ms Noone's campaign, despite some candidates privately calling for this to happen. "The key thing is that she is now on the ballot paper and as such will be a candidate for Fine Gael," the source said. As Fine Gael candidates reported that the matter was being raised by voters on the doorstep, Ms Noone held talks with senior party figures yesterday, including director of elections Paschal Donohoe. Her election to the Dail in five-seat Dublin Bay North was widely viewed as unlikely before the remarks about Mr Varadkar. However, Fine Gael has in recent days distributed thousands of letters across the constituency in which the sitting TD, Communications Minister Richard Bruton, urges voters to give their number one preference to Ms Noone and number two to him. "This gives us the best poss- ible chance of delivering a strong and dynamic Fine Gael team to represent the people of Dublin Bay North," he said. "Two seats in this constituency will bolster our changes of returning to government for a record third time." On July 25, 2016, Chris Steele sent a six-page memo to the members of the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association. Steele, the fire unions long-time president, used the memo to ridicule the leadership of the San Antonio Police Officers Association over its then-new contract agreement with the city. It was a mediated deal that gave police officers a 3 percent lump-sum payment that year and 14-percent wage increases over five years while also introducing premiums for family members of officers in a health-insurance Value Plan. (The Consumer Driven Health Plan had no premiums, but came with much higher annual deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket costs.) Steele argued that the police union had sold out to the city. He even deployed some of his union members to pass out pamphlets at crime scenes in a futile effort to sabotage the police contract by convincing the SAPOA rank and file to vote down the deal. Steeles crusade against the police-union contract drove a permanent wedge between him and SAPOA President Mike Helle. It also illustrated Steeles leadership-by-bravado style. He was sending a message to his members that he didnt want a negotiated truce with the city. He wanted all-out victory for his union and complete capitulation from city leaders. Four years later, all that ridicule is boomeranging right back to Steele. A three-member arbitration panel has brought the firefighters long, costly war with city management to an end. The results are a disaster for the union. The fire union wound up with the same two-tiered health plan that police officers received and smaller raises (10 percent over five years, plus a 5 percent lump-sum payment this year). This underwhelming result doesnt begin to convey the true magnitude of Steeles defeat. Years ago, he rolled the dice on a foolhardy notion that the city, if pushed long and hard enough, would cave. So he leaned on his members by pushing up union dues to fund a $1 million 2018 campaign to amend the City Charter. He thought city leaders would be so spooked by the proposed charter amendments that they would give him everything he wanted. That didnt happen. The union won two of its three proposition votes limiting the pay of San Antonios city manager and giving firefighters unilateral power to declare an impasse and take contract negotiations to arbitration. Last year, Steele deployed the arbitration option, confident that it would lead to a union victory. That didnt happen. Meanwhile, this citys firefighters, who put their lives on the line for us every day, are left to think about the four years worth of raises they lost, and will never get back, because Steele refused to follow the police unions lead in 2016. He had no clear strategy other than disruption. Now, firefighters are on the short end of a pay disparity In 2014, average salaries for police officers and firefighters were nearly identical. The average police officer made $71,747 at the time, compared to $70,877 for the average firefighter. Six years later, police officers are averaging nearly $8,000 a year more than their fire-union compatriots ($78,908 to $70,987), based on a Fire and Police Retiree Health Care Fund audit obtained by the Express-News. This development casts a new light on the citys act of collective-bargaining derangement: the 2014 filing of lawsuits against the public-safety unions, in an attempt to challenge the constitutionality of 10-year evergreen clauses in the citys contracts with both unions. Those city lawsuits proved expensive, time-consuming and fruitless. The premise behind the lawsuits was that a long evergreen clause favors unions and disincentivizes any compromise from union reps because it allows union members to maintain the rich health-insurance benefits that city leaders considered unsustainable. The slow-motion disaster that weve seen from the fire union over the past six years, however, shows that long evergreen clauses are double-edged swords. The 10-year evergreen clause froze the benefits that Steele wanted to preserve, but also cost his members years of pay raises. Firefighters are angry now, and some of that anger should be directed inward. Out of some combination of fear and blind loyalty, they let Steele lead them off a cliff. Steele did such an inept job of communicating with his members that when news broke last week about the arbitrators decision, some firefighters mistakenly assumed that they still had the power to vote down the deal. Two years ago, labor lawyer Ron DeLord, who represented the police union during its most recent round of collective bargaining, said, I will tell him, Chris, over the long term you cannot win. DeLord pointed to the fact that San Antonio firefighters had gone years without cost-of-living increases and said, No new contract or arbitrator is going to make all that up. Steele thought he knew better. Unfortunately for his members, they believed him. @gilgamesh470 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 After three years of anticipationand dreadPresident Trump announced the launch of his Deal of the Century to achieve peace between Israel and Palestine. With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his side, he outlined details for a proposal that would recognize a Palestinian state following extensive land swaps and security arrangements. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was not present, having broken off communication with the White House following several US decisions deemed biased toward Israel. Abbas immediately rejected the plan, which Palestinians had long declared dead on arrival. But Netanyahus acceptance was enthusiastic, declaring himself willing to begin negotiations with the Palestinians on such terms. A day earlier, Netanyahus challenger Benny Gantz also signaled his partys agreement with Trumps proposal. With three Arab states lacking a peace treaty with Israel in attendanceOman, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)Trump hopes there will be a regional push to implement his plan. And with $50 billion promised as investment for the nascent Palestinian state, the president believes all the necessary pieces are in place. All previous generations from Lyndon Johnson tried and bitterly failed, Trump said. But I was not elected to do small things, or shy away from big problems. Image: Alex Wong / Getty Images It only required he approach peace in a fundamentally different manner. No Arab or Israeli would be uprooted from their home. This guarantees the preservation of all existing Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory. Jerusalem would remain the undivided capital of Israel. At the same time, on the other side of the separation wall, eastern Jerusalem would become the capital of the Palestinian state, receiving a US embassy. Image: The White House Palestinian residents in Jerusalem on the other side of the wall would be given the option to become Palestinian citizens, Israeli citizens, or remain as permanent residents. Israel would exercise security over Jerusalems holy sites, while Jordan would maintain its status quo authority over the Temple Mount and al-Aqsa Mosque. Muslim pilgrims would be guaranteed access. Palestinian refugees would be barred from Israel but processed in limited numbers into the new state of Palestine. Pending approval, the rest would be given the option of naturalizing into their nations of residence or relocating elsewhere. Funds would be set up to facilitate. Israel would receive land in the Jordan Valley to address security concerns. Palestine would receive land in the Negev Desert for industrial development. All international access would be controlled by Israel, with corridors created for ease of domestic transportation to non-contiguous territory. For the first time, a conceptual map of Israels borders was released. Image: The White House Israel would guarantee a four-year freeze on all settlements outside the scope of this plan, while Palestinian leadership studies the proposal and moves to implement it. To do so, it must demilitarize Gaza and stop payments to the families of terrorists. Domestic laws must reflect human rights and freedom of religion. It is time for the Muslim world to correct the mistake it made in 1948, when it attacked rather than recognized Israel, Trump said. If you choose the path to peace, we will be there to help every step of the way. Netanyahu also referenced 1948, the year of Israels independence, in comparing Trump to then-US President Harry Truman. History would look back on this day similarly, he said, as Trump extended Israels sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, his favored term for the West Bank. You have been the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House, he said. There have been others, but its not even close. Joel Rosenberg, co-founder of the Alliance for the Peace of Jerusalem, was impressed. It was an excellent rollout ceremony, he said, dramatic, surprisingand controversial. Withholding full judgment until he reads the full 181-page plan, the bestselling author of End Times-inspired political fiction said that Trumps plan gave Israel almost everything they wanted, but was also generous to the Palestinians. On that count, it may complicate domestic politics for Trump and Netanyahu alike. Though some Christian Zionists oppose a two-state solution, Rosenberg believes many evangelicals will be enthusiastic. But Israels settler community wants everything, Rosenberg said. More than 600,000 Israeli Jews live in settlements scattered across the West Bank and east Jerusalem. Their main political body has rejected the deal, as have a few Netanyahu allies who have called for immediate annexation. They are very angry, and Bibi could have a problem on his right, he said. He might now surprisingly have to make a deal in the center, with Gantz. Trumps plan, previously delayed due to repeated Israeli elections that failed to secure a ruling majority coalition, now heads to its third re-run on March 2. But Rosenberg believes the Deal of the Century had two primary goals, anticipating Palestinian rejection. One, to be a creative, credible, compassionate approach to peacejust in case. And two, to appeal to Arab regional leaders who wish to make peace with Israel but are tied by the Palestinian issue. If Abbas rejects a good plan, they may proceed without him. Seeing three Arab Gulf leaders at the ceremony, Rosenberg said, he just might have succeeded in threading the needle. Perhaps Palestinians will see the promise of a state and economic development and reject their rejectionist leadership, he wonders. Their situation is sad, and perhaps divinely so. Palestinian leaders will huff and puff, but they look ridiculous and their people are suffering, Rosenberg, an evangelical of Jewish descent, said. But as I read in the book of Exodus, I cant help but wonder if God has just hardened Abbass heart. Not at all, according to Salim Munayer, head of the Jerusalem-based Musalaha reconciliation ministry. This past year, he has held many sessions discussing peace between Muslims, Christians, and Jews. From our discussions, the issues are clear: Israelis want security, and Palestinians want justice, Munayer said. No Palestinian leader can accept this deal, because it doesnt meet our basic needs. East Jerusalem should be their capital, he said, but left unsettled is the question of Jewish settlers moving into Arab neighborhoods. Refugees deserve the right of return, but are left out of this proposal. And the Jordan Valley is essential for Palestinian population expansion, agricultural development, and vital water supply. Israel already controls security along the border, it does not need to appropriate the land, Munayer said. But beyond the details, the Deal of the Century lacks the moral framework to win Palestinian support. In successive steps over the past years to move the embassy to Jerusalem, cut humanitarian funding, and no longer consider settlements as occupied territory, the US has lost all trust as a moderator, he said. If one side humiliates the other, there can be no agreement, Munayer said. Israel is eating the pizza, while saying to the Palestinians, Lets negotiate slices. This fits also into Israels domestic context, he said. The plan was released on the same day Netanyahu was indicted on corruption charges. Real peace must come through grassroots reconciliation, and not be imposed from the top, Munayer said. But worse, Trumps plan comes wholly from the outside. Overall, he had little emotional response to the proposalthat came months earlier, when the US cut funding to Palestinian hospitals. I didnt have a lot of expectations, it was no surprise, Munayer said. It used to be one-sided before, but never this extreme. Daoud Kuttab, a Palestinian journalist and secretary of the Jordan Evangelical Council in Amman, read the plan in full and said its contents and its rollout sounded more like a surrender dictate than a peace plan. The fact that of 13 million Palestinians, the Americans couldn't find a single one to attend [the rollout] spoke volumes in its one-sidedness, he told CT. Kuttab most approves of the plans Gaza-West Bank tunnel, which would end Israels separation of the two territories. He most opposes its lack of autonomous borders. Despite using the words Palestinian state, the plan gives Palestine no real independence and allows Israel control over borders, over the air and sea, and [Israeli security forces] can enter Palestine at any time they choose. It is a surrender document that will lay the grounds for Palestinians to continue to live under Israeli discrimination, he said. It is a death to the two-state solution, and will do nothing to help the peace process. This is a formula for further violence and unrest. Hanna Massad, a Palestinian pastor who led Gaza Baptist Church for 12 years and returns regularly, said the plan is unfair and fails to meet either Palestinian ambitions or UN resolutions. It contains no justice, which for him means Jerusalem for a capital and a return to 1967 borders. Massad still has the documents showing the land his family lost in Israel. We keep it safe, so that at least one day we might receive compensation. It breaks your heart to see the poverty and suffering of the people in Gaza, he told CT. As Palestinians, we have also done bad things against the Israelis. But because we are the weaker party, we suffer more. My father told me he wished to see peace in his lifetime, Massad said. Now, I wonder if my children will see it. We hope for fairness and justice for all sides, he said. But we hope only in the Lord. Gerald McDermott, Anglican Chair of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School who recently wroteThe New Christian Zionism: Fresh Perspectives on Israel and the Land, said the plan is a realistic opportunity for a two-state solution, given its offer of huge economic help and a Jerusalem capital. He is not surprised by Abbass rejection, but instead is struck by regional reaction. For the first time, there is considerable Arab support for an American-initiated deal, he said, naming the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, and Egypt. All of these states are tired of Palestinian rejectionism. Like any political compromise, it will cause pain on all sides, McDermott told CT. Netanyahu, for example, is suffering major criticism from the Israeli right. However, he said, There is no theological reason why Israel cannot compromise with Arabs. Both Abraham and Isaac did. Yohanna Katanacho, a Palestinian pastor and academic dean at Nazareth Evangelical College, said it doesnt take a prophet to know Trumps plan is destined to failure. Trump is trying to address a difficult problem but he is not addressing it from the perspective of humility, he wrote for Come and See, a Nazareth-based Christian website. Such humility does not ignore UN resolutions, Palestinian input, Palestinian citizens of Israel, and justice. This raises a question concerning peacemaking, Katanacho wrote. Political peace is no doubt needed, but it cannot be accomplished without a solid moral foundation rooted in justice, equality, and love. At best, Trumps proposal is seeking to prevent wars. It does not promote a lasting peace, he wrote. Trumps plan does not promote a politics of love but of fear from Palestinians. Love respects, listens, and suffers for the sake of justice. Love does not seek deals, but healthy relationships. Lisa Loden, the Messianic Jewish co-chair of the Lausanne Initiative for Reconciliation in IsraelPalestine, acknowledged the plan is creative but not viable because it is a bilateral proposal between the US and Israel, not between the Israelis and Palestinians. My reaction was one of deep sadness, pain, and grief at what this plan could mean for the people of this region, she told CT. The continuation of Israeli control over Palestinian lives, andaccording to the planthe ongoing militarization of this and future generations of Israelis who would continue to exert that control, is an untenable situation resulting in collective trauma for both sides. The non-viable and non-contiguous Palestinian state described in the plan and visualized in the accompanying map are unrealistic, she said. I was struck by the total absence of any Palestinian city name on the map. Loden expects current evangelical supporters of Israel will generally be quite pleased with the plan. A significant number will think that this plan does not go far enough, and that ultimately all the land should belong to Israel, she told CT. On the other side, evangelicals who are supportive of the Palestinian people will be devastated by the almost unilateral support of Israels positions. Joel Chernoff, general secretary of the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America (MJAA), said whether the Deal of the Century (DOC) is viewed positively or negatively depends on ones perspective and primary objective. If the Palestinians primary objective for an agreement with Israel is peace and prosperity, this proposal is a great opportunity and a $50 billion boondoggle one would be foolish to reject, he told CT. However, if your objective is an independent state with defined borders that the Palestinians control and secure with their own military, the DOC will be viewed as a humiliating surrender to the hated Zionist state. Chernoff also believes the plans pre-conditions are non-starters. First, our Arab cousins have never been willing to recognize and affirm the Jewish state as legitimate. Second, Hamas will never agree to voluntarily disarm and de-militarize Gaza contrary to the wishes and agenda of their puppet-master, Iran, he said. The $50 billion for development, though very generous, is really irrelevant when the Islamic terrorist groups and nations backing them desire the destruction of the Jewish state and reclamation of its land for Allah. This is a Muslim theological imperative. Martin Accad, chief academic officer at Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Beirut, was interested to learn the new plans details, yet skeptical. The fact that this plan was different made it interesting to me, he told CT. Seventy years of similar plans have not led anywhere. Could this one provoke change? However, now that the details have been released, he sees it is an unusual way to solve such a longstanding conflict, and it is not promising. Accad is disturbed by parts of the plan, as well as that only the Israelis consulted on it. The phrase no Israeli or Palestinian will be uprooted from their home is basically a guarantee to Israel for its settlements, he said. Meanwhile, the right of return has basically been cancelled. As a Lebanese, we know how problematic it is for the 280,000 Palestinian refugees to still be here, he told CT. Settling them in Lebanon is completely out of the question in our political calculations. Accad fears if the plan is not refined, it will lead to something far worse than the current status quo. Now that there is an agreement on one side, the four years opens an interesting window, he said. If someone would work intensely with the Palestinians, listening to their concerns as [Jared] Kushner has with the Israelis, perhaps this can be brought into the existing framework. But I dont know if this is even possible, as the plan is unilaterally designed to fit Israeli needs. John Hagee, the founder and chairman of Christians United for Israel (CUFI) who attended the White House rollout, praised President Trump for being the most pro-Israel president in US history. This plan reflects that tradition and is the best peace proposal any American administration has ever put forth, stated Hagee. The Presidents vision ensures Israels defensible borders, a united Jerusalem, sovereignty over biblical holy sites, and provides an opportunity for the Palestinians to choose peace. CUFI, as we have since our founding, stands with the decisions of the democratically elected government of Israel, he stated. We hope the Palestinian leadership will not miss yet another opportunity for peace in the region. Todd Deatherage, cofounder and executive director of Telos Group, which seeks to build a pro-Israeli, pro-Palestinian, pro-peace movement, said the plan is not a map for peace but merely a rearrangement of the status quo in an unabashedly rightwing Israeli voice. This American effort is entirely lacking in humility and misses the mark in several ways, he told CT. The conflict is much more than a real estate deal. Its for sure a dispute over who has the deepest connection to the same geography, but its also a battle of multiple narratives, of different experiences, of identities, he said. And to embrace and affirm only one of thoseas this does in both tone and substancecan hardly be taken as a serious effort at diplomacy or peacemaking. True peace is not made when powerful parties gather and dictate terms to their enemies, Deatherage said. The hard work of peacemaking requires listening, tough choices, hard conversations, and mutual sacrifice. Where bad things have happened over generations, it requires truth and justice, and a process for reconciliation. And where theres a power imbalance, it requires risk, he told CT. A real friend to Israel would help them do the hard things that are in their own long-term interests. Wissam al-Saliby, the Geneva-based advocacy officer for the World Evangelical Alliance and a Lebanese evangelical who has worked extensively in his homelands Palestinian camps, pointed to the writing of a West Bank rabbi, Hanan Schlesinger, who last year compared Egypts enslavement of the Jewish people to Israels treatment of the Palestinians today. We may disagree on the solution to the conflict: one-state, two-state, and what each of these notions mean, Saliby told CT. And we may disagree on what place the current State of Israel occupies in Gods plans. But we cannot disagree that the Deal of the Century enshrines the injustice that Rabbi Schlesinger describes, rather than lay the foundations for a just and permanent peace, he said. We cannot disagree that the proposed island nation of Palestine is non-viable, non-sovereign, and will not bring healing for past injury, hope in the future, or hope in a dignified life. And economic incentives do not provide for dignity, less so for human rights and for freedom. Saliby noted how Israeli settlements have rendered impossible the promise made in the 1994 Oslo Accords of a Palestinian state. That unfulfilled promise makes it hard for Palestinian leaders to trust the new promises in the new plan. The Deal of the Century seems to enshrine the injustice of the current situation, he told CT, and this can never achieve peace, even if the Arab nations and the whole world accepted it. Ibrahim Nseir, Syrian pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Aleppo, said the plan is overly influenced by the coming elections and ongoing trials in both Israel and the US. Whenever you hear about an overture of peace, you will be happy, he told CT. But when it is forced, you cannot be comfortable. You cannot make peace this way. Peace is not a decision. It is a process, and a way of walking together. This is more of a business agreement than a peace proposal, said Nseir. Where is justice? There must be confession of the sins of the past, but here no one says they did anything wrong. Christ paid for our sins on the cross. But who in this plan will pay the price for the sins of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? CT reported in April on the red lines of the peace plan, as expressed by 11 American and Arab evangelical leaders. According to a 2017 survey by LifeWay Research, 31 percent of Americans with evangelical beliefs believe Israel should not sign a peace treaty with Palestinians that would establish their own sovereign state. Nearly 1 in 4 (23%) believe they should, while 46 percent are not sure. Correction: In an earlier version of this story, a source mischaracterized CUFIs John Hagee as having spoken clearly against a two-state solution. CUFI told CT that Hagee has never taken a position on a two-state solution. Cllr Wendy Thompson is the Leader of the Conservative Group on Wolverhampton City Council. Decembers General Election produced a fantastic set of results for Conservatives in Wolverhampton. Across the city, as a whole, the Conservative Party won the popular vote. We won two of the three constituencies, including a seat which we last won more than 30 years ago in the 1987 election Wolverhampton North East. We came within 1,200 votes of winning the third constituency, only losing it because of the Brexit Party candidate attracting a considerable number of votes. But our attention has quickly turned to Mays local elections, and, of course, the vital elections for the Mayor of the West Midlands and the Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands. On the back of the General Election result, there is scope for the number of Conservative councillors in Wolverhampton to grow. Out of 60 councillors in the city, we currently have 11 so there is a strong Labour presence. But with the help of our two newly-elected MPs, we will be pounding the pavements and knocking on doors to explain to residents our positive agenda for a Conservative-controlled Wolverhampton Council. Wolverhampton is a city with huge potential. It is ideally located on the motorway network, and the railway station (undergoing a much-needed revamp) has good connectivity to London, Scotland, Birmingham, and beyond. But sadly, decades of a Labour-run council has left the city facing many difficult challenges. Unemployment remains stubbornly high at twice the national average, as does the number of workless households. In one ward, the average male life expectancy is 74 years, compared to 83 years in another ward. That is a huge variation which needs to be addressed. The city centre continues to struggle to attract shoppers, with big names such as Debenhams, Starbucks, and House of Fraser deciding to shut up shop. It is nothing short of a crisis. And its a crisis that sadly the Labour Party in Wolverhampton just doesnt understand. Conservative councillors have put forward positive proposals such as free city centre parking at weekends, which is something that the Conservative Tees Valley Mayor is pursuing in his region. This idea has, however, been rejected by Labour. Their flagship Westside leisure complex, which has been scaled down from the original plans, has failed to get off the ground after four years, despite a change to the financial scheme which would see the taxpayer bear the brunt of the risk rather than the developer. Another issue which will feature prominently in our local election campaign will be the greenbelt. Wolverhamptons boundaries are incredibly tight, with only 11 per cent of the citys land classified as greenbelt. However, given the growth in population in the region, we are under huge pressure to build more houses. Migration into the West Midlands conurbation is also putting pressure on amenities such as GP surgeries as well as school places. So the need to build more homes is immediate and pressing. The brownfield first policy adopted by West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street, has been helpful in addressing the housing shortage. There are hundreds of brownfield sites across Wolverhampton that need to be developed on first, before we even think about touching the greenbelt. Streets investment has helped to unlock a lot of that brownfield land, but there is much more to do. The West Midlands Mayoral election will also be vitally important, not just for Wolverhampton but for the entire region. Our incumbent first-class Mayor continues to be a strong voice for the West Midlands, and in the short time he has been in office he has brought an incredible amount of investment into Wolverhampton. From building new homes on brownfield sites across the city, to supporting our plans for new railway stations, he is a great champion for Wolverhampton and knows what it can achieve. It will be a tight race between Andy and the Labour candidate, and we will be fighting for every vote in Wolverhampton. Because at this critical moment in our countrys history, as we leave the EU and strike new trading relationships across the world, the West Midlands cannot afford to lose its loudest voice in Andy Street. He has put our part of the world well and truly on the Governments radar, and if re-elected he will continue to do so. His ambitions for the West Midlands, the Black Country, and Wolverhampton have no limits. So the local elections in May will be vitally important for Wolverhampton and the wider West Midlands region. There can be no doubt that we have a lot of work to do between now and then, knocking on doors and speaking to voters about the fantastic achievements of Andy Street, and how we have a plan to unleash the potential of our city. As well as getting Brexit done, the Conservatives have a strong message to push locally, and a record of delivery of which we can be proud. SPRINGFIELD Employees say an environmental study of the Roderick L. Ireland Courthouse minimized or ignored possible causes of cancer, Lou Gehrigs disease and other health conditions suffered by workers over the past 15 years. The Environmental Advisory Committee, which is made up of 22 workers assigned to weigh in on problems and oversee testing in the courthouse, issued a response to a draft report on environmental conditions in the courthouse and their potential relationship to health problems. Based on the available information, the draft summary assessment, in the opinion of many courthouse employees, minimizes or ignores immediate, serious health risks to courthouse employees, the response said. State Rep. Angelo J. Puppolo Jr., D-Springfield, said he has been trying to track down the 140-page draft report prepared by Environmental Health and Engineering, but so far has had no luck finding a copy. After just reading the employees response, Puppolo said he is concerned about the multiple instances of cancer including four cases of pancreatic cancer reported between 1995 and 2005 that killed three judges and another employee who all worked on the third floor of the building. We need to deal with this short- and long-term. We need to look at all of the factors, he said. Puppolo is calling for a follow-up meeting between the Springfield-area legislative delegation and state court officials. We are looking to get some more answers. Im obviously very concerned about the employees who work there, Puppolo said. About 18 months ago, employees met with local legislators and trial court officials to discuss concerns about the courthouse being a sick building. The concerns came to light after two Springfield District Court judges who used the same office, William Boyle and Robert F. Kumor, died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrigs disease, in 2013 and 2019. But what wasnt known at the time was that a third long-term employee who retired in 2009 also died of the rare disease in 2017, the response said. The persons name was not released. That person had an office on the third floor, north side, west and diagonal to the office used by Judge Kumor (and Judge Boyle), the response said. Following the concerns, the Executive Office of the Trial Court agreed to hire Environmental Health and Engineering Inc. to do a series of studies of the courthouse, including surveying employees about their health concerns, testing the air and water, and testing employees for heavy metals, which has not happened yet, the response said. The response quotes the draft report as saying: Our analysis did not identify evidence of unusual sources of relevant potential environmental risk factors associated with workplace conditions. But in their response, employees said they feel Environmental Health and Engineering did not seriously explore the risk employees face from glass wool fiberglass insulation that lines ducts and is being released into the building, as evidenced by black staining around air registers. The draft report states there are elevated levels of fiberglass in the building, according to the employees response. Studies have shown chronic exposure to elevated levels of glass wool fiberglass can cause health problems and the material is believed to be a carcinogen, the response said. Employees also cite concerns about workers smelling diesel fumes, gasoline-like odors and butane, which may be linked from trucks idling in the underground garage, traffic on the nearby Interstate 91 and possibly three underground fuel storage tanks believed to be below the courthouse. Diesel exhaust inside the courthouse poses significant health risks, the response said. Studies have linked diesel exhaust to illnesses suffered by courthouse employees: ALS, lung clots, some types of cancer, decreased pulmonary function and cardiovascular illness. F oreign nationals stuck in the coronavirus-hit region of China are being evacuated as the fatal infection continues to spread through the nation. A flight of Japanese citizens touched down in Tokyo, while a plane carrying 240 US nationals touched down in the States today. More than 130 people have died after succumbing to the virus while nearly 6,000 have been infected. The Hubei province, which homes the city of Wuhan where the new virus is thought to have originated, is on lock down - while around 56 million residents in China have been stopped from travelling. A pilot wearing a protective suit parks a cargo plane at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport / Cheng Min/Xinhua via AP Video and images from China have shown desolate streets while terrified residents remain in doors, empty shelves of supermarkets due to a lack of supplies incoming and disputes over lacking supplies of face masks. A photo of a plane touching down with cargo for the area was flown in by a pilot clad in hazmat-style protective gear. The first charter flight from the Chinese city of Wuhan, which was arranged by Japan's government to evacuate its citizens, lands at Haneda airport in Tokyo / AFP via Getty Images Foreigners in the nation have been able to return despite the quarantines. Britons are due to start being evacuated from Wuhan on Thursday. Officials are looking at taking passengers to a military base once they arrive home, the Department of Health said. Around 200 British nationals are thought to be in the Chinese city. A British teacher living in Wuhan, who asked not to be named, told the PA she had spoken to fellow Brits who were scheduled on a flight at 7am tomorrow. Coronavirus: Foreign Office warns against travel to China as UK nationals are set to return Nick House, a British national living in Wuhan with his Indonesian wife and two British children, spoke of his desire to leave but problems in doing so. He told Sky News: "We would like to be out of here. The man on the other end of the phone said 'Yes, you are on the list, but unfortunately your wife probably won't be able to get on the plane because she doesn't have a visa at the moment'. "I won't leave without my wife, so essentially the Government are leaving three British people here for the sake of one seat on a plane." In Britain at least 97 people have been tested for the virus thus far, though there have been no positive results to screenings. MBABANE After all has been said and done, government has opened its doors for businesspeople who have concerns about getting their visas approved at the Chinese Embassy in Pretoria. With businesspeople crying foul that they were not being assisted in getting their visas approved at the Chinese Embassy in Pretoria, government has come out to advise them to register their concerning with local federations. The businesspeople have, in the past few days, been on panic mode following news that Mainland China was not giving assistance to emaSwati who wished to travel to the Eastern Asia country. In a press statement issued last night, the Government of Eswatini stated that in light of the ongoing concerns regarding trade with Mainland China, it was advising businesspeople in the kingdom to register their concerns with their respective business federations in the country. Government is having consultative engagements with the two major business federations, Business Eswatini and the Federation of Eswatini Business Community (FESBC). Positioned Both federations are well positioned to advise government on the issues that their members will register with respect to trade with Mainland China, reads part of the press statement which was issued by Deputy Government Spokesperson Sabelo Dlamini. It should be noted that when the issue was first reported by this publication, government, through the Prime Minister, Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini, advised the nation that there was no need to panic and highlighted that the only visa centre where emaSwati should apply was the Chinese Embassy in Pretoria and not Sandton or elsewhere. However, businesspeople maintained that they had encountered challenges in Pretoria as well. In the press statement issued yesterday, government emphasised that it was encouraging members of the two federations to register their concerns with their respective organisations, who in turn will engage it (government) with the view to find solutions. It was further stated in the statement that businesspersons who may not be belonging to any association or federation were urged to register their concerns with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade through the SME Unit. They were urged to contact the number 2404 3201/2/3/4/5/6 or Sibonginkosi Mavuso at 7614 0485. The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini remains committed to providing all the necessary support to business in line with its mandate of creating a conducive environment for business growth, it was emphasised in the statement. She recently revealed that she gave up alcohol after being in an 'unhappy marriage' with former Today weatherman, Steven Jacobs. And TV presenter and travel journalist Rosie Jacobs has revealed the perks of her new healthy lifestyle. The mother-of-two showed off her phenomenal figure during a recent day out sailing around Sydney Harbour. Fabulous at forty! Steven Jacobs' ex wife Rosie showed off her phenomenal figure and rock solid abs in a pink bikini during a recent sailing trip Wearing a pink bikini, the brunette beauty showed off her toned physique and rock solid abs while posing on the bow of the boat. She posted a series of pictures from the trip on her Instagram page, on Wednesday, and wrote in the caption: 'Little flashback to the most stunning afternoon on Sydney Harbour recently exploring underwater caves #freediving with the legendary #barefootcaptain @barefootcharter.' Back in June, Rosie revealed why she decided to stop drinking alcohol. If you've got it... She posted a series of pictures from the boating trip on her Instagram page She told her Instagram followers on Wednesday that getting sober was one of several major changes she made after leaving her 'unhappy marriage' in 2018. Rose shared a throwback photo of herself on a running track from June 2018, and reflected in the caption on her personal growth over the past 12 months. 'Exactly one year ago today I took this snap in Vanuatu, just before I moved back to Australia with my munchkins to start my new life as a single mama,' she wrote. The year has flown [by] and it has certainly been filled with massive highs and a handful of lows. New life: Back in June, Rosie revealed why she decided to stop drinking alcohol. She told her Instagram followers on Wednesday that getting sober was one of several major changes she made after leaving her 'unhappy marriage' in 2018. 'I've bought and paid off my apartment, I've got my fur babies home safely, the girls have settled into their awesome new school, we've made new friends, embraced old ones, I've thrown myself back into my TV career.' She continued: '[I've] started writing again... I'm rediscovering the beauty of Sydney, I've quit alcohol, and started Pilates again I've forgiven past pains and set new goals. 'And I've reached a level of contentment and happiness that I pray lasts a lifetime. Thank you to those who have been part of my journey these last 12 months. You know who you are.' Rose and Steven made headlines when they announced their separation in 2018. The former couple first met in 2007 on set of the Today show, where Steve was a star weatherman and Rosie was a behind-the-scenes producer. Over: Rose and Steven made headlines when they announced their separation in 2018. The former couple first met in 2007 on set of the Today show, where Steve was a star weatherman and Rosie was a behind-the-scenes producer In mid 2017, they relocated to Vanuatu with their daughters in what friends say was a 'last-ditch attempt' to save their failing marriage. Things fell apart within a few months and, following their split, Rose enjoyed a brief fling with Canadian former commando Dylan Nash. In November last year, Steven told WHO magazine that he'd been thrown 'a few curveballs' since the separation but remained focused on his children. Let's hope that today's close encounter of two old pieces of space junk is just a near miss as predicted, because a smashup would be pretty messy. Two long-dead satellites the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) and the Gravity Gradient Stabilization Experiment (GGSE-4) will whiz past each other this evening (Jan. 29) about 560 miles (900 kilometers) above Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At closest approach, which occurs at 6:39 p.m. EST (2339 GMT), the two defunct craft will be just 39 feet (12 meters) apart, according to the latest calculations by California-based satellite-tracking company LeoLabs. Video: Watch How Close NASA's IRAS and GGSE-4 Satellites Will Get Related: Space Junk Clean Up: 7 Wild Ways to Destroy Orbital Debris 4/ Adjusting our calculations to account for larger object sizes (by increasing our combined Hard Body Radius from 5m to 10m), this yields an updated collision probability closer to 1 in 20.January 29, 2020 See more Those calculations also peg the probability of a collision between IRAS and GGSE-4 at around 1%, but possibly as high as 5%, LeoLabs said via Twitter this morning. And a crash would be pretty destructive, considering that both hunks of metal are traveling at more than 32,000 mph (51,500 km/h). If the collision happens, "I would expect it to be comparable to, but maybe not quite as bad as, the Iridium-Kosmos collision in 2009," said Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics who monitors many of the objects circling Earth using publicly available U.S. tracking data. That February 2009 crash, which involved the operational Iridium 33 communications satellite and the defunct Kosmos-2251 Russian military craft, spawned 1,800 pieces of trackable debris by the following October, as well as many other shards too small to detect from the ground. It's perhaps the most famous space-junk event in history, rivaled only by a notorious 2007 Chinese anti-satellite test and a similar Indian demonstration last year . "So you would see, maybe not thousands of pieces of trackable debris, but at least hundreds," McDowell told Space.com. Photos: Space Debris Images & Cleanup Concepts The The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) orbits the Earth in this illustration. (Image credit: NASA) GGSE-4 weighs about 190 lbs. (85 kilograms) much less than IRAS, which tips the scales at nearly 2,400 lbs. (1,090 kg). (Reports that GGSE-4 weighs just 10 lbs., or 4.5 kg, are based on a mistaken assumption that GGSE-4 is similar to GGSE-1, which was a much simpler satellite, McDowell said.) Most of the debris spawned by a collision between IRAS and GGSE-4 would likely stay in the more massive satellite's path a sun-synchronous orbit (SSO), which takes a spacecraft over a planet's poles. "And that's unfortunate, because sun-synchronous orbit is where everyone wants to be," McDowell said. "So, there's a bunch of satellites in that altitude range and orbit." These include many weather and spy satellites , which take advantage of the consistent lighting. (Spacecraft in an SSO pass over a given patch of Earth at the same local solar time each day, meaning that illumination conditions are consistent across observations.) IRAS' orbit is similar to the Chinese weather satellite that was destroyed in the 2007 test, McDowell added. "So, there's already a lot of debris in that orbit," he said. "Adding more would not be good." Even tiny pieces of debris can be satellite killers, given how fast objects move in Earth orbit. So, a few collisions in a heavily trafficked patch of space could theoretically lead to a catastrophic cascade of smashups that significantly reduces access to, and exploitation of, the final frontier a nightmare scenario known as the Kessler syndrome. Related: How Much Space Junk Hits Earth? More close calls coming It's not uncommon for chunks of debris to give satellites a close shave. But it is quite rare for two satellites to whiz so close together, said McDowell, who estimated that such events occur once every two years or so. But these close calls will occur more often in the future as Earth orbit gets more and more crowded. This crowding is occurring because it's getting cheaper and easier to build and launch spacecraft, and also because a few companies are starting to assemble internet-satellite megaconstellations. For example, SpaceX has permission to launch 12,000 satellites to low-Earth orbit for its Starlink broadband network and has filed paperwork for up to 30,000 more craft. To put this into perspective: About 2,000 operational satellites currently circle Earth, and humanity has lofted a mere 9,000 or so since the dawn of the space age in 1957. And SpaceX's plans are not just hypothetical; Elon Musk's company has already launched four 60-satellite Starlink batches, including one this morning. Active Starlink craft are a far cry from inert derelict satellites, of course; SpaceX's satellites will be able to sense and autonomously maneuver away from potential collisions, Musk has said. (This didn't happen when a Starlink satellite neared Europe's Aeolus Earth-observation satellite last September; Aeolus performed the evasive action . A paging-system bug prevented Starlink operators from learning that the collision probability had increased enough to warrant a maneuver, SpaceX representatives later said.) But keeping space open and safe for everyone in such a crowded environment will require some planning and some action, McDowell stressed. "If we're going to allow this large number of satellites, then we have to require more investment in the tracking and the sort of traffic control of them," he said. The U.S. Air Force has long done the lion's share of this work. But help is now coming from the commercial sector, as LeoLabs' efforts show. And the company, which was founded in 2016, is poised to make even bigger contributions in the near future; in October, LeoLabs unveiled a new radar system in New Zealand that's designed to track about 250,000 orbiting objects as small as 0.8 inches (2 centimeters) wide. Related: Space Junk Menace: New Guidelines Urged to Help Fight Orbital Debris Threat No fireworks tonight To repeat: there probably won't be a collision this evening in the skies over Pittsburgh. And even if the two satellites do slam into each other, folks on the ground won't see much, said David Turnshek, a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Pittsburgh and director of the school's Allegheny Observatory. IRAS is a fifth- or sixth- magnitude object, meaning it's visible to the naked eye under clear, dark skies. Light-polluted Pittsburgh doesn't qualify, though people there can see the satellite with binoculars when the weather cooperates, Turnshek said. GGSE-4, on the other hand, is completely beyond the reach of skywatchers. "That thing is invisible," Turnshek told Space.com. "It's too small." There will be no dramatic fireball in the sky this evening if a collision does occur. The most striking effect that astronomers could see is likely a slight perturbation in the streak of light that traces IRAS' orbit, Turnshek said. And he and his colleagues may indeed look for that perturbation with a scope at the Allegheny Observatory. "We would just point it straight up with no tracking, and have the shutter on our camera open for the few minutes right when the collision is supposed to happen," Turnshek said. "I think it would be fun." IRAS, by the way, was a joint mission involving NASA, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The satellite launched in January 1983 to study the cosmos in infrared light and ceased observations 10 months later. GGSE-4 launched in 1967 and operated until 1972. And GGSE-4 was a cover name; the satellite's real moniker was POPPY-5B, and it was a U.S. National Reconnaissance Office craft devoted to collecting signals intelligence, McDowell said. Editor's note: This story was updated at 11:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday to give the latest collision probability from LeoLabs. Mike Wall's book about the search for alien life, " Out There " (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate ), is out now. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook . Market Scenario Global Flexitanks market was valued US$ 330 Mn in 2017 and is estimated to reach US$ 1085 mn by 2026 at a CAGR of about 14% during a forecast period. The report segment of Flexitanks market based on type, product, application, material, and region. In terms of type, the Flexitanks market is classified into single-use, reusable. Based on product, the Flexitanks market is categorized into monolayer, bi-layer, and multilayer. On President Trump is nowhere near a deal on Middle East peace, but his long-awaited plan has immediate and dramatic implications for the reality on the ground. Driving the news: The White House gave Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a green light to immediately annex about 30% of the West Bank, a step every previous U.S. administration vehemently opposed. Netanyahu plans to act on that opportunity as soon as Sunday. Our thought bubble: If Israel does annex the Jordan Valley, it will entrench Israels control and fundamentally change the equation for any future negotiations. Green-lighting annexations is an even more dramatic step from Trump than moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem or recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. It could also ultimately be the least reversible of those steps. Once annexation happens, its hard to reverse. For Netanyahu, this could be the biggest moment in a political career that has been remarkable for its longevity but not for landmark accomplishments. He stood alongside Trump during the announcement just hours after surrendering immunity from three corruption indictments, and one month before an election that could bring his political career to an end. Annexing the Jordan Valley could keep right-wing voters whod considered backing Benny Gantz, his primary rival, in his corner. It would certainly be central to his legacy. For the Palestinians, who have boycotted this process, the full benefits of the plan would come far more slowly even if they were willing to go along with it. The plan envisions a Palestinian state if a number of conditions are met over four years, but rejects a right of return for refugees and grants Israel control of nearly all of Jerusalem not to mention much of the West Bank. Thats a complete non-starter. They turned down three previous plans that included 100% of the West Bank, says David Makovsky, who worked on a previous initiative led by then-Secretary of State John Kerry. What to watch: Arab states like the UAE and Egypt that had previously stood by the Palestinians on this issue have offered cautious support for Trumps plan. Only Jordan, where most Palestinians reside, has expressed concern. Two west-central Illinois nursing homes were among those fined by the Illinois Department of Public Health after one resident was injured and another died, according to the departments quarterly report released Tuesday. Aperion Care Jacksonville, a 113-bed skilled care facility at 1021 N. Church St., was fined $25,000 for failure to provide supervision and implement intervention for a resident to prevent multiple falls, according to the state. Pittsfield Manor, an 89-bed skilled care facility at 610 Lowry St. in Pittsfield, was fined $25,000 for failure to provide supervision to prevent a fall, according to department records. According to Illinois Department of Public Health documents, policies and requirements were not followed and that resulted in a resident falling, lacerating her head and suffering a fracture that required surgery and the pinning of her hip. When the woman was admitted to the facility in 2018, it was determined she was at risk for falls, according to the state, but the facility failed to implement effective interventions and provide supervision to prevent injury for multiple falls. At Pittsfield Manor, according to Illinois Department of Public Health documents, the facility also failed to provide supervision to prevent falling for a resident, resulting in her falling, hitting her head and being sent to the emergency room. The resident suffered a traumatic skull fracture, subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding in the space between the brain and the tissue covering the brain) and subdural hematoma (a pool of blood between the brain and its outermost covering) that caused her death. The woman had been admitted to the facility in February and had been diagnosed with Alzheimers disease, a history of falls, unsteadiness, anxiety and vertigo. The state documented a series of falls that occurred although the resident was urged to use a call light to get staff assistance. In the days before the most significant fall, nursing home staff reported she required more assistance and complained more often of headaches and dizziness. In June, the woman was taken from the facility for a dental appointment, according to the states report. A nurses aide and bus driver called a few hours later and said the woman had fallen and was taken to the emergency room, where she was diagnosed with a brain bleed. The diagnosis was that the woman would likely soon pass related to the intracerebral hemorrhage. She died about three days later, according to the report. The cause of death was blunt force trauma resulting from falling and striking head on ground. Both facilities were cited with type A violations of the Nursing Home Care Act and processed between October and December. An A violation pertains to a condition in which there is a substantial probability that death or serious mental or physical harm will result or has resulted, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. The convener of #OurMumuDonDo movement, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy or Area Fada has taken to his social media page to launch a scathing attack on Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano. On his Instagram page, Charly Boy accused Governor Obiano of being too pompous and braggadocios about his achievements. The Area Fada recounted how he approached the governor a couple of time with a proposal on youth oriented programs. But, according to him, the governor was more interested in his female workers than the proposal he brought before him for the youths of Anambra. Willy like nyash no be here, Charly Boy said. Read the full post below: Willy is loud, most times pompous and braggadocios. His own possen no be here. I went to him a few times since he became governor to know what we can do with the youths in Anambra state and Infact Igbo land, but Willy wasnt so intrested in working with us. He bragged of how he has all areas covered and seemed more intrested in my female workers than the buisness of the youths. Willy like nyash no be here. I stopped calling or reaching out to him, because our meetings no dey yield any action for the street people. So I just give am long rope, as an Emperor concern. You can imagine my surprise when I was called by Willy all the way from Rome. As usual, e no waste time to start to blow his trumpet again. He was excited as he bored me shitless with the story of his knighthood by the Pope. In his words, it is to be the highest honor bestowed on an African he claimed. Haba, Willy, which kin lie be dat naa? Justice Oputa received his knighthood from the Pope too, and guess what? the gentleman didnt lobby for it sam sam. I GET MANY JIST ABOUT WILLY. ALSO READ: Pope Francis Honours Anambra Governor, Willie Obiano With Knight Title In Vatican City [Photos] COLUMBUS, Ohio - An analysis of four ancient skulls found in Mexico suggests that the first humans to settle in North America were more biologically diverse than scientists had previously believed. The skulls were from individuals who lived 9,000 to 13,000 years ago, in the late Pleistocene and early Holocene eras. These findings complicate the story accepted until now, based on ancient skeletons analyzed from South America, which suggested the first settlers in the Americas were very similar, said Mark Hubbe, co-lead author of the study and professor of anthropology at The Ohio State University. "The first Americans were much more complex, much more diverse than we thought," Hubbe said. "We have always talked about the settlement of the Americas as if North America and South America were the same. But they are different continents with different stories of how they were settled." Hubbe led the work with Alejandro Terrazas Mata of the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico in Mexico. Their work was published today (Jan. 29, 2020) in PLOS ONE. Archaeologists discovered the four skulls between 2008 and 2015 in submerged caves in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. At the time the four people were living, the caves were above sea level. The skulls were analyzed with a CT scan, which combines data from several X-rays to build a 3D image of each skull. The researchers analyzed the scans for specific landmarks on each skull and measured their positions on a 3D grid. They then compared the position of the coordinates with skulls from reference populations from all over the world to determine which populations the skulls most resembled. The oldest skull showed strong similarities to North American arctic populations, while the second-oldest skull was consistent with modern European populations. The third skull showed affinities with Asian and Native American groups and the fourth had affinities with arctic populations in addition to having some modern South American features. These skulls are important because compared to South America, relatively few ancient skeletons have been found in North America, Hubbe said. Between 300 and 400 skeletons that are more than 8,000 years old have been found in South America, compared to fewer than 20 in North America. "Not all the skulls we analyzed looked like the ones from South America. They are fairly distinct as far as the morphology," he said. The results suggest that the initial populations that ventured from Asia into North America had a high level of biological diversity, Hubbe said. For whatever reason, that diversity was reduced as humans dispersed into South America. "We always assumed that what was happening in South America was true in North America. Now we need to revise that. "We need to stop talking about the settlement of the Americas. We should talk about the settlement of North America and the settlement of South America as very different." Hubbe said the results also caution against trying to create overly simple narratives about human migration, especially in the Americas. "Whatever we thought about the settlement of the Americas is probably not the whole story. We still have a lot to learn." ### Other co-authors of the study were Brianne Herrera, Martha E. Benavente Sanvicente, Arturo Gonzalez Gonzalez, Carmen Rojas Sandoval, Jeronimo Aviles Olguin, Eugenio Acevez Nunez and Noreen Von Cramon-Taubadel. Contact: Mark Hubbe, Hubbe.1@osu.edu Written by Jeff Grabmeier, 614-292-8457; Grabmeier.1@osu.edu The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks! Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics. The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc. The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics. The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates. Access to college recruiters and advisors its harder to line up higher education. Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family. Vote View Results BREA, California, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing, LLC ("CAM") announced today that it entered into an agreement to be acquired by Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK). This transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. CAM designs and manufactures innovative, highly engineered hardware and fastener solutions for demanding aerospace applications worldwide. CAM is controlled by Tinicum L.P. and affiliated partnerships managed by Tinicum Incorporated. CAM's products include fasteners, fittings, couplings, latches, quick release pins, tubing subassemblies and other complex components and assembled products. The company was founded in 2012 and has consolidated eight businesses that each carry strong brands, industry leading technical expertise, deep customer relationships and over 40 years of history in providing industry-leading service and solutions to commercial aerospace and defense customers. "We specialize in collaborating with our customers to develop application-based solutions that satisfy their specific needs," said Peter George, CEO of CAM. "We have enjoyed tremendous support under the ownership of Tinicum, during which we invested heavily in upgrading the equipment and facilities of the businesses we integrated, in addition to strengthening our engineering and management resources. The CAM management team is grateful for the Tinicum partnership that was a central part of the company's growth. We are extremely pleased to be taking this next step of joining Stanley Black & Decker. Being part of such a capable industrial company will enable us to further expand our company's resources globally, including accelerating the development of new products and pursuing acquisitions, allowing us to better serve the needs of our customers." "Our team is excited about the prospect of welcoming CAM to the Stanley Black & Decker family to further diversify our Industrial business segment," said STANLEY Industrial President John Wyatt. "With its well-recognized brands, proven business model and experienced management team, CAM will play a significant role in the growth of our Industrial business and company overall." CAM was advised in the transaction by Lazard (lead financial advisor), Lincoln International (financial advisor), Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (lead legal counsel) and Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads LLP (legal counsel). About Stanley Black & Decker Stanley Black & Decker is a $14 billion revenue, purpose-driven industrial organization. With 58,000 employees in more than 60 countries, it operates the world's largest tools and storage business, the world's second largest commercial electronic security company, a leading engineered fastening business as well as Oil & Gas and Infrastructure businesses. For more information about Stanley Black and Decker visit www.stanleyblackanddecker.com About Tinicum Incorporated Tinicum is a private investment firm with more than 30 years of experience investing in private and public companies. Tinicum invests in businesses for the long term and seeks to partner with owners, families and managers who share a similar approach. For more information about Tinicum visit www.tinicum.com For more information about CAM visit www.camaerospace.com Contact: Media Steven Chevillotte schevillotte@conaeromfg.com 714.833.2683 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1083705/CAM_Logo.jpg Felzkowski and Stroebel say the bill would make it easier for retired teachers to fill workforce shortages in local school districts in order to meet the needs of students. Since 2009-10, the number of Wisconsin teachers has declined by 1,338, or 2.2%, while the number of public school students over the same time frame decreased by 2,269 , or 0.5%, according to the Wisconsin Association of School Boards. While I think the teacher shortage has pushed our districts toward really creative solutions, we are reaching a tipping point where even these innovations will not be able to shield a district from feeling the effects of these shortages down the road, Felzkowski said. One of the best resources to address this issue is at our fingertips retired educators. Changes to prevent so-called double-dipping in the 2013 state budget prohibited collecting a WRS pension if the employee worked more than two-thirds of full-time hours at a WRS participating employer. EVART -- Evart Downtown Development Authority (DDA) director Bryan Tiedt expects 2020 to be a very busy year for the organization as they move forward with their Michigan Main Street (MMS) strategy. "The main focus right now is getting benches and bike racks in the downtown area, an initiative that came from community meetings in 2018, where residents expressed the the idea that Evart needed to be more pedestrian- and bike-friendly," Tiedt said. The DDA has been developing a plan for locating benches and bike racks along Main Street, and had a bike lane put in along the sidewalk, he said. In addition, the DDA is working on a plan to add way-find signage throughout the city to assist visitors. Way-find signage includes informational signs throughout the city that will let visitors know what direction and how far it is to certain points of interest. "Way-find signage will bring people from the Rails to Trails to our downtown area and will assist visitors in finding our Main Street," Tiedt said. City Manager Sarah Dvoracek said the Evart City Council is hoping to start implementing the way-find signage within the year. "The branding process provided by MMS will allow us to start gathering quotes for signs now, rather than later, because the design is now out of the way," she said. Helping entrepreneurs Teidt said they are very excited about the pop-up project they are getting off the ground, as well. The DDA recently purchased a vacant building at 211 N. Main St. with the intent of starting a pop-up program, and are working on renovations and developing an application process for the program, he added. The basis of the program, he said, is to allow potential business owners the opportunity to see if their business will work before committing to purchasing or renting a building, purchasing inventory and incurring other expenses associated with opening a business. "We are currently working on getting quotes for the renovations of the building," he said. "Our goal is to have it ready by spring. "We will have some vendors going into the space, and if things go well, hope to develop entrepreneurs into brick and mortar businesses." The application process will involve pitching the business idea to a committee, and the committee will choose a business to move into the pop-up. The potential business owner will be given a couple of weeks to move in and get set up, then they will operate their business from the pop-up space for a determined time period -- possibly three months. They will be expected to hold routine business hours and pay a nominal fee for rent and utilities. At the end of the trial period, they can determine if the business would potentially be profitable and if they want to continue, Teidt said. "After the trial period, we hope they would consider a storefront in Evart," he said. In addition, Teidt said, he hopes the pop-up idea will encourage other building owners on Main Street to look at ways to make use of their property that will improve the downtown business district. The DDA will also be focusing on the summer concert series and events connected with the Farmers Market. "Our farmers market has expanded over the past two years and has become a significant draw for the community," Tiedt said. "We want to further this by hosting other events in conjunction with the farmers market." Michigan Main Street Program In 2018, Evart became a selected city for the Michigan Main Street program, a program administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to assist communities in revitalizing and preserving their traditional downtown commercial districts. "The MMS program has opened many state level resources to the city," Dvoracek said. "The program has made the DDA board re-evaluate their direction and start thinking about economic development in a more strategic way." The DDA recently hosted a presentation by marketing and branding expert Bob Muldrow, who works with MMS program participants to develop and refine their branding. Muldrow's presentation included a re-tooling of the city logo along with the logos of other various entities that are part of the city, including the DDA and the Chamber of Commerce. "The branding project will enable the community to see the progress we are making," Dvoracek said. "The timing is perfect for the new year and we are excited to start the process." WASHINGTON - On Friday, President Donald Trump is expected to attend a White House summit organized by his daughter Ivanka on human trafficking, an issue he frequently invokes as a top priority. But some of the country's most prominent anti-trafficking organizations and advocates won't be there. They have decided to boycott the event. The group includes Polaris, the nonprofit organization that runs the national human-trafficking hotline, and the leader of the Freedom Network USA, the country's largest anti-trafficking coalition. Their decision comes after months of anguish over what they describe as an act of public deception. They say that although the president frequently invokes human trafficking, his administration is actively endangering a significant portion of trafficking victims: immigrants. "We have such a chasm between rhetoric and reality," said Martina Vandenberg, founder of the Human Trafficking Legal Center, a network of attorneys who take on trafficking cases. "This administration is undermining protections carefully built for trafficking victims over two decades." The advocates are especially alarmed byincreased scrutiny of T visas, which provide temporary legal status for immigrantswho can prove they were trafficked while in the United States. At least eight organizations declined invitations to the summit because of their opposition to the administration's policies. Three of those groups told The Washington Post they feared backlash over their decision, so they cited conflicts with other events. "I don't think any of us have the desire to be a part of a photo op," Vandenberg said. Trump is scheduled to be joined at the event by Vice President Mike Pence, Attorney General William Barr and Ivanka Trump, who has embraced the eradication of human trafficking as one of her causes. Earlier this month, the president's daughter visited two residential facilities for trafficking victimsin Atlanta. She praised her father's dedication to the trafficking issue, calling it a modern form of slavery. Trump repeatedly brings up human trafficking when discussing immigration policy, and in 2018, he became the first sitting president to attend a meeting of the federal trafficking task force since its creation in 2000. Ivanka Trump has advocated for anti-trafficking legislation, including a law intended to strengthen prosecutors' ability to go after websites that host advertisements for commercial sex. She wrote about these efforts and others in a 2018 op-ed in The Washington Post, invoking Abraham Lincoln and the abolitionist movement. Now, the first daughter and presidential adviser is the face of the event intended to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, which established trafficking as a federal crime, and identify new strategies to attack the problem. "I am honored to stand with the president as we convene federal, state, local and tribal leaders, alongside survivors, employers and advocates to ensure that we see the end of the crisis of human trafficking once and for all," she said in a statement. One of the survivors planning to attend the summit is Courtney Litvak, who met with Ivanka at the White House in November. "I told her, 'I wouldn't be sitting here if I didn't think you are a doer. I can't keep having these conversations,' " Litvak said. "I need action to happen." The 21-year-old is among the advocates grateful for the administration's efforts and for the chance to dispel the misconception - sometimes perpetuated by Trump himself - that victims of human trafficking are frequently bound, gagged and dragged over borders into America. The reality is much different. Advocates who assist foreign-born victims say the majority of them immigrated legally using tourist or work visas and were exploited once in America. But most trafficking victims are U.S. citizens, like Litvak, whose high school friends in Katy, Texas, introduced her to the person who became her trafficker. Other groups planning to attend the summit include Shared Hope International, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and House of Cherith, one of the facilities Ivanka visited in Atlanta. "Dealing with an issue such as trafficking should always rise above partisan politics and tap into the best of all people as we work together to end this tragic reality," said Bruce Deel, House of Cherith's founder. Those boycotting the event say partisan politics are already involved. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act also established the visa for immigrants who were forced, defrauded or coerced into prostitution (sex trafficked) or physical work (labor trafficked). In 2016, the processing time for a T visa application took an average of 7.9 months. Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) estimates applicants must wait 19.5 to 26.5 months to find out whether they will receive their visa. "During that time, they are unable to work and unable to get medical care," said Suamhirs Piraino-Guzman, a trafficking survivor who helps victims in Washington state apply for the visa. "We are talking about years where people are just stuck." His program has 130 people from 35 countries waiting to find out whether they will be granted one. Previously, there was no risk for them to apply for a T visa. But in 2018, USCIS announced that applicants who were denied T visas could be summoned to immigration court to begin deportation proceedings. "We hear time and time again: Why would I risk myself? Why would I risk my family?" said Deborah Pembrook, a trafficking survivor who helps T visa applicants in California. After the change, the number of people applying for the visas, including victims and their immediate family members, dropped 23 percent. For those who do apply, the chance of being denied is significantly higher. During Barack Obama's eight years in office, nearly 6,800 people applied for a T visa, and more than 5,000 were approved in that period, USCIS figures show. Since Trump took office in 2017, more than 4,000 people have applied but just 1,745 have been approved. In fiscal year 2019, when USCIS received 1,242 T visa applications, just 500 were granted - the smallest count since 2010, a year in which only 541 people applied. A spokesperson for the agency said its policies have not changed, and those who meet the criteria for the visa are still granted them. Anti-trafficking advocates say the visa situation exacerbates the fear and uncertainty their clients are already experiencing because of policy changes at the border and raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, leaving them more vulnerable to continued exploitation and more hesitant to come forward. "Each change in isolation is problematic, but not destructive," said Jean Bruggeman, the executive director of the Freedom Network. "It's when you take them all together that these individual policy shifts add up to a disregard or worse toward immigrant survivors." Bruggeman said the administration's approach was on display last year, when the Department of Housing and Urban Development was poised to distribute a $13.5 million grant for housing for human-trafficking victims. Bruggeman said that when organizations asked for clarification on whether the grant could serve noncitizen victims, HUD updated its call for applications to confirm the money could be used for immigrants, too. Five days later, there was another update: The grant was canceled. Following questions from reporters and intervention from lawmakers, the website changed again to reflect that the grant had merely been postponed. Administration officials say that it was transferred to the Justice Department and that the funds, though delayed, are now available. After learning that multiple trafficking organizations were declining their invitations, officials defended the president's record and said Trump's new budget will propose additional funding for Justice Department investigations, prosecutions of human-trafficking cases and state and local organizations that aid trafficking victims. Advocates expect the administration to announce more initiatives and funding at the summit. Eager to hear what those changes would be, Bruggeman said she initially RSVP'd yes to the event. But after hearing the president would attend, and that some of her most prominent colleagues would not, she changed her mind. A policeman in Kosovo was killed and his colleague and a child were wounded in a blast during a drug search operation, police said Wednesday. The blast of an unidentified explosive device happened late Tuesday during the operation conducted by an anti-drug unit at a family home in Zhur, a village in southern Kosovo, a police spokesman said. "Unfortunately, one of our colleagues ... lost his life," spokesman Shaban Osmanolla told reporters. The victim came into contact with the device which had been placed in a storeroom. A 12-year-old child, a member of the family whose house was searched, was also wounded in the explosion, the spokesman said. The second policeman, who sustained life-threatening injuries, was hospitalised in the capital Pristina, health authorities said. The owner of the house where the blast occurred was detained. He was previously suspected of possessing drugs and weapons which prompted the search of his home, police said. Police declined to say immediately whether they had seized anything during the search. Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008, is a key staging post on the Balkans route used by criminals to smuggle drugs, weapons and people to western Europe. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At the upcoming annual auto expo in New Delhi, more than a third of the exhibition space is booked by Chinese auto makers such as the largest maker of utility vehicles Great Wall Motors, FAW-owned Haima Automobile, and state owned SAIC which has seen its SUV, the MG-branded Hector, notch up record early sales. ' The physical space occupied by them is a clear demonstration of the inroads that Chinese players are making into the India auto scene. 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. 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Digital Editor By Trend Being Jews from Azerbaijan, the processes taking place in Azerbaijan are important for us as well, Head of the Azerbaijani Mountain-Jewish community and Azerbaijani House in Israel Shirin Nehamia Michaeli told Election-2020 Independent Media Center, organized by the Azerbaijani Central Election Commission. "Azerbaijan is a country that is constantly growing and developing. We hope that after the parliamentary elections, Azerbaijan would further strengthen", Nehamia Michaeli said. Nehamia Michaeli hailed the importance of further strengthening of Azerbaijan's position and continuing mutually beneficial cooperation with all partner and friendly states, including Israel. The head of the Azerbaijani Mountain-Jewish community expressed confidence that the newly formed parliament would contribute to further development of Azerbaijan. Russias Defense Ministry will thwart attempts to vilify Russia and falsify its history, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at the ministrys board meeting. The minister stressed that this is particularly important in the run-up to the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. According to him, efforts to make public declassified wartime records will continue. "New sections of the Memory of the People interactive service will be available on the ministrys website by May 9. The Commanders of the Victory multimedia project and the Liberation Fireworks project, which provides information on the liberation of the capitals of European countries, are being updated all the time," TASS cited Shoigu as saying. More major airlines worldwide are slashing or even eliminating their flights into China this week as fears of coronavirus continue to spread, with one leading airline analyst saying this week that the bottom has quickly fallen out of the U.S.-to-China travel market, meaning many of those big jumbos crossing the Pacific are sparsely populated. With coronavirus cases in China having spread from Wuhan and Hubei Province across the rest of the country, "air traffic between the United States and China is spinning into a free-fall. Its also doing so to other international destinations from China, for the same set of reasons, said aviation analyst Mike Boyd in a commentary published at Forbes.com. Boyd is the president of Boyd Group International, a Colorado-based aviation forecasting and consulting firm. He predicted that passenger traffic between the U.S. and China will drop at least 75 percent from now through June. That figure sounds extreme, but as the knowledge of the nature and the extent of the new virus grows, it may actually be optimistic, Boyd said. He noted that about 60 percent of U.S.-China traffic is leisure travelers, and that segment has effectively ended, he said. The reality is that this event is going to devastate traffic for a period of at least six months or maybe longer. It will depend on how much this epidemic spreads and how the Chinese government addresses it, Boyd said. The loss of traffic will hit some U.S. gateway airports especially hard, he predicted, with San Francisco International losing an estimated 344,000 passengers and Los Angeles International (LAX) losing 702,000 from now through June. SFGATE reported earlier that United Airlines has suspended service from SFO to Hong Kong and Shanghai from Feb. 1 through Feb. 8 along with its Beijing flights from Chicago, Newark and Washington Dulles. SFO-Beijing and SFO-Chengdu routes were not initially affected. The airline is monitoring the market and prepared to make further changes if needed. Now other airlines are following suit with their own service cutbacks as passenger reservations quickly dry up. Among them: American Airlines is temporarily ending service from LAX to both Beijing and Shanghai from Feb. 9 through March 27, although it will continue flights to Hong Kong from Dallas/Ft. Worth and Los Angeles. Delta Air Lines is cutting service to China in half to 21 flights a week, from Feb. 6 through April 30, according to Bloomberg. Don't miss a shred of important travel news! Sign up for our FREE bi-weekly email alerts British Airways is ending its daily London Heathrow-Beijing Daxing flight and its 10 weekly London-Shanghai flights from now through Feb. 29. And the Lufthansa Group which includes Lufthansa, Swiss and Austrian Airlines has suspended all service into mainland China through Feb. 9. Air Canada said Wednesday it is canceling all flights to Beijing and Shanghai from Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal from Jan. 30 through Feb. 29. Finnair, which flies from Helsinki to Beijing and Nanjing, has canceled those routes through the end of March. Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific said flights from its Hong Kong hub to Wuhan on its Cathay Dragon subsidiary have been canceled through March 31, and although it didnt mention specific cancellations of other routes, it said it will reduce capacity on its flights to mainland China by 50 percent or more through the end of March. The airline also said it is reducing in-flight meal service on mainland China routes and eliminating other services. Amenities including hot towels, pillows, blankets and magazines will not be offered to passengers in any classes during this period. In-flight duty-free sales will also be temporarily suspended, the airline said. Read all recent TravelSkills posts here Chris McGinnis is SFGATE's senior travel correspondent. You can reach him via email or follow him on Twitter or Facebook. Don't miss a shred of important travel news by signing up for his FREE biweekly email updates! SFGATE participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Commuters arriving in Hong Kong wear facemasks as they pass the cross boundary restricted area inside the high-speed train station connecting Hong Kong to mainland China during a public holiday in celebration of the Lunar New Year in Hong Kong on Jan. 28, 2020, as a preventative measure following a virus outbreak which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan. (Anthony Wallace/AFP/TNS) Iranian officials at Tehran international airport have harassed the relatives of the victims of the Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) plane crash that killed all 176 onboard, a Canadian-based dentist and writer, Hamed Esmaeilion, has revealed. Hamed Esmaeilion, who has lost his wife and daughter disclosed on his Facebook page January 27, that Tehran International Imam Khomeini airport's officials harassed the relatives of the victims of the downed plane, while they were leaving Iran for Toronto to attend memorial services in Canada. "Let the family members leave to attend the funerals with ease---It is none of your business if Canada has easily issued entry visas within hours for the relatives," Esmaeilion addressed officials at Imam Khomeini airport. Canadian Immigration Department declared on January 11 that it would consider facilities for the victims of the tragedy to receive entry visas to the North American country. The three-year-old Boeing 737-800, flight 752 operated by UIA, took off from Imam Khomeini international airport at 6.12 am Tehran time on January 8, after being delayed by almost an hour. A few minutes later, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps shot it down with two anti-air missiles. Victims included 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, eleven Ukrainians and other nationals, Ukraine's foreign minister, Vadym Prystaiko, announced at the time. Most of the passengers were flying to Kyiv, t0 transit to other destinations. Iranian authorities initially said that the plane crashed after its engine caught fire. However, three days later, and under international pressure, they were forced to admit "incidentally" and "mistakenly" downing the plane with missiles. It is not yet clear why the relatives of the victims were intimidated in Tehran. Meanwhile, there have been reports saying that the victims' relatives had been under pressure, one way or another. "Several members of the victims' families have been forced to participate in interviews with the regime-linked media and stress on their allegiance to the Islamic Republic Supreme Leader," a foreign-based Persian website, Zeytoun, reported on January 23, adding, "(The Islamic Republic) intelligence agents have threatened the relatives that should they reject offers for interviews, they would never receive the body of their loved ones." Without any elaboration, the Islamic Republic Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, claimed on January 17, that the mother of one of the victims had written a letter to him, insisting her family's absolute support of the clergy-dominated political establishment in Iran. However, referring to the regime's pressure on the victims' relatives, Javad Soleimani, the husband of Elnaz Nabiei, one of the victims, has admitted that he had been under such a pressure that left him with no option other than leaving Iran for good. Soleimani noted on his Instagram page that the Islamic Republic intelligence agents had threatened him for criticizing the Chief Commander of the IRGC. Furthermore, on January 24, Ali Asghar Gorji, an uncle of one of the victims, Pouneh Gorji, disclosed on his Facebook page that the relatives of the victims had officially filed a lawsuit against Khamenei, and the IRGC. "We are planning to complain to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Nonetheless, we will keep the names of the plaintiffs secret, to guard them against persecution by the Islamic Republic authorities," Gorji wrote. ICC is an intergovernmental organization and international tribunal that sits in The Hague, Netherlands. The ICC has jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for the international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. T he Tate is seeking a new "head of coffee" with a salary of nearly 40,000. The vacancy, listed on its website, offers a 39,500 wage - reportedly 5,000 higher than what it pays exhibition curators - plus sales related bonuses and "great benefits". The hospitality role encompasses "all aspects of coffee within the four Tate Galleries including sourcing, blending and roasting coffee." It requires the candidate to have "extensive experience of cupping", as well as experience in "espresso quality assessment". The role, part of Tate Eats, pays 5,000 more than the salaries of Tate exhibition curators, according to the Times. The publication said: "The daily grind is better rewarded at Tate galleries if you're in hospitality rather than something as trivial as art. "The Tate is seeking a head of coffee for which it is offering a salary of 39,500. That is 5,000 more than it pays its exhibition curators." 'I give up': Artist Grayson Perry / Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images Artist Grayson Perry tweeted the Times segment, saying: "I give up, they've won." The post was flooded with comments expressing outrage. One commenter labelled it "madness", "depressing" and "disgusting". Another wrote: "Are they sure they meant barista not a barrister?" While another sad: "This explains the thimble sized latte that cost a small fortune when I went to the Blake exhibition." However, one commenter defended the offered salary saying: "This is a senior role with relevant responsibilities and should be paid accordingly. "Senior roles across the Tate should all be paid appropriately, no matter what the department." At about 10 p.m. Tuesday, a convoy of law enforcement vehicles showed up at William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. They had been sent there by the Alabama Department of Corrections on a mission to transport hundreds of prisoners from the notoriously violent facility to other prisons across the state, according to Timothy Stidham, a former Holman lieutenant who worked at the facility until April 2016. "No one knew until 10 o'clock at night last night and they showed up with at least 15 to 20 vehicles and then they had troopers waiting along the highway," he said in a phone interview Wednesday morning. "Nobody knew anything." The late-night operation was the result of careful planning by the DOC, which did not publicly announce the move until Wednesday morning. The department is closing portions of Holman and relocating more than 600 prisoners to other facilities across the state. Inmates on Alabama's male death row will remain at Holman, as will some other prisoners. Related: Alabama moving 600 inmates from overcrowded Holman Prison Justin Culpepper, a former correctional officer at Holman, predicted on Wednesday that moving so many inmates into prisons that are already overcrowded will have severe negative impacts. "You're going to start mixing all them in? Get ready for the homicide rate in Alabama Department of Corrections facilities to skyrocket," he said. "You had beatings, stabbings pretty much on a weekly if not daily basis when I was there. They may tell you it stopped, but it hasnt stopped. There's going to be gang issues without a doubt. When I was there, you had gangs running the dorms." Stidham said that while Holman needed to be closed because the "building is decrepit and needs to be updated" and that "it's a hazard more than anything," the move is "definitely going to put a strain on the other prisons" across the state. "You take that many knuckleheads and move them to prisons that already have other issues, the result of that is going to be more fights and more uses of force from the officers to try to gain control," he said. "I worked at a few different prisons and Holman was a whole other level of prisoner. There's no respect for life at Holman." Stidham said that he was told that the prison transfer has gone smoothly and without incident. He said the DOC is typically able to manage such large-scale events safely. "It's generally not too hectic," he said. "It may sound like its a circus sometimes, but they get it together when they need to." But the Tuesday night operation likely required weeks of planning, Stidham said. "You can't say, 'Hey, I'm going to transfer you tomorrow,' because if I'm a member of a gang and you're transferring me I'm going to let my gang members know that I'm being transferred and they could set up a situation that's going to be extremely dangerous for the community if they try to take over that bus." Holman has seen a series of violent incidents in recent years, including a riot involving more than 100 prisoners in March 2016 during which an inmate stabbed the then-warden in the head and another officer was stabbed; neither were killed. Six months later, an inmate stabbed a Holman correctional officer who died 15 days later as a result of his wounds. The violence has continued over the ensuing years, with assaults and other incidents taking place at the facility frequently. In April, the DOC rounded up and seized more than 350 weapons from prisoners at Holman. And in September, the DOC reported that 36 assaults causing serious injuries and 58 less serious assaults took place at Holman over the preceding 12 months. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries to the school pupils following the collision. (PA) A bus carrying schoolchildren has crashed into a barber shop in Sheffield, resulting in a number of injuries. About 25 children were on board the single-decker bus when it collided with Stay Fresh Barbers on Handsworth Road at around 7.50am on Wednesday. Emergency services including a number of ambulances, fire engines and police cars were at the scene. All those on board have now left the vehicle. The scene in Handsworth Road, Sheffield, where a school bus crashed into the front of a barber shop. (PA) Emergency services have said none of the children were seriously injured in the crash. A South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "Fire engines from Parkway, Central and Dearne fire stations responded to the incident at around 7.50am on Wednesday morning. Read more from Yahoo News UK: Outgoing BBC boss's parting shot at catch out political journalism Pictured: Louis Johnson, 16, who was killed outside East Croydon station Woman arrested on suspicion of murder after three children found dead "It is thought that around 25 children were on board the bus at the time of the collision. The collision on Wednesday morning caused major delays in the area. (PA) Damage: There were said to be 20 pupils on the bus when it crashed. (PA) "A small number of children have suffered minor injuries but most are unharmed. A South Yorkshire Police spokesman added: "Officers are currently on the scene in Handsworth Road, Sheffield, following reports that a school bus has collided with a shop. Officers are currently on scene in Handsworth Road, #Sheffield following reports that a school bus has collided with a shop. There are no reports of serious injuries, however emergency services will remain at the scene to secure the building. 1/2 South Yorkshire Police (@syptweet) January 29, 2020 "There are no reports of serious injuries, however emergency services will remain at the scene to secure the building. There are now major delays in the area as peak traffic builds up while investigative and clean-up work is carried out. Parents who believe their children were on board the bus have been asked to collect them, if required, from a fire service training centre on Beaver Hill Road. [January 29, 2020] FDA launches mobile-friendly database with information on life-saving HIV drugs as part of ongoing mission to empower the public through increased access to information and data SILVER SPRING, Md., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the launch of an interactive database that will offer a wealth of critical information about antiretrovirals (ARVs) eligible for purchase under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program. This launch is an important step in our ongoing commitment to address the global HIV epidemic and is consistent with our efforts to modernize and improve access to information and unleash the power of data. In my years as a practicing physician, I spent time on-the-ground involved in a program for those impacted by HIV in Botswana, Africa. I saw first-hand how essential it is to have access to low-cost, life-saving treatments for those impacted by HIV, regardless of where a patient may reside. The PEPFAR program is designed to meet this critical need. It was created in 2003 to address the global HIV crisis in the hardest hit countries. PEPFAR was designed to bring together various federal government agencies that are involved in fighting the epidemic by creating a unified response, providing the most comprehensive, coordinated and targeted interventions. Since PEPFAR was launched 17 years ago, low-cost, quality-assured, life-saving ARVs have been provided to more than 15 million people worldwide, and PEPFAR remains the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease. The FDA plays a critical role in the global fight against HIV by ensuring safe and effective ARVs are available worldwide, including those eligible for purchase through the PEPFAR program. The FDA's role is to ensure that the safety, effectiveness and quality of HIV drugs distributed under PEPFAR is the same as for drugs used to treat HIV patients in the U.S. While the FDA ensures ARVs intended for the global market are held to the same high standard as PEPFAR drugs intended for the U.S. market, drugs intended for PEPFAR are sometimes issued tentative approval by the FDA. The only difference between FDA approval and tentative approval is that drugs that are tentatively approved cannot be sold inside the U.S. due to the existence of intellectual property protections in the U.S. such as patents. Tentative approval of ARVs has allowed for both new and generic versions of life-saving HIV treatments to be made available to the international community. Once a drug obtains approval or tentative approval the PEPFAR program can purchase ARVs at low cost and distribute them outside the U.S. to countries with high HIV burdens. To implement the goals of PEPFAR, the FDA uses its existing processes, including expedited review to approve life-saving ARVs. To that end, the FDA has approed or tentatively approved 222 ARV applications for use in PEPFAR partner countries since 2004, of which 194 are still available for treatment today. Additionally, the FDA's role of ensuring the availability of safe and effective HIV treatments reaches far beyond U.S.-based aid efforts, as global health entities, such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the World Health Organization (WHO), recognize FDA-approved ARVs as quality-assured drugs. The list of the ARVs eligible for purchase in the PEPFAR program has long been publicly available on the agency's website. By moving to an interactive, mobile-friendly database, we are empowering the public and health care providers by enhancing the amount and availability of information and data provided on each drug. For the first time, health care providers, consumers, and procurers will be able to easily access the FDA-reviewed product labeling, which will provide additional important information to patients and health care providers such as the full prescribing information (i.e., package insert) that contains a summary of essential scientific information needed for safe and effective use of the drug. In addition, there will be information on which drugs are suitable for pediatric populations, where each drug is manufactured, what its shelf-life is, and if the drug is subject to any storage requirements. Since the database platform is interactive, users will be able to export reports and collect metrics and can readily access this information on mobile platforms, which is important because in many PEPFAR partner countries this may be the only mode of receiving such information. Given these numerous improvements, we anticipate that this database will be valuable to various public health stakeholders in the international HIV communities. The launch of this interactive database marks another step in the agency's commitments to ensuring information regarding these life-saving ARVs are available to the public and is part of the agency's continued dedication to fighting the HIV epidemic. Additional Resources: www.fda.gov/PEPFAR Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America FDA's Comprehensive Response to HIV Part I FDA's Comprehensive Response to HIV Part II U.S. Department of State - PEPFAR Media Contact: Kristen Pluchino, 240-402-0861 Consumer Inquiries: Email or 888-INFO-FDA The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fda-launches-mobile-friendly-database-with-information-on-life-saving-hiv-drugs-as-part-of-ongoing-mission-to-empower-the-public-through-increased-access-to-information-and-data-300995539.html SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The only two Indian carriers that fly to China -- IndiGo and Air India-- on Wednesday announced suspension of most of their flights to that country, while India has requested China for permission to operate two flights to bring back its nationals from Hubei province which has been sealed after the deadly coronavirus outbreak. IMAGE: Health workers in protective suits check the condition of a passenger on an airplane that just landed from Changsha, a city in a province neighboring the center of coronavirus outbreak Hubei province, in Shanghai, China, January 25, 2020. Photograph: David Stanway/Reuters A fresh travel advisory asking people to refrain from travelling to China has been issued by the Union government which has ramped up screening across airports, ports and borders, as the virus spread to at least 17 countries. No case of the novel coronavirus has been detected in India, though hundreds of people remain under observation in many states including as many as 806 in Kerala, according to officials. With several airlines based in Asia, North America and Europe restricting operations to the region, the Indian carriers too followed suit. The country's largest airline IndiGo said it has suspended its flights on Bengaluru-Hong Kong route from February 1 and on the Delhi-Chengdu route from February 1 to 20. Similarly, state-run Air India is suspending its flights on Delhi-Shanghai route from January 31 to February 14 and reducing the frequency on Delhi-Hong Kong route to thrice-weekly only in the same time period. IndiGo will, for now, continue to operate the Kolkata-Guangzhou flight which it is "monitoring on a daily basis". The crew of the two airlines working on flights connecting India with South East Asian countries have been asked to wear N95 masks on ground and take other precautions like not visiting public places. British Airways, Indonesia's Lion Air Group, Cathay Pacific, United Airlines and Air Canada are among the carriers that have reportedly suspended or restricted flights to China, with many citing reduction in demand due to coronavirus outbreak. The disease which emerged in Wuhan, capital of China's Hubei Province, has spread to at least 17 countries, with the United Arab Emirates announcing on Wednesday its first case of the new coronavirus in a family from Wuhan. The death toll from the disease in China has mounted to 132 with about 6,000 confirmed infections. India has requested China for permission to operate two flights to bring back its nationals from Hubei Province, the ministry of external affairs said Wednesday. The Indian embassy in Beijing on Wednesday circulated registration forms and consent notes for the Indians in Hubei province to be filled by them. It has appealed to Indian citizens in Hubei who have not yet contacted the mission to do so on the given hotlines or dedicated email ID. Air India has kept a 423-seater jumbo plane ready in Mumbai to airlift Indian citizens from Hubei. In Kerala, out of 806 people under observation, 10 are in isolation wards in hospitals, while the rest are in home quarantine. Twenty seven people are under observation, including 10 at hospitals in Mumbai, Pune and Nanded. In Madhya Padesh, 50-year-old woman and her 20-year-old son who were admitted in a hospital in Ujjain for possible exposure to novel Coronavirus tested negative for the deadly pathogen. A man, who was found with symptoms of coronavirus in Jaipur, also tested negative and 18 other who were under observation in Rajasthan were also in good health, officials said. The Union health ministry has also asked people to use 24x7 helpline (011-23978046) for queries related to respiratory infection. "In the view of the spurt of cases being reported in China and travel related cases appearing in many countries....all non-essential travel to China to be avoided," it said. As part of the preparedness, India has also increased the number of airports from seven to 21 where thermal screening of passengers is being done for a possible exposure to the deadly nCoV. These include airports at Gaya, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, Varanasi, Goa, Bhubaneswar and Lucknow besides the seven designated airports identified earlier. The health ministry also has established four more laboratories apart from the NIV-Pune for testing samples. These labs have been made functional at Alleppey, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Mumbai. Special Secretary in the Union health ministry Sanjeeva Kumar held a meeting health secretaries of states where the 21 identified airports are located along with the Airport Health Organization Officers (APHOs) to review their preparedness for prevention and management of novel coronavirus. During the video-conefernce, he also interacted with health secretaries of the states, including those bordering Nepal (Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim), an official statement said. The immigration and other staff members at the airports have been sensitized and dedicated ambulances are placed at the airports. Deployment of medical and para-medical staff is also being done for round-the-clock service, it said. Meanwhile, India is placed at the 23rd place among "high-risk" countries where the disease can spread, according to a study based on the number of air travellers predicted to arrive in the countries from the worst affected cities in China. Researchers from the University of Southampton in the UK compiled a list of cities and countries they believe are at high risk from the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) The most "at risk" countries or regions worldwide are Thailand (1), Japan (2), and Hong Kong (3). The US is 6th on the list, Australia 10th and the UK 17th. Novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from common cold to acute respiratory syndromes. The virus, which has killed 132 people and affected at least 6,000 others in China, is a novel strain not seen before. The AYUSH ministry has also issued an advisory recommending that homeopathic and unani medicine could be effective in the prevention of novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection. It also mentioned some Ayurvedic practices which can help recess the symptoms of respiratory tract in possible coronavirus infected cases. "The ministry of AYUSH is issuing the advisory as preventive measure and not claiming to be a treatment advice for the nCoV infection. The Research Councils under Ministry of AYUSH are involved in various public health activities and provide lifestyle advocacies time to time for the general public," the ministry said in a statement. Will provide necessary assistance for evacuation of foreign nationals from Wuhan: China As India prepares to airlift its citizens from Wuhan, the epicentre of the deadly coronavirus outbreak, China said on Wednesday that it would make all appropriate arrangements and provide necessary assistance if any country 'insists' on evacuating its nationals. Besides India, several other countries including the US, France, Japan, South Korea, are making arrangements to airlift their nationals from central Hubei province and its capital city Wuhan. The Chinese Foreign Ministry which is coordinating the evacuation of the foreign nationals told PTI in Beijing on Wednesday that China would make appropriate arrangements if any country 'insists' on evacuating its nationals. "China attaches great importance to protecting the lives and health of citizens of all countries in Wuhan, Hubei province, and will continue to take active and effective measures to address their legitimate concerns and demands in a timely manner," the foreign ministry said in response to a question. "If a country insists on evacuating its citizens in Wuhan, China will make appropriate arrangements and provide necessary assistance and convenience in accordance with international practice and China's relevant provisions on epidemic prevention," the ministry said. McDonald's is set to partner with takeaway delivery platform Just Eat later in 2020 alongside the company's existing provider Uber Eats. It comes as the food chain revealed its full-year results for 2019 which saw an increased customer demand for the delivery service. The launch of McDelivery accounted for 4% of Irish sales in 2019. A total of 38,000 orders were placed by McDonald's customers through the Uber Eats app last year. Over 61 million customers were served across the the country's 95 restaurants last year. CEO, McDonalds UK & Ireland, Paul Pomroy, said: "In order to ensure that we continue to meet consumer demand, this year we will be partnering with a second delivery partner to expand this offer and our reach, giving customers more choice and convenience. "We are happy to announce that Just Eat will come on board later in 2020 as a delivery partner in Ireland alongside our existing and valued provider Uber Eats," he said. Following the successful introduction of paper straws in its restaurants, McDonald's has made changes to its McFlurry and its salads in order to reduce plastic waste by 485 metric tonnes annually. Mr Pomroy said that the success of the McDonald's chain which directly employs 6,000 people in Ireland, reflects the dedication of Irish franchisees, crew members and suppliers. The success of McDonalds in Ireland reflects the dedication of our Irish franchisees, crew members and suppliers, who provide local jobs, economic opportunities and ongoing community engagement across the year. "In 2020 we remain committed to growing our business through our people, customers, our long-standing Irish supply chain partners and our restaurant experience to ensure we can continue to focus on what matters most - customers, food, value, service and convenience. "We will continue to expand our business and our offering in Ireland over the coming years, delivering great value, quality and service to our customers," he said. WASHINGTON - When President Donald Trump signed a revamped trade agreement with Mexico and Canada into law Wednesday, he kept a campaign pledge to improve upon a deal that he had long condemned. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. President Donald Trump speaks during an event at the White House to sign a new North American trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, in Washington. The President is joined by Vice President Mike Pence, left, and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, right, and others. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) WASHINGTON - When President Donald Trump signed a revamped trade agreement with Mexico and Canada into law Wednesday, he kept a campaign pledge to improve upon a deal that he had long condemned. His U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement replaces a 26-year-old version that he and other critics said was a job-killing disaster for the United States. The president's overhaul is designed to update the pact to reflect the rise of e-commerce and other technological changes and to do more to encourage factories to move production to the United States or keep it there. But the USMCA doesnt represent a revolutionary change in regional trade or assure that many Americans stand to receive financial gains. What it does, more than anything, is restore certainty to $1.4 trillion-a-year in North American commerce. And in that way, it could provide some economic benefit. Here are some questions and answers about the new deal: WHAT IS USMCA? The pact is Trumps replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement, which took effect in 1994. NAFTA slashed tariffs and erased most trade barriers within the continent. In doing so, NAFTA unleashed a burst of trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico. President Donald Trump signs a new North American trade agreement with Canada and Mexico, during an event at the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) In the wake of NAFTA, American farmers, in particular, enjoyed increased access to their neighbours large markets. But NAFTA also encouraged U.S. manufacturers to move factories south of the border to capitalize on cheaper Mexican labour. Supporters of the deal said it created a powerful regional bloc a competitive counter to Europe and East Asia with each NAFTA country able to take advantage of its strengths: In Mexico, low-cost manufacturing. In the United States and Canada, high-skilled labour and proximity to cutting-edge research. Trump demanded a revamped deal that reduced incentives for companies to move to Mexico. And he threatened to abandon NAFTA entirely if he couldnt get what he wanted. Negotiations on a replacement began in August 2017. The three countries signed USMCA in late 2018. After delays and intense negotiations between the administration and congressional Democrats, the House ratified the deal in December and the Senate this month, both with bipartisan support. HOW DOES USMCA CHANGE TRADE AMONG THE THREE COUNTRIES? Trumps version mostly continues to allow the free flow of trade across North American borders of the three countries. But it updates the pact to reflect the rise of e-commerce and other aspects of the digital economy that didnt exist when NAFTA was negotiated. For instance, USMCA prohibits tariffs on digital products. It lets companies transfer data across borders without encountering discriminatory barriers. And it bars countries from requiring firms to store data within their borders, thereby allowing companies to do so wherever it makes the most business sense. The deal also gives U.S. farmers more access to the Canadian dairy market. It forces the Canadian province of British Columbia to drop measures that prevented American wines from being sold on grocery shelves along with local vintages. DOES USMCA DO ANYTHING TO PROTECT U.S. MANUFACTURING JOBS? Yes. To qualify for USMCAs duty-free benefits, 75% of a car and its parts must come from within North America, up from 62.5% under NAFTA. That means more content would have to be homegrown in higher-wage North America, not imported more cheaply from China and elsewhere. At least 40% of vehicles would also have to originate in places where workers earn at least $16 an hour. That would benefit the United States or Canada not Mexico, where auto assembly workers are paid a fraction of that amount. For car buyers, that wage requirement is likely to increase the cost of vehicles built in North America. Under USMCA, Mexico is required to formally authorize workers to form independent unions. Mexican unions had traditionally been co-opted by employers and the government and had done little for workers. Laborers have been fired, for example, for trying to bargain on their own for better pay and working conditions. That's one reason why Mexican wages remained so low and attractive to U.S. manufacturers that wanted to cut costs. 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. WHAT CHANGES DID DEMOCRATS GET? Democrats complained that the deal that Trumps team originally negotiated with Canada and Mexico shared a defect with the treaty it was supposed to improve upon: It would be hard to enforce. In talks with Trumps top trade official, Robert Lighthizer, the Democrats managed to strike language that would have allowed countries or companies to avoid sanctions simply by refusing to take part in dispute-settlement panels. They also insisted on closing loopholes that would have made it hard to enforce provisions that protect workers from intimidation and violence. They also managed to establish a committee that will monitor Mexicos labour reforms. The Democrats also won a significant concession from the administration on drug prices. Gone is what Democrats considered a giveaway to the pharmaceutical industry: A provision that offered expensive biologic drugs which are made from living cells 10 years of protection from cheaper knockoff competition. WHAT COULD USMCA MEAN FOR THE U.S. ECONOMY? Probably not much. Trade is a relatively small part of the U.S. economy. And trade with Mexico and Canada is smaller still. In an analysis done last year, the independent International Trade Commission calculated that USMCA would add 0.35% or $68 billion, to economic growth and generate 176,000 jobs over six years mere blips in a $22 trillion economy with 152 million nonfarm jobs. That is how President Trump bills the Israeli-Arab peace plan that he unveiled today. You can download the entire proposal, titled Peace to Prosperity: A Vision to Improve the Lives of the Palestinian and Israeli People, here. I havent had time to digest the entire plan, but the Jerusalem Post summarizes the high points: Borders: Trumps plan features a map of what Israels new borders will be, should it enact the plan fully. Israel will retain 20% of the West Bank and will lose a small amount of land in the Negev near the Gaza-Egypt border. The Palestinians will have a pathway to a state in the vast majority of territory in the West Bank, while Israel will maintain control of all borders. This is the first time an American peace plan has included a map. President Trump apparently has delved into the details of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Jerusalem: The Palestinians will have a capital in east Jerusalem based on northern and eastern neighborhoods that are outside the Israeli security barrier Kafr Akab, Abu Dis and half of Shuafat. Otherwise, Trump said Jerusalem will remain undivided as Israels capital. If implemented, this would be a big win for Israel. This is important, too: Settlements: Israel will retain the Jordan Valley and all Israeli settlements in the West Bank in the broadest definition possible, meaning not the municipal borders of each settlement but their security perimeters. This also includes 15 isolated settlements, which will be enclaves within an eventual Palestinian state. Within those settlements Israel will not be able to build for the next four years. Security: Israel will be in control of security from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. The IDF will not have to leave the West Bank. No change to Israels approach to Judea and Samaria would be needed. Palestinian state: The plan does not include immediate recognition of a Palestinian state; rather, it expects a willingness on Israels part to create a pathway toward Palestinian statehood based on specific territory, which is about 70% of Judea and Samaria, including areas A and B and parts of Area C. The state will only come into existence in four years if the Palestinians accept the plan, if the Palestinian Authority stops paying terrorists and inciting terrorism and if Hamas and Islamic Jihad put down their weapons. In addition, the American plan calls on the Palestinians to give up corruption, respect human rights, freedom of religion and a free press, so that they dont have a failed state. If those conditions are met, the US will recognize a Palestinian state and implement a massive economic plan to assist it. I think the likelihood of Palestinian leadership inducing Hamas and Islamic Jihad to abandon violence, or giving up on its own crusade to massacre Jewish Israelis, is close to zero. Early returns suggest that this evaluation is correct: Palestinians from across the political spectrum have strongly rejected US President Donald Trumps plan for Mideast peace, which was unveiled by the White House on Tuesday. We say 1,000 nos to this deal, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said. *** Palestinian officials and political factions vowed to work toward thwarting the plan, also known as the Deal of the Century, on the pretext that it aims to liquidate the Palestinian cause. Abbas was speaking during an emergency meeting of Palestinian officials in Ramallah on Tuesday evening to discuss ways of responding to the Trump plan. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad representatives were invited to participate in the meeting. In a televised address, Abbas called the plan a conspiracy, adding that his peoples rights are not for sale. I say to Trump and Netanyahu: Jerusalem is not for sale, all our rights are not for sale and are not for bargain. And your deal, the conspiracy, will not pass, he said. I guess that is a No. If you are a Palestinian politician, the money is on the other side. Notwithstanding the fact that the Trump plan includes, if the Palestinians put down their arms and agree to acknowledge the State of Israel, billions of dollars in aid that dwarf, on a per capita basis, the Marshall Plan. But the welfare of the Palestinian people has never been a priority for radical Arab politicians. So, does President Trumps peace plan have a chance of succeeding? Probably not, in the short term. But at some point, Israeli and Palestinian Arabs may be willing to acknowledge that terrorism has been a dead end for them. This will require a complete change in leadership, but that likely will happen eventually. Springing a surprise, Kerala Governor Mohammed Arif Khan on Wednesday read out the references on the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) resolution passed by the state assembly, while presenting his policy address of the Left government in the House. The governor, who has been at loggerheads with the government over the anti CAA resolution passed by the assembly and the petition moved in the Supreme court against the law, said though he has "reservations and disagreement" over the subject, he would read paragraph 18 of the policy address, to "honour" the Chief Minister's wish. Para 18 is regarding the anti CAA resolution. "I am going to read this para (paragraph 18) because the Honorable Chief Minister wants me to read this, although I hold the view that this does not come under the definition of the policy or programme," he said. Referring to the recent correspondence with the CPI(M)- led LDF government in this connection, Khan said the CM himself had said in his letter that "this is the view of the government". The Governor said though he disagreed on this, he was going to read the paragraph to honour the wish of Chief Minister Vijayan. Reading out the anti-CAA stand of the state government, he said, "our citizenship can never be on the basis of religion as this goes against the grain of secularism which is part of the basic structure of the constitution. This august body (Kerala Assembly) unanimously passed a resolution requesting the Centre to abrogate the CAA 2019, which my government believes goes against the cardinal principles underlying our Constitution." The government has also filed a petition in the Apex court invoking Art 131 of the constitution, he noted. "Strong states and strong centre are pillars of our federalism. The voices of genuine apprehension of the state needs to be considered by the central government in the right spirit, keeping broad national interest in mind particularly when constitutional values are involved and there are widespread anxieties and apprehensions among a large number of citizens, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Mining Engineer residing in Colorado, USA, Solomon Owusu has questioned the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng on his recent comment concerning the disappearance of the over 500 seized excavators from the illegal mining operators as reported on Ghanaweb. The Mining Engineer could not fathom how such seized equipment could vanish from the secured premises manned by the operations vanguard and galamstop security teams. He made the comment during a phone interview with Kwabena Bobie Ansah, the host of The Citizen Show on Accra FM 100.5 MHz on Tuesday, January 28, 2020. According to Solomon, excavators are not wheat chaffs that can just be blown by the wind and disappear. In his view, an excavator is a heavy earth moving equipment that has no wings to fly like an airplane or a guinea fowl. In addition, an excavator moves slowly and not even allowed travelling on tarred roads. It can either be moved from one city to another on untarred roads or placed on lowbird trucks or trailers. The outspoken former Deputy Secretary of NPP-California Chapter in USA has charged all Ghanaians, especially the youth to demand the whereabouts of the over 500 seized excavators from the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), chaired by Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng. He further suggested that the committee must pay for the missing machines. Solomon has cautioned the appointees in the current government to stop thinking that their party will wield power forever. He further warned that any corrupt official will have questions to answer when the NPP party is no more in power. He advised that government appointees should be patriotic and support the president to succeed, instead of engaging in corrupt practices to disappoint the good people of Ghana, their political party and the president. The fearless engineer inspired the Ghanaian youth to be bold and challenge the status quo, instead of being perturbed by the insults, intimidations and threats from those who hate the truth. In his opinion, the actions of the youth today will determine a better future for the unborn generations. Solomon Owusu Denver, Colorado, USA A massive fire that killed at least eight people and destroyed dozens of boats in an Alabama marina early Monday was spread so rapidly by the wind that we didnt have time to do nothing, said one resident who survived but lost his brother in the cold water. Tommy Jones, a Jackson County Park Marina resident, said he also watched helplessly as a small boat containing a woman and her children was engulfed in flames. There was nothing we could do, he said. Scottsboro Fire Chief Gene Necklaus said all eight people who were known to be missing have been confirmed dead, and that number could go up, because we dont know how many were on boats that sank. The fire began just after midnight and quickly consumed the dock as people slept. The wooden dock and at least 35 vessels went up in flames and an aluminum roof that covered many of the boats melted and collapsed, cutting off escape routes and raining debris over the area as boaters leaped into the river. Jones said he was aboard his 35-foot cabin cruiser when someone came banging on the boat after midnight saying, Man, the marina is on fire. The flames were racing out to the far end of the dock where Jones boat was tied. Jones said he and several other men cut some boats free and sent them drifting out into the water. When a man placed his wife and children into a small boat, they cut that boat free too. Finally, Jones said, he jumped into the water and swam for shore, 200 yards away. He believes his brother Yancey Roper, who lived aboard another boat, swam in a different direction. Officials later told him that his brother had drowned. As Jones was swimming for shore in water with a temperature in the mid-50s, he said, I looked back and that other boat with the wife and the children on it was all engulfed in flames. At least seven people were sent to hospitals suffering from exposure to the flames or the frigid water. It was scary. The worst thing for me is you could hear people screaming for help, and there was nothing we could do. Nobody could do anything to get to them, said Julie Jackson, who lives with her husband and son in a houseboat on another dock that did not burn. Necklaus said some of the burning boats sank at the dock and others floated away before going under. He said divers need to locate each one and search them individually before they can be sure there were no other victims. We woke up hearing screams and popping noises, Mandy Durham, who was with her boyfriend in a nearby boat, told The Associated Press. When we woke up, we could see red through the window. Within 15 to 20 minutes, the whole dock was in flames, she added. All these boats have propane tanks and gas tanks, and thats a lot of fire. The blaze destroyed the B dock, about 50 yards (46 meters) from the A dock where the boat of Durhams boyfriend was moored. There were numerous people rescued from the water who had escaped by going into the water, Jackson County Chief Sheriffs Deputy Rocky Harnen told the AP shortly after dawn. Were trying to get divers down here to search for possible victims. People were jumping onto a boat at the end of the dock because fire had consumed the middle portion and that was their only escape. But then the flames spread to that boat, leaving water as their only way out, Durham said. Water was the only place they had to go, Durham said. Its just extremely sad. Its horrible. Georgia resident Michael Watson said his aunt lived with her husband and five children on one of the boats that burned. He said his aunt was confirmed among the dead and authorities are still looking for the other six family members. Officials have not released the names of any of those killed or missing. Hours after sunrise, smoke was still rising from the remains of a wooden dock, and pieces of metal that once formed the roof were partially submerged. Police and fire boats with flashing lights were positioned near the charred remains, and a yellow floating boom was being deployed around the marina to contain spilled fuel. Most of the boats that were destroyed had people living on them permanently, but some mainly spent weekends on them, Durham said. The park includes a boat ramp, a dock and a restaurant, and offers boat rentals, according to Jackson Countys government website. Everybody is just hoping to find the ones they knew on that dock. There were families there. Its devastating, Durham said. ___ Associated Press Writer Jeff Martin in Atlanta contributed to this story. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Alabama HONG KONG The world is quickly realizing how much it depends on China. Apple is rerouting supply chains. Ikea is closing its stores and paying staff members to stay home. Starbucks is warning of a financial blow. Ford and Toyota will idle some of their vast Chinese assembly plants for an extra week. On Wednesday, British Airways and Air Canada suspended all flights to mainland China, and Delta joined the growing number of carriers reducing service. Japans leaders are bracing for a possible hit and the Federal Reserve is very carefully monitoring the situation. Hotels and tour operators across Asia are watching fearfully as the worlds largest source of tourism dollars tightens its borders. The mysterious coronavirus that has killed more than a hundred people and sickened thousands has virtually shut down one of the worlds most important growth engines. Desperate to slow the fast-moving virus, the Chinese authorities have extended the countrys national holiday to Feb. 3, and crippled land, rail and air transport. Entire cities have shut down. BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz Ombudsman Tokon Mamytov has called on lawmakers to postpone debate on a controversial bill on nongovernmental organizations that has been criticized by rights activists in the Central Asian nation. Mamytov urged parliament on January 29 to withdraw the bill from the agenda to allow for a broader discussion of the issue between lawmakers, representatives of NGOs, and the general public. "All sides must gather and discuss the bill publicly in a very wide format in order to listen to each other and come to a common conclusion. The bill must be also discussed by the public and for that period of time we need to withdraw the bill's discussion in parliament," Mamytov said. The bill proposes that all nongovernmental organizations in Kyrgyzstan report their activities and the sources of their financial support to government officials. Human rights organizations in the former Soviet republic have criticized the bill, calling it a move to stifle civil society and muzzle dissent. They compare it with similar legislation in Russia known as the "foreign agent" law. TORONTO, Jan. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fura Gems Inc. (Fura or the Company) (TSXV: FURA, OTC: FUGMF and FRA: BJ43) announces the extension of the drop dead date for the closing of the Merger of Ruby Assets Agreement dated July 14, 2018, as amended (the MRAA). In accordance with the MRAA, on January 27, 2020, the Company gave New Energy Minerals Ltd. (formerly known as Mustang Resources Ltd.) written notice to extend the drop-dead date of the MRAA from January 31, 2020 to February 29, 2020. The MRAA contemplates the purchase and sale by Fura of interests in three ruby licenses/concessions in Mozambique as follows: (i) 75% of the issued shares of Montepuez Minerals Pty Ltd., which owns a 70% interest in mining licence 5030L and an 80% interest in mining concession 8921C; and (ii) a right to earn a 65% interest in mining concession 8955C under a joint venture agreement (collectively, the New Energy Assets). Please see the Companys press release dated November 29, 2018 for further details regarding the terms of this proposed acquisition. The transaction remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. For more information about Fura Gems Inc., please contact: Fura Gems Inc. Dev Shetty President & Chief Executive Officer Tel: +971 (0) 4 240 8760 dev.shetty@furagems.com Brad Scharfe Director Investor Relations Tel: +1+(778)386-1313 brad.scharfe@furagems.com Public Relations Tavistock (UK) Jos Simson / Barney Hayward Tel: +44-207-920-3150 fura@tavistock.co.uk About Fura Gems Inc. Fura Gems Inc. is a gemstone mining and marketing company which is engaged in the mining, exploration and acquisition of gemstone licences. Furas headquarters are located in Toronto, Canada and its administrative headquarters are located in the Gold Tower, Dubai. Fura is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol FURA. Fura is engaged in the exploration of resource properties in Colombia and owns a 76% interest in the Coscuez emerald mine in Boyaca, Colombia. Fura is involved in the exploration and mining of sapphires in Australia through its 100% interest in the Licences, and rubies in Mozambique through its 80% effective interest in four ruby licences (4392L, 3868L, 3869L and 6811L) and its 100% interest in ruby licence 5572L. Story continues Regulatory Statements This press release may contain 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 Companys ability to complete the acquisition of the New Energy Assets, the mineralization and prospectivity of the New Energy Assets, the Companys exploration activities and mining activities and the Companys performance. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, 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. Forward-looking information 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: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; the actual results of exploration activities; regulatory risks; risks inherent in foreign operations, legacy environmental risks, title risks and other risks of the mining industry. 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 statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, 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. Pneumonia claims the lives of more than 800,000 children under five every year. The toll could be the highest in Nigeria in the coming decade with 1.4 million deaths. An estimated 162,000 died in the country in 2018. By Robin Gomes Some 9 million child deaths can be avoided in the coming decade if efforts to fight pneumonia and other major diseases are boosted. The warning comes from ISGlobal, Save the Children, UNICEF, Every Breath Counts, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, la Caixa Foundation, USAID, Unitaid and Gavi, that are hosting world leaders at the Global Forum on Childhood Pneumonia in Barcelona, Spain, January 29-31, the first international forum on childhood pneumonia. Pneumonia - neglected disease Pneumonia is caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, and leaves children fighting for breath as their lungs fill with pus and fluid. It is the biggest single killer of children, claiming the lives of 800,000 children last year, or 1 child every 39 seconds. Yet it remains a neglected disease both nationally and globally. Child deaths from pneumonia are concentrated in the worlds poorest countries and it is the most deprived and marginalised children who suffer the most. Although some types of pneumonia can be prevented with vaccines and can be easily treated with low-cost antibiotics if properly diagnosed, tens of millions of children are still unvaccinated and one in three children with symptoms does not receive essential medical care. Forecasts show 6.3 million children under the age of five could die from pneumonia between 2020 and 2030, on current trends. Over the next decade, deaths are likely to be highest in Nigeria (1.4 million), India (880,000), the Democratic Republic of Congo (350,000) and Ethiopia (280,000). Multi-pronged action Health interventions aimed at improving nutrition, providing antibiotics and increasing vaccine coverage, boosting breastfeeding rates key measures that reduce the risk of children dying from pneumonia would also prevent millions of child deaths from diseases like diarrhoea (2.1 million), sepsis (1.3 million), and measles (280,000). Outdoor air pollution contributes to 17.5 per cent or nearly one in five pneumonia deaths among children under five worldwide, according to a study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME-GBD). Household pollution from the indoor use of solid cooking fuels contributes to an additional 195,000 (29.4 per cent) deaths. Ninety-one per cent of the worlds population is breathing outdoor air that exceeds WHO standards. The scale of the air pollution challenge could potentially undermine the impact of scaling up pneumonia-related interventions. Other causes of pneumonia deaths include malnutrition and lack of access to vaccines and antibiotics. According to the Johns Hopkins modelling, of the total 8.9 million deaths from all causes that could be averted over the next decade, 3.9 million would be the result of greater efforts to reduce levels of malnutrition alone. The Global Forum is for reflection, but a call to action to deliver concrete measures with the potential to save hundreds of thousands of childrens lives. New Delhi, Jan 29 : Pawan Jallad, the executioner chosen by the Tihar Jail administration to hang the four Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, will reach Tihar Jail on Thursday. However, if there are no further hurdles in the legal process, then all the four convicts would hang to death on February 1. On Tuesday, relatives of the four death row convicts -- Mukesh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar Singh (31), visited them in Tihar, sources said. Ever since the death warrant was issued to them, the only question for the Tihar jail administration is -- who will hang Nirbhaya's killers? The Uttar Pradesh Directorate General of Prisons has now put the seal on this by finally naming hangman Pawan Jallad from Meerut to carry out the execution. Talking to IANS on Tuesday night, Tihar Jail Director General Sandeep Goyal said: "On Thursday morning Pawan (executioner) will be brought to Tihar Jail from Meerut amid tight security. However, it is certain that Pawan will be transported to the hanging house in Tihar Jail as soon as he reaches Delhi." On Thursday, Tihar Jail will make arrangements to bring Pawan executioner from Meerut. But, Director General refused to give more details citing security reasons. Sources on the other hand, however, said that at least 15 to 20 armed policemen (Delhi Police Third Corps personnel) will provide security to Pawan in the highly secured jail-van of Tihar Jail. The jail administration has also decided by which road Pawan Jallad will be brought to Delhi from Meerut. But this is likely to change. The Delhi Police Third Corps along with the Tamil Nadu Special Police Force personnel engaged in the security of Tihar may also be sent to bring Pawan Jallad to Delhi, sources said. (Sanjeev Kumar Singh Chauhan can be contacted at sanjeev.c@ians.in) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text India is among the top 30 countries at "high-risk" from the spread of the deadly coronavirus, according to a study based on the number of air travellers predicted to arrive in the countries from the worst affected cities in China. Researchers from the University of Southampton in the UK compiled a list of cities and countries they believe are at high risk from the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) -- which has killed over 100 people so far, and infected thousands. The most "at risk" countries or regions worldwide are Thailand (1), Japan (2), and Hong Kong (3). The US is 6th on the list, Australia 10th, the UK 17th and India 23rd, the researchers said in the study released on Tuesday. According to the study by the university's WorldPop team, Bangkok in Thailand is currently the city most at risk from a global spread of the virus. Hong Kong is second on the list, followed by Taipei in Taiwan. Sydney, New York and London are among the top 20 other major international cities ranked in the research, released on Tuesday. 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 Within mainland China, the cities of Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Chongqing are all identified as high-risk by the researchers, along with the Chinese provinces of Guangdong, Zhejiang, Sichuan and Henan. "It's vital that we understand patterns of population movement, both within China and globally, in order to assess how this new virus might spread -- domestically and internationally," said Andrew Tatem, a professor at the University of Southampton. "By mapping these trends and identifying high-risk areas, we can help inform public health interventions, such as screenings and healthcare preparedness," Tatem said. The team used anonymised mobile phone and IP address data -- which helps to identify devices -- along with international air travel data to understand typical patterns of movement of people within China, and worldwide, during the annual 40-day Lunar New Year celebrations. From this, they identified 18 Chinese cities -- including Wuhan -- at high-risk from the new coronavirus, and established the volume of air passengers likely to be travelling from these cities to global destinations over a three month period. The team, including researchers from the University of Toronto in Canada, and the China Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, was then able to rank the top 30 most at-risk countries and cities around the world. The researchers acknowledge that their analysis is based on 'non-outbreak' travel patterns, but highlight that a high proportion of people travelled with symptoms at an early stage of the outbreak, before restrictions were put in place. Travel cordons are likely to have only coincided with the latter stages of peak population numbers leaving Wuhan for the holiday period, the researchers noted. According to Wuhan authorities, it is likely that more than five million people had already left the city, they said. "The spread of the new coronavirus is a fast moving situation and we are closely monitoring the epidemic in order to provide further up-to-date analysis on the likely spread," said Shengjie Lai from the University of Southampton. "This includes the effectiveness of the transport lockdown in Chinese cities and transmission by people returning from the Lunar New Year holiday, which has been extended to February 2," said Lai. Nigel Farage has described the UKs departure from the EU as the achievement of my lifetime in the wake of the final Withdrawal Agreement vote. Following his fiery departure speech which saw him having his microphone cut off and being told to leave and take your flags with you by the deputy speaker Mr Farage said he found it hard to believe Brexit was happening. He told the PA news agency: The book is about to close and we are going to leave in 48 hours and that is for me, in a way, the achievement of my lifetime political goal. Ive been campaigning for this for 27 years, 20 of them in this parliament, and sometimes as a human being if you want something so badly its almost difficult to believe its really happening. But it is happening and I think its the right thing and I also think Im seeing the first signs of it today its going to lead to a lot of reflection across the union. He said EU citizens would start to question whether governance structures set up in the 1950s still work in the 21st century. When 11pm UK time comes on Friday, weve passed the point of no return, Mr Farage said. I think were never coming back so I think a debate will go on now with other countries about what their relationship with the EU is going to be. He added: And who knows? Maybe were going to be the really good Europeans because maybe well lead to a Europe where we have sovereign states cooperating and Ive always wanted to do that as a European. I think Europe needs a structure of some kind, I think European countries need to cooperate with each other. We literally are like neighbours living in the same street and what happens in the next-door house necessarily affects us but its a question of whether you deal with those problems through cooperation or through assimilation of power at the centre. Mr Farage left the EU Parliament for the final time shortly after 8pm on Wednesday, accompanied by loudspeakers blasting We Gotta Get Out Of This Place by the Animals. He said he was bullish on the prospect of the UK getting a trade deal but remarked What price freedom? when asked by a reporter if he would take responsibility if it doesnt. The Brexit Party leader said Brexit was the most significant political event in Britains history since Henry VIII broke with the Church of Rome. Theres a lot more work to do but I think weve broken the back of it, he said. Mr Farage said he would be in Parliament Square in London on Friday night for the moment the UK officially leaves the EU. MONTREAL, Jan. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saputo Inc. (Saputo or the Company) (SAP.TO) received today the Dairy Foods magazine 2019 Processor of the Year award at the International Dairy Foods Associations annual Dairy Forum. Multiple achievements contributed to Saputos selection as this years recipient, including the Companys significant growth through strategic acquisitions, organic operational expansions and continued investments in product innovation. In addition to its business performance, Saputos commitment to supporting the communities in which it operates and its advocacy efforts for the dairy industry also contributed to its nomination. Among other initiatives, Dairy Foods magazine acknowledged the Companys involvement with the not-for-profit organization 4-H Canada on a new program to support youth in agriculture. Lino Saputo, Jr., Chair and Chief Executive Officer, was present to accept the award on the Companys behalf. He shared, I am proud and honoured that Saputo has been recognized as the 2019 Processor of the Year. I would like to congratulate all our employees for this outstanding team accomplishment. Their dedication, expertise and passion continue to elevate our Company and drive our success. The International Dairy Foods Association put together a short video shown as part of todays award ceremony, highlighting Saputos achievement. Dairy Foods magazine also featured Saputo in a multi-page spread in its December 2019 issue. About Saputo Saputo produces, markets, and distributes a wide array of dairy products of the utmost quality, including cheese, fluid milk, extended shelf-life milk and cream products, cultured products and dairy ingredients. Saputo is one of the top ten dairy processors in the world, the largest cheese manufacturer and the leading fluid milk and cream processor in Canada, the top dairy processor in Australia and the second largest in Argentina. In the USA, Saputo ranks among the top three cheese producers and is one of the largest producers of extended shelf-life and cultured dairy products. In the United Kingdom, Saputo is the largest branded manufacturer of cheese and a top manufacturer of dairy spreads. Our products are sold in several countries under well-known brand names such as Saputo, Alexis de Portneuf, Armstrong, Cathedral City, Clover, COON, Cracker Barrel*, Dairyland, DairyStar, Devondale, Friendship Dairies, Frigo Cheese Heads, Joyya, La Paulina, Liddells, Milk2Go/Laits Go, Montchevre, Murray Goulburn Ingredients, Neilson, Nutrilait, Scotsburn*, South Cape, Stella, Sungold, Tasmanian Heritage, Treasure Cave and Woolwich Goat Dairy. Saputo Inc. is a publicly traded company and its shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol SAP. Story continues *Trademark used under licence. Media Inquiries 1-514-328-3141 / 1-866-648-5902 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. [January 29, 2020] Statement by Ian Scott, Chairperson and CEO of the CRTC, in response to the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review Panel's Final Report From: Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission OTTAWA and GATINEAU, QC, Jan. 29, 2020 /CNW/ - Today, the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review Panel presented its final recommendations to government in a report titled Canada's communications future: Time to act. The CRTC would like to recognize the panel, as well as the secretariat, for their efforts in carrying out a mandate of this magnitude. The comprehensive and robust report touches on a number of areas that are critical to our mandate and we are studying the report with great interest. At first glance, it is clear that the panel recognizes that fundamental changes need to occur to fully enable the CRTC to at in the public interest. We look forward to future legislative changes to effectively fulfill our mandate in this new environment. Ian Scott, Chairperson and CEO Associated links Stay Connected Follow us on Twitter @CRTCeng Like us on Facebook SOURCE Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission On January 23, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the Trump administration has refused the request by UK authorities to extradite Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a US intelligence officer. Sacoolass husband was based at the Croughton RAF base in Northamptonshire. On August 27 last year she drove her car on the wrong side of the road and hit the motorcycle being driven by 19-year-old Harry Dunn, taking his life. In its statement the US State Department 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. Police visited Sacoolas at her UK address the day after the crash. She informed them that she was subject to diplomatic immunity, supposedly as the wife of a diplomat. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) asked the US Embassy in London to waive immunity for Sacoolas so she could be questioned. On September 13 the US embassy informed the FCO that it would not waive immunity and that Sacoolas would be leaving the country unless the UK government objected strongly. No objection was made. Sacoolas flew out of the UK on a US Air Force plane on September 15 with the UK government supposedly only being told the following day. However, subsequent events suggest British collusion from the outset. The FCO informed the Northamptonshire police of Sacoolass flight and then asked that the police delay informing the family. By September 23 the family of Harry Dunn finally became aware that Sacoolas had skipped the country and asked police to confirm if it was true. On September 26, 11 days after Sacoolas had fled the country, police finally met officially with Dunns family and confirmed what they already suspected. Since the tragic death of Harry Dunn other incidents of cars leaving the Croughton base and being driven on the wrong side of the road by US personnel have been reported. A widely viewed social media clip of dashcam footage shows a car encountering another car on the wrong side of the road near the base. Northamptonshire police have announced they will run sessions on road safety for new US arrivals at the base. Harrys father Tim Dunn and mother Charlotte Charles have pursued a principled and determined fight to achieve justice for their son, while the Johnson government has merely gone through the motions of registering a protest to cover their tracks. Visiting America to publicise the case on October 15, Harrys parents were in effect ambushed by President Donald Trump. He had asked to meet with them at the White House, where he ruled out Sacoolas being sent back to the UK to face charges. Instead, he told Harrys parents that Sacoolas was waiting in an adjacent room and suggested they talk. The parents refused Trumps offer, warning of the potentially traumatic impact of such an encounter, including for Sacoolas. A Guardian article November 7 reported that the Trump White House had sought to buy off Harrys parents. (Radd) Seiger (the family legal representative) told PA Media that their meeting at the White House on 15 October ended with the president saying the secretary of the treasury, Steven Mnuchin, was standing by ready to write a cheque. The article continued, quoting Seiger, When he (Trump) said: Weve got the driver here he basically meant that were all going to have a big hug and a kiss, and Ill get my treasury guy to write a cheque. Thats how it was. On the day it just didnt register with me, but the more I think about those words, the more shocking it is. In the run up to the December 12 general election, Harrys father and supporters attempted to attend a hustings meeting involving then and current Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab. They were denied access, with organisers claiming their presence would contravene fire regulations. On October 25 last year, Harrys parents launched their legal action against the FCO over the granting of diplomatic immunity to Sacoolas. They claim it was wrong in law for her, the wife of a spy and not a diplomat, to have such immunity. Sacoolass immunity was also questioned by human rights activist and former UK ambassador Craig Murray. Writing on his website on October 8 last year, he explained that in a reciprocal arrangement to circumvent legal restraints on US and UK intelligence agents, US agents spy on UK citizens from bases such as Croughton. What does apparently exist between the UK and the US is a secret, bilateral agreement to treat GCHQ and NSA staff as if they had diplomatic immunity. Murray continued, I am not at all convinced, as a matter of law, that the government has the power to grant, by bilateral treaty or otherwise, immunity from criminal prosecution to foreign national outside the provision of the Vienna Convention (relating to diplomatic immunity). This should be tested by the courts. At the time of the familys legal challenge, the FCO said it would both appeal and seek costs against the family, estimated to be 50,000. The threat to penalise the family was an attempt to keep covered the relationship that exists between the British state and the US regarding spying activities at the Croughton base. Harrys mother, Charlotte, called the extradition refusal an expected blow. Speaking to Sky News she said, Weve just got to carry on fighting, and we will get there in the end. It doesnt matter when, whether its this administration or the next. The extradition request is always going to be over Anne Sacoolass head, and we are never going to give up. The Tories have now gone into full damage-limitation mode over the explosive conflict. Andrea Leadsom, the business secretary and constituency MP for the Dunn family, met with US Ambassador Woody Johnson on January 24. Leadsom claimed to reporters afterwards that Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson was very much on the side of the family in their desire to see justice done. All of us in government are working to that end. According to an Independent report of January 27, Johnson had phoned Trump on January 24 over the Sacoolas extradition and stressed the need for the individual involved to return to the UK. Speaking on January 27 at a Westminster briefing, a spokesman for Johnson described the extradition refusal as a denial of justice and called for Sacoolas to be extradited. Dominic Raab went further, meeting with Harrys parents Monday, after which Seiger described the foreign secretary as being incandescent with rage at the US refusal to grant the extradition of Sacoolas. Seiger was now convinced Raab would confront Pompeo when he meets him alongside Johnson today. On a very human level, he is a parent himself, and he made it clear that he is going to tell Pompeo that Sacoolas has to come back. As a placatory gesture the proposed judicial review of the case has been replaced by a discussion with the Foreign Office. Pompeo will not be fooled by such theatrics and will confidently dismiss any appeals regarding Sacoolas, knowing they are made purely for the record. There has been a great deal of discussion around the Capitol lately about the necessity of implementing a state-wide tolling system. The governor and the Democrat leadership have been clamoring for tolls as a solution for funding our transportation needs while simultaneously diverting money earmarked for the Special Transportation Fund (STF). Funding had been available to pay for road and bridge projects but was ultimately diverted by legislative Democrats and the Governor to pay for other items in the budget. $171 million was diverted from the STF in the 2020-2021 biennium budget, defying the law that was enacted through the passage of the bipartisan budget in 2017. Part of the reason I supported the 2017 budget was that the legislation prevented money collected from the state's vehicle tax revenue from being used for other line-items within the General Fund, which was further bolstered by the Constitutional Lockbox passed by the voters. In 2017, the legislature approved the overall phase-in of vehicle tax revenue to the STF. Currently, the vehicle tax revenue is collected and deposited directly into the General Fund. For those dollars to go to the STF, legislative action is required to appropriately allocate the earmarked resources. The legislative majority has not taken the appropriate action to move the allocated transportation dollars to the STF. A similar practice occurred with the collection of the gas tax. From 2000 to 2015, the State took in $4.1 billion in gas tax revenue, but only deposited about half into the STF. All residents should be aware of this deceptive budgeting practice while considering transportation pitches that depend on additional revenue from tolls. Clearly, based on past practice, there is no guarantee that the money collected from tolls will actually go to the roads. While it is true that the Democratic leadership and the Governor did allocate some vehicle tax income from the General Fund to the STF in the recently enacted biennial budget, it was not at the required 33 percent, in 2020, and 56 percent, in 2021. Initially, Governor Lamont brazenly sought to freeze the transfer amount at 8%, when he released his first budget proposal in 2019, which would have resulted in short-changing the STF by $1.19 billion. Ultimately, in 2020, he decreased the amount of the transfer from the required 33 percent to 17 percent, and in 2021 from the required 56 percent down to 25 percent, which results in $171 million less for transportation projects. Instead, these funds have been misappropriated to Democrats pet projects while deceiving taxpayers that more revenue must be raised through tolls to provide the undeniably much needed road and bridge repairs. So much for the Constitutional Lockbox enacted in 2019. Since the vehicle tax revenue was never deposited into the STF, despite prior legislation mandating such, the governor and Democrat leadership claim they have not breached the Constitutional Lockbox. You decide. Elections are in November. What is evident to me is that the state does not have a deficiency of resources, but a clear issue of being able to prioritize and allocate them for the intended purpose. The budget in 2017, which set the allocation for our transportation needs as noted above, had strong Bipartisan support. Part of the bipartisan agreement hinged on regaining the trust of the general public after the state had failed to be a good-faith steward of transportation funding. One budget cycle later with a super Democrat majority now controlling the allocation of transportation dollars, the spirit of that bipartisan legislation has devolved into a fiction - which is a prime example of why the public has no faith that the state will responsibly handle its financial responsibilities. This is just another reason I am against the hasty installation of any state-wide tolling plan. It's important to use dedicated transportation tax dollars for their intended use, namely bridge and road repair projects, and nothing else. The legislative session convenes on Wednesday (Feb. 5). Im hopeful that the legislature can, once again, come together to form a sensible solution that will actually fund the STF to its statutory required levels without further financially burdening Connecticut residents. State Rep. Richard A. Smith (R-108) represents the communities of New Fairfield, Sherman, New Milford and Danbury. (TNS) Texas has billions of federal dollars and at least three congressional seats to gain if the 2020 census accurately counts its growing population.But the shadow of a population undercount looms over the Lone Star State due to privacy concerns among mixed immigration status families and hard-to-count populations not responding to the census. And beyond risking some of Texas newfound political strength, an undercount would hurt the states fight against poverty for the next decade.Funding for programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Women Infants and Children, Medicaid, Childrens Health Insurance Program and the Section 8 housing voucher program is dictated heavily by data derived from the decennial census.Those programs play a key role in lifting families out of poverty and helping them reach complete independence, said Sara Albert, a public policy expert and leader of the public policy team for the Dallas Coalition for Hunger Solutions.About 281,000 people live at or below the poverty level in Dallas, according to census data, and about 83% of them are Hispanic or Black.Albert said Dallas-area nonprofits connect low-income families with fundamental resources like food, medical attention and housing through these programs.But if the families who need these programs the most arent counted in the census, she added, the state wont get the federally allocated dollars needed to help them.The pie is the pie. It is not going to get any bigger but how it gets distributed is dependent on census data, Albert said.The federal government annually distributes some $675 billion to states for infrastructure programs and public aid programs.An analysis from GW Institute of Public Policy at George Washington University found that the federal government distributed some $59.4 billion to Texas for 55 programs in 2016 using 2010 census data:Medicaid received almost $24 billion.SNAP got about $5.3 billion.Section 8 Housing vouchers funding was about $1 billion.CHIP received about $1.3 billion.And WIC got about $530 million.These are federal dollars that were all paying into, Albert said.Fear around a proposed question about citizenship has dominated the conversation around the 2020 census. And even though the Supreme Court barred the Trump administration from adding the question, there is some concern an undercount may be inevitable.Other factors may also contribute to an undercount.About 1 million Dallas-area residents live in hard to count areas. Young children, low-income families, residents with limited internet access are all at higher risk of not being counted this year.Once the census numbers are set and done, the federal governments formulas spit out a number and states get what they get, said Valerie Hawthorne, government relations director for the North Texas Food Bank.The food banks ability to provide nutrition foods to low-income families would be impacted by an undercount because The Emergency Food Assistance Program -- one of its public food sources -- uses census data to distribute supplies.Any undercount results in less food coming to us, which then means we have to source food from retail partners and other benefactors, Hawthorne said. The North Texas Food Bank sources its food supply through partnerships with retailers, the federal government and private donations.Hawthorne said the push is on among area nonprofits working on food security and nutrition access to make sure that families they work with know that their participation in the 2020 census is crucial.Families that are considered hard to count are often among those seeking help from the North Texas Food Bank, Hawthorne said, and thats why its crucial that they understand that being counted in the census will only help them in the long run if they use public assistance programs.A stable source of food in the household increases educational potential and decreases family stress, Hawthorne said. Having stable food access can also cut down on medical costs because nutrition and health go hand in hand. President Muhammadu Buhari says the type of insecurity that has taken over some parts of the country is surprising and one evil plan against the country. The president said this when he received a delegation of eminent and respected citizens of Niger state led by Abubakar Sani Bello, governor of the state, in Abuja, on Tuesday. Simon Lalong, governor of Plateau state, has ordered the arrest of Fulani leaders and community heads following recent attacks in some parts of the state.Gunmen raided Kwatas village in Bokkos local government area of the state during the weekend, killing more than 15 persons. During an emergency meeting of community leaders and stakeholders on Tuesday, Lalong ordered the arrest of the Fulani leaders, saying it is no longer business as usual. The house of representatives says the cries of the people that have lost their lives due to the ravaging insecurity in the country are giving them sleepless nights. According to Benjamin Kalu, spokesman of the green chamber, said lawmakers can no longer discuss Nigerias insecurity problems in hushed voices and paint the situation with beautiful colours. A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has set March 31, 2020, for the resumption of the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. According to reports, the court fixed the date after the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari asked the court to reject a request to restore Kanus revoked bail. The Buhari government filed a counter-motion before the court to oppose an application filed in April 2019 by Nnamdi Kanu seeking the restoration of his bail. Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, says the South-West geopolitical zone has no plans to secede from Nigeria, adding that the newly launched South-West Security Network, code-named Amotekun was to tackle armed robbery, kidnapping, banditry and illegal destruction of lives and property. The governor said Amotekun wasnt formed so that the South-West region can secede from Nigeria as it remains an integral part of the country. Senate President Ahmad Lawan says the countrys security has deteriorated, stressing that the continuous loss of lives is unacceptable. Lawan, while speaking on Tuesday in a welcome address on the floor of the senate, said there is a need for the senate to speedily seek for solutions to fix the security problem bedevilling our dear country. Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, says he has forfeited his security vote to enable him settle economic challenges in the state, especially the payment of salaries and pension. Uzodinma made the announcement when he met with the Imo Economic Development Initiative, led by Professor Maurice Iwu, at government House in Owerri on Tuesday.In a statement, by his Chief Press Secretary, Oguwike Nwachukwu, Uzodinma said: Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma has stated his vision to establish power and Petrochemical plants to enable the state The National Examination Council (NECO) had said that the certificate Ifeanyi Ubah, senator representing Anambra south, presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is genuine. Ubah of member of Young Progressive Party (YPP), was sacked by a federal capital territory (FCT) high court as senator on that grounds that he submitted forged a NECO certificate to INEC. The daughter of a Chinese tourist who is seriously ill in a Paris hospital has become the fifth person in France to be confirmed with the coronavirus, officials have said. Her 80-year-old father was the fourth confirmed case in France of the new coronavirus that has killed more than 100 people since it emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December. "A fifth case has been detected," Health Minister Agnes Buzyn told a briefing on Wednesday. "It's the daughter of the Chinese tourist who was hospitalised recently in intensive care in a serious condition," Buzyn added. The woman in her thirties, "whose condition has worsened, who needs oxygen," has also been placed in intensive care, Buzyn said. The minister said a first plane was due to fly Wednesday evening to Wuhan, the epicentre in China, to repatriate 200 French people stranded there. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Its worth noting that some of the harshest critics of Donald Trumps new IsraeliPalestinian peace plan many of them Middle East experts whove worked in the Clinton and Obama administrations are the same people behind catastrophic efforts that resulted in more hopelessness, intifadas, and extremism. These professional peace-processors have managed to harden the Israeli public against even the most abstract negotiations because, inevitably, all of them end in violence. As with the plans that came before it, its unlikely that Trumps plan will succeed. But it is the best of any recent offerings because it doesnt make any false promises. Trump Outlines Mideast Peace Plan That Strongly Favors Israel, read the New York Times headline, reflecting the general tone of media coverage. Thats wrong. The plan favors reality, laying out the only plausible path to a new Palestinian state. Its been a dangerous waste of time basing negotiations on delusions. And the reality is that there will never be a Palestinian right of return to Israel, since such a policy would destroy the Jewish character of the state. The refugee situation is a 70-plus-year scandal of the Arab worlds making in which thousands of Palestinians are condemned to poverty so they can be used as a cudgel in the propaganda fight against Israel. Palestinians are not getting their great-granddads house in Jaffa back any more than the hundreds of thousands of Sephardic Jews who were expelled from Muslim lands after Israels 1948 war of independence are reclaiming their property. The difference is that one of these groups accepted reality long ago. Nor will Palestinians ever take control of Jerusalem proper. Any Israeli politician who broaches the notion of handing over the fulcrum of Jewish cultural, religious, and political identity to Fatah is engaging in an act of political suicide. Palestinians have never administered Jerusalem, and they have no legitimate claim over Jerusalem. The current state of affairs is the status quo, whether Palestinians decide they want a state or not. Story continues Likewise, Israelis will never pull back to pre-1967 lines, giving up its claims to the West Bank, because no sane nation would reinstitute unsecure borders next to an unreliable potential terror state. The vast majority of Israelis (settlers) who now reside in towns (settlements) built in historically Jewish areas (the occupied West Bank) arent going to be displaced because the United Nations, John Kerry, or Ben Rhodes has declares Judea and Samaria a no-Jew zone. Those towns are part of a de facto border whether Palestinians agree to a deal or not. And finally, there is no way that Israel, a liberal democracy responsible for the security of its citizens, can hand over the Jordan Valley an area with immense strategic importance irrespective of the Palestinian situation to a newly created state that allies itself with unsavory nations and entertains the idea of entering into a unity government with Hamas, the theocratic terror group. Perhaps after peaceful coexistence for a few decades this could change. But right now, thats the status quo, whether Israel officially assumes sovereignty over the Jordan Valley or not. The Trump deal would simply codify these realities while allowing Palestinians to finally have a startup state. Trumps plan is the first to offer a map laying out what the final borders of the Palestinian nation might look like. In it, Israel cedes around 70 percent of the disputed territory in the West Bank to Palestinians, but doubles its existing territory overall. The sovereign capital of the State of Palestine, the plan states, would be the city of East Jerusalem. In return Palestinians would recognize the existence of Israel, agree to solve their refugee problem through integration in their new state and in host Arab counties, and renounce terrorism. In other words, Palestinians would be asked to conduct themselves as does any normal, functioning state. The U.S. would also infuse $50 billion into the new Palestinian state. Stateless peoples yearning for self-determination around the world ethnic groups that Western elites dont care a whit about would, no doubt, be ecstatic for such an opportunity. Palestinians, however, happen to have chosen the right enemies. They just have the wrong leaders. President Mahmoud Abbas hasnt faced an electorate in 13 years and counting. His title of president falsely suggests that Abbas is the duly elected leader of a nation. Neither is true. And while that is his own fault, Abbas and his deputies will no doubt decide to sit in their U.N.-funded mansions while the Palestinian people suffer, and to wait out Trump for more advantageous terms from a friendlier president such as Joe Biden or Bernie Sanders, who could put Linda Sarsour in his administration. But they wont be able to wait out Israel. A nation with an open and vibrant economy has no reason enter into a deal that upends its security. Most Israelis I hate to break this to everyone arent obsessed with the Palestinians. Hamas is largely contained. Fatah is contained. Israels existence isnt contingent on the creation of a Palestinian state, only on security. Israel, in fact, probably feels less external pressure than ever to enter into a deal. Anyone whos followed this issue understands the historic significance of Bahrain, UAE, and Oman sending envoys to White House unveiling of Trumps peace deal. Arab nations are coming to terms with the reality of the Jewish State in ways that Americans progressives have not. Nor is there more internal political pressure to enter into a bad deal. Benny Gantz, the Kahol Lavan leader and chief rival to Benjamin Netanyahu, hailed the Trump plan because, despite the effort of the American Left to cast Netanyahu as the sole impediment to peace, no major Israeli party on either the right or the left is going to agree to a right of return, a return to pre-1967 lines, or a surrender of Jerusalem. In the past, Palestinian negotiators, who have never once crafted a peace plan of their own or any deal that wasnt contingent on the complete capitulation of Israel sat back and rejected one concession after the next. They offered ever-growing lists of grievances while American leaders tried to pacify them. Its about time someone injected a dose of this reality into this situation. Trumps plan allows Palestinians to have a state in the world that exists. Or not. More from National Review DAMASCUS - The Syrian Army announced it has recaptured the key city of Maaret al-Noomane, in the country's northwest, dominated by rebel groups and jihadists. "Our forces managed in these last days to eliminate terrorism in many villages and towns," said a statement from the military command read by a director of state television. Russian BBC journalist Grigor Atanesyan criticized Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for his unprofessional attitude towards opponents, emphasizing that the PM should not respond to comments on social networks, but raise the economy and living standards in the country instead "The Armenian government has serious problems with criticism. Facing provocations, Prime Minister Pashinyan immediately gets very defensive, overreacts and gets personal," Atanesyan explained. Moreover, law enforcement agencies repeatedly detained critics and raided media outlets. Its clear that Pashinyans critics are not angels, some of them are provocateurs and paranoid, but its clear that they are insignificant, they have little support, unlike Pashinyan. As a result, the prime ministers attacks give hem freedom of action," the BBC journalist said. "In addition, they can ultimately win, because any day that Pashinyan spends in endless battles on Facebook is lost for Armenia. According to a recent survey by the International Republican Institute (IRI), people in Armenia most of all want jobs and the economic growth, which are very difficult to provide, given the limited resources and complex geopolitics," he concluded. The Past newspaper drew attention to the constant lowering of Nikol Pashinyan's approval rating because of his live broadcasts on Facebook. ALBANY A judge declared a mistrial Tuesday afternoon when jurors in the case of a well-known radio DJ accused of child sex abuse failed to reach a unanimous verdict, the Albany County District Attorneys Office said. The panel considering the fate of Brian O. Angelo, aka DJ Iroc, of Clifton Park reported to Albany County Supreme Court Justice Peter Lynch that they were deadlocked. The jury had been deliberating since Friday afternoon. Angelo, 51, is accused of preying sexually upon a child and was represented by former Rensselaer County District Attorney Joel Abelove. "The District Attorney's Office failed to convince the jury that my client was guilty and they were unable to reach a verdict so we have to have another trial," Abelove said. The case was handled by Albany County Assistant District Attorney Caroline Murray. Angelo, who was on the air at radio station JAMZ 96.3, is charged with predatory sexual assault of a child under the age of 13, the most serious sex crime charge on the books in New York. As a result, the defendant, who is out on bail, could face a maximum sentence of life in prison, if convicted. Colonie police have said they received a tip in July 2018 that Angelo had allegedly been abusing a victim in 2006 and a 12-year-old girl in 2009. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. A new trial date has been set for March 9. Angelo also faces child sex abuse crimes in Rensselaer County, where he is accused of first-degree course of sexual conduct, a felony, involving an 8-year-old child between June 1 and Aug. 31, 2005, in a Seventh Avenue residence in North Troy. The trial in Rensselaer County is tentatively set to get underway with jury selection on Feb. 25. In a move consistent with The Islamic Republic's decades-old policy regarding the Israeli-Palestinian issue, and Tehran's anti-US stance, Iranian officials have harshly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's "Deal of the Century". Traditionally, the Islamic Republic has opposed all international plans to solve the Israel-Palestinian conflict throughout the past four decades. The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Ali Larijani wrote a letter to the heads of parliaments around the world describing Trump's Deal of the Century as "disgusting," and "in violation of all international agreements and laws including the UN Charter." Larijani said the deal "ensures the continuation of occupation of Palestine" and promised that "Muslim nations and countries will confront the imposition of this unilateral deal." He also accused the U.S. President of acting based on his personal interests rather than consulting the UN or the Palestinian side. Like other Iranian officials, Larijani also echoed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's idea of holding a referendum in the Palestinian territories to determine the fate of Palestinians. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday slammed the U.S. plan as "a nightmare for the region." He wrote in a tweet that the Vision for Peace "is simply the dream project of a bankruptcy-ridden real estate developer." Zarif further hoped that deal would be "a wake-up call for all the Muslims who have been barking up the wrong tree." In an earlier tweet on Monday, Zarif characterized the Deal of the Century as "an illusional plan that is dead on arrival." Repeating the idea of holding a referendum in the Palestinian territory, Zarif suggested that Instead of a delusional Deal of the Centurywhich will be D.O.A.self-described champions of democracy would do better to accept Iran's democratic solution proposed by Ayatollah Khamenei. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi expressed Iran's official view Tuesday morning. He said: "The Zionist regime is an occupying regime and the only solution to solve the Palestinian crisis is a referendum among all main residents of the Palestinian land and such vicious plans are doomed to failure." Mousavi who spoke before Zarif and Larijani, called on "all free nations and governments in the region and across the world to counter Trump's "disgraceful" scheme." However, he regretted that "some Muslim countries have forgotten the Palestinian cause," adding that such an attitude will undermine "the future and prestige of Muslims and Islamic countries." Khamenei's office belatedly posted a series of tweets on the issue Tuesday afternoon which appear to have been taken out of his previous speeches. His new comments about the matter could be included in one of his usual speeches on any Wednesday. In the tweets Khamenei said "The Deal of the Century will never bear fruit," and called the "Jewishization of Qods" a "foolish and unwise" act. He reiterated that "The Palestinian nation and all Muslims will definitely stand up to them and not allow the so-called Deal of Century to be realized." Usually, as it works in Iran, during the first hours after a development like the announcement of the Deal of the Century, everyone who considers himself or herself a politician says something about the matter which may not necessarily reflect the views of the government. Later, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman offers the regime's attestation in the matter. The spokesman's statement as seen above contains three elements. First, the regime does not like the Deal of the Century. Second, It calls on other Muslim nations to oppose the deal, and third, it offers Khamenei's solution which is holding a referendum. All later comments, including Friday prayers sermons, are likely to embody one or more of the three arguments. Naturally, those who take a more hardliner stance on the issue, including military officials, will focus on the confrontational part, calling on other nations to resist Trump's idea. However, in this particular case, any comment by officials or any analysis by the media are also mixed with the usual anti-U.S. and anti-Trump jargon while also marking the Islamic Republic's antagonistic opposition to the existence of Israel. Traditionally, the Islamic Republic has opposed all solutions to the Israel-Palestinian conflict throughout the past four decades. Ayatollah Khamenei came up with the idea of referendum inspired by former ultraconservative President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad but put it forward after his Presidency. Khamenei has also predicted that the state of Israel will cease to exist in less than 25 years and some Iranian officials including a former President have vowed to wipe Israel off the map. The Islamic Republic's death wish for Israel was also written in Hebrew on Iranian missiles in 2015. In the Islamic Republic jargon, the Middle East conflict is between Israel and Islam. The myth trumpeted by Iranian officials is that all Palestinians are Muslim and Arab. The misconception is rooted in Iranian revolutionaries ties with radical militant Palestinians who trained them in the Beka valley in Lebanon in late 1960s and early 1970s. In recent years, Iran has been known to lend assistance to Palestinian groups such as HAMAS and Islamic Jihad.In 2012 and 2014 Majles Speaker Ali Larijani stressed that Iran has also lent military support to Palestinian groups. A metre-long red-bellied black snake was eager to get back to school after it was found hidden behind a TV screen inside a classroom. A snake catcher was called to a senior college in Victor Harbor, 84km south of Adelaide in South Australia, to wrangle the snake on Tuesday. The snake had entered the classroom through the gap in a sliding door and wrapped itself behind the desktop monitor. A snake catcher was called to a senior college in Victor Harbor, 84 kilometres south of Adelaide, on Tuesday to wrangle the snake An image shared to Facebook by Snake Catchers Adelaide showed the reptile blended in with the cables at the back of the television. Only a sliver of red scales gave any indication that not all was as it appeared to be. Video footage showed how the snake catcher had to wrangle the eager reptile. A woman could be heard saying in the clip the snake 'wanted to join in the first day of school' for 2020. The snake tried to dart away from the wrangler by burrowing into metal brackets on the television. The snake catcher seized the moment the red-bellied black snake's head wasn't in view to grab it and place it in a mesh bag. Snake Catchers Adelaide said red-bellied black snakes are becoming 'more common' in parts of South Australia. Social media users vowed to always check when trying to access the back of a computer or television. The snake had entered the classroom through the gap in a sliding door and wrapped itself behind the desktop monitor HOW TO AVOID SNAKES THIS SEASON Remove pet water bowls from near entry or exit points as they can attract thirsty snakes Keep doors closed in warmer weather and make sure there are no holes in the screens Try to reduce number of rats or mice in the home by clearing away uneaten pet food Trim overhanging plants and remove overgrown shrubs or weeds Do not leave shoes at the doorstep Keep shelves at least 30 centimetres from the ground - particularly in the shed or carport Advertisement The snake tried to dart away from the wrangler by burrowing into metal brackets on the television 'That's the last time I plug in the HDMI cable back there without looking,' one person said. Another tried to get others to plug in their cables instead. 'Need IT help, can you plug in my HDMI cable,' one person commented in the thread. Others said the discovery made them nervous to return to school. 'Nope, we are not going back to school tomorrow,' one person said. At least three organisations have submitted a memorandum to the authorities seeking action against protesters staging a sit-in against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Madhya Pradeshs Ujjain. The protesters have been staging the sit-in for almost a week inspired by a similar women-led protest in New Delhis Shaheen Bagh, where hundreds of residents have blocked a portion of a road since December. Officials said the organisations have claimed the protesters, including women and children, were blocking one of the main roads leading to the famous Mahakal Temple and causing a lot of inconvenience to pilgrims. The protest has unnecessarily created fear and tension in the peaceful holy city of Ujjain besides causing inconvenience to people, said Iqbal Gandhi, a member of Mahakal Bhaktgan Sangharsh Samiti that is among the organisations that have submitted the memorandum. Gandhi said the protesters have blocked the citys main road leading to the temple causing a lot of inconvenience. There is always a fear that anyone passing through the area may invite the protesters wrath even in case of a minor accident, he said. The administration is responsible for creating such a tense situation by giving permission to the protesters to occupy the road. We will wait for a few days for the administrations response before deciding the next course of action. Khallifurrahman Qazi, who is leading the protestors, dismissed claims about the road blockade as baseless. We are staging a sit-in peacefully and in a democratic manner without causing inconvenience to anyone. Ujjain collector Shashank Mishra said the traffic to the temple has been uninterrupted and there is no inconvenience to anyone. There is no law and order problem due to the sit-in as of now. We will review the situation... SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON By Trend The issue of the return of Azerbaijani students from China is under state control, Azerbaijan's Deputy Education Minister Firudin Gurbanov told reporters, Trend reports. The ways of returning students studying in China are being considered, Gurbanov said. "Direct flights between China and Azerbaijan are temporarily suspended. Naturally, the rules introduced by the Chinese Government must be respected. The situation of the Azerbaijani students is in the spotlight of the Azerbaijani state," the deputy minister said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The nation will vote on constitutional recognition of indigenous Australians by June next year, the federal minister responsible hopes. Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt has mapped out a timeline for the proposed referendum which will be underpinned by legislation to be introduced by the end of this year, The Australian reported on Thursday. The referendum will ask Australian voters whether the constitution should recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Mr Wyatt wants the referendum to occur well clear of the next federal election, which must be held before September 2022. "(The) very critical and important issue of constitutional recognition needs its own oxygen and its own space," he told the newspaper. Mr Wyatt is also working on models for an indigenous voice, which he hopes to finalise before the referendum on constitutional recognition. The government has rejected the idea outlined in the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart that an indigenous voice be enshrined in the constitution. Instead, it would be legislated and empowered to work with local, state, territory and federal government. Mr Wyatt is hopeful the indigenous community won't be divided despite the voice not being enshrined in the constitution. "If there is a division amongst indigenous Australians then an opportunity will be lost," he said. "We are going to have some strong opponents (to constitutional recognition)." Indigenous leaders Marcia Langton and Tom Calma are leading a senior advisory group due to propose models for the voice by June this year. They're working alongside a 16-member group of experts. 29.01.2020 LISTEN Madagascars chronic food crisis ranks #1 in CAREs report Suffering in Silence which was launched globally today. The international aid organizations analysis of global online media coverage is now in its fourth year and shows a concerning trend of certain countries annually recurring on the list. The African continent hosts nine out of ten under-reported crises, ranging from drought to displacement, conflict, epidemics, and food insecurity. Were seeing increasing linkages between the effects of man-made climate change and the longevity and complexity of humanitarian crises. From Madagascar to Lake Chad to North Korea, the majority of crises ranked in our report are partly a consequence of declining natural resources, increasing extreme weather events and global warming more broadly, says Sally Austin, CARE Internationals Head of Emergency Operations. The increased public attention for the global climate crisis is encouraging, but we must ensure that the conversation is not limited to the Global North and much-needed transformations there. It is shocking to see how little media reporting there is about human suffering related to global warming in the South, the lack of political action to address this injustice, and solutions applied to ease the burden for communities. With the report Suffering in Silence, CARE challenges media institutions, aid organizations, and policymakers to make conscious choices about their priorities. For most of the underreported crises in this Top 10 list, the humanitarian response is also chronically underfunded. Suffering In Silence 2019: Top 10 of underreported crises: Madagascar Impacted by the human-made climate crisis, over 2.6 million people affected by drought Central African Republic A brutal conflict in the heart of Africa, about 2.6 million people in desperate need of humanitarian assistance Zambia On the front of climate change, an estimated 2.3 million people in the country in urgent need of food assistance Burundi Instability fueling a humanitarian crisis, 1.7 million people chronically struggle to feed their families Eritrea Fleeing drought and repression, half of all children under five stunted as a consequence of malnourishment DPR Korea Hunger behind locked doors, around 10.9 million people in need of humanitarian assistance to meet their food, health, water, sanitation and hygiene needs Kenya Trapped in the middle of floods and droughts, more than 1.1 million people live without regular access to food Burkina Faso A silent humanitarian catastrophe, around 5.2 million people more than a quarter of the population affected by the escalation of violence in Central Sahel Ethiopia A vicious cycle of disaster, hunger and displacement, about 7.9 million people suffer from a serious level of malnutrition, particularly pregnant and lactating women, infants and the elderly Lake Chad Basin Armed conflict, displacement and hunger, nearly 10 million people in need of humanitarian assistance Using the media monitoring services of Meltwater Group, CARE analyzed those natural disasters or conflicts that received the least media attention in 2019. More than 2.4 million global online sources were monitored in English, French, German, Arabic and Spanish. To filter according to scale, we chose countries in which at least one million people were affected by natural or man-made disasters, according to data by Reliefweb, ACAPS and CAREs own data. The result was a list of 40 crises that were then screened in Meltwaters database for the time period of January 1 to November 15, 2019 with relevant keywords to describe the crises. Suffering In Silence ranks the top ten crises which received the fewest media attention, meaning the least amount of online media coverage. This is the fourth edition of CAREs Suffering In Silence report. In 2019, the most under-reported crisis is Madagascar, followed by the Central African Republic and Zambia. A year ago, in 2018, Haiti was at the top of the ranking. This annual analysis serves as a reminder and appeals to raise attention for forgotten crises in both media and political debates. About CARE: Founded in 1945 with the iconic CARE package, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization working around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. CARE places a special focus on working alongside poor girls and women because, equipped with the proper resources, they have the power to lift families and entire communities out of poverty. CARE works in 100 countries and reached more than 68 million people last year. To learn more, visit www.care-international.org. An image taken of the victim on the hidden camera. Arancha (fictitious name) was working as a receptionist at a dentists clinic in Alcorcon in the Madrid region. Every day, she would change into her uniform in a small storage-laboratory space that was made available for that purpose. One day, as she was beginning to undress with the door ajar, her boss grabbed the handle on the outside of the door. Can I stay? I would like to, he asked her. No, no, she replied, laughing cautiously. Close [the door]. In January 2019, the Supreme Court ordered the dentist to pay the victim 62,500 in damages This conversation was recorded on a pen drive camera that had been placed in the room by the dentist to spy on Arancha. Months later, the exchange would stand out for Judge Jose Pedro Vazquez, from the criminal court in nearby Mostoles. These are words that, said jokingly, enclose an unfathomable truth to the human soul. What is colloquially known as half serious, half joking, he wrote in his verdict. In the present case, the accused is truly anxious to see [the victim] without the cover of clothing. The judge has sentenced the dentist, identified by the initials J. A. R. R., to three years in prison for crimes against privacy, aggravated by abuse of trust. According to the verdict, issued in December and to which EL PAIS has had access, the judge found the 53-year-old guilty of placing a camera in the storage room to film his employee while she got changed. Vazquez agreed with the public prosecutor that the recordings were made with lewd intentions because no other kind of intention makes sense. The judge dismissed the dentists claims that the camera was put there because money had gone missing from a safe in the room, pointing out that the pen drive was positioned to give an optimum close-up view of the worker. The victim said she discovered she was being recorded in February 2016, when she found the USB device on the floor of the clinics reception area. Arancha told the court that she thought the pen drive had been lost by someone, and connected it to a computer to see if she could find out who it belonged to. Instead, she found out that she had been recorded on a hidden camera: the device contained video of her undressing down to her underwear. She decided to leave the USB on the floor, reviewed the angle of the camera and later swapped it. Although the judge doubted whether the hidden camera was found this way, given that her lawyer had tried to reach a settlement with the dentist before going to court, he did not believe the videos had been tampered with. According to Vazquez, Arancha had been completely unaware of the situation. He added that the details over how the USB was found do not undo the reality that the accused used a device to record private scenes of the complainant. Aranchas lawyer, Juan Antonio Jimenez-Piernas told the court: We never wanted to get to this point, but the accused preferred to make my client relive what happened, forcing us to have to defeat him in court. Aranchas victory in the criminal court comes on the back of a victory in civil court. In January 2019, the Supreme Court sentenced the dentist to pay her 62,500 in damages for seriously and repeatedly breaking her basic rights as a worker. The judge ruled that the recordings were made with lewd intentions In his ruling, Judge Vazquez also banned the 53-year-old from practicing as a dentist for three years and ordered him to pay a fine of 7,500, plus 3,000 in compensation to the victim. You only have to look at the great divide between the compensation that we won through in the labor court, and what was offered by the criminal court, to recognize that the procedural strategy was a complete success, said Jimenez-Piernas. In his ruling, Vazquez also rejected another line of defense from the dentists lawyers, who accused Arancha of filming herself to get money out of [the accused] in the most despicable way. The judge replied: But that does not explain the recordings in which [the dentist] is seen at [Aranchas] side, or when he is seen when she has just disappeared from the scene. He added in his verdict that on at least six occasions, before the time that [the victim] began work, the accused activated a device to record image and sound, which he left running. When she left the storage room, the accused returned and stopped the recording. All of this evidence ended up recorded. English version by Melissa Kitson. Paul Hollywood's ex-girlfriend Summer Monteys- Fullam has claimed she was stalked at 18, by a man who would 'hide in the bushes' as she rode her horse. The 24-year-old, from Kent, appeared on Good Morning Britain alongside barrister Jerry Hayes to debate whether there should be a stalking register in the same way there is for sexual offenders. She told how she feared her stalker of 'nine-months to a year' would 'pull her off her horse' when she was a teenager, and revealed she was harassed by a security guard who 'wouldn't take no for an answer' last year. This comes after new Stalking Protection Orders, which offer added safeguards for victims by making breaching an order a criminal offence, were implemented in England and Wales, which stalkers will risk five-year jail terms if they break. Figures show that one in five women and one in ten men are victims of stalking over the course of their lives and Summer argued that there should be more protection for victims of stalking. However, Jerry insisted that there are more effective methods than a register. Paul Hollywood's ex-girlfriend Summer Monteys- Fullam (pictured) has claimed she was stalked at 18, by a man who would 'hide in the bushes' as she rode her horse She appeared on Good Morning Britain to discuss legal measures in place for victims of stalking, where she opened up about her experiences She told how she feared her stalker of 'nine-months to a year' would 'pull her off her horse' when she was a teenager. She is pictured leaving the studio today Summer told: 'I had two situations where I was stalked.' After clarifying that her appearance had nothing to do with her former partner Hollywood, she sad: 'I was stalked when I was 18, he was on a motorbike, it was very scary. He was on motorbike so I couldn't see his face. 'I didn't know how old he was. I didn't know if I knew him, it was very scary was following me on my horses, he would hide in bushes.' She went on to confess that she 'didn't know how far' her stalker would take his actions, and was worried he would one day attack her from the bushes. She appeared alongside barrister Jerry Hayes, and told how the ordeal lasted 'nine-months to a year' However Jerry, who confessed that he too had been 'quite seriously' stalked, felt that a register would not be the most effective deterrent for offenders She went on to explain the last year, a security guard was 'relentlessly' trying to work with her, and she had to get a cease and desist letter to stop him contacting her 'I had to go the extent to change my routine', said Summer. 'I had to stop enjoying being on my horses, because he hid in bushes, I didn't know if he would scare my horse and pull me off my horse. I didn't know how far it would go.' When quizzed on how long the stalking last, she said: 'Nine-months to a year, five six days a week'. She went on to explain the last year, a security guard was 'relentlessly' trying to work with her, and she had to get a cease and desist letter to stop him contacting her. The other one was at the end of last year', told Summer, ' There was a security guard who was relentlessly trying to be my security' Figures show that one in five women and one in ten men are victims of stalking over the course of their lives and Summer argued that there should be more protection for victims of stalking. She is pictured after the show inside and outside the studio (L-R) Summer is seen smiling for photographers outside Good Morning Britain's studios in White City London 'He didn't take no for an answer, I told him I didn't need his services, he wouldn't take no for an answer. 'He was writing to the house, constantly messaging me on Instagram he ended up contacting my lawyer, who told him stop contacting my client.' However Jerry, who confessed that he too had been 'quite seriously' stalked, felt that a register would not be the most effective deterrent for offenders - as 'no one looks at the sex offender register'. He argued that anti-harassment legislation means stalking orders against you will be permanently on people's legal records. Jerry said: 'It means fixed behaviour. If its true you get a restraining order. Its not going to be a deterrent. Ive been stalked, we have all had it. Summer made sure to clarify her appearance had nothing to do with her former partner Paul Hollywood (pictured) The beauty told how she had to change her routine, and was worried that her stalker would 'pull her off her horse' 'It was really quite serious. The law is there already, there is anti-harassment legislation.' Summer felt that although the register may not be the most effective way 'if we can help one person' then the added measure would be worth it. Jerry argued: 'I think they go far enough and if you really want to deal with it you prosecute them' , however added that an individual would 'Need the resources to do it'. Summer went on to explain that the fear of stalking many women experience should mean more measures are out into place: 'A friend at school was followed at 14. For me I didnt know how far it was going to go.' Jerry concluded: 'a register wont help, no one looks at the sex offender register. If you have a stalking order against you it goes on your record.' During a meeting of Republican senators on Tuesday afternoon, GOP leaders announced that they do not yet have enough votes to stop witnesses from being called at President Trump's impeachment trial, The Wall Street Journal reports. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) did not share any numbers, but did acknowledge the votes aren't where he needs them to be, people with knowledge of the meeting said. The senators will vote later this week on whether to allow witnesses in the trial, and a new Quinnipiac poll shows 75 percent of voters want to hear witness testimony. Four Republicans and all 47 Democrats would provide enough votes to approve witnesses for the trial. Trump's lawyers finished their opening arguments on Tuesday, declaring the trial should end "as quickly as possible" without any witnesses. On Sunday, The New York Times reported that in his forthcoming book, former National Security Adviser John Bolton contradicts the defense argument that Trump did not engage in a quid pro quo with Ukraine. The White House blocked Bolton from testifying during the House impeachment inquiry. More stories from theweek.com Did John Bolton actually do Trump a favor? It's 2020 and women are exhausted The 3 kinds of Republicans that Bolton's testimony would reveal Moving to print. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images BuzzFeed News editor-in-chief Ben Smith will join the New York Times as a media columnist, the Times announced on Tuesday. Smith will take over the Times Media Equation column made famous by the late, great David Carr, and most recently written by Jim Rutenberg, who will transition into a writer-at-large role for the publication. Smith started BuzzFeeds news division back in 2011, successfully building out a serious news vertical at a site known for far lighter fare. Before that, he was a popular politics blogger at Politico. He will now join several other former bloggers from that site at the Times: Maggie Haberman, Jonathan Martin, Alex Burns, Ken Vogel, and Glenn Thrush. Smith is also a veteran of local New York politics coverage, having previously founded the Politicker blog for the New York Observer. David Carr made Media Equation a must read in and outside of the media industry before his death in 2015. His daughter, Erin Lee Carr, applauded Smith taking over the column shortly after Smiths hiring was reported: Great, lovely to hear that @BuzzFeedBen will be covering the amorphous, ever-changing environ that is media and + media column at the @nytimes. I think my dad would like the hire. Give em' hell Ben. https://t.co/Q0KE3tp4Bp ELC (@erinleecarr) January 28, 2020 NBC News reports that BuzzFeed has launched a formal search to replace Smith. His exit will also undoubtedly fuel concerns about the news divisions future following company layoffs a year ago but Smith didnt seem worried about that on Tuesday. In a farewell letter to BuzzFeed staff, he called his stint at the publication the privilege of my life and credited the staffs hard work, creativity, aggressiveness, and judgement for elevating the company to a site that now plays a major role in shaping global news, and the news business. It's been an incredible 8 years @BuzzFeedNews. Here's the note I just sent to our staff. pic.twitter.com/MawNsWd6V0 Ben Smith (@BuzzFeedBen) January 28, 2020 A former Holyoke resident who was arrested last year with a stolen handgun during a disturbance outside a Hartford nightclub pleaded guilty on Tuesday in federal court in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Nathaniel Rodriguez, 24, of Enfield is facing a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison. His sentencing is scheduled for April 22. Rodriguez was arrested in Hartford on Jan. 27, 2019 outside a club on Meadows Street. Police responded to the club for a reported fight, and officers arrived on scene to see Rodriguez pull a handgun during a dispute with a group of people. He was taken into custody and the gun, a loaded .380 caliber handgun, was found to have been reported stolen in Massachusetts in 2017. He has been in custody since March. According to the U.S. Attorney, Rodriguez has prior convictions in Massachusetts for firearm violations, assault, drug offenses, and intimidating witnesses. As a convicted felon, he is barred from possessing firearms. The case against him was investigated by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Hartford police, and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Connecticut. Sale of Inderal, Tenormin, Tenoretic, Zestril and Zestoretic to Atnahs Pharma supports AstraZenecas strategy of focusing on pipeline of new medicines AstraZeneca has agreed to sell the global commercial rights to Inderal (propranolol), Tenormin (atenolol), Tenoretic (atenolol, chlorthalidone fixed-dose combination), Zestril (lisinopril) and Zestoretic (lisinopril, hydrochlorothiazide fixed-dose combination) to UK based Atnahs Pharma (Atnahs). The agreement excludes the rights in the US and India, which were previously divested, and in Japan, which will be retained by AstraZeneca. The medicines, used primarily to treat hypertension, have lost their patent protection globally. Ruud Dobber, Executive Vice President, BioPharmaceuticals, said: These are important established medicines, and the divestment to Atnahs ensures they will continue to be available to patients. This transaction supports our strategy to realise value from our portfolio of non-core mature brands, enabling further investment in new medicines. AstraZeneca will continue to manufacture and supply Inderal, Tenormin, Tenoretic, Zestril and Zestoretic to Atnahs during a transition period. Financial considerations Atnahs will make an upfront payment of $350m to AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca may also receive future sales-contingent payments of up to $40m between 2020 and 2022. Income arising from the upfront and future payments will be reported in AstraZenecas financial statements within Other Operating Income & Expense. In 2018, Inderal, Tenormin, Tenoretic, Zestril and Zestoretic generated annual sales of $132m in the markets covered by this agreement. The divestment is expected to complete in the first quarter of 2020, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory clearances. During a demonstration of Artificial Intelligence demos at its San Francisco office, Google showed a prototype feature that is in development for Google Translate called Live Transcription. The feature, if it finally arrives to the public, will allow users to speak in one language and transcribe it to another language in real time on Google Translate. The feature will require an Internet connection as the computing will be done on Google servers and not on device. This is largely due to the fact that real time multilingual transcribing is more complicated than regular translation from one language to another. Hence, this makes the current models of AI on-device learning models incapable of such a feature. At the demonstration Google explained that the transcription feature is constantly evaluating whole sentences recording via the device microphone. After that, it will decide where to add punctuation and make whole host of corrective measures like contextual word correction, fixing for accents and dialects. The feature currently cannot work with audio files and requires live audio input from the microphone but Google may change that when they finally roll out the feature. Google also expects the AI models for the feature to vastly improve with time goes on. There is no timeline as to when Google might release the feature to the public. They just continue to say that it will arrive at some point in the future. Source Research presented at the ACM FAT 2020 conference in Barcelona today supports the notion that YouTube's platform is playing a role in radicalizing users via exposure to far-right ideologies. The study, carried out by researchers at Switzerland's Ecole polytechnique federale de Lausanne and the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil, found evidence that users who engaged with a middle ground of extreme right-wing content migrated to commenting on the most fringe far-right content. A March 2018 New York Times article by sociologist Zeynep Tufekci set out the now widely reported thesis that YouTube is a radicalization engine. Followup reporting by journalist Kevin Roose told a compelling tale of the personal experience of an individual, Caleb Cain, who described falling down an "alt right rabbit hole" on YouTube. But researcher Manoel Horta Ribeiro, who was presenting the paper today, said the team wanted to see if they could find auditable evidence to support such anecdotes. Their paper, called "Auditing radicalization pathways on YouTube," details a large-scale study of YouTube looking for traces of evidence -- in likes, comments and views -- that certain right-leaning YouTube communities are acting as gateways to fringe far-right ideologies. Per the paper, they analyzed 330,925 videos posted on 349 channels -- broadly classifying the videos into four types: Media, the Alt-lite, the Intellectual Dark Web (IDW) and the Alt-right -- and using user comments as a "good enough" proxy for radicalization (their data set included 72 million comments). The findings suggest a pipeline effect over a number of years where users who started out commenting on alt-lite/IDW YouTube content shifted to commenting on extreme far-right content on the platform over time. The rate of overlap between consumers of Media content and the alt-right was found to be far lower. "A significant amount of commenting users systematically migrates from commenting exclusively on milder content to commenting on more extreme content," they write in the paper. "We argue that this finding provides significant evidence that there has been, and there continues to be, user radicalization on YouTube, and our analyses of the activity of these communities... is consistent with the theory that more extreme content 'piggybacked' on the surge in popularity of I.D.W. and Alt-lite content... We show that this migration phenomenon is not only consistent throughout the years, but also that it is significant in its absolute quantity." Story continues The researchers were unable to determine the exact mechanism involved in migrating YouTube users from consuming "alt lite" politics to engaging with the most fringe and extreme far-right ideologies -- citing a couple of key challenges on that front: Limited access to recommendation data; and the study not taking into account personalization (which can affect a user's recommendations on YouTube). But even without personalization, they say they were "still able to find a path in which users could find extreme content from large media channels." During a conference Q&A after presenting the paper, Horta Ribeiro was asked what evidence they had that the radicalization effect the study identifies had occurred through YouTube, rather than via some external site -- or because the people in question were more radicalized to begin with (and therefore more attracted to extreme ideologies) versus the notion of YouTube itself being an active radicalization pipeline. He agreed it's difficult to make an absolute claim that YouTube is to blame. But also argued that, as host to these communities, the platform is responsible. "We do find evident traces of user radicalization, and I guess the question asks why is YouTube responsible for this? And I guess the answer would be because many of these communities they live on YouTube and they have a lot of their content on YouTube and that's why YouTube is so deeply associated with it," he said. "In a sense I do agree that it's very hard to make the claim that the radicalization is due to YouTube or due to some recommender system or that the platform is responsible for that. It could be that something else is leading to this radicalization and in that sense I think that the analysis that we make it shows there is this process of users going from milder channels to more extreme ones. And this solid evidence towards radicalization because people that were not exposed to this radical content become exposed. But it's hard to make strong causal claims -- like YouTube is responsible for that." We reached out to YouTube for a response to the research but the company did not reply to our questions. The company has tightened its approach toward certain far-right and extremist content in recent years, in the face of growing political and public pressure over hate speech, targeted harassment and radicalization risks. It has also been experimenting with reducing algorithmic amplification of certain types of potentially damaging nonsense content that falls outside its general content guidelines -- such as malicious conspiracy theories and junk science. New Delhi (PTI) Following is the chronology of events in the Nirbhaya case -- the sensational gang rape-and-murder of a 23-year-old girl on December 16, 2012 in which the Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea of one of the four death row convicts challenging the rejection of his mercy petition by the President. - Dec 16, 2012: Paramedical student gang-raped and brutally assaulted by six men in a private bus and thrown out of the moving vehicle along with her male friend. The victims admitted to Safdarjung Hospital. - Dec 17: Widespread protests erupt demanding stringent action against the accused. - Police identify the accused - bus driver Ram Singh, his brother Mukesh Kumar, Vinay Sharma and Pawan Gupta. - Dec 18: Ram Singh and three others arrested. - Dec 20: Victim's friend testifies. - Dec 21: Delinquent juvenile nabbed from Anand Vihar bus terminal in Delhi. Victim's friend identifies Mukesh as one of the culprits. Police conduct raids in Haryana and Bihar to nab the sixth accused, Akshay Thakur. - Dec 21-22: Thakur arrested in the Aurangabad district of Bihar and brought to Delhi. Victim records statement before the SDM in hospital. - Dec 25: Girl's condition declared critical. Constable Tomar succumbs to injuries. - Dec 26: Following a cardiac arrest, the victim flown to Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital by the government. - Dec 29: Victim succumbs to injuries and other medical conditions. Police add murder charges in the FIR. - Jan 2, 2013: Then Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir inaugurates fast track court (FTC) for speedy trial in sexual offence cases. - Jan 3: Police file charge sheet against five adults accused of murder, gang-rape, attempt to murder, kidnapping, unnatural offences and dacoity. - Jan 17: FTC starts proceedings against the five adult accused. - Jan 28: Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) says minority of juvenile accused is proved. - Feb 2: FTC frames charges against five adult accused. - Feb 28: JJB frames charges against the minor. - Mar 11: Ram Singh commits suicide in Tihar Jail. - Jul 5: Inquiry (trial) in JJB against the juvenile in concludes. JJB reserves verdict for July 11. - Jul 8: FTC completes recording of testimonies of prosecution witnesses. - Jul 11: JJB holds minor also guilty of illegally confining and robbing a carpenter on December 16, the night before allegedly taking part in the gang-rape. - Delhi High Court allows three international news agencies to cover the trial in the case. - Aug 22: FTC begins hearing final arguments in trial against four adult accused. - Aug 31: JJB convicts the minor for gang-rape and murder and awards three-year term at probation home. - Sep 3: FTC concludes trial. Reserves verdict. - Sep 10: Court convicts Mukesh, Vinay, Akshay, Pawan of 13 offences including gang-rape, unnatural offence and murder of the girl and attempt to murder her male friend. - Sep 13: Court awards death penalty to all 4 convicts. - Sep 23: HC begins hearing the convicts' death sentence reference sent to it by the trial court. - Jan 3, 2014: HC reserves verdict on convicts' appeals. - Mar 13: HC upholds death penalty to the 4 convicts. - Mar 15: SC stays execution of 2 convicts, Mukesh and Pawan, after they file appeals. Later, stays execution of other convicts also. - Apr 15: SC directs police to produce the dying declaration of the victim. - Feb 3, 2017: SC says it would hear afresh the aspect of awarding death penalty to the convicts. - Mar 27: SC reserves verdict on their appeals. - May 5: SC upholds death penalty to four convicts, says the case falls under the category of 'rarest of rare' and the offence created "tsunami of shock". - Nov 8: Mukesh, one of the four death row convicts in the case, moves SC seeking review of its verdict upholding the capital punishment awarded to him. - Dec 12: Delhi Police opposes Mukesh's plea in SC. - Dec 15: Convicts Vinay Sharma and Pawan Kumar Gupta move SC for review of its verdict. - May 4, 2018: SC reserves order on review plea by two condemned convicts --Vinay Sharma and Pawan Gupta. - Jul 9: SC dismisses review pleas of three convicts. - Feb, 2019: Victim's parents move Delhi court for issuance of death warrants of the four convicts - Dec 10, 2019: Akshay moves plea in SC seeking review of his death penalty. - Dec 13: Victim's mother moves SC opposing review plea of convict - Dec 18: SC dismisses Akshay's review plea. - Delhi govt seeks death warrants for the execution of death sentence to the 4 convicts - Delhi court directs Tihar authorities to issue a notice to convicts to avail their remaining legal remedies. - Dec 19: Delhi HC dismisses plea of Pawan Kumar Gupta claiming he was a juvenile at the time of the offence. - Jan 6, 2020: Delhi court dismisses complaint filed by Pawan's father seeking FIR against sole witness - Jan 7: Delhi court orders 4 convicts to be hanged on January 22 at 7 am in Tihar jail. - Jan 14: SC rejects curative petition of two of the four death row convicts Vinay Sharma and Mukesh Kumar. Mukesh files mercy petition before President - Jan 17: President Ram Nath Kovind rejects mercy plea of Mukesh. - Jan 25: Mukesh moves SC against rejection of mercy plea. - Jan 28: SC hears arguments, reserves verdict - Jan 29: Convict Akshya Kumar approaches SC with curative petition SC rejects plea of Mukesh challenging rejection of his mercy plea. A police sniffer dog took just two minutes to sniff out a wedding ring after a man tossed it away following an argument with his wife. German Shepherd Odin quickly located the lost item on a grass verge in Harborne, Birmingham, on Saturday. His handler had pulled over after seeing two men use a torch to search a patch of grass for the lost band. West Midlands Police said the "hugely embarrassed" man regretted his momentary loss of temper and had been searching for the jewellery for some time. Dog-handler Pc Carl Woodall said: "Apparently the man pulled the ring off and threw it in a momentary loss of temper, but very quickly regretted his actions and was desperate to find it. "Our dogs are trained to sniff out human scent. "The men said they'd been looking for quite some time and the ring was quite small, so I wasn't confident there'd be enough scent for Odin. "But he proved me wrong and indicated by the ring in a matter of seconds. It was in grass a couple of inches long." Pc Woodall added: "It was pitch black. They could have spent all night and still not found it. WASHINGTON Sen. Amy Klobuchar receives double-digit support in Iowa caucus polling, according to a Monmouth University survey released Wednesday, possibly creating a five-way fight for the state's delegates Monday. In the caucuses, the first in the 2020 race, a candidate must get at least 15% of the votes in a given precinct to move on to the second, final vote, that determines how many delegates they receive. The Monmouth poll found four Democratic presidential hopefuls who are at or above the 15% viability threshold: former Vice President Joe Biden (23%), Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont (21%), former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg (16%) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts (15%). Klobuchar is close behind at 10%, followed by billionaire Tom Steyer at 4% and entrepreneur Andrew Yang at 3%. USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll: A week before the caucuses, Joe Biden leads an Iowa race that remains unsettled It's the first time a Monmouth poll found Klobuchar with double-digit support in Iowa. Other polls have found her at 10% or more since December: two from Iowa State University, two from Emerson College and one from Focus on Rural America. Her RealClearPolitics polling average in the state shows her at 9% with a steady climb since November. The final outcome in Iowa will hinge on how many candidates make the 15% cut and whom the supporters of those who don't make the cut vote for in the second round. Turnout, which has fluctuated widely in recent elections, will have a major impact. "A turnout swing of as few of 10,000 voters could determine who wins the caucus if it is driven by a specific demographic group," says Patrick Murray, the director of Monmouth University Polling Institute. The 2020 candidates: Who is running for president? An interactive guide Almost half (45%) of likely participants say they could change their mind on caucus night. "Caucus electorates are the most difficult to model in polling," Murray says. "The smartest takeaway from this, or any Iowa poll for that matter, is to be prepared for anything on Monday." Story continues Asked who they'll vote for if Klobuchar and Yang make the viability threshold in their precinct, along with the top four polling candidates, 22% of likely caucusgoers say Biden, 22% say Sanders, 17% say Buttigieg, 16% say Warren, 12% say Klobuchar and 5% say Yang. If Klobuchar and Yang don't make the cut, Biden jumps ahead of Sanders, 29% to 25%, while 20% back Buttigieg and 19% choose Warren. Klobuchars performance could be a real game changer in the final delegate allocation out of Iowa," Murray says. The poll of 544 likely Democratic caucusgoers was conducted from Jan. 23-27. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points. 2020 candidates on the issues: A voter's guide to where they stand on health care, gun control and more This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Iowa caucuses: Amy Klobuchar climbs in poll, could make it 5-way race Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has failed to apologize for retweeting a false claim that Israeli settlers killed a seven-year-old Palestinian boy. Last Saturday, the Representative for Michigan's 13th District shared a tweet originally penned by a Palestinian rights activist which read: 'KIDNAPPED AND EXECUTED: 7 year old Palestinian child was kidnapped by a herd of violent Israeli settlers, assaulted and thrown in a water well'. The tweet was quickly debunked by Israeli publications, which reported that the boy, Qais Abu Ramila, accidentally drowned when he fell into a pool of a water which was formed by a deluge of rain in the city of Beit Hanina. On Tuesday night, Tlaib tried to walk back her sharing of the bogus tweet after being roundly criticized by organizations including the Anti-Defamation League. However, she stopped short of saying sorry for spreading the anti-Semitic tale. Instead, Tlaib retweeted an apology written by Palestinian activist, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, and added: 'In this era of inaccurate and manipulative news, I will also strive to hold myself to the highest standards for what I share. Know that I always seek truth as we uplift the oppressed and fight for equality, justice, and freedom.' The Congresswoman - who is of Palestinian descent and has been a fierce critic of Israel - came under fire from Twitter users who noted that she failed to offer up a personal apology for her actions. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has failed to apologize for retweeting a false claim that Israeli settlers killed a seven-year-old Palestinian boy in the city of Beit Hanina Last Saturday, the Representative for Michigan's 13th District shared this tweet - which was later debunked as false On Tuesday night, Tlaib tried to walk back her sharing of the bogus tweet after being roundly criticized by organizations including the Anti-Defamation League 'You missed the part where you apologised for spreading a vile, Antisemitic, blood libel against Israel,' one follower blasted. 'A non apology, three days later. Got it,' another wrote. Another replied: 'If she was into apologizing, she'd never be able to keep up'. The Anti-Defamation League's CEO Jonathan Goldblatt called on Tlaib to make a personal apology. 'This is an example of how the blood libel works in 2020,' he wrote, referring to the anti-Semitic trope perpetuated in the Middle Ages, in which Jewish people were accused of using the blood of Christians during religious rituals. Goldblatt continued: '@RashidaTlaib retweets a vicious lie steeped in centuries-old accusations used to demonize Jews, then says nothing when it's disproven. An apology is overdue.' Israeli publications reported that the boy, Qais Abu Ramila (pictured) accidentally drowned when he fell into a pool of a water which was formed by a deluge of rain in the city of Beit Hanina Critics weren't appeased by Tlaib's tweet on Tuesday, in which she promised to 'strive' to share accurate information Last August, Tlaib was involved in a public battle with the Israeli government, which initially blocked her from trying to visit her elderly grandmother who lives in the West Bank. Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu barred Tlaib's planned trip to the country - a decision praised by President Trump, who described the Congresswoman as 'so anti-Israel, so anti-Jewish'. Israel's interior minister eventually granted Tlaib visitation on 'humanitarian grounds' after she wrote the country a letter vowing to respect any restrictions. Several days later, however, Tlaib spectacularly reversed her decision, stating: 'I have decided that visiting my grandmother under these oppressive conditions stands against everything I believe in'. BEIRUT - A ground and air offensive on Syria's northwestern region of Idlib was stepped up Wednesday by government troops with Russia support. On Tuesday, Syrian regime forces had retaken the key city of Maarat al-Numan, thereby consolidating their presence on a stretch of the strategic Hama-Aleppo highway. Sources on the ground say that Syrian government troops were advancing during the day, backed by Russians, from districts southwest of Aleppo towards Idlib and the strategic city of Saraqeb. Eight tanks, over 15 infantry combat vehicles, 49 trucks bearing large calibre weapons, four assault drones, and dozens of pieces of artillery were destroyed in the Idlib area after the government offensive, Russian defense minister Igor Konashenkov said Wednesday. He then brushed off statements by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Washington's concerns about the situation in northwestern Syria, saying that the US State Department's concerns about civilians arise only when ''terrorists'' have been defeated, according to Interfax. Media and humanitarian sources in contact with the UN say that over 400,000 civilians have been displaced by the offensive since December 1 and then tens of thousands had left their homes or IDP camps to flee elsewhere in recent days. A group of Oregon high school students working on a project made a horrific discovery on Monday when they stumbled upon a dead body. The Churchill High School students were working on the project near Amazon Creek in Eugene when they came upon the body, the Eugene Police Department said in a statement. Police said they received a report around 1 p.m., and upon arrival, discovered that the deceased person appeared to have died by suicide. The deceaseds identity will not be released until the family has been notified, police said. An investigation into the death will be picked up by the Lane County Medical Examiner. RELATED: Children Playing Hide-and-Seek Discover Dead Mans Body Outside of Texas Apartment Complex A woman who said her child was a student at Churchill commented on the police departments Facebook post, writing that she was impressed with the way the schools administration had handled the incident. The principal sent out an email to everyone that was very professional, mom Angela Jones wrote. They are taking great care of the students that did witness this. RELATED VIDEO: 24-Year-Old Moms Dead Body Found in Texas Dumpster After She Was Fatally Shot Churchill High School did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. Meanwhile, Mondays death is at least the third to occur in the creek in recent years. The body of 31-year-old Dustin Nissen was discovered in the area in April 2018 after police said he jumped from a moving vehicle during a police pursuit, while Kresmir Tonkovich, 72, was found dead in the creek in March 2018 after he died of natural causes related to a medical issue, according to The Register-Guard. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text STRENGTH to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Here is what we know, so far. On January 9, the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed the outbreak of the new coronavirus (a.k.a nCoV). It is believed to have originated in Wuhan, a city in Chinas Hubei province. Its symptoms resemble that of the common cold. China has imposed travel restrictions on its citizens and some cities in the country are under lockdown to control its spread. Since the outbreak, the virus has so far infected over 5,000 people and killed 132 people. There have been confirmed cases of the coronavirus in countries such as Germany, USA, France, Japan, Canada and Australia, among others. In India, people arriving from China are being screened for symptoms at airports. The government has additionally announced a mandatory 14-day quarantine period for those evacuated from the country. While the governments around the world are doing their best to contain the further spread of this virus, there is a still a lot that we dont know about it. Naturally then, WhatsApp university, social media and certain websites are filling the vacuum by dispersing false information and unproven claims. These misconceptions create panic and hamper efforts to stop the spread of the virus. So arm yourself with facts as we bust myths surrounding the coronavirus. Myth 1. It is a fad disease There have been posts on social media that call the coronavirus a fad disease. These posts claim that a patent for its vaccine had been filed in 2015. In reality, it turns out that filing for patents in advance is standard procedure in the pharma industry. In fact, at the time, the patent filed was for a strain that wasnt infecting humans. As of today, no vaccine exists for the coronavirus. AFP Myth 2. It spreads via food. One of the fake messages doing the rounds on WhatsApp reads: Corona virus, very new deadly form of virus, China is suffering, it may come to India immediately, avoid any form of cold drinks, ice creams, kulfi, etc, any type of preserved foods, milkshakes, rough ice, ice colas, milk sweets older then 48 hours, for at least 90 days from today. So far, none of this has been proven true. But consume only boiled meat and milk for a few days as a precautionary measure. Purchase food from trusted and hygienic places. Opt for fresh produce and avoid stale food as far as possible, says Dr Vijay Doshi, a general physician. Myth 3. Bat flu or Snake flu? Just after the outbreak was announced, a study published in the Journal of Medical Virology stated that the original source of the virus may have been two snake species, the Chinese Krait and the Chinese Cobra. Later, images and videos on WhatsApp and social media blamed the consumption of bat soup and live bats in the country for the illness. But so far, neither has been confirmed. Officials though did trace the outbreak to a market in Wuhan where both live animals and meat were sold. AP Myth 4. Thousands are dropping dead across China after being infected Chances are you too have received videos of people suddenly collapsing dead at bus stations, train stations, markets and on roads in China after being infected by the coronavirus. A few videos go so far as to show mass graves being built in the country to bury the dead. This is completely untrue. So far, the official death toll in China is 132. And the video of the mass graves? It is a hospital being built in Wuhan at breakneck speed to quarantine those affected. It will reportedly be ready by February 3. Myth 5. Wearing surgical face masks can prevent you from getting infected Surgical masks have been flying off the shelves around the world ever since the outbreak was announced. But while these masks may help in preventing the spread of the virus in the form of droplets when an infected individual sneezes or coughs, they are not as useful in keeping the virus out. So unless you have travelled to China or come into contact with someone who has, there is no real reason to buy and wear one. Also, so far, the Health Ministry in India has not recommended wearing the mask in public. AFP Myth 6. The virus spreads only when you show the symptoms Unlike SARS and Ebola, where people tend to become contagious only after the symptoms show, a person may not know that they are infected by the coronavirus and still spread it. Reportedly, in humans, the incubation period, during which a person has the disease but no symptoms yet, ranges from between one and 14 days. Wash your hands regularly with alcohol-based sanitisers. Avoid touching public spaces and then touching your face directly. This virus spreads just like the flu, through coughing, sneezing and respiratory droplets, says Dr Doshi. The author is a Mumbai-based freelancer. January 29 : Debuting in 2000 with Refugee, Kareena Kapoor Khan is celebrating two decades career in Bollywood. The actress, who has established herself among the top actresses of the Hindi film industry, has seen her dose of ups and downs in the career graph. Coming to her fashion statement, the actress has always been on point. A fashion icon and trendsetter, Kareenas style is derived more from the comfort and unconventional choices. The diva posted a couple of pictures while in conversation with BBC. As ever, she looked chic in a camouflage print boot pants, which she teamed with a loose-fitting white top and green heels. Going with a no-jewellery look, Kareena styled her hair away from her face and into a sleek hairdo. Known for playing a variety of characters in different film genresfrom romantic to comedy to crime dramasKareena has covered a very successful journey in Bollywood. Maintaining a brave balance between personal and professional life, Kareena spoke to BBC recently on completion of two decades of her career in Bollywood. On the work front, after her success with Good Newwz, Kareena will be seen in Karan Johars multi-starrer film Takht along with Ranveer Singh, Vicky Kaushal, and others. MADISON, Wis. On one side are regulators hoping to foster easier exchange of health data, some patient advocates and some researchers and healthcare app developers. On the other side are major health records firms such as Verona-based Epic, the American Medical Association, some health-care systems, people worried about patient privacy and others concerned about intellectual property theft and cyberattacks. The faceoff coming to a head in Washington, D.C., is over proposed federal rules, set to be finalized in early February, that would change how medical records are shared by creating an app-based marketplace around patient data. In an age when two-thirds of American adults are worried about their personal information being sold, stolen or otherwise abused, caution is advised. The debate has a distinct Wisconsin flavor, with people such as Epic chief executive officer Judy Faulkner and former Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson speaking out against the proposed interoperability rules and others insisting those rules will speed innovation in medical diagnostics and therapies through better access to patient health data. The change is being pushed by the little-known Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, which is part of the larger federal Health and Human Services agency. The process started several years ago, with ONC urging the health-care industry to adopt standardized application programming interfaces so that individuals could access electronic health records through third-party smartphone applications. That would be a major change in how integrated health records systems have been built, managed and secured over time. Epic, the national leader in electronic health records, does not sell patient health data. Its executives worry the ONC rules would create a data mining gold rush without making it easier for patients to move from one health provider to another while taking their health records with them. Unless privacy regulations are in place before the ONC rules take hold, Epic leaders have argued, patient data will be exposed for all to see. We are concerned that health-care costs will rise, that care will suffer, and that patients and their family members will lose control of their confidential health information, Faulkner said in a Jan. 22 letter to Epics largest hospital clients. Many healthcare executives are concerned that implementing ONC rules will cost millions of dollars and still leave those systems open to fines and penalties if they fail to turn over all patient data, identifiable or otherwise, including admission and discharge information. Some members of Congress are worried the rules will make it easier for copycats overseas to rip off intellectual property, thus compromising American leadership in electronic health records. Concerns have also been raised about cyber-attacks engineered around specific health protocols, such as altering blood types or IV settings in patient records, that could put people in danger. Epic executives say their electronic health records are routinely improving lives and even saving them. For example, the lead poisoning crisis in Flint, Mich., was uncovered by a pediatrician who used Epic records to spot trends in young patients. Public health crises such as flu epidemics can also be fought through digital health data. With the debate now centered in the nations capital, Epic has put up billboards in Washington metro stations and at Reagan National Airport to help make its case. For its part, the ONC doesnt dispute that electronic health records hold enormous potential to improve human health over time. In fact, agency leaders argue innovation is precisely what its rules aim to enhance, along with greater patient access to such records. The seamless, interoperable exchange of health information is a key piece of building a health system that empowers patients and providers and delivers better care at a lower cost, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said, referring to the ONC rules. Adoption of some version of interoperability rules is likely. However, more attention should be paid in advance to guarding patient privacy and avoiding unintended consequences that could harm health care more than it helps. Tom Still is president of the Wisconsin Technology Council. He can be reached at tstill@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 AP A man who served 25 years in jail after being wrongfully convicted in a 1985 sexual assault case has been fully exonerated by the New York Supreme Court after newly-discovered DNA evidence proved his innocence. Rafael Ruiz was released in 2009 after initially rejecting a three-year plea deal and serving the full 25-year sentence for a crime he did not commit. Mr Ruiz, who has long defended his innocence, had his conviction vacated by the Supreme Court on Tuesday following a joint-investigation spearheaded by the New York County District Attorneys Office Conviction Integrity Program, along with the nonprofit Innocence Project. Seema Saifee, senior staff attorney at the Innocence Project, said in a statement that the collaboration between the activism group and the district attorneys office allowed investigators to get to the truth in Mr Ruizs case. We now know that police conducted an inadequate investigation marked by unduly suggestive identification procedures, she said. This led to the conviction of a young man with limited resources who bravely insisted he was innocent." Mr Ruiz was sentenced in the rape case after a woman said she was sexually assaulted by three men on a Manhattan rooftop in 1984. The woman said she was initially brought to the building by an acquaintance of her boyfriend at the time, whose name was Ronnie according to her testimony. Mr Ruiz thanked the Innocence Project for their efforts in clearing his name in a statement following the Supreme Courts decision. I am thankful to the Innocence Project, for all their work to make today a reality, he said. I lost 25 years of my life because I insisted upon my innocence and rejected plea bargains. He added: Today feels like a huge burden off my shoulders, and I look forward to living a good life moving forward." Read more Pentagon tells military not to use DNA kits over surveillance concerns Police investigating the murder of a teenager stabbed to death at a busy rail station are looking into claims he was 'set-up' by a girl. Officers from British Transport Police are trying to work out if she was responsible for arranging 'the meet' between 16-year-old Louis Johnson and his killer. Louis was knifed to death in a 40-second attack in front of rush-hour commuters at East Croydon station in South London shortly before 5pm on Monday. It is the ninth murder in the capital already this year and the latest example of 'Wild West Britain'. Police were sent a Snapchat message said to have been circulated on the social media site by Louis' sister which includes a photograph of the girl accused of setting up the meet. The message reads: 'Cause of dis 'b**** I'm never gonna see my brother again but it's kl karmas coming.' The girl who MailOnline is choosing to not identify has also received abuse on her Instagram account with one user telling her 'you're responsible for a whole human's death'. Louis Johnson, pictured, was on his way home to his mother when he was attacked by a suspect carrying a foot-long machete The scene at East Croydon railway station last night after a teenager was stabbed to death Police officers stood next to a cordon last night put in place near East Croydon railway station The new line of enquiry into the killing comes as Louis' devastated family paid tribute to a shy but popular boy. His grandfather and brother Omar described him as a 'softie' who liked listening to love songs all day and someone who 'would literally half his last piece of bread with you'. Louis was on an overbridge inside the station when he met the suspect close to the ticket barriers. The suspect pulled out a machete-style knife and stabbed him before fleeing. Commuters froze in horror as the victim staggered along a footbridge screaming in pain before collapsing in a pool of blood. British Transport Police confirmed they had been sent the Snapchat message via their Twitter account and were making inquiries into the claims. A BTP spokesman said: 'We received a still image this morning taken from a social media message which made certain accusations in relation to Monday's murder at East Croydon station. 'The message and accompanying photograph have now been sent on to the investigating team but at this stage it is unclear how significant the information is.' A heavy police presence outside East Croydon station last night after Louis Johnson was killed One witness said they saw a man with a machete and another on the floor near the ticket office Police have launched a murder investigation after Louis was stabbed to death in East Croydon A forensics officer at the scene at East Croydon station after a teenager was stabbed to death A sign at one of the entrances to East Croydon station today following the stabbing last night In a statement released through BTP, Louis's family told how they have been left heartbroken by his death. They described him as shy but hugely popular and a massive Liverpool fan: 'He had his whole life ahead of him, all the things that any teenager could wish for. 'He also loved music of every genre and didn't care if you called him a softy for listening to love songs all day. 'Louis would always go out of his way to try and help or please others and would literally half his last piece of bread with you if you asked him. 'He leaves behind a huge family who are all devastated. We miss Louis dearly and will continue to miss him until we meet again in a better place... we are beyond heartbroken.' A 16-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the attack. The teenage suspect was detained in Balham in connection with the murder of Mr Johnson, but details of the arrested boy's alleged involvement in the incident have not yet been disclosed. An entrance to East Croydon train station is cordoned off by tape today due to the probe WHERE THE NINE MURDERS IN LONDON DURING 2020 HAVE BEEN COMMITTED # NAME AGE DATE INCIDENT TIME STREET LOCATION 1 William Algar 53 Jan 3 4.57pm Nowell Road Barnes 2 Takieddine Boudhane 30 Jan 3 6.50pm Charteris Road Finsbury Park 3 Krasimir Kartikov 60 Jan 13 8.50am Whitehorse Road Croydon 4 Harinder Kumar 22 Jan 19 7.38pm Elmstead Road Seven Kings 5 Narinder Singh 26 Jan 19 7.38pm Elmstead Road Seven Kings 6 Baljit Singh 34 Jan 19 7.38pm Elmstead Road Seven Kings 7 Beverley Denahy 61 Jan 22 11.35pm Waverley Avenue Chingford 8 Unnamed man 60s Jan 24 11.29pm Mount Pleasant Lane Clapton 9 Louis Johnson 16 Jan 27 4.45pm East Croydon station Croydon LONDON MURDERS 2020 Where the nine murders across the capital this year have happened William Algar, 53, Jan-03, Barnes Takieddine Boudhane, 30, Jan-03, Finsbury Park Krasimir Kartikov, 60, Jan-13, Croydon Harinder Kumar, 22, Jan-19, Seven Kings Narinder Singh, 26, Jan-19, Seven Kings Baljit Singh, 34, Jan-19, Seven Kings Beverley Denahy, 61, Jan-22, Chingford Unnamed man, 60s, Jan-24, Clapton Louis Johnson, 16, Jan-27, Croydon Friends said the teenager, who was wearing a tag at the time he was killed on Monday afternoon, had once been 'badly behaved' but was getting his life back on track. But they fear he may have been caught up in a 'postcode war' among rival gangs. The first attack on Louis came at 11am. The second followed a youth offending team meeting in Battersea, where staff offered him a 50 Tesco voucher if he was home with his mother by 6pm. Louis was not in school and instead attended a pupil referral unit, according to a charity worker who laid flower tributes by the police cordon. Chantal Goodridge, who supports children affected by violence at Croydon-based charity Off The Record, said Louis was supposed to be getting a taxi home. CEBU City Mayor Edgardo Labella and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Ahong Chan are bent on calling for a ban on the entry of Chinese tourists while the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) continues to infest the Chinese populace, especially in ground zero Wuhan City. They will ask the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Department of Health (DOH) to recommend the suspension of flights from China. Cebu hosts direct flights to 12 cities in mainland China: Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuxi, Hangzhou, Shenzen, Chengdu, Xiamen, Fuzhou, Kunming, Sichuan and Wenzhou. Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said the agency have already suspended its visa-upon-arrival facility following a travel lockdown in at least eight cities in ChinaWuhan, Ezhou, Huanggang, Chibi, Qianjiang, Zhijiang, Jingmen and Xiantao since Friday, Jan. 24, in an effort to contain the virus. In 2019, the Department of Tourism reported a 39 percent leap in the number of Chinese arrivals, edging out Japan and the US, two of the Philippines biggest markets, with South Korea on top. The Chinese consulate in Cebu says that per 2019 record around 700,000 out of the 1.3 million Chinese tourists in the Philippines prefer Cebu as a destination. A ban on flights from China definitely hurts Cebus tourism revenue. While there is no ban yet, the Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) already reported a 10 percent drop in the number of Chinese guests in the wake of the epidemic. Tour cancellations deeply hurt the expected influx of Chinese tourists during the Chinese New Year break. Much of the opposition to the two mayors plan comes from the position that a ban on Chinese flights could be an overreaction, citing that even Germany and Japan, which already have confirmed cases of the 2019-nCoV, are not banning Chinese tourists. Chinese Consul General in Cebu Jia Li says a ban on Chinese arrivals may not be necessary, considering that the Chinese Government had already suspended outgoing group tours. Story continues Meanwhile, at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the Bureau of Quarantine (BoQ) had already sent out declaration cards to the airlines since Tuesday, Jan. 28. Passengers of flights to and from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau are required to fill out the health cards. BoQ 7 Chief Terence Anthony Bermejo said the health cards must contain the tourists name, flight number, name of hotel where the tourist will be staying at, and countries where he had worked, visited and transited in the last 30 days. Once out of the airport, the DOH takes over in the monitoring of these tourists. Although we think its a tricky balance between not hurting tourism and ensuring public health, it may help if the public gets the assurance from concerned agencies that they are on top of the situation. Weve had the precedent in the case of the Taal eruption when business interests clashed with the cautionary position of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. It is still much cheaper to err on the side of caution than burning our resources later should an epidemic blow up on our faces. Uncertainty surrounding the impact of Chinas coronavirus outbreak on the global economy saw Australian shares ease lower on Thursday, led by losses in mining, industrial, healthcare and tech stocks. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 fell 23.1 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 7008.4, closing near its lows for the session. Despite the lacklustre performance, it could have been worse with many major markets across Asia tumbling more than 1 per cent. Taiwanese stocks, resuming trade after Lunar New Holidays, plunged 5.6 per cent. Its classic risk-off day. The fact that we outperformed Asian markets is a story in itself, said Chris Weston, head of Research at Pepperstone Group. I think theres a few people quite concerned about the World Health Organisation meeting later tonight and whether it may declare a global health emergency. This idea of China being solved pricing in peak coronavirus were not really going to fully understand whats going on until later next week. Mr Weston said a sharp decline in government bond yields, including in Australia, is providing a big punchy message for investors. Its telling you the reflation trade is dead in the water and you should be focusing on capital preservation strategies, he said. Australian benchmark 10-year bond yields hit 0.952 per cent at one point during the session, not far off the record lows seen late last year. Given the increased economic pessimism, China-linked stocks were among the hardest hit on Thursday. Webjet skidded 6.9 per cent to $12.01, IDP Education 6.2 per cent to $17.90 while Corporate Travel Management slid 4.8 per cent to $17.86. However, those falls paled in comparison to those for geospatial map technology firm Nearmap which plunged 29.9 per cent to $1.705 after downgrading its revenue guidance. At the other end of the scoreboard, bullion producer Gold Road Resources jumped 11.2 per cent to $1.495 after the release of a strong quarterly production update. Treasury Wine Estates, having plunged 26 per cent on Wednesday, rebounded by 5.3 per cent to $13.00 after several broker upgrades. Delhi Police on Wednesday released photos of 70 people who were allegedly involved in violence during the anti-CAA protests near Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi last month New Delhi: Delhi Police on Wednesday released photos of 70 people who were allegedly involved in violence during the anti-CAA protests near Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi last month, officials said. Delhi Police has released photos of 70 people involved in violence during the anti- Citizenship Amendment Act protests at Jamia Millia Islamia University on December 15, 2019 in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/LiRHkNADwV ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2020 The university had turned into a battlefield on 15 December last year when police entered the campus and used force against students following the violent protest. According to police, two cases were registered in connection with the violence during a protest against the amended Citizenship Act near the university campus. One case was registered at Jamia Nagar police station under IPC sections for rioting, obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions and assault or criminal force to deter public servant from his duty while another case was registered at New Friends Colony police station under IPC sections for rioting, arson, unlawful assembly and damage to public property. Both the cases are being investigated by the SIT of Crime Branch, police said, adding, the persons whose photos were released had actively participated in riots and any information about them would be suitably rewarded. Anyone who has information about them can contact Delhi Police at 011-23013918 and 9750871252, they added. BEIJING Countries began evacuating their citizens Wednesday from the Chinese city hardest hit by an outbreak of a new virus that has killed 132 people and infected more than 6,000 on the mainland and abroad. A plane carrying Americans who had been in Wuhan left for Anchorage, Alaska, where they will be rescreened. U.S. hospitals are prepared to treat or quarantine people who may be infected. After departing Alaska, the plane is to fly to Ontario (San Bernardino County). A Japanese flight carrying evacuees home included four people with coughs and fevers. The three men and one woman were taken to a Tokyo hospital on separate ambulances for treatment and further medical checks. It wasnt immediately known whether they were infected with the new type of coronavirus that appeared in the central city of Wuhan in December. Its symptoms, including cough and fever and in severe cases pneumonia, are similar to many other illnesses. Chinas latest figures cover the previous 24 hours and add 26 to the number of deaths, 25 of which were in the central province of Hubei and its capital, Wuhan. The 5,974 cases on the mainland marked a rise of 1,459 from the previous day, although that rise is a smaller increase than the 1,771 new cases reported on Monday. Dozens of infections have been confirmed abroad as well. The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday announced the first confirmed case of coronavirus in the Middle East. Chartered planes carrying evacuees home to Japan and the United States left Wuhan early Wednesday as other countries planned similar evacuations from areas China has shut down to try to contain the virus. The lockdown of 17 cities has trapped more than 50 million people in the most far-reaching disease-control measures ever imposed. At the Tokyo airport, Takeo Aoyama, an employee at Nippon Steel Corp.s subsidiary in Wuhan, told reporters he was relieved to be able to return home. We were feeling increasingly uneasy as the situation developed so rapidly and we were still in the city, Aoyama said, his voice muffled by a white surgical mask. Tokyo Metropolitan Government confirmed the condition of the four ill passengers after the flight of 206 Japanese evacuees arrived. They were taken in separate ambulances to a Tokyo hospital for treatment and further health checks. Australia and New Zealand were the latest countries planning evacuations. Both countries also stepped up their travel advice to China, as did Britain. Experts have feared travel during the Lunar New Year holiday would enable the further spread of the virus, and China expanded the holiday to keep people home, closing schools and offices to try to contain it. Wuhan is building two hospitals in a matter of days to add 2,500 beds for treatment of patients with the virus. Prince Harry's close friend Nacho Figueras says he has suffered a lot and he's just trying to protect his wife Meghan and their son Archie by stepping back from the British royal family. The Argentinian polo-player told Good Morning America on Wednesday that he spoke to Prince Harry just a few days ago and that his friend is just trying to live a normal life. 'He has suffered a lot for all the things that have happened to him,' Figueras, who regularly plays polo with Harry and was among the first to meet baby Archie, said. Prince Harry's close friend Nacho Figueras told Good Morning America on Wednesday that he spoke to the Duke of Sussex a few days ago and that his friend is just trying to live a normal life 'He wants to live a normal life, as normal as his life is going to be. When you have 1,000 paparazzi outside your house in Canada waiting to get one picture of your son, that's not normal. 'He's protecting his family, he's protecting his wife and his child. 'He was the son of someone who suffered attacks from the press and it's undeniable. He doesn't want for that to happen for his family.' Figueras spoke out ahead of the ABC's prime time special - Royal Divide: Harry, Meghan, and The Crown - going to air on Wednesday night. American-born Viscountess Julie Montagu also appeared on GMA on Wednesday as she admitted it was hard marrying into the British aristocracy. Montagu left her native Illinois and became known as Viscountess Hinchingbrooke when she married her husband Luke, who is in line to be the Earl of Sandwich, 20 years ago. Figueras said Harry has suffered a lot and he's just trying to protect his wife Meghan and their son Archie by stepping back from the British royal family 'People commented she knew what she was getting into. I've got to be honest... you don't know until you're in it,' the former yoga instructor said. 'I can attest to that - as an American we have been brought up from day one (being) told you can do whatever you want to do, you can be whatever you want to be. 'All of a sudden she's moved over here and she can't be anything she wants to be anymore, she can't do anything she wants to do anymore. 'I think it can be suffocating for somebody who is American and their whole life was spent working towards becoming this TV actress, having passions in her life and all of a sudden going into a much more claustrophobic world where... you can't be political, you can't be emotional and you can't have opinions.' Harry and Meghan have been faced with intense scrutiny since they made their bombshell announcement they were resigning as senior royals after just 20 months of marriage. The couple have been in Canada ever since with their son Archie where they have been staying at a mansion on Vancouver Island. Harry and Meghan will stop using their HRH titles and withdraw from royal duties, including official military appointments, from this spring. American-born Viscountess Julie Montagu also appeared on GMA on Wednesday as she admitted it was hard marrying into the British aristocracy SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dare Wright And The Lonely Doll, authored by Brook Ashley, offers a fresh and enlightening perspective on the life of the Broadway actress, fashion model, professional photographer and beloved children's book author. Its readers have already rated the book a perfect five stars on Amazon. Fannie Flagg, author of Fried Green Tomatoes At The Whistle Stop Cafe, said this about the new book: "Brook Ashley shares her photos and memories of her most unusual childhood and gives us a look at the fascinating and fabulous women who were part of it." The Cover of Brook Ashley's New Biography of Dare Wright Dare Wright, Author of "The Lonely Doll" Children's Book Series, on Ocracoke Island, North Carolina Beautiful and enigmatic, Dare Wright captivated the children's literary world of the 1950s with the publication of The Lonely Doll, creating a new genre of storytelling though her simple text and haunting black and white photography. Her protagonists were a felt doll named Edith and her two ursine companions, Mr. Bear and Little Bear. Best-selling author Ann Patchett remembered The Lonely Doll's importance in her childhood, "This was by far my favorite picture book. I loved that it looked like no other book I had ever seen." Dare Wright And The Lonely Doll uncovers the violent history behind Dare Wright's childhood separation from her father and brother and traces the origins of Wright's concern that she might not be a fully real woman. The book is enhanced by hundreds of photographs including Wright's self-portraits in elaborate costumes and posed as a nude sea nymph. A woman of many talents, Dare Wright photographed Tallulah Bankhead (while a parakeet named Gayelord sipped champagne from a nearby glass) and painted Greta Garbo's portrait as the famously reclusive actress chatted about her recent trip to Sicily. Wright's secrets, betrayals and an enduring love are threaded through the biography in text, photographs, paintings and newspaper clippings, providing a multi-dimensional texture to its intriguing subject. Amazon's rave reviews include: "I was blown away by this book. There are so many wonderful photos of Dare that I had never seen before. You won't be disappointed in this book." "The ultimate biographical photo scrapbook that is like finding buried treasure." "A must read!" "A peek behind the scenes into a magical world. This book is filled with amazing stories." "Amazing tribute to the most beloved children's book author in American history! Gorgeous photos." "If you loved The Lonely Doll books, here is the history!" The author of the new biography, Brook Ashley, is Dare Wright's godchild and grew up in Wright's magical New York universe of Edith and The Bears. As a young girl, she was an energetic participant as her godmother wrote and photographed the classic children's story of The Lonely Doll. A former child actress, Brook Ashley is a Realtor and magazine writer in Santa Barbara, CA. Dare Wright And The Lonely Doll by Brook Ashley Dare Wright Media, LLC ISBN 9781733431200 260 Pages, 550 Images $39.95 Available Through Bookstores and Online Sellers The Official Website: https://darewright.com/ Media contact: John Ogilvie [email protected] 805-884-8488 SOURCE Dare Wright Media, LLC Related Links https://darewright.com But since President George W. Bush changed his nomination to that of chief justice after Chief Justice William Rehnquists death, Chief Justice Roberts took on the additional responsibilities of being the custodian of the Supreme Courts prestige and authority. And hes deeply committed to that. Hes an institutionalist in a second sense: He respects the separation of powers and the duties that the Constitution confers on each of the branches. In the last few years he has voiced his concerns about partisanship, and how he doesnt want it to spill over into the court. He recently referred to the judiciary as a source of national unity. How does he carry that idea into the Senate chamber tomorrow when he reads the questions? Chief Justice Roberts is under no illusions that the other two branches, which he calls the political branches, will act anything but politically. He sees the role of his own branch as above politics. In taking on the hybrid role of presiding over a trial inside one of the political branches, he has to balance competing instincts. But he finds himself in an impossible situation. If he does very little, he will disappoint Democrats hoping for a more robust trial. If he takes a commanding role, he will be criticized for overstepping. So far, the chief justices most newsworthy moment was when he scolded the two sides for not being civil. Did that surprise you? I was a little surprised, but the even-handedness and mild tone of the remarks was characteristic of Chief Justice Roberts. It cant be easy for him to sit and listen for hours on end. He may have felt the ordinary human impulse to play a role in the proceedings hes nominally presiding over. If one side says something obviously untrue, can he say so? I dont expect him to challenge even outlandish arguments or statements of fact. Weve seen him urge the two sides to maintain a civil tone, but I dont think he views his task as fundamentally judicial in the sense of what he does at the court. YEREVAN, JANUARY 29, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan received on January 29 Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia Artak Davtyan, the Presidential Office told Armenpress. Issues related to army building and cooperation between the two Armenian states in the sphere were on the discussion agenda. Artsakh Republic defense minister Karen Abrahamyan also attended the meeting. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan The books are winners of the 2020 Indie Best Book Awards, an independent book awards program for independent publishers and self-published authors. Shelf Media hosts the annual Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book Competition for best self-published or independently published book. Indies include small presses, larger independent publishers, university presses, e-book publishers, and self-published authors. In addition to prizes, the winner, finalists, and more than 100 notable books from the competition are featured in the December/January issue of Shelf Unbound. The winners of the 2019 Indie Best Book Awards are: Overall Winner: Teetering On Disaster by Michaela Renee Finalists: IGIST: New Stars By L.S. Larson Cooperative Lives By Patrick Finegan I Dont Belong Here By Melissa Grunow Kick-Ass Kinda Girl: A Memoir of Life, Love, and Caregiving By Kathi Koll Little Lovely Things By Maureen Joyce Connolly Long-Listed: The Secrets of Elimeare: Wielder of Light By Suzy Rosenow Britfield & the Lost Crown By C. R. Stewart Freckled: A Memoir of Growing up Wild in Hawaii By TW Neal High Flying By Kaylin McFarren In The Shadow Of War By Patrick M Garry Nobody Move By Philip Elliott Savagery By J.C. Mehta The Biggest Moonshiner By Betty M Rafter The Spanish Papers By Kevin Tumlinson The Weight of a Moment By Michael Bowe On Life and Meaning: 100 Essays Inspired by 100 Guests By Mark Peres The Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book Competition also included 100 notable entries which can be found at shelfmediagroup.com The 2020 Indie Best Awards are now open for submissions. Indie and small press authors can enter their book at https://shelfmediagroup.com/competitions Housing chief Ben Carson says he is committed to tackling the affordable housing crisis that's reached a fever pitch in many parts of the country. His first step? A nationwide bus tour. The secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development kicks off his tour on Wednesday in Louisville, KY. The purported aim of Carson's Driving Affordable Housing Across America journey is to talk to local officials, builders, and just about everyone else about ways to loosen state and city regulations that make it harder, costlier, and longer to construct housing. Reducing "overly burdensome" regulatory barriers to putting up housing is a priority of Carson's boss, President Donald Trump, and Carson heads up a White House council dedicated to the task. "Its important that we get out into local communities and hear directly from our fellow citizens who are grappling with rising housing prices and learn more about best practices to address them, Carson said in a statement. Families, businesses and all levels of government have concerns about the rising cost of housing, and this is an opportunity to bring those parties to the table for a discussion about how we can work together to fix the problem. HUD has not released the number or location of the stops on the controversial tour. It will run through June. But in an election year where nearly all of the major Democratic presidential candidates have released comprehensive affordable housing plans, many critics believe the multistop bus trip is little more than a publicity stunt. And they say that although reducing regulatory barriers will help to alleviate the dearth of affordable housing, it's just one of many steps needed to turn the crisis around. The bus tour is "really unnecessary," says Edward Goetz, an urban policy professor at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. "HUD has been collecting this information for a long time, and they don't need a bus tour to do it." Others applauded Carson's willingness to talk to local leaders grappling with this crisis in a bid to find solutions. "He's getting out of [Washington,] DC, and actually going to look at communities and examples where maybe they've successfully tackled affordability," says K.C. Conway, director of research at the Alabama Center for Real Estate at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. "It might give him some good takeaways." Conway also praised Carson's desire to use the carrotinstead of the stickto get state and local officials to loosen regulations to create more housing. "A lot of [the regulations] emanate from this 'not in my backyard' [ethos]," says Conway. "Theres a stigmatization with affordable housing. They think it's going to bring crime and undesirable [new residents] to their communities and it won't be good for their property values. What is the solution to the affordable housing crisis? Everyone seems to have a theory on the best ways to address the affordable housing crisis. University of Minnesota professor Goetz would like the government to produce more subsidized housing and offer more programs to help the lowest-income folks secure a roof over their heads. These could include tax breaks, subsidies for developers and builders, expansion of the Section 8 program for the poorest of the poor, and creation of more federally subsidized housing. "The size of the affordable housing crisis is so great, we have to do everything," says Goetz. "Its foolish that [reducing regulatory barriers] by itself is the solution. And it seems to be all were getting from this administration. Andrew Aurand, vice president for research at the National Low Income Housing Coalition, would like fewer regulations prohibiting rental apartments from going up. He'd also like to speed up the time between builders submitting proposals to construction and the shovels going into the ground. (Proposals can sometimes get lost in a series of zoning board meetings.) "Addressing regulatory barriers is important, but it cannot be used as an excuse to not sufficiently invest in our housing programs that serve the poorest families," says Aurand. "This administration that is planning this road tour ... at the same time consistently proposes cuts to the programs that serve our lowest-income renters. Most experts agree that not all state and local regulations are bad. Some are important for public safety and protecting the environment, says Ken Chilton, a public administration professor at Tennessee State University in Nashville. And some of these regulatory costs fund necessary infrastructure, new roads, and schools to accommodate the folks moving into the new housing. Chilton isn't convinced that if the regulations were removed, builders would suddenly start building cheaper homes. "The data doesn't support that," he says. But making it easier and less expensive to construct new homes will make housing more affordableand help more folks become homeowners, says John Weicher, director of the Center for Housing and Financial Markets at the Hudson Institute, a conservative-leaning think tank in Washington, DC. Weicher is also the former HUD assistant secretary of housing during President George W. Bush's first term. Its certainly a step in the right direction," Weicher says. The post Could HUD Chief Ben Carson's Bus Tour Help Solve the Affordable Housing Crisis? appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. MOSCOW An American-Israeli woman was pardoned on Wednesday, months after her severe punishment on charges of having a small amount of marijuana had made her an unwitting pawn in a geopolitical game. The pardon, issued by President Vladimir V. Putin, came on the eve of a visit to Moscow by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. The two leaders are expected to talk about the Middle East plan proposed by President Trump this week. The woman, Naama Issachar, was arrested in April after Russian officials said they found marijuana in her luggage during an airline stopover in Moscow while en route from India to Israel. The amount 9.5 grams, about a third of an ounce would normally result in no more than a months detention, a fine and deportation from Russia. The amount is within the legal limit in Israel. But in October, a Russian court sentenced Ms. Issachar to seven and a half years in prison on drug possession and smuggling charges, and she was sent to a penal colony. Investigators said Ms. Issachar had admitted to possession, but she later said that the statement was given under pressure. 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. Whatever the protestations of John Bolton as to who is leaking what to whom, the fact remains that Bolton has written a "tell-all" book about his experiences as President Trump's national security adviser, with the intent to release the book in the year Trump is running for re-election. It's not easy to engage in behavior that is both petty and despicable at the same time, but Bolton has done it. He has made himself into the poster child for an off-the-charts arrogant ruling class that an increasingly large portion of Americans (maybe 63 million and counting?) are absolutely seething about. "We the people" just can't seem to penetrate the mindset of the Boltons of the Beltway to explain that we have had enough of their massively out-of-touch, egotistical act. Want to hear a little Boltonspeak? If I were to imagine what was in his mind, it would go something like this: You must understand, my fellow Americans, that Donald J. Trump has no business asserting the Constitutional prerogatives of the Presidency, if to do so is to go against the received wisdom of those of us who have been around this town for decades. No one has assembled a more sterling Beltway resume than I have. I am pedigreed and credentialed, and Donald Trump is not, and if he thinks he can disagree with me over matters of foreign policy and even publicly part ways with me in a way that I don't like without big-time payback, he's got another think coming. You rubes of the American heartland: if we of the ruling class tell you that Joe Biden's mind-blowingly enormous, in-your-face corruption involving the Ukraine is NOT the issue, and further tell you the real issue is whether Donald Trump dared to even think about exposing it, you need to get your mind right and agree. Once a credentialed member of the ruling class like Joe Biden even thinks about running for President, the law of the Uniparty ruling class is that any investigation of such corruption is an uppity, immoral, ungrateful interference with the ruling class' view of a proper election. Or shall I say, an 'impeachable offense' against the Deep State. So learn your place, you rubes. I will tell you what impeccable foreign policy wisdom is, and you're just lucky to have me to explain it. Stay in your lane, people. I'm in charge. There is not enough profanity in the English language to capture the depth of hostility and anger that is rising against the Uniparty ruling class against Bolton and against the most pompous, sanctimonious empty suit in the history of pompous, sanctimonious empty suits: Mitt Romney. Major, major kudos are owed to Fred Fleitz, John Bolton's former chief of staff, who went public with a calm, considered, emphatic dressing down of his former boss for such unprofessional and harmful-to-the-country behavior. Fleitz's action was an act of patriotism, integrity, and moral clarity in a Beltway that has very little of any of these. Would that John Bolton would have a humble moment of reflection and heed Mr. Fleitz's advice. Mitch McConnell had better gather the votes to acquit and dismiss this impeachment this week. Image credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. It also grants Israel virtually all of east Jerusalem, including the Old City and holy sites. The Palestinians view the settlements in the West Bank and annexed east Jerusalem - territories seized by Israel in the 1967 war - as a major obstacle to peace. That position is held by much of the international community, which views the settlements as illegal. A Palestinian woman holds a symbolic of the Palestine flag with Arabic words that read: "Palestine for us" at a refugee camp, south of Beirut. Credit:AP Levin, a senior member of Netanyahu's hawkish Likud party, appeared to acknowledge that almost none of the Palestinians' demands are met in the Trump plan. He said the Palestinian state it envisions is "roughly the same Palestinian Authority that exists today, with authority to manage civil affairs," but lacking "substantive powers" like border control or a military. The US initiative appears unlikely to lead to a negotiated solution to the decades-old conflict, but offered a boost to both Trump and Netanyahu, who are each campaigning for re-election under a cloud of allegations of wrongdoing. Netanyahu was formally indicted on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust hours before the Trump initiative was announced, when he withdrew a request for immunity that was likely to be rejected by Israel's parliament. That move cleared the way for Netanyahu to become the first sitting Israeli prime minister to face a criminal trial. Loading Trump, meanwhile, was impeached last year and is being tried in the Senate. With Trump's help, Netanyahu has largely succeeded in shifting attention from his legal woes to his vaunted diplomatic skills. The plan put forth by Trump is the most generous and detailed proposal ever offered to Israel, and is a hit among Netanyahu's right-wing base as well as Trump's evangelical Christian supporters in the United States. But its implementation could be delayed until Israel forms a permanent government, something that has eluded its fractious political parties for the last year. Benny Gantz, a former army chief and the leading contender to replace Netanyahu, also met with Trump over the weekend and has welcomed Trump's proposal. Gantz announced late on Wednesday that he would bring the Trump initiative before parliament for approval next week. But while Israelis have hailed the plan, the international response has ranged from tepid shows of support to outright hostility. Trump hopes to rally Arab support it and says "many, many" countries "want this to happen," without naming them. Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Arab states that are key US allies, said they appreciated the administration's efforts and called on Israel and the Palestinians to resume direct talks. But neither country has commented on the details of the plan. Jordan reaffirmed its commitment to a Palestinian state along the 1967 lines and warned against any annexation. The head of the Arab League said on Wednesday that an initial study of the plan's 50-page political framework showed that it "ignored legitimate Palestinian rights in the territories." Ahmed Aboul-Gheit said the Palestinian response would be key in shaping a "collective Arab position" on the plan, which he noted was a "non-binding US vision." The Arab League plans to hold an urgent meeting Saturday to discuss the proposal. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was quoted by state-run media as saying the plan amounts to a "legalisation of Israel's occupation" of Palestinian territories and "will not serve peace or a solution." Catholic officials in the Holy Land also rejected the initiative, saying it heavily favours Israel while failing to give dignity to the Palestinians. "This plan will bring no solution but rather will create more tensions and probably more violence and bloodshed," they said. Hard-line Israeli nationalists have meanwhile called for the immediate annexation of West Bank settlements ahead of the March 2 elections, the third in less than a year. They have eagerly embraced the part of the plan that would allow Israel to annex territory but have rejected its call for a Palestinian state. "That which is postponed to after the elections will never happen," Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett, a hard-line ally of Netanyahu, tweeted Wednesday. "If we postpone or reduce the extension of sovereignty (in the West Bank), then the opportunity of the century will turn into the loss of the century," he said. Nahum Barnea, a veteran Israeli columnist, criticised the Trump plan in the Yediot Ahronot newspaper, saying it would create a Palestinian state "more meager than Andorra, more fractured than the Virgin Islands." (TNS) The days of opening a smartphone app and catching a free ride anywhere within Tampa, Floridas downtown may soon be over.The popular Downtowner service, which launched in October 2016, is running out of money and local agencies are playing hot potato to see who will be left with the check.The Tampa Downtown Partnership created the free ride service, similar to Uber or Lyft except free and limited to the downtown area. The Downtowner launched with electric carts and quickly gained popularity, with riders experiencing waits of 45 minutes or longer at peak times.Organizers tweaked the offerings, replaced the carts with electric Teslas then Chevy Bolts, and eventually brought the average wait time down to 15 minutes. The service has provided more than 560,000 rides in the last three years. December saw 448 people catching a ride each day.But a couple years in, the nonprofit partnership ran out of money for the service. The organization approached the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority in August asking for help.The transit authority agreed to pay $568,000 to keep the service running for eight months until another plan could be developed. But that money runs out March 31 and no one has stepped up to pay for the service long term.Hillsborough transit authority staff asked the boards strategic planning committee Monday if theyd be willing to spend nearly $100,000 to keep the Downtowner running through June 30 while alternative plans are reviewed. Options include replacing it with a circulator that occasionally deviates from a set route.The Florida Department of Transportation has agreed to match that amount. The total operating cost for three months of the point-to-point service is $192,000.But some members of the countys transit agency questioned whether the bus authority should foot the bill for a free service that overlaps with existing transit options. The agency already provides fixed-route service downtown with set stops, including the TECO Line streetcar and a host of regular bus routes.Theres a lot of duplicative services, board member Kathleen Shanahan said. Its point-to-point. There are people who are using this instead of paying for a bus or a Lyft, and theyre not visitors."Senior planner Justin Willits told committee members the goal was to get the $96,000 from Tampas Community Redevelopment Areas, entities created specifically to jump-start blighted neighborhoods.If they are not able to fill that match, this is not a budgeted item, Willits said. It would have to come from our reserves, or we could discontinue the service at the end of the month.But Tampa City Council chairman Luis Viera and council member Joseph Citro, chairman of the citys Community Redevelopment Agency, told thethey have never heard of this proposal.Citro said budgets are already set for 2020 and no money is allotted for the Downtowner. Whats more, he said, the downtown redevelopment areas already contribute a total of $450,000 a year toward the cost of the free streetcar system.Theyre already asking us to contribute to the streetcar, Citro said. How much more money are they going to continue to ask of us for transportation in and around Ybor City, the Channelside and the Downtown area?The transit agencys strategic planning committee voted unanimously to put the proposal before the full board with a recommendation to reject it, especially in light of uncertainty over the agencys budget.Hillsboroughs transit authority was poised to more than double its budget following the passage of a one-cent transportation sales tax in November 2018. But a lawsuit questioning the validity of the tax is now before the Florida Supreme Court. Depending on how the justices rule, the transit authority could see a major influx of money or continue with one of the smallest operating budgets in the country for a transit agency its size.Without knowing the outcome of the surtax, Im hesitant, board member and Hillsborough County Commissioner Kimberly Overman said.Other board members agreed, saying the agency should take a fiscally conservative approach in a time of uncertainty.Im not in favor of spending any more money on this, board member and Temple Terrace City Council Member Gil Shisler said. Were hogtied because of the referendum issue being tied up in Tallahassee. YEREVAN. There were episodes of use of disproportionate force in the videos of the detaining of a number of figures yesterday. Larisa Minasyan, Executive Director of Open Society Foundations-Armenia, said this at a press conference today, answering the question whether it was an attempt to intimidate the opposition. "I don't think they are opposition," she said. "As to whether they [the detaining] were carried in accordance with the standard, properly, just from what was seen on the screen, it is very worrying, there were episodes of use of disproportionate force; whether it is intimidation, I will not talk about it." Yesterday activists Narek Malyan, Artur Danielyan, and Narek Samsonyan stated that the police had detained them by "laying [them] on the asphalt." And asked if she had a phone conversation with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, as Malyan claimed, Minasyan said: I have not had a telephone or face-to-face conversation with Mr. Pashinyan; there was no such conversation." Yesterday US President Donald Trump, alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, unveiled his deal of the century for solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Indeed, conservative commentators were in agreement that this is the best deal Israel could have ever hoped for. The deal which wasnt negotiated with Palestinian leaders, and was announced without a single Palestinian present greenlights Israeli annexation of around a third of the West Bank, leaving the Palestinians with a set of isolated islands in a sea of Israeli territory. Trumps plan does not offer a roadmap to peace. Instead, it is a convenient distraction for an American president facing impeachment, and an Israeli prime minister facing serious corruption charges. But that is not in itself reason oppose it; the deal should be assessed on its own merits. A two-state solution in name only, this deal is in fact the annexation plan Israel or at least Israel settler movement has been dreaming of. Trump has given his blessing to an explosive policy that is not even popular with the Israeli public: polls show that most Israelis are not interested in annexation. This seeming Israeli win offers Israel control over areas of the West Bank that most Israelis have never heard of, let alone lived in (according to the Israeli NGO Peace Now, less than 5% of Israelis live beyond the Green Line). Trumps plan will precipitate an endless military rule enforced by Israeli teenage soldiers who will carry the scars for the rest of their lives. Thats why despite Netanyahus decade-long, well-funded attack on the Israeli peace camp a majority of Israelis oppose the settler movements vision of a Greater Israel, and support a two-state solution. Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Show all 18 1 /18 Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian protesters burn pictures of US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a demonstration in the West Bank against the expected peace plan proposal AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan US President and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announce Trump's Middle East peace plan in the White House AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Reuters Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Reuters Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AP Ultimately, a deal that was negotiated between Israel and America will never solve the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. The idea that ignoring the concerns and priorities of the Palestinians is pro-Israel is disastrously short-sighted. In fact, hundreds of Israeli security experts agree that Israels future will indeed be in danger if a Palestinian state is not established alongside Israel. Thats why supporting this deal, which will only prolong the violence and bloodshed in the region, is an anti-Israel position. This annexationist, messianic plan may serve Netanyahus political interests, but it does not serve any of Israels. Among other things, it will jeopardise the countrys hard-won peace with Jordan, widely acknowledged as one of Israels most important strategic assets. True friends of Israel must not support a dangerous plan proposed by the radical right-wing factions that currently hold office in Israel and the US. It is not pro-Israel to overlook the needs and rights of Palestinians when doing so will only put Israelis and Palestinians at risk. Trumps deal will only condemn Israelis and Palestinians to more conflict. The UK must reject this deal, and renew its efforts in the fight for real peace between two independent states living side by side. Maya Ilany is the deputy director of Yachad, the British Jewish movement for a two-state solution in Israel-Palestine, and an end to the Israeli occupation. facebook like button Tweet tweet button for twitter Published Jan. 29, 2020 The National Council on Teacher Quality released its new scores for the 2020 Teacher Prep Review, specifically on the preparation programs provide to elementary teacher candidates in how to teach children to read. The University of Louisiana Monroe received an A grade for its Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (grades 1-5). Our ULM School of Education is thrilled to be recognized for the strong preparation in reading instruction that our program provides to our teacher candidates, stated director of the School of Education Myra Lovett, Ed.D., We are proud of our faculty and staff who work tirelessly to ensure the excellence of our programs as we prepare candidates to become teachers and appreciate the recognition given by NCTQ. This grade is only given to about a quarter of programs nationwide. University of Louisiana Monroes Elementary Education program was credited with providing a combination of the following criteria: Explicit instruction on each of the five components of reading instruction; Support for instruction with high-quality textbooks that accurately detail established principles of scientifically-based reading practices; and, Evidence that teacher candidates must demonstrate mastery through in-class assignments, tests, and fieldwork. Vice President for Academic Affairs Alberto Ruiz, Ed.D., stated, I congratulate the School of Education and the College of Arts, Education, Sciences for achieving this recognition. It is no easy task to reach the standards defined by NCTQ, and our faculty and staff in the School of Education have tailored the education programs at ULM to guarantee our graduates enter the teaching field prepared. They have done an excellent job. ULM is one of only nine education programs in the state of Louisiana to receive an A grade. Other news from the ULM School of Education: ULM first in state to offer Pre-Educator Pathway to high school students School of Education partnering with area school districts to encourage next generation of teachers Rivals such as Google don't offer anything comparable to the "Off-Facebook Activity" page. "Despite how commonplace this activity is across the internet, we believe it's important to help people understand why they're seeing the ads they see and to give them control over how their data is used, regardless of the services they use," says Facebook spokesman Jay Nancarrow. But hold the applause: Laws such as this year's California Consumer Privacy Act require companies to let us know exactly what data they've collected about us. In ugly detail Regardless, I'll take Facebook's new tool as a win for us. It offers an opportunity to see in ugly detail how Facebook's advertising surveillance system actually works. Chances are, it's not at all like you think. If all of this sounds confusing, it's not your fault. A Pew survey published in 2019 found 74 per cent of American Facebook members were unaware the social network builds a dossier on each of us to target ads. Facebook makes its surveillance systems so convoluted and, frankly, boring that we're less likely to object. I'm not letting that stop me. Here's the big picture: Everybody's experience on Facebook and Instagram is different. Your feed might be filled with stories about luxury real estate and ads from Mike Bloomberg, while mine might be NASCAR and Donald Trump commercials. That's because Facebook's software uses the data it gathers about us to tailor what it shows us. Facebook also lets advertisers target messages to the people the data suggests might be most receptive - or, in the case of political advertisers, easily swayed. 'Interest categories' Facebook uses some data to put you into "interest" categories, such as people who live in Washington, DC, and are into cats. You can see the boxes Facebook has put you in by looking under its "ad preferences" menus. A part of this is easy to understand. Facebook obviously knows who your friends are, what you "like," and what and where you post. You entered that information yourself. But there's also a world of information Facebook gathers that you didn't volunteer to the social network - and probably didn't know was being collected. How does Facebook get this info? The social network provides partners tracking software they embed in apps, websites, loyalty cards and other systems. According to research by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Facebook has so-called tracker pixels or cookie-sharing code on about 30 per cent of the top 10,000 websites. Facebook's surveillance is hard to avoid. It doesn't require you to click "like" or use a "log-in with Facebook" button. You don't necessarily have to be logged in to the Facebook app or website on your phone - companies can report other identifying information to Facebook, which will marry up the activity to your account after the fact. Facebook's surveillance is hard to avoid. It doesn't require you to click "like" or use a "log-in with Facebook" button. Your off-Facebook activity isn't exposed to your friends; they won't see it in the News Feed. The social network also doesn't pass your personal information back to businesses - they just get the chance to target ads to people with Facebook accounts who triggered the trackers. A company could, for example, ask Facebook to show ads to people who looked at a certain style of shoe. (Off-Facebook activity doesn't contribute to Facebook's dossier of your ad "interests," but the social network might use it to suggest groups, events or Marketplace items to buy.) Loading Thanks to the "Off-Facebook Activity" tool, I now know that Home Depot told Facebook when I visited its online store, viewed an item or added an item to a shopping cart. The Atlantic shared the pages I viewed and devices I used, which it says inform its distribution strategy and help it target campaigns. The Washington Post says it stopped using the Facebook tracking pixel, along with some other social-networking trackers, on content pages as of October 24. The Buttigieg US presidential campaign says it used the Facebook tracking pixel to target ads at people who have visited its website or engaged with its donation link. Peet's Coffee didn't respond to my questions. Ring, which is owned by Amazon, let Facebook know when I installed or opened its app. Spokeswoman Yassi Shahmiri says Ring uses the information to "optimise our marketing campaigns on Facebook," including advertising less to people who already own the product. But is that a good reason to share information about my doorbell with Facebook? Shahmiri says Ring doesn't share specific camera data, such as a motion detected at your door. But Ring does ping Facebook when I open the app, which is almost always when there's someone at my door. Guess I was foolish to presume what happens on my doorstep stays between me and Ring. (Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post, but I review all tech with the same critical eye.) Facebook says it puts limits on the information organisations can share with it. For example, they're not supposed to pass along health and financial information. But it's unclear how well Facebook polices this. Using forensic software, I found Facebook tracker code on the website for an HIV drug. Nancarrow, the Facebook spokesman, says that "a health site with a Facebook Pixel does not mean that they are sharing sensitive medical information with Facebook." Don't businesses worry we'll find this to be oversharing? Most probably never thought we'd find out. Facebook says companies are required to provide us "robust notice" that they're sending data about our activity to the social network. But I found very few explained this tracking in clear terms. Facebook wants to paint surveillance as totally normal. Zuckerberg often says people want to see "relevant" ads. I wonder whom he's asking. About 81 per cent "of the public say that the potential risks they face because of data collection by companies outweigh the benefits," according to Pew. Here's what you can do: You can do a few things to fight back against Facebook's surveillance, some of which haven't been available before. The new "Off-Facebook Activity" page includes ways to ask Facebook to cut it out. From that page, click on "Clear History" to tell Facebook remove that data from your account. After you've done that, you still need to inform Facebook you want them to stop adding this data to your profile in the future. On the same "Off-Facebook Activity" page, look for another option to "Manage Future Activity." (To find it, you may first have to click "More Options" - sorry, I know they're not making this easy.) Click that, and then click the additional button labelled "Manage Future Activity," and then toggle off the button next to "Future Off-Facebook Activity." While we're adjusting things, I also recommend changing one other bad Facebook default setting. Under the settings menu, go to "Your Ad Preferences" (click here to go directly). Under the heading "Ad settings," look for "Ads based on data from partners." Make sure it is set to "Not allowed." The ultimate fix: Say farewell to Facebook and Instagram forever, and close your accounts. Now I have to share a bummer: Changing these settings doesn't actually stop Facebook from collecting data about you from other businesses. Facebook will just "disconnect" it from your profile, to use the social network's carefully chosen word. Mostly they're just promising they'll no longer use it to target you with ads on Facebook and Instagram - which means you'll be less likely to be manipulated based on your data. Nathaniel Lawrence, who formed the Save Lincoln Junior High group months ago, said the building erected in 1929 adds character to the neighborhood. While the school is not protected by a landmark designation, Lawrence said it is a sentimental landmark and he has collected about 550 signatures on a petition from residents who oppose demolishing the school. The Angles getting a rebrand next week. Dont worry: This newsletter will still have the same stories you love. Theyll just come with a different nameThe Slatestand a sharp new look. You dont need to take any action to keep receiving it, but if change isnt your thing, unsubscribe here or below (well miss you). Going viral: As the coronavirus continues to spread, Chinese government censors are certainly earning their wages, Marjorie Perry reports. Between tamping down social media rumors and creating lilac-hued propaganda posters distributed via WeChat, China is going on the offensive. Will the Communist Party manage to hold onto the narrative? Advertisement Unblocked: In more online censorship news, Turkey has finally lifted its 2-year ban of Wikipedia after a hard-fought legal battle and spirited PR campaign. While this is worth celebrating, Stephen Harrison warns that the same strategy that Wikipedias proponents used in Turkey may not work in other, similarly censored countriesbut there are still options. Bolton, Bolt-off: Lets make it clearJohn Bolton, Trumps former national security adviser, is an ideological bureaucrat not above petty schemes. But his new book, and its explosive claims, may still be trustworthy, Fred Kaplan writes. All the more reason for him to testify in the impeachment trial. For fun: Have you been watching The Circle on Netflix recently? Ever wonder if its actually a person typing out all those emoji? Lets speculate. Not an influencer, Seung From narcotics to killing Hindus: Why the death of Happy PhD is a major relief India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 29: The killing of Harmeet Singh, a top Khalistan terrorist has come as a major relief for the security forces. The Punjab police had got nine red corner notices issued against him. He was killed by a local gang over a financial dispute that stemmed out of a drug deal, sources tell OneIndia. The source said that he was shot by a local gang near the Dera Chahal Gurudwara near Lahore. Harmeet alias Happy PhD took over as the chief of the Khalistan Liberation Force in 2014 after the outfit's boss Harminder Mintoo was arrested by the Punjab Police from Thailand. Mintoo had managed to escape from jail, but he was arrested again. He died of a cardiac arrest in 2018. Happy PhD top Khalistan terrorist who killed Hindu leaders shot dead in Lahore Singh, who was killed was living in Pakistan for the past 20 years under the patronage of the ISI. Singh was accused of radicalising the youth in Punjab. He would raise funds for the terrorist group and was a key player in the narcotics world. The killing of Hindu leaders: In 2018, several Hindu leaders were killed. The police said that these were acts of terror carried out by the Khalistan groups. The National Investigation is seized off a probe involving the killing of several Hindu leaders in Punjab. The NIA probe revealed that the plan was hatched in Pakistan, while the funds came in from Canada, UK and Italy. Nirbhaya Case: Convict Akshay Kumar Singh files curative petition in SC | Oneindia News In Punjab there have been such murders galore and the year 2017 has seen five such incidents. In 2016, there were two such incidents. The NIA probe into these incidents suggest that the mastermind is a person called Gursharanbir Singh who is a British national. He is the one who roped in Ramandeep and Hardeep Singh and directed them to kill Hindu leaders. K2 cocktail: Why Pakistans Kashmir-Khalistan operation should worry India The handlers who directed the killing of RSS and other Hindu leaders have been traced to Italy, Canada and the United Kingdom. The Punjab police which is probing the case learnt that there is a systematic approach that has been followed to eliminate Hindu leaders by ISI agents. The motive behind the killings is to destabilise the state, the police say. Communal tension: The ISI wants to cause communal tension in Punjab. Once the state becomes volatile then it could be used as a platform to launch the Khalistan forces, the police also said. The police got information about the modus operandi following three very high profile arrests. Recently the NIA took over the probe into the killing of two persons-Satpal Sharma and his son Ramesh Kumar at Ludhiana. An NIA officer explained to OneIndia that the during the investigation it was found that killings of Satpal Sharma, his son Ramesh Sharma and Durga Gupta were part of trans-national conspiracy hatched by senior leadership of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF). Eight incidents of such killings were executed as part of this conspiracy between January, 2016 and October, 2017 in Punjab. The objective of the conspiracy was to destabilize the law and order situation in Punjab and to revive the fledgling terrorism in the state. Foot-prints abroad: It was found that the conspiracy had its foot-prints in several countries including, Pakistan, UK, Australia, France, Italy and UAE. As part of the conspiracy, large amounts of funds were supplied through Italy, Australia and the UK to the perpetrators of the Killings/ Attempted Killings, viz. Hardeep Singh and Ramandeep Singh. These funds were used by them to purchase weapons for executing the killings and other logistics. The conspiracy included recruitment and training of Hardeep Singh and Ramandeep Singh in Italy, Dubai and UAE. Khalistan terrorists using online accounts of jail inmates to transfer money, fund terror Accused Hardeep Singh is a permanent resident of Italy while accused Ramandeep Singh belongs to Ludhiana. Both these persons were trained by one Gursharanbir Singh, a UK national. Another UK national, Jagtar Singh Johal, who has been arrested in the case was involved in the funding of the conspiracy. Day to day co-ordination of the conspiracy was done by Pakistan based Harmeet Singh @ PhD, the NIA had said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, January 29, 2020, 11:31 [IST] CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A judge in West Virginia has dismissed a lawsuit filed on behalf of a transgender male student who said an assistant principal harassed him when he tried to use the boys bathroom, the American Civil Liberties Unions West Virginia chapter said Wednesday. Harrison County Circuit Judge Chris McCarthy granted a motion this week by the Harrison County Board of Education to dismiss the lawsuit. We are disappointed in the courts decision, ACLU of West Virginia legal director Loree Stark said in a statement. However, this was largely a procedural ruling and did not address the underlying allegations in the case. We are currently exploring our options going forward, but we are not done fighting for justice in this matter. McCarthy ruled the school board was immune from liability for the actions of Liberty High School Assistant Principal Lee Livengood, The Exponent Telegram reported. We are glad we are able to get this case dismissed, put this behind us and move on, said Harrison County Schools Superintendent Mark Manchin told the newspaper. The lawsuit filed on behalf of student Michael Critchfield accused the board of failing to create a safe school environment. Stark and Wheeling attorney Teresa Toriseva represented the student. The ACLU said Livengood followed Critchfield into the boys bathroom in November 2018 at the school and said, You freak me out. Critchfield said he also was ordered to prove his gender by using a urinal. He was 15 at the time. The lawsuit sought unspecified damages and to prohibit Livengood from having contact with Critchfield and his family. According to Critchfield, the school band was preparing to take an after-school bus trip to Morgantown to watch a performance at West Virginia University. Critchfield said he went to the bathroom and checked to see if anyone was standing at a urinal before he went into a stall. Livengood then opened the bathroom door and asked if any students were in the stall. Critchfield said he replied and when he left the stall, Livengood was standing in the bathroom doorway and blocked Critchfield from leaving. Critchfield recalled Livengood repeatedly yelling, Why are you in here? You shouldnt be in here. Critchfield said he replied that it was his legal right to use that bathroom. He said Livengood used improper pronouns when referring to Critchfield and challenged him to use a urinal to prove that he was a boy. Livengoods attorney, Alex Shook, had argued that his client was unaware of Critchfields gender identity and was not told of an arrangement Critchfield had with the principal to use the boys restrooms. Livengood was suspended with pay but allowed to return after a holiday break. Last March the school board voted not to renew his contract at the end of a three-year probationary period, then reversed itself a month later and reinstated him. New York, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Europe Human Microbiome Market to 2025 - Regional Analysis and Forecasts by Product, Disease, Application, and Country" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05764202/?utm_source=GNW Whereas, rigorous government regulations for advanced therapies and limited understanding is likely to have a negative impact on the growth of the market in the coming years. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has developed as an effective treatment for C. difficile infection (CDI) refractory towards antibiotic therapy. The microbiota have important roles in the function of gastrointestinal tract and other aspects of human physiology, there is also growing interest in studying FMT for other clinical indications. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified human stool as a biological agent and determined that its use in fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) therapy and other research are regulated for the insurance of patient safety. With the use of FMT in the treatment of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (RCDI), an investigational new drug (IND) permit is not required, but is strongly encouraged and may ultimately be required. Some of the available data suggests that the use of fecal microbiota for the restoration of intestinal flora may be an effective therapy in the management of refractory C. difficile infection. According to the study, "Fecal Microbiota Transplant in Patients with Recurrent Clostridium Difficile Infection" published in Deutscher Arzteverlag GmbH in 2016 concluded that FMT is a safe and effective treatment option for rCDI but FMT is available only in few centers in Germany. Thus clinical effectiveness of this therapy poses opportunities for the human microbiome treatment to grow in the European region. Germany is anticipated to lead the adoptions of Human microbiome across the Europe region through the forecast period.Human microbiome is an emerging field in the country and the developments are being conducted widely in the country. The genome-wide association analysis study carried out in Germany was published in 2016. The study identifies variation in vitamin D receptor and other host factors influence the gut microbiota. In addition, Germany invests considerably for innovation and development of new technologies and procedures.For instance, in April 2017, the German Science Council, has approved 53 million euros in funding for an Institute of Microbiota and Cancer Research in Tubingen. Thus, considering and analyzing the above mentioned factors, the human microbiome market is likely to grow with a significant growth rate in the coming future. Exhibit: Rest Of Europe Human microbiome Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2027 (US$ Bn) EUROPE HUMAN MICROBIOME- MARKET SEGMENTATION By Product Probiotics Foods Prebiotics Medical Foods Diagnostic Device Drugs Supplements EUROPE HUMAN MICROBIOME- MARKET SEGMENTATION By Disease Obesity Diabetes Autoimmune Disorders Cancer Mental Disorders Others EUROPE HUMAN MICROBIOME- MARKET SEGMENTATION By Application Therapeutics Diagnostics By Country U.S. Canada Mexico Companies Mentioned Enterome MicroBiome Therapeutics, LLC Rebiotix Inc. Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. Osel Inc. Vedanta Biosciences, Inc. Metabiomics Corporate Synthetic Biologics, Inc. DuPont BiomX Ltd. Reasons to Buy Save and reduce time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the growth, size, leading players and segments in the human microbiome market. Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies. The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the global human microbiome market, thereby allowing players across the value chain to develop effective long-term strategies. Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets. Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it. Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin security interest with respect to client products, segmentation, pricing and distribution. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05764202/?utm_source=GNW 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. __________________________ A county coroner in Illinois died on Tuesday in a small plane crash, along with her husband, another person and a dog. Cinda Edwards, the coroner for Sangamon County, and her husband Frank Edwards, who ran for the mayor of Springfield last year, were among those to perish in the crash, NPR Illinois reported Tuesday. A third, unidentified person and a dog were also killed in the accident. The three passengers were aboard a Piper Aerostar traveling to the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield after stopping for gas in Alabama from their initial departure point of Florida. The plane went down in flames about seven miles south of Springfield, Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday. Weather and technical issues seemed to be factors in the planes crash in a backyard adjacent to a farm field just yards away from the houses nearby, according to Campbell. It was probably within about 75 feet of a residence, so that could have been problematic, Campbell said. RELATED VIDEO: Pilot Tried to Gain Altitude to Avoid Cloud Layer Before Crash that Killed Kobe Bryant: Investigator The tower reported that the plane was having trouble on approach due to weather and its instruments, they reported, and the plane evidently tried to make a circle around Springfield where they could try to come in again, and at that time is when the tower lost contact with the plane, Campbell said, adding that the FAA had arrived on scene to conduct an investigation. At the time of the press conference, no one aboard had been identified by authorities. RELATED: 911 Caller Says Helicopter Crash That Killed Kobe Bryant & Daughter Was Over in a Quarter Second Both Cinda and Frank made careers out of civil service. Cinda has been the Sangamon County coroner since 2011, and her husband spent many years on the city council. After being elected as alderman for Springfield in 2003, Frank reportedly served as Mayor briefly from 2010-2011 after the death of Mayor Tim Davlin, according to NPRs report Tuesday. He was elected as Ward 1 Alderman again, then serving until 2015, the outlet said. Story continues Frank ran for Mayor last year, but lost the election to incumbent Jim Langfelder, NPR reported in April 2019. Langfelder told NPR on Tuesday that the crash was a tragic loss of life, but did not identify the passengers. The Sangamon County coroners office and sheriffs office did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. Langfelder did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment. Miso Robotics, the designers of the world's most popular robotic fry cook "Flippy," is giving their burger-flipping, french fry-prepping robot a new look. The company has designed a new installation for its robotic arm that slots under the hood above a fry station instead of planting the robot on a kitchen floor. It's a move that's designed to save space and improve efficiency as the company starts pitching its robotic chefs to quick-service restaurants like McDonald's and Burger King around the country. Miso's move comes even as other startups attempting to automate the preparation of everything from pizza to burgers are getting burned. Zume, the formerly high-flying would-be robotic pizza maker and packaging company, recently had to lay off a chunk of its workforce, and Creator, the automated burger prep restaurant, is still operating from a single location in San Francisco two years after its launch. By contrast, Flippy is now being used in both Dodger Stadium and the Arizona Diamondbacks' Chase Stadium, along with its installation in restaurants backed by Miso Robotics investor Cali Group. [vimeo 340051113 w=640 h=360] Speaking of investments, Miso Robotics is hoping to leverage the more than 1 billion views the company's promotional videos have received on social media by launching a crowdfunding campaign through SeedInvest that could net the company up to $30 million. For Ryan Sinnet, Miso Robotics co-founder and chief technology officer, the new design will be able to boost adoption among quick-serve restaurants and help solve some of the staffing problems that have hit the fast food industry. "They can save on food costs, labor costs and improve the real estate footprint" with the new design, says Sinnet. "We are showing how this robot will improve profit margins by a set amount." The redesigned Flippy The redesigned Flippy, which now fits above the fry station. Story continues The ultimate goal is to offer the robot for free and charge restaurants a fee for the use of the robot, according to Sinnet. The robotics-as-a-service model is already popular in the logistics industry, where warehouses are improving margins through increased automation, but robots have yet to make significant enough inroads into the restaurant business to make the business model work... so far. Flippy's new look is only a prototype right now, cooking up batches of fried chicken strips, onion rings and french fries at Miso Robotics' test kitchen headquarters in Pasadena, Calif. But the robot will be certified and available for kitchens by the second half of the year, according to Sinnet. The company has already signed an initial contract with Caliburger, which will net the business $11 million over five years for its burger-flipping robots. Miso Robotics said that it already has over one million reservations. "This can go into 80% of kitchens," says Sinnet. "We designed this whole system to generalize what it means to cook in a kitchen." Flippy solves the vision problem -- identifying what items to cook; the scheduling problem -- how to time and prioritize different menu items; and fulfillment of multiple orders, says Sinnet. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Euro Manganese Inc. (TSX-V/ASX: EMN) (the "Company" or "EMN"), is pleased to announce that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with JFE Steel Corporation (JFE) of Tokyo, Japan, to supply high-purity manganese products from its proposed demonstration plant at the Chvaletice Manganese Project in the Czech Republic for testing and evaluation. Approximately 10% (1,000kg) of the demonstration plants planned production, in the form of high-purity electrolytic manganese metal (HPEMM), will be provided to JFE. Further, pursuant to the MOU, the Company and JFE intend to collaborate by sharing technical and other information, so that EMNs proposed Chvaletice Manganese Project plant can be designed and built to meet JFEs requirements for reliable, high-quality and environmentally-superior HPEMM for use in high-end specialty steel applications. Upon completion of testing and evaluation of the HPEMM by JFE, and subject to a production decision being made based on the results of a feasibility study which is currently underway, the parties intend to work toward establishing a non-exclusive, long-term supply arrangement of HPEMM produced at the Chvaletice Manganese Project, in accordance with conditions to be agreed. Mr. Marco Romero, President and CEO of EMN, commented: We are pleased to have made this important first step in the development of a promising relationship with JFE Steel, one of the worlds premier steel companies. Their strong focus on uncompromising quality, reliability, sustainability and impeccable provenance fits perfectly with Euro Manganeses own philosophy. About Euro Manganese: Euro Manganese Inc. is a Canadian mineral resource company, whose principal focus is advancing the development of the Chvaletice Manganese Project in the Czech Republic, in which it holds a 100% interest. The proposed Project entails the re-processing of a significant manganese deposit hosted in historic mine tailings, strategically located in the heart of Europes major emerging electric vehicle manufacturing hub. EMN's goal is to build a leading, competitive and environmentally superior supplier of Ultra-High-Purity Manganese Products, serving the lithium-ion battery industry, as well as producers of specialty steel, high-technology chemicals and aluminum alloys. Story continues About JFE Steel: JFE Steel Corporation, one of the worlds leading integrated steel producers, was established through the consolidation of NKK Corporation and Kawasaki Steel Corporation in 2003. JFE operates several steelworks in Japan and numerous branch offices and affiliates throughout the world. JFE Steel leverages world-class technologies and know-how to produce a wide range of products based on its Only One, Number One strategy of focusing on unique and best-in-class products. JFE reported consolidated sales of 3,900 billion yen in 2018 and consolidated crude steel output of 27.88 million tons in the fiscal year ended March 2019. Contact: Euro Manganese Inc. Marco A. Romero President & CEO (604)-681-1010 ext. 101 Fausto Taddei Vice President, Corporate Development & Corporate Secretary (604)-681-1010 ext. 105 E-mail: info@mn25.ca Website: www.mn25.ca Company Address: 1500 1040 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6E 4H8 Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as may, would, could, will, intend, expect, believe, plan, anticipate, estimate, scheduled, forecast, predict and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Such forward-looking information or statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the Companys intentions regarding the Chvaletice Manganese Project in the Czech Republic, including without limitation, the continued evaluation and development of the Project, the building of the demonstration plant, the production and delivery of high purity manganese products and the ability of the Company to negotiate offtake agreements with potential customers. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or information, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed under Risks Notice and elsewhere in the Companys MD&A, as well as the inability to obtain regulatory approvals in a timely manner; the potential for unknown or unexpected events to cause contractual conditions to not be satisfied; unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the company to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release. The Companys actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the factors set forth in the Risks Notice section and elsewhere in the Companys MD&A for the year ended September 30, 2019 and its Annual Information Form for that year. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange), or the ASX accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. IRON COUNTY, MI A dog that found itself trapped in body-gripping bobcat trap suffered only minor injuries thanks to its owner and the Michigan DNR. According to an official report, the incident occurred in Iron County in early January when Sgt. Brian Bacon and Anna Viau, a conservation officer in DNR District 1, received a call about a dog stuck in the trap. The officers rushed to the scene explaining to the owners over the phone how to open the trap. By the time the officers arrived, the owners were able to cut the dog out of the trap with a hacksaw. The dog was rushed to the vet and is expected to survive with only minor injuries, according to the report. The trap had been set illegally on the ground but was properly tagged with the owners information. The officers contacted the trap owner at his residence and received a confession to setting the trap illegally. Charges are pending with the Iron County Prosecutors Office. DNR District 1 covers the Western Upper Peninsula and includes Baraga, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Marquette, Menominee and Ontonagon counties. That was the tagline for the 1976 version, which had a blockbuster cast (Henry Fonda, Toshiro Mifune and Robert Mitchum as admirals Nimitz, Yamamoto and Halsey) and money to burn, which they did. You could still get a lot of bang for your buck then even if Hollywood was on its knees. The director, Jack Smight, had flown missions in the Pacific during World War II. Charlton Heston played a pilot whose son had fallen for a Japanese-American girl, which allowed some talk about race, a hot topic so soon after the American defeat in Vietnam. This new one has racial undertones, too, in a way that reflects new realities. Chinese investors kicked in a quarter of the budget, which might explain why director Roland Emmerich gives us a somewhat tangential sidebar in which Aaron Eckhart gets shot down in China after bombing Tokyo. Japanese atrocities follow, which is true but lacking context (what was the bombing of Tokyo, then?) Midway is one of director Roland Emmerich's better films, but not by much. Emmerich's career has been marked by size rather than quality. He gave us the first Independence Day, then stomped on Godzilla; he made the American War of Independence seem dull in The Patriot, then froze the planet in The Day After Tomorrow. More recently, he trashed the big house on Pennsylvania Avenue in White House Down. Emmerich, who's German, makes the most patriotic movies in Hollywood, which tells us he knows something about butter and bread and which colours don't run. Midway is not bad, considering his whole career. Indeed, it's one of his better films. It's an enormous spectacle, filled with sound and fury and the best special effects not enough money can buy. Emmerich had to shave his budget by $US25 million ($37 million) to $US100 million to get a green light. For this kind of film, that's almost low-budget. The FX sometimes reflect that: most of the aerials are spectacular, but not all. About Documentation Centre The Documentation Centre of ICSF was initiated in 1999, in Chennai, India. The main aims behind the setting up of the Centre were to disseminate relevant information pertinent to small-scale fisheries and fishworkers in a format that would be easily available. The focus areas of information collection of the DC has been: artisanal fisheries, working conditions of fishworkers, fishworkers unions, fishworker movements, social security, women in fisheries, fisheries statistics, fishing technology, fishing communities, aquaculture, fisheries trade, fisheries management, coastal ecosystems and legal instruments, from different parts of the world. The deadly weapons offender registry was not vetted appropriately in those raw months after the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. While the rest of then-Gov. Dannel Malloys landmark gun control legislation continues to spark debate, the registry was an asterisk on the bill. Its existence is a tool for police, enforced by judges and unknown to most Connecticut residents. Hearst Connecticut Media reporter and editor Ken Dixon was curious about the list and recently obtained a stealth copy of it. Even without names, the numbers offer a narrative of our cities and towns: Bridgeport (293), New Haven (274), Norwalk (29), Stamford, (28), Danbury (10), Greenwich (5), Darien (1), New Canaan (0). The list come into existence quietly in 2013, but there will certainly be a lot of noise in any discourse on whether it should become public. In its current state, we tilt toward releasing it, but with the consideration it deserves. Malloy represents two sides of the potential dialogue, having scripted his Second Chance Society platform to champion a more forgiving criminal justice system. The framework of the debate is apparent in the exclusive story we published Sunday, and responses to it. American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut Executive Director David McGuire says revealing it would be an invasion of policy. Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven, meanwhile, reasons that it should be made public, like other registries. It is being compared with the list of convicted sex offenders, which is available in a digital public database. We dont buy that such lists should be left solely in the hands of law enforcement. Some school districts, for example, do somersaults to plot out bus stops to avoid corners near registered sex offenders. Concerns over polarization and potential vigilantism have merit, but are outweighed by the rights of parents to shield their children. State Rep. Vin Candelora, R-North Branford, argues that releasing the list could backfire by leading to plea bargains for lesser offenses to avoid being slapped with the Scarlet Letter the list represents. That logic only points to other flaws in the criminal justice system. A criminal trying to avoid the list only offers a persuasive argument for its existence. The list also expires after five years, so it is not a lifetime tattoo of shame. The media has routine experience witnessing the impact of listing names as a potential deterrent. For generations, names have appeared in newspapers after arrests. This are not convictions, but the information is public and weve heard from many who would prefer their activities be kept private. A discourse over releasing the deadly weapons offender registry requires nuance. The public hearing that should have been held seven years ago should finally take place. While they are at it, lawmakers should revisit the sex offender registry, which unfairly stigmatizes all convicted offenders as committing equal crimes. Its time to give the weapons registry the consideration it should have gotten seven years ago. Youve got to hand it to the Democrats -- they can hold their caucus together for the flimsiest of causes. The GOP, though, has all these RINOs who have to establish their independence; theyre willing to break party unity when it serves their own ambitions. Three senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, and Mitt Romney of Utah are rumored to be willing for witnesses to be called in the impeachment trial now underway in the Senate. Obviously, such a slowdown benefits the Democrats, who want the impeachment to headline news reports as long as possible. Further and more importantly, it was the Houses responsibility to build its case by compiling evidence and presenting it to the Senate for a trial; it is not the Senates responsibility to gather evidence. The Democratic case lacks overwhelming evidence as Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa said, calling the whole process a political exercise. Ernst and others, like Lindsey Graham, are unwilling to extend the trial and accomplish the Democrats goal of dominating headlines in the run-up to the November elections. The question is whether the three RINOs mentioned above will put the good of the country above their own emotional needs or self-interest. Take Senator Mitt Romney. Remember when he needed endorsements when running for President? He went to New York to ask for Trumps endorsement. He got it. Remember, after he lost the Presidency, he ran for senator from Utah. He sought and received Trumps endorsement. Typically, such political favors generate appreciation and are reciprocated. Not so with Romney. With the usual caveats of being deeply concerned and finding it very troubling, Romney turned against Trump over the Ukraine farce, calling the Presidents actions illegal and unpresidential. Now that the impeachment circus has moved to the Senate for trial, Romney is joining with those demanding witnesses. Digging deeper, it turns out that one of Romneys top advisors is a former high-ranking CIA official Joseph Cofer Black who, it just happens, is on the board of Burisma Holdings, the same company that has been so generous to Hunter Biden. There is little question that Romney will ultimately do what benefits him most when it comes to his votes in the impeachment trial. Senator Susan Collins is following the trial very closely and is taking copious notes. She reacted strongly to House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadlers accusation against the Republican senators; he claimed they voted for a cover-up when they opposed subpoenas at the trial. She sent a note to Chief Justice John Roberts and granted an interview to Politico complaining about the accusation. In this election year, Senator Collins is between the proverbial rock and a hard place. She has to hold on to independent voters to win her fifth six-year term in November. She is showing the stress of the pressures to get her to push for witnesses and additional evidence. George Conway (Kellyannes husband and well-known Anti-Trump tweeter who has founded a super-PAC opposing the president) is demanding that Collins do her job instead of covering for the president. Already, Collins has shown her willingness to break ranks with the GOP; she voted as the lone Republican for one of the 11 amendments proposed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer even though the amendment was doomed for defeat. It remains to be seen what she will consider in her personal best interest as the trial moves forward. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska is considered a sure ally of the Democrats, but she has gone on record questioning whether it makes sense to call for fresh evidence. Further, she pointed out the irony of the Democrats not wanting to slow things down by involving the courts, but now wanting to get the courts involved. Then, there is the irony of the Democrats rushing the case through the House without allowing time for witnesses for the defense, but now wanting to drag things out by calling for new witnesses. With the leak of information from former National Security Advisor John Boltons forthcoming book about his time on the Presidents staff, Murkowski has signaled her openness to hearing testimony from Bolton. As the Senate trial moves from opening statements from the GOP to the Q and A period, the votes of the three RINOs will be key in determining whether Bolton and Biden, as well as other witnesses, will be allowed the draw out the trial or whether Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell can hold his caucus together and wrap up the trial putting an end this orchestrated attempt to remove the duly elected president that began the moment he was sworn in. This sham business is so egregious that on Monday, Harvard law professor and television legal commentator, Alan Dershowitz -- not a Trump ally by any stretch of the imagination -- declared authoritatively that even if the accusations in Boltons book are true, they do not rise to the level of an abuse of power or an impeachable offense." Dershowitz, along with Jonathan Turley, has declared the impeachment case to be -- in todays lingo -- a nothingburger. Certainly, nothing yet throws McConnells fast-track trial timeline into question. The RINO trio -- Murkowski, Romney, and Collins -- could threaten that timeline. Reports indicate they are discussing joining the Democrats to demand testimony from witnesses -- specifically John Bolton. Despite that possibility, latest projections are that the GOP majority will likely vote -- as soon as the end of this work week -- to acquit Trump and end the tawdry circus. As Trump attorney Jay Sekulow said, We deal with transcript evidence, we deal with publicly available information. We do not deal with speculation, allegations that are not based on evidentiary standards at all. With a case based entirely on speculation and secondhand suppositions as to motivation and intent, most people see no scenario where the Senate will vote to remove Trump from office. Why continue the trial for a sham of an impeachment? In his New York Post op-ed, Michael Goodwin, summarized the situation: Even with Bolton, the basic facts of the Ukraine matter remain too light and too small to bear the enormous burden of removing an elected president. This impeachment is a specious attempt to overturn a legitimate election conducted in accordance with the provisions of our constitution. Further, it is a naked abuse of power and cannot be allowed to succeed -- not in order to benefit Trumps political standing, but for the sake of the continuation of this great republic and the voting processes that keep it truly a representative republic. Our nation was brought into existence by patriots who risked all that they had and their very lives to grant us the opportunity to govern ourselves free from the tyranny of a ruling class -- a ruling class not unlike the current cabal of elitists who are intent on wresting control over our government from the hands of We the People. Dr Paul Dean was sacked by Dragon School, Oxford, after police launched their probe A former teacher at one of Britain's top prep schools attended by Emma Watson and Hugh Laurie is facing jail for downloading child sex abuse images. Dr Paul Dean, the former head of English at The Dragon School in Oxford, admitted three counts of making indecent images of children. Shortly after his conviction The Dragon School released a statement to worried parents apologising for having to share 'the distressing news'. In an email, headmaster Crispin Hyde-Dunn and Governor Chris Jones: 'We are very sorry to have to inform you that Dr Paul Dean, a former member of staff, has pleaded guilty to charges relating to viewing indecent images of children on his personal laptop computer. 'We have been reassured by Thames Valley Police that there is no evidence that any offences took place on the school premises, or related to current or former Dragon pupils. 'We can assure you that as soon as we were made aware of this police investigation, the individual was suspended with immediate effect and shortly afterwards his contract was terminated with the Dragon. The Dragon School (pictured) headmaster Crispin Hyde-Dunn and Governor Chris Jones issued a statement to parents with news of Dean's conviction for child sex abuse images 'Whilst we stress that the charges made are not in relation to any pupils at Dragon School, this behaviour is wholly unacceptable and we appreciate that this news, and any associated media interest, will be very upsetting.' Dean retired from full time teaching in 2015 but had still been employed by the school on a part-time basis. Dean, 66, from Oxford, will be sentenced for his child sex abuse crimes in February He was suspended as soon as the Thames Valley Police investigation started in 2018 and sacked shortly afterwards. During the hearing at Oxford Magistrates Court in December, Dean pleaded guilty to making three explicit images of the highest category A, as well as three images in category B and nine images of category C. The offences all took place in Oxford on or before January 31, 2018. The 66-year-old, who lives in Oxford, was due to be sentenced last Friday but the case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report and he has been remanded on unconditional bail. He will appear before magistrates again on February 26. The Dragon School was founded in 1877 by a group of Oxford University dons for their own children and is for pupils aged from four years to 13-years old. Its former pupils a very wide range of successful men and women including; Tim Henman, Dom Joly, Hugh Laurie, Emma Watson, Jack Whitehall and London Mayoral hopeful Rory Stewart. The Dragon School in Oxford has some famous faces amongst its alumni including Harry Potter actress Emma Watson (pictured alongside Daniel Radcliffe in the hit movie) Watson (left) and Jack Whitehall (right) are both among its former pupils that also include Tim Henman, Dom Joly, Hugh Laurie, and London Mayoral hopeful Rory Stewart Dean received his Ph.D. from the University of Manchester, in 1978 and taught for 36 years in independent senior and preparatory schools. He has been a contributor to The New Criterion, a New York-based monthly literary magazine, since 1994. He is a member of the Malone Society Council. In 2000 he was invited to become a Founding Fellow of the English Association in recognition of his services to the teaching profession. Daniel Symonds, an Army veteran who owns the funeral home with his wife, Joy, said theyd held services for other unclaimed vets in the past but never made it publicly known. This time they decided to post it on social media pages in the hope that people might come out to honor him and possibly contact relatives who may not have heard of Murphys death. The .com domain of Iran's Fars News Agency affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard was blocked due to U.S. Treasury Department sanctions on January 25. Fars said it had received an email from the server company informing it that the blockage was due to an order by Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). However, an official of a company owned by Iran's Ministry of Telecommunications admitted Saturday that the company has restored the .com domain of Fars News Agency by resorting to DNS spoofing or hacking in simple terms. This is the first time in Iran's Internet history that the regime has admitted DNS spoofing, experts say. The admission to spoofing, also known as DNS cache poisoning, came on Saturday in a tweet by Sajad Bonabi, a member of the Board of Directors of Telecommunications Infrastructures Company owned by the Telecommunication Ministry. The Janata Dal (United) on Wednesday (January 29) expelled Prashant Kishor and Pavan Varma from the primary membership of the party for "anti-party activities". In a statement, JD(U) said that Prashant Kishor was given the post of vice-president but he used the party for his own selfish purposes. "And even after being given the option to leave the party as per his wishes, he chose to use objectionable words against the party chief," the statement said, adding, "to ensure Prashant Kishor doesn't stoop even lower, it is important to let him go from the party," read the statement. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) decided to expel both the leaders a day after Kishor called Nitish Kumar a 'liar' for claiming that former was made the JD(U) vice-president at the direction of BJP leader Amit Shah. Kishor had tweeted on Monday dismissing Kumar's as "fake". Notably, both Kishor and Varma have been criticising the Bihar CM over the party's decision to support the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). On Tuesday (January 28), Nitish Kumar tried to distance himself from the anti-CAA stand taken by Prashant Kishor , saying that people can leave the party if they want. "Someone is tweeting, let him tweet. What do I have to do with that? One can stay in the JDU till one wants...one can also leave if one wants," Kumar said without taking Kishor's name. "Already he works as a strategist for various parties, but I'm making one thing clear, if he wants to remain in the party he will have to adopt the basic structure of the party," Kumar had warned. Live TV Kishor responded to Nitish Kumar's claim by saying that the Bihar CM was lying about why he joined JDU. "Nitish Kumar what a fall for you to lie about how and why you made me join JDU. Poor attempt on your part to try and make my colour same as yours!," he had tweeted on Tuesday. "And if you are telling the truth who would believe that you still have the courage not to listen to someone recommended by Amit Shah?" he added. .@NitishKumar what a fall for you to lie about how and why you made me join JDU!! Poor attempt on your part to try and make my colour same as yours! And if you are telling the truth who would believe that you still have courage not to listen to someone recommended by @AmitShah? Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) January 28, 2020 It may be recalled that on January 24, Nitish Kumar had slammed Pavan Varma over a letter written by him to Kumar raising questions over JDU's alliance with BJP in Delhi Assembly elections. The Bihar CM had said that Varma was free to join any party he liked. DES MOINES, Iowa - Allies of former vice president Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., have spoken with officials in entrepreneur Andrew Yang's presidential campaign about a deal for cooperation from their supporters on caucus night, according to two people familiar with the talks. Environmentalist Tom Steyer's campaign was contacted by a representative from former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg's campaign to feel out whether they could cooperate in some way, according to a Steyer campaign aide familiar with the conversation. With five days to go before the Iowa caucuses, several of the top Democratic campaigns and operatives are eyeing one another as potential, and limited, allies in their battle to win convention delegates. "When you have this few days to go and the races is this close, you are looking for every tiny morsel of advantage that you could cobble together," said Lily Adams, who was a top Iowa aide to Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign and worked for Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., before the senator left the race last month. "It costs you nothing to reach out to candidates and ask. I'd probably reach out to everyone." The supporter-swapping conversations stem from the system Iowa Democrats use for the more than 1,600 caucuses, which will be held Monday night. In each, Democrats gather in clusters depending on which candidate they support. Candidates who do not earn support from at least 15% of those in the room are not considered viable, and they do not earn delegates. Their backers are free to leave, or to align with another candidate. That can lead to negotiations between campaigns over the fate of the supporters of nonviable candidates. Biden, Sanders, Buttigieg and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., have been locked at the top of recent Iowa polling, with Klobuchar gaining momentum. For them and other candidates, even minimal growth in support could be meaningful in the final apportioning of delegates. Caucus-night agreements, loose alliances and complicated strategies have been a recurring theme in Iowa. In 2016, operating under slightly different rules, the campaigns for both Sanders and Clinton sent some of their supporters to former Maryland governor Martin O'Malley in places where they thought O'Malley would take support from their opponent. Sanders's 2016 team had a sophisticated app that precinct captains downloaded on their phones and helped them calculate whether they should send support to O'Malley and how many people could be spared. In the 2004 campaign, then-Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., and then-Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, made a deal to support each other. Those specific deals would be harder for campaigns to use this year, because candidates who reach 15% aren't able to shed voters. That potentially offers more power this year to less-popular candidates. Some suggested that it was far-fetched to think an Iowan committed enough to attend the caucuses would be likely to make a second choice based on the recommendation of a campaign staffer. "Iowas are traditionally pretty independent-minded," said Jesse Harris, a senior adviser to Biden's Iowa campaign. "Results could be mixed. But in a close race, I don't think you want to leave any stone unturned." Biden's campaign has also been courting endorsements from two candidates who have left the race - Harris and Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. Some in Biden's orbit have been eager to win their public backing before the Iowa caucuses, as a way to showcase additional strength and add to his list of establishment Democrat endorsements. Both former candidates also spent significant time in Iowa, and their backing could help Biden win over some of their former supporters. Yet those discussions have been complicated by the Senate impeachment trial. Both Booker and Harris have appeared reluctant to make any endorsements while the hearings are ongoing, particularly when Biden is a focus in the proceedings and could still be subpoenaed to testify. Biden's team - like many of the campaigns - has put a big focus on carefully identifying voters where the former vice president is the second choice. Warren's staff made an early bet that they could identify Iowans who view her as a second choice, with an eye toward making a direct pitch to those people on caucus night if their first choice doesn't have enough support. Warren's campaign declined to speak about caucus night strategy. Yang spoke frankly on Wednesday about caucus strategy but also acknowledged the limitations of sharing supporters. "The people who support my campaign are very diverse," said Yang at a breakfast hosted by Bloomberg News. "I'd have a hard time getting them to do anything they're not naturally inclined to do. I think most people are going to show up on caucus night with a few choices in mind." He confirmed that his campaign had been approached by more than one competitor at the Bloomberg breakfast. When pressed on where he thought his supporters would go, he was more forthright. "I think many of my supporters would naturally head to Bernie," Yang said. "I think that Bernie and I do have a lot of overlapping support." (Mike Bloomberg, owner of the news outlet that bears his name, is running for the Democratic nomination but is skipping the Iowa contest.) Biden's team reached out to Yang's campaign initially, according to two people who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss strategy. There was a later conversation in which Sanders's and Yang's teams spoke about a possible deal, according to a person familiar with those discussions. Jeff Weaver, a top adviser to Sanders, acknowledged some talks have taken place. "We've been contacted by a number of campaigns," Weaver said. "We are not confirming which ones, and we aren't going to comment on those discussions." A spokesman for Biden's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Steyer, who has about 3% in the RealClearPolitics polling average, has received calls from campaigns, according to a Steyer staffer who would only name Buttigieg's operation. "It didn't go far," said the Steyer aide. Buttigieg's team declined to comment on caucus strategy scenarios. Conversations about gaming out where supporters should go on a second bounce are delicate, as it suggests weakness on one side or the other. At a Yang town hall at the University of Iowa, 20-year-old Alex Aguirre told Yang he was concerned about his vote "not mattering." "I feel like a lot of people also support you but feel like they might be going toward Bernie just because they don't want to waste their vote," said the college junior, a finance major. Yang didn't counsel the student on caucus-night strategy but acknowledged the challenge of reaching 15%. "In terms of voting for me, obviously we have to be above a certain threshold to be competitive in the state," the candidate said, before pivoting to an explanation for why he is a good matchup against President Donald Trump. - - - The Washington Post's Matt Viser and Isaac Stanley-Becker contributed to this report. The robber came up from behind, grabbed the womans purse on a street in upper Northwest Washington on Christmas Eve, then got on a bike and pedaled away. But the woman flagged down a motorist, and together they found the robber, police said. Confronting him, the woman asked him to give back the purse. HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE NutraNomics is excited to announce the release of their new label design and the rebranding of its corporate logo. This change better reflects the companys novel approach and commitment to growing their presence and name recognition into 2020 and beyond. NutraNomics currently is reformulating many legacy nutraceuticals and the company is planning the release of a series of new products reflecting the innovative direction they intend to follow in the coming months. The company is very pleased to have partnered with Pink Kitty Creative inc. out of Las Vegas, Nevada. Under the direction of Pink Kittys lead designer and president, Victoria Hart, The rebranding and new logo design process went very smoothly and the NutraNomics management team is very pleased with the results. Victoria is all about designing brand experiences that move people. With a deep-seated commitment to delivering innovative solutions and stellar design experiences, she has built long-lasting business relationships with major clients including the City of Las Vegas, MGM Resorts International, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, Thrive Cannabis Marketplace, The Love Store, and many others. NutraNomics desire to bring a scientific and organic look and feel to the brand was captured in Victorias designs for the traditional and CBD supplement lines. I felt it was important to capture the essentials of NutraNomics science-focused brand without losing the organic and plant-based nature of the product lines, says Victoria. Creating an approachable and warm concept with an underlying science vibe was the driving inspiration behind the looks we finalized for the traditional and CBD lines. NutraNomics' traditional supplement line is being reformulated to take advantage of the companys approach to nano-technology applications. Not all formulas will benefit from nano reformulation but many of their current products will see a vast improvement by using Nano-tech. The first product brought to market from the existing line will be our new and improved Amazon Factor supplement, which will also benefit from complete rebranding, down to the name. Once folks are able to try this formulation and fall in love with the results, we will lose them if they try to find Amazon Factor in an internet search, says Laura Riffel, COO of NutraNomics. Amazon is the 900-pound gorilla in the search term that we simply cant compete with. Renaming of this popular product became the best approach. Victorias firm will be bringing new life to the upcoming investor relations site, www.NNRXIR.com, as well as the transition of www.NutraNomics.com to an e-commerce site. SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT This release may contain certain forward-looking statements regarding our prospective performance and strategies 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. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are including this statement for purposes of said safe harbor provisions. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe future plans, strategies, and expectations of our company, are generally identified by the use of words anticipate, believe, estimate, expect,, intend, plan, project, seek, strive, try, or future or conditional verbs such as could, may, should, will, would, or similar expressions. Our ability to predict results or the actual effects of our plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Accordingly, actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements and the trading price for our common stock may fluctuate significantly. Some of the factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our expectations or beliefs include, without limitation, our ability to continue to enhance our products and systems to address industry changes, our ability to expand our customer base and retain existing customers, our ability to effectively compete in our market segment, the lack of public information on our company, our ability to raise sufficient capital to fund our business, operations, our ability to continue as a going concern, and a limited public market for our common stock, among other risks. Many factors are difficult to predict accurately and are generally beyond the company's control. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Except as required by applicable law or regulation, we undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date on which such statements were made. Attachment WASHINGTON The Interior Department announced on Wednesday that it was grounding its entire fleet of drones out of concerns that Chinese parts in them might be used for spying, making exceptions only for emergency missions like fighting wildfires and search-and-rescue operations. The move, an extension of an order made last year, reflects concerns that drones made in China could expose sensitive data. Unease is growing in Washington about potential security vulnerabilities presented by Chinese technology, though Chinese companies have denied that their products pose a security threat. Last year, pending an internal security investigation, the agency temporarily grounded its drones, which are used for surveying critical infrastructure like dams, collecting information about endangered species, conducting search-and-rescue operations and tracking wildfires. The new order, signed by David Bernhardt, the secretary of the interior, says the current fleet of 810 drones will remain grounded while we ensure that cybersecurity, technology and domestic production concerns are adequately addressed. The order does not explicitly mention China, but a senior administration official said it was without question aimed at drones made or assembled in China. The Australian High Commission in Ghana has collaborated with a Ghanaian non-governmental organization to renovate the VIP ward of the Accra Psychiatric hospital. The Mental Health and Well-Being Foundation (MHWF) in collaboration with the Australian High Commission presented a cheque of Ghc74,453.00 as part payment for the project to begin. Speaking at a short ceremony in Accra for works to begin, Program Manager for the Commission, Jennifer Burckson said the project would cost the commission 38,914 Australian dollars and expected to be completed in three months times. According to her, the decision to renovate the VIP facility was arrived at after careful deliberations with the hospital authorities. She added that the authorities provided them with a list of facilities that were top priority. According to her, the Commission decided to undertake the project after the hospital put in a request for assistance in renovating their facilities. The Australian High Commission last year commissioned six modern toilets and five bathrooms after the previous one was in a state of disrepair. She added that the commission is committed to supporting mental health care in Ghana and will continue to partner institutions to provide quality health care for Ghanaians. Hospital Administrator on why they chose VIP ward to be renovated According to Julius Kuusaalesuo, hospital authorities chose the VIP ward because it hard high patronage up until the facility deteriorated. Mr. Kuusaalesuo said even though patrons of the VIP ward paid extra charges, monies could not be used to maintain the facility because revenue gained had to be channeled into the upkeep of the hospital. This is a hospital that has a lot of needs so when you collect the funds, there are other urgent needs that you need to use the funds for so over the period we have not been able to maintain its status that is why there is the need to renovate he said Families leaving their wards after treatment The hospital administrator also lamented the ordeal they go through for families to come for their wards after they have been treated at the facility. According to him, there are patients who have had to live in the hospital for over 30 years because their families have abandoned them after their treatment and the hospital has no option than to house and care for such persons. Mental and Well-being foundation Country Director for the Mental and Well-being Foundation, Dr. Gina Teddy charged the contractor to completes the project within the stipulated time. She added that the foundation will continue to support healthcare in Ghana indicating that other projects were underway in the Volta region. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 22:06:13|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close by Pankaj Yadav NEW DELHI, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Indian Government on Wednesday raised the upper limit for permitting abortions from 20 to 24 weeks, saying it would help 'vulnerable women' including survivors of rape, victims of incest and others, besides reducing maternal mortality rate. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, confirmed a source in the country's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Later, the country's Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the extension of the permissible limit to 24 weeks would help victims of rape, women with disabilities as well as minor girls, "who may not realise they are pregnant until later". The required amendments would be done in the "Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971", once a Bill in this regard is introduced and passed by the Parliament. An official statement issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated that the "Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020" would be for "expanding access" of women to safe and legal abortion services on therapeutic, eugenic, humanitarian or social grounds. The proposed amendments include substitution of certain sub-sections, insertion of certain new clauses under some sections in the existing "Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971", with a view to increase upper gestation limit for termination of pregnancy under certain conditions and to strengthen access to comprehensive abortion care, under strict conditions, without compromising service and quality of safe abortion. The statement added that the amendments in the Act were a step towards safety and well-being of the women and many women will be benefitted by this. Recently several petitions were received by the courts seeking permission for aborting pregnancies at a gestational age beyond the present permissible limit on grounds of foetal abnormalities or pregnancies due to sexual violence faced by women. The proposed increase in gestational age will ensure dignity, autonomy, confidentiality and justice for women who need to terminate pregnancy, added the Ministry's statement. January is Human Trafficking Awareness monthRussell HaythornDenver 7January 28, 2020Report: Significant' increase in human trafficking cases in 2016EATON, Colo. -- She was held captive for five years, not by force, but by mental manipulation."I was trafficked from the age of 23-28 as a single mom," said Megan Lundstrom.Exploited for sex while her children were asleep in another room.I perceived there to be no other option, Lundstrom said. Its the most common form of domestic human trafficking. Its either a family member or an intimate partner.In Lundstroms case, it was a man who said he loved her.Its called grooming and over the course of that grooming process, vulnerabilities are either identified or created by the trafficker and then theyre exploited," she explained.January is National Human Trafficking Awareness month, and while Hollywood often projects images of kidnappings and victims being tied up, the truth is surprising and eye-opening.Sex trafficking, especially in Colorado, is not something that people understand," said Colette MacFarland, co-founder of Coffeehouse Ten24 in Eaton, a nonprofit that donates all proceeds to local, regional and international sex-trafficking organizations.Doris Meeker is the cook and baker who first had a vision for the coffee shop."We just wanted a place where people could gather," said Meeker. "We also needed a mission. What can we do to make the world a better place?"Eighteen miles west of Eaton is the City of Fort Collins, where police say sex trafficking is prevalent."Fort Collins is the number one city in Colorado for the demand for commercial sex trafficking, which floors me, said Fort Collins Police officer Rob Knab.Knab said domestic human trafficking looks much different than the movies.I think a lot of people look at the movie Taken with Liam Neeson and see a girl chained to a bed with a line of guys lined up outside a curtain and the girls doped up on heroin, Knab said. The vast majority of these cases arent like that.Lundstrom said its usually a toxic relationship with someone you know."A lot of people think this can't happen to a U.S. citizen, Lundstrom said. This can't happen to a person living in suburbia. But, if it can happen to me - it is absolutely happening to further marginalized individuals."Lundstroms partner ended up pimping her out in Colorado.And then I was sold from him to another pimp in Las Vegas and trafficked out there for another year," she said.The problem is so pervasive, financial institutions like Western Union are tracking the movement of dirty money, daily."Its a very complex issue. The criminal element is looking to exploit these people, purely for financial gain," said Scott Apodaca, director of Western Unions financial intelligence unit."As the traffickers continue to get more advanced in their techniques to hide the funds and launder money, we are doing the same," Apodaca said.Police are, too.Knab recently posed as a young girl online and got hundreds of text messages."It was like - beep, beep, beep, beep," Knab said. In 24 hours, we had 258 different people contact that ad."Fort Collins police stumbled upon the trafficking issue just four years ago.We started investigating unusual hotel crimes back in 2015, Knab said. Fights, robberies, stabbings, drug calls.Knab said they quickly figured out that trafficking was at the core of all those calls.Its literally a Pandora's box that we opened, he said. The majority of the time it does start as an intimate partner and we call those 'boyfriend pimps,' Knab said.Why Fort Collins is such a hub for the criminal activity is still somewhat of a mystery.I think its a number of things, Knab said. Its our proximity to major highways, the fact that we do have a lot of wealth in parts of our community, were also close to oil fields in Weld County which attract that kind of activity. And now, we have this reputation among the Johns that this is the place to come.Knab has now made trafficking one of his signature issues.My goal is to reverse that completely, Knab said. This is my home. I want to make Fort Collins the most hostile community in Colorado for this to occur.In the past few months, Fort Collins has conducted 10 stings and charged 127 men for crimes related to trafficking."What does it look like when it's down the street? MacFarland asked. What does it look like when it's my teenager who somebody is targeting online?"MacFarland said awareness is the key to stopping it.Our kids are on Tick-Tock, theyre on Facebook, Snapchat, she said. These predators are really intelligent. They know where to go. So, we are bringing awareness and showing people what it looks like when it does happen.Lundstrom has now started her own nonprofit called Free Our Girls, a network of exploited women and men and their journey to freedom from exploitation and trafficking.Its about creating a platform thats empowering for survivors, Lundstrom said. Youre told by everybody your abuser, society that youre choosing these things. Im here to tell you thats not true. Jail sentence of 27 July riots participant Malyshevsky reduced by 3 months RAPSI, Eugeny Varlamov 12:11 29/01/2020 MOSCOW, January 29 (RAPSI) The Moscow City Court on Wednesday reduced sentence given to Eduard Malyshevsky for assault on a police officer at the unauthorized rally held in Moscow on July 27 from 3 years to 2 years and 9 months in jail, RAPSI reports from the courtroom. In December, Malyshevsky was sentenced to 3 years in a penal colony. He was found guilty of using violence against a representative of authority. According to investigators, the accused during the rally attempted to charge through police lines, then after arrest he intentionally broke out a window of a bus where he was placed, and it fell bang on the policemans head. Malyshevsky denies guilt and believes that the police officer did not suffer from his actions as he was dressed in the service clothes. Unauthorized rallies in support of candidates seeking to become lawmakers of the Moscow State Duma but refused registration by the Election Commission were held on July 27 and August 3 in central Moscow. Over 1,000 people were arrested for various violations as a result. Following the 27 July rally, the Investigative Committee criminal cases were opened. Investigators believe that the protest action was held with the use of force against representatives of authority. Several activists have been already convicted and sentenced. Prosecution of five defendants has been dropped. Washington: The White House on Tuesday revealed it was considering suspending flights from China to the United States amid the coronavirus outbreak, sources briefed on the matter said. A lone traveller walks through Ontario International Airport in California. Credit:AP The Trump government told US airlines after a meeting it was not yet cancelling flights, airline and government officials said. The administration is holding daily meetings on the coronavirus and has considered a wide range of options. Two US officials said the government had not taken any options off the table, including a temporary ban on flights, if public health data supported the move. On Monday Republican senator Tom Cotton urged the administration to immediately halt commercial flights from China to the United States. BOSTON, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Talent is universal, opportunity is not. Liz Powers was a Harvard-educated art therapist in homeless shelters when she encountered incredible talent. There was no marketplace for the art, so she created ArtLifting, a social enterprise that connects artists who are homeless or have disabilities with customers. "When I was a social worker, my clients told me 'I want an opportunity, not a handout,'" says Liz Powers, ArtLifting co-founder and Chief Happiness Officer. "ArtLifting is about creating opportunity, empowerment, and validation." ArtLifting's Liz Powers works with artists who are homeless or have disabilities Art from ArtLifting artists adorn the walls of tech giants like Amazon, Google and PayPal "Art has been a positive focus for me. It is a way I can communicate with others. My art does not project me as someone with mental illness or homelessness, but as a person who wants to share joy and beauty with others," says Jeffrey Mayo, an artist who became homeless after surgery left him unable to work. Since starting the company with $4,000 in savings, ArtLifting artists have collectively earned over $1.3 million. This money has helped artists maintain housing and pay for medical supplies. "I've seen artists secure housing, gain confidence, and overcome obstacles through the celebration and sale of their art. My goal is to make their invisible talents visible and change stereotypes," Liz explains. As companies embrace social change, many strive to "make their values visible" as a means to engage employees and customers. Art from ArtLifting artists adorn the walls of tech giants like Amazon and Google and have been featured in major retailers such as Starbucks. Fast Facts ArtLifting was founded in 2013 by siblings Liz and Spencer Powers . . Artists earn 55% of the sale of their artwork, and 1% goes toward strengthening art services for community partners. ArtLifting and Liz Powers have won more than 20 awards, including recent listing in the Meaningful Business 100 and Forbes "30 Under 30." About ArtLifting (http://www.artlifting.com/): ArtLifting empowers artists living with homelessness or disabilities through the sale of their artwork. The social enterprise and benefit corporation helps artists secure their own income through the sale of original paintings, prints, and products. ArtLifting represents more than 160 artists nationwide and has more than 200 corporate clients on 5 continents. ArtLifting's mission is to lift up these artists and make their talent visible. Contact: Rebecca Leonard Purposeful Projects Group LLC 6173593462 [email protected] SOURCE ArtLifting Gaborone, Botswana (PANA) - Botswanas latest crime report has indicated that men are in the lead in committing crimes, as women trail behind Iraq weighs larger NATO role to replace US-led coalition Baghdad, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2020 Iraq is considering a larger role for NATO at the expense of the US-led coalition, Iraqi and Western officials told AFP, after an American drone strike on Baghdad that sparked outrage. The January 3 strike which killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and a top Iraqi commander was condemned by Baghdad as a breach of its sovereignty and of the coalition's mandate, which focuses on fighting the Islamic State (IS) group. Iraq's parliament swiftly voted in favour of ousting all foreign troops -- including the 5,200 US soldiers -- and the coalition's anti-IS operations were indefinitely suspended. Fearing a swift withdrawal could be destabilising, Iraqi and Western officials have begun discussing changes to the coalition's role, according to local officials and diplomats. "We are talking to the coalition countries -- France, the UK, Canada -- about a range of scenarios," said Abdelkarim Khalaf, spokesman for Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi. "The essential thing is that no combat troops are present and our airspace is no longer used," Khalaf told AFP. Two Western officials said the premier had asked them to "draft some options" on a path forward for the coalition. These options had been submitted directly to the premier. They included a coalition not led by the US, an amended mandate with limits to coalition activities or an expanded role for NATO's separate mission in Iraq. The Canadian-led NATO mission was set up in 2018 and has around 500 forces training Iraqi troops, although its operations have also been on hold since the US strike. By comparison, the US-led coalition established in 2014 has up to 8,000 troops in Iraq, the bulk of them American forces. Khalaf told AFP that a larger role for NATO was one of several options being discussed. - A compromise ahead - One of the Western officials said "the NATO option" has won initial nods of approval from the prime minister, the military and even anti-US elements of the powerful Hashed al-Shaabi military network. "I expect it will end with some sort of compromise -- a smaller presence under a different title," he said. "The Americans will still be able to fight IS and the Iraqis can claim they kicked (the US) out." The various options are expected to be laid out at a meeting Wednesday between Iraq and NATO in Amman and again next month by NATO's defence ministers. "But there is recognition among the Europeans that there needs to be US buy-in to whatever happens next," the Western official said. Following parliament's vote, Abdel Mahdi invited the US to send a delegation to Baghdad to discuss a withdrawal, but the State Department declined. US President Donald Trump himself has said he wants NATO to play a larger role in the region. His special envoy to the coalition, James Jeffrey, hinted at a shift last week although he said talks were in "a very early stage". "So there may be a shift between -- at some point, hypothetically -- between the number of forces under the NATO rubric and the number of forces under the coalition," he told reporters on January 23. NATO, whose mandate in Iraq is renewed yearly, has insisted any broader role would only involve training and an official from the alliance said there was "no discussion" of a combat role. "There have been discussions between allies, and a lot of contact between NATO and the government of Iraq in the last couple of weeks," a NATO official told AFP. - 'It's a trial run' - Since Iraq declared IS defeated in late 2017, coalition forces have focused on conducting air strikes and surveillance to rout jihadist sleeper cells. Beginning last year, the coalition prepared plans for a troop drawdown in Iraq, two senior US defence officials said, adding that a smaller footprint would "absolutely" still be able to keep pressure on IS. It was forced to "speed up that plan" in the wake of escalating Iran-US tensions, one of the officials said. Since October, nearly 20 rocket attacks have targeted the US embassy in Baghdad or Iraqi bases hosting American forces, killing one US contractor and an Iraqi soldier. While no one has claimed responsibility, Washington has blamed Iran-aligned factions. Both the coalition and NATO paused operations and pulled hundreds of personnel from bases across Iraq earlier this month. Iraqi forces have filled the gap left by the force relocation, conducting surveillance missions and air strikes on their own after years of the coalition taking the lead. "It's a de facto downsizing. It's a trial run," the first US official said. "That's ultimately what we've been striving for. We're looking at what it would be like if we weren't here." Mumbai, Jan 29 : Supported by FMCG and metal stocks, Indian markets logged gains on Wednesday after two days of declines. However, investors globally continue to fret over the fast spreading coronavirus which could hurt global growth. The death toll in China due to the novel coronavirus increased to 132 on Wednesday, with 5,974 confirmed cases, as foreign governments started to evacuate their citizens from Wuhan city, the epicentre of the outbreak. On the bourses, Bajaj Finance was the top gainer gaining 5 per cent after it reported a 52 per cent jump in consolidated net profit for the third quarter ended December 31, driven by strong growth in net interest income and loan growth. Vinod Nair of Geojit Financial Services said that recovery in the global market due to drop in epidemic concern and likely dovish stance from Federal Open Market Committee are providing relief to the domestic market. The benchmark Sensex closed at 41,198.66, up by 231.80 points while the broader Nifty settled at 12,129.50, up 73.70 points. "Though the significance of budget on the market may have reduced during the decade, this time, the importance is substantial due to very high expectations. The budget will be a blockbuster even if a decent part of wish-list is fulfilled, the event-risk is high this time," Nair added. Siddhartha Khemka of Motilal Oswal Financial Service said that the concerns over the deadly coronavirus continues to linger. Oil prices rose after a report that the oil producing nations wants to extend crude output cuts by three months to June, easing concern about excess supplies. PLAINFIELD - Two people including a 9-year-old child, are dead after a late night house fire in Plainfield, police said. The fire on Norwich Road was called in at about 10 p.m. Tuesday with the homeowner telling responding firefighters that two people were still inside the home including the child, police said. The homeowner had made it outside and the building was heavily engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived, police said. Due to the flames, firefighters could not enter the home until almost 10:40 p.m., firefighters said. The bodies of two people, including the child, were discovered after firefighters were able to enter the home when the fire was brought under control, police said. The homeowner was taken to William W. Backus Hospital with minor injuries. Plainfield school officials were notified of the child's death and will be implementing their support system for students and staff, police said. The cause of the blaze is under investigation by the Plainfield Fire Marshals Office, the Plainfield Police Department, and the Connecticut State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit. The identities of those who died has not been released. NASA has a new mission on the horizon that will snap the first pictures of the sun's north and south poles. In collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), the team is launching the Solar Orbiter (owned by ESA) that will use Venus's and Earth's gravity to swing itself out of the ecliptic plane the area of space aligned with the sun's equator, where all planets orbit. From this position, the craft will feast its eyes on the first-ever look of the massive yellow dwarf star, which will provide scientists with better data to predict solar storms more accurately. Solar Orbiter is equipped with a custom-designed titanium heat shield coated with a specific phosphate that withstands temperatures over 900 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing it to get within 26 million miles of the blazing sun. Scroll down for video Solar Orbiter (artist impression) will feast its eyes on the first-ever look of the massive yellow dwarf star, which will provide scientists with better data to predict solar storms more accurately The space agencies are set to launch the craft on February 7, 2020 at 11.15pm EST from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Russell Howard, space scientist at the Naval Research Lab in Washington, D.C. and principal investigator for one of Solar Orbiter's ten instruments, said: 'Up until Solar Orbiter, all solar imaging instruments have been within the ecliptic plane or very close to it.' 'Now, we'll be able to look down on the Sun from above.' The mission is set to last for seven years, in which Solar Orbiter will first reach 24 degrees above the Sun's equator, increasing to 33 degrees after three years and then finishing it off with pass-by within 26 million miles of the sun. Scientists study the sun's magnetic field in order to predict when solar storms will occur, which interfere with our GPS and communications satellites at their worst, they can even threaten astronauts. However, there has been gaps in the data because of the lack of information about the star's poles Scientists study the sun's magnetic field in order to predict when solar storms will occur, which interfere with our GPS and communications satellites at their worst, they can even threaten astronauts. However, there has been gaps in the data because of the lack of information about the star's poles. Holly Gilbert, NASA project scientist for the mission at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said: 'The poles are particularly important for us to be able to model more accurately.' Solar Orbiter (artist impression) will pass inside the orbit of Mercury and will bring along more advanced instruments. 'For forecasting space weather events, we need a pretty accurate model of the global magnetic field of the Sun.' NASA and the ESA previously joined forces to explore the sun in 1990. The launched the Ulysses that made three passes around the sun, but was unable to get closer than Earth-distance to the sun. It also only sported technology that measure just the environment immediately around the spacecraft. Solar Orbiter, on the other hand, will pass inside the orbit of Mercury and will bring along more advanced instruments. Teresa Nieves-Chinchilla, NASA deputy project scientist for the mission, said: 'We are going to be able to map what we 'touch' with the in situ instruments and what we 'see' with remote sensing.' Solar Orbiter is NASA's second craft to investigate the inner sun, it follows the Parker Solar Probe that launched in August 2018. The space agencies are set to launch the craft on February 7, 2020 at 11:15pm EST from Cape Canaveral, Florida In collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), the team is launching the Solar Orbiter (artist impression) that will use Venus's and Earth's gravity to swing itself out of the ecliptic plane the area of space aligned with the Sun's equator, where all planets orbit This mission completed four close solar passes and will fly within four million miles of the sun at closest approach. The two spacecraft will work together: As Parker samples solar particles up close, Solar Orbiter will capture imagery from farther away, contextualizing the observations. The two spacecraft will also occasionally align to measure the same magnetic field lines or streams of solar wind at different times. 'We are learning a lot with Parker, and adding Solar Orbiter to the equation will only bring even more knowledge,' said Nieves-Chinchilla. Fianna Fail's near century-long dominance of Irish politics came to a halt in 2011 after it suffered an unprecedented electoral collapse. Nine years later, the party is on the verge of leading the next government. Four successive polls have put Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's bitter rivals in the lead since he called a Feb. 8 election, as voters grow disillusioned with his Fine Gael party's management of a rapid recovery from the economic ruins of a decade ago. Whoever wins will lead Ireland into the next phase of Brexit talks, where any obstacles to future trade could hurt its large exporting sector. Both parties want as close a trading relationship with Britain as possible. In 2011, after leading Ireland to the brink of bankruptcy, Fianna Fail -- whose leaders negotiated independence from Britain and participated in peace talks in Northern Ireland -- lost a record 58 of its 78 seats. The difference on the doorsteps then and now could not be starker, according to one of survivors from that day, Fianna Fail Deputy Leader Dara Calleary. "It was bleak but it was a bleak time for the country," the 47-year-old former junior minister told Reuters. "We just had to get the head down and build, build, build. We rebuilt the organization, got new people involved, especially during that period of 2012, 2013 and 2014. That was crucial." Under leader Micheal Martin, who was a senior minister during the humiliating 2010 EU/IMF bailout, the party has sought to win back trust by playing a constructive role from opposition on Brexit and budgeting. Calleary believes Martin's decision to shun being "against everything for the sake of being against it" is key to the recovery that saw Fianna Fail get within six seats of Fine Gael at the last election in 2016. A co-operation deal whereby it backed the minority government from opposition was a further show of responsibility for still-skeptical voters, while allowing the party to mostly avoid blame for policy mistakes. Such a deal may have to be reciprocated this time around to facilitate a Fianna Fail-led minority administration. The most recent opinion poll on Sunday gave them a three-point lead. "I always felt that they were going to come back, just not so quickly. They have still the record of being one of the most longstanding, effective mainstream parties in Europe and you don't lose that that easily," said David Farrell, professor of politics at University College Dublin "A lot of credit has to be given to Micheal Martin who has rather skilfully weathered an incredible storm. There is no doubt many commentators had written them off." The next 10 days will test Martin's belief that his party's association with the bankers and property developers who turned the Celtic Tiger boom to bust has completely faded -- and whether voters trust the architects of that era's economic excesses to fix deficiencies in housing supply and healthcare. Political heirs to the opposing sides in Ireland's 1920s civil war, the two main parties are both center-right and have similar policies, although Fianna Fail has pitched itself slightly centrewards by promising spending over tax cuts. It's a pitch the Irish Times described as "change ... but not too much change" and one Farrell says will resonate with Ireland's large swathe of middle-ground voters: "Where do you go, except back to Fianna Fail?" In Calleary's western constituency of County Mayo, which helped lead the revival four years ago, that line appears to be landing. "I think the people are ready to trust Fianna Fail after the crisis," Jim Fahy, a barman in his early 40s, said outside a local supermarket in the town of Castlebar. "It's not so much what they have done to deserve another go, but maybe what Fine Gael have done to deserve not being in." (Reuters) Source: www.businessworld.ie Virginia Tech has received five Department of Defense awards that support the purchase of research equipment. Through the Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP), annual awards have been granted to 172 university researchers at 91 institutions across 40 states, totaling approximately $49 million. With these awards, undergraduate and graduate students will gain valuable experience in state-of-the-art facilities, train on the latest technologies, and ultimately work to advance military research. The awards are the result of a merit competition for DURIP funding conducted by the Army Research Office, Office of Naval Research, and Air Force Office of Scientific Research. The annual awards process is highly competitive, with 724 proposals requesting $295 million in funding for 2020. Virginia Tech recipients are: Associate Professor Olivier Coutier-Delgosha of the Kevin T. Crofton Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering received nearly $192,000 from the Office of Naval Research for the purchase of a high-frequency imaging system to analyze cavitation bubble collapse. The new imaging system will comprise four optical devices, including a high-speed spectrometer to measure the bubble composition; a fast responding pressure sensitive paint to measure the pressure evolution within the bubble; a high frequency fiber-optic hydrophone to detect the pressure wave generated by the bubble collapses; and an ultra-high speed camera for high resolution imaging. The new system will enhance the Virginia Tech Cavitation Lab and supplement the existing instrumentation that creates cavitation bubbles of various diameters. The Cavitation Lab also houses high-speed flow facilities of different scales that investigate instabilities in hydrodynamic cavitation and subsequent effects like wall erosion, noise, and vibrations. The instrumentation will directly impact several research projects already funded by the Office of Naval Research, including Coutier-Delgosha's research with measuring temperature in a cavitation bubble and cavitation bubble inception, deformation and collapse. This award will also benefit Virginia Tech's collaborative efforts planned with University of Washington, George Washington University, and University of Michigan to study cavitation-induced erosion and develop a modelling of bubble clouds. Ayman Karim, associate professor in chemical engineering, will build a "one of its kind" nano-calorimeter instrument that is capable of very sensitive measurements of adsorption and reactions of different molecules of interest to the Army on catalytic surfaces. The award of nearly $123,000 and the purchase of the nano-calorimeter will benefit ongoing catalysis work in chemical engineering and chemistry at Virginia Tech. The proposed system is designed to measure adsorption and reaction enthalpies of small molecules and simulants on catalysts being developed in the Karim lab. The novelty of the proposed system is in the integration of a very sensitive calorimeter, gas dosing system, and mass spectrometer to allow measurements not previously possible. The results from this work are expected to advance the basic science of heterogeneous catalysis by revealing unprecedented details on the interaction of molecules with single atom and subnanometer clusters to help design the next generation oxidation catalysts. Alumni Distinguished Professor and Christopher C. Kraft Endowed Professor of Mechanical Engineering Wing Ng, received nearly $650,000 from the Office of Naval research to procure an aircraft engine test bed/test cell and an additional $750,000 from Rolls-Royce, who also committed $100,000 per year to support laboratory continuity. The new test bed will be installed in the Advanced Power and Propulsion Lab in the spring of 2020. The equipment was part of a proposal called "A turboshaft engine test stand for particle ingestion research." Initially, the new equipment will test the effect of sand ingestion on the performance of aircraft engines. According to Ng, the equipment will also be an important factor in further developing the lab, increasing the capability and capacity of engine research, and positioning Virginia Tech as a prime innovator in propulsion environmental impact research. In recent years, the Hume Center for National Security and Technology at Virginia Tech has established itself as a leading innovator in advancing radio frequency machine learning research and the application of state-of-the-art deep machine learning concepts to wireless communication and electronic warfare applications in support of our national defense partners. In the past four years, the center has been awarded more than $10 million in funding from commercial and government sponsors in such key innovation areas as signal detection and estimation, signal format identification, specific emitter identification, dynamic spectrum access, enhancements and robustness, and distributed radio frequency machine learning, Research Assistant Professor Bradley Davis will use the DURIP funding to purchase a test and measurement system to conduct high-sensitivity, radio-frequency and microwave measurements using industry standard equipment and techniques. This capability will help support research in applied electromagnetics and multidisciplinary projects in material development and characterization for application to radar, communications, electronic warfare, signature control, and signal intelligence. Expanding horizons for research and development in artificial (metamaterial) and nano/macro composite materials will bring together multidisciplinary teams across Virginia Tech's academic departments in engineering and the sciences. Research Assistant Professor Chris Headley will use his DURIP award for a GPU-based deep learning training system and data storage solution in order to increase the ability to engage the rapidly growing student base with interest in this critical research area. This equipment will decrease the data transfer and training times of our deep learning solutions by multiple orders of magnitude and allow investigation of much deeper neural network architectures to tackle much more challenging and sophisticated RFML problems. ### New Delhi, Jan 29 : The Director of Intelligence Bureau, Arvind Kumar, said on Wednesday that approximately 25,000 Cyber Tipline reports have been received so far in the country out of which 15 were of very high priority. Speaking at the inauguration of the Cyber Tipline monitoring facility in the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) here, Kumar said the information was shared with the states and Union Territories which have registered 57 FIRs based on the information. Investigation is in process for the remaining Cyber Tipline reports, he said. Kumar said the intersection between crime and technology is "more apparent today than ever before". "Digital technologies and the internet have not only spurred cyber crimes, but also made them much more sophisticated. It is therefore requisite for law enforcement agencies to be agile and skilled in the use of latest technology and adopt innovative methods to track, investigate and combat cybercrimes," he said. Kumar also complimented NCRB for its efforts in promoting 'Ease of living' on the occasion, which was graced by senior officers from various police organisations. NCRB and National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), USA, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to receive information on such material originating from India. NCMEC is a non-profit organisation established by the US Congress. It has a centralised reporting system by which internet service providers across the world or intermediaries like Facebook and YouTube can report about persons who circulate images of child pornography. NCMEC's Cyber Tipline is the nation's centralised reporting system for online exploitation of children. The public and electronic service providers can make reports of suspected online enticement of children for sexual acts, extra-familial child sexual molestation, child pornography, child sex tourism, child sex trafficking, unsolicited obscene materials sent to a child, misleading domain names and misleading words or digital images on the internet. Miami Beach at sunset If you've ever been unlucky enough to be in Florida when it snowed (yes, that's actually happened), you'll understand why it's important to get your vacation timing right. Let's face it, most of us head to the Sunshine State for, well, sunshine. And we're not looking for that cold bright sun that sometimes peaks from a winter cloud. We're talking about luxuriously hot rays that warm our bodies from the outside in. With that in mind, the best month to visit Florida is any month between February and May. At this time, you'll avoid the coldest months of the year (November through January), as well as those which are so stifling you'll wish for a blizzard (namely July and August). Oh, you'll also miss out on the hurricanes that hit between June and November (peaking between mid-August through mid-October). Here's a rundown of why you should visit during these months: February: Sees highs that average around 75 degrees Fahrenheit in Miami and lows of about 61. These temperatures will, of course, get warmer the farther south you go and colder for those heading north. The sun will shine on average for eight hours a day, and the sea temperature will be a refreshing 75 degrees. Rain only falls about six days of the month, so it's pretty dry and mild. March: The highs are higher during this popular travel month, hitting about 77 degrees with lows of 64. Again, you won't see much rain, but you'll get an extra hour of sunshine over February. Tourist numbers are on the up and up during this Spring Break month, which means you'll see more crowds. April: This beautiful month offers warm temps (a high of 82) and even less rain (about 5 days) than its two predecessors. It's a busy travel month due to Easter, but once that's over, you'll see the crowds and inflated prices dissipate. In terms of tourists, you won't have to fend them off since this is a shoulder month (a.k.a. that time between peak and off-peak). In the case of Florida, the shoulder seasons can be found between April and May and September through November. May: If you're looking for warmth, soak it up with the average highs of 87 degrees during this low-key month. Another shoulder season spectacular, you can enjoy low prices, lots of hotels to choose from, and much shorter lines at attractions. NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) announced today the Chipotle Aluminaries Project 2.0, an accelerator program designed to support ventures from across the country that are advancing innovative solutions to empower the next generation of farmers. The industry-leading program is sponsored by the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation in partnership with Uncharted, both nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations. From now until March 11, 2020, farmer-focused companies may submit applications to join a new cohort of ventures that will receive eight months of customized support, including mentorship from industry leaders. The Chipotle Aluminaries Project Chipotle executive Haris Khan advising Alexander McCoy, Founder and CEO of American Ostrich Farms, during the 2019 Chipotle Aluminaries bootcamp Chipotle Aluminaries Project 2.0, an accelerator program designed to support ventures from across the country that are advancing innovative solutions to empower the next generation of farmers. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, farm debt is projected to hit a record $416 billion, up almost 40% since 2012. Many small and mid-size farmers committed to farming in an ethical and sustainable way need help to have a chance to succeed both for the sake of the future of real nutritious food and the communities that rely on those farms. In December, Chipotle announced that it was implementing a scalable solution to these challenges via three-year contracts through approved suppliers, seed grants and increased local sourcing. Over the last month, Chipotle has donated over $385K to the National Young Farmers Coalition to help farmers during this steep agriculture downturn. "As an organization that prioritizes corporate citizenship, Chipotle acknowledges that no one individual or company can cultivate a better world on their own," said Laurie Schalow, Chief Corporate Reputation Officer at Chipotle. "American farming is at a crossroads and we must work together to identify solutions to overcome its great challenges." The Chipotle Aluminaries Project 2.0 is seeking applicants (both for and non-profits) that provide a solution to one of the top challenge areas faced by young farmers, including access to land, finance, and labor. Solutions in AgTech, education, and wellnesswith a focus on the next generation of farmerswill also be considered. Companies interested in applying for the Chipotle Aluminaries Project 2.0 can find more information and apply at uncharted.org/program/chipotle-aluminaries-project-2. The selected ventures will receive support and mentorship from notable industry leaders, including Seth Goldman, founder of Honest Tea; Ken Meyer, Former Global VP of Whole Foods Market; Robyn O'Brien, co-founder of rePlant Capital; and Brian Irving, Chief Marketing Officer of Eventbrite; as well as Chipotle executives. The selected ventures will participate in a five-day, in-person summit hosted by Chipotle in Newport Beach, Calif., with direct access to mentors who will focus on key areas of scale like strategy, leadership, finances and systems. Attendees will also receive individualized investor introductions throughout the program and Chipotle VIP cards, which will provide real food to fuel work sessions all year long. In 2019, Chipotle selected eight growth-stage food-focused ventures to participate in the inaugural program, including AgVoice, American Ostrich Farms, Asarasi, GrubTubs, ImpactVision, Novolyze, Rex Animal Health and Sophie's Kitchen Plant-Based Seafood. "The Aluminaries Project is the first accelerator program we've seen that emphasizes the accelerations of sustainable business practices," said Eugene Wang, founder of Sophie's Kitchen Plant-Based Seafood. "As mission-driven entrepreneurs, we believe this program helped us strengthen our value and stay true to our purpose." Submissions for the Chipotle Aluminaries Project 2.0 become the property of Chipotle and will not be returned. Finalists will be selected by Uncharted in its discretion. ABOUT CHIPOTLE Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) is cultivating a better world by serving responsibly sourced, classically-cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Chipotle had over 2,500 restaurants as of September 30, 2019, in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany and is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants. With more than 80,000 employees passionate about providing a great guest experience, Chipotle is a longtime leader and innovator in the food industry. Chipotle is committed to making its food more accessible to everyone while continuing to be a brand with a demonstrated purpose as it leads the way in digital, technology and sustainable business practices. Steve Ells, founder and Executive Chairman, first opened Chipotle with a single restaurant in Denver, Colorado in 1993. For more information or to place an order online, visit WWW.CHIPOTLE.COM. ABOUT THE CHIPOTLE CULTIVATE FOUNDATION Chipotle Mexican Grill established the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation in 2011 to extend its commitment to making real food accessible for all. Since its inception, the foundation has contributed more than $5 million to like-minded organizations committed to cultivating a better world through food. ABOUT UNCHARTED Uncharted is a social impact accelerator that scales solutions to the most pressing problems of our time. Uncharted programs connect problem solvers to the resources and support they need to scale their solutions, using a multidisciplinary approach that mobilizes a diverse network of mentors, funders, partners, and communities. To date, alumni of Uncharted have collectively raised $315 million, created impact in 96 countries, and benefitted 55 million lives. For more information, visit WWW.UNCHARTED.ORG. SOURCE Chipotle Mexican Grill Related Links www.chipotle.com Many of the arguments and much the day was tailored to convincing a few Republicans who remained holdouts on the question of whether to call witnesses. Mr. McConnell gave his partys first question on Wednesday to Senators Mitt Romney of Utah, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska in an effort to allay the concerns of the three lawmakers, Republican moderates who are swing votes on the issue. The trio teamed up to ask Mr. Trumps lawyers how they should judge the president if they conclude he acted in the Ukraine matter with both political and policy motives. The selection of Ms. Collins, who is facing the toughest re-election campaign in her long Senate career, was revealing: It suggested that Mr. McConnell was keenly focused on giving her every opportunity to have her voice heard before moving forward. When she rose to announce herself, she became the first senator other than the two leaders to have a speaking role in the trial. Notably absent from the group was the fourth Republican who had expressed interest in witnesses: Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, a close friend of Mr. McConnells who has said he will not decide whether to support witnesses until after the question period has closed. Later in the evening, Mr. Romney hinted that he was seeking to better understand why Mr. Trump withheld security aid for Ukraine, asking White House lawyers for the specific date that the president first ordered a hold on the assistance. Patrick Philbin, a deputy White House counsel, did not provide a direct answer, saying there was no evidence of a specific date and offering only testimony showing that budget officials were aware of the hold in late June. On Tuesday, Mr. McConnell had privately warned his rank-and-file members that he did not currently have the votes to stop Democrats from summoning witnesses. One after the other on Wednesday, in statements and interviews in the Capitol, they made clear they would side with their leader. Senator Patrick J. Toomey of Pennsylvania, who had previously floated the idea of a witness deal, said Wednesday that he was very, very skeptical of new witnesses. Senator Cory Gardner of Colorado, facing a tough re-election in a swing state, issued a statement saying that he had heard enough and would vote against hearing from anyone else. Senator Martha McSally of Arizona, who is also facing a difficult election, tweeted later Wednesday: I have heard enough. It is time to vote. Mr. McConnell summoned Ms. Murkowski to his office on Wednesday morning for a private meeting before the trial began, and she emerged refusing to answer questions about whether she would ultimately support the call for witnesses. Responding to Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh's request, the central government on Wednesday gave approval for the establishment of a new Government Medical College (GMC) at Hoshiarpur, besides up-gradation of the existing local Civil Hospital. As per an official release, the new GMC would be set up at a cost of Rs 325 crore, of which Rs 195 crore, that is 60 per cent share, would be met by the Centre. The remaining 40 per cent to the tune of Rs 130 crore would be contributed by the Punjab government as the state's share for the college. According to an official spokesperson, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare conveyed its approval to the state government on Tuesday evening, under the centrally sponsored scheme for the establishment of the new medical college attached with existing District and Referral Hospital. The upcoming GMC is the first-of-its-kind in the Kandi region, with an intake capacity of 100 seats. It will provide quality education healthcare, diagnostics services and give an impetus to medical education and research in the region, the release said. The Centre has also cleared a proposal for the up-gradation of the Civil Hospital in Hoshiarpur, thereby enhancing its bed capacity from the existing 200 to 500, with the latest medical infrastructural facilities added to the hospital. There are three GMCs already functioning in the state -- at Amritsar, Faridkot and Patiala. Two other GMCs are already being set up at SAS Nagar Mohali and Kapurthala, with the sixth now sanctioned for Hoshiarpur. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) From a video screen in San Antonios immigration court, Judge Daniel Santander watched a Honduran man hold his sleeping daughter in his arms at a Laredo tent court during his brief asylum hearing. I am afraid of returning to Mexico, Alejandro told the judge in a quick hearing before his case was postponed. Wednesday marked one year since the Trump administration began the Remain in Mexico policy, which sends asylum-seekers, predominantly Central Americans, to Northern Mexico cities to wait for their asylum hearings. Laredo and Brownsville hearings are video-conferenced into courtrooms in San Antonio. As migrants were pleading their cases, a couple dozen or so San Antonians were rallying in solidarity with them - and in protest of Remain in Mexico - in front of the downtown courtrooms. No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here, the protesters chanted from the sidewalk. Restore asylum now! They passed out shoelaces for people to wear as bracelets, emblematic of the migrants shoelaces, which are taken from them, similar to jail inmates, when theyre in Border Patrol custody. Reports of rampant kidnappings and extortion of the stranded migrants by cartel-affiliated gangs have led to complaints of human rights violations. They also argue the policy violates their due process rights because of the difficulties migrants face attending court and finding U.S. legal counsel when theyre in dangerous Mexican cities. The federal government calls the program Migrant Protection Protocols, or MPP. Many advocates, including those at the protest, have taken to calling it migrant persecution protocols. The Trump administration has argued the policy was necessary to relieve border facilities overwhelmed by the surge of migrants that reached almost a million last year. It also has said migrants should not be allowed to remain in the U.S. while their cases are pending. The federal government spent $25 million on the Brownsville and Laredo tent courts for the MPP migrants, and Homeland Security said it planned to spend $155 million to build and operate them. Really, this is a political decision, Curtis Doebbler, an immigration attorney with San Antonio-based RAICES, told the protesters. The law will only work when people like yourselves have created the spaces for justices and judges to have the courage to stand up to these policies. Right now, that space doesnt exist. The policy was allowed to continue despite pending lawsuits. It started near San Diego and has since rolled out across the border. More than 62,000 asylum-seekers have been returned to Mexico, according to the latest reports. In Nuevo Laredo, some migrants stay in hotels, while many others are scattered in a small network of shelters that opened since MPP began there. In Brownsville, more than 2,000 migrants live outside in an encampment of donated tents next to the international bridge. Thousands more taken buses to interior Mexican cities, which are safer than those at the border. They return to the border every few months to attend court hearings, many of them begging to be granted parole from MPP and allowed to stay in the United States throughout asylum proceedings. The MPP hearings have been given a priority in court, worsening a backlog of over 1 million asylum cases nationwide. Santander, the judge, said there are more than 4,000 cases in San Antonio, so hes had to reschedule hearings until late April to make room for MPP. Guillermo Hernandez, an immigration lawyer at the protest, said one of his clients had a recent court date rescheduled to September 2021. Shes been waiting five years now, Hernandez said. Its definitely not the most efficient system in place. On Wednesday, 245 MPP cases were set to be heard from the Laredo and Brownsville tents to the San Antonio courthouse. Sounds of a fussy child could be heard while Santander questioned Alejandro. He first went through the basics of asylum and called people up one-by-one to see if they wished to reset their court date to get a lawyer, or proceed without one or if they were ready to submit their asylum application. Alejandros lawyer, Rolando Vazquez of Miami, was not present, so Santander tried calling him on speaker. Jazz music drifted across the courtroom as he was put on hold, and the judge, interpreter, and migrants on the video smiled at the levity it brought. Hows Mia? Santander asked of Alejandros daughter. I woke her up, sorry. Now shes glaring at me, uh-oh. Unable to reach the lawyer, Santander told Alejandro he could reschedule his initial hearing so he could regroup with Vazquez. Alejandro said he didnt want to get sent back to Nuevo Laredo to wait through the rest of his asylum proceedings. I understand, Santander responded. Im going to have you talk with an asylum officer and youll tell them the reason you say you cant go back. It is unclear what happened after that. Nearly all migrants who request exemption from the program are turned down. One a tenth of 1 percent of Remain in Mexico migrants are granted asylum, according to the nonprofit Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse that tracks the records. Alejandro is expected to return to court on Feb. 6. 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 Alien scientists billions of years from now may detect traces of Jupiter , Saturn, Neptune and Uranus in our sun's corpse. That's because the outer layers of superdense stellar remnants known as white dwarfs may often possess the remains of giant planets, a new study suggests. White dwarfs are the Earth-size cores left behind after average-size stars have exhausted their fuel and shed their outer layers. Our sun will one day end up as a white dwarf, as will more than 90% of all stars in our Milky Way galaxy. Related: Our Milky Way Galaxy: A Traveler's Guide (Infographic) Initially, the white dwarf that will result from our sun about 8 billion years from now will still be a scorching 180,000 degrees Fahrenheit (100,000 degrees Celsius). The new study estimated that such a young, hot white dwarf will blast its surroundings with extreme ultraviolet radiation levels up to a million times greater than those that come from the present-day sun; this could last for a few million years. The sun will likely destroy Earth and the other inner, rocky planets of the solar system as the star swells and dies, the disintegrated remains of these worlds polluting the resulting white dwarf. However, until now, it remained uncertain how giant planets in the outer reaches of a planetary system worlds like Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune might fare under the extreme ultraviolet rays of a hot white dwarf. "Nobody had looked into this part of the future of the solar system," study lead author Matthias Schreiber, an astrophysicist at the University of Valparaiso in Chile, told Space.com. Previous research analyzed how alien stars could strip away the atmospheres of giant planets in close orbits. Schreiber and his colleagues adapted this work to examine the impact that hot white dwarfs might have on cold, giant planets. The scientists found that giant planets far removed from hot white dwarfs could evaporate at rates comparable to those of giant planets orbiting near ordinary stars. This held true even if the giant planets were farther away from their hot white dwarfs than Pluto is from the sun. Additionally, the researchers calculated how a young, hot white dwarf might look after it had accreted material that its extreme ultraviolet rays had stripped off giant planets. The scientists found that about one-third of known hot white dwarfs showed evidence of pollution from evaporating giant worlds. As such, "observing hot white dwarfs might help us to measure the abundances of gas-giant extrasolar planets," Schreiber said. All in all, when it comes to our solar system, "the giant planets that will survive the evolution of the sun into a white dwarf will lose a small fraction of their atmospheres due to evaporation," Schreiber said. "The white dwarf will accrete a fraction of the evaporated material, and this will result in detectable signatures, so future generations of alien astronomers, if they exist, can potentially investigate the chemical composition of Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus." The scientists detailed their findings online Dec. 4, 2019, in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. Follow Charles Q. Choi on Twitter @cqchoi . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook . A team of researchers based in Singapore has found that young children aged between two to three who spend more than three hours a day watching screens, such as television, or on devices such as tablets or smartphones, are more likely to be physically inactive by the age of five. Image Credit: Steve Heap/Shutterstock.com The results act as a warning and a guide to parents and educators to help protect children from developing unhealthy habits. Limited research to support WHO screen time guidelines The topic of how screen time impacts children has been hotly debated in recent years, with researchers both warning against extended periods spent on devices, and others claiming there are no significant detrimental effects. Due to this failure to reach a firm conclusion on the impact of screen time, parents and educators have been neglected of proper guidelines to protect childrens health. While the World Health Organization recommends that children are limited to a maximum of just one hour a day of screen time, up until now there has been little scientific evidence to support this. This new study is likely to help deepen our understanding of how screen time affects young children, and suggest how it should be monitored to prevent the development of unhealthy behaviors. A first of its kind study The study, published this week in the journal, The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, describes how the team conducted a longitudinal study to investigate the impact of screen time in young children on their levels of physical activity later in life. The team collected data on device-specific screen viewing time from over 500 children aged between two and three years. Following this, the children were assessed at age 5.5 for their behaviors related to movement. Accelerometers were used to gage activity such as sleep, sedentary behavior, light physical activity, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The data collected was the first of its kind, until this point, no study longitudinal study had looked at the impact of screen time on such young children. More screen time leads to less active time An analysis showed that children who had spent more than three hours a day using screens at the age of two or three were less active by the age of five than children who had been using screens for less than an hour daily at the same age. Results showed that at age five these children sat down for an average of 40 minutes longer each day compared with children who spent an hour or less on screens earlier on. This higher level of screen use at an early age was associated with spending on average 30 minutes less engaged in light physical activity each day, and an average of 10 minutes less engaged in moderate to vigorous activity. The study showed that this relationship was consistent, regardless of the type of screen watched. Also, the study found that children aged between two and three had an average of 2.5 hours of screen time each day, which is 1.5 hours longer than the WHO recommends. This fact, along with the findings that extended screen time can lead to decreased physical activity highlights the importance of raising awareness of the negative health effects of spending too much time with devices. These findings help to verify the results of previous research projects that have suggested a link between screen time in childhood and several health problems such as obesity and reduced motor and cognitive development. The results found in the current study help to build our knowledge and direct childrens future use of screens, however, more studies are needed to investigate the full range of health effects related to childhood screen time. Welcome to the home for real-time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Julien Ponthus. Reach him on Messenger to share your thoughts on market moves: julien.ponthus.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net WHY A BIG CORRECTION LOOKS UNLIKELY (1023 GMT) Two days of gains have almost erased Monday's nervy coronavirus drop and even though many remain sceptical about the market's apparent resilience, the fact that investor positioning is still cautious would suggest that a big correction is unlikely. "We acknowledge that the macro implications of the coronavirus outbreak are unknown at this stage and that the situation could get worse before it gets better", strategists at the UK bank led by Emmanuel Cau say. "That said, while equities could be vulnerable to further profit-taking in the near term, we believe that the risks of a more material correction such as the ones of Q1 or Q4 2018 are low... even accounting for the recent inflows, LO equity positioning doesnt look particularly stretched," they add. Check out this Barclays chart below: (Danilo Masoni) ***** WAITING TO BUY THE BIGGER DIP (0925 GMT) Crises like coronavirus often provide good entry points and crucial to this is timing. For now the prevailing idea is that things will get worse before they get better and it looks that stock pickers are waiting for a bigger sell-off before chasing any opportunity. "History tells us that these crises resolve quickly (SARS, bird flu, swine, etc.) But we have not yet reached the peak of negativity: it usually happens when the WHO issues a global alert and for now we are only at the local level," says Angelo Meda, head of equities at Banor SIM in Milan. "We are monitoring the daily evolution of the cases and we think there could be more bad news. In the sectors, luxury is at a strong premium on the market compared to the past, which reduces is upside; better (to look at) airlines, mining and oil!," he adds. For more on the topic: LIVE MARKETS-History lessons: crises can be buying opportunities LIVE MARKETS-Buying the dip in mining? LIVE MARKETS-Luxury upgrades in the time of Coronavirus (Danilo Masoni) ***** HANGING ON IN THERE WITH A LITTLE HELP OF SANTANDER (0856 GMT) Seems the market finally chose its side and tilted towards 'risk-on' as Q4 headlines piled in with Santander giving a much needed boost to Spain's IBEX and more critically the banking sector as a whole. The Spanish bank is up over 4%, lifting the sector to a 1% rise, which is in turn helping the STOXX 600 cling on yesterday's rebound with a 0.4% rise. Signs that the mood is upbeat, cyclicals are back in favours with miners and autos for instance in the leading pack. Airlines are recovering despite BA suspending its flight to China. Clearly Wizz Air's results are helping and so is a positive Berenberg note on Lufthansa. KPN is close to single-handedly bring the telecom sector in negative territory with an impressive 6.8% fall after disappointing Q4 results. The Tech sector is also brought down by Avast which is down close to 10% on negative reports about an anti virus software. Meanwhile, Temenos is enjoying a 2.5% boost after the announcement of a partnership with Google. Another big loser is SES, sliding 6% on a senate bill that limits payout to companies that vacate C-band airwaves. The SMARTER Act proposes satellite operators receive an incentive payment of just $1 billion, Exane says, adding that it's well below market expectations (Exane est. $9.4 billion) Here's your opening snapshot: (Julien Ponthus) ***** ON THE RADAR: AIRLINES, LVMH, TELCOS AND THE APPLE READ-ACROSS Among news which could spook the market and travel/leisure stocks is British Airways suspending all direct flights to and from mainland China. On the upside, Wizz Air is expected to rise 2-3% after it upgraded its annual profit forecast. Also the fact that sales growth at LVMH were impacted by protests in Hong Kong could send jitters through the luxury sector even though Italys Salvatore Ferragamo met its guidance with a slight increase in 2019 revenues. The French luxury group is expected to lose 2-3% at the open. Apples results is likely to cheer up European suppliers such as Dialog Semiconductor, STMicro, ASML or AMS but investors could view it as a glass half empty due to possible supply disruptions from fast-spreading coronavirus. In other tech news, Software is likely to be a big faller during the session after a poor set of results. Europes Q4 season has begun in earnest and telecoms look in a good spot with Finlands Elisa, The Netherlands Dutch Royal KPN, Norway's Telenor and Swedens Telia all reporting upbeat earnings. Theres also some M&A with Vodafone agreeing to sell its 55% stake in its Egyptian unit for $2.4 billion Good news for banks also with Swedens SEB and Spains Santander unveiling with better than expected profits. UK house prices rising at their fastest pace since Nov 2018 will no doubt continue to fuel speculation on the BoE's possible rate cut but could help house builders. Novartis is also thought to be a winner after fourth-quarter core net income rose 13%. From pre-mkt indications, Airbus billions of provision for corruption isnt seen moving the stock and same seems to go for Renault and its new CEO. (Julien Ponthus) ***** MORNING CALL: CLINGING TO THE REBOUND (0645 GMT) European stocks are expected to cling to the wagon of yesterday's market rebound with a little help from positive Q4 results from Europe Inc but also from Apple, which helped lift Wall Street higher and later reported better than expected sales and profits. Things were left rosy in Asia where shares fell as a spike in new cases of the new Coronavirus added to worries about the economic impact of the outbreak. At the time of writing, futures point to a limited rise in shares of 0.1% to 0.2% and financial spreadbetters expect London's FTSE to open 23 points higher, Frankfurt's DAX 27 points up and Paris' CAC to gain 5 points. So far, the figures reported by Novartis, Telenor, Santander, KPN, SEB and Telia in this busy earnings season session seem encouraging. That said, some investors might decide to stay cautious before the Fed meets later today. (Julien Ponthus) ***** (Reporting by Danilo Masoni, Joice Alves, Julien Ponthus and Thyagaraju Adinarayan) January 29 : Yami Gautam, who was last seen in the successful film Bala along with Ayushmann Khurrana and Bhumi Pednekar, loves to stay connected with her birthplace, Himachal Pradesh. Taking time out from her work schedule, the actress often visits her hometown. The avid social media user was on one such visit to Himachal Pradesh and Instagrammed a picture from her recent visit. The Bala actress is seen visiting the Jwalamukhi Temple in Himachal Pradesh. Since childhood, Yami has been visiting the temple every year to pay respect to the goddess Jwalamukhi, the deity of flaming face. The famous temple in the Kangra district has always given the actress positive energy and holds a strong place of respect in her heart. The actress, who was also seen in the film, Uri: The Surgical Strike looked pretty in a simple white kurta with an orange sheer dupatta with zari work draped over her shoulders. The actress is seen posing for the camera with the temple in the backdrop. Meanwhile, on the work front, Yami Gautam will be next seen in Ginny Weds Sunny co-starring Vikrant Massey. Helmed by Puneet Khanna, film is slated to release in March 2020. Also Watch: Yami Gautam pulled off the gorgeous saree look with style A man who reportedly tried to fend off an alleged attacker in the death of a 61-year-old woman in Melbournes northeast has charged at a television crew in the wake of the incident. Dramatic footage from the scene in Heidelberg West on Tuesday evening shows the man with a bloodied white top sprint towards the Nine News camera. A police officer sets chase as the man allegedly grabs the camera, blocking its lens. Police had earlier been called to a house at Liberty Parade at about 8pm on Tuesday, with reports of an aggravated burglary. They believe a man broke into the home and assaulted the woman, who died at the scene. The man, understood to have helped restrain the alleged attacker, sprints towards the camera with a police officer in pursuit. Source: Nine News Another man, believed to be known to the victim, allegedly arrived during the attack to help and restrain her attacker until police arrived. He is understood to be the man filmed by Nine News crews, News Corp reported. Victoria Police are investigating the alleged attack of the cameraman. Cameraman Scott Whiston told the Herald Sun he initially thought the man was running from police and said the incident was intimidating. A 28-year-old man from Heidelberg West, accused of attacking the 61-year-old woman, was taken to hospital where he remains under police guard. Police confirm that man had no involvement in the incident where the cameraman was attacked. Homicide detectives are trying to piece together exactly what happened but say they are not looking for any further offenders. Witnesses near the scene told the Herald Sun they heard screams coming from the womans home while earlier seeing a man behaving erratically in the street. Police at the scene on Tuesday night. Source: Nine News With AAP Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. Yves here. Ive steered away from featuring posts on abortion because in the US, they are typically places in the womens rights frame, when far too many self-styled feminists have sat pat as the right to an abortion has become effectively non-existant in large swathes of the heartlands because low and moderate income single women cant afford to get them. Medicaid covers abortions in only 15 states. Many women dont have health insurance or have a policy with a high deductible. Six states have only one abortion clinic (see here to get more detail on the degree of restrictions on abortions in various states). Not only does that mean that even going to a clinic would entail a day off work, but many states impose 24 hour cooling off periods for a doctor to give the pregnant woman a moralistic lecture about her fetus and make her sleep on her decision. How many people in low-level jobs can take two days off, both in money and will they allow me to do that terms? Needless to say, Im cynical about the hand-wriging by well-off women in blue states about the Supreme Court possibly reversing Roe v. Wade. Where have they been all these years while their supposed sisters in flyover effectively have no right to an abortion? Why didnt they push during the years of peak feminism (in the 1970s) for legislation to enshrine abortion rights, as women in pretty much every other advanced economy save Ireland has done, rather than rely solely on the continued generosity of the bench? Of course, getting a bill passed would have required some compromise with the pro-life sorts, but the usual remedy in the rest of the world has been to limit the right to an abortion to the first trimester. That is a long-winded way of saying that its time Americans wake up and recognize that abortion rights are much more a class issue than a social rights issue. By Manuella Libardi, a Brazilian journalist and the content editor for democraciaAbierta Brasil. She holds a Masters degree in International Relations. Twitter: @ManuellaLibardi. Originally published at openDemocracy The political fight against anti-abortion legislation is infact a class battle, and the reality is that abortion is only illegal for poor women. Women with resources can always interrupt their unwanted pregnancies. Either they know a doctor who performs medical abortions for an exorbitant price, they have the resources to travel to a place where abortion is legal, or they have the means to buy an abortion pill in their own country or elsewhere. Restricting access to safe abortions keeps poor women in poverty, perpetuates the cycle that prevents them from social mobility and allows wealth to remain in the hands of the rich, particularly white men. Deciding if and when to have a child is essential for a womans economic and psychological well-being: it has implications for her education and for entering the workforce. In a 2018 study based on interviews with 813 women in the United States throughout five years, researchers found that women who had abortions denied to them were more likely to be in poverty within six months compared to women who were able to interrupt the pregnancy. Women who were denied abortion were also less likely to have full-time work and more likely to depend on some form of public assistance. Both effects remained significant for 4 years. The study concludes that women who were denied an abortion were more likely than women who received an abortion to experience economic difficulties and insecurity for years. Laws restricting access to abortion may lead to worse economic outcomes for women. Latin America In Latin America, this scenario is exacerbated by the huge inequalities of the region, which makes poor women and minorities invisible to those who are creating public policies. Indigenous women, for example, are disproportionately affected by adverse sexual and reproductive health outcomes. The rates of unwanted pregnancy and teenage pregnancy are high among indigenous populations and indigenous women also face greater risks of complications related to abortion such as injury or death than the general public. Poor, young and ethnic minority women suffer the physical and social costs imposed on them by the restrictive anti-abortion laws of Latin America the most. Latin America is home to six countries that criminalize abortion in all cases, even in situations where a womans life is at risk. In El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua and Suriname, women have to carry a full term pregnancy even if it means they could die in the process, which is an explicit violation of their human rights. This makes Latin America the region of the world with the strictest anti-abortion legislation. The only other two places that fully penalize termination, even if the procedure is medically necessary to save the womans life, is Malta and the Vatican. El Salvador made headlines in 2019 when Evelyn Hernandez was acquitted of a murder conviction related to the death of a fetus. She had been sentenced to 40 years in prison for giving birth to a dead baby, in other words, for miscarrying. In this Central American country, at least 159 women have received sentences of between 12 and 40 years of prison for violating the countrys anti-abortion laws. About 20 remain in jail today, and none of these women comes from rich or economically stable families. All are poor. The Race Factor The political-economic order is made up of many variables, and race is among the first. In the United States, black women have the highest abortion rates in the country. This is a consequence of the serious wealth gap between white and black families, which remains constant even among poor families. After the legalization of the procedure, the entry of black women into the workforce increased 6.9 percentage points, compared with 2 percentage points among all women. A white family that lives near the poverty line generally has a yearly wage of around $18,000, meanwhile, black families in similar economic situations usually have a near-zero average wealth. While all women suffer the consequences of the battle against abortion, class reality means that women of color feel the effects disproportionately. A large number of studies show that access to safe abortion in the United States had more visible positive effects among black women. After the legalization of the procedure, the entry of black women into the workforce increased 6.9 percentage points, compared with 2 percentage points among all women. The legalization of abortion in the United States reduced adolescent fertility among all women. However, black women and girls experienced an increase in the high school graduation rate and college admission, while legalization did not improve educational outcomes for white women and girls. This is another indication of how inequality disproportionately affects women of color. Restrictive Laws Do Not Decrease Abortions The highest abortion rates are found in developing countries, specifically in Latin America. Leading the list is the Caribbean, with 59 per 1,000 women of reproductive age, followed by South America, with 48. As expected, the lowest rates are found in North America, with 17, and in Western and Northern Europe, with 16 and 18, respectively. Given the amount of research that shows how ineffective punitive laws are in curbing the number of abortions women carry out, it is difficult to imagine any other reason that they exist, other than to keep women out of the workforce and in poverty. New Blue Ridge Craft Trails boosts artists and heritage tourism Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership has been awarded two grants totaling $16,500 to support the Blue Ridge Craft Trails, a new initiative to boost income for craft artists and promote cultural tourism. Related Stories The Perry N. Rudnick Endowment Fund of the Community Foundation of Henderson County granted $6,500 to BRNHA for the regional development of the Blue Ridge Craft Trails. The project aims to increase income for craft artists and businesses, enhance cultural tourism and improve economic opportunity for 25 Western North Carolina counties. The Rudnick Endowment grant provides critical, non-federal matching funds to a $100,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant recently awarded to BRNHA to conduct Phase 2 of the Craft Trails project. In addition, the Henderson County Tourism Development Authority awarded $10,000 to BRNHA. The grant provides for the research, creation and marketing of the Blue Ridge Craft Trails in Henderson County. This partnership effort will result in the Henderson County Trails connecting with the overall Blue Ridge Craft Trails system in the 25-county Western North Carolina region. Designed to launch a system of driveable trails for 25 Western North Carolina counties featuring 200 craft sites, the Blue Ridge Craft Trails project celebrates the region as a vibrant center for traditional and contemporary handmade crafts through the promotion of craft artisans, arts organizations and heritage tourism. Our goal is to grow the market for Western North Carolina crafts by creating a region-wide marketing initiative the Blue Ridge Craft Trails to guide consumers to craft artists in their communities and help to better align the marketing efforts of these craft institutions and craft businesses, said Angie Chandler, executive director of BRNHA. The project began in 2017 after receiving an initial $90,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission and a matching $25,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. Other major support for this initiative has been provided by the Appalachian Regional Commission, NC Arts Council, Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, The Conservation Fund: Resourceful Communities Program; Community Foundation of Henderson County and the Cherokee County NC Tourism Development Authority. Development of the Blue Ridge Craft Trails to date includes a new website (blueridgecrafttrails.com), marketing research and planning, regional listening sessions, a pilot project encompassing Clay and Cherokee counties, a map brochure, rack card, and the launch of a regional grassroots marketing initiative. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday conducted searches in Kupwara in connection with the alleged embezzlement of funds to the tune of Rs 1.33 crore by an employee of the Jammu and Kashmir Gramin Bank, officials said. The raids were carried out by CBI sleuths at the Jammu and Kashmir Grameen Bank in Khumriyal, Kupwara and the residence of bank assistant Shariq Hussain Khan following registration of a case against him, they said. The officials said the CBI has started investigation of the case related to misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 1.33 crore by Khan, office assistant at the branch. It is alleged that Khan misappropriated the amount by way of tampering, insertions and manipulation in the computer banking system. The alleged fraud which started in January, 2016 surfaced during inspection in December, 2019-January, 2020, they said. The raiding party confiscated documents during the action, the officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) January 29, 2020 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada Global Affairs Canada today issued the following statement on the recent escalation of violence in Yemen: Canada continues to be deeply concerned with the recent escalation of violence in Yemen that has caused civilian deaths, the displacement of families, threats to security and the disruption of essential services, including humanitarian assistance. We also condemn the recent attack on a mosque at the al-Estiqbal camp in Marib, where soldiers had gathered for prayers. The disruption of such a solemn gathering is rooted in hatred, which cannot be tolerated. Canada urges all parties in Yemen to show restraint and commit to political dialogue and to de-escalate hostilities and halt the tragic loss of life. Tiffany Franco and Ronald Smith first met while she was on vacation in South Africa. They then documented their budding relationship by appearing on the reality show, 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way, that stopped airing in October 2019. Now some three months later and the couple have announced their split, via Instagram, which in turn has quickly morphed into a messy case of 'he said, she said' that includes claims of infidelity. The real world: 90 Day Fiance stars Tiffany Franco and Ronald Smith announced their split on Tuesday, which has since turned into bitter a war of words Franco was the first to take to social media on Tuesday, where she explained their decision to break up and thanked fans. 'Unfortunately I have to announce that Ronald and I will be separating,' she began in her statement on her Insta-Story. 'I wanted to be the first to let you know rather than hiding it and putting on a facade for social media. Thank you guys for following our story we really love each other but some things are just irreparable. We both deserve much better than we can offer at the moment.' She concluded the message with, 'lots of love from us.' She said: Franco was the first to take to social media on Tuesday, where she explained their decision to break up and thanked fans Recent history: Franco and Smith first met while she was on vacation in his home country of South Africa. The relationship and marriage was then documented on the reality show in 2019 Smith wasted little time in debunking any ideas that the message was from the two of them, all the while accusing Franco of being unfaithful. 'Sorry to inform you all that I have decided to leave Tiffany due to certain reasons,' he wrote on his Instagram Stories that has since been deleted, according to Us Weekly. 'Thank you for following our story but unfortunately it just didn't work for me. Ill be filing for divorce in [South Africa] since she isn't even registered in USA as married. Talk about adultery.' Not wanting to her ex to have the last word, Franco again turned to Instagram to make her case and deny the cheating allegations. He said: Smith wasted little time in responding to Franco's statement, where he accused her of being unfaithful 'When a toxic person can no longer manipulate you they will try to manipulate the way others see you. Truer words have never been spoken,' she wrote in her response. 'I wish nothing but good things for Ronald but I wont waste one more second being taken for granted and being unhappy.' Franco then denied being unfaithful to Smith, calling his post 'an attempt at trying to make me seem like the cause of the separation.' She ended by adding, 'He can continue to lash out and say all the negative things he wants about me... all I did was love him too much and try hard to make things work.' She said: Franco hit back and went into depth about her reasons for wanting to move on from the relationship, all while deny his cheating accusations Smith maintained he did everything he could to save the marriage. 'She wants answers, I answer, she wants reports, I report. Yet wasnt good enough for her, she's very controlling bossy didn't really love me. I was a pet to her caged up because if I wanted to go somewhere it ended in [an] argument.' The couple had a baby girl named Carley during their time together. Franco also has a son, Daniel, from a previous relationship. Family matters: The couple had a baby girl named Carley during their time together. Franco also has a son, Daniel, from a previous relationship Under the draft legislation, Washington would freeze any American asset and ban US travel of Chinese officials if they are found to be involved in 'identifying or installing' a Dalai Lama approved by Beijing. Washington: The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that authorises financial and travel sanctions against Chinese officials who interfere in the process of selecting the successor to the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet. Introduced by Congressman James P McGovern, Chairman of the House Rules Committee and the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, the bill was passed by a overwhelming vote of 392 to 22 on Tuesday. The bill, if passed by the Senate and signed into law by the president, will also prohibit China from opening any new consulate in the US until Beijing allows Washington to open its diplomatic station in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital. According to the bill, the succession or reincarnation of Tibetan Buddhist leaders, including a future 15th Dalai Lama, is an exclusively religious matter that should be decided solely by the Tibetan Buddhist community. Under the draft legislation, Washington would freeze any American asset and ban US travel of Chinese officials if they are found to be involved in "identifying or installing" a Dalai Lama approved by Beijing. Addressing the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the bill sends Beijing a clear signal that it will be held accountable for interfering in Tibet's religious and cultural affairs. The proposed legislation, she said, makes it clear that "Chinese officials who meddle in the process of recognising a new Dalai Lama will be subject to targeted sanctions, including those in the Global Magnitsky Act". The Global Magnitsky Act allows the US to sanction foreign government officials implicated in human rights abuses anywhere in the world. Pelosi said the bill deploys America's diplomatic weight to encourage a genuine dialogue between Tibetan leaders and Beijing. "It is unacceptable that the Chinese government still refuses to enter into a dialogue with Tibetan leaders. We are supporting the Tibetan people's right to religious freedom and genuine autonomy by formally establishing as US policy that the Tibetan Buddhist community has the exclusive right to choose its religious leaders, including a future 15th Dalai Lama," she said. Though introduced as a stand-alone piece of legislation, the bill serves as an amendment to the Tibet Policy Act of 2002, which codified the US position of support for the Tibetan people. "Our bill updates and strengthens the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 to address the challenges faced by the Tibetan people. But perhaps as importantly, it reaffirms America's commitment to the idea that human rights matter. That we care about those who are oppressed, and we stand with those who are struggling for freedom," Congressman McGovern said on the House floor. "It should be clear that we support a positive and productive US-China relationship, but it is essential that the human rights of all the people of China are respected by their government," he asserted. In 2019, the US Congress passed the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, demanding that American journalists, diplomats and tourists be given the same freedom to travel to Tibet that Chinese officials have to travel freely in the US. "The Dalai Lama should be commended for his decision to devolve political authority to elected leaders. The Tibetan exile community is also to be commended for adopting a system of self-governance with democratic institutions to choose their own leaders, including holding multiple 'free and fair' elections to select its Parliament and chief executive," McGovern said. The bill also mandates the US State Department to begin collaborative and multinational efforts to protect the environment and water resources of the Tibetan Plateau. "We are protecting Tibet's environmental and cultural rights: working with international governments and the business community to ensure the self-sufficiency of the Tibetan people and protect the environment and water resources on the Tibetan Plateau. It is really important to sustainability of our planet," Pelosi, a longtime advocate for Tibet, said. The Japan share market finished session higher on Wednesday, 29 January 2020, as investors chased for bottom fishing in recently battered stocks on tracking gains in Wall Street overnight. The majority of industry categories inclined into positive territory, with marine transportation, mining and machinery-linked issues being notable gainers. At closing bell, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average advanced 163.69 points, or 0.71%, to 23,379.40, while the broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange rose 7.67 points, or 0.45%, at 1,699.95. The bargain buying propelled on calming fears on the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak in China after the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said he was confident in China's ability to stem the virus outbreak. More than 4,500 people have been confirmed ill with the virus and 106 have died with the coronavirus centered in the Chinese city of Wuhan, an industrial hub along the Yangtze river, prompted businesses to close operations and curbed travel. The United States and several other nations were taking steps to airlift citizens out of a Chinese city at the center of the outbreak. Still, U. S. health officials said Tuesday that, for now, the risks to Americans is very low. Shares of Apple suppliers were mixed after Apple CEO Tim Cook said Tuesday that the Cupertino-based tech giant's operations in China are being impacted by the ongoing coronavirus outbreak in the country. Japan's Taiyo Yuden declined 0.73% and Sharp fell 0.25%. CURRENCY NEWS: The Japanese yen, often viewed as a safe-haven currency in times of economic uncertainty, depreciated against a basket of currencies. The Japanese yen traded at 109.18 per dollar after weakening from levels below 109 yesterday. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Trump needs to say to Netanyahu: Bibi, you say that I am the most pro-Israel president to ever sit in the White House. This plan was written with your team. I have supported your maximum position absorbing all the Jewish settlements into Israel and all of traditional Jerusalem, and with no return of Palestinian refugees to Israel. Now I need to know, the Palestinians need to know, and the world needs to know, that this is not your new starting position. Will you agree right now that the remaining land will be a Palestinian state if the Palestinians agree to demilitarization and recognize Israel as a Jewish state? Will you agree right now to make no further claims ever to the West Bank and not build another settlement ever outside the areas that the Trump plan assigns to Israel? The US warned that Huawei poses a real risk to security as Boris Johnson insisted allowing the Chinese firm to be involved in the UKs 5G network would not damage transatlantic security co-operation. Secretary of state Mike Pompeo said the firm was an extension of the Chinese Communist Party and Washington would evaluate the UKs decision. Mr Pompeo has arrived in the UK for talks with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and the Prime Minister with the shadow of the Huawei row hanging over them. The Chinese tech giant has always rejected claims it represents a security risk. But speaking to reporters on the plane to the UK, Mr Pompeo said: Our view of Huawei has been that putting it in your system creates real risk. This is an extension of the Chinese Communist Party with a legal requirement to hand over information to the Chinese Communist Party. He added that American information only should pass through trusted networks, and well make sure we do that and suggested the UK could relook at the decision in the future. After Mr Raab met Mr Pompeo on Wednesday evening, a brief Foreign Office statement did not reference the Huawei controversy. A spokesman said: The Foreign Secretarys discussions with Secretary Pompeo this evening focused on future opportunities for economic and security co-operation between the UK and US. The pair discussed the US proposal for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and the situation in Iran and Yemen, and the Foreign Secretary underlined the need to de-escalate regional tensions. The Prime Minister said allowing Huawei to play a limited role in the UKs 5G infrastructure would not imperil our relationship with Donald Trumps administration as he faced a backlash from both Tory MPs and US Republicans. The Prime Minister defied the president by giving the green light to the Chinese firm despite US warnings that it could hamper intelligence-sharing with Washington and the other members of the Five Eyes alliance. Mr Johnson, who spoke to Mr Trump on Tuesday, said the Governments decision would not damage the extremely valuable security co-operation with the Five Eyes alliance which includes the US. Answering questions from the public on Facebook he said he had interrogated the security and intelligence agencies about the issue and whether Huawei could be allowed to play a role while preventing any kind of risk of leaks or interference with our security. There is no doubt in their mind that we can do it and we can allow Huawei into some aspects of 5G but not compromise our intelligence-sharing ability with America, Australia, Canada or New Zealand the so-called Five Eyes. Im very confident we can do that. The decision has caused deep unease on the Tory benches, with discussion of a possible rebellion when the matter comes to the Commons, although the Prime Minister can normally rely on a comfortable majority. The UKs National Security Council (NSC) agreed on Tuesday to allow high-risk vendors to play a limited part in building the 5G network. At a 90-minute meeting, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace argued against the move, according to The Times, but was said to have been a lone voice. Government assurances about the decision have done little to quell what Damian Green, former de facto deputy prime minister under Theresa May, called widespread (and) strong unease on the Tory benches. Ministers have said they will legislate at the earliest opportunity to put the new guidance on telecoms providers into law, opening up the prospect of a potentially damaging backbench revolt. One of the things that frankly surprised me was the breadth of opposition to the current stance of the Government on the Conservative back benches, Mr Green told BBC Radio 4s Today programme. We dont know yet, when push comes to shove and votes happen, how many people will actually put their heads above the parapet but it is very widespread. Expand Close Former de facto deputy prime minister under Theresa May Damian Green (Kirsty OConnor/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Former de facto deputy prime minister under Theresa May Damian Green (Kirsty OConnor/PA) Senior Tory MPs including former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith and ex-Brexit secretary David Davis are among those to express displeasure. Mr Trump has refrained from a Twitter outburst on the decision but officials in Washington said they were disappointed by the UKs decision. There is no safe option for untrusted vendors to control any part of a 5G network, an official said. A series of senior congressional figures spoke out to condemn the move. Tom Cotton, a member of the Senate intelligence committee, said: Allowing Huawei to build the UKs 5G networks today is like allowing the KGB to build its telephone network during the Cold War. Allowing Huawei to the build the UKs 5G networks today is like allowing the KGB to build its telephone network during the Cold War. The CCP will now have a foothold to conduct pervasive espionage on British society and has increased economic and political leverage over the UK. Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) January 28, 2020 The European Union also unveiled security guidelines for the next generation high-speed wireless networks that stop short of banning Huawei, in a further blow to the US campaign against the firm. Mr Pompeos two-day visit is likely to offer the first real indication of the extent of any damage to the so-called special relationship. The US administration has consistently argued that giving Huawei a role in 5G could allow the Chinese a back door into the telecoms network through which they could carry out espionage or cyber attacks. The Government has acknowledged Huawei is not a trusted supplier but argues that by banning it from the most sensitive elements of the network and restricting its involvement to 35%, it can manage the risks. The clash comes at a sensitive moment in US-UK relations, just as Mr Johnson is hoping to make rapid progress on a trade deal. The PM appears to have concluded that honouring his general election pledge to level up the left-behind areas of the country must be the priority. Rolling out 5G across the country is regarded as key to improving economic performance and excluding Huawei would mean delays and higher costs. WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA astronaut Christina Koch, who has spent more time in space on a single mission than any other woman, is scheduled to return to Earth on Thursday, Feb. 6, along with two of her International Space Station crewmates. Koch, along with station Commander Luca Parmitano of ESA (European Space Agency), and Soyuz commander Alexander Skvortsov of the Russian space agency Roscosmos will depart the station Feb. 6 in a Soyuz spacecraft that will make a parachute-assisted landing at 4:14 a.m. EST southeast of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan (3:13 p.m. Kazakhstan time). Live coverage of their return will begin at 9 p.m. EST Wednesday, Feb. 5, on NASA Television and the agency's website. Landing coverage will begin at 3 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 6. Koch, who launched in March 2019 with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin, is wrapping up a 328-day mission on her first flight into space. Koch's extended mission will provide researchers the opportunity to observe effects of long-duration spaceflight on a woman as the agency plans to return to the Moon under the Artemis program and prepare for human exploration of Mars. Koch will have spanned 5,248 orbits of the Earth a journey of 139 million miles, roughly the equivalent of 291 round trips to the Moon. She conducted six spacewalks during her 11 months on orbit, spending 42 hours and 15 minutes outside the station. She witnessed the arrival of a dozen visiting vehicles and the departure of another dozen. After landing, she will have completed the second longest single spaceflight by a U.S. astronaut after retired astronaut Scott Kelly, placing her seventh on the list of American space travelers with the most time in space. Parmitano and Skvortsov will land after 201 days in space, having launched with NASA's Andrew Morgan last July. Morgan will remain on the station until his return to Earth on April 17. Parmitano and Skvortsov will have completed 3,216 orbits of Earth and 85.2 million miles at landing. Completing his second mission, Parmitano will have logged a total of 367 days in space, more than any ESA astronaut in history. Skvortsov is completing his third mission and a total of 546 days in space, good for 15th place on the all-time spaceflight endurance list. After preliminary medical evaluations, the crew will return to the recovery staging city in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, aboard Russian helicopters. Koch and Parmitano will board a NASA plane bound for Cologne, Germany, where Parmitano will be greeted by ESA officials before Koch proceeds home to Houston. Skvortsov will board a Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center aircraft to return to his home in Star City, Russia. At the time of undocking, Expedition 62 formally begins aboard the station, with NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Morgan as flight engineers and Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos as station commander. They will remain on board the orbital outpost until early April, when NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy and Russian cosmonauts Nikolai Tikhonov and Andrei Babkin will launch to the station. Full NASA TV coverage is as follows (all times Eastern): Wednesday, Feb. 5: 8:30 a.m.: Space station change of command ceremony, during which Parmitano will hand over command to crewmate Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos 9 p.m.: Farewell and Soyuz hatch closure coverage (hatch closure at 9:25 p.m.) Thursday, Feb. 6: 12:15 a.m.: Soyuz undocking coverage (undocking scheduled for 12:50 a.m.) 3 a.m.: Soyuz deorbit burn and landing coverage (deorbit burn at 3:18 a.m. and landing at 4:13 a.m.) Watch Koch's most memorable moments from her record-breaking mission at: https://go.nasa.gov/36E40MZ Get breaking news, images and features from the space station on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. SOURCE NASA Related Links http://www.nasa.gov Morano shot part of the gorgeous Beyonce Lemonade project, as well as many other films, including the stark, atmospheric Frozen River. Here she works with Widows and 12 Years a Slave cinematographer Sean Bobbitt, one of the best around, to create a palette suited to a fantasy about a woman descending halfway into hell, and assassinating her way out of it. The look is miserably dank one minute and blindingly sun-baked the next (the film was shot primarily in Ireland and Spain), and you notice it. Published in 2000, Mark Burnells debut novel the first of four Stephanie Patrick adventures was engineered for the movies, built to attract a bankable actress in a globe-trotting series of assignments while changing identities, hairstyles and personae at will. A ship that went missing in the Bermuda Triangle almost 100 years ago has recently been discovered off the coast of Florida,US by a group of researchers. According to reports, the SS Cotopaxi was an America merchant ship that was loaded with coal and had departed from Charleston in North Carolina on November 29, 1925. 100-year-old mystery solved Reports state that the ship's final destination was Havana, Cuba. The disappearance of SS Cotopaxi and the 32 people on board puzzled people for a long time and cemented its place among famous stories that are usually associated with the Bermuda Triangle. According to marine biologist Michael Barnette, the ship was a part of the coal trade and the trip that she was undertaking was a routine one in November 1925. In early December the ship sent out a distress signal according to Barnett. According to reports after the distress signal the ship vanished without a trace, its wreckage was never found nor were there any lifeboats or bodies. A lot of hoaxes and speculation surrounded the disappearance of the ship, in 2015 some news outlets reported that the SS Cotopaxi had suddenly reappeared near a restricted military zone off the coast of Cuba. There were multiple other stories that followed but all of them were proved to be Hoaxes. Legendary film director Steven Spielberg had included the ship in his movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind which suggested that the ship was in the middle of the Gobi desert and had been placed there by aliens. According to Barnette, the shipwreck was actually discovered 35 miles off the coast of St. Augustine, on Florida's northeast coast. The mysterious Triangle The Bermuda Triangle is an area in the North Atlantic Ocean, where it is claimed that over 50 ships and 20 planes have mysteriously disappeared. The area loosely forms the shape of a triangle, the three points being Miami, San Juan, and Bermuda. The Bermuda Triangle has puzzled historians for centuries. Read: Bermuda Triangle: Interesting Facts And Curious Accidents To Know Read: 'Captain Of India-US Relationship' Harsh Vardhan Shringla Takes Over As Foreign Secretary Christopher Columbus, the sailor who discovered America, claimed that the Bermuda triangle area had extremely erratic compass readings. It is one of the rare places on Earth where the magnetic North and the correct north line up. Bruce Gernon, pilot and co-author of The Fog, believed he lost 28 minutes as he flew through a time-warping cloud tunnel. The trip took less time than expected, and the pilot is convinced he catapulted forward in time. William Shakespeares infamous play called The Tempest is said to have been inspired by the Bermuda Triangle. In 1609, there was a tragic wreck within the area, which Shakespeare seemed to have used as the premise for his play. Read: Nazar Written Update For January 27 | Mohana Traps Rrathods In A Ship To The Moon Read: Ajit Pawar Takes A Veiled Dig At Ashok Chavan, Appeals 'let Only Top MVA Leadership Speak' Floridas Republican Sen. Rick Scott inserted himself into the Democratic presidential primary Tuesday by launching an Iowa ad campaign trashing both the impeachment of President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden ahead of the states caucuses. But the ad campaign really wasnt just about the 2020 presidential race or the Feb. 3 caucuses its the starting gun for 2024, when Scott has let it be known hes interested in running for the White House. If you put $19,000 in Des Moines on TV, its definitely Scott putting a toe in 2024, said David DJ Johnson, a GOP consultant and former executive director of the Republican Party of Florida. And theres one thing we know about Scott: after he puts a toe in, then comes the foot. Then comes the whole leg. Scotts political advisers and those who know his thinking wouldnt comment on the record, with one saying the ad campaign which consists of a 30-second TV commercial and a 2-minute digital spot speaks for itself. Independently wealthy, Scott made his mark in Florida politics as an outsider businessman who spent at least $149.5 million of his own money to win races for governor and U.S. Senate. Months after first taking office in 2011, he launched a statewide ad campaign announcing his own legislative priorities, a technique he continued to employ through his two terms. In 2018, when he dropped $64 million of his own cash to defeat Sen. Bill Nelson, Scott practiced a far more partisan and sharp-elbowed style of politics, of which the new ad campaign is a continuation. That sound you hear is the starting gun for 2024, said a Republican consultant who worked for one of Scotts prior political campaigns but wanted to remain anonymous for fear of speaking without authorization. The Republican Party is the Party of Trump. And Rick Scott is a member in good standing. And he wants the nation to know it. Scott spokesman Chris Hartline, denied the ad had anything to do with future presidential campaigns. Story continues This is Rick Scott getting a message out at a moment when it will be heard the loudest, Hartline said. When asked why the ad is airing in the key early presidential state, Hartline said, thats the moment and place it will be heard the loudest If you want to give us the money, well run it in New Hampshire, too. After Trumps 2016 election, insiders say, Scott became more convinced than ever that he could be president and that his three successful elections in the nations biggest swing state effectively neutralized his biggest liability: a record Medicare fraud fine paid out by his former hospital company in 1997. Scott began favorably comparing his bio with Trumps in the lead-up to the 2016 Florida presidential primary, when Trump walloped Scotts future colleague, Sen. Marco Rubio who has remained notably quiet in contrast to Scott over impeachment. Rubio is expected by some in Florida Republican circles to run for president again. Also in the possible 2024 mix: Gov. Ron DeSantis, who ran as an unapologetic Trump Republican in 2018. As each competed for Trumps affection following their elections in 2018, DeSantis and Scott developed a frosty relationship . Tony Fabrizio, Trumps pollster who once worked for DeSantis, surveyed Florida Republicans last year about who they would like for president and found that DeSantis came in first at 37 percent, followed by Rubio at 26 percent and Scott at 18 percent, while 19 percent were undecided. Anyone with political sense recognizes that there is a greater reason for any Republican not named Donald Trump to be going up on TV in Iowa, said Florida Republican consultant Brian Swensen, who has worked for Scott, DeSantis and Rubio. Florida will potentially have at least three incredibly accomplished candidates running who will articulate the successes of conservative governance. Let the 2024 games begin! In a sign of a mutual negative reinforcement feedback loop, Bidens presidential campaign welcomed the hit, saying that the Republican attacks on the former vice president indicate that hes the Democrat that Trump fears. First, Trump tried to pressure Ukraine into investigating Biden, which led to Trumps impeachment and helped Biden rally Democrats to his side. Then, Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst on Monday mused about how the impeachment trial in which Trumps team has tried to accuse Biden of corruption would affect Biden in Iowa, a statement that Biden said spilled the beans on GOP fears of his general election candidacy. Biden fundraised off of Ernsts comments and is expected to do the same with Scotts attack ads, which Bidens campaign dismissed as full of conspiracy theories. "Republicans are falling all over themselves because they know what poll after poll has demonstrated and what many Democratic House members who flipped their seats in 2018 have said: Joe Biden would beat Donald Trump like a drum and be a force for Democrats up and down the ballot, Bidens campaign said in a written statement. Donald Trump himself is so afraid he'd lose to Joe Biden that he became the only president in American history who tried to extort a foreign country into lying on behalf of his reelection campaign." Scotts ad buys mark one of the most strident attacks yet on Biden from Republicans, an effort that began last year. Timed to coincide with Trumps defense team resting its case in the impeachment trial, the spots feature him talking in a radio broadcast studio as if hes a conservative talk-show host as he criticizes impeachment, Biden and Adam Schiff, one of the House impeachment managers despised by many Republicans. We are being subjected to the cruel and unusual punishment listening to the rantings of Adam Schiff, a person from a parallel universe, Scott said in his digital ad, saying the impeachment fiasco is political theater. Scott also vowed that, if witnesses are called in Trumps impeachment, hell make sure Biden is called to testify. If that happens, he will be too cowardly to show up, Scott said. But if he did show up, heres what I will ask him: Mr. Biden, why did you as vice president of the United States threaten a foreign country and force them to fire a prosecutor, who was investigating a company that was paying your son $83,000 a month? Media accounts and the sworn testimony from Trump administration officials reported that Biden was acting on behalf of the U.S. government and other foreign governments that demanded in 2015 that Ukraines prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, be fired because he was corrupt. Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event, Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) There was no contemporaneous evidence to justify the claim that Shokin was investigating the Ukrainian natural gas company, Burisma, when Bidens son, Hunter, worked for it. Anti-corruption activists lauded the firing of Shokin at the time, as did Republicans in the U.S. Senate. While the appearance of a conflict of interest with the Bidens was troubling to some, Republicans never investigated or raised concerns until Trump faced him as a potential opponent. One of Scotts former political consultants, who also did not want to be identified, said the former governor is experiencing some of the growing pains of transitioning from an executive to a legislator. And the impeachment trial to Scott is just a waste of time, the source said. He has been very frustrated with this whole trial and has been coming up with ideas to remain relevant, according to the source. This is the best way to remain relevant because this is what he knows how to do: cut ads, surprise people and make news. Johnson, the former executive director of the Florida GOP, said Scott was also having fun by getting people on Twitter to lose their minds. Theyre saying, hes running, Johnson chuckled. Hes doing nothing to foreclose the option. He really knows how to make a $19,000 ad buy go the distance. Just imagine what hell do with millions more. [The stream is slated to start at 11 a.m. ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.] President Donald Trump on Wednesday is expected to sign into law a revised trade deal between the United States, Mexico and Canada, solidifying one of his top priorities and most-touted talking points. The signing comes amid an ongoing impeachment trial in the Senate and follows a "phase one" trade deal with China. During his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump talked up reforming the North American Free Trade Agreement, calling it "one of the worst trade deals ever made." The Senate approved the new trade deal, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, in an overwhelming 89-10 vote earlier this month. The Trump administration worked with Democrats to resolve concerns about enforcement of labor and environmental standards. The USMCA makes several tweaks to the North American Free Trade Agreement, which took effect in 1994. Trump and Democrats alike argued that the earlier deal, which opened more free trade across the three countries, damaged American workers by encouraging companies to move jobs out of the U.S. The USMCA gives American producers better access to Canadian dairy markets. It creates stricter rules for auto part rules of origin, and requires at least 40% of the parts for a car to be produced in plants where workers make at least $16 an hour. CNBC's Jacob Pramuk contributed to this report. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. Donald Trump has been accused of trying to silence John Boltons alleged revelations about the Ukraine affair, by claiming material contained in a draft manuscript is classified. The White House informed the former national security adviser that his manuscript, scheduled to be published in March, appeared to contain significant amounts of classified information and could not be published in its current form. A letter from the national security council to Boltons attorney, Charles Cooper, said the manuscript contained some material that was considered TOP SECRET. Under federal law and the nondisclosure agreements your client signed as a condition for gaining access to classified information, the manuscript may not be published or otherwise disclosed without the deletion of this classified information, it added. Yet there was immediately criticism that the White House was trying to silence Mr Bolton, whose claims about what the president told him to do about Ukraine, have hit hard with some Republicans. 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 As a result, it now appears Mr Trumps impeachment trial in the Senate will feature some witnesses, potentially including Mr Bolton, who has said he would testify if subpoenaed to do so. John Bromwich, a layer and federal prosecutor who served as inspector general of the department justice from 1994 to 1999, accused the administration of deliberately seeking to halt or delay the publication of Mr Boltons booked, due to be titled The Room Where It Happened. The idea that Bolton would draft a manuscript that contains significant amounts of classified information is ridiculous, he wrote on Twitter. He knows whats classified and whats not. This is tampering with the pre-publication process to intimidate and achieve political ends. Lou Dobbs lashes out at John Bolton calls him a RINO and a 'tool for radical Dems' On Sunday, the New York Times revealed that in the document being vetted by the White House a standard procedure for books by former officials Mr Bolton claimed Mr Trump had told him last August he wanted to continue to freeze around $400m in military aid to Ukraine. He said the money, assigned by Congress to help Ukraine confront aggression from Moscow, would only be released once the authorities in Kiev announced an investigation into Joe Biden and his son. This so-called quid pro quo is at the very heart of the impeachment case against Mr Trump. In its report about the book on Sunday, the newspaper noted the White House could use the vetting process to delay or even kill the books publication or omit key passages. Reaction to the existence of Mr Boltons manuscript with swift and explosive. John Bolton has the evidence, tweeted Chuck Scuhmer, the Democrats leader in the Senate, as the party doubled down on demands Mr Bolton and others be allowed to testify. Democrats were joined by several key Republican senators, including Mitt Romney and Susan Collins, who indicated they supported hearing from witnesses about the allegations. Although Republicans control the Senate, Democrats would only need four members of the GOP to back their demand for witnesses. Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell, who has tried to block any witnesses and secure Mr Trumps acquittal as rapidly as possible, informed Republican senators on Tuesday that the party did not have the enough to block testimony. Additional reporting by Reuters For more information on the SEP presidential campaign and to get involved, visit socialism2020.org. Joseph Kishore, the National Secretary of the Socialist Equality Party and its newly announced candidate for US president in the 2020 elections, kicked off the partys campaign with a meeting at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor on Monday evening. Kishores report, The resurgence of class struggle and the fight for socialism in 2020, focused on the growth of strikes and protests in 2019 and 2020 which has taken place against the backdrop of increasing imperialist violence, escalating assaults on democratic rights and the resort by the ruling class to fascism and dictatorship. The event was sponsored by the International Youth and Students for Social Equality at UM. Joseph Kishore addressing the meeting in Ann Arbor, Michigan There is a clear alternative facing the American and international working class, Kishore said: capitalist barbarism or international socialism. The enrichment of a parasitic ruling elite coincides with unending war that threatens the whole world. All the filth of the past is returning, said Kishore, fascism, anti-Semitism, the mass detention of immigrants and refugees Without a revolutionary change to the social system, human society itself faces collapse. The working class, however, has begun to fight back. Last year, said Kishore, mass demonstration and strikes occurred in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, South America, and the United States, which saw a 40-day strike by GM autoworkers. The strategists of the ruling class had taken note, with the Financial Times comparing 2019 to the revolutionary years of 1848, 1917 and 1968 and noting nervously that 2020 appears to be even more explosive. Another report referred to a year of sweeping revolutions, the likes of which weve never seen. The only consolation for these writers is that the upheavals of the past year were apparently leaderless. The question of leadership is indeed critical, said Kishore. Workers are on the move. However, for the struggles of the working class to succeed, they need a political program and a party, that is, a leadership. Kishore stressed the significance of the enormous growth of inequality, which has driven widespread interest in socialism. In 2019, he reported, the richest 500 people increased their wealth by a total of $1.2 trillion dollars, a sum that is enough to nearly wipe out all US student debt ($1.5 trillion), twice cover the entire spending on public education in the US ($700 billion), or eliminate the debt suffocating Puerto Rico ($74 billion) twenty times over. The unprecedented levels of inequality are a result of policies enacted by both Democrats and Republicans. The result, said Kishore, has been a social catastrophe borne by the working class in the form of job cuts, the slashing of wages, the elimination of social programs, and the desolation of cities through deindustrialization. The gargantuan US military budget ($738 billion) is both an enormous drain of social resources and a menacing danger to the world, said Kishore, who proceeded to review the record of the past 25 years of unending war by the US, particularly against Iraq and Afghanistan, with its toll of millions of lives. The impeachment of Trump by the Democratswhose trial was in process Monday nightis conducted on the most right-wing basis and has heightened rather than lessened the danger of war. Kishore noted the comments of Adam Schiff, the key impeachment manager for House Democrats, that funding for Ukraine was needed so that the country could fight Russia over there so we dont have to fight them here. To which Kishore replied by asking, And who asked the American people whether they wanted war with Russia, either over there or over here? Kishore returned to the need for the development of a political leadership in the working class, which he said was not simply a matter of alerting workers to growing inequality or even the growth of militarism, as critical as these tasks are. Instead, he told the audience, it is necessary to explain the methods and aims of those who seek to block the working class and tie it politically to the ruling class. A significant portion of the report was devoted to an analysis of the New York Times 1619 Project. The lead author of the Project, Nikole Hannah Jones, spoke yesterday at the University of Michigan campus. Kishore explained that the World Socialist Web Site has played the leading role in exposing the historical falsifications and political motivations involved in the effort by the Times, the media outlet for the Democratic Party, to rewrite history. The aim, said Kishore, is to establish a new narrative that places race and racial conflict at the center of American history and contemporary politics. The aim is to promote racial conflicts at the very point that masses of workers and youth all over the world are entering struggle over issues of class. He noted that Hannah-Jones has stated that race is just as material as class, meaning that there exist, objectively, racial interests. The remainder of Kishores report and several questions from the audience concerned the role of Bernie Sanders. The Vermont senator has been moving up in opinion polls, particularly in Iowa and New Hampshire, which have primary contests in the coming two weeks, based on his appeal to opposition to social inequality and war. Questions pertained to the role of the Democratic Party establishment in opposing a Sanders nomination in 2016 and whether a Sanders administration would create greater space for socialist candidates. In reply, Kishore explained that the role of Sanders is to channel social opposition behind the Democratic Party and block an independent political movement of the working class. If he were to become president, he added, Sanders would play a role similar to that of Syriza (the Coalition of the Radical Left) in Greece, which has implemented the dictates of the banks and served as a frontline of the European Unions anti-refugee policy. Concluding, Kishore returned to the role that workers and youth must play in 2020. The time is now to fight for genuine socialism and an end to capitalist exploitation, he said. He urged all those attending to support the SEP election campaign. Students remained after the presentation and official question period to talk in smaller groups and meet the candidate. A student from China had come to previous meetings and was particularly drawn to the SEPs principled stand against the 1619 Project. He expressed concern, however, that the SEP placed such weight on political-theoretical issues relative to bread-and-butter matters of wages, workplace conditions, and student debt. He stayed for a wide-ranging discussion with a supporter of the SEP. Roman, a retail sales worker, was strongly interested in the international unification of the struggles of the working class that Kishore had addressed in the report. I understand the working people should be, and actually really are, connected, he said. But right now I want to know how can we achieve that kind of internationalism if it doesnt yet exist in our own borders yet. Supporters of the SEP discussed the type of political initiative that is required in combating the nationalist poison spread by the trade unions, which work to isolate struggles of workers. Roman wanted to learn more and concluded by saying, I plan to come to every SEP meeting I can. I am certainly interested in this campaign. Vanessa and Michaela, both students and workers, expressed their support for the SEP campaign after the meeting as they talked with SEP supporters. Vanessa mentioned her interest in the Sanders campaign but added that the meeting had given her pause, saying, Im realizing that there are people to the left of me, and I think I need to think more critically about Sanders. In 2020, she did not want to adapt to the pressure to choose the lesser of the two evils. Michaela and Vanessa Michaela, likewise, had been attracted to the Sanders campaign, but was taking a broader look at the political situation in its global context. I am really interested in how actual revolution happens, mobilization through protests and like what were seeing in Chile. How can we make that happen at American universities? For more information on the SEP presidential campaign and to get involved, visit socialism2020.org. Ending months of speculation, US President Donald Trump outlined his proposed plan for Middle East peace in Washington Jan. 28, describing it as a "win-win" for both Israel and the Palestinians. Trump said he envisions "a two-state solution with Jerusalem remaining as Israel's undivided capital" and "a capital in East Jerusalem for a future Palestinian state." Promoted as "the deal of the century" by its proponents, the plan failed to evoke the same enthusiasm in Egypt, America's closest ally in the Arab world and a strong supporter of the UN-sponsored two-state solution. Trump's plan drew mixed reactions from Egyptians on social media networks. Some expressed anger and dismay over the proposal. Others shared an image of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu kissing. Some reminisced about late President Anwar Sadat and the Palestinians' "missed opportunity" for peace, in reference to Sadat's exhortations to Palestinians to accept the Camp David Accords he signed with Israel in 1978, which were brokered by then-US President Jimmy Carter. Many of those propagating the missed opportunity" view are Egyptian government supporters who are apathetic toward Palestinians in Gaza, whom they perceive as supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood because of Hamas' close relationship with the outlawed group. "This is an annexation plan rather than a peace plan," political analyst and publisher Hisham Kassem told Al-Monitor. "Israel and the United States know full well that the proposed plan will be rejected. It is only a means of legitimizing Israel's annexation of more West Bank land and the Jordan Valley." Reform leader Mohamed ElBaradei, who resides in Vienna, meanwhile, tweeted that the plan was no more than "a political stunt that could spark unilateral moves to annex territory," echoing the words of former US Vice President Joe Biden. In another tweet, he described it as "a surrender plan in violation of every norm of international law and basic principles of equity and fairness." "It's a harbinger of instability and extremism," he wrote. This is not about a two-state solution, Nabil Fahmy, former foreign minister of Egypt and now a dean at the American University of Cairo, told Al-Monitors Andrew Parasiliti. Im frankly flabbergasted, he said, and really worried this will have long-term consequences, destroying the tenets of a two-state solution for future negotiations. The Egyptian government chose to tread cautiously, releasing a Foreign Ministry statement that expressed "Egypt's appreciation for the US administration's continued efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive peace," while emphasizing the need for both parties to the conflict to "carefully study the US vision for peace and resume negotiations brokered by the United States to express both parties' visions in order to reach an agreement that fulfills the hopes and aspirations of both peoples [the Palestinians and Israelis] for a just and comprehensive peace and for the creation of an independent Palestinian state." President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, whom Trump described as "my favorite dictator," has engaged in discussions on Middle East peace with Jared Kushner, Trump's adviser and the chief architect of the plan. Some opposition figures are sharing a clip on social media from a press conference between Sisi and Trump, in which the former promises the US president that he will support the deal of the century. Some Israeli analysts had speculated that Sisi's main role in the deal would be to recruit leaders of moderate Arab states to support to the plan. This is in stark contrast to other reports suggesting that "Egypt insists that East Jerusalem be the capital of a future Palestinian state and making clear that any economic plan for Gaza is no substitute for a diplomatic plan accepted by the Palestinians." "The Arab countries [the UAE, Oman and Bahrain], which sent diplomatic envoys to Washington to witness the official launch of the plan, are safeguarding their interests," Kassem said. "They have chosen to side with the US and Israel in the face of the security threat posed by Iran to Gulf countries." "Egypt, too, is willing to play along so as not to lose favor with the United States," he said. "The country was once a key regional player mediating between Israel and Palestinian factions. It no longer has clout to oppose the deal." Under the proposed agreement, Egypt would receive a massive economic aid package of $9 billion. Half of it would be in soft loans in three stages over a 10-year period for development and infrastructure projects in Sinai, as well as for revamping the country's transport infrastructure, supporting small and medium enterprises and the country's energy efficiency and diversification initiatives. The bulk of the funds, meanwhile, will be dedicated to the establishment of a power grid to transmit electricity from Egypt to Gaza, and for industrial zones that would boost trade between Egypt, Gaza, the West Bank and Israel. Whether or not the proposed deal takes off remains to be seen. Kassem, however, believes it is "too outrageous" to be taken seriously. "Besides, the political standing of both Trump and Netanyahu is up in the air," he said. "One is being impeached and the second indicted on corruption charges. The plan is likely nothing more than an election ploy on Trump's part: He made some promises in his last election campaign that he has to live up to before his current term ends. One of these was to move the American embassy to the eternal capital of the Jewish people, Jerusalem. That promise has been fulfilled; the rest is empty rhetoric." Dharmesh Bhatia The Indian rupee appreciated by 0.45% for the third day this week to 71.21 against the US dollar. The pair consolidated from a two week high of 71.40 amidst fears surrounding the outbreak of Chinas coronavirus weighing on the trading sentiment and strengthening of the counterpart currency. But, INR investors expect some relief in the form of Union Budget publishing on Saturday. Furthermore, markets wait for the U.S. Fed Reserves first meeting which is scheduled for 28th-29th January20 to provide further direction on the pairs movement. Trump Visit in Focus The United States President is scheduled to travel to India between February 21st and 24th, with a day stead fasted to a joint public function with PM Narendra Modi. The key focus of this visit remains on a trade pact along with discussions about China, Iran, & Afghanistan. India also expects the restoration of the GSP (Generalized System of Preferences) scheme, which allowed zero tariffs on exports worth $5.6 billion to the US with the exception of India buying $6bn worth of US farm goods in order to raze the trade deficit. MSCI remains range bound MSCI's index for emerging market currencies remained range bound with commodity-exposed currencies including the Russian rouble and the South African rand weakening against the USD as the rising death toll from the coronavirus outbreak amped up fears of an economic slowdown in the world's second-biggest economy. Events in China have impacted the global currency markets in two ways; the risk channel, as global growth concerns hit the commodity channel. Markets in Asia are likely to remain flat before the US Federal Reserve meeting later today. The Fed Reserve is expected to reiterate its desire to keep rates unchanged at least for 2020. (The author is Associate Vice President, FX and Commodities, Emirates NBD) : 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. [January 29, 2020] Pacific Life Foundation Announces $7.25 Million Giving Program for 2020 The Pacific Life Foundation has announced it plans to give $7.25 million in charitable funding in 2020. Supporting communities where Pacific Life employees live and work, including Orange (News - Alert) County, California; Omaha, Nebraska; and Lynchburg, Virginia, the grants will focus on the areas of arts and culture; civic, community and economic development; environment; education; and health and human services. Totaling almost $2 million, the Pacific Life Foundation's initial 2020 Southern California grants were presented to 155 nonprofit agencies on January 28 at its annual reception held at Pacific Life's Newport Beach headquarters. As part of the evening's special presentation, Human Options was awarded the Walter B. Gerken Community Service Award, named after Pacific Life's former chairman and CEO, and a $100,000 unrestricted cash grant. At the end of 2019, the Pacific Life Foundation donated $100,000 to CHOC Children's Foundation in support of its capital campaign to establish the Thompson Autism Center. The funding will assist in the renovation of a former medical office and bank building for the new center. Additionally, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, the largest hunger relief organization in Orange County, received $100,000 in support of its Bold Goal, which aims to increase the number of meals provided annually by the organization from 20 million to 30 million by 2021. To help achieve this, the Pacific Life Foundation funds will be used to purchase a refrigerated bobtail truck to serve a critical function in maintaining food safety and transportation through donation pickup from grocers, delivery to community partners, and direct food distribution to those in need. Highlights of the 2020 giving program include: Capital Grants The Ronald McDonald House Orange County received $150,000 to renovate and expand its existing space, adding 24 new guest rooms, an upgraded kitchen, private family consultation room, two additional living rooms, a playground, and sensor and teen rooms. To address its current space and animal care limitations, as well as its water system, the Pacific Marine Mammal Center was awarded a $50,000 grant. Thomas House Family Shelter was provided a $50,000 grant to aid in the building renovation project of its recently purchased 8-unit apartment property which will expand its transitional shelter capacity from 14 to 22 apartments. 3Ts of Education Annually, the Pacific Life Foundation awards grants to K-12 schools where there are concentrations of children or grandchildren of Pacific Life employees. The 3Ts of Education are provided in one of the following areas: teacher training, textbooks or technology. In 2020, 166 K-12 schools nationwide have been granted $574,000 in total funding. Since the program's inception in 1998, more than $8.9 million in 3Ts of Education grants have been distributed. United Way and Matching Gifts Pacific Life's long-standing partnership with the United Way dates back to the early 1930s. During Pacific Life's annual United Way Campaign, the Pacific Life Foundation matches every dollar donated by employees. Planned United Way giving is expected to reach nearly $1 million in combined employee and foundation contributions in 2020. The Pacific Life Foundation also matches employee donations to nonprofits and universities and has plans to match $375,000 in employee donations throughout 2020. Employee Volunteer Program The Pacific Life Foundation not only provides funding to organizations, but also supports these organizations through volunteer efforts. The Pacific Life Good Guys counted 2,759 volunteers, completed 280 projects, and provided 13,259 volunteer hours to support 108 nonprofits during 2019. About Pacific Life and the Pacific Life Foundation For more than 150 years, Pacific Life has helped millions of individuals and families with their financial needs through a wide range of life insurance products, annuities, and mutual funds, and offers a variety of investment products and services to individuals, businesses, and pension plans. Pacific Life counts more than half of the 100 largest U.S. companies as its clients and has been named one of the 2019 World's Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute. For additional company information, including current financial strength ratings, visit www.PacificLife.com. The Pacific Life Foundation (the Foundation) was established in 1984. Together with Pacific Life, the Foundation has contributed more than $116 million to community and national nonprofit organizations. Grants are made to organizations that address a broad spectrum of social needs. Additional information about the Pacific Life Foundation can be found at www.PacificLifeFoundation.com. Pacific Life refers to Pacific Life Insurance Company and its affiliates, including Pacific Life & Annuity Company. Client count as of June 2019 is compiled by Pacific Life using the 2019 FORTUNE 500 list. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005013/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Panu Wongcha-um BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai health officials said on Wednesday they will start screening tourist sector workers for coronavirus as part of measures to control the spread of the new disease that has killed 132 people in China. Thailand has seen 14 cases of coronavirus, more than any country outside China, which has confirmed nearly 6,000 cases. All but one of them have been among Chinese visiting Thailand, a popular tourist destination. "We have to monitor Thais in professions that come in contact with foreign tourists, particularly the Chinese," said Tanarak Pipat, deputy director-general of the Department of Disease Control. "This includes professions like guides and tour leaders that bring Chinese travellers to Thailand. If they exhibit symptoms like fever, cough or sore throat then we have to scan for coronavirus." Tens of thousands of Chinese tourists visited Thailand in the lead-up to the Lunar New Year on Jan. 25. There have so far been no confirmed cases of human-to-human transmission inside Thailand, Tanarak said. National carrier Thai Airways Pcl said on Tuesday it was stepping up protective measures such as disinfecting the passenger cabins and cockpits of flights returning from Chinese cities and other high-risk destinations. Thailand recorded 25,029 arrivals at five airports from Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, and other affected Chinese cities, between Jan. 3 and Jan. 27, the health ministry said. Most of those Chinese visitors are believed to have returned home, but there are no official numbers on how many may have been stranded when China's government banned most commercial flights to Wuhan last week. "Most of those people from Wuhan have gone back and we estimate that hundreds remain," Vichit Prakobgosol, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents told Reuters. Many Chinese tourists in Bangkok continue on with their holiday activities, such as praying at the famous Erawan Shrine in central Bangkok, while taking some extra precautions. Story continues "For me personally, I think I will be fine, I'm not so worried about it because everybody wearing masks," said David Zhang, a tourist from Shanghai, who was wearing a surgical mask. "For us Chinese citizens, we won't gather for meals, and won't really go for gatherings," said Gong Dan Dan, a Chinese tourist from Zhejiang. Tourism has been hit hard by China's ban on all group tours as China is Thailand's biggest source of visitors, accounting for 28 percent of 39.8 million arrivals last year. Reduced travel from China could result in 50 billion baht ($1.52 billion) of lost tourism revenue, the tourism ministry estimates. (Additional reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Catherine Evans and Alex Richardson) Lakeland Community College officials this week reported that the school has been hit by a ransomware attack. While the college acknowledged the data breach, it didnt disclose details regarding specific information, departments or individuals affected. Meanwhile, the school on Jan. 28 issued the following statement: Protecting the security and privacy of personal information is of the utmost importance to us. We were recently the victim of a ransomware attack, which encrypted some of our files. Upon learning of the issue, we immediately commenced an investigation, working with cybersecurity professionals who regularly analyze these types of incidents. We are taking this matter very seriously and continue to take significant measures to protect the personal information entrusted to us. In an email, Brett Callow, a threat analyst with the New Zealand-based cybersecurity company Emsisoft, stated a ransomware group called Maze claims to have stolen data from Lakeland. Emsisoft is also associate partners in the No More Ransom Project, a partnership between multiple law enforcement agencies and the private sector. According to Callow, the same group has stolen data from multiple companies and at least one government. To make matters worse, the group publishes the stolen data online, including in Russian hacker forums, unless the victim pays, of course. Callow stated the group has stolen and published data from multiple organizations, including a medical testing lab, a Canadian construction firm and the city of Pensacola, Florida. He added the groups modus operandi is to initially publish only a very small amount of data that was stolen. The more the data they publish and the more sensitive that data is, the less incentive the victim has to pay the ransom to prevent the remaining data being published, he stated. This is the equivalent of a kidnapper sending a pinky finger. Based on what we see, it seems many companies are quietly paying ransoms, the published data gets deleted and the incident is never disclosed. And, of course, that means employees and customers never find out that their data has fallen into the hands of cybercriminals, so do not know that they should set up credit monitoring, change their social insurance numbers, etc. However, Lakeland stated there is no evidence at this time that any of its data has been accessed or exfiltrated. That investigation is ongoing. We have also been working closely with an independent computer forensic firm to analyze our systems for any compromise and to determine if any personal information is at risk, Lakelands statement read. Web Toolbar by Wibiya Business owners often face a daunting task when looking for the perfect logo. Most logo artists charge exorbitant fees and it often ends up to be a long and tedious process to get your logo just right. Services like Turbologo have developed the perfect formula for easily creating the perfect logo that evolves with your business for a fraction of the usual cost. 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You may finally be able to live inside Atari in real life. The consumer brand has announced that it is building the first-ever Atari-themed hotel in the US. The first location of Atari Hotels will be Phoenix, Arizona, with the construction beginning in mid-2020. As the official release notes, the hotel will offer fully immersive experiences for guests of every age and gaming ability, including the latest augmented reality and virtual reality. Select Atari Hotels will also feature state-of-the-art venues and studios to accommodate esports events. After Phoenix, other Atari Hotels are planned in Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago, Austin, Seattle, San Francisco, and San Jose. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Ajay is one of the key members of the notorious Parvesh Mann gang that has been under the Delhi police scanner for making extortion calls to traders and businessmen and indulging in bloody gang wars in the capital. Ajay has been involved in more than half-a-dozen serious criminal cases including murder, attempt-to-murder and illegal possession of firearms. A reward of Rs. 1 lakh was declared upon his arrest by the Delhi Police. He joined the Parvesh Mann gang in 2015. The Parvesh Mann gang was highlighted after brutal murder of one Surya Prakash alias Babloo in city's Ashok Vihar in broad daylight on a busy road. On Monday, a Special Cell team received a tip-off that Ajay Mann was going to visit village KheraKhurd, Delhi. The team laid a trap and in the early morning on Tuesday it nabbed the criminal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) For the first time in 14 years, Dave Arnold has a new job. After resigning as Lebanon County district attorney on Tuesday, the 48-year-old Lebanon County resident on Wednesday was sworn in as the senator from the 48th District. His seating brings the 50-member Senate back to full complement with 28 Republicans, 21 Democrats and one independent. The longtime Lebanon County district attorney was elected in a Jan. 14 special election to serve out the remaining three years of a term vacated by former Sen. Mike Folmer in September. Folmer, who held the seat for nearly 13 years, resigned after being charged with child pornography possession. He is scheduled to go to trial on Feb. 24 in Lebanon County. Arnold, a Republican, was sworn in by Commonwealth Court Judge Kevin Brobson inside the ornate Senate Chambers. Among those on hand to witness the event were his wife Alicia and daughter Reese, as well as his father, uncle, in-laws and about 50 other friends and supporters including some current and former state lawmakers. Starting a new job and turning over the reins as a district attorney to his former first assistant Pier Hess and leaving his team in that office feels kind of strange, he said. At the same time, Arnold said he is excited for the opportunity to serve the public in a new capacity and grateful to voters for expressing their confidence in him. He beat his Democratic opponent Michael Schroeder by 30 percentage points to win the seat representing Lebanon County and parts of Dauphin and York counties. Its a great honor in my opinion to work for the public and to do things for the benefit of the public. I really do consider it an honor. It was an honor doing that as DA and I consider it an honor to do it as a senator, he said during a brief interview in his Capitol office prior to his swearing-in. While he does not have a particular piece of legislation in mind that he is planning to introduce right off the bat, he said he will focus on working on the issues he campaigned on, namely law and order and property tax reform. The former addressing what he considers the primary function of government in keeping its citizens safe and the latter being a concern that people in his district shared is important to them. He comes into the Senate at a time when criminal justice reforms have been gaining traction in the General Assembly. Arnold indicated he is not wholly on board with some of the ideas being advanced. I dont believe that we need a complete reform of our system. Can we do better? Of course we can always do better than what weve been doing. Are there going to be ways to reduce our prison population? I certainly think so and thats certainly a goal we need to have. But that cant be done at the expense of public safety which is where I fear some people are headed with this. Public safety still comes first and foremost, he said. Arnold is aware that he takes over a position that his predecessor tarnished, but said I dont feel any extra pressure to do the right thing because I know Im going to always try to do the right things for the 48th and for all of Pennsylvania. In taking the job of senator, Arnold cut in half his publicly funded salary as district attorney. He plans to supplement his $90,335-a-year senatorial salary with income from a private law practice. When he told his 13-year-old daughter about his plans to do that, he said smiling, her first question was why do you want to leave one job to do two jobs? Arnold said he looks forward to this career change and has as a goal to hold true to a motto at the Pennsylvania District Attorney Association, where he served as president from 2016 to 2017: Do all the right things for the right reason. Thats going to follow me here, he said. Its critical that we do that. Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy. 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. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday said he was "totally shaken" after a "mob" forced him to leave the venue of the Calcutta University convocation, but none can stop him from discharging his duties as the constitutional head and chancellor of universities of the state. "I'm in excruciating pain. I am totally shaken by the events that had taken place (at the CU convocation on Tuesday).... It is a dark period," Dhankhar said. "The events that took place yesterday didn't happen spontaneously. The chancellor was forced by an unruly mob to leave the venue, despite the chancellor being duly invited," he said at a press conference here. Dhankhar was on Tuesday prevented by a section of students from attending the Calcutta University's annual convocation, following which he left the premises. The students, with 'No CAA' and 'No NRC' posters in hand, had waved black flags at him and raised 'go back' slogans. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PITTSBURGH, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) today applauded the collaboration between Congress and the Presidents administration to adopt the United States Mexico Canada Agreement. U. S. Steel believes the pursuit of fair trade is key to building a vibrant, competitive manufacturing sector throughout North America. We applaud this example of elected leaders from both parties working together in an effort to support American jobs, industry, and the economy, said U. S. Steel President and Chief Executive Officer David B. Burritt. There is nothing I would like better than to see this same spirit of cooperation focused on advancing an infrastructure investment bill that would restore our nations preeminent capabilities. Imagine how every segment of our workforce and economy would flourish with revitalized infrastructure and the renewed manufacturing capabilities needed to support it. 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 . [January 29, 2020] W. R. Berkley Corporation Announces Senior Executive Appointments W. R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE: WRB) today announced the appointments of James B. Gilbert as executive vice president - enterprise technology and Nelson Tavares as executive vice president with oversight responsibility for certain of the Company's operating units. The appointments are effective immediately. Mr. Gilbert has served as executive vice president with oversight responsibility for certain of the Company's operating units since 2018. He joined W. R. Berkley Corporation in 2006 as BerkleyNet's senior vice president of actuarial and operations and was named president of the operating unit in 2014. Mr. Gilbert has nearly 30 years of experience in the property casualty insurance industry and is a graduate of the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in statistics. Mr. Tavares joined the Company in 2011 as senior vice president - claims. He has over 30 years of experiene in property and casualty insurance, with a particular emphasis on complex casualty claims. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and multinational corporate studies from Upsala College. Commenting on the appointments, W. Robert Berkley, Jr., president and chief executive officer of W. R. Berkley Corporation, said, "Jim and Nelson have both made significant contributions to the long-term success of our organization. Jim is particularly experienced in the application of technology to business needs, whereas Nelson's management expertise will bring a valuable perspective to our underwriting operations. We expect that the individual skill sets they bring to their new roles will allow them to have an even greater impact on the Company's future." Founded in 1967, W. R. Berkley Corporation is an insurance holding company that is among the largest commercial lines writers in the United States and operates worldwide in two segments of the property casualty insurance business: Insurance and Reinsurance & Monoline Excess. For further information about W. R. Berkley Corporation, please visit www.berkley.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005169/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Year of the Rat expected to bring more gloom to the territory, which has been rocked by months of protests. Hong Kong, China As Hong Kong prepares for more uncertain times and residents rang in the Year of the Rat, people have turned to fortune-tellers. During the four-day holiday weekend, many headed to the temples to find out what the year ahead augured. One of the most popular sites to do so is the Che Kung Temple in suburban Hong Kong, founded in the late 19th century. It was built in tribute to General Che of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), who fled south with the child-king to avoid the invading Mongols. There you can find all types of fortune-telling. On Monday, the representatives of the indigenous villages paid their traditional respects at the temple and tried to foretell Hong Kongs fortunes by shaking a tube filled with bamboo sticks until one fell out. Each stick portends the persons luck and corresponds to an ancient oracle. After the village representative shook the tube, the No 79 fortune stick fell to the ground, which indicates middling luck. The corresponding oracle read: Fairness rules heaven and earth. No one escapes the sight of the Almighty. Temples in Hong Kong usually have fortune-tellers who interpret the future for supplicants. Hong Kong has been rocked by months of protests and is now battling the coronavirus that emerged in China in December [Achmad Ibrahim/AP Photo] Interpreting the oracle falls to diviners such as Chan Tin Yan who holds court at a stand behind the temple. Not superstition Ruddy-cheeked and down to earth, Chan exudes an I told you so air. This is saying the gods up above are watching closely what the ruling minions are doing, said Chan. Offending officials ought to take responsibility and step down. For those who criticise Chan for politicising, at least one academic who has studied the significance of divination in traditional Chinese society, notes that fortune-telling can sometimes be akin to giving advice. People going to a fortune teller do not give up their faculty of judgment. Often, the result is merely an advice, just as if you had asked a good friend. You may follow this advice or not, it is up to you, Dennis Schilling, who teaches Chinese metaphysics and Daoist philosophy at Renmin University in Beijing told Al Jazeera. We should not stigmatise fortune-telling as superstition. It used to be that fortune-tellers in Hong Kong were harbingers of hope rather than Cassandras of doom. Spelling out misfortunes at the start of Lunar New Year was considered inauspicious at best and socially inappropriate at worst, akin to talking about divorce at a wedding party. But that has changed as people became more receptive to bad news as the citys political turmoil continued. Many have looked to the skies for guidance. Chinese religious beliefs still incorporates many deities and practices related to astrology. Astrology is one of the leading belief systems for fortune-telling. The stars never err. They move according to their orbits, said Schilling. Why should they not be able to guide our actions? Looking to the stars John Choi, 46, is one such practitioner of what is known as feng shui, or geomancy. When he first started it was just a hobby, but Choi has since spent the past 10 years learning from the citys 30 masters. Since last October, he has been mapping the astrological charts for the year ahead with the aid of pen and paper, laptop and even an app. John Choi, 46, started doing geomancy or feng shui as a hobby, before learning from Hong Kongs established masters He predicts a gloomy year ahead [Violet Law/Al Jazeera] In his view, Hong Kongs upcoming year will be rather grim. The political turmoil will last at least six more months. A top leader, especially a female, will likely quit due to illness. The economy will suffer and the stock market tank, said Choi. Therell be no peace. The coronavirus outbreak currently gripping mainland China and spreading globally is also on his charts. Illnesses abound, particularly infectious diseases, he added. Choi explained that charting the stars for fortune-telling dates back to 2700 BC. In ancient times, emperors and nobles were eager to know if the new year would bring a bountiful harvest or pestilence. And they often killed the messengers if they did not like the prediction. In modern times the business is less risky, yet Choi and his contemporary cohorts still get castigated. Some of my clients have said Im too blunt, Choi said. The Huong Tich Cave had no empty space on Tuesday, two days before the festival officially opens. At the entrance to the cave, the words "Nam Thien De Nhat Dong" (The Best Cave in the South Sky) was carved in 1770 by Lord Trinh Sam of the Trinh family that ruled the country at the time. To get to Huong Tich Cave, people spend total VND130,000 ($5.59), including entry ticket and ferry ticket and then climb over a kilometer of mountain road. Photo: Alex Iby/Unsplash Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Boston. Harvard professor, BU researcher among 3 charged for alleged illegal ties to China Three people tied to universities and a hospital in the Boston area were indicted on charges they lied about their ties to China or tried to help the Chinese government. Among them was Dr. Charles Lieber, the chair of Harvard Universitys Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology. Read the full story on WBZ | CBS Boston. Stoneham police search for teen missing since Saturday Authorities say Angelo Zelandi, 17, was last seen in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood. Read the full story on WCVB Channel 5 Boston. Rage Against the Machine joins headliners at Boston Calling festival Recently reunited iconic band Rage Against the Machine will join the Foo Fighters and the Red Hot Chili Peppers as headliners at this year's Boston Calling music festival in May. Read the full story on WCVB. First Boston marijuana shop eyes March opening Bostons first recreational marijuana shop has cleared its last big local permitting hurdle and its owners are hoping if the state plays ball to open by early March. Read the full story on Boston Herald. Boston schools COO put on administrative leave Boston Public Schools chief operating officer is on paid administrative leave. The district isnt saying why. Read the full story on Boston Herald. 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. Oil prices have been hammered as the coronavirus that has spread throughout China. The theory is that this epidemic could reduce global transportation fuel needs. On Tuesday the US announced that airlines could cancel trips to China at their discretion. The demand issues are probably priced into WTI, along with the huge increase in oil production investors have seen in the United States during the past 12-months. While OPEC is likely to reduce or maintain future output it will be US output that will drive future prices. With WTI prices in oversold territory, traders could expect a bounce in crude oil prices. Production US production has created a balance in the crude oil markets. Prior to the huge run-up in US production, any supply outage would drive prices much higher. The current production and demand balance has provided a cushion that keeps prices moderate if there is an outage or skirmish which was seen when the US and Iran attacked one another. During the past year, the US has increased crude oil production by more than 1-million barrels per day. According to the most recent report from the US Department of Energy, US daily oil production is currently 13-million barrels a day up from 11.9 million barrels per day at the same time one year ago. The question for traders is whether the US will be able to keep up this pace. Rigs Counts are Down but Moderating The rigs count in the US has been falling but recently has ticked higher. According to oil service giant Baker Hughs, the oil rig count was 676 versus 673 in the week ended January 17. Thus, despite a reduce capital spending budget for 2020 due to lower prices, drillers added rigs in the domestic plays. The current total rig count is down 186 rigs during the past year from 862 and is well of the highs which were 1,609. With demand slipping there is likely to be some adjustment to production. The EIA in its January 2020 short term energy forecast expects production will increase 9% in 2020 from 2019, but this is down from its last estimate which was 11%. The EIA also expects the US rig count to continue to decline during 2020 which should weigh on production. Story continues Technicals Oil prices are oversold, and beginning to rebound from the recent drop. The sharp decline in prices put the relative strength index (RSI) below the oversold trigger level of 30. Recall, levels below 30 are considered oversold on the RSI while levels over 70 are considered overbought. The movement from oversold to the neutral range (the RSI is moving higher) is a sign of a potential rebound that could foreshadow a correction. Additionally, the fast stochastic has generated a crossover buy signal in oversold territory. The current reading on the RSI is 15, below the oversold trigger level of 20 which could also foreshadow a correction. View Oil prices have tumbled and provided good risk-reward. The stop-out level on a purchase of crude oil could be below $51, as traders look for a rebound in the price of WTI crude oil back to the 200-day moving average near $57.50. The risk-reward is good for a short-term trade and without the scare that the Chinese coronavirus is creating prices would likely be closer to the 200-day moving average. The technicals point to a rebound and declining rig counts should benefit the supply and demand balance. This article was originally posted on FX Empire More From FXEMPIRE: She can get a job at a store, she can do other kinds of employment, but not the types of activities that she describes as legal in nature," Valdez said at the time. In other words, get a different line of work at this stage. And if you win the case, then you go back. The incident occurred after an argument broke out between the groups at Jalangi over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act Baharampore: Two persons were killed and one injured in a clash between two groups over a protest programme against CAA and the proposed NRC in West Bengal's Murshidabad district on Wednesday, police said. The incident occured after an argument broke out between the two sides at Jalangi over a protest programme opposing Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). According to the police, a scuffle broke out between the local TMC leadership and residents' forum 'Nagarik Mancha', which was observing a shutdown in the area against the amended citizenship act and the proposed country-wide NRC over the mode of protest. West Bengal: Two dead in clashes between pro and anti CAA/NRC protesters in Murshidabad yesterday. The two deceased have been identified as Anirudh Biswas and Maqbool Sheikh.More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/OAUANA59VF ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2020 The residents' forum was asked to withdraw the shutdown and the situation turned violent as both sides came to blows and hurled bombs at each other. Several two-wheelers and cars were ransacked and set on fire during the clash. Local TMC MP Abu Taher, denied that the party was involved in the clash and counter alleged that the violencewas perpetrated by supporters of the Congress and CPM. "I have requested the police to look into the incident and the culprits should be immediately arrested," Taher said. Senior Congress leader and MLA Manoj Chakraborty denied involvement of his party in the incident and demanded judicial inquiry into the incident to unearth the truth. The injured have been rushed to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital here, the officer said. The district had witnessed violence and arson during the anti-CAA protests across the state in December last year. West Bengal became the fourth state after Left-ruled Kerala, and Punjab and Rajasthan, where the Congress is in power, to have passed a resolution on 27 January against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act . The state assembly had on 6 September, 2019, passed a resolution against NRC. Customers queue to buy facial masks to prevent an outbreak of a new coronavirus, in Hong Kong, China January 28, 2020. British Airways has stopped all direct flights to and from mainland China because of the coronavirus outbreak. The airline said the suspension would be implemented "with immediate effect" following the viral outbreak that has caused 132 deaths and infected more than 6,000 people. Beijing authorities have continued efforts to contain the virus, while other countries have begun to evacuate their citizens from the region. Almost all deaths from the flu-like virus have occurred in the city of Wuhan and the surrounding province of Hubei, which remains on virtual lockdown. See: Coronavirus live updates British Airways normally operates daily flights to Shanghai and Beijing from Heathrow, but on Wednesday morning these were canceled without any indication of when they would resume. "We have suspended all flights to and from mainland China with immediate effect following advice from the Foreign Office against all but essential travel," British Airways said in a statement. The airline apologized to travelers for the inconvenience but said "the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority." Eminent social worker, environmentalist, educationist and writer Tushar Kanjilal died at his home in the city on Wednesday, family sources said. He was 85. He is survived by his two daughters. His wife and son predeceased him. Kanjilal is known for his contribution to education in remote Rangabelia in the Sundarbans in the 1970s and his work for the uplift of the people in the area. Born on March 1, 1935 at Noakhali in present Bangladesh, Kanjilal's family had migrated to West Bengal before Independence and grew up in Kolkata and Burdwan. He was attracted to Marxist ideologies from a young age and had a frequently disrupted education due to his activism. After his marriage, he quit politics in 1967 and settled in Rangabelia village in Gosaba block of South 24 Pargans district which had no drinking water, pucca roads, health care facilities or even roads. There he worked as the headmaster of the local high school and made his mark in promoting education among the locals. He came to be known as 'Mastermoshai' (a teacher). Kanjilal in later years would often recount the countless nights that he and his wife had to stay awake at Rangabelia afraid of the presence of snakes in their room. It was during his stay in the remote Sundarbans area that Kanjilal inspired by Rabindranath Tagore started working for rural development and founded an organization. He later merged it Tagore Society for Rural Development, one of the oldest and largest civil society organisations in eastern India engaged in rural development founded by Jayprakash Narayan and freedom fighter Pannalal Dasgupta based on Tagore's philosophy. Kanjilal involved himself in environmental activism and worked for the preservation of the mangrove forests in the Sundarbans. He penned a book 'Who Killed the Sunderbans?' which deals with the issue of the destruction of the mangrove forests. He also wrote a number of books in Bengali dealing with his life and various aspects of the Sundarbans and countless articles in journals and newspapers on environment and life of the people there. He became been a living bridge between the remote mangrove swamps and the modern world, urging individuals and organisations to lend a hand in the struggle by the people there. Kanjilal was awarded the Padma Shri in 1996 and received the Jamnalal Bajaj Award in 2008. His body was taken to Rangabelia, which is now a bustling place with government offices and banks and schools, for the last rights. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One of the nations largest multifamily developers has been ordered to pay back more than $63 million dollars to the investors he is accused of scamming as part of a half-billion-dollar mortgage scheme. The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced that it has obtained a court order forcing Robert C. Morgan, a New York real estate developer, to return the money to investors. Morgan and two of his companies, Morgan Mezzanine Fund Manager and Morgan Acquisitions, are alleged by the SEC to have engaged in a fraudulent real estate scheme. Morgan has also been charged criminally by the Department of Justice. Federal authorities alleged that Morgan ran a Ponzi scheme, financing his real estate projects in part through the sales of securities to more than 200 investors. Morgan allegedly told investors that their money would be used to improve multifamily properties. Instead, authorities said, Morgan diverted investor funds to pay off earlier investors. He also allegedly lied to later investors about prior fund performance. The US House of Representatives has passed a bill strengthening Washington's support for human rights and environmental protection in Tibet, and advocating sanctions against China if it interferes in the succession of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama. The bill, Tibet Policy Support Act of 2019, states that if Chinese officials interfere in the process of recognizing a successor or reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, they will be subject to sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act. Introduced by Congressman James P McGovern, Chairman of the House Rules Committee and the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, the bill passed with an overwhelming vote of 392-22, reported CNN. Stating that the US is sending a 'clear signal' to China, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, "We are sending Beijing a clear signal that they will be held accountable for interfering in Tibet's religious and cultural affairs. We are making clear that Chinese officials who meddle in the process of recognizing a new Dalai Lama will be subject to targeted sanctions, including those in the Global Magnitsky Act." "I rise in support of the Tibetan Policy Act of 2019: strong, bipartisan and urgently-needed legislation to strengthen America's commitment to the Tibetan people and their right to safeguard their distinct identity," she added. Further, she added that this legislation deploys America's diplomatic weight to encourage a genuine dialogue between Tibetan leaders and Beijing. "It is unacceptable that the Chinese government still refuses to enter into a dialogue with Tibetan leaders," she added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) She told people it would happen. Im going to die, she said. Paloma Sanchez, 19, might have meant that death seemed inevitable because of how far she had strayed into a life on the darker fringes, used, abused, discarded, unwilling or unable to pull herself back, to reach out to those who truly loved her and wanted to save her. But Selena Sanchez said she thinks her younger sister meant something more urgent, more specific. She knew they were going to kill her, she said. She already had the sense of what was going to happen to her. She told a few people this. They told me that she said when she died everybody was going to be sorry. In the darkness of a cold Christmas morning, Paloma had been found near death, shot in the face and lying in the parking lot of the Madeira Court apartments, at Madeira and Kathryn SE. Three days later, she was taken off life support, her death coming just three weeks after her birthday. Sanchez never had the chance to ask Paloma who they were or why they wanted to kill her. There were not always consistent ways to contact her, said Sanchez, who hadnt seen Paloma since November. We didnt have a cellphone number. She was living from house to house. All we knew was she rode a bike to get around. Albuquerque police have said frustratingly little about Palomas death the 79th homicide last year other than a white SUV with an unknown license plate number was seen leaving the area after shots were fired. Hours later, Christian Frescas, 39, became the 80th homicide victim when he was found shot to death near a car lot at Lomas and Louisiana NE. Twenty-eight miles away in Rio Rancho that afternoon, four members of the Velasquez family were found shot to death in their home in an apparent murder-suicide. It was the Velasquez case that received the most public attention that holiday. Its been four weeks since Palomas death, and its time she got attention, too. She may have been a transient in those last months of her life, but there are people who loved her, said Edwina Leal, who cared for Paloma during her time at Assurance Home, a center for at-risk and runaway youths in Roswell. She was like a daughter to me. She was the girl with the big brown eyes who looked at her world with skepticism and reticence, a young woman whose weight and hygiene fluctuated so drastically, depending on what was happening in her life, that in some photos its hard to tell who she is. Who she was was someone who almost all of her young life had struggled to fit in, to be loved, to be who she dreamed she could be. On her Facebook accounts, she barely knew the words to describe herself. On one, she wrote that she was sweet funny careinng understanding down to earth. On another, she wrote that she was a person who never had anyone now I trying to change well am back to old me whats up we can get i, her words trailing off as if she didnt know or care enough to finish a thought about herself. Paloma, one of eight siblings, had grown up mostly in foster care, Sanchez said. She had been in every shelter or program or psychiatric hospital in the state, Leal said. And then she came here when she was 15, and things started to change for her. Leal said she saw something a joy, a sense of humor, a spark that just needed a little love to coax out. Leal gave her that love. Paloma called her Mom. I did everything with Paloma, she said. Oh, my goodness, she was so funny. We laughed all the time. We had the most insane conversations over mundane stuff. We went camping, shopping, her first trip to the ocean or anywhere outside New Mexico. Shed always text me: Good morning, Mom, and send a million selfies. Paloma confided in her that she feared turning 18. Leal tried to convince her that she had people in her corner even when she aged out of foster care that Leal would be there for her. But at age 17, Paloma fought to leave the Roswell program, saying she couldnt get along with some of the girls at the home. I asked her to stay, Leal said, her voice breaking. I said, Why cant you stay? And she said, Mom, you cant fix it this time. Both Leal and Sanchez say they believe Paloma was a victim of human trafficking then and in younger years and that after she blew out of another foster home she went back to the streets. Leal said she lost touch with Paloma after she turned 18. When she he ard that a 19-year-old woman was found shot on Christmas morning, Leal said she knew it had to be Paloma. At a candlelight vigil organized by Sanchez on Dec. 29 at Madeira and Kathryn, people brought red balloons and flowers. Leal was there, too, as were two foster mothers who had loved and cared for Paloma. Years before, Leal had driven Paloma to this neighborhood to search for her own mother, who used to live there. Albuquerque police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said Palomas case is being actively investigated. Sanchez and Leal say it doesnt feel that way. I do wish there would at least be an update or some way to communicate with us, Sanchez said. We dont even know who the detective is anymore. Its like nothing is being done for my sister. All that had been done for Paloma in her life was not enough to save her from all that had been done to her, they said. The latter is a lot to be sorry for. UpFront is a front-page news and opinion column. Comment directly to Joline at 823-3603, jkrueger@abqjournal.com or follow her on Twitter @jolinegkg. Go to www.abqjournal.com/letters/new to submit a letter to the editor. Help sought Anyone with information on the Christmas shooting death of Paloma Sanchez, 19, is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (505) 843-STOP or submit anonymous tips at P3tips.com. 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Additionally, fans who enter the sweepstakes will have the chance to win additional Kretschmar prizes, such as an entertaining set, branded cooler, etched low ball glasses and decanter, charcuterie board, or Mint Julep cups. For more information about Kretschmar Deli, or to review the complete set of rules and enter the sweepstakes, please visit www.kretschmardeli.com/derby now through March 31, 2020. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Open to legal residents of the U.S./D.C. who are 21 years of age or older. Sweepstakes begins at 12:01 a.m. ET on 1/29/20 and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on 3/31/20. See Official Rules for complete details. Void where prohibited. To enter, view official rules and prize details visit www.kretschmardeli.com/derby. All Rights Reserved. Churchill Downs Incorporated . Churchill Downs, Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and the Twin Spire Design, are registered trademarks of Churchill Downs Incorporated. About Kretschmar Kretschmar Premium Deli Meats & Cheeses has meant quality since 1883. Our hams are made with a unique hardwood smoking process. Kretschmar poultry and beef are hand-trimmed using the finest cuts. Our full line of Off-The-Bone deli meats is delicately sliced from the leanest, most tender cuts. And our premium Wisconsin cheeses repeatedly win in competitions worldwide. Try the Legendary Taste of Kretschmar today. For great recipes and more, like us on Facebook or visit our website at www.kretschmardeli.com . Kretschmar is a brand of Smithfield Foods. About Smithfield Foods: Headquartered in Smithfield, Va., since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American food company with agricultural roots and a global reach. Our 40,000 U.S. employees are dedicated to producing Good food. Responsibly. and have made us one of the worlds leading vertically integrated protein companies. We have pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including many industry firsts, such as our ambitious commitment to cut our carbon impact by 25 percent by 2025. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to our neighbors in need. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield, Eckrich, and Nathans Famous, among many others. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com , and connect with us on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , and Instagram . Media Contact : Adrienne Taylor awtaylor@smithfield.com (757) 357-8520 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d5a841b7-454e-4f0d-8d22-36948798eb4f The death toll in an accident involving a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus and an auto rickshaw in Nashik district climbed to 26 on Wednesday, the police said. It included 14 men, ten women and two girls. More bodies were recovered from the well into which the two vehicles fell after the accident, the police said. A speeding MSRTC bus going from Dhule to Kalwan hit an auto-rickshaw at Meshi Ghat in Deola tehsil of this north Maharashtra district, around 200 km from Mumbai, on Tuesday evening. According to the police, after colliding with the auto rickshaw, the bus dragged it along and both the vehicles fell into a roadside well. All the deceased were identified and the process to hand over bodies to the relatives was on, a police official said. The injured were being treated at hospitals at Umrane, Dewla and Malegaon in the district. Both the vehicles had been pulled out of the well, the official added. The deceased included Kalpana (30) and her two-year- old twin daughters, Riddhi and Siddhi. Eight members of the family of Shakeel Mansuri were also among those who died in the accident. Conductor of the ill-fated bus, Kamal Laxman Raut, resident of Kalwan tehsil, survived. Its driver Prakash Bachhav (55) was killed. The district administration has provided helpline 02592-2228209 at the Dewla rural hospital for the relatives of the deceased and injured. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Kremlin continues to analyze the plan for a Palestinian-Israeli settlement submitted by US President Donald Trump, Russian President's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted. According to Peskov, they continue to analyze this information and study the plan that was prepared by the White House administration. Tomorrow there will also be a meeting with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and more information will be received, as they say, first-hand. A spokesman for the head of state noted that so far they can only say that the plan has received the full support of Israel, has been supported by a number of other states, but has met with categorical rejection from a direct participant in the so-called deal, we are talking about the Palestinians. If necessary, Russia is ready to continue to make every effort to do everything possible to achieve a viable peace in the Middle East, he said. Trump's 'deal of the century' US President Donald Trump on Tuesday at a joint press conference with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu announced the key provisions of the so-called deal of the century - a plan for a Palestinian-Israeli peace settlement, based on the mutual recognition of the two states. The US proposes to inextricably link Palestinian territory, consisting of Gaza and the West Bank, with high-speed transport links, and recognize East Jerusalem as the capital of the Arab state. Trump called all of Jerusalem the indivisible capital of Israel and announced the intention of the US to recognize Jewish settlements as Israeli territory. As a condition for the peace process, Trump called the Palestinian authoritiess refusal to support the Hamas radical movement in Gaza, as well as methods of armed struggle. The United States is offering $ 50 billion in investment to support the settlement. Netanyahu supported Trump's proposal and expressed his readiness to immediately begin peace talks with the Palestinians. Hamas said the plan was not worth the ink spent on it. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and representatives of the radical Hamas movement strongly rejected the proposals of the US president. Vice-President of BJP's Maharashtra unit Kirit Somaiya on Wednesday appealed state government to restart the work of metro car shed at Aarey. "Aarey metro car shed committee has submitted its final report asking the government to continue car shed work at Aarey," Somaiya said. "I appeal the Uddhav Thackrey government to please withdraw the stay. We have wasted 60 days and Rs 600 crores," he added. Earlier, the Maharashtra government had stayed the order for the Aarey metro car shed project. "I have ordered to stop the work of Aarey metro car shed project. Metro work will not stop but till next decision, not a single leaf of Aarey will be cut," Thackrey had said at a press conference last year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Disney+ has ordered four new non-fiction projects to series, including a remake of the fantasy-reality competition show The Quest from the executive producers of The Lord of the Rings, Queer Eye and The Amazing Race. The news was announced on Wednesday morning at the Realscreen Summit in New Orleans. The remake of the reality series, which originally aired in 2014, will return to the man-made fantasy world of Everealm, which will be filmed at a castle outside Vienna, Austria. Teenaged contestants will compete in an unfolding drama where they encounter mystical beings and magical encounters that rival their favorite books, games and movies, according to Disney+. They will be immersed in a 360-degree technological world featuring creature design, practical effects and scripted characters who will interact with them throughout the competition. The streaming service also ordered The Maze from the Amazing Race executive producers behind The Quest. The brainteaser competition series will feature five teams solving riddles and deciphering clues to guide them through European cities and fairytale villages in an attempt to solve an elaborate maze. Also Read: 'Bambi' Live-Action Remake Lands 'Captain Marvel,' 'Chaos Walking' Writers Disney+ also ordered National Geographics Meet the Chimps, a six-part series which will follow the lives the chimpanzees in a Louisiana wildlife sanctuary, including food squabbles, alliances, romances, bromances, tears, tantrums, high jinx and heartbreaks, according to Nat Geo. The fourth project is an untitled docuseries about Pixars SparkShorts program, which follows a group of Pixar employees who are given a chance to make their own animated short film. The Quest will be executive produced by Court Fives Mark Ordesky (The Lord of the Rings) and Jane Fleming, Scout Productions David Collins, Michael Williams, Rob Eric (Queer Eye), and New Media Collectives Bertram van Munster, Elise Doganieri and Mark Dziak (The Amazing Race). Story continues Also Read: 'Obi-Wan' Star Ewan McGregor Downplays 'All This Bulls--' About Disney+ Series Delay The Maze is also executive produced by van Munster, Doganieri and Dziak. Meet the Chimps is produced by Blink Films (Meet the Penguins, Meet the Orangutans, The Creative Brain). Justine Kershaw and Michael Welsh will executive producers, while Virginia Quinn will direct. The untitled Pixar project is executive produced by Brian McGinn, Jason Sterman and David Gelb. Read original story Disney+ Orders Remake of Fantasy Reality Series The Quest, 3 Other Nonfiction Series At TheWrap T he whole world needs to be on alert over the new coronavirus outbreak, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said as it reconsiders whether to declare a global health emergency. It comes as the death toll in China passed 130 and cases of human-to-human transmission were confirmed in at least three other countries. Health Secretary Matt Hancock has chaired a meeting of the Government's Cobra emergency committee on Wednesday, as it confirmed Britons returning from virus epicentre Wuhan in China will be put in quarantine for 14 days. WHO's emergency committee, which said last week it was too early to pronounce a global health emergency, will meet for a second time on Thursday. Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock / PA Dr Michael Ryan, executive director at the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, said the decision to reconvene was due to the increasing number of cases and evidence of person-to-person transmission of the virus. He told a press conference in Geneva that the Chinese government deserves huge credit for its response and transparency regarding the extraordinary challenge. He said: The whole world needs to be on alert now, the whole world needs to take action and be ready for any cases that come, either from the original epicentre or from other epicentres that become established. A benefit of the emergency committee meeting could be to align the various measures being taken by countries on borders and travel. Michael J. Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme / REUTERS Dr Ryan said multiple countries implementing measures at different times based on their individual risk assessments was a potential recipe for disaster, at least politically, economically and socially. The WHO said person-to-person transmission had been confirmed in three countries outside China Japan, Vietnam and Germany. Director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the conference: The continued increase in cases and the evidence of human-to-human transmission outside China are, of course, most deeply concerning. Although the numbers outside China are relatively small, they hold the potential for a much larger outbreak. Members of the Chinese community in Manchester wearing a face mask / PA He added that China deserves our gratitude and respect for its extraordinary efforts to prevent the spread of cases outside the country. He continued: But make no mistake, I am not saying although it is 68 now, it may not be bigger. It may be bigger and we may even face serious problems. Thats why, when we see the human-to-human transmission in three countries, we are reconvening the emergency committee to understand what that means. Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, head of emerging diseases and zoonosis at WHO, said it is likely more mild cases will emerge as surveillance of the virus improves. Britons returning from Wuhan are expected to be taken to a military base once they arrive home, the Department of Health said. A flight is due to leave Wuhan in China on Thursday. It will carry passengers from Wuhan city and those from Hubei province who want to return to the UK. Downing Street said the Britons returning from Wuhan had agreed to be placed in assisted isolation. Trump and Netanyahu. Photo: Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images They can come up with things normal humans dont think about. Thats how Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the real-estate people, as he characterized President Trump and his family/advisers, for coming up with a new proposal to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Its a description that even many analysts who panned Trumps peace plan would agree with. The proposals Trump unveiled alongside Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday are an important attempt to shift the parameters of politics in Israel, the Arab world, and here in the U.S. Despite the way theyre being advertised, none of them have anything to do with achieving peace between Israelis and Palestinians; in fact, they are more mortal blows to the fading prospects of a two-state solution to the conflict. For two decades, across Democratic and Republican administrations, through power shifts in Israeli and Palestinian leadership, the outlines of an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal have remained largely consistent. Shared sovereignty over Jerusalem, with both sides able to have their capitals in the historic city, and at least shared control of holy sites. Land swaps that consolidated Israeli and Palestinian communities, requiring evacuation of some Israeli settlements. At least a token recognition of the right of return for Palestinians exiled from their homes inside Israel. And a clear and immediate path to the emergence of a fully sovereign Palestinian state on the world stage, alongside a fully sovereign Israel two states whose security was to be grounded not in naivete, nor in sheer force, but in mutual respect. Trumps plan breaks with those decades-long expectations no evacuations of settlements, Palestinian presence in Jerusalem limited to the eastern outskirts, Palestinian diaspora not just barred from returning to Israel but limited in its ability to immigrate to Palestine. The territory proposed for Palestine is considerably less than what has been offered in the past. The deal doesnt include a path to statehood but rather talks of a future State of Palestine after, among other things, the Palestinian armed group Hamas (which currently controls the Gaza Strip, along with a significant portion of Palestinian territory and population) disbands. Israels security is to come not from its full, equal, unstinting inclusion in the community of nations as well as its national power, but from national power alone. The plan may get some applause from Trumps allies in the Arab world three smaller states sent envoys to Trumps White House announcement, while the Saudis, notably, did not. But it faces absolute opposition from the Palestinian Authority, which has not engaged at high levels with the Trump administration since it moved the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Palestinians didnt need this plan, or Trumps threat that even its terms would only be on offer for four years, to tell them that Washington had no intention of pursuing their interests in negotiations. But the plan conveys to all sides that some of the compromises previous mediators had asked Palestinians to accept are now off the table that leaders need not ask their supporters to accept disappointment in exchange for an end to the conflict. That was always the core premise of the two-state solution, and there is a large risk that this move pushes it off the table for good. But just because the plan wont bring peace doesnt mean it doesnt do anything. Netanyahu hopes it, and pictures of him with Trump endorsing it, bring him the majority in Israeli elections that he has failed to grab on the last two tries. (And if youre asking yourself, hey, wasnt Netanyahu indicted for corruption? The answer is yes, and hes still running for reelection and still welcome at the White House.) Although Trump wouldnt allow him to join Netanyahu at the official announcement, the Israeli leaders centrist opponent Benny Gantz also endorsed the Trump plan. This brings us to its framers second goal realigning politics in Israel and the U.S. around a set of right-wing policy goals. Trump wants to lock down both Evangelical Christian Zionist and conservative Jewish voters for his reelection. Some of his more enthusiastic supporters believe they can move American Jews en masse into the GOP column. Thus far, polling provides no evidence to support this hope. Finally, there are the actual right-wing policies. Some of Netanyahus supporters have urged him to act immediately to declare sovereignty over the areas that Trumps map shows as remaining with Israel. This would be another in a series of blows to the set of international legal norms that had, for decades, been the supposed foundation of a solution to the conflict and were meant to be norms that all sides benefited by observing. Netanyahus Cabinet will reportedly vote on annexing all settlements and Jordan Valley areas as early as Sunday. That move, if it happens, will produce another layer of crisis for U.S. (and Israeli) Arab partners, for the United Nations, and for Europe and in all likelihood violence and suffering for Israeli and Palestinian civilians. What we dont need to wait to see is that U.S. policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is now irrevocably shaped by the worldview of Trump and his allies, in which it is in the U.S. interest that the strong do what they will and the weak endure what they must. Thats a quote from Thucydides, the ancient Greek historian of the Peloponnesian Wars. As the eminent Republican national-security analyst Kori Schake has pointed out, we often forget that in his writings, disaster often strikes when ambitious usurpers, playing to the crowd, find that their appetites exceed their abilities. This cynical plan is one more step down that path for Trump and Netanyahu alike. Witnesses involved in designing and choosing materials for the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower are applying to claim privilege against self-incrimination to protect themselves from the prospect of prosecution, the inquiry into the disaster has been told. Chairman Sir Martin Moore-Bick said on Wednesday that he had been invited to ask Attorney General Geoffrey Cox QC for an undertaking that nothing said by a witness in answers to questions in the inquiry will be used in furtherance of a prosecution against them. It would allow them have the complete freedom to tell the truth without any concern for the future, he said. It comes after the inquiry heard that firms involved in revamping the high-rise block appeared to know two years before the disaster that a new cladding system would fail if exposed to fire, according to internal emails disclosed on Tuesday. Four companies involved have already delivered opening statements which the inquirys chief lawyer has claimed were intended to distance them from blame. Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures Show all 12 1 /12 Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures Campaign group Grenfell United project a message on to the side of a tower block in Newcastle ahead of the second anniversary of the Grenfell fire to highlight the number of blocks that are still covered in flammable cladding, despite the role that it played in the fire PA Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures People release balloons in front of the Grenfell Tower during a vigil to mark the second anniversary of the fire (Peter Summers/Getty Images) Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures Downing Street is illuminated green to mark the second anniversary of the Grenfell fire EPA Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures Kensington Palace is illuminated green to mark the second anniversary of the Grenfell fire Getty Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures Campaign group Grenfell United project a message on to the side of a tower block in Salford ahead of the second anniversary of the Grenfell fire to highlight the number of blocks that are still covered in flammable cladding, despite the role that it played in the fire PA Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures Campaign group Grenfell United project a message on to the side of a tower block in by the Grenfell Tower ahead of the second anniversary of the fire to highlight the number of blocks that are still covered in flammable cladding, despite the role that it played in the fire PA Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures Cards bearing names of victims of the Grenfell fire are attached to a railing nearby to the tower Getty Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures People obersve a memorial during a vigil to mark the second anniversary of the Grenfell fire Getty Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures Campaign group Grenfell United project a message on to the side of a tower block in Salford ahead of the second anniversary of the Grenfell fire to highlight the number of blocks that are still covered in flammable cladding, despite the role that it played in the fire PA Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures The Grenfell Tower is illuminated green to mark the second anniversary of the fire Getty Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures Kensington Palace is illuminated green to mark the second anniversary of the Grenfell fire Getty Grenfell fire remembered two years on: In pictures Downing Street is illuminated green to mark the second anniversary of the Grenfell fire EPA Scotland Yard said in September that it had completed 17 interviews under caution in its investigation into the fire regarding gross negligence manslaughter, corporate manslaughter and health and safety offences, and said the number will continue to increase. The application was made on Tuesday night by counsel for firms including external wall subcontractor Harley Facades, main contractor Rydon, and the TMO (tenant management organisation), Sir Martin said. He said the development had caused him a little surprise as hitherto there has been the fullest co-operation with the inquiry. Very recently I've been advised that, when they are called to give evidence, which of course will start next week, many of the witnesses who were involved in the design and choice of materials are likely to claim privilege against self-incrimination as a reason for not answering questions, he said. Privilege against self-incrimination is a rule of law that protects a person from being required to answer questions if to do so truthfully might expose him or her to a risk of prosecution. It is a very broad principle and will extend to any answers which might assist in, or lead to, a prosecution. What they're asking me to do is to apply to the attorney general for an undertaking that nothing said by a witness in answers to questions in the inquiry will be used in furtherance of a prosecution against them, thereby giving them complete freedom to tell the truth without any concern for the future. Under Section 22 of the Inquiries Act 2005, a witness can refuse to give evidence if it might incriminate them. Under the Act, in recent inquiries the Attorney General has agreed that no evidence given by witnesses, whether oral, written or in document form, will be used in evidence against him or her in any criminal proceedings except if they are charged with conspiring to or giving false evidence to the inquiry. A collective application sent to the Grenfell inquiry for witnesses said a pledge from the attorney general would fulfil the inquiry's primary obligation ... in the most effective and least disruptive manner. It reads: Since the conclusion of the phase one hearings many witnesses to be called in phase two have been interviewed, or invited to attend an interview, under caution by the Metropolitan Police (and some may be reinterviewed during the course of the second part of the inquiry) as the criminal investigation into the fire at Grenfell Tower continues in parallel with your investigations. We collectively write to request that you seek an undertaking from the attorney general preventing the use of evidence given by witnesses to the public inquiry against them in any future criminal proceedings. Additional reporting by Press Association News Corp Executive Chairman and Fox Corporation Co-Chairman Rupert Murdoch's daughter-in-law Kathryn Murdoch is speaking up about her activism on climate change, and her vow to donate $100 million to aid political reform. Kathryn, the 47-year-old wife of Rupert's younger son James Murdoch, spoke out about her 'radical centrist' politics in an interview with Politico's Women Rule podcast published on Wednesday. 'This is the first time where I've really decided that I have a voice and I need to try to use it,' said Kathryn, who has long quietly supported climate change causes after Al Gore convinced her the issue was urgent in a 2006 presentation. 'The decisions we make in the next few years are going to have an impact on coming generations,' Kathryn said. 'I need to know that I've done everything that I can possibly do.' Kathryn Murdoch, the 47-year-old wife of Rupert's younger son James Murdoch (with her above), spoke out about her 'radical centrist' politics James Murdoch, Kathryn, Rupert Murdoch and Wendi Deng leave Murdoch's annual summer party at the Oxo Tower in London on June 17, 2009 James is now free from his role at Fox News after his brother Lachlan took the reins, and he and Kathryn are funding a number of environmental programs. Kathryn, who grew up in Oregon, married into the Murdoch clan in 2000, and has three children with her husband James. Her family isn't that different from others, she says, in that political opinions vary. 'There's a diversity of opinion on all of those things within the family as there are in many families,' she said. 'There's no line that everyone has to adhere to, or cross, or anything like that. There are lots of conversations that can be had, and they are had.' In addition to climate change, Kathryn says that political reform is a key issue, and supports such changes as ranked-choice voting and politically neutral distracting. Kathryn says that she plans to donate $100 million to support political reform initiatives. In the Democratic primary for the presidential nomination, she likes what she sees from political moderates Pete Buttigieg, Mike Bloomberg, and Senator Amy Klobuchar. Kathryn said she 'stood up and whooped' when Buttigieg said during a debate that political reform would be his first priority. However, she stopped short of saying she was backing a particular Democrat, saying 'we're really excited to back whoever the nominee is, no matter what.' News Corp Executive Chairman and Fox Corporation Co-Chairman Rupert Murdoch James Murdoch and Kathryn attend the New York City premiere of National Geographic Documentary Films' 'Free Solo' at Jazz at Lincoln Center on September 20, 2018 in New York In the Politico interview, she described how Al Gore convinced her that climate change was a pressing issue with a PowerPoint presentation. 'It was compelling data, and it put together things that I hadn't put it into one place before. And I decided, after watching that, that I wanted to change everything,' she said. Kathryn served as Director of Strategy & Communications for the Clinton Climate Initiative from 2007 to 2011. More recently, she and her husband have publicly aired their grievances with Fox News' coverage of climate change, in the context of Australian brushfires that have ravaged the country this winter. 'Kathryn and James (Murdoch's) views on climate are well established and their frustration with some of the News Corp and Fox coverage of the topic is also well known,' a spokesperson for the couple told The Daily Beast earlier this month. 'They are particularly disappointed with the ongoing denial (of the role of climate change) among the news outlets in Australia, given obvious evidence to the contrary.' Melinda Hanson talks to TreeHugger about taking back the streets. After visiting the new Museum of Art and Technology in Lisbon, I didn't want to repeat the 4.6 kilometre walk back to the train station. I had lots of micro-mobility options but I have a Bird account, so I grabbed a scooter. Much of Lisbon is paved with little marble square tiles, which are terrible to ride on; I thought my teeth would shake out. When I got to Cais do Sodre station, the scooter wouldn't let me park; it said I had to be in an authorized area. It sure looked on the map like I was, but I saw a pile of scooters and bikes parked not too far away so scooted over and it let me end my trip. Thinking about it after, I marvelled as I always do when I use scooters how it let me go a longer distance than most people are willing to walk, where and when I wanted to go, on this tiny all-electric wonder. But between the teeth rattling and the parking, it's not without issues, and you do hear a lot of complaints about them. Melinda Hanson is the head of sustainability for Bird, described as "a last-mile electric vehicle sharing company dedicated to bringing affordable, environmentally-friendly transportation solutions to communities across the world." I chatted with her recently and discussed everything from sustainability to teeth rattling. Jargon Watch: Lightweighting Bird 2 Scooters Hanson used the wonderful term "lightweighting" to describe what I call sufficiency. Making a Tesla puts out about 30 tons of upfront carbon emissions in its manufacture, and you don't need that to go a mile or two. The Bird e-scooter is a much lighter way of getting around, with much lower upfront emissions. Some have complained that on a lifecycle basis it's a lot worse than it appears; the first Bird scooters were off-the-shelf models that didn't have a very long lifecycle, but the new Bird 2 scooters are projected to last 12 to 18 months. They also have much bigger wheels, which will be much nicer on Lisbon tiles. I also noted the complaint that a lot of energy is being used picking up e-scooters for recharging, but where the old ones needed charging every day, the Bird 2 can go up to 4 days between charges, requiring a lot fewer pickups. Take back the streets! Seen in Paris: People of all ages using e-scooters/ Lloyd Alter/CC BY 2.0 One of the most important issues we discussed was how to make our cities safer for all forms of micro-mobility, be it bikes, scooters or mobility aids. Hanson says we have to rethink our streetspace, creating what I have called micromobility lanes and she calls, much more aptly, 'green lanes'. If you look at the bulk of the injuries to scooter users, they come from being hit by cars. If you look at the biggest sources of complaints about scooters, it's that they are being used on sidewalks. It is no different from bikes, where riders are fighting for a safe place to ride. And it is such an opportunity; Hanson notes that in New York City outer boroughs alone, an additional 1.5 million people could be brought into the "transit shed" with a seven-minute ride on an e-scooter. The technology is also evolving to help teach scooter riders better habits, from the geofenced parking I saw in Lisbon to the required photo of the parked bike that I had to do in Marseille. As the "don't be a litterbug" campaign demonstrated decades ago, people can be taught. Hanson says we have to rethink our streetspace and reclaim our streets: "We need safe, protected connected spaces for people to take more sustainable modes." . Dockless electric car carelessly left blocking sidewalk/ Drew Angerer/Getty Images Dockless electric car carelessly left blocking sidewalk/ Drew Angerer/Getty Images But unfortunately, it is so hard to do all of this because of what she calls the "asymmetry" of power, what I have called the windshield view, where everything is looked at from the perspective of people in cars. Because our sidewalks are littered with dockless cars and our bike lanes are full of dockless Fedex trucks and the only reason dockless scooters are a problem is that they are new and we are still working out the kinks. In another interview on Streetsblog (I take terrible notes), Hanson describes the reason for this asymmetry. Scooters are not dangerous. Our streets are dangerous. The fact that weve built our streets just for cars, and only to prioritize car movement above all else is really what the challenge is. As Carlton Reid has pointed out, our roads were actually not built for cars. "It was cyclists, and not motorists, who first pushed for high-quality, dust-free road surfaces." They were built for everyone, for all kinds of uses, from pushcarts to pedestrians. They can be changed again, and they should make room for other uses, because we can't just wait for electric cars. As Hanson notes in Streetsblog: Sometimes when you hear these projections for the future of electric vehicles and you think about all of the infrastructure investment and all the additional electricity capacity its just like: we dont have time guys. People love scooters and theyre a solution available today. This is working really well and itll work even better if we can speed up the implementation of infrastructure. What we know about climate change and about the pace of action is we need radical solutions and we need them now. We need a fundamental paradigm shift. The same kind of thinking thats gotten us into this mess is not going to get us out. We need that paradigm shift, that micromobility and sharing revolution that can provide real alternatives to hopping into a car. After talking to Melinda Hanson, I am pretty sure Bird will be part of it for quite a while. Beaumont voters likely will be asked their opinion next May on several changes to the citys governing document. At this point, city staff doesnt expect much controversy. The city charter sets out some operations, such as the citys form of government, territory and the terms and number of council members. To change it, staff is reviewing the document and recommending changes to the council. The council members then will decide which measures to move forward for residents to vote on. The governing body is reviewing the recommendations a few sections at a time. During a work session Tuesday, members tackled the first five chapters, which had a total of six proposed changes. City Manager Kyle Hayes also suggested later in the process the city hire a surveyor to put together an updated description of the citys boundaries, which are included in the first chapter. Here are the suggested changes: New wording in the annexation section, which City Attorney Tyrone Cooper said was to make the provisions more general as state law on this issue has changed multiple times. In the qualifications to become a council member section, it was recommended that language forbidding people who owe the city money from running for office be removed. The council attempted to pass such a change in a previous review, but voters did not approve it. In the auditors section, staff suggested a change that would drop a requirement that a summary of the yearly financial report be published in a local newspaper and instead have that report posted on the citys website. Staff recommended the council approve a change to who can be election officers, from requiring them to be voters in the election precinct in which they are to serve to simply Beaumont voters. In the same sections, staff recommends the council drop the requirement to canvas election returns within five days and instead require the council canvas and declare the results of the election in a time frame set by state law. The final recommendation suggests the council direct the city clerk to post the budget on the citys website, instead of also filing it with the Jefferson County Clerk and the state Comptroller of Public Accounts office. The charter has been updated five times since its initial adoption in 1947. At least twice, the recommendations were made by a committee of residents, instead of city staff members as its being done this time. Hayes said council consensus this time around seemed to be for city staff to review the document and give recommendations instead of give a committee the task. Its been 17 years since the document was amended, which Councilman Taylor Neild, whos been pushing the council and staff to review the charter since he was elected, said means its time to look at it again. This is the longest period since the first review that the charter hasnt been touched. Although the council ultimately decides which items make it to the ballot, the members have to be careful to avoid even the appearance of advocating for a certain measure once its on the ballot. In 2003, the city learned that the hard way. Hayes said when the council amended the charter that year, the city had to pay a $500 fine because the Texas Ethics Commission ruled the mayor at the time was advocating for a certain measure. In explaining an item to divorce Beaumont ISD, as the city no longer was running the school district, the official said it was a housekeeping matter and should be passed. Step back, let the language speak for itself, Hayes advised. Residents can contact their council member to submit comments about the proposed changes or any theyd like to see added. They also can give their comments in-person at a council meeting. I just want to make sure we give the public the opportunity to give comments, Neild said. I think we owe it to them. City Clerk Tina Broussard said the council should have the provisions ready by the end of the year so theres enough time to have them on the May 2021 ballot. kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/KaitlinBain The overwhelming majority of Americans support voter ID requirements because they instill confidence in our elections. Showing an ID when you help pick the next president is just plain common sense. But at a time when concerns about foreign interference in our elections is high, ID requirements also help protect the integrity of our electoral process. We cant stop Russias attempts at interference from abroad, but we can protect the security of our ballots here at home. Voter ID laws serve three core functions: they are checks against errors, they prevent wrongdoing, and they give citizens confidence in the voting process in general. Thanks to the more than 30 states with some voter ID requirements, Americans trust electoral outcomes even ones they do not like. Anti-ID activists and a hostile media suggest that ID laws are an attack on our democracy, and they accuse its supporters of bigotry or worse. The Obama Justice Department took this to the extreme in 2014 when its taxpayer-paid experts actually testified that black North Carolinians were not sophisticated enough to understand voter ID requirements. In fact, election integrity safeguards like voter ID are extremely popular with the American people. Polling from Politico, Marist, Gallup, Rasmussen, The Washington Post and others regularly find that between 70 percent and 85 percent of Americans support voter ID requirements. In this political climate, such numbers are rarely seen. A new NPR/PBS Newshour/Marist poll further underscores the demand for these laws. Americans said they are significantly more worried about voter fraud ineligible voters participating in elections than they are so-called voter suppression, or even foreign interference. Voter suppression is a term designed to confuse by conflating perfectly legal activity, such as keeping voter rolls current, with illegal activity like discouraging citizens from voting. Its similar to voter ID foes comparing identification requirements to the outrages of the Jim Crow-era racial discrimination. Opponents of voter IDs have long predicted that these policies would prevent hundreds of thousands of citizens in places like Texas and South Carolina from voting. Instead, weve seen record voter turnout in minority communities across the country. The data are clear: There is no evidence of disenfranchisement due to voter ID. Reports to the contrary claims, for example, that Wisconsins voter ID law took 200,000 votes from Hillary Clinton have been repeatedly debunked. The National Bureau of Economic Research even published a report in 2019 suggesting the opposite effect. One common argument is that obtaining a photo ID is burden that too many voters cannot bear. But as the recent NPR poll confirms, just 6 percent of respondents reported any level of difficulty with registration or identification at the polls. Now that states like Arkansas and North Carolina are passing ballot measures to put voter ID into state constitutions, these policies have attained a new level of popularity. One challenge supporters of voter ID face is that its impossible to prove a negative. No research will ever conclusively tabulate how much fraud these laws have prevented. But voter ID does more than just stop direct voter fraud. It also helps combat outside efforts to undermine our elections. Two-factor authentication is a part of our daily lives. Think of the last time a website sent you a text message to prove you are you. Now that our voter registration systems are being targeted by bad actors like Russia, we need ID requirements more than ever to access securely our own records for voting or even address changes. Our politics are so polarized that a few sneaky edits or unauthorized online requests could throw an election. If such high-tech manipulation is a rising risk in our near future, then voter ID will help to bar the doors to foreign infiltrators. If youre still fighting voter ID in 2020, the Russians thank you for your service. J. Christian Adams is president and general counsel for the Public Interest Legal Foundation and a former Justice Department lawyer. He also served on the Presidential Advisory Commission for Election Integrity. He wrote this for InsideSources.com. Continuing education is essential for our industrys professionals to stay current with the latest rules and regulations. ESO, the leading data and software company serving emergency medical services (EMS), fire departments and hospitals, today announced its Wave conference, the premier technology and data conference for first responders, has been approved by the National Academy of Ambulance Compliance (NAAC) to offer continuing education units (CEUs) for attendees. Select sessions in the Revenue Recovery and Clinical Data Management tracks, including sessions on realizing real-dollar revenue and corporate compliance, are eligible. Continuing education is essential for our industrys professionals to stay current with the latest rules and regulations, said Amanda Stark, Executive Director of NAAC. We are pleased that ESO has decided to offer the opportunity to earn NAAC CEUs for the Certified Ambulance Coders, Certified Ambulance Compliance Officers and Certified Ambulance Privacy Officers who attend Wave. Courses approved for CEUs include: Corporate Compliance: Who Needs It? And Why its Important? As the EMS system has matured, it is now regulated by a complex web of rules. Because of that, there are a variety of risk areas to consider, including CMS regulations, State and Federal Regulations, Research, HIPAA and Security. The Double Documentation Dilemma: What elements of an ePCR must be Repeated in the Narrative? Look at the critical differences between data elements and narratives and explore how a good, comprehensive and chronological narrative tells the full story of a patient encounter. Three Recent Ambulance False Claims Act Cases that will Change how You do Business Federal agencies are pursuing ambulance services of all sizes and types for filing false and fraudulent claims with Medicare and other government insurers. Explore critical lessons ambulance services have ignored until it was too late. Realizing Real-dollar Revenue: The bottom line is essential to adding services and hiring more staff. Explore what West Metro Fire in Colorado did to recognize lost revenue, save money and create a system for better billing processes. Were excited to partner with NAAC and offer these courses to our Wave attendees, said Dr. Brent Myers, Chief Medical Officer for ESO. We are pleased that our attendees will be able to fulfill continuing education requirements while gaining knowledge that will improve our ability to effectively serve our communities. To register for Wave, visit: http://www.eso.com/wave-2020/ About ESO ESO is dedicated to improving community health and safety through the power of data. Since its founding in 2004, the company continues to pioneer innovative, user-friendly software to meet the changing needs of todays EMS agencies, fire departments, and hospitals. ESO currently serves more than 10,000 customers throughout North America with a broad software portfolio, including the industry-leading ESO Electronic Health Record (EHR), the next generation ePCR; ESO Health Data Exchange (HDE), the first-of-its-kind healthcare interoperability platform; ESO Fire and ESO FIREHOUSE Software for fire departments; and ambulance revenue recovery/billing software. ESO is headquartered in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit http://www.eso.com. ABC News After weeks of health experts urging Americans to upgrade their masks to protect against the omicron COVID-19 variant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that it was planning to update its mask guidance to "best reflect the multiple options available to people and the different levels of protection they provide." The move by the CDC would be the first significant update to its mask guidance since last July when it urged all Americans to return to wearing masks, after the delta variant proved so transmissible that research found even vaccinated people could transmit the virus. While vaccinated people are considered infectious for a shorter period of time than someone who is unvaccinated, and they are considerably less likely to end up hospitalized, the CDC urged everyone to return to masking indoors to prevent community cases from rising. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Yannick Pasquet (Agence France-Presse) Berlin, Germany Wed, January 29, 2020 16:01 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20618b232 2 Art & Culture nazi,Sobibor-death-camp,concentration-camps Free Hundreds of newly discovered photographs, including some taken at the Sobibor death camp, represent a "quantum leap" in research into Nazi crimes against humanity, historians at the Berlin museum Topography of Terror said Tuesday. Historians said the "exceptional collection" provided unprecedented insights into the Sobibor camp in German Nazi-occupied Poland, about which little is known even 75 years after the end of World War II. The trove, consisting of 361 black-and-white photos and several written documents, also includes photos believed to show convicted Nazi guard John Demjanjuk, who denied ever being at Sobibor. The photos were discovered by a descendant of SS officer Johann Niemann and handed over to Martin Cueppers, a historian at the University of Stuttgart, in 2015 who studied the material. "This collection represents a quantum leap in our visual knowledge of the Holocaust in occupied Poland," Cueppers said at a press conference at the Topography of Terror, an archive and museum at the site of the former Gestapo headquarters in Berlin. Around 1.8 million Jews died at Belzec, Treblinka and Sobibor in Poland as part of "Operation Reinhard", yet knowledge about the latter camp has been scarce. Where previously there had been only two surviving photos from Sobibor, the Niemann collection threw up a further 49 snapshots, said Stefan Haenschen from the Stanislaw Hantz organisation which runs tours at the camp. Haenschen said the photos offered a chance to "widen public awareness" of a Nazi crime which was "still under-represented". Read also: Nazi-themed toilet paper sells for $207 Demjanjuk case A journalist looks at a catalogue prior to a press conference to unveil newly discovered photos from Sobibor Nazi death camp on January 28, 2020 in Berlin. (AFP/Tobias Schwarz) There are two photos in the collection which Cueppers said "probably" showed John Demjanjuk at Sobibor. The historians were cautious however, saying that they could not be totally certain the photos showed the convicted Nazi guard. Ukrainian-American Demjanjuk was convicted of being an accessory to the murder of nearly 30,000 Jews at Sobibor by a German court in 2011. He died while his appeal was pending. Born in Ukraine in 1920, Demjanjuk emigrated to the United States after war. In 1986, he stood trial in Jerusalem accused of being "Ivan the Terrible," an infamous Ukrainian guard at another death camp, Treblinka. An initial death sentence was overturned by the Israeli supreme court in 1993. But after evidence emerged that he served as a guard at other Nazi camps, Demjanjuk was stripped of his US citizenship in 2002 for lying about his war record on immigration forms. Extradited to Germany in 2009, he was later sentenced to five years in prison in a landmark case for the German justice system. The court ruled that as a guard at the camp, he was automatically implicated in killings carried out there at the time. The case set a new legal precedent and prompted several further convictions of Nazi officers, including that of the "bookkeeper of Auschwitz" Oscar Groening, on the basis they served as cogs in the Nazi killing machine. In 2019, Demjanjuk was the subject of the Netflix documentary "The Devil Next Door". Babushkin remembers architect of Indo-Russian ties Kadakin. New Delhi: Russia on Tuesday declared that no sanctions will stop the Indo-Russian friendship, a reference made to the threat of sanctions by the United States on countries like India buying Russian weaponry and armaments. Speaking at an event in the capital to honour the late former Russian ambassador to India Alexander Kadakin, the Russian deputy chief of mission (DCM) Roman Babushkin said, No sanctions will stop our (Indo-Russian) friendship. Russia will remain Indias partner in defence, nuclear energy, space... . The event, a photo-exhibition titled Alexander Kadakin Diplomat Par Excellence, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to India, recipient of the Padma Bhushan Award was organised at the Russian Centre of Science and Culture (RCSC) on Tuesday evening. Mr Kadakin died about three years ago on January 26, 2017, and was considered one of the architects of the Indo-Russian strategic relationship for decades. He was also one of the closest friends of India. Mr Kadakin was an inspiration and motivation for us as young diplomats. He was a very intuitive person and an encyclopaedia. He treated us as his children, an emotional Mr Babushkin recalled. Going down memory lane, the director of the Russian Centre of Science and Culture (RCSC) Fedor Rozovsky said, We worked under his professional guidance. I spent a lot of time travelling with him throughout India. His contribution to ties with India was immense. Former external affairs minister (EAM) Salman Khurshid who was the EAM during the United Progressive Alliance-2 (UPA) government described Mr. Kadakin as a remarkable man, adding that he gave remarkable energy to bilateral ties between the two nations. Mr Khurshid described the ties between the erstwhile The Soviet Union and India and later Russia and India as a colourful, exciting, relationship. Referring to the photo-exhibition, he said, It goes back several pages in the history of our relationship. YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Yeremyan Projects, the leading restaurant business company representing the most favourite and well-known Armenian restaurant brands of Yerevan citizens and tourists (Tavern Yerevan chain of restaurants, Yerevani Shaurma fast food restaurant chain, Lavash, Sherep, Pandok Yerevan Reverside, Smoking Chef, Livingston restaurants), has recapped 2019 by signalling the company's new business development strategy and the new From Seed to Table concept. We have talked with Yeremyan Projects General Director Davit Yeremyan about the investments made in the agricultural sector, the development of farming businesses, ensuring healthy and organic food, the company's business model and vision and the peculiarities and advantages of the From Seed To Table concept. New Decade with New Concept: From Seed to Table Since the very first day of operations, Yeremyan Projects adopted a clear principle: we work only with high-quality products. Today, ensuring a regular supply of high-quality natural products is a complicated process, and we proposed our strategic approach for solving this problem. In 2019 our company implemented two major projects in the livestock sector. The goal was to lay the foundation for our companys new business development concept and try to ensure an entirely closed-cycle for our organizations operations. We opened a pig farm in Dilijan; we imported purebred Canadian types of pig breeds Landrace, Yorkshire and Duroc. We have 380 sows on the farm and total productivity of 10000 pigs a year. The farm can house between 3,5 to 4 thousand pigs at once. We have launched a livestock farm in Jermuk also, where cattle purebred Fleckvieh, Holstein and angus are kept. Today we have 320 dairy cattle and 100 beef cattle types here, and during this time we have already had 120 calves. In terms of milk production, the figures are very impressive 3000 litres of milk a day, the cattle farm's yearly result is 1 050 000 litres of milk and 270 calves. These figures arent presented coincidentally. For many years a stereotype has been intentionally or unintentionally circulating in Armenia claiming that agriculture is a non-profitable and costly business. Basically, we proved otherwise with the examples of our two farms. Thanks to effective management, accurate calculations and sophisticated organization of work we already have results today. Our farms comply with all international standards of production and quality. From this perspective, our farm is exemplary for those carrying out similar activities or business, and we are sincerely willing to share our experience. We started a very important process by launching the feed mill , which enabled us to ensure that the feed supplied to the farms is ecologically clean, selected from correct ingredients and has passed special processing. At our farms, animals arent simply well fed; they are kept in high-level sanitary conditions: disinfection, automated water supply systems, filters, powerful air conditioning. In addition, we have a genetic laboratory, a powerful refrigerating business in the farms, and we have also built a slaughterhouse in line with all sanitary-hygienic norms. For quality control: Through opening the livestock farms, we are factually able to supervise the quality of the meat and dairy supplied to our restaurants. In addition to this, our goal was to create an exemplary business in Armenia, which can boost the development of farming businesses and, of course, develop local production. The next important step for realizing our new development concept From Seed to Table was the re-launch project of the Artsakh kitchen-plant. We are completely re-constructing and upgrading it. We have added 3000 square meters of territory to the kitchen-factorys area, we have founded and launched three new plants milk production, sausage production and cannery. We have also increased the number of personnel approximately 50-100 new workplaces. Entirely closed-cycle: Final Touch Overall, these projects required 5 million dollars in investments, but the result is invaluable basically, we laid the foundation and launched the new business model of our organization's future by ensuring an entirely closed cycle. Look, today we are able to get the most sophisticated, most delicious meals in our restaurants from the very seed itself. This is the essence of the From Seed to Table concept, a model which isn't quite popular, and very few organizations around the world are guided by such an approach. We are sowing the seeds, from which we get the animal feed, which then undergoes respective processing in the feed mill and is supplied to the livestock in the farms. The meat and dairy are then transported to the Artsakh kitchen-factory where it undergoes necessary processing and gets supplied to restaurants and handed over to the skilled and talented chefs. Dream Academy Let me speak about the chefs in more details. This complete cycle model of our business-development has another important circle, which was also one of the most demanded and interesting projects of 2019 of our company: the Yeremyan Projects Culinary Art and Hospitality Academy, which is the exclusive partner of Great Britains City of Oxford College. Today the Academy is responsible for shaping new, professional staff, relaying modern and in-demand skills to our cooks and training them. The Academy hasn't marked its first anniversary yet but already has graduates of a number of programs which have joined both Yeremyan Projects and the staff of HoReCa companies in the country. So, by completing our business model, we are basically creating vertical expansion opportunities for our future development. We will open new conceptual restaurants in the future, we will increase agricultural projects, and this will all find its rightful place in our value chain. We already have very bold projects, and I can clearly say that 2020 will be a breakthrough. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will campaign together in the national capital ahead of the Delhi Assembly election, according to sources on Wednesday. Shah and Kumar will hold a joint rally in Delhi's Burari on February 2 (Sunday) at 12 pm. On that day, BJP national president JP Nadda and the Bihar CM will also hold a joint rally at 4 pm at Delhi's Sangam Vihar. Voting for the 70-seat Delhi Assembly will take place on February 8 and the results will be declared on February 11. Live TV With less than a fortnight for the Delhi election, the EC ordered the removal of Union Minister Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Sahib Singh from the list of star campaigners of the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) for the poll with immediate effect. The EC order has come in the wake of their instigating remarks during the poll campaign. The EC issued a show-cause notice to Thakur over his Desh Ke Gaddaro.. chant and gave him time till 12 pm on January 30 to submit his reply to the poll panel. Delhi's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has sought a report from the returning officer of Rithala constituency over Anurag Thakurs speech at an election rally during which crowd raised an incendiary slogan "traitors should be shot". In the rally, Thakur egged on the crowd to raise the slogan after he lashed out at anti-CAA protestors. Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma also created controversy with his comments against the anti-CAA protesters at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh saying they will be cleared in an hour if the BJP comes to power in Delhi. He also stated lacing his comments with a sensational remark, "They will enter your houses, rape your sisters and daughters". Verma further said, "It is an election to decide the unity of a nation. If the BJP comes to power on February 11, you will not find a single protester within an hour. And within a month, we will not spare a single mosque built on government land." A new international report says pollution remains the largest environment threat to human health. The report, by the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution (GAHP), estimated that pollution was responsible for 15 percent of all deaths worldwide in 2017. The organization said the number of premature deaths from pollution reached 8.3 million people worldwide that year. That is three times higher than the worldwide death totals from AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The GAHP is made up of more than 50 members, including United Nations agencies, world governments, environmental groups and educational organizations. It seeks to raise international attention about pollution issues and help governments create solutions to fight the problem. The GAHP said that more than 90 percent of the pollution-related deaths occurred in developing countries. The report noted that such deaths remain a neglected issue, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The writers of the report said international efforts have helped to reduce the effects of traditional pollution sources, such as poor sanitation and smoky cooking fires. But they noted that modern pollution from cities and industrial production is increasing. The report suggests that a worldwide health crisis is, in fact, still undercounted, still under-addressed [and] still under-resourced," GAHPs acting Director Rachael Kupka said. The research follows up on a major report released in 2017 by the publication The Lancet. That report was created by an international group of university researchers, national health ministries, nongovernmental organizations, the World Bank and the United Nations. The group looked at the causes of death and disability in four areas: air, water, job-related risks and lead exposure. In the GAHP report, India and China had the largest total number of pollution-related deaths. They were followed by Nigeria, Indonesia and Pakistan. The United States was seventh. "There are countries from almost every region of the world present in that top 10 list," Kupka said. "We really are all impacted. It doesn't matter where you are." Pollution-related deaths per 100,000 people were highest in Chad, Central African Republic and North Korea. India still ranked high on the list, at number 10. Research has shown that pollution raises the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, lung disease, and other conditions. The report said pollution adds more years of disability worldwide than smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, as well as wars and violence. The GAHP noted that its latest estimates likely represent an undercount. For example, the group did not include major pollution sources such as pesticides and mercury. Kupka says researchers will aim to center on those issues in the next pollution report in The Lancet, which is planned for 2021. The good news, Kupka said, is that controls already exist to help reduce the harmful effects of pollution. She urged officials in problem countries to recognize and enforce emissions controls for vehicles and smoke sources. She said protective equipment for workers should also be provided, as it already is in many countries. Im Bryan Lynn. Steve Baragona wrote this story for VOA News. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English, with additional information from the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story premature adj. happening too soon or before the usual time neglect v. to not give something enough care or attention income n. money earned through working, investing or producing goods sanitation n. a system for protecting people's health by removing dirt and waste exposure n. coming in contact with something follow up v. to continue or complete something started earlier impact v. to affect emission n. the act of releasing something The deadly coronavirus continues to wreak havoc in China with 25 new fatalities reported from central Hubei province taking the death toll to 132 and the confirmed infection cases to nearly 6,000, as health experts warned that the epidemic may reach its climax in the next 10 days resulting in large-scale casualties. The Chinese health authorities announced on Wednesday that 5,974 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus had been reported in 31 provincial-level regions by the end of Tuesday. A total of 132 people have died from the disease, state-run Xinhua agency reported. In Hubei province, of which Wuhan is the provincial capital, 3,554 confirmed cases have been reported with 125 deaths as of Tuesday, it said. Among the confirmed cases, 1,239 patients are in critical condition, official TV CGTN reported, adding that there are 9,239 suspected cases in the Chinese mainland. The Hubei province has reported 840 newly confirmed cases, indicating that the virus continues to spread at a faster rate. The death rate from the new coronavirus is not yet known, as more fatalities will likely be reported. Most patients who have died are above 60 and had pre-existing conditions, according to reports from local authorities. The coronavirus can be passed between humans through close contact, Chinese medical experts say. The novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak may reach its peak in one week or around 10 days, Chinese respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan said. "It is very difficult to definitely estimate when the outbreak reaches its peak. But I think in one week or about 10 days, it will reach the climax and then there will be large-scale increases," Zhong told state-run Xinhua agency. Zhong is the head of a national team of experts set up for the control and prevention of the novel coronavirus-caused pneumonia and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. "There are two keys to tackling the epidemic: early detection and early isolation. They are the most primitive and most effective methods," he said. Zhong said fever and weakness were the typical symptoms of the novel coronavirus infection found in the majority of patients. Ten to 14 days is a sound period for isolation and observation. When the incubation period ends, those who fall sick will get timely treatment and those who do not will be just fine, he said. He suggested that hospitals be staffed with not only infectious disease specialists, but also specialists in treating severe cases to better save patients. Epidemiologically, the novel coronavirus is homologous to the virus discovered in a type of bat in 2017, said Zhong, adding that the 2019-nCoV probably has an intermediate host that may be a certain kind of wild animal. "The SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak lasted about six months, but I don't believe the novel coronavirus outbreak would last that long," said Zhong. The country has taken a series of powerful measures, especially early detection and early isolation. "We have sufficient confidence in preventing a major outbreak or a recurrence as long as the two measures are in place, although we still need to conduct much scientific research," he said. Noting that the key for Wuhan is how to reduce infections inside hospitals, Zhong said he supported the construction of makeshift hospitals in the city to control the infectious disease. The activation of top-level public health emergency response was aimed at reducing the chance of infection, he said, adding that the vaccine development may need three to four months or even longer. "Now scientists are speeding up research of neutralizing antibodies of the virus, but it takes time. With help from across the country, Wuhan, a heroic city, will pull through," Zhong said. Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called the coronavirus a "demon" which should be brought under control. China has ramped up efforts to contain the virus. The country has extended the New Year Festival holidays till February 2 to prevent reverse migration of millions of migrants works to return to their work from holidays. Universities, primary and middle schools and kindergartens across the country will postpone the opening of the spring semester until further notice. The government is focussing efforts to prevent mass gatherings and mass travel to ensure the virus is not spread fast. Beijing has also launched temperature detection at 55 subway stations, including stops at railway stations and Beijing airport. Passengers with abnormal body temperatures will be sent to hospital. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Killing Free Speech in U.S. Friends of Israel find that it cuts two ways By Philip Giraldi January 28, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - No group in the United States has labored so hard as the friends of Israel to destroy the First Amendment to the Constitution, which commits the government to prohibit any abridging the freedom of speech... or the right of the people peaceably to assemble. Ironically, of course, Congressmen and government officials who have taken an oath to uphold the Constitution against all enemies domestic and foreign have themselves been cheerleaders as the Israel Lobby carries out its devastation of the fundamental rights of every American. Many in government at all levels repeatedly boast about their undying love for the Jewish state, which is a foreign nation and no ally, even as they enthusiastically sign on to legislation that criminalizes criticism of Israel or requires recipients of government funding to sign a no-boycott pledge. Hubristic due to their great political power, wealth and arrogance, what the Israel firsters tend to forget is the old homespun warning that what is good for the goose is good for the gander. Change the rules for what people can say or do and it will sooner or later come back to haunt you when you want to speak or associate freely. In the past, Jewish groups like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) traditionally fought for free speech and association to advance their own tribal interest as they frequently promoted unpopular left-wing causes that most of the population opposed. Most American communists were Jews, for example. Now that that particular battle has been won they have switched gears in their war against what they perceive as anti-Semitism and have become leaders in the promotion of hate crime legislation, censorship of criticism of Jews and Israel on the internet, and legislation that would criminalize or otherwise punish supporters of an anti-Israel boycott. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Twenty-eight states currently have legislation penalizing those who support the non-violent Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and there are several bills pending in Congress that would do the same on the federal level, including one piece of legislation, The Israel Anti-Boycott Act, that includes criminal financial penalties and prison time for those convicted. The original version of the bill included draconian punishment: Anyone guilty of violating the prohibitions will face a minimum civil penalty of $250,000 and a maximum criminal penalty of $1 million and 20 years in prison. And the White House is equally engaged in the hot war against any and all aspects of anti-Semitism. President Donald Trump has recently signed an executive order that defines being Jewish as both a nationality and religion under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, making it easier for the Department of Education to cut the funding for institutions that allow speakers, organizations and events that the White House regards as anti-Semitic. BDS is one such organization and has been particularly targeted. There have recently been two stories that illustrate what might happen when one wants to limit what people can say. The first involves highly respected international journalist Abby Martin. Martin is a former teleSUR presenter and is best known as the creator of The Empire Files. She earlier in her career worked at Russia Today as an interviewer and investigative journalist. She is politically progressive and a critic of Israels apartheid government. Abby Martin was recently barred from speaking at a planned late February International Critical Media Literacy Conference that was going to be held at Georgia Southern University. Her crime consisted of refusing to sign a contractual pledge to not boycott Israel, which had nothing to do with the conference itself. In Georgia, as well as in a number of other states, anyone receiving money, or using state facilities has to confirm in writing that he or she will be in compliance with the states anti-BDS law. Martin, who has also been subjected to censorship on YouTube, tweeted subsequently, After I was scheduled to give a keynote speech at an upcoming Georgia Southern conference, organizers said I must comply with Georgias anti-BDS law. I refused and my talk was canceled. The event fell apart after colleagues supported me. In a separate message she added This censorship of my talk based on forced compliance to anti-BDS laws in Georgia is just one level of a nationwide campaign to protect Israel from grassroots pressure. We must stand firmly opposed to these efforts and not cower in fear to these blatant violations of free speech. The second story, which appeared in the Miami Herald and the Jerusalem Post, describes how a veteran police officer with thirty-eight years on the force in the southern Florida town of Bay Harbor Islands was suspended because his wife posted comments describing Palestinian Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib as a Hamas-loving anti-Semite. He Liked her comments, which resulted in the action taken against him. The officer, identified as one Corporal Pablo Lima, is currently on administrative leave and will have to submit to an internal affairs investigation. The towns manager J.C. Jimenez issued a statement that The content of the social media posts that were brought to our attention are not consistent with our Towns values and policies. The towns police department explicitly prohibits any expressions by employees that ridicules, maligns, disparages, or otherwise expresses bias against any gender, race, religion, or any protected class of individuals. Corporal Limas wife, Haifa-born Israeli Anabelle Lima-Taub, is no stranger to controversy involving her country of birth. She is the city commissioner for nearby Hallandale Beach, where she was censured at a January 23rd special meeting over Facebook posts that also related to Tlaib, repeating the claim that the Congresswoman was a Hamas-loving anti-Semite, and also adding that Tlaib might be considering making herself and others martyr[s] and blow up Capitol Hill. The Hallandale Beach board vote against Lima-Taub passed by 3 to 2, but it was also reported that dozens of Jewish supporters had attended the meeting at city hall, waving Israeli flags and holding signs supporting her statements. Lima-Taub responded to the rebuke by repeating her claims in later social network posts. She complained in one post that I am offended by anyone who is NOT OFFENDED by Rashida Tlaibs hateful rhetoric and pro BDS and other radical dangerous views calling for the obliteration of Israel, literally off the face of the map. I remain unapologetic for my views that she is a danger to the peace process and demand an apology of her for relabeling Israel as Palestine on a map hanging on her wall in her congressional office. And it did not end there Lima-Taub gave an interview to the Miami Herald in which she explained that she opposes the congresswomans support of the anti-Israeli BDS movement, which she considers to be equivalent to supporting Hamas and Hezbollah. Lima-Taubs posts on the subject attracted some vitriol directed at Tlaib from her supporters, including that Tlaib took her [congressional] oath on the Koran, openly hates Jews and supports the people who flew planes into our [New York] twin towers and killed over 5,000 people. Anabelle Lima-Taub has blamed her husbands troubles on corruption and an unnamed lobbyist, but she might well exercise a bit of introspection and realize that her inability to criticize Muslims without consequences to her and her husband is part and parcel of the same mentality that seeks to criminalize whatever one chooses to call hate speech, which includes expressions of anti-Semitism. Free speech is free speech, no matter how loathsome or misguided. Government officials should be allowed to express private opinions outside the parameters of their public responsibilities, just as students at a university should be able to invite speakers to controversial conferences or seminars without requiring those invited to sign a paper pledging that they will not criticize a certain country. Once you let the genie out of the bottle and allow rules-makers to take away fundamental rights it is very hard to induce that genie to go back in. Philip M. Giraldi, Ph.D., is Executive Director of the Council for the National Interest, a 501(c)3 tax deductible educational foundation (Federal ID Number #52-1739023) that seeks a more interests-based U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Website is councilforthenationalinterest.org, address is P.O. Box 2157, Purcellville VA 20134 and its email is inform@cnionline.org. This article was published by " Unz " - A United States Air Force veteran collapsed live on television during an episode of Antiques Show when he realized a Rolex watch he never wore left him $700,000 richer. On Monday evening's episode, the unnamed veteran is given the news that the Rolex he bought for less than $400 in the 1970s has left him with the windfall. The dramatic footage, filmed in Bonanzaville in West Fargo, North Dakota, shows the man diving to the floor and flailing his arms as he's told the news. Coming into a win! A veteran (right) was told on Antiques Roadshow that the Rolex he had bought for less than $400 in the '70s and never wore is actually worth up to $700,000 The footage shows the dramatic moment the veteran of the United States Air Force collapsed on Monday evening's show filmed in Bonanzaville in West Fargo, North Dakota, when he was told of his unlikely win 'You gotta be sh----g me. Unbelievable,' he said, after hearing the shock news. The bemused appraiser (centre) told the owner he didn't think there was 'a better one in the world' The veteran said he bought the Rolex (pictured) when he was a member of the air force and was stationed in Thailand in the '70s. He had noticed commercial airline pilots wearing Rolex watches and had 'assumed it was a respected brand' The appraiser told the veteran that the watch could fetch between $500,000 and $700,000 at auction. As he heard the news, the veteran collapsed to the ground, waving his arms and legs in the air. 'You gotta be sh*****g me. Unbelievable,' he said, after he managed to get back to his feet. And the shock news wasn't over yet. 'In this condition, I don't think there's a better one in the world,' the appraiser told the delighted owner of the watch. 'I can't thank you enough for bringing me one of the greatest watches to ever see on 'Antiques Roadshow' and thank you very much for your service.' He was quick to add: 'You can't wear it, though.' The man had brought the timepiece to the show to get it valued by the team. He said he bought the Rolex when he was a member of the Air Force and was stationed in Thailand in the 70s. He had noticed commercial airline pilots wearing Rolex watches and had 'assumed it was a respected brand'. When he was looking to purchase a watch he could wear scuba diving a few years later, he was inspired by the pilots he had seen and ordered the Rolex Oyster Cosmograph Reference 6263 from his base's exchange for the grand sum of $345.97. The watch's improved water resistance and the word 'Oyster' engraved on the face (pictured) makes it even rarer The Rolex Daytona gathered dust for the last 45 years in its box (left) and with its paperwork (right) in a safe deposit box, being taken out only occasionally to admire its beauty and craft The owner presented the watch, along with its original packaging, paperwork, receipts, and warranty documentation that was never filled out (above) Though this sounds like a steal, back in 1974 this would have been around a month's pay packet for the soldier. But the Rolex Daytona as barely been worn as the veteran he decided it was 'too nice' to dive in - or even to wear at all. The veteran described how instead of wearing it, the luxury timepiece then gathered dust in a box in a safe deposit box for the last 45 years- although, he did take it out occasionally to admire it. He said that when he took it to Antiques Roadshow to get it valued he had no idea of its worth. He presented the watch, along with its original packaging, paperwork, receipts, and warranty documentation that was never filled out. The antiques expert said that because it is in brand new condition, with a foil label that usually rubs off over time still on the back of the watch - and because the particular model is similar to the one worn by Paul Newman in the film Winning - it is a particular favorite of collectors. In fact, he said that it is even slightly better and more rare than the watch in the film because it has improved water resistance and the word 'Oyster' engraved on the face. All of this led to the surprise estimate that the watch could fetch between $500,000 and $700,000 at auction. It is not known whether the veteran has decided to sell the timepiece or keep it. W ho is Gulnara Karimova? Googoosha. Bless you. No, no, Googoosha - pop star alter ego of Gulnara Karimova, 47, the daughter of Uzbek dictator Islam Karimov. Her website once described her as a poet, mezzo-soprano, designer and exotic beauty. Her fans, who sound suspiciously like people employed to be fans. Her Twitter account launched her pop career in 2012 with the bold entreaty: Love Katy Perry? Follow dance pop sensation Googoosha!. Funny, I havent seen her riding high on the iTunes charts recently. Thats because shes currently languishing in an Uzbekistan jail. Crimes against the arts, is it? No, although the less said about her duet with French actor Gerard Depardieu, the better. Karimova was actually arrested last March, accused of extorting more than 661 million in bribes while her despot pop was running the post-Soviet shop. Shes had a roster of jobs almost as sprawling as her property empire How many CVs can boast a position as ambassador to the UN, real estate mogul, pop maven and fashion designer? No comment. What was the father like? Nice guy. Often described as one of the most brutal rulers to emerge from the collapse of the Soviet Union, exemplified by the use of forced labour for Uzbekistans annual cotton harvest. He was known to pitch heavy marble ashtrays at senior aides and ordered troops to fire on a crowd of thousands of protesters in the city of Andijon, killing at least 700 people. Karimova Sr popped his clogs in 2016. Glamorous older daughter Gulnara Karimova had actually once been seen as having a promising political future, but those prospects disintegrated in a very public soap opera involving charges of bribery, money laundering, physical violence and even sorcery. Abra-Ca-what now? She disappeared from public view (not the sorcery bit) in 2014 following reports that her father was furious as seeing photographs of her semi-naked wearing peacock feathers. Opposition websites alleged that Mr. Karimov beat his daughter in a fit of rage before jailing some of her associates and confining her to her home, where she remained incommunicado. How awful. It gets weirder. Karimova herself took to social media at the time to accuse her mother and her younger sister of dabbling in witchcraft. The other part of the family destroys and is friends with sorcerers, she wrote in a post on Instagram. Why are we talking about her now? Well, anti-corruption officers are now trying to seize the Harvard-educated socialites assets in (deep breath) Ireland, Switzerland, Sweden, France, Latvia, Malta, Germany, Spain, Russia, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates. Thats not so close to home. The Serious Fraud Office are after Surreys Gorse Hill Manor, a mansion in the Wentworth Estate gated community, snapped up by one of her shell companies for 18 million in 2010 and now estimated to be worth 30 million. The neighbourhood gang included the Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky and Sir Bruce Forsyth. Oh, and investigators are also after an 8 million home in Londons Mayfair and a 2 million apartment in Belgravia. A juicy bonus. So thats it for the pop career? Youd think so, but stranger things have happened to the relatives of villainous world figures. Lets not forget that Osama Bin Ladens niece Wafah Dufour is currently making a solid stab at launching a career as a punk rocker. Anything to fall back on? In 2011, she staged a fashion show in New York for her eponymous clothing line, which includes designs made from cotton that Uzbek children have been forced to pick for free instead of going to school. She reportedly charges $20,000 cash in advance for an interview. And there are always royalties from her back-catalogue, melodic bangers like How Dare?. A Greta Thunberg tribute act? She sashays under a red light on a building site spouting lines like you look fine, but whats on your mind? repeatedly. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 29, 2020) - MAX RESOURCE CORP. (TSXV: MXR) (OTC Pink: MXROF) (FSE: M1D2) ("Max" or the "Company") is pleased to report the results of a petrographic study of the 1.4 km long AM Horizon, and four other locations within the Company's 100% owned Cesar copper-silver project, located 420 km north of Bogota, Colombia. The petrographic analysis of sample rocks was conducted by John G. Payne, Ph.D., P.Geo. of Vancouver Petrographics Ltd. Copper minerals observed in petrographic samples are chalcocite, covellite, native copper, azurite, malachite, chrysocolla and silver. The copper-silver mineralization identified on the Cesar property is a stratabound type and is hosted in siltstone and sandstone associated with reduced facies within the sediments of the Rancheria Basin (Refer to Figure 1 & 2). The Company cautions investors that grab samples are selected samples and are not necessarily representative of mineralization hosted on the property. Assay results of petrographic grab samples: 4.51% copper and 39.5g/t silver for AM Horizon; 3.11% copper and 27.5g/t silver for Target B; 2.71% copper and 6.3g/t silver for Target C; 3.0% copper and 35.6g/t silver for Target E; and Assay results are pending for Target D. "The petrographic study identified copper minerals and silver, an important by-product, which further reinforces the Cesar regional model. Our Phase II field program is underway and we will continue to conduct rock chip and panel sampling across stratigraphy which the Company considers to be representative of in-situ mineralization. This program will assist in prioritizing targets for our Phase III drilling program. We expect further assay results very soon," Max CEO, Brett Matich, stated. "The Max field team is currently investigating what appears to be another mineralized horizon located approximately 40 km north of the newly discovered AM Horizon which would be very significant from a regional prospective," he continued. Figure 1. The blue-green mineral observed on the thin section of AM Horizon is malachite. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/51916_f530c6ceb4c5f962_001full.jpg Figure 2. The blue mineral observed in the hand specimen and thin section of Target B is azurite. To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/51916_f530c6ceb4c5f962_002full.jpg Figure 3. Petrographic location map, rock chip panel assays and AM Horizon discovery. To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/51916_f530c6ceb4c5f962_003full.jpg The analysis of the petrographic grab samples was completed at the ALS Minerals Laboratory in North Vancouver, B.C. ALS has an ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accreditation. Max recently reported an entirely new discovery, called the AM Horizon, a NE-SW stratabound copper-silver horizon in excess of 1.4 km, which appears to continue under cover in both directions. The mineralized system dips approximately 40 degrees to the NW on the Company's 100% owned Cesar copper-silver project (Refer to Figure 3 & NR January 21, 2020). Rock chip and panel samples, considered to be representative samples across their reported widths, were collected across mineralized outcrop zones and included highlight values of: 2.7% copper and 17.9g/t silver over 0.5m; 2.1% copper and 8.8g/t silver over a 3m by 3m panel; and 1.6% copper and 8.2g/t silver over a 3m by 3m panel. Cesar Copper-Silver Project The 100% owned Cesar Project is located in north east Colombia within Jurassic sediments and volcaniclastics that run through the length of northern South America and host significant stratabound copper-silver mineralization in Ecuador and Peru. Worldwide deposit examples include the Copperbelt of Central Africa and the Kupferschiefer of Germany and Poland. Max cautions investors that the presence of stratabound copper-silver mineralization at Copperbelt and Kupferschiefer is not necessarily indicative of similar mineralization at Cesar. Historically, the Cesar copper belt has only been explored from a local context, but never in a broader larger-scale perspective. The initial exploration program identified 19 distinct mineralized copper occurrences over an area of 9 sq. km, which is open in all directions. The first part of the Phase 1 exploration program previously reported grab sample assays ranging from 0.3% to 4.2% copper with: 34 of the 43 assaying in excess of 1% copper, 15 of the 43 assaying in excess of 2% copper, and 4 of the 43 samples assaying in excess of 3% copper. Silver values ranged from 1 to 116g/t. The Company cautions investors that grab samples are selected samples and are not necessarily representative of mineralization hosted on the property. North Choco Gold-Copper Project North Choco consists of wholly owned mineral applications (150 sq. km), located approximately 80 km SW of Medellin, Colombia. The recent NW Gold-Copper Discovery (refer to 29 October 2019 news release) outcrop reported 1 meter of 49.8 g/t gold and 4.3% copper, which continues under cover in both directions. The target area is also coincident with a Long Wave InfraRed (LWIR) anomaly and with elevated gold-copper soil values. Future work would focus on mapping and sampling along strike to extend the zone and on locating additional parallel zones. Choco Gold Project Choco Gold project consists of wholly owned mineral applications (150 sq. km), located approximately 120 km SW of Medellin Colombia and cover or are adjacent to historic production of 605,110 ounces of gold by Choco Pacific Mining (1906 to 1990). Source; R.J. Fletcher and Associates (2011) Review of Gold and Platinum Exploration and Production in Choco Province Colombia Part 3. Private Report for Condoto. The Company has commenced discussions with a potential partner with the prerequisite expertise to assist with the gold bearing conglomerates. About Max Resource Corp. Max is a mineral exploration company with an experienced and successful management team focused on advancing the development of its landholdings in the rich mineral belts of Colombia, with significant potential for the discovery of important-scale mineral deposits that can attract major partners. Tim Henneberry, P Geo (British Columbia), a member of the Max Resource Advisory Board, is the Qualified Person who has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release on behalf of the Company. For more information visit: https://www.maxresource.com/ For additional information contact: Max Resource Corp. Tim McNulty E: info@maxresource.com T: (604) 290-8100 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. Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the TSXV. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the commercialization plans for Max Resources Corp. described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51916 SPRINGFIELD Illinois lawmakers want a truce with other states to stop the practice of poaching businesses with tax breaks. State Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield, said economic incentives designed to attract businesses from other states or keep them in the state are a form of crony capitalism that doesnt work. Theres little-to-no correlation between these tax credits and the growth of jobs in the state, he said. Morgan, along with state Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, introduced legislation to create a compact among states so that member states wont offer tax breaks to companies in exchange for corporate investment. If were going to claim that small businesses are the engine of our economy, we need to give them the level playing field to succeed, Villivalam said. So far, seven other states have introduced similar legislation. New York Assemblyman Ron T. Kim introduced legislation in that state in October 2019. In Florida, state Sen. Anna Eskamani filed the Interstate Compact Agreement to Phase Out Corporate Giveaways Act last month. Republican State Rep. Bill Plett of New Hampshire filed House Bill 1132, which was scheduled to be heard in committee Tuesday. Senate Bill 121 was filed in West Virginia earlier this month, with Iowa and Maryland following suit. In Hawaii, three bills have been filed, including one by the father of presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard. Kansas and Missouri enacted a truce via executive orders that they would not offer each others businesses tax incentives to get them to cross the border. The Illinois bill is structured in a way that would not mean Illinois would be alone in ending the use of incentives to attract businesses, Morgan said. It would only take effect when both states have enacted the legislation. It wouldnt end the practice of giving out incentives for businesses already in Illinois either. In 2017, the state of Illinois gave out nearly $200 million in economic incentives. The state offered $1.3 billion in a bid to win the state competition for Amazons HQ2, but was passed over. Despite this, Illinois has proven fertile ground for other states looking to poach businesses. States such as Texas and cities like Miami have sent envoys to Illinois in an effort to bring them to their locales. Business supplies company Uline was offered tax incentives to move its northern Illinois business just over the border to Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin in 2008. It took nearly 500 jobs with it when it moved. Other companies have moved over the states borders to Indiana as well. Hoist Lift Truck moved from suburban Chicago to Indiana in 2015, citing the differing business climates in states as a factor. The measure has yet to get Republican support, but conservative and libertarian organizations have spoken out against economic incentives. We dont like the government picking winners and losers in the economy, said Brian Costin, the Illinois director of Americans for Prosperity. When they do, they usually pick wrong. The Mackinac Center, a free-market think tank in Michigan, released a report in 2019 that advocated for disarmament between states. There is broad consensus among academic economists that these programs are wasteful at best and actively damaging to a states economy at worst, according to the report. Neither Intersect Illinois or the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, both facilitators of the states Economic Development for a Growing Economy, or EDGE, credits, responded to requests for comment on the legislation. Outgoing Currumbin MP Jann Stuckey has lashed her own party over "vilification" and "bullying" in an extraordinary interview with broadcaster Alan Jones on Wednesday morning. Ms Stuckey announced her resignation last week after 16 years in politics, saying a "black cloud" had overwhelmed her for the past 12 months, and intense media scrutiny and the pressures of political life had taken their toll. Long-serving Currumbin MP Jann Stuckey. Credit:Matt Roberts The interview followed the LNP picking lawyer Laura Gerber as its preselected candidate for Currumbin in Ms Stuckey's place, with News Corp reporting party unrest over her lack of political experience. Jones gave Ms Stuckey glowing praise for her pro-choice stance, which saw her vote against her party in 2018, saying she had been unfairly treated by the party following that decision. The Phoenix Hill Sports Park in the capital of Southwest Chinas Sichuan province hosted the 2021 Chinese FA Cup final as its inaugural event Sunday. Covering an area of 128,000 square meters, the park consists of two world-class sports venues, a retail and hotel complex, and a public plaza. It will be one of the venues of the 31st Summer World University Games Jan 12, 2022 05:45 PM (Photo : Unsplash) In 2017, there were 115 traffic-related fatalities in Fulton County. Other accidents, like slip and falls and medical malpractice, also lead to untimely deaths. The loved ones of the victims of these accidents can seek compensation through wrongful death lawsuits. Find out how the settlements are paid out and what affects the value of a claim. What Type of Compensation Can You Receive? Before you learn more about how settlements are paid out, you should know what type of compensation you could receive. All too often, the family of the deceased is left with funeral costs, medical bills, and debt from a lost salary. With a wrongful death claim, you can seek money for the medical expenses, funeral expenses, and other related costs. If the victim suffered before they passed away, you may also receive money for their suffering. You could be eligible to seek compensation for the value of their life. While you might cringe at the idea of putting a monetary value on the life of your loved one, you deserve money for your loss. This type of compensation is often calculated by looking at the loss or parental or spousal support. Additionally, it includes damages that are easier to calculate, such as the lost income of your spouse. The lost income isn't only calculated for the past, but for the future as well. The Distribution of the Settlement In some cases, wrongful death settlements involve multiple parties. This makes the distribution of the settlement difficult. Typically, the way the settlements are paid out depend on the following factors: Age of the Beneficiary If a beneficiary is under the age of 18, they cannot receive compensation for wrongful death. Rather, the court will appoint a guardian ad litem to handle the compensation. They will create a trust and make it available to the child at a certain age. Legal Capacity of the Beneficiary If a beneficiary is disabled or otherwise incapacitated, they will not receive their money automatically. Instead, the court will handle the distribution as they handle it with a minor. A guardian ad litem will be appointed. The Nature of the Relationship If there are multiple beneficiaries, the distribution of the settlement depends on each individual's relationship with the deceased. For instance, a spouse will receive more compensation than a surviving child. What Balances are Owed You may not be able to obtain the full settlement value. If your loved one had liens, then those liens must be paid before you will receive the money. Until you pay off outstanding hospital bills and funeral expenses, you must wait for compensation. It's important to realize that creditors have claims too. If the estate of the deceased has creditors, they could seek money for the debt they are owed. Probate court will handle the situation. Once the creditors are satisfied, the assets can be distributed. Working with a Lawyer to Get Clarification If you're still confused about how wrongful death settlements are paid out, you should speak with an experienced attorney. They do more than just represent you in court; they also answer your questions about the whole process. Before you initiate the lawsuit, you should ask them about the structure of the settlement payout and what you might expect. Once you understand how it works, you can move forward and proceed with the lawsuit. If you're looking for advice or are ready to get started, call Seay & Felton. Get the guidance you need. 2015 Latinos Post. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. JDU expels Prashant Kishor, Pavan Varma: Election strategist Prashant Kishor, former diplomat Pavan Verma have been expelled by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday, Jan 29, 2020. Prashant Kishor took to Twitter and thanked Nitish Kumar and sent his best wishes. JDU expels Prashant Kishor, Pavan Varma: In the wake of hostility between election strategist Prashant Kishor, former diplomat Pavan Verma and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over Citizenship Amendment Act, National Register of Citizens, the Janata Dal-United (JDU) has expelled Prashant Kishor and Pavan Varma from the party citing anti-party activities as reasons. In the latest tweet, Prashant Kishor has thanked CM Nitish Kumar and sent his best wishes to him to retain the chair of Chief Minister of Bihar. He further wrote, God bless you. Late Tuesday, Prashant Kishor expressed his anger against the JDU and Nitish Kumar. He tweeted that Nitish Kumar lie about how and why he made him join JDU. It was a poor attempt on his part to try and make his colour the same as his. In case if he is telling the truth, who would believe that he still have the courage not to listen to someone recommended by Amit Shah. This decision has come days after Varma seeking clarity from Nitish Kumar over the ongoing anti-Citizenship Amendment Act, pan-India National Register of Citizens(NRC), National Population Register (NPR) protest. Thank you @NitishKumar. My best wishes to you to retain the chair of Chief Minister of Bihar. God bless you. Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) January 29, 2020 Also Read: BJP MP Parvesh Vermas shocker: Shaheen Bagh protesters will enter houses, rape sisters and daughters Also Read: US urges India to release Kashmir political leaders, seeks equal protection under CAA This decision has come days after Varma seeking clarity from Nitish Kumar over the ongoing anti-Citizenship Amendment Act, pan India National Register of Citizens(NRC), National Population Register (NPR) protest. It had been over a month, ever since the Bhartiya Janta Party has passed the Citizenship Act in the Parliament. Since then, the agitators are continuously expressing their discontent over the newly proposed citizenship law, NRC and NPR. Among several other organisations, hundreds of people, election strategist Kishor also vent out his anger against the same. Whats more startling to witness Prashant Kishors exit from the party as he was the most trusted leader of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. He was one of the leaders on whom Kumar mostly banked upon. Varma, a career diplomat, writer, took a premature retirement from the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) to join Kumar in 2013. Since then, he served as a culture adviser to the Bihar chief minister. Varma was also given a two-year stint in the Rajya Sabha and later made the partys general secretary and national spokesperson. In 2015 election, Varma played a significant role in strategizing the poll campaign, party image makeover for the JD(U) during the crucial Assembly elections. It happened when JDU broke its alliance with the BJP and Kumar decided to join Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). For all the latest National News, download NewsX App The optimism over domestic and global growth prospects has deteriorated in last few months. Falling optimism and deceleration in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in recent quarters has led to perceptions that India might miss the target of becoming a $5 trillion economy by 2025. While the government has already implemented growth supporting initiatives, its strategic standpoint is expected to be unveiled in the upcoming Union Budget. These growth supporting measures are likely to cause slippage in the fiscal deficit target. Going forward, the government should focus on taking small steps to address the overall supply side hurdles and ensure more stringent governance norms. Let's look at some of the specific expectation for key sectors: FULL COVERAGE:Union Budget 2020 Agriculture and Rural Sector Given the upsurge in contract farming, the Union Budget is likely to propose information repository of farmers and contracting firms, which can help them to evaluate each other prior to signing a contract. Farmer producer companies (FPCs) might receive stimulus through tax incentives by expanding the scope of agricultural income to include the limited return and patronage bonus. Further, the Budget is expected to expedite linking of markets for farm produce with eNAM, an online agricultural trading platform. In order to promote investment in farm technologies, incentives might be provided to agri-tech start-ups that use new technologies to help farmers raise their income. Easy credit facility is likely to be proposed for expanding the network of warehouses and cold storages. In order to provide boost to the rural income, the Union Budget is expected to raise MGNREGS wages. ALSO READ:Budget 2020: Date, time, expectations from Modi govt, where to watch BFSI While the measures initiated by the government and the RBI have helped in improving the liquidity situations for non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) to a certain extent, we expect further stress-alleviating measures for this sector in the Union Budget. Amidst rising concerns about the growing level of NPAs in Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana, the scheme is expected to be restructured to some extent. Further clarification might be provided regarding the recent zero Merchant Discount Rates (MDR) announcement as the zero MDR is likely to adversely impact revenues of digital payment companies. In case of insurance industry, the FDI cap for the sector is expected to be increased from the current 49 per cent. In case of Long-Term Capital Gains Tax, there are different long-term holding periods for diverse asset classes. The Budget is expected to realign the long-term holding periods with the asset class attributes. ALSO READ:Budget 2020: Govt likely to raise LTCG tax holding period to two years Infrastructure The government has already unveiled investment plan of Rs 102 lakh crore for infrastructure development in the next five years. Hence, in the upcoming Budget, the outlay for infrastructure sector may be increased substantially to meet infrastructure investment target. In aviation, FDI limit is likely to be revised upwards from 49 per cent to 100 per cent. In railways, the Union Budget is expected to provide major focus on public-private-partnership (PPP) funding model for infrastructure development, mainly in segments like rolling stock, container and high-speed passenger trains and suburban metro. In telecom, a working group might be proposed to devise a line of credit system for telecom companies to finance capital expenditure. In view of the dismal performance of Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY) in 2019, this revival package for electricity distribution companies is expected to get restructured in the Budget. Given the growing demand for affordable housing, especially in urban areas, the Budget is expected to bring proposals to develop rental housing model. ALSO READ:Budget 2020: Real estate industry pushes for one-time restructuring of loans MSMEs Given the current growth conditions in the MSME sector and overall economy, we expect the Budget to address two important challenges - deteriorating credit environment and slowdown in exports. A strong legal infrastructure is necessary to develop a robust MSME finance ecosystem. While the Indian Bankruptcy Code (IBC) is a step in this direction, Rules only for corporates have been notified. Hence, we expect the government to set up a committee for notifying Rules for proprietorship and partnership firms. We also expect a fast-track establishment of the Public Credit Registry and on-boarding of Account Aggregator Non-Banking Financial Companies. These measures will bring more structure and process in this space and improve confidence among creditors. To provide further financial respite to the MSME sector, we expect a reduction in income tax for unincorporated MSMEs which do not enjoy the benefits of reduced corporate income tax (15 per cent from the earlier 25 per cent). On the exports front, we expect the Budget to provide more funds for marketing assistance schemes since the current level of funds is disproportionate to the number of active exporters. We also expect some measures to improve the competitiveness of MSME exporters through revaluation of the schemes for obtaining foreign licences, international certification etc. ALSO READ:Budget 2020: Govt must change tax slabs, increase NPS deduction limit, other policy measures (The author is Chief Economist at Dun and Bradstreet India.) 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. UN chief Antonio Guterres said the global body remains committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis to resolve the conflict on the basis of UN resolutions, law and bilateral agreements, a day after US President unveiled his Middle East peace plan aimed at settling the longstanding dispute between the two sides. Standing along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House on Tuesday, Trump proposed a two-state solution and said no Israelis or Palestinians would be uprooted from their homes. Describing it as historic and a "giant step" towards peace, he said that under his vision, Jerusalem "will remain Israel's undivided, very important capital." He proposed Palestinian capital in Eastern Jerusalem and that US will set up its embassy there. The Secretary-General has seen the announcement of the United States plan for the Middle East. The position of the on the two-State solution has been defined, throughout the years, by relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions by which the Secretariat is bound, a statement issued by UN Secretary-General Guterres' spokesman said here on Tuesday. The world body remains committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis to resolve the conflict on the basis of resolutions, law and bilateral agreements and realizing the vision of two States and living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, on the basis of the pre-1967 lines. Trump said the plan calls for a four-year freeze in Israeli settlement activity and doubling of Palestinian territory. Asserting that his peace plan will more than double the size of Palestinian territory, Trump said that Palestinian people deserve a far better life" than being trapped in a cycle of terrorism and violence." "My vision presents a realistic two-state solution," he said. Together we can bring a new dawn in the Middle East, Trump said as he urged the Palestinians to accept his deal and bring peace in the region. Calling it a "historic opportunity" for the Palestinians to achieve an independent state, Trump said he has written to Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas on the matter. No Palestinian official was present at the launch. The ambassadors from three Arab nations -- Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain -- were at the White House. Netanyahu hailed Trump's plan as "historic day" for He compared Trump's Plan with the day to May 14, 1948, when the then President Harry Truman became the first world leader to recognise the State of The plan, he said, will strike the "right balance" where other plans have failed. Netanyahu said that he is now willing to negotiate peace with the Palestinians "on the basis" of the US peace. Erdogan accuses Russia of 'not honouring' Syria agreements Ankara, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2020 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Moscow of "not honouring" agreements made with Ankara for northwestern Syria where Russian and Syrian warplanes have increased their bombardment, in remarks published Wednesday. "There have been agreements made with Russia. If Russia honours these agreements, we will do the same. But right now, unfortunately, Russia is not honouring these agreements," Erdogan said, quoted by the Hurriyet daily. Despite being on opposite sides of the war, Damascus ally Moscow and rebel supporter Ankara have worked closely to resolve the conflict. This was a rare critical remark from Erdogan who has often sought to keep good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin since a 2016 rapprochement. But violence has raged in the last rebel stronghold of Idlib in spite of a 2018 Turkey-Russia agreement signed to prevent a full-scale Syrian offensive. The deal was made in the Russian resort of Sochi. There have been numerous ceasefires for the region home to some three million people, including one sponsored by Moscow and Ankara earlier this month. Yet eight civilians were killed Thursday by Russian air strikes in Idlib, a region to which many people fled after being displaced from other former rebel-held areas. As part of the Sochi deal, Turkey set up 12 observation posts, one of which was surrounded by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces in December. Erdogan said Turkish officials continued their talks with Russian counterparts, adding that they had said that Turkey's "patience was running thin." The president then delivered the warning given to Moscow that Turkey "would do whatever is necessary" if the bombing in Idlib does not stop. The Turkish defence ministry Tuesday said Turkey would retaliate in self-defence if any of the posts were threatened. One of Ankara's major fears is of a refugee influx to Turkey from those fleeing violence. But Erdogan on Sunday said Turkey was working on constructing homes inside Syria after the United Nations said nearly 360,000 people had been displaced. The anti-CAA agitation, strengthened by the political opposition to the proposed NRC project, is built around the narrative that the Modi regime intended to widen its Hindu support base and disenfranchise many Muslims in the name of illegal migration just because the minority community was perceived to be anti-BJP in its outlook. The forces behind the protests did try to involve university students in a bid to widen the stir on the ground of 'suppression' of the government and later raised the fear of 'demand for documents' to make it an agitation of the poor and the weak as well. The campaign against CAA has, however, progressively become focused again on alleged discrimination against Muslims by a 'pro-Hindu' government with the 'liberal' lobby and 'secularists' raking in issues of 'constitutionalism', 'majoritarianism' and 'intolerance' in their rhetoric to run down the regime. The latter continue to bracket NRC with CAA even though beyond CAA nothing had been spelt out by the government on the citizenship question -- outside of the Supreme Court mandate of an Assam-specific NRC. CAA does not touch the citizenship of anybody in India and on its own it does not alter the position of any community here -- the argument that refugees from the adjoining Islamic countries, if granted citizenship, would add to India's economic burden cannot therefore be a community-specific concern. The protagonists of the anti-CAA stir are in reality objecting to the acknowledgement by the Modi government that the people of Indian origin -- overwhelmingly Hindus -- who, as a minority in erstwhile Pakistan, including what became Bangladesh later, faced persecution in that country as 'unequal' citizens under an Islamic regime, had to be accommodated by India. They are projecting CAA as a mark of assertion of 'nationalism' by India -- almost deprecating 'nationalism' as a dirty word -- and in the process presenting Indian Muslims, perhaps unwittingly, as a community that did not recognise the concept of Indian nationalism. Many leaders of the minority community are, purely for their own politics, converting CAA into a 'Muslim issue' and thus dangerously bracketing the Muslim minority here with the fundamentalist regime of Pakistan. They should, in fact, be calling upon the Islamic Pakistan to declare that all its citizens had the same rights and status -- like the case was in India. By not doing this they are only helping to goad the memory of the religion-based Partition of India. India is an established democratic state that is governed by a political executive elected on the principle of 'one man one vote' and it treats all citizens on the same footing in the spheres of both development and protection, thus establishing its secular credentials. The opposition can criticise the Modi government if this was not happening under the present regime but this question has no connection with CAA. The protagonists of the anti-CAA agitation should not be misrepresenting the specific objective of the Parliamentary legislation -- they should in any case wait for the outcome of the petitions filed in this regard in the Supreme Court. The opposition and the representatives of the Muslim minority have a legitimate right, of course, to demand that NRC, whenever brought into play, must lay down procedures that would be humane, free of exploitation and harassment by corrupt officials and reasonable about asking for documents. The leaders behind the current protests are, however, crossing the limit of reasonableness in fomenting communal unrest about NRC which is still a policy under formulation and not a scheme ready for implementation. Some of the leaders of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Jamia Millia Islamia and Muslim outfits have delivered speeches making implicit references to the 'Direct Action Day' called by the Muslim League in 1946 that had caused unprecedented communal violence at that time. This is perhaps why the slogan 'Jinnah wali Aazadi' was reportedly raised -- though in a stray manner. There is need to invoke the full force of law against these offenders to prevent rise of militancy and Islamic 'radicalism' that would threaten internal security. The emergence of Indian Mujahideen in the Nineties may be recalled in this context. Forces within and outside of the country are clearly getting in cohort to paint a picture of India as a nation that had ceased to be a functional democracy, become an authoritarian state and abandoned the rule of law. In a crooked presentation sections of media, domestic and foreign, are suggesting that a Hindu majority India was incapable of running a democracy and that any talk of 'nationalism' was antithetical to a multi-religious, multi-linguistic and regionally diverse country like India. In a free and fair election, even if more Hindus emerge successful by the logic of demography, it does not mean that the country was passing into 'majoritarianism' or a Hindu rule because the elected political executive that exercises the sovereign power under the Constitution does not carry any denominational stamp. It is clear that the opposition in India continues to believe that somehow consolidating the Muslim minority behind them in the face of a divided majority community, was a good political strategy. They should, however, realise that excessive aggression on behalf of the minority can generate a Hindu backlash that would undo that strategy for them. The inflamed Hindu-Muslim divide created by anti-CAA agitation is a cause for deep concern. The bulk of the minority community here comprises people who were -- like their other fellow citizens -- preoccupied with livelihood work and it is unfortunate that a handful of leaders continue to emotionally exploit the minority for their personal political gains. This is the time for the law and order authorities to legally put down all those who aggravated communal passion through their speeches. We have strong laws to back this course of action. There are anti-India lobbies outside -- particularly in the West -- that dislike the emergence of India as a country of robust 'nationalism' capable of standing up to its adversaries and running its bilateral relationships on the principle of mutual benefits for both economy and security. The scripted speech of George Soros, the bumptious billionaire of America, at Davos amply illustrates this. He regretted that 'nationalism far from being reversed made further headway' and went on to allege that '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 semiautonomous Muslim region and threatening to deprive millions of Muslims of their citizenship'. This kind of condemnation of the world's largest democracy that had defeated an Emergency in the past, is as much a measure of his ignorance as it is of the power of lobbies -- even if we give consideration to the reports that Soros was a Nazi regime survivor. Coming back to the anti-CAA stir, it bears repetition to mention that the potential for communal violence and radicalisation that it is creating must be noted by all stakeholders of Indian democracy and dealt with firmly in terms of both law enforcement and political action. (The writer is a former Director Intelligence a Bureau) Defence Minister on Wednesday said the did not wish to come to power in Delhi riding on hatred and such a victory would be unacceptable to the party. Addressing a rally in Adarsh Nagar, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader also sought to assuage the concerns of Muslims over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and said bona fide citizens would remain unaffected under the new law. "We do not want a victory that has been achieved because of hatred. Even if we win, we will not accept such a victory," he said. Hitting out at the Opposition, Singh said there were some staging protests at Shaheen Bagh and instigating fear that Muslims will be stripped of their citizenship. The has been aggressively raising the pitch on Shaheen Bagh, an anti-CAA protest site in south Delhi. Singh said Muslims should not suspect the government's integrity. "I do not know whether you will vote for us or not, but I request you not to suspect our integrity. As the defence minister of this country, I assure you that every Muslim is a citizen of this country. Forget questioning his citizenship, I assure you that no one can even touch a Muslim citizen of this country," he added. Singh said if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the had any malice, the government would not have come up with the "sabka sath sabka vikas" slogan. He also accused the Opposition of playing the politics of hatred. The 70-member Delhi Assembly will go to polls on February 8 and the results will be announced on February 11. In an interview Wednesday inside her office near the Capitol, she said she always wanted to get ink done at some point. But to get this done the day before we cast the final vote, thats a very special moment that will outlive my time in public office. A joint motion, combining five different resolutions tabled by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) against India's Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), has been placed on the final agenda for debate at the Plenary session in Brussels on Wednesday. London: A joint motion, combining five different resolutions tabled by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) against India's Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), has been placed on the final agenda for debate at the Plenary session in Brussels on Wednesday. The motion takes note of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) statement last month, which described the CAA as "fundamentally discriminatory in nature", and also of other UN as well as the European Union (EU) guidelines on human rights as it calls on the Indian government to "repeal the discriminatory amendments". The debate on CAA on Wednesday will follow the European Parliament's historic ratification of the Brexit bill, under which the UK is set to formally leave the economic bloc on Friday. "While the CAA's stated goal of protecting persecuted groups is welcome, an effective national asylum and refugee policy should be just and holistic in nature and apply to all those in need," notes the motion, which describes the CAA as "discriminatory in nature and dangerously divisive". Meanwhile, the Centre has maintained that the CAA, which was passed by the Parliament last month, is an internal matter of the country and stressed that the goal is to protect the oppressed minorities of neighbouring countries. It has been extremely critical of the move in Brussels, which the European Commission the executive arm of the economic bloc has sought to distance itself from. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday wrote to European Parliament president David Maria Sassoli over the resolutions, saying it is inappropriate for one legislature to pass judgement on another and the practice can be misused by vested interests. "As members of Inter Parliamentary Union, we should respect sovereign processes of fellow legislatures, especially in democracies," Birla said in the letter. The European Parliament motion is critical of any protection being denied to Muslims and that even though India also shares a border with Bhutan, Burma, Nepal and Sri Lanka, the CAA does not bring Sri Lankan Tamils under its purview, who form the largest refugee group in India and who have been resident in the country for over 30 years. "Amnesty International India has pointed out that the CAA does not bring under its purview other persecuted minorities, including Muslim populations such as the Rohingya in Burma, Ahmadis in Pakistan, Hazaras in Afghanistan and Bihari Muslims in Bangladesh," it notes. There is also a reference to the Indian government's "push" for a nationwide citizenship verification process, the National Register of Citizens (NRC), which it says "aims to strip Muslims of their citizenship rights while protecting those of Hindus and other non-Muslims". The motion combines the separate resolutions tabled by the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D), Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) (PPE), Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance (Verts/ALE), Renew Europe Group (Renew) and European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) Group, representing around 560 of a total 751 MEPs. A sixth group, the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR), had withdrawn its resolution and references to the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in some of the resolutions have not found their way into the final motion. Such a move, which has been characterised under the "Relations with Asian countries" section by the economic bloc, are used as a basis for engagement of EU member countries with specific nations. If it is passed during a vote scheduled on Thursday, it will be formally sent to the Indian government and Parliament as well as to the European Commission chiefs. While EU officials are keen to highlight that the motion reflects individual views of MEPs and does not reflect an EU-wide stance, the impact of the motion is likely to resonate with the EU-India relationship as the motion notes that the Strategic Partnership between the European Union and India is based on the shared values of democracy and respect for human rights. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chinese automaker SAIC Motor announced its annual sales in 2019 shrank 11.54% from a year ago to 6,237,950 units. However, after suffering 15-straight-month year-on-year downturn, the Chinese biggest automaker finally posted growth in December. The Shanghai-based auto group is striving to fit itself in the disruptive technical trends of electrification, ICV and sharing mobility service. Gasgoo hereby summarized the major events that to some degree delineate the development track of SAIC Motor's 2019. SAIC Motor launches Xiangdao Zuche mobility service brand for enterprise usage SAIC Motor announced on April 28 that it had officially launched the enterprise-class mobility service brand dubbed Xiangdao Zuche as part of upgrading strategy for Xiangdao Chuxing, a mobility service brand launched in December 2018. The Xiangdao Zuche (Zuche means car rental in Chinese) is dedicated to providing comprehensive service and technology solutions for business trips, employees' travels as well as vehicle and chauffeur management. 300,000th vehicle for SAIC Motor PV's Zhengzhou base rolls off production line on May 29 SAIC Motor Passenger Vehicle (SAIC Motor PV), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SAIC Motor, saw the 300,000th vehicle for its Zhengzhou plant officially roll off the production line on May 29. The milestone vehicle is also the 100,000th Roewe i5 car, according to the PV maker. It took less than 2 years for the Zhengzhou plant to get a leap from 0 to 300,000 units in total vehicle outputs. Last year, our production base in Zhengzhou generated a total value of over RMB10 billion. Besides, its cumulative output value for the first five months of 2019 is expected to exceed RMB6.5 billion, Ding Bo, general manager of SAIC Motor PVs Zhengzhou branch, said at the ceremony. According to the automaker's introduction, the Zhengzhou base is a digital plant that boasts modernized intelligent manufacturing techniques. Using the manufacturing execution system (MES), workshops are able to share their data with each other and efficiently utilize them accordingly, laying a data foundation for the plant to execute smart manufacturing process. SAIC Motor says world's biggest hydrogen-refueling station launched in Shanghai The world's biggest and highest-level hydrogen-refueling station had been officially launched on June 5 at the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park, SAIC Motor announced via its official WeChat account. The fresh hydrogen-refueling station is a joint program between Shanghai Chemical Industry Park and the China's largest auto group SAIC Motor. The automaker said SAIC was the only company in China that comprehensively deployed three major NEV technical routesall-electric, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell, and had proactively engaged in the formulation of 15 national standards for fuel cell. According to the Shanghai-based automaker, the new station was going to serve 20 SAIC Motor-owned fuel cell vehicles deployed at the pilot industry park and also offer relevant business services to the public. SAIC Motor ready to issue RMB20 billion worth of bonds to raise capital for R&D innovation SAIC Motor was ready to apply for public issuance of RMB20 billion worth of bonds by means of shelf offering and the plan had been approved by the company's board of directors and supervisory board, the China's biggest auto group announced on July 19. The money raised from the shelf offering would be used to replenish the group's working capital, promote R&D innovation and develop concrete projects after deducting the issuance expense, according to the announcement. This is not the mere case that SAIC Motor raised capital for the sake of R&D innovation. In January 2017, SAIC Motor raised RMB15 billion through a non-public issuance of stocks. The company stated the capital raised was primarily utilized on R&D innovation for such programs as energy-saving and new NEV products, forward-looking technologies of fuel cell vehicles and ICVs. SAIC, Alibaba step up cooperation for next-generation ICV SAIC Motor and the Internet giant Alibaba deepened their strategic cooperation on August 28 for the next generation intelligent-connected vehicle (ICV). Under the strengthened partnership, both parties would restructure Banma Network Technology (Banma), a startup initiated by SAIC Motor and Alibaba, and Alibaba's operating system YunOS. Besides, their collaboration would extend to cover such areas as mobility service platform, autonomous driving and automobile-related cloud, etc. The reorganization would make Alibaba the largest shareholder of Banma, a provider of Internet car total solutions. Per the deal, the entire intellectual property and businesses of YunOS would be injected to Banma, making the startup wholly own YunOSs underlying infrastructure & code and get the right to use it. Meanwhile, Banma was allowed to authorize eligible automobile brands and designated partners to use the technology. SAIC Motor among those given Shanghai's first license plates for ICV pilot application Shanghai released its first batch of license plates for intelligent-connected vehicle (ICV) pilot application to SAIC Motor, BMW and Didi at the 2019 World Autonomous Vehicle Ecosystem Conference (WAVE), making itself the first city in China that issued this kind of license. Companies that were given the demonstration licenses are allowed to deploy their ICVs on urban roads for pilot application, a further step towards the ICV commercial deployment, starting to try some autonomous driving functions with passengers carried on seats. According to a trial regulation released by Shanghai government a few days ago, companies were allowed to apply the ICV pilot project for up to 50 vehicles. The number can be increased after a 6-month smooth operation. SAIC Motor's Ningde PV base begins production, really close to CATL On September 28, Chinese largest automaker SAIC Motor formally completed the construction of the Ningde base, its fourth manufacturing base for self-owned PVs following the facilities in Lingang of Shanghai, Pukou of Nanjing and Zhengzhou. The MG eHS plug-in hybrid SUV, the first model produced by the Ningde plant and the third NEV model of MG, came off the production line at the same time. After launched in China, the new model will go westward into countries like the UK, said SAIC Motor. Since the groundbreaking on April 28, 2018, it took the automaker only 17 months to fulfill a vehicle production base that covers an area of over 4.5 million square meters. According to SAIC Motor, the new facility was created to achieve flexible, digital, automatic and data-driven production and management, and would offer products satisfying the strict European emission standards. The new base, located at Ningde Sanyu Park, is only 3.4 kilometers away from CATL, the world's leading EV battery supplier. It is said that the batteries carried by the MG eHS would come from the battery giant. Volkswagen's Shanghai-based EV-only manufacturing plant completed SAIC Volkswagen launched on November 8 an all-new and BEV-focused manufacturing plant in Anting, Shanghai, only one year after the groundbreaking. With a planned capacity of 300,000 vehicles per year, the new plant is particularly built for the production of all-electric vehicles based on Volkswagen's MEB (Modular Electric Drive Matrix) platform. It is also the group's first plant of this kind worldwide. The beginning of series production of MEB-based BEVs in Anting is scheduled for October 2020, said the German auto giant. On the same day, a first China-specific all-electric Volkswagen ID. series model rolled off the production line at the newly-launched plant, setting a milestone in Volkswagen Group China's e-mobility strategy. The significant model has a very romantic Chinese name Chujian, meaning first encounter. The trial production in Anting starts with the aforesaid Chujian ID. model. In the future, the plant will manufacture MEB-based BEV models under various brands of Volkswagen Group. Local production in China is set to be increased to 15 MEB models from different brands by 2025, said Volkswagen. SAIC Roewe launches development routes for new technology, design, pattern On November 20, SAIC Roewe released its development routes of new technology, new design and new pattern. The auto marque, paying much more attention to technologies in recent years, boasts many independent intellectual property rights in BEV, PHEV and FCEV segments. Based on the technology strategy NetGreen released in 2015, it has gradually established a comprehensive system and developed advanced technologies for NEV segment. The brand has applied these to its new energy products such as the Roewe ERX5, the Ei5, the Ei6 and the MARVEL X, building a better NEV portfolio. The SAIC's brand also made public the innovative second-generation intelligent technologies related to PHEV. One of them is an intelligent electric drive unit (EDU), which adopts dual-input shaft DHT (dedicated hybrid transmission). The transmission efficiency can reach up to 94%. Another highlight lies in its IEM (intelligent energy management) system, integrating 18 kinds of mixes like driving, energy recovery and power management modes. The aforesaid technologies are combined to offer drivers more smooth and energy-saving manipulation. The Roewe RX5 eMAX, unveiled at Auto Gunaghou 2019, would be outfitted with the new technologies. Besides, Integrated Intelligence, an all-new intelligent electric vehicle design concept introduced by Roewe, involves integration, essence, and vitality. The brand's fire-new Ei6 was expected to be designed in accordance with the new one. SAIC Motor, China Post to team up on vehicle procurement, auto finance, express & logistics SAIC Motor on December 9 inked a framework agreement with China Post Group, a state-owned enterprise engaged in parcel delivery and post items, to carry out strategic collaboration on complete vehicle procurement, fleet operation, finance, express & logistics and market expansion, the Shanghai-based auto giant announced via its WeChat account. In accordance with the agreement, SAIC Motor planned to provide China Post with its NEVs, including HEVs, BEVs and FCVs, vehicles running on gasoline or diesel and other bespoke vehicles, which would serve the fields like business travel, logistics, employer's personal trip and fleet operation. Besides, both parties intended to jointly popularize the applications of NEVs and intelligent vehicles. As for the finance, the state-run automaker and delivery service provider were ready to team up on and co-explore company credit, trade finance, negotiable instruments and automotive finance that were associated with wholesale business, and industrial fund, auto loans to individual buyers as well as investment banking, etc. Moreover, China Post would offer SAIC Motor such international services as consignment, freight forwarding, warehouse management and good delivery, as well as custom clearance at key ports and logistics service in some bonded zones. Furthermore, China Post would help the automaker expand market countrywide with its service network and resources of media, customers, products, data and partners. SAIC Motor, GAC Group become strategic partners Two state-owned auto giants SAIC Motor and GAC Group inked a framework agreement on December 23 to carry out a widespread strategic cooperation in a number of realms, both companies announced via their WeChat accounts. The significant collaboration would involve such areas as technical R&D, resource synergy, investment, market expansion, business model innovation and global business operation, said GAC Group. This is the first-time tie-up formed between the two high-end manufacturing titans in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone. In addition, the partnership would witness their joint efforts over the R&D of new business models like car-sharing, mobility service and separating consumption of vehicles and batteries. Moreover, global market is the domain both parties are striving for. Under the agreement, SAIC and GAC will team up on seeking resources of sales channels and manufacturing, and searching business partners in overseas markets. New Delhi: On Tuesday, Bigg Boss surprised the housemates by inviting their family members and friends to the house to support them. However, he announced the news it with a twist. Bigg Boss said that since the housemates were not unsuccessful in electing a captain, he has assigned the task to a few people. At different intervals, the buzzer will ring and at every ring, one connection of a housemate will enter the house. From the confession room, the connection will enter the house and announce in whose support they have come. They also have to cast a vote for the housemate who they want to see as a captain apart from their connection. The first buzzer rings and Devoleena Bhattacharjee make a comeback to the Bigg Boss house as Rashami Desai's connection. Rashami is extremely happy to have her best friend back. Apart from supporting Rashami, Devoleena nominates Shehnaz Gill as a contender for the captaincy task. After Devoleena, Himanshi Khurana enters the house for Asim and also takes Shehnaz's name for the captaincy task. Post the big reveal that Himanshi has parted ways with her boyfriend, Asim had been eager to talk to her. Making the most of this opportunity, Asim goes down on his knees and proposes to Himanshi. Asim tells her that he loves her a lot and would love to spend the rest of his life with her. Next, Aarti is left overwhelmed when she sees Kashmera Shah (her sister-in-law) in the house. Known for her straightforward nature, she takes off on the housemates including Vishal Aditya Singh, Rashami and Shehnaz the moment she enters. She taunts Vishal on Madhurima and also says that he's not visible in the house. Mahira is shocked to see her brother Aakash enter the house. Aakash takes a dig at Paras for mocking him earlier and tells him that they don't know each other and it wasn't right for him to comment like that. Paras immediately apologises and says that it wasn't his intention to hurt him. Apart from saving their respective connections, both Kashmera and Aakash nominate Sidharth Shukla for the captaincy task. By Tom Plate There is no certainty as to where and when the coronavirus outbreak will end, but where it all began is not in dispute. And that speaks to a point I have emphasized before: China's future will be determined mainly by what the mainland Chinese do among themselves, for themselves and last, but not least to themselves. The West overestimates what it can do to China and underestimates what China can do to itself. Washington is foolish to embark on the impossible task of trying to contain China, but Beijing must do better at the necessary work of containing its worst features. Further evidence is hardly needed, but the "one world" idea that "we're all in this together" is revalidated as this new virus penetrates multiple cities within China and travels across borders and international time zones. Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party, having tightened its control over its people and organizations (private as well as public), must now prove they have the governing will and necessary health care infrastructure in place to contain this viral enemy. Blame for the outbreak is being levied almost as quickly as the coronavirus is spreading; China's many sins, past and present, real and imagined, are now being cited. Some ideologically anti-communist Americans, who would almost rather die than witness China's success under continued communist control, are near the "I told you so" point. In the current crisis, they find symbolic confirmation of communism's diseased nature. This may be a kind of ideological dancing on graves, as it were, but it is almost as sincere as it is cruel. As China has proceeded apace in its global restoration, it attracts envy in some quarters as much as admiration in others. For the longest time, of course, it was the United States that had that distinction. Neither the envy nor the blame game is new: The sociologist and economist Thorstein Veblen, writing 100 years ago about Germany versus England, noted the latter had to bear the burden of "taking the lead," while Germany was reaping the coy "advantages" of comparative underdevelopment. That was to change too. The historic disadvantage ploy is waning as a defense for China's shortcomings. Having ignored paramount leader Deng Xiaoping's wise dictum that China should keep a low profile as it builds itself up, Xi adopted a much less modest approach to the return to prominence. So there's no place to hide now. The Wuhan coronavirus may wind up dimming Xi's sheen more than anything that has happened since 2012, perhaps even more than the Hong Kong troubles. Many outside China in Asia much less so in the West believe the Xi government is increasingly more competent and less corrupt than its predecessors and does try to offer good governance. Since 2012, when Xi assumed office as the general secretary of the Communist Party, China has had the benefit of a clear-eyed plan to drive the country to global leadership. But in meeting the needs of 1.4 billion people, the daily problem is to keep the country steady on its feet; utopia can wait. Wuhan, where the coronavirus outbreak originated, is a metropolis of 11 million. This is 1.5 times the population of Hong Kong and four times that of Chicago. If as many as one percent of the people of Hong Kong were to become infected by this virus, that in itself would be a big number (74,000 or so) but less than for Wuhan, and much less than for somewhere like Shanghai. When Lee Kuan Yew, modern Singapore's founder, showed off his achievements to China's economic reformer, Deng responded, "If I only had Shanghai, I too might be able to change Shanghai as quickly. But I have the whole of China!" I know I make this point perhaps too often but, China is home to around 1.4 billion people. The sheer enormity of governing a population this size would test any leader whether Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Lee Kuan Yew or Xi; no one is perfect. Consider Xi's insistence on pushing the party into just about every arena. Its cadres now permeate not only government enterprises but private firms and have tightened their grip on universities. This is understandable but unsettling and may well be the bridge too far. Any professor can tell you that students benefit from open discussion, but not those under surveillance. Business people resent having anyone, much less party operatives, looking over their shoulder, second-guessing. Can you blame them? What about the hardworking healthcare community? Was it spooked by the party? Have pushy party members been overruling qualified medical personnel? This is only speculative but it's the kind of question Xi should ask when the time comes. Now is not the moment for that, of course. We must focus our energy on how to get out of this, rather than how we got into it. The time will come for an overall review, and possible recrimination and reorganization. Something obviously went tragically amiss in Wuhan but, for now, the emphasis must be on cooperation at all levels. Confronting a coronavirus like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), all doctors of conscience must view themselves as being without borders. Scientific excellence and medical heroism are now needed without political surveillance or dogma. The West should offer all relevant medical supplies and whatever else is needed in the required abundance and, yes, at no cost. Like it or not, we are of one world, Chinese and Americans alike. We all need to be all in, all the time, and perhaps especially now. Professor Tom Plate, distinguished scholar of Asian and Pacific studies at Loyola Marymount University, is vice-president of the Pacific Century Institute, also based in Los Angeles. One of his books is "Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew." His commentary was distributed by the South China Morning Post. DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) Syrian government forces Tuesday entered a key rebel-held town in the country's northwest after surrounding it on three sides, sending thousands of people fleeing to safety in areas farther north, opposition activists and pro-government media said. The push into the town of Maaret al-Numan in Idlib province came as Syrian forces were also advancing against insurgent positions west of the city of Aleppo, according to state media and opposition activists. The town of Maaret al-Numan, which has been in rebel hands since 2012, sits on the highway linking Damascus with Aleppo. Syrian troops were keeping a road leading west out of the town open, apparently to give insurgents a chance to withdraw. Syrian government forces have been on the offensive for more than a month in northwestern Idlib province, the last rebel stronghold in the country. But in recent days, the government captured more than a dozen villages in the area as the insurgents' defenses began to crumble. Al-Qaida linked rebels control much of Idlib province and small parts of the adjacent area in Aleppo. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said Syrian troops entered the western neighborhoods of Maaret al-Numan under the cover of intense airstrikes. The pro-government Sham FM reported that troops had taken control of most of the town adding that Syrian soldiers were conducting search operations as experts began to dismantle explosives and booby-traps left behind by militants. Earlier in the day, Syrian troops captured nearby Kfar Roummah, a village that lies southwest of Maaret al-Numan, according to the Observatory. Syrian state TV confirmed that government forces were inside. Farther north, government forces began an offensive on the western suburbs of Aleppo in an attempt to push insurgents away from Syria's largest city. Rebels have rained artillery and mortar shells down on Aleppo in recent days. Story continues On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that Washington condemns these unjustifiable attacks against the people of northwest Syria. He added that the U.S. calls for an immediate cease-fire and "full access to the affected areas by humanitarian organizations to alleviate the suffering of the hundreds of thousands that have fled the incessant bombing. The government offensive in Idlib province has led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, many of them to areas close to the border with Turkey. The province is home to 3 million civilians, and the U.N. has warned of the growing risk of a humanitarian catastrophe along the Turkish border. The push in Maaret al-Numan and west of Aleppo brought government forces closer to retaking a critical north-south highway that passes through the town. In August, Syrian troops captured another town that the highway passes through, Khan Sheikhoun. If Syrian troops capture Maaret al-Numan, their next target is likely to be Saraqeb, which would become the last major town on the M5 highway outside government control. The violence came as the U.N. special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, arrived in the capital Damascus to meet with officials. Pedersen is expected to talk during his visit about activating the constitutional committee whose job is to draft a new constitution for the country. The 150-member committee met in Geneva in October but has failed for make progress. ___ Mroue reported from Beirut. [January 29, 2020] GoodFirms Reveals the Most Recommended Testing and Cloud Computing Service Providers - January 2020 WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, businesses are evolving at a rapid speed. The organizations are integrating the software to get assistance in solving the business challenges to survive and thrive in the future. As the demands have increased in software, most of the software development industries are adopting the testing services to make sure that the web or mobile apps function perfectly as per the client's requisites. Therefore, GoodFirms.co has revealed the latest list of top testing service providers based on several qualitative and quantitative factors. The service seekers can get in touch with right A/B, QA, and testing service providers at GoodFirms These leading companies are recognized to undertake application software testing by putting a major emphasis on quality control, detecting errors and making the correction, while focusing on maximizing client's cost reduction. Take a quick look at the Best Software Testing Firms listed at GoodFirms: Top Software Testing Companies: a1qa, QA Mentor, DeviQA, ImpactQA, Hidden Brains Infotech, Brights, Zymr, Inc., QualityLogic, UTOR - QA and Testing partner, Vyshnavi Information Technologies (India) Pvt. Ltd. https://www.goodfirms.co/software-testing-companies Top Software Testing Companies in the USA: LambdaTest, KiwiQA Services, SimbirSoft, Algoworks, Redwerk, Alpha Information Systems India Pvt. 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Ltd., Biz4Solutions LLC, X-Byte Enterprise Crawling, WebCreta Technologies, Neebal Technologies, Octobot. https://www.goodfirms.co/cloud-computing-companies/usa Best Hybrid Cloud Computing Companies: Parangat Technologies, Microsoft, Logicalis, Netmagic, PC Solutions, ServerCentral, Virtustream, De Facto Infotech, PCM Canada, Cetrom https://www.goodfirms.co/cloud-computing-companies/hybrid Top Software as a Service (SaaS) Companies: RESTGroup, Trigent, Kezber, Carmatec Global, Mono, Fordway, Doublehorn, Reckonsys Tech Labs Private Limited, RightScale, Qualys. https://www.goodfirms.co/cloud-computing-companies/saas Washington based GoodFirms is a leading and well renowned B2B research, ratings, and reviews platform. It aims to associate the service seekers with the right partners that fit in their budget and needs. The analyst team of GoodFirms evaluates each firm with multiple research factors. The research process includes three main criteria that are Quality, Reliability, and Ability. These elements are subdivided into several metrics to scrutinize every firm, such as determining their years of experience in their proficiency, past and present portfolio, online presence and reviews received from their patrons. Thus, focusing on the overall research process, each of them is given a set of scores that are out of a total of 60. Hence, considering these points, all the service providers are listed in the list of top development companies, best software and other organization from various industries. Additionally, GoodFirms invites the service providers to take part in the research process and present the work done by them. Thus, obtain an opportunity to Get Listed in the list of top companies as per the categories. Securing a strong position among the catalog of best companies at GoodFirms will increase the chances of getting in touch with new prospects, increase productivity, and enhance the business globally. About GoodFirms: GoodFirms is a Washington, D.C. based research firm that aligns its efforts in identifying the most prominent and efficient testing companies that deliver results to their clients. GoodFirms research is a confluence of new age consumer reference processes and conventional industry-wide review & rankings that help service seekers leap further and multiply their industry-wide value and credibility. Rachael Ray (360) 326-2243 [email protected] SOURCE GoodFirms Related Links https://www.goodfirms.co View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/goodfirms-reveals-the-most-recommended-testing-and-cloud-computing-service-providers--january-2020-300995243.html SOURCE GoodFirms [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] General Electrics (GE) stock is capping off a 30% one-year climb as the industrial giant prepares to report earnings Wednesday morning. But the biggest GE bear on the Street says the good times wont last, in part because the return of the Boeing 737 Max could be bad news for the industrials giant. On the surface, its a head-scratcher. Economists predict the grounding of the Boeing plane in the wake of crashes and a safety review could shave 0.5% from GDP. GE produces all of the engines for the jet in cooperation with Safran of France. So in theory, the return of the 737 Max to production would benefit GE. Stephen Tusa, managing director at JPMorgan, believes that GE sells the 737 Max engines at a loss. The better profit, he explains, is in spare parts. You have a dynamic where if they are not delivering Maxes, [GE is] actually seeing a higher amount of EBIT margin dollars because they're not delivering loss-leading engines, he said in an interview with Yahoo Finances On the Move. What we believe GE has done over the last year, is that they've turned around and repurposed some of that capacity to sell into the spare engine market, and that when you sell a spare its a lot more profitable. So actually in the near term, the Max coming back in our view will be net negative for them. Tusa has had an underweight rating on GE since May 2016, with a brief reprieve Dec. 2018-March 2019, which means his bearish stance predates the 737 Max grounding. Visitors watch General Electric's turbo fan "the GEnx engine, powering Boeing 787 Dremliner, during the 50th Paris Air Show at Le Bourget airport, north of Paris, Wednesday June 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere) His thesis goes well beyond GEs exposure to the plane, although aviation is the companys largest source of revenue. Tusa estimates that GE generated $1.5 billion of free cash flow in 2019 far from enough to justify his peers price targets for the stock, he said. That figure would need to climb to more like $6 billion to $7 billion by 2021. Right now the average price target is $11.54, according to a Bloomberg survey. Tusas is $5. Morgan Stanley analyst Joshua Pokrzywinski just upgraded GE on Thursday, citing a budding turnaround. Hes not alone. According to analysts surveyed by Bloomberg, there are 11 buys, 10 holds and 4 sells. Story continues Analysts predict the company earned 17 cents a share last quarter, as revenue dropped 22% to $25.29 billion. Julie Hyman is the co-anchor of On the Move on Yahoo Finance. Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, SmartNews, LinkedIn, YouTube, and reddit. Holly and Philip struggle to hold it together as Iris gives a frank description of sex with her 35-year old fiance Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were left in stitches after an 80-year-old guest on This Morning detailed her sex life with her 35-year-old Egyptian fiance. The hosts covered their mouths with their hands as they descended into giggles as retired cleaner Iris Jones described her first night of passion with Mohamed Ahmed Ibriham She said their first night together was pretty rough, adding: No one had been near me for 35 years, I thought I was a virgin again. There's just some things we never thought we'd hear on the show, but we loved Iris' honesty! Hear the full story on our free app! https://t.co/22PhhgC3eZ pic.twitter.com/CWLemChuXA This Morning (@thismorning) January 28, 2020 Can I say what we used? A whole tube of KY Jelly. She added: And the thing is, I couldnt walk the next day. I felt as if Id been riding a horse. Saddle sore wasnt in it. Anyway we got over that. The sex is not the important thing because I cant sleep with him. You get an elbow in the face, a knee in the back, hes terrible. I used to sleep on the settee. Separate beds when we get married. Viewers watching at home were equally entertained by the segment, with one writing on Twitter: oh my god is anyone else watching this! I nearly spat out my tea !! 80 year old #Iris telling us about using a whole tube of KY jelly the first time she slept with her Egyptian toy boy, 45 years her junior you go girl ! @thismorning oh my god is anyone else watching this! I nearly spat out my tea !! 80 year old #Iris telling us about using a whole tube of KY jelly the first time she slept with her Egyptian toy boy, 45 years her junior - you go girl ! Emma Bateman Art (@madeoflove79) January 28, 2020 Video of the Day Another wrote: Televisual Moment Of The Decade, thus far, and probably till it ends! What a lady!! #RidingAHorse #WholeTub #ThisMorning. This Morning is on ITV on weekdays at 10am. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 By Elchin Mehtiyev Trend: Azerbaijan's Central Election Commission (CEC) has been holding exit-polls in the country since 2005, CEC Deputy Chairman Rovzat Gasimov said at a meeting of the commission on Jan. 29, Trend reports. To this date, there have not been any serious differences between the results of organizations holding the exit-polls, and official results. There are several organizations in Azerbaijan that are quite experienced in this field," he said. Gasimov also added that conducting exit-polls is very important. The parliamentary election in Azerbaijan will be held on February 9. UW-La Crosse is taking added precautions to ensure that students and staff are safe from the coronavirus, especially given the universitys ties to the Chinese city at the heart of the outbreak. Abby Deyo, director of UW-Ls Student Health Center, said her department has consulted with students and staff who recently were out of the country, and determined that none of them are showing symptoms of the virus. While there are no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Wisconsin, the state health department has announced that six patients are receiving further testing. The virus, which has been linked to meat and seafood markets in Wuhan, China, has killed more than 100 people in the country and sickened thousands more worldwide. There are several confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the United States, the nearest in Chicago. I think theres a pretty heightened awareness that is appropriate for the situation were in, because we want to stay on top of it, Deyo said Tuesday, the second day of the spring semester. There is concern because we do have a number of students, staff and faculty who traveled over the (holiday) break. In a message to campus last week, Deyo provided general information about the virus and directed anyone with symptoms fever, coughing, difficulty breathing and others to make a doctors appointment. While knowledge of the coronavirus is limited, she said, people should employ the same preventative measures that help prevent the spread of flu: washing hands, covering mouth while coughing or sneezing, staying home if sick. Its a fluid situation, Deyo said. Well be watching the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization for more or different information. UW-L is being particularly careful, officials say, because of its student exchange partnership with South Central University for Nationalities in Wuhan. Emelee Volden, director of international education and engagement at UW-L, said the university is hosting about 20 Wuhan students this semester. One UW-L student is studying abroad in Wuhan. The La Crosse campus also hosts students from several other countries with confirmed cases of the virus: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam. Volden said that, while her department does not track where students and staff travel internationally, it did work closely with the Student Health Center to identify students who might have been at risk of infection. Theres been proactive messaging from the health center, Volden said, and weve been encouraging students to follow those instructions and reassuring them that they are welcome and supported here. UW-L officials fear that the coronavirus will have harmful effects on campus even if it never infects a healthy body in La Crosse. The attention and negative feelings generated by the outbreak, they say, could dissuade future international students from coming here. A dip in Chinese enrollment would be a major blow to UW-L, where nearly half of the international students are from China, and where overall international enrollment has been steadily falling for years. I do think it could hurt enrollment, Volden said. Hopefully our students experience on campus wont change because of the perceived reactions and response to the outbreak. From our offices perspective, thats a hard thing to manage. Kyle Farris can be reached at 608-791-8234 or kfarris@lacrossetribune.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Kyle_A_Farris. Fuji Bistro. | Photo: Yi L./Yelp Looking to uncover all that Northeast Colorado Springs has to offer? Get to know this neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from a sushi bar to a Vietnamese restaurant. Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in Northeast Colorado Springs, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results. 1. Fuji Bistro Photo: yi l./Yelp Topping the list is sushi bar, Chinese and Thai spot Fuji Bistro. Located at 6995 Lexington Drive, Suite 100, it's the highest-rated business in the neighborhood, boasting 4.5 stars out of 182 reviews on Yelp. Sesame chicken, Thai basil beef and hot wok dishes with curried chicken or shrimp are offered, in addition to sushi and sashimi. 2. Bonefish Grill Photo: janjira n./Yelp Next up is cocktail bar and New American spot Bonefish Grill, situated at 5102 N. Nevada Ave. With four stars out of 305 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a local favorite. The restaurant offers avocado and lime grilled striped bass, imperial lobster tail, risotto with sauteed shrimp and scallops, and a variety of classic cocktails. It also serves bananas Foster for dessert. 3. Pho Lu'u Photo: paul v./Yelp Vietnamese spot Pho Lu'u is another top choice. Yelpers give the business, located at 4488 Austin Bluffs Parkway, four stars out of 135 reviews. Pho is featured, with meatballs, chicken, rare steak, well-done brisket and tripe or filet mignon. Rice noodle bowls and steamed rice dishes are also available. 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. Harbor Springs school board authorizes May bond proposal During Monday's meeting, the board unanimously adopted a resolution to authorize the bonding proposal, with the election scheduled for Tuesday, May 3. A woman from Italy has approached the Delhi High Court seeking the cancellation of bail granted to a man, who claims to be a yoga instructor, alleging that the accused cheated her. The woman, who is a permanent resident of Milan in Italy, filed a petition in the court through advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava challenging the January 8 order of a trial court granting bail to accused Abhishek Singh. In her plea, the woman, who is also a yoga instructor and has been practising for the last 20 years, alleged that the accused "fraudulently" took Rs 5 lakh from the petitioner for "jointly setting up a yoga centre" promising "good returns". She had lodged a cheating and forgery case against Singh at South Avenue police station here in 2018. According to her petition, the woman had become friends with the accused on social media. "Singh had introduced himself as a great yoga guru from India and told the petitioner that he is teaching Yoga to all big celebrities of India, including the Prime Minister and the President of India," the petition said. The woman, in her plea, said that the accused manipulated her and started claiming that he was "madly in love with her and he wanted to marry her". "The accused further told the petitioner that she can set up her yoga training centres in India, in collaboration with him," the petition said adding that "on the insistence of the accused, she finally came to Goa in July 2018 and thereafter they visited various other places". "On the assurances of good return by the accused, the petitioner invested her money for a yoga centre. The accused kept on taking money from the petitioner on one pretext or other and in total, he fraudulently took away about Rs 5 lakh from the petitioner between July 2018 and September 2018," the plea said. The plea claimed that the accused, despite being married, repeatedly raped the petitioner on the pretext of marriage. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 14:05:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TIANJIN, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Foreign trade with countries participating in the Belt and Road (B&R) Initiative via the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin rose 4 percent year on year in 2019, local customs authorities said Wednesday. The trade volume with B&R countries reached 374.8 billion yuan (about 54 billion U.S. dollars) last year, accounting for 27.1 percent of the port city's total, according to the local customs. The city's exports to B&R countries totaled 239.2 billion yuan, while the imports hit 135.6 billion yuan during the period. ASEAN was the port city's biggest trade partner, while trade with India, the European Union and the United Arab Emirates registered fast growth during the same period. The top three import commodities were crude oil, agricultural products and electrical and electronic products, while mechanical and electrical products topped the export products. Private enterprises played a leading role in driving the port city's foreign trade growth with B&R countries. Imports from these countries by private enterprises via Tianjin went up 46.6 percent year on year to 45.3 billion yuan, while their exports grew by 4.1 percent to 140.7 billion yuan. A fresh spell of snow in Himachal Pradesh threw life out of gear on Wednesday with 300 roads, including three national highways, closed for traffic due to slippery roads. Shimla got 10.2cm of snowfall and recorded a low of minus 1 degree Celsius, while the nearby tourist town of Kufri got 45cm of snowfall and shivered at minus 4.4 degrees. The snow hampered traffic on the main Circular Road in Shimla, delaying the supply of daily essentials. The stretch connecting Victory Tunnel to Sanjauli was closed after snowfall overnight. The strategic Hindustan-Tibet road that connects the forward areas along the China border in Kinnaur district and the apple belt of Shimla district also remained closed for the second day due to heavy snowfall at Kufri and Narkanda. No vehicle is being allowed beyond Dhalli. Machines are working to clear the stretch of snow, said Shimla superintendent of police Omapati Jamwal. The Theog-Hatkoti road was blocked due to snowfall at Kharapathar. Police were deployed to assist stranded passengers. Khidki in Chopal also received heavy snowfall. As many as 62 panchayats in Sirmaur district are without power for a week and several villages in the district are without water after supply lines were damaged due to the snowfall. The Sainj-Banjar highway that connects 58 panchayats in Kullu district was closed for traffic after Jalori Pass received more than 40cm of snowfall. The snow-covered rail tracks at Shimla railway station on Wednesday. (ANI Photo) MORE SNOW ON JAN 31 The tribal Bharmour and Pangi areas of Chamba district got up to 25cm of snowfall. Dalhousie received 16cm of snow and recorded a low of minus 2.2 degrees Celsius. Pangi sub-divisional magistrate Vishurt Bharti said that men and machinery have been deployed to clear the roads and restore essential services. Several villages in Tissa sub division are also cut off. Helicopter flights to Pangi could not take off due to bad weather. More than 450 people are waiting to be airlifted from Pangi, many of them government employees. The tribal valley gets cut off from the rest of the state in winter and the helicopter is the only way travel to the region. State meteorological department director Manmohan Singh said, The weather will remain dry on Thursday though snow and rain are likely on January 31 and February 1 in the mid and higher hills of the state. Dharamshala, the winter capital of the state, got 49.6 mm of rainfall and recorded a low of 1.4 degrees Celsius. Manali got 8cm of snowfall and recorded a low of minus 1.8 degrees Celsius. Kalpa in Kinnaur district received 26.4cm of snowfall and the minimum temperature was minus 3.5 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperatures in Hamirpur, Bilaspur and Paonta Sahib were 8, 8.2 and 7 degrees, respectively. Keylong in Lahaul-Spiti district received 10cm of snowfall and was the coldest in the state at a low of minus 5.7 degrees Celsius. Una was the warmest place in the state with a high of 18 degrees Celsius. NASHVILLE, TN, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Local Nashville sales and marketing firm, ProTenn, donated to Second Harvest Food Bank on January 18th, 2020. Directors of Operations, Andrew Barger, Luis Santos and David Houser are dedicated to giving back to the local community in Nashville. The firm continues to uphold this sentiment of giving by consistently participating in charitable events locally. Directors at ProTenn, Barger, Santos and Houser, share their passion for giving back to the community with many of their employees. They often give their employees the opportunity to organize charitable events based upon values that are important to them. Corporate Trainer, Orrie Whitton, relocated from Pennsylvania and desires to get more involved with the local community here in Nashville. Thus, Whitton selected a charity central to the community in order to do so. I think it is so vital to give back to the community in which I live. I think it is awesome to be a part of a company that values that as well, says Whitton. The Second Harvest Food Bank opened its doors in 1978. Second Harvest is dedicated to serving the local community. The food bank acts as a central distribution center for companies, groups and individuals that would like to provide food for hungry people in Tennessee. Second Harvest serves over 46 counties throughout middle Tennessee. 96 cents out of every dollar donated goes directly toward programs to feed the local community. The local food bank has provided over 28 million nutritious meals to neighbors in need. According to Second Harvests website, there are more than one million Tennesseans at risk of hunger every day, [they] are working to get food to those who need it most. Last year [their] fleet of trucks covered over 750,000 miles rescuing and delivering food. Second Harvest is one of the largest and most comprehensive of over 200 food banks nationwide. ProTenn felt that due to the contributions that Second Harvest has made to the community over the years that it was a great idea to work with them not only in this particular instance but in others moving forward. Account Manager, Emily Copeland was excited to contribute as well. I really value contributing to the community that Ive been a part of for the last few years. I love it here in Nashville and its important to me to show that by helping those in need locally, says Copeland. ProTenn has worked with Second Harvest in the past and will continue to do so in the future. ProTenn and Second Harvest share a passion and dedication to help those in need within the local community. To learn more about Second Harvest, please visit their website at https://www.secondharvestmidtn.org/learn/about-us/ To learn donate to Second Harvest and help local Tennesseans visit, https://www.secondharvestmidtn.org/donate-now/ To learn more about the ProTenn team, please visit their website at https://www.pro-tenn.com/ By PTI MELBOURNE: Australian scientists said on Wednesday they have successfully grown the novel coronavirus in a lab, for the first time outside China, a "significant breakthrough" which they say may help combat the deadly virus that has claimed over 130 lives and infected thousands. The researchers from the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity -- a joint venture between the University of Melbourne and the Royal Melbourne hospital -- said the advance will allow accurate investigation and diagnosis of the virus globally. ALSO READ | Coronavirus outbreak: Airlines across globe halt China flights as virus toll hits 132 "Chinese officials released the genome sequence of this novel coronavirus, which is helpful for diagnosis, however, having the real virus means we now have the ability to actually validate and verify all test methods, and compare their sensitivities and specificities - it will be a game changer for diagnosis," said Julian Druce from The Royal Melbourne Hospital. "The virus will be used as positive control material for the Australian network of public health laboratories, and also shipped to expert laboratories working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Europe," Druce said in a statement. Doherty Institute Deputy Director Mike Catton said the possession of a virus isolate extended what could be achieved with molecular technology in the fight against this virus. The deadly coronavirus has claimed 132 lives and nearly 6,000 infection cases have been reported in China, mainly in the central city of Wuhan. ALSO READ: US government jet evacuates Americans from China outbreak zone The grown virus is expected to be used to generate an antibody test, which allows detection of the virus in patients who haven't displayed symptoms and were therefore unaware they had the virus, the researchers said. "An antibody test will enable us to retrospectively test suspected patients so we can gather a more accurate picture of how widespread the virus is, and consequently, among other things, the true mortality rate," Catton said. "It will also assist in the assessment of the effectiveness of trial vaccines," he said. The virus was grown from a patient sample that arrived at the Royal Melbourne Hospital's Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) at the Doherty Institute on January 24. "We've planned for an incident like this for many, many years and that's really why we were able to get an answer so quickly," Catton said. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. Ambassador Mamman Nuhu is the Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, which oversees natural resource use in the region. He is also Head of Mission of the Multinational Joint Task Force, which is made up of military units from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria and is tasked with ending the Boko Haram insurgency. He spoke with Africa Renewals Kingsley Ighobor about the situation on the ground. On environmental challenges: We are losing a lot of plant life and animals, including fish species. Farmers, herders and fishermen have lost their livelihoods. Its a real crisis for us. On defeating Boko Haram: We have made progress. Some territories have been recovered, and now Boko Haram is only in a few places around Lake Chad, but it still has the capacity to cause harm. What we need to do as the Multinational Joint Task Force [MJTF], which we are already doing and seeing good results, is to have continuous military operations. Previously, we had operations for a limited period and then there was a lull. Troops from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Benin constitute the 10,500-strong MJTF. Progress on addressing humanitarian challenges: The humanitarian challenges are still there. About 10.7 million people need humanitarian assistance. Another 2.4 million people are displaced and are yet to return to their hometowns and villages. We have made some progress. Some of the displaced people in neighbouring countries are returning voluntarily, and we are reintegrating them into their communities. A lot of reconstruction is going onschools and marketplaces are being rebuilt, and civil authorities are gradually going back to the places that are safe. On the regional strategy: We have a robust regional stabilisation strategy crafted in 2018 by the Lake Chad Basin Commission, with the assistance of the African Union and the UN Development Programme [UNDP]. It is an all-encompassing approach with nine pillars, including education and skills acquisition, socio-economic recovery, environmental sustainability, and empowerment and inclusion of women. These are the robust ways we will address some of the regional issues in a non-violent way. The regional stabilisation strategy has not yet fully come on stream. In 2019 a UNDP facility helped raise $60 million, which is what we are currently using to address some of the humanitarian challenges. On the African Unions Silencing the Guns by 2020 campaign: It will take sustained pressure on Boko Haram, along with interventions that address the root causes of the problems in the Lake Chad Basin. For example, poverty and hunger are caused by drought and the shrinking of the lake. If we address the developmental issues, we will be able to silence the guns. Imagine: in the 1960s, the lake occupied 25,000 square kilometers; currently, it is 4,500 square kilometers. Over the same period, the population increased from 7 million to about 50 million. Efforts underway to address some of these issues: We are addressing the human aspects such as unsustainable methods of farming, which consume a lot of water. We are introducing drought-resistant crops and new farming techniques to enable farmers to use water more efficiently. There is also a sensitisation campaign to educate people on sustainable ways of farming. Final message: The cordial relationship among countries of the Lake Chad region should continue. We also need the support of the international community so that we can mobilise the needed funding for these interventions. The countries of the region are not in a financial position to handle these huge projects on their own. If 17-year-old environmentalist Greta Thunberg were looking for her first car, the zero-emission British-built Mini Electric could be just the job. As one of the first on our planet to get behind the wheel of the battery-powered three-door hatchback priced from under 25,000, I can tell you the scintillating performance really is as electric as its more planet-friendly power source. However, its thrilling go-kart like performance may be just a little too much fun for serious-minded climate-change campaigners who would prefer to see the end of private car ownership. Yet, for those of Greta's generation who do end up getting behind the wheel, an all-electric runaround like the Mini may end up being their ideal first car, albeit one with a hefty price tag. Going green: Ray Massey has been to Miami, Florida, to test the new production-ready Mini Electric before it hits UK showrooms in March The Mini Electric costs from 24,400 after 3,500 off from the Government's plug-in car grant, whereas a standard Mini starts at 16,195. However, a more comparable Mini Cooper S automatic would cost 22,285, narrowing the price gap. Despite being built at Minis UK factory in Oxford, the firms German bosses hosted the global launch 4,500 flying miles away in Miami, Florida. While the decision would likely make Greta's blood boil - as we flew there rather than sailing - the decision was made by BMW bigwigs in hope of some guaranteed sunny winter weather ahead of the first cars rolling onto customers driveways in March. Ironically, despite a few hours of the area living up to its Sunshine State moniker, by mid-afternoon the heavens opened up with a deluge worthy of Noah. But the Mini Electric coped tremendously well with the super-slippery freeway, proving sure-footed and grippy as windscreen-wipers went into overdrive - and that you can safely drive an electric car in rain, which is a genuine concern for one in ten people. The driving route from the trendy Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) in urban Miami along the upmarket South Beach seafront to Fort Lauderdale and back via the fast-flowing freeway lacked the tight corners on which MINI really excels. But I know from driving an early pre-production model that you can throw this car around like a wrestler in a ring and it still feels glued to the road. If 17-year-old eco-warrior Greta Thunberg were looking for her first car, the zero-emission British-built Mini Electric could be just the job, says Ray Despite being built at Minis UK factory in Oxford, the firms German bosses hosted the global launch 4,500 flying miles away in Miami, Florida 'Its fun, fast and agile. You quickly forget this is an electric car. Its just a very sporty Mini' Extra tax break for electric car drivers From April, the Government is changing the benefit-in-kind rules on electric cars to boost green sales which will save employees and employers hundreds of pounds on their tax bills. Traditionally, if an employee gets a company car, they pay for the perk based on: the price paid for the car; the benefit-in-kind (BIK) rate applied to the vehicle based on its CO2 emissions; and the tax-bracket of the employee. Currently, the BIK for an electric car is 16 per cent. From April, it will be zero. Car-leasing firm Tusker (tuskerdirect.com) said: Drivers could save an average of 320 per month. Jaguar Land Rover UK and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust have agreed a salary sacrifice fleet of 700 Jaguar I-PACE electric vehicles for public sector staff in 200 organisations across the country. The driving position feels good, the stocky steering wheel firm and precise. Near friction-free acceleration is instantaneous and rapid from rest to 37mph in 3.9 seconds and up to 62mph in 7.3 seconds. While it might sprint with plenty of gusto, the top speed is electronically restricted to a reserved 93mph - probably to prevent speeding motorists from the draining the battery at an alarming rate. Its fun, fast and agile. You quickly forget this is an electric car. Its just a very sporty Mini. But the real revelation was just how easy it is to drive this car with your right foot planted mainly on the accelerator and rarely touching the brakes. Just lifting your foot off the throttle creates its own braking effect and the resistance generated recharges the battery, boosting its range. There are two levels of resistance regeneration low or intense. Riding on 16-inch or 17-inch wheels, it has a claimed range of up to 145 miles. Most customers will commute for an average 26 miles a day, says Mini, mindful that drivers worry about running out of juice. Near friction-free acceleration is instantaneous and rapid from rest to 37mph in 3.9 seconds and up to 62mph in 7.3 seconds While it might sprint with plenty of gusto, the top speed is electronically restricted to a reserved 93mph Driven just days before Brexit, the new car has Union Flag red brake-lights, wheel hub-caps that resemble a British-style three-pin electric plug, and will be called 'Mini Electric' only in the UK after bosses argued it sounded better than MINI Cooper SE as it will be known elsewhere. For balance, small embossed logos on side of car, tailgate and sealed front grille resemble Continental two-pin electric plugs. It is powered by a 184 horsepower (135kW) electric motor charged from a 32.6kWh high-voltage lithium ion battery. It retains the standard Mini's full 211 litres of boot-space, expanding to 731 litres when the rear backrests are folded down. A smart digital dashboard shows current flow between battery and motor, available range, and tips on how to conserve energy The Electric version retains the standard Mini's full 211 litres of boot-space, expanding to 731 litres when the rear backrests are folded down There are four driving modes. Sport is perfect for spirited driving but Mid - for less aggressive steering - is still very lively around town. To save power theres Green mode for gentler acceleration and Green+ which switches off power consuming functions such as air-conditioning. A smart digital dashboard shows current flow between battery and motor, available range, and tips on how to conserve energy. Its sat-nav can work out shortest, fastest and greenest route to a destination. Prices start at 24,400 for the entry Level 1 Mini Electric, after the 3,500 government plug-in car grant. Monthly leasing is from 299, after a 4,000 down payment. Level 2 trim from 26,400 includes cloth and leather-look upholstery, more body colour and wheel options and technology including rear park distance control, rear camera, and seat heating. The top premium Level 3 trim from 30,400 adds parking assist, a Harmon Kardon sound system and head-up display, panoramic sun roof, matrix LED lights, an upgraded infotainment touch-screen, wireless phone charging, leather upholstery, a choice of five alloy wheels and six exterior body colours. On a public fast charger (50KW direct current) the electric Mini can achieve 80 per cent charge in just 35 minutes The Mini Electric is powered by a 184 horsepower (135kW) electric motor charged from a 32.6kWh high-voltage lithium ion battery The Mini Electric stands out from a standard Mini thanks to a unique wheel design that resembles a British-style 3-pin electric plug and plenty of plug motifs dotted around the exterior trim Is the Mini Electric expensive? Mini Electric: Will it fit in my garage? Price: From 24,400 (after 3,500 car plug-in grant) Leasing cost: 299 per month (plus 4,000 initial down-payment) Built: Oxford, UK First deliveries: March 2020 Style: 3-door hatchback Length: 3821mm Width including mirrors: 1932mm Height: 1414mm Weight: 1,365kg (only 145kg heavier than MINI Cooper S automatic) Engine: electric motor Power: 184hp (135kW) Battery capacity: 32.6kWh Acceleration: 0-37mph: 3.9 seconds 0-62mph: 7.3 seconds Top-speed: Restricted to 93mph Range: 145 miles (WLTP test) Charging costs: around 4p per mile / 5.31 per full charge Boot volume: 211 litres (731 litres with rear backrests folded down) Charging times: 0 to 80% fast charger (DC 50 KW): 35 minutes 0 to 100% (AC 11 KW): 210 minutes (3 and a half hours) 0 to 80% (AC 11 KW): 150 minutes (2 and a half hours) Domestic home supply: 12 hours The cheapest Mini overall is the 3-door Hatch Classic from 16,195. Set against that the 24,400 electric car looks expensive, but while you can'r argue that it's cheap, the Mini Electric is only 2,115 pricier than the 22,285 equivalent Mini Cooper S in classic spec with automatic gearbox. That's the equivalent of 60 a month in petrol costs over three years. Mini-owner BMW claims that the electric car is actually cheaper than the equivalent Cooper S, because the specification levels aren't the same across the electric and petrol range. It says that the Level 1 Mini Electric has metallic paint, 17 alloy wheels, comfort pack and navigation pack as standard, whereas the Classic Mini Cooper S doesn't. Add all those options to a Mini Cooper S and the price comes out at 25,110 - some 710 more than the Electric car. The flattering maths for the comparison obviously relies on a buyer considering all those options as essential. One thing that is interesting is that despite heavy batteries, the Electric car weighs only 145kg more than a Cooper S at 1,365kg. Meanwhile, the cars centre of gravity is 30mm lower than that of the Cooper S boosting driving dynamics. Charging costs are around 4p per mile or 5.31 per full charge, says the manufacturer. On a public fast charger (50KW direct current) the electric Mini can achieve 80 per cent charge in just 35 minutes. That increases to two and a half hours on a public AC 11KW charger, 3 hours 12 minutes on a domestic 7.4kW wall-box, or 12 hours on a home three-pin plug socket. New EU safety laws mean it must emit a distinctive sound via loudspeakers at low speed to protect pedestrians, though I could barely hear it. The Mini Electric hits the road 61 years after automotive design genius Sir Alec Issigonis created the original 'ten foot square box Mini to meet the need for smaller and more fuel efficient cars to cope with an oil shortage caused by the Suez Crisis. It revolutionised motoring when it rolled out of the same Oxford factory to become a classless symbol of booming baby-boomer Britain in the Swinging Sixties. Perhaps its time really has come again. Two persons were killed and three others injured on Wednesday in a clash between TMC and a civil society group in Murshidabad district over a protest against CAA and the proposed NRC prompting opposition parties to question the credibility of the ruling party on its stand on the contentious law. The clash broke out at Jalangi after a hot argument between local TMC leaders and a civil society group which had called a shutdown against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the proposed country-wide NRC , the police said. A civil society platform 'Nagarik Mancha' (citizens platform) with mainly Muslim community representatives and those from various political parties was formed in the area recently. The 'Nagarik Mancha' members were sitting in a dharna at Sahebnagar market area when the president of TMC Jalangi block committee reached the spot and asked them to withdraw the shutdown, the police said. The protestors disagreed and it led to the two sides coming to blows and even hurling crude bombs at each other. Shots were also fired killing two and injuring three others, the police said. Several two-wheelers and cars were damaged and set on fire during the clash, the police said. One of the persons killed in the clash has been identified as Anarul Biswas, a muezzin (a man who calls Muslims to prayer from the minaret of a mosque) of the local mosque, the police said, adding the identity of the second person is yet to be ascertained. The injured have been rushed to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital, where doctors said the condition of one of them is serious. A huge police contingent reached the spot to maintain law and order and are conducting raids to nab the culprits, the police said. Local TMC MP Abu Taher denied the party's involvement in the clash and alleged that the violence was by Congress and CPI(M) supporters. "I have requested the police to look into the incident. The culprits should be immediately arrested," he said. Senior Congress leader and MLA Manoj Chakraborty said that the party was not involved in the incident and demanded a judicial inquiry into it. "The incident only reflects TMC's sincerity about its protest against CAA. On one hand it says that it is against the act and on the other its men are shooting at protesters," Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha, Adhir Chowdhury said. Murshidabad is Chowdhury's stronghold and he represents it in the Lok Sabha. Echoing him, CPI(M) Politburo member Mohammed Salim said TMC and BJP are two sides of the same coin and the ruling party in Bengal lacks credibility on its fight against CAA and NRC. TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee termed the allegations levelled by the Congress and CPI(M) as "baseless and politically motivated". The Muslim-majority district had witnessed large-scale violence and arson during the anti-CAA protests in the state in December last year. West Bengal became the fourth state after Left-ruled Kerala, and Punjab and Rajasthan, where the Congress is in power, to have passed a resolution on January 27 against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The state assembly had on September 6, 2019, passed a resolution against NRC. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) - with reporting from Sean O'Riordan Minister with Responsibility for Defence Paul Kehoe is being targeted by former members of the Defence Forces who are trying to encourage voters in the forthcoming General Election not to vote for him. The former Fine Gael chief whip has been a Fine Gael TD for County Wexford since he was first elected to the Dail in May 2002 and a Minister of State for Defence since 2016. In the last election, he secured a seat in the Dail by beating his nearest rival Sinn Feins Johnny Mythen by just 52 votes. Protestors are targeting his constituency offices and those of his party colleagues Michael DArcy. They want to encourage people not to give Deputy Kehoe any preference votes, which helped get him elected the last time round. The protesters are former members of the Air Corps who belong to the Air Corps Chemical Abuse Survivors (ACCAS) who claim they suffer illnesses due to their exposure to toxic chemicals while working for the Air Corps. According to the group, Minister Kehoe has done little or nothing to help them get the medical support and health screening services they want. Last July, the Oireachtas Public Account Committee heard the Air Corps seems to be a place where an abnormal number of people die prematurely. At the time, the State Claims Agency had eight cases being taken against the State regarding chemical exposure at the Air Corps by former technicians. Independent experts have said the chronic illnesses they suffer from were caused by exposure to the chemicals used in servicing aircraft. A number of whistleblowers have made protected disclosures alleging health and safety failings at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel. Their claims were later supported by the findings of an inspection by the Health and Safety Authority. Meanwhile, the Defence Forces officers' representative association has also criticised the government over its plans for defence forces accommodation blocks. While Minister Kehoe announced a 145m plan to upgrade accommodation over the next five years, critics say some of the packages contained previously announced projects. "It also strikes us that, much of what is detailed here (in the minister's plans) is merely routine maintenance, or refurbishment of very old and run-down buildings," RACO deputy general secretary Lieutenant Colonel Derek Priestly said. Data courtesy of The Irish Times However, he did say the refurbishment plans had their timeline for completion cut by Minister Kehoe from 10 years to five years, "which was welcome". Lt Col Priestly said the big omission on the programmes relates to the continued policy of discontinuing married quarters for all ranks. A spokesperson for Minister Kehoe said: Minister Kehoe is focussed 100% on this election campaign and talking to people right across County Wexford about the issues that affect them and their families. File image UN chief Antonio Guterres said the global body remains committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis to resolve the conflict on the basis of UN resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements, a day after US President Donald Trump unveiled his Middle East peace plan aimed at settling the longstanding dispute between the two sides. Standing along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House on Tuesday, Trump proposed a two-state solution and said no Israelis or Palestinians would be uprooted from their homes. Describing it as historic and a "giant step" towards peace, he said that under his vision, Jerusalem "will remain Israel's undivided, very important capital." He proposed Palestinian capital in Eastern Jerusalem and that US will set up its embassy there. The Secretary-General has seen the announcement of the United States plan for the Middle East. The position of the United Nations on the two-State solution has been defined, throughout the years, by relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions by which the Secretariat is bound, a statement issued by UN Secretary-General Guterres' spokesman said here on Tuesday. The world body remains committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis to resolve the conflict on the basis of United Nations resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements and realizing the vision of two States Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, on the basis of the pre-1967 lines. Trump said the plan calls for a four-year freeze in Israeli settlement activity and doubling of Palestinian territory. Asserting that his peace plan will more than double the size of Palestinian territory, Trump said that Palestinian people deserve a far better life" than being trapped in a cycle of terrorism and violence." "My vision presents a realistic two-state solution," he said. Together we can bring a new dawn in the Middle East, Trump said as he urged the Palestinians to accept his deal and bring peace in the region. Calling it a "historic opportunity" for the Palestinians to achieve an independent state, Trump said he has written to Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas on the matter. No Palestinian official was present at the launch. The ambassadors from three Arab nations -- Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain -- were at the White House. Netanyahu hailed Trump's plan as "historic day" for Israel. He compared Trump's Plan with the day to May 14, 1948, when the then President Harry Truman became the first world leader to recognise the State of Israel. The plan, he said, will strike the "right balance" where other plans have failed. Netanyahu said that he is now willing to negotiate peace with the Palestinians "on the basis" of the US peace. I went to the Daisy meeting in January, a week or so after the winter break ended, and walked into the room with Hopkins and Hennein. The girls ran up to the leaders, hugging and them and eagerly sharing all their news from the holidays. The girls quickly grabbed their materials and eagerly put on their tunics and vests. The meeting started with the Girl Scout promise, which states they will serve God, their country and others. Several of the girls shared their favorite aspects of scouting with me, which of course included the snack, working on petals and doing arts and crafts. They clearly loved being together to learn how girls can and do change the world. Encompassing more than 1,500 references and the knowledge of 70 co-authors from EU-funded Graphene Flagship partners and associate members, the article aims to provide a single source of knowledge on graphene and related layered materials (GRMs). Graphene is already being used in many commercial applications, with numerous new products on the horizon. However, lack of information on the correct preparation and processing is hindering its uptake. To tackle this challenge, Graphene Flagship researchers have produced a comprehensive guide entitled "Production and Processing of Graphene and Related Materials", which has just been published by IOP Publishing in their journal 2D Materials. The article is published under an open access licence, which makes it free to read for everyone who is interested and, moreover, removes all restrictions on use and reuse. The article condenses the knowledge acquired and developed by the Graphene Flagship over the past six years. With this publication, the Graphene Flagship will make this knowledge public as part of its long-term goal to assist in the development of graphene and related layered materials. Andrea C. Ferrari, Graphene Flagship Science and Technology Officer stated: "Graphene Flagship researchers have already shown that at least 1,800 different layered materials exist -- and only a handful of those have been investigated to date. This authoritative guide will help researchers in academia and industry plan their large scale and reproducible production of graphene, drawing from the experience developed on graphene itself." The article provides a comprehensive guide on the techniques for production and processing GRMs, as well as the key characterisation procedures. It is aimed both at expert academics and beginners, as well as companies that would like to experiment with GRMs and incorporate them into their production lines and product design. "The article encompasses the description of the most popular methods to produce GRMs," explained Mar Garcia-Hernandez, who coordinated this comprehensive review. Garcia-Hernandez is a Research Professor at Graphene Flagship partner CSIC, Spain, and the Graphene Flagship Work Package Leader for 'Enabling Materials'. "This publication also describes some of the technological problems users might encounter, such as the processing of inks and the transfer of materials, as well as the characterisation." "Understanding this information is essential for users to be able to exploit GRMs effectively, as their characteristics are related to and can be tailored by the process used to make them. For scientists who want to study GRMs, or companies that want to mass produce these materials, this knowledge is vital," concludes Garcia-Hernandez. Alex Wotherspoon, publisher for 2D Materials, said: "We are delighted to have collaborated with the Graphene Flagship in publishing what is certain to become a key reference for the materials science community. Making it available to all on an open access basis additionally provides the widest possible dissemination for the benefit of researchers extending across both academia and industry." ### Synthesis of Graphene Production and Processing of Graphene and Related Materials has been produced and published by the Graphene Flagship, an EU funded research project for advanced materials. The article is available to download for free at: http://bit.ly/graphenewhitebook SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global adiponitrile market size is projected to reach USD 11.9 billion by 2025, registering a revenue-based CAGR of 4.9% during the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Increasing demand for adiponitrile in manufacturing hexamethylenediamine, which is a major raw material for polyamide 6,6 (nylon 6,6) is anticipated to drive the market over the forecast period. Key suggestions from the report: Nylon synthesis application dominated the market with revenue share of 86.6% in 2018 on account of increasing demand in automotive & textile application In 2018, automotive segment dominated the adiponitrile market with a total share of 81.7% in terms of revenue on account of increasing demand for PA 6,6 to design and manufacture various parts of vehicle North America is the largest producer of the product, contributing for more than 30% of the global production In 2018, U.S. is the largest consumer of the product in North America wherein 78.8% of the product was consumed in automotive and textile applications Some of the key market players are Invista, Ascend Performance Materials, Butachimie, and Kishida Chemicals that caterto the global demand for the product in various end-use industries. Read 90 page research report with ToC on "Adiponitrile Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Application (Nylon Synthesis, Electrolyte Solution), By End Use (Automotive, Electricals & Electronics), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2019 - 2025' at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/adiponitrile-market Polyamide 6,6 (PA 6,6) is extensively used in the manufacturing of automotive components including interior and exterior parts. PA 6,6 based components help reduce the weight of vehicle, which leads to increased fuel efficiency. In addition, its use in the manufacturing of high performance apparels and as an additive in formulation of battery electrolyte is anticipated to positively affect the industry over the forthcoming period. Increasing adoption of electric vehicles across the globe as an eco-friendly alternative to replace fuel combustion engines has expanded electric vehicle manufacturing sector over the past few years. Adiponitrile is gaining importance as an electrolyte additive in lithium ion batteries which results in increased efficiency and overall performance of each battery cycle. Growing production of electric vehicles operating on Li-ion batteries is anticipated to fuel the demand for adiponitrile over the forthcoming period. Adiponitrile can be manufactured by hydrocyanation of butadiene and electrodimerisation process of acrylonitrile. Hydrocyanation process requires natural gas for the heating purpose which is regulated by multiple authorities across different countries to monitor environmental pollution. Whereas, electrodimerisation process includes high cost of raw material thus, increasing the cost of manufacturing. Owing to these factors, manufacturing of adiponitrile has become a very cost sensitive process. As an effect of it, manufacturers are conducting extensive research for the development of innovative and cost effective processes to cater to the increasing demand for adiponitrile across the globe. The market is characterized by presence of limited manufacturers across the globe. Invista uses its patented manufacturing technology at its own plant and at Butachimie, which is its joint venture with Solvay S.A. in France. Other notable players in the market are Ascend Performance Materials and Kishida Chemical Co. Grand View Research has segmented the global adiponitrile market based on application, end use, and region: Adiponitrile Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Nylon Synthesis HDI Electrolyte Solution Others Adiponitrile End-use Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Chemical Intermediate Automotive Electrical & Electronics Textile Others Adiponitrile Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) North America U.S. Canada Mexico Europe France Germany U.K. Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea South and Central America Brazil Middle East and Africa and Saudi Arabia Find more research reports on Plastics, Polymers & Resins Industry, by Grand View Research: Heat Resistant Polymer Market - The global heat resistant polymers market size was estimated at USD 12.03 billion in 2016. Increasing demand for these polymers in automotive & aerospace industries is expected to drive the industry growth. The global heat resistant polymers market size was estimated at in 2016. Increasing demand for these polymers in automotive & aerospace industries is expected to drive the industry growth. Nylon 6 & 66 Market - The global Nylon 6 and 66 market size was estimated at USD 25.66 billion in 2017 and is expected to register a CAGR of 6.2% over the forecast period. The global Nylon 6 and 66 market size was estimated at in 2017 and is expected to register a CAGR of 6.2% over the forecast period. Nylon 6 Filament Yarn Market - The global nylon 6 filament yarn market size is expected to reach USD 17.19 billion in 2016. It is expected to rise at a CAGR of 7.7% from 2017 to 2025. Gain access to Grand View Compass, our BI enabled intuitive market research database of 10,000+ reports About Grand View Research Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead. Contact: Sherry James Corporate Sales Specialist, USA Grand View Research, Inc. Phone: +1-415-349-0058 Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519 Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter The Met Police's cold case team will speak to the son of the nanny beaten to death by Lord Lucan after his sensational claim he has discovered the fugitive peer living as a Buddhist in Australia. Neil Berriman's mother Sandra Rivett was murdered by Richard John Bingham, the 7th Earl of Lucan, in November 1974, who has never been seen since. Mr Berriman, from West Sussex, says Lucan is housebound and awaiting a major operation after decades living Down Under - and has spoken to the Met who have reassured him they will look into his claims. He told the Daily Mirror: 'I believe I have tracked down the man, Lord Lucan, who murdered my mother. He has been alive all this time. Lying about who he is. Lying about it to his new friends'. Scotland Yard told MailOnline today that Sandra Rivett's case remains 'unsolved' and 'open' more than 45 years after she was bludgeoned to death with a length of lead piping and her body then stuffed into a mail-sack in Lucan's basement. A spokesman said: 'The inquiry into the death of Sandra Rivett remains open as is the case with all unsolved murders. It has never been closed. Any significant new information will be considered. We keep an open mind in relation to this case'. Neil Berriman's mother Sandra Rivett was murdered by Richard John Bingham, the 7th Earl of Lucan, in November 1974 and he said today: 'I believe I have tracked down the man, Lord Lucan, who murdered my mother' The father-of-two would later find out he was Sandra Rivett's (pictured) son, and 12 years ago began searching for Lucan Lord Richard John Bingham with his fiancee Veronica Duncan on the announcement of their engagement in 1963 George Bingham, the only son of the infamous British aristocrat Lord Lucan, arrives at the High Court with his wife Anne-Sofie Foghsgaard in 2016 where he obtained a death certificate for his father allowing him to become the 8th Earl of Lucan Sightings of Lucan across the globe: Jungly Barry, a goat called Camilla and the riddle that has fascinated the world for A former Scotland Yard detective claimed in 2003 that an ageing hippy living in Goa, India, (pictured) was Lucan. Instead, it turned out to be Barry Halpin, or Jungly Barry, a well-known musician In the years since he disappeared, Lucan (who would now be 85) has been variously 'spotted' in Africa, India, Australia, Holland and living in a Land Rover in New Zealand with a goat called Camilla. There have been theories that the peer fled to West Africa and extraordinarily that his children were flown out there so he could see them. 'Lucky' Lucan's privileged gambling friends were also said to have spirited him out of the country so he could evade justice, and his estranged wife (who was his intended target when he killed the family nanny) has previously claimed that as a gambler he would never have committed suicide 'as gamblers always win the next hand'. In 1974 Australian police arrested a man they believed to be Lucan but it turned out to be Labour MP John Stonehouse who had faked his own death a month before. A former Scotland Yard detective claimed in 2003 that an ageing hippy living in Goa, India was Lucan. Instead, it turned out to be Barry Halpin, or Jungly Barry, a well-known musician from the 1960s folk music circuit. In 2004 Scotland Yard reopened the Lucan case and produced an image of what he would look like now. That same year it was reported that he had been living in Mozambique and was known by the name of John. An Englishman in New Zealand called Roger Woodgate, who lived in a Land Rover with a goat called Camilla, was accused of being Lucan in 2007. Woodgate admitted he arrived in the country the same year that Lucan went missing from the UK but said he was 10 years younger and five inches shorter. Other sightings include Lucan working as a waiter in San Francisco, at an alcoholics centre in Brisbane and at a hotel in Madagascar. There has even been speculation, started by Mr Aspinall, that Lucan committed suicide by scuttling the powerboat he kept at Newhaven. He said Lucan had killed the nanny by mistake and felt ashamed by his actions. Advertisement He added: 'Anyone with information should contact the Metropolitan Police on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111'. Lord Lucan's blood-stained car was found abandoned in East Sussex, but he was never successfully traced, and despite sightings in countries all over the globe the most likely theory was that he committed suicide by scuttling the powerboat he kept at Newhaven and jumping in the sea with rocks in his pockets. In 1975, an inquest jury declared Lucan to have been Ms Rivett's killer, and in 2016 a court issued a 'presumption of death' certificate for him, a ruling that cleared the way for the couple's son, George Bingham, to become the 8th Earl of Lucan. But today, in a quite extraordinary claim, 52-year-old Neil Berriman says he has located Lucan, who he says is now a Buddhist who turned 85 last month but is seriously ill. Mr Berriman claimed the peer originally lived in Perth after escaping to Australia, but moved to another part of the country after falling out with friends. Father-of-two Mr Berriman, who lives in West Sussex, with his wife Kim, only learned he was Ms Rivett's son in 2007. 29-year-old Sandra was an inquest ruled in 1975 most likely murdered by Lucan, whod mistaken her for his estranged wife, Veronica, with whom he was locked in a bitter custody battle. He said today: 'The people he lives with know he has a mystery past and what he tells them does not add up. They have had their suspicions for many years. 'They are fully aware he is a mystery elderly Englishman and not who he is claiming to be. 'Lucan is a deceitful conman and he is the man who murdered my mother.' Mr Berriman has already taken his extraordinary claims to Scotland Yard's Cold Case Unit and hopes officers will now investigate, adding: 'I know he's still alive.' Lucan's new friendship group - two young Englishmen and an Australian - confirmed to the Mirror that an elderly Englishman who looks like Lord Lucan does live at the house. They claim the quartet all take part in daily meditation sessions, while the man Mr Berriman believes is Lord Lucan, who has a carer, often sits on the veranda listening to distant trains pass. The man was said to know of claims he is Lord Lucan. The Mirror said it has chosen not to reveal his identity or exact location. Neil was born Gary Roger Hensby - Sandra Rivetts maiden name - in Southsea, Hampshire, in 1967 and was immediately put up for adoption aged six months. Neil believes that he was the result of a love affair between his mother, who already had an older son being brought up by her parents, and a married estate agent. Around 13 years ago Mr Berriman opened brown envelope left to him by his adoptive mother, Audrey, when she died, which revealed Ms Rivett was his birth mother. He then had to come to terms with the fact she was brutally murdered in the darkened basement kitchen of the Lucan familys Belgravia home. Since then he has been hunting for Lucan himself. Detectives believe the aristocrat - an abusive husband and heavy gambler nicknamed 'Lucky Lucan' - intended to murder his wife and killed the nanny by mistake. Lucan was never seen in public again, and his body was never found, leading to decades of fevered speculation about his whereabouts. Despite Lord Lucan being formally declared dead in February 2016, Mr Berriman claimed he acted on a detailed tip that he was still alive. He spent 30,000 of his own money on private investigations into Lord Lucan's supposed whereabouts. He said: 'He has been alive all this time. Lying about who he is. Lying about it to his new friends. 'They are fully aware he is a mystery elderly Englishman and not who he is claiming to be. 'The people he lives with know he has a mystery past and what he tells them does not add up. They have had their suspicions for many years. 'Lucan is a deceitful conman and he is the man who murdered my mother.' After killing Ms Rivett (right) Lord Lucan's (left) blood-stained car was later found abandoned in Newhaven, East Sussex, but he was never successfully traced John Bingham, Lord Lucan is pictured with his wife Veronica Duncan in October 1963 John Richard Bingham, Earl of Lucan, and Veronica Duncan after their marriage Lady Lucan in 2017 (left) and with Lord Lucan before they married on November 20 1974 Lord Lucan, right, with his friend Sir James Goldsmith, father of Zac Goldsmith, in a rare colour photo of the fugitive. What happened to Lord Lucan, and is he still alive? The four most likely theories about his disappearance Theory one: Lucan drowned himself off Newhaven after murdering the nanny Lord Lucan's friend James Wilson, who gambled with him at London's Clermont Club, said five years ago he believes Lucan killed himself after murdering Ms Rivet. Mr Wilson said he filled his pockets with rocks and stones before jumping off his scuppered speedboat in Newhaven Harbour just hours after the killing. He told the Telegraph in 2015: 'I believe that when he realised he had killed the nanny, the remorse, guilt and panic led him to commit suicide. He must have realised he only had two options open to him; hand himself in or kill himself. Having lost the gamble he chose the latter'. In an ITV documentary before her death in 2017, Lady Lucan said she believed Lord Lucan had jumped off a ferry shortly after the killing. 'I would say he got on the ferry and jumped off in the middle of the Channel in the way of the propellers so that his remains wouldn't be found'. Theory 2: Lucan fled to Africa - and lived there quietly until he died in 2000 Shirley Robey, who worked for Lucan's casion owner John Aspinall claimed in 2012 she overheard conversations with Lucan's friend Sir James Goldsmith, father of Zac Goldsmith in the early 1980s. She said the pair said Lucan was in Africa, adding: ' I knew he was hiding, I knew he was in Africa, I knew we were hushing it up. I knew hed fallen out with his wife and I knew it was a major secret but for whatever reason I didnt appreciate there had been a murder until some years later. If I'd have known, I think I would have handled things quite differently. In fact I know I would have done'. She claims she heard he died in 2000, in his mid-60s. Theory 3: Lucan shot himself and was fed to a tiger called Zorra in a Kent zoo Philippe Marcq, another of Lucan's casino friends, told MailOnline previously that friends of the Earl disposed of his body at Howletts zoo near Canterbury, set up as a private zoo in 1957 by John Aspinall, another friend of Lucan's. Mr Marcq said he was told story by Lucan's friend Stephen Raphael. It is claimed a pistol was offered to Lucan who took it, went into a room on his own and shot himself dead and the friends removed his body. Mr Marcq said: I was stunned when Stephen told me this. But I believed what he told me 100 per cent'. Aspinalls mother, Lady Osborne, the grandmother of former Chancellor George Osborne, apparently told police: The last I heard of him, he was being fed to the tigers at my sons zoo. Police are said to have subsequently descended on Howletts, where a contemptuous John Aspinall told them: My tigers are only fed the choicest cuts do you really think theyre going to eat stringy old Lucky? Theory 4: Lucan didn't commit the murder - and was helped to flee by his circle Lucan's brother, Hugh Bingham defended the peer's innocence until he died in South Africa. He always claimed he in fact went into hiding after Rivett's death, which he was innocent. He said: 'I have always believed he didn't commit murder/ He had no choice but to flee in the face of cruel allegations. The police inquiry was compromised from the start. There is significant evidence of the existence of an unknown man at the scene is he known to police?' Advertisement In 1975, an inquest jury declared Lucan to have been Ms Rivett's killer. The High Court declared him dead for probate purposes in 1999, but there have been scores of reported sightings around the world, in countries including Australia, Ireland, South Africa and New Zealand. In an ITV documentary in 2017, Lady Lucan said she believed Lord Lucan had jumped off a ferry shortly after the killing. 'I would say he got on the ferry and jumped off in the middle of the Channel in the way of the propellers so that his remains wouldn't be found,' she said, calling what she believed to be his final act 'brave.' Lady Lucan was found dead in September 2017 at her home in Belgravia where her husband Lord Lucan famously disappeared. Lady Lucan was one of the last people to see her husband alive. The countess was in the house watching TV in her bedroom that night when the 29-year-old nanny Sandra Rivett was killed as she went downstairs to the unlit basement to make her employer a cup of tea. The countess contends that she disturbed her husband after the fatal assault. He hit her four times with a length of bandaged metal piping before she grabbed his genitals. Recalling the attack she said: 'I'd started moving towards the cloakroom when someone rushed out and hit me about four times on the head with something hard. I screamed. 'A voice said: 'Shut up!' I just had time to register that the man was my husband when he thrust three gloved fingers down my throat. 'At this point, I started fighting back in earnest, but he switched tactics trying to strangle me and then to gouge out my eyes. I gasped: 'Please don't kill me, John!' Then, after she had persuaded her husband to get her a glass of water, she fled to a nearby pub and raised the alarm. She recalled: 'He told me, 'I'll go to Broadmoor for this'. [Our children] George and Camilla were seven and three when it happened, and asleep in bed.' Lord Lucan fled the murder scene in a car he had borrowed. His body has never been found. Over the years several fantastical theories about his disappearance have placed him in the Australian outback, as a hippy drop-out in Goa, and even fed to the tigers at his friend John Aspinall's zoo. Although a High Court judge granted a death certificate last year allowing his son to inherit his title, this has provided neither resolution nor a conclusion to the mystery. Lady Lucan remained closer to the truth than anyone and with her death, the possibility of her husband's disappearance being solved looked ever more remote. She believed that the note he left, with the poignant sentence, 'Please tell those that you know, that all I cared about was them [the children]', was proof her husband intended suicide. That night he called at the home of friends in a Sussex village, before leaving in the early hours. Lucan told them he had happened on an attacker hitting his wife as he passed the family home. His version of the story was that his wife had accused him of hiring a hitman to kill her and he claimed he was going to 'lie doggo' for a while. Three days later his borrowed car was found abandoned and blood-splattered with a section of bandaged lead piping in the boot at the cross-Channel port of Newhaven, East Sussex. Lord and Lady Lucan with their son George, then aged 3, taken from Lady Lucan's photo album Lord Lucan's life and grizzly legacy The Daily Mail from November 1974 as police hunt for Lucan's body at sea and his estranged wife Lady Lucan leaves a police station after saying he was guilty of the murder - and trying to kill her December 18 1934: Richard John Bingham is born in London into an aristocratic family with connections to Ireland. 1955: He got a job with a small merchant bank, William Brandts, for 500 a year. 1960: He retires having won 26,000 - around 600,000 in today's money - over two nights playing 'chemin de fer' at a gambling party run by John Aspinall. 1963 Marries Veronica Duncan - the couple have three children 1964 Becomes an earl after the death of his father, the 6th Earl of Lucan 1972 Their marriage collapses and Lucan moves out of the family home at 46 Lower Belgrave St, London. He loses a custody battle and accrues gambling losses November 7 1974 The children's nanny Sandra Rivett is found dead. At 9.45pm, Lady Lucan, in great distress, burst into the Plumbers Arms, the pub near her home in the exclusive area of Belgravia in central London. With blood streaming from several wounds on her head, she cried: Help me, help me, help me! Hes in the house! Hes murdered my nanny! Lady Lucan, who was estranged from her husband, told police her estranged husband had killed their nanny and tried to kill her. Police found the couples three children asleep in their beds, unharmed, and when they went to the basement they were greeted by a macabre scene. The basement lightbulb had been removed, but in the semi-darkness, officers made out a pool of blood with a mans footprint in it, a blood-stained length of lead piping and a mailbag containing a body. November 14 1974: Lucan's car is found abandoned near Newhaven and police begin seraching for his body at sea after his speedboat was found scuppered. June 1975 Lucan is named as Ms Rivett's killer at the inquest into her death. 1999 His family is granted probate over Lord Lucan's estate, but no death certificate is issued. 2016: A court issued a 'presumption of death' certificate for Lord Lucan, a ruling that cleared the way for the couple's son, George Bingham, to become the 8th Earl of Lucan. Advertisement Lady Lucan, prisoner of a macabre past she refused to relinquish: The last writer to interview her reveals how she foretold her own solitary death - and why she never healed the 30-year rift with her children by Frances Hardy for the Daily Mail Her words were both prescient and full of pathos; her own death was in the forefront of her mind as she turned 80. Just four months before she was found dead, Veronica, the Dowager Countess of Lucan told me that she did not fear a solitary end. Veronica, the Dowager Countess of Lucan (pictured in June 2017) told Frances Hardy last year that she did not fear a solitary end Bereft of loved ones, her greatest terror, she confided, was becoming reliant on others to care for her. 'I don't fear dying alone not at all,' she said. 'But I do fear dependency. I'd find that very depressing. It would be horrible to feel you were a burden. 'Your faculties start to fade when you reach 80, so I've been thinking about my death. I'd quite enjoy the rest of my life if I knew it was not going to end in something horrific. I've given it some thought, and I support the idea of assisted suicide.' Lady Lucan did indeed die alone last September in the mews house in Central London that had been her home for 40 years. It would be premature to suggest that she might have opted to take her life her son George Bingham, the 8th Earl Lucan, said she had passed away 'apparently peacefully' but I can attest that the idea was certainly in her mind when we spoke. I spent an afternoon with her in late spring and was the last journalist to interview her. Lady Lucan was last seen by neighbours when she answered the door to the postman. Police battered down her door after she had failed for three days in a row to turn up for a daily walk with a friend. It was the end she had wished for, and she had not become a burden. But Lady Lucan's old age was spent in frugal routine and quiet desperation. She remained obdurately alienated from her sister and three adult children. Yet after her death in September, they paid warm tribute to her. 'Although Veronica severed relations with her family in the Eighties, and continued to decline contact with them right up until her death, all of them remember her lovingly and with admiration,' according to the statement they released. 'She had a sharp mind, and when she spoke it, she did so eloquently. She was courageous and, at times, outrageous, with a mischievous sense of humour. 'She was, in her day, beautiful and throughout her life fragile and vulnerable, struggling as she did with mental infirmity. To us she was and is unforgettable.' Lady Lucan decorates a Christmas tree with her children Camilla, Frances and George in 1974 Lady Lucan was a woman who was both defined and imprisoned by a past she stubbornly refused to relinquish, even choosing to remain living in the same house she and her late husband, John Bingham, 7th Earl of Lucan, had bought as a guest house (close to the family home), during their ill-fated marriage. In November 1974, after 11 years together, Lord and Lady Lucan had separated. Lucan, a 39-year-old professional gambler and inveterate drinker, disappeared on the night of November 7, after visiting the five-storey family home in Lower Belgrave Street and bludgeoning to death Sandra Rivett, 29, his children's nanny, in the mistaken belief that she was his estranged wife. Lucan then violently assaulted Veronica. His body has never been found and the mystery of his disappearance one of the most compelling in recent history has given rise to myth and speculation, and continues to fascinate today. There seemed a perverseness in Lady Lucan's decision to remain so enmeshed in this lurid story, eking out a modest state pension with her dwindling savings. When we met, she described for the first time in such graphic detail the events of the awful night: how she disturbed her husband after he'd killed Mrs Rivett. How she was then set upon herself with a metal pipe before she managed to flee and raise the alarm, while her children slept in their beds. Portraits of her husband loomed over us as we talked in the home where Lady Lucan imposed reclusiveness on herself. Heavy curtains, closed to deter snoopers, had shut out any vestige of daylight for the preceding four decades. Tall, elegant and slender, her silver hair tied in a girlish ponytail, she sat ramrod straight in the fusty darkness of her airless home, among memorabilia that had remained preserved in time, like some parody of Dickens's Miss Havisham, repining a dreadful marriage but determined never to forget it. Lady Lucan, pictured with a portrait of her husband in 1976, had previously discussed assisted suicide if she had a terminal illness or a degenerative disease She told me why she had never left the area: she liked the familiarity of the place, the predictability of her routines a stroll in nearby Green Park preceded by a visit to Victoria library. It was around these humdrum activities that her life revolved. Lady Lucan affected not to care that her children, Frances, 52, George, 50, and Camilla, 47, as well as her sister Christina Shand Kydd distantly related by marriage to the late Princess Diana were estranged from her. She was blithely unconcerned too, that she had never met any of her five grandchildren. Neither did she express regret nor regard it as odd that she did not know the identity of her eldest daughter's husband. 'Frances didn't tell me she was married,' she told me, 'but she was, recently. I don't really know to whom, because I have no contact with them at all.' Was this alarming disregard for all those who should have been dearest to her genuine? Actually, I believe not. I think it was the bravado of a stubborn woman who was not prepared to capitulate. Her thoughts were very much focused on death and she revealed that she campaigned actively for assisted euthanasia, showing me a placard she had taken on a march, printed with the slogan Give Me A Choice Over My Own Death. Following publication of the interview in the Mail, we kept up a short correspondence. She wrote to me: 'I was happy about the article and especially for including my thoughts on death and disability.' It was a sentiment I am certain was sharpened by the fact there was no close family member she would have been willing to turn to if her health failed. So why did she never seek a rapprochement with her children? This is yet another of the abiding mysteries about the Lucan affair especially as she had fought so hard to keep them when they were young. Living apart from his family and on the brink of divorce, Lord Lucan had lost a ruinously costly and acrimonious battle for custody of his children and was mired in spiralling gambling debts when he tried to kill his wife. Frances was then nine, and George and Camilla respectively seven and three. A 1975 inquest jury at a coroner's court named him, in his absence, as Mrs Rivett's murderer he was the last person in Britain to be declared a murderer by an inquest jury (the procedure was later outlawed) although he was never convicted in a criminal court. Some have suggested a hired or unknown assailant was the nanny's killer, and indeed Camilla, a QC, and George, a merchant banker, have always insisted their father should not be assumed guilty of their nanny's murder. This enraged Lady Lucan, who regarded it as a betrayal, and it may be one of the reasons she refused to be reconciled with them. Neither did it help that in their teens, the children opted to live in the country with their maternal aunt, rather than their mother. Extravagant theories as to Lord Lucan's whereabouts persisted for years: one posited the idea that he had been eaten by a lion in his friend John Aspinall's zoo; another that he became a hippie in Goa; yet another that he'd disappeared into the Australian Outback. But Lady Lucan made clear to me she believed her husband had committed suicide. After fleeing the murder scene, he visited friends in Sussex. Then a car he had borrowed from a friend was found a length of bloodied lead piping in its boot abandoned in the port of Newhaven. 'He got on a ferry and jumped off mid-Channel, and was then chopped up by the propeller which is why his body was never found,' Lady Lucan told me. She said that as a powerboat racer, he had a detailed knowledge of propellers, and would have known precisely where to jump so his remains were destroyed. Theirs had been a sorry union, a joyless marriage she said, describing her constant anxiety over the vast sums he regularly lost at the gaming tables. She also recounted how, driven by loneliness her frequently absent husband was taciturn and remote she had sought solace in a platonic friendship with another man. When Lucan found out, the man was warned off and she fell into a profound depression and was prescribed powerful anti-psychotic drugs, the dire side-effects of which convinced her, and her family, that she was losing her mind. There was lacerating honesty, too, in Lady Lucan's admission that she had taunted her husband about his ineptitude as a lover and in the humiliating confession that he beat her for his own sexual gratification. Her husband, she said, insisted she was both mad and an unfit mother; two suggestions she fervently denied. Twice, she recalled, she was taken by Lucan to psychiatric units against her will and twice she escaped. The question that touched a nerve most acutely was whether she was a good mother. She wrote to me expressing regret that a newspaper article had suggested she neglected her children and accused her of spending too much time in bed. In fact, she countered, she was a conscientious parent; her children were always well turned-out and advanced in their schooling. She resolutely denied, too, that she was ever psychotic, though she conceded: 'I was pushed to the brink of madness. My husband manipulated me psychologically, so I began to think I was mad. 'He had a campaign to destroy me. I was a nuisance. He was an imposing character, an earl, and the doctors believed all he told them about me. 'I, in turn, just accepted what the doctors said. I had injections [of anti-psychotics] and their side-effects were horrible. I had hallucinations, restlessness I walked for miles and miles and the drugs induced Parkinson's disease.' Lady Lucan, there is little doubt, could be difficult, intransigent and self-serving. Yet there was something profoundly sad about her. She told me she was fit she took no medication now, endured no ailments and neither was she suffering from depression. Yet her existence, in a house that seemed to be suffocating her, was meagre and joyless. There had, she said, been lovers since her husband disappeared, but there were no more. All her friends from the old days when there had been money for servants, private hospitals, lavish holidays were dead. All that remained were her daily visits to the library, where she used the computer, and those walks in the park. The coffee she served me was instant, and the chocolate she offered a supermarket's own budget brand. She said she regretted proposals to end the winter fuel allowance for all but the poorest pensioners, and I wondered whether she was dreading the impending chill of another lonely winter. This cannot have been the future she envisaged for herself, when in part out of expediency she agreed to marry John, then Lord Bingham, in March 1963. They had met at a point-to-point the then Veronica Duncan was there with her sister, Christina, and her husband, businessman Bill Shand-Kydd, whose half-brother, Peter, would later marry Princess Diana's mother, Frances. 'There was John, standing against the rails and laying bets, looking like a caricature of a gentleman: baggy cavalry twills, tweed cap, moustache,' she said. He was a professional gambler, and she the daughter of an Army officer who'd won the Military Cross in World War I but died before she was two. Veronica's mother had married again, and from the age of 13, Lady Lucan grew up living in a pub in North Waltham, Hampshire, 'a typical country girl, obsessed with my pony and gymkhanas'. She conceded that she felt 'no chemistry' when John chatted her up, but fearing, aged 26, that time was running out for her to snare a decent catch as a husband, she agreed to marry him. It was not the most auspicious start to a relationship that descended into acrimony, recrimination and bitterness and ultimately attempted murder yet extraordinarily, when I asked Lady Lucan if she regretted it, she replied: 'I can't say that I'm sorry I married him because I would not have had three beautiful children, would I? 'I was never so happy in my life as when George was born.' George, she told me, had once proposed a meeting in a nearby hotel, but she had declined because she would have preferred a rendezvous at his home. They did not meet. Did she regret her obduracy? We will never know. Yet, Lady Lucan's family say they will remember her 'lovingly' despite the severing of ties. But surely it is part of this family's abiding tragedy that it was a love never returned while she was still alive. SEATTLEAnother endangered orca is missing and presumed dead in the Pacific Northwest, a large male who had fathered many of the populations calves in the past three decades. The whale, born in 1977 and known as L41 or by the nickname Mega, was not with his family when researchers encountered them last Friday, the Washington state-based Center for Whale Research said. He was last seen last summer, and he appeared thin then. Shari Tarantino, president of the Orca Conservancy, said L41s death would leave just 72 animals in the southern resident population of orcas that frequents the waters between Washington and Canada. Thats the fewest since the mid-1970s, after more than 50 were captured for aquarium display or killed in the process. The whales have struggled with pollution, vessel noise and most significantly a dearth of their preferred prey, Chinook salmon. Researchers say they are on the brink of extinction. Three were presumed dead last summer. A bright spot is that researchers saw L124, also known as Tofino, a newborn first spotted in January 2019, alive and well last week. Its an important milestone for calves to survive their first year because mortality rates are high. According to genetic research published in 2018, L41 fathered 20 orcas with 11 different females, The Seattle Times reported. He and one other whale, J1, fathered most of the calves born to the southern resident population since 1990. J1 was born in 1950 and died in 2011. Deborah Giles, a research scientist with University of Washingtons Center for Conservation Biology and research director for the non-profit Wild Orca, said that made Mega an important member of the population. Even if he didnt come out of the water so you could see his saddle patch, he was easy to recognize, Giles said. I am going to miss seeing him. Read more about: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday ordered the military to intervene to control and prevent the outbreak of novel coronavirus that has killed 132 people and infected more than a thousand others in the East Asian country. Xi, who heads the People's Liberation Army, told the military to keep their mission firmly in mind and shoulder responsibility to make a contribution to winning the battle against the novel coronavirus, which he has described as a "demon," state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The armed forces should rapidly initiate the joint prevention and control mechanism and sent elite medical teams to combat the epidemic at the frontline, the President has ordered. Noting that the epidemic prevention and control remains a grim and complex situation, Jinping further asked the armed forces to treat patients in Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan with all efforts and scientific research. Huoshenshan Hospital, which is under construction, is a makeshift hospital dedicated to treating patients infected with the novel coronavirus. China has imposed quarantine and travel restrictions, affecting the movement of 56 million people in more than a dozen cities, amid fears that the transmission rate will accelerate as hundreds of millions of Chinese travel for the Lunar New Year. The Wuhan novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain of coronavirus that has not been identified before. The exact source of infection of 2019 nCoV is not known yet. Coronavirus is a large family of viruses that cause respiratory illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). The symptoms reported in patients with nCoV include acute onset of fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing. The infection results in severe complications and even death. Some countries including India, Canada and the United States, have also initiated the process to evacuate their citizens from Wuhan, the epicentre of the deadly virus outbreak. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Many from Japan and United States return home after evacuating from Hubei Province. Hundreds of people from Japan and the United States are returning home after being evacuated from Chinas Hubei province. The region is at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak which has so far left more than 130 people dead, and nearly 6,000 others infected. The evacuations come as some commercial airlines have reduced the number of flights to China, or stopped flying there altogether. Al Jazeeras Wayne Hay reports from Hong Kong. TORONTO, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- QMX Gold Corporation (QMX or the Company) (TSX:V:QMX) is pleased to release the first results from its reconnaissance drilling program on the River Target (Table 1). The River Target is located west of the Lac Herbin mine in the Bourlamaque batholith on the western side of QMXs extensive land package in Val dOr, Quebec (Figure 2). The following results contain the first three (3) drill holes of the Fall 2019 reconnaissance drilling program on the River Target (Figure 1). This initial program consists of seven (7) drill holes for a total of 1,130 metres. The results of the remaining four (4) drill holes will be released once all the assays are back from the laboratory. We are delighted that we immediately achieved high grade gold intersections in the first three drill holes on our new River target, says Dr. Andreas Rompel, Vice President Exploration. This gives us great optimism and encouragement to continue with our structural target delineation in general and for the River target in particular, where we anticipate establishing additional resources to our already substantial Bonnefond resource. Highlights include (lengths are measured along the holes, Table 1): DDH 17421-19-045 returned 7.76 g/t Au over 2.9m. DDH 17421-19-046 returned 39.83 g/t Au over 2.0m. DDH 17421-19-047 returned 17.71 g/t Au over 4.0m. River Target The River Target is located in the Bourlamaque Zone, roughly 1 kilometer (km) west of the Lac Herbin-Dumont-Ferderber gold system that produced a total of 793,000 ounces of gold historically. The target was discovered in 2011 and had not been followed up since. The gold mineralization is hosted by Quartz-Tourmaline veins with pyrite in shear zones in the Bourlamaque batholith. The objective of the program is to evaluate the continuity of the grades and structures. Another round of drilling will be planned on this target once all the assays are back and the 3D modeling is completed. Table 1: Highlights from the River Target Hole Number From (metre) To (metre) Length* (metre) Au** (g/t) Remarks 17421-19-045 156.4 159.3 2.9 7.76 Quartz-Tourmaline Vein 17421-19-046 161.3 163.3 2.0 39.83 Quartz-Tourmaline Vein 17421-19-047 25.0 29.0 4.0 17.71 Quartz-Tourmaline Vein * Reported length measured along the hole. ** Au uncapped Quality Control During the drilling program, assay samples were taken from the NQ core and sawed in half. One half is sent to Swaslab Ltd. Both are certified commercial laboratories. The other half of the core is retained for future reference. A strict quality assurance and quality control program was applied to all samples, which included insertion of mineralized standards, blank samples and duplicates inside each batch of 20 samples. The gold analyses were completed by fire-assay with an atomic absorption finish on 50 grams of material. Repeats were carried out by fire-assay with a gravimetric finish on each sample containing 5.0 g/t Au or more. The gold analyses were undertaken by fire-assay on 50 grams of pulp with an atomic absorption finish. Repeats were carried out by fire-assay with a gravimetric finish on each sample containing 5.0 g/t Au or more. Qualified Persons The scientific and technical content of this press release has been reviewed, prepared and approved by Melanie Pichon, P.Geo, M.Sc, Exploration Manager, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). About QMX Gold Corporation QMX Gold Corporation is a Canadian based resource company traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol QMX. The Company is systematically exploring its extensive property position in the Val dOr mining camp in the Abitibi District of Quebec. QMX is currently drilling in the Val dOr East portion of its land package focused on the Bonnefond plug and in the Bourlamaque batholith. In addition to its extensive land package QMX owns the strategically located Aurbel gold mill and tailings facility. Contact Information: Brad Humphrey Louis Baribeau President and CEO Public Relations Tel: (416) 861-5887 Tel: (514) 667-2304 Toll free: +1 877-717-3027 Email: info@qmxgold.ca Website: www.qmxgold.ca Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information: This press release contains or may be deemed to contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding future plans, operations and activities, projected mineralization, timing of assay results, granting of stock options and the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, 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. Forward looking information 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, its properties and/or its projects to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to those risks described in the disclosure documents of the Company filed under the Companys profile on SEDAR. 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 statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with 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. Table 2: Results from DDH 45; 46 and 47. Hole Number Azimuth Dip Hole From To Length* Au** Remarks () () Length (metre) (metre) (metre) (g/t) (metre) 17421-19-045 360 -55 222 156.4 159.3 2.9 7.76 Qtz-Tm vein 190.3 192.3 2.0 10.48 Qtz-Tm vein 17421-19-046 360 -55 220 161.3 163.3 2.0 39.83 Qtz-Tm vein 182.0 184.8 2.8 6.58 Qtz-Tm vein 196.4 198.5 2.1 1.92 Qtz-Tm vein 17421-19-047 360 -55 100 25.0 29.0 4.0 17.71 Qtz-Tm vein * Reported length are measured along the hole. ** Au uncapped Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eebf7f9f-7695-42f8-bfff-09868d49daae https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/37b71926-8edf-45b9-86e4-572b51fdf86a Three inmates, including El Chapo's former chief financial officer, who are facing extradition to the Untied States, busted out of a Mexico City jail on Wednesday. Correctional officers at the Mexico City Southern Prison were conducting a morning roll call when they discovered the prisoners were missing at 8:30am. Among the escapees is Victor Manuel 'El Vic' Felix Beltran, 32, who oversaw the finances of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's Sinaloa Cartel. Security forces were canvassing neighborhoods in the Mexican capital near the prison for two other cartel members that escaped, Luis Fernando Meza Gonzalez and Yael Osuna Navarro. Hazael Ruiz, assistant secretary of the Mexico City Penitentiary System, and Rosa Icela Rodriguez, head of Mexico City's Ministry of the Interior, said six to 10 people are involved with helping the fugitives escape. Mexican authorities are looking for El Chapo's former chief financial officer, Victor Manuel 'El Vic' Felix Beltran, after he and two other members of the Sinaloa Cartel escaped from a Mexico City prison on Wednesday. All three are awaiting extradition to the United States Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's (pictured) organization named Victor Manuel 'El Vic' Felix Beltran as the cartel's finance chief in 2011, replacing his father Victor Manuel 'El 69' Felix as the El Chapo's consigliere Meza Gonzalez and Felix Beltran were being held on drug charges and Osuna Navarro for alleged criminal association. El Vic replaced his father, Victor Manuel 'El 69' Felix, as El Chapo's consigliere after the older man was apprehended by Mexican security forces in 2011 and extradited to California in 2017. He was sentenced to 14 years in jail. A Chicago federal court indicted El Vic in 2015 and slapped him with a money laundering charged and also accused him over overseeing the cartel's production and export of heroin from Mexico to Chicago. Mexican authorities are looking for Victor Manuel 'El Vic' Felix Beltran and two other men who escaped from a jail in Mexico City on Wednesday morning. El Vic worked under one of El Chapo's sons, Ivan Archivaldo Guzman (pictured) Federal authorities allege that El Vic gained control of the Windy City route when Chicago twin brothers Pedro and Margarito Flores surrendered to the feds in 2008 and eventually turned on El Chapo, becoming key witnesses in the drug lord's trial last year. El Vic, who handled the day-to-day cartel finances under the supervision of El Chapo's sons, Jesus Alfredo and Ivan Archivaldo Guzman, witnessed their 2016 kidnapping at a restaurant in resort city of Puerto Vallarta. El Vic, who used various aliases and false names to purchase properties that were crucial in cartel's operation, was arrested October 2017 by the Criminal Investigation Agency when they raided his Mexico City home. A court handed him a four-year jail sentence in April. Experts and stakeholders in the ICT sector stressed the importance of Tamkeens role in supporting the sector as it accelerates business, provides quality jobs for Bahrainis and supports the process of digital transformation in the Kingdom of Bahrain. They pointed out that Tamkeens support for the ICT sector was reflected in many aspects, from the establishment of ICT support service for more than three thousand Bahraini institutions, as well as introducing of ICT professional certificates for 7800 Bahrainis, in addition to the continuous work of Tamkeen to build an effective partnership with global technology companies such as Amazon and Microsoft to establishing technology incubators and accelerators. Strategic partnership The Chairman of Bahrain Technology Companies Society (BTECH) Ubaydli Ubaydli explained that BTECH is working to keep up with the rapid developments of the ICT sector and how they can implement such advancements in Bahrain. Ubaydli stressed that BTECH plays a key role in bridging the gap between technology companies in the private sector and government and semi-government entities in Bahrain.He added, We see great support from those empowering the societys initiatives and projects that seek to develop the ICT sector in Bahrain, and help its companies grow, enabling them to strike fruitful partnerships with their counterparts in Bahrain, the region and the world, and to export their services and products to various markets. He pointed out that the Bahrain Economic Development Board positioned the ICT sector as one of the five main sectors targeting support and growth, and that the aspects of a national plan for the transition towards the digital economy are being planned out, considering that all of this confirms the importance of moving forward in supporting and developing this sector. Keeping up with job market Ahmed Al Hujairi, CEO of GFB, mentioned that the World Economic Forum indicated that more than 30 per cent of the jobs currently known will disappear in the next ten years, to be replaced by other jobs due to modern technologies. He also said that the need for a drivers job will gradually decrease because cars will drive themselves, depending on the Internet of Things and smart applications, and the smart interactive whiteboard will replace the school teacher, and robots will take over firefighters. Al-Hujairi emphasized that training and qualifying more Bahrainis to learn how to use modern technologies would ensure the localization of those applications in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This would depend on the expertise of these Bahraini individuals, creating a national vision and leading the digital transformation of the Kingdom. He also pointed out the importance of Tamkeens support for the professional certification in ICT and called for expanding this support so that professional training is not limited to those studying or graduating from colleges of information technology, but to everyone, especially as ICT has become an essential element in various business institutions. Today we are talking about food technology, and even the taxi driver has to deal with applications such as Uber. Entrepreneurs are turning not towards investing in technology, but also developing it by building applications and information systems that help them accelerate their businesses in the industrial, commercial, or service field.Therefore, we believe that the more we can qualify Bahrainis in the ICT sector, the more we can achieve national goals in supporting the private sector and building the digital economy, said Al Hujairi. Responsibility of training centres Nawaf Abdul Rahman, director of IT at the Mohamed bin Khalifa Specialist Cardiology Centre, explained that Tamkeen has come a long way in empowering the various sectors, particularly the emerging institutions, with a special interest in ICT companies. Nawaf pointed out the importance of training centres to develop their professional certificates with Tamkeens support, including new science from the ICT, offering progressive programs and opening the field to anyone interested in any specific science or specialization. We need to urge the training centres to focus on modern technology, such as data science, artificial intelligence and blockchain technology, which is the backbone of the digital economy, Nawaf added. Technology in various sectors CEO and Director of Etisalcom, Rashid Al-Snan said: The ICT sector has become the main bearer of development. Today we see more integration of technologies in the banking sector such as financial technology (Fintech), in the logistical sector we see it via Blockchain technology, and in the tourism sector through customer service applications. Thus, investing in the development of the ICT sector is crucial to raise productivity rates and developing the National economy. Al-Snan called for directing a greater part of Tamkeens budget to support the ICT sector in Bahrain, including Bahraini companies and individuals, ICT systems, technology applications, etc. He added: In the past, Tamkeen has played a major role in supporting this sector, and we stress today the importance of strengthening this role, especially in this era of digital transformation. Maximizing Bahrainisation Tareq Fakhro, a board member of Fakhroo Information Technology Services, pointed out that Tamkeen was able to make a clear positive change in the national economy, by continuously developing its programmes and services through successful strategic plans every three years, and by providing suitable services that are appropriate to the companys requirements and size. Fakhro said that Tamkeens support for the ICT sector evolves with the development of the needs of this sector. Moreover, Fakhro highlighted the importance of maximizing the percentage of Bahrainisation in this highly competitive sector. Wherever we can build Bahraini companies that offer competitive services, products, software and information systems, we can reduce the deficit in what we might call the digital trade balance, export digital products, and raise the contribution of the technical sector to the GDP of the Kingdom of Bahrain, said Fakhro. Muslim women like men are permitted to enter mosques for offering 'namaz', the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) told the Supreme Court Wednesday. The AIMPLB reply was filed in response to a PIL of Yasmeen Zuber Ahmad Peerzade who has sought judicial intervention in ensuring entry of Muslim women in mosques. It will be considered by a nine-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde. The bench is dealing with legal and constitutional issues relating to discrimination against women in various religions and at religious places including Kerala's Sabarimala Temple. "Considering the religious texts, doctrine and religious belief of the followers of Islam, it is submitted that entry of women in the Mosque for offering prayer/ Namaz, inside the Mosque, is permitted. Thus, a Muslim woman is free to enter Masjid for prayers. It is her option to exercise her right to avail such facilities as available for prayers in Masjid. "The All India Muslim Personal Law Board does not want to comment on any contrary religious opinion to this effect," Mohammed Fazlurrahim, Secretary of AIMPLB, said in his affidavit filed through lawyer M R Shamshad. Islam has not made it obligatory on Muslim women to join congregational prayer nor is it obligatory for woman to offer Friday Namaz in congregation though it is so on Muslim men, the affidavit said. "The Muslim woman is differently placed because as per doctrines of Islam she is entitled to the same religious reward (Sawab) for praying as per her option either in Masjid or at home," it said. The top court Tuesday said that its nine-judge Constitution bench would hear within 10 days questions related to entry of Muslim women into mosques, female genital mutilation in the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community and barring of Parsi women, married to non-Parsi men, from the holy fire place at Agiary. The AIMPLB contended that it is not appropriate for the top court to enter into questions of practices based upon religious beliefs. The affidavit said that religious practices in Mosques are regulated by private bodies concerning its Muttawalis and the AIMPLB, being an expert body can only issue advisory opinion based on Islam. "This court for that matter, cannot enter into the arena of detailed arrangements of a religious place, which is completely privately managed entity for religious practices of believers in particular religion," said the affidavit. AIMPLB in its affidavit kept forward some topics to be deliberated upon by the nine-judge Constitution bench such as whether or not courts can judicially determine meaning of faiths and the extent of constitutional protection from interference in their practices. It also asked in its affidavit that shouldn't a "religious denomination be the sole authority to determine its essential religious practices and should the court exercise jurisdiction in questioning the essential features of such practices?" "The extent to which the court can enquire into the issue of a particular practice is an integral part of the religion or religious practice of a particular religious denomination or should that be left exclusively to be determined by the head of the section of the religious group," the affidavit said. It is for the followers of Islam to accept a Fatwa or not and they have no statutory force, it said. "Upon having received the opinion, it is for the follower of Islam, who seeks Fatwa, either to accept the same or not. However, on the sanctity of Fatwa, it is submitted that it is an opinion based upon religious texts, doctrine and their interpretation and has no statutory force. "In case, if some believer of Islam is of the opinion that he/she needs religious opinion/fatwa, based upon interpretations of religious texts, then delivering of Fatwa on that issue cannot be restrained by judicial order of this Hon'ble Court as the same shall directly hit the right and freedom of religious belief of an individual," the affidavit said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Democrats need those young Sanders voters to win in 2020. Not only do they need those votes, they need that youthful passion. Without it, theyre left with Joe Biden chewing on his teeth, telling stories like a lonely old man at the bar, casting himself as the hero again and again. 12500 N.E. Tenth Place Bellevue, WA 98005 JPFO.org 800-869-1884 info@jpfo.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jan 29, 2020 Contact: Floyd Neeland Media persist in calling deadly hatred of Jews "anti-Semitism" falsely smearing a billion Arab Semites Q: Why do so many people fervently hate Jews?* With so much hatred of Jews in the world -- constantly on front pages -- even the blind can see it is critical for Jews to prepare themselves for self defense. Denying this is a formula for death. A government that seeks to disarm its population is openly advocating a lethal policy toward this vulnerable group of people. It is a holocaust being prepared by policy and must not be tolerated. Jewish denigraters must be called out for what they are, not hidden with a white-washed bland euphemism like anti-Semites, which they are not. These Jew-hating politicians, reporters and citizens must face the cold steel backing up Never Again!, in the hands of well-trained Jews and all Americans who stand, as even leftists insist, against bias, bigotry, prejudice and hatred in all its forms. Efforts to disarm or subarm any segment of the population must be flatly rejected if for no other reason than these measures disarm Jews who are constantly under armed assault. It is time for our schools to teach armed self defense, and the value of an armed republic to resist tyranny, hatred and abuse. Domestic violence must be met with countervailing force. Criminal attack must be met with armed might. The same types of firearms and ammunition Officer Friendly deems appropriate for dealing with street crime, jihadis, civil unrest, drug gangs and the rest are the types we the people need and should be comfortable with owning and operating. Training is thus crucial. The evil scourges of communistic and socialistic tyrannies need to face armed resistance wherever they raise their dictatorial heads, as Americans understood a mere few decades ago. No more coddling and excuses that allows these pernicious diseases to flourish. Freedom requires defense. Real defense. Get armed. Get trained. Be prepared. This is JPFO's message of life. * See next page for the reasons so many people hate the Jews Support JPFO, speaking truth to power: https://store.jpfo.org/11-donations Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership, http://www.jpfo.org is Americas most aggressive civil-rights organization, dedicated to destroying the notion of gun control as any kind of credible public-policy position. So-called gun control does not control guns and doesnt control criminal behavior. What it does is disarm the innocent, leaving them helpless in the face of criminals, tyrannical governments and genocide. History repeatedly proves this fact. Founded in 1989 by Aaron Zelman as a response to the Holocaust, JPFO speaks with the moral authority and tenacious commitment of survivors of persecution, and knows that surrendering your personal and family safety to government protection courts disaster. You dont have to be Jewish to fight by our side, you just have to love liberty. Uncertainty again looms over the hanging of the four death row convicts here in the Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case scheduled on February 1 with a second condemned prisoner filing a mercy petition before the President on Wednesday and a third convict also moving a curative plea before the Supreme Court. According to Delhi Prison Rules, none of the four convicts in the same crime can be hanged before the last one has exhausted all legal options including the mercy plea. Also, apex court guidelines stipulate that convicts cannot be hanged until 14 days after their mercy plea has been rejected by the President. The trial court on January 17 issued black warrants for the second time for the execution of all the four convicts -- Mukesh Kumar Singh(32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Kumar Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar Singh(31) -- in Tihar jail at 6 am on February 1. The court earlier on January 7 fixed January 22 as the hanging date. Advocate A P Singh, who represents Vinay, said he has filed the mercy petition at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and has got an acknowledgement. "I have filed the mercy petition for Vinay before the President. I have submitted it through hand," Singh told PTI. The apex court on January 14 dismissed the curative petition of Vinay leaving him with the option to file the mercy plea. Tihar jail authorities will now have to move the trial court and inform it about Vinay's mercy plea and seek postponement of the black warrant. As of now only Mukesh has exhausted all his legal remedies including the clemency plea which was dismissed by President Ram Nath Kovind on January 17 and the appeal against the rejection was thrown out by the Supreme Court on Wednesday. A three-judge bench headed by Justice R Banumathi held that "quick consideration" and "swift rejection" of Mukesh's mercy petition does not suggest non-application of mind or it being pre-determined. Akshay approached the apex court on Wednesday with a curative petition which is listed for consideration in-chamber before a five-judge bench on Thursday and if his plea is dismissed, he also has the option to move a mercy plea before the President. He is the third convict to move the curative plea after Mukesh and Vinay. He contended that capital punishment is being awarded by courts as "panacea" in the face of public pressure and public opinion on violence against women. Pawan, the fourth convict, is yet to file a curative plea and he is also likely to avail of this last legal recourse available to a person in a court of law to escape the gallows. The three convicts other than Mukesh can also move the apex court against rejection of mercy plea by the President as and when this situation arises. After today's developments, Nirbhaya's mother Asha Devi said even the court understands that the convicts are filing pleas one after the other just to delay the hanging. "The court is doing its duty and I am hopeful they will be hanged on February 1. I will definitely get justice. This was a long fight and it will continue. I have been following the legal process for seven years. I believe in law. I am hopeful that now we will get justice and they will be hanged," she told reporters at the apex court lawns. Against the backdrop of the apparent delaying tactics by the convicts in the Nirbhaya case, the Centre recently moved the top court for fixing a deadline of seven days for execution of death penalty of condemned prisoners after issuance of black warrant. Hearing Mukesh's plea, the apex court held that President Ram Nath Kovind took into consideration all documents, including the verdicts delivered in the case by the courts, past criminal history of the convict, economic condition of his family, while rejecting the mercy petition. The bench headed by Justice Banumathi, also comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and A S Bopanna, said alleged sufferings in jail cannot be a ground to seek judicial review of the executive order passed under Article 72 of the Constitution, which deals with the power of the president to grant pardons and to suspend, remit or commute sentences in certain cases. "In the result, we do not find any ground for exercise of judicial review of the order of the President of India rejecting the petitioner's (Mukesh) mercy petition and this petition is liable to be dismissed," the bench said in its 25-page order. The curative petition of Akshay will be taken up by a bench comprising Justices N V Ramana, Arun Mishra, R F Nariman, R Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan. "The hollow claim that the death penalty creates a special kind of deterrence which is not caused by life imprisonment and that and life imprisonment amounts to 'forgiving' the criminal is backed by nothing more than a barely masked need to justify vengeance and retribution," the plea said. The placement of the 'collective conscience of the society' and public opinion has prejudiced the case of the petitioner and other co-accused as also amounted to a back-door entry of the media frenzy, the petition added. "The present curative petition is also filed in recognition of the increasingly unsustainable judicial demand for the death penalty in light of the severely inconsistent application of its imposition by this court." The 23-year-old physiotherapy intern, who came to be known as 'Nirbhaya', the fearless one, was gang-raped and savagely assaulted on the night of December 16, 2012, in a moving bus in south Delhi. She died of her injuries a fortnight later in a Singapore hospital. One of the six accused in the case, Ram Singh, allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail in 2013. A juvenile, who was among the accused, was convicted by a juvenile justice board and was released from a reformation home after serving a three-year term. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Emory University President Claire E. Sterk and Jon Lewin, president, CEO and chair of Emory Healthcare, have been named among the 100 Most Influential Georgians for the second consecutive year by Georgia Trend. The magazines 2020 list honored visionary forces who have challenged, inspired and spearheaded efforts to bring about positive change in Georgia. Georgia Trend noted that under Sterks leadership, Emory became the largest employer in metro Atlanta. The magazine also highlighted her focus on issues such as the opioid crisis, access to mental health and global child health. Lewin was recognized for leading Emory Healthcare in the development of its new, environmentally friendly cancer care facility, Winship at Midtown, funded in part by a $400 million gift from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation, the largest in Emory Universitys history. The facility, which marked its official construction groundbreaking in November 2019, will be designed to put patients at the center of specialized care communities. See Georgia Trends complete list of 100 Most Influential Georgians. The Australian bushfires have now killed more than one billion animals, with experts fearing koalas could be pushed to brink of extinction. And Elyse Knowles has used her star power to call for immediate action to address climate change, which experts believe is behind the catastrophe. Cuddling a koala on the cover of Marie Claire's March issue, the 27-year-old model said her mission was to 'help the animals that don't have a voice'. Scroll down for video 'How many more animals need to burn?' Elyse Knowles cuddles a baby koala on the cover of Marie Claire's March issue, as she calls for immediate action on climate change Elyse went to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in Queensland for the photo shoot, which saw her cradle a baby koala named Tink. She had previously visited the centre in December and witnessed their work with injured animals first hand. 'I just really wanted to spread awareness,' Elyse - who won The Block in 2017 with her boyfriend, Josh Barker - told Marie Claire. 'If this isn't an example of what's happening to our world and how it's changing, then I don't know what is. How many people, how many more animals, and how many more houses need to burn?' Advocate: Elyse went to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in Queensland for the photo shoot, which saw her cradle a baby koala named Tink Scientists and bushfire experts agree that the bushfire season is a byproduct of extreme heat and dryness caused by climate change. Elyse said she was aware that there is still a long way to go with recovery, rehabilitation and re-population efforts for local wildlife. 'It takes seven years to regenerate the forest,' she said. 'Help the animals that don't have a voice': Elyse said she was aware that there is still a long way to go with recovery, rehabilitation and re-population efforts for local wildlife Meanwhile, one third of the koala population on Australia's east coast is believed to have already been wiped out. In December, Australia's federal environment minister, Sussan Ley, said the bushfire-ravaged mid-north coast in New South Wales, home to as many as 28,000 koalas, may have lost 30 per cent of the species' local population in recent months. The estimate comes after wildlife experts warned the unprecedented blazes have threatened the koala with extinction. PUNE, India, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Government bodies around the globe are mulling over the legal changes that will be required once the autonomous cars hit the roads. Road safety tops the agenda of most government bodies. A 2018 report by the World Health Organization (WHO) states that around 1.35 million lives were lost as a result of road accidents. In the age group of 5-29, road traffic injuries accounted for the bulk of deaths globally. Diversion of the driver's attention is one of the reasons behind numerous traffic accidents. Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) are being embedded in vehicles by automobile manufacturers to bring down the number of accidents due to driver negligence. Autonomous Emergency Brake (AEB), for instance, controls the magnitude of braking based on multiple factors like vehicle distance and speed, thereby helping in collision avoidance. Mercedes-Benz has already incorporated this feature in majority of their vehicles. Individuals are increasingly investing in systems that can help prevent accidents, which further aids in the growth of the global advanced driver assistance systems market. Request a [email protected] https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/request_sample.php?id=344 Vehicle parking is becoming increasingly challenging for several individuals, especially with the surge in vehicle density in metropolitan areas. The progression in sensor technology is helping drivers in precisely scanning the surrounding areas. This helps in limiting vehicle damage and the proper utilization of parking spaces. Night vision cameras significantly helps in overcoming the hurdles associated with night parking. Blind spots are present in most vehicles, notably in the economy class. Reduced visibility has resulted in multiple accidents, particularly at higher speeds. Blind Spot Object Detection System warns the driver in case an object approaches the vehicle through the blind spot region. Fatigue, primarily during night driving, claims numerous lives. The driver loses control over the vehicle as a result of drowsiness. US-based electronic systems manufacturer, Texas Instruments Incorporated, provides a system for monitoring the vital signs of the driver. Fatigue and drowsiness can be detected using this. Government regulations which strengthen the safety features in automobiles, which helps in reducing human casualties due to road accidents, is aiding in the growth of the global advanced driver assistance systems market. Enquiry Before [email protected] https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/enquiry_before_buying.php?id=344 The detailed research study provides qualitative and quantitative analysis of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Market. The market has been analyzed from demand as well as supply side. The demand side analysis covers market revenue across regions and further across all the major countries. The supply side analysis covers the major market players and their regional and global presence and strategies. The geographical analysis done emphasizes on each of the major countries across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa and Latin America. Key Findings of the Report: In terms of revenue, the adaptive cruise control segment accounted for the highest Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Market share of 25.02% in 2018. The incorporation of these systems in a wide range of automobiles, which includes economy class, is helping its growth. On the basis of vehicles, the trucks segment is expected to show the maximum growth, due to the increasing demand for drowsiness alert among truck drivers. As far as geography is concerned, the Asia Pacific region is expected to show the maximum growth during the forecast period, due to the presence of several leading automobile manufacturers in the region coupled with the increasing disposable income in APAC countries. region is expected to show the maximum growth during the forecast period, due to the presence of several leading automobile manufacturers in the region coupled with the increasing disposable income in APAC countries. Some of the players operating in the advanced driver assistance systems market are AISIN SEIKI Co., Ltd., Continental AG, DENSO CORPORATION, HYUNDAI MOBIS, MAGNA International Inc., Mobileye, NVIDIA Corporation, NXP Semiconductors, Panasonic Corporation, Renesas Electronics Corporation, Robert Bosch GmbH, Texas Instruments Incorporated, VALEO, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, among others. Request for [email protected] https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/request_for_customization.php?id=344 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Market: By System Adaptive Cruise Control System Tire Pressure Monitoring System Drowsiness Monitor System Automated Parking Blind Spot Object Detection System Traffic Sign Recognition Automated Emergency Braking Lane Departure Warning System Adaptive Front-lighting System Others By Sensor Type Lidar Image Ultrasonic Radar Laser Others By Vehicle Passenger Cars Trucks Buses By Geography North America U.S Canada Mexico Rest of North America Europe France The UK Spain Germany Italy Nordic Countries Denmark Finland Iceland Sweden Norway Benelux Union Belgium The Netherlands Luxembourg Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India New Zealand Australia South Korea Southeast Asia Indonesia Thailand Malaysia Singapore Rest of Southeast Asia Rest of Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa and Saudi Arabia UAE Egypt Kuwait South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa & Latin America Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America Get Full Information of this premium [email protected] https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/reports/Advanced-Driver-Assistance-Systems-Market-2019-2027-344 About Us: Absolute Markets Insights assists in providing accurate and latest trends related to consumer demand, consumer behavior, sales, and growth opportunities, for the better understanding of the market, thus helping in product designing, featuring, and demanding forecasts. Our experts provide you the end-products that can provide transparency, actionable data, cross-channel deployment program, performance, accurate testing capabilities and the ability to promote ongoing optimization. From the in-depth analysis and segregation, we serve our clients to fulfill their immediate as well as ongoing research requirements. Minute analysis impact large decisions and thereby the source of business intelligence (BI) plays an important role, which keeps us upgraded with current and upcoming market scenarios. Contact Us: Company: Absolute Markets Insights Email id: [email protected] Phone: +91-740-024-2424 Contact Name: Shreyas Tanna The Work Lab, Model Colony, Shivajinagar, Pune, MH, 411016 Website: https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/ SOURCE Absolute Markets Insights 4 aid workers with French charity Christians of the Middle East disappear in Baghdad Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Four members of the French nongovernmental organization Christians of the Middle East, a charity that seeks to "help Christian communities remain (in the region) and rebuild," have disappeared while working in Baghdad. The four members of the charity went missing near the French embassy in the Iraqi capital on Jan. 20, Christians of the Middle East director Benjamin Blanchard said at a news conference in Paris on Friday, France 24 reports. Three of the disappeared workers are French and one is Iraqi, he added. There have been no ransom demands, and the charity has asked that their identities remain concealed for security reasons. The charity has been working with persecuted Christians in Iraq since 2014 when Islamic State jihadists seized the predominantly Christian province of Mosul, displacing tens of thousands. The group is also 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, and were 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, describing the men as "experienced staff members who have been working with us for years" and who had "perfect knowledge of conflict zones. On Twitter, Christians of the Middle East shared photos of people from around the world who've gathered to pray for the missing workers safe recovery. Today, we will offer to God Our Father, a Special Mass, for the safety and the return of Our Beloved Four Brothers. We gather all of our hearts, minds, souls, and prayers for ONE INTENTION: THE SAFE RETURN TO OUR FOUR BELOVED BROTHERS, reads one update. The secular news outlet AFP, which is partly funded by the French government, claims that the Christian organization is "fiercely critical of Islam, portraying it as a threat to Christianity in the Middle East." The humanitarian aid workers' disappearance comes as kidnappings have become commonplace in Iraq, according to persecution watchdog group International Christian Concern. The group reports that America's military presence in Iraq has also become increasingly unwelcome following a U.S. drone strike that killed Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian Quds Force commander, alongside Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of Iran-backed militias in Iraq known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, and five others in Baghdad on Jan. 3. Soleimani, was a known terrorist who was responsible for numerous terrorist attacks worldwide as well as the killing of Iranians, Iraqis, U.S. allies and the killing over 600 U.S. soldiers and wounding of thousands of others over two decades. Other countries had tried to kill Soleimani before President Trump authorized the operation. Iran has infiltrated the Iraqi government and military in an attempt to push out the U.S. and other foreign influences. "The extent to which Iran has managed to infiltrate Iraqs political and military establishment was revealed in November 2019, when 700 pages containing secret intelligence cables were leaked to two U.S. media organizations. They describe a carefully conceived plan, going back to 2014, for Irans ministry of information and security, along with the Quds Force, to expand Irans influence inside Iraq, and to identify and run sources at the most senior levels of government. The aim was to keep the country pliant and aligned to Irans objectives," The Jerusalem Post reports. "The leaked cables reveal that Iranian intelligence officers co-opted much of the Iraqi governments cabinet, infiltrated its military leadership, and even tapped into a network of sources once run by the CIA," the Post adds. Along with exerting it's influence in the Iraqi government and military, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, such as an armed group known as Kataib Hezbollah, have also been carrying out terrorist attacks, such as a Dec. 27 rocket attack on an Iraqi military base where U.S. troops are stationed. As a result, all foreigners working in Iraq are at a grave security risk," International Christian Concern. notes. For Christians, the risk is even greater. Following ISIS, Iraqi Christians have come to rely upon foreign aid. For those working in humanitarian aid, and for those receiving, the environment is an increasingly dangerous one. Earlier this month, Chaldean Catholic Patriarch of Baghdad, Louis Raphael Sako, called on Christians and Muslims in Iraq to pray for their leaders. In his homily, Sako described the situation in Iraq and the Middle East as a volcano about to erupt and urged Christians to pray and push to avoid further escalation of the ongoing tensions, noting that innocent people will be the fuel for such fire. Open Doors USA ranks Iraq at No. 15 on its World Watch List of 50 countries where it's most difficult to be a Christian. According to the group, although the Islamic State terror group has lost territory in Iraq, their ideology remains and has influenced society. Many of the militants, it says, have simply blended back into the general population. She was surprised to soon after get a call from a Weinstein associate to bring her in for a reading. The script she was handed was for the movie Pulse, eventually released in 2006, which prosecutors have said was actually being cast in Los Angeles. But before she could read, she was diverted. She was told Weinstein wanted to see her and that a car was waiting to take her to him, she testified. The U.S. Treasury Department has joined the European Union and Canada in imposing new sanctions on Russia in response to Moscow's "continued aggression toward Ukraine and attempted occupation of Crimea," a news release says. A total of eight individuals and a privately owned railroad company face restrictive measures in the form of asset freezes in the United States, according to the department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Seven of these individuals, whom the Treasury Department called illegitimate Russian-backed Crimean officials, were also designated by the EU on January 28. Canada blacklisted six of the individuals. The imposition of sanctions was made "as part of a coordinated action in a strong demonstration of the international community's continued condemnation of Russia's interference in Crimean politics." There are now 692 individuals and entities, as well as their subsidiaries, blacklisted by the U.S. government. Grand Service Express and its CEO, Aleksandr Ganov, were put under sanctions for supporting "Russia's efforts to deepen the economic integration of Russia and Crimea." It was in reference to a rail link that was opened in late December between Russia and the Ukrainian peninsula over a bridge that was built for which sanctions were also imposed. "The GSE transport company operates in Russia, therefore, sanctions will not affect the company's activities," the press service of Grand Service Express told Interfax. The Russian Embassy in Washington said the U.S. sanctions will not affect Moscows policies but will undermine the basis for mutually beneficial cooperation with our country." The embassy statement added that the U.S. administration was attempting "to misrepresent the strengthening of local government and transparent political processes" in Crimea. The EUs Russian sanctions list now consists of 177 individuals and 44 entities. Canada's analogous list contains more than 430 individuals and entities. Canada, the EU, and the United States began issuing the restrictive measures after Russia seized Ukraine's Crimea region in March 2014 and their respective sanctions lists have grown over the subsequent years as Moscow has continued to back separatists in eastern Ukraine. The seven individuals include Sergei Danilenko, Lidia Basova, and Yekaterina Pyrkova of Sevastopol's municipal election committee, as well as Yuriy Gotsanyuk, the head of the de facto Crimean government. The three other targeted individuals are Mikhail Razvozhayev, Vladimir Nemtsev, and Yekaterina Altabayeva. With reporting by Interfax Scientific evidence shows that human activities impact global warming, biodiversity loss, land degradation, overuse of natural resources, and pollution. They threaten the health and safety of human kind. In December 2019, the pioneers of an emerging concept, Planetary Health, gathered together at a Finland's EU Presidency side event, organised by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE). As a result, The Helsinki Declaration, which calls for multidisciplinary approach from the EU to protect the Planet and human health with full commitment of relevant commissions, was drafted. In the declaration, the researchers suggest that the planetary health paradigm ? the health of human civilization and the state of natural systems on which it depends ? must become the driver of all policies. The declaration stresses: raising awareness of the strong interlinkage between human and planetary health social justice that enables nature conservation and restoration long-term goals over short-term political victories or economical gains short-term actions, like reducing air pollution, chemical contamination and ending smoking interventions that produce results for political decisions and models for societal learning well-functioning, sustainable and biodiverse natural systems scientific knowledge and innovation for the basis of actions evaluation and adjustment of these actions. "The conference participants were from various fields, but they shared the same thought: safeguarding natural systems means that we are safeguarding our health. The time to act on this agenda is now. The harmful effects of human activities on the environment and human health are already quite tremendous," says the Director of THL's Research Programme on Safe and Health Promoting Environment, Jaana Halonen. According to the declaration, governments and decision makers need to address the health impacts of major environmental threats on a regular basis to prompt timely and concrete actions. Also, improved cooperation between various sectors including health, environment, energy, agricultural and transport as well as chemical and other industries is essential. "The Planetary Health concept pays attention to the interlinkages between various sustainable development goals. This is a solid pathway towards a safe and just world, which UN Agenda 2030 strives for. Therefore, the conference and the declaration are so timely," says Eeva Furman, Director of the Environmental Policy Centre, Finnish Environment Institute. "Extensive cooperation, political commitment and adequate resourcing will facilitate the change. It is also fundamental that society, communities and citizens work to extensively implement approaches for enhancing and promoting living environments and natural systems, and consequently, our health." ### Read the Helsinki Declaration at: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe202001283715 A family narrowly escaped being bitten by a highly-venomous eastern brown snake after it was found hiding in a basket of dirty laundry. Stuart McKenzie from Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers was called to the Warana home, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast on Tuesday. He told Daily Mail Australia the family was 'lucky' they found the reptile as they had nearly put their hands on him. A family narrowly escaped disturbing a highly venomous Eastern Brown snake (pictured) after it was found hiding in a basket of dirty laundry 'I went in and grabbed him and caught him straight away,' Mr McKenzie said. 'He was blocked in and all he wanted to do was get away from me.' Mr McKenzie said it wasn't unusual for an Eastern Brown to be found in the area due to sand dunes nearby. The snake was relocated in the bush after he was removed from the home. 'Remember to keep your doors, windows and screen doors shut and make sure there are no gaps under them so snakes cant get inside your home,' Mr McKenzie wrote on Facebook. Social media users were shocked at the 'small' reptile and how it got into the how. 'Omg, exactly [how] small? I would have a heart attack,' one person commented on the Facebook post. Another said snakes were the reason they would never leave New Zealand. Stuart McKenzie told Daily Mail Australia the family was 'lucky' they found the reptile as they had nearly put their hands on him (stock) A Houston woman accused of kidnapping an Austin mother and her newborn was indicted Tuesday on a charge of capital murder in the mothers death. Magen Fieramusca was previously charged in December with kidnapping Heidi Broussard and her 3-week-old baby, Margo, and tampering with Broussards body. Prosecutors have said the two women were friends. A Travis County grand jury indicted Fieramusca in the case. Fieramusca asyphixiated Broussard with a leash and with her hands while she was in the process of kidnapping the mother and her baby, according to the indictment. FBI behavioural analysts said they believe Fieramusca was driven by a compulsive desire to have a baby. Broussard, 33, and her baby were reported missing by the Austin Police Department on Dec. 13. Her body was found on Dec. 19 stuffed into a duffel bag in the trunk of a car parked in the backyard of the house where Fieramusca, also 33, lived near Jersey Village, according to an affidavit of arrest. Margo was found safe inside the home. Fiermusca presented the baby as her own during that time, police said. She also apparently convinced Chris Green, her ex-boyfriend with whom she lived, that the child was his. Investigators said Fieramusca either lost a pregnancy or entirely fabricated one in the months leading up to Margos kidnapping. Broussards death was ruled a homicide by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. She was killed by ligature strangulation. This is a developing story. Please check back later for more details. hannah.dellinger@chron.com Photo: Filippo Diotalevi/Flickr Here's the most recent top news you may have missed in Chicago. Former State Sen. Martin Sandoval pleads guilty to bribery, tax evasion The guilty plea comes just one day after the Chicago Democrat was charged in a federal probe into Illinois' red-light camera industry. Read the full story on NPR. Illinois residents can visit museums for free in February The Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Art Institute of Chicago and more are offering free admission to Illinois residents in February. Read the full story on ABC Chicago, WLS. Melinda Gates' company puts millions into Chicagos tech industry to boost women's involvement Melinda Gates investment company, Pivotal Ventures, is putting $50 million into Chicago and two other cities over the next five years to boost womens involvement in the tech industry. Read the full story on Chicago Tribune. British trader who caused market flash crash in 2010 sentenced to home confinement British "flash crash" trader Navinder Sarao, who caused the markets to temporarily lose billions of dollars in 2010, was sentenced on Tuesday by a federal court in Chicago to one year of home incarceration. Despite facing as much as eight years in prison, Sarao, who suffers from severe Aspergers, was sentenced to just one year of supervised release. Read the full story on Chicago Tribune. Bankrupt Chicago-bred Bar Louie chain closes 38 locations Gastrobar chain Bar Louie, which was founded in Chicago 30 years ago and is now based in Texas, closed 38 corporate-owned locations, including in River North and Naperville, and has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Read the full story on Eater Chicago. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 By Elnur Baghishov - Trend: The US sanctions against Iran are impeding the countrys receiving gas and electricity export revenues from Iraq, Spokesman of Irans Oil, Gas & Petrochemical Products Exporters Association (OPEX) Hamid Hosseini said, Trend reports referring IRNA. Hosseini noted that gas and electricity export revenues are paid to the Central Bank of Iraq, adding that revenues worth $5 billion are on the banks account. The spokesman said that Irans private sector can facilitate bringing export revenues to Iran from Iraq, and there are no problems in this area. However, the issue of bringing money for electricity and gas exports is different, because this is done through banks and this issue is related to government sectors of the two countries, Hosseini added. Iran has two agreements on gas and electricity exports to Iraq, the spokesman said. Iran and Iraq have developed a plan for the payment of funds obtained from gas and electricity exports. Hosseini noted that the Iraqi government is paying this amount in dinars to the Iraqi Central Bank. However, along with the US sanctions against Iran, there are bank problems in Iraq and there is no way to transfer this money to Iran, the spokesman said. According to the 10-month statistics (March 21, 2019 Jan. 20, 2020), Irans exports to Iraq amounted to $8 billion, Hosseini added. The US imposed sanctions on Iran in 2018 and expanded the list of sanctions in several stages. The sanctions have had huge negative impact on Iran's economy. Air carrier SpiceJet on Wednesday decided to suspend stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra from flying with the airline till further notice in wake of the incident onboard an IndiGo flight where the comedian accosted journalist Arnab Goswami and also made a video of it. "SpiceJet has decided to suspend Kunal Kamra (for heckling journalist Arnab Goswami on an IndiGo flight yesterday) from flying with the airline till further notice," said SpiceJet in a statement. Air India and IndiGo have already suspended Kamra from flying until further notice and six months, respectively. Both airlines have said that Kamra's conduct onboard was "unacceptable behaviour".Kamra and Goswami were travelling in an IndiGo flight 6E 5317 from Mumbai to Lucknow on Tuesday when the incident happened. In the video posted by Kamra on his Twitter handle, Goswami, who can be seen glued to his laptop, did not respond to the former's heckling."In light of the recent incident on board 6E 5317 from Mumbai to Lucknow, we wish to inform that we are suspending Mr Kunal Kamra from flying with IndiGo for a period of six months, as his conduct onboard was unacceptable behaviour," IndiGo had said in a statement.The airline has advised passengers to refrain from indulging in "personal slander" whilst onboard, as this can potentially compromise the safety of fellow passengers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A major spring flood along the Red River is being anticipated by the National Weather Service, confirming what communities on either side of the U.S. border have expected since record precipitation hammered the region in the fall. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/1/2020 (715 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A major spring flood along the Red River is being anticipated by the National Weather Service, confirming what communities on either side of the U.S. border have expected since record precipitation hammered the region in the fall. A report from the U.S. federal agency published last week pegs the likelihood of significant overflow along the Red at 65 per cent, with communities such as Fargo-Moorhead, Grand Forks and Pembina expected to surpass major flood levels. In Grand Forks, theres an estimated three-in-four chance of exceeding the major flood level of 46 feet. At Pembina, there is a 95 per cent chance of reaching the major flood level of 49 feet, and a 50 per cent chance levels could reach as high as 53 feet. If reached, those levels would mirror ones reached in the spring floods of 2009 and 2011, said Greg Gust, a warning co-ordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service. While Gust could only comment on the experience south of the border, those conditions could spell similar concerns in Manitoban communities such as Emerson, Ste. Agathe and Winnipeg, which sit along the north-flowing river. The Free Press reached out to the Manitoba Department of Infrastructure for an update on anticipated spring levels in the Canadian side of the basin, and were told, based on current conditions, the first spring flood outlook should be released in February. After an extremely dry summer, the Prairie region was hit last fall with record or near-record levels of precipitation across the board, best-exemplified by a September rain storm and a mid-October snowfall that left thousands of Manitobans without power. In North Dakota and Manitoba, the Red rose substantially as a result, and the province was forced to activate the Red River Floodway for 29 days between Oct. 9 and Nov. 7 the latest it had been used in its 50-year history. Since Sept. 1, the U.S. portion of the river basin has experienced more precipitation than ever recorded over the same period, Gust said. The fall levels set the table for a likely spring flood in North Dakota, Gust said. The soil moisture along the American side of the basin remains at the 95th percentile or greater, as does the rivers base streamflow. Combined with the snow thats fallen since, Gust said the likelihood has increased. 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. Manitobas fall conditions report, published Dec. 17, said most of the provincial watersheds were experiencing above-normal to well-above-normal levels of soil moisture, and base streamflows also generally fell in that range. Both are indications of elevated spring flood risks. However, the report noted, it was "not very practical or feasible" to provide a long-term forecast for spring 2020, given certain conditions such as snowmelt or winter precipitation could influence the potential for a flood. "There is an inherent risk of overestimating or underestimating the flood potential, if one considers the conditions and available precipitation four months in advance of the spring runoff," it said. According to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's database, most of southern Manitoba experienced between 40 to 85 per cent of the average winter precipitation between Nov. 1 and Jan. 20. The next flood outlook report from the National Weather Service will be issued Feb. 13. ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- D.C. area-based digital transformation partner, U.Group, will open an office on the north side of Indianapolis and hire 12 people immediately and 100 more by the end of 2020. U.Group aims to hire people with three to five years of experience in engineering and software development to fill its first 12 high-skilled positions being created in Indiana. Over time, the company expects its Indianapolis outpost to be representative of the full range of its capabilities, including technology, data, consulting, and creative services. U.Group has been working closely with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) throughout the research and planning process. "We're grateful to have the support of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation in establishing our presence in central Indiana. The IEDC has extended incentives that will help U.Group grow and thrive while also bringing new high-skilled jobs to the community," said CEO Lena Trudeau. Governor Eric Holcomb said U.Group's decision is yet another indication that the state's reputation as a great place for technology is growing. "Indiana's tech community is sinking three-pointers all day long when it comes to showing off our tech 'chops' if you will," said Governor Eric J. Holcomb. "We're extremely grateful U.Group chose to grow in Indiana, bringing high-skilled career opportunities to the state, and we're confident that Indiana's talented tech pipeline will help propel U.Group's new operations." TechPoint President and CEO Mike Langellier applauded U.Group's leadership for its long-term vision and growth strategy, for which a presence in Indiana is an integral component. The company's Midwest presence will play an invaluable role in the fulfillment of a recently-awarded three-year, $100M contract for DevSecOps services, the largest in company history, and the expansion of existing relationships with local partners. "We have great relationships with and respect for the state's education and corporate institutions. We see tremendous opportunity to extend our partnerships with local customers while also collaborating with an incredible talent base to identify new business opportunities," said Anuj Vedak, U.Group's VP of Strategy & Operations. "From what I understand, it wasn't a hard sell," Langellier said. "Essentially it's what we nearly always find with site visits: once outsiders see what Indiana has to offer, they want to be a part of it and bring their new jobs and business expansion to Indiana." U.Group's expansion into Indianapolis will be the company's third base of operations. Named among the nation's fastest growing companies, U.Group currently employs nearly 300 people who are primarily located in their Washington, D.C. area offices. Interested applicants may apply online. About U.Group U.Group is a digital transformation partner helping organizations solve their most complex problems and create new strategic opportunities. Consistently named among Inc. Magazine's Fastest Growing Companies, U.Group uses human-centered design, data science, engineering, and ingenuity to help organizations inside and outside the federal government work more efficiently and reach their audiences more effectively. Headquartered in Arlington, VA with over 280 employees nationwide, U.Group is proud to be a woman-led organization. To learn more visit www.u.group. SOURCE U.Group Related Links http://www.u.group New Delhi, Jan 29 : Seventy two hours from now, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be presenting the Union Budget, 2020 amid diving GDP projections, the country losing its coveted title of the world's fastest growing economy to China, and a worrying fiscal deficit expected to surpass projected 3.3 per cent. Even as all eyes will on the Budget, there is a "fantastic four", as they are often referred to within the BJP, who have, for months, been giving critical feedback to the Finance Minister on what the budget should be and specifically, which sectors deserve more allocations. From suggestions like which subsidies should be given or withdrawing, they have been instrumental in shaping the Budget quite as much as the bureaucrats at North Block. IANS profiles these behind the scene faces who have worked very closely with Sitharaman for the last few months. 1. Gopal Krishna Agarwal: This BJP spokesperson has been steering the formerly non-existent economic wing of the BJP. A Director of the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) and a former director of the Bank of Baroda, Agarwal has been the nucleus of budgetary preparation for Sitharaman this year. He worked as an interface between the industry and the Finance Minister this year. For the first time, the party held background talks with industry experts and representatives to understand what they need to activate growth. There were a total of 11 such meetings. Agarwal, who has been in the thick of such meetings, told IANS that the outcomes of these meetings are conveyed "one by one" which, Agarwal claims, the FM listened to "patiently and kept noting", all these while. According to him, 200 individuals from different sectors took part in this year's meeting. The importance the FM attaches to the 'fantastic four' can be sensed from the fact that she chose to get into a huddle at the BJP headquarters on January 10, even as a crucial two-hour-long Niti Aayog meeting with over 30 industry experts and economists went ahead without her. 2. Dr. Syed Zafar Islam: Another BJP spokesperson, he is a former Managing Director, Deutsche Bank who is tasked by the BJP leadership to give his continuous inputs to the budget that are eventually presented to Sitharaman. A former investment banker, he is currently a Director of the national carrier Air India. So how does it work? "There is no structured mechanism," replies Islam, before adding the "senior leadership" asked him to share his "vision for the budget" within the party. On being asked to elaborate what his suggestions were, Islam was candid. "We have very limited room to manoeuvre, given the committed expenditure in India. But whatever resources are left in the budget that can be spent somewhere, the idea is to use it equally for the rural sector, poor and the middle class." So has he suggested incentives for the corporate sector or more subsidy for the poor? Islam would not answer but did tell IANS that "I hope this budget will see more spending on the rural sector". This reconfirms an earlier IANS report that suggested the BJP demanded a 'gaon, gareeb, kisan' (village, poor, farmer) focus budget from Sitharaman. 3. Narendra Taneja: Taneja is not just a BJP spokesperson but trusted voice in the energy sector. He is the Head of the BRICS Business Council and the President of World Energy Policy Summit. That is why the BJP used his expertise this year in the run-up to the Budget. What has been his suggestion to the Minister Nirmala? Speaking to IANS, Taneja confessed: "I said the government needs to spend more. That is to say broadly. But on specifics, the rural economy needs more attention that urban economy. The demand is lacking. Recreating rural demand is the key." On the modus operandi, Taneja said that there were a series of meetings within the BJP with his colleagues comprising the 'fantastic four' and specific suggestions are handed over to the Finance Minister. Among them are water conservation projects within villages, and rural infrastructure projects. "Idea is to create jobs, give money in the hands of villagers and arrest migration from villages," he reasoned. 4. Amit Malviya: While most know him as the national social media head of the BJP, Malviya has spent a considerable amount of his professional life in the banking sector. That is the reason he has been a part of this pre-budget exercise that went for months. Malviya says that the macro indicators are good for India. However, some specific suggestions went to Sitharaman. Sources say a substitution for import of major items was an idea that was floated. "India imports so much of electrical goods. We also import buttons that we wear on our shirts. Manufacturing them in India will not only add value to tech 'Make in India' programme but also boost domestic business," he said. A BJP source, meanwhile, says that Malviya requested the FM to instill confidence in the banking sector. Elaborating on the suggestion, the source added: "Right now, many banks fear lending money. They fear being subject to probes later on. But bringing a transparent system where the bank can lend freely will bring liquidity in the market." Whether Sitharaman can bring smile on your faces with tax cuts or frown with additional taxes is a matter only she is privy to. But come February 1, when the Finance Minister will present her second budget, these four BJP faces and their brainstorming is likely to be reflected in the provisions one way or the other. (Anindya Banerjee can be contacted at anindya.b@ians.in) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text 2019-nCoV: Delhi tourist suspected of coronavirus admitted in Goa medical college India oi-Madhuri Adnal Panaji, Jan 29: A middle aged tourist from Delhi has been hospitalised in Goa as a precautionary measure for possible exposure to the novel Coronavirus during his recent visit to China, a senior official said on Tuesday. State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said the person was a foreign national who had come to Goa after visiting China. The man was admitted in the isolation ward of the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) with symptoms similar to novel coronavirus, officially called the 2019-nCoV, infection, he added. Coronavirus scare: Govt formally requests China to start evacuating Indians from Wuhan "The patient and his wife had recently travelled to a place, which is 750 km from the Chinese city of Kunshan, and had complained of a sore throat since his return. We admitted him in an isolation ward as a precautionary measure. His samples have been to Pune for further tests," he said. Nirbhaya Case: Convict Akshay Kumar Singh files curative petition in SC | Oneindia News This is the first such move in the state since the nCoV illness broke out in China, the official added. A task force has been formed in Goa to tackle any possible case of the virus, he said. 28-year-old banker shows coronavirus-like symptoms, admitted to PGIMER in Chandigarh Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat asked Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to take 'steps on priority' to tackle the situation. Chinese health officials on Tuesday said 106 people have been killed so far due to the virus. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, January 29, 2020, 10:17 [IST] German Minister of Health Jens Spahn arrive at the weekly cabinet meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany January 29, 2020. REUTERS/Michele Tantussi German Minister: Four Workers Infected With Coronavirus Showing Mild Symptoms BERLINFour people in Bavaria who contracted coronavirus after a colleague from China visited their workplace were showing very mild symptoms, German Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Jan. 29. In one of the first known cases of person-to-person transmission outside China, a 33-year-old man apparently contracted the virus on Jan. 21 during a training session with a Chinese colleague, Bavarian officials said. The three other patients were being monitored in isolation at a clinic in Munich. The course of illness experienced by the four patients in Bavaria is very, very mild currently, Spahn told German broadcaster ZDF. The cases raise concerns about the spread of the flu-like virus that broke out in the central Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of last year. It spreads in droplets from coughs and sneezes and has an incubation period of up to 14 days. German car parts supplier Webasto on Tuesday said an employee at its headquarters in Stockdorf, Bavaria, had become infected following the visit of an employee from China. Webasto said it had put an end to all business trips to and from China for at least two weeks and would close its plant in Stockdorf until Feb. 2. Outside of China there have now been 45 confirmed cases in 13 countries, with no deaths so far, the WHOs spokesman Christian Lindmeier told a briefing in Geneva on Tuesday. I believe we did have what it takes to bring them down and there was no good reason to drop the lawsuit, Manzo said. Its nice to see those involved in this, who thought theyd be laughing all the way to the bank, now crying their way into court. Mexico City (AFP) - Mexican migration authorities said they have deported 2,300 Hondurans who illegally crossed over from Guatemala with a caravan heading to the United States. The "assisted return" of the Central Americans took place between January 18 and Monday, according to the interior ministry and the National Migration Institute. A total of 1,064 Honduran migrants were deported on National Guard planes and charter aircraft, they said in a statement. Another 1,239 were repatriated by land from the southern states of Chiapas and Tabasco, the institute said. The Central Americans entered Mexico last week from Guatemala with the so-called "2020 Caravan" with the intention of heading to the United States. Mexican authorities said the deportations were carried out "in compliance with the migration law and with full respect for human rights." Members of the National Guard last Thursday used tear gas as they arrested some 800 members of the caravan along the southern border with Guatemala, causing panic among the migrants who included women and children. 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. Mexico faces pressure to keep the 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. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador deployed some 26,000 troops to the country's borders in response. She's no stranger to proudly displaying her physique. And Alicia Rountree set pulses racing in a slew of sultry poses as she unveiled her new range of eco-friendly swimwear Alicia Swim. The model, 33, looked sensational in the collection ranging from a statement yellow bikini to a plunging striped swimsuit as she posed among a stunning beach setting. Gorgeous: Alicia Rountree set pulses racing in a slew of sultry poses as she unveiled her new range of eco-friendly swimwear Alicia Swim In one snap, Alicia showed off her amazing figure in a formfitting swimsuit with a watercolour effect created of shades of red, blue and green. Another snap showed her posing on a beach as she enjoyed a plate of fruit, with plenty of her tanned figure on display in an electric blue bikini, with her lightened tresses pulled back with a yellow and white hairband. Yellow seems to be a fixture in Alicia's new swimwear range, as she also modelled a sporty bikini and skimpy two-piece in the same colour. Flawless: The model looked amazing in an array of beach looks as she posed in the stunning setting in an array of different ensembles Jaw-dropping: In one snap Alicia showed off her tanned abs in a sport banana yellow one-shouldered bikini top and matching bottoms In shape: Another look featured a white swimsuit covered with red and blue thin stripes, and pulled her bobbed tresses under a matching turban Sizzling: Another bikini included a paint-on stripes of red, blue and green as she displayed her tanned physique Important: The new bikini range is made using the material Econyl, which is a high-quality yarn created from regenerated nylon Another snap shows Alicia in a gorgeous white swimsuit with delicate red and blue stripes, with her bobbed tresses pulled under a matching turban. The new bikini range is made using the material Econyl, which is a high-quality yarn created from regenerated nylon. Alicia rose to fame in the early noughties when she was signed up by modelling agency IMG, and she had a number of high-profile campaigns under her belt, including with Abercrombie & Fitch and Victoria's Secret. It was also rumoured in 2013 that she was dating actor Jude Law, though this was never confirmed. Superstar: Alicia rose to fame in the early noughties when she was signed up by modelling agency IMG Fashion favourite: She had a number of high-profile campaigns under her belt, including with Abercrombie & Fitch and Victoria's Secret Gorgeous: It was also rumoured in 2013 that she was dating actor Jude Law, though this was never confirmed Sexy: Alicia grew up on the stunning island of Mauritius, and she recent spoke to Harper's Bazaar about returning to the country Back home: She said: 'When I'm in Mauritius I don't need anythingjust a bikini and T-shirt. It's nice to have nice things, but it's just about knowing you don't need them' Alicia grew up on the stunning island of Mauritius, and she recent spoke to Harper's Bazaar about returning to the country. She said: 'When I'm in Mauritius I don't need anythingjust a bikini and T-shirt. It's nice to have nice things, but it's just about knowing you don't need them. 'My parents created a beautiful little haven for all of us.' To the Editor: Re U.S. Unveils Plan on Mideast Peace (front page, Jan. 29): Anyone serious about achieving peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians knows that there are three main issues that will require compromise: the status of Jerusalem, the future of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the eventual borders of a Palestinian state. President Trumps so-called peace plan bows entirely to Israels demands on all three of those crucial issues. Jerusalem will remain largely unified and under Israels control. Settlements will be kept intact and annexed as part of Israel. Palestines borders will be a jumbled, indefensible mess. This is not a serious plan. It is a blank check written by a president facing an impeachment trial and handed to an Israeli prime minister indicted on corruption charges. Not only will this plan fail to achieve peace, but it will also set back American efforts in the Middle East for years to come. Two days before Brexit goes into effect, European Parliament members from the United Kingdom are turning the page on Europe and saying their goodbyes. As she packs her boxes, Martina Anderson, Northern Irish MEP from the Sinn Fein party, is angry about her forced departure. In 2016, Northern Ireland voted by more than 56 percent to stay in Europe. I'm thinking primarily of the people who sent me here. They, like me, know that we're being kicked out against our democratically expressed wishes to remain in the EU, says Anderson. Molly Scott-Cato, British MEP of the Green party, is also sad about having to leave Brussels. It was a very nice feeling, to be able to feel useful, and I'd love to carry on doing that, Scott-Cato told visiting students. Click on the player above to watch our report. Justice Department Takes Action Against Telecom Carriers Over Robocalls The Justice Department (DOJ) announced on Tuesday that it had taken action against telecommunication carriers for allegedly facilitating fraudulent robocalls in a first of its kind enforcement operation by the department. DOJ officials said in a press release that they had filed civil actions for temporary restraining orders in two separate cases to block five companies and three individuals from making further calls. The officials accused the defendants of being responsible for carrying hundreds of millions of robocalls leading to significant financial losses to elderly and vulnerable victims across the country. The companies targeted in the enforcement action are two Arizona companies, TollFreeDeals.com and SIP Retail; their owner-operators, Nicholas Palumbo and Natasha Palumbo; three New York-based companies, Global Voicecom Inc., Global Telecommunication Services Inc., KAT Telecom Inc.; and their owner-operator, Jon Kahen. The department sought an order for both cases earlier on Tuesday, and a federal court has already granted the temporary restraining order against the New York defendants, officials said. Robocalls are an annoyance to many Americans, and those that are fraudulent and predatory are a serious problem, often causing devastating financial harm to the elderly and vulnerable members of our society, Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt for the Department of Justices Civil Division said in a statement. Officials alleged that the companies were operating as gateway carriers serving as a point of entry for foreign-initiated calls into the U.S. telecommunications system using voice over internet protocol (VoIP). Numerous foreign-based criminal organizations have allegedly used these carriers to pass fraudulent robocalls, most of which originated from India to American victims. (Department of Justice) Victims would receive calls falsely threatening them with different types of catastrophic government actions, such as the termination of social security benefits, arrest for alleged tax fraud, as well as deportation for supposed failure to fill out immigration forms correctly. These calls, the officials said, are designed to scare the victims into paying large amounts of money to the scammers to avoid fraudulent government actions. Officials also say that the companies carried astronomical numbers of calls over short periods. In one example, the complaint against TollFreeDeals.com accused the defendants of facilitating 720 million calls during a sample 23-day period. Over 425 million of those calls lasted less than one second, which indicated that they were robocalls. (Department of Justice) The department said they had previously warned the companies on numerous occasions that they were facilitating fraudulent robocalls, yet the companies continued to carry those calls. The companies Global Voicecom, TollFreeDeals.com, and SIP Retail did not immediately respond to The Epoch Times request for comment. Last year, 58.5 billion robocalls were made, according to data collected by Youmails Robocall Index. Congress passed bipartisan legislation, the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement, and Deterrence Act, also known as the TRACED Act, designed to protect American consumers from intrusive calls. The DOJ announcement was made together with officials from the Social Security Administration, U.S. Postal Service, and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of New York. Apple has said that its retail stores and the availability of the iPhone could be hit by coronavirus. The company gave the warning as it announced record results, driven by the popularity of the iPhone. Sales of the handset have grown for the first time in a year and come alongside interest in accessories like the AirPods. But as Tim Cook announced those results, he said the company is concerned about the virus outbreak in China, which is both a major major market and home for large amounts of its manufacturing business. Mr Cook indicated that Apple had given a wider prediction for its next quarter than usual because it was unclear how the virus outbreak would hit its business. "We have limited travel to business-critical situations as of last week," he said. "The situation is emerging, and we're still gathering lots of data points and monitoring it very closely." 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 Apple has suppliers in the Wuhan area, the heart of the outbreak, but has alternatives, Cook said. Factories outside Wuhan area will not reopen after the Lunar New Year holiday until 10 February, Mr Cook said, but Apple built the delayed restart into its wider revenue forecast. Recommended Hundreds evacuated from Wuhan as coronavirus death toll rises to 132 Apple has shut one store in China, he said, and reduced hours at others because of lower foot traffic, Cook said. Third-party stores that sell Apple products are also facing some closures, Cook said. Apple is "forecasting a stronger Q2 than analysts predicted, but the fact that the coronavirus is spreading in unpredictable ways in China, where Apple has most of its hardware built, could upset this optimistic forecast," said eMarketer principal analyst Yoram Wurmser. Additional reporting by Reuters Manish Anand By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Armed with the Surat model, the BJP is going all guns blazing in its Delhi election campaign to wrest hold of the winning narrative after losing five states in recent state polls. With Union Minister Amit Shah holding the fort Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to hold just one rally the saffron outfit is making desperate attempts to cash in on the anti-incumbency against the Aam Admi Party (AAP) legislators. Even though Delhi is not a full-fledged state, with land and police vested with the Centre, the BJP is seeking to clip the wings of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who, with another victory, could become a potent challenge for the saffron outfit. By Tuesday, the BJP has clocked 1,837 public meetings in the national capital, which is unheard of for the party in recent years. With the duo of Shah and BJP chief J P Nadda logging in 50 public rallies and roadshows, the key strategists of the saffron outfit said theyre replicating the 2017 Surat model. In the 2017 Gujarat elections, the traders were up in arms against the BJP on account of demonetisation hurting their businesses. The BJP had then changed the tack and unleashed a massive outreach with smaller meetings to connect with the people to answer their concerns... In the end, Surat helped the BJP retain power in Gujarat, while the Congress staged a significant comeback in the rural parts, said a saffron strategist. So, the target for the BJP is to connect with 20 lakh people directly in the city, with Shah-Nadda touching base with all 70 Assembly constituencies. The CMs of BJP-ruled states, including Yogi Adityanath (UP), Jairam Thakur (Himachal Pradesh) and Trivendra Singh Rawat (Uttarakhand) have been slotted to swing the Purvanchali (migrants from UP and Bihar) and the electorate from the neighbouring hill states. The BJP seemingly is keen for a victory in Delhi under its belt to bolster negotiation with ally JD(U) in Bihar, besides gaining the upper edge in the state elections later this year. The party will mount a spirited attempt to wrest power in West Bengal next year and defend Assam in the face of the Citizenship Amendment Act sharply polarising the Northeastern state. With future prospects in mind, BJPs star campaigners, including former CMs Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Devendra Fadnavis, are slogging out in the national capital. Saffron gameplan Rallies & roadshows by Amit Shah and J P Nadda: 40 (target 100) Plan to hold 10,000-12,000 public meetings to connect with minimum 20 lakh electorate Banking on polarisation and anti-incumbency against AAP LITCHFIELD A Victorian Valentine Workshop will be held from 4-6 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Litchfield Historical Society, 7 South St. Litchfield. Adults and children can practice traditional paper craft techniques while enjoying hot chocolate and cookies, and draw inspiration for the Societys collection of Victorian and early 20th century valentines while making cards for family and friends. The fee is $5 for members, $10 for non-members, or $20 for a family. Register online at litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org or email registration@litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org DAR welcomes new members The Brooks-Green Woods Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution recently welcomed two new members: Judith Leeser and her daughter, Tiffanie Meehan. Leeser and Meehan are both descendants of Solomon Hill, a soldier in the Revolutionary War who was from New Milford. The DAR was founded in 1890, and it's mission includes promoting historic preservation, education and patriotism, and securing America's future through better education for children. Any woman 18 years of age or older that can prove lineal bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided the American independence is eligible to join the DAR. The Brooks - Greenwoods Chapter welcomes members from Torrington, Winsted and the surrounding area towns. Any woman interested in obtaining information about membership may contact Donna Colavecchio, Chapter Regent at 860-379-4643, or Chapter member, Barbara Hulbert, at 860-489-0711. Grumbling Gryphons schedule workshop, performance NEW MILFORD TheatreWorks New Milford TW Kids program presents Anansi- the Trickster Spider: A West African Folktale, performed by Grumbling Gryphons Traveling Children's Theater, at 11 a.m. Feb. 29, at TheatreWorks in New Milford. The performance will be preceded by a special drama, music, movement workshop at 9 a.m. Leslie Elias, director of Grumbling Gryphons Traveling Children's Theater, adapted a popular West African folktale into this interactive show for children. Audience participation is an essential ingredient in the telling of the story. Elias is an experienced teacher as well as performer and will lead the pre-performance workshops in drama. Original mask patterns made by Ellen Moon will provide templates for children to make their own mask during a brief morning workshop in combination with engaging in drama, singing and dance. During the show, children wear the masks they made and take part by acting, singing, chanting and playing such roles as lions, crocodiles, lions, monkeys, bees and various jungle animals. Anansi- the Trickster Spider is a well-known, comical character who originated in Western Africa. The tale, "How Anansi Brought the Stories Down", tells how Anansi, with the aid of the children in the audience, tricks the various animals of the jungle and retrieves the stolen stories of the world from Nyame, the Sky God. Grumbling Gryphons has been performing in schools, museums, libraries and festivals throughout the United States since 1980. In recent years, they have performed at Bushnell Park in Hartford, CT; the American Museum of Natural History and Lincoln Center in N.Y.C; the Philadelphia Museum of Art; Miami Book Fair International; the Maine State Music Theater in Brunswick, Maine; the Stockton Children's Museum in California, and at various international festivals. In 2003 they won the Connecticut Governors Arts Award. They are now celebrating 40 years of touring and teaching. Registration for the workshop is $50 per person, $25 for each additional sibling; four free show tickets included. Show tickets are $10 per person, and will be available starting Feb. 14. For tickets, workshop registration and information go to theatreworks.us/kids.php or call 860-350-6863. Warner Stage to hold auditions TORRINGTON The Warner Stage Company will hold auditions for a Main Stage musical production of The Producers - A Mel Brooks Musical by appointment only, Feb. 3-4. The production is directed by Sharon W. Houk with music director Jim Luurtsema and choreographer Donna Bonasera. John Ozerhoski is the assistant director. It will be presented at the Warner Theatre starting May 2. Callbacks if needed will be held Feb. 5. All roles are open to audition. Casting includes roles for six principal characters, and 16-20 chorus members, men and women over the age of 18. This musical is based on Mel Brooks 1968 film of the same name. Those auditioning will be asked to sing up to one minute of a fully memorized show tune (not from the show). The song should showcase the style and vocal range of the character for which you are auditioning. Auditioners without an appointment will be seen as time allows. Video auditions are accepted for those unable to attend on the scheduled dates. Appointments are limited and filled on a first-come, first served basis. The Warner Stage Company is a regional community theatre company and does not offer compensation or housing for performers. Visit www.warnertheatre.org/auditions and fill out the online appointment request form or send an email to auditions@warnertheatre.org to schedule an appointment. An audition confirmation e-mail will be sent with full details on what will be expected at your audition. Audition appointments requested on-line or by e-mail are preferred, but if you do not have access to e-mail call the Warner Theatre Audition Line at 860-489-7180 ext.151. Be specific with the date you would like to schedule your appointment. Kindergarten registration open LITCHFIELD Region 6 school district is registering children for pre-K and kindergarten for the 2020-21 school year. Children must be 5 years old on or before Dec. 31, 2020 to be eligible. Children must be 3 years old on or before Dec. 31, 2020 and potty trained to be eligible for pre-kindergarten. Parents should call their school office for an information packet: Susan Cupo at Warren School - 860-868-2223; Heidi Varanko at James Morris School - 860-567-7420; Sherri Contadini at Goshen Center School - 860-491-6020. Tip: Whatever you do, shop around for the best quote. Better still get a reputable insurance broker to do the leg work for you Motor insurance is expensive, very expensive, in this country. The Central Bank recently confirmed what every motorist instinctively knew already, that premium rates have been rising strongly. In the 10 years up to 2018, the average premium shot up in price from 498 to 706. That is a rise of 42pc. At the same time, the average cost of claims per policy fell by 2.5pc from 437 to 426 between 2009 and 2018. This information is contained in the Central Bank's new Private Motor Insurance Report of the National Claims Information database. All insurers selling private motor insurance in Ireland were required to submit data to the Central Bank for the Private Motor Insurance Report, making it a thorough analysis of premiums. Many people had suspected that premium rates were on the rise, but the data being produced by Central Statistics Office tells a much different story. The CSO has consistently been finding that motor premiums have been falling for a number of years now. Its latest release of the consumer price index found that motor premiums fell by 6.8pc in the year to December. Motorists have been questioning these figures for a while, with some suspecting insurance companies are supplying duff figures to the statisticians in the CSO. Many drivers are experiencing the opposite to what the CSO says is going on. This is particularly the case when insurers use 'dual-pricing' to hit what they see as vulnerable customers with much higher renewal quotes because they suspect they will not shop around. This publication has reported how motorists are being charged hundreds of euro extra for the exact same cover under the dual-pricing system being perpetuated by insurers. A dossier to be handed to the Central Bank has exposed how differences of up to 740 were found when it came to renewing a policy. 'Dual-pricing' uses big data to pick out clients who are unlikely to challenge renewal quotes, with these often being vulnerable customers. Pressure is mounting to ban the controversial practice in our insurance market, after the UK regulator signalled an end to it there. The move follows exposure in the Irish Independent of the malign impact of dual-pricing, which has prompted Opposition TDs, such as Sinn Fein's Pearse Doherty, and Fianna Fail's Michael McGrath, to take up the issue in the Oireachtas Finance Committee. The dossier compiled by Mr Doherty has been handed to the Central Bank as it investigates how dual-pricing affects consumers in this market. The details uncovered expose shocking claims of price discrimination among leading insurers. Consumers reacted after getting motor insurance renewal notices that they regarded as artificially high. They suspected dual-pricing. So they went online after getting renewal quotes by letter. They found they could massively undercut what they were told to pay in the renewal letters when they entered the same details online. As mentioned, differences of up to 740 were found. The only way to ensure you are not going to get caught out by sharp dual-pricing practices is to shop around. Instead of doing the leg work yourself you could use a broker, as long as the company represents a number of insurers in the market, and is not just calling itself a broker when it is merely an agent for just one insurer. You should never automatically renew your policy - as competition is fiercest among car insurers for new customers. The best approach is to get a quote online from a broker like CoverinaClick.ie or McCarthy Insurance Group, which provide quotes from a range of firms. Alternatively, contact a broker you know. You could get quotes directly from insurers but this could take some time. Also, given the amount of detail you are asked to input for a quote can vary a lot and thereby affect the final price, you may save yourself a bit of time by picking up the phone to insurers instead of getting online quotes. Contact your current provider. See if they can match your best quote. If not, it could be time to switch. To switch you will need to complete an online or offline application form, and send on a copy of your driving licence and existing no-claims bonus (NCB) letter, which you should get from your existing insurer, and your payment details. Another option is to increase your excess. This is the amount you pay when you make a claim. The higher the excess, the lower the premium. Obviously, you need to ensure the excess is still affordable or this move is a bit pointless. Having insurance is of little use if you have to pay the first 1,000 because that is the excess you have chosen. Those looking for competitively priced insurance should accurately assess the value of their motor. When you are seeking out quotes, make sure you don't overestimate the value of the car or you will end up paying a higher premium than necessary. Get a discount by using telematics - a way of monitoring the location, movements, status and behaviour of a vehicle. You can do it with a smartphone. Insurer AIG offers discounts of up to 20pc on motor cover for using an app that monitors driving style. AIG says it aims to reward better driving behaviour with potential savings of up to 25pc on car insurance premiums. Customers who use the app will be given a 20pc discount immediately and further ones of up to 5pc will be applied to the premium after three months' use, subject to the scores achieved. Pay for your cover annually if you can afford to do this. Paying for cover monthly is the same as taking a high-interest loan. Interest as high as 20pc can be imposed on top of the premium for paying by instalments. New regulations came into force last November that require insurers to state last year's, in addition to this year's, price on the renewal notice. This should be an enormous help to consumers as it will allow you to compare and contrast the cost of your insurance, according to the managing director of InsureMyCars.ie, Jonathan Hehir. "But there may be unintended consequences of this new legislation, which is being put in place to create more transparency around insurance quotes," Mr Hehir warned. "This is because if a motorist does see a reduction in cost, no matter how small when compared with last year's premium, they may automatically assume that this is the best deal, when in reality there may be a much greater saving to be made with another insurer." Mr Hehir said that motorists need to be mindful that showing loyalty to a specific insurer won't necessarily equate to a reduction in premium or in getting the best deal. Factors that have the biggest influence on the quotes you get are: (a) the number of years you have been claim free and the type of licence you have, and (b) the type and age of the vehicle. So if you have recently passed your test, or accumulated five years no-claims bonus, or want to add/remove a named driver, or plan to change your car, these are all good reasons to seek out a better deal. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police are asking for the publics help to locate a man sought for questioning in connection with a burglary where donation boxes were broken into at St. Anns R.C. Church in Dongan Hills. Cops are searching for a white male in the break-in at the church last Nov. 24, according to a message posted on the 122nd Precinct Twitter feed. Around 3 p.m. on that Sunday, an unidentified male used an unknown object to force open a side door where he entered the location at 101 Cromwell Ave. He remained inside and broke into locked donation boxes before fleeing, according to a spokeswoman for the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. Police did not provide information about what, if anything, was taken during the burglary. No arrests have been made and the investigation continues, according to the police spokeswoman. People with information are urged to contact the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-8477 (TIPS) or for Spanish, 1-888-577-4782 (PISTA). The public also may submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential. Situation at Patiala House Courts Complex remained tense on Wednesday after Delhi Police informed that Sharjeel Imam, arrested on sedition charges, will be produced before the magistrate here. Imam was arrested on Tuesday for making allegedly inflammatory speeches at the Jamia Millia Islamia University here and in Aligarh. He reached Delhi on Wednesday and is going be produced in the Patiala House court, the police said. Some lawyers raised slogans against him and made posters calling him a 'traitor', demanding that he be hanged. Heavy security was deployed outside the courts premises with about 20 police personnel including the CRPF officials. One of the lawyers said, "We Are here to protest against those who talk about breaking the country. All the lawyers are united against such traitors. He does not deserve to be outside jail. Strict action should be taken against him. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Zongo Development Fund (ZoDF) has committed an amount of GH145,000 for the construction of the main gate for the Accra Girls' Senior High School, which is located within the Nima-Mamobi Zongo Community. The project, when completedis expected to boost security at the school's main entrance and also provide a befitting facade to the school which will be celebrating its 60th Anniversary in September, this year. The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Zongo Development Fund (ZoDF), Hajia Aisha Salifu, an old girl of the school, on Tuesday, cut the sod for the commencement of the project which is expected to be completed between three to six months. Speaking about the gesture she said it is a way of giving back to the school that has over the years continued to provide quality education to predominantly young Muslim girls from the Zongo communities. Sharing her experience as an alumnus of the school, her enrolment date being 1972 and completion 1977, she recalled that there were six Muslim students in her daysa sharp contrast to today's picture of countless numbers of hijab-wearing Muslim girls who thronged the school premises as students. The strategic location of the school, she also said, made it incumbent on the fund to support it. She encouraged students from the Zongo communities to stay focused as she said I stand here as a symbol of hope for you to look up to, that yes, you can start from here and end up higher than you can imagine through perseverance. She hinted that critical educational infrastructural projects are set to commence across the country as soon as evaluation and validation were completed within the next couple of months. We haven't broken ground for any of the schools' projects yet, most of the regions have been validated except Upper East and Upper West and Bono regions, she said. The headmistress of the school, Joyce Acolatse expressed her appreciation to the Accra Girls Old Students Association (AGOSA) 1977 group, who tabled the proposal to the ZoDF which was the first government agency to aid the school apart from the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ghana Education Service (GES). ---Daily Guide Indians living in Chinas Wuhan city and its surrounding provinces that are the epicentre of the novel coronavirus (NCoV-2019) outbreak, will be evacuated and brought to isolation wards set up by the Union defence and labour ministries, and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, in Manesar and other parts of the National Capital Region, according to people familiar with the matter. They added that the staff flying the two aircraft -- awaiting final clearances and expected to take off by Thursday -- will wear special protective gear and N95 masks to avoid contracting the highly contagious infection that has killed 132 people in mainland China and infected around 6,000 people in the country. At least 14 other countries around the world have already reported positive coronavirus cases. India is expected to evacuate around 300 citizens, 200 of whom are medical students. However, only those with no symptoms will be allowed to leave China. There is no information from China to suggest that any of the Indians has been infected. Our priority is to evacuate students from Wuhan, and arrangements are being made accordingly as these students will need to be closely monitored and put under quarantine for a stipulated period. We have sought help from the ministries of Defence, Labour, and ITBP to put in place isolation facilities near Delhi, said Preeti Sudan, secretary, Union ministry of health and family welfare. The ministry of external affairs will tell us the exact numbers of people there but on priority we are looking at evacuating 200 students. We are constantly following up with the Indias embassy in China to stay updated on the situation, she added. The defence ministrys isolation facility near Manesar is used to quarantine peacekeeping troops returning from countries affected by highly contagious outbreaks such as Ebola. It will house most of the evacuees under a mandatory isolation period of at least 14 days, a defence ministry official said, asking not to be named. While there are three people in isolation at Delhis Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) hospital, the government wants to keep the quarantined patients at facilities, such as the one in Manesar, on the outskirts of the Capital. The reports of the three are awaited. The Indian government has requested China for permission to operate two flights to bring back citizens, the ministry of external affairs spokesperson, Raveesh Kumar, said in a tweet. In response to a question, Chinas foreign ministry said it will provide necessary assistance if any country insists on evacuating its nationals, news agency PTI reported. According to a statement released by the ministry of external affairs on Tuesday, Indians wishing to be evacuated have to sign registration and consent notes sent out by the Indian embassy in Beijing that ask them to be prepared for a 14-day quarantine on their return. The statement added: Indians will also have to undergo a medical check-up before leaving Wuhan, and those found with symptoms of the disease wont be evacuated. They could also be quarantined in China if symptoms show up during the check. Health ministry officials said suspected cases will be observed for symptoms for up to 28 days. As a precautionary measure, we are observing the high risk people for up to 28 days, which is double the incubation period, said Lav Aggarwal, a joint secretary in the ministry. Since January 18, India has tested 28 throat swabs of people with a travel history to China who developed symptoms of fever, cough and breathing difficulty. There have been no positive cases in India. Eleven other samples are being tested currently. To test patients, swabs are taken from the back of the nose and mouth, and fluid is collected from the lungs with a bronchoscope for a culture test to look for the presence of a microbe. The DNA of the virus (if any) is matched against the published 2019-nCoV sequence released by China using special testing kits. The department of health research, which is testing samples in its apex laboratory, the National Institute of Virology in Pune, has a capacity of testing at least 5,000 samples. We have enough testing kits and are in the process of expanding the capacity. Four more labs have been designated to test samples which would be expanded to 10, if required, said an Indian Council of Medical Research official who asked not to be named. The thermal screening (measuring body temperature) of passengers began in 21 Indian airports from Wednesday -- up from seven airports that began on January 17. It is the tourist season, and we have put screening in place at all busy airports. Hundred more thermal scanners have been procured, and are being distributed at all these airports. India is well prepared to handle any emergency, said Sudan. On Wednesday, Air India and IndiGo airlines suspended their operations to China -- following several other international airlines such as British Airways in doing so. Keeping a suspected case under quarantine during an outbreak is what basic epidemiology rules suggest. If a large number of people are coming from an outbreak zone, then this is the best that can be done. If the virus is confirmed, the people will be managed, and if not then they get to go home after a particular period, said a senior infectious disease expert, who did not wish to be named. (Inputs from Rahul Singh and Rezaul H Laskar) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Tuesday 28th January 2020, Abu Dhabi, UAE: Marcos New York Italian is thrilled to announce the introduction of its family style Saturday brunch, guaranteed to satisfy all taste buds. (TRAVPR.COM) UAE - January 29th, 2020 - Marcos New York Italians brunch will launch on Saturday 1st February and will take place every Saturday from 12pm to 4pm where diners will be offered a special brunch set menu curated by the award-winning culinary team at Marcos New York Italian. The brunch menu features an extensive array of options to satisfy different tastes, with sharing starters including Crispy Calamari, Quarter Salad, Heirloom Tomato & Burrata Salad, Crispy New York Buffalo Wings and American Hot Pizza guests. For the main course guests can choose between Risotto Funghi E Tartoufo, Mac & Cheese Al Fungi, Finest Quality Grass Fed Beef Sirloin, Oven Backed Black Cod and Cannelloni Al Funghi with Cheese Sauce. Saving the best for last, sharing desserts will be served including Mr. Whites Tiramisu, Warm Chocolate Brownie and Classic 1930s New York Knickerbocker Glory. Marcos New York ultimate brunch experience wouldnt be complete without Marcos New York Italians resident duo band who will be sure to have guests enjoying their brunch experience to a set of lovely jazz tunes. Marcos New York Italian will also offer families with kids at brunch two hours of free access to Fairmont Bab Al Bahrs kids club and an upgrade to pool and beach access to all brunch dinners at a 50% discount. Marcos New York Italian by renowned chef and restaurateur Marco Pierre White is all about creating an environment where people can sit and enjoy great food with friends and family whatever the occasion, making it the perfect place for brunch gatherings. Visit www.marcosabudhabi.com and follow @marcosabudhabi on social media for further information. ### Cincinnati, OH (45221) Today Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 33F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 33F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Looking to sample the best seafood around town? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top seafood outlets in Durham, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to fulfill your urges. Looking to duck into the latest popular spots? Now's a good time, since consumer spending at restaurants tends to rise in January in the Durham area, according to data on local business transactions from Womply, a small business CRM software provider. Total affected businesses at Durham-area restaurants last year rose by 12% in January over the month before. 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. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill photo: firebirds wood fired grill/yelp First on the list is Firebirds Wood Fired Grill. Located at 8030 Renaissance Parkway, Suite #910, the steakhouse and wine bar, which offers seafood and more, is the highest-rated seafood spot in Durham, boasting four stars out of 289 reviews on Yelp. 2. M Sushi photo: brenda y./yelp Next up is Central Park's M Sushi, situated at 311 Holland St. With 4.5 stars out of 394 reviews on Yelp, the sushi bar and Japanese spot, serving seafood and more, has proven to be a local favorite. 3. Parizade Parizade, located at 2200 W. Main St., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the Mediterranean spot, which offers seafood and more, four stars out of 206 reviews. 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. A week after Portland comic Stephanie Patricio was hit and killed by a driver suspected of being drunk, their family was still reeling from the loss. According to Patricios brother Francisco Patricio, Patricio, 33, of Woodburn was a fiery activist committed to social justice and equality who wanted to change the world. In terms of being true to themselves and their belief, said Francisco Patricio. Stephanie, who used the pronouns they/them, would never shy away, he said. Patricio died in a head-on collision in Clackamas County on Jan. 22. They graduated from the University of Oregon with a bachelors degree in sociology and a minor in ethnic studies. During their time at UO, Patricio was active in their student community and was a member of the Oregon Student Coalition of Color and MEChA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlan). After graduating, Patricio worked as a labor organizer for the United Farm Workers labor union. They later became passionate about stand-up comedy, performing at local venues like EastBurn, The Jade Lounge and the Helium Comedy Club, their brother said. Ultimately [comedy] was a way for them to process a lot of things, said Francisco Patricio. Healing. The processing of trauma, grief, things happening day by day. Described by Francisco Patricio as raunchy and in-your-face, Patricios comedy touched on their experience as a queer indigenous femme. I think they wanted other folks like them to feel seen, said Francisco. Patricio was passionate about the resilience and experience of indigenous people and talked often of their ancestors and drew strength and inspiration from them, Francisco Patricio said. Patricio was inspired by their father, Celedonio Patricio, who died of cirrhosis of the liver in 2006, and is survived by their mother, Albertia Vallejo, and brother, Francisco Patricio. They really missed my dad, their brother said of Patricio, It brings me comfort knowing that theyre kickin it. Patricio was a Purhepecha (the indigenous inhabitants of what is now the Mexican state of Michoacan) whose family moved from Michoacan to East Los Angeles in the 1980s. Patricio was born in east Los Angeles and lived there with their family until 1996 when the family moved north to Woodburn, Oregon. According to an Oregon State Police news release, a Toyota Camry driven by Kelsie Martin, 29, of Beavercreek, was heading north on Hwy 551 on Jan. 22 and collided with Patricio who was southbound in a Toyota Prius. According to the release, police believe alcohol impairment by Martin is a contributing factor in the accident. Martin was previously charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving, and fourth-degree assault in December of 2018 and was scheduled for a hearing in February. An investigation of the collision is open, and charges have not yet been filed against Martin. A service was held for Patricio on Tuesday, and they were buried at the St Luke cemetery in Woodburn. The service incorporated Purhepecha traditions and paid tribute to Patricio with their favorite flowers and lots of roses. With their family, friends and community in attendance Patricio was buried with a bouquet of flowers arranged by a friend, laced with small lights to keep a light in the casket for them. Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council on Wednesday signed a pact with online travel firm MakeMyTrip to promote homestay facilities among tourists. "MakeMyTrip is a leading business platform and the MoU will help promote homestay facilities in Uttarakhand internationally through digital marketing,"TourismSecretary Dilip Jawalkar told reporters here after the signing the deal. The wide reach of the platform will also help the lesser known tourist destinations in the state gain prominence, he said. Around 2,000 homestay facilities have been put up in the hill areas of the state especially in places rich in scenic beauty to attract tourists. "People in the homestay business will get more visitors through MakeMyTrip. It will strengthen local economy and reduce migration from hill areas of the state," Jawalkar said. Under the MoU, MakeMyTrip will register the homestay facilities in Uttarakhand on its website and also give hospitality training to homestay owners. Through advertising on their website, more than 1.2 million visitors will get access to these homestays throughout the state, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Brussels (AFP) - Britain's departure from the European Union was set in law Wednesday, amid emotional scenes, as the bloc's parliament voted to ratify the divorce papers. After half a century of sometimes awkward membership and three years of tense withdrawal talks, the UK will leave the EU at midnight Brussels time (2300 GMT) on Friday. MEPs voted by 621 votes to 49 to pass the withdrawal agreement, which sees Britain leave the EU institutions but remain under most EU rules during a transition until the end of the year. Following the vote, MEPs burst into a chorus of "Auld Lang Syne", a traditional Scottish song of farewell. The transition will see Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government try to negotiate an ambitious free trade agreement with his 27 former partners remaining in the bloc. "Only in the agony of parting do we look into the depth of love," EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told the chamber, quoting British author George Eliot. "We will always love you and we will never be far. Long live Europe." In the Brussels parliament, many MEPs made it clear that they were voting for the withdrawal deal not out of any support for Brexit, but to avoid the disruption of a chaotic no deal divorce. Some expressed real anguish and regret, and pointed to Britain's role not only in the development of the European unification project but also to its historic battles against tyranny on the continent. "If we could stop Brexit by voting 'no' today I would be the first to recommend it," former Belgian premier and chairman of the parliament's Brexit steering group Guy Verhofstadt said. The day began with Britain's permanent representative to the EU Tim Barrow -- from Saturday to be its ambassador -- handing back the withdrawal agreement signed by Johnson, to be stored in Brussels. - Leaving the church - It was an emotional day in the chamber, steeped in a mixture of nostalgia, political carnival and historical metaphor. Story continues Nigel Farage, veteran MEP and leader of Britain's Brexit Party, was in triumphant mood after two decades as a thorn in Brussels' side. After his final speech in parliament, in which he described Brexit as a victory for populism over "globalism", Farage and his MEPs brandished British flags, in contravention of the rules, then left before returning to vote. Earlier, Farage said he had loved playing the "pantomime villain" in the Strasbourg assembly, feeding opposition to Europe at home with theatrical YouTube clips. But he insisted on the seriousness of Brexit, comparing its significance to king Henry VIII taking Britain out of the Catholic church in 1534. "He took us out of the Church of Rome, and we are leaving the Treaty of Rome," he said, referring to the EU's 1957 founding document. The historic vote to incorporate the withdrawal agreement into EU law was the last legislative act of the 73 remaining British MEPs, and departure was hard for some. - Bagpipe serenade - Iratxe Garcia Perez, the Spanish leader of the Socialist group, choked back tears as she said farewell to her British Labour Party comrades. After Brexit the United Kingdom will be what the EU calls a "third country", outside the union, but the political and economic drama will continue. Britain and Europe will apply EU rules on trade and free movement of citizens until the end of the year, while negotiating a free trade agreement. In the face of scepticism in EU capitals, Johnson -- who will make an address to the nation at 10:00 pm London time on Friday -- insists he is optimistic that a comprehensive free trade deal can be done before the next cliff-edge. In an online question and answer on Wednesday Johnson said he would be celebrating on Friday, but in a "dignified" way. "It is a great moment for our country, it is a moment of hope and opportunity but it is also, I think, a moment for us to come together in a spirit of confidence," he said. But negotiations between the world's sixth biggest economy and a 27-nation single market with a population of 450 million will be tricky. Fishing rights, residency and working rights for citizens, tariff free trade, access to Europe for Britain's huge services sector: all will be on the table. "We are considering a free trade agreement with zero tariffs and zero quotas. This would be unique. No other free trade agreement offers such access to our single market," von der Leyen said. "But the pre-condition is that European and British businesses continue to compete on a level playing field. We will not expose our companies to unfair competition," she warned, to applause. - UK goes solo - Johnson's government hopes more trade with the United States and Asian powers can help offset the costs of Brexit. But the British premier was facing difficult talks on Thursday with President Donald Trump's secretary of state Mike Pompeo. Trump backed Brexit, but Washington opposed Johnson's decision to allow Chinese telecoms giant to work on Britain's 5G telecoms network despite security fears. burs-pdw/har By AFP RAMALLAH: Palestinian leaders on Tuesday rejected US President Donald Trump's peace proposal as an unacceptable capitulation to Israel that tramples on the long-standing aspirations of their people. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas vowed the initiative unveiled in Washington would fail. "This conspiracy deal will not pass. Our people will take it to the dustbin of history," he said after a meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah of various Palestinian factions including Islamist group Hamas, which pledged to "resist the deal in all its forms". Trump's proposal included a long list of measures directly in line with Israeli interests, notably recognition of Jerusalem as the "undivided capital" of the Jewish state. "If Jerusalem is not the capital of the Palestinian state, how will we accept that?" Abbas asked, stressing that it was "impossible for any child, Arab, Muslim or Christian," to do so. Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya said the Islamist group which controls Gaza would never "accept any substitute for Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state". "We warn the whole world not to go along with this deal," he said. Trump's plan triggered immediate condemnation on the streets of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, with demonstrations expected to continue through the week. Thirteen people were wounded in the West Bank in clashes with the Israeli army on Tuesday, the Red Crescent said. One person was taken to hospital after being hit with a rubber bullet, while 12 others were suffering from exposure to tear gas, a spokeswoman said. An AFP reporter said around 200 Palestinians confronted Israeli forces near Ramallah, burning photos of Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 'A traitor' Trump delivered his plan in Washington alongside Netanyahu, his staunch ally. In Ramallah, some ignored Trump's presentation, preferring to drink coffee and play cards, while others watched the television coverage of Trump and Netanyahu with disdain. "There is no Palestinian or Arab who accepts Jerusalem is Israel," 23-year-old Firas Ladadwa said. "Anyone who accepts this is a traitor." Trump touted his plan as a boon to the Palestinian economy that would bring billions of dollars in investment. But Mohammed al-Najjar, a 69-year-old sitting in a cafe in central Ramallah, dismissed such promises as "empty talk". "What Trump announced was not accepted by any Palestinian," he added. A teacher at a government school in Dadri near Delhi has been suspended for her Facebook post against people who were making insensitive remarks against Shabana Azmi after the actor met with a car accident. The suspended teacher has been identified as Mridula Shukla. According to education officials, Shukla had commented against the people who targeted Azmi and were wishing for her death when the actor met with a car accident on Mumbai-Pune Expressway on January 18. There were people on her Facebook page who were commenting against Shabana Azmi and Shukla responded with controversial language which is not allowed by a government employee, said Bal Mukund Prasad, basic education officer, Gautam Budh Nagar. The teacher, who lives with her two children and husband in Gautam Budh Nagar, has been moved to the Chayansa development area. The authorities said her comments were in violation of the service rules. We got an order from the state government (Lucknow) to take action against Shukla for her comments on Facebook. Her post was shown to senior authorities in Lucknow by few people after which we were directed to suspend her. The post is in violation of service guidelines for Uttar Pradesh government employees, added Prasad. Defending herself, the now suspended teacher said that she had no intention to hurt any community or the government with her post. I had no intention to hurt any person or community through my post. People were wishing for Azmis death which reminded me of the iconic picture of a malnourished child with a vulture in the background in Sudan. I felt bad at the insensitivity of the people and how they reacted. I am a teacher and a poet, I have been writing on various social media platforms and for publications, said Mridula Shukla. The famous picture mentioned by Shukla was taken by the Pulitzer Prize winner Kevin Carter during the1993 famine in Sudan. I am submitting my written explanation to the department as the matter is between me and them. I agree that a government employee is bound by rules and regulations. I am hoping that my explanation will be accepted by the department. For now, I have been suspended, I have a family at home and I dont want anybody to face implications because of my post, added Shukla. The district magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar BN Singh said that the matter belongs to the education department and he is not involved in the matter. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam asked the police department to work in synergy with the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) for effective regulation of the pilgrimage to the cave shrine in the South Kashmir Himalayas this year. The annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine, which is situated at an altitude of 3,888 m (12,756 ft), takes place in the months of July and August. Last year, it took place over 46 days from July 1 to August 15. An official spokesman said on Wednesday that Chief Secretary Subrahmanyam on Tuesday evening chaired the 9th high-level committee meeting to review the arrangements being made for the pilgrimage for 2020. With regard to the security arrangements, the Chief Secretary asked the police department to work in close coordination and synergy with the SASB for effective regulation of the yatra at access control gates at Domel and Chandanwari. He also emphasized on strict enforcement of prescribed guidelines so as to allow access only to registered pilgrims and service providers. Administrative secretaries concerned briefed the Chief Secretary about the status of works including improvement of critical stretches on existing tracks, establishment of transit camps, setting up of shelter sheds, provision of environment friendly facilities for disposal of waste and steps taken to stabilize the hill slopes enroute the shrine. The CS also reviewed the track improvement works on the Baltal and Chandanwari routes viz installation of railings, maintenance of footbridges and up-gradation of road from Baltal to Domel. Steps were finalized for timely completion of these works, he said. The Chief Secretary directed the concerned secretaries to monitor the activities pertaining to their departments so that all works are executed and arrangements put in place well before the commencement of the yatra. Amarnath yatra pilgrims can take two routes including the traditional 36 kilometers journey via Pahalgam in Anantnag and the shorter 14-kilometer route via Baltal in Ganderbal. In 2019, over 3 lakh pilgrims visited the Amarnath cave. The number was 2.85 lakh the previous year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Public health officials said Tuesday that they are grappling with a long list of unknowns that will determine how successful they are in limiting the toll of the widening outbreak. Those questions include how lethal the virus may be, how contagious it is, whether it is transmitted by people who are infected but show no symptoms, and whether it can be largely contained in its country of origin. US President Donald Trump's Middle East plan has prompted a lukewarm response from Europe and the UN, and a furious rebuke from key Muslim countries who denounced it as betrayal of the Palestinians. Here are some of the reactions from around to the world to the plan, which had already been resoundingly rejected by Palestinian leaders before Trump launched it on Tuesday alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Palestinian Authority Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, who has taken part in previous US-led peace talks with Israel but stayed away Trump's proposal, vowed that "this conspiracy deal will not pass". He pledged to "resist the deal in all its forms" after meeting with various Palestinian factions in the West Bank city of Ramallah. "Our people will take it to the dustbin of history." Europe Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell said the bloc will "study and assess" Trump's proposals on the basis of its commitment to a "negotiated and viable two-state solution that takes into account the legitimate aspirations of both the Palestinians and the Israelis." Germany, the EU's most powerful player, echoed Borrell's point by calling for a balanced approach. "Only a negotiated two-state solution, acceptable to both sides, can lead to a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said. Britain, which is leaving the EU on Friday and has long had a special relationship with Washington, gave the warmest reaction. "This is clearly a serious proposal, reflecting extensive time and effort," British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement. Earlier, Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to Trump to discuss the plans. Downing Street said the proposal "could prove a positive step forwards". The UN The United Nations said it remains committed to a two-state solution based on the borders in place before the 1967 war, when Israel seized the West Bank and Gaza. "The position of the United Nations on the two-state solution has been defined, throughout the years, by relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions by which the Secretariat is bound," said Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Russia Russia said it would study the plan and called on Israelis and Palestinians to negotiate directly to find a "mutually acceptable compromise." Introducing a note of doubt, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said: "We do not know if the American proposal is mutually acceptable or not. We must wait for the reaction of the parties." Turkey Turkey, a strong advocate of the Palestinian cause, condemned the plan. "The United States' so-called peace plan is stillborn," Turkey's foreign ministry said in a statement. "This is an annexation plan aimed at killing a two-state solution and extorting the Palestinian territory." Iran Iran, which does not recognise Israel and has been in a confrontation with the Trump administration, denounced the plan as a threat to regional stability. "The shameful peace plan imposed by America on the Palestinians is the treason of the century and doomed to fail", the Iranian foreign ministry said. Hezbollah Lebanon's Iranian-backed movement Hezbollah, which Washington calls a terrorist group, said the plan represented an attempt to "wipe out the Palestinian people's rights", adding that the "shameful move... could not have been made without the complicity and betrayal of a certain number of Arab regimes." UAE The United Arab Emirates, which sent its ambassador to Trump's announcement alongside Netanyahu despite not recognising the Jewish state, praised the plan. "The plan announced today offers an important starting point for a return to negotiations within a US-led international framework," the UAE embassy in Washington said on Twitter. Egypt Egypt called on "the two concerned parties to undertake a careful and thorough examination of the US vision to achieve peace and open channels of dialogue". The foreign ministry added that negotiations should aim for "a comprehensive and just peace and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state". Jordan Jordan's foreign ministry said that an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders was "the only path to a comprehensive and lasting peace". LAURENS, S.C. Not many years ago in a small, rural South Carolina town stood the Redneck Shop a racist emporium and Ku Klux Klan museum housed in an old theater, where white supremacist neo-Nazis gave heil-Hitler salutes and flaunted swastikas and Rebel flags. That building, once the property of the Klan, now belongs to a black preacher and committed foe of racism who fought the group for more than 20 years. The Rev. David Kennedy plans to transform it into a shrine of reconciliation. How Kennedy, whose great-uncle was lynched in the community, got ownership of the old Echo Theater building from an ex-Klansman a man who once contemplated murdering Kennedy is the subject of a movie that could end up raising funds for that transformation. It symbolizes right now in the shape its in hatred, Kennedy said. But we hope we can turn it into a building of love. A decade ago, the white supremacist store in Laurens was a place where one of the few shirts sold without an overt racial slur said, If I had known this was going to happen I would have picked my own cotton. The World Famous Ku Klux Klan Museum with its racist meeting place was in the back. The KKK had put the title in the name of a trusted member, Michael Burden. Burden says other Klan members once suggested that he kill Kennedy, and he considered it. Kennedy didnt know that when he saw Burden, hungry, poor and full of hate, and took him to a buffet to fill his stomach, then to a hotel so his family wouldnt have to sleep on the street. Burdens girlfriend at the time kept urging him to leave the Klan and in 1997, he did. He also bestowed ownership of the old theater building upon Kennedy for $1,000. Kennedy estimates it needs at least $500,000 in repairs that must be done carefully because of the theaters age and historic location. That seems impossible for the minister whose New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church congregation meets in a converted gun store several miles west of Laurens. But a movie may provide a Hollywood ending. The story of the unlikely friendship between Kennedy and Burden has been made into a film called Burden, scheduled for national release Feb. 28. Starring Forest Whitaker as Kennedy, it was shown at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. Jeffrey Collins is an Associated Press writer. The Congress on Wednesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has violated the poll code by addressing an NCC rally a day before and urged the Election Commission to take note of it. Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan said it does not behove the prime minister to make such remarks to impressionable minds while addressing the NCC rally on Tuesday here. "Election (campaign) is going on in Delhi and the prime minister is making a political speech while addressing the youth at the NCC rally. I request the Election Commission to take it up seriously. Just because he is the prime minister, he cannot violate the EC rules," he told reporters. Chavan also welcomed the EC order against two BJP leaders, but remained critical of the prime minister's remarks at the NCC rally. "Whatever the prime minister has said violated the model code. Whatever the PM has said to the young impressionable minds, I feel it does not behove the prime minister to say such things," he said. Addressing the Annual Prime Minister's National Cadet Corps (NCC) Rally 2020, Modi on Tuesday had on Tuesday said his government brought in the Citizenship (Amendment) Act to correct "historical" injustices and recalled the Nehru-Liaquat pact to assert that the law fulfils India's "old promise" to religious minorities in neighbouring countries. Modi had also said the Jammu and Kashmir problem had persisted since Independence with some families and political parties keeping issues in the region alive. This had resulted in terrorism thriving, he had said. He had also slammed Pakistan and said it lost three wars but continues to wage proxy wars against India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Virologist Sandro Halbe observes cell culture dishes in a research laboratory of the Institute of Virology at the Philipps University of Marburg. The novel coronavirus, which has made hundreds of people sick in China, also employs scientists from Hessen. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates The first cases of the deadly coronavirus in the Middle East have been confirmed in the United Arab Emirates, the country's Ministry of Health and Community Protection said in a statement Wednesday. The infected patients are four members of a family that had traveled from Wuhan, China, a city of 11 million and the epicenter of the new virus that has killed 132 people and infected more than 6,000. The vast majority of deaths and infections are in mainland China. In its statement, the health ministry reported that the family members a grandmother, two parents and their 9-year-old daughter were in a stable condition under medical observation. Health authorities in the U.S. say the fatality rate for the respiratory disease is currently between 2% and 3%. Tweet1 The Wuhan family had arrived in the UAE as tourists on Jan. 16, an undersecretary at the UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention told the Associated Press. While stressing there was no need for panic, the official, Hussein al-Rand, acknowledged that Emirati authorities were tracing the family's steps since their arrival into the country. Al-Rand told the AP that the grandmother of the family fell ill on Jan. 23, sought medical help and was tested positive for the coronavirus, six days before the case was publicly announced by UAE authorities. The rest of her family tested positive and was admitted into an unspecified hospital shortly thereafter. The World Health Organization had not reported these cases at the time they were discovered in the country. The ministry did not specify where in the UAE the cases had appeared nor from which airport the family had entered. "All family members are in stable condition and the situation was contained by following the most necessary precautionary measures adopted globally when dealing with infected cases," the ministry's statement said, adding that the situation was "not a cause for concern." It said that it was taking "necessary measures" approved by the World Health Organization. The UAE said last week it would screen all passengers arriving at its airports from China. Dubai International Airport (DXB) is a popular transit hub for Asia and is the world's busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic. Amid the deadly coronavirus break out in China's Wuhan city, Air India has suspended its Mumbai-Delhi-Shanghai flight from January 31 to February 14, the airline said on Wednesday. "AI 348/349- Mumbai-Delhi-Shanghai flight has been cancelled from January 31st to February 14th. #coronavirus," Air India tweeted. The airline has waived the cancellation charges for travel to and from Shanghai and Hong Kong. "Cancellation charges for travel to/from Shanghai and Hong Kong on Air India flights are waived off with immediate effect till further notice," read another tweet of Air India. The Union Ministry has also issued an advisory to Indian travellers asking them to avoid travelling to China unless very necessary. So far, no Indian has been reported to be infected with the deadly Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) that was detected in China's Wuhan and has spread to other parts of the world too. It has claimed over 100 lives so far. Coronaviruses (nCoV) 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-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. Common symptoms of nCoV infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, the infection can cause 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.) Budget 2020: The industry is expecting Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to announce an amnesty scheme for disputes related to direct tax in line with the Sabka Vishwas (Legacy Dispute Resolution) Scheme 2019, aimed for resolution of legacy indirect tax disputes. An amnesty scheme would serve twin purposes - de-clog the judiciary of tax disputes and give a much needed revenue boost to the government exchequer. Around Rs 5 lakh crore is stuck due to direct tax litigation alone at income tax tribunals, high court and Supreme Court as on March 2017. At the commissioners (appeal) level, disputes involving Rs 6 lakh crore were pending as on 31 March 2019. "The Dispute Resolution cum Amnesty Scheme does seem to be one shot solution for the Government. It will not only garner much need tax revenues but also reduce tax litigation," says Amit Singhania, partner, at law firm Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. However, he says the success of the scheme will depend on how much the government wants to forgo in interest and penalty apart from providing immunity. Also read: Why big taxpayers are giving tax amnesty scheme a miss The Sabka Vishwas Scheme launched last year for resolution of indirect tax disputes fetched the government over Rs 35,000 crore after it resolved 1.61 lakh cases involving over Rs 80,000 crore tax dues. The scheme waived up to 70 per cent of the tax dues and 100 per cent of interest and penalty. If tax dues are up to Rs 50 lakh, the scheme offers to waive 70 per cent of the dues. If they are over Rs 50 lakh, the waiver will be 50 per cent. Besides, around 60 per cent dues, which are recoverable as arrears (matters have attained finality), will be waived if the tax involved is up to Rs 50 lakh and 40 per cent if the amount involved is more than Rs 50 lakh. Dr Suresh Surana, founder, RSM India, a tax consulting firm, says: "The Sabka Vishwas (Legacy Dispute Resolution) Scheme, 2019 has been a path breaking scheme for resolution of indirect tax disputes. There is a huge backlog of litigation under the direct tax regime as well and similar scheme will bolster the tax collection and improve the investment climate." The government has been trying to reduce the backlog of pending tax disputes in the past by increasing the monetary limits on the tax department filing appeals before ITAT/Courts. This has resulted in reduction of tax demands involved in appeals from Rs 6.38 lakh crore in March 2018 to Rs 5.71 lakh in March 2019. But the announcement of an amnesty scheme in the budget can reduce the number of pendency cases sharply. Naveen Aggarwal, Partner - Tax, KPMG in India, says: "Addressing the long-pending direct tax cases should become a top priority and the government should look at introducing an amnesty scheme, similar to what was rolled out for service tax and excise disputes." Also read: Budget 2020: Change in tax rates, hike in 80-C limit needed, says SBI report He, however, also expects the government to look at other alternative mechanisms such as mediation or conciliation, which will help speed up the resolution process and drive certainty. The new direct tax code apparently has talked about an alternative mechanism of resolution of tax disputes. As per the tax code, if a person gets a (tax) demand order on account of 20 items, he can opt to pay the tax on ten items and get exemption from paying any interest or penalty. The assessee can go for a negotiated settlement if he does not agree on an item. The negotiation will happen on the basis of how many cases the department wins in appeals. Say, if the department has on an average won 20 per cent cases in appeals, the department would ask the assessee to pay 20 per cent of the demand and settle the case. If a negotiated settlement is reached, the assessee will only have to pay the tax and interest and no penalty. If one does not agree with everything (the tax department disputes), he can part agree and part litigate. Even if the assessee loses in appeal, he can still have an opportunity to settle the case. There is also expectation that the budget might give a go-ahead to a similar dispute mechanism. Also read: Why industry wants dividend distribution tax to be scrapped Also read: Budget 2020: Is India an under-taxed country? EU Parliament to debate and vote on CAA today India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Jan 29: The EU Parliament will on Wednesday debate and vote on the resolutions tabled by a large chunk of its members against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), saying the enactment of the new law marked a dangerous shift in India's citizenship regime. The new CAA law, passed by Indian Parliament, offers citizenship to non-Muslim persecuted religious minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Ever since then, the country has been witnessing massive protests against the new law with opposition parties, civil rights groups and activists saying granting citizenship based on religion is against the foundational principle of the Constitution. Citizenship law, NRC dangerously divisive says draft resolution of European Parliament Nirbhaya Case: Convict Akshay Kumar Singh files curative petition in SC | Oneindia News A total of six resolutions have been tabled by groups within the EU, including the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D), Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) (PPE), Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance (Verts/ALE), European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR), Renew Europe Group (Renew) and European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) Group. The resolutions have a similar theme with a number of them, such as the one tabled by the GUE/NGL Group, also making a reference to the revocation of Article 370 of the Constitution that gave a special status to Jammu and Kashmir. They are set to be debated in the European Parliament in Brussels next Wednesday and voted the day after. The resolutions urge the Indian authorities to "engage constructively" with those protesting against the law and consider their demands to repeal the "discriminatory CAA". "The CAA marks a dangerous shift in the way citizenship will be determined in India and is set to create the largest statelessness crisis in the world and cause immense human suffering," according to the GUE/NGL resolution. Explained: What EU resolution on CAA means for India? "Instead of addressing the concerns, offering corrective action, calling for security forces to act with restraint and ensuring accountability, many government leaders have been engaging in efforts to discredit, rebuke and threaten the protesters," it stated. The Indian government has been emphasising that the new law does not deny any citizenship rights, but has been brought to protect the oppressed minorities of neighbouring countries and give them citizenship. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, January 29, 2020, 11:41 [IST] CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela's opposition-run congress said on Tuesday it had set aside $20 million held in accounts in the United States to pay for litigation abroad as part of efforts to protect the country's offshore assets from lawsuits by creditors. Offshore assets including U.S. refiner Citgo have long been seen as attractive by investors holding the country's defaulted bonds and companies seeking to be paid back for the nationalisation of their holdings. The funds are to be drawn from accounts previously held by the government of President Nicolas Maduro but frozen last year after the United States imposed a broad set of sanctions meant to force a change of government. "(They are) state funds used to represent and defend the assets of the state in pending litigation," legislator Adriana Pichardo of the Popular Will opposition party said in a telephone interview. Lawmakers from the First Justice opposition party objected to the measure on the grounds that it did not clearly identify what cases would be financed. Jose Ignacio Hernandez, whom opposition leader Juan Guaido has tapped as a special prosecutor, said in a statement that the U.S. Treasury Department would need to grant licenses for the use of the funds, which are to be destined exclusively for legal fees. The Treasury Department did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Venezuela's congress set aside $3.5 million in U.S funds in November for such litigation. Guaido, who has been recognised by more than 50 countries as Venezuelas legitimate president, has made defending Venezuela's offshore assets a top priority, and has appointed allies to run Citgo. Canadian mining company Crystallex has sued in the United States, seeking to seize shares in Citgo to collect $1.4 billion for the takeover of its assets by late socialist President Hugo Chavez. (Reporting by Mayela Armas and Vivian Sequera; Editing by Peter Cooney) A woman who claimed to be the oldest in the world has died at the age of 126 in Tajikistan, allegedly the last woman born in the 19th century. Fotima Mirzokulova was born on March 13, 1893, in the time of Tsarist Russia, according to her passport. She lived through the Soviet era and later saw her homeland gain its independence in 1991. Mrs Mirzokulova has left behind eight children and more than 200 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She was buried on Saturday in the town of Dakhana in the north of the country, close to the border with Uzbekistan. Fotima Mirzokulova was born on March 13, 1893, according to her passport, in the time of Tsarist Russian rule, living through the Soviet era and later seeing her homeland gain its independence in 1991 Mrs Mirzokulova's passport which gives her date of birth as March 13, 1893. In this year Giuseppe Verdi's 'Falstaff' premiered in Milan, Grover Cleveland was inaugurated the 24th US President and New Zealand became the first country to grant women the vote Local media report she spent her life working in the kolkhoz - a cooperative farm - and continued to harvest cotton long after her retirement because she loved the job. In the year of Mrs Mirzokulova's birth, Giuseppe Verdi's 'Falstaff' premiered in Milan, Grover Cleveland was inaugurated the 24th US President and New Zealand became the first country to grant women the vote. The world's oldest ever verified woman was Jeanne Louise Calment from France who died at the age of 122 in August 1997. She was born in February 1875. The oldest woman alive today, verified by the Guinness World Records, is believed to be 117-year-old Kane Tanaka of Japan. Kane Tanaka (pictured) extended her record as the world's oldest person by celebrating her 117th birthday at a nursing home in Fukuoka in southern Japan earlier this month Tanaka marked her birthday earlier this month with a slice of cake at her nursing home which was broadcast on national TV. 'Tasty,' she said with a smile. 'I want some more.' The world's oldest man Masazo Nonaka, 113, died last year in January while sleeping at home in Ashoro on Japan's northern main island of Hokkaido. The supercentenarian, whose family has run a hot springs inn for four generations, was certified by Guinness World Records in April 2018 as the world's oldest living man at 112 years and 259 days. A 'Bharat bandh' called by some organisations against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and proposed NRC saw a clash between two groups in Maharashtra's Dhule on Wednesday, besides incidents of stone-pelting in a few districts and a train blockade in Mumbai. There were no reports of anyone getting injured during the sporadic violence. In north Maharashtra's Dhule district, two groups clashed during a rally against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The incident took place on Hundred Feet Road in Chalisgaon Road police station limits during the rally where a large number of Muslims were present. A group from the Hindu community gathered at the spot and started shouting slogans in support of the CAA and NRC, which was followed by a clash and stone-pelting from both sides, a police officer said. To disperse the mob, police fired four rounds in the air and lobbed six teargas shells and brought the situation under control, he said. There were 'Rail Roko' (blockade on railway tracks) at Balapur in Akola district and incidents of stone-pelting in Washim and Yavatmal districts, the police said. At Yavatmal, police used baton-charge to disperse the mob after two groups clashed. In Aurangabad district, a civic-run bus was pelted with stones at Harsul while a state transport bus was attacked near Himayatbag. In Palghar near Mumbai, protesters tried to block the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway near Vasai. In Thane district, impact of the shut-down call was felt mainly in Bhiwandi, Mumbra and Ulhasnagar. Multiple organisations, including Bahujan Kranti Morcha, had called for Bharat Bandh in protest against the recently passed CAA and the proposed NRC. In Mumbai, the country's financial capital, at least 47 protesters were arrested during a Rail Roko at suburban Kanjurmarg railway station. At least 100 protesters gathered on the tracks around 8 in the morning, affecting suburban services of the Central Railway briefly, the Government Railway Police said. Shops and offices remained closed in Muslim-dominated areas in Dongri, Byculla, Nagpada, Mahim, Bandra-Behrampada, Kurla Pipe Road, Kasaiwada, Andheri, Jogeshwari, Malad-Malwani and Vikhroli in Mumbai city, the police said. The Bandh call failed to evoke much response in Pune city, barring few areas in the city where shops remained shut. At least 315 persons were detained for holding protests in areas such as Sarasbaug, Swargate, Golibar Maidan, Chandan Nagar, Yerwada, Kondhwa, Wanwadi, Deccan and Khadak. Public transport remained unaffected and schools and colleges remained open. In Pune Camp, Kondhwa and Bhavani Peth, some shops and commercial establishments downed their shutters. In Pune district, the bandh received good response in Baramati, Indapur and Daund tehsils as shops, markets and commercial establishments remained closed. "There was no report of any untoward incident," said Sandip Patil, Superintendent of Police, Pune rural. In Solapur in western Maharashtra, the Bandh received a lukewarm response with shops remaining shut only in few areas of the city. At Walsang in Solapur district, a group of protesters tried to disrupt a weekly vegetable market, but relented after local traders and police informed them that veggies come for sale from far-off places. In Miraj town in Sangli district, an auto-rickshaw was vandalised after its driver refused to take part in the bandh. "We have detained two persons," a local police officer said. The Bandh call received no response in Kolhapur and Satara districts. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Four members of a Chinese family have been diagnosed with coronavirus in the United Arab Emirates, the first known cases in the Middle East, the countrys health ministry have said. Officials said they had arrived from Wuhan, the city in China where the disease originated. The family members are in a stable condition and under medical observation, the ministry said. The virus which causes patients to have flu-like symptoms but can develop into pneumonia has killed more than 130 people in China. The health ministry did not say where the family members were being treated or when they arrived in the UAE. China coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus 65 show all China coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus 1/65 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 2/65 A patient assisted by medical staff gets off an ambulance in Wuhan AFP/Getty 3/65 People line up to buy face masks from a medical supply company in Nanning, southern Chinas 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 4/65 Millions spent their normally festive Lunar New Year holiday under lockdown Getty 5/65 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 6/65 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 7/65 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 8/65 Ambulance staff dispose of an outfit at the hospital in Wuhan EPA 9/65 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 10/65 Nepali students, wearing face masks, attend a class at Matribhumi School in Bhaktapur, on the outskirts of Kathmandu AFP via Getty Images 11/65 Medical staff at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty 12/65 Two Buddhist monks wear face masks while walking along a street in Yangon AFP via Getty Images 13/65 Staff disinfecting a residential area in Ruichang, part of Jiujiang in Chinas central Jiangxi province AFP via Getty 14/65 Workers are seen at the construction site of a new hospital being built to treat patients from a deadly virus outbreak in Wuhan in Chinas 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 15/65 Vapor blurs the goggles of an ambulance driver while they work, in Wuhan EPA 16/65 Workers producing facemasks at a factory in Yangzhou AFP via Getty 17/65 Medical staff getting on an ambulance in Wuhan AFP via Getty 18/65 A vendor of traditional masks wears a facial mask at his shop in Thamel EPA 19/65 An airport official checks the temperature of a passenger upon his arrival at the Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar AFP via Getty 20/65 Medical staff members arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty 21/65 An ambulance driver talking with medical staff in Wuhan AFP via Getty 22/65 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 23/65 Workers produce protective suits at a factory in Nantong AFP via Getty 24/65 Passengers scanned by thermal imaging for body temperature as they go through health measures and procedures after they landed at Romes Fiumicino airport on a southern airlines flight from Wuhan Aeroporto Di Roma/AFP via Getty 25/65 A Thai royal guard wears a mask while on duty at the Grand Palace in Bangkok EPA 26/65 A man wearing a face mask rides a nearly empty subway train in Beijing AP 27/65 Medical staff members at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty 28/65 A shopper wearing goggles with a face mask and gloves uses a self checkout machine at a supermarket in Wuhan AP 29/65 Medical staff transfer patients to Jinyintan hospital EPA 30/65 Members of the Italian Red Cross putting on protective gear, getting ready to give health checks to passengers that landed at Romes Fiumicino airport on a southern airlines flight from Wuhan Aeroporto Di Roma/AFP via Getty 31/65 A member of the Hong Kong governments 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 32/65 Medical staff wearing protective suits at the Zhongnan hospital in Wuhan STR/AFP via Getty 33/65 A Malaysia Health official checks passengers going through a thermal scanner upon their arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport EPA 34/65 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 35/65 A passenger walks past a quarantine control station at Narita airport, Japan EPA 36/65 Patients queue up to seek treatment in Wuhan Tongji Hospital Fever Clinic, in Wuhan EPA 37/65 Quarantine workers spray disinfectant at Incheon International Airport, South Korea EPA 38/65 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 39/65 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 40/65 Members of the Three Gorges Medical Laboratory offering free masks to the public in Yichang, China AFP via Getty 41/65 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 42/65 Members of staff of the Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team conducting searches on the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market AFP via Getty 43/65 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 44/65 A screen shows cancelled flights at Tianhe airport in Wuhan AFP via Getty 45/65 Medical staff transfer patients to Jinyintan hospital EPA 46/65 Health officials hand out information about the current coronavirus at Kuala Lumpur International Airport AP 47/65 A store owner argues with security guards as he attempts to enter the closed Huanan wholesale seafood market AFP via Getty 48/65 Workers producing facemasks at a factory in Handan, Chinas northern Hebei province AFP via Getty 49/65 Medical staff and security personnel stop patients family members from being too close to the Jinyintan hospital Reuters 50/65 maya-goodfellowAn airport staff member uses a temperature gun to check people leaving Wuhan Tianhe International Airport AP 51/65 A rescue worker walks past a notice about new coronavirus that has broken out in China Reuters 52/65 Health officials wear face masks at an inspection site at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang AP 53/65 Medical staff members carry a patient into the Jinyintan hospital AFP via Getty 54/65 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 55/65 A quarantine station measures passenger body temperatures at Narita Airport JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty 56/65 Passengers walk past a notice displayed near a quarantine control station at Narita airport EPA 57/65 Passengers walk past a poster alerting on coronavirus screening ahead upon their arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport EPA 58/65 An employee sprays disinfectant on a train, as a precaution against coronavirus, at Suseo Station in Seoul EPA 59/65 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 60/65 Pharmacist Liu Zhuzhen stands near a sign reading face masks are sold out at her pharmacy in Shanghai AP 61/65 The Wuhan Medical Treatment Center, EPA 62/65 A worker in a protective suit at the closed seafood market in Wuhan Reuters 63/65 Passengers wear protective face masks at the departure hall of a high speed train station in Hong Kong AP 64/65 A notice for passengers from Wuhan Getty 65/65 A man wears a mask while riding on mobike past the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market Getty The ministry and a government information office did not respond to a request for further comment. Nearly 60 cases have been reported in 15 countries outside China, including the US, France and Singapore. Fears of the spreading virus have pushed airlines to reduce flights to China. Emirates, the UAEs biggest airline, said on Wednesday its flights were operating normally. The Gulf Cooperation Councils (GCC) health committee met on Wednesday in the Saudi capital Riyadh to discuss the coronavirus and to unify Gulf efforts to prevent its spread, according to local media. Reuters Monash University has deferred its February exams and says students stranded in China due to the coronavirus outbreak may be forced to defer their studies. International students returning from China to campus residences have also been asked to "limit the use of public areas" and avoid gathering in groups for the next three weeks. Monash University has asked students returning from China to limit their time in public spaces for three weeks. Credit:Louie Douvis The universitys advice to students and its decision to defer exams is a stark departure from the unanimous position taken by Australias chief health officers, who said on Tuesday that only those people showing symptoms should isolate themselves. "All the evidence we have seen to date says that if you are not symptomatic with coronavirus you are not infectious, and therefore you shouldnt be excluded from an educational setting or any other public setting for that matter," Victoria's chief health officer, Dr Brett Sutton, said on Tuesday. While British lawmakers have been busy with exit preparations, the rest of the E.U. has, for the most part, continued business as usual. On Wednesday, before Farages dramatics, the European Parliament discussed a proposal to encourage India to protect all of its citizens, including the Muslim ones. Several British lawmakers, including Shaffaq Mohammed, who was born in the Pakistani-administered part of Kashmir, took part in the debate, urging the legislature to vote on the proposal right away, rather than waiting until March, when the British delegation would no longer be present. (The push for an immediate vote failed.) Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here. New Delhi [India], Jan 29 (ANI): Banking on his credentials as a star campaigner for the party, Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to rope in Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the ensuing Delhi Assembly elections. Sources in the party have confirmed that Adityanath will address approximately 12 rallies. However, locations for only six of them have been finalised till now In his first public address that is scheduled for February 1, Adityanath would be addressing two assembly constituencies -- Karawal Nagar and Mustafabad. The second public address would be in Adarsh Nagar and the third would be in Narela and Bawana while the fourth would be in Rohini and Badli. "There is a demand for Yogi's rallies in Delhi and there are just a few days left for campaigning. So, we decided to club two assembly constituencies for him," stated a senior party leader. On February 2, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister would be addressing one rally in Okhla and Badarpur assembly constituencies and second would be for Tuglakabad and Kalkaji constituencies. "However, the plan for Yogi's 12 rallies in the capital is tentative and can be changed as per his availability and feedback we receive from the ground," stated a senior leader. Adityanath's schedule for rallies is being finalised and as a majority of the population from Uttar Pradesh is centralised in East Delhi and West Delhi, the BJP has decided to conduct his maximum rallies in these two parts of the city, the party leader added. Delhi will go to polls in a single-phase on February 8 and 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.) The New York Conservatory Grant Program The New York Conservatory is proud and grateful to be able to honor these outstanding high school teachers and drama departments that continue to make a difference for students pursuing their passion for the dramatic arts. The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts (NYCDA) today proudly announced the recipients of its second annual Your Start in the Arts grant awards. The New York Conservatorys grant program honors and supports secondary high school educators in drama and theater who have inspired students to follow their passion for the art of storytelling through acting. We are thrilled to announce the recipients of this years The New York Conservatorys Your Start in the Arts grant awards, said Richard Omar, president and artistic director at The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts. This year we received nearly 700 grant submissions from schools across the country who more often than not struggle to fund their theater and performing arts programs due to dwindling or altogether eliminated financial support. We are proud and grateful to be able to honor these outstanding high school teachers and drama departments that continue to make a difference for students pursuing their passion for the dramatic arts. The New York Conservatory wishes them continued success in nurturing their department goals. The New York Conservatorys Your Start in the Arts 2019 grant winners are: To learn more about the Your Start in the Arts grant program, please visit https://www.nycda.edu/your-start-in-the-arts/. About The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts enables students to define their unique brand as an actor by discovering who they are as a person. We practice a personalized approach to training that places acting and storytelling at the core--offering immersive, disciplined, and focused professional training programs designed to give students the tools and techniques they need for successful careers in todays industry. Our living curriculum is writing itself every day, created and shaped by NYCDAs working actor instructors and student community to deliver a dynamic learning experience. The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts is an institutionally accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Theatre. NYCDAs Associate in Occupational Studies (AOS) degree programs in Film and Television Performance, and in Musical Theater Performance are registered by the New York State Board of Regents. Learn more about NYCDA at http://www.nycda.edu. Social Tags: #YourStartintheArts @NYConservatory #NYConservatory Follow NYCDA https://www.facebook.com/ACT.NYCDA/ https://twitter.com/NYConservatory https://www.instagram.com/nyconservatory/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEyiGi3FVM056AEXUYcxG6A Press Contact: Molly Elliott melliott@nycda.edu 646.216.2894 Carol Hickins carolledwards@gmail.com 646.345.3954 Challenger_explosion_wikimedia Wikimedia On this day 34 years ago, NASA's space shuttle Challenger broke apart during launch, claiming the lives of its seven crew members, including one civilian teacher. The tragedy changed the course of NASA's future. Challenger left an influential legacy of accomplishments in space. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. On the morning of January 28, 1986, seven crew members were killed when the space shuttle Challenger broke apart a little over a minute after it launched. Those killed included five NASA astronauts, one payload specialist, and a civilian schoolteacher. This mission was Challenger's 10th, but the shuttle suffered an engine failure because of a design flaw in its seal. A joint in one of the rocket boosters failed at liftoff and the external fuel tank collapsed, leading to the demise of the vehicle. Challenger was the second shuttle to reach space, which it did first in April 1983. It also sent the first African-American astronaut into space, completed the first in-flight capture and repair of a satellite, and launched the first US woman in space. The disaster marked a turning point for NASA. An investigation after the explosion found that many engineers and astronauts believed NASA was pushing its programs forward at breakneck speed, without sufficient funding or testing. NASA added more internal checks and processes after the event to prevent similar tragedies. The space agency also stopped sending civilians on potentially dangerous space-shuttle missions. These photos reveal the many missions of Challenger and its tragic end. NASA unveiled Challenger to the public in 1982. Challenger unveiling NASA The new orbiter sat atop a 747 carrier aircraft. Challenger was named after the British HMS Challenger ship, which led the Challenger Expedition: a groundbreaking marine research trip from 1872 to 1876. Challenger in Fog NASAChallenger's first mission, called STS-6, launched on April 6, 1983. Challenger first launch NASAAfter that first flight, Challenger flew 85% of all space-shuttle missions during its lifetime. Story continues Challenger in space NASASally Ride became the first American woman in space aboard the Challenger in 1983. First American Woman in Space NASAGuy Bluford became the first African-American astronaut in space when he flew on Challenger's STS-8 mission in August 1983. Bluford Flies Into History NASAAstronaut Bruce McCandless became the first person to fly unconnected to a spacecraft during a Challenger mission called STS-41B. Shuttle Spacewalker NASAThe crew members who died when Challenger exploded in 1986 were part of the STS-51L mission. STS 51L Crew NASA From left to right in the photo above: teacher-in-space Christa McAuliffe, astronauts Gregory Jarvis and Judith Resnik, mission commander Dick Scobee, astronaut Ronald McNair, pilot Mike Smith, and astronaut Ellison Onizuka. On January 28, 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after it took off for its 10th mission. Challenger_explosion_wikimedia WikimediaThe remains of Challenger were collected and memorialized in a retired Minuteman missile silo at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida in 1986. 648087main_chal entombment_full NASAOn the 20th anniversary of the Challenger explosion, June Scobee Rodgers the widow of Dick Scobee placed this wreath was placed at the memorial. 648103main_chal memorial_full NASA NASA's space-shuttle program lasted from 1981 to 2011. No astronauts have flown in American spacecraft or launched from US soil since then. That might change this year, however, since NASA has been working with SpaceX and Boeing to build new astronaut-ready spaceships. Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are set to be the first to fly SpaceX's Crew Dragon spaceship later this year. Read the original article on Business Insider The Duke of York is reported to be angry and bewildered at a claim by US authorities that he has provided zero co-operation over the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking inquiry. A source close to Andrew told the Daily Telegraph the royal is happy to talk to the FBI but has not been approached by them. US lawyer Geoffrey Berman said at a news conference in New York on Monday that the duke had not co-operated, despite his lawyers being contacted by prosecutors and the FBI as part of the probe. Expand Close Buckingham Palace did not comment after the New York news conference (Joe Giddens/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Buckingham Palace did not comment after the New York news conference (Joe Giddens/PA) Buckingham Palace did not comment following the press conference, but it was understood the matter was being dealt with by Andrews legal team. The source told the Telegraph: The duke is more than happy to talk to the FBI but he hasnt been approached by them yet. He is angry about the way this is being portrayed and bewildered as to why this was said in New York. Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was trafficked by Epstein, said in an interview with BBC Panorama that she was left horrified and ashamed after an alleged sexual encounter with Andrew in London in 2001. Expand Close The Duke of York in an interview with BBC Newsnights Emily Maitlis (Mark Harrison/BBC) PA Media / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Duke of York in an interview with BBC Newsnights Emily Maitlis (Mark Harrison/BBC) Andrew categorically denies he had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Ms Giuffre. He stepped down from royal duties in November following a disastrous Newsnight interview in the wake of the scandal. At the time, he said: I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency. Following the interview, he was accused of failing to show regret over his friendship with the disgraced financier, who took his own life in prison while awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges. Expand Close Jeffrey Epstein (New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jeffrey Epstein (New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP) Mr Berman, who is overseeing the investigation, told reporters outside Epsteins New York mansion that to date, Prince Andrew has provided zero co-operation. US lawyer Lisa Bloom, who represents five of Epsteins alleged victims, said lawyer Mr Berman had been left with no choice but to comment publicly about Andrews alleged lack of co-operation because he did not have the power to subpoena the royal as part of the criminal investigation. Speaking to BBC News on Tuesday, she called on Andrew to stop playing games and do the right thing by speaking to the authorities to assist with their investigation into the inquiry. Democratic and non-sectarian protesters furious at administrative corruption, condemning the parliament as businessmen and landowners whose MPs could be bought and sold, demanding non-confessional elections and a popular vote for the president. So now the old cliche: does that sound familiar? Well of course it does. But this was Beirut in November 1938, and the National and Democratic Congress had been brought together by the Lebanese Communist Party. It included Lebanons middle classes, economists, socialists, shopkeepers, students and even trade unionists of all religions, along with the wealthy elite opposed to the traditional "zaim', the big families who had dominated the country as they still do for more than a century. It went nowhere. They protested the continued and oppressive mandate rule by the French who had all along demanded a Christian president for their favourite Middle East statelet but then came the Second World War, when the 1940 fall of France briefly handed Lebanon to Vichy rule, and the countrys "liberation' by the British and the Free French in 1941; after which, demands for independence from the French briefly united Muslims and Christians. They stood together as Lebanese nationalists. New Mexicans have been wringing their hands for decades over the pathetic performance of our schoolchildren. There is much disagreement as to the effectiveness of spending countless millions, and questions remain if there ever will be enough money to solve the problem without a clear definition as to what a good education is and how to measure it. We keep putting off real reforms that would create an environment where learning is more important than pandering to a social agenda and kowtowing to teachers unions. If were serious about preparing our children to take their place in the real world where English language skills, basic math and an understanding of civics works, we must face facts, and one of those is that we keep separating the stakeholder groups and dealing with them individually. Teachers feel overburdened with accountability requirements and unacceptably low wages. Parents feel helpless and dont take an active role in supporting their own children. Businesses want workers with basic skills that can be productive from day one. Government wants to spend money, thinking that will save our children from a bleak future where they are unable to compete. Then theres social promotion, the worst thing to come down the educational pike in many a moon. If children are not reading at their current level, they should not be promoted to the next, more demanding grade. Thats just common sense, but that it is not an idea that is shared by social scientists or some enlightened educators that worry that little Johnny or Juan will be psychologically damaged if he doesnt tag along with classmates and move up the grade ladder. In many European school systems there is a two-track approach used in high schools to place students on one of two paths: vocational or college-bound, and its done by assessing students capabilities and their aptitude. Those taking the college path are given college-level courses in high school. There is no stigma with taking the vocational path, as many go on to further training in trades and often end up earning just as much as their college counterparts. Many of them also start their own businesses, which helps grow their countrys tax base. Free U.S. college is an ideological plan, based on the belief that college is for everybody and everybody will be better off for it. This Obamacare-type solution forces everyone to accept that flawed premise. Proponents will say that more college grads will improve our society. Graduating more students with degrees of marginal worth will only increase unemployment, not lower it. If your son or daughter wants to go to college, fine. You pay for it. The cost of a college education is also too high. The reasons are: over-administration, escalating professor wages and unionization of educators. Costs must be lowered. Theres no defensible reason for a half-dozen UNM VPs salaries to exceed $200K/year. Students need to make sensible, market-based education choices in order to adapt to the changing economy and secure their financial stability. Instead, we are busy turning out specialists that cannot find work. If New Mexico is to move its students up the quality education ladder it must stop thinking with its brain tied behind its back. Opening up the states purse strings and throwing money at the problem may make the governor popular with teachers and win her a second term, but it wont trickle down to the benefit of our students not without some serious soul-searching and educational reform. Ideas matter, but good ideas matter more. Stephan Helgesen lived and worked in 30 countries for 25 years during the Reagan, G.H.W. Bush, Clinton, and G.W. Bush administrations. He is the author of three books on American politics and has written over 1,000 articles on politics, economics and social trends. He can be reached at: stephan@stephanhelgesen.com. Suspected internet fraudsters arrested at Westwood Estate in Ajah, Lagos In their latest crackdown on Nigerias cybercriminals, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office, today arrested 10 suspects in Lagos. The suspects were arrested in Westwood Estate, Ajah, Lagos in a sting operation. The arrests followed intelligence report received by the Commission about their alleged involvement in cyber crime. Items recovered from the suspects at the point of arrest include a car, laptops and mobile phones. The suspects will soon be arraigned in court, the EFCC spokesman Tony Orilade said. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates BETTENDORF, Iowa The city of Bettendorf has been awarded a $2.2 million federal grant that, coupled with state and city contributions, will make $2.95 million available to buy out up to 22 homeowners in the flood plain along Duck Creek near Interstate 74. This will be the second in what the city hopes will be more buyouts of homes in the flood plain that besides being subject to possible flooding have seen such steep increases in flood insurance that payments are no longer affordable. The city previously has identified about 360 single-family homes in regulated flood zones and, of those, pegged about 80 for buyouts, based on their being the first to flood because of elevation, John Soenksen, community development director, told the Quad-City Times. Of the 80, 10 were purchased and demolished in 2017 with the area made into green space. The city intends to keep applying for grants that would make future buyouts possible, rescuing residents from escalating premiums that also make their homes nearly impossible to sell on the open market. The latest grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, is good news for Mark and Annetta Cooper, who have lived along Parkway Drive for 20 years. Although theyve never gotten water in their house, their flood insurance which theyre required by their lending institution to carry as long as they have a mortgage _ has tripled in the past five to 10 years, Mark Cooper said. Insurance premiums were about $600 per year when the Coopers bought their home, but are now around $1,600, he said. And they cant sell their house for what they have in it because buyers dont want those big insurance payments either, Cooper added. If someone could afford that (the high premiums), why not just buy a better house somewhere else? he said. The city will offer homeowners a price based on appraisals from 2017 done by Rally Appraisals, Bettendorf, Soenksen said. Amounts range from around $90,000 to $160,000. The Coopers havent received a specific offer yet, but anticipate it soon. And if its what they expect, they will be satisfied. We dont know what we would do if it werent for this buyout, Cooper said. Wed be up a creek, literally, without a paddle. Were glad its working out this way. The affected neighborhood was built in the mid-60s. Most of the homes are one-story, with or without basements, although there are a couple of two-stories and split-foyers as well. Cooper is concerned that the neighborhood will degrade because of a trend he already has seen: investors with money buying homes for cash nowhere near what the house is worth because the owners want to get out, and our neighborhood is becoming a neighborhood of renters, which is not the best situation in the world, he said. When an investor pays cash there is no lending institution involved, so no insurance is required. The investors are taking the chance that the homes wont flood and that they will continue to make money on their rents. While a high number of rentals can be concerning, city officials are more worried about abandoned homes; that is, residents just walking away from their property because they cant make the payments, Decker Ploehn, city administrator, said. Soenksen said he doesnt know how many homes in the area might be vacant, but that the vast majority are still occupied under some kind of ownership. Some residents whose homes are paid for and therefore arent required to buy flood insurance are not taking buyouts, Cooper said. They are taking their chances. Flood insurance premiums started to become a big expense after passage of the federal Biggert Waters Act of 2012 that raised rates on certain properties to more accurately reflect their true flood risk. The new policy triggered premium increases and the elimination of subsidies that, until then, made flood insurance largely affordable. The city has three years, or until December of 2022, to complete the buyouts, Soenksen said. In addition to the federal portion of $2,215,650, the state of Iowa is contributing 10%, or $295,420, and the city of Bettendorf will contribute up to 15%, or $443,130, if every person pegged for a buyout takes it, he said. About the photo: Martin Thachil poses for a photo in front of his home near Duck Creek in Bettendorf, Iowa on Jan. 16. The city of Bettendorf has been awarded a $2.2 million federal grant that, coupled with state and city contributions, will make $2.95 million available to buy out up to 22 homeowners in the flood plain along Duck Creek near Interstate 74. (Gary L. Krambeck/Quad City Times via AP) Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Anti-CAA activist Sharjeel Imam, who was arrested by the Delhi Police's Crime Branch from Bihar's Jehanabad in a sedition case, will be questioned by the police for the next five days in connection with his alleged inflammatory speeches at the Jamia Millia Islamia University here and in Aligarh, officials said on Wednesday. Imam was arrested on Tuesday. He was brought to Delhi on Wednesday and produced at the residence of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Purushottam Pathak in the evening amidst high security. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rajesh Deo said they had been given Imam's five-day custody. A senior police officer said Imam will be questioned over the next five days and shown excerpts of his speeches. "We will also try to establish the sequence of events through his statement and find out who all were accompanying him at that time. If needed, others will also be questioned," the officer added. The PhD scholar at the Jawaharlal Nehru University's (JNU) Centre for Historical Studies has been booked for sedition and other charges in several states after videos of his alleged inflammatory speeches, made during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), were circulated on the social media. An FIR was registered against Imam by the Delhi Police on January 25 under IPC sections 124A (sedition) and 153A (promoting or attempting to promote disharmony or feelings of enmity on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever) among others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than 100 people in the United States are being monitored for the coronavirus, and 2,000 in China have been sickened by the new virus, which causes respiratory illness in people. But as officials learn about the virus, some odd internet searches and myths have popped up. Heres a rundown of some of the strange and incorrect things that have been circulating about the virus, and some verified ways to protect yourself. Not like the beer Many people, seeing the name of the virus, have concluded the virus has a connection to Corona beer. The Miami Herald reported that Google searches for Corona Beer and Corona Beer Virus were both up in the past week. The paper noted that the search engine may not have helped, as corona beer virus is the second option Google predicts when someone types in corona. But other than the name, theres no connection. The coronavirus is named as such because of the crown-like spikes on its surface. Corona means crown in Latin. So no, drinking Coronas wont give you the virus, and it wont cure it either. Theyre just not related. Dont drink that, either Another bizarre theory thats been circulating about the virus is that it can be kept at bay by drinking bleach. The Daily Beast reports that right-wing conspiracy theorist group QAnon has urged its fans to drink the cleaning liquid poisonous to humans in order to protect themselves from the virus. The Food and Drug Administration has warned consumers not to do this. And even without that warning, you should probably already know that. What should you do to protect yourself? Crazy theories aside, there are several simple things you can do to protect yourself from the virus. People should wash their hands, avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth with dirty hands, and avoid people who are sick. Its a good idea to use basic etiquette, such as coughing into a tissue or elbow, and to disinfect things after coughing. Face masks can also prevent the spread of coronavirus, but health officials didnt urge Oregonians to rush out and buy them. The virus has so far had confirmed cases in Washington and California but there have not been any reported or confirmed cases in Oregon. Watch for cold and flu-like symptoms, such as cough, fever, or in more serious cases, shortness of breath. The disease can worsen to pneumonia, which can be fatal, but others dont experience more than a mild illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR Crude oil headed lower today, reversing a rally after the Energy Information Administration reported a build in oil inventories of 3.5 million barrels for the week to January 24. Analysts had expected a draw of 460,000 bpd, after last week the EIA reported a draw of 400,000 bpd for the seven days to January 17. At 431.7 million barrels, crude oil inventories in the United States are a little below the five-year average for this time of the year. The EIA also reported a 1.2-million-barrel build in gasoline inventories as well, versus a build of 1.7 million barrels for the previous week. Gasoline production averaged 9.2 million bpd, down from 9.5 million bpd a week earlier. Distillate fuel inventories fell by 1.3 million barrels last week. This compared with a 1.2-million-barrel decline a week earlier. Distillate fuel production averaged 5 million bpd in the week to January 24, unchanged from the previous week. A day before the EIA reported inventory figures, the American Petroleum Institute once again took forecasters by surprise reporting a draw of 4.37 million barrels in U.S. oil inventories when analysts had expected a build of almost 500,000 bpd. Oil prices rose on the API report but they were already on the mend Tuesday, after sources from OPEC said the cartel and its partners were considering an extension of the oil production cuts until June and that they might further deepen the cuts to compensate for the headwinds blowing from the direction of demand. The coronavirus outbreak that started in China but has spread to more than a dozen other countries was the main culprit. With demand for air travel immediately hit and quarantines in China discouraging other forms of travel, too, the expected impact on oil demand could be significant. In fact, according to Barclays, it could shave off $2 off a barrel of oil. Yet talk of a production cut extension and/or deepening has done the job and prices are trending higher for the time being. At the time of writing, Brent crude was trading at $58.75 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate was at $53.24 a barrel. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A French-Brazilian tourist used hidden cameras at Brisbane ATMs to steal personal identification numbers before fleecing victims of tens of thousands of dollars. Douglas Da Silva Rangel, 32, pleaded guilty in the Brisbane District Court on Wednesday to identity theft, fraud and money laundering after he arrived in Australia in 2018. The tourist amassed tens of thousands of dollars after obtaining PINs from hidden cameras. Credit:Jim Rice All told, Da Silva Rangel stole $77,256 by skimming bank cards, creating clones of customers' cards and stealing their PINs using cameras placed on the ATMs. Prosecutor Hamish McIntyre said Da Silva Rangel's conduct was organised and sophisticated. (Newser) Police in Illinois say a woman who shot a retired state trooper in the head before turning the gun on herself had written the man's name on the wall of her condo along with the words, "I hate you" and "hope you ... die." Lisa McMullan, 51, was a regular at Humidor Cigar Lounge in Lisle, Illinois, where surveillance video captured her shooting 51-year-old Greg Rieves and two others seated with him around 10pm Friday, police tell WGN. State trooper Kaiton Bullock, 48, and 55-year-old Lloyd Graham, a retired special agent with Illinois State Police, survived with injuriesthey're now listed in stable conditionbut Rieves was pronounced dead, as was McMullan, who shot herself, per CBS Chicago. story continues below In a search of McMullan's Chicago condo, police say they found the words, "I hate you Hope you two die!" alongside Rieves' name and that of another man, who was found safe. Police have only said that McMullan and Rieves knew each other, while WLS suggests a prior romantic relationship. A witness tells CBS that McMullan was at the cigar lounge "all of the time" and was known for a distinct laugh that could be heard "a half hour before this happened." Other witnesses said there had been no argument or other disturbance before shots were fired as the victims watched TV. McMullan had a valid Firearm Owners Identification card and a concealed-carry license, per the Chicago Sun-Times. (Read more murder-suicide stories.) Two people were killed and at least three others sustained bullet injuries when some locals opened fire and hurled crude bombs on a group of protesters demonstrating against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA and National Register of Citizens (NRC) in West Bengals Murshidabad district. The deceased have been identified as Anarul Biswas (55), who died on the spot, and Salauddin Sheikh (17), who succumbed to his injuries on way to hospital. The three injured have been admitted to hospital. The incident happened near Sahebnagar market in the Jalangi police station area of Murshidabad district in West Bengal. The protesters claim that the attackers belonged to the Trinamool Congress (TMC), but the ruling party has denied any role in the incident. There is no instruction from our party to suppress any anti-CAA or anti-NRC movement. We firmly deny the involvement of any of our party leaders in the incident. We have requested police to conduct an impartial probe and arrest the culprits, Murshidabad district TMC president and MP from Murshidabad, Abu Taher Khan, said. The incident took place a little after 9 am. The protest was part of an all-India bandh called by the Bahujan Kranti Morcha (BKM). Locals said the demonstration was being held by members of the CAA Birodhi Nagarik Mancha (Citizens Forum Against CAA), a new organisation formed about 20 days ago which has members from all political parties, including TMC. It was holding demonstration in different parts of Jalangi, demanding revocation of CAA. On Wednesday morning, TMCs Jalangi (north) block president Tohiruddin Mondal arrived at the protest site with some of his associates who, the protesters said, opened fire. Mondal and his men came in five cars and attacked us, said Imdadul Haque, one of the protesters. We were carrying out a peaceful movement. The TMC leadership created the trouble and killed two men. We have heard that Tohiruddins brother was hit by a bullet, said Mustak Ali, a member of the mancha Tohiruddins brother Mantu Mondal is admitted in Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital and is being treated for bullet injury. Two people have died in the firing. We have detained a few people. Raids are being conducted to nab the culprits, said Sandip Sen, a police officer. The incident led to exchange of allegations between political parties. Jalangi legislator Abdur Razzak, who won the seat for Communist Party of India (Marxist) but later defected to the TMC, said, For the last 15 days some Congress and CPI(M) men are holding anti-CAA demonstration under the banner of a new organisation. On Wednesday morning, they were trying to close down shops at Sahebnagar market as part of an all-India strike. Hundreds of students, who wanted to organise Saraswati puja, were facing problems because of this protest. When Tahiruddin Mondal reached the scene and requested them to leave the market area, they attacked our men with firearms and bombs. I have heard that two men have died. The deceased are not associated with any political party, said Razzak. TMC chief Mamata Banerjee is protesting CAA and passing resolution in state assembly while her party leader is killing people who are against the law. This incident has proved that that her party men are supporting the Bharatiya Janata Party, Murshidabad Congress spokesperson Jayanta Das said. Salauddins father, Nur Islam Sheikh, meanwhile alleged that his son was shot by the pradhan (head) of the local gram panchayat controlled by the TMC. The TMC pradhan, Milton Sheikh, fired at my son from the roof of a house for supporting the bandh. Milton Sheikh was not available for comments. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico opened only 20% of its public schools on Tuesday following a strong earthquake that delayed the start of classes by nearly three weeks as fears linger over the safety of students. Only 177 schools were certified to open after engineers inspected them for damage caused by the magnitude-6.4 earthquake that killed one person and damaged hundreds of homes on Jan. 7. But the inspections were not to determine whether a school could withstand another strong earthquake or had structural shortcomings such as short columns that make it vulnerable to collapse, further worrying parents. Of course I am afraid, said 38-year-old Marien Santos, who attended an open house on Monday at her sons Ramon Vila Mayo high school in the suburb of Rio Piedras where officials gave her a copy of the inspection report and evacuation plans. Her concerns were echoed by the director of the school, Elisa Delgado. While she believes engineers did a thorough inspection of the school, built in the early 1900s, they warned her not to use the main entrance in an evacuation because it leads to an area filled with gas lines. The problem is that the other exits are too narrow to handle the schools 450 students, she told The Associated Press. Its not ideal, she said. Overall, engineers have inspected 561 of the islands 856 public schools, finding at least 50 too unsafe to reopen, leaving some 240,000 students out of school for now. Ongoing tremors also are forcing crews to automatically re-inspect schools following any quake of 3.0 magnitude or higher, according to Puerto Ricos Infrastructure Financing Authority. Since the 6.4 quake, there have been several strong aftershocks, including a 5.9 magnitude one that hit on Jan. 11 and a 5.0 that struck on Saturday. The biggest quake flattened the top two floors of a three-story school in the southern coastal city of Guanica on Jan. 7, two days before classes were scheduled to start. Overall, experts say that some 500 public schools in Puerto Rico were built before 1987 and dont meet new construction codes. A plan to retrofit all schools that need it, an estimated 756 buildings, would cost up to $2.5 billion, officials have said, noting those are preliminary figures. Education Secretary Eligio Hernandez noted that another 51 schools are scheduled to start classes on Feb. 3 and that his department is reviewing recommendations on how best to proceed with the other schools. The Department of Education is going to take the time it needs and will take all necessary actions so that parents feel satisfied, he told reporters on Monday. Elba Aponte, president of Puerto Ricos Association of Teachers, told the AP that she has received complaints and pictures from parents and school employees of at least 10 schools that are reopening but that they feel are still unsafe. Most of the pictures are of cracks in the walls and roofs of those schools, she said. Their concerns are quite valid, Aponte said, adding that she would share them with the islands education secretary. Meanwhile, school and government officials are trying to figure out what to do with the roughly 240,000 students who arent able to go to school yet, either because their building was deemed unsafe or has not yet been inspected. No schools in the islands southern and southwest region will reopen for now, officials say. Options include placing students in other schools with revised schedules or holding classes in refurbished trailers or outdoors under tarps, Aponte said as she lamented the situation. Its terrible, she said. If there was one place where they could feel safe, it was at school. About the photo: In this Wednesday, Jan. 8 file photo, people whose homes are unsafe to enter after the previous days magnitude 6.4 earthquake line up for lunch in an outdoor area of the Bernardino Cordero Bernard High School, which is being used as a shelter despite no electricity in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico opened only 20% of its public schools on Tuesday following a strong earthquake that delayed the start of classes by nearly three weeks as fears linger over the safety of students. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti, File) Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. PITTSFIELD A Pittsfield man is facing charges after being accused of domestic battery against a pregnant or handicapped person. Pittsfield police were called Friday to the 400 block of East Adams Street about a reported battery. King Mohammed VI of Morocco has granted free pardon to 201 African inmates, for humanitarian reasons. The exceptional royal pardon was granted to the 201 inmates for humanitarian reasons and benefited elderly prisoners or those suffering from illness, the Moroccan Ministry of Justice said in a press release. All necessary measures have been taken to facilitate the repatriation of the released inmates to their native countries, the Justice department said. The royal pardon stands as an encouragement to inmates who demonstrated good conduct while in prison, respected the laws and regulations in force, and responded positively to rehabilitation and reintegration programs, the press release added. [January 28, 2020] INVESTIGATION ALERT: The Schall Law Firm Announces it is Investigating Claims Against Sasol Limited and Encourages Investors with Losses to Contact the Firm The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Sasol Limited ("Sasol" or "the Company") (NYSE: SSL) for violations of the securities laws. The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. Sasol disclosed on January 14, 2020, that on the previous day, it "experienced an explosion and fire at its LCCP low-density polyethylene (LDPE) unit" of its chemicals project located in Lake Charles, Louisiana. According to the Company, "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." Based on this news, shares of Sasol fell by nearly 8% over the next two trading sessions. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 1880 Century Park East, Suite 404, Los Angeles, CA (News - Alert) 90067, at 424-303-1964, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected]. The class in this case has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200128005888/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Congress on Wednesday led a delegation to Maharashtra Minister Eknath Shinde, seeking shifting a low-cost mass housing project to be built under a central scheme in Navi Mumbai elsewhere, contending it is being opposed by locals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in December 2018 launched the City and Industrial Development Corporation's (CIDCO) mass housing scheme worth Rs 18,000 crore, which offers around 89,771 affordable units under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). Maharashtra Congress general secretary Sachin Sawant, who led the delegation of the locals, said the project is "unjust" towards residents of Kamothe, Kharghar and Khandeshwar, localities in Navi Mumbai. A party statement said Shinde, a Shiv Sena leader who holds the urban development ministry, assured the delegation that he will look into the matter. "The locals have objected to the project. They want the CIDCO to shift the project elsewhere. "The project was imposed on the CIDCO so that Modi could launch it ahead of the (Lok Sabha) election (held last year)," the statement quoted Sawant as saying. Sawant alleged the reservation of land parcel, on which the project is to come up, was originally meant for public amenities, but it was changed without any public hearing. The Congress is part of the Shiv Sena-led government in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday ordered the military to "shoulder responsibility" to contain the coronavirus outbreak that has killed 132 people, infected 6,000 others with six foreigners contracting the disease for the first time in China and spread to 17 countries. President Xi, who heads the People's Liberation Army, told the military to keep their mission firmly in mind and shoulder responsibility to make contribution to winning the battle against the novel coronavirus, which he has described as a "demon", state-run Xinhua agency reported. Already the military is pressing thousands of its medical personnel into Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus outbreak, to assist the doctors. Xi's call to the military came as the number of confirmed cases of the rapidly spreading virus infection in mainland China reached 6,078 with 70 cases abroad, surpassing the cases witnessed during the SARS or severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak, which had caused havoc in China in 2002-03. Over 800 people, mostly in China, died during the SARS epidemic. The coronavirus, which first emerged in Wuhan in late December, has killed 132 people, infected over 6,000 others and spread to at least 17 countries, amid warnings by health experts that the epidemic may reach its peak in the next 10 days resulting in a big increase in number of cases. The Chinese health authorities announced on Wednesday that 5,974 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus had been reported in 31 provincial-level regions by Tuesday. China's National Health Commission said in its daily report that 1,239 patients remained in critical condition and 9,239 people were suspected to be infected with the virus. A total of 103 people have been discharged from hospital after recovery, the commission said. For the first-time, Tibet too reported a suspected case of coronavirus. A total of 65,537 close contacts had been traced, the commission said, adding that among them, 1,604 were discharged after medical observation on Tuesday. A total of 59,990 people were still under medical observation. Also for the first time since the virus surfaced in December, six foreigners, including four Pakistanis and two Australians, have contracted the virus, raising concerns among thousands of foreigners working in China. Pakistan also confirmed that four of its nationals, all students, have been infected with the virus in Wuhan. Over 500 Pakistani students were in Wuhan. Chinese officials said one of the Pakistani students who contracted the virus was found in Guangdong province. Guangdong health commission deputy head Chen Zhusheng said that the Pakistani and two Australians were in a stable condition but it was not known how they contracted the virus. Chen did not give details of the Australians, but said the Pakistani was a student studying in Wuhan, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. Over 23,000 Indian students of which 21,000 are medical students are studying in China. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Tata Sons may seek help from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) if it needs to immediately clear adjusted gross revenues (AGR) dues owed by Tata Teleservices, according to a report by The Economic Times. The group is working on arranging funds to pay AGR dues worth nearly Rs 14,000 crore owed by Tata Teleservices, the report added. The Supreme Court is expected to hear modification plea by Vodafone Idea, Bharti Airtel and Tata Teleservices this week for the extension of deadline to pay the AGR dues. Tata Sons is concerned about the impact of the hefty payment, the report said. But we are realistic of the importance to have a payment plan in place, a source told the paper. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the story. Tata Sons declined to comment when approached by The Economic Times. Tata Sons board has discussed the matter and is closely monitoring the capital allocation and return on capital of its subsidiaries, the report added. It is an unreasonably huge amount, but we are aware that we have a reputation to protect of paying off every single due owed by group companies, a source told the publication. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) gave telecom players a deadline of January 23 to clear pending AGR dues. On October 24, the Supreme Court approved an expanded definition of AGR to include revenues from non-telecom sources. This rule applies to any company that has a telecom license even if it does not form the bulk of their business. Kolkata, Jan 29 : Two persons were killed and at least one person sustained injury in a clash over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in West Bengal's Murshidabad district on Wednesday, police said. One person injured in the incident has been hospitalised, police said. Unofficial sources, however, put the injury figure at three. The violence followed an argument between two groups on the CAA at Jalangi, around 200km from Kolkata. The dead and the injured had bullet injuries. Sources said a roadblock was set up in Sahebnagar locality by protestors opposing CAA and a possible countrywide National Register of Citizens since 9-30 am. The clash ensued when another group reached the area. Several rounds were fired and a number of vehicles vandalised and torched during the clash. A local residents forum, which had organised the road block, accused the Trinamool Congress and its leader Tahiruddin Sheikh of carrying out the attack. But the Trinamool denied the charge and blamed the CPI-M and the Congress for the violence. Close MEPs sing Auld Lang Syne as Brexit deal is approved in EU Parliament US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has said chlorinated chicken must be part of a post-Brexit trade deal, after dodging questions on the US suspect in the death of British teenager Harry Dunn. It comes as Liberal Democrat acting leader Sir Ed Davey urged Remain voters to come together with the rest of the country after Britains dark day on Friday, as the nation prepares to leave the EU. Meanwhile, chancellor Sajid Javid was expected to throw his weight behind the controversial HS2 rail project at a meeting with Boris Johnson and transport secretary Grant Shapps. To follow events as they unfolded, see our live coverage below Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Wednesday questioned MoS Finance Anurag Thakur over his Gun down traitors comment. He lamented that Davinder Singh and other people allegedly caught spying for the ISI had not been branded as traitors. Moreover, he castigated the Centre for not charging them under the stringent provisions of NSA. Moreover, he deliberated on the possible action of the Election Commission against Thakur. Singh contended that Thakur would be let off with a mere warning. However, the senior Congress leader highlighted that threatening to shoot people was a crime. My question to Anurag Thakur is "Devender Singh DSP arrested with Terrorists and Bajrang Dal/BJP Activists in MP spying for ISI Pakistan Intelligence Agency do they come in the definition of 'Gaddars'? If they do why hasn't GOI and the then BJP Govt didn't charge them under NSA?" digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) January 29, 2020 Let us see how CEC decided on this issue and what action they propose against the Minister. He would be let off with a warning I am certain. Legally, isn't threatening a person to be shot at, a Crime? digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) January 29, 2020 Read: Shiv Sena Neta Files Complaint Against WB BJP Chief Dilip Ghosh; Says 'fear For My Life' Thakur sparks off controversy Thakurs shocking video came to light on Monday, where he is seen chanting and encouraging the crowd to repeat the provocative slogan of 'Desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maron salon ko' (Gun down all the traitors of the country). On this occasion, Thakur was campaigning for Manish Chaudhari, the BJP candidate for the Rithala Assembly constituency. Despite the widespread condemnation, Thakur has neither denied nor apologised for his remark yet. Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India has decided to issue a showcause notice to him. Read: Manish Sisodia Responds To Hans Raj's 'no Desk' Claim, Says BJP MP Visited Community Hall A shocking threat by BJP MP In another incendiary remark by a BJP leader on Tuesday, the party's Lok Sabha MP Parvesh Verma contended that the people gathering at the Shaheen Bagh protests had the potential to rape and kill women. He alleged that both Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, as well as his deputy Manish Sisodia, had extended their support to Shaheen Bagh protests. Moreover, he warned the voters in the national capital to make a conscious choice in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. Boris Johnson and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in Downing Street earlier this month (Wiktor Szymanowicz/Barcroft Media via Getty Images) Boris Johnson hailed the signing of his Brexit Withdrawal Agreement as heralding a new chapter in our nations history. He is correct - though you probably wont notice much change at first. Once Britain leaves at 11pm on Friday, it will enter into a transition period in which the government will negotiate its future relationship with the EU. However, during these 11 months up to December 31, much will stay the same as when the UK was a member of the EU. Today I have signed the Withdrawal Agreement for the UK to leave the EU on January 31st, honouring the democratic mandate of the British people. This signature heralds a new chapter in our nations history. pic.twitter.com/IaGTeeL2is Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) January 24, 2020 This, as the transition period name suggests, is to avoid too much change happening at once before the UKs future terms with the bloc have been thrashed out. Here are the five key aspects of the relationship that will remain the same during the transition period: 1) Freedom of movement This is one of the fundamental features of EU membership and means EU citizens will still be able to live in the UK for work purposes, and vice versa for UK citizens in the EU. 2) Subject to EU law and rulings by European Court of Justice The UK government, when proposing new laws, will still have to work within parameters set by the European Court of Justice. It means UK law incompatible with European law will not be able to pass. 3) Contributions to EU budget With the UK still effectively an EU member, it will still have to contribute to its budget. Its not known how much this will be. 4) Membership of single market and customs union Similar to the principle of freedom of movement, only for businesses. It means the UK will still be able to freely trade with the EU, with tariffs and duties taken off goods. Story continues 5) Security co-operation The Institute for Government says: Security cooperation will continue during the transition period. The UK will continue to have access to EU mechanisms, like Europol [the EUs law enforcement agency that fights terrorism, cyber crime and organised crime]. So, will anything change? There is one key change, and its very simple: the UK will no longer have voting rights in EU business, with no MEPs in the European Parliament. In effect, as Simon Usherwood of the University of Surrey points out, the transition period recreates almost all the features of membership, minus the representation and voting rights the UK previously had. As a result, most people will not see any real change in their interaction with the European Union. 16 moments that tell the story of years of utter Brexit chaos A doctor with offices in Washington and Hackettstown admitted he hired a man who lost his license to practice medicine, and together they bilked the federal government out of more than $1 million, authorities said in a news release. Dr. Parminderjeet S. Sandhu, 66, of Long Valley, Morris County, admitted Tuesday he hired Paramjit Singh, 62, of Ohio, to practice medicine at his clinics even though Singh lost his medical license, according to the release from the U.S. Attorneys Office in New Jersey. Sandhus practice, Medical Care Associates, Urgent Care Inc., has offices in Washington and Hackettstown in Warren County and Succasunna in Morris County, the release says. It says Sandhu billed Medicare and private insurance companies more than $2.2 million for services performed by Singh. Sandhu claimed he performed the services, authorities said. Sandhus practice collected $1.1 million through the fraudulent billing, according to the release. It says Sandhu issued prescriptions for opiates for patients treated by Singh and not by Sandhu. The scheme ran from August 2014 through October 2017. Each man pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy to commit health fraud before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan. Dr. Sandhu defrauded Medicare and private insurers and, worse, put his patients at risk by allowing those patients to be treated by Singh, a man who had lost his medical license, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said. Its frightening to think that your doctor could be putting your health in the hands of someone who is practicing without a license, FBI Newark Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie said. As part of the plea deal, each defendant will serve 18 months in prison, the news release says. Sentencing is scheduled for April 28. Sandhu has agreed to forfeit $829,561 and Singh will forfeit $332,692. Carpenito credited the FBI and the Hackettstown and Roxbury police departments with the investigation leading to the guilty pleas. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph N. Minish of the U.S. Attorneys Offices Asset Recovery and Money Laundering Unit. The news release listed Justin P. Walder as the defense attorney. He didnt return a message seeking comment. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. Patna: As widely expected, after nearly a month-long ugly spat between former political wunderkind Prashant Kishor, his lone supporter and former Rajya Sabha member Pavan Varma and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, both Kishor and Varma were kicked out of the party on Wednesday for engaging in 'anti-party activities'. The firing of Kishor came less than 24 hours after he called his former boss a liar for saying that he was inducted into the Janata Dal-U at the request of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Shah. Both Kishor and Varma have come out against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Registration of Citizens (NRC) saying the new BJP policies were discriminatory to people based on one's religion. Earlier on Tuesday, the Chief Minister had said that he did not care if Kishor wanted to leave the party. "He is working with AAP and perhaps harbors bigger ambitions. If he wants to leave the party, that is fine with me," he said. He also attempted to undermine Kishor's political shrewdness suggesting he was not hired for his talents but because of the recommendation from Amit Shah. "If he wants to remain in the JD-U, he'll have to learn to follow the basic structure of the party," Kumar had said on Tuesday. Kishor then fired off a tweet saying Nitish Kumar was lying about Amit Shah. Less than 10 hours later, Kumar expelled both Kishor and Varma from the JD-U accusing them of indulging in anti-party activities. As the news of Kishor and Varma spread, the former national vice president of the party thanked the Chief Minister and wished him good luck in the upcoming state elections. "Thank you Nitish Kumar. My best wishes to you to retain the chair of chief minister of Bihar. God bless you." Kishor said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 10:29:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese education authorities have advised students to rationally arrange their overseas study trips amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. The overseas study service center of the Ministry of Education said it made the advice in view of the epidemic situation and the entry restrictions imposed by some countries and regions. Students are advised to postpone their departure if there are no special needs, the center said, adding that if they have to go abroad, they should know the entry regulations of the destinations before departure and arrive at the exit ports in advance for border inspections. People who have developed acute respiratory infection symptoms, such as fever, cough and difficulty in breathing, should immediately cancel their travel plans and seek medical help, it said. French auto giant Renault will on Tuesday name Luca de Meo, a former top-ranking Volkswagen director, as its new chief executive as it seeks to regain its footing after a year of turmoil sparked by the arrest of Carlos Ghosn, a source close to the company said. Renault's board is set to meet at 2:00 pm (1300 GMT) to ratify the nomination, having already backed the choice at a meeting in December. It would be a homecoming of sorts for De Meo, a 52-year-old Italian who began his career at Renault in the 1990s before taking up posts at Toyota, Fiat and eventually VW in 2009, where he was put in charge of marketing at Audi. He later was named head of VW's Spanish brand Seat, which last year posted its highest annual sales ever, a stunning revival of the brand's fortunes after just a few years. De Meo will replace Thierry Bollore, a former close associate of Ghosn's who was ousted in October by Renault's president Jean-Dominique Senard, who said a "fresh start" was needed to restore trust with Japanese partner Nissan. The alliance was pushed to the brink following Ghosn's shock arrest in Tokyo in November 2018 on charges of financial misconduct, including under-reporting millions of dollars in salary. Since then Renault has seen sales slump amid increasing headwinds for European carmakers and its share price has dropped by more than half over the past year. Ghosn was eventually stripped of his management roles, though he is now demanding millions of euros in retirement pay and other compensation from Renault in the wake of a brazen escape from Japan to Lebanon. De Meo may not be able to immediately take up his new role because of contractual obligations with Seat, which he quit earlier this month, two sources close to Renault told AFP. He would be the first foreigner to lead Renault in its more than 120-year history -- the Lebanon-born Ghosn obtained French citizenship before taking control of the group in 2005. De Meo attended French schools and speaks five languages fluently, including German and English. The chief executive of Novartis believes it will take at least 12 months to find a new vaccine to treat the coronavirus, with the fast-spreading nature of the outbreak a threat that must be taken "really seriously." China's National Health Commission confirmed Wednesday that the coronavirus had infected 5,974 people, with 132 deaths and 103 cured. The virus, which was first discovered in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has spread to other major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Macao and Hong Kong. The number of coronavirus cases in China has already surpassed that of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, with market participants increasingly concerned about the severity of its economic impact. "The reality is, it will take over a year in my expectation to really find a new vaccine for this so, we need to really use epidemiological controls to really get this situation in a better place," Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis, told CNBC's Julianna Tatelbaum in Basel, Switzerland on Wednesday. Multiple cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, France and the United States. Air carrier GoAir on Wednesday barred stand up comic Kunal Kamra from flying with it till further notice in the wake of the incident onboard an IndiGo flight where the comedian accosted journalist Arnab Goswami and also made a video of it. "GoAir has suspended Mr Kunal Kamra from flying with the airline till further notice," the air carrier tweeted. SpiceJet and the government-owned Air India have already suspended Kamra from flying with them until further notice, while IndiGo has barred the comedian-satirist from flying with it for six months. The three airlines have said that Kamra's conduct onboard was "unacceptable behaviour". Kamra and Goswami were travelling in an IndiGo flight 6E 5317 from Mumbai to Lucknow on Tuesday when the incident happened. In the video posted by Kamra on his Twitter handle, Goswami is seen glued to his laptop and does not respond to the former's heckling. "In light of the recent incident on board 6E 5317 from Mumbai to Lucknow, we wish to inform that we are suspending Mr Kunal Kamra from flying with IndiGo for a period of six months, as his conduct onboard was unacceptable behaviour," IndiGo had said in a statement. The airline has advised passengers to refrain from indulging in "personal slander" whilst onboard, as this can potentially compromise the safety of fellow passengers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 15:55:34|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close SUVA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Fiji has increased its target to plant 30 million trees in 15 years to combat the effects of climate change. According to a press statement by the Department of Information on Wednesday, Fiji's Minister for Forestry Osea Naiqamu on Tuesday urged villagers in the island nation to plant more trees to benefit the future generation. Speaking at a consultation on the 30 million trees in 15 years initiative, Naiqamu said the Fijian government has increased its tree planting target from 4 million trees in four years to 30 million trees in 15 years. Naiqama said they will begin with a target of planting 2 million trees this year. He also urged villagers to plant trees that can be traded for money in the long run so it would benefit them. Fiji has set an emission reduction target to cut 2.5 million tons of carbon-dioxide over the next five years. Many global companies from hotels and airlines to industrial houses are expected to have to foot the bill for disruptions caused by a new coronavirus in China, with epidemics usually excluded from insurance cover, experts said. With 132 deaths in China and new cases being reported around the world, companies are set to face billions of dollars in losses linked to events and travel cancellations and closure of businesses, they said. The virus originated in the city of Wuhan, forcing airlines to cancel flights and companies including Facebook and HSBC to suspend travel to China. For insurers, the bulk of the claims from this outbreak will come from businesses, mainly travel, hospitality and event firms, followed by mortality and healthcare costs, said a Hong Kong-based insurance sector lawyer with a global law firm. Risk modeling firm RMS said it was too early to estimate insured losses. While some large global firms buy coverage for communicable diseases, most standard insurance policies exclude such outbreaks to keep costs low, said the lawyer, declining to be identified as he was not authorized to speak to the media. Global insurers typically cover risks such as earthquakes and plane crashes, but have been paring back exposure to certain risks, such as shipping, to avoid huge losses. Previous viruses, such as SARS, Ebola and Zika, have also led insurers to be more cautious about exposure, with specific virus exclusions added to most basic coverage policies, industry insiders said. The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome pandemic which spread to 37 countries in 2003 caused $4 billion worth of economic losses in Hong Kong, $3-$6 billion in Canada, and $5 billion in Singapore, according to insurance broker Marsh. Insurance experts also told Reuters that most event cancellation policies would not cover the new virus. A lot of these airlines and hotels are offering refunds to their customers, said Richard Coyle, London-based head of risk financing and non-standard solutions at Miller Insurance. Without adequate insurance in place, the airlines and hotels are absorbing the financial losses themselves. A standard event cancellation policy issued by firms in the 99-member Lloyds of London insurance market and elsewhere has a communicable disease exclusion, two underwriters said. Exclusion Companies buy business interruption policies with their property insurance to cover loss of revenue if they are forced to close temporarily, but those policies are also likely to exclude communicable diseases, an underwriter in London and insurance executives said. The Asian hospitality industry is an obvious example of an industry already affected. For many lines of business it is common market practice to have epidemic outbreak risk excluded, a Munich Re spokesman said. While some firms including Munich Re have developed specific insurance products and policies for infectious diseases, not many firms have bought them, insurers said. The impact on tourism and transport is also likely to hit supply chains in Asia, Narges Dorratoltaj, senior scientist at catastrophe risk modeling firm AIR, said. Starbucks Corp on Tuesday became the first major U.S. company to warn of a financial hit from the virus. The Shanghai government announcement that all companies in the city would not be allowed to start work before Feb. 9 will affect companies including Tesla Inc, General Motors and Volkswagen. While most travel insurers are likely to reimburse costs associated with trip cancellations and medical expenses for policies bought before the spread of the virus, some are excluding the coverage for select destinations now, industry officials said. Insurers Aviva, Allianz and AXA said individual policyholders would be covered if they are impacted by the virus, provided they follow travel advisories from governments. (Reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru, Carolyn Cohn in London, Sumeet Chatterjee in Hong Kong and Suzanne Barlyn in New York; Editing by Nick Macfie) Photograph: A passenger is checked for a fever by a health worker at a Beijing railway station on Jan. 23, 2020 in Beijing, China. Photo credit: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images. Related: Topics COVID-19 China Aviation London The foundation features stories of children and young men and women with vitiligo, an autoimmune condition with no known cure in which the body attacks the cells that give skin its color. People with the condition have white patches or irregular shapes on the skin that can grow and spread. For children with the condition, a doll with a face that looks like theirs could help them with the social stigma associated with vitiligo, Ms. Pavlides said. It shows children that if they can make a doll that looks like them then theyre O.K., said Ms. Pavlides, 74, whose condition was diagnosed when she was 22. She remembers store clerks refusing to take money from her hand. Once one of the worlds top-selling dolls, Barbie struggled to stay relevant in the early 2000s as other toy companies began manufacturing dolls that showed more diversity and as parents steered their children away from a doll that had become an emblem of unrealistic and even toxic beauty. In 2010, the company was forced to apologize for a book about Barbie and computers. In the book, I Can Be a Computer Engineer, Barbie laughingly explained to her kid sister, Skipper, that she could design only a puppy on her laptop. Yet, for all his flaws, in one crucial respect Trump is a rational and shrewd operator. Donald Trumps rancid reputation will flourish long after he slinks away, ranked somewhere between historical Caligula and fictional Voldemort. He will relish infamy so long as he retains the blind adoration of 40 per cent or so of US voters who cling to his pricey garments. This tinsel messiahs only creed is personal gain. Knowing nothing else, he treats government like a big-business enterprise, i.e. as a tinpot tyranny, and is running the shambles into the ground, like his earlier bankrupt enterprises. Yet, for all his flaws, in one crucial respect Trump is a rational and shrewd operator. He scrupulously confers on the American upper class whatever they desire tax cuts, military toys, anti-labour measures, environmental disregard, welfare cuts, deregulation and every advantage short of reinstating slavery. From force of habit Trump cheerily adds misogyny, racism and bigotry to the mix. If youre a tycoon, whats not to like? Less financially fortunate Republicans hail the orange-haired chief despite, or more likely because of his mean bluster. His impulsive foreign policy acts do dismay some supporters, but plenty of Ivy League professionals and pundits applaud his audacity. Presidents may be impeached for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanours. An inept or appalling performance does not count. The problem for impeachment-obsessed Democrats was finding a charge against Trump that did not apply to most or all prior Presidents. They flubbed it. This impeachment is little more than a show trial mounted by establishment Democrats to distract attention from their unwillingness to offer working Americans anything they need. Even progressive reformer Elizabeth Warren has backed off a promise for universal healthcare (and cost her popular support). Rival Bernie Sanders, still staunchly progressive, is being pelted with baseless accusations of anti-Semitism (a tactic that worked against Jeremy Corbyn) and sexism to divide supporters and thus boost conservative candidates. The impeachment process is predicated on the belief that it would inhibit Trump, but it only goaded him into wag-the-dog manoeuvres. All that it will accomplish is to ensure that every future US administration facing an Opposition majority in Congress will be impeached for whatever reason. Trumps alleged offence was to strong-arm the Ukraine regime to dig up dirt on Joe Bidens son, who in 2014 landed a $50,000-a-month post with Ukrainian natural gas consortium, Burisma. Was it because of daddys connections? You be the judge. Like it or not, every presidential candidate plays dirty with opponents; how else did the titillating Steele dossier wind up in the possession of Clintons camp? Every President since the FBI was formed in 1908 utilised it and other agencies to surveil opponents. In 1968, LBJ learned that Richard Nixon interfered with Vietnam negotiations in order to prevent a deal before the election. The irony is that he could not disclose the Republican candidates treachery without admitting he spied on him. Nixon then spied on anyone he fancied a foe. Gerald Ford pardoned Nixon, thereby condoning his activities. After presiding over the colossal security failure of 9/11, George W. Bush signed the Patriot Act that placed virtually all presidential or security agency activity beyond public scrutiny. Its not just his aggrieved acolytes who ask whats so different about Trump. The anticlimactic end of the tedious circus this month hopefully permits a turn of critical attention to policy issues. If impeachment follows strict and scripted partisan lines, as it does, it is self-invalidating so far as outsiders can see. Abuse of power? How do you know you have power unless you abuse it? Thats the whole point of exercising power to most of those who seek it. The only way to get rid of Trump is to vote him out, and this distraction has not helped. By arrangement with Dawn US Colleges Respond to the Coronavirus: Travel to China Restricted, Overseas Campuses Closed Due to growing concerns over Chinas ongoing outbreak with the novel coronavirus, American universities and colleges are imposing new restrictions on travel to the country, which is the largest origin for international students in the United States and a leading destination for Americans studying abroad. Arizona State, Texas A&M, and Duke Universities, among others, have placed travel restrictions on China for their students and faculty, in response to upgraded travel advisories from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of State. Arizona State Universitys travel restrictions came this Tuesday, two days after local health officials announced that a member of the Arizona State community who does not live in university housing had tested positive for the coronavirus. The person had recently traveled to the Chinese mega-city of Wuhan, where the outbreak began. Arizona State University has issued a travel restriction to China for all university faculty, staff and students, effective immediately, reads a university statement. No institution-related travel, such as study abroad or other academic program visits, to China will be authorized or approved by the university. This travel restriction is similar to restrictions many businesses and organizations across the U.S. have implemented. Texas A&M University also announced Tuesday that it was suspending all university-sponsored travel for undergraduates. It also urged all faculty, staff, and graduate researchers to give serious evaluation before requesting to travel to China as it will require pre-approval and only be granted for essential travel. A local health agency has sent samples from a Texas A&M student who was suspected of showing symptoms of from the coronavirus to the CDC for testing, and negative results came back on Jan. 26. Travel to China is considered high risk and no precautions are available to protect against the identified increased risk, Texas A&M said in its statement. Meanwhile in Suzhou, some 400 miles from Wuhan, Duke Kunshan University has already postponed the start of the spring semester until Feb. 17. The access to Dukes Chinese campus was also under restriction. Chinese students from Hubei Province, where the city of Wuhan is located, were advised to stay on campus if they are currently residing there, according to a school statement to parents. Those who traveled back to Hubei during the Chinese New Year break were told to stay where they are until they received further instructions. In the United States, Duke University also announced on Tuesday that it was immediately restricting all university-funded travel to China by students, faculty, and staff. A close research partner with many Chinese institutions including Wuhan University, Duke also urged its researchers who are engaged in research or clinical activities in China and need to travel there urgently in the next several weeks should contact their dean, department chair, or unit director to activate the process for an exception to this travel restriction. Likewise, New York University has also delayed the start of the new semester at its campus in Shanghai until Feb. 17. Many courses the school offers have been moved online, allowing students in China to study remotely. Technavio has been monitoring the global industrial automation market in life sciences industry since 2016 and the market is poised to grow by USD 1.92 billion during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of more than 6% during the forecast period. Request free sample pages This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200128005509/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled global industrial automation market in life sciences industry 2020-2024. (Graphic: Business Wire) Read the 120-page report with TOC on "Industrial Automation Market in Life Sciences Industry Analysis Report by Product (DCS, SCADA, PLC, and MES), Geography (North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and MEA), and the Segment Forecasts, 2020-2024". https://www.technavio.com/report/industrial-automation-market-in-life-sciences-industry-analysis The market is driven by the improvement in quality of products and services in the life sciences industry. In addition, rapid improvements in sensor technology are anticipated to boost the growth of the industrial automation market in the life sciences industry. The adoption of automation in life sciences industry eliminates various issues caused by human error and fatigue. It enables organizations to easily detect and rectify any deviations from the patient care plan, thereby improving the quality of products and services delivered to patients. Industrial automation also frees up human resources and allows organizations to focus on core areas that give cognizance to their clinical prowess and expertise. Moreover, it helps organizations in establishing standardized care for patients, which leads to better health outcomes. With the growing focus on improving patient-experience in the life sciences industry, the need for streamlining billings, scheduling appointments, and processing claims is becoming crucial. Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free. View market snapshot before purchasing Major Five Industrial Automation Market Companies: ABB Ltd. ABB Ltd. operates its business through segments such as Electrification Products, Robotics and Motion, and Industrial Automation. The company offers automation solutions for API production, secondary production, biotechnology, shop floor integration, and modular automation. Emerson Electric Co. Emerson Electric Co. operates its business through segments such as Automation Solutions, Climate Technologies, and Tools Home Products. The company offers automation solutions that enable life sciences companies to improve their data management, real-time product quality, reliability, and operating costs. Honeywell International Inc. Honeywell International Inc. operates its business through segments such as Aerospace, Honeywell Building Technologies, Performance Materials and Technologies, and Safety and Productivity Solutions. The company offers Experion automation platforms that combine their distributed control, batch automation, and patent pending visualization technology to provide solutions optimized for Pharmaceutical applications. Mitsubishi Electric Corp. Mitsubishi Electric Corp. operates its business through segments such as Energy and Electric Systems, Industrial Automation Systems, Information and Communication Systems, Electronic Devices, and Home Appliances and Others. The company offers robotic solutions for surgical and metaphysical processes, controlling ozone sterilization for medical instruments, and production processes for replacement of body parts such as replacement hip joints. OMRON Corp. OMRON Corp. operates its business through segments such as Industrial Automation, Electronic and Mechanical Components, Automotive Electronic Components, Social Systems, Solutions and Service, Healthcare, and Other. The company offers a wide range of automation solutions for the life sciences industry. Some of the key offerings include laboratory automation systems, patient sample tracking, clinical diagnostics, and integrated control and information systems for pharmaceutical manufacturers. 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Global Industrial Automation Services Market Global industrial automation services market by geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America), service (PE, M&S, OS, and consulting), and end-users (process industries and discrete industries). 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/20200128005509/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 www.technavio.com Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday hit out at the Congress, accusing it of "instigating and misleading" Muslims over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) whose passage in Parliament last month triggered protests across the country. He clarified that there is no question of snatching citizenship of any Muslim born in India. Shah, who stepped down as BJP president a few days ago, was addressing a gathering of party workers and intellectuals at the partys state office Kushabhau Thakre Parisar in Raipur. They (the Congress & company) are stoking fear, provoking minorities and instigating riots. To further politics of appeasement, they are spreading falsehood that Muslim will lose their citizenship (under CAA)," Shah said. There is no question of Muslims born and living in India losing their citizenship due to this Act which is meant to grant citizenship (to minority refugees from three neighbouring countries) not snatching away anyone's citizenship," the BJP leader said. Attacking Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Shah challenged him to point out any provision in the controversial law that talks about taking away anyone's nationality. "Rahul Baba let me know if there is even a single provision in the Act regarding forfeiting anyone's citizenship," he said. The CAA promises Indian citizenship to persecuted non- Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. CAA's critics say the law is discriminatory and violates the core values of the Constitution. Attacking Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Shah said, Kejriwal says the BJP has love for Pakistan. He should not teach the BJP patriotism. "Two years back Modi ji put behind bars Kanhaiya (student leader Kanhaiya Kumar) and company after they raised slogans at the JNU calling for vivisection of India." "He shouldnt teach us patriotism. Our life started with Bharat Mata ki Jayakare (slogans hailing mother India) and will end with that." "They are not Pakistanis (those have come to India after facing religious persecution and atrocities from the neighbouring country). There are very much our brothers who could not come that time (during Partition). They are tortured and are in pain. You (Kejriwal) are opposing citizenship law because of vote-banks politics," he said ahead of the February 8 polling in Delhi. READ | Prashant Kishor Won't Wait, Accuses CM Nitish Kumar of Lying About Amit Shah's Referral Coming down heavily on non-BJP parties for criticising decisions of the Centre, Shah accused Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Kejriwal of speaking Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's language. Opposition parties raise objection over the surgical strike, new triple talaq law, CAA, action against those who shout anti India slogans. "As Rahul Gandhi, Kejriwal and Mamata ji speak the next day, the Prime Minister of Pakistan also speaks the same language. Sometimes it is hard to understand what is their relationship. Are they twins..?" he asked sarcastically. Highlighting the achievements of the Modi government, Shah said, The economy of our country which was of USD 2 trillion grew to 3 trillion dollars in the last five years. We will make India a USD 5 trillion economy by 2024. In 2019, the people of the country reposed their faith in the Modi government because of the workdone by it in the last five years. "After this (in the Modi government 2.0), we started dealing with ideological issues which were pending for 70 years. We scrapped Article 370 (in J&K) and abolished the practice of triple talaq to ensure rights to crores of Muslim sisters," the home minister said. Within four months, construction of a magnificent Lord Ram temple will start in Ayodhya, Shah said. Speaking further, Shah asked party workers in Chhattisgarh not to get disheartened by the party's debacle in the November 2018 Assembly elections. The setback was short-lived as six months later the BJP bounced back and did well in the Lok Sabha elections in the Congress-ruled state, he said. The BJP, after losing the 2018 assembly polls, won nine of the 11 Lok Sabha seats in 2019 in Chhattisgarh, where the saffron outfit was in power for 15 years. "Some people seem worried due to the BJP's loss in the state. They say our government has gone in the state. They look disappointed with this but they should not be disheartened," Shah said, giving a pep talk to party workers. He said "BJP workers bloom more when they are in the opposition. People have given us mandate to sit in the opposition this time in Chhattisgarh. We should respect their mandate, but continue our fight for their rights," he said. Shah said the BJP is a party driven by ideology. "The BJP is the only party which has entered politics for ideology. Except Communists, most parties have become family parties which have nothing to do with ideology," he added. READ | Amit Shah Reacts On Sharjeel Imam's Arrest; Calls Him 'more Dangerous Than Kanhaiya Kumar' READ | Prashant Kishor Issues Ominous Response To Nitish Kumar's Ultimatum & Amit Shah Reveal Instagram is moving towards being a like-free content sharing platform. This is likely to democratize creativity by giving the power to like back in the hands of the users instead of being influenced by the numbers of likes garnered by a post. It is likely to offer an equal opportunity to micro influencers and to diverse content which did not find its way for the lack of acceptability amongst masses and without the vulnerability of being judged by the likes. While the overall sentiment around this change seems positive the micro influencers are feeling short changed as they believe that the current trend of gaining followers is driven by the likes and the macro influencers will have an advantage over them as in the absence of likes number of followers will emerge as the single largest parameters to bucket the influencers. Particularly for the brands and audience that prefers quality over quantity being judged by no of followers or comments would not reflect the true reach and appreciation of the story. 100% of mid-tier and macro influencers love the new feature while this sentiment completely reverses with the micro influencers who feel display of likes are the fastest route to grow the following as well as negotiate with the brands showcasing higher rate of engagement. 64% of the influencers surveyed believe that negotiating deals with brands in the absence of display of likes will get tougher and it may overall compromise their ability to command a premium for delivering better engagement than get measured by their follower base. Most of the influencers that believe that the new feature will not impair their ability to negotiate with brands are either macro influencers in travel as they have already gathered a good following or the tech influencers it being very niche and relatively smaller community. Influencers usually build their subscribers on at least 3 platforms which can go up to 5 depending upon the genres they operate in. Facebook being common to all. Travel influencers usually operate on simultaneous channels including LinkedIn, Blogs, and Twitter while their tech, lifestyle and food counterparts do not generally like to build a community on LinkedIn. The new feature is unlikely to see any exits from Instagram. However, they are likely to add other platforms to build parallel communities and strengthen their negotiation with the brands they endorse. TikTok is the first preference of Food and Lifestyle influencers while LinkedIn could be the first preference for the Technology and Parenting influencers. Chetan Mahajan, Founder & CEO, The Mavericks: The like-less social world is likely to reduce the stress due to self-inflicted pressure of getting public validation to stories posted on Instagram. This practice is likely to be followed by other platforms as platforms take on more responsibility to rid the society from this pressure of performance. The platforms are likely to benefit even more as brands may want to invest more money in advertising rather than hiring influencers who may find it difficult to justify their impact. Prince Khanna, CEO of Eleve Media: For content creators, working on branded content is one of the key sources of revenue. And for brands, Instagram likes is one of the key metrics to assess the impact of an influencer. With the recent update that hides likes, influencers can focus on creating quality content rather than chasing likes. Hiding likes is not going to "kill" Instagram influencers; it's just intended to change their mindset. The Pentagon on Tuesday said that 50 American service members sustained brain injuries from Iranian airstrikes on Al Asad Air Base in Iraq this month, 16 more than it had acknowledged last week. Of the 50 troops affected, 31 were treated in Iraq and returned to duty, including 15 of the additional service members, Lt. Col. Thomas Campbell, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement. As stated previously, this is a snap shot in time and numbers can change, Colonel Campbell said. We will continue to provide updates as they become available. The Defense Department said on Friday that 34 American service members had traumatic brain injuries as a result of the Jan. 8 attack. In the hours after the strike, President Trump said that no Americans had been hurt. 29. Jan 2020 at 14:12 I Modified at 29. Jan 2020 at 22:35 I Premium content Similar to the PSA factory in Trnava, the Zilina-based Kia plant reports problems with supplies too. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled A protest of hauliers, who have been blocking border crossings for two days, caused problems for carmakers and other firms in Slovakia, only a day after the strike began. Trnava-based carmaker Groupe PSA Slovakia was the first to stop production on January 28 at 21:00 because of the strike. The company lacked components essential for car production. Car producer Volkswagen Slovakia and steelworks U.S. Steel Kosice also see the strike as dangerous. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement If the situation does not improve, we will be forced to stop car production, Zilina-based Kia Motors Slovakia said on January 29, as quoted by the Dennik N daily. Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini (Smer) called on hauliers to stop blockades at the border crossings, adding they should not prevent employees and carmakers from working. Related story: Related story: Hauliers block the borders again Read more I really hope they are aware of the problems they are causing, unjustifiably, Pellegrini said, as quoted by the TASR newswire. The Union of Slovakias Road Hauliers (UNAS) said on the evening of January 29 it had to stop protests at individual border crossings because of the polices intervention. Strike impacted carmakers Appointment 29 January 2020 With more than two decades of experience in hotel management, Malecki brings an extensive and diverse hospitality background to the role. She spent three years working as general manager of W New Orleans - French Quarter, where she was responsible for elevating the brand experience, including increasing guest loyalty, developing enhanced performance strategies, and improving financial profitability on room and food and beverage revenue. Previously, Malecki also served as director of operations at Westin Phoenix Downtown and W Chicago Lakeshore, and played a vital role in the opening of The Canyon Suites at The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona. Malecki is also passionate about giving back to the community and volunteers with multiple organizations in the New Orleans area, including Habitat for Humanity and The New Orleans Mission. With airlines rushing to ban stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra for heckling a TV channel presenter and editor on board an IndiGo flight on their planes, aviation regulator on Wednesday said the action by the carriers is in line with its regulations. Kamra has been banned from flying with GoAir, SpiceJet, Air India till further notice, while IndiGo, on whose plane the heckling stunt happened, has barred him from flying with it for next six months citing unacceptable behaviour. In a statement on Wednesday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), as reported by the news agency PTI, said, This is to reiterate that the action taken by the airlines is in complete consonance with Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section-3, Series M Part VI on Handling of unruly passengers. The DGCA said the matter will be referred to an internal committee and that committee is then to give a final decision in 30 days which will be binding on the airline concerned. It further said that the punishment for different types of unruly behaviour is also prescribed in the CAR and the committee has to adhere to the same. Soon after the IndiGo banned Kamra from flying with it on Tuesday night, aviation minister Hardeep Puri advised other airlines to impose a similar ban on the comedian. Offensive behaviour designed to provoke & create disturbance inside an aircraft is absolutely unacceptable & endangers safety of air travellers. We are left with no option but to advise other airlines to impose similar restrictions on the person concerned, the minister tweeted last night. GoAir, SpiceJet, Air India followed suit soon after. An AirAsia India official told PTI that the airline is waiting for the aviation regulator DGCA to issue a formal notice, and after then it will take action against Kamra. Taking a dig at the airlines, the comedian tweeted this evening that Vijay Mallya, Lalit Modi, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi all absconding and wanted in mega frauds were able to take a flight when they shouldnt have. F ollowing its success with the Sir David Attenborough-fronted Our Planet, Netflix has launched a brand new nature series which documents what various animals get up to after dark. Using ground-breaking technology to document the behaviour of nocturnal creatures, Night On Earth grants viewers a unique insight into the world of the animal kingdom. Consisting of six episodes and narrated by The Handmaid's Tale actress Samira Wiley, the new series explores various habitats - from the African Savanna to the Peruvian desert. As the series lands on Netflix (you can watch it now), take a closer look at the phenomenal videography featured in the show... Netflix: Night On Earth - In pictures 1 /18 Netflix: Night On Earth - In pictures Netflix Netflix Netflix Netflix The first episode in the Netflix series explores the behaviour of a pack of leopards Netflix The black rhino is one of the rarest creatures in the world Netflix Two giant, hairy scorpions are illuminated by ultraviolet light. Netflix Netflix Netflix Netflix Netflix Netflix Netflix Netflix Leopards in the desert The first episode in the Netflix series explores the behaviour of a pack of leopards / Netflix The series opener sees a pack of leopards traipsing through the African plains, hunting down prey to keep themselves nourished. With the ability to sprint at over 100 kilometres per hour, these big cats are a powerful force to be reckoned with. Black rhinos in the African plains The black rhino is one of the rarest creatures in the world / Netflix During a sequence that sees giraffes, elephants and other larger animals drink at an oasis, viewers are introduced to the beautiful black rhino. While the creatures are extremely rare, narrator Wiley explains that they come together after dark to quench their thirst at the watering hole. The rhinos aren't exactly comfortable in each other's company, but the camera catches the exquisite moment they rehydrate together. Scorpions in the savanna Two giant, hairy scorpions are illuminated by ultraviolet light. / Netflix The two scorpions, illuminated by ultraviolet light, are locked in a mating ritual. The female scorpion is testing the male's strength, before a brave mouse runs at one of the scorpions, its body impenetrable to the poisonous sting. Night On Earth is the latest title to be added to the streaming service's nature documentary canon. JERUSALEM - Emboldened by a supportive White House, Israel appears to be barrelling toward a showdown with the international community over its half-century-old settlement enterprise in the West Bank. With the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court poised to launch a war crimes probe of Israels settlement policies, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday announced plans to move ahead with the potentially explosive annexation of large parts of the occupied West Bank, including dozens of Jewish settlements. He spoke in Washington as President Donald Trump unveiled a Mideast peace plan that matches Netanyahus nationalistic stance and undercuts Palestinian ambitions. This confluence of forces could make 2020 the year that finally provides clarity on the status of Israeli settlements and the viability of a two-state solution. History is knocking at the door, Israeli Defence Minister Naftali Bennett, a patron of the settler movement, said as he urged Netanyahu to immediately annex all of Israels settlements and snuff out any hopes for Palestinian independence. Now the campaign is moving from the White House to the Cabinet room in Jerusalem, he said. Take everything now. The Palestinians want the West Bank as the core of a future independent state and see the settlements there home to nearly 500,000 Israelis as obstacles to their dream of independence. The international community backs this view and overwhelmingly considers the settlements to be illegal. Since capturing the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war, Israel has slowly and steadily expanded its settlements while stopping short of annexing the territory. The international community condemned the construction as illegal but has refrained from imposing sanctions or serious punishment. This status quo began to change after Trump took office in early 2017. Surrounded by a team of advisers with close ties to the settlement movement, Trump took a more sympathetic line toward Israel and halted the automatic criticism of settlements of his predecessors. This resulted in a surge of Israeli construction plans that are just getting underway. Over the next year and certainly two years, were going to see a sharp increase in the settler population, said Baruch Gordon, director of West Bank Jewish Population Stats, a settler group. In its annual report, the group said the West Bank settler population grew last year to 463,353 people, in addition to some 300,000 settlers living in Israel-annexed east Jerusalem. Were here and were not going anywhere, he said. The major turning point for Israel was in November, when the U.S. declared that it did not consider settlements to be illegal. That landmark decision appears to have played a key role in Netanyahus announcement that he plans to annex the Jordan Valley, a strategic area of the West Bank, and Israels more than 100 settlements. Ironically, this warm U.S. embrace could prove to be Netanyahus undoing. Moving ahead with annexations is likely to trigger harsh international condemnations and possible legal action. On Wednesday, a senior Israeli minister said a Cabinet vote to endorse annexation of parts of the West Bank will not take early next week, despite Netanyahus pledge a day earlier to act quickly after the U.S. peace plan was released. Tourism Minister Yariv Levin told Israel Radio that the vote wasnt technically feasible because of various preparations, including bringing the proposal before the attorney general and letting him consider the matter. Last month, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, declared there is a reasonable basis to believe that settlement construction constitutes a war crime. Pending final approval from the court, she intends to open a formal investigation, a process that could cause deep embarrassment and discomfort for Israeli leaders. Yuval Shany, an expert on international law at the Israel Democracy Institute, said annexation would significantly raise the risk of triggering prosecution at the ICC. Settlements are widely viewed as illegal based on the Geneva Convention principle that an occupying power is barred from transferring its population into war-won territories. That could be a relatively low-hanging fruit for the prosecutor to identify a specific act that is either part of the transfer or significantly aids and abets that transfer, he said. While Israel does not accept the courts authority, Netanyahu appears to be taking the threat of prosecution seriously. He has launched harsh attacks against Bensouda and the court, saying the case against Israel is pure anti-Semitism. He also has tried, with limited success, to rally international opposition to the ICC. The Palestinians joined the ICC in 2015 after they were accepted as a nonmember state at the United Nations. They then asked the court to look into alleged Israeli crimes in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, retroactive to 2014. The year coincided with Israels devastating war in the Gaza Strip. In her announcement last month, Bensouda said her probe would look at Israeli military practices as well as the actions of Hamas militants during the 2014 war, in addition to settlement activity. Shany said Israel is much more vulnerable on the settlement issue than it is with regard to Gaza. Israels military has mechanisms to investigate alleged wrongdoing by its troops, and despite criticism that this system is insufficient, it has a good chance of fending off the ICC. When it comes to settlements, however, Israel will have a difficult time defending its actions. While the court would have a hard time prosecuting Israelis, it could issue arrest warrants that would make it difficult for Israeli officials to travel abroad. A case in the ICC would also be deeply embarrassing to the government, Shany said. The big white whale is the settlements, he said. That would be a major PR disaster for the country. The third death row convict in the Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case, Akshay Thakur, on Wednesday filed a curative petition before the Supreme Court seeking commutation of his death sentence to life imprisonment. The curative petition, filed by advocate AP Singh, states that the present curative petition should be allowed by the apex court and it should set aside the May 5, 2017 order, which upheld the death sentence of the convicts. "Modify the sentence of the petitioner, to life imprisonment as it serves all the purposes that the death penalty claims to serve and protects society from the impending reality in the near-future in which torture and murder are equated with justice as a panacea for all social evils," the petition said. The petition said that lack of criminal antecedents, erroneous reliance on deterrence, probability of reformation, socio-economic circumstances, non-consideration of constitution bench judgment, were not considered by the courts while awarding his client to death. The Supreme Court had dismissed Akshay's review petition in December last year. A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court earlier today dismissed the plea of another convict in the matter -- Mukesh Kumar Singh -- challenging the rejection of his mercy petition by the President. Earlier this month, a Delhi court had issued the death warrant for Akshay, Mukesh Kumar Singh, Pawan Gupta and Vinay Sharma, and ordered their hanging on February 1. The case pertains to the gang-rape of a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus on the chilling night of December 16, 2012, by six people including a juvenile in Delhi. The woman had died at a Singapore hospital a few days later. One of the five adult accused, Ram Singh, had committed suicide in the Tihar jail during the trial of the case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The only two Indian carriers that fly to China -- IndiGo and Air India-- on Wednesday announced suspension of most of their flights to the country which is battling a coronavirus outbreak, joining other airlines based in Asia, North America and Europe which have restricted operations to the region, as the deadly virus spread to at least 17 countries. India has requested China for permission to operate two flights to bring back its nationals from Hubei Province, the epicentre of the outbreak, the Ministry of External Affairs said. The Indian Embassy in Beijing on Wednesday circulated registration forms and consent notes for the Indians in Wuhan and Hubei province to be filled by them. A fresh travel advisory asking people to refrain from travelling to China has been issued by the Centre which has ramped up screening across airports, ports and borders. No case of the deadly virus has been reported in India, though hundreds remain in observation in many states including as many as 806 in Kerala, according to officials. India's largest airline IndiGo said it has suspended its flights on Bengaluru-Hong Kong route from February 1 and on the Delhi-Chengdu route from February 1 to 20. Similarly, state-run Air India is suspending its flights on Delhi-Shanghai route from January 31 to February 14. IndiGo will, for now, continue to operate the Kolkata-Guangzhou flight which it is "monitoring on a daily basis". The crew of the two airlines working on flights connecting India with South East Asian countries have been asked to wear N95 masks on ground and take other precautions like not visiting public places. British Airways, Indonesia's Lion Air Group, Cathay Pacific, United Airlines and Air Canada are among the carriers that have reportedly suspended or restricted flights to China, with many citing reduction in demand due to coronavirus outbreak. The disease which emerged in Wuhan, capital of China's Hubei Province, has spread to at least 17 countries, with the United Arab Emirates announcing on Wednesday its first case of the new coronavirus in a family from Wuhan. The death toll from the disease in China has mounted to 132 with about 6,000 confirmed infections. The Union Health Ministry has asked people to use 24x7 helpline (011-23978046) for queries related to respiratory infection. "In the view of the spurt of cases being reported in China and travel related cases appearing in many countries....all non-essential travel to China to be avoided," it said. As part of the preparedness, India has also increased the number of airports from seven to 21 where thermal screening of passengers is being done for a possible exposure to the deadly nCoV. These include airports at Gaya, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, Varanasi, Goa, Bhubaneswar and Lucknow besides the seven designated airports identified earlier. The health ministry also has established four more laboratories apart from the NIV-Pune for testing samples. These labs have been made functional at Alleppey, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Mumbai. Special Secretary in the Union Health ministry Sanjeeva Kumar chaired a video conference with health secretaries of states where the 21 identified airports are located along with the Airport Health Organization Officers (APHOs) to review their preparedness for prevention and management of novel coronavirus. He also interacted with health secretaries of the states, including those bordering Nepal (Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim), an official statement said. The immigration and other staff members at the airports have been sensitized and dedicated ambulances are placed at the airports. Deployment of medical and para-medical staff is also being done for round-the-clock service, it said. Meanwhile, India is placed at the 23rd place among "high-risk" countries where the disease can spread, according to a study based on the number of air travellers predicted to arrive in the countries from the worst affected cities in China. Researchers from the University of Southampton in the UK compiled a list of cities and countries they believe are at high risk from the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) The most "at risk" countries or regions worldwide are Thailand (1), Japan (2), and Hong Kong (3). The US is 6th on the list, Australia 10th and the UK 17th. Novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from common cold to acute respiratory syndromes. The virus, which has killed 132 people and affected at least 6,000 others in China, is a novel strain not seen before. The AYUSH Ministry has also issued an advisory recommending that homeopathic and unani medicine could be effective in the prevention of novel coronavirus (nCoV) infection. It also mentioned some Ayurvedic practices which can help recess the symptoms of respiratory tract in possible coronavirus infected cases. "The Ministry of AYUSH is issuing the advisory as preventive measure and not claiming to be a treatment advice for the nCoV infection. The Research Councils under Ministry of AYUSH are involved in various public health activities and provide lifestyle advocacies time to time for the general public," the ministry said in a statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It was also stated that there were forces in Ukraine which were making money out of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia Open source We must unite internationally for peace in Ukraine to prevail. Bundestag MP Petr Bystron stated this after the Chairman of the Political Council of the Opposition Platform - For Life Party, Ukrainian MP Viktor Medvedchuks meeting with the Bundestag MPs took place in Paris. "I believe that people in Ukraine are already fed up with this conflict. They all want peace and they want economic stability. And today it was very aptly stated that this split is horrible, because people have to choose between their parents, between father and mother. ... they are intended to contribute to ending this conflict. And the world can only welcome Mr. Medvedchuk's initiative. Well, you saw the high level of representatives that were at this meeting, there were representatives of the EU, the European Parliament, the Bundestag, the Verkhovna Rada. So, this is a very important and good step in this direction. Diplomacy and politics are, in fact, very complicated and slow processes. But today it has been shown that the speed had been re-introduced, the process of negotiations had been accelerated, and this must ... not only at parliamentary level, internationally, but also to involve people in Ukraine, non-governmental organizations, in order for more public pressure to occur," Bystron said. "There are a lot of parliamentarians who support this, but there are also forces in Ukraine which are making money out of this conflict, interested in maintaining the status quo, and there are those who want, of course, that the embargo against Russia, which was caused by this conflict, continues to exist. And we all, all the people, who want peace for Ukraine, must unite internationally against all these forces, and we all must join in order to secure peace," the MP emphasized. As we reported earlier, Viktor Medvedchuk, the MP and Chairman of Political Council of the Opposition Platform - For Life party had a meeting with French lawmakers and senators on January 23, where he presented the "Parliamentary dimension of the Normandy Format". LONSDALE, Minn. - A Minnesota Roman Catholic priest apologized Wednesday for saying in a sermon that Islam was the greatest threat in the world to the United States and Christianity. The Rev. Nick VanDenBroeke apologized in a statement issued by the St. Paul-Minnesota Catholic archdiocese. He had made the comments in a Jan. 5 sermon at the Lonsdale, Minnesota, church where he serves as pastor. The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil rights group, had called earlier Wednesday on Minnesotas Roman Catholic church leaders to repudiate the sermon. CAIRs request came after the newspaper City Pages published an article Wednesday about the sermon. In his statement Wednesday, VanDenBroeke said his homily contained words that were hurtful to Muslims. Im sorry for this. I realize that my comments were not fully reflective of the Catholic Churchs teaching on Islam. In the statement from the archdiocese, Archbishop Bernard Hebda said that the churchs teaching is clear, and he quoted Pope Benedict XVI as saying that the church looks with esteem to Muslims, who worship God through prayer, fasting and the giving of alms. If all of us who believe in God desire to promote reconciliation, justice and peace, we must work together to banish every form of discrimination, intolerance and religious fundamentalism, Hebda said. He added that Pope Francis also has stressed the importance of dialogue between Catholics and Muslims and has urged all Christians and Muslims to be true promoters of mutual respect and friendship, in particular through education. The homily was recorded and posted on the churchs website. In it, VanDenBroeke said parishioners must remember that immigrants are humans deserving of compassion. But he added that sovereign nations have the right and responsibility to control their borders to protect their citizens and lands. Both as Americans and as Christians, we do not need to pretend that everyone who seeks to enter America needs to be treated the same, he said. I believe it is essential to consider the religion and worldview of the immigrants or refugees. More specifically, we should not be allowing large numbers of Muslims (seeking) asylum or immigration into our country. Islam is the greatest threat in the world both to Christianity and to America, he said. VanDenBroeke urged his parishioners to oppose Muslim immigration. He also said he believes that young immigrants known as Dreamers, who were brought to the United States as children, should have a path to citizenship. And he said that he thinks the countrys immigration system could be easily fixed if a wall were built to close the southern border to curb future illegal immigration and at the same time provide a path to legal citizenship for those who have been living here, who can prove theyre not criminals, theyre living good and peaceful lives, theyre willing to work and pay taxes and be responsible. We have been inundated with comments, suggestions and arguments on the public row between Toyota and Hyundai over the merits and otherwise of describing hybrids as 'self-charging'. The debate continues apace. Id like to take this opportunity to thank everyone, especially those to whom I have not been able to reply, for their comments. There was such an amount of stuff that it has been impossible get to all. Thank you. One thing that intrigued was how quickly people sent me a link outlining how the Norwegian Consumer Authority has banned a Lexus hybrid ad for use of the word free. It said: In the Consumer Authoritys opinion, it is misleading to give the impression that the power to the hybrid battery is free of charge, since the electricity produced by the car has consumption of gasoline as a necessary condition: Regenerative energy will in all practical respects have consumption of gasoline as a necessary condition. Meantime Toyota Ireland is citing Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) data to claim it is the "clear winner when it comes to reducing the CO2 output" from the top 10 car brands. It said: Toyotas CO2 output is the lowest, achieving 17pc lower emissions than the top nine other car brands in Ireland. We havent heard the end of this by any means. * It arrives in the spring, but Land Rover is showing its new Defender (pictured) in the flesh in a visit to showrooms here starting Saturday. Prices start from 68,160 for the Defender 110 2.0 SD4 AWD automatic model. As Brexit day approaches, the peaceful coastal fishing ports of the United Kingdom could find themselves at the forefront of a new battle with the European Union. When it comes to British-European Union relations, there is nothing like slapping a fish around. After all, both sides have been fighting over who rules their waves just about as long as the United Kingdom became a member in 1973. So it comes as little surprise that as soon as the United Kingdom officially leaves the EU Friday night, they will put the comparatively tiny industry of fisheries as one of the first things to fight over during their negotiations on a post-divorce relationship. The broad promise of Brexit always was to regain control and there is a physical sense of control when a 200-nautical mile zone will be set for the UK, instead of the 12-mile zone now. "The UK should determine what level of access from EU boats is allowed in. It shouldn't be a free for all just because they've been there for years and years. The rules have changed, and we're taking back control of our own waters," said Brian Chambers, who owns the "Boy Paul" with his brother and mainly fishes off the coast of Ireland and the Isle of Man for crab and scallops. He voted Leave. For just about all of Britain's membership, stocks from North Sea cod to English Channel sole were in decline. Every coastal member state wanted to catch as much fish as possible despite the dwindling stocks and scientific warnings. The EU forced boats to stay in ports and restricted quotas, limiting access to fish. For British fishermen, it was obvious to point fingers at foreign vessels and EU headquarters in Brussels, something UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson campaigned against in the elections. Brexiteers have thrived for years on similar words of perceived wrongdoing by faceless bureaucrats impeding age-old British sovereignty. And no one has targeted that nationalist gut more effectively than Nigel Farage, who has been driving the UK towards the EU's exit door for decades, mostly from the hallowed halls of the European Parliament itself. "Perhaps it many ways, fisheries is the acid test of Brexit," said Nigel Farage, the British politician who has been the prime driver of moving the UK towards the EU's exit door for two decades. Sure, industry and financial services are much more important in economic terms, but somehow fish 'n chips in Britain and Sole Meuniere on the continent cuts to the heart of everyone. "We have to remember that the car industry and the chemicals industry along in the United Kingdom are worth twenty times as much as the fishing industry. So when the European Union says it insists on trade being taken into account, then the Prime Minister should recognize that there are tens of thousands of jobs in other industrial sectors that are dependent on access to the European markets. So Brussels negotiators are in a very strong position. I can't see how the UK government is going to get what it wants," said Chris Davies, an English Liberal Democrat MEP who is head of the EU's fisheries committee until he leaves on Friday. Somehow, it doesn't ring right in Kilkeel, Northern Ireland, where the grudge against the EU's fishing policies that allow vessels from other EU nations to catch stocks in the rich UK waters runs as deep as in other UK ports. The community voted 'Leave' in the referendum and are now cautiously optimistic that the conservative government will deliver on their promise. "We are leaving the Common Fisheries Policy. These will be UK registered fishing vessels, fishing in UK waters, catching UK fish," said Alan McCulla, the CEO of the local ANIFPO fishing cooperative. McCulla believes Northern Ireland fishermen will also benefit from open access to the EU market following the October agreement between the UK and the EU that prevents a hard border on the island of Ireland. "I'll be able to trade freely into the Irish Republic, which means I'm free to really enter the European Union. And probably in that sense, we're starting off from a better wicket," McCulla said. Fort Bend County Historical Commission. Those historic Fort Bend County dance halls were for more than just dancing. Czech and German immigrants settled on the fertile plains of the county in the late 19th century, and they built some of the areas largest, best-known and longest-lasting dance halls. A release said that Bold Penguins integration with biBERK was driven by high demand for workers compensation coverage. Despite the demand for workers comp, Bold Penguin found that there have been few efforts to make the coverage available digitally. Efficiency is key in quoting small commercial, said Bold Penguin founder and CEO Ilya Bodner. Bodner added that by welcoming more carriers to the platform, Bold Penguin reduces the number of portals and access points those carriers and their distribution partners have to go through before getting a quick and accurate quote. biBERK, a member of the Berkshire Hathaway Group, offers policies from the groups insurance companies. The lines of insurance it offers include workers compensation, professional liability, general liability, business owners policy, umbrella, and commercial auto. Read more: Bold Penguin integrates with CNA Last November, Bold Penguin entered into a similar arrangement with CNA. Children who are admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICU) have a higher vulnerability towards developing mental problems later on in life regardless of their body weight at the time of birth. The McMaster University study examined the mental of NICU graduates in childhood (four to 11 years) and adolescence (12 to 17 years), using data from parent and youth psychiatric interviews. The research builds on previous studies that suggest extremely low birth weight babies who are admitted to the NICU are more likely to develop mental issues during those years. The results were published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood. "Advancements in the medical care of patients admitted to the NICU have led to improved outcomes for infants and families, and the need for NICUs has increased in Canada and the U.S.," said study senior author Ryan Van Lieshout, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioural neurosciences at McMaster. "However, little has been known about the mental health of the broader population of NICU graduates, particularly as they enter late childhood and adolescence." The study used a provincially representative cohort from the 2014 Ontario Child Health Study, led at McMaster. Parents provided data on psychiatric disorders for 3,141 children aged four to 11 and in 2,379 adolescents aged 12 to 17. Additionally, 2,235 adolescents aged 12 to 17 completed the interview themselves Children aged four to 11 who had a NICU admission were nearly twice as likely to have any mental disorder or have more than one mental illness. The risk of separation anxiety disorder, specific phobia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or oppositional defiant disorder also increased. At the age of 12 to 17 years, NICU graduates remained at nearly twice the risk for developing any psychiatric problem, multiple psychiatric problems and oppositional defiant disorder as reported by adolescents and their parents. "Existing follow-up guidelines of preterm infants suggest monitoring for mental health issues, and this study provides preliminary evidence that in the future it may be prudent to expand this to all infants who stay in a NICU regardless of birth weight status," said Van Lieshout. Van Lieshout added that additional research and more data are needed to better understand potential causal factors, and further identify at-risk individuals. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Natural News) The CDC ordered a flight of up to 240 American evacuees from the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic region to be diverted to a military base in the United States, reports The Epoch Times. Upon orders from the CDC, the flight was diverted to March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County, California, yesterday evening (Jan. 28th). Before the flight was diverted by the CDC, it made a stop at a private terminal in Alaska. As TET reports: The Boeing 747 stopped at a private terminal at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Alaska before taking off to its final destination. The plane was slated to land at Ontario International Airport, about 35 miles east of Los Angeles, but was diverted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Curt Hagman, chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors and a commissioner at Ontario airport, said that CDC officials alerted him to the diversion. After the flight was diverted to the military base, the CDC refused to comment on why the sudden change of plans. However, a statement from the U.S. Department of Defense, via press secretary Alyssa Farah, stated: March Air Reserve Base and the Department of Defense stand ready to provide housing support to [the Department of Health and Human Services] as they work to handle the arrival of nearly 200 people, including Department of State employees, dependents and US citizens evacuated from Wuhan, China. Before being diverted, the flight was originally headed for Ontario International Airport in California, which is designated by the federal government as the official repatriation center for California, according to news channel KESQ. But the CDC intervened and diverted the flight to the military base instead. Shortly after the plane landed personnel in biological hazard suits helped passengers load into buses and emergency vehicles on the tarmac, reports CNBC.com. The original plan had been to quarantine incoming passengers at the Ontario facility for up to two weeks. Before the planes arrival itinerary was changed to a March ARB, a CDC official had told CNN the passengers may be forced to stay in isolation between three days and two weeks, reports KESQ. It was unclear whether the same procedure would be followed at the base. In other words, it now seems possible or even likely that up to 240 Americans who have just returned from the coronavirus pandemic quarantine region of Wuhan will be released into the public population. Heres a current map of the outbreak happening in China: Confirmed: Pentagons Defense Threat Reduction Agency now activated as a force multiplier to provide additional surveillance alongside the CDC We now have confirmation that the U.S. militarys Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has now been activated, serving as a force multiplier to provide additional surveillance alongside the CDC, according to a DoD official who spoke with CNBC. Additionally, Dr. Kayvon Modjarrad, director of the emerging infectious diseases branch at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, told CNBC: While typically the CDC is the lead on these things, the military has reference laboratories pretty much on every continent and specifically, we have labs in all of Southeast Asia, so we act as a force multiplier in providing additional surveillance to the CDCs efforts Strangely, the Department of Defense is going out of its way to state that military personnel will not be in contact with evacuees. From DoD press secretary Alyssa Farah: Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for all care of the evacuees, and DoD personnel will not be directly in contact with the evacuees and evacuees will not have access to any base location other than their assigned housing Not clear how the CDC can screen incoming Americans if some people show no symptoms during incubation The CDC says they are screening all returning passengers at multiple stages of the flight. The stop in Alaska was conducted so that the CDC could conduct initial screening of people for possible symptoms, for example. However, given that the coronavirus exhibits an incubation period of up to 14 days, during which infected patients are contagious even if they show no obvious symptoms, it remains unanswered how the CDC could possibly screen people if they are showing no symptoms. It was revealed yesterday that the coronavirus can spread through casual contact. It is also documented that around 2% of infected patients show no symptoms such as fever or coughing. According to TET, the CDC says the incoming Americans will be monitored for up to two weeks. Does that mean they will be released into the population? Because theres nothing from the CDC that describes any sort of ongoing quarantine for those individuals who were diverted to the March Air Reserve Base. Brighteon.com/ee8790ee-49bf-403d-bff0-f4442ec09b82 Ads on social media and emotive content created by activists are largely ungovernable and designed to influence electoral behaviour, says Joyce Fegan ] In the last week, how many times have you shared screenshots of political jokes or captioned photographs of political candidates in your WhatsApp groups or Facebook feed? In the world of online electioneering, anything goes, because there are no laws. With the general election to be held on February 8, the political parties are doing everything to get your vote, especially online. You have either been the target of paid ads on Facebook, Instagram, and Google (especially if youre a man living in Dublin), or else youve come across viral organic content, manufactured to tap into your emotions, especially your rage. The more you feel, the more you like, comment, and share. The Irish Examiner spoke to Facebook, to tech activists who are tracking activity online, and to academics who are analysing the effect of all of this on our voting choices and on our democracy. Online electioneering can be divided into two camps: there are the paid ads, which appear in transparency libraries on Facebook and Google, and there is the organic or non-paid content, which is created and shared widely by political activists who are gunning for your attention and vote. The paid ads are much easier to track and analyse. In seven days, from January 16 to January 22, parties and candidates ramped up their spending online, especially on Facebook. On Facebook ads, Fine Gael spent 20,771 in those seven days, and the partys leader, Leo Varadkar, has also been spending heavily on social media ads. His Facebook page spent between 4,000 and 4,500 on a single ad that ran from January 14 to January 16. It garnered more than one million impressions on Facebook. It was a video that was shown mostly to men living in Dublin. Fianna Fail spent 3,155 on Facebook ads in those seven days, with the partys leader, Micheal Martins page spending 173. One ad from Mr Martins page also heavily targeted men living in Dublin. Sinn Fein increased its spending, too. The partys page spent 4,152 on Facebook ads. One big concern with online electioneering is the risk of foreign influence. There are two things to note about this from last weeks campaign. Facebook removed an ad from Aontu candidate, James Hope, in Roscommon. The ad spend was recorded in US dollars. After this ad started running, we determined that its related to politics or issues of national importance. We require advertisers to pay for this type of ad in the currency that matches the country where the ad is shown. We took this ad down, because the currency and country targeting didnt match, said Facebook. And its not just candidates and parties who are taking out paid ads. A far-right media outlet operating in Ireland is taking out ads targeting Fine Gael and their candidates. The transparency section of this page says that it has 13 people in Ireland, and one person in Brazil, managing its profile. When it comes to Google ads, or ads on YouTube, parties are spending here, too, but at a much lower rate. 354 Irish political ads have run on Google since March 21, 2019, totalling 15,650. So, who, and what, is behind the ads, the spend, and the content youre inadvertently sharing in WhatsApp and on Facebook? One expert, Sam Jeffers, who has developed a free-to-use piece of software, called Who Targets Me, explained how the social media staff of political parties are trying to influence voters online. Parties will talk about policy and leadership and why opponents are so bad: some is positive, some is negative. Its always this mix, said Jeffers. Theyre trying to find people who will respond to that content. They see whats working and do more of it they get feedback from platforms stats. We see quite a lot of video people like video people taking clips off TV, where an opponent says something terrible. They clip that and put some money behind it and get traction online, Jeffers said. He also explained the two types of content that parties will push out. There are ads and non-paid content. Where parties can control things is in the advertising, whereas, for the non-paid content, youre hitting and hoping. What we saw in the UK election was that everyone expected the Conservatives to spend more on ads, but it seems, in the end, they did some of that, but they decided to run content that got people talking, that was deliberately provocative, in a way that the media talked about it, said Jeffers. Dr Eileen Culloty, from DCU, and who works in disinformation, said the media has a responsibility not to amplify content that was designed to be provocative. If candidates make a racist or sexist remark, that they know will garner media coverage, its important for journalists and editors to be mindful of what they report on, said Ms Culloty. Theyve had no training in this for journalists, and they are under huge pressure to get stories out, but its a matter of covering the news without amplifying it, she said. Ms Culloty emphasised the need for the public to be media literate. For example, if you see something online, be that a link to a story or a joke with a photo and a caption, can you find a source? If you cant, take it with a pinch of salt, she said. The digital campaigns are run by low-paid juniors, who are working long hours to push this content out. People who are monitoring, or working on, social media for political parties are not well-paid. Theyre junior roles, so when an ill-judged tweet goes out, we blame the party, said Ms Culloty. However, Sam Jeffers said that for high-level consultancy for campaigns, Irish political candidates have hired help from abroad, even if they are using junior staff to push out content online. Irish parties do have a history of hiring from abroad, said Mr Jeffers. In a very close election, he said that fine-grained decisions that people are making based on information theyre seeing online makes a difference. This kind of information is designed to make you feel angry or motivated enough to share parties and candidates content for them. Niamh Kirk, a researcher in UCD, has been tracking online political activity for several years now. She said the public can expect to see more paid and non-paid content fighting for their attention in the final days. Its only been a week or so. Judging by previous monitoring projects, the last 10 days is when things ramp up, Ms Kirk said. With political money being spent predominantly on Facebook, what is the platform doing to ensure fair play online, considering there is no legislation to which parties have to adhere? Dualta O Broin is head of public policy for Facebook and said the policing of online electioneering has improved greatly over the last four years. Weve come a very long way since 2016, the last US presidential election. Weve had a vast investment into a range of measures, to increase transparency: theres been a huge investment, O Broin said. US President Donald Trump Can the same online trends of fake news and disinformation that appeared in the US or UK occur here? Its difficult to make a prediction on that. Every election can be different and every candidate can make their own decisions, based on how theyre doing. Its hard to say: we expect X or we expect Y, said Mr O Broin. However, he did admit that the platform is watching whats going on with this Irish election. There is a high focus in the company on the Irish election, at the moment, to make sure nothing untoward happens, he said, but added that the platforms monitoring and transparency measures are running all the time, regardless. In the vacuum of legislation, groups such as the Irish Council for Civil Liberties have come together to ask parties to sign the fair play pledge to behave respectfully online. Several parties have signed up to the pledge, including Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. Those boycotting the event say partisan politics are already involved. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act also established the visa for immigrants who were forced, defrauded or coerced into prostitution (sex trafficked) or physical work (labor trafficked). In 2016, the processing time for a T visa application took an average of nearly eight months. Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) estimates applicants must wait 19 to 26 months to find out whether they will receive their visa. TORONTO - Wednesday marks the 10th edition of Bell Canada's Let's Talk Day in support of mental health initiatives, an event that has become one of the country's best-known examples of corporate outreach. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. George Cope, then-President and CEO of BCE and Bell, speaks at the Bell Let's Talk special announcement held at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. Wednesday marks the 10th edition of Bell Canada's Let's Talk Day in support of mental health initiatives, an event that has become one of the country's best-known examples of corporate outreach. Bell has donated more than $100 million toward research, community groups and other organizations during the past decade and has drawn praise for its efforts to combat the stigma of mental illness. The annual event has also been a target for critics of Bell, who have called on the company to focus on the well-being of its own employees. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Marta Iwanek TORONTO - Wednesday marks the 10th edition of Bell Canada's Let's Talk Day in support of mental health initiatives, an event that has become one of the country's best-known examples of corporate outreach. Bell has donated more than $100 million toward research, community groups and other organizations during the past decade and has drawn praise for its efforts to combat the stigma of mental illness. The annual event has also been a target for critics of Bell, who have called on the company to focus on the well-being of its own employees. The recognition has likely been a net positive, but experts say it's difficult to quantify exactly how much corporate sponsorships contribute to a brand and reputational value, even for something as comprehensive as Bell's efforts on mental health. Social responsibility campaigns have relatively little impact on a brand's overall reputation in the eyes of consumers, says Dave Scholz, a communications researcher and partner at Leger, where he compiles their annual corporate reputation ranking. "There is some effect," Scholz says. "It's just not as large ... as what we perceive their quality and services to be." Whether it is attracting employees or selling a product, Scholz says reputation is key: people want to be associated with an organization with a strong reputation. "That means we're more likely to want to work there. It means we're more likely to want to acquire or use or buy their product, or service." Bell was ranked 260 out of 300 in Leger's 2019 analysis last of four telecom companies on the list, after Telus (94), Shaw (148) and Rogers (186). In contrast to the Leger reputation ranking, Bell placed well in a 2019 ranking of Canada's most valuable brands with an estimated worth of $13.3 billion, it ranked third, behind the country's two largest banks (Royal Bank of Canada at $23 billion and TD at $20.1 billion). How much of that value can be attributed to charitable giving is hard to measure, says Paul Gareau, senior vice-president for brand and content at Kantar. "I don't have any data on that. I wish I did, because it's such a great initiative," Gareau says. Gareau says the long-term nature of Bell's campaign seems likely to resonate with consumers. "The Bell Let's Talk platform ... is a super, super example of how a brand can start a movement and connect with people." Gareau says people are willing to pay a premium for highly respected brands and strong brands are more likely to grow in the future. However, he says, Let's Talk Day is only one component of Bell's overall brand value and not "essential" to everything the company does. "I can see how some people's reaction would be: 'Let's Talk' is great but that's not what's driving your overall behaviour as an organization." In fact, there are persistent complaints from people who have worked at Bell or one of the other companies within the BCE group. A man told the BCE's shareholder meeting last May, for instance, that he was badly treated by Bell when he was among about 70 people who were laid off apparently in error then recalled. "I was kicked out and I wasn't told what my fault was," he said. "I have two kids. How do I answer to them? How? What do I tell my wife? What do I do? Help me! Is that what Bell Let's Talk means?" After listening for several minutes until the man finished, then-chief executive George Cope who retired this month thanked the man without much elaboration. 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. "I think no one can personally comment on someone who's been asked to not work here anymore. So I think your emotions and your comment, we're just going to have to respect them. Thank you," Cope said. Mary Deacon, who has chaired Let's Talk Day since its inception, concedes that it has received criticism although she says there's more positive feedback than negative from employees. "We won't always get it right but we are making a very concerted effort to improve constantly," Deacon says. Deacon says it has also worked internally to build supports, services, benefits for its 50,000 employees in addition to the more public-facing billboards, social media discussion and advocacy. "The experience is much, much better. We are not perfect. But we're always learning and improving and we're on that journey." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2020. New Delhi: Election Commission on Wednesday ordered the removal of Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Sahib Singh from the list of star campaigners of Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) for Delhi Assembly elections with immediate effect. The EC order has come in the wake of their instigating remarks during poll campaign. The EC issued show-cause notice to Union Minister Anurag Thakur over his Desh Ke Gaddaro.. chant and gave him time till 12 pm on 30th January to submit his reply to the poll panel. Delhi's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has sought a report from the returning officer of Rithala constituency over Anurag Thakurs speech at an election rally during which crowd raised an incendiary slogan "traitors should be shot". In the rally, Thakur egged on the crowd to raise the slogan after he lashed out at anti-CAA protestors. Live TV Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma also created controversy with his comments against the anti-CAA protesters at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh saying they will be cleared in an hour if the BJP comes to power in Delhi. He also stated lacing his comments with a sensational remark, "They will enter your houses, rape your sisters and daughters". Verma further said, "It is an election to decide the unity of a nation. If the BJP comes to power on February 11, you will not find a single protester within an hour. And within a month, we will not spare a single mosque built on government land." On Tuesday, a delegation of the Congress party moved the Election Commission seeking a ban on campaigning by Anurag Thakur and Parvesh Varma for making "provocative statements" to incite "communal violence" and breaching the Model Code of Conduct ahead of the Delhi Assembly election. In a report to the ECI on Tuesday, the Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi said that Thakur raised the slogan `Desh Ke Gaddaro Ko, Goli Maaro Saalo Ko` (shoot the traitors) several times while addressing a public meeting here in Rithala on January 27. The voting for the Delhi Assembly is scheduled to take place on February 8. The counting will begin on February 11. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Vela Andapita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 16:05 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20618d246 1 City KPAI,child-exploitation,child-prostitution,LPSK,apartment Free Following recent revelations of child prostitution in Jakarta and Depok of West Java, the National Child Protection Commission (KPAI) has called on the government to initiate a child-friendly apartment program to curb such crimes in high-rise buildings. I plan to meet [Jakarta] Governor Anies [Baswedan] to at least make him aware of the situation, Ai Maryati Solihah, KPAI commissioner for the trafficking and exploitation division, said at a press conference on Tuesday. The press conference followed a meeting the commission had held with the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) and the Social Affairs Ministrys Children and Social Rehabilitation Center (BRSAMPK). Lately, weve been receiving complaints from apartment residents. They said they often see female teenagers dressed inappropriately hanging out at cafes [on the ground floors of apartment towers] until past midnight. Shortly after we received such reports, a case of alleged prostitution was revealed, she went on. The case came to light when Depok Police received a report on a 15-year-old girl that had been missing since December. On Jan. 22, she and three other girls, two of whom were also minors, were found in an apartment in South Jakarta. She was allegedly about to become a sex slave, following in the footsteps of the three other girls. Another missing child case led Depok Police investigators to alleged child prostitution in an apartment in Depok. A 16-year-old girl who had not been home since Jan. 2 was found in the apartment with a man named Pachrul Rozy. Police arrested Pachrul and three other suspects AIR, BS, JFM. The 16-year-old girl had allegedly been recruited by AIR after befriending him on Facebook and then meeting him at a cafe. The girl had not returned home since then. Instead, AIR took her mobile phone and, using her number, created an advert on a messaging platform, offering sex services to other users. Ai believes that prostitution, including crimes involving minors, is rampant in vertical housing. Just less than two years ago we faced a similar case from the exact same apartment building in South Jakarta. I didnt hear of any [such case] in 2019, so I thought it had ended, but apparently it resurfaced just now, she said. Ai was referring to a case from July 2018 when the commission received four reports of alleged prostitution involving minors in an apartment. The reports indicated that children had been forced into sexual slavery since 2015. Tuesdays meeting between the three institutions also discussed a case of alleged child prostitution in Penjaringan, North Jakarta, that was uncovered on Jan. 13, when the Jakarta Police arrested 10 suspects and removed 10 children eight of whom have been placed under the care of the BRSAMPK. When asked about the whereabouts of the other two children, the head of BRSAMPKs administrative unit, Sulistya Aryadi, could not give a clear answer. It was the police that made the decision. They found 10 victims but only brought eight to us, Sulistya said. The child prostitution reportedly took place at a cafe and had been going on for two years. The children, who came from West and Central Java, lived in a makeshift dorm. Each of them was allegedly forced to serve 10 male guests per day, earning Rp 60,000 (US$4.39) for every man they served. Contacted through social media, the recruiters allegedly offered them a good job with big pay. During their stay at the BRSAMPK, Sulistya said, the children had been receiving therapy to heal their trauma and physical wounds sustained from the prostitution some reportedly had genital infections. The parties to the meeting also called on the police and prosecutors to charge the suspects under Law No. 21/2007 on human trafficking, in addition to the Child Protection Law and the Criminal Code. LPSK chairman Antonius Prijadi Soesilo Wibowo said the case met the criteria of human trafficking, since the victims had been recruited, facilitated and forced to do things for money under difficult circumstances without decent salary and sufficient resting time, for example. KPAI chairman Susanto said the commission in January alone recorded six child trafficking cases, including three from Greater Jakarta. The three others were in Buton, Southeast Sulawesi, in Kulon Progo, Central Java, and in Central Kalimantan. The one in Kulon Progo involved 80 underage vocational school students, 10 of whom had managed to rescue themselves. They had been hired as interns to work on a cruise ship but ended up being exploited without decent treatment. With the advancement of technology, including communication platforms, we can expect to see more varied modi operandi of recruiting children for trafficking. We should work hard to prevent that, he said. (Alliance News) - Windar Photonics PLC on Wednesday said that it has secured EUR240,000 in development funding from the Eurostars for its LAWIS project. The company, which is developing LiDAR wind sensor for use on electricity generating wind turbines, said the total project grant now amounts to EUR700,000 and includes the Technical University of Denmark and an optical manufacturer in Lithuania. The aim of the LAWIS project is to develop and demonstrate a one-unit LiDAR solution that combines the optical LiDAR head with the control unit and at the same time offer cost reductions and technological benefits. Martin Rambusch, general manager of Windar, said: "I am very pleased that Windar's participation in this development project is alongside strong partners within the industry. The development and demonstration of the one-unit LiDAR solution will benefit our global customers as we are able to optimize our LiDAR offering even further, and at the same time add more features to our already developed LiDAR solutions." Windar shares closed at 32.55 pence each in London on Wednesday, up 8.5% By Tapan Panchal; tapanpanchal@alliancenews.com Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Jagat Prakash Nadda on Wednesday reaffirmed the strength of his party's alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), terming their togetherness as the oldest and strongest." "The alliance of BJP and SAD is the oldest and strongest. I am thankful to the SAD, which has decided to support the BJP in the ensuing assembly elections in Delhi," Nadda told reporters here. Agreeing to Nadda, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said that his party has not broken the alliance. "The SAD-BJP alliance is not just a political alliance. It is bound by emotions, for peace, the future, and interests of Punjab and the country. There were some misunderstandings that have been sorted out," said Badal. "We never broke the alliance. We just decided to contest the election separately. We've been supporting the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) from the beginning. We had also gone to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah for granting citizenship for Sikhs, who have been subjected to persecution in Pakistan and Afghanistan," he added. SAD, an old ally of the BJP, had earlier decided not to contest the election in Delhi, over their differences with the BJP regarding their stand on the Citizenship Amendment Act. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) by Sara Guaglione , January 28, 2020 Emily Ramshaw and Amanda Zamora, the former editor-in-chief and Chief Audience Officer at The Texas Tribune, are launching a nonprofit news site called The 19th to cover the intersection of gender, politics and policy. The name of the site comes from the 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, which prohibits government from denying U.S. citizens the right to vote based on their sex. It granted American women the right to vote, known as womens suffrage. The sites logo contains an asterisk, because the amendment applied only to white women. The 19th Amendment remains unfinished business, a fact we acknowledge in our logo with an asterisk a visible reminder of those who have been omitted from our democracy, according to the organization. advertisement advertisement The Washington Post will publish The 19ths content until the site fully launches in August, coinciding with 100 years since the 19th Amendment was passed. The 19th, based in Austin, Texas, says it will be a nonpartisan news organization. Content will be free-to-consume and free-to-republish. We aim to empower women particularly those underserved by and underrepresented in American media with the information, community and tools they need to be equal participants in our democracy, reads The 19th's website. Initial beats will include presidential politics, women and Congress, the women's electorate, women's health, women and the economy, and women and the states. "The 19th aims to elevate the voices of women ... women of color, women living off the coasts and women of limited means," Ramshaw stated. "There are simply not enough women leading newsrooms, and as a result, not enough stories about the issues, inequities and unique challenges that most directly affect women's lives." Revenue will come from member support, individual philanthropy, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships and live events, according to the organization. The Texas Tribune, also a nonprofit news organization, is similarly funded. Ramshaw serves as cofounder-CEO, Zamora as cofounder-publisher, Andrea Valdez is editor-in-chief, Errin Haines is editor-at-large, and Johanna Derlega is Chief Revenue Officer. Nearly $5 million in funding comes from Kathryn Murdoch, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Reproductive Health and Womens Rights Collaborative, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, the Ford Foundation, Emerson Collective, Knight Foundation, Abigail Disney, Arnold Ventures and the Packard Foundation, among others, according to Nieman Lab. This spring, The 19th will embark on a national listening tour, to hear from women on the state of voting rights in their communities and explore the top issues they face at the ballot box in November. The 19th is partnering with the League of Women Voters and The Riveter for the tour, which kicks off in Austin on April 22 and travels to Los Angeles, Denver, Seattle, Minneapolis and Atlanta. The 19th is currently hiring 17 staffers and aims to have a newsroom that reflects the racial and socioeconomic diversity of American women and is devoted to covering all women with empathy. The organization is offering six months paid parental leave, four months paid leave to care for sick relatives and a number of remote positions. Visa for foreign students: Task force soon India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 29: Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal said the Centre is setting up a task force to address visa-related issues of foreign students. He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a national conference on 'Destination India - Making India the preferred hub of education, organised by Indian Council For Culture Relations in association with Symbiosis International University and Savitribai Phule Pune University. "We are soon setting up a task force comprising ICCR, AICTE, UGC, officials from Foreign Affairs ministry and HRD to redress issues related to visa among others foreign students," he said. Suggestions from stakeholders such as teachers, students, institutes, government, elected representatives, government officials, village committees etc have been received on the new education policy and the draft is in the final stage, Mr Pokhriyal said. The HRD minister said India has been a 'vishwa guru'(world leader) due to ancient universities like Takshila, Nalanda, and foreign students who come to India should go back with our knowledge, science, research, the ancient traditions. Nirbhaya Case: Convict Akshay Kumar Singh files curative petition in SC | Oneindia News Sri Lanka suspends visa on arrival for Chinese travellers after 1st case of coronavirus He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants India to emerge as education power centre and the HRD ministry was working on several fronts to achieve the goal. The country's heritage should be promoted in order to attract foreign students, Mr Pokhriyal said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, January 29, 2020, 8:37 [IST] CITY HALL -- Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis won more than than just a photo op with President Donald Trump when she went to Washington, D.C. to take part in the signing of the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement Wednesday. The five-term Republican assemblywoman told the Advance she won the presidents full support and endorsement in the Islands competitive congressional race against freshman Rep. Max Rose. He told me I have his full support, Malliotakis said of her one-on-one conversation with the president on the White House lawn Wednesday after the trade agreement ceremony. We were just talking in general about New York State about just how important this [trade agreement] is for our state and he asked me how things were going, he asked me about the campaign, and told me you have my endorsement,'' she continued. Malliotakis said she expects the president will publicly announce his endorsement of her in the race in the near future, but on his own timeline. The White House referred the Advance to the presidents re-election campaign and the presidents campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh declined to comment on the endorsement when reached. .... When you put your heart and soul into something and put yourself out there its nice to have support and to hear those encouraging words from the president, Malliotakis said. It was obviously something I was delighted to hear and I appreciate it. Thank you @realdonaldtrump for inviting me to the @WhiteHouse today to be a part of this historic day. The #USMCA will level the playing field for American business, create jobs, and grow our economy! A great day for New York and all of America! Thank you, @POTUS! pic.twitter.com/mNU94rdVDb Nicole Malliotakis (@NMalliotakis) January 29, 2020 Last year, Trump endorsed former Rep. Daniel Donovan over his GOP primary rival ex-congressman Michael Grimm. But Trumps endorsement did not hold its weight in the general election when political newcomer Rose defeated Donovan, an incumbent, with more than 50 percent of the vote. The Islands congressional race has been a key race for national Republicans, which they believe the party can flip come November. The Islands congressional district voted for Trump in 2016 and the seat was Republican for three decades until Democrat Michael McMahon, now the Islands district attorney, won a single term in office in 2008. But in 2018, Rose joined a wave of Democratic candidates who flipped Republican-held seats to take control of the House, in a midterm election that was widely seen as a referendum on Trump. Malliotakis voted for Trump in 2016 but later said she regretted doing so. At the time, she said she wished she would have written in Florida GOP Sen. Marco Rubios name instead. However, Malliotakis now closely aligns herself with the president and his family, and has said her remarks, which were made during her mayoral campaign, were taken out of context. Now, she says she does not regret voting for Trump and says those remarks were sarcastic and were prompted by the media only wanting to talk about the president during the 2017 mayoral race. A CROWDED START The Islands Republican congressional primary race set for June had initially been off to a somewhat crowded start with Malliotakis, Brooklyn Prosecutor Joseph Caldarera and controversial Youtube prankster Joey Saladino in the running. But Saladino folded his congressional bid in December, a move that essentially cleared the field for Malliotakis in the upcoming primary race against just one opponent, Brooklyn prosecutor Joseph Caldarera. The campaign of Malliotakis Republican primary opponent Caldarera initially declined to comment on the assemblywomans endorsement, but Caldareras spokesman Woodrow Johnson later said they spoke to several senior Trump staff who were unaware of the presidents endorsement or any forthcoming endorsement. Nicole is trumping up a very casual conversation with the president to reignite her stalled campaign, said Johnson. So far, Malliotakis has come out as the regional and national Republicans favored candidate. Earlier this month, Malliotakis won the full support of the state and local Conservative parties. She was also endorsed unanimously by the Staten Island and Brooklyn Republican Executive Committees. She has also received support from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, House Whip Steve Scalise and House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney and most recently won her first endorsement from a sitting Staten Island Republican elected official -- Minority Leader Steven Matteo (R-Mid Island). But last week, the National Republican Congressional Committee the assemblywomans GOP opponent in the primary race Caldarera as an on the radar candidate after it gave Malliotakis the same designation last year as part of the NRCCs overall Young Guns campaign program aimed at taking back the House majority. The NRCC did not say what kind of specific backing they provide Young Guns" candidates, but the committee links to the fundraising pages of those candidates who are part of the program. FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER. Regulatory Scrutiny of Online Travel Platforms Could Shed New Light on Business Practices Whether its online travel companies like Trivago, Booking.com, or Airbnb, regulators around the world are lashing out at the business models of these companies and their competitors. In two recent examples, the Australian Competition Commission disclosed that the countrys federal court found that Germanys hotel-price comparison business Trivago was displaying hotel rates from the highest bidders in its auctions, and often hiding cheaper rates behind a more deals from list in violation of competition law. The court also took issue with the strike-through prices that inflated the discount consumers would receive. In the UK, starting in September, sister companies Booking.com, Agoda, and Kayak, as well as some competitors, agreed to take certain steps to settle some of the competition authoritys investigations over pressure selling, which includes messaging on Booking.coms hotel pages such as 2 other people looked for your dates in the last 10 minutes. The Australia Trivago case, which got under way in 2018, puts into focus the practices of numerous metasearch sites around the world. Like Trivago, Googles hotels feature, for example, has hidden cheaper rates while sometimes placing higher ones in coveted positions on the first screen of a listing. In metasearch auctions, online travel agencies and hotels bid for positions within a listing. The ranking, whether the bidder is listed first, third, or relegated to a secondary page, can have a huge impact on whether consumers click, and eventually make a hotel booking. As regulators have pointed out, metasearch companies and online travel agencies have been less than forthcoming about precisely how they rank listings, and sort bidders within listings. This new scrutiny may reveal more of that process. Messaging on Trivago now explains how payments from online travel agency and hotel advertisers impact placement within listings, although its still vague: The ranking results reflect your search criteria and our assessment of the attractiveness of the offer compared to other offers available on our site. It also reflects the compensation paid by the booking site. Story continues Why did Australian authorities go after Trivago in particular? We brought this case because we consider that Trivagos conduct was particularly egregious, said Australian Competition Commission chair Rod Sims in a statement. Many consumers may have been tricked by these price displays into thinking they were getting great discounts. In fact, Trivago wasnt comparing apples with apples when it came to room type for these room rate comparisons. The court has not yet meted out penalties to Trivago. In a statement, Trivago said: The judgment received from the court provides new guidance on how results of comparator websites, like Trivago and others, should be displayed in Australia. Trivago will closely review the decision. We are working to quickly understand the implications of this decision on our website design and its overall impact on the Australian travel industry and the way websites are to be designed in Australia. We will continue helping millions of Australians research and find great accommodation deals and look forward to continuing to help our customers find their ideal hotel. In the UK case against Booking Holdings and other online travel sellers, the online travel company agreed to show prices inclusive of all mandatory taxes and charges, providing information about the effect of money earned on search result rankings on or before the search results page and making certain adjustments to how discounts and statements concerning popularity or availability are shown to consumers. The agreement, according to Booking Holdings, applies to all players in UK online travel; there was no admission of wrongdoing. What UK authorities termed pressure selling has been a staple of Booking.com messaging and it was adapted by rivals around the world for more than a decade. It is one of the tricks in the companys arsenal to spur indecisive travelers to book a room. In its test and learn environment, Booking.com tested these sorts of messages on its websites, and some of them obviously worked. On the short-term rental front, Airbnb, Expedia, and Booking.com, among many others, have faced opposition of regulators around the world, although they have lately been making headway in various jurisdictions. Of course it isnt just regulators who are part of the action. In Jersey City, New Jersey in the U.S. recently, voters opted to adopt tougher regulation of Airbnb. Nothing New? The scrutiny has been intense over the last 20 years as online travel companies find themselves subject to regulatory glare, at both local, country, state, and national levels whether its in short-term rentals, occupancy tax bills, or antitrust matters. In Europe, Booking.com, Expedia Group, and HRS have been under pressure to modify rate parity agreements. They traditionally meant that if Accor gave LastMinute.com a $120 net rate for a property and guaranteed a certain degree of availability, then Booking.com would require the hotel to at least provide the online travel company with the same deal, not worse. That paradigm in some jurisdictions has loosened up. Similar rate parity probes have been launched in countries such as Australia and Brazil, for example. On other fronts, Swiss authorities are currently engaged in a probe of Booking.coms commission levels, and Turkish authorities are challenging the companys efforts to sell Turkish accommodations to the countrys residents. Taxes Among other tax issues in Europe, in July France leveled a 3 percent digital services tax against online players that is retroactive to January 1, 2019. Booking Holdings, for example, said its liability was $29 million for the first nine months of last year. Expedia Group is facing various probes in Europe over its VAT (value-added tax) responsibilities. In the United States, online travel agencies, including Expedia, Hotels.com, Priceline, and many others, have been fighting hotel tax liability lawsuits for more than 15 years. In general, cities, counties, and states have claimed that the online travel agencies were illegally remitting taxes on the net rates they received from hotels under the merchant model instead of the full retail rate they charged consumers. The online travel agencies countered that most of the tax laws in questions applied to hotel operators, not the intermediaries. In November, Expedia Group tallied that cities, counties and states had filed 101 lawsuits against it since 2004, and 11 were still active. Forty-seven of these lawsuits were dismissed. Of these, some allowed the plaintiffs to pursue administrative remedies while 33 were thrown out because courts ruled that the defendants were not subject to the tax, or the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue. As of September 30, Expedia Group had a reserve of $66 million for potential settlements of occupancy tax litigation, audits, and other tax-related issues. To date, online travel companies have been able to cope with regulatory decisions to various degrees. If in 2004, when the City of Los Angeles sued Expedia, Travelocity, and Priceline over hotel occupancy taxes, and it appeared that the essence of their merchant model hotel business was under duress as other cities did likewise, it didnt turn out that way at all. Airbnb may be reeling from near-bans in places like New York City, which was once among its largest markets, but it is expanding elsewhere and launching new business segments. As with the new digital services tax in France, the question becomes how much hurt will online travel companies be able to cope with in the name of consumer and governmental protections which are many times justified and when will these rulings bring some of the companies to their knees. Update: This story has been updated to include a comment from Trivago about the Australia court ruling. Subscribe to Skift newsletters covering the business of travel, restaurants, and wellness. January 28, 2020 " Information Clearing House " - Under the cascading roar of the 24/7 news cycle cum Twitter eruptions, its easy for most of the West, especially the US, to forget the basics about the interaction of Eurasia with its western peninsula, Europe. Asia and Europe have been trading goods and ideas since at least 3,500 BC. Historically, the flux may have suffered some occasional bumps for instance, with the irruption of 5th-century nomad horsemen in the Eurasian plains. But it was essentially steady up to the end of the 15th century. We can essentially describe it as a millennium-old axis from Greece to Persia, from the Roman empire to China. A land route with myriad ramifications, through Central Asia, Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey, linking India and China to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea, ended up coalescing into what we came to know as the Ancient Silk Roads. By the 7th century, land routes and sea trade routes were in direct competition. And the Iranian plateau always played a key role in this process. The Iranian plateau historically includes Afghanistan and parts of Central Asia linking it to Xinjiang to the east, and to the west all the way to Anatolia. The Persian empire was all about land trade the key node between India and China and the Eastern Mediterranean. The Persians engaged the Phoenicians in the Syrian coastline as their partners to manage sea trade in the Mediterranean. Enterprising people in Tyre established Carthage as a node between the Eastern and Western Mediterranean. Because of the partnership with the Phoenicians, the Persians would inevitably be antagonized by the Greeks a sea trading power. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter When the Chinese, promoting the New Silk Roads, emphasize people to people exchange as one of its main traits, they mean the millenary Euro-Asia dialogue. History may even have aborted two massive, direct encounters. The first was after Alexander The Great defeated Darius III of Persia. But then Alexanders Seleucid successors had to fight the rising power in Central Asia: the Parthians who ended up taking over Persia and Mesopotamia and made the Euphrates the limes between them and the Seleucids. The second encounter was when emperor Trajan, in 116 AD, after defeating the Parthians, reached the Persian Gulf. But Hadrian backed off so history did not register what would have been a direct encounter between Rome, via Persia, with India and China, or the Mediterranean meeting with the Pacific. Mongol globalization The last western stretch of the Ancient Silk Roads was, in fact, a Maritime Silk Road. From the Black Sea to the Nile delta, we had a string of pearls in the form of Italian city/emporia, a mix of end journey for caravans and naval bases, which then moved Asian products to Italian ports. Commercial centers between Constantinople and Crimea configured another Silk Road branch through Russia all the way to Novgorod, which was very close culturally to the Byzantine world. From Novgorod, merchants from Hamburg and other cities of the Hanseatic League distributed Asian products to markets in the Baltics, northern Europe and all the way to England in parallel to the southern routes followed by the maritime Italian republics. Between the Mediterranean and China, the Ancient Silk Roads were of course mostly overland. But there were a few maritime routes as well. The major civilization poles involved were peasant and artisanal, not maritime. Up to the 15th century, no one was really thinking about turbulent, interminable oceanic navigation. The main players were China and India in Asia, and Italy and Germany in Europe. Germany was the prime consumer of goods imported by the Italians. That explains, in a nutshell, the structural marriage of the Holy Roman Empire. At the geographic heart of the Ancient Silk Roads, we had deserts and the vast steppes, trespassed by sparse tribes of shepherds and nomad hunters. All across those vast lands north of the Himalayas, the Silk Road network served mostly the four main players. One can imagine how the emergence of a huge political power uniting all those nomads would be in fact the main beneficiary of Silk Road trade. Well, that actually happened. Things started to change when the nomad shepherds of Central-South Asia started to have their tribes regimented as horseback archers by politico-military leaders such as Genghis Khan. Welcome to the Mongol globalization. That was actually the fourth globalization in history, after the Syrian, the Persian and the Arab. Under the Mongolian Ilkhanate, the Iranian plateau once again playing a major role linked China to the Armenian kingdom of Cilicia in the Mediterranean. The Mongols didnt go for a Silk Road monopoly. On the contrary: during Kublai Khan and Marco Polos travels the Silk Road was free and open. The Mongols only wanted caravans to pay a toll. With the Turks, it was a completely different story. They consolidated Turkestan, from Central Asia to northwest China. The only reason Tamerlan did not annex India is that he died beforehand. But even the Turks did not want to shut down the Silk Road. They wanted to control it. Venice lost its last direct Silk Road access in 1461, with the fall of Trebizond, which was still clinging to the Byzantine empire. With the Silk Road closed to the Europeans, the Turks with an empire ranging from Central-South Asia to the Mediterranean were convinced they now controlled trade between Europe and Asia. Not so fast. Because that was when European kingdoms facing the Atlantic came up with the ultimate Plan B: a new maritime road to India. And the rest North Atlantic hegemony is history. Enlightened arrogance The Enlightenment could not possibly box Asia inside its own rigid geometries. Europe ceased to understand Asia, proclaimed it was some sort of proteiform historical detritus and turned its undivided attention to virgin, or promised lands elsewhere on the planet. We all know how England, from the 18th century onwards, took control of the entire trans-oceanic routes and turned North Atlantic supremacy into a lone superpower game till the mantle was usurped by the US. Yet all the time there has been counter-pressure from the Eurasian Heartland powers. Thats the stuff of international relations for the past two centuries peaking in the young 21st century into what could be simplified as The Revenge of the Heartland against Sea Power. But still, that does not tell the whole story. Rationalist hegemony in Europe progressively led to an incapacity to understand diversity or The Other, as in Asia. Real Euro-Asia dialogue the de facto true engine of history had been dwindling for most of the past two centuries. Europe owes its DNA not only to much-hailed Athens and Rome but to Byzantium as well. But for too long not only the East but also the European East, heir to Byzantium, became incomprehensible, quasi incommunicado with Western Europe, or submerged by pathetic cliches. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as in the Chinese-led New Silk Roads, are a historical game-changer in infinite ways. Slowly and surely, we are evolving towards the configuration of an economically interlinked group of top Eurasian land powers, from Shanghai to the Ruhr valley, profiting in a coordinated manner from the huge technological know-how of Germany and China and the enormous energy resources of Russia. The Raging 2020s may signify the historical juncture when this bloc surpasses the current, hegemonic Atlanticist bloc. Now compare it with the prime US strategic objective at all times, for decades: to establish, via myriad forms of divide and rule, that relations between Germany, Russia and China must be the worst possible. No wonder strategic fear was glaringly visible at the NATO summit in London last month, which called for ratcheting up pressure on Russia-China. Call it the late Zbigniew Grand Chessboard Brzezinskis ultimate, recurrent nightmare. Germany soon will have a larger than life decision to make. Its like this was a renewal in way more dramatic terms of the Atlanticist vs Ostpolitik debate. German business knows that the only way for a sovereign Germany to consolidate its role as a global export powerhouse is to become a close business partner of Eurasia. In parallel, Moscow and Beijing have come to the conclusion that the US trans-oceanic strategic ring can only be broken through the actions of a concerted block: BRI, Eurasia Economic Union (EAEU), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), BRICS+ and the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB), the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Middle East pacifier The Ancient Silk Road was not a single camel caravan route but an inter-communicating maze. Since the mid-1990s Ive had the privilege to travel almost every important stretch and then, one day, you see the complete puzzle. The New Silk Roads, if they fulfill their potential, pledge to do the same. Maritime trade may be eventually imposed or controlled by a global naval superpower. But overland trade can only prosper in peace. Thus the New Silk Roads potential as The Great Pacifier in Southwest Asia what the Western-centric view calls the Middle East. The Middle East (remember Palmyra) was always a key hub of the Ancient Silk Roads, the great overland axis of Euro-Asia trade going all the way to the Mediterranean. For centuries, a quartet of regional powers Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia (now Iraq) and Persia (now Iran) have been fighting for hegemony over the whole area from the Nile delta to the Persian Gulf. More recently, it has been a case of external hegemony: Ottoman Turk, British and American. So delicate, so fragile, so immensely rich in culture, no other region in the world has been, continually, since the dawn of history, an absolutely key zone. Of course, the Middle East was also a crisis zone even before oil was found (the Babylonians, by the way, already knew about it). The Middle East is a key stop in the 21st century, trans-oceanic supply chain routes thus its geopolitical importance for the current superpower, among other geoeconomic, energy-related reasons. But its best and brightest know the Middle East does not need to remain a center of war, or intimations of war, which, incidentally, affect three of those historical, regional powers of the quartet (Syria, Iraq and Iran). What the New Silk Roads are proposing is wide-ranging, economic, interlinked integration from East Asia, through Central Asia, to Iran, Iraq and Syria all the way to the Eastern Mediterranean. Just like the Ancient Silk Roads. No wonder vested War Party interests are so uncomfortable with this real peace threat. A new flyboarder was given a baptism of fire when he attempted a backflip on his first ever go on the water. Christopher Christofi, 32, was trying out a flyboard for the first time, when he decided to attempt a stunt in Cyprus. Amusing footage shows Christopher being steadily lowered to sea level. Christopher Christofi, 32, was trying out a flyboard for the first time, when he decided to attempt a flip in Cyprus He dives head first into the water before re-emerging seconds later. Christopher, who is a structural engineer, is then blasted upwards as he prepares for his stunt. But it appears his flyboard has a mind of its own, as it flings him backwards aggressively. He is launched into the air just moments before he is to perform the impressive stunt Seconds later, he gets pulled backwards and crashes into the water. It comes just months after Franky Zapata, 40, successfully crossed the English Channel in a home-made jet-powered hoverboard He can be heard screaming as he gets pulled backwards towards the water. The dare-devil is unceremoniously dunked during his daring attempt. It comes just months after Franky Zapata, 40, crossed the English channel on a home-made jet-powered hoverboard, after his failed attempt a week before. Zapata aimed to fly 22 miles to St Margaret's Bay in Dover in around 20 minutes but crashed only after 11. He missed a landing platform as he tried to land to get more fuel. The stuntman successfully crossed the channel in 23 minutes on August 4. Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday urged industry players to cash in on the huge potential that 22 upcoming express highways hold in the areas of alternative fuel, electric highway and stations. The Road Transport, Highways and MSME Minister said that projects specially about Rs 1 trillion Delhi-Mumbai express highway can offer instant right of way to players interested in setting up LNG stations, electric stations or Addressing a conference on 'Future Fuels for Transportation' by FICCI, the minister said plans were afoot to set up 2,000 petrol pumps, including LNG. We are building 22 new express highways including Delhi-Mumbai Express Highway. Work on seven out of 22 projects have started and these have huge potential for the industry. If players want to come forward, we can offer right of way especially on Delhi-Mumbai Express Highway which we plan to complete within three years," the minister said. Gadkari said plans are on for an electric highway stretch on Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and the land acquisition for over Rs 1 lakh crore expressway project has been completed. He said he will be visiting Sweden next month to see E-Highways and welcomed players for investments to convert highways into e-highways. He also said: "The RBI has assured us that they will allow us to take infrastructure loans for 30 years. So if a bankable project is for 30 years, the loan amount will be raised within 13-18 years. There will be two years moratorium period after completion of project. When after three years, toll collection starts then we will open an escrow account. Specific amount will be deposited in this escrow account." The minister said at present has 480 such secure, bankable projects and five more banks are willing to give loans like the SBI gave. "Depending upon traffic, we will keep depositing money in the escrow account, he said. He said 's annual income for the current fiscal will be Rs 40,000 crore and it will reach Rs 1 trillion in coming years. Fernandes, Founder-Director of Bloomingdale Public Relations, shares her thoughts on the changing industry, emerging trends and why PR will be all-encompassing in the times to come Diana Fernandes is the Founder-Director of Bloomingdale Public Relations, one of the fastest-growing boutique PR firms that has offices in India, Singapore & UAE. Over the years, Bloomingdale has catered to over 100clients across industry verticals with services ranging from Public Relations to Social Media, and Influencer Marketing to Digital Advertising. With over 16 years of experience in the field, Diana has worked with clients across various verticals such as Hospitality, Lifestyle, Startups, Technology and Real-estate. Exchange4media had a candid interaction with Diana Fernandes on her entrepreneurial journey, her thoughts about the changing communication industry and more. Edited Excerpts: How does it feel being a women entrepreneur at such a young age? Honestly, I dont think age or gender has anything to do with entrepreneurship. It requires grit, determination and persistence. I was also very fortunate to have the opportunity to work closely with the leaders of my previous organisation; it helped me learn the tricks of the trade. At a very young age, I was given the liberty to run the place as in my own way and thats when I learnt a lot on the job too. What has been the key learnings throughout your career? One of the biggest things I have learnt in my career is that theres no short cut to hard work. I would to an extent replace this with smart-work; however, I truly believe theres no short cut to success. Youve got to do what it takes to get the job done. Even today, despite 16 years of being in the industry, I still ensure that I closely monitor the work done even on the smallest of clients. It is this involvement over the years, that I feel has set us apart from the competition. Nothing beats understanding your clients well and delivering their marketing goals! However big we may be in future, it will always be my constant endeavour to be there for my clients whenever they need us. Another most important aspect that I must mention is nurturing your team. We are in the business of selling human intellect, and everything we are is because of the people who work with us, and hence great team-building and understanding people is foremost in my scheme of things. Finally, with a focus on work; I think its also important to be there for your family; its a fine balance that I think keeps me going. Workout, vacations, days-off, reading, watching Netflix and ensuring that I run my business and my business doesnt run me is what I have focussed on all these years! How has the communication landscape changed over the course of time? The Communications industry has come a long way from beeping fax machines and buzzing phones. With this, the Public Relations space in India has evolved too! The definition of PR has changed drastically. Today it is no more confined to articles in newspapers and magazines or shows on TV. Public Relations today is much, much more. It's all-consuming and far more exciting. There are no defined boundaries as to what services come under PR and what doesnt. An agency needs to do whatever it takes to ensure the clients brand is visible and highly recalled among its TG to stay ahead of the curve. With the incredible burst of digital and media, staying relevant has become more complicated, nuanced and challenging. It was time for public relations to quickly transform itself to our fast-changing world. And it did. Public Relations today goes far beyond event-based communication or crisis management. Its a consistent, conscious effort to carefully handle brand reputation in an era where it takes a lot to stand out amidst the noise. In my experience of over 16 years, I have seen brands move from simple press kits to holograms, and I also know that were only seeing just the tip of the iceberg. Moving ahead, PR is going to be even more all-encompassing and the lines will blur to eventually fade. Moreover, with digitalisation; brands are today looking at a more global rather than local approach. Here are some trends that I think will keep changing the face of PR as we know it, and we have no choice but to keep up: data and analytics, increased focus on digital media alongside print mediums, importance of brands profitability, digital-first content, CSR, ROI-driven aproach and quantifiable targets and the Importance of Storytelling. According to you, how important is earned media for a PR agency? Earned (non-paid) form of media is the base of the PR industry in India. Clients / Brands approach PR companies primarily to secure earned visibility across media verticals. Nothing beats a third party endorsed article (journalist written article) and thats what PR is all about. Even with numerable mediums of communication and the advent of new mediums and formats for content dissemination and consumption (newspapers + magazines + wire agencies + radio + websites + blogs + social media + podcasts + vlogs + youtube videos + vimeo), good old earned media prevails. The platforms may vary and the landscape has certainly expanded; however, the focus still remains on earned media. You were among the winners of "top 100 influential" list. How do you feel about it and how will this recognition add value to your profile? I am very grateful to the entire team at exchange4media for this recognition. Its my first ever award; so, this one is extra special. It came as a huge surprise to me. Being at the event with my mom was nothing short of magic! Its an honour that will stay with me for as long as I am and Im truly thankful to everyone at E4M who thought I was worthy of this. It brought me tremendous recognition, not only within the industry and my peers, but also across prospective clients, journalists, friends and family. It was a great platform to also meet and interact with so many industry stalwarts whom I probably had only heard of. Meeting them in person was amazing and I have certainly made a lot more friends in the industry after this event and award. What are your plans for 2020? 2020 is all about growth and taking the next big leap. Weve come a long way from where we started in 2013. Today we are a bigger, stronger and a robust team fully capable of handling challenging clients across services and verticals. In India, apart from our presence in Mumbai, we look to expand in Delhi and Bangalore this year. Weve already begun work on this and we should be having a full-fledged team in both cities before the start of the new financial year. My future plans are also centred around making Singapore as big as India and focussing on the APAC market from there. Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India) Two workers, Gerardo Castorena and Frank Flores, were killed and 20 others wounded early Friday morning in a massive chemical explosion at Watson Grinding and Manufacturing in Houston, Texas. The blast was felt across the city according to several reports and left a scene of utter devastation in the surrounding neighborhoods. City officials say that over 450 homes and businesses have been damaged. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo described the scene as a disaster area. Residents in the area of the explosion were knocked out of their beds when the blast occurred around 4:25 a.m. that morning. Windows were shattered, walls cracked, doors were blown out, ceilings fell in and some structures were knocked off of their foundations. The city of Houston appealed to owners and residents of damaged homes to look for body parts among the debris following the blast. A city official told NBC News that many homes would remain uninhabitable for weeks. According to the Houston Fire Department, the blast was caused by the hazardous chemical propylene, which is utilized as a fuel source in manufacturing and also used the plastics industry for manufacture of polypropylene, which is a common component of many household products. City authorities said that valves in the building were releasing the chemical into the air on Friday morning. Federal environmental and safety regulations require that a company which stores more than 10,000 pounds of the chemical files a Risk Management Plan (RMP) with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and must list it in its Tier II Chemical Inventory. There is no way to tell now how much propylene was stored at Watson Grinding and Manufacturing before the explosion, because it never filed an RMP, nor does it include the chemical in its inventory. According to the Houston Chronicle, the company only listed liquified oxygen in its 2015 inventory. The families of Castorena and Flores have received an outpouring of support online. Several social media posts have mentioned their names and support for their families, and their GoFundMe pages have raised thousands of dollars in the past week. Like the majority of working class families in the US, the families are unable to bear the financial burden of such a sudden loss on their own. Castorena has left behind his children, including a son and daughter-in-law. Flores leaves behind his wife of 26 years, two children, and a son-in-law. His daughter wrote that All who had the pleasure of meeting Frank know of his caring character and how he loved his family and friends. Flores family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Watson Valve Services, Inc., Watson Grinding and Manufacturing Co., KMHJ, Ltd. and KMHJ Management Company. Residents whose homes were destroyed described the clean-up process, which has largely fallen on their shoulders due to lack of any government aid, as a living hell. At least three families whose homes were destroyed have filed lawsuits against the company seeking damages and have also filed a request for a temporary restraining order and a temporary injunction in order to preserve evidence at the scene and to allow for inspection. Residents have been offered no hope for help paying for the damages they have suffered by either the company or government authorities. Watson Grinding and Manufacturing CEO John Watson reportedly told ABC13 on Tuesday that his insurance company would pay for damages, but then immediately backpedaled in a written statement in a naked display of disdain for the suffering of workers and their families. It is unlikely that the working class residents of Houston who have been affected will receive adequate, if any at all, financial assistance from federal or local authorities. The city has been devastated in recent years by floods and hurricanes which have forced many residents out of their homes, with virtually no help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Houston Fire Department is conducting a criminal investigation into the explosion as part of its protocol and the U.S Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is also assisting police in the investigation. It is unclear if the two federal agencies which regulate propylene storagethe EPA and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which has designated propylene a hazardous chemicalwill conduct or be a part of investigations. The Watson Grinding and Manufacturing facility has operated in Houston since 1972. The company provides precision machine parts, thermal spray coatings and grinding and milling services to companies in the oil, gas, chemical and mining industries. Watson Grinding and Manufacturing has a history of negligence toward the safety of its workers, but it is unlikely that it will face any serious consequence for its recent crime. The company was fined just $8,316 by OSHA in 2013 for two serious violations for the control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) and general requirements for all machines. The citation also notes that a worker had a limb amputated as a result of one or both of these violations. The relentless drive for profit by manufacturing companies and relaxing of federal regulations to serve their interests has turned factories, warehouses and other industrial centers across the US into death traps for workers. Cuts to federal OSHA spending by successive Democratic and Republican administrations have exacerbated the problem. The number of OSHA workplace inspections has decreased annually over five years from 39,228 in 2013 to 32,023 in 2018, in part as a result of the cuts to OSHA inspection staff under the Obama and Trump administrations. Although the company has no unions in its facilities, the trade unions have also played an instrumental role in allowing corporations to cut safety measures in the name of remaining competitive by forming joint labor-management safety and health committees to divert spending away from safety training and equipment, shifting the burden of responsibility onto the shoulders of workers themselves. The unions routinely cooperate with company management to cover up safety investigations when workers are harmed or killed. The trade unions have been known to harass workers who raise safety concerns that could cause the companies to be fined and are rightfully distrusted by workers when it comes to their safety concerns. Scenes like the explosion in Houston have occurred over the past year all across the world. A deadly coal-to-gas factory explosion in Yima City, Henan Province, China killed 15 workers in July and destroyed homes within a three-mile radius very similar to what occurred in Texas last week. Earlier this month in India an explosion at a nitrate manufacturing facility in Palghar region near Mumbai killed five workers and injured at least six others. HOLYOKE Anna Puttick, a student at Blessed Sacrament School, is the winner of the Holyoke St. Patricks Parade Committees Grand Colleen Float Design Contest. Builders will soon transform Putticks concept into a float for the March 22 parade. Bill Quesnal, who chairs the Float Committee, gave Puttick a framed copy of her design during a ceremony at the school Tuesday. Parade President Marc Joyce, joined by committee members and Blessed Sacrament faculty, presented Puttick with a gift. Quesnal and his committee culled through 200 designs sent in by Holyoke schoolchildren. Putticks horse and carriage concept incorporates Dobbin, the horse statue from the former Yankee Pedlar restaurant. The horse now resides at the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round. Dobbin will come out of retirement on parade day, leading the grand colleen and her court. The daughter of Kara and Andrew Puttick, Anna, 13, was inspired by a photo of her grandmother, Joanne Krauss, riding in a carriage while on a visit to Ireland in the late 1970s. Im extremely happy, and its a great feeling to know that something I designed will be going down the streets of Holyoke, Anna said. Its amazing to think about. The parade remains an annual tradition in her family. Anna often watches the parade on Blessed Sacraments lawn, a popular gathering spot on Northampton Street. It represents Holyoke and the Irish traditions, she said. Anna has the option of riding in the truck that tows the grand colleen float. Im thrilled for her. She worked hard, and theyre awesome kids, Krauss said about Anna and her other grandchildren. Krauss recalled riding in a jaunting cart during a visit to Killarney, Ireland, when the photo was taken. The grand colleen and court are on the first float in the parade. Students from Holyoke High School Dean Campus will assist in the floats construction. Quesnal said the design contest began six years ago, with the entrants name and school unknown to the committee. By total osmosis, this is the sixth different school in six years, Quesnal said. The design is not based on the artistic but on the concept and our ability to build it. It was tough and we had a lot of good choices. The parade committee will choose the 2020 grand Colleen and court Feb. 15 at the Log Cabin. For more information, visit holyokestpatricksparade.com. A virus similar to the SARS pathogen has claimed 106 lives since emerging in a market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, and spread around the world. Here are the places that have confirmed cases of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus: - CHINA - As of Tuesday, more than 4,000 people have been infected across China, the bulk of them in and around Wuhan. Most of the 106 who have died were in that region, but officials have confirmed multiple deaths elsewhere, including the first in the capital Beijing. Macau, a gambling hub hugely popular with mainland tourists, has confirmed seven cases as of Tuesday. In Hong Kong, eight people are known to have the disease. Of those, six arrived via a newly built high-speed train terminal that connects the city to the mainland. - ASIA-PACIFIC REGION - - Australia - Five cases have been confirmed in Australia -- all of whom arrived in the country from Wuhan. The patients are being treated in hospitals in Sydney and Melbourne. - Cambodia - Cambodia's health ministry reported the country's first case of the virus on Monday: a 60-year-old man who arrived from Wuhan and is now stable in an isolation room. - Japan - Japan's health authorities confirmed the country's fourth case on Saturday: a man in his 40s, visiting Japan from Wuhan, who is in hospital in a stable condition. Two other men and a woman have been treated after returning to Japan from the Chinese city. - Malaysia - Malaysia confirmed its fourth case on Sunday. All are Chinese nationals on holiday from Wuhan who arrived in the country from Singapore. - Nepal - Nepal said a 32-year-old man arriving from Wuhan had the disease. The patient, who was initially quarantined, recovered and was discharged. - Singapore - Singapore has so far confirmed five cases of the coronavirus -- all of them arrived in the city-state from Wuhan. - South Korea - South Korean media reported the country's fourth case on Monday, citing the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The three men and a woman all travelled from Wuhan. - Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka confirmed its first case of the virus on Monday -- a 43-year-old Chinese woman who entered the country as a tourist last week from Hubei province. She is being treated in hospital, a spokesman at the Infectious Diseases Hospital near Colombo told AFP. - Taiwan - Taiwan has uncovered seven cases so far, the latest two female Chinese nationals in their seventies, who arrived in the country as part of a tour group on January 22. - Thailand - Thailand announced 14 confirmed infections Tuesday -- the highest outside of China. Health officials said that of the six new cases -- all Chinese passengers from Wuhan -- five of them were in the same family, ranging in ages six to 70. - Vietnam - Vietnam has so far confirmed two cases of the virus. An infected man from Wuhan travelled to Ho Chi Minh City earlier this month and passed the virus on to his son. - NORTH AMERICA - - Canada - Canada confirmed its first case of the virus on Monday, a man who travelled to Wuhan, and has reported a second suspected case -- his wife, who made the trip with him. - United States - The US has confirmed five cases of the virus in patients who had recently entered the country from Wuhan -- two in California and one each in Arizona, Chicago and Washington state. - EUROPE - - France - There are three known cases of the coronavirus in France, the first European country to be affected by the outbreak. One person is sick in Bordeaux and another is ill in Paris. A third person, a close relative of one of the other two, has also been confirmed to have the virus. All three had recently travelled to China and have been placed in isolation. - Germany - The country's first case was confirmed on Tuesday in the southern Bavarian region and was being treated in an isolation ward. The patient was said to be in a "medically good state". burs-sst-dw/jah/rbu Cuties director Maimouna Doucoure says her film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival last Thursday, mirrors her experience as a young girl, when she wanted to be a boy because of the injustices towards women she saw around her. I was born in France, I grew up there and this movie is about a lot of traditions I saw when I was young, because when I was a child, my dream was to be a boy, Doucoure told TheWraps Sharon Waxman at the festival. I didnt want to be a girl because of a lot of injustices I saw around me. Because of that, I was praying [to] God at 6, 7 years old to make me a boy. I saw that the world could be better and easier as a guy. She added, I grew up in both cultures my parents are from Senegal and I also have the Western culture. I was often torn between both as a woman. Today, Im fine, I am happy to be a girl of course, but we have a fight to change the mentality of people about the place of women in society, and the movie is about how to become a woman in our society because its a bit complicated. Also Read: 'Minari' Film Review: Koreans Replant Themselves in 1980s Arkansas in Charming, Disarming Family Drama Cuties is about a young, French-African girl who joins a group of dancers at her school called the cuties, and she quickly becomes aware of her blossoming femininity. However, this upsets her mother, and her values, in the process. Doucoure said she wanted to explore the question of whether we should have the right to choose which women we can be in this world or not. Also Read: Sony Pictures Classics Lands Dog Doc 'The Truffle Hunters' In our culture, even today, I can say Im not totally free, she said. Because I love to wear short dresses and at the same time, when I go to a religious ceremony, I wear a veil. Just choose as a woman: who do you want to be? Cuties stars Fathia Youssouf Abdillahi, Ilanah Cami-Goursolas, Demba Diaw and Medina El Aidi. It will debut in France on April 1. Watch the video above. Read original story Cuties Director Says She Doesnt Feel Totally Free As a Woman in Our Society (Video) At TheWrap T he son of a murdered nanny has claimed he has tracked down her suspected killer Lord Lucan and that he is still alive. Neil Berriman said Lucan, who vanished after the murder of Sandra Rivett in November 1974, now lives as a Buddhist in a shared house in Australia. He believes Lucan is seriously ill and awaiting major surgery and said he approached Scotland Yards Cold Case Unit with his findings. The 52-year-old told the Mirror: I know he's still alive." Neil Berriman, son of Sandra Rivett, the murdered nanny who worked for Lord Lucan, pictured in 2016 / AFP via Getty Images A Scotland Yard spokesman said: we dont comment on who we may or may not speak to when/ if a case is reviewed. He added: Its still an ongoing investigation and any new evidence will be investigated. Mr Berriman, 52, said Lucan had based himself in Perth Australia but moved to another part of the country after disagreements with friends. He claimed Lucan, who would have turned 85 in December, now lives with a new group of friends. The Mirror reported that these friends confirmed an elderly Englishman who looks like Lucan lives at the house. In its report, the newspaper added that the man is aware of the claims and that it has chosen not to reveal his identity. Lucan disappeared after the murder of Miss Rivett at the familys home in Belgravia, London, on November 7, 1974. It is widely believed that Lucan attacked her in the dark mistaking her for his wife Lady Lucan, whom he struck soon afterwards. She suffered a severe beating but managed to run for her life and raise the alarm at a nearby pub. The peers car was found abandoned and soaked in blood at Newhaven, East Sussex, and an inquest jury declared him the killer a year later. Theories abound, ranging from suicide at Beachy Head to shooting himself in the head and his body fed to tigers owned by his friend John Aspinall. Qatar responded cautiously Wednesday to US President Donald Trump's Israeli-Palestinian peace plan, saying it welcomed efforts to broker "longstanding peace" but warned that was unattainable without concessions to the Palestinians. The plan grants Israel much of what it has sought in decades of international diplomacy, namely control over Jerusalem as its "undivided" capital, rather than a city to share with the Palestinians. The plan also lets Israel annex West Bank settlements. Qatar is a supporter of the Palestinian cause and has previously hosted leaders of Hamas, the Islamist movement that rules the Gaza Strip. The gas-rich Gulf state has provided millions of dollars in aid to Gaza to fund fuel deliveries to the territory's sole power station and cash handouts to needy families. But Qatar is also a strong ally of the United States. It hosts Washington's largest airbase in the region. claiming to have spent $8 billion supporting US operations and pledges to invest $1.8 billion more to upgrade the facility. "Qatar welcomes all efforts aiming towards a longstanding peace in the occupied Palestinian territories, appreciating the endeavours of the current US administration to find solutions for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict," the state-run Qatar Agency reported. "Qatar reaffirms its commitment for supporting the Palestinian institutions, noting that peace cannot be sustainable if Palestinians rights in their sovereign state... including east Jerusalem, and the right of return are not preserved." On the flashpoint issue of Jerusalem, Trump said Israel should retain control over the city as its "undivided capital" -- effectively ruling out the possibility it could be split between Israel and the Palestinians. The plan would also end the so-called "right of return". Millions of Palestinians or their descendants who fled or were forced out when the Jewish state was created in 1948 would no longer have a case to go back. Criticising previous US diplomatic efforts as overly vague, Trump said his version was 80 pages long and contained a map depicting the proposed future neighbouring states. However, the Palestinians angrily rejected the entire plan. "This conspiracy deal will not pass. Our people will take it to the dustbin of history," Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said after Trump unveiled the plan on Tuesday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) DALLAS, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas trial lawyer Frank L. Branson and The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson have been singled out by American Lawyer Media and The National Trial Lawyers (NTL) as the 2020 Elite Trial Lawyers Law Firm of the Year for innovative trial successes in product liability litigation. This 2020 award marks back-to-back honors for Mr. Branson and the firm, which was named "Trial Team of the Year" in the same practice area in 2019. In addition, Mr. Branson was named among the Top 50 Elite Trial Lawyers for Plaintiffs Litigation in 2014. "Corporations are under intense pressure to save money by cutting corners, and that often results in less time and resources devoted to ensuring that products are safe. Thankfully, our civil justice system provides a way for Americans to hold them accountable," said Mr. Branson. "Our mission is to amplify the voices of injured individuals so that they are heard crystal clear in corporate boardrooms." Recent successes by The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson include a $242 million automotive product liability jury verdict and major settlements in cases involving transportation crashes, oilfield accidents, and serious injuries resulting from defective products and reckless or negligent corporate practices. In the last six years, the firm has had four verdicts recognized by VerdictSearch among the Top 100 in the nation. Law Firm of the Year is just the latest high-profile honor for Mr. Branson. He has also been named to Texas Lawbook's "Lions of the Bar," D Magazine's Best Lawyers in Dallas, the National Law Journal's "50 Most Influential Lawyers in the U.S.," and D CEO's "Dallas 500: The Most Powerful Business Leaders." In addition, he is the recipient of the Belli Society's Mel Award and the Southern Trial Lawyers Association's "War Horse" award. In November, the Texas Trial Lawyers Association honored Mr. Branson with its Lifetime Achievement Award. He has been named among the Super Lawyers Top 10 lawyers in Texas every year since 2007 and named among the Texas Super Lawyers Top 100 annually since 2003. The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson represents clients in cases involving complex product liability, catastrophic injury, commercial air crashes, professional negligence, and business torts. To learn more about the firm visit http://www.flbranson.com . Contact : Robert Tharp 800-559-4534 [email protected] SOURCE Law Offices of Frank L. Branson Related Links https://www.flbranson.com Technavio has been monitoring the global construction scaffolding rental market since 2018 and the market is poised to grow by USD 2.30 billion during 2020-2024, at a CAGR of 5% during the forecast period. Request a free sample report This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005297/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled global construction scaffolding rental market 2020-2024. (Graphic: Business Wire) Read the 120-page research report with TOC on "Construction Scaffolding Rental Market Analysis Report by Application (New construction, Refurbishment, and Demolition), by Product (Supported, Mobile, and Suspended), by End-user (Non-residential and Residential), by Geography (APAC, North America, Europe, MEA, and South America), and Segment Forecasts, 2020-2024". https://www.technavio.com/report/construction-scaffolding-rental-market-industry-analysis The increasing penetration of rentals and rise in construction activities in developing countries are factors anticipated to boost the growth of the market. Several construction companies are renting scaffolding equipment as it helps them in saving capital which can be utilized for other tasks. It also helps them focus on core construction activities. The penetration of rental scaffolding is increasing in APAC, North America and Europe due to increase in the awareness about these benefits of renting. The increase in demand for residences and growing disposable income of people in these economies is driving construction activities and leading construction companies to rent scaffolding equipment. Thus, the increasing popularity of rentals is expected to drive market growth during the forecast period. Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free. View market snapshot before purchasing Major Five Construction Scaffolding Rental Market Companies: Altrad Group Altrad Group operates the business under various segments such as Services and Equipment. The company offers engineering, maintenance, access solutions, and specialized services through the Services segment and offers equipment for construction and building markets through the Equipment segment. Apollo Scaffold Services Ltd. Apollo Scaffold Services Ltd. offers products through the Products business unit through which it offers a range of scaffolding products such as Ladder Beam, Lattice Beam, 750mm X-Beam, and other items. ASA Scaffolding Services Ltd. ASA Scaffolding Services Ltd. operates under the Services business segment through which it offers scaffolding hire and other scaffolding services. The company also provides a comprehensive scaffold hire service which includes delivery, erection, dismantling, and removal of all scaffolding on the site. Ashtead Group Plc Ashtead Group Plc offers products through the following business segments: Sunbelt US, A-Plant, and Sunbelt Canada. The company offers rental scaffold services which includes design, engineering, erection, and dismantle services for commercial, industrial, and special events. Brand Industrial Services Inc. Brand Industrial Services Inc. offers products through the Products and Services business segments. Through this segment, the company offers scaffold and access solutions, specialty industrial services, forming and shoring, and support services. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Construction Scaffolding Rental Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2020-2024) New Construction Refurbishment Demolition Construction Scaffolding Rental Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2020-2024) North America APAC Europe South America MEA 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 Related Reports on Industrials include: Construction Machinery Market Global Construction Machinery Market by geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America) and product (earthmoving machinery, material handling machinery, concrete and road construction machinery, and other machinery). Construction Equipment Market in Europe Construction Equipment Market in Europe by geography (Germany, France, the UK, and the rest of Europe) and product (earthmovers, road equipment, concrete equipment, and cranes). 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. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005297/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Boris Johnson today slammed Nicola Sturgeon's 'fanciful and deranged' demand for Scotland to get powers over visas after Brexit. The PM lashed out after the SNP leader said immigration from the EU must continue north of the border because the economy needs workers. Under her preferred blueprint, migrants would apply separately to the Scottish Government for a visa to live only in Scotland and Holyrood would recommend applicants to the Home Office. But when he was challenged on the idea at PMQs this afternoon, Mr Johnson flatly dismissed devolving control of borders. 'I think the idea of having a Scottish-only visa with a border at Berwick and ... inspection posts, I think this is absolutely fanciful and deranged.' SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon (pictured left) has said Scotland should have more powers over visas, but Boris Johnson (pictured right today) ridiculed the idea SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford accused Mr Johnson of misrepresenting the policy, saying he should 'listen to the evidence and deliver a tailored migration policy for Scotland'. But Mr Johnson said the Government's proposed points-based system 'will deliver the immigration this whole country needs'. Ms Sturgeon told an event in Edinburgh earlier this week: 'The hard reality is this - without continued inward migration in the years ahead, there's a real risk that Scotland's working age population will fall. 'The end of free movement will, in my view, harm the whole of the UK, but it will be uniquely harmful for Scotland. 'It's likely to weaken our economy, damage the delivery of our public services and make some of our communities less sustainable. 'That is the reason for today's paper and the proposals it contains.' She added: 'A common, UK-wide approach to immigration simply hasn't worked in Scotland's favour for some time now. SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford accused Mr Johnson of misrepresenting the policy during PMQs today 'I hope the UK Government will be prepared to work with us to deliver a Scottish visa.' The document laid out five possible methods for the creation of the visa system, ranging from total Westminster control to fully devolved to Holyrood. Ms Sturgeon endorsed models that would see the UK Government keep responsibility for the final checks on prospective migrants, but devolved administrations get more say on the criteria and eligibility assessment. The First Minister stressed the proposals were designed to work under devolution but they could be adapted for use in an independent Scotland. The Scottish Parliament is due to vote on Wednesday on whether to hold another independence referendum - even though Mr Johnson has insisted he will not give permission for one to be held. Ms Sturgeon branded the 'one size fits all' immigration system 'pretty disastrous' for Scotland. The last four Democratic winners of the Iowa caucuses Al Gore in 2000, John F. Kerry in 2004, Barack Obama in 2008 and Hillary Clinton in 2016 all went on to win the nomination. Since 1976, there have been only two cases when the Democrat who led at the caucuses did not become the Democratic nominee, the last occurring in 1992 when no one competed against favorite-son Tom Harkin. That is why the record-large field of Democratic candidates has spent so much time, money and organizing effort focused on turning out what will be a fraction of Iowas population. Brussels The United Kingdom delivered its "instrument to ratify the EU Withdrawal Agreement" to the European Council in Brussels on Wednesday. The UK's Ambassador to the EU Sir Tim Barrow was seen carrying a black briefcase with the British Royal Coat of Arms emblem on it as he entered the building. Barrow handed over the document to the European Council Secretary General Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen. This is the final Brexit step on the UK's side. Later on Wednesday, European Parliament will vote on the ratification of the UK Withdrawal agreement. Nigel Farage has described Prime Minister Boris Johnson's special adviser Dominic Cummings as a 'horrible, nasty little man' in a new Channel 4 documentary. The Brexit Party leader said he believed Mr Cummings was behind persuading Mr Johnson not to form a Leave alliance ahead of November's General Election. He also criticised him for calling him and former Ukip donor Arron Banks 'toxic' in the programme, Nigel Farage: The Man Who Made Brexit, airing at 9pm tonight. Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage (left, in Brussels today) has described Boris Johnson's special adviser Dominic Cummings (right, in London last week) as a 'horrible, nasty little man' Mr Farage told the documentary: 'I mean that horrible nasty little man who goes around calling Banks and I toxic. He's got to go. Dominic Cummings must go'. One of two preview clips revealed Mr Farage responding to a Conservative source's claim that he is 'not a fit and proper person to be allowed anywhere near power'. Following the claim in September, Mr Farage said: 'Look, that comment that we got from the Conservatives, just shows you how in the bunker the whole thing is. 'But these are the type of people that work in the Conservative Party, little nobodies but they all think they're in an episode of The West Wing and they're frightfully important. Channel 4 programme makers spent five months filming Mr Farage, whom they described as 'arguably one of the most influential and controversial politicians of our time' Another clip showed Mr Farage saying the Brexit Party is 'like a magnet' and the 'centre of gravity of the Tory Party is now moving towards where I am' 'There's no way, there's no way, no way that message came from Boris Johnson.' Programme makers spent five months filming Mr Farage, whom they described as 'arguably one of the most influential and controversial politicians of our time'. This included during the European Parliament election last May which saw the Brexit Party win more votes than the Conservatives and Labour combined. Another clip showed Mr Farage saying the Brexit Party is 'like a magnet' and the 'centre of gravity of the Tory Party is now moving towards where I am'. Mr Farage at a party rally in Colchester moments before he took the stage in September 2019 Mr Farage on the campaign bus in Kent during the build up to the EU elections in May 2019 Mr Farage at a rally in Birmingham in June 2019, setting out the party's vision going forward The programme gets access to the inner workings of the Brexit Party and looks at Mr Johnson's attempts to persuade Mr Johnson to form an alliance with him. It also sees Mr Farage talk about his well-known links to US President Donald Trump. He said: 'You know, I've been massively underused. I don't just know Trump I know many members of that administration a lot of them on telephone terms.' Speaking in July, Mr Farage told MailOnline that Mr Cummings was an 'argument waiting to happen' and had 'bizarre' ideas about calling a second referendum. Mr Farage adjusts his tie backstage in Southport at a party rally in September 2019 Mr Farage smiles next to Anne Widdicombe and Richard Tice in London in August 2019 Mr Cummings is known as the architect of the Vote Leave campaign that won the 2016 vote, and was played by Benedict Cumberbatch in a Channel 4 drama about it. But he is a divisive figure in Westminster, and clashed with Mr Farage as Vote Leave and Leave.EU competed to become the official Brexit campaigns in the referendum. Mr Cummings has been upsetting the Westminster establishment for years. In 2014, David Cameron reportedly branded him a 'career psychopath'. Mr Cummings resigned from government and accused Mr Cameron of 'bumbling from one shambles to another without the slightest sense of purpose'. Nigel Farage: The Man Who Made Brexit will be shown on Channel 4 tonight at 9pm Hyatt Hotels Corporation H has been strengthening its presence worldwide in a bid to maintain position as the fastest-growing global hospitality company. To this end, recently the company announced that it plans to expand its Americas brand pipeline by 2022. Notably, the company anticipates to open over 50 full service and select service hotels in 2020 and add more than 140 properties to its pipeline by 2022. Hyatts regional brand hotels are expected to grow by 33 percent by 2022. The Chicago-based hotel company is also confident about the success of its new properties in America due to strong demand in regional markets like California, Texas, New York, Canada and Mexico. Hyatt is optimistic about its new brands like Alila, Destination Hotels, Joie de Vivre, and Thompson Hotels. "Hyatt remains focused on thoughtfully growing our full service and select service portfolio of brands in the Americas region and growing and running our core hotel business: the development, management and franchising of full service and select service hotels, while being best-in-class," as stated by Pete Sears, Americas group president, Hyatt. Expansion to Spur Growth Hyatt, which shares space with Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. HLT, Choice Hotels International, Inc. CHH and Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation VAC, operates in an intensely competitive market. In an effort to counter competition, the company continues to expand its presence domestically and internationally. Recently, the company announced the opening of its second branded hotel in Virginia, Hyatt Centric Old Town Alexandria. Hyatt also has expansion plans in the Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Latin America. It also looks forward to expand in diverse international markets like Australia, Brazil, Germany, the U.K., Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, the Netherlands and others. This should help it gain market share in the hospitality industry, thereby boosting the business. Story continues Meanwhile, Hyatts new signings across its brands globally have consistently outpaced openings. This trend is expected to continue in 2020 and beyond. Driven by an expanding global brand presence, shares of Hyatt have outperformed the industry in the past six months. The stock has increased 23.4% compared with the industrys 20.3% growth in the same time frame. Hyatt currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside? Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana. Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look. See the pot trades we're targeting>> 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 Choice Hotels International, Inc. (CHH) : Free Stock Analysis Report Marriot Vacations Worldwide Corporation (VAC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Hyatt Hotels Corporation (H) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research [January 29, 2020] Statement by Ministers Guilbeault and Bains on the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review Panel Final Report The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage, and the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, thank the external panel for its work on the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review Panel Final Report OTTAWA, Jan. 29, 2020 /CNW/ - The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage, and the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, made the following statement on the release of the final report of the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review, Canada's Communications Future: Time to Act. "Today we received the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Legislative Review Panel Final Report, Canada's Communications Future: Time to Act. This fully independent body was set up to inform the modernization of the Broadcasting Act, the Telecommunications Act, and the Radiocommunications Act, three key laws that govern Canada's telecommunications and broadcasting sector. We would like to thank panel Chair Ms. Janet Yale, the panel members and their support staff for their ambitiouswork. They have worked tirelessly to conduct extensive consultations across the country and developed this report, and its 97 recommendations, for our consideration. We will carefully consider each one of the panel's recommendations and act as quickly as possible to modernize Canada's legislative framework in the broadcasting and telecommunications sector. Reforms are needed to level the playing field on which conventional broadcasters and digital media companies compete. Our priority is to ensure that all media companies that operate in Canada develop Canadian content and contribute to the Canadian system. Canadian stories should be accessible to all. Our government is committed to promoting affordable, high-quality Internet and wireless services, and net neutrality. We will use this report to strengthen our agenda, which is already underway. We recognize that, for Canada's culture to keep flourishing and for our economy to keep growing, we need to ensure that Canada's telecommunications and broadcasting landscape is properly aligned with today's digital age." Quick Facts In June 2018, the Government of Canada appointed an external panel to review three pieces of legislation that govern Canada's communications sector: the Telecommunications Act and Radiocommunications Act, and the Broadcasting Act. This panel conducted extensive consultations with industry officials and academic experts, covering issues such as digital content creation and net neutrality. After extensive research and consultations, the panel issued an interim report in June 2019 and was mandated to deliver a final report to Minister Guilbeault and Minister Bains by the end of January 2020. Associated Links Canada's Communications Future: Time to Act SOURCE Canadian Heritage [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Unlike the BJP and the ruling AAP which have deployed a battery of top leaders, including MPs and ministers, for canvassing for the 8 February Delhi polls, the Congress is yet to see its big guns like Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit the campaign trail. New Delhi: Unlike the BJP and the ruling AAP which have deployed a battery of top leaders, including MPs and ministers, for canvassing for the 8 February Delhi polls, the Congress is yet to see its big guns like Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit the campaign trail. With just nine days left for campaigning to end for the Assembly polls, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with an army of AAP supporters is holding roadshows every day, while his ministers are addressing gatherings in Delhi's 70 Assembly constituencies in a bid to retain power. The BJP, which lost Delhi to the Congress in 1998, has engaged Union ministers, chief ministers and parliamentarians to garner support for its candidates to bring back the national capital into its fold, after losing Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. However, the same cannot be said about the Congress, which lost the National Capital to the AAP in 2013 and faced a massive drubbing in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, not winning any of the seven parliamentary seats. The void in its campaign management is being felt by several party candidates, leaving many confused in the face of fierce canvassing by their rivals. Many are perplexed over why big leaders have not started campaigning for party candidates yet, a Congress candidate from south Delhi said in an oblique reference to Rahul and Priyanka. However, senior leaders said that the Gandhis will start campaigning from 2 February. Most senior Delhi Congress leaders are either contesting the polls or have their kins in the fray. DPCC president Subhash Chopra has fielded his daughter Shivani from Kalkaji, while campaign committee chief Kirti Azad's wife is contesting from Sangam Vihar. A senior Delhi Congress leader said Rahul and Priyanka will soon address rallies and hold roadshows. They had campaigned in the Lok Sabha polls. "There has been no delay. Our senior leaders like Raj Babbar are campaigning. The BJP has deployed all its senior leaders because they are scared and frustrated," he said. With an aim to recapture power, the top leadership of the BJP Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party president JP Nadda have been holding daily roadshows and public meetings. It has also deployed Union Ministers, chief ministers, party MPs and an army of volunteers. Azad said the Congress's election schedule is ready and senior party leaders will hold roadshows and meetings in the coming days in all the constituencies, across Delhi. AICC incharge of the Delhi Congress PC Chacko said the party's campaign has been going on in a systematic way through candidate-centric canvassing. He said its star campaigners have been saved for the last lap of campaigning. "Right now, our candidates and workers are going door-to-door in the constituencies. We are also forming committees, deputing workers and assigning them works at booth level," Chacko said. Unlike the BJP and the AAP whose prominent leaders are on the ground, the Congress's star campaigners will be involved in the climax of the campaigning from 2 to 6 February, he said. "Party leaders, including president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra, are also likely to join the campaigning in the last leg and their programmes are being finalised today," Chacko said. Once a dominant player in Delhi politics, the Congress under the chief ministership of Sheila Dikshit ruled the national capital from 1998-2013. However, its was dislodged from power in 2013. Since then the party prospects have been on a descent. In 2013, the party bagged 24 percent of the total votes and in 2014 Lok Sabha polls held six months later, it slipped to 15 percent. But it fell drastically to 9.7 in 2015 a chunk of it went to the AAP with whom it shares a similar voter base. In the 2017 MCD polls, the Congress improved its vote share to nearly 21 percent. In 2019, it dislodged the AAP to the third position, bagging 22 percent of the votes. There's no doubt that money can be made by owning shares of unprofitable businesses. For example, although Amazon.com made losses for many years after listing, if you had bought and held the shares since 1999, you would have made a fortune. 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 Aqua Bio Technology (OB:ABT) shareholders should be worried about its cash burn. For the purpose of this article, we'll define cash burn as the amount of cash the company is spending each year to fund its growth (also called its negative free cash flow). We'll start by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves in order to calculate its cash runway. Check out our latest analysis for Aqua Bio Technology Does Aqua Bio Technology Have A Long Cash Runway? A cash runway is defined as the length of time it would take a company to run out of money if it kept spending at its current rate of cash burn. As at June 2019, Aqua Bio Technology had cash of kr5.1m and no debt. In the last year, its cash burn was kr18m. So it had a cash runway of approximately 3 months from June 2019. With a cash runway that short, we strongly believe that the company must raise cash or else douse its cash burn promptly. Depicted below, you can see how its cash holdings have changed over time. OB:ABT Historical Debt, January 29th 2020 How Is Aqua Bio Technology's Cash Burn Changing Over Time? In our view, Aqua Bio Technology doesn't yet produce significant amounts of operating revenue, since it reported just kr938k in the last twelve months. 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 6.9%, which suggests that management are increasing investment in future growth, but not too quickly. However, the company's true cash runway will therefore be shorter than suggested above, if spending continues to increase. Aqua Bio Technology 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 Aqua Bio Technology Raise Cash? While its cash burn is only increasing slightly, Aqua Bio Technology shareholders should still consider the potential need for further cash, down the track. 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 comparing a company's annual cash burn to its total market capitalisation, we can estimate roughly how many shares it would have to issue in order to run the company for another year (at the same burn rate). Aqua Bio Technology has a market capitalisation of kr40m and burnt through kr18m last year, which is 46% of the company's market value. 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 Aqua Bio Technology's Cash Burn? There are no prizes for guessing that we think Aqua Bio Technology's cash burn is a bit of a worry. Take, for example, its cash runway, which suggests the company may have difficulty funding itself, in the future. While not as bad as its cash runway, its increasing cash burn is also a concern, and considering everything mentioned above, we're struggling to find much to be optimistic about. The measures we've considered in this article lead us to believe its cash burn is actually quite concerning, and its weak cash position seems likely to cost shareholders one way or another. While we always like to monitor cash burn for early stage companies, qualitative factors such as the CEO pay can also shed light on the situation. Click here to see free what the Aqua Bio Technology CEO is paid.. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies insiders are buying, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts) 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. BEIJING (AP) The United States and several other nations prepared Tuesday to airlift citizens out of a Chinese city at the center of a virus outbreak that has killed more than 100 people. Hong Kong's leader said it will cut all rail links to mainland China and halve the number of flights as authorities in China and overseas sought to stem the spread of the new virus. The number of confirmed cases rose to more than 4,500. The U.S. government chartered a plane to fly out diplomats from the U.S. Consulate in Wuhan, where the outbreak started, and other Americans. The plane will make a refueling stop in Alaska before flying on to Ontario, California, the U.S. Embassy said. A Japanese-chartered Boeing 767 departed for Wuhan to fly out its citizens, the first of two possible flights, and South Korea also said it will send a plane to the city in central China. France, Mongolia and other governments also planned evacuations. China has cut off access to Wuhan and 16 other cities in Hubei province to prevent people from leaving and spreading the virus further. The lockdown has trapped more than 50 million people in the most far-reaching disease control measures ever imposed. The Japanese flight was bringing 20,000 face masks as well as protective gear, all in short supply as hospitals grapple with a growing number of patients. The city is building two hospitals in a matter of days to add more than 2,000 beds. U.S. health officials expanded their recommendation for people to avoid non-essential travel to any part of China, rather than just Wuhan and other areas most affected by the outbreak. Asian stock markets tumbled for a second day, dragged down by worries about the viruss global economic impact. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, wearing a green surgical mask, told a news conference that train service would stop at midnight Thursday and that the two stations connecting to the mainland would be closed. She stopped short of a total closing of the border, as North Korea and Mongolia have done, but said ferry and bus service to the mainland would also be suspended. Story continues China's death toll from the new viral disease rose to 106, including the first death in Beijing, the Chinese capital, and 24 others in Hubei province, where the first illnesses were detected in December. There were 1,771 new cases confirmed in China, raising the national total to 4,515, according to the National Health Commission. It said 976 people were in serious condition. The sharp rise in infections in recent days suggests there has been significant human-to-human spread of the virus, though it could also be explained by expanded monitoring efforts, said Malik Peiris, chair in virology at the University of Hong Kong. Experts worry that the new virus may spread more easily than originally thought, or may have mutated into a form that does so. It is from the coronavirus family, which also can cause the common cold as well as more serious illnesses such as SARS. Peiris, an adviser on the World Health Organizations coronavirus emergency committee, said it is reassuring that outside of China the disease has not spread widely beyond the people who brought it from Wuhan. China has reported eight cases in Hong Kong and five in Macao, and more than 45 cases have been confirmed elsewhere in the world. Almost all involve mainland Chinese tourists or people who visited Wuhan. Thailand reported six members of a family from Hubei were new cases, raising its total to 14. Taiwan confirmed three new cases Tuesday, including two 70-year-old tourists from Wuhan, raising its total to eight. Infections also have been confirmed in the United States, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Nepal, France, Germany, Canada, Australia and Sri Lanka. The five American cases two in southern California and one each in Washington state, Chicago and Arizona are people who had recently arrived from central China. The Chinese government has sent 6,000 extra medical workers to Wuhan from across China, including 1,800 who were due to arrive Tuesday, a commission official, Jiao Yahui, said at a news conference. A baby boy was delivered by surgery in Wuhan after his 27-year-old mother was hospitalized as a highly suspected virus case, state TV reported. The mother, who has a fever and cough, was 37 weeks pregnant, or two weeks less than a standard full term. Doctors wore protective masks and clothing for the delivery Friday at Union Hospital. It was unlikely for her to be able to give natural birth, said the hospitals deputy director of obstetrics, Zhao Yin. After the baby was born, the mother would suffer less pressure in her lungs and she could get better treatment. In Beijing, residents of two villages in the capital's eastern Pinggu district were refusing to allow outsiders to enter in an effort to avoid the virus. "The village has been locked down, a member of the Beitumen village committee who would give only his surname, Guo, said by telephone. He said villagers are allowed to go out to buy daily necessities. Another village, Jingyu, imposed similar restrictions, said a member of the local committee who wouldn't give his name. The Education Ministry canceled English proficiency and other tests for students to apply to foreign universities. The ministry said the new semester for public schools and universities following the Lunar New Year was postponed until further notice. Hong Kong announced postal services and most government offices would stay closed through at least next week. The education department said schools would reopen on Feb. 17. Chinese financial markets were closed for the holiday, but stock indexes in Tokyo, Seoul and Sydney all declined. Beijings official response has vastly improved since the 2002-03 SARS outbreak, which also originated in China, but fears of a global contagion are not put to bed, said Vishnu Varathan at Mizuho Bank in Singapore. Airlines, resorts and other companies that rely on travel and tourism suffered steep losses. Prices of gold and bonds rose as traders moved money into safe haven holdings. The Shanghai Stock Exchange, one of the world's busiest, announced it was postponing the resumption of trading after the holiday by three days to Monday. The new virus causes cold- and flu-like symptoms, including cough and fever, and in more severe cases, shortness of breath and pneumonia. The virus is thought to have spread to people from wild animals sold at a Wuhan market. China on Sunday banned trade in wild animals and urged people to stop eating meat from them. ___ Associated Press researcher Henry Hou in Beijing, video journalist Katie Tam in Hong Kong, writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo and medical writer Maria Cheng in London contributed to this story. Paris: French writer Gabriel Matzneff said in an interview on Wednesday that he "regrets" his trips to Asia to have sex with children, claiming that at the time "no one ever said it was a crime". The veteran essayist is being investigated by French police after a leading French publishing executive detailed how he abused her when she was 14 in an explosive new bestseller. "A tourist should not behave like that," the 83-year-old told a French television channel in Italy, where he has fled to escape the storm the revelations stirred. French publishing houses pulled his works from bookshops last month, a move that Matzneff has denounced as a "wave of neo-puritanism". "I find it stupid, extravagant that in 2020 I am facing grief for books I wrote more than 40 years ago," he said. But in the new interview with BFMTV, a rolling news channel, he was more contrite. "An adult should turn their head away and resist the temptation. Naturally, if I did something that was not good I regret it. You were there as a traveller, and young boys and girls were trying to pull you in the street and jump on you under the benevolent eye of the police. At the time," Matzneff added, "people talked of inciting a minor to debauchery, or indecent assault... But nobody ever spoke of crime." Matzneff never made any secret of his sexual preference for adolescent girls and boys and it did not stop him winning the Renaudot prize in 2013. He also was awarded major state honours in France: Officer of Arts and Letters and Knight of the Order of National Merit. And the writer even enjoyed a special pension and reduced rent for his apartment in a chic district of the French capital. The case has shone a light on what many see as an overly permissive attitude towards the sexual harassment and sexual abuse of children in France. 'It's like the Soviet Union' In "Les Moins de Seize Ans", ("The Under 16s"), first published in 1974 and reissued in 2005, Matzneff was frank about indulging his obsession for underage partners and sex tourism. In the 1990s, he told French television that "a very young girl is rather sweeter, even if she becomes very quickly hysterical and just as crazy as she will be when she is older". But attitudes toward the writer changed dramatically after publisher Vanessa Springora revealed her tortured relationship with him in her book "Consent", published on January 2. She described how Matzneff, then in his 50s, would wait for her outside school and then take her to a hotel for sex. Matzneff denies any wrongdoing, insisting there was an "exceptional love" between him and Springora. During the interview with BFMTV, Matzneff insisted, "I never said anything nasty about her because she is a luminous person." But he railed against the French government for threatening to take away his special pension. "It's like the Soviet Union," said the writer, whose parents were White Russian refugees. But French equality minister Marlene Schiappa said the problem with Matzneff "was not what he wrote but what he did". His case had exposed "major dysfunction" in French society, she said. "There are Matzneffs everywhere, and we have to denounce them." There was drama in the trial of Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) when a prosecution witness denied knowledge of his witness statement. Benjamin Osei Ampofo Adjei, a newscaster with Adom Fm, was in court on Wednesday to testify on behalf of the prosecution, but he ended up denying the statement the prosecution said he made to buttress their case. Ampofo although acknowledged his signature on the statement, buy claimed he had no knowledge of the content. After many tussles by the defence and prosecution, the Accra High Court adopted the statement after the presiding judge, Justice Samuel Asiedu, ruled that as far as the witness had identified his signature on the statement, the statement was valid. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo and Anthony Kweku Boahen, a Deputy Communication Officer is the party, are on trial over an alleged leaked tape in which they are accused of inciting violence against the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Mrs Jean Mensa, and the Chairman of the National Peace Council (NPC), Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante. The two have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit assault against a public officer, while Ofosu-Ampofo has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault against a public officer. ---graphic.com.gh TICKERS: PNOR Source: Streetwise Reports (1/29/20) The compelling aspects of this investment opportunity are outlined in a Pareto Securities report. In a Jan. 20 research note, analyst Tom Eric Kristiansen reported that Pareto Securities initiated coverage on PetroNor E&P Ltd. (PNOR:OSE) with a Buy rating and an NOK 1.3 target price. The current share price is NOK 0.98. Kristiansen, noting the company has "high growth ambitions ahead," presented the highlights of the PetroNor story. For one, the energy company "delivered solid production growth" and a 25%-plus return on capital since securing four oil fields in offshore Congo's Pointe Noire Grand Fond (PNGF) Sud block in 2017. Three years later, these fields are expected to produce 2,400 barrels of oil equivalent per day (2,400 boe/d) net in 2020, a greater than 50% increase, at a lower operating expense of US$12 per boe versus $26. This is due in large part to workovers of existing wells being done at a low cost. Thus, late last year PetroNor increased Proven and Probable reserves there by 28% to 11,200,000 boe. "We estimate that PetroNor E&P will generate an average annual fixed capital outlay of US$18 million in 2020 to the end of 2022 at Brent US$65 per barrel oil that likely will be reinvested info further growth," Kristiansen commented. Also late in 2019, PetroNor engaged in several transactions to pursue overlooked potential on the Aje block in offshore Nigeria and thereby potentially grow the company further. When the Aje transaction closes, it will increase PetroNor's production base to about 2,600 boe/d from 2,300 and offer further growth potential. Further, PetroNor has exposure to four disputed exploration blocks in The Gambia and Senegal, which have "a very large, derisked upside potential of 4.9 billion boe gross," Kristiansen described. The company is working to resolve the issues, for which final rulings are anticipated later in 2020. Looking forward, PetroNor aims to increase production to 30,000 boe/d over the next three years through mergers and acquisitions. "We expect further transactions to be announced in 2020," noted Kristiansen. The oil company will continue to invest in workovers, infill drilling and exploration wells, likely funded by cash flow from production, possibly increased leverage and/or new equity. Kristiansen concluded that "the company today trades fairly in line with our valuation of its producing assets indicating upside potential if PetroNor E&P is able continue to grow production at the PNGF Sud block, successfully revitalize the Aje partnership and/or secure a positive outcome of the ongoing arbitration processes related to the legacy assets from Africa Petroleum (final rulings expected in 2020)." [NLINSERT] Disclosure: 1) Doresa Banning compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor. She or members of her household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. She or members of her household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None. 2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. 3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. 4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports. 5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article until three business days after the publication of the interview or article. 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Internal rules have been developed in accordance with recommendations issued by the stockbrokers associations. This material has been prepared following the Pareto Securities Conflict of Interest Policy. The guidelines in the policy include rules and measures aimed at achieving a sufficient degree of independence between various departments, business areas and sub-business areas within the Pareto Securities Group in order to, as far as possible, avoid conflicts of interest from arising between such departments, business areas and sub-business areas as well as their customers. One purpose of such measures is to restrict the flow of information between certain business areas and sub-business areas within the Pareto Securities Group, where conflicts of interest may arise and to safeguard the impartialness of the employees. For example, the Corporate Finance departments and certain other departments included in the Pareto Securities Group are surrounded by arrangements, so-called Chinese Walls, to restrict the flows of sensitive information from such departments. The internal guidelines also include, without limitation, rules aimed at securing the impartialness of, e.g., analysts working in the Pareto Securities Research departments, restrictions with regard to the remuneration paid to such analysts, requirements with respect to the independence of analysts from other departments within the Pareto Securities Group rules concerning contacts with covered companies and rules concerning personal account trading carried out by analysts. LEBANON, NH - Oxygen in cancer tumors is known to be a major factor that helps radiation therapy be successful. Hypoxia, or starvation of oxygen, in solid tumors is also thought to be an important factor in resistance to therapy. However, it is difficult to monitor tumor oxygenation without invasive sampling of oxygen distributions throughout the tissue, or without averaging across the whole tumor, whereas oxygen is highly heterogenous within a tumor. A research team at Dartmouth's and Dartmouth-Hitchcock's Norris Cotton Cancer Center led by Brian Pogue, PhD, has developed the first non-invasive way to directly monitor oxygen distributions within the tumor right at the time when radiation therapy is happening. With injection of an oxygen probe drug, PtG4, they are able to image the distribution of oxygen from within the tumor. The method measures the luminescence lifetimes of PtG4 while it is excited by the Cherenkov light emitted by the radiation therapy. The drug, PtG4, stays in the tumor for at least a week, and works for imaging repeatedly. "The imaging is all done without any additional radiation, simply by using a camera to monitor the emissions during radiotherapy treatment," explains Pogue. "Following two tumor lines, one which is known to be responsive to radiation and one which is known to be resistant, we could see differences in the oxygenation of the tumor which are reflective of their differences in response." The team's findings, "Tissue pO2 Distributions in Xenograft Tumors Dynamically Imaged by Cherenkov-Excited Phosphorescence during Fractionated Radiation Therapy," are newly published in Nature Communications, by lead author, Xu Cao. Pogue's team is able to capture oxygenation imaging through special technology. "We have a unique set of time-gated cameras in our radiation therapy department that were designed for Cherenkov-based radiation dosimetry, but we have used them for this additional purpose of monitoring oxygen in the tumors under treatment," says Pogue. "So access to these specialized Cherenkov cameras made the measurements possible." Pogue's team also collaborated with Professor Sergei Vinogradov and his team at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, who produced the PtG4 and supported the work with drug characterization and co-supervision of the study. Pogue hopes to develop this tumor monitoring ability into a useful clinical aid used to track tumor response to radiation therapy, especially tumors that are known to be hypoxic. Having such information available at the time of treatment could be helpful in influencing treatment decisions such as giving a radiation boost where needed. "When a patient gets radiation therapy, the treatment should be designed to directly utilize as much information about the patient's tumor as possible," says Pogue. "Today, we use the shape of the tumor and the tissue around it. But, we need to also think about using measurements of the tumor metabolism because this affects the success of treatment as well. Future radiation therapy treatments should ideally incorporate metabolic features such as oxygenation of the tumor when the treatment is planned or delivered." The next steps toward this future are already underway. Pogue's team is looking to characterize how small of a region they can track the oxygenation from, and how fast they can take measurements. "Our goal is to produce oxygen images at video rate, with a spatial resolution that allows us to see radiobiologically relevant hypoxia nodules in the tumor of humans," explains Pogue. ### Brian W. Pogue, PhD, is Co-Director of the Translational Engineering in Cancer Research Program at Dartmouth's and Dartmouth-Hitchcock's Norris Cotton Cancer Center, MacLean Professor of Engineering at Dartmouth's Thayer School of Engineering, and Professor of Surgery at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and President and Co-Founder of DoseOptics, which develops camera systems and software for radiotherapy imaging of Cherenkov light for dosimetry. His research interests include optics in medicine, biomedical imaging to guide cancer therapy, molecular-guided surgery, dose imaging in radiation therapy, Cherenkov light imaging, image-guided spectroscopy of cancer, photodynamic therapy, and modeling of tumor pathophysiology and contrast. About Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center combines advanced cancer research at Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine with patient-centered cancer care provided at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock regional locations in Manchester, Nashua and Keene, NH, and St. Johnsbury, VT, and at partner hospitals throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. It is one of 51 centers nationwide to earn the National Cancer Institute's "Comprehensive Cancer Center" designation. Learn more about Norris Cotton Cancer Center research, programs, and clinical trials online at cancer.dartmouth.edu. KAMPALA A team of American technology investors sponsored by Amazon co-founder, Jeff Bezos has shown keen interest to invest in Uganda particularly in the Information, Communication (ICT) sector. The group is from Mark43 a technology company whose objective is to support communities and their governments with new technologies with an aim to improve the safety and quality of life for all. The American team was ushered into the country by the East African Partners (EAP) Managing director, Isaac Kigozi who took them through a number of Ugandas vast investment opportunities. Kigozi said that the team is in the country to find ways of exporting advanced technology into the country as well as interact with the youth interested in the ICT sector. They were led by Florian Mayr, Co-Founder & Vice President of Solution Architecture Matthew Polega Mark43 Co-Founder & Head of Marketing, and Mark Duane Roylance. They have since held meetings with President Museveni, the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, the Minister of Tourism in the Busoga Kingdom, Hellen Namutamba. Kigozi noted that during the meeting with President Yoweri Museveni on Sunday 26th, January 2020, the President commended the youthful Americans for choosing Uganda as an investment destination as well as focusing on advancing the countrys technology in a number of sectors. While meeting with the delegation, the Investment Minister, Evelyn Anite welcomed the team and interested them to invest in the countrys oldest telecom company the Uganda Telecom Limited (UTL). Anite is optimistic that the team has all that it takes to offer any technical services that are needed to revive the telecom company. We welcome you to Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, a country with enormous investment opportunities in technology, Agriculture, Tourism, Oil and Gas, Education, Health and other sector; we welcome you to take interest in any of the sectors and government is ready to offer you any kind of support, Anite said. Mathew Polega noted that the company will as well collaborate with the government to train and equip youth in the country with new technologies that are tailored towards offering solutions to prevailing problems as well as making good use of social media. The biggest successful technology world over is the existence of the cloud, the use of the internet; any idea turned into an application (App) can be a basis of good technology. All enterprising companies need consumer technology and Social Media is one-way companies engage with users of their products; you always want to develop solutions that will help you engage with your customers to know what they think about your products and social media is a great platform, it helps companies know what customers think about their products and that they care, Polega said. Mark Duane Roylance said that indeed Africa has got a number of opportunities with growing economies, a lot untapped potential with a dynamic population that guarantees a successful investment. Related The odds of a space-junk crash this evening (Jan. 29) aren't as slim as we had thought, it turns out. Two dead satellites the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) and the Gravity Gradient Stabilization Experiment (GGSE-4) will zoom past each other today in the skies above Pittsburgh, analyses by California-based company LeoLabs indicate. As of Tuesday (Jan. 28), LeoLabs' calculations suggested that the two craft would miss each other by from 43 feet to 285 feet (13 to 87 meters) at closest approach, which will occur at 6:39 p.m. EST (2339 GMT). And the probability of a smashup was quite low just 0.1%. Video: Watch how close NASA's IRAS and GGSE-4 satellites will get Related: Space junk cleanup: 7 wild ways to destroy orbital debris This graphic shows the close encounter between two pieces of space junk, the dead satellites IRAS and GGSE-4, over Pittsburgh on the evening of Jan. 29, 2020. (Image credit: LeoLabs) But the latest outlook isn't quite so rosy. Additional calculations suggest that the two objects will miss each other by a mere 39 feet (12 m), LeoLabs announced via Twitter this morning. And the chance of an impact is now back up around 1%, as LeoLabs had calculated earlier this week but might even be as high as 5%. "Since we learned that GGSE 4 has a deployed 18-m boom and we do not know which direction it is facing relative to IRAS, this changes the assumptions used in computing collision risk," company representatives explained in a tweet this morning. "Adjusting our calculations to account for larger object sizes (by increasing our combined hard body radius from 5 m to 10 m), this yields an updated collision probability closer to 1 in 20," they wrote in another tweet. 4/ Adjusting our calculations to account for larger object sizes (by increasing our combined Hard Body Radius from 5m to 10m), this yields an updated collision probability closer to 1 in 20.January 29, 2020 See more The nearly 2,400-lb. (1,090 kilograms) IRAS, a joint project involving NASA, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, launched in January 1983 to study the heavens in infrared light. Its mission ended 10 months later. GGSE-4, which weighs just 190 lbs. (85 kg), was lofted in 1967 and ceased operations in 1972. The little satellite was a U.S. National Reconnaissance Office craft that collected signals intelligence, according to Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics who keeps tabs on many of the objects circling Earth. And GGSE-4 was just a cover name; the satellite's true moniker was POPPY 5B, McDowell said . We should hope that IRAS and GGSE-4 sail safely past each other Wednesday evening. Both are hurtling through space at more than 32,000 mph (51,500 km/h), and a collision would generate a new swarm of debris in sun-synchronous orbit, a valuable patch of space occupied by many spacecraft. Mike Wall's book about the search for alien life, " Out There " (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate ), is out now. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook . The anti-graft agency, ICPC, has expressed interest in prosecuting the sexual harassment allegation against a lecturer of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. This is as the panel set up by the university management to investigate the allegations submitted its report to the vice-chancellor, Eyitope Ogunbodede. The department is currently remarking the scripts of students who took the course taught by the concerned lecturer, IRS 305. A 400-level student of the department of international relations, faculty of administration, Motunrayo Afolayan, accused the lecturer, Olabisi Olaleye, of sexually harassing her. Following Ms Afolayans petition to the universitys centre for gender and social policy studies, a seven-member panel chaired by the provost of the institutions postgraduate college, Yetunde Ajibade, was set up to investigate the matter. Presenting the panels report on Monday, Mrs Ajibade said the members discharged their duties without fear or favour. A statement issued by the universitys spokesperson, Abiodun Olarewaju, noted the universitys zero tolerance for sexual and emotional harassment. The statement reads in part; Professor Ogunbodede urged any student or member of the university community to avail themselves of the opportunity of the open door policy of the present administration to report any infringement on their rights by anybody to the appropriate organ of the university for possible investigation and redress. Mr. Olabisi Olaleye Accordingly, the university administration will now present the findings of the panel to the Academic and Promotion Committee of the university for deliberations who, in turn, will present the outcome to the university governing council for final decision. Mr Olarerwaju said the university would make the final decision on the matter public, even as the vice-chancellor thanked the public for their interest in the university, and pledge to always preserve the academic sanctity and intellectual integrity of the university. ICPC expresses interest A source at the ICPC confided in PREMIUM TIMES that the anti-corruption body is interested in prosecuting the matter to serve as deterrence. The source, who asked not to be named as he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said ICPC would collaborate with universities to rid their campuses of all forms of corruption. During the trial of Prof. Akindele, the one who was later sentenced by the court, ICPC had sought the commitment of the university to always share similar cases with it, so that prosecution can be better handled. It is, therefore, unfortunate that we only heard of this from a distance. But that will not discourage us from taking appropriate steps. We are watching very keenly, and awaiting the universitys verdict on the matter, the source said University remarks students scripts Meanwhile, as a way of ensuring justice and fairness, the department of international relations has remarked the course taken by Mr Olaleye, which led to the controversy. A source at the department, who does not want to be named, said the decision was taken after the department discovered that the results of IRS 305 with the course title of Diplomacy, taught by Olaleye alongside another lecturer, Omolara Akinyemi, were illegally released. Home Four wheelers Great Wall Motors Confirms Debut At Auto Expo: Will Unveil Haval Concept H, Concept Vision 2025 oi-Rahul Jaswal China based Great Wall Motors has confirmed that it will make its India debut at the upcoming Auto Expo scheduled for 5 February. The company also said it was ready to, and would announce its India plans at the event. {photo-feature} Most Viewed Videos Former Vice President Joe Biden has stopped short of saying he'd support Bernie Sanders if the progressive Vermont senator wins the Democratic presidential nomination. "I'm not going to make judgments now," Biden told reporters in Muscatine, six days before the Iowa caucuses. "I just think that it depends upon how we treat one another between now and the time we have a nominee." Biden had previously promised to support the Democratic nominee, "regardless" of who it is. At some stops along the campaign trail, Biden has even pledged to "work like hell" to help any of his rivals defeat President Donald Trump. Yet tensions are rising between Biden and Sanders on the campaign trail. The two men reflect the larger ideological battle between a Democratic establishment in which Biden has spent his career and the progressive left that has surged in influence since Sanders' failed bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016. The two have jousted over their records on Social Security, foreign policy and trade. Sanders recently apologized to Biden after one of the senator's high-profile supporters penned a column asserting that Biden has a "corruption problem." And Biden has ratcheted up his suggestions in recent days, without naming Sanders, that the party will lose big in November if it makes a sharp leftward turn. Asked later Tuesday whether he can defeat Sanders, a democratic socialist elected in Vermont as an independent, Biden smiled, nodded and then boarded his campaign bus. Biden is in the middle of his final tour of the state before the Monday caucuses begin Democrats' 2020 voting. Sanders is balancing his campaign with Trump's Senate impeachment trial on Capitol Hill. Polls ahead of the Iowa caucuses suggest Sanders and Biden are in a tight race with Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana. Sanders has confidently predicted victory in Iowa and in the February 11 New Hampshire primary that follows, telling his supporters that the party establishment is nervous about his strength. His advisers argue that such momentum would dent Biden's long-standing advantage in most national polls of Democratic voters. Biden's advisers maintain that the state is a toss-up, and they've said for months that the former vice president doesn't have to win in Iowa because he maintains a wide advantage among nonwhite voters who will have strong sway over states that vote after Iowa and New Hampshire. Last week, Sanders' 2016 rival for the Democratic nomination, Hillary Clinton, initially refused to say whether she would endorse the Vermont senator if he wins the 2020 nomination "I'm not going to go there yet," she said and she offered a broad condemnation of his style of Later, she walked back her comments, saying her No. 1 priority was "retiring Trump and that as I always have, I will do whatever I can to support our nominee. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three women were found murdered in a Miami home Tuesday and a baby is missing, leading cops to launch a desperate search for baby boy and his father. The three women, who were all Hispanic and aged between 40 and 80, were found dead from gunshot wounds inside the home in a remote neighborhood in south Miami-Dade. Police confirmed a baby boy is also missing. It's not clear exactly how old the baby is. They are now searching for the child's father Ernesto Caballeiro, 49, who they believe may have information about the case and could be in trouble. Police are hunting for the child's father Ernesto Caballeiro, 49, (pictured) after three women were murdered in a Miami home Tuesday and a newborn baby is missing The seven-month old boy (pictured), who has not been named. Police launched a desperate search for the child and his father Caballeiro, who they believe may have information about the case and could be in trouble Video courtesy of Local 10 Officers were called to the home Tuesday after a family member of the victims called by after making repeated attempts to contact them and found the bodies of the three women, Lee Cowart, a spokesman for Miami-Dade police said. The last known contact the women had was at about 10:30 a.m. that day, police said. Cowart confirmed that police are 'are attempting to locate' Caballeiro, who lived at the home where the triple homicide happened. Officers were called to the home Tuesday after a family member of the victims went to the home after making repeated attempts to contact them and found the bodies of the three women Lee Cowart, a spokesman for Miami-Dade police (above), confirmed that police are 'are attempting to locate' Caballeiro, who lived at the home where the triple homicide happened The home and surrounding road have been taped off by police and much of the neighborhood is on lockdown According to Local 10 Caballero is not considered a person of interest in the murders. A source said police believe Caballeiro is still in the nearby area because of items that were left at the home, reported The Miami Herald. The home and surrounding road have been taped off by police and much of the neighborhood is on lock down while the search continues. Police are asking anyone with information to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS Mesmerising military tunes echoed to the synchronised foot-tapping of soldiers of three wings of armed forces at Beating the Retreat ceremony here with people enjoying the enchanting spectacle in the backdrop of a setting sun. The ceremony at Vijay Chowk saw bands from the Army, Navy and Air Force play tunes such as Madhumati, Marhapeka, Nritya Sarita, Ganga Jamuna and Jauna Solti. 'Abide With Me', a hymn, was played in the last after which the bands marched back playing 'Saare Jahan Se Achha'. The ceremony, held with traditional grandeur, marks the end of four-day-long Republic Day celebrations. President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, three service chiefs were among those who attended the event. The Tricolour was lowered at dusk in the backdrop of the setting sun. Rashtrapati Bhavan, North Block, South Block and Parliament House were illuminated presenting a picturesque sight. An event of pride, Colours and Standards are paraded during the ceremony. It traces its origins to the early 1950s when Major Roberts of the Indian Army indigenously developed the unique ceremony of display by the massed bands. 'Beating Retreat' marks a centuries old military tradition, when the troops ceased fighting, sheathed their arms and withdrew from the battlefield and returned to the camps at sunset at the sounding of the Retreat. Colours and standards are cased and flags lowered. The ceremony creates nostalgia of the times gone by. Drumbeats during the ceremony recall the day when troops were recalled to their quarters at an appointed time in the evening. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A total of 450 jobs are set to be axed under a major cost-cutting cull in the BBCs newsroom, it was announced today. Newsnight, 5Live and the Victoria Derbyshire programme are among the flagship parts of the operation that will be affected by the swingeing cuts. Announcing the decision on Wednesday, the BBC said it wanted to "reduce duplication" across its output while making major savings, with an estimated 450 job losses expected. There will also be a review of "the number of presenters we have and how they work", it added. BBC News has to save 80m by 2022 as part of financial pressures on the corporation, including paying for free TV licences for over-75s on pension credit. As part of the changes, there will be several posts cut on Newsnight, which recently made headlines with its interview with the Duke of York over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. There will also be a reduction in the number of films produced by the programme, with the budget cut for its investigative journalism. An unspecified number of positions will be axed at 5Live, which the BBC said was "driven by the changing listening habits of the audience and demand for digital content". The changes mean there will be "a reduction in the overall number of stories covered" and "there will be further investment in digital news". In addition, World Update on World Service English will be closed and the Victoria Derbyshire programme will also be axed - as was leaked last week. The BBC presenter said at the time that she was "absolutely devastated" to learn that her BBC Two programme was being cancelled. After the news was announced, BBC Essex political reporter Charlotte Rose retweeted Sky News' Nick Stylianou's tweet on the announcement, saying: "RTing my colleague at Sky here - because its not like we get to know ahead of everyone else". Presenter Anna Collinson, who worked on 5Live and the Victoria Derbyshire programme, also released a statement on Twitter, calling the decision to axe the show "gutting". She wrote: "The BBC is constantly criticised for failing underserved audiences. The same audiences we were proud to serve and served well." Health, Science and Environment reporter Laura Foster also shared the news joking: "In case you're having trouble getting hold of anyone at BBC News this lunchtime..." Fran Unsworth, director of news and current affairs, said the decision was made because the BBC must "face up to the changing way audiences are using us". "We have to adapt and ensure we continue to be the world's most trusted news organisation, but, crucially, one which is also relevant for the people we are not currently reaching," she said. "We need to reshape BBC News for the next decade in a way which saves substantial amounts of money. We are spending too much of our resources on traditional linear broadcasting and not enough on digital. "Our duty as a publicly-funded broadcaster is to inform, educate and entertain every citizen. But there are many people in this country that we are not serving well enough. "I believe that we have a vital role to play locally, nationally and internationally. In fact, we are fundamental to contributing to a healthy democracy in the UK and around the world. If we adapt, we can continue to be the most important news organisation in the world." However, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) general secretary Michelle Stanistreet described the BBC cuts as "damaging". Ms Stanistreet said in a statement: "These damaging cuts are part of an existential threat to the BBC and a direct consequence of the last disastrous, secret licence fee deal the BBC agreed with the government. This is before the impact of taking over responsibility for the over-75s licences kicks in. "Against this backdrop, the BBC's very existence is being threatened with public service broadcasting under unprecedented threat. "If the government goes ahead and decriminalises non-payment of the licence fee, we know the impact will be further losses for the BBC of around 200 million a year and increased collection costs of 45 million. "Such a politically-motivated move - dressed up as concern for the mythical imprisonment of vulnerable members of society - will serve to undermine one of the UK's strongest success stories, emasculating a brand renowned and respected across the globe." Conservative MP Damian Collins, who is standing for re-election as chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee, also: "There will be concerns about proposed BBC news cuts. "They should explain how it'll impact the BBC's ability to reach people." The cuts come amid payouts to some female staff, with radio presenter Sarah Montague getting a 400,000 settlement and Samira Ahmed winning an employment tribunal in a dispute over equal pay. A BBC World Service employee later said that any cuts at the corporation should be to management roles. The employee, who did not want to be named, said: They have always found the cuts [in programming] and never at a managerial level. He added that the BBCs journalism is all moving to digital because traditional broadcasting formats are declining in popularity. The BBC will continue to lose shares of the audience, he said. Gary Lineker, one of the BBC's highest-paid presenters, called for the broadcaster's licence fee to be made voluntary on Tuesday. His comments came amid an ongoing debate on the future of the 154.50 charge, more than six months after the corporation announced plans to scrap free licence fees for the over-75s. The Match of the Day host, who scooped a whopping 1.75million in earnings from the BBC between 2018-19, said the annual charge presented a fundamental problem. The Centre has taken it upon itself to expedite the winding up of businesses by small firms. Companies with assets of up to 1 crore will now be able to opt for a fast-track procedure to shut shop, bypassing the judicial route that they have had to take so far. This should relieve tribunals of the heavy burden of cases theyve had to bear ever since the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code came into force. While a parallel mechanism will add to institutional capacity, bottlenecks in the liquidation process, such as a shortage of liquidators, may still not ease. For the millions of sexual assault survivors in the United States, current events can be rough terrain. In an age when a constant stream of thoughts, information and pictures is available at our fingertips, it can be difficult to avoid stories and imagery of sexual assault and abuse. Sometimes, the news is just too much, said Megan, a 46-year-old teacher in West Virginia who said she was victimized as a minor and requested that The Washington Post not publish her last name. Ill be watching movies or TV or even the news, and there are sometimes where Im just like, Nope, cant do this today, not even going to attempt it. Photo: San Jose Public Library/Flickr Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in San Jose. Man dies of injuries suffered in Jan. 14 crash An 85-year-old man hit by a pickup truck in San Jose on Jan. 14 died of his injuries last week, police said. Read the full story on Mercury News. New book details blind San Jose housewifes legal victory In Her Right to Know, attorney Sal Liccardo recounts his epic case in the 1970s against pharmaceutical powerhouse Johnson & Johnson. Read the full story on Mercury News. San Jose testing e-scooter technology to get riders to stay off sidewalks San Jose is the first place in the world to test out new scooter technology that can detect if someone is riding on the sidewalk or the street. Read the full story on CBS San Francisco. Super Bowl 2020: San Jose's Los Tigres del Norte to kick off Spanish language broadcast The San Jose-based, legendary Mexican band agreed to the video presentation in the hopes that having more Latinos on-screen will send a broader message of inclusion. Read the full story on ABC Bay Area, KGO. 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. 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. Photo: Not many people knew who Oskar Schindler was prior to 1982, when Australian author Thomas Keneally published Schindlers List, which was then turned into Steven Spielbergs 1993 Oscar-winning film of the same name. Suddenly, the German businessman who saved the lives of an estimated 1,200 Jews in Europe during World War II wasnt just some obscure, historical footnote fit for a Jeopardy question. The makers of Quezons Game, no doubt, are itching for the same sort of recognition for Manuel L. Quezon, the president of the Philippines from 1935 to 1944 who helped mastermind the rescue of a similar number of Jews as Schindler. Its a little-known bit of history that first-time features director Matthew Rosen (a Jewish resident of the Philippines) along with screenwriters Janice Y. Perez and Dean Rosen have brought to the screen in a straightforward, efficient film that may not win many plaudits for style or acting but has a story thats never less than fascinating. As the movie opens in the late 30s, Quezon (Raymond Bagatsing) is a man in the middle. His country is a commonwealth of the United States, and a movement is underway for complete independence. He has to keep his country together and mold a new identity separate from Spain and the U.S., whose flags had previously flown over the Philippines. So when one of his poker buddies, Jewish-American cigar company executive Alex Frieder (Billy Ray Gallion), asks him if theres a way that Quezon could provide a haven for at least some Jews who want to flee Europe, the president is cool to the idea. Hes got enough on his plate without having to worry about antagonizing the U.S., the ultimately German-allied Japanese (who would invade in 1941) or his political opposition at home. But as things get more perilous abroad, and Frieders pleas become more desperate, Quezon agrees, putting in motion a plan that would also include Dwight Eisenhower (David Blanco), who was then in the Philippines as a military attache. It meant tricking both the German government into approving exit visas for Jews the newly installed German diplomat in the Philippines seems straight out of Nazi Central Casting and convincing a skeptical President Roosevelt to let them settle in the Philippines. Basically, the sales pitch was that the Philippines would be taking people from Germany that it didnt want and bringing them to a country where their skills could help build a new nation. So it would be a win-win for everyone excepting, of course, those who couldnt get out of Europe. The plan was to admit as many as 10,000 but, ultimately, Quezon and Frieder had to settle for 1,200. Through it all, Quezon is also dealing with a personal crisis, as his battles with tuberculosis worsen. In the hands of a different filmmaker, Quezons Game might have been suspenseful, touching and informative. As it stands, it has to make do with mostly just the third element, until the very end. And at more than two hours, its too long. Bagatsing, a well-known actor in the Philippines, is quite good as Quezon, and he and Gallion carry the film, as much of the rest of the cast ranges from adequate to amateurish. Ultimately, Quezons Game, however well-intentioned, is not going to be embraced the way Schindlers List was. Still, its story of bravery and subverting evil authority are lessons that never grow old. cary.darling@chron.com twitter.com/carydar Quezons Game Rated PG-13: for strong language, thematic material including some disturbing images, and smoking throughout Running time: 127 minutes Language: In Tagalog and English with English subtitles Where: Cinemark Tinseltown 290, Houston (out of 5) We're sorry, you encountered a page that doesn't exist. The brand-new British Airways A350 touches down in Toronto for the first time on Oct. 1, 2019 in Canada. (George Pimentel/Getty Images for British Airways) British Airways Suspends Flights to China Amid Coronavirus Fears British Airways (BA) has suspended all direct flights to and from mainland China amid the coronavirus outbreak after the UK foreign office warned against non-essential travel to the country. The airlines official website BA.com currently shows no direct flights to mainland China available to book, with a message: Sorry, there are no direct flights for this route, flights with connections are below. We apologize to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority, British Airways said in a statement to Reuters on Jan. 28. The airline usually operates daily flights from Londons Heathrow Airport to Shanghai and Beijing. Earlier on Wednesday, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office advised against all but essential travel to mainland China due to the viral outbreak. The Chinese government continue to impose further restrictions on movement within China in response to the coronavirus outbreak, it said. It may become harder over the coming weeks for those who wish to leave China to do so. BAs move comes after United Airlines suspended some flights to and from China due to a major fall in demand. UK-based airline Virgin Atlantic said its flights to Shanghai would continue to operate as scheduled. Taiwans China Airlines, Jetstar Asia and IndiGo have also canceled some flights to China. Korean airline Air Seoul suspended all flights to China, while Indonesias Lion Air canceled some this month and all flights to China next month. Several countries, including the United States and Japan, have started evacuating its citizens from the virus epicenter of Wuhan. The deadly coronavirus outbreak has infected thousands in China and spread to 15 countries overseas, with the United Arab Emirates being the latest to be hit. Most of the confirmed cases overseas are Chinese visitors, people who visited Wuhan, or family members who had close contact with the infected. In Japan, one of the six confirmed cases was a bus driver who drove tour groups from Wuhan. Germany has confirmed four cases being employees of an auto parts company who contracted the virus after a colleague from Shanghai visited their workplace. School leaders to start industrial action short of strike at midnight tonight Members of school leaders' union NAHT, which represents leaders in every school on the Isle of Man, will be commencing industrial action short of strike from midnight on Thursday. School leaders are being forced to take industrial action as the Department for Education, Sport and Culture (DESC) has failed to resolve a long-standing dispute over pay. At a union meeting on Tuesday, Paul Whiteman, NAHT general secretary, said: "The strength of feeling of school leaders and teachers on the island is clear and we are determined to continue to stand together to improve things for both staff and pupils in the island's schools. Enough is enough. Now is the time for action." The action follows an official ballot in which 96 per cent of NAHT school leader members voted that they would be prepared to take industrial action short of strike, and 87 per cent said they were prepared to strike. Education unions on the Isle of Man have been in dispute with the DESC over pay since the beginning of 2019. New Orleans City Council members are expected to vote Wednesday afternoon on whether to hold hearings into the Hard Rock Hotel collapse. The vote comes more than three months after the building partially fell, killing three construction workers, injuring dozens of other people and shutting down a busy stretch of Canal Street. While frustration has been brewing on the slow pace of progress to retrieve two workers' bodies and bring down the damaged structure, the incident that sent those frustrations boiling over happened just a week ago, when a tarp covering one of the two bodies still trapped in the debris blew away, revealing the remains. Since then, a rapid succession of public statements, protests, calls for hearings and investigations have ensued. Staffers from The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate will be at Wednesday's City Council meeting, which is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. Here is everything you need to know from the past week that led to the City Council's vote. Two bodies still trapped in Hard Rock rubble Three people were killed when the Hard Rock Hotel partially collapsed Oct. 12. One body has been recovered, and two remain trapped in debris. The body of Quinnyon Wimberly, 36, remains buried. Part of his body was visible last week when the tarp blew away. His family said he loved to talk about the Saints, hip-hop and life in New Orleans. Read our profile. Anthony Magrette, 49, was on the seventh floor and died in the collapse. His body was retrieved Oct. 13. "He was an amazing man," his wife said. Read our profile. Jose Ponce Arreola, 63, has been missing since the collapse and officials believe his body is trapped in the debris. He was a construction worker at the site and hoped to retire soon. Read our profile. Officials stopped trying to recover the bodies at the end of October, saying they needed to wait until contractors completed plans to stabilize the building. City Council's call for hearings At least four council members last week backed council-led hearings into the collapse and the aftermath. The council has mostly allowed Mayor LaToya Cantrell and her administration to take the lead over the past three months. That changed when calls for more answers on the plans for demolition and other questions circling the Hard Rock were met with relative silence. "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." Cantrell's initial response The City Council's call for hearings 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 Thursday. "City legislators have no role in that process. The first Hard Rock protest More than 200 people marched from the site of the collapse to City Hall on Friday, demanding answers from Cantrell's administration. 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 Many of the protesters called for public hearings and criticized Cantrell's dismissal of the council's proposal and her scolding of social-media users for sharing the photo of the exposed remains. Cantrell doubled down on her position. Its not a city legislative issue," she said Friday. "Were not doing a hearing on this. The newspaper ad The owners of the Hard Rock Hotel complained in a Sunday advertisement in The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate about misinformation surrounding the collapse. The ad was set up as an open letter that begins "Dear New Orleans" and claims that the developers' silence since the catastrophe has been "out of respect to those affected." Considering the recent misinformation and radical allegations, we are here to set the record straight, the ad said. WE DID NOT DO THE CONSTRUCTION. WE DID NOT DO THE ENGINEERING. THE SITE AND DEMOLITION ARE NOT UNDER OUR CONTROL. The ad signed by 1031 Canal Development LLC does not name the people associated with that firm, which is the listed owner of the property. The limited liability company is a partnership between developer Mohan Kailas, who holds a majority stake; Todd Trosclair, owner of All-Star Electric; and Denzel Clark, president of Citadel Builders, the prime contractor on the project. Developers distance themselves During an extended interview on WWL Radio, an attorney for 1031 Canal Development LLC criticized the City Council's proposal to hold hearings about the collapse. "The 1031 owners are not engineers, and are not contractors," said Kerry Miller, a partner in the Fishman Haygood law firm. "Those are simple facts that people need to be aware of, before they jump to conclusions and make accusations." Miller further complained about what he described as a Twitter-fueled flash mob that has hurled unfair "accusations" against the developers. Inspector general's investigation The New Orleans Inspector Generals Office said Tuesday that the Hard Rock Hotel collapse is now part of its ongoing investigation into corruption within the citys Department of Safety and Permits. Inspector General Derry Harper joined Cantrell in urging the City Council to stand down holding hearings, saying they could jeopardize the investigation. "[A]ny separate investigation by the City Council will interfere with the long-standing law enforcement procedures this office and its state and federal investigative partners routinely take in long-term investigations," Harper wrote. The investigation predates the Hard Rock's collapse and so far does not publicly tie the building's developers to corruption within the Department of Safety and Permits. Cantrell stands her ground On Tuesday, Cantrell said her staff will not attend the City Council's proposed hearings. She said that the council's move "to provide a forum for the public to air its frustration" over the collapse was "ill-advised and puts the timely demolition and the ongoing investigation of the site at risk." A Florida pastor and longtime spiritual adviser to President Donald Trump says she was speaking in metaphor when she recently prayed in a sermon for all "satanic pregnancies" to end in miscarriage. In video of the Jan. 5 sermon, posted by the liberal advocacy group Right Wing Watch, televangelist pastor Paula White breathlessly calls on Jesus Christ to "command all satanic pregnancies to miscarry right now." "We declare that anything that's been conceived in satanic wombs, that it will miscarry, it will not be able to carry forth any plan of destruction, any plan of harm," White said before an auditorium of congregants. As of Sunday morning, the clip, which was just under two minutes long, had been viewed more than 2.5 million times. White's words are largely being interpreted literally - that she wishes for evil women to have miscarriages - but she shared a rare response to the criticism in which she explained that she was speaking in metaphor, praying for evil plans to be foiled in her congregants' lives. "I don't normally respond but clearly this has been taken out of context," White tweeted Sunday. "I was praying (Ephesians) 6:12 that we wrestle not against flesh and blood. Anything that has been conceived by demonic plans, for it to be cancelled and not prevail in your life ..." Ephesians 6:12, according to the King James Bible translation, reads: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." After watching the clip, Andre Gagne, a theological studies professor at Concordia University and expert on the Christian right, said White was probably speaking in metaphor when she called for the miscarriages. He pointed to a book by Nigerian evangelist D.K. Olukoya that describes "satanic pregnancies" as "the plans that Satan has against a person's life." According to Gagne, "White is commanding that Satan's plans be aborted." Still, many observers recoiled at White's remarks. "So Paula White wants everyone at @WhiteHouse to know she is praying for abortion," tweeted Jennifer Gunter, an obstetrician and gynecologist who writes a column on women's reproductive health for the New York Times. "No pregnancies are satanic. Every child is a gift from God," tweeted James Martin, a prominent Jesuit priest. "No one should ever pray for any woman to miscarry. No one should ever pray for evil or harm to befall another person. Jesus asked us to pray for our persecutors, not to curse them. To love our neighbors as ourselves." White did not respond to a request for comment sent Sunday morning. The 53-year-old megachurch pastor, who recently joined the White House Office of Public Liaison as a religious adviser, delivered the remarks during a sermon in which she inveighed against a variety of forces, including anyone who sought to harm Trump. "We come against the marine kingdom, we come against the animal kingdom," said White, eyes closed. "We declare that any strange winds - any strange winds that have been sent to hurt the church, sent against this nation, sent against our president, sent against myself, sent against others - we break it by the superior blood of Jesus right now." She also condemned "any hex, any spell, any witchcraft, any spirit of control, any Jezebel," and "anything that the enemy desires through spells," according to the footage. Impassioned rhetoric is one of White's calling cards. She has used the same type of language in numerous rallies and public events, including a re-election rally for Trump in June. But it is almost unheard of for a leader of an evangelical church to call for the death of unborn babies in any context. The belief in the right to life and opposition to abortion rights are paramount political issues for religious conservatives, and defections from those stances are rare, even in metaphor. An October 2018 article from Christianity Today, the country's flagship evangelical magazine, offered a list of recommendations for pastors to help grieving couples cope with the loss of a baby. "Grieving parents need to know that their friends and church family care about them," the article read. A post last year on the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website also offers supportive words for mothers who have miscarried. Miscarriages are the most common type of pregnancy loss, occurring in 10 to 20 percent of all pregnancies. The causes can vary: chromosomal abnormalities, infections, substance abuse. In the United States, medical professionals define a miscarriage as the death of an embryo or fetus before the 20th week of pregnancy. The loss of a baby after the 20th week is a stillbirth. White has been in Trump's orbit for years, sticking close to him as he has embraced the evangelical movement, an essential part of his support base. The pair first spoke in the early 2000s when Trump called her with glowing reviews of her televised sermon, The Washington Post Magazine has reported. Focus on the Family founder James Dobson later credited White as having "personally led (Trump) to Christ." White said she was aware of Trump's presidential ambitions long before he ran. She told The Washington Post in 2017 that Trump reached out to her in 2011 for advice on a White House bid. "I don't feel it's the right timing," she said she told him. When he did decide to run, White was involved with the campaign, at one point helping orchestrate a meeting with hundreds of evangelical leaders. And when Trump was inaugurated, White was one of six clergy members who spoke at the ceremony. In October, she joined the White House in an official capacity, advising the president's Faith and Opportunity Initiative and handling outreach to religious groups. More than 130,000 blood donations were made across Ireland last year, according to the latest figures from the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS). Around 133,400 donations were made at clinics across the country in 2019, a slight increase on the 132,000 in the previous year. Dublin saw the greatest number of donations, with almost 30,000 blood donations in the capital last year. Meanwhile, Longford saw the lowest number with 615, a 30% decrease on 2018 figures. Counties like Mayo and Laois saw more than 20% increases in the number of donations received across those counties last year. The donation figures for Irish donors nationally, at just over 133,000 for 2019, were in line with expectations, explained IBTS operations director Paul McKinney. A combination of a successful marketing campaign - Everyone Counts - and the hard work of all our staff was key in ensuring that blood and platelets were collected , processed and distributed quickly and efficiently, he added. Last year saw 18,118 blood donations in Cork, a slight increase on the year before when 18,043 donations were received. Once again, Cork donors supported the Irish Blood Transfusion Service magnificently, helping the service maintain blood and platelet supplies to all Irish hospitals, and for that we are extremely grateful, said Mr KcKinney. IBTS area manager for Cork Maureen Gill, explained the impact donating blood can have. Donating blood has a massive impact on thousands of people across Ireland each week, she said. One in four of us will need a transfusion at some point in our lives so whether we know it or not, we will all be directly affected by the need for blood. Transfusions allow loved ones to spend extra time together when theyre battling illness, theyre necessary for surgeries, and needed daily in A&E, she added. The simple act of giving blood is a way for a regular person to become a lifesaver. The IBTS is the statutory body with responsibility for the national blood supply, established by Statutory Instrument in 1965. The IBTS also provides testing and tissue services to hospitals and is responsible for the Irish Unrelated Bone Marrow Registry. The final vote on the Withdrawal Agreement followed an afternoon of fireworks, tears, anger in the EU parliament chamber as MEPs made their final farewells. Nigel Farage was on strident form as he made his final speech, boasting of the benefits of populism before eventually being cut off for going overtime. Remain-supporting MEPs burst into a chorus of Auld Lang Syne as the vote passed 621 to 49 in a bid to drown out cheers from those in the Leave camp. Mr Farage described the current global political climate as globalism against populism, adding: You may loathe populism, but I tell you a funny thing, it is becoming very popular. The Brexit party leader who had decorated his seat with his own flags, extolled the benefits of populism. No more financial contributions, no more European Court of Justice, no more common fisheries policy, no more being talked down to, no more being bullied, he said. In response to MEPs who expressed a hope that the UK would one day return to the EU fold, he said: Once we have left, we are never coming back and the rest, frankly is detail. Expand Close Nigel Farage in the parliament chamber (Yui Mok/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nigel Farage in the parliament chamber (Yui Mok/PA) He added: What we have proved is that the British are too big to bully, thank goodness. We dont need a European Commission, we dont need a European Court, we dont need EU institutions and all of this power and I can promise you that in Ukip and indeed in the Brexit Party we love Europe, we just hate the European Union. Its as simple as that. I hope this is the beginning of the end of this project, its a bad project. Its undemocratic, in fact its anti-democratic. It gives people power without accountability. Deputy speaker Mairead McGuinness cut off his microphone, telling him: Sit down, put your flags away or take them with you if youre leaving now. The parliament also honoured the 75th anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said: Europe rose with the intention never again to give quarter to absolute evil. It didnt start in Auschwitz. Final speech. It was painful. I hold in my heart the knowledge that one day I will be back in this chamber, celebrating our return to the heart of Europe. pic.twitter.com/7WSEMt4rSQ GreenMolly (@GreenPartyMolly) January 29, 2020 It started much earlier in peoples mind. It started with the weakening of the ability to be angry at the denigration that other people fell victim to. She added: Europe rose with the firm will never again to give any quarter to absolute evil. Europe knows like no other continent do not let it take root. Never, ever again. The EU Parliament building was packed out with politicians, press and spectators ahead of the final vote. Crowds of international news crews lined the walkways between the parliamentary buildings trying to flag down passing MEPs and diplomats for interviews. Expand Close A case belonging to Nigel Farage (Yui Mok/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A case belonging to Nigel Farage (Yui Mok/PA) A packing case had been placed outside each UK MEPs office to make way for new arrivals from the remaining EU 27 next week. Mr Farage had reportedly been forced to pack up his office only to unpack it again so he could pose up with his boxes for photographers. One departing MEP remarked that she had not been approached for a single interview from the British press since her arrival in Brussels in May, only to give 15 in a day. It was standing room only in the press gallery as camera crews lined up for the speeches ahead of the vote. Belgium MEP Guy Verhofstadt said: Its a sad issue. Sad to see a nation leaving, a great nation that has given us all so much economically, culturally, politically, even its own blood in two world wars. Its sad to see a country leaving that twice liberated us, twice gave its own blood. Expand Close EUs Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (Yui Mok/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp EUs Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (Yui Mok/PA) A series of UK MEPs rose to make their farewell speeches, including Sinn Feins Martina Anderson furious at Northern Ireland being dragged out of the Union against our will. Many said they expected the UK to eventually return to the EU fold, vowing to build a good relationship between Britain and the EU. But it was the Green partys Molly Scott Cato who provoked the strongest reaction, receiving a standing ovation as she made a tearful farewell. Now is not the time to campaign to rejoin but we must keep the dream alive, especially for young people who are overwhelmingly pro-EU, she said. I hold in my heart that one day I will be in this chamber, celebrating our return to the heart of Europe. Michel Barnier, who is leading the task force for future negotiations with the UK, spoke to the chamber in French, saying: The UK had a referendum and the majority, democratically, chose to leave the European Union. Its something we have always been sorry about, something we continue to be sorry about but it is something we have to respect. He listed all the work that lays ahead before the eventual relationship between the UK and the EU is established, saying it must be conducted with patience and respect. Mr Barnier, famous for his reluctance to speak in any other language but his own, finished in English with the words: In this new beginning I would really and sincerely like to wish the UK well. After the vote, President of the EU Parliament David Sassoli held a farewell ceremony for departing MEPs, allowing them to make one last farewell speech in a reception space in the parliamentary building. Although mostly good natured, there were shouts of shame on you and sore loser from the crowd as different MEPs took to the podium. Britain will officially leave the EU at 11pm UK time on Friday. Lord Hall called for an end to 'catch out' political journalism. (PA) Political journalism must move away from catch out interviews to stop a toxic discourse, according to outgoing BBC director-general Lord Tony Hall. Lord Hall, who will move into a top role at the National Gallery, said the BBC had to more carefully consider its role. His comments come as the broadcaster announced 450 job cuts to its news division as part of a cost-cutting drive that has already seen the Victoria Derbyshire Show axed. Flagship shows like Newsnight and Radio 4's Today programme are also expected to have to make efficiencies. Newsnight lead presenter Emily Maitlis responded to Lord Hall's comments by warning against scripted interviews. (BBC) Speaking at the Edelman Trust Barometer 2020 event on Tuesday, Lord Hall said: Im a great believer in the long-form political interview where you can explore at length, not in soundbites, the real policy decisions that politicians are making. Lord Hall said the BBCs journalism should reflect the difficulties of making political decisions, adding: "Exploring those sort of nuances is an important part of what we should do. Read more from Yahoo News UK: The biggest BBC controversies during Lord Halls time as director general Backlash grows against BBC for using LeBron James footage in Kobe Bryant death report Armando Iannucci does not think the BBC licence fee will survive Senior Tories continue to boycott Radio 4's Today at the request of Boris Johnson's special adviser Dominic Cummings. Newsnight lead presenter Emily Maitlis responded to Lord Hall's comments by warning against scripted interviews, insisting "engaging" encounters would ensure audience retention. The BBC is to announce job cuts to its news division as part of a cost-cutting drive. (PA) "That doesn't mean everything has to be a battle, far from it, but you do have to leave the audience feeling if they look away they will miss something," Ms Maitlis told The Times. Lord Hall's departure takes place during a turbulent time for the broadcaster, with job cuts at the top of the agenda along with equal pay disputes, political bias, diversity and TV licences. More from Yahoo UK: Russian President Vladimir Putin has pardoned Naama Issachar, a woman holding dual Israeli and U.S. citizenship who was serving a 7 1/2-year prison sentence for smuggling drugs. "Guided by the principles of humanity, I decree to pardon Naama Issachar, born in 1993...releasing her from the remainder of her sentence," a presidential decree on January 29 said. It goes into effect the same day. Issacher was arrested at a Moscow airport in April while transiting from India to Israel. Police at the time found 9 grams of marijuana among her belongings and eventually charged her with drug smuggling. In October, a Moscow region court sentenced her to prison. Putin met with Issachar's mother on January 23 during an official visit to Israel, where he promised that her daughter "will be okay." After the meeting, which was also attended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Putin said, "I have just met with Naama's mother; it is clear to me that Naama comes from a good and very decent family." Netanyahu, who is due to meet Putin in Moscow on January 30, welcomed the pardon. "I thank my friend President Putin for granting a pardon to Naama Issachar and I am looking forward to our meeting tomorrow," he said. Photo: Rob Bixby/Flickr Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Jacksonville. Two Jacksonville firefighters taken to hospital after semi-truck hits ambulance they were driving The semi-truck clipped the back end of the ambulance, flipping the ambulance on its side, says JFRD. Read the full story on WTSP. Police: Speed likely a factor in crash that killed 21-year-old in Jacksonville Beach The Jacksonville Beach Police Department says at least one person was killed. Read the full story on FIRST COAST NEWS. Drug dealers could face murder charges for overdose deaths In an attempt to combat the opioid crisis in Jacksonville, Sheriff Mike Williams announced Tuesday that those who sell or supply illegal narcotics like heroin and fentanyl could face murder charges for overdose deaths. Read the full story on FIRST COAST NEWS. Life, legacy of former Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold to be honored during public ceremony Godbold died at 85 last week and family and friends have since announced a celebration of life to be held at the Prime F. Osborn, III Convention Center. Read the full story on FIRST COAST NEWS. A look at Jacksonville's downtown demolition projects The Landing, the old courthouse, the old fire station, and the Hart Bridge Expressway are all either demolished or are planned to be demolished. Read the full story on FIRST COAST 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. Whether this ends up really helping either Netanyahu or Trump is unclear, although that too is beside the point. The Trump team believes the plan will help their and Netanyahus campaigns, whether they are right in that regard or not. Some right-wing constituencies may balk at the suggestion that this could lead to a Palestinian statealthough that would only occur well into the future if and when the Palestinians meet a series of unrealistic conditions. And even then, any putative state would be so fragmented, disjointed, surrounded by Israel and subject to Israeli security control that it would be at best a state in name only. Those critics likewise may be angry at the suggestion that the Palestinians could have a capital in East Jerusalemalthough the parts of the city that the U.S. plan contemplates forming this capital are of such minor significance that most people would hardly equate them with Jerusalem itself. In theory, hard-line Israelis could also protest the notion that there will be no new settlements for yearsbut even that constraint is essentially meaningless since the plan already munificently grants to Israel all the West Bank territory in which it wished to build settlements. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 21:26:09|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close YAOUNDE, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- At least five bodies of fishermen killed by Boko Haram militants were recovered on Wednesday in Cameroon's Far North region, according to local officials. The group of fishermen was attacked on Tuesday on the Blangoua island in the lake Chad Basin, according to security sources. They were going about their daily fishing activity when Boko Haram struck, killing them and injuring some others. Local media on Wednesday reported the same death toll. Boko Haram has stepped up attacks on fishermen and farmers in the Lake Chad Basin in recent times, accusing them of leaking information on the activities of the group to the military, according to Cameroon army. In December, local authorities reported that about 50 people, mostly fishermen, have been killed in raids by Boko Haram group on Lake Chad. A Vietnamese woman has been slapped with a hefty fine after CCTV camera footage showed that she stopped her car in the middle of an expressway in northern Vietnam to take a photo of a companion. Traffic police officers said on Tuesday that a traffic camera installed on the Hanoi Hai Phong Expressway, which connects the two northern cities, captured the entire incident on Monday afternoon. In the video, a woman was filmed stopping her car in a running lane next to the expressways median strip, where vehicles are allowed to run at up to 120 kilometers per hour, at 1:04 pm. The female driver and a male passenger got out of the vehicle before she started taking a photo of him posing next to their car on the expressway. In a daredevil move, the woman then crossed the street amidst fast-moving vehicles to snap her male companion from afar, before returning to their car and driving away. A woman takes a photo of a man after parking her car in the middle of the Hanoi Hai Phong Expressway in northern Vietnam on January 27, 2020, in this CCTV footage. The management of the Hanoi Hai Phong Expressway, in coordination with a team of officers from the Department of Traffic Police, immediately tracked the drivers information after acknowledging the case. The woman in question was eventually identified as Bui Thi L., 25. L. was handed a VND7 million (US$300) fine, around two months' worth of basic salary in Vietnam, and had her drivers license revoked for three months. Parking or stopping on expressways is subject to a fine of VND6-8 million ($260-345) and drivers license revocation for 2-4 months, according to a 2019 government decree stipulating fines for traffic violations in Vietnam. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! DALLAS, Jan. 29, 2020 -- Data reported in the just published American Heart Association's Heart & Stroke Statistics - 2020 Update, show heart disease and stroke deaths continue to decline, but that trend has slowed significantly in recent years. Further discouraging is that more people are living in poor health, beginning at a younger age, as a direct result of risk factors that contribute to these leading causes of death worldwide. To build on its mission to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, the American Heart Association, the nation's oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke, has published a presidential advisory in the journal, Circulation, outlining new national and global 2030 Impact Goals to help all people live healthier for more years of their life. Across the US: Together, we will equitably increase healthy life expectancy from 66 to at least 68 years by 2030. Around the world: Together with global and local collaborators, we will equitably increase worldwide healthy life expectancy from 64 to at least 67 years by 2030. "We know people are living longer thanks in part to nearly a century of dedicated efforts from volunteers, staff and many invaluable supporters joining the American Heart Association in our fight again heart disease and stroke, leading to improvements in disease control and prevention, advancements in medical treatments and improved lifestyle behaviors," said American Heart Association president Robert A. Harrington, M.D., FAHA. "Unfortunately, not all those years are healthy ones as the effects of chronic illnesses are increasingly impacting the quality of life of people at a much younger age than in the past." Goal progress will be tracked by the Health-Adjusted Life Expectancy (HALE) metric, commonly referred to as Healthy Life Expectancy, which anticipates the number of years a person can expect to live in good health. It's a comprehensive single metric that provides an estimate of overall health across a person's lifetime and captures both physical and mental health conditions. That is especially relevant to the broader focus on overall health and well-being emphasized in the new goals. Over the past decade, key factors that support ideal cardiovascular health have seen some positive movement across the U.S. Reports show adults are getting more active and, overall, people are eating healthier, smoking cigarettes less and better controlling their cholesterol. But that good news is offset by major setbacks in other critical areas, especially among youth, a trend that puts upcoming generations at even higher risk for facing major health issues at younger ages. According to the Association's Heart & Stroke Statistics - 2020 Update: Obesity rates are on the rise in children and adults -- nearly 40% of U.S. adults and 18.5% of youth are now obese. Physical activity rates are abysmally low among youth -- less than a third of U.S. students take part in a daily physical education class and only 26% meet national recommendations of an hour a day of moderate to vigorous physical activity. Rates for uncontrolled high blood sugar are leading more people toward diabetic and pre-diabetic conditions -- diabetes prevalence in the U.S. increased 129.7% for males and 120.9% for females between 1990 and 2017. While cigarette smoking in the U.S. is down among adults and at all-time lows for teens, the growing youth vaping epidemic is making daily headlines and the global use of tobacco continues to climb -- in 2015, there were more than 933 million smokers, globally. The trends are even more devastating among certain races, ethnicities, genders and geographic locations -- at least 80% of the world's smokers, most of whom are male, live in low- and middle-income countries. "We believe every person should enjoy health and well-being no matter their age, gender, race or even the zip code in which they live. And, we know disparities exist even to that level -- from one block of a city to another," said John Warner, M.D., FAHA, 2017-18 president of the American Heart Association, lead author of the presidential advisory and Executive Vice President for Health System Affairs at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. "To improve individual health, we must make the environments where we live, work, learn and play equitably supportive of healthy behaviors. We also need to help people better understand the impact their communities have in driving choices for health and well-being." In a Harris Poll recently conducted for the American Heart Association, most respondents (93%) agreed that living a long, healthy life is important to them and believe everyone deserves the longest, healthiest life possible (92%). However, there appears to be a disconnect between their desires and their understanding of how those intentions connect back to their behaviors, as less than half of the respondents (49%) strongly agreed their behavior influences their health and well-being and only a third (34%) strongly agreed that their environment influences or supports their health choices. "We need to make healthy choices the easy ones, make healthcare accessible and affordable and we need to get better at stopping preventable diseases before they start," said Harrington, the Arthur L. Bloomfield Professor of Medicine and Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Stanford University. "Sometimes parents are more worried about whether they can feed their children anything, much less whether it's healthy or not. If you're living with high blood pressure, you shouldn't have to worry about choosing between whether to pay rent or buy your medicine." Harrington said what will drive the success of the goals is working collaboratively with many diverse groups from local neighborhoods to global governments. Additional improvements will need to come through increased efforts for primary and secondary prevention, public health policies that impact populations, the establishment of effective, comprehensible and affordable healthcare systems and modifications to individual lifestyle behaviors. "Much of this will be an expansion of efforts already underway with many committed collaborators, but it will be critical to bring in new ideas and resources to connect the collective vision with the creativity and innovation needed to make real change," he said. "We'll be inviting more people to the table, but even more importantly, we're asking likeminded stakeholders to invite us in -- let us help be a catalyst bringing together elements that can create a healthier world for everyone." While the basic metric of healthy life expectancy is well established, tracking progress and understanding trends to meet the 2030 goals will also require improvements in capturing the way health information is reported and analyzed. An accompanying publication to the 2030 goals is an American Heart Association policy statement outlining major recommendations for enhancing cardiovascular health and disease surveillance worldwide. "In every country, in every city and village, we want everyone of all ages and backgrounds to be healthy and experience every simple joy, make every heartfelt memory, celebrate every special occasion they need and want to do," said Harrington. "This is so much more than just wanting people to live to a ripe old age, we want them to live healthier, longer. And we're dedicating ourselves to doing just that over the next decade." ### Visit the 2030 impact Goals website for more information. Additional Resources Multimedia, including high definition video clips with AHA president, Robert Harrington, M.D. and a 2030 Impact Goals infographic, are available on the right column of the release link https://newsroom.heart.org/news/living-longer-is-important-but-those-years-need-to-be-healthy-ones?preview=43e69acce3c830858e340539bb5f91c2 After embargo lifts on Jan. 29, view the manuscripts online: The AHA 2030 Impact Goal: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association Recommendations for Cardiovascular Health and Disease Surveillance for 2030 and Beyond: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics -- 2020 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association AHA sets ambitious 2030 Impact Goals to increase healthy life expectancy - A commentary from the AHA Centers from Health Metrics and Evaluation (link will be live at embargo lift, Jan. 29) Follow AHA/ASA news on Twitter @HeartNews About the American Heart Association The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public's health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. The American Heart Association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific Association programs and events. The Association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations and health insurance providers are available at https://www.heart.org/en/about-us/aha-financial-information. Federal authorities have charged a Harvard professor, a Chinese military official, and a Chinese researcher, in three unrelated cases, with offenses related to aiding the Chinese regime, the Justice Department announced on Jan. 28. In one case, Charles Lieber, chair of the department of chemistry and chemical biology at Harvard University was arrested on Jan. 28 at his office for allegedly lying about funding he received from the Chinese regime. A Chinese military official was charged on the same day with allegedly falsely identifying herself as a student in her visa application to the United States, and lying about her ongoing military service. Federal prosecutors also announced charges against a Chinese cancer researcher who was arrested at a Boston airport in December 2019 for allegedly attempting to smuggle out vials of biological samples. Harvard Professor Lieber, a 60-year-old Harvard professor specializing in nanoscience, allegedly had years of participation in Chinas state-funded Thousand Talents Plan while working on sensitive U.S. research, prosecutors said. The Chinese recruitment program aims to attract top experts globally and has rewarded individuals for stealing proprietary information and violating export controls, the indictment stated. The researcher has received more than $15 million of funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Department of Defense since 2008, according to the document. Disclosure of foreign support is part of the requirement for receiving such federal funding. Beijings money always has strings attached, Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said in a statement following the announcement of charges against Lieber, adding that its important that Americans steer clear of helping human rights abusers in the Chinese Communist Party. The Chinese Communist Party is working hard to make itself the worlds preeminent superpower, and the Thousand Talents Program is designed to give China an economic and military edge by contracting with scientists in the free world and stealing their research, Sasse said on Jan. 28. Lieber began working with the Wuhan University of Technology (WUT) as a strategic scientist in 2011, and was involved in the Thousand Talents program from 2012 through 2017 as a contractual participant, the indictment stated. The contract entitled him a salary of $50,000 per month with up to 1 million yuan (then $158,000) of living expenses over three years. Lieber, in exchange, would work for WUT for at least nine months per year, and conduct and publish research for WUT. He was to build credibility for around four to six total scholars and doctoral students and bring in one to three top scientists as visiting scholars. In January 2013, Lieber signed an agreement for a five-year cooperative research program on behalf of Harvardwithout consulting Harvard officialsallowing WUT researchers a two-month visit to his department at Harvard each year, the complaint said. The objective of the agreement was to foster advanced research on nanowire-based lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. Harvards representatives told investigators that he did not have the authority to enter into such contracts. He also received $1.5 million for establishing a joint research lab at WUT using Harvards name and logo without Harvards knowledge, a violation of the schools policy, the document said. When confronted by Harvard officials, he lied by saying WUT acted without his consent. According to the complaint, Lieber denied any engagement with the Thousand Talent program when Defense Department investigators questioned him about his foreign research disclosure in April 2018. He said he was never asked to join the program but wasnt sure how China categorized him. Covert Work for Beijing He then emailed his associate saying he lost a lot of sleep worrying about the Chinese webpage, where he was listed as the director of the lab, adding that he will be careful about what I discuss with Harvard University and that none of this will be shared with government investigators. Upon a similar inquiry from NIH, Lieber caused Harvard to falsely tell NIH that Lieber had no formal association with WUT, and that he had never been a participant in the Thousand Talents program, according to the complaint. Two Chinese Researchers Charged Yanqing Ye, a lieutenant in the Peoples Liberation Army, was also charged on the same day for visa fraud. The federal complaint said Ye, an exchange student at Boston University from October 2017 to April 2019 on Chinese government sponsorship, did not disclose her continued military service when applying for her visa. During her exchange program, Ye continued to complete numerous assignments for the Chinese military, including retrieving U.S. military intelligence and sending U.S. documents to China, according to the indictment. Ye was charged with lying about her military background in a visa application and of lying to an FBI officer. She also acted as a Chinese agentshe is currently in China. Federal investigators also charged Zheng Zaosong, another Harvard medical researcher from China, for allegedly trying to smuggle biological research specimens out of the United States. From August 2018 to December 2019, Zheng worked at the Wenyi Wei Laboratory at Harvards Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, researching cancer pathology and cancer cells. He was arrested on Dec. 9 before boarding a Beijing-bound flight at Boston Logan International Airport, with 21 vials of biological materials stolen from the lab, according to the court document. Officers found the vials wrapped in plastics and hidden in a sock. Lab analysis found DNA within the specimens, which Zheng admitted he stole in order to advance his research in his China-based laboratory and publish a paper in his name. Boston FBI agent Joseph Bonavolonta in announcing the charges, said all three individuals are manifestations of the China threat. No country poses a greater, more severe or long-term threat to our national security and economic prosperity than China, he said. Chinas communist governments goal, simply put, is to replace the U.S. as the world superpower, and they are breaking the law to get there. From The Epoch Times A setting sun casts oblique rays over the hamlet of Algodor. In this spur of Madrid territory that bites into Toledo province, a solitary building made in the neo-Mudejar style rises over the reddish-greenish plain. The old train station with its arched windows was erected in 1929 to replace an older, more humble building. The pillars still show the acronym MZA, for the railway company that built it. The railroad tracks, rusty and overrun with weeds, are lined with two rows of low houses, around 60 in total. An old engine sits sleepily on a siding, still coupled to two dozen freight cars. The deep calm of this place is almost unsettling. Housing built by railroad companies in Monfrague, Caceres. navia In was in 2005 that silence descended on Algodor. Thats the year that trains stopped passing through on their way to Madrid, after having done so for nearly a century and a half. In 2005, a new high-speed AVE link between Madrid and Toledo was inaugurated, making Algodor station, and the town that grew around it, obsolete. It was a small place but very lively. Algodor represents the happiness of my childhood years, recalls Pepe Rodriguez, the son of a railway worker who moved here with his family from Toledo in 1946, when he was two years old. Weve spent more than 15 years fighting with authorities in Aranjuez [which Algodor is administratively a part of] and with Adif [the national railway infrastructure administrator]: we dont have drinking water, theres no telephone line... weve been left to our own devices. But the decadence really began in the 1950s, when economic development brought new technologies. In the 1970s steam-powered engines disappeared, leaving a lot of workers out of a job. High-speed rail and an improved road network did the rest. The original train station of Algodor in 1925. The current one was built in 1929. Juan Salgado Lancha (Archivo Historico Ferroviario-MFM-FFE) Just like the 50 or so other railroad towns that exist in Spain, Algodor was not built over a previous settlement but rather founded from nothing, to cover the needs created by a mode of transportation that embodied the industrial revolution of the 1800s. Beginning in 1860, workers from all parts of Spain began moving into these new towns, where their children were born. Railway workers were nomads, and the trade was often handed down from one generation to the next. Those early settlers were like Martians, or parachutists landing in a territory that had nothing to do with them, explains Miguel Jimenez, who is in charge of historical heritage and railway tourism at the Spanish railway foundation Fundacion de los Ferrocarriles Espanoles. Jimenez, who is also the co-author of a definitive book on the subject Historia de los poblados ferroviarios en Espana, or History of railroad towns in Spain says that what was once barren land transformed into miniature cities with schools, a general store, a doctor, a church, a tavern, bars and even cinemas. But this way of life began dying a slow death as Spain underwent a quick social transformation in the 20th century. Just like Algodor, most of the countrys railroad towns are on the decline, and its remaining residents face an uncertain future. An abandoned railroad tower in Algodor. navia Maribel Uria, 56, was born in Algodor, and she is the only remaining native resident of the town. She, like everyone else around here, rents her home from Adif, the owner of the housing. Some of her neighbors are descendants of the original workers, and they get preferential access to the low-rent homes. Others are outsiders who came attracted by the good prices. We were used to the noise and it didnt bother us, recalls Uria about the long-gone days when trains came and went around the clock. Now Ive grown used to the silence. Before the creation of the state-owned national railway company Renfe in 1941, there were several private groups operating across the Spanish territory: MZA, Oeste, Norte, Ferrocarriles Andaluces and more. They were the ones who created these railroad towns, with the same protective zeal of a father taking care of his children protective but authoritarian at the same time. The company thought of everything. The early, precarious housing arrangements (the first arrivals lived in shanty homes or inside train cars) made way for proper homes. The company also paid for the general store and medical services, even though there was still room for a few private business initiatives. The crumbling staircase inside a building in Monfrague (Caceres). navia In Almorchon, a railroad town in the western province of Badajoz, Mari Loli Sanchez still lives in the same house where her father and grandfather once worked as butchers. On this same street, there used to be a couple of inns and sidewalk tables where the locals would meet for a drink in the evening. That was in the 1960s, when the population of Almorchon was over 1,200. These days it is 45. This was a connecting point for trains going to Cordoba, Madrid and Badajoz; it was a beehive of activity, recalls Clemencia Munoz Seco, another local resident, who has helped create the neighborhood association Vecinos de Almorchon to preserve the village legacy. Its not about obsessing about what used to be, but about thinking of what could be, says Mari Loli. One of Adifs tasks is to manage the assets that Renfe inherited from the private railroad companies. These assets include residential properties, pavilions, train stations, and buildings that once housed schools and medical practices. Many of them are on the verge of collapse. In the big cities, such as Madrids neighborhood of Vicalvaro, most of the property was sold off years ago. They are old buildings, where we did all the maintenance that we could, says Jose Luis Garcia Monton, who is in charge of Adifs railway heritage in Madrid. That is why they are not offered at market values. The residents of several railroad towns who were interviewed for this story said that they pay between 100 and 200 a month in rent. This has attracted people like Irene Munoz, a 34-year-old from Toledo who is renting part of what was once the station chiefs house in Algodor. Munoz, who lives there with her partner and their daughter, knows that they will never have the option to buy the property even though they paid for the necessary refurbishments out of their own pockets. Abandoned tracks at the station in Monfrague, with housing in the background. navia Besides serving as a holiday destination some people have even built themselves swimming pools the main activity here these days is photography: people come here on weekends for the evocative landscape, and some even have their wedding photos taken against this backdrop. Adif has also rented out several properties, particularly the station, for film shoots. Pedro Almodovars Julieta was partly shot here, for instance. And finally, there are the explorers and history buffs who come for the Civil War (1936-1939) bunkers scattered across the area. During those bloody years, a bomb shattered the school of a railroad town in Caceres province that is known as Monfrague today, but which was originally founded as Plasencia-Empalme and was later renamed Palazuelo-Empalme. Seven children and two adults died in the blast, and a nearby house still shows the marks of the shrapnel that was embedded on its walls. There are no more than 10 residents here in the winter, but the local fiestas still take place every year, attracting as many as 125 people. Many are former residents who come to catch up with old friends. We hold a dance, a raffle and a Mass. Later we eat at the campsite, explains Victor Macias, 70, who used to work as a train engineer. We do it above all so we can see each other again. Monfrague station in the 1960s, when it was still called Palazuelo-Empalme. Candido Vallejo Rincon The life of a railroad worker was tough, everyone agrees. The kids played near the tracks while their fathers performed their duties as engineers, conductors and firemen. And even though everyone was accustomed to the coming and going of the railroad cars, from time to time tragedy would hit. Soledad, the daughter of the local doctor in Monfrague, still shivers when she recalls how she once saw a man decapitated by a passing train. But at a time of economic hardship across Spain, these workers were assured of a fixed salary every month. And that was no small thing. Many railroad town residents still use the saying: Hunger passes by the door of the railway man, but it does not enter. Soledad Cobos and her husband Jose Antonio Canedo at the Monfrague Neighbors Association. navia Railroad workers were also unionized and well organized, and they occasionally stood up to the Franco regime. On July 19, 1936, right after the uprising that led to the Civil War and subsequent dictatorship, many railroad workers organized a spontaneous strike at the station of Arroyo-Malpartida (Caceres). More than one did not live to tell the tale. Later, Mussolinis troops showed up to keep tabs on railroad traffic to Portugal, and a soldier stayed behind, eventually opening a bar that he named Italia. During the Civil War these places played a strategic role. They were military targets, and later they became a form of punishment, says Francisco Polo, director of Madrids Railroad Museum and author of a book on the subject. Around 83,000 railroad workers were targeted during the postwar years. More than 7,000 were fired, and 13,000 or 14,000 were sanctioned. A very common sanction was sending them to these towns. Mari Loli Sanchez, daughter and granddaughter of the local butchers in Almorchon (Badajoz). navia These days, the remaining residents have been creating associations to preserve their legacy and find new uses for the surviving infrastructure. Many say that the empty buildings could be used as senior residences, cultural centers and hotels. Others yearn for a local railroad museum like the ones that already exist in Almorchon or Las Matas in Madrid. And most complain about feeling abandoned by Adif. The company says it is doing all it can, and that the future of these properties does not depend solely on Adif, but also on various government agencies. Our aim is to sell the old properties, which we are restoring as much as we can, says Fernando Gomez, of Adif. But besides a physical restoration, they need a legal overhaul as well. Since 2000, the Culture Ministry has been working on a National Plan for Industrial Heritage to bring some legal protection to these sites. In 2004 the paperwork began to declare Monfrague a cultural asset, but no practical measures came out of it, and the town is falling to pieces. Antonio Salomon, 83, is a former engineer from Arroyo-Malpartida who still keeps his old uniform and cap, along with other items that he once used on the job. For many years he would drive the train to Madrids Delicias station, and they would often bring in coffee that had been smuggled in from Portugal, he confesses with a grin. Salomon says he was never happier than when he spent time in his village. English version by Susana Urra. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway is leaving the newspaper business and selling its operations to publisher Lee Enterprises for $140 million in cash. The deal includes Berkshire Hathaway Media Group and The Buffalo News, a paper covering western New York and owned as a separate entity by Berkshire. Lee said the purchase of Berkshire's newspaper assets will "add significant size and scale" to its operations, lift its portfolio of daily newspapers to 81 from 50 and nearly double its audience. In a statement released with Lee's announcement, Buffett said: "My partner Charlie Munger and I have known and admired the Lee organization for over 40 years. They have delivered exceptional performance managing BH Media's newspapers and continue to outpace the industry in digital market share and revenue." "We had zero interest in selling the group to anyone else for one simple reason: We believe that Lee is best positioned to manage through the industry's challenges," he added. Here are our picks for the singular scenes that Oscar should use to represent each Best Picture nominee at this years Academy Awards. Photo: Fox Searchlight In the absence of an Oscars host, one of the best ways to keep pace during the Academy Awards ceremony is by following the presentations of Best Picture nominees. As the night heads toward the big prize, each of these nominees will get introduced to the audience by either a star tangentially associated with it (see: Diego Luna presenting his former director Alfonso Cuarons film Roma last year) or, even better, by a star bizarrely not associated with it at all (Goldie Hawns sweet but curious enthusiasm for 12 Years a Slave). The fanfare lends a sense of importance to the films nominated for the top prize, and it underscores what the Oscars are meant to provide: a chance to love up on all these movies. The tradition hasnt been without some hiccups. The change in the Best Picture category from celebrating five films to celebrating anywhere from five to ten (usually eight or nine) posed a challenge to producers of the broadcast. A four-year period saw two or three nominees clumsily presented together with laughably bad congruity (because The Grand Budapest Hotel and American Sniper are like bread and butter, apparently). In some recent years, Best Picture clips were disregarded entirely. But now, without a host, the clips are more necessary than ever to timing out the evening; among other things, they let the audience at home and in the theater know just how much of the long night is left. In their ideal form, the Best Picture clips serve two purposes: introducing the movies to members of the ceremonys broadcast audience who havent seen them, and rousing the enthusiasm of anyone in the audience who has. But recent Oscar producers have leaned heavily into montages, chainsawing the films into what amount to 30-second mini trailers (or, hell, even being so lazy as to excerpt from the preexisting trailers themselves). The practice works best when a single scene is chosen to represent a film, the same as in the acting categories. But choosing the right scene is crucial: You want something that communicates the correct tone, encapsulates both the breadth of the cast and production design, and, logistically, avoids portraying moments that might otherwise be clipped for the acting nominations. (Its also best not to repeat moments weve seen at other awards shows, or have otherwise been memed into submission.) With that in mind, here are our picks for the best scenes to represent each Best Picture nominee at the Oscar ceremony: 1917 You mean to tell us that 1917 is more than just two hours of George MacKay running toward the camera as bombs explode behind him? For a film whose awards narrative and marketing have focused on selling the unique visual experience, it has mostly repeated the same handful of publicity images. It might be more grabby for the Oscars audience at home to encounter some of the films many famous cameos, though they arent very representative of the story overall. The best tonal option, Id argue, is the quiet moment between MacKay and a French mother underground. Alas, it, too, is less representative of Sam Mendess larger tale. To both capture the films intimate sidebars and vast thrills, a better choice would be the airplane crash MacKay and his comrade (played by Dean-Charles Chapman) happen upon while hiding out in an abandoned farmhouse. Big-scale filmmaking wizardry, with the threat of war felt on a personal level. Ford v Ferrari By now, we all understand that the gist of Ford v Ferrari is that vroom-vroom go zoom-zoom. We get it, and well get plenty of car sounds during the readings of its editing and sound nominations. Outside of that, weve seen Matt Damon and Christian Bale rasslin in the grass a million times as Bales wife, played by Caitriona Balfe, punctuates the macho display with the unfolding of a lawn chair. Ditto to sobbing Tracy Letts as Henry Ford Jr. Ford v Ferraris secret emotional weapon is that its a story of fathers and sons. Its emotional core is when Bale describes the perfect racing lap to his son (Noah Jupe) against a gorgeous sunset landscape. This scene speaks to the films automobile obsession, but with subtle nods to its formidable craft and what makes it emotionally resonant. The Irishman The full impact of Martin Scorseses epic is tough to reduce to a singular moment, given its third-act pivot that recontextualizes everything before it. Some of the more dialogue-heavy scenes in the first act, in particular, might make The Irishman look like just another gangster movie. The thematic bridge occurs at the reception honoring Robert De Niros Frank Sheeran. Here, a passing of the ring from Joe Pescis Russell Bufalino to Frank foretells the coming fallout, under the gaze of Anna Paquin as Franks silent daughter, Peggy, and with Al Pacinos Jimmy Hoffa floating around unaware. Its a movie told in knowing glances carrying intense weight, and this sequence couldnt reflect that better. Jojo Rabbit Jojo Rabbits sizable tonal swings make it difficult to find one scene that captures them all, so perhaps it serves the film to distinguish itself among this lineup of nominees by showcasing its comedic side. While it would be lovely to see the films unsung hero Archie Yates get some airtime, his brightest moments are in the films more pedestrian scenes. And Taika Waititis Monty Pythonchasing Hitler might be all the more grating to detractors if presented context-free. Instead, the scene where Jojos mother (Scarlett Johansson) chastises her sons troupe leaders (Sam Rockwell, Rebel Wilson) for their haplessness is the way to go. This establishes the films stakes and environment, without completely eschewing its comedic tone. Joker To force us to watch Joaquin Phoenixs bathroom ballet again would be an act of aggression. And we can all live soundly never seeing those stairs again. It might be best to highlight a scene that touches on some of the topics that have galvanized Jokers most vocal fans its perspective on mental-health issues and the inhumanity of the system, man. In a scene where Phoenix visits his social worker, we are meant to glean compassion for his great need for public assistance and for the social worker unable to help him because of bureaucratic restrictions. All I have are negative thoughts, he tells her, and its the one moment where Joker connects to something grander. Little Women Take your pick of any of the group scenes and youll get a sense of the warm originality of Greta Gerwigs vision for Little Women. (To focus on the climactic argument between Jo and Laurie would do the opposite.) But the scene that might best prove that this is a unique revisiting of well-trodden material would be the one that breaks all of the rules Ive talked about above: a frank discussion between mother and daughter. Saoirse Ronans Jo admits the depths of her loneliness, while Laura Derns Marmee reveals something personal to her daughter for the first time. The scene marks new territory for their relationship as Jo enters adulthood. Marriage Story Which scene from Marriage Story hasnt been overexposed? The centerpiece fight between Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver is certainly embedded in our brains. Laura Derns monologue about ingrained sexism has been widely shared online. The films opening letters of affection became his-and-hers trailers. Indeed, Marriage Story hits hardest when it converges between the sentimental and the painful, when Driver and Johansson face whats irreconcilable between them while still feeling deep affection for each other. The crystalline moment is the gate scene: beginning on a note of minor pettiness, it ends with them looking into each others eyes as Randy Newmans sweet score plays and the door literally shuts between them. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood At its core, Quentin Tarantinos film is a confrontation between the old guard and a new generation. The tapestry of late-1960s culture and counterculture makes the most sense when you step back from the individual vignettes and gaze at the whole; scenes involving real-life players like Bruce Lee or the Manson family or Sharon Tate dont quite give us that scope. So while it would single out Leonardo DiCaprios performance (he is still nominated, by the way!) over Brad Pitts, we would choose his scene opposite newcomer Julia Butters. Their chemistry centers the films playfulness and weariness in one place, all while underlining Tarantinos intergenerational thematic aim. Parasite Heres the film that presents the toughest challenge. A showcase montage like the peach sequence might not land as successfully when taken out of context, not to mention it could spoil some of the fun for audiences still discovering the movie. While Ki-woos (Choi Woo-sik) interview at the Park home would help avoid key spoilers, a moment that doesnt include more of the films beloved ensemble cast feels like a missed opportunity. As with the film itself, our hearts lie with the Kims. So the films representative scene should be their drunk snack time in the Park home, where they hijack the absent familys booze and discuss the finer points of their wealth-induced veneer of kindness. End the clip with the buzz from the front door, and youve got a perfect tribute to the films twisty nature. Ford here has undergone major changes over the past while, with Cork head office numbers heavily cut. Some great people are no longer involved. It is sad and difficult. I've dealt with some of them over the years and can honestly say they brought a distinct warmth and personality to their professionalism. It can't be easy not to go to work as you have done for decades (as is the case with some). We here at 'Motors' wish them the very best. It may sound a bit trite to say that, but it is honestly wished. John Manning is now the head of Ford in Ireland. At the international launch of the new Puma SUV in Spain, he was gracious in his acknowledgement of what so many contributed for so long. But as ever is the case in the real world, he has to get on with it and told us he believes that now it is under the UK wing there are synergies; and how the core team can concentrate on selling and marketing. He is right, of course, and business must go on. But it is a tough old world nonetheless. * Renault here is to supply 36 Clios to The Care Trust (TCT) charity. Ian Dempsey (pictured) recently launched the new partnership. The Clios are for TCT's series of fund-raising lottery draws - the first takes place on Friday next. The trust runs three draws every month. And from Friday a new Clio will be won in each draw. It's a great idea. The Care Trust is a non-profit organisation and registered charity which raises funds for the CRC, Rehab, and the Mater University Hospital. Mr Dempsey was joined at the launch by Senan Mullins of The Care Trust and Conor Dixon, Renault Ireland. * Nissan is to introduce three new models in the next 18 months, it is forecast. They will comprise a new Qashqai and X-Trail later this year and a new larger-than-Leaf electric SUV in 2021. The new Juke has already been launched as you probably know. The new models are part of a major product offensive from the company. * Ferrari's first production electric vehicle is some way off - 2025 is the best guess at the moment. But, apparently, details of it are revealed in a series of patents which have been leaked online. They are being interpreted as revealing that the Ferrari EV will be a low-riding Grand Tourer that may serve as a rival to the Porsche Taycan and upcoming Tesla Roadster. The sketches and accompanying data were discovered by the US site called Taycan EV Forum. [January 28, 2020] Deluxe Corporation Names Fredonia, New York as Winner of Season 5 of Small Business Revolution Deluxe (NYSE:DLX), a Trusted Business Technology company, today announced that Fredonia, New York is the winner of Season 5 of the Small Business Revolution (News - Alert) contest. Fredonia edged out four other communities in a national public vote. The town of Fredonia will receive a $500,000 revitalization from Deluxe for select small businesses and the downtown area and be featured in the acclaimed series that streams on Hulu (News - Alert), Prime Video and SmallBusinessRevolution.org. Since the series began in 2016, Deluxe has received more than 35,000 nominations from small towns across the country. During the week-long voting process for Season 5, nearly one million votes were cast, with Fredonia coming out on top. The other communities in the contest were Benicia, California; Livingston, Montana; Spearfish, South Dakota; and, The Dalles, Oregon. "At Deluxe, we pride ourselves on being champions for business so communities thrive," said Amanda Brinkman, Deluxe's Chief Brand & Content Officer and host of the show. "The Small Business Revolution truly embodies that spirit in how we showcase and support businesses that are the lifeblood of their communities. "Each of the five towns should be incredibly proud of the work they've done the past few months and we hope they all continue the momentum they gained being part of this contest and continue to make positive change in each of their communities," Brinkman said. p> Several Deluxe team members toured the U.S. in December, visiting the top 10 communities considered for this year's contest. From there, the top five towns were selected for a public vote that ended on January 21. Now, filming will begin in February as Brinkman and co-host, renovation icon Ty Pennington, along with marketing professionals from Deluxe as well as financial experts from new partner, U.S. Bank look to make over the small business community in Fredonia. Deluxe, a trusted partner to millions of businesses, big and small, launched the Small Business Revolution to highlight small business stories from across the country. From 2016-2019, four lucky communities - Wabash, Indiana; Bristol Borough, Pennsylvania; Alton, Illinois; and, Searcy, Arkansas - were featured on Small Business Revolution. All 35 episodes from Seasons 1-4 are now available. To learn more about how Deluxe marketing services can help your small business, go to www.deluxe.com. About Deluxe Deluxe is a Trusted Business Technology company for enterprises, small businesses and financial institutions offering a range of solutions to help customers manage and grow their businesses. Approximately 4.8 million small business customers access a wide range of products and services from Deluxe, including incorporation services, logo design, website development and hosting, email marketing, social media, search engine optimization and payroll services, along with customized checks and forms. For our approximately 4,600 financial institution customers, Deluxe offers industry-leading programs in data analytics, customer acquisition and treasury management solutions, fraud prevention and profitability solutions, as well as checks. Deluxe is also a leading provider of checks and accessories sold directly to consumers. For more information, visit us at www.deluxe.com, www.facebook.com/deluxecorp or www.twitter.com/deluxecorp. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200128005784/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] S cotlands ministers have backed calls for a second independence referendum following a tight vote at Holyrood. MSPs passed the motion to hold a fresh poll after fierce campaigning by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who has repeatedly insisted that the Scottish people should be able to choose their own future. The motion, backed by 64 votes to 54, now obliges the UK Government to reach an agreement with the Scottish Government on such a referendum taking place on a date and in a manner determined by the Scottish Parliament. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has already rejected calls from Ms Sturgeon to transfer powers to Holyrood to enable a new vote. Today's result was a big win for First Minister Nicola Sturgeon / PA But with the UK set to leave the EU on Friday something Scots voted against in 2016 Ms Sturgeon insisted there must now be a fresh ballot. She wants this to take place in the second half on 2020 and is urging UK ministers to agree to this. Constitutional Relations Secretary Mike Russell welcomed the clear endorsement from MSPs of the Scottish Governments stance following todays result. Boris Johnson rejects Nicola Sturgeon's plan for second Scottish independence referendum He said: Today we have seen a clear endorsement of the mandate the people have given us: to put the question of Scotlands future back to them in a new public vote. A referendum should now be held so that the people can decide if Scotland should be an independent country. We propose that referendum, on a date and in a manner determined by the Scottish Parliament, should take place this year. His comments came after the First Minister warned of the consequences for Scotland of both Brexit and a Conservative Government, telling MSPs: Given what the Tories have in store, proposing a further decision on independence isnt simply legitimate it is necessary. She accused UK ministers of being completely deaf to Scotlands interests, needs and voice, adding that their vision for the UK was driven by jingoism and xenophobia. Independence, she argued, would give Scotland an alternative future. Nicola Sturgeon makes her case during the Holyrood debate on 'Scotland's Future' / PA The First Minister said: We stand just two days from losing our EU membership and all of the rights that go with it. In my view it is beyond doubt now that the only realistic way for Scotland to return to the heart of Europe and to ensure we get the governments we vote for is to become an independent country. Lashing out at the Tories, Labour and the Liberal Democrats for their opposition to a second ballot, she said: It is hard to escape the conclusion that it is their fear of the choice Scotland would make on the substantive question that is driving the anti-democratic position of the opposition parties. It is only ever parties that know their arguments are bust that have to resort to blocking democracy. I know not everyone agrees with my position on independence, but I am happy to have that debate and let Scotland decide. Scottish Conservative interim leader Jackson Carlaw criticised SNP ministers for their focus on independence, saying: If only this Government spent the same amount of attention on police and schools as it does on polling and spin, we might have the safest streets and the best schools in Europe. Labour leader Richard Leonard insisted nobody in this chamber really believes that there will be a referendum this year. Nicola Sturgeon says there is a clear mandate for a second independence referendum And Scottish Liberal Democrat Willie Rennie claimed the SNP had learned nothing from Brexit, saying: Their answer to leaving an economic and social union of 40 years is to leave another closer, more tightly integrated union too. While the SNP debate independence, we are seeing health, education and the police struggling to get by. This is the true cost of the SNPs independence obsession. Pro-UK campaign group Scotland in Union branded the vote in Holyrood an attempt to distract from the nationalists abysmal record running Scotlands public services, with hospitals in crisis, targets to close the education attainment gap being missed, and police stations falling apart. ALBANY Bail reform is a hot topic in New York, so the big reaction to my Tuesday column didn't surprise me. The column was a defense of the reform and an attempt to confront the misinformation that some opponents are spreading. Some of you appreciated it. Some of you didn't, of course. For today, I thought I'd respond to some of that reaction. What follows are comments from readers, albeit edited for grammar and conciseness. "I take offense that someone is allowed out after committing manslaughter." It is true that judges can no longer set bail for second-degree manslaughter, which is considered a non-violent crime. But manslaughter defendants were previously "allowed out," so long as they were wealthy enough to make bail. Again, the reform eliminates cash bail for misdemeanor and non-violent crimes, thus granting poorer defendants what wealthier counterparts already enjoyed. The system as it existed was blatantly unfair. Meanwhile, fear of a defendant's potential dangerous to the public was not previously a reason a judge could set bail. But even if you believe it should be used that way, why for second-degree manslaughter? If a defendant didn't intentionally do harm, how is he a public risk? "It has been less than a month and crime is up 31 percent in New York City. The law was well intentioned but needs refinement." Police Commissioner Dermot Shea last week said robberies are up 32 percent in the city since the start of the year, and he blamed that and some other crime increases directly on bail reform, which went into effect Jan. 1. The increases are worrying, for sure, but I'd caution against drawing conclusions from three weeks of data. The city's rate of robberies, felony assault, shootings and murder were all up in 2019, before bail reform. And New Jersey did not experience a crime rise after enacting similar changes. Still, even though I would encourage lawmakers to stand firm in the face of political pressure, I would agree that the law may need to be tweaked. Most major legislation does. "Let's remember that before Jan 1, some people released on bail were committing new crimes. So don't be surprised when it happens in 2020." More Information Contact columnist Chris Churchill at cchurchill@timesunion.com or 518-454-5442. See More Collapse Exactly! An accused burglar who was freed pre-trial on Jan. 15 could also have been freed before the reform for that very same burglary IF THEY HAD MADE BAIL. That's why so much of howling and fear mongering from prosecutors and politicians strikes me as dishonest. Also, as I said in Tuesday's column, a non-violent thief who can post $3,000 bail is no more threatening than one who can't. The money is irrelevant, unless you believe that being poor makes a person inherently more dangerous. "If you do not interface with police as a criminal, you need no bail. The libs gloss right over this FACT! To be in need of bail means one probably did something." Well, so much for innocent until proven guilty. It baffles me that some conservatives, who are typically skeptical of government power, make an argument that suggests being OK with a totalitarian police state. If the government says you did something, you did it? Vladimir Putin agrees. "My problem with the reform is that the judges don't have the discretion to impose incarceration on any violent crime perpetrators, poor or rich." Your problem is not with bail reform. Judges have rarely imposed incarceration on those accused of violent crimes. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. That's why Harvey Weinstein, accused of rape and other crimes, is free on bail pending the outcome of his trial in Manhattan. That's why Christopher Porco was free on $250,000 cash bail before a jury found him guilty of murdering his father and attacking his mother in Delmar. Bail reform always existed for the rich. Please understand, though, that judges can still impose bail for violent offenses, and wealthier defendants can still post it. That has not changed. And while even some supporters of the reform would like more judicial discretion, it isn't true that judges have none. They can impose oversight by a case manager, referrals to treatment or mental-health counseling, and, in some cases, electronic monitoring of defendants. Some of the more publicized cases of recent days the ones being used to scare the public about bail reform suggest that judges should use those tools more often. Our law enforcement friends are whining that they got sandbagged by this legislation and denied an opportunity to participate in the process. If the chiefs, sheriffs and district attorneys didn't hear the howling indignation that was building, one has to wonder why. Well, it is true that bail reform came as part of the budget process, with open debate, and it shouldn't have happened that way. But bail reform didn't just appear out of nowhere. It was a long time coming, and much of the law-enforcement community has been too accepting of an immoral status quo that kept poor defendants charged with misdemeanor crimes in jail simply because they were poor. Bail reform, which has proven surprisingly easy for prosecutors to condemn, is kind of a Trojan horse. Hidden inside is their real bogeyman: discovery reform (how evidence is handed over to the defense). There is truth to what you say. But discovery reform is a topic for another day. Want more from Chris Churchill? Sign up for his weekly newsletter. cchurchill@timesunion.com 518-454-5442 @chris_churchill Cases of the deadly coronavirus sweeping the world have tripled within three days, MailOnline can reveal after China warned the killer outbreak will peak in the next 10 days. World Health Organization figures show just 2,014 patients had been struck down with the SARS-like infection by Sunday, January 26. This has now risen dramatically to 7,100, with cases in the US, Australia and Canada. Figures also show there were just 445 cases by Wednesday last week - meaning the outbreak that is continuing to escalate has increased in size by almost 14-fold in the space of seven days. It means the outbreak in mainland China is now bigger than the 2003 SARS epidemic, when 5,327 cases of the killer virus were confirmed. However, it is still behind the total toll of the outbreak, which infected 8,000 people. It comes after a renowned scientist at China's National Health Commission warned the spread of the infection is only going to get worse. Dr Zhong Nanshan admitted he fears the crisis will peak 'in the next 10 days'. Health officials in the capital Beijing today warned cases are on the rise. Some 170 people have now died, most of whom lived in Wuhan the deserted city at the heart of the outbreak. World Health Organization figures show just 2,014 patients had been struck down with the SARS-like infection by Sunday, January 26. This has now risen dramatically to 7,100, with cases in the US, Australia and Canada As well as a dramatic increase in cases of the never-before-seen virus, figures also show the number of deaths have spiralled The killer coronavirus outbreak has now killed 170 people and struck down more than 7,000 in 19 different countries. Cases have been spotted in Canada, US, France and Australia In other developments to the killer outbreak, sources claim hundreds of British nationals stuck in coronavirus-hit Wuhan are gearing up to be flown back to London tomorrow. And the United Arab Emirates has become the latest country to confirm cases of the mutating virus, announcing four patients from the same family had caught the infection. As well as a dramatic increase in cases of the never-before-seen virus, figures also show the number of deaths have spiralled. Chinese tourists wearing protective masks queue at Don Mueang airport in Bangkok, Thailand, as they wait to board flights back to China Wuhan residents wear facemasks as they wait for medical attention at Wuhan Red Cross Hospital to prevent the spread of the deadly virus which began in the city 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 The Dabie Mountain Regional Medical Centre is the first dedicated coronavirus hospital to have opened in China. Workers and volunteers spent two days revamping an empty building WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THIS CORONAVIRUS? 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 lung 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 the Wuhan coronavirus kill? Yes 170 people have so far died after testing positive for the virus. What are the symptoms? Some people who catch the Wuhan coronavirus may not have any symptoms at all, or only very mild ones like a sore throat or a headache. Others may suffer from a fever, cough or trouble breathing. And a small proportion of patients will go on to develop severe infection which can damage the lungs or cause pneumonia, a life-threatening condition which causes swelling and fluid build-up in the lungs. 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 around China and are known to have spread from person to person. CLICK HERE TO SEE MAILONLINE'S FULL Q&A ON THE CORONAVIRUS Advertisement Just nine deaths were recorded by Chinese officials at the end of Wednesday last week. This jumped to 17 overnight. Fifty-six deaths were recorded by the end of Sunday, meaning deaths have more than doubled in the same time that cases have tripled. Cases and deaths have also risen overnight, with a WHO situation report revealing there was 4,593 cases and 106 deaths by the end of yesterday. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Beijing and the risk of infection there are on the rise, a health official in the capital city said today. Pang Xinghuo, vice director of Beijing city's Center for Disease Control and Preventon, made the comments during a press briefing. Beijing has confirmed 1 death and 102 confirmed cases of the virus so far. Leading scientists have made stark warnings that there could be tens of thousands of patients already infected far more than the official toll. Despite growing fears, China has been maintaining a positive front in its 'battle of Wuhan'. President Xi Jinping said the country would defeat the 'devil virus'. Chinese state television quoted President Xi as saying the country would bolster its international cooperation to help contain the killer infection. Discussing the outbreak, Dr Zhong said: 'I believe it should reach a peak in a week or around ten days.' He added: 'The battle of Wuhan is taking place under a situation where there is no clear boundary between us and the enemy.' Other experts added that warmer weather may make it harder for the infection to spread cold and flu-like illnesses tend to spread faster in winter weather. SARS infected 8,000 people and killed nearly 800 in an outbreak in Asia in 2003, in that it is a type of coronavirus which infects humans' lungs. British Airways today announced it would be stopping all flights to and from mainland China. It runs daily flights to Beijing and Shanghai from London Heathrow. The airline said in a statement: 'We have suspended all flights to and from mainland China with immediate effect following advice from the Foreign Office against all but essential travel. A pilot wearing a protective suit parks a cargo plane at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province Jeff Siddle, his wife Sindy and their nine-year-old daughter Jasmine will be torn apart because Beijing won't allow his Chinese wife on tomorrow's British evacuation flight Indian American Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) walks outside the Senate chamber during a recess in the impeachment trial proceedings against President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 24, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) The Centre has given approval for the establishment of a new government medical college at Hoshiarpur in Punjab, besides upgradation of the existing Civil Hospital, an official spokesman of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Wednesday. The new government medical college would be set up at a cost of Rs 325 crore, of which Rs 195 crore, i.e. 60 per cent share, would be given by the Centre, according to a communique. The remaining 40 per cent to the tune of Rs 130 crore would be contributed by the Punjab government as the state's share for the college, the spokesman said. The upcoming GMC would have an intake capacity of 100 seats, and would be instrumental in providing quality healthcare and diagnostic services, he said. The central government has also cleared a proposal for upgradation of the Civil Hospital at Hoshiarpur, thereby enhancing its bed capacity from the existing 200 to 500, with the latest medical infrastructural facilities added to the hospital. There are three government medical colleges already functioning in the state at Amritsar, Faridkot and Patiala. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lima, Jan 29 : Keiko Fujimori, the leader of Perus opposition Popular Force party, will return to pre-trial detention for 15 months after a court found that she posed a flight risk. Fujimori had already served more than a year in jail between 2018 and 2019 at the request of prosecutor Jose Domingo Perez, who is investigating money laundering and illegal campaign financing accusations against her, but was released under a Constitutional Court order, reports Efe news. On Tuesday, judge Victor Zuniga approved Perez's new petition and ordered Fujimori's detention by endorsing the prosecution's flight risk, obstruction of justice and severity of the crimes argument. The magistrate said the detention meets proportionality standards, adding that they're suitable, adequate, necessary and proportionally strict. Zuniga said Fujimori could have been involved in money laundering when she was a congress member from 2006 to 2011 and tried to have been the nation's "most important official" during the 2006 and 2011 presidential campaigns. The judge deemed the daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000) a flight risk because of her lack of solid possessions on Peruvian soil. In the last seven years, Keiko Fujimori and her family have lived in a house paying $1,600 in monthly rent, and the former presidential candidate has declared an income of more than $3,300 per month, which allegedly comes from party contributions. The magistrate said that with such an income, she would have been able to purchase a home, but decided not to. Minutes before arriving at the criminal court, where she was arrested, Keiko Fujimori recorded a message on her social networks in which she complained about this "new injustice" and "execution" promoted by "various interested parties." The former legislator announced she would surrender to authorities immediately because she has "a clear conscience" and would break her silence to give "a political response to this persecution." Keiko Fujimori added that she asked husband Mark Vito to present his case "to foreign governments and international organizations" to achieve the justice that, she considers, has been denied to her. Vito told reporters "there is great injustice" against his wife and that they will "raise (their) voice in front of the international community" to show that there is no obstruction to justice. American President Donald Trump has presented his plan to settle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Talks between the two sides halted almost six years ago. The Trump plan calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state. That is a main issue Palestinian leaders have long called for: a "two-state" answer to the conflict. However, Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called Trump's Middle East peace deal a "conspiracy" that "will not pass." The 50-page political document expands on an earlier 30-page economic plan for the West Bank and Gaza Strip released last June. It calls for $50 billion in international investment in the Palestinian territories and neighboring Arab areas. Trump announced the plan at the White House Tuesday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood with the American leader as he spoke. Trump noted that he has done a lot for Israel. But, he said, he wants the plan to be a, in his words,great deal for the Palestinians. He called it an historic opportunity for Palestinians to gain an independent state. He said the plan would permit a Palestinian capital in parts of East Jerusalem. Trump administration officials said the plan greatly increases territory under Palestinian control. It also recognizes Israeli control over large settlements in the West Bank, a proposal that many Palestinians will likely oppose. Palestinian leaders say they were not invited to attend the announcement. Many have rejected Trumps approach to the conflict. They argue that his policies support only Israel. Trump met separately Monday with Netanyahu and his main political opponent Benny Gantz. After, Netanyahu said there is a chance to "make history and define Israel's borders." Gantz also praised the peace plan as "historic. He said he looks forward to putting it into effect if he becomes Israels next prime minister after elections in March. The Trump administration has been working on a peace plan since it took office in 2017. The president said he delayed presenting it because of what he says is political uncertainty in Israel. But some Palestinian leaders have refused to work with the U.S. They dismissed the peace plan even before it was publicly released. Many Palestinians are angry with Trump for recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moving the U.S. embassy there. Palestinian negotiators want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. They are also angry about U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's statements about Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said the plan was no more than a way to, in his words, "finish off the Palestinian cause." Shtayyeh said, "We reject it and we demand the international community not be a partner to it because it contradicts the basics of international law and inalienable Palestinian rights." Im Caty Weaver. VOA News reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English, with additional reporting from the Associated Press. Mario Ritter Jr. was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story opportunity - n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done: a chance approach - n. a way of dealing with something: a way of doing or thinking about something uncertainty - n. something that is doubtful or unknown: something that is uncertain usually plural contradict - v. to say the opposite of (something that someone else has said) : to deny the truth of (something) inalienable - adj. impossible to take away or give up We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced 1 million masks will be released from the national medical stockpile, as the government reviews its response to the coronavirus outbreak after reports it could be transmitted without symptoms. The masks will be distributed on Wednesday through local public health networks to general practices and pharmacists in areas where stocks had been depleted by the bushfire response, Mr Morrison told reporters in Canberra. It comes after worried GPs called for "urgent" assistance to replenish their stocks of P2 and surgical masks as they prepared to deal with an influx of suspected coronavirus cases. Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy said an urgent meeting of all expert groups would "reconsider whether our medical advice should be changed" when it met on Wednesday afternoon to evaluate the veracity of two cases of human-to-human transmission outside China by patients who had not yet developed symptoms - one in Germany and the other in Japan. Jessica Christian / The Chronicle Any legislator can prattle on uselessly about the depredations of Californias housing crisis. But how many have the courage to do something about it? Well soon find out. SB50, state Sen. Scott Wieners measure to legalize apartment construction throughout the state and particularly near mass transit and job centers, is expected to come to its first vote on the Senate floor as soon as Wednesday. A legislative deadline requires it to pass by the end of this week or expire. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Wednesday launched a series of initiatives estimated over Rs 1,000 crore in various sectors. Palaniswami inaugurated 92 power sub-stations established in different parts of the state, and constructed at a total estimated cost of Rs 1035.28 crore, an official release here said. He inaugurated the facilities through video conference from here, it added. Further, he flagged off 240 new buses, valued at Rs 83 crore, meant for various transport undertakings in the state. Among others, he inaugurated a bridge insuburban Vandalur. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh, Texas A&M, UNC-Chapel Hill, University of Wisconsin, and Columbia University published a new paper in the Journal of Marketing that examines the changing role and management of brands in a hyperconnected world. The study forthcoming in the March issue of the Journal of Marketing is titled "Branding in a Hyperconnected World: Refocusing Theories and Rethinking Boundaries" is authored by Vanitha Swaminathan, Alina Sorescu, Jan-Benedict Steenkamp, Thomas O'Guinn, and Bernd Schmitt. Nike's valuation increased by approximately $30 billion between the launch of the Colin Kaepernick ad and the end of 2019 in large part due to the viral publicity generated by this action and the way consumers responded to it. This story captured the attention of marketers everywhere and reshaped Nike's brand associations. It also seems to defy one of the traditional principles of branding where brands were encouraged to remain "above the fray" and not be involved in controversial issues that may potentially turn away certain customer segments. A new article in the Journal of Marketing begins with the premise that a hyperconnected environment is changing the role and management of brands such that new theories and models are needed to account for these changes. This article sets the stage for new branding research in a hyperconnected world in which the boundaries of branding have been blurred and broadened. To encourage future research, a research agenda on branding from the perspectives of consumers, firms, and society is presented. Considering both the broadening and blurring of brand boundaries, the research team poses three questions: (1) What are the roles and functions of brands? (2) How is brand value (co)created? and (3) How should brands be managed? The article re-examines traditional roles of brands (e.g., brands as signals of quality or as mental cues) and notes how those roles are changing in a hyperconnected environment. It also describes how hyperconnectivity contributes to several new roles in which brands are containers of socially constructed meaning, architects of value in networks, catalysts of communities, arbiters of controversy, and stewards of data privacy among others. Many of these new roles can be the focus of research from multiple disciplinary perspectives and a variety of research questions that can draw from different theoretical perspectives are highlighted. As brand boundaries are blurring, the article discusses the shift towards cocreated brand meanings and experiences, enacted via digital platforms which facilitate such cocreation. Given the complex nature of brands today and in the future, the article encourages researchers to engage in future boundary-breaking research. One implication of hyperconnectivity for branding research is that brands will need to be conceptualized more broadly within each of the theoretical perspectives in the extant brand literature. The consumer and the firm perspectives should focus more on consumers and firms as part of networks rather than on their roles as individual buyers or managers of brands. The society perspective should go beyond the role of brands as cultural symbols and examine them as agents of social change. Moreover, brands are becoming more than symbols attached to products that are owned by individual firms; brands can also be ideas, persons, and places. There is also an opportunity to examine topics that cut across these theoretical perspectives. Brands need to fulfill a broader mission and purpose. For example, the firm perspective will need to embrace societal questions as organizations or corporate brands will be asked to address broader issues including social responsibility, sustainability, and human-resource practices that go beyond profit maximization. The consumer perspective will also have to be more rooted in the society perspective as consumers form networks that are becoming distinct and occasionally vociferous entities that can shape both managerial practice and societal trends. The impact of networks on brands, like that of communities, requires additional sociological, psychological, and cultural insight. Such work would benefit from increased collaboration among branding researchers of different backgrounds, including teams of marketing strategists, economists, modelers, psychologists, sociologists, and consumer culture researchers. ### Full article and author contact information available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0022242919899905 About the Journal of Marketing The Journal of Marketing develops and disseminates knowledge about real-world marketing questions useful to scholars, educators, managers, policy makers, consumers, and other societal stakeholders around the world. Published by the American Marketing Association since its founding in 1936, JM has played a significant role in shaping the content and boundaries of the marketing discipline. Christine Moorman (T. Austin Finch, Sr. Professor of Business Administration at the Fuqua School of Business, Duke University) serves as the current Editor in Chief. https://www.ama.org/jm About the American Marketing Association (AMA) As the largest chapter-based marketing association in the world, the AMA is trusted by marketing and sales professionals to help them discover what's coming next in the industry. The AMA has a community of local chapters in more than 70 cities and 350 college campuses throughout North America. The AMA is home to award-winning content, PCM professional certification, premiere academic journals, and industry-leading training events and conferences. https://www.ama.org African states are on high alert over a potential spread of the novel coronavirus because of the huge volume of traffic between China and the African continent. As a result, they have tightened screenings at airports and border controls. In Cote dIvoire, Kenya and Mauritius, three travellers from China are in isolation awaiting results of the tests. Even though there have been no confirmed cases of novel coronavirus reported so far, the number of people traveling between China and Africa is so high that the authorities do not want to risk the spread of the virus onto their territory. On the small island of Mauritius, five thousand travellers from China visit the country each month - approximately 500 per day. The ministry of health on the island told RFI that six Chinese tourists from Wuhan are currently in quarantine and one is in isolation. All travellers coming to Mauritius from Wuhan city and Hubei province will be quarantined. China-Africa dense traffic For many African states, China is Africas main trading partner while students and tourists also travel back and forth. According to Dr John Nkengasong, the director of the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention at the African Union in Addis Ababa, this has increased air traffic between China and Africa. Ethiopia alone counst about six flights that leaves Addis Ababa everyday. Knowing how quickly virus spread across the world, there is no doubt that the continent is at high risk because of the large movement of people between Africa and China, Nkengasong told RFI. Liberias Health minister, Wilhelmina Jallah, warned Liberians against travelling to China: We know that a lot of Liberians go back and forth to China. Were not saying do not go to China but we say if you dont have to go at this particular time you shouldnt go.That will be a way of protecting yourself. Means to fight coronavirus Some countries in Africa are better equipped than others to fight the novel coronavirus as they have an efficient early detection system at airports or border controls. Story continues Nkengasong said that fragile states such as Somalia, however, will find it difficult to mount an effective response. Others, like South Sudan, are just emerging from crisis, they will find it challenging to respond [to the coronavirus], he said. South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Ethiopia or Kenya are in a better position to respond to this outbreak than others. Countries like Sierra Leone or Liberia, have had to fight the Ebola epidemic in 2014 and 2015. As a result, they know how to deal with an outbreak. They are more alert, said Christian Lindmeier a spokesperson for the World Health Organisation in Geneva. But this coronavirus is different [from the Ebola virus]. According to Dr Mosoka Fallah, the director of Liberias National Public Health Institute, the structures that were built during the Ebola outbreak, five years ago, are currently being used to prepare for the coronavirus even though they are two different strains. At our airports, we are checking all people coming from China. We also have a database of everyone who has been in China since December and we are trying to track them down to see how they are doing, he added. Lack of communication Liberian authorites are in constant communication with the WHO country office and also liaising with ECOWAS to gather information on how the situation is evolving in West Africa. WHO has country offices in most African states and they cooperate at a ministerial level to build up the countrys health system. We are always ready to respond to any demand. The emergency committee is giving recommendations on the best protocol to follow and how to protect the medical staff, said Lindmeier. Apart from WHOs technical support, Fallah says Liberia is managing this crisis on its own, with no outside support. The ministry of finance is examining whether a budget needs to be earmarked to meet the needs of the crisis. Fallah said that Ghana and Sierra Leone are the two entry points in West Africa for travellers from China. But he deplores an absence of communication among West African countries, namely its neighbour Sierra Leone. Ive sent a couple of communications [to Sierra Leone and Ghana] suggesting to them that they initiate a communication among the countries but I am yet to hear from them, he told RFI. Follow RFI's Zeenat Hansrod on Twitter @zxnt CHICAGO (dpa-AFX) - Airbus (EADSF.PK, EADSY.PK) agreed to pay 3.6 billion euros to settle long-running bribery and corruption charges in connection with payments to middle men in various countries to secure commercial airplane sales. The settlement followed lengthy investigations by French, U.K., and U.S. authorities. The European planemaker said the settlement is subject to approval by courts in the countries. The court hearings in each country are expected to take place on 31 January. 'If approved by the courts, the agreements will result in Airbus taking a provision of EUR 3.6 billion for the payment of potential penalties to the French, U.K., and U.S. authorities, which will be booked in Airbus' 2019 accounts,' Airbus said in a statement. The UK's Serious Fraud Office, and later French Authority, opened investigations into Airbus after the firm reported itself in 2016. The U.S launched a probe into the company in 2018. 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. Officials have identified 23-year-old Marqus Allen, of Dorchester, as the victim of a fatal shooting in Dorchester that occurred last week. At roughly 7:15 p.m. on Jan. 22, Boston police officers responded to a call about a report of shots fired. Police were called to the area 48 Julliette Street in Dorchester before they were redirected to Dorchester Avenue, where they discovered a man suffering from gunshot wounds. The man was taken to a local hospital and later died, police said. The Boston Police Department continues to investigate the incident. Anyone with information is urged to contact Boston Police Homicide Detectives at (617) 343-4470. NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Realeyes , a leading computer vision and emotion AI company, announced today that it had named Joe Zahtila as Chief Revenue Officer. In his new role Zahtila will be responsible for go-to-market strategy for Realeyes new emotion AI products, as well as overseeing global growth initiatives. Zahtila joins Realeyes as the company prepares to launch several new products that apply computer vision and emotion AI to optimize customer experiences across digital channels, including video, streaming, gaming and mobile applications. It seems like every day theres new evidence showing the direct link between emotion and human behavior, and Realeyes is the first company thats leveraging that connection combined with cutting-edge computer analytics to drive results, Zahtila said. With disruptive new products and applications coming to market in 2020, this is an exciting time to be joining Realeyes. Zahtila is a MarTech veteran having served roles in media, technology and advertising measurement over the past 20 years. As part of the founding team at Dynamic Logic, he oversaw Sales & Marketing, Research, Product Development and Success, eventually transitioning the company into MillwardBrown Digital after the successful acquisition by Kantar, WPPs data and insights consultancy. Most recently, Joe served as SVP, Audience and Advertising at Lucid, managing the companys marketplace diversification. 2020 promises to be a pivotal year for Realeyes, and Joe is the perfect person to be leading our revenue-generation efforts, said Mihkel Jaatma, CEO of Realeyes. The science and technology that were developing at Realeyes has incredible value and commercial potential, and were excited to have Joe leading our strategy to bring these transformative new tools to market. About Realeyes Using webcams and the latest in computer vision and machine learning technologies, Realeyes measures how people feel as they watch video content online, enabling brands, agencies and media companies to inform and optimize their content as well as target their videos at the right audiences. Founded in 2007, the company has offices in New York, London, Tokyo and Budapest. Customers include brands such as Mars Inc, AT&T, Hersheys and Coca-Cola, agencies Ipsos, MarketCast and Publicis, and media companies such as Warner Media and Teads. Media Contact: Hugh S. Moore Broadsheet Communications 202-471-0661 hugh@broadsheetcomms.com VADER, the Polish metal veterans, release their new album Solitude In Madness in Spring this year through Nuclear Blast. Today they unleashed the brand new single, Shock And Awe VADER vocalist and lead guitarist Piotr Wiwczarek told MetlaTalk: I am so excited to finally show everyone how the new album sounds! Shock And Awe is the opening track of Solitude In Madness and includes all that you would expect from VADER: speed, aggression and blasting brutality. The album has been finished for a while but the procedure requires a little bit more patience. Expect this frantic song to be included on the set list for the upcoming tour in US/Canada. And of course, more hellish thunder is to come soon Stay tuned for more information on Solitude In Madness, which was recorded by Scott Atkins at Grindstone Studio in the UK. 2020 is going to be a memorable year for the death metal force VADER: the band from Poland have ample reason to celebrate! In 1990, thirty years ago, theirssecond demo Morbid Reich was released opening a completely new world to the band and kick-starting their career. Five years later, the second album De Profundis followed, set to celebrate its 25th birthday next year. In 2000, twenty years ago, Litany was released one of the most popular VADER albums to date. And last but not least: their mini album Art Of War is also celebrating its 15 anniversary! To honour these landmark occasions, VADER have dedicated an whole an anniversary tour to these four works, set to take band across Europe in March 2020, with support to come from bands DEFILED, CHRONOSPHERE and FALLCIE. VADER Anniversary Tour 2020 De Profundis + Litany + Art Of War w/ DEFILED, CHRONOSPHERE, FALLCIE 9 MARCH London, The Underworld Priests from a Catholic group banned by the Vatican - including its charismatic founder - are under police investigation for child abuse after two brothers accused them of sex attacks. Don Giglio Gilioli, 73, and eight of his priests and brothers in the Disciples of the Annunciation community, based in Prato, Tuscany, were named by the siblings who say they were abused over a period of eight years. Gilioli, a Veronese priest, is said to have founded the community to help disadvantaged children after arriving in Prato in 2005 with 500 euros in his pocket. Giovanni Nerbini, the Bishop of Prato, announced today that he had personally reported the case to the police and pledged the church's cooperation with the investigation. Gilioli, a Veronese priest, is said to have founded the community to help disadvantaged children after arriving in Prato in 2005 with 500 euros in his pocket. Giovanni Nerbini, the Bishop of Prato, announced today that he had personally reported the case to the police and pledged the church's cooperation with the investigation The Vatican banned the Disciples of the Annunciation community in December after two investigations found serious concerns about the way it was run It follows the group - which had been an officially approved association of the faithful - being shut down in December by the Vatican after two investigations by the church uncovered serious concerns and members fled the group. The Vatican has closed or taken over several similar associations - often headed by charismatic leaders - in recent years after allegations of sexual abuse. The local Prato newspaper, La Nazione, reported that the nine under investigation for sex abuse included five priests, a brother and three religious order priests. The alleged victims are said to be two brothers who were entrusted to the religious community by their parents. One of the boys, who is physically and mentally disabled, says he was abused between 2008 and 2016 by eight of the nine suspects. His brother was allegedly attacked on multiple occasions between 2009 and 2012 by two of the suspects. The alleged abuse took place in the group's headquarters in Prato and in its offices further north in Calomini. Police have been searching the offices in recent days. The Italian church has only recently started to seriously tackle the problem of clergy abuse after years of cover ups and denials. In December, Pope Francis abolished the 'pontifical secret' code of confidentiality used in clergy sexual abuse cases after mounting criticism that the obligation has been used to protect paedophiles Clergy are still not obliged to report child sex abuse in Italy. Victims have long demanded that the Italian hierarchy compel bishops and religious superiors to report suspected abuse to police even without the legal requirement. Nerbini, who was put in place last September, reported the case to the police after his predecessor had failed to do so when he received the victims' complaint in June, reporting it only to the Vatican as required under the Catholic Church's in-house canon law. A canonical investigation is under way as well, Nerbini said. In December, Pope Francis abolished the 'pontifical secret' code of confidentiality used in clergy sexual abuse cases after mounting criticism that the obligation has been used to protect paedophiles, silence victims and keep authorities from investigating crimes. Francis decreed that information in abuse cases must be protected by church leaders to ensure its 'security, integrity and confidentiality'. But he also said the 'pontifical secret' code no longer applies to abuse-related accusations, trials and decisions under the Catholic Church's canon law. Francis also raised from 14 to 18 the cut-off age below which the Vatican considers pornographic images to be child pornography. The new laws were issued on Francis' 83rd birthday in response to the global explosion of the abuse scandal, his own missteps in dealing with the issue, and demands for greater transparency and accountability from victims, law enforcement and ordinary Catholics alike. The new norms are the latest amendment to the Catholic Church's in-house canon law - a parallel legal code that metes out ecclesial justice for crimes against the faith - in this case relating to the sexual abuse of minors or vulnerable people by priests, bishops or cardinals. In this legal system, the worst punishment a priest can incur is being defrocked, or dismissed from the clerical state. Pope Benedict XVI had decreed in 2001 that these cases must be dealt with under 'pontifical secret', the highest form of secrecy in the church. The Vatican had long insisted that such confidentiality was necessary to protect the privacy of the victim, the reputation of the accused and the integrity of the canonical process. However, such secrecy also served to keep the scandal hidden, to prevent law enforcement from accessing documents and to silence victims, many of whom often believed that 'pontifical secret' prevented them from going to the police to report their priestly abusers. While the Vatican has long tried to insist this is not the case, it has never mandated that bishops and religious superiors report sex crimes to police, and in the past has encouraged bishops not to do so. According to the new instruction, which was signed by the Vatican secretary of state but authorised by the pope, the Vatican still does not mandate reporting the crimes to police, saying religious superiors are obliged to do so where civil reporting laws require it. But it goes further than the Vatican has gone before, saying: 'Office confidentiality shall not prevent the fulfilment of the obligations laid down in all places by civil laws, including any reporting obligations, and the execution of enforceable requests of civil judicial authorities.' Chinese phone maker OnePlus unveiled its Concept One smartphone at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) earlier this month with disappearing cameras. As the name implies, this is a concept smartphone that is not going to be available commercially. But, OnePlus has announced the Concept One World Tour that will still give you a chance to check it out in person if you want. OnePlus will showcase the Concept One in 10 cities and eight countries around the world. It will arrive in France first on February 5 and will then be available to experience in the US, Germany, India, the Netherlands, UK, Finland, and Denmark. Here's the complete schedule of OnePlus Concept One World Tour: Location Date Paris, France February 5 Seattle, US February 6 Cologne, Germany February 7 Delhi, India February 8 Mumbai, India February 8 Bangalore, India February 8 Amsterdam, The Netherlands February 12 Woking, UK February 13 Helsinki, Finland February 17 Copenhagen, Denmark February 19 Those who visit the events will also get a chance to interact with OnePlus' staff and share thoughts about the Concept One. You can head over to the source link below for more details about the venues and timings. Source Gardai have arrested a woman in Dublin after seizing a crossbow and what appears to be approximately 2,500-worth of heroin. On Tuesday at approximately 8.45pm, gardai searched a house in the Summerhill area. A general rule of American politics these days is that the electorate is so polarized that three-quarters of voters wouldnt be able to agree on anything at all. But rules, as the saying goes, are made to be broken. As President Trump's impeachment trial entered its second week on Tuesday, Quinnipiac University released a jaw-dropping new poll showing 75 per cent of registered voters 49 per cent of Republicans, 95 per cent of Democrats and 75 per cent of independents believe the Senate should allow witnesses to testify. The combination of such strong public support for witness testimony and the news that a soon-to-be-released book written by John Bolton The Room Where It Happened would contain details of damning conversations between Trump and his mustachioed former aide meant Senate Democrats were standing a bit taller as they walked around the Capitol Tuesday evening. And when reports emerged from Senate Republicans' weekly caucus meeting which indicated that Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had not locked down the 51 votes it would take to preclude consideration of witness testimony, it appeared as if Democrats were one step closer to their goal of compelling Bolton to testify. Senators have now begin a two-day period during which they can submit questions which Chief Justice John Roberts will put to the House Democrats' managers and the president's lawyers. Whether they will vote to allow witnesses on Friday is still anybody's guess. A handful of Republicans, including Maine's Susan Collins and Utah's Mitt Romney, have indicated that they'd like to hear from Bolton. Additionally, the fact that McConnell didnt lock down a majority vote on Tuesday means that at least two more Republicans, at minimum, are on the fence. Much of the speculation regarding who else might break with Trump and vote against the majority of the GOP caucus has centered on Senators who will be on the ballot this year in swing states, including Arizona's Martha McSally, Colorado's Cory Gardner, and North Carolina's Thom Tillis. Larry Sabato, the founder of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, said it makes political sense for swing-staters like Collins or Gardner to vote for witnesses, particularly since they'll still be able to vote to acquit Trump later on. "Given the fact that they know they can please and will please Trump in the end [with an acquittal], it gives them some leeway," he told me. "Every day the story changes, but I know if I were in a competitive state, I would want to vote for witnesses. It's a good counter to the claim that they're just hiding the president's missteps." And while voting to allow witnesses might incur the president's wrath now, Sabato said voters' memories aren't long enough for Friday's vote to matter in November. "Nobody is going to remember this. It will be in the tenth paragraph of a story and people will say, 'Oh, that's right. That happened at the beginning of the year, didn't it?'" But Sabato warned that it's highly unlikely even the most damning testimony would cause any currently acquittal-minded Republican to vote to remove Trump, even if the addition of witnesses pushes the trial past some primary filing deadlines: I don't think it'll make the slightest difference because they don't want to ever have to say, 'I can't go home again.' And if they do anything contrary to what President Trump wants, with one tweet, Trump can activate his base in their state and their life is miserable and they will be booted out in November." He added that while it's a tough position for any politician to be in, he isn't sympathetic to their plight. Schumer: 'Trump tried to blackmail Ukraine' "They are stuck and they have no one to blame but themselves because they have completely and totally handed Trump the keys to their conscience," he said. "I have no sympathy for them whatsoever." But some observers think those who are watching to see if swing-state Senators will join Democrats are looking in the wrong place. Instead, the biggest bloc of votes for witnesses could come from so-called institutionalists" veteran GOP stalwarts like retiring Tennesee Senator Lamar Alexander, Pennsylvania's Pat Toomey, or North Carolina's Richard Burr, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee. "It's not a good place for the White House to be in," one top Republican operative told me. What the White House fears most, he said, is Senate veterans like Burr or even Alabama's Richard Shelby joining Collins and Romney in voting to allow witnesses, which could trigger a "jailbreak" by bringing more Republicans along with them. "If you get Burr, Tillis flips," a longtime Republican Senate watcher predicted, adding that the worst-case scenario for the White House involves eight to 12 GOP Senators joining Chuck Schumer's 47 Democrats. But one Trumpworld veteran, political consultant Sam Nunberg, said to me that all the handwringing over Friday's vote will come to naught. "I dont think there will be witnesses," he said in a text message. "What's the point? The result will be the same." 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 According to Nunberg, the idea that vulnerable incumbents can gain a veneer of independence from Trump by voting for witnesses but still voting for acquittal is nonsensical. "It wont help them with any of their critics once they acquit Trump," he explained. And while a Senator whose vote remains firmly in Trump's column is McConnell, one Kentucky Republican graybeard I spoke with said the biggest wild-card in all of this is whether he will continue the whip operation he employed to great success last Tuesday, when the Senate voted to approve his trial rules package. McConnell, he said, will read the tea leaves and do what it takes to remain Majority Leader: At the end of the day, Mitch is going to take care of Mitch before anything else, including Trump." The European Parliament has set the seal on Britains departure from the EU, voting overwhelmingly to back Boris Johnsons Brexit deal. MEPs, sitting in Brussels, voted by 621 to 49 in favour of the Withdrawal Agreement, paving the way for Britain to leave on Friday with a deal in place. There were emotional scenes in the parliament as the result was announced with MEPs linking hands to sing a final chorus of Auld Lang Syne. In contrast, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage was greeted by cheers and the waving of Union flags by his partys MEPs as he declared Britain was never coming back. Their triumphal display drew a rebuke from the chair. For most MEPs, who have long wanted Britain to stay, it was a moment of deep regret. Addressing the parliament, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she was determined the EU and the UK should remain good friends and good partners. She quoted the poet George Eliot, saying: Only in the agony of parting do we look into the depth of love. She added: We will always love you and we will never be far, long live Europe. Expand Close European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she wants the EU to have a close relationship with the EU after Brexit (Yui Mok/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she wants the EU to have a close relationship with the EU after Brexit (Yui Mok/PA) The parliaments Brexit co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadt said the departure of a country which had twice given its blood to liberate Europe was a sad moment. He predicted, however, that the UK would eventually rejoin, with many British people deeply unhappy at the prospect of leaving. In the last couple of days I have received hundreds of mails from British citizens saying they desperately want to stay or return, he said. So this vote is not an adieu, this vote, in my opinion, is only an au revoir. He poured scorn on claims by supporters of Brexit that it would mean Britain recovering its sovereignty. What is in fact threatening Britains sovereignty most the rules of our single market or the fact that tomorrow they may be planting Chinese 5G masts in the British islands? he said. However in his final speech to the parliament, Mr Farage insisted there could be no turning back once Britain was out. This is it, the final chapter, the end of the road, a 47-year political experiment that the British frankly have never been very happy with, he said. The Brexit Party leader said he hoped Britains departure would start a debate across the rest of Europe about the EUs future. Im hoping this begins the end of this project. Its a bad project, it isnt just undemocratic, its anti-democratic. The vote in Brussels follows the completion last week of the passage of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill through the British Parliament at Westminster. The agreement settles the terms of Britains departure, including future citizens rights, the arrangements on the Northern Ireland border and the UKs divorce settlement. It also allows for an 11-month transition period, during which the UK will continue to follow EU rules while talks take place on a free trade agreement. Mr Johnson has said he wants a comprehensive deal covering all aspects of Britains future relationship with the EU, including security by the end of the year. He has been adamant that he will not contemplate any extension of the transition period beyond the end of 2020. However, senior EU figures have repeatedly warned that reaching such a wide-ranging agreement will not be possible within such a tight timetable. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said he faced many difficulties to help people and in return, the BJP has called him a "terrorist". Tagging a media report according to which BJP MP Parvesh Verma had allegedly called him a terrorist, Kejriwal said he has been working day and night towards the welfare of people. "Gave up everything for the people of Delhi. After joining politics, I faced many difficulties so that the life of the people could improve. Today in return, the Bharatiya Janata Party is calling me a terrorist It is very sad," he said in a tweet. Amaravati, Jan 29 : In an embarrassment to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, his cousin has approached the High Court to seek a CBI probe into the "killing" of her father Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy in March 2019. N. Suneetha Reddy petitioned the Andhra Pradesh High Court to order the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the murder of the former state minister and MP who was found murdered at his residence in Kadapa on March 15, a couple of weeks ahead of the 2019 Assembly elections. Suneetha said she suspected the conduct of her cousin and Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy and his father Y.S. Bhaskar Reddy in the matter. She said that shifting of police officials investigating the case and slow pace of probe also gave credence to her suspicion. In her petition, she wondered why the Chief Minister was not handing over the case to the CBI, though it had been eight months since he assumed office. She recalled that as the then Leader of Opposition, Jagan had demanded the CBI probe, submitted a memorandum to the Governor, and even filed a petition in the High Court. The High Court, which heard the plea on Tuesday, asked the government to reply as to why it has objections to a CBI probe. After the government sought time to file its reply, Justice Durga Prasad Rao posted the case for February 6. The court will hear the plea of Suneetha and her husband along with the petitions filed earlier by her mother Y.S. Sowbhagyamma, Jagan Mohan Reddy and others, including some leaders of opposition Telugu Desam Party. Suneetha also questioned the Chief Minister's move to set up another Special Investigation Team to probe the crime. The petitioner alleged that the SIT ended up interrupting the investigation and its conduct gave rise to doubts about police's intentions in "implicating innocent people", so as to allow the culprits go scot-free. Suneetha Reddy and her husband N. Rajasekhar Reddy pleaded that Avinash Reddy was one of the first from the family to arrive at the crime scene. The petitioners claimed that Avinash Reddy was protecting Siva Shankar Reddy, a general secretary of YSR Congress Party who was close to both Avinash and his father. They claimed that Siva Shankar Reddy had a criminal background and Vivekananda Reddy was not happy with him. Suneetha claimed that Shankar Reddy was responsible for her father's defeat in the Legislative Council elections in 2016. The petitioners named 15 persons whose conduct they suspected. The plea said that these persons were present at the crime scene when the blood stains were washed and the wounds on Vivekananda Reddy's body were bandaged. They included Avinash, his father Bhaskar Reddy and latter's younger brother Y.S. Manohar Reddy, four other members of the YSR family, Siva Shankar Reddy, couple of policemen and K. Srinivas Reddy. Suneetha claimed that Srinivas Reddy's alleged suicide on September 2, 2019, was in fact murder. Srinivas was a brother-in-law of Parmeswar Reddy, an accused in the case. In his suicide note addressed to the Chief Minister, Srinivas claimed that police was harassing him. The 68-year-old former MP was alone at his house when unidentified persons barged in and killed him, hours before he was to launch YSRCP's election campaign in Kadapa. Jagan Mohan Reddy had then demanded the CBI probe and blamed then ruling TDP for the killing. Jagan claimed that TDP leadership was aware of the conspiracy whenever a death occurred in his family. Pentagon Says 50 U.S. Troops Diagnosed With Brain Injuries After Iran Strike 01/29/20 Source: RFE/RL The U.S. military has for the third time raised the number of U.S. service members who suffered traumatic brain injuries in Iran's missile strike on an Iraqi air base earlier this month, AP reported citing a Pentagon spokesman. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Campbell said on January 28 that 16 more service members were now diagnosed with brain injuries, bringing the total to 50. Thirty-one of the 50 were treated and had returned to duty, Campbell added. Iran bombed the Ain Al-Asad air base in Iraq on January 8, 2020. In its previous update last week, the Pentagon said that 34 U.S. service members had suffered injuries. Initially, President Donald Trump claimed that no Americans were harmed in Iran's January 8 attack on the Ain Al-Asad air base in western Iraq. Concussions can cause headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light, and nausea. Trump has downplayed the injuries saying he "heard that they had headaches and a couple of other things." The remarks angered a U.S. war veterans group. William Schmitz, national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said on January 24 the group "expects an apology from the president to our service men and women for his misguided remarks." Iran's attack was in retaliation for the U.S. killing of its top military commander, Major General Qasem Soleimani, in a drone strike at Baghdad airport on January 3. 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. Based on reporting by AP and Reuters Representative Eliot Engel (D., N.Y.), the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released a statement on Wednesday revealing that former national security adviser John Bolton had called him in September to suggest that he investigate the ouster of former ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch. President Trump is wrong that John Bolton didnt say anything about the Trump-Ukraine scandal at the time the President fired him. He said something to me, Engel wrote. [Bolton] and I spoke by telephone on September 23. On that call, Ambassador Bolton suggested to meunpromptedthat the committee look into the recall of Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch. He strongly implied something improper had occurred around her removal as top diplomat in Ukraine. President Trump dismissed Bolton from his position on September 10. Trump has criticized Bolton over reports the former adviser had written in the manuscript of his book The Room Where it Happened, set for release on March 17, that Trump had conditioned aid to Ukraine on that countrys commitment to investigate Joe and Hunter Biden. Why didnat John Bolton complain about this nonsense a long time ago, when he was very publicly terminated, Trump wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. He said, not that it matters, NOTHING! Engel said in his statement that he reported his September 23 conversation with Bolton to investigative colleagues involved in the House Foreign Affairs Committee probe into Yovanovitchs firing. Engel said he did not publicize the conversation earlier due to its private nature. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the impeachment inquiry the day after Engels and Boltons phone conversation. Former ambassador Yovanovitch testified in House impeachment hearings that Trump lawyer Rudy Giulianis associates, businessmen Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, had smeared her as badmouthing the president in order to oust her and advance their own business dealings in Ukraine. Story continues Former Ukraine top prosecutor Yuriy Lutsenko reportedly offered Giuliani information on the Bidens in exchange for the removal of Yovanovitch. The former ambassador had been critical of Lutsenko and his office, and supported an anti-corruption institution in Ukraine that Lutsenko opposed. More from National Review Lehigh Township police say a township man accused of pointing a gun at family members and threatening to shoot them was arrested in Virginia. A warrant was issued Wednesday for Kyle Brian McKittrick on charges of aggravated assault, child endangerment and reckless endangerment stemming from the Tuesday night incident on Elm Road in the Danielsville section of the township. The 44-year-old McKittrick allegedly pointed the gun and made the threats during a domestic dispute, and then fled before officers arrived, police said. Township police said McKittrick was last seen driving his silver/gray 2016 Dodge Ram pickup. Less than an hour after releasing McKittricks photo, police said he was arrested in Virginia. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs met with the commander of the Royal Dutch Marechaussee (RDM) Hans Leijtens during a recent working visit to St. Maarten. The introductory meeting was held together with the Minister of Justice Egbert Doran and Secretary-General of the Ministry of Justice Russell Ursula. The Ministers along with their senior staff members were given a breakdown of the role of the Marechaussee in the region, in particular, their role on St. Maarten. This mainly involves border control and combating human trafficking and human smuggling. The Marechausee reiterated that their members work under the command of the police force, KPSM (Korps Politie St. Maarten). They work alongside the local police officers as well. Commander Leijtens informed the government that they currently provide assistance at the airport regarding immigration and customs and that training has taken place in this regard. Commander Leijtens concluded by assuring the Ministers that the Marechaussee is also open to assisting country St. Maarten in any other areas deemed necessary. Another year, another mystifying Grammy Awards. The 62nd annual affair, which took place on Sunday night, had the usual retinue of awkward Grammy moments, overlong performances and unlikely pairings. But it also was a coronation of a new generation of pop stars Billie Eilish, who won five trophies, including a sweep of the four biggest categories; Lizzo; Tyler, the Creator and others. On this weeks Popcast, a conversation about the ongoing Grammy crisis, including the removal of the Recording Academy chief executive Deborah Dugan, and the ways this years show did and didnt help the argument that the Grammys are concerned with diversity. Also, The New York Times pop music team is in full debate mode over the meaning of Eilishs success, over what makes Lizzo tick, over the Aerosmith/Run-D.M.C. performance, over the Grammy regular Gary Clark Jr. and much more. On the Popcast: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Huawei's 5G role is a 'real risk' as he landed in the UK and started potentially stormy talks with Dominic Raab tonight. Mr Pompeo urged Boris Johnson to look again at the decision to involve the Chinese tech giant in the infrastructure project. The pressure came as the PM vowed the Huawei row will not 'imperil' the Special Relationship. Amid claims Mr Johnson defied misgivings from his own ministers to give the firm a limited part in the 5G network, former Cabinet ministers have suggested his huge 80-strong majority might not be enough to save him from defeat on the issue. However, following the meeting between Mr Pompeo and Mr Raab last night, a statement was issued by a spokesman for the Foreign Secretary that made no reference to the Huawei deal. The spokesman said: "The Foreign Secretary's discussions with Secretary Pompeo this evening focused on future opportunities for economic and security co-operation between the UK and US. "The pair discussed the US' proposal for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and the situation in Iran and Yemen, and the Foreign Secretary underlined the need to de-escalate regional tensions." Earlier, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace reportedly branded Beijing a 'friend of no-one' at a crucial security meeting yesterday - but eventually accepted the decision to allow the firm 'limited' involvement in the infrastructure project. The White House has voiced 'disappointment' over the decision, after intensely lobbying for the UK to shun Huawei. But challenged on the issue at PMQs this afternoon, Mr Johnson said: 'I want to assure the House and indeed the country that I think it is absolutely vital that people in this country do have access to the best technology available... 'But that we also do absolutely nothing to imperil our relationship with the United States, to do anything to compromise our critical national security infrastructure or to do anything to imperil our extremely valuable cooperation with Five Eyes security partners.' Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab meets US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the Foreign Secretary's Residence this evening Speaking to reporters en route to the UK, Mike Pompeo urged Boris Johnson to look again at the decision to involve Chinese tech giant Huawei in the 5G project Boris Johnson insisted he would not do anything to 'imperil' relations with the US as he took PMQs today Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (pictured left arriving for the National Security Council meeting yesterday) is said to have urged the PM at a crunch National Security Council meeting to heed warnings from the US over the Chinese tech giant Why is Huawei's involvement in UK 5G controversial? Huawei has come under scrutiny over allegations of close ties to the Chinese state. Founder Ren Zhengfei's past links to the military have been cited as a concern, as has China's history of state sponsorship and surveillance. Chinese law can also compel firms to co-operate with Chinese national intelligence work, which some critics have suggested could see Beijing require Huawei to spy on people through so-called 'back doors' in its telecoms equipment. Huawei has vehemently denied the allegations of any ties with the Chinese state and says it abides by the laws of every country in which it operates. Advertisement There have been warnings that intelligence-sharing could be at risk, although the government insists there is no link between 5G and dissemination of classified material. Mr Johnson spoke to Donald Trump by telephone yesterday to explain the move in an attempt to defuse the row. And speaking to reporters en route to London, Mr Pompeo said: 'Our view of Huawei is putting it in your system creates real risk.' While urging the UK to 're-look' at the move, he did offer an apparent olive branch by suggesting there is an issue with a lack of competitors to Huawei on 5G technology - something the government has complained about. 'There is also a chance for the United Kingdom to re-look at this as implementation moves forward and then it's important for everyone to know there is also real work being done by lots of private companies inside the United States and in Europe to make sure that there are true competitors to Huawei,' he said. 'We will make sure that when American information passes across a network we are confident that that network is a trusted one. 'We'll work with the United Kingdom. We were urging them to make a decision that was different than the one they made and we'll have a conversation about how to proceed.' Former Cabinet minister Damian Green warned this morning that Mr Johnson could face a damaging Commons revolt on the issue - despite his huge 80-strong majority. Pointing out that a slew of Tory MPs criticised the decision during a debate yesterday, Mr Green told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'One of the things that that frankly surprised me was the breadth of the opposition to the current stance of the government on the Conservative back benches. 'We don't know yet, when push comes to shove and votes happen, how many people will actually put their heads above the parapet. But certainly it's very widespread.' With Washington focused on the unveiling of the president's Middle East peace plan, the official response to the news from London was muted. However a series of senior congressional figures spoke out to condemn the move - warning it could damage Boris Johnson's hopes of a swift, post-Brexit trade deal. Senator Lindsey Graham, a strong supporter of the president, said he was 'very concerned' and urged the UK to think again. 'This decision has the potential to jeopardise US-UK intelligence sharing agreements and could greatly complicate a US-UK free trade agreement,' he tweeted. 'I hope the British government will reconsider its decision.' Restrictions being placed by ministers on 'high-risk' 5G vendors The advice being issued to UK telecoms operators is that 'high-risk vendors' should be: Excluded from all safety related and safety critical networks in critical national infrastructure Excluded from security critical 'core' functions, the sensitive part of the network Excluded from sensitive geographic locations, such as nuclear sites and military bases Limited to a minority presence of no more than 35 per cent in the periphery of the network, known as the access network, which connect devices and equipment to mobile phone masts Advertisement Senator Mitt Romney, a former Republican presidential candidate, described the decision as 'disconcerting'. 'By prioritising costs, the UK is sacrificing national security and inviting the Chinese Communist Party's surveillance state in. I implore our British allies to reverse their decision,' he said. Senator Tom Cotton, a member of the Senate intelligence committee called for a 'thorough review' of intelligence sharing arrangements with the UK. 'I fear London has freed itself from Brussels only to cede sovereignty to Beijing,' he said. 'Allowing Huawei to the build the UK's 5G networks today is like allowing the KGB to build its telephone network during the Cold War.' However, Culture Secretary Baroness Morgan said Britain's use of Huawei equipment in its 4G network meant the UK was better placed than others to monitor possible spying by China within the 5G network roll-out. The Cabinet minister told BBC Breakfast: 'We've had conversations with our other allies around the world to make absolutely clear that yesterday's decision in no way affects the ability for the UK to share classified data with our allies and partners, including the US. Mr Johnson called Donald Trump (pictured in Washington last night) to explain the Huawei decision, but the White House made clear it was 'disappointed' 'But the US start from a different position from us because they haven't had Huawei in their 4G networks. 'We've got that expertise, we've had the oversight of Huawei for quite a number of years now, which gives our agencies the ability to give reassurance that having them involved in the periphery of the network does not present the security challenge I think others are worried about.' The 'ultra-secretive cell' in Banbury where British spies decided it was safe to open up the UK 5G network to China It's totally tip-top secret - right up to the massive sign on the front that announces the presence of the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre (HCSEC) It could be the home of a real-life Wernham Hogg, the fictional firm in Ricky Gervais's hit comedy The Office. The nondescript unit is in an 'office village' on the outskirts of the Oxfordshire town of Banbury, close to the M40 motorway and in the shadow of an enormous Amazon warehouse shipping goods around the UK. But in fact this is the home of a secret operation nicknamed 'The Cell', tasked with making sure that Chinese tech giant Huawei isn't helping the Communist state to spy on Britain. And it's totally tip-top secret - right up to the massive sign on the front that announces the presence of the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre (HCSEC). It is immediately visible to anyone wandering past - admittedly probably not that many - but also to millions via Google Street View. Part of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), this is where spooks decided that Huawei could be allowed to take part in the UK's 5G network, a decision that has angered Washington and Tory back-benchers alike. Advertisement Mr Pompeo's two-day visit - during which he will meet Mr Johnson and Dominic Raab - is likely to offer the first real indication of the extent of any damage to the so-called special relationship. The US administration has consistently argued that giving Huawei a role in 5G could allow the Chinese a 'back door' into the telecoms network through which they could carry out espionage or cyber attacks. President Trump raised the issue personally with Mr Johnson at December's meeting of Nato leaders in London while a high-level delegation was dispatched from Washington earlier this month in a last ditch attempt to persuade ministers not to go ahead. The Government has acknowledged Huawei is a 'high risk vendor' but argues that by banning it from the most sensitive elements of the network and restricting its involvement to 35 per cent, it can manage the risks. The clash comes at sensitive moment in US-UK relations - just as Mr Johnson is hoping to make rapid progress on a trade deal. The US has already threatened to retaliate with tariffs on the UK car industry, if the Government goes ahead with a planned tax on big tech companies. The two countries are also at odds over the Iran nuclear deal and the refusal of the US to extradite the wife of an American intelligence official charged with causing the death of 19-year-old motorcyclist Harry Dunn. Meanwhile Mr Johnson is facing a backlash at home from Tory MPs fiercely opposed to the Huawei decision, including former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith and ex-Brexit secretary David Davis. Ministers have said they will legislate at the 'earliest opportunity' to put the new guidance on telecoms providers into law, opening up the prospect of a potentially damaging Commons revolt. Mr Johnson however appears to have concluded that honouring his general election pledge to 'level up' the 'left behind' areas of the country must be the priority. Rolling out 5G across the country is regarded as key to improving economic performance and excluding Huawei would mean delays and higher costs. What is 5G, why do we need it... and can we trust the Chinese to build it? ROSS CLARK analyses the controversial impending tech deal with Huawei By Ross Clark for the Daily Mail What is 5G? 5G is the 'fifth generation' upgrade to mobile telecommunications. It does not consist of a single new operating system but a 'system of systems' that will so dramatically increase data speeds you'll be able to download a movie in just three seconds. It will also increase internet capacity a thousand-fold when it's fully operational. What is the difference between 4G and 5G? 4G, like all the 'G's before it, is principally designed for smartphone browsing. But 5G is far more ambitious, linking together all kinds of devices, from household appliances such as fridges and washing machines to cars and electricity meters. It is supposed to create what has been termed the 'internet of things', where everything we use in our day-to-day lives can be controlled remotely. For example, you could use the 5G network to control your washing machine from the other side of the world. It could also speed up the development of driverless cars by allowing vehicles to interact with each other. Why do we need it? In its strategy document for 5G roll-out, published in 2017, the Government predicted that global data traffic would grow from 3.7 exabytes (3.7 billion billion bytes of information, where one byte is equivalent to a short email) in 2015 to 30.6 exabytes in 2020. That's the same as if the number of passengers on London's Tube network grew by 53 per cent every year. Without an upgrade, existing systems face being overloaded. But there are also government policies which are dependent on 5G. If we are to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 the ambitious target unveiled by outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May last summer. For example, we will need to make much smarter use of the electricity grid. The 5G network would allow appliances like fridges and electric car chargers to switch in and out of the grid when needed. Are there risks? Yes. An 'internet of things', where every appliance is inter-connected, provides new opportunities for hackers to interfere with electronic systems. They could potentially seize control of vehicles and cause them to crash, or hack smart door locks to gain entry to a house. Hostile nations could exploit 5G to try to disrupt our utility supplies, nuclear plants or airports. There are also serious privacy issues as 5G will make it easier for governments and corporations to track our lives one click at a time. But there are also advantages 5G networks involve far more secure data encryption. So while there will be more appliances for hackers to target, doing so won't be easy. What's the problem with Huawei? Whoever builds the 5G grid, or supplies equipment for it, could potentially plant bugs to allow interference with the network or enable mass surveillance by accessing data. Huawei has repeatedly denied that it is an arm of the Chinese state, but as a Chinese company it is vulnerable to the control of a dictatorship with an appalling human rights record. We wouldn't allow a Chinese company to supply fighter jets for the RAF, goes the argument, and therefore we shouldn't allow one to supply vital communications infrastructure. Former national security adviser Lord Ricketts has dismissed the fears, however, saying: 'I personally think we can find a solution which does allow them to have some role.' Another serious concern is what it would mean for Britain's role within the 'Five Eyes' network of security partners the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Britain who exchange intelligence. Canada has yet to make a decision, while New Zealand initially stopped Huawei providing 5G equipment but has since said it has not imposed a complete ban. Why is the US worried? Donald Trump doesn't trust Huawei to build even the smallest part of our 5G network and the US has warned that it might be reluctant to share intelligence with the UK if we employ the Chinese company although MI5 chief Andrew Parker recently claimed that this is an unlikely consequence. Some have argued that the US is only saying this as a protectionist ruse in its trade war with China. But that doesn't explain why Australia, too, has banned Huawei from building its own 5G network. The chair of Australia's intelligence and security committee, Andrew Hastie, claims it is a question of 'digital sovereignty', while his colleague James Paterson points out: 'Successive Australian governments banned Huawei from our broadband and 5G networks with very little controversy.' In any case, no US company currently makes 5G network equipment. Instead, the US is considering subsidising Swedish firm Ericsson and Finnish company Nokia in order to help develop its own 5G network. In the US T-Mobile has already switched on a slower version of its 5G network, claiming it covers 200 million people. What about our other allies? German Chancellor Angela Merkel is reluctant to ban Huawei, fearing retaliation against German companies exporting to China. France, too, has said it will allow Huawei to build parts of its 5G network. Isn't Huawei already involved? Under Theresa May's premiership, the Government announced that Huawei would be allowed to provide equipment for the periphery of the 5G network, such as masts, but not the control systems at the core of the network. These security services claim that the risk to 5G from using a Chinese supplier is manageable. But one complication is that our existing 3G and 4G telecoms networks already contain equipment manufactured by Huawei. In 2005, for example, BT signed a contract with Huawei that allowed it to connect customer lines to the main part of the network. Does 5G have to include Huawei? Our government claims that Huawei has such a technological head-start in creating 5G equipment that shunning it would delay the introduction and increase costs. Alternative, though significantly more expensive, suppliers are ZTE, which is owned by the Chinese government, Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung (South Korean) and Viettel (owned by the Vietnamese military). The cost to the Government of Huawei's input into 5G is unknown, as is the time frame. Restricting Huawei's involvement would delay the launch of 5G by up to two years and cost the economy between 4.5billion and 6.6billion, according to a 2019 report by the telecoms industry body, Mobile UK. What is the most likely outcome? The Government is most likely to stick to its existing policy, which is to allow Huawei to build communication towers and other peripheral equipment for the 5G network but ban it from the core parts of the network. There may also be measures to reduce future reliance on China by imposing a cap on Huawei's share of the market. What are our alternatives? We could upgrade the existing 4G network which would give extra capacity for now. But in the long run it would lead to Britain lagging behind in telecommunicat With nearly 30 years of experience, McNerney will focus on driving greater brand awareness, scaling a global demand-generation organization, and mobilizing a community of passionate customers and partners that rely on the IBI platform. With clients that range from Fortune 100 enterprises and federal agencies to innovative data-driven companies of every size in every major industry, McNerney has the opportunity to make the IBI community a competitive advantage for the company. Before joining Information Builders, McNerney served as CMO at Savills North America, a provider of commercial real estate advisory services, where she led the marketing organization and drove a global rebrand. Prior to Savills, McNerney served as a senior marketing executive at a number of global technology and software organizations, including IBM, Pitney Bowes, Bloomberg, FocusVision, Bell and Howell, and TRIRIGA. She holds a BA in International Relations and French from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the University of North Carolina's Flagler-Kenan Business School. IBI has been leading the pack in data and analytics innovation for more than four decades. Unlike other vendors who have evolved their technology through acquisition, or are focused on point solutions, IBI provides an organically built data and analytics platform that runs in the cloud and can power the coming generations of innovation and growth. "The way businesses operate today requires dynamic, expert marketing leaders to drive growth," said Frank Vella, CEO of Information Builders. "Carol is a perfect match for that role as we align our staff and capabilities with our goals and aspirations for 2020 and beyond. Her expertise, passion, and enthusiasm will be key in guiding Information Builders' success and successfully positioning us in the marketplace." "The data and analytics space is in such an exciting place right now, and IBI is at the forefront of that," said McNerney. "This opportunity to work with an organization that's established as a leader but always pushing to evolve is a dream for a marketer. I'm thrilled to be a part of this great team and organization and to help move IBI forward into this new decade." About Information Builders Information Builders provides the industry's most scalable software solutions for data management and analytics. We help organizations operationalize and monetize their data through insights that drive action. Our integrated platform for business intelligence (BI), analytics, data integration, and data quality, combined with our proven expertise, delivers value faster, with less risk. We believe data and analytics are the drivers of digital transformation, and we're on a mission to help our customers capitalize on new opportunities in the connected world. Information Builders is headquartered in New York, NY, with global offices, and remains one of the largest privately held companies in the industry. Visit us at informationbuilders.com , follow us on Twitter at @infobldrs , like us on Facebook , and visit our LinkedIn page. Press Contacts Kathleen Moran Information Builders (917) 339-6313 [email protected] Melinda Ball LEWIS (781) 418-2428 [email protected] SOURCE Information Builders Some insurance companies explicitly state epidemics and pandemics as excluded reasons for canceling a trip. Why? Because theyre hard to evaluate in terms of risk and cost. Insurance is there to cover things where the risk can be assessed, explains Henrik Romberg, chief commercial officer at Generali Global Assistance. Pandemics or epidemics tend to be extremely unpredictable and have a very broad geographic impact. As a result, insurers really lack the proper tools and underwriting guidelines to properly price such risk. That said, contact your travel insurer to confirm; some insurers are making accommodations in certain cases. Allianz has said that until further notice, although not covered under most plans, it is accommodating claims for emergency medical care and emergency medical transportation for customers who becomes ill with COVID-19 while on their trip; trip cancellation and trip interruption if customers becomes ill with COVID-19 either before or during their trip; and refundable, non-transferable trip cancellation expenses for customers who purchased their plan prior to January 22, 2020 for trip components in Mainland China, South Korea, or the Lombardy or Veneto regions of Italy and departing prior to April 1, 2020. "Cancel for any reason coverage The only way to be compensated when you need to change or cancel your trip to avoid a high-risk area during a viral outbreak is by purchasing a cancel for any reason (CFAR) benefit with your travel insurance w3policy. CFAR coverage usually adds about 50 percent to the price of a basic policy, which averages 4 percent to 10 percent of a trips cost, says Stan Sandberg, cofounder of TravelInsurance.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance policies. Older travelers, who may be more at risk of health issues, tend to pay at the higher end of that range. There are eligibility requirements for CFAR coverage: You usually are required to buy it no more than 21 days after paying for your trip. You also cant cancel any later than 48 hours before your departure, and will only be reimbursed up to 75 percent of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip cost, says Meghan Walch, product manager for InsureMyTrip, another site for comparing and buying travel insurance policies. (Note that states regulate the U.S. travel insurance industry, so policy options vary; New York, for instance, doesnt allow the sale of CFAR insurance.) Kildare man Ben Kavanagh is considering his options in the city of Wuhan as plans are being made for the repatriation of Irish citizens following the outbreak of coronavirus. I want to leave under the right circumstances, but it is all unclear. I dont want to run the risk of infecting any one else, he told RTE radios Morning Ireland. He said he has taken the advice of the Irish embassy to stay inside and stay healthy. Details of a potential evacuation have been shared, he said, but he would not be upset if he stayed. I dont know how the situation is going to change. I probably should leave for my own health, but what if going will have an effect on others? Mr Kavanagh said there are eight Irish people in the Wuhan area, who have dubbed themselves The Wuhan Eight, they all keep in contact with each other, but most have Chinese partners and families and are unlikely to leave, he explained. My family wants me to be safe, I am trying to figure out the safest option. The teacher, who has been living in Wuhan for two years, said he is effectively in quarantine in his apartment. The situation could get worse and it is expected to peak and then die down in the coming weeks, he said. It was his birthday on Tuesday and he spent the day considering his options, he said. I would be concerned about leaving behind the life Ive made here. Hopefully I could come back and resume life, if I have to leave. It was definitely a memorable birthday. A New York father who was accused of dousing his three-year-old daughter with gasoline and setting her on fire inside his locked car last year, killing her, has died of the burns he sustained during the incident. Martin Pereira, 39, from Valley Stream, New York, passed away from his injuries on Tuesday at Weill Cornell Medical Center, reported the New York Daily News. He was charged with murder, arson and reckless endangerment in the May 5, 2019, killing of his daughter, Zoey Pereira, but he never got a chance to face a judge because of the severity of his injuries. Scroll down for video Martin Pereira (left), 39, died at a hospital on Tuesday, eight months after he allegedly burned his three-year-old daughter. Zoey (right), to death The toddler was found engulfed in flames inside Pereira's Audi in Queens on May 5, 2019 Pereira was in the middle of a bitter custody dispute with his ex-fiancee, Cherone Coleman, when he allegedly strapped their daughter into her car seat inside his Audi A6 parked in Queens, chained the doors shut, poured gasoline all over the interior of the sedan and set it alight. Moments before the burning, he reportedly told Coleman: 'You'll never see your daughter again'. Coleman has not publicly commented on Pereira's death, but a friend tagged her in a Facebook post on Wednesday, saying that she has gotten a piece of 'her happiness back today you really deserve all of it and more.... enjoy it.' Police responded to reports of a car burning in the middle of the street by Baisley Boulevard and 155th Street on May 5, 2019. The Audi's back doors had been chained shut, but the heat from the blaze melted the handle, which allowed firefighters to open the door and grab the girl. At the time of the attack, Pereira (left) was locked in a custody battle with his ex-fiancee, Cherone Coleman (right) Pereira was found running away from the car, covered in flames. A Good Samaritan stopped to help him put out the fire . Authorities found Pereira hiding in Baisley Park Pond a few hundred feet from the car. A police source told the New York Post: 'The only reason [officers] found him was that a piece of his clothing was on fire. He was stripped down to his underwear.' He was hospitalized with second- and third-degree burns to 70 per cent of his body, reported the New York Post. Zoey was also taken to Jamaica Hospital, but she could not be saved. Coleman, Zoey's mother, revealed at the time that she always believed her estranged fiancee could harm her, but she never thought him capable of hurting their child. The mother said she had tried to modify their visitation agreement to block Pereira from seeing the girl as he became increasingly vindictive, but the court ruled against her. Pereira was subsequently allowed to watch Zoey in early May with the court's blessing. It was only the second time he'd been entrusted with the young girl since he and Coleman split a month prior. Pereira was charged with murder, arson and reckless endangerment in connection to his daughter's death, but he never faced a judge because of the severity of his burns Coleman said she wished she had disobeyed the judge and blocked Pereira from taking her daughter. 'I should've just kept her and gone to jail,' she said a day after the tragedy. Describing a call with Pereira just hours before the arson attack, Coleman said: 'Just before he burned my daughter he called saying crazy things. 'I couldn't even understand some of them, but he said: "Do I have your attention now, b****? I got your attention now, b****. You're never going to see your daughter again."' Pereira had a history of violence and was arrested once for criminal contempt and twice for aggravated harassment against a different woman in 2013, according to the Post. Men of the Lagos Fire Service, LASEMA, Lagos State Police Command, are on ground, attending to the fire at Balogun market. Barely two months after the last fire incident that caused a lot of damages at the market, three sections of the place are reportedly on fire again. The cause of the incident is yet to ascertained at the time of filing this report. Traders in the market and other residents of the area wasted no time in calling on the Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA), and other government agencies to come to their aid. Some Parts of Balogun, Lagos Island is on Fire again 3 Buildings at the same time .. Our Emergency Agencies have been mobilized to the scene Once again, The dry season is very harsh Ensure u follow safety procedures properly (4th pic) #ForAGreaterLagos pic.twitter.com/Ju58ILg5eq Jubril A. Gawat (@Mr_JAGs) January 29, 2020 See photos below: A planned flight to bring British nationals in coronavirus-hit Wuhan back to the UK will not leave on Thursday as China has not yet granted Westminster permission to evacuate its citizens, the Independent understands. Officials in Japan and the US have already advanced plans to bring home citizens struck at the epicentre of the virus in central China's Hubei province, the location of the majority of the 132 deaths caused by the disease. However the UKs foreign office has said hundreds thought to be stuck in the region will have to wait as the government seeks the correct permissions to allow for the evacuation of British citizens. It comes after 201 US citizens were airlifted to southern California, where they are currently being observed by medical professionals. A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are doing everything we can to get British people in Wuhan safely back to the UK. 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 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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 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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 "A number of countries' flights have been unable to take off as planned. "We continue working urgently to organise a flight to the UK as soon as possible. Recommended Britons arriving from Wuhan to be quarantined for two weeks "We remain in close contact with the Chinese authorities and conversations are ongoing at all levels." Officials are looking at taking passengers to a military base once they arrive home, the Department of Health said on Wednesday, while Downing Street said the Britons returning from Wuhan had agreed to be placed in "assisted isolation". A source said: "We are expecting about 200 British nationals to be on board, there is capacity on the flight for everybody. "On arrival, passengers will be safely isolated for two weeks with all necessary medical attention." Additional reporting by PA. A Delhi court granted bail to NRI businessman C C Thampi on Wednesday in a money laundering probe related to Robert Vadra for acquisition of allegedly illegal assets abroad. Special judge Arvind Kumar granted relief to Thampi on submitting a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh with two sureties of like amount. 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. Thampi was arrested by the ED on January 18. He is stated to be "controlling" Dubai-based company Sky Lite. In 2009, another co-accused Sanjay Bhandari's firm, Santech FZE, purchased a London asset from a private company which was acquired by Sky Lite. Also read: People want to hear facts about economy, not abuse and rhetoric: Chidambaram to PM Modi Also read: Congress sends Constitution to PM Modi; asks him to read when he has time off from dividing country Good morning ladies and gentlemen of the press. We will also like to seize the opportunity to extend our sincere greetings to all our brothers and sisters in our great tradition, the New Patriotic Party. We have invited you all here today to cover and publish a very important and historic business. The business is the picking and handing over of the nominations form for the Sissala East constituency NPP parliamentary primaries to honourable Amidu Chinnia Issahaku or his assigns. The people behind this action are we the 16 electoral area coordinators out of 21 in the constituency. We the 16 electoral area coordinators of the 21 electoral area coordinators which represent 76.2% of the total electoral area coordinators votes are openly declaring our support for honourable Amidu Chinnia Issahaku. We are doing this knowing we have the backing and blessings of our polling station executives in our various electoral areas. At this juncture ladies and gentlemen, we'll like to make few points to explain our actions: 1. Every election has its own dynamics. The aspirant we support and are campaigning for, AMIDU CHINNIA ISSAHAKU, IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE AMONG THOSE THAT HAVE DECLARED INTEREST TO CONTEST, THAT CAN RETAIN THE SISSALA EAST CONSTITUENCY SEAT FOR THE NPP IN 2020. ANY OTHER CANDIDATE WILL BE A RISK TO GAMBLE WITHIN THE 2020 ELECTIONS FOR THE NPP. 2. Ladies and gentlemen of the press, it is an open secret that all the aspirants except Amidu Chinnia Issahaku have lost touch and popularity within the NPP. This can be scientifically verified among the constituency executives, electoral area coordinators, polling station executives, patrons, party elders and the masses of the people in the Sissala East constituency. We the electoral area coordinators who are supposed to be lead campaigners do not see some of the contenders to be good leaders. We see them to be people with very poor and abysmal leadership and management skills which make them very bad products to market in the 2020 elections. However Amidu Chinnia Issahaku has kept and is still keeping touch with all segments of the constituency including traditional leaders. This statement is the voice of the entire constituency. No wonder he is called THE PEOPLES MAN. 3. Ladies and gentlemen of the press, we these same electoral area coordinators campaigned and produced constituency executives in a block in February 2018 by the highest margin of victory in the annals of this constituency. We have no doubt that our efforts will produce nothing but a landslide victory for Amidu Chinnia Issahaku comes this 25th April, 2020, In sha Allah. Ladies and gentlemen of the press, we finally like to draw your attention that the 2020 elections is going to be a rigorous process judging from the sharpness of the opposition candidates. A process in our considered view the aspirant we support has the capacity, the will and commitment to apply himself to. SO WHY LOOK ANY FURTHER WHEN AMIDU CHINNIA ISSAHAKU IS READILY AVAILABLE TO DEMONSTRATE QUALITY, COMMITMENT, CONFIDENCE AND ABOVE ALL COMPETENCE. Ladies and gentlemen of the press, we the 16 electoral area coordinators, our polling station executives and the majority of party members we represent, wish to send a word of caution to all external forces to stay away from the Sissala East NPP internal primaries. This is because we as a constituency have the competence, commitment and faith to govern and retain the seat. We know what is good for us and for that matter our rural constituency needs to be boldly registered on the constituency map of Ghana. Amidu Chinnia Issahaku can do this for us. Fellow party men and media personnel, we are pleased to inform you that we the 16 electoral area coordinators pulled together our own resources to obtain the nominations forms for and on behalf of honourable Amidu Chinnia Issahaku. We will conclude by assuring and reassuring you again that IT IS ONLY AMIDU CHINNIA ISSAHAKU WHO CAN RETAIN THE SISSALA EAST CONSTITUENCY SEAT FOR THE NPP IN 2020. ANY OTHER CANDIDATE WILL BE A VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS RISK. Thank You. 1. Wutirirra Sumaila Sakai Electoral Area Coordinator 0248404634 (spokesperson of the group) 2. Baluri Bayadomo Bawiessibelle Electoral Area Coordinator 0552519674 3 Luri Shaibu 0540744182 Kpaviara-Yalia Electoral Area Coordinator/ Assemblyman 4. Prosper Yaljie Kusinjan Electoral Area Coordinator/ Assemblyman 0207076437 5. Ambra Danlad Kong Electoral Area Coordinator 6. Nashiru Kuoro Nabulo Electoral Area Coordinator/Assemblyman 7. Mohammed Bayuoni Gwosi- Santijan Electoral Area Coordinator 8. Suraj Bawujimie Nyamijan Coordinator 9. Haruna Suara Zongo Extension coordinator 10. Dauda Dakui Dolibizon Electoral Area Coordinator 11. Dakui Danladi Nabugubelle Electoral Area Coordinator 12. Dramani Iddrisu Kassana Electoral Area Coordinator 13. Alhassan Achaw Kwapun Electoral Area Coordinator 14. Abudu Issah Banu Electoral Area Coordinator 15. Abdul Razak Issahaku Challu- Pieng Electoral Area Coordinator 16. Yakubu Baleng Danzimia Nanyua Electoral Area coordinator T he deadly coronavirus first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019 and has since spread to other parts of the world including Europe, Australasia and Asia. The flu-like strain is transmitted via droplets in coughs and sneezes and has so far killed 565 people with at least 28,000 people infected across 26 countries. Cases of coronavirus in the UK have been confirmed by Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty. Chinese authorities have put swathes of the country on lockdown and public transport has been stopped affecting 60 million. A plane of British nationals who were in Wuhan has flown back to the UK, and those returning to Britain have been placed in an isolation unit on the Wirral. What is coronavirus and what are the symptoms? Coronavirus comes from a family of viruses which give rise to a huge range of illnesses from the mild common cold to severe SARS and MERS. It is thought to have originated from animals and traces of the disease were found at a live animal market in Wuhan which also sold poultry and seafood. The contagious virus is airborne and spreads via droplets which can be transmitted via coughs and sneezes this has led to lots of people in the region wearing facemasks. Initial symptoms of the infection include fever, cough, tightness of the chest, runny nose, headache and shortness of breath. Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that have a halo or crown-like appearance / CDC/Dr Fred Murphy Later signs include chills and body aches. Coronaviruses are named after the spikes that protrude from their membranes, like the suns corona. Because SARS and MERS proved deadly, the emergence of a new coronavirus has been treated with caution. Which places have reported cases of coronavirus so far? 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 The infection has rippled out from the epicentre in Wuhan, China and spread around the globe. Confirmed cases of coronavirus have been identified in countries including Canada, France and Singapore. Australia: Fourteen cases have been confirmed in the country. Belgium: The western European country has one confirmed case of the deadly virus. Belgium's health authority said that a person flown back on Sunday February 2 from China was found to have the disease after testing at a military hospital. Cambodia: One case has been confirmed in the region. The Chinese patient travelled from Wuhan to the coastal city of Sihanoukville. Cambodia Health Minister, Mam Bunheng said the infected man came with his family earlier this month. Canada: Seven cases have been confirmed in Canada. Two of the infected people are a husband and wife in their 50s who recently travelled to Wuhan. China: The epicentre of the outbreak, there have been around 44,653 confirmed cases of the infection on the mainland and at least 1,113 people have died. The first person who contracted the illness - patient zero - is thought to have picked it up at a live animal food market in Wuhan. Virologists, medical doctors that oversee the diagnosis, management and prevention of infection, have identified that bats and snakes can carry the strain. Cambodia: There is one confirmed case of the virus in Cambodia. The country's leader, Prime Minister Hun Sen, said they would not be banning flights to China as it would hurt the Cambodian economy. France: The country has 11 confirmed cases, French health authorities have confirmed.. The sixth person infected is a doctor who had treated an ill patient - the first person to contract the virus in France. Finland: One person in Finland has been diagnosed with the coronavirus. She is believed to be a 32-year-old women from Wuhan. Germany: Fourteen cases have been identified in Germany, including two people who were evacuated from Wuhan. Hong Kong: Fourty-nine people have contracted the strain in the region, according to the latest figures, and ones has died. Medical workers in the region have gone on strike to demand the administration close the border with the mainland. India: There are three people in India who have the coronavirus. The first person who be diagnosed in the world's second most populous country was a student at Wuhan University who returned home to the state of Kerala. Italy: Italy has seen three cases of the virus. According to the Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, two of the infected people were Chinese tourists. Japan: The country has seen 203 cases. One of the patients had originally tested negative for the disease, but it was later confirmed that he was infected. Macau: Ten people in the worlds gambling capital of Macau had been infected with coronavirus. Travellers arriving in Macau who had been in Hubei in the last two weeks must have medical documentation proving they are not infected, or they will be denied entry, the government said. Malaysia: Malaysia confirmed 18 cases of the virus. A government minister said that 57 hospitals could be used to screen for the virus and 26 were prepared to treat the illness. Nepal: One case has been confirmed in the country. The patient was a Nepali student who had been studying in Wuhan. Philippines: The first recorded death from the coronavirus outside of mainland China occurred in the Philippines. Three people contracted the virus and one person died. Russia: There have been two cases of the virus in Russia. In response the country's government said that the massive border with China - which is more than 2,500 miles long - will be closed. Singapore: Singapore has 47 cases. Five of the infection carriers travelled from Wuhan for the Lunar New Year holidays. South Korea: There are 28 confirmed cases in the region. One of the patients, a 55-year-old man, showed no symptoms of infection when he was screened at an airport upon his return to Korea on January 20. But six days later he had a high fever and aching muscles and was diagnosed with the virus. Spain: Two confirmed case of the coronavirus has been announced. The Health Ministry said five people on La Gomera were put under observation after they came into contact with a German carrier of the virus. Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka confirmed its only case of the coronavirus so far on January 27. The patient was identified as a 43-year-old Chinese woman from Hubei who had arrived in Sri Lanka as a tourist. Sweden: There has been one case of the coronavirus diagnosed in the Scandinavian country. The head of the country's Public Health Agency said that the chance of the virus spreading was "very low". Taiwan: Taiwan has uncovered 18 cases including a woman who had visited Wuhan for work. The island's authorities have since advised against travel to the Hubei province and on January 24 said any arrivals from Wuhan would be rejected by immigration. All foreigners who have been to mainland China in the past 14 days will be banned from entering the country from Friday February 7. The territory has also banned the export of face masks for a month to ensure domestic supplies. Thailand: Thailand has detected 33 cases so far. Thai doctors have successfully treated severe cases of the coronavirus using a combination of flu medications and powerful antiviral drugs normally used to treat HIV. US: Thirteen cases have been confirmed. One plane-load of evacuees has already arrived back from China, and there another flight is expected to be chartered. United Arab Emirates: Eight cases have been confirmed, mainly in the city of Dubai. The Ministry of Health and Community Protection announced that they had been quarantined. Vietnam: Fifteen cases have been detected in the region. Vietnam declared a public health emergency on February 1, and said flights to and from mainland China will be stopped. Has it come to the UK? Eight people have been confirmed as having coronavirus in the UK. Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said: "Four further patients in England have tested positive for novel coronavirus, bringing the total number of cases in the UK to eight. "The new cases are all known contacts of a previously confirmed UK case, and the virus was passed on in France. "Experts at Public Health England continue to work hard tracing patient contacts from the UK cases. They successfully identified these individuals and ensured the appropriate support was provided. Sister Yvonne's Pilgrimage She led St. Joe's growth. Now she's working to end homelessness. by Jan Schlain From the January, 2020 issue Sister Yvonne Gellise says she was "too young to know better" when the Religious Sisters of Mercy sent her to Ann Arbor in 1968 to become executive director of St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. She was sent to save it. What she calls "the old St. Joe's," on N. Ingalls, was "on a three-year provisional license," she says. "So, you know, you've got to do something." Now eighty-five, she apologizes for her fading memory of the details. But in a 2008 Ann Arbor News article, she put the situation in stark terms: "State health authorities had given St. Joe a deadline, says Sister Yvonne. The hospital had to build or close." In Eleanor Luedtke's book The Healing Mission: The Practice of Medicine at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital 1911-99, then chief of staff Alexander Gotz ticked off the problems: St. Joe's was "landlocked in the downtown area ... We had insufficient bed space ... insufficient parking ... and the Michigan Department of Public Health was beginning to worry us about certain structural deficiencies ..." Four nuns founded St. Joe's in 1911 in a former rooming house across from St. Thomas Church. When Gellise arrived fifty-seven years later, it was still "pretty much run as a doctors-sisters hospital," she says. "We didn't have much lay involvement ... We really had to reach out to and engage the community. It wasn't easy." She was just thirty-four, but had a bachelor's in accounting and a master's in hospital administration. And despite her youth, former chief of staff Rudy Reichert recalled in the News article, "she was the boss." "The fracases at City Hall were 'hair raising,'" the News' Judy McGovern wrote. Reichert (who died in 2014) called it "a harrowing time." There was opposition to the sisters' chosen site in Superior Township and even to the idea of a hospital run by a religious order. There were financial pressures and compromises. "Construction was a struggle," McGovern wrote. "'We were building before the plans were ...continued below... complete,' [Gellise] says, 'and raising money as we built.'"But in May 1977, the last patients left Ingalls St. for the new 558-bed hospital on more than 200 acres on E. Huron River Dr. Gellise told thethey'd only wanted fifty acres but had to take more.The extra land proved providential. An outpatient building named for Reichert soon followed. Then came cancer, women's, and specialty-care centers, and then, in the 2010s, new patient towers with large private rooms.Gellise, meanwhile, moved into leadership in the hospital's parent organization. She was a founding board member of Livonia-based Trinity Health, which operates ninety-two hospitals in twenty-two states, and still holds the title of senior advisor for governance at the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital System.Asked what that means, she says, "I sit on governing boards and governing board meetings, and having been sitting on board meetings for all of my career, I've learned what works and what doesn't." Her friend Norm Herbert says she starts her days in the chapel, does some treadmill walking, and then goes to work, as she has for over fifty years at St. Joe's.Amanda Carlisle, executive director of the Washtenaw Housing Alliance, describes her as "a very humble leader." Gellise herself passes all praise upward. When someone tells her, "Isn't it great that you built this nice new hospital and got all this land?" she says she thinks, "It's not me, honey, it's God.""I just think that if we're doing God's work, then we're going to succeed," she explains. "And if we're not, we're not going to succeed--and probably shouldn't."She recruited Herbert (a former treasurer of the U-M), former county administrator Bob Guenzel, and others joined an informal "cabinet" to build the Sister Yvonne Gellise Fund for Permanent Supportive Housing Services. The name is a mouthful, but the goal is simple: eliminating homelessness in Washtenaw County.Their goal, Herbert says, is to generate $2.5 million a year for services to keep formerly homeless people housed. To do that, "we would need an endowment fund that is approximately $60 million."They have a long way to go: in December they were hoping year-end contributions would push the endowment past $5 million."We're not going to reach $60 million in my lifetime or her lifetime," Guenzel chuckles. "That's the point. It's really ongoing."But in my mind, it's [already] been tremendously successful and reflects the generosity of the community--but also the leadership that Sister Yvonne has displayed around these issues. She goes back to the beginning!"---The youngest of five children, Gellise was born in 1934 in Bay City. "I didn't realize that we could have been classified as poor," she says, "because we were cared for, we had food, we had loving parents. And we went to school and got educated."She didn't talk about it, but news reports say that she suffered from polio in the 1940s which left her with some weakness in one arm and even deeper compassion for the disabled.She hadn't always planned to be a nun. After graduating from high school, she went to work as a junior accountant. But after three years, she says, "I thought, 'There's got to be more to life than just money."Always devout, she began "testing the waters to see if in fact God was calling me." She didn't have to look far for a religious community, because "there were Sisters of Mercy at my family's parish." She entered the order in 1955, earned degrees at the University of Detroit and St. Louis University, and took her final vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and service to the poor and uneducated.She says she no longer remembers just when her concerns expanded from caring for the sick to caring for the homeless. "My mom--I quote her frequently now as I'm getting older--she would always look at me and say, 'Honey, it's hell to get old.' I know what she's saying."But she does remember the ragged shelters that volunteers created in the 1980s. "There was one for men; it was in an old church, which is still there on the other side of the Delonis Center. They were just there through the night and had to be out in the morning."There was another spot--I can't remember the exact location now--for women, and it was a deplorable thing. We would not feel comfortable, sometimes, having our dog in there. And then there was a warming shelter during the day."She took her hospital board members on the same tour, "because we wanted them to be aware of the situation." Then she took them to meet with Guenzel "to see what we could do about raising funds to build an appropriate shelter--and not just an overnight, but to keep people there until they could move out and get on their own. And that's the Delonis Center." Then came Alpha House, a family shelter on Jackson Rd.Working through St. Joe's, Gellise also helped found the Washtenaw Housing Alliance. Its mission, Carlisle says, is to coordinate "all of the agencies that offer supportive services available for the homeless.""It's those types of services that are the critical piece," Herbert explains. Historically, groups working with the homeless would provide services first, "and then, once [clients] demonstrate that they are becoming more stable with the supportive services ... we would have considered giving them housing."Now research shows that it's best to get the homeless into a housing unit as quickly as possible, reduce their stay time at the shelter, and then provide the supportive services.""It's been proven that if they have access to the various services--and there is a range of those; people have different needs--we can successfully keep people housed," Gellise says. "And it's certainly an advantage to the community, because it is cheaper to do that than to put people in jail or have them turn up in our emergency room."So if you don't have the feeling in your heart for this, then have feeling in your pocketbook. It's an advantage to the community to support this."But while federal funding was available to buy and build housing, money for services was harder to find. A homelessness task force began working on education and advocacy, with the idea that once people understood the need, they might support a small tax to fund supportive services.The Great Recession put a quick end to that idea. "If you want to make God laugh," Gellise says, "tell him your plans."Rather than compete with other human services agencies for funding, Gellise's "cabinet" turned to the endowment. Their goal is to produce enough income to service 500 housing units.Working with then CEO Garry Faja, Gellise persuaded St. Joe's to kick things off with a $1 million gift in honor of its 100th anniversary in 2011. The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation then "matched our $1 million, so we started with $2 million," she says. "And then we had I think maybe a $100,000 donation from an anonymous donor."Guenzel says it was the cabinet's idea to name the fund after Gellise, but "she's been a good sport" about it. Carlisle says they began actively fundraising in 2015, with the goal of $5 million by the end of 2019."Sister Yvonne is very quiet, but she's relentless," says Herbert. "She is intent on seeing this fund grow."Asked about her life, she turns the topic back to her cause. "I mean, who cares about an eighty-five-year-old lady anymore?" she asks. "What's more important is what this eighty-five-year-old lady is trying to do: end homelessness."---"I think one of the gifts I've been given and that I use a lot is the ability to listen," she said. Another is that people listen to her."You can't do this work unless it is a commitment," says Herbert. "You become passionate. Any one of us [in her cabinet] would say we are doing it in large part because we know how important it is to Sister Yvonne. Her commitment is our commitment."He laughs and adds, "She's infected us.""She has no other agenda except to do good," says Guenzel. "She really is the driving force behind why we keep going."Recently the cabinet had a retreat--nothing fancy, just a gathering in a St. Joe's conference room with lunch. That's when Guenzel announced that, with Gellise's permission, he was stepping down at year's end. Herbert is staying on for at least one more year."It's a big turning point," Guenzel says. "We, the cabinet, as we call ourselves, had certain goals, and we're close to reaching those goals."But Gellise isn't done. Once again, she's looking for good people to take up the mission."We have to find a way to get in touch with more entrepreneurs in Ann Arbor," she says. "Ann Arbor is growing like crazy. Who are the people, and are there any we can touch, who would spend some of their time to be a member of the cabinet?"That's the work ahead of us. We talked about that at our retreat. Certainly, when I check out, I will keep praying for that." [Originally published in January, 2020.] China has allowed India to airlift its citizens from Wuhan. A Boeing 747VT-ESO will leave Mumbai at midnight today to lift 250 Indians. On evacuation, the individuals will be kept in quarantine for 14 days, according to government. On January 27, cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba convened a meeting with secretaries on the Ministries of Heath, External Affairs, Civil Aviation, Shipping, I&B, Defence and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) made a formal request to China to facilitate evacuation of 250 Indians from Wuhan, which is the epicentre of the deadly virus. The Indian government has stepped up its preparation to fight against coronavirus in last few days. The centre has expanded the thermal screening to 20 airports on Tuesday, along with adding 10 new laboratories to test the virus, as a precautionary measure. At present, the thermal screening is being done at Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kochi airports. Till January 27, as many as 155 flights were screened with a total of 33,552 passengers. Also read: Coronavirus: Starbucks sees financial hit as it shuts 2,000 shops in China The government has activated four new laboratories--the Indian Council of Medical Research's viral research and diagnostics lab network - at Alleppey, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Mumbai for testing samples. So far, Pune's National Institute of Virology was conducting the tests. A total of 20 samples have so far been tested by NIV Pune and all were found negative. Meanwhile, Mumbai Port Trust has been instructed to not to give shore permit to any vessel coming from China. Civil aviation ministry has been told to ask airlines to make in-flight announcement and distribute "health cards" to all flights with direct or indirect connectivity to China. Home ministry has to ensure integrated check posts initiate screening of visitors across Nepal border. Also read: Cipla ready with repurposed HIV drug to combat coronavirus The Union health ministry has also urged passengers who have a travel history to China since January 1 to come forward for self-reporting at the nearest health facility if they experience any symptoms such as fever, cough, respiratory distress etc. The ministry has issued a 24X7 helpline number for any query on coronavirus, which is 91-11-23978046. The deadly coronavirus continues to wreak havoc in China, taking the death toll to 132 and the confirmed infection cases to nearly 6,000. The coronavirus was first discovered in the city of Wuhan in December. It is thought to have originated in the food market of the central China metropolis and has since infected thousands of people. Also read: Coronavirus update: Health Ministry launches special helpline, call centre to address queries ROSEMOUNT, Minn. A judge sentenced a Hastings man to 10 months in jail and 10 years of probation for causing a collision that killed a mother and daughter when a massive boulder fell from his dump truck and slammed into their car in Rosemount. Dakota County District Judge Arlene Perkkio on Tuesday, Jan. 28, stayed a prison sentence of nearly five years for Joseph Paul Czeck, as long as the 34-year-old remains law-abiding during his probation. Czeck, who was also ordered to pay restitution, was taken into custody Tuesday to begin his jail sentence. Czeck pleaded guilty to two counts of felony criminal vehicular homicide last month for the deaths of Karen Christiansen, 67, and Jena Christiansen, 32, both of Shoreview. Prosecutors say surveillance video captured from businesses before the July 9, 2018, crash show that several rocks in the back of Czecks truck were not secure. "We are pleased to have brought this man to justice for this easily preventable crime on our roads which tragically claimed two lives in our community," Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said in a Tuesday statement. ADVERTISEMENT Prosecutors say Czeck knew the boulder estimated to weigh more than 1,100 pounds fell off his dump truck and caused the crash, but drove away and did not return to the scene, according to a criminal complaint. The boulder became dislodged from Czecks truck after he crossed over railroad tracks while driving south on Rich Valley Boulevard near 125th Street. It bounced along the road, crossed the center lane and crashed through the windshield of a Toyota Avalon headed north on Rich Valley Boulevard. Karen Christiansen, who was driving, and her daughter, who was in the front seat, both died at the scene from head trauma. Czeck drove away. (Kitco News) - Palladium prices are likely to remain strong despite news that Russian producer Norilsk Nickel will release three metric tons of palladium ingots from its stockpiles, traders and analysts said. As of 10:22 a.m. EST, spot palladium was up 17% so far in 2020 and trading at $2,261.10 an ounce. The metal hit a record of $2,556.95 on Jan. 20, with market watchers citing strong demand for automotive catalysts, particularly as countries like China increase regulations on emissions, which requires more use of platinum group metals. Norilsk Nickel, the worlds largest producer of palladium, said Wednesday that its Global Palladium Fund would deliver three tons of ingots from its current stocks. A Nornickel official told Reuters that the company is concerned about higher borrowing and hedging costs, since the lack of ingots has led to higher lease rates, backwardation and market volatility. That [Nornickel action] would certainly lend some temporary relief to the lease-rates markets, said one desk trader of platinum group metals. Otherwise, he said, rates have been in the double digits. Along with that, you would expect to see some price reaction to the downside. But if so, this likely would only be temporary, he continued. I still believe that the long-term fundamentals being what they are still point to stronger palladium prices. The trader later added, I think a lot of people view Russia as steady suppliers to the palladium market anyway. This is probably not too out of the ordinary in them shifting forms in how they supply the market, based on where the demand is. Theyre probably getting a premium for it. So why wouldnt they shift? TD Securities also sees potential for further gains in palladium prices despite the Nornickel news. While this will tighten the sponge discount, we do not see this reversing the years of chronic deficits in the market, TDS said in a research note. Considering this rally has been much more fundamentally driven, and demand is set to structurally increase the path of least resistance remains to the upside for palladium in 2020. Earlier this week, analysts with Bank of America Securities said they see palladium soaring as high as $3,500 an ounce before the rally ends. At the same time, demand is strong as mine supply has been falling since 2004, Bank of America said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 02:28:44|Editor: yan Video Player Close JERUSALEM, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Israel developed a multi-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the government company Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) said on Wednesday. According to the IAI, the new UAV, named "Heron MK II," is an updated model of the Heron UAV, which is used by the Israeli air force and is operational with over 20 other organizations worldwide. Using advanced technologies, the Heron MK II is a strategic and versatile aircraft capable of carrying diverse payloads. The Heron MK II can reach an altitude of 35,000 feet, a maximum speed of about 259 km per hour and can remain in the air for 45 consecutive hours. The IAI added that due to improved manufacturing technologies, the new UAV has a wider and stronger body structure, allowing for quick and easy maintenance without adding to its weight. The Heron MK II enables new configurations and has long-range observation sensors and radars. It can also gather intelligence from tens of kilometers away without crossing borders, thanks to its ability to carry larger and improved sensors. In addition, the new UAV has improved engine and avionics. Established in 1953, IAI is considered a global leader in the supply of technologies and systems in the domains of land, air, sea, outer space and cyber. At least 26 people were killed and more than 31 injured in an accident involving a speeding state transport bus which collided with an autorickshaw in Maharashtras Nashik district on Tuesday evening. Rescue operations conducted by several NDRF teams have also concluded. The accident took place at Meshi Phata on the Malegaon Deola Road as the bus driver reportedly lost control after the rear tyre of the vehicle burst. After the collision, both vehicles fell into a roadside well. State Transport Minister and MSRTC chairman Anil Parab announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs 5 lakh to those injured. "The accident near Nashik is very unfortunate. A compensation of Rs 10 lakh each will be given to the kin of the deceased, and free medical treatment to all the injured," Parab said. Live TV Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on social media expressed his condolences. "Very shocking! My deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured passengers," he tweeted. A police official said that the speeding bus, packed with passengers, crashed into the auto-rickshaw. The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation-run (MSRTC) bus was on its way to Kalwan in Nashik from the adjoining Dhule district, while the auto-rickshaw was coming from the opposite direction, he said. The impact of the collision was so severe that the bus dragged the auto-rickshaw along with it and both the vehicles fell into a roadside well, the official added. | By Laura Lee The University of Maryland Strategic Partnership: MPowering the State showcased eight years of partnership between the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) at the annual MPowering the State Advocacy Day on Jan. 21 in Annapolis. University of Maryland School of Dentistry Dean Mark Reynolds, DDS, PhD, MA, experiences what hearing sounds is like with a cochlear implant with Matt Goupell, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences at College Park. The two-hour expo designed to highlight the combined power of the two institutions to grow the state economy, advance research, and demonstrate service to Maryland citizens featured some of the best collaborations between the states largest research engines. Sixteen joint programs were on display, many with interactive demonstrations, as faculty, students, and researchers explained their innovative work to members of the Maryland General Assembly. Featured programs included the Maryland Cochlear Implant Center of Excellence, which combines the research of College Parks hearing and speech sciences with the surgical and clinical expertise of the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) to deliver advanced care to people with hearing loss; the Agriculture Law Education Initiative (ALEI), a collaboration between the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and UMCPs College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, which provides legal education to Marylands farmers; and the Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, which brings together scientists, physicians, health practitioners, and bioengineers to design and build biomedical devices. Other featured programs included: I get great pride as I walk around and see these projects, said UMB Interim President Bruce Jarrell, MD, FACS, as he invited attendees to browse the demonstrations. Jarrell noted the collaboration will be strengthened even further with the recent announcement that UMB and UMCP will begin jointly reporting on federal, state, and local research grants. The move catapults Maryland onto the national scene as a billion-dollar research enterprise. That is a major accomplishment, he said, telling the audience, you are in rarefied air. Since its creation in 2012 and the formal passage of Senate Bill 1052 in 2016, MPower has fostered hundreds of collaborations from both institutions that are growing Marylands innovation economy, advancing interdisciplinary research, increasing educational benefits, and addressing the states most critical issues. This event and the MPower program couldnt have happened without the support of the Maryland legislature, Jarrell continued. Former Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, LLB 67, who was one of the original architects of MPower, agreed. Its wonderful to see the culmination of these two parts of the state come together, the two academic giants coming together to form this megalopolis, said Miller, who received his undergraduate degree from UMCP and his law degree from Maryland Carey Law. Now theyre working together and good things are happening. One of those good things is the Maryland Blended Reality Center, which combines the expertise of medical and computer science students to study how virtual reality technology can be used in a health care setting for diagnosis, pain management, and education. Medical students dressed in pink scrubs standing alongside their computer science peers encouraged MPower attendees to try on virtual reality goggles that transported wearers into an operating room as a surgeon performing a procedure. MPower funding has allowed us to work together as partners, said Amitabh Varshney, PhD, dean of the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences at UMCP and co-director of the Blended Reality Center. Sarah Murthi, MD, associate professor of surgery at UMSOM and co-director of the Blended Reality Center, agreed, saying, It definitely brought together two things that wouldnt normally come together, sort of like peanut butter and chocolate. It lets us create in a whole new way and it gives us the funds to really innovate. While innovative research is an important part of the strategic partnership, so too are the students at the heart of each institution. Adrianne Arthur, CPSM, director of operations and communications for MPower, noted that the funding creates opportunities for academic growth. It [MPower] allows for greater experiences for students to connect to research, to connect to faculty, to go from one campus to another she said. University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) student Lexi Saunders credits the University of Maryland Scholars Summer Research Program (UM Scholars), funded by MPower, with helping her to clarify her career path. Saunders spent 10 weeks in the summer of 2019 working with National Institutes of Health-funded researcher Luana Colloca, MD, PhD, MS, associate professor, UMSON, assisting Colloca in her groundbreaking exploration of pain treatment. I had an interest in research as well as in nursing, but I wasnt really sure how the two came together, Saunders said. This program really allowed me to figure out that research does play an important role in nursing and vice-versa. Maryland Carey Law second-year student Tori Long had a similar experience while working with ALEI as an intern at the Wye Research and Education Center on the Eastern Shore. During the internship, Long and Michael Marinelli, an undergraduate student at UMCPs College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, used their combined expertise to draft policy recommendations to benefit the Chesapeake Bay. Long said working with Marinelli led to a broader understanding of the issues facing todays farmers. I understood the law, but I didnt necessarily understand all the science behind it, Long recalled. We were able to balance our backgrounds to create these policies that included both disciplines. Sarah Everhart, JD, ALEI managing director at Maryland Carey Law, said MPower funding has allowed ALEI to expand its reach and become an example for other states to follow. We get asked all the time, How do we establish a similar program in our state? Were lucky to have MPower funding. Maryland is really uniquely situated in this way. XINJIANG A leading expert has criticised the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) for refusing to pull out of the Xinjiang region of China, where cotton suppliers - including a member of its own council - have been accused of using forced labour. The BCI maintains that its implicated council member, the Huafu Fashion Co Ltd, has denied the allegations and that an independent social compliance audit of the company's Aksu facility in Xinjiang had failed to identify any instances of forced labour. However, Dr Adrian Zenz, a senior fellow with the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation in Washington DC, questioned the value of the rebuttal in his testimony to the House of Representatives' Sub-committee on Asia, the Pacific and Nonproliferation. NPR journalist Mary Louise Kelly says U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo -- apparently angered over some tough questioning -- summoned her to his private living room at the State Department in January and challenged her to point to Ukraine on an unmarked map. Kelly -- who has a master's degree in European Studies from Cambridge -- said she did. Pompeo later suggested Kelly had pointed to Bangladesh instead. How would you fare if you were called on the carpet by Pompeo? YOKOHAMA, Japan, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Yokohama Convention & Visitors Bureau along with Pacific Convention Plaza Yokohama (PACIFICO Yokohama) are pleased to announce that they will host the 28th International Conference on Statistical Physics (STATPHYS28) in 2022. At STATPHYS27 held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in July 2019, Yokohama was chosen as the host city after competing with Beijing and it will be the first STATPHYS in Japan in 54 years since 1968. As many as 1,200 participants will be expected to attend the conference. Yokohama won the bid due to the tradition and high-level research on statistical physics in the country as well as enthusiasm and a vision for the event expressed by a local committee chaired by Prof. T. Deguchi, Ochanomizu University. Moreover, superior advantages the city has to offer as a conference venue was also highly appreciated, such as easy access from around the world as well as safeness and cooperation among the local committee and organizations in hosting the event. Throughout the bidding process, the YCVB (Yokohama Convention & Visitors Bureau), the City of Yokohama and PACIFICO Yokohama, working in unison with JNTO (Japan National Tourism Organization), supported the local committee and a successful bid was made to host this conference. Overview of the conference Name: 28th International Conference on Statistical Physics (STATPHYS28) Date: from July 25 (Mon.) to 29 (Fri.), 2022 Venue: PACIFICO Yokohama North Expected number of participants: 1,200 including 600 from overseas Expected number of participating countries and regions: approximately 40 Conference vision: Tradition of statistical physics, dynamism of younger researchers and networking among researchers Photo: The 27th International Conference on Statistical Physics (STATPHYS27) in Buenos Aires, Argentina https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M102118/202001225949/_prw_PI1fl_LhG2UgQF.jpg Past Editions 2019: Buenos Aires (Argentina) 2016: Lyon (France) 2013: Seoul (South Korea) 2010: Cairns (Australia) 2007: Genova (Italy) 2004: Bangalore (India) About the 28th International Conference on Statistical Physics (STATPHYS28): https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/attach/202001225949-O1-P8pPmvLT.pdf SOURCE Yokohama Convention & Visitors Bureau Seven-months-pregnant Nadia Essex stepped out in London to record an interview for Talk Radio, showcasing her blooming baby bump. The TV personality, 38, looked chic in a figure-hugging black dress, which accentuated her burgeoning tummy. Cradling her bump as she walked along on the arm of radio host Mike Graham - ahead of their appearance on Mike's Plank Of The Week - Nadia looking glowing, navigating the sidewalk in killer heels. Blossoming: Seven-months-pregnant Nadia Essex stepped out in London to record an interview for Talk Radio, showcasing her blooming baby bump She wore a furry cream coat to keep her warm in the January chill, letting her chestnut locks fall loosely around her shoulders. Nadia accentuated her features with bronzer and a nude lip, completing things with a pair of silver hooped earrings. Nadia is the host of podcast The Clueless Mum, in which she chats about her position as a would-be mother. The podcast has seen her open up about mental health, being a single parent and issues such as gestational diabetes. Expecting: The TV personality, 38, looked chic in a figure-hugging black dress, which accentuated her burgeoning tummy High spirits: Cradling her bump as she walked along on the arm of radio host Mike Graham - ahead of their appearance on Mike's Plank Of The Week - Nadia looking glowing, navigating the sidewalk in killer heels Ready to pop: She wore a furry cream coat to keep her warm in the January chill, letting her chestnut locks fall loosely around her shoulders Nadia is due to give birth to her son in March, after announcing her shock pregnancy late last year. She has documented the experience, from being informed she was a so-called geriatric mother to the terror she felt at an ultrasound, when she was convinced she had harmed her unborn child due to careless nutrition. She told MailOnline recently that a routine midwife appointment struck fear in her when she was told her baby bump was 'way off the scale'. She said: 'I hadnt seen [a doctor] in eight weeks and didnt have a clue if everything was okay. You hope for the best but as a first time single mum, two whole months of no check ups seemed a long time. Glowing: Nadia accentuated her features with bronzer and a nude lip, completing things with a pair of silver hooped earrings Real talk: Nadia is the host of podcast The Clueless Mum, in which she chats about her position as a would-be mother. The podcast has seen her open up about mental health, being a single parent and issues such as gestational diabetes 'I went for the midwife appointment and we listened to the heartbeat. That was all good. Then she measured my bump and I was way off the scale. 'She was worried this meant I had gestational diabetes which could result in stillbirth. I have never been so scared. 'I thought It was my fault and that, because I had eaten s**t, that I had given myself diabetes and potentially put my baby at harm before he is even born. I felt like the worst mum in the world. The worst human being in the world and cried solidly.' Nadia's concern was placated when she went for a follow up scan and the baby was measured. Honest: She recently told MailOnline that a routine midwife appointment struck fear in her when she was told her baby bump was 'way off the scale' Relief: Nadia's concern was placated when she went for a follow up scan and the baby was measured 'It was all okay. He weighed well and there was no extra fluid which usually indicates gestational diabetes. I have to have the glucose test to double check. 'Also, the baby is breech so I have to go back to the hospital in the new year to be monitored. Its a lot but the relief that my baby is okay was the happiest day of my life.' Nadia said that the worrying ordeal has only helped her take better care of herself. 'It has given me the kick up the butt to get my nutrition on track. I have been craving nothing but sweet things and its time to get myself sorted as its crossed a line into gluttony I think.' Nadia's podcast reached the number one spot in the parenting section on iTunes, and has been acclaimed by listeners across the board. Climate change has become a defining factor in companies long-term prospects I believe we are on the edge of a fundamental reshaping of finance, said Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock, the worlds biggest money manager. Finks letter to shareholders generated a great deal of attention and positive comment. Climate change, we were told, is going to be put at the heart of companys strategy. It sounds good and it ought to matter. BlackRock oversees assets worth $7tn (5.4tn). With that comes the power to make its voice heard. But, to date, BlackRocks hasnt been doing that. I looked at an analysis on how asset managers use their votes, which was conducted by ShareAction, the responsible investment campaign group. Business news: In pictures Show all 13 1 /13 Business news: In pictures Business news: In pictures Flybe collapses Airline Flybe has collapsed. All future flights on the Exeter-based airline have been cancelled leaving more than 2,300 staff facing an uncertain future, and wrecking the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers. The chief executive, Mark Anderson, said: Europes largest independent regional airline has been unable to overcome significant funding challenges to its business. AFP via Getty Business news: In pictures Future product placement will be 'tailored to individual viewers' Marketing executives say that product placement in films and televison shows on streaming services such as Netflix may be tailored to individuals in future. For instance, if data shows that a viewer is a fan of pepsi, a billboard in the background of a shot would host an advert for pepsi, while for a viewer known to have different tastes it could be for Coca-Cola Paramount Business news: In pictures Corbyn wishes Amazon a happy birthday In a card sent to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on the company's 25th birthday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn writes: "You owe the British people millions in taxes that pay for the public services that we all rely on. Please pay your fair share" Business news: In pictures No deal, no tariffs The government has announced that it would slash almost all tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Notable exceptions include cars and meat, which will see tariffs in place to protect British farmers Getty Business news: In pictures Fingerprint payment NatWest is trialling a new bank card that will allow people to touch their hand to the card when paying rather than typing in a PIN number. The card will work by recognising the user's fingerprint NatWest/PA Wire Business news: In pictures Mahabis bust High-end slipper retailer Mahabis has gone into administration. 2 Jan 2019 Mahabis Business news: In pictures Costa Cola Coca-Cola has paid 3.9bn for Costa Coffee. A cafe chain is a new venture for the global soft drinks giant PA Business news: In pictures RIP Payday Loans A funeral procession for payday loans was held in London on September 2. The future of pay day lenders is in doubt after Wonga, Britain's biggest, went into administration on August 30 PA Business news: In pictures Musk irks investors and directors Elon Musk has concluded that Tesla will remain public. Investors and company directors were angry at Musk for tweeting unexpectedly that he was considering taking Tesla private and share prices had taken a tumble in the following weeks Getty Business news: In pictures Jaguar warning Iconic British car maker Jaguar Land Rover warned on July 5, 2018 that a "bad" Brexit deal could jeopardise planned investment of more than $100 billion, upping corporate pressure as the government heads into crucial talks AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures Spotif-IPO Spotify traded publically for the first time on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday. However, the company isn't issuing shares, but rather, shares held by Spotify's private investors will be sold AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures French blue passports The deadline to award a contract to make blue British passports after Brexit has been extended by two weeks following a request by bidder De La Rue. The move comes after anger at the announcement British passports would be produced by Franco-Dutch firm Gemalto when De La Rues contract ends in July. The British firm said Gemalto was chosen only because it undercut the competition, but the UK company also admitted that it was not the cheapest choice in the tendering process. Business news: In pictures Beast from the east economic impact The Beast from the East wiped 4m off of Flybes revenues due to flight cancellations, airport closures and delays, according to the budget airlines estimates. Flybe said it cancelled 994 flights in the three months to 31 March, compared to 372 in the same period last year. It looked at the votes cast by 57 of the worlds biggest asset managers on a total of 65 proposals designed to speed up corporate action on climate change at big companies. The motions covered emissions reduction targets, climate reporting, governance and corporate lobbying. All ten of the least supportive voters came from the US including, drum roll please, BlackRock. A different study, this time by InfluenceMap, another non profit, looked at a variety of different metrics with a view to giving each of the worlds leading fund managers a climate related engagement score. BlackRock fared slightly better here. It managed a C plus on an A to D scale. Thats better than some of its US peers, but still nothing to write home about. Then theres what Majority Action, an American non profit that empowers shareholders to hold corporations accountable to high standards of corporate governance, social responsibility, and long-term value creation, had to say in its report on voting behaviour. BlackRock and Vanguard (another big US manager) voted for 99 per cent of US large capitalization energy and utility company-proposed directors and 100 per cent of their say on pay proposals. BlackRock and Vanguard not only voted with management more often than most of their asset manager peers; they were also more likely to support management at these fossil fuel intensive companies than they did across US equities overall. Taken together, the reports are damning. On the flip side, European fund managers come out rather better. Seven out of the top ten identified by ShareAction were European, including all of the top five. In first place was Switzerlands UBS Asset Management, followed by Germanys Allianz Global Investors. We then have a trio of UK firms: Aviva Investors in third with Legal & General Investment Management and HSBC Asset Management tied for fourth. How about InfluenceMap and its grades? L&G, Aviva, UBS and BNP Paribas all got As. Why is this important? Most firms that market funds to retail investors have some form of ethical or environmental, social & governance (ESG) screened product to offer because theyre popular and can therefore prove profitable. But if the rest of a managers money is used to support and enable the backward looking bosses of carbon emitters and polluters then it doesnt really count for much. If youre an ethically minded investor, its not just the ethical fund and what it does that you need to take into account. Its the manager and how they use all of the money they manage. This is not intended as a hagiography. Even the managers that do back climate resolutions could stand to do more. But youre still better off picking one of those, with a proven record of using their voting clout to achieve positive change, than you are a manager trading in pretty words and promises. Some residents were hanging out of windows. Some fled to the roof. And 13 people were injured, one gravely, after an intense fire broke out in a 25-story high-rise building in Los Angeles on Wednesday morning, the authorities said. In all, 15 people who scurried to the roof were rescued by helicopters, Capt. Erik Scott, a spokesman with the Los Angeles Fire Department, said at a news conference. Among those injured was a man who had threatened to jump from a window ledge, Captain Scott said. He was in critical condition. Our firefighters immediately got on their public address loudspeakers, were able to calm that individual down and were able to place an aerial ladder up there and have an effective rescue, Captain Scott said. Of the 13 people injured, seven were taken to hospitals, including a 3-month-old. Most were treated for smoke inhalation, Captain Scott said. Two firefighters were also treated for minor burns. A 30-year-old man in grave condition was the worst injured. He was found on the seventh floor, where the fire broke out. ORGANIZATIONS BUILT ON INGENUITY MEASURING CITYWIDE PROGRESS WITH IT Many local government tech leaders have unique takes on how to incorporate innovation into their organizations. But as the examples of Shreveport, La., and Boulder, Colo., demonstrate, their approaches do have some overlap.Shreveport, La., Mayor Adrian Perkins, who recently completed his first year in office , has been the driving force behind IT innovation in Louisianas third-largest city, fostering unorthodox approaches to modernization. One of Perkins first acts was to hire a chief technology officer from the private sector who had experience in innovating and innovating fast.After joining the city following several years in private software development, Keith Hanson spent his first six months reorganizing an IT department of about 30 people. He created a special projects team, which includes a specialist in data, GIS, IoT and social media. The group is tasked with completing one project per quarter to optimize city government or improve services for the city's roughly 192,000 residents.With successes behind him, like a recent special data project that found $2 million tied up in inactive open purchase orders, Hanson said hes looking to expand Shreveports capabilities in a budget-conscious way.Now, my big initiative for this quarter is to popularize what we are doing, which is basically creating a bunch of protype sensors, open-sourcing them, open-schematizing them and putting out all the documentation required for any city to build these things, Hanson toldBoulder, Colo., which has about 85,000 fewer people but 20 more IT staffers than Shreveport, underwent a similar reorganization after Deloitte-veteran Julia Richman was promoted to the position of chief innovation and technology officer. The work of Boulders Innovation Team garnered recognition in the 2019 Digital Cities Survey from the Center for Digital Government* that highlighted their work using public-facing metrics to closely monitor outputs from various city departments.When I joined the department, we had a very hierarchical organizational structure that I think inhibited communication, individual leadership and, also, decision-making, Richman said. I changed that around really quick and flattened out the leadership structure, which enhanced the transparency into what leadership positions were. We built new structures of communicating with our staff and have really focused on continuous improvements.Examining Boulder and Shreveport together offers an interesting glimpse into a growing trend in local government IT mid-sized cities turning to private-sector expertise to inject an innovation mindset into cities that can help lower costs and increase results.With a median household income of around $38,000 , Shreveport doesnt have a lot of wiggle room in the city budget to fund IT developments in the traditional sense. Instead of going through the procurement process, Hanson said he reviewed how he could use his operating budget to purchase the necessary equipment to test open-source technology.He said he and his team are starting with something tangible to residents: helping them find their lost dog with the use of open-source sensors mounted on utility poles. The idea is that dog owners can purchase a low-cost dog tag with Bluetooth technology that pings a sensor as the dog passes by. Hanson said hes looking to deploy a proof of concept by April 1.What Im finding, no matter how astute someone is, until they hear a visceral example of how theyre going to be affected ... they dont really care or worse, they may misunderstand what it is Im trying to do, Hanson said.While Boulder has experimented with open source, Richman said, its not the citys preferred development method. But the city has a very similar view on innovation known as fast failure.Some of our core innovation principles are around fast failure, which really gets people out of the mindset of Im going to screw this up and so I dont want to try, Richman said. Instead its, Youll probably screw it up and so you should definitely try and youre going to have to try more than once. Really just changing that narrative has been, I think, tremendously important.This shift in the culture of Boulders IT has yielded solutions which have saved the city money and increased transparency throughout the organization, she said.To stay on track with Mayor Perkins' quarterly goals, Hanson installed a software system mapping how his work and the accomplishments of his staff stack up. The system impressed the mayor so much so that he rolled it out to all Shreveport department directors at the beginning of this year. Any user can click on a goal and see its entire goal hierarchy and how it aligns with the mayor's vision, he said.Our first year we got our legs under us and figured out what government was like, etc., Hanson said. Now were getting really organized around strategic initiatives, as opposed to what I find most governments doing: putting the fires out constantly.He said the goal system will help sharpen the focus of the departments, encouraging more proactive approaches for common problems or time-intensive tasks, such as using a textbot to turn a residents water back on or process a payment extension, thereby clearing the queue of the Water and Sewerage Departments customer service line.In Boulder, Richman said the use of an employee-facing dashboard is vital in determining the impact of ITs service quality. Theres an overall review of the dashboard metrics each quarter to track trends and make adjustments, but the data is also reviewed on a weekly basis as a form of quality control, which has led to an reduction in IT ticket times by as much as 60 percent.I would say the culture in the department feels really different and I think its just by opening the aperture and allowing a lot of different points of leadership, Richman said. I would say the same is true in terms of innovation in the city. Its one of the citys core values and weve taken a very grass-roots approach focusing on training, techniques, and making resources available to people so that they can do their own experiments in their own areas of work.Government Technology's Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 22:11:14|Editor: zyl Video Player Close Rafal Nadal of Spain competes during the men's singles quarterfinal match between Rafal Nadal of Spain and Dominic Thiem of Austria at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia on Jan. 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei) MELBOURNE, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- It was a case of the new conquering the old at the Australian Open men's quarterfinals on Wednesday, with Dominic Thiem besting legend, Rafael Nadal, and 22-year-old, Alexander Zverev toppling former title holder, Stanislas Wawrinka. It took Thiem over four hours to finish Nadal, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), while Germany's Zverev slowly eroded Wawrinka for a final score of, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. At 26-years-old, Thiem clocked his first ever win against Nadal at a Grand Slam, to reach his first ever semifinal -- playing an exceptional game, but explaining that it didn't hurt to have luck on his side as well. "It's necessary because he's one of the greatest of all time, biggest legends this sport has ever had, so you need some luck to beat him," Thiem said in a post-match interview Serving for the match at 5-4 in the fourth set, it appeared as if the younger player would choke under the pressure, dropping two crucial points on a double fault and then an unforced error, forcing a third tiebreak. "When it came to 5-4, it was a special situation for me serving for the match against Rafa for my first semifinal here at the Australian Open," Thiem explained. "Such a really mentally tough situation. I couldn't handle it, but turned it around again in the tiebreaker." Nadal conceded that on the night he was out-played by Thiem and lamented missing the opportunity to reach yet another Grand Slam semifinal. "That's how it works sometimes, things are not going the way you would like," Nadal said. "Well done for him, I honestly didn't play a bad match. It was difficult to play against him." Earlier in the day, Zverev was also chasing his first ever Grand Slam semifinal against the 34-year-old Wawrinka, who was battling for a return to the top after multiple knee surgeries in 2017 disrupted his career. As the match slipped through Wawrinka's fingers, the crowd at Rod Laver Arena -- where he won the title in 2014 -- showed their support by cheering him through the difficult final set. "The crowd was great. It's always special to play on this court. I love to come back here every year," Wawrinka told Xinhua after the match. "I think after one set and a half I was going a bit down physically. Also lack of energy. But I was playing well, was serving big. I think I could have made better the second and the third set." Meanwhile in the women's draw, Romanian World No. 3, Simona Halep set up a semifinal clash with two-time Grand Slam winner, Garbine Muguruza. Spain's Muguruza downed Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-5, 6-3, while Halep comfortably dispatched Estonian Anett Kontaveit, 6-1, 6-1. Both women are hot contenders to take the tournament -- each with a win at Wimbledon and Roland-Garros to their names -- but only one will face either Ash Barty or Sofia Kenin on the final stage. So far Halep has had an immaculate tournament and is yet to lose a single set, while Muguruza appears in the midst of a return to form after being interrupted by injuries. For the men, the final of this year's Australian Open is confirmed to be a battle between either one of the legends, Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic, and a younger challenger, Zverev or Thiem. Boston Beer (NYSE:SAM) is about to open a 14,000-square-foot taproom in historic Faneuil Hall in Boston in the shadow of the statue of patriot Samuel Adams, the namesake of the brewer's flagship craft beer. Although this is the third beer hall it's opened over the past few years, and the trend among beer drinkers has been to drive consumption locally toward such brewpubs, it doesn't seem it will be enough to resurrect the brewer's beer sales. Crying in its beer Today, Boston Beer is less a brewer than it is whatever you call a company that makes seltzer. Macquarie analyst Caroline Levy has said that three-quarters of the company's sales come from Truly hard seltzer and other non-beer drinks. Of course, the problems seen by the brewer (I'll still go with that term) stem from the beer industry at large. The biggest breweries are suffering from falling sales while craft breweries are still recording growth. And the split is the same within the craft beer industry itself. The biggest brewers like Boston Beer are in decline, but those making fewer than 15,000 barrels annually, the microbreweries, are witnessing sustained growth. One other segment seeing higher sales is brewpubs. According to industry trade group Brewers Association, brewpubs -- which it defines as a "restaurant-brewery that sells 25 percent or more of its beer on-site and operates significant food services" -- are on the rise, and in fact, are growing at a faster rate than they were in 2018. Pull up a chair Taprooms are similar to brewpubs except they don't have significant food service operations. When Boston Beer opened its first taproom in 2017 at its brewery in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood in Boston (it opened its second one in Cincinnati in 2018), there seemed a good chance that tapping into this trend could be a way to stem the hemorrhaging sales at Samuel Adams, which was in the midst of a multiyear decline. However, the situation hasn't improved at all since then, as Boston Beer has recorded five straight years of consecutive quarterly declines in depletions, or sales to distributors and retailers, which is seen as an industry proxy for consumer demand. The problem is, for a brewer the size of Boston Beer, a couple of taprooms here and there can't move the needle. For a microbrewery or a regional brewer, taproom and brewpub sales will be more meaningful, but when you're pumping out 4 million barrels annually, you would need a large network of beer halls to make a difference. Even if the company's beer production is only about a quarter of the total, it still wouldn't sell enough beer to make a difference. That's the spirit That's why Boston Beer is going so hard at seltzer. Originally expected to be more of a seasonal beverage for the summer months, hard seltzer seems to have legs and the Summer of Seltzer could be turning into the fall and winter of the drink, too. We'll get a better picture of how well seltzer sales are holding up in the cold months when Boston Beer reports earnings in the coming weeks, but it is using the time before then to find more occasions where it can sell the effervescent beverage. One place where it is looking to place hard seltzer is on tap in bars and restaurants. Called Truly on Tap, it is being positioned as an alternative to light beer and spirits. Constellation Brands has already pulled its Smirnoff vodka-based seltzer because of lackluster performance. Beer's hard landing After suffering falling sales in 2016 and 2017, Boston Beer made a U-turn thanks to seltzer, which also allowed it to raise the low end of its full-year earnings guidance, putting it at $8.70 to $9.30 per share. That suggests seltzer sales will continue to grow at a frothy pace and dispel notions beverage sales will soon go flat. The same can't be said for beer. There are around 7,500 breweries in operation now, and over one-third of them are brewpubs. Boston Beer opening a third taproom on Jan. 30 will hardly be felt by the brewer, let alone the industry, and unfortunately it won't change the trajectory Samuel Adams is on either. The deadly coronavirus continues to wreak havoc in China with 25 new fatalities reported from central Hubei province, taking the death toll to 132 and the confirmed infection cases to nearly 6,000, as health experts warned that the epidemic may reach its peak in the next 10 days resulting in large-scale casualties. The Chinese health authorities announced on Wednesday that 5,974 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus had been reported in 31 provincial-level regions by Tuesday. China's National Health Commission said in its daily report that 1,239 patients remained in critical condition and 9,239 people were suspected to be infected with the virus. A total of 103 people have been discharged from hospital after recovery, the commission said. For the first-time, Tibet too reported a suspected case of coronavirus. Till now, barring Tibet, all Chinese provinces reported the virus cases, posing a major challenge for the health authorities to contain it. Tuesday saw 1,459 new confirmed cases, 3,248 new suspected cases, including one in Tibet Autonomous Region and 26 deaths, with one in Henan province and the rest in Hubei, the Commission said. A total of 65,537 close contacts had been traced, the commission said, adding that among them, 1,604 were discharged from medical observation on Tuesday. A total of 59,990 people were still under medical observation. By the end of Tuesday, eight confirmed cases had been reported in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, seven in Macao Special Administrative Region and eight in Taiwan. Hubei, the epicentre of the virus, has reported 840 new confirmed cases, indicating that the virus continues to spread at a faster rate. The coronavirus can be passed between humans through close contact, Chinese medical experts say. The novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak may reach its peak in one week or around 10 days, Chinese respiratory expert Zhong Nanshan said. "It is very difficult to definitely estimate when the outbreak reaches its peak. But I think in one week or about 10 days, it will reach the climax and then there will be large-scale increases," Zhong told state-run Xinhua agency. Zhong is the head of a national team of experts set up for the control and prevention of the novel coronavirus-caused pneumonia and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. "There are two keys to tackling the epidemic: early detection and early isolation. They are the most primitive and most effective methods," he said. Zhong said fever and weakness were the typical symptoms of the coronavirus infection found in majority of the patients. Ten to 14 days is a sound period for isolation and observation. When the incubation period ends, those who fall sick will get timely treatment and those who do not will be just fine, he said. He suggested that hospitals be staffed with not only infectious disease specialists, but also specialists in treating severe cases to better save patients. Epidemiologically, the virus is homologous to the virus discovered in a type of bat in 2017, said Zhong, adding that the 2019-nCoV probably has an intermediate host that may be a certain kind of wild animal. "The SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) outbreak lasted about six months, but I don't believe the novel coronavirus outbreak would last that long," said Zhong. The country has taken a series of powerful measures, especially early detection and early isolation. "We have sufficient confidence in preventing a major outbreak or a recurrence as long as the two measures are in place, although we still need to conduct much scientific research," he said. Noting that the key for Wuhan is how to reduce infections inside hospitals, Zhong said he supported the construction of makeshift hospitals in the city to control the infectious disease. The activation of top-level public health emergency response was aimed at reducing the chance of infection, he said, adding that the vaccine development may need three to four months or even longer. "Now scientists are speeding up research of neutralizing antibodies of the virus, but it takes time. With help from across the country, Wuhan, a heroic city, will pull through," Zhong said. Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called the coronavirus a "demon" which should be brought under control. China has ramped up efforts to contain the virus. The country has extended the New Year Festival holidays till February 2 to prevent reverse migration of millions of migrant workers to return to their work after holidays. Universities, primary and middle schools and kindergartens across the country will postpone the opening of the spring semester until further notice. The government is focussing on efforts to prevent mass gatherings and mass travel to ensure the virus does not spread fast. Beijing has also launched temperature detection at 55 subway stations, including stops at railway stations and Beijing airport. Passengers with abnormal body temperatures will be sent to hospital. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Update: Springfield School Committee member Denise Hurst has announced her candidacy for the 9th Hampden District seat. SPRINGFIELD State Rep. Jose Tosado will not seek reelection in the 9th Hampden District, and City Councilor Orlando Ramos said Wednesday that he plans to run for the seat. First elected to the House in 2014, Tosado, a Democrat, has a long history in the city. He was among the first Puerto Rican families to move to Springfield in the 1950s. He was the first Puerto Rican elected to the Springfield City Council and twice served as president. He ran for mayor in 2011, challenging incumbent Domenic J. Sarno. I think its time. My wife Irma retired as a public school teacher nearly 20 years ago. My dad was a business owner so I have been working since I was 9-years-old. I just want to spend some time with my wife and three grandchildren, said Tosado who turned 66 in December. " I am ready to let new leaders emerge." Tosado said while he is proud of the work he has done in the legislature it is his overall career that he is most proud of. I think I helped open some doors and pave the way not only for Latino leaders but for others through championing ward representation in the city, he said. With his background in mental health Tosado currently serves as the vice Chair of the Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery Committee. He is also a member of the Committees on Ways and Means, Housing and Financial Services. I am a progressive and my background is in behavioral health so I have concentrated on issues that uplift people who are vulnerable. I have helped secure additional funding for the Department of Mental Health services, Im proud of the vote we took on banning conversion therapy which is archaic, the increase in minimum wage, the pregnant workers bill, these are things that define me in being a voice for the underdog, he said. Community activist and longtime Springfield resident Ana Andino said Tosados retirement will be a loss for the city. My heart is sad knowing that Jose is retiring, I have known him since he was young and know personally his total commitment to the people of this city and the marvelous job he has done, first in the school committee, then on the city council and lastly as state representative, Andino said. " This is a great loss to our city and specially our Latino community. I wish him well in his future e endeavors but this news really hurt." Jose Claudio, chief operations officer for the New North Citizens Council in Springfield, said Tosado and his family have left a legacy of service in the city. His family was one of the first Puerto Rican families to arrive here, his father owned a store, they had a restaurant, I believe his sister was the first Latina police officer to graduate from the police academy in the city and Jose broke down a lot of barriers for Latinos in this community, Claudio said. He is part of a family that has left a legacy in Springfield and I wish him the best in his retirement and thank him for opening so many doors for people in public service. Ramos, also a Democrat, is in the midst of his fourth term on the City Council. He was president from 2017-18, and vice-president from 2015-16. He is the current chairman of the Public Safety Committee. The 9th Hampden District consists of Springfield Wards 2, 5, 7, and 8, Precincts as well as Chicopee Ward 5A. Ramos holds an associates degree from STCC, a bachelors in public policy from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a masters in public administration from Westfield State University. He currently works for the North Atlantic States Council of Carpenters. He was born and raised in Springfield. I want to thank Rep. Tosado for his service to our city and I hope to earn the opportunity to continue building on the great work that he has done, Ramos said. Ramos worked as the district director for the Office of state Sen. James Welch for 8 years before leaving to become an organizer with the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters in 2019. He feels he has something to offer to the 9th Hampden District, he said. In my time working in the state senate I was able to learn how much of an impact state legislation has on the people of Springfield and Chicopee and I would love the opportunity to continue serving on a greater scale, he said. I have given my all as a councilman in representing Ward 8 and Im very familiar with the challenges that my constituents face and I will continue advocating for them at the state level." School Committee member Denise M. Hurst has also announced her intention to run for the 9th Hampden District seat as well. Hurst has served on the Springfield school committee since being elected in 2009. During her time on the committee, she has served as Vice Chair, Chair of Curriculum & Programs subcommittee, as well as on other subcommittees such as technology, vocational and legislative and contracts. Tosados announcement comes one day after state Rep. Aaron Vega, a Holyoke Democrat, said he will not seek reelection in November for a fifth term in the Massachusetts Legislature. Vega, a former at large city councilor in Holyoke, was elected to the House in 2012. In November state Rep. John Velis announced his candidacy for the state Senate seat formerly held by Donald Humason, now Westfield Mayor. With Tosado and Vegas departures that will leave three open seats in the western Massachusetts delegation. Vega and Tosado, along with Springfield state Reps. Carlos Gonzalez and Bud Williams, are Western Massachusetts members of the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus. Gonzalez is the caucus chair, and Tosado is the vice chair. "Im deeply saddened yet grateful I had the opportunity to work with both Jose and Aaron, we were dubbed the Three Amigos in 2015. I have known both for over 20 years and more than colleagues they are my friends, Gonzalez said Wednesday. We are losing two of the most dedicated public servants in Massachusetts who also served as role models for the Latino community. Hopefully their departure sparks other Latinos to seek public service. I wish them both well, Three Amigos until we ride again. Last week Springfields Ward 1 City Councilor, Adam Gomez, announced he will run against state Sen. James T. Welch, a West Springfield Democrat, for the Hampden District seat. Gomez, also a Democrat, was first elected to the Springfield City Council in 2015, defeating incumbent Zaida Luna. He was reelected in 2017 after running unopposed. Odisha Police opened their account in the ongoing Hero Indian Women's League, beating local favourites Bangalore United FC by a solitary goal here on Wednesday. Jasmani Samad's solitary strike in the 50th minute was enough for the Odisha outfit to garner their first win after they went down to Kenkre FC in their opening round fixture on January 25. Bangalore United forward Paromita Sit got an early chance to open the scoring but her right-footed volley flew over the crossbar. Six minutes later, Odisha Police skipper Karishma Oram headed a chance wide off the post. After the changeover, Odisha Police took just five minutes to break the deadlock through Jasmani Samad. Just after the clock crossed the hour-mark, Karishma came very close to doubling the lead for Odisha but her free-kick form 30 yards ricocheted off the woodwork. Odisha Police will next face red-hot Gokulam Kerala on Saturday (February 1, 2020) In another game, Sreebhumi FC rode on strikes from Poonam (25th minute) and Ritu Devi (62nd) to beat Bidesh XI Sporting Club 2-0. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a surprising turn of events, Samsung has released the Android 10 update for the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus. The update arrives just a couple of days after it was postponed to February, at least according to the companys official update release timetable. Whats more surprising is that the update was first released in Germany. Samsungs Android 10 update roadmap says the update is due in March in the country. So much for trusting those timetables. The Android 10 One UI 2.0 update for the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus is now also available over the air (OTA) for users in Italy and in the US for those using the device on Xfinity Mobile. It should gradually expand to other carriers and markets over the next few weeks. Interestingly, the update is currently out only for the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus units running on Android 9 Pie. Samsung is yet to release the stable Android 10 One UI 2.0 build for beta users. It shouldnt be a long wait now, though. Advertisement The OTA update size for Pie users ranges between 1.7GB to 2.0GB depending on the device model and region. This update also bundles the January 2020 Android security patch. You can download the update by tapping Download and installA in theA Software updateA menu of the phones Settings app. Its worth noting that updates are released in stages and may not be available to all Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus units straight away, even if the update has been released in your region. You should get a notification once the update becomes available for your unit. Galaxy S9 Android 10 update released, focus now on mid-rangers Samsungs Galaxy S9 lineup originally launched with Android 8 Oreo in early 2018. The S9 duo are the oldest Galaxy flagships eligible for the Android 10 One UI 2.0 update. Advertisement Now that the update has been released for the two devices, Samsungs focus would be on the Android 10 update for its budget and mid-range Galaxy smartphones. The company doesnt have any active One UI 2.0 beta program to bother about either. Samsung has already released the Android 10 update for a few lower-end devices, including the Galaxy M20, M30, and A40s. The likes of Galaxy A30, A50, M30s, A70, and other 2019 Galaxy A and Galaxy M series phones are on the pipeline next. Advertisement Samsungs revolutionary foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold, should also be getting the Android 10 update in the coming months. While Samsungs customer representatives have repeatedly said the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 will be getting Android 10, that seems highly unlikely. Samsung makes no mention of either of the devices in its Android 10 update roadmap anywhere in the world. Further, the company traditionally provides only two major Android OS updates to its Galaxy smartphones. Well have to wait and see if Samsung changes its Android version upgrade policy anytime soon. (TNS) Wex uses machine learning and artificial intelligence in its day-to-day operations. At its call centers, the payment processing firm uses speech recognition technology to route calls. When monitoring accounts for fraud risk, the company uses sophisticated data analysis built by algorithm.Those efforts are part of what has made Wex one of the fastest-growing companies in the world, and the skills will only be more coveted in the future.Thats a major reason Wex and nine other leading Maine businesses have partnered with Northeastern University to create a graduate school and research center in Portland that would offer certificate programs, masters degrees and doctorates in machine learning and artificial intelligence, with an emphasis on life sciences such as biology and genetics.With a plan to enroll its first students this fall, the Roux Institute has the potential to fill a critical need in Maines workforce while making the state attractive to prospective employees in a field with high salaries. The average U.S. salary is $105,000 for a data scientist and $124,000 for a machine learning engineer, according to the networking site LinkedIn. The median household income in Maine is just over $55,000.If you think about Maine in particular, there are a lot of undergraduate institutions, but if you have employees who might want to advance their skills, there are not a lot of options here, said Melanie Tinto, chief human resources officer for Wex. If those employees leave the state to pursue advance learning, they may not come back, she said.Companies increasingly rely on data-driven machine learning and artificial intelligence. Machine learning involves teaching computers to perform tasks, answer questions or solve problems quickly using data analysis. Many people may not realize it, but machine learning has become part of everyday life.When you watch a Tyler the Creator video on YouTube and get recommendations for videos by other new rap artists, thats machine learning. When you scroll through Facebook and see certain posts elevated in your feed, thats Facebooks algorithm catering to your interests based on your previous interactions.Amazons business model, which recommends products based on its customers shopping and browsing history, is built largely on machine learning. Retailers such as Walmart use artificial intelligence to monitor stores in real time to see if produce is fresh or if inventory is low.Companies used to rely on humans to analyze data and build systems. Now, much of that can be automated. But humans write the codes and develop the algorithms. Those skills already highly sought are becoming more valuable.Idexx, another major employer that has partnered with Northeastern on the new institute, increasingly uses advanced technology in developing its diagnostic and IT products for veterinarians. The company recently announced a cloud-based software update for its diagnostic imaging platform that will employ the first use of artificial intelligence in veterinary radiology, giving veterinarians the ability to diagnose faster.But that firm, like others in Maine, also has had a hard time hiring highly skilled employees.Doug Sawyer, chief academic officer for MaineHealth, another Roux Institute partner, said the biggest area for machine learning at his hospitals is in health informatics, or using electronic medical record data to improve patient care.It hasnt come to fruition yet, in part because we dont have the workforce needed to advance these ideas and develop the programs, he said.Another area where artificial intelligence could improve things is through tracking data to spot illnesses that are linked only by genetic testing, Sawyer said.But the hospitals in the MaineHealth network, which include Maine Medical Center, use artificial intelligence already, in areas such as monitoring data streams of cardiac rhythms to detect irregular heartbeats sooner.Joan Ferrini-Mundy, president of the University of Maine, said the new institute will benefit not just businesses but other academic institutions, though faculty collaboration and research.One thing that we think is really interesting is that business partners will get to shape the design of what students will learn, she said. In that sense, she said, the institute will target the needs of the workforce, providing another reason for them to stay in Maine.Northeasterns established history with co-ops in which students spend a year with local employers makes it a strong fit to educate prospective employees in a way that might convince them to stay after they earn degrees, said Wexs Tinto.If you think about data engineering and artificial intelligence, those are some of the top-rated skills, she said. Pair that with a great place to live and work and we really see that is a great opportunity. On February 3-6, the Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM) local union at the General Motors Silao Complex, the companys largest factory in Mexico, will hold a union certification vote at the plant. With anger against the CTM reaching a boiling point, the CTM is seeking legal recognition under the countrys new labor laws so it can continue its corporatist partnership with GM and impose another pro-company contract on the factorys 6,000 workers. GMs Silao Complex Since the end of the GM strike in the United States, the company has carried out a virtual reign of terror at the Silao complex, firing militant workers, stripping employees of vacation time and increasing the line speed for GMs highly profitable Silverado and Sierra pickup trucks. This follows GMs termination of at least seven Silao workers for defying demands for mandatory overtime and increased output during the 40-day strike in the US. With new performance demands, the line speed is being increased from 76 to 80 units per hour, a veteran worker in the body shop told the World Socialist Web Site Autoworker Newsletter. They are removing area leaders and older workers. And only the supervisors get bonuses of 40,000 to 50,000 pesos [$2,116 to $2,645] for productivity, but we keep receiving the same yearly bonus of 15,000 pesos [$800] they have for the last 20 years. There is much discontent; we are being superexploited, the worker said adding that the local CTM union was colluding with management to impose these oppressive conditions. The certification vote at the Silao plant is being conducted under the terms of the labor reform laws put in place last May by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) and his pseudo-left Morena Party. The law, which requires a free, secret and direct vote by workers and the approval by at least thirty percent of the employees to certify a union and approve the content of a new labor agreement, will supposedly create independent unions, instead of corrupt unions, which are paid by the employers. AMLOs effort to provide the unions with a democratic veneer is aimed at curtailing the growing rebellion against the CTM and the protection agreements, which the union signs with the employers behind the backs of workers. GM and other corporations have long relied on the CTM to violently suppress resistance to these sweetheart contracts that prevent strikes and enforce low wages and sweatshop conditions. A year ago, however, anger at the CTM erupted into a full-scale revolt with a wave of wildcat strikes by 70,000 maquiladora workers in Matamoros who marched to the US border and called on American workers to join their fight. This was followed by the courageous actions of GM workers in Silao, organizing in opposition to the CTM, who have directly appealed to American workers to win their reinstatement. Striking Matamoros workers carrying sign reading, Unions and bosses kill the working class The new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, expected to be signed into law by the Trump administration tomorrow, includes requirements for the election of unions by secret ballot and encourages the creation of independent unions, including those affiliated with US-based unions like the United Steelworkers. Both the US and Mexican governments hope to chain the growing opposition of Mexican workers to a refashioned labor bureaucracy capable of suppressing the class struggle and preserving the competitiveness of Mexico as a cheap labor platform. There is nothing democratic about the process through which the CTM-affiliated Miguel Trujillo Lopez local union at the Silao plant hopes to get legal recognition. The CTM has handpicked an electoral commission of 10 people, reportedly close to the local union bureaucracy, who will select the candidates among those nominated by workers. The commission will oversee the elections. There are no effective measures against the CTM stuffing the ballot or falsifying the results to get reach the 30 percent threshold it needs. The 18 representatives chosen at Silao will be required to undergo training by the CTM in order to be present during negotiations for a new contract with GM. What follows has not been disclosed, but presumably the CTM will persuade this body to approve the contract, so the CTM can present its case to the federal authorities to obtain a Certificate of Representation from the government. All contracts across Mexico must receive such a certificate by May 1, 2023. But the haste with which GM and the CTM have organized the bogus representation vote at the Silao complex reflects their fear of militant workers who have sought to organize independently of the CTM. Rank-and-file workers, organized in the Generating Movement, are exposing the bogus character of the CTM-organized vote. In a flier they are passing out to fellow workers, they ask: Who decided and when to elect an electoral commission? How will we know who registered [as candidates] and the number of votes obtained, if it's controlled by the electoral commission? The flier also points out that those elected will only be allowed to assist in contract talks and will not be a negotiating party. It concludes by urging workers to Organize and fight for your rights. The Silao workers are right to oppose this sham election. But the fight for genuine workers democracy and in opposition to poverty wages and sweatshop conditions requires the building of rank-and-file factory committees, which are independent of all factions of trade union bureaucracy and the capitalist state, including the Morena Party and the so-called independent unions AMLO and the US government are promoting. To wage a real struggle in defense of workers jobs and conditions, these factory committees, controlled democratically by workers themselves, must be based on the fight for the international unity of the working class in opposition to profit demands of the transnational corporations and the global capitalist system. Rank-and-file factory committees must forge direct links with workers in the US, Canada and throughout the world and prepare cross-border struggles in defense of jobs and living standards. This fight must be conducted in opposition to the phony internationalism of the trade union bureaucracies. In Matamoros and Silao, trade unions like the Mexican Electricians Union (SME), its New Workers Central, Los Mineros and the International Confederation of Workers (CIT), which are all tied to Morena and the US AFL-CIO labor federation, have intervened to channel workers behind the guidelines of AMLOs new labor reforms. All of these organizations, along with others like the Federation of Independent Unions in the Auto Industry (FESIIAAAN), and the Authentic Labor Front (FAT), are committed to Morenas program of attracting foreign capital with low wages and so-called labor peace. Mexican workers earn less now, in real terms, than they did in 2005, according to the Mexican governments National Social Development Policy Evaluation Council. At last weeks summit of oligarchs in Davos, Switzerland, Mexicos economic minister Graciela Marquez Colin acknowledged that, despite recent increases to $6.50 a day, Mexico retains the lowest minimum wage in the world. This cannot be changed by unions that are subordinated to the national interest of the Mexican bourgeoisie and committed to upholding the supposed right of the capitalist owners to profit from the exploitation of the working class. Like the nationalist and pro-capitalist unions in the US and Canada, these organizations can only lead workers into a race to the bottom. The betrayal by the CTM, the United Auto Workers in the US and Unifor in Canada has allowed General Motors to go on the offensive throughout North America. On January 14, the local paper Heraldo Leon reported that GM notified several truck assembly workers at Silao about the elimination of a night shift and possible layoffs. A worker wrote to the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter on January 23, saying, They switched our shifts at 6-speed transmissions. They eliminated a crew and left only twoone at night from Monday to Thursday and a day one from Tuesday to Friday. And now they want to force us to cover two full days of overtime, practically leaving only Sundays for rest. GM workers at the Silao plant told the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter that the company is imposing overtime on Sundays and holidays paid as normal hours, minimum vacation days scheduled since the beginning of the year, constant harassment by supervisors, speedups, the implementation of the Kronos system to deduct pay for the slightest delays or breaks, 10 or less minutes to eat at the cafeteria, firings for injuries and other abuses. Similar attacks are being reported by GM workers across the US and Canada, with the closing of assembly plants, 12-hour shifts and firing of veteran workers like Juan Gonzales at the Flint Assembly plant for expressing opposition to the company and the corrupt unions on social media. That is why the campaign by AMLO and his pseudo-left allies to reform the unions and promote independent unions must be rejected. Instead, workers must build rank-and-file factory committees independent of the entire trade union apparatus and the state as part of the fight to construct a powerful political movement of the working class based on the principles of socialist internationalism. EAST LANSING, MI -- A man from Iran who was enrolled and planning to begin his studies at Michigan State University was deported after U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents interviewed him this week when he landed in the U.S. According to the Associated Press, Alireza Esfidajani, 27, was stopped at Detroit Metropolitan Airport after his flight landed Sunday. Esfidajani was lodged at the Monroe County Jail before being sent back to Iran Monday. However, an attorney involved in the matter says Esfidajani was never given a reason why he was not being allowed to stay in the U.S. They deemed him being inadmissible but they never said under what grounds," attorney Ghazal Nicole Mehrani told The Detroit News. "They just told him its better to withdraw his admission. Thats what he did. When asked why they declined to allow Esfidajani into the country, the agency would not gives specifics for the decision. Every applicant for admission is subject to inspection upon arrival into the United States, the agency said. The issuance of a visa or participation in the visa waiver program does not guarantee entry to the United States. A spokesperson for MSU confirmed Esfidajani was scheduled to start classes at the university soon. New Delhi, Jan 29 : The Congress has alleged that the BJP-led NDA government is "hatching a conspiracy" to finish the Minimum Support Price system and leave the farmers at the mercy of the market. The party said that the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) has recommended the purchase of wheat and paddy should be reduced. The Congress said it has apprehensions that the government wants to stop the purchase of the crops. The party has demanded that loan waivers should be given to farmers immediately. Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said "in the Budget till now the BJP government has cheated and exploited the farmers, we hope that in Budget 2020 the government will not cheat the farmers further." The Congress leader alleged that in 2018-19, the Agri-Market Infrastructure Fund had Rs 2,000 crore but in two years only 0.5 per cent was spent. The proposal was to setup 22,000 markets but only 376 were set up. It said the government claims that by 2022 the farmers' income will be doubled but now it wants to stop the MSP. The Congress also alleged that the government is not giving subsidy money to Food Corporation of India as the government has to give Rs 1,74,000 crore to FCI as the debt of the procuring agency has swelled to Rs 2,65,000 crore. The CACP report had said "The government procured a large share of wheat production and market arrivals, about 73 per cent of production in Punjab and 80 per cent in Haryana, in Rabi marketing season 2019-20 (April-March). The Commission recommends that the open-ended procurement policy needs to be reviewed," which the Congress says creates doubt about the motives of the government. During the Kharif season the procuring agency is procuring the crops below the MSP which varies from 8 to 37 per cent, alleged the Congress. The Congress has demanded that GST should be reduced on farm produce and GST should be waived on machinery used for farmers, including on pesticides. January 29, 2020 Globalization and technological innovation have reshaped political, economic, security, legal, and informational relationships among states and technological innovation has increased the ability for businesses to operate across geo-boundaries. Andrew H Campbell of Bellevue, NE argues that we are all now global citizens, and transnational corporations are demanding that mid-level executives have the intercultural competence and cross-cultural management attributes to lead geographically dispersed teams. In todays competitive business landscape, those in leadership positions require acumen, personal effectiveness, and relationship management skills to cultivate global alliances and achieve optimal results. As millennials enter the marketplace, transnational businesses will need leaders with intercultural competence and a global mindset to lead change that thrives in a complex and uncertain environment. Andrew H Campbell Bellevue, NE explains that developing intercultural competence is a critical leadership attribute amongst political and business leaders in todays environment. What is Intercultural Competence? According to a University of Nebraska-Lincoln paper, cultural competence is the ability of a person to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of various cultural backgrounds. Further, Mendenhall, Osland, Bird, Oddou, Stevens, Maznevsku and Stahl states intercultural competence involves the ability to establish interpersonal relationships, communicate effectively, manage psychological stress, adjust to different cultures, deal with different society system, and understand others. Leaders with intercultural competence understand and analyze challenges from a global perspective, and appreciate diversity of opinions. Intercultural competence also encompasses cultural sensitivity the acknowledgment of cultural variations without exhibiting judgement. Those who are culturally sensitive demonstrate empathy, and value the insights and experiences of diverse groups of individuals. Educating oneself on various customs and behaviors helps to establish a professional connection and mitigate communication errors. Andrew H Campbell of Bellevue, NE explains that alongside having a comprehensive understanding of various customs, it is also vital to consider factors such as workplace etiquette, body language, and social cues, to ensure a successful engagement with all stakeholders. Culturally aware businesses operate with the understanding that not every stakeholder shares the same values, insights, or experiences. Developing Intercultural Competence According to a 2018 report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there approximately 28.2 million foreign born workers in the Unites States, comprising of 17.4 percent of the total. With such figures, it is essential to strengthen the development of intercultural skills to parallel an increasingly diverse workforce. Andrew H Campbell of Bellevue, NE argues that intercultural competence is a valuable business asset; however, many organizations fail to emphasize the importance of this skillset. He states that implementing training programs can help fuel cultural awareness and allow individuals to gain practical skills. Mentoring sessions motivate individuals to engage with different cultures and adapt to a wide range of professional environments. Global Emotional Intelligence Emotional intelligence (EI) is fundamental to professional success and requires individuals to become self-aware to cultivate positive outcomes. Self-management is the ability to recognize and effectively manage emotions in light of various challenges that may arise when working across cultures. The ability to regulate certain behaviors is crucial to navigating a professional environment, and enables individuals to make decisions that are in the best interest of all stakeholders. Ultimately, global emotional intelligence allows individuals to communicate effectively in a multicultural context. Intercultural Communication Communication is a fundamental component to fostering intercultural competence. Taking the time to understanding others and their comparable values, biases and expectations will help one to manage multiple cultural realities. Enhancing communication efforts eliminates barriers and allows individuals to adapt their skillset to meet the ever-evolving needs of the business and those involved. Developing Intercultural Competence The final building block in intercultural competence is engagement. When you engage with culturally diverse individuals at their level, you build lasting social links that form a strong fabric of society. In contrast, tolerance stops at putting up with other cultures. When you only put up with those that are different from you, engagement becomes difficult, and the resulting alienation begins to tear apart relationships and the society at large. Last Words In the United States, intercultural diversity has been linked to cross-cultural tensions that span generations. Today, some of the social challenges facing the country are because tolerance, formerly thought to be a valid launch point for intercultural cohesion, is failing. Andrew H Campbell of Bellevue, NE believes intercultural competence is the worthy replacement to tolerance as it helps individuals, communities and societies forge deeper understandings and ties across cultures. It, however, starts with learning and embracing the values of intercultural competence knowledge, empathy and engagement. How do you engage when you are interculturally competent? Through mutual learning and understanding. When you explore other cultures by engaging with others, you open a two-way intercultural conversation where mutual learning can occur. As you each learn about the others culture and engage on a deeper level, a sense of mutual respect and understanding emerges, helping cement relationships and social links across diverse cultures. However, it is essential to remember that engagement does not mean challenging another persons culture. It means being opened to respectfully learn about their culture, whether you agree with it or not. - Detering Herman checked in at Moriema Cottages in Malindi in company of a lady only identified as Mary - He, however, failed to wake up and spent the whole day inside the facility - A receptionist peeped through the window of his room later in the evening and noticed bloodstains were spread on Herman's bed - The employee notified police officers who upon checking found the German dead with deep cuts on his body A German national who booked a room with his Kenyan girlfriend at a hotel in Malindi, Kilifi county has been found dead. The body of Detering Herman, 78, was found lifeless in a pool of blood at room 117 of Moriema Cottages where he spent the night of Monday, January 27, alongside his girlfriend only identified as Mary. READ ALSO: Senator Malala says Tanga Tanga MP will not be allowed to speak in BBI rallies The incident was reported at Malindi Police Station by the hotel's receptionist. Photo: NPS. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Moses Kuria adai tayari Tangatanga wameangamia hata wakiamua kuunga mkono BBI The incident was reported to Malindi Police Station by the hotel's receptionist, Kelly Kazungu, on the evening of Tuesday, January 29. Kazungu said he was disturbed to learn that Herman had not woken up since morning and his door had remained closed. As a result, he peeped through the window to establish what had happened to their client and noticed the foreigner had been injured after spotting bloodstains on the bed. Detectives from Malindi are working closely with police officers to trace the whereabouts of the lady said to have been in company of the deceased. Photo: DCI Source: Original He reported the matter to police officers who came and upon opening the door found the man dead. "The room was opened by the receptionist and the body of the said Detering Herman was found lying in a pool of blood with multiple cuts. He was said to have entered the room in company of his African girlfriend namely Mary," read the police report in part. The body of Herman was taken to Malindi Sub-county hospital morgue awaiting postmortem. Detectives from Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and police officers in Malindi have launched a manhunt on the lady said to have accompanied the deceased to the hotel on that fateful night. 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. Behind the scenes in Babu's day in court I Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke By Victor Ing, Special to The Post For the past two years I have delivered a presentation in December on the most interesting and influential immigration court decisions released during the calendar year. Preparing for these presentations has given me the opportunity to look at general trends in immigration cases rather than focus on specific issues for my clients. One of the things that became clear to me in reviewing these decisions is that a significant number of the cases that go to court are about humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) applications for permanent residence, even though H&C applicants represent only a small fraction of the more than 300,000 new permanent residents that are approved each year. H&C applications are difficult to win and anyone applying for permanent residence on this basis needs to be aware of this. H&C applications have been described by our courts as an exceptional remedy, which allows immigration officers to grant permanent residence in circumstances that would excite in a reasonable [person] in a civilized community a desire to relieve the misfortunes of another. When someone applies for permanent residence on H&C grounds they are asking to be granted permanent resident status even though they dont meet the requirements as set out in the law. This may be because they have a criminal record, because they have been living in Canada as de facto residents and may even have spouses and children in Canada, or because they have sick family members, just to name a few examples. Due to the discretionary nature of H&C applications, they are not intended to be an alternative immigration scheme. In other words, these applications are not meant to be made by people who have other means of applying for permanent resident status. For example, Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their parents for permanent residence to join them in Canada if they meet certain income requirements. However, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) sets a yearly cap on the number of sponsorship applications they will receive each year, which means that the majority of people who want to sponsor their parents will not be able to as they will not meet the cutoff. These circumstances alone do not justify the approval of an H&C application. Remember that H&C applications are not meant to be an alternative immigration scheme that will allow you to apply for permanent residence ahead of the many other thousands of people who did not get a chance to sponsor their parents. You also must consider that there may be alternatives such as IRCCs Super Visa program that can help you achieve the same goals of being together in Canada without applying for permanent residence. Another important reason that many H&C applications are refused is because there is a common misunderstanding that just spending many years living in Canada will lead to permanent residence. Most of the successful H&C cases I have seen are made by people who have not only lived in Canada for a long time but have become integral parts of their communities. To succeed in an H&C application, an applicant should show that Canada is better with them than without them. This requires significant evidence to show that a person is established in Canada, perhaps because they have spouses or children in Canada, or because of their significant contributions through their employment and volunteer work, and that not only the applicant, but other Canadians, would be harmed if they had to leave Canada. Lastly, many people do not appreciate that it can take years for an H&C application to be processed and that making an H&C application does not mean that they can stay in Canada indefinitely until the case is decided. I have seen many cases where applicants make an H&C application and do not update IRCC with new and relevant information even if many months or even years have passed. I have also seen cases where applicants procrastinate and file their applications far too late before immigration officials try to remove them from Canada, which can occur in cases where the applicant has been in Canada without status for many years. H&C applications should be made after careful consideration of an applicants personal circumstances and an assessment of other viable immigration strategies. To succeed, applicants should be prepared to present significant evidence of the positive contributions they bring to Canada and to do this early and often. In some ways, H&C applications are among the most difficult of immigration applications to make because there are no set guidelines on the type of evidence that will convince an immigration officer to grant the exceptional remedy of H&C relief. As such, applicants should not hesitate to reach out to friends and family or authorized immigration representatives for assistance. Victor Ing is a lawyer of Sas & Ing Immigration Law Centre. He provides a full range of immigration services. For more information go to canadian-visa-lawyer.com or email [email protected]. Running rock star Toon Bodyslam hands Vachira Hospital B10mn donation PHUKET: Thai Rock celebrity and running-for-charity sensation Artiwara Toon Kongmalai of the popular Thai rock band Bodyslam yesterday handed over a donation of more than B10.752 million to Vachira Phuket Hospital from his fund-raising efforts through the Kao Kon La Kao Foundation late last year. charityhealth By Khunanya Wanchanwet Wednesday 29 January 2020, 04:32PM Artiwara Toon Bodyslam Kongmalai (centre) handed over the donation yesterday (Jan 28). Photo: PR Dept In October, Mr Artiwara led a run of about 300-plus kilometres from Trang to Phuket to raise funds for seven government hospitals* in Southern Thailand, including Vachira Phuket Hospital, the main government hospital on the island. Mr Artiwara and his actress girlfriend Rachwin Koi Wongviriya, who also took part in the long-distance run, handed over the donation totalling B10,752,956.55 to Vachira Phuket Hospital Director Chalermpon Sukonthapon yesterday (Jan 28). Dr Chalermpong told The Phuket News, The donation will be shared with Patong Hospital and Thalang Hospital, which will receive about B1.5m each. Vachira Hospital will purchase six ventilation devices which cost around B800,000 up to B1 million each. We will also buy extra beds for the Cardiology & Heart Surgery section at the hospital, he added. In total, the run last October raised B60,035,545 to support medical services at seven government hospitals and for the seven hospitals to purchase much-needed hospital equipment. A staffer at Kao Kon La Kao Foundation explained to The Phuket news that Trang Hospital received B10,268,103.80, Krabi Hospital received B7,962,359.61, Phang Nga Hospital, received B6,604,771.91, Takuapa Hospital also in Phang Nga received B6,540,124.87, the Crown Prince Hospital in Pattani received B5,473,448.82 and Maharat Hospital in Nakhon Sri Thammarat received B12,433,779.42. We are grateful to the Thai people for donating the total amount of over B60mn, and we thank the seven hospitals for providing medical assistance and food to us during the running event, Mr Artiwara said. Thank you to everyone who supported this running event. This event set a record for the largest number of people taking part in a Kao Kon La Kao Foundation fundraising running event," he added. Telecom operator Bharti Airtel has clarified that being black-listed by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) does not affect the company's ability to import and export in future. In response to a query raised by Bombay Stock Exchange, the Sunil Mittal-led telecom major said on Tuesday that it is working on getting its name out of DGFT's 'Denied Entry List' (DEL). "The Company is working towards an expeditious closure of this matter with the Office of the DGFT and for getting the Company's name removed from the DEL. It must also be noted that the said action does not limit the ability of the Company to undertake future imports or exports," Airtel told stock exchanges on Tuesday. ALSO READ:Commerce Ministry blacklists Bharti Airtel over unfulfilled export obligations Directorate General of Foreign Trade under Ministry of Commerce has blacklisted Sunil Mittal-led Bharti Airtel for failing to meet export obligations. Reports suggest that the DGFT has put the telecom operator under 'Denied Entry List' after it could not fulfil export obligations under Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) scheme. The EPCG scheme allows import of capital goods at zero customs duty for manufacturing quality goods and services. The companies that get this authorisation have an export obligation equivalent to 6 times of duty saved on the capital goods. ALSO READ:Bharti Airtel's Chief Regulatory Officer Ravi Gandhi resigns Companies put under the Denied Entry List lose their import licence, and cannot avail any export benefit or licence from DGFT. Bharti Airtel reiterated that it has not applied for any such licence since April 2018 as there was no operational need for the same. "The company has fulfilled all its export obligations under the past licenses and has applied for closure of these licences along with necessary documents to the authorities in this regard," the telecom company said in its statement. ALSO READ:Light turns green for Airtel! ICRA removes rating watch with 'negative implications' M ike Pompeo has warned that Huaweis role in Britains 5G network poses a real risk to security as he arrived in London for talks amid a row over the Chinese firm. The US Secretary of State said the firm was an extension of the Chinese Communist Party and that Washington would evaluate the UKs move. It comes after Boris Johnson insisted that allowing the firm involvement in the 5G network would not damage transatlantic security co-operation. Mr Pompeo flew to the UK on Wednesday for talks with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Prime Minister Mr Johnson amid a fallout over the UK's decision. Mike Pompeo speaks to reporters aboard his plane en route to London / AP Speaking to reporters on his journey, he said: "Our view of Huawei has been that putting it in your system creates real risk. He added that "American information only should pass through trusted networks, and we'll make sure we do that". The top US official suggested the UK could "relook" at the decision in the future. After Mr Raab met Mr Pompeo on, a brief Foreign Office statement did not reference the Huawei controversy. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrives at Stansted Airport / PA A spokesman said: "The Foreign Secretary's discussions with Secretary Pompeo this evening focused on future opportunities for economic and security co-operation between the UK and US. "The pair discussed the US' proposal for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and the situation in Iran and Yemen, and the Foreign Secretary underlined the need to de-escalate regional tensions." The Chinese tech giant has always rejected claims it represents a security risk. Boris Johnson defends Huawei decision Mr Johnson said allowing Huawei to play a limited role in the UK's 5G infrastructure would not "imperil our relationship" with Donald Trump's administration as he faced a backlash from both Tory MPs and US Republicans. The Prime Minister defied the president by giving the green light to the Chinese firm despite US warnings that it could hamper intelligence-sharing with Washington and the other members of the Five Eyes alliance. Mr Johnson said the Government's decision would not damage the "extremely valuable" security co-operation with the Five Eyes alliance which includes the US. The Huawei company logo / REUTERS Answering questions from the public on Facebook he said he had "interrogated" the security and intelligence agencies about the issue and whether Huawei could be allowed to play a role while preventing "any kind of risk of leaks or interference with our security". "There is no doubt in their mind that we can do it and we can allow Huawei into some aspects of 5G but not compromise our intelligence-sharing ability with America, Australia, Canada or New Zealand - the so-called Five Eyes. "I'm very confident we can do that." The decision has caused deep unease on the Tory benches, with discussion of a possible rebellion when the matter comes to the Commons, although the Prime Minister can normally rely on a comfortable majority. The UK's National Security Council (NSC) agreed on Tuesday to allow "high-risk vendors" to play a limited part in building the 5G network. At a 90-minute meeting, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace argued against the move, according to The Times, but was said to have been a "lone voice". Government assurances about the decision have done little to quell what Damian Green, former de facto deputy prime minister under Theresa May, called "widespread (and) strong unease" on the Tory benches. Ministers have said they will legislate at the "earliest opportunity" to put the new guidance on telecoms providers into law, opening up the prospect of a potentially damaging backbench revolt. "One of the things that frankly surprised me was the breadth of opposition to the current stance of the Government on the Conservative back benches," Mr Green told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "We don't know yet, when push comes to shove and votes happen, how many people will actually put their heads above the parapet but it is very widespread." Senior Tory MPs including former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith and ex-Brexit secretary David Davis are among those to express displeasure. Huawei to gain limited access to 5G network in UK Mr Trump has refrained from a Twitter outburst on the decision but officials in Washington said they were "disappointed by the UK's decision". "There is no safe option for untrusted vendors to control any part of a 5G network," an official said. A series of senior congressional figures spoke out to condemn the move. Tom Cotton, a member of the Senate intelligence committee, said: "Allowing Huawei to build the UK's 5G networks today is like allowing the KGB to build its telephone network during the Cold War." The European Union also unveiled security guidelines for the next generation high-speed wireless networks that stop short of banning Huawei, in a further blow to the US campaign against the firm. Mr Pompeo's two-day visit is likely to offer the first real indication of the extent of any damage to the so-called special relationship. The US administration has consistently argued that giving Huawei a role in 5G could allow the Chinese a "back door" into the telecoms network through which they could carry out espionage or cyber attacks. The Government has acknowledged Huawei is not a "trusted" supplier but argues that by banning it from the most sensitive elements of the network and restricting its involvement to 35 per cent, it can manage the risks. The clash comes at a sensitive moment in US-UK relations, just as Mr Johnson is hoping to make rapid progress on a trade deal. The PM appears to have concluded that honouring his general election pledge to "level up" the "left-behind" areas of the country must be the priority. Willow Creek Community Churchstill grappling with former senior pastor Bill Hybels history of alleged sexual harassment and abuse of powernow is dealing with allegations of misconduct against the man who mentored Hybels. A longtime church member shared in a public Facebook post Saturday that Gilbert Bilezikianknown widely as Dr. B.kissed, fondled, and pressured her to have sex with him between 1984 and 1988. We believe that Dr. B engaged in inappropriate behavior, and the harm he caused was inexcusable, Willow Creeks acting lead pastor Steve Gillen wrote Monday in an email to church staff obtained by Religion News Service. The Willow Creek Elder Board confirmed in an update posted online Tuesday night that the church had decided to restrict Bilezikian from serving there after the church member came forward with allegations against him about a decade ago. Bilezikian, a retired Wheaton College professor, was never on staff at the church, according the the elders. But he has been active in the church for decades and was a mentor to Hybels. In addition to his influence on Willow Creek, Bilezikian helped start CBE International (founded as Christians for Biblical Equality) in 1988. There would be no Willow Creek without Gilbert Bilezikian, Hybels told Christianity Today in 2000. The two met when Bilezikian was a professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in suburban Deerfield, Illinois, and Hybels, a student. According to the article, Hybels rode up to Bilezikians house on a motorcycle one day in 1975 and proclaimed, Dr. B., you and I are going to start a church. Not long afterwards, Willow Creek Community Church began meeting in a movie theater in Palatine, Illinois. Bilezikian was credited with Willow Creeks inclusion of women in its highest levels of leadership. The 2000 article also describes the Paris-born scholars French eye for beauty and effusive appreciation of female beauty, describing how he kissed the hands of women and girls who approached him in the hallways of the church and complimented their ravishing beauty. Bilezikian told the magazine at the time this was because his mother had died when he was young, and he idealized her. As a young man, I was always searching for that elusive perfection in womanhood, which was such an enigma, for someone growing up with no sisters and no mother, he said. The church member who accused Bilezikian of misconduct said she began attending Willow Creek in 1984 as a vulnerable and a heartbroken new believer. Bilezikian allegedly pursued an inappropriate relationship with her, according to her account, first in subtle flirtations after church services. That led to inappropriate hand holding and emotional intimacy, with Bilezikian confiding in her that he was unhappy in his marriage and that he felt he could help the church thrive because I made him happy. On several occasions, she wrote, he pushed her against a wall in a parking garage, behind a truck or into a doorway, where they couldnt be seen together, and kissed her forcefully. Each time, she noted, she pushed him away. I was young in my faith, new to church, and hungry for someone to invest spiritually in me. He made me feel special, and he was a spiritual authority in a large church, and I did not feel like I could say no to him, even when my gut was telling me this was not appropriate, she wrote. The church member wrote that she has met privately with Willow Creek leadership to discuss the abuse since 2010, when she felt strong enough to begin to confront the spiritual abuse Id experienced so early in my faith. For many years, she felt her concerns were not taken seriously andworsethat she was being sidelined from leadership and watched by security at the church. She felt hopeful the church would handle her story honorably after bringing it to former teaching pastor Steve Carter, who organized a meeting between the church member and several church leaders in 2018. Around the same time, the allegations against Hybels broke. At first, the church defended its founding pastor, though officials later said his conduct had been sinful and an independent investigation found the accusations against him credible. Hybels eventually retired early. As a result of the controversy over the churchs handling of the allegations, the two pastors who succeeded himCarter and lead pastor Heather Larsonresigned, as did the churchs entire elder board. The Willow Creek Elder Boards update confirmed the church member had reported Bilezikians behavior to church leadership about a decade ago. The team believed the womans claim that Dr. Bilezikian engaged in inappropriate behavior dating back to the mid-eighties, including but not limited to hand holding, hugs, kissing, inappropriate touching, and sending overly personal communication, the update read. While the churchs Elder Response Team met with Bilezikian and restricted him from serving at the church, according to elders, that restriction wasnt adequately communicated. So the former professor continued serving and teaching at the church. This was wrong, and we are sorry, the update read. Over the past years, behavior has been brought to light that is both harmful and unacceptable for a Christ follower. This sinful behavior that we believe was demonstrated by Dr. Bilezikian and Bill Hybels was wrong, and we hold any person entrusted with leading at Willow Creek Community Church to a higher standard, the statement read. In his email to Gillen, Bilezikian said the church had failed to follow the Bible by not addressing the allegations against him in private. I look for some evidence of professional integrity if not of Christian obligation, and I find nothing else here but a recital of accusations that were delivered to the whole church staff behind my back, without my knowledge and without my having been consulted about their accuracy, he said in the message forwarded to RNS. Need I bring up references in the Bible for prescriptions about conflict resolution and for the correction of offending brothers, especially veteran servants in our midst? He added: Steve, who gave you the right to violate the biblical process by skipping it entirely and jumping to the closure point, which made of me instantly the pagan and the tax collector? Bilezikian also asked for the church to thoroughly investigate the charges against him. He was a longtime professor at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. He retired from the evangelical flagship school in 1992. He is the author of Beyond Sex Roles: What the Bible Says about a Woman's Place in Church and Family and a contributor (like Hybels) to How I Changed My Mind about Women in Leadership. She starred in Big Little Lies and The Morning Show, two of the biggest dramas of 2019. But actress-turned-producer Reese Witherspoon was all business on Tuesday as she headed into meetings in Los Angeles. The 43-year-old looked chic in a pairing of business with easy casual style. Business woman: Reese Witherspoon was all business on Tuesday as she headed into meetings in Los Angeles The Legally Blonde star paired a grey and black blazer over a white button up blouse. She went for a simple side, pairing it with medium wash jeans, and shiny black leather loafers. Matching her shoes and black leather handbag that she carried, she also wore a black YSL belt. Casual look: The Legally Blonde star paired a grey and black blazer over a white button up blouse and jeans Reese was headed into a meeting and continued the black theme as she donned large black sunglasses. Her signature blonde hair was down in a sleek straight style. Witherspoon stars alongside Aniston and Billy Crudup in the Apple TV+ show, on which she also serves as executive producer. Hitching a ride: Witherspoon took to Instagram ahead of the awards show, as she posed in her driveway, captioned: 'Waiting for my Uber like...' Earlier in the day, she and Aniston discussed the second season of their show at a TCA panel in Pasadena, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 'We have a lot explore. It's not just #MeToo. We explore racism, sexism, homophobia all the things currently happening in news media,' she said. 'We're just beginning because there's a whole new world order. It's chaos. No one knows who is in charge. What does leadership mean at this point? And I think that's what we're exploring in this culture as we speak.' She is also set to star in Hulu's Little Fires Everywhere, opposite Kerry Washington, airing in March. Infection of young children no indication of virus mutation: experts Global Times By Shan Jie Source:Globaltimes.cn Published: 2020/1/28 20:57:12 The rise in the number of children infected with the novel coronavirus does not indicate a new variant of the virus has emerged, but rather greater opportunities to contract the disease from sick family members, said the Chinese disease control authority. An 11-month-old infant was confirmed infected with the novel coronavirus on Monday in Zhongshan, South China's Guangdong Province, according to the official WeChat account of the city government. The young patient's father was earlier confirmed to have contracted the virus. Currently the infant is under treatment at a hospital and is in stable condition. As more children are sickened by the novel coronavirus, the public has become increasingly concerned. This has not been caused by a variant of the virus, Feng Zijian, deputy head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said in an interview with CCTV. The increased number of cases is the result of increased opportunities individuals have of being exposed to the virus, Feng said. "Children are vulnerable to viruses because their immune system is weak," He Quanying, a respiratory physician and professor at Peking University People's Hospital, told the Global Times on Tuesday. In some cases, children have been infected by their parents at home. He noted that people with pneumonia-like symptoms should go to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment, instead of quarantining themselves at home. An increasing number of children infected with the novel coronavirus have been reported around the country. Beijing confirmed a 9-month-old infant has been infected with the coronavirus, the Beijing Municipal Health Commission said on Sunday. A 2-year-old child was confirmed to have contracted the coronavirus from her father in Ji'nan, East China's Shandong Province. Another 3-year-old child in Ji'nan was infected by her mother, who in mid-January had visited Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province and epicenter of the epidemic. "We have been closely monitoring for mutations in the virus, and there is no proof that the novel coronavirus has mutated," Li Bin, deputy director of the National Health Commission said at a press conference on Sunday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Madhya Pradesh BJP legislator Narayan Tripathi has again fallen out of step with his party, to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which "has vitiated the social atmosphere and led to a civil war-like situation in the country". At a time when the top BJP leaders in the state are holding rallies in support of the CAA, the MLA from Maihar has embarrassed the party by speaking out against the law. "I am opposing the CAA on the call of my conscience. This is ending mutual trust and brotherhood. People are looking at each other with suspicion. We will put our point on the party forum. "This is my personal view. The CAA could be right for vote politics, but not for the country," he said. Tripathi said that there is a need to talk about unemployment and not citizenship linked to religion. "The country should not be divided in the name of religion. Either follow the Constitution or tear it off and throw it away. I come from the village and even today it is not easy to get the Aadhaar cards in the villages. Where will they get the rest of the papers from? I am speaking through my heart. If we wish to take the nation forward, the CAA should not be implemented." Tripathi has mostly been in the news for anti-party activities. In July 2019, he had voted against the BJP over a bill and admitted his support for Chief Minister Kamal Nath. He later returned to the party. Now his tone has changed again and could cause trouble for the party. Tripathi, a Congress MLA before joining the BJP in 2014, is also named in the police charge sheet in the honey trap case. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Made Anthony Iswara (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 08:30 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20616b7d5 1 Business BKPM,IDX,investment,IPO,go-public,foreign-investors,domestic-investment,stock-market Free The government has pinned its hopes on a new agreement that is expected to encourage thousands of companies to list their shares on the local stock exchange. The Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) and the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) signed on Tuesday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will enable the bourse to guide both foreign and domestic businesses to conduct initial public offerings. The agreement could also provide an alternative funding method for small and medium companies that lack the capital to expand, BKPM head Bahlil Lahadalia said. In turn, such growth will create new jobs, he added. This is the right step with our current economic growth rate stuck at 5 percent. A strategic move needs to be made. The key to economic growth is investment. Thus, we will guide 26,000 companies to publicly list their businesses in Indonesia, Bahlil said. [The MoU] aims to build trust. Business is about trust. He said companies in the mining, infrastructure, plantation and tourism sectors, among other industries, were expected to list their shares on the IDX. The step could strengthen the governments efforts to attract investment to Indonesia as President Joko Jokowi Widodo seeks to increase the economic growth rate above the 5.02 percent recorded in the third quarter of last year, the slowest rate in more than two years. Around 668,228 registered companies operated in the country as of December 2019, comprising 642,309 domestic companies and 25,919 foreign companies, according to the BKPMs Online Single Submission licensing system. Bahlil said he aimed to lure 1 to 2 percent of the nearly 26,000 foreign companies with the agreement. From January to September 2019, overall realized investment totaled Rp 601.3 trillion, a 12.3 percent increase year-on-year (yoy), BKPM data show. Domestic investment increased 17.3 percent to Rp 283.5 trillion, while foreign direct investment rose 8.2 percent yoy to Rp 317.8 trillion, during this period. SCHAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- TE Connectivity Ltd. (NYSE: TEL) today reported results for the fiscal first quarter ended December 27, 2019. First Quarter Highlights Net sales were $3.2 billion , down 5% on a reported and organic basis over the first quarter of 2019. , down 5% on a reported and organic basis over the first quarter of 2019. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations were $0.07 , below the company's GAAP guidance due to a non-cash charge from Swiss tax reform. Adjusted EPS were $1.21 , exceeding the high end of the company's guidance. , below the company's GAAP guidance due to a non-cash charge from Swiss tax reform. Adjusted EPS were , exceeding the high end of the company's guidance. Cash flow from continuing operating activities was $411 million and free cash flow was $243 million , with $297 million returned to shareholders. and free cash flow was , with returned to shareholders. Total orders were $3.2 billion , up 1% sequentially, and the book-to-bill ratio was 1.02. , up 1% sequentially, and the book-to-bill ratio was 1.02. Company is updating full year guidance based on first quarter results. "I'm pleased with our performance in the first quarter where we delivered sales and adjusted earnings per share above our expectations and generated strong cash flow in what continues to be a challenging market environment," said Terrence Curtin, chief executive officer of TE Connectivity. "Our Industrial segment grew ahead of guidance driven by strength in our defense, medical, aerospace and energy businesses, while our Transportation segment continued to outperform auto production declines due to our strong content position in the long-term growth trends of electric and connected vehicles. We were pleased to see sequential orders growth this quarter, signaling stabilization in key end markets. Based on our first quarter results, we are updating our GAAP EPS guidance and raising our sales and adjusted EPS guidance for the full year." 2020 Outlook The company has updated full year guidance to net sales expectations of $12.85 to $13.25 billion, reflecting 3% actual and 2% organic decline at the mid-point versus the prior year. Diluted EPS from continuing operations are expected to be $3.23 to $3.53, including net restructuring, acquisition-related and other charges of $0.66 and a tax-related charge of $1.06. The company expects adjusted EPS of $4.95 to $5.25. For the fiscal second quarter of 2020, the company expects net sales of $3.1 billion to $3.3 billion, reflecting a decrease of 6% on an actual basis and 5% on an organic basis year over year at the mid-point. Diluted EPS from continuing operations are expected to be $1.05 to $1.11, including net restructuring, acquisition-related and other charges of $0.17. The company expects adjusted EPS of $1.22 to $1.28. Information about TE Connectivity's use of non-GAAP financial measures is provided below. For reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, see the attached tables. Conference Call and Webcast The company will hold a conference call today beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET. The dial-in information is provided here: At TE Connectivity's website: investors.te.com By telephone: For both "listen-only" participants and those participants who wish to take part in the question-and-answer portion of the call, the dial-in number in the United States is (866) 211-4092, and for international callers, the dial-in number is (647) 689-6620. is (866) 211-4092, and for international callers, the dial-in number is (647) 689-6620. A replay of the conference call will be available on TE Connectivity's investor website at investors.te.com at 11:30 a.m. ET on January 29, 2020 . About TE Connectivity TE Connectivity Ltd. (NYSE: TEL) is a $13 billion global industrial technology leader creating a safer, sustainable, productive, and connected future. Our broad range of connectivity and sensor solutions, proven in the harshest environments, enable advancements in transportation, industrial applications, medical technology, energy, data communications, and the home. With nearly 80,000 employees, including more than 8,000 engineers, working alongside customers in approximately 150 countries, TE ensures that EVERY CONNECTION COUNTS. Learn more at www.te.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, WeChat and Twitter. Non-GAAP Financial Measures We present non-GAAP performance and liquidity measures as we believe it is appropriate for investors to consider adjusted financial measures in addition to results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. ("GAAP"). These non-GAAP financial measures provide supplemental information and should not be considered replacements for results in accordance with GAAP. Management uses non-GAAP financial measures internally for planning and forecasting purposes and in its decision-making processes related to the operations of our company. We believe these measures provide meaningful information to us and investors because they enhance the understanding of our operating performance, ability to generate cash, and the trends of our business. Additionally, we believe that investors benefit from having access to the same financial measures that management uses in evaluating our operations. The primary limitation of these measures is that they exclude the financial impact of items that would otherwise either increase or decrease our reported results. This limitation is best addressed by using these non-GAAP financial measures in combination with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures in order to better understand the amounts, character, and impact of any increase or decrease in reported amounts. These non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures reported by other companies. The following provides additional information regarding our non-GAAP financial measures: Organic Net Sales Growth (Decline) represents net sales growth (decline) (the most comparable GAAP financial measure) excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, and acquisitions and divestitures that occurred in the preceding twelve months, if any. Organic Net Sales Growth (Decline) is a useful measure of our performance because it excludes items that are not completely under management's control, such as the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, and items that do not reflect the underlying growth of the company, such as acquisition and divestiture activity. This measure is a significant component in our incentive compensation plans. Adjusted Operating Income and Adjusted Operating Margin represent operating income and operating margin, respectively, (the most comparable GAAP financial measures) before special items including restructuring and other charges, acquisition-related charges, and other income or charges, if any. We utilize these adjusted measures in combination with operating income and operating margin to assess segment level operating performance and to provide insight to management in evaluating segment operating plan execution and market conditions. Adjusted Operating Income is a significant component in our incentive compensation plans. Adjusted Other Income (Expense), Net represents net other income (expense) (the most comparable GAAP financial measure) before special items including tax sharing income related to adjustments to prior period tax returns and other items, if any. Adjusted Income Tax (Expense) Benefit and Adjusted Effective Tax Rate represent income tax (expense) benefit and effective tax rate, respectively (the most comparable GAAP financial measures) after adjusting for the tax effect of special items including restructuring and other charges, acquisition-related charges, other income or charges, and certain significant tax items, if any. Adjusted Income from Continuing Operations represents income from continuing operations (the most comparable GAAP financial measure) before special items including restructuring and other charges, acquisition-related charges, tax sharing income related to adjustments to prior period tax returns and other tax items, other income or charges, and certain significant tax items, if any, and, if applicable, the related tax effects. Adjusted Earnings Per Share represents diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (the most comparable GAAP financial measure) before special items including restructuring and other charges, acquisition-related charges, tax sharing income related to adjustments to prior period tax returns and other tax items, other income or charges, and certain significant tax items, if any, and, if applicable, the related tax effects. This measure is a significant component in our incentive compensation plans. Free Cash Flow (FCF) is a useful measure of our ability to generate cash. The difference between net cash provided by continuing operating activities (the most comparable GAAP financial measure) and Free Cash Flow consists mainly of significant cash outflows and inflows that we believe are useful to identify. We believe Free Cash Flow provides useful information to investors as it provides insight into the primary cash flow metric used by management to monitor and evaluate cash flows generated from our operations. Free Cash Flow is defined as net cash provided by continuing operating activities excluding voluntary pension contributions and the cash impact of special items, if any, minus net capital expenditures. Voluntary pension contributions are excluded from the GAAP financial measure because this activity is driven by economic financing decisions rather than operating activity. Certain special items, including net payments related to pre-separation tax matters and cash paid (collected) pursuant to collateral requirements related to cross-currency swap contracts, are also excluded by management in evaluating Free Cash Flow. Net capital expenditures consist of capital expenditures less proceeds from the sale of property, plant, and equipment. These items are subtracted because they represent long-term commitments. In the calculation of Free Cash Flow, we subtract certain cash items that are ultimately within management's and the Board of Directors' discretion to direct and may imply that there is less or more cash available for our programs than the most comparable GAAP financial measure indicates. It should not be inferred that the entire Free Cash Flow amount is available for future discretionary expenditures, as our definition of Free Cash Flow does not consider certain non-discretionary expenditures, such as debt payments. In addition, we may have other discretionary expenditures, such as discretionary dividends, share repurchases, and business acquisitions, that are not considered in the calculation of Free Cash Flow. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks, uncertainty and changes in circumstances, which may cause actual results, performance, financial condition or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, financial condition or achievements. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature are forward-looking and the words "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "estimate," "plan," and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have no intention and are under no obligation to update or alter (and expressly disclaim any such intention or obligation to do so) our forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law. The forward-looking statements in this release include statements addressing our future financial condition and operating results. Examples of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements include, among others, business, economic, competitive and regulatory risks, such as conditions affecting demand for products, particularly in the automotive and data and devices industries; competition and pricing pressure; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and commodity prices; natural disasters and political, economic and military instability in countries in which we operate; developments in the credit markets; future goodwill impairment; compliance with current and future environmental and other laws and regulations; and the possible effects on us of changes in tax laws, tax treaties and other legislation, including the effects of Swiss tax reform. More detailed information about these and other factors is set forth in TE Connectivity Ltd.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Sept. 27, 2019 as well as in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other reports filed by us with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) For the Quarters Ended December 27, December 28, 2019 2018 (in millions, except per share data) Net sales $ 3,168 $ 3,347 Cost of sales 2,138 2,233 Gross margin 1,030 1,114 Selling, general, and administrative expenses 367 389 Research, development, and engineering expenses 161 161 Acquisition and integration costs 7 5 Restructuring and other charges, net 24 75 Operating income 471 484 Interest income 6 5 Interest expense (12) (27) Other income (expense), net 5 (1) Income from continuing operations before income taxes 470 461 Income tax expense (447) (78) Income from continuing operations 23 383 Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes 3 (107) Net income $ 26 $ 276 Basic earnings per share: Income from continuing operations $ 0.07 $ 1.12 Income (loss) from discontinued operations 0.01 (0.31) Net income 0.08 0.81 Diluted earnings per share: Income from continuing operations $ 0.07 $ 1.11 Income (loss) from discontinued operations 0.01 (0.31) Net income 0.08 0.80 Weighted-average number of shares outstanding: Basic 335 342 Diluted 337 344 TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) December 27, September 27, 2019 2019 (in millions, except share data) Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 742 $ 927 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $29 and $25, respectively 2,338 2,320 Inventories 2,003 1,836 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 483 471 Total current assets 5,566 5,554 Property, plant, and equipment, net 3,659 3,574 Goodwill 5,846 5,740 Intangible assets, net 1,602 1,596 Deferred income taxes 2,360 2,776 Other assets 943 454 Total assets $ 19,976 $ 19,694 Liabilities and shareholders' equity Current liabilities: Short-term debt $ 561 $ 570 Accounts payable 1,433 1,357 Accrued and other current liabilities 1,410 1,613 Total current liabilities 3,404 3,540 Long-term debt 3,412 3,395 Long-term pension and postretirement liabilities 1,365 1,367 Deferred income taxes 142 156 Income taxes 247 239 Other liabilities 849 427 Total liabilities 9,419 9,124 Commitments and contingencies Shareholders' equity: Common shares, CHF 0.57 par value, 350,951,381 shares authorized and issued 154 154 Accumulated earnings 12,206 12,256 Treasury shares, at cost, 16,520,951 and 15,862,337 shares, respectively (1,389) (1,337) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (414) (503) Total shareholders' equity 10,557 10,570 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 19,976 $ 19,694 TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) For the Quarters Ended December 27, December 28, 2019 2018 (in millions) Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 26 $ 276 (Income) loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes (3) 107 Income from continuing operations 23 383 Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 174 168 Deferred income taxes 394 (11) Non-cash lease cost 27 - Provision for losses on accounts receivable and inventories 20 23 Share-based compensation expense 22 23 Other 10 18 Changes in assets and liabilities, net of the effects of acquisitions and divestitures: Accounts receivable, net (24) (26) Inventories (176) (119) Prepaid expenses and other current assets (23) 67 Accounts payable 94 (9) Accrued and other current liabilities (185) (190) Income taxes 10 15 Other 45 (14) Net cash provided by continuing operating activities 411 328 Net cash used in discontinued operating activities - (31) Net cash provided by operating activities 411 297 Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures (176) (210) Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment 2 1 Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired (115) - Proceeds from divestiture of discontinued operation, net of cash retained by sold operation - 288 Other - 3 Net cash provided by (used in) continuing investing activities (289) 82 Net cash used in discontinued investing activities - (2) Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities (289) 80 Cash flows from financing activities: Net increase (decrease) in commercial paper (9) 63 Proceeds from issuance of debt - 350 Repayment of debt - (441) Proceeds from exercise of share options 14 7 Repurchase of common shares (139) (519) Payment of common share dividends to shareholders (154) (150) Transfers to discontinued operations - (33) Other (26) (29) Net cash used in continuing financing activities (314) (752) Net cash provided by discontinued financing activities - 33 Net cash used in financing activities (314) (719) Effect of currency translation on cash 7 (1) Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash (185) (343) Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period 927 848 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $ 742 $ 505 Supplemental cash flow information: Interest paid on debt, net $ 4 $ 19 Income taxes paid, net of refunds 43 75 TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. RECONCILIATION OF FREE CASH FLOW (UNAUDITED) For the Quarters Ended December 27, December 28, 2019 2018 (in millions) Net cash provided by continuing operating activities $ 411 $ 328 Excluding: Cash (collected) paid pursuant to collateral requirements related to cross-currency swap contracts 6 (50) Capital expenditures, net (174) (209) Free cash flow (1) $ 243 $ 69 (1) Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure. See description of non-GAAP financial measures. TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. CONSOLIDATED SEGMENT DATA (UNAUDITED) For the Quarters Ended December 27, December 28, 2019 2018 ($ in millions) Net Sales Net Sales Transportation Solutions $ 1,868 $ 1,986 Industrial Solutions 927 928 Communications Solutions 373 433 Total $ 3,168 $ 3,347 Operating Operating Operating Operating Income Margin Income Margin Transportation Solutions $ 316 16.9% $ 332 16.7% Industrial Solutions 115 12.4 100 10.8 Communications Solutions 40 10.7 52 12.0 Total $ 471 14.9% $ 484 14.5% Adjusted Adjusted Adjusted Adjusted Operating Operating Operating Operating Income (1) Margin (1) Income (1) Margin (1) Transportation Solutions $ 325 17.4% $ 356 17.9% Industrial Solutions 132 14.2 138 14.9 Communications Solutions 45 12.1 71 16.4 Total $ 502 15.8% $ 565 16.9% (1) Adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin are non-GAAP financial measures. See description of non-GAAP financial measures. TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. RECONCILIATION OF NET SALES GROWTH (DECLINE) (UNAUDITED) Change in Net Sales for the Quarter Ended December 27, 2019 versus Net Sales for the Quarter Ended December 28, 2018 Net Sales Organic Net Sales Growth (Decline) Growth (Decline) (1) Translation (2) Acquisitions ($ in millions) Transportation Solutions (3): Automotive $ (64) (4.4)% $ (43) (2.9)% $ (21) $ - Commercial transportation (39) (13.1) (45) (15.6) (7) 13 Sensors (15) (6.8) (25) (11.3) (2) 12 Total (118) (5.9) (113) (5.6) (30) 25 Industrial Solutions (3): Aerospace, defense, oil, and gas 24 8.4 27 9.4 (3) - Industrial equipment (52) (16.5) (47) (15.0) (5) - Medical 11 6.5 12 6.9 (1) - Energy 16 10.0 19 12.1 (3) - Total (1) (0.1) 11 1.2 (12) - Communications Solutions (3): Data and devices (38) (14.8) (38) (14.8) - - Appliances (22) (12.5) (21) (11.4) (1) - Total (60) (13.9) (59) (13.7) (1) - Total $ (179) (5.3)% $ (161) (4.8)% $ (43) $ 25 (1) Organic net sales growth (decline) is a non-GAAP financial measure. See description of non-GAAP financial measures. (2) Represents the change in net sales resulting from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. (3) Industry end market information is presented consistently with our internal management reporting and may be periodically revised as management deems necessary. TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES TO GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES For the Quarter Ended December 27, 2019 (UNAUDITED) Adjustments Acquisition- Restructuring Related and Other Adjusted U.S. GAAP Charges (1) Charges, Net (1) Tax Items (2) (Non-GAAP) (3) ($ in millions, except per share data) Operating income: Transportation Solutions $ 316 $ 5 $ 4 $ - $ 325 Industrial Solutions 115 2 15 - 132 Communications Solutions 40 - 5 - 45 Total $ 471 $ 7 $ 24 $ - $ 502 Operating margin 14.9% 15.8% Other income, net $ 5 $ - $ - $ - $ 5 Income tax expense $ (447) $ (1) $ - $ 355 $ (93) Effective tax rate 95.1% 18.6% Income from continuing operations $ 23 $ 6 $ 24 $ 355 $ 408 Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations $ 0.07 $ 0.02 $ 0.07 $ 1.05 $ 1.21 (1) The tax effect of each non-GAAP adjustment is calculated based on the jurisdictions in which the expense (income) is incurred and the tax laws in effect for each such jurisdiction. (2) Income tax expense related to the tax impacts of certain measures of Swiss tax reform. (3) See description of non-GAAP financial measures. TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES TO GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES For the Quarter Ended December 28, 2018 (UNAUDITED) Adjustments Acquisition- Restructuring Related and Other Adjusted U.S. GAAP Charges (1) Charges, Net (1) (Non-GAAP) (2) ($ in millions, except per share data) Operating income: Transportation Solutions $ 332 $ 3 $ 21 $ 356 Industrial Solutions 100 3 35 138 Communications Solutions 52 - 19 71 Total $ 484 $ 6 $ 75 $ 565 Operating margin 14.5% 16.9% Other expense, net $ (1) $ - $ - $ (1) Income tax expense $ (78) $ (1) $ (19) $ (98) Effective tax rate 16.9% 18.1% Income from continuing operations $ 383 $ 5 $ 56 $ 444 Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations $ 1.11 $ 0.01 $ 0.16 $ 1.29 (1) The tax effect of each non-GAAP adjustment is calculated based on the jurisdictions in which the expense (income) is incurred and the tax laws in effect for each such jurisdiction. (2) See description of non-GAAP financial measures. TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES TO GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES For the Quarter Ended March 29, 2019 (UNAUDITED) Adjustments Acquisition- Restructuring Related and Other Tax Adjusted U.S. GAAP Charges (1) Charges, Net (1) Items (2) (Non-GAAP) (3) ($ in millions, except per share data) Operating income: Transportation Solutions $ 316 $ 4 $ 24 $ - $ 344 Industrial Solutions 137 5 17 - 159 Communications Solutions 77 - 1 - 78 Total $ 530 $ 9 $ 42 $ - $ 581 Operating margin 15.5% 17.0% Other income, net $ 1 $ - $ - $ - $ 1 Income tax expense $ (91) $ (2) $ (10) $ 15 $ (88) Effective tax rate 17.5% 15.4% Income from continuing operations $ 429 $ 7 $ 32 $ 15 $ 483 Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations $ 1.26 $ 0.02 $ 0.09 $ 0.04 $ 1.42 (1) The tax effect of each non-GAAP adjustment is calculated based on the jurisdictions in which the expense (income) is incurred and the tax laws in effect for each such jurisdiction. (2) Includes income tax expense associated with the tax impacts of certain legal entity restructurings and intercompany transactions. (3) See description of non-GAAP financial measures. TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES TO GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES For the Year Ended September 27, 2019 (UNAUDITED) Adjustments Acquisition- Related Charges Restructuring and Other and Other Tax Adjusted U.S. GAAP Items (1)(2) Charges, Net (1) Items (3) (Non-GAAP) (4) ($ in millions, except per share data) Operating income: Transportation Solutions $ 1,226 $ 31 $ 144 $ - $ 1,401 Industrial Solutions 543 15 63 - 621 Communications Solutions 209 1 48 - 258 Total $ 1,978 $ 47 $ 255 $ - $ 2,280 Operating margin 14.7% 17.0% Other income, net $ 2 $ - $ - $ - $ 2 Income tax (expense) benefit $ 15 $ (9) $ (61) $ (291) $ (346) Effective tax rate (0.8)% 15.5% Income from continuing operations $ 1,946 $ 38 $ 194 $ (291) $ 1,887 Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations $ 5.72 $ 0.11 $ 0.57 $ (0.86) $ 5.55 (1) The tax effect of each non-GAAP adjustment is calculated based on the jurisdictions in which the expense (income) is incurred and the tax laws in effect for each such jurisdiction. (2) Includes acquisition-related charges of $30 million and a write-off of spare parts of $17 million. (3) Includes a $216 million income tax benefit related to the tax impacts of certain measures of Swiss tax reform, a $90 million income tax benefit related to the effective settlement of a tax audit in a non-U.S. jurisdiction, and $15 million of income tax expense associated with the tax impacts of certain legal entity restructurings and intercompany transactions. (4) See description of non-GAAP financial measures. TE CONNECTIVITY LTD. RECONCILIATION OF FORWARD-LOOKING NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES TO FORWARD-LOOKING GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES As of January 29, 2020 (UNAUDITED) Outlook for Quarter Ending March 27, Outlook for 2020 Fiscal 2020 Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations $1.05 - $1.11 $3.23 - $3.53 Restructuring and other charges, net 0.14 0.58 Acquisition-related charges 0.03 0.08 Tax items - 1.06 Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (1) $1.22 - $1.28 $4.95 - $5.25 Net sales growth (decline) (9)% - (3)% (4)% - (2)% Translation 2 2 (Acquisitions) divestitures, net (1) (1) Organic net sales growth (decline) (1) (8)% - (2)% (3)% - (1)% (1) See description of non-GAAP financial measures. SOURCE TE Connectivity Ltd. Related Links http://www.te.com Ms. Brandt: And I think thats interesting, too, about getting street-by-street air quality data. What were seeing in cities around the world is its often the most urban populations who have the worst air quality. So when you actually have that granularity of data, it becomes very stark and very clear that there are issues, and there are opportunities to address them, and you can really see that disparity actually in the air quality data. Averting a Climate Apocalypse Greta Thunberg, a Swedish teenager and climate activist, made the opening remarks at a Times panel, Averting a Climate Apocalypse, moderated by Rebecca Blumenstein, deputy managing editor of The Times, with Jun Ma, the director of the Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs in China; Oliver Bate, the chief executive of Allianz; Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, coordinator of the Association of Peul Women and Autochthonous Peoples of Chad; and Rajiv Shah, president of the Rockefeller Foundation. Ms. Blumenstein: Five years after the Paris Accord, governments need to reset their goals and businesses are finally and quickly talking about setting goals. We have top voices from across the world to discuss the urgency of the situation and next steps. But we are going to start with some words from Greta Thunberg, who made headlines around the world last year by saying here at Davos that our house is on fire. Image Ms. Thunberg Credit... Alessandro Della Valle/EPA, via Shutterstock Ms. Thunberg: I joined a group of climate activists demanding that you, the worlds most powerful and influential business and political leaders, begin to take the action needed. We demand, at this years World Economic Forum, participants from all companies, banks, institutions and governments immediately halt all investments in fossil fuel exploration and extraction; immediately end all fossil fuel subsidies; and immediately and completely divest from fossil fuels. We dont want these things done by 2050 or 2030 or even 2021. We want this done now. Image Ma Jun Credit... Denis Balibouse/Reuters Mr. Ma: Chinas emissions [goals] have not been accomplished. Were still burning half of the worlds coal. We need to do more. But now, at this moment, were facing the economic downturn locally and globally. Were facing the [trade]war and also the withdrawal by the U.S. government from the Paris agreement. All these are not helpful. So we need to find innovative solutions which tap into the market power, which can balance growth and protection. But all this needs people to join the efforts. So with that, I truly salute the efforts to raise public awareness. English Icelandic Arion Bank will publish its Q4 and 2019 financial results on Wednesday 12 February, after markets have closed. Investor meeting / Webcast in English 13 February at 9:30 CET (8:30 GMT) Arion Bank will be hosting a meeting / webcast on Thursday 13 February at 9:30 CET (8:30 GMT) where CEO Benedikt Gislason, CFO Stefan Petursson, Deputy CFO Eggert Teitsson and Head of Investor Relations Theodor Fridbertsson will present the results and answer questions from participants. The meeting will take place in English at the Banks headquarters, Borgartun19, Reykjavik, and will be streamed live. Those attending the meeting in Borgartun 19 need to register here . To participate in the webcast via telephone and put forward questions please call in using the relevant number indicated below before the start of the webcast: SE: +46 850 558 353 UK: +44 333 300 9031 Iceland: +354 800 7520 United States: +1 833 823 0587 The webcast will be accessible live on financialhearings.com and a link will also be made available on the Banks website under Investor Relations . Annexation of territory would cut West Bank from River Jordan, which feeds over 80,000 hectares of agricultural lands. The Jordan Valley, which accounts for almost a third of the occupied West Bank, will be under Israeli sovereignty, according to the long-delayed plan for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict unveiled by US President Donald Trump on Tuesday. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who joined Trump for the announcement of the plan, has been adamant that the Jordan Valley falls under full Israeli control and become an important part of its eastern border. The pledge has formed a key part of his re-election campaign ahead of Israels parliamentary vote scheduled for March 2, the third national poll in less than a year, as Netanyahu seeks to shore up support among his right-wing electoral base. His main rival Benny Gantz has made a similar pledge to annex the Jordan Valley as a part of his campaign, although with the added caveat that any such move would be done in coordination with the international community. Neighbouring Jordan has warned Israel over the unilateral annexation of the territory. The Jordan Valley is a fertile strip of land that stretches from the north of the Dead Sea along the eastern perimeter of the West Bank, bordering Jordan. It is home to 65,000 Palestinians in 28 villages and 11,000 Israelis, who live in settlements constructed illegally. According to the plan released by Trump, a future Palestinian state would be separated from the Jordanian border by Israeli territory. Currently, the Allenby/King Hussein bridge over the River Jordan is the only border crossing between Jordan and the West Bank. The annexation of the Jordan Valley would also separate the future Palestinian state from the River Jordan, which forms the West Banks eastern border with Jordan. The river feeds over 80,000 hectares (197,684 acres) of agricultural lands and fish farms. Israel aleady controls the region militarily, which allows it to divert the rivers waters to illegal settlements in the West Bank. A security officer seen wearing a face mask outside the Funan Mall on Monday (27 January). (PHOTO: Dhany Osman / Yahoo News Singapore) SINGAPORE Three more cases of the Wuhan virus have been confirmed in Singapore, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 10, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Wednesday (29 January). In a statement, MOH said that all three cases are Chinese nationals who travelled to Singapore from Wuhan and were asymptomatic during their flights. This is consistent with our assessment that more imported cases are expected from Hubei province. There is currently no evidence of community spread in Singapore. According to the ministry, the eighth and ninth cases are a married couple, both aged 56 and Chinese nationals from Wuhan who arrived together in the Republic on 19 January. They are currently warded in isolation rooms at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID). After developing symptoms last Friday, they took a taxi to Tan Tock Seng Hospital on Monday. They were subsequently diagnosed with the coronavirus on Tuesday. Prior to hospital admission, they had stayed with their family at their home at Lorong Lew Lian. The tenth case is a 56 year-old male Chinese national who arrived by air from Wuhan last Monday and is also being warded at NCID. After developing symptoms last Tuesday, he was admitted to NCID on 28 January after being identified as a suspect case at a health screening station at Marina South Pier. Subsequent test results confirmed his infection the following day. Prior to hospital admission, he worked and lived on board a cargo vessel. MOH said that the 10 cases are in stable condition, and most are improving. Travel ban (Wuhan virus outbreak in numbers infographic: Yahoo News Singapore) The news follows the announcement on Tuesday of a travel ban for new visitors with recent travel history to Hubei within the last 14 days, which took effect from noon on Wednesday. Such individuals will not be allowed to enter or transit through Singapore This also applies to those with Chinese passports issued in Hubei. For such travellers, there will be a suspension on issuance of all new visas, previously-issued short-term and multiple-visit visas, and visa-free transit facilities. The ban applies to land, sea and air travel. Story continues The passengers who are affected by the ban and arrive in the Republic will be turned away, with their visas suspended. They will then have to make their own arrangements to fly out of Singapore. Affected passengers who give false or inaccurate information in their travel history may be subject to penalties under the Infectious Diseases Act. A person who is convicted under the Act could be jailed up to six months and/or fined up to $10,000. MOH has already started contract tracing for recent travellers to Hubei who are already in Singapore. There are an estimated 2,000 of them, with about 1,000 on short-term visas. Should they be assessed to be of high risk, they will be quarantined. Returning Singaporeans, permanent residents and long-term pass holders with travel history to Hubei in the last 14 days will be quarantined, as will returning permanent residents and long-term pass holders with Chinese passports issued in Hubei. Contact tracing As of 2pm on Wednesday, apart from the 10 confirmed cases, 124 of the suspect cases have tested negative for the Wuhan virus while test results for the remaining 70 cases are pending. Contact tracing for the confirmed cases is ongoing. As of noon on Wednesday, MOH has identified 144 close contacts. Of the 115 who are still in Singapore, 111 have been contacted and are being quarantined or isolated. Efforts are ongoing to contact the remaining four close contacts. Click here for more stories on the developing Wuhan virus crisis: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/health/ Related stories: 3 in 5 Singaporeans fearful of contracting Wuhan virus: survey Wuhan virus: Scoot cancels all Wuhan flights until end of March Wuhan coronavirus outbreak: 5th case confirmed in Singapore Too early to say if Wuhan virus worse than SARS: Lawrence Wong Wuhan virus: S'pore economy will be impacted, saving jobs a priority, says Chan Chun Sing Wuhan virus: More temperature screenings at pre-schools 'Not an extended holiday': Ong Ye Kung explains leave of absence for students, MOE staff who have travelled to China Wuhan coronavirus: MOE implements leave for students, staff returning from mainland China Wuhan virus: Taxi rental to be waived for quarantined cabbies Paul Osteen hopes to mobilize medical community to meet 'overwhelming' global needs Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Dr. Paul Osteen, brother of megachurch pastor Joel Osteen, is hoping to inspire medical missionaries during Lakewood Churchs upcoming Global Medical Missions Conference (also known as the M3 Conference). You dont have to look far to see that there are people in need all over the world, Dr. Paul Osteen, a surgeon who spends about four months a year serving in missions hospitals across the globe, told The Christian Post. Because of the overwhelming needs around us, one can easily wonder how they can make a real difference. I urge people to pray about how God can use them to be a part of the solution to help these people." He and his wife, Jennifer, will be bringing together doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to Houston on Feb. 21-22 for their fifth annual M3 conference. They are opening the doors to anyone who has an interest in learning more about global healthcare needs. When discussing his intent for the conference, Osteen said he hopes attendees will learn how much of a difference they can truly make when they see the need and choose to help in some way. The theme of this year's conference is centered on the question Can you see it? which is inspired by the scripture John 4. In that verse, Jesus said, Open your eyes and take a good look at whats right in front of you Lamenting the state of poverty and conflict across the globe, Osteen noted, Every day, 830 mothers in low-resource communities die of childbirth-related issues. Right now, 74 million people are displaced or refugees. There are 420 million children living in war zones. Half of the worlds population lacks access to basic medical care. "And 2 billion people have no access to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is what, as John writes, is right in front of us. Its easy to look past these statistics and complicated issues, but our encouragement at the M3 Conference this year is to, instead, bring them into sharp focus." The event will feature over 30 experts, who will share their expertise and experience in global health, including medical, dental, surgical missions, WaSH (water access, sanitation, and hygiene), disaster relief, orphan care, human trafficking, advocacy and nutrition. More than 75 global missions organizations are expected to participate in the conference, including Samaritans Purse, which will provide tours of its Ebola Treatment Center, and other groups that offer both short-term and long-term opportunities to serve either locally or abroad. Houston is home to the worlds largest medical center and Osteen and the Lakewood team hope to ignite a passion in medical professionals to use their service for God. In a past interview, Osteen explained the inspiration behind the conference. "A Zambian doctor told me, 'Paul, do you realize that you are the only qualified surgeon in an area the size of Louisiana.' Two weeks later, I flew into Houston and realized that there are 12,500 doctors in Houston alone," Osteen said. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to say, 'What would happen if we tried to help this disparity? Let's connect some needs with some people who have a heart to help.'" BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 By Eldar Janashvili Trend: A bill on the efficient use of energy resources and energy efficiency has been prepared within the EU4Energy Program with the organizational support of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Energy and the International Energy Charter, Azerbaijani Deputy Minister Samir Valiyev said. Valiyev made the remark in Baku at the meeting within the EU4Energy Program, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Energy. The deputy minister added that the next step in this sphere was the submission of the draft of the first National Action Plan on Energy Efficiency for 2021-2025 to the working group. Then, during the discussions related to the budget, opinions and proposals on the project will be considered, Valiyev said. The goals of energy conservation and energy efficiency related to the National Action Plan were considered and the proposals on strengthening the administrative and institutional structure in this sphere, creating a monitoring and reporting system on energy efficiency and enlightening were voiced during the meeting. The participants were informed about the proposed measures on energy supply, industry, transport and agricultural sector, buildings and municipal services of the National Action Plan for 2021-2025. The presentations on energy conservation and assessment of required investments were made. The opinions and proposals of the working group were discussed during the meeting. ---- Follow the author on Twitter: @eldarjanashvili Security company in United Arab Emirates accused of deception after giving jobs to young Sudanese men who say they were then sent to fight in wars. A security company in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is being accused of deception, after giving jobs to young Sudanese men who say they were then sent to fight in wars. Dozens have managed to return home, but many others are believed to still be in Yemen or Libya. Al Jazeeras Hiba Morgan reports from Khartoum. The European Parliament on Wednesday decided to put off a vote on a resolution critical of Indias Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) to a session beginning on March 2, a move that is being seen as linked to the upcoming India-EU Summit next month. The Parliament decided to go ahead with a debate on the CAA from midnight on Thursday. A statement by the European Unions high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Josep Borrell, will be part of the debate. As the plenary session of the European Parliament got underway, the Identity and Democracy (ID) Group a far-right grouping whose Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) were part of a controversial visit to Kashmir arranged by the government last October called for the resolution to be withdrawn because it was very badly timed, especially since Indias Supreme Court is hearing challenges to the CAA. This proposal was voted down by a majority of the 483 MEPs present in the House. The European Peoples Party (EPP) Group, the largest group in the Parliament that is backing the resolution, said the debate should go ahead as scheduled but voting should be postponed to the session beginning on March 2. This proposal was accepted by a vote of 271 to 199. An EPP representative said it wanted the postponement because Indias Supreme Court has asked the government to clarify issues and MEPs should wait so that they could fairly evaluate the law. The postponement will also give MEPs time to interact with Indian ministers visiting Brussels in February, the EPP said. External affairs minister S Jaishankar is expected to visit Brussels next month to prepare the ground for the EU-India Summit, which is expected to be held on March 13. People familiar with developments said the voting is now expected to be held after the summit. A potentially adverse outcome in the voting could have cast a shadow on the summit. Over the past few days, India had mounted a sustained diplomatic outreach to explain its position on the CAA to MEPs. India has insisted that the law is an internal matter but had also said it was willing to engage with the MEPs on the issue. The people cited above described the postponement of voting on the resolution as a diplomatic victory for India, adding that the Friends of India group had prevailed over the Friends of Pakistan group in the European Parliament. Strenuous efforts of outgoing British MEP Shaffaq Mohammad to have a resolution passed against India on the penultimate day before Brexit were defeated, a person who declined to be identified said. The CAA is a matter internal to India and has been adopted through a due process through democratic means. We expect our perspectives in this matter will be understood by all objective and fair-minded MEPs, the person added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The global pet insurance market size is projected to reach USD 11.25 billion by 2026. The increasing pet adoption in leading countries across the world will have a direct impact on the growth of the market. According to a report published by Fortune Business Insights, titled Pet Insurance Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Policy Coverage Type (Accident & Illness, Accident Only, Others), By Animal Type (Dog, Cat, Others), By Provider (Public, Private) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026, the market was worth USD 6.05 billion in 2018. Driven by flexibility in product offerings, the market will exhibit a CAGR of 8.0% during the forecast period, 2019-2026. The report includes thorough compilation of the quantitative analysis of the industry for the period of 12 years in order to assist players to grow in the market. Insights on specific revenue figures generated are also given in the report, along with projected revenue at the end of the forecast period. This study includes a widespread analysis of the key segments of the industry. This analysis sheds light in the current trends and opportunities in the Pet Insurance Market. Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/pet-insurance-market-101956 Key Points of the Pet Insurance Market Report: The report provides a basic overview of the industry including its definition, applications, and manufacturing technology. The report also explores the major international players in detail. In this part, the report presents the company profile, product specifications, capacity, and production value along with the market shares for each company. Through the statistical analysis, the study depicts the global market including capacity, production, production value, cost/profit, and supply/demand from an international perspective. Considering segmentation, the market is divided in terms of product, end-use, company, region, and other important aspects. Each of these categories forms an important base point for the competitive landscape analysis. The report then estimates the market development and trends of the Pet Insurance Market. Increasing Number of Company Mergers and Collaborations to Aid Market Growth The report encompasses several factors that have contributed to the growth of the market in recent years. It highlights a few of the leading market drivers and analyzes their impact on the market. Among all factors, the increasing number of company mergers and collaborations have had a positive impact on market growth. In October 2019, Petplan, a leading pet insurance provider, announced that it has been acquired by Warnbug Pincus. Warnbug is a leading private equity firm that mainly focuses on growth-oriented investing. With this acquisition, the company will look to outperform its counterparts and in doing so, establish a strong presence in the market. The report highlights a few of the other company mergers that have graced the market in recent years and gauges their impact on the market. Top manufactures of Pet Insurance Market are: Trupanion Anicom Holdings Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company ASPCA Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, LLC. Embrace Pet Insurance Agency, LLC Figo Pet Insurance LLC. Agria Pet Insurance Ltd 24PetWatch Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC. Europe to Emerge Dominant; Influx of Start-ups to Aid Growth The report analyzes the ongoing pet insurance market trends across North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. Among these regions, the market in Europe generated the highest market revenue in 2018. Europe is projected to dominate the market in the coming years driven by the increasing number of start-ups in several countries across this region. The increasing number of government initiatives to promote animal wellness and health, coupled with encouragement for pet adoption, will aid the growth of the market in this region. Besides Europe, the market in North America will exhibit considerable CAGR. As of 2018, the market in North America was worth USD 1.42 billion and this value is likely to increase further in the coming years. Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts:https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/pet-insurance-market-101956 Detailed Table of Content: Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions Executive Summary Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Key Insights Pricing Analysis of Top Insurers, by Animal Type Pet Adoption Statistics, Across Major Countries Key Merger And Acquisition Strategies by Top Players New Product Launch Global Pet Insurance Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2015-2026 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Policy Coverage Type Accident & Illness Accident Only Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Animal Type Cat Dog Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Provider Public Private Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa Reasons to Purchase this Report: Tracks the developments, such as new product launches, agreements, mergers and acquisitions, geographical expansions, and joint ventures. Comprehensive analysis of the Aesthetic Implants Market growth drivers, obstacles, opportunities, and other related challenges. Identifies market restraints and boosters. Identifies all the possible segments present in the market to aid organizations in strategic business planning. Order Full Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/101956 Related Reports: Urinary Catheter Market: Worldwide Opportunities, Market Share, Key Players and Competitive Landscape Immune Thrombocytopenia Market | Consumption, Segmentation, Growth, Development, Trends and forecasts to 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 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. 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 Its been nearly a decade since the words Id like my life back, became part of Louisianas lexicon, but I bet more than a few locals can remember just who said them, and in what context. For those who dont, the person speaking was Tony Hayward, the CEO of BP. He was bemoaning the aftereffects of the Deepwater Horizon oil explosion that claimed the lives of 11 people working on the offshore rig, sent oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico for months and wreaked immense havoc on Louisianas fishing and oil and gas industries and its fragile coastal environment. So if you dont remember, youd probably guess that Haywards self-pitying lament, even though it was prefaced by an apology for the massive disruption, wasnt well received. Yet the lesson of Haywards public relations face plant seems to have been somehow lost on the developers of the Hard Rock Hotel in downtown New Orleans, which collapsed on a quiet Saturday morning in October, killing three workers two of whose bodies remain trapped in the wreckage. The group decided to go on the offense over the weekend, days after a tarp shifted to expose the body of one of the deceased workers. A new tarp was placed in the spot a day later a dangerous but necessary task for the New Orleans Fire Department but not before the incident spread quickly over social media, prompted vows from City Council members to hold hearings, and triggered a Friday afternoon protest. +4 Hard Rock developers' attorney calls protest 'Twitter-fueled flash mob' hurling unfair 'accusations' The developers of the Hard Rock Hotel, long at the center of criticism about the building's deadly collapse more than three months ago, sought Much of the anger was understandably focused on 1031 Canal Development LLC, the developers behind the project. Thats the way it goes when something goes horribly wrong, as Hayward could have told them. Like Hayward, the Hard Rock partners did express sympathy for those whove suffered. But like him, they didnt stop there. In an ad over the weekend, the consortium devoted significant space to pointing the finger elsewhere. Considering the recent misinformation and radical allegations, we are here to set the record straight, the ad said in part. WE DID NOT DO THE CONSTRUCTION. WE DID NOT DO THE ENGINEERING. THE SITE AND DEMOLITION ARE NOT UNDER OUR CONTROL. +17 As Hard Rock protesters rally, LaToya Cantrell adamant that 'were not doing a hearing on this' New Orleans residents took their frustration over the fact the bodies of two workers are still trapped inside the collapsed Hard Rock Hotel to A day later, the groups lawyer went on WWL host Newell Normands radio show and pulled out the victim card. Attorney Kerry Miller bashed what he described as the Twitter-fueled flash mob for making accusations about his clients. Asked to elaborate, he cited chatter about how people ought to be holding them accountable in public, calling them things like responsible for the deaths from a criminal standpoint, thats beyond decency. He also reiterated the ads claim that "the 1031 owners are not engineers, and are not contractors" an argument that, as Normand pointed out, is undermined by the fact that one of the partners, Denzel Clark, is president of the projects prime contractor, Citadel Builders. The other partners are Mohan Kailas, who has a majority stake, and Todd Trosclair, owner of All-Star Electric. Miller even suggested that some of the ire might be rooted in racism against Kailas, who is of south Asian descent, although he did not go into any details. As for what the partnerships goal is here, the fact that the lawyer was doing the talking is a tell. The hotel collapse will surely be the subject of litigation for years to come, as well as possible criminal investigation and now, likely hearings by the City Council. For the projects participants, the ultimate assignment of blame carries extraordinarily high stakes. But those stakes pale in comparison with the grievous pain of the victims families, along with the struggles of survivors still contending with injuries and trauma and of nearby business owners and their employees whose livelihoods were affected. If the developers are genuinely seeking a little slice of public sympathy for themselves, theyre probably looking in the wrong place. The purpose of such a meeting was to assist the heads of states of the Normandy format The Chairman of the political council of Opposition Platform For Life Viktor Medvedchuk 112.ua The Opposition Platform - For Life plans to organize a meeting of delegations of the parliaments of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France to assist the heads of the Normandy Four. Member of Ukraine's Parliament Viktor Medvedchuk, the Chairman of the Political Council of the Opposition Platform - For Life Party, said that at a briefing after the meeting with representatives of the largest Bundestag factions in Berlin. "... dialogue for peace, Ukraine, Russia, Germany, France. Therefore, we will present the next meeting to Russia's State Duma, and after that, there will be a general meeting. It will be a Strasbourg meeting of parliamentary delegations, supporting this initiative aimed at a peaceful settlement in the Donbas, delegations of all of four parliaments, which will represent a parliamentary dimension of the Normandy format," he said. Medvedchuk noted that the purpose of such a meeting was to assist the heads of states of the Normandy format. "By this we want to achieve a strategic goal, to assist the heads of state of the Norman format, who have chosen the Minsk agreement as the foundation of their activities, to implement Minsk agreement, and therefore to implement all these activities over the past years into the peace, into a real peace in Ukraine, the politician added. As it was reported earlier, Viktor Medvedchuk, the MP and Chairman of Political Council of the Opposition Platform - For Life party had a meeting with French lawmakers and senators on January 23, where he presented the "Parliamentary dimension of the Normandy Format". By Tong Kim North Korea is staying the hardline course: refusing calls for talks without U.S. acceptance of its demands and waging an all-out self-reliance campaign for a "head-on" fight against sanctions, while developing nuclear weapons. This head-on policy was opted for by Kim Jong-un during an expanded Central Committee meeting of the Workers' Party of Korea held at the end of December. Kim has appointed Ri Son-gwon, a hardliner with no diplomatic experience, as his new foreign minister, replacing Ri Yong-ho, a veteran diplomat. This shift does not signal a change in Pyongyang's policy; it reflects Kim's determination toward a self-reliant economy and a strong strategic deterrent. In the North, a foreign minister rarely makes critical policy decisions. Kim does. The new minister is a former army colonel and has considerable experience in dealing with South Koreans. However, he was known for a lack of diplomatic decorum while interacting with South Koreans. He may behave as did his rough boss, Kim Yong-chol, did when he was representing Chairman Kim to President Trump. Ri recently headed the Committee for Peaceful Unification of the Country; a party propaganda agency. The new foreign minister showed up at a Lunar New Year reception held for the diplomatic corps in Pyongyang on Jan. 23. There he confirmed that he would carry out Chairman Kim's policy. Ri 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." The KCNA reported, "He also made public the foreign policy stand of the DPRK government." But no details were provided. It is likely that Ri reiterated the policy line that Kim outlined before: a self-reliant economy based on a strong strategic deterrent. On Jan. 25, the party organ, the Rodong Sinmun, called for "a continuing revolutionary task to frustrate the isolating and stifling moves of the hostile forces and open the road to socialist construction by steadily building up our own force." On Jan. 21 in Geneva, Ju Yong-chol, a counsellor-level representative delivered Pyongyang's latest narrative on U.S.-DPRK relations to the U.N.-backed Conference on Disarmament. That is, the current stalemate in nuclear talks was because of U.S. failure to meet the December deadline. North Korea tried to build U.S. confidence by stopping nuclear and missile tests for two years, but the U.S. continued with war-game drills and sanctions against the North. Ju accused the U.S. of applying "the most brutal and inhumane sanctions" to "block North Korea's development and stifle its political system." He added, "If the U.S. persists with such a hostile policy, there will never be denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." Pyongyang's envoy also echoed Kim Jong-un's statement that "North Korea was no longer bound by commitments to halt nuclear and missile testing," because of the U.S. sanctions and military drills in violation of the agreement at Singapore in the summer of 2018. In Washington, Trump is too busy watching his impeachment trial by the Senate. But, his national security team including State, Defense, and NSC are consistently calling on the North to return to talks, while showing no indication of making concession on sanctions. Kim's self-reliance campaign may not succeed in enabling continued development of his nuclear arsenal and assuring economic development. Yet, Kim is determined not to beg for sanctions relief in exchange for his nuclear weapons. This position may be part of his overall strategy. He said he is prepared for a protracted strategic game. North Korea has survived the severe sanctions so far and was still, somehow, able to develop nuclear weapons and missiles. The other side of the coin says sanctions have so far failed to denuclearize North Korea. Even Russia's Putin has said of North Korea, "They will eat grass, but they will not turn away from the path that will provide for their security." While many believe that sanctions brought North Korea to negotiations, now it is unlikely that they will bring it back to the table this time unless there is some acceptable level of relief from them. The North is unlikely to just sit and wait endlessly, until Washington somehow accepts its demands. North Korea will do something to make sure it stays the focus of attention by Washington. Likely, some provocation, not explosive enough to close the door to diplomacy. And it is not unimaginable that the timing for that test will be around March less than two month from now, when the U.S. and South Korea will decide what they are going to do with their joint annual military exercises. ) is a visiting professor with the University of North Korean Studies, a visiting scholar with Korea University, a fellow at the Institute of Corean-American Studies, and a columnist for The Korea Times. Tong Kim ( tong.kim8@yahoo.com The Trinamool Congress on Wednesday hit out at Dilip Ghosh for mocking the Shaheen Bagh protesters in Delhi, saying the West Bengal BJP president's remarks bore testimony to his lack of compassion. Ghosh courted controversy on Tuesday by asking why none of the people protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act at Shaheen Bagh have fallen sick, despite demostrating for over a month, braving the winter chill. "Such statements show that the person lacks compassion. How can anyone wish for the death of those who are carrying out peaceful protests," TMC secretary-general Partha Chatterjee said here. Ghosh, during a press conference on Tuesday, had wondered why the protesters, who include women and children, are not falling ill or dying despite sitting under the open sky for weeks together. "We came to know that women and children are protesting against the CAA... during the cold winter nights in Delhi. I wonder why none of them have fallen sick. Why does nothing happen to them? Why has not a single protester died there? "This is quite absurd. Have they consumed some sort of nectar that nothing is happening to them. But in Bengal, several people are claimed to have committed suicide due to panic," he had said. TMC supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has claimed that over 30 people committed suicide in the state out of panic over the CAA and the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC). The Shaheen Bagh protests have inspired similar demonstrations at the Park Circus Maidan in Kolkata. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The West Michigan Whitecaps are gearing up for the 2020 season, and that doesnt mean just on the field. The team is getting ready in the kitchen too, getting ready to pick new items, tweak current offerings, and even let you bring back an old favorite this year. The Michigans Best team of John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman stopped by the special media sampling day, held at Gordon Food Service headquarters in Grand Rapids, to try some of the potential new offerings that might be served up this year at Fifth Third Ballpark. What do the West Michigan Whitecaps have in store for you this season when it comes to food! We test some crazy concoctions. Posted by MIBest on Wednesday, January 29, 2020 Every year, the Whitecaps works with GFS and their suppliers to come up with a variety of items to test for possible inclusion on the menus at the park. About 50 different dishes, snacks and drinks are created by chefs and their teams, which then get put out to taste. The Whitecaps front office comes out to taste test them all, and narrow down the list to the dishes that have true potential for the 2020 season. Whitecaps Director of Marketing and Media Relations Steve VanWagoner explained that the team arrived at 8 am today for the tasting, and have been going through the tasting all morning. Theres about 15 of us here, trying the food, and making selections for the trophy table." This special spot is where great concepts go to move on to the next round. So whats the criteria for these dishes to make it onto the Whitecaps lineup? VanWagoner explained that its kind of a three fold approach. We ask ourselves, would this appeal to our guests, does it taste really good? Then, we think, can we recreate this dish in our ballpark kitchen? And third, what are the food costs, and can we sell it?, he said. We tried about 10 different dishes that we selected from the trophy table. These were the dishes that had made the first cut, and would be going back to the ballpark for feasibility testing. While something might taste and look great, if it has too many steps or ingredients, its not going to make it on the menu. 8 is the very max for ingredients or steps, explained Phil Meyers, the market chef for Waypoint, a food service company that was at the tasting event. 4 is more ideal for the ballpark. Thats where things can get tricky. Think about creating a dish in only 4 steps, from a drop in the fryer, to plating, topping and sauce. It goes pretty quickly. The offerings ranged from weird to slightly wonderful this year. A cotton candy wrapped piece of bacon was fun to look at, hard to eat, but actually pretty tasty. This one might be hard to execute, theres no shelf life with this combo. A deep fried Mexican cheesecake topped with chocolate sauce and sprinkles looked nice, but also had turned soggy. Fresh out of the fryer it might be an interesting dessert, served on a stick, as things at the ball park should be. Much more promising were a Polish Kolache, a sausage wrapped with a slightly sweet dough, and topped with everything bagel seasoning. This hand held little guy not only was easy to eat, it was pretty tasty with a nice balance of salt and sweet. This one comes ready made, the Whitecaps will just have to pop it in the oven, so points for ease of production. Plus, anything Polish will be a hit for our Westside friends here in Grand Rapids. The Waffle Bat Sandwich used a hashed potato cake as a bun, enveloping tender white meat chicken, crispy bacon, swiss cheese and a bacon maple aioli. A bit greasy, filling, and hand held made it a winner, and it seemed like an easy one to prep and prepare. A very trendy Fry-Cuterie Board might be a fun item to share with friends at the park. It featured about 7 different kinds of french fries and tots, and came with a few dipping sauces. Very on point, and something different. Vegetarians might love a meatless version of the timeless ball park hot dog, and we tried a crispy veggie dog that wasnt too bad. The dog, made by Morningstar Farms, had a decent flavor, was nestled in a pretzel bun and topped with a crazy deep fried sauerkraut and hot honey aioli. It was pretty tasty, but seemed a tad complicated for the ball park. I was assured that all the dishes we tried today would be tweaked, tested, and changed according to what might be possible. In addition to adding a few new items to the menu, the Whitecaps are doing something special this year, and you can help them out. Instead of asking for new food submissions from fans this year, they are instead inviting everyone to vote on their favorite fan created food from the last ten years. The foods that will be in the running are: 2019-Rocky Balburrito 2018-Mt. Wing Suvius 2017-Beer Cheese Poutine 2016-Dutch Love 2015-Hot-to-Tot 2014-Augger Dogger 2013-Baco 2012-Westside PoBoy 2011-Chicks with Sticks 2010-Declaration of Indigestion The Whitecaps will be announcing the commencement of voting mid-February, with the winning dish being announced Monday, March 2. The 2020 Fan Vote will be on the menu on opening day, which is April 9 against the Lansing Lugnuts. oOh!mediatoday announced Managing Director and CEO Brendon Cook will step down this year.He will remain as MD and CEO and on the Board until a replacement is found.Having founded oOh! in 1989, he successfully led oOh!s diversification strategy to build a data-centric, scalable multiformat business across billboards, retail, office buildings, street furniture, rail, universities, cafes and airports which leads the Australian and New Zealand markets.The Company confirms its upgraded FY19 Underlying EBITDA earnings guidance issued on 3 December 2019 to be towards the lower end of the $138 million to $143 million range.Shares in oOh!mediaare trading 6.7 per cent lower at $3.36. In the last several months, things have changed drastically for the British royal family. In November 2019 Prince Andrew was ousted as a working royal for his friendship and connections with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Though he has been virtually de-royaled the FBI is still on his case. Then on Jan. 8, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex announced they would be stepping down as senior members of the royal family. The announcement sent the world into a tizzy, with the remaining senior royals scrambling on how to proceed. It has been decided that the Sussexes will spend the majority of their time in Canada and they would no longer be working royals at all. Now, Prince William who will be the Crowned King one day, is rethinking his entire vision for the royal family moving forward. Prince William is still reeling from Megxit Prince William and his brother, Harry, Duke of Sussex had always been close. However, there has been quite a bit of tension between the pair in recent years. They had very different approaches to royal life and different relationships with the media. Still, the Duke of Cambridge had no idea his brother and sister-in-law would exit the royal family. Its added a great deal of strain on himself, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince Charles. I think the severity of whats happened has had a huge impact on his brother, on his sister-in-law, expert Katie Nicholl explained. Both of them are still reeling from the news, coming to terms with the reality of this situation. Prince William and Kate Middleton have reached out to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle The Cambridges have now seen how desperate and unhappy the Sussexes were. As a result, theyve tried to make their transition as smooth as possible while reaching out to them. An insider explained to Express, Charles and William have grown very concerned about Harry and Meghans well-being and have reached out in a show of support. Likewise, Middleton still hopes that her children will be able to bond with baby Archie. An insider told US Weekly, that Middleton is hoping that in the new year, the cousins will spend more time together. Apparently, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis adore Archie like most children, theyre easily distracted and resilient. This is Prince Williams new vision for the royal family In the wake of his brothers exit, Prince William has gotten more things added to his plate. He was just appointed Her Majestys Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland this year, a clear indication his forthcoming role. In fact, the prince says when hes king he plans to take a more active role than his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth has. It is something that occupies a lot of thinking space as to how on earth you would develop into something modern in todays world, he told BBC. Im in a unique position, a very privileged position, to be able to see some of this now, which is that Ive got my grandmother, who takes more of a passive role in how she believes her role should be. Shes above politics and keeps away from it. Ive got my father who minds an awful lot about a lot of the charitable causes he is involved in. The Royal Family has to modernise and develop as it goes along and it has to stay relevant. Thats the challenge for me how do I make the Royal Family relevant in the next twenty years time. It could be 40 years, could be 60, I have no idea when that could be. Boris Johnson has urged the Palestinian leadership to engage with US president Donald Trumps peace plan for the Middle East. The prime minister told Mr Trump in a phone call on Tuesday that his controversial plan - which has been endorsed by Israels Benjamin Netanyahu but roundly condemned by Palestinians - could prove a positive step forwards for the region. But at prime ministers questions in the House of Commons, he was told by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn that Trumps blueprint was not a peace plan and would deny Palestinian people their rights. Mr Corbyn called on the PM to tell US secretary of state Mike Pompeo frankly and candidly, in meetings in London over the next two days, that the UK would not support the Trump plan and would continue to insist on an internationally-supported two-state solution. Mr Johnson stopped short of giving his endorsement to the Trump plan, but said Palestinians should be ready to engage with his ideas. His expression of support for the process came as he sought to restore good relations with the US president after defying his demand to exclude Chinese tech giant Huawei from the UK's 5G telecoms network Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Show all 18 1 /18 Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Palestinian protesters burn pictures of US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a demonstration in the West Bank against the expected peace plan proposal AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan US President and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announce Trump's Middle East peace plan in the White House AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Reuters Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan Reuters Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan EPA Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AFP via Getty Palestinian protests against President Trump's Middle East peace plan AP No peace plan is perfect, but this has the merit of a two-state solution, said the PM. It is a two-state solution. It would ensure that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and of the Palestinian people. Mr Johnson called on the Labour leader to reach out to his friends - our friends, my friends - in the Palestinian Authority, to Mahmoud Abbas, for whom I have the highest respect, and urge him for once to engage with this initiative, to get talking rather than to leave a political vacuum. But Mr Corbyn told him: President Trumps latest Middle East peace plan is not a peace plan. It will annexe Palestinian territory, lock in illegal Israeli colonisation, transfer Palestinian citizens of Israel and deny Palestinian people their fundamental rights. Mr Johnson and foreign secretary Dominic Raab, who meets Pompeo later today, should make clear to the US secretary of state that the British government will stand for a genuine, internationally backed peace plan, rather than this stuff proposed by Trump yesterday, said Mr Corbyn. President Trumps plan will not bring any move towards peace, has no support from any Palestinian anywhere in the world. Maybe this would be a good opportunity for the British government to say frankly and candidly to the US On this, you are wrong. There needs to be a two-state solution with international support. WASHINGTON - In a striking shift from President Donald Trumps claim of perfect dealings with Ukraine, his defence asserted Wednesday at his Senate trial that a trade of U.S. military aid for political favours even if proven could not be grounds for his impeachment. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. In this image from video, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks during the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Senate Television via AP) WASHINGTON - In a striking shift from President Donald Trumps claim of perfect dealings with Ukraine, his defence asserted Wednesday at his Senate trial that a trade of U.S. military aid for political favours even if proven could not be grounds for his impeachment. Trump's defenders relied on retired professor Alan Dershowitz, a member of their team, who told senators that every politician conflates his own interest with the public interest. "It cannot be impeachable, he declared. Democrats pressed hard to force the Senate to call more witnesses to testify, but Republicans appeared intently focused on bringing the impeachment trial to a vote of acquittal, possibly in a matter of days. Even new revelations from former national security adviser John Bolton were countered by the president's lawyers, who used Wednesday's unusual question-and-answer session to warn off prolonging the proceeding, insisting senators have heard enough. In this image from video, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks during the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Senate Television via AP) Democrats argued Bolton's forthcoming book cannot be ignored. It contends he personally heard Trump say he wanted military aid withheld from Ukraine until it agreed to investigate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden the abuse of power charge that is the first article of impeachment. The vote on calling witnesses is expected by Friday. As Chief Justice John Roberts fielded queries, Texas Republican Ted Cruz asked if it mattered whether there was a quid pro quo? Simply, no, declared Dershowitz, who said many politicians equate their reelection with the public good. That's why it's so dangerous to try to psychoanalyze a president, he said. Former National security adviser John Bolton leaves his home in Bethesda, Md. Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. President Donald Trump's legal team is raising a broad-based attack on the impeachment case against him even as it mostly brushes past allegations in a new book that could undercut a key defense argument at the Senate trial. Former national security adviser John Bolton writes in a manuscript that Trump wanted to withhold military aid from Ukraine until it committed to helping with investigations into Democratic rival Joe Biden. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez) Rep. Adam Schiff, the Democrat leading the House prosecutors, appeared stunned. All quid pro quos are not the same," he retorted. Some might be acceptable, some not. And you don't need to be a mind reader to figure out which is which. For one thing, you can ask John Bolton." With voting on witnesses later this week, Democrats, amid the backdrop of protesters swarming the Capitol, are making a last-ditch push to sway Republicans to call Bolton and others to appear for testimony and ensure a fair trial." Trump faces charges from the House that he abused his power like no other president, jeopardizing Ukraine and U.S.-Ukraine relations by using the military aid as leverage while the vulnerable ally battled Russia. The second article of impeachment says Trump then obstructed the House probe in a way that threatened the nation's three-branch system of checks and balances. FILE - In this Jan. 16, 2020, file photo, people gather outside the office of Senator Mitt Romney to call on him to push for a full and fair impeachment trial in the Senate with pertinent testimony and evidence during a rally, in Salt Lake City. Republican Sen. Romney is having another big moment as he defies Republican leaders at President Donald Trump's impeachment trial. Romney is one of several GOP senators insisting on hearing from witnesses. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File) Over two days, senators are grilling the House Democrats prosecuting the case and the Republican president's defence team. Dozens of questions were asked and answered Wednesday in five-minute clips, with senators under orders to sit silently without comment, submitting their questions in writing. They finished shortly past 11 p.m. and were expected to keep going Thursday. Democratic leader Chuck Schumer asked whether the Senate could really render a fair verdict without hearing from Bolton or acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, both potential eyewitnesses to Trump's actions. Dont wait for the book. Dont wait til March 17, when it is in black and white to find out the answer to your question, Schiff told the Senate. That publication date is now in doubt. The White House on Wednesday released a letter to Bolton's attorney objecting to significant amounts of classified information" in the manuscript, including at the top secret level. Bolton and his attorney have insisted the book does not contain any classified information. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., answers reporters questions outside his office prior to the start of the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol, Wednesday Jan 29, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) The White House action could delay the book's publication if Bolton, who resigned last September Trump says he was fired is forced to revise his draft. GOP senators are straining to balance the new revelations with pressure for quick acquittal. They have been sternly warned by party leaders that calling Bolton as a witness could entangle the trial in lengthy legal battles and delay Trump's expected acquittal. White House lawyers made exactly that point. Attorney Pat Philbin said in response to the Democrats' first question, This institution will effectively be paralyzed for months. That was echoed by others. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell huddled privately with senators for a third consecutive day, acknowledging he didn't yet have the votes to brush back Democratic demands for witnesses now that revelations from Bolton have roiled the trial. But Republicans said they were making progress. Senate Majority Whip Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, for the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Republican ideas for dealing with Bolton and his book were fizzling almost as soon as they arose among them, swapping witnesses with Democrats or issuing a subpoena for Bolton's manuscript. Most Republican senators don't want to extend the trial by calling Bolton, and most Democrats would rather avoid dragging the Bidens further into the impeachment proceedings. The Bidens were a focus of defence arguments, though no evidence of wrongdoing has emerged. Bolton writes in a forthcoming book that Trump told him he wanted to withhold military aid from Ukraine until it helped with investigations into Biden. That assertion, if true, would undercut a key defence argument and go to the heart of one of the two articles of impeachment against the president. I think Bolton probably has something to offer us," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. She met privately Wednesday with McConnell. In this image from video, White House deputy counsel Mike Purpura answers a question during the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. (Senate Television via AP) Trump disagreed in a tweet Wednesday in which he complained that Bolton, after he left the White House, goes out and IMMEDIATELY writes a nasty & untrue book. All Classified National Security. The uncertainty about witnesses arises days before crucial votes on the issue. In a Senate split 53-47 in favour of Republicans, at least four GOP senators must join all Democrats to reach the 51 votes required to call witnesses, decide whom to call or do nearly anything else in the trial. Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine tried to give fresh momentum to a one-for-one witness deal, saying it's very important that there be fairness, that each side be able to select a witness or two. But Democrats dismissed those offers. It's irrelevant. It's a distraction, said Schumer. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., answers questions from reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, on her way to the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. (AP Photo/ Jacquelyn Martin) Collins, Murkowski and Utah Sen. Mitt Romney signalled an interest in calling Bolton or other witnesses, and questions and answers at times appeared directed at them. Schiffs response to Dershowitz focused on one particular senator: He asked his audience to imagine what would have happened if then-President Barack Obama asked the Russians to dig up dirt on then-candidate Romney, the GOPs 2012 presidential nominee? Romney, standing at the back of the chamber, smiled occasionally at mention of his name. Far from voiding the last election, Schiff said, impeachment is protecting the next one, in 2020, from any future Trump efforts to ask foreign governments to intervene. The Capitol is seen amid reflections in the Russell Senate Office Building as the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, stretches into the night, in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Republicans tried to engage the president's defence, at times raising the profile of the still anonymous government whistleblower whose complaint about Trump's July 25 call with Ukraine sparked the impeachment inquiry. Democrats kept focus on the case for Trump's conviction and removal, which would require 67 votes in the Senate and seems unlikely. At times, there were telling exchanges. In one, the White House team could not fully respond when Collins and Murkowski asked if Trump had ever pursued Biden investigations before the former vice-president announced his presidential bid in 2019. Philbin argued that relying on foreign information in a U.S. campaign isn't necessarily a campaign law violation, drawing objections later from Democrats. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., who said he was flabbergasted. 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 another, Dershowitz acknowledged he has changed his thinking on what the Founders intended with impeachment and keeps refining his views. As the long night drew to a close, so did Schiff's remarks, warning senators they were lowering the bar for Trump, dressing it up with legalese. Corruption is still corruption, he said. One person watching from the sidelines Wednesday was Lev Parnas, the indicted associate of Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani. Parnas arrived at the Capitol but could not enter the Senate with his court-ordered electronic-tracking device. He has turned over evidence for the investigation, and said he wants to testify. ___ Associated Press writers Alan Fram, Andrew Taylor, Matthew Daly, Laurie Kellman and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report. Britain's prime minister Boris Johnson has decided to allow Huawei to work on 5G infrastructure in the UK, despite the US calling for a ban. Photo: Daniel Leal-Olivas/Pool via Reuters Britain has given Huawei the green light to work on 5G infrastructure, despite sustained pressure from the US to ban the company. The UK government announced on Tuesday that Huawei had been cleared to work on parts of 5G but said restrictions would be put in place to limit potential national security risks. The Departure of Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) said companies deemed high risk would be excluded from sensitive areas of the 5G network, such as nuclear plants and military bases, and limited to 35% market share. High risk vendors have never been and never will be in our most sensitive networks, Ciaran Martin, the chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), said. Taken together these measures add up to a very strong framework for digital security. READ MORE: Security, trade, tech: Inside UKs crunch Huawei decision The DCMS announcement made no mention of Huawei directly but a separate announcement from the NCSC said the decision was including, but not limited to, Huawei and said Huawei had been treated as a high risk vendor since 2003. A major defeat for the US The decision to allow Huawei into 5G networks follows months of assessment by cyber security specialists and puts the UK at odds with the US, which has called for the UK to follow Australia and New Zealand in banning Huawei. US intelligence services believe Shenzen-based Huawei may have links to the Chinese state and fear allowing it to work on national telecoms equipment could allow Beijing to spy on sensitive government communications. The UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada are all members of the international intelligence sharing group known as the Five Eyes and the US are concerned that a breach in UK communications could leave them exposed. Even if Huawei is not working with the Chinese government, experts told Yahoo Finance UK its Chinese supply chain could be compromised. GCHQ said last year Huaweis software was shoddy, adding to hacking risks. Story continues US president Donald Trump. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images The US has repeatedly pressed the UK to ban Huawei, with secretary of state Mike Pompeo issuing a warning on Twitter this week. Trump labelled Huawei a national security threat at a December NATO meeting and the US placed sanctions on the company last year. Former US Presidential candidate Mitt Romney said Tuesday the UKs decision was disconcerting. By prioritizing costs, the UK is sacrificing national security and inviting the [Chinese Communist Party]s surveillance state in, he wrote on Twitter. I implore our British allies to reverse their decision. Republican politician Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House of Representatives, called the UK decision a major defeat for the United States on Twitter. READ MORE: US warns UK over 'momentous' Huawei decision Foreign secretary Dominic Raab said the decision wouldnt damage UK intelligence sharing agreements. Nothing in this review affects this countrys ability to share highly sensitive intelligence data over highly secure networks both within the UK and with our partners, including the Five Eyes, Raab told parliament on Tuesday afternoon. The potential rift comes at a sensitive time in US-UK relations, with the two countries just beginning post-Brexit trade negotiations. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, tweeted the decision could could greatly complicate a US-UK free trade agreement. Johnsons decision also puts him at odds with many in his own party. Former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt, former Tory party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, and Tom Tugendhat MP, who is seeking re-election as the chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, have all spoken out on the issue this week. Reports suggested home secretary Priti Patel was also concerned about Huawei. Seize the huge opportunity Huawei's main UK offices in Reading on 28 January 2020. Photo: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP via Getty Images UK officials believe they can manage the risks posed by Huawei. Raab told parliament Britains electronic communications spy agency GCHQ had conducted the most detailed study of what is needed to protect 5G anywhere in the world. We know more about Huawei and the risks it poses than any other country in the world, he said. Johnson is reluctant to ban Huawei over fears it could put the UK at a disadvantage technologically. Only two other companies Ericsson and Nokia can supply 5G telecom equipment and their kit is more expensive and less advanced. Andrew Tsonchev, director of technology at cyber security firm Darktrace, said a boycott would set the UK back by five years in technology terms. [Huawei] simply have a significant first mover advantage, he told Yahoo Finance UK on Monday. Raab told parliament the government would create a new telecoms security regime to oversee the system and would introduce tough new security standards for vendors working with companies like Huawei. Risk cant be eliminated in telecoms but it is the job of government, Ofcom, and industry to work together to reduce vulnerabilities and mitigate those risks, the foreign secretary said. Digital minister Baroness Nicky Morgan said: This is a UK-specific solution for UK-specific reasons and the decision deals with the challenges we face right now. We can now move forward and seize the huge opportunities of 21st century technology. Victor Zhang, vice president of Huawei, said in a video statement posted on Twitter he was reassured by the UKs evidence-based decision. The improved VoteTracker gives users the ability to filter by multiple categories, allowing for a closer examination of data. Graphic from original VoteTracker, displaying turnout of 2019 primary elections. While informative, the graphic placed one-stop and mail votes on different points on the (horizontal) x-axis, creating a sawtooth appearance. Graphic from the improved VoteTracker, displaying turnout of 2019 primary elections. One-stop and mail votes are now on the same point on the (horizontal) x-axis, giving a more accurate representation of the data. The new graphics are more intuitive and make it easier for users to visualize and interact with the data. Note: the spike in the middle was the week when both the 3rd and 9th District primaries had one-stop voting. VoteTracker graphics showing that most of the unaffiliated voters who have submitted early ballot in the March 3 primary as of January 24 had requested Democratic primary ballots (hardly a surprise since the Democrats have a presidential primary this year). Those who request unaffiliated (nonpartisan) ballots can vote in nonpartisan races like school board, but not either partys primary. The first votes of the 2020 primary have come in. As always, you can follow the votes at Civitas' VoteTracker site . The difference this year is that we have enhanced the user experience with VoteTracker.VoteTracker is a service of the Civitas Institute that gives users the ability to examine early voting data. The data is updated every workday during the early voting period.The biggest change to VoteTracker is that users can now filter the data by multiple categories, allowing them to examine a wide variety of subsets. The original VoteTracker only allowed users to filter by one category at a time. For example, you could examine voters in a single congressional district, or you could examine male voters, but you could not examine male voters in a single congressional district. The improved VoteTracker allows you to filter by a virtually unlimited number of categories. For example, if you wanted to examine turnout of white female voters between the ages of 18 and 35 in the part of Mecklenburg County that is in the 9th Congressional District, you can now do that with VoteTracker. You can filter the data either by clicking on the graphic interfaces or by using the "Filter" button at the top of the page.The improved VoteTracker gives users the ability to filter by multiple categories, allowing for a closer examination of data.However, perhaps the first change regular users of VoteTracker will notice is that the graphics have been changed. The graphics changes affect both the aesthetics and the functionality of the site. For example, the "Votes Cast" graphic has been changed to eliminate the "sawtooth" appearance that gave the visual impression that one-stop voting was conducted only every other day. The change also creates fewer points on the (horizontal) x-axis, making the graphics look less cluttered and giving a clearer visional representation of the data.Starting with the 2020 primary, we have added a new category: "Ballot Requested." Unaffiliated voters may vote in either party's primary and, with the increasing number of unaffiliated voters in North Carolina, knowing which party's primary they are voting in is important.We have also added other features to enhance users' experiences, including adding the Green and Constitution parties to the "Parties" graphic and expanding the "show more" function so users can more easily examine voting patterns in any state legislative district.But the most important feature of VoteTracker is something that we did not change. You, the user, are still in control of the data. This gives activists, journalists, and all interested individuals the power to examine early voting data themselves and form their own interpretations. Of course, we at Civitas use VoteTracker in our analysis , and we are excited about how we can use the improved VoteTracker in our own work. Andhra Pradesh Marketing, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana on Wednesday said that his government is hoping to get clearance from the Centre for the abolition of Legislative Council. Ramana, who is an MLC, said that he is ready to resign from his ministry once the clearance from the Centre comes. Responding to the demand of TDP that the two ministers from the Council should immediately resign, he said: "They need not resign on the TDP's demands. They will resign once the Central government gives clearance to the abolition of the Council." The minister also slammed TDP for allegedly trying to "hamper" the government's business, with its majority in the House of Elders. "The Council, where TDP has the majority, is not confining to advise but acting against the government's aims. The Decentralisation Bill and the APCRDA Repeal Bill are related to the state's future, but the Council has sent them to the Select Committee against the public interest," said Ramana. He further alleged the TDP has stalled the Bills as they will cause loss to the land bank of N Chandrababu Naidu. Andhra Pradesh has two ministers, who are members of the Legislative Council -- Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose and Mopidevi Venkata Ramana. The YSRCP led state government has passed a resolution for the abolition of the Council and sent it to the Central government for further process. Minister Ramana further said: "Visakhapatnam fishing harbour will be developed and modernised with an investment of Rs 100 crore. As many as 22 major and minor fishing jetties will be constructed in nine districts. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By AFP PARIS: French writer Gabriel Matzneff said in an interview Wednesday that he "regrets" his trips to Asia to have sex with children, claiming that at the time "no one ever said it was a crime". The veteran essayist is being investigated by French police after a leading French editor detailed how he abused her when she was 14 in an explosive new bestseller. "A tourist should not behave like that," the 83-year-old told a French television channel in Italy, where he has fled to escape the storm the revelations stirred. French publishing houses pulled his works from bookshops last month. Matzneff had denounced the move as a "wave of neo-puritanism". "I find it stupid, extravagant that in 2020 I am facing grief for books I wrote more than 40 years ago," he said. But in the new interview with BFMTV, a rolling news channel, he was more contrite. "An adult should turn their head away and resist the temptation. Naturally, if I did something that was not good I regret it. "You are there a traveller, and young boys and girls were trying to pull you in the street and jump on you under the benevolent eye of the police." "At the time," Matzneff added, "people talked of inciting a minor to debauchery, or indecent assault... But nobody ever spoke of crime." Matzneff has never made any secret of his sexual preference for adolescent girls and boys and it did not stop him from winning the Renaudot prize in 2013. He also was awarded major state honours in France: Officer of Arts and Letters and Knight of the Order of National Merit. The writer also benefited from a special pension and reduced rent for his apartment in a chic district of the French capital. The case has shone a light on what many see as an overly permissive attitude towards sexual harassment and sexual abuse of children in France. 'It's like Soviet Union' In "Les Moins de Seize Ans", ("The Under 16s"), first published in 1974 and reissued in 2005, Matzneff was frank about indulging his obsession for underage partners and sex tourism. He told French television in the 1990s that "a very young girl is rather sweeter, even if she becomes very quickly hysterical and just as crazy as she will be when she is older." But attitudes toward the writer changed dramatically after publisher Vanessa Springora revealed her tortured relationship with him in her new book "Consent". She described how Matzneff, then in his fifties, would wait for her outside school and then take her to a hotel for sex. Matzneff denies any wrongdoing, insisting there was an "exceptional love" between him and Springora. But during the interview with BFMTV, Matzneff insisted that "I never said anything nasty about her because she is a luminous person". But he railed against the French government for threatening to take away his special pension. "In a few weeks I feel I have been destroyed socially.... Now the state hammers in its nails so that I kill myself -- that is the trap." "It's like the Soviet Union," said the writer, whose parents were White Russian refugees. The market is estimated to grow with a CAGR of 10. 8% from 2018-2025. The growth of the cannabis testing market is primarily attributed to the European government is funding cannabis education for doctors, and increasing demand for research activities for cannabis quality. New York, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Europe Cannabis Testing Market to 2025 - Regional Analysis and Forecasts by Type ; Services ; End User and Country" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05764200/?utm_source=GNW However, cannabis used as a street drug and trouble with CBD oil are likely to pose a negative impact on the market growth. On the other hand, cannabinoid testing in Europe is likely to have a positive impact on the growth of the Europe cannabis testing market in the coming years.The growing number of countries are adopting medical cannabis laws but the governmental officials are rare that encouraging healthcare professionals to become educated about cannabis plant medicines. On the use of cannabis in clinical practice, to instruct local healthcare providers, various cannabis experts were invited to Macedonia, in 2016.The program was held in Skopje and was supported and funded by the Macedonian Ministry of Health. Cannabis provides the unique opportunities in Macedonia, where the medical system is in a stage of evolution and modernization. Local medical specialists are now able to prescribe cannabis in the country. Considering this, Macedonian cannabis promoters worked with local governments and created the medical cannabis training program in an effort to support doctors and their patients. Currently, the impetus of the Macedonian medical cannabis movement is moving quickly, and the public opinion on cannabis has also changed dramatically in the region. The medical marijuana resolution in the region urges the Commission and member states to address regulatory, financial and cultural barriers which burden scientific research and invite them to fund research. Thus, due to the above advancements, the cannabis testing market is expected to grow at a rapid pace during the forecast period. In 2017, the product segment held a largest market share of 73.7% of the cannabis testing market, by type. This segment is also expected to dominate the market in 2025 owing diverse portfolio of cannabis testing products to the healthcare industry for innovations in the technologies. Moreover, the same segment is also expected to witness the highest CAGR in the market accounting to 11.1% in 2018 to 2015 owing to increasing analytical services and medicinal cannabis services in testing cannabis. Europe cannabis testing market, based on services was segmented into potency testing, microbial analysis, residual solvent screening, heavy metal testing, pesticide screening, terpene profiling, and genetic testing. The potency testing segment is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 11.8% during the forecast period. The testing laboratory segment held a largest market share of 49.2% of the cannabis testing market, by end user. This segment is also expected to dominate the market in 2025 owing to increasing number of diagnostic testing performed in the reference labs for the numerous diseases. Some of the major primary and secondary sources for cannabis testing included in the report are Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risk (COFEPRIS), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), German Research Foundation (DFG), European Research Area (ERA), Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act (MMRSA), Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), National Science Foundation (NSF) and others. Reasons to Buy Save and reduce time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the growth, size, leading players and segments in the cannabis testing market. Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies. The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the global cannabis testing market, thereby allowing players across the value chain to develop effective long-term strategies. Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets. Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it. Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin security interest with respect to client products, segmentation, pricing and distribution. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05764200/?utm_source=GNW 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. __________________________ Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s fortunes in the Delhi assembly elections are on an upswing, according to an internal poll that gives them at least 30-35 of the 70 seats in the Capital, according to people familiar with the matter. One of the main reasons for the change, according to two key leaders HT spoke to, is building resentment against the sit-in protest at Shaheen Bagh, which has blocked a key arterial road in the city, leading to traffic chaos in several parts of south and east Delhi for over 40 days. The negative perception surrounding the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act, or CAA, protests at the site and across the country is also helping turn the tide, they added. Also Watch | Shaheen Baghs women continue anti-CAA protest: Gauging Delhi poll impact The leaders contended that, with nearly weeks to go for the polls, the BJP tally may rise further. The party won only three seats in the 2015 elections, which were swept by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). It is true that now we are doing very well. People have reacted to the Shaheen Bagh mentality Manish Sisodias statement that he and his party stand with Shaheen Bagh has helped us, Delhi BJP chief and MP Manoj Tiwari said. Echoing him, South Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri said it was a combination of two factors the Shaheen Bagh agitation, which helped mobilise the BJPs campaign of showing disruptive elements; and exposing the AAP government on its failures. If you ask me, then [anti-]S haheen Bagh sentiments worked in our favour, but what also worked was us being able to tell people that the AAP government had denied the people of Delhi the Ayushman Bharat (medical insurance scheme) offered by the Modi government, Bidhuri said. Our tally will increase, and we will overtake AAP in the next three or four days, he said. Other leaders said the optimism stems from campaign speeches by home minister Amit Shah. A senior leader who asked not to be named, said Shah told partymen that he got good feedback from most segments during his campaign. To build on the momentum, a note has been sent to all MPs that they should spend the first half of their day in Parliament (the session on January 31) but after 3pm, they should head to areas in the Capital to campaign among their own communities. This especially applies to MPs from Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and other states with a regional representation in Delhi voter base. P Muralidhar Rao, the in charge of Karnataka; Sunil Deodhar, the in charge of Andhra Pradesh; and Sudip Roy Burman, Tripura MLA, are all camping in the Capital to gather small but significant pockets of votes. Three of us from Bengal have been told to go and campaign in areas where there is a sizable number of Bengalis, MP Locket Chatterjee said. However, not everyone in BJP is certain about the partys prospects. A party leader told HT it might be difficult to turn away a large chunk of voters who were impressed with CM Arvind Kejriwal. There are still about 20%-25% undecided voters. This is a huge number and we are working to turn them towards us, he said. The Aam Aadmi Party functionaries HT spoke to said they will not comment on the internal survey of another party that they have not seen. The day after Brexit, "Global Britain" was meant to regain the buccaneering spirit of imperial times past and adopt a new vision for foreign trade. Reality has proven messier. After its divorce from the European Union takes effect on Friday night, Britain will be free to negotiate its own trade pacts for the first time since joining the bloc in 1973, and will take an independent seat at the World Trade Organization. For now, until a transition period expires on December 31, Britain will remain inside the EU's customs union and single market, which takes nearly half of all British exports including cars, meat and pharmaceuticals, accounting for millions of jobs. "We are passionate believers in free trade. The UK has been for a long time," finance minister Sajid Javid said in Davos last week. He vowed that a new deal with the EU itself "absolutely can be done" before the transition period ends, but also warned anxious British business chiefs to prepare for the two sides to diverge in their regulatory regimes. Prime Minister Boris Johnson insists the deadline will not be extended, and envisions "a Global Britain running a truly global foreign policy", shorn of its EU shackles and profiting from its world-class financial services, technology and creative industries. But Irish premier Leo Varadkar laid bare Britain's dilemma this week, warning it will have to concede a "fish for finance" compromise in the EU talks, allowing foreign boats in UK waters in return for unfettered access for its all-important financial sector. - 'Second after midnight' - That would undermine one of the promises by Brexiteers in Britain's 2016 referendum campaign. And the picture with the rest of the world doesn't look much more promising. "Doing multiple trade deals at the same time is like playing three-dimensional chess," according to Jill Rutter, senior research fellow at The UK in a Changing Europe, a think tank in London. "There are difficult trade-offs. Ministers seem notably reluctant to acknowledge that," she told AFP. Former international trade secretary Liam Fox said in 2017 that Britain could easily copy and paste all 40 of the EU's external trade deals "the second after midnight" on Brexit day, which was then set for March 2019. Three postponements later, as Brexit Day finally approaches this week, the government concedes that only half that number will be ready, covering a single-digit proportion of Britain's overall trade. Britain will look to craft brand-new deals with bigger partners such as the United States, China and Japan. If history is any guide, those could take years, although the US administration is talking up prospects for an agreement in 2020. Fox's successor, Liz Truss, said in parliament last week that the aim was to forge agreements with countries accounting for 80 percent of British trade within three years. "This is clearly unrealistic, because it would require signing agreements with more than 12 countries within a time-scale which has rarely been achieved for a single agreement," the British Trade Policy Observatory at the University of Sussex wrote. - Choices, choices - Enacting multiple new deals will be a particularly tall order for a country that, since 1973, has outsourced its trade negotiations to Brussels. Japan, which in the 1980s chose Britain as its carmaking hub inside the EU, is reportedly keen on a rapid deal to maintain some stability. "Since Britain wants to show results after Brexit, it is likely to speed up trade talks with many countries. There is the possibility that Japan will be the first major country reaching an accord with Britain," said Mitsuo Fujiyama, senior economist at the Japan Research Institute in Tokyo. Speaking alongside Javid in Davos, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Washington was "disappointed" not to be first in line. The two sides are also at odds over Chinese telecoms firm Huawei and Javid's plan to impose a digital tax on tech companies. The United States represents less than 12 percent of Britain's foreign trade, a distant second to the EU share. China is next with about five percent and Japan has less than two percent. Other nations, such as Britain's former colonies Australia, Canada and India, have made clear they will drive a hard bargain. One hard-fought area will be immigration. For all the talk of Global Britain, the government faces a politically unpalatable decision between competing regulatory blocs, the EU and United States, with China also a looming presence. "There's always a mismatch between the rhetoric versus the reality," Rutter said. "You have to choose." Japan chose Britain as its EU carmaking hub in the 1980s and is now said to be keen to strike a trade deal to maintain stability by Larissa Faw , January 28, 2020 J&J Snack Foods Corp. is attempting to rise above the brand chatter surrounding the upcoming Super Bowl with a Superpretzel activation starring chef Guy Fieri. The Awesome Superpretzel Replay experience, produced by 160over90, pays homage to Fieris humble beginnings selling soft pretzels from an Awesome Pretzel cart he built with his dad. This weekend, Fieri will appear alongside a replica vintage cart where he will cook and distribute free Superpretzel Cubanos. These limited-edition treats were developed exclusively by Fieri and J&J to celebrate the Big Games host city, Miami, by incorporating key Cubano sandwich ingredients such as ham and cheese. In addition, Fieri will hand out branded swag and coupons as well as freely lend his mug to selfies and autograph merchandise. The event hopes to become active across social media with the #AwesomeSuperpretzelCart hashtag. Although Fieri will only appear on Sunday February 2 at the Players Tailgate near the Hard Rock Stadium between 2pm-6:30pm, Superpretzel ambassadors will also be manning his pretzel cart to hand out free samples from 12pm-6pm on Saturday, February 1 at Gramps Miami. Future home of The General at The General Lafayette Inn, 646 Germantown Pike, Lafayette Hill, on July 11, 2017. Read more January, maintaining its reputation as one of the slowest months in the year for restaurants, has claimed another victim. (By the same token, at least as many newcomers will keep the overall ranks of restaurants full. The crash is not happening. Yet.) In todays news, The General, which opened in mid-2017 in the landmark building in Lafayette Hill that housed the General Lafayette Inn for decades, closed over the weekend. Co-owner Bob Devine confirmed the shutdown and said those with gift cards can redeem them at the Ambler and Lafayette Hill locations of From the Boot, the Italian restaurant mini-chain that he also has a stake in. Devine said he was not sure of the propertys future. Previously, the restaurant was Barren Hill Tavern & Brewery. Devine and business partner Nick Ciaffone removed the brewing equipment used both by Barren Hill and the General Lafayette. In other recent closing news: Sunday, Feb. 2, will be the finale of Yangming, as the Bryn Mawr institution has been sold. A new restaurant specializing in dim sum is on its way. Roots Cafe in Maple Shade closed last week. We enjoyed being on Church Road but feel we will be able to provide the level of service and food we reach for every day at our future location, says the note on the brunch and breakfast restaurants Facebook page. South Philadelphias Wander Inn is down, as Jonn Klein shuttered the chill bar at Third and Porter Streets; hes looking for someone to take it over. To improve behavior in class, teachers should focus on praising children for good behavior, rather than telling them off for being disruptive, according to a new study published in Educational Psychology. Researchers spent three years observing 2,536 students, across three US states, from kindergarten age through to sixth grade (5 to 12 years of age). The children observed were shown to focus on tasks up to 20% to 30% more when teachers were required to consider the number of praise statements given, compared to the number of reprimands. The study lead by Dr Paul Caldarella, at Brigham Young University, involved a research team that sat in 151 classes, in 19 elementary schools across Missouri, Tennessee and Utah. In half of the classrooms, teachers followed a behavioral intervention programme called CW-FIT, where students are told about the social skills they are expected to show in lessons and rewarded for doing so. In the other half of the classes, teachers used their typical classroom management practices. The study showed a relationship between the ratio of praise to reprimands (PRR) used by the teachers and the extent students focused on class activities. In other words, the more teachers praised and the less that they scolded, the more students attended to the teacher, or worked on assigned tasks. The difference was such that children in classes where the PRR was highest, the pupils spent 20-30% longer focusing on the teacher or task compared to those in classes where the praise to reprimand ratio was lowest. This relationship was present across both CW-FIT and ordinary classes. "Unfortunately, previous research has shown that teachers often tend to reprimand students for problem behavior as much or more than they praise pupils for appropriate behavior, which can often have a negative effect on classrooms and student behavior," says Dr Caldarella, from the David O. McKay School of Education at Brigham Young. "Praise is a form of teacher feedback, and students need that feedback to understand what behavior is expected of them, and what behavior is valued by teachers. "Even if teachers praised as much as they reprimanded, students' on-task behavior reached 60%. However, if teachers could increase their praise to reprimand ratio to 2:1 or higher, they would see even more improvements in the classroom." The results suggest that praise is a powerful tool in a teacher's arsenal, inspiring students to work harder - particularly those difficult to reach children who may struggle academically or be disruptive in class. Previous studies have shown a clear link between the time spent by students attending to lessons and their academic achievement, suggesting that praise could boost learning and improve children's grades too. "Everyone values being praised and recognised for their endeavours - it is a huge part of nurturing children's self-esteem and confidence," Dr Caldarella adds. "Also from a behavioral perspective, behavior that is reinforced tends to increase - so if teachers are praising students for good behavior - such as attending to the teacher, asking for help appropriately, etc - it stands to reason that this behavior will increase, and learning will improve." Although the study shows that praise plays an important role in boosting student's focus in class, the researchers are keen to stress that sound instructional techniques and other evidence-based classroom management strategies must also be used to maintain children's attention. ### Self-employed workers are being warned against falling foul of copycat HMRC websites just three days before their tax return deadline. The sites pay to appear at the top of Google searches for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs phone numbers and trick people into thinking they are contacting HMRC directly. In fact, they are using an expensive call connection service, which can cost up to 35 for a short phone call. HMRC is warning over copycat HMRC websites that use as expensive call connection service, which can cost up to 35 for a short phone call You can contact HMRC directly on 0300 200 3310, which is either free or charged at the national landline rate typically 9p per minute. One website, Contact HMRC Tax Office, had been appearing at the top of smartphone Google searches for 'HMRC income tax helpline'. Google removed the advert following Money Mail's intervention. A HMRC spokesman says the department 'has averted millions of visits to deceptive websites, including those which promote misleading and costly helpline numbers'. Millions of self-employed workers have yet to file their tax returns. The self-assessment deadline is 11.59pm on Friday. More than 700,000 people missed the deadline last year, becoming liable for penalties. If you fail to meet the deadline, you risk a 100 fine. After three months, HMRC will charge 10 a day. m.dilworth@dailymail.co.uk Ravindra Rao Global financial markets remain in turmoil as market players continue to scan information coming in from China amid a virus outbreak which threatens to turn into a major pandemic. China reported the outbreak of a Coronavirus in late December, however financial markets reacted sharply after Beijing last week confirmed that the virus could spread from human to human. Since there was not much clarity on intensity of the outbreak, market players started drawing parallels from the 2002-2003 SARS outbreak which killed hundreds and had a severe economic impact. Meanwhile, the timing of the outbreak, near the Lunar New Year holiday, when large number of people move in and out of China, also led to severe market reaction. Since then the situation has continued to worsen. China's efforts to control the spread of the virus is yet to show effect with death toll increasing and more cases being reported in China and other countries. China's National Health Commission said in a statement that death toll caused by the virus outbreak stood at 106 on Tuesday, up from previous toll of 81. The number of total confirmed cases in China rose to 4,515 as of January 27, up from 2,835 reported a day earlier. Cases of infection have been reported throughout Asia and Australia, as well as in the US, France and Canada. Germany confirmed its first case. To assess the situation, the director-general of the World Health Organization is visiting Beijing. Market nervousness about impact of the outbreak caused market players to shift from riskier assets like equities and commodities to safe havens like gold, Japanese Yen and bonds. MSCI global equity index has slumped over 2.5 percent from recent highs and stand at the lowest level since January 6. Reuters/CRB commodities index stands at 173/176, the lowest since October 2019. On other hand, gold has edged up towards $1,590 an ounce while US 10-year bond yield has slumped to October 2019 lows. Commodities have reacted sharply as the virus outbreak is expected to affect Chinese economic activity severely unless it is contained soon. China is a major consumer for commodities and any slowdown in economic activity may affect demand. Crude oil price has slumped to October 2019 lows amid concerns that travel restrictions may affect fuel demand. Industrial metals have fallen sharply on demand concerns with nickel testing the lowest level since July 2019. Corn, soybean and cotton prices have also fallen severely on concerns about consumer spending in China. The general market reaction shows that market players are worried about a severe impact on Chinese economy and commodities demand, and this may not change unless there are signs that the virus spread has been contained. (The author is VP - Head Commodity Research at Kotak Securities) The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert 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. Two Republican senators on Tuesday urged Attorney General William Barr to declassify four footnotes in the inspector generals report on the FBIs Russia investigation. We are concerned that certain sections of the public version of the report are misleading because they are contradicted by relevant and probative classified information redacted in four footnotes, Senators Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa) and Ron Johnson (R., Wis.) wrote in a letter to Barr. This classified information is significant not only because it contradicts key statements in a section of the report, but also because it provides insight essential for an accurate evaluation of the entire investigation. The American people have a right to know what is contained within these four footnotes and, without that knowledge, they will not have a full picture as to what happened during the Crossfire Hurricane investigation, the senators continued. The IG report centered on the FBIs application for a FISA warrant to surveil former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page. The report found numerous issues with agents handling of the application, so much so that the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court issued a rare public rebuke of the FBI for withholding exculpatory information about Page from the court and for failing to verify the information contained in the infamous Steele dossier, which formed a central and essential part of the FISA application. The frequency with which representations made by FBI personnel turned out to be unsupported or contradicted by information in their possession, and with which they withheld information detrimental to their case, calls into question whether information contained in other FBI applications is reliable, the court wrote in December. The letter does not specify which four of the dozens of redacted footnotes in the report the senators are referring to. One prominent redacted footnote refers to Steeles relationship with Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, which could have conceivably affected the analysis provided in his dossier. Another redacted footnote contains information about Steeles primary sub-source. Story continues Grassley has served on numerous committees throughout his seven terms in the Senate, while Johnson is the current chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, which oversees the FBI and the Department of Justice probe into the bureaus Russia investigation. More from National Review The government, on January 29, issued an advisory where it asked people to refrain from travelling to China due to the rise in cases being reported from China and travel-related cases appearing in many countries. The number of deaths due novel coronavirus infection rose to 132 people, and almost 5,974 cases have been confirmed in mainland China, as the Wuhan coronavirus spreads across Asia and the rest of the world. The government had stepped up its efforts to monitor the health of people coming into India, especially from China and South East Asia. Thailand had reported 14 confirmed cases of coronavirus. The government said one suspected case in Jaipur, Rajasthan had turned out to be negative. So far there were no confirmed cases of coronavirus in India. Sanjeeva Kumar, Special Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) held a meeting with states and Union Territories (UTs) to review preparedness for prevention and management of coronavirus. 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 government increased the list of airports for screening passengers for symptoms of coronavirus to 21. All states have reported that the thermal and symptomatic screening has been initiated at all identified airports. The government said it had sensitised immigration and other staff members at the airports and deployed dedicated ambulances. Medical and para-medical staff are also deployed for round-the-clock service. Self-declaration forms are available and signage are being placed at all prominent places at all airports. Seven central teams have also visited the respective states and helped to strengthen their preparedness. The government also identified isolation wards that have been readied to face any contingency. Personal Protection Equipment and masks are made available in adequate quantity in all the states. The government asked states to regularly assess the requirement of personal protection equipment, masks etc., and undertake necessary procurement to ensure a sufficient supply. Tertiary hospitals are identified for these airports and the protocols for contact tracing are being followed. The timely collection and transportation of samples from suspected cases to the National Institute of Virolog (NIV), Pune is also being carried out. The government is also considering possibility of airlifting around 400 students, mostly studying medicine in and around the city of Wuhan in China. Another case of coronavirus also surfaced in Nepal, which raised concerns in India, due to the long and porous borders with the country. The second case also involved a person who had travelled to China earlier. The government said it is taking adequate steps at the land check posts, and people contacts and meetings have been organised at villages in the bordering areas. After Nepal, Sri Lanka became second country in India's neighbourhood to report a confirmed case of the coronavirus infection. The Sri Lanka case relates to a 43-year old Chinese woman who was tested positive for the virus, and is said to be recovering well after receiving treatments. Much remains to be understood about 2019-nCoV. The source of the outbreak and the extent to which it has spread in China are not yet known. "While the current understanding of the disease remains limited, most cases reported to date have been milder, with around 20 percent of those infected experiencing severe illness," WHO said. Zhong Nanshan, a renowned Chinese respiratory expert, warned that the novel coronavirus outbreak may reach its peak in one week or around 10 days, Chinese news agency Xinhua reported. The Director-General of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, met China's President Xi Jinping in Beijing on January 28. They shared the latest information on the novel coronavirus 2019 (2019-nCoV) outbreak and reiterated their commitment to bring it under control China has agreed for WHO's international experts to come to China and work with Chinese counterparts to help increase their understanding of the outbreak to guide global response efforts. Both the WHO and China noted that the number of cases being reported, including those outside China, is deeply concerning. Better understanding of the transmissibility and severity of the virus is urgently required to guide other countries on appropriate response measures. WHO appreciated Chinese efforts in response to the outbreak, the speed with which it identified the virus, and its openness in sharing information with the WHO and other countries. The WHO is yet to declare the coronavirus outbreak as a global public health emergency. Anti-CAA activist Sharjeel Imam, who was arrested by the Delhi Police's Crime Branch from Bihar's Jehanabad in a sedition case, will be produced in the Patiala House court on Wednesday, police said. Imam was arrested on Tuesday for making allegedly inflammatory speeches at the Jamia Millia Islamia University here and in Aligarh. He reached Delhi on Wednesday and will be produced in the Patiala House court the same day, they said. The PhD scholar at the Jawaharlal Nehru University's Centre for Historical Studies has been booked for sedition and under other charges in several states after purported videos of his alleged inflammatory speeches made during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act were circulated on social media. An FIR was registered against him by Delhi Police on January 25 under IPC sections 124 A (sedition) and 153 A (promoting or attempting to promote disharmony or feelings of enmity on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever) among others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Advertisement An astonishing video of uniformed firefighters and elite riot police meeting for an apparently pre-arranged fight has emerged in France. The two rival groups confronted each other on a council estate in Paris yesterday. The armed CRS, (police Republican Security Companies), wear full body armour and carry shields and batons, while their opponents wear distinctive silver helmets. After a charge by the CRS, there is hand-to-hand fighting, before the police throw tear gas grenades. It followed disturbances earlier in the day during a march by the firefighters, who were on the street calling for better pay and working conditions. 'The firefighters had been roughed about by the CRS and were not happy about it, said a witness. 'A group of them pulled away from the main body of demonstrators and there was a confrontation with a CRS unit that seemed to be pre-arranged. 'Things got very violent and the confrontation was only broken up when the CRS started throwing tear gas grenades.' The video of the trouble was posted by the independent news outlet Hors Zone (Out of the zone) Press on Twitter. An astonishing video of uniformed fire fighters and elite riot police meeting for an apparently pre-arranged fight have emerged in France The armed CRS, for police Republican Security Companies, wear full body armour and carry shields and batons, while their opponents wear distinctive silver helmets Earlier in the day, there had been fighting on the main route of the protest march, which was between Republique and Nation squares. Some of the protesting firemen even set themselves on fire, before the flames were extinguished by colleagues. There have been continual street protests and strikes in France for the past six weeks in protests against new pension reforms being introduced by President Emmanuel Macrons government. After a charge by the CRS, there is hand-to-hand fighting, before the police throw tear gas grenades So-called Yellow Vests, demonstrators named after their trademark fluorescent motoring jackets, have also been on the street since November 2018. They started off complaining about rising fuel charges, but are now a mass movement who want Mr Macron to resign. The independent Mr Macron came to power in 2017, pledging to shrink Frances public services, and to make the private sector more competitive. But the former merchant banker is now frequently referred to as the President of the Rich who is mainly on the side of big business. Firefighters are pictured waving burning torches through the streets of Paris in a demonstration against pension reforms on Tuesday Thousands of firefighters demonstrated against the pension reforms in Paris yesterday by setting themselves on fire Some firefighters with their face painted with the movie character 'Joker' theme, participate in a demonstration against the pension reforms and for better work conditions in Parisyesterday Firefighters can be seen clashing with police officers in Paris during protests against pension reforms Firefighters can be seen clashing with police officers in Paris during protests against pension reforms 'The police responded with tear gas, and then went in with their batons. The fighting got very ugly.' The worst trouble took place soon after 4pm in the Avenue de la Republique, between Republique and Nation squares. The fire fighters had tried to tear down the barriers close to the Paris ring road, because they wanted to expand their marching route. Unions organised the Paris protest for fire service workers all over the country. They set off noisy firecrackers in the capital's Place de la Republique to bring attention to their cause. A firefighter sets alight another one as they take part in a demonstration to protest against French government's plan to overhaul the country's retirement system Firefighters can be seen clashing with police officers in Paris during protests against pension reforms Participants want a raise in risk pay from 19 per cent to 25 per cent to fulfill their missions - which they say reductions in personnel have made increasingly difficult. They say attacks against them are also on the rise. A spokesman for the Paris prefecture said: 'It was unacceptable blocking of the ring road by certain professional firefighters who do not respect the declared route [of their protest march].' A French CRS riot policeman helps a colleague during a demonstration by French firefighters to protest against working conditions, in Paris yesterday French police clash with firefighters protesting over pension reforms and for better working conditions in Paris, France, 28 January 2020 Firefighters set themselves alight during protests against President Emmanuel Macron's planned pension reforms in Paris yesterday Firefighters set themselves alight as they take part in a demonstration to protest against French government's plan to overhaul the country's retirement system in Paris yesterday Firefighters brandish flares as they climb on the Statue of Republic Triumph at Nation square during a demonstration to protest against French government's plan to overhaul the country's retirement system in Paris yesterday French CRS riot police take position as French firefighters attend a demonstration to protest against working conditions, in Paris yesterday As night fell over Paris last night the protests continued, causing havoc in the city Paris police said firefighters who tried to break down or scale fencing near the Nation area of Paris were dispersed by water cannon. Some of the protesting firemen even set their uniforms on fire while they were wearing them, although they were clearly taking safety measures. There have been continual street protests and strikes in France for the past six weeks in protests against new pension reforms being introduced by President Emmanuel Macron's government. Firefighters brandish flares as they take part in a demonstration to protest against French government's plan to overhaul the country's retirement system in Paris yesterday Some firefighters with their face painted with the movie character 'Joker' theme, participate in a demonstration against the pension reforms and for better work conditions in Paris yesterday Firefighters hold flares as they take part in a demonstration to protest against French government's plan to overhaul the country's retirement system in Paris yesterday Firefighters march during a demonstration Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 in Paris. Participants want a raise in risk pay from 19 per cent to 25 per cent to fulfill their missions, which they say reductions in personnel have made increasingly difficult French police clash with firefighters protesting over pension reforms and for better working conditions in Paris yesterday Firefighters march during a demonstration yesterday in Paris, before the violence broke out Firefighters take part in a demonstration to protest against French government's plan to overhaul the country's retirement system in Paris yesterday So-called Yellow Vests, demonstrators named after their trademark fluorescent motoring jackets, have also been on the street since November 2018. They started off complaining about rising fuel charges, but are now a mass movement who want Mr Macron to resign. The independent Mr Macron came to power in 2017, pledging to shrink France's public services, and to make the private sector more competitive. French firefighters simulate setting themselves on fire during a demonstration to protest against working conditions, in Paris, France yesterday French firefighters simulate setting themselves on fire during a demonstration to protest against working conditions, in Paris yesterday housands of firefighters participate in a demonstration against the pension reforms and for better work conditions in Paris, France, 28 January 2020 Firefighters push a kart representing a firefighter truck as they take part in a demonstration at Republic Square to protest against French government's plan to overhaul the country's retirement system in Paris, on January 28, 2020 Firefighters light smoke grenades at the Republique square during a demonstration against the pension reforms and for better work conditions in Paris yesterday But the former merchant banker is now frequently referred to as the 'President of the Rich' who is mainly on the side of big business. Firefighters previously demonstrated in October - marked by clashes with the police. One protester in the southern city of Dijon was seriously hit in the eye and has still not recovered his vision. WASHINGTONThis month, a Donald Trump supporter who acknowledged the president was vulgar, amoral, narcissistic went on to tell Politico that the impeachment process has not dented Trumps appeal, but deepened it. To those of us who support what he has accomplished, it feels like he is our O.J. The comparison to the 1990s trial of O.J. Simpson is a cute, if limited, analogy: ubiquitous celebrity defendants in televised, saturation-news coverage trials with public opinion sharply divided between those who are certain of guilt and those who think the trial itself is an injustice. When Trump named Alan Dershowitz, a high-profile lawyer who was part of O.J.s legal Dream Team to his own defence squad, it just added another parallel. On Monday night, Dershowitz argued the eccentric legal opinion that abuse of power and obstruction of Congress are not impeachable offences. This is not a mainstream position among constitutional experts, and previous impeachment articles against presidents Nixon and Clinton included counts for abuse of power (though in the Clinton case that article was not passed in the House), and Nixons included obstruction of Congress. Still, it was clear as Trumps team wrapped its arguments Tuesday that the thrust of Dershowitzs argument that the conduct Trump is accused of doesnt rise to the level of impeachment may be among the most persuasive available to Trump. It is up to senators to judge the seriousness of the alleged transgressions and decide if they merit removing a president. In Clintons case, for example, the Senate concluded that his clear commission of perjury was of more personal than national significance. Saying Trumps actions are similarly unworthy of impeachment may have become an easier sell than saying he didnt do them. There is no question that the president asked Ukraines government to conduct investigations, even going so far as to name a political opponent as a desired target (read the transcript!). There is no doubt that $391 million in U.S. aid to Ukraine was held up without formal explanation. Some of those who worked for Trump and were appointed by him testified they thought the aid was tied to Ukraines announcing the investigations. EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland told Ukraine directly that that was the case. And now former national security adviser John Bolton whose potential testimony has been the key drama of the week writes in his soon-to-be-published book manuscript that Trump told him directly that the aid and the demand for investigations were linked, according to the New York Times. The trial may hear more evidence or may not, but the credibility of the claim that there was never a quid pro quo is now in tatters. Another Trump defence that may also prove persuasive draws still another parallel to the O.J. Simpson case that the prosecutors are bad guys who are just out to get him. Its almost a jury nullification type of defence, lawyer James McGovern told the New York Times last week. They want Republicans and the people inclined to vote their way to be comfortable with the decision based on some concept of unfairness. The term jury nullification gained exposure during the Simpson trial, when defence lawyers portrayed police as racists who were just out to get a Black defendant. The term is used by academics to describe jury acquittals in protest of unjust laws or prosecutions usually for minor offences even if the defendant is clearly guilty. Trump and his defenders are calling for jury nullification of a sort, portraying the impeachment process as a partisan sham and a witch hunt and viciously attacking those who have advanced it. His defenders say the only reason Democrats want to remove Trump from office is because they hate him. It will strike many as odd that anyone would consider Republicans the party in the U.S. that occupies the presidency as well as a majority of state governorships and the Senate as a persecuted class, but its a perception echoed by many Trump supporters, as well as a number of senators now in a position to decide Trumps fate Its hard to tell if Republican senators really believe that, or if they just say it because they know their voters believe it. Either way, its how you come up with He is our O.J. and at least part of why they expect Trumps trial will end the same way O.J.s did. Read more about: 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 18:14:49|Editor: yhy Video Player Close SOFIA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria's coalition government of the center-right GERB party and the nationalist United Patriots on Wednesday survived a fourth no-confidence motion in parliament. The motion was backed by 102 deputies of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, while 124 voted against it and nine abstained. The BSP filed the no-confidence motion on Jan. 20, accusing the government led by GERB Chairman Boyko Borissov of failure in its environmental and water policy. The other three no-confidence motions were filed in January, June and October 2018, due to the government's alleged inability to cope with corruption, security and healthcare issues. However, those efforts were also unsuccessful. All no-confidence motions in Bulgaria in the last 30 years were unsuccessful. : The Indian Coast Guard commissioned its new interceptor boat C-448 at the New Mangalore Port here on Wednesday. The boat was commissioned by state Chief Secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar in the presence of Commander, Coast Guard region (west) inspector general A P Badola and No. 3 Coast Guard district commander (Karnataka) DIG S S Dasila. NMPT chairman A V Ramana, Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner Sindhu B Rupesh and Mangaluru municipal corporation commissioner K Ajith Hegde were among those present on the occasion, a Coast Guard release here said. C-448 is a high speed interceptor boat (IB) built by L&T Shipyard. The vessel joining the Coast Guard fleet at New Mangalore will be deployed extensively for patrolling and rescue operations and other duties enshrined in the Coast Guard charter to safeguard the maritime interest of India. The 27.80 metre vessel has a displacement of106 tonnes. This water jet-propelled vessel has an endurance of 500 nautical miles at20 knots and is capable of doing speeds of upto 45 knots. The IB is fitted with the latest state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment designed for high speed interception, close coast patrol, low intensity maritime operations, search and rescue and maritime surveillance. The IB is capable of operating in shallow waters and deep seas. The quick reaction capability, coupled with modern equipment and system, provides it the capability to respond to any maritime situation. The C-448 has a crew of 12 personnel and is commanded by assistant commandant Apoorva Sharma. The IB will be based at New Mangalore under the administrative and operational control of the commander, Coast Guard region (west), the release said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) For more information about the selection process, visit www.latinfinance.com/dealsoftheyear Winning transactions and institutions Read more about the winners at www.latinfinance.com/dotywinners Sovereign Issuer of the Year Chile Corporate Issuer of the Year America Movil Sovereign Bond of the Year Peru Quasi-Sovereign Bond of the Year Pemex Corporate High-Grade Bond of the Year Grupo Bimbo Corporate High-Yield Bond of the Year YPF Sovereign Liability Management of the Year Mexico Corporate Liability Management of the Year Petrobras Initial Public Offering of the Year Cencosud Shopping Equity Follow-On of the Year MercadoLibre Private Equity Deal of the Year Actis: Atlantic Energias Renovaveis to CGN Venture Capital Deal of the Year Softbank investment in Rappi Cross-Border M&A Deal of the Year ENGIE buys Petrobras TAG Domestic M&A Deal of the Year Suzano buys Fibria Syndicated Loan of the Year Pemex Financing Innovation of the Year Fibra Uno Restructuring of the Year Mexico City Airport tender offer Local Currency Deal of the Year Peru Structured Financing of the Year Lima Metro Line 2 Law Firm of the Year: Argentina Tanoira Cassagne Abogados Law Firm of the Year: Brazil Mattos Filho Law Firm of the Year: Mexico Ritch Mueller Law Firm of the Year: Andes Garrigues Law Firm of the Year: LatAm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett Bond House of the Year Citi M&A House of the Year Bank of America Merrill Lynch Equity House of the Year JPMorgan Loan House of the Year HSBC 2020 award nominations Sign up to be notified when nominations for the 2020 Deals of the Year Awards, Banks of the Year Awards, and Project & Infrastructure Finance Awards open at www.latinfinance.com/awardalerts About LatinFinance LatinFinance is the leading global platform providing intelligence on the financial markets and economies of Latin America and the Caribbean. Drawing on 30 years of editorial excellence, its English-language publications deliver high-value information to an international readership of companies, governments, financiers and investors, while its events convene those communities for high-level networking forums focused on the dynamics of those markets, by geography and sector. Media contact: James Seyfried | [email protected] | +1 305.428.6284 SOURCE LatinFinance Related Links www.latinfinance.com In 2016, when the National Investigation Agency (NIA) sleuths swooped down on a clandestine meeting in north Keralas Kanakamala in Kannur, they were in for a shock. Inspired by the terror outfit Islamic State (IS), a group of youngsters had allegedly formed a collective called Al Zarul Khallefa to wage war against the country and foment trouble between different communities. And later, the NIA had named it as the first IS module in Kerala. The central agency later found that some of those arrested were members of the Popular Front of India (PFI). A couple of months after this, at least 22 people, including women and children, disappeared from a north Kerala village; intelligence officials believe they joined the IS in Afghanistan. After every round of communal trouble or busting of a terror module in the country, usually a name crops up these days - the Popular Front of India. After the raging protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA, and violence that followed, its name is back on intelligence radar. The demand for ban on PFI, which is often accused of radicalising Muslim youth and maintaining a steady relationship with some of the anti-national outfits, is getting louder now. But how did this organisation come up and what is the reason behind its pan-India presence in a short time? The Popular Front of India (PFI) was launched in Kerala in 2006 after merging three Muslim organizations floated after the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992 - the National Development Front of Kerala, Karnataka Forum for Dignity and Manitha Neethi Pasari of Tamil Nadu. After the demolition of the Babri mosque, many fringe outfits had surfaced in south India and PFI was formed after merging some of them. Now the PFI claims it has units in 22 states. Its growth is phenomenal, admit intelligence agencies, saying it successfully exploited a growing vacuum in the community donning the role of a saviour. The successful portrayal of the image helps PFI to mobilise funds, especially from the rich middle-eastern countries. The PFIs earlier headquarters was in Kozhikode, but after broadening of its base, it was shifted to Delhi. PFIs state president Nasaruddin Elamarom is one of the founding leaders of the outfit. And its all-India president E Abubaker also hails from Kerala. In Kerala, most of its erstwhile leaders were members of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). The PFI describes itself as a neo-social movement committed to empower people belonging to the minority communities, Dalits and other weaker sections of the society. In Kerala, a retired professor P Koya is considered as the tallest leader of the organisation. PFI has uniform and often conducts drills at public places. In 2013, the Kerala government had banned its freedom parade which it conducts on Independence Day every year after the police found its cadres were carrying stars and emblems on the uniform. On February 17 every year, it conducts unity marches in all district headquarters. It has cadre training centres in many districts and usually associates with many human rights organisations to get a sombre face, police officials say. Since its inception, the outfit had been mired in many clashes and political murders. It was allegedly involved in at least 30 political murders in Kerala. In 2015, 13 of its workers were awarded life-term for chopping the palm of a college professor T J Joseph who prepared a question paper alleged to be blasphemous. Two years ago, six PFI activists were held in connection with the murder of an ABVP leader in Kannur and nine were arrested for allegedly killing SFI leader Abhimanyu in Maharajas College in Ernakulam last year. In 2014, the Kerala government had submitted an affidavit in the High Court saying its activists were involved in at least 27 political murders, 86 attempt to murder cases and more than 125 cases for whipping up communal passions. When Hadiya Jehan case came up two years ago, Hadiya alias Akhilas father K Asokan had alleged that her husband Shefin Jehan was an active member of the PFI. Police later found that Akihla was converted in Sathya Sarani, a religious school being controlled by the PFI in Malappuram district. Its name had also cropped up in alleged cases of love jihad (an alleged activity through which girls belonging to one community are converted by feigning love). The PFIs belligerent and militant position on many issues attracted a lot of youngsters to it. To weaken the Muslim League, considered to be a secular party, some of the mainline political parties including CPI(M) supported it on several occasions. Now it has grown into a formidable force, said a political observer of north Kerala who did not want to be identified. But the PFI dismisses these allegations, saying most of the recent campaigns were aimed at distracting attention from burning issues. Now some TV channels and political parties are in a race to blame the PFI. They need a scapegoat and want to divert attention, said state general secretary of C P Muhammad Basheer. He said the recent statement of Union law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad that PFI cadres were seen on frontlines of anti-CAA protest in Uttar Pradesh was a big joke. We dont need any certificate from anyone. We strongly believe in Constitution of the country and its democracy. Live with dignity and without fear is our motto. We are here to empower the Muslim community, he said. You cant blame PFI citing minor aberrations, said Basheer adding that the latest campaign was orchestrated one and it wont succeed. He also dismissed reports that the PFI regularly conducts arms training for its cadres. In PFI organizational structure unit is the lowest followed by area and division and at the state level, the state executive council is the highest body. The party said in every three years it conducts elections to select office-bearers. In Kerala, the PFI also has a women wing, the National Womens Front, student wing Campus Front of India and a political party Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). In 2016 assembly elections, SDPI had contested in many seats but managed less than one per cent of votes in the state. It has tried its best to seize the support base of the Muslim League, an ally of the Congress for many years, but failed to yield results. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON By Lisa Richwine Jan 28 (Reuters) - Television viewership for the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history rose as President Donald Trump's attorneys began laying out their case for his acquittal by the Senate, according to Nielsen data released on Tuesday. An estimated 10.1 million people in the United States tuned in across six broadcast and cable networks on Saturday, the day Trump's legal team began arguing he had not committed any impeachable offenses in his dealings with Ukraine. The TV audience for the trial, which began on Jan. 21, had been steadily shrinking. Ratings peaked at about 11 million viewers who watched lawmakers spar over evidence and witnesses on opening day. They fell to 6.8 million last Friday as Democrats wrapped up their arguments against Trump, according to Nielsen. Trump, a former reality television star, complained on Twitter last week that his lawyers were being "forced to start on Saturday, which is called Death Valley in T.V." for its typically small audiences. Democrats have argued that the Republican president abused his power and obstructed Congress for pressuring Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, one of his potential Democratic opponents in November's election, and impeding the inquiry into the matter. Trump denies any wrongdoing and has slammed the impeachment process as a hoax. The Republican-controlled Senate is unlikely to vote to remove him from office, which requires a two-thirds majority. Trump's legal team ended its three days of defense arguments on Tuesday. Nielsen has not yet released ratings figures for this week's sessions. Six broadcast and cable networks have aired live coverage of the impeachment trial during the day. They are Walt Disney Co's ABC, AT&T Inc's CNN, ViacomCBS's CBS, Comcast Corp's NBC and MSNBC, and Fox Corp's Fox News. Cable channels are broadcasting the trial live in the evenings. The TV ratings do not include people who watched live coverage via online streaming or followed it via social media. (Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Peter Cooney) PISCATAWAY, New Jersey, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- IEEE, the world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for humanity, announces the launch of TechRxiv.org, a preprint server for the global technology community. TechRxiv.org is a collaborative multidisciplinary hub that will facilitate the open dissemination of scientific findings in electrical engineering, computer science and related technologies. This is the latest offering in IEEE's expanding publishing program, which provides authors with additional tools for enhancing their research, in support of open science. TechRxiv.org is a free repository that provides researchers across a broad range of fields the opportunity to share early results of their work ahead of formal peer review and publication. IEEE continues to provide researchers the opportunity to share early results and respond to comments and recommendations for improvement, ahead of formal peer review and publication. "IEEE is committed to open science, and TechRxiv.org enables researchers across diverse areas of discovery the opportunity to share early results and data with their fellow scientists and technologists prior to formal peer review and publication. Based on input from our authors, members and the engineering community at large, we developed an openly accessible preprint server specializing in engineering and technology for a worldwide audience," said Tapan K. Sarkar, Vice President, Publications, IEEE. TechRxiv.org will help drive the pace of scientific discovery and information dissemination by providing freely accessible, fully citable preliminary technical communications, each with their own unique digital object identifier (DOI). Preprint activity provides opportunities for collaboration and shapes ongoing studies with informal feedback from other researchers. Further, submission of articles prior to formal peer review and publication helps demonstrate prior art in research discoveries. 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IEEE encourages all researchers working in the fields of electrical engineering, computer science, and related technologies to submit their unpublished research to www.techrxiv.org . Related Links: https://www.techrxiv.org http://www.ieee.org https://ieeexplore.ieee.org About IEEE IEEE is the world's largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities, IEEE is the trusted voice in a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers, and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power, and consumer electronics. About IEEE Xplore Digital Library IEEE Xplore provides access to more than five million full-text documents from some of the world's most highly cited publications in electrical engineering, computer science, and electronics. It includes content from more than 180 IEEE journals and magazines, over 1,800 annual conferences, more than 3,900 active technology standards, 3,600 eBooks, and hundreds of eLearning courses. Media contacts: Francine Tardo +1 732 465 5865 f.tardo@ieee.org Monika Stickel +1 732 562 6027 m.stickel@ieee.org Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1017741/IEEE_Advanced_Technology_Logo_Logo.jpg Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE A proposal to legalize recreational marijuana in New Mexico began moving through the Senate on Tuesday, clearing its first legislative hurdle and opening debate on one of the most controversial bills of the session. The legislation, Senate Bill 115, would allow limited sales starting next year, with broader commercial sales authorized in 2022. The proposal passed its first Senate committee Tuesday on a party-line vote, with Democrats in favor. The proposal must clear two more committees before reaching the full Senate no sure thing in a chamber where some Democratic leaders have expressed reservations about legalization. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is throwing her weight behind the proposal this session, describing it as a sensible way to create thousands of jobs, generate revenue and regulate whats now a black market. In a hearing before the Senate Public Affairs Committee, supporters said legalization would also help address uneven law enforcement. The criminalization of cannabis disproportionately harms young people and people of color, Sen. Jacob Candelaria, D-Albuquerque, said Tuesday as he presented the legislation. Opponents, in turn, said now isnt the right time for the bill. They said it would erode employers right to maintain a drug-free workplace, make it more difficult to keep impaired drivers off the road and increase crime. One key problem, they said, is the lack of technology available to quickly determine intoxication levels similar to, say, a breath test for alcohol. The technology simply doesnt exist, said Terri Cole, president and CEO of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce. This creates serious challenges. The 173-page bill would establish a subsidy program to help low-income medical cannabis patients, create a roadside drug testing pilot project and allow sales of marijuana to adults ages 21 and older. Medical cannabis providers could sell to recreational users beginning Jan. 1 next year, if the Department of Health determines it wont harm the supply for people in the medical program. Broader commercial sales would start a year later, in 2022. A series of state, city and county taxes could be imposed on cannabis, with revenue set aside for a number of specific purposes, ranging from law enforcement to health and economic development. There are also provisions for expungement of past marijuana arrests and convictions. Candelaria, an attorney, said the lack of an accepted cannabis breath test similar to whats available for alcohol isnt a barrier to law enforcement. Police officers already are trained to detect impairment, and drivers can be convicted, for example, without a specific breath alcohol test. Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle, R-Portales, said he wasnt convinced the questions are settled. We have to be very, very careful where were going here the definitions, how we do this, Ingle said. The bill will head next to the Senate Judiciary Committee and, if passed there, move to the Finance Committee. This years push comes after a marijuana legalization bill narrowly passed the state House last year but stalled in the Senate. That proposal called for state-run cannabis stores, an idea not included in this years measure. Legislators last year, in any case, did agree to reduce penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana, making it a $50 civil citation, not a criminal conviction. The proposal passed Tuesday is jointly sponsored by Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino and Rep. Javier Martinez, both Albuquerque Democrats. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 29) The Bureau of Customs said it is on high alert regarding shipments of "ukay-ukay" or used clothing, amid the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak that has spread to several areas worldwide. Although the Department of Health (DOH) has not tagged clothes as possible carriers of the viral disease that originated in Wuhan, China, Customs officials said they are not taking any chances. "It doesn't hurt that we be vigilant about them... Right now, we're on very high alert on used clothing," Customs Assistant Commissioner Vincent Maronilla told reporters on Wednesday. READ: Simple ways to protect yourself from coronavirus The focus has been given to shipments coming from countries with confirmed cases of the Wuhan coronavirus. CNN International reported that 132 people died in China, with 6,056 confirmed cases worldwide as of Wednesday morning. In the Philippines, the DOH said there are no confirmed cases of the disease. However, authorities reported that a Chinese man being tested for the virus died in a hospital in Manila on Wednesday morning. The man reportedly had pneumonia and tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus. Maronilla added that by law, shipping used clothes and selling them in the Philippines is illegal. Republic Act 4653 signed in 1966 banned imported rags and used clothing to be sold here, in order to "maintain the dignity of the nation." READ: When ukay-ukay is more than a challenge Customs personnel added that they are guarding against the entry of "exotic" animals as well as other food items which could be carriers of the virus. Frontline examiners have also been directed to wear complete protective gear when going through products and cargo shipped from abroad. "We dont allow any importation of food products without the corresponding license coming from the Food and Drug Authority or the Department of Agriculture," Maronilla added. CNN Philippines Correspondent Ina Andolong contributed to this report. In one post, a fake security alert said two Ryerson University students had tested positive for coronavirus. In a viral WhatsApp message, a breathless warning not to visit a busy Markham mall an employee there had come down with the illness, it said. In another, an alert with a face mask emojji that claimed a coronavirus patient had visited a local supermarket. None of it true. As rumours and hoaxes about the global outbreak flood social media, officials are asking GTA residents to take a moment; dont trust everything you see, rely on official sources and think of who you might be hurting when you amplify unverified information. Much of it is already affecting the regions Chinese communities, said Avvy Go, the director of the Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic, one of several local organizations that on Tuesday released a joint statement denouncing discrimination and xenophobia in the wake of the global outbreak. The coronavirus is not isolated to people of one nationality or race, the statement read. This is a world health issue. The city, Go said, seems to have not learned the lessons of SARS. During that 2003 outbreak, which infected thousands worldwide and killed 44 people in Canada, the regions Chinese businesses suffered, employees lost their jobs and tenants were kicked out by their landlords. Go said shes worried that might be happening again. My fear is that even if it is just two to three more cases the fear is so irrational and its fuelled by the racism that already exists that it will still affect people of Chinese descent regardless. Hoaxes happened before Facebook and WhatsApp for example, in 2003 an email falsely linking a Scarborough Chinese restaurant to SARS managed to slow business to a crawl, the Star reported but theres no filter for people to spread at-times racist fear on social media, Go said, adding that anyone can post all kinds of unscientific nonsense, who to avoid, where to avoid, without consequence. Just like we have a plan to deal with the outbreak we should have a plan in place to deal with the outbreak of racism that goes with the virus, she said. Mathieu Poirier, assistant professor of social epidemiology at York University, said that a xenophobic or racist response is common following disease outbreaks. The epidemic of fear that follows the disease is just as dangerous, he said. Most dangerous, Poirier notes, is if people begin to fear seeking treatment due to the stigma attached to being ill. If people fear retribution against their family or community, he said, cases can go undetected and untreated. Dr. Eileen de Villa, Torontos medical officer of health, said officials understand there is a certain amount of fear and anxiety around the new virus, but it is worsened by the spread of disinformation. Social media has great power to spread information but it has great power to spread disinformation as well, she added, noting that people have begun showing up to emergency rooms or other health care settings with no symptoms, exposure or relevant travel history. As the news unfolds, De Villa urged people to consult credible sources of information, such as Toronto Public Healths own website. So far, Toronto health officials have confirmed two presumptive cases of the illness, a husband and wife who recently returned from Wuhan, China, where the outbreak began. Both individuals have been isolated: one is stable in hospital, the other is well and has been in self-isolation, officials said. In a statement, de Villa said Toronto Public Health has contacted most people the couple were in contact with since returning to the GTA, saying that progress with this demonstrates that the system is working well. TPH had also set up a hotline for people who travelled on China Southern Airlines flight CZ311, which arrived in Toronto from Guangzhou on Jan. 22. People who were on that flight can call 416-338-7600 with any questions. Ontario health officials said they are waiting on test results for another 11 people who recently travelled to affected areas in China. In China, the number of confirmed cases jumped Monday, passing 4,500 infections with more than 100 deaths. The disease has been confirmed in at least 18 other countries, but experts say it has so far not been seen to widely spread person to person outside China. Meanwhile, de Villa emphasizes that the risk to Toronto residents remains low. I want to remind residents that the best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to this virus with prevention measures including wash your hands frequently, covering your cough or sneeze and staying home if you are ill, she said in a statement Tuesday. Doctors and researchers are still looking into the viruss origins, how it reached humans, is transferred and what can be done to eradicate it, de Villa said. Those are the kinds of areas where theres some uncertainty and I think when there is some uncertainty, there is often fear and anxiety associated with that, she said. Thats where you see some misinformation. There has been no shortage of misinformation in the GTA so far: Markhams Markville mall, a short distance north of Toronto, has been the centre of viral WhatsApp messages about an outbreak of coronavirus at a jewelry store. Another message warned customers to stay away from multiple T&T Supermarkets, which sell wide selections of Asian foods. And a series of hoax messages have targeted GTA universities. There is absolutely no public health reason to be concerned about any of these places, de Villa said. Tuesday afternoon, employees at T&Ts Markham location, the subject of one false social media post, told the Star no one had fallen ill at the store. In the Markville Mall, employees at several businesses said they were aware a nearby store had been targeted in online rumours, and some said they were worried speculation might keep customers away. Meanwhile, most shoppers the Star spoke to were unaware that rumours had been circulating about the novel coronavirus at all. Janine Ramparas, a spokesperson for Markvilles parent company Cadillac Fairview, told the Star in an email shes aware there are a few rumours circulating at the (shopping) centre, none of which have been validated. That said, we will continue to be vigilant and monitor. At the malls Shoppers Drug Mart, a display of hand sanitizer was down to just a few bottles; an employee told the Star the location had been out of face masks since the weekend. At the Walmart, a sign advised that face masks were sold out and to check back at a later date. By Rasana Gasimova Azerbaijans Agency for Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) has opened a new Friend of SMEs center in Kurdamir region. Friend of SMEs center serve as a mechanism to help identify and implement initiatives of SMEs. Representatives of SMEs Development Agency, local executive authorities, as well as entrepreneurs participated at the opening ceremony of the center. Speaking at the event, the chairman of the board of SMEs Development Agency Orkhan Mammadov informed the participants about the activities of the agency to support SMEs, as well as the services provided by Friend of SMEs to entrepreneurs in the regions. He invited entrepreneurs to actively cooperate with the center. He emphasized that Friend of SMEs network will continue to expand in 2020 to cover several more cities and regions of the country. The head of the Kurdamir region Executive Power Ceyhun Jafarov briefed on the socio-economic development and entrepreneurship in the region, noting that Friend of SMEs will be a useful support mechanism for entrepreneurs and startups. The participants got acquainted with conditions created in the newly opened Friend of SMEs center for receiving applications from entrepreneurs and providing services within the mechanisms of state support. It was noted that just like in other Friend of SMEs center, the SMEs volunteers will also operate in the Kurdamir office. The center opened in Kurdamir is the 21th Friend of SMEs center opened in the country. The activities of the Friends of SMEs are focused on a regions' development potential through the creation of new SMEs and the development of the existing ones. Another key aspect of Friends of SMEs' activity is the provision of SMEs with multiple supports for their sustainable development needs. Presently, Friends of SMEs are operating in 14 cities and regions of the country, and entrepreneurs from surrounding areas can also use their services. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Amid opposition walkout, Kerala Governor reads out 'anti-CAA' para in assembly India oi-Madhuri Adnal Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 29: Kerala Governor Mohammed Arif Khan on Wednesday read out the references on the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) resolution, passed by the state assembly, while presenting his policy address of the Left government in the House. Khan, who has been at loggerheads with the government over the resolution passed by the assembly and the petition moved in the Supreme court against the law, said though he has his "reservations and disagreement" over the subject, he would read paragraph 18 of the policy address, to "honour" the Chief Minister's wish. Kerala CM leads 620 km human chain against Citizenship Law Reading out the the anti-CAA stand of the state government, he said "our citizenship can never be on the basis of religion as this goes against the grain of secularism which is part of the basic structure of the constitution". Meanwhile, in an unprecedented move, opposition Congress led UDF MLAs blocked Kerala Governor inside the state assembly on Wednesday with 'go back' slogans and placards against the Citizenship Amendment Act. The incident took place when Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan ushered Khan to the assembly hall for presenting the policy address. Nirbhaya Case: Convict Akshay Kumar Singh files curative petition in SC | Oneindia News Though the CM and the Speaker repeatedly tried to appease the agitating opposition members, they didn't budge and continued to raise slogans against Khan and his stand in support of CAA. After nearly 10 minutes of protest, watch and ward personnel removed the opposition members using force and cleared the governor's way to the dias. As soon as the Governor reached the dias, the national anthem was played but the opposition members gathered at the well of the House and started the 'Governor go back' slogans soon after it's completion. When khan began his policy address, the opposition members walked out of the assembly hall raising slogans. After boycotting the policy address, they staged a sit in protest at the gate of the Assembly. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, January 29, 2020, 10:57 [IST] DENVER, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Marijuana Business Daily a media and events company that produces the world's largest and most trusted cannabis business trade show, MJBizCon has acquired Emerald Scientific's The Emerald Conference, the most advanced technical and comprehensive science conference in the cannabis industry. Since 2016, MJBizDaily has partnered with Emerald Scientific to produce the Science Symposium pre-conference event at MJBizCon. That partnership created the foundation for the acquisition, which allows MJBizDaily to immediately increase its reach in cannabis science and research. "We believe science needs to be the backbone of the cannabis sector and that it will become a much bigger part of the industry, from the business side to regulations to healthcare to the international landscape. This acquisition ensures we will play a leading role in making that happen and fostering growth," said Chris Walsh, CEO of MJBizDaily. "The Emerald Conference has become the go-to event for scientists, related businesses, researchers and healthcare professionals. We will now take it to next level." MJBizDaily plans to expand and enhance the conference, boost education and networking opportunities, and drive science and research forward. The company will bolster its reach in the science community in other ways as well, leveraging its digital publishing assets, event portfolio and additional resources to provide content, knowledge sharing, networking opportunities and information on the latest research via a variety of formats and mediums. "We're bullish about the future of science in the cannabis industry, and it syncs up nicely with our current offerings as well as other growth areas MJBiz is pursuing, most notably hemp and the global cannabis sector," noted Walsh. Under the terms of the deal, Emerald Scientific will consult with MJBizDaily on science content and events as part of a multi-year partnership. It also will continue to have a prominent presence at The Emerald Conference and other science-related events that MJBizDaily produces. "This is more than an acquisition it's a strategic partnership that allows us to incorporate Emerald Scientific's though leadership and market insights," Walsh said. Ken Snoke, Founder of Emerald Scientific, notes "Soon after founding Emerald Scientific as a scientific products distributor, we hosted the first Emerald Conference in response to scientists looking for a venue to share their work, meet new colleagues, and identify and evaluate technical products critical to their progress. Now as we approach the 6th annual event, the growth of the conference requires an organization with a focus on bringing content and events to the industry. We're absolutely thrilled to hand the baton to MJBiz to lead this event into the future." Tickets are still available for The 6th Annual Emerald Conference which will take place February 26-29, 2020 at Loews Coronado Bay Resort, San Diego. It is expected to draw 800 more attendees than last year. MJBizDaily will work with the Emerald Scientific team on this upcoming conference and assume operational control of the event on March 1, 2020. Emerald Scientific will continue operations as usual of Emerald Scientific, The Emerald Test and Emerald Consulting. Kronos Capital Partners acted as Financial Advisor to Emerald Scientific. About Marijuana Business Daily Marijuana Business Daily is the leading B2B resource for the medical marijuana and retail cannabis industry. Founded in 2011, it is the most trusted independent publisher and event producer serving America's cannabis industry entrepreneurs and investors. They produce America's oldest and largest cannabis trade show: Marijuana Business Conference & Expo (MJBizCon), held in Las Vegas every year. The 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 events were each named to the Fastest 50 growing trade shows in North America by Trade Show Executive Magazine. The 2019 MJBizCon attendance is expected to reach more than 35,000, December 11-13, 2019. For more information, please visit https://mjbizdaily.com/ About Emerald Scientific Emerald Scientific is the leading supplier of scientific equipment and supplies to the cannabis/hemp industry. Emerald brings more than 15,000 dedicated products specific to the industry with unmatched technical expertise, while also offering a supply chain of nearly one million general science and lab products, providing efficiency and exceptional value for test labs, extractors, manufacturers, and vertically integrated producers. As an industry partner, Emerald Scientific created the "Emerald Test," which is an inter-laboratory comparison and proficiency test for cannabis testing labs, and founded the Emerald Conference in 2014, the most advanced, comprehensive and technical event in the cannabis industry. To learn more, please visit www.emeraldscientific.com. Media Contact: Tess Woods [email protected] 617.942.0336 SOURCE Marijuana Business Daily Related Links https://mjbizdaily.com When squeamish media liberals talk about the Russia dossier, they dont describe its content pretending some kind of discretion. But squeamish liberalism is also a contradiction in terms. Director Kantemir Balagov confronts this hypocrisy in the new film Beanpole, Russias entry for this years Best International Film Oscar, now playing at Film Forum. Balagovs story takes place in 1945 in Leningrad, after Nazi Germanys four-year siege of the city, but his focus on two women who fought together in World War II and their post-war personal and social readjustment has a modern, nightmarish feel. It is clearly a response to contemporary spiritual crisis and sexual upheaval. Balagovs anguished facial close-ups and stark nudity show Russian womanhood sexual attraction, reproduction, marriage, and survival issues with a combination of horror-movie intensity and art-movie flourish. In the first scene, tall, thin Iya (Viktoria Miroshnichenko), whose short blond hair and pale eyelashes look almost albino, stands in the middle of a veterans hospital ward going through a catatonic fit. She jerks her head, tenses her jaw, and utters throaty choking noises. Her squeamish condition carries a sense of outrage. Iya is unable to repair her life; shes one of Russias walking wounded and soon commits a monstrous act that we learn is not her first or last. Iya copes with the wars emotional devastation alongside short, auburn Masha (Vasilisa Perelygina), a sexual aggressor who taunts Iya as well as her male comrades. Masha is prone to nosebleeds when stressed even during sex a symptom of her own psychological and physical trauma. War-scarred, barren Masha fixates on bonding with Iya through Iyas ability to conceive; competition between this odd couple culminates in a menage a trois with the hospitals director Nikolay (Andrey Bykov). The scene of their triangulated pathologies (desperation, shame, lovelessness) is startling so squeamish and outrageous that it strikes the modern political imagination as something momentous: an art-house proxy for that unmentionable dossier moment. Its the unlikely and the obscene made visible. Story continues Balagovs three-way suggests what Rolling Stone, part of the liberal #Resistance media, termed kompromat (compromising material). It also portrays activity that Slate, when speculating about the content of the Russian dossier as an effective political weapon, hoped would be extraordinarily damaging. Thank God that these squeamish media projections backfired, exposing the dirty-minded hypocrisy of those who would concoct or welcome the salacious content. Slates complaint (defiling the bed where the Obamas had slept) reveals the real offense the sort that might come only from an Obamaniacs fevered imagination. Thus, Balagovs orgy scene becomes a symbol for all the perversions that the corrupt Left promotes, defends, or weaponizes at will. A Russian art-movie undergoes a litmus test when it plays in American territory. The title Beanpole, a pejorative for Iyas malnourished citizenship, means less to us literally than it does metaphorically. (Its easy to imagine a closer-to-home Hollywood remake starring art-movie scammers Tilda Swinton, Emma Stone, and Daniel Day-Lewis, fulfilling mainstream medias fantasies.) Balagovs visual design (contrasting vivid green and red against dark or desiccated backgrounds) conceptualizes dystopia, same as many other dispirited social critiques: Think Joker made with style. His best scene Masha meets the mother of a weak soldier (Igor Shirokov) she schemes to marry simplifies national tension from the two womens opposite wartime experiences. The conflict between honesty and delusion distills the point of a fractious society that barely holds itself together. Beanpole is a Russian dossier that damns its source as well as its target. More from National Review The advertising industry's most powerful trade associations are sending a joint letter Wednesday morning to California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, asking to delay the office's enforcement of the California Consumer Protection Act, or CCPA. The groups sending the letter are the Association of National Advertisers, American Association of Advertising Agencies (known as the 4A's), the American Advertising Federation, the Interactive Advertising Bureau and the Network Advertising Initiative. They were sending a letter to Becerra's office Wednesday requesting him to delay the enforcement of the new privacy law, which went into effect on Jan. 1 and deals with how large companies are allowed to collect and use data of California residents. In the Wednesday letter, the groups said the regulations are not yet final, leaving their members and other businesses "uncertain concerning their ultimate compliance obligations." They wrote that given the law's complexity and the issues requiring clarity, there won't be enough time for businesses to implement the final regulations before July 1. "We therefore ask you to delay enforcement of the CCPA until at least six months from the date of finalization of the rules implementing the law, in order to provide businesses a sufficient time period to implement the new regulations before being subject to enforcement," the letter said. Businesses are subject to CCPA if they meet the requirements of having gross annual revenue of more than $25 million; buy, receive or sell the personal information of 50,000 or more consumers, households or devices in California; or derive 50% or more annual revenue from selling consumers' personal information. The company doesn't need to be in California, but is subject to the law if it collects personal information from residents there. Though the law went into effect earlier this month, it technically isn't being enforced yet. Sarah Lovenheim, special assistant for strategic communications for Becerra's office, said in early January that businesses that meet the thresholds spelled out under CCPA "should be prepared to adhere to the law now." For noncompliance, companies will be required to pay $2,500 per violation if unintentional and $7,500 if intentional. Businesses and other parties were able to submit comments about the regulations during public hearings, by mail or over email until last month. CCPA's rules are technically subject to change until comments are considered. The ad trade groups were among those who provided comments on the rules, citing concerns about negative consequences proposed regulations could create for consumers and businesses. The letter said the CCPA's draft rules require actions like requiring businesses to notify third parties it has sold personal information on a consumer to within 90 days, and instructing them not to further sell that information, once the business receives an "opt-out" request from a consumer. The groups call that requirement "new and unprecedented." And businesses do have some questions about how to interpret certain elements of CCPA. Peloton, for instance, has said it doesn't completely understand what CCPA means when it refers to the "sale" of personal information. "California residents have the right to opt out of our disclosures of Personal Information that we have disclosed to third parties for valuable consideration (which may be considered 'sales' under California law even if no money is exchanged)," the company writes in its California privacy notice. "What is covered as a 'sale' under California law is not yet clear, but we currently do not 'sell' your information as we understand it. However, Peloton respects and understands that you may still want to ensure your personal information is not sold." It offers a form for residents in California wishing to exercise their "Do Not Sell" rights. Even beyond California law, privacy regulations are becoming the new normal. Becerra's office didn't immediately return request for comment. Two of the groups involved in the letter to Becerra's office also recently criticized Google's announcement that it would end third-party cookie support in its Chrome browsers within two years, which could harm their ability to track users' browsing histories. The ANA and the 4A's released a statement asking Google to commit to not imposing the moratorium on third-party cookies until "effective and meaningful alternatives are available." Follow @CNBCtech on Twitter for the latest tech and advertising industry news. Andrew Gimsons PMQs sketch: Johnson discovers the merits of brevity, and says nothing against hypocrisy Boris Johnson has discovered the advantages of brevity. It is not only a good idea, at PMQs, to ask brief questions, which give the PM the minimum time to think. It is also a good idea for the PM to give brief answers, by saying yes to whatever part of the question lends itself most readily to a whole-hearted affirmative, while ignoring the rest of it. So when Derek Thomas (Con, St Ives) asked to come and see the Prime Minister about the shortage of dentists in Cornwall, Johnson just replied: Im very happy to meet my honourable friend at any time. The dental aspect of the question had been avoided, or postponed, but everyone was happy. Thomas can tell his constituents he is seeing the PM, and the rest of us have not had our time wasted by hearing Johnson expatiate on the importance he attaches to the welfare of Cornish teeth. Jeremy Corbyn produced a Tory cheer by declaring, This Friday the UK will be leaving the European Union. More happily, Corbyn remembered the late Nicholas Parsons. Johnson agreed, unrealistically, that it was good to avoid hesitation, repetition or deviation. Caroline Lucas, for the Greens, proceeded to raise the bar to a quite impossible level by demanding an end to hypocrisy. She said Britain will not be taken seriously until it stops ploughing foreign aid into the development of fossil fuels. Johnson tacked the easy bit of this, assuring the House that not one penny will be going into digging out coal. He said no word about hypocrisy, without which politics would become unsustainable. No politician can avoid the need to don at frequent intervals the mask of virtue, and pretend to an even greater devotion to carbon neutrality, or dental services in Cornwall, than he or she happens at that particular moment to feel. Siobhan Baillie (Con, Stroud) invited Johnson to come and see our famous flamboyant flamingos at Slimbridge, in her constituency. This was not a difficult question. Johnson said he would love to come and see her famous flamboyant flamingos at the earliest opportunity. Here is a can-do PM, who points out when Corbyn is being negative, but does even that in an almost affectionate manner. The Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, delivered a short statement in which he promised, in effect, not to behave like his predecessor, John Bercow, and defy standing orders. Oh brave new world, that has such people in it. Current Health Collaborates with Mass General Hospital to Reduce Maternal Mortality Rates in Sub-Saharan Africa Current Health, which offers the leading FDA-cleared, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered patient management platform, today announced that it will collaborate with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) in a study aimed at reducing maternal deaths and severe complications following cesarean delivery in Sub-Saharan Africa. Through the initiative - funded by the National Institutes of Health and led by Adeline Boatin, MD, MPH, lead investigator and physician in the department of Obstetrics, Gynecology at MGH, and Joseph Ngonzi, MBChB, senior lecturer in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine at MUST - Current Health will provide its patient management platform to healthcare providers at Uganda's Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital. Providers will use Current Health's solution to more closely manage patients after cesarean delivery with the goal of improving detection of potential crisis following childbirth. Together, Current Health, MGH and MUST aim to provide improved care to 1,235 women in the first 12-24 months of the study. In sub-Saharan Africa, a woman faces a 1 in 37 chance of dying due to pregnancy or childbirth-related complication, the highest maternal mortality rate globally. This accounts for more than two-thirds of all maternal deaths worldwide each year. Many of these deaths are preventable, especially those that occur within 24 hours of a cesarean delivery. But with an extreme shortage of healthcare providers - in 2013, sub-Saharan Africa had a deficit of an estimated 1.8 million health workers - detecting childbirth issues before they become crises can be extremely challenging. With a focus on using technology and innovation to identify patients at risk of deterioration - especially in environments with a poor staff-to-patient ratio - Current Health is uniquely positioned to tackle this pervasive issue. The Current Health platform provides real-time patient data to healthcare providers, enabling doctors and nurses to monitor a patient's condition no matter where they are located. With this information, healthcare providers can prioritize care to those at the highest risk of deterioration. "Ensuring that all women have access to quality healthcare no matter where they live is deeply important," said Dr. Boatin. "By studying the use of patient management technology, we hope to identify the role it may play in improving healthcare in resource-limited settings and preventing maternal death and complications." "Current Health's mission is to create a world where no one dies from a preventable death and where healthcare is proactive, not reactive," said Chris McCann, CEO, Current Health. "With this study, we immediately recognized an opportunity to make an enormous and positive impact on healthcare in this region. Our technology may be ideally suited to the rural environment of sub-Saharan Africa, monitoring the vitals of postpartum women to ensure they remain in stable condition after giving birth. With Drs. Boatin and Ngonzi and their team, we believe that we can have an incredible impact." To learn more about Current Health and its integrated platform, visit www.currenthealth.com. About Current Health Current Health provides the leading FDA-cleared, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered patient management platform. Driven by continuous wearable and wireless vital signs monitoring, as well as an ecosystem of integrations and patient engagement tools, Current Health's platform offers healthcare providers the real-time insights they need to make proactive and informed decisions about patient care. As a result, providers can improve patient outcomes and experiences, while reducing the cost of healthcare delivery. For more information, visit https://www.currenthealth.com/ and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005178/en/ Robert Pattinson takes direction from director Robert Eggers for The Lighthouse (Universal Pictures/A24) The Lighthouse is a very unique experience. Its a black and white period art film, shot on archaic equipment in an obscure aspect ratio, about two lighthouse keepers slowly going mad, from the director of 2015s arthouse horror The Witch. Its dark and intense, but it also riotously funny, featuring the kind of fart jokes youd find in an Adam Sandler movie. Oh, and it has two of cinemas biggest stars in the lead roles: Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe. One of those stars, Hollywood heartthrob and future Batman Robert Pattinson, recently talked about wetting himself for real on set as part of his dedication to his craft. Its his process, director Robert Eggers tells Yahoo Movies UK. Im not asking for it, but if were getting what we need to tell the story, and hes not hurting anybody then, please, be my guest: pee your pants. Yahoo Movies UK spoke to Eggers about how he brought his singular vision to the big screen, what he thinks of the homoerotic readings of the film, and we got some clues about how to solve the mystery of his strange movie. So, shove on your sailors cap matey, grab a bottle of grog, and watch out for those pesky seagulls... Yahoo Movies UK: How did you get this level of creative control on your second film? Robert Eggers: To be very honest, it was a little bit of a perfect storm. I was trying to make some larger studio movies that I was contractually obligated to do. I wanted to make them. I really did. They were things that I had written, so I was really passionate about them, and spent tonnes of time working on them. Blood, sweat and tears - whatever, it was very painful that they didnt get made. But, eventually, I felt that the studio wasnt compromising. They felt I wasnt compromising, and probably thats true. But there you go. A24 and RT Features wanted to work with me again, and Regency [Enterprises] and I had been talking for a long time, we wanted to find something. So, when it seemed that these things were falling apart, people were excited to work with me, frankly. Its embarrassing to say, Im very privileged, after the success of The Witch, they were down to do something that was fairly modestly budgeted. Story continues I could see the potential disaster of these things that I wanted to make on the horizon, so I said to my brother, Max, weve got to have something in the back pocket, so we wrote The Lighthouse. So, I think they were kinda like, Oh, this is what you want to make next? Okaaaaay. The Lighthouse (Universal Pictures/A24) Obviously there was a time when everyone said Are you sure its not in colour? Are you sure we cant shoot digitally? It takes some convincing. But I think my luck spirits were with me, what can I tell you? I dont know. It takes work, it takes convincing. Michael Schaefer, who I absolutely love at Regency, called me a week before production and said I think this aspect ratio is a really bad move, Im sorry. Ive been thinking about it, and Im happy about the black and white negative, but Im looking at the location and how great the sets are, and you dont want to shoot this in CinemaScope, dont you think thats going too far, and trying too hard, and its too fussy, and people are going to hate it? Read more: Robert Pattinson's method of crying on screen is pretty gross I talked to him for about forty minutes on the phone about why, and in the end he was Okay, just get off the phone. Sometimes thats what it takes. Schaefer also gave me some other notes that I didnt always want to hear that were really good, by the way. In the Q&A at the Cannes screening, someone compared the film to Bergman and Tarkovsky, and you made a joke saying theyd think it was dumb. I know it was a joke, but why would you say that? This isnt a dumb film, its poetic cinema in the tradition of the European stuff The Lighthouse (Universal Pictures/A24) I think Bergman would get behind it, I do, I do. I think that he would get that my flagrant choices, my juvenile choices, my grotesque, scatalogical, over-the-top, ham-fisted, deliberately stupid choices had intention behind them. It is a funny film, I wasnt expecting that. If he liked the movie, theres a chance hed get behind it. Tarkovsky, its just not for him. Come on, you know its not for him. Yes and no, it has poetic elements that hed love, the water... the fart jokes maybe not so much. He was part of the reason I wanted this to be funny. Now, this is going to make me sound like a real schmuck, but I was reading Dostoevsky and I was thinking Andrei [Tarkovsky] learn from your boy! I dont think The Witch works unless it takes itself so seriously, I feel like it needed to be like that, and Im not saying Michael Haneke isnt a good filmmaker because he makes humourless films hes a great filmmaker but something about The Witch, maybe because its a first feature, the self-seriousness almost felt juvenile also. A still from Robert Eggers' first feature The Witch. (Universal Pictures) I felt that if were going to explore misery again, we need to be able to laugh at it. And so the idea is you get your ticket, you see the opening sequence and think Oh no, Im in a Hungarian arthouse movie and I cant get out and then Dafoe farts and we see that there might be some light at the end of the tunnel. The foghorn sound stayed in my head for about a day after the film, it was just going round and round in my head. I also like the way the title becomes an optical illusion when you cut to white I dont know if I like that, but it is just a fact. Thats interesting, I was going to ask if those psychological tricks were in your mind when you were making the film, I guess not in terms of the title, but Director Robert Eggers, from left, actors Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson pose for portrait photographs for the film 'The Lighthouse' at the 72nd international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Sunday, May 19, 2019. (Photo by Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP) The foghorn, yes. And the first image is meant to be disorientating, we have this Petzval lens and youre looking at the opening image and its just mud - What is this? - and suddenly it becomes clear, and also, youre expecting to see a lighthouse and you see a boat [laughs]. In an Esquire profile, Robert Pattinson says he wet himself for real making the film what was that like to shoot? I didnt know hed wet himself, because everything was so wet, I couldnt see anything, and it smelled terrible, so I didnt know that. But he also talks about gagging himself, and I saw that a lot. And, you know, its his process. Im not asking for it, but if were getting what we need to tell the story, and hes not hurting anybody then, please, be my guest: pee your pants. Can you talk a little bit about the homoeroticism in the film, thats something I responded to and its definitely there. Yeah, two men, trapped in a giant phallus, theres going to be pent-up erotic energy with nowhere to go. Theres a difference between homoeroticism and homosexuality, but both of those things play a hand in whats going on here. Its complicated. And sexuality has a lot to do with power dynamics. I cant get too on the nose with it, the movie does it enough [laughs]. Pattinsons a bit of a guardian angel when it comes to indie movies, did his presence help get it funded, or were you already okay? Everyone was really happy with Robert and Willem for this movie. Everyone was clear it was the best cast you could ask for. It was the only cast I wanted or considered, and people felt good about it. As they should! Youre an auteur, youre not going to answer this directly Well, Im trying. You are. There are going to be so many YouTube videos analysing this film, could you give them any clues, even if theyre oblique, giving them the key to understanding or unlocking this film? The Lighthouse (Universal Pictures/A24) Theres no key to the movie, theres no You know, I read some essays about Lost Highway and Mulholland Drive, and I was Oh, that really makes sense - now I dont like it as much. (laughs) Do you know what I mean? I want questions more than answers. But look up Proteus and the island of Pharos, thats not going to be the key to understanding the movie, but you might learn something. Whats next for you? Is Nosferatu still happening, or is it The Knight? That has Tarkovsky potential The version of The Knight I was cooking up, he wouldnt have liked. But if I end up making the movie, he might be more interested in how I would change it. Im getting ready for something, bringing the whole team back again, the heads of department. But until Im on set saying action, I cant be certain. And I said all these titles, Rasputin as well [Eggers is working on HBO miniseries] theres nothing wrong with it, Guillermo del Toro says titles all the time, that dont materialise, and I could make that choice and thats fine, but I dont want to. Im sticking to the past, and mythology and folklore and fairytales and religion, thats where Im at home. A contemporary movie would be so boring, because I love to research. If I did a contemporary movie Id be looking at millions of wallpaper swatches unnecessarily, to occupy my time, so I have to hang out where I like to hang out. The Lighthouse is in UK cinema on 31 January. Watch a trailer below. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told a news conference Wednesday the country's national airline Qantas would evacuate "isolated and vulnerable" Australians at risk from coronavirus in China and quarantine them on Christmas Island. The big picture: Authorities would prioritize evacuating children and elderly people in the virus-hit city of Wuhan to the island, an Australian territory some 870 miles from Indonesia notorious for its now-closed refugee detention center. Citizens would also be evacuated from China's Hubei province, Morrison said. It's a joint evacuation with New Zealand, which has about 50 affected citizens. Australia has 600. Go deeper: Jodie Foster has a promising new project in her hands. The 57-year-old Oscar-winning actress will direct a drama based on the true story of how Leonardo DaVincis iconic painting the Mona Lisa was stolen in 1911, according to a Wednesday report from Deadline. The movie is based on the book The Day They Stole the Mona Lisa by Seymour Reit. Busy lady: Jodie Foster has a promising new project in her hands; seen in June in Hollywood How the Mona Lisa got so famous: The 57-year-old Oscar-winning actress will direct a drama based on the true story of how Leonardo DaVincis iconic painting the Mona Lisa was stolen in 1911, according to Deadline The painting was stolen from the Louvre in Paris. Three Italian handymen waited inside a supply closet then came out when the visitors had left. They managed to walk out with the painting and even its frame and protective glass. The trio left the city via subway without being stopped. It was gone for 28 hours before it was found. DaVinci painted the Mona Lisa in the 16th century but it did not become a masterpiece until the late 19th century. 'This happened in 1911, and it was the thing that made the Mona Lisa so famous,' producer Jeffrey Soros of Los Angeles Media Fund told Deadline while in Park City in Utah. Big role: Foster is best known for playing Clarice Starling in the 1991 film The Silence Of The Lambs with Anthony Hopkins and Scott Glenn 'It was developed by Phoenix, which is still involved, but we have got a whole new script that Bill Wheeler is writing for Jodie Foster to direct. 'This is in the mold of The Thomas Crown Affair, with The Sting also a plot device comp. 'It is a fun story, and the crime itself is not sophisticated. Our story mixes truth and fiction, and the focus is on the characters behind orchestrating the theft.' The man behind the movie: 'This happened in 1911, and it was the thing that made the Mona Lisa so famous,' producer Jeffrey Soros of Los Angeles Media Fund told Deadline while in Park City in Utah; seen on January 23 The film is being financed by the Los Angeles Media Fund which is overseen by Soros and Simon Horsman. Foster is a former child actress who starred in Martin Scorsese's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974) as well as Taxi Driver (1976) then attended Yale. She is best known for playing Clarice Starling in the 1991 film The Silence Of The Lambs with Anthony Hopkins and Scott Glenn. Her other major roles include Contact in 1997 and Inside Man in 2006. She is married to Alexandra Hedison and has two children. US President Donald Trump will visit the Sabarmati Riverfront in Gujarat during his India trip in February, the state Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said on Wednesday. Rupani said this while addressing an election rally in north Delhi's Shastri Nagar. "In the entire Asia, the Sabarmati river has become the cleanest river which was ensured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Prominent leaders like Japan and Israel prime ministers also visited the riverfront and got surprised to see it. "US President Trump will also come (to India) in February and he will also visit the riverfront," the Gujarat chief minister said. However he did not specify the dates. Earlier this month, government sources said Indian and US officials were engaged in talks to finalise the dates for Trump's visit to India. "Both sides are in discussions to finalise the dates," a source said. Trump's two-day visit to India could take place on February 24-26. India had invited Trump to grace the Republic Day parade as the chief guest last year but the US president could not come due to scheduling issues. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Why do we need more nature in our lives? In the Era of Technologies, our lives have become extremely busy, and let's face it - kind of meaningless. We are too focused on the virtual world and material possessions. Even with our holidays, we often spend the time on our phones to take pictures, chat with our friends, or even work. And that's not that bad, unless it's all we do. Being stuck in the virtual world is affecting us more than we realize. The result is that we are detached from nature, leaving us feeling empty inside. The missing relationship with the natural environment and other living species is already affecting our physical and mental health. With many suffering from stress, anxiety, depression, feeling overwhelmed and unfulfilled. Nature elevates the spirit! Statistically, we live in the best of all possible worlds, but we see that people are unhappier than previous generations. And guess what? Nature has the potential to change all of this - it has a positive effect on our mental health, relationships, and physical strength. Spending time surrounded by nature is just what we need in a world dominated by the artificial. Immerse in the natural world and feel that positive energy. You'll be surprised how a healthy environment can improve your physical and psychological well-being. The challenge is that most people live in the city, where it's difficult to find a relaxing spot in nature. Why not use our holiday time to go back to the natural world? More and more people are looking for places to interact with nature, to reconnect with their inner self and have a meaningful and sustainable holiday. Do you like meditating in nature? Or just have a picnic with your family, listening to the sound of chirping birds, and enjoying the sunny weather? We know where you can do it without being bothered by others. Holidays in nature - where to book? The Dutch platform Nature.house has an inspiring collection of remote holiday homes that are surrounded by fields, rivers, lakes, forests, mountains, and just stunning vistas from the unspoiled nature around. Always away from the crowds and mass tourism. From tranquil bungalows near the sea, to cozy wooden chalets in the middle of the woods, there is something for everyone. Escape from the urban jungle to find some peace and quietness in nature. Or go for a wild adventure in the wildlife of Europe... Whatever you need for your getaway in nature. Are you ready to get away from it all? Start by visiting their website - www.nature.house, to the perfect nature house for your type of holiday. Then you can plan all your favorite activities in nature. Solo holidays for your hideaway, romantic getaways to some of the most beautiful hidden spots in the European nature, family trips for a fun and relaxing time with your loved ones, or adventurous journeys filled with fun activities like kayaking, climbing, or hiking. One of the best ways to stay in nature is by renting a glamping accommodation. Tents, yurts, caravanas, treehouses... These homes will embellish your stay in the living world with authenticity and charm. Simple, but cozy, the glamping accommodation can help you focus on the living environment outside. You will easily forget about your troubles, because you will be tempted to spend all your time in the greater outdoors. If this is how you imagine your stay in nature, find some more of the adventurous glamping homes of Nature house here: www.nature.house/glamping. In the beautiful Sweden, for example, you can rent one-of-a-kind treehouses above the ground, for a truly magical stay. If you visited their website to look for a home in nature, then you probably love wildlife and the living environment. In that case, you might be happy to learn that by booking one of their homes you are contributing to the conservation of nature. How? Well, for each night you spend in a nature house they are planting one tree. And for each subscription to our newsletter too! Learn more about their sustainable initiative here: www.nature.house/sustainability. If you want that close touch with nature, Nature.house is the best place for you to book a holiday. Unique, sustainable, secluded from the outside world, their cozy houses in nature feel just like home. It will be a holiday to remember. Capitalizing on its expertise in the distribution, development and manufacturing of in vitro diagnostic tests, Theradiag innovates and develops theranostics tests (combining treatment and diagnosis) that measure the efficiency of biotherapies in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer. Theradiag is thus participating in the development of customized treatment, which favors the individualization of treatments, the evaluation of their efficacy and the prevention of drug resistance. Theradiag notably markets the Lisa Tracker range (CE marked), which is a comprehensive multiparameter theranostic solution for patients with autoimmune diseases treated with biotherapies. The Company is based in Marne-la-Vallee, near Paris, and has over 60 employees. 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. Nguyen Thi Cuc carries ice blocks and does other menial jobs to support her family. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Ngoan. In a small fishing village in central Thanh Hoa Province, locally known as the 'village of widows', women earn a living by lugging ice blocks. Unlike other Vietnamese, women in Ngu Loc Commune, Hau Loc District, are not happy when Tet (Lunar New Year) comes since there are no jobs available as they struggle to feed their mothers and children. Nguyen Thi Bac, 57, feels weak each time she bends to pick up an ice block weighing 30-45 kg. She uses one hand to hold the ice in place on her shoulder and the other to hold a rope leading to a boat. Bac has been doing this work for nearly 10 years. She carries ice blocks, food and other necessities from land to fishing boats, and when they return she carries their fish to shore. Twenty five years ago a tropical depression claimed the lives of nearly 200 fishermen in her village when they were out at sea, leaving behind hundreds of women who have been forced to become the main breadwinner of their families. Carrying the huge ice blocks requires great strength, but the majority of the women doing it are well above 40 years of age. They were unable to move out and find jobs in other places since they had small children and mothers to take care of. Most did not own any lands either, and so earned a living by doing jobs like this or catching shrimp and clam. Hoang Thi Xuan, 42, of Hai Loc Commune, said she also makes a living by carrying ice blocks when boats come to shore at 7-8 a.m. every day. To avoid slipping, the women wear sandals. Since they are constantly walking in saltwater, their feet are blistered. They all wear raincoats to protect them from the water, some made from gunny sacks and some even from old nylon bags to save money. Some fall sick from carrying the ice under the scorching sun in summer and skin rashes from the cold weather in winter. "My shoulder is cold, but I have to do this job to support my family," Xuan said. Women in Ngu Loc Commune, Hau Loc District, Thanh Hoa Province, carry huge ice blocks to boat. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Ngoan. There is no fixed time for fishing boats to leave since it depended on many factors like the weather and ocean tides, she said. A vessel on a week-long fishing trip needs 1-1.5 tons of ice to preserve the catch. For each block they carry from shore to boat, a worker is paid VND 5,000 ($0.22). During peak fishing seasons, when there are many boats, a worker like Xuan carries 40-60 blocks and earns VND200,000-300,000 ($8.64-12.96) a day. Some do not dare to take days off even when their bodies ache or heads hurt. In any case, they are used to the constant hurt. A worker takes time off if she is too tired or ill, but not for long since she needs to earn money. "Carrying ice blocks is a low-wage job and besides there is not always work," Vuong Thi Tuyet, 50, of Hai Loc, who has been doing this work for five years, said. "There are days when we have endless work and days when we have nothing to do since fishing boats return empty. It is also normal for us to stay at home with no work to do when seasons change because of stormy weather." "After my husband died I have done many jobs to enable my three children to go to school. But carrying ice blocks is the main job." But making money is tough for people like Tuyet, Xuan and Bac before Tet since fishermen stop going out to sea and will not resume until the 10th of the new lunar year (February 3). Families in the village of widows cannot dream of a big Tet; they just hope to give their children three meals a day. Nguyen Thi Cuc, 42, said: "It is frustrating for me to think about Tet and I focus more on how to make ends meet from day to day." Suspected Islamist militants killed at least 30 people overnight in attacks on villages in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, local officials and civil society leaders said on Wednesday Trend reports citing Reuters. Four villages were raided by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a Ugandan Islamist group, in the west of Beni territory, which has seen a surge of violence since Oct. 30, when the army launched an large-scale offensive against the rebels. Local administrator Richard Kivanzanga said 32 people had been killed in the attacks to the west of the city of Oicha. Among the victims was an Anglican pastor in the village of Eringeti, said Omar Kavota from local rights group CEPADHO. The victim had the misfortune to pass them on his way to the field with his wife, Kavota said in a statement. In December, President Felix Tshisekedi said he had sent 22,000 troops to fight the ADF, including special forces, and that they had succeeded in dismantling nearly all of the ADFs bases. Attacks have eased in January, but in total at least 265 people have been killed since November, according to the Kivu Security Tracker, a research initiative that maps unrest in Congos restive east, where the ADF has been operating for more than two decades. Several previous ADF attacks have been claimed by Islamic State, although researchers and analysts say there is a lack of hard evidence linking the two groups. The United States imposed sanctions on the leader of the ADF and five others in December for perpetrating serious human rights abuses including mass rape, torture and killings. NEW YORK Bernie Sanders is approaching next weeks Iowa caucuses in a position to become the first major-party Jewish presidential nominee in the nations history. And at a time of resurgent anti-Semitism, hes talking in more depth about how his faith shapes his broader worldview. Soon after the one-year anniversary of the massacre at Pittsburghs Tree of Life synagogue, Sanders penned a column on combating anti-Semitism that outlined how his familys history underpins his commitment to fight bigotry. After five New York Jews were stabbed while celebrating Hanukkah last month, Sanders used an Iowa menorah-lighting stop to connect his immigrant fathers journey to America, fleeing anti-Semitism and fleeing violence, to ideals he described as imperiled by attacks on Jews and other minority groups. Just last week, Sanders tweeted a video featuring his campaigns Jewish outreach director, Joel Rubin, discussing the Vermont senators intrinsically Jewish values. Sanders has described his pride in being Jewish since his first Democratic presidential run in 2016. But hes known more for detaching from organized religion than embracing faith, and his model of Jewish American candidacy aligning with the tradition of Jewish social justice while criticizing Israeli government policy toward Palestinians breaks the mold cast by observant Jew Joseph Lieberman, the Democrats vice-presidential nominee 20 years ago. Sanders increased engagement with his Jewishness comes as a Democratic super PAC unveils a six-figure ad campaign in Iowa challenging his candidacy and raising questions about his health. Sanders doesnt buy into that concept of anti-Semitism and Jewish identity as defined by Israel, said Rubin, who joined the campaign earlier this month, in an interview. The 78-year-old democratic socialist connected his Jewishness to his liberal policies during remarks last fall to J Street, a progressive Jewish American group whose conference drew five Democratic presidential candidates. If theres any group on earth that should be trying to bring people together around a common and progressive agenda, it is the Jewish people, Sanders said, adding that he believes in Israels right to exist in peace and security and would extend the same right to Palestinians. Sanders later raised a topic that promises to complicate his unifying vision of Jewish American values. Blasting conservative Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he told the audience: It is not anti-Semitism to say that the Netanyahu government has been racist. Sanders is hardly alone among Democrats in opposing Netanyahus bid to annex West Bank settlements. But if Sanders prevails in the crowded Democratic presidential field which includes moderate Jewish rival Michael Bloomberg hell face a president in Donald Trump whose messages about anti-Semitism and Jewish identity are closely connected to the Israeli government. Trump signed an executive order last month that stoked debate over when criticism of Israel crosses the line into anti-Semitism. The president also continues to embrace Netanyahu, releasing a Middle East peace plan alongside him on Tuesday, and last year said Jews who vote for Democrats are disloyal to their religion as well as Israel. If Sanders is pitted against Trump, who would court Jewish votes as an ally of Netanyahus government, the senator would have to carve out more nuanced terrain as a proud Jewish critic of that government. Bloomberg offers a contrasting approach, declaring that he will always have Israels back in a Sunday speech that poked at Sanders 1960s volunteer stint on a leftist kibbutz in Israel. Rubin acknowledged that Sanders is on the outside of legacy Jewish groups that view supporting Israel as sacrosanct. The Jewish establishment has a hard time looking at a Jewish politician who stands up for Jewish rights and makes it a Jewish American argument first, said Rubin, who was J Streets founding political director. But he asserted that the predominant majority of American Jews agree with Sanders. A survey last year by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center found that 42% of Jewish Americans said Trump favors Israel too much. A similar share of Jewish Americans, 47%, said Trump strikes the right balance. Even as Israel remains a polarizing topic, Sanders candidacy underlines a point that many Jews can agree on: Jewishness means different things to different people, presidential candidates included. While he eschews organized religion, Sanders was bar mitzvahed in his youth and has said he believes in God. The Jewish community is not a monolith, Rabbi Hara Person, the Central Conference of American Rabbis chief executive, said by email. It is certainly an important sign of progress in our country that Sanders is comfortable talking about and embracing his Jewish identity in the 2020 election and encompassing it as a value of who he is as a candidate, added Person, who said she is not endorsing Sanders. Halie Soifer, who heads the Jewish Democratic Council of America, said that Sanders identified himself in a way most American Jews can relate to by linking his faith to his progressive agenda. Where theres a robust debate in our community relates to his policies on Israel, and in that regard, I dont know that his Judaism really comes into play, added Soifer, whose group is not endorsing a Democratic primary candidate. Jewish Americans tend to vote Democratic, even as Trump continues his outreach. According to AP VoteCast, 72% of Jewish voters backed Democratic House candidates in 2018 and 74% disapproved of Trumps handling of his job. Rubin described his job with the Sanders campaign as three-fold, energizing Sanders existing Jewish American supporters while also fielding challenges on high-priority Jewish issues and convincing new supporters that Sanders perspective is worth their time. He may have a particularly tough road ahead with Jewish groups alienated by Sanders use of campaign surrogates who have made polarizing remarks about Israel-Palestinian relations. Among those divisive figures is Muslim-American activist Linda Sarsour, who last month had to clarify her remarks after saying that Israel is built on the idea that Jews are supreme to everyone else. Among the prominent Jewish Americans who pushed back was the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, who tweeted that her remarks were anti-Semitism plain and simple. Mark Mellman, a longtime Democratic strategist who heads the group Democratic Majority for Israel, said that its fair to say (Sanders) is greatly concerned by rising anti-Semitism. But he warned that Sanders use of surrogates whose remarks on Israel have offended some Jewish Americans reflects a blind spot. Theres something wrong with somebody who professes to be concerned about anti-Semitism but wont disavow it when it comes from within his own camp, Mellman said. His groups separate political action committee is running an ad against Sanders this week that does not mention Israel but raises doubts about the candidates health after a heart attack last fall. The Sanders campaign raised more than $1.3 million in the day since it began using the ad to rally supporters, a figure first reported by The New York Times. __ Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said that his country would continue to strengthen its "deep friendship" with India as the two countries mark the 28th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Taking to Twitter, he also congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion. "Today 28 years ago, Israel and India formally established diplomatic relations. I congratulate my friend Narendra Modi for his warm friendship. Between Israel and India, a deep friendship has emerged that is evident in our many collaborations. We will continue to strengthen this important friendship," Netanyahu said in a tweet in Hebrew. Israel opened a consulate in Mumbai in 1950 when India officially recognised it but did not establish full fledged diplomatic ties. The Congress government led by Narsimha Rao decided to formally establish full-fledged diplomatic relations with Israel on January 29, 1992, which has now been elevated to the level of a strategic partnership. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two Nairobi-based activists have moved to court seeking orders to stop the implementation and construction of the JKIAWestlands expressway. Rhoda Aoko and Henry Shitanda argue that there was no public participation. They claim that the design negotiations, structures and planning was done in secrecy and in an opaque manner and without the involvement of the members of the public. The project as it stands is founded on an illegality and contravenes the fundamental principles and national values of the constitution of Kenya of transparency, openness, involvement of the people and public participation, court papers read. Check Out: PHOTOS of the Massive Sh65 Billion JKIA Westlands Superhighway Commissioned Today In the petition filed at Milimani law courts, the two are suing Attorney General Kihara Kariuiki and Kenya National Highways Authority(KeNHA). Aoko and Shitanda further claim that on November 21, 2019, they wrote to KeNHA inquiring about the project and requested them to conduct public participation and involve the people but there was no response from the Authority. No such notices and dissemination of information relating to the said project were ever made to members of the public or the applicants, they argued. The petitoners added that the project is founded on an illegality and contravenes the fundamental principles and national values of the constitution of Kenya of transparency, openness, involvement of the people and public participation. President Uhuru Kenyatta launched the project three months ago. It is estimated to cost about Sh65 billion. High expectations surround Tesla ahead of its quarterly earnings report, and the electric-vehicle maker has to come through, CNBC's Jim Cramer said Tuesday. "If Tesla stumbles, the stock will sell off hard, but I believe my buddy-pal-friend Elon Musk will deliver," the "Mad Money" host said, referring to its CEO. Tesla is scheduled to report quarterly results after the bell Wednesday, so "we'll know soon enough" if Wall Street's high hopes were met, Cramer said. Analysts are projecting Tesla will report quarterly earnings of $0.57 per share. Shares of Tesla have been on a tear lately, rising more than 100% in the last three months. The stock closed Tuesday's session at $566.90, rising 1.59% for the day. It reached its all-time high of $594.50 on Jan. 22. Investors have been swooning for Tesla since it delivered a surprise profit in October. The Palo Alto, California-based company also impressed Wall Street Cramer included with its manufacturing plant in Shanghai, China, which was built in 10 months. Cramer said Tesla's stock had seemingly been stuck in a rut, with critics continuing to doubt Musk's ability to deliver. "But those skeptics have turned into believers practically overnight," said Cramer, who became a Tesla bull at the end of last year. He said he was a "true believer" in Tesla in December. Many doubters began to change their mind because Tesla demonstrated it was capable of turning a profit, Cramer said. "Tesla's spectacular performance has silenced its critics, and the results have been fabulous for the shareholders," Cramer said. Tesla's growth prospects had always been attractive to certain investors, he explained. That's why its market capitalization of more than $100 billion is larger than Ford's and GM's combined despite the two legacy automakers doing more in sales. "Investors pay up for growth; nobody's paying up for stagnation," Cramer said. Tesla's "stunning trajectory" has led to analysts expecting the company to earn $6 per share this year and around $13 next year, according to Cramer. "Last year when the skeptics held sway, Tesla could rally on any good news," Cramer said. "Now the company needs to keep delivering amazing results or else its stock will run out of juice." YEREVAN. The judges of the Constitutional Court of Armenia can make use of the law on early retirement by no later than February 27. Vahagn Hovakimyan, a member of the majority My Step parliamentary faction, said this during the briefing in the National Assembly on January 29. According to him, the law entered into force on December 27 of the year past, and will remain in force until February 27 of this year. "You just have to be patient," Hovakimyan added. We are dealing with a situation when there is a tool at present to resolve the current crisis. The seven members of the Constitutional Court were presented an opportunity to retire in dignity. Future steps can only be talked about after the end of the said deadline." Lilit Makunts, head of the My Step faction, in her turn, assured that no one is forcing the judges to make use of the aforesaid law. "Making use of the early retirement is a right, and no one here obligates anything," she added, noting that the decision should ultimately be made by the members of the Constitutional Court. A Delhi court granted bail to NRI businessman C C Thampi on Wednesday in a money laundering case related to Robert Vadra for allegedly acquiring assets abroad in an illegal manner. Special judge Arvind Kumar noted that the main accused, Vadra, was already granted anticipatory bail in the case in April last year and Thampi was entitled to parity. The court granted relief to Thampi on submitting a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh with two sureties of like amount, saying that his conduct "does not show that he avoided probe or tried to flee from justice". 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, son-in-law of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. "The accused (Thampi) has joined investigation voluntarily and had come from Dubai to India in response to the summons issued by ED. The conduct of the accused does not show that he avoided investigation or tried to flee from justice. The accused is ready to join investigation as and when called," the judge noted. The court noted further that co-accused Manoj Arora, who allegedly played active role with Vadra in the offence of money laundering, was also granted anticipatory bail in April last year. "Thampi is also entitled to be treated on parity," the court said. The court also noted that Thampi suffered from "prostate cancer" and had undergone proton radiation therapy in 2019 and was still under treatment at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota, USA. "He is in custody for 11 days. No purpose will be served by keeping the accused behind the bar," the court said, while granting him bail. It directed him however not to try to contact or influence any witness and not to tamper with the evidence. "He shall join investigation as and when called by ED. Accused shall not leave country without prior permission of the court," the judge said. While granting relief to 63-year-old Thampi, the court noted that he was a non-resident Indian residing in Dubai since 1980 and is in hospitality business and that he had joined investigation in response to summon issued to him. "He has appeared before ED on 15 occasions from June 17, 2019 to January 17, 2020 and was interrogated by the ED... It is clear that accused has joined investigation before his arrest and during 10 days of custody with Enforcement Directorate. Even otherwise, if the accused, at any stage, is required for investigation he can be called to join investigation," the judge noted. It noted that the documents have already been recovered in the case. On ED's apprehension that Thampi may tamper with evidence and may influence the witnesses, the court said the agency failed to cite even a single instance when the accused tampered with evidence or influenced any witness since the time of registration of ECIR on February 10, 2017. "The apprehension of the ED that accused may tamper with evidence and may influence the witness is without any basis," the court said. The ED had opposed the bail applications, saying the accused was involved in multiple transactions in violation of PMLA and the investigation in the present case has international ramification and is at early stage. It added that release of the accused will hamper the ongoing investigations which was at a crucial stage. "Accused do not deserve bail keeping in view of nature and gravity of the offence," the agency had told the court. Thampi was arrested by the ED on January 18. He is stated to be "controlling" Dubai-based company Sky Lite. In 2009, another co-accused Sanjay Bhandari's firm, Santech FZE, purchased a London asset from a private company which was acquired by Sky Lite. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man has been charged over the 1995 alleged murder of Sydney business owner Hasan Dastan, just two days after police offered a $1 million reward for information. Mr Dastan, a 52-year-old father of three, was found dead underneath a vehicle at his car wrecker business in Blacktown on December 11, 1995. He had extensive skull and facial fractures. The body of 52-year-old Hasan Dastan was found inside a workshop at his car wrecker business. Police investigations at the time uncovered a number of persons of interest, but no charges were laid. The case was re-opened for investigation in 2018, with detectives from the Unsolved Homicide Unit establishing Strike Force Biltine II and offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to a conviction. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein View Photo Washington, DC There have been questions swirling in Washington, DC if Senator Diane Feinstein may be a Democrat still on the fence over whether to impeach President Donald Trump. There was a headline in the Los Angeles Times yesterday that indicated Feinstein was leaning toward acquitting President Trump. Feinsteins press office has put out a statement noting that the comments in the article attributed to Feinstein were taken out of context. Feinstein says she was starting the trial with an open mind and needed to be convinced about impeaching President Trump. Today she states, Now that both sides made their cases, its clear the presidents actions were wrong. He withheld vital foreign assistance for personal political gain. That cant be allowed to stand. She also says it is important that former National Security Advisor John Bolton be asked to testify, adding, Bolton is potentially a firsthand, corroborating witness to information that has been placed in evidence based on his direct interactions with the President. President Trump criticized Bolton on social media yesterday, stating, No matter how many witnesses you give the Democrats, no matter how much information is given, like the quickly produced Transcripts, it will NEVER be enough for them. They will always scream UNFAIR. The Impeachment Hoax is just another political CON JOB! Feinstein also argues, This wasnt an isolated action. In October, President Trump asked China to investigate the Biden family. And the Mueller Report lays out a series of actions leading up to the 2016 election where the Trump campaign solicited foreign interference. The impeachment trial is continuing today. With Feinsteins stance now known, Democrats still considered to be on the fence regarding impeachment are Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Doug Jones of Alabama and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. Ex-owner of Russian confectionary acquitted by jury in murder case Moskva city news agency, Andrey Nikerichev 10:56 29/01/2020 MOSCOW, January 29 (RAPSI) Jurors have acquitted Ilya Averyanov, ex-owner of Moscows confectionary Menshevik, in a case over killing a guard during the shooting on the factorys premises, according to a RAPSI correspondent. Moreover, he was acquitted of beating a passerby, who burnt up poplar wool near the factory in 2016. Thus, Averyanov was found not guilty of intended infliction of severe bodily harm and murder. Investigators claimed that on December 27, 2017, a conflict arose between former and current owners of the factory. Ex-owner Averyanov allegedly took out the gun and shot several times, fatally wounding a guard. The defendant insisted that he used the gun for the purposes of self-defense, and a shot was fired recklessly. [January 29, 2020] InspireMD Announces Successful Live Clinical Case Transmissions Featuring CGuard EPS at the Leipzig Interventional Course (LINC) 2020 TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- InspireMD, Inc. (NYSE American: NSPR), developer of the CGuard Embolic Prevention System (EPS) for the prevention of stroke caused by carotid artery disease, today announced that a successful live case featuring CGuard EPS was presented at the international LINC conference 2020, which is being held January 28 31 in Leipzig, Germany. For the third year in a row, we were chosen to showcase CGuard EPS in a live case procedure. This again confirms both clinical utility and ease of use of the device relative to alternative stent options and carotid endarterectomy, said Marvin Slosman, chief executive officer of InspireMD. Together with the panel discussions and presentations featuring CGuard EPS at this years LINC conference, the totality of evidence demonstrating CGuards safety and efficacy continues to reiterate the value of CGuard as a standard of care treatment for carotid artery disease. We would like to express our thanks to Drs. Micari and Castriota, two world-renowned interventionalists, for again demonstrating superior results of CGuard EPS in a real-time clinical setting. Live case #17: Symptomatic high-risk carotid artery disease The live case was conducted by Dr. Antonio Micari and Dr. Fausto Castriota, interventional cardiologists at Humanitas Gavazzeni Hospital, Bergamo, Italy. The 82-year old male patient presented with symptomatic high-risk carotid artery disease and experienced a transient ischemic attack (TIA) with left-sided hemiparesis approximately one month ago. Risk factors included hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. The procedure was successfully performed with CGuard EPS, lasted approximately 20 minutes and had an excellent angiographic result. Following the procedure, Drs. Micari and Castriota commented, We believe CGuard EPS is a game changer in the plaquesten interaction paradigm. About LINC LINC is a leading global forum for new methods in the field of vascular medicine. LINC brings together medical professionals from different specialties around the world who perform endovascular interventions. About InspireMD, Inc. InspireMD seeks to utilize its proprietary MicroNet technology to make its products the industry standard for treatment of carotid artery disease by providing outstanding acute results and durable stroke free long-term outcomes. InspireMDs common stock is quoted on the NYSE American under the ticker symbol NSPR and certain warrants are quoted on the NYSE American under the ticker symbols NSPR.WS and NSPR.WSB. Forward-looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. Such statements may be preceded by the words intends, may, will, plans, expects, anticipates, projects, predicts, estimates, aims, believes, hopes, potential or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Companys control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) market acceptance of our existing and new products, (ii) negative clinical trial results or lengthy product delays in key markets, (iii) an inability to secure regulatory approvals for the sale of our products, (iv) intense competition in the medical device industry from much larger, multinational companies, (v) product liability claims, (vi) product malfunctions, (vii) our limited manufacturing capabilities and reliance on subcontractors for assistance, (viii) insufficient or inadequate reimbursement by governmental and other third party payers for our products, (ix) our efforts to successfully obtain and maintain intellectual property protection covering our products, which may not be successful, (x) legislative or regulatory reform of the healthcare system in both the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions, (xi) our reliance on single suppliers for certain product components, (xii) the fact that we will need to raise additional capital to meet our business requirements in the future and that such capital raising may be costly, dilutive or difficult to obtain and (xiii) the fact that we conduct business in multiple foreign jurisdictions, exposing us to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, logistical and communications challenges, burdens and costs of compliance with foreign laws and political and economic instability in each jurisdiction. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward looking statements is set forth in the Companys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SECs web site at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Investor Contacts: Craig Shore Chief Financial Officer InspireMD, Inc. 888-776-6804 [email protected] Jeremy Feffer LifeSci Advisors, LLC 212-915-2568 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A meeting of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) students took place here in support of JNU student Sharjeel Imam who was arrested from Bihar's Jehanabad by Delhi police on Tuesday. Speaking to media, SSP Aligarh, Akash Kuljhari said, "A meeting was held around 7 pm in support of Sharjeel Imam by a group of around 40 to 50 AMU students. There were public speeches made in favour of Imam.""We have spoken to the university's administration and they said that they will initiate a disciplinary inquiry against those students. We are also collecting videos and photographs and we will act against them under the relevant sections applicable," he said. AMU spokesperson Rahat Abrar said, "Some people chanted slogans in support of Sharjeel Imam and we got to know about it. The AMU has earlier said that some outsiders can create anarchy here and it could be dangerous for the peace of the university and of the city." "If any student is found involved in such activity then action will be taken against them. And if outsiders come to the university and disturb the peace, we will provide information about them to the local administration," he said. "Whatever Sharjeel Imam has said is not in the interest of the country," he added. Imam has stoked a controversy with his "cut off Assam from India" remark at a protest in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh last week. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One of the students injured in violence at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University, when police had entered the campus, moved the Delhi High Court on Wednesday seeking a court-monitored probe by a committee or an SIT into the incident. The petition was moved by Md Minhajuddin who lost vision in one eye in the violence and is battling to save sight in his other. His petition seeks compensation commensurate with his qualifications, for the injury suffered by him, and also registration of an FIR against the police personnel involved in the incident. The plea seeks directions to the Centre, the Delhi government and the police to bear expenses of his treatment and to provide him a permanent job commensurate with his qualifications. In December last year, the national capital had witnessed violent scenes when several buses, motor-bikes and private vehicles were set ablaze during anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protests near south Delhi's Jamia Nagar area. The police had later entered the Jamia campus and fired tear gas shells, baton-charged students and detained several protesters. Several students, including the petitioner, were injured in the police crackdown. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government will ensure no resident of Maharashtra is troubled or loses citizenship due to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters at the state secretariat here, Deshmukh said "restlessness and confusion" is being witnessed across the country with regard to the CAA, which was cleared by Parliament last month. The NCP minister said to have received memorandums from several organisations representing Muslims, tribals, nomadic tribes, Dalits, Pardhi, Wadar, Gosavi and other communities expressing concern over the CAA. "These communities have clearly expressed concern over their existence in the context of the CAA. We assure people of all the castes and religions that no citizen will have to lose citizenship (due to CAA)," an official statement quoted Deshmukh as saying. The controversial law, which has triggered massive protests across the country, promises Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. CAA's critics say the law is discriminatory and violates the core values of the Constitution. A clutch of non-BJP ruled states have passed resolution in their respective assemblies against the new citizenship law. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 1.4k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard It was a busy day for Chief Justice Roberts as he presided over wonderland-quality injustice in two bodies. He spent the morning allowing , for now, to implement the Cucinelli wealth test for green card applicants until the legal issues are dealt with by the courts. Then Chief Roberts presided over the McConnell-controlled Senates impeachment cover-up proceedings, where absurd doesnt begin to describe what happened there. We watched as a principle in the impeachment of Bill Clinton turned arguments McConnell made at that time on their head. This wasnt merely about the usual partisan hypocrisy one expects from Republicans. Starr implied that the impeachment power should be dissolved. He did that by pointing to the fact that we inherited it from British law, and that if we kept ours, it would amount to adopting the British non-confidence vote. This argument is mixing apples and oranges. The British non-confidence vote is applied to the Prime Minister, who is comparable to our Speaker of the House not to our president. For the record, the British Parliament cant get rid of their monarch (who is their head of state, as the President is ours) with a non-confidence motion. But, since Republicans were just hoping to bury potential testimony from John Bolton, that, if true, would prove there was in fact a quid pro quo The GOP probably doesnt care about the occasional fallacious argument. Trumps lawyers know they cant defend Trumps actions, thats why they brought in the corrupt former Attorney-General of Florida, Pamela Bondi, to smear Hunter Biden. You may remember Bondi. She asked Donald Trump for a hefty campaign donation and shortly afterward decided not to pursue a fraud case against Trump University. Some people might call that pay to play or quid pro quo. Ill just call it corrupt. To be fair, Bidens decision to work for Burisma was ethically challenged, but it was not illegal and again not comparable to Trumps shakedown of Ukraine. For one thing, Biden didnt shake down the Ukraine to get his son a job even Republicans failed to find anything resembling proof to suggest he did. Unlike Bondis deal with Trump or the deal Trump wanted to make with Ukraine President Zelensky, Biden was not using public money (tax dollars) for personal gain. Its Trumps attempt to use public money to gain personally that is an impeachable offense. Its an abuse of power, the same thing Ken Starr argued was the basis for impeaching Bill Clinton when Clinton lied about having an affair. Voters are smart enough to know that theres a huge difference between lying about sex and trying to use fake information from a foreign source to attack a political opponent. There were still more clown car moments that looked like Republicans wanted a life line in their attempt to cover up Trumps offenses against the Constitution and the American people. At one point, one of Trumps lawyers tried to impeach Barack Obama. Im not kidding; he basically substituted Barack Obamas name and the debunked Russian conspiracy theory that claims Ukraine interfered in 2016. While all this fantasy was going on, the Chamber was silent. Chief Justice Roberts did nothing to rein in the lies and conspiracy theories used to amuse Republican Senators and give them something to rely on when they try to explain why they voted for letting foreign countries choose our presidents. For the record, House managers and Democratic Senators were silent as well, and that may be because the Senates credibility as a deliberative body is already on life support. By objecting at every lie, they would have come off like the Senate version of Trumps frat boy caucus in the House. And it could be that they are drafting questions for that phase when House Managers have the broadest opportunity to reintroduce facts and laws to these proceedings. The departure of facts and law is an American tragedy unfolding before our eyes. If Trumps lawyers lied in court the way they have here, theyd be sanctioned. I expect there would be ethics complaints that could result in disbarment. Every lawyer representing Donald Trump is bound by professional ethics and should be held accountable by the bar association. For all the jokes about lawyers and ethics, the fact is they are required to tell the truth before judicial tribunals which includes this proceeding. The greatest tragedy in all of this is that the Senate is not doing its job for the people of America. That means the Senate majority is fine with foreign countries choosing our presidents. Tom Campbell I grew up in Greenville, NC, in the 1950s and 60s. I knew that the Pitt County courthouse had signs over the water fountains and on restroom doors designating "white" and "colored," and also remember that at the State Theatre Negroes were relegated to sit in the balcony while whites sat on the main floor. I admit being cocooned in a white, middle class world at school, at church and with friends. It wasn't until Walter Cronkite started showing footage of the civil rights movement on TV that I woke to the reality that others didn't enjoy the same life as mine.There were many leaders in the civil rights movement, but none shone so brightly as Dr. Martin Luther King. Maybe television needed a face and a voice to show the world, but MLK had the words, the charisma and the vision needed to lead the mission and stir the nation's moral conscience. Many of us remember his moving 1963 speech from the Lincoln Memorial, with thousands lining the mall in Washington. "I have a dream," King declared, and painted the vision of what a more moral nation would be like. He encapsulated that vision from Amos 5:24, stating the movement would not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.LBJ's commitment to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 might have happened anyway, but King was the catalyst.The reprinting of The Charlotte Observer's 2018 MLK Day editorial reminded us King wasn't the "cuddly" image many today have. He espoused nonviolence, but he was a fighter for civil rights. Anytime you attempt to get people in power to give up or share their power you know there is probably going to be a fight.Lib and I had the opportunity to visit the Civil Rights museum in Birmingham, Alabama. We went into the church where a bomb killed four little girls during the bus boycott. We watched the news footage of police opening fire hoses on peaceful protestors, of a bus similar to one where Rosa Parks would not be moved, of a jail cell similar to the one where MLK wrote the letters from a Birmingham jail.To some, Martin Luther King Day might just be another day off work or school. To others, it's another workday and there are some still who resist the holiday, but it is a day to reflect on this nation's struggles for civil rights and to pay tribute to MLK as one who raised awareness, challenged the status quo and urged us to be better.My reflection during last week's MLK Day forced me to acknowledge that the fight isn't over. Justice still doesn't roll down like waters or righteousness like scripture's mighty stream. There are many evidences of racial hatred, discrimination and injustice.I wondered who is today's moral voice?I believe Dr. William Barber has taken up that mantle. Beginning with his Moral Monday protests and leadership of the state NAACP, Barber raised anew the call for justice for the poor, for people of color, for women and the LGBTQ. Now ascending to a national stage, his Poor People's Campaign has made him, like King, a lightning rod. Like King, he is convicted by the righteousness of the cause, has the charisma and the words to remind us that rights and privilege are not just for the few, but for all. By Jung Min-ho Royce', a Japanese chocolate maker, will close its business in Korea. Royce' Confect Korea, a retailer of the brand here, said Wednesday that all nine shops, including five in Seoul, will close by the end of March. A decline in sales, fueled by a recent boycott of Japanese products, was the main reason for the decision, a retail company official told the Hankook Ilbo, sister paper of The Korea Times. "Thank you very much for loving Royce' chocolate," a company statement said. "We will try our best to the very end with the best possible services." BEIJING, Jan. 28 -- China will enhance cooperation with the international community over the battle against the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in an open, transparent and responsible manner, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Tuesday in a phone talk with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha. Kang said that South Korea speaks highly of the Chinese government's and people's joint resolute efforts to control the epidemic of the novel coronavirus, and commends China's strong measures in the battle against the virus. Noting that neighbors should support and help each other in difficulties, Kang said South Korea stands ready to tackle the challenge with China to quell the epidemic at an early date. South Korea would supply the needed medical resources in accordance with China's requirement, the minister added. For his part, Wang said that under Chinese President Xi Jinping's leadership and deployment, China has activated a nationwide system, giving full play to its institutional advantages to resolutely curb the outbreak, so that the efforts in all aspects are moving forward productively. The Chinese people are not afraid of any difficulty and have both the confidence in and the capability of overcoming the epidemic outbreak as soon as possible, Wang added. Wang expressed his gratitude to South Korea for its willingness to provide necessary help to China, adding that the Chinese side will continue to protect the health and safety of all foreigners in China, including those from South Korea. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama on Wednesday (29 January) and thanked him for his countrys participation in NATOs operations, missions and deployments in Kosovo, Afghanistan and in the Baltic States as ''solid contributions'' to the Alliances shared security. Welcoming Mr. Rama also in his role as Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE in 2020, Mr. Stoltenberg said that the OSCE is a crucial forum to discuss arms control, military transparency, and confidence building measures. We welcome the role it plays in Ukraine and other conflict areas. These are all important issues for NATO. So you can count on our support in your role as OSCE Chair this year, he said. Mr. Stoltenberg said that NATO can count on Albanias active and positive commitment to stability and cooperation in the Western Balkans region and on Albanias active role in promoting NATOs Open Door policy. I am encouraged by Albanias efforts to invest more in defence. And I support you in this endeavour, he said. He stressed that NATOs investment in Kucove airbase shows NATOs commitment to Albania and to the region. In the afternoon Prime Minister Edi Rama was meeting with the North Atlantic Council for an exchange of views on the priorities of the Albanian OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office in 2020. A worker makes face masks at the workshop of a company in Changyuan, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 27, 2020. To help fight the outbreak of pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus, workers of 42 medical material companies in Henan rushed back to work to make protective masks, clothing and other protective equipment to guarantee the supplies. The city currently produced 1.65 million masks and 5,000 protective suits everyday, 80 percent of which were transported to Wuhan of Hubei Province. [Xinhua/Hao Yuan] Workers make face masks at the workshop of a company in Changyuan, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 27, 2020. To help fight the outbreak of pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus, workers of 42 medical material companies in Henan rushed back to work to make protective masks, clothing and other protective equipment to guarantee the supplies. The city currently produced 1.65 million masks and 5,000 protective suits everyday, 80 percent of which were transported to Wuhan of Hubei Province. [Xinhua/Hao Yuan] A quality inspector (R) checks the quality of face masks at the workshop of a company in Changyuan, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 27, 2020. To help fight the outbreak of pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus, workers of 42 medical material companies in Henan rushed back to work to make protective masks, clothing and other protective equipment to guarantee the supplies. The city currently produced 1.65 million masks and 5,000 protective suits everyday, 80 percent of which were transported to Wuhan of Hubei Province. [Xinhua/Hao Yuan] A quality inspector checks the quality of face masks at the workshop of a company in Changyuan, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 27, 2020. To help fight the outbreak of pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus, workers of 42 medical material companies in Henan rushed back to work to make protective masks, clothing and other protective equipment to guarantee the supplies. The city currently produced 1.65 million masks and 5,000 protective suits everyday, 80 percent of which were transported to Wuhan of Hubei Province. [Xinhua/Hao Yuan] A worker makes face masks at the workshop of a company in Changyuan, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 27, 2020. To help fight the outbreak of pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus, workers of 42 medical material companies in Henan rushed back to work to make protective masks, clothing and other protective equipment to guarantee the supplies. The city currently produced 1.65 million masks and 5,000 protective suits everyday, 80 percent of which were transported to Wuhan of Hubei Province. [Xinhua/Hao Yuan] A worker makes face masks at the workshop of a biological engineering company in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 28, 2020. To help fight the outbreak of pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus, workers of many medical material companies in Qingdao gave up their Spring Festival holidays and rushed back to work to make protective masks and other protective equipment to guarantee the supplies. [Xinhua/Li Ziheng] Workers make face masks at the workshop of a biological engineering company in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 28, 2020. To help fight the outbreak of pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus, workers of many medical material companies in Qingdao gave up their Spring Festival holidays and rushed back to work to make protective masks and other protective equipment to guarantee the supplies. [Xinhua/Li Ziheng] A worker makes face masks at the workshop of a biological engineering company in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 28, 2020. To help fight the outbreak of pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus, workers of many medical material companies in Qingdao gave up their Spring Festival holidays and rushed back to work to make protective masks and other protective equipment to guarantee the supplies. [Xinhua/Li Ziheng] Workers make face masks at the workshop of a biological engineering company in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 28, 2020. To help fight the outbreak of pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus, workers of many medical material companies in Qingdao gave up their Spring Festival holidays and rushed back to work to make protective masks and other protective equipment to guarantee the supplies. [Xinhua/Li Ziheng] Workers make face masks at the workshop of a biological engineering company in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 28, 2020. To help fight the outbreak of pneumonia caused by novel coronavirus, workers of many medical material companies in Qingdao gave up their Spring Festival holidays and rushed back to work to make protective masks and other protective equipment to guarantee the supplies. [Xinhua/Li Ziheng] (Source: Xinhua) As Venezuela continues its ungraceful careen off the cliff, few opportunities are left for the Latin American country to save itself from disaster. One such opportunity would be for the socialist nation to give up control of its oil industry to a foreign entity. And rumor has it that Venezuela is indeed considering such a drastic move, according to people close to the action. How successful and practical is this solution, and who would be the likely takers? Drastic Times, Drastic Measures Selling off your countrys main source of income may seem like poor judgement. But after Venezuela has plundered its state-run oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) to the brink of ruin and US stifled what little oil-revenue-generating activity remained, Venezuela doesnt have many moves left. The state of Venezuela has gone beyond drastic and into catastrophic. And ironically enough, the main source of Venezuelas woes, aside from its leadership, comes from the very asset it is thinking about nixing. PDVSAs production has fallen to a 75-year low, at just 1 million bpd. PDVSAs debt is going nowhere fast, holding at $34.5 billion last year. It is in default on its bonds, in part because it cant export oil to anyone who is afraid of running afoul of US sanctions--which is nearly everyone--nor can it export its oil using any tanker company that is afraid of running afoul of sanctions either, even if to a willing participant. It had shut down all but two oil refineries--that is, until this week, when it shut the last two down as well, although that is said to be temporary. And whats worse, there is no end in sight to PDVSAs struggles. And as PDVSA, so goes Venezuela. Always Easier Said But even if this has the potential to be a successful solution to what ails Venezuela, it is not without challenges. The US sanctions that have crippled Venezuelas entire economy by restricting oil exports would make a deal of this nature incredibly challenging; although no one is saying it is impossible. US sanctions on Venezuela are far-reaching, and extend to nearly all participants in any crude oil exports out of Venezuela, even shipping companies. The threat is real; the United States has even threatened to freeze any US assets of any person or company that is determined to have materially assisted the Venezuelan government. Related: 5 Reasons Why Big Oil Is Here To Stay Another challenge facing this grand scheme is that Venezuelas constitution restricts foreign ownership. So, in order for ownership to be transferred to a foreign entity, its constitution would have to be rewritten. Again, difficult, but not impossible. Would-Be Suitors So who would be brave enough, wealthy enough, skilled enough, and eager enough to take Venezuela up on its offer? Venezuela has been in talks over the potential deal with the likes of Rosneft, Eni, and Repsol, according to Bloomberg. And it isnt the first time weve heard that. ROSNEFT -- As Russias largest oil producer and Venezuelas largest sponsor after China, Rosneft is a logical choice for taking over some PDVSA assets. They have the skills, and they could likely afford to write off some of that $800 million in debt that Venezuela owes it, in exchange for some hot assets. Rumor has it that Rosneft and PDVSA have kicked this idea around before, and apparently PDVSA has offered Rosneft ownership interests in as many as nine of PDVSAs most prolific oil projects. And they already have a working relationship on five joint Rosneft/PDVSA projects that collectively produced 59 billion barrels of oil in 2017. Rosneft is already in deep with PDVSA, and it cannot afford to have PDVSA or Venezuela fall apart. Not to mention that Russias propping up of PDVSA--at a time when the United States is trying to economically squeeze Venezuela so hard it forces a regime change--is tantamount to Russia flipping the United States the bird--no doubt in retaliation for US sanctions on Russia over that whole Crimea business. And already it has scared the daylights out of the US by becoming a collateral holder of PDVSAs US-based business, Citgo. A move by Rosneft into Venezuelas oil business would be about much more than oil--it would be about its low-key spat with the United States, highlighting the importance of political aspects in addition to business aspects. Add to that the fact that Russia and Venezuelas relationship is held together by top-level players, a Maduro ousting could jeopardize that relationship and weaken Russias influence in the United States backyard. Russia is motivated not to allow that to happen. Related: The True Cost Of Freedom Gas Rosneft is already moving to insulate itself from US sanctions by moving away from dollars, switching all its export contracts to euros last October, after the US threatened to sanction Rosneft for its dealings with Venezuela. Russias state-run oil firm exported $89 billion in oil and oil products in 2018. REPSOL-- Venezuela is also courting Spanish Repsol, which has also extended loans to PDVSA under a crude for debt deal, although Repsol, too, like Rosneft, has whittled down its exposure to Venezuelan debt. As of July 2019, its exposure had fallen to $447 million. Shipments of crude oil has continued for the most part in 2019, shielded from US sanctions, which do not apply to crude/debt swaps. ENI -- Last on the list of disclosed suitors is Italian Eni. Like the others, Eni has dolled out some cash to PDVSA in exchange for crude deliveries, and it already has an established working relationship with the Latin American country that dates back to 1998, including in the Perla gas field, the Junin 5 oil field, and the Corocoro oil field. It also has its hands in a refining JV with PDVSA. The country missing from the list, quite puzzlingly, is China. PDVSA has borrowed more from China than any other country. And similar to Russia, China has unequivocally supported Nicolas Maduro. It is a marriage made in heaven between the cash-starved country holding the largest oil reserves and the cash-rich country who imports the most oil. But unlike Rosneft, CNPC--one of Chinas state-run oil giants--has actively moved to avoid running up against US sanctions, suspending crude oil loadings from Venezuela in August when it was unclear how the sanctions would shake out. CNPC has lent Venezuela billions, which has been paid back slowly through crude oil shipments. While it is truly a long shot that Venezuela would turn over control of PDVSA to even a friendly country, partitioning off some of PDVSAs assets may be the countrys only means of survival. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 29) The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board has given the green light for a number of priority infrastructure projects, including the Metro Rail Transit 4 (MRT-4). The NEDA Board, chaired by President Rodrigo Duterte, on Wednesday said it has confirmed the Investment Coordination Committee's approvals of the MRT-4, which will build an elevated train line from N. Domingo in Quezon City to Taytay, Rizal. The 57.07-billion MRT-4 project is targeted for construction by 2021. The Transportation Department expects it to be operational by 2025. The NEDA Board also cleared the EDSA Greenways Project, which will provide covered, elevated walkways in "high-density traffic locations" in Metro Manila, particularly Balintawak, Guadalupe, Cubao, and Taft for the first phase of the project. Other projects funded through foreign loans via official development assistance have also been approved: - Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge project (175.7 billion) - Cebu-Mactan Bridge (4th Bridge) and Coastal Road Construction project (76.41 billion) - Davao City Coastal Bypass Road (28.26 billion) - Capas-Botolan Road Project (5.9 billion) - Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Island Bridges Project (189.53 billion) - Maritime Safety Enhancement Program (6.25 billion) "[W]e intend to roll out as many as we can to ease congestion and spread growth throughout the country, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, vice-chairperson of the NEDA Board, said in a statement. Estimates the project will yield $ 19 million in annual gross revenues TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Enlight Renewable Energy (TASE: ENLT) today informed that it has completed the negotiation and signed an agreement to buy the rights in a 100-MW wind energy project in the Qawqaz state Georgia. The project is under development stages and expected to complete development within 18-24 months. As of today, the project has already secured part of the rights in the relevant lands and is in the process of achieving environmental permits. It is in an area characterized by favorable wind conditions based on measurements conducted over several years. In addition, the project may expand with an additional 200 megawatt, Subject to increased wind energy quotas in Georgia and additional conditions. The developers behind the project include an engineering company with extensive experience in developing wind energy projects in central and Eastern Europe, and a local Georgian development company. The project company has entered a memorandum of understandings with Georgia's government and is negotiating a detailed framework agreement, which is expected to include the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), and which will anchor the project's right to be connected to Georgia's national grid. The PPA will be entered at the expected feed-in tariff of US$ 65 per megawatt hour for nine months every year, for a period of 10 years. The sale of power in the remaining three months will be made under market conditions. At the end of the 10-year PPA period, the power will be sold at market prices. The total cost of the project is estimated at $ 135-155 million, including construction, financing costs, and the acquisition of project rights. The gross revenues from the project are estimated at $ 18-21 million a year during the PPA term, and an average of $ 25-30 million a year after that. The expected EBITDA from the project will be around 80%. The completion of the first milestone of the purchase transaction hinges on several conditions' precedent, mainly signing of a framework and PPA agreement with the Georgian government The project is covered by the current quota allocated by Georgia's government for wind energy, at initial capacity of 250 megawatt. Georgia's power market relies mainly in hydroelectric plants until today. Following the joining of Georgia to the European Energy Treaty, the Georgian government has pledged to support further renewable energy development, and recently adopted a National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) and new legislation in the field setting renewable energy targets of 35% of total Energy consumption by 2030. It is clarified that there is no certainty regarding the completion of the development of the project, which is subject to various variables and, inter alia, obtaining the full approvals and permits required for its establishment, including the signing of the framework agreement as described above. Enlight Renewable Energy, founded in 2008, trades on the Tel-Aviv-125 Index. With 97% of its shares held by the public, Enlight is a leading company in the development, financing, construction, and operations of renewable energy generation projects. The company has operations in Israel and Europe with a diversified portfolio of income-generating projects that total over 750 megawatts. An additional 550 megawatts are in advanced stages towards construction, and 1,500 megawatts more are in initial development stages. Enlight enjoys consistent growth in revenues from long term electricity sales of its yielding assets, and in parallel increasing its diversification to additional markets and clean energy segments. For additional information: Neta Schoener Scherf Communications +972-50-7202718 netas@scherfcom.com SOURCE Enlight Renewable Energy The Lincoln Project was announced in a New York Times op-ed in December 2019. Written by George T. Conway III, Steve Schmidt, John Weaver and [D]efeating President Trump and Trumpism at the ballot box and to elect those patriots who will hold the line. We do not undertake this task lightly, nor from ideological preference. We have been, and remain, broadly conservative (or classically liberal) in our politics and outlooks. Our many policy differences with national Democrats remain, but our shared fidelity to the Constitution dictates a common effort. They've already blasted White Evangelical Christians and Senator Susan Collins of Maine. For their next trick, they've turned their attention to Senator Martha McSally of Arizona, who lost her re-election campaign to Krysten Sinema but managed to retain her seat by appointment. More recently, she yelled at a reporter for being a "liberal hack" and then blamed the backlash on her gender. I wouldn't normally share something with so much mean girl attitude and John McCain hero worship, but it might be the kind of bullying show of weakness that could successfully humiliate her in the eyes of the Trump base (especially since Arizona voters already rejected her). Also, "You'll be remembered as just another Trump hack, if you're remembered at all" is a pretty glorious own. McSally will be running against Mark Kelly, former astronaut and husband of former US Representative Gabby Giffords, in November. Image via Gage Skidmore/Flickr New Delhi, Jan 29 : Minutes after the Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal-United expelled election strategist Prashant Kishor and another senior party leader Pawan Varma from the party, Kishor took a swipe at the party chief saying "best wishes" for "retaining" the Bihar Chief Minister's post. "Thank you, Nitish Kumar. My best wishes to you to retain the chair of Chief Minister of Bihar. God bless you," Kishor said in a tweet. Kishor had joined the JD-U in September 2018 and was made the party's Vice President. He also played a major role in seat bargaining with the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. Kishor's remarks came soon after JD-U spokesperson and party General Secretary K.C. Tyagi in a statement said that "both of them have broken the party discipline, and thus they are being expelled from the primary membership of the party". The development comes days after Kishor and Varma spoke against the party leadership over its stand on the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Kishor and Varma have been critical of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his stand on the CAA. JD-U had supported the bill both in the Loka Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Kishor was also instrumental in bringing the Grand Alliance comprising JD-U, Lalu Prasad-led Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress in power in Bihar in 2015 assembly polls. Kishor had made the campaign for the JD-U and also got the 'Phir se Nitish' (once again Nitish Kumar) slogan song during the assembly polls in Bihar. Ahead of the Bihar assembly polls in 2015, Kishor was instrumental in convincing the RJD and the Congress leadership to have Nitish Kumar as the Chief Ministerial candidate. Varma, on the other hand, had recently posted a letter to Nitish Kumar on his Twitter handle, questioning Kumar's decision to ally with the BJP in Delhi, while revealing that the Bihar chief minister had in a private conversation criticised the BJP for destroying institutions and for humiliating him. McNamara helped start the No Exit Cafe, which closed in Rogers Park in 1999, more than 40 years after its beginnings in Evanston, his daughter said. He was an enthusiastic sailor, a member of the Island Goats Sailing Society for those who made more than 25 Chicago-Mackinac races. He was a gifted teller of stories and jokes, valuable traits on those long races, according to Pat FitzGerald, a friend and client who often sailed with him and who co-owned one of McNamaras Tartan Ten-class sail boats. At a time when privacy is under grievous threat, Indian Railways have divulged their plans to install face recognition systems for better surveillance in major railway stations by the end of 2020 to fight crime. The system is currently being tested in India's tech hub, Bengaluru. The primary idea behind installing the intelligent surveillance system is to monitor suspicious activities across stations and other important areas. "The railways will become like a virtual fortress. Without a physical, brick and mortar boundary wall, we will be able to make the whole system more secure," a senior railway official told Reuters. So far Bengaluru, Manmad and Bhusawal stations have received the face recognition technology backed by artificial intelligence. The Indian Railways will install various cameras such as the dome type, bullet type, pan tilt zoom type and ultra HD-4k cameras to get a better and clearer picture of what goes around in the railway stations. However, the decision to implement face recognition systems in railway stations has garnered mixed responses from the tech experts. While some have claimed that the new system will provide greater security and efficiency, some have alleged that the benefits of the implementation of this system have not been explained clearly and that it might come at the cost of privacy losses. However, railway stations aren't the only place these systems are being installed. Raman Jit Singh Chima, Asia policy director at digital rights group Access Now, called the move by Indian Railways dangerous. He also raised concerns that the plan by railways didn't reveal whether a third party is involved in the process and who apart from them can access a passenger's data. "How do you know they are not leaking data? How do you know they are keeping it safe and not using it for other purposes? What the railways authorities seem to be doing right now is definitely intruding on privacy, not matching up to global standards on privacy or even facial recognition that democracies are adopting," Chima told Reuters. Earlier, the Ministry of Civil Aviation installed India's first digital system called the Digi Yatra was installed at the Bengaluru International airport. The idea behind installing the recognition system was to allow passengers to check-in without producing any identity cards at the entry-exit checkpoints and aircraft boarding. India's decision to absorb the artificial intelligence in some of its major operations concerning the people of the country comes at a time when Google CEO Sundar Pichai had advised to take a cautious approach towards it. "While we don't support a ban on the facial recognition technology, we do encourage strong guardrails - particularly for public facial recognition, through regulations and other means. We recently published a framework for facial recognition to highlight key factors for consideration," a Google spokesperson had said in a statement. H arry Dunns parents have called for a high profile exchange between the UK and the US in a fresh bid to see their sons suspected killer return to face justice in Britain. The Crown Prosecution Service charged Ms Sacoolas, 42, with causing death by dangerous driving following a fatal road accident in which Mr Dunn, 19, was killed. However, the US has rejected calls from the Home Office to extradite her, maintaining she had diplomatic immunity at the time of the accident. Charlotte Charles stands beside her husband Bruce Charles before a meeting with Dominic Raab / AFP via Getty Images It comes as foreign secretary Dominic Raab prepares to meet with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in London for bilateral talks. It is understood they will discuss the Duke of Yorks alleged lack of cooperation with US authorities in their investigations into his former friend Jeffrey Epstein, as well as the question of Ms Sacoolass potential extradition. Harry Dunn's mother: Dominic Raab is 'clearly very, very angry' The Dunn familys spokesman, Radd Seiger, told The Times he spoke to Mr Raab yesterday about the FBIs request to interview Prince Andrew. He said the foreign secretary assured him he was reviewing all options. If the special relationship means anything it means that the UK and the US should respect each others justice systems and abide by the rule of law, Mr Seiger told the paper. Anne Sacoolas should return to the UK and face one of the fairest justice systems in the world. In the spirit of reciprocity that underpins extradition, we stand shoulder to shoulder with Epsteins victims and believe that Prince Andrew should go to the US and do everything he can to ensure that justice is served there. Mr Seiger said he had contacted Lisa Bloom, a US lawyer representing five of Epsteins victims, to support her calls for the duke to speak to American investigators. For her part, Ms Bloom called for compromise over the Dunn case, tweeting earlier today: I understand diplomatic immunity but this is not a good look. If we want co-operation, we must co-operate in their investigations too." She later added: "I cannot emphasise enough to my mostly American followers how outraged the UK public is that we are asking Prince Andrew to cooperate with our investigation, yet American Anne Sacoolas is not cooperating with theirs, which involves a recent vehicle death of a British teen." Andrew stepped down from royal duties in November following a disastrous Newsnight interview in the wake of the scandal. Realising a conflict-free Africa is the dream of every African. In this edition, we highlight the current hotspots; the root causes of conflicts; the various efforts in search of peaceful co-existence and development and the African Unions quest for silencing the guns by 2020. In 2013 African Union (AU) member state representatives gathered at its headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where the Organisation of African Unity was established in 1963, to celebrate the bodys 50th anniversary. Amid the pomp and ceremony, the leaders sat down to reflect and tackle the tough questions: What progress have we made towards the achieving of the objectives set by the AU and looking forward, what is our proposed vision for Africa for the next 50 years? Furthermore, what is the biggest challenge to realizing the aspirations of our people? Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, then African Union Commission chairperson, had visited various countries collecting views from governments, civil society, and the diaspora, on what they felt was the most pressing issue facing Africa, one the AU should deal with. Most agreed that conflict remains one of the biggest challenges facing Africa. The AU also sees conflict as one of the biggest impediments to the implementation of Agenda 2063. Of course, there were other challenges facing the continent, including poverty, inequality, unemployment, climate change, illegal financial flows, corruption, etc, yet conflict tops the list. Before leaving Addis Ababa, the AU leaders resolved not to pass the burden of conflict to future generations, so they adopted Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020 as one of the flagship projects of the wider developmental blueprint Agenda 2063, Ms. Aissatou Hayatou, the AU Silencing the Guns operations manager, told Africa Renewal. She added: The objective was to achieve peace to allow for development across Africa. The initiative was intended to achieve a conflict-free Africa, prevent genocide, make peace a reality for all and rid the continent of wars, violent conflicts, human rights violations, and humanitarian disasters. The leaders hoped to have all the guns silenced by 2020. Since 2014, Africa has made progress in the quest for peace and security, mostly by strengthening continental response frameworks and institutions, as well as by working with the UN and other organisations on the ground. These initiatives have borne fruit. Over the past two decades, the guns have been silenced in previous hotspots such as Angola, Cote dIvoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Significant strides have been made in difficult cases such as Somalia and Sudan, according to the Addis Ababa-based Institute for Security Studies (ISS), and peace-building initiatives on the continent have also helped quell many potential flare-ups. However, fighting is still observable in Libya, South Sudan, the Central African Republic (CAR), the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Lake Chad Basin, which includes Chad and parts of Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon. Violent extremism in the Sahel and parts of the Horn and eastern Africa is also a challenge. There are also threats from terrorism and transnational crime on the continent. Communal conflicts between herders and farmers over water and pasture; violent urban crime and cultural practices such as cattle rustling, are also of concern because firearms have become the weapons of choice, replacing traditional and less deadly weapons. A 2017 study by Oxfam, The Human Cost of Uncontrolled Arms in Africa, estimates that at least 500,000 people die every year and millions of others are displaced or abused as a result of armed violence and conflict. Who has the guns in Africa? 80% of all small arms in Africa are in the hands of civilians, according to the Small Arms Survey (SAS), an independent Geneva-based research centre which generates evidence-based, impartial, and policy-relevant knowledge and analysis on small arms and armed violence issues for governments, policy-makers, researchers, and civil society. Civilians, including rebel groups and militias, hold more than 40 million small arms and light weapons, while government-related entities hold fewer than 11 million, according to the 2019 SAS and African Union study, Weapons Compass: Mapping Illicit Small Arms Flows in Africa. Where do the guns come from? Most of the weapons in Africa are imported. Official military expenditure in Africa stood at around $40.2 billion in 2018, with North Africa spending $22.2 billion and sub-Saharan Africa $18.8 billion, according to the ISS. The top arms suppliers to Africa between 2014 and 2018 were Russia, China, Ukraine, Germany and France, and the largest recipients were Egypt, Algeria and Morocco, according to a study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament. The SIPRI Arms Transfers Database provides information on all international transfers of major arms (including sales, gifts and production under license) to states, international organizations and non-state groups. Twenty-two African countries also manufacture various kinds of small arms and light weapons. Homemade artisanal weapons production is also prevalent on the continent, with those weapons reported to be fueling criminality in some countries. While African countries can control the purchase of legal arms, it is difficult to track the illegal trafficking and flows on the continent. Porous borders and long coastlines also enable traffickers to smuggle small arms between countries. There are also concerns about how well national arms stocks are managed to ensure that the weapons do not end up in the wrong hands. Which guns? Guns are the most popular weapon on the continent. They cause more deaths than bombs, grenades or mines. The AK-47 remains the most dangerous killing tool in Africa currently, says Ms. Hayatou, adding that a sizable chunk of the legally imported weapons in Africa are diverted illegally due to corruption. Oftentimes government stocks are raided, or military troops or police officers are killed for their weapons. Of concern too are the substantial number of weapons coming out of Libya that were previously owned by the Muammar Gaddafi regime and that have now ended up in the Sahel. Many of these weapons are in the hands of separatist rebels in northern Mali. Moving forward To accelerate action, the AU is launching in early 2020 a continent-wide campaign on Silencing the Guns to mobilise all stakeholders to prioritize efforts on peace and effective socio-economic development. Challenges that lead people to violent conflicts, including poverty, historical injustices, inequality, unemployment, climate change, illegal financial flows, and corruption should be addressed too for the guns to be silenced. Pakistan on Wednesday said that terrorists from Afghanistan fired two rockets which landed near a border crossing, forcing authorities to close down the frontier for security purpose. The rockets landed near the Torkham Border Terminal on the Pakistani side but "no casualties occurred", the Foreign Office said. "However, minor damages have been reported," it said. In order to ensure safety and security of vehicles and pedestrians, the Torkham crossing point was immediately closed, the FO added. The operations were resumed by the afternoon. Pakistani authorities conveyed serious concern to their Afghan counterparts. No one has claimed responsibility for the cross-border attack so far. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) T ory MPs have warned of widespread and strong unease on the backbenches about yesterdays decision to let Chinese firm Huawei help build the 5G network. Damian Green, the former de facto deputy prime minister, said a Conservative rebellion was possible unless further assurances were given that the companys role would be reduced over time. The Government was braced for criticism from the US as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo flew to Britain this afternoon for a two-day visit, including talks with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Boris Johnson. The White House made clear it was disappointed but No 10 was relieved that there was no direct attack from Donald Trump. Mr Green told BBC Radio 4s Today programme there could be trouble when legislation to regulate Huaweis involvement in 5G is put to a vote in the Commons. He said: One of the things that frankly surprised me was the breadth of opposition to the current stance of the Government on the Conservative backbenches. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- The annual conclave of the rich and powerful this month in Davos, Switzerland, put the longstanding debate about the social responsibility of corporations front and center by proclaiming its official theme as stakeholders for a cohesive and sustainable world. By using the word stakeholders, the World Economic Forum confirmed that its taken sides in a debate rekindled last year by the Business Roundtable, a lobbying group representing chief executives of major U.S. corporations. The Roundtable had issued a statement highlighting a fundamental commitment to all of our stakeholders, including shareholders, clients, employees, suppliers and communities, thereby situating itself in opposition to the view of corporate responsibility made popular half a century ago by the economist Milton Friedman. Friedman had famously stated in a 1970 New York Times magazine essay that business executives who diverted corporate assets toward social goals were betraying their obligations to shareholders. Yet the debate between Roundtable supporters and Friedman supporters, a main topic of panels and unofficial conversation at Davos last week, missed five key points. When Friedman was writing, the consequences of his view were more modest than they later became. In the 1960s and 1970s the regulatory state was often more interventionist than it is today especially in industries such as transportation and telecommunications and social norms were different. Before the deregulation wave of the 1970s and 1980s, arguing that a business executive should focus only on maximizing shareholder value thus may or may not have been wrong theoretically, but the practical impact was less significant. Whether business leaders pursued a narrow or broad definition of their responsibilities didnt matter as much because government regulation constrained the consequences. In no small part because of Friedmans influence, an extreme definition of capitalism has become dominant. By this definition, only perfectly competitive markets with minimally interventionist governments and business executives who maximized shareholder value should be considered capitalist. Its a strange argument. I doubt that anyone would have said during the 1940s, 1950s or 1960s that the U.S. wasnt capitalist, but somehow the qualification standards seem to have changed. I heard one person argue at Davos that regulating or even taxing carbon would be anti-capitalist. Thats nonsense. Virtually the entire range of policy options for more or less government action on climate change would not, if enacted, affect whether an economy remains capitalist. As Friedmans worldview as taught in introductory economics classes became more dominant, policymakers emphasized the effect of incentives and individual skills. Economists focused on assessing how much more productive an individual could be if she faced a lower marginal tax rate or had more education. Studying, instead, how much more productive an individual could be if she worked at Company A instead of Company B, or lived in City X instead of City Y, went out of fashion. And yet the evidence over the past few decades shows the importance of the place-based perspective, with growing differences in productivity and wages for otherwise similar individuals working at different firms, growing differences in returns on capital across firms, and growing differences in upward mobility for people living in different cities. The evolving view of governments proper role and the emphasis on individual-based policy instead of place-based policy coincided with fundamental changes in the global economy, especially a substantial expansion in the effective global labor supply, and the evolution of the computer era. Over roughly the same period, the U.S. experienced a disproportionate rise in political polarization, as a new analysis from the National Bureau of Economic Research shows. The authors of that article argue that diverging views among elites (which is plausibly about the role of government, though the authors dont make that argument) may be the cause of the rapid rise in broader polarization relative to other countries. At the very least, its interesting that the country that has most forcefully adopted the Friedman-inflected approach to policy has polarized the most. Some people who want businesses to adopt a broad view of corporate responsibility argue that companies have to fill a gap left by the diminishing effectiveness of government. (They might not realize that Friedman addressed that issue in his 1970 essay.) Like the old saw about the child who murders her parents and then complains about being an orphan, however, the dominant paradigm of the past several decades has plausibly produced a dramatic rise in inequality and polarization, and that polarization in turn has made the government unable to function effectively. In other words, we have basically done this to ourselves. Story continues So what is the best pathway forward? There is no easy fix, but I like many recent ideas about making public investments and regulatory adjustments to encourage creation of business ecosystems like technology hubs, as has been done in Palo Alto, California; Austin, Texas; and Boston. That would require more government action than is likely in the near term. But as Friedmans success in altering the dialog demonstrates, a first step is to be clear about what we should be doing, even before were capable of doing it. And an approach to policymaking focused more on where we work and live seems vastly more promising than what weve tried over the past few decades. To contact the author of this story: Peter R. Orszag at porszag5@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jonathan Landman at jlandman4@bloomberg.net This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Peter R. Orszag is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is the chief executive officer of financial advisory at Lazard. He was director of the Office of Management and Budget from 2009 to 2010, and director of the Congressional Budget Office from 2007 to 2008. 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. Shelby Tribble has been embracing the natural look of late, getting her lip fillers dissolved and opting for a more relaxed beauty regime. And the former TOWIE star looked great when she stepped out in Manchester on Wednesday night, accompanied by her former co-star Chloe Meadows as she attended the I Saw It First celebratory meal. The girls opted for the same black satin bustier from the online retailer's new collection, but styled their looks totally differently. Double trouble: Shelby Tribble and Chloe Meadows stepped out in Manchester on Wednesday night, attending the I Saw It First celebratory meal Shelby rocked a pair of casual jeans with a rip on her left leg, adding a checked blazer to cover up. She donned a pair of strappy black stilettos and accessorised with layered chains and large gold hoop earrings. As for Chloe, she teamed her daring top with a pair of wide-legged, black jeans, a Buberry bag and a pair of mules. The ladies were seen arriving at Firefly in Manchester alongside Love Island contestant Danny Williams. Keeping it casual: Shelby rocked a pair of jeans with a rip on her left leg, adding a checked blazer to cover up Shelby recently revealed how being bullied over her looks led to her having a boob job, Botox and 'agonising duck-face' lip filler. The Miss Great Britain 2014 winner told The Sun: 'I'd look in the mirror and think I wasn't good enough. Being flat chested used to really bother me as a teenager I used to put fillers in my bra.' After wanting a boob job 'for a long time' the teenager waited in the hope that she would naturally develop larger breasts. Same but different: Shelby dressed her silk bustier down with a blazer, while Chloe styled hers with black denim Joining forces: Also in attendance at the fashion bash was Love Island star Danny Williams When it didn't happen by the time Shelby turned 21, she turned to surgery, booking in and eventually going under the knife aged 22 to turn her natural A cup to a C. Shelby had Botox for the first time three years ago, and despite researching and finding a reputable doctor, the treatment left her eyebrows 'really high' and as she described: 'it looked disgusting.' After it settled down she had it redone months later, but has vowed not to have anymore Botox. Before and after: Since leaving TOWIE in September, Shelby has also ditched fake lashes, toned down her hair to a softer shade of brown and even removed her hair extensions (pictured before, left, and after, right) The reality star also admitted that she had lip filler aged 24 because of peer pressure, and because others around her were doing it. But Shelby explained that the pain of the injections was 'worse than she could have imagined,' and claimed that the filler began to 'migrate upwards' resulting in her being left with 'that horrible duck-face look.' After having the lip filler dissolved in October, the TOWIE star was inundated with compliments from fans on social media and her boyfriend Sam Mucklow - who all love her more natural look. Since leaving TOWIE in September, Shelby has also ditched fake lashes, toned down her hair to a softer shade of brown and even removed her hair extensions. A picture shows phase 17 and 18 of South Pars gas field development in the southern Iranian port town of Asaluyeh, on July 19, 2010. (Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images) China Free-Rides on US-Built Security System in Middle East, Experts Say As China continues to challenge the United States for global dominance, in the Middle East, oil-hungry China gets a free ride on the security system established by the United States there, according to experts interviewed by The Epoch Times. They are of the opinion that while the United States has strategically started to look away from the Middle East, the Chinese regime will continue to project its own interests into the region and avoid directly getting involved in conflicts. Howard Stoffer, an associate professor at the National Security Department at the University of New Haven, said Chinas focus on its economic interests is the main reason behind its unwillingness to openly engage in confrontational actions, a behavior that the State Department report calls playing both sides. Stoffer, who served as senior foreign service officer in the State Department for 25 years, says that oil will not fundamentally change the dynamics between the United States and China in the Middle East, despite the fact that the United States is the largest oil producer in the world, while China continues to be the largest oil importer. Stoffer said that even in escalated situations like the one after the death of Qassem Soleimani, Chinas foreign policy of non-interference would not fundamentally change if we saw the United States and Iran in a confrontation or even a warthen China would stay out. They dont want to get caught in that, and they would find alternative sources [to meet their oil needs], he said. Bernard Haykel, director of The Institute for the Transregional Study at Princeton University, corroborates Stoffers analysis. China will never challenge the U.S. in the Gulf, at least not until it can establish its own capacities at force projection over long distances, and it is very far from doing this, said Haykel. Erbil Gunasti, a Turkish Middle East expert and author of the book GameChanger, believes that neither the Chinese regime nor any other country will go to war on energy supply in the foreseeable future because the balance of power is not between the United States and China but rather dispersed among many countries and regions, that no one country can start or try to dominate any other country with resources exclusively. He said Washington doesnt need the Middle East anymore, and theres no geopolitical paradigm arising between Washington and Beijing in the Middle East based on their energy needs alone. The U.S. eventually has to walk away from the Middle East because the U.S. is now an energy-positive country, he said. The Middle East is someone elses problem. It does not affect much if China is buying all the oil from the Middle East. A man walks beside a PetroChina oil delivery vehicle. Chinas ambition to quadruple its gross domestic product within two decades will see oil consumption exceed 400 million tons a year by 2020, with imports accounting for half its needs. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images) Like Stoffer and Haykel, Gunasti also believes that China benefits from the United States presence in the region and has its own strategic agenda when it comes to Iran or any other country in the region. The State Department report supports Gunastis opinion, saying that while the United States has contributed $2.5 billion in humanitarian aid to conflict-affected and displaced Iraqis in the region, and $363 million to stabilize areas liberated from ISIS, China has provided less than $1 million to Iraq since 2013. The State Department said that, instead of helping, China has played both sides in a range of regional disputes and has intended to exploit openings to increase its own influence at the expense of its partners. Benefiting From the US-Provided Order Experts said that China is aware that if the United States doesnt provide a security system in the Middle East, the Iranians will likely take over and have an adverse impact on global security and economic stability. The U.S. provides security of supply and order, Haykel said. Without the U.S. military there, the Iranians would be greatly tempted to take over, indirectly through proxies, the Arab countries of the Gulf (Saudi, UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar). If this happens, Iran would control over 50 percent of global conventional oil and gas supply. This could then be used as a political/economic tool to put pressure on the West and the global economy. He gave an example of the oil embargo imposed by Saudi Arabia against the United States four decades ago as an act of weaponizing oil and the devastating impact it had on the United States and global economy. According to the State Department, the oil embargo of 197374 was imposed by Arab members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries against the United States in retaliation for the U.S. decision to re-supply the Israeli military and to gain leverage in the post-war peace negotiations. The Chinese are aware of all this and want the U.S. to remain in the region to secure supply. They are free-riders of the U.S. security/military effort and cannot replace the U.S. militarily in this region anytime soon, Haykel said. The State Department wrote in its report that after the Saudi Aramco oil facilities were attacked by Iran on Sept. 14, the United States took care of the emerging security situation as China played both sides. A sizable percentage of this oil is destined for China. China is Saudi Arabias number one customer, and Saudi Arabia is Chinas leading oil supplier. Yet where was China, when its primary energy source was threatened? the State Department said, adding that China instead helped Iran to circumvent sanctions. These violations of our sanctions give the Iranian regime crucial cash it needs to further its regional efforts to sow discord and terrorism. Smoke from a fire at an Aramco factory in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia, on Sept. 14, 2019. (Reuters) USIran Tensions and US Sanctions Experts say that while the U.S. sanctions are designed to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear state, the ChinaIran oil trade has found ways to circumvent them. The Chinese are purchasing Iranian oil despite U.S. sanctions and have decided to invest $400 billion into Iranian oil and gas under a 25-year deal signed last year, according to Petroleum Economist (PE). This will include up to 5,000 Chinese security personnel on the ground in Iran to protect Chinese projects, and there will be additional personnel and material available to protect the eventual transit of oil, gas, and petchems supply from Iran to China, where necessary, including through the Persian Gulf, an Iranian source told PE. Stoffer said that the Chinese relationship with Iran is a strategic one. I cant believe that China feels that Iran is a country that they want to have warm and friendly relations [with]. Its a strategic country that can stand up to the United States. Its a country that is supported by Russia to some degree, he said. Gunasti said theres nothing extraordinary about China finding gaps in the U.S. sanction laws to trade with Iran. U.S. sanctions will create tensions, of course, but that is the attrition of the trade war between the U.S. and China. That game will be there but also elsewhere between the U.S. and China throughout the 21st century. So it must not be treated as something extraordinary, he said. The Cowlitz County commissioners Tuesday approved a contract for substance use disorder treatment and recovery support services for offenders, including drug court clients. The agreement with Lauri Rowland, doing business as Choices, for July 2019 through June 30, 2020 is not to exceed $58,500. Funding for the contract comes from the state criminal justice treatment account. Gena James, human services manager, said Choices provides assessments required for offenders to participate in drug court. In other business the commissioners: Approved a one-month extension to an agreement with Correct Care Solutions, which provides health care services to Cowlitz County inmates. The department is currently negotiating a 2020 contract with a new provider Approved an amendment to a contract with the state Department of Health, adding $5,250 for water system testing and changing the wording for agreements for the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program and Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response. Approved an agreement with the Washington State Military Department for a $604,000 grant for new equipment and upgrades for the Cowlitz 911 Center. Love 0 Funny 0 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. Megan Barton Hanson attends the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Maura Higgins attends the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Pixie Lott attends the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Vicky Pattison and Ercan Ramadan attend the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague attend the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague attend the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Amber Gill attends the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Ashley James attends the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Michelle Visage attends the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Chris Hughes and Jesy Nelson attends the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Laura Whitmore attends the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Lizzie Cundy attends the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Rochelle Humes attends the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Marvin Humes and Rochelle Humes attends the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway attends the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Rob Brydon and Ruth Jones attend the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes attend the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield pose with the award for Live Magazine Show for 'This Morning' in the winners room attends the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield pose with the award for Live Magazine Show for 'This Morning' in the winners room attends the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Jesy Nelson attends the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Georgia Toffolo attends the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Holly Willoughby attends the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Caitlyn Jenner attends the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Caitlyn Jenner attends the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Jessica Wright attends the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Maura Higgins attend the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Maura Higgins proved to be a master at working the red carpet as she was the first to arrive at Tuesday night's National Television Awards in London. Love Island 2019's breakout star, and her boyfriend Curtis Pritchard, were the first to work the cameras at the glittering ceremony, which celebrates the best in British television and always attracts a host of Irish celebrities to support. Maura, who is currently competing on ITV's Dancing on Ice, opted for a fitted glittering gown by Fjolla Nila, an elevated take on the traditional 'naked' dress. The lilac hue embellishment was sewn on a full-length sheer layer and feathered cuffs. Laura Whitmore, the show's winter edition host, opted for a more understated all black look in a velvet midi dress with embellished detail on the slit and sleeves from Annie's Ibiza, a marketplace specialising in emerging designers. Blogger Louise O'Reilly was also a guest at the event, and she shared details of her look on her Instagram page, marking its transformation from a full length dress she converted into a suit. Irish designer Eamonn McGill enjoyed his red carpet turn as Molly Mae Hague debuted one of his custom white creations on the red carpet. Meanwhile, winners including Holly Willoughby - who opted for a princess style Peter Langner ballgown - and Jesy Nelson, in an orange corseted dress, filled out the best dressed list on the night. Expand Close Curtis Pritchard and Maura Higgins during the National Television Awards at London's O2 Arena / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Curtis Pritchard and Maura Higgins during the National Television Awards at London's O2 Arena Former Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison's updated take on Old Hollwood, including 1940s-inspired waves, and a white Suzanne Neville gown with a sweetheart neckline, was an appropriate representation of her transition from wild reality tv style to grown-up glamour. Unlike other red carpet ceremonies like the BAFTAs, the NTAs includes more of a mish-mash of television stars from varying backgrounds and levels of celebrity, and as such, the only discernible theme is standing out from the crowd. . Other guests included Caitlyn Jenner, Michelle Visage, Rochelle Humes and Amber Gill. s For all the looks from the red carpet, see our gallery below: Expand Close Laura Whitmore attends the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Laura Whitmore attends the National Television Awards 2020 at The O2 Arena on January 28, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) GoDaddy has reached an agreement to acquire Over, the startup behind an app that helps businesses create the photos and videos they need for social media. Justin Tsai, GoDaddy's vice president of growth and product, said this acquisition is about acknowledging "a world of entrepreneurs who may never have a website." He told me, "Overs capabilities really target those set of people, who may have an Instagram profile where they need to post visually engaging content but have never gone to GoDaddy." This follows GoDaddy's relaunch of its website-building tools last fall under the new name Websites+Marketing, with additional features around email marketing, search engine optimization and maintaining a presence beyond your website, whether that's on Facebook or Yelp. Tsai said Websites+Marketing now has 1 million paying customers, but as more business started using it, "We started noticing users really had trouble creating great content as they go to those platforms. They didnt know what to post or how to make that post really sing." That's where Over comes in, offering a variety of customizable templates and layouts that should make it faster and easier to create eye-catching visual content. The goal, according to co-founder and CEO Matt Winn, is to "build guitars, not violins" in the same way that someone can pick up a guitar and "strum a few cords," they should be able to download Over and quickly "start creating really great content." In fact, the startup says it has more than 1 million active users of its own, who are using it to create more than 220,000 projects every day. Tsai said GoDaddy and Over were initially discussing a partnership, but as it became clear that there was an opportunity to integrate the products more deeply, those discussions led to acquisition talks. Story continues Over will continue to operate as a standalone app, and he said the team will continue to develop new features for the app. At the same time, they'll be building integrations with Websites+Marketing, for example by taking Over and connecting it "into our insights tool to understand how different elements of [online] presence layer in together, to look at templates and how those actually help different types of small business owners." The financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Winn said Over had previously raised funding from True Ventures and angel investors, and that the entire 76-person team will be joining GoDaddy. Over will continue to operate out of its Cape Town, South Africa headquarters. A senior Sinn Fein minister has defended the partys use of non-elected republicans to help manage crisis situations. Stormont Finance Minister Conor Murphy was pressed on his partys decision-making structures as he gave evidence to his Assembly scrutiny committee. DUP committee member Paul Frew highlighted evidence heard during the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) inquiry that indicated former finance minister Mairtin O Muilleoir sought the approval of senior republican figures ahead of making key decisions. Sinn Feins internal processes have emerged as a prominent issue in the General Election campaign in the Irish Republic, with Fine Gael and Fianna Fail both citing the shadowy arrangements as reason not to enter a coalition government with the party. Expand Close Republican Padraic Wilson (Paul Faith/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Republican Padraic Wilson (Paul Faith/PA) Mr Frew asked Mr Murphy would he be acting under instruction as his predecessor appeared to be. The RHI inquiry brought to light emails and text messages showing the past finance minister in constant contact with veteran republicans outside of this elected assembly, he said. Padraic Wilson, Martin Lynch and Ted Howell are names that are in the public domain. What do those names mean to you minister? Mr Murphy said the RHI episode was a crisis and in crisis situations all parties pull in a range of party figures to help co-ordinate the response. That involves people who manage, he said. Now some people may draft in other people who are elected representatives, most parties have chief executives, they have people on their executive committees who arent elected representatives and you involve people who can manage negotiations as we have managed negotiations since the early 1990s. He added: A party management team manages in the middle of a crisis and all of the individual members of that team try to co-ordinate their activities. Thats how we do business and if there was a crisis here tomorrow morning I dont doubt we would draft in a team to try to manage our response to it, which would involve a range of people including elected and non-elected representatives. Expand Close TUV leader Jim Allister claimed the appointment process for special advisers had been watered down (Liam McBurney/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp TUV leader Jim Allister claimed the appointment process for special advisers had been watered down (Liam McBurney/PA) During his appearance before the committee Mr Murphy revealed that the Assembly budget would be struck before the Chancellor announced his budget on March 11. He said any additional money flowing to Northern Ireland as a result of Sajid Javids budget would then be factored into Stormonts spending plans. The Finance Minister also reiterated his claim that the UK Government had failed to honour undertakings to finance the New Decade, New Approach powersharing deal. He said only 760 million of the 2 billion package announced by the Government was new money. He said 1 billion was already pledged to the region as part of UK-wide spending commitments and 240 million was previously contained in the 2017 confidence and supply deal between the Conservatives and DUP. Mr Murphy said the 760 million, which will be spread over five years, was well below what had been discussed during the negotiations ahead of the deal being published. Those commitments that were given in that document werent a Santa Claus wish list, he said. They were carefully worked out through a series of discussions between all of the parties, senior officials from the department of finance, the head of the civil service here (David Sterling) and senior officials from the Northern Ireland Office. Mr Murphy said his officials were continuing to engage with Treasury officials with the aim of securing more funds. The minister expressed frustration that the executive had to hand back 150 million to the Treasury ahead of the next financial year at the same time as they were asked for more funding. But he pointed out that the 150 million of unused Financial Transactions Capital could not have been diverted to the powersharing deal. He said the FTC money could only be accessed in very specific circumstances namely in the form of a loan to, or equity investment in, a capital project delivered by a private sector organisation. Mr Sterling, who appeared before the Executive Office Committee on Wednesday, was asked whether he expected the Government to provide more money. You will know the Finance Minister had meetings in London last week, I think he was quite positive about how they went, he told the committee. Its a matter of record that the Department of Finance is doing further work to identify the cost of the various commitments, the challenges that are facing us and to go back to Treasury with a strong case for additional resources. I wouldnt want to make a judgment on the likelihood of that leading to significantly more money but I hope it will. At the finance committee, TUV leader Jim Allister claimed a revised code for special advisers had watered down the appointment process by removing an obligation on ministers to canvas a pool of candidates and outline the reasoning for their choice. Do you think thats meeting the expectations of the public in terms of transparency? he said. Mr Murphy said the priority was strengthening the code in respect of how special advisers operated when in post, not how they are appointed. The question is are we more concerned with how they get there or what they do when they are there, said the minister. India's government has stepped up the purchase of air purifiers over the last two years, taking the number of devices in ministries to protect against deteriorating air quality to nearly 300, government data seen by Reuters showed. Six federal ministries - including the health, foreign and home affairs - bought at least 159 air purifiers during 2018-2019 at a cost of 5 million rupees ($70,353), according to previously unpublished data obtained under a Right to Information (RTI) law. That compares with at least 140 air purifiers bought for $55,000 during 2014-2017 for the six ... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan Wed, January 29, 2020 09:48 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206173441 1 National Kampus-Merdeka,palm-oil,USU,Nadiem-Makarim,Nadiem-Merdeka-Belajar Free North Sumatra University (USU) in Medan plans to open a brand new palm oil program following the announcement of the Education and Culture Ministry's Kampus Merdeka (Freedom Campus) policy, which gives universities across the country greater freedom to establish new programs. USU rector Runtung Sitepu said the program would be fitting, as North Sumatra was the first region in Sumatra to develop a palm oil industry. "We are optimistic that the program will attract many potential students," Runtung said on Tuesday. He added that USU would hold a meeting with industry players, such as the Indonesian Palm Oil Producers Association and the Palm Oil Study Center, to help prepare the program. Runtung said he had taken into account "market needs" before deciding to establish the palm oil program Education and Culture Minister Nadiem Makarim announced last week that all state and private universities with minimum B-level accreditation that have signed a cooperation agreement with top global universities would have greater autonomy to create new programs. The cooperation must be organized with universities that are included on the QS Top 100 World Universities list and cover the formation of curriculum, internship programs and work placement for students. All new programs will automatically receive a C accreditation score, said the minister. (vny) Imperial Valley News Center President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu of the State of Israel Upon Arrival Washington, DC - Remarks by President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu of the State of Israel Upon Arrival: Q Mr. President, whats your response to the Bolton manuscript? And does this increase the chances he could be called to testify? PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, I havent seen a manuscript, but I can tell you: Nothing was ever said to John Bolton. But I have not seen a manuscript. I guess hes writing a book. I have not seen it. Q Well, you know what the allegation is. PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well talk inside. Q Do you expect Prime Minister Netanyahu to implement the plan right away in the coming six weeks? PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, I think hes here for a reason. And, hopefully, that it will be yes. And peace in the Middle East has been long sought for many, many, many years and decades and centuries. And this is an opportunity; well see what happens. Whatever it is, it is. But hes here for a reason. Q Would you give a green light for annexation of the Jordan Valley within the coming months? PRESIDENT TRUMP: Were going to see. Were going to announce tomorrow at 12 oclock. Were going to show a plan thats been worked on by everybody, and well see whether or not it catches hold. If it does, thatd be great. And if doesnt, we can live with it, too. But I think it might have a chance. Q Do you expect Benny Gantz to agree to the plan? PRESIDENT TRUMP: Do I expect what? Q Benny Gantz. PRESIDENT TRUMP: Hes coming here today. Hell be here also. And, as you know, they are two good competitors. Theyre fighting it out. Ive been waiting now this is my third election. We keep waiting, and waiting, and waiting. So, lets go. What kind of a system is that? Thats a very strange system you have over there. Wouldnt you say that? Because we have been. Weve been waiting weve been talking about this for many months and we keep waiting for the election. So that system has to be looked at. Q But what about the allegations that this is an interference with internal politics in Israel? The fact that PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, I think whats happening is one of the reasons that Mr. Gantz is here is for that reason. Hes coming, too. So Im going to speak to him right after this. Q What is your message to the residents of Judea and Samaria at this point? PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: May I may I say something? Q Yeah. PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: I think first of all, Im very honored to be here with you PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you. Its my honor. PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU: here today, Mr. President. And I look forward to making history with you tomorrow. And I think well talk about the plan; Ill talk about the plan of vision of peace, which is historic the President has put forward tomorrow. Today, I just want to say two words: Thank you. Thank you for everything youve done for Israel, everything youve done for Israel for recognizing Jerusalem as Israels capital; for moving your embassy there; for recognizing our sovereignty in the Golan Heights; for recognizing our rights in Judea and Samaria, the heartland of our biblical homeland; for the unprecedented security and intelligence cooperation between our two countries. I think, Mr. President, that the list of your support for Israel, the things youve done for Israel since youve become President, is very long. But the bottom line is short: You have made our alliance stronger than ever. And I look forward, in the coming years, to make it even stronger with a historic defense treaty that will anchor our alliance for generations. One last thing one last thing, which I think is important: This is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. And on this day, Im proud to stand here, as the Prime Minister of the one and only Jewish State, and thank you for confronting the most anti-Semitic regime on the planet. When you came into office, Iran was on the march. Because of your leadership, Iran is now on the run. Youve withdrawn from the dangerous nuclear the nuclear deal. You slapped on tremendous sanctions. You have two weeks ago, youve taken out the most dangerous terrorist on the planet. All those who seek peace, all those who want to fight terrorism should thank you, Mr. President, for your bold decisions and your bold actions. And on behalf of the State of Israel, I want to thank you for everything youve done for Israel, for confronting Iran, and for your extraordinary decisions, your friendship, and your leadership. Thats the end of my speech. Q President Trump, last time, I asked you if you were for a two-state solution. Are you going to say, tomorrow, two-state and a Palestinian State? PRESIDENT TRUMP: Youre going to see very, very quickly. Were going to release a plan tomorrow at 12 oclock. Youre going to see for yourself. Okay. Well see you inside. A jury should determine whether Uber ought to be held responsible for a passengers injuries, a federal judge in Rhode Island ruled. A U.S. District Court judge concluded Jan. 16 that jurors should determine whether driver Claudette Issa is considered an employee of Uber potentially making the company liable or an independent contractor, as Uber contends, the Providence Journal reported Sunday. In a 2017 lawsuit filed against Uber, passenger Lokeshwaran Narayanasamy, of Virginia, accuses Issa of negligence for colliding with an abandoned Toyota on Route 37 in Warwick while driving from the airport. Narayanasamy suffered serious injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, that have caused physical and emotional pain and hurt his ability to work, he and his family allege in the suit. Uber argues it is merely a software provider and cannot be held liable for Issas alleged negligence in the 2017 crash. The suit names Uber, a subsidiary company and Issa, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, as defendants. Uber and the subsidiary are accused of negligence in the training and hiring of Issa. Were very, very confident that a jury will determine that drivers are in fact employees, Narayanasamys attorney, Joseph Marasco said Sunday. Marasco argues that Uber maintains an employer-employee relationship with its drivers because the company controls the finances and unilaterally determines the fares. A spokesperson for Uber declined to comment to the Providence Journal on Sunday. The company, in court papers, has cited technology services agreements signed by Issa and other drivers to support its position that they are independent contractors and not employees. The Associated Press sent an email to Issas attorney Monday. The question of how Uber classifies drivers has been raised in numerous states. New Jersey is seeking $650 million in unpaid unemployment and disability taxes, contesting that Uber drivers are independent contractors, not employees. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Sharing Economy Ridesharing Gov. Doug Burgum on Wednesday called North Dakota's future "full of boundless opportunity" as he outlined a blueprint for the state's oil tax savings fund and announced opportunities for workforce and community development. The first-term Republican governor gave his State of State address at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. It's his second such address given in an off-year of the biennial Legislature, the first being in Minot in 2018. Burgum, who is seeking reelection with Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford, spoke for 1 hour and 40 minutes about North Dakota's achievements and outlook. "The state of our state today is that it's strong, it's growing and it's full of boundless opportunity," Burgum said. "And by seizing the opportunities that are in front of us and rejecting that piece of our culture, that self-imposed limitation that somehow in North Dakota that we're too small or we're too distant or we're too cold -- if we can get rid of all that thinking and understand that we've got the most amazing people and that our communities and our state are incredibly special and we have an opportunity to lift up everybody in our state -- and I mean everybody -- then we have an opportunity to realize our fullest potential." Majority Republican legislative leaders agreed that Burgum is on track, while Democratic-NPL leaders said the governor has much to do, even within his own party. Burgum highlighted the state's energy, agriculture and tourism industries, reviewed 2019 legislation and the state's disaster planning in preparation for spring flooding. The governor emphasized the importance of an accurate count of North Dakotans in the pending 2020 U.S. census and touted his administration's efforts to improve tribal relations, combat addiction and "reinvent" state government" -- a vision he presented as a 2016 candidate. "Some people might get confused about 'what do you mean about reinventing government?' I think the simple way to say it is we want it to be more efficient and more responsive to taxpayers," Burgum said. The governor, a former software executive, also pressured state lawmakers on cybersecurity, pointing to city and state governments "that literally were shut down because of the infiltration of (cyber) attacks." Burgum called North Dakota "a rich target" with vulnerable information technology systems. "They say when you're in cyber you spend dimes on cybersecurity until you've been successfully hacked from ransomware and then you throw millions at the problem," he said. "So I'm asking for dimes. I want dimes upfront, not for money later." House Majority Leader Chet Pollert, R-Carrington, said he agrees with the governor that cybersecurity is a top priority. He attended several sessions on cybersecurity at a recent conference and plans to soon meet with North Dakota's chief information officer. "It's enough to scare the bejeebies outta ya," Pollert said of cyberattacks. Burgum also outlined a plan to grow the $6.8 billion Legacy Fund to more than $26 billion by 2033, which he called "a good start" for using the 10-year-old oil tax savings account. Burgum's plan would split the fund's earnings between spending in three areas -- infrastructure, property tax relief and "transformational legacy projects" -- and deposits to the fund's principal. He named one "legacy project": career academies for workforce development. "If it's really a legacy project it ought to have an impact not just to the current but to the future generation," Burgum said of his vision. His administration will develop a 10-year infrastructure plan to identify priorities for the 2021 Legislature's consideration. "His ideas may be a little different than ours, but we've got some common ground, too," Pollert said of Legacy Fund ideas. The Legacy Fund generated $455 million in earnings in the last two-year budget cycle. A committee of state lawmakers is taking public input on how to use fund earnings. The committee next meets in February in Watford City. Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner, R-Dickinson, called Burgum's speech "right on" and said "he painted the picture the way it really is in North Dakota." "I think we're all on the same page," Wardner said. "We might approach some things a little different, but I think overall he painted the picture of what we have, what we need to do and the challenges that we need to work on." House and Senate Democratic-NPL minority leaders issued a statement saying Burgum has a long way to go. "As the leader of his party, he has a lot to do to bring his fellow Republicans along," said House Minority Leader Josh Boschee, D-Fargo. "He cant support candidates who arent supporting the vision hes presenting, much of which we agree with. There are too many idealogues who are voting for their self-interest versus whats best for their communities and North Dakota." Boschee told the Tribune that Burgum counts success in much of what Democrats have "led on for years," such as displaying flags of North Dakota's tribes in the state Capitol and advancing human services and K-12 education opportunities. Burgum also announced the Dakota Strike career expo for students in grades 7 to 12 on April 8 at the Fargodome in Fargo. The event will focus on filling North Dakota's workforce shortage and showcasing careers in technology and other fields. That drew praise from a group that represents more than 2,000 small business owners in the state. "The No. 1 inhibitor to growing North Dakotas economy is the lack of available workforce. NFIB is thankful that the governor is committed to growing our states workforce and getting small business owners the employees they need to keep North Dakotas economy on track, said Alison Ritter, North Dakota's state director for the National Federation of Independent Business. Burgum also marked dates for the next Summit on Innovative Education and the Main Street ND Summit, to be held from June 16-17 in Mandan and from Oct. 6-7 in Bismarck, respectively. He also announced two new grant programs related to the Main Street Initiative on communities' economic development and infrastructure. More information is available from the North Dakota Department of Commerce. Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3 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. Dublin Airport set a new record for traffic as it welcomed 32.9 million passengers last year. Around 30.7m people started or ended their journey at the capital's airport while almost 2.2m used the airport as a hub. Passenger numbers were up 4% last year with a strong performance in the first six months giving way to more modest growth later in the year. Both short and long-haul passenger numbers increased by 5% and 4% respectively. "Dublin Airport had its ninth consecutive year of passenger growth in 2019 and this has had a hugely positive impact on the entire Irish economy, said Dublin Airport Managing Director Vincent Harrison. Mr Harrison said the connectivity provided by the airport is "essential" as Ireland's economy depends on trade, exports, inbound tourism and foreign direct investment. "Dublin Airport is delighted to be able to facilitate these key sectors." There were 25 new routes at Dublin Airport last year and capacity was increased on 28 existing routes. This year, the airport will see 12 new routes added including new long-haul services for summer 2020 to Shanghai via Helsinki with Juneyao Air and San Francisco with United Airlines. New short-haul destinations include Cairo with EgyptAir, Marseille with Ryanair, Rhodes with Aer Lingus, and Tel Aviv with El Al. Dublin Airport is celebrating its 8-th birthday this year and has welcomed more than 580m passengers since its official opening on January 19, 1940. It is now the 10th largest airport in the European Union. Just Eat will deliver McDonald's' meals across the UK and Ireland from 2020. Photo: Getty McDonalds (MCD) is partnering with online ordering and food delivery company Just Eat (JE.L) to deliver Big Macs and McMuffins across the UK and Ireland. Just Eat beat rival Deliveroo to become McDonald's second exclusive partner for their McDelivery service in Britain. The fast food giant launched its home delivery service with UberEats in 2017. Deliveries are expected to get under way during 2020, according to Just Eat. The win follows Just Eats recent 6bn ($7.8bn) acquisition by Amsterdam-based Takeaway.com (TKWY.AS) after a months-long battle with rival bidder Prosus (PRX.AS). READ MORE: Takeaway.com has finally won its battle to acquire Just Eat for 5.9bn Just Eat announced a similar delivery partnership with bakery Greggs (GRG.L) earlier this month and Just Eats interim CEO Peter Duffy said Tuesday that both deals would help accelerate our growth. We are delighted to announce that we have agreed to partner in the UK and Ireland with McDonald's, Duffy said. This partnership, along with our recently announced relationship with Greggs, will require significant investment but will accelerate our growth ambitions and enhance our market position by offering our customers the widest choice available. In a trading update, Just Eat announced UK order growth of 8% last year, along with good momentum in Australia, Italy, and Switzerland and continued strong growth in Canada. The company said it expected to report 2019 core earnings of about 200m, towards the top of its guidance range of 185m-205m. It also forecast total revenue of approximately 1bn for 2019. We are pleased to confirm uEBITDA towards the top end and revenue broadly in line with the guidance range we provided at the start of 2019, notwithstanding the significant developments during the year, Duffy said. READ MORE: Greggs joins up with Just Eat for nationwide delivery rollout The developers who recently acquired the historic Nix Medical Center on the River Walk say they havent decided yet on a plan for the property but theyre leaning toward turning it into multi-family housing. Were eager to see what we can do to bring fresh, new life to that block, said Adrian Ramirez, a Houston-based partner of InnJoy Hospitality, the company that purchased the 24-story building in December. As the Crown described the violent, invasive, degrading sexual assault they argue an intoxicated and sometimes unconscious 24-year-old woman was subjected to by two men over six hours in a downtown Toronto bar, the victims mother listened, wiping away tears. At the sentencing hearing on Wednesday she read out a victim impact statement to the court, directing the first lines to Gavin MacMillan and Enzo DeJesus Carrasco, both found guilty by a jury of gang sexual assault and drugging to facilitate sexual assault. How can anyone hurt another human being the way you did? she said. My daughter was such a happy, loving, creative and trusting individual and it was all taken away from hercrippling and immense physical and emotional damage. She described how her daughter wakes up screaming from nightmares and that when she tried to comfort her, she flinched at her touch. Her whole family felt useless, unable to help her. She would cry wondering what she did wrong to deserve this. The only way to she knew how to handle it was to shut down and sleep for hours, sometimes in bed for days, she said. To watch my baby, who was full of love and spirit, go to just existing and not treating herself as good as she should was heart-wrenching. She wasnt the same person she had been for a long time, her mother said. She didnt want to burden anyone with how she was feeling, she said. She didnt want anyone to think she was weak, or that she couldnt take care of herself. Her family has tried to reassure her that the opposite is true. She is truly our hero and one hell of a fighter, her mother said. Her words came amid the possibility of the convictions being overturned and a second trial, as a result of a Court of Appeal ruling that found new jury selection rules should have been used in cases that predated the change in law. Despite a request for a mistrial by the defence due to the jury verdicts stemming from an improperly chosen jury, Superior Court Justice Michael Dambrot said there was too much uncertainty not to leave it up to the appeal court to decide. After deliberating for four days last year, a jury found College Street Bar owner Gavin MacMillan, 45, and bar manager Enzo DeJesus Carrasco, 34, guilty of gang sexual assault and drugging to facilitate a sexual assault. The jury could not agree on whether the two men unlawfully confined the woman on the night of Dec. 14, 2016, and whether DeJesus Carrasco raped her the following morning at his apartment. The Crown dropped those charges after the jury verdict. DeJesus Carrasco was acquitted of a sexual assault charge from when he was alone at the bar with the victim earlier in the night. Her identity is covered by a publication ban available to sexual assault complainants. On Wednesday, the Crown and defence put forward vastly different explanations for how the jury reached its decision. Juries do not give reasons for their decisions and it is up to the trial judge to determine what happened from the evidence in accordance with the jury verdicts. The Crown is seeking a sentence of 12 years. MacMillans lawyer said a sentence of 12 months is appropriate should the judge accept their version of what happened, and two years if he accepts the Crowns. DeJesus Carrascos lawyer said a sentence just shy of six months would be fair on their version of what occurred, and two years on the Crowns version. Prosecutor Rick Nathanson said the evidence from the trial, primarily several hours of graphic video obtained from the College Street Bars security cameras, showed a vulnerable woman being repeatedly sexually assaulted while being either overpowered, incapable of consenting due to alcohol and cocaine or while unconscious. This was a violent, invasive and degrading sexual assault that went hour after hour, for almost six hours, Nathanson said, adding that the men gave the victim cocaine to keep her both compliant and awake. He added that the two men, as owner and manager of a bar, had a responsibility to ensure the victim, as a patron, was safe. In addition to her mothers victim impact statement, the Crown noted the victims own testimony during the trial about her lasting physical injuries, the terrible emotional toll of telling her family and boyfriend what happened, and her inability to even leave the couch for months afterwards. There has been a catastrophic impact on the victims life, he said. Her daughter couldnt bring herself to write her own statement, her mother said, but she said this: Im no longer available for the things that make me feel like st. The sexual assault was also deliberately captured on the bars security cameras, Nathanson said, with the two men clearly intending to watch the recordings at a later time for sexual gratification. The Crown submitted text messages predating the sexual assault, which they argue show the two men appearing to discuss watching footage of naked or partially naked women recorded from the security cameras at the bar. Nathanson argued the text messages should also be considered for sentencing purposes because they show misogynist views and a different side to the men that may not have been known to the people in their lives who provided letters to the court about their good character. MacMillans lawyer Sean Robichaud said text messages were presented without context or explanation of their content and they should not be considered. MacMillans lawyer Sean Robichaud argued that, given the jury was hung on the count of unlawful confinement, the sexual assault finding should be limited only to the time before the victim was led from the main floor of the bar into the basement by MacMillan. Had they found a sexual assault was taking place when she went downstairs with Mr. MacMillan they would have also had no problem in finding him guilty of unlawful confinement during that time, he said. Robichaud said MacMillan, who owned a bartending school as well as the College Street Bar, has now lost everything. The impact on his life has been catastrophic. But he stressed that, with strong family and community support, he has strong prospects for rehabilitation. DeJesus Carrascos lawyer Uma Kancharla said the sexual assault should only apply to one instance near the start of the sexual activity, where the victim appears to lose consciousness. She also noted that the victim said she willingly did two lines of cocaine. Dambrot said she did not have to be forced to take the cocaine. While MacMillan is on bail pending sentence and is set to seek bail pending appeal, DeJesus Carrasco is now in custody. He faces trials on three more sexual assault charges involving three other women. A date for MacMillans appeal, filed last week, has not yet been set. A sentencing decision is set for Feb. 12. [January 29, 2020] Record-Breaking $550 million Settlement in Principle of Biometric Privacy Lawsuit Reached by Law Firms Edelson, Robbins Geller and Labaton Sucharow and Facebook In what is the largest cash settlement ever resolving a privacy related lawsuit, a fund of $550 million will be established for a class of Illinois Facebook (News - Alert) users who challenged Facebook's alleged violations of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act. Given that the settlement is on behalf of a class of consumers, it will be subject to and not effective until it is approved by the District Court presiding over the case. The settlement was reached by a trio of law firms that represents the plaintiff class. Chicago-based Edelson PC, widely known for its ground-breaking work in privacy, was the first law firm to uncover and bring to light potential violations of the Illinois Biometrics law by Facebook and other companies. After the firm filed the first suit against Facebook, similar cases were filed by Labaton Sucharow LLP and Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP. The cases were consolidated and transferred to the United States District Court in San Francisco. The three firms jointly litigated the case for nearly five years, before Judge James Donato, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. The suit alleged that Facebook collected biometric information in the form of face prints, for the purpose of supporting its "face tagging" feature, in violation of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act. Facebook has at all times denied any wrongdoing. The settlement breaks new ground when it comes to privacy settlements simply by virtue of its sheer size: an all cash fund of $550 million for the class. Jay Edelson of Edelson PC, "Biometrics is one of the two primary battlegrounds, along with geolocation, that will define our privacy rights for the next generation. We are proud of the strong team we had in place that had the resolve to fight this critically important case over the last five years. We hope and expect that other companies will follow Facebook's lead and pay significant attention to the importance of our biometric information." Although the parties had multiple unsuccessful mediation sessions during the course of the litigation, the settlement, which still must be approved by Judge Donato, was ultimately reached with the assistance of mediator Jeff Bleich, a former United States Supreme Court law clerk, Special Counsel to President Barack Obama, and United States Ambassador to Australia. "The mediation with Ambassador Bleich led to an unprecedented settlement for the class, though I must admit I was really was looking forward to trying this case to a jury," added Robbins Geller's Shawn Williams, who was slated to serve as trial counsel. "This is a tremendous victory for the class," said Michael Canty, head of the consumer cybersecurity group at Labaton Sucharow. "Here, Illinois enacted a statute not to thwart innovation, but to protect individuals' privacy. As technology advances, corporations must be mindful of the privacy of their customers and more importantly, comply with the law." Paul Geller, the head of the consumer protection arm of Robbins Geller -- a plaintiffs' firm already known for several record-breaking verdicts and settlements in the class action space -- emphasized the importance of attorneys having the resolve to fully litigate cases of national importance: "This case should serve as a clarion call to companies that consumers care deeply about their privacy rights and, if pushed, will fight for those rights all the way to the Supreme Court and back until they are justly compensated." The plaintiffs will now ask the District Court to give preliminary approval of the settlement and order that notice be sent to the Illinois class. Illinois is the only state in the country to have a biometric privacy statute that allows consumers to bring suit for monetary damages if their rights are violated. ABOUT THE FIRMS More information about Edelson PC can be found at www.edelson.com. More information about Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP can be found at www.rgrdlaw.com. More information about Labaton Sucharow LLP can be found at www.labaton.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005805/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] has asked the Election Commission to impose a 48-hour campaigning ban on Union Home Minister for allegedly tweeting a "fake" video on Delhi government schools, party leader Sanjay Singh said on Wednesday. leaders Singh and Pankaj Gupta complained to the EC against the circulation of the "fake" videos of Delhi government schools by BJP leaders to "falsely defame" Delhiites. The AAP, in its complaint to the EC, also said BJP MPs - Gautam Gambhir, Parvesh Verma and Hans Raj Hans - made "false and fabricated" videos to put out a wrong picture of Delhi government schools to the people. The has also sought action against the three BJP MPs. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday had asserted that the videos of alleged deficiencies in the city's government schools shared by Home Minister were false. Video PlayerClose Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with visiting World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 28, 2020. [Xinhua/Ju Peng] BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that China has full confidence and capability to win the battle against the outbreak of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Xi made the remarks when meeting with visiting World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The Chinese people are now fighting a very serious battle against the epidemic, said Xi, adding that the people's safety and health always come first, and thus the prevention and control of the outbreak is the country's most important work for now. Xi said he chaired a special meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on the outbreak on Saturday, the first day of this lunar new year. He said the comprehensive deployment has been made for the containment and mitigation of the epidemic, and a central leading group on battling the virus was established. "The epidemic is a devil. We will not let it hide," said Xi. Chinese government has released information about the epidemic in a timely, open, transparent and responsible manner, responded to concerns of all sides actively, and enhanced cooperation with the international community, Xi said. Hailing the WHO's important role in coordinating global public health affairs, Xi said China attaches great importance to the cooperation with the WHO. The WHO is welcome to participate in the epidemic containment, Xi said, adding that WHO experts have visited Wuhan in central China where the virus first broke out. China is ready to work with the WHO as well as the international community to safeguard regional and global public health security, Xi said. Xi said he believes that the WHO and the international community will assess the epidemic situation in an objective, just, calm and reasonable way. China has the full confidence and capability to win the battle against the virus with concerted efforts, scientific containment and targeted policies under the strong leadership of the CPC, said Xi. Tedros said it is admirable that the Chinese government has shown its solid political resolve and taken timely and effective measures in dealing with the epidemic. President Xi's personal guidance and deployment show his great leadership capability, Tedros said. He said that China has released information in an open and transparent manner, identified the pathogen in a record-short time and shared the genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus in a timely manner with the WHO and other countries. China's measures are not only protecting its people, but also protecting the people in the whole world, he said. Hailing the high speed and massive scale of China's moves are rarely seen in the world, Tedros said it showed China's efficiency and the advantages of China's system. The experience of China is worth learning for other countries, he said, adding that he believes the measures China has taken will effectively control and finally prevail over the epidemic. The WHO firmly supports China's measures against the epidemic and stands ready to enhance cooperation with China and provide all necessary assistance, Tedros said. He said the WHO will make assessment based on science and facts, and opposes overreaction and groundless accusations. The WHO speaks highly of China's major role in and great contribution to the cause of global public health, and is ready to further conduct strategic cooperation with China, said Tedros. (Source: Xinhua) Regular consumers of popular caffeinated energy drinks may need help kicking the habit. New research at Flinders University in Australia, published in the international journal PLOS One, put a form of cognitive incentive retraining - a form of computer-based training aimed at reducing decision-making biases in purchasing energy drinks - to the test on more than 200 regular consumers of energy drinks aged between 18 and 25. With the powerful marketing by brands such as Red Bull, V, Mother and Monster, the Australian Research Council-funded research is focusing on finding ways to reduce or combat the rising levels of energy and soft drink consumption. The training aimed to reduce energy drink consumption by either reducing the extent to which energy drink cans capture the attention of regular energy drink consumers (attentional bias) or reducing the tendency for these consumers to approach energy drinks (approach bias). "We are keen to expand these trial methods on consumers to combat through their attentional and approach bias towards energy drinks," says Mind, Body and Cognition research leader Professor of Psychology Eva Kemps. "By giving participants some simple techniques, we examined whether they were prepared to moderate their bias toward choosing energy drinks over soft drinks and more healthy options, and perhaps reduce consumption before they become addicted." While an occasional energy drink is not problematic, it has been reported that some individuals consume four or more energy drinks a day. Excessive intake can lead to the development of intolerance and serious withdrawal symptoms upon cessation. Energy drink consumption is rising, with one estimate of it doubling in the past 10-15 years to more than 11.5 billion litres a year globally, with a majority of consumers young adults. Side-effects of excessive intake of the high caffeine drinks, with other stimulants taurine, guarana and ginseng, can lead to a range of negative physical and mental health consequences, including anxiety, depression, or even stress PTSD and substance abuse. Reported adverse effects range in severity from headaches to heart palpitations, renal failure, seizures, and in rare cases death. The 226 volunteers in the study - many of them university students - said they consumed 1 or more cans a fortnight, for an energy boost, to relieve fatigue, improve sporting or academic performance, or as a party mixer with alcohol. The training aimed to reduce energy drink consumption by tackling either the extent to which the products capture the attention of regular energy drink consumers (attentional bias) or the tendency for these consumers to approach energy drinks (approach bias). Attentional and approach biases have been demonstrated for a range of appetitive substances, including alcohol, tobacco, drugs and chocolate. The research is part of an ARC Discovery Project (2018-21) looking at the role of automatic processing in the (over)consumption of soft drinks, and follows previous attentional retraining research to reduce food cravings and promote healthier eating and weight loss. ### The paper, 'Cognitive bias modification for energy drink cues' (December 2019) by E Kemps, M Tiggemann, M Cibich and A Cabala was published in PLoS ONE DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226387 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0226387 Barely two months after a major fire outbreak at Balogun market, Lagos State, another fire outbreak has occurred. The fire occurred on Wednesday at Martins street of the popular market. It was said to have started from a building which is now spreading to other buildings on the street. Operatives of the Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA) have swung into operation to put off the fire. In November 2019, a fire outbreak occurred on the same street. It affected a five-storey building (No 43) on Martins street, Balogun market, as well as other adjoining buildings on the street. Nosa Okunbor, the spokesperson of the agency said rescue operations are ongoing at the Balogun Markets fire scene as firefighters and other first responders are available at the scene. More details later LONDON (AP) British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Prince Harry touted the U.K. as an ideal business partner for Africa on Monday as their country prepares for post-Brexit dealings with the world. But Britain faces tough challenges as it seeks to assert itself on a continent with several of the worlds fastest-growing economies, and one whose youthful 1.2 billion population is set to double by 2050. Far fewer of Africas 54 heads of state or government were attending the first U.K.-Africa Investment Summit than the dozens who attended the first Russia-Africa summit last year or the gatherings China regularly holds. The U.K.'s department for international trade says two-way trade with Africa in the year ending in the second quarter of 2019 was $46 billion. Meanwhile, Africas two-way trade with China, the continents top trading partner, was $208 billion in 2019. Johnson told attendees the conference "is long overdue. He acknowledged that British officials and companies need to work to convince African nations to do business with the U.K. We have no divine right to that business," he said. "This is a competitive world. You have may suitors" especially China and Russia. Britain is due to leave the European Union on Jan. 31, and Johnson said the U.K. would become a global free trading nation after Brexit. He pledged that the post-Brexit immigration system would "put people before passports," acknowledging a common frustration across Africa. While other global powers including Gulf nations and India have been increasing their diplomatic and economic presence in Africa, some observers have wondered about the interest of Britain, a former colonizer. When Theresa May visited Kenya in 2018, even Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta noted it was the first visit to East Africas economic hub by a British prime minister in more than three decades. Johnson stressed that he had visited about a dozen African countries when he was British foreign secretary between 2017 and 2019. He said billions of pounds worth of deals would be sealed at Monday's summit, including major clean-energy projects. Prince Harry, who has longstanding ties to Africa and is involved with conservation and youth charities on the continent, also attended the conference to boost Britain's cause, despite the swirling drama over his decision to break from official royal duties. Story continues Britain said 16 African leaders were attending Monday's summit in London, including the leaders of Nigeria, Congo, Kenya, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, Malawi, Mozambique, Ivory Coast, Uganda and Rwanda. The wealth of Africa is undisputed, said Ghana's president, Nana Akufo-Addo, noting that one in four people in the world in 2050 will be African. Leaders stressed the need to tackle growing inequality and the continent's dire need for better infrastructure, especially as millions of people migrate to booming cities. Aside from the sluggishness of its top two economies, South Africa and Nigeria, Africa is showing economic momentum as the recently launched African Continental Free Trade Area gathers steam. Last year, economic growth slowed in all geographic areas except Africa, the United Nations reported last week in its annual World Economic Situation and Prospects 2020. The U.N. said gross domestic product growth in Africa is projected to reach 3.2% in 2020 and 3.5% in 2021. And 25 African countries are projected to achieve economic growth of at least 5% this year. Britain should take a wider investment approach to Africa's growing middle class and increasingly sophisticated consumers, the Overseas Development Institute reported this month. It said more than 80% of Britain's investment in Africa is focused on mining and financial services, and 30% of investment in the continent goes to a single country, South Africa. ___ Cara Anna reported from Johannesburg. ___ Follow AP's full coverage of Brexit and British politics at https://www.apnews.com/Brexit The European Parliament on Wednesday gave its final approval to Britain's divorce deal from the bloc, paving the way for Brexit to take place on Friday. The chamber broke into singing Auld Lang Syne, a traditional Scottish song to bid farewell, after voting 621 for versus 49 against the Brexit deal, with 13 abstentions. Boris Johnson said the UK will make a "dignified" exit from the European Union and embark on a new chapter. The British Prime Minister said Brexit at 11pm on Friday would be a "moment of hope" for the country. But with the country still deeply split following the 2016 referendum, Mr Johnson said he would be celebrating in a "respectful" manner. Answering questions on Facebook, Johnson said: "What I will be doing is, in common with everybody else, I will be making a dignified exit from the European Union. "I will be celebrating in a way that I hope is respectful of the scale of the event, that does justice to the astonishing feat that Britain has accomplished but also is mindful of everybody's feelings about what we are doing. "It is a great moment for our country, it is a moment of hope and opportunity but it is also, I think, a moment for us to come together in a spirit of confidence." The prime minister will deliver an "address to the nation" an hour before the UK's departure from the bloc. Government buildings in Whitehall will be lit up in red, white and blue to celebrate Brexit, while Parliament Square and Pall Mall will be festooned with British flags. A light display, featuring a countdown clock, is also planned for Downing Street, while three million 50p coins will mark the occasion bearing the words "Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations." Earlier today, before the final debate on Brexit - seen by many as a victory for populism - the Parliament honoured the 75th anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. Italian holocaust survivor Liliana Segre addressed the parliament, followed by a speech by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. The commission president said: "Europe rose with the intention never again to give quarter to absolute evil. "It didn't start in Auschwitz. It started much earlier in people's mind. It started with the weakening of the ability to be angry at the denigration that other people fell victim to. "It started with brutality and hate speech against the Jewish community and then acts followed these words that became the unspeakable crystallisation of these words." She added: "Europe rose with the firm will never again to give any quarter to absolute evil. Europe knows like no other continent, do not let it take root. Never, ever again." It was standing room only in the press gallery as camera crews lined up for the speeches ahead of the vote. Belgium MEP Guy Verhofstadt - the European Parliament's Brexit co-ordinator - said: "Voting today is voting for an orderly against a wild Brexit. "I will be honest, if you could stop Brexit by voting 'no' today then I would be the first to recommend it. "It's a sad issue. Sad to see a nation leaving, a great nation that has given us all so much economically, culturally, politically, even its own blood in two world wars. "It's sad to see a country leaving that twice liberated us, twice gave its own blood." He described Brexit as "a failure of the union". "Yes, it is also our failure. We have to recognise that in our debate. There is a lesson to be learned," he said. The final vote on the Withdrawal Agreement is due to take place at 5pm UK time. Ms von der Leyen said: "We will miss you but we will always keep up our friendship with you and you can count on us as we know we can count on you." But there were cheers in the chamber when she emphasised that the condition of a "unique" free trade agreement would be that British and European businesses "continue to compete on a level playing field". But Mr Farage contradicted her in his speech, saying: "(Boris Johnson) has made it clear, he has promised us, there will be no level playing field. "Once we have left, we are never coming back and the rest, frankly, is detail." He added: "What we have proved is that the British are too big to bully, thank goodness. "We don't need a European Commission, we don't need a European Court, we don't need EU institutions and all of this power and I can promise you that in Ukip and indeed in the Brexit Party, we love Europe, we just hate the European Union. It's as simple as that. "I hope this is the beginning of the end of this project, it's a bad project. It's undemocratic, in fact it's anti-democratic. It gives people power without accountability." He described the current global political climate as globalism against populism, adding: "You may loathe populism, but I tell you a funny thing, it is becoming very popular." Mr Farage, who had decorated his seat with his own flags, ended up being cut off by the speaker as he listed the "benefits" of populism. "No more financial contributions, no more European Court of Justice, no more Common Fisheries Policy, no more being talked down to, no more being bullies. No more Guy Verhofstadt," he said. Deputy speaker Mairead McGuinness told him: "Sit down, put your flags away or take them with you if you're leaving now." Green MEP Molly Scott-Cato received a standing ovation for her tearful farewell speech. "Now is not the time to campaign to rejoin but we must keep the dream alive, especially for young people who are overwhelmingly pro-EU," she said. "I hold in my heart that one day I will be in this chamber, celebrating our return to the heart of Europe." Canadian Pacific (NYSE: CP) and union officials are at odds over a documentary and reports produced by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. (CBC) in which the network explored the events surrounding a February 2019 fatal accident involving a CP train including questions about how the investigation was handled. The documentary aired Sunday. It was part of CBC's weekly investigative news program, The Fifth Estate. The documentary entailed a seven-month investigation by CBC and sought to address allegations by a former CP employee who said the company thwarted his efforts to investigate certain aspects of the accident, according to CBC's article about the documentary. The former employee was part of CP's police service, which is a fully authorized federal force but under the direction of CP. The former employee now works for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). According to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), the Feb. 4, 2019, accident involved a westbound train heading for Vancouver that derailed near Field, British Columbia. All three members of the train crew died. The train consisted of 112 covered hopper cars and three locomotives, of which 99 cars and two locomotives derailed. The Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, a labor union representing rail employees in Canada, said the RCMP should be involved in the investigation. "Given the controversy surrounding the criminal investigation into this tragedy, it's obvious that we must involve the RCMP. Every effort must be made to uncover the root causes and to ensure this never happens again," said Lyndon Isaak, president of the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference. The Teamsters' parent organization also called for an independent investigation by the RCMP into the accident, and it pressed the federal government again to stop allowing corporate police forces. "Corporate police forces have no place in the modern world. It is absurd that a company should be able to criminally investigate itself. They'll never find themselves guilty of anything. We once again call on the government of Canada to abolish all forms of private policing," said Teamsters Canada President Francois Laporte. Story continues But CP said the RCMP has been an active participant in the accident investigation, calling the CBC reports inaccurate. The railway said the RCMP was on-site at the incident immediately and that it has the legal authority and jurisdiction to conduct an investigation. "As presented by the CBC, this statement is both false and misleading," said Keith Creel, CP's president and CEO. "The way the stories are framed is both disgraceful and sensational. The RCMP can investigate whatever it sees fit in Canada, and they have been involved from the very beginning. As I said to CBC previously, we are open and willing to discuss anything with the RCMP, the TSB and all other agencies involved. We have been cooperating fully and will continue to do so." The RCMP didn't return a request for comment. The TSB is still investigating the accident as a lead investigator. The TSB issued two rail safety advisories related to the accident last April. It didn't return a request for comment about the documentary and the CBC reports or about the accident itself. One advisory suggested that Transport Canada ensure effective safety procedures for trains needing to make emergency stops while in steep declines. Another recommended that "given the potential consequences when uncontrolled movements occur, particularly in mountain territory," Transport Canada should "review the efficacy of the inspection and maintenance procedures for grain hopper cars used in CP's unit grain train operations (and for other railways as applicable), and ensure that these cars can be operated safely at all times." That advisory said the train crew in February's accident was unable to keep the train at or under a maximum authorized speed of 15 mph despite progressively applying air brakes, dynamic brakes and emergency air brakes. That advisory also noted that when the TSB was examining the 13 hopper cars that did not derail, the cars failed a test that looked at their air braking system. The test occurred when the ambient temperatures ranged between 21C and 26C, which could have affected test results. Since the accident, Transport Canada has ordered all railway companies to use hand brakes if a train has used its emergency brakes to stop it from descending or ascending a mountain grade. A mountain grade has a steepness grade of 1.8% or higher. CP will release its fourth-quarter earnings before the financial markets open on Wednesday. Image by analogicus from Pixabay 0 See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. ATLANTA, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Atlanta's Response Media has been named to Agency Spotter's Top Marketing Agencies list for 2020. For the third consecutive year, Response Media ranked in the top tier of 3,400 marketing agencies worldwide. Agency Spotter, the ratings and review authority, takes a look at marketing agencies across marketing strategy, experiential marketing, promotions, shopper marketing, influencer marketing, multi-cultural marketing, word of mouth marketing, events, direct marketing, content marketing, search (SEO and SEM), and marketing automation. Ranking factors include competitive portfolio, project completeness, and client reviews. "It's great to have recognition of our work from such a trusted source as Agency Spotter," said Response Media CEO Josh Perlstein. "While we have a portfolio that demonstrates our expertise and client reviews to support that, it's our team that makes it all work." For over 30 years Response Media has partnered with the world's most trusted and respected brands from Disney, Pampers, Coca-Cola, Express, InBev, Red Bull, Synovus, and Capital One. A 5-time award winner on Agency Spotter, Response Media helps brands grow through data-led digital CRM, creating relevant 1:1 relationships with customers at scale. "In today's world, most advertising and marketing gets lost in the clutter, but relationships properly using 1st Party Data consistently break through and drive growth," says Perlstein. Response Media's profile on Agency Spotter shows audience specialty, industry expertise, and a sample of their client projects including verified reviews. The full profile can be viewed at https://www.agencyspotter.com/response-media. About Response Media Response Media is the #1 CRM agency in North America helping the world's most respected brands grow profitable, trust-based customer relationships through a careful combination of data-led email, digital media, and marketing automation/nurturing at scale. Their integrated, end-to-end Relationship Marketing System optimizes the Customer Relationship Lifecycle from Awareness-to-Advocacy, maximizing the value of 1st Party Data, and the productivity and profitability of their clients' marketing programs. Contact: Ashleigh Whitby Marketing Communications Manager 770-220-5063 [email protected] www.responsemedia.com SOURCE Response Media Related Links http://www.responsemedia.com india anti satellite missile asat test mission shakti space debris junk cloud field orbit simulation march 2019 analytical graphics inc 2 Analytical Graphics Inc. A dead NASA telescope and an old US Air Force satellite avoided a collision in space above Pittsburgh on Wednesday evening, beating odds experts called "dangerous" and "alarming." A head-on collision could have produced nearly 300,000 chunks of debris that would threaten other spacecraft. NASA said the Air Force, which tracks satellites for the government, did not notify it of any potential collision. Experts expect more near-collisions like this if nobody removes dead satellites from space. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Two dead satellites avoided a high-speed collision in space on Wednesday evening when their orbits crossed paths 560 miles above Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The larger object is an old space telescope called the Infrared Astronomical Satellite, or IRAS: a joint mission between NASA, the Netherlands, and the UK that ran out of fuel and died in November 1983. The other is a gravitational experiment called GGSE-4 that the US Air Force launched in May 1967. LeoLabs, a company that uses radar to track satellites and debris in space, projected on Tuesday morning that the satellites would pass dangerously close to each other 25 seconds before 6:40 p.m. ET on Wednesday. The group described the data as "alarming" on Twitter. LeoLabs calculated Wednesday morning that the two objects could come within 12 meters (39 feet) of each other, with a roughly 1-in-20 chance of a collision. The projection took into account a 59-foot boom that extends from GGSE-4's main body. (Trackers didn't know whether the boom was facing IRAS.) But projections changed as the spacecraft approached on another. Data that LeoLabs released an hour before the satellites crossed paths showed an estimated distance of 154 feet. satellite collision pittsburgh simulation Analytical Graphics Inc. If the satellites had collided, they could have broken apart and created a cloud of debris that would have threatened other satellites and the International Space Station. Scientists warn that if orbital junk gets too plentiful and out of control, it could cut off our access to space for hundreds of years. Story continues No new space debris detected Experts at The Aerospace Corporation ran their own simulation of the potential crash on Tuesday and found a 1-in-10 chance of a collision. They expected that probability to significantly decrease as the satellites came closer to odds more like 1 in 1,000 but on Wednesday morning, their data still suggested a probability of 1 in 22. While a 5% to 10% chance of a hit may seem low, NASA routinely moves the International Space Station when the orbiting laboratory faces a 0.001% (1-in-100,000) chance or greater of a collision with an object. "We haven't seen this happen before," Roger Thompson, a senior engineering specialist at The Aerospace Corporation, told Business Insider. "This is the highest probability the day of that I recall ever seeing." Thompson's math showed the satellites could have come within 59 feet of each other. However, at 9:04 p.m. ET on Wednesday, LeoLabs said it had not detected any new debris as the satellites entered the range of its radar suggesting that they had passed each other without colliding. iras NASA The US Air Force, which tracks satellites for the government, did not notify NASA of any potential satellite collision, the space agency told Business Insider. Executives at both LeoLabs and The Aerospace Corporation said the lack of a government alert did not surprise them. "Since [the satellites] were decommissioned, basically nobody was keeping a close eye on them," LeoLabs CEO Dan Ceperley told Business Insider, adding, "it's a big threat in space, but not on the ground." Thompson said observers on the ground in Pittsburgh might have seen a bright flash in the sky if the satellites had crashed, like a shooting star. Nobody could have prevented this collision satellite debris collision experiment simulation explosion Arnold Engineering Development Complex/Air Force Because IRAS is quite large, a collision would have been dangerous, according to both satellite-tracking companies. LeoLabs said the space telescope is 11.8 feet long and 10.5 feet wide. Both satellites were moving quickly as they approached each other: 14.7 kilometers per second, or 9.1 miles per second. "Anytime you have a high-velocity collision like that it's serious, because the energy of the collision is so high that the debris gets spread into other orbits," Thompson said. Thompson calculated that a head-on collision would have produced about 290,000 chunks of debris at least 1 centimeter wide, the size that experts consider dangerous. "LeoLabs has pointed out a very dangerous conjunction," he said. NASA International Space Station NASA Despite the advanced tracking of the two satellites, they can't be controlled. "Nobody can do a thing about this, no matter how well we're tracking it, because these are both dead objects," Ted Muelhaupt, who leads The Aerospace Corporation's satellite system analysis, told Business Insider. More space junk raises the risk of more dangerous collisions space debris satellites earth orbit ESA/ID&Sense/ONiRiXEL Over 100 million bits of junk surround Earth, from abandoned satellites, spacecraft that broke apart, and other missions. Each piece of that debris, no matter how small, travels at speeds high enough to inflict catastrophic damage to vital equipment. A hit could kill astronauts on a spacecraft. Each collision makes the problem worse, since it fragments satellites or debris into smaller pieces. "Each time there's a big collision, it's a big change in the [low-Earth orbit] environment," LeoLabs CEO Dan Ceperley previously told Business Insider. In 2007, China tested an anti-satellite missile by blowing up one of its own weather satellites. Two years later, an American spacecraft accidentally collided with a Russian one. Those two events alone increased the amount of large debris in low-Earth orbit by about 70%. "Because of that, now there's sort of a debris belt," Ceperley said. India also generated thousands of bits of debris last March when it blew up a spacecraft in a test of an anti-satellite missile. If the space-junk problem gets extreme, a chain of collisions could spiral out of control and surround Earth in an impassable field of debris. This possibility is known as a Kessler event, after Donald J. Kessler, who worked for NASA's Johnson Space Center and calculated in a 1978 paper that it could take hundreds of years for such debris to clear up enough to make spaceflight safe again. "It is a long-term effect that takes place over decades and centuries," Muelhaupt said. "Anything that makes a lot of debris is going to increase that risk." If the two satellites had collided head-on over Pittsburgh, half of the cloud of debris would have shot up away from Earth, and the other half would have spread into lower orbits among other satellites and the space station, Thompson said. At first, the cylinder-shaped field of debris would have been dangerous to pass through. "We replace two satellites with essentially two shotgun blasts of debris," Ceperley said. After a few days, the debris cloud would have spread out, according to Thompson. Addressing the rising risk of collisions in space Collisions in space are becoming more likely as satellites fill the sky. Companies like SpaceX, Amazon, OneWeb, and perhaps even Apple plan to launch tens of thousands of satellites this decade to form internet-providing "megaconstellations." In September, the European Space Agency had to maneuver one of its spacecraft at the last minute to avoid colliding with a SpaceX satellite. The chance of that crash was 1 in 1,000. starlink satellites flat packed stack payload falcon 9 rocket spacex twitter D7THAABVUAATipL SpaceX via Twitter What's more, there is no system in place to remove older satellites like IRAS or GGSE-4 from orbit as they die. "Events like this highlight the need for responsible, timely deorbiting of satellites for space sustainability moving forward," LeoLabs tweeted. The Federal Communications Commission, which licenses private companies' satellite launches, is considering new regulations to address the issue of space debris. But there is no silver bullet for the many metal chunks already rocketing around Earth, or for the dead satellites that threaten to create more debris. One potential solution, however, is a cleanup mission proposed by the ESA to capture one of the agency's defunct satellites in a net, drag it into Earth's atmosphere, and burn it there. Private companies including Tethers Unlimited, TriSept Corp., and a Boeing subsidiary called Millennium Space Systems have explored similar concepts for larger-scale space cleanup. space debris junk mitigation destruction system net esa David Ducros/ESA Those companies could one day use LeoLabs' data to identify high-risk satellites, track them down, and pull them out of orbit to reduce the chance that space collisions would generate clouds of debris. "A lot of the risk comes from this small debris, all this stuff that's never been tracked before. Nobody's got a good solution to clean that up," Ceperley previously told Business Insider. "Let's make sure we don't make more of it." Dave Mosher contributed reporting for this story. Read the original article on Business Insider Brig. Gen. Tareq Saleh, a Yemeni military commander and nephew of the late President Ali Abdullah Saleh, remains defiant two years after his military defeat by Houthi rebels in December 2017. Tareq Saleh has been commanding the Saudi-led Arab coalition Joint Forces in Yemens Red Sea battlefield. His mission, he says, is to wrest Sanaa and all Yemeni territories from the Houthis, who took over the capital in September 2014. In 2015, 2016 and 2017, Tareq Saleh was an overt enemy of Saudi Arabia. The General Peoples Congress, led by his uncle, who ruled Yemen for 33 years, struck an alliance in 2014 with the Iran-allied Houthis, seeking to undermine and finally oust the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. But their alliance collapsed miserably in December 2017 when the president switched sides and was killed two days later by his former Houthi allies. Tareq Saleh, facing an unmanageable military loss, escaped from Sanaa to Yemens Marib. The Houthis prevailed after eliminating the president, and their military and political muscle grew stronger. Tareq Saleh's loss dictated his rapprochement with the Saudi-led Arab coalition. Today he no longer slams the Saudi-backed government and is a genuine ally of the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis. His enmity toward Saudi Arabia has dissipated. Saleh visited Riyadh this month. He posted Jan. 15 on Twitter a photo of himself posing with the Saudi vice minister of defense, succinctly writing, It was a fruitful and outstanding meeting with His Highness Prince Khalid bin Salman today in Riyadh. 2December News Agency, which is associated with Saleh, reported that he and the prince discussed a number of issues concerning Yemen and their mutual cooperation to counter the Iranian project in Yemen represented by the Houthis. Both sides are concerned about the stability and security of the region and safe navigation in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to the agency. Presently, Saleh is leading forces in the coastal areas of western Yemen's port city of Hodeidah. In December 2018, the Yemeni government and the Houthis signed the UN-sponsored Stockholm Agreement regarding Hodeidah, which aimed to prevent a destructive war between the Houthis and other forces in the city. So far, the deal still has not been implemented and different parts of Hodeidah province are still awash with forces from both sides. Saleh has been critical of the deal, since he can't initiate a military action on his own in Hodeidah; he would need the approval of the UN-recognized government and the Saudi-led Arab coalition. This recent visit to Riyadh could pave the way for a military action against the Houthis or at least cement a firm alliance between him and Riyadh. Abdulsalam Mohammed, head of Abaad Studies and Research Center, a Yemeni think tank, told Al-Monitor that Saleh's visit to Saudi Arabia came in the wake of an agreement between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on the Emirates withdrawal from [Yemens western] coast, to be replaced by Saudi Arabia. Riyadh wanted to send signs of confidence by adopting these forces on the coast. According to Mohammed, the Houthis' political inflexibility and desire to impose themselves by force has made the coalition think about military action to pressure them into negotiations. However, years of dialogue have not broken the political stalemate, and peace remains nowhere in sight, as evidenced by a Jan. 18 attack on a mosque at al-Estiqbal military training camp in Marib. The government blamed the attack, which killed at least 111 people, on Houthi rebels. This was followed by a deadly clash Jan. 22 in Sanaa. Mohammed also attributes Salehs Riyadh visit to the coalitions discontent with the structure of the Yemeni government. He explained, The coalition is not satisfied with the political equation within the legitimate government, and it sees the inclusion of the [secessionist] Southern Transitional Council and Saleh as a force that reduces the control of President [Abed Rabbo Mansour] Hadi and the presence of the Islah Party. Since the kick-off of the Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen in March 2015, Saudi Arabia has attracted several allies in Yemen, including the government, political parties, tribal figures and military commanders. However, this has not helped end the war or defeat the Houthis. Mohammed believes the problem is the coalitions lack of a clear strategy on how to coordinate between anti-Houthi forces and unite them under Hadi's leadership. Majed Aldaare, editor-in-chief of the Moragboon Press news website, told Al-Monitor, There is a bid to move Saleh from the Hodeidah battle to the Sanaa battle with a Saudi directive, to test his strength and the extent of his ability, to change the thinking that a military solution is impossible in Yemen. Certainly, the military solution will be possible in case the government forces win the battle for Sanaa or Hodeidah. Aldaare reckoned that the Saudi-led coalition is pushing to advance the political solution and implement the Riyadh Agreement through including Saleh in this process. The Riyadh Agreement was signed in November and intended to stem any further fighting between the Southern Transitional Council and government forces in the south. He added, Such a visit is crucial for improving relations between the two sides. Saudi Arabia will attract Saleh, who has been supported and funded by the UAE, and this could usher in a new chapter of decisive battles against the Houthis on several battlefields. Gaber Mohammed, a Yemeni political analyst, expects a fresh political scenario in Yemen. He posted Jan. 15 on his Twitter account: In politics, nothing is static. It is all about mutual objectives and interests, which forge policies and alliances. Tareq Salehs visit to Riyadh is a prologue to a new political scenario in Yemen, and the success of such a visit is possible if Tareq opens a new page with the legitimate president [Hadi]. Yet the likelihood of military escalation in Yemen appears stronger than the prospects for a political resolution, especially with the recent upsurge in violence, which indicates peace in Yemen may not be tangible this year. ITHACA, N.Y. -- Eight weeks after his parents dropped him off at Cornell University, Antonio Tsialas was dead. Tsialas, a freshman, of the Miami area, died in late October after attending a Christmas-themed party at a frat house. Three months later, his parents have sued Cornell University and seven students. Tsialas, a student in the College of Arts and Sciences, was last seen leaving the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity the night of Oct. 24, 2019. His body was found two days later in Fall Creek near Ithaca Falls. He was 18 years old. Tsialas parents, John Tsialas and Flavia Tomasello, filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Tompkins County Supreme Court. They are seeking compensation for the mental and physical anguish" their son suffered before his death, according to the complaint. The parents are suing: Cornell University Phi Kapp Psi Fraternity New York Alpha of Phi Kappa Psi Association Andrew Scherr, a student Shane Rohe, a student William Granath, a student Ryan Berman, a student Nolan Berkenfeld, a student Pietro Palazzolo Russo, a student Felipe Hanuch, a student John Jacobs, an adviser Tsialas, considered a good pledge prospect," was invited to the fraternitys Christmas in October party on Oct. 24, according to the lawsuit. It was an unapproved rush party, the lawsuit said: Freshmen were expected to be hazed and drink large amounts of alcohol. The party was happening at the start of parents weekend for freshman students. Tsialas mother arrived in Ithaca the day of the party. His dad was due to arrive the next day. Before the party, Tsialas ate dinner with his mom at a local Thai restaurant, according to the lawsuit. They took a photo together -- the last known photo of Tsialas ever taken, reported the lawsuit. After making plans to meet up with his mom the next morning, Tsialas hurried back to campus to get to the party. Fraternity members then ferried Tsialas and his fellow freshman to Phi Kappa Psi, according to the lawsuit. The freshmen were led into the basement of the fraternity, according to the lawsuit, where fraternity leaders laid out a rule: If you are ever asked, you were never here. The prospective pledges were then led upstairs, where a number of drinking games had been set up in seven different rooms, the lawsuit said. Each of the rooms had themes, including the Tropical Room and the Santa Claus Room, according to the lawsuit. The Jewish Room" was set up like a bar mitzvah with a pyramid of glasses filled with vodka and beer, reported the lawsuit. To enter the Tropical Room, the freshmen had to limbo under a stick while women from a sorority poured alcohol into their mouths, according to the lawsuit. The freshmen were plied with alcohol in each room, according to the lawsuit -- leaving many of them sick and blackout drunk. After the drinking games ended, Tsialas left the fraternity. According to the lawsuit, none of the defendants have told the freshmans parents why he left or where he went. Tsialas parents are left with questions, according to the lawsuit: Was the drunken freshman taken to the secluded, pitch-dark area of campus where he died? Or was he allowed to disappear into the night, intoxicated and alone? His subsequent death was the direct and proximate result of the defendants actions and would not have happened if the hazing event had not taken place, according to the lawsuit. On the morning after the party, Tsialas mother went to the bookstore where she and her son had planned to meet, according to the lawsuit. Her son never showed. Tsialas was reported missing later that day. His parents went to the fraternity searching for answers. Later, they went door to door in Collegetown handing out missing person fliers as they searched for their son. On Oct. 26, the day after he was reported missing, Tsialas body was found in the Fall Creek gorge. The white polo shirt he had been wearing was found on the side of the gorge in a bush -- stained with vomit and the imprint of a shoe, according to the lawsuit. John Carberry, of Cornell University, released the following statement: At this time, Cornell University has not been made aware of any legal action by the Tsialas family, and we cannot comment on potential future litigation. The Cornell University Police continue to actively investigate Antonio Tsialas death. We continue to ask anyone who may have information related to the incident to contact us at 607-255-1111. People can also email Cornell Police investigators at cup-inv@cornell.edu or reach out through the Silent Witness Program. 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. Practice Fusion, a medical records startup that attracted more than $150 million from VCs, including at Founders Fund, Kleiner Perkins and Artis Ventures, has received its share of negative press since selling to its older, publicly traded rival Allscripts in a $100 million cash deal in early 2018. Yet it appears that Practice Fusion, founded in 2005, was run even more poorly than has been previously reported. In fact, the company was just tied to the drug overdose epidemic that has killed tens of thousands of Americans in just the last few years alone. How is it possible that a seemingly boring, venture-backed, San Francisco-based medical records startup could have that kind of impact? In a word: kickbacks. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Practice Fusion solicited and received pay from an (unnamed for now) major opioid company in exchange for using its EHR software to influence doctors in the act of prescribing opioid pain medications. Specifically, according to court documents released earlier today by federal prosecutors in Vermont, Practice Fusion solicited a nearly $1 million payment from the opioid company, promising that in exchange it would create alerts in its software that would cause physicians to write more prescriptions for extended release opioids than were medically needed. Practice Fusion has agreed to pay $145 million to resolve the DOJ's criminal and civil investigations, including a $26 million criminal fine and a $118.6 million civil settlement that "also resolves allegations of kickbacks relating to thirteen other CDS arrangements where Practice Fusion agreed with pharmaceutical companies to implement CDS alerts intended to increase sales of their products." Practice Fusion has also agreed to post documents about its conduct on a public website -- though apparently not on its own site, which instead features very typical marketing language, beginning with the suggestion that visitors "meet the EHR that helps independent practices thrive." Story continues Neither is information available on the site of Allscripts, which says it has already taken measures to address the ordeal. A statement released by an Allscript's vice president today reads: Since learning of this matter we have further strengthened Practice Fusions compliance program. Allscripts recognizes the devastating impact that opioids have had on communities nationwide, and we are using our technology to fight this epidemic. Allscripts has denied from the start that it knew the depths of Practice Fusion's woes, even while it apparently had an inkling that all was not hunky-dory. According to numerous reports, AllScripts submitted a nonbinding letter of intent in May 2017 to purchase Practice Fusion for between $225 million and $250 million, which is twice what it paid seven months later. According to FierceBiotech, Allscripts pulled its offer in June 2017 after another EHR vendor, eClinicalWorks, settled with federal prosecutors for $155 million to resolve allegations that it falsified EHR certification. The "settlement suddenly clarified [for Allscripts] just how expensive a similar legal battle could be," says the outlet, noting that the DOJ had separately reached out to Practice Fusion with questions about its own EHR certification in March of 2017. Either way, by last August, Allscripts was ready to put the entire affair behind it, announcing during a second-quarter earnings call that it had agreed to pay the $145 million settlement after reaching an agreement with the DOJ related to what was then an ongoing investigation. At the time, Allscripts President Rick Poulton told shareholders, "As you know from our previous SEC filings, DOJ began investigations into certain practices of Practice Fusion before we acquired the business early last year. These investigations had many similarities that have either been settled or remain active with many of our industry competitors. Poulton added during that same call, "After acquiring Practice Fusion, the DOJ investigations continued to expand and required expanding levels of resources from us to support." The company's new admission of guilt and accompanying settlement is a black mark for those involved with Practice Fusion from its earliest days, particularly given that this latest news punctuates a string of concerning revelations about the way Practice Fusion was managed. Soon after the startup was acquired by Allscripts, for example, CNBC published a report outlining "several years of missed targets," a "management shake-up that resulted in the ouster of founder and CEO Ryan Howard," and a board that was "quietly looking for a way out." CNBC also reported that many longtime employees left the company with nothing, while managers "banked millions" in a pre-arranged carve-out. Christina Nolan, U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont, had her own harsh words in delivering news of the settlement earlier today, calling Practice Fusion's conduct "abhorrent." Said Nolan, "During the height of the opioid crisis, the company took a million-dollar kickback to allow an opioid company to inject itself in the sacred doctor-patient relationship so that it could peddle even more of its highly addictive and dangerous opioids. "The companies illegally conspired to allow the drug company to have its thumb on the scale at precisely the moment a doctor was making incredibly intimate, personal, and important decisions about a patients medical care, including the need for pain medication and prescription amounts." According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, overdose deaths from opioids have increased almost six times since 1999. Overdoses involving opioids killed close to 50,000 in 2017, and 36% of those deaths involved prescription opioids. The Practice Fusion case is the first-ever criminal action against a vendor of electronic health records, according to Nolan's office. The future is looking bright for solar physicists. On Wednesday, scientists released the highest resolution images and videos ever taken of the sun's surface. The images, produced by the National Science Foundation's Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope on the summit of Haleakala, Maui, in Hawaii, will help scientists learn more about activity on the sun a.k.a. space weather per a press release from the National Solar Observatory. Space weather can affect life on Earth by interfering with satellites and power grids. When Hurricane Irma made landfall in 2017, radio communications used by first responders were down for eight hours due to unrelated space weather coinciding with the storm, says the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "This telescope will improve our understanding of what drives space weather and ultimately help forecasters better predict solar storms," said National Science Foundation Director France Cordova. With this information, governments can better prepare for space weather potentially 48 hours in advance, rather than the current 48 minute standard, per the press release. (NSO/NSF/AURA) The circular structures in the images and videos are each roughly the size of Texas, and the movement is the hot plasma that covers the sun rising then falling as it cools off. David Boboltz, program director in NSF's division of astronomical sciences, said in the press release the telescope "will collect more information about our sun during the first five years of its lifetime than all the solar data gathered since Galileo first pointed a telescope at the sun in 1612." More stories from theweek.com Mitch McConnell's rare blunder John Bolton just vindicated Nancy Pelosi 7 witheringly funny cartoons about the GOP's John Bolton problem Nine members of a religious order that was abruptly shuttered by the Vatican are under investigation for sex assault, the dioscese confirmed Wednesday, after allegations emerged linking the group to the abuse of two young brothers. Prato Bishop Giovanni Nerbini, who reported allegations against priests and lay members of the now defunct Disciples of the Annunciation community to police, pledged the church's cooperation in the case. The siblings were boys at the time of the suspected abuse, but came forward to denounce it as adults. The Vatican dissolved the diocesan-approved association in December without mentioning abuse. Nerbini's predecessor had reported the allegations to the Vatican, rather than the police, sparking an internal investigation into the community. Catholic clergy are not obliged to report child sex abuse in Italy, to the frustration of victims and support groups who have long accused the Church of covering up alleged crimes and simply moving suspected predators to other dioceses. The community's founder Giglio Gilioli, 73, was among those under investigation, according to the Nazione regional daily. Search Keywords: Short link: A special court on Wednesday extended till January 31, the custody of Dewan Housing Finance Ltd (DHFL) CMD Kapil Wadhawan, arrested by the ED in connection with its money laundering probe against the later gangster Iqbal Mirchi and others. Wadhawan, 46,was arrested on Monday by the (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as he was allegedly not cooperating in the probe and was "untrustworthy" in his dealings and statements made to the agency. After his arrest, he was produced before a special PMLA court which sent him in ED custody for two days. On Wednesday, at the end of his ED custody, Wadhawan was produced before special PMLA court judge P Rajvaidya, who extended his remand till January 31. The case relates to Mirchi's Mumbai properties, which have been called as proceeds of crime by the ED, and three such properties were sold to Sunblink Real Estate Pvt Ltd, a company linked to the Wadhawan brothers, Kapil and Dheeraj. The agency argued in the court that the proceed of the crime are "interconnected". "It has been 'diverted and layered'. We need to probe how deep it is going," the central agency said. "Searches are going in relation to the case and we have received some digital evidence which needs to be confronted (with the accused)," the ED said, seeking further custody of the chairman and managing director (CMD). Besides, there are certain data which are not available in the book of account (of DHFL), the anti-money laundering agency told the court. Earlier,the agency had alleged Wadhawan "diverted" funds from to shell and later these dubious entities got amalgamated with Sunblink to "cover" alleged diversion of loans acquired from the housing finance firm. The ED alleged the conduit of Sunblink was "purposefully created by Kapil Wadhawan as CMD of and others just to obfuscate the trail of money for purchase of properties" from the Mirchi family. The ED has filed a criminal case against Mirchi alias Iqbal Memon, his family and others to probe money laundering charges for alleged illegal dealings in purchase and sale of costly real estate assets in Mumbai. Mirchi, who died in 2013 in London, was alleged to be the right hand man of global terrorist in drug trafficking and extortion crimes. A British Qatar tourism boss was found hanged in a four-star hotel on Christmas Day, a coroner heard today. Marc Bennett had been a former managing director of Tui Sport and held the posts of director of trade relations and managing director of cruises at collapsed travel firm Thomas Cook. The 52-year-old had moved to Qatar in 2012 to take up senior vice-president roles for Emirates and Dubai Tourism. He had most recently worked as a senior vice-president of Discover Qatar and Qatar Holidays, a post he left in October. Marc Bennett (pictured above) had moved to Qatar in 2012 to take up senior vice-president roles for Emirates and Dubai Tourism Opening an inquest into his death, the West Sussex Coroner said the provisional cause of death for Mr Bennett was hanging and that he had been found at the Curve Hotel on Diplomatic Street in Doha. A Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We are supporting the family of a British man following his death in Doha. Our sympathies are with them at this difficult time.' A spokesman for Qatar Airways, parent company of Discover Qatar and Qatar Holidays, said: 'We are very saddened to learn of the death of Marc who had been a popular'. West Sussex Coroner said the provisional cause of death for Mr Bennett was hanging and that he had been found at the Curve Hotel on Diplomatic Street in Doha (pictured above) The West Sussex Coroner, sitting in Crawley, scheduled a full inquest for June this year. After his dearth was announced, some who worked in the same industry as Mr Bennett took to social media to tribute. According to TravelMole, Der Touristik CEO Derek Jones said Marc was 'always full of energy and great fun to work with. 'Thoughts are with his family, especially his kids who he talked about with such pride'. Manchester Central CEO Shaun Hinds said: 'Such a nice chap always on hand to take the mick, but a genuine top man in equal measure.' Mr Bennett's suicide was not related to the collapse of Thomas Cook because he left before the firm went bust. Former Vice President Joe Biden stopped short Tuesday of saying hed support Bernie Sanders if the progressive Vermont senator wins the Democratic presidential nomination. Im not going to make judgments now, Biden told reporters in Muscatine, six days before the Iowa caucuses. I just think that it depends upon how we treat one another between now and the time we have a nominee. Biden had previously promised to support the Democratic nominee, regardless of who it is. At some stops along the campaign trail, Biden has even pledged to work like hell to help any of his rivals defeat President Donald Trump. The two have jousted over their records on Social Security, foreign policy and trade. Sanders recently apologized to Biden after one of the senator's high-profile supporters penned a column asserting that Biden has a corruption problem. And Biden has ratcheted up his suggestions in recent days, without naming Sanders, that the party will lose big in November if it makes a sharp leftward turn. Asked later Tuesday whether he can defeat Sanders, a democratic socialist elected in Vermont as an independent, Biden smiled, nodded and then boarded his campaign bus. Biden is in the middle of his final tour of the state before the Monday caucuses begin Democrats 2020 voting. Sanders is balancing his campaign with Trump's Senate impeachment trial on Capitol Hill. Polls ahead of the Iowa caucuses suggest Sanders and Biden are in a tight race with Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and former Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana. Sanders has confidently predicted victory in Iowa and in Feb. 11 New Hampshire primary that follows, telling his supporters that the Bidens advisers maintain that the state is a toss-up, and theyve said for months that the former vice president doesnt have to win in Iowa because he maintains a wide advantage among nonwhite voters who will have strong sway over states that vote after Iowa and New Hampshire. As January transitions into February, more and more residents are reporting illness in their homes. Viral and bacterial infections, the flu, stomach bugs, fever, coughs and more are making the winter months less than desirable for many. When illness hits, it affects attendance at local schools. Wagoner Superintendent Randy Harris said school officials are constantly monitoring how those illnesses are affecting student and teacher absences. It seems to be Ellington and Teague that have been affected the most by sickness, Harris reported. We try to contact the parents/guardians of sick students at this time of year to find out if they have the flu. Roughly 20 percent of those who are ill have been reported to the school as flu or flu-like symptoms. The superintendent said they evaluate the percent of student absences each week and keep an eye out for if and when that absentee rate exceeds more than 20 percent. That percentage would cause school officials some concerns. He reminded the school district does own disinfecting machines which discharge a non-bleach disinfectant that will kill any germs. Every school site has one. Seasoned diplomat Harsh Vardhan Shringla took charge as India's next foreign secretary on Wednesday, and asserted that he would work with India's partners on key issues, including ensuring an 'undifferentiated and unambiguous' approach to terrorism. A 1984-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) who last served as India's envoy to the United States, Shringla replaces Vijay Gokhale and has a fixed two-year tenure. Gokhale retired on Tuesday. Shringla is taking over the high-profile post at a time when India is facing several foreign policy challenges including battling criticism from some countries and international fora of the country's new citizenship law. In a statement after assuming charge, Shringla said he looks forward to working with India's many international partners on several fronts, including enhancing developmental and economic linkages, connectivity with neighbours, sustaining the gains of a rules-based multilateral order as well as seeking a shared, undifferentiated and unambiguous approach to terrorism and the threat it poses to free societies. Several other recent opportunities and challenges related to the cyber domain and emerging technologies will also receive attention during his tenure, the 57-year-old diplomat said, adding that the external affairs ministry fully appreciates the critical nature of these issues for the country and the planet. 'I entered the IFS during the Cold War and I am entering the FS' office at a time when global warming has become a pressing concern,' he said in the statement. Sharing the Indian developmental experience with countries of the global South, especially with friends in Africa and Latin America, will continue to be a priority, Shringla said, adding that he also looks forward to the opening of new diplomatic missions and the inauguration of new initiatives. Speaking to reporters before taking the charge, Shringla said he was very clear that foreign service is a public service and its every effort should be dedicated to contributing towards the nation in the form of its security and prosperity through external engagements. "I am as committed to the ministry's role in nation-building as I was almost 36 years ago when I entered these portals as a young professional. "I look forward to functioning under the guidance of the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and the External Affairs Minister (S Jaishankar), our political leadership and with the support and cooperation of my colleagues both within the ministry and outside," the 57-year-old diplomat said. Welcoming Shringla, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted that he was confident that the new FS' warm personality and enormous experience would help take 'Team MEA' to greater heights. In his statement, Shringla also said, 'We are service providers to our citizens and our people, whether at home or abroad. Enhancing the security and prosperity of India through external ties and the well-being of all Indians, wherever they may be, is our mission statement.' The seniority principle was not followed in appointing Shringla to the top post. Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Ruchi Ghanshyam, a 1982-batch IFS officer, was also in race for the post. Shringla had played an important role in successful hosting of the 'Howdy Modi' event in Houston in September where US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Modi jointly addressed the Indian diaspora. "I am conscious of the fact that I am stepping into the shoes of my illustrious stalwarts and seniors who have upheld the highest standards of professionalism and integrity to their work. "In this context my two immediate predecessors come to mind -- Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale who set impeccably high standards, and Dr Jaishankar who we know is one of the leading authorities on foreign policy in India and anywhere in the world," Shringla told reporters. During his diplomatic career, Shringla has held several positions in New Delhi and abroad, and is considered an expert on India's neighbourhood. He has served as India's top envoy to Bangladesh and Thailand. He has also served in France, Vietnam, Israel and South Africa. In the headquarters of the ministry here, Shringla has also served as Joint Secretary looking after India's ties with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Maldives. He has also headed the ministry's United Nations Political and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) divisions. Shringla is a graduate from prestigious St. Stephen's College of Delhi University. He has also worked in the corporate and public sectors before joining the IFS. A comparison of the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the 2020 Jeep Cherokee against both vehicles' competitors will show why buyers should be visiting the Albany CDJR showroom today. The team of product experts working at the Albany Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram showroom is very excited to help customers find their next, or first, Jeep crossover SUV. Now that the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2020 Jeep Cherokee have arrived at Albany CDJR, its easy to see how these popular vehicles stack-up against the best the competition has to offer. To be sure, rivals are going to have time competing with the 2020 Grand Cherokee and its long history of balancing luxury and performance. Potential Albany CDJR customers looking for something a bit nimbler but with lots of off-road capability will want to take a closer look at the 2020 Cherokee and what it brings to the table over its competition. Models like the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee have a lot with which to contend inside of its corner of the automotive industry. When the latest Grand Cherokee is compared against one of its most likely rivals, both models will start out with very similar V-6 engines that will produce nearly identical performance scores. However, Jeep continues to make a range of V-8 powertrains available that can produce between 360 and 707 horsepower. Buyers choosing the competing crossover SUV will be limited to a single engine option. An entry-level version of the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee can tow up to 6,200 pounds, with the vehicles top competitor topping out at 5,000 pounds. The 2020 Jeep Cherokee must contend with one of the worlds most popular crossover SUVs in the world. Jeep owners might be at a small disadvantage in a few areas. However, Albany CDJR customers can choose to outfit their Cherokee purchases with a V-6 or a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which will outperform the competitions performance output. This performance advantage also extends to the two vehicles towing scores. A properly equipped version of the 2020 Cherokee will be able to tow 4,000 or 4,500 pounds. Under the best circumstances, the vehicles top competitor can pull 3,500 pounds. Anyone can view the entire Albany Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram inventory by visiting the dealerships website, http://www.albanychryslerdodgejeepram.com. The showroom is located at 2315 Santiam Hwy SE, Albany, OR 97322. Customers can schedule a test drive with either Jeep model today by calling 541-238-0146. Engineers for NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft are working to return the mission to normal operating conditions after one of the spacecraft's autonomous fault protection routines was triggered. Multiple fault protection routines were programmed into both Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 in order to allow the spacecraft to automatically take actions to protect themselves if potentially harmful circumstances arise. At NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, engineers are still communicating with the spacecraft and receiving telemetry. Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 are both in interstellar space, making them the most distant human-made objects in the solar system. On Saturday, Jan. 25, Voyager 2 didn't execute a scheduled maneuver in which the spacecraft rotates 360 degrees in order to calibrate its onboard magnetic field instrument. Analysis of the telemetry from the spacecraft indicated that an unexplained delay in the onboard execution of the maneuver commands inadvertently left two systems that consume relatively high levels of power operating at the same time. This caused the spacecraft to overdraw its available power supply. The fault protection software routine was designed to automatically manage such an event, and by design, it appears to have turned off Voyager 2's science instruments to make up for the power deficit. As of Jan. 28, Voyager engineers have successfully turned off one of the high-power systems and turned the science instruments back on but have not yet resumed taking data. The team is now reviewing the status of the rest of the spacecraft and working on returning it to normal operations. Voyager's power supply comes from a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG), which turns heat from the decay of a radioactive material into electricity to power the spacecraft. Due to the natural decay of the material inside the RTG, Voyager 2's power budget goes down by about 4 watts per year. Last year, engineers turned off the primary heater for the Voyager 2 cosmic ray subsystem instrument in order to compensate for this power loss, and the instrument continues to operate. In addition to managing each Voyager's power supply, mission operators must also manage the temperature of certain systems on the spacecraft. If, for example, the spacecraft fuel lines were to freeze and break, Voyager would no longer be able to point its antenna back at Earth to send data and receive commands. The temperature of the spacecraft is maintained either through the use of heaters or by taking advantage of excess heat from other onboard instruments and systems. It has taken the team several days to assess the current situation primarily because of Voyager 2's distance from Earth - about 11.5 billion miles (18.5 billion kilometers). Communications traveling at the speed of light take about 17 hours to reach the spacecraft, and it takes another 17 hours for a response from the spacecraft to return to Earth. As a result, mission engineers have to wait about 34 hours to find out if their commands have had the desired effect on the spacecraft. The Voyager spacecraft were built by JPL, which continues to operate both. JPL is a division of Caltech in Pasadena. The Voyager missions are a part of the NASA Heliophysics System Observatory, sponsored by the Heliophysics Division of the Science Mission Directorate in Washington. For more information about the Voyager spacecraft, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/voyager https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Some senators have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the service chiefs and appoint new ones. They made the call on Wednesday as the lawmakers deliberated on a motion on national security challenges and the need to restructure the nations security architecture. The lawmakers set aside the whole of Wednesday to discuss the issue. This, they said, is due to the increasing rate of insecurity across the country. PREMIUM TIMES has reported on the insecurity across the nation instigated by different armed groups and individuals. These include resurgent Boko Haram attacks in the North-east and increased cases of killings and kidnappings across the country. In one of the latest incidents, 13 people were killed in a Plateau community on Sunday. Amidst the insecurity, the presidency has said Nigerians have reasons to be grateful as the situation is better than it was before President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office. We know what the situation was as at 2015 and we know what it is today. Despite the reversals in security, it is still not as bad as it used to be in this country, Femi Adesina, President Buharis spokesperson, said recently. The debate The debate lasted for over four hours as over 50 lawmakers took turns to make their contributions. Top among the contributions is a call to the president to dismiss the service chiefs and appoint news ones on grounds that they have served long enough and are bereft of ideas to tackle insecurity. Most of them also emphasised the need for state police to be established. Betty Apiafi (PDP, Rivers) said at the time the service chiefs were appointed, things were not this bad. They have done their bits and their tenure has expired. They are illegally occupying the seat. It will be good for the government to allow the security chiefs to go and bring in new people to add vigour to the fight against security, she said. She also urged the lawmakers and other elites to stop using police as private security. We are complaining about the police not being enough. I think all of us and Nigerians should actually stop using police as private security. Let the police people go out and do their jobs. Adeola Olamilekan (APC, Lagos) urged the Senate to revisit and review the recommendations made from the Security Summit in 2018 and implement them. The lawmaker called for an amendment to the constitution to allow for state police. This is even as he commended South-West governors on the Amotekun initiative which he said will create jobs. Elisha Abbo (PDP, Adamawa) said Nigeria has never had it this bad in the history of insecurity. Like his colleagues, he said the security chiefs have done their best but have run out of ideas. Theres grumbling within the military. Yesterdays survivors are todays victims and todays victims are tomorrows survivors. Mr President should change the security apparatus. And if we need foreign help, we should not be ashamed of asking for help, he said. For the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, the current personnel strength of 300,000 to police about 200 million citizens and the constitutional structure of the police force is appalling. He, however, wondered if state governors can cater for state police. Advertisements Assuming we decide to go the route of state police, we dont want to create a Nigerian police and give it another name. If we create state police today, what are the challenges the police is facing that will not be faced by the community police? One of the problems is that we have not created enough resources for them to perform their job. Now, we have state governments who want to create State police. These are the same state governments that are not able to pay salaries of workers. If we create the state police, we will go back to the Nigerian police and have the same challenges if not worse, he said. For George Sekibo (PDP, Rivers), Nigeria needs to turn back to God. Anyone that sows the wind will reap the whirlwind. Today, we are reaping the fruit of what we sowed, he said. This wind by the grace of God will go away. It will not be there forever. It is not a time to lament or blame each other. We should go back to God as a country and say we are sorry. I have seen such examples in the Bible. If we confess our sins and ask God to forgive us and help us 2nd Chronicles 20:20. Resolutions After hours of debate, the lawmakers urged the president to declare a national security emergency. The Senate also summoned the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammad Adamu, to appear before it next Wednesday to brief the lawmakers on the concept of community policing and other security issues. The Senate also set up a 17-man Ad-hoc Committee to engage the security agencies and report back to the Senate after two weeks. The senate leader, Abdullahi Yayaya, will chair the committee. Members of the committee include, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Sabi Abdullahi, Ali Ndume, Aliyu Wamakko, Dauda Haliru, Kashim Shettima and Bala NaAllah. Others are George Sekibo, Ibrahim Gobir, Kabiru Gaya, Gershom Bassey, Stella Oduah and Ibikunle Amosun. Also part of the committee are Abba Moro, Yahaya Abdullahi Yayaha and Suleiman Abdu Kwari. President Donald Trump has released his long delayed Israeli-Palestinian peace plan, promising "a new dawn," but angry Palestinians called it biased and deserving to go in the "dustbin of history." Standing alongside Israeli Prime Minister in the White House's East Room, Trump said on Tuesday that his plan could succeed where decades of previous US attempts to intervene had failed. "Together we can bring about a... new dawn in the Middle East," Trump said to an enthusiastic audience that included throngs of Israeli and Jewish American guests -- but apparently no Palestinian representatives. They are flat out rejecting the plan, which grants Israel much of what it has sought in decades of diplomacy, namely control over Jerusalem as its "undivided" capital, rather than a city to share with the Palestinians. The plan also lets Israel annex West Bank settlements. Trump praised Israel for taking "a giant step toward peace" with the plan, which lays out a vision for future Palestinian statehood if a series of strict conditions are met. These include requiring the future Palestinian state to be "demilitarized," while formalising Israeli sovereignty over settlements built in occupied territory. The US president, who was followed at the podium by Netanyahu, painted a future where some USD 50 billion in investments would eradicate the misery gripping Palestinians today, while allowing Israel never "to compromise its security." Criticizing previous US diplomatic efforts as overly vague, Trump noted that his version was 80 pages long and contained a map depicting the proposed future neighbouring states. However, the Palestinians angrily rejected the entire plan. "This conspiracy deal will not pass. Our people will take it to the dustbin of history," Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said. Trump promised a "contiguous" future Palestinian state, addressing the current situation where Israel controls broad territory separating the two main population centers of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. But the map showed the West Bank remaining riddled with Jewish settlements linked to Israel and only a long road tunnel connecting the area with the seaside Gaza Strip. The plan makes clear that Israel is free to annex its settlements on Palestinian lands right away. On the flashpoint issue of Jerusalem, Trump said Israel should retain control over the city as its "undivided capital," Trump said. At the same time, the Palestinians would be allowed to declare a capital within occupied East Jerusalem, he said. The Hamas Islamist movement, which runs the Gaza Strip, said it could never accept compromise on Jerusalem being capital of a future state. The announcement came as both Trump and Netanyahu fight for their political futures. Trump is in the midst of an impeachment battle over his alleged abuse of power and he faces a difficult reelection in November. Netanyahu was formally indicted on three corruption charges Tuesday after he abandoned an attempt to seek parliamentary immunity. His right-wing Likud faces a neck-and-neck race with rival Benny Gantz's centrist Blue and White party in a month. But he is expected to benefit from the high-profile partnership with Trump. Netanyahu called the proposal "the deal of the century" and said to Trump "you have been the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House." Trump said he had written to Abbas to enlist his support. "I explained to (Abbas) that the territory allocated for his new state will remain open and undeveloped for a period of four years," Trump said. "This could be the last opportunity they will ever have." Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who authored the plan behind the scenes but had minimal contact with Palestinian negotiators, was similarly blunt, telling them not to "screw up this opportunity." "I think that they will have a very hard time looking at the community in the face, saying they're victims," he told CNN. Trump's plan triggered immediate condemnation on the streets of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, with demonstrations expected to continue through the week. Thirteen people were wounded in the West Bank in clashes with the Israeli army, the Red Crescent said. There was also anger from Israeli hardliners. Transport Minister Bezalel Smotrich, from the far-right Yemina union, said his party "won't under any conditions agree to recognition, whether explicit or implicit, of a Palestinian state." The ambassadors from three Arab nations - Oman, the UAE and Bahrain - were at the White House, providing some evidence of Trump's claim to have growing support around the region. But reaction was at best cautiously positive. Saudi Arabia said it "appreciates" Trump's efforts and called for direct Israeli-Palestinian talks. Russia, a growing force in Mideast politics, sounded skeptical. "We do not know if the American proposal is mutually acceptable or not," Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told Russian news agencies. Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell said the bloc would "study and assess" the US proposals, while Germany's foreign minister said "only a negotiated two-state solution, acceptable to both sides" would work. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab called it a "serious proposal, reflecting extensive time and effort." Among the strongest foreign condemnations were from Turkey, which branded the plan "stillborn" and Iran, which called it "doomed to fail. T he Mayors quango overseeing a multi-billion-pound Canary Wharf of the west redevelopment today admitted it gave false information in a bid for 250 million of public cash. The blunder by Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) emerged after it was forced by a London Assembly legal order to make public its bid documents. It had asked the Government for 250 million for new roads to unlock the 134-hectare site in north-west London, which was earmarked for 25,500 homes and 65,000 jobs. But the OPDC, which was set up by Boris Johnson and now comes under Sadiq Khans remit, wrongly claimed it had the support of used car dealership Cargiant, which owns the part of the site that was meant to be redeveloped first. Last year OPDC was forced to abandon its plans for the Cargiant site on which it hoped to build 4,700 homes and create 2,300 jobs after failing to strike a deal to relocate the firm. The OPDC had to tell the Government it could not accept the money after being awarded it in principle. Critics say todays revelation highlights the mess the quango has made while spending about 30 million of taxpayers cash in failing to build a new district around a proposed HS2 and Crossrail mega-station. Susan Hall, chairman of the assemblys budget committee, said the OPDC bid specifically referenced Cargiant housing delivery when, at that time, Cargiant were no longer on board with the OPDCs plans. The bid was clearly built on sand it was always going to collapse. The site has been dubbed Old Oak Cock-Up due to lack of progress. A planning inspector last year said OPDCs estimates should be reduced to 14,200 homes and 37,590 jobs. One source said today: Their entire vision is completely f***** and cannot happen. It is all pie in the sky. The OPDC today admitted that bid documents submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government did not take into account that Cargiant was at this stage minded to abandon their earlier plans. The future of the redevelopment now awaits a government decision on whether to proceed with HS2. An announcement is expected next month. The willingness of Cargiant to relocate was key to the bid. Without it, the OPDC would not have any land on which to build houses as the rest of the site would only be available once HS2 and Crossrail works were completed after 2026. Mr Khan said OPDC would now try to accelerate plans for houses and jobs on other parts of the site. A convicted money launderer in Cork who has been linked in court to a major Irish drugs trafficker has been hit by the Criminal Assets Bureau. CAB officers searched his luxury holiday home along Caragh Lake in Co. Kerry as well as his own house in Cork. A professional office in Cork was also searched. The bureau took away a high-powered 182-reg Audi TT, worth an estimated 40,000, along with a 161-reg Mercedes Benz, estimated to be valued around 20,000. Officers also seized three high-end watches - a Rolex, an Omega and a Mont Blanc - and confiscated 1,400 in cash. a Rolex watch seized today. Pic: Garda Press Office They took away a number of electronic devices and phones and records in relation to cryptocurrencies. CAB suspect the man, now aged in his 50s, of money laundering, involving trading in a variety of cryptocurrencies. These include Ethereum (Eth), Ripple (XRP), Litecoin (Ltc) and Bitcoin (BTC). They are investigating his purchase of a palatial holiday home along Caragh Lake, estimated to be worth almost 1m. The mans own home in Cork was also searched and items removed. In a statement, CAB said: The Criminal Assets Bureau, assisted by local Detective Units along with the Garda Dog Unit, conducted searches this morning, January 29, 2020 at two locations in Cork and one location in Kerry. The target is a man aged in his 50s who was previously investigated by CAB in 2011 and who was convicted of money laundering following an investigation then by local Gardai. This mornings search operation is a significant development in an on-going Criminal Assets Bureau investigation. In addition to this mornings search, CAB will consider using its Revenue tax powers in respect of any liability that may arise. The target was previously convicted after he was caught with around 400,000 in cash in his highly-secured home. Local detectives identified him as a result of contacts they made with police in Spain and in Britain following investigations into international drug trafficking. a Mercedes car seized today. Pic: Garda Press Office His trial heard that through those contacts gardai became aware of an organised crime gang, mainly comprised of people from Cork city, who were based in Spain and the Netherlands. This included a man, considered to be a major player, who the target is related to. The court heard the target began laundering money for the organised crime gang this man was involved in. After local detectives moved in on the target, CAB became involved and obtained orders freezing both his and his late wife's bank accounts. The latest CAB operation, coming some eight years on, focused on recent activities the man has been involved in since that conviction, including the purchase of the property in Kerry. Bureau experts will now examine the mobile phone and electronic devices seized. Minister of Defense Naftali Bennett outlines hardline interpretation of what US has offered Israel in Middle East plan. A leading government hawk has called for Israel to establish sovereignty over nearly a third of the occupied West Bank, hours after United States President Donald Trump announced a Middle East peace plan that Palestinians said amounted to apartheid. With Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu still outside Israel after attending the plans presentation in Washington, Minister of Defense Naftali Bennett on Wednesday outlined his hardline interpretation of what the White House had offered Israel. Last night history knocked on the door of our home and gave us a one-time opportunity to apply Israeli law on all settlements in Samaria, Judea, the Jordan Valley and the northern Dead Sea, Bennett said, using the Hebrew names for areas in the Israeli-occupied West Bank The remarks by Bennett, a coalition partner in Netanyahus right-wing government, led Palestinians to say Trumps plan had given the green light for Israel to formally annex its settlements in the West Bank, which it has occupied since the 1967 Six Day War. Trumps plan envisages a two-state solution with Israel and a future Palestinian state living alongside each other, but with strict conditions at which Palestinians have baulked. He proposed a four-year schedule for the creation of a Palestinian state, with Palestinians first having to agree to halt attacks by the Hamas group that controls the besieged Gaza Strip enclave. But the plan also offered US recognition of Israels West Bank settlements, which are deemed illegal under international law as well as offering Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan Valley, and a redrawn, demilitarised Palestinian state that would meet Israels security requirements. Jerusalem would be the undivided capital of Israel, it said. Diplomatic compass Bennett had ordered a team to be set up to apply Israeli law and sovereignty on all Jewish settlements in the West Bank. He is vying with Netanyahu for support from right-wing voters in an election set for March 2. It is unclear whether the present caretaker administration has a legal mandate to carry out such a move after two inconclusive elections in 2019. Netanyahu on Wednesday reiterated his support for Trumps plan, telling the US-based Fox television network: We will not contradict in any way the outline that the president put forward. But Amir Peretz, head of Israels left-wing Labor Party, said no unilateral plan could work. Now more than ever, its clear that we need a diplomatic compass, he said. Its about apartheid Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called Trumps plan the slap of the century after it was announced. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said on Wednesday that Trumps team had simply copied and pasted the blueprint that Netanyahu and Israeli settler leaders wanted to see implemented. Its about annexation, its about apartheid, he said in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Moving to the de jure annexation of settlements is something that was given the green light yesterday. 200128191954411 Palestinians also dismissed the proposal for a capital in Abu Dis in the West Bank, just outside the Israeli municipal borders of Jerusalem. It lies a mile east of the historic walled Old City, home to sites sacred to Judaism, Christianity and Islam, but cut off by an Israeli wall and checkpoints. Before announcing the much-touted plan, the Trump administration had broken from international consensus by recognising Jerusalem as Israels capital. The administration had also halted aid to the Palestinians, and said it no longer considered the settlements a breach of international law. Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and the plans principal architect, shrugged off the Palestinian rejection. Were not going to chase the Palestinians the Palestinian leadership, you cant really treat them like theyre a serious government, or capable or competent dealmakers, he told reporters. Theyll do what theyve always done, which is screw everything up. The Palestinians could push for a United Nations condemnation of the plan. Israels UN mission signalled on Tuesday that it would work to thwart this in a diplomatic campaign with the US. Palestinian state Gaza political analyst Talal Okal said the deal gave Israel the right to take what it wanted immediately, while the Palestinians have to wait four years to see whether they have rights or not. Amos Yadlin, a former Israeli head of military intelligence, said: This is the most favourable plan for Israel ever presented by an international player. However, he said that because the plan included mention of a two-state solution, it could still cause problems for Netanyahu among his right-wing allies. Bennett seemed to confirm this. The Israeli government, he said, will not recognise a Palestinian state. By Victor Ing, Special to The Post For the past two years I have delivered a presentation in December on the most interesting and influential immigration court decisions released during the calendar year. Preparing for these presentations has given me the opportunity to look at general trends in immigration cases rather than focus on specific issues for my clients. One of the things that became clear to me in reviewing these decisions is that a significant number of the cases that go to court are about humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) applications for permanent residence, even though H&C applicants represent only a small fraction of the more than 300,000 new permanent residents that are approved each year. H&C applications are difficult to win and anyone applying for permanent residence on this basis needs to be aware of this. H&C applications have been described by our courts as an exceptional remedy, which allows immigration officers to grant permanent residence in circumstances that would excite in a reasonable [person] in a civilized community a desire to relieve the misfortunes of another. When someone applies for permanent residence on H&C grounds they are asking to be granted permanent resident status even though they dont meet the requirements as set out in the law. This may be because they have a criminal record, because they have been living in Canada as de facto residents and may even have spouses and children in Canada, or because they have sick family members, just to name a few examples. Due to the discretionary nature of H&C applications, they are not intended to be an alternative immigration scheme. In other words, these applications are not meant to be made by people who have other means of applying for permanent resident status. For example, Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their parents for permanent residence to join them in Canada if they meet certain income requirements. However, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) sets a yearly cap on the number of sponsorship applications they will receive each year, which means that the majority of people who want to sponsor their parents will not be able to as they will not meet the cutoff. These circumstances alone do not justify the approval of an H&C application. Remember that H&C applications are not meant to be an alternative immigration scheme that will allow you to apply for permanent residence ahead of the many other thousands of people who did not get a chance to sponsor their parents. You also must consider that there may be alternatives such as IRCCs Super Visa program that can help you achieve the same goals of being together in Canada without applying for permanent residence. Another important reason that many H&C applications are refused is because there is a common misunderstanding that just spending many years living in Canada will lead to permanent residence. Most of the successful H&C cases I have seen are made by people who have not only lived in Canada for a long time but have become integral parts of their communities. To succeed in an H&C application, an applicant should show that Canada is better with them than without them. This requires significant evidence to show that a person is established in Canada, perhaps because they have spouses or children in Canada, or because of their significant contributions through their employment and volunteer work, and that not only the applicant, but other Canadians, would be harmed if they had to leave Canada. Lastly, many people do not appreciate that it can take years for an H&C application to be processed and that making an H&C application does not mean that they can stay in Canada indefinitely until the case is decided. I have seen many cases where applicants make an H&C application and do not update IRCC with new and relevant information even if many months or even years have passed. I have also seen cases where applicants procrastinate and file their applications far too late before immigration officials try to remove them from Canada, which can occur in cases where the applicant has been in Canada without status for many years. H&C applications should be made after careful consideration of an applicants personal circumstances and an assessment of other viable immigration strategies. To succeed, applicants should be prepared to present significant evidence of the positive contributions they bring to Canada and to do this early and often. In some ways, H&C applications are among the most difficult of immigration applications to make because there are no set guidelines on the type of evidence that will convince an immigration officer to grant the exceptional remedy of H&C relief. As such, applicants should not hesitate to reach out to friends and family or authorized immigration representatives for assistance. Victor Ing is a lawyer of Sas & Ing Immigration Law Centre. He provides a full range of immigration services. For more information go to canadian-visa-lawyer.com or email victor@sasanding.com. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 17:41 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20618fdce 1 Books Big-Bad-Wolf,Book,books,book-sale,ICE-BSD Free The annual Big Bad Wolf book sale is slated to return on March 6 to 16, according to its Instagram account. Similar to previous years, the event is set to take place at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) in BSD, South Tangerang, Banten. Read also: Balikpapan greets Big Bad Wolf book sale with enthusiasm Big Bad Wolf is among the biggest book events in Indonesia. The event runs for 24 hours and offers 60 to 80 percent discounts on international books. The book sale has been held in 15 countries. Last year, it was held in other cities in Indonesia, namely, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Medan and Balikpapan. Offering a wide selection of books on various subjects, such as literature, politics, art and fashion, as well as childrens books, the event has managed to attract hundreds of thousands visitors throughout its run. (jes/kes) A photojournalist tells the story behind an image of a young Palestinian man refusing to let go of the body of his two-year-old niece. This photo marked the moment my life ended. She stayed in my arms until we buried her, said 18-year-old Mohammed Maadi one year after the Israeli bombing in which six members of his family were killed. I had taken this photo of him near Rafah on August 3, 2014, two days after the bombing. In it, he is holding the dead body of his two-year-old niece, Jana. Israel had been heavily and indiscriminately bombing the Palestinian city in response to the capture of an Israeli soldier by Hamas fighters. I had been in the Gaza Strip documenting the victims of the conflict for about three weeks. Early on the morning of August 3, I had jumped into a car with a few other journalists a TV sign put together with scotch tape had been hastily attached to it and headed south. We knew the road would be fraught with danger and drove as quickly as we could. We could hear bombs striking nearby. My memories of that day are foggy. The lack of sleep was affecting us, on top of the stress and the emotional toll that bearing witness to atrocities can take. I felt as if I was on auto-pilot: documenting what I could, clicking the camera, taking some notes, putting the images online. We hardly had time to eat or sleep and it was mostly at night, when I was reviewing and editing the photos, that the horror of what we were witnessing each day would hit me. Still, this particular scene is something I have never forgotten. We had just visited the Kuwaiti Hospital in Rafah, which was struggling to cope with the number of injured and dead, when we were told about another place a walk-in flower cooler in an agricultural field where dead bodies had been piled up because the morgue and hospitals were full. I still remember the unbearable smell of bodies decomposing in the summer heat. It sticks to you and does not go away. Bodies on the floor, on shelves. Relatives were trying to find their loved ones, to bring them back to their family and bury them, despite the risk of further attacks. Anne Paq I still remember the unbearable smell of bodies decomposing in the summer heat. It sticks to you and does not go away. Bodies on the floor, on shelves. Relatives were trying to find their loved ones, to bring them back to their family and bury them, despite the risk of further attacks. I left the cooler and remember walking past a truck and seeing this young man sitting in the cab, clinging to a little body wrapped in a white sheet with a name written in Arabic on it. I took several photos and he looked at me for a few seconds. A few seconds that felt like an eternity. What must he have thought of me, a photographer documenting his intense pain? He looked so broken. I asked someone else from the family what their name was, and I wrote down Maadi in my notebook. I later found out that the child he was holding was the daughter of his brother, and that he was refusing to let her go. At that stage, I did not know what had happened to her and was left with many unanswered questions. I left the Gaza Strip two days later with a heavy heart, worried about the people I was leaving behind. After the ceasefire, I returned and began work on a collective multimedia project, Obliterated Families, about the families shattered by the 2014 offensive. I knew I had to meet the Maadi family for this. When I did, I found out how the bombing of their home had resulted in the deaths of six members of the family Mohammeds brother, Bassam, 33, Bassams wife, Iman, 31, and their two daughters, Hala, 3, and Jana, 2. Two other members of the Maadi family were also killed in that airstrike: two-year-old Yousef, the son of another of Mohammeds brothers, and Mohammeds uncle, Suleiman, 53. It had happened on Friday, August 1, the day that would come to be known as Black Friday, one of the bloodiest days of the Israeli offensive. There had been 31 people inside the large Maadi family home that day. I was able to identify the young man I had photographed and learned his name was Mohammed but he was not there the day I visited. Instead, Ala Qandil, my co-author on the project, was able to meet him later. He had never recovered from the loss of his relatives. We learned that he had also been injured in the bombing but had been rescued by his neighbours. He now suffers from neurological problems and has dropped out of his mechanic school. In 2017, I went back once more to see the family. This time, I saw Mohammed briefly. He was holding another of his nieces, one who had miraculously survived, and was smiling; a smile that I try also to keep in my memories. The photo I took of Mohammed and Jana in Rafah still haunts me. In my mind, it will always be associated with pain and the smell of decomposing bodies, with injustice and with broken lives of the ones who died, but also of the survivors. / -- Term insurance plans may be preferred for their low premium charges, but they typically only offer death benefits to the nominee of the deceased policyholder. In case the life assured survives the policy, no benefits are paid out to the investor. Aegon Life, with its Dual Protect Option, has helped bridge these gaps in traditional term plans. This option is a new variant of the company's flagship insurance product - the Aegon Life iTerm Insurance Plan. Rolled out to investors in November 2019, the Dual Protect Option ensures that the premiums paid by the policyholder do not amount to nothing. Survival benefits form a key part of this variant of the term plan. Important features of the iTerm Insurance Plan Policyholders can invest in this plan as early as 18 years of age, or as late as 65 years (in case of single pay option). The eligible maturity age ranges from 70 years to 100 years, thus ensuring whole life coverage. The plan allows for three different premium payment options, namely regular payment, single payment, and limited payment. Premiums can be paid on a monthly, half-yearly, or annual basis. Survival benefits offered by the Dual Protect Option The survival benefits offered by the Dual Protect Option set this variant apart from other conventional term plans. If the policyholder survives past the age of 60 and the policy continues to remain in-force, Aegon Life pays out the following survival benefits. A lump sum payout equivalent to 5% of the base sum assured. A regular monthly payment amounting to 0.1% of the base sum assured, made to the policyholder till the date of maturity of the plan. In case the insured person dies or is diagnosed with any terminal illness before the date of maturity, the regular monthly payments will be stopped. Instead, Aegon Life shall pay out the effective sum assured to the claimant and then terminate the policy. Understanding these survival benefits: An illustrative example If a 30-year-old investor purchases a Dual Protect iTerm Insurance Plan with a base sum assured of ?1 crore, this is how the timeline of the policy and payouts would play out. The investor pays out the premium regularly from the age of 30 to the age of 60. On the policy anniversary that follows the policyholder's 60th birthday, Aegon Life pays out 5% of the base sum assured as a lump-sum payment. This amounts to ?5 lakhs. Thereafter, at the end of each policy month, the investor receives 0.1% of the base sum assured as regular payments from the company. This translates to a monthly income of ?10,000. These payments continue until any one of the following three events occur: 1 The policy reaches the date of maturity. 2 The policyholder dies. 3 The policyholder is diagnosed with a terminal illness. In case the policyholder dies or is diagnosed with terminal illness, Aegon Life pays out the effective sum assured to the nominee or the insured person. More reasons to opt for the Dual Protect iTerm Insurance Plan What sets the Dual Protect iTerm Insurance Plan apart from other traditional term plans is that it offers both term protection as well as survival benefits. By investing in this flagship product from Aegon Life, policyholders enjoy a protective life cover, 100% payout on diagnoses of terminal illness, and regular monthly earnings from the age of 60 till the policy matures. The advantages of the Dual Protect iTerm Insurance Plan don't end there. This comprehensive term insurance plan also offers the following additional benefits. Flexible premium payment options. Policy term ranging from as low as 20 years to as high as 82 years. Additional rewards for policyholders who quit smoking and switch to a healthier way of life. Instant life coverage benefits. Tax benefits as per section 80C of the Income Tax Act. An option to enhance coverage with the Aegon Life AD Rider, which comes into play in case of accidental death of the insured. With its monthly payout feature, the Dual Protect variant of the Aegon Life iTerm Plan makes up for the lack of survival benefits under conventional term plans. As Vineet Arora, the MD & CEO of Aegon Life Insurance explained, "This new avatar of the term plan provides monthly earnings after the age of 60 and coverage up to 100 years of age. This not only secures the future of the policyholder's family financially, but it also provides them with a regular income to fall back on after retirement." About Aegon Life Insurance Company Aegon Life, one of the leading digital insurance companies in India, is a new-age digital service company and is amongst the first companies to launch Online Term Plan in India. Being the online protection specialists, AEGON Life has a company-employed service team that is fully geared to provide customers the highest levels of service. With a vision to be the most recommended new age Life Insurance Company, the company's Direct to Customer focus establishes a direct dialogue with the customers to make for greater clarity and transparency. For more information, visit: https://www.aegonlife. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Some of the world's largest corporations shuttered operations in China on Wednesday as the worsening coronavirus outbreak renewed concerns about their reliance on Chinese factories and threatened to take a lasting financial toll. With an official lockdown affecting more than 50 million people, consumer spending on restaurants, hotels and entertainment venues in China has plunged. Many factories have extended their customary closure beyond the end of the Lunar New Year celebration to at least the second week of February. The enforced inactivity could rattle supply chains for products that are sold in U.S. stores and around the world. Some of Apple's Chinese suppliers, for example, now are scheduled to remain closed until Feb. 10, chief executive Tim Cook told investors Tuesday, adding that executives are "working on mitigation plans to make up any expected production loss." Most analysts remain upbeat, but the economic consequences of the fast-moving virus could snowball if the problem isn't soon contained, some executives said. China is the world's second-largest economy and home to factories that produce machinery, computers, furniture and chemicals for customers on every continent. In one sign of mounting worry, a growing number of major airlines have halted or reduced flights to and from China. The health crisis comes just two weeks after the signing of a U.S.-China trade deal eased the uncertainty that had shrouded Chinese export factories for nearly two years. Across the globe, health officials, corporate executives and central bankers on Wednesday struggled to determine the bottom-line impact of the outbreak. "The situation is really in its early stages. It's very uncertain about how far it will spread and what the macroeconomic effects will be," Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell told reporters. "I'm not going to speculate about it at this point. We are very carefully monitoring the situation." Financial markets in the United States and Europe, however, shrugged off virus fears. The Dow Jones industrial average ended the day relatively flat, closing at 28,734, up just 11 points or .04 percent. Chinese markets are closed for the holiday. But in the absence of concrete information from China, many investors appeared to be gambling that the outbreak would prove no more damaging than earlier scares, including the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) episode of 2003. "We simply don't know how far, or fast, the novel coronavirus outbreak will ultimately spread," John Higgins, chief markets economist for Capital Economics in London, wrote in a research note. "So for the time being, we are assuming that the response [. . .] will follow the same pattern observed during and after previous epidemics - that the initial panic will be unwound after a few weeks or months." China's economy has roughly quadrupled since 2003, measured in yuan, and now accounts for close to one-third of annual global growth, according to the International Monetary Fund. Beijing's debt also has swelled, perhaps limiting the government's ability to spend its way out of any downturn as it did after SARS. And the global economy is less robust than it was during the earlier epidemic. "It's hard to see what the generator of a significant rebound would be," said one executive, who asked for anonymity to preserve relationships with Chinese officials. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in China already has surpassed the 2003 SARS count. With Chinese officials anticipating thousands more patients in the coming days, businesses are confronting difficult decisions. Starbucks temporarily closed more than half of its stores - or more than 2,000 locations - in China, its second-largest market outside the United States. Google said it closed its five offices on the mainland and in Hong Kong and Taiwan. The airline industry has been a particular focus. White House officials have been meeting with airline executives about the virus, according to one person briefed on the talks. The White House has told airline executives that it is considering suspending all flights between the United States and China. On Wednesday, American Airlines and British Airways reduced direct flights to and from the country, joining a growing cluster of international carriers suspending service. Lufthansa canceled all flights to and from China until Feb. 9, though the German airline said it would continue service to Hong Kong. American, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines extended their change-fee waivers through the end of February. Passenger air traffic was about 35 percent lower at the SARS outbreak's worst point for airlines in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the International Air Transport Association. And for 2003 as a whole, the association estimated that SARS cost those carriers 8 percent of their revenue, or roughly $6 billion at the time. Chinese sales account for about 10 percent of the global revenue of Starbucks. Chief executive Kevin Johnson said he had planned to raise the company's financial forecast for the year on Tuesday but decided not to because of the virus. Company shares fell more than 2 percent. "We're now managing a very dynamic situation in China. . . . We realize this is a temporary issue we've got to deal with," Johnson told CNBC. McDonald's, KFC and Apple have also announced closures, which will probably dent their financial results. Walt Disney said it would temporarily close its Disneyland and Disneytown parks in Shanghai. Ikea said it would close nearly half of its 30 Chinese locations. Smaller manufacturers that lack multinationals' global support staffs are scrambling to assess the threat to their operations. "They are freaking out," said Dan Harris, a Seattle-based attorney whose clients operate in China. "It's extremely difficult to plan because nobody knows what's going to happen." Finding alternatives to Chinese suppliers cannot be done quickly or easily, as companies that tried to escape President Donald Trump's tariffs learned. Other countries such as Vietnam, Thailand or Malaysia lack China's mix of qualified suppliers, trained workers and modern logistics. "If this virus is not contained within the next few weeks, some companies are going to die because of this," Harris said. Trump's tariffs prompted many companies to begin looking for replacement suppliers, according to Jake Parker, senior vice president of the U.S.-China Business Council. Coupled with the continuing tariff uncertainty, the virus has triggered "an increased sensitivity to the risk exposure of the Chinese market," he added. Some industries could be especially hard hit. China accounts for about 80 percent of raw pharmaceutical ingredients sold to manufacturers, according to specialists. Drug manufacturers and the Food and Drug Administration have yet to report any shortages, but the potential for such issues exists if the crisis persists. The majority of generic drugs consumed in the United States are manufactured in China, said Rosemary Gibson, author of "China Rx" and a senior adviser at the Hastings Center, a nonprofit bioethics research institute. About 90 percent of the drugs Americans use are generics. "The coronavirus is a warning shot across the bow that we have to rethink and diversify the sourcing of the core raw materials, chemical intermediates and active ingredients for our generic drugs,'' Gibson said. Switching to an alternative supplier in India - the No. 2 global source of generics - would not solve the problem because Indian drugmakers depend on China for their raw ingredients. Most factories and businesses in China are closed as the nation celebrates the new year. For now, the most visible disruption has been to consumer-oriented industries such as travel. This year, about 3.1 million cars and trucks are expected to come off the assembly lines in Hubei and nearby Shanghai, said Carla Bailo, president of the Center for Automotive Research. Those vehicles account for about 12 percent of China's output. But if manufacturers in Hubei and Shanghai - Honda, Toyota, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi and Volkswagen among them - delayed operations for a five-day workweek, that could result in 150,000 lost units, Bailo said. - - - The Washington Post's Christopher Rowland,David Crawshaw and Heather Long contributed to this report. The two outfits were instrumental in mobilising protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Assam last December A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Uttar Pradesh, on January 29, said that "anti-nationals" on the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) campus will be given, "kutte ki maut" (death of a dog). According to a Times Now report, Raghuraj Singh, Uttar Pradesh Minister of State for Labour Affairs, told a group of supporters that the name of AMU can be changed to 'Hindustan University' whenever they wish. Singh added that if the "anti-nationals" on the AMU campus want to go to Pakistan, they can be sent there. Ostensibly referring to the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on the AMU campus, Singh said that while "these one percent" protest against CAA, "They stay in India, eat up our taxes and then raise 'murdabad' slogans against the leaders." The report noted that Singh had made similar comments earlier in January, when he had said that those who are raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath will be "buried alive". "If you raise slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, I will bury you alive," Singh had reportedly said. "This country belongs to people of all faiths, but slogan-shouting against the prime minister or chief minister is unacceptable," Singh had said. Singh's comments come days of Union Minister Anurag Thakur was on caught on camera making inflammatory comments during a rally in New Delhi's Rithala area on January 27. BJP's candidate from Model Town for the forthcoming Delhi elections, Kapil Mishra, had also tweeted controversial comments earlier, equating the election to an India vs Pakistan contest. Tanaiste Simon Coveney said the European Union will be tailored to a time line that will force choices and a very intense negotiation. Irelands deputy premier has claimed that Boris Johnsons determination not to seek an extension to the transition period beyond the end of 2020 is putting the UK in a straitjacket. Tanaiste Simon Coveney said the European Union will be tailored to a time line that will force choices and a very intense negotiation. Following the UKs departure from the EU on Friday, the UK will continue to follow EU rules while talks take place on a free trade agreement over an 11-month transition period. The Prime Minister has stated he will not contemplate an extension beyond the end of the year. There have been concerns expressed by Irish ministers around the tight timeframe to reach an agreement. Because of that timeline the UK effectively decided to put themselves in a straitjacket in terms of timeSimon Coveney Following a Cabinet briefing on Wednesday morning, Mr Coveney said: I think it is accepted now, and certainly I agree with this, that the UK are very unlikely to seek an extension of the transition period by mid-summer which is when they would have to do it. Because of that timeline the UK effectively decided to put themselves in a straitjacket in terms of time. The approach to the negotiations from the European Union will be tailored to that time and that will force choices, but it will also force a very intense negotiation very quickly. The second point is that we are now moving very quickly in terms of the next stage of Brexit and we have been preparing for that for quite some time. Mr Coveney went on to say that after the UK leaves the EU, discussions around the future will begin straight away. On Monday, the European Commission will publish their draft negotiating mandate which is set to be approved by EU leaders next month. Expand Close A former smuggling route covering both sides of the Irish border (Michael McHugh/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A former smuggling route covering both sides of the Irish border (Michael McHugh/PA) Mr Coveney added: I think what will become very clear is that we will have to make some very difficult choices before the summer and what I mean by that is, the European Union has already indicated that there is no way that a full future relationship agreement that involves free trade agreements can be completed by the end of the year, there was no chance. The Irish electorate will go to the polls on February 8 and it is expected that Fine Gael will face a huge battle to remain the governing party. Mr Coveney added: We are going to have a very demanding negotiation on fishing and so many other areas too, that links to how a future relationship will work from a commercial perspective, from a political perspective, from a data perspective, from a legal perspective and a transport perspective. So I ask you the question and the public the question, who do you trust to manage all of that? Because its coming out, its like a freight train whether you like it or not. A man is fighting for his life in hospital after he was shot in broad daylight in a west London street. Police rushed to Bravington Road in Queen's Park following reports of a shooting at 2.44pm on Wednesday. Armed officers and the London Ambulance Service remain at the scene. The victim, who has not been named, was taken to hospital where he is in a life-threatening condition, police said. There have no arrests and enquiries are ongoing. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday attacked the government over the state of the economy, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman have no idea what to do next. The former Congress presidents attack on the government comes just days ahead of the budget. Finance Minister Sitharaman is scheduled to present the Budget for the financial year 2020-21 on February 1. Modi and his dream team of economic advisors have literally turned the economy around. Earlier: GDP: 7.5%, Inflation: 3.5%. Now:GDP: 3.5, Inflation: 7.5%, Gandhi said in a tweet. The PM and FM have absolutely no idea what to do next, he tweeted with the hashtag Budget 2020. Caitriona Balfe is known for playing Claire Fraser in the wildly popular series Outlander. During a recent interview, she listed items she absolutely cant live without. Here are the must-haves on Balfes list. Caitriona Balfe loves music Caitriona Balfe | Sarah Morris/Getty Images Caitriona Balfe told O, The Oprah Magazine she has to have her music. When Im having a really bad day, theres nothing like getting in the car, taking a drive, and blaring music, said Balfe in the February issue. Its dependent on mood, but I do like my punk rock if I need to vent. Other days, its Nina Simone or one of my favorites, Kate Bush. A leather biker jacket is a staple in Caitriona Balfes closet Could this be the leather jacket Caitriona Balfe splurged on? | Michael Kovac/Getty Images for STARZ One staple in Balfes closet is a leather biker jacket. She tells the magazine she decided to splurge on a leather jacket when she first started working on Outlander. Balfe says its sometimes difficult for her to spend money on herself because her mother frowns upon expensive purchases: During Outlanders first season, I brought an obscenely expensive leather jacket. But Ive worn it so much that if you break down the cost per wear, its the most economically sensible thing Ive ever done. I dont tend to splurge because I have an Irish mother who sits on my shoulder when I shop and says things like, You dont need that. But for that purchase, I managed to shut her up. A passport is high on her list of must-haves Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan | Michael Kovac/Getty Images for STARZ Balfe tells O magazine she doesnt go anywhere without her passport. She likes to be able to pick up and travel at a moments notice: I never leave home without it. I think because I moved from Ireland when I was 18 and have since lived abroad, theres a weird part of me that often thinks, What if theres an emergency? So I always need to be able to leave at a moments notice. And Ive never left it behindthough now Ive said that, I probably will. The Outlander actress is fond of potatoes An unexpected item on Balfes list is potatoes. She tells the publication this would be the food she would want most if she were on a desert island. Theyd be my desert-island food pick, even though Id eaten them nearly every day of my life, Balfe said. Theyre just so versatile! You can fry them, boil them, roast them, turn them into crispsor chips, as you guys call them. I dont think Id ever get bored. Whats next for Caitriona Balfe The actress is gearing up for Outlander season 5, which continues with Jamie and Claire (Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe) setting up their home at Frasers Ridge. The couple is in the process of building their life in America after reuniting with their daughter, Brianna (Sophie Skelton). The show returns to STARZ on February 16 and will begin with an episode titled The Fiery Cross. Read more: An Outlander Fan Posts a Hilarious Goodbye Letter Before She Hibernates to Read the Books Check out Showbiz Cheat Sheet on Facebook! Pakistani police on Wednesday released a Pashtun lawmaker, hours after he was arrested as he protested the detention of a prominent leader from the ethnic minority community. Mohsin Dawar was arrested on Tuesday along with 15 supporters who protested in front of the National Press Club here against the arrest of Manzoor Pashteen, the chief of Pashtun Tahfuz Movement (PTM) - a movement for protection of ethnic Pashtun people in Pakistan. Pashteen, the 27-year-old activist, was arrested along with nine supporters in Peshawar and sent to a jail on a 14-day judicial remand Dawar in a series of tweets after release said that he and his supporters were kept at different police stations of Islamabad before he was set free with promise that all detainees were being released. "I was told by the police that they were setting me free. I told them that I will not go until all the others are set free as well. Then they came back again, telling me that they will set all free so I decided to leave. Now I have come to know that some of the protestors are still in jail. We will wait to get a full idea of how many are still in jail and after that we will protest till each and everyone is released," he said. "There wasn't a single report of violence by protesters from around the world. I attended the protest in Islamabad and the protesters were as peaceful as in the other places," he said. PTM leader Dawar was elected as a member of the National Assembly from South Waziristan in 2018. He along with fellow parliamentarian from PTM, Ali Wazir, was arrested last year in June for allegedly inciting violence against the army when local people attacked a post of security forces in South Waziristan. They were granted bail in September. The PTM was started in 2014 by Pashteen in South Waziristan as Mehsud Tahfuz Movement to demand protection for Mehsud tribesmen at the height of war against terrorism in the tribal areas, bordering Afghanistan. However, it was renamed as PTM in 2018 after a successful sit-in Islamabad when it began attracting youth from across country. Former army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor in one of press conferences last year accused the group of being used by anti-Pakistan elements in Afghanistan. Afghan president Ashraf Ghani tweeted against the arrest of Pashteen and was criticised by Pakistan for interfering in its domestic affairs. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Washington Post reporter who had been placed on administrative leave after she tweeted a link to a story about a 2003 rape allegation against Kobe Bryant has been cleared to return to work New York: A Washington Post reporter who had been placed on administrative leave after she tweeted a link to a story about a 2003 rape allegation against Kobe Bryant has been cleared to return to work, the paper said Tuesday. In a statement, the Post said that an internal review had determined that political reporter Felicia Sonmez was not in clear and direct violation of our social media policy, but that the tweets were ill-timed. Sonmez's tweet came in the hours after Bryant, 41, died in a helicopter crash Sunday. We consistently urge restraint, which is particularly important when there are tragic deaths. We regret having spoken publicly about a personnel matter, the statement signed by managing editor Tracy Grant said. The paper had come under some intense internal criticism for having taken action against Sonmez. Hundreds of Post staffers had signed a letter from the Washington Post Newspaper Guild on Monday expressing alarm and dismay over the move and urging executive editor Marty Baron and managing editor Tracy Grant to ensure Sonmez's safety. The reporter's tweet had come amid widespread public mourning over the shocking deaths of Bryant and eight others, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and drew considerable backlash on social media. The Post reported that Sonmez received threats of death and rape and had to move to a hotel after her home address was published online. Sonmez, who deleted the original tweet at the request of editors, received an email from Baron on Sunday saying, A real lack of judgment to tweet this. Please stop. Youre hurting this institution by doing this. Sonmez shared the email with an Associated Press reporter. A spokeswoman for the newspaper, Kristine Coratti Kelly, emailed Tuesday's statement to The Associated Press but said the paper would not be commenting further. Sonmez did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment. In their petition Monday, the Guild members noted that Sonmez had received an onslaught of violent messages and has gotten insufficient guidance from the Post on how to protect herself. We understand the hours after Bryants death Sunday were a fraught time to share reporting about past accusations of sexual assault, Guild members wrote. The loss of such a beloved figure, and of so many other lives, is a tragedy. But we believe it is our responsibility as a news organization to tell the public the whole truth as we know it about figures and institutions both popular and unpopular, at moments timely and untimely. Sonmez's initial tweet had linked to a 2016 Daily Beast story titled Kobe Bryants Disturbing Rape Case: The DNA Evidence, the Accusers Story, and the Half-Confession. Bryant was accused in 2003 of raping a 19-year-old employee at a Colorado resort. He said the two had consensual sex, and prosecutors later dropped the sexual assault charge at the request of the accuser. The woman filed a civil suit against Bryant that was settled out of court. Photo: Adrian Owen/Flickr Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in New York City. Amazing video shows a dozen strangers lift an SUV off a woman pinned underneath A group of bystanders rescued a woman who was pinned under an SUV in New York City. Amazingly, she walked away with no broken bones. Read the full story on Yahoo News. Health officials say New York City is ready for potential coronavirus cases Fears of the coronavirus that has killed more than 100 people and sickened more than 4,500 in China continue to grow in the United States, after several confirmed cases and dozens more are under investigation. Read the full story on ABC New York, WABC. Arugula shortage affecting salad-lovers in New York City A nationwide shortage of arugula is being felt by businesses and salad-lovers in New York City. Read the full story on ABC New York, WABC. The Erie Canal as a model of how to build big projects again The federal government said no. But New Yorkers rallied anyway and got the job done. Read the full story on NPR. New York neighborhoods fight new housing, each for different reasons Across New York City, rezonings have proved challenging and polarizing, as Mayor Bill de Blasios administration tries to balance the interests of residents, local elected officials and developers. Read the full story on The Wall Street Journal. 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. The Kano State House of Assembly has approved a request by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to take a N15 billion loan to fund his free and compulsory education initiative. The loan will be obtained in the names of the 44 local government areas of the state and repaid from their federal allocations. A letter from Mr Ganduje requesting the approval of the lawmakers for the loan was read on the floor of the house on Monday. The assembly approved the request on Wednesday during its plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Abdulazeez Garba-Gafasa. The governor said the loan would be taken from one of the new generation banks. The legislators approved the request after the House Committee on Local Government, headed by the Deputy Majority Leader, Kabiru Hassan-Dashi, presented its report. The committee recommended the approval of the request, adding that the fund would be used to construct more classrooms and rehabilitate others to reduce congestion in the states public schools. Mr Hassan-Dashi explained that the loan will also support the provision of free uniform for the students and enhance the school feeding initiative of the state government. After deliberations by the legislators, the assembly adopted the motion and approve the request. According to the governors letter to the lawmakers, the loan would enable the local governments to successfully prosecute the free and compulsory education programme. Mr Ganduje said in the letter that each of the 44 local governments would get N340 million from the loan and repay from their monthly federal allocations. He said the loan would be paid in 30 months with only 15 per cent interest. When asked what action the government had taken since the builder raised concerns six months ago, Ms Allan said the situation needed to be resolved by the companies. "These matters were known prior to the contract being signed," she said. The contract for the West Gate Tunnel includes a force majeure clause that covers contaminated soil as well as other traditional "act of God" events such as earthquakes and floods. It states that the contract can be terminated under a force majeure clause if the event "prevents the project company from carrying out all or a material part of the project activities ... for a continuous period exceeding six months". The force majeure claim will kickstart a round of negotiations about whether the builders' bid to terminate the contract is valid. If the builders are successful in terminating the contract, they plan to write a new one that would bill for work done on an ongoing basis rather than agree to a fixed price, which would probably add to the costs of the project. The government may also have the option of putting the contract out to tender again, but this would also probably add to costs. Analysts believe the parties are more likely to find a commercial solution rather than find new contractors to carry out the work. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley analyst Rob Koh has advised that the Transurban's 10-year extension on CityLink tolling, a key part of the project's funding deal, would probably not be affected by construction delays. Tolls will increase by 4.25 per cent a year. Mr Koh advised that shareholders are also unlikely to suffer, even if the project faced a six to 12-month delay. The first of two 450-tonne tunnel boring machines was lowered into a launch site at Yarraville last August, but neither machine has moved a centimetre because of the discovery of the PFAS contaminants. Other work continues on the project, such as off-ramp construction. Australian Workers Union state secretary Ben Davis confirmed crews had turned up for work on Wednesday morning, and that he expected work to continue as normal. He said the brinksmanship that Transurban and its contractors were engaged in was irresponsible, and that both were effectively "holding the project to ransom" to protect their profits. "Yet again the joint venture and Transurban seem to be trying to maximise their legal position ... this is irresponsible," Mr Davis said. A West Gate Tunnel construction site in New Street, South Kingsville. Credit:Joe Armao Transurban said in its ASX statement that it had received a legal termination document from CPB Contractors and John Holland, seeking to end the contract "on the basis of a force majeure termination event"but it did not believe the contract has been validly terminated and noted the builder would continue working on the project. The state government, Transurban and the builders have been arguing over who is responsible for storing, treating and dumping soil contaminated with PFAS, in the wake of beefed-up EPA standards on how the chemicals should be managed. Loading The EPA introduced a new interim standard on PFAS management in October, after the project's contract was signed. The new standard states that the reuse of soil with very minor traces of PFAS must be overseen by the EPA. However, The Age has been told that the EPA failed to specify how the project's PFAS soil should be classified, which meant that there was no landfill site where the project could legally dump it. When questioned about this, the EPA responded that its rules on PFAS had no material impact on the project, while Ms Allan claimed there had been no change in EPA policy. Last week, 140 tunnelling workers were laid off as the blame game escalated over the indefinite tunnelling delay. One company was supposedly based in a vacant house in New Jersey. Another company had no office; its address was a post office box inside a shipping store in Nassau County. A third operated out of a Harlem apartment. The companies were all listed in paperwork as subcontractors for Childrens Community Services, a nonprofit that the city has paid about $500 million since 2017 to provide roughly 1,900 units for homeless people, including families with children. Authorities believe that the nonprofit defrauded New York City through a network of at least six subcontractors that did not appear to provide the supplies and services listed on invoices, according to a lawsuit the city filed against the nonprofit on Wednesday. The fraud could be millions of dollars, but the lawsuit was not specific. Two days earlier, federal prosecutors and investigators from the city Department of Investigation executed search warrants at the offices of Childrens Community Services and the addresses of the subcontractors. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is revered throughout the world as one of historys most inspirational and great leaders. He was the first to organise nation-wide protests against the British rule, for easing poverty, expanding womens rights, building religious and ethnic amity, bringing an end to untouchability, and above all for achieving Swaraj or self-rule. Not only did he manage to unite the whole of India under one struggle, Gandhi fought for the rights of farmers, labourers and the masses by relating to their struggle and adopting a simple life. Even after Independence, he continued to work toward peace between Hindus and Muslims. Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in Delhi on 30th January, 1948 by Nathuram Godse. Also read: Lala Lajpat Rai Birth Anniversary: The legacy of the famed nationalist On the occasion of Indias greatest leaders 72nd death anniversary, here are some of his most memorable quotes. 1. You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is like an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty. 2. A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes. 3. If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children. 4. Man is supposed to be the maker of his destiny. It is only partly true. He can make his destiny, only in so far as he is allowed by the Great Power. 5. Freedom is not worth having if it does not connote freedom to err. 6. In a gentle way, you can shake the world. 7. When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always. 8. What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or in the holy name of liberty or democracy? 9. Whenever you are confronted with an opponent. Conquer him with love. 10. Love is the strongest force the world possesses and yet it is the humblest imaginable. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON KYIV - Ukraine's precarious location - on the friction point between Russian authoritarianism and Western democracy - makes attention from the United States critical to politicians here. Meetings and even photo opportunities with American VIPs are invested with huge significance. For the Ukrainian president, the holy grail is a White House meeting. For many lower-ranking officials, just getting a selfie with an influential American is political gold, seen as "the epitome of success," as one former Ukrainian intelligence official put it recently. With Secretary of State Mike Pompeo due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Friday, Ukraine's leadership is looking for a signal on its standing with President Donald Trump. Trump told officials during an Oval Office meeting in May, shortly after Zelensky's election victory, that Ukrainians "are all corrupt, they are all terrible people" who "tried to take me down," according to testimony from former U.S. special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker during House impeachment hearings. Getting past the Trump problem is crucial for Zelensky, a former television comedian who ran for president on a platform of dealing with Ukraine's enduring problem of corrosive corruption and ending a war with Russian-backed separatists in the eastern region of Donbass. But the signs for Ukraine are worrying. Volker has not been replaced since his resignation in September. There has been no new U.S. ambassador appointed to replace Marie Yovanovitch, who was recalled by Trump in the spring. And a disquieting silence has descended over U.S.-Ukraine relations amid the Senate impeachment trial over Trump's attempts to pressure Zelensky to investigate political rival Joe Biden and his son Hunter, who served on the board of Ukrainian company Burisma. Another bad sign came last week. NPR journalist Mary Louise Kelly said Pompeo, furious that she asked him about Ukraine and Yovanovitch in an interview, berated her by asking whether she thought Americans cared about Ukraine. Volker was involved in negotiations with Zelensky aide Andriy Yermak over the summer for the Ukrainian president to announce the investigation Trump wanted in return for a White House meeting, according to text messages released during the impeachment process. Volker on Tuesday called on Pompeo to announce the date for a White House visit. "Pompeo's visit to Ukraine is an important opportunity to finally make that a reality," he wrote in Foreign Policy, arguing that Zelensky offered the best hope for Ukraine to fight corruption, implement reform and act as a bulwark against Russian aggression. Yermak told Time magazine in December that a White House meeting would send a message that Zelensky's new leadership had already achieved a lot. Ukraine is seen as a crucial counterweight to Russian power in the region. It is desperately reliant on U.S. military aid, facing an ongoing war against Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine and still reeling from the loss of the strategic Crimean peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014. Ukraine's political elite has been deeply frustrated at the derailment of U.S.-Ukraine relations by the impeachment hearings. Even if Pompeo did deliver Zelensky a White House meeting, as Volker suggested, attention would turn to whether Zelensky had offered something helpful to Trump in return. Zelensky has repeatedly denied that he felt pressure from Trump to announce the inquiry the U.S. president wanted when the two spoke on the phone on July 25 - the phone call helped stir the impeachment. "There is no doubt that this visit has a significant political and psychological component that is linked to U.S. impeachment agenda," said Makar Taran, a specialist on U.S. studies at the National Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv. "I dare say that the content of public statements afterward will meet Ukraine's and Pompeo's wishes." Despite his hopes for a White House meeting, Zelensky cannot afford to be pulled deeper into U.S. politics in a U.S. election year, according to political analyst Taras Semenyuk of KyivStratPro think tank. "The president of the United States has stooped from his legal obligations to the level of standard profit-for-profit arrangements," said Semenyuk. "It's Trump's logic: Benefit in return for benefit. I will give you military help, and you will give me incriminating evidence on Biden. "Zelensky will not publicly help Trump in the elections because it would entail very unpleasant consequences for his ratings and Ukraine's ratings in general," he added. Zelensky's main task is to reset U.S.-Ukraine relations without wading into American politics, added Andriy Buzarov, a foreign policy expert on the public council of the Ukraine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an advisory body. "Zelensky and his team will do everything possible to avoid getting involved in the internal political strife of the United States on one side or the other. Zelensky has two clear tasks: to get continued United States support for Ukraine, no matter who is president of the United States or Ukraine, and to minimize the involvement of the Zelensky team in the internal political disputes of the United States." He said the United States impeachment drama had damaged Washington's standing in Ukraine. "All the issues related to the impeachment and the politicization of U.S.-Ukraine relations has undermined the image of the U.S. president and the United States in Ukraine," Buzarov said. Russia's long-term strategic objective is to maintain its regional power and to hamper Ukraine efforts to transform into a vibrant, liberal, pro-Western democracy. The main beneficiary of weakening U.S. support for Ukraine is Russia, according to analysts in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin's chokehold on Ukraine goes beyond territory and conflict. Russia is building a new northern gas pipeline to Germany, Nordstream 2, bypassing the need for Russia to use Ukraine's pipelines to send its gas to Europe. After U.S. sanctions last month, construction on the pipeline halted. Putin insists Russia can finish it alone. Taran said Pompeo should prioritize security ties, where the two countries have common interests, rather than drift into domestic politics. "Both sides," he said, "need to show that the bilateral relations, shaken by domestic politics, are in good shape and back on a sustainable track." - - - Dixon reported from London. A former Tennessee insurance agent facing more than 70 counts of insurance fraud has reached a settlement with the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) barring her from practicing insurance activities in the state and requiring payment of civil penalties. Under the agreement announced TDCI Jan. 24, Murfreesboro, Tenn.-based Kelsey Ketrons insurance producer license has been revoked and she is ordered to pay $23,000 in civil penalties. She has also agreed to cease and desist from any insurance-related activities requiring a license from the department. Ketron is required to pay installments of $5,750 over the next four years. Kutron, who also served as a political campaign treasurer and Tennessee Republican Party committeewoman, is also accused of stealing from her fathers campaign and pocketing insurance money from policyholders who used her familys insurance company. In May, TDCI said a customer had complained to the department that Ketron had taken their premium money and not acquired coverage. TDCI also found Ketron was operating without an insurance license, as hers expired in 2016. TDCI ordered Ketron cease and desist all such unlawful activity to prevent [Ketron] from continuing to engage in insurance related activities while not being properly licensed, closing insurance policies without the policyholders knowledge or consent, misleading consumers with regard to the existence of their insurance policies, and misappropriating premium payments. A local TV station later reported other customers had come forward alleging they also paid for policies that they found out later were not covered. She was indicted on more than 70 charges related to insurance fraud, including money laundering, forgery and impersonating a licensed professional in November after an investigation centered on Ketrons practices when she served as vice president of her father Bill Ketrons agency Universal International Insurance in Rutherford County, Tennessee. Her criminal trial is set to begin in April. She is also accused of stealing more than $65,000 from his various campaign accounts and his political action committee. She was treasurer for his Bill Ketron for County Mayor campaign account, his Senate campaign account and his quest political action committee. The Daily News Journal said Ketron faces the following charges, according to Mursfreesboro police: 30 counts of impersonating a licensed professional 14 counts of money laundering 12 counts of aggravated perjury five counts of fraudulent insurance acts of $250,000 or more five counts of forgery of $250,000 or more two counts of fraudulent insurance acts between $60,000 and $250,000 one count of a fraudulent insurance act between $10,000 and $59,999 one count of theft of property between $10,000 and $60,000 one count of theft of property between $60,000 and $250,000. Ketron resigned from her GOP role in July, days after the authorities including the Secret Service searched her home and the insurance office owned by her father, who serves as mayor of Rutherford County. TDCI said its settlement with Ketron shows that the department takes consumer complaints seriously and will seek to take disciplinary action when wrongdoing is discovered. Ketrons attorney told a local news station they were pleased the matters with TDCI have been resolved and that Ketron had not admitted any wrongdoing in the settlement. Topics Agencies Fraud Tennessee The Montana Water Rights Protection Act was recently introduced to the U.S. Senate as an "amendment" and "fix" to the flawed 2015 Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Water Compact. Sen. Al Olszewski of Kalispell, who is running for Montana governor, will not quit fighting for everyone's rights. "Dr. Al" understands. He is courageously offering a new solution. The solution to forego any sort of "fix" and to immediately create a Montana water rights defense fund. State sovereignty is clearly under siege. Citizens across our great state fear CSKT off-reservation water claims. To allay this fear, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, and Rep. Kerry White, R Bozeman, console off-reservation citizens of Montana by stating "The MWRPA protects the water rights of all Montanans and requires the CSKT to permanently relinquish 97% of all water rights claims, forever." Unfortunately, this statement is completely false; dare I say fraudulent! CSKT corporate minutes approved on Jan. 7 reveal shocking insight. Tribal water rights attorney Rhonda Swaney states, "We did not give up 97% of our water. The MWRPA will ratify the (2015) compact and the tribal water rights in the (2015) compact. If we accept the settlement under the MWRPA, the Tribes would convey to the state co-ownership of the state's upper Flathead Basin Rights, but the Tribes retain the same amount of water." Co-ownership is not giving up 97% of the water. Enough with political half-truths. Please endorse Senator Dr. Al Olszewski for governor and Sen. Kenneth Bogner for lieutenant governor this year. David Passieri, St. Ignatius You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A government hospital in Tamil Nadu's Madurai on Wednesday inaugurated a new 'coronavirus ward' with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and distribution of chocolates. "No case for coronavirus has been reported so far. We have opened this ward as a precautionary measure and for the welfare of patients," Dr Sangumani, Madurai Rajaji Government Hospital Dean told reporters here today. "This special ward has six to eight beds with separate rooms. If signs of normal coronavirus infection appear (in the state), arrangements have been made to test (NIV) Non - Invisible Vendelator," he added. Moreover, two medical teams led by a lung specialist will be on 24-hour duty in the isolation ward to tackle a possible case. The inauguration ceremony was conducted by lighting a lamp and with distribution of chocolates. Coronaviruses (nCoV) 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-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). The strain of the virus has not been previously identified in humans. Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over 30 students mostly from Rajasthan in Chinas Hunan province are anxious that their return to India may be delayed amid a coronavirus outbreak as their passports submitted to local authorities for visa renewal would only be returned by mid-February. Hunan borders Hubei, where at least 10 cities have been shut down as part of a lockdown aimed at containing the lethal contagious disease that has killed over 130 people. The flu-like contagious disease originated from Hubeis capital, Wuhan, and Indians living there and surrounding provinces are being evacuated on Thursday. One of the students, Gaurav Bansal, 21, said they submitted their passports to the local police as their visas were expiring on January 30. We deposited our passports for a visa extension. Police say we will get our passports by mid-February, Bansal, who is from Rajasthans Alwar district, told HT over the phone from Hengyang city. Bansal, a student at Hengyangs University of South China, said they were confined to their university hostel and under lockdown. He said 80-90 cases of coronavirus and 3-4 deaths have been reported from Hengyang. There is a group of 35 Indian students... who are all 3rd-year MBBS students. Four of us are from Rajasthan and five from Uttar Pradesh, he said. He added they were not allowed to go out. We do not get food in the hostel and have to buy things from the market. But due to the Chinese New Year holidays and the coronavirus scare, the local markets are shut too. In Hengyang , the Lunar New Year holidays have been extended and markets will remain shut until February 2, said Bansal. Gaurav Bansals father, Naveen Bansal, who owns a medical store in Gadhi Sawai Ram town, said they are worried about their children. Other parents have also got in touch with me. We hope the Indian government will get our children back, he said. Another student, Durgesh Yadav, who is from Behror in Alwar, said the university administration was trying to get their passports in 3-4 days. Hopefully, we will be able to return home then, Yadav said and added the students are in regular touch with their families. Separately, a suspected coronavirus case in Rajasthan has tested negative. The blood report of a student, who was suspected to have contracted the virus, was received on Wednesday and has tested negative, said Rohit Kumar Singh, additional chief secretary (health). The suspected case was reported on Sunday and the students blood sample was sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune on Monday. Singh said the protocol would be followed and a fresh blood sample would be taken from the patient after two days and would be sent again to the NIV. At least 18 people from Rajasthan have returned from China and have been screened. None had any symptoms of the virus. But they will be monitored for 28 days as per the protocol, said Singh. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Bahrain Bourse (BHB) held an awareness workshop for the Bahrain Award for Entrepreneurship (BAE) award winners to showcase the opportunities available for scale-ups seeking growth capital to list on the Bahrain Investment Market (BIM). This came as part of BHBs participation and support of the 4th edition of the Bahrains Award for Entrepreneurship that was held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and Chairman of the Economic Development Board and organized by Bahrains Labour Fund (Tamkeen). The winners of the seven categories were congratulated by BHB CEO Shaikh Khalifa bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa. They were introduced to the Bahrain Investment Market, an innovative equity market designed specifically to offer fast-growing companies an alternative cost and time-effective means for raising capital. The workshop highlighted the benefits of listing on the BIM and outlined the process of listing and registration. Through the Bahrain Investment Market Workshop, we aim to present a unique opportunity of capital growth for the award winners and support potential scale-ups to further explore listing on the Bahrain Investment Market, BHB CEO said. The seven categories winners which included: Doctori Online Services founded by Ahmed Abdulhameed Alawadhi and Ahmed Wafeeq Mahmood winners of Micro-Enterprise of the Year, Shepherd Design Studio Co WLL founded by Rashed AlAraifi, Ahmed AlMannai and Abdulla Binhindi winners of Start-Up of the Year, LalaBella Events founded by Nahla Almahmood winner of SME of the Year, Kalaam Telecom Bahrain B.S.C founded by Nezar Al Saie winner of Enterprise of the Year with International Footprint, All Food for Food Stuff founded by Mohamed Abdulaal winner of Sustainability in Business Award, Clever Play founded by Sh. Latifa Mohammed Al-Khalifa winner of Female Entrepreneur of the Year, and VillaMamas founded by Roaya Saleh winner of Global Enterprise of the Year. Bahrain Investment Market is an innovative equity market designed for fast-growing companies seeking growth capital. Currently, the BIMs network of authorized consulting firms includes Grant Thornton, KPMG, Key Point, BDO Consulting, SICO, and Almoayyad Chambers. Authorized sponsors provide support and guidance services to companies interested in listing on the BIM to ensure that listing and disclosure requirements are met. Bahrain Investment Market is supported by Tamkeens Business Development Program to extend support for growth businesses interested in listing on the BIM. Bahrain Bourse listed the first Global FinTech Company on the Bahrain Investment Market Sprinkle Holding BSC (closed) in December 2019. Photo Taken In Ramallah, Palestinian Territory. Photo: Getty Middle East economies are tipped to have just grown by 1% in 2019 and, as pointed out by delegates at the World Economic Forum in the session Strategic Outlook: Middle East Economies, this is not enough to help make a dent in unemployment rates across various regions. Some economies like Egypt have talked about greater cooperation with the private sector to address the . issue, according to Rania A. Al-Mashat, minister of international cooperation of Egypt. But in the session, Palestines new prime minister Mohammad Ibrahim Shtayyeh outlined the regions unique problem. The region suffers from certain imbalances due to the lack of political uncertainty. Those who export capital arent doing it and those who export people arent doing it, he said, emphasising how this all hurts investment. We suffer from unusual conditions we are under occupation for our land and water and so we have to design our system within that. Much of the worlds problems, when it comes to unemployment, is down to unskilled labour being pushed out especially in light of the fourth industrial revolution where technological advancements have meant automation, artificial intelligence, and robotics are replacing human jobs. However, in Palestine, the issue is with the glut of skilled workers who cant find a job. READ MORE: Economics professor: The biggest global risk with greater digital disruption in finance The problem we have with unemployment is not with the unskilled labour, its with the very skilled labour 45% of our university graduates are unemployed, said Shtayyeh. Theyre not leaving either because the regional labour market is not able to absorb the new commerce and then theres the political chaos. So we are merely stuck with what we have. He outlined that that in the West Bank, there are 27,000 engineers but out of those graduates, 8,500 are unemployed. In Gaza, there are 18,000 engineers but 11,000 are unemployed. During the discussion for extra causes, he did acknowledge that it is also cultural. Story continues It has also to do with the culture. Every mother wants to see their son as a doctor or engineer or so on, so thats why were redesigning things, he said, acknowledging that career ideals dont match up with market demand. In order to tackle this, he said the government is implementing a multi-pronged approach to alleviate the problem of unemployment and empower the younger generation. We have introduced new programmes with applied sciences and vocational training, so were creating five levels of vocational training from school onwards. Were developing a program similar to the Germans a dual system, he said. He also outlined another initiative, including giving away land. One of the initiatives is that we are giving plots of land the size of 2.5 acres so graduates can do what they need with it to create and develop industry, he said. We have also created a fund with the Islamic Development Bank of $500m (382.9m) of which $216m has been pledged and $57m has been paid. The idea is to empower the young people by creating jobs and shares in newly established companies in the private sector. Caril Ann Clair (pictured in 1993) is seeking a pardon for her role in 11 murders in the 1950s when she was 14, arguing that she accompanied her boyfriend because he threatened to murder her family A woman who accompanied her older boyfriend during a string of killings recounted in the Bruce Springsteen song Nebraska is seeking an official pardon, saying she was 14 years old at the time and that he had threatened to kill her family if she didn't obey. Caril Ann Fugate, who is now 76 and goes by her married name of Caril Ann Clair, said in her application for a Nebraska pardon that she's seeking peace of mind as she ages, according to the Omaha World-Herald. She was 14 when she accompanied her 19-year-old boyfriend, Charlie Starkweather, on a bloody journey that left 11 people dead, including her mother, stepfather and baby half sister, before they were arrested in Wyoming. Starkweather was charged with 11 counts of murder but went to trial for only one. He was convicted and executed by electric chair on June 25, 1959. Clair was charged in only one of the killings, and was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Her sentence was later reduced and she was paroled in 1976. In her pardon request, Clair, who now lives in Hillsdale, Michigan, said the Nebraska Board of Pardons has a chance to right a historical wrong. 'The idea that posterity has been made to believe that I knew about and/or witnessed the death of my beloved family and left with Starkweather willingly on a murder spree is too much for me to bear anymore,' Clair wrote in her 2017 application, which the board is scheduled to consider on February 18. 'Receiving a pardon may somehow alleviate this terrible burden.' Caril Ann Fugate, who is now 76 and goes by her married name of Caril Ann Clair (pictured with her late husband), said in her application for a Nebraska pardon that she's seeking peace of mind as she ages Clair was 14 when she accompanied her 19-year-old boyfriend, Charlie Starkweather (left, together before the killings), on a bloody journey that left 11 people dead. Starkweather is seen in jail in 1958 In her request, Clair (pictured when she was 14 in 1958) said a pardon would represent only a formal forgiveness of her crime, which she says she committed in mortal fear In her request, Clair said a pardon would represent only a formal forgiveness of her crime, which she says she committed in mortal fear. 'When I was 14 years old, I was abducted and held captive by Charlie Starkweather. I was terrified and did whatever he wanted me to,' wrote Clair, who acknowledged that she was present when one of the victims was shot and that she did hold the money taken from him. 'I lived in constant fear for my family's safety. Because I loved them with all my heart,' Clair wrote. Among those who submitted letters in support of her pardon request were a granddaughter of two of Starkweather's victims, two of Clair's stepsons, a former prison warden and a Michigan woman who hired Clair as a nanny. The infamous saga, which inspired the 1982 Springsteen song Nebraska and the 1973 film Badlands starring Sissy Spacek and Martin Sheen, began in November 1957 when Starkweather robbed and shot dead 21-year-old gas station attendant, Robert Colvert, in Lincoln. His body was later discovered on a country road. At the time of his death, Colvert had been recently been discharged from the US Navy. On January 21, 1958, authorities say Starkweather went to Clair's house and killed her three family members after her mother and stepfather told him to stay away. Starkweather said Clair was home the entire time, but she said she wasn't and that when she got home, he met her with a gun and told her that her family was being held hostage and wouldn't be killed if she obeyed him. Her boyfriend killed her stepfather Marion Bartlett, 57 and his 35-year-old wife Velda. Their bodies were found in an outbuilding. Their two-year-old daughter, Betty Jean, had been clubbed to death with the butt of a gun and her body stuffed in a cardboard box. The two then went on the run, and Starkweather killed seven more people as they made their way to Wyoming. Clair (pictured in September 1981) acknowledged that she was present when one of the victims was shot and that she did hold the money taken from him Clair admitted taking $4 from Robert Jensen's (left) wallet just before he and his girlfriend, Carol King (right), were shot to death. Starkweather then left their bodies in a storm cellar Their first stop was to the home of August Meyer, Starkweather's friend. Starkweather shot and killed Meyer in his stables before beating the man's dog to death. That same night, 17-year-old Robert Jensen and his girlfriend, Carol King, 16, became the next victims. Clair admitted taking $4 from Jensen's wallet just before he and King were shot to death. Starkweather then left their bodies in a storm cellar. One of the main factors in Clair's conviction was that she was holding a shotgun at the time. Authorities also said Starkweather brutally raped King before killing her. One of the main factors in her conviction was that she was holding a shotgun at the time. Starkweather then stole Jensen's car and drove back to Lincoln, Nebraska. He selected the home of C Lauer Ward, 48, as their sanctuary, killing the local businessman, his wife, Clara, 46, and their maid Lillian Fencil, 51. Starkweather then used Ward's Packard to drive head to Washington state, but they never made it that far. Instead, they stopped in Douglas, Wyoming, which is nearly 470 miles west of Lincoln, to ditch the Packard. After ditching the vehicle, they came across Merle Collison, 37, who was napping along the highway in his car. Collison became the last victim. He was shot dead while sitting in his car. Starkweather and Clair were arrested the same day. Though 11 people were killed, Starkweather only went to trial for the murder of Collison. Brexit Party MEPs were scolded for flag-waving in the European Parliament, marking their last contribution to European democracy. The eurosceptic British MEPs began waving the miniature flags the end of Nigel Farages speech to the legislature his last before before Britain leaves on Friday. Please sit down and take your seats, put your flags away, and take them with you, the presiding speaker Mairead McGuinness told the MEPs. She also criticised Mr Farage for invoking hate in his attacks on the EU, warning that. Following the exchange the Brexit MEPs did indeed leave the chamber and took their flags with them. Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Nigel Farage speaks at the launch of his new Brexit Party's campaign for the European elections Reuters Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Brexit Party candidate Annunziata Rees-Mogg, sister of Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, speaks at the launch AFP/Getty Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures A supporter waits for Farage to speak AFP/Getty Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Supporters wait for Farage to speak AFP/Getty Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Farage's socks Reuters Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Farage and prospective candidate Annunziata Rees-Mogg wait at the launch AFP/Getty Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Supporters listen as Farage speaks AFP/Getty Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Free T-shirts for all attendees AFP/Getty Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Posters on the seats for supporters of the Brexit Party AFP/Getty Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures A safety sign is pictured AFP/Getty Mr Farage told MEPs in his speech that Brexit showed that the British are too big to bully. He said he was an outright opponent of the European project and that he hoped other countries would leave. We dont hate Europe, we just hate the European Union, he said. A suggestion by the Brexit Party leader that the EU system was power without accountability was greeted with shouts of lies and rubbish by other MEPs and members of public watching the debate from the gallery. Flags are against the rules of the European Parliament chamber under rules set by its authorities. 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. Transportation Minister Jose Luis Abalos. XOAN REY (EFE) Spanish government officials are providing few details about the Venezuelan vice-president Delcy Rodriguezs controversial layover at Madrid airport last week despite European Union sanctions prohibiting her from entering the bloc. Opposition parties have been demanding explanations from Spains new leftist coalition of the Socialist Party (PSOE) and Unidas Podemos regarding the presence in Madrid of the second-in-command to President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez in 2019. Craig Ruttle (AP) Spains former foreign minister Josep Borrell, who now serves as the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, has been asked by the European parliament about the matter. And Spain could be queried for explanations by the EU body in charge of enforcing the 2017 sanctions. For now, the European Commission has said that applying the sanctions falls to national governments, and that these have a margin of interpretation. In Spain, the opposition is also asking about the fact that Transportation Minister Jose Luis Abalos met with Rodriguez for 25 minutes inside her aircraft, as first reported by the online news publication Vozpopuli. Abalos has declined to speak about the matter to EL PAIS, and the Foreign Ministry has fallen back on Abaloss various versions of events. On Friday, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez defended his minister: He did everything he could to prevent a diplomatic crisis, and he managed it. Madrid-Doha Security services at Madrids Adolfo Suarez-Barajas airport have confirmed that Rodriguez took a commercial flight to Doha (Qatar) after meeting with Spains transportation minister, Jose Luis Abalos, inside the formers private jet in the international transit area of the airport in the early hours of Monday last week. According to these sources, Rodriguez technically never stepped on Spanish soil but remained inside her plane, then was briefly allowed into an airport VIP lounge. She is one of 25 Venezuelan officials who are banned from entering the EU due to the political repression against the civilian population by the Maduro regime. According to Spains Interior Ministry, the travel ban does not prohibit layovers as long as you dont enter the country. But sources specializing in EU sanctions said that member states must adopt the necessary measures to prevent banned individuals from entering their territory, even in transit. These sources said that Barajas airport is located in Spanish territory. Meeting on plane Abaloss encounter with Rodriguez inside her plane in the early hours of Monday has triggered criticism from Spains opposition parties. Did Abalos meet with the vice-president of Maduros totalitarian regime? asked Edmundo Bal of the center-right Ciudadanos (Citizens) on Twitter. With someone who is banned from entering the EU for being a senior official of that tyranny? The Venezuelan official flew out of Maiquietia-Simon Bolivar airport in Caracas at 9am local time on Sunday, January 19, on a private Falcon jet operated by the company Sky Valet. Also on board was Venezuelas tourism minister, Felix Plasencia, who is not on the list of banned officials and who was planning to spend some time in Madrid to attend the Fitur tourism fair while his travel companions flew on to Istanbul, Turkey. The Venezuelan embassy reportedly informed the Spanish Foreign Ministry about the fact that Delcy Rodriguez would be on board the flight, and that it would make a technical stop in Barajas before proceeding to its final destination. Rodriguezs flight landed in Barajas at 12.12am on Monday, and stopped at the terminal for private flights. After Vozpopuli broke the story of the Spanish transportation ministers presence, Abalos himself said that he went there exclusively to pick up his personal friend, Venezuelan Tourism Minister Plasencia, but that he suddenly got a call from the Spanish Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, asking him to try to ensure that Rodriguez did not get off the plane. He said he was on board the aircraft for 25 minutes, and that nothing was discussed. Airport security sources said that after Abalos had left, Rodriguez and her aides were allowed into the airports VIP lounge because the crew wanted to get some rest and passengers are not allowed to remain on board by themselves. Only Plasencia crossed customs and entered Spanish territory, said these sources. Delcy Rodriguezs private plane eventually left without her en route to Istanbul at 2.42pm on Monday. By then, the Venezuelan official had already boarded a commercial flight to Doha, followed by another flight from there to Istanbul. The trip from Madrid to Doha is a six and a half hours, almost three more hours than Madrid to Istanbul. Juan Guaido: We are not alone in this Guaido se dirige a los venezolanos concentrados en la Puerta del Sol Elvira Palomo Venezuela's acting president, Juan Guaido, who is on a European tour to seek support for new elections in his country, visited Madrid on Saturday, where he addressed a crowd gathered in the central Puerta del Sol square to hear him speak. The opposition leader told thousands of fellow Venezuelans currently living in Spain that "in a few years your children, some of whom have never known Venezuela, will ask you what you were doing during the country's most difficult times." Promising to return to Caracas, he said that we are not alone, we are together in this. English version by Susana Urra. WILDWOOD, N.J. President Trump told his supporters at a raucous rally on Tuesday evening that Representative Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey, who recently left the Democratic Party, was a symbol of the future. Without evidence, he said that an increasing number of Americans were disgusted by congressional Democrats who, he said, are obsessed with demented hoaxes, this crazy witch hunt and deranged partisan crusades. Theyve spent the last three years and probably even before I came down on that beautiful escalator with our beautiful future first lady, Mr. Trump said, trying to overthrow the last election, and we will make sure that they face another crushing defeat in the next election. The president traveled to Wildwood, a boardwalk town on the southern end of the Jersey Shore that is deserted in the winter, to return a political favor for Mr. Van Drew, a former moderate Democrat who last month switched parties and pledged his undying support for Mr. Trump. Mr. Van Drew had also been a strong anti-impeachment voice in the House before he made the switch, saying the Republican Party was a better fit. Mr. Van Drew said he had requested a rally when Mr. Trump asked how he could help. Theyre trying to steal that election, Mr. Trump said, and Jeff had the guts to defy the left-wing fanatics in his own party and to stand tall in defense of our Constitution, our freedom and democracy itself. National carrier Air India has become the second airline to suspend stand up comedian Kunal Kamra from flying with them. "#FlyAI: In view of the incident onboard @IndiGo6E, Air India wishes to inform that conduct of Person concerned is unacceptable. With a view to discourage such behavior onboard flts, Mr Kunal Kamra is suspended from flying on any Air India flt until further notice. @HardeepSPuri," Air India said in a tweet. #FlyAI: In view of the incident onboard @IndiGo6E, Air India wishes to inform that conduct of Person concerned is unacceptable.With a view to discourage such behavior onboard flts, Mr Kunal Kamra is suspended from flying on any Air India flt until further notice. @HardeepSPuri . Air India (@airindiain) January 28, 2020 This came after Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri advised airlines to impose restrictions on Kamra. "We are left with no option but to advise other airlines to impose similar restrictions on the person concerned," Puri said in a tweet. Offensive behaviour designed to provoke & create disturbance inside an aircraft is absolutely unacceptable & endangers safety of air travellers. We are left with no option but to advise other airlines to impose similar restrictions on the person concerned. https://t.co/UHKKZfdTVS Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) January 28, 2020 Earlier IndiGo, the private airline onboard the entire drama unfolded had said that "In light of the recent incident on board 6E 5317 from Mumbai to Lucknow, we wish to inform that we are suspending Mr. Kunal Kamra from flying with IndiGo for a period of six months, as his conduct onboard was unacceptable behaviour," and added that "Hereby, we wish to advise our passengers to refrain from indulging in personal slander whilst onboard, as this can potentially compromise the safety of fellow passengers." @MoCA_GoI @HardeepSPuri In light of the recent incident on board 6E 5317 from Mumbai to Lucknow, we wish to inform that we are suspending Mr. Kunal Kamra from flying with IndiGo for a period of six months, as his conduct onboard was unacceptable behaviour. 1/2 IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) January 28, 2020 Kamra responded to IndiGo by saying "thank you Indigo a six-month suspension is honestly very kind of you". Thank you Indigo a six month suspension is honestly very kind of you... Modiji might be suspending Air India forever. https://t.co/ari4erSE5F Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) January 28, 2020 On Wednesday another private airline, SpiceJet also announced that Kamra will be banned from flying until further notice. SpiceJet has decided to suspend Mr. Kunal Kamra from flying with the airline till further notice. @MoCA_GoI @DGCAIndia @HardeepSPuri @IndiGo6E SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) January 29, 2020 According to the DGCA rules, airlines are entitled to blacklist passengers for unruly behavior onboard. AFP According to the no-fly list rules which came into effect in 2017 following the altercation between an Air India crew and Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad there are three categories of unruly behavior that can put a passenger on the no-fly list based on the nature of their actions. Level 1: Behaviour that is verbally unruly, and calls for debarment up to 3 months. Level 2: Physical unruliness and can lead to the passenger being debarred from flying for up to 6 months Level 3: Life-threatening behaviour where the debarment would be for a minimum of 2 years. The rules also stated that the pilot-in-command of the airline should make the complaint, which will be further probed by an internal committee which includes retired District & Sessions Judge as Chairman and representatives from a different scheduled airline, passengers association/consumer association/retired officer of Consumer Dispute Redressal as members to be set up by the airline. The internal committee will have to decide the matter within 30 days, and also specify the duration of the ban on the unruly passenger. During the period of pendency of the enquiry, the concerned airline may impose a ban on the said passenger. The aggrieved persons can also file an appeal within 60 days to the Appellate Committee constituted by MoCA comprising of retired Judge of a High Court of India as Chairman and representatives of passengers association/consumer association/retired officer of Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum and airlines as Members. It also specifies that the airline is required to share the No-Fly list other airlines are bound to follow it. Dear Air India: In your exuberance to kiss political boots, you forgot that you come under the RTI Act. Pls keep all the required papers ready to justify how you can do this under law (when he wasnt even a passenger). Im going to examine EACH one of those papers. https://t.co/wV6mNxxqSr Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) January 28, 2020 Many also pointed out that the aviation minister who jumped in to advise airlines to suspend Kamra did not act when BJP MP Pragya Thakur was accused of delaying a Delhi-bound Spicejet flight from Bhopal by nearly 45 minutes over-allotment of her seat. (Newser) A Maryland police officer is to be charged with murder after fatally shooting a handcuffed man in his cruiser on Monday. "What happened last night is a crime," Prince George's County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said Tuesday, per the Baltimore Sun, noting Cpl. Michael Owen Jr. would be charged with second-degree murder, voluntary and involuntary manslaughter, first-degree assault, and a weapons offense. The 10-year veteran had responded to reports of a driver striking vehicles near Temple Hills around 8pm. The suspect, 43-year-old William Green, was placed in the front seat of a cruiser, in line with department policy, while Owen took the driver's seat, a spokesperson said. "A short time later, for reasons that are now at the center of the investigation, Green was shot seven times by the officer's duty weapon," reads a news release issued Tuesday. story continues below Police initially said witnesses saw Owen shoot Green, believed to be under the influence of PCP. On Tuesday, however, Stawinksi said "we do not believe PCP was involved" and "we do not have independent witnesses that observed a struggle," per CBS News. He also said it was unclear if Green had been seat-belted. Owen was not wearing a body camera. Despite the lingering questions, "there are no circumstances under which this outcome is acceptable," Stawinski said, adding this was "the most difficult moment of my tenure as your Chief of Police." "We want to know why our loved one was brutally shot in a police car," Green's fiancee Sandra Mathis tells WJLA. "What harm could this individual do to this police officer?" The family has hired attorney Billy Murphy, who also represented the family of Freddie Gray, per CBS. Green was black, as is Owen. (Read more murder stories.) Men's rights activist Bettina Arndt should be stripped of her Order of Australia, Victorian Attorney-General Jill Hennessy has said. Ms Arndt was given the honour on Australia Day for her "significant service to the community as a social commentator, and to gender equity through advocacy for men". After widespread outrage, Ms Hennessy asked Governor-General David Hurley to overturn the decision in a letter to him on Tuesday. Fashionistas on social media are showing off their new Maseur sandals after the 'daggy' but popular slide made a comeback in style last year. The 1990s footwear is known to assist with aches in the feet and muscles and was first released in Australian chemists 30 years ago. Millennials are now embracing the style and have been seen wearing the 'dad shoes' on an array of everyday occasions - from supermarket trips to days at the beach. Millennials are embracing the style and have been seen wearing the 'dad shoes' to the beach and while out and about While it might be something you remember your parents wearing, more youths are purchasing the $56.99 sandal as a fashion statement The shoe was first created in Sydney by Gabriel Eber with the idea to 'promote posture, balance and alignment' through footwear. He claimed that many 'aches, pains, circulation problems and general well-being' were linked to nerve endings in the feet so set out on a mission to create a shoe that would help. The design places your feet in the correct position to relieve pressure on knees, hips and back and the contoured footbed provides support for your entire foot. While the orthopaedic sandals may not be considered stylish, the shoes are on trend with other seasonal slides, such as Burkenstocks and Havaianas. The shoe was first created in Sydney by Gabriel Eber with the idea to 'promote posture, balance and alignment' through footwear There are two colours to choose from in the traditional shoe - a black and beige - and they can be purchased at your local pharmacy, or for Byron Bay locals, at the Zulu and Zephyr boutique Comments including 'foot massage all day' and 'step aside Burkenstock!' have been shared on social media. The Maseur sandal is available in two styles titled the Gentle Massage Sandal made from a 'contouring and cushioning' foot pad and the original Invigorating Massage Sandal designed with flexible nodules. The shoes are currently priced at $56.99 and are available online and in chemist stores. Comments including 'foot massage all day' and 'step aside Burkenstock!' have been shared on social media Other nostalgic nineties footwear has been noticed on the streets and also on the runway with a multitude of luxury and affordable brands alike jumping on board with the trend. Nike and Dr Martens are some names who have all reinvented and released the comfortable slip-on slide. Whether you prefer the double buckle, sporty or chunky style, there's an endless range to choose from. The popular Nike slide is available for $40 and offers a laidback sporty luxe look Birkenstocks are another classic brand offering a range of comfortable slides The Dr Martens sandals are a must-have for extreme comfort Unlike the Maseur sandal, faux fur shoes are often made for looks rather than comfort The APL Techloom Slide available in two vibrant shades - Magma orange and Energy yellow NIKE - $40 On the affordable side of the list sits the Nike slide available for $40 and offering a laidback sporty luxe ideal throughout the warmer months. Available in a range of colours the Nike slide is lightweight and practical - great for before work or after the gym. The all black with the Nike branded tick on top is the most popular choice. BIRKENSTOCK - $99+ Similarly to the Maseur sandal, Birkenstocks are another classic brand offering a range of comfortable slides made from high quality materials. Created back in 1774 by Johann Adam Birkenstock this timeless German brand has earned a spot in many shoes cupboards internationally. If you want to shy away from the brown or black leather strap, a colourful metallic collection is also available online and in store. DR MARTENS - $189+ If you're after a bit of height or need a good walking shoe, the Dr Martens sandals are a must-have. With a simple design, extreme comfort and a strap-on or slip-in style Dr Martens has all the perks of a comfortable shoe. The English brands offers a range of collections for women, men and children and are predominantly known for their high quality leather boots. FAUX FUR - $22 An arrange of brands also sell glamorous faux fur slides for those wanting to look and feel fabulous on the go. From Gucci to Aldo shoes, there's an endless list of brands offering faux fur shoes depending on your budget. There's also an array of colours and patterns to choose from depending on the brand. Although unlike the Maseur sandal and Birkenstocks slide, faux fur shoes are often made for looks rather than comfort and practicality. FREE PEOPLE COLOUR SLIDE - $148 If you're after more colour American brand Free People offer their APL Techloom Slide available in two vibrant shades - Magma orange and Energy yellow - for the adventurous and daring. The fashion label also has a great range of other sandals on their website, some of which include the Phoenix Flat, the Vegan Sadie Sandal and the San Juan Huarache Sandal. Whether you need a slide for the beach, around the house or after a workout, the Free People APL Techloom Slide may be the perfect choice. An online predator was caught by paedophile hunters for the second time in two years and jailed today for 33 months. Kieran Burgess, 32, was previously exposed trying to groom multiple schoolgirls as young as 13 by the 'Shadow Hunters' group who carried out a sting operation on Facebook in 2017. He was confronted at a bus stop and burst into tears as his 'citizen's arrest' was live-streamed on social media - attracting 33,000 views. Burgess, from Stockport, Greater Manchester, admitted 15 sexual offences and was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years in April 2018. He was also ordered to attend a sexual offenders' treatment programme and made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 10 years. But despite his public shaming, Burgess was arrested again last December after he used a 'secret' mobile phone to message someone he believed was a girl aged just 12 - who in reality was another adult decoy - on a dating app. Kieran Burgess, pictured in 2017, was previously exposed trying to groom multiple schoolgirls as young as 13 by the 'Shadow Hunters' group Investigators from a different child protection team called 'Justice for the Innocent' confronted Burgess at his home. They tried to live stream the encounter but he refused to leave his house. He was today jailed for 33 months at Minshull Street Crown Court after he admitted making sexual communications with a youngster and breaching the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order - which had banned him from using mobile devices and computer equipment to contact children. Prosecutor Simon Barrett told the court: 'The defendant used his own name and his date of birth and he communicated with a female who referred to herself as Shannon who was 12 years of age. 'There were several hundred messages exchanged and the decoy is pretending to be a girl of 12 years of age early in the conversation. 'The nature of the text messages quickly became sexualised, there were hundreds of messages between them with references to penetrative activity and also indicating or requesting that the decoy didn't disclose their communications to other people. 'The messages included him sending her a picture of his penis, references to them being boyfriend and girlfriend, requests to keep the communications secret indicating he could go to prison if the communication was discovered. 'He told the decoy that he loved her and explicitly acknowledged he knew she was 12 years of age. Investigators from a child protection team called 'Justice for the Innocent' confronted Burgess at his home Burgess, pictured at his confrontation in 2017, was first in court in April 2018 after sending sexually explicit messages to someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl 'The defendant was confronted at his home address by another member of the group. He was identified, police contacted, and the defendant was arrested. 'A mobile phone was recovered from him which he had disclosed but he had an iPhone and another one placed in a safe which the police believe he used to communicate with the decoy.' It emerged Burgess had been cautioned when was just 16 for indecent assault on two females under the age of 14. He was first in court in April 2018 after sending sexually explicit messages to someone he believed was a 13-year-old girl. He had arranged to meet her, only to find out that the 'girl' was in fact an undercover decoy from the 'Shadow Hunters' child protection team. Investigators from other teams said Burgess had contacted their decoys and sent vile messages to them too. But police were called again late last year after Burgess began using the 'secret phone' he kept in a safe to make contact with youngsters via a dating app. Burgess was today jailed for 33 months at Minshull Street Crown Court after he admitted making sexual communications with a youngster and breaching the terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order In mitigation for Burgess defence barrister Mark Fireman said: 'He is now on medication for depression. On the one hand he is somebody who had cooperated entirely with the processes the court set out for him but on the other hand it hasn't had the effects that had been hoped. 'Both the children in this case and the one prior to it were fictional children. It is a paedophile hunter case although it is plain from the person who set up this fictional account that it was the defendant who contacted them rather than the other way around. 'This is a defendant who operates at certain disadvantages, he has been described as having autism, Asperger's and ADHD, described by his family as someone who lives rather in a bubble. He is somebody who is really isolated he operates at a less sophisticated level than most of the people who cross the threshold of this court. 'Despite the messages that he sent in this particular case, the prospect of him meeting a girl under the age of 16 and engaging in the type of activity described in the messages is perhaps rather remote. 'He is somebody who is less capable of forming a relationship in person than most other people and that what takes place over the internet messaging system is really more by way of fantasy than any real intention of carrying out the activities that have been described.' But sentencing Judge John Edwards told Burgess: 'You are assessed as posing a high risk of serious harm to children and you are said to be preoccupied by your own sexual gratification. 'These are flagrant breaches of the original order and a flagrant disregard for an order designed to to stop the very activity you still indulge in.' Burgess will now have to sign the Sex Offender Register for life. A diplomatic row erupted on Tuesday over the arrest of Pakistani democracy activist Manzoor Pashteen,with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani sharing concerns and Islamabad calling his remarks an interference in its internal matters. Ghani tweeted on Monday he was troubled by the arrest of Manzoor Pashteen and his colleagues, hours after the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) chief was arrested in Peshawar on charges of sedition. Pakistan foreign office expressed serious concern and described Ghanis remarks as clear interference in Pakistans internal affairs and hence, unwarranted. Pakistans chief spokesperson Firdous Ashiq Awan deemed the comments equivalent to interfering in internal affairs. On Tuesday, some 25 PTM workers including its leaders and lawmakers Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir were taken into custody outside the Islamabad Press Club, where they were demonstrating against Pashteens detention. According to an FIR, Pashteen and other PTM leaders attended a gathering in Dera Ismail Khan on January 18, where he allegedly said the 1973 Constitution violated basic human rights. The FIR said Pashteen made derogatory remarks about the state. Following Pashteens arrest, #ReleaseManzoorPashteen started trending on Twitter. 4 boys arrested for vandalising temple Four boys aged between 12 and 15 have been arrested for allegedly vandalising a Hindu temple in a village near Thars Chhachro town in Sindh province. The boys said they did it to steal money from the temple, Dawn daily quoted police officials as saying. The Mata Deval Bhittani temples idols of deities were desecrated on Sunday, the report said. Lahore hc opposes Musharraf trial In its detailed judgement on Pervez Musharrafs petition challenging his death sentence on charges of high treason, the Lahore High Court ruled the concept of trial in absentia is against the golden principles of natural justice as well as Islamic justice. It is established without any doubt that the very constitution of the special court was squarely illegal/improper and without jurisdiction, it said. A special court had sentenced Musharraf to death after six years of hearing the high-profile case. MSPs have backed Nicola Sturgeon's calls for a second Scottish independence referendum later this year in a vote at Holyrood. The Scottish parliament passed a motion demanding that Boris Johnson allow another referendum on Scotland's place in the UK, pointing to Brexit as a "material change in circumstances" since the 2014 vote. The motion, backed by 64 votes to 54, now calls on the UK government to "reach an agreement with the Scottish government on such a referendum taking place on a date and in a manner determined by the Scottish Parliament". The vote is non-binding on the UK government - which has repeatedly rejected calls to grant Holyrood the necessary powers for another vote - but it heaps fresh pressure on Mr Johnson to act. The prime minister is on a collision course with Ms Sturgeon over whether to allow another referendum, with tensions heightened by Brexit, which Scots overwhelmingly opposed in 2016. Mike Russell, the Scottish constitutional relations secretary, welcomed the "clear endorsement", saying: "A referendum should now be held so that the people can decide if Scotland should be an independent country. "We propose that referendum, on a date and in a manner determined by the Scottish Parliament, should take place this year." His comments came after Ms Sturgeon warned of the consequences for Scotland of both Brexit and a Johnson-led government, telling MSPs: "Given what the Tories have in store, proposing a further decision on independence isn't simply legitimate - it is necessary." The Scottish first minister accused UK ministers of being "completely deaf to Scotland's interests, needs and voice", adding that their vision for the UK is driven by "jingoism and xenophobia". 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 Scottish Tory interim leader Jackson Carlaw criticised SNP ministers for their focus on independence, saying: "If only this government spent the same amount of attention on police and schools as it does on polling and spin, we might have the safest streets and the best schools in Europe." Labour leader Richard Leonard insisted "nobody in this chamber really believes that there will be a referendum this year". MSPs also narrowly voted to keep the EU flag flying over Holyrood during a bad-tempered debate over a decision by the Scottish Parliament's ruling body to remove it after Brexit. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said he faced many difficulties to help people and in return the BJP has called him a "terrorist". Tagging a media report according to which BJP MP Parvesh Verma had allegedly called him a terrorist, Kejriwal said he has been working day and night towards the welfare of people. "Gave up everything for the people of Delhi. After joining politics, I faced many difficulties so that the life of the people could improve. Today in return, the Bharatiya Janata Party is calling me a terrorist ... It is very sad," he said in a tweet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Energy storage system is one of the largest in the Czech Republic NEC Energy Solutions, Inc. (NEC ES), announced today the completion of a 4MW/2.8MWh energy storage system in Tusimice, Czech Republic for IBG Cesko, a supplier of comprehensive energy solutions. The battery energy storage system will be used to test different delivery modes of energy support services within the joint research project called BAART established by the companies CEZ (customer) and CEPS (Czech TSO). The system is particularly focused on meeting the technical requirements for providing primary reserve support for the Czech transmission network. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005054/en/ Mark Moreton (left) Sales Director, EMEA for NEC Energy Solutions and Ales Zazvorka, CEO of IBG Cesko (Photo: Business Wire) "We chose to work with NEC because it is a reliable, global leader in battery storage technology," said Ales Zazvorka, CEO of IBG Cesko. "The timing of the project, the complexity of the supply and the demanding logistics generated several challenges but in cooperation with NEC we were able to overcome those challenges successfully. As a result, the battery energy storage system was commissioned and turned over for operation prior to the end of the year." NEC provided its GSS end-to-end grid storage solution and its AEROS controls system, NEC's proprietary energy storage control software along with installation supervision and commissioning. "We were very pleased to work with IBG Cesko on this interesting research project that also happens to be one of the largest in the Czech Republic. IBG Cesko proved to be an excellent partner who worked with us seamlessly to get this project commissioned and operating before the end of the year," said Mark Moreton, Sales Director EMEA for NEC Energy Solutions. "We look forward to working with IBG Cesko on future projects in the Czech Republic and beyond as we work to extend our global footprint." About IBG Cesko IBG Cesko is a technology company providing comprehensive energy solutions in the following areas: decentralized energy production, energy storage, backup power supply, non-IT data center infrastructure, charging infrastructure for electromobility, traction battery systems and batteries for transport technology. Learn more at www.ibg.cz/en About CEZ Group CEZ Group is an established, integrated electricity conglomerate with operations in a number of countries in Central and Southeastern Europe and Turkey, headquartered in the Czech Republic. CEZ Group's business activities abroad concern primarily electricity distribution, generation, trading, and sales, as well as natural gas trading and sales, commodity trading in wholesale markets, and active presence in energy services and renewables. CEZ Energeticke sluzby, part of CEZ Group, provides comprehensive activities in construction energy management. Learn more at www.cez.cz/en About CEPS CEPS, a joint stock company, is the sole Czech Transmission System Operator and is a member of relevant European international organizations. The Company is responsible for maintaining the balance of electricity supply and demand within the Czech power system in real time (system services) and for organising cross-border power exchanges including transits. Learn more at www.ceps.cz/en About NEC Energy Solutions NEC Energy Solutions designs, manufactures, and integrates smart energy storage solutions for the electric grid and applications with critical power needs. Its megawatt-scale energy storage and control systems provide greater stability to the grid while maximizing renewable generation, while in telecom, datacenter, and other industrial applications, its high performance lithium-ion battery systems provide better value than traditional lead-acid batteries in tough, critical power applications. Learn more at www.neces.com. NEC is a registered trademark of NEC Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Other product or service marks mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners. 2020 NEC Corporation View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005054/en/ Contacts: Press contact: For all inquiries regarding NEC Energy Solutions, please contact: Roger Lin, rlin@neces.com, +1-508-497-7261 Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal The U.S. Forest Service is seeking feedback from the public on a proposal to charge higher fees at more than 200 campgrounds and day use sites in the five national forests in New Mexico. Forest Service representatives say its a necessary change amid a growing maintenance backlog and more visitors. Jeremy Golston, recreation fee program manager for the Forest Services Southwestern region, said the proposed fee changes could help pay for the hidden costs of maintaining developed recreation sites. This could address the costs of things like trash removal, toilet pumping and water system testing that we dont often think about as forest visitors, he said. We also want to modernize our sites, with amenities like new fire rings, more educational information and more staff. Forest offices are also proposing the Enchantment Pass, a $40 annual vehicle tag that would give unlimited access to picnic areas and other day use sites in national forests in New Mexico. Under the proposal, fees could be added to campgrounds and day use sites that were previously free, and existing fees could be raised for other sites. For example, at the Jemez Falls Campground in Santa Fe National Forest, which has drinking water, fire rings and grills, trash receptacles, paved roads, picnic tables, tent pads and vault toilets, the Forest Service is proposing to increase the campsite fee from $10 to $20. Fees for the Echo Amphitheater day use site in Carson National Forest, which has flush toilets, paved parking, picnic tables and fire rings, could increase from $2 to $5. The 2004 Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act mandates that 95% of revenue from forest recreation fees pay for maintenance and operations at the sites where the fees were collected. Local offices also receive some federal money for improvements. Golston said the forest offices determined the proposed fee increases by seeing which amenities exist at developed sites throughout the state. Amenities can include showers, toilets, dumpsters, fire pits and gravel parking. This is an effort to look at what value visitors can get for a consistent fee, Golston said. We also did a market analysis. These proposed fees are not so low that they undercut private-sector sites like KOA but are more in line with other publicly managed recreation sites. Now, we go to the public engagement step. The public comment period for the proposed fee changes closes at the end of 2020. Dates for public meetings on the proposed changes will be announced soon. The vast majority of the forest is still free to access, said Julie Anne Overton, spokeswoman for Santa Fe National Forest. With dispersed camping, you can pitch a tent just about anywhere. But the developed sites are super-popular with our visitors. Even with the proposed increases, they are quite a bargain for your recreation dollars. Estimates show that more than 4 million people visit New Mexicos five national forests each year. Theresa Davis is a Report for America corps member covering water and the environment for the Albuquerque Journal. Inside Hook I got eight days to my retirement, and I will not make a stupid mistake! Roger Murtaugh couldnt be more wrong; Lethal Weapon is making a comeback. At a recent roundtable of movie producers conducted by The Hollywood Reporter, Dan Lin (The Two Popes) discussed a possible fifth installment of the Mel Gibson-Danny Glover buddy-cop franchise, which has laid dormant (outside of a forgettable TV series) since 1998s Lethal Weapon 4. [January 29, 2020] inRiver Appoints Per-Olof Schroeder as Chief Executive Officer inRiver, a provider of SaaS (News - Alert)-based product information management (PIM) solutions, today announced the Board of Directors has appointed Per-Olof Schroeder Chief Executive Officer. He will assume day-to-day leadership of the company. "The Board thanks Thor Johnson for his leadership over the past two years and is pleased to welcome Per-Olof as our new CEO," said inRiver Chairman of the Board, Jorgen Smidt. "Per-Olof has demonstrated a strong record in driving success of SaaS cloud computing services whil delivering revenue growth, profitability, and market share. In his role as CEO, Per-Olof will continue building on inRiver's mission to redefine commerce." Schroeder has more than 25 years in leadership roles in the IT industry, comprising a 15-year tenure at Microsoft (News - Alert) including seven years as the leader of Microsoft's Productivity & Business Process Business Group in the Western Europe Region. "I am delighted to join the inRiver team and to lead such a talented group of people with a demonstrated track record of success," said Schroeder. "It is an exciting time in our industry, and with inRiver's market position, capabilities, and unique offering, I look forward to embarking on the next phase of inRiver's growth journey." About inRiver Founded in 2007, inRiver?redefines the way e-commerce product marketers and merchandisers display and sell their products. By providing product information management?(PIM)?products and services that help create, update, refresh, maintain and distribute content about products globally,?inRiver?helps businesses drive increased revenue, customer satisfaction, and brand equity.?More than?1,500 brands?and 500 customers across 21 countries?rely on?inRiver?to efficiently?control?the product flow for their globally recognized brands.?inRiver?is headquartered in Malmo, Sweden with offices in Chicago, London, Amsterdam and Stockholm, and is a Microsoft Gold-Certified Partner.?For more information, visit?www.inriver.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005496/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday urged Palestinians who rejected President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan to come up with a "counter-offer" that could win Israeli support, as he headed to Britain on a five-nation tour. Pompeo was on his way to London to help forge to a post-Brexit alliance with Prime Minister Boris Johnson -- a leader Trump once called the UK version of himself. His tour also includes talks in Kiev on Friday that are likely to touch on many of the controversies surrounding the Ukraine-linked impeachment trial of the mercurial White House chief. Pompeo found himself on the immediate defensive over a delayed Middle East initiative that was pronounced dead on arrival by the Palestinians but embraced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Palestinian leaders were "free to come up with a counter offer if that's what they think is appropriate", Pompeo told reporters travelling with him. "I know the Israelis would be prepared to sit down and negotiate on the basis of the vision that the president laid out." Trump's proposals reportedly included no Palestinian input and grants Israel much of what it has sought in decades of international diplomacy. Pompeo said the misgivings were coming from "the same critics who have failed for 70 years". - Damage limitation - Johnson was one of the first to voice support for Trump's proposals on Tuesday and said in his defence that "no peace plan is perfect but this (one) has the merit of a two-state solution". The Conservative prime minister will be eager to present a united front as he looks for a US trade deal that can fill the void of the UK's withdrawal from the European Union on Friday. Yet Pompeo's dinner Wednesday with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and meeting Thursday with Johnson threaten to become a damage limitation exercise for the so-called "special relationship". Pompeo had been doing his best to convince Johnson that allowing China's Huawei tech giant to roll out Britain's next-generation 5G network introduced a long-term security threat. US officials said the possibility of China using its commercial presence to spy on Britain -- or even shut down the network -- could force Washington to stop sharing intelligence with London. Britain approved a limited but still important role for Huawei on Tuesday. "We'll evaluate what the United Kingdom did," Pompeo said Wednesday. "But our view is we should have Western systems with Western rules and American information should only pass across a trusted network. We'll make sure we do that." Johnson told parliament his government will "do absolutely nothing to imperil our relationship with the US". Some security analysts said Britain's decision to exclude Huawei from "core" parts of the network and cap its share of the market to 35 percent may have given enough reasons to brush past the dispute. "Essentially what they've done is limit Huawei from large parts of the network," said the Royal United Services Institute think-tank's cyber research chief James Sullivan. The EU announced a similar plan Wednesday. - 'Enormous trade' - But the list of disagreements between the historic allies appears to be getting longer -- just as expectations grow of them becoming closer now that Britain is leaving the EU. Johnson has been publically pushing Washington to send back the wife of a US diplomat who is using the cover of diplomatic immunity to avoid prosecution over the death of a teenager in a road accident in England. The United States rejected Anne Sacoolas's extradition to Britain last week. Contrasting approaches to Iran and a US prosecutor's complaint that Prince Andrew was stonewalling an FBI investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein only add to layers of tensions. Johnson might now simply be hoping "there are no precipitous statements from the US saying that's it, this love affair is at an end", said Ian Bond of London's Centre for European Reform. Yet the sides also have the political incentive to quickly agree on the outlines of a new trade agreement whose negotiation can begin once Brexit takes effect on Friday at 2300 GMT. Pompeo said London and Washington had "enormous trade issues and big commercial issues" to discuss. Search Keywords: Short link: New Delhi, Jan 29 : The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) in an affidavit in the Supreme Court on Wednesday said the entry of women into mosques is permitted, and that there is no restriction on men and women praying together. The affidavit was filed in response to a petition filed by a Maharashtra-based Muslim couple demanding that women should be allowed to "worship in all mosques" and cited discrimination against them currently in practice at various mosques. The issue will also be taken up by nine-judge bench constituted to examine the legal question associated with the discrimination against women in connection with their entry into various religious places, which includes Sabarimala temple. The Board in its response said, "The present respondent (AIMPLB) has taken a stand, as per Islamic texts, that entry of woman into mosque for namaz is permitted. Any other 'fatwa' to this effect may be ignored." However, the Board also contended that the sanctity of 'fatwa' is an opinion based upon religious texts, doctrine and their interpretation and has no statutory force, and the court has no jurisdiction to restrain 'fatwa'. "In case, if some believer of Islam is of the opinion that he/she needs religious opinion/fatwa, based upon interpretations of religious texts, then delivering of 'fatwa' on that issue cannot be restrained by judicial order of this court as the same shall directly hit the right and freedom of religious belief of an individual", said the Board in the affidavit. In October 2019, the apex court had issued notice on the plea of Yasmeen Zuber Ahmad Peerzade and Zuber Ahmad Nazir Peerzade, who contended restrictions on entry of Muslim women in mosques across the country were unconstitutional and violates fundamental right to life, equality and gender justice. The plea sought direction to the government authorities and Muslim bodies to allow entry of Muslim women into mosques to offer namaz there. The plea also contended that in mosques where women are allowed, there should be no segregation -- separate entry, exit or a separate praying area. The Board said it does not want to comment on any contrary religious opinion to this effect. "Islam has not made it obligatory on Muslim women to join congregational prayer nor is it obligatory for woman to offer Friday namaz in congregation though it is so on Muslim men. The Muslim woman is differently placed because as per doctrines of Islam, she is entitled to the same religious reward for praying as per her option either in masjid or at home", said the affidavit. However, it said the practice of religion on the places of worship are purely private bodies regulated by 'Muttawalis' of the Mosques. We being body of experts, without any state powers, can only issue advisory opinion, based on Islam. "The answering Respondent (AIMPLB), and this court for that matter, cannot enter into the arena of detailed arrangements of a religious place, which is completely privately managed entity for religious practices of believers in a particular religion", contended the Board. The White House is reportedly trying to take the publication of former National Security Adviser John Bolton's forthcoming book into its own hands. CNN's Jake Tapper reported Wednesday that sources familiar with the matter said the White House issued a "formal threat" in a letter to Bolton. Neither Bolton or his publisher Simon & Schuster have responded to a request for comment, and the White House had no comment on Tapper's report. But CBS obtained a letter the White House sent to Bolton's last week before leaks were made public warning him that the manuscript for The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir contained "significant amounts of classified information" and subsequently was prevented from being published under federal law. NEW: @CBSNews has obtained a letter from the White House blocking Bolton from publishing his book. The date is critical here01/23/20before the public ever learned what the manuscript said. pic.twitter.com/auM5Cw2w3f Weijia Jiang (@weijia) January 29, 2020 The Trump administration, including the president himself, though, has had plenty to say about Bolton recently. The White House doesn't seem pleased about the contents of his book which reportedly include the claim that President Trump told Bolton about his Ukraine quid pro quo or that he's said he's willing to testify if called upon during the Senate impeachment trial. Read more at CNN. This story has been updated. More stories from theweek.com Mitch McConnell's rare blunder John Bolton just vindicated Nancy Pelosi 7 witheringly funny cartoons about the GOP's John Bolton problem VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 29, 2020 / Infinite Lithium Corp. ("ILI" or the "Company") (TSXV:ILI) is pleased to announce that the Company entered into an option agreement to acquire a 90% interest in the "Dixie Ten-Mile" properties from Pistol Bay Mining Inc., in the Red Lake Mining District. The property package covers the Dixie 17, Dixie 18, Dixie Gap and Dixie 20 mineral occurrences and prospects, with the eastern portion of the property located at the junction of the Ten Mile Road and Snake Falls Road. The Dixie Ten-Mile property is approximately 20 kilometers north-east of the "LP Target" drilling activity of Great Bear Resources Corp.'s Dixie Project. The Dixie Ten-Mile property is approximately 5 kilometers north-west of the Company's Dixie 3 property (see press release 2019-12-12). The Dixie Ten-Mile property comprises 89 claims, covering approximately ~2,000 hectares. The property has excellent access and logistics, from Red Lake or Ear Falls, and is traversed by the Snake Falls main access road. The Dixie Ten-Mile property covers 4-5 km of strike length along two mineralized stratigraphic horizons hosting Cu-Zn mineralization and exhibiting intense footwall hydrothermal alteration. The property has seen intermittent exploration since 1950's with resurgence in 1960's upon the discovery of the South Bay Mine, located approximately 45 kilometers to the north-east. Major mining companies including Selco, Noranda, Minnova-Inmet, Rio Algom, Inco and Homestake working in the area in the 1970- 1990's. Tribute Minerals Inc. ("Tribute") in the early 2000's completed line cutting, geophysical surveys, a Quantec Geosciences Titan-24 surveys, and additional diamond drilling. Highlights include: Dixie 18 Zone - The northern horizon hosts the Dixie 18 deposit with resources (historic, non-43-101 compliant (*1) reported by Noranda of 110,000 tons (99,820 tonnes) grading 0.5% Cu and 12.5% Zn to a depth of 150 meters. Dixie Gap - Approximately 1.5 kilometers east of the Dixie 18 occurrence, a cluster of strong AEM (airborne electromagnetic) (INPUT) targets (known as the Dixie Gap) indicates continuing conductivity to the west. Dixie 19 and Dixie 17 - The second mineralized horizon is located 1.5 kilometers south of the Dixie 18 horizon and hosts two Cu-Zn prospects known as the Dixie 19 and 17 zones. Dixie 19 consists of stringer to massive sulphides locally interbedded with massive magnetite which has been traced by drilling for a 500m strike length to a depth of 225 metres. Significant drill intersections on the southern mineralized horizon include 7.34% zinc (Zn), and 1.4 % copper (Cu) over 9.5 metres in the Dixie 17 Zone, and 6.33% Zn and 1.50 % Cu over 3.35 metres in the Dixie 19 Zone. The Dixie 19 Zone is coincident with the second Titan-24 target. Mineralization in the Dixie 19 Zone has been identified by drilling over a 500 meter strike length to a depth of 225 metres and ranged in thickness from < l meter to 30 meters.: At the time (2003) the previous operator, Tribute Minerals Inc. has utilized a newly developed, deep penetration geophysical technique (Quantec's Titan-24 system) in an attempt to "see" to depths below those previously possible. Dixie 20 - In 2003 Tribute reported: "The results of the Titan-24 survey are very encouraging to Tribute, since they show a series of conductive anomalies (Dixie 20) over a strike length of 800 meters at depths of approximately 1 km which are consistent with the response expected from massive sulphides or graphite. (Westoll. 2003, 43-101 Report for Tribute Minerals Inc.) *1 - Note: historic, non-43-101 compliant resources have not been verified, nor should they be relied upon. The Dixie Ten-Mile property covers prospective alteration in rock units favorable for VMS mineralization with a portion of the property covered by the Titan-24 survey. "We are accumulating a favourable land package in the Red Lake area as part of our strategy to focus on prospective gold and VMS targets," said Mike England President and CEO of Infinite Lithium. "The Dixie Ten-Mile property is proximal to the Company's recently acquired Ben Lake, Dixie 3, Eastern Vision and North Buffy Lake properties in the Red Lake camp." Mr. England continued, "Significant advances have been made since 2003, with deep penetrating geophysical techniques able to identify anomalies to depths of 500 to 1,100 meters, and the Company is investigating these types of survey over the highly prospective stratigraphy of the Dixie Ten-Mile property." To earn a 90% interest in the Dixie Ten-Mile property from Pistol Bay Mining Inc., an arms-length party, Infinite will make cumulative payments of Cdn $60,000 cash, the issuance of 1,000,000 common shares of the Company over a one (1) year period and perform expenditures of $550,000 over a 2 year period. An additional 15% interest in the claims can be purchased for Cdn $30,000 and an additional 500,000 shares. An underlying vendor retains a 1 % Net Smelter Royalty ("NSR"), 50% of which is purchasable by Infinite for Cdn $400,000 at any time. This transaction is subject to TSX Venture approval. Mr. Kelly Malcolm, professional geoscientist, P.Geo, is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 has examined and described the geological information available form public sources related to the property and is responsible for reviewing and approving the technical contents of this press release. The Qualified Persons have not completed sufficient work to verify the historic information on the Property, particularly in regard to historical drill results and historical resources. However, the Qualified Persons believe that drilling and analytical results were completed to industry standard practices. The information provides an indication of the exploration potential of the Property but may not be representative of expected results. About Infinite Lithium Corp. Infinite Lithium is a junior mining exploration company focused on seeking and acquiring world-class mineral projects globally. Our current focus is on properties with the potential for VMS mineralization in the Confederation Mineral Belt near Red Lake, Ontario, and the Jackpot Lithium property located near Nipigon, Ontario. Infinite Lithium also continues to evaluate suitable prospects that fit the mandate of the company. Please visit our website located at www.infinitelithium.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Mike England" Mike England, President and Director FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Telephone: 1-604-683-3995 Toll Free: 1-888-945-4770 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: This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward -looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at WWW.SEDAR.COM). SOURCE: Infinite Lithium Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/574427/Infinite-Accumulates-More-Property-in-the-Red-Lake-Mining-District--Acquires-Dixie-Ten-Mile-Property President Donald Trump signs the United StatesMexicoCanada Agreement, known as USMCA, during a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House on Jan. 29, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Trump Signs USMCA Trade Deal to End NAFTA Nightmare in Major Policy Victory President Donald Trump signed the United StatesMexicoCanada Agreement (USMCA) into law on Jan. 29, essentially rewriting the rules for trade in North America. Its been a long time. Everyone said it was a deal that could not be done, said Trump during a signing ceremony at the White House, saying that the measure would end the NAFTA nightmare, referring to the 26-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement. This is a colossal victory for American workers in all 50 states and beyond, the president said, adding that he is primarily fighting for the American worker. He noted that the USCMA is the first trade deal in nearly 20 years thats been supported by the AFL-CIO, the largest trade union in the United States. Trump said during his 2016 campaign that coming up with a new deal to replace NAFTA, which was signed during the Clinton administration, would be one of his priorities, and he will likely be pointing out its replacement at campaign events in the coming months. Since he assumed office, the president has sought to highlight the improving U.S. economy and the record-setting stock market. We are doing better than any country, and its not even close, Trump said before he signed the measure. The USMCA must be approved by Canada before it can finally take effect, while Mexicos Parliament has already approved the deal. Earlier this month, the Senate approved the measure 8910, and in December 2019, the House passed the bill one day after voting to impeach the president. Without the impeachment, they would have never approved it, in my opinion. The impeachment is the reason they approved it, Trump told reporters on Dec. 10, suggesting that the USMCA, without the impeachment inquiry, would have been an overwhelming victory for the president in an election year. Canadas deputy prime minister, Chrystia Freeland, urged opposition parties to work together to pass USMCA legislation as quickly as possible. Therefore, I ask that all of us in this place work together as colleagues to put Canada and Canadians first and to pass this legislation without undue delay, she said this week, reported the CBC. On Jan. 29, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, This is something we are going to work on, noting that there will be pressure on Canada from both Mexico and the United States. According to the White House, the USMCA would create some 76,000 automotive jobs in the United States while triggering billions of dollars in new investments in the industry. Officials said last spring that the deal already helped stimulate billions in new auto investments, including from Fiat Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Toyota, and Volkswagen. In 2019, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) stated the deal would boost the American economy by $68.2 billion and add about 176,000 new jobs. It noted that the deal would be moderate in light of other trade agreements between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In the signing ceremony, Trump said the measure would add potentially 1.2 percent to the U.S. gross domestic product. He also gave a shout-out to about two dozen Republican lawmakers who helped push the deal through Congress. Because NAFTA has already eliminated duties on most qualifying goods and significantly reduced nontariff measures, USMCAs emphasis is on reducing remaining nontariff measures on trade and the U.S. economy, the ITC report stated. But the agency stated that the agreement would likely have a positive impact on all broad industry sectors within the U.S. economy while manufacturing would experience the largest percentage gains in output, exports, wages, and employment. The White House was able to obtain bipartisan support for the measure by adding in labor protection clauses and removing patent protections for certain drugs. The deal dictates that a greater percentage of vehicles be made from parts manufactured in North America and requires at least 40 percent of auto production be done by workers who earn $16 per hour or more. The United States would also gain greater access to Canadas agriculture market. Along with members of Congress, state and local leaders, and workers from across the country, including farmers, ranchers, and entrepreneurs, President Trump will celebrate another promise made, promise kept to the American people, White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement on Jan. 29. USMCA rebalances trade in North America, replaces the job-killing NAFTA, ends the outsourcing of American jobs, and invests in the American worker, he said. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) was the only Democratic presidential candidate to oppose the measure, saying USMCA is a NAFTA upgrade, but it is not going to stop outsourcing it is not going to stop corporations from moving to Mexico. The health of businesses reflects the health of the national economy. Chair of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Vu Tien Loc, when talking about policies to support businesses recently, mentioned the loneliness of the majority of businesses, especially small, medium, and micro sized companies, which account for 95 percent of total Vietnamese enterprises. Loc believes that it is necessary to put business households under the control of the law. If business households are not covered by the Enterprise Law, Vietnam will lag far behind regional countries in number of businesses. In addition, if business households are covered by law, this would improve transparency, reduce harassment and administrative pressure, thus allowing businesses to grow. Vu Duc Quyet, former director of the Bac Ninh Industry and Trade Department, said However, the growth of businesses needs to be reflected in many aspects, including the scale, value, product scale and tax payment capability. In other words, the growth of businesses must depend on "health", financial capacity, corporate governance and other things, not just rely on the number of enterprises. According to Quyet, many of the 5 million business households have large operation scale, high income and good management skills. They should be encouraged to become enterprises. If business households are forced to become enterprises, they will bear pressure because of the strict requirements on accountancy regime, books, invoices and vouchers. If so, they may go underground, try to evade tax, and escape the states control. Meanwhile, other business households are small and do seasonal business. If they are forced to become enterprises, they will bear pressure because of the strict requirements on accountancy regime, books, invoices and vouchers. If so, they may go underground, try to evade tax, and escape the states control. Quyet believes that what the government needs to do is, on one hand, set up mechanisms to encourage business households to turn into enterprises, and on the other hand, help maintain household businesses. "In order to have more start-up businesses, its necessary to nurture household businesses first," Quyet said. An analyst shared the same view with Quyet, saying that forcing business households to become enterprises just to implement the plan to have 1 million businesses by 2020 is not a reasonable approach. If business households do not follow economic laws in their development, they will not have enough time to accumulate resources and experience. They will not be able to grow. The analyst went on to say that policies play an important role in the development of business households into enterprises. It is necessary to clearly stipulate when business households have to become enterprises by setting up detailed criteria about operation scale and revenue. Detailed regulations will help prevent household businesses from evading tax and dodging the laws. Thanh Lich More than 89,000 VN businesses leave market in 2019 The number of businesses established in 2019 increased by 5.2 percent, but the number leaving the market rose more sharply, by 20.2 percent, compared with 2018. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size For decades, the Harvey Weinstein name meant Hollywood royalty awards, money, power. But privately, and for almost as long, it had another meaning for the women caught in his orbit. Then in October 2017, some of them, including actress Ashley Judd, accused Weinstein publicly of sexual harassment. In speaking out, they lifted the lid on one of Hollywood's biggest open secrets and lit the fuse that would ignite the #MeToo movement worldwide. More than 90 women would eventually go public with claims against Weinstein and his casting couch, many of them involving rape and other sexual assault. Soon the veil would fall, too, from his network of spies and allies, as a trail of private settlements with alleged victims revealed just how far the industry had gone to keep complaints quiet. On February 25, more than two years on, Weinstein was convicted of rape and sexual assault against two women and led off to prison in handcuffs. Speaking outside the courtroom, District Attorney Vance Jr. said the verdict had pulled America's justice system into the 21st century. He saluted the women who came forward against Weinstein, including the six who took the stand during the trial. While the 67-year-old movie mogul was acquitted of the more serious charge of predatory sexual assault, which marks a history of offending and could have put him behind bars for life, he now faces further charges in Los Angeles for allegedly raping one woman and assaulting another during Oscars week in 2013. So who are the key players in the Weinstein scandal? How has the case unfolded? What's next? How are people reacting? And why is it about more than just one predatory producer? Harvey Weinstein, pictured at the Weinstein Company Golden Globes after-party in 2017, less than nine months before sexual misconduct allegations broke. Credit:AP Advertisement Who is Harvey Weinstein? Few executives in Hollywood history have wielded as much influence as Weinstein the man famously thanked more times in award acceptance speeches than God (though slightly fewer times than Steven Spielberg). His production houses, Miramax and the Weinstein Company, helped turbocharge independent filmmaking with films such as Pulp Fiction, Shakespeare in Love and Good Will Hunting. And alongside the 80-odd Oscars his movies have collected are a scattering of awards for his own humanitarian work. But there were always rumours. Over the years, reporters had chased the tale of Weinsteins alleged predation of women into dead-ends. People had signed non-disclosure agreements or were too afraid to speak. Knowing Weinsteins sphere of influence extended beyond just Hollywood and into politics and the media, no one wanted to put their names to the stories. Then, in late 2016, actress Rose McGowan dropped an explosive tweet. Shed been raped, she said, and then warned by a lawyer she would never win against a studio head. She didnt name the executive but it didnt take long for people to connect the dots. By 2017, Ronan Farrow then reporting for NBC and New York Times journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey were uncovering decades of private sexual harassment settlements that had been buried by Weinstein's company. What does this have to do with #MeToo? At the time, the social media hashtag #MeToo encouraging people to speak out against sexual violence was already trending. But the two bombshell investigations into Weinstein started an avalanche of allegations, against the producer and others, that quickly snowballed into a movement. More high-profile names joined the list of Weinstein accusers, including actresses Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Salma Hayek. Advertisement His criminal trials are now viewed as a watershed moment for #MeToo, a test of how far the movement has come in holding powerful men to account as it throws up tricky questions of power and consent. Protesters, including a number of Weinstein's accusers, have held signs and chanted outside the New York courtroom over more than a month of proceedings. But the producer's lawyers have warned the trial is a case of #MeToo gone too far. The woman helming Weinsten's defence, seasoned lawyer Donna Rotunno, says women may rue the day that all of this started when no one asks them out on a date, and no one holds the door open for them". What was Weinstein charged with? Not long after the first accusations hit headlines, police in New York, Los Angeles and London began weighing up cases against the producer. In Manhattan, the clock was ticking especially loud. Among the bombshell allegations published in The New Yorker by Farrow was an account of a 2015 police sting in which model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez had worn a wire and captured Weinstein apparently apologising for groping her breasts the night before. Both the case and the tape were later thrown out by the prosecutor's office, as were more recent charges against him involving the alleged sexual assault of then aspiring actress Lucia Evans, despite both women wanting to go to court. The charges which did make it before the jury in New York were complex the instructions for jurors reaching a verdict have been compared with an income tax return. (To find Weinstein not guilty of count one, for example, they had to also find him not guilty on count three.) But, in essence, the prosectution's case was built on five counts of sexual crimes revolving around three main allegations: that Weinstein raped aspiring actress Jessica Mann in 2013; that he forcibly performed oral sex on production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006; and that, as part of a bigger pattern of historical offending, he raped The Sopranos star Annabella Sciorra in the mid 1990s. Prosecutors painted Weinstein as a well-established predator, a man who coaxed women into private meetings and then erupted into violence, who used the well-oiled machinery of his company, law firms and private investigators to bury complaints under iron-clad non-disclosure agreements, and manipulate and discredit alleged victims. Without any physical evidence of assault, much of the case against him hinged on the credibility of his accusers. Prosecutors deployed the same tactic used against actor and now convicted sex offender Bill Cosby - bolstering the accounts of the two victims at the heart of the trial by bringing in four other accusers to give testimony, including Sciorra. Yet Weinstein himself insisted all the encounters were consensual - sexual favours traded with eyes wide open in exchange for career advancement. Advertisement After days of jury deadlock, he was convicted of the sexual assault of Haleyi and the third-degree rape of Mann. Charges of predatory sexual assault and the first-degree rape of Mann were thrown out but Weinstein still faces up to 25 years in prison for the assault and four for the rape ahead of sentencing on March 11. Why are only two victims' cases in this trial? While many women were willing to press charges against Weinstein, a number of their allegations involve harassment or abuse falling outside the scope of criminal law and so can only be tried in civil cases. Other incidents happened in jurisdictions other than New York or too long ago to fall within the statute of limitations, such as a claim of rape by Sciorra. Some women have deemed the personal cost of pursuing justice too high. Others, facing only civil avenues of remedy, have reportedly reached a collective $US25 million ($37 million) deal with Weinstein and the now-bankrupt Weinstein Company. How did the trial play out? The trial delivered new twists and at times excruciatingly graphic detail including stories of Weinstein injecting himself with erection medication before one alleged attack and on another occasion turning up outside Sciorra's hotel room in just his underwear, holding a bottle of baby oil in one hand and a videotape in the other. The man seated right there was not just a titan in Hollywood, he was a rapist, prosecutor Meghan Hast said in her opening statement, pointing to Weinstein. But the producer's high-powered defence team say the case against him was a preview to a movie you are not going to see". Weinstein was not a master manipulator and all incidents had been consensual, they argued if anything some women had used Weinstein to advance their careers. Under cross-examination many of his accusers were confronted with evidence of their ongoing association with Weinstein, including a trove of unearthed emails. The defence seized on the fact that the two victims in the trial - Haleyi and Mann had had sex with him after the attacks. Advertisement But both women spoke of feeling pressured into those subsequent associations. A forensic psychiatrist, who also testified during Cosbys retrial, told the jury of seven men and five women that it was common for victims of sexual assault to continue contact with their attackers, particularly if they felt pressured to stay quiet. Actress Rose McGowan, who has accused Harvey Weinstein of raping her, speaks outside the court on January 6 in New York. Credit:Getty Images What did the women say? First to testify among his accusers was Sciorra, who fought back tears as she recounted how Weinstein had bulldozed his way into her Manhattan apartment and raped her in the early 1990s. She had struggled, kicking and punching, she said and the encounter followed a number of inappropriate gifts from Weinstein, including X-rated penis-shaped chocolates. Haleyi recounted a vicious tug of war in Weinstein's New York apartment in 2006, when she says the producer held her down, removed her tampon and forcibly performed oral sex on her. The Scandinavian was then a production assistant on Project Runway, working under a tourist visa, and felt trapped into further meet-ups with Weinstein. Mann testified that she entered into an "extremely degrading" relationship with him that never included intercourse until she says he raped her in 2013. She described Weinstein as a "Jekyll and Hyde" character: charming in public but revealing at times a terrifying anger when they were alone. Three other women costume designer Dawn Dunning, model Tarale Wulff and actress Lauren Young told jurors they were enticed into meeting Weinstein professionally and then groped or raped once the doors closed them in alone with him. Friends of the women at the time backed up many of the claims, saying they had told them of the assaults shortly after they happened. Advertisement A water outage in Hummelstown will result in some schools of the Lower Dauphin School District releasing early on Wednesday. Lower Dauphin High School, Lower Dauphin Middle School, and Price School will dismiss at 11 a.m., according to a notice on the districts website. Nye Elementary School will dismiss at 11:45 a.m. All other elementary schools in the district will dismiss at their regular times. ALERT - Due to a water outage in Hummelstown today, Jan 29, schools in town will be dismissing early. The High School, Middle School and Price will dismiss at 11 am Nye Elementary School will dismiss at 11:45 am All other LD elementary schools will dismiss at regular time. Lower Dauphin (@LowerDauphin) January 29, 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. Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, on Wednesday, inaugurated 15 newly appointed Permanent Secretaries and three Special Advisers (SAs). The newly appointed special advisers included education; political, economic and financial matters. Mr Fintiri said at the inauguration of the appointees that 15 directors were elevated to the position of permanent secretaries after passing through rigorous modalities and testing. The governor stressed that his administration would not politicise the civil service, noting that promotion into any cadre in the service would be based on merit in order to sanitize the system. Mr Finitiri tasked the appointees to display a high sense of commitment and dedication to duty to facilitate successful implementation of governments policies and programmes. He explained that his administration had outlined 11-point agenda, to chart a new cause for the state and charged them to redouble effort to achieve the set goals. Mr Fintiri added that: The journey to take Adamawa to greater height is paramount under my administration. Henceforth, all well-meaning citizens of the state should cooperate with government to ensure robust social and economic development. The governor further congratulated the appointees and urged them to justify the confidence repose in them to work for the overall development of the state. Responding on behalf of the appointees, Barminus Gayus, thanked the governor over their appointments and promised to adhere with rules and regulations of the state civil service. The Commissioner of Justice, Afraimu Jingi, administered the Oath of Office to the appointees. (NAN) 'One does not understand why you should launch your attack against the Constitution, against Gandhiji, against the Left and Congress regimes at a moment when the Hindutva regime needs such attacks against them.' 'By doing so, don't you think you are playing into the hands of Hindutva forces?', Mohammad Sajjad, who teaches history at Aligarh Muslim University, asks Sharjeel Imam who was arrested on charges of sedition on Tuesday, January 28. Dear Sharjeel Imam: You are pursuing research in modern Indian history from the prestigious Centre for Historical Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, after graduating in computer engineering from the premier IIT-Bombay. Someone with this kind of education slipping towards right-wing Islamism makes me feel sad and disappointed. In the very brief telephonic conversations that I had with you almost a year ago, before snapping any contact with you and others of your ilk, I had become almost sure about your rightward deviation. Yet, I kept praying that some day in the near future your education will lead you to mend your ways and it will help you change your worldview. That has not happened with you -- as yet. Some academics, academic-politicians and others kept indulging and encouraging you, to help you develop certitudes about your ideational misadventures. To me, they have contributed to your ruin. University students keep experimenting with adventures and misadventures, with ideas, and many settle down with certain conclusions about their worldview by the time they reach their 30s. These (mis)adventures of ideas are hardly taken as errant behaviour or as deviance. These are taken as journeys in the realm of ideas. I had hoped that with patience, in course of time, you would evolve as a curious learner to look into all these multi-layered historical dimensions, rather than playing exclusionary politics upon Muslim victimhood. Meanwhile, I came to hear about your visits to AMU. In your efforts towards persuading/indoctrinating some students, I am told (please correct me if I am misinformed), you ran a small group of students, in the name of the 'Iqbal Study Circle'. Your recruits mostly came from the Islamist student outfit. In the name of identity assertion, this Islamist fringe group asserted its politics into the anti-NRC protests. This partial overlap of identity assertion and right-wing Islamism made many people apprehensive and cautious about endorsing such a move, even though they did agree with the identity assertion. You also said that you will shout 'Nara-e-takbeer' and that the Hindus shall have to respond by saying 'Allah-o-Akbar'. You further added that the Hindus can't ask Muslims to chant 'Jai Shri Ram'. How do you justify this? Does not this alienate Hindus who would otherwise be quite willing to join the protest to safeguard the Constitution? Earlier, you withdrew yourself from the Shaheen Bagh protests. Many suspect you did so only at the behest of the Amit Shah controlled Delhi police. Surprisingly, despite your withdrawal, you continued with your agitation and landed up at AMU to address the protesting students on January 16. The Aligarh police and AMU administration were aware of your moves, yet you were allowed to come and deliver a long speech. Why did you get such a privilege of protection? In your long speech you made many condemnable and silly remarks. You declared Gandhi as the biggest fascist of the 20th century. You warned historian Irfan Habib not to speak on modern Indian history, something the right-wing majoritarian forces have always been saying. One does not understand why you should launch your attack against the Constitution, against Gandhiji, against the Left and Congress regimes at a moment when the Hindutva regime needs such attacks against them. By doing so, don't you think you are merely playing into the hands of the Hindutva forces? While many academics have been raising objections to certain provisions of the Constitution, you declared the whole text to be a fascist one! To me, many of these remarks are either condemnable/deplorable or debatable, or both. Don't you know that this very document is derided by Hindutva forces as an impediment in their way to a Hindu Rashtra? But we all know, and people of your worldview know even better, that a majoritarian State is always looking for a Muslim in India to prove him/her a seditious fifth columnist. A desperate Bharatiya Janata Party regime, having been cornered and exposed for its blatantly discriminatory citizenship law, was frantically looking for someone like you as a scapegoat to declare all the protests across India to be unpatriotic, run by fifth columnists. Yet, you chose to tread this kind of path, which impedes the ongoing protests against the NRC. This is what makes us further suspicious about your intent and credentials. Your withdrawal did not deter the Shaheen Bagh protestors. It did not help the BJP in sabotaging the protests either. Rather, the protests went on to intensify and widen its social base. Your withdrawal from the Shaheen Bagh protest and then joining the AMU protest further raises suspicion about your intent and credentials. Many ask: If you are passionately peripatetic about addressing protesting crowds, rather than educating a university, you could have chosen to educate the rural/mofussil masses. The State has slapped sedition charges against you, an archaic colonial law, a lethal weapon in the hands of the State to go on a selective witch-hunt against dissenters. In my considered opinion, it is disproportionate victimisation that you are subjected to. Reports are coming in that members of your family (at Kako, Jehanabad, Bihar) are being harassed by the police. The police of as many as five provinces are after you. A Pragya Thakur, praising Gandhiji's killer Godse, a Puja Pandey (of the Hindu Mahasabha who shot at Gandhiji's effigy in Aligarh), a Giriraj Singh, pouring out hate-filled, divisive, remarks day in and day out and many more of the Hindutva brigade are not only left off, some of them go on to win election after election. Sharjeel Imam, you can't be let off for bearing a Muslim name. You, being an aspirant political trader of Muslim victimisation, know the discriminatory practices better than most of us do. I would urge you not only to give up right-wing Islamism, but also to stand up to resist all kinds of chauvinists across communities. Need I remind you that they feed upon each other? I think the police will not be able to produce evidence of sedition against you. My worry is once you emerge from this episode, your stature among Islamists will grow further. And this is what the State, more so when led by the majoritarian right-wing, would wish for you. Islamism would thus come to the rescue of Hindutva. We, the students of history, know better that this happens often. This is what makes me worried as a citizen of India who at the moment is scared and dreads the regime and its ways. Mohammad Sajjad teaches Modern and Contemporary Indian History at the Aligarh Muslim University. Kathy Castor Congresswoman Kathy Castor wants Google CEO Sundar Pichai to stop promoting climate denial and misinformation videos on the companys YouTube platform. I urge you to ensure that YouTube is not incentivizing climate misinformation content on its platform, or effectively giving free advertising to those who seek to protect polluters and their profits at the expense of the American people, wrote Castor, chair of the House select committee on the climate crisis, in a Jan. 27 letter to Pichai. Her letter follows a report released Jan. 16 by Avaaz, online activist group, that charted YouTube recommendations to users searching global warming, climate change, and/or climate manipulation. Avaaz found that 16 percent of the top 100 related videos for global warming contained misinformation. The percentages were eight percent and 21 percent for climate change and manipulation, respectively. The group found that YouTube advertisers including LOreal, Samsung, Danone, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and Carrefour ran ads linked to the misinformation videos. Castor noted that YouTube is the most social platform in the US. Three-of-four American adults watch videos on YouTube. Nine out of ten Americans under age 30 use it. The Florida Democrat praised Google for leading the fight against the climate crisis and displaying an important commitment to shifting the American American economy toward a clean energy future. She wants to hear from Pichai by Feb. 7 on his plan to remove climate denial videos from YouTube, stop monetizing misinformation material and to correct the record for millions of users who have been exposed to bogus climate information. DJIBOUTI CITY, Djibouti, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- At the Closing Ceremony of the III ForumBIE 2030, 38 governments, civil society organisations and academic entities became the first to sign the Universal Declaration of Balanced and Inclusive Education (UDBIE). Furthermore, with the objective of achieving the aspirations and commitments contained within the UDBIE, 30 signatories, including governments and civil society organisations, agreed to establish the Organisation of Educational Cooperation (OEC), a new international organisation from the Global South creating platforms and mechanisms of solidarity-based technical and financial cooperation and support for educational reforms. To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8683651-new-organisation-educational-cooperation/ The OEC, whose General Assembly will function on the democratic basis of one country, one vote, ensuring accountability to its Member States which will benefit from its support, will also count civil society and academic organisations as Associate Members with limited rights. The OEC will be established with a wholly-owned financial subsidiary, accountable to the General Assembly, capable of generating funds ethically and sustainably in support of educational reforms. This subsidiary, structurally directed towards investments in socially and ecologically responsible projects in its member states, will eventually fully finance the organisation's operations and provide funds for the OEC to support Member States' education systems with solidarity-based financing. The OEC is designed with a rational, streamlined structure, follows a strategy of efficient systematic intervention, and puts education at the service of communities, of society and of national development as required by the commitments made in the UDBIE. The OEC's first Secretary General has been elected with the task of setting up and presiding a Preparatory Committee, which will lay the groundwork for the OEC until the Constitutive Charter of the Organisation enters into force, upon its ratification by a minimum of 10 of the founding State signatories. The Constitutive Charter's entry into force will trigger the convening of the first General Assembly. All signatories to the UDBIE embrace the four key pillars of balanced and inclusive education: Intraculturalism, Transdisciplinarity, Dialecticism and Contextuality. They commit to applying these principles within their education systems, with the cross-sectoral support of the OEC, based on the contextualised needs of their populations, their national priorities, and the global imperative of sustainable development. 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 ForumBIE 2030 series of conferences began when I 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. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1029418/ERF_Logo.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1083623/ERF_Djibouti.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 Leslie H. Wexner, the longtime leader of a retail empire that includes Victorias Secret who is under scrutiny for his ties to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, has been in discussions to step aside as chief executive of the L Brands parent company, according to one current and one former executive who spoke on condition of anonymity to talk about internal deliberations. Mr. Wexner, 82, has sought to distance himself from Mr. Epstein even addressing the relationship at an annual investor meeting in September since Mr. Epstein was arrested in July and charged with sex trafficking involving girls as young as 14. Mr. Wexner has emphasized that he had no knowledge of the alleged activities. Mr. Epstein died in August in what authorities said was an apparent suicide. But Mr. Wexner came under intense pressure for having employed Mr. Epstein as a personal adviser for years and handing him sweeping powers over his finances, philanthropy and private life. Mr. Epstein was empowered to borrow money on behalf of Mr. Wexner and sign Mr. Wexners tax returns, as well as hire people and make acquisitions. Over the years, Mr. Epstein obtained a mansion in Manhattan, a luxury estate in Ohio and a private plane possessions worth roughly $100 million together today that had previously been owned by Mr. Wexner or his companies. News of the relationship spurred chaos inside a company that was already struggling to keep up with changing beauty ideals among American women and had only recently made board changes at the behest of an activist investor. According to the former executive, Mr. Wexner has also explored a partial sale of L Brands. Russia Ramps Up Safety Measures Over Coronavirus Fears By RFE/RL January 28, 2020 The mayor of Moscow says special safety measures have been put in place at hotels and tourist sites due to fears over the coronavirus outbreak in China. "We have taken special control of hotels and other places where tourists gather en masse. When alarming signs appear, emergency medical teams will be sent to carry out a thorough examination," Sergei Sobyanin wrote on his website on January 28. The announcement comes a day after Dmitry Gorin of the Association of Russian Tour Operators said Russian tour operators had stopped selling package holidays to China. The death toll from the flu-like virus rose to 106 in China with more than 4,500 cases confirmed. The new virus has spread across China and to at least 16 countries. Russia, which shares a 4,300-kilometer border with China, has not had any confirmed cases so far. As governments scrambled to control the spread of the virus, three regions in Russia's Far East closed their borders with China until February 7, TASS quoted the governor of the Khabarovsk region as saying. The closures affect crossings in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast and the Khabarovsk and Amur regions, the news agency reported. Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy in Beijing advised citizens studying in Chinese universities who are currently home for the holidays to return to China only after the country's authorities officially announce the start of the next semester. Chinese authorities have prolonged the winter break due to the virus outbreak. With reporting by Reuters and TASS Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ramps-up-safety- measures-over-coronavirus-fears/30402177.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address On Sunday, the Israeli government will vote on annexing Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and parts of the Jordan Valley. This could cover up to 30 percent of the West Bank, the area Palestinians want for their own independent state. Standing alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump on Tuesday unveiled his Middle East peace plan, which calls for Israel to control a unified Jerusalem and a new Palestinian state including outer portions of East Jerusalem. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he rejected the "nonsense" proposal and "will not kneel down." More stories from theweek.com It's 2020 and women are exhausted Did John Bolton actually do Trump a favor? GOP Sen. Cory Gardner will vote against calling additional witnesses Dallas, Texas, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Fintech (Financial technology) Market by Type (Application Program Interface (API), Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, and Others), By Applications (Banking and Payments, Financial Management, Financing, and Insurance), and By Region, Global Forecast 2018 to 2025 study provides an elaborative view of historic, present and forecasted market estimates. Increasing the use of mobile banking applications for digital payments or other banking applications is expected to impact positively on the global fintech market in the given analysis period. Mobile banking applications have become an integral part of bank offerings, allowing them to compete in this market. It is recorded that, around 87% of the population in the U.S. has mobile phones with 77% of internet connection. Out of this, approximately 53% of users had recently used a smartphone for mobile banking. Further, increasing investments in fintech solutions are among the key factors driving the growth of the global fintech market. In the U.S. most of the banks, corporate venture capital groups, and other investors are investing heavily in fintech startups due to the increasing demand for fintech solutions among users and for the purpose of future returns. Request a pdf sample @ https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/1315 The global fintech market size is projected to reach USD 460 billion by 2025. The term Fintech is broad and the global fintech industry is rapidly growing in order to serve both businesses and consumers. When it comes to technologies in financial services, not a single technology is lagging behind. Every technology has its own applications and benefits in the fintech market. Fintech companies integrate various technologies such as AI, Blockchain, etc. into financial services to make them faster, safer, and more efficient. Furthermore, since 2018, Goldman Sachs Strategic Investments have participated in 21 fintech deals and Citi Ventures have participated in 11 fintech deals. Therefore, these banks continue to invest in a wide range of fintech sectors. Since 2017, Citi Ventures has invested in 4 blockchain, 3 payments & settlement startups, and 3 capital markets. The report also throws light on various aspects of the global fintech industry by assessing the market using value chain analysis. The report covers several qualitative aspects of the fintech industry in market drivers, market restraints and key industry trends. Furthermore, the report provides an in-depth assessment of the market competition with company profiles of global as well as local vendors. Browse the full report @ https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/industry-reports/fintech-financial-technology-market The global fintech market has strong competition among the well-established and new emerging players. These market players are providing enhanced products to gain a competitive advantage over the other players by participating in partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions and expanding their businesses. On the basis of types of fintech technologies, the market is categorized into an application program interface (API), data analytics, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and others. Blockchain technology type is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 18.71% over the forecast period 2020 -2025. Block-chain in the fintech market is primarily driven by its compatibility with the financial industry ecosystem, reduction of the total cost, faster transactions, etc. Blockchain integration in financial services provides real-time payment transaction details such as digital identity and other details to financial organizations, which results in significant cost saving with respect to settlement and reconciliation for financial organizations and banks. The European market is expected to have a significant growth with more than 11% CAGR over the forecast period. The favorable and stable regulatory environment created by the European payment directive PSD2 (Payment Service Directive) is the major reason behind the growth of the European fintech market. The regulation requires the bank to be more focused and open with PSPs (payment service providers). Furthermore, a large volume of venture capital investments in the region is also significantly impacting the market. For instance, total investments in European companies has reached to around USD 34.2 billion in 2018. The major players of global fintech market are Ant Financial, Kabbage Inc., Avant LLC, Social Finance, Inc. (SoFi), Square, Inc., Nexi Payments SpA, Adyen, Qudian Inc., FIS, MarketAxess Holdings, Inc., LendingTree, Nelnet, Inc., Synchrony Financial, American Express, ACI Worldwide, Inc., etc. Fintech companies are anticipated to grow fast as venture capital models usually provide funds for only 3 or 4 years. Direct purchase a single user copy @ https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/researchreport/purchase/1315 Financial Institutions and fintech companies have more interest in working hand in hand than waging war upon each other. The global fintech market is a highly competitive and attractive market. There are more than 200 companies competing in the Canadian marketplace currently with the number of new entrants expected to increase significantly. Major points from Table of Contents: Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Research Methodology Chapter 3 Executive Summary Chapter 4 Market Outlook Chapter 5 Fintech Market by Type Chapter 6 Fintech Market by Application Chapter 7 Fintech Market By Region Chapter 8 Competitive Landscape Chapter 9 Company Profiles Chapter 10 Appendix Access research repository of Upcoming Reports @ https://adroitmarketresearch.com/upcoming.html About Us: Adroit Market Research is a global business analytics and consulting company incorporated in 2018. Our target audience is a wide range of corporations, manufacturing companies, product/technology development institutions and industry associations that require understanding of a markets size, key trends, participants and future outlook of an industry. We intend to become our clients knowledge partner and provide them with valuable market insights to help create opportunities that increase their revenues. We follow a code Explore, Learn and Transform. At our core, we are curious people who love to identify and understand industry patterns, create an insightful study around our findings and churn out money-making roadmaps. Anil S By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The UDFs move to pass a resolution in the assembly demanding the governors recall would actually be a curious throwback to history. Just once in the history of the Kerala Assembly was a motion moved against the governor who is also the chancellor of universities. This happened in 1989. Curiously, it was moved by the ruling CPM at the time, while the Opposition Congress party opposed it tooth and nail. The motion under Rule 130 was moved by CPM parliamentary party secretary O Bharathan on February 2, 1989. As per the motion, the assembly was to discuss the nominations made by the Chancellor to Kerala and Calicut Universities. The motion was moved after Governor Ram Dulari Sinha -- who was also by default the chancellor of universities -- rejected some of the names proposed by the then state government. Senior Left leader Varkala Radhakrishnan was the Speaker, who allowed the motion. A host of senior leaders from the Congress were highly vocal on the impropriety of moving such a resolution. In fact, senior Congress leader K Karunakaran who was then the Opposition leader even boycotted the discussion in the House saying that moving a motion against the governor will set a bad precedence for the House. Karunakaran pointed out that such a scenario had never happened in the history of the House. Karunakarans stand Discussing the motion is against the precedence of the House, and it could have major consequences in the future, he had said. The veteran Congress leader also went on to state that his party would not like to be party to such a sin. This wrong act could come richocheting at you like a canon ball tomorrow, and I warn you once again not to use this weapon, were his exact words. This now seems to have an almost ominous ring to it, the only irony being that it is now the Congress party itself that is moving such a resolution UDF leaders including Oommen Chandy, K M Mani, Vayalar Ravi and M M Hassan were of the view that the motion should not be allowed. Oommen Chandy said the move was a mere party interest while T M Jacob said there was no public interest on the issue. No way, discussions should be held about the governor in the House. If such a discussion is held, it would be a black chapter in the history of the House, said Hassan. The other side On the other side, leaders including M V Raghavan, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, M Vijayakumar and Koliyakkode Krishnan Nair came out against the chancellor. M V Raghavan pointed out that the post of governor itself should be abolished. Its curious to look back at that motion. The CPM while bringing in the motion made it clear that it was against the nominations made by the chancellor. It was not against the governor. The Congress, which then opposed the motion stating that no discussions about the governor should be held in the House, has now come up with a resolution to recall the governor, said senior CPM leader M Vijayakumar, who was also part of the discussion in 1989. CPMs resolution against Ram Dulari The resolution was introduced on February 2, 1989, after Governor Ram Dulari Sinha -- who was also by default the chancellor of universities -- rejected some of the names proposed by the then state government. Senior Left leader Varkala Radhakrishnan was the Speaker, who allowed the motion. VALPARAISO Police Chief Jeffrey Balon hopes to use money confiscated during drug arrests to provide the force with new equipment, including a motorcycle and two electric bicycles. The City Council is expected to vote at its Feb. 10 meeting on the chief's proposal to use $15,000 from the Police Department's Forfeitures and Seized Assets Fund for the bicycles, the motorcycle and outreach materials to deal with the problems of drugs and the dangers of social media. The funds come from money confiscated during arrests. Balon told the council at its meeting Monday the bicycles, which cost about $4,000 each, will extend the range of the bike patrol officers, who are limited to the downtown and its fringes now. The electric bikes have a range of 50 miles and have a top speed of 30 mph. That will enable the officers to reach all the city parks and trails. "They have an advantage as an engagement vehicle with the public," he said. "We have a culture where cyclists welcome the bike officers." The city has about a dozen regular bikes for officers, and Balon said, if the electric ones prove beneficial, some of the regular bikes might be replaced with more electrics. [January 28, 2020] Baum Capital Partners Announces Promotions Private investment firm Baum Capital Partners announced the promotions of four employees, including two who have been named principals of the firm. Jon Biggs has been promoted from Vice President to Principal. Jon works with business owners and managers, service providers, intermediaries and capital providers to originate, evaluate, execute and manage investments. Jon graduated with honors from Kansas State University with a bachelor's degree in Finance. Brian Coleman has been promoted from Vice President to Principal. Brian works with business owners and managers, service providers, intermediaries and capital providers to originate, evaluate, execute and manage investments. He holds an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis and graduated summa cum laude from Kansas State University with a bachelor's degree in Finance. Sam Barton has been promoted to Associate to Vice President. Sam works with business owners and managers, service providers, intermediaries and capital providers to originate, evaluate, execute and manage investments. He has a Juris Doctorate from The University of Kansas Schol of Law and graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor's degree in both Finance and Economics. Samantha Carter has been promoted from Analyst to Associate. Samantha provides support on investment origination, evaluation, execution and monitoring activities. She graduated with distinction from The University of Kansas with a bachelor's degree in both Finance and Supply Chain Management. "Jon and Brian have demonstrated the strategic leadership qualities of principals of this firm, even before they officially held the titles," said Jon Baum, Managing Partner of Baum Capital Partners. "Similarly, Sam and Samantha have both shown a focused dedication in helping our portfolio companies reach their potential, and in turn, we are honored to help them reach theirs." About Baum Capital Partners Baum Capital Partners ("BCP") is a private investment firm that provides equity capital and strategic resources in support of dynamic companies in the lower middle market. BCP seeks to invest in technology-enabled and service-based businesses with exceptional prospects for growth and focuses on opportunities where a financial partner is being sought to solve a corporate or ownership need including investments to support growth, generational ownership transfers and management-backed recapitalizations. Working in close partnership with entrepreneurs and managers, BCP has a passion for helping promising companies reach their potential, and the resources required to make it happen. For more information, visit www.baumpartners.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200128005872/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Launching tomorrow in Abidjan: The AfDBs flagship African Economic Outlook 2020. The theme: Developing Africas workforce for the future. A preview of UNCTADs Illicit Trade Forum (3-4 February, Geneva) The USTR will hold a hearing on Thursday into South Africas intellectual property protection and enforcement regime: selected submissions The SA governments lengthy submission will be presented by DTI DDG Xavier Carrim, Dr Evelyn Masotja: The submission will: Explain why the petition is misdirected in that the proposed law that is being objected to has not yet come into effect, is not part of South African law and accordingly no clear and present damage is being suffered by any US firm as a result of legislative changes; Recall the existing legal position in relation to protection of intellectual property, applicable in South Africa, including some challenges experienced with the existing framework that led to proposed changes to the law being developed; Set out briefly key points in the proposed legislation currently being reviewed by the Presidency in South Africa, including the objections to aspects of the proposed changes raised by the IIPA and why these do not constitute valid grounds for the removal of SA from the GSP benefits. Knowledge Economy International: USTR is not qualified to act as a global licensing agent, protecting the MPAA and RIAA interests in every national dispute over performer rights, and the notion that countries have sovereignty and should make their own laws, accountable to their own citizens, should have some weight too, in matters like this. The provisions in the South Africa law regarding fair use, which is modeled after the U.S. statute, should be welcomed by the USTR, and not sanctioned. The IIPA asserts that the South Africa exceptions are more liberal than permitted by the Bern Convention or the TRIPS but do not suggest the USTR litigate these issues under the WTO dispute settlement system, preferring instead a situation where the USTR itself decides. Sean Flynn (InfoJustice): There are no ground on which USTR could conclude that the Copyright Amendment Bill, if enacted into law, violates the international three-step test. One particularly odd complaint is that South Africa has adopted a mix of specific exceptions and a general fair use clause. Every country that has a fair use or fair dealing general exception also has a list of specific exceptions. The various exceptions that the South Africa Bill adopts are framed in terms that commonly appear elsewhere. For example, the Bills exception for educational uses of excerpts for teaching can be found in roughly 70% of developing countries in Latin America and Africa. Download the full set of submissions on the South African angle to the hearings here. South Africa: Trade surplus for 2019 foreseen (Standard Bank) December trade balance this Friday: we expect a further surplus of R9.0bn, from R6.1bn in November. The cumulative year-to-date trade balance is R13.5bn; therefore, the December trade balance will likely take the cumulative trade surplus to around R22.5bn in 2019, compared to the 2018 surplus of R13.8bn. The only months in trade deficit were January, April and July 2019. Exports in November fell by 4.8% m/m, to R116.9bn, from R122.8bn in October. Exports of mineral products, vehicles and transport equipment, machinery and electronics, vegetable products and base metals all fell significantly. However, imports fell by a larger 7.7% m/m in November, to R110.8bn, from R120.1bn in October. Imports of original equipment components and chemical products led that decline. FACTI: New UN finance panel to push Global Goals forward On Tuesday, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande and Mona Juul, the President of the UN Economic and Social Council, ECOSOC, introduced a joint initiative to establish a high-level panel on financial accountability, transparency and integrity, called FACTI. It is critical that Member States get behind the panels work, both substantively and financially, he urged, noting that in light of the Decade of Action, it would help promote faster progress towards achieving the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. He said the flow of illicit cash and goods on the international black market, impacts every nations ability to mobilize domestic resources. Moreover, it is a cross-border problem that requires inclusive multilateral action. Ms. Juul set out a timeline, saying the panel would be launched in early March and its members to meet face-to-face at least four times, in different regions of the world. It is a tight schedule, but we are aware of the urgency to address these issues, she stated. The panel will produce an interim report in July 2020, and its final report with recommendations in January 2021. African logistics: Time for revolution (African CEO Forum) The modernization of African logistics is one of the most important areas of development on the continent today. Despite the progress achieved over the past 15 years, particularly in the field of ports, which handle 90% of the continents trade, the sector remains insufficiently competitive and modern to support industrialization and African economic integration: Chinas investment in logistics is 23 times greater than that of Africa, and only 10 African countries are in the two first quartiles of the Logistics Performance Index 2018. To coincide with the Continental Free Trade Zone entering into its operational phase, the Africa CEO Forum, in partnership with OKAN, has published an exclusive report which makes pragmatic recommendations to accelerate a real revolution in the African logistics sector. The report draws on case studies of several African success stories and examines the many challenges that are holding back the sector to formulate these recommendations for the benefit of investors and entrepreneurs. Six recommendations: Speed up port modernization, create essential ports of call on the continent Think as a bloc, develop intra-African logistics around multimodal corridors Strengthen states capacities as strategists, financiers, and guarantors of security Structure projects better Rethink the logistics of African cities Put the African middle class at the heart of logistics modernization Kenya: Inspection agencies accused of flouting Uhurus cargo directive (Business Daily Africa) Some of the inspection agencies that were removed from the port following President Uhuru Kenyattas directive last year have illegally resumed operations. This is according to importers who say the agencies are not only flouting the presidents directive, but they are causing delays in release of cargo. The importers say the Port of Mombasa and Inland Container Depot in Nairobi are now experiencing more delays in removing cargo from the facilities after issuance of release order. According to the latest Northern Corridor weekly performance report, the average time between entry of release order and removal of container increased from an average of 35.33 hours in the week ended January 14 to 41.89 hours in last weeks performance. Highlights from the latest Northern Corridor weekly performance report: Most cargo handling indicators recorded positive performance with the average time difference between ship entering port area and exiting recording most improved time surpassing set target of 72 hours from 108 hours in the week ended January 14 to an average of 51.89 hours last week. Ship waiting time also improved from 13 hours previous week to 12.10 hours in the last weeks performance records while containerised cargo dwell time which is an average time between landing and exit of container from the port recorded average of 51.71 hours last week from 65.65 hours in the previous week. At Document Processing Centre, time between passing of customs entry registration and issuance of release order recorded two hours from previous 2.63 hours. Number of truckers using Namanga borders increased twofold as recorded in the Athi River weighbridge traffic, which registered an average of 11,418.71 trucks weighed daily last week compared to 6,537 trucks in the previous week which ended on 14 January. Mariakani weighbridge only recorded an average of 4,522.71 trucks compared to previous total of 4,250 trucks. At Malaba border, an average time between issuance of release order and issuance of certificate of export at border crossing reduced from 120.21 hours in the week ended January 14 to 71.46 hours last week. Nigeria on track to commence rice exportation by 2022 (Guardian) The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, during a working visit to Nestle Nigeria PLCs Office in Lagos, yesterday, noted that the countrys land border closure has resulted in increased outputs by many rice milling plants, which were hitherto operating below capacity. Nanono disclosed that there has been expansion in the local rice value chain as well as the creation of many jobs due to increase in rice production. As at today, we have 11 rice milling plants with the capacity to produce from 180 tonnes to 350 tonnes of rice per day. In a few months, another mill with a capacity to produce 400 tonnes of rice per day is going to be opened, with another upcoming 34 smaller mills; then, we have clusters in different areas, he said. Kenya: Sugar imports up 61% as production dwindles (Business Daily Africa) Data from the Sugar Directorate indicate the volume of sugar imported in 2019 increased to 458,631 tonnes compared with 284,169 the previous year. The decline was attributed to poor performance of cane. Overall, sugar imports in January-December 2019 totalled 458,631 tonnes against 284,169 tonnes in the same period last year, attributed to a significant increase in table sugar imports in this year to bridge the rising domestic demand against the declining local production, says the report by the Directorate. But even with enhanced cheap imports, consumer prices have remained high in retail shops. Zambia: Country Forest Note (World Bank) This country forest note aims to foster dialogue between the World Bank, the government of the Republic of Zambia, and key development partners on future engagements in the forestry sector in Zambia by offering a comprehensive analysis of Zambias forest sector while shedding light on potential long-term engagements. In response to the government of the Republic of Zambias policy and development ambitions to improve the forest sectors contribution to the national economy, a number of interventions are highlighted in this CFN that could lead to transformative impacts. Data and information available for the forest sector in Zambia is fragmented and inconsistent. This is, in part, due to the lack of consistent monitoring in the context of widespread informality within the forest sector. Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism governing council calls for more investments in Africas fertilizer value chain (AfDB) The Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism has now effectively started implementing its activities as its first agreements were signed in 2019 to foster the fertilizer market in Nigeria and Tanzania. New projects are being prepared for implementation in other countries, said Marie Claire Kalihangabo, the AFFMs coordinator. Participants said the organisation could significantly transform the fertilizer value chain in Africa and strongly recommended mainstreaming its projects into the lending program of the African Development Bank and other stakeholders, like Afreximbank, for increased impact. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, the African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture who also serves as Chairperson of the AFFM Governing Council, called on the AFFM to work closely with key stakeholders to implement the resource mobilization objectives. Sacko also provided an update on the second Fertilizer Summit, scheduled to take place in 2021. Namibia: Feasibility study on crop and livestock value chain analyses (AfDB) The Government of Namibia has received a grant under the Middle Income Country Technical Assistance Fund towards the cost of the preparation of Namibias Feed-Africa Agriculture Transformation Agenda Projects, and intends to apply part of the agreed amount of this grant for payments under the contract for consultancy services for the feasibility study on crop and livestock value chain analyses. International trade in services, 2019 Quarter 3 (pdf, UNCTAD) World services exports recorded a 2.7% increase in the third quarter of 2019 (measured in current US dollars, year-on-year). Services other than transport grew at a combined rate of 4/1%, travel increased by 1.4%, while transport stagnated. Overall, trade in services recovered from the sluggishness observed in the first quarter of 2019. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 05:59:01|Editor: yan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's UN envoy on Wednesday refuted accusations by U.S. and British envoys regarding the latest humanitarian crisis in Syria, calling the accusations do not square with the fact and makes no sense. Speaking at a Security Council meeting, China's Permanent Representative to the UN Zhang Jun stressed that political settlement is the fundamental way to improve the humanitarian situation in Syria. Noting the current humanitarian crisis is a tragedy for the Syrian people, and a tragedy for the international community, Zhang said the parties should demonstrate a responsible and constructive attitude on the Syrian humanitarian issue. "The US and the UK are abusing the Security Council to criticize China and others. China rejects their baseless accusations," Zhang said. He said their accusations do not square with the facts. Due to the high sensitivity of the humanitarian issue in Syria, members of the Security Council have held consultations for many times and it was difficult to reach consensus. The Security Council had to vote several times. In order to avoid confrontation, China tried to bridge differences among relevant parties, playing a coordinating role in between to seek a solution, he added. "After rounds of consultations, a solution was found. It may not be the most satisfactory one to all parties, but it is the way to solve the problem under the circumstances." China is glad that a solution has been found and China has played its role which is recognized by the Council members, said the Chinese ambassador, adding that "the accusations against China are totally unwarranted." Speaking of the votes, Zhang said all countries have the right to make decision based on their own positions. The United States and Britain also voted against the other draft, he added. "It is the US and the UK who should shoulder the responsibility on Syria." "We hope all parties will take up the responsibility, avoid politicizing the humanitarian issue, make real efforts to improve the humanitarian situation in Syria and give human rights and humanitarianism back to the Syrian people," Zhang said. Abusing the council for finger pointing does not help solve any problem, but only aggravates confrontation, he said. The Security Council on Wednesday had a meeting on Syria. UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock told the council that the humanitarian situation in the northeast remains difficult. The UN Security Council on Jan. 10 re-authorized the cross-border aid mechanism for the Syrian people, which expires at midnight that day, after heated discussion. The vote came after the council failed to re-authorize the mechanism on Dec. 20, 2019 as a result of division among members. Deputy permanent representative of Britain to the United Nations Jonathan Allen on Wednesday accused the decision by China and Russia to veto one of the humanitarian resolutions in the Security Council, saying the United Nations can no longer use the border crossings into the northeast and south of Syria. Australia is planning to evacuate its citizens from the epicentre of the deadly virus outbreak in China and quarantine them on an island used to detain asylum seekers. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said 'vulnerable' Australians - including children and the elderly - and short-term visitors to Wuhan and surrounding Hubei province would be prioritised in extraction efforts. Officials said about 600 Australians were known to be in the area, which has been locked down in an effort to contain the spread of the virus. Australia is planning to evacuate its citizens from the epicentre of the deadly virus outbreak in China and quarantine them on an island used to detain asylum seekers. Pictured are medical workers in South Korea 'Vulnerable' Australians, including children and the elderly, would be evacuated to Christmas Island (pictured) Morrison said Australia was working with New Zealand on the operation and would seek to help Pacific nations evacuate their citizens where possible but his 'first priority right now is the safety of Australians'. 'I stress there is rather a limited window here and we are moving very, very swiftly to ensure we can put this plan together and put the operation together,' Morrison told reporters in Canberra. Officials said about 600 Australians were in the Wuhan and surrounding Hubei province area. Pictured is a nurse in Wuhan 'I stress that this will be done on a last-in, first-out basis.' Morrison said they would be held in quarantine for 14 days on Christmas Island, known for its notorious immigration detention centre used to detain asylum seekers attempting to reach Australia by boat. 'The defence forces have been tasked to identify overflow facilities where that may be necessary and also to provide whatever logistical and other support is necessary to support the operations on Christmas Island,' he added. He also sought to downplay expectations about how many Australians could be evacuated from Wuhan. 'I want to stress that we cannot give a guarantee that this operation is able to succeed and I also want to stress very clearly that we may not be in a position if we're able to do this on one occasion to do it on another occasion,' he said. Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Australia was seeking permission from Chinese authorities to allow its citizens to depart Wuhan, with Australian consular officials travelling from Shanghai to coordinate the efforts. Japan and the United States have already evacuated hundreds of citizens from Wuhan. The virus, which is believed to have originated in a market trading in wild animals in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, has infected nearly 6,000 people in China and killed more than 130. Australia is seeking permission from Chinese authorities to allow its citizens to depart Wuhan. Pictured is a coronavirus patient in a Wuhan hospital Morrison said they would be held in quarantine for 14 days on Christmas Island, known for its notorious immigration detention centre used to detain asylum seekers Australian health officials on Wednesday announced a 60-year-old man had been diagnosed with the virus, bringing the number of confirmed cases in the country to six. All six have received medical treatment and are said to be in a stable condition. There have so far been no confirmed cases in Australia of human-to-human transmission. Australia has warned its citizens not to visit Wuhan and on Wednesday upgraded its travel advice for China, recommending people 'reconsider' their need to travel. People returning to Australia from Hubei province have been told they should self-quarantine at home for 14 days. Almost two years ago, Harrington Hospital President and CEO Ed Moore, along with the hospitals board and senior team, started to examine the landscape of healthcare in Massachusetts. They wondered how Harrington fit into that landscape, both long-term and short-term. They looked at a few options: staying independent or considering affiliations or acquisition, including non-profit and for-profit. Its a process that led to an announcement Wednesday. UMass Memorial Health Care plans to acquire Harrington Hospital, adding to its Central Massachusetts footprint of community hospitals. Harrington to its credit has been able to read the tea leaves and they know that the future for standalone independent community hospitals is not great. Its a very tough environment and so to their credit, they put a committee together of their board and they engaged in a really thoughtful process to put out an RFP and solicit bids from anyone who was interested," said Doug Brown, the president of community hospitals and chief administrative officer for UMass Memorial Health Care. Moore said he spoke with about 11 organizations, from different metropolitan areas in Massachusetts and Connecticut and national companies to let people know Harrington wanted to get on the market. UMass Memorial became one of two finalists. The healthcare systems have had a longstanding relationship, but UMass Memorial stood out beyond that work. Moore said UMass Memorials strong brand was a key factor. We have a good brand but were not the name that rolls off the tongue when youre in the Central Mass. market. The first one that rolls off the tongue is recognized as UMass, Moore said. I think it enhances us to be a part of them. Harrington formed a 10-member Strategic Executive Committee during 2018. Members of Harrington HealthCare System voted Tuesday night in support of its board and the Strategic Executive Committees recommendation to formally enter into a letter of intent with UMass Memorial Health Care. Dr. Eric Dickson, the president and CEO of UMass Memorial Health Care, said the plan will benefit patients in Central Massachusetts. When Harrington patients needed a referral, they were often sent to UMass Memorial in Worcester, which was more expensive and is overcrowded, Dickson said. With this partnership, UMass Memorial will be able to send specialists to Harrington, keep patients in their community and keeping affordable rates, he said. It really, I think, sets the region up much better for the future where youre sharing information, where you have common services, Dickson said. We really want to keep more patients at Harrington because were over capacity at the medical center. So I can now send specialists out there pretty easily without worrying about are we going to pay for this, are you going to pay for that. Well just do it because its the right thing to do and it meets the overall strategy of the combined organization moving forward. One attractive benefit of the arrangement was Harrington being able to use Epic, considered one of the best health care record systems. Now, if a patient needing trauma care goes to Harrington and has to transfer to UMass Memorial, doctors will easily be able to access the patients records. Harrington was also pleased that UMass Memorial was interested in keeping critical services, like its two emergency rooms. The agreement calls for those services to be maintained for 10 years, Moore said. At Harrington, there are 1,300 full- and part-time employees between the doctor group and hospital. At this time, there have been no discussions about a need for a layoff, Moore said. Thus far, the plan is to do everything possible to keep everything, certainly through at least the first year transition and beyond, as similar as possible to what we have now, Moore said. UMass Memorial Medical Center has been operating in the red for a few years. In 2018, UMass Memorial Health Care ended the year with a $28 million loss, its first operating loss in five years. Last year, the system reduced its loss to $10 million, thanks in part to the sale of a management and consulting specialty pharmacy company that brought $208 million into the systems finances. Harringtons financials have been similar, said Dickson. We do believe over time, and this is part of the reason to do this, that we can leverage our corporate services in a way that will improve their bottom line because we wont have to have two of everything, Dickson said. Merging IT and HR departments will improve synergy. Final approval on the acquisition is expected to take six to nine months following a period of due diligence. Dickson said UMass Memorial has considered other potential medical partners but has said no to several opportunities prior to the Harrington agreement. Related Content: Hurdle Hanger features a unique insert design that allows you to hang any type of clothes in a snap. After successfully raising $200,000 for Hurdle Hanger for Pants through crowdfunding platforms Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and Wadiz, minimalist design brand Collabo Space has returned with its sophomore product, Hurdle Hanger. The product, which launched on Kickstarter on January 21st, hit its funding goal in a mere 5 hours. 920 backers have pledged over $64,000 on the platform over the past weekalready surpassing the $59,000 mark of the first campaign. The Hurdle Hanger campaign still has 36 days left before it ends. Swen Hong, founder and CEO of Collabo Space, describes Hurdle Hanger as an innovative, all-purpose hanger. We designed it with one goal in mind: to help you organize clothes quickly and easily. It may seem trivial, but organizing your closet can be a daunting task, especially since different clothes require different types of hangers. Like any other chore, its something you want to get over with quickly. We know what thats like, and we believe Hurdle Hanger is the perfect tool to help you out. The hanger, which Hong labels as a one-second hanger for its extreme ease of use, has several features that distinguish it from the average hanger in the market. He said, Hurdle Hanger features a unique insert design that allows you to hang any type of clothes in a snap. Whats cooler is it prevents the neckline of your tops from stretching. The hanger is also designed to hang clothes 2 to 3 inches higher than most hangers to create more storage space beneath. He added, Another cool feature is the c-type hook, where you can hang your belt, or even extra clothes. And unlike most Flimsy hangers, Hurdle Hanger is made of high-quality ABS, a durable material used to make protective headgear. Not to mention that it includes slip-resistant strips to prevent your clothes from falling off. Collabo Space will be manufacturing Hurdle Hanger in South Korea to ensure quality and reliability. Hong looks forward to collaborating with journalists and influencers in promoting Hurdle Hanger, on which more information is available at Collabo Space's collabospace.kr [website __title__ ] and the company's official facebook.com/collabospace.eng [Facebook page __title__ ]. Photo: Blue Willow Bookshop announced Tuesday that it will cancel an appearance by Jeanine Cummins, author of American Dirt, amid controversy about cultural appropriation and stereotypes in the book. She was set to appear at the shop on Memorial on Monday, Feb. 3. After much consideration and discussion with the books publisher, our event with Jeanine Cummins has been canceled, the bookstore tweeted. It was our hope to have a deep and meaningful conversation with her about the topics in American Dirt. Over the last several days, it became clear to us that we could not deliver the event we had envisioned. For those of you who do not know, there has been a growing controversy about this book, focusing on cultural appropriation and stereotypes. Everything looked great for Cummins book before its launch last week. Oprah gave it her coveted seal of approval, and Stephen King wrote a blurb for it. PREVIEW: American Dirt is about Mexicans by an author who isnt. Is that OK? I did not breathe for the whole first chapter, Blue Willow owner Valerie Koehler told us ahead of the book launch. The run for the border is hellish, and the timeliness of the border situation makes it a must-read. But once the book was published on Jan. 21, readers began to take issue with the story. Something that, apparently, Cummins had suspected might happen. In a note at the books end, Cummins wrote, I wished someone slightly browner than me would write it. But then I thought, if youre a person who has the capacity to be a bridge, why not be a bridge? So I began. To many, this felt like an excuse for cultural appropriation, and a product of a publishing industry that does not reflect the nations diverse population. At Blue Willow, the news of the cancellation came with a request from the shops owners to seek out a deeper conversation about how this controversy came about, and what it means. We hope that you will visit us and engage us in conversation about this and other important topics, the shop posted on its website and social media. We are listening. Decrease Font Size Font Size Increase Font Size Article body Auburn University has introduced a new design for its collegiate license plate that is now available for purchase through local tag offices for cars and motorcycles. The new design features the interlocking AU logo on the left side of the tag, orange and blue stripes across the bottom with Auburn in orange and Alabama at the top. The Auburn tag features six characters and personalization is free. Proceeds from the sale of Auburn University license plates in Alabama go to the Auburn University License to Learn Scholarship Endowment Fund, a statewide program that raises funds for freshman scholarships. Approximately $1.8 million in scholarships was awarded in 2018-19. The Auburn University License to Learn program was initiated in 1988, and since then more than $35 million has been raised to support students through academic scholarships. Alumni and friends of Auburn can easily join this effort by purchasing a tag for their vehicle in the state of Alabama. Help us send more students to Auburn as well as promote Auburn on our highways, said Gretchen VanValkenburg, vice president for alumni affairs. The state requires the collegiate license plate designs to be changed every five years. The tag is $55 for first-time purchasers, plus the regular state vehicle fee of $24.25 from local tag offices throughout the state. Tag renewals for subsequent years of the same design and characters will be $50 in addition to the normal tag cost. Collegiate license plates may be purchased at any time, regardless of the individuals tag renewal month. Auburn tags are also available in Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Tag sales from North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas also benefit scholarships. For more information on Auburns car tag program, visit aub.ie/cartags/ or call the Auburn Alumni Association office at 334-844-2960. There has been unease in the JD(U) after Mr Kishor and Mr Varma defied the partys official stand on the issue of the CAA, NPR and NRC. Patna/New Delhi: The political potboiler in the run-up to the Bihar Assembly polls later this year kicked off formally on Wednesday when Janata Dal (United) president Nitish Kumar expelled senior party leaders Prashant Kishor and Pavan Varma on disciplinary grounds. Both were quick to hit back, thanking Nitish Kumar for expelling them and hinting that he would do anything to retain the chief ministers chair in Patna. The move comes a day after Prashant Kishor openly revolted against Mr Kumar and called him a liar for claiming that he was inducted into the JD(U) on the advice of Amit Shah. There has been unease in the JD(U) after Mr Kishor and Mr Varma defied the partys official stand on the issue of the CAA, NPR and NRC. On a number of occasions earlier, both leaders had urged chief minister Nitish Kumar to reconsider his decision to support the CAA. Recently he had raised the political pitch by challenging home minister Amit Shah to implement CAA and NRC in the same chronology that he had earlier announced. The differences deepened when recently Pavan Varma sought ideological clarity from Mr Kumar over the partys alliance with the BJP in Delhi. I fail to understand how the party has formed an alliance for the Delhi elections given his (Nitish Kumar) own views on the BJP and the massive national outrage against the divisive CAA-NPR-NRC scheme, Mr Varma said in a letter to the Bihar CM. JD(U) leaders in Patna told this newspaper that a series of tweets and statements by both leaders were causing a dent in the NDA, which was preparing for the Bihar Assembly elections to be held later this year. On Tuesday, Mr Kumar had said, referring to Mr Kishor: He is free to stay in the party till the time he wants and may quit whenever he feels like. He works as a strategist for other parties, but he must understand one thing ... that if he wants to remain in the party he will have to follow the basic structure of the party. Mr Kishor, who was widely credited for Nitish Kumars return as chief minister for a third term, had joined the JD(U) in September 2018. Thank you, Nitish Kumar. My best wishes to you to retain the chair of Chief Minister of Bihar, Mr Kishor said in a tweet soon after being expelled. He is currently working as a strategist for Arvind Kejriwals AAP in Delhi. Speculation is rife that after the Delhi polls Mr Kishor may join hands with the Congress and float an alternate front before the Bihar polls in September-October. Sources claim a section of the RJD has been trying to woo him for the Bihar elections. Both leaders were, incidentally, handpicked by Mr Kumar and are the best known examples of lateral entry into the JD(U). Mr Varma, a former diplomat who had been ambassador to Bhutan and other countries, was inducted into the party in 2014 and he in turn introduced Nitish Kumar to Mr Kishor, who subsequently became the architect of the 2015 Assembly win of the Congress-RJD-JD(U) grand alliance, that catapulted the JD(U) chief to the chief ministers chair. However, he soon left the Congress-RJD alliance to switch over to the NDA in 2017 and remained chief minister with the BJPs support since then. The recent trouble in the JD(U) began with the JD(U) supporting passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill in Parliament, and Mr Kishor and Mr Varma coming out in open revolt against the CAA/NRC in public. Mr Verma went to the extent of writing an open letter accusing Mr Kumar of saying one thing in private and another thing in public on the NRC. On Wednesday, a statement by JD(U) spokesman K.C. Tyagi expelling the two leaders said: Partys decisions, discipline and loyalty for leadership is the fundamental requirement. It added: It is imperative that Kishor be removed from the party, so that he doesnt fall any lower. Pavan Varma said: Thank you Nitish Kumarji for freeing me from my increasingly untenable position of defending you and your policies. I wish you well in your ambition of being CM of Bihar at any cost. Two persons were killed and one injured in a clash between two groups over a protest programme against CAA and the proposed NRC in West Bengal's Murshidabad district on Wednesday, police said. The incident occured after an argument broke out between the two sides at Jalangi over a protest programme opposing Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). According to the police, a scuffle broke out between the local TMC leadership and residents' forum 'Nagarik Mancha', which was observing a shutdown in the area against the amended citizenship act and the proposed country-wide NRC over the mode of protest. The residents' forum was asked to withdraw the shutdown and the situation turned violent as both sides came to blows and hurled bombs at each other. Several two-wheelers and cars were ransacked and set on fire during the clash. Local TMC MP Abu Taher, denied that the party was involved in the clash and counter alleged that the violence was perpetrated by supporters of the Congress and CPI(M). "I have requested the police to look into the incident and the culprits should be immediately arrested," Taher said. Senior Congress leader and MLA Manoj Chakraborty denied involved of his party in the incident and demanded judicial inquiry into the incident to unearth the truth. The injured have been rushed to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital here, the officer said. The district had witnessed violence and arson during the anti-CAA protests across the state in December last year. West Bengal became the fourth state after Left-ruled Kerala, and Punjab and Rajasthan, where the Congress is in power, to have passed a resolution on January 27 against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act . The state assembly had on September 6, 2019, passed a resolution against NRC. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The rare genetic disease CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder (CDD) has been designated with a new disease code in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), the medical classification list from the World Health Organization (WHO). The CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder diagnostic code will be incorporated in the October 1, 2020 classification revision. The medical classification, currently in its tenth revision (ICD-10), uses a list of alphanumeric codes to document a persons medical condition. For example, a person with migraine headaches will receive the G43 code, and a person with type 2 diabetes the E11 code. These codes are then used for clinical research and care, and increasingly also for health insurance billing and reimbursement. According to the WHO, about 70% of the worlds health expenditures are allocated using ICD codes for reimbursement and resource allocation. There are many medical conditions that do not have a code in the international medical classification, and these diseases can be invisible for most clinical research and have difficulties accessing insurance and reimbursement. This previously included CDD, a rare genetic disease that leads to frequent seizures shortly after birth and severe impairment in neurological development, with most affected people being unable to walk, talk or care for themselves. Obtaining an ICD-10 code for CDD is a big milestone for our field and one more step towards having approved therapies and ensuring patient access to these treatments said Ana Mingorance PhD, Chief Development Officer at the Loulou Foundation, a private non-profit foundation for CDD therapeutic development which spearheaded the ICD-10 code effort. One of the reasons why we requested a code for CDD is because there are four ongoing clinical trials for therapies that might treat the disease, including a clinical study in the latest stage before approval. With an ICD-10 code for CDD, everything from research to reimbursement will become more efficient. We know that CDD occurs in approximately 1 in every 40,000 births because of genetic studies. But because there was no ICD-10 code for the disease, each of these patients is being coded in a different way at hospitals and we have no way to identify who they are or to know how many are out there. Karen Utley, co-founder and President of the International Foundation for CDKL5 Research (IFCR), the largest patient advocacy group for CDD families in the United States ICD-10 codes are used by clinicians, health insurance companies, and public health agencies across the world to represent diagnoses. The disease classification is reviewed once a year, in a process managed by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), housed within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last year, IFCR and the Loulou Foundation submitted a proposal to the NCHS for the creation of a new unique code for CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder. The existing ICD-10 codes were not specific enough to capture the multisystem effects of CDD, said Dr Eric Marsh from the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, one of the leading clinical investigators in the disorder and the Principal Investigator at the CDKL5 clinical Center of Excellence who also participated in the proposal. This leads to the inconsistent records and introduces friction into clinical care, insurance authorization and research studies, all of which depend on ICD-10 codes. The proposal included support letter from numerous medical organizations including the American Epilepsy Society and the Child Neurology Society, as well as from leading patient advocacy organizations like the National Organization for Rare Diseases. Several pharmaceutical companies also contributed support letters. Following the evaluation, CDD was successfully granted a new code (G40.42), in an acknowledgment that it represents a separate medical condition with unique medical needs and that it therefore required its own ICD-10 code. This milestone follows another major achievement for the CDD patient community, which on November 1, 2019, hosted a Patient-Focused Drug Development meeting with the FDA, in which caregivers shared their experience and future treatment expectations with the regulators. The Loulou Foundation, IFCR, and the International CDKL5 Alliance, representing worldwide CDD patient advocacy groups, believe that the new ICD-10 code for CDD will help improve the quality of life of people living with CDD, and urge the medical community and healthcare leaders to advance policies and protocols to ensure early access to genetic diagnosis that will identify currently undiagnosed cases of this disorder. Animal activists have claimed 64 greyhounds have died and more than 1,200 were injured on Queensland tracks alone in 2019. Data collected by the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds released on Wednesday claimed to show every death or injury report over the course of the racing season. The group's national president, Dennis Anderson, said the public deserved to know the information as millions of taxpayer dollars are spent on the sport. However, racing bodies say they are doing all they can to reduce deaths and injuries. Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds claimed 64 greyhounds have died and more than 1,200 were injured on Queensland tracks alone in 2019. Racing track in Sydney in 2016 pictured Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds president Mr Anderson claimed the statistics came from 'hundreds of stewards' reports'. 'We've compiled these stats from hundreds of stewards' reports. Neither government nor industry release this info in Queensland. This is dishonest when millions of taxpayer dollars are involved, let alone the $39million recently announced for the new Ipswich track,' Mr Anderson said. He said some of the dogs weren't even two years old when they died - the typical life expectancy for greyhounds is 12. The group has five key demands they want to push governments across the country to partake in. These include monitoring greyhounds who race their entire life, the funding of sanctuaries, safer tracks, a reduction in breeding and harsher penalties for mistreatment. Peak racing bodies in the state said they are continuing looking for and including strategies to reduce injuries and deaths in the sport. 'This includes working with the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission to currently review the on-course veterinary protocols and the Racing Meeting Injury Scheme,' a Racing Queensland spokesman said. 'Initiatives already adopted by Racing Queensland includes increased vigilance of injury analysis (cause and effect); the development of track curator conferencing; and standardisation across track maintenance, preparation methodology and equipment. 'At present, less than three per cent of starters across all Queensland greyhound tracks incur injury, with the vast majority of those able to return to racing inside a fortnight. 'To ensure transparency, all race related injuries are contained within the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission's stewards' reports and are readily accessible on the Racing Queensland website.' The group's national president, Dennis Anderson, said the public deserves to know the extent of the damage as millions of taxpayer dollars are spent on the sport (stock) Queensland Racing Integrity Commissioner Ross Barnett said they have a welfare committee consisting of members from the Racing Queensland and Animal Welfare representatives from the Commission and the RSPCA. 'The Committee regularly reviews racing injuries and greyhound deaths on track,' the commissioner said. 'A veterinarian is on course at every greyhound race meeting held in Queensland, and every race is carried out under the supervision of veterinarians and QRIC Stewards to ensure that injuries are diagnosed and responded to as soon as possible. 'The welfare of all racing animals is of paramount importance. 'All injuries and deaths of greyhounds are published in QRIC Stewards reports that are public documents available on the Racing Queensland website at the conclusion of each greyhound race meeting.' A woman has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of her three children, whose bodies were discovered in their south Dublin home last week. Conor (9), Darragh (7) and little sister Carla McGinley (3) were found in their home at Parson's Court, Newcastle, last Friday evening. The children's mother Deirdre Morley, a nurse, has been undergoing treatment in Tallaght hospital for a suspected overdose after she was found wandering in a disoriented state shortly before the shocking tragedy emerged. Confirming the arrest last night, a Garda spokesperson said: "A woman in her 40s has been arrested on suspicion of murder in relation to the discovery of the bodies of three children at a property in Parson's Court, Newcastle, Co Dublin, on 24/1/2020. "The woman arrested was found at the scene and has been receiving medical attention at Tallaght University Hospital following the incident. "She is currently detained at Clondalkin Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984." In a statement earlier yesterday the children's father spoke of his utter devastation at their loss and has urged parents to cherish every moment with their own children. Sharing a photograph of both parents with their children for the first time, dad Andrew McGinley said "every breath is a struggle" following the tragedy. In a statement released through An Garda Siochana, Mr McGinley said: "There are no words. There is only devastation, grief and anguish. Every breath is a struggle. "Conor, Darragh and Carla are adored. "They all had beautiful, bright futures ahead of them with family, friends and a community who love them. "To all parents, cuddle your children whenever you get a chance, tell them how much you love them as often as you can, spend every spare minute with them reading, playing and enjoying their wonderfulness. The future has now become our enemy but we will battle it every day to keep the memory of Conor, Darragh and Carla alive." He signed the statement "Andrew". Fr John Gilligan, who represents Saggart, the family's old neighbourhood, and Newcastle, said the statement released by Mr McGinley showed "selfless compassion and bravery" and he praised him for "bringing back light into a community in darkness". "The words Andrew has used when we are lost for words have helped this community," the priest said. "He and all who loved and knew the children have suffered a great loss. "They were beautiful children and little Carla's lovely smile lit up a room. It was remarkably brave for a father who has lost so much, who's enduring such pain, to release a statement to help all parents across Ireland reflect." Fr Gilligan said the words reminded everyone that, like all other Irish families, "this father had been trying to make a living for his children". "They worked hard as a family and moved from Saggart to a bigger house in Newcastle to give their children more room, to give them the best, and it's a reflection of all the hard work they put into the children," he said. "Family is everything to our communities and our community is rallying round to offer support. "He is incredibly brave and his statement has taken my breath away." Gardai are awaiting toxicology results to determine the exact substance which is suspected of being consumed by the children. It is not suspected that any drugs were administered to the children by injection as no visible marks were found on their bodies. However, it is suspected that some, or all, of the children may have been smothered after being sedated. A grief counsellor, psychologist Dr Damian Davy, from the Phoenix Centre in Dublin, commended Mr McGinley for offering strength to others despite his own grief. "I agree with Mr McGinley, we all need to be close to our children and to be aware of those in difficulty in our society, to be more compassionate," he said. "We need to be a more caring society, to look after each other." New Delhi, Jan 29 : In a bid to provide more services to the passengers and its emphasis on zero emission, the Indian Railways will complete the work of doubling and tripling of the 17,000 km of tracks and also complete the electrification of its entire network by 2024, an official said on Wednesday. Railway Board Chairman V.K. Yadav said, "Indian Railways has a network of 64,000 km rail track. Out of which 96 per cent of the traffic is dealt by the 34,000 km rail tracks." "The 34,000 km track which caters to 96 per cent of the traffic has about 17,000 km of single line. So we are planning to double the rest by 2024," Yadav said. He said, when the number of the tracks will improve, the punctuality and the services will also improve. Yadav further said that the national transporter will achieve its target of upgrading the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah tracks for 160 kmph by December 2024. Emphasizing on infrastructure, the Chairman said, "Currently railways operates over 22,000 trains daily, out of which 9,000 are freight and 13,000 passenger trains. So our focus is also on creating infrastructure and to provide more services to the passengers. Thus by 2024, we will roll out more train services, including providing 150 trains to the private operators." Stressing on the need of zero emission, the Chairman said that the national transporter will go green by 2024 as its entire network will be electrified. To a question over the railways agreement with US-based General Electric to produce 1,000 diesel locomotives, Yadav said, "the agreement with GE will go as per the agreement as we will use the diesel locomotives for emergency services." He also said the railways shelved out over Rs 30,000 crore for fuel expenses, and by going electric, a major chunk of the fuel cost will be saved. He also said that the railways is planning to tap on solar power and it will be self reliant in solar power by 2030. Yadav said the railways has identified its land pool, which can be used for solar power generation. He said about 50,000 hectare of land is available with railways which is fit for the solar power generation and railways requires about 5 Giga Watt of power for its usage. "So by 2030, we will generate 5 GW of solar power and in next financial year we will be able to achieve 1,000 MW of solar power target," he said. The railways will adopt the solar power generation in a phased manner as the 50,000 hectare land pool is able to generate 20 GW of power. He also said that as there are limitations with solar power, where the power is generated only during day. "We are in talks with states for power banking engagement, where the surplus power will be shared with the states during the day and in night it can use their power," Yadav said. (Anand Singh can be contacted at Anand.s@ians.in) As the search for a vaccine for the deadly new coronavirus continues, scientists in Australia have hailed a breakthrough after successfully recreating it in a lab. Researchers from the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne said the breakthrough will allow for accurate investigation and diagnosis of the virus globally. The institute's virus identification laboratory head Dr Julian Druce called the development a "game changer. It comes as British Airways announced it was suspending all flights to mainland China with immediate effect after the death toll for the virus reached 132, with nearly 6,000 people infected around the world. Chinese workers manufacture the nucleic acid detection agent for the new coronavirus at the plant of Jiangsu Bioperfectus Technologies Co., Ltd. in Taizhou City (PA) Chinese workers manufacture the nucleic acid detection agent (PA) Meanwhile, Brits still in China are set to be evacuated by the UK government following the removal of US and Australian citizens. Speaking about the recreation of the virus, Dr Druce said: "Chinese officials released the genome sequence of this novel coronavirus, which is helpful for diagnosis. However, having the real virus means we now have the ability to actually validate and verify all test methods and compare their sensitivities and specificities. "The virus will be used as positive control material for the Australian network of public health laboratories, and also shipped to expert laboratories working closely with the World Health Organization in Europe. Read more from Yahoo News UK: As a virologist, I can tell why you can stop panicking about the coronavirus European shares dip as Chinese coronavirus concerns deepen China coronavirus: What are the symptoms, where has it spread and is there treatment? The virus, which saw its first human-to-human transmission in Germany this week, was grown from a patient sample that the Doherty Institute received on Friday. The laboratory-grown virus is expected to be used to generate an antibody test, which would allow detection of the virus in patients who have not yet displayed any symptoms. There were 26 coronavirus deaths recorded in the last 24 hours, with all but one recorded in Hubei province. Story continues (PA) British Airways has said that it has suspended all flights to and from mainland China with immediate effect. (PA) The United Arab Emirates confirmed its first cases of the virus in a family who recently returned to the Middle East from Wuhan. China has cut off access to Wuhan and 16 other cities in Hubei province to prevent people from leaving and spreading the virus further. The lockdown has trapped more than 50m people in the most far-reaching disease control measures ever imposed. People wear masks at a metro station in Taipei, Taiwan. (PA) A Chinese volunteer wearing protective clothing disinfects a residential quarter for prevention of the new coronavirus and pneumonia during the Chinese New Year holiday. (AP) Wuhan is building two hospitals in a matter of days to add 2,500 beds for treatment of patients with the virus. Experts worry the new virus may spread more easily than originally thought, or may have mutated into a form that does so. The coronavirus family is responsible for causing the common cold as well as more serious illnesses such as Sars. Three people, including two medical students, are under observation after their recent return from China where the novel coronavirus has claimed 132 lives so far, officials said on Wednesday. Director of Health and Family Welfare S Mohan Kumar told reporters here that the three- a businessman and two students purusuing medicine--had reported their travel history to China and have been kept under home quarantine as a precautionary measure. The businessman hails from Karaikal while the students belong to Puducherry and Karaikal. The director said although "none of them is symptomatic, they have all been kept under home quarantine as a precautionary measure. They would be under the supervision of surveillance officers for 28 days." Mohan Kumar said the Health department had taken necessary precautionary steps to improve surveillance and to quarantine people with travel history to China. He said government run hospitals in the four regions of the Union Territory-- Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam-- and also privately run medical colleges have been directed to earmark six beds exclusively for novel coronavirus (nCOV) cases. The director said an isolation ward with eight beds has been set up at the government run hospital for chest diseases in neighbouringGorimedu. All private medical colleges and hospitals have been asked to send travellers returning from China with complaints of upper respiratory tract infections to the isolation ward in the hospital for chest diseases. The centrally-sponsored Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) hospital here has been designated as a tertiary care centre for patients who require additional care. Samples of suspected patients will be collected at JIPMER and sent to the National Institute of Virology at Pune, the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UMass Memorial Health Care is poised to obtain another Central Massachusetts hospital, as members of the Harrington HealthCare System voted Tuesday night to support entering into a letter of intent with UMass Memorial to pursue an acquisition agreement, officials said Wednesday. Harrington formed a 10-member Strategic Executive Committee during 2018 to evaluate long-term options to maintain the Southbridge hospital. Priorities for the committee were quality affordable care, health of the community, financial viability, investments in infrastructure and continued employment, according to a news release. There are significantly fewer independent hospitals in the Commonwealth, and the country, compared to 20 and 30 years ago, said Harrington President and CEO Ed Moore. We are in a fortunate position in that we are a strong organization with an outstanding medical staff, talented employees and great community support; we wanted to take the reins to shape our own future. UMass Memorial Health Care is the largest employer in Central Massachusetts. The Medical Center is the regions only Level 1 adult and pediatric trauma center, Level 3 NICU and certified stroke center. Harrington is a regional healthcare system that serves more than 25 communities across south Central Massachusetts and northeastern Connecticut. The system includes the hospital in Southbridge, Harrington HealthCare at Webster and three medical office buildings. The UMMHC mission and vision strongly mirrors that of Harringtons. Their geographic location is an obvious match for our current footprint; their advanced technology would be an asset to our infrastructure; and the investments they can offer will provide our community a stable, long-term plan for keeping healthcare local to south central Massachusetts and northeastern Connecticut, Moore said. We want our patients, their family members and the more than 200,000 individuals we care for to know how invested we are in protecting their access to high quality, affordable healthcare. Some benefits of the agreement between the systems could include capital support for routine and strategic capital needs and for technology and infrastructure upgrades; commitments to retain critical services in an affordable setting; and commitment to be a positive employer in the local market. UMass Memorial does not expect changes to the Harrington HealthCare system status quo in the near future, according to the news release. If accepted, Harrington will become a member hospital within UMass Memorial Health Care, joining UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton, UMass Memorial Marlborough Hospital and UMass Memorial Medical Center. Final approval is expected to take six to nine months, according to the news release. This proposed strategic partnership recognizes the enormous potential to expand and strengthen the care for patients in our region, said Dr. Eric Dickson, the president and CEO of UMass Memorial Health Care. Harrington Healthcare is not a stranger - we have worked with them on several levels over the course of the past two decades. This proposed stronger relationship is possible because both organizations recognize that to better serve patient needs now and, in the future, hospital organizations have to work in closer collaboration." In 2017, Harrington Hospital voted to close its birthing center and send patients to the maternity center on the memorial campus of UMass Memorial Medical Center. UMass Memorial Medical Center has been operating in the red for a few years. In 2018, UMass Memorial Health Care ended the year with a $28 million loss, its first operating loss in five years. Last year, the system reduced its loss to $10 million, thanks in part to the sale of a management and consulting specialty pharmacy company that brought $208 million into the systems finances. Tuesday nights vote does not impact patient care services currently offered in the Harrington system, according to the news release. This is just the first step in the process, Moore said. We want our patients to know that services remain open and accessible, now and in the future. The agreement would allow Harrington HealthCare System and Harrington Memorial Hospital to maintain local community boards with reserved powers held by a UMass Memorial subsidiary, which will become the sole member of HHCS, according to the news release. Additionally, the HHCS board will have representation on both the parent and community hospital boards of UMass Memorial. Related Content: Post Time with Mike and Mike, presented by the USTA and BetAmerica, is excited to announce the lineup for Thursday morning (Jan. 29) at 10:30 a.m. The show will be highlighted by Joe Zambito, Brian Mazurek and Ashley Eisenbeil. Zambito, race secretary at Pompano Park and the newest member of the USTA Board of Directors, joins Mike Bozich and Michael Carter to talk about his new roles and how he has adapted to them. Since Zambito arrived at the South Florida track, it has been infiltrated with carryovers. The pair will talk with Zambito about his methodology in constructing the races. Mazurek, the track handicapper at Buffalo Raceway, joins the program to discuss the opening of the Western New York facility. He will discuss he opening program and what bettors can expect going forward in 2020. Eisenbeil, from the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Association, joins the pair to discuss the recently concluded Pennsylvania Farm Show. The PHRA introduced new and creative ways to get guests involved with racing. She will talk about a few of those ideas. Post Time with Mike and Mike, presented by the USTA and BetAmerica, can be heard live every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. via their website, posttimewithmikeandmike.com, or on demand at betamerica.com/BARN. (Post Time with Mike and Mike) Do governors have the right to preface parts of the customary speech they read out on behalf of a state government with a disclosure that they do not really think it belongs in the speech? Convention and practice say they do not, but that did not stop Kerala governor Arif Mohammad Khan from doing just that. Khan has been at loggerheads with the state government over its anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act resolution passed by the assembly and its moving the Supreme Court to strike down the law. He said in the assembly on Wednesday that though he has reservations and disagreement over the subject, he would read paragraph 18 of the policy address, to honour chief minister Pinarayi Vijayans wish. Supreme Court advocate Gyanant Singh said that, as the head of a state, the governor has to read the visionary document of the state administration, what it proposes to do in exercise of its power as an elected government and in doing so, cannot substitute the governments vision with his personal disposition. In such a matter, a governor cannot impose his discretionary views. Also, the powers of a governor are clearly laid out in the Constitution, and to read out his mind on a particular issue while speaking on the first day of the assembly session is not subject to the mandate laid out, Singh said. A governors discretionary powers are not codified in the Constitution but scattered in its various parts. Governors, as heads of states, derive their powers from Article 163 of the Constitution. There is no bar on them giving suggestions.But by the discretionary powers entrusted to governors under the Constitution, they are bound by the aid and advice of council of ministers in the exercise of all functions, as per Article 163. This constitutional position was first expounded by the Supreme Court in the Ram Jawaya Kapoor case in 1955. The budget session in Kerala witnessed dramatic scenes on Wednesday as MLAs stood in the House with anti-CAA posters and raised governor, go back slogans. Following this, the watch and ward personnel cleared the way for Khan, who, with the CM and Speaker by his side, and with folded hands, said thank you to the protesting legislators. He then read out paragraph 18 of the speech, but only after speaking his mind. I am going to read this para because the Chief Minister wants me to read this. Although I hold the view this doesnt come under policy or programme. Chief minister has said this is the view of government, and to honour his wish Im going to read this para, he said. Former Lok Sabha secretary general PDT Achary said as per convention and Constitution, a governor is head of a state and is bound to read out the speech approved by the government. He is not responsible for the contents of the speech and this is a practise prevailing in various democracies where parliamentary system is present, Achary said. An elected government is responsible to the legislature, which in turn is responsible up the electorate, he added. Even if the governor adds or subtracts to the speech, it would not be taken on record, explained Achary. Khan and the Kerala government have been on a collision course, with the former criticising the anti-CAA resolution the assembly passed on December 31 against the new citizenship law. Following Keralas move, three other state assemblies -- Punjab, Rajasthan and West Bengal -- have also passed resolutions against CAA. The amended law fast-tracks citizenship for minorities from Muslim-majority Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who came to India before 2015. While the Union government has described it as an empowering tool for persecuted minorities, it has been criticised for linking religion with citizenship and for being discriminatory towards Muslims. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Burma Rakhine IDPs Top 160,000; More Aid Needed An ethnic Mro displaced persons camp in Ponnagyun Township, Rakhine State in September 2019. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy SITTWE, Rakhine StateThe number of local residents displaced by fighting between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA) in northern Rakhine State has risen to over 160,000, the Rakhine Ethnic Congress (REC) said on Saturday. Most of the increases were reported in Ann, Myebon, Minbya, Rathedaung and Pauktaw townships. Locals there fled from their homes primarily due to military troops entering their villages, artillery shells falling near their villages and because of concerns over instability in the area, said REC chairman U Shwe Phaw Sein. The REC is a civil society organization based in the state capital of Sittwe and has been assisting internally displaced people (IDPs) affected by the fighting in northern Rakhine. Considering the situation on the ground, it is likely that the number [of IDPs] may increase because local residents are extremely concerned about military troops entering villages, fighting near their homes and interrogating villagers based on suspicion [alone], he said. IDPs in northern Rakhine State have received little assistance from the government and have had to rely primarily on aid from civil society organizations and international donors. But the Rakhine State Disaster Management Department has provided over 2.5 billion kyats (US$1.7 million) worth of food supplies and relief aid to IDPs, according to the head of the department, U Ye Min Oo. According to the department, there were 125 IDP camps in northern Rakhine on Jan. 22 providing shelter to 49,221 IDPsfar fewer than the number given by the REC. Our list [of IDPs] is based on the lists of township and village administrative bodies, said U Ye Min Oo. The REC said its list of IDPs is longer than the governments because it counted residents trapped by the fighting in remote areas, those staying with relatives and friends and those staying at monasteries and religious buildings, in addition to those in IDP camps. They need many things. Only the camps that are close to motor roads or recognized by the government receive aid. Those in remote areas, at monasteries and near rivers mostly have to rely on local communities and only seldom receive aid from civil society organizations, said U Shwe Phaw Sein. U Wai Hla Aung, the manager of Tein Nyo Camp in Mrauk-U Township, says his camp, which houses 3,250 people, is short on drinking water and food. We need many things. Food supplied by the International Committee of the Red Cross is running out. As there are many people at the camp, we have problems with drinking water, he told The Irrawaddy. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko You may also like these stories: Myanmar Troops Order Civilians to Leave Rakhine Camp: Witnesses Bangladesh Police Bust Intl Gang Trafficking Rohingya Women Into Sex Work in Malaysia There was a time not so long ago when a number one for Sinn Fein amounted to little more than a 'protest vote'. As is so often the case, the party was happy to sit on the sidelines after the 2016 election. But circumstances have changed in recent weeks and it is now just one more twist of history away from power. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail routinely and robustly rule out entering coalition with Mary Lou McDonald's troops, yet the idea is not as unimaginable as it was seven months ago, when it lost almost half of its local authority representation. Everybody knows the old argument that pre-election red lines are easily disposed of once 'the people have spoken'. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar believes Sinn Fein is not a normal party. He argues it is soft on crime and hard on taxes. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin is even more vitriolic in his claims that Ms McDonald is taking orders from "old Provos". But let's roll the clock forward two weeks and imagine the current opinion polls play out in real life. That would put Mr Martin in a commanding position to become Taoiseach while Mr Varadkar would be grappling for a way to cling to high office. I don't believe for one second that Mr Martin will lead a Fianna Fail-Sinn Fein government - but don't rule out such a coalition occurring anyway. Part of the reason the leader is publicly so anti-Shinners is that he knows some of his troops are open-minded on the price of getting back into Government Buildings. Earlier this month, veteran Fianna Fail TD Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher flirted with Sinn Fein. And in the past others senior members, including Bobby Aylward, John McGuinness and Eamon O Cuiv, have privately toyed with the idea. It makes you wonder whether Mr Martin could suffer the same fate as ex-Green Party leader Trevor Sargent in 2007. Mr Sargent stuck to his promise to never do business with Fianna Fail and promptly found himself handing over leadership so John Gormley could led them into coalition. Over in Fine Gael, it could be the opposite story. In the corridors of Leinster House, the party's senior ministers express genuine disdain for the party and its 'shadowy figures'. But Mr Varadkar appears to have an evolving attitude towards how 'stable government' works. Prior to the 2016 vote, he wrote a withering column for the Irish Independent which warned voters that a grand coalition between Fine Gael and Fianna Fail "would be a forced marriage with Sinn Fein holding the shotgun". Now he says it's a reasonable option. Could he have a similar 'enlightenment' on Sinn Fein? Sinn Fein is unlikely to be in government after this election, but the sands are shifting. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) HHS OIG is the largest inspector general's office in the Federal Government, dedicated to combating fraud, waste, and abuse and to improving the efficiency of more than 300 HHS programs. Most of OIG's resources go to overseeing Medicare and Medicaid - programs that represent much of the federal budget and affect the most vulnerable U.S. citizens. OIG's oversight extends to programs under other HHS institutions, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, and the Food and Drug Administration. List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE) The OIG holds accountable and has the authority to exclude individuals and entities from federally funded health care programs who bill HHS programs but do not meet federal health program requirements or who violate federal laws. Exclusion by the OIG from one program means exclusion from all HHS programs. Reasons the OIG may exclude an individual or entity include a conviction for Medicare or Medicaid fraud. Those that are excluded can receive no payment from federal health care programs for any items or services they furnish, order, or prescribe. This includes those that provide health benefits funded directly or indirectly by the United States (other than the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan). The OIG's exclusion database, the List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE) is updated monthly and contains the current list of excluded individuals and entities. Health care organizations are required to check all new hires and contractors, as well as monitor regularly against the LEIE to assure there are no services or items provided by and/or reimbursed on behalf of an excluded individual or entity. Anyone who hires an individual or entity on the LEIE may be subject to civil monetary penalties (CMP). Two Types of OIG Exclusions There are two types of exclusions that will put an individual or entity on the exclusion list: Mandatory and Permissive. Mandatory is enforced by law and requires the OIG to exclude when an individual or entity is convicted for committing felony crimes-Medicare or Medicaid fraud, or other felony offenses related to state or federal health care programs; felony convictions related to controlled substances; or convictions for patient neglect or abuse. For permissive exclusions, the OIG has discretion on whether or not to exclude. The offenses prescribing permissive exclusions are on a misdemeanor level. How to Protect Your Organization Protecting your organization and the patients it serves requires a proactive approach. Implementing a thorough screening and continuous monitoring program using aggregated data from multiple primary sources will help you steer clear of those on the OIG Exclusion List or from those who are excluded and intentionally evade detection. The OIG exclusion list is a vital source to check when screening and monitoring your provider population, but it does not provide enough information to have a complete picture of compliance. Using Verisys' data platform FACIS, the most comprehensive data set in the industry, for screening and monitoring health care providers, provides that complete picture. The Verisys team pulls data from more than 5,000 data sources, adding roughly 75,000 records to the FACIS database each month, including the OIG Exclusion List. With one login, an organization can automate continuous monitoring and set alerts to receive notice of adverse action affecting one of your providers. Taking extra measures to check thousands of additional data sources protects your organization from financial and reputational risk and increases patient safety. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. After months of deliberation, the U.K. National Security Council has invited Chinese telecom giant Huawei to build and operate parts of its 5G mobile-network infrastructure. American authorities had cautioned the U.K. against doing business with Huawei, citing the companys history of unlawful activity and its potential for espionage and warfare. That led Japan and Australia to follow Americas lead in banning Huawei. But British authorities believe they can mitigate these risks by keeping Huawei out of the parts of the telecoms network that are critical to security and by capping the companys U.K. market share at 35 percent. This third way between confrontation and appeasement is a fools errand that will jeopardize the U.K.s national security and undermine the U.S.U.K. relationship. As we have previously noted, Huawei has a long and well-documented history of nefarious practices. In January 2019, the Justice Department issued indictments against Huawei for theft of trade secrets and for attempting to evade American sanctions against Iran. These findings were doubly alarming given the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) direct assistance of Huawei. FBI director Christopher Wray said at the time that the immense influence that the Chinese government holds over Chinese corporations like Huawei represents a threat to national security. The British justification for this decision that Huawei already operates large amounts of the countrys network infrastructure in fact illustrates the Faustian bargain the U.K. is making. The more the country entangles itself with Chinese companies, the more difficult it will be to extricate itself if they prove malicious. Limiting Huawei to non-core technologies will do nothing to prevent illegal activity. As it works with Western firms to implement the 5G network, Huawei will have access to sensitive information from trade secrets to personal data that Chinese authorities are eager to acquire. In the worst case, Huawei would have the ability to shut down mobile connectivity as it sees fit. Story continues The only deterrent against theft and espionage is the threat of retaliation. But as Huaweis technology begins to power an Internet of Things, the U.K. will grow dependent on the firm, diminishing its ability to respond to criminal activity. British authorities will be hard-pressed to shut down entire industries to penalize Huawei. By nurturing this dependency, Downing Street has given Beijing carte blanche to continue its coercive business practices, while simultaneously accelerating its pursuit of technological supremacy outlined in the Made in China 2025 plan. The upside to Britain faster 5G rollout at a lower price is dwarfed not only by the direct risks of Chinese malfeasance, but also by the risks of hindering the Five Eyes alliance, which has fostered intelligence sharing among Anglophone countries since World War II. By placing its short-term economic interest above the integrity of generations-old partnerships, Britain evinces a troubling lack of commitment to world order. Prime Minister Boris Johnsons central rationale for exiting the European Union was to restore the island nations sovereignty. With this decision, Johnson risks trading the subordination to Brussels bureaucrats for the tyranny of Beijing apparatchiks. The Trump administration should use all the tools at its disposal including the trade relationship and intelligence sharing to push the U.K. to rethink its decision. Granting Britain impunity in collaborating with Chinese firms will signal to other allies, such as Germany and Brazil, that they can follow suit. The menace of China requires holding our allies to the same standards of behavior to which we hold ourselves. More from National Review The White House on Wednesday objected to the publication of a book written by President Donald Trumps former national security adviser, John Bolton, that depicts Trump as playing a central role in a pressure campaign on Ukraine, as the Senate impeachment trial entered a new phase. A letter from the White House National Security Council to Boltons lawyer said the manuscript based on a preliminary review appeared to contain significant amounts of classified information and could not be published without the deletion of this material. Some of the material was considered top secret, according to the letter. Under federal law and the nondisclosure agreements your client signed as a condition for gaining access to classified information, the manuscript may not be published or otherwise disclosed without the deletion of this classified information, the letter said. Democrats view Bolton as a key figure who could help them solidify their case against the president, and reports about the books contents appear to boost their arguments in the trial. Democrats want to call Bolton, a foreign policy hawk in several Republican administrations, and a small number of other officials to testify but many Republican senators have so far resisted the idea of having any witnesses. The letter said the White House would be in touch with Boltons lawyer with detailed guidance for manuscript revisions. Bolton contradicts Trump Senators began the first of two planned days of posing questions to both Trumps legal team and the Democratic legislators in the House of Representatives who have served as prosecutors in the trial on charges of abusing power and obstructing Congress arising from his request that Ukraine investigate political rival Joe Biden. Democratic senators used their questions to cast doubt on the veracity of the Trump defence and make their case for witnesses including Bolton. The Senate is expected to acquit Trump but allowing witnesses such as Bolton could inflict political damage on the Republican president as he seeks re-election on November 3. Biden is a leading candidate for the Democratic nomination to challenge Trump. Contradicting Trumps version of events, Bolton wrote in an unpublished book manuscript that the president told him he wanted to freeze $391m in security aid to Ukraine until Kyiv pursued investigations into Democrats, including Biden and the former vice presidents son Hunter Biden, the New York Times reported. Boltons allegations go to the heart of the impeachment charges. Democrats have said Trump abused his power by using the security aid passed by Congress to help Ukraine battle Russia-backed separatists as leverage to get a foreign power to smear a political rival. Trumps legal team has argued that the evidence supporting that allegation is based on hearsay. Trump listens as his then-NSA John Bolton speaks [File: Leah Millis/Reuters] A Bolton spokeswoman had no comment on the White House letter. Neither his publisher nor lawyer immediately responded to requests for comment. The Senate is expected on Friday to vote on whether to call witnesses including Bolton. Democrats need four Republican senators to join them in order to get a majority in the 100-seat Senate. Republican leaders are hoping to vote as quickly as possible to acquit Trump, leaving him in office. Removing Trump from office would take a two-thirds majority. There are 53 Republican senators and none has publicly advocated removal. The Democratic-led House impeached Trump last month. Trump lashed out at Bolton on Twitter. He said Bolton couldnt get approved for the Ambassador to the UN years ago, couldnt get approved for anything since, begged me for a non Senate approved job and added that if I listened to him, we would be in World War Six by now. Trump added that Bolton, who left his White House post in September, goes out and IMMEDIATELY writes a nasty & untrue book. All Classified National Security. Who would do this? Trump, who has denied Boltons account, has said he fired Bolton. Bolton, a foreign policy hawk who served as a temporary recess appointee as American ambassador to the United Nations under Republican former President George W Bush, has said he quit. Question time in the Senate Responding to a question by top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer, lead House prosecutor Adam Schiff responded that there would be no way to have a fair trial without witnesses. And when you have a witness as plainly relevant as John Bolton who goes to the heart of the most serious and most egregious of the presidents misconduct, who has volunteered to come and testify to turn him away, to look the other way, I think is deeply at odds with being an impartial juror, Schiff said. Senators submitted questions in writing to be read aloud by US Chief Justice John Roberts, who is presiding over the trial. This artist sketch depicts the Republican side of the Senate during defence arguments in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump [Dana Verkouteren/AP Photo] Democrat Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, took issue with Trumps contention that Bolton never said anything about the Ukraine matter when he left his post. Engel said Bolton suggested to him in a September 23 phone call that the panel should look into Trumps removal last May of Marie Yovanovitch as American ambassador to Ukraine, a pivotal event in the Ukraine matter. Trump removed her after his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and others mounted a negative campaign against her at a time when Giuliani was pressing Ukraine to pursue the politically motivated investigations at the centre of the impeachment drama. Ukrainian-born US businessman Lev Parnas, who worked with Giuliani to pressure Ukraine, arrived in Washington, DC, from New York and headed towards the US Capitol, but was refused entrance. He was trailed by TV cameras, photographers and sign-toting demonstrators. Parnas stopped by Democratic Leader Schumers office to pick up tickets to the trial. No electronics are allowed in the Senate visitors gallery, and Parnas has been ordered to wear an ankle bracelet to track his location as he awaits trial on federal campaign finance charges. Parnas indicated willingness to testify in the trial, adding, The president knew everything that was going on with Ukraine. [January 29, 2020] JBG SMITH Announces Washington Housing Initiative Milestones with First Acquisition Loan and More Than $100 Million in Private Sector Commitments to the Impact Pool JBG SMITH (NYSE: JBGS), a leading owner and developer of high-quality, mixed-use properties in the Washington, DC market, today announced that the Washington Housing Initiative's Impact Pool surpassed $104 million in investor commitments and closed on a $15.1 million mezzanine loan for the Alexandria Housing Development Corporation's (AHDC) purchase of a residential community in Alexandria. The Impact Pool provided a $15.1 million loan to the non-profit AHDC, supporting the acquisition of Avana - to be renamed the Parkstone Apartments - a recently renovated 326-unit, high rise residential community at 3001 Park Center Drive in Alexandria, Virginia for $106 million. JBG SMITH will also serve as the property manager for the Parkstone Apartments. Currently, most of the units at Parkstone are naturally occurring workforce housing with rents affordable to middle-income renters. Because there are no affordability protections in place, the property was marketed to potential purchasers as an opportunity to increase rents. Thanks in part to the Impact Pool loan, AHDC will commit to keep the property affordable for middle-income renters through long term covenants, in addition to making investments to ensure it remains high-quality housing. "The Impact Pool's financing allows Parkstone to remain affordable to Alexandria's workforce, rather than it being converted to expensive luxury housing," said AJ Jackson, Executive Vice President of Social Impact Investments at JBG SMITH. "The Washington Housing Initiative is focused on creating housing opportunities for the missing middle - those who earn too much to qualify for traditional rental assistance but still struggle to pay for quality housing - and we look forward to having an even larger impact going forward." Leading local developers and some of the country's largest banking institutions have committed more than $104 million to the Impact Pool, including a $10.2 million commitment from JBG SMITH. TD Bank, M&T Bank, Hingham Institution for Savings, and CityBridge Foundation are among the new investors in the Impact Pool, the financing component of the Washington Housing Initiative. The Impact Pool is designed to leverage JBG SMITH's experience and expertise by investing in the preservation or development of affordable workforce housing in high impact areas that are particularly vulnerable to rapidly rising housing costs. In addition to its inaugural investment, the Impact Pool is currently evaluating a pipeline of acquisitions that could preserve nearly 6000 units of affordable workforce housing across the DC region. "In just over a year, the Impact Pool has raised more than $104 million in private capital to preserve affordable workforce housing in the Washington, DC region," said Matt Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of JBG SMITH. "We are already far outpacing our own high expectations and we are proud to demonstrate what can happen when private, public, and nonprofit organizations work together for the betterment of our community and the long term, sustainable growth of our economy." The Impact Pool is part of the Washington Housing Initiative, launched by JBG SMITH and the Federal City Council in 2018. The Washington Housing Initiative is a transformational market-driven approach to preserve and create affordable workforce housing in rapidly changing communities throughout the Washington, DC region. For more information on the Washington Housing Initiative and the Impact Pool please visit, www.washingtonhousinginitiative.com. About JBG SMITH JBG SMITH is an S&P 400 company that owns, operates, invests in, and develops a dynamic portfolio of high-quality mixed-use properties in and around Washington, DC. Through an intense focus on placemaking, JBG SMITH cultivates vibrant, amenity-rich, walkable neighborhoods throughout the Capital region, including National Landing where it now serves as the exclusive developer for Amazon's new headquarters. JBG SMITH's portfolio currently comprises 20.6 million square feet of high-quality office, multifamily and retail assets, 98% at our share of which are Metro-served. It also maintains a robust future pipeline encompassing 18.7 million square feet of mixed-use development opportunities. For more information on JBG SMITH please visit www.jbgsmith.com. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained herein may constitute "forward-looking statements" as such term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They represent our intentions, plans, expectations and beliefs and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Consequently, the future results of JBG SMITH Properties ("JBG SMITH" or the "Company") may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. You can find many of these statements by looking for words such as "approximate", "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "would", "may", or similar expressions in this press release. Many of the factors that will determine the outcome of these and our other forward-looking statements are beyond our ability to control or predict. These factors include, among others: adverse economic conditions in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, the timing of and costs associated with development and property improvements, financing commitments, and general competitive factors. For further discussion of factors that could materially affect the outcome of our forward-looking statements and other risks and uncertainties, see "Risk Factors" and the Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and other periodic reports the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For these statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to our forward-looking statements after the date hereof. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005697/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] OTTAWAThe aging early-warning system charged with detecting incoming threats to North America cannot identify and track long-range Russian bombers before they are close enough to launch missiles at the continent, according to a senior Canadian military officer. Commodore Jamie Clarke, deputy director of strategy at the North American Aerospace Defence Command, revealed the systems shortcoming in an address on Wednesday as he pressed on the need to upgrade Norad to face a growing array of modern threats. Those include everything from incoming ballistic missiles and bombers, which Norad was created to spot, as well as cruise and hypersonic missiles, drones, submarines and other naval vessels as well as space-based and cyber weapons. Clarke became the latest in a line of Canadian and American military officers to warn that the technology underpinning Norad, including a chain of 1980s-era radars in Canadas Arctic called the North Warning System, is becoming obsolete. Currently, the North Warning System cannot identify and track Russian long-range bombers prior to their missile-launch points or their overflights of the Arctic region, he said during a conference on the future of Norad hosted by the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. Yet this system, entering its fourth decade of service, is the system we rely on each and every day. Created in the 1950s in response to the threat of a Soviet attack by bombers or ballistic missiles over the Arctic, Norad is unique in the world as a joint operation between the U.S. and Canada. Its technology was last upgraded in the 1980s, before the end of the Cold War, though the U.S. did incorporate the ability to shoot down incoming missiles in the mid-2000s. Canada famously decided in 2005 against joining what is now known as ballistic-missile defence. The Liberal governments 2017 defence policy included plans to upgrade or modernize Norad to defend against the threats of today and tomorrow, but offered few specific details because discussions with the U.S. had not started in earnest. Three years later, its difficult to say what progress has been made. The U.S. and Canadian governments have held consultations with industry, Clarke said when asked when Norad modernization will happen. But he could not offer a schedule for moving on the project, saying: Its longer than any of us would like, but I cant even give you a timeline. And he suggested that as long as Canada and the U.S. remain behind the curve, it leaves the continent vulnerable. We cannot deter what we cannot defeat and we cannot defeat what we cannot detect, he said. We have to recognize that we are not just trying to prevent a military attack, but in fact we are defending our entire way of life. Even if discussions were further ahead, it remains unclear how Canada will pay for its portion of the new system as the Liberal defence policy did not set aside money for upgrading Norad. The government at the time blamed the many questions around its design and schedule. Some analysts have worried that the government will dip into the tens of billions of dollars earmarked in the defence policy for new warships, fighter jets and other equipment. The Department of National Defences top civil servant, deputy minister Jody Thomas, told the conference during a roundtable discussion that whatever funding were envisioning for Norad modernization is new money and not taken from other defence procurement projects. I dont think we should presume that we are going to do more with the same, she added. Thats been the history of the department, and we cant possibly do that. Not with the amount of money that is required for (the defence policy) and the money that is required for Norad. Many defence analysts, industry representatives and others speaking during Wednesdays conference lamented what they saw as apathy by decision-makers and citizens in Canada and the U.S. when it came to what they saw as the biggest threat to North America. It is in my view the No. 1 defence priority for Canada as well as the United States, and that is homeland defence, said James Fergusson, director of the University of Manitobas Centre for Defence and Security Studies and a leading expert on Norad. Unfortunately, in the world of politics in Canada, particularly with a minority government right now, everyone will tell you this is really not on their radar at all. They are going to be obsessed for the next several years with domestic and internal policy priorities. Syria government forces on Wednesday recaptured the onetime protest town of Maaret al-Numan from jihadist and allied rebels, the army said, returning for the first time in seven years. "Our forces managed in the past few days to stamp out terrorism in many villages and towns," including Maaret al-Numan, a spokesman said in a televised statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The driver who allegedly plowed into a group of Good Samaritans trying to help a stranded motorist Monday morning is now facing an upgraded intoxicated manslaughter charge, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. The move comes as one woman who was struck by 26-year-old Zachary Castro was declared brain dead by doctors, Gonzalez said. The woman was one of several people helping a stranded motorist in the 5100 block of Barker Cypress around 12:40 a.m. Monday. Five suspects in abuse of power against journalist Golunov arrested in Moscow Moskva city news agency, Alexander Avilov 11:23 29/01/2020 MOSCOW, January 29 (RAPSI) Five suspects in a case over abuse of authority during the arrest of journalist Ivan Golunov have been apprehended in Moscow, the Investigative Committees website informs Wednesday. The arrested ex- narcotics control police officers have been transported to the Investigative Committee for investigative activities, the news release reads. In late December, investigators opened the case over arrest of Golunov. The journalist was recognized as an injured party. There are five defendants in the case; all of them have been dismissed from police. Golunov was arrested in Moscow on June 6. On June 8, the Nikulinsky District Court of Moscow placed him under house arrest for 2 months. According to the Interior Ministrys official statement, police seized nearly 4 grams of methylmethedrone from Golunov. The journalist pleaded not guilty, insisted that the drugs were planted on him during the arrest and claimed that his prosecution is related to his journalistic investigations. According to his defense, an examination showed no drugs in his biomaterial. On June 11, charges against Golunov were dropped because of a lack of evidence that he participated in the crime, and the journalist was released. On June 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed two generals of police on the back of the arrest of Golunov. Technavio has been monitoring the construction market in Germany since 2015 and the market is poised to grow by USD 91.28 billion during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of almost 5% during the forecast period. Request Free Sample Pages This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005285/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled construction market in Germany 2019-2023. (Graphic: Business Wire) Read the 109-page research report with TOC on "Construction Market in Germany Analysis Report by End-user (Residential, Commercial, and Public), by Type (Renovation and modernization, and New installations), and Segment Forecasts, 2019 2023". https://www.technavio.com/report/construction-market-in-germany-industry-analysis The growing demand for housing units and ongoing use of digital technologies is anticipated to boost the growth of the market. In 2018, the German government made an announcement regarding its plan to construct around 1.5 million housing units by 2021. This is because Germany would require about 350,000 new housing units per year by 2021 as per the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning. The rise in population in major cities and increase in the number of immigrants is propelling the need for new residential infrastructure. In addition, the German residential property market appears highly attractive to investors because it is less volatile in comparison to the commercial property market. This is further driving the number of residential construction projects and demand for construction of new infrastructure. Thus, the growing demand for housing units is expected to drive market growth during the forecast period. Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free. View market snapshot before purchasing Major Five Construction Market Companies in Germany: BAUER Group BAUER Group is headquartered in Germany and operates the business under various segments such as Construction, Equipment, and Resources. The company offers civil engineering, environmental construction, and project development services. Bilfinger Bilfinger is headquartered in Germany and offers products through the following business units: Engineering Technologies, Maintenance, Modifications Operations, and Other Operations. The company offers consulting, engineering, manufacturing, assembly, maintenance, and plant expansion services. HOCHTIEF HOCHTIEF is headquartered in Germany and operates under various business segments, namely HOCHTIEF Americas, HOCHTIEF Asia Pacific, and HOCHTIEF Europe. The company offers design, financing, planning, insurance, and consulting services. STRABAG STRABAG is headquartered in Austria and offers products through the following business segments: NORTH WEST, SOUTH EAST, INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL DIVISIONS, and OTHER. The company offers construction services for transportation infrastructures, building construction, and civil engineering. Stumpf Group Stumpf Group is headquartered in Austria and offers design, engineering and construction services under its brands, M+W Group and Exyte. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Construction Market in Germany End-user Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2019 2023) Residential Commercial Public Construction Market in Germany Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2019 2023) Renovation and modernization New installations 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 Related Reports on Industrials include: Construction Machinery Market Global Construction Machinery Market by geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America) and product (earthmoving machinery, material handling machinery, concrete and road construction machinery, and other machinery). Construction Equipment Market in Europe Construction Equipment Market in Europe by geography (Germany, France, the UK, and the Rest of Europe) and product (earthmovers, road equipment, concrete equipment, and cranes). 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. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005285/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 Trump rolls out 'deal of the century' with Israel, annexation of West Bank Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment President Trump rolled out what is being called the "deal of the century" with Israel that includes annexation of parts of the West Bank and creates the possibility of a Palestinian state. The proposal has reportedly been in development since 2017 and consists of over 50 pages of the administration's ideas about resolving border disputes and Jerusalem's status. "[T]he plan envisions Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem, including areas Palestinians claim as the capital of a future independent state. The Palestinians would have control over some neighborhoods on outer parts of East Jerusalem and might control 70% to 80% of the West Bank," The Wall Street Journal reported. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been in Washington, D.C., meeting with Trump this week, has pledged that Israel will annex much of the Jordan Valley, which borders Jordan and would effectively encircle any future Palestinian state. Under the proposed plan, according to Trump administration officials, neither Israelis nor Palestinians will be forced to leave their homes as Israel expands its borders. Trump also met with Benny Gantz, Israel opposition leader, in a separate meeting. The president reportedly told both Netanyahu and Gantz, according to one U.S. official, that "you have six weeks to get this going if you want it." This is an opportunity for peace, Trump said Monday, standing beside Netanyahu at the White House. Well show a plan that has been worked on by everyone. Well see if it catches hold. If it does, thatd be great. If it doesnt, its OK. In the East Room of the White House Tuesday afternoon, Trump said in a joint address with Netanyahu that the agreement "is a historic opportunity for the Palestinians to finally achieve an independent state of their very own." "These ancient lands should not be symbols of conflict but eternal symbols of peace. All humanity should be able to enjoy the glories of the Holy Land," he noted. According to The Jerusalem Post, Trump is hoping to have support from both Netanyahu and Gantz for what he is calling The Deal of the Century as the two men face off in an upcoming March 2 election. The state of Israel has been roiled in contentious politics in the past year. Parliamentary coalitions have not been able to be maintained as Netanyahu faced charges of corruption. The Israeli prime minister was formally indicted Tuesday on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust with the Jerusalem District Court. The move came mere hours after Netanyahu said he was withdrawing his request for parliamentary immunity in the case. Under Trump's plan, any Palestinian state would have to be demilitarized and a tunnel is to be built connecting the West Bank and Gaza. Some evangelical supporters of Israel are hailing the development. Mike Evans, founder of the Friends of Zion Museum in Jerusalem and a faith adviser to Trump, was quoted as saying in The Jerusalem Post Monday that the plan does not give the Palestinians any air space [or] the ability to establish treaties and that for evangelicals the proposal is everything we were hoping for everything. In December 2017 Trump took the historic step of recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and subsequently moved the U.S. embassy there, officially opening it on May 14, 2018, the 70th anniversary of former president Harry S. Truman's recognition of Israel as a sovereign nation-state. In March 2019, the United States also formally recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Reacting to the announcement, Messianic Jewish scholar Michael Brown said that he knows some believers in Jesus are against any potential two-state solution because dividing the land is, as some interpret it, would violate God's Word. And yet, because it has the support of Israeli leaders and the U.S. ambassador to Israel, he tends to view it favorably. "Overall, I know that lasting, true peace can only come to the region through Jesus the Messiah. But if there can be temporary respites that help all the inhabitants of the region, so be it," Brown commented. He added, however, that in light of history and the requirements the Palestinians would have to abide by, he does not expect them to accept the proposal. "Frankly, without massive pressure from the populace as a whole, joined by other Muslim nations, I do not see this happening. And that is the crux of the problem." Megan McKenna and Pete Wicks sparked romance reunion rumours after attending the National Television Awards afterparty on Tuesday night. The former couple, who split in 2017, sent tongues wagging after they were spotted holding hands and leaving together in a taxi, reports The Sun. Megan, 27, was pictured wearing the TOWIE star's coat as they chatted outside the 02 Arena. Back on? Megan McKenna (pictured) and Pete Wicks sparked romance reunion rumours after attending the National Television Awards afterparty on Tuesday night A source told the publication: 'They were holding hands at the after-party, they seemed to be a proper couple again as they were talking to pals there as a pair. 'Pete and Megan were deep into conversation and looked really comfortable in each other's company. 'Pete was a proper gentleman and gave Megan his jacket as she was wearing just a dress and was freezing.' The partygoer added the pair went to have a 'long chat' away from the music so they could properly catch up. Exes: Megan and Pete's turbulent romance was documented on TOWIE, before they explosively split in October 2017 (pictured August 2017) Friends: The pair manged to quash any animosity after they both signed up to Celebs Go Dating last year (Pete pictured at the NTAs on Tuesday) A representative for Megan told MailOnline: 'Megan and Pete are just friends and have been for a long time.' MailOnline has contacted Pete's representatives for comment. It comes after Pete, 31, has been commenting on a slew of her Instagram snaps. In one photo of Megan who posed with her mystery 'date' at the British Takeaway Awards last week, Pete cheekily quipped: 'Better than some of your previous....' Sparks flying? A source said: 'They were holding hands at the after-party, they seemed to be a proper couple again as they were talking to pals there as a pair' Megan and Pete's turbulent romance was documented on TOWIE, before they explosively split in October 2017. The pair - who had a famously fiery relationship - called it quits when Megan discovered in September 2016 that he had been sexting his ex Jacqui Ryland. The star-crossed lovers briefly got back together while Megan was pursuing her musical ambitions in Nashville, but it sadly wasn't meant to be. However, the pair manged to quash any animosity after they both signed up to Celebs Go Dating last year. Pete was also incredibly supportive of Megan after her ex-boyfriend Mike Thalassitis committed suicide last March. Mike passed away aged 26, with Metropolitan Police confirming that he was found hanged near his Edmonton home in tragic news which came to light hours later. Megan channelled her heartache into her singing and entered the Celebrity X Factor, which she went on to win. The new coronavirus that has sickened more than 6,000 people worldwide and killed more than 130 is causing major upheaval across China, the epicenter of the illness. Its also alarming Bay Area residents who at least for now are at very low risk of illness, but are stocking up on face masks and asking health care providers for advice on protecting themselves and loved ones. At least two Bay Area counties have opened public health emergency centers this week to disseminate accurate and up-to-date information about the outbreak. Several stores reported running low on masks, which are being sold to customers concerned for their own safety or who plan to send them to people in China. The outbreak of the respiratory illness has the potential to become a major global health threat, and people in the U.S. should pay attention to updates about how to protect themselves, by avoiding travel to China, for example. But public health and infectious disease experts said for now, people in the Bay Area and other parts of the U.S. should be far more concerned about influenza than the new coronavirus. That means they should wash their hands regularly and stay home from work or school if theyre sick. There are a lot of people who are quite concerned (about the new virus), said Sara Cody, Santa Clara County health officer. But with just a few cases in the United States and none in the Bay Area, we have no evidence theres human-to-human transmission here. We dont have recommendations that people take any particular action. It is important to remember that were having a very busy flu season, she added. So we are really emphasizing that if youre sick, stay home. And if youre not, wash your hands a lot and make sure youve had your flu shot. As much as we can prevent whats preventable, thats great, particularly when everyones concerned about this new virus. As of early Wednesday, the new coronavirus had infected 5,974 people in China and dozens more elsewhere, though some infectious disease experts say that number is probably far higher with many cases not being reported or tested. The virus has been confirmed in at least 18 countries and four U.S. states. Michael Short / Special to The Chronicle Two cases of coronavirus have been reported in California, in Los Angeles and Orange counties; the three others are in Washington state, Illinois and Arizona. Nationwide, 73 possible cases are under investigation. The five confirmed domestic cases are people who recently were in China and almost certainly were infected there before flying to the United States. Experts in global health threats said they were keeping a close eye on the outbreak because of the potential for a major epidemic. Coronaviruses are a common cause of mild illness, but three types have been responsible for large, serious outbreaks of respiratory illness: the current one, and the viruses that cause SARS and MERS. SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) infected about 8,000 people and killed nearly 800, about 10%, before largely disappearing in 2003. MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) has infected about 2,500 people and killed nearly 900, or about 36%. The coronaviruses that cause those illnesses have fairly high fatality rates. But MERS is not easily spread from person to person. And SARS, though more easily transmissible, is not as infectious as other respiratory illnesses like the flu. For the new coronavirus which was identified only a month ago scientists are still trying to determine how contagious it is, and how severely ill it makes people. So far were looking at a disease with a case fatality rate of 2%. Thats a very different kettle of fish from SARS or MERS, which were far deadlier, said George Rutherford, head of the division of infectious disease and epidemiology at UCSF. But theres obviously a lot we dont know. There may be even lower mortality because there are a lot of mild cases that havent been diagnosed. Or there may be a higher mortality. 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. Scientists do know that the new virus is able to spread from human to human, and likely via the respiratory system, meaning people infect others through sneezes or coughs. But theres a broad range in how easily a respiratory pathogen spreads. Measles, for example, is one of the most infectious diseases in the world because it spreads via tiny particles that can float around a room and infect people hours after the original patient has left the space. Other viruses and bacteria require more direct contact, such as droplets from a sneeze coming into contact with another persons eyes, nose or mouth. Other key questions about the new virus are whether people are able to spread it before they show symptoms, and how long the incubation period is. So far, it looks as though the virus may incubate in people for up to two weeks before they show symptoms. Whether they can infect others in that period will make a huge difference in how the illness spreads. The risk to the general public someone sitting on a bus or whatever is actually quite minimal now, said Art Reingold, an epidemiology expert at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health. Im going to guess that people will not transmit very effectively. My guess is we may see secondary transmission to household members or close contacts. But I dont think were going to see sustained transmission or casual transmission in the United States. Thats my hope and expectation. I could be wrong, of course. Staff writer Alejandro Serrano contributed to this report. Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ErinAllday It was only when Vanessa Barboni Hallik took a sabbatical from a 15-year career in finance to study sustainable practices within the industry that she began to put more thought into the environmental impact of her own everyday choices. Among the questions she asked herself: How do I want my clothes to be made? While she knew people cared about the origins of the food they ate and the products they put on their faces, I was surprised by how hard it was to come by information about clothes, she said. Fashion, she realized, was misaligned with how people were living the rest of their lives. Growing up in the small college town of Grinnell, Iowa, Barboni Hallik, 38, was raised in a community that she describes as being at the intersection of academia and the arts. Her father was a sociology professor and her mother was an artist. When she entered the working world, eventually becoming a managing director at Morgan Stanley, Barboni Hallik came to appreciate clothings expressive power in a corporate setting, but the question of social responsibility nagged. And so, in 2007, she took time off from her job to pursue a masters degree in green energy and environmental policy at Columbia University, which kick-started a more than decade-long inquiry into sustainability; she returned to the university in 2019 for a masters in sustainability management. After studying a range of industries, she decided to focus her energies on fashion, which had, she says, the biggest disconnect. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has ordered authorities to take necessary precautionary measures and formulate a comprehensive action to tackle the threat the deadly novel coronavirus that has killed over 100 people in China, the epicentre of the outbreak. In a letter sent to relevant ministries and divisions, the Prime Ministers Office said that the spread of the virus could not be ruled out given the huge number of Chinese citizens in Pakistan and people frequently travelling between the two countries, The News International reported on Tuesday. The Prime Minister has desired for immediately convening a high level inter-ministerial meeting under the chairmanship of Special Assistant to the PM on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination to formulate a comprehensive strategy for tackling the threat, the letter said. The decision of the meeting along with recommendations will be furnished to the Prime Ministers Office within one weeks time. The Express Tribune said in a report on Sunday that a new suspected case of the novel coronavirus had surfaced in Multan, taking the overall tally of fatal virus in Pakistan to five. However, authorities were yet to make an official confirmation regarding the five suspected cases. In South Asia, Sri Lanka and Nepal have registered one confirmed case each. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: Kazakhstan will suspend regular air flights to China, Trend reports with reference to the press office of Kazakhstan's prime minister. The interagency commission under the government of Kazakhstan has taken a number of additional safety measures to prevent coronavirus infection from spreading in Kazakhstan. Thus, starting on Jan. 29 the international buses operating on the routes from Kazakhstan to China are temporarily suspended. Starting from Feb. 1, 2020 the passenger trains operating between Kazakhstan and China will also be suspended. Starting on Feb. 3, 2020 regular flights between countries will be suspended, and visa issuance to Chinese citizens has already been suspended. An outbreak of previously unknown pneumonia later identified as a new type of coronavirus and denoted as 2019-nCoV was registered in China's Wuhan in late Dec.2019. As of Jan.29, 2020, the number of those infected amounted to 5,594 people, whereas the number of deceased amounted to 132 people. Focused on continuous education and talent management, Impelsys Inc brings forth iPC Health, an e-learning platform to standardize healthcare delivery across the country Impelsys Inc, a worlds leader in online content and learning solutions enters India with iPC Health, an end-to-end mobile learning and upskilling solution for the healthcare sector. The mobile-first platform brings a much-awaited solution to impart on-the-go training and education for hospital staff and in turn deliver better outcomes and save lives. Present at the unveil recently in Bengaluru were Honorable Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Ashwath Narayan CN, CEO Impelsys Sameer Shariff , Mr Phil Smithers, Global Sales & Marketing Head, Royal College of Nursing (RCNi) amongst other dignitaries from the healthcare industry who collectively acknowledged and stressed upon the need of a systematic multi-level learning approach that can improve the way healthcare is delivered in the country today. iPC Health is a first-ever advanced and comprehensive learning interface that will offer certified anytime anywhere education programs rendering upskilling, advanced learning and compliance training for healthcare professionals in India. The solution hosts multiple digitized courses curated by knowledge partners and noted domain experts from across the world such as RCNi, American Heart Association, Wolters Kluwer and many other leading medical education publishers. Introducing iPC Health, CEO Impelsys Sameer Shariff said, In India, skill development and access to quality healthcare clearly are the two areas of improvement. iPC Health is curated to bridge the skill gap and ensure standardization across the healthcare sector in the country. Our aim is to enhance learning and professional expertise of healthcare personnel and help hospitals manage their greatest assets-their people effectively. This will, in turn, create an impact by improving the quality standards of healthcare services in the country. Qualitative research The State of Skills in the Indian Healthcare Industry undertaken by IQVIA highlighted current need gaps in the learning and development arena across the healthcare industry. The research undertaken across leading 20 hospitals in the country indicated that the workforce is open to invest time in receiving on-the-job training but lacks an understanding of its impact. They do not have access to reliable content, effective trainers and are overwhelmed with their workload currently. Today we have the best of the infrastructure, technology and clinical expertise a country could have. But standardizing delivery of care is a huge challenge we face. We are grappling with a skill set that can deliver first aid, critical care in ambulances, operate world-class equipment etc. The industry needs a systematic approach to train a workforce and hone their skills and a product like iPC Health can be instrumental in bridging this gap, said Hon Depute CM Karnataka Shri Ashwath Narayan. Focused on spreading knowledge through technology, iPC Health brings forth specific learning modules for every healthcare professional ranging from receptionists, nurses, support staff, lab assistants and ambulance drivers to doctors and medical experts, improving the overall quality of healthcare delivery. RCNi, a premier provider of innovative and creative information solutions for a nursing team is one of the knowledge partners that curated a robust learning and assessment module for nurses in India. This comes in with an objective to not only enhance their skills but also provide them with an opportunity to carve out a professional learning curve for themselves. Nurses are directly involved in almost all aspects of hospital care. But, the industry-academia gap in the sector is huge and most of the under-graduate nurses joining the profession are not immediately employable. Solutions that can address this gap at the hospital level is the need of the hour, said Dr Naresh Shetty, President MS Ramaiah Memorial Hospital. Apart from education, iPC Health will offer induction, compliance, emergency medical services as well as soft skill training modules. The platform will enable hospitals to manage their learning and development more effectively through a comprehensive learning management system including content management tools, reporting dashboards and assessment modules. Healthcare organizations can leverage the learning platform to educate, analyse the progress and to enhance employee specific career goals. The platform is now ready for organizations including corporate hospitals, speciality hospitals, small- scale independent hospitals, nursing homes, clinics etc. aiming to improving the overall quality of healthcare delivery. Photo Caption- Sameer Shariff, CEO, Impelsys with Hon Min Ashwath Narayan, Deputy CM Karnataka and other dignitaries at iPC Health launch China rushes to build new hospital for virus within 10 days Beijing (AFP) Jan 24, 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 hundreds of people, state media reported Friday. The facility in the central city of Wuhan is expected to be in use by February 3 to serve a rising number of patients infected by a coronavirus that has left at least 26 people dead and millions on lockdown in an effort to curb its spread. Dozens of excavators and trucks were filmed working on the site by ... read more OAKLAND (BCN) Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and other city officials on Tuesday opened another set of community cabins aimed at addressing the city's growing homeless crisis. The new set of 19 cabins at Oak and Sixth streets, near the Chinatown and Jack London Square neighborhoods, is the seventh such site since the city launched the cabin program in December 2017. Caltrans has leased the property to the city for $1 a month. Each cabin has two beds so the new cabins will be used to house a total of 38 people. The new cabins bring the total number of cabin beds throughout the city to 232. Past cabin communities were paid for by large donors such as Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health, but the new site received contributions from more than 170 individual Oakland residents. "The Oak Street site is a tangible example of what happens when the community comes together to help one another," Schaaf said in a statement. Schaaf said, "More than 170 Oaklanders contributed to creating this community - 170 beautiful, compassionate hearts, who reached into their pocketbooks because they wanted to do something about homelessness." Schaaf said community cabins offer what she described as "the 4 P's," accommodations for pets, partners, possessions and a lockable door for privacy. She said insulation protects from noise and the elements and each cabin has a low-voltage power outlet for phone charging. Schaaf said community cabin sites are an emergency intervention designed to serve as a temporary bridge from the sidewalk to services, from the street to housing. She said the first six community cabin sites have served 611 people since December 2017. Schaaf said 56 percent of those people who have left the cabins moved on to permanent or more supportive housing. She said more than 200 of that group have obtained a driver's license and 145 people have found employment. It will cost $850,000 a year to operate the site and the money will come from the California Homeless Emergency Aid Program. 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. Vinay Sharma, one of the four death-row convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya Delhi gang-rape case, has filed a mercy petition with President Ram Nath Kovind, his lawyer AP Singh said on Wednesday. A Delhi court had issued the death warrant to Akshay Singh Thakur, Mukesh Kumar, Pawan Gupta and Vinay Sharma, and ordered their hanging on February 1. Earlier, Mukesh Kumar too had filed the mercy petition, which was rejected by the President. He later challenged the rejection of his mercy petition which was also dismissed by the Supreme Court. The case pertains to the gang-rape and brutalising of a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012, by six people including a juvenile in Delhi. The woman had died at a Singapore hospital a few days later. One of the five adult accused, Ram Singh, had allegedly committed suicide in the Tihar Jail during the trial of the case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 29 : Congress members who blocked Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan as he arrived in the Assembly for the budget session, was forcefully removed by the watch and ward staff, making way for him to read out his address to the assembly. Khan along with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan and State Parliamentary Affairs Minister A.K. Balan and others were stopped in the well of the House by Congress members. Khan, spotting a wide smile, welcomed the protesters with folded hands and waited for things to cool down. But, the adamant opposition carrying placards written 'call back Governor' and raising slogans of "recall Governor", was seen engaged in a heated argument with the watch and ward staff. Later, the speaker also tried to pacify the agitating opposition to make way for the Governor but failed to prevail. The opposition legislators were continuously raising slogans against the Governor and the Kerala government. After about 10 minutes, a large contingent of the watch and ward staff arrived and was seen engaged in a tiff with the protesters and made way for Khan to go forward to the podium, to begin his address. As Khan was reading out his address, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala was seen speaking, but was not audible and soon he announced that he is boycotting the day's session and took the entire opposition out of the house. Later speaking to the media at the entrance gate of the assembly, where they are staging a sit-in protest, Chennithala said its a shame that Vijayan had to catch the feet of the Governor as was evident from what has now come out. "What Vijayan should have done was to support my resolution that seeks to withdraw the governor. Khan is an agent of the RSS and Amit Shah and today Vijayan has succumbed before them as his SNC Lavalin corruption case in which he is seventh accused is coming before the Supreme Court next week and he wants their (Modi and Shah) gratis. To get that, he has enacted this drama on CAA. The other day he staged a human wall against the CAA and in the evening was seen in the company of Khan. We feel ashamed the way Vijayan is going about," said Chennithala. Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston Six Chinese nationals who tried to travel to the Australian mainland on a boat they hired in Indonesia have triggered a biosecurity operation over coronavirus fears. The six men, from Jiangsu province in eastern China, caught a flight to Bali on New Year's Day and then paid an Indonesian crew to take them to Australia later in January. The small wooden fishing vessel caught the attention of Border Force officials as soon as it reached the Ashmore Islands north of Broome - just inside Australian Territorial Waters. The Border Force officials made the boat turn back to Indonesian waters. The men and their two Indonesian crew are now being detained by Indonesian police on a naval base on Rote Island in the country's East Nusa Tenggara province - confined to their ramshackle boat as a quarantine precaution against coronavirus, reports the ABC. Meanwhile, more than 600 Australians still trapped in Wuhan, China, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, will be airlifted out and quarantined on Christmas Island, prime minister Scott Morrison announced on Wednesday. Six Chinese nationals who tried to travel to the Australian mainland on a boat (pictured) they hired in Indonesia have triggered a biosecurity operation over coronavirus fears The six Chinese men (pictured) are being held in quarantine in Indonesia and have not shown symptoms of coronavirus. They will be handed over to immigration officials The six Chinese men, named Fan Shenghong, Cui Hennggo, Hang Yongsheng, Wang Sisen, Han Baolin and Chu Kaishan, went from Bali to East Timor then returned to Indonesia, local police told the publication. While in East Timor the group organised the fishing vessel and its two crew to transport them to Australia for a fee of $1,000 each and set sail later that month. 'In the Australian waters, they were intercepted by a Border Protection vessel and returned back as soon as they found Chinese onboard', Rote police deputy commissioner Bambang Hani Wibowo said. 'They [Border Force] worry about the virus threat.' Operation Sovereign Borders is particularly secretive about tactics used to thwart boats attempting to smuggle people into Australia. However, after the boat was intercepted by Border Force officials it was next seen floating back in Indonesian territorial waters. Past operations by the agency have been known to give intercepted vessels just enough fuel to make it back to Indonesian waters but not enough to reach the Australian mainland or Christmas Island. A security staff member checks a passenger's temperature at Sanya Phoenix International Airport in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province amid Chinese efforts to contain coronavirus CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA NEW SOUTH WALES: 4 Four people in NSW have been diagnosed with coronavirus, including three men and one woman. January 25 Three men aged 43, 53, and 35 who had recently travelled to China are confirmed to have contracted the disease. Two flew in from Wuhan while the other arrived in Sydney from Shenzhen, south China. They are being treated in isolation at Westmead Hospital and are in stable condition. January 27 A 21-year-old woman is identified as the fourth person to test positive for the illness in NSW. The woman, a student at UNSW, flew into Sydney International Airport on flight MU749 on January 23 and presented to the emergency department 24 hours later after developing flu-like symptoms. She is being treated in isolation at Westmead Hospital. VICTORIA: 4 January 25 A Chinese national aged in his 50s becomes the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in Australia. The man flew to Melbourne on China Southern flight CZ321 from Wuhan via Guangzhou on January 19. He is now in quarantined isolation at Monash Hospital in Clayton in Melbourne's east. January 29 A Victorian man in his 60s is diagnosed with the coronavirus. He became unwell on January 23 - two days after returning from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak. The man was confirmed as positive on January 29 and was subsequently seen by doctors at the Monash Medical Centre. He was assessed as being well enough to stay at home. January 30 A woman in her 40s falls ill with the coronavirus. She was visiting from China and mostly spent time with her family. She is being treated at Royal Melbourne Hospital. February 1 A Melbourne woman aged in her 20s is at home recovering. She returned from Wuhan on January 25 and fell ill two days later. She was not infectious on the flight, and has remained in isolation since being tested. QUEENSLAND: 2 January 29 Queensland confirms its first case after a 44-year-old Chinese national wass diagnosed with the virus. He is being treated at Gold Coast University Hospital. January 30 A 42-year-old Chinese woman who was travelling in the same Wuhan tour group as the 44-year-old man tests positive. She is in Gold Coast University Hospital in stable condition. SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 2 February 1 A Chinese couple were placed in isolation in a public hospital. The man and a woman both aged 60, were from Wuhan and visiting relatives in South Australia. SA Health said the pair isolated themselves at home when they developed symptoms and awaited the results of the coronavirus test. Australia has raised the travel alert level to 'do not travel' for the city of Wuhan - the epicentre of the outbreak - and for the entire Hubei province. Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy says unless people have contact with someone who is unwell and has come from that part of China, there is no need for current concern. Advertisement Indonesian police and navy vessels then approached the fishing vessel. Officers from Indonesia were reportedly seen wearing thin surgical masks as they dealt with those on board. 'As we identified they were Chinese, we then contacted the health office to make sure they were not having the corona infection syndrome. So far they are clear of the symptoms,' Mr Wibowo said. Arrangements are now being made to hand over the boat's occupants to immigration officials for questioning. On Wednesday Australia's prime minister announced Australians in Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus outbreak began would be airlifted out to a quarantine station located on Christmas Island. A consular team in Shanghai was previoulsy dispatched to Wuhan to help negotiate their evacuation. 'They are being crosschecked to ensure there is no double-counting because sometimes you will have multiple family members report the same person, but at this stage, approximately 400 registrations have been placed with Foreign Affairs,' Health Minister Greg Hunt said. Five people are being treated in Australian hospitals for the virus but Australia's Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said they were all in a stable condition. Health Minister Greg Hunt warned the disease is of 'pandemic potential' and the number of cases in the country is expected to rise as more are tested every day. 'There are a number of cases being considered in each of the states and territories, those numbers will literally change by the hour because some will be cleared and others will be tested,' he told Sky News. Symptoms of the strain of coronavirus that was first seen in Wuhan, China 'We do believe that there is a potential for further cases to be identified and therefore, to be announced. At this stage, the latest advice is that all five patients are being treated in isolation and all are stable and being well cared for. 'We have some of the strongest border protection measures in place around the world and we have biosecurity officials boarding all planes from China looking for symptoms. 'The Prime Minister has ordered all planes coming from China are boarded by security officials and that's an extremely important measure. 'Every passenger is met with by biosecurity officials and not only are they provided with information, but there is a review of their symptoms and the situation.' Foreign Minister Marise Payne issued a travel warning on Wednesday, advising Australians to stay away from Hubei. NORWALK The YMCA will have a home in Norwalk once more. The Riverbrook Regional YMCA has used public school buildings and the Wilton YMCA to offer programming since its West Avenue headquarters closed in 2012. But now, the organization is moving to new headquarters in South Norwalk after the Common Council approved funds and a lease for the property at 98 South Main St. Bob McDowell, CEO of the Riverbrook Regional YMCA, said as soon as the lease is finalized, the organization can begin fundraising, putting out RFPs for capital improvement projects and programming. The lease is expected to be finalized within the next several months, with a potential for programming to begin as soon as mid-April. This is an outstanding result for this building, said District E Common Council member Tom Livingston. We think itll be a great addition to the city and South Norwalk. The Y is returning and providing a lot of important services to the community. In 2018, the city acquired the Main Street building for $300,000, buying back half of the property from the South Norwalk Community Center and gaining the ownership of interest owned by Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now, which went bankrupt. The city then put additional money into capital improvements for the building, such as fixing the roof. The approved lease is for 30 years. Mario Coppola, the citys corporation counsel, previously said the building will be exempt from taxes and charged limited fees due to the role its playing in the South Norwalk community. Rent will be $1 a year. Residents would pay a nominal fee for access to the YMCA. The YMCA will match the $1.2 million the city put toward their capital improvements ($200,000 of which was given last August), meaning the Y has $2.4 million to start. The money the city is using for the YMCA comes from the $3.5 million given by Brookfield Properties, developers of The SoNo Collection, to help with the redevelopment of South Norwalk. Funds to originally purchase back the property also came from the Brookfield payment. The remaining funds needed for the $5 million capital renovations will be raised via private fundraising. McDowell said the organization did a fundraising study to set the budget and determine how much theyd need to raise. Were poised and ready to go, he said. Its hard to raise the money now because we dont have a signed lease. Programming would still continue throughout construction, McDowell said, similar to what was done during the recent renovation of the Wilton YMCA. The space would not have a pool or basketball court, but early renderings show the potential for a modern facade made of glass or brick. The new building will also have space for science, technology, engineering and math, visual arts, wellness and music programs. McDowell said the YMCA will introduce programs as the space for them becomes available. According to the lease term sheet, many health and fitness programs, such as community lectures and a walking club, would be available as soon as the building opens, with more educational and fitness programs being added as construction is completed. The building is currently occupied by Americares and the South Norwalk Commuity Center. McDowell said both will remain in the facility, and there have even been discussions with Americares to expand into the building where they already provide health care visits to 3,500 uninsured people a year. There have also been conversations with the Norwalk Housing Authority to centralize its learning centers at the property post-renovation. erin.kayata@hearstmediact.com Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - January 29, 2020) - Maple Gold Mines Ltd. (TSXV: MGM) (OTCQB: MGMLF) (FSE: M3G) ("Maple Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that induced polarization ("IP") work recently commenced at Douay, with the aim of establishing new high-grade discovery targets during the first quarter. One area prospective for new higher grade discoveries is located approximately 6km NE of the Douay deposit's 531 Zone. Several chargeability anomalies were defined during a 2019 IP survey, including a broad northern anomaly (the "North IP Target") about 3km long within the same package of rocks as the recently closed Vezza Mine (located only 12km east of the Douay property limit). Discovering new high-grade lenses of mineralisation within the Company's greater property package has the potential to contribute significantly to conceptual mining scenarios and the Company has therefore earmarked funds for initial scout drilling in the event favourable results are obtained from the infill IP work (7 lines) at the North IP Target. Three test lines will also be undertaken in the 531 Zone area (See figure 1 below). Maple Gold's President and CEO, Matthew Hornor, commented: "In addition to our drilling plans within the known resource area, we are very excited to firm up new discovery targets across our greater property package and believe the potential to discover new higher-grade gold lenses remains excellent. The broad North IP Target we defined last year sits within an area prospective for higher grade gold mineralisation similar to other nearby mines along the same break (Casa Berardi 40km to the west and Vezza 12km to the east of Douay)." Both Casa Berardi and Vezza deposits are structurally-controlled and hosted within the Taibi Group sedimentary rocks (Vezza), and/or the volcanic rocks immediately to the south (Casa Berardi). At Casa Berardi, past production plus resources equal approximately 6.2Moz Au, mainly in gold-bearing quartz-(carbonate) veins. Current reserve grades are 5.3 g/t Au underground and 2.3 g/t Au in-pit. The Vezza deposit, located in a similar geological (sediment-hosted) and structural context, but with broader auriferous silica-carbonate alteration rather than veins, has past production plus current resources of about 0.4Moz at an average grade of about 6 g/t Au. This geological context also occurs over the northern portion of the current Douay property (Figs. 1, 2), with the North IP Target being largely undrilled. Note: Mineralisation hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralisation hosted on the Company's Douay Property. Fig 1. Location of NE Grid IP anomalies relative to Resource Area. Top Priority North IP Target anomalies are largely undrilled, South IP anomalies are spatially associated with mostly known and partly drilled conductors. Note: the lone historical drill-hole in the North IP Target area intersected Vezza-style silicified/pyritic sediments. Fig. 2: Regional gold and base metal discovery targets at property scale. Note position of current resource, spatially associated with Douay Syenitic intrusive complex. Base metal targets in central part of property were defined during 2018 mapping program; while no exposed syenitic bodies were found there at the time, additional pyritic intrusive complexes at shallow depth cannot be ruled out until geophysical surveys have been completed. In addition to the "Orogenic Gold" (Casa Berardi and Vezza) and Intrusive-Related Gold (Douay) deposit types, the mafic-volcanic dominant Cartwright Hills Group to the south also contains several sedimentary and/or felsic interflow horizons that are favorable for gold-rich VMS deposits, similar to those that occur at Estrades some 12km West of the Douay property boundary. Limited mining (0.34Mt) there in 1990-1991 yielded average grades of 13.0% Zn, 1.2% Cu, 6.2 g/t Au, and 170.8 g/t Ag. Maple Gold remains excited about, and committed to continue systematically testing these discovery targets (Fig.2 above). Qualified Person The scientific and technical data contained in this press release was reviewed and prepared under the supervision of Fred Speidel, M. Sc, P. Geo., Vice-President Exploration, of Maple Gold. Mr. Speidel is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Speidel has verified the data related to the exploration information disclosed in this news release through his direct participation in the work. Click the following link to review the Company's QA-QC standards and protocols: http://maplegoldmines.com/index.php/en/projects/qa-qc-qp-statement. About Maple Gold Maple Gold is an advanced gold exploration and development company focused on defining a district-scale gold project in one of the world's premier mining jurisdictions. The Company's ~355 km Douay Gold Project is located along the Casa Berardi Deformation Zone (55 km of strike) within the prolific Abitibi Greenstone Belt in northern Quebec, Canada. The Project benefits from excellent infrastructure and has an established gold resource that remains open in multiple directions. For more information please visit www.maplegoldmines.com. ON BEHALF OF MAPLE GOLD MINES LTD. "Matthew Hornor" B. Matthew Hornor, President & CEO For Further Information Please Contact: Mr. Joness Lang VP, Corporate Development Cell: 778.686.6836 Email: jlang@maplegoldmines.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 PRESS RELEASE. Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively referred to as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation in Canada, including statements about the prospective mineral potential of the Porphyry Zone, the potential for significant mineralisation from other drilling in the referenced drill program and the completion of the drill program. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, uncertainties and management's best estimate of future events. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations and projections. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding timing and completion of the private placement. When used herein, words such as "anticipate", "will", "intend" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on certain estimates, expectations, analysis and opinions that management believed reasonable at the time they were made or in certain cases, on third party expert opinions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, and uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual events, results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future events, results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to Maple Gold Mines Ltd.'s filings with Canadian securities regulators available on www.sedar.com or the Company's website at www.maplegoldmines.com. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51921 NEW DELHI: At a time when the Union Home Ministry is considering to impose a ban on Popular Front Of India (PFI) due to its alleged involvement in terror-related and anti-India activities, Zee News has exposed how this Islamic outfit is spreading 'jihad' across the length and breadth of the country. Zee News, in its extremely popular show DNA, revealed on Wednesday the financial links between PFI and the ongoing anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests across India. In order to trace the radical outfit's roots, the Zee News team travelled to Kerala and collected credible evidence to suggest how PFI, its ground workers and affiliated organisations have been strategically and systematically financing the anti-CAA protests with the sole aim of establishing the Sharia rule in the country. Zee News also rejected often repeated claims that the anti-CAA protests going on across the country are actually ''people's movement'' and that there is no direct or indirect involvement of any political party in it. The ''ground reporting'' done by Zee News shows that the PFI has been funding the violence and the protests against the Centre in the guise of opposition to the citizenship law to spread jihad and strengthen the roots of radical Islam in India. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), in its probe report, found that the recent violent protests in Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the country against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) had an alleged "financial link" with the Kerala-based PFI. The central probe agency also found several bank accounts in the name of PFI and how over crores of Rupees were deposited in 73 accounts to dodge the investigations. Details of a bank account in Kerala's Kozhikode probed by Zee News revealed that the radical Islamic outfit paid a hefty amount to several top-notch people, including noted lawyers Kapil Sibal and Indira Jaising, for defending it's alleged activist in Hadiya 'love jihad' case. According to it, Kapil Sibal, Indira Jaising and Dushyant Dave were among the major beneficiaries of PFIs funding. According to it, nearly Rs 92 lakh was transferred into the bank account of these noted lawyers from the said outfit. The senior Congress leader later issued a clarification claiming that the payments made by PFI were the lawyer fees owed to him in the Hadiya case and questioned the conduct of the media in the entire controversy. However, here we are referring to the role of PFI in Hadiya 'love jihad' case and for that you need to understand the complexities of the case. The NIA investigations had revealed that Akhila Ashokan, the daughter of Ashokan KM, was a target of PFI activists and the Sathya Sarini Educational and Charitable Trust. She was converted to Islam and became Hadiya. She married her husband Shafin Jahan. (Markazul Hidaya) Sathya Sarani Educational and Charitable Trust, Manjeri, Kerala, a PFI center for religious learning which imparts religious lessons to Islam converts, was raided several times by several agencies. The Sathya Sarani trust has been suspected of involvement in religious conversions and has even been linked to the ISIS. The Hadiya matter went up to the Supreme Court in the case "Shafin Jahan Vs Ashokan KM & Ors." Now, a basic question which one may ask is how does PFI get into a legal dispute between a woman and her husband? And, if it was a simple case related to 'nikah', why such a hefty amount was paid to top laywers to pursue the case in Supreme Court, who funded it and from where the money came. After a detailed investigation by the NIA, it came to light that Hadiya's husband was a PFI activist and, in order to save him, the radical Islamic outfit hired lawyers by paying them such a huge amount to fight his case. Interestingly, the NIA had also claimed in a 2016 probe that ''Sathya Sarini'' was involved in the conversion of women in Kerala, including Akhila Asokan, Zee News team also spoke to Hadiya's father Ashokan KM, a retired Army personnel, who said that he didn't have enough money or documents to contest the case ''financed'' by PFI and eventually lost the legal battle. In 2017, Hadiyas father had filed a petition with the Kerala High Court, alleging that she had been forcibly converted to Islam and that his daughter could be taken away to Syria. The Supreme Court, however, ruled in Hadiya's favour and said that she was free to choose her life partner and no one can force her. Zee News has accessed the Home Ministry's report, which alleges that the PFI has been carrying out forced conversions, radicalisation of Muslim youth and maintaining links with banned groups. The NIA has even termed it as a threat to national security. The Kerala-based radical outfit has been named in at least four cases by the NIA: chopping off the palm of a professor in Keralas Idukki district (July 2010), murder of RSS activist Rudresh in Bengaluru (October 2016), association with the Islamic State Omar Al-Hindi module in Kochi (October 2016) and organising a training camp in Kannur from where bombs, improvised explosive devices and swords were recovered (April 2013). The demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in December 1992 provided an impetus to Muslim organizations in Kerala to form resistance groups to meet the challenges from the Sangh Parivar, the NIA mentioned in its dossier on PFI. It says most of the founding members of the PFI are ex-Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) members who wanted an effective platform for their radical ideology. Since its formation in Kerala, the PFI has now spread to Manipur, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and West Bengal. It has a strong presence in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Its leadership claims it has a presence in 23 states. The PFI also has a political group Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) - which took part in panchayat elections in Kerala. Live TV According to the NIA dossier, PFI has over 50,000 regular members and 100,000 to 150,000 sympathizers in Kerala. On its funding, the agency says PFI receives funds through the India Fraternity Forum (IFF), which started almost as a counterpart of the PFI in Gulf countries. The agency claims prominent PFI leaders often visit Gulf countries with the aim of discreet fund collection. The Muslim Relief Network (MRN), a Kerala-based NGO launched by PFI, mobilizes funds, especially from the Gulf countries, by receiving donations from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) in Jeddah, and has established links with the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) and the National Confederations of Human Rights Organisations. Besides PFI collects funds for purposes such as membership fee and Ramadan collection, according to the NIA. The central anti-terror probe agency has also linked PFI with several left-wing extremist and Dalit organisations that campaign on issues like police atrocities, fake encounters and Operation Green Hunt (an all-out operation against Naxals by government and paramilitary forces post-2009). The NIA report mentions that PFI is working on the lines of Pakistan-based terrorist outfits and carrying out jihad with the ole aim of establishing the rule of Islam in India. Amid the rising cases of coronavirus infected people in China, Air India on Wednesday (January 29) advised all cockpit and cabin crew who travel to South East Asian cities to wear N95 masks in order to remain safe. The coronavirus outbreak in China has forced IndiGo to suspend all Delhi-Chengdu flights from February 1 to February 20. "After carefully assessing the current Coronavirus situation in China, IndiGo is taking some safety measures for its customers, crew and staff. Due to China travel restrictions, we have seen a high number of cancellations from China on our Delhi-Chengdu route and vice-a-versa. Therefore, we are suspending our flights between Delhi and Chengdu from February 01, 2020 until February 20, 2020. We are also suspending our Bengaluru- Hong Kong flight effective February 01, 2020," IndiGo said in a statement. The airline added that these measures are purely temporary and precautionary and IndiGo is aware that these measures will cause inconvenience to our customers. The airline said that it will refund the full amount to the impacted passengers. "We are in close touch with the relevant Government authorities and we thank them and our partners in China for all the help and support that they have extended so far. For now, we will continue to operate our Kolkata - Guangzhou flight, which we are monitoring on a daily basis. And for our operating crew, we are ensuring that they return to India on the inbound flights without any layover in China," IndiGo said. Live TV Meanwhile, the Research Councils under the Ministry of AYUSH, have issued an advisory suggesting preventive steps based on the Indian traditional medicine practices Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Unani. As per the Ayurvedic Practices the steps that have been suggested for the Preventive Management--maintain personal hygiene, wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, drink Shadang Paniya (Musta, Parpat, Usheer, Chandan,Udeechya & Nagar) processed water (10 gm powder boiled in 1-litre water, until it reduces to half). In a related development, China on Tuesday (January 28) approved Centre's request to fly Indians out of Wuhan City, which has been worst affected by the deadly coronavirus outbreak. Sources told Zee Media Air India plane will soon head to China soon to evacuate the Indians from Wuhan City and other parts of China. On Monday (January 27), Air India had said that a Boeing 747 has been kept on standby for the evacuation of Indians from Wuhan and the aircraft is waiting for the Centre`s decision regarding the evacuation."Air India Boeing 747 is on standby for the evacuation of Indians from Wuhan (China) due to scare of Coronavirus. Carrier is waiting for the government the decision," an Air Indian official told ANI on Monday. A prison is seen in Hargeisa, Somaliland, on March 29, 2011. Somaliland authorities recently sentenced journalist Abdirahman Mohamed Hiddig to 21 months in prison. (AP/Katharine Houreld) Nairobi, January 28, 2020 -- Authorities in Somaliland should immediately release journalist Abdirahman Mohamed Hiddig from prison and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On January 15, authorities in the town of Erigavo, in the eastern Sanaag region, detained Abdirahman, a reporter with the privately owned broadcaster Eryal TV, according to representatives of two regional press freedom groups, Yahye Mohamed, executive director of the Somaliland Journalists Association, and Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, secretary general of the Somali Journalists Syndicate, both of whom spoke to CPJ via messaging app. The arrest was sparked by a complaint from Mohamed Abdirahman Liban, the deputy manager of the breakaway region's government-owned printing press, about a post on Abdirahman's professional Facebook page, the two press groups said in separate statements. Abdirahman had previously been detained in December 2019 in connection to the same complaint, and was released on bond on January 4, Abdalle said. Following his arrest on January 15, authorities brought Abdirahman before a court where he was tried without a lawyer present and was sentenced to 21 months in prison, according to the statements by the press groups and Abdisamed Giirre, an Eryal TV journalist who spoke to CPJ via messaging app. Abdisamed said he did not know what Abdirahman was charged with, and the statements do not specify any charges. CPJ was unable to determine the exact charge that Abdirahman faced. The court also fined Abdirahman 6 million Somaliland shillings ($700), according to Yahye, who told CPJ that an appeal has been filed on Abdirahman's behalf. Somaliland authorities must immediately release journalist Abdirahman Mohamed Hiddig from prison and cease jailing reporters for their work, said CPJ sub-Saharan Africa representative Muthoki Mumo. Sentencing a journalist to 21 months in prison after a sham trial without a lawyer present is an outrage. Abdirahman frequently posts political commentary and clips of his journalism on his public Facebook page, which has about 5,000 followers. In a December 2019 post beginning with Breaking news, Abdirahman alleged that Mohamed, the deputy manager of the printing press, did not support a peace process in El-Afwein, a town in the Sanaag region, according to the Somali Journalists Syndicate statement and a screenshot of the post, which CPJ reviewed and which has since been deleted. The journalist is being held in Erigavo district prison, Abdisamed and Yahye said. When CPJ called Mohamed Abdirahman Liban for comment yesterday, he told CPJ that he was in a meeting and said he would call back later. When CPJ called back today, he declined to comment. CPJ emailed Somaliland Attorney General Hassan Aden for comment but did not receive a response. Over the past year, Somaliland authorities have arrested journalists, shut down outlets, blocked websites, and detained reporters carrying out their work. Saudi Arabia said on January 29 that it 'appreciates' US President Donald Trump's efforts to devise a peace plan for the Middle East and also called for initiating direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians. International reactions came on Trump administration's unveiling of the Israeli-Palestinian peace plan at White House alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on January 28. Saudi Arabia also said that any disagreements with the plan will be resolved through negotiations under the advocacy of the US. The Gulf nation called for an agreement 'that achieves the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people'. According to state media, Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry released a statement saying the kingdom acknowledges the efforts of US President to develop a 'comprehensive peace plan' between both the sides and putting end to one to one of the oldest ongoing wars in the history. Read - Donald Trump Unveils Middle East Peace Plan Alongside Israeli PM Netanyahu Palestinian leaders call plan biased However, Palestinian leaders who had dismissed the plan even before it was unveiled have reportedly called the long-delayed plan biased and deserving to go into the 'dustbin of the history'. Meanwhile, as per reports by international news agency, Salman of Saudi Arabia reportedly talked to Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas on the telephone and stressed on the kingdom's steadfast stance on the Palestinian issue along with rights of Palestinian people. Read - US President Donald Trump To Unveil Middle East Peace Plan Amid Skepticism Furthermore, the king also stands by the Palestinian people which according to the statement was also appreciated by Abbas. Many western countries and international bodies are reportedly still assessing the plan which according to Trump will provide a two-state solution to the conflict on the basis of pre-1967 borders. Jordan has reportedly given a calm reaction to the peace plan, while Egypt which was the first Arab country to reach a peace deal with the Jewish state, has urged Israelis and Palestinians to carefully study the peace deal. The UAE's ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba issued a strikingly positive response to Trump's plan and called it a 'starting point'. Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba Statement on Peace Plan: The United Arab Emirates appreciates continued US efforts to reach a Palestine-Israel peace agreement. This plan is a serious initiative that addresses many issues raised over the years. (1/3) UAE Embassy US (@UAEEmbassyUS) January 28, 2020 Read - Trump To Unveil Mideast Peace Plan Amid Skepticism Read - Palestinian PM Rejects Trump Peace Plan Ahead Of Unveiling (Image source: AP) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- How worried should you be about the coronavirus? Ohio officials are investigating two possible cases at Miami University, while the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls the disease -- from the same family as MERS and SARS -- an emerging, rapidly evolving situation. Coronavirus, also called the novel coronavirus, can have symptoms similar to the common cold, or the flu. It can also be as severe as pneumonia. The disease has killed more than 100 people in China, where there have been 4,500 cases. Outside China there have been 60 cases, including five in the United States. Its not time to freak out in the United States, obviously. But the disease can seem scary because of the unknown, said Dr. Elie Saade at University Hospitals. All these pictures and videos of space suits coming from China and from other areas, it makes people scared," Saade said. Theres a psychological component to that. Heres what you need to know about the coronavirus, and how to protect yourself if an outbreak happens in Ohio. Cleveland.com reporters Jeremy Pelzer, Andrew Tobias and Laura Hancock contributed to this report. What is a coronavirus? This virus is Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov). As of now, its labeled as novel coronavirus because it has never been seen before. There is still much more to learn about this virus including regarding the extent of human-to-human transmission, said Dr. Steven Gordon of the Cleveland Clinic. The common coronaviruses that cause up to 30% of upper respiratory tract infection each year spread person-to-person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread. Dr. Amy Ray, MetroHealths medical director of infection prevention, said though theres a tendency to try and find a benchmark for these kinds of new viruses, each one can behave differently. Health professionals just need to be up-to-date on the latest information. Where did the coronavirus come from? The city of Wuhan, China, has been quarantined as officials believe it is the origin city for the coronavirus. What are symptoms? Fever, cough and shortness of breath. Symptoms of the coronavirus may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure, according to the CDC. Can I have the coronavirus without seeing symptoms? Though Chinese officials said that there is evidence of the virus being spread before symptoms show, nothing has been proven yet. If that is true, it would make the disease harder to contain. Ray said that its been confirmed that there the viruss symptoms are on a range of intensity. Symptoms can seem like a cold or feel like pneumonia. Whats not known yet is the viruss incubation period -- how long for symptoms to show after someone contracts the virus -- and the window of contagion -- how long the virus is contagious. How is it spread? Early on, many of the patients in the outbreak of coronavirus had some link to a large seafood and live animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread, the CDC says. The virus can be spread person-to-person, according to the CDC. Officials believe the disease is spread through respiratory droplets produced through coughs and sneezes. How can I stop the spread? Wash your hands. Washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds can help limit the spread of viruses. Make sure not to touch your nose and eyes, covering your mouth when you cough and sneeze, and dont go to work if you feel ill. Says the CDC: While the immediate risk of this new virus to the American public is believed to be low at this time, everyone can do their part to help us respond to this emerging public health threat... Its currently flu and respiratory disease season and CDC recommends getting vaccinated, taking everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs, and taking flu antivirals if prescribed. If theres an outbreak here, can I prevent contracting it by using a mask? Theres no conclusive answer. A mask can help, Saade said. Students at Miami University are already wearing them. But you need to make sure youre wearing a mask correctly, so heres how to do it. Currently, doctors say there is no need to wear a mask in public. Surgical masks the cheap, disposable masks sold at drug stores wont do a lot to protect you from coronavirus, according to news reports. The risk of catching coronavirus while outside, in the open air, is so low in the U.S. that the risk of catching it is low. Even in enclosed spaces, disposable masks often dont provide a tight fit, allowing small airborne particles to waft in through the openings. The masks themselves do block large droplets (from, say, a sneeze or a cough), meaning they can help you from spreading a disease, but theyre not nearly as effective at filtering out viruses in the air, according to NPR. If you want to get more heavy-duty, another option is an N95 respirator mask. But while theyre better than surgical masks, as the name suggests, they are only effective 95 percent of the time at catching particles as small as 0.3 microns (though the efficiency of N95 masks can vary significantly depending on the manufacturer), according to Slate. Coronaviruses in humans are between 0.1 and 0.2 microns large, meaning by themselves they can get through, but the viruses often travel on bits of mucus or other large particles that the mask can block. Will Purell help? The CDC lists alcohol-based hand sanitizer as a precaution if soap and water is not available, but the FDA has demanded Purell-maker GOJO Industries stop claiming the hand sanitizer can combat the flu and other diseases. Should I just stay home? No. Unless you or someone around you has recently traveled to China, your risk of getting sick is low, according to local and state health officials. Should I travel? Should I avoid getting on a bus or a plane? You shouldnt worry about traveling unless its to or from China. The Centers for Disease Control has issued a travel advisory urging Americans to avoid any non-essential trips to China, especially to Wuhan in Hubei Province. If you do travel to China, the CDC recommends talking to your health-care provider first, washing or sanitizing your hands often, and especially if you have an underlying medical condition avoiding sick people and animals (as well as animal markets and animal products). Should I stock up on antiviral medicine? There are no vaccines nor drugs specifically designed to treat the new strain of coronavirus. Some U.S. drugmakers have sent antiviral drugs used to treat HIV to China to assess their effectiveness, and a Chinese government panel has recommended that doctors treat coronavirus patients with an anti-HIV drug called Kaletra, the Wall Street Journal reports. Should I avoid meat? U.S. health officials have found no signs to date of the coronavirus in meat or other food products. The CDC has only warned against eating meat and other animal products if you are in China. Who is more at risk if it starts spreading? Like the flu, children, the elderly, and those with heart disease or autoimmune problems are more at-risk of complications from coronavirus. When should I go to the hospital? If you have recently traveled to Wuhan, China, or may have had contact with someone who did and are experiencing symptoms, call your local emergency room, Saade said. The CDC recommends telling a healthcare professional about your recent travel and your symptoms before going to the hospital. Health professionals will advise you on the best course of action to get help and to limit any potential spread. How is the disease being diagnosed and treated? Chinese health officials released the genetic sequencing for the coronavirus shortly after the first outbreak, which U.S. officials praised because it allowed them to develop a rapid diagnostic test. A potential vaccine is also in the process of being developed, although it will take months for trials and for U.S. officials to approve it. There is no proven therapy for the coronavirus infection, said National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci. Officials, however, are using drugs that treated symptoms of two previous coronavirus outbreaks -- Middle East Respiratory Syndrome or MERS and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. All samples of possible coronavirus are being sent to the CDC for testing. Will the government declare a public health emergency? Not right now, since there are only 5 confirmed cases, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Tuesday in a press conference. Americans should know that this is a potentially very serious public health threat but at this point Americans should not worry for their own safety, Azar said. Azar said that the first known cases in any disease outbreak skew to the severe. In other words, only the most sick tend to seek treatment. Will the outbreak continue to spread? Most likely. The coming days and weeks are likely to bring more confirmed cases here and around the world, including the possibility of some person-to-person spread, said Center for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield. What if it becomes a pandemic? While the CDC is not yet addressing this possibility, if the epidemic becomes a pandemic, the World Health Organization offers best practices: During severe pandemics, more extreme measures can be implemented: using facemasks when sick, schools closures, decreasing the amount of contacts among people." The U.S. government recommends that to prepare for a pandemic, people can: - store a two week supply of water and food. - check regular prescription drugs to ensure a supply - have medical supplies on hand, including pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold medicines, fluids with electrolytes, and vitamins. - get copies of health records from doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and other sources and store them, for personal reference. - get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. [January 29, 2020] American Financial Group, Inc. to Present at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2020 Insurance Conference American Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: AFG) announced today that Carl H. Lindner III and S. Craig Lindner, Co-Chief Executive Officers, and Joseph E. (Jeff) Consolino, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will make a company presentation at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2020 Insurance Conference, being held in New York City on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at 10:00 am (ET). The presentation will be broadcast live over the Internet. To access the event, click on the following link: https://veracast.com/webcasts/bofa/insurance2020/id3210610147.cfm. A replay of the presentation will be available one hour after the conclusion of the live event at the same website. Alternatively, you can find a link in Events on the Investor Relations page at www.AFGinc.com. About American Financial Group, Inc. American Financial Group is an insurance holding company, based in Cincinnati, Ohio with assets over $65 billion. Through the operations of Great American Insurance Group, AFG is engaged primarily in property and casualty insurance, focusing on specialized commercial products for businesses, and in the sale of traditional fixed, fixed-indexed and variable-indexed annuities in the retail, financial institutions, broker-dealer, registered investment advisor and education markets. Great American Insurance Group's roots go back to 1872 with the founding of its flagship company, Great American Insurance Company. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005790/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A pedophile who filmed and photographed himself sexually abusing 47 boys across four countries will spend at least 28 years behind bars. Boris Kunsevitsky, 53, produced more than 35,000 photos and 4,800 videos of abuse across the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia between between 2002 and 2017. Supreme Court of Victoria Justice John Champion on Wednesday jailed Kunsevitsky for a maximum of 35 years, labelling the pedophile's appetite for sexual abuse as insatiable and the offending the worst the judge had seen. Boris Kunsevitsky (pictured), 53, is among the worst paedophiles in Australian history Most of the abuse was committed against boys in the Philippines, with Kunsevitsky making the boys perform sexual acts on themselves and each other, and filming and photographing it, among other depraved acts. 'You chose destinations where you could easily and readily access young boys,' Justice Champion said. Kunsevitsky also abused one boy in Melbourne between 2004 and 2005, with German police years later finding 55 images of the abuse in a folder labelled 'jailbait'. The pedophile was never charged with distributing any of the child pornography but went on to plead guilty to 59 offences including sexual intercourse with a child and producing child pornography material while outside Australia. Justice Champion described the images and videos as 'difficult to look at and it is deeply disturbing, sordid and sad'. 'You are a child abuser of appalling... proportions,' the judge added. Kunsevitsky's Australian victim went on to develop depression, anxiety and attempt suicide. He ended up $100,000 in debt because of a subsequent drug habit, lost his job and suffered a marriage breakdown. Boris Kunsevitsky (pictured) produced more than 35,000 photos and 4,800 videos of abuse 'There is no sentence that I can pass that will undo the tremendous pain you have caused (the victim),' Justice Champion said. Some of Kunsevitsky's overseas victims have never been identified. Kunsevitsky among the worst paedophiles in Australian history. He abused more boys than Bernard McGrath who was jailed in 2018 after being charged with abusing 43 boys at a school north of Sydney in the 1970s and 1980s. CHICAGO, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Healthcare Fraud Analytics Market by Solution Type (Descriptive, Predictive, Prescriptive), Application (Insurance Claim (Postpayment, Prepayment), Payment Integrity), Delivery (On-premise, Cloud), End User (Insurance, Government) - Global Forecast to 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Healthcare Fraud Analytics Market is projected to reach USD 4.6 billion by 2025 from USD 1.2 billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 29.8% during the forecast period. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=221837663 The growth of the Healthcare Fraud Detection Market is mainly due to a rise in the number of fraudulent activities in healthcare, combined with the increasing number of patients seeking medical insurance and rising pharmacy claim-related frauds. Emerging markets like APAC and Latin America provide significant growth opportunities in this market. The prescriptive analytics segment registered the highest growth during the forecast period. Fraud analytics solutions vary from vendor to vendor. Some vendors offer rule-based models while others offer AI-based technologies, but broadly, these solutions are classified based on the type of analytics useddescriptive analytics, predictive analytics, and prescriptive analytics. The prescriptive analytics segment registered the highest growth in the market during the forecast period. The high adoption of this technology is attributed to its advantages, such as rapid detection and investigation of suspects, claimants, and claim-level behavior from unstructured and/or semi-structured data. Browse in-depth TOC on "Healthcare Fraud Analytics Market" 105 Tables 32 Figures 144 Pages In 2019, public & government agencies accounted for the largest share of the market, by end user. Based on end user, the Healthcare Fraud Detection Market is segmented into public & government agencies, private insurance payers, employers, and third-party service providers. The public & government agencies segment accounted for the largest share of the market in 2019. The increasing cost burden due to healthcare fraud is proving to be a financial threat to public and government agencies globally. These factors are compelling payer organizations associated with these agencies to adopt analytics solutions to avoid losses incurred due to FWA and improper payments, which is driving the market growth. Get 10% Customization on this Research Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=221837663 North America dominated the market in 2019 North America accounted for the largest share of the Healthcare Fraud Analytics Market in 2019, followed by Europe. Factors such as the high number of cases of healthcare fraud, including pharmacy-related fraud, favorable government initiatives, technological advancements, and the availability of solutions in this region are some factors contributing to North America's large share in the global healthcare fraud analytics space. Major players in this Healthcare Fraud Analytics Market include IBM Corporation (US), Optum (US), SAS Institute (US), Change Healthcare (US), EXL Service Holdings (US), Cotiviti (US), Wipro Limited (Wipro) (India), Conduent (US), HCL (India), Canadian Global Information Technology Group (Canada), DXC Technology Company (US), Northrop Grumman Corporation (US), LexisNexis Group (US), and Pondera Solutions (US). Browse Adjacent Markets: Healthcare IT Market Research Reports & Consulting Get Special Pricing on Bundle Reports: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/RequestBundleReport.asp?id=221837663 Browse Related Reports: Healthcare Analytics Market by Type (Predictive, Prescriptive, Cognitive) Application (Clinical, RCM, Claim, Fraud, Waste, Supply Chain, PHM) Component (Service, Software) Delivery (On-demand, Cloud) End User (Payer, Hospital) - Global Forecast to 2024 Back-end Revenue Cycle Management Market by Product and Services (Claim Processing, Denial Management, Payment Integrity), Delivery Mode (On-Premise, Cloud Based), End-User (Payer, Provider (Inpatient, Outpatient)), and Region - Global Forecast to 2023 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. 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Contact: Mr. Shelly Singh MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/healthcare-fraud-detection-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/healthcare-fraud-detection.asp SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Syrian government forces recaptured a strategic northwestern highway town from jihadist and allied rebels Wednesday, in the latest blow to the country's last major opposition bastion. Once a hotspot for anti-government protests, Maaret al-Numan has been turned into a ghost town by deadly regime and Russian air strikes that killed another 11 civilians in the embattled province of Idlib on Wednesday, according to a war monitor. The town lies on the key M5 highway connecting the capital Damascus to second city Aleppo, long in the sights of the government as it seeks to revive a moribund economy ravaged by almost nine years of war. "Our forces managed in the past few days to stamp out terrorism in many villages and towns," including Maaret al-Numan, an army spokesman said. Russian and regime air strikes on Wednesday killed 10 civilians further north in the village of Kafr Lata and another near the town of Saraqeb, also on the M5, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. It added that regime forces advancing on Saraqeb, 27 kilometres (17 miles) north of Maaret al-Numan, had seized an additional five villages. In 2011, Maaret al-Numan was one of the first towns in the northwestern province of Idlib to rise up against the Damascus government. The following year, it was captured by rebels fighting against President Bashar al-Assad's rule. It is the latest town to fall in a Russian-backed offensive on the Idlib region this year. The region, which hosts some three million people, is dominated by jihadists from Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, but allied rebels are also present. The government has slowly chipped away at the south of the bastion, despite several deals between government ally Russia and rebel backer Turkey intended to avert a broad military offensive. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Moscow on Wednesday of "not honouring these agreements". It was a rare critical remark from Erdogan, who has largely sought to keep good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin since a 2016 rapprochement. - 'Even greater catastrophe' - Tens of thousands of civilians have fled the government's advance on the south of the province in recent weeks, seeking safety closer to the Turkish border further north. The violence in the northwest has displaced more than 388,000 civilians since December, the United Nations says. At least 20,000 of them have moved in the last two days, said UN undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs Mark Lowcock on Wednesday. "Unless the current hostilities stop, we will see an even greater humanitarian catastrophe," he told the UN Security Council. In areas north of Maaret al-Numan, bombardment by government ally Russia has prompted a fresh wave of displacement in recent days, with hundreds of vehicles cramming a key exit route, AFP correspondents reported. Aid groups have warned the latest violence is compounding one of the worst humanitarian disasters of the nine-year war. Government forces, which now control around 70 percent of Syria, have repeatedly vowed to retake the entire country, including Idlib. After Maaret al-Numan's recapture, the Syrian army was bent on continuing the fight "until all Syrian soil has been cleansed of terrorism", it said in a statement. On Wednesday, loyalist forces swept the town for booby traps and unexploded ordnance after all rebels were either killed or withdrew, the Britain-based Observatory said. - Mosaics museum - The town was once a defiant hotspot for anti-Assad protests, drawing in crowds from surrounding villages, but today its streets are largely empty. It is home to a museum of Roman and Byzantine-era mosaics, which volunteers sought to protect with sandbags through years of war. What remains of rebel-held territory includes more than half of Idlib province, as well as slivers of adjacent Aleppo and Latakia. Government forces and rebels were locked in clashes in the south of Aleppo province on Wednesday, the Observatory said. State news agency SANA said government forces on Wednesday gained ground against rebels and jihadists in the Rashideen area in the province's west. To the north of Maaret al-Numan, the front line had been pushed back to within 10 kilometres (six miles) of Saraqeb, the next town on the M5 highway, Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said. Russia's RT television network said Wednesday that one of its correspondents was seriously wounded by shellfire whilst reporting on Maaret al-Numan's capture. Government forces have recaptured around 27 towns and villages from their rivals in southern Idlib since January 24. The civil war has killed more than 380,000 people and displaced more than half the country's population since it erupted following the brutal repression of anti-government protests in 2011. Several UN-backed rounds of peace talks have failed to stem the bloodshed and a parallel track led by regime backer Russia and rebel ally Turkey has gained precedence in recent years. On Wednesday, UN envoy Geir Pedersen visited the foreign ministry in Damascus, where he met with Syrian foreign minister Walid Muallem. A long-awaited committee to draw up a post-war constitution for Syria met in October in Geneva, but Pedersen has acknowledged it made little progress. Syrian troops pass through a recaptured village in their final push on the strategic highway town of Maaret a-Numan, held by the rebels for seven years Map locating Maaret al-Numan, recaptured by Syrian government forces, the army said on Wednesday. Tens of thousands of Syrian civilians have fled the government's advance The exodus of civilians fleeing the government's advance has caused traffic jams in Syrian towns closer to the Turkish border Thirty-six people have been killed in a suspected militia attack in the eastern DR Congo region of Beni, where hundreds have died in violence since November, a local official said Wednesday. Congolese troops have been carrying out a military operation on an armed group in the east of the country -- long plagued by various militias -- and militiamen have responded with a series of massacres against civilians. "They were all hacked to death. This brings (the toll) to 36 bodies," local Beni governor Donat Kibwana told AFP, updating casualties from Tuesday's attack. Officials had earlier reported 15 fatalities. Two people with skull fractures caused by machetes have been admitted to the hospital in Oicha for surgery, an AFP reporter there said. The main attack took place late Tuesday in Manzingi, a village 20 kilometres (12 miles) northwest from Oicha, while a pastor was also killed in nearby Eringeti. According to a toll compiled by a civil society organisation, the Kivu Security Tracker (KST), 265 people have now been killed in the Beni region since the army began its crackdown on the armed group, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), on October 30. The massacres seem to be a tactic by the ADF to frighten the population into silence, local commentators say. The group has also disrupted operations to curb an outbreak of Ebola in North Kivu province. Tuesday's massacre occurred to the west of the ADF's usual area of operations, which is closer to the Ugandan border. The army offensive, unfolding in thick forest and jungle, has led to what the military say is the capture of the group's headquarters and the killing of five of its six leaders. - Brutal militia - The ADF, blamed for the deaths of more than a thousand civilians in Beni since October 2014, began as an Islamist-rooted rebel group in Uganda that opposed Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. It fell back into eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in 1995 during the Congo Wars and appears to have halted raids inside Uganda. Its recruits today are people of various nationalities. UN experts estimated the ADF in 2018 to number around 450 fighters. A report to the UN Security Council last week said the ADF seemed to follow an extreme Islamist ideology, but there is no information on whether the group had links with international jihadist groups. The spate of massacres has become a major challenge for President Felix Tshisekedi, who took office a year ago last Friday. In November, angry protests erupted in the city of Beni, the region's administrative hub, as citizens accused the UN peacekeeping force in DR Congo of failing to protect them. Tshisekedi, in his first state-of-the-nation address to Congress, last month said he had changed the army command in Beni and sent 22,000 troops to the region. Search Keywords: Short link: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said work was on to provide drinking water facility to drought-hit Bundelkhand region. He alleged that Bundelkhand and Vindhya regions were neglected for decades but are now "developing rapidly" under his government. The drinking water supply will be provided the parched Bundelkhand region through the 'Har Ghar Nal' scheme, Adityanath said. "Bundelkhand and Vindhya regions were neglected for decades but are now developing rapidly," he said. The chief minister was addressing a public meeting on the third day of the 'Ganga Yatra' at the Government Inter College here. The five-day yatra is being taken out from Bijnor and Ballia respectively. Both the legs of the yatra will converge at Kanpur on January 31. "Rs 6000-crore project has been prepared for Mirzapur. A medical college is being constructed and the shrine of Maa Vindhyavasini is also going to be developed in the district," Adityanath said. "Our government is doing the work of cleaning the Ganga on war-footing. Sewer from Sisamau, Kanpur, earlier went directly into the Ganga and it poisoned the water. Now not a single drop of dirt falls in the river," he claimed. Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the Ganga Yatra is being taken out for a "great purpose", for which not only Adityanath but everyone should contribute. "River Ganga provides salvation to us not only in this world but hereafter too," he said. Through the 'Namami Gange' project, Prime Minister Narendra Modi started the work of making the Ganga clean in 2014 but the then Uttar Pradesh government did not contribute to this work, Tomar said. State BJP president Swatantra Dev Singh said the SP, the BSP and the Congress "committed a lot of loot" in the state. "The SP and the BSP had brought Uttar Pradesh on the verge of destruction and at such time you handed over the reins of the state to Yogi Adityanath," he told people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The regional government of Spains Balearic Islands on Friday approved a law that cracks down on so-called booze tourism, where visitors are encouraged to binge-drink alcohol. The new regulation aims to put an end to bar crawls, 2x1 parties, happy hours and free drinks that are typically offered in the popular vacation destination, by making it illegal to promote or sell such activities to tourists. The new regulation also bans alcohol from being sold in nighttime stores, which will now have to close between 9.30pm and 8am. The restrictions, however, only apply to the most popular party spots of the islands Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza: Magaluf, Arenal de Palma and Sant Antoni de Portmany. It is the first law in Europe that restricts the promotion and sale of alcohol in set tourist zones Balearic regional government According to a press release from the regional government, it is the first law in Europe that restricts the promotion and sale of alcohol in set tourist zones. Spokespersons from the Balearic Islands government agree that this law could also have great repercussions outside of Spain. The law also targets so-called balconing, a term that refers to usually inebriated tourists jumping from balcony to balcony in their hotels, or attempting to launch themselves from great heights into swimming pools. The practice has cost many foreign tourists their lives in Spain. Under the regulation, hotels must remove everyone caught balconing from their facilities. In this case, the rule applies to the entire region. It will be considered serious misconduct, from both those who practice it and those who allow it, the law states. The regional head of tourism, Iago Negueruela, says the law is a positive step forward. We are going for a model of sustainable tourism and we want to improve relations between tourists and residents, he said. The regulation bans drinking tours from being organized or advertised to reduce drunken behavior in Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza. While tourists will not be restricted from arranging their own pub crawl, they will not be able to buy alcohol like before from establishments throughout the night, nor will they be offered free drinks or other similar promotions. Whats more, a set price will be put on alcohol to stop all kinds of offers, said Neguerela. Businesses could face fines of up to 600,000, or be shut down for three years for breaking the new law The law also cracks down on party boats, which invite guests on cruises involving large amounts of alcohol. Under the new rules, these businesses will be banned from putting up advertising in Magaluf, Arenal de Palma and Sant Antoni de Portmany, and from picking and dropping off clients from these spots. The regional government has also suspended the concession of new alcohol licenses to party boats. Businesses could face fines of between 1,000 and 600,000, or be shut down for a maximum of three years for breaking the new law. The law was put together following in-depth talks with the tourism sector, as well as the town halls that have highlighted the problems involved with booze tourism. Attracting a tourism of excess is counterproductive for the whole sector, thats why there are areas where the hotel owners are changing what they offer to attract a different kind of tourist, Jose Luis Zoreda, the vice president of the Spanish tourism lobby Exceltur, said recently. While the law currently only applies to Magaluf, Arenal de Palma and Sant Antoni de Portmany (with the exception of the balconing rules), Negueruela is open to extending the rules to other areas. More than 13 million foreign tourists visit the Balearic Islands every year. English version by Melissa Kitson. Then-US National Security Adviser John Bolton speaks during a media conference in Kiev. John Bolton arrived to Kiev to meet with the top Ukrainian officials. WASHINGTON While the fight over President Donald Trump's impeachment took a new turn Wednesday in the Senate, outside the chamber, the battle over whether former national security advisor John Bolton would testify and what he might say if he did heated up. According to Bolton's upcoming memoir, "The Room Where It Happened," Trump told him in person last summer that he planned to withhold nearly $400 million in U.S. foreign aid to Ukraine until the country agreed to launch investigations into Trump's political rivals, most notably, former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. The relationship between the stalled aid and the investigations Trump told Ukraine's president he wanted is at the heart of the impeachment case. The chamber is expected to vote Friday on whether or not to allow witnesses such as Bolton to testify at the president's trial. On Wednesday morning, Trump, who has denied wrongdoing, issued a series of tweets excoriating Bolton. He also claimed without evidence that Bolton's book was "nasty & untrue." TRUMP TWEET The Senate on Wednesday began the process of questioning defense lawyers and the House managers prosecuting the case. Shortly before the questioning began, the White House released a letter to several news outlets that was dated Jan. 23, almost a week ago, written by a senior records staffer on the National Security Council and addressed to Bolton's lawyer. The letter said that an NSC review of Bolton's book found that it "appears to contain significant amounts of classified information." The letter went on to state that "the manuscript may not be published or otherwise disclosed without the deletion of this classified information." Bolton's attorney, Charles Cooper, did not immediately reply to an email from CNBC seeking Bolton's response to the White House letter or the president's comments about his book. But Cooper said Sunday that the manuscript had been submitted to the White House's National Security Council for review despite "our firm belief that the manuscript contained no information that could reasonably be considered classified." The question of whether the manuscript contains classified information could become a pivotal one if senators vote to call witnesses in the trial, and Bolton is subsequently subpoenaed to testify. Also on Wednesday, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., revealed for the first time that he had a conversation with Bolton in late September of last year. During that talk, Engel said, Bolton raised suspicions about Trump's abrupt firing in May 2019 of the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch. "He and I spoke by telephone on September 23," Engel said in a statement released Wednesday. "On that call, Ambassador Bolton suggested to me unprompted that the committee look into the recall of Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch. He strongly implied that something improper had occurred around her removal as our top diplomat in Kyiv." Engel said he had not spoken publicly about this call before because it was "a private conversation," but that he told his House colleagues on the committees that led the Trump impeachment probe. Elsewhere on Capitol Hill, Bolton who has long enjoyed a sterling reputation within the conservative national security establishment was the target of ire from top Republicans in the House and Senate. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., called Bolton a "disgruntled" former employee. But fellow Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina stopped short of attacking Bolton as Trump and Paul had done. Instead, he cautioned that if "John Bolton's credibility is attacked, it makes it more likely some will feel the need to call him as a witness." Chandigarh, Jan 29 : Perceiving the Agriculture Price Commission's latest recommendation to the Centre to review the MSP policy as a serious threat to state's farmers, Punjab Congress MPs on Wednesday asked Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to approach the Prime Minister and urge him not to consider any such review. At a meeting convened by the Chief Minister here to discuss budget proposals for the next fiscal and various issues pending with the Centre, MPs belonging to both Houses of Parliament decided that the Chief Minister press upon the Prime Minister the dangers of accepting the Agriculture Price Commission's recommendation. Any change in the MSP procurement policy will adversely impact Punjab's economy, they felt, expressing the fear the Centre would limit procurement as the first step towards putting an end to MSP purchase. Briefing the MPs on the status of the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal case, the Chief Minister asked the MPs to push for amendment to Proviso of Section 12 of the Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Bill 2019, to protect state's water resources. It was decided at the meeting that officials would be deputed by the state to coordinate with and brief the MPs on issues concerning Punjab. This was essential to ensure more effective interventions in matters relating the state, said a spokesperson after the meeting. During the discussion on MSP and procurement, the meeting referred to a note by the Punjab Ministry of Distribution relating to evacuation of Central pool food grains from the Food and Public Consumer Affairs to underline the problems currently faced by the state in terms of tardy and slow procurement of wheat and rice by central agencies. A presentation by the department showed that 140 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of wheat and 95 LMT of rice belonging to the Central pool are currently stored in the state and the wheat is lying in the open. It was decided the MPs would press the Centre for immediate evacuation of the Central pool food grains from the state in view of the threat to the quality of stored wheat due to heavy rains and floods in parts of Punjab. The state will also continue to pursue through the MPs, the matter of promotion of maize as an alternative crop to paddy, it was decided at the meeting. Among the other key issues of Punjab's interest pending with the Centre, that came up for discussion during the meeting, were state's demand for compensation of Rs 100 per quintal to farmers for zero burning of paddy residue, reduction of tax rate for dairy cooperatives, and exemption of dairy products from free trade negotiations. The meeting expressed concern over the pending issue of settlement of food cash credit account of Punjab, to the tune of Rs 31,000 crore, and it was decided that the MPs would aggressively pursue the matter with the Central government. The Chief Minister pointed out that the cash-crunched state was suffering immensely due to the delay in settlement of this amount. The MPs were also asked by the Chief Minister to press for declaration of eco-sensitive zone around Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary in Chandigarh for the areas falling in Punjab. The issues of establishment of PGI Satellite Centre at Ferozepur and establishment of a second AIIMS in the state were also discussed in detail. The meeting was attended by Lok Sabha MPs, Amar Singh, Jasbir Singh Gill, Chaudhary Santokh Singh, Preneet Kaur, Manish Tewari, Gurjeet Singh Aujla and Mohd Sadiq and Rajya Sabha MPs, Shamsher Singh Dullo and Pratap Singh Bajwa. MEXICO CITY, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Petroleos Mexicanos ("PEMEX") today announced the settlement of its previously announced offering of U.S. $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 5.950% Notes due 2031 and U.S. $2,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 6.950% Bonds due 2060 (collectively, the "New Money Securities"), the proceeds of which, in each case, will be used to repurchase PEMEX's debt securities validly tendered and accepted for purchase by PEMEX in the tender offers described below and to redeem, repurchase or refinance other outstanding indebtedness (the "New Money Offering"). PEMEX today also announced the expiration and results with respect to its previously announced offers to purchase (the "Tender Offers") any and all of its outstanding securities set forth in the table below (the "Tender Securities"). The Tender Offers were made pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the offer to purchase, dated January 21, 2020 (the "Offer to Purchase") and the related notice of guaranteed delivery (the "Notice of Guaranteed Delivery" and, together with the Offer to Purchase, the "Offer Documents"). The Tender Offers expired at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on January 28, 2020 (the "Expiration Date"). The settlement date with respect to the Tender Offers will occur promptly following the Expiration Date and is expected to be January 30, 2020 (the "Settlement Date"). The following table sets forth the aggregate principal amount of Tender Securities validly tendered in the Tender Offers and accepted for purchase. Series of Tender Securities CUSIP ISIN Principal Amount Outstanding Principal Amount Tendered by the Expiration Date and Accepted for Purchase 6.000% Notes due 2020 71654QAW2 71656LAC5 71656MAC3 US71654QAW24 US71656LAC54 US71656MAC38 U.S. $325,180,000 U.S. $17,065,000 3.500% Notes due 2020 71654QBU5 71656LBC4 71656MBC2 US71654QBU58 US71656LBC46 US71656MBC29 U.S. $440,186,000 U.S. $44,927,000 No Notices of Guaranteed Delivery with respect to the Tender Securities were received by PEMEX on or prior to the Expiration Date. PEMEX has accepted for purchase all of the Tender Securities validly tendered and not validly withdrawn on or prior to the Expiration Date. As a result of the settlement of the New Money Offering, the Financing Condition described in the Offer to Purchase has been satisfied with respect to each Tender Offer. In addition to the applicable tender consideration, holders whose Tender Securities are accepted for purchase will be paid the applicable accrued and unpaid interest on such Tender Securities to, but not including, the Settlement Date, together with any additional amounts thereon. Interest will cease to accrue on the Settlement Date for all Tender Securities purchased in the Tender Offers. * * * Global Bondholder Services Corporation acted as the Information Agent and the Tender Agent for the Tender Offers. Questions or requests for assistance related to the Tender Offers or for additional copies of the Offer Documents may be directed to Global Bondholder Services Corporation at (866) 470-4500 (toll free) or (212) 430-3774 (collect). You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Tender Offers. The Offer Documents can be accessed at the following link: https://www.gbsc-usa.com/PEMEX/. Barclays Capital Inc., BBVA Securities Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, MUFG Securities Americas Inc., Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. and SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. acted as dealer managers in connection with the Tender Offers (the "Dealer Managers"). This press release shall not constitute an offer to purchase or sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or purchase any securities, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of any securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Tender Offers were made solely pursuant to the Offer Documents. The Tender Offers were not made to holders of Tender Securities in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. In any jurisdiction in which the securities laws or blue sky laws require the Tender Offers to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Tender Offers were deemed to be made on behalf of PEMEX by the Dealer Managers for the Tender Offers or one or more registered brokers or dealers that are licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction. The New Money Securities were sold to qualified institutional buyers in the United States in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and to persons outside the United States in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. The New Money Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state or other jurisdiction's securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The communication of this press release and any other documents or materials relating to the transactions described herein is not being made and such documents and/or materials have not been approved by an authorized person for the purposes of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Accordingly, such documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom. The communication of such documents and/or materials as a financial promotion is only being directed at and made to those persons in the United Kingdom falling within the definition of investment professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"), or high net worth companies, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, or to other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated in accordance with the Order (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The Tender Offers and the New Money Offering were only available to, and the Tender Offers and the New Money Offering were engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on any document relating to the Tender Offers or the New Money Offering or any of their contents. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are information of a non-historical nature or which relate to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. No assurance can be given that the transactions described herein will be consummated or as to the ultimate terms of any such transactions. PEMEX undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future events or for any other reason. SOURCE Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) President of Central Tibetan government-in-exile Lobsang Sangay on Wednesday expressed his gratitude over passage of the Tibet human rights bill by the United States House of Representatives, saying it is a "landmark show of support by the country restoration of freedom in Tibet." "In yet another landmark victory for Tibetans and Tibet supporters around the world, the US House of Representatives today overwhelmingly passed the Tibetan Policy and Support Act (HR 4331), the most comprehensive policy bill on Tibet since the Tibet Policy Act- 2002," Sangay said in a press conference here. "The supermajority vote on the legislation is a landmark show of support by the US for the Central Tibetan Administration, the Middle Way Policy and genuine autonomy for Tibetans, religious freedom, environmental protection of Tibetan plateau and restoration of freedom in Tibet," he added. The House, earlier today, passed the Tibetan Policy and Support Act (HR 4331) with a majority vote. This becomes the latest legislation challenging Beijing's treatment of its citizens to get the Congressional seal of approval in recent months. Among other terms, the Tibet Policy Support Act of 2019 requires that the US government reject any applications from Beijing for a new consulate on American soil until the Chinese government allows Washington to build its own diplomatic station in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital It also establishes a US policy that the selection of Tibet's future religious leaders should be decided by themselves, free from the Chinese government, NHK World reported. The bill also stated that Beijing will face sanctions if it interferes in the process of recognising a successor of the Dalai Lama. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has been one of Washington's most vocal campaigners for the protection of civil and religious liberties in Tibet, said: "I rise in support of the Tibetan Policy Act of 2019: strong, bipartisan and urgently-needed legislation to strengthen America's commitment to the Tibetan people and their right to safeguard their distinct identity." Stating that the US is sending a 'clear signal' to China, Pelosi said, "We are sending Beijing a clear signal that they will be held accountable for interfering in Tibet's religious and cultural affairs. We are making clear that Chinese officials who meddle in the process of recognizing a new Dalai Lama will be subject to targeted sanctions, including those in the Global Magnitsky Act. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 01:11:35|Editor: yan Video Player Close by Ronald Ssekandi KAMPALA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's coffee processors, exporters and regulators on Wednesday met here to strategize how best the east African country can reap from China's growing coffee consumption. The strategic meeting comes as the country is preparing to take center stage at the scheduled China International Specialty Coffee Expo to be held in Pu'er, Yunnan Province from March 18-22. The organizers of the Expo chose Uganda as a portrait country, meaning that the country would have an opportunity to strategically position itself on the Chinese and Asia Pacific market, through increased awareness, visibility and market penetration. Figures issued by Uganda's Consulate in Guangzhou show that China's coffee drinking culture grows at 20 percent per annum. Although China is a predominantly tea-drinking country, the growing coffee consumption numbers show that there is an opportunity that can be exploited. According to the Consulate, China contributes to less than 2 percent of the global coffee consumption but the trend is growing. Solomon Rutega, Uganda's Consul General in Guangzhou Province, told the exporters and processors that multinational coffee chains have noticed the opportunity and are establishing presence across China. Rutega said Uganda has the opportunity to position itself as a producer and exporter of premium coffee. He noted that the target market is mainly Chinese millennials, Chinese in the diaspora returning home and the expatriate community. He argued that this market can be able to ripple Uganda's foreign exchange earnings from coffee. Coffee is one of Uganda's major foreign exchange earners and about 500,000 households in the country depend on coffee production, according to Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), the country's regulator of the coffee industry. Uganda's ministry of finance figures show that in 2018, the sector fetched 492 million U.S. dollars compared to the previous year's 490 million dollars. The country exports between 3,000-4,000 tonnes of coffee per annum to China out of the 240,000 tonnes produced per annum. According to UCDA, Uganda is currently implementing a coffee road-map that aims at increasing coffee exports from 3.5 million 60-kg bags in 2016/17 to 20 million 60-kg bags 2025. It is with this huge production, according to Emmanuel Iyamulemye, managing director UCDA, that Uganda targets to explore the Chinese market. Uganda plans to brand itself as a producer and exporter of premium coffee in a bid to gain market influence. Iyamulemye said the country is in the process of enacting an enabling law that will ensure that quality is respected right from the farm level. He noted that quality is paramount if the country is to fetch more foreign exchange from the sector. Rutega argued that Uganda has to position itself as a producer and exporter of high quality coffee and not focus much on quantity because countries like Vietnam, which are closer to China, are much better. Uganda also plans to use the growing digital platforms in China to market its coffee as opposed to going to supermarkets or retail shops looking for buyers. Rutega said the country will seek to have partnerships with Chinese digital companies like Alibaba and WeChat to use their platforms to market Ugandan coffee. "We plan to build those partnerships so that our exporters can use those as channels, it is actually much better than going through supermarkets and other retails markets," he said. He noted that the country would continue to use the various trade expositions in China to market Ugandan coffee. Last September, officials from China's Yunnan Coffee Exchange (YCE) met with UCDA here in a bid to find ways of boosting Uganda's coffee exports to China. [January 29, 2020] GSMA Statement on Coronavirus The GSMA (News - Alert) is monitoring and assessing the potential impact of the Coronavirus on its MWC20 events held annually in Barcelona, Shanghai and Los Angeles and as well as the Mobile 360 Series of regional conferences. The upcoming MWC Barcelona event, 24-27 February 2020, will proceed as planned, across all venues at Fira Gran Via and Fira Montjuic, including YoMo and Four Years From Now (4YFN). Specifically, for MWC Barcelona 2020, several measures are already in place, and updates can be found on www.mwcbarcelona.com/about/news/. The GSMA will: Carefully follow and adhere to: the World Health Organisation's (WHO) recommendations, all applicable Chinese government recommendations, all Spanish health authority recommendations and all police/health recommendations and protocols Provide additional medical personnel for on-site support in the run-up to and during the event Work with Fira de Barcelona to ensure sufficient sanitising products throughout all venues and implement other activity in line with recommendations from our city partners Support exhibitors who may not be able to travel to MWC Barcelona (via GSMA account managers or the Customer Care Team). The GSMA confirms that there have been o registration impacts on MWC Barcelona thus far and further updates will be issued as advice develops. However, we strongly urge exhibitors and attendees to implement appropriate guidelines and protocols as suggested by the WHO and other health authorities to contain and mitigate against any further spread of the virus. Currently, the WHO has decided not to declare a global public health emergency, saying it was still too early for such a move and has advised that, 'measures to limit the risk of exportation or importation of the disease should be implemented, without unnecessary restrictions of international traffic'. Up-to-date WHO advice can be found here: www.who.int/ith/2020-27-01-outbreak-of-Pneumonia-caused-by-new-coronavirus/en/ and the most recent press release issued by WHO is here:https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/28-01-2020-who-china-leaders-discuss-next-steps-in-battle-against-coronavirus-outbreak. -ENDS- About the GSMA The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting more than 750 operators and nearly 400 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also produces the industry-leading MWC events held annually in Barcelona, Shanghai and Los Angeles, as well as the Mobile 360 Series of regional conferences. For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter (News - Alert): @GSMA. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005672/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A 20-year-old San Antonio man tied to five rapes that occurred over a two-year period in the Medical Center area was convicted Wednesday in one of the assaults. Anton Jamail Harris was silent as he was found guilty of aggravated sexual assault and aggravated robbery in the May 28, 2017, attack on a traveling nurse identified as Jane in court in her apartment in the 5600 block of Babcock Road. Harris was 18 when he was arrested and charged with five counts of aggravated sexual assault and one charge of aggravated robbery in connection with the attacks of five women either at knife point or gunpoint. His arrest came a few days after his 2017 graduation from John Marshall High School. After the verdicts were read, Jane and her mother quietly thanked prosecutor Daryl Harris. The 26-year-old nurse was the last witness called by prosecutors Tuesday. Eight deputies assembled in the courtroom gallery before the verdicts were read as Judge Frank J. Castro warned those in attendance that anyone who made an outburst would be held in contempt. Earlier Wednesday during his closing arguments, Daryl Harris used crime scene photos, the 911 call and body camera video from responding officers to remind the jury of the testimony from neighbors, officers and Jane. He said the most crucial evidence linking the defendant to the alleged crime came from Jane. Bexar County forensic scientist Jamie Pomykar calculated the genetic profile off of the evidence collected from inside Janes body, Daryl Harris said. Based on those results, he argued that the chances of it being anyone other than Harris were astronomical. She told you the profile collected was 417 (octillion) with 27 zeroes, and she expected to see this profile one time in a population of that many people, he said, noting that the Earths population is about 8 billion. Twenty-seven zeroes. One time, he said. Those numbers put that man inside Janes room. Its him. He did it. On ExpressNews.com: Nurse details how attacker forced his way into apartment, raped her at gunpoint In her closing arguments, prosecutor Alaina Altis told the jury that what happened to Jane is every womans nightmare. Anton came inside, holding a gun to her head, inside her home, Altis said. She thought she was gong to die. She reminded the panel what Jane told them in her testimony Tuesday afternoon she was led into her bedroom at gunpoint by a thin African-American man who demanded cash and raped her when she said she didnt have any. As she was there, covers over her head, she could feel the gun against her head as he raped her, Altis told the jury. He threatened her with his words, too: Shut up or Ill kill you. Defense attorney Monica E. Guerrero told the jury in her closing arguments that it was the burden of the state to prove that Harris was the attacker, and she said, the state had failed to do that. We dont have to prove anything to you, she told the panel. No one in this case identified Anton, not the complainant, Jane. She was the victim. It was a minute and seconds. Guerrero reminded the jury that the only potential suspects that San Antonio police presented to Jane the night of the alleged attack were two African-American men. She added that no one identified Harris, his prints were not found in Janes apartment, and challenged a sketch and a photograph taken from video at a Valero near Janes apartment as proof of his innocence. She stressed that although Harris DNA was found in Janes rape kit, the forensic scientist who testified stated that human error is a possibility, and its possible that it could have been someone else. Its Janes worst nightmare, but its also the worst nightmare of a young black kid, Guerrero said, mentioning that wrongful convictions have been occurring all over the United States. Referring to the state as the government, defense attorney Jonathan Watkins told the jury in his closing arguments that he was afraid, scared justice will not happen for Anton, because this is a rush to judgment. Watkins attempted to discredit each of the witnesses who testified some saying they heard the screams but didnt pay attention and the descriptions of a black man in a hoodie. It was a black kid in a gray hoodie, it must be him, he told the panel. This is the government, yall. Watkins pointed out that Jane testified that she could not definitively tell them that his client was the one. She said she could see his eyes and the bridge of his nose, Watkins told the panel. After the state and Harris defense, who did not call any witnesses, rested their cases, the jury deliberated for a little more than five hours beginning at 11:45 a.m. before returning a verdict. The panel returns today to begin deliberations on punishment. Harris faces up to life in prison. The case was heard in the 399th state District Court. Elizabeth Zavala covers county and state courts in San Antonio. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863 By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/29/2020 ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. alum Jephte Pierre believes Derek Sherman is lying about never having been in love before he married Katie Conrad on the show's tenth season.Former couples Jephte and Shawniece Jackson Jamie Otis and Doug Hehner, Ashley Petta and Anthony D'Amico , and Kristine Killingsworth and Keith Dewar all gave a piece of their minds while watching back footage from Derek and Katie's wedding day that aired on Season 10 of MAFS.The former MAFS couples expressed disbelief over a couple claims Derek and Katie had made early into the process during Lifetime's January 23 broadcast of : Couples Couch, which features commentary on encore broadcasts of the show's tenth season.On the topic of Derek's dating history prior to the show, Jephte admitted he wasn't buying the fact the 26-year-old Maryland cyber security engineer had never been in love before."I don't believe the dude when he said he's never been in love. The love probably never worked out, but to say you've never been in love after 26 years? Never?" Jephte reasoned.Jamie then expressed happiness she wasn't the bride in Derek's new marriage to Katie."He said he's never been in love and he just married someone," Jamie pointed out to her husband. "I don't know if I'd want to marry someone who's never been in love.""Yeah, that would be tough," Doug shared.After Jephte reiterated how he didn't believe Derek's story of never having been in love before, Jamie added, "That's a huge red flag to me.""How does he know how to love if he's never been in love?" Jamie questioned."They're going to work on it together," Doug suggested. "No one is going to be in love in the beginning -- you've got to work on it.""I know, but you want someone with a little experience," Jamie explained.And Kristine and Keith apparently had similar concerns about Derek's lack of experience in the love department."If you've never been in love, how are you ready for marriage?" Kristine asked."That's true," Keith responded."That would've been my first question," Kristine noted. "Like, what do you mean?""How do you not know?" Keith asked."Like, what is this jump from 'never in love' to 'I'm getting married and I'm ready?'" Kristine joked.Also during : Couples Couch, a clip played of Katie and Derek waking up together in bed after their wedding night.Jamie observed, "I think Katie and Derek did the deed. I'm getting the sex vibes.""No they didn't," Doug disagreed."A hundred percent they did," Jamie argued.Another clip then played of Derek and Katie saying they had only slept for a couple hours during the night."Our first night together was amazing. We didn't really do a lot of sleeping," Katie told the cameras in a recent episode."There was a lot of kissing. There were some heated moments where I thought we might go a little too far than we planned, but we decided to hold off."Ashley, however, wasn't so sure Katie was telling the truth."Do you believe her?" Ashley asked her husband."'There were a couple of heated moments where I thought we might go too far,'" Anthony repeated. "What exactly does that mean?""[They] definitely [had sex]. They're lying!" Ashley claimed.Derek, however, explained during the show he didn't want his marriage to feel like a one-night stand that wouldn't end, which previous couples could understand.Derek was matched to marry Katie, a 25-year-old mental health professional from Virginia, by experts Pastor Calvin Roberson, Dr. Pepper Schwartz and Dr. Viviana Coles for the new season that premiered earlier this month.Derek and Katie's wedding was featured in the second episode of 's tenth season.Both spouses were immediately attracted to each other and felt chemistry, and the pair appeared to enjoy their wedding night.Katie and Derek continued to bond the next day, especially when Derek asked her father for his blessing to marry his daughter.Katie was so impressed by the sweet gesture, and the pair were all smiles heading to their honeymoon in Panama.However, in the January 9 broadcast of Couples Couch, MAFS alum Bobby Dodd predicted Katie and Derek's marriage is not going to last long.In addition to Derek and Katie, 's new season also stars Mindy Shiben and Zach Justice Taylor Dunklin and Brandon Reid Meka Jones and Michael Watson , and Jessica Studer and Austin Hurd currently airs on Wednesday nights at 8PM ET/PT on Lifetime.Interested in more news? Join our Married at First Sight Facebook Group English French OTTAWA, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On the day of the tabling of the An Act to implement the Agreement between Canada, the United States of America and the United Mexican States, Catherine Cobden, President of the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) released the following statement: The CSPA is urging all members of the House of Commons and the Senate of Canada to support this Bill and swiftly ratify the Canada - United States - Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). Implementation of the CUSMA is critical to strengthening the competitiveness of Canadian and North American steel industries and ensuring market access in the face of persistent global trade challenges and uncertainty. The CUSMA builds on the success of NAFTA by incentivizing the use of North American steel through strengthened rules of origin and enhanced regional value content requirements. The CUSMA also includes important provisions that will promote increased cooperation and information sharing among the North American governments to address the repeated surges of dumped and subsidized steel imports that continue to injure domestic steelmakers. CSPA members are important suppliers to the integrated North American marketplace including the automotive, construction, energy, transportation and other sectors. We believe this deal to be a critical step forward for our future and are counting on all Parliamentarians to come together and ratify the agreement without delay. ABOUT THE CANADIAN STEEL PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION The Canadian Steel Producers Association is the national voice of Canadas primary steel industry, dedicated to ensuring a competitive and sustainable business environment for its members and supply chain stakeholders. Canadian steel producers are integral to Canadas economy and a vital supplier to many segments of North American industry, including the automotive, energy, construction and transportation sectors. Media Contact Catherine Cobden President, Canadian Steel Producers Association 613-884-4856 c.cobden@canadiansteel.ca Two Chinese citizens were taken on Wednesday to a hospital in Armenia and tested there for possible cases of a dangerous new virus which has infected thousands of people in China and killed at least 132 of them. Officials in Yerevan said they were hospitalized after being barred from again entering neighboring Georgia at the main Armenian-Georgian border crossing. According to Liana Torosian, a senior official from the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, one of the Chinese travellers showed no symptoms of any virus while the other only had a mild fever and is now undergoing an X-ray examination of their lungs at a Yerevan hospital specializing in treatment of infectious diseases. Lets see what results the X-ray will produce, Torosian told reporters. The condition of both patients is satisfactory at the moment. They will certainly remain under medical surveillance in separate insulated wards. Torosian insisted that the likelihood of either Chinese national suffering from the new kind of coronavirus is low because they had left China before the disease outbreak. During the entire [two-week disease] incubation period they were in Georgia and Armenia and had no health issues, she said. There have been around 6,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus nationwide in China so far. Dozens of other cases have been confirmed outside mainland China as well, including in Europe, North America, and elsewhere in Asia. Nobody has been diagnosed with the coronavirus in Armenia, according to the countrys medical authorities. Speaking at a joint news conference with Torosian, Deputy Health Minister Lena Nanushian said Armenia is considered a low-risk zone for the spread of the virus not least because of the absence of direct flights to China. Nanushian said the health authorities are examining Armenian citizens returning from China via third countries and taking other precautions. The Foreign Ministry in Yerevan last week advised Armenians to refrain from travelling to China for now. It said six Armenians live in the Chinese city of Wuhan lying at the epicenter of the outbreak. Torosian admitted that the authorities currently lack the capacity to definitively detect cases of the coronavirus through laboratory testing. But she said they should be equipped to do so by the end of next week. 1 big thing: The battle over 5G deployment in America's cities The fate of the national race to build 5G wireless service depends on how effectively the guts of the network namely, hundreds of thousands of bulky antennas are placed in cities. Why it matters: While global tensions mount over pressure to build 5G networks as fast as possible, U.S. cities are in a fight of their own with telecom carriers and federal regulators over how new 5G antennas or small cells will be scattered throughout downtowns and neighborhoods. Driving the news: On Feb. 10, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, California, will hear the case between cities and the Federal Communications Commission over the placement of 5G antennas. Dozens of cities have sued the FCC over its 2018 order requiring faster permitting and limiting the fees communities can charge wireless companies to install backpack-sized antennas on city property. Context: Wireless companies say one of the biggest hurdles to deploying 5G networks is the need to negotiate with city officials for permission to install small cells, and that some cities were charging excessive fees for access to city property. FCC Republicans argue that uniform limits to streamline the permitting process will speed up 5G rollout and that the money telecom companies save from paying lower permit fees in big cities will help build out the networks in underserved areas faster. "A lot of cities that had high fees have been able to reduce them and reach reasonable agreements with carriers," said Republican FCC commissioner Brendan Carr. "Carriers that are building out need to compromise with cities. Cities need to understand the upside that comes with 5G." The other side: City leaders, however, say the one-size-fits-all rules undermine their authority to charge market rates for property access. They also say the mandated fee structure weakens their leverage to negotiate wider 5G build-outs that, for example, cover poor neighborhoods as well as rich ones. What's next: A decision in the lawsuit over 5G infrastructure placement is expected later this year. Until then, the litigation creates uncertainty for both cities and carriers during what is supposed to be a critical time for 5G rollouts. Police are searching for Ernesto Caballeiro, 49, (pictured) who went missing after three women were murdered in a Miami home Tuesday Authorities issued an amber alert for a infant and were on the hunt for his father after three women were found murdered in a Miami home Tuesday. The three women, who were all Hispanic and aged between 40 and 80, were found dead from gunshot wounds inside the home in a remote neighborhood in south Miami-Dade, police said. Police confirmed Ernesto Caballeiro, 49, and his 1-week-old infant son Andrew also were missing. The amber alert was issued for the child, and anyone encountering him and the father are warned 'not to approach'. Instead, the alert advises the public to contact police or call 911 'immediately'. Officers were called to the home Tuesday after a family member came by. The relative had made several unsuccessful attempts to contact the residence and found the bodies of the three women, Lee Cowart, a spokesman for Miami-Dade police said. Caballeiro's son Andrew is described as white, hispanic, with black eyes, measuring 20 inches and weighing about seven pounds Video courtesy of Local 10 The last known contact the women had was at about 10:30am that day, police said. Cowart said police are 'are attempting to locate' Caballeiro, who lived at the home where the triple homicide happened. The home and surrounding road were taped off by police and much of the neighborhood was placed on lock down The father is described as being white, hispanic, with black hair and brown eyes, standing at five-foot-seven and weighing 240 pounds. Officers were called to the home Tuesday after a family member of the victims went to the residence after making repeated attempts to contact them and found the bodies of the three women Lee Cowart, a spokesman for Miami-Dade police (above), confirmed that police are 'are attempting to locate' Caballeiro, who lived at the home where the triple homicide happened The home and surrounding road were taped off by police and placed much of the neighborhood on lockdown during the initial investigation and subsequent search for Caballeiro and his infant son Andrew The infant is described as white, hispanic, with black eyes, measuring 20 inches and weighing about seven pounds. The alert says father and son may be traveling in a white, 2001 Chevrolet Express van, with Florida tags HETY13. 'This vehicle has a decal of 'Nesty School Services', says the alert. 'On the back left door there is a decal of 'Caution: Transporting Chidren'. Police are asking anyone with information to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS, or to call 911. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Eisya A. Eloksari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 15:29 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206187e56 1 Business Grab,electric-taxi,electric-vehicle,Soekarno-Hatta-International-Airport,Terminal-3,Blue-Bird,Transportation,Budi-Karya-Sumadi,transportation-ministry,ride-hailing-application Free The capital can expect to see more electric vehicles (EVs) on its streets with the launch of GrabCar Elektrik, an electric taxi (e-taxi) service based out of Terminal 3, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Ride-hailing services decacorn Grab Indonesia has partnered with South Korean automotive giant Hyundai to operate 20 Hyundai Ioniq Electric cars as part of a trial program under its new GrabCar Elektrik service. The [taxis] are available for booking starting today, Grab Indonesia president director Ridzki Kramadibrata told the press at the launch event on Monday. Users of GrabCar Elektrik would be charged 10 to 15 percent higher than the regular GrabCar service, said Ridzki. This meant that Grab's e-taxi passengers would be paying Rp 2,200 (16 US cents) to Rp 2,750 per kilometer instead of Rp 2,000-2,500 per kilometer. Grab is the second company to offer electric transportation services in Indonesia after public taxi company Blue Bird, amid the government's efforts to beef up the use of electric vehicles (EV) to reduce the country's reliance on fossil fuels. Just last year, Blue Bird procured 30 e-taxis from Chinese automaker BYD to expand the fleet of its regular Blue Bird service, and procured four Tesla cars from the American EV manufacturer for its Silver Bird high-end taxi service. We decided to launch the pilot [program] at the airport because we can easily charge the vehicles [there]. And the airport offers diverse consumers, from domestic to international users, Ridzki at the event on Monday, emphasizing that Grab's e-taxi service was in line with the government's green energy initiative. Earlier on Dec. 13, 2019 during the launch of Grab Indonesia's EV Ecosystem Road Map, Ridzki announced that the EV trial program would be financed by a Rp 27 trillion ($2 billion) investment from Japanese conglomerate SoftBank. He added on the same occasion that the company planned to deploy a fleet of 500 electric cars by the end of 2020. The majority would be Hyundai models, but he said that Grab remained open to offers from other automakers. Ridzki said that the expansion plan also depended on provisions and facilities in the business support ecosystem, such as tax incentives and charging stations. To date, Jakarta has only three EV charging stations: at the South Jakarta headquarters of state electricity company PLN, at the companys central distribution unit in Central Jakarta, and at the Senayan City shopping mall in South Jakarta. Presidential Regulation No. 55/2019 on accelerating the use of EVs in the country also covers general provisions related to EVs, including battery production, domestically manufactured components, charging stations and tax incentives, but still needs supporting regulations from the relevant state agencies. I believe we are on the right track, since we already have the Presidential Regulation. What we need now are the derivative regulations, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said at the GrabCar Elektrik event. He added that he had issued a ministerial regulation to lower the test fee for EV prototypes to Rp 25 million from Rp 50 million originally in support of the government policy. Budi said that other incentives might include establishing special lanes and free parking for EVs, and that he had discussed issuing differently colored license plates for EVs with the National Police for easier identification. "If more public transportation [companies] used EVs, it would become a lifestyle [choice], and more people would make the switch," said Budi. "In turn, once more people start buying EVs, they will become more affordable." The government has targeted 2021-2022 for the automotive industry to start the mass production of EVs, and a 2025 production target of 400,000 electric cars and 200,000 electric motorcycles. Despite the feminist narrative peddled to them by the abortion industry and pro-choice advocates, the tens of thousands of women who traveled to Washington, D.C. for the March for Life believe that to be pro-life is to be pro-woman. From mothers to teenagers to U.S. Senate candidates, women at the 47th annual march told National Review that they stood behind the rallys theme: Life Empowers: Pro-Life Is Pro-Woman. Every year, marchers endure often bitter cold weather to march from the National Mall to the Supreme Court on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the seminal 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Pro-life is pro-women because were marching to advocate for women in crisis pregnancies, Annie Schoen, a mother from Columbus, Ohio, told National Review as she cuddled her smiling, bundled up baby in the chilly January air. Scenes from the 47th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C, January 24, 2020 She added that it is a big misconception that the pro-life movement only cares about the unborn child. Our resources centers are meant to help women through their pregnancies and after, she stressed. Because were meant to live our lives with our children, were not meant to be without them. Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart, from Archdiocese of Boston, helps provide such resources for mothers and their babies. Her religious community helps run a shelter for pregnant women, she told National Review. I even go to labor with all of them, she said, And then we accompany them until the babys one year old and then we provide them resources after that. She added, Ive seen really most of these women, if they know that they are loved and they are supported and they are provided for, I do believe that every woman will choose life. Scenes from the 47th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C, January 24, 2020 Mother Olga has also served post-abortive women through her ministry and said she has witnessed their pain. Its a scar that they carry, always in their hearts, she said. In honor and support of all those women who have suffered because of abortion, I am here for them. Story continues For her part, she said, I am pro-life because I am pro-woman, because I dont want women to get hurt. Grace Mayo from Charlotte, N.C., shared a similar sentiment, saying that her faith has informed her belief that all life has value. When the Bible says that life is all sacred, I believe that all life precious, so I believe womens lives are precious, and I believe babies lives are precious, even the unborn, she said. Scenes from the 47th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C, January 24, 2020 One student about to graduate from high school almost lost her life to abortion. Anna from North Carolina told National Review that her birth mother became pregnant at just 15 years old after she was sexually assaulted. She was very confused and sad and didnt know what to do, so she went to what she thought was an abortion clinic and it was a crisis pregnancy center, Anna said. Her birth mother sought an abortion from the center until she saw Annas sonogram. She saw me and was like, I cant kill that, thats a human life, Anna said. And here I am today marching [against] what almost killed me. Scenes from the 47th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C, January 24, 2020 Susan Holmes and her husband adopted Anna as a baby after they were unable to have a child of their own. Shes our miracle, Susan said of her daughter. Because she couldnt have children of her own, the march theme took on a special meaning for her. What an honor that a woman has been chosen to bring life into the world, she urged. And here we are, and me being infertile and never able to have children, that speaks even more volumes because those women that are able to have children are bringing in miracles that I couldnt myself. Rebecca Kiessling of the organization Save the 1 also had a close call with abortion. Kiessling, a pro-life speaker, was conceived in rape. Im only alive because the law protected me pre-Roe vs. Wade, she told National Review. Four years before Roe, my birth mother was abducted at knifepoint by a serial rapist. Although her mother attempted to procure illegal abortions twice, she backed out out of fear for her own safety. Scenes from the 47th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C, January 24, 2020 Abortion, Kiessling said, is not pro-woman but a tool wielded by those who commit violence against women: sex traffickers, child molesters, and rapists. It allows them to continue perpetrating. More violence does not bring healing, but a baby does have a way of bringing healing and exposing the rape and protecting her, delivering her out of an abusive situation, she stressed. What good is my right to anything as a woman without my right to life? Kiessling concluded. McKenzie Blair knows this firsthand after choosing life for her now 9-year-old son after a date rape. Im huge on the no exceptions part of [abortion] she said. Women are strong. Women dont realize how strong they are, and so its, I feel like, giving that power back to a woman, saying you can do this, you can carry the baby, you can give the baby up for adoption, you can keep the baby, theres thousands of resources out there. For women, she said, its just finding your strength. She told National Review that this was the first time she had publicly shared her story. She did it for her son, she said. I want him to realize how God had a purpose for his life. He is here for a reason, she added. So I feel like its important that I show that, Youre here son. Youre here for a reason. And why not do it and say, do it like this. This is huge. Scenes from the 47th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C, January 24, 2020 Her mother, Brenda, added that out of an awful situation came this beautiful grandson, our first grandson who is perfect in so many ways. Hes even got grandmas red hair, McKenzie inserted. Brenda added that each of her grandchildren, three of whom are adopted, are Gods gifts. Women have to dig deep, I know its not easy. We walked this journey together, she said. But it can be done, and maybe if its not meant that youre supposed to raise them then put them up for adoption. But their life is valuable. Abby Johnson, former Planned Parenthood director turned pro-life advocate, also spoke about the power women have. I think that, for a long time, secular feminism has told women that in order to be successful, in order to be able to finish your education, that you have to choose between having a child and finishing your education or having a career, she said. That thought, she said, is anti-woman. Because thats basically saying that women are too weak to do the things that to reach the goals that we have set for ourselves. And thats ridiculous. Women are way stronger than that. Former Planned Parenthood director and pro-life advocate Abby Johnson at the 47th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C, January 24, 2020 I think that its, its just, its really a lie to say that in order to be pro-woman you must be willing to tell a woman that she cant reach her goals by being a mom, she said. We are really the movement that is empowering women to reach their goals, to set goals, to refuse to choose. Ashley McGuire of the Catholic Association agreed, saying that women have been sold a lot of lies about what empowerment is. I think the ability of women to bring new life into the world is one of our most unique and empowering qualities, she said. And I think abortion has served to sort of train women to deny that about themselves, to think that theyre not capable of both succeeding in other ways and being a mom. She criticized second-wave feminists for setting up this standard that the way women achieve equality with men is to be like men. Abortion, she said, was the ultimate masculinization of women, but in a violent and hideous way. While she recognized that the feminist movement has tethered itself to the pro-choice movement, she had hope for the future. I actually think itll be this generations group of feminists that will drive forward sort of a new, a pro-life feminism, she concluded. Frances Floresca, who recently moved to Washington, D.C. from Salt Lake City, Utah, pointed to the pro-life movements connection with the original feminists, the suffragettes. Scenes from the 47th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C, January 24, 2020 I look back at the suffragists from the very beginning who have gotten womens voting rights, she said. A lot of them were very much pro-life. The abortion industry has lied to women over time, saying, Oh you should be getting an abortion so you can further your future and your life, she said. Elisa Martinez, a Latina and Native American Republican Senate candidate for New Mexico and founder of New Mexico Alliance for Life, cited statistics in explaining why to be pro-life is to be pro-woman. I think the number one reason is that 64 percent of abortions, women are being forced or pressured to abort, she told National Review. So first of all, lets establish that the majority of abortions arent even the womans choice. That staggering figure appears to come from a report from the Elliot Institute, Forced Abortion in America, which found that 64 percent of women who obtain abortions feel pressure to abort. Secondly, Martinez stressed, the majority of women now according to Gallup polls is showing that women are pro-life. Indeed, 51 percent of women identified themselves as pro-life compared to 43 percent who said they were pro-choice, according to a Gallup poll last year. Lastly, abortion is not health care because it doesnt address an underlying medical problem. Its actually destructing a natural biological state of the body, Martinez said. So especially as it pertains to abortions after 18 weeks, they are more dangerous than natural pregnancy, according to some studies. When asked about feminism, she concluded, I think that more and more women are speaking up and standing up that theyve been harmed by the abortion industry. And a true feminist would listen to their voices and not seek to stifle or suppress them. More from National Review Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) has awarded BH Mubasher Financial Services PSC with a license to serve as market maker, making it the 5th market maker on the Exchange. The announcement came at a bell-ringing ceremony on ADXs trading floor, which was attended by members of ADX and BH Mubasher Executive Management. This step is a reflection of ADXs success in increasing the attractiveness and competitiveness of the Exchange through diversifying its products. Speaking at the bell-ringing ceremony, Khalifa Salem AlMansoori, chief executive of ADX, said: "Awarding a new Market Maker license represents yet another milestone in ADX history, pointing to our willingness to expand our investor base, and continually improve market liquidity. Increasing the number of Market Makers on the Exchange is a key part of our long-term strategy of promoting Abu Dhabi to a wider range of international and domestic investors who can benefit from its competitive yet friendly business environment." ADX has registered BH Mubasher in line with guidelines issued by the countrys main financial regulatory body, the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) which stipulates that the ownership of a liquidity provider cannot exceed 5 percent of the listed companys shares, and that issuers have the right to assign multiple liquidity providers. Al Hurr Al Suwaidi, chairman of BH Mubasher Financial Services, said that the license obtained from Abu ADX is a valuable addition to the range of services provided to clients. The move is in line with the companys core strategy of providing the best services and maintaining the highest level of quality and credibility. He added that the milestone serves as a platform that opens new investment vistas for companies and businessmen. Al Suwaidi explained that this step will help strengthen relations between BH Mubasher and capital markets in the UAE, particularly Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. It will facilitate more instruments and ways to empower and grow businesses, contributing to overall sustainable economic development. Abdel Hadi Al Sadi, chief executive officer, BH Mubasher, said: We are very pleased to have received our Market Making license from Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and to provide liquidity to listed companies. This milestone for our business will enable us to offer more products and services to our clients and increase our scope of business. He added: We thank Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange for trusting BH Mubasher and granting us the license, which is a valuable addition to our services. This shows that BH Mubasher is committed to being at the forefront of the growth and development of the capital markets in Abu Dhabi and the UAE. TradeArabia News Service The intention of members of the Labor party to support the petitions to bar the candidacy of Knesset member Heba Yazbak (Balad faction of the Arab Joint List) for the election to the 23rd Knesset attest more than anything to their wish to remain distinct from Meretz, their partner in the united list of the Israeli left, whose members tend to oppose barring her from running. Balad, the national Arab party, is considered the most extreme of the four Arab parties making up the Joint List. After the election in September 2019, when the Joint List announced that it would recommend to the president to charge Blue and White leader Benny Gantz with forming the government, the three representatives from Balad in the Joint List refused to endorse the recommendation. The three petitions demanding to bar Yazbak are based mostly on the claim that she supports evil terrorists and has written in their praise. For instance, in 2015, she called the Lebanese terrorist Samir Kuntar a "shahid" (martyr) and expressed anger at his assassination. Kuntar murdered Danny Haran and his 4-year-old daughter Einat in a brutal attack in Nahariya in 1979, and was released to Lebanon in 2008 in the framework of the deal to return the bodies of Israel Defense Forces soldiers Eldad Regev and Udi Goldwasser. After his release he returned to terrorist activity with Hezbollah and in 2015 he was killed in Syria. In another post, Yazbak expressed support for Palestinian terrorist Dalal al-Mughrabi, who participated in murdering 35 Israeli citizens in 1978 and was killed during the attack. In August 2019, in a debate at the Supreme Court regarding the Balad party over a petition to disqualify the list, the judges sharply denounced Yazbak. It seems that if a specific request to disqualify her had been submitted to the Central Elections Committee, the Supreme Court would not have prevented it. Samir Kuntar crushed the skull of a baby. Identifying with him is a shame and a disgrace, said Justice Yitzhak Amit. And Supreme Court President Esther Hayut determined that Yazbaks remarks were support for a terrorist organization one of the reasons to disqualify a candidate. The Central Elections Committee will discuss today three different petitions to disqualify Yazbak, submitted by Knesset member Ofir Katz (Likud), Knesset member Oded Forer (Yisrael Beitenu) and the Otzma Yehudit party. In an attempt to explain her remarks to the Jewish public, Yazbak published an op-ed in Haaretz on Jan. 24, where she wrote, None of these posts was meant to support the deeds [of the terrorists]. I reject hurting people, whoever they are, and the attempt of extremists to associate me with support for hurting children or blowing up buses is absurd and horrifying. A day before the first petition to bar Yazbak was submitted by Katz, on Jan. 19, the chairman of the joint left list Labor-Gesher-Meretz, Amir Peretz, said that his party is leaning toward support for the request to bar Yazbak. The next day, after the first petition was submitted, Knesset member Itzik Shmuli (Labor) rushed to support it. The petition is as justified like none other and should be unconditionally supported, he tweeted. The law does not allow candidacy for the Knesset to someone who rejects Israel as a Jewish and democratic state and certainly to anyone who supports terrorism in words or deeds. Later, Shmuli debated on Twitter with former Knesset member Issawi Freij (Meretz) in the 11th spot on the joint left list who attacked his support for barring Yazbak. This dispute brought to light the differences of opinion of the two parties on the question of Yazbaks disqualification. In conversation with Al-Monitor, Shmuli said that Yazbaks clear support for terrorism, alongside Balads ideology that supports a state for all of its citizens which means rejecting Israel as a nation-state of the Jewish people justify his support for this grave step of disqualification. Concerning Meretz, he said that the joint list for the Knesset seems to blur the differences between the two parties, but that the question of Yazbaks disqualification shows that Labor is nonetheless a distinct entity from Meretz. Im from the central stream in Labor that believes we should support diplomatic separation, but on the way there we must safeguard Israels security needs, including security control over the Jordan Valley, keeping settlement blocs and refraining from using the word 'occupation,' he noted. According to Shmuli, one of the reasons for the decline of the Labor party is its turn to the left. We went to places that were too niche and leftist not necessarily in essence, but in terminology." he said. "We took the peacenik perspective and not the security perspective as the main reason for an agreement with the Palestinians and for retreat [from the Palestinian territories]. He added that the current joint run with Meretz that he pushed for is a matter of survival out of fear that one of the parties would not pass the Knesset-entry threshold. Shmuli noted that the Arab Joint List can be used for the purpose of forming a coalition, noting, "[Late Prime Minister Yitzhak] Rabin also did it [enjoyed the support in the Knesset of Arab Knesset members] in order to advance historic moves like the Oslo Accord, but he rejects leaning on the support of Balad for such a coalition. In Meretz, as mentioned, the tendency is to oppose the petitions to bar Yazbak. I am uncomfortable reading Yazbaks Facebook comments, but disqualifying a law-abiding citizen from running is to reward the detractors of Israeli democracy. In a democracy, people are disqualified over their actions and not over sharing outrageous comments on Facebook, tweeted former Deputy Chief of Staff and current Knesset member Yair Golan (Meretz). Senior members of Labor and Meretz have not managed to come to an agreement among themselves regarding the disqualification, and at the end of a raucous meeting Jan. 20 it was agreed that representatives of Labor-Gesher and Meretz on the Central Elections Committee will have the freedom to vote their conscience. The committee will meet Jan. 29, and it seems that there is a solid majority for barring Yazbak. If indeed the Central Elections Committee disqualifies Yazbak, the issue will be brought to the High Court. In light of the judges statements only a few months ago, it seems that Balad will need a judicial acrobatic act in order to prevent the ban on their member of Knesset. Members of the Labor party admit that they used the issue of Yazbaks ban in order to show their independence from Meretz, and that despite their joint run in the election Labor is not a niche party and can appeal to wider audiences than Meretz does. A senior member of the party told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, The alliance with the purists of Meretz the Peace Now at any price people who shut their eyes to security threats, justifies the thesis that because we went left we are on the path to extinction. We need more issues like Yazbak in order to prove we are distinct from Meretz. We also have to part ways with Meretz right after the election, otherwise the grand Labor party has no right to exist. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 22:11:14|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ISTANBUL, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Russia is not abiding by the agreements inked earlier to end the conflict in Syria's Idlib region, local media reported. Turkey and Russia agreed to ease the fighting in Idlib, the last rebel-held stronghold in northern Syria, and to establish a demilitarized zone there in line with the deals reached in Kazakhstan's capital Nur-Sultan, formerly known as Astana, and the Russian city of Sochi. "Currently, Russia is not loyal to Astana or Sochi," state-run Anadolu Agency quoted Erdogan as saying. "If Russia remains committed to these agreements, we will also move on with the same loyalty," Erdogan told reporters during his return flight from Senegal. Turkey would take a new stance in the face of Russia's failure in stopping bombardments, the Turkish president noted. He said Turkish delegations have been conducting talks with their Russian counterparts and telling them that "Turkey is running out of patience." The Syrian government forces, backed by Russia, have been carrying out airstrikes in Idlib, forcing civilians to leave their homes. Erdogan earlier noted that close to 400,000 people from Idlib have started moving toward Turkey's border, fleeing hostility in the region. Turkey and Russia have initiated a new cease-fire in Idlib which supposed to come into effect on Jan. 12. File Image Senior BJP leader and Union minister Prakash Javadekar presented a report card of the development work done by the Union government for the people of Delhi. At a press conference here, Javadekar, who is in-charge for the Delhi assembly elections, also accused the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of hindering the development of the national capital. The Union environment minister said that the Centre conferred ownership rights to more than 40 lakh people living in 1,731 unauthorised colonies of Delhi and also framed a scheme for their development. "Under the 'Jaha Jhuggi Wahi Makan' scheme, two room-set houses are being allotted. The central government has also waived conversion charge of Rs 10 lakh for shopkeepers and done away with the threat of their establishments getting sealed," he said. Javadekar said the Narendra Modi government has "expanded the Delhi Metro rail network by 116 kilometers" and "60 lakh persons use the metro every day". "This is the fourth largest transport system in the world, but the Kejriwal government has delayed the Metro PhaseIV by three years resulting in increase in the cost of construction," he said. Javadekar said that the AAP government created "seven hindrances" in the development of Delhi. The Kejriwal government did not give permission for the Dwarka Expressway for two years, he said. "Kejriwal also supported the tukde tukde gang (a term used by the BJP to attack groups it accuses of working to promote violent leftists and separatism) and did not grant permission to prosecute them. Had Kejriwal allowed them to be prosecuted, the protest at Shaheen Bagh may not have taken place," he said. Thousands of people, including women and children, have been protesting since December 15 at Shaheen Bagh and nearby Jamia Millia Islamia against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the pan-India National Register of Citizens. "The roads constructed by PWD and DSIIDC are broken and generate dust which contributes to the city's high-pollution level," he said. "Kejriwal did not allow implementation of central government's Aayushman Bharat scheme and deprived Delhiites of free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh," Javadekar alleged. The ruling AAP did not implement the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) and as a result, poor people did not get houses while the Modi government has allotted houses to one crore people in the country, he further alleged. Toronto, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WWF-Canada has chosen four award recipients for the Generation Water Tech Challenge. Since September 2019, WWF-Canada has been seeking innovative and transformative solutions to help address threats to Canadas freshwater health. The four award recipients will receive $75,000 in grants and a spot each in the Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) Climate Ventures: Earth Tech Program to help bring their ideas to life. Projects range from citizen science water-testing kits to AI-enabled solutions to water crises. Canadas lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands hold 20 per cent of the worlds freshwater. Unfortunately, Canadas freshwater ecosystems are in trouble. Our 2017 Watershed Report identified two priority problems high threats to urban watersheds and a data deficit across the country. WWF-Canada launched its first-ever technology challenge to move beyond good ideas to tangible solutions that will have meaningful impact for our water. These technological solutions will help discover previously unexplored paths towards healthy freshwater. About the award recipients The four award recipients selected for the challenge are: Water Rangers: A non-profit social enterprise and winner of the 2015 AquaHacking competition, Water Rangers is a design-led organization that connects people to their local waterways through citizen science. The team provides portable kits that allow communities to test water and share data for data deficient regions. SENTRY: Founded in 2013, SENTRY is a real-time sensor technology that monitors microbial activity and water quality for municipal and industrial clients. The platform has been validated with the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) to monitor raw water intake to their drinking water plants from the Great Lakes. Clean Nature: Clean Nature focuses on reducing excessive road-salt use while maintaining public safety. They use an adapted artificial intelligence model (AIM) called guiA to prevent the excessive use of road salt. The platform provides the optimal type and dose of de-icing application by considering specific local and real-time conditions. The team is also a winner of the AquaHacking 2019 competition. CANN Forecast: A 2016 AquaHacking competition winner, CANN Forecasts mission is to help prevent water-related crises by leveraging municipalities existing data. The team has developed two tools that use artificial intelligence to help address water management issues in Canada, specifically water quality and pipe vulnerability within distribution systems. Learn more about our challenge award recipients here. Elizabeth Hendriks, WWF-Canadas vice president of freshwater conservation says: Safeguarding Canadas watersheds is critical for the wellbeing of wildlife and communities now and into the uncertain future of the climate crisis. Were excited to see how our award recipients will be tackling these issues with their innovative technological tools and bring to life some great solutions for Canadas freshwater health. Tonya Surman, CEO of Centre for Social Innovation says: CSIs Climate Ventures is helping to build the next economy one that is just, carbon neutral, circular, and regenerative. Were proud to support the entrepreneurs and innovators working on the technology solutions that will play an important role in enabling this transformation for people and planet. About the Centre for Social Innovation & CSI's Climate Ventures The Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) is a coworking space, community and launchpad for people working to make the world a better place. Our 2,500 members generate over $250M in collective annual revenues while building a movement for people and the planet. CSI's Climate Ventures is home to the entrepreneurs, innovators, and advocates working on climate solutions and climate justice. From farming to fashion, our members are building the next, low-carbon economy and a better future for all. climateventures.org About World Wildlife Fund Canada WWF-Canada creates solutions to the environmental challenges that matter most for Canadians. We work in places that are unique and ecologically important, so that nature, wildlife and people thrive together. Because we are all wildlife. For more information, visit wwf.ca. For more information contact: Alexandra del Castello, Associate Specialist, Communications adelcastello@wwfcanada.org, 647 264 6996 Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki has threatened to deal with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) if he (Oshiomhole) continues his activities in Edo State. Obaseki said this when he attended a meeting of the 18 APC local government Chairmen in the state. This comes after a rally which held last weekend in Auchi, Etsako West local government area where thousands of people from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defected to the APC. The governor, through one of the aides, Osaigbovo Iyoha, however, declared the rally as illegal, saying there is a ban on political rallies in the state. Read Also: Despite Rumours Of Internal Crisis, APC Still Winning: Oshiomhole The governors comment was immediately faulted by the immediate past Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon Pally Iriase, describing it as repressive and jackboot politics. Referring to Oshiomhole, Obaseki said, All this nonsense they are doing, if anybody in the name of our party tries to do anything contrary to what we have agreed as a party we will deal with that person ruthlessly no matter who he is. If you are elected a chairman, your attitude should show if you believe in the party. Party supremacy means the leadership of the party must respect the membership. It is the members that make the party supreme because the members subscribed to a constitution which governs the conduct of the party. One man cannot be the party. We are warning the suspended National Chairman. If he continues his activities in Edo State, I will show him that I am the Governor of Edo State. Why he was Governor, he will not tolerate a fraction of the misdemeanor and misbehaviour he is undertaking today. I have declared that if Oshiomhole comes here to Edo to say he wants to disrupt the activities of the state and the party we will deal with him the way we know how best to do it. Comrade Oshiomhole stands suspended from the party. In due course, we will expel him if he does not behave. The party does not belong to him, it belongs to all of us. But Iriase, described Obasekis comments as unfortunate and a hard one at that and wondered how receiving defectors would amount to anti-party activities. His words, Ever since we left the military, we have not seen this kind of repressive administration that gag political opinion. By now, Obaseki should be pointing out projects in my local government and several others and not this jackboot tactics. How does growing the party and swelling its ranks become anti-party activities? We should be getting kudos. Obaseki is trying to scare people away. This jackboot democracy in Edo will not work. This is the amusing moment a man tried to impress his friends with his fishing skills and accidentally fell overboard and face-planted into a boat. Max Monneron, of Tweeds Head, Australia, hoped to catch some live bait with his friends during a day trip to Nambucca Heads, Australia. In the clip, Max can be heard announcing 'there's herring everywhere, bro' as he spectates the turquoise waters. Codey (pictured) was filmed trying to show off his fishing skills to his friends during a day trip to Nambucca Heads, Australia His friend Codey Rice then moves a fishing net through the sea as though he is trying to smoothly retrieve a fish. The cameraman can be heard cracking up as he encourages Codey to 'scrape them'. But the keen fisherman appears to grow riled up by the failings during his half-hearted efforts. Seconds later, he loses his balance and trips overboard, in the clip shared earlier today Moments later, he decides to clamber on top of the boat's railing as though he is trying to get a closer look of the fish. He then instantly loses his balance and topples overboard. The fisherman whacks into a fishing before being knocked off. Codey then twists dramatically as he is launched into the water, much to the amusement of his friend behind the camera. Codey fell dramatically into the sea The clip has been shared by The Mad Hueys Facebook page and made the Australian an internet sensation. On the video, it said: 'Tag a mate whos an absolute liability on the net.' The Nambucca River is a perfect hot spot for angling enthusiasts as there are 600 varieties of fish, according to Nambucca Heads fisherman, Chris Davis. A rare three-tailed fish was found in the river near Macksville by fisherman Chris Davis, in January last year. In 2017, a Great white shark was seen chewing on the back of a boat off the coast of Nambucca Heads. In a bizarre turn of events, the shark was more interested in the boat than what a New South Wales father and his sons had on their lines. HARTFORD For nearly 30 years, the Community Renewal Team has hosted an annual National Arts Program, providing an opportunity for all local artists to showcase their art within the community. Youth, teens, amateurs, intermediate and professional artists from both Middlesex and Hartford Counties are invited to submit their work now for the 2020 art show, which will be on display at Capital Community College (950 Main Street in Hartford, Feb. 13-March 2. All forms of visual arts are accepted for this show; from paintings and photographs to sculptures, crafts and textiles. Entries submitted must be the original work of the applicant and completed within the last three years - up to two entries per artist. Participants must be current residents of Hartford or Middlesex County, or an employee or family member of an employee of CRT. Artists can submit their work for free to this show. By removing the financial and commercial requirements of most exhibitions, this special show creates a sense of community and artistic fulfillment for all participants. The deadline to register for the 2020 National Arts Program in Central Connecticut is Feb. 7. To register for the show, visit the NAP registration page: https://www.nationalartsprogram.org/hartford/ Cash prizes will be awarded in each of the following categories: Amateur - an adult with little or no experience; Intermediate - an adult with some experience, beginning art students, etc.; Professional - an adult with serious art training or employed in an art-related job; Youth (12 Years and younger); Teen (ages 13 - 18); Teens Looking Out for Teens (ages 13 - 18) - in this special category, individual teenagers or groups of teens can submit a piece of art that evokes a greater understanding of the social issues affecting teens. All entries in the 2020 National Arts Program must be delivered to either: Capital Community College, 950 Main Street, Hartford, on Feb. 5 or 6 between 3-6 p.m, or February 7 by appointment only. Avon Old Farms School, Old Farms Road, Avon on either Feb. 5 or 6 between 3-5 p.m. at the Estabrook Art Center. For questions about this second drop-off location, contact Cristina Pinton at 860-404-4183 or pintonc@avonoldfarms.com. A gallery display of all of the art submitted to the 2020 National Arts Program will be held at Capital Community College (950 Main Street in Hartford, CT), on the 1st and 11th floors from February 13 to March 2, 2020 during the following hours: Monday - Friday 7:00 am - 10:00 pm and Saturdays 8:00 am - 1:00pm. During that time, visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorite works of art to help select the Peoples Choice award winner. The 29th Annual National Arts reception and presentation of awards will take place on February 22, 2020 at 11:00 am in Centinal Hall, located on the 11th floor of Capital Community College. (In the event of inclement weather, the reception will be rescheduled for Feb. 29, 2020.) The National Arts Program provides materials and funding for this visual art exhibit including awards for winning work totaling $3,450. All prizes are determined by a panel of judges with experience in the arts. Childrens Circus registration now open MIDDLETOWN Registration is open for Kids Arts 2020, The Childrens Circus of Middletown. Forms are made available at this link provided: http://www.middletownct.gov/296/Kids-Arts Forms are to be mailed or hand delivered to the Arts & Culture Office, Room B-11, Municipal Bldg., 245 DeKoven Drive, Middletown, CT 06457 Electronic submissions are not accepted at this time. Nonresident applications will be processed on April 1, 2020. Goff House board seeks new members EAST HAMPTON The Joseph N. Goff House Museum board of directors is seeking new volunteers. The museum is located in the historic East Hampton Village Center, 2 Barton Hill Road, and stands as testament to the community's cultural, civic, and architectural heritage. The facilities invite and support a wide variety of cultural and enrichment programs aimed at adding quality and depth to community life including an annual summer concert series featuring Connecticut musicians and the Top 10 Student Award Program, which honors our town's top 10 high schoolers. The facility also houses artifacts and memorabilia of Connecticut's 84th Governor and East Hampton native son, William A. O'Neill and annual exhibits on town history. For more information visit http://goffhouseehct.blogspot.com/ or contact Dean Markham, 860-918-4400 or Melisssa Pionzio, 860-993-5311. Foundation offers grant opportunities BRANFORD The Branford Community FoundationS 2020 competitive grant application materials are now available at www.branfordcommunityfoundation.org. Applications are due by March 12. In 2019, BCF committed $122,000 into the community in grants, scholarships, and leadership initiatives ranging from $500 to $25,000. BCF received 30 applications for funding last year through our competitive grant making process, reflecting a 20 percent increase from 2018. BCF was able to support 17 of those requests, including grants that relate to basic needs, health and human services, youth and education, arts and culture, the environment, affordable housing, arts and culture, and animal care. Prior to beginning an application for 2020, be sure to carefully review the grant guidelines. To help navigate the process, BCF will hold a Grant Application Workshop at 10 a.m. Feb. 5 at the Joseph Trapasso Community House, 46 Church Street, Branford, in the first floor activity room. RSVP to Jennifer Mullett at jmullett@branfordcommunityfoundation.org. If an organization received a grant in 2019, their Final Report is due Feb. 3. New requests cannot be reviewed until the Final Report is received. For more information, visit our website at www.branfordcommunityfoundation.org Get In-Person Assistance Fast Response in Emergencies Operating in the Same Time Zone Connections with Local Vendors Reduced Travel Fees Cybersecurity Experts in LAX, Santa Monica and Marina Del Rey Method Technologies: This network security provider offers a range of services to keep organizations safe from attack. They use a comprehensive approach that examines the network for all attack vectors and hardens it against vulnerabilities. Website and content filtering, firewalls, malware protection and security management provide a systemic approach to preventing intruders and limiting access to sensitive information. Los Angeles Chapter of the Information Systems Security Association: ISSA-LA has multiple meetings per month discussing information security and how to improve cybersecurity practices in the Los Angeles IT community. For organizations that have an in-house IT security team, sending the employees to these meetings can equip them with the latest skills and knowledge needed to stay ahead of cybercriminals. They hold five lunch meetings and six dinner meetings per month. They also have an Annual Information Security Summit. This group also has information security courses available for members and information security management awareness programs. LA Cyberlab: The Los Angeles Cyber Lab is a valuable resource for L.A.-based businesses looking for ways to improve their cybersecurity. This is a nonprofit organization that acts as a public-private partnership between the city of Los Angeles and local businesses. The city government shares data about cybersecurity threats and intelligence that it and its partners collect. This data can help businesses protect against similar threats and discover new trends in attacks. 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They can be a part of the disaster recovery team that gets the company's systems back up and running with as little downtime as possible.Another benefit to working with local IT security providers is that they have the same business hours as the clients they serve. Trying to coordinate service and support with a provider that has a three-hour time difference can be an exercise in frustration. In the worst-case scenario, this situation could lead to a devastating and long-lasting impact on the organization. While around-the-clock coverage is advantageous for monitoring the network for threats, it's always good to have someone local for timely responses during the business day when operations would suffer the most from an outage.Local IT security companies have a strong network of local vendors for equipment, software and services that are helpful to have on hand. 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Depending on the amount of on-site help needed by the organization, these savings can make up a substantial amount for the cybersecurity budget.Here are several local cybersecurity experts and companies to reach out to when businesses need help securing their infrastructure and protecting their data.Local cybersecurity partners are worth their weight in gold, especially when disaster strikes and a company needs help immediately. These resources help LAX, Santa Monica, Venice and Marina Del Rey businesses stop cybercrime from costing them thousands or millions of dollars throughout the year. A man who appeared in court on a marijuana citation was charged with contempt of court after he lit a joint in front of the judge in Lebanon, Tennessee, on January 27. Spencer Boston, 20, was filmed standing before Judge Haywood Barry and discussing his case briefly, before lighting a joint as the judge was looking away. Local media reported that Boston turned to those in the courtroom, some of whom were laughing, and said, The people deserve better. A court bailiff is seen in the footage taking Boston into custody. Lt Scott Moore of the Wilson County Sheriffs Office said Boston was booked on a second charge of simple possession and received 10 days for contempt of court. Moore told WKRN, Ive been in law enforcement for 20 years, and this is by far the most bizarre thing I have seen in a courtroom. He is a lot braver than I am." Marijuana has been decriminalized in the neighboring states of North Carolina, Mississippi, and Missouri and is legal for recreational use in 11 states, but Tennessee is not among them. Theres a debate over whether marijuana should be legal or not, but the bottom line is here in Tennessee it is not legal, and we have a responsibility to uphold the law and that is what we are going to do, Moore said. Credit: Wilson County Sheriffs Office via Storyful It, unfortunately, appears after almost 50 years of trying to get to that place of agreement as a denomination, that our disagreement only seems to be deepening, she said. We are praying that our delegates to our next General Conference in Minneapolis in May 2020 can choose a way forward that honors all people, and all our churches here and around the world. Amid the rising deadly coronavirus scare, the Government of India has issued a travel advisory asking people to refrain from traveling to China. "In the view of a spurt in Novel Corona Virus Disease (nCoV) cases being reported from China and travel-related cases appearing in many countries, the travelers to China are advised to avoid all non-essential travel to China," an advisory issued by the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry said on Wednesday. It said that people traveling to China must monitor their health closely. As a precautionary measure, the thermal screening facilities have been extended to 21 airports now including Gaya, Guwahati, Vizag, Varanasi and Goa. The steps are being taken as a preventive measure against the outbreak of the deadly Novel Corona Virus Disease (nCoV) outbreak in the city of Wuhan in China's Hubei province where nearly 4,500 cases have been reported and the virus has claimed over 100 live till date. The Wuhan coronavirus is a new strain of coronavirus that has not been identified before. The exact source of infection of 2019 nCoV is not known yet. Coronavirus is a large family of viruses that cause respiratory illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). The symptoms reported in patients with nCoV include acute onset of fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing. The infection results in severe complications and even death. According to the Union Health Ministry, there are confirmed cases of 2019 nCoV in India so far. Suspected cases are being monitored and identified through disease surveillance. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Pete Buttigieg campaign sent a survey to staffers of color seeking examples of micro-aggressions in the workplace, it has emerged. A questionnaire sent out by Buttigieg aide Raven Hollins asked non-white campaign workers if they had ever been confused with another staffer of color. Ethnic minority staffers were also asked if they had ever been interrupted, left out of a relevant meeting or email chain, had a suggestion ignored for no good reason or had someone else take credit for their idea. The Buttigieg campaign's struggle to win over black voters has been a recurring theme in the Democratic primary, and the survey was billed as a chance to educate white colleagues. It was sent out just a day before a 'Building Belonging' event where Buttigieg staffers voiced a series of frustrations about the campaign, the New York Times reported. An aide to Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg (pictured) sent a survey to staffers of color seeking examples of micro-aggressions in the workplace At the meeting on January 2, staffers raised concerns about the departure of non-white colleagues and the difficulties of hiring a diverse team. Some staffers voiced anger over Pete for America's links to controversial attorney Steve Patton, which sparked a widespread backlash last year. Patton had previously lobbied to block the release of a video depicting the police shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald in Chicago. The Buttigieg campaign returned Patton's campaign contributions and removed him as co-sponsor of a fundraiser after a wave of anger over his involvement. At the staff sessions, some workers reportedly claimed that their warnings about Patton's involvement had fallen on deaf ears. Buttigieg aides say the 'belonging' sessions were 'safe and honest spaces to talk about how they can make the campaign and Democratic politics as a whole more inclusive'. Workers on the Hillary Clinton campaign took part in similar meetings during the 2016 election, they say. The Buttigieg camp says it wants to 'include people of different backgrounds and viewpoints in every major decision'. 'We seek to serve and unify a diverse nation,' a mission statement on the Pete for America website says. 'Let us build a campaign team and a coalition of supporters that kindly embraces and reflects the increasingly diverse party and country to which we belong.' The Buttigieg campaign's struggle to win over black voters has been a recurring theme and the survey was billed as a chance to educate white colleagues Respondents to the survey about micro-aggressions were told that it would help 'inform our white colleagues about privilege'. However, concerns over Buttigieg's ability to win over black voters have been a recurring theme in the 2020 campaign. The Patton episode sparked widespread anger and Buttigieg has also faced criticism over his handling of race as mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Critics, including many residents, have blasted him for firing the citys first black police chief shortly after taking office. A South Bend police officer shot and killed a black man in June with his body camera not switched on, sparking angry protests against the mayor. The candidate's Douglass Plan to help African-Americans has also attracted controversy after black leaders suggested their support for it had been misquoted. The campaign sparked further anger after inexplicably using a stock photo of a Kenyan woman to promote the plan. A recent YouGov poll found that Buttigieg was the first choice of nine per cent of white voters but just one per cent of black voters. LONDON, Jan. 27 -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson should take advice of experts and approve Chinese tech company Huawei to help build Britain's 5G network, said two former British national security advisers Monday. Mark Lyall Grant, former national security adviser and previous permanent representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations, and Peter Ricketts, another former national security adviser, made the remarks ahead of a key meeting Tuesday of the British National Security Council where ministers will discuss giving a restricted role to the Chinese company, according to the Evening Standard newspaper. "I think we have to take the advice of the experts," Grant was quoted as saying. "If they believe the risk is minimal or can be mitigated, I don't see any reason why the decision last year should not be validated," he said. Grant said the Chinese firm was at the "cutting edge" of 5G technology and European rivals like Nokia and Ericsson "aren't as good or as cheap as Huawei." Meanwhile, Ricketts said the risk was "being blown out of proportion." "I think the issue is what happens if we get to the situation where no Western companies that are really able to compete with Huawei going forward and, like it or not, in a decade's time people will look back and say 'Was this really wise to take this decision in 2020 that has led to this dependency?'" British ministers and the heads of intelligence and security agencies are expected to make a final decision on Huawei when they meet at a secure conference room in Whitehall Tuesday. Vladimir Putin could become Russia's 'Supreme Ruler' when he steps down as president under proposed changes to the country's constitution, it emerged today. The Kremlin confirmed that the new title was one of several proposals but played down its significance claiming Putin 'has no view' on it. The proposal was put forward by a government commission looking into constitutional changes widely seen as a bid by Putin to 'rule for life' after his presidency ends in 2024. Putin has already announced sweeping changes to the constitution that were passed by parliament earlier this month. Russia's President Vladimir Putin submitted the amendments to the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, on Monday, just days after presenting them in the annual state-of-the-nation address last week The overhaul, which triggered a change in government, also cemented Putin's control of the transition process and was seen by some as an attempt to reduce intra-clan infighting between now and 2024, while allowing Putin to show he is responding to public discontent after years of belt-tightening. The State Duma, the Russian lower house of parliament, has already given its backing to his reforms in a preliminary vote. The government commission is considering further possible changes. 'There are... some very curious proposals among those put forward. 'For instance, they proposed renaming the position of head of state to "Supreme leader",' Pavel Krasheninnikov, the government commission's co-chair, told the Rossiiskaya Gazeta government newspaper. When asked about the idea on Wednesday, the Kremlin was non-committal, calling it a 'new initiative' and one of various proposals that may or may not be implemented. Putin greets Bavarian state governor Markus Soeder at the Kremlin today 'Right now all this is at the discussion stage,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. 'President Putin has no view on this.' Other proposals include formally recognising Russia's status as a 'victorious power' in World War Two and recognising Orthodox Christianity as the country's main religion, the Kommersant newspaper reported. 'Naturally some (of the proposals) will be eliminated, some will be accepted and from this the commission's sought-after result will appear,' Peskov told reporters. Russia's TASS news agency said Vladimir Zhironovsky, leader of the nationalist pro-Kremlin LDPR party, had suggested the president be known as the Supreme Leader many times in order to move away from job titles derived from foreign languages. Bollywood actor Tanushree Dutta urged the Bollywood industry to boycott choreographer Ganesh Acharya, following a harassment complaint against him by a 33-year-old woman. Tanushree said, "It's time Bollywood and the other Indian film industries boycott choreographer Ganesh Acharya completely. Hiding behind the male superstars who work with this despicable man, he has been abusing his power and position to harass, bully and take advantage of vulnerable young newcomers to the industry." The 35-year-old actor referred to her harassment case and said," Even though Ganesh Acharya was party to all the harassment I faced on 'Horn ok Pleasse' set, he went on to spoil my name and reputation thereafter, the leading men and heroes of Bollywood continued to work with him and give him film after film. Look now, didn't I tell you so??" The actor added, " Nobody had any regard for me and how much I had suffered psychologically and financially because of the turmoil I went through because of these people. I left the industry because I was so scared and hurt over the atrocious treatment meted out to me on 'Horn ok please' set. I had worked very sincerely to get to where I got in life and so went in shock for many years, over the whole episode on that set almost 12 years ago, that led to an attack on my car. They didn't just break my car, they broke my spirit that day." She further said, "Now, after all the information of fraud, non-payment of dues, sexual harassment of dancers, bullying and intimidation and even physical abuse of dancers is coming out about Ganesh Acharya in the media, if the actors, directors and producers still work with him, it would mean that they themselves are engaging in such acts also." Warning the film fraternity the actor said, "Stay the hell away from Ganesh Acharya otherwise your own reputation will be joined to his character. I'm sure many more girls and boys will come out about his misbehaviour and shady business, opening floodgates in the future." She concluded by stating, "Paap ka ghada bhar Gaya re tera, Ab toh chalak chalak ke teri kahaniya nikal Rahi hai" (Your pot of sin is full, now your stories are coming out). In September 2018, Dutta had alleged that veteran actor Nana Patekar misbehaved with her on the sets of 'Horn Ok Please' in 2008 while shooting a special dance number for the movie, and went on to file an FIR against him. However, Patekar refuted all allegations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WEST OLIVE, MI -- Ottawa County will continue to welcome in refugees. After three hours of public comment from 73 people, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday voted unanimously to support the continued resettlement of refugees within the county. The resolution approved by the board Tuesday, Jan. 28, is in response to an executive order last year from President Donald Trump that requires local and state governments to give official consent to allow refugee resettlement in their communities. Through giving its consent, Ottawa County effectively continues the status quo refugee resettlement thats been happening the past 40 years in the county. Bethany Christian Services, the only resettlement agency in the county, resettled a total 76 people in the county between 2015 and 2019, according to Ottawa County Administrator Al Vanderberg. There were no heated back-and-forths during the lengthy public comment period Tuesday, and most of those who spoke wanted commissioners to support resettlement. More than 150 people attended the meeting, and the conference space was standing room only. A crowd listens to public comment during the Ottawa County Board of Commissioner's Jan. 28 meeting at the Ottawa county Administrative Building. All of the public comment heard pertained to the continued resettlement of refugees in the county, which commissioners later approved that meeting. The majority of those who spoke in opposition wanted the board to table the measure until the economic impact of resettlement was studied. Many treated the vote as a referendum on immigration. Some of the arguments in opposition spoke of immigrants as a threat, a burden on the governments social programs and a people unwilling to assimilate into the culture. Its not the immigration of yesterday, Karl Nitz said. It is actually an invasion. These people want your space. The presidents administration sets the number of refugees to be settled each year across the United States. Trump set the refugee cap for this year at 18,000 -- the lowest number since the programs creation in 1980, according to the Associated Press. Alene Miller said that when her ancestors immigrated they had no social services at the time and had to struggle to stay alive and learn a new language, and they did. She then told a story implying refugees may commit violence because of the terror they flee. One day an African refugee plowed into a group of school children," Miller said. "Why? Because, well, who knows. You know, they come from areas of war and poverty. Living in a big city -- its a big, huge change in their lives. Some of those in favor spoke of continuing to accept refugees as a moral imperative, with many citing Bible verses and Christian values. Rev. Jared Cramer framed the issue of not continuing to allow refugee resettlements as infringing upon religious practices. He said he is personally familiar with the issue because his church, St. Johns Episcopal Church in Grand Haven, resettled a Sudanese family. Because of this executive order, if you as a commissioner dont support this letter of consent, the government will be taking our freedom to practice our religious faith and welcome the stranger, he said. Cramer argued against pausing the resolution to study the impact of refugee resettlement. Because it has been happening in the county for years, the impacts are well known, he said. Others talked of the benefits of diversity and argued that refugees arent a burden on government resources but provide financial value and add to the workforce. Jennifer Owens, president of Lakeshore Advantage, an economic development organization, warned commissioners that the area has a talent crisis, that the majority of employers are unable to fill existing jobs and that retirements in the next decade will present more talent gaps. Our community needs to do whatever we can to welcome talent to this area, Owens said. Our employers have had tremendous success with employing refugee talent. Whatever we can do as a community to get more hardworking individuals into this community will continue to grow our economy. Some in opposition spoke about the growing federal deficit and the desire to redirect federal refugee funding to veterans and other citizens in need. Trump wrote in the order that he wants the federal government to be respectful of those communities that may not be able to accommodate refugee resettlement. When governments have the resources and capacity to provide sustainable resettlement, it maximizes the likelihood refugees placed in the area will become self-sufficient and free from long-term dependence on public assistance, according to the executive order. Deborah VanDyk asked if the county has solved its own problems of poverty before taking on refugee resettlements. Vanderberg said the county does not incur costs for resettling refugees and that the program is federally funded. Bethany works with resettled refugees to find work and has a high rate of success, he said. According to VanDyk, many of the countries where refugees come from are war-torn for generations and often hate the United States. So while the military fights overseas to protect us, you all are willing to gamble and allow people from these nations to infiltrate our communities," she told commissioners. The refugees covered under the resettlement are the ones vetted by the Trump administration and given their OK to resettle in the United States. Ottawa County Corporate Counsel Doug Van Essen wanted to make that point clear, saying in a memo to the board that he doesnt want the county to confuse our constituents that this is somehow making Ottawa County a sanctuary county for illegal refugees. Bing Goei, director of the Michigan Office For New Americans and a refugee who fled Indonesia as a child, said as a Christian he is called to make a case in favor of continued resettlement. So today Im really pleading with you to continue, because you havent stopped it before, to continue to keep your county open to those who are fleeing persecution just as Jesus fled persecution, he said. To allow others to be able to contribute to your county. People that may not look like you or eat like you or worship like you. The unanimous vote approving the resolution was met with applause. Vanderberg will now have to sign a letter of consent and send it to the U.S. Department of State. City commissioners in Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo and Kentwood have also passed similar resolutions reaffirming their support for welcoming refugees into their communities. Read more: Kentwood city leaders support continued refugee resettlement in response to Trump order Ann Arbor reaffirms support for refugees after Trump executive order Kalamazoo City Commission affirms commitment to refugee resettlement Discrimination complaints against Grand Rapids police still being investigated 5 finalists for Grand Rapids Public Schools superintendent named Everything you need to know for Michigan International Auto Show in Grand Rapids An Ontario Provincial Police officer displays bags of fentanyl during a news conference in Vaughan, Ont., Canada, on Feb. 23, 2017. (The Canadian Press/Chris Young) Pressure Mounts for Ottawa to Stem Flow of Opioids From China Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is the latest Canadian politician to call for more action to stop the flood of opioids from China. The federal government has avoided criticizing China on the issue publicly, including before the arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou that raised the ire of Beijing. Kenney said recently that while more needs to be done domestically, as part of tackling the opioid crisis, to help those with addictions get on the path to recovery, the federal government needs to act to prevent the importation of opioids from China. Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer has also called on the government to hold China accountable for the flow of fentanyl into Canada. A 2018 Public Safety Canada report on a law enforcement roundtable says China is the main source of fentanyl coming into Canada. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney speaks to the media in Edmonton on Oct. 22, 2019. (The Canadian Press/Amber Bracken) U.S. President Donald Trump has called Chinese opioid flow to the United States almost a form of warfare. His administration has put pressure on Beijing to take action to stem the flow. In response, the regime changed its designation of fentanyl to a regulated substance. The White House announced that China agreed in late 2018, at the end of the G20 summit in Argentina, to heed a U.S. request to combat fentanyl exports. During that summit, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said China was cooperating with Ottawa to stop fentanyl shipments to Canada. However, a Global News report cited sources as saying that the Chinese import of fentanyl to Canada could get even worse because of diplomatic disputes between Beijing and Ottawa, with China refusing to take action. The sources made their comments before the Dec. 1, 2018, arrest of Huaweis Meng on a U.S. extradition request, which has since significantly escalated tensions between the two countries. The Epoch Times contacted Public Safety Minister Bill Blairs office for Ottawas response to Kenneys comments, but an emailed statement sent by a spokesperson made no mention of China. We are committed to doing everything we can to address illicit drug production, diversion, and trafficking, the statement said. It added that Ottawa has enabled law enforcement officials to search international mail under 30 grams on reasonable grounds, and it is investing $33 million in the Canada Border Services Agency to intercept fentanyl and other drugs. Fentanyl is shipped to Canada mainly through shipping containers and mail, primarily through British Columbia. There were close to 14,000 opioid-related deaths in Canada between January 2016 and June 2019, with fentanyl accounting for a majority of the deaths. British Columbia and Alberta have the highest death rates compared to their population in the country. The drug is also responsible for around 30,000 deaths annually in the United States in recent years. A New York Times report citing American officials says direct shipments of fentanyl-related substances from China have subsided since Beijings promise to take action against the drug, but U.S. officials want the regime to do more. Mike Tucker, a spokesperson with the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT), says fentanyl continues to be a problem. Have we seen an increase or decrease in the amount of pills or powder? I dont believe so far that has been the case, but its going to be an ongoing battle to combat this drug, Tucker told The Epoch Times. Chinas Opium Wars of the 21st Century Christian Leuprecht, a senior fellow with the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, says China is intentionally shipping fentanyl to North America to contribute to the downfall of the society. This is China fighting the Opium Wars of the 19th century for the 21st century, Leuprecht, who is also a political science professor at Queens University and the Royal Military College of Canada, said in an interview. [U.S. President Donald] Trump has made stemming the flow of fentanyl from China to the United States a part of the trade negotiations. So its very clear that it is deliberate and intentional by the Chinese government to bring this material to North America. Since Canada doesnt have the same kind of leverage that a superpower like the United States has, Leuprecht says Canada should be teaming up with the United States and asking Washington to include cutting the flow of fentanyl to Canada as part of the requirements when discussing trade with China. The problem, he adds, is that Trudeau has done a poor job of getting on the good side of the current U.S. administration, one example being his comment that the downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 near Tehran by Iran wouldnt have happened if there were no tensions in the region. Ottawas approach, he says, should be what federal governments usually do, which is to work constructively with whoever is in the White House and understand that given the current situation with China, its more important than ever. Sen. Vernon White, a former chief of the Ottawa Police Service, says information he has seen from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime show that as a result of the U.S. pressure on Beijing to stop the flow of fentanyl, some of the drug production operations have moved to other Asian countries. But China still remains a dominant player. White, who stresses that we should be doing more at home to rectify the demand side of the opioid crisis as well, says that to combat the supply side, Canada should be banning companies caught shipping fentanyl-linked products from doing lawful shipments as well. It seems for China, trade is something that has impact, he told The Epoch Times. They need to understand that if theyre not going to do enough, from a trade perspective its going to impact them on legitimate trade. With files from The Canadian Press The conflict in Kashmir has eclipsed many aspects of its syncretic culture, including its architectural tradition that goes back centuries and manifests itself in temples, stupas and mosques, but an ongoing exhibition hopes to remedy that in its own small way. The exhibition, titled "Sacred Architecture of Kashmir", provides material evidence through drawings, photographs and write-ups on the rich architectural heritage. Organised by the Indian National Trust for Art & Cultural Heritage (INTACH) - J&K Chapter, the exhibition at the India International Centre (IIC) Annexe celebrates the genesis and synthesis of Islamic architecture in medieval Kashmir and the traditional inspirations that it draws on. The idea behind the exhibition is to reach out to the broader audience of scholars outside Jammu and Kashmir, to tell the story of the evolution of sacred architecture of Kashmir, Saleem Beg, convener INTACH - J&K Chapter, told PTI. This architecture has evolved with the synchronisation of Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic architectural and spiritual elements and sacred spaces. However, not much work has been done so far in studying this continuity of traditions, Beg said. The exhibition, from January 28 to February 4, also covers years of conservation and restoration projects by INTACH - J&K Chapter, providing a detailed context of every building in terms, drawings, photographs and text. Some representative cases covered in the exhibition are Srinagar's 14th century Khanqah-i-Maulla, one of the oldest mosques in Kashmir, the Peer Dastageer Sahib Shrin and the Mosque of Madani. Beg noted that the continuity of the built form by succeeding faiths has been a way of appropriating the sacred space. This provides a historical narrative away from textual readings, and preserves the unique identity of Kashmir, he said. He said the 'khanqah' of Shah-e-Hamadan, the 14th century Sufi saint from Iran, is one of the best representations of this syncretic continuity, drawing from Budhism, Hinduism and Islam. The conflict that has engulfed Kashmir for almost three decades now, has also had a negative impact resulting in the loss of some major monuments/structures. Further conflict has also impacted overall governance that has resulted in mismanagement of heritage sites, he said. The story of evolution of Islamic architecture of medieval Kashmir is the story of harmonising the Islamic practice with the spiritual constitution of the historic Kashmiri subject, the organisers said. INTACH - J&K Chapter has documented and digitised most of the shrines, including temples, as part of the project on cultural resource mapping. One of these, the Dastgeer Saheb shrine, was completely gutted in 2012. The exhibition also highlights some of the conservation and restoration works undertaken by INTACH J&K linked with these sacred architectural traditions, Beg said. For example, the spire of Shah-e-Hamdan 'khanqah' was destroyed by lightning in 2015. Based on this digitisation, INTACH was able to restore and recreate these shrines. Beg also noted that there is urgent need to build on these traditions and practices to enable society to retain the essence of its rich cultural past. This, he said, can be done by initiating a dialogue within and outside Kashmir with civil society and opinion makers. The exhibits chosen are representative of the theme of exhibition as these shrines prominently carry the influences of past religious motifs, elements and sacred spaces, Beg said. In general, people are aware and respect the traditional architecture of Kashmir whether it be a part of secular or religious nature. However, lack of focus on the architecture and its linkage with the identity of Kashmir has created situations were many a times these spaces have been intervened inappropriately, he said. Beg also said INTACH has been able to persuade the state government to take legal and legislative measures for the protection of the region's cultural heritage. This, he said, resulted in the enactment of the J&K Heritage Authority. However we have to go a long way in ensuring that the legal protection granted under this law is enforced on ground, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Subscribe to Inc. This Morning, a daily news digest curated for those passionate about entrepreneurship. Several metrics are helpful when it comes to measuring a city's startup friendliness. Net business creation and population growth are two of the big ones. Portland, Maine, ranks poorly in both. At the moment, Portland is most concerned about shoring up its tech infrastructure credentials. On Monday, city officials announced the formation of a new research institute. Affiliated with Boston's Northeastern University, the Roux Institute--named after David Roux, the Silicon Valley investor and native Mainer who donated $100 million to finance the operation--is expected to serve as a graduate school and research center focused on artificial intelligence and machine learning. The goal is to turn a small tourism town--just 66,000 residents, according to U.S. Census data--into one of the country's largest tech hubs. It's a big experiment around a phenomenon that Inc. has been following for years now: successful startup ecosystems sprouting up around local colleges and universities. If you check out our Surge Cities index of best U.S. cities to start a business, you'll find many boasting nearby schools with high-powered business or entrepreneurship programs--from large cities like Boston and Atlanta to smaller ones like Boise, Idaho, and Greenville, South Carolina. The Roux Institute--and Portland at large--will be particularly fascinating to watch. "If that works, then what I'm sure is going to happen is what happens in every other market around the world," Roux told The New York Times on Monday, "which is somebody looks over from Central Florida and says, 'I would like one of those.'" Inc. editor-at-large Burt Helm happens to live in Portland. On Tuesday, he told me that this announcement reminded him of a story he wrote back in 2013 about the history of Boulder, Colorado's startup scene. Indeed, that ecosystem's formation was largely due to partnerships between the U.S. Department of Defense and the University of Colorado Boulder in the 1950s and 1960s. As local companies filled those DoD contracts, tech jobs skyrocketed. The city's economy and population grew. Both tech and nontech entrepreneurship blossomed, and Boulder remains a startup haven today. A Minnesota woman is suing Jeffrey Epstein's estate for half a million dollars, claiming he sexually abused her and sold her as a prostitute to wealthy clients. The lawsuit, filed on Friday in Dakota County alleges the disgraced financier drugged and assaulted the woman throughout her childhood and adult life. According to the lawsuit, Epstein 'initiated, orchestrated, and facilitated numerous crimes to subject the plaintiff to a forced, immoral relationship of sexual and economic servitude benefitting the defendants.' Epstein, 66, had been facing up to 45 years behind bars before he hung himself. The billionaire had pleaded not guilty and was awaiting trial The lawsuit goes on to state Epstein tried to extort the woman to recover money he paid as a settlement in a separate sexual abuse case, KARE 11 reports. Epstein, 66, hanged himself in his New York jail cell on August 10, 2019 while facing charges of child sex trafficking. He had been facing up to 45 years behind bars. The billionaire had pleaded not guilty and was awaiting trial. Epstein previously received an 18-month prison sentence in Florida in 2008 on charges of soliciting a minor for prostitution. The news comes just one month after a 30-year-old woman came forward in a new lawsuit alleging she was sexually abused and raped as a young girl over a three year period by Epstein. Epstein died in August at MCC Manhattan (above) while awaiting trial on charges he sexually abused dozens of girls as young as 14 and young women in New York and Florida That woman, in court papers filed in December, says the abuse took place at Epstein's Manhattan mansion between 2003 and 2006, starting when she was 14. Another underage friend had lured her to the residence on the promise that she would earn $300 if she gave a massage 'to a rich man in Manhattan', the filings show. That alleged victim says that after three years of abuse and finally rape, Epstein asked her to bring him more young girls, and that he would pay $300 for each one, the New York Post reports. Her case is one of more than two dozen filed by women against Epstein's estate, alleging they were sexually abused by the financier who took his life in a Manhattan jail cell while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. 2019 was a costly and deadly year in the United States when it came to weather. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information there were 14 billion-dollar disasters in the United States in 2019. Those were weather or climate events where the estimated damage was $1 billion or more. They included: * Three flooding episodes * Eight rounds of severe weather * Two tropical storms or hurricanes * One wildfire Those disasters have been blamed for 44 deaths, according to the NCEI. The costliest weather event of 2019 was the historic flooding in the Midwest that inundated millions of acres of farmland as well as towns and cities and caused an estimated $10.8 billion in damage. 2019s billion-dollar events also included three severe weather and flooding episodes that affected Alabama in February, April and May. According to the researchers at the NCEI 2019 was the fifth consecutive year to have 10 or more billion-dollar events in the U.S. Heres a look at those events: 1. California and Alaska wildfires: summer through fall, estimated damages $4.5 billion. 2. Texas tornadoes and central U.S. severe weather: Oct. 20, estimated damages $1.7 billion. (This included a tornado that struck the Dallas metro area.) 3. Tropical Storm Imelda: Sept. 17-21. Imelda was a weak storm but caused tremendous flooding in Texas, with estimated damage of $5 billion. 4. Hurricane Dorian: Aug. 28 - Sept. 6. Dorian was a Category 1 hurricane when it made landfall on the Outer Banks of North Carolina but tracked just offshore of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, causing flooding, storm surge and tornadoes. Estimated damage $1.6 billion. 5. Mississippi River, Midwest and southern flooding: March through July. The states most affected were Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. Estimated damage was $6.2 billion. 6. Colorado hail storms: July 4 - 5. Hail caused widespread damage in the Denver and Fort Collins areas. Estimated cost $1 billion. 7. Arkansas River flooding: May 20 - June 14. Historic flooding caused damage to thousands of homes, agriculture, roads and bridges in eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas. Total damage was $3 billion. 8. Rockies, central and Northeast tornadoes and severe weather: May 26 - 29. A four-day tornado outbreak began in the Rockies moved eastward, affecting multiple states and producing a total of 190 twisters. This system also produced an EF4 tornado that caused significant damage in the Dayton, Ohio, metro area. Estimated damage $4.5 billion. 9. Central U.S. severe weather: May 16-18. Severe weather caused damage to homes, businesses and vehicles in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Texas. Estimated damage $1 billion. 10. South and Southeast severe weather: May 7-13. Severe weather brought tornadoes and damaging hail to multiple states, including Alabama, which had four tornadoes during that timeframe. Texas, Louisiana, and North Carolina were hit particularly hard. Estimated damage was $1.5 billion. 11. Southern and eastern tornadoes and severe weather: April 13-14. More than 50 tornadoes were reported during that time frame in just Alabama and Mississippi, but there were an additional 25 tornadoes reported from Georgia to Pennsylvania. The total cost for that event was also $1.3 billion. 12. Missouri River and north-central flooding: March 14-31. Historic flooding inundated millions of acres of agriculture, numerous cities and towns and caused widespread damage. The states most affected were Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, South Dakota, Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Estimated damage $10.8 billion. According to the NCEI this was one of the costliest U.S. inland flooding events on record. 13. Texas hail storm: March 22-24. Hail caused widespread damage in the Dallas metro area. Hail damage was also reported in Oklahoma. Estimated damage $1.6 billion. 14. Southeast Ohio Valley and Northeast severe weather: Feb. 23-25. Tornadoes and flooding caused damage in Alabama (flooding), Mississippi and Tennessee and wind damage in the Ohio Valley and Northeast. Estimated damage was $1.3 billion. According to the NCEI the U.S. has had 258 billion-dollar weather and climate disasters since 1980. The total from all of those is more than $1.75 trillion, according to researchers there. Read more about the individual events here. "We're extremely excited to be here in Culver City and we offer our thanks and gratitude to our staff, our partners and everyone who helped us prepare to open our doors today. Whether it's a common cold, flu, broken bone or lacerations, our expert medical teams lead by an on-site ER doctor are standing by to stabilize and treat those with any urgent or serious, non-life threatening condition," said Rob Mahan, CEO at Exer. "This year across California, nearly a third of all visits to the ER will not be considered true medical emergencies. We believe healthcare should be affordable, and easy to access so people can get the care they want while saving time and money. That's why at Exer, we are working to create convenient access to ER doctors in affordable and caring environments. We staff each of our centers with ER doctors who have years of experience in emergency rooms and we equip them with the tools and medical staff they need to stabilize and treat patients on-site," said Mahan. With on-site X-Ray, IV, Lab, Splinting, Laceration Rooms, Diagnostics and other services at each location, Exer is designed for those whose conditions are non-life threatening. Mahan says each day, Exer facilities handle 80 percent of the cases seen daily in a local ER, usually with far less waiting and for a fraction of the price. He notes that Exer specifically partners and collaborates with emergency departments of hospitals in the Los Angeles area, which is helping to ease overcrowding in ERs while also reducing unnecessary visits and transports to the hospitals. The effort he says, helps both people and providers save time and money. "When we take on patients with less acute medical conditions, we reduce unnecessary visits to emergency rooms where most patients will experience longer wait times and a confusing and expensive billing process. A decrease in ER trips across the state is an indicator that more patients are accessing the level of care they need in less time," Mahan added. Exer Culver City is the 13th new center opening since the company began expanding in 2016. Mahan stated his teams are underway preparing for several more openings this year including locations in Los Altos, Calif. and Ventura, Calif. The company has 16 locations across Southern California including: Culver City, Camarillo, West Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Westwood, La Canada Flintridge, Pasadena, Canyon Country, Westlake Village, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Calabasas, Newbury Park, Northridge, Sherman Oaks and Stevenson Ranch. Each center is open seven days-a-week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with little-to-no waiting and last patients are registered daily at 8:30 p.m. Exer accepts most PPOs, most HMOs, Medicare and offers affordable payment options for those with minimal or no health insurance. For more information about Exer Urgent Care including new location and employment opportunities, visit www.ExerUrgentCare.com. ABOUT EXER URGENT CARE: Exer Urgent Care was founded by Cherlin Johnson, M.D., Deann Hampton and lead investor James Fay on May 15, 2013 with a common vision that some patients who are receiving care in an emergency room, could be better served in a more convenient, high-quality and affordable urgent care environment. For more information on Exer Urgent Care, visit ExerUrgentCare.com. SOURCE Exer Urgent Care Related Links http://www.ExerUrgentCare.com By Express News Service CHENNAI: A newly-wed man has landed in trouble after a video of him cutting cake with a long machete at his wedding ceremony in Thiruverkadu went viral. Though the police have received a complaint, they are yet to arrest the man and his friend who were dancing with the machete at the marriage hall. Bhuvanesh (23), the bridegroom, of Karumariamman Koil Street in Thiruverkadu was the route thala for his bus when he was studying at Pachaiyappas College. The other suspect, Mani, is a college student. He is absconding since the video went viral. After the wedding reception Sunday, the video went viral on Monday after which the police reached Bhuvaneshs house. Bhuvaneshs father had seen the video on TV and was beating him up when we arrived at his house, said a police officer. They had to go to the brides house for dinner, but ended up coming to the station. Bhuvanesh, a history graduate, is now employed at a private company in the city. Bhuvanesh had invited his friends, including juniors, to his wedding. They came with a cake and few machetes, to honour their friend in a unique way, the police added. In the video, around 30 youngsters are seen celebrating at the reception. The men brought a cake for the couple to cut, and handed them a three-foot machete. The 29-second video shows the gang of friends surrounding the couple on the wedding stage and shouting slogans. Bhuvaneshs wife who seems to be clueless in the video and enjoyed lifting the machete with him at the ceremony was shocked after police took her husband to the police station. Earlier, a few law graduates were also warned for celebrating birthday by cutting the cake with machetes in the open. This trend started after a video of gangster Binu Papachan celebrating his birthday, in the same manner, went viral a few years ago. Arun M By Express News Service KOCHI: If it was behind a buffalo that the whole villagers in the movie Jallikattu ran, an entire hamlet near Shoranur was on a similar mission on Tuesday. This time they were not after a buffalo but a dreaded criminal who jumped off a moving train to escape from police custody. It was a sleepless night for the residents of Nambram, a quiet village, to nail down Manik Sardar, aka Master (35), who is wanted in a series of robbery cases. They formed small groups and joined the police officers, checking every nook and cranny for the accused. The police team was sure Manik had not left the area as a girl residing nearby had spotted him near a rubber plantation in the night. At 8am on Wednesday, local resident Sojumon spotted him while attempting to cross the railway bridge across the Bharathapuzha. He immediately informed the police who launched a manhunt in the area. At 11 am, a woman, wife of a railway employee, spotted Manik passing through the Railway Colony. Based on her inputs, police rushed to the spot, chased and nabbed him from near the Shoranur railway station. The villagers joined the search after they came to know about Maniks brazen robberies from the police officers. Manik, hailing from Dhaka in Bangladesh, has more than a dozen robbery cases pending against him at various police stations across the country apart from a murder case in New Delhi. He operated with a gang of around 10 people. The gang used to arrive at a railway station and target isolated houses located close to the railway track. Their style was to barge into houses by breaking doors, attack inmates, tie them up and loot the belongings. Manik slipped off the clutches of the police when they unlocked his handcuff at around 2.30pm on Tuesday for lunch. They were taking him to the Ernakulam District Jail from Kannur Central Jail. "Manik was part of the gang which came to India using fake ID cards and used to stay here. They worked as ragpickers and did odd jobs during the daytime to identify their targets. Break-ins were done under the cover of darkness. After committing the crime, they fled to Bangladesh," said a police officer. On December 16, 2017, the gang attacked the residence of Nannappilli Anandakumar near Hill Palace at Tripunithura and decamped with 50 sovereigns of gold, three mobile phones and Rs 20,000 in cash. It was Manik who brandished lethal weapons towards the family members and tied them up in the house for executing the robbery. Of the 11-member gang, the police have nabbed nine members including Manik. He was booked for firing at a policeman in New Delhi. It was the Delhi police who handed him over to Kochi Police. The gang had first struck at the double-storey house of EK Ismail at Pullepady in Kochi. Earlier, they operated a theft at the residence of a journalist in Kannur in a similar manner. "It was with the support of the local residents that the police could manage to nab the accused, who was involved in several sensational cases," said Cheruthuruthi SI V P Sibeesh. He was shifted to the Ernakulam District Jail from Kannur Central Jail as part of the trial proceedings of the cases registered by Ernakulam North Police and Hill Palace police stations. Sky News Deep in the North Sea, 150 miles directly east of Aberdeen, lies an enormous and as yet undrilled gas field called Jackdaw. Its owner Shell has described the field as "critical" to its North Sea strategy. In October 2021 the government's environmental regulator for the offshore fossil fuel industry rejected Shell's plans to drill on as-yet unspecified environmental grounds. Read what is in the news today: Society -- Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam on Tuesday urged the Ministry of Health to stand ready for a scenario where the number of confirmed Wuhan coronavirus cases in the country reaches into the thousands. -- The Ministry of Education and Training on Tuesday issued an urgent dispatch to provincial and municipal education departments, institutes, and universities, asking them to take measures to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus in schools, as students nationwide are poised to return from the Lunar New Year holiday break on Thursday. -- The Nuoc Ngam Bus Terminal in southern Hanoi was heavily congested on early Wednesday morning as droves of people returned to the capital city after the Tet, or Lunar New Year, holiday. -- A cold spell will continue to affect the northern and central regions of Vietnam while the southern region is forecast to remain basking in sunshine over the next ten days, according to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting. -- One person was killed and another injured when a passenger bus slammed into a motorbike near a toll station in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre on Tuesday afternoon. -- A woman was summoned by authorities in Phan Thiet City in the south-central province of Binh Thuan on Tuesday for spreading false news on Facebook that six people infected with the coronavirus were being quarantined at a local hospital. Business -- Vietnam is the fastest-growing digital economy in the Southeast Asian region, largely due to investment inflow which is still on an unprecedented rise, the Singapore-based newspaper Business Times has reported. -- Budget carrier Vietjet has officially launched a direct route linking Hanoi and Indonesias resort island of Bali, with daily flights departing from Hanoi at 10:00 am and from Bali at 5:30 pm, taking approximately five and a half hours each trip. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Maha Energy AB (publ) Strandvagen 5A SE-114 51 Stockholm www.mahaenergy.ca Press Release Stockholm January 29, 2020 Maha Energy AB (publ) Announces Tartaruga Operational Update. 107D (Tartaruga) The remedial repair operations on the 107D horizontal are now complete. The split 7 casing was successfully removed and replaced with new casing. The well is now undergoing clean up flow and well testing. The well is flowing without the assistance of artificial lift. Once well testing and clean out operations are complete, the Company will disclose the results. The 107D completion consists of a 2-7/8 downhole Jet Pump assembly, and future plans include placing the well on artificial lift. The fact that the 107D free flows to surface is very encouraging because; (a) prior to the horizontal sidetrack the 107D well was dead and required artificial lift to produce oil, and (b) by stepping away from the original wellbore and drilling horizontally, Maha has demonstrated the applicability of horizontal drilling as a very beneficial extraction technology for the Penedo sandstone reservoirs. This is the first horizontal wellbore to have been drilled in the Penedo sandstone reservoir. The Braserv 147 workover rig was repositioned over the Maha-1 well on January 23 and after rig up and commissioning operations has now started operations to commence well stimulation and well testing. The current operation on Maha-1 is pulling out of the hole with tubing and preparing to perforate the first test interval. During the rig move, both the 107D and 7TTG wells were temporarily shut in for safety reasons. The 7TTG well is now back on production. Maha-1 is primarily an appraisal well to provide much needed well information for the Tartaruga Field Development Plan. Well testing on Maha-1 is expected to take between 60 90 days, and will target up to five different intervals in the Penedo sandstone. Results of the first testing interval(s) will dictate the final number of testing intervals. Results of the Maha-1 well test, in line with industry practice, will be communicated at the end of the well testing operations. Maha Energy holds a 75% working interest in the SES-107 Tartaruga oil and gas concession onshore Brazil. Petrobras holds the remaining 25% and is non-operator. For more information, please contact: Jonas Lindvall (CEO) Tel: +1 403 454 7560 Email: jonas@mahaenergy.ca or Victoria Berg (Investor Relations) Tel: +46 8 611 05 11 Email: victoria@mahaenergy.ca Miscellaneous The information was submitted for publication through the agency of the contact persons set out above on January 29, 2020, at 4:00 p.m. (CET) Maha in Brief Maha Energy AB is a Swedish public limited liability company. FNCA Sweden AB has been engaged as Certified Adviser and can be contacted at info@fnca.se or +46-8-528 00 399. The Company's auditors are Deloitte. The Company's predecessor Maha Energy Inc. was founded in 2013 in Calgary, Canada, by Jonas Lindvall and Ron Panchuk. In May 2016, the new group was formed with Maha Energy AB as parent company for purposes completing an initial public offering on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market stock exchange. Jonas Lindvall, CEO and Managing Director, has 26 years of international experience in the oil and gas industry, starting his career with Lundin Oil during the early days of E&P growth. After 6 years at Shell and Talisman, Jonas joined, and helped secure the success of, Tethys Oil AB. Maha's strategy is to target and develop underperforming hydrocarbon assets on global basis. The Company operates three oil fields, Tartaruga and Tie in Brazil and LAK Ranch, in Wyoming, U.S. For more information, please visit our website www.mahaenergy.ca. Attachment The 'evil spirits' of racism and anti-Semitism are re-emerging, Germany and Israel's presidents warned today as they marked the 75th anniversary of Auschwitz's liberation. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Germans had a responsibility to never forget their Nazi past and to stop hatred from spreading, at a special parliamentary session in the Bundestag. 'The evil spirits of the past are reappearing today under a new guise,' he said. 'More still, they are presenting their ethno-nationalist, authoritarian thinking as a vision, as a better answer to the questions of our time.' Israeli President Reuven Rivlin echoed those concerns in his own speech, warning that Europe was being 'visited by ghosts from the past'. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Germans had a responsibility to never forget their Nazi past and to stop hatred from spreading, at a special parliamentary session in the Bundestag (pictured: the president addressing the Bundestag today) German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and President of Israel Reuven Rivlin (left) hug during a memorial ceremony in the German parliament Bundestag Presidents Steinmeier and Rivlin had been at Auschwitz in Poland earlier this week to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp 'Ugly and extreme anti-Semitism is hovering over the whole of Europe,' Rivlin told German lawmakers. Both men were speaking after attending high-profile anniversary events in Jerusalem and at Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland in recent days. The solemn occasions were dominated by fresh fears over the safety of Jews in Europe, more than seven decades after the Nazis murdered over six million Jews during World War II. Sitting in the audience in Berlin were MPs from the far-right AfD party, whose leaders have openly railed against Germany's remembrance culture and its ongoing atonement for the atrocities committed under Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime. Leading AfD lawmaker Alexander Gauland in 2018 described the Nazi era as 'a speck of bird shit' in German history. Quoting Holocaust survivor Primo Levi, Steinmeier warned: 'It happened, so it can happen again.' Israeli President Reuven Rivlin embraces with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, next to President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Buedenbender Israeli President Reuven Rivlin embraces with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier during the commemoration service of the victims of the Nazi dictatorship, in the Bundestag in Berlin 'The evil spirits of the past are reappearing today under a new guise,' Steinmeier (left) said, while Rivlin (right) told parliamentarians Europe was being 'visited by ghosts from the past' Rivlin was only the second Israeli president to speak at the German parliament's annual remembrance event, after Shimon Peres in 2010. Peres used his speech at the time to issue an emotional plea for the world to bring the remaining perpetrators of Nazi crimes to justice. But faced with a dwindling number of people who lived through World War II, attention is shifting to making sure that the horrors of the Holocaust are not forgotten. On the eve of their Bundestag speeches, Rivlin and Steinmeier visited a centuries-old Jewish secondary school in the German capital. 'We have the fourth, fifth and sixth generation after the Holocaust and World War II,' Rivlin told students. 'Now we have to find a way to let you, and to let your children know what happened, and prevent it from happening again.' Steinmeier urged young people to complement their history lessons with real-life 'experiences' by travelling to Israel and visiting concentration camps like Auschwitz, where 1.1 million people were killed. Steinmeier and Rivlin embrace in front of the Brandeburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, on Tuesday The presidents of Germany and Israel walking together in front of the Brandenburg gate on Tuesday The German president, who serves as a kind of a moral arbiter for the nation, also voiced concern about the 'very negative influence' of social media. He said his speech at Israel's memorial event last Thursday, in which he urged Germans to confront their past, attracted an 'unbelievable' amount of negative reactions on Facebook. Alarm about anti-Jewish hatred has catapulted to the top of Germany's political agenda after a suspected neo-Nazi gunman tried to storm a synagogue filled with worshippers in the city of Halle in October. After failing to break down the door, he shot dead a female passer-by and a man at a kebab shop instead. According to government figures, Germany recorded 1,799 anti-Semitic offences in 2018, up nearly 20 percent on the year before. Of those, 69 were classed as violent attacks. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned this week that nearly one in two Jews has considered leaving the country. Rivlin (second from left), Steinmeier (centre), German First Lady Elke Buedenbender and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attend the official ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp at the Auschwitz-Birkenau site on Monday Steinmeier and his wife Elke Buedenbender light candles at the International Monument to the Victims of Fascism the main commemoration ceremony at the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau on Monday Chancellor Angela Merkel's government has already taken steps in recent months to tighten legislation on anti-Semitic crimes and punish online hate speech. Germans 'bear the responsibility of making everyone feel safe at home in Germany and in Europe', Merkel said recently. As a close diplomatic ally, Germany treads carefully when commenting on Israeli politics. But Berlin joined a lukewarm European response Tuesday to the Middle East peace plan unveiled by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 'Only a negotiated two-state solution, acceptable to both sides, can lead to a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians,' Maas said. Officers who allegedly found a 19-year-old man in a car with a 13-year-old girl have now charged the man with sexual assault offenses. Hellertown police said Daniel Golaszewski and the girl were found by officers on the night of Dec. 30, in a car parked in the lot of a borough business after closing time. Following an investigation, police said they learned Golaszewski, of the 1900 block of Vintage Drive in Bethlehem Township, had several sexual encounters with the girl since the end of October. Golaszewski turned himself in to police Friday and was charged with felony counts of statutory sexual assault and corruption of minors, plus misdemeanor indecent assault. Golaszewski was released after posting 10 percent of $10,000 bail. His attorney, Brian Collins, was not immediately available Wednesday to comment on the case. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Incidents of road blockade and stone-pelting were reported during the 'Bharat Bandh' called by various organisations to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in Gujarat on Wednesday, police said. A police officer was injured in stone-pelting in Surat. A group of masked persons pelted stones at police personnel near Madina Masjid in Limbayat locality of Surat, injuring an assistant sub-inspector, a senior official said. The police brought the situation under control after dispersing the crowd with baton-charge, and patrolling has been stepped up in the area, he said. At least 70 persons were detained after they tried to block a road by burning tyres in Katargam area of Surat city. Protesters also burned tyres to block the Ahmedabad- Rajkot national highway at Kerala village, causing a huge traffic jam near Bavla town in Ahmedabad district. Over a dozen protesters were detained and the traffic was restored, the officer said. Markets remained closed in parts of Vadodara, Bharuch and Surat cities. Western part of Bharuch city and nearby villages wore a deserted look. The shut-down had a visible impact at Kurchan, Luwara, Palej and some other villages near Bharuch city. In Bhavnagar city, 24 members of the Bahujan Kranti Morcha (BKM) were detained when they were appealing people to close their shops. BKM members were also seen appealing people to keep their establishments closed in parts of Vadodara. BKM and some other organisations had called for the Bandh to protest against the recently passed CAA and the proposed NRC. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Though society as we know it would essentially collapse without hard-working fast food employees, flipping burgers or assembling tacos for a chain restaurant isnt usually described as anyones dream job. But dont tell that to eight-year-old brain cancer patient David Turner Jr. According to his mom, the young Louisville, Kentucky resident loves Taco Bell so much that hed often ask her how old hed have to be to work there. I told him 15. He told me, Thats ridiculous because I could make tacos, mom Elizabeth told local news outlet WDRB. And then he went on to explain a 10-year-old could make tacos and mind you, he is eight. Recently, the Turner family received the devastating news that Davids brain tumor, first spotted in 2018, is progressing. Burdened with the tragic possibility of David not making it to his 15th birthday, his mom contacted the owner of the local Taco Bell (the same location she once worked at in high school) to see if he could fulfill his dream of picking up a shift at Taco Bell. It was an offer that owner Judd Wishnow graciously accepted. I was shocked that that was his dream, but I was so excited when he came in here, Wishnow (what an appropriate last name) said. By all accounts, David, who was accompanied by his young cousins, was a model worker. He took orders, helped out around the dining room, and got a chance to see what goes on in the kitchen. David was the kind of kid who clearly knew how to work the audience, Wishnow observed. He was very good at upselling and doing stuff on his own. You have to be impressed. After clocking out, David scored some Taco Bell merch, a taco-themed cake, and a check for $100 plus he got to keep the $7.32 in tips he earned working the dining room. Not a bad haul for a days work. While what the future holds for David is unfortunately unclear, we at least did get some clarity about a very crucial question: his favorite Taco Bell food. Nachos, he says. Nachos are number one. Ultimately, I think we can all agree with that. A newly designed Choose Life license plate was rolled out on Jan. 28 in Norcross, Ga., giving vehicle owners in the Peach State an updated platform for supporting pro-life causes. The redesigned plate includes an illustration of an infants hand resting in an adult hand. The original plate, first available in 2007, featured two children. In a news release, Choose Life Georgia President Karen LaBarr said, Our message is that every child born or pre-born deserves loving protection and support. We especially want to encourage expectant women to choose life for their babies by parenting them or by entrusting them to adoptive parents." In 2006, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, then a state senator, led an effort as sponsor of the legislation and constitutional amendment that allows the state to share revenue from the sales of specialty plates with various non-profits, including Choose Life and others. Both legislative measures passed with bipartisan support. According to its news release, Choose Life of Georgia receives a portion of each years tag fee, which the charity passes on to qualified non-profit clinics and centers that provide compassionate care to young girls, women and families trying to navigate the circumstances common to unplanned pregnancy. Some of the clinics provide free ultrasounds and other medical services. About 3,000 Choose Life plates, available since 2007, have been sold to Georgia vehicle owners, the news release said. Over the years, sales and renewals of plates have provided almost $400,000 in funding, which Choose Life has distributed to pregnancy help centers across the state to support women through unexpected pregnancies. Choose Life of Georgias ministry model was pioneered by Ocala, Fla.-based Choose Life, a national non-profit that originated the first pro-life specialty license plate in that state. The charitys purpose, according to its website, is To help every state get a Choose Life license plate approved, whose proceeds would be used to facilitate and encourage adoption as a positive choice for women with unplanned pregnancies. The group, based in Ocala, Fla., has helped establish Choose Life specialty plates in 30 states, Russ Amerling, a national publicity coordinator for the agency, reported in a text. Amerling also wrote that two more states are working to pre-sell the requisite number of plates to complete the approval process. Photo courtesy: Georgia DMV/Department of Revenue Tim Tune is a freelance journalist based in Fort Worth, Texas. His work has been published by Baptist Press, as well as the Dallas Morning News, the Fort Worth Business Press, Arlington Today magazine and other North Texas publications. The United States has dropped a record number of bombs on targets in Afghanistan in 2019. According to a report released by the US Air Forces Central Command (AFCENT) on Monday, the US has dropped 7,423 bombs on targets in Afghanistan in 2019, marking a rise from the 7,362 munitions released in 2018, reported Al Jazeera. Following the rise in civil casualties in Afghanistan, the United Nations and rights groups have time and again expressed their concerns over the increase in airstrikes across the country by the US and Afghan forces. On Sunday, over seven civilians including three children were killed in government air raids in northern Balkh province in the country, triggering protests from local residents. Earlier this month, over 60 civilians were killed or wounded in a US drone attack targeting a top Taliban splinter-group commander in western Afghanistan. According to the UN, around 717 civilians were killed in airstrikes by government forces, including the US, in the first half of 2019. The surge in hostilities comes after the US and the Taliban continue to push for a possible agreement that would see US troops withdrawing from Afghanistan in return for security guarantees. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Under a cloudy sky Tuesday, teams from CPS Energy and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department watched as an old angler tussled on the shore of Calaveras Lake with an unseen catch. After much thrashing from the fish and skilled maneuvering from the angler, the fisherman reeled in a monster, said Gregg Tieken, CPS Energy senior management of environmental operations. The team members marveled at the size of the old blue catfish. They all agreed the anglers catch was a good 21/2 feet long. It stood in stark contrast to the small juvenile channel catfish the crews were releasing in the lake, but they knew the little ones could easily grow to the captured fishs length in a three-year span. Its an opportunity for CPS to do some supplemental stocking, Tieken said, to help TPWD and help us with the greater cause of helping the fishery. Officials said there are more fishing licenses bought in Bexar County and surrounding areas per capita than any other area of the state. CPS Energy and the Texas Parks and Wildlife were restocking Braunig and Calaveras lakes on the South Side with more than 140,000 catfish Tuesday to help rebuild the population of fish for recreational opportunities. Tieken said 30 percent went to Braunig Lake and 70 percent were released into Calaveras Lake. The bulk of the restocking was done along the shorelines with workers releasing palm-sized fish from tanks into the water. Crews also used boats to set some of the juvenile fish free in the middle of the lakes. CPS Energy communications specialist Dana Sotoodeh said the fish released into the lakes were not a new species; its is one thats native and thrives in the waters of the two lakes. The restocking project also is in response to the depletion of fish at the two South Side lakes. This year, TPWD recommended catfish based on surveys that the species was in decline from heavy harvesting. Years ago, the focus was on restocking the two lakes with hybrid-striped bass. This year, channel catfish, farmed in Arkansas, were chosen because they are native to Texas waters. Water from the two lakes are used to cool the power plants they border, and then warm water is discharged from the plants back into the lakes. Because of the warm water, the growing seasons are much longer, Tieken said, and the fish grow faster. He said within three years the species will be at a size where theyll be ready to harvest. CPS Energy spokesman Seamus Nelson said though the utility is a gas and electric company, its heavily invested in the recreational element of the area and being part of the community. This was an innovative approach to cooling power plants back when we set these lakes up, he said. And to do it in a way that the community can also have two recreational areas. Were excited to keep that part alive. Vincent T. Davis is a reporter in the Greater San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | vtdavis@express-news.net | Twitter: @vincentdavis A trader here today threw red chilli powder on protesters who tried to close down his shop on 'Bharat Bandh' and damage his property. "Like always I opened my shop at 9 am. Some people came and asked me to close it. I told them that I support CAA then why should I close my shop. They became violent and tried to damage my property. I protested against that. After some time, police came and they ran away," Kishore Poddar, the trader said. The protesters also tried to close down shops of the traders in Yavatmal. The traders reacted to this and got together at Sardar Chowk to show their disapproval. Later the traders took out a march and got the shops opened which had been closed by the protesters. The 'Bharat Bandh' has been called by an organisation called Bahujan Kranti Morcha against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Population Register (NPR) and Register of Citizens (NRC). The CAA grants citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian refugees 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.) WILDWOOD, N.J. President Donald Trump came to the Jersey Shore on Tuesday night for a campaign rally in which he slammed Democrats for what he called demented hoaxes, while boasting of a growing economy and seeking to help a local congressman who just switched parties after opposing his impeachment. But in the 62-minute speech considerably shorter than recent such campaign events the president didnt dwell on his trial playing out in the Senate, instead focusing largely on the nations low unemployment rate, health care, terrorism and immigration. While we are creating jobs and killing terrorists, congressional Democrats are obsessed with demented hoaxes, crazy with hunts and deranged partisan crusades, Trump told thousands of supporters here. The rally, held in the 7,000-capacity Wildwoods Convention Center, was the presidents fourth since the House voted to impeach him in December. The Senate has been mulling the two charges approved by the House on a party-line vote obstruction of Congress and abuse of power for the past week in a show of partisan fractures, impassioned pleas for unity and explosive revelations from Trumps former national security adviser John Bolton that could upend the White Houses core defense. As in Congress, Trumps support among Americans remains deeply partisan. According to a Morning Consult/POLITICO poll conducted just after senators were sworn in as jurors for the impeachment trial, a plurality of Americans said they supported Trumps removal from office, with 47 percent in favor and 45 percent opposed. The divide was largely along partisan lines. The rally came just hours after the presidents legal team wrapped up its impeachment arguments but as the debate continues on whether witnesses, including Bolton, will be questioned during the trial a turn for Trump that could draw the process into unpredictable territory for weeks or months. In the aftermath of the House impeachment vote, Trump has used his rally platforms to highlight what he says are his biggest achievements as president, including the killing of a top Iranian military commander and the leader of ISIS, as well as steady economic growth. Story continues Tuesday was no exception, with Trump praising a flawless strike that killed the worlds Number One terrorist, Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Irans Quds Force. Trump also hit Democrats on the Green New Deal, saying it would force Americans to close your factories, get rid of your cows. You dont have too many cows in Wildwood, but if you do, theyre gone, he quipped. And he spent a significant amount of time on health care, saying Republicans are saving your health care while the Democrats are trying to take away your health care. But the president largely steered clear of attacking Democrats running to replace him this fall, a departure from recent rallies in which he has mocked many of them with personal insults. (He did take a couple of jabs at Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who has surged in recent polls.) President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign rally at the Wildwoods Convention Center Oceanfront, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, in Wildwood, N.J. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci) Trumps rallies are also designed to support Republican candidates in a bid to retain control of the Senate and win back the House, and it was for this reason that he came to South Jersey to stand with Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a newly minted Republican. A few weeks ago, Jeff was one of the few brave and principled Democrat lawmakers who stood up to the House Democrats and the outrageous abuse of power you see going on right now, the president said, alluding to his impeachment. They cant win an election, so theyre trying to steal an election. The 66-year-old Van Drew had a nearly 30-year career as a Democratic elected official before his party switch in December. During his 11 years in New Jerseys state Senate, he was Democrats most conservative member, voting against gay marriage, against gun control measures, against increasing the minimum wage and in support of pulling the state out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. But Van Drew, who represented a Republican-leaning legislative district, never faced a serious primary challenge, and remained a key ally of powerful South Jersey Democratic leaders. Even in 2018, as a blue wave swept most of the state, Van Drew easily won the 2nd Congressional District Democratic primary despite progressives complaints that they were steamrolled by party bosses. Van Drews support among Democrats collapsed when he refused to support impeachment something Democrats also blamed partly for the loss of Van Drews old state Senate seat in New Jerseys 2019 legislative elections. Democratic Party bosses who hold huge sway in South Jersey politics abandoned him as internal polling painted a bleak picture. Trump brought Van Drew up only 10 minutes into the Tuesday rally to help him kick off the night time the president usually reserves to dish out whatever has been most occupying his mind. The congressman said that by appearing in his district, Trump kept his word to ensure that the eyes of the world are on South Jersey and all of us. New Jersey is deeply Democratic, and has only trended more so in the Trump era. The state has nearly 1 million more registered Democrats than Republicans, and its congressional delegation in 2018 went from seven Democrats and five Republicans to 11 Democrats and one Republican. (With Van Drews party switch, it now stands at 10-2). But the 2nd District which runs from the shore in the east to the Philadelphia suburbs in the west with farmland in between, and is more working-class than the anti-Trump districts farther north is friendlier Trump territory. Its also in the region of the state where Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway, who attended the event and briefly addressed the crowd, grew up. The seaside resort town of Wildwood, usually dead quiet in January, saw a short boom from the rally. Hotels were reportedly booked weeks in advance. Pro-Trump banners hung from the balconies of the towns 1950s-era motels. Some attendees camped out 48 hours in advance to ensure a spot inside the convention center. The convention center was packed to capacity, while Trump said tens of thousands of people watched from outside. Although journalists in New Jersey closely reported on the rally and the crowds that formed ahead of it, Trump said the media typically ignores large turnout. Theyre fake. Theyre not honest, Trump said. So we have these massive crowds that fill up stadiums every single time. We have tens of thousands of people outside. They never mention it. Washington: In the first seven rounds of Democratic Party presidential debates, Joe Biden was attacked for his record on school desegregation. Elizabeth Warren drew fire for her wealth tax proposal. Pete Buttigieg was assailed for holding a fundraiser in a "wine cave". Bernie Sanders, meanwhile, sailed through almost entirely unscathed reflecting the conventional wisdom that he had little chance of winning the party's nomination. Polling consistently suggested that Sanders had a lock on around 15 to 20 per cent of Democratic voters, but no more than that and certainly not enough to assemble a winning coalition. Bernie Sanders has shot to the top of the Democratic primary polls in crucial early states. Credit:AP But now, with just a week to go until the influential Iowa caucuses which mark the start of the process to find the Democratic nominee, the 78-year old democratic socialist is surging in the polls at just the right time. Sanders' momentum has delighted the party's left wing but alarmed Democratic centrists, who are scrambling to halt his rise. The pushback has echoes of the ill-fated attempts by establishment Republicans to stop Donald Trump from winning their party's nomination in 2016. KT&G CEO Baek Bok-in, left, and Philip Morris International CEO Andre Calantzopoulos pose after signing a partnership agreement at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of KT&G By Nam Hyun-woo KT&G has teamed up with Philip Morris International (PMI) under which the former will use PMI's sales and marketing network to export its signature lil e-cigarette devices. Following the agreement, KT&G's lil heating devices will go on sale outside the Korean Peninsula with PMI's e-cigarette brand IQOS. "The global tobacco industry saw a paradigm shift in 2014 following PMI's launch of IQOS, and KT&G was deeply inspired by the movement," KT&G CEO Baek Bok-in told reporters in Seoul. "The strategic collaboration with PMI is an important opportunity for us to further lift brand awareness and move forward with plans to enhance our product development capabilities." The initial term of supply has been set for three years, but both companies agreed to possibly extend the contract once the products' sales reach a "milestone." For the specifics of the agreement, KT&G will provide its four e-cigarette products _ lil Hybrid, lil Plus and lil Mini heating devices and lil Vapor flavored vaping device and receive an "undisclosed royalty" from PMI. Over the branding of those products in overseas markets, both companies said they are considering using KT&G's lil brand and PMI's IQOS brand in parallel. The tobacco makers did not reveal which specific market they are targeting, but the U.S. will not be included as the first outreach due to stricter regulations on tobacco products. Also, they agreed for KT&G to tap into PMI's resources, knowledge and worldwide infrastructure, but have no obligation to share patents. "We are able to bring PMI's resources, knowledge and infrastructure as we leverage KT&G's smoke-free products," PMI CEO Andre Calantzopoulos said. "Our agreement will benefit adult smokers by providing a wide array of better choices." KT&G introduced lil in November 2017 as a response to IQOS' entrance to Korea in June that year. Since then, the two companies are engaged in heavy competitions in the growing domestic tobacco market. Wednesday's partnership is widely viewed as a "win-win as KT&G was hoping to get momentum to boost its product sales outside the country while PMI has long been asked to expand its product portfolio for smoke-free products. "The brand awareness of lil and IQOS are at par in Korea, but IQOS is in the superior position in global markets," said Lim Wang-seop, who heads KT&G's Next Generation Product division. "Also, our overseas sales infrastructure is not as well established as that of PMI, so we believe the collaboration of our products and PMI's infrastructure has advantages both in terms of cost and profitability." PMI also said it has high expectation on selling KT&G products, as the company expects lil devices will play a complimentary role for IQOS devices. "We hope KT&G's portfolio will be complementary to our portfolio and minimalize cannibalization," PMI Chief Strategy Officer Deepak Mishra told reporters during the press conference. Republicans are drawing up a 'Plan B' in case they are defeated on a motion to allow additional witnesses in Donald Trump's impeachment trial, it has emerged. Democrats are pressing for former national security adviser John Bolton to be called as a witness after a draft of his upcoming book made fresh claims about Trump. Four GOP defections would be enough to give the Democrats a majority - forcing the president's allies to consider a backup plan. GOP sources told Fox News that one option would be to wreck the motion by attaching a package of further witnesses, including Hunter Biden, which Democrats would not support. A second option would be for the White House to assert executive privilege in a bid to block witnesses, sources say. Democrats want to call former national security adviser John Bolton (pictured in May 2019) as a witness in Donald Trump's impeachment trial Under the first backup plan, Republicans would amend a motion calling for witnesses by attaching names which would be unacceptable to Democrats. They could include Joe Biden's son Hunter, whose work for Ukrainian gas company Burisma is linked to the impeachment case. Biden's testimony would allow Republicans to turn the tables by using the impeachment trial to dig up dirt on his father Joe Biden - meaning Democrats would almost certainly not allow it. GOP senators could also seek to scrutinize Democratic House manager Adam Schiff over his statements about the whistleblower at the center of the probe. 'If people want witnesses, we're going to get a lot of witnesses,' Republican senator Lindsey Graham said yesterday. If a wider package of witnesses is rejected by the Senate, Republicans could claim they supported the idea of witnesses in principle but were blocked by partisan bickering. The second option for Republicans would be to invoke executive privilege and seek a court injunction to stop Bolton from testifying. That could spark a weeks-long court battle over executive privilege and national security. Republicans could demand evidence from Hunter Biden (pictured), the son of Joe Biden, in a wrecking motion to prevent John Bolton from testifying Democrats are demanding that Bolton be called as a witness after a draft of his upcoming book cast further doubt on Trump's impeachment defense. According to Bolton's manuscript, Trump said he would freeze $391million in aid to Ukraine until Kiev announced an investigation into Joe and Hunter Biden. The charge against Trump is that he abused his power for personal gain by strong-arming Ukraine into smearing a political rival. Trump acknowledges that he demanded an investigation, but Bolton's allegations directly contradict the president's claim that there was no 'quid pro quo'. The president also sought a probe into spurious claims that Ukraine had interfered in the 2016 election to help Hillary Clinton. Bolton has indicated he would testify, but Trump's lawyers have dismissed his allegations as 'inadmissible' in the impeachment trial. Attorney Jay Sekulow said the impeachment trial was 'not a game of leaks and unsourced manuscripts'. He also sought to undermine the credibility of Bolton's book by noting that other administration officials have disputed comments attributed to him. One GOP senator, Rand Paul, suggested that Bolton was 'disgruntled' and seeking to make money out of his time at the White House. Republicans have 53 of the 100 seats in the Senate, meaning four would have to defect to give Democrats a majority on the witness vote. Donald Trump (pictured at a rally in New Jersey last night) is accused of abusing his power by strong-arming Ukraine into investigating a political rival Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell is reportedly telling colleagues that he does not have the votes to block witnesses altogether. Moderate senators including Mitt Romney and Susan Collins are thought to be among those who could switch sides. Their Republican colleague Lisa Murkowski has said that 'Bolton probably has something to offer us'. Trump's defense team rested their case yesterday with a plea to 'end now', but if Democrats do muster the 51 votes needed to call witnesses on Friday, the impeachment trial could continue for two or more weeks. Before that, questions from senators will be submitted in writing and read aloud by Chief Justice John Roberts, who is presiding over the trial. The questions can be directed at either the Democratic House prosecutors or Trump's legal team, and will take up to eight hours a day over Wednesday and Thursday. A two-thirds majority in the Senate - 67 votes - would be required to remove Trump from office, which is a remote prospect. No president has ever been convicted by the Senate, although Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 when removal from office seemed likely. Presidents Andrew Johnson (1868) and Bill Clinton (1999) were acquitted by the Senate after being impeached by the House. Its right under the stairs there at Michigan and Wacker when you walk down, so its like the Harry Potter of the Riverwalk, Gomez said. That might seem counterintuitive, like, most people go to the Riverwalk to be part of it, but this gives them a chance to escape the extreme heat, or cold or rain. I think what were doing with this cavelike, a little bit of edge, punk feel is going to make people want to come in and check it out. Or sit at an actual bar and have an actual cocktail. "I want people to know I am invested in PowerBand for the long run" - CEO, Kelly Jennings VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 29, 2020 / The CEO and largest shareholder of PowerBand Solutions Inc. (TSXV:PBX)(OTCQB:PWWBF)(Frankfurt:1ZVA) ("PowerBand", "PBX" or the "Company"), has announced he will be entering into a voluntary escrow agreement with Computershare and that he will not sell his shares in the Company for at least 12 months, until January 29, 2021. This commitment is in addition to any escrow imposed by the TSX Venture Exchange. The voluntary move by CEO Kelly Jennings comes as PowerBand continues to advance plans to put its transformational, cloud-based transaction platform into the hands of thousands of dealerships and consumers across North America. "I want people to know I am invested in PowerBand for the long run as we revolutionize how cars and trucks are bought, sold, leased and auctioned," said Jennings, who founded the company 9 years ago. "PowerBand intends to make buying, selling and leasing a car as easy as ordering an Uber on your smart phone or buying a product from Amazon," Jennings said. "This is a transformational solution, removing unnecessary middlemen, to benefit consumers, dealers, rental and commercial fleets, OEM's and funders." Jennings has more than 27 years of automotive dealership ownership and management experience, and has won numerous awards from major OEM's for industry-leading business performance and customer satisfaction. Jennings holds 41,865,283 shares of PowerBand, representing approximately 37 per cent of the Company's outstanding shares. About PowerBand Solutions Inc. PowerBand Solutions Inc. is a technology provider listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company's cloud-based platform is revolutionizing how we buy, sell, lease, and auction vehicles. With the recent receipt of its exporter license and its acquisition of MUSA Auto Finance, the Company is now well positioned to become a leader in the USD$10 billion cross-border used vehicle export market, the USD$100 billion used vehicle auction market, and the USD$120 billion vehicle leasing market in the U.S. and Canada. For further information, please contact: Richard Goldman, VP Corporate Development P: 1-866-768-7653 rgoldman@powerbandsolutions.com FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company, are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. As a result, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. 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 expressly required by Canadian securities law. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, unless an exemption from such registration is available. SOURCE: PowerBand Solutions Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/574473/Powerband-CEO-To-Voluntarily-Hold-Shares-For-12-Months New Delhi, Jan 29 : Indian passenger carriers Air India and IndiGo on Wednesday said that they will suspend some flight services to mainland China and Hong Kong owing to the outbreak of Coronavirus. Accordingly, IndiGo will suspend two of its flight services to China, including Hong Kong, from February 1. Currently, IndiGo operates four services to China and one to Hong Kong. IndiGo's flights connect New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Bangalore to destinations in China and Hong Kong. "Due to China travel restrictions, we have seen a high number of cancellations from China on our Delhi-Chengdu route and vice-a-versa," IndiGo said in a statement. "Therefore, we are suspending our flights between Delhi and Chengdu from February 1, 2020 until February 20, 2020. We are also suspending our Bengaluru-Hong Kong flight effective February 1, 2020." According to IndiGo, these are purely temporary and precautionary measures. "We understand that these measures will cause inconvenience to our customers and we will be refunding the full amount to the impacted passengers," the airline said. "We are in close touch with the relevant government authorities and we thank them and our partners in China for all the help and support that they have extended so far." Besides, the airline said that for now it will continue to operate the Kolkata-Guangzhou flight, which will be monitored on a daily basis. "And for our operating crew, we are ensuring that they return to India on the inbound flights without any layover in China," IndiGo said. Similarly, Air India has cancelled its flight to Shanghai from January 31 to February 14. "Air India has decided to cut the frequency of 'DEL-HKG-DEL' (flights) to three days only from 31st January to 14th February," AI spokesperson Dhananjay Kumar said. At present, Air India operates flights to Shanghai and Hong Kong. Health ministry in its advisory has suggested to carry out only essential travel to China. Industry insiders say that services to Hong Kong might be completely suspended in the coming days. On its part, SpiceJet has waived cancellation, change fees for all flights to and from Hong Kong between January 24 to February 24. Additionally, international major airlines have either reduced or suspended their operations to China. European aviation agency EASA has also issued a set of precautions for airlines operating to and from China. The new virus, which is of the same genre as SARS of 2003, was first reported in WHO Disease outbreak news on January 5 in China's Wuhan. Till now, it has progressively spread across many countries. However, the new virus has spread at a much faster pace than the 2003 SARS epidemic. In a bid to curb the spread of the virus, Chinese authorities have closed transportation services across many parts of the country, including Wuhan. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) ISLAMABAD Pakistan closed a key border crossing with Afghanistan for about 10 hours after mortar shells landed on Pakistani territory from across the border. Vehicles lined up on both sides of the border began moving across the Torkham crossing on the afternoon of January 29 after the gates were reopened, Pakistani and Afghan officials say. Earlier in the day, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Aisha Farooqui said the border gates had been closed for security reasons after two mortar shells fell near the crossing overnight. Officials say no casualties were reported but that a number of vehicles were damaged. Torkham is one of the major border crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Every day, thousands of people and scores of vehicles carrying goods use the gateway connecting Pakistan's Khyber tribal district with Afghanistans Nangarhar Province. Prime Minister Imran Khan had last year decided to keep the border crossing open for 24 hours a day to boost trade. The two neighbors have had uneasy relations, with Kabul accusing Islamabad of supporting Taliban militants. Pakistan denies that. Exchanges of fire across the border are common. The border closure comes in the wake of protests in both countries sparked by the detention of the leader of an ethnic Pashtun rights activist in Pakistan. This weeks detention of Manzoor Pashteen, the leader of a civil rights group that has criticized the Pakistani military's operations in the northwestern tribal regions, also led to a diplomatic spat between Islamabad and Kabul. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani expressed concerns over Pashteens detention and said governments in the region "must support and encourage peaceful civilian movements for justice." The Pakistani Foreign Ministry denounced Ghanis "clear interference in Pakistans internal affairs. Pashtuns live on both sides of the border. With reporting by Reuters The murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was carried out in less than a minute in a "highly organised" operation by a group of people motivated by money, the Central Criminal Court heard yesterday. The detective was shot dead seven years ago in Co Louth while on an armed garda cash escort. Aaron Brady (28) is charged with the murder of Det Gda Donohoe, who was then a member of An Garda Siochana acting in the course of his duty, at the Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013. Mr Brady is also charged with the robbery of about 7,000 in cash and assorted cheques from Mr Pat Bellew at the same location on the same date. The accused, of New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to both charges. Yesterday, prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC outlined the State's case in his opening remarks to the court. Slick He said the robbery was a "very slick operation, highly organised" with quite a number of people working together as a team. "It was carried out, the prosecution say, for a base criminal motive. This was done for money and nothing else," Mr Grehan said, adding that from the investigation there was nothing to suggest a connection "whatsoever with any kind of cause". On the evening of Friday, January 25, 2013, gardai were escorting credit union takings from four branches on the Cooley Peninsula - Omeath, Carlingford, Cooley and Lordship. At the beginning of the escort, staff were being followed by two uniformed gardai from Omeath Garda Station because detective gardai from Dundalk were delayed. One of those uniformed officers, Mr Grehan said, was the late Garda Tony Golden, who was shot dead two years later in an entirely unrelated incident. Det Gda Donohoe and his colleague Det Gda Joe Ryan took over the escort and arrived at the Lordship Credit Union at 9.25pm to escort a worker from a separate credit union and Pat Bellew, a worker at the Lordship branch. The cars were leaving the car park at 9.29pm when another vehicle blocked the exit. Four young males wearing balaclavas hopped over a back wall of the credit union's car park, two armed with guns, the court heard. One of the men was armed with a shotgun and the other with a handgun, counsel said. "Both men went directly and with deliberation and without hesitation to the garda car," he added. The jury was told that Det Gda Donohoe, who had stepped out to see what was blocking the exit, "was blasted in the face with the shotgun, it was fired at close range no more than the width of a car. He died instantly. "He never, it would appear, had the opportunity to draw his weapon, it was still in his holster," Mr Grehan said. Det Gda Joe Ryan was pinned in the driver's seat of the car with two guns pointing in his face, before being threatened with "words to the effect, 'I'll f**king kill you, don't move, I'll shoot'," the court heard. One of the raiders smashed the window of the car belonging to Mr Bellew and grabbed a bag, and a handbag was stolen from the car of another branch worker, counsel said. However, the raiders did not target another vehicle belonging to a credit union employee which contained 27,000 in cash. The court heard the four men then fled in a stolen Volkswagen Passat driven by a fifth raider, with Mr Grehan adding: "All that happened in 58 seconds." He said that the accused in this case, Aaron Brady, was 21 years old, and was in the company of two friends. A "distinctive" car driven by one of Mr Brady's friends was seen in the vicinity of Lordship Credit Union around 2pm on the afternoon of January 25, 2013, he told the court. Mr Grehan said a "curious thing" happened on the evening of the murder, in that Mr Brady's phone, and those of his two friends, "go off the radar" between around 8pm and 10.30pm. Pressure It will be the prosecution's case that on the day of the robbery Mr Brady sent a text message saying he would "be busy" that evening, specifically between 8pm and 10pm. "Aaron Brady left Ireland shortly after the robbery and murder as the investigation ramped up and he went to the US and settled in New York," Mr Grehan said, where the accused believed he was "beyond the reach of the long arm of the law". The prosecution also says Mr Brady appeared to be "under money pressure" coming into the weekend of January 25, 2013. However, "he was indicating that this money pressure would be solved after the weekend". The court was told the day after the murder Mr Brady also lied to gardai about his alibi. Earlier, Mr Grehan told the court that the accused in this case is presumed to be innocent and that he comes into the court "cloaked in the presumption of innocence". The trial continues today. MONTREAL - Air Canada is halting all direct flights to China following the federal governments advisory to avoid non-essential travel to the country due to the coronavirus epidemic. The abrupt suspension effective Thursday and slated to last until Feb. 29 threatens to dent revenues as the airline scrambles to regroup amid the disruption. It definitely will have a commercial impact. Theres no doubt about it. China is a major market for Air Canada, said John Gradek, a lecturer at McGill University and head of its Global Aviation Leadership Program. Canadas largest airline, the carrier makes 33 flights a week to Beijing and Shanghai from Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. The potential for longer-term harm looms if travel demand stays near ground level into the spring. More than 50 million people in 17 cities are now under under lockdown as China rolls out quarantine measures unprecedented in modern history. Air Canada said Wednesday it had begun to cancel select flights as customers delayed trips and called off travel plans due to fears of the spreading epidemic. Three or four hours later, everything shut down, Gradek said. It kind of shows you the degree to which this is a very, very fluid situation. Affected customers will be notified and offered options that include travel on other carriers where available, or a full refund, Air Canada said. The carrier is also waiving rebooking fees for flights that go through a partner airline to the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus, until March 29. Canada has looked increasingly to East Asia as a growth market, with the number of annual visitors to Canada from China shooting up by a factor of 10 since 2000 to 757,000 in 2018. Air Canada has seen its shares fall by about 10 per cent since authorities on Jan. 20 confirmed human-to-human transmission of the illness, which has caused 132 deaths and infected more than 6,000 people. The Montreal-based carrier said in a statement that it remains in consultation with the Public Health Agency of Canada, Transport Canada, and Global Affairs and will adjust its schedule as appropriate. Air Canada regrets this situation and apologizes for the serious disruption to our customers travel plans. China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines, which fly into Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal, have not announced plans to halt flights to Canada. The novel coronavirus has killed 132 people and infected more than 6,000 on the Chinese mainland and abroad. Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says Canada has a plane preparing to fly Canadians out of the province in China at the centre of an outbreak of a new coronavirus. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2020. Companies in this story: (TSX:AC) A Chinese woman wears a protective mask and sunglasses as she shops for groceries at a supermarket in Beijing, China on Jan. 28, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) Starbucks Closes 2,000 Locations in China Amid Coronavirus Scare Starbucks announced Wednesday it would close about 2,000 of its locations across China as the country struggles to contain a mysterious new virus. Starbucks chief executive Kevin Johnson said the Seattle-based coffee chain was navigating a dynamic situation that necessitated the closure of about half of its 4,000 stores in China. Our immediate focus is on two key priorities in China, Johnson told reporters in a conference call, reported NPR. First, caring for the health and well-being of our partners and customers in our stores. Second: playing a constructive role in supporting local health officials and government leaders as they work to contain the coronavirus. Johnson, in a statement, added that Starbucks will be transparent with all stakeholders in communicating how we are responding to these extraordinary circumstances and the implications for our near-term business results. Last week, McDonalds said it suspended business operations in five cities in Hubei, Reuters reported. Masks are urgently being distributed so that very soon all crews across the country will be wearing them, McDonalds said in a statement sent to Business Insider. Internal communications are enhanced for promoting more frequent hand washing and disinfection, as well as helping employees to have a greater general understanding of epidemic prevention. IKEA, the worlds largest furniture retailer, told Reuters it would temporarily close about 15 locations in China amid the outbreak. The Sweden-based responded after Chinese officials called for the efficient control of the spread of the disease, prompting IKEA China will from Jan. 29 temporarily close around half of the stores in China, it said in a statement. Affected employees will stay at home until further notice with pay, IKEA said. Outside of China, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, Nepal, France, Australia, Malaysia, Canada, and the United States have all reported cases of the virus. Several countries have evacuated, or are planning to evacuate, their diplomatic staff from Wuhan. The United States evacuated some 201 American citizens on a chartered plane, which landed in Alaska on Tuesday night before being diverted to Californias March Air Reserve. Curt Hagman, the head of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, said U.S. health officials told him about the planes diversion. Ontario International is one of the repatriation airports for the West Coast and we are always prepared to receive our citizens abroad in times of emergencies, Hagman said in a video. We were prepared but the state department decided to switch the flight to March Air Force Base for logistics that they have. So far, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed five U.S. cases of coronavirus: two in Southern California, one in Washington state, one in Illinois, and one in Arizona. Japan also sent a chartered plane to Wuhan to evacuate its diplomatic staff, adding that about 650 Japanese nationals living around Wuhan have expressed a wish to return. The Chinese side informed us that they were ready to take one charter flight, Motegi said Tuesday, Reuters reported. Also, measures [for Japanese nationals] to get to [Wuhan] airport have been arranged. The Congress on Wednesday asked the government to announce a national farm loan waiver in the upcoming Union Budget and spell out measures to ensure that farmers' income doubles by 2022. Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan demanded reduction in GST rates on agriculture inputs to less than 5 per cent and said the government should announce measures like universal basic income to put more money in the hands of farmers and the poor so that their consumption increases. He demanded that the government bring petrol and diesel under the GST regime as it would help provide relief to the farmers, who have been paying higher rates, and said the Centre had earned over Rs 13.5 lakh crore by way of taxes on petroleum products. He said the government must tell how much has farmers' income increased in the last five years under it, as part of its promise of doubling farmers' income by 2022. "We want to know, as we are aware that nothing has happened so far. The budget should also provide a detailed outline of how to double farmers' income by 2022 and what steps have been taken," he told reporters. Chavan said the government should announce a national farm loan waiver on the lines of the previous UPA government's step undertaken in 2008 to benefit 14 crore farmer families in the country. "We demand that the government should put more money in the hands of 95 per cent poor who live in rural areas and help improve consumption through schemes like MNREGA. "The government should also bring a universal basic income scheme to ensure that there is direct benefit to people and money should go into their accounts directly to help improve consumption levels," he said. Chavan, a former chief minister of Maharashtra, said for farmers' income to double by 2022 the agriculture sector has to grow by at least 12 per cent compounded annually. But, under the Modi government the agriculture sector has seen a growth of only 2.9 per cent in the last five years, he noted, wondering how this will double farm incomes. He said this has created doubts over the government's claims of making India a USD 5-trillion economy by 2024, as the agriculture sector has a contribution of over 15.5 per cent in the country's GDP but it is growing slowly. "How will India's dream of becoming a USD 5 trillion economy be accomplished," he asked. Chavan also accused the central government of owing money to states, with Rs 15,000 crore to Maharashtra alone. The central government is not honouring its commitment to states, he alleged. He also said that the global community is also worried about the statistics provided by the central government on the economic parameters, including the GDP growth. "There is a lot of jugglery of figures going on and therefore, the credibility of India is being questioned," he alleged. The Congress leader said the zero budget natural farming is a "bogus scheme" and there should be a scientific investigation into it. He also alleged that the crop insurance scheme is a "failure", as only big insurance companies are benefitting, going by the compensation of only Rs 153 crore paid against premium collected to the tune of Rs 25,000 crore from farmers. "This is very unfair," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China is apparently opposed to extending the range and payload of South Korean missiles, as is Japan. Opposition from the two neighbors could prove the final stumbling block in negotiations with the U.S about increasing the range and payload, which are restricted under a bilateral agreement. Concerned that southwestern Japan could fall within the reach of South Korean missiles, Japan has been stepping up opposition to extending their range since President Lee Myung-bak's visit to Dokdo last month. Since the negotiations between South Korea and the U.S. began in January of 2011, Washington has cited concerns from China and Japan as the main reason for maintaining the current cap, which limits the range to 300 km and payload to 500 kg. Seoul wants to extend the range to 1,000 km and the payload to 1 ton. China is closely watching the negotiations, according to one expert at a state-run think tank. "The Chinese Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry and Communist Party all feel uneasy about extending the range of South Korean missiles to almost 1,000 km, since Beijing is only 950 km from Seoul," the expert said. Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie and other top brass there view any extension of South Korea's missile range as part of a U.S. strategy using regional allies to keep China in check. "China will select new leaders in October and does not want to hear news about strengthened South Korean missile capabilities at a time of leadership change," said another expert. Beijing is apparently concerned that an extension would agitate North Korea, increasing tension in the entire region. But both China and Japan have the capacity to build intercontinental ballistic missiles, so critics say they are in no position to oppose increasing South Korea's capacity. China's DF-21C missile has a range of 2,500 km, while the DF-31A can travel more than 10,000 km. Japan, meanwhile, has a three-stage, solid-fuel rocket that can be turned into an ICBM. "China and Japan do not want South Korea's military status to rise," said one diplomatic source here. Meanwhile, Seoul and Washington have apparently narrowed their differences in the talks, which have been going on for the last 21 months. It now seems likely that South Korea will be able to extend the range of missiles to around 800 km and the payload to over 500 kg. But the U.S. is still apparently opposed to South Korea using solid-fuel boosters. Such rockets are stronger and require less time to prepare for launch. Also, Washington apparently does not want Seoul to transform civilian rockets for missile use or vice versa. The two sides are hoping to wrap up the talks this month. "The time has come for the U.S. to decide," said a high-ranking Defense Ministry official here. New Delhi: After Indigo and Air India, another airline SpiceJet on Wednesday (January 29) decided to suspend stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra from using the company's flights till further notice. IndiGo airlines on Tuesday suspended Kamra from flying in its airline for six months after he confronted a senior journalist Arnab Goswami travelling in the same flight and made a video of it. In his Twitter handle writing, Kamra posted the video saying "i did this for my hero.......i did this for Rohit." In the video, Goswami is seen not reacting to the comedian`s statements and remained glued to his laptop. Live TV Indigo airline issued a statement saying, "In light of the recent incident on board 6E 5317 from Mumbai to Lucknow, we wish to inform that we are suspending Mr Kunal Kamra from flying with IndiGo for a period of six months, as his conduct onboard was unacceptable behaviour." Further, the airline advised passengers to refrain from indulging in any kind of personal slandering whilst onboard, as this can potentially compromise the safety of fellow passengers. Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri also condemned Kamra's act and asked other airlines to follow Indigo footsteps. Puri said, "Offensive behaviour designed to provoke and create disturbance inside an aircraft is absolutely unacceptable and endangers safety of air travellers." "We are left with no option but to advise other airlines to impose similar restrictions on the person concerned," Puri added. Notably, Kamra was travelling in an IndiGo flight 6E 5317 from Mumbai to Lucknow on Tuesday. The mother of a boy molested by a tutor has filed a federal negligence lawsuit saying Marion Countys Cascade School District knew the tutor had a sexual interest in his minor students but allowed him to continue to work with children. John D. Lulay was convicted of sexually abusing the fourth grader during tutoring sessions in 2013 in the child development center next to Aumsville Elementary School. Lulay was in his early 60s at the time and the student was 10 years old. The suit, filed by the victim and his mother identified only as John and Jennifer Doe, alleges district officials took no steps to investigate, report or prevent Lulays abuse despite conspicuous signs of Lulays abuse over two months that year. Lulay, now 70, was indicted in November 2014 on multiple sexual abuse charges in Marion County Circuit Court and pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual abuse in the. He was sentenced last year to six years and three months in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender. Lulay had been accused in an earlier child sex abuse case but was acquitted of all charges. There are few details in court records about those 2008 allegations because the case was expunged, but the acquittal was mentioned in an appeals court decision. A Marion County prosecutor also referred to the 2008 allegations when trying to increase Lulays bail after his 2014 arrest, according to court records. The District had reason to know that Lulay harbored sexual interest in his minor students, attorney William Stewart wrote in the suit. Lulay was alone with the fourth grader during tutoring sessions in violation of the school districts tutoring agreement and made sure that blinds on the door and windows of the classroom were closed, according to the suit. The suit against the school district seeks unspecified damages for alleged negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, sexual battery of a child, supervisory liability and civil rights violations. Darin Drill, superintendent of the Cascade School District, said he couldnt comment on the suit because of the pending litigation. Lulay is being held at Deer Ridge Correctional Institution in Madras. -- 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 The St. Helena City Council agreed Tuesday to endorse Measure K, a countywide open space tax appearing on the March 3 ballot. Measure K proposes a quarter-cent sales tax for 15 years to fund parks, recreation and open space projects overseen by the Napa County Regional Parks and Open Space District (NCRPOSD). The district would use the estimated $9 million in annual revenue to acquire high-priority open space (52%); operate, maintain and improve open space (25%); and help implement each citys park and recreation objectives (20%). Up to 3% of the money could be spent on overhead. St. Helena would receive about $110,000 a year for its own park and recreation plans. In addition to the local benefit, Councilmember David Knudsen noted the measure will help protect sensitive watersheds. Preserving Bell Canyon Reservoir and watersheds is extremely important, Knudsen said. Were feeling development pressure from above that reservoir and its very concerning for me and for other members of the town who want to ensure that water stays safe. The NCRPOSD has done a wonderful job so far, he said. He also encouraged downvalley representatives to come to St. Helena and talk about local open space and watersheds. Measure K would increase St. Helenas tax rate from 8.25% to 8.5%. It requires the approval of two-thirds of county voters. You can reach Jesse Duarte at 967-6803 or jduarte@sthelenastar.com. 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. The (SAT) on Wednesday directed regulator to pass a fresh order in Religare Finvest's fund diversion matter. Also, it has asked Ltd (RFL) to maintain its assets worth Rs 200 crore for a period of three months. The order comes following an appeal filed by RFL against an interim order passed by the capital watchdog in October 2018 as well as against the confirmatory ruling of in March 2019. RFL is a subsidiary of the Religare Enterprises (REL). Shivinder and Malvinder Singh were promoters of REL. The issue pertains to the affairs of Fortis Healthcare Ltd (FHL), which were being managed by the erstwhile promoters -- the Singh brothers. It was alleged that the Singh brothers siphoned off the funds of Fortis Healthcare to promoter related entities through layers of companies which were controlled by them. Sebi, in October 2018, had directed Fortis Healthcare to recover Rs 403 crore, along with interest, from RFL and other entities. Also, it had said that RFL was jointly and severally liable to pay this amount along with other entities. Besides, RFL and other entities were also restrained from disposing of the assets pending investigation. The regulator had noted that as per the forensic auditor report, RFL had received a sum of Rs 200 crore from three companies -- Best Healthcare, Fern Healthcare and Addon Realty. Thus, RFL was a beneficiary of the Rs 200 crore which they were liable to refund. However, RFL had vehemently contended that the three companies had not transferred the funds to it. After giving them an opportunity to present their case, in March 2019 had said RFL failed to rebut the prima-facie findings and the allegations made against it in the interim order and had asked RFL along with REL to recover over Rs 2,000 crore that were diverted to Singh brothers and 21 other entities. "It was observed that funds amounting to Rs 2,315.09 crore had been diverted from the books of RFL for the utilisation of promoters and promoter group entities of REL," the regulator had said in the order. Further, Sebi had said that the detailed investigation in the matter was still in progress which was supposed to reveal all the layers of the alleged fraud as well as expose the specific role of each entity. It was contended by RFL that in one order Sebi directed the company to refund Rs 200 crore and in another ruling it had asked RFL to recover over Rs 2,000 crore from the same companies and, therefore, urged that contradictory orders have been passed without considering the material and evidence provided by it. However, Sebi justified its interim order on the grounds that the objections raised by RFL were considered. The regulator's counsel further contended that the second order passed by Sebi was in relation to another investigation against another entity. "Whereas in the impugned order the order was passed in relation to the affairs of the FHL and the second order of the same date was passed in the matter of REL and, therefore, the issue relates to two different, distinct companies even though some of the entities may be common," Sebi contended. After hearing both parties, the tribunal said, "the WTM (Whole time member) has passed two orders which appears to be contradictory to each other. In the impugned order, the appellant (RFL) is required to refund a sum of Rs 200 crore which is alleged to have been paid by the three companies. In another order the WTM has directed the appellant to recover more than Rs 2,000 crore some of which from two of the companies mentioned in the impugned orders". "The impugned orders cannot be sustained and are quashed in so far as it relates to the appellant. The matter is remitted to the WTM to pass a fresh order if they so desire after giving an opportunity of hearing to the appellant," it added. In order to balance the equities, SAT has directed RFL to maintain its assets worth Rs 200 crore for a period of three months. SORRENTO, Fla. A Florida man who repeatedly harassed parents of shooting victims at Sandy Hook Elementary School has been arrested for possessing the identification of one of the parents, authorities said. Wolfgang Halbig, 73, was arrested Monday on a charge that he was in unlawful possession of another person's identification, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office. Halbig was a guest on the radio show of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Hes been sued by the Sandy Hook families for defamation for falsely claiming that the massacre never happened. The 2012 mass shooting left 20 first-graders and six adults dead at the elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. The Orlando Sentinel reports that Halbig repeatedly emailed several people and law enforcement agencies the Social Security number, birth date and other information of Leonard Pozner, whose 6-year-old son, Noah, died at Sandy Hook. Pozner reported to sheriff officials that Halbig has continued to harass him over the internet since 2018. Jail records show Halbig was released Monday on $5,000 bond. No online court records had been posted early Tuesday so it was unknown if he had a lawyer. Seven Oaks students and educators want the namesake for an immersion school slated to open in Old Kildonan in September to pay tribute to their commitment to reconciliation. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Seven Oaks students and educators want the namesake for an immersion school slated to open in Old Kildonan in September to pay tribute to their commitment to reconciliation. A delegation of more than a dozen community members asked division trustees Monday night to swap Ecole Templetons name for one that celebrates Indigenous people, rather than a street name. Located on Templeton Avenue between Pipeline Road and McPhillips Street, Seven Oaks School Divisions newest addition is currently under construction. It is expected to open to 450 kindergarten to Grade 5 French immersion students in the fall, and alleviate crowding at surrounding schools. "Its not just the languages in schools, its also the language on schools that speaks to that sense of inclusion that we really value here as a division," Michelle Jean-Paul, principal of the new school, told trustees during a meeting at division headquarters. Jean-Paul spoke about the importance of being "accomplices" in reconciliation and lifting others voices ideas echoed by students from James Nisbet Community School in a video played for the trustees. The principal also delivered to trustees letters in support of changing the name from community members, as well as a synopsis of a recent University of Manitoba masters of education graduates thesis on the subject. In a 2017 thesis paper, Katya Adamov Ferguson calls on school divisions to review their policies on naming and renaming schools and consider Indigenous place names and languages for titles. "As new schools are built, efforts should be made to acknowledge Indigenous land. (For example, what is the original name in Ojibwa for the land on which the school is to be built?)" Ferguson wrote. None of the names of Seven Oaks schools currently recognize the history, culture or contributions of Indigenous peoples. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The new school on Templeton Avenue in Winnipeg Tuesday. Superintendent Brian OLeary said, typically, schools have been named after geographic neighbourhoods or streets. Although, OLeary noted Seven Oaks land-based learning centres name Ozhaawashkwaa Animikii-Bineshi Aki Onji Kinimaagae Inun, or Blue Thunderbird Land-based Teachings Learning Centre and that language programs in the division are referred to by the languages taught during them. "When settlers came, (Indigenous people) all just wanted one thing, and that was to be authenticated and validated as viable cultures," said Mary Courchene, a long-time educator and the divisions elder-in-residence. Courchene, a member of Sagkeeng First Nation, said naming a new school in the spirit of reconciliation would do just that. She added school names should reflect both the divisions values education beyond high school, community, sustainability and inclusion and its population. About 18 per cent of the people who live in the federal riding of Winnipeg North, where the division is situated, identify as Indigenous. 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. "I just ask you to think about what are our risks as a division versus our benefits as a division, and what outweighs the other in doing this," said Sherri Denysuik, Seven Oaks Indigenous education lead. An Indigenous name, Denysuik said, would further cement Seven Oaks as a leader in Indigenous education in Winnipeg. She noted the divisions work on implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canadas calls to action, and it being the first in the city to play host to a graduation powwow more than a decade ago. Seven Oaks trustees will consider the schools name at a meeting next week, when two trustees who were absent Monday are able to provide input. Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative. maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @macintoshmaggie The former head of Houston's Black Elk Energy reached a deal to eventually dismiss charges that he helped run a fraudulent scheme with the company's New York hedge fund owners. Former Black Elk Chief Executive Jeff Shulse will have all of the charges dropped in January 2022 as long as he avoids other arrests as part of a deferred prosecution agreement announced Tuesday. His trial was scheduled to begin Monday in federal court in New York. Black Elk gained infamy in 2012 when an explosion killed three workers on an offshore rig it operated in the Gulf of Mexico. As the company was failing financially afterward, the majority owners at the Platinum Partners hedge fund were alleged to have run a bond scheme to raid the proceeds from the sale of Black Elk assets in 2014. Shulse was charged in 2016 with securities fraud and wire fraud conspiracy, and his defense argued for three years that he was unaware of any alleged wrongdoing orchestrated by the Platinum Partners hedge fund. The conspiracy alleged Platinum tried to sell Black Elk assets and take the money for itself, rather than pay the creditors holding Black Elk bonds. Platinum falsely inflated Black Elk's value, but still possessed valuable assets in the Gulf of Mexico. The defendants tried to sell those assets and divert proceeds to Platinum, instead of to bondholders, who should have been the first to receive the money, authorities said. Some of the managers of the now-defunct hedge fund are still facing federal charges. RELATED: The fall of Black Elk Energy Platinum installed Shulse as the new Black Elk chief executive in 2014 to supplant Black Elk founder John Hoffman, who has not faced any charges. Shulse was brought in to turn Black Elk around and he was not a party to the fraud that federal investigators allege Platinum committed, said Shulse's lawyer, F. Andino Reynal. Shulse was unaware of the alleged bond fraud, he said. This was a clear case of government overreach, Reynal said, where the prosecutors falsely assumed Shulse was an extension of the hedge fund in Houston. In an early 2019 trial, two of the Platinum executives were acquitted. A new trial is pending for Platinum founder Mark Nordlicht. Reynal credits a new prosecution team with taking a more reasoned approach with regard to his client. "No one can return to Jeff the last four years, but I know Jeff and the support he has in the community and I know that he will rebuild," Reynal said. Shulse originally headed a Black Elk subsidiary and was appointed the Black Elk chief financial officer with the plan that he would replace Hoffman. However, Hoffman accused Shulse of working behind the scenes with Platinum to oust him from the company he founded. Reynal said Shulse saw that Hoffman was running Black Elk poorly and spending lavishly. After taking the reins in September 2014, Shulse tried to turn Black Elk into a company that invested in - but didn't operate - Gulf oil and gas assets. But crude oil prices were going bust by then and he was fired in April 2015 after he opposed another bond scheme that Platinum wanted to do, Reynal said. An exercise at Charleston Air Force Base being conducted this week could jam GPS from Florida to North Carolina, causing headaches and safety concerns for area pilots and airports. The operation "may result in unreliable or unavailable GPS signal" ranging from 40 feet to as high as 40,000 feet, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration. This is the second military exercise this month that could jam GPS coordinates in the Charleston area. Military bases will jam GPS for many reasons, most commonly for combat training to simulate what it may be like to pilot in harsh enemy territory without computer-guided navigation. But this harms pilots who make routine flights in surrounding areas. While the FAA issues routine notices about the interference, they can go unnoticed and are often unexpected. The alert about the exercise went out late last week, yet Joint Base Charleston was unaware of the interference happening in their own backyard when first asked about it by The Post and Courier. Officials later issued a statement. GPS interference testing is scheduled to occur at Joint Base Charleston," said Lt. Samuel Swanson, a base spokesman. "This activity has been coordinated with the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure proper notification of local aircraft pilots." Last week, a group of Navy ships, dubbed Carrier Strike Group 4, announced an exercise along the Southeast coast that would jam navigation systems. Area airports from Summerville to Mount Pleasant were unaware of the FAA's notification. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, a national nonprofit organized for aviators, has routinely expressed concern over these types of exercises and have said they receive "hundreds of reports" when they happen. Sign up for our SC Military Digest newsletter Get exclusive military reporting, updates from Palmetto State bases, headlines from around the globe and more delivered to your inbox each Tuesday. Email Sign up! Rune Duke, the nonprofits senior director of government affairs, said the notices usually come out of the blue for pilots. "You don't know when they're going to happen, and they happen so frequently that sometimes they go unnoticed by pilots," Duke said. "The frequency of aircraft losing GPS signal is increasing, and the military's mission is expanding, which is why we're seeing more of this. That's more aircraft that can be interfered with." Nearly 500 of these military training exercises have impacted GPS signals between 2012 and 2018, according to a report from Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics. "In one example, an aircraft lost navigation capability and did not regain it until after landing," an AOPA blog post said. "Other reports have highlighted aircraft veering off course and heading toward active military airspace and the wide range of reports makes it clear that interference affects aircraft differently." Scheduled testing will not affect drivers using GPS navigation, according to Joint Base Charleston. There have not been interferences at the Charleston International Airport so far. The exercise is scheduled to run through Friday. COLUMBUS, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWines administration is soliciting feedback on its newly updated road map to prevent harmful algal blooms on Lake Erie. The new Ohio Domestic Action Plan released as a draft version this week incorporates DeWines new $172 million H2Ohio initiative, funded through last years state budget. The plan lays out specific ways state agencies will try to reduce phosphorus run-off into the lake, and measure whether their efforts are successful. That will include local planning in the Maumee River watershed, which feeds into the western lake basin, wetland restoration, home sewage-treatment system remediation and working with farmers to develop best practices to manage fertilizer run-off. The new release is an updated version of the plan developed under former Gov. John Kasich to meet the goal set by Ohio, Michigan and Ontario, Canada, for a 40 percent reduction in phosphorus runoff in Lake Eries Western Basin by 2025. Officials with the Ohio EPA were not immediately available to discuss the plan, developed with the Ohio Lake Erie Commission. But Pete Bucher, managing director of water policy at the Ohio Environmental Council, praised it as a step in the right direction, especially in light of the challenges posed by climate change. I think its a big improvement from the road map we had in the last administration, because its set much more targeted goals, he said. He added: I think as weve seen since DeWine took office, hes eager to do a lot on this, and I think thats pretty well illustrated in this plan. The state is accepting public comments on its new plan through March 2. Then, it will go to the U.S. EPA, which will incorporate it into its own plan. DeWine announced the first round of H2Ohio-funded projects earlier this month. Starting in February, the Ohio Department of Agriculture will award up to $30 million to farmers in 14 Northwest Ohio counties to pay for measures that reduce phosphorus run-off. Read other recent Ohio political news: Ohio health officials stand ready as they await coronavirus testing results Ohio lawmakers pursuing pension oversight bills 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 A Thai student trapped in China during the coronavirus outbreak has spoken about her fears of dying of starvation as the city is locked down. Pasnicha Krutdamrongchai, a student at Wuhan University, begged the Thai government to evacuate its citizens from the city. 'Right now most students over here don't have enough food because we didn't stockpile food in advance due to the sudden shutdown,' she posted to social media. 'We can't go outside to buy food anywhere and supermarkets nearby run out of food.' Ms Krutdamrongchai said she didn't know if she would die first from the virus or from starvation. Pasnicha Krutdamrongchai, a student at Wuhan University in China took to social media on Sunday to beg the Thai government to evacuate people A Thai student trapped in Wuhan said people are running out of food and doesn't know whether she will starve to death or die of coronavirus first Wuhan is now in lockdown with travel both in and out of the city and surrounding areas cancelled. Ms Krutdamrongchai said she is stressed the Thai government is not doing enough to get its citizens out of China, Coconuts Bangkok reported. Her friends and classmates from the United States, Japan and Indonesia have all been contacted by their country's embassies. Japan rescued its citizens on Tuesday, while South Korea will charter a plane into Wuhan on Thursday. 'I'm still waiting for help from Thai government. If I continue living here, I don't know if I'll starve to death or die of the virus first. I really want to go. I'm waiting with hope,' she said. China has confirmed there are now more than 6,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 132 deaths. WHO officials said Wednesday it's possible that coronavirus could be spread by touching surfaces after infected people have - like railings or medical tools , then touching ones mouth or nose (file) The virus is believed to have originated late last year in a food market in the Chinese city of Wuhan that was illegally selling wildlife. Health experts think it may have originated in bats and then passed to humans, possibly via another animal species. The World Health Organization (WHO) was alerted to several cases of pneumonia in Wuhan at the end of December. Chinese authorities confirmed they had identified a new virus a week later. The new virus, identified by scientists as 2019-nCoV, is a coronavirus, a family of viruses that include the common cold and more serious diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Coronavirus infections have a wide range of symptoms, including fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. People wearing facemasks to help stop the spread of a deadly virus which began in the city, wait for medical attention at Wuhan Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan on January 25 It is unclear how deadly the new virus is. Although severe cases can cause pneumonia and death, there may be many cases of milder disease going undetected. Many of those who have died had pre-existing medical conditions or were elderly with weakened immune systems. All but around 70 of the more than 6,000 cases so far identified have been in China, mostly in and around Wuhan. The other countries with confirmed cases include Australia, Cambodia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, the UAE, the United States, and Vietnam. The Chinese government has put Wuhan into virtual quarantine to try and stop the spread of the virus. A number of foreign governments have advised against non-essential travel to China and have begun flying their citizens out of Wuhan. Medical staff members wearing protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus which began in the city, arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan New location will support the continued modernization and digitization of healthcare in the Middle East ANDOVER, Massachusetts, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Capsule Technologies, a leading global provider of medical device integration, clinical surveillance, and patient monitoring for hospitals and healthcare organizations, announced today it opened a new office in Dubai's Jebel Ali Free Zone expanding its presence in the Middle East region and empowering clinicians with simplified workflows and timely, actionable insights for improved patient safety. Jebel Ali Free Zone is located in the Jebel Ali area at the far western end of Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), near Abu Dhabi. The UAE government is extensively expanding and upgrading its healthcare system to develop a robust world-class healthcare infrastructure. According to Business Monitor International, healthcare expenditure in the UAE reached $17 billion in 2017 and is expected to rise to $21.3 billion by 2021. Through partnerships with leading healthcare organizations like Dubai Health Authority and Mediclinic Middle East, Capsule Technologies will help ensure the vision to implement modern, state-of-the-art healthcare technology. In addition to providing local support from Arabic-speaking customer representatives, the new office in Dubai also positions Capsule personnel near key health systems in Saudi Arabia, where urbanization, aging demographics and a rising burden of chronic diseases are rapidly boosting the demand for healthcare. These demographic changes place the healthcare market under increasing pressure to modernize and digitize healthcare to meet that growing demand. According to a report from Colliers International, healthcare spending in Saudi Arabia is expected to grow to $160 billion by 2030. "In regions like the Middle East, healthcare is experiencing rapid innovation through the modernization of patient service delivery and infrastructure projects," said Hemant Goel, CEO of Capsule Technologies. "Our Capsule Medical Device Information Platform captures streaming data from virtually any medical device and transforms it to context-rich information for clinical documentation, alarm management, patient surveillance, decision support and research systems. This approach helps create an environment in which enhanced patient safety and overall satisfaction are achieved through better collaboration and communication." With more than 460 government hospitals and 225 private hospitals through Dubai and Saudi Arabia, employees in the new office will focus on expanding Capsule's sales and customer support efforts in the Middle East. The office will be located at: JAZFA View 1819 1st Floor Jebel Ali Free Zone PO Box 262746 Dubai United Arab Emirates Established over three decades ago, the Jebel Ali Free Zone stands at the center of a unique business ecosystem in Dubai that includes nearly 100 Global Fortune 500 enterprises. The area is a free economic zone, a type of special economic zone designated by the trade and commerce administrations of various countries. The Free Zone has evolved into a trade catalyst and a smart business community and enables Capsule to bring new product offerings to the region, giving healthcare providers new and better options. Capsule representatives are attending the Arab Health conference at the Dubai World Trade Centre from January 27 to 30, 2020. Please contact us at international@capsuletech.com to arrange a meeting. About Capsule Technologies Capsule Technologies is a leading global provider of medical device integration for hospitals and healthcare organizations. Our Medical Device Information Platform captures streaming data from virtually any medical device and transforms context rich information to any clinical documentation, alarm management, patient surveillance, decision support and research system. End-to-end data management and connectivity supports better collaboration and communication, improves patient safety and overall satisfaction, and drives enhanced patient monitoring and continuous surveillance capabilities. Over 2,600 global clients have leveraged our platform to simplify clinical workflows and power data-driven insights throughout the hospital and across care settings. Learn more at www.capsuletech.com. Media contact: Nicole Rodriguez Amendola Communications for Capsule Technologies, Inc. (949) 520-0057 nrodriguez@acmarketingpr.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/952901/Capsule_logo_Logo.jpg I have been reading the novel of Eugene Vodolatzkin, called Laurus, where a pious charismatic healer is on a 15th Century but timeless journey of redemption as he ministers the graces of God to those in need of healing. Along with Vodolazkins wondrous novel, I have seen the news that Marilynne Robinsons got a new one coming, called Jack, and that got me to think about Gilead and the two pastors musing about pastoring in Gilead. [#ad] What has me pondering is the role the church plays in these novels. A role of centrality, of pious strength, and of moral direction. Visit most any city in Europe and you will see a church, often domed and large, in the middle of the city plan. The big cities in the USA, too, often have large historic churches in the center of the city. Why? Because the church was central. As these cities grew more churches were built because these historic cities grew with historic churches. People walked to church so there were churches in each neighborhood. Even more, authentic spirituality was not only respected but valued. Authentic spirituality at the heart of these churches formed into Christian virtue being embodied in the church, its leaders, and its communitiy life. This isnt nostalgia, and we arent pretending to some kind of pristine America. Image: Photo by Jeff Ackley on Unsplash What I want to point to is the centrality of church in the cities of America. No longer. We could ask Why? I ponder Why? because of this last Falls report from Pew. The religious landscape of the United States continues to change at a rapid clip. In Pew Research Center telephone surveys conducted in 2018 and 2019, 65% of American adults describe themselves as Christians when asked about their religion, down 12 percentage points over the past decade. Meanwhile, the religiously unaffiliated share of the population, consisting of people who describe their religious identity as atheist, agnostic or nothing in particular, now stands at 26%, up from 17% in 2009. Both Protestantism and Catholicism are experiencing losses of population share. Currently, 43% of U.S. adults identify with Protestantism, down from 51% in 2009. And one-in-five adults (20%) are Catholic, down from 23% in 2009. Meanwhile, all subsets of the religiously unaffiliated population a group also known as religious nones have seen their numbers swell. Self-described atheists now account for 4% of U.S. adults, up modestly but significantly from 2% in 2009; agnostics make up 5% of U.S. adults, up from 3% a decade ago; and 17% of Americans now describe their religion as nothing in particular, up from 12% in 2009. Members of non-Christian religions also have grown modestly as a share of the adult population. The data shows that just like rates of religious affiliation, rates of religious attendance are declining. Over the last decade, the share of Americans who say they attend religious services at least once or twice a month dropped by 7 percentage points, while the share who say they attend religious services less often (if at all) has risen by the same degree. In 2009, regular worship attenders (those who attend religious services at least once or twice a month) outnumbered those who attend services only occasionally or not at all by a 52%-to-47% margin. Today those figures are reversed; more Americans now say they attend religious services a few times a year or less (54%) than say they attend at least monthly (45%). Some think Greeley and Houk much of church decline in the mainline can be explained by decline in the number of children church goers have. The same trend is now being seen among evangelicals. For instance, Liuan Huska at CT: Lily Jones Howard grew up in a church in southern California with a burgeoning childrens and youth ministry. The church held afternoon and evening AWANA clubs and ran separate junior high and high school youth groups. She compares that to the church she and her husband and two children attend now. The median age of members, she guesses, is about 65 or 70. The pastor has said explicitly that children are the lifeblood of the church, Howard said. The congregation makes an effort to welcome young families like hers. In the near future, an increasing number of American evangelicals may find themselves with church experiences like the Howard familys for one principal reason: evangelicals with children are slowly becoming harder to find. Americans in general are having fewer children today than they did two generations ago. Spiking after World War II, the fertility rate declined to around two lifetime births per woman in the 80s and has hovered there since, according to the Pew Research Center. Evangelicals, however, had maintained higher than average fertility rates until recently, according to University of Oklahoma sociologists Samuel Perry and Cyrus Schleifer. We ask another Why? Why the decline? Is birth rate the explanation? Perhaps, but surely only part of an explanation. I suggest another. Humans are worshipers. Humans are designed (by God) to find meaning in something. They will, somehow. Its as instinctive as ducks migrating from the north into the warmer climes. Humans will find something to give themselves to because we are born with the instinct to worship. The de-centralization of churches in America, which can only mean the decline in worshiping God, correlates with American Christians exvangelicals, ex-Christians, ex-church goers giving themselves to politics, to belief in voting and agitation for policies and changes by trusting in government. It is not unfair to say that this idolatry. Social media seems to draw everyone into a comment about everything political, but overexposure to such discussions eventually turns us into politically-obsessed people. Which is another term for idolatry. Long ago I read a study that documented the correlation of ones more progressive political orientation to/with attendance in a more progressive denomination. The result of that study was that the closer ones politics was to ones churchs politics the less likely that person would go to church. The study was about the mainlines, with the stunning result that church attendance and participation declined as America became more and more like mainline social visions. Why go to church if it is no different than what one got daily in the NYTimes? Why go to church if ones FB friends and ones church people are the same? or if ones FB banter is the same as the preachers banter? Indeed, Why? This makes me wonder if the politicization of the church in America deconstructs the church of America. Maybe the decline of the church is correlated with increasing politicization. I think so. Colombia said Tuesday it would seek the extradition of a fugitive former lawmaker arrested in Venezuela, though its refusal to recognize the government of President Nicolas Maduro presents a legal conundrum. Maduro responded by calling the extradition request ridiculous and the country's attorney general, Tarek William Saab, announced that the former congresswoman, Aida Merlano, would remain under arrest. Merlano was detained by Venezuelan security forces in the northwestern city of Maracaibo after illegally crossing into Venezuela, police there said on Monday. She was serving a 15-year prison sentence for vote buying when she staged a spectacular escape in October after giving her guards the slip while visiting a dentist. "When the competent judge requests the extradition of Mrs Aida Merlano, the national government will make the request before the legitimate government of Venezuela, headed by Juan Guaido," a Colombian government statement said. President Ivan Duque's right-wing administration is one of more than 50 countries to recognize Guaido as interim president. Venezuela broke off relations with Bogota in February 2019 after Guaido's failed attempt to breach a border blockade and bring US food and medical aid into the country through Colombia. "I ask permission not to laugh. A real ridiculousness," Maduro said, during a meeting with ministers and governors broadcast on state TV. Maduro remains in control of all state institutions in Venezuela, with the exception of the opposition-dominated but sidelined National Assembly, which is led by Guaido. The real legislative power in the country lies with the Maduro-controlled Constituent Assembly. During a visit to a medical center in Bogota to see a dentist on October 1, Merlano managed to slip away from her escorts, climb out a window, and slide down a rope, landing on the sidewalk in front of surprised passersby before calmly escaping on the back of a waiting motorcycle. A video of her daring escape shot by a nearby security camera went viral on social media. Colombia said it would seek the extradition of a fugitive former lawmaker through a request to Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has been recognized by more than 50 countries as interim president Tel Aviv: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been formally indicted on corruption charges after scrapping his bid for parliamentary immunity from prosecution just hours before lawmakers were to consider the request. Benjamin Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing. Credit:European Pressphoto Agency A defeat in the parliament would have delivered an embarrassment to the embattled Prime Minister, and taken some of the gloss off a US peace plan for the Middle East released on Tuesday (Wednesday Australian time). Netanyahu said in a Facebook post that he had informed Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein of his decision. Parliament had been scheduled to decide whether to form a committee to discuss the request for immunity, which didn't appear to have enough support in the legislature. "Because I haven't been allowed a fair process," Netanyahu wrote in the post, "I have decided not to let this rigged game continue." Pompeo is expected to be in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Friday for meetings with President Volodymyr Zelensky and other officials. His visit comes at an awkward moment. Last week, after an interview with an NPR radio host, Pompeo called the journalist into his private chambers and berated her in a conversation he has said he thought was off the record. The journalist, Mary Louise Kelly, said she never agreed to keep their talk private and reported that he asked, using a strong profanity, Do you think Americans care about Ukraine? " " The Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster in 2010 is considered the worst man-made ecological disaster of all time. U.S. Coast Guard In April of 2010, a BP oil rig called Deepwater Horizon was drilling a well in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico when a mixture of mud and gas suddenly flooded the decks and combusted. The Deepwater Horizon turned into a ball of flame, and the disaster led to the oil spill that's now considered to be the largest man-made ecological disaster in history. That happened more than six years ago, and though the laundry list of long-term damage to marine wildlife is long, the ecological consequences for terrestrial ecosystems hasn't been shown as clearly until now. A newly published study in the journal Environmental Research Letters shows that oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill has made its way into the body tissues of seaside sparrows (Ammodramus maritimus), a year-round resident of Louisiana marshes. Advertisement " " A seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus) photographed in a Gulf of Mexico marsh. Andrea Bonisoli Alquati "At first, you may not imagine that a terrestrial bird would be impacted by an oil spill in the ocean, but in nature boundaries are often blurry," said co-author Andrea Bonisoli Alquati of the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, in a press release. "As a result, contaminants that are supposed to stay in aquatic environments can make it 'onto' land." More than a year after the disaster, Bonisoli Alquati, who was at Louisiana State University at the time of the 2013 research, and his team collected feathers and gut contents from seaside sparrows. They surveyed birds living in the marshes most affected by the oil spill, where there was a notable dip in the sparrows' reproductive success. Using carbon dating methods, they found the birds living in the hardest-hit marshes had carbon from Deepwater oil in their gut contents and feathers. No surprise, right? Well, probably not to ecologists, but despite their name, seaside sparrows are birds that live on land. That makes the fact that they were found to have oil in their tissues a year and a half after the spill a little more alarming. These birds live in the marsh, but eat insects and spiders and aquatic prey, which either eat other insects and spiders or just grass. " " Oil in the marshwaters in the Gulf of Mexico years after the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Andrea Bonisoli Alquati/Cal Poly Pomona So, although the oil probably inconvenienced these birds to no end during and directly after the spill by gumming up their habitat and affecting their food source, the study suggests that both direct exposure to oil and indirect exposure through the environment were together most likely responsible for their reproductive struggles in the years after the spill, though the study can't yet pinpoint how the oil in the birds' feathers and tissue got there, even though it's definitely there. "We tend to think of terrestrial ecosystems as safe from oil contamination. However, the boundary between marine and terrestrial ecosystems is much less defined than we assume," said Bonisoli Alquati in a press release put out by Louisiana State University. "Species that live at the boundary are not only vulnerable to the toxic effects of oil, but they can also be responsible for the transport of oil into the terrestrial food webs. Future risk and damage assessments should incorporate an evaluation of the potential threat to terrestrial wildlife from oiling operations and oil spills." Now That's Tragic Oil rigs like the Deepwater Horizon have so many safety defenses, many thought a blowout would be next to impossible. However, due to several small safety oversights, the whole rig caught fire and sank, killing 11 people. Hard to believe we are almost one month into 2020, and, to date, the new year has started off with quite a bang as the U.S. Senate passed the long-awaited USMCA trade agreement. This action strengthens Arizonas position with Mexico and Canada, as we benefit from over $18 billion in annual trade with our two neighbors. We are very grateful our two Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Martha McSally, and our U.S. Representative Tom OHalleran supported USMCA. Many Chamber of Commerce member investors do business in both countries, and stand to grow and profit from many new aspects of the USMCA trade priorities. Turning inward, the chamber continues its steadfast pursuit of an expanded local economy by pushing for local, state and federal policies that help Flagstaff's existing small businesses grow, and job creation to climb. Economic growth locally is not optional, it is imperative as our business community, young and old -- including nonprofits -- continues to face the mounting impacts and financial pressures from higher wage mandates, higher property taxes, higher sales taxes and higher pricing throughout the community. Sadly, much of recent private sector economic expansion in Arizona has passed Flagstaff by, citing the minimum wage, and overly strict, untimely and expensive development policies as barriers to entry. The chamber will stand opposed to any and all fee/tax increases in the coming year, and advocate for streamlined and swift local development policies that will expand our private sector job base, which in turn will strengthen the town. Gratefully, we acknowledge the good work and large economic benefit of our community partner, Northern Arizona University. Late in 2019, NAU was recognized as climbing the national rankings of research institutions -- a crowning achievement to its current growth model. More than 24,000 jobs are supported by NAU across the state; 18,000+ of those jobs exist right here in Coconino County, contributing to NAUs local economic impact of more than several hundred million dollars each year. With more than 6,000 students enrolled in the health sciences, NAU is positioned to deliver a dynamic and much needed workforce to northern Arizona, the region and the state in an ever-growing arena with insatiable demand for employees. We must retain the stature as northern Arizona's hub for high-quality health care delivery that Northern Arizona Healthcare has worked so diligently to provide. Educated local talent is critical to meeting this goal. The year 2020 has begun with great success, and much opportunity lies ahead. We look forward to embracing and capitalizing on these opportunities with simply the strengthening of Flagstaffs economy as our endgame. We hold firm to our core value: a strong business climate and a vibrant community are inseparable. Julie Pastrick is President & CEO of the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 by Mathias Hariyadi Rumours were flying around the country about a possible papal visit in September 2020. An unofficial letter of invitation has been circulating on social media signed by Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo. Many people want to know as soon as possible when the solemn Eucharistic celebration led by the pontiff will take place. Jakarta (AsiaNews) After days of uncertainty, the Indonesian government has officially invited Pope Francis to visit the Southeast Asian country. Yesterday, 28 January 2020, I personally delivered a letter of invitation to Card Piero Parolin at the Vatican Secretariat of State (pictured), Indonesian Ambassador to the Holy See HE Antonius Agus Sriyono told AsiaNews. In the note, Indonesia expresses its wish to host the pontiff during his apostolic journey next September. Rumours have been flying around the country about a possible papal visit, fuelled by some remarks made on 20 January by Yahya Cholil Staquf, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Nadhlatul Ulama (NU), the largest moderate Islamic organisation in the country and the world. Yahya met with Pope Francis at the Vatican on 15 January along with other religious leaders to discuss the importance of social activism in dealing with interfaith conflict. The high-ranking NU official spoke to Indonesian media saying that the pontiff had told him that he planned to make an apostolic visit to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and East Timor (Timor Leste) in September. Following Yahya's statement, an unofficial letter of invitation began circulating on social media signed by Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo. Contacted by AsiaNews at the time, Ambassador Sriyono had said that discussions are underway but the matter is still confidential. After eagerly waiting for days, Indonesian Catholics obtained confirmation this morning. Although no official date has been set, they will be able to welcome Pope Francis in the near future. The enthusiasm among men and women religious as well as the faithful has found an outlet on Sesawi.net, a Catholic news portal. Reacting to the announcement, many want to know as soon as possible when the solemn Eucharistic celebration led by the pontiff and the leaders of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Indonesia (KWI) will take place. We strongly hope that everything will run smoothly and well planned, said Fr August Surianto Himawan, KWI human services director. In the worlds most populous Muslim country, Catholics are a small minority. According to government statistics, they number around 7.5 million or just under 3 per cent of the population. Still, the Indonesian Church is very active thanks to its leaders and the great participation of its members to religious activities. Pope Francis will be the third pope to visit Indonesia after Paul VI in 1970 and Saint John Paul II in 1989. In Jakarta, the Polish pope celebrated Mass with over 110,000 people in the Istora Senayan Stadium. He also led a service in an open airfield in Yogyakarta that belonged to the Indonesian Air Force Academy and another on Flores Island, where most residents are Catholic. Joy among local Catholics for a possible visit of Pope Francis follows the appointment of KWI president Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo of Jakarta as cardinal five months ago. Speaking about the pontiffs appointment, the new cardinal explained that the Holy See had been monitoring and 'evaluating' the Indonesian Catholic Church for a long time, which is seen as a good model for every Church in the world, for how to practise the Christian faith by promoting peace, tolerance, and a spirit of compassion towards others. In June 2019, the pontiff called on Indonesias 37 prelates, who were in the Vatican for their ad limina apostolorum visit, to teach and promote the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, which he signed in Abu Dhabi together with the Great Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Muhammad Al-Tayyib, in February 2019. Pope Francis told the cardinal that Indonesia is the most representative place where human fraternity between different religious groups is put into practice; in particular, between moderate Muslims and Christians. Following the Pope's suggestion, the bishops focused on the Abu Dhabi Declaration at their annual conference last November. : Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Wednesday said he would leave for New Delhi on January 30 to discuss the much awaited Ministry expansion with the BJP high command and expressed confidence that the exercise would be completed in a couple of days. He also indicated the possibility of a cabinet rejig and noted that the call will be taken by the party leadership. Speaking to reporters in Belagavi, he said that in the backdrop of ongoing talk in the state that the exercise was getting delayed, he would leave for Delhi tomorrow and meet the party national president J P Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and try to expand the ministry as soon as possible in two or three days. To a question on reports that the expansion exercise was scheduled for January 31,he said "I'm going to Delhi tomorrow. If possible, tomorrow or within two days (it will be done),but I will go tomorrow and get it (list of Ministers) cleared." Yediyurappa has been anxiously waiting for the high command's nod to expand his ministry amid intense lobbying by the aspirants. Opposition parties also have been critical of BJP and Yediyurappa over the delay in cabinet expansion, alleging that he was weak and that the administration had collapsed. As the Chief Minister has already made it clear that 11 of the disqualified JDS-Congress MLAs who got re-elected in the bypolls on BJP tickets 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. Sixteen are vacant. To a question, Yediyurappa said "those who have come with us (BJP) in Belagavi district and have won the bypolls, they will all become Ministers and Umesh Katti (eight-time MLA) will also become Minister. "Let's see if Delhi leaders desire to drop one or two (from Ministry), I'm not sure... let's see what all happens in Delhi during discussions with the high command," he added. Belagavi district,with two Ministers-Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi and Minister for Women and Child Welfare Shashikala Jolle- may get the lion's share in the expansion. With the addition of three defectors who won on BJP tickets in the bypolls- Ramesh Jarkiholi (Gokak), Mahesh Kumthalli (Athani) and Srimanth Patil(Kagwad) and senior party legislator Katti (Hukkeri), the district's tally will increase to six. The Chief Minister however ruled out creating any more posts of Deputy Chief Minister and said that three DCMs who are currently there will continue. "...currently three are DCMs (Laxman Savadi, C N Ashwathnarayan, Govind Karjol). They will continue and I will not make anyone else Deputy Chief Minister," he said. Amid talks that at least one more DCM post may be created, Health Minister Sriramulu and his supporters have openly expressed a desire for the post. Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, who played an instrumental role in the collapse of the Congress-JD(S) coalition government and paved the way for BJP to come to power, is also seen as a contender for the Deputy Chief Minister's post. The cabinet expansion will not be an easy task for Yediyurappa as he has to strike a balance by accommodating the victorious disqualified 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 deal with allocation of key portfolios. The cabinetalreadyhaseight Lingayats, including the Chief Minister, three Vokkaligas, three from Scheduled Caste,twoOBCs, one Scheduled Tribe and a Brahmin. Among the winners likely be inducted are three Lingayats, four Vokkaligas and one Kuruba, which will increase the number of Lingayats to 12 (including Umesh Katti) and Vokkaligas to seven. Region-wise, Bengaluru Urban, with fourMinisters, and Belagaviand Shivamogga, with two each, have a larger share in the Ministry. With the induction of the newly elected, Bengaluru will get three moreMinisters and Belagavi four (along with Katti), which may trigger criticism of regional imbalance in the Ministry. Despite Yediyurappa categorically ruling out induction of defected candidates who were defeated in the bypoll, demands for A H Vishwanath (Hunsur) to be made Minister and disqualified legislator R Shankar who was not given a ticket to contest bypolls, but promised a ministerial post, openly expressing his ministerial aspirations, has added to the Chief Minister's worries. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It was a role that catapulted Kate Winslet to international stardom and earned her a best actress Oscar nomination at 22 years old. And on Mondays Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, Claire Danes confirmed that she may have been first choice to play Rose in Titanic opposite Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack and insisted she has 'zero regret' about walking away from the role. 'There was strong interest, but honestly, I'd just made this romantic epic with Leo in Mexico City, which is where they were going to shoot Titanic, and I just didn't have it in me,' the actress, 40, said. 'I just didn't have it in me': Claire Danes said Tuesday she has no regrets about walking away from the chance to star in Titanic with Leonardo DiCaprio Podcast interview: The actress, 40, made the comments during an appearance on Armchair Expert with Dax Shepherd Danes and DiCaprio, who were 17 and 22 at the time, starred together in Baz Lurhmann's 1996 film Romeo + Juliet. The movie garnered wide praise and showcased the on-screen chemistry between the two, who were rising stars at the time. Danes claimed that DiCaprio was also conflicted about starring in the James Cameron epic which both of them knew would be a game changer in their careers. On-screen chemistry: Danes and DiCaprio, who were 17 and 22 at the time, starred together in Baz Lurhmann's 1996 film Romeo + Juliet and were in demand rising stars in Hollywood Said no: Danes, with DiCaprio in October 1996, explained she hadn't wanted to do another romantic movie and was unsure about dealing with the fame that would come with Titanic Danes recalled: 'Leo and I shared a manager at the time, and we were there at the office. And I was on a balcony... and Leo had this rental red convertible...and he was kinda going in circles in the parking lot.' 'And I knew he was wrestling with the decision to do that movie or not and he just looked up at me, and he said, 'I'm doing it. I'm doing it,'' she said. 'And I could see he wasn't sure, but he was like, 'F*** it, I gotta do this thing.' .... And I looked down on him going, I totally understand why you are doing it. And I'm not ready for that. And I think I really wasn't ready for it.' The actress said she hadn't wanted to go straight into another romantic movie and she was unsure about dealing with the fame that would come with playing the lead in such a big budget studio film. 'I was just feeling eager to have different creative experiences, that felt like a repeat... And, as I said, I think it was gonna propel me towards something that I knew I didn't have the resources to cope with,' she explained. 'I remember after that movie came out and (Leo) just went into another stratosphere,' she added. Made history: Kate Winslet was cast as Rose in the James Cameron epic opposite DiCaprio as Jack. The pair were catapulted to international stardom on the film's release in 1997 Launched career: Winslet, 22, received a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for Titanic which won 11 Oscars at the 1998 awards ceremony and grossed more than $2 billion worldwide Released on December 19, 1997, Titanic made DiCaprio and Winslet the hottest stars on the planet and grossed more than $2 billion globally. It won 11 Oscars including best picture and best director and earned nominations for Winslet and supporting co-star Gloria Stuart who played Rose an an old lady. Danes is most famous these days for her starring role on the long-running Showtime series Homeland, which is about to air its eighth season next month. Winslet has gone on to enjoy a successful film career, earning seven Oscar nominations along the way and winning the Best Actress Academy Award in 2008 for The Reader. Ham radio Buoy to transmit 20m WSPR and 2m APRS On Thursday, January 30 at 1400 GMT AMSAT Argentina will deploy a WSPR / APRS drifting Buoy on South Atlantic Seas AMSAT Argentina report: The WSPR beacon will run 900 mW on 14095.6 kHz with the call sign LU7AA. The APRS beacon, callsign LU7AA-11, will initially be on Argentina's APRS frequency of 144.930 MHz but will change frequency to 145.825 MHz so that it can be digipeated by the amateur packet radio satellites. Release will be 100 km offshore Mar del Plata coast, seeking east aiming currents/winds. Objective: Sea currents tracking and HF/VHF/SAT QRPp propagation tests. AMSAT Argentina, LU7AA, will appreciate WSPR stations receiving/reporting 20m. Further information and pictures at http://amsat.org.ar?f=buoy Also on Wednesday, Akshay Singh, another fellow convict in the 2012 Delhi gang rape case challenged his execution scheduled on 1 February by filing a curative plea, the last legal resort in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by Mukesh Singh, one of the four death row convicts in the 2012 Delhi gangrape case, who challenged the rejection of his mercy plea citing "non-application of mind" by the President of India. A three-judge bench headed by Justice R Banumathi said that expeditious disposal of mercy plea by the president doesn't mean non-application of mind by him. The court also said that alleged sufferings in prison can't be grounds to challenge the rejection of mercy petition. The bench said all relevant material including judgments pronounced by trial court, high court and Supreme Court were placed before the president when he was considering the mercy plea of the convict. The bench, also comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and AS Bopanna, rejected the contentions of the counsel appearing for Singh, claiming that the entire material of the case was not placed before the president when the mercy plea was being considered. The bench, while referring to the two files placed before it by the Centre on Tuesday, said that as per the 15 January covering letter which was sent by the Delhi government to the Ministry of Home Affairs, all relevant documents were sent. The bench noted that detailed judgments of trial court, high court and the Supreme Court, curative petition filed by Singh, his past criminal history and his family background were sent to the home ministry by the Delhi government. "All the documents were taken into consideration by the president while rejecting the mercy petition," the bench said. The bench also dealt with submissions advanced by the convict's counsel, who had argued that the mercy plea was rejected at "lightning speed". Also on Wednesday, Akshay Singh, another fellow convict in the 2012 Delhi gang rape case challenged his execution scheduled on 1 February by filing a curative plea, the last legal resort in the Supreme Court. Akshay is the third convict to stall his execution using the method in a case, that has long been subjected to criticism for remaining pending. In December, the top court had rejected Akshay's petition seeking review of his death sentence. A three-judge bench headed by Justice R Banumathi said there were no grounds to review the verdict and the contentions raised by the convict were already considered by the top court in the main judgment. Akshay had moved the top court seeking clemency on the ground that the "rising pollution" has already increased the mortality rates. His curative petition is expected to be heard by judges in their chambers and not in an open court, NDTV reported. If the curative petition is rejected, Akshay Singh will have the option to send a mercy plea to President Ram Nath Kovind. Besides Akshay and Mukesh, two other convicts Vinay Sharma, and Pawan Gupta are to be hanged at Delhis Tihar Jail on 1 February, for raping and brutally assaulting a paramedical student on a bus on the night of 16 December, 2012, an incident that sparked countrywide protests. Mukesh Singh and Vinay Sharma's curative petitions have already been rejected by the apex court. With inputs from PTI FORT MYERS, Fla., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nominations for the ICON Business Awards were just announced, and the Southwest Florida Free Pain Clinic is honored to be one of only six nominees for the Greatest Community/Charitable Impact Award. This is a tremendous distinction, as businesses and not-for-profit organizations from across the country were nominated. (https://unstoppablegc.com/icon-awards) Said Dr. Alan Gruning, Executive and Medical Director, "We are thrilled to be recognized for the life-changing work we are doing for our friends and neighbors who have nowhere else to turn!" The Southwest Florida Free Pain Clinic is working to rewrite the paradigm for low-income, uninsured pain patients. It is the only free pain clinic of its kind in Florida, the only one identified in the country. The mission of the not-for-profit organization is to provide free holistic medical care to people suffering from painful conditions or injuries who are unable to afford treatment, all without the use of opioids or other drugs. The clinic treats this under-served demographic using a Functional Medicine model, addressing physical, spiritual, emotional and social needs. There are currently no other options for these patients, as the emergency departments and urgent care facilities they frequent are not equipped to effectively treat the source of pain. These patients often leave with a large bill they are unable to pay and a prescription for pain medication that may leave them dependent, but with no improvement in their condition. This creates an unnecessary burden on the healthcare system and on the community as a whole. The Southwest Florida Free Pain Clinic utilizes physician and chiropractic care, physical therapy, acupuncture, massage therapy, nutrition and lifestyle education, essential oil therapy, and modalities such as electrical stimulation, cold laser and ultrasound to alleviate pain at the source and begin an effective healing process. No drugs are used in treatment. In fact, through the course of treatment, patients are helped to wean from opioids and other substances they have become dependent upon. At this time, the Southwest Florida Free Pain Clinic offers services by appointment only on Tuesdays from noon to 9 p.m. and Thursdays from noon to 5 p.m. Fundraising for further expansion is underway, with the goal of being a permanent full-time staffed clinic. The ultimate goal is to utilize this model to replicate numerous free pain clinics across the state. The clinic utilizes a small part-time staff and more than 50 loyal volunteers, including medical professionals who donate time and resources for the benefit of the patients. The Southwest Florida Free Pain Clinic has been successful in helping patients return to work, resume care of their families, free themselves from walkers, canes and other assistive devices, and most importantly, restore hope. To learn more about the Southwest Florida Free Pain Clinic, visit www.freepainclinic.org. Some eye-opening facts: One in five adults suffer pain that interferes with their ability to work or perform daily functions. Twenty percent of adults in Florida cannot afford health insurance. cannot afford health insurance. In Florida , 17 people die of an opioid overdose every day (over 48,000 annually nationwide). , 17 people die of an opioid overdose every day (over 48,000 annually nationwide). Eighty percent of people who abuse opioids were initially prescribed for legitimate pain. The number of children entering foster care due to their parents' drug abuse (incarceration, rehab, death) has doubled since 2000. About the Southwest Florida Free Pain Clinic The Southwest Florida Free Pain Clinic is a 501(c)3 organization, founded in 2010 by Alan Gruning, DO, to provide high quality holistic medical care at no charge to those without the ability to pay, with attention to the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of health and healing. The clinic is funded solely through grants, contributions, and corporate sponsorships. Services are rendered by appointment at 6831 Palisades Park Court, Unit 3 in Fort Myers. For more information, visit www.freepainclinic.org. For eligibility, appointments and volunteer opportunities, please call 239.308.7107. For more information about our mission, sponsorship opportunities, speaking engagements or to make a tax-deductible donation, please call Michelle at 239.201.7877. We are proud to be a United Way Partner Agency. SOURCE Southwest Florida Free Pain Clinic Related Links https://freepainclinic.org Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that a U.S. peace plan envisages the proposed Palestinian capital be located in Abu Dis, a neighbourhood on the outskirts of Jerusalem. After U.S. President Donald Trump presented his peace plan, Netanyahu told reporters the United States recognises Jerusalem as Israels undivided capital, by which I mean, within its fences, an apparent reference to municipal boundaries. The right-wing leader, who faces a new election in March, said he would bring a proposal for applying Israeli jurisdiction to the Jordan Valley, the northern Dead Sea and West Bank settlements for Cabinet approval at its next session, probably on Sunday. Israel is offering the Palestinians, at the end of the process, conditional, limited sovereignty, Netanyahu said. Palestinians were absent from Trumps announcement and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the plan the slap of the century. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) The coronavirus death toll is continuing to rise in China and many Chinese Purdue University students and faculty are feeling the effects. Nearly 135 students call Wuhan, China home. As the coronavirus continues spreading beyond the borders of Wuhan, students and faculty like Qian Song can't help but worry. Those doctors and nurses, they are really fighting for their lives to save those patients, said Song. Students are banding together to help their loved ones back home. According to Song, the local Chinese market recently sold out of medical face masks because of so many students buying and shipping them to China. Because there are patients there like they are really in shortage of the masks and other medical equipment, said Song. Song is from Hefei, China, about a three-hour train ride from Wuhan. Instead of going home for the university's winter break, her parents came here. Unfortunately, they're returning home soon where 16 people have tested positive for the virus. Somewhat worried to some degree but, you know, everybody needs to work. The society can not just stop running because of the coronavirus, said Song. As Chinese students on campus watch whats happening overseas. They find comfort in knowing it's not spreading nearly as fast here. It's still so much less and so I don't think they are really worried about their own safety but I would say they worried about their families in China, said Song. The risk here in West Lafayette, Lafayette is minimal, if not almost nil," said Dean of International Student Programs, Mike Brzezinski. "We are very well on top of it and we're very careful to monitor and follow the guidelines from the CDC. With more than 3,000 Chinese students, many of which may have traveled home for the holiday break, the university's Public Health Emergency Planning Committee is actively monitoring the viruss status. "The common flu is much more of an issue for us right here, right now," said Brzezinski. Purdue has zero reported coronavirus cases at this time but health leaders have an emergency plan in place. Students and faculty who use the university's student health services will be asked if they've traveled through China within the past 14 days. If they show signs of the coronavirus infection, they'll be placed in isolation for further evaluation. From there, they could be taken to a hospital for further care. Dean Brzezinski said there are a handful of students studying abroad in Hong Kong. He said the university is taking measures to monitor their safety against the virus there as well. The wreckage of a coal ship that vanished in the Bermuda Triangle almost 100 years ago with 32 passengers on board has been found by underwater explorers. Since the SS Cotopaxi disappeared in 1925, it has become one of the most famous stories associated with the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle. On November 29, 1925 the steam powered bulk carrier set off on a standard trip from Charleston, South Carolina to Havana, Cuba. No one knows where or how it vanished and none of the bodies of the 32 passengers on board were ever recovered. Now, almost 100 years after the ship vanished, a team of marine biologists and underwater explorers have identified the SS Cotopaxi off the coast of St. Augustine, Florida Since the SS Cotopaxi (pictured) disappeared in 1925, it has become one of the most famous stories associated with the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle It is one of the triangle's biggest secrets and even popped up in Steven Spielberg's 1977 blockbuster, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, where it was found in the Gobi Dessert having supposedly been placed there by aliens. And in 2015 it was claimed it had reappeared near a restricted military zone off the coast of Cuba, though this was eventually dismissed as a hoax. Now, almost 100 years later, a team of marine biologists and underwater explorers have identified the SS Cotopaxi off the coast of St. Augustine, Florida. Their research and findings will be revealed in the premiere episode of the new Science Channel series, Shipwreck Secrets, premiering Sunday, February 9. 'The Cotopaxi was on a routine voyage,' marine biologist and underwater explorer Michael Barnette told Newsweek. 'She was employed in the coal trade and so this was just another trip at the end of November of 1925. We know that on that voyage something happened because she delivered a mayday message early December saying she's in distress. 'And then that was it. They never found any wreckage. They never found any lifeboats, bodies or anything. The vessel just disappeared after that point. So we've been trying to determine what happened.' A team of marine biologists and underwater explorers have identified the SS Cotopaxi off the coast of St. Augustine, Florida (pictured, how it passed through the Bermuda Triangle) The ship had sent out wireless distress signals on December 1, 1925, two days after it left Charleston but it has only now just been found (pictured, divers examine the wreck) To help pinpoint the possible location where the SS Cotopaxi sunk, Barnette contacted British historian Guy Walters to help do some digging. Walters combed through ship records at the archives of Lloyd's of London, who were the insurance brokers of the SS Cotopaxi. There he discovered something previously unknown about the SS Cotopaxi's voyage. The ship had sent out wireless distress signals on December 1, 1925, two days after it left Charleston. The signals were picked up in Jacksonville, Florida, placing the ship in the area of a shipwreck found nearly 35 years ago. Armed with this new information, Barnette headed to Florida with his dive partner, Joe Citelli, to dive the wreck. However, their dive as well as the use of an underwater drone to survey the ship, did not produce any corroborating evidence. The ship is one of the triangle's biggest secrets and even popped up in Steven Spielberg's 1977 blockbuster, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, where it was found in the Gobi Dessert having supposedly been placed there by aliens Their research and findings will be revealed in the premiere episode of the new Science Channel series, Shipwreck Secrets, premiering Sunday, February 9 (pictured, a grab from the show) From there, Barnette met with Al Perkins, an avid diver who has been diving the area since the 1980's. On these dives, Perkins had collected souvenirs - one of which might helped solve the mystery. To gather more evidence, Barnette enlists the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, a non-profit organization dedicated to researching and preserving the 500 year long maritime history of the region. Two of their leading maritime archeologists Chuck Meide and Brendan Burke are experts in discovering, exploring and identifying wrecks in the area. Together they headed to the wreck - and what they found was truly astonishing. Further research was able to corroborate the wreck's location compared to where the distress signals were sent out, leading Barnette to come to no other conclusion: they've uncovered the long-lost SS Cotopaxi. Shipwreck Secrets then visited with Douglas Myers in Long Island, NY, the grandson the SS Cotopaxi Captain William J. Myers where he was told that the ship had after nearly a century been identified. Dublin Airport welcomed 32.9 million passengers in 2019, rising 4pc to set a new annual record for traffic, it has said. However, a strong first-half performance gave way to more modest growth as the year progressed. Last November saw the airport record a year-on-year dip, for instance - its first monthly decline since March, 2014. Dublin Airport had its ninth consecutive year of passenger growth in 2019 and this has had a hugely positive impact on the entire Irish economy, said Dublin Airport Managing Director Vincent Harrison. This year will see 12 new routes, including direct flights to Cairo with EgyptAir, and the return of Cathay Pacific's suspended service to Hong Kong, now set to resume on March 28. The news comes as the CSO this week unveiled its tally of overseas visitor numbers to Ireland for 2019 - showing a modest rise of 1.8pc to 10.8m visitors during the year. 2019 has presented a mixed picture for Irish tourism," commented Tourism Ireland CEO Niall Gibbons, who said the figures reflect feedback from industry partners on the ground "who have seen weaker demand this year". By contrast, visitor numbers to Ireland rose 6.9pc in 2019. Transatlantic air access has dropped this winter, Gibbons noted, a fact showing in a "disappointing decline" of -5pc for North American visitors in December. Tourism Ireland has already started its 2020 campaigns, including a new 'Green is the new black' initiative - a time-limited sales period modelled on Black Friday that is set to launch around the Global Greening and St Patrick's Day. Unsurprisingly, Brexit also remains a concern. Our industry now faces heightened uncertainty and remains vulnerable to external shocks," said Irish Hotels Federation President Michael Lennon. The IHF is calling for "decisive action" on the costs of doing business in a tourism policy document published ahead of the General Election. As a whole, the tourism industry is calling for the re-instatement of the 9pc VAT rate, improved competitiveness measures and appropriate state investment from politicians on the hustings. Court throws out case by man who alleged Israeli generals had role in killing his six relatives during 2014 Gaza War. The Hague, Netherlands A Dutch court has dismissed a war crimes case against Benny Gantz, the Israeli former general who will compete with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israels upcoming parliamentary elections. The Hague District Court said on Wednesday it was not competent to rule in a civil case brought by a Dutch-Palestinian man against Gantz and a codefendant, Amir Eshel. In a civil proceeding, Ismail Ziada is seeking damages from the former generals for their role in the killing of six of his relatives during the 2014 Gaza War. Ziadas mother, three brothers, sister-in-law and 12-year-old nephew were killed in a bombing on the family home by the Israeli air force on July 20, 2014. At that time, Gantz was chief of staff of the Israeli military and Eshel commanded the air force. A judge told the court that Gantz and Eshel enjoy functional immunity because they acted in an official capacity and that the Dutch court does not have jurisdiction in this case. War criminals have impunity Ziada sat stone-faced with arms crossed as he heard the verdict. After the hearing, he told reporters that he thought the decision was unacceptable. Speaking to Al Jazeera, he said: Its frustrating that as a victim of war crimes, the war criminals have impunity and the victim doesnt have access to justice. Its the world on its head. Ziada, who was born in Gaza and is also a Dutch citizen, sued in a civil court in the Netherlands. He claims he cannot access justice in Israel because of the judicial systems discriminatory practices against Palestinians. Dutch courts can rule on war crimes committed abroad in civil proceedings for Dutch citizens who are unable to get a fair trial elsewhere. As a Palestinian, Israelis can kill us can destroy our houses, they can confiscate our lands, they made us refugees and there are no consequences whatsoever, he said, calling the Israeli judicial system a mockery when it comes to Palestinians. Ziada said he will examine the verdict before deciding whether he will appeal or not. Thom Dieben, a lawyer for Gantz and Eshel, said he was satisfied with the verdict. We believe this verdict is the only legally correct one. The court decided that a case like this one does not belong in the Netherlands and that, as we argued, the only judge who can rule on this is an Israeli judge, he told Al Jazeera. Ziadas lawyer, Liesbeth Zegveld, said the judges decision was very conservative. The judges based themselves on a lack of state practice, or precedent set by national courts in similar cases, she said. They are the state practice. I think thats cowardly, she told Al Jazeera. Gantz is now the leader of the Blue and White party and is facing off with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for the third time in a year, in parliamentary elections in March. Elections in April and September last year failed to produce a viable coalition. The former Israeli army chief has previously boasted of sending parts of Gaza back to the Stone Age in a campaign video released ahead of the April 2019 election. On Monday, Gantz met US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC, to discuss the presidents widely criticised Middle East plan since announced by the White House. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 17:26 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20618ee1a 1 World coronavirus,China,Indonesia,Foreign-Ministry,Wuhan-coronavirus Free The Foreign Ministry is distributing Rp 133.2 million (US$9,763) for hundreds of Indonesian citizens trapped in the locked-down cities of Hubei province in China, where the novel coronavirus has rapidly spread, to help them to buy food and logistics supplies in the quarantined zone. Judha Nugraha, the Foreign Ministrys director for overseas citizen protection, said on Wednesday that the money would be distributed to the Indonesians there through the Indonesian Student Association in China (PPIT). As for now, the cash assistance is being distributed to several areas such as Wuhan the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak and other cities in Hubei, including Xianing, Huangshi, Jingzhou, Xianyang, Enshi and Shiyan. The money will not only be distributed to our people in Wuhan, but to all Indonesians who currently reside in the quarantined areas, he said on Wednesday. The ministry hopes the cash aid will help Indonesians to buy food and other supplies until the isolation period ends, especially since prices are increasing in light of the outbreak, which has resulted in some students experiencing difficulty in securing supplies for themselves. Judha also said that the ministry would wire more cash assistance if the Indonesians living in the affected areas still needed it. Whats important is that we have to make sure that they have enough logistics supplies, he added. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) also distributed on Wednesday 10,000 N95 masks for Indonesians in China through the Foreign Ministrys director-general for overseas citizen protection. [The masks] will be immediately taken to the airport to be sent to Beijing. The Indonesian Embassy in Beijing will spearhead the distribution of the masks, BNPB legal, organization and cooperation bureau head Zaherman Muabesi said. The Chinese government has imposed lockdowns on at least 13 cities in Hubei province in an attempt to contain the spread of the fast-spreading pneumonia-like ailment, which as of Wednesday had killed 132 people in China and infected over 6,000 globally. According to the Foreign Ministry, some 243 Indonesians currently live in the quarantined zone, around 100 of them residing in Wuhan. (dpk) By Stephanie Nebehay and Kate Kelland GENEVA/LONDON (Reuters) - Most of the World Health Organization's (WHO) criteria for declaring a global emergency have been met, but it is awaiting clear evidence of a sustained spread of the new coronavirus outside China before doing so, some experts and diplomats said. The U.N. agency is seeking to balance the need to ensure China continues to share information about the virus while also giving sound scientific advice to the international community on the risks, according to several public health experts and a Western diplomat who tracks the WHO's work. The WHO has declared five global emergencies in the past decade, including the ongoing Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Doing so can hurt host countries because it may lead to flight cancellations and travel or trade restrictions, dragging on the economy. In the latest case, the WHO declined to declare China's coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern(PHEIC) twice last week, although its Emergency Committee was split "50-50" over whether to do so. "What was lacking for them to declare an international emergency were deaths abroad and human-to-human transmission outside of China," said the Geneva-based diplomat following the agency. "If there was proof of human-to-human spread among the 'imported' cases, the panel would lean toward another finding." WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier declined to comment beyond what he told a news briefing earlier on Tuesday. He restated that the WHO's criteria for a global emergency include a "serious or unusual" health situation that affects other countries and may require a coordinated international response. In reply to a question, he added: "It is not 'wildly spreading' outside of China." While the vast majority of the 4,500 or so confirmed cases and all 106 deaths so far have been in China, cases in Germany, Vietnam, Taiwan and Japan where the virus has spread person-to-person have heightened concerns. Story continues "As information is coming in, it seems to be confirming our worst fears," Lawrence Gostin, university professor at Georgetown Law in Washington, DC, told Reuters. "So I do believe that the WHO is going to have to declare an emergency and is going to have to take the lead ... You can't leave this to China." 'A ROCK AND HARD PLACE' The WHO's 16-member expert panel is being "kept in the loop" and could be reconvened at any time to reassess the outbreak. "Just because of rising numbers in China now this would not automatically trigger an Emergency Committee," Lindmeier told the briefing. A declaration would lead to boosting public health measures, funding and resources to prevent and reduce global spread. It could include recommendations on trade and travel, although the WHO generally tries to avoid disruptive trade restrictions. The Emergency Committee deliberations are secret and its members have been told not to speak about their debate, several WHO officials told Reuters. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing on Tuesday to discuss how to protect Chinese citizens and foreigners in areas affected by the virus and "possible" evacuation alternatives, Lindmeier said. China has agreed that the WHO can send international experts there as soon as possible to increase understanding of the new coronavirus and guide the global response to the outbreak, the WHO said at the end of Tedros' two-day visit. Some experts believe the Geneva-based health agency is in a difficult position, having drawn fire in the past for acting either too quickly or too slowly. "Essentially the WHO is between a rock and a hard place," said Jeremy Farrar, an expert in infectious disease epidemics and director of the Wellcome Trust global health charity. Farrar noted that the organization was criticised for having called an early emergency in 2009 for the H1N1 flu pandemic, which proved mild, and then for being too late in declaring the Ebola epidemic in West Africa in 2014. (Writing by Stephanie Nebehay; editing by Mike Collett-White) New Delhi, Jan 29 (UNI) Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday appealed to all Punjabis in the capital to support and vote for BJP in the ensuing Assembly polls and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for championing the cause of the Sikhs. Addressing reporters at a press conference after BJP national President J P Nadda said Akalis have extended support to the saffron outfit for the polls, Mr Badal said Prime Minister Modi has been working for the Sikh community sincerely since 2014. 'All Guru Shatabdis were fully supported by the government and financially also,' he said. Former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab also criticised Congress for the 1984 anti-Sikh mayhem and also allegedly tried to 'protect' likes of Sajjan Kumar, who was convicted and sent to life imprisonment. He said under the Modi government, a SIT was constituted and all 1984 riots cases were fast-tracked. For the first time, all Embassies were issued directions to celebrate all Guru Shatabdis, he said and cited the opening of Kartapur corridor as one of the achievements of Modi-led regime. The announcement of poll alliance between the BJP and Akali Dal, which can influence Sikh voters in the city, came after days of differences between the two parties on various issues including newly enacted Citizenship law. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Nadda told reporters, "Akali Dal has been always with us, it has always come forward and teamed up with the BJP in the service of the nation. Today also, I am glad to state that Akali Dal has decided to support BJP in the Delhi elections," "I am thankful for their decision," Mr Nadda said. UNI RSA-DEVN 1756 By PTI AHMEDABAD: Family members of victims who were massacred in Ode in Gujarat during the 2002 post-Godhra riots are disappointed by the supreme court's order granting bail to the 15 convicts in the case. Anwar Akbar Miyan Malik, who lost seven members of his family in the incident, said he wanted to appeal against the bail in the apex court, as the convicts are "influential people who could affect the outcome of their appeal while out on bail". The apex court on Tuesday granted bail to 15 life term convicts in the case pending their appeal against their conviction on the condition they stay outside Gujarat and do community service in Madhya Pradesh. The 15 men are serving a life term in connection with the massacre in Ode town in Anand district in which 23 Muslims were burnt alive. "The supreme court order is entirely wrong, as the people who have come out on bail have money and it hardly matters to them whether they remain here or out of Gujarat, they can still influence eyewitnesses. I want to approach the supreme court against the bail," Malik said. ALSO READ: 'Relocate to MP, do community service': SC grants bail to 17 convicts in 2002 Gujarat riots case Malik Kasim Miyan, who lost 22 members of his extended family during the riots, said the bail granted by the apex court may set a "wrong precedent" among the convicts of such heinous crime and might encourage others to commit similar crimes. "It sinks my heart to hear that they have been granted bail. If a man who has committed such a heinous crime is let out on bail and can roam freely instead of being lodged in jail, doesn't it mean that he will be encouraged to commit more crime?" he asked. "Even the public will dare to commit a crime with impunity, feeling assured that they can be let out on bail and can remain free even when they are convicted to life term. I believe they should have remained in jail for life, as a fitting punishment for their crime," Miyan said. Another relative of victims, Rashid Khan Pathan, wondered how can the supreme court grant the convicts bail. "The order of the lower court convicting them to life sentence was appropriate for their crime, but granting them bail sets a wrong precedent," he said. While granting bail to the convicts, the SC had put the condition that they stay outside Gujarat and do community service in Madhya Pradesh. Rome [Italy], Jan 29 (ANI): Twenty-three people still in detention in Islamabad with charges of sedition, other PTM members and supporters were arrested in Bannu. A lawmaker, Mohsin Dawar, was brutally dragged by police, thrown into a car and detained for a couple of hours. This is the final balance of a day of peaceful demonstrations held all over Pakistan by the Tahafuz Pashtun Movement and members of other opposition political parties who joined the demonstrations calling for the release of Manzoor Pashteen, the PTM leader arrested a day before and sent for 14 days of judicial custody with charges of sedition. Pashteen has been denied bail and is soon to be transferred into another jail. Human rights organisations, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his predecessor Hamid Karzai, between others, have been calling in vain for the release of Pashteen. According to Kushal Khattak, a Pashtun activist, who witnessed the entire episode and started tweeting the events, "The Islamabad Police knew what it was doing. They laid a barbed wire around the protestors. They increased their number and brought their truck. They then attacked the protest barbarically." Dawar, in a brief video shot into the police van while they were driving him away, commented, "Such arrests will not prevent us from showing the true face of this state to the world". Dawar, along with Ali Wazir, who is another PTM lawmaker, has been detained for months without clear charges in connection to another barbaric episode now known as "Khar Qamar massacre". Last May, in fact, the Army attacked a peaceful PTM demonstration at a checkpoint, leaving on the ground fifteen people and wounding more than fifty. Dawar and Wazir, who were leading the demonstration, had been taken into custody and remained there for months despite the calls for their release. "This is state terrorism," commented former lawmaker Afrasiab Khattak, who took part in the protest and said, "The way they dragged people, including Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar, the sitting members of parliament, to police vans, said it all." Army and Police have been staging for the umpteenth time crackdowns on peaceful demonstrators, exposing once more their strategy -- they are desperately trying to provoke a violent reaction amongst the protestors so they can open fire and freely crush the movement fitting it into their narrative of terrorism and sedition. But it will not happen. However, the situation is more than worrying. In a while, if you listen to the official narrative, traitors will outnumber ordinary citizens in Pakistan. Baloch, Pashtuns and Sindhis, basically whoever raise his voice for civil and human rights, whoever asks for the end of enforced disappearances, for the end of dump and killing, the end of extrajudicial executions is labelled a 'traitor' and charged with sedition. Whoever dares to criticise the real rulers of the country, the Army, ends up dead or in jail. This is because criticising the Army in Pakistan is a dangerous exercise. Especially when, as the PTM does, the state is accused of playing a double game in the so-called fight against terrorism. The same accusations, in fact, the West has been raising in Islamabad for years. Accusations to which, as usual, Islamabad first responded by accusing the Pashtuns of being played by 'foreign agitators' and later releasing a handful of activists. The PTM has not stopped, and will not stop, say its leaders, until justice is done. Islamabad is playing with the fire -- the government makes some concessions but continues to censor newspapers and televisions regarding the Pashtun protests, arrests the leaders of the movement, prevents it from leaving the tribal areas and even puts them on the no-fly list. When it does not accuse them, as it happens for the Balochis, to be instruments in the hands of the usual 'foreign powers'. The number of people who took to the streets in the past days, however, tells a different story. A story from which Islamabad apparently has learned nothing at all -- such a peaceful movement for human and civil rights, launched by the inhabitants of the then East Pakistan who were victims of the same kind of abuse, has been forcibly suppressed and has finally led to the birth of Bangladesh. If the government and the Army will force Pashtuns to abandon their peaceful protests and to join the armed resistance that operates, for example, in Balochistan, the consequences for Pakistan could be devastating and divide once again the country. . (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 Wed, January 29, 2020 07:45 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206168513 1 National scammers,Indonesia,saudi-princess,saudi-royal-family,denpasar,badung Free Princess Lolowah binti Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia reportedly lost billions of rupiah after she fell victim to property scammers. The head of the National Polices General Crime Unit, Brig. Gen. Ferdy Sambo, said the princess legal team reported two Indonesians to the police in May. The Indonesian residents were identified only as EMC and EAH. According to Ferdy, Princess Lolowah sent Rp 505.5 billion (US$37.1 million) to the Indonesians from April 27, 2011 to Sept. 16, 2018 to purchase land in Gianyar, Bali, as well as to construct two resorts, namely Vila Kama and Amrita Tedja on Jl. Pura Dalem in Tampaksiring district. However, by 2018 the construction had not been completed. Moreover, the Ni Made Tjandra Kasih Public Auditors Service Agency revealed that the villas property value was less than what the realtors promised her. Also, the police said that despite the money transfers from Princess Lolowah, the two suspects still owned the properties. The police also found out that another party, a company, had a claim to the land. The suspects allegedly offered the princess 1,600 square meters of land on J. Pantai Berawa in Badung, Bali. The victim sent $500,000 to the suspects. However, when she confirmed the land ownership status, the owner said the land was never up for sale in the first place, Ferdy said as quoted by tribunnews.com. She suffered at least Rp 512 billion in financial losses, he added. The suspects are subject to charges under Article 378 of Criminal Code and articles 3 and 4 of Law No. 8/2010 on money laundering eradication and prevention. (dpk) Editor's note: An earlier version of this article contained an error. The princess' name is Princess Lolowah binti Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Saud, not Princess Lolowah binti Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. We apologize for the mistake. As far as we can judge, Gottsagen is playing a character not altogether unlike himself: Zak, a good-hearted young man with Down syndrome who dreams of becoming a professional wrestler like the legendary Salt Water Redneck (Thomas Haden Church), whose infomercial he watches constantly on VHS. A title like The Peanut Butter Falcon promises whimsy and thats what we get in this first feature from independent American directors Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz a sentimental tall tale built around the disarming enthusiasm of their star Zack Gottsagen, whom they reportedly met while volunteering at a camp for actors with special needs. After breaking out of an old folks home, Zak heads down the coast of North Carolina in search of his idol, aided by his new friend Tyler (Shia LaBeouf), a neer-do-well fisherman, and pursued by his well-meaning, college-educated carer Eleanor (Dakota Johnson). Despite their differences, all three are lonely souls and, as you might anticipate, they eventually form a surrogate family. Forty years ago, this could have been the premise for a raucous comedy destined for drive-ins, in the vein of Smokey and the Bandit. Here its packaged for the arthouse crowd, with a carefully curated bluegrass soundtrack, long shots that turn the characters into stick figures in a landscape and a general air of folksy preciousness. But as calculated as the film might be, its hard to dislike. And while Nilson and Schwartz use Gottsagens sincerity as a guarantee of their own good intentions, this never feels as exploitative as it might have. SCHENECTADY The miSci museum is collaborating with the Black Student Union of Union College on Passion and Perseverance: Black Leaders Throughout Time, an exhibition celebrating influential African American scientists, running Feb. 1 to Feb. 29 at miSci, 15 Nott Terrace Heights. Marshall Jones, Ph.D., one of the those highlighted in the exhibition, will be present for a meet and greet from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 1. Jones is a long-time employee and mechanical engineer at General Electric, who mastered the use of lasers for industrial materials processing. He is a member of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, the National Academy of Engineering and is currently a member of miScis Board of Trustees. WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump finally signed NAFTA's death warrant Wednesday, his distinctive Sharpie scrawl on the American road map for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement heralding the start of a new era of managed continental trade and what could be an acrimonious debate in the House of Commons. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. President Donald Trump walks towards Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, for the short trip to Andrews Air Force Base, Md., en route to a campaign event in Wildwood, N.J. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump finally signed NAFTA's death warrant Wednesday, his distinctive Sharpie scrawl on the American road map for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement heralding the start of a new era of managed continental trade and what could be an acrimonious debate in the House of Commons. Trump signed the implementation bill approved by Congress after extensive negotiations with Democrats in the House of Representatives and the U.S. Trade Representative's office during an hour-long ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House that featured Vice-President Mike Pence, trade ambassador Robert Lighthizer and a long roster of Republican lawmakers. "This is something we really put our heart into it's probably the number 1 reason I decided to lead this crazy life I'm leading right now, as opposed to that beautiful, simple life of luxury that I led before this happened," Trump said to laughter, standing before a working-class backdrop of American manufacturing and oilpatch workers in coveralls and hard hats. "I love doing it, and the reason I love doing it is that nobody in a period of three years has done so much, as all of us have nobody." The signing leaves Canada as the only member of the trilateral deal still to ratify the agreement, a process that began almost on cue as Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who presided over the negotiations as foreign affairs minister, introduced a Canadian version of the bill in the Commons. "The new NAFTA is a victory for all Canadians, of every political view, and in all regions of the country," Freeland said in a statement Wednesday. Earlier Wednesday, the Bloc Quebecois voted against a motion to make way for the bill. The motion carried their support. "Various industries, various groups have questions and concerns," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said before his weekly Liberal caucus meeting. "There will be a certain amount of pressure on Canada from both Mexico and the United States, who want to see this move forward, but we have questions and we have a process for ratification. I just look forward to getting through it responsibly and rapidly, because it's so important to Canadians." The 13 months of negotiations, which began in 2017, put pressure on Canada's relationship with its largest trading partner. Trump, an outspoken critic of NAFTA, mentioned Trudeau only once Wednesday, acknowledging his "close partnership and co-operation" while in the same breath hailing an "incredible friendship and relationship" with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. "Canada's opening up," he said, promising substantially higher exports of U.S. poultry, eggs and wheat to Canada. "Where is the Canadian folks, where are they?" he asked, peering in the crowd. "You guys did a good job on us before this deal, I'll tell you. Canada was very tough. But they're good. They're our friends, so we appreciate it." The USMCA christened in Canada as CUSMA but known more widely simply as "the new NAFTA" is expected to feature prominently in Trump's re-election efforts, which is why House Democrats were also clamouring to take a share of credit. "We rescued the final NAFTA 2.0," said Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenhauer, touting Democrat efforts to negotiate more stringent labour and environmental enforcement mechanisms. "We now have an agreement that will be worth the paper it is printed on." USMCA "can't undo the damage" wrought by the 26-year-old NAFTA, but the changes negotiated by Democrats earned her support, added Rep. Debbie Dingell, who blames free trade for hollowing out the auto sector in her home state of Michigan. "Our work is just beginning to strengthen U.S. manufacturing ... it sets a floor from which we will fight." Even once Canada passes the needed legislation, it will still take several months before the new rules are fully in place. All three parties need the time to develop so-called "uniform regulations" used to interpret the terms of the deal. Once that happens, a welcome measure of predictability and confidence will return to the continental trade corridor, said Kirsten Hillman, Canada's acting ambassador to the U.S., who was on hand for Wednesday's ceremony. "Trade agreements as public policy tools do two things: they open markets and liberalize trade between parties so as to incentivize mutual benefits supply chains, investment, business partnerships and they create predictable rules that Canadians can count on in deciding to make business choices," Hillman said in an interview. "One of the challenges over the past couple of years has been that this instrument that underlines and underpins a $2-billion-a-day trading relationship we have with the United States has been under negotiation, creating a certain sense of instability within our trading community." The Democrat changes commit Mexico to a suite of changes that include protections that would allow workers to organize, form and join the union of their choice, among other measures. "In my view, the labour reforms being undertaken in Mexico are the largest labour reforms ever undertaken in North America, including the New Deal in the U.S.," said Dan Ujczo, an international trade lawyer and U.S.-Canada expert with Dickinson Wright in Columbus, Ohio. "It is a huge undertaking, and so every Canadian and U.S. company that has operations in Mexico had better get ready for a significant adjustment period on labour and employment issues in Mexico." Hillman said a Canadian delegation, part of a working group to support the implementation of those reforms, is in Mexico this week to determine precisely how Canada can help. "I'm not saying it's going to be easy, but I think these obligations are very much something that are very consistent with the policies and objectives of the Mexican government." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2020. Follow James McCarten on Twitter @CdnPressStyle With files from Mike Blanchfield in Ottawa Spain has taken just one year to reach a goal that was expected to require a decade. The government had predicted that by 2030 coal would no longer be used in power plants to generate electricity, yet this objective was all but achieved last year. The country has dramatically reduced its reliance on coal-fired power, and as a direct result, carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions from electricity generation fell 33.3% in 2019, according to figures that Red Electrica de Espana (REE), the national power grid operator, advanced to EL PAIS. For decades, coal-powered thermal plants have been one of the main sources of electricity. But in 2019 Spain turned its back on this fossil fuel, which when burned releases carbon dioxide a primary greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Coal-fired thermal plants generated under 5% of total electricity, or 85.6% less than in 2002 Coal mining in Spain came to an end on January 1, 2019, when Spain stopped providing state aid to its flailing coal mines in observance of European Union regulations and due to the poor profitability of national coal deposits. But it was expected that Spanish thermal plans that use imported coal those which are located along the coast and have coal shipped in would continue operating for some years to come. Indeed, the owners of these mines had invested millions of euros in adapting to the new EU standards on polluting emissions that came into effect this year. But coal-fired electricity dropped dramatically in 2019 to its lowest point since REE began keeping records in 1990. Last year coal-powered thermal plants contributed less than 5% of all electricity generated in Spain 85.6% less than in 2002, when coal power was at its peak. Whats more, there were five days (December 14, 21, 22, 24 and 25) when Spain did not need any coal-powered electricity at all. There are many reasons why it is no longer financially profitable for electricity companies to maintain thermal plants. According to the expert group Carbon Tracker, the owners of these Spanish plants were expected to lose 992 million by the end of 2019. One of the main reasons is the EU emissions trading system, the worlds first major carbon market. After nearly 15 years, the EU agreed to set a price for releasing carbon dioxide that was high enough to discourage the use of this fossil fuel. During 2019, the price of a ton of CO 2 was 25, meaning that in many European countries coal-fired electricity is not as profitable as other options like natural gas or renewable energy. Last year 36.8% of the countrys electricity came from renewable energy sources The EU emissions trading scheme has turned out to be a useful instrument in the fight against climate change in Europe. The problem is that there is still no agreement on a global system, which became apparent at the United Nations climate summit held in Madrid in December. The drop in the cost of natural gas and the introduction of renewable energy have also contributed to the fall in coal-powered electricity. Green energy installations jumped by 10% in 2019. According to REE, 36.8% of the countrys electricity came from renewable energy sources, and 58.6% was free of carbon dioxide emissions (from both renewable and nuclear power). Thanks to these factors, the Spanish power sector ended 2019 having released just over 43 million tons of carbon dioxide 33.3% less than the 64.5 million tons released into the atmosphere in 2018. The power sector accounts for 17% of the Spanish economys carbon dioxide emissions. The fall in coal-powered plants is expected to be reflected in a global fall in carbon dioxide emissions for 2019. But last years figures on the transportation sector (namely cars and trucks), which contributed 27% of greenhouse gases in 2018, and industry, which contributed 19%, have yet to be released. In recent years, the drop in power plant emissions has been compensated by the rise in transportation emissions. English version by Melissa Kitson. While the nation is divided over the Citizenship Amendment Act coming into play and amid fearmongering over NRC, Bollywood actor Rakhi Sawant has come up with her own solution for those who are worried they may have to 'prove their citizenship' or for those scared about submitting their documents. Her video comes after veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah in an interview said, "I dont have a birth certificate. I cannot produce one. Does that mean we are all going to be excluded? I do not need any reassurances that Muslims dont need to worry. I am not worried." Sawant took to her Instagram handle and shared a video explaining her solution to this problem. Rakhi Sawant's Instagram post shows her music video co-actor is "Thanda" Rakhi Sawant's Solution She said, "Hi friends. Today I have an idea and it is beneficial for the country too. For all those who are scared from CAA and NRC, and believe that their grandfathers haven't left them the birth ceritficates, why are you worrying? I am there to help you. Don't worry. If you don't want to go from this country, so take a long hefty loan from the bank. Bank will prove that you are an Indian citizen and you won't have to worry about anything. So easy! Go quickly now and take a loan." Anand Mahindra calls CAA 'inoffensive', says reaction to Act is 'difficult to understand' WATCH The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) passed the Parliament in December but has received heavy opposition from leaders of other political parties and has left the public divided. Certain states such as Kerala have already passed a motion to disallow the Act from being implemented in the State. "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. Mamata Banerjee to walk the talk; will move anti-CAA resolution, after Kerala & Punjab 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. By Blake Farmer, Nashville Public Radio NASHVILLE, Tenn. Im not anti-hospice at all, said Joy Johnston, who relocated to New Mexico years ago at age 40 to care for her dying mother. But I think people arent prepared for all the effort that it takes to give someone a good death at home. Surveys show dying at home is what most Americans say they want. But its not all its cracked up to be, said Johnston, a caregiver advocate and writer from Atlanta. She wrote an essay about her frustrations with the way hospice care often works in the United States. Johnston, like many family caregivers, was surprised that her mothers hospice provider left most of the physical work to her. She said that during the final weeks of her mothers life, she felt more like a tired nurse than a devoted daughter. Hospice allows a patient deemed to have fewer than six months to live to change the focus of their medical care from the goal of curing disease to a new goal of using treatments and medicines to maintain comfort and quality of life. It is a form of palliative care, which also focuses on pain management, but can be provided while a patient continues to seek a cure or receive treatments to prolong life. According to a recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll, 7 in 10 Americans say they would prefer to die at home. And thats the direction the health care system is moving, as part of an effort to avoid unnecessary and expensive treatment at the end of life. (Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent program of the foundation.) The home hospice movement has been great for patients and many patients are thrilled with the care they get, said Dr. Parul Goyal, a palliative care physician with Vanderbilt Health. I do think that when they are at home, they are in a peaceful environment, Goyal said. It is comfortable for them. But, she noted, it may not be comfortable for family members watching them taking their last breath. When it comes to where we die, the U.S. has reached a tipping point. Home is now the most common place of death, according to new research, and a majority of Medicare patients are turning to hospice services to help make that possible. Fewer Americans these days are dying in a hospital, under the close supervision of doctors and nurses. Hospice care is usually offered in the home, or sometimes in a nursing home. Since the mid-1990s, Medicare has allowed the hospice benefit to cover more types of diagnoses, and therefore more people. As acceptance grows among physicians and patients, the numbers continue to balloon from 1.27 million patients in 2012 to 1.49 million in 2017. According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Association, hospice is now a $19 billion industry, almost entirely funded by taxpayers. But as the business has grown, so has the burden on families, who are often the ones providing most of the care. For example, one intimate task in particular trying to get her moms bowels moving changed Joy Johnstons view of what hospice really means. Constipation plagues many dying patients. Its ironically called the comfort care kit that you get with home hospice. They include suppositories, and so I had to do that, she said. That was the lowest point. And Im sure it was the lowest point for my mother as well. And it didnt work. Hospice agencies primarily serve in an advisory role and from a distance, even in the final, intense days when family caregivers, or home nurses theyve hired, must continually adjust morphine doses or deal with typical end-of-life symptoms, such as bleeding or breathing trouble. Those decisive moments can be scary for the family, said Dr. Joan Teno, a physician and leading hospice researcher at Oregon Health and Science University. Imagine if youre the caregiver, and that youre in the house, Teno said. Its in the middle of the night, 2 oclock in the morning, and all of a sudden, your family member has a grand mal seizure. Thats exactly what happened with Tenos mother. While it was difficult for me to witness, I knew what to do, she said. John McCasland of Goodlettsville, Tenn., hired a private caregiver to help with his wife, Jea, left,, who suffered from dementia for eight years. Even when hospice took over, he still found he needed the extra help from Karrie Velez. Jean died in October after 13 months on home hospice. (Blake Farmer/WPLN)TNS In contrast, Teno said, in her fathers final hours, he was admitted to a hospice residence. Such residences often resemble a nursing home, with private rooms where family and friends can come and go and with round-the-clock medical attention just down the hall. Teno called the residence experience of hospice a godsend. But an inpatient facility is rarely an option, she said. Patients have to be in bad shape for Medicare to pay the higher inpatient rate that hospice residences charge. And by the time such patients reach their final days, its often too much trouble for them and the family to move. Hospice care is a lucrative business. It is now the most profitable type of health care service that Medicare pays for. According to Medicare data, for-profit hospice agencies now outnumber the nonprofits that pioneered the service in the 1970s. But agencies that need to generate profits for investors arent building dedicated hospice units or residences, in general mostly because such facilities arent profitable enough. Joe Shega is chief medical officer at the for-profit VITAS Healthcare, the largest hospice company in the U.S. He insists it is the patients wishes, not a corporate desire to make more money, that drives his firms business model. Our focus is on what patients want, and 85 to 90% want to be at home, Shega said. So, our focus is building programs that help them be there. For many families, making hospice work at home means hiring extra help. Hands-on help is scarce On the day I visit her home outside Nashville, hospice patient Jean McCasland is at the kitchen table refusing to eat a spoonful of peach yogurt. Each morning, nurses aide Karrie Velez pulverizes McCaslands medications in a pill crusher and mixes them into her breakfast yogurt. If you dont, she will just spit them out, Velez said. Like a growing share of hospice patients, McCasland has dementia. She needs a service that hospice rarely provides a one-on-one health attendant for several hours, so the regular family caregiver can get a break each day. When Velez is not around, John McCasland Jeans husband of nearly 50 years is the person in charge at home. I have said from the beginning that was my intention, that she would be at home through the duration, as long as I was able, John said. But what hospice provided wasnt enough help. So he has had to drain the couples retirement accounts to hire Velez, a private caregiver, out-of-pocket. Hospice agencies usually bring in a hospital bed, an oxygen machine or a wheelchair whatever equipment is needed. Prescriptions show up at the house for pain and anxiety. But hands-on help is scarce. According to Medicare, hospice benefits can include home health aides and homemaker services. But in practice, that in-person help is often limited to a couple of baths a week. Medicare data reveals that, on average, a nurse or aide is only in the patients home 30 minutes, or so, per day. Jean McCaslands husband hasnt complained. I guess Ive just accepted whats available and not really thought beyond what could be, he said. Because this is what they say they do. Families often dont consider whether theyre getting their moneys worth because theyre not paying for hospice services directly: Medicare gets the bills. John keeps his monthly statements from Medicare organized in a three-ring binder, but he had never noticed that his agency charges nearly $200 a day, whether there is a health provider in the home that day or not. That daily reimbursement covers equipment rentals and a 24-hour hotline that lets patients or family members consult a nurse as needed; John said it gives him peace of mind that help is a phone call away. Theres a sense of comfort in knowing that they are keeping an eye on her, he said. The rate that hospice charges Medicare drops a bit after the patients first two months on the benefit. After reviewing his paperwork, John realized Medicare paid the hospice agency $60,000 in the first 12 months Jean was on hospice. Was the care his wife got worth that? When you consider the amount of money thats involved, perhaps they would provide somebody around the clock, he said. Sue Riggle is the administrator for the McCaslands hospice agency and said she understands how much help patients with dementia need. Her company is a small for-profit business called Adoration; she said the agency cant provide more services than what Medicare pays for. I think everybody wishes we could provide the sitter-service part of it, said Riggle. But its not something that is covered by hospices. I checked in with John and Velez (Jeans longtime private caregiver) this winter. The two were by Jeans side and had been there for several days straight when she died in October. The hospice nurse showed up only afterward, to officially document the death. This experience of family caregivers is typical but often unexpected. Caregiver syndrome increasing concern It does take a toll on families, said Katherine Ornstein, an associate professor of geriatrics and palliative medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, who studies what typically happens in the last years of patients lives. The increasing burden on loved ones especially spouses is reaching a breaking point for many people, her research shows. This particular type of stress has even been given a name: caregiver syndrome. Our long-term-care system in this country is really using families unpaid family members, she said. Thats our situation. A few high-profile advocates have even started questioning whether hospice is right for everybody. For some who have gone through home hospice with a loved one, the difficult experience has led them to want something else for themselves. Social worker Coneigh Sea has a portrait of her husband that sits in the entryway of her home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He died of prostate cancer in their bedroom in 1993. Enough time has passed since then that the mental fog she experienced while managing his medication and bodily fluids mostly by herself has cleared, she said. But it was a burden. For me to say that theres that guilt, she said. But I know better. It was a burden that I lovingly did. She doesnt regret the experience but said it is not one she wishes for her own grown children. She recently sat them down, she said, to make sure they handle her death differently. I told my family, if there is such a thing, I will come back and I will haunt you, she said with a laugh. Dont you do that. Seas family may have limited options. Sidestepping home hospice typically means paying for a pricey nursing home or dying with the cost and potential chaos of a hospital which is precisely what hospice care was set up to avoid. As researchers in the field look to the future, they are calling for more palliative care, not less and, at the same time, they are advocating for more support for the spouses, family members and friends tasked with caring for the patient. We really have to expand in general our approach to supporting caregivers, Ornstein said, noting that some countries outside the U.S. pay for a wider range and longer duration of home health services. I think what we really need to do is be broadening the support that individuals and families can have as theyre caring for individuals throughout the course of serious illness, Ornstein said. And I think that probably speaks to the expansion of palliative care, in general. (Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. This story is part of a partnership that includes Nashville Public Radio, NPR and Kaiser Health News.) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 29) In their first press conference of the year, Miss Universe Philippines, the local organization that conducts the selection of candidates to the international beauty pageant, said the local coronation night will happen on May 3 at the MOA Arena. Prospective candidates have until January 31 to submit their applications, the new franchise said. After the press confrence shown live on Facebook Wednesday, the franchise's national director Shamcey Supsup-Lee outlined what she expects from the candidates. Lee said, "You don't have to be Miss Universe material agad [outright], but you have to have the potential. And we will be here to train you. So it doesn't matter kung wala ka pang advocacy [if you don't have an advocacy yet]...or, if communication-wise, hindi mo pa gamay [you don't have it all together yet]. But what we're looking for is meron nang...there's this drive, there's this want to improve themselves and be the perfect example or role model of what a true empowered Filipina is." The video has since been taken down. Lee relayed her own experience of joining the national pageant where she was told by Jonas Gaffud, who is now Miss Universe Philippines' creative director, that she wasn't suited to compete. "But I had that drive, and I wanted to prove others wrong... Kung meron ka nung ganoong fire and ganoong will, then anything is possible," she added. She also addressed the issue of this organization being separate from Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc., the group that has crowned international beauty queens including four Miss Universe winners. Lee won the Binibining Pilipinas Universe crown in 2011, and placed third in the international pageant. Lee said she would be forever grateful for the opportunities that came her way. "For me, to be a product of Binibini... I'm still a Binibini, always a Binibini,, and I will always be grateful for the opportunity that the Aranetas have given to me, to all of us. We will not be here without them... I feel like that we can still support each other even if we have different pageants, I don't think it should be a rivalry," she said. She also revealed she wanted to "reach out" to the Aranetas in the next few weeks and to talk to them in person, adding she was very close to them. In December last year, it was announced that the country's Miss Universe franchise was no longer with the Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. Apart from Lee, the other members of the Miss Universe Philippines board are Albert Andrada as the Design Council Head, pageant mentor Jonas Gaffud as the Creative Director, Lia Ramos as Head of Women Empowerment Committee and Charity, Atty. Nad Bronce as Head of Legal Affairs, and Mario Garcia as Business Development/ Marketing Head. With the separation of the Miss Universe franchise, the current titles under Binibining Pilipinas are Bb. Pilipinas International, Bb. Pilipinas Supranational, Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental, Bb. Pilipinas Globe, and Bb. Pilipinas Grand International. Im an "old-school guy. However, several days ago, during that quick hit of snow and wind, I stood at my back door and flashed some technical knowledge. I started the engine of my pickup truck with my cellphone. The FordPass App also informed me of the air pressure amount in each tire, as well as how much gas I had left. I reflected for a moment on what I had just accomplished and thought, "Holy smokes," that was amazing. The changes I have witnessed in my lifetime have been remarkable and at times unbelievable. I remember leaving home for college almost 49 years ago. When I left in the fall, there were no emails, texts or daily phone calls. My parents were lucky if they heard from me by Christmas. Boomers headed out on our own to sink or swim. We liked it that way. The only technology my vehicle had at the time was a radio, ashtray and a cigarette lighter. I started my truck by pushing in the clutch and turning a key. The modern technology of the day I brought with me when I headed for additional education, which I badly needed, was a manual typewriter and a few Bic pens. ADVERTISEMENT Im currently reading the recently released biography "Edison" by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edmund Morris. Thomas A. Edison invented a lot of stuff. He was a genius and recognized during his lifetime as a great American. His last name will always be associated with the invention and development of the electric light, but there was so much more to his life. The book, which is a long one, got me thinking about inventions. I contacted a couple of friends and asked them what invention made them go, "Wow, this is remarkable!" I told them this was about inventions that simply affected their life in a positive way. Im going to start with Dave. Dave grew up in the community of Parsons, located in eastern West Virginia. His family would listen to a cabinet-sized radio that on a good night, could only pull in some mountain music and country music from nearby Wheeling, W.V. He remembers in the spring of 1962 he had been saving money from his paper route for this new invention he read about. He paid $15 for a Sony transistor radio. He could slip it into his shirt pocket. Dave said his dad told him he had lost his mind spending that kind of money on such a thing. Dave said from the comfort of his bedroom every night, he could pick up rock-and-roll music from the station WOWO all the way from Fort Wayne, Ind. As a kid, that pocket transistor was pure magic. My second buddy Lee grew up in Moose Lake, Minn. Lee remembers in 1972 his boss asked him to drive to the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport to pick up his wife. His boss informed him he had this new add-on feature in his car called "speed control." As Lee drove down I-35 and figured out this new technology, he thought this invention was remarkable. No foot-cramping or speed-checking. Lee said he didnt get a vehicle with that option for a few years, but today, he says its as necessary as the first cup of coffee in the morning. Come on Lee, really that important? ADVERTISEMENT Lee gave me a second life-changer. While at the University of Minnesota Duluth, also in the early 70s, he was in the Ven-Den (a dining area surrounded by vending machines). He watched someone buy a hamburger from a vending machine, bring it to a box-shaped thing, open the box-shaped thing, and put the burger in it. The guy then pushed a button, and 30 seconds later, he removed a steaming hamburger. He decided he needed to try that. He found that the microwave-heated hamburger tasted terrible but the invention was amazing. Of course, microwaves became a go-to tool for many college students and young couples. Hot, leftover pizza in 20 seconds priceless. I guess for me, not long after I entered the working world, I found myself the one person in a one-person department. I had to complete all the reports, etc., myself. I found the IBM Selectric II typewriter to be a magnificent machine. You could even correct mistakes without Wite-Out or correction tape. With that machine, I could fly on those keys. It changed my life for the better until the computer came along. Edison held over 1,000 patents for his inventions. He was a bright guy (pun intended). He left this world in 1931. Maybe the inventions I mentioned were not a large step for mankind, but a cool small step for some young guys trying to find their way. What invention made you go, "Wow"? Rich Duranto, 52, of Ridley pauses in front of aTrumped-up RV parked in Wildwood selling items to supporters before President Trump arrived in Wildwood for a "Make America Great Again" campaign rally Jan. 28, 2020. Read more WILDWOOD They took jitneys down from Atlantic City, pre-gamed with Yuenglings and flags at a local Irish bar, and tailgated in the Wildwoods Convention Center parking lot overnight. If this were summer, the crowd that buzzed Tuesday around the Wildwood boardwalk with provocative T-shirts and slogans, flashes of defiant patriotism, and generally elevated exuberance just to be there might have simply blended in with the towns usual Jersey Shore vibe. But on this otherwise dormant Wildwood winter day, thousands of rally-goers massed in a determined line that zig-zagged around streets throughout town. They were there for President Donald Trump, who came to town in part to gin up support for local Rep. Jeff Van Drew, the longtime Democrat who rocked the political world last month by defecting to the GOP after his opposition to impeachment alienated Democrats. As the day wore on, pro- and anti-Trump groups sparred with each other on the boardwalk, like warring seagulls dive bombing for the same french fry. They squawked at each other as if they believed the future of the republic depended on it. Perhaps it did. This is what democracy looks like! shouted protesters, who organized under the banner of the group Cape May County Indivisible. They were gathered in a parking lot a few blocks south of the Convention Center, where they had a permit. Above, from the boardwalk, Trump fans began lining up to heckle them. Wheres Hunter? they yelled back, referring to Hunter Biden, son of former Vice President Joe Biden whom Republicans have floated calling as a witness in Trumps impeachment trial. Dawn Liston of Williamstown said protesters were spit on by Trump rally goers when they arrived with signs. Im sad, she said. Im sad our country is so divided. Lock him up!" protesters shouted about Trump. Lock her up! Trump fans shouted back, a refrain from the 2016 campaign about Hillary Clinton, as the boardwalk standoff continued in a cold wind. Go back to your shole countries! From balconies above the protesters and from the boardwalk, the Trump fans tried to drown out the speakers, who portrayed Trump as uncaring and Van Drew as a turncoat. Do not think for one moment that this president cares about you at all, said Kyle Aldrich of the national Indivisible group. This is not the time to seek common ground. Because I can tell you that the common ground is not there. Several Trump fans shouted Fake news! at reporters filming them, and one shouted the media is run by Jews at a Reuters photographer. Shayla Woolfort, a protest organizer, said she was not surprised by the reaction. They did decide to move the lectern for speakers who included Martin Luther King III and four Democratic challengers to Van Drew to the rear of the parking lot from its place next to the boardwalk. Were used to it," she said. Its fine. King, eldest son of the late civil rights leader, told the protesters: We need to look at the soul of America to determine what direction we are going to go in the future." How do we bring out the best of America? King asked in the wind-whipped chill of the darkened parking lot, with Wildwood motels as his backdrop. "Thats what Martin Luther King Jr. talked about, making America what it ought to be. And Amy Kennedy, one of the Democrats running against Van Drew and the wife of former Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island, urged the protesters she had helped organize to stay unified in civility and hope. For many who came down the Shore on Tuesday, fighting for parking spots like it was a peak summer weekend, the rally was as much a social gathering as a political one, or the perfect blending of both. Trump Hell Yeah! banners were hung from empty houses along the causeways. People crowded into nearby bars, sharing laughs, buying each other beers, and sporting matching MAGA hats. Jeff Bottari, 58, and Scott Wistar, 56, took off work early and drove from Landenberg, Pa., to witness their first Trump rally. Its like a brotherhood, Bottari said. Were all in here buying each other beers. Its not divisive like people try to say, Wistar added. The two friends had tickets to the event but said they didnt want to wait in line. They wanted to meet other Trump fans and show their support for a president who they said has been the only candidate ... that has delivered on all campaign promises. [Trumps] kind of an asshole, but so is my dad, and hes the best person in the world, Wistar said. Bottari nudged him and added, And so are we!" Donald and Melania Trump look-alikes made the rounds, amping up bars full of supporters. In the thick of the line, an announcement warned people that if they saw a protester in the rally, do not touch or harm the protester. The announcement advised they should instead hold their sign over their head and chant Trump! Trump! Trump! Then a security person would come and remove the protester. Thousands of people who couldnt get into the rally stood in the courtyard outside the convention center, in parking lots, in a nearby park, and on a motel balcony across from the park, waiting to watch Trump on a massive screen. Earlier, the pop-up merchandise arms race was intense, with Trump beach towels and souvenir Wildwood Trump beach tags selling for $5 apiece. (Wildwood beaches are free.) T-shirts emblazoned with Watch the Trump Car, referring to the tram message, competed with Trump socks and hand warmers. Many were there just to mill around, like Phil Thompson of Bucks County, who came with his daughter Regina for the memories. Another family member was involved in the protests, but Thompson did not yell at her when he saw her. Rich Duranto also enjoyed the camaraderie that Trump supporters share. Its like an Eagles tailgate, said the Philadelphian, who walked through the crowds in a bright green Eagles track suit wearing a Trump mask he bought from CVS two years ago. Its fun, its an event, he said. Ill definitely be back. Duranto said Trump lies sometimes, which bothers him. But, Duranto said, theyre usually just little lies. We all tell little lies. They all lie, he said of politicians. [Trump] is just the most entertaining liar." TARANTO - A total of 403 migrants disembarked from the Ocean Viking in Taranto on Wednesday and rescue workers said the migrants had faced a "nightmare journey". The Taranto prefecture said there were 12 pregnant women, 132 unaccompanied minors (some between 11-13 years old), and 20 families aboard the NGO ship run by SOS Mediterranee and Doctors Without Borders. The migrants are from Morocco, Guinea, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Nigeria, Mali and Somalia. They were rescued in recent days in the Mediterranean, in five nighttime operations made difficult by bad weather at sea. Many of the migrants were crowded into small boats full of water that nearly overturned numerous times. Others were suffering from hypothermia and seasickness, covered with fuel, travelling aboard an overcrowded rubber boat. There were some smiling faces among those who disembarked, but the faces were also marked by fatigue and tension. Sources said health workers found two cases of tuberculosis and some cases of fuel burns due to contact with the fuel on board and seawater, but said the overall condition of the survivors was "rather good". The minors, who made up more than one-third of those disembarked, are headed for educational communities in Taranto and the province. The adults will be transferred by bus to the migrant hotspot in Taranto, where they will remain for 48 to 72 hours for identification procedures before being taken to other centres. Rescue workers said the rescues "were difficult, with rough seas, at night". "There were some scenes of panic, but SOS Mediterranee and Doctors Without Borders did an extraordinary job," rescue workers said. "The crew is also tired; they rescued people at sea whose lives were at risk. These migrants deserve a bit of peace and rest. Now they can start a new life in Italy and abroad," they said. New Delhi, Jan 29 : Aam Aadmi Party's Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh on Thursday said that the parents of the Delhi government schoolchildren are hurt after Home Minister Amit Shah and other BJP leaders shared "fake and fabricated" videos of the schools and have decided to file a defamation case of Rs 100 crore against the former BJP President. Talking to the media, he said many parents of the children who study in Delhi government schools are very hurt by the statement of Shah and the other BJP MPs regarding the condition of the schools. "When the parents witnessed that Shah and the BJP are sharing fabricated videos of the schools where their children study, they felt insulted and they are also in the view that by sharing such fabricated videos, the BJP has insulted the students, parents, teachers of the Delhi government schools. The parents of Delhi government school students have decided to file defamation case of Rs 100 crore against Shah. The process will start from tomorrow," Singh said. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A man is facing two charges after court documents accuse him of beating his aunt to death in her home earlier this year. Darryl J. Banks, 33, is charged with 2nd-degree murder and armed criminal action, according to Jackson County court documents. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 15:42:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Village chiefs patrolling with loudspeakers, alert banners hanging on walls, these are what many Chinese villages are doing in the battle against pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus. Bay of Plenty You will be operating the Roller and also required to help out the team hands on. You will be working near Bayfair for a... View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz [January 29, 2020] Elder Research Acquires Statistics.com CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Elder Research, a Machine Learning, Data Science, and AI consulting firm, is excited to announce that it has acquired the Institute for Statistics Education at Statistics.com to provide focused data science, analytics, and statistics training for corporations and individuals. The Institute's certificates and degrees are certified by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, and its courses are approved by the American Council on Education. According to Gerhard Pilcher, CEO of Elder Research, "The acquisition of Statistics.com will help Elder Research's clients achieve cross-enterprise data literacy much faster by expanding our course offerings ten-fold on an easily accessible platform while maintaining the human element that is critical to robust learning." "Elder Research's quarter century of expertise in data science consulting and training for leading companies and government agencies brings a powerful dose of practical experience to the Institute's offerings. Joining forces with Elder Research will give Institute students the real-world skills they need to successfully deploy the techniques they learn, and a good view of potential careers," added Peter Bruce, Founder of the Institute for Statistics Education at Statistics.com. Statistics.com's existing courses, certificate programs, and degree programs will continue. Over the last 25 years Elder Research has grown by empowering organizations through training and knowledge transfer. This acquisition strengthens Elder Research's ability to build analytics teams and establish Analytics Centers of Excellence for clients by providing: Customized training programs that are relevant and valuable to the audiencefrom entry analysts to executives. Courses and programs developed an taught by leading university instructors and industry experts in data science, analytics, and statistics, many of whom have authored the book from which they teach. Access to experts with practical experience guiding you every step of the way. Mastery, Certificate, and Degree series programs in data science, analytics, and statistics to enhance personal and professional development offering the approximate equivalent of a university program at a fraction of the cost. Credit and Credentialing Continuing Education Units (CEU), certificate credit, Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) credit through INFORMS, and college credit through American Council on Education's College Credit ( ACE CREDIT ) About Elder Research Elder Research is a results-driven data science consulting firm serving government agencies, the defense and intelligence community, and commercial organizations for 25 years. More than 80 expert data scientists and engineers specialize in focused analytics strategy development, deploying high-performance data science solutions, and skills training for our clients. Experience includes machine learning, time series forecasting, text mining and NLP, cloud analytics, predictive analytics, graph analytics, and data visualization. Senior executives are accomplished thought leaders that have authored nationally recognized books and scientific journals, taught courses as adjunct professors, served as advisory board members at universities and public organizations, and are invited speakers at domestic and international conferences. About the Institute for Statistics Education at Statistics.com The Institute for Statistics Education at Statistics.com is a leading pioneer in online analytics education since 2002, with over 80 courses and over 15,000 students. The Institute offers courses, certificates and, through university partners, degrees in data science, analytics, and statistics. The Institute values and promotes critical "human touch" in education. Students communicate directly with instructors, who include noted authorities and authors of leading textbooks. Direct personal guidance is given to all students by assistant teachers and mentors with advanced degrees in the field. Media contact: Paul Derstine [email protected] 434-973-7673 www.elderresearch.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/elder-research-acquires-statisticscom-300994728.html SOURCE Elder Research, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 20:24 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206197b46 1 World Middle-East,Trump-peace-plan,Palestine-Israel-talks,White-House,Foreign-Affairs-Ministry Free Indonesia was concerned that the Middle East peace plan announced by United States President Donald Trump did not adhere to internationally agreed parameters, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement late Wednesday. Trump finally released his long-delayed Israeli-Palestinian peace plan on Tuesday evening in Washington, D.C., (Wednesday morning in Jakarta) in a joint announcement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The proposed plan lays out a vision for establishing an independent Palestinian state while also formalizing Israeli sovereignty over settlements built in occupied territory, AFP reports. The plan covers strict conditions, including a requirement that the future Palestinian state be demilitarized. Palestinians were not involved in drafting the plan. "The issue of Palestine shall be resolved based on the principles of the 'two-state solution' that respects international law and internationally-agreed parameters," the ministry said in a statement to The Jakarta Post. Indonesia once again encourages the resumption of dialogues among relevant parties to achieve stability and lasting peace, the ministry stressed. Indonesia has previously highlighted the crucial issues that needed addressing and were largely ignored in Trump's proposed plan including the illegal Israeli settlements, the status of Jerusalem and the fate of some 5 million Palestinian refugees. Trump's plan reverses decades of US foreign policy by suggesting that the Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem were not illegal. Near the end of Barack Obamas presidency in 2016, the US mission to the United Nations allowed the UN Security Council to condemn these Israeli settlements in "occupied territory" as a flagrant violation of international law. As a staunch supporter of the Palestinian agenda, the Indonesian government views Israels occupation of Palestine as one of the last remaining cases of colonialism, which must be eliminated according to the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution. It could be Perth's toughest restaurant in which to get a table. At 28-seat restaurant Marumo*, the wait is about three months and the booking system is one of the quirkiest but fairest yet. And everybody knows good things come to those who wait. Chef and owner Moe Oo. Credit:Marta Pascual Juanola When Burmese-born chef and owner Moe Oo opened his first restaurant in Leeming in 2012, patrons were on six-month waitlists, so he moved to a (slightly) bigger premise at Chelsea Village in Nedlands. This browser is no longer supported at MarketWatch. For the best MarketWatch.com experience, please update to a modern browser. The former roommate of Mimi Haleyi - one of the women who has accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault - has told of the moment she first heard her friend's allegations. Elizabeth Entin told jurors in Mr Weinstein's rape trial that Ms Haleyi, visibly upset, said to her in the summer of 2006 that Mr Weinstein forced oral sex on her. "I said, 'Miriam, that sounds like rape,'" Ms Entin said, using Ms Haleyi's full first name. Mr Weinstein (67) has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting Ms Haleyi and Jessica Mann. Since 2017 more than 80 women, including many famous actresses, have accused the former film producer of sexual misconduct. Ms Haleyi, who worked as a production assistant on a Weinstein TV show, said on Monday Mr Weinstein invited her to his Manhattan home in July 2006 and attacked her, backing her into a bedroom and forcing oral sex on her. Ms Entin said yesterday she and Ms Haleyi shared an apartment in 2006. She said that one evening Ms Haleyi appeared unusually nervous and told her Mr Weinstein had assaulted her in his home. "She said 'I'm on my period' and he said 'I don't care', at which point he threw her down, pulled down her underwear", and performed a sex act on her, Ms Entin testified. She told the court she told Ms Haleyi her experience sounded like rape and urged her to speak to a lawyer, but Ms Haleyi did not want to. Ms Entin said that weeks before the alleged attack, Ms Haleyi called her at work to tell her Mr Weinstein had barged into their apartment and begged her to come to Paris with him. Ms Entin said her flatmate told her Ms Entin's Chihuahua, Peanut, was "kind of chasing him around" and Mr Weinstein seemed afraid of the dog. At the time, Ms Entin said, she saw the defendant not as a threat but as "a pathetic older man trying to hit on Miriam". Donna Rotunno, one of Mr Weinstein's lawyers, asked Ms Entin whether she knew Mr Weinstein had paid for Ms Haleyi to travel to Los Angeles and London after the alleged assault, and she had continued to communicate with him. Ms Entin said she did not. Prosecutors showed jurors several old photos of Mr Weinstein, including one of him and former US President Bill Clinton. They had said they wanted to introduce the photo to demonstrate Mr Weinstein's power and connections. Ms Haleyi was the second accuser to testify against Mr Weinstein at the trial. Actress Annabella Sciorra testified that he forced his way into her Manhattan apartment one winter night in 1993 or 1994 and raped her. Jessica Mann, a former aspiring actress, is expected to testify that Mr Weinstein raped her in 2013. Mr Weinstein denies all charges. The National Health Commission reports that the death toll for the virus identified as "2019-nCoV" has risen to 132. Confirmed cases of infection are 5,974. In 2003, Sars infected 5,327 people and killed 349 in mainland China; another 299 in Hong Kong. Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Confirmed cases of contagion from a new coronavirus that causes pneumonia reached 5,974 in China, exceeding the number of infections that occurred during the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic in 2002-2003. Beijing state media reported it today. The National Health Commission reports that the death toll for the virus identified as "2019-nCoV" has risen to 132, with 26 new deaths and another 1,459 cases confirmed since yesterday evening; medical personnel are monitoring another 9 thousand suspects. Following the Sars epidemic in 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) criticized China for underestimating the number of cases. That year, the disease infected 5,327 people and killed 349 in mainland China; another 299 in Hong Kong. According to the WHO, the virus - which has infected 8,098 people worldwide - originated in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong. In May 2004, the international body announced that China was free from Sars. In Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province and the epicenter of the latest crisis, pneumonia killed 125 people. The virus has infected about 60 people in 14 other countries. Health authorities believe that the disease - transmissible among humans - has started to spread in the city located about 1,000 kilometers south of Beijing. The urban center is an important commercial hub, with a population of 11 million. The government has ordered the isolation of the area starting from 23 January. Similar and unprecedented measures are also in place in neighboring cities, such as Huanggang and Ezhou, affecting over 50 million citizens. Japan extracted about 200 citizens from Wuhan; the United States evacuated about 240 Americans by air. Other international governments are organizing similar operations. The European Commission said it will make two aircraft available to bring citizens back to the EU, with 250 French leaving on the first flight. Hong Kong - a scene of anti-Chinese unrest for months - yesterday suspended rail and ferry connections to mainland China. A U.S. defense official confirmed the number of hostages freed and Taliban taken into custody. But the official, who was authorized to disclose details of the operation on the condition of anonymity, said there were no U.S. strikes in the area at that time and that no Taliban fighters were reported killed in the raid. People need to refresh their memories, suggests Cornell Belcher, the former chief pollster in South Carolina for the Obama campaign. Belcher told The New York Times that people are placing too much emphasis on the role the Iowa caucus played in establishing former President Barack Obama as a serious contender for the Democratic nomination in 2008, especially among black voters. Instead, Belcher said their internal polling numbers indicated Obama's support among black voters had surpassed the early frontrunner, Hillary Clinton, as early as November 2007. "Black voters aren't waiting for white people to tell them what to do," Belcher said. But he doesn't think many of the candidates have learned that lesson. Belcher thinks the party's current crop of contenders shouldn't wait around and see if a surprise Iowa victory can carry them forward like they believe it did for Obama. Instead, he argues, they should already be challenging former Vice President Joe Biden in South Carolina, where he's in command. "It's lazy thinking," Belcher told the Times. "They think they don't have to put resources behind it, and is, in fact, taking a key constituency that they need for granted." Read more at The New York Times. More stories from theweek.com Mitch McConnell's rare blunder John Bolton just vindicated Nancy Pelosi 7 witheringly funny cartoons about the GOP's John Bolton problem Social media rumors that a student at the University of Southern California (USC) had contracted the deadly coronavirus triggered an online petition to cancel classes. On Monday night, an email from the general manager of the off-campus housing complex, The Lorenzo, was sent to tenants reporting that a resident had been diagnosed with the infection. Videos circulated on Twitter of ambulances and paramedics, further fueling students' fears. Within four hours, there were mass hysteria in the form of tweets from scared students and a national-scale petition demanding that classes be suspended. However, campus officials quickly shut down the rumors and told the student body that if there were cases on campus, local health officials would be the ones to inform them - not apartment building management. An erroneous email claiming that a University of Southern California student at the off-campus housing complex,The Lorenzo (pictured), had been diagnosed with coronavirus fueled a petition demanding that classes be canceled Hundreds of tweets were posted about the false confirmed case such as one claiming USC stood for 'University of Spreading Coronavirus.' Another student tweeted: 'So I guess the coronavirus has reached USC territory? The doctors [are about to] tell me to just 'fight on' through sickness.' Some students even drafted a petition requesting that USC cancel classes. As of Wednesday afternoon, the Change.org petition had garnered more than 10,000 signatures. However, USC's official Twitter account posted a statement, dispelling rumors that the infection had reached campus. 'We want to provide an update to the USC Community because there has been an incorrect report that a student at the Lorenzo, an off-campus housing facility, has contracted the 2019 novel coronavirus,' the statement read. 'No one affiliated with USC has developed the illness. If someone contracts the illness, we would notify the community.' In a later update, university officials told students that news about coronavirus on campus would 'occur through local public health authorities and will be communicated to the community.' So far, more than 6,000 people worldwide have been infected with the virus and 133 people - all in China - have died. As of Wednesday, five cases have been confirmed in the US: Maricopa County, Arizona; Orange County and Los Angeles County, California; Chicago, Illinois; and Snohomish County, Washington. More than 70 Americans are awaiting test results, but that doesn't include anyone from USC, according to the Trojan. According to USC's Department of Public Safety Daily Incident Log, a student had been taken to a local hospital after complaining of a sore throat and fatigue. The college's chief health officer Sarah Van Orman later reiterated to the campus newspaper, the Daily Trojan, that if a student had contracted coronavirus, new would come from the Los Angeles Department of Public Health, not apartment management. 'The Department of Public Health is the only agency that has the authority to release the results,' Van Orman told the newspaper. 'In the event that there were students affected, they would let us know. They would put out a public press release like we saw over the weekend.' The Lorenzo retracted its statement on Tuesday and apologized for sending the erroneous email. This is not the first time that misinformation about the deadly virus has quickly spread online. One hoax post on Facebook claimed the US had patented a vaccine for coronavirus several years ago. It was still up as of Wednesday afternoon, and had more than 4,800 shares. And an article from the Hal Turner Radio Show claimed 112,000 have died from the infection - much less than the actual number of 133. Even governments, particularly China's, has been spreading misinformation in an attempt to quiet criticism. Chinese state media reportedly tweeted photos of a new hospital for coronavirus patients being built, but it turned out to be stock images, reported Axios. The spread of misinformation is dangerous for two reasons, the first being that it can proliferate faster than the news cycle can dispel it. Secondly, it cam often makes crises worse. A 2019 report from the Council on Foreign Relations stated that misinformation about the 2018 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo 'undermines confidence in the underlying science, questions the motivations of health professionals, politicizes health activities, and creates problems for responses to disease challenges,' James Packer has been named as a prosecution witness in the corruption trial of his friend and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The billionaire businessman will be questioned over $300,000 worth of cigars, champagne and other gifts he gave to Mr Netanyahu and his wife Sara. A corruption indictment for fraud, breach of trust and bribery has been lodged against Mr Netanyahu, who is fighting for re-election in March. Packer hasn't been accused of any wrongdoing, but was close friends with Mr Netanyahu, whom he met through Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan. The 52-year-old real estate magnate has cooperated with investigators probing the prime minister's activities. James Packer gifted $300,000 worth of cigars, champagne and other presents to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) and his wife Sara Packer hasn't been accused of any wrongdoing, but was close friends with Netanyahu, whom he met through mutual friend Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan 'The gifts, mainly cigar boxes and champagnes, were given to Netanyahu and his wife by Milchan and Packer continuously in response to requests and even demands, including through deliveries, even when Milchan and Packer did not stay in Israel, to the extent that they became a 'supply line',' indictment documents obtained by News Corp stated. 'As part of his business, Packer was the owner of a company in Israel that operated in the investments field of Israeli companies in the hi-tech industry,' the documents stated. 'Packer also looked into investments in Israel in the communications field. In the years 2014-2016, Packer purchased a home in Israel and has worked to receive residency status in Israel.' The casino tycoon has been friends with Netanyahu for several years, and the pair often spend time together at Packer's home in the exclusive Israeli town of Caesarea. It's been previous reported in Israeli media that the prime minister saved Packer's life by calling him during he and Mariah Carey's tumultuous 2016 breakup. 'I asked Bibi (Netanyahu) to pick up a phone and call Jimmy to save his life,' Mr Milchan told Haaretz. Netanyahu denied any wrongdoing in an impassioned rant on Facebook, where he criticised the timing of US President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan announcement. 'At this fateful hour for the people of Israel, while I am in the US on a historic mission to shape Israel's permanent borders and ensure our security for future generations, another Knesset (Israeli parliament) show is expected to open in the immunity circus,' he wrote. 'Since I was not given due process, because all the rules of Knesset work were trampled on, and since the results of the procedure were pre-dictated without proper discussion, I decided not to let this dirty game continue.' Netanyahu was formally charged in a Jerusalem court on allegations of graft on Tuesday, just hours after withdrawing his request for immunity from prosecution. An indictment was filed at the Jerusalem District Court by Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit. The court will now set a date for the beginning of the trial. Israel's parliament, the Knesset, was set to convene to discuss the formation of a committee to debate the prime minister's immunity request. It's still expected to meet even after the withdrawal. The Knesset was widely expected to reject Netanyahu's immunity request, which would have dealt a massive blow to the prime minister ahead of the 2 March parliamentary elections - the third in less than a year. Netanyahu's Likud party was planning to boycott Tuesday's Knesset session. Netanyahu's was indicted on counts of fraud, breach of trust and bribery in November in three separate cases. He has denied any wrongdoing. NEWS FLASH Air Serbia will increase its frequencies on flights between Belgrade and Istanbul. Starting March 29, the Serbian carrier will run daily rotations to Turkeys largest city, up from the current three weekly services. As a result, the Serbian capital will have three daily flights to Istanbuls main airport, with two daily operations maintained by Turkish Airlines. Furthermore, there will be four weekly flights to Sabiha Gokcen Airport, run by Pegasus Airlines. Air Serbia resumed services to Istanbul last month following a two-year hiatus after its partner Atlasglobal suspended all operations. At the time, it indicated it would likely increase frequencies to the Turkish city. Boosting efforts to fight pneumonia could avert over two million child deaths from pneumonia and other major diseases in Nigeria, a new analysis has found. The modelling by Johns Hopkins University is being released today as nine leading health and childrens agencies host the worlds first global conference on childhood pneumonia in Barcelona. Forecasts by UNICEF show that 1.4 million children under the age of five could die from pneumonia over the next decade in Nigeria, on current trends the highest number of any country in the world and more than 20 per cent of childhood deaths from pneumonia globally. However, an estimated 809,000 of these deaths would be averted by significantly scaling up services to prevent and treat pneumonia. We have a responsibility to do all we can to avert these deaths by pneumonia deaths that are nearly all preventable. It will take concerted action by all players, said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Nigerias Country Representative. Researchers also found boosting pneumonia services would create an additional ripple effect, preventing 1.2 million extra child deaths from other major childhood diseases at the same time. Interventions like improving nutrition, increasing vaccine coverage or boosting breastfeeding rates key measures that reduce the risk of children dying from pneumonia would also stop thousands of child deaths from diseases like diarrhoea (580,000), meningitis (68,000), measles (55,000) and malaria (4,000). By 2030, that effect would be so large that pneumonia interventions alone would avert over 2 million predicted under-five child deaths in Nigeria from all causes combined, researchers said. Pneumonia is caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi, and leaves children fighting for breath as their lungs fill with pus and fluid. The disease is the leading killer of children in Nigeria, causing 19 per cent of under-five deaths. Most pneumonia deaths can be prevented with vaccines, and easily treated with low-cost antibiotics. But more than 40 per cent of one-year-olds in Nigeria are unvaccinated, and three in four children suffering from pneumonia symptoms do not get access to medical treatment. On January 29-31, nine leading health and childrens organisations ISGlobal, Save the Children, UNICEF, Every Breath Counts, la Caixa Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, Unitaid and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance are hosting world leaders at the Global Forum on Childhood Pneumonia in Barcelona, the first international conference on childhood pneumonia. Osagie Ehanire, Nigerias health minister, would announce the worlds first-ever pneumonia control strategy at the conference, alongside Save the Children Ambassador DJ Cuppy. Mr Hawkins said the announcement coupled with the focus globally on combatting pneumonia is a huge step forward. We now need to follow this with concrete action on the ground to address the causes and drivers of childhood pneumonia deaths in this country, he added. Deirdre Keogh, Country Director, Save the Children International, said the number of lives that could be saved is potentially far higher, as the modelling did not take account of factors like availability of medical oxygen, or action to reduce levels of air pollution, a major risk factor for pneumonia. These results show what is possible if vaccines, affordable antibiotics and routine oxygen treatment are available for all. The DJI Phantom 3, a consumer drone, takes flight after it was unveiled at a launch event in Manhattan, New York on April 8, 2015. (Adrees Latif/Reuters) US Interior Dept. Grounding Chinese-Made Drones, Will Allow for Emergency Uses WASHINGTONThe U.S. Interior Department is grounding its fleet of about 800 Chinese-made drones but will allow their use for emergency situations, the department said on Jan. 29. U.S. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt issued an order affirming a temporary cessation of non-emergency operations adopted in October as it ensures cybersecurity, technology and domestic production concerns are adequately addressed, the department said. The order allows for approved situations for emergency purposes, such as fighting wildfires, search and rescue, and dealing with natural disasters that may threaten life or property. It also allows for training operations. Bernhardt in October also ordered a halt to additional Interior department purchases of Chinese-made drones. Chinas SZ DJI Technology Co. Ltd., the worlds largest maker of consumer drones, said in a statement on Wednesday that it is extremely disappointed in the Interiors order. In May 2019, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security warned U.S. firms of the risks to company data from Chinese-made drones. In a notice, DHS said U.S. officials have strong concerns about any technology product that takes American data into the territory of an authoritarian state that permits its intelligence services to have unfettered access to that data or otherwise abuses that access. Bernhardts order said the department will issue implementing guidance within 30 days. The order noted that Interior uses drones for assessing, collecting, and maintaining information that relates to our critical American energy, transportation, and defense infrastructure. Some information collected during drone operations has the potential to be valuable to foreign entities, organizations, and governments, it added. In June, U.S. President Donald Trump said that domestic production capability for small unmanned aerial systems is essential to the national defense. By David Shepardson Leaders in Torontos Chinese community said Wednesday the racist attitudes that led to widespread discrimination against Chinese Canadians during the SARS epidemic are threatening to resurface during the current outbreak of a new coronavirus. Community organizers held a news conference alongside local politicians, urging Torontonians and Canadians at large to learn from the mistakes of 2003, and inform themselves about this coronavirus rather than respond out of fear and implicit bias. Avvy Go, director of the Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic, said her agency fielded numerous complaints of human rights violations directly triggered by SARS-related hysteria. I certainly hope ... that we do not have a repeat of SARS not just the virus, but the virus of racism, Go said at the news conference. And the only way to stop it is for ... our civic leaders to speak out. Go recalled helping tenants turned out by fearful landlords, workers who saw their hours scaled back by misinformed employers, and even Chinese refugee claimants taken aback when lawyers refused to be in the same room to hear their cases. Evidence suggests little has changed, community leaders said, citing a petition that calls for schools at a board north of Toronto to urge students who have recently returned from mainland China to self-quarantine for at least 17 days. The petition had garnered more than 9,800 signatures as of Wednesday afternoon. Toronto Mayor John Tory said he has heard of multiple instances of discrimination against Chinese residents as well as calls to boycott Chinese businesses. He decried all such incidents as unacceptable. That kind of stigmatization is wrong, Tory said. It is ill-founded, and in fact could lead to a situation where we are less safe because it spreads misinformation at a time when people are in more need than ever of real information and real facts. Amy Go, interim president of the Chinese Canadian National Council, said misinformation about the new virus is linked to implicit racism toward the Chinese community. In the time of this unknown, this fear, anxiety, its easy to blame, she said. Go said listening to Canadian public health officials who have uniformly said the risk of catching the new coronavirus is low is among the best ways to counter the misinformation. Officials suggest frequent hand-washing and covering coughs and sneezes as best practices for preventing the spread of any virus, including this one. They have not recommended quarantine or masks. Toronto has emerged as the Canadian centre of the new coronavirus outbreak, with both of the countrys two confirmed patients living in the city. The people affected are a married couple who recently returned from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the outbreak. Officials in British Columbia have identified a third presumptive case of the new coronavirus in that province. In all three Canadian cases, the patients are expected to recover. The new form of coronavirus has sickened nearly 6,000 people and killed 132 in China and has spread to numerous other countries, but the World Health Organization has not declared the outbreak to be a global public health crisis. Tammy Hembrow's sister Amy 'Marie Kondoed' her wardrobe without permission while she was enjoying a holiday overseas. The Instagram influencer, 25, was furious to discover a large portion of her closet had been 'thrown out' when she returned home. 'So much of it was brand-new stuff with tags that I was excited to wear. All my stuff was like gone, I was so mad at you,' Tammy unleashed on Amy. Scroll down for video 'I was so mad at you!' Tammy Hembrow unleashed on sister Amy on Monday after she 'Marie Kondoed' her closet and gave away 20 bags of her clothing to charity without permission The conversation between Tammy, Amy, 29, and sister Emilee, 27, occurred during Monday's Hanging with the Hembrows podcast episode. Emilee confirmed there was 'literally 20 garbage bags being pulled out of Tammy's house' when the incident occurred. 'She didn't need it,' Amy defended the act. Tammy said Amy had 'Marie Kondoed' her belongings without permission, after watching the series on Japanese organising with Marie Kondo. Did it spark joy? Tammy said Amy had 'Marie Kondoed' her belongings without permission, after watching the series on Japanese organising with Marie Kondo (above) 'You didn't need it!' Amy (left) threw out 20 garbage bags full of her Instagram influencer sister Tammy's (right) clothing and donated the goods to charity 'Think of all the charity shops that got some really great stuff... and to be honest, do you miss any of that stuff now, or know what's missing?' she asked her sister. Tammy joked 'I'm sure I would miss it if I knew what was gone,' before adding: 'No, I had specific things that I realised were gone straight away.' The mother-of-two went on to confess: 'Most of the clothes I have are gifted to me .' 'I had specific things that I realised were gone straight away': While Tammy claimed most of her clothes were 'gifted' to her, she was mad some of the clothing thrown out was brand-new and recently purchased with the tags on 'I have some handbags I've never used': Tammy admitted in the past to going 'a bit crazy' with collecting designer accessories she's never once used Tammy did admit she has a minor online shopping addiction, and in the past would 'go a bit crazy' collecting designer accessories. 'There was a period where I was going a bit crazy with the handbag shopping and I was buying stuff I didn't need or use once. 'I do have a lot of bags that I regret buying, just because I have some handbags I've never used,' she said. The Maharashtra government has sought advice of the Advocate General (AG) on steps to be taken if it receives any letter from the Centre on transfer of the Elgar Parishad case to the NIA, said Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Wednesday. Deshmukh reiterated the Centre should have had taken the state into confidence before taking the step. The minister, however, said neither he nor Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray have received the Centre's letter in this connection. "We met the AG today. We told him we have heard about (the case being transferred to the NIA), but have not received the letter. "We sought his advice on what should be the state's position if the Centre hands over the probe to the NIA," Deshmukh told reporters here. The AG, the state's top law officer, has asked the government to share copy of the letter with him once it is received, the NCP minister said. He said the Centre may have handed over the probe to the NIA as it was feared the actual instigators of the violence (at Koregaon-Bhima in Pune) "who were excluded by the previous BJP-led state government" would have been exposed had the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government inquired the episode. Asked about an activist, Sanjay Lakhe, seeking former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to be summoned before the judicial commission probing the Koregaon-Bhima case as a witness, Deshmukh said the panel "can call anyone". Last week, the Centre asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take over the probe into the Elgar case which has been probed by the Pune Police for suspected naxal links. Earlier this week, an NIA team visited Pune to start the process of taking over the case, in which some human rights activists and intellectuals have been arrested for alleged Maoists links. Police are investigating whether provocative speeches were made at the Elgar Parishad conclave, held on December 31, 2017, which allegedly led to caste violence around Koregaon- Bhima village in Pune district the next day. The police have alleged the conclave was organised by people having links with Naxals. A judicial commission is separately probing circumstances under which violence took place in Koregaon- Bhima. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 04:52:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (C) speaks during a press conference following the Palestinian leadership meeting, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Jan. 28, 2020. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday announced that he will change the role of the current Palestinian Authority in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's announced Middle East peace plan. (Photo by Nidal Eshtayeh/Xinhua) RAMALLAH, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday announced that he will change the role of the current Palestinian Authority in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's announced Middle East peace plan. However, Abbas didn't give any more information about what the steps will be. The Palestinian Authority is the interim self-governing body established in 1994 following the Gaza-Jericho agreement to govern the Gaza Strip and Areas A and B of the West Bank as a result of the 1993 Oslo Accords. Speaking to reporters after an urgent leadership meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah, the Palestinian president completely rejected Trump's peace plan, also known as the Deal of the Century, saying the plan "will not pass and will end in the dustbin of history." He described it as "the mockery slap of the century" and called for unity and the right of return of all Palestinians. "With the support of free people around the world, this plot will fail," Abbas said. "Jerusalem is not for sale," he said. "Your conspiracy deal will not pass and the Palestinian people will reject it." "Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Palestine," Abbas noted. Abbas also said Trump's plan represents a return to the 1917 Balfour Declaration. The Balfour Declaration was a statement by the British government on Nov. 2, 1917 that announced its support for the Jewish people to build their state on the lands of Palestine. State-run BHEL has kicked off a transformational strategy to address multiple business challenges including decline in its traditional market for thermal power equipment, disruptive technology developments and increasingly stringent customer requirements. "The company aims to turn the current challenges into opportunities for the future. Thus, we have declared 2020 as the year of transformation", a Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) spokesperson told PTI. In its over five-decade journey, BHEL has been a key contributor to India's industrial development, he said, stating that more than 50 per cent of the electricity generated in the country comes from BHEL-manufactured power generation equipment (including thermal, hydro, nuclear and gas-based generation). As part of the transformation strategy, the company has taken up the task of reviewing and revamping processes, redesigning business models, expanding into new markets/businesses and developing a committed workforce with a strong leadership pipeline at all levels. On the quality front, the company has recently launched a company-wide Quality First' initiative aimed at strengthening the quality culture, focussing on delivering world class products and services. Pointing out that the company has played a critical role in core sectors such as defence, aerospace and transportation too, he said a detailed roadmap has been put in place for strengthening quality processes at all levels. Revamp of project execution capabilities is another major initiative under way with the objective of arresting project delays and consolidating its position as a leading project execution organisation. The company has, further, taken up review of designs, specifications and procurement processes for ensuring quality and competitiveness. Also, the company is consolidating and reinvigorating recent initiatives in defence and aerospace, water, e-mobility, batteries, renewables and transportation verticals. The spokesperson said that to improve the financial health of the company, emphasis is being laid on cash management with a number of cross functional teams set up to take up specific issues faced by the company. The success of these efforts is already visible in improved cash collection, vacation of provisions, increased conversion of contract assets into collectibles and closure of long pending cases, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Come July 2020, the GST will complete a landmark three years in operation in India despite much skepticism The past year has been quite fiscally challenging for the government. An overall slowdown in the economy has been taxing for the government and businesses alikewith falling revenue collections and leakages in tax collections, going in tandem with reduced business activity. Budget 2020 will be decisive as a roadmap for recovery. While decisions on critical issues concerning GST are made through the GST Council, the Budget signals the governments intent. Addressing the pain points of GST could unleash a renewed vigor in enterprises. Come July 2020, the GST will complete a landmark three years in operation in India despite much skepticism. One is reminded of Francis Bacon in his observation that What begins in certainty, ends in doubt. What begins with doubt, through patience, must end in certainty. The GST has been through its trial phase with a flurry of ever-increasing changes and server downtimes, leading to many a sleepless night (and perhaps lost weekends) for businessmen, consultants and tax officials. After much endurance, the GST must now mature and be grounded in certainty. Stability is the most cherished expectation from the industry at this stage. GST compliance April 2020 will itself see the rollout of two mammoth processes a new return system and e-invoicing. There is no doubt that this reform is in the right earnest and essential. What will be truly effective is not so much the concept, but the execution. The government must be mindful that any change, however minute, is associated with a significant element of costs in IT upgradation, ERP customisation and human resource allocation. An example would be the recent 10 percent input tax credit (ITC) allowance on unmatched credit. Around 20 percent was the earmarked amount until only very recently, before being downgraded overnight. Such stop-gap changes call for significant rework from a systems configuration standpoint, besides throwing up challenges for business in general. With a rejuvenated compliance system, it is critical that the government sets in place a framework of lasting value. Freezing various forms and processes is a must, supported by strong back-end infrastructure to withstand any server load. The industry is not likely to have any qualms with a longer gestation period to put this set-up in placeif it has the assurance that the outcome is absolute. The GST law It is unfortunate that the GST finds itself at odds with certain common business processes. Notably, these include: Samples are commonly provided as a sales promotion strategy, particularly in pharmaceutical sector. Further, various incentives (including free products, holidays) are provided to distributors for achieving certain sales targets. ITC on inputs used to undertake such business strategies is restricted although this is hardly a gift in the true sense but is intimately tied to business activity. Indian branches often use logos of their overseas groups. While there is no associated cost charged for such use, this is sought to be taxed as deemed supply of service between related parties. This poses challenges in the case of banking companies and NBFCs or companies engaged in non-GST supplies (such as liquor) given the credit restrictions applicable to these sectors. This inevitably escalates the cost. The issue surrounding intermediary in service tax continues under GST. There is a lack of clarity on what constitutes intermediary per seleading to several pure export services (such as marketing) being tagged as an intermediary function. One question is whether there is a rationale to taxing intermediary in the first instancegiven these are prime export-driven industries. Businesses engaged in goods attracting lower rates of GST viz., apparel, tea, etc. face challenges of accumulation if ITC, mainly due to significant spends on advertising and marketing services attract higher GST. The restriction of refunds under Inverted Duty Structure to only ITC availed on inputs versus GST on output goods seems unfair as ITC is a pool of credit on both goods and services. It is earnestly desired that these issues are suitably resolved to enable fairness in the operation of businesses. Import-export processes The government must also bear in mind that India must integrate with Global Value Chain if it really seeks to reverse the domestic slowdown. Simplification of import-export processes would surely help. Since a major portion of global trade is carried out by related parties, special care needs to be taken for such transactions. Unfortunately, the Special Valuation Branch (SVB) is beset with a large backlog of cases and provisional assessments appear to be pending finality for long periods of time. This can only be resolved through greater staffing and rigorous administration. Further, a requirement of Extra Duty Deposit (EDD) during proceedings should be dispensed with entirely, considering the timeline for conclusion. Streamlining various exemptions under customs to make this readily discernible for the average trader and simple administrative measures can solve this, including consolidating various separate notifications into a single mega exemption. Administrative discretion can be a double-edged sword in customs, given physical control over goods. Discretion should not be used as a tool to undermine government policies. A renewed GST can be a potent tool to spur consumption in a sluggish economy. The government must cast the next version of GST in stone, to provide a solid foundation for business-decision making. The words of BKS Iyengar, When stability becomes a habit, maturity and clarity follow, seem so relevant here. (The writer is Partner, Indirect Tax, KPMG in India. Chartered accountants Aditya Venkataraman and Sandip Jain contributed to the article.) Follow full coverage of Union Budget 2020-21 here A Mississippi man has been placed on the U.S. Marshals Most Wanted List after faking his own death to avoid a child rape case involving a 14-year-old girl. According to the US Marshals, Jacob Blair Scott, 43, fled Mississippi after being charged with a 14-count indictment with sexual battery, touching a child for lustful purposes, and exploitation of a child. Scott was out on bond, but had failed to appear for a scheduled court hearing. Investigators later found his abandoned dinghy off the coast of Orange Beach, Alabama in July 2018. During the search for Scotts vessel, authorities found a gun and a note, but little forensic evidence indicating a suicide. A week-long search of the Gulf of Mexico was conducted for Scotts body, but his remains were never found. Authorities later discovered Scott had withdrawn $45,000 from a bank account before his disappearance that was never recovered. Marshals have described Scott as a survivalist." Scott is a military veteran who received a Purple Heart in 2011 for injuries he sustained while deployed in Iraq. Authorities believe that his military background and knowledge of the outdoors may enable him to live off the grid. There have been reported possible sightings of Scott in Mississippi, Colorado, Nevada, and Louisiana. U.S. Marshals are offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading directly to his arrest. Anyone with information on Scotts whereabouts should notify the agency at the nearest U.S. Marshals office, the Communications Center at 1-877-WANTED-2, online via the web or an app at www.usmarshals.gov/tips. Juul products are displayed at a smoke shop in New York. Read more The Bucks County District Attorneys Office on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against e-cigarette maker Juul, alleging that the vaping giant used sweet flavors and slick marketing to lure kids as young as middle school age to nicotine addiction. Through the use of new technologies and deceptive and predatory marketing to children via social media, Juul has turned a generation into addicts unwittingly, District Attorney Matthew D. Weintraub said at a news conference in Doylestown to announce the suit, the second filed by an area district attorney. E-cigarettes are responsible for the largest increase in teen substance abuse in decades. The lawsuit is also being brought against Eonsmoke, the New Jersey-based manufacturer of flavored vaping pod products. In addition, the litigation names two local retailers, Gulf Mart in Quakertown and Delta Gas in Warminster, which, according to the lawsuit, were found by federal authorities to have illegally sold e-cigarette products to minors. READ MORE: Pa., N.J. get failing grade for tobacco control in new national report While surveys estimate that about 25% of Pennsylvania high schoolers have vaped, Weintraub said Bucks County is tragically among the leaders when it comes to student vaping, with over 37% of its teens doing so. A similar lawsuit was filed in November by Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele, who attended Wednesdays press conference. The Bucks suit alleges the manufacturers violated state consumer protection law, engaging in deceptive and unfair business practices that have harmed the public. It argues district attorneys, on behalf of residents, are entitled to seek civil penalties, restitution, and compensation for damages. We want to stop this poison, said Weintraub. While the suit doesnt specify a dollar amount sought, Weintraub said financial gains from the lawsuit would be used for purposes like tobacco education and public information programs, helping to fund treatment for young people who have been hooked or otherwise harmed by the products, and studying the effects of e-cigarette use. READ MORE: What vaping, nicotine is doing to kids' brains At the news conference, officials with some of the countys school districts spoke about the impact of e-cigarettes on their students and what staff must do to deal with the vaping epidemic. Carol Klein, a nurse with the Central Bucks School District, said students have admitted to vaping as often as 60 times a day and being unable to kick the habit. She talked about students ghosting secretly vaping in class and swallowing the vapor so as not to be detected. Klein said district schools have had to seek emergency services help for vaping students who have suffered health problems like high blood pressure and seizures from ingesting so much nicotine. We are using the emergency rooms and 911 more than we ever have before, Klein said. The Quakertown and Neshaminy School Districts have filed their own e-cigarette lawsuits, while school districts in other states have filed similar litigation to combat vaping manufacturers. The suits have been filed amid ongoing fears of a rash of lung injuries linked to vaping. As of Jan. 21, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 2,711 cases of e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI), though not necessarily from a particular brand, in the past year. The death toll has reached 60. A Juul spokesperson said Wednesday that the companys target customers are adults and that it does not intend to attract underage users. We remain focused on resetting the vapor category in the U.S. and earning the trust of society by working cooperatively with local officials, regulators, public health officials, and other stakeholders to combat underage use and convert adult smokers from combustible cigarettes, said Juul spokesperson Theodore Kwong in a statement. As part of that process, we stopped the sale of flavored pods other than tobacco and menthol in November, suspended our television, print and digital product advertising, refrained from lobbying the administration on its draft flavor guidance and support the final policy, Kwong said. Our customer base is the worlds one billion adult smokers, and we do not intend to attract underage users. WESTPORT Traffic, schools, and the indirect impact of one local controversy were discussed Sunday afternoon when the joint Rotary Clubs hosted a State of the Town event at the Westport Library. With budget season unfolding, First Selectman Jim Marpe and Board of Education Chair Candice Savin respectively shared detailed remarks about the town and school system with around 150 attendees, including many members of both the Rotary Club of Westport and the Westport Sunrise Rotary, answering audience questions as well. There have been some significant challenges, Savin said of this years school system odyssey, which has included a search for a new superintendent and the $32 million renovation of a temporarily closed Coleytown Middle School. We live in a community with high expectations, she said, explaining that ongoing investments in infrastructure, leadership and human capital remain important. She outlined a range of successes throughout the district, including student academic achievements and new focuses on social and emotional health, including the new RULER program and the pending discussion of moving the school start time forward. At the same time, Savin noted the upcoming budget was shaping up to be a unique challenge, with her board striving to balance high-quality education for students with a fiscal responsibility. With student enrollment declining, she was asked how that played into her work. Its challenging to manage all of our buildings and our staffing in an environment of declining enrollment, she said, especially in middle school where the board wants to maintain a team-teaching model. Savin said more answers will likely come with the hiring of a new superintendent, expected to happen in the spring. Likewise, Marpe touted some of the towns best accomplishments this year, including improved railroad parking, advanced technology initiatives, a strong financial standing, improved beach access for people with disabilities, and environmental sustainability work. As for challenges, Marpe said he hoped to confront various ongoing ones, including traffic and pedestrian concerns, by beginning a series of district-level meetings with residents. Well never be able to eliminate the volume of traffic that passes through at rush hour, he said, but suggested there may be specific ways to make changes neighborhood by neighborhood. Wed like to know what makes sense in a particular neighborhood. ... The more we get on a neighborhood basis, the more that helps as we plan and go for the funding, he said. Several people wanted to talk about the recent ballyhoo involving the Westport Museum for History and Culture the former Westport Historical Society which alienated many long-time supporters this month after announcing it was renaming one of its wings for a new contributor and displacing the name of the original. With several postings on the issue, Westport News columnist Dan Woogs popular 06880 blog served as a busy forum the past couple of weeks for a barrage of angry reader comments chastising the nonprofit. While he acknowledged there was a billing issue with the museum thats currently under investigation, in which it asked the town to cover some personnel costs it shouldnt have as part of their joint work on the First Light event, Marpe emphasized it was a private nonprofit. We recognize as a town that we have to take great care with how we work with private organizations, he said. That doesnt mean we wont be supportive. They are not affiliated with the town, he said, though Marpe noted he stepped in and tried to exercise some quiet diplomacy to abate the furor. Marpe said, however, he was mostly troubled by the tone of the comments that were put online and sent to his office. The tone that a lot of the emails and comments took was not what Westport should be all about, he said, calling it cyberbullying. Frankly, some of the comments I read were as strong an example of cyberbullying as you could expect, he said, noting the irony that Westport schools try to teach students about the issue of cyberbullying. Some of the things youre saying are impacting peoples lives. Some of these people youre talking about live down the street from you (and) I found some of the commentary to be just wrong. Ironically, Jeffrey Weiser, a past Rotary president and deputy moderator of the Representative Town Meeting, who moderated the event, noted many of the written questions from audience members involved concerns about bullying and related stressors among Westport students. Asked about those issues, Savin said, I think we as a community, if we model good behavior, that helps a lot. T he European Parliament is set to pave the way for Britain's departure from the EU in a final vote on Boris Johnson's Brexit deal. MEPs meeting in Brussels are expected to overwhelmingly back the ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement, meaning the UK will leave with a deal on Friday. It follows the completion last week of the passage of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill through the British Parliament at Westminster. The deal was formally signed by the presidents of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in Brussels and Mr Johnson in Downing Street. President of the European Council, Charles Michel (right) and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signing the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU / PA The agreement settles the terms of Britain's departure, including future citizens' rights, the arrangements on the Northern Ireland border and the UK's divorce settlement. It also allows for an 11-month transition period, during which the UK will continue to follow EU rules while talks take place on a free trade agreement. Mr Johnson has said he wants a comprehensive deal - covering all aspects of Britain's future relationship with the EU, including security - by the end of the year. He has been adamant that he will not contemplate any extension of the transition period beyond the end of 2020. However, senior EU figures have repeatedly warned that reaching such a wide-ranging agreement will not be possible within such a tight timetable. They have cautioned that the UK cannot expect to enjoy the "highest quality access" to European markets if - as Mr Johnson is insisting - it refuses to align with EU rules after Brexit. Following the vote in the European Parliament, there will be a farewell ceremony for the British MEPs leaving for the last time. With the UK's instrument to ratify the Withdrawal Agreement due to be deposited with the EU on Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said it would be a "historic moment". "It is the start of a new chapter for an independent, sovereign Britain, looking forward to a decade of renewal and opportunity," he said. Businesses around the world that have grown increasingly reliant on big-spending tourists from China are taking a heavy hit, with tens of millions of Chinese residents restricted from leaving their country as the coronavirus spreads. Hotels, airlines, casinos and cruise operators were among the industries suffering the most immediate repercussions, especially with the outbreak occurring during the Lunar New Year, one of the biggest travel season in Asia. What happens in China means a lot more to the world economy than it did when the SARS outbreak struck nearly two decades ago. In 2003, China accounted for 4.3% of world economic output. Last year, it accounted for 16.3%, according to the International Monetary Fund. Tourism from China was already down before the virus hit due in part to the Hong Kong protests and the trade dispute between Beijing and Washington. But about 134 million Chinese traveled abroad in 2019, up 4.5% from a year earlier, according to official figures. Before the outbreak, the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute predicted some 7 million Chinese would travel abroad for the Lunar New Year this year, up from 6.3 million in 2019. Hong Hong, Thailand, Japan and Vietnam were top destinations, but Chinese tourists are big spenders in cities like London, Milan, Paris and New York. Economist and tourism industry officials said the biggest threat so far is to Chinas closest neighbors, with the U.S. and Europe likely to face major repercussions only if the coronavirus outbreak proves long-lived. In Thailand, a favorite destination for Lunar New Year travel, officials estimate potential lost revenue at 50 billion baht (USD 1.6 billion). Many drugstores in Bangkok ran out of surgical masks and the number of Chinese tourists appeared to be much smaller than usual for the Lunar New Year. The government announced it was handing out masks, and that the airport rail link would be disinfected. Spillover is also probable in Vietnam, Singapore and the Philippines, said Tommy Wu and Priyanka Kishore, of Oxford Economics. Hong Kong is especially vulnerable because its economy and its appeal to tourists have already been weakened by months of sometimes-violent political protest. By November, inbound tourism to Hong Kong was already down 56% from a year earlier. Visitors from mainland China to the autonomous Chinese gambling capital of Macau was down 80% on Sunday from a year earlier, a threat to a regional government that depends on gaming revenue. Gaming and lodging operators in Macau reported higher-than expected cancellations over the weekend as the death toll from coronavirus rose and the Chinese government extended travel restrictions, according to Instinet analyst Harry Curtis. Cancellations soared across all of the properties we contacted, Curtis said in a note. Pessimism rose on how long it could take for business to recover. Shares of Wynn Resorts, Las Vegas Sands and MGM Resorts International which all have operations in Macau have declined 18.3%, 14.6% and 12.1% since Jan. 17, respectively. But analysts said it was too soon to tell how deeply their finances would be affected. Adding to the uncertainty was the possibility that Macaus government could shut down all casinos. Jefferies, an equities research firm, predicted the virus outbreak would have affect first quarter results for the companies but how large and will it linger onward remain the questions. Wynn Resorts said it had scaled back Lunar New Year events in Macau, begun screening the temperature of all guests and taken other steps to comply with the directives of the Macau government. MGM and Las Vegas Sands also said they were following government guidelines. The companies declined to provide any cancellation figures in Macau. At least 80 people have died and 2,744 people have fallen ill since the coronavirus was first found in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. China extended the week-long Lunar New Year holiday by an extra three days to Feb. 2 to help prevent the epidemic from spreading. Travel agencies in China were told to cancel group tourism, and governments around the region were restricting travel from Wuhan, closely monitoring other travelers and helping arrange evacuations of some foreigners stuck in Wuhan. The outbreak comes just as hopes were rising that Chinese tourism to the U.S. would start to recover following two years of decline due to the prolonged trade dispute between the two countries. In 2018, travel from China to the U.S. fell for the first time in 15 years, according to the National Travel and Tourism Office, which collects data from U.S. Customs forms. The office has forecast a further decline of 5% in 2019 but had predicted a return to growth in 2020 and beyond. China remains the fifth-largest source of foreign tourism to the U.S., behind Canada, Mexico, the U.K. and Japan. Nearly 3 million Chinese traveled to the U.S. in 2018, spending more than USD 36 billion. Tourism industry officials said it was too soon to say whether the outbreak would significantly effect expectations for a recovery, saying much depends on how long the outbreak lasts and if the Chinese government extends travel restrictions to major cities such as Shanghai. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter EU 'committed' to negotiated two-state MidEast peace Brussels, Jan 28 (AFP) Jan 28, 2020 The European Union's top diplomat said Tuesday that the bloc remains "firm and united" behind the quest for a negotiated two-state peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians. High representative Josep Borrell was speaking after President Donald Trump unveiled a "last opportunity" for the Palestinians to sign up to a plan drawn up by US officials. "The European Union will study and assess the proposals put forward," Borrell said. But he added: "This will be done on the basis of the EU's established position and its firm and united commitment to a negotiated and viable two-state solution that takes into account the legitimate aspirations of both the Palestinians and the Israelis, respecting all relevant UN resolutions and internationally agreed parameters." Borrell acknowledged that: "Today's initiative by the United States provides an occasion to re-launch the urgently needed efforts towards a negotiated and viable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict." But he made it clear that European capitals see the need for more inclusive negotiation ahead. "The EU reaffirms its readiness to work towards the resumption of meaningful negotiations to resolve all permanent status issues and to achieve a just and lasting peace," he said. "It urges both sides to demonstrate, through policies and actions, a genuine commitment to the two-state solution as the only realistic way to end the conflict." The statement did not say whether or not he had consulted some or all EU members before issuing his reaction, but most capitals have previously expressed support for a negotiated solution. T he first inkling James Rollings and his girlfriend Rachel Priest had that there was a problem with their flat was when they put it on the market last summer. At first their plan to move to a bigger home seemed to be going well. They found both a buyer and a property they wanted to buy. Things began to unravel, though, when their buyer applied for a mortgage and they began to realise that they were among the thousands of homeowners in London and beyond caught up in the aftermath of the Grenfell tragedy. More than two-and-a-half years since the tragic North Kensington tower blaze which left 72 people dead and more than 70 injured, action on improving fire safety in other UK high rises has been painfully slow. Government data on the number of buildings that remain clad in Aluminium Composite Material (ACM), the material used at Grenfell with disastrous consequences, paints a depressing picture. There were about 450 other buildings clad in ACM at the time of the Grenfell Tower disaster in June 2017 around two thirds of them in London. Since then, UK-wide, 127 towers have had cladding removed, assisted by a government funding pledge. The rest are still encased in the potentially unsafe cladding. But ACM cladding is only a small part of the problem. What other types of building material are considered dangerous? It has slowly emerged since 2017 that other forms of cladding, widely used to embellish new buildings, are also potentially dangerous. These include some types of timber cladding, and a product called High-Pressure Laminate (HPL). Despite raising the alarm about these potentially combustible products the Government has declined to offer any financial assistance to help remove them. This has left residents negotiating with developers, housing associations and managing agents to try to get their homes made safe with very variable outcomes. Rachel, 25, who works in technology sales, paid just over 400,000 in 2015 for a new two-bedroom flat at The Pavilions, part of Tottenham Hales regeneration zone. The flat was completed and she moved in during August 2016 the following year. James, 28, a business travel consultant, also joined her there in 2017. After two years living together in the flat the couple wanted to move for more space and so put their home up for sale. The first thing we knew was when we heard that our buyers had had their mortgage turned down, said James. What he and Rachel needed to reassure their buyers lender, was a survey to confirm whether or not the cladding on their building was one of those considered dangerous. Our sale fell through and were stuck in limbo James immediately contacted their managing agent, Pinnacle Group, to request that such a survey be carried out. Seven months and hundreds of emails and phone calls later, he and Rachel say they remain stuck in limbo. At first they said the lenders were just being difficult, James claimed. Eventually, in November, they commissioned a survey, which was then cancelled. "They say another survey has been commissioned but we have not had any results. We have asked who will pay for the survey, and for any work that might need to be done, but they are just very noncommittal. It has caused us so much stress: Rachel Priest and James Rollings, who bought a flat in Hale Village, Tottenham Hale, are waiting to learn whether cladding on their block is a potential fire hazard / Adrian Lourie In the meantime the couples sale fell through and without a survey the 500-plus householders who live in The Pavilions have no idea if their homes are safe. What they do know is that their homes are unmortgageable, so they cannot sell them and move on. One thing Pinnacle did do, just before Christmas, was introduce a waking watch hiring staff to walk around looking out for signs of a fire. Whether residents will have to pay for this service is unclear. Adding to their woes, James and Rachel racked up more than 6,500 in professional fees relating to their failed sale as well as legal letters sent on their behalf to the freeholder. I can understand why the Government wants to tighten up the law, but we approached the managing agent seven months ago, and even though we pay a massive service charge, 2,200 a year, they have not really been on our side, James said. It has caused us a lot of frustration and stress, and the managing agent seems either unwilling or unable to deal with it. A spokesman for the Pinnacle Group said the building had been under inspection since last summer, with specialists now finalising their work. Findings will be shared with residents upon completion of their report, he said. We understand that a conversation is taking place between the freeholder and developer regarding future works to the building. Pinnacle Group is committed to supporting residents over the coming months with any work that is required as a result of the inspection. Caught in the cladding confusion Rachel and Jamess plight is all too familiar to Rachel Logan, a barrister who works for a charity, who was thrilled when she bought her first home in 2015. She got on the property ladder with a 25 per cent share in a flat at the award-winning City Wharf scheme in Islington which cost her 232,000. Rachel wasnt in a position to buy a home outright so she had turned to shared ownership, emptying out her savings and those of her generous family to put together a deposit of about 15 per cent. It was incredibly exciting, she said. I had been desperate to stay living close to where I grew up, and to escape the renting trap and have some security in my life. 'Im waiting for the axe to fall': Barrister Rachel Logan is buying a home at City Wharf, N1, though shared ownership. Housing association A2Dominion owns the scheme and has confirmed the timber cladding needs to be replaced / Adrian Lourie Alas, last summer, a neighbour attempted to sell their flat. Like James and Rachel in Tottenham Hale, they discovered that the cladding on the building, in this case timber, was a potential fire hazard. City Wharf is owned by housing association A2Dominion which has confirmed the timber cladding needs to be replaced. However, there has been no clear information on when that will happen, how much it will cost and who will pay the bill. There have been examples, at other developments, of residents being sent bills of tens of thousands of pounds to cover the cost of the work. Rachels fear is that at City Wharf the buck will also be passed to the residents. And though she only owns a quarter of her flat she worries that she might be expected to pay the whole bill for her home. Everyday life has become extremely stressful for Rachel and her neighbours. I am really very frightened, she said. I rarely go a day without thinking about it. I am just waiting for the axe to fall. A2Dominion has tried to reassure us, but no one has given us concrete answers about whether we are safe in our homes. I live on the ninth floor and I have a wooden balcony. I sit here in the evening and wonder how many years I am going to be risking my life just by being at home. Rachel believes the Government needs to take control of the cladding scandal, giving crystal clear information about what forms of cladding, and also what types of insulation, another potentially combustible material, are safe, and clarifying how repairs will be funded. There has clearly been a failure of regulations in allowing these buildings to go up, and the Government has got to take responsibility, she said. If they dont, then the people who are least to blame and least able to pay are going be forced to pick up the tab. What are housing associations doing about cladding? David Lingeman, director of property services at the A2Dominion Group, confirmed that the wooden cladding at City Wharf will need to be removed and replaced in the future. Architects are assessing how to carry out the repairs, which may need planning consent. We will then consult residents about the work, and we will follow the formal process to establish costs and appoint a contractor, he said. We expect work to begin this year. The group has a 13.5 million fund to help pay for upgrades at a series of developments, including the City Wharf scheme. Every effort is being made to recoup the costs of any fire-related defects from third parties, including the builders of the scheme, and we wont charge for any faults in a property that existed prior to it being sold. We are committed to ensuring the safety of our residents and share their frustration in the time this process is taking, but we know this issue is widespread across the whole of the UK. Cladding at Aurora, Stratford As Homes & Property reported last summer, Rob Leary and fellow residents at Aurora, a One Housing scheme in Stratford, had discovered the buildings cladding was potentially dangerous. Despite their concerns, the cladding remains in place. A spokesman for One Housing said that while remediation work is needed at Aurora, the cladding is not considered to be of high risk. LILONGWE Peter Mutharikas re-election has sparked unprecedented political tensions in Malawi. As opposition parties challenge his controversial re-election, the judiciary has announced that its decision will be clear next Monday. Malawi has been undergoing these political turmoils since 21 May 2019, when the opposition challenged the outcome of the 2019 May elections. A number of boarding schools in Malawi have closed and sent their pupils home ahead of a court ruling next week about the countrys disputed election. The schools say they fear there may be violence in the aftermath of the ruling, reported BBC Africa According to reports from BBC Africa, leading bus companies have also issued notices saying that there will be no services on the day of the judgment. More to that, the information minister has called for calm, saying the government has put in place measures to ensure all citizens are safe since it is feared that there might be violence after the court ruling on Monday. The Constitutional Court will deliver its ruling in the high profile presidential case on Monday, 3 February 2020 at Lilongwe District Registry of the High Court. High Court Registrar Agnes Patemba has confirmed saying proceedings will begin at 9 AM. Access to the court premises will be restricted to individuals with access cards and there will be security personnel to enforce the rule, added Patemba. According to Patemba, members of the general public will not be allowed within a 150 perimeter fence of the court premises and they will be expected to follow the proceedings through radio stations accredited to broadcast the case live. This is in avid to avoid any unnecessary violence. Patemba, the High Court Registrar, also repeated the call saying the judgment will favour either the respondents (MEC and Mutharika) or the petitioners. So whosoever will not be satisfied with the judgment of the High Court will have the right to appeal to the Supreme Court. Just to say that as they initially followed the legal process to take this issue to court if they will not be satisfied we want to plead with them to proceed with the same route to take the matter to the Supreme Court, she said. Related Continue Reading Will always be with you to fight injustice: Rahul Gandhi to media To silence a critic: Rahul Gandhi backs Kunal Kamra India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Jan 29: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday backed stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra after the latter was barred by four airlines from flying with them. Taking to Twitter, Rahul wrote "the ban on Kamra was an 'act of a coward' and an attempt to "silence a critic". "The ban imposed on #kunalkamra by 4 airlines is the act of a coward leveraging his influence with the Govt to silence a critic," tweeted Gandhi. The comedian has been banned from flying with GoAir, SpiceJet, Air India till "further notice", while IndiGo, on whose plane the heckling stunt happened, has barred him from flying with it for next six months citing unacceptable behaviour. With airlines rushing to ban Kunal Kamra on their planes, aviation regulator this evening said the action by the carriers is in line with its regulations. In a statement, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), as reported by the news agency PTI, said, "This is to reiterate that the action taken by the airlines is in complete consonance with Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section-3, Series M Part VI on Handling of unruly passengers." The DGCA said the "matter will be referred to an internal committee" and that committee is then to give a final decision in 30 days which will be "binding on the airline concerned". For the rest of 2020, free trade and free movement between the United Kingdom and the E.U. will continue. Britain will still contribute to the E.U. budget. And it will still have to abide by E.U. laws even though British members of the European Parliament will have packed their bags and lost their say in how those laws are determined. It's October 2003. Saddam Husseins regime has fallen. For six months, Baghdad has been occupied by American forces. Muhsin al-Khafaji, an Iraqi ex-policeman who has lost his job, his house and his wife, is living amidst the chaos, desperately trying to keep his sick daughter Mrouj safe. Thats the backdrop for Channel 4s new, six-part thriller, Baghdad Central, written by Stephen Butchard (it was inspired by Elliot Collas novel of the same name). Waleed Zuaiter is brilliant as Khafaji. But when he first auditioned, he wasnt sure if he wanted the role. I didnt want to play another accented Arab on Western television, but my wife read with me and encouraged me. When I did the self-tape audition and spoke the words, I had a feeling this project and character were special. The writing is so rich and deep and character-driven, and a quarter of it feels like a foreign-language film. Theres a beauty in that and it elevated everyones performances. In the first episode of this emotive dual-language drama, Khafaji ends up being recruited by ex-police officer Frank Temple, a Brit whose aim is to rebuild the Iraqi Police Force from the ground up. The Iraqi man is tempted by the incentive to get proper medical aid for his ailing daughter. The complexity of his character was something that really resonated with Zuaiter; theres this whole choice of loyalty to country or loyalty to family. Hes torn, hes conflicted. And at the start, hes at the lowest point of his life, and I resonated with that. His sense of pain and everything has knocked him down, and when youre in that situation Ive been there where your kids look up to you for strength and you dont have it, that hit me right off the bat. Being a show about war also made it a very personal project for Zuaiter, who largely grew up in Kuwait. My family has struggled in war and poverty, we have lived from pay cheque to pay cheque, been evicted unjustly and experienced Saddams invasion of Kuwait in 1990. I was born in Sacramento, lived in Kuwait from the ages of five to 19, went back to the US for college but returned to Kuwait for my brothers engagement party then Saddam invaded. Because theyd closed the border to Saudi Arabia, we me, my parents and my 93-year-old grandmother had to get to Jordan. It took us three days, but we made it. It was when my adulthood started, a loss of innocence. His co-star Bertie Carvel, 42, has, of course, had very different experiences growing up. He was born in Marylebone, London, and won a place at RADA after studying at the University of Sussex. The Olivier-award winning star is famous for stage roles such as Miss Trunchbull in Matilda the Musical and Rupert Murdoch in Ink, while hes best known on telly for BBC One drama Doctor Foster. He says he enjoyed working with the diverse cast on Baghdad Central. We are used to seeing stories set against the backdrop of conflict in the Middle East, but which centre on a British or American hero. Protagonism is privilege, so it feels important that this story is told from the perspective of an Iraqi family and told by such an incredible cast from all over the world, he says. Carvel did lots of reading in preparation for the role, including Rory Stewarts memoir; a young British diplomat, in September 2003 Stewart was appointed as deputy governor of a province in southern Iraq. What also jumped out for Carvel was information about Iraqs ancient history, as he says it re-framed assumptions he had about where Iraq sits in our consciousness. My favourite line in the whole series actually is Khafajis neighbour turns to him as hes looking out on the desolate city and says, Civilisation was born here. - Baghdad Central starts on Channel 4 on Monday, February 3 Alan Joyce says it is too early to tell how many millions of dollars Qantas will lose in the wake of the deadly coronavirus outbreak. Fronting media at the opening of the airlines new pilot academy in regional Queensland, the Qantas chief executive said he would use the effect of the SARS pandemic as a benchmark. Alan Joyce visited Qantas new pilot school at Toowoomba with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and State Development Minister Cameron Dick. Credit:Queensland government It impacted us by $55 million back in 2003 and lasted around six to eight months, Mr Joyce said. This is different in a number of different ways, and who knows how it is going to expand. It isnt hard to understand why the State Ports Authority opposes a head tax on Charleston cruise ship passengers. Its just business. Theres a chance, however unlikely, that those additional fees might eventually add up to some clients shipping their business to, say, Savannah. That is, if anyone actually noticed another charge tacked onto their bills from the cruise lines. But it is hard to argue, with a straight face anyway, that the 100 or so cruise ships sailing into port each year are simply maritime commerce as opposed to, you know, tourism. Which the Ports Authority claimed in a story last week from The Post and Couriers David Wren. If thats the case, a lot of downtown Charleston residents would like Carnival and the port to come get their maritime commerce off everyone's sidewalk. Mayor John Tecklenburg says Charlestons 8 million (and counting) annual visitors should chip in to protect the city from sea-level rise and climate change. He's right. That is a most reasonable request, but even the suggestion raised the ire of port officials by once again invoking the idea of the cruise ship passenger head tax. Port officials seem to discount this idea as mere politics, because it is wildly popular among Charlestonians. For whatever reason, cruise ships provoke outsize outrage from downtown residents even if they account for only 3 percent of the tourists ambling around town. But the fact is, the city must explore any number of ways to raise the $2 billion (and counting) it will take to fortify Charleston against rising tides and chronic flooding. With a $200 million annual budget, 60 percent of which goes to police and fire protection, theres no way the city can do a fraction of this work alone. At least not before we go the way of Atlantis. That means everybody needs to pitch in, including the county, the state, the feds, tourists and, yes, even the Ports Authority. Sign up for our new opinion newsletter Get a weekly recap of South Carolina opinion and analysis from The Post and Courier in your inbox on Monday evenings. Email Sign Up! Charging cruise ship passengers from $8 to $25 each is probably not a deal breaker for any cruise line, although it may lead them to ask why they need to pay a city tax and the ports own passenger fee. Which is a strange charge if this is mere commerce. You could argue the $2 million to $8 million such a head tax might raise annually wouldn't bail out the city because it's a saltwater drop in the bucket. But it could be a significant piece in the larger puzzle. That much cash would pay the debt service on tens of millions of dollars in bonds the city could float to help Charleston stay above water. Depending on whos making the argument, cruise ship passengers often dont spend much locally. Day-trippers stroll around the City Market, maybe buy a magnet or a T-shirt, but often eat on the ship. Embarking passengers simply snarl traffic, park and then sail away. It wouldnt hurt for them to pitch in a bit more. Ultimately, this decision doesnt fall to the city, or even the Ports Authority, but the Legislature. And lawmakers almost always come down on the side of the port, seeing as how it is one of South Carolinas greatest economic engines. Of course, tourism is another great revenue stream for South Carolina, a fair amount of which is generated by Charleston (the No. 1 city in the country, or world, depending on whos ranking us this week). Perhaps the state should take into account what it would do without Charleston. And lawmakers should remember that South Carolina wouldnt own the port if, a century ago, a Charleston mayor hadn't bought up all those docks and eventually handed them over to the state. All that port revenue could be pouring into city coffers if we hadnt been so magnanimous generations ago. And finally, the state should calculate how much its economy will suffer if this city isnt protected from rising seas. If the port needs to kick in more, well, they should just consider it the price of doing business. Because no Charleston means no tourism, no port and, yes, no more maritime commerce. VIENNA, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Sensor maker AMS, preparing for a capital increase to fund the takeover of Osram , plans to place its entire treasury stock prior to the equity issue to strengthen its investor base, it said on Tuesday. The Swiss-listed group intends to place the 3.35 million shares, worth 134.57 million Swiss francs ($139.09 million) at Monday's closing price, via a private placement at market conditions to selected institutional investors, AMS said. It has a total number of 84.42 million shares, according to its website. AMS shareholders approved a 1.7 billion euros capital increase to partly finance the takeover of the much bigger German lighting group on Friday, bringing the Austrian group closer to its goal of forming a European leader in sensors and lights. AMS, best known for supplying Apple's iPhones with facial recognition technology, secured nearly 60% of Osram's shares last month. "Under Austrian corporate law, treasury shares are not entitled to subscription rights in the context of a rights issue," the statement said. "As such, the intended transaction is in essence a technical measure to prevent an automatic economic dilution." The transaction will be executed by UBS and HSBC, which were underwriters of the planned capital increase and, together with Bank of America Merrill Lynch, provide the 4.4 billion euro bridge loan. ($1 = 0.9675 Swiss francs) (Reporting by Kirsti Knolle, editing by Louise Heavens) The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday asked Indians to refrain from travelling to China where the novel coronavirus has claimed over 100 lives. The ministry issued a fresh travel advisory and also urged people travelling to China to monitor their health closely. It asked people to use 24x7 helpline (011-23978046) for queries related to respiratory infection. "In the view of the spurt of cases being reported in China and travel related cases appearing in many countries....all non-essential travel to China to be avoided," it said. As part of the preparedness, India has also increased the number of airports from seven to 21 where thermal screening of passengers is being done for a possible exposure to the deadly nCoV. These include airports at Gaya, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, Varanasi, Goa, Bhubaneswar and Lucknow besides the seven designated airports identified earlier. The health ministry also has established four more laboratories apart from the NIV-Pune for testing samples.The four labs for the testing samples have been made functional at Alleppey, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Mumbai. India is also planning to evacuate its nationals, mostly students, stuck in Wuhan, the epicentre of the viral outbreak.Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba had on Tuesday reviewed the preparedness to deal with the deadly virus after which the government said India has made a formal request to China for facilitating evacuation of Indians from Wuhan. The Civil Aviation Ministry will make necessary arrangements for evacuation after the approval of Chinese authorities is received. Asserting that there was no confirmed case of the nCoV, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had on Tuesday said India was making all efforts to detect and check the spread of the virus even as more than a dozen countries around the world have confirmed cases. Several states, including Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan have kept some people, with travel history to China, under observation after they showed novel coronavirus-like symptoms. Apart from increasing the number of airports to conduct thermal screening of passengers, the Centre has stepped up vigil in areas bordering Nepal in view of a confirmed case of nCoV detected there. The health minister had said he has also written to all chief ministers, requesting them for personal intervention to review the states' preparedness for control and management of the spread of the virus. China had reported 24 more deaths on Tuesday from the coronavirus epidemic, taking the number of fatalities to 106 as the confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the outbreak stood at 4,515, the Chinese health authorities said. The health minister has urged passengers who have a travel history to China since January 1, 2020, to come forward for self-reporting to the nearest health facility if they experience any symptoms such as fever, cough, respiratory distress, etc., and also inform their treating doctor. Three persons with a travel history to China have been kept under observation at an isolation ward of RML Hospital in New Delhi for a possible exposure to novel coronavirus. A 24x7 NCDC Call Centre has been made operational to monitor the list of contacts furnished by the Ministry of External Affairs, provide details of district and state surveillance officers to those who seek them, and in case of any clinical query, direct the concerned to the relevant Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) officer. The Health Ministry has asked passengers to follow certain dos and don'ts if they are in China or if they are travelling or returning from China. The advisory stated that during their stay in China, if they feel sick and have fever and cough, then they should cover their mouth while coughing and sneezing, seek medical attention promptly and report to the Indian Embassy in China. It said if they feel sick on flight, while travelling back to India from China, they should inform the airline crew about their illness, seek mask and self-reporting format from the airline crew, avoid close contact with family members or fellow travellers and follow other directions of crew and airport health officer. Also read: Coronavirus: China gives nod to India to airlift 250 citizens from Wuhan A pair of California men have been charged with multiple felonies in a reported $20 million kickback scheme involving workers compensation. Bradley Dean Groscost, 59, of Westminster, and Felix Koltsov, 57, of Beverly Hills, self-surrendered last week to the Orange County Central Justice Center after being charged with multiple felony counts of insurance fraud, money laundering, and unlawful referrals for allegedly conspiring to bill insurers in excess of $20 million as part of a kickback referral scheme. From 2014 to 2017, Groscost reportedly operated five workers comp clinics in Southern California. Doing business as DSJ MGT, Inc. in Fountain Valley, Groscost reportedly controlled treatments, referrals, and medical and financial records at the clinics even though he was not licensed to practice medicine. A California Department of Insurance investigation, with the assistance of the National Insurance Crime Bureau, discovered that Groscost allegedly received roughly $2.1 million in kickbacks from Koltsov, owner of LFPS Inc. and Resource Pharmacy Inc., for patient referrals for urine drug screenings and compound cream prescriptions. Koltsovs companies reportedly billed workers comp insurance carriers over $20 million for these claims. The investigation also revealed that Groscost allegedly failed to report employees to the Employment Development Department and paid them as independent contractors. He failed to report over $5.1 million in wages to EDD and as a result, avoided paying over $510,000 in taxes. As of July 5, 2019, Groscost owed EDD over $1.6 million in taxes, penalties, and interest, according to the CDI. Koltsov surrendered to the court on Jan. 22 and posted bail of $500,000. Groscost surrendered to the court on Jan. 24 and remains in custody. His bail is set at $500,000. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Christine Oh of the Insurance Fraud Unit of the Orange County District Attorneys Office. Topics California Workers' Compensation Fraud France on Wednesday insisted on a "two-state solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a day after US President Donald Trump unveiled a Middle East peace plan Paris said it would "carefully study". "France welcomes President Trump's efforts and will carefully study the peace plan he presented," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "A two-state solution, in conformity with international law and internationally-agreed parameters is necessary for the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East." France will continue working with the United States and Europe "and all those that can contribute to the achievement of this objective", the statement said. "It will remain attentive to respecting and taking into account the legitimate aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians." Trump on Tuesday promised "a new dawn" in unveiling, side-by-side with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the plan that was angrily rejected as biased by the Palestinians. But it does speak of a Palestinian state and a Palestinian capital around Jerusalem. Search Keywords: Short link: "A man showed up to a carwash at 44th and Prospect saying he'd been shot. He died at the scene. At the same time, police got called to another shooting very close by at 44th & Park. Victim had non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Shootings were NOT RELATED." TWO MURDERS RECORDED TUESDAY: KANSAS CITY ALREADY ON PACE TO BREAK HISTORIC HOMICIDE RECORD AND IT'S ONLY JANUARY!!! Double Shooting Scene One man dead, another injured after two shootings just blocks apart in Kansas City KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Police are investigating a shooting Tuesday that left a man dead in Kansas City. The shooting happened around 11 a.m. near 44th and Prospect. A person who called 911 reported that a man arrived in a vehicle at a car wash there and he had been shot. KCMO Roundup Police investigate homicide near 44th, Prospect KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- Authorities are investigating the city's latest homicide Tuesday afternoon. Officers were called at 11 a.m. to 44th Street and Prospect Avenue on a shooting call. The caller reported a man arrived in a vehicle to the car wash there, and he had been shot. Ritual Outrage Three shootings, two deadly, in half a day around KC spark neighborhood frustration KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- With 16 homicides already, 2020 is threatening to become Kansas City's deadliest year in the past five. One person was hurt and two others killed in three separate shootings since early Tuesday. Community advocates say something must change now to avoid a record-setting year for violence. Kansas City records it's second murder today as a chaotic gunfire scene inspired police to calm residents via social media.Accordingly . . .Tragically, it looks like Mayor Quinton Lucas won't be able to realize his promise of keeping killings under 100 this year.Today's aftermath:Developing . . . live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) on January 29 directed markets regulator Sebi to pass a fresh order in Religare Finvest's fund diversion matter. Also, it has asked Religare Finvest Ltd (RFL) to maintain its assets worth Rs 200 crore for a period of three months. The order comes following an appeal filed by RFL against an interim order passed by the capital markets watchdog in October 2018 as well as against the confirmatory ruling of Sebi in March 2019. RFL is a subsidiary of the Religare Enterprises (REL). Shivinder and Malvinder Singh were promoters of REL. The issue pertains to the affairs of Fortis Healthcare Ltd (FHL), which were being managed by the erstwhile promoters -- the Singh brothers. It was alleged that the Singh brothers siphoned off the funds of Fortis Healthcare to promoter related entities through layers of companies which were controlled by them. Sebi, in October 2018, had directed Fortis Healthcare to recover Rs 403 crore, along with interest, from RFL and other entities. Also, it had said that RFL was jointly and severally liable to pay this amount along with other entities. Besides, RFL and other entities were also restrained from disposing of the assets pending investigation. The regulator had noted that as per the forensic auditor report, RFL had received a sum of Rs 200 crore from three companies -- Best Healthcare, Fern Healthcare and Addon Realty. Thus, RFL was a beneficiary of the Rs 200 crore which they were liable to refund. However, RFL had vehemently contended that the three companies had not transferred the funds to it. After giving them an opportunity to present their case, Sebi in March 2019 had said RFL failed to rebut the prima-facie findings and the allegations made against it in the interim order and had asked RFL along with REL to recover over Rs 2,000 crore that were diverted to Singh brothers and 21 other entities. "It was observed that funds amounting to Rs 2,315.09 crore had been diverted from the books of RFL for the utilisation of promoters and promoter group entities of REL," the regulator had said in the order. Further, Sebi had said that the detailed investigation in the matter was still in progress which was supposed to reveal all the layers of the alleged fraud as well as expose the specific role of each entity. It was contended by RFL that in one order Sebi directed the company to refund Rs 200 crore and in another ruling it had asked RFL to recover over Rs 2,000 crore from the same companies and, therefore, urged that contradictory orders have been passed without considering the material and evidence provided by it. However, Sebi justified its interim order on the grounds that the objections raised by RFL were considered. The regulator's counsel further contended that the second order passed by Sebi was in relation to another investigation against another entity. "Whereas in the impugned order the order was passed in relation to the affairs of the FHL and the second order of the same date was passed in the matter of REL and, therefore, the issue relates to two different, distinct companies even though some of the entities may be common," Sebi contended. After hearing both parties, the tribunal said, "the WTM (Whole time member) has passed two orders which appears to be contradictory to each other. In the impugned order, the appellant (RFL) is required to refund a sum of Rs 200 crore which is alleged to have been paid by the three companies. In another order the WTM has directed the appellant to recover more than Rs 2,000 crore some of which from two of the companies mentioned in the impugned orders". "The impugned orders cannot be sustained and are quashed in so far as it relates to the appellant. The matter is remitted to the WTM to pass a fresh order if they so desire after giving an opportunity of hearing to the appellant," it added. In order to balance the equities, SAT has directed RFL to maintain its assets worth Rs 200 crore for a period of three months. It's not lack of vision but budget that's preventing Indian filmmakers from creating big action spectacles like Hollywood, says director Rohit Shetty. Shetty, known for blockbusters such as "Golmaal" series and hit cop dramas "Singham" and "Simbaa", said today makers have started hiring Hollywood crew to match the scale. "We just lack in budgets. It is not that we can't shoot the same kind of sequence, it is just about spending money. We don't have that kind of budgets," Rohit told PTI. "As it is, nowadays if you see some films, they are at par with Hollywood action movies because they (the crew) come and work here," he added. In India, Shetty is the face for the upcoming Hollywood cop-action comedy "Bad Boys for Life", starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. The director said he has been a fan of the franchise and wondered why the third installment took so much time. "I think they took a lot of time to make the third part. I used to always think why aren't they doing it because the first two films were crazy. It is a big franchise, like the others which is doing so well in our country." According to Shetty, the chemistry between Smith and Lawrence has kept the franchise relevant over the years. "The chemistry between these two guys is never going to die, it just changes with time. Chemistry is the most important thing which is working and keeping it relevant even today." Every time a big Hollywood film is up for release, there are talks in the trade about how they will eat up the business of Indian films. However, the filmmaker doesn't see any merit in the argument. "People say they are going to eat our business, where is our business? If you see our ratio, we release around 260 films a year, maximum 20 films do well. We don't need to worry that they are eating our business. We need to grow our business and think about that." "Bad Boys For Life", directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, is set to be released on Friday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The European Union told its members on Wednesday that they should limit so-called high-risk 5G vendors, a category that includes the Chinese tech giant Huawei, but stopped short of recommending a ban on the firm, despite a lengthy and aggressive campaign by the Trump administration. The recommendations are as far as the European Union can go in dictating policy to its member nations, whose governments will have the final word on whether and how they want to let Huawei help build their next generation of wireless telecommunications networks. The European Union guidance, referred to as the 5G toolbox, is a key moment in the blocs intensive work to help its members decide how to navigate fraught political and technical considerations as they and their wireless carriers prepare to invest billions of dollars in telecommunications infrastructure. We can do great things with 5G, said Margrethe Vestager, a top official of the European Commission, the European Unions executive body. But only if we can make our networks secure. JACKSON, MI It looks like a giant doughnut with a couch that moves through the center of it. Thats how Henry Ford Allegiance Health Medical Director of Radiation Oncology Annette Kretzler describes Halcyon the newest tool at the hospitals disposal for cancer treatment. "It's blowing my mind how you're combining the very most advanced technology in such a small space," Kretzler said. "It's a very simplified design, but it houses the most advanced technology." Jacksons HFAH is the first in Michigan and one of the first in the country to get the Halcyon, Kretzler said. The radiation beam conforms to the size and shape of the tumor to increase precision, pose less risk to healthy tissue and reduce treatment time. "We're very proud of this," Kretzler said. HFAH used the Halcyon on a patient for the first time in December and its ability is impressive, Kretzler said. Patients lie down on a surface, which moves through the accelerator as a radiation beam targets tumors. Starting later this year, Kretzler said doctors at the Jackson hospital will implement the Halcyons adaptive planning tool, allowing them to make treatment changes on the fly. With previous radiation tools, any reduction in tumor size forces doctors to halt treatment and plan a new strategy to avoid damaging healthy tissue, she said. Instead of being on the table for 20 to 30 minutes, it only takes eight to 10 minutes for most Halcyon treatments, Kretzler said. Thats especially relieving for patients wearing head masks for treatment or who are claustrophobic, she said. Kretzler declined to comment on the cost of the machine, but said patients won't have to request it to use it. If its available, well use it, Kretzler said. The Halcyon is most useful for tumors in the head, neck, lung, pelvic and genital areas, where theres healthy tissue near tumors that need to be protected, Kretzler said. Besides the tool itself, the hospital incorporates natural elements into the room to help put patients at ease. A light cover panel in the Halcyon room makes it look like patients are looking up at blue skies and colorful leaves and not a hospital ceiling. We incorporate natural elements like plants and nature scenes (paintings, photographs, ceiling murals) throughout the hospital because it has been proven to reduce stress for patients, HFAH Communication Specialist Vicky Lorencen said. And that helps them heal better. More Henry Ford Allegiance Health news: Emergency department renovations underway at Henry Ford Allegiance Health Breast milk donor bank planned for Jackson hospital Cafe, private registration bays among $18.5 million Henry Ford Allegiance Health upgrades The embattled, locked-down citizens of Wuhan are putting up a brave face and giving a shout-out to their neighbours amid an unprecedented crisis thats gripped their lives. A picturesque city in central China, Wuhan was where Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Xi Jinping for their first informal summit in April, 2018. On Monday, Wuhans citizens received a message on WeChat to do their collective bit to lift sagging spirits. The message asked residents to open their windows sharp at 8pm and shout Wuhan, come on to spread the spirit of cheer around the city. The message in Chinese asked residents to shout Wuhan, Jia You or Wuhan, add oil a popular phrase in China used to encourage people, egg them on or to exhort them to stay strong. Thousands did. On mobile videos shared online, one could hear echoing voices cheering the spirit of the city through open windows overlooking well lit but eerily desolate streets. Many then sang Chinas National Anthem; some sang old patriotic songs. Support for Wuhan is a trending thread on Chinas Twitter-like Weibo platform where netizens have pledged their support. Wuhan is not an abandoned city, said a post shared by many. Ordinary Chinese have always been key characters who help create history, wrote the nationalistic tabloid, Global Times. ALBANY - The state inspector general's office, which has drawn criticism for failing to interview key witnesses before closing an inquiry into the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, needs to be structurally overhauled or replaced, a commissioner with the panel said Tuesday. Gary Lavine, a commissioner with New York's ethics enforcement agency, had previously called the secretive, nine-month inspector general's investigation into a potential leak of confidential JCOPE information to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo not credible. As the Times Union reported, the inspector general's investigation failed to include an interview with Assembly counsel Howard Vargas the person whose phone call to a JCOPE commissioner a year ago sparked the inquiry. The office also did not interview Cuomo or Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie, two people that allegedly had a conversation about the results of a confidential JCOPE within hours of the commission voting on a sensitive matter involving the governor's office. There's also no record that the chairman of JCOPE, Michael Rozen, was interviewed by the inspector general's office, according to Freedom of Information Law responses from the inspector general's office. The commission's closed-door meeting in January 2019 was politically charged because it concerned whether the agency would investigate potential legal violations committed by a former top Cuomo aide, Joseph Percoco, as well as Cuomos possible knowledge of those activities. Despite not interviewing key witnesses, the inspector generals office closed its leak investigation in early October, concluding that the allegations could not be substantiated. For years, Lavine, a Syracuse attorney, was a Cuomo appointee to JCOPE whose term on the commission was not renewed by the governor. But just ahead of the vote on the Percoco matter, he was reappointed to to the commission by state Senate Republicans. In making his recommendations, Lavine suggested that both the inspector general's office and JCOPE should be abolished and replaced with a more independent and transparent investigative body. Lavine said at JCOPEs monthly meeting on Tuesday that the inspector general also should have a "set term" of office, rather than serving at the pleasure of the governor. That would ensure dispassionate, objective investigations by the inspector general office, which is charged with investigating the executive branch. Other investigative offices, such as the state Board of Elections enforcement counsel, are also appointed by the governor, but do have have fixed terms. Created in 2014, the enforcement counsel has a five-year term and can only be removed for substantial neglect of duty, gross misconduct in office, or the inability to discharge the powers or duties of office, giving the appointee a degree of independence during that term. A year ago, Cuomo appointed the current inspector general, Letizia Tagliafierro, who has been a loyalist, having held several high-level positions working for the governor dating back to his term as state attorney general. (She recused herself from the 2019 leak investigation, citing her past tenure as executive director of JCOPE.) Otherwise, Lavine said, lawmakers should follow the recommendations of a 2009 report issued by the state Commission on Investigation, which recommended merging the inspector general's office with other investigative agencies. One of the agencies recommended for the merger was the predecessor ethics agency to JCOPE. "The consolidation of agencies with direct jurisdiction over this subject matter will prevent these duplicative investigations in the future, the report said. A spokesman for the inspector generals office declined comment on the Lavine proposals. The inspector generals office has previously argued that its investigation was credible because it required 30 unidentified JCOPE commissioners and staff members to sign sworn statements indicating they did not leak any confidential information. The inspector generals spokesman, however, has declined to provide copies of the affirmations to the Times Union. At Tuesday's meeting, Lavine also put forth a recommendation for JCOPE to become more transparent, including being able to release information about investigations that are deemed confidential for "good cause." The Jan. 29, 2019, meeting appears to have been related to a potential investigation of Percoco's alleged use of the governor's office to illegally conduct campaign business during 2014, when he left the administration to steer Cuomo's re-election campaign. There is no indication any probe was launched by JCOPE as a result of the commission's vote last year. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The closed-door deliberations and voting results of the ethics commission are not public, and any disclosure of that information is a misdemeanor crime. The inspector general's leak investigation, which was never made public, began after ethics Commissioner Julie Garcia, a former Essex County district attorney who had been appointed to JCOPE by Heastie in August 2018, notified former JCOPE Executive Director Seth Agata that someone from Heastie's office had contacted her about the commission's meeting that day. The Times Union reported previously that Heastie's top counsel, Vargas, called Garcia about an hour after the meeting and relayed to her a conversation in which the governor had admonished the speaker for how his appointees to JCOPE had voted on a matter that was of interest to Cuomo. "I was alarmed when I was contacted so quickly after that (January) meeting," Garcia said in an interview two months ago. "I was being told the governor knew how I voted in executive session, even though I was unable to confirm whether or not the information was accurate." Days after the inspector general's office sent a letter to JCOPE indicating it had not substantiated the leak allegation, Garcia resigned from her position on the panel. In December, at the commission's second meeting after the inspector general's leak investigation had been made public by the Times Union, the commission voted 7-4 against conducting a "self-assessment" to examine their internal operations as well as those of the inspector general's office. The vote followed a rare public deliberation on a controversial matter, and the "no" votes were all cast by appointees of either Cuomo or Heastie, the two Democrats at the center of the leak allegation. Cuomo and Heastie have both acknowledged that they discussed a JCOPE matter following the January 2019 meeting, but have declined to provide any specifics on what they talked about. The governor has said their conversations were not "inappropriate." In a statement in November, Heastie's spokesman told the Times Union the speaker "does not recall having a conversation with the governor regarding the specifics of any JCOPE investigation." The town is located on the M5 highway, which connects Damascus to Aleppo. Today it is semi-deserted, but has a high symbolic and strategic value. The militiamen who controlled it fled. UN estimates speak of at least 358 thousand people who fled since December to avoid armed clashes. Fears about an escalation of the "humanitarian catastrophe". Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Syrian security forces have regained control of a semi-deserted town, but of high symbolic value and great strategic importance, in the western sector of the country, along the highway that connects Aleppo to Hama. The announcement came yesterday from official state media that "the army has taken over much of the Maaret al-Numan neighborhoods" and the military is now clearing the area of anti-personnel mines and other threats left by militants on the run. The military loyal to the Damascus government are "for the first time in eight years" inside the town in the northwestern province of Idlib, the last stronghold of the anti-Assad rebels supported by Turkey. According to reports from the London-based NGO Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, most of the militiamen and jihadists had already fled earlier with the first attacks carried out by the loyalist army. Maaret al-Numan is located on the M5 highway that connects Damascus to Aleppo, once the economic and commercial capital of Syria. The road is considered fundamental by the government to be able to re-establish ties with Aleppo and revive the country's economy. It is the second most important urban center in the Idlib province and is under the control of the rebels in 2012; the Syrian army already controls 25 countries and villages in the area. The attack is part of the broader offensive launched by the Syrian army, with the support of the Russian ally, in the north-west of the country in a sector dominated by the Islamic extremist group Hayat Tahrir al Sham. According to the United Nations, at least 358 thousand people have left their homes since last December to escape armed clashes. In the Idlib region there were (before the war) at least three million people; of these, half now live in internally displaced persons in other areas of the country. Maaret al-Numan was one of the first towns in the region to embrace the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad in spring 2011. According to Misty Buswell, of the International Relief Committee, a further escalation will help aggravate a "humanitarian catastrophe already in place , while Turkey is ready to respond if its posts in the area are hit. Alastair Stewart is stepping down from ITV News. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images) Newsreader Alastair Stewart is stepping down from his role at ITV News due to errors of judgment in his use of social media, ITN have said. Stewart, 67, said: It was a misjudgement which I regret, but its been a privilege to bring the news to households throughout the UK for the past 40 years. ITN and ITV added in the statement: After many years working across a variety of news programmes, Alastair Stewart is stepping down from his presenting duties. Read more: ITV newsreader reveals abuse over her not wearing a poppy on screen The decision, which is supported by both ITV and ITN, follows errors of judgement in Alastairs use of social media which breached ITNs editorial guidelines. Stewarts Twitter account no longer exists. However, details of the breach are currently unclear. Alastair Stewart attends The UK Film Premiere of 'Shadow Dancer' at Cineworld Haymarket on August 13, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Dave M. Benett/WireImage) Michael Jermey, director of news and current affairs at ITV, said: Alastair has been a long-standing, familiar figure to viewers of ITV News, both reporting and presenting with distinction. We wish him the very best for the future. Meanwhile, ITN chief executive Anna Mallett said: We would like to recognise Alastairs contribution as one of the UKs foremost journalists and TV presenters and to thank him for his commitment to delivering high-quality broadcast news over many years. Alastair Stewart is said to have "breached" ITN's editorial guidelines. (Photo by Peter Jordan - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images) Stewart joined ITN in 1980, working for Channel 4 News for three years before graduating to the main newsreader on ITV News. In recent times he has worked as a part-time freelance presenter primarily on the lunchtime news and weekend programmes. With additional reporting by PA. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 00:18:29|Editor: yan Video Player Close BERLIN, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Sales of smaller electric cars to private customers in Germany fell by up to 37 percent in the last quarter (Q4) of 2019, according to a study published by the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) at the University Duisburg-Essen on Wednesday. According to the study, monthly sales of fully electric cars have been growing at an average year-on-year rate of 47 percent, but a sharp drop occurred when several German consumers postponed their purchases to wait for a higher government premium. Fully electric cars produced by premium manufacturers like Tesla, Jaguar, Audi and Porsche were not considered in the study because the government premium only applies to cars costing less than 60,000 euros (72,000 U.S. dollars). "The hesitant behavior of the German government in implementing the announced environmental premium leads to a great reluctance to buy among private customers," CAR Director Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer said on Wednesday. According to the study, registration figures for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) started to decline after October 2019. Last November, the German government announced its intention to increase the premium for electric cars costing 40,000 euros from 4,000 euros to 6,000 euros. Cars costing between 40,000 euros and 60,000 euros would still receive a 5,000-euro premium. The announced premium has not yet been implemented and potential customers in Germany are still waiting for the promised increase. According to the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), the European Commission is currently examining the plan to increase the subsidy. However, a spokesperson for the European Commission told the German newspaper Zeit that the German government had only informed the EU competition authorities of its plans but had "not provided further information" yet. On top of the lack of charging infrastructure, such announcements without implementation would give electric cars a "hard time in Germany" and would be "another example of policy failure," said Dudenhoeffer. (1 euro = 1.10 U.S. dollar) There was no danger to the community, and the call was cleared immediately after school officials were informed it was part of the academys training drill, according to police spokesman Officer Steve Rusanov. Chicago police vowed that Whitney Young will be notified of future training exercises. My 17-year-old has been writing my shopping lists. It started simply enough. I'd hear him say, "We need bread!" from the kitchen, and I'd yell back, "Write it down!" "We're out of milk again!" he'd call down the hallway. To which I'd say, "Make a note!" It was a good system like having a personal grocery secretary. If that grocery secretary didn't actually do the shopping, but just reminded you of all the things you forgot to buy before you came home from work. And so, for several months, I'd randomly find yellow Post-It notes on the counter bearing a single word, like "tortillas." Or "eggs." Or "purple bag of Doritos." ADVERTISEMENT But now he's branching out. And maybe that's because my husband and I have fallen down on our grocery game. Ever since my older son went off to college, we've become a little lackluster in the pantry stocking and meal-planning department. This doesn't really bother me personally, because I'd be more than happy eating cold cereal for every meal. But I do feel bad when my kid opens the refrigerator for lunch and all we have is cheese, expired sour cream, and 47 condiments. ("Try the ketchup, Bergen! It's delicious!") So it's no wonder that he's starting to leave reminders. It's also possible that his newfound love of grocery note-leaving is because he's realized the power of the written word. I mean, Bergen will leave a note reading "orange juice" and 24 hours later, there's a fresh jug of Tropicana in the fridge. That's the kind of magic trick I could get behind, too. So it's really no surprise that the practice is expanding. Lately, the one-word notes have been replaced with entire lists. It's like Bergen has graduated to perusing the contents of the pantry and refrigerator before making thoughtful assessments about what we're lacking. You know, like I used to do. If I give it another week or two, he'll probably move up to meal planning, and then my job is done. ADVERTISEMENT This morning, I woke up to another Post-It on the kitchen counter. Only instead of a single word, it was covered in 10 items preceded by hand-drawn bullet points. And while a couple of the items were fairly self-serving, it was a pretty decent list. I threw it in my laptop bag on my way to the office and will be stopping at Hy-Vee on my way home to pick up well, almost everything on it: Sliced bread Buns Orange juice Sandwich meat Cheese Miracle Whip ADVERTISEMENT Marie Callender's chicken pot pies Tortillas Texas Pete hot sauce Chips Snack food "What kind of snack food?" I asked before leaving the house this morning, in a way that made me sound like this kid's assistant. "Just snack food," he said. "For snacking." Since that's all the direction I got, I'm going to assume he means fresh fruits and vegetables. And maybe some lean proteins for good measure. In other words, the list is up for interpretation. And it's certainly not the last word on what goes in my cart. But it's a solid starting point. And that's important. Because, it turns out, the other people living in my house don't share my enthusiasm for meals consisting solely of cold cereal. Senior nurse urges those living with respiratory conditions to stay well over winter This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Jan 29th, 2020 A senior north Wales nurse is urging those at risk of breathing difficulties to take care and stay well over the coming months. Dr Angela Roberts, lead nurse primary care (central), urged people living with respiratory conditions like COPD or asthma to follow medical advice to help reduce the risk of being unwell over the winter. Since August 2019 there have been more than 3,500 Emergency Department attendances at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Glan Clwyd Hospital, and Wrexham Maelor Hospital linked to respiratory complaints. During winter months, people with COPD, Asthma or other respiratory conditions are at greater risk of becoming unwell or aggravating the symptoms of their condition. We know that sometimes theres nothing you can do about picking up colds or the flu, but there are steps we can all take to try and keep on top of our health and minimise that risk, said Angela. Simple steps like washing your hands frequently, not sharing cups, towels or other well-used household items, and straightforward personal care like getting plenty of sleep can really make a difference. If youre eligible, getting the flu vaccine will also give you the best available protection. People with preventer inhalers, which are typically brown, should also be using them daily as prescribed. By following the instructions properly, you again give yourself the best chance of protecting yourself. If you also find youre using a blue reliever inhaler three or more times a week, you should try to see your doctor or asthma nurse to talk about whether you need further treatment. It might seem obvious, but making sure youre wrapped up to stay warm in particularly cold weather will make a difference. You could wear a loose-fitting scarf to cover your mouth and nose. A scarf can stop cold air from getting into your airways, which can trigger coughing, wheezing or a tight chest. ALDE (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats) head Calin Popescu-Tariceanu believes that when the Government assumes responsibility on a draft law it's like a "short-circuit" is being applied to Parliament, which is why the reason for such assumption should always be "very clear," while the assumption itself should be "very rare." "Even if ALDE actually supports the topic today, namely the election of mayors in two rounds, the modality in which the Government chose to adopt this law, namely by assuming responsibility for it, we don't believe it's the best choice. When a Government assumes responsibility on a draft law it's like it applies a short-circuit to Parliament, which is the institution meant for democratic debates and for adopting and modifying laws, the only democratic institution of this country, and this approach weakens it, which is something that I regret. This practice of Government assuming responsibility for a law should be very rare and the reason for such assumption should be "very well considered," while also taking into account the previous decisions of the Constitutional Court," Tariceanu said at Parliament on Wednesday.The Government on Wednesday, during the extraordinary joint sitting of Parliament, assumed responsibility for the draft law on the election of mayors in two rounds.According to the Constitution, the Government is allowed to assume responsibility before the joint sitting of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, on a programme, a general political statement or a draft law, with a possible motion of censure against the respective draft to be submitted within maximum 3 days since the presentation of the draft. The Government needs to step down if the motion of censure is adopted. However, if it's not dismissed, then the draft law, modified or supplemented, depending on the case, with the amendments accepted by the Government, will be considered as adopted.The Social Democratic Party (PSD) has already announced it will submit a motion of censure. Fourth coronavirus patient in Shanghai has recovered Global Times Source:Global Times Published: 2020/1/28 19:48:08 A fourth novel coronavirus patient has recovered and was discharged from hospital in Shanghai on Tuesday, which is inspiring and encouraging, said Wu Jinglei, director of Shanghai Health Commission during a press conference in Shanghai on Tuesday afternoon. Shanghai government authorities briefed the media on its prevention and control of the novel coronavirus on Tuesday afternoon. Shanghai reported 13 new coronavirus cases on Monday, pushing the total to 66, Wu said. Among the 66 cases, 35 are men and 31 are women. They range in age from 7 to 88. Two are in critical condition, one has died and four patients have now recovered and been discharged, Wu noted. It's important to continue the quarantine and observation of people who have been in close contact with patients infected with the novel coronavirus, and it is vital people suspected of being infected be found, Wu said. Currently, the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, the designated hospital for all confirmed patients and their close contacts, is fully equipped and staffed, Lu Hongzhou, an official with the center said at the news conference. The first patient was received by the center on January 18. The hospital has made a detailed, personalized treatment plan for each patient, Lu said. Shanghai has also spared no efforts in fighting the epidemic. Experts and doctors in Shanghai are being assigned shifts at designated hospitals to deal with patients who have contracted the novel coronavirus, Wu said. On Monday evening, 50 nurses from Shanghai have been dispatched to Wuhan. More than 4,000 pharmacies in Shanghai have instituted a reporting system of people detected to be running a fever. Inspections have been conducted in 430 markets to stop illegal live poultry trading, said Wu. Local enterprises in Shanghai that need to resume operation before February 4 have to provide detailed information including details on migrant workers from other provinces, said a Shanghai government official. If irregularities are found or novel coronavirus cases are confirmed, the operation will be suspended and the enterprise will be punished. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Firefighters will use a break in the weather for a backburn to control the spread of Canberra's most serious bushfire since the 2003 disaster. The 10,000-hectare fire was downgraded to 'advice' level on Wednesday afternoon after burning at 'emergency' level on Tuesday night. ACT Emergency Services Commissioner Georgeina Whelan said it was hoped the backburn would slow the fire and 'get it in a place of our choosing'. 'There is no one-size-fits-all solution to a fire such as this,' Ms Whelan told reporters in Canberra. An emergency level bushfire approaching Canberra's southern suburbs on Monday evening painted the sky red Authorities have warned it is the most serious blaze the capital has faced since the deadly 2003 bushfires, which destroyed almost 500 homes and led to four deaths. The fire is believed to have been started by a defence helicopter's landing light after it landed in Namadgi National Park while on reconnaissance. Defence's bushfire operations head Major General Jake Ellwood told reporters on Wednesday the incident was 'absolutely regretful'. He said it started and engulfed the troop carrier within 12 seconds. The helicopter was damaged as a result but no crew members were harmed. Maj Gen Ellwood said defence would be investigating the fire but said they had ceased using that type of landing light. Firefighters will use the break in weather conditions to backburn to control the spread of the 10,000 hectare blaze (fire crews pictured containing a fire in Beard, Canberra, on January 23) Ms Whelan also hit out at people travelling to the fire area to take photos, warning it could hamper firefighting and evacuation efforts. 'Say no to disaster tourism. It's a disgrace,' Ms Whelan said. Tuesday saw Tharwa, a small village south of Canberra, evacuated as authorities feared spot fires would come within a kilometre of Canberra's far southern suburbs. Community members of Tharwa, Boboyan Road, Apollo Road and Top Naas Road were told to remain vigilant. The Orroral Valley bushfire (pictured) is believed to have ignited from a defence helicopter's landing light People in Banks and surrounding suburbs were told to stay updated and reminded a relief centre at Erindale College was still open to the public Ms Whelan said the fire was still out of control and unpredictable, burning for days if not weeks. The fire continued to travel northeast with spot fires starting ahead of the main front. She warned of extremely challenging weather predicted for the weekend. Smoke from the fire hung over Canberra on Wednesday. By Express News Service VISAKHAPATNAM: Eight fishermen from Tippalavalasa in Vizianagaram district, who were arrested on October 8 in Bangladesh for illegally entering its territorial waters, will be released on Wednesday, as per Andhra Pradesh Fishermen Youth Federation honorary president Narasinga Rao. He was addressing a meeting with the family members of the fishermen here on Tuesday. Later briefing newsmen, Narsinga Rao said the boat Amrutha with the fishermen aboard drifted off to Bangladesh on October 8 due to engine failure. "As soon as the boat entered Bangladesh territorial waters, the Bangladesh Coast Guard took the fishermen into custody and took possession of the boat. The same was conveyed to the AP Fishermen Youth Federation president Vasupalli Janaki Ram. He took up the issue with Vizag MP MVV Satyanarayana and he informed Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and others," Narasinga Rao said. Janaki Ram appealed to the State government to provide financial assistance to the families of the fishermen and also to the boat owner as the fishing boat has been completely damaged. "It takes about Rs 4 lakh to get a new boat. Even the families of the fishermen involved do not have an alternative livelihood and they are making both ends meet with difficulty for the past three months," Yellaji, a member of the Andhra Pradesh Fishermen Youth Federation, said. The federation members and the family members of the fishermen expressed their gratitude to the Vizag MP, Fisheries Minister Mopidevi Venkataramana and the Chief Minister for securing early release of the fishermen. South Africas Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) is set to come into effect from 1 April 2020. Ahmore Burger-Smidt, Head of the Data Privacy Practice Group at Werksmans Attorneys, said that a high level of POPIA awareness is present in South Africa at the moment, despite the fact that the act is still not fully operational. In fact, none of the provisions of POPIA that deal with the protection of rights have been promulgated as yet, Burger-Smidt said. Therefore, as much as anyone would wish to call upon POPIA to defend the non-disclosure of information, it does not change the fact that the road to promulgation has been long but finally a date is available for when the South African society will be able to claim the protection afforded by POPIA. She said that from a commercial perspective, the duties and responsibilities of companies to protect the privacy of users are never absolute there are situations when they will be required to submit this data. POPIA cannot be put forward in all instances to refuse access or disclosure of personal information. Right to privacy POPIA recognises in its preamble that section 14 of the Constitution provides that everyone has the right to privacy, Burger-Smidt said. The limitations to protecting this right to privacy are dependent on the following: Balancing the right to privacy against other rights, particularly the right of access to information. Protecting important interests, including the free flow of information within the Republic and across international borders. Based on the above considerations, your personal information can be disclosed under a number of circumstances. When your information can be processed These circumstances are listed in Section 11 of POPIA, which provides that personal information may be disclosed and processed if: The data subject (the customer or employee) consents to the processing Processing is necessary to carry out actions for the conclusion or performance of a contract to which the data subject is party Processing complies with an obligation imposed by law on the responsible party Processing protects a legitimate interest of the data subject Processing is necessary for the proper performance of a public law duty by a public body Processing is necessary for pursuing the legitimate interests of the responsible party or of a third party to whom the information is supplied Burger-Smidt said that taking the above into account, POPIA does permit the disclosure and processing of the confidential information of an employee or advisor in certain circumstances. Understanding the full application and impact of POPIA will definitely take time, she said. The road has been long to get to this point. The problem is the road to full compliance will be very short once POPIA is fully effective. Companies will be required to be in full compliance with POPIA within 12 months after POPIA comes into effect. The biggest difference in Marsdens plan is that after the third year, when the minimum would hit $11.75 an hour, employers could count the value of certain health benefits toward the value of the hourly wages. Wages under the proposal would not have to rise above $11.75 as long as the employer made up the difference with a qualifying health plan. Australia's reliance on temporary visas has created millions of migrants with no stake in the country's future, Opposition home affairs spokeswoman Kristina Keneally will warn on Thursday night, saying the nation is risking a new and damaging form of social and economic exclusion. In her first major policy speech since taking over the shadow portfolio, Senator Keneally will declare Australia is changing from a nation built by permanent migrants to an economy relying on temporary visas. Home affairs spokeswoman Kristina Keneally says temporary visas have soared under the Coalition government. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen With the more than two million temporary migrants having "no stake and no say in the future of our country", Senator Keneally will warn there are serious risks for how Australia defends against, and recovers from, national disasters such as bushfires. Senator Keneally will also warn people smugglers have updated their business model from boats to airplane arrivals, with the 100,000 people who have claimed asylum after arriving a plane in the last six years driven by "criminal people smuggling syndicates now running a work scam". Despite the growing concerns on the spread of coronavirus, Nigerias Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no plan in place for Nigerians residing in China. A spokesperson for the ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa, when contacted by a PREMIUM TIMES reporter on Tuesday, said that for now, no plans are being made to evacuate Nigerians in China. He referred further enquiries to the health ministry who said they were focused on ensuring the disease does not spread to Nigeria. Since the increase in the outbreak of the virus, countries around the world are planning to repatriate their citizens. So far, Wuhan, a province in China has recorded over 100 deaths, while more than 4,500 persons have been confirmed infected. An unnamed student in Cote dIvoire has also reportedly contacted the virus. She arrived from Beijing on Saturday and has since been quarantined by the Ivorian government. Flurry of interventions Countries such as the U.S., South Korea, Germany, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Canada, Russia, and the Netherlands have kickstarted arrangements to repatriate their citizens from China. The United States through its State Department announced that it will evacuate personnel from its Wuhan consulate and offer a limited number of seats to private U.S. citizens on a flight. Some private citizens will be able to board the single flight leaving Wuhan today for San Francisco. According to Reuters report, Frances first plane will begin to repatriate nationals on Wednesday and will return the next day. The first plane is said to convey people with no symptoms. A spokesperson to Britains Prime Minister Boris Johnson said talks are being held with international partners to find solutions to help British and other foreign nations leave Wuhan. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Japan is sending a chartered flight to repatriate 200 of its citizens. As of 2014, about 10,000 Nigerians reside in China, predominantly in Guangzhou, a city located in the Guangdong province in the Southern part of China. It is reported to have a large population of Africans. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Ministry of Health when contacted shared the measures it is taking to strengthen local preparedness against the virus. The spokesperson for the ministry, Enefaa Bob-Manuel, said meetings are being held with some ministries towards setting up a committee responsible for scaling up surveillance and vigilance to detect suspicious cases and ensure containment at all points. Critical stakeholders in the aviation, health, security and transport will make up the committee. She also added that, attention will focus largely on Nigerias five international airports, because air travelers are more likely to be carriers of the virus rather than land border crossers. This article was also published by Guardian US. On Sundayamid the wave of public eulogizing that followed the death of Kobe Bryantmany people on Twitter stressed that we should also remember the time he was credibly accused of raping a hotel worker in Colorado. (Bryant denied the claim, but later settled with the woman, and said he understood how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter.) One such tweeter was Felicia Sonmez, a politics reporter at the Washington Post. Sonmez has consistently been vocal on issues of sexual assault; in 2018, she alleged that she had been abused by Jon Kaiman, who then worked for the LA Times. (Another woman made a similar claim; Kaiman, who subsequently lost his job, has strongly denied wrongdoing.) On Sunday, Sonmez first linked to a Daily Beast story (which she didnt write) about the Bryant rape case without adding commentary of her own. She elaborated, but only after receiving a rash of abusive messagesincluding, she said, death threats. Any public figure is worth remembering in their totality, she wrote. That folks are responding with rage & threats toward me speaks volumes about the pressure people come under to stay silent in these cases. She also shared a screenshot of one nasty message she had received, without masking the senders name. Managers at the Post were not happy with Sonmez. According to Rachel Abrams, of the New York Times, Marty Baron, the papers top editor, emailed Sonmez a screenshot of her first Bryant tweet, along with the message: Felicia, a real lack of judgment to tweet this. Please stop. Youre hurting this institution by doing this. Tracy Grant, managing editor at the Post, then told Sonmez to delete the tweets, before suspending her on the grounds that she had strayed beyond her coverage area, and undermined her colleagues work. Responding to the threats Sonmez had faced, Grant added that she might want to consider a hotel or a friends place for this evening. (At least one of the threats referenced Sonmezs home address; Sonmez had contacted Grant to flag the threats, as mandated by the Posts security protocols.) This, many critics noted, felt like a dereliction of the papers duty to ensure the safety of its staff. Related: Correcting the record Many such critics could be found inside the Posts newsroom. The papers guild wrote an open letter to Baron and Grant, accusing them of failing to protect Sonmez and noting that this isnt the first time management has sought to control how Felicia speaks on matters of sexual violence. As of last night, nearly 350 staffers had signed the letter. Opinion writers at the paper used their platforms to come to Sonmezs defense, too. On Monday, Erik Wemple wrote that the backlash against her was rooted in the ancient wisdom that urges folks not to speak ill of the dead, which is a fine rule for everyone except for historians and journalists. Yesterday, David Von Drehle concurred with Wemple. Sonmez, he wrote, had been punished for keeping both eyes on the truthor more precisely, on one particular truth, namely that somewhere a woman was experiencing this outpouring of adulation for a man who choked and lacerated her during an encounter that she called a rape, and which he acknowledged was very much like one. Late yesterday, the Post retreated. In a statement, it said that following a review, it had concluded that Sonmezs tweets were ill-timed, but not in clear and direct violation of our social media policy. Sonmez was reinstated, though the statement was notably missing an apology. In a statement of her own, Sonmez hit back, insisting that she and her colleagues deserve to hear directly from Baron, and noting that the episode had sown confusion about the Posts values. Sign up for CJR 's daily email As some observers (including Charlie Warzel, of the Times) noted, the Sonmez fiasco is a fresh reminder that newsrooms still struggle when coordinated mobs of online culture warriors target their staff. (Baron and Grant clearly feared institutional blowback, though its possible they found Sonmezs tweets distasteful on their own terms.) The Post isnt alone here. Last year, the Times caused a mini media panic when it reported that a loose network of conservative operatives had compiled dossiers incriminating hundreds of reporters at leading outlets. (The loose network has since been mysteriously quiet.) For some reason, A.G. Sulzberger, the Timess publisher, deemed this development worthy of public comment; he called it a clear attempt to harass his reporters (which was correct), but added that the paper would nonetheless be diligent in responding to legitimate problems raised by anyoneeven those acting in bad faith. This handed the harassers a victory, at least to some small extent. Sonmezgate also exposes a more routine problem: the tyranny of the newsroom social media policy. Ostensibly, such policies are meant to safeguard journalists and their bosses against the pitfalls of the internet; in practice, they often read like hamfisted attempts to reconcile competing impulses. That of the Post, for instance, says, in part, that reporters should communicate in more personal and informal ways to better connect with readers, but should also prioritize preserving the papers reputation for journalistic excellence, fairness, and independence. Such wording invites flawednot to mention inconsistentapplication. We have repeatedly seen colleaguesincluding members of managementshare contentious opinions on social media platforms without sanction, the Post Guild wrote in its letter supporting Sonmez. But here a valued colleague is being censured for making a statement of fact. Again, the Post isnt alone; tensions like these exist across the media industry. We warn aspiring journalists that they wont be hired unless they have thousands of Twitter followers they can mine for clicks, while also warning them that they wont be hired if they ever expressed an opinion online. (Regrettably, Twitter followers tend to like opinions.) The Trump era has made things worse. Newsrooms have moved to monetize their reporters humanity (Ring, ring. Ring, ring. Hi, its Michael.) without really letting them show any preconceptions, or mistakes, or life experiencesthe things that actual humans are made of. (Life is not lived in coverage areas.) All of which is very ironic: in many cases, trust in the press has declined not because reporters have manifest flaws, but because news organizations insist on pretending that they do not. Yes, there are things reporters shouldnt do: campaign for candidates, lie, display prejudice, etc. But these are so obviousand so intrinsic to what it means to be a journalistthat they hardly need to be codified in an inflexible policy. Which raises the question: what are such policies for, really? Its hard to avoid the conclusion that theyre a tool of management control. Below, more on Sonmez and the Post: Correcting the record: Last year, Emily Yoffe wrote an article for Reason Magazine arguing that Kaiman had wrongly suffered professional and personal damage. Sonmez felt the piece contained a string of inaccuracies, and wrote to Reason requesting corrections; she also posted her letter and supporting evidence to Twitter. The magazine made only three changes. Its been a process of having to keep reasserting myself and making sure my own voice was heard, Sonmez told CJRs Lauren Harris in November. When people have tried to put their own spin on my story, Ive had to push back. Last year, Emily Yoffe wrote an article for Reason Magazine arguing that Kaiman had wrongly suffered professional and personal damage. Sonmez felt the piece contained a string of inaccuracies, and wrote to Reason requesting corrections; she also posted her letter and supporting evidence to Twitter. The magazine made only three changes. Its been a process of having to keep reasserting myself and making sure my own voice was heard, Sonmez told CJRs Lauren Harris in November. When people have tried to put their own spin on my story, Ive had to push back. Women and the Post: Critics of the Sonmez decision shared other instances in which the Post was criticized on issues pertaining to gender. Last year, Irin Carmon alleged that the Post killed a story shed been working on about sexual-harassment allegations against Jeff Fager, of CBS. (The allegations later surfaced in the New Yorker; the Post said five editors agreed that the Fager story didnt meet its standards.) Also last year, the Post Guild assessed pay structures at the paper, and found that women and staffers of color were being paid less than white male employees. Critics of the Sonmez decision shared other instances in which the Post was criticized on issues pertaining to gender. Last year, Irin Carmon alleged that the Post killed a story shed been working on about sexual-harassment allegations against Jeff Fager, of CBS. (The allegations later surfaced in the New Yorker; the Post said five editors agreed that the Fager story didnt meet its standards.) Also last year, the Post Guild assessed pay structures at the paper, and found that women and staffers of color were being paid less than white male employees. Bryants death: Sonmezs Post colleague Margaret Sullivan writes that media coverage of Bryants death was a chaotic mess. Our collective handling of his rape case was just one part of the problem. Other notable stories: ICYMI: Why did Matt Drudge turn on Donald Trump? Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. The Laois-Offaly constituency could be among the most interesting in the general election on February 8. Will Fine Gael hold two seats with Marcella Corcoran Kennedy? Will Carol Nolan keep her seat after leaving Sinn Fein since the last election? Can Fianna Fail bring three TDs to the Dail? Much of the talk has centred on the 'Battle of Birr' which could decide the final seat in the constituency with the likely scenario pitting Cllr John Leahy, Cllr Peter Ormond and two sitting TDs, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy and Carol Nolan against one another for the golden ticket to Kildare Street. Almost as interesting as this is the mystery surrounding the destination of votes from the town of Edenderry. With a population of 11,000 from Portarlington transferred into South Kildare for this election, Edenderry is the only major urban centre with no real town candidate. The areas of Ferbane, Birr, Kilcormac, Kinnitty and Banagher will be consumed by that battle between Corcoran Kennedy, Ormond, Leahy and Nolan. Tullamore and Clara is effectively Cowen country and he will pick up much of his quota there, but who does Edenderry vote for? Independent councillor and former Fianna Fail candidate John Foley announced his intention not to stand in this election in the days after it was called by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Word soon filtered through that former councillor Fergus McDonnell was not putting his name forward, effectively leaving 4,500 votes up in the air. You can trace the Edenderry vote fairly accurately back more than 20 years to the 1997 election when former councillor Ger Killaly picked up 4,328 first preference votes. As an auctioneer in the town at the time, these votes came primarily from the local areas in and surrounding the town centre. He ran for Fianna Fail at the time and his running mates Brian Cowen, John Moloney and Sean Fleming mopped up votes elsewhere in the constituency. The four Fianna Fail candidates amassed 50% of the first preference votes between them in Laois and Offaly that year. Killaly failed to get elected with the other three heading to the Dail. Edenderry went for Killaly again in 2002 when he picked up a slight increase with 4,719 first preference votes. He once again missed out while Fianna Fail again took three seats and assumed power in Leinster House. In 2007, John Foley was the Fianna Fail candidate and he mopped up votes around North Offaly and almost monopolised the vote in Edenderry. The Kerry native was also a very prominent businessman in the town and remains hugely popular with the electorate there, evidenced by his re-election to Offaly County Council in May 2019. In the 2007 general election, under the Fianna Fail banner, Foley collected 5,899 first preference votes and despite transferring strongly, he couldn't bridge the gap to John Moloney who was re-elected at his expense by a margin of 311 votes. Foley left Fianna Fail between 2007 and 2011 but he held onto the Edenderry vote base with 4,465 first preference votes as an independent in that year's general election. The Fianna Fail factor may have accounted for the loss of votes between both elections but the town ballot was forthright and very easily identified in the Foley column. He transferred well enough in 2011 but failed again in his Dail bid. Sean Fleming ultimately beat John Whelan of Labour into the last seat. 2016 saw a major change to the electoral boundaries with Laois and Offaly being separated for the first time in the State's history. Offaly was redrawn as a three-seater and took in parts of North Tipperary, complicating the spread of votes in the constituency. North Tipperary's contingent wasn't big enough to claim a seat and an opportunity was there for John Foley to take the third seat behind Barry Cowen and Marcella Corcoran Kennedy. He received 4,200 first preference votes and was transfer-friendly from the likes of Eddie Fitzpatrick but Carol Nolan was a bolter for Sinn Fein in South Offaly and once again he was pipped to the final seat by a minuscule number of votes. It had been 311 in 2007, but agonisingly, it was 264 in 2016. It brought into question Edenderry's ability to elect a TD with the numbers garnered for local candidates so similar, and yet inadequate, over a 20-year period. If the turnout in the town had ever bucked and surpassed the constituency average, it may have crowned TDs in multiple elections. Nevertheless, the town's vote is still significant in 2020, perhaps even more so with Portarlington siphoned off to South Kildare under 2017 boundary changes. Laois-Offaly returns but as a somewhat altered animal - the only truly Laois-Offaly town will vote in a different county. That ruled Eddie Fitzpatrick out in either constituency with many rural areas around Portarlington still voting in Laois-Offaly, but the vast majority gone to Kildare. The landscape seemed ripe for John Foley to stand in the absence of Fitzpatrick and target those rural areas around Bracknagh, Clonbullouge, Rhode, Croghan and further afield in order to bulk up his first preference vote. He would, however, have needed a big first preference vote to stay competitive with those in South Offaly and may also have struggled for transfers. His absence leaves Green Party candidate Pippa Hackett as the closest geographically to Edenderry. The Geashill farmer has already caused a stir in the area by picking up a council seat in May last year in the Edenderry Municipal District. She beat off competition from the well-known Fergus McDonnell by less than 50 votes for the final seat in the area. She had received 676 first preference votes but transferred surprisingly well. In her favour on February 8 is the fact she is one of very few candidates who will get votes from both sides of the constituency. She will pick up votes around her own area in Geashill and the areas nearby on the Laois side still in Laois-Offaly. Her profile has also been raised by her election to the Seanad since her council election last year, but it's questionable whether the so-called Green wave will ever fully reach rural counties like Laois and Offaly. To grow her first preference vote enough to get competitive will be difficult. In four elections from 2002 to 2016, Green Party candidates have garnered a total of just 3,700 first preference votes in Laois and Offaly, including the 2016 poll when the counties were separated and the Greens ran a candidate in each county. The party nationally is seen as transfer-friendly but mobilising enough first preference voters would seem unlikely in Laois-Offaly. They'll need young voters to flock to them, transfers from all quarters and a fair chunk of the votes going spare in Edenderry. The Fianna Fail link is a major factor even though both Offaly candidates live a long way from Edenderry. Barry Cowen has Tullamore and Clara sown up while Peter Ormond will be hunting votes in Birr. However, the thing that joins John Foley and Ger Killaly and their vote-getting in Edenderry is their link to Fianna Fail - both having run under their banner at one time or another. The party is very active locally and had two councillors elected in the Edenderry Municipal District in last year's local elections. With a better-managed vote, they could have got three candidates over the line. They have also regularly secured three seats in Laois-Offaly over the years. A portion of the 4,000 or so votes in Edenderry may well filter back to Fianna Fail in the shape of Clara native Barry Cowen, given his family's legacy vote across the entire county. That could help him top the poll ahead of Sean Fleming but Edenderry's vote is most likely to splinter beyond that. Pippa Hackett will get some, as will Ken Smollen who runs a food appeal in the region and has been visiting Edenderry during the election campaign. There could well be votes for Sinn Fein in Edenderry despite their local election collapse in Offaly, so Brian Stanley, who has also been canvassing in the town of late, could get a small bounce despite being Laois-based, particularly in the absence of a Sinn Fein candidate on the Offaly side of the ticket. Those in South Offaly are highly unlikely to have the profile to collect votes in Edenderry. The same can be said for the other Laois candidates. Fine Gael won't expect to pick up many votes in Edenderry. They too have two councillors in the Municipal District but Noel Cribbin's vote base is very much a personal one. He has previously been in Fianna Fail and elected as an independent with his base relatively unchanged through those changes. Liam Quinn is a decent vote-getter in rural areas of the district but only a small percentage of both their bases will transfer to Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, despite rigorous canvassing in recent weeks. Edenderry people have long bemoaned their lack of representation in Leinster House. The lack of a TD has been blamed for economic and infrastructural deficiencies in the town and now they must contend with not even having a candidate. Without a local candidate, turnout is also bound to be dented. A number of candidates running this time have attempted to stress that they would be TDs for all of Offaly and not just their own areas. However, the consensus is that Edenderry has faired worse than other towns economically in recent decades, proven by GeoDirectory reports regularly showing it to have a very high rate of commercial vacancy. The threat of Edenderry Power Station possibly closing within the next decade and the number of people leaving the town every day to work in Dublin and beyond is a major worry, as is the lack of tourism with the sector seemingly booming elsewhere in the county. What do voters in Edenderry fear most? The candidates arriving now to fish for the floating votes not being seen in the town beyond February 8, 2020. The American Property Casualty Insurance Association testified today in opposition to draft regulations they say could eliminate many affinity group insurance discount programs during a pre-notice workshop held by the California Department of Insurance in Los Angeles. The workshop was intended to foster a dialogue about the regulations, which have not been formally introduced in the regulatory process subject to the Administrative Procedures Act. The CDI in December released proposed regulations to reform how insurance companies offer group discounts based on occupation, education, and other arbitrary factors. If adopted, this would be the first major change to the use of so-called affinity group discounts since California voters approved Proposition 103 in 1988, outlawing redlining and other major reforms in insurance. The CDI drafted the new regulations after Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara ordered an investigation of group discounts. A survey of insured vehicles reportedly found that one-fourth of Californians receive an affinity group premium reduction ranging from 1.5% to 25.9% depending on the insurer and group. The data shows that participation in group discount programs decreases with income and education level, with those living in ZIP Codes with average income above $49,000 more than twice as likely to receive discounts as those in ZIP Codes with average income of $22,500 or below, according to the CDI. The APCIA argued that the proposed regulations as drafted would have the unintended consequence of taking away discount programs from millions of drivers. We share CDIs goal of helping low-income Californians have access to lower auto insurance rates, but the regulations, as drafted, will not benefit these communities, said Mark Sektnan, APCIA vice president for state government relations, stated. These regulations would have the unintended consequence of taking away discount programs from millions of drivers who are childcare workers, food technicians, electricians, music teachers and sanitation workers. He continued: These regulations will not just eliminate discounts for auto insurance customers, they will also impact homeowners and that includes homeowners struggling in the Wildland Urban Interface where higher risks are driving up costs and limiting the availability of homeowners coverage. Adding pressure on insurance rates will only make matters worse for these homeowners. The APCIA is the primary national trade association for home, auto, and business insurers. Topics Carriers California Legislation Homeowners Why did RA&W hire a man with a questionable record, wonders David Devadas. A big question hangs untidily from l'affaire Davinder Singh, and it is this: Just how badly placed are India's intellitgence agencies with regard to information and intelligence on Kashmir? First, we were told that the Jammu and Kashmir police discovered that now suspended deputy superintendent of police Davinder Singh's links with Hizbul Mujahideen militants by tapping phones. Then we were told that India's external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing, had turned to Davinder to get them intelligence on militants because the phones had been shut down in Kashmir -- and that this had cut off the agencies from raw, ground-level information! R&AW recruited him in October 2019, we are told -- but for an operation in Pakistan, not for local intelligence. In the same breath, we are told that R&AW was not monitoring Davinder Singh, and so did not know that he was ferrying top terrorists to Jammu and Delhi. Even during the blanket ban on communication, a few phones, such as those of police officers such as Davinder Singh, were 'whitelisted' -- they worked. His calls could have been monitored. The enormity of the security snafu cannot be overstated. For, when his own force (the J-K police) arrested him on January 11, Davinder Singh was transporting wanted terrorists in his car. They were heading down the highway out of the Kashmir valley, towards Jammu and the rest of India. That was a mere fortnight before Republic Day, one of the most tense times for security agencies, and also just three weeks before the crucial Delhi assembly election. Immediately after his arrest, eyebrows had already been raised sky-high since Afzal Guru, who was hanged in 2013 for being part of the conspiracy to attack Parliament in 2001, had named Davinder Singh in an affidavit as the one who tortured and blackmailed him into participating in that horror. Speculation was rife: Could the men Davinder Singh was driving through Kashmir have been going for some horrendous act of similar proportions? If so, how large was the conspiracy? Was he a lone rogue officer, or was there a larger ring? Were others within the state apparatus involved? Davinder Singh, who rose through the ranks to be a deputy superintendent of police over the past three decades, is said to have engaged in smuggling and other nefarious activities while he was part of the Jammu-Kashmir police's infamous Special Operations Group, which is meant for counter-terror operations. One thing was certain. Any agency that had institutional memory, or had the resources for research, would have known that Davinder Singh was no newcomer to underhand, covert operations, possibly even ones with cross-border repercussions. In that light, one ought to be extremely concerned if our most hush-hush agency of all would hire a man with such a record, and not even keep him under strict surveillance for at least the first few months after taking him on. This matter not only keeps getting murkier, it gets scarier! There seems to be cause for concern not only about the efficiency and competence of major intelligence agencies, but also their ability to source information adequately. It has been quite obvious since the constitutional changes with regard to Jammu and Kashmir that Pakistan is not willing to accept it. It even downgraded diplomatic ties and suspended trade with India after those changes. While there has been relatively little reaction on the ground in Kashmir, several well-placed observers are convinced that a reaction has only been postponed, that it will be engineered -- possibly this spring or summer, or by 2021. A compromised, or even collapsed, information network sounds especially ominous at such a time. Of course, the agencies have a record of being breathtakingly remiss. They had no idea what was going on in 1989, and when militant commander Burhan Wani was killed in 2016 -- even though several well-informed Kashmiris were aware in the preceding weeks that unrest was in the offing. After this terribly worrying arrest, the extended suspension of the Internet connectivity over the past several months should be closely reviewed. L'affaire Davinder indicates that it has been at least partly counter-productive. On the one hand, it has caused international criticism of India. On the other, information about the whereabouts of militants seems to have dried up to a large extent. David Devadas is the author of The Story of Kashmir and The Generation of Rage. Multiple organisations have called for a Bharat Bandh today in order to protest against the recently passed Citizenship Amendment Act and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC). The Bharat Bandh today has been organised in Surat in Gujarat, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh. Increased security measures have been put in place in the three states keeping in view the call for shutdown. According to media reports, the call for Bharat Bandh was given by Maulana Sajjad Nomani of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB). This was to protest against the controversial CAA-NRC. This call is supported by an NGO based in Surat, Versatile Minorities Forum (VMF). Apart from the VMF, the call for strikes has been supported by organizations such as Bahujan Kranti Morcha, National Association of Street Vendors of India Surat chapter and the Textile Market Workers' Union. The workers of the VMF were also spotted distributing pamphlets and urging people to support the strike. Several shopkeepers have also put up notices stating that their shops will be shut for the day. Earlier, Bharat Bandh was called by 10 trade unions and several bank employees in order to protest against the "anti-people policies of the government" on January 8 and 9. A few violent incidents during this Bharat Bandh were reported in West Bengal. Also read: Coronavirus: Starbucks sees financial hit as it shuts 2,000 shops in China After being banned temporarily by several airlines, stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra is taking sarcastic jibes at the situation on social media. Kamra was banned by Indigo, AirAir India and Spice Jet after he allegedly heckled journalist Arnab Goswami in a flight from Mumbai to Lucknow on Tuesday. Kamra tweeted on Wednesday morning: "Right Wing - Goli maaro saalon ko... Liberals - We must not disturb people on flights & respect an individuals private space". In a separate tweet, he wrote: "FYI - Arnab Goswami was in my flight again this morning while returning from lucknow... I again asked him politely if he wants to have a honest discussion he with his verbal arrogant hand jester he asked me to move away & I did that..." The comedian shared a video on Twitter where he can be heard asking his co-passenger Arnab Goswami: "Viewers today want to know if Arnab is a coward or a nationalist. Arnab, this is for national interest. I am part of the tukde-tukde narrative. You should deflate me. You should take the enemy of the states down. You should make sure that the country is in safe hands of Narendra Modi. You should fight against dynasts like Rahul Gandhi, who I support, on 10 Tughlaq Lane. Arnab, you should have a reply, Arnab. Arnab, are you a coward or are you a journalist? Are you a coward or are you a journalist or a nationalist? Who are you, Arnab?" However, Arnab Goswami chose to remain quiet and did not answer back. Earlier, Kamra alleged that Goswami has called him mentally unstable. He tweeted: "Met Arnab Goswami on a flight and gave him a monologue about his journalism'. All he did was call me mentally unstable and after sometime I had no choice but to return to my seat. The entire flight I'll keep pretending to use the loo just to tell him he's piece of SH*T. F*CK Arnab". On Tuesday evening, Indigo issued a statement via Twitter where they announced that they are banning Kunal Kamra for six months for his in-flight behaviour. "@MoCA_GoI @HardeepSPuri In light of the recent incident on board 6E 5317 from Mumbai to Lucknow, we wish to inform that we are suspending Mr. Kunal Kamra from flying with IndiGo for a period of six months, as his conduct onboard was unacceptable behaviour." "Hereby, we wish to advise our passengers to refrain from indulging in personal slander whilst onboard, as this can potentially compromise the safety of fellow passengers. @MoCA_GoI @HardeepSPuri." Following this, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted: "Offensive behaviour designed to provoke and create disturbance inside an aircraft is absolutely unacceptable and endangers safety of air travellers. We are left with no option but to advise other airlines to impose similar restrictions on the person concerned." After this, Air India and Spice Jet also banned the stand-up comedian until further notice. Air India tweeted: "In view of the incident onboard @IndiGo6E, Air India wishes to inform that conduct of Person concerned is unacceptable. With a view to discourage such behavior onboard flts, Mr Kunal Kamra is suspended from flying on any Air India flt until further notice. @HardeepSPuri." Spice Jet announced: "SpiceJet has decided to suspend Mr. Kunal Kamra from flying with the airline till further notice. @MoCA_GoI @DGCAIndia @HardeepSPuri @IndiGo6E" However, netizens are divided in their reaction to the situation. While some are bashing Kunal Kamra for his in-flight behaviour, others are supporting him. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tweeted in support of Kamra. Taking a dig at Arnab Goswami, he wrote: "The truth is that it was time someone gave him a taste of his own medicine. These are the words he regularly uses to berate his innocent victims, except he does so in a hectoring, bullying manner & at higher volume & pitch than @kunalkamra88 does in this video." Corporal Michael Owen Jr: Prince George's County Police Department A police officer accused of shooting dead a man who was already handcuffed and sat inside his patrol car has been charged with murder in the US state of Maryland. Corporal Michael Owen Jr fired seven times at William Green while the pair were alone in the vehicle in Temple Hills, close to Washington DC, police say. The officer had arrested the 43-year-old while responding to calls reporting that a driver had struck several cars and was intoxicated behind the wheel. But it remains unclear why the veteran of 10 years then drew his gun as he and his partner awaited a drugs expert to take evidence from Green. Speaking to journalists less than 24 hours after the incident, Prince George's County Police Departments police chief Hank Stawinski said: I am unable to come to come to our community this evening and provide you with a reasonable explanation for the events that occurred last night. "I have concluded that what happened is a crime...There are no circumstances under which this outcome is acceptable." He called the decision the "the most difficult moment of my tenure as your Chief of Police" Rights groups have condemned the killing. Cpl Owen and the unnamed partner had dispatched to Temple Hills just before 7.20pm local time on Monday evening. The pair arrested Green, a father-of-two said to work for Megabus, and had placed him in the front passenger seat of their patrol car with his hands cuffed behind his back when the shooting occurred. The officer was not wearing a body camera at the time. It is not clear if his partner witnessed the killing. Cpl Owen was charged with second-degree murder, voluntary and involuntary manslaughter, first-degree assault and use of a firearm to commit a violent crime. Deborah Jeon, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland, said: "There is no reason why a handcuffed person should ever be shot multiple times by a police officer, let alone shot multiple times inside a patrol car." Read more Police shootings are 'leading cause of death for young American men' New Delhi, Jan 29 : The Indian Railways will acquire rest of the 53 per cent of land required for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious Ahmedabad-Mumbai High Speed Train project, which is also called Bullet train project, in next six months, an official said on Wednesday. Railway Board Chairman V.K. Yadav said, "Till date 47 per cent of the land has been acquired for the 508-km long Ahmedabad-Mumbai high speed rail project, and rest of the 53 per cent will be acquired in next six months." He said, the work of acquiring the land is in advanced stage and it will be available for the project soon. Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on September 14, 2017 laid the foundation stone of the ambitious Rs 1.08 lakh crore ($17 billion) project. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Union Railway Ministry have inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the 508-km corridor, with Japan to partially fund the project. The chairman said that a total of 1,380 hectare land is required for the high speed train project, out of which railways has acquired 479 hectare from the private persons and 119 hectare from government land. He also said that once the 90 per cent of land is acquired, six out of 29 tender packages for the project will be out in the month of March and April this year. Yadav also stressed that the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) will be able to complete the project before its deadline of December 2023. He said that the project will be completed in three phases and the first phase of 50 km stretch will be completed by August 2022. According to the official, a 21-km-long tunnel will be dug between Boisar and BKC in Mumbai, 7 km of which will be under the sea. According to NHSRCL official, the tender for design and construction of civil and building works, including testing and commissioning of 237 km length of mainline out of elevated 460 kms has been floated. The mainline also has one mountain tunnel of about 280 metre, 24 river crossings and 30 road and canal crossings. The bullet trains are expected to run at 350 km per hour covering the 508 km stretch in about two hours. In comparison, trains currently plying on the route take over seven hours to travel the distance, whereas flights take about an hour. (Anand Singh can be contacted at Anand.s@ians.in) (Newser) Canada's largest coffee chain is giving up Beyond Meat products after just seven months. Tim Hortons served up an imitation sausage breakfast sandwich, and later added the Beyond Burger to the menu at many of its nearly 4,000 locations last year. But most had dropped the faux meat by September. Indeed, only locations in two provincesOntario and British Columbiastill offered Beyond Meat products before Tuesday's announcement that the "limited time" offerings would be pulled. "We are always listening to our guests and testing new products that align to our core menu offerings" and "may offer Beyond Meat again in the future," the company tells Bloomberg, which reports shares fell "as much as 3.9% to $115.40 in early trading Wednesday." story continues below But KFC announced Wednesday that it would start offering plant-based fried "chicken" in Charlotte, NC, and Nashville, Tenn., in February, after what Business Insider calls a "wildly successful" test in Atlanta. Shares had already climbed as much as 9% on Monday with the news that Beyond Burgers would also be sold in 1,700 Denny's locations, after an initial trial in Los Angeles, Business Insider reports. The outlet notes "the company leaped 27% in the week ended Jan. 10 alone, posting its best weekly gain since July after McDonald's said it would expand its trial of Beyond Burgers in Canada." Beyond Meat also has deals with Carl's Jr., Hardees, White Castle, and Dunkin' Donuts. Despite Tim Hortons' lack of enthusiasm, Gizmodo suggests "the tide finally seems to be turning in favor of meat alternatives" with companies like Kellogg and Tyson Foods getting involved. (Read more Beyond Meat stories.) TORONTO, Jan. 29, 2020 - Galantas Gold Corp. (the Company), the AIM and TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V) quoted gold producer and explorer with a 100% interest in Northern Irelands Omagh gold mine, announces that further to the announcements on 16 December, 2019 and 16 January, 2020, the Company has on 28 January 2019 published an information circular (the Circular) relating to its proposed ten for one share consolidation (the Share Consolidation). The Circular contains information on the background to and reasons for the Share Consolidation, and the actions to be taken by the shareholders of the Company. Certain key sections of the Circular have been extracted and included below. Approval of Share Consolidation General The Special Meeting (the Meeting) of shareholders of the Company will be held on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. (Toronto time) at the offices of the Company at 82 Richmond Street East, Toronto, Ontario M5C 1P1. At the Meeting, the shareholders will be asked to consider and, if deemed advisable, to pass a special resolution (the "Consolidation Resolution"), with or without variation, authorizing certain amendments to the Company's articles to consolidate (the "Share Consolidation") the common shares of the Company (each a Common Share) on such terms as may be approved by the directors of the Company and regulatory authorities on the basis of one (1) post-consolidated Common Share for up to ten (10) pre-consolidated Common Shares. The Consolidation Resolution authorizes the Company to complete the Share Consolidation, which is described in detail below. Shareholders should note that the Circular posted to shareholders stated erroneously that directors and officers of the Company expected to convert approximately 1,000,000 (United Kingdom Pounds Sterling) into common shares following the Share Consolidation. This should have referred to Melquart Limited. Following the enactment of the Share Consolidation by the directors, if approved by the shareholders, it is anticipated that Melquart Limited, an insider of the Company will convert approximately 1,000,000 (United Kingdom Pounds Sterling) of debt into common shares, subject to the approval of the TSX-V. Reasons for the Shares Consolidation The Company believes that a consolidation of its Common Shares may be required in order to provide for further equity financing to meet the Company's future capital requirements and to attract new equity investment in the Company. Therefore, the Company is proposing to approve the Share Consolidation on such terms as may be approved by the directors of the Company and regulatory authorities on the basis of one (1) post-consolidated Common Share for up to ten (10) pre-consolidated Common Shares. The Board of Directors has provisionally agreed to a consolidation of the shares subject to the receipt of Shareholder approval and regulatory approvals. However, shareholders should note that even if the Consolidation Resolution is approved, the Board of Directors of the Company retains the power to revoke it at all times without any further approval by the shareholders. The Board of Directors will exercise such power in the event that it is, in its opinion, in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders. Shareholders will be informed of the Boards intention to undertake the consolidation, if it chooses to do so, via a news release to be made on or following any such consolidation. Any implementation of the Share Consolidation is subject to the prior approval of the TSX-V. Description of Share Consolidation Pursuant to the Share Consolidation, the Company would arrange to consolidate the Common Shares on such terms as may be approved by the directors of the Company and regulatory authorities, on the basis of one (1) post-consolidated Common Share for up to ten (10) pre-consolidated Common Shares. If approved and implemented, the Share Consolidation will occur simultaneously for all of the Common Shares and the consolidation ratio will be same for all of the Common Shares. The Share Consolidation will affect all shareholders uniformly (except for the treatment of post consolidated fractional Common Shares) and will not affect any Shareholder's proportional ownership interest in the Company. The Company currently has an unlimited number of Common Shares available for issuance and the Share Consolidation will not have any effect on the number of Common Shares that remain available for future issuance. No fractional post-consolidation Common Shares will be issued and no cash will be paid in lieu of fractional post consolidation Common Shares. Any fractional Common Shares resulting from the Share Consolidation will be rounded down to the nearest whole Common Share. The exercise or conversion price and the number of Common Shares issuable under any convertible securities of the Company will be proportionately adjusted if the Share Consolidation is affected. UK Depository Interest Holders: Form of Direction If you are a holder of depository interests representing existing ordinary shares in the capital of the Company, you are asked to complete the Form of Direction delivered to you and return it, together with any power of attorney or other authority under which it is signed or a notarially certified or office copy thereof, to Link Asset Services, PXS, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU so as to arrive no later than 4:30 p.m. (GMT) on 13th February 2020. Depository interest holders wishing to attend the meeting should contact Link Market Servicers Trustees Limited, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 4TU or by email to Nominee.Enquiries@linkgroup.co.uk by no later than 4:30 p.m. (GMT) on 13th February 2020. The Consolidation Resolution At the Meeting, the shareholders will be asked to consider and vote upon the Consolidation Resolution, which will authorize the Share Consolidation. The full text of the Consolidation Resolution is as found at Schedule A in the Circular. Further to the announcement on 16 December, 2019 outlining the expected percentage of votes required in support of the Share Consolidation, the Company confirms that the Consolidation Resolution is a special resolution of the Shareholders and, to be valid, it must be approved by 66 2/3% of the votes cast by the Shareholders present in person or by proxy at the Meeting. Recommendation of the Board The Board has concluded that the proposed Share Consolidation is in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders. Accordingly, the Board unanimously recommends that the Shareholders vote in favour of the Consolidation Resolution. Shares for Debt Conversion It is anticipated that if the Share Consolidation is approved by shareholders, Melquart Limited will convert 1,000,000 owing to them by the Company into post-consolidated Common Shares. The conversion price is floating and is set at a discount of a maximum of 25% to the closing price on the Toronto Venture Exchange on the day immediately prior to conversion, with a minimum price of CAD$0.05. Copies of the Circular have been posted to Shareholders today and the Circular will be available for inspection on the Companys website www.galantas.com This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014. 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. Enquiries : Galantas Gold Corp. Roland Phelps C.Eng President & CEO Email: info@galantas.com Telephone: (UK) +44 (0) 2882 241100 Website: www.galantas.com Grant Thornton UK LLP (AIM Nominated Advisor) Philip Secrett, Richard Tonthat: Telephone: +44(0)20 7383 5100 Whitman Howard Ltd (Broker & Corporate Adviser) Nick Lovering, Grant Barker: Telephone: +44(0)20 7659 1234 One male died in a single-vehicle crash Tuesday on N.C. 16 South near Keisler Road SE, according to Newton police Chief Vidal Sipe. Three others in the vehicle suffered life-threatening injuries in the accident, Sipe said. All three were transported from the scene either by ambulance or helicopter. Two passengers were taken to Catawba Valley Medical Center and one was flown to Atrium Healths Carolinas Medical Center, according to a press release from the Newton Police Department. The names of the passengers were not released by Tuesday afternoon because some family members were yet to be notified, according to the release. Sipe said the vehicle was traveling on N.C. 16 South when it went off the right side of the road and hit a tree. Newton police responded to the scene and found the vehicle on its side, according to the release. Details on what caused the accident werent available Tuesday afternoon. We dont know if speed was a factor, Sipe said at the scene. The weather was clear and the roads were dry at the time of the accident. Commercial mats get a lot of abuse but might be an afterthought when it comes to cleanliness. Crown Uniform and Linen, New England's best-in-class uniform, linen, and commercial laundry service at https://crownuniform.com/, is proud to announce an information upgrade to its page on commercial mat service issues. Many business owners require logo mats or other mats in front of their businesses both for safety and for branding purposes. The newly updated page explains how businesses from Boston to Springfield, Providence RI to Nashua NH, can avail themselves of Crown Uniform's best-in-class commercial mat services. "Commercial mats get a lot of abuse but might be an afterthought when it comes to cleanliness. A cleaning crew mopping down mats at the end of each day doesn't always remove slippery spots or bacteria. It can be the first place a slip and fall occurs. Then it becomes a problem for the company," explained Plato Spilios, Co-President at Crown. "Outsourcing mat service needs can help any business in New England to ensure stable, sanitary mats on a consistent basis." Crown Uniform and Linen's newly revised informational page on commercial floor and mat services can be reviewed at https://crownuniform.com/mats-mops-and-towels/. Safety issues surrounding industrial mats can be a concern for human resource and business leaders. Dirty, slippery mats can cause an employee or customer to fall and sustain injuries. In-house staff tasked with cleaning commercial mats might miss critical spots. To ensure safe, sanitary, and well-gripping mats, a commercial mat service in Boston, Massachusetts, can be the right choice. Outsourcing industrial mat cleaning could help avoid slip and falls in the workplace. For other cleaning services, interested persons can review the company's linen service page at https://crownuniform.com/linen-service/ or reach out to the friendly staff at Crown for a no obligation consultation. COMMERCIAL MAT SERVICE IN MASSACHUSETTS & BEYOND IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR INDUSTRIAL LEADERS Here is the background for this release. Health and safety issues can be the number one priority for human resources departments. For industrial food warehouses, floor mats could be the main culprit for slippery spots. Work shoes can carry vegetable and meat refuse right onto floor mats creating a bacterial soup of slippery walkways. In-house clean-up crews might not manage to sanitize mats appropriately. Slip and fall accidents can make up many injuries in the workplace. Retail establishments like restaurants, hospitals, or universities can benefit from a professional, commercial mat service. A commercial mat service designed to completely clean and deliver back thoroughly sanitized, good-gripping industrial floor mats might help. For these reasons, Crown Uniform and Linen is proud to announce new information on its commercial mat service line for New England cities such as Boston, Worcester, Providence, and Nashua. ABOUT CROWN UNIFORM AND LINEN SERVICE Crown Uniform and Linen Service is an ecofriendly/green, family-owned, best-in-class commercial linen service serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Maine, and Connecticut. Whether a customer is looking for the best linen service in Boston or Cambridge, Springfield or Worcester, Hartford CT or Nashua NH, Providence RI or Portland ME, or a top-rated uniform service for restaurants or food processing, medical offices or healthcare, hospitals or hotels or other commercial laundry service needs such as manufacturing or education, they should visit the website at https://crownuniform.com/. Crown's commercial laundry service lets business owners focus on their business. The company even offers logo mats and mat rental services throughout New England. A 55-year-old woman was found strangulated on a road near her house in Nagpur district, the police said on Wednesday. It appeared to be a case of robbery as the woman's jewelery was missing, a police officer said. The deceased was identified as Sindhu Purushottam Gedam (55), resident of Niharwani village in Mauda tehsil. A police official said that the woman had gone to watch a musical program in the village with her family members on Saturday night. She left the program midway through. But when her son Rajesh and his wife returned, they did not find her at home. Her body, wrapped in a shawl, was found on a road near her house on Tuesday. Inspector Anil Jittawar of the Crime Branch of Nagpur Rural Police said the woman was found to be strangulated with a handkerchief, and the gold jewelery she was wearing was missing. Further probe was on. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dissatisfaction with democratic politics among citizens of developed* countries has increased from a third to half of all individuals over the last quarter of a century, according to the largest international dataset on global attitudes to democracy ever made. In fact, researchers found that across the planet - from Europe to Africa, as well as Asia, Australasia, both Americas and the Middle East - the share of individuals who say they are "dissatisfied" with democracy has jumped significantly since the mid-1990s: from 47.9% to 57.5%. The research team, from the University of Cambridge's new Centre for the Future of Democracy, say that the year 2019 "represents the highest level of democratic discontent on record". Detailed stocktaking of global political sentiment began in 1995. The report used a unique dataset of more than 4 million people. It combines over 25 international survey projects covering 154 countries between 1995 and 2020, with some dating back as far as 1973, and includes new cross-country surveys. The report, along with the new Centre, which will be based at the Bennett Institute for Public Policy, will be launched in Cambridge on Wednesday 29 January. "Across the globe, democracy is in a state of malaise," said the report's lead author Dr Roberto Foa, from Cambridge's Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS). "We find that dissatisfaction with democracy has risen over time, and is reaching an all-time global high, in particular in developed countries." Professor David Runciman, head of the new Centre, said: "We need to move beyond thinking about immediate crises in politics and take a longer view to identify possible trajectories for democracy around the world. This means distinguishing what is essential to democracy, what is contingent and what can be changed. "The Centre for the Future of Democracy will be looking at the bigger picture to see how democracy could evolve," he said. The downward trend in satisfaction with democracy has been especially sharp since 2005, which marks the beginning of what some have called a 'global democratic recession'. Just 38.7% of citizens were dissatisfied in that year, but this has since risen by almost one-fifth of the population (+18.8%) to 57.5%. Many large democracies are now at their highest-ever recorded level for democratic dissatisfaction. These include the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, as well as the United States - where dissatisfaction has increased by a third since the 1990s. Other countries that remain close to their all-time dissatisfaction highs include Japan, Spain and Greece. However, researchers uncovered what they call an "island of contentment" in the heart of Europe: Denmark, Switzerland, Norway and the Netherlands are among nations where satisfaction with democracy is reaching all-time highs. "We found a select group of nations, containing just two per cent of the world's democratic citizenry, in which less than a quarter of the public express discontent with their political system," said Foa. Other regional "bright spots", where levels of civic contentment are significantly higher, include Southeast Asia, and to a lesser extent the democracies in South Asia and Northeast Asia. "For now, much of Asia has avoided the crisis of democratic faith affecting other parts of the world," said Foa. The research team found that shifts in democratic satisfaction often responded to "objective circumstances and events" such as economic shocks or corruption scandals. "The 2015 refugee crisis and the 2008 financial crisis had an immediately observable effect upon average levels of civic dissatisfaction," said Foa. Following the onset of the global financial crisis in October 2008, for example, global dissatisfaction with the functioning of democracy jumped by around 6.5 percentage points - an increase that "appears to have been durable", say researchers. On a more hopeful note, the team also found the opposite: democracies working together to resolve policy crises have a positive effect. After the European Council agreed to a European Stability Mechanism to stem the sovereign debt crisis, dissatisfaction with democracy fell by 10 percentage points in Western Europe. "Our findings suggest that citizens are rational in their view of political institutions, and update their assessment in response to what they observe," said Foa. In the UK, the report shows democratic satisfaction rose fairly consistently for thirty years from the 1970s, reaching a high-water mark during the Blair years at the turn of the millennium. The Iraq War and parliamentary expenses scandal caused dips, but satisfaction plunged during the political stalemate following the EU Referendum. By 2019, for the first time since the mid-1970s, a clear majority of UK citizens were dissatisfied with democracy. The US has seen a "dramatic and unexpected" decline in satisfaction, according to researchers. In 1995, more than three-quarters of US citizens were satisfied with American democracy, a figure that plateaued for the next decade. The first big knock came with the 2008 financial crisis, and deterioration has continued year-on-year ever since. Now, less than half of US citizens are content with their democracy. "Such levels of democratic dissatisfaction would not be unusual elsewhere," said Foa. "But for the United States it may mark an end of exceptionalism, and a profound shift in America's view of itself." The report's authors suggest that the 1990s were a better time for democracy, as the West emerged from the Cold War with renewed legitimacy, while multi-party elections spread across Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. However, repeated financial and foreign policy failures in established democracies, along with endemic corruption and state fragility in the Global South, have eroded trust in democracy over the last 25 years. "The rise of populism may be less a cause and more a symptom of democratic malaise," said Foa. "Without this weakening legitimacy, it would be unthinkable for a US presidential candidate to denounce American democracy as rigged, or for the winning presidential candidate in Latin America's largest democracy to openly entertain nostalgia for military rule." "If confidence in democracy has been slipping, it is because democratic institutions have been seen failing to address some of the major crises of our era, from economic crashes to the threat of global warming. To restore democratic legitimacy, that must change." ### Notes: For the purposes of this report, developed is defined as countries where the approximate GDP per capita is over $30,000 (PPP). All data presented in the report are from countries that are electoral democracies. The report is now available online: https://www.bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk/media/uploads/files/DemocracyReport2020.pdf NEW YORK - Two women who say they met Harvey Weinstein when they were aspiring actresses in their 20s testified at his rape trial Wednesday that the one-time Hollywood titan preyed on their dreams of stardom to sexually assault them. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Harvey Weinstein leaves for the day during his trial on charges of rape and sexual assault, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020 in New York. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) NEW YORK - Two women who say they met Harvey Weinstein when they were aspiring actresses in their 20s testified at his rape trial Wednesday that the one-time Hollywood titan preyed on their dreams of stardom to sexually assault them. Dawn Dunning told jurors that Weinstein put his hand up her skirt and fondled her genitals during what was supposed to be a 2004 meeting about her fledgling career and later tried trading movie roles for three-way sex with him and his assistant. She said Weinstein claimed the lewd offer was the kind of thing that happened all the time in the film business and that he mentioned the names of several big stars in hopes of convincing her to do it. Tarale Wulff testified that Weinstein raped her at his New York City apartment after luring her there in 2005 with promises of an audition for a film role. Wulff choked back tears as she described the much larger Weinstein grabbing her by the arm, pushing her onto a bed and spurning her pleas to stop with reassurances that she shouldn't worry because he'd had a vasectomy. Wulff, now 43 and a model, said she froze as he continued, thinking that would make it "easier to get through, to get past it." Wulff and Dunnings allegations against Weinstein are not part of the underlying criminal charges against him, but their testimony could be a factor in whether he goes to prison at the end of his landmark #MeToo-era trial. Harvey Weinstein arrives at court for his trial on charges of rape and sexual assault, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 in New York.(AP Photo/Richard Drew) Prosecutors called them as witnesses under a state law that allows testimony about so-called "prior bad acts," enabling them to explore things like motive, opportunity, intent and a common scheme or plan. In this case, prosecutors allege that Weinstein has long used the promise of career advancement to take advantage of young, vulnerable women. Weinstein, 67, is charged with forcibly performing oral sex on Mimi Haleyi, at the time a "Project Runway" production assistant, in 2006 and raping another aspiring actress in 2013. That woman could testify later this week. Weinstein has insisted any sexual encounters were consensual. His lawyers raised doubts about Wulff's recollection after she disclosed that she had worked with a therapist for a year to fill gaps in her memory. Speaking to reporters later, Wulff's lawyer called that line of questioning a "red herring" and said her memory of being raped has never altered. Weinstein's lawyers also questioned why Dunning waited until last summer to tell prosecutors that Weinstein had fondled her after she had gone public with the jobs-for-sex allegation, first in an article in The New York Times in October 2017. Weinstein, who was subdued in his interactions with reporters during the trial's first week, seemed looser as he left the courthouse, proclaiming "It went great today. The lawyers killed it." He likened a portion of Dunning's testimony to bull excrement. The jury of seven men and five women has already heard from Haleyi, who tearfully testified Monday that she tried to fight off Weinstein before he sexually assaulted her, and actress Annabella Sciorra, who testified last week that he overpowered and raped her after barging into her apartment in the mid-1990s. The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they have been victims of sexual assault, unless they agree to be named or gone public with their stories, as Haleyi, Wulff, Dunning and Sciorra have done. Harvey Weinstein, center, arrives at court with his attorney Donna Rotunno, left, for his trial on charges of rape and sexual assault, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) Wulff testified that on an occasion before the alleged rape, Weinstein grabbed her arm as she served cocktails at one of his usual Manhattan haunts, led her toward a darkened terrace and started masturbating. Wulff, who'd met Weinstein at the members-only club, said she froze and scooted around him to go back to the bar. Dunning told jurors she met Weinstein while waiting tables at a different Manhattan night spot, one where bottle service was a trendy indulgence for the rich and famous. Weinstein immediately appeared to take an interest in her acting career, she said, and invited her to a lunch meeting where, noting his infamous temper, she said he was "on the phone a lot yelling at people." Several meetings followed, Dunning said, including one at a hotel where Weinstein was using a suite as a temporary office. At one point, she testified, Weinstein led her into a bedroom and put his hand up her skirt. "I stood up. I was in shock," Dunning said, fighting back tears as she described the alleged incident when she was 24. "He just started talking really fast. He said, Dont make a big deal about this. It will never happen again." Dunning said she "just kind of gave him the benefit of the doubt" and didn't scream or tell anyone because she was embarrassed and didn't want to be a victim. Dunning said she later agreed to meet Weinstein at a cigar bar, but that an assistant took her to a suite where the producer was standing in a bathrobe. There, she said Weinstein showed her a contract for three movie roles she would get on the condition she had "a threesome with his assistant." Dunning testified that she laughed when Weinstein floated the idea, thinking he was kidding and had a "crass sense of humour." "But when I started laughing, he got really angry and started screaming at me," Dunning testified. "He said, 'you'll never make it in this business, this is how this industry works.'" Dunning, now 40, said Weinstein went on to namedrop actresses Salma Hayek and Charlize Theron, implying they had done similar things to achieve success something both women have strongly denied. Hayek has said she had to fight off Weinstein's constant harassment and bullying. Theron was upset when some accusers said he implied they had slept 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. Dunning said she didn't know what Weinstein would do after she laughed off the offer, so she ran for the door and down the hall to the elevator. "He was a big guy. He was towering over me," she testified. "I was really scared." ___ On Twitter, follow Tom Hays at twitter.com/aptomhays and Michael Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak ___ For more coverage of Harvey Weinsteins trial visit: apnews.com/HarveyWeinstein Rudy Giuliani tore into former national security advisor John Bolton as a 'swamp creature' as Senate Republicans strategized over whether to call in a witness the former New York mayor characterized as an 'atomic bomb.' Giuliani tore into Bolton, whom he termed a 'backstabber' for never bringing concerns about his operations in Ukraine to him directly. Instead, Bolton raised alarms to multiple national security officials, they testified and instructed them to contact White House lawyers about conduct they considered improper. 'He never said to me, 'I've got a problem with what you are doing in Ukraine.' Never once, never winked, never sent me a little note,' Giuliani told CBS News. Donald Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani tore into former national security advisor John Bolton as a 'swamp creature' and a 'back stabber' 'That's classic backstabber. So I feel I got a swamp character here. I find his testimony about the president pretty close to incredible.' Giuliani also upped the ante on testimony that Bolton warned he was a 'hand-grenade' with his operations in Ukraine comments that anticipated the House voting out an abuse of power impeachment article against the president. 'If he came up to me and said, 'Rudy, you're a grenade that'll blow up,' and he shows his face, I would say, 'I would never have the opportunity, 'cause you're an atomic bomb.'' Bolton's new manuscript says Trump told him he was holding up Ukraine aid to get investigations of the Bidens President Trump ridiculed Bolton, whom he brought on to be his top national security advisor Giuliani's comments echoed an attack by the president, who fumed on Twitter Wednesday: 'Why didnt John Bolton complain about this nonsense a long time ago, when he was very publicly terminated. He said, not that it matters, NOTHING!' Trump wrote. Trump also dismissed the man he named as his top security advisor as having 'begged' him for a job and nearly causing a string of world wars. 'For a guy who couldnt get approved for the Ambassador to the U.N. years ago, couldnt get approved for anything since, begged me for a non Senate approved job, which I gave him despite many saying Dont do it, sir, takes the job, mistakenly says Libyan Model on T.V., and..many more mistakes of judgement, gets fired because frankly, if I listened to him, we would be in World War Six by now, and goes out and IMMEDIATELY writes a nasty & untrue book,' Trump wrote on Twitter. 'All Classified National Security. Who would do this?' The joint attacks come as GOP senators continued to meet to determine whether to call Bolton as a witness, following bombshell revelations in his book manuscript that Trump told him he was withholding millions in congressionally-appropriated security assistance to Ukraine to force an investigation of the Bidens. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told colleagues Tuesday he does not have the votes as of yet to prevent witnesses at the Trump impeachment trial. CLEVELAND, Ohio An OnStar security system helped Cleveland police officers track and stop a car stolen late Tuesday from a gas station in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood. OnStar remotely slowed the stolen car as officers followed it early Wednesday on Interstate 90 near the West 41st Street exit. Officers arrested three 15-year-old boys, a 14-year-old boy, a 13-year-old boy and a sixth boy whose age is not included in the police report for the incident. All six boys were taken to the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center, which declined to take them into custody. They were released and taken home. A Cleveland police spokeswoman did not immediately say whether they are facing juvenile charges in the case. A 25-year-old man left his 2015 Buick Lacrosse running just after 11:30 p.m. while he and his girlfriend went into a gas station on Memphis Avenue near Ridge Road. An employee told the man someone got into his car and drove away, police reports say. Security camera video showed a white car drive up to the gas station. The driver got out, jumped into the Buick and drove away. An accomplice moved over to drivers seat in the white car and sped away, police reports say. The Buick has an OnStar security system, and the company tracked the car. An officer found it just before 2 a.m. Wednesday at a gas station on Clark Avenue at Scranton Road. Officers followed the stolen car onto Interstate 90, where OnStar slowed it until it stopped near the West 41st Street exit. Two officers drew their guns and ordered the Buicks occupants out of the car. The six boys got out and surrendered without incident, police reports say. Investigators also found two bank cards and the keys to a Volkswagen in the stolen Buick, police reports say. The man and his girlfriend came to retrieve his stolen Buick. The car had fresh damage and was missing its front bumper, they said. Investigators believe the six boys may be connected to a crash involving another stolen car on Gifford Drive near West 57th Street in Cleveland, police reports say. The Buicks bumper was found at that crash scene. Details from that crash were not immediately available Wednesday afternoon. Area police departments routinely work with OnStar to track stolen cars and arrest suspects in motor vehicle thefts and carjackings. Last year, Cleveland officers used the technology to track and arrest three suspects in a carjacking at an East Side gas station. In 2017, OnStar used its technology to remotely slowed a truck stolen from Lyndhurst and a car stolen from South Euclid. To comment on this story, visit Wednesdays crime and courts comments page. Read more crime stories: Cleveland father charged after 3-year-old boy shot himself with illegal gun Cuyahoga County prosecutor to seek death penalty for Cleveland man charged in triple homicide Two in critical condition among four hurt in East Side crash, Cleveland EMS says Man shoots attacker in self-defense in Clevelands Slavic Village neighborhood, police say Man found dead with hands bound in Cleveland was reported missing Christmas Eve Doctors have called on the Australian government to further subsidise nicotine replacement therapies to help people quit smoking. Allowing smokers to use more than one therapy at a time would make it more accessible to those at the poorer end of the spectrum, according to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Figures used in a new report by the RACGP showed just 6.5 per cent of those in the highest socio-economic areas smoked daily, but that figure almost tripled to 17.7 per cent in the lowest. Smokers would be more likely to quit if the government funded two quit-smoking medications rather than one, according to Australian doctors The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme subsidised by the Australian government only allows one treatment a year for a maximum of 12 weeks. College chairman Dr Harry Nespolon said combination NRT (nicotine replacement therapy) was more likely to lead to someone quitting smoking. 'Rather than having patients do it once a year it would be much better if we were able to prescribe and patients receive subsidised treatment more than once of year,' he told The Sydney Morning Herald. Pharmacotheraphy treatments available in Australia include nicotine patches, gum, lozenges and sprays. The drug varenicline meanwhile stops people from receiving pleasure from smoking. The changes were recommended by the association's president as the RACGP added vaping to its list of aids for those looking to quit cigarette smoking. Doctors advised while there was no official standard for what goes into e-cigarettes, vaping involves fewer toxic chemicals and carcinogens than cigarettes. College chairman Dr Harry Nespolon said combination nicotine replacement therapy was more likely to lead to someone quitting smoking (stock image of nicotine gum) Researchers said e-cigarettes could therefore be used as a second line of defence for those looking to quit smoking. Nicholas Zwar, who chairs the guide's advisory group, said the lack of tested and approved e-cigarettes meant there were other alternatives preferred for countering smoking. Those alternatives include using nicotine gums and patches - accompanied by behavioural support from a patient's doctor. But Professor Zwar said it could be cautiously considered as a support therapy and added research showed two forms of nicotine replacement were better than one. 'The therapies that have been tested and been through therapeutic approval would be the first choice,' Professor Zwar said. 'If you are a health practitioner the problem is you do not know exactly what is going to be in any e-cigarette product - it is not standardised.' The second edition of the RACGP's Supporting Smoking Cessation report published in December 2019 lists nicotine-containing e-cigarettes as their 15th and final recommendation for fighting a smoking habit. What is an e-cigarette and how is it different to smoking tobacco? An electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) is a device that allows users to inhale nicotine by heating a vapour from a solution that contain nicotine, propylene and flavourings. As there is no burning involved, there is no smoke like a traditional cigarette. But while they have been branded as carrying a lower risk than cigarettes, an increasing swell of studies is showing health dangers. E-cigarettes do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, but the vapor does contain some harmful chemicals. Nicotine is the highly addictive chemical which makes it difficult for smokers to quit. Nearly three million people in Britain use e-cigarettes, and more than nine million Americans. TYPES: 1. Standard e-cigarette Battery-powered device containing nicotine e-liquid. It vaporizes flavored nicotine liquid. 2. Juul Very similar to normal e-cigarettes but with sleeker design and, in the US, a higher concentration of nicotine. In the UK and EU limited to 20 mg/ml. Thanks to its 'nicotine salts', manufacturers claim one pod delivers the amount of nicotine as a pack of cigarettes. It is composed of an e-cigarette (battery and temperature control), and a pod of e-liquid which is inserted at the end. The liquid contains nicotine, chemicals and flavorings. Like other vaping devices, it vaporizes the e-liquid. 3. IQOS by Philip Morris Pen-shaped, charged like an iPod. Vaporizes tobacco. It is known as a 'heat not burn' smokeless device, heating tobacco but not burning it (at 350C compared to 600C as normal cigarettes do). The company claims this method lowers users' exposure to carcinogen from burning tobacco. Advertisement Researchers in the UK found heavy smokers who switched to e-cigarettes started to see their risk of heart disease fall within a month. The scientists stressed non-smokers should steer clear of e-cigarettes, because the devices come with their own harms. But for 'chronic' tobacco smokers - those who have smoked at least 15 cigarettes a day for two years - switching resulted in an almost immediate benefit. Back in 2015, the state legislature of Montana created a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for individuals who donate to organizations that provide scholarships to private school students. In response, the Montana Department of Revenue ruled that such a tax credit would violate the states version of the Blaine Amendment, which prohibits state funding of religious education. So, the state terminated the program altogether. Kendra Espinoza, a single mom who works extra jobs in order to send her kids to a Christian school in Kalispell, challenged the Department of Revenues ruling in court. The case is currently on the Supreme Courts docket for this term. During oral arguments, conservative justices like Alito and Kavanaugh brought up the Courts decision in Trinity Lutheran v. Comer, which held that forcing a church school to choose between [participating] in an otherwise available benefit program or [remaining] a religious institution violated the Free Exercise clause. Unsurprisingly, the liberal justices disagreed. What was surprising is that the editorial board of the Washington Post came out on the side of Espinoza. Using scholarships at private, religious schools was not only a parents right, the editorial board wrote, but using them didnt undermine or harm public education or the state, contrary to many of the tropes advanced by those opposed to school choice. The Post also called out the hypocrisy of upper-middle class opponents to these kinds of programs by noting that, People with means take for granted the ability to choose their childs school by paying tuition or moving to communities with quality schools. So why begrudge people like Kendra Espinoza the same opportunity? Its not often I find myself in complete agreement with the editorial board of the Washington Post! Im old enough to remember when the very existence of Christian educational alternatives was threatened by government entities. Oh yeah, we are all old enoughsuch threats are still very much a reality, especially in California. The truth is, government-imposed ideologies, especially so-called SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity) legislation, very much threaten the future of Christian educational institutions. Still, I hold great hope for their futures, and not only because this crucial Montana case is being heard in our recently remade Supreme Court. Its because Christians are currently bringing an incredible amount of innovation and creativity to the realm of education. In a Christianity Today article last August, Louis Markos described a home-schooling co-op in Kentucky that not only is steeped in the Great Books, but whose purpose is to glorify God, free the mind(s) of students from the marketplace of idols, and shape them into virtuous, morally self-regulating citizens. Across the country, innovative classical schools like this one are exploding, some in the form of homeschool co-ops, others in the form of private and charter schools. Many private Christian schools today are thriving, some who have made the difficult but sound transition from only existing to keep kids sheltered from culture to effectively preparing them to engage the culture. Also, excellent para-educational options abound, from the outstanding conferences for high-shoolers and college students offered by Summit Ministries, Worldview Academy, and Impact 360 to graduate and post-graduate training such as the John Jay Institute and ADFs Blackstone Legal Fellowship. All of these point to a real rejuvenation in Christian education, and we are seeing their fruit. Time and again, I meet Christian secondary students who are running their own businesses, digging much-needed wells for communities in Africa, or fighting to save preborn lives or victims of sex trafficking. I recently talked to a Christian school administrator who is actively seeking innovative ways to make sure that single moms, like Kendra Espinoza, can afford private Christian education for their children. These believers are joining Christianitys historic role in advancing education and taking the lead in solving our nations educational problems. Historically, Christians have seen education as a gift we can best offer, not only to our own, but to the world, as a vehicle to knowing God and to promoting human flourishing. Im not certain how the Court will decide the Montana case, but I do see reasons for optimism no matter what the justices decide. How refreshing. These days, that kind of optimism can be as rare as agreeing with the Washington Post. Publication date: January 29, 2020 Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Dolgachov 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. Italy draws up emergency repatriation plan for Italians as deadly Coronavirus spreads rapidly in China. Italy's foreign ministry is drawing up a plan to evacuate Italians caught in the Wuhan region of China amid the deadly Coronavirus outbreak, reports Italian news agency ANSA. The evacuation will be by air, after the ministry ruled out plans to bring the Italians home by land which would involve "complex" quarantines, foreign ministry sources told ANSA. However the air transfer is also "complex", said the head of the ministry's Coronavirus crisis unit, Stefano Verrecchia. The repatriation plan is being worked out in collaboration with Italy's health ministry and Rome's Spallanzani Hospital, a specialist centre for treating infectious diseases. Flights from China News of the plan comes as the Italian government ordered that all incoming flights from China be redirected to airports with adequate virus screening facilities, in particular Fiumicino in Rome. Death toll The death toll from the mysterious new virus in China has reached 132, with the number of confirmed cases there nearing 6,000. With cases now confirmed in more than a dozen other countries, the Chinese government is urging its citizens to cancel plans for foreign travel. Suspected cases in Italy A suspected case of Coronavirus in Pistoia on 28 January proved negative, according to Italy's health ministry, however later that evening there were media reports of new suspected case involving a 28-year-old Chinese tourist being kept in isolation at a hospital in Naples. The man, who is from China's Hubei province - the epicentre of the deadly virus - is in Italy on honeymoon and landed in Fiumicino a week ago. Travel warning Italy has issued a travel warning advising Italians to call off all unnecessary trips to China, as the World Health Organization raises the global risk of the fatal virus from "moderate" to "high". A medical student from Madhya Pradesh, who returned from Chinas Wuhan on January 13, has been hospitalised along with his mother over suspicion of contracting the deadly coronavirus, health officials said on Tuesday. The student belongs to Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. He had respiratory problems for the past six days but didnt get cured despite taking medicines, officials further said. The student and his mother have cough and cold. Samples have been sent to a laboratory in Pune to find out if they are affected by Coronavirus. The report is awaited. However, both the patients admitted to an isolation ward are out of danger, said chief medical and health officer (CMHO), Ujjain Dr Mahavir Khandelwal. Madhya Pradesh health minister Tulsi Silavat has instructed officials across the state to make preparations in hospitals including admission of such patients in isolation wards and also screen suspected patients of coronavirus at the airports. Till now we have just two suspected patients from across the state who are suspected of having coronavirus - the medical student and his mother in Ujjain. Since he had a travel history we identified him and admitted the isolation ward, said Joint director, IDSP (Integrated disease surveillance programme), Dr Rajesh Kathal. All the district hospitals, medical colleges and airports have been apprised of the protocol to identify the patients with the suspected virus. There is special attention to people coming from China, Kathal further said. The official said that the reports from Pune lab regarding the samples of the medical student and his mother are expected to be received by Wednesday. The coronavirus is believed to have originated from Wuhan in China last month and its outbreak has claimed more than 130 lives so far, and infected more than 6000 people. 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-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. Statins are well-known medications that can help people lower high cholesterol levels. Now a new study shows a topical formulation of mevastatin in development could help heal chronic skin wounds. University of Miami Miller School of Medicine researchers report the novel discovery in the journal JCI Insight. The results of the NIH-funded study demonstrate the therapeutic potential of using already FDA-approved statins as a topical treatment for chronic wounds that are otherwise non-responsive to standard treatment options, said senior author Marjana Tomic-Canic, Ph.D., professor, vice chair of research and William H. Eaglstein Chair in Wound Healing in the Dr Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery at the Miller School. The current work builds on earlier findings. Previously, the same research team showed mevastatin boosted wound closure in pig wound models and in samples of human skin. This time, along with lead author Andrew P. Sawaya, Ph.D., Dr. Tomic-Canic and colleagues evaluated how the statin accomplishes this beneficial effect. Topical mevastatin effectively targets caveolin-1, a membrane protein in skin cells that prevents wound healing stimulatory signals to facilitate cell migration and wound closure. Mevastatin reverses this caveolin-1 block, allowing epidermal growth factor receptor to function. In turn, epidermal growth factor can do its job stimulate skin cells to migrate across a wound and complete the healing process to restore the skin barrier. How mevastatin provides this beneficial effect was verified in a genomic analysis. Using human keratinocytes the predominant cell type in the outer layer of the skin the investigators confirmed the statin can turn on genes that promote skin cell migration across a wound. At the same time, mevastatin can turn off genes associated with hyperproliferation, or excessive cell production. This is important because in patients with chronic wounds, despite a high production of new skin cells, healing does not occur because the cells cannot move across the ulcer to close it. The accuracy with which mevastatin turns off one action while promoting another is important because this is precisely what is needed in patients, Dr. Tomic-Canic said. Although the current study focused on non-healing diabetic foot ulcers, the results could someday lead to effective treatments for other chronic, non-healing wounds as well. Dr. Tomic-Canic said, From a biological standpoint, this is the first evidence of selective targeting of only one EGF function, which provides a unique opportunity for therapeutic interventions. Going forward, Dr. Tomic-Canic and colleagues plan to continue evaluating mechanisms by which such selective targeting occurs. They also want to further develop topical mevastatin with the ultimate goal of translating their research findings into treating patients in the clinic. Additional Miller School faculty contributing to the study include Ivan Jozic, Ph.D., Rivka C. Stone, M.D., Ph.D., Irena Pastar, Ph.D., and Robert S. Kirsner, M.D., Ph.D. Miller School of Medicine The youngest, most ethnically diverse, and largest generation in United States history is anxious, pragmatic, and passionate to change the worldand are looking to college educators to help them, Corey Seemiller, a college teacher and adviser for more than 20 years, recently told an audience at Storer Auditorium in the University of Miami Herbert Business School. My whole premise as a college educator is to leverage the dreams of these young people who are more interested in making a difference in the world than making money, Seemiller said. Wouldnt it be great if we, as college educators, could find more ways to help them make that change? Seemillers talk, Educating and Engaging the Next Generation of Students, was hosted by the School of Education and Human Development, the Miami Herbert Business School, and the Platform for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (PETAL), a component of the Universitys Roadmap to Our New Century initiative launched in August 2019 and designed to elevate the art of teaching and enhance students learning experience. Leewin Louder, a first-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology Program in the School of Education and Human Development, attended Seemillers seminar seeking to better understand the relationship between teens and trauma, a focus of her research. Her talk served as an antidote to a lot of the negative media that we hear about this generation, said Louder, adding that she was especially interested to learn more about the entrepreneurial zeal and innovative spirit of Generation Z. In an interactive workshop that followed Seemillers seminar, Lisa Beal, professor in the Ocean Sciences Department at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, echoed the researchers assessment that educators need to help Generation Z unlearn the misinformation they glean from the internet. Science is not normative as in other areas, there is a right and wrong, Beal said. It can be frustrating because theres a lot of misunderstanding about climate sciences. Beal acknowledged that she started her classes asking students what they know, think, and feel about the topics to provide accurate scientific information. Though today she is recognized as the Gen Z speaker, a few years ago Seemiller was essentially unaware of the budding post-millennial generation weaned on the internet and social media. In 2013, in both advising sessions and her classes on leadership and civic engagement, she began to notice a profound shift in the questions that students asked about their education and careers. More than majors, they wanted outcomes. More than degrees, they wanted competencies, she said. They looked to education as an avenue to funnel their dreams, she added. According to Seemiller, their questions were prompted by the world they were witnessing and experiencing. Context matters, said Seemiller. The defining events that occur, especially during adolescence, shape attitudes and behaviors that persist for the rest of our lives. In her own life, as a seventh-grader sitting in her science class in Sarasota, Florida, she watched the Space Shuttle Challenger explode into the atmosphere barely a minute after taking off and knew her life would never be the same. Seemiller said that both Big Zsborn 1995-2002and Little Zsborn 20032010have been indelibly imprinted by the Great Recession, the housing and financial crisis that climaxed in 2008. As a result, she explained, members of Gen Z are adverse to loans and working more jobs. They are making careful, cost-conscious decisions about higher education. And this at a time when higher education is more expensive than ever, Seemiller pointed out. This tension emphasizes the importance of more effectively engaging this new wave of students. Ann Olazabal, professor and vice dean of Undergraduate Business Education, and John Quelch, dean of the Herbert Business School, introduced Seemiller and welcomed the opportunity to share new insights with University educators. PETAL aims to inculcate good teaching practices for new faculty, and we have to keep our eyes open and find new ways to build bridges between faculty and our students, Olazabal said. Three wordsdetermined, open-minded, and compassionatesum up this new generation, and were excited to learn more about what these students are looking for within and outside the classroom, added Quelch. Seemiller noted that when she first noticed the shifting nature of her students, she sought ways to connect with them. She binge-watched the Twilight movies, popular at the time, and then used some of the references and phrases in her conversations. The attempt didnt get far. Its bigger than the words, its not as simple as that, Seemiller said. You have to understand their contextthe experiences that have formed themin a way thats meaningful to them. In her presentation, Seemiller offered a wide-ranging assessment of the habits, motivations, and characteristics of Generation Z drawn from her qualitative studies: Aldi's new range of designer reusable nappies have completely sold out in just five minutes after being released for the first time on Wednesday. Environmentally-conscious mothers flooded supermarkets across Australia to buy the Australian brand 'Bare and Boho' for the first time at just $14.99 a packet. The reusable nappies are a cloth alternative for babies and are popular with parents who want to reduce waste. About 800 million disposable nappies are thrown away in Australia every year - and they take up to 500 years to break down. Australian small business Bare and Boho landed a special promotions deal with Aldi. Eco-warrior mums rushed to the store for the sought-after product on Wednesday The reusable nappies are a cloth alternative for babies and are popular with parents who want to reduce waste Taiya Duncker went to her local Aldi in the hopes of buying her niece the reusable nappies, with video showing her at the store before doors had opened. Video posted to Instagram shows the hopeful aunt waiting as the door is opened with a worker warning customers not to run. 'Just wait until I've opened the door please. There's heaps of nappies down there but please no running,' the worker says. Ms Duncker managed to snap up six nappies for her niece, Ellie, before they quickly sold out. She posted a photo to Instagram showing that there were only four nappies left just five minutes after opening. The reusable nappies retail for $14.99 each with Bare and Boho supplying designs exclusively to Aldi. Taiya Duncker went to her local Aldi in the hopes of buying her niece the reusable nappies, with video showing her at the store before doors had opened Video posted to Instagram shows the hopeful aunt waiting as the door is opened with a worker warning customers not to run The products were available as part of the German retailer's 'special buys' promotion and were sold with an accompanying insert. HOW DO CLOTH NAPPIES WORK: Bare and Boho reusable nappies are a one-size-fits-most product, fitting babies between four and 18kg. The Bare and Boho cloth nappies have an outer water-resistant shell with the inner wipeable lining for reuse. Bare and Boho suggest putting used and soiled items in a dry pail in between washing - with an open lid and maximum air flow. They then suggest a hand-rinse with a silicone soft bristle brush and quality detergent. A stain remover is also suggested for the nappies before throwing them into the washing machine. It is recommended they are washed in a washing machine every 1-2 days. For drying, they will last longer if the inserts are stretched out before being put to dry. The inserts can be put in the sun after stretched or put in a tumble dryer. Advertisement Founder Jordan McGregor said when Aldi approached her she was ecstatic about selling her products in the store. 'As an Australian owned and designed cloth nappy brand, as well as for many who use cloth nappies, it is a collective vision to have them more accessible, more affordable and more accepted,' she told Smart Company. 'When I started my cloth journey over four years ago, I wasnt an online shopper, I didnt have friends who used cloth, nor had many funds available to spend on quality nappies.' According to figures released by Choice in 2010, Australians throw away more than 2.1billion nappies each year, so parents are turning to cloth alternatives. Cloth nappies are made from environmentally sustainable materials, with the plastic in disposable nappies taking up to 500 years to breakdown. However they need to be washed and can create more laundry each week. Changing cloth nappies also requires more work than disposables, according to Little Piglet, who says when babies defecate it becomes a lot more effort. 'Poop nappies have to be rinsed before going in your nappy pail. This may mean dunking them in the toilet or using a sink,' it said. Bare and Boho reusable nappies are a one-size-fits-most product, fitting babies between four and 18kg No two patients recovering from a brain injury are alike. The key to the very best possible outcome is to make sure the proper diagnosis is achieved, and treatments are outlined. First, it is important to know the types of brain injuries seen in workers compensation cases, best practices to better understand the injury, the symptoms and how to support appropriate care. We will also review paths to recovery and return to work when possible. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) as defined by the CDC is caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal brain function. The severity ranges from mild to moderate to severe. It can change the way you think, act, move and feel. Keep in mind that the brain holds about 70 percent of the one hundred billion nerve cells that we have. They are all connected to each other with long fibers between the cells called axons. The brain is separated into numerous lobes and the stem. Each brain injury may affect a different lobe or area. In the US, TBI is a major cause of death and disability. Brain injuries are about 30 percent of all injury-related deaths. TBI survivors face effects lasting from days to lifelong. The role of the family is often key to supporting the injured worker and stabilizing the situation. There are many causes for brain injury. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the leading cause for TBI is falls, across all ages. The number one cause of brain injury-related deaths is motor vehicle accidents. Getting struck by or against a surface, gunshot wounds to the head, assault, and blast injuries are also causes for TBI. Brain injury is not caused by a stroke, although a stroke can occur at the same time. The types of brain injury include the following: Skull fracture With this injury, the skull cracks, and pieces of it or another object may cut into the brain. Intracranial hematoma With damage to a major blood vessel in the brain or between the brain and the skull, it causes bleeding in the brain. Contusion With enough force, the brain can bruise, and swollen brain tissues mixes with blood released from broken blood vessels. Concussion An impact to the head results in this injury. It is often referred to as a mild TBI, not life-threatening. When it comes to initial response cornerstones for TBI, there are many options for treatment: Urgent Treatment (non-hospital) Hospital / Trauma Center Centers of Excellence for TBI Acute Rehabilitation Home or Post Acute TBI Specialty Programs Outpatient or Community Treatment Return to Work, which may need vocational support for success It is essential to obtain as much background information immediately on the site of the injury regarding the nature of the injury. While opinions vary on when to call an emergency responder, a good rule of thumb is to contact emergency responders any time there is a loss of consciousness. Severe injuries should be routed to the nearest trauma center or hospital for transfer to a trauma one facility. The reason it is important to make sure an injured worker is properly evaluated is because issues may or may not be visible or immediately apparent. I have seen a scenario where an injured worker walked away from an accident after his truck rolled over, only to become severely compromised later and have to be airlifted to a hospital due to active bleeding in the brain. Brain injury outcomes are directly related to the care provided in the pre-hospital situation, so it is important to professionally assess a situation where a brain injury may occur. CT scans are the dominant means of diagnostic scans once an injured worker enters a treatment facility. CT scans are used to diagnose fractures, bleeding, blood clots, contusions and swelling and help neurosurgery determine if immediate craniotomy is needed. Continuum of care for a brain injury may follow numerous paths. After diagnosis, there may be surgery. Following surgery, there is often acute rehabilitation. Facilities with TBI experience are important when it comes to rehabilitation. There is no set time for brain injury recovery; it varies with every situation. The very best care for the injured worker is what matters most. Rehab can get very complex, and, if there isnt quality rehab, then the injured worker suffers, and it can get more expensive down the line from a cost management perspective. I often hear from families that they want to have rehab located close to their home. My response is often telling them that you have your whole life to be at home, and only a short while to be in rehab for brain injury. I would rather see injured workers getting the best care possible than being close to home, and sometimes this means even going to another state for rehab. The role of the nurse case manager in a TBI claim is also essential. An assigned nurse case manager becomes a liaison with all the parties and providers, and this person is facilitating care instead of directing it. As early as possible, even during hospital time, this can occur. With acute rehab, there is a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary team of physicians, nurses, physical, occupational and speech therapists, a neuropsychologist, possibly a recreational therapist and social worker and a community re-entry specialist. And of course, there is the family and the employer. When it comes to the path of recovery, there are many signs to show progress or lack thereof and to manage the continuum of care. TBI deficits can be categorized into physical deficits (such as headaches, seizures, problems with speech and impaired coordination), cognitive deficits (such as disorientation and short-term memory problems) and behavioral deficits (such as combativeness, lethargy and wandering). Having an injured worker placed in a center of excellence or other facility with a strong rehabilitation program can help address all of these deficits. Brain injury rehabilitation goals will, of course, vary based on the nature of the injury. No single rehab program will work for all patients. Program elements may include: Recovery of Motor Function Recovery of Cognitive Function Independence of Activities of Daily Living Restore Social Functioning Improve Quality of Life Foster Ability to Participate in the Community Return to Work or to School Having a positive approach can make a difference during recovery. Sometimes, though, families may be in denial about the severity and long-term effects of an injury. Sending people to brain injury support groups early on may not work out since these groups are often led by people who have been living with TBI for some time and have learned to adjust to new ways of living that families of a newly injured worker may have yet to address. Overall, the effects of a brain injury depend on many factors, from cause to location and severity. Cornerstones of TBI include initial treatment, centers of excellence, the team (which includes the medical team, family, and anyone involved in helping the injured worker), and the plan for recovery. TBI is often one of the most complicated and complex injuries encountered. It requires a continuum of care treatment approach and early assessment can help ensure the injured worker gets the care they need. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As the deadly new coronavirus continues to spread, with over 100 reported deaths in China and five confirmed cases in the United States, the MTA is taking all precautions to help ensure the health of its employees and over 8 million daily customers. The MTA is working with state and federal health officials while assessing contingency plans and materials distributed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) during past medical emergencies. We take this issue very seriously, and are following the CDCs lead while we further monitor the situation and evaluate contingency plans, said Patrick Warren, MTA chief safety officer. In the meantime, we encourage everyone to take the standard precautions they would during any flu season. The agency is offering extended hours at all MTA Medical Assessment Centers, where employees can receive complementary flu shots. Customers are advised to avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth, wash their hands often with soap and water, cover their coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue and remain home if they are sick. We are monitoring the situation and paying close attention to the reports coming from experts at the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as State and city health departments, said TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano. We are following their lead and urge everyone to follow their prevention recommendations. Staten Island hospital physicians are on heightened alert for the novel coronavirus, though no cases have yet been confirmed in New York. 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. 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. "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.'' On Friday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said 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 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. A man arrested in connection with the murder of Malcolm McKeown has been released following questioning. The 54-year-old was found dead in his silver BMW behind Dewarts filling station in Waringstown, Co Down in August, 2019. McKeown, a career criminal, was shot six times in an attack minutes after he left the shop at the petrol station. A car believed to have been used by the murderers was later found burnt out on the edge of the Mourneview estate in Lurgan. A 26-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday and taken to a Belfast police station for questioning. He has now been released. The incident remains under investigation. Two men, Jake O'Brien (25) and Andrew Martin (24) have been charged with McKeown's murder. Both deny the charge. Cisco has added new AI capabilities to Webex Meetings, following the companys acquisition of Voicea last year. Voiceas Enterprise Voice Assistant (EVA) speech recognition tech has been integrated into Ciscos Webex Meetings videoconferencing platform. New features include automated recording and transcription of conversations, which Cisco said will remove the need for extensive note taking during meetings. Transcripts are searchable, so team members who miss a meeting can quickly locate key topics of discussion without listening through an entire video call. With real-time transcriptions, closed captions during a video call are also available, while users can tell the Webex Assistant for Meetings to highlight conversation points and create action items for follow-up. Cisco Cisco's new Webex Assistant for Meetings offers real-time transcription and closed captioning as well as the ability to highlight key points and action items via voice commands. Voicea users have reported saving more than six hours per week per user with more actionable and efficient meetings and we believe Webex users will experience similar results, said Sri Srinivasan, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Team Collaboration, Cisco, in a prepared statement. The Webex Assistant for Meetings features will be open for trials this March, according to a company spokesperson. Pricing has not yet been finalized. The new features build on existing voice capabilities within Webex. Cisco introduced the Webex Assistant, which lets Webex users kick off conference calls with voice commands, in 2017, following the $125 million acquisition of conversational AI startup MindMeld. Cisco also announced on Tuesday that the Webex Assistant will soon be available in Spanish. Cisco is not alone in using AI to improve meetings. Cisco rival Microsoft has added automated transcriptions and live captioning to its Teams app, while Zoom and Googles Hangouts Meet app have similar features. My thoughts are that Cisco is playing catch-up, said Tim Banting, a principal analyst at Ovum. While Voicea is a good acquisition, other vendors such as Microsoft have had this capability for some time and transcription support for a number of languages. He said that Ciscos extensive collaboration portfolio which includes a range of hosted and cloud platforms for enterprise calls and instant messaging can create a challenge in terms of balancing priorities and resources for product development. This is the case for several unified communications vendors that compete with rivals that sell a single product. This crisis of prioritization trying to spread resources between numerous platforms is going to continue to challenge traditional UC vendors until they make some tough strategic choices and end-of-life underperforming products, said Banting. Cisco also announced that the Voicea technology will be integrated with Google Clouds Contact Center AI (CCAI) platform. This provides customer service reps with call transcripts and summaries to ensure that action items are addressed. Call highlights are then automatically synced with customer relationship management (CRM) systems to enable easy reference for past support issues. Among the other announcements at the Cisco Live Europe event in Barcelona this week are the new Webex Room USB video device to enable Webex access in smaller huddle rooms. Webex Teams users will also have the option to store data outside of the U.S. for the first time, with the ability to store group messaging data in Ciscos European data centers. 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. Dame Maggie Smith was spotted filming for the upcoming Netflix movie A Boy Called Christmas for the first time on Tuesday. The 85-year-old actress was bundled up as she arrived on location in Primrose Hil, north west London, while snow blowers covered the streets in the artificial white stuff. In the Studiocanal adaptation of the bestselling book by Matt Haig, a young boy called Nikolas sets out to find his father who is on a quest to find the 'village of the elves'. Christmas has come early! Dame Maggie Smith was spotted filming for the upcoming Netflix movie A Boy Called Christmas for the first time in Primrose Hill, London on Tuesday Dame Maggie, whose role in the film remains a mystery, was seen getting off the fictional 895C bus to North Finchley in west London. The movie, which will be released in cinemas throughout UK, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France and China, is being filmed in various snowy locations including Lapland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia as well as London. Netflix will then release the film, directed by Academy Award nominee Gil Kenan, to the rest of the world on its streaming service. A statement from Netflix said: 'The original story of Father Christmas is re-imagined in director Gil Kenans live action A Boy Called Christmas. Winter wonderland: Snow blowers covered the streets of Primrose Hill in north London with the artificial white stuff Spotted: The 85-year-old actress was bundled up in a cape coat on set next to a London bus In character: Maggie did not crack a smile between scenes as she walked through the 'snowy' London streets 'An ordinary young boy called Nikolas sets out on an extraordinary adventure into the snowy north in search of his father who is on a quest to discover the fabled village of the elves, Elfhelm. 'Taking with him a headstrong reindeer called Blitzen and a loyal pet mouse, Nikolas soon meets his destiny in this magical, comic and endearing story that proves nothing is impossible' The film boasts an all-star cast including Paddington star Jim Broadbent, Zoe Colletti, Toby Jones, Sally Hawkins, Michiel Huisman, Henry Lawfull, Maggie Smith, Rune Temte, Indica Watson and Kristen Wiig. Last month, Dame Maggie revealed she didn't feel 'satisfied' with her roles in the Harry Potter and the Downton Abbey franchise. All aboard: The character clambered off a bus in a scene from A Boy Called Christmas The actress is perhaps best known as the steely Professor Minerva McGonagall whom she portrayed in the eight film adaptations of J.K Rowling's literary works. Speaking to ES magazine, Maggie said: 'I am deeply grateful for the work in Potter and indeed Downton but it wasn't what you'd call satisfying, I didn't really feel I was acting in those things.' Maggie starred as Lady Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham, on Downton Abbey (20102015), for which she won three Emmys, her first non-ensemble Screen Actors Guild Award, and her third Golden Globe. A different type of role: The actress is perhaps best known as the steely Professor Minerva McGonagall whom she portrayed in the eight film adaptations of J.K Rowling's literary works Satisfied? Last month, Dame Maggie revealed she didn't feel 'satisfied' with her roles in the Harry Potter and the Downton Abbey franchise Mystery: It has not yet been revealed what role Dame Maggie is playing in the adaptation of A Boy Called Christmas Talking about why she decided to pursue a career in acting, she added: 'Honest to God, I have no idea where the urge [to act] came from. It was such a ghastly time and we didn't go to the theatre. 'I got into terrible trouble once because the neighbours took me to the cinema on a Sunday, but I had a wonderful teacher, Dorothy Bartholomew, who also taught Miriam Margolyes, and who encouraged me.' After a long-spanning career in the industry and experiencing both highs and lows, Maggie didn't want to encourage her sons Chris Larkin, 52, Toby, 50, whom she has with her ex-husband Robert Stephens, to follow in her footsteps. Meanwhile, Maggie recently said she admires any young woman who attempts to join the film industry nowadays because it's all about having to 'strip off every second'. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ivany Atina Arby and Apriza Pinandita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 The rapid development of the novel coronavirus has prompted several countries to evacuate their citizens from Chinas Hubei province and officials in Jakarta have said they are ready to take such action if the government decides to do so. Foreign Ministry acting spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said on Wednesday that the government was currently finalizing the evacuation plan for 243 Indonesians trapped in Wuhan and the surrounding Hubei province. Foreign Minister [Retno LP Marsudi] has asked our ambassador in Beijing to intensively communicate with the Chinese authorities so that China can facilitate the evacuation process of Indonesians from Hubei, he said, adding that the request had also been passed to the Chinese Embassy in Jakarta. 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 Drawing inspiration from enigmatic British artist Banksy, a sculptor of tiny bronze statues has gained a cult following in the Hungarian capital Budapest by placing his quirky works around the city for the public to discover. "I look for places which are a little hidden but still easy to find if you know where to look," Mihaly Kolodko, 41, told AFP in his workshop in Vac, north of Budapest. "I never tell anyone in advance where I have put them," he grinned while working on a new figure, bearded beneath a beanie-hat. While his statues don't have the biting satire of Banksy's work, they have been provoking some heated debate -- as well as nostalgia. Kolodko, whose grandmother was Hungarian, grew up in western Ukraine where he could watch TV from nearby Hungary. Many of his works depict 1970s and 1980s Hungarian cartoon figures. Since moving to Hungary in 2016 he has peppered Budapest with over 20 cast metal sculptures measuring just 10-15 centimetres (4-6 inches) tall. A cheeky talking worm is sat on a rampart on the river Danube opposite the Hungarian parliament. A flying rabbit with oversized chequered ears looks down on the city from a perch near Buda castle. More cryptic pieces include a Marcel Duchamps-style pissoir, and a mysteriously murdered squirrel. - 'Guerilla' sculpture? - Kolodko doesn't ask for permission from the authorities to install his metal miniatures, fuelling his reputation as a "guerilla" sculptor, a tag he shrugs off. "I just follow my feelings, I'm not a lawyer, if I had to spend time and money asking for permits I'd lose the urge to make art," he told AFP. "I communicate with people through statues, it's my first language." Thousands of Kolodko devotees are running a Facebook fan page, swapping tips on hunting the statues and debating the meaning of the more abstract works. "These are the statues of our 30 to 40-something generation," says 40-year-old Szilvia Liptai, who organises regular "Kolodko tours" for runners, which take in a dozen of the bronzes. "He triggers our childhood memories," she told AFP, as runners took selfies beside the talking worm -- now sporting a winter scarf and bobble hat knitted for him by an anonymous donor. Kolodko was trained in monumental sculpture in the Ukrainian city of Lviv by teachers who designed gargantuan statues of Lenin during Ukraine's Soviet period -- and nationalist heroes after the country gained independence. But he found his artistic voice in less time-consuming and cheaper, smaller-scale works, sculpting the mini-statues in his hometown of Uzhhorod near the Hungarian border. It was Hungary where the father-of-two's work found the best reception, winning commissions like one from Budapest airport for a diminutive Franz Liszt or memorials for historical events such as the Holocaust. ? Thrown into the Danube - "Banksy inspired me to use the language of sculpture the way he does for painting," Kolodko said, beside a statue of US cartoon character Lisa Simpson bound to a lamppost in downtown Budapest -- a "Joan of Arc" commentary on the "oppression of American culture". Not everyone gets his messages though. A statue of another 1970s children's favourite, a hapless handyman goat, was widely seen as a critique of shoddy workmanship on a recently renovated main square in Budapest. "I meant to show that you can be lovable even if things don't work out, and also reflect on the Ukrainian guest workers who used to gather here in mornings for odd-jobs," he said. Then last November an ultra-nationalist politician interpreted Kolodko's statue of a Russian "ushanka" fur ear-flap cap with a red star on it as approval of a nearby Soviet World War II memorial. After filming himself cleaving it from its place with an axe, the politician said it was "the symbol of a dictatorial system" and threw it into the Danube. "I don't mean to be provocative," Kolodko told AFP. "The ushanka was actually trying to say the past is still with us. "Some people just look at things differently. After the statues go public they take on a life of their own, I say goodbye to them." Three of his pieces have been removed or stolen so far, he added. Earlier this month, the latest "Kolodko" suddenly appeared, the artist's answer to the recent act of violence: a tiny bronze axe where the ushanka once rested. Sculptor Mihajlo (Mihaly) Kolodko draws his inspiration from British artist Banksy -- and popular culture, such as this work based on a character from The Simpsons Kolodko combines conventional commissions with his more whimsical miniatures, such as this take on Albert Einstein This 15-centimetre tall bronze 'Cicciolina Madonna' is typical of the mini-sculptures he leaves around Budapest for people to discover Do you speak statues? 'It's my first language,' says Kolodko After an outraged politician hacked down an earlier sculpture that had offended him, Kolodko replaced it with his latest work, the 'Axe' Hiltons lifestyle brand set to nearly triple portfolio, expanding presence to nine countries by year end Canopy by Hilton, Hiltons (NYSE: HLT) upper upscale lifestyle hotel brand, announced it is targeting to open 20 hotels in 2020 across seven countries. Located in the most dynamic neighborhoods across the globe, every Canopy hotel becomes a natural extension of the community in which it calls home and provides an energizing atmosphere with thoughtfully local touches. 20 in 20 Canopys current and projected openings in 2020, which join the brands 12 existing hotels in China, Croatia, Iceland and the U.S., include: Brazil : Sao Paulo-Jardins : Sao Paulo-Jardins China : Hangzhou-West Lake : Hangzhou-West Lake France : Paris-Trocadero : Paris-Trocadero Mexico : Cancun-La Isla (opened Jan. 28) : Cancun-La Isla (opened Jan. 28) United Arab Emirates : Dubai-Al Seef 1 : Dubai-Al Seef United Kingdom : London-London City : London-London City United States: Austin-Downtown; Baltimore-Harbor Point; Charlotte-SouthPark; Dallas-Frisco Station; Grand Rapids-Downtown; Jersey City-Arts District; Kansas City-Downtown; Memphis-Downtown; Philadelphia-Center City; San Antonio-Riverwalk; Scottsdale-Old Town; Tempe-Downtown University Area; Washington, DC-Embassy Row (opened Jan. 14); and West Palm Beach-Downtown Weve received resoundingly positive feedback from guests who have loved their local adventures while staying in our 12 existing hotels, said Gary Steffen, global head, Canopy by Hilton. We are excited to create more of these authentic experiences with all that Canopy offers in 20 more vibrant neighborhoods this year. Following extensive consumer research, Canopy by Hilton was created to provide the uncomplicated comforts, thoughtful design and energizing atmosphere that todays travelers wanted but were unable to find under one roof. Advertisement While each hotel is unique, they are all united by a few elements that make them Canopy. Some of these features include: Residential-style design : Neutral color palettes, plenty of natural light, clean lines and open, flowing spaces that are inspired by how the locals live. : Neutral color palettes, plenty of natural light, clean lines and open, flowing spaces that are inspired by how the locals live. Extra comforts : In-room glass water bottles and filtered water stations on every floor; a transfer lounge where guests can store luggage, change or shower before or after their stay; and a pet amenity kit in partnership with BARK for four-legged travelers. : In-room glass water bottles and filtered water stations on every floor; a transfer lounge where guests can store luggage, change or shower before or after their stay; and a pet amenity kit in partnership with BARK for four-legged travelers. Top-notch food and drink : Evening tastings of wine, beer and spirits from regional producers and a cocktail program created in partnership with Proprietors LLC, the training arm of renowned bar chain, Death & Co. : Evening tastings of wine, beer and spirits from regional producers and a cocktail program created in partnership with Proprietors LLC, the training arm of renowned bar chain, Death & Co. Local know-how: Employees called enthusiasts are encouraged to share their local insider knowledge and experiences with guests. No two Canopy by Hilton properties are alike, as each is designed to draw on the life of the locale and spirit of the neighborhood. The brand empowers its owners many of whom are locals themselves to shape their propertys design and programming to tell the communitys story. Owners work with local architects and designers to connect the propertys aesthetic from building materials to decor to the neighborhoods roots. For example, Canopy Grand Rapids | Downtown leans into the towns former reputation of Furniture Capital of the U.S. with mid-century modern design and Canopy West Palm Beach | Downtown echoes Floridas citrus groves with its fresh, vibrant design, which includes a six-story fiber optic banyan tree in the lobby and a rooftop treehouse bar. Canopy owners also create their own food and drink concepts that can complement the neighborhoods current offerings and become the new go-to spot for locals. For instance, Canopy Columbus | Short North, which opened July 2019, attracts many residents with its rooftop bar and restaurant that is named after the Columbus first doctor, Lincoln Goodale, and features some of the citys best views. Canopy by Hilton Kansas City | Downtown will revive the spirit of its century-old building with a champagne bar speakeasy. By combining our research-backed Canopy pillars with truly local execution, we are helping lifestyle travelers get the most out of their trips and experience the best of a great neighborhood, Steffen said. Prior to 2020, Canopy by Hilton opened properties in Atlanta-Midtown; Chengdu-City Centre; Columbus, OH-Short North; Dallas-Uptown; Ithaca-Downtown; Hangzhou-Jinsha Lake; Minneapolis-Mill District; Portland, OR-Pearl District; Reykjavik-City Centre; Washington, DC-Bethesda North; Washington, DC-The Wharf; and Zagreb-City Centre. Beyond this year, the brand is working with local partners to develop hotels in neighborhoods across Bangkok, Boston, Cape Town, Chicago, Kuala Lumpur, Madrid, New Orleans, Riyadh, Toronto and more. Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest Restaurant industry news and trends. Subscribe 2022 Restaurant News Resource Canadas Chinese Community Worry About Family, Friends in Wuhan Amid Coronavirus Outbreak The coronavirus outbreak has many in Canadas Chinese community concerned for their family and friends back in China. Toronto resident Jason Wang says he is very worried about his mother who has contracted the virus in Wuhanthe epicentre of the outbreakbut so far has been unable to get any care. Wang, who moved to Canada with his family a year ago, says his 72-year-old mother began showing symptoms of the illness earlier this month. After doctors confirmed she had the new coronavirus, she tried to get treatment at a hospital, but so far she hasnt been able to and has had to stay isolated at home, running out of food and supplies. There are no beds in the hospital. Countless people are standing in line at the hospital, and some people can only lie in the hospital entrance or outpatient department, Wang said. We dont know when it will be her turn in the queue [to receive treatment], and I dont know how many people are ahead of her. I can only wait for the directors superiors to make a decision, and I dont even know who the superiors are. Wang has been making phone calls to hospital staff to no avail, and he says relatives cant go to her home as they live outside Wuhan and vehicle traffic from out of town has been banned. He says he wants to go back to help his mother but all flights are banned as well. The Chinese Communist Party [CCP] is responsible for the spread of the virus to so many other countries. The CCPs closure of the city without providing food and medicine to ordinary people is really a threat to their lives, he says. Zhang Zhenyu, also a Toronto resident, says he has many friends and contacts in Wuhan and theyre all very concerned about how the pandemic is being handled by the authorities. He says his contacts tell him theres a lack of sufficient medical supplies in the citys health-care facilities, and a severe shortage of facial masks as well. Zhang notes that due to the authorities dishonest reporting on the situation, people arent aware of the true situation of the pandemic, adding to their concern. One of his contacts told him that many are hoarding food and staying at home so they dont contract the virus. Rushing Back From China Meanwhile, many Canadian residents who were visiting China, especially given the recent Chinese New Year celebrations, have rushed to return in order to avoid getting the virus. I originally planned to return to Toronto in early February, but because of this outbreak I changed my return date to [Chinese] New Years Day [Jan. 25], said Mr. Hu at Torontos Pearson Airport. The situation in China is terrible, so I came back quickly. Ms. Song, who flew from China to Vancouver on Jan. 26, said she was first shocked when she heard about the pandemic. Almost all facial masks were sold out in the city Im from [in China], she said. Canada has issued an advisory on travel to Wuhan and the province its located in, Hubei. Canadian cases of the virus have so far been confirmed in a handful of people in Ontario and British Columbia. Additional reporting by NTD Television A family's dog has returned home after being found alive more than two years after it went missing. The tiny white Maltese shih tzu named Baymax was reunited with his family on Wednesday after leaving the Deer Park, Melbourne, in October 2017 out the side gate in mysterious circumstances. Owner Peter Phethalankham has not ruled out that Baymax was snatched. 'The wind had been pretty strong but ... the gate was bolted down. I thought it had been tampered with by the end of it,' he said on Wednesday. A Victorian family's dog has returned home after being found alive more than two years after it went missing 'He might have been (stolen) but I could be over thinking it.' It had devastated him to tell his then three-year-old son Chace their furry friend was gone. His daughter was about five months old at the time. The young boy kept asking for his four-legged friend, especially while watching the dog's namesake in the Disney film Big Hero Six. The family searched for weeks after Baymax's grand escape but had no luck. Mr Phethalankham held out hope, refusing to throw away Baymax's bed and toys. 'It was pretty gut-wrenching. I knew he couldn't look after himself,' he said. Owner Peter Phethalankham has not ruled out that Baymax was snatched. 'The wind had been pretty strong but ... the gate was bolted down. I thought it had been tampered with by the end of it,' he said on Wednesday. Pictured: The Victorian family are reunited with Baymax 'I hoped someone had taken him in and take care of him. But if that was the case, I was hoping I would hear from someone. 'That's why I thought the worst. I thought someone would bring him back after he was found but that didn't happen.' The tiny white Maltese shih tzu named Baymax was reunited with his family on Wednesday after leaving the Deer Park home in October 2017 out the side gate in mysterious circumstances Then a call came from The Lost Dogs Home earlier this month - Baymax was found safe in Hoppers Crossing. For Chace, who last saw Baymax as a toddler, it was 'a lot of happys' to have him back. 'He came home. I first saw him two years ago, I still like him,' he said. The Lost Dogs Home spokeswoman Suzana Talevski said if Baymax had been taken to the right place to be checked, the reunion could have happened years ago. 'Baymax was in a very good condition when he was picked up by our staff, which leads us to think he found another home for the past two years,' she said. The animal welfare organisation says it is a reminder for pet owners to make sure their animals are microchipped. As for the gate, it's been barricaded to prevent any more grand escapes. STAMFORD, Conn., Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Finacity Corporation ("Finacity"), a member of the Greensill family of companies, announces the close of a trade receivables securitization for Nitron Group LLC ("Nitron"). The facility supported by Nitron's global receivables portfolio allows for up to $200 million in funding. Finacity provided analytic and structuring support, as well as serving as the ongoing Transaction Administrator. The program is the latest deal struck since Finacity joined Greensill in June of 2019, adding Finacity's world leading receivables securitization capabilities to Greensill's market leading financing capabilities for all aspects of working capital finance. About Nitron Group Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Greenwich, CT, Nitron Group LLC is a leading global trader of chemical and agricultural fertilizers including urea, ammonium nitrate and sulfate, phosphates, and potash. Serving clients in over 65 countries, the company offers a wide variety of services focused on the distribution, importation and warehousing of chemical and agricultural fertilizers, enabling clients in Latin America, North America, Europe and Africa to receive a product which meets the legal, safety and environmental standards. For further information, please visit www.nitrongroup.com. About Finacity Finacity, a member of the Greensill family of companies, specializes in the structuring and provision of efficient capital markets receivables funding programs, supplier and payables finance, back-up servicing, and program administration. Finacity currently facilitates the financing and administration of an annual receivables volume of approximately $100 billion. With resources in the USA, Europe and Latin America, Finacity conducts business throughout the world with obligors in 175 countries. For further information, please visit www.finacity.com. About Greensill Greensill is a leading provider of finance to businesses and people around the world. Founded in 2011, Greensill offers alternative sources of funding, allowing companies to provide suppliers with the opportunity for faster payment, while at the same time preserving their own capital position. The company is headquartered in London with offices in New York, Frankfurt, Chicago, Miami, Singapore, Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Johannesburg, Sydney, Warrington and Bundaberg. Greensill provides working capital finance facilities to customers across Europe, North America, Latin America, Middle East, Africa, and Asia. The company owns Greensill Bank, which was founded in Bremen, Germany in 1927, has a suite of proprietary Supply Chain Finance Funds run by world leading fund management organisations, acquired Finacity in June 2019 and FreeUp in October 2019. Greensill works with dozens of institutional investors that together provide stable funding. In 2019, Greensill provided more than US$150 billion of financing to more than 8 million customers and suppliers across more than 175 countries. For further information, please visit greensill.com. For more information on this transaction, please contact: Finacity Corporation Darren Davies USA TEL +1 (203) 428-3537 ddavies@finacity.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Riska Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 20:23 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206196dc0 1 Business Jiwasraya,subsidiary,investor,insurance,policy-holders,share-sale,acquisition,holding-company,state-owned-enterprises,erick-thohir Free Troubled state-owned insurer PT Asuransi Jiwasraya is seeing interest from four potential investors over the purchase of its subsidiary as it hopes to stay afloat after failing to pay out hundreds of millions dollars on customer policies that matured. Jiwasraya president director Hexana Tri Sasongko said on Wednesday that the insurance company had received interest from four investors, both domestic and international, over the purchase of Jiwasraya Putra. "We're currently in the last due diligence process with our potential investors," Hexana said after a hearing with the House of Representatives Commission VI overseeing state-owned enterprises. He declined to go into detail about the potential investors. Jiwasaraya had yet to reveal the amount and value of the Jiwasraya Putra stake that would be offered to investors as the matter was still being finalized as of today, he added. Four state-owned firms, pawnshop PT Pegadaian, train operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia, Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN) and Telkom subsidiary PT Telekomunikasi Seluler (Telkomsel), have committed to cooperating with Jiwasraya Putra to help the subsidiary sell insurance products to its customers. "Jiwasraya Putra has its own captive market because we already have commitments with four other state-owned companies," Hexana said. The sale of the subsidiary is also meant to help Jiwasraya pay for its policyholders' claims, which are projected to reach Rp 16 trillion (US$1.1 billion). Another option that was being considered by the government to rescue Jiwasraya was the formation of a state holding company for state-owned insurers, which could inject fresh funds into the ailing state insurer, said State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir. The most important thing is customer protection and measures that can provide a solution for customers, including one in March, will be taken. The most important thing is that customers will get certainty, Erick told reporters. An earlier plan was to establish a state holding company for state-owned insurers by February to kick start efforts to help Jiwasrayas customers. The case is now being investigated by the Attorney Generals Office and Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) for corruption allegations with a potential systemic impact on the nations financial industry, according to the BPK. The views expressed here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of FreightWaves or its affiliates. This is part two of a two-part series of articles focused on the current trucking insurance crisis. The first article, It's time for less talk and more solutions to trucking insurance crisis, was published Jan. 17 and can be read here. In one notable personal injury case, a medical provider billed more than $14,000 for a procedure that's typically reimbursed by insurance at less than $400. Grossly inflated claims are costing the industry dearly and in some cases are driving trucking companies out of the marketplace because they can no longer afford insurance. Part one of this series ("It's time for less talk and more solutions to trucking insurance crisis") described the financial vise that's gripping the industry and outlined upstream measures operators can take to avoid these costs by reducing risk. In part two, the focus is on the critical need for changes in a "worst practices" system in which doctors and lawyers scheme to inflate costs. How Does This Happen? Commercial liability insurance rates continue to spiral, with costs passed through to businesses and consumers. A primary culprit is a corrupt personal injury legal system where attorneys drive medical care. In this unethical alliance, certain attorneys and medical providers maximize settlements using arbitrary, grossly exaggerated medical costs. It starts when plaintiffs' attorneys refer clients to defined medical networks in which damages are wildly inflated. While they may never take place, unnecessary surgeries are recommended to inflate the damages claims and then included in settlement demands. These procedures are then claimed to collectively cost hundreds of thousands of dollars more than the actual cost. In this system, a claimant is instructed not to use health insurance or workers' compensation insurance, which preclude attorneys and providers from claiming that the full inflated charge is owed. Instead, the covered individual is directed to a defined medical provider network that specializes in personal injury claims, i.e., one that will sidestep insurance. One medical provider was found to have testified more than 200 times at the request of the same law firm in less than four years. Story continues A provider may accept insurance at contracted rates from other patients. But in a personal injury case, medical providers often sidestep those rates. The provider can then "charge" exorbitant amounts that oftentimes are more than 20 times the amount the provider actually gets paid for the services. The bloated costs are used to leverage a settlement. While multimillion-dollar verdicts make headlines, abuse more frequently occurs in routine settlements under $1 million. These unwarranted settlements burden the system as much as, if not more than, the occasional extreme verdict. Case In Point The trucking industry is being taken for a ride, and society is paying the price. Here is just one example: In October 2015, a man named Joe Cantu was involved in a car accident in Austin, Texas. His lawyer referred him to the medical group Pain Care Physicians (PCP). PCP accepted Cantu's United Health Care insurance. But he chose not to use it, allowing the provider to submit over $80,000 in excessive medical bills and claiming those were actual amounts owed. PCP charged $14,290 for a procedure for which expert testimony showed medical providers typically get paid less than $400. PCP also charged $3,893 for a back brace that's available for $150 on the manufacturer's website. The defense asked for a copy of the United Health Care contract to reveal maximum rates that could be charged. But PCP fought to protect the secrecy of its contracted rates, and the matter went to the Texas Supreme Court. While the court was considering a possible landmark decision, Cantu withdrew the claim for medical bills. With a pending ruling that could have jeopardized the scheme to inflate costs, the claim was dropped, and the Texas Supreme Court was forced to dismiss the appeal. As a result, the court did not get the opportunity to weigh in on this issue. The Cantu case is an example of abuse that occurs every day and needlessly inflates claims and insurance costs for the trucking industry. It's Time For A Change Given this sad state of affairs, how do we restore ethics, integrity and fairness to the judicial system? The answer is to advocate for legal and insurance industry changes. Truckers must tell their stories and enlist other fair-minded people in the effort. It's time to pull the Band-Aid off the festering lawyer/doctor sore and expose it to the light of day. Attorney-provider relationships should be fully disclosed at trial. Juries must know whether the provider is part of a network that is incentivized to overcharge and overtreat. Jury awards should be based on objective standards, with contracted reimbursement rates heavily weighted in determining the reasonableness and amount of damages. State legislation should limit recovery of medical or healthcare expenses to the amount actually paid or incurred by the claimant. Claimants must be required to mitigate damages, as in any other legal matter. If a claimant has health insurance that would cover an injury, there is no reason he or she should be allowed to submit charges into evidence that are 10 times the amount allowed under the claimant's insurance. The practice of litigation financing the loaning of money to litigants or law firms by third-party lenders should be regulated. Insurance companies must be willing to fight. Too often, the choice to settle a case is a business decision that has little to do with health outcomes or a company's ongoing viability. The certainty of a settlement is considered preferable to the risk of losing at trial. This paves the way for even more lawsuit abuse. Let's Take Control This article reflects our personal experience, which we know is replicated every day across the country. Plaintiffs' attorneys have come to view trucking companies and their insurers as slot machines. They pollute the airwaves with an endless onslaught of inflammatory ads. Tragically, the industry is allowing the plaintiffs' bar to sensationalize and distort a good story. Ultimately, the cost of lawsuit abuse will be passed through to shippers and consumers. It's time for the trucking industry to take the lead in righting these wrongs. Brian Fielkow is CEO of Houston-based Jetco Delivery and executive vice president of Montreal-based The GTI Group. He is co-author of "Leading People Safely; How to Win on the Business Battlefield." Fielkow received the National Safety Council's Distinguished Service to Safety Award, the council's highest-level individual recognition. Robert Fuentes is a Texas attorney and founder of The Fuentes Firm P.C. He serves on the board of directors of the Texas Transportation Association and remains engaged in the Texas legislative process, advocating for reforms to protect against abusive litigation. Image by macdeedle from Pixabay 0 See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Three men on Tuesday admitted their roles in Passaic County drug distribution case that led investigators to seize about 50 pounds of cocaine, authorities said. Narcisco Ramirez, 46, of Passaic, Kiuny Perez, 42, of Rockaway Township, and Victor Pimentel, 44, of Parsippany, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine charges, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. The trio were part of a scheme to distribute large quantities of cocaine around Passaic County. In November 2017, law enforcement officers watched as Ramirez and Perez met in Passaic and exchanged a package containing cocaine, authorities said. Officers stopped Ramirez later that day and discovered a kilogram of the drug on the front seat and two more kilograms on his right leg and his waistband. Authorities said they found additional cocaine and $89,000 in cash during a search of Ramirezs residence as well as cocaine stashed in a hidden compartment of Perezs vehicle. Searches turned up $297,350 in cash in his residence, according to information in the case. A search of Pimentels home turned up 20 kilograms of cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and $322,000, according to officials. The men face a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum potential penalty of life term when they are sentenced later this year. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Passaic County Prosecutors Office worked on the investigation. 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. " " Joseph Stalin was a dictator who led the Soviet Union from the mid1920s until 1953 as the general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and premier of the Soviet Union. Library of Congress/HowStuffWorks.com In any recounting of the horrific deeds of Joseph Stalin, know this: You'd better settle in, because the list is long, painful to recite, and rife with incalculable suffering and death. Stalin grew his power as general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in the early 1920s after the Russian Revolution. He later became the unquestioned and de facto dictator of the Soviet Union and was shockingly ruthless when it came to killing his people. Yet it could be argued that Stalin was simply a product of his time, one of many cruel, evil men in the 20th century. In China, Mao Zedong killed millions, while tens of millions more Chinese died from starvation and suicide in the Great Leap Forward. Stalin is often compared to Adolf Hitler, who killed some 6 million Jews in the Holocaust. In the Ottoman Empire in the early part of the 1900s, leaders carried out the near-genocide of millions of Armenians. Many millions died as the result of Japanese war crimes during World War II under Prime Minister Hideki Tojo and Emperor Hirohito. Even in the Soviet Union, Stalin's predecessor, Vladimir Lenin, was unforgiving in leading his party through a brutal revolution that claimed some 9 million lives. "The problem in teaching Stalinism," says Matthew Payne, a professor who specializes in teaching modern Russian and Soviet history at Emory University in Atlanta, "is how not to dismiss what was a very brutal regime while also contextualizing it in a very unstable part of world history. For me, it's always a question of, 'Did Stalin make the revolution, or did the revolution make Stalin?' Mostly, I would have to say the revolution made Stalin." Stalin clearly has his place among history's most murderous ideologues. The numbers of dead under Stalin's rule (what came to be known as Stalinism) are somewhat disputed, given the secretive and oft-times sketchy record-keeping during his terrorist reign. But through his direct order, millions in the Soviet Union died by execution, and more perished in labor camps. Millions more starved to death through his ill-conceived and often purposely cruel policies. Seven of the most heinous acts he committed are below. Advertisement 1. The GULAG System Lenin founded the GULAG (an acronym for, in English, Main Administration of Collective Labor Camps), the network of prisons and forced labor camps throughout the Soviet Union. But it was Stalin who employed them to their most hideous and at least semi-effective ends. The camps, like prisons throughout the world, were used to house criminals. The GULAG's primary purpose, though, was to gain control of the population through fear by imprisoning, torturing and killing undesirables, critics of Communism and anyone who defied Stalin to drag the Soviet Union from its agrarian past into an industrialized society. More than 3.7 million Soviet citizens were forced into the camps, many in the most remote and barren areas of the country, between 1931-1953, according to one report. Almost 800,000 of them were shot. From "The Unknown Gulag: The Lost World of Stalin's Special Settlements:" The Gulag population reached its largest numbers in the early 1950s with roughly 2.5 million inmates; as many as 12 million to 14 million people overall passed in and out of its gates between 1934 and 1944 alone; and no less than 1.5 million people died in the Gulag between 1930 and 1956. The GULAG at one time totaled nearly 500 camps. More people passed through the GULAG system, for a much longer time, than were imprisoned in the concentration camps of Nazi Germany in their entire existence. "The purpose of the GULAG was not to kill people," Payne says. "[It] was designed to discipline society ... It's really about social control." " " Famed Russian poet and writer Osip Mandelstam was arrested twice and sent to the GULAG, the first time in 1933 for a poem characterizing Stalin as a gleeful killer. Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons Advertisement 2. Collectivization, Dekulakization and Special Settlements From about 1929 to 1932, in the name of furthering Communism and strengthening his hold on the state, Stalin seized the land and property of millions of peasant families and forced them off their property (with many landing in the GULAG). These people "kulaks" were the richer of the peasant class and seen as a direct threat to Stalin's rule. So they were dispossessed, many were murdered, and the others were exiled and forced to work in collective farms or in GULAGs in mining or construction, where millions more died. Stalin, worried about subversive elements within Soviet borders, also ordered the forced resettlements of entire populations people of specific nationalities living in the Soviet Union that were either deported or moved to remote areas of the country into what some call "special settlements." With his "dekulakization" policy, Stalin effectively wiped out an entire class, badly damaging the agricultural sector of the economy, which contributed to millions more dying in the Great Famine. More on that chapter next. Advertisement 3. The Great Famine According to "The Harvest of Sorrow: Soviet Collectivization and the Terror Famine," around 14.5 million people died of starvation in the Great Famine of 1932-33, also known as Holodomor. Estimates of the number of dead vary widely, but it's generally agreed that millions perished Ukraine and Kazakhstan were especially hit hard. And unlike other famines where drought was the main cause, it was Stalin's policies toward industrialization and away from small farm food production that contributed to this disaster. In addition, Stalin used the food shortages strategically, making sure that certain areas were affected more than others. He baldly welcomed many of the deaths, especially when it came to enemies of the state, "kulaks," and "idlers" (those who did not work on the collective farms). He quoted Lenin in saying that, "He who does not work, neither shall he eat." Many consider the Great Famine nothing short of a genocide and blame Stalin directly. From "Stalin's Genocides," by Norman M. Naimark: For a number of reasons the Holocaust should be thought of as the worst case of genocide in the modern era. Nevertheless, the points of comparison between Stalin and Hitler, Nazism and Stalinism, are too many to ignore. Both were dictators who killed vast numbers of people on the European continent. Both chewed up the lives of human beings in the name of a transformative vision of Utopia. Both destroyed their countries and societies, as well as vast numbers of people inside and outside their own states. Both in the end were genocidaires. " " Peasants lie starving on the streets of Kharkiv in Soviet Ukraine in 1933. Library of Congress Advertisement 4. The Great Purge In 1936, Stalin initiated "The Great Purge," aiming to rid the Communist Party of some of his biggest detractors and rivals. Hundreds of thousands of people initially were arrested by Stalin's NKVD (the secret police). Many were executed or sent to the GULAG. Of the 103 highest-ranking members of the Communist Party, 81 were executed. Eventually, more than a third of the Communist Party died during The Great Purge, which had the effect of terrorizing the general population, too. Many people turned on friends and family members in an attempt to save themselves from the GULAG or sure death. In the end, not even the head of the NKVD, Nikolai Yezhov, was spared. He was executed in 1940. But high-powered NKVD police like Yezhov didn't just disappear from life, they also disappeared from photos. Stalin understood the historical value of photographs and how to use them for propaganda. Stalin went so far as to use photo retouchers to delete his enemies from photographs, including Yezhov, who was essentially removed from the historical record. " " Red army soldiers are seen here raising the Soviet flag over the Reichstag in Berlin, Germany, in 1945. The photo was later proven to have been one of Stalin's staged and altered photos. Sovfoto/Universal Images Group via Getty Advertisement 5. Order No. 227 Stalin's brutality did not stop with civilians and enemies of the Communist Party. It extended to the very people that were fighting for him and the country. In 1942, as Germans pushed their way toward Stalingrad in the early days of World War II, Stalin issued one of his most well-known and cold-blooded edicts, Order No. 227. It declared that "panic-makers and cowards are to be liquidated on the spot." The order also called for penal battalions lesser-offending soldiers were sent to the front lines and "guards units" at the back of the line would keep cowards from retreating. It's unclear how many Soviet soldiers died by the hands of their fellow soldiers under Stalin's order. Advertisement 6. Punishing Prisoners of War In another famous order, Stalin said that, "We have no prisoners of war, only traitors of the motherland!" From "Hitler's War in the East, 1941-1945: A Critical Assessment": In contrast to prisoners of war from other Allied countries, Soviets who survived Hitler's camps did not return to their homeland after the war as liberated heroes. Many underwent forced repatriation, while others succeeded in remaining in the West, including quite a few war criminals. Since Stalin distrusted members of the Red Army who had been captured, most Soviet prisoners of war passed straight from the German concentration camps to the camps of the "Gulag Archipelago" ... Millions of Soviet prisoners of war were interrogated on their return, about half were sent to the GULAG and many thousands were shot or otherwise died at the hands of their countrymen. Advertisement 7. Giving a Pass to War Crimes Though Stalin sent thousands of his own Soviet prisoners of war to their deaths, he turned a blind eye to how his soldiers performed on the battlefield. If they fought "admirably" meaning if they won battles Stalin did not bother himself with how they did it, or the fallout after. After hearing reports that Soviet soldiers raped women in Germany and elsewhere, he is reported to have said "[W]hat is so awful in his having fun with a woman, after such horrors?" Stalin continued to run the Soviet Union with a clenched fist for most of his life. The GULAG, in fact, still held about 2.5 million inmates in 1953, the year he died. But the GULAG, and Stalinism, all unraveled after his death. "The terror state that Stalin built was dismantled very quickly by his successors," Payne says. "One of the reasons was, it was highly inefficient. Putting lots and lots of people into prison, even if you're working them, is not a great way to run your country." " " Prime Minister Winston Churchill, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin are seen at the Crimean Conference where they discussed the postwar reorganization of Germany and Europe. Library of Congress Today, despite murdering millions of his country's citizens, Stalin's place in Soviet history is hardly clear cut. After all, he also helped beat back Nazi Germany, was on the winning side of the last great World War and pushed the Soviet Union toward superpower status. In a 2019 Levada Center poll, 51 percent of Soviets said they liked, admired or respected him. "In part, it was a Messianic state, right?" Payne says of the Soviet Union under Stalin. "Communism was about achieving an ideal society by mobilizing forces to produce a just society." Stalin and his Communist Party were not as much about repression, Payne says, as they were about building that Utopia that Naimark mentions. The problem with that, Payne says, is that "the worst students of humanity historically are generally ... those people who feel that that they're on the side of the angel. And the communists simply thought they were on the side of the angel." NOW THAT'S INTERESTING Though Stalin is hailed by some for helping to defeat Nazi Germany, it shouldn't be forgotten that, in August 1939, he signed a non-aggression pact with Hitler that, a week after the pact was formalized, enabled Germany to invade Poland, effectively kicking off World War II. The agreement also contained a plan to split up Europe between the two powers. The pact was shattered in June 1941 when Germany invaded the Soviet Union. Advertisement Originally Published: Jan 29, 2020 Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Las Vegas. Las Vegas family gets first seats installed at Allegiant Stadium The first six seats at Allegiant Stadium were put into place last week in a surprise unveiling for the Diaz family, who hold season tickets for the Raiders. The seats are black, with the Raiders pirate logo adorning the top center of the backrest. Read the full story on Las Vegas Review-Journal. Police seek help identifying east Las Vegas store robber Las Vegas police are looking for the publics help in identifying a man who committed a robbery at the business in the 1900 block of North Nellis Boulevard near East Lake Mead Boulevard. Read the full story on Las Vegas Review-Journal. Death penalty trial begins in Lees Liquor murder case The death penalty trial of a man accused of fatally shooting a 24-year-old clerk at a Lees Discount Liquor during a robbery in April 2016 opened on Tuesday. Read the full story on Las Vegas Review-Journal. 2 teen girls arrested in connection with threats to middle school Two 13-year-old female students at Tarkanian Middle School were arrested Monday on charges of making threats to the school on social media. Read the full story on Las Vegas Review-Journal. Doctor faces charges in domestic violence case A Las Vegas doctor was arrested last month after he allegedly pointed a gun at his wife and daughter and struck his spouse repeatedly, according to his arrest report. Read the full story on Las Vegas Review-Journal. 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. One former Westchester district attorney, Jeanine Pirro, moved on to TV after leaving office, hosting a show on Fox News. Now MSNBC legal analyst Mimi Rocah is trying to go in the opposite direction, from TV to becoming the countys top prosecutor. Rocah is challenging Westchester District Attorney Anthony Scarpino in the Democratic primary on June 23. Scarpino was first elected in 2016 and is running for reelection for the first time. Rocah substantially outraised him as of the first financial filing deadline on Jan. 11, bringing in nearly $329,000. Scarpino raised $131,000 and now has about $189,000 in his campaign account. Other than appearing on MSNBC, Rocah is a criminal justice fellow at the Pace University law school. From 2001 to 2017, she was an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York, leaving as co-chief of the White Plains division. City & State caught up with her ahead of the Jan. 29 Westchester County Democratic Convention to talk about why shes running, her thoughts on the new bail laws, and how she wishes she could take back her comments on presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Westchester District Attorney Anthony Scarpino is running for his second term, after being elected in 2016. Why are you challenging him in the Democratic primary? Its not about what hes doing wrong. I just think theres so much more we can do with the district attorneys office, both to help us make Westchester safer, but also to make the system as a whole more fair, both for victims and for people who potentially get charged or become part of the system. In this time that we're in when we have these very anti-democratic people leading the country in Washington, and (President Donald) Trump and (U.S. Attorney General) Bill Barr as the face of the justice system to most of America, it's more important than ever to stand out and put our best foot forward as the Democratic Party, as people who believe in equality and fairness, as people who believe in innovation and progress and modernizing our criminal justice system. Youve challenged Scarpino to 10 debates. Do you expect him to accept the challenge, or to try to have fewer or no debates? We have heard nothing in response to that challenge. And it's a real challenge, and I really would like the opportunity. These are really important, life-and-death issues. There's so much to talk about, and a debate would be a wonderful forum to be able to really talk more substantively about my gun control platform and things that are very simple that we could do on day one that I don't understand why they're not taking that now. How do you feel about the states new law limiting the use of bail? Do you think state legislators should change it this year? The most important thing to say about the new bail law is it was absolutely necessary. The idea that we were keeping people in jail pretrial because they couldn't afford to pay money is we were in the Dark Ages. There were so many states, less progressive than New York frankly, that have already done away with cash bail pretrial. And in the federal system which I grew up in for 16 years as a federal prosecutor we didn't have cash bail. No one was detained pretrial in jail just because they couldn't afford to pay for it. Obviously, like any other kind of change, it's gonna take a lot of getting used to. It's going to take a lot of leadership, implementing and figuring out what we need to fine tune. And I think there are going to be some changes that we need to make. But we had to take this first step and it should be celebrated. Should New York join the majority of other states and allow judges to consider a defendant's dangerousness in regards to whether they should be detained pretrial? Again, in the federal system that I came from, that was a possibility. I think we should at least consider it. It's too soon to decide what changes we can make until we see how this plays out. I am confident that there are changes that will need to be made. On the same day of the election for DA, theres going to be a huge congressional election in Westchester County, to replace the retiring Rep. Nita Lowey. Have you endorsed any candidates, or do you plan to campaign with anyone? No. I think it's amazing that so many different people who are frankly excellent in so many different ways are stepping up. And I'm glad to see it, but I don't, at least right now, plan to particularly endorse any one candidate. Youve gotten a lot of flak from Bernie Sanders supporters after saying on MSNBC in July that he makes your skin crawl. Did you just mean politically, or was that personally? That was probably the one time on TV as a legal commentator I was asked my personal view on two candidates Sanders compared to (Elizabeth) Warren. I wish I'd said it differently. I think I was expressing a sentiment that I personally felt and that some other women out there had felt about the way Hillary Clinton was treated and during that (2016) campaign and some other things he's done. But while we're all entitled to our personal views, I definitely could have said it in a better way. Have you endorsed in the presidential race yet? No, and I have a lot of favorite candidates. I would absolutely support whoever the nominee is 1,000%. Because the most important thing is getting Donald Trump out of the office. Do you have any prosecutors that you look up to or you would hope to emulate in this office? (Former U.S. Attorney) Preet Bharara is my friend, he was my boss, he is a mentor. Preet really tried to teach all of us from day one this idea of not just pursuing cases for the sake of prosecution, not just pursuing a sentence for the sake of the highest sentence, but trying to do justice. And sometimes that meant making sure that somebody's case is dismissed or exonerated, because we found out something later about the case. The most important thing a prosecutor can do as a leader is teach that to the generations of prosecutors who come after them. Because I can't look over the shoulder every day of every prosecutor in my office with every single decision they make. So what I have to do, what I can do, is teach them the right set of values, of integrity and fairness and how to pursue cases in the best way but also how to pull back and be more fair about the system as a whole. By Express News Service BARIPADA: State BJP president Samir Mohanty on Tuesday charged the Congress of spreading lies and creating an atmosphere of fear for Muslims over CAA. There is no Hindu-Muslim divide in the country. It is the Congress party which is playing dirty politics to destroy the countrys social fabric, Mohanty said. Taking part in the Jan Jagaran padayatra organised by the party in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) here, he said the CAA was not against the citizens of the country. It is meant to grant citizenship to people facing religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. However, the opposition parties were misleading people to secure their vote banks, he said. "Though BJP Government has taken some historic steps like abrogation of Article 370 and ending the practice of Triple Talaq, the Congress and other parties are opposing it as they dont want the well-being of people," he said. The Congress led by Sonia Gandhi is not able to tolerate the BJP Government in power and wants Rahul Gandhi to be the Prime Minister of the country. Despite ruling the country for 70 years, the party failed to deliver on its promises to the people. Now, Congress and its allies have been completely exposed, he stated. Mohanty was accompanied by Mayurbhanj MP Biseswar Tudu, Zilla Parishad president Sujata Murmu and MLAs of Badasahi, Rairangpur, Jashipur, Udala and Baripada. On Monday evening, the BJP State president had visited Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital (MCH) and expressed dissatisfaction over delivery of healthcare services. Amsterdam/'s-Hertogenbosch, 29 January 2020 Today, Van Lanschot Kempen announces that Leonne van der Sar has decided to leave Van Lanschot Kempen in the course of 2020. Leonne is a member of the Executive Board of Van Lanschot Kempen and responsible for our Merchant Banking activities such as Corporate Finance, Equity Capital Markets and Securities. Leonne van der Sar: 'My decision to leave was a difficult one. Van Lanschot Kempen is a unique organisation with outstanding colleagues. However, several months after my return following a complex eye condition that affected me for part of 2019, I realised how fundamentally this period has changed me and I have come to the conclusion that I want to take my professional life in another direction. After I leave, I will further consider what this will be.' Karl Guha, Chairman Executive Board: 'We regret that Leonne will be leaving us, but respect her decision to give a different direction to her career. Under Leonne's management, Merchant Banking has executed a large number of transactions in recent years, its teams have been strengthened and the niche strategy has been successfully expanded. We are grateful to Leonne for the efforts and talents she has brought to Van Lanschot Kempen. We wish her every success in the future.' Media Relations: +31 Investor Relations: +31 About Van Lanschot Kempen Van Lanschot Kempen, a wealth manager operating under the Van Lanschot, Evi and Kempen brand names, is active in Private Banking, Asset Management and Merchant Banking, with the aim of preserving and creating wealth for its clients. Van Lanschot Kempen, listed at Euronext Amsterdam, is the Netherlands' oldest independent financial services company with a history dating back to 1737. vanlanschotkempen.com Attachment Arion Bank will publish its Q4 and 2019 financial results on Wednesday 12 February, after markets have closed. Investor meeting / Webcast in English 13 February at 9:30 CET (8:30 GMT) Arion Bank will be hosting a meeting / webcast on Thursday 13 February at 9:30 CET (8:30 GMT) where CEO Benedikt Gislason, CFO Stefan Petursson, Deputy CFO Eggert Teitsson and Head of Investor Relations Theodor Fridbertsson will present the results and answer questions from participants. The meeting will take place in English at the Bank's headquarters, Borgartun19, Reykjavik, and will be streamed live. Those attending the meeting in Borgartun 19 need to register here . To participate in the webcast via telephone and put forward questions please call in using the relevant number indicated below before the start of the webcast: SE: +46 850 558 353 UK: +44 333 300 9031 Iceland: +354 800 7520 United States: +1 833 823 0587 The webcast will be accessible live on financialhearings.com and a link will also be made available on the Bank's website under Investor Relations . Auburn, IN (46706) Today Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low 27F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 50%.. Tonight Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low 27F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 50%. IndiGo airlines said on Wednesday that due to the novel coronavirus outbreak in China, it has decided to suspend its flights on the Bengaluru-Hong Kong route from February 1 and on the Delhi-Chengdu route from February 1 to 20. The low-cost carrier said for now, it will continue to operate the Kolkata-Guangzhou flight which it is "monitoring on a daily basis". "And for our operating crew, we are ensuring that they return to India on the inbound flights without any layover in China," the airline said in a statement. Moreover, according to a source, India's largest airline has also told its crew members who are working on flights connecting India with East Asian countries like Thailand and Singapore to wear N95 masks at all times when they are on ground. "However, these crew members have been asked not to wear the mask when they are flying. They have also been told to avoid public places, meat from unverified sources and uncooked meat in East Asian cities. They have also been told to wash their hands frequently," the source added. According to an Air India official, all crew members working on flights between India and South East Asia have been asked to wear N95 masks. In India, many people are under observation in hospitals for suspected coronavirus infection including in Maharashtra, Goa, Odisha and the national capital. People returning to the country after visiting China are being regularly screened for the deadly virus at airports across the country. Novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from common cold to acute respiratory syndromes. The virus, which has killed 132 people and affected at least 6,000 others in China, is a novel strain not seen before. In its statement, IndiGo said on Wednesday, "After carefully assessing the current coronavirus situation in China, IndiGo is taking some safety measures for its customers, crew and staff. Due to China travel restrictions, we have seen a high number of cancellations from China on our Delhi-Chengdu route and vice versa." "Therefore, we are suspending our flights between Delhi and Chengdu from February 1 until February 20. We are also suspending our Bengaluru- Hong Kong flight effective February 1," it added. The low-cost carrier stated that these are purely temporary and precautionary measures. "We understand that these measures will cause inconvenience to our customers and we will be refunding the full amount to the impacted passengers," it clarified. IndiGo added that it is in "close touch" with the "relevant government authorities" and "we thank them and our partners in China for all the help and support that they have extended so far". Air India has kept a 423-seater jumbo plane ready in Mumbai to airlift Indian citizens from Wuhan city in China in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Wuhan is the capital of China's Hubei province. As India started the preparations to evacuate over 250 Indians, mostly students, stuck in the Hubei province, its embassy in Beijing said these nationals will have to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine on their return. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) We are such an obdurate people. And hypocritical to boot, with it, too. God help us. We are against homosexuality, yet we won't abolish the government-funded boarding senior high school system (in which that confounded abomination, homosexuality, festers) - and use the money saved to transform such boarding schools into world-class day schools, instead. Amazing. As an aspirational people, we all want the free senior high school policy to be sustainable. Most of us are also worried about homosexuality spreading amongst our younger generations. In that regard, the question we must all ponder over is: Will the abolishing of the state-funded boarding senior high school system, not also remove the burden of the state supporting what are veritable cesspits of homosexuality (boarding schools)? And, at a time when one of the many impacts of climate change is the rapid spreading of infectious diseases, we must acknowledge that perfect conditions for students being infected with all manner of viruses, and assorted bugs, exist, in the over-populated dormitories of state-funded boarding schools. Let's close them down and transform them into world-class day senior high schools. Furtheremore, why spend billions of taxpayers' funds to enable our younger generations continue staying in boarding schools, when, to all intents and purposes, they are, in reality, bedbug-hotels and perpetual repositories of the DNA of all manner of skin infections? And, is the painful truth, simply not that the students who attend such boarding schools, unfortunately have to contend with sleeping in jam-packed, lice-infested dormitories, and are also lumbered with having to put up with using egregiously-unhygienic lavatories and bath-houses? Haaba. Now we are told that feeding students in state-funded boarding senior high schools has become a major challenge. Let us get serious in this country, and for once, deal with this matter sensibly. State-funded boarding senior high schools, simply no longer make sense financially - and must be transformed into world-class day senior high schools, if the policy of free second cycle education is to remain sustainable and continue being maintained to empower social mobility in Ghana. The painful truth is that in terms of funding, currently, state-funded boarding senior high schools are the educational equivalent of black holes. They are unsustainable social-enterprise business-models. Full stop. To make the free senior high school policy sustainable, we ought to turn all Ghana's state-funded boarding senior high schools into world-class day schools - for the well-being of our younger generations, above all. Now. Not tomorrow. Haaba. FILE PHOTO: An attendee wears a badge strip with the logo of Huawei and a sign for 5G at the World 5G Exhibition in Beijing By David Ljunggren OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada, the only member of an elite intelligence-sharing network yet to decide whether to allow the use of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd 5G technology, on Tuesday said it was studying Britain's decision not to ban the Chinese telecoms giant from the West's next-generation communications. Britain announced the firm could have a limited role in 5G mobile networks, resisting pressure from Washington. Huawei's involvement will be capped at 35% and it will be excluded from the sensitive core, where data is processed. "Those are the solutions that are being examined," Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains told reporters when asked about Britain's steps. "I'm not going to jump to any conclusion of what that solution may look like vis-a-vis core and non-core." Bains, saying Canada would keep talking to allies, did not answer directly when asked about the timing of a decision. Canadian sources said last year that Ottawa would closely study what Britain did. Last November, a senior U.S. official told Canada that allowing Huawei 5G technology would threaten intelligence sharing with the Five Eyes network that also groups Britain, Australia and New Zealand. The United States says Huawei equipment could be used to steal Western secrets, a charge the firm denies. New Zealand and Australia have banned domestic mobile networks from using Huawei 5G equipment. Canadian telecommunications firms are increasingly impatient for Ottawa to make a decision. "Although the security concerns are very significant, we also have to make sure we give full consideration to what is best for Canadians ... (and) the industry environment," Public Safety Minister Bill Blair told reporters. The added complication for Canada is that Beijing detained two Canadians in 2018 after Vancouver police arrested a Huawei executive on a U.S. extradition warrant. Two sources directly familiar with the matter said security officials were split over Huawei. The Communications Security Establishment (CSE) - which gathers signals intelligence - was taking a more dovish line than the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) spy agency, they said. "CSE considers this is a technical question that can be managed while CSIS is totally opposed to opening the door to possible espionage," said one source, who requested anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation. The split was first reported by the Globe and Mail newspaper. In a statement, Huawei Canada said "in our ten years of operation in Canada, there has never been a security incident or a lapse of any sort". (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Marguerita Choy) Bats are considered the probable source of the coronavirus outbreak spreading from China. It turns out that they may have an immune system that lets them coexist with many disease-causing viruses. by James Gorman If previous outbreaks of coronavirus are any indication, the Wuhan strain that is now spreading may eventually be traced back to bats. Dr. Peter Daszak, president of EcoHealth Alliance, who has been working in China for 15 years studying diseases that jump from animals to people, said, We dont know the source yet, but theres pretty strong evidence that this is a bat origin coronavirus. He said, Its probably going to be the Chinese horseshoe bat, a common species that weighs up to an ounce. Indian flying foxes, which have been known to carry Nipah virus, hanging on a tree last year in Beawar, India.Credit...Sumit Saraswat/Pacific Press/LightRocket, via Getty Images If hes right, this strain will join many other viruses that bats carry. SARS and MERS epidemics were caused by bat coronaviruses, as was a highly destructive viral epidemic in pigs. One bat can host many different viruses without getting sick. They are the natural reservoir for the Marburg virus, and Nipah and Hendra viruses, which have caused human disease and outbreaks in Africa, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Australia. They are thought to be the natural reservoir for the Ebola virus. They also carry the rabies virus, but in that case the bats are affected by the disease. Their tolerance of viruses, which surpasses that of other mammals, is one of their many distinctive qualities. They are the only flying mammals, they devour disease-carrying insects by the ton, and they are essential in the pollination of many fruits, like bananas, avocados and mangoes. They are also an incredibly diverse group, making up about a quarter of all mammalian species. But their ability to coexist with viruses that can spill over to other animals, in particular humans, can have devastating consequences when we eat them, trade them in livestock markets and invade their territory. Learning how they carry and survive so many viruses has been a deep question for science, and new research suggests that the answer may be how the bats evolutionary adaptations to flight changed their immune systems. In a 2018 paper in Cell Host and Microbe, scientists in China and Singapore reported their investigation of how bats handle something called DNA sensing. The energy demands of flight are so great that cells in the body break down and release bits of DNA that are then floating around where they shouldnt be. Mammals, including bats, have ways to identify and respond to such bits of DNA, which might indicate an invasion of a disease-causing organism. But in bats, they found, evolution has weakened that system, which would normally cause inflammation as it fought the viruses. Bats have lost some genes involved in that response, which makes sense because the inflammation itself can be very damaging to the body. They have a weakened response but it is still there. Thus, the researchers write, this weakened response may allow them to maintain a balanced state of effective response but not over response against viruses. How to manage and contain the current outbreak of the virus officially known as nCoV-2019, is, of course, of paramount importance now. But tracing its origin and taking action to combat further outbreaks may depend partly on knowledge and monitoring of bats. The outbreak can be contained and controlled, Dr. Daszak said. But if we dont know the origin in the long term then this virus can continue to spill over. Scientists in China were already studying the bats carefully, well aware that an outbreak like the current one would most likely happen. Last spring, in an article on bat coronaviruses, or CoVs, a group of Chinese researchers wrote that it is generally believed that batborne CoVs will re-emerge to cause the next disease outbreak. They added, In this regard, China is a likely hot spot. This wasnt clairvoyance, but conventional wisdom. Certainly rodents, primates and birds also carry diseases that can and have jumped to people, bats are far from alone in that regard. But there are reasons they have been implicated in several disease outbreaks and are likely to be implicated in more. They are numerous and widespread. While bats account for a quarter of mammalian species, rodents are 50 percent, and then theres the rest of us. Bats live on every continent except Antarctica, in proximity to humans and farms. The ability to fly makes them wide-ranging, which helps in spreading viruses, and their feces can spread disease. People in many parts of the world eat bats, and sell them in live animal markets, which was the source of SARS, and possibly the latest coronavirus outbreak that began in Wuhan. They also often live in huge colonies in caves, where crowded conditions are ideal for passing viruses to one another. This article was originally published in New York Time. Click here to read the complete article on NYT website. India is set to operate two flights to bring back its nationals from China's Hubei Province, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the Chinese government has been requested for permission to operate these two flights. He said the Indian Embassy in Beijing is in touch with Chinese authorities on the ground to work out necessary logistics. Kumar also shared the appeal of the Indian Embassy in China to all Indian citizens in Hubei who have not yet contacted the mission to do so on the given hotlines or dedicated email ID. The disease which emerged in Wuhan, capital of China's Hubei Province, has spread to at least 17 countries, with the United Arab Emirates announcing on Wednesday its first case of the new coronavirus in a family from Wuhan. The death toll from the disease in China has mounted to 132 with about 6,000 confirmed infections. India on Tuesday started preparations to evacuate over 250 of its nationals, mostly students, research scholars and professionals, stuck in Hubei province. They are working in Indian and international companies in the province. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) reports that the Information Regulator of South Africa has requested that President Cyril Ramaphosa announce that the provisions of the Protection of Personal Information Act (PoPIA) start on 1 April 2020.While being interviewed on eNCA, regulator chairperson Pansy Tlakula said that the act gives serious enforcement powers to the regulator including the ability to levy fines of over R10m and the ability to pursue criminal prosecution.According to law firm Webber Wentzel, the remaining provisions in PoPIA regulating the processing of personal information will become effective on 31 March 2021 if the president acts on the regulator's request.Read more on BusinessTech FRAMINGHAM, Massachusetts, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- FX Transparency (FXT), the largest independent provider of FX transaction cost analysis (FX TCA), announced the hiring of Joseph Conlan to expand the adoption of its suite of next-generation analytical tools. FXT customers can now take advantage of business intelligence (BI) dashboards for data visualization, pre-trade cost estimators, and real-time post-trade capabilities, all of which are offerings inside the firm's flagship software: FXTanalytics. "Joe has the FX domain and marketing expertise to manage the rapid growth we're experiencing due to compliance mandates like MiFID II, PRIIPs, and the FX Global Code of Conduct," said John Galanek, FXT's CEO. "Our sophisticated and loyal client base continues to demand new ways to improve FX oversight and lower trading costs. Everything we build is client-driven, and we are lucky to have some of the brightest investors in the world as our clients." Conlan joins FX Transparency with more than 25 years of foreign-exchange experience, most recently as global head of sales for digital-currency startup San Juan Mercantile Bank. Prior to that he ran the FX sales team at INTL FCStone for 11 years. Earlier in his career, Conlan helped migrate the CME's FX futures from the Exchange Floor to e-trading platform Globex, and worked in senior FX sales roles for EBS, Congotec, Integral, and Currenex. "FXTanalytics delivers sophisticated data-mining tools as a complement-not a replacement-to our expert consultations where actionable directives are prescribed to help our clients reduce trading costs," said Conlan. "Personal attention to each client has always been this company's differentiator in the FX TCA space, and I will continue to build on that high level of service that our customers expect from us." About FX Transparency, LLC FX Transparency is the largest independent provider of foreign-exchange transaction cost analysis (FX TCA) and currency-execution consulting globally. The firm's mission is to quantify and reduce currency-trading costs exclusively for institutional buy-side market participants. FX Transparency was founded in 2009 and has offices in Framingham, MA, and Melbourne, Australia. For more information about FX Transparency's TCA services or to see how your company's execution costs compare to others using the FXT Peer Universe program, please visit our website at www.fxtransparency.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1083159/FX_Transparency_Conlan.jpg VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NuLegacy Gold Corporation (TSXV: NUG; OTCQB: NULG.F) is pleased to report that Mr. Mark Bradley, a Senior Project/Chief Geologist for Barrick Gold Corporation supervising major exploration teams and a Principal Geologist assessing new North American exploration opportunities, has joined NuLegacy Gold as Nevada Exploration Manager. Mark was the Cortez Project team leader during the discovery and definition of Barrick Golds multi-million-ounce Goldrush deposit. For this he was a co-recipient of the prestigious Thayer Lindsley Award for International Mineral Discovery from the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada. During the Goldrush discovery program he guided and managed the Cortez exploration team of 20+ geologists and a couple hundred drilling, construction and logistical contracting personnel. Mark worked with all the members of NuLegacys team of former Barrick Gold executives and geologists during their tenures at Barrick Gold. He will be responsible for the administration and execution of NuLegacys exploration programs so the geo-technical team can, with his input, focus exclusively on interpretive geology and locating the down-dip source/s of the high-grade intercepts drilled to date. As well as developing the Spring 2020 exploration program Mark will prioritize streamlining the permitting process to complete the expansion of the AV Plan of Operations (PoO) environmental permit in anticipation of drilling the highly prospective Rift Anticline in the fall of 2020. Assays from the Fall 2019 drilling are being processed for reporting mid-February. About NuLegacy Gold Corporation: NuLegacy is a Nevada exploration company focused on discovering Carlin-style gold deposits on its premier district scale 108 sq. km (42 sq. mile) Red Hill Property in the prolific Cortez gold trend of Nevada. To date NuLegacy has discovered the Iceberg Carlin-style gold deposits and has identified several more highly prospective exploration targets that are being drilled this year. Story continues NuLegacys Red Hill Property is located on trend and adjacenti to the three multi-million ounce Carlin-type gold deposits (the Pipeline, Cortez Hills and Goldrush deposits) that are amongst Barrick Golds largest, lowest cost and politically safest gold minesii. i The similarity and proximity of these deposits in the Cortez Trend is not necessarily indicative of the gold mineralization in NuLegacys Red Hill Property. ii As extracted from Barricks Q4-2013 and Q1-2014 reports. As reported by Barrick, the Goldrush resource contains 8,557,000 indicated ounces of gold within 25.78 million tonnes grading ~10.57 g/t and 1,650,000 inferred ounces within 5.6 million tonnes grading ~9.0 g/t. Dr. Roger Steininger, a Director of NuLegacy is a Certified Professional Geologist (CPG 7417) and the qualified person as defined by NI 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, responsible for approving the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. To learn more about NuLegacy Gold Corporation, please visit: www.nulegacygold.com or NuLegacy's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF NULEGACY GOLD CORPORATION Albert J. Matter Chief Executive Officer & Director Tel: +1 (604) 639-3640 Email: albert@nuggold.com Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws, which information and/or statements relate to future events or future performance (including, but not limited to, NuLegacys proposed drilling programs, the estimated date for approval of NuLegacys expanded AV PoP and the number, location, cost and timing of drill targets) and reflect managements current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking information and statements reflect managements current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking information and statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to, actual results of exploration activities, environmental risks, operating risks, accidents, labour issues, delays in obtaining governmental approvals and permits, the availability of financing, market conditions, future prices for gold, changes in personnel and other risks in the mining industry. There are no known resources or reserves in the Red Hill Property and any proposed exploration programs are exploratory searches for commercial bodies of ore. In addition, the presence of gold resources on properties adjacent or near the Red Hill Property is not necessarily indicative of the gold mineralization on the Red Hill Property. All the forward-looking information and statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information and statements in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required under applicable securities legislation. 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. Trade experts say the impact of the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement will be modest. Canada and Mexico already represent the top two export markets for U.S. goods. The independent U.S. International Trade Commission last year calculated that the deal would add 0.35%, or $68 billion, to economic growth and generate 176,000 jobs over six years. Thats not much of a change for a $22 trillion economy with 152 million nonfarm jobs. A teenager has been arrested and charged after he allegedly held a delivery driver at knifepoint and stole a pizza and drink. The driver was completing a pizza delivery on Waite Street at Elizabeth Downs, in Adelaide's north, about 10.30pm on Tuesday. When he arrived to the house an 18-year-old resident opened the door and threatened the driver with a knife. The driver was completing a pizza delivery (stock image) on Waite Street at Elizabeth Downs, in Adelaide's north, about 10.30pm on Tuesday '[He] was armed with a knife, and the suspect stole the pizza and drink that had been ordered to the premises,' Senior Constable Matt Brown told ABC Radio Adelaide. South Australia Police were called to the property where they found the stolen pizza and drink inside the house. They searched the property and found the 18-year-old man hiding in the bushes in the backyard. 'As you can guess police were supremely confident of an arrest,' Senior Constable Brown said. The victim was not physically injured and the 18-year-old was charged with aggravated robbery and was refused bail. He is due to appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Wednesday. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Get ready for round two. The nation's highest court continues to prepare for another reservation boundary case after failing to reach a decision in the last one. In an order on Monday , the U.S. Supreme Court appointed an attorney to represent an Indian inmate whose case should finally answer the questions the justices couldn't last year. Does the reservation of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation still exist and is it still Indian Country? If the high court sides with Jimcy McGirt, a 71-year-old inmate who hails from the Seminole Nation , he will have succeeded where many others tried before him. With a petition written by hand and sent from the James Crabtree Correctional Center in Helen, Oklahoma, he managed to present his imprisonment as one that will resolve the Indian Country status of millions of acres in the eastern part of his home state. But McGirt won't be arguing for his freedom from state jurisdiction himself. Instead, the court will let a familiar figure -- Ian Gershengorn , the same attorney who represented a different Indian inmate in last year's dramatic case -- do the talking at the forthcoming hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. And just like the prior dispute, McGirt's case is being drawn along the same battle lines. While the Muscogee (Creek) Nation is not taking a position on the defendant's guilt -- he was convicted of heinous crimes involving the sexual assault of a child -- the tribe will be supporting his overall cause, according to a document filed on Monday. The Trump administration is also back in the fold, even though the federal government is not a party in McGirt v. Oklahoma . In an application jointly submitted with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the U.S. Department of Justice said it will support the state's position -- that the tribe's reservation no longer exists, but even if it does, that the state can exercise jurisdiction over those lands. "The United States and the Creek Nation have distinct and substantial interests in the resolution of this case," U.S. Solicitor General Noel Francisco wrote in seeking the Supreme Court's permission for both the federal government and the tribe to submit longer-than-usual briefs in McGirt. According to Francisco, the official who oversees Supreme Court litigation on behalf of the U.S. , it's just too much for the federal government to prosecute tribal citizens who live on Indian lands in eastern Oklahoma even though these types of cases are common elsewhere in many other states. "For the United States, the expansion of criminal jurisdiction would result in a great increase in the federal governments Indian-related law-enforcement responsibilities and the necessary expenditure of resources, and the reasoning underlying petitioners position could well extend to all of the Five Tribes in eastern Oklahoma," Francisco said in reference to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the Cherokee Nation , the Chickasaw Nation , the Choctaw Nation and the Seminole Nation , who are collectively known as the Five Civilized Tribes and whose leaders are once again closely watching the happenings at the Supreme Court. Though an official from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation did not sign the application, the tribe agreed to the filing and Francisco did his best to represent the tribe's position despite the government disclaiming a trust and treaty responsibility on Creek lands. "For its part, the Creek Nation is a sovereign tribe whose historic territory is the focus of this case," the filing stated. "The Creek Nation is uniquely situated to present its own informed understanding of the Creek Nations history and of the treaties and statutes governing its relationship with the United States." Jimcy McGirt is currently serving time in the Oklahoma correctional system for crimes committed in 1997. Source: Source: OK Offender / OK Department of Corrections The Muscogee (Creek) Nation and the United States aren't the only ones interested in the outcome either. In the last case, known as Sharp v. Murphy , supportive briefs were filed on behalf of hundreds of tribes, key members of Congress, former federal prosecutors, advocates for Native women and Indian law and policy scholars. Opposing briefs came from law enforcement, the oil and gas industry and other business groups in Oklahoma. McGirt is likely to draw similar submissions. Last week, both McGirt and the state of Oklahoma -- the defendant in the case -- filed blanket consents, opening the doors for interested parties to present their views of the controversy. Whoever shows up with briefs will probably see a shortened time-frame for resolution of McGirt. Though oral argument hasn't been set, the earliest it could occur is early March, as the Supreme Court currently has hearings scheduled through March 4 The Supreme Court's current term, which began in October , is expected to conclude by the end of June, giving the justices only a couple of months to hear arguments and come up with a decision, assuming they stick to their usual schedule. But unlike Murphy, all nine members of the court -- including Neil Gorsuch , whose knowledge of Indian law and policy is unprecedented -- are on board with McGirt. Speculation was that the eight justices who heard the earlier case were deadlocked and that's why they never came up with a decision at the end of their prior term "It seems like a no-brainer," Bryce In the Woods, a council member from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe , said when the issue came up during the National Congress of American Indians 76th annual convention last October. Collectively, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, the Cherokee Nation, the Chickasaw Nation, the Choctaw Nation and the Seminole Nation signed treaties with the United States in the late 1800s which promised them millions of acres for their people and their future. Altogether, the government-to-government agreements covered an estimated 19 million acres in the eastern part of present-day Oklahoma. Changes in federal policy led to the allotment of the five tribes' lands , a shift that began in the late 1800s and one that saw the loss of 90 million acres of tribal property between 1887 and 1934, when the Indian Reorganization Act put an end to it. The Five Civilized Tribes were also subjected to another federal law that saw the U.S. essentially refuse to acknowledge their leadership for several decades. The negative history has contributed to the stand-off at the Supreme Court. The state of Oklahoma and the Trump administration, during Murphy, argued that the reservations of the five tribes were diminished to the point that the state exercises jurisdiction over their lands. Murphy was supposed to have resolved the issue on behalf of Patrick Dwayne Murphy, a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation who is on death row in Oklahoma. He was convicted in state court of murdering a fellow Creek citizen in 1999. Two years earlier, McGirt was convicted in state court of crimes involving a four-year-old Indian girl. But since the incident occurred within the boundaries of the reservation that was promised to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation by treaty, and since the reservation has never been disestablished or diminished by Congress, he argues that the federal government -- not Oklahoma -- has jurisdiction over the matter. "Oklahoma courts have a long history of ignoring federal statutes," McGirt asserted in the petition he wrote to the Supreme Court. "States have no authority over Indians in Indian country, unless it is expressly conferred by Congress," he added. Should the Supreme Court agree with McGirt, he could be prosecuted by the federal government for his crimes. In Oklahoma, he was sentenced to 500 years in prison and life in prison without parole, so a change in venue would have a significant impact on him. Murphy would also see some significant changes in the federal system. If he is prosecuted by the U.S., he might not face the death penalty. Join the Conversation Indianz.Com on SoundCloud Jam out with the justices! Listen to lawyers! No, really, these are important U.S. Supreme Court cases Related Stories Boston: A Harvard University professor was charged on Tuesday with lying about his ties to a Chinese-run recruitment program and concealing payments he received from the Chinese government for research. A statue of John Harvard sits in Harvard Yard at Harvard University. Credit:AP Charles Lieber, chairman of the department of chemistry and chemical biology, is accused of hiding his involvement in China's Thousand Talents Plan, a program designed to lure people with knowledge of foreign technology and intellectual property to China. Lieber was arrested early on Tuesday at his office at the Ivy League university, officials said. He remained in federal custody after a brief court appearance on Tuesday, pending a detention hearing scheduled for Thursday. A message seeking comment was left with his attorney. Authorities also announced charges against a researcher at Boston University, who is accused of lying about her ties to the Chinese military. She welcomed her first child just over three weeks ago. And Amy Willerton has treated herself to a spot of winter sun as she adjusts to life with a newborn. The former beauty queen took to Instagram on Wednesday to reveal she is in Dubai with her baby daughter Demelza and fiance Daniel Day, posing for a blissful series of bikini selfies. Sunshine: Amy Willerton has treated herself to a spot of winter sun as she adjusts to life with a newborn, jetting to Dubai with her baby daughter Demelza and fiance Daniel Day Hours after touching down, Amy sunned herself in a red, white and blue swimsuit teamed with chic shades and a glowing tan. 'I've missed the sun, can you tell?' she captioned one pic. Speaking to the camera in an Instagram video, the reality star gushed: 'I'm so happy, oh my gosh it's so nice to be back somewhere warm, it's incredible.' Amy later told her followers how 'chilled' her baby girl was on the flight, admitting 'we're really lucky.' Wish you were here! Hours after touching down, Amy sunned herself in a red, white and blue swimsuit teamed with chic shades and a glowing tan Happy: Speaking to the camera in an Instagram video, the reality star gushed: 'I'm so happy, oh my gosh it's so nice to be back somewhere warm, it's incredible' The model, 27, gave birth to her bundle of joy on January 4th, with little Demelza weighing in at 7lb 5oz. In a sweet new photoshoot and interview with Hello! Magazine, Amy revealed that having her first baby is life-changing, with the star also speaking candidly about her recent horrific mugging which came just hours before she went into labour. Speaking to the publication, Amy said: We've been on lockdown, just lapping her up and taking it all in. It feels as though time has stopped because it's just us and our little baby in the cave we've built. Having a first baby is truly life-changing. Some people have asked: I bet you can't wait for her to walk and talk? No, no, no. I just want to love every stage. Chilled: Amy later told her followers how 'chilled' her baby girl was on the flight, admitting 'we're really lucky' Early start! Amy took to Instagram on Wednesday morning to reveal they were setting off for the airport early in the morning However, despite being in a happy baby bubble at the moment, Amy told how her epic home birth didnt go to plan as she was mugged while out with Daniel with the star claiming the shock of the robbery contributed to the subsequent onset of labour. Describing the ordeal, she said: I felt someone put their hand in my pocket and my phone, with all my birth preparation voice notes, a birthing playlist, my plan to get through early labour was gone. None of it was backed up. I began crying my eyes out. I was devastated. She went on to say that later that night at 1am, her waters broke, and within hours she was having three contractions every ten minutes. First flight: Amy shared a snap of her baby being fed by a besotted member of the cabin crew during the flight Made it! The reality star gushed that her baby girl had had a great first flight as she shared a photo of her fiance Daniel carrying her off the plane Amy told how she was assisted by a pair of midwives, but as the pain built up, the labour eventually slowed down. The stunner also told how shes in no hurry to get back to her pre-pregnancy weight, adding that shes very chilled about it after gaining 2st 9lb. She added that her priority is healing and to enjoy every moment of being a new mother. Amy announced the arrival of her first child in a sweet Instagram post, where she enthused she's 'so in love' alongside a snap of her newborn's feet. New mum wrote on her social media platform: 'Youre REAL #lovebubble #newborn #newarrival #cocoonababy #imsoinlove.' [sic] Loved-up: The TV star rang in the new year by welcoming her first child, sharing the happy news on her Instagram page In the heart-warming black-and-white image, the little one was bundled up in a striped babygrow as they rested on a sleeping nest by Cocoonababy. Amy revealed her pregnancy in October just six months after confirming her engagement to her partner of three years. Amy previously dated former TOWIE star Joey Essex after they struck up a friendship while appearing on I'm A Celeb in 2013. She was also linked to One Direction's Niall Horan, before embarking on a three-month romance with entrepreneur Rob Gough in 2015. At 17, Amy held the Miss Bristol title and later rose to fame after she won Katie Price's competition series Signed by Katie Price in 2011. The bombshell went on to win Miss Bath in 2011, Miss London in 2012 and then reached the top 5 in the Miss England contest. She has since forged a successful career in reality TV, starring in series such as I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and The Jump. Questions were raised over the new minister's responsibilities in light of the 2016 creation of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has issued a decision defining the role of the newly-appointed minister of state for information, and the country's state media policy. Osama Heikal, who served as information minister from 2011 to 2012, was appointed as the state minister for information as part of a cabinet reshuffle last month. Egypt had previously abolished its Information Ministry in 2014. The appointment raised questions over the role of the new minister in light of the 2016 creation of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, which regulates media organisations. According to Madbouly's decision, Heikal's responsibilities include proposing the states media policy, and coordinating with the president, the prime minister and relevant media and press authorities for its implementation. Heikal is also tasked with laying out "media plans to address various local and international political situations, in liaison with various ministries and authorities." Heikal will oversee plans to upgrade state and private TV, develop drama content, and boost competitiveness between different channels." The minister of state for information will also work to "support the state media and boost its competitivenes, support freedom of the private media, and... offer professional support to online media." In addition, he will represent the state in international conferences and forums. Tuesday's decision also defined the state media's policy, saying it aims to "highlight state efforts to implement national projects and their impact on the future of citizens." It is also intended to boost Egyptian media locally and internationally and improve its competence in dealing with various crises as well as raising awarness about influential issues. Search Keywords: Short link: By Kyle Lovern In the Bible, the apostle Paul reminded those who would listen of[Read More] A controversial union-busting bill could return from the dead with the Morrison government now prepared to negotiate with independent Senator Jacqui Lambie after originally rejecting her proposed changes last year. Attorney General Christian Porter is determined to push through the bill, which was defeated in December after One Nation leader Pauline Hanson revoked her support. Crossbench Senator Jacqui Lambie is open to voting for the federal government union-busting bill if her amendments are agreed to. Credit:AAP Mr Porter, the industrial relations minister, said the government remained "absolutely committed" to passing the Ensuring Integrity Bill, which would make it easier to deregister unions and ban officials for repeated workplace law breaches. The government is hoping to pass the bill within weeks, but does not envisage bringing it to a vote in the first week of parliamentary sitting, which begins on Monday. Birminghams downtown innovation district has a name - The Switch. The new moniker was officially unveiled this afternoon at Innovation Depots Velocity Accelerator Kick-off. But its more than a name. The branding is meant to establish a section of downtown Birmingham in the public consciousness as a nexus for entrepreneurs and a vibrant culture of innovation. And it has the backing of 14 Birmingham organizations. The Switch encompasses the blocks immediately around Innovation Depot moving outward, and connects to the Civil Rights District and Fourth Avenue Business District. The Switch also has its own website, which rolled out today as well. Organizers say it will be updated with resources for entrepreneurs, companies and developers, and links to business development and real estate. UAB President Ray Watts, who chairs Innovation Depots board of directors, said the citys educational institutions, corporations, governmental organizations and others are committed to helping the citys entrepreneur class succeed. The Switch will provide a place for people, ideas and resources to come together and create a destination for innovation in our community, Watts said. The logo of The Switch was unveiled Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. As REV Birmingham President and CEO David Fleming explained, the name comes with many meanings from Birminghams past, and its present and future. The blocks around Innovation Depot originally came to life as a railroad switchyard, and the oldest buildings still trace the curve of the former tracks," Fleming said. "Now, The Switch speaks to the information that flows here. Birmingham has made a switch from our industrial roots to a tech and innovation-based economy, which is building a more vibrant and sustainable future for our city. Birmingham Business Alliance Interim President and CEO Fred McCallum said The Switch will help attract and retain innovative businesses and startups in Birmingham. With its connection to BhamBizHub, the online resource for entrepreneurs and startups, we continue to bridge the gap and make it easier to start and grow a business in Birmingham as we compete in an innovation economy," he said. REV Birmingham, UAB and the BBA are leading The Switch initiative, with additional support from the Alabama Capital Network, Alabama Power, Birmingham Bound, Central Six, AlabamaWorks!, City of Birmingham, Innovate Birmingham, Innovation Depot, Shipt, Tech Birmingham, Urban Impact and Venture for America. Tessa Majors was stabbed to death on December 11 A grand jury will be convened to decide whether or not charges should be brought against two underage boys who were questioned and released in the Tessa Majors murder. The two boys were hauled in by NYPD detectives last year after Majors, an 18-year-old freshman was stabbed to death in Morningside Park, Upper West Manhattan, on December 11. They were however released without charge. One 13-year-old boy is still in custody on murder charges. He will be held in juvenile custody until his trial date. He is said to have told detectives that the group put her in a chokehold and robbed her and that she was stabbed because she put up a fight. His attorneys have however cast doubt on that 'confession' and say he was improperly interviewed without a lawyer present. One of the to 14-year-old boys was described by officers as being on the run 'in the South'. After issuing his photograph - but not his name - to the media, he was found and brought back for questioning but was later released. Tessa' s family from Virginia traveled to New York after her death. They said that they were only interested in finding out what happened to her in one of the few statements they have released. NYPD officials and union bosses rushed to exchange crossed words with Mayor Bill de Blasio after Tessa's death, saying he no longer lets them do their jobs by telling them to take a more relaxed approach to crime. There were also multiple conflicting reports about some of the most basic information involving the investigation from the beginning. Families for the two 14-year-old boys say they are innocent. It is unclear when the grand jury will reach a decision. Possible Rule Change Casts Uncertainty on Southeast Wyoming Organic Wheat Producers Jay Norton Researchers at the University of Wyoming hope a $340,000 grant to study the effects of compost on a number of factors in southeast Wyoming also will address a problem sprouting for organic wheat producers. College of Agriculture and Natural Resources scientists will study water efficiency, soil and yields, and intercropping strategies as part of a larger $1.9 million award spread across Wyoming, Utah, Montana and Washington. A possible change in how the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) may designate organic wheat has some southeast Wyoming producers ill at ease. Many Wyoming wheat producers had switched to organic for the additional price boost, but the USDA may no longer recognize the long-used practice of fallow as a rotation, says Jay Norton, soils specialist for UW Extension and one of the scientists on the UW grant. Producers fallow, or rest, the soil and allow fields to soak up any moisture in their crop rotations, but the wheat-fallow system is known to accelerate erosion and loss of soil organic matter compared with systems that include more constant soil cover, Norton says. The USDA may require producers to reduce or eliminate fallow periods to retain organic certification. They have to do something else like incorporate cover crops or a more genuine crop rotation to reduce or even eliminate fallow, Norton says. They are looking for options to diversify and incorporate soil building practices so they can remain certified. A dryland wheat session at this years High Plains Organic Conference in Cheyenne will take on this issue, he adds. The conference is Feb. 27-28. For more information and to register, visit www.highplainsorganic.org/. Straight wheat-fallow production does not help build soil nutrients under an organic system, and Norton says whether an organic system is sustainable is one of the biggest questions needing answered. Farmers know wheat-fallow is their lowest-risk option for harvesting a crop every other year, but also that it degrades soils, he says. They are interested in evaluating options to improve their soils and stay organic certified. They are anxious to be involved in this research. Wyoming has about 120,000 certified organic acres. About 77,000 acres are cropland and 46,000 pastureland/rangeland, according to the USDA. Norton says six farmers have already provided letters of support and commitment. The Wyoming studies also will be at the universitys James C. Hageman Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Center (SAREC) near Lingle and in laboratories. The research will look at wheat varieties, intercropping and other practices. But, according to Rob Hellbaum, an organic wheat producer from near Chugwater, research at SAREC is valuable but lacks the modern equipment now used in dryland farming and does not have the organic farming experience of area farmers. He says many in the farming community hope much of the organic inputs available today are studied and evaluated at SAREC. The inputs tend to be expensive, and actual results for our area are in question, he says. Norton notes that Hellbaum is always looking for ways to reduce soil disturbance and erosion. He is developing and testing his own ideas about how to use cover crops and even perennials like alfalfa in longer-term rotations, Norton says. We are hoping this new phase of our research will help us catch up with Rob and evaluate some of the ideas he and other farmers are interested in. Hellbaum says that half the wheat in Laramie County is organic and, if not for organic wheat, the wheat industry is done in Platte County. This is no small deal. People bought into organic because the organic prices still make it work and work well if you cut the wheat, he says. Organic wheat in Wyoming is not a flash in the pan. It has become a major deal. If they say we cant get certified as an organic wheat producer, what are our options? Hellbaum says he, Norton and others have tried explaining the differences between dry southeast Wyoming, in the rain shadow of the Rocky Mountains, from other places that receive substantially more moisture. Im not saying they are wrong, but you cant paint the entire U.S. with one brush, he says. If talking sustainability and soil health, I think our fallow system is as good as anything else and has proven sustainable for over 100 years. While Wyoming is a leader in organic winter wheat, which is crucial to local communities, the state only produces a small portion of the national organic wheat crop. They honestly dont care if Wyoming produces organic wheat or any wheat, Hellbaum says. We are just such a small player. Norton adds that farmers he has been working with have their own ideas about cover crops. The crops could be planted after harvest and killed early in the spring before using too much soil moisture. The cover crops would become part of the biomass, or compost. But, there is a glaring problem. Study after study shows cover crops tend to decrease the yield of the following wheat crop during all but the wettest years because of the soil moisture they use, Norton says. We are trying to figure out ways to get around that. An alternative could be planting a cover crop in the fallow about the time of wheat harvest, then planting the wheat in the fall as usual but into the established cover crop. The cover crop would die in the winter, and the wheat would make use of nutrients released by the decomposing biomass in the spring. Norton also is looking at planting every other row with a cover crop. For more information, call Norton at (307) 766-5082 or email jnorton4@uwyo.edu. Countries on Wednesday began evacuating their citizens from the Chinese city hardest-hit by an outbreak of a new virus that has killed 132 people and infected more than 6,000 on the mainland and abroad Beijing: Countries on Wednesday began evacuating their citizens from the Chinese city hardest-hit by an outbreak of a new virus that has killed 132 people and infected more than 6,000 on the mainland and abroad. China's latest figures cover the previous 24 hours and add 26 to the number of deaths, 25 of which were in the central province of Hubei and its capital, Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak. The 5,974 cases on the mainland marked a rise of 1,459 from the previous day, although that rise is a smaller increase than the 1,771 new cases reported on Monday. Dozens of infections of the new type of coronavirus have been confirmed outside mainland China as well. A Japanese chartered flight carrying 206 evacuees from Wuhan included some who had coughs and fever on the plane, Kyodo News reported, citing health ministry officials. They were expected to be taken by ambulances to a Tokyo hospital specializing in infectious diseases. Takeo Aoyama, an employee at Nippon Steel Corp.s subsidiary in Wuhan, told reporters he was relieved to be able to return home. We were feeling increasingly uneasy as the situation developed so rapidly and we were still in the city, Aoyama told reporters, wearing a white surgical mask that slightly muffled his voice. Another of the evacuees, Takayuki Kato, said their temperatures were taken before the plane left Wuhan and again by a doctor on board. Both Kato and Aoyama said they didnt see anyone with obvious symptoms or feeling ill near their seats. All of the passengers were expected to undergo further health checks and were expected to stay home until a lack of infection was confirmed. Aoyama said more than 400 Japanese people wishing to return to Japan are in Wuhan, including those who are working for a Japanese supermarket chain that stays open to serve customers who need food. He said it is important to step up preventive measures in Japan, but I hope we can also provide support for the Chinese people, which I think would also help the Japanese people who are still there. A plane carrying Americans who had been in Wuhan left for Anchorage, Alaska, where they will be rescreened for the virus. Hospitals are prepared to treat or quarantine people who may be infected. Then the plane is scheduled to fly to Ontario, California. The British government is warning against all but essential travel to mainland China amid the outbreak of the new type of coronavirus. And Hong Kong's leader said the territory will cut all rail links to the mainland and halve the number of flights to stop the spread of the virus. South Korea also said it will send a plane, and France, Mongolia and other governments also planned evacuations. China has cut off access to Wuhan and 16 other cities in Hubei province to prevent people from leaving and spreading the virus further. The lockdown has trapped more than 50 million people in the most far-reaching disease control measures ever imposed. The Japanese flight was bringing 20,000 face masks as well as protective gear, all in short supply as Chinese hospitals treat a growing number of patients. Wuhan is building two hospitals in a matter of days to add 2,500 beds for treatment of patients with the virus. The sharp rise in infections recently suggests significant human-to-human spread of the virus, though it could also be explained by expanded monitoring efforts, said Malik Peiris, chair in virology at the University of Hong Kong. Experts worry the new virus may spread more easily than originally thought, or may have mutated into a form that does so. It is from the coronavirus family, which also can cause the common cold as well as more serious illnesses such as SARS and MERS, which both emerged in the past two decades and are thought to have come from animals. The new virus causes cold- and flu-like symptoms, including cough and fever, and in more severe cases, shortness of breath and pneumonia. It is thought to have spread to people from wild animals sold at a Wuhan market. China on Sunday temporarily banned trade in wild animals and urged people to stop eating meat from them. On Tuesday, Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to discuss the latest information on the outbreak and reiterate their commitment to bringing it under control, WHO said in a news release. The National Health Commission presented Chinas strong public health capacities and resources to respond and manage respiratory disease outbreaks, the release said. It said discussions focused on ways to cooperate to contain the virus in Wuhan and other cities and provinces and studies that could contribute to the development of medical countermeasures such as vaccines and treatments. Other WHO experts will visit China as soon as possible, it said. Stopping the spread of this virus both in China and globally is WHOs highest priority, Tedros said. The source of the virus and the full extent of its spread are still unknown. However, WHO said most cases reported to date have been milder, with around 20 percent of those infected experiencing severe illness. The cases counted outside China include a German man who may have been infected by a co-worker visiting from Shanghai and a Japanese tour bus driver who had driven buses carrying tourists from Wuhan. Most of cases abroad have involved Chinese tourists traveling for the Lunar New Year holiday, people who visited Wuhan, or family members who had close contact with those already infected. In Namita Gokhales Jaipur Journals, we are taken in five days through the lives of some interesting characters who are in one capacity or another part of what is often referred to as the Kumbh Mela of Literature, the Jaipur Literature Festival. Amidst a bustling mob of readers, aspiring writers and bookworms lurks a poet and a thief. In the crowds squatting on the floor at a venue where every chair is occupied, hides a truth-teller. Behind a brave veneer of nonchalance is a frightened writer and sitting on a panel of fellow speakers is a silent, brooding academic. In Namita Gokhales Jaipur Journals, we are taken in five days through the lives of some interesting characters who are in one capacity or another part of what is often referred to as the Kumbh Mela of Literature, the Jaipur Literature Festival. The five days of the literary event are charged with a contagious energy as thousands of academicians, college freshmen, high school children travelling on tight budgets mill through the crowds trying to catch the panels comprising their favourite authors, meet those poets they have romanticised, ask some hard-hitting, some deliberately belligerent questions and listen to prominent speakers who have interesting perspectives to offer. Each one of these attendees is the protagonist of their own stories but just for those five days, the complexities of their life synchronise with moments from the lives of countless other people. Set against the backdrop of JLF, Gokhales novel unravels in a similar vein the tales of her characters, alternating between flashbacks and the present to form a colourful narrative that weaves together each of these players. The co-director of the festival says that it was an American friend who first asked her whether she had ever considered writing a novel about the Jaipur festival. While her answer was an emphatic no, the thought had embedded itself and she began working on the book two years ago. Even as the novel is not about the festival, the stories are set against the backdrop of the beautiful Pink City and the Diggi Palace Hotel which hosts the literary extravaganza every year. Gokhale, an award-winning author and publisher has written and edited works spanning several genres including her debut novel Paro: Dreams of Passion, a satirical take on the Mumbai and Delhi elites and the 2018 anthology, Finding Radha: The Quest for Love, a sequel to In Search of Sita, co-edited with Malashri Lal. In Jaipur Journals, one finds her traversing through the lives of the dramatis personae that were born and bred in her imagination interspersed with some real-life figures such as Javed Akhtar and MP Shashi Tharoor, who play themselves as on-stage characters in the novel. Jaipur Journals is a mix of sordid affairs, a reunion or two and some intriguing incidences. Gokhale recalls that as the festival co-director, she has been privy to similar adventures one of which was a dramatic incident involving a thief who ran away with the cash box in the book store and was apprehended in a straight from Bollywood sequence. There is also a truth-teller in the book, a writer of anonymous, rather unpleasant notes. The idea, Gokhale says came from a series of vicious anonymous letters that a friend of mine received while heading a public institution. Through time, JLF has witnessed some very popular attendees and speakers taking to the stage. After some eight years of persuasion, Margaret Atwood made an appearance at the festival, while other luminaries have included the Nobel laureate Sir VS Naipaul, former President of India, APJ Abdul Kalam, and Ian McEwan. One of the most exciting years for Zee JLF was 2012 when the iconic Oprah Winfrey stepped on to stage gathering thousands of people for her session while the controversy around the attendance of Salman Rushdie and the death threats he received prevented the organisers from ensuring his safety at the fest. Gokhale notes, Every year witnesses its unique brand of excitement from the Padmavat demonstrations and the mega crowds that turned up for Oprah Winfrey. The book then is filled with much of the excitement and spirit of the festival. Gokhale sums it up thus: JLF has been described as the greatest literary show on earth and the festival of festivals. It reflects the rich diversity of India and literature from different cultures and continents. The collective energy of the speakers and the audience generates a very positive high. I dont know how to explain it, but something mysterious and precious occurs in this Sahitya ka Kumbh every year. Of the people whose lives we step into, theres Gayatri, an academic with an earnest urge to become a writer, an intelligent graphic artist Anirban M. who goes saree-shopping with her, Anura, a bright, young, school-going intellectual and Rudrani Rana, a septuagenarian carrying around her unpublished manuscript in a canvas bag. Gokhale says about Rudrani, there is so much of me in her and her in me, I felt I knew her intimately and was merely recording her life. On how she goes about shaping these myriad characters, Gokhale notes, When I write, theres a moment when I close my eyes and go blank. The story and the characters unfold before me with a life of their own, sometimes surprising even me. The individuals appearing in Jaipur Journals raise some poignant questions too. In attending a panel on feminism that vociferously debates about equality and representation, a well-known writer cannot help but wonder where the tenderness of the world is lost. "Compassion does not seem to be in fashion," says Gokhale while adding, but thats not me speaking, its a male character bewildered by the changes in a world he no longer understands because he has been unable to keep up with it. Yet, the power of literature is profound. We are each others stories, the author reiterates, and the human species has evolved because we have been able to download, share and understand each others narratives. The role of literature is to be a repository of our collective consciousness, Gokhale notes. Its enduring significance in the world only goes on to show what she points out, In every age, every social or political climate, it reminds us of our essential humanity, of who we are are and how we got here. Namita Gokhale's Jaipur Journals has been published by Penguin Viking WASHINGTON - At the beginning of the impeachment proceedings for President Donald Trump, the Founding Fathers were the most quotable sources. Since last week, however, Alan Dershowitz may have taken the lead. On Monday, Dershowitz, the Harvard Law professor emeritus and part of Trump's legal team, delivered what quickly became the most favored speech for quoting among GOP senators. It provided them cover, should they need it, for refusing to allow witnesses in the trial of Trump, for voting to acquit him and in the event damaging evidence emerges after the trial, for slamming it as irrelevant. Dershowitz argued that to remove a president from office, the Senate must find that he committed an actual crime or "crime-like conduct." It's not enough to say, as the current articles of impeachment allege, that a president abused his power or obstructed Congress. "Purely noncriminal conduct including abuse of power and obstruction of Congress are outside the range of impeachable offenses," Dershowitz said. He added, "It is inconceivable that the framers would have intended so politically loaded and promiscuously deployed a term as abuse of power to be weaponized as a tool of impeachment." Dershowitz is one of only a few scholars who accept the theory. Most regard it as absurd, a road map for a vast realm of nonpunishable bad behavior by presidents. Dershowitz agreed with them during the Clinton impeachment. At the core of the charges brought by the House against Trump is that he insisted on Ukraine providing him with dirt on former Vice President Joe Biden and his son as a condition of releasing security assistance for that embattled nation. Trump and his lawyers deny any such quid pro quo. But by Dershowitz's reasoning, even if they admitted to doing so, it wouldn't matter. It's not a crime. Therefore, Trump couldn't be removed for it. Even if more evidence comes out after the trial of a quid pro quo, Republicans can say it wouldn't have changed anything. And it can be used to fend off the possibility of witnesses being called. Should former national security adviser John Bolton say that the deal happened, as he reportedly does in his forthcoming book, "The Room Where It Happened," it's still not a crime. Why waste time listening to Bolton? "Nothing in the Bolton revelations, even if true, would rise to the level of an abuse of power or an impeachable offense," Dershowitz said this week. That argument proved immediately useful "Let's say it's true, OK," Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., told reporters Tuesday, referring to the Ukraine quid pro quo. "Dershowitz last night explained that if you're looking at it from a constitutional point of view" it is "not something that is impeachable." Braun said he spoke with Dershowitz after his speech and asked him directly: "If Bolton's revelation in its full form was true, is that impeachable in your opinion . . . and he said no . . ." "Alan Dershowitz said it was not" impeachable, said Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., "and I don't disagree with that." On the issue of calling Bolton, the New York Times reported White House relief, as it said, that "Republican senators seemed reassured after hearing" from Dershowitz . . . Even if what Mr. Bolton wrote was true," Dershowitz told them, "it did not rise to the level of impeachable offense." Dershowitz's utility for the GOP was heightened by the fact that he voted for Hillary Clinton, a fact that Senate Republicans emphasized on Twitter with an exclamation mark. Conceivably, the Dershowitz argument could have an impact on impeachments yet to come. That would be remarkable for an argument with which virtually no scholars agree. In that event, it will have taken an astonishing journey from widely discredited theory to received wisdom of the Senate. While presidents can be impeached and removed for "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors," as Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution says, Congress is not obliged to accept any particular explanation of what are, and are not, high crimes and misdemeanors. The framers left Congress to figure it out with each case of impeachment. Congress looks not to Supreme Court decisions but to past practices - the impeachment proceedings against Presidents Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton. Future lawmakers and presidents will look as well to the record of the trial of Trump and the accompanying commentaries of members of Congress, many of whom, they will find, were citing Dershowitz, making his argument that if there's no crime, there's no impeachment. That's one of the reasons critics have raised concerns that go beyond the Trump case. Among them is Jonathan Turley, a George Washington University law professor who testified for Republicans against impeachment in the House Judiciary Committee last month. While most of the arguments employed by Trump's lawyers "will dissipate with the fog of advocacy," he wrote in an opinion piece in The Hill, Dershowitz's "could have a more damaging impact." Harvard Law professor Laurence Tribe called it "an extreme and dangerous" theory in an MSNBC interview. "There is no legal scholar in the country other than Dershowitz who believes it," he said. Acceptance would "leave a message to future presidents . . . that any way they want to abuse the powers of their office" is just fine, Tribe said, so long as it's not a statutory crime. What if, Columbia Law School's Philip Bobbitt writes in his new preface to "Impeachment: A Handbook," "a president required that all cabinet members affirm their belief in the divinity of Christ? Or that he devolved to his personal financial adviser classified intelligence about upcoming decisions of the Federal Reserve? Because the president can declassify any material he wishes, there is nother per se illegal about this," Bobbitt writes. Bobbitt, in an email to The Washington Post, said that the concern about the long-term impact is "an important and valid one." But "it is not as strong a precedent as an opinion by the Supreme Court because the Senate doesn't give reasons for its decisions," he said. The Senate might rely on Dershowitz's argument, "but the vote for acquittal might have relied on other arguments." "Whatever success Prof. Dershowitz may have with the Senate," Bobbitt said, "it won't change the text or the history or the structure of the Constitution which affirm that a crime is not necessary for the conviction and removal of a president via impeachment." Thirty years since Milwaukees school voucher program started the oldest modern voucher program in the country Vice President Mike Pence, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and Republican Wisconsin lawmakers championed the states role in education freedom. Im here in Wisconsin because this is where it all began, Pence said Tuesday at a rally inside the state Capitol rotunda as part of National School Choice Week. In Wisconsin and all across America, school choice is an idea whose time has come. Despite Pence saying school voucher programs shouldnt be a partisan issue, the topic has been a politically thorny one in Wisconsin for years. Democrats argue voucher programs bleed money from public schools and force communities to turn to referendums for operating funds, while Republicans say vouchers provide options for students struggling in public schools and for families who might not otherwise be able to afford private school tuition. The voucher program continues drawing money out of public schools, Rep. Lisa Subeck, D-Madison, said in a statement after the rally. We cannot afford to continue funding two school systems. In his first budget proposal last year, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers attempted to freeze voucher enrollment, but the former state superintendents idea was quickly rejected by the GOP-controlled Legislature. Wisconsin operates four programs that provide taxpayer-funded vouchers for income-eligible families to send their children to private schools. The Milwaukee voucher program started in 1990-91 under former Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson, who attended Tuesdays rally. In the first year, the program enrolled 337 students. Enrollment has grown almost every year. This fall, 28,978 students attended 130 private schools on vouchers in Milwaukee. Another voucher program in Racine started in the 2011-12 school year, followed by a statewide program in 2013-14 and a fourth for students with disabilities in 2016. In the Milwaukee, Racine and statewide programs, 42,392 students enrolled in private schools this fall using a voucher, or just under 5% of the total school-age population. The use of vouchers, though, has yet to catch on in Madison as only three schools in the city signed up to accept students this school year through the statewide program, which state Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said leaves Madison children with limited choices. In his speech, Pence gave a shout out to one of the private Madison schools accepting vouchers Lighthouse Christian School which has participated in the statewide program since 2013. This year, private schools are estimated to receive $351.2 million in state funding through the four voucher programs, according to the state Department of Public Instruction. Part of that amount comes from funding that would otherwise go to a school district to educate that student, though the amount of the voucher between $8,000 and $8,700 is far less than the per pupil funding for public education. Over three decades of existence, private Milwaukee schools have been paid $2.6 billion for students attending on a voucher. Racine private schools have received $104.5 million since 2011, and schools in the statewide voucher program have been paid $139 million over six years. Several studies on the effectiveness of voucher programs around the country have found a positive effect on voucher student test scores, though a few have found no effect or a negative effect, according to a review by University of Arkansas professor Patrick Wolf. Wolfs 2012 study of the Milwaukee program comparing public and voucher students found a mixed bag on test scores, but higher graduation rates and higher likelihood of enrolling in college. A follow-up study, however, found rates of college degree attainment were similar. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 PR-Inside.com: 2020-01-29 12:20:46 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 377 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 GUILDFORD, UK / ACCESSWIRE / January 29, 2020 / Linde (NYSE:LIN)(FWB:LIN) announced today that it has signed a 15-year contract with the Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC) to build, own and operate four Hydrogen Refueling Stations (HRS) in Chungnam, South Korea. The HRS will be supplied with hydrogen from Linde's manufacturing facilities in the nearby Pyeongtaek area. All four HRS are expected to start operating in December 2020."As a global leader in hydrogen technology and mobility solutions, Linde is pleased to further expand its presence in South Korea through our latest agreement with KEC," said Sanjiv Lamba, EVP, CEO Asia Pacific at Linde. "We are delighted to see the growing momentum for hydrogen as a sustainable source of energy across Asia and continue to work with various stakeholders to support the development of a safe and efficient hydrogen ecosystem by deploying Linde's world class hydrogen solutions." "We are proud to be selected by KEC to help develop the future of mobility in Korea, a major step forward in our mission of making our world more productive", said B.S. Sung, President of Linde Korea. "This achievement is testament to Linde's industry-leading technology and meeting the highest safety standards." Since 2016, Linde has been building out HRS infrastructure in the South Korean market with strong local government support. The company is a member of the global Hydrogen Council and a member of the board of directors of H2 Korea, the Korean hydrogen alliance founded in 2017 to promote and establish a hydrogen ecosystem through policy planning, infrastructure and technology development.About LindeLinde is a leading industrial gases and engineering company with 2018 pro forma sales of USD 28 billion (EUR 24 billion). The company employs approximately 80,000 people globally and serves customers in more than 100 countries worldwide. Linde delivers innovative and sustainable solutions to its customers and creates long-term value for all stakeholders. The company is making our world more productive by providing products, technologies and services that help customers improve their economic and environmental performance in a connected world.For more information about the company, please visit www.linde.com Contacts:Investor RelationsJuan PelaezPhone: +1 203 837 2213Email: juan.pelaez@linde.com Media RelationsAnna DaviesPhone: +44 1483 244705Email: anna.davies@linde.com SOURCE: Linde plc via EQS Newswire NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope launched in 2003 on a mission to study the universe in the infrared. Its mission will come to an end on Jan. 30, 2020, after 16 years of amazing images and scientific discoveries. Check out some of our favorite Spitzer images here. Related: It's time to say goodbye to the Spitzer Space Telescope. Here's why. Helix Nebula (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona) This infrared image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope in 2007 shows the Helix nebula, a cosmic starlet often photographed by amateur astronomers for its vivid colors and eerie resemblance to a giant eye. Related: Giant Eye In Space Seen by NASA Telescopes Supernova Remnant HGH 3 (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/IPAC) This supernova remnant, known as HBH 3, is one of the largest in the Milky Way galaxy and measures about 150 light-years across. It is also one of the oldest; the star that exploded to create this cosmic spectacle did so 80,000 to 1 million years ago. Spitzer captured this image in May 2010, and NASA released it on Aug. 2, 2018. Full Story: Ghostly Remains of a Dead Star Revealed in Infrared Light (Photo) Penguin and Egg Galaxies (Image credit: NASA-ESA/STScI/AURA/JPL-Caltech) The galaxies NGC 2336 and NGC 2937 look like a penguin and its egg, respectively, in this photo, which incorporates data from NASA's Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes. Full Story: Galaxy Duo Looks Just Like a Penguin Guarding Its Egg (Photo) The Sombrero Galaxy (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) The infrared vision of NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has revealed that the Sombrero galaxy named after its appearance in visible light to a wide-brimmed hat is in fact two galaxies in one. It is a large elliptical galaxy (blue-green) with a thin disk galaxy (partly seen in red) embedded within. Previous visible-light images led astronomers to believe the Sombrero was simply a regular flat disk galaxy. Full Story: Famous Sombrero Galaxy Shows Surprising Side Carina Nebula (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) Massive stars can wreak havoc on their surroundings, as can be seen in this new view of the Carina nebula from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. The bright star at the center of the nebula is Eta Carinae, one of the most massive stars in the galaxy. Its blinding glare is sculpting and destroying the surrounding nebula. Related: Carina Nebula: Amazing Photos of a Colorful Cosmic Cloud The Cat's Paw Nebula (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope captured this view of the Cat's Paw Nebula in 2018. The nebula gets its name from the bubbles of hot gas it contains that if you squint a bit resemble feline paw pads. Full Story: Picture Purrrrrfect! NASA Snaps Photo of Cat's Paw Nebula Dumbbell Nebula (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Harvard-Smithsonian CfA) The Dumbbell Nebula, also known as Messier 27, pumps out infrared light in this image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. The nebula was named after its resemblance to a dumbbell as seen in visible light. It was discovered in 1764 by Charles Messier, who included it as the 27th member of his famous catalog of nebulous objects. Related: Weighing in on the Dumbbell Nebula (Space Wallpaper) Cepheus Stars and Green Nebulas (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) Because of its infrared sensitivity, Spitzer can get a stunning look at nebulas, the clouds of dust and gas peppered throughout the universe. The puffy green structures in the image above, released in 2019, are nebulas, with stars scattered within them, including a cluster called Cepheus C on the left and one called Cepheus B in the upper right corner. Video: Cepheus Stars Observed by Spitzer Space Telescope Full Story: With End in Sight, Spitzer Space Telescope Releases Glorious Nebula Images Orion Unveiled (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S.T. Megeaty) This infrared image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows the Orion nebula, the closest massive star-making factory to Earth. Related: The Splendor of the Orion Nebula (Photos) Green Nebula Ring (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) A glowing ring spotted in space seems at first more like superhero fiction than science fact. But that's what NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope found in the murky clouds encircled by the tail of the constellation Scorpius. This photo of the bright emerald nebula, released in 2011, is reminiscent of the glowing ring wielded by the comic book superhero Green Lantern Full Story: 'Green Lantern's Ring' Shines in NASA Space Photo Spiral Galaxy Spider Web (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech) Looking like a spider's web swirled into a spiral, the galaxy IC 342 presents its delicate pattern of dust in this image captured by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope in 2011. Seen in infrared light, the faint starlight gives way to the glowing bright patterns of dust found throughout the galaxy's disk. Full Story: Spiral Galaxy Glows Like a Cosmic Spider Web The Natrona County School Districts board held its second public hearing on e-cigarette use Monday night, this time focusing on the middle school and law enforcement side of the issue. Earlier this month, administrators told the board that 60 percent of high schoolers have vaped and that most students see little to know risk in using the products, one pod of which equals a pack of traditional cigarettes. Jessica Winford, an assistant principal at Dean Morgan, said that investigating a vape report can take three hours out of an administrators day, and when one student is found vaping, the school typically finds three more kids using the e-cigarette, too. Data released to the board in August showed that tobacco use in the districts middle schools had jumped nearly 180 percent in recent years, a substantial increase that officials attribute to the use of e-cigarettes. Winford told the board that there was little odor associated with vaping, and many students hide the thin sticks in their sleeves, inhale and then blow the clouds down their arms. She said the best indicator for teachers is the light that flicks on when a vape pen is used. But even thats imperfect; the lights turn off if you push the button hard enough, and even when the light is on, a teacher has to see it. She said students get the products from their friends, from their siblings, from their parents, from strangers at gas stations. Sgt. Scott Jones, who oversees the districts school resource officers, said that theres been a marked increase of e-cigarette use in Natrona Countys schools. He said 90 percent of the devices have tobacco products, 6 percent have some sort of marijuana derivative and the remaining 4 percent have chemicals that are a mystery to law enforcement. Weve thrown every field test we have at it and havent been able to come up with a solution, Jones said. He said when SROs catch students, theyre issued citations either for tobacco or THC violations. He said that between September and late January, officers have issued roughly 140 citations for tobacco use. Theres a perception among students that vaping isnt detrimental to their health. He said one student recently had to be taken to Wyoming Medical Center because of the large amount of THC she inhaled. Case and point, a student I spoke with the other day was found with a vape, Jones said. I asked him, Why dont you just smoke cigarettes? Well, those are bad for you. While e-cigarettes havent been around long enough to study the future effects they may have on their users, there has still been some research on vaping. A U.S. study found that e-cigarette use was associated with progression from experimentation with cigarettes to established smoking. Other studies have suggested that vaping hurts teens neural stem cells and that they lead to a significantly higher likelihood of lung disease. The overarching solution discussed Monday night was education. The district has videos that talk students through the danger of vaping, and health care officials who spoke to the board said the district should start education on the dangers of e-cigarette use before middle school. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly 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. New Delhi, Jan 29 : Delhi Police has released the pictures of 70 suspects wanted in connection with the December 15 violence on the Jamia Millia Islamia campus here, an official statement said on Wednesday. The SIT of Delhi Police Crime Branch zeroed in on the suspects on the basis of CCTV footage of the violence indulged in by them under the garb of protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, police added. Police have since visited the houses and other suspected hideouts of the accused, who have gone underground, the statement said. Were proud to have been an Agilysys partner for over a decade, Henry Valentino, CEO eConnect. eConnect, Inc., a Las Vegas-based software company which provides hospitality companies with a platform for actionable information, reinforced by video, will demonstrate their latest technology at Agilysys Inspire 2020 in Orlando, FL. Were proud to have been an Agilysys partner for over a decade, said Henry Valentino, eConnects CEO. Our solutions are seamlessly integrated and help customers get the most out of their investment in their hospitality systems. eConnects new Facial Recognition engine will enable gaming customers to accurately identify individuals and their activity throughout the casino. This greatly enhances surveillance capabilities, helps them stay in compliance and improve the guest experience. In addition, eConnects POSConnect and HotelConnect applications integrate into existing applications and analyzes them for fraudulent activity. Operators using these solutions will be alerted to suspicious activity in restaurants and at the front desk. See eConnects solutions at Inspire 2020 Agilysys User Conference February 4-7, 2020, Booth #26. About eConnect eConnect is a cutting-edge technology company that helps improve business performance through data and video intelligence. The company seamlessly integrates digital video surveillance analytics, including facial recognition, with transactional data from point-of-sale (POS), casino systems and other data sources to quickly and directly improve profitability, efficiency and the guest experience. eConnect offers measurable ROI within months of system deployment. The software tools are world-renowned for their ability to discover previously unknown problems, thereby reducing eliminating sources of loss and correcting operational problems. For more information, visit http://www.econnectglobal.com. A judge who was suspended after asking a rape victim if she could have closed her legs and knew how to stop sexual intercourse was recommended for removal from the bench Tuesday. John F. Russo was presiding over a case in May 2016 in Ocean County family court when he pressed a sexual assault victim on whether she knew could have fought back against her assailant. She was in court seeking a restraining order against him. "Do you know how to stop somebody from having intercourse with you? he asked her, according to a transcript. " ... To run away or try to get away," the woman said. Russo responded, "Run away, get away. Anything else?" "I -- that's all I know," she said. Block your body parts? Russo continued. Close your legs? Call the police? Did you do any of those things? Russo later joked about the case with staffers and said he assumed the woman, a former exotic dancer, would know how to fend off unwanted sexual... legal filings show. The state Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct (ACJC) was divided on whether Russo should receive a 3-month or 6-month suspension (a majority voted for 3 months). But a separate panel of three judges then reviewed the case and submitted a report Tuesday, saying Russo should be removed from office for the comments and other offenses related to his position. That three-judge panel took up the review in July, as the state Supreme Court recommended an enhanced training program that addresses sexual assault, to emphasize that every effort must be made not to re-victimize a victim. Russo also tried to use his position to rearrange the schedule of a personal family court matter in Burlington County regarding a dispute over his adult son, who has special needs, the panel said. In another case, he failed to recuse himself from a case involving alimony payments for a couple he knew from high school. Another misconduct count against Russo alleged he called a mother to see if she complied with a paternity test without the father present on the call. The judges report said Russos testimony at a state hearing in July on those counts lacked candor, fabricated after-the-fact explanations for events, and displayed a lack of integrity that is unworthy of judicial office. Russo had argued it would be inappropriate for the judges to issue harsher penalty than one issued by the ACJC. But the panel argued it was warranted to protect the integrity and public perceptions of the judiciary. Russo committed multiple acts of severe misconduct and offered less than truthful testimony before both the ACJC and the panel in an effort to deny or minimize his actions, thereby demonstrating his unfitness for judicial office," they wrote. "The record coupled with the relevant case law supports imposition of the most severe sanction: removal from judicial office. The New Jersey Supreme Court will still have to OK the panels ruling. It allowed the attorneys in the case until Feb. 28 to file briefs and until March 13 to respond to each others briefs. Justices will hear arguments on Russos removal on March 30-31. Amelia Carolla, the attorney who represented Russo at the July hearing, did not respond to an email requesting comment. Someone who answered the phone at her office Tuesday said Carolla was not in the office. 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. Northern Ireland businesses have said a lowering of the threshold of earnings required for future migrants into the UK following Brexit is still insufficient for their needs. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is an independent body set up to advise the UK on migration. Its report on a potential points-based migration and salary thresholds advised that a previous threshold of 30,000 for migrants wishing to enter the UK, could be lowered to 25,600. It said that a lower threshold would help recruit teachers and NHS staff. But the MAC rejected calls for all UK regions to be able to set their own salary threshold. The committee said regional salary thresholds would bring more complexity to a future migration system and make it possible to live in one region and work in another. However, it said it could give consideration to a different salary threshold for Northern Ireland, because of its "distinctive" economic position. Business groups here have said that the 25,600 level is still too high for Northern Ireland, where the average salary is 27,434, according to the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings. However, sectors where there is high demand for overseas workers, such as care homes and the agri-food sector, tend to pay less than the average. Ann McGregor, chief executive of the NI Chamber of Commerce, said the MAC had ignored recommendations made by Northern Ireland businesses and groups over the last two years. "This risks limiting access to skills for many of our members across a wide-range of sectors," Ms McGregor said. "While companies are investing more in homegrown skills, they will continue to need access to migrant skills at all levels for the foreseeable future. "We will therefore continue to engage with the MAC to ensure that they give the regional rate the future consideration that they refer to in the report." Roger Pollen, head of external affairs for the Federation of Small Businesses (NI), said the reduction in the salary threshold was a "step in the right direction". But he said that "there remains a need for a bespoke system for Northern Ireland". "The report correctly identifies that the economic position of Northern Ireland is 'distinctive', and that the matter of a specific salary threshold is worthy of 'future consideration'," he added. "We would urge the Government to take this into account when reviewing the MAC's recommendations." M ore than 500 fishermen have been rescued after they got stranded on a giant ice floe that broke off the island of Sakhalin in eastern Siberia. Footage of the incident showed groups of people using smaller pieces of ice as rafts and trying to row to the coast on them, as the ice floe with the fishermen slowly drifted further away from land. About 60 more people were able to get back to the shore on their own last night, emergency officials said. The rescue operation lasted for almost seven hours. According to some of the fishermen, by the time they had been rescued the rift between the ice floe and the coast was 200 metres wide. It is the third time in a week that emergency services in the Sakhalin region had to rescue ice fishermen stuck on drifting glacial masses. Last Wednesday, about 300 people were trapped on an ice floe, and a further 600 found themselves cut off on Sunday also. Harsh Vardhan Shringla, who last served as India's envoy to the United States, took charge as the country's new Foreign Secretary here on Wednesday. Ahead of assuming office, the senior Indian diplomat said that he is looking forward to working under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. "I am as committed to the ministry's role in nation-building as I was 36 years ago when I entered these portals as a young professional. I look forward to work under the guidance of the Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister," said Shringla. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Shringla was appointed for the post last month after replacing Vijay Gokhale who has completed two years in office. Ahead of her visit to New Delhi earlier this month, US envoy Alice Wells, the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, described Shringla as the "captain of India-US relationship." Wells also said that Shringla would play an important part in the India-US relations to achieve its potential. Before returning to India, Shringla also called on President Donald Trump at the Oval Office in White House and thanked him for his steadfast support for strengthening the India-US strategic partnership. Earlier today, the MEA appointed Taranjit Singh Sandhu as the new Indian Ambassador to the US. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) national convener on Tuesday said that the February Assembly elections are a fight between 20 millionpeople of Delhi and 200 MPs, as he urged people to vote for "This fight is between two crore people of Delhi and 200 MPs. When they come, count the number of works done in five years and send them back to their states. Do not let them insult Delhi," he said while addressing the public during his roadshow here. Kejriwal referred to the bringing in 200 party MPs, 70 ministers and 11 Chief Ministers to Delhi for campaigning. "They are coming here to defeat you, your son Kejriwal, to defeat and insult the work that we have done in five years. Now they will come and insult and find faults in our schools, Mohalla Clinics, electricity, water, etc. I want to ask the people, will you remain quiet and bear the insult?" he asked. Soon after, several leaders tweeted that the entire BJP was pitted against Kejriwal. Big businesses were in panic mode yesterday as the coronavirus outbreak threatened to engulf their Asian operations. Airlines, car makers, technology and consumer businesses moved to shut down their China operations to cope with the worsening outbreak. The virus, which originated in the central city of Wuhan, has affected over 6,000 people, more than the 2003 SARS epidemic, and claimed the lives of 132. Fallout:The stock market in Hong Kong suffered its worst session in six months, tumbling 2.8 per cent on its first day of trading since the coronavirus outbreak Yesterday, the stock market in Hong Kong suffered its worst session in six months, tumbling 2.8 per cent on its first day of trading since the outbreak. Investors fear that the fallout could cause permanent damage to the global economy, as business is disrupted and companies protect staff and customers. British Airways suspended flights to China 'with immediate effect' until at least March and United Airlines grounded 24 planes. Starbucks closed half of its 4,300 Chinese branches, and has ditched a planned upgrade to its profit forecasts. Uniqlo, H&M and Ikea followed suit, closing dozens of stores, while McDonald's has closed all its restaurants several hundred in the Hubei province. Car producers Toyota and Hyundai kept plants shut and pulled foreign staff out of the country, while global banks suspended business travel and told staff to work from home. The price of gold rose 0.3 per cent to $1,571.07 as investors moved to protect money against fears the disease will lead to a slowdown in the Chinese and global economy. On Western markets, airline stocks have taken a battering since the outbreak was announced in mid-January, with BA-owner IAG down 12 per cent, Luftthansa down 7 per cent and Air France-KLM down 13 per cent. Even firms that do not operate in China, such as Easyjet and Ryanair, have seen shares dip. Luxury brands are also expected to suffer if Chinese tourists stay put. Shares in Burberry have fallen 13 per cent since the middle of the month, Mulberry has dropped 7.9 per cent and Louis Vuitton-owner LVMH is down 7 per cent. Hotel groups have suffered, with Holiday Inn group Intercontinental Hotels losing 8 per cent. Disney stock has fallen 5 per cent after it closed its theme parks in Shanghai and Hong Kong. Cruise companies, such as P&O Cruises owner Carnival, banned passengers that had recently left Wuhan from their ships and cancelled sailings. Evacuations are well under way to remove Western staff and tourists. French manufacturer PSA, which makes Vauxhall, Peugeot and Citroen cars, is repatriating international staff. Nissan said it was evacuating its Japanese staff in Wuhan. Facebook, Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley told their Hong Kong staff to work from home for two weeks, while UBS and Goldman Sachs have imposed travel restrictions. Apple is monitoring the situation, and has shortened opening hours in its Chinese stores. Hong Kong, the home of numerous banking staff and luxury brands, raised its response level to 'emergency' on Saturday. Markets in Tokyo, London and New York have shown signs of stabilising after a fortnight-long decline. But the price of copper, regarded as a bellwether of the global economy's health, fell for the tenth consecutive day. The oil price is also under pressure. Official Chinese data two weeks ago showed the slowest economic growth in 29 years. A Chinese government economist said the outbreak could cut China's first-quarter growth from around 6 per cent to 5 per cent or lower. US troops injured in Iran missile strike rises to 50: Pentagon Washington, Jan 29 (AFP) Jan 29, 2020 The number of US troops injured by an Iranian missile strike in Iraq this month has risen to 50, according to new figures released by the Pentagon on Tuesday. The personnel have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI), Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Campbell, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement. The military had said on Friday that 34 troops were injured in the strike on the Ain al-Asad base in western Iraq on January 8. President Donald Trump had initially said no Americans were hurt by the missiles, and Democrats later accused him of trying to downplay the injuries. Iran fired on Iraqi bases housing US troops in retaliation for an American drone attack that killed Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad, raising fears of war. Campbell said that of the 50, 31 were treated in Iraq and returned to duty while 18 were being evaluated in Germany. Another was transported to Kuwait and has already returned to duty, he said, adding that the numbers could still change. At the time of the strike most of the 1,500 US soldiers at the base had been in bunkers, after advance warning from superiors. Medical staff check the temperature of passengers at Nanjing South Railway station in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China, Jan. 27. EPA-Yonhap By Kim Yoo-chul Major South Korean exporters, which operate manufacturing facilities in China, said Wednesday they have no plans to close plants there despite the increasing death toll from a novel coronavirus outbreak and the growing number of infections. They said they've already restricted travel or sought to evacuate employees in an attempt to minimize their exposure and strongly warned company employees to avoid travel to China. According to companies which have manufacturing operations, there, they are "closely monitoring the current public health challenge." An official at SK Global Chemical said its South Korean employees at a plant in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, had been evacuated with its Wuhan facility being run by Chinese workers. The company said it's been using "all options" to assess the medical condition of its evacuated employees. "The coronavirus hasn't impacted our Wuhan factory's production schedule. Given the complex nature of petrochemical operations, we have to be very careful about closing the manufacturing plant, there. There are no imminent plans for closure," the official said. Leading South Korean technology companies are actively responding with Samsung Electronics recommending its employees not to visit China until further notice. Flytipping on common land in Wales was swiftly cleared after the offender was threatened with a private environmental prosecution. The waste crime incident happened on common land near Bridgend, owned and managed by the Coity Wallia Commoners Association (CWCA). They faced the prospect of having to clear up the paper waste scattered on the land they own and manage, and where they graze sheep. Local farmers hired lawyers from legal firm Harrison Clark Rickerbys (HCR) after neither South Wales Police nor Bridgend County Borough Council intended to pursue a prosecution. HCR lawyers Bryn Thomas and Aled Owen developed a solution to punish and address those causing the problem. The offender, identified through the waste they dumped, was threatened with a private environmental prosecution. Mr Thomas said: A letter to the offender, who was identifiable from papers in the waste and who lived in the Bridgend area, started the process. I then went to Cardiff magistrates court so that they could issue a summons, and then the offender paid up, which was a great result for the CWCA, he explained. Private prosecutions are not often used in these cases, but it was very effective and it means that the association doesnt have to find the 600 clear-up and legal costs. The CWCA, which is considering investing further to combat fly tipping on the commons, has urged other commoners associations to take direct action. Huw Griffiths, secretary of the CWCA said: Fly tipping is a national problem on common land and we are delighted that the threat of private prosecution forced the offender to take responsibility for his actions by paying the clear up and legal costs associated with the illegal deposit of waste. Fly-tipping statistics for the year 2018/19 reveal that local authorities in England dealt with just over one million incidents, an increase of 8% from the 998,000 incidents reported in 2017/18. She's a Hollywood screen siren with a successful film career spanning more than four decades. And Sharon Stone looked in good spirits as she went for lunch at Cafe Pouchkine in Paris on Wednesday. The actress, 61, cut a casual figure for the outing, donning a navy jumper along with a pair of skintight black leather-style trousers. Out and about: Sharon Stone, 61, looked in good spirits as she went for lunch at Cafe Pouchkine in Paris on Wednesday The Basic Instinct star also sported a pair of black boots with a white, beaded embellishment and teamed it with a black handbag. Letting her blonde locks fall loose, Sharon completed her lunch look with a pair of large sunglasses. The actress was clearly in a good mood as she blew a kiss on her way into the swanky cafe. Sharon was recently interviewed for the age issue of Allure and discussed her iconic 1992 erotic thriller Basic Instinct. Keeping it casual: The actress, 61, cut a casual figure for the outing, donning a navy jumper Directed by Paul Verhoeven, the movie stars Sharon opposite Michael Douglas in a sexually-charged game of cat and mouse. 'I think Basic Instinct was made at the exact right moment in history because it captured all our fears and doubts and the moment of change of power for women. The Casino bombshell revealed 'I like my body so much more,' nowadays than at the age of 34, when she was in Basic Instinct. 'I'm so grateful to my body. When I was younger, everybody was telling me what was wrong with my body - too this, too that. 'When I got on Basic Instinct, they hired a makeup artist that put on pounds of makeup every day, and every day I went to my trailer and took the makeup off, but I wasn't allowed to choose my makeup artist, nor was my name [above the title] on the poster.' Outfit: The Basic Instinct star also sported leather-style trousers along with a pair of black boots with a white beaded embellishment The star also recently took to Twitter to bemoan the fact that she had been kicked off dating app Bumble because they didn't think it was really her. At the end of last year, the mother-of-three made a public plea to the company to reinstate her account as she quipped, 'Dont shut me out of the hive'. Revealing that she had been reported by users who assumed she was running a fake account, Sharon shared: 'I went on the @bumble dating sight and they closed my account. Some users reported that it couldnt possibly be me! Ensemble: Letting her blonde locks fall loose, Sharon completed her lunch look with a pair of large sunglasses 'Hey @bumble, is being me exclusionary ? Dont shut me out of the hive [sic]'. Nine hours after Sharon announced her account had been suspended, a spokesperson for Bumble told MailOnline it was back up and running again. They said: 'Sharon Stone is back on Bumble! Our apologies for the confusion as we're so honoured that Ms. Stone wants to be a part of the Hive. Past: Sharon recently revelaed: 'I like my body so much more,' nowadays than at the age of 34, when she was in Basic Instinct 'However, being the icon that she is, we can understand how so many of our users felt it was too good to be true once they noticed her profile wasnt photo verified. 'Photo verification is just one of the many ways to connect with confidence on Bumble. 'In light of our mix-up with Sharon Stone, we'd like to extend an invitation for her to come to Austin and allow us to host her at the hive for a few hours of profile prep and great food!' Personnel in biological hazard suits await passengers evacuated from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the heart of a growing outbreak of the deadly 2019 Novel Coronavirus shortly after the plane landed at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, California on January 29, 2020. Follow CNBC's live blog for coronavirus updates WASHINGTON The Pentagon said Wednesday that it will provide housing and support for the nearly 200 U.S. citizens and diplomats evacuated from Wuhan, China the epicenter of the deadly coronavirus to the United States. A U.S. Embassy spokesperson in Beijing told CNBC that the State Department ordered personnel from the U.S. Consulate General in Wuhan to depart for the United States on a chartered flight Wednesday morning local time. The flight from Wuhan Tianhe International Airport to Ontario, California, will stop first in Anchorage, Alaska, for refueling and medical screenings. The government-chartered flight landed at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, California on Wednesday. Shortly after the plane landed personnel in biological hazard suits helped passengers load into buses and emergency vehicles on the tarmac. "Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for all care of the evacuees, and DoD personnel will not be directly in contact with the evacuees and evacuees will not have access to any base location other than their assigned housing," wrote Pentagon press secretary Alyssa Farah in a statement. "Should routine monitoring of the evacuees identify ill individuals, HHS has procedures in place to transport them to a local civilian hospital. DoD will work closely with our interagency partners and continue to monitor the situation. The Department's primary responsibility at this time is the safety of our force, our families, and our base communities," she added. The virus which was first diagnosed less than a month ago has already killed at least 132 people in China and infected roughly 6,100 people around the world. While the majority of confirmed coronavirus cases are in mainland China, the virus has also been identified in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Nepal, Hong Kong, Macao, Cambodia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, France, Germany, Australia, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. "The military has actually been very effective at the identification of new viruses because we have people everywhere and we have our military laboratories everywhere," Dr. Kayvon Modjarrad, director of the emerging infectious diseases branch at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, told CNBC. "While typically the CDC is the lead on these things, the military has reference laboratories pretty much on every continent and specifically, we have labs in all of Southeast Asia, so we act as a force multiplier in providing additional surveillance to the CDC's efforts," he added. A Department of Defense official told CNBC that the Pentagon's Defense Threat Reduction Agency, or DTRA, worked alongside Thai counterparts to detect the first coronavirus in that country on Jan. 13. Thailand, which has the most cases of coronavirus outside of mainland China, sees routine deployments of U.S. personnel under DTRA to bolster biosurveillance, biosecurity and biosafety capabilities. "These investments enhance regional stability and decrease risk to U.S. interests by building our partner's capacity to detect and report disease outbreaks of especially dangerous pathogens, and enhance related biosecurity and biosafety capabilities," the official said. House impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) speaks during the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate on Wednesday (Senate TV) Trump Impeachment Trial Day 8: Senators Ask Questions in New Phase of Trial The Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump began a new phase on Wednesday after both Trumps legal team, and House managers presented their arguments. Refresh for updates. Senators presented questions to Trumps legal team and the House managers, led by Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.). The trial adjourned at 11 p.m. and is scheduled to resume on Jan. 30 at 1 p.m. Trump Defense on Why Ukraine Wasnt Alerted About Hold on Aid Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) posed a question to Trumps legal team, asking why the administration did not notify Congress or make Ukraine or partner countries publicly aware of its decision to hold some $391 million in congressionally-approved security assistance and the steps needed to resolve the hold. It was her first question in the trials question and answer phase. Sinema noted previous cases when the United States withheld aid to other countries, and that in those cases, the countries receiving the aid knew the funds were being withheld to change behavior and further publicly stated American policy. White House deputy counsel Patrick Philbin answers a question during the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Jan. 29, 2020. (Senate Television via AP) Responding to Sinemas question, Deputy Counsel to the President Pat Philbin said that the Trump administration didnt withhold the aid to send a signal to Ukraine to take any action. The whole point was it wasnt public, he said. The Ukrainians did not know. The Russians didnt know. [The hold] wasnt being done to be a signal. It was to address concerns. The president had raised concern, and he wanted time to have those concerns addressed. Philbin added that such concerns included the burden-sharing of aid to Ukraine, as reflected in a June 24 email that he spoke about earlier in the day. He said the email was also referred to in the July 25 call between Trump and Zelensky. Philbin noted that Trump also wanted to understand corruption issues in the country. So the hold had been in place so the president could within the U.S. Government, privately consider this information [and] not to send a signal to the outside world, Philbin later said. I think thats the best way to understand the difference in approach there. Alan Dershowitz Urged Senators Not to Vote for Impeachment Nearing the adjournment of the Senate trial Wednesday night, Dershowitz urged senators not to vote for impeachment. Dershowitz urged the senators do not vote for impeachment, do not vote for removaleven if the senators believed that the criteria of impeachment have been satisfiedunless they believed that there is bipartisan, almost universal concern by the United States of America in support of impeachment. Alan Dershowitz, an attorney for President Donald Trump, answers a question during the impeachment trial against Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 29, 2020. (Senate Television via AP) He said he believes such widespread support for impeaching President Trump is not met, and the two-thirds [vote needed to impeach and convict a president] requirement really illustrates the importance the framers gave to that [two-thirds] criteria. Dershowitz also said if the president is to be removed based on the case presented by the House managers, this will just be the beginning of a recurring weaponization of impeachment whenever one House is controlled by one party and the presidency is controlled by another party. Do not allow impeachment to become a normalized weapon, he later added. Make sure it is reserved only for the most extraordinary of cases like that of Richard Nixon. This case does not meet those criteria. The Trump attorney asserts that the decision to impeach president Nixon was easily accepted by many Americans, but the same could not be said for the potential decision to impeach Trump. Trump Defense Responds to Question Over Date of Military Aid Hold The presidents legal team did not specifically identify the date when Trump first ordered the hold on military aid after being asked about it by Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah). However, Pat Philbin, deputy counsel to the president, offered evidence that showed Trump first expressed concerns over burden-sharing regarding Ukraine with NATO allies as early as June. I dont think that there is evidence in the record of a specific date, but there is testimony in the record that individuals at OMB and elsewhere were aware of a hold as of July 3, and there is evidence in the record of the Presidents rationales from even earlier than that time, Philbin said. There is an e-mail from June 24 thats been publicly released in response to an FOIA request, from the chief of staff down to a staffer in DOD relating on the subject line POTUS follow-up,follow-up from a meeting with POTUS, the President of the United States concerning a question that had been asked about Ukraine assistance, he said. Specifically, What was the funding used for? Did it go to U.S. firms? Who funded it? What did other NATO members spend to support Ukraine? So from the very beginning in June, the President had expressed his concern about burden sharing, what the other NATO members do, Philbin said. Sekulow: Trial Could Take Months if Witnesses Are Called White House counsel Jay Sekulow said he believes that if the Senate had adopted all of the 11 amendments put forward by Democrats at the start of the impeachment trial, it would take a long time. Legal Counsel for President Trump, Jay Sekulow, answers a question from a senator during impeachment proceedings against U.S. President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Jan. 29, 2020. (Senate Television via Getty Images) He noted that the House had already seen 17 witnesses called upon by Democrats. Were talking about now additional witnesses that the managers have put forward, that Democratic leader Schumer has discussed, hes discussed four witnesses in particular. If this body were to grant witnesses, itd say yes, you get those four witnesses. And the White House, and the presidents counsel, gets what? Sekulow asked. Sekulow later said, Heres what I want: I want Adam Schiff, I want Hunter Biden, I want Joe Biden, I want the whistleblower. I want to also understand there may be additional people within the House Intelligence Committee that have had conversations with that whistleblower. If we get anybody we want, well be here for a very long time, he added. The fact of the matter is, were not here to argue witnesses tonight, but obviously it is an undercurrent. Schiff, in a later response, suggested that it is the defense team who are the ones threatening to lengthen the trial process if House managers dared to call more witnesses. You cant have a fair trial without witnesses, and you shouldnt presume that when the House impeaches, the Senate trials from now on would be witness-free, would be evidence-free, Schiff said. Schiff also said that if Sekulow wants him to testify, then he wants Sekulow, among others, to testify. Schiff Talks About Whistleblower House impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) was asked about an alleged relationship between his staff and the whistleblower who triggered the impeachment inquiry against Trump. I dont know who the whistleblower is. I havent met them, Schiff told the Senate on Wednesday, adding that neither he or his staff coached the person. Republicans, during the inquiry, contended that the whistleblower is a central figure in the impeachment push and should take the stand to testify. At the same time, Democrats have said that the persons testimony is redundant and irrelevant. They also noted that the whistleblowers identity should be protected against a possible reprisal. In this screengrab taken from a Senate Television webcast, House impeachment manager Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) speaks during impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 22, 2020. (Senate Television via Getty Images) The claim that the whistleblower coordinated with the intelligence community to scheme against the president is false, Schiff said. At the same time, he again asserted that whistleblowers identity should be protected and noted that several senators, including Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), have called for the whistleblowers identity to be kept a secret. I am very protective of my staff as I know you are, Schiff said. The whistleblower did exactly what they should, he added. Trump Team Asks About Whistleblower Trumps lawyer Patrick Philbin was asked about whether the White House knew an alleged coordination effort between National Security Council (NSC) officials and the whistleblower at the center of the impeachment case. The only knowledge that we have comes from public reports, Philbin responded. I gather there is a news report that suggests a name for the whistleblower, suggests where he worked at that time while detailed at the NSC staff for then Vice President Biden and that there were others who worked there. We have no knowledge of that other than what is in those public reports, and I dont want to get into speculating. The impeachment trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Jan. 25, 2020. (Screenshot via Senate Television) He said the White House doesnt know what Schiffs staff contact with the whistleblower has been. More information would seem to be relevant since the whistleblower started this entire inquiry, Philbin said. Any possible motivations, bias, how this was all created, could potentially be relevant. We dont know [about] the coordination or advice from Schiffs team to the whistleblower, he added. Some Republicans in the House and Senate have said that the whistleblower should be unmasked and called in to testify. Dershowitz: Quid Pro Quo to Help Re-Election Not Impeachable If a president does something which he believes will help him get elected in the public interest, that cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment, Trump legal counsel Alan Dershowitz said. Every public official I know believes their election is in the public interest, Dershowitz added. Some GOP Senators Think They Have Votes to Block Witnesses Several Republican senators on Wednesday claimed the Senate might vote to end the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump by the end of the week after securing enough votes from key swing-vote senators. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told Fox News that the president will be acquitted, and I think it will be this week, but youve unleashed the forces of partisan hell on future presidents if we legitimize this. Were going to get it done by Friday, hopefully, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) told The Hill following a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Wednesday before the start of the impeachment trial. Rounds also told the same publication that they would be able to bypass calling witnesses. I think well be OK, he said. If I had to guess, no witnesses, Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) said. Well be in a place where I think everyone is going to have their mind made up and I believe that well be able to move to a verdict, and the witness question will be clear at that point, Braun added. Schiff Proposes Hypothetical Situation Involving Obama, Romney Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) attempted to create a hypothetical situation in which former President Barack Obama asked Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to investigate Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who ran against Obama in 2012. 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, on Jan. 22, 2020. (Senate Television via AP) Schiff said: See how you feel about this scenario: President Obama says on an open mic to Medvedev I know you dont want to use this because theyre killing your people. I want you to do an investigation of Mitt Romney, and I want you to announce that you found dirt on Mitt Romney. If youre willing to do that, quid pro quo, I wont give Ukraine the money they need to fight you on the front line.' Do any of us have any question that Barack Obama would be impeached for that kind of misconduct? Schiff asked. Trumps Team: Trial Will Last Months If Witnesses Called White House deputy counsel Pat Philbin responded to a question about whether witnesses should be called. House managers and Senate Democrats have called for several witnesses. For this institution, the real question is what is the precedent that is going to be set for what is an acceptable way for the house of representatives to bring impeachment of a president of the United States to this chamber, and can it be done in a hurried partisan fashion? Philbin said on the Senate floor. White House deputy counsel Patrick Philbin speaks during the impeachment trial against Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 25, 2020. (Senate Television via AP) The Senate would then be paralyzed for months on end should the Senate vote on certain witnesses, Philbin said. The structure of the Constitutionan impeachment is simply an accusation and, as in most systems where there is simply an accusation being made, the House does not have to adhere to the same standard that is used in the Senate, he remarked. 3 Key GOP Senators Ask Question Republican Sens. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Mitt Romney submitted the first question to the White House legal defense team. If President Trump had more than one motive for his alleged conduct, such as the pursuit of personal political advantage, rooting out corruption and the promotion of national interests, how should the Senate consider more than one motive in its assessment of article one? they asked. In this Nov. 6, 2019, file photo, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) is surrounded by reporters as she heads to vote at the Capitol in Washington. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo) Deputy White House counsel Patrick Philbin responded: If there is any possibility if there is something that shows a possible public interest, and the President could have that possible public interest motive, that destroys their case. So once youre into mixed-motive land, its clear that their case fails. GOP Senator: Momentum to End Trial Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), a member of the Senates GOP leadership, said there is momentum among senators to end the impeachment trial. The momentum in the conference clearly is to just ending this, he told reporters ahead of Wednesdays trial. Weve had 17 witnesses already in the House The American public isnt paying attention anymore. Barrasso also made a note of reports on a forthcoming memoir from former national security adviser John Bolton. Even if everything in the book is true, it doesnt rise to the level of impeachment, he maintained. Romney Wants to Hear from Bolton Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) reiterated that he would like to hear from former Trump national security adviser John Bolton after a report from The New York Times claimed his upcoming book would include a claim that the president told him there was a link between military aid to Ukraine and investigations. I would like to hear from Mr. Bolton, he told CNN. I believe he may have answers to questions that Id like to have evidence on. As a for instance, Id like to know at the time the president decided not to immediately provide military aid to Ukraine, what was the reason he explained at that point. In addition, Id like to know a little later on, was there any effort on the part of the President that aid was being held up or for whatever reason. So these are questions to relate to important issues that Id like to get the answers to. Sen. Mitt Romney speaks to reporters near the Senate Subway on Capitol Hill on Jan. 24, 2019. (Zach Gibson/Getty Images) Im going to let the defense and the prosecution decide which they want to call as a witness or witnesses, but John Bolton is one of those Id like to hear, he added. Trump has strongly denied the reports claims, writing on Twitter on Wednesday: If I listened to [Bolton], we would be in World War Six by now, and goes out and IMMEDIATELY writes a nasty & untrue book. Feinstein Disputes Report Longtime Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, pushed back against reports saying she would vote to acquit Trump. The LA Times misunderstood what I said today. Before the trial, I said Id keep an open mind. Now that both sides made their cases, its clear the presidents actions were wrong, Feinstein stated, referring to a report from the Los Angeles Times. The LA Times misunderstood what I said today. Before the trial I said Id keep an open mind. Now that both sides made their cases, its clear the presidents actions were wrong. He withheld vital foreign assistance for personal political gain. That cant be allowed to stand. Senator Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) January 28, 2020 The Los Angeles Times wrote: Feinstein suggests she is leaning toward acquitting Trump in the impeachment trial. The article was widely circulated before Feinstein issued a statement on social media disputing the report. Democrat Senator: Hunter Biden Is Relevant Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said Wednesday morning he believes Hunter Biden, former Vice President Joe Bidens son who is also a central impeachment figure, could be a relevant witness in the impeachment trial. I think so I really do. I dont have a problem there because this is why we are where we are, Manchin said when he was asked on MSNBCs Morning Joe about Hunter Biden being a relevant witness. Sen. Joe Manchin, (D-W.Va.), speaks at a roundtable on the opioid epidemic at Cabell-Huntington Health Center in Huntington, West Virginia on July 8, 2019. (Andrew Harnik/AP Photo) He added: Now I think he can clear himself, what I know and what Ive heard, but being afraid to put anyone that might have pertinent information is wrong, no matter if youre a Democrat or a Republican. Manchin has bucked his party before. In 2018, he voted to approve the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. LUCKNOW Ten protesters were arrested and around 50-60 unidentified people booked for unlawful assembly on Wednesday as they allegedly shouted slogans against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) at Mohanlalganj railway station on the outskirts of Lucknow, the police said. It was not at all a peaceful protest and they could not be allowed to create a nuisance like this as Section 144 of the CrPC (Criminal Procedure Code) is already in place in the city, deputy commissioner of police (South) Pooja Yadav said. She said 10 people named in the FIR were arrested while others were being identified by scanning CCTV footage of the railway station. Yadav said the protesters were booked under Sections 188 of the Indian Penal Code (disobeying government order), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (intimidation). This is the seventh FIR against anti-CAA protesters in Lucknow this month ever since peaceful protests began in the state capital. These January FIRs do not include those lodged after violence rocked the state capital on December 19 last year. Meanwhile, the Lucknow police are now focusing on arresting the people already named in the FIRs filed against those staging sit-ins at Clock Tower in the old city and Ujariaon in Gomti Nagar. Police on Tuesday arrested Laiq Hasan, a former Jamia Millia Islamia student, who was named in an FIR on January 24 for violation of Section 144 and using force to deter the police from performing their duty. Nine others, including Shia cleric Kalbe Sadiqs son Kalbe Sibtain, who is still at large, were booked in the same FIR. Additional DCP (West) Vikas Chandra Tripathi said, Soon, non-bailable warrants will be issued against those evading arrest. He added, Kalbe Sibtain and other people named in the FIR, except Hasan, are still at large and efforts are on to arrest them. FIRs against anti-CAA protesters in Lucknow in January January 19: Three FIRs against 24 identified and 220 unidentified people at Thakurganj police station in connection with the Clock Tower protest. January 22: An FIR against 100-110 people at Gomtinagar police station in connection with the Ujariaon protest. January 24: An FIR against 10 identified and over 100 unidentified people at the Thakurganj police station in connection with the Clock Tower protest. January 26: An FIR against two people at Gomtinagar in connection with the Ujariaon protest. January 29: An FIR against 10 identified and 50-60 unidentified people at Mohanlalganj. India and France on Tuesday discussed ways and means to co-produce films and collaborate on audio visual exchanges. The two countries also agreed to set up a joint working group towards implementation of these objectives after wide-ranging discussions between Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar and French Culture Minister Franck Riester in New Delhi. India and France discussed on ways and means on co-production of films and also collaborate in audio visual exchanges. We agreed to have a joint working group towards implementation of these objectives, Javadekar tweeted after the meeting. Riester had on Monday met producers from the film industry to promote France as a destination to shoot movies and explore the future of joint ventures between the two countries. The Akwa Ibom State government will soon list the shares of its own Ibom Airlines, the governor, Udom Emmanuel, disclosed on Tuesday in Uyo. The governor disclosed this when the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Alex Okoh, visited him in the state government house, Uyo. Mr Emmanuel, who was represented by his deputy, Moses Ekpo, said the floating of an airline, Ibom Air, by the state government, was part of his administrations efforts to industrialise the state and create investment opportunities. He said the plan for the airline would be to float the shares of Ibom Air on the floor of the Nigerian Capital Market to afford Nigerians the opportunity to buy and own the shares of the company. Ibom Air was a strategic investment to help grow the economy of the state. We plan to expand the scope of the investment further, considering the tremendous success the airline has become within so short a time. We will soon float the share of the line on the Nigerian Capital Market for interested Nigerian investors to buy into the success of the company as co-owners with the State Government. However, we will give preference to indigenes of the state to exercise their right of first refusal in the acquisition of the shares of the airline, he said. The government said the state would leverage on the expertise of the BPE towards the industrialisation policy of the administration and called for greater synergy between the privatisation agency and the state. The governor expressed concern over the lingering crisis over the ownership of the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) located in Ikot Abasi. In 2004, the Nigerian-American consortium, BFIG, emerged the preferred bidder for ALSCON after the National Council on Privatization (NCP) declared it the winner of the bid for the plant with a superior offer of $410 million. The companys co-bidder, UC RUSAL, was earlier disqualified by NCP for violating the bid guidelines. But, BPE canceled the bid in controversial circumstances. BFIG protested the decision and took the matter before the court. The case dragged till the Supreme Court. On July 6, 2012, the apex court in a unanimous ruling affirmed BFIG as the winner of the bid. However, since 2012, BPE has refused to carry out the order. After two other court orders for the enforcement of the Supreme Court ruling failed, BFIG on April 4, 2019 commenced contempt proceedings against BPE. The BPE DG is currently facing contempt proceedings initiated by BFIG which accused him of his serial disobedience of the Supreme Court order over the resolution of the ownership controversy on ALSCON. On December 17, 2019, Justice Anwuri Chikere of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered Mr Okoh, to be remanded in prison for a minimum of 30 days. Controversy has continued to trail the alleged stay-of-execution order BPE claimed it procured against the order by the Federal High Court in Abuja. Job creation Earlier, Mr Okoh told the governor he was in the state with his management team as part of activities for the Bureaus 2020 Management Staff Retreat in Uyo. He informed the governor that the federal government was concerned with the lingering legal tussle surrounding ALSCON and had placed the issue on the front burner. The DG noted that if ALSCON was functioning, it would have provided about 8,500 direct jobs and 35,000 indirect jobs to Nigerians, which Akwa-Ibom State would have been the greatest beneficiary. Mr Okoh commended the state as a trail-blazer in Nigeria, the West-African Sub-region and indeed, the world for floating an airline which he noted, meets international standards. He informed the governor that since the over 30 years of the Bureaus existence, the agency has reformed over 230 previous Public Enterprises (PEs) in the Banking Sector, Oil & Gas, Telecoms, Pension and Debts managements among others. Advertisements On the power sector, which is the biggest reform exercise executed by the Bureau, he said if the privatisation was not carried out in 2013, the sector would have collapsed. He said the federal government was addressing the hiccups being experienced in the sector. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Mathieu Foulkes (Agence France-Presse) Wed, January 29, 2020 18:08 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2061903c7 2 News hostel,North-Korea,travel Free The "City Hostel" in Berlin may look fairly innocuous from the outside -- but it now faces closure in an unlikely legal drama over international sanctions against North Korea. Situated just a stone's throw from Checkpoint Charlie, the hostel offers cheap accommodation for backpackers visiting the German capital. Yet for the last few years, authorities have been attempting to shut it down over accusations that it funds Pyongyang and the repressive regime of Kim Jong Un. The hostel, which opened in 2007 and is run by a Turkish company called EGI, is located on the premises of the North Korean embassy. On Tuesday, an administrative court in Berlin threw out an EGI lawsuit against the district authorities, who had ordered them to cease operations. The court decided that the hostel contravened a 2017 EU directive implementing United Nations sanctions against North Korea. "The hotel on the premises of the North Korean embassy... has to close," the court said in a statement, adding that EGI had the right to appeal. Critics said the hostel paid the embassy -- and therefore the North Korean government -- around 38,000 euros ($42,000) a month to use the five-storey Soviet-Style building. In a city where hotel prices have been rising sharply in recent years, the hostel offers a bed for the night at just 17 euros -- which perhaps explains why it is so popular, even with the North Korean flag flying next door. UN sanctions Acquired by Pyongyang in the 1960s, the premises were used to host relatives of North Korean diplomats in the communist former East Germany. Initially shut down after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the embassy reopened in 2001 and set about sub-letting rooms and parking spaces at the site. "Nowhere else in the world has the North Korean regime earned so handsomely as in Berlin," wrote German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung last year. In 2017, local authorities decided enough was enough. Backed by Chancellor Angela Merkel's government, they attempted to shut down the hostel on the basis that it was breaking international sanctions imposed on North Korea over its nuclear program. According to a 2016 UN Security Council resolution, North Korea's foreign representations are obliged to "restrict themselves to diplomatic and consular activities". "Any kind of commercial activity on the site of the embassy or in relation to the embassy is prohibited," according to the German foreign ministry. Referencing an EU directive based on the UN resolution, local authorities in Berlin's upscale Mitte district demanded the hotel stop using the building. Read also: Move over Chanel: North Korea's 'raccoon eye makers' get state push 'Model' for others But the hostel's management, Turkish-based EGI, fought back. Though they refuse to speak to media, EGI claimed it was "ready to use all methods available to us" to defend the guesthouse in a rare public statement in 2017. That included legal action against the district authorities, which the court threw out on Tuesday. EGI claimed that the local district does not have the jurisdiction to shut down its operations. According to the court, they also claimed not to have paid rent directly to the North Korean embassy since April 2017. Yet the court rejected these claims, saying that the very use of the building contravened the EU directive. EGI's lawyers have not responded to AFP's attempts to contact them. The hostel had remained open until now, despite lawmakers' best efforts. "Sanctions and regulations concerning international trade have to apply to the North Koreans in Berlin," said Tom Schreiber, a Social Democrat MP in Berlin's state parliament. The situation in the German capital is "a chance to show the regime which boundaries it cannot cross," he told AFP. It could also provide "a model" for similar situations where North Korea's presence is "less visible", he added. Doffin said if a case were to occur in Lake County, his staff would be part of an epidemiology investigation. "We would have the person affected provide us with all those with whom they have come in contact, and then we would contact them to find out if they are symptomatic. The idea is to isolate it," he said. Robert Blaszkiewicz, communications and media relations specialist for Franciscan Health, which has hospitals and health centers in Crown Point, Brook, Dyer, Hammond, Michigan City and Valparaiso, said they are prepared for any cases. "In response to the outbreak of coronavirus in China and increasing confirmed cases in the United States, Franciscan Health physicians, nurses and other clinicians have taken proactive measures should we receive patients suspected of having contracted the virus," Blaszkiewicz said. A Kerala school teacher has been sentenced to 60 years rigorous imprisonment on Wednesday for sexually assaulting a minor girl student, who was also partially blind. Experts said this could be the first award of such a long sentence for sexual assault of a minor. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (Pocso) court in Kozhikkode also directed the State government to pay two lakh as relief to the victims family. The case against school teacher Firoze Khan surfaced in 2017 and many students and teachers later deposed against him. According to the prosecution, the teacher had sexually assaulted the class 6 student on several occasions and threatened her with dire consequences if she revealed her exploitation to anyone. The victim, however, confided in some of her classmates who stayed quiet fearing retaliation from the accused. Her ordeal finally came to the light during a counselling session in the school following which a case was registered. While delivering the verdict, Pocso court judge K Subramma said a teacher should be a role model to students and the society as a whole and the accused didnt deserve any sympathy for exploiting a minor who was partially blind. Last week a Pocso court in Kasargod (north Kerala) had sentenced a headmaster for 20 years in jail for sexually assaulting a class four student. It had also asked the government to pay 10 lakh compensation to the victims family. The Pocso act was amended last year to include the death penalty among the punishments for sexual offences against children apart from adding measures to rehabilitate the victims. COLUMBIA The University of South Carolina will not raise tuition next year even if it does not receive extra cash from the Legislature, the new president of the state's largest college pledged Wednesday. USC raised tuition for in-state students by less than 1 percent for the current school year, the smallest annual increase since the Reagan administration. USC was able to nearly cap tuition with its part of a $36 million infusion from the state to ease rising costs for in-state students at public colleges across South Carolina. While a similar supplement is proposed in next year's budget, USC President Bob Caslen said Wednesday that in-state students won't have to guess how much more they will pay for tuition in the fall. "Regardless of whatever external budget fails to come in, I have no intention whatsoever of increasing tuition," Caslen said during the annual Carolina Day at the Statehouse. "We're going to keep tuition the same regardless." The university administration is putting more responsibility on its academic departments to manage their budgets by finding new ways to generate money and curb spending, Caslen said. The tuition freeze would not apply to out-of-state students, who pay more than twice as much to attend the university. Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! USC's in-state tuition rose by just under 1 percent for the 2019-20 school year, the lowest amount since 1987. In-state undergraduate students are paying $12,688 for a year at USC, a price that has nearly doubled in the past 15 years. Caslen, a retired three-star Army general who ran West Point for five years, arrived in Columbia in August on a platform to control costs and boost research dollars at the university with more than 52,000 students over eight campuses. Holding down tuition could help ease concerns of critics who felt Caslen lacked enough higher education experience to run a large state flagship university. Capping tuition costs also is a priority of Gov. Henry McMaster, who lobbied USC trustees on Caslen's behalf when the school's board was hiring a new president last year. McMaster's lobbying led to an investigation by USC's accreditors, who found evidence of "undue influence" but did not sanction the school. USC is under monitoring and must submit a report to accreditors with changes to halt outside pressures by September. Now, political operatives are exploiting commercial techniques to correlate microtargeting data with the identification numbers of cellphones. This allows campaigns to mobilize, persuade and turn out or to suppress turnout among key voters. In 2016, Trump spent far more than Hillary Clinton on digital campaigning, and since then his campaign, under the direction of Brad Parscale, has continued far outpace its Democratic rivals. In a paper published this month, The digital commercialization of US politics 2020 and beyond, Kathryn Montgomery, a professor of communications at American University, and Jeff Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy, described the differences between the 2016 Trump and Clinton campaigns: Whereas 31 percent of Donald Trumps total campaign expenditures were for digital media, only 6 percent of Hillary Clintons expenditures were for digital. Moreover, whereas almost 50 percent of Mr. Trumps media expenditures were for digital, only 8 percent of Secretary Clintons media expenditures were for digital. So although Secretary Clinton outspent Mr. Trump by $75 million on media, it is quite possible that Mr. Trumps heavy reliance on digital media allowed for a more efficient and targeted ad campaign that escaped the eye. Parscale, who is now managing Trumps 2020 campaign, claimed in a 2018 tweet that the Trump campaign tech operation was 100 times to 200 times more effective than the Clinton campaigns, adding @realDonaldTrump was a perfect candidate for Facebook. On Monday, Parscale boasted on the conservative website Townhall that Trump rallies are providing a gold mine of data for the 2020 election: Out of more than 20,000 identified voters who came to a recent Trump rally in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 57.9 percent did not have a history of voting for Republicans. Remarkably, 4,413 attendees didnt even vote in the last election a clear indication that President Trump is energizing Americans who were previously not engaged in politics. Similar findings are coming out of other rallies, according to Parscale: Nearly 22 percent of identified supporters at President Trumps rally in Toledo, Ohio, were Democrats, and another 21 percent were independents. An astounding 15 percent of identified voters who saw the president speak in Battle Creek, Michigan, has not voted in any of the last four elections. In Hershey, Pennsylvania, just over 20 percent of identified voters at the rally were Democrats, and 18 percent were nonwhite. In the current election cycle, Montgomery and Chester write, further growth and expansion of the big data digital marketplace is reshaping electoral politics in the US, introducing both candidate and issue campaigns to a system of sophisticated software applications and data-targeting tools that are rooted in the goals, values, and strategies for influencing consumer behaviors. Technologies used for identity resolution, they write, enable marketers and political groups to target and reach real people with greater precision than ever before. Marketers are helping perfect a system that leverages and integrates, increasingly in real-time, consumer profile data with online behaviors to capture more granular profiles of individuals, including where they go, and what they do. The authors go on to warn that all of these developments are taking place, moreover, within a regulatory structure that is weak and largely ineffectual. Tara McGowan, executive director of the recently created pro-Democratic group Acronym, which plans to spend $75 million on digital and other media, replied to my questions by email: Theres no digital dark magic being deployed by Brad Parscale and the Trump campaign. They just have near unlimited resources and are spending them wisely to reach their voters where they are online, and especially on platforms like Facebook. The greatest advantage, McGowan continued, that the Trump campaign has over Democrats heading into 2020 is time. Democrats may not settle on a general election nominee until late spring or summer. That gives the Trump campaign much more time to talk to voters and define the Democrats in places where it counts. In addition to ACRONYM, pro-Democratic groups like Priorities USA, American Bridge, America Votes and a host of others are working together, prepared to spend more than $300 million to counter the Trump efforts. In addition, the campaigns of Mike Bloomberg, Bernie Sanders and Tom Steyer are all spending huge amounts of money on digital strategies focused on Facebook, Google and other social media. Still, there are concerns that much of the Democratic spending will have limited value in the general election, insofar as it is going toward states that will not be 2020 battlegrounds, including, for example, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah and Vermont on Tuesday March 3, better known as Super Tuesday. In addition, whoever becomes the Democratic nominee will not be able to share his or her data with the independent pro-Democratic groups, according to federal regulation. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has had a rough go in the spotlight since joining the royal family, but a close friend shares she can now take a breath after she and Prince Harry exited the family. Prince Harry and Meghan have left their royal duties behind and also the toxic environment that sometimes came with the territory. Queen Elizabeth, Meghan Markle, and Prince Harry | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan announced their exit It seemed to come out of left field, but in January 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan announced their plans to step back from their royal duties. It was initially unclear what that meant until the queen met with Prince Harry, Prince William, and Prince Charles to finalize the agreement Harry and Meghan would give up their HRH titles and any public funding and make the move to Canada with their son Archie. Prince Harry and Meghan shared their intentions with their Instagram followers: 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. 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. Queen Elizabeth noted her support of their plans in a statement that shared, in part: 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. She added: It is my whole familys hope that todays agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life. Meghan found the situation complicated It was evident that royal life wasnt always easy for Meghan, as she faced constant public and media scrutiny after she married Prince Harry. During an emotional interview for the documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, Meghan remarked how she wasnt prepared for the level of harassment she would face. Meghan shared: When I first met my now-husband, my friends were really happy because I was so happy but my British friends said to me, Im sure hes great but you shouldnt do it because the British tabloids will destroy your life. She called the situation complicated, noting: The biggest thing that I know is that I never thought that this would be easy, but I thought it would be fair and thats the part thats really hard to reconcile. Meghans friend claims she escaped a soul crushing environment A close friend of Meghans shared some of the details of what Meghan has experienced. Meghan felt she had to escape because living within the royal confines was soul crushing, her pal told Daily Mail. Her friend further explained how Meghan can finally breathe now that shes officially left her royal duties. She told her inner circle of friends that her soul was being crushed and that the decision to leave was a matter of life or death meaning the death of her spirit, her friend shared. The insider added: She also felt like she couldnt be the best mother to Archie if she wasnt being her true, authentic self. Something she felt she couldnt be in the royal family confines. Additionally, the pal noted: She said she didnt want Archie picking up on her stress and anxiety. She felt like it was a toxic environment for him because there was too much tension and pent-up frustrations. CLEVELAND, Ohio Cuyahoga County Council on Tuesday approved a lease renewal that calls for the city of Cleveland pay about $1.6 million this year to use a portion of the countys Justice Center as a temporary police headquarters. The agreement, already approved by Cleveland City Council, will cost the city $12 per square foot, up from $10 per square foot in 2019. The city will also pay about $170,000 for parking, plus utilities. If Cleveland agrees next year to another lease renewal, the cost per square foot will increase by another $2, County Public Works Deputy Director Matt Rymer told a County Council committee last week. Two years ago, the city sold its portion of the Justice Center to the county for $9.25 million with the intention of moving its police headquarters to a another building by mid-2019. But the city has since decided to build a headquarters in the Kinsman neighborhood on the citys East Side. City Council approved the location on Monday, but the construction of the headquarters is not expected to be completed until 2023. The lease for the Justice Center space can be renewed two more times. Beginning in March, the city is expected to occupy about 129,000 square feet of the building, about 10,000 square feet less than in 2019. Rymer said that the county expects to use the space for Sheriffs Department personnel, who are expected to be relocated to make way for a central booking area for the county jails. "Historic lows in unemployment and steady job gains marked a strong 2019 for the American workforce, and human capital professionals feel that this momentum will carry into 2020," said Rebecca Henderson, CEO of Randstad global businesses and executive board member. "Business leaders are keeping a close eye on the political environment and how it will potentially impact their business this election year." The Business Health Index ranks 17 markets based on four key measures to formulate a single outlook score for each market. Measures include reported business growth against expectations, levels of hiring, the political environment's perceived impact on business and future growth stance. Specifically, the data shows that: Sixty-five percent of C-suite and HR leaders around the world reported hiring extensively in the last 12 months. The number of C-suite and HR leaders in the U.S. who expect the political environment to have a positive impact on their businesses is up by more than 46 percent from last year. Mexico, Latin America's second largest economy , is also a major mover in the 2020 index, rising from last place on 2019's list to the fourth spot this year. Mexico faced a mild recession in early 2019, but an expanding economy, more robust construction activity and a 20-percent wage gain may be driving confidence that the economy and its businesses are bouncing back. The Netherlands, Japan, Germany and Mexico rank highest in the 2020 index, while Canada, Poland and Italy show the least positive outlooks for the year ahead. Randstad Sourceright's 2020 Talent Trends Report, Unlock human potential in a perfect storm of technology , is based on survey data from more than 800 C-suite and human capital leaders in 17 markets. It provides human capital leaders with an inside look at the top 10 HR trends they need to follow this year to develop their talent management strategies that complement technological innovation in the workplace. Additional insights about the trends that will be shaping human capital strategies in the coming year can be found in Randstad Sourceright's annual Talent Trends Report . About Randstad Sourceright Randstad Sourceright is a global talent solutions leader, driving the talent acquisition and human capital management strategies for the world's most successful employers. We empower these companies by leveraging a Human Forward strategy that balances the use of innovative technologies with expert insights, supporting both organizations and people in realizing their true potential. As an operating company of Randstad N.V. the world's leading global provider of HR services Randstad Sourceright continuously builds and evolves talent solutions through recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), managed services programs (MSP), and total talent strategies. Read more at randstadsourceright.com . SOURCE Randstad Sourceright Related Links http://www.randstadsourceright.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sophie deviller and Montira Rungjirajittranon (Agence France-Presse) Bangkok Wed, January 29, 2020 11:02 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206176a87 2 Health face-mask,health,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus Free As fears of a deadly virus sweep the globe, panicked members of the public are depending on a flimsy first line of defense -- surgical masks that are coveted, but in short supply and of limited use. While Asian commuters cover their noses and mouths with the blue-green paper-thin covers -- and social media buzzes with mask emojis, rumors of stockpiles and shortages -- the humble medical mask has become an essential weapon in the battle against an invisible enemy. Cheap, mass-made and usually readily available at convenience stores, experts dispute the usefulness of masks as a tool to block transmission of the new SARS-like virus. While the basic, loose-fitting mask can help restrict the spread of cough droplets from infected people, they are a "one-way" defense and do not create an effective barrier to breathing in dangerous airborne microbes. "It is not one of the recommended barrier measures" for people who have not been contaminated, according to France's health minister Agnes Buzyn. Satoshi Hiroi, a senior researcher at the Osaka Institute of Public Heath, told AFP, that high-quality masks could be effective, referring to more expensive, tight-fitting respirators used to filter fine particulates of dust and pollution. "But as always, there is no 100-percent guarantee," he said, adding, the science was still out on exactly how the virus -- which has so far killed 106 people and infected over 4,000 -- is transmitted. Still, on Bangkok's streets many members of the public put faith in surgical masks on Tuesday, an act of self-defense in worrying times. "I'm very concerned about the virus," Tanyamon Jamophast, 28, told AFP. "Everywhere I go (in addition to a mask) I also bring alcohol and gel sanitizer to clean my hands and avoid areas with Chinese tourists." Others wore heavier duty -- and more effective -- PM2.5 or 3M (N95) masks, in a city shrouded for weeks by damaging pollution. Fourteen infections, all but one detected in Chinese visitors, have been reported in Thailand, a peak season destination for the tour groups from the mainland. Read also: Are you using the right anti-pollution face mask? Sold out For chemist Suphak Saphakkul that has led to the most intense panic-buying of medical items he has witnessed since the SARS epidemic in 2002/3. "All our (mask) suppliers are out of stock. These masks are made in China and the country itself is out of stock," he said. "We know that it does not provide 100 percent protection but it is better than nothing... (and) it can also reassure the public." Even for those who have one, there is a proper method to masking up. On Monday the mayor of Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, took an online battering after wearing his mask inside-out. "You can inhale the virus if there is a gap between the mask and the face," added Satoshi Hiroi of the Osaka Institute of Public Heath. Meanwhile the Hubei provincial governor was pilloried for not wearing a mask during a press conference -- contravening an order to cover-up in public. Regular hand washing with soap, alcohol rubs and avoiding touching one's face as well as crowded places are endorsed by the World Health Organization as effective personal hygiene habits against infection. The advice has not stopped a run on the shelves, stockpiling or price hikes for medical masks, from Cambodia to Tokyo and Hubei to Hong Kong, where queues stretched outside the remaining retailers with stocks. In Bangkok, it is a case of better safe than sorry. "I just want to be as careful as I can," said 50-year-old commuter Apinya Sukprasitchai. CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- As the geriatric population is expected to balloon in the coming decade, so too will rates of heart disease in the United States. The demand for prosthetic heart valves and other cardiac devices -- a market that is valued at more than $5 billion dollars today -- is predicted to rise by almost 13 percent in the next six years. Prosthetic valves are designed to mimic a real, healthy heart valve in helping to circulate blood through the body. However, many of them have issues such as leakage around the valve, and engineers working to improve these designs must test them repeatedly, first in simple benchtop simulators, then in animal subjects, before reaching human trials -- an arduous and expensive process. Now engineers at MIT and elsewhere have developed a bionic "heart" that offers a more realistic model for testing out artificial valves and other cardiac devices. The device is a real biological heart whose tough muscle tissue has been replaced with a soft robotic matrix of artificial heart muscles, resembling bubble wrap. The orientation of the artificial muscles mimics the pattern of the heart's natural muscle fibers, in such a way that when the researchers remotely inflate the bubbles, they act together to squeeze and twist the inner heart, similar to the way a real, whole heart beats and pumps blood. With this new design, which they call a "biorobotic hybrid heart," the researchers envision that device designers and engineers could iterate and fine-tune designs more quickly by testing on the biohybrid heart, significantly reducing the cost of cardiac device development. "Regulatory testing of cardiac devices requires many fatigue tests and animal tests," says Ellen Roche, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at MIT. "[The new device] could realistically represent what happens in a real heart, to reduce the amount of animal testing or iterate the design more quickly." Roche and her colleagues have published their results in the journal Science Robotics. Her co-authors are lead author and MIT graduate student Clara Park, along with Yiling Fan, Gregor Hager, Hyunwoo Yuk, Manisha Singh, Allison Rojas, and Xuanhe Zhao at MIT, along with collaborators from Nanyang Technology University, the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Boston's Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). "Mechanics of the heart" Before coming to MIT, Roche worked briefly in the biomedical industry, helping to test cardiac devices on artificial heart models in the lab. "At the time I didn't feel any of these benchtop setups were representative of both the anatomy and the physiological biomechanics of the heart," Roche recalls. "There was an unmet need in terms of device testing." In separate research as part of her doctoral work at Harvard University, she developed a soft, robotic, implantable sleeve, designed to wrap around a whole, live heart, to help it pump blood in patients suffering from heart failure. At MIT, she and Park wondered if they could combine the two research avenues, to develop a hybrid heart: a heart that is made partly of chemically preserved, explanted heart tissue and partly of soft artificial actuators that help the heart pump blood. Such a model, they proposed, should be a more realistic and durable environment in which to test cardiac devices, compared with models that are either entirely artificial but do not capture the heart's complex anatomy, or are made from a real explanted heart, requiring highly controlled conditions to keep the tissue alive. The team briefly considered wrapping a whole, explanted heart in a soft robotic sleeve, similar to Roche's previous work, but realized the heart's outer muscle tissue, the myocardium, quickly stiffened when removed from the body. Any robotic contraction by the sleeve would fail to translate sufficiently to the heart within. Instead, the team looked for ways to design a soft robotic matrix to replace the heart's natural muscle tissue, in both material and function. They decided to try out their idea first on the heart's left ventricle, one of four chambers in the heart, which pumps blood to the rest of the body, while the right ventricle uses less force to pump blood to the lungs. "The left ventricle is the harder one to recreate given its higher operating pressures, and we like to start with the hard challenges," Roche says. The heart, unfurled The heart normally pumps blood by squeezing and twisting, a complex combination of motions that is a result of the alignment of muscle fibers along the outer myocardium that covers each of the heart's ventricles. The team planned to fabricate a matrix of artificial muscles resembling inflatable bubbles, aligned in the orientations of the natural cardiac muscle. But copying these patterns by studying a ventricle's three-dimensional geometry proved extremely challenging. They eventually came across the helical ventricular myocardial band theory, the idea that cardiac muscle is essentially a large helical band that wraps around each of the heart's ventricles. This theory is still a subject of debate by some researchers, but Roche and her colleagues took it as inspiration for their design. Instead of trying to copy the left ventricle's muscle fiber orientation from a 3D perspective, the team decided to remove the ventricle's outer muscle tissue and unwrap it to form a long, flat band -- a geometry that should be far easier to recreate. In this case, they used the cardiac tissue from an explanted pig heart. In collaboration with co-lead author Chris Nguyen at MGH, the researchers used diffusion tensor imaging, an advanced technique that typically tracks how water flows through white matter in the brain, to map the microscopic fiber orientations of a left ventricle's unfurled, two-dimensional muscle band. They then fabricated a matrix of artificial muscle fibers made from thin air tubes, each connected to a series of inflatable pockets, or bubbles, the orientation of which they patterned after the imaged muscle fibers. The soft matrix consists of two layers of silicone, with a water-soluble layer between them to prevent the layers from sticking, as well as two layers of laser-cut paper, which ensures that the bubbles inflate in a specific orientation. The researchers also developed a new type of bioadhesive to glue the bubble wrap to the ventricle's real, intracardiac tissue. While adhesives exist for bonding biological tissues to each other, and and for materials like silicone to each other, the team realized few soft adhesives do an adequate job of gluing together biological tissue with synthetic materials, silicone in particular. So Roche collaborated with Zhao, associate professor of mechanical engineering at MIT, who specializes in developing hydrogel-based adhesives. The new adhesive, named TissueSil, was made by functionalizing silicone in a chemical cross-linking process, to bond with components in heart tissue. The result was a viscous liquid that the researchers brushed onto the soft robotic matrix. They also brushed the glue onto a new explanted pig heart that had its left ventricle removed but its endocardial structures preserved. When they wrapped the artificial muscle matrix around this tissue, the two bonded tightly. Finally, the researchers placed the entire hybrid heart in a mold that they had previously cast of the original, whole heart, and filled the mold with silicone to encase the hybrid heart in a uniform covering -- a step that produced a form similar to a real heart and ensured that the robotic bubble wrap fit snugly around the real ventricle. "That way, you don't lose transmission of motion from the synthetic muscle to the biological tissue," Roche says. When the researchers pumped air into the bubble wrap at frequencies resembling a naturally beating heart, and imaged the bionic heart's response, it contracted in a manner similar to the way a real heart moves to pump blood through the body. Ultimately, the researchers hope to use the bionic heart as a realistic environment to help designers test cardiac devices such as prosthetic heart valves. "Imagine that a patient before cardiac device implantation could have their heart scanned, and then clinicians could tune the device to perform optimally in the patient well before the surgery," says Nyugen. "Also, with further tissue engineering, we could potentially see the biorobotic hybrid heart be used as an artificial heart -- a very needed potential solution given the global heart failure epidemic where millions of people are at the mercy of a competitive heart transplant list." ### This research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation. The United Nations Office in Ukraine has presented a Humanitarian Response Plan worth $158 million aimed at financing humanitarian operations in Ukraine in 2020. "I have presented the Humanitarian Response Plan for Ukraine, according to which the support for humanitarian operations requires $158 million in 2020," UN Resident Coordinator, Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine Osnat Lubrani said at a press briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday. Lubrani underlined that the conflict in eastern Ukraine is still very active, shelling attacks continue and, despite the fact that the least number of victims among the civilians was registered in 2019, still 167 peaceful citizens were killed or wounded as a result of the conflict in Donbas. "The plan, which we launched today, is aimed at helping people, who suffered most of all, to survive with dignity, satisfying their basic needs, dealing with the most vulnerable regions. This is a priority plan. We realize that we do not have enough resources to help each of them. Thus, the plan's top priority are the most affected districts," she said, adding that the operations will be held under the ageist of the UN, as well as organizations related to it, international humanitarian organizations and several national organizations. The project's financing will be allocated for various fields, from repairs of schools and infrastructure to social and psychological aid to those injured. Union Home Minister Amit Shah hit out at the Congress, accusing it of "instigating and misleading" Muslims over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) whose passage in Parliament last month triggered protests across the country. He clarified that there is no question of snatching citizenship of any Muslim born in India. Shah, who stepped down as BJP president a few days ago, was addressing a gathering of party workers and intellectuals at the partys state office Kushabhau Thakre Parisar here. They (the Congress & company) are stoking fear, provoking minorities and instigating riots. To further politics of appeasement, they are spreading falsehood that Muslim will lose their citizenship (under CAA)," Shah said. There is no question of Muslims born and living in India losing their citizenship due to this Act which is meant to grant citizenship (to minority refugees from three neighbouring countries) not snatching away anyone's citizenship," the BJP leader said. Attacking Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Shah challenged him to point out any provision in the controversial law that talks about taking away anyone's nationality. "Rahul Baba let me know if there is even a single provision in the Act regarding forfeiting anyone's citizenship," he said. The CAA promises Indian citizenship to persecuted non- Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. CAA's critics say the law is discriminatory and violates the core values of the Constitution. Attacking Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Shah said, Kejriwal says the BJP has love for Pakistan. He should not teach the BJP patriotism. "Two years back Modi ji put behind bars Kanhaiya (student leader Kanhaiya Kumar) and company after they raised slogans at the JNU calling for vivisection of India." "He shouldnt teach us patriotism. Our life started with Bharat Mata ki Jayakare (slogans hailing mother India) and will end with that. "They are not Pakistanis (those have come to India after facing religious persecution and atrocities from the neighbouring country). There are very much our brothers who could not come that time (during Partition). "They are tortured and are in pain. You (Kejriwal) are opposing citizenship law because of vote-banks politics," he said ahead of the February 8 polling in Delhi. Coming down heavily on non-BJP parties for criticising decisions of the Centre, Shah accused Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Kejriwal of speaking Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's language. Opposition parties raise objection over the surgical strike, new triple talaq law, CAA, action against those who shout anti India slogans. "As Rahul Gandhi, Kejriwal and Mamata ji speak the next day, the Prime Minister of Pakistan also speaks the same language. Sometimes it is hard to understand what is their relationship. Are they twins..? he asked sarcastically. Highlighting the achievements of the Modi government, Shah said, The economy of our country which was of USD 2 trillion grew to 3 trillion dollars in the last five years. We will make India a USD 5 trillion economy by 2024. In 2019, the people of the country reposed their faith in the Modi government because of the workdone by it in the last five years. "After this (in the Modi government 2.0), we started dealing with ideological issues which were pending for 70 years. We scrapped Article 370 (in J&K) and abolished the practice of triple talaq to ensure rights to crores of Muslim sisters," the home minister said. Within four months, construction of a magnificent Lord Ram temple will start in Ayodhya, Shah said. Speaking further, Shah asked party workers in Chhattisgarh not to get disheartened by the party's debacle in the November 2018 Assembly elections. The setback was short-lived as six months later the BJP bounced back and did well in the Lok Sabha elections in the Congress-ruled state, he said. The BJP, after losing the 2018 assembly polls, won nine of the 11 Lok Sabha seats in 2019 in Chhattisgarh, where the saffron outfit was in power for 15 years. "Some people seem worried due to the BJP's loss in the state. They say our government has gone in the state. They look disappointed with this but they should not be disheartened," Shah said, giving a pep talk to party workers. He said "BJP workers bloom more when they are in the opposition. People have given us mandate to sit in the opposition this time in Chhattisgarh. We should respect their mandate, but continue our fight for their rights, he said. Shah said the BJP is a party driven by ideology. "The BJP is the only party which has entered politics for ideology. Except Communists, most parties have become family parties which have nothing to do with ideology, he added. Unlike the BJP and the ruling AAP which have deployed a battery of top leaders, including MPs and ministers, for canvassing for the February 8 Delhi polls, the Congress is yet to see its big guns like Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit the campaign trail. With just nine days left for campaigning to end for the assembly polls, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with an army of AAP supporters is holding roadshows every day, while his ministers are addressing gatherings in Delhi's 70 assembly constituencies in a bid to retain power. The BJP, which lost Delhi to the Congress in 1998, has engaged Union ministers, chief ministers and parliamentarians to garner support for its candidates to bring back the national capital into its fold, after losing Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. However, the same cannot be said about the Congress, which lost the national capital to the AAP in 2013 and faced a massive drubbing in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, not winning any of the seven parliamentary seats here. The void in its campaign management is being felt by several party candidates, leaving many confused in the face of fierce canvassing by their rivals. Many are perplexed over why big leaders have not started campaigning for party candidates yet, a Congress candidate from south Delhi said in an oblique reference to Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi. However, senior leaders said that the Gandhis will start campaigning from February 2. Most senior Delhi Congress leaders are either contesting the polls or have their kins in the fray. DPCC president Subhash Chopra has fielded his daughter Shivani from Kalkaji, while campaign committee chief Kirti Azad's wife is contesting from Sangam Vihar. A senior Delhi Congress leader said Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi will soon address rallies and hold roadshows. They had campaigned in the Lok Sabha polls. "There has been no delay. Our senior leaders like Raj Babbar are campaigning. The BJP has deployed all its senior leaders because they are scared and frustrated," he said. With an aim to recapture power, the top leadership of the BJP -- Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party president J P Nadda -- have been holding daily roadshows and public meetings. It has also deployed Union Ministers, chief ministers, party MPs and an army of volunteers. Azad said the Congress's election schedule is ready and senior party leaders will hold roadshows and meetings in the coming days in all the constituencies, across Delhi. AICC incharge of the Delhi Congress P C Chacko said the party's campaign has been going on in a systematic way through candidate-centric canvassing. He said its star campaigners have been saved for the last lap of campaigning. "Right now, our candidates and workers are going door-to-door in the constituencies. We are also forming committees, deputing workers and assigning them works at booth level," Chacko said. Unlike the BJP and the AAP whose prominent leaders are on the ground, the Congress's star campaigners will be involved in the climax of the campaigning from February 2-6, he said. "Party leaders, including president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra, are also likely to join the campaigning in the last leg and their programmes are being finalised today," Chacko said. Once a dominant player in Delhi politics, the Congress under the chief ministership of Sheila Dikshit ruled the national capital from 1998-2013. However, its was dislodged from power in 2013. Since then the party prospects have been on a descent. In 2013, the party bagged 24 per cent of the total votes and in 2014 Lok Sabha polls held six months later, it slipped to 15 per cent. But it fell drastically to 9.7 in 2015 -- a chunk of it went to the AAP with whom it shares a similar voter base. In the 2017 MCD polls, the Congress improved its vote share to nearly 21 per cent. In 2019, it dislodged the AAP to the third position, bagging 22 per cent of the votes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Attorney General William Barr speaks at a press conference at the Department of Justice in Washington on Jan. 13, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) DOJ to Pursue Anti-Semitic Crimes More Aggressively, Barr Says NEW YORKAttorney General William Barr met with a small group of Jewish leaders in the Borough Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, to address the recent spate of anti-Semitic attacks across the New York metropolitan area and how the Department of Justice (DOJ) is combating it. Barrwho spoke to a group of about two dozen people at the Borough Park Jewish Community Council on Jan. 28pledged to crack down on anti-Semitic crimes at the federal level, as he announced new measures for Jewish residents to report hate crimes. He said the DOJ will pursue anti-Semitic crimes more aggressively. This morning, I am putting out a written directive to all U.S. attorneys offices, and it will require each office to initiate, or to reinvigorate if they already have taken this action, their relationship and outreach to the Jewish communities in their district, Barr said. As part of this, I want each U.S. attorneys office to provide a point of contact for reporting hate crimes to their respective offices. Allen Fagin, executive vice president and chief professional officer of the Orthodox Union, was one of those invited to attend the meeting with Barr, which he said lasted roughly an hour and a half. Knowing that our government authorities are committed to dealing with these incidents as vigorously and comprehensively as they possibly can is itself an enormously important step and an important message, Fagin told The Epoch Times in a telephone interview following the meeting. He said Barr conveyed loudly and unequivocally from the highest levels of the administration that anti-Semitism wont be tolerated in the country. Anti-Semitic incidents in New York have continued into the new year. It was important to the community sense of well-being and provided an enormous level of comfort, for which there was great gratitude, Fagin said. A Jewish man walks in the Crown Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, on Jan. 7, 2020. (Chung I Ho/The Epoch Times) Barr was accompanied by the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and the head of the New York FBI office, Fagin said. The Orthodox Union, one of the largest Orthodox Jewish organizations in the nation, is headquartered in New York. Leaders of the Jewish community told The Epoch Times previously that the increase in anti-Semitic attacks in the past few months was unprecedented. They said the violent nature and the prevalence of such hate crimes were deeply concerning. New York Citys Police Commissioner Dermot F. Shea has noted that anti-Semitic crimes jumped 21 percent last year. In December alone, at least 13 anti-Semitic attacks were reported in New York. In statements over the past few weeks, both Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo have pledged to boost the police presence in Jewish communities across the city. Some of the more violent incidents in recent weeks involved a 37-year-old suspect accused of stabbing five people who were celebrating Hanukkah at a rabbis home, and a shooting at a kosher supermarket in New Jersey that left two Hasidic Jews dead. Fagin said he expects to see more federal prosecutions for hate crime activity than previously seen. He and other Jewish leadersincluding the heads of the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York and different heads of the Jewish Community Councilalso spoke to Barr about a number of other steps they believe are important for combating anti-Semitism. One of the suggestions offered to the attorney general is to increase security funding to protect institutions and houses of worship deemed to be at risk. [Barr] listened carefully to the suggestions that were being made. I think he took them all very, very seriously, Fagin said. It was a meaningful conversation. On Jan. 5, Cuomo said he released $45 million in funding to protect at-risk institutions. That money is made available on a statewide basis, through the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. At the meeting, Barr specifically brought up the case of a woman who allegedly assaulted three people in an apparent anti-Semitic attack in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. He said that the federal government is now pressing charges against the woman. The day after being freed without bail due to a new bail reform law, the woman was arrested again for a second alleged assault. I think its important for the federal government to plant this flag and to show zero tolerance, and this will not be an isolated case, Barr said, referring to that case. Jewish people walk in the Crown Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, on Jan. 7, 2020. (Chung I Ho/The Epoch Times) New York passed bail reform legislation in April 2019 that was estimated to cause at least a 40 percent reduction overall in the states pretrial jail population, according to the Vera Institute of Justice. Under the new laws, some suspects in the recent anti-Semitic attacks have been quickly released without bail. In addition, judges can no longer set bail for many misdemeanors, including assaults without serious injury, and nonviolent felonies. Jewish residents of Crown Heights told The Epoch Times that the new bail-reform laws are too lenient, and that this encourages attackers to re-offend. They also said that for the first time in recent memory, members of the Jewish community are becoming frustrated and inflamed over the uptick in anti-Semitism, which has become increasingly violent in nature. They said members are increasingly talking about starting grassroots movements to defend the community and for Jewish residents to be armed, through concealed carry and other means, in response to perceived inaction by the government. At the same time, many in the Jewish community remain fearful, some having become too afraid to be out often in public. In 2015, 5,850 hate crime incidents were reported to law enforcement agencies. In 2016, the number increased to 6,121, and in 2017the bureaus latest data reportthere were a recorded 7,175 hate crime incidents. The location of the meeting and the presence of senior law enforcement officials alongside Barr made it clear that Barr and the DOJ take the situation seriously, Fagin said, adding that local residents came away from the meeting feeling that Barr was deeply committed both personally and on behalf of the government in securing their safety. Statements alone are not going to necessarily solve the problem, Fagin said. But knowing that our government is committed to speaking out against hatred and making sure that those that participate in it are prosecuted to the maximum extent of the law is a very, very important beginning. Barrs meeting took place a day after International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which this year marked the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. The day commemorates the genocide of European Jews by Nazi Germany during World War II. Barr said it was appropriate to have the meeting after the anniversary to really commit that this department, this administration, is going to have zero tolerance for this kind of violence. As Ive said before, it strikes at the very core of what this country is about, Barr said. Jewish people walk in the Crown Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, on Jan. 7, 2020. (Chung I Ho/The Epoch Times) Its not the first time the administration has addressed rising anti-Semitism. Last year in July, Barr gave a keynote speech at the DOJs summit on combating anti-Semitism, acknowledging that increasingly we are seeing hate-inspired violence against the Jewish community perpetrated by individuals and groups. In response to the uptick in hate crimes against Jews, the broader New York community has come out to support the Jewish community. On Jan. 5, thousands of people marched across the Brooklyn Bridge as part of a No Hate, No Fear rally in support of the Jewish community. When Fagin was asked if he thought authorities were closer to figuring out the cause of the recent uptick in anti-Semitism, he responded: Thats a very, very complicated question. Its probably a 2,000-year-old question. On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a Jewish resident found swastikas and anti-Semitic graffiti at her Lower East Side apartment building, in one of the latest alleged incidents. As attacks of this nature have increased, some have called for more drastic measures to address the threat. In late December, four Orthodox Jewish lawmakers urged Cuomo to declare a state of emergency and to deploy the National Guard to patrol Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods. They also asked Cuomo to appoint a special prosecutor for purposes of investigating and prosecuting perpetrators of anti-Semitic violence. Fagin and other Jewish leaders said they came away from the meeting feeling more confident that government leaders were trying to understand what was going on and that the incidents are having an impact, especially on the orthodox Jewish community. He noted that anti-Semitism is not a problem that is going to be eliminated overnight. We are shocked by every one of these incidents. Were saddened by every one of these incidents, and they do continue, Fagin said. Our hope is that the day will come when these incidents are few and far between. Meanwhile, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said in a Jan. 29 address to Germanys parliament that anti-Semitism is growing across Europe. Today, Europe is being haunted by the ghosts of the pastracial purity, nationalism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, said Rivlin, according to The New York Times. Ugly and extreme anti-Semitism is wafting over all of Europe, from the far-right to extreme left-wingers. A former Israeli justice minister also told The Epoch Times in a December message that shes deeply concerned by the rise in anti-Semitic attacks in New York and around the world. All people of conscience must be outraged by the fact that 75 years after the Holocaust, Jews are once again being targeted at prayer and in the streets, former Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked wrote. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday filed a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi against BJP MP Parvesh Verma, demanding registration of an FIR against Verma for calling Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal a "terrorist". Earlier, speaking to ANI with reference to the statement in which he called Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal "Natawarlal" and a "terrorist", Verma said, "I called him Natwarlal because he misguides people. He has made allegations against leaders in the past and had to apologise for the same. So, he has a habit of telling lies." "And I called him a Naxal, not a terrorist. I called him so because he is misguiding people and those who are sitting at Shaheen Bagh. He says he is supporting those who are at Shaheen Bagh. So the Delhi Chief Minister is working in a similar way as that of the Naxals," the BJP MP said. "Terrorists also work like this, they misguide people. If you see those who are damaging public property in Delhi they are no less than terrorists," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) JERSEYVILLE In a unanimous vote Wednesday, the Jerseyville City Council voted to submit a written response to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to retain the current striping plan for U.S. 67 and not move forward with resurfacing from Fulkerson Drive to Crystal Lake Road. At a Jan. 23 public meeting, Jerseyville Public Works Director Bob Manns heard residents request to retain the current striping on the thoroughfare and make no changes until forced by IDOT. City Council Member Nick Bexheti echoed that sentiment Wednesday night. We need to continue to work together toward common goals, Bexheti said. As a business owner myself, I feel I can add a unique perspective to these situations. Other business owners on Wednesday night expressed satisfaction with the boards decision. Im glad that you guys are taking the view of us, said Chris Lorton of Chris Lorton Construction. Im glad that you saw it our way. Beth Bear, director of the Jersey County Business Association, said that while she is happy with the decision, this should not be the end of the conversation. Dont hang up your hats quite yet, because we are not quite done, she said, adding that all involved are working toward a better Jerseyville. Never once did I think that, in any disagreements that weve had with anyone, that the person on the other side of the isle wasnt seeking better this community. Also on Wednesday night, John Gajewski, the owner, building consultant and construction project manager of GB Building & Project Consultancy, LLC, offered a plan to save the Moose Lodge. On Jan. 14, the council voted to buy the lot where to lodge sits using $189,000 in tax increment financing (TIF) district funds. Gajewski has proposed demolition of only the right-hand side of the building, giving the city access to 12,000 square feet for about 35 parking spaces. The red brick building would continue to stand, he said, the city would purchase the lot for the same $189,000 and rehabilitates the building. Gajewski said he visited the building on Jan. 24 and found it to be structurally sound and bone dry. I dont see an eyesore, he said. I see the huge potential and I can look past the cosmetics. Having children of my own here, children need more to do in Jerseyville. Gajewski moved to Jerseyville in 2017 from London where he worked for about 12 years as director of BNP Paribas Real Estate. He is now a lecturer at Washington University in St. Louis and the Economic Vitality Committee Chair for Alton Main Street. Gajewski hopes the council will address his proposal at its next meeting. A conservation group announced Monday that its preparing to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to enforce the Clean Water Act relating to pollution limits for the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation announced it is preparing a notice of intent to sue the EPA, saying the agency has failed to take action for what the foundation is describing as an inadequate pollution reduction plan from Pennsylvania. That EPA is abdicating its responsibility under the Clean Water Act is a tragedy, said Will Baker, the president of the foundation. Failing to hold Pennsylvania accountable undermines the success we have seen in recent years. It is snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. The foundation says Pennsylvanias proposal to reduce nitrogen pollution between now and a 2025 deadline has a funding shortfall of more than $300 million annually and the plan still falls 25% short of the nitrogen goal. Corry Schiermeyer, an EPA spokesman, said the agency remains committed to restoring the bay. EPAs authorities for restoring the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay come from the Clean Water Act. These authorities have not changed we have used them historically, including in the past three years and will continue to do so, Schiermeyer said in a statement. EPA, with the partnership, is committed to having all programs and practices in place by 2025 to restore the Bay. The foundation is highlighting comments made by Dana Aunkst, the director of the EPAs Chesapeake Bay Program, for saying recently that the goals were aspirational and not legally enforceable. We are currently in discussion with a range of potential partners concerning the legal strategies we can use to force EPA to comply with the law, said Jon Mueller, CBFs vice president for litigation. CBF points out that the group sued the EPA in 2009 for failing to enforce the Clean Water Act in the Chesapeake Bay region, prompting a yearlong negotiation between the group and the EPA. That resulted in the EPA developing a limit on the amount of pollution the bay can withstand and remain healthy, and CBF agreed to drop the lawsuit. The Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint was created with the goal of having programs in place by 2025 to restore the bay. States in the bays watershed, the District of Columbia and the EPA endorsed the pollution reductions, and each jurisdiction pledged to reduce its share of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution, the foundation noted in its announcement Monday. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Pollution Pennsylvania Myanmar university students protest a decision by the government to extend the academic year, during a speech by Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi at an education sector workshop in Naypyidaw, Jan. 28, 2020. UPDATED at 12:26 P.M. ET on 2020-01-30 Myanmar university students staged a rare protest during a speech by the countrys de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi at an education sector event in the capital Naypyidaw on Tuesday, criticizing the civilian-led governments decision in December to extend the academic year at all basic education schools by one month. The Department of Myanmar Examinations announced on Dec. 20 that it was lengthening the school year through March 31 beginning with the 2019-2020 academic year. Basic education schools previously had started their academic years in June and ended them in February. Aung San Suu Kyi was giving the opening speech at an education sector development workshop at the Myanmar Convention Center when students from the Yangon University Union, Sagaing University Student Union, and Educational College Union stood up with signs objecting to the Ministry of Educations extension of the school year to March. Other students demonstrated in a hallway outside the room where the state counselor was speaking. They also blasted a decision by the ministry to cut in half the current 10-day classes for students enrolled in distance-learning courses. Students from Mandalays Yadanabon University protested against the move in October, saying it would create additional expenses and hassle by requiring them to be physically present on campus for on-site classes two different times before taking their exams beginning with the 2020 school year, the Myanmar Times reported. As of now, distance-learning students must attend school for 10 consecutive days before sitting for exams. Those inside the room at Tuesdays event held up signs saying, We dont want a non-research based education system, Will extending the academic year to March improve the economy? Respond to the demands of boycotted students from Mandalay University, and Dont procrastinate in revealing the truth. Aung San Suu Kyi chided the students, telling them during her speech that the protest was unacceptable and that they were exploiting the event to promote their personal interests or the interests of a particular organization, but did not cite any by name. To those who are staging the protest and holding posters, I dont have time to argue with you, she said. I cannot see any of your posters from here. It is not working. Please dont use this ceremony to promote your personal causes or those of an organization. This is totally unacceptable. The state counselor also told the students to use proper mechanisms to raise their grievances. If you want to complain about your issue, we have the mechanisms and formats to do that, she said. You can openly submit your views by identifying who you are, but please dont misuse the ceremony like this. Ignorant about our issues In many townships across the country, teachers and other Education Ministry employees have staged the protests over the governments extension of the academic year for basic education students, with changes to the final exam periods for grades five, nine and 11 beginning in the current 2019-2020 academic year. The Myanmar Teachers Federation issued an announcement on Jan. 5 contending that extending the academic year would cause hardships for teachers, students, and parents, without improving the quality of education. Opponents argue that children in rural areas are needed to provide an extra hand on family farms by March. Tin Maung Win, deputy director general of ministrys Basic Education Department, had met with protesting university students to hear them out. The students requested a meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi, but they were turned down. Education Ministry spokesman Ko Lay Win told RFA that the protest in Naypidaw on Tuesday was a horrible act and said that the ministry had no plan to take action against the protesers, but would do so if they continued to demonstrate. Aung Pyae Sone Phyo, secretary of the student union at Yangon University of Education, said high school and college students from across Myanmar are rallying to show their disagreement with the measure and with what they say is the governments procrastination in resolving issues raised by boycotting students at Mandalay University. Mandalay University students were up in arms in September, accusing their rector of not following the governments tender rules for the awarding of a new campus food court contract. They formed a protest camp on campus after the Education Ministry said it would set up a special committee to investigate the rector. We are raising awareness among the leaders since they are often ignorant about our issues, Aung Pyae Sone Phyo told RFA. We have assumed that our demands never reached them since they never responded. Students also have complaints about the Ministry of Education, which they claim is mismanaged, he said. They [ministry officials] made an important policy change without listening to the voices of participants of all levels, he said. It will proceed Win Maw Tun, Myanmar's deputy education minister, said the decision to lengthen the academic year was done to bring it into line with international standards that call for a 10-month school year, and that the government would not change its decision. The plan for extending the academic year has already gotten underway, he said. It will proceed whether they like it or not. Zar Zar Aung, a primary school teacher from Loikaw township in eastern Myanmars Kayah state who attended the workshop in Naypyidaw, said he was not pleased with the ministrys move. To be frank, Im not happy with the decision, he told RFA. In my part of the country, students stop going to school during that season since they have to tend to their families farms. But Thi Thi Aung, a high school teacher from Myeik township in southern Myanmars Tanintharyi region said she believes the change is good. I think the change is constructive, she said. I dont think there are any parents who dont like the new change. They would prefer to see their children in school. Otherwise, some children would be unruly and disorderly. Aung San Suu Kyi said that the government is not able to spend as much money on the education sector as it would like because of the demands of development for the struggling Southeast Asian country, although it has increased the education budget annually. Reported by Thiha Tun for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. An Indiana Senate committee approved a bill Jan. 28 that would give the attorney general power to take over cases that county prosecutors choose to not prosecute. Though Sen. Michael Young (R-Indianapolis), the bills author and chair of the committee, said along with other Republicans that the bill was not a specific rebuttal of Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears recent decision to not prosecute simple marijuana possession, much of the discussion about the bill centered on Mears. Young said it was an example of a social justice prosecutor deciding which laws to follow. Opponents of the bill said it infringes upon prosecutorial discretion and that prosecutors, who are elected, are held accountable by the people in their community. Mears replaced retired county prosecutor Terry Curry in September 2019 and was elected to the interim position by Democratic Party leaders. The seat is up for election in 2022. News In Brief Ukrzaliznytsia Supervisory Board accepts Chairman Kravtsov's resignation media 13:55, 29.01.20 3118 The relevant documents have been submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers. Iran will welcome any Indian peace initiative for de-escalating its tensions with US CIA officer Dark Prince a.k.a Ayatollah Mike behind Soleimani, Bin Laden attack killed in crash? India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 29: A top CIA official who led the hunt for Osama bin Laden is behind the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, the media in Iran is reporting. The media named Michael D Andrea as the man behind the drone attack. Andrea also goes by the name Dark Prince and Ayatollah Mike. The media further reported that the officer was onboard the US surveillance plane that crashed in Ghazni, Afghanistan on Monday. There is however no evidence to support this claim.It was the Taliban that first claimed the death of CIA officers in the crash. There is no clarity on the same but casualty figures have ranged from two to seven according to reports. Iran Quds Force chief killed in rocket attack at Baghdad airport Nirbhaya Case: Convict Akshay Kumar Singh files curative petition in SC | Oneindia News Iran's Tasnim news cited Russian sources to say that the man behind the killing of Soleimani was on the plane and was killed in the crash. D'Andrea led the man hunt for Bin Laden. He was named as the CIA head, Iran operations in 2017. The US has not confirmed the development. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, January 29, 2020, 8:37 [IST] We have two New Testament doctoral programs at Northern Seminary: Doctor of Ministry (DMin) and Doctor of Theological Ministry (DTM), the first requires an equivalent of a MDiv while the second requires only a masters degree. A new cohort for the DMin in New Testament Context is taking shape, and I could not be more excited about who is enrolling. There is no DMin degree quite like this one and we are learning that pastors want this kind of contextual shaping kind of study of the New Testament. Think about joining us we begin Sept 14-18, 2020. This will be our third iteration of a new and innovative Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program at Northern Seminary. Heres our announcement: The DMin in New Testament Context will give pastors the opportunity of a lifetime. In my speaking and conversations with pastors, preachers, and lay folks, one of the most illuminating features we have to bring to the church is clarifying the historical context of Jesus and the apostles. Time and time again flashes of insight come to Bible readers when they grasp a social custom at work, a religious controversy throbbing behind a question put to Jesus, or a historical memory that is shaping precisely what Jesus was teaching or the apostle Paul writing. Because this background or Jewish context is so important and at the same time much less accessible for pastors, the DMin in the New Testament Context will provide pastors with the opportunity to focus study on Jewish texts and this will enable them to shed light on pressing concerns in the church today. Dr. Scot McKnight I will be guiding this cohort with Nijay Gupta that provides a theological, practical, and academic framework for pastors and congregational leaders to think critically and faithfully about the context of the New Testament. Students will develop an ability to bring the Bible to life for the people in their ministries and help to create church cultures that learn to read the Bible better. The cohort is limited to highly motivated students. The first cohort is now entering into the thesis project stage and they have been an impressive, impressive group. Their cohort experience has been their highlight. Program Highlights Creates a renewed spirit and passion for the Churchs mission and vision Sharpens critical thinking through interaction with other students and contextual exegesis Easy monthly payment plans for tuition Content aimed developing a strong understanding of the New Testament context and an ability to communicate that effectively Practical application of theology, knowledge, and skills related to understanding the context of the New Testament Involvement in an action-reflection process designed to review character, ministry call, and direction A trip to Israel to study the context of the New Testament first-hand Cohort Details The third New Testament Context cohort will begin in September 2020. To be considered for admission, please complete the Doctor of Ministry application. Follow and complete all application instructions found on the DMin application. We will begin announcing admission decisions upon receipt of completed applications. This is a competitive program and special consideration is given to highly motivated, talented students who have a passion for Christs church and who want to make a difference in their current context. In addition, once admitted you must submit the standard $500 tuition fee deposit to reserve your place and join the cohort which begins in June. This deposit is applied to your first two monthly tuition payments. This tuition deposit is refundable only if you complete the entire application process and are denied admission. Your DMin application must be accompanied by the non-refundable application fee in order to be processed. A Note from McKnight I made a commitment some 20 years ago that I wanted to make the knowledge we have about Judaism more accessible to the church, and to do that we have to learn to translate those details and complicated discussions into language that not only can be understood but that matters for ordinary people living ordinary lives in ordinary churches. The DMin in the New Testament Context is designed to help pastors create church cultures that learn to read the Bible better. Writing accessible prose is therefore an important element for our courses. Pastors routinely tell me they dont have time to read all those Jewish sources, so we want to carve out time for pastors to progress in a degree that leads them into great Jewish texts that are behind our New Testament. The DMin in New Testament Context will give pastors the opportunity of a lifetime, time to investigate Jewish texts in order to enhance our perspective of the New Testament. In doing so, the DMin in the New Testament Context will give pastors texts and tools to do this for themselves and for their congregation and show their congregations how they can do it too! Courses (but not the order of courses) The NT and its World 1 The NT and its World 2 The NT and its World 3 Biblical, Historical and Theological Method Becoming Doctors of the Church Trip to Israel: Education Beyond the Books Thesis Design: A Seminar on a Topic Request Information To express your interest in the program and receive more information, please complete the information request form below. Or, to tentatively secure your place in the cohort, complete the same information request form and then submit your tuition deposit using the online payment method below the form. It is also recommended that you begin the application process right away. Priority is given to qualified applicants who apply early. Once the cohort is filled (17 students), additional applicants must wait until a new cohort is formed. Please Note: The program information request form is NOT the application for admission. Visit our admissions page for program application instructions. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 Trend: Despite that the 50th World Economic Forum was held on Jan. 24 in Davos, Switzerland, where international issues were discussed, it is still in the focus of attention of world politicians, economists and political scientists, Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party Ganja city organization, MP Nagif Hamzayev told Trend. The MP said that during more than 400 open and closed sessions of the Davos Economic Forum, more than 2,000 politicians, academics, businessmen, and representatives of non-governmental organizations discussed "Stakeholders in a cohesive and sustainable world." Like every year, Azerbaijan was highly represented at this important event, and President Ilham Aliyev's meetings with some of the world's most prominent politicians and heads of major transnational companies wrote a new page in the relationship between Azerbaijan and the World Economic Forum. He also noted that today Azerbaijan is one of the key factors in the global energy market. The forum, now considered a global platform, has a significant impact not only on the modern world economic policy, but also on international relations. The Davos Economic Forum has once again demonstrated that the world supports the visionary ideas of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the global energy market. At the World Economic Forum 5 years ago, the country's president took the initiative to unite and work together with the member countries of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and oil producers that are not members of OPEC. As a result of the joint efforts of the OPEC + coalition of OPEC and non-OPEC countries, the price of black gold today is around $ 55-60 / barrel. When the balance of supply and demand is disturbed, OPEC + countries, including Azerbaijan, react immediately. At the 50th Davos Forum, OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo stated that the foundations for cooperation in the OPEC + format were laid only at the invitation of the President of Azerbaijan, saying that this is the first time in history. Thanks to your leadership and your vision, we have done it, Barkindo added. We will never forget this, Mr. President. This is very important for us, and, as you mentioned, we have worked very closely with Azerbaijan over the past five years, and Azerbaijan adheres to all decisions made. The most noteworthy point is that the Davos Forum is not only a great platform for presenting the realities of Azerbaijan to the international community, but also to represent Azerbaijan as one of the fastest growing parts of the world economy, said Hamzayev. Undoubtedly, the basis of this is the transformation of Azerbaijan into a security island, thanks to the multi-vector policy of the head of state and great political will. A relative of a retired yoga teacher helplessly watched as an intruder broke into her home and killed her as the pair were talking on Skype. Maud Steenbeek, 61, was at her Heidelberg West home in Melbourne at about 8pm on Tuesday when she was alerted to the trespasser by the relative. As the man approached Ms Steenbeek from behind and launched his attack, the Skype connection cut out. Witnesses told Nine News a man was 'ranting about God' as he allegedly crossed the street to break into Ms Steenbeek's home. Neighbours said they heard screaming coming from the house before police arrived (at the scene) When the Skype connection cut out, the relative told Ms Steenbeek's son she was in 'grave danger' and rushed to the home to find her body on the floor, with the accused killer allegedly still inside. The victim's son then dragged the alleged attacker out of the home and on to the street before police arrived and took him into custody. Before police arrived neighbours heard loud screams coming from the property. A large red plastic sheet remains draped across the front door of the home where the elderly woman died A witness said a man had been running up and down the street earlier that night with a frantic look in his face. 'He seemed to be completely off his face,' the witness told The Herald Sun. 'We thought he was having an episode you know. Then he was running and we thought ''what the hell?''. 'He was trying to jump into trees. Then he was hiding under a car.' Police said Ms Steenbeek died at the scene. 'It is believed a man broke into a house before assaulting a female occupant inside,' Victoria Police said. On Thursday, detectives continued to walk up and down Liberty Parade and talk to neighbours as forensic police worked inside. A large red plastic sheet remains draped across the front door of the home where the elderly woman died. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Informal Georgian leader Bidzina Ivanishvili is a puppet of Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. Congressman Pete Olson said, when delivering a speech in Congress about the conflict between the Georgian government and Frontera Resources. "I have a question. What does Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street has in common with Republic of Georgias oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili? What they have in common? Answer they are both puppets who trash their own homes. Vladimir Putins puppet Bidzina Ivanishvili has attacked the investment in Georgia and crushed basic human rights," Georgia Online cited him as saying. The Congressman did not specify that oil production in Georgia annually amounts to about 200-250 thousand barrels, and in addition to Frontera Resources, there are seven more foreign companies from the UK, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Israel, Hong Kong and Singapore being engaged in exploration and oil production in the republic. Speaking about the American oil company Frontera Resources, the Congressman said that it has been creating jobs and freedom for years. "This was until the Georgian government took over all of its operations and equipment," he said, adding that now Vladimir Putin took control of Georgia's oil. He called on Congressmen to support the opposition protesters in Georgia. "It is time to wake up, because protesters in Georgia need our support. Join me to raise our voice in support of freedom in Georgia," Pete Olson concluded. Frontera entered Georgia in 1997 and founded Frontera Eastern Georgia. The government of Georgia and American company Frontera have sued each other for violating contract conditions, which are confidential. Frontera says that it has suffered $3.5 billion in damage in Georgia. Frontera Company has not paid salaries to Georgian employees for a year, 80 employees were dismissed. By Trend The issue of the return of Azerbaijani students from China is under state control, Azerbaijan's Deputy Education Minister Firudin Gurbanov told reporters, Trend reports. The ways of returning students studying in China are being considered, Gurbanov said. "Direct flights between China and Azerbaijan are temporarily suspended. Naturally, the rules introduced by the Chinese Government must be respected. The situation of the Azerbaijani students is in the spotlight of the Azerbaijani state," the deputy minister said. ALTON Murray the Groundhog, one of the regions favorite forecasters, will offer his outlook on spring at noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2, at the Alton Visitor Center, 200 Piasa St., Alton. Since Groundhog Day is also Super Bowl Sunday, Murray will try to pick the winner of the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers matchup. The event is free and open to the public. Emergency authorities have issued a warning to people taking Instagramable photos while firefighters battle what has been described as the worst bushfire in Australias Capital Territory since 2003. The ACT Emergency Service Agency tweeted a public service announcement on Wednesday calling for an end to disaster tourism. We know the fire makes for some insta-worthy content. Stopping on the side of the road creates an unnecessary risk to public safety, ACT ESA said. Please do not clog our roads to take your own pictures. Use these, offering up two photos taken by Gary Hooker from the ACT Rural Fire Service. CBR, we know the fire makes for some insta-worthy content. Stopping on the side of the road creates an unnecessary risk to public safety. Please do not clog our roads to take your own pictures. Use these. #StopDisasterTourism Gary Hooker, ACTRFS pic.twitter.com/vU7lboVwnq ACT ESA (@ACT_ESA) January 29, 2020 ACT ESAs Commissioner Georgeina Whelan called disaster tourism a disgrace, warning people that visiting fire areas could affect firefighting and evacuation efforts. It's kind of amazing and also very depressing that you have had to make this announcement, a social media user replied to the ESA on Twitter. A total fire ban was declared in the ACT on Wednesday, as well as a state of alert. On Wednesday afternoon, the 10,000-hectare fire burning in Canberra was downgraded to advice level after burning at an emergency level the night before. The ESA has warned people in the area may be affected by the smoke, which in addition to reducing air quality, could reduce visibility in the area. Authorities said the blaze is the most serious bushfire Canberra has faced since the deadly 2003 bushfires, which destroyed almost 500 homes and led to four deaths. Story continues ACT's emergency services are warning against disaster tourism, which could hinder evacuations and rescue efforts. Source: AAP It is believed the blaze was caused by a defence helicopter's landing light, which started and engulfed the aircraft within 12 seconds after it landed in Namadgi National Park while on reconnaissance. Ms Whelan warned the fire could burn out of control for days, if not weeks. - with AAP Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. Max Leiva Named as New Chief Information Officer MIAMI, Jan. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- International Money Express, Inc. (IMXI), a leading money remittance services company focused primarily on the Latin America and Caribbean corridor, today announced that Max Leiva has joined the company as its Chief Information Officer, reporting directly to Intermex COO Joseph Aguilar. Mr. Leiva joins the firm from SES, the worlds leading Satellite Company, where he was focused on building innovative digital Satellite solutions to create revenue growth in the U.S. and Latin American regions. We are thrilled to have Max join the team and look forward to him developing solutions that provide excellent customer and agent experiences, said Intermex CEO Bob Lisy. Intermex COO Joseph Aguilar added, Max brings a track record of success in both infrastructure technology, as well as customer and agent-facing UI. These skills and experiences are perfectly suited to help us achieve our goals in the years ahead. Mr. Leiva comes to Intermex with more than 30 years experience in the Technology sector. Prior to his time at SES, Mr. Leiva was the Americas CIO for Brightstar, a Softbank company, where he introduced digital platforms to service new business with its customers Apple and Sprint. Prior to joining Brightstar, Mr. Leiva held various roles at Millicom International Cellular (Tigo), most recently as the Global CTO where he focused on building mobile and fixed networks and software applications for servicing new business in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Mr. Leiva received his Bachelors of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech, and his MBA from Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. About International Money Express, Inc. At International Money Express, Inc. (IMXI), the customer is at the center of everything we do. We use proprietary technology that enables consumers to send money primarily from the United States to 17 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Mexico and Guatemala, and four countries in Africa. We offer the electronic movement of money to our customers through our network of sending and paying agents and company-operated stores located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Our services are also available digitally through intermexonline.com. We were founded in 1994 and are headquartered in Miami, Florida with offices in Puebla, Mexico, and Guatemala City, Guatemala. Story continues Safe Harbor Compliance Statement for Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as required by law. These statements are based on managements current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, many of which are beyond the Companys control. The Company can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Actual results may differ materially from historical results or those anticipated or predicted by the Companys forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties identified in the Companys periodic filings filed with the SEC, including the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and the Companys Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended June 30,2019 and September 30, 2019. NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 2020 Louisiana Energy Conference will be held in New Orleans on Tuesday afternoon May 26 through Friday, May 29, 2020 at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans at 921 Canal Street. The Conference will feature a series of approximately 20 panels and presentations May 27 - 28 that will discuss key domestic and international oil and natural gas industry topics. Executives from a variety of leading public and private exploration and production (E&P) and oil field services companies as well as representatives from energy-related private equity firms, industry trade groups, regulatory agencies, investment banks, institutional research groups, industry advisory firms, insurance, and law firms will participate in the panel discussions and presentations. Attendance at the Conference qualifies for continuing education credits for Certified Public Accountants and Chartered Financial Analysts. Al Petrie, Senior Partner of Al Petrie Advisors commented, We experienced record attendance in 2019 and look forward to presenting another great lineup of panels and topics for 2020. In addition to our annual panels on US and international onshore and offshore E&P and oil services, we are adding a number of new panels including renewables, ESG and globalization of stock market trading. Visit our recently redesigned website, www.LouisianaEnergyConference.com for additional details and continually updated Conference information. The Conference will again host several field trips on Friday, May 29 to both offshore Gulf of Mexico and onshore south Louisiana facilities, which currently include a crew boat visit to an offshore platform and an onshore airboat trip to view marshland production facilities. Additional new field trips are being finalized. Several networking events are planned for 2020. The Conference will begin at 4 pm on Tuesday afternoon May 26 at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans with a keynote speaker from Platinum Sponsor, J.P. Morgan who will discuss global energy matters, followed by a welcoming reception hosted by J.P. Morgan. On Wednesday, May 27 from 6:00 to 8:30 pm, the Conference will host its annual premier networking event at a new and exciting venue to be announced soon. There will also be a Thursday evening May 28 post-closing, pre-field trip event from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm hosted by Platinum Sponsor Jones Walker at a venue to be announced. Attendance at the Conference is directed to investment professionals including buy side and sell side analysts and portfolio managers, as well as private equity and wealth management executives and trust officers. In addition, all public and private energy company management and advisors to the industry are welcome to attend. There is no cost for investment professionals to attend the Conference. The cost for all other attendees is $395 for the four-day event. Confirmed investment professional attendees will be offered the opportunity to register for one-on-one meetings with companies participating on the panels. Over 80 exploration and production (E&P) companies, oil field service companies and other panelist firms are expected to take part in the Conference. The Conference is being hosted by Al Petrie Advisors. For additional information on attendance and sponsorship opportunities, please call (504) 799-1953 or email info@LouisianaEnergyConference.com. The Conference web site www.LouisianaEnergyConference.com provides additional details on the event and will be updated over the coming months with additional information on the agenda and participating companies. Registration is now open through the web site as well as the ability to reserve rooms online at our special rate of $199 per night at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans through May 12, 2020. Contact: Al Petrie (504) 799-1953 When residents of Pulicat, a historic seashore town near here, were thinking of ways to register their protest against the proposed expansion of Adani Kattupalli port and another project by Ennore Kamarajar Port, they hit up on a novel idea. They thought what better way to bring much-needed attention of the people than cooking traditional dishes made out of fish, prawn and crab which are integral parts of Pulicats ecosystem. The catch from Pulicat has good demand due to its wetlands and non-polluted environment and is quite popular in Chennai and elsewhere. For three days from Friday, traditional fares that the families in Pulicat served to their guests for years together will also treat the taste buds of seafood lovers in the city. Sea Salt a restaurant that focusses on sustainable fishing will host a three-day Pulicat Seafood Festival that will feature in-season fish, shrimp and crabs caught by artisanal fish from the lagoon and the seas off Kattupalli island. Though the food at the restaurant will be made by the chefs, a special training session was conducted by the womenfolk of Pulicat, where every household has a different way of cooking. 36-year-old Rajalakshmi, who is an expert in the preparation of Meen Kuzhambu (Fish Gravy), said any port within the vicinity of Pulicat will spoil the ecosystem. The area is ecologically rich and the fish, prawns, and crabs that are available here are rich in taste. If the port comes here, we will lose all the rich taste because we fear the ecology will be disturbed. So, we decided to showcase all the sea fare to highlight our protest, Rajalakshmi told DH. Some of the traditional dishes like Pazhaverkadu era biryani (Pulicat Prawn Biryani), crab dishes, Era (Prawn) vadai, and Oodan Mitta (a mild tasting coconut milk-based recipe refined in local Muslim homes) will be featured in the festival. And the participants will also be in for a musical treat by the likes of T M Krishna and Vidhya Raghavan. The experience of learning from the womenfolk of Pulicat was mind-boggling. It was kind of a community cooking and every household has a different way of cooking the same dishes. And there are signature dishes from different communities that live in Pulicat together for years, Harish Rao of the restaurant that will host the festival told DH. Our restaurant focusses on sustainable fishing and we thought it was fitting to host the people from Pulicat. We have even documented the cooking process and will refer to it if there is any doubt. We will ensure the authenticity and at the same time try to improvise the dishes as well, Rao said. Activist Nityanand Jayaraman said Pulicat will face serious threats from the proposed expansion of the Adani Katupalli port and Ennore Kamarajar Ports Coastal Employment Unit. The ecosystem in Pulicat is already fragile and the fishermen have been protecting it for long. If the projects come here it would not just spoil the ecosystem but ruin their lives, he said. Delhi Congress candidate from Ballimaran Haroon Yusuf on Wednesday alleged that AAP national convenor and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal supported the RSS ideology and "ignored" for vote-bank those injured in violence during the anti-citizenship law protests. He also said the Congress will respond to BJP's "vicious model of politics" at the right time. "Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is basically a supporter of the ideology of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and people know it now," Yusuf told PTI in an interview. "He did not even bother to visit the students injured during protests. Even if an enemy gets injured, it's moral responsibility of a person holding a constitutional post to go and visit him," said Yusuf. Asked about BJP leader Anurag Thakur's objectionable remarks at an election rally in Delhi, the 61-year-old said he has never come across "such vicious model of politics" in his political career. "Some elements are trying to scare people. We will respond at the right time," said Yusuf, who is pitted against AAP candidate and sitting MLA Imran Hussain and BJP's Lata Sodhi in Ballimaran. The five-time MLA from the constituency also said if the Congress is vote to power in Delhi, it will bring in a resolution against the amended citizenship law, like the other party-ruled states. He said the protest against the law and the National Register of Citizens was not just to "protect Muslims" but every poor Indian who could face trouble due to these measures. Asked why senior Congress leaders such as Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were yet to campaign for party candidates, Yusuf said, "Many senior leaders like Raj Babbar are campaigning... The BJP has deployed all its senior leaders because they are scared and frustrated." On the allegation that Congress practices "dynasty politics" and is fielding family members of prominent party leaders in this election, he said, "If a son of doctor wants to become a doctor, is it against the Constitution. There are several such examples in the BJP too." "It is up to the public, they can elect or reject the candidate (who comes form a political family). That's the beauty of democracy," Yusuf said. "The (Congress) party has a history of sacrifice. Two prime ministers from the Congress died in the line of duty. The Gandhi family is a magnet that keeps the people united. Crores of people associate themselves with the Congress because the party doesn't differentiate between them," he said. On the delay in the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, he said the culprits should be punished soon. He said if the Congress forms government in Delhi, it won't give speeches and talk about "commandos", but work on the ground to make Delhi safe for women. To ensure safety of women travelling in DTC buses, the Kejriwal government has deployed around 16,000 marshals in buses. On extreme levels of pollution in Delhi, the Congress candidate said the AAP government fought the problem only through newspaper advertisements and "according to a doctor at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, those who have suffered heart attack even once should leave Delhi without thinking about it". Delhi Congress president Subhash Chopra has claimed that around 65,000 people have died in the national capital in the last six years due to pollution-related health problems. The Kejriwal government gave priority to speeches and announcements and ignored the need to strengthen the public transport system, Yusuf alleged. He also claimed the AAP government's free water and electricity schemes were an eyewash and people complain of receiving hefty bills. The Kejriwal dispensation has been providing 20,000 litres of water and 200 units of power free to all households -- key poll promises made in the AAP manifesto in 2015. To level with AAP, Congress has also announced relief on electricity consumption of up to 600 units and 20,000 litres of water free along with 30 paise as cashback on each litre of water saved. On Kejriwal's announcement that the party will make Delhi as beautiful as London and Paris if voted to power for another five years, Yusuf said, "He can make London and Paris like Delhi." "On Wednesday, I and my party colleagues had to campaign in Amarpuri on a road buried four-inch deep in the muck. Is this the development the Kejriwal government boasts of," he asked. Yusuf alleged the AAP government did not pay attention to developing education infrastructure in Ballimaran and "school buildings are in such bad shape that parents are afraid of sending their kids to classes". Asked who in the Congress can challenge Kejriwal, he said, "Every leader in our party has the capability do so. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MANILA, Philippines The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Wednesday said it will implement stricter monitoring on the entry of imported used clothing and food products amid the rapid spread of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in China and other countries. Under Philippine laws, the importation of secondhand clothing, locally known as ukay-ukay, is prohibited while the importation of food products should be accompanied with necessary documents from concerned government agencies like the Department of Agriculture. Right now, were very high on alert on used clothing, May premium ang ukay-ukay kasi. Thats one of the easiest ways na puwede mo ma-transmit yung sakit na yan, BOC Assistant Commissioner Vincent Maronilla said in a press briefing at the Malacanang. Were now looking at critical items na puwede mag-carry ng virus na ito. It doesnt hurt that we be vigilant about them kasi illegal naman talaga ang pagpaparating ng ukay-ulay. Hinuhuli naman naming regularly yan pero ngayon on heightened alert kami, he added. Chinese health authorities reported that the emerging virus can spread from animal to person, and through human-to-human transmission. Chinas National Health Commission on Wednesday reported that the number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases has reached 5,974 as the death toll rose to 132. Maronilla said they are now coordinating with the Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture to prevent the entry into the country of imported materials, such as animal products, that may carry the deadly virus. There could be a slowdown in the imports coming from China because these countries now like the US and the others are thinking of not just flight ban of tourist coming in but we dont know yet how this virus is being carried, he said. And if it can be carried in items that are going to be imported. very simple items. Then I think yung priority namin is yung safety ng mga kababayan natin other than yung makokolekta naming buwis, he added. RRD (with details from Correspondent Rosalie Coz) The post BOC to impose stricter monitoring vs. ukay-ukay, food imports amid 2019-nCov fears appeared first on UNTV News. Parasite Director - Bong Joon-ho Cast - Song Kang-ho, Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam, Chang Hyae-jin, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Lee Jung-eun Depending on how you perceive the world, Bong Joon-hos grand validation by the West can either be appreciated as a long-overdue acknowledgement of his formidable filmography, or it can be dismissed as yet another sign of the Oscars irrelevance in identifying true legends. I find myself somewhere in between. Shall I let the pomp and pageantry of the Academy Awards convince me that my respect for Bong has in some way been inadequate for all these years, or should I simply ignore the attention hes getting all of a sudden, convinced that America is simply late to the party? Watch the Parasite trailer here Director Bong, as hes affectionately (and reverentially) addressed by his cast and crew, has made four bona fide classics in his career; each of them of a different genre. His 2003 monster movie, The Host, was seen as an admonishment of American arrogance; in Okja, he skewered the food industry like a spicy tikka; and in Snowpiercer, his finest film, Director Bong confronted the notion of God. But unlike his contemporaries, Park Chan-wook or Kim Ki-duk, Bong has largely operated in genre cinema, bringing his instantly recognisable idiosyncrasies shocking tonal shifts, razor-sharp satire and delightfully dark humour to subjects that other directors would typically address with solemnity. The genre-fluid Parasite is like a greatest hits record -- cool, clinical, and incisive. It is an outlet for him to address all of his anxieties as a filmmaker, but also as a citizen of the modern world. The theme of capitalism is once again brought up as Bong pits the rich Park family against the poor Kim clan, peppering the film with references to Native Americans and building towards an operatic crescendo in which class warfare takes on the form of a literal battle. After previously tackling climate change in Snowpiercer, Bong once again highlights the importance of the crisis, by shedding light on how it affects the rich and the poor differently. While the Park family is only slightly inconvenienced by a torrential downpour, the Kims entire existence is threatened when the same downpour floods their subterranean home. Sometimes, Bong makes his points rather bluntly, like the scene in which the patriarch of the Kim family, Ki-taek (Song Kang-ho), is barely able to hide his anger when the matriarch of the Park family, Yeon-gyo (Cho Yeo-jeong), says that the rains have cleared the skies. Mere hours ago, his home was submerged; Yeon-gyos apathy towards Ki-taeks plight is more insulting to him than when she scrunches up her nose at his poor person smell. The scene takes place inside a car, which reminded me of a similar moment in Zoya Akhtars Gully Boy, in which Ranveer Singhs Murad is reminded of the metaphorical distance between himself and the rich woman hes driving, despite their physical proximity to each other. Ki-taek works as a chauffeur for the Parks, after having successfully infiltrated the wealthy family with his wife and kids. Both clans rely upon the other; while the Parks wouldnt be able to function without the invisible services provided by the Kims, the Kims depend on the Parks money to survive. There are no heroes or villains in the film; everyones a parasite. Bong relies on his craft to make confrontational statements about class his use of staircases as a visual metaphor for social mobility is remarkable. Such is the regularity with which he cuts to a character either climbing or descending stairs, that Parasite begins to resemble a sort of cinematic Ludo. The Parks magnificent bungalow is accessed after a steady uphill climb, while the Kims literally live underneath the rich and the powerful; bereft of not only wealth and opportunities, but also sunlight. The Parks home, wonderfully constructed by Bongs production designer, Lee Ha-jun, has several internal staircases, perhaps suggesting that even within certain socioeconomic groups, maintaining ones position is an equally cutthroat business. The film is shot like a thriller, and despite his typical tonal transitions, Bong alternately conjures action sequences out of mundane domesticity, and transforms verbal exchanges into elaborate psychological con-games. For one scene, involving a kitchen table and near-silence, Bong seems to have exhumed the corpse of Alfred Hitchcock and drained it of every last ounce of inspiration. Also read: Roma movie review: Alfonso Cuaron has made one of the best films of the decade; a cinematic game-changer. 5 stars In Parasite, Bong doesnt appear to be expressing empathy for the poor, like, say, Alfonso Cuaron did in Roma. Nor does he seem to be pointing fingers at the rich. He is, instead, questioning the very nature of mankind; its self-centred ingratitude and its propensity to create divisions and to resort to violence. I have now seen Parasite twice. A third viewing has, in the meantime, been scheduled. But even a dozen repeat viewings would be inadequate to unravel its many (hidden) layers. Its the best film of 2019, by far an almost religious experience, deserving of a pilgrimage to the theatre. Follow @htshowbiz for more The author tweets @RohanNaahar US President Donald Trumps unveiling of the Middle East peace plan to resolve Israel-Palestine conflict has failed to impress the Arab League as its Secretary-General reportedly said that the first reading indicated a great waste of legitimate rights of Palestinians. Ahmed Abul Gheit added that the Arab league is studying the American vision carefully and open to any serious effort to achieve peace. As per the proposed peace plan, the sovereignty of Israel over important settlement blocs in the West Bank will be acknowledged and the State of Palestine be created with its capital in east Jerusalem. Calling it a historic breakthrough and win-win opportunity for both sides, Trump said that Israel authorised the release of a conceptual map for the first time. We will form a joint committee with Israel to convert the conceptual map into a more detailed and calibrated rendering so that recognition can be immediately achieved, said Trump in the joint statement. We will also work to create a contiguous territory within the future Palestinian State for when the conditions for statehood are met, including the firm rejection of terrorism, he added. Read: India Asks Israel, Palestine To Resolve All Issues Through Direct Negotiations US policy on Israel Trump administration has been aggressive about his foreign policy towards Israel by taking decisions against Palestinian interests. Recently, the US announced a reversal of its decades-long policy on Israeli settlements in the West Bank, calling the occupation not necessarily a violation of international law. Read: Israeli Cabinet Postpones Vote On West Bank Annexation It was the second jolt to Palestinian quest for statehood after the Trump administration had decided to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital and move its embassy from Tel Aviv to the holy city. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo informed that the US no longer agrees with the 1978 State Department legal opinion that held the occupied territories inconsistent with international law. Meanwhile, India has been firm on the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and called upon both parties to resolve issues through direct negotiations. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar urged the parties to engage with each other and find an acceptable two-state solution for peaceful coexistence. Read: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu To Push West Bank Annexation Plan On Sunday Read: Donald Trump Unveils Middle East Peace Plan Alongside Israeli PM Netanyahu (With inputs from agencies) Melinda Gates investment company putting $50 million into Chicago, two other cities to boost women in tech: The initiative, called Gender Equality in Tech Cities, will work to increase the percentage of women graduating and working in computing-related fields, and boost the share of venture capital funding going to Chicago companies that have at least one founder who is a woman, the Tribunes Ally Marotti writes. Women make up just 22% of tech workers in Chicago. Click here to read the rest of the story. China's State Grid Corporation secures power use in battle against novel coronavirus People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 12:13, January 28, 2020 BEIJING, Jan. 27 -- State Grid Corporation of China, the power supplier of over 1.1 billion people in China, has vowed to secure power use to combat the viral pneumonia outbreak. The company said in a statement Monday it will advance the construction of power supply facilities at 17 new or reconstructed hospitals, investigate hidden troubles of power facilities at 114 designated medical institutions and 554 fever clinics in Hubei Province. Efforts will also be made to guarantee the power use of hotels accommodating medical workers, as well as key enterprises researching and developing medicines as well as producing, purchasing and selling medical equipment, the company said. The firm also aims at securing civil power use, promising not to cut off electricity supply to households due to arrears during the period of epidemic prevention and control. The company donated 50 million yuan (about 7.26 million U.S. dollars) in cash to Hubei Province as well as assets worth 60.28 million yuan for power facility construction at two makeshift hospitals in Wuhan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Delhi, Jan 29 : Shareholders of InterGlobe Aviation, the firm which runs the airline IndiGo, on Wednesday, rejected a proposed resolution to amend the company's Articles of Association (AoA). According to the company, the shareholders voted against the proposed resolution at an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting (EGM) which was called on the request of Rakesh Gangwal, and The Chinkerpoo Family Trust (RG group). At present, the RG Group comprises of Rakesh Gangwal, Shobha Gangwal and the Chinkerpoo Family Trust, which collectively holds 36.64 per cent of the paid-up share capital of the company. The company, in a regulatory filing, said that the "special Resolution for Amendments to the Articles of Association of the Company" has not been passed as the votes cast in favour of the resolution were 48.5584 per cent against 51.4416 per cent votes cast against the resolution. The EGM had been called to consider the proposed resolution to amend articles "1.6 to 1.15, 1.16 to 1.20 and 2A from the company's Articles of Association". These articles deal with aspects such as transfer of equity shares, acquisition of shares and other provisions on equity shares. Other proposals include the provisions of "Section 14 and other applicable provisions, if any, of the Companies Act, 2013; Securities and Exchange Board of India Regulations, 2015...." The shareholders' agreement dated April 23, 2015 was entered amongst the company, the RG group and Rahul Bhatia-owned IGE group. It was amended on September 17, 2015. Amsterdam, January 29, 2020 - Arcadis (EURONEXT: ARCAD), the leading global Design & Consultancy organization for natural and built assets, today announces that it has launched a new global digital business that will help secure its position as the leading provider of data-driven products and solutions across the natural and built environment. The launch of Arcadis Gen is Arcadis' latest move towards becoming a fully digitally enabled business. Operating as a separate legal entity, Arcadis Gen will be led by Chief Executive, Rachel White. With 200 employees based across the globe, it brings together recent acquisitions SEAMS and EAMS Group with software development specialists from the Arcadis business. The new entity is being created to further accelerate Arcadis' industry-leading digital transformation. While Arcadis continues to progress its innovation and digital strategy across its core operations, Arcadis Gen will be focused on the rapid development of various scalable digital propositions. Arcadis Gen's current solutions are designed to improve performance and optimize decision-making for its customers, helping them maximize the value of their data. The unique blend of its deep asset knowledge, combined with advanced analytics capabilities helps customers improve reliability, performance, efficiency and safety across their operations. Solutions include Enterprise Asset Management, Asset Investment Planning and Asset Performance Management - which can be used from the very earliest stages of strategic planning through to operational delivery. The new digital business will set Arcadis apart from the competition by creating an environment for next generation thinking - where a culture of agility and innovation inspires development of world-class software and customer experiences. "We're doing something the industry hasn't seen before" says Rachel White,CEO of Arcadis Gen, "we're launching a products and technology organization; bringing together some of Arcadis's brightest digital minds in an environment for thinking differently. At Arcadis Gen, our agile teams will be empowered to bring next generation insights to customers, to explore bold new business models, and to innovate digital solutions quickly and seamlessly." "Arcadis Gen is a vital step in Arcadis' digital transformation. Together, we will positively disrupt the industry and help our clients harness the power of data to transform their businesses and improve quality of life for their customers," said Peter Oosterveer, Arcadis CEO. -End- Improving quality of life FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: ARCADIS CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS Monika Grabek Mobile: +31 6 27061880 E-mail: monika.grabek@arcadis.com ARCADIS INVESTOR RELATIONS Jurgen Pullens Mobile: +31 6 51599483 E-mail: jurgen.pullens@arcadis.com ABOUT ARCADIS Arcadis is the leading global Design & Consultancy organization for natural and built assets. Applying our deep market sector insights and collective design, consultancy, engineering, project and management services we work in partnership with our clients to deliver exceptional and sustainable outcomes throughout the lifecycle of their natural and built assets. We are 27,000 people, active in over 70 countries that generate 3.3 billion in revenues. We support UN-Habitat with knowledge and expertise to improve the quality of life in rapidly growing cities around the world. www.arcadis.com Attachment KABUL, Afghanistan Over the past couple of months, as American and Taliban negotiators have resumed talks to try to complete a peace deal, an unusual calm has settled over major Afghan cities. Deadly terrorism attacks, once frequent, have suddenly dropped in urban centers. But a series of bloody assaults in the countryside suggests that the calm in the cities could be misleading. The war continues to kill dozens daily. And the patterns of violence in recent months have been tied closely to how negotiations between the United States and the Taliban, held in the Gulf state of Qatar, have played out. With talks now seeming to bog down, some diplomats and political leaders fear that violence could grow deadlier even if much of it plays out in the countryside, away from the headlines. The sticking point in the negotiations: What reduction in violence is needed to move the peace process forward? The negotiators ultimate goal is the gradual withdrawal of American troops, and the establishment of talks between the Taliban and other Afghans over power-sharing. A 22-year-old woman was charged Tuesday with involuntary manslaughter and child abuse in the September 2019 death of a 14-month-old girl. Grace Nellie Hunt was arraigned of the two felonies for the incident took place Sept. 13, 2019. Involuntary manslaughter is a 15-year/$7,500 felony. Child abuse in the second degree is a 10-year felony. Charges were filed earlier this month, said Isabella County Prosecutor David Barberi, but the decision to file charges was made last month. Hunt was notified that charges were pending to provide her an opportunity to surrender, he said, but they held off filing charges until after the holidays so witnesses would be available. Hunt is accused of failing to properly monitor the girl while she bathed in an apartment in CMUs Keewadin Village. The complex is located southwest of main campus and is used to house students with families, non-traditional students and graduate students. The girl was discovered underwater and not breathing in the tub and an emergency call was placed to Central Dispatch at approximately 8:50 p.m. Bystanders began to perform CPR on the child until CMU police officers took over after arriving. There is no evidence that Hunt was under the influence of drugs or alcohol while the child was in her care, Barberi said. But, his office felt that her negligence was high enough to warrant criminal charges, he added. They were assisted by emergency responders from the Mt. Pleasant Fire Department and Mobile Medical Rescue. The girl was taken to McLaren-Central Michigan, where she was pronounced dead. Hunt is scheduled for a preliminary exam on Feb. 13. If probable cause to think she is guilty is established, she will be bound over for trial at a date yet undetermined. The case was investigated by CMU Police, the Sparrow Medical Examiners Office and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. READ MORE: Child dead after being found in bathtub at Kewadin Apartment Complex Clare woman gets prison on meth charge; Harrison man convicted Deputy director to retire after 32 years with state police MP police arrest two at Meijer for retail fraud Troopers from MP post arrest Lakeview couple after brief chase McLaren Central Michigan to implement visitor restrictions due to influenza Flatiron Books, the publisher of American Dirt, said Wednesday that it was canceling the authors book tour because of safety concerns. In a statement, Bob Miller, Flatirons president and publisher, said, Based on specific threats to booksellers and the author, we believe there exists real peril to their safety. American Dirt, a novel by Jeanine Cummins about a Mexican woman and her son fleeing to the United States to escape cartel violence, came out last week and seemed poised to become one of the years biggest books. It made its debut at No. 1 on The New York Timess best-seller list for hardcover and for combined print and e-book fiction this week. But the book has also encountered a backlash, with Latinx writers and community members criticizing Cumminss depiction of the migrant experience and accusing her of appropriating it for profit. Miller acknowledged some of the criticism in his statement, saying that we made serious mistakes in the way we rolled out this book. He added: The discussion around this book has exposed deep inadequacies in how we at Flatiron Books address issues of representation, both in the books we publish and in the teams that work on them. Its unclear how many employees Aspen Dental plans to have in the new office, but by industry standards there will be enough space for 1,000 or more. The company did not respond to requests for comment. Alejandro Chafuen, Actons Managing Director, International, writes this morning in Forbes about the relationship between economic freedom and corruption. Transparency International released its 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index last week, and Chafuen correlates these results with countries rankings in the Heritage Foundations Index of Economic Freedom. As a general rule, greater economic freedom and lower corruption seem to go hand in hand. Although I was born and raised in a country where corruption, especially petty corruption, had become part of many aspects of life, I only began studying the issue more thoroughly when corruption measurements were published. The first of these was that of Transparency International, which released the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) in 1995. The annual index continues to be expanded and improved, and the 2019 ranking was released last week. It covers 180 countries and territories around the world. The launching of the first indices of corruption coincided with another first, the release of measurements of economic freedom. The Fraser Institute in Canada was the first to begin to study how to measure economic liberties. Soon after, the Heritage Foundation began to produce a competing index. Thanks in part to this healthy competition among think-tanks, both indices have improved in rigor and user-friendliness, and have led to the elaboration of other indices and countless studies. In 1997, Eugenio Guzman, then a recent graduate of the London School of Economics and today the dean of the school of government at the Universidad del Desarrollo in Chile, and I conducted the first study correlating economic freedom with corruption data from Transparency International. CPI 2020 and Heritage Index Average Clean Freedom The study, which shows that there is a strong and significant correlation between higher economic-freedom scores and lower corruption scores, was preceded by an analysis of the theories and studies of corruption which had been conducted until then. Since that first effort in 1997, I have conducted studies and correlated the data on a regular basis, and the basic conclusion and insights remain the same: Economic freedom is a major deterrent to corruption. The 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index and the 2019 Heritage Index of Economic Freedom are no exception. As the chart shows, more economically free countries are also less corrupt. The opposite also holds: countries with the most corrupt leaders and institutions show dismal scores in respect for economic freedom. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar with Rose Katherine Kennedy Townsend, grand niece of the late president John F Kennedy, at the opening of Irelands longest bridge, in New Ross, Co Wexford (Brian Lawless/PA) The family of John F Kennedy said they were honoured after Irelands longest bridge was named after the former US presidents mother. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Rose Katherine Kennedy Townsend grand niece of the late president officially opened the N25 New Ross bypass which includes the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge spanning the River Barrow. It is expected to shave up to 30 minutes off peak journey times between Cork and Rosslare. Expand Close Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the opening of Irelands longest bridge, in New Ross, Co Wexford (Brian Lawless/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the opening of Irelands longest bridge, in New Ross, Co Wexford (Brian Lawless/PA) Ms Kennedy Townsend, a great-granddaughter of Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, said she felt very grateful to be there. Its a wonderful occasion, its a wonderful tribute and I feel very lucky to be representing my entire very large, very global family who all wish that they could be here, she said. But I think that they are here in spirit and were all very grateful for this gorgeous bridge. Expand Close Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Rose Katherine Kennedy Townsend at the opening of Irelands longest bridge (Brian Lawless/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Rose Katherine Kennedy Townsend at the opening of Irelands longest bridge (Brian Lawless/PA) The complete project cost 230 million euro, and the bridge is set to open to traffic on Thursday. The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge stretches 887 metres across the River Barrow and joins Kilkenny with Wexford. Its name celebrates the Kennedy familys rich heritage in New Ross, as their ancestral home is located in nearby Dunganstown. The bridge is the longest in Ireland and its main span is the longest extradosed bridge span of its type (a complex cable-stayed structure) in the world. HENRY DEEDES Quarter past three on a Tuesday afternoon and Theresa May was pulling that face again. It's that one that creeps across her face as though accompanied by an unexpected clap of thunder. Her eyebrows twitch, her mouth droops downwards and from those eyes those cold, lapis lazuli eyes there comes a stare which I swear could turn bull elephants into hardened lumps of stone. The former Prime Minister was sat at her usual perch on the Government benches a couple of rows behind the dispatch box while shadow solicitor general Nick Thomas-Symonds dissected the Government's statement on its decision to give Huawei the go-ahead to build parts of our 5G network. Theresa May speaking in the House of Commons on security fears after the UK Government agreed to allow Huawei to take a role in developing UK 5G infrastructure Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured, left and right) as he makes a statement on the Government's 5G announcement, in the House of Commons on Tuesday Iain Duncan-Smith speaking in the House of Commons in Parliament today on security fears It was when Thomas-Symonds asked for reassurances over whether our communication channels used for intelligence sharing would be at-risk that she tilted back her head sharply, craned her jaw and let out a creamy little chuckle. 'My dear boy,' it seemed to say smugly. 'You really haven't the faintest idea, have you?' Mrs May, who agreed to give Huawei access to our 5G network when she was prime minister, is clearly relaxed about Chinese involvement with our infrastructure. But while she will have been briefed at the highest level on the matter, it is clear most MPs think the idea stinks. Worryingly for May's successor in No 10, many of them happen to be Conservatives. Senior ones, too. No sooner had Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab finished issuing the statement on behalf of the Government than up they all shot behind him like a row of tin ducks at a fairground game. Sir Iain Duncan Smith (Con, Chingford & Woodford Green) took on role of the pompous Field Marshal, announcing that he was 'deeply disappointed' at the decision to allow Huawei into our network. A wobbly voiced Penny Mordaunt thought it 'regrettable'. Disappointed? Regrettable? What a polite bunch. They were positively steaming. Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson listens to students during his visit to King's Maths School in central London on Monday Dominic Raab as he makes a statement on the Government's 5G announcement in Parliament today David Davis speaking in the House of Commons on security fears after the UK Government agreed to allow Huawei to take a role in developing UK 5G infrastructure Raab sat listening with his unblinking eyes staring straight ahead. For a Foreign Secretary, Raab is not particularly reassuring. He seethes rather than soothes. At one point, when Bob Seely (Con, Isle of Wight) launched into one of his weighty objections to Huawei, I noticed a little vein on Dom's head begin to throb with irritation. Not even David Davis, whom Raab worked for during his early Parliamentary career, was feeling supportive, warning that even if Huawei wasn't an arm of the Chinese government, it was still required to take instruction from the Chinese intelligence agency. 'I am afraid that the only way to protect our safety is to ban it,' Davis intoned gravely. Raab shot his former boss a rueful grin, muttering politely: 'I welcome my friend's scrutiny as ever.' Iain Duncan-Smith speaking in the House of Commons Mrs May then rose, clutching a leather-bound notebook, and commended the Government on its decision. That was about as warm as she gets for this lot. Raab simply looked grateful for the life raft. A few others followed. Kevan Jones (Lab, N Durham), an ex-Ministry of Defence man who seems relatively clued up about these matters, said he saw no risk in involving Huawei that couldn't be mitigated. There were also some surprisingly sympathetic noises from Barry Sheerman (Lab, Huddersfield) a man, one suspects, who was one of those chaps who never managed to work out the video recorder. He simply said he recognised what a highly complex situation this was. Ex-Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright, once one of Mrs May's faceless frontbench wonders, attempted to reassure colleagues by reminding them that most of them had not seen the intelligence briefings which will have influenced the Government's decision. 'I actually have,' he said slightly too forcefully. There was a shocked gasp from someone across the chamber. I wasn't sure if it was at the thought of Wright spilling the beans or the reminder that he was once a cabinet minister. The Thai woman hosted an Australia Day barbeque (pictured) two days before she was allegedly stabbed to death by her stepson A woman allegedly stabbed to death by her teenage stepson was regularly heard having arguments inside her home, neighbours said. The 42-year-old Thai woman was found in her home in Woolooware, south Sydney at about 1.30am on Wednesday suffering multiple stab wounds to her back. The former aged care worker, who also did shifts in a bakery, was treated at the scene before being taken to St George Hospital in a critical condition where she died shortly after. Police arrested the teenager at the home and on Wednesday afternoon he was charged with murder. A neighbour who gave his name as Louie said he heard loud arguments coming from the house nearly every weekend. 'I knew there were big problems with that house,' he told Daily Mail Australia. Louie said the arguments had been going on for months if not longer. He said the house often hosted gatherings with loud music and many people showing up. Neighbour and family friend Payton Wilson, 23, said she and her boyfriend were awoken by screaming early in the morning. The former aged care worker (pictured), who also did shifts in a bakery, was treated at the scene before being taken to St George Hospital in a critical condition where she died shortly after 'I heard 20 or 30 seconds of screaming, high pitched, obviously a woman. She sounded like she was in a lot of pain. Then there was silence,' she said. 'There's a lot of yelling that comes from that house so I didn't think twice, I had no idea that was what was going down so we just went back to sleep and didn't do anything. 'Then I woke up this morning... it's just horrible.' Ms Wilson said the woman's partner, who was in the house during the alleged stabbing, had frequent loud arguments. 'They have arguments all the time, they get drunk and yell at each other, never when sober. They loved each other it was just a turbulent relationship,' she said. Ms Wilson said though the teenager was a stepson, they appeared as mother and son. 'She was so cute. They looked like mum and son,' she said. 'They were just a normal family, really nice. They got along with each other. So it's a massive shock. 'He was always up playing Xbox, he was very quiet. He's such a nice kid.' Ms Wilson said the victim worked at a bakery and vegetable shop and previously in aged care, and her partner owned his own business selling truck parts. On Wednesday morning forensic officers poured over the scene as the murder probe continued Another neighbour said he also had to deal with the noise and that just after midnight on Wednesday he heard a 'scream'. On Wednesday morning forensic officers poured over the scene as the investigation continued. Her friend Em Levy said she was with the victim and her partner at their home for Australia Day and everything seemed fine. 'They were very happy, she was such a happy lady. I'm so shocked I can't believe it, I just saw her on Sunday,' she said through tears. '[Her stepson] is a very nice boy, very quiet. 'She has no family here, they are all in Thailand and her sister lives in Sweden.' Friends said the woman had been with the boy's father for at least 10 years and they had all lived in the same home for that time. Another friend said she often met with the victim and other Thai women for lunches and dinners. 'We are very sad, she was a very good person. Everyone loved her, everyone,' she said. 'We are so confused, they were such a nice family.' Clay, N.Y. What was once an Arbys near Liverpool will soon become a Peruvian restaurant specializing in rotisserie chicken. Cholitas is slated to open at 8045 Oswego Road near the Seneca Mall in Clay in February. Rotisserie chicken will be the house specialty. Called pollo a la brasa, the chicken will be served as quarters, halves and whole birds alongside sides of French fries, rice, beans and salads. Miguel Chia, who owns the restaurant along with his cousin Maria Morshed and her husband, Abu, said the secret to the chicken starts with the marinade. The chicken spends 24 hours in the mixture of soy sauce, garlic, oregano, aji amarillo (yellow chili peppers) and other ingredients before slowing roasting on the rotisserie. Its homestyle food, Maria Morshed said. Its like were cooking for home. Along with the chicken, the counter-service restaurant will offer a rotating daily specials of other classic Peruvian dishes, such as lomo saltado, seco de carne, estofado, cau cau de pollo and seafood ceviche on the weekends. Chia said that if the daily specials catch on, hell expand the restaurants menu to offer them every day. While the exact prices have not yet been set, Chia said a meal at Cholitas will be around the same as it would at other fast casual restaurants, such as Chipotle or Panera. Chia said he and the team took over the spot in the fall. While the restaurant still bears some resemblance of its past of an Arbysthe outline of the fast food restaurants name once illuminated on the side of the building can still be seen on the red facadethe restaurant has a new kitchen, furniture and decor that includes alpaca figurines, pictures depicting everyday life in Peru and a large wall-sized print of Machu Picchu, the iconic Peruvian wonder. Cholitas is equipped with a drive-thru lane, which Chia said he hopes to use in the coming months. The restaurant also plans on eventually offering delivery. Morshed said they frequently receive calls from curious passers-by asking when the restaurant will open. People are excited to try something new, she said. The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Subscribers only: Join an insider text group with Jacob Pucci to get the inside scoop on the restaurants and cuisines of Central New York. SIGN UP HERE Jacob Pucci finds the best in food, dining and culture across Central New York. Contact him by email at jpucci@syracuse.com. 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 READ MORE: Look inside: Genesee Grande gets a new name and a Syracuse orange touch Popular CNY diner wants a place thats finally ours,' but so far cant get town approval What does the Central New York dining scene need? Here are 8 suggestions A 23-year-old New Jersey man has been charged with the online luring of 12-year-old Egg Harbor City girl, officials said. Henry Merton, 23, of Laurel Springs, faces two counts of endangering and one of luring, the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office said Wednesday. Merton was arrested after a long-term investigation by authorities, who didnt provide additional information. Anyone with more information about Merton is asked to call the prosecutors office at 609-909-7800 or go to their website at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html to fill out a form anonymously. 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. By Gilles Guillaume PARIS (Reuters) - Renault's Tuesday named Luca de Meo, the former head of Volkswagen's Seat brand, as its next chief executive, as the car maker looks to draw a line under a year of turmoil by finalising a long-awaited management shake-up. De Meo's appointment fills one of the big gaps left at the French company after it cleared the decks following the 2018 arrest in Tokyo of former boss Carlos Ghosn, and as it seeks to reset its strained alliance with Japan's Nissan Motor Co <7201.T>. Ghosn, who forged and oversaw the Renault-Nissan partnership for almost two decades, has since fled Japan to Lebanon, from where he has contested the financial misconduct charges against him and said the partnership was at risk of collapse. De Meo will start on July 1, Renault said in a statement. Nissan said it welcomed his appointment. "We are all looking forward to working closely with him and our Alliance partners in our efforts to support mutually profitable growth," Nissan President and CEO Makoto Uchida said in a statement on Wednesday. Clotilde Delbos, the car maker's finance chief who has been interim CEO since former Ghosn ally Thierry Bollore was ousted last October, will then become deputy CEO. Italian-born De Meo had been hotly tipped for the job, but faced hurdles because of a non-compete clause in his VW contract, sources previously told Reuters. De Meo will have his work cut out to turn around the firm. He will take the reins under Renault Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard, brought in last January from tyre maker Michelin, and who has so far emerged as the de facto senior figure in the Renault-Nissan alliance. Like rivals, Renault is grappling with a downturn in demand, and has said it expects a slight decline in the car market in Europe, Russia and China this year. The firm has also presented 2020 as a make-or-break year for the alliance with Nissan and is under pressure to deliver on cost savings and joint industrial projects. Story continues Automakers face pressure to meet stringent new emissions targets with less polluting models, and are also competing to produce innovations such as self-driving cars, which require large investments. De Meo, who speaks French, will be one of a growing handful of outsiders in senior company jobs in France. The 52-year-old started his career at Renault and has worked at Fiat - where he was one of the managers who helped launch the Fiat 500 model along late boss Sergio Marchionne - and Audi among other brands. De Meo is credited with revitalising sales at Barcelona-based Seat, imbuing it with a more sporty image and accelerating projects that were already in the works. His portfolio will be markedly larger at Renault, however, whose brands include Dacia and Lada. (Reporting by Gilles Guillaume in Paris, Additional reporting by Sakura Murakami in Tokyo, Writing by Sarah White; Editing by Benoit Van Overstraeten, Mark Potter and Josephine Mason) The "Priorities" event kicks off a year-long initiative in which the state's residents identify the issues and policy challenges that are most important to them in this campaign cycle. Journalists from The Charlotte Observer, The Herald-Sun and The News & Observer produce deeply reported stories about those issues and what's at stake during the election year. Topics include health care, the economy, immigration, the environment and education. The two-hour "Priorities" program, moderated by Jim Morrill, The Charlotte Observer's politics reporter, will feature a lively discussion about North Carolina politics, the issues facing voters and the dynamics state residents can expect in the 2020 elections. Participants include a bipartisan group of former N.C. governors, including Jim Martin, Jim Hunt and Pat McCrory. "As a battleground state, North Carolina plays a crucial role in the 2020 national election," said Robyn Tomlin, Southeast Regional Editor, McClatchy. "Our panel discussion will not only get to the heart of what it means to be a North Carolinian right now, but it will delve into the critical issues that voters are wrestling with as they consider how to cast their votes." As part of the year-long initiative, McClatchy also announced the January 30 debut of a landmark editorial project, "The Journey Across the 100." This ambitious video series represents the work of more than a dozen visual journalists who spent the better part of six months traveling more than 20,000 miles to visit all of North Carolina's 100 counties recording the thoughts and concerns of the state's residents. The series previews at "North Carolina Priorities" and launches January 30 on the websites of The Charlotte Observer, The Herald-Sun and The News & Observer. "'The Journey Across the 100' goes beyond the polls, soundbites and parachute journalism that will dominate the 2020 news narratives about politics in North Carolina," Tomlin said. "The compelling videos they produced create a detailed portrait of a complex state in a time of transition." About McClatchy McClatchy operates 30 media companies in 14 states, providing each of its communities with strong independent local journalism in the public interest and advertising services in a wide array of digital and print formats. McClatchy publishes iconic local brands including the Miami Herald, The Kansas City Star, The Sacramento Bee, The Charlotte Observer, The (Raleigh)News & Observer, and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. McClatchy is headquartered in Sacramento, Calif., and listed on the New York Stock Exchange American under the symbol MNI. #ReadLocal CONTACT: Jeanne Segal (202) 383-6085 [email protected] SOURCE McClatchy Related Links http://www.mcclatchy.com Matilda the Musical at the Cambrigde Theatre, London (Credit: Getty) A movie version of the critically acclaimed stage musical version of Roald Dahl's Matilda is coming to the screen via Netflix. The streaming studio and Sony Pictures will adapt the story of the genius school girl with magical powers, with Olivier Award-winning director Matthew Warchus behind the camera (Warchus directed the original production of the stage version too). Netflix will then stream the movie worldwide, with a release in cinemas in the UK, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Read more: Netflix says The Witcher is its biggest ever show Matilda the Musical has taken on a life of its own since it was first staged at the Royal Shakespeare Company in late 2010. With music and lyrics from Australian musician and comedian Tim Michin, and a book by Dennis Kelly, who penned the sitcom Pulling and the Channel 4 thriller series Utopia, it arrived in the West End in 2011, where it's still running today at the Cambridge Theatre. It's tied with the Hamilton in winning the most Olivier Awards ever won by a musical, scooping seven. It moved to Broadway in 2013 until 2017, over more than 1,500 performances, winning a further four Tony Awards. The musical was also a critical smash. Kelly will return to write the screenplay, though it's not the first time that Dahl's book has been adapted for the screen. Matilda (Credit: Sony) It was made, again by Sony, in 1996, starring Mrs Doubtfire child star Mara Wilson in the lead, with Danny DeVito and Rhea Pearlman as her horrible parents (DeVito also directed) Read more: The most popular Netflix releases of 2019 The movie also featured Pam Ferris in the role of terrifying teacher Miss Trunchbull - played by the actor Bertie Cavill in the original stage show - and while it received some cult following, it was a box office disaster. In 2018, Netflix announced that it was also planning new animated versions of Dahl classics including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda and The BFG. Some $100 million in increased exports to Africa were reported in the first nine months of 2019 According to the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS), Egypts exports to African countries increased in value by $100 million from January to September 2019 compared to the same period in 2018. The value of exports in these nine months reached $3.4 million as opposed to $3.3 million the year before. The total value of Egyptian exports to Africa in 2018 reached approximately $4.8 million compared to $3.6 million in 2017, an increase of approximately 30 per cent and representing 16.2 per cent of Egypt's total exports, according to a report by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The list of Egyptian exports to Africa included 30 commodities, the most important being plastics with a value of $354 million, iron and steel valued at $215.8 million, electrical appliances, tools and spare parts with a value of $160.9 million, and $139.4 million worth of sugar. The report said that the exports also included paper and paper products at $134 million, yarns, ropes and rope materials worth $132 million, and fertilisers worth $101.5 million. It said that exports of vegetables and fruit had recorded around $98 million, while the exports of pharmaceutical products and medicines had reached around $56 million. Exports of ceramics amounted to around $88 million, and exports of stone, cement or asbestos recorded around $76 million, the report said. Exports of furniture, furniture accessories, lighting devices and photovoltaic panels all recorded around $43 million, according to the report, while exports of carpets and floor coverings reached around $32 million. According to the report, exports of cars, tractors, bicycles and other vehicles, as well as parts and accessories, reached around $23 million. Algeria topped the list of African countries in terms of the destinations of Egyptian exports in 2018, with a total value of around $977 million, followed by Libya at around $633 million, Morocco at around $499 million, Tunisia at around $497 million, and Sudan at around $397 million. Egyptian imports from the African countries increased to reach $2.1 billion during 2018, compared to $1.9 billion in 2017, an increase of 15.2 per cent, the report said. Algeria also came at the top of the list of African countries that Egypt imported commodities from during 2018, with the value of Egyptian imports from the North African country amounting to approximately $398 million, followed by Kenya at around $287 million, Zambia at $261 million, Sudan at around $208 million, and South Africa at around $194 million. The volume of trade exchange between Egypt and the African countries increased to $6.9 billion in 2018, compared to $5.6 billion in 2017, an increase of 23 per cent, according to CAPMAS. The African Continental Free-Trade Agreement (AFCFTA), which entered into force in May 2019 aiming to create a single continental market for goods and services, aims to ease and strengthen trade relations between Egypt and Sub-Saharan Africa. *A version of this article appears in print in the 30 January, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the title: Higher exports to Africa Search Keywords: Short link: Fine Gael Senator Catherine Noone's description of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as autistic was "offensive, ignorant and wrong," Tanaiste Simon Coveney has said. "They caused offence to many people. She has apologised for those comments and I know she hopes that the families offended by them will accept that apology," he said. "She is following up on that to try and reinforce that point by writing to organisations and the families concerned. "This should not have happened. As deputy party leader I want to apologise for the fact that it happened. "The apology is very sincere and comments like that type are not acceptable. I hope we can put that issue to bed." Senator Noone is to write to autism organisations after having to apologise for calling the Taoiseach autistic. Ms Noone was quoted as describing Leo Varadkar: "He's autistic like, he's on the spectrum, there's no doubt about it." On Tuesday she apologised, withdrew her remarks and Mr Varadkar accepted her apology and said she would not face any sanctions. Mr Coveney was speaking at Fine Gael's launch of its proposals to provide greater supports for parents relying on childcare. Fine Gael has pledged to increase the current universal payment of 80 per month to 400 per month for all parents with children under three. Unveiling a number of childcare payments proposals, the party has also said they will increase the number of weeks available under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme from 38 weeks to 42 weeks. Fine Gael said that 150 million will be invested to increase the threshold and subsidy under the National Childcare Scheme. The party has also pledged to extend parental leave for both parents to nine weeks each in the first year. Speaking at the launch, Minister for Employment Regina Doherty said Fine Gael wants the economy to start working for people. "We are commissioning an extra 400 million in new investment," she said. It's the most expensive time in childcare for any family that has children under three. Speaking at the launch, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said: With the right policies in place, the Irish people rebuilt the economy, piece by piece, from the ruins of the crash. "We are now in a position whereby more people are working than ever before and economic growth is on a sustainable footing. We cannot take this progress for granted. He also said the Government is making available more money to help childcare providers who say they are at breaking point and in threat of having to close down. We believe that investment in childcare is crucial as we secure this economic growth. "We have already increased funding in childcare by almost 250% from 274m in 2015 to 638m this year. Under our Plan, in 2025, the childcare budget will be over 1bn. "This investment is to help parents with the costs but also continue a reform of the sector to ensure future sustainability, he said. Jobs Minister Heather Humphreys said: Jobs and a strong economy are the lynchpins of a fair society. They are two sides of the same coin. "We have a plan to create 200,000 additional new jobs by 2025, meaning a job for everyone who needs one. "Childcare is a crucial part of this plan and we will also provide more opportunities for remote and flexible working arrangements, which are so important for working families. "We are the only party committed to rolling out high speed broadband to every person in the country, a key enabler of opening up all of this potential. By Lambert Strether of Corrente. 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: * * * Alert reader dk (not to be confused with DK) is in the process of developing the following interactive chart. We have new national Quinnipiac as of 1/28/2020, 12:00 PM EST. Biden and Sanders are the pick of the litter, trailed by Warren and, horridly, Bloomberg, who has lapped Buttigieg and Klobuchar. 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. Because there were many state polls, I disaggregated to the national poll only: And the numbers: And now for the state polls. IA: IA numbers: NH: NH numbers: Premature triumphalism is ugly and stupid, but its hard to see if these figures are right; Iowa is volatile! how the Sanders campaign could be better positioned, less than a week out. Caveat: Sanders young voters really have to come through, as do new voters. Those are big risk factors, but if the gamble pays off in early states, I would bet disaffected voters in later states will join in the fun. Of course, the negative advertising has already begun And for grins (no recent polling), SC: SC numbers: SC likes a winner, and will no doubt be greatly affected by what happens in NH and IA. Ahd The Big One, CA: CA numbers: Yesterday I remarked how audacious it was for Sanders to try to win CA with the ground game, comparing it to a thrust through the Ardennes; for fans of the Aubrey/Maturin series, it reminds me of how the brig Sophie captured the much larger Cacafuego, by boarding it. Summary: The Biden juggernaut rolls on, but Sanders has pulled even. Warren is in trouble (meaning her smear of Sanders did not work). Bloomberg is buying his way in. 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 I 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): Biden wont say whether Sanders could unify Dems as nominee [Associated Press]. Former Vice President Joe Biden wouldnt say Tuesday whether he thinks Bernie Sanders could effectively unify the Democrats if the Vermont senator wins the partys presidential nomination. We have to unite, Biden told reporters in Muscatine, six days before the Iowa caucuses. Im not going make judgments now . I just think that it depends upon how we treat one another between now and the time we have a nominee. Biden has previously promised to support the Democratic nominee, regardless of who it is. Bloomberg (D)(1): Michael Bloomberg awkwardly shakes dogs snout at Vermont campaign stop [New York Post]. Presidential hopeful Michael Bloomberg touched off a social media debate on how to play with a dog on Tuesday after video emerged of him greeting a dog by shaking its snout at a campaign stop in Vermont. The footage shows Bloomberg shake a mans hand, then grab the dog by the muzzle and shake the pooch up and down. After the snout-shake, Bloomberg scratches the top of the dogs head. The dog wagged his tale [sic] throughout the episode. So, fine, right? Anyhow, for the record, the video: While campaigning in Vermont yesterday, Michael Bloomberg met a dog and shook its snout https://t.co/zhK9QC4Rm9 pic.twitter.com/IoFPys7S8k CBS News (@CBSNews) January 28, 2020 The history: Apparently this is not even the first time Mike Bloomberg has greeted a dog by shaking its snout. pic.twitter.com/oTxMY2M40Y Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) January 28, 2020 And Bloombergs response: Dog people get me. Dogs too. #DogsFurMike pic.twitter.com/gGejm10vZQ Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) January 29, 2020 Adroit, I must say. (And its not like Bloomberg strapped the dog to the top of his car.) Buttigieg (D)(1): Buttigieg campaign responds to allegations from minority staffers [CBS]. Amid accusations from former and current staffers of color that their concerns were repeatedly ignored, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigiegs presidential campaign is insisting that its committed to diversity. Both The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that minority staffers felt they were placed under undue stress by campaign officials. According to the Times, the staffers said they suffered under the emotional weight placed on them by the campaign, which has struggled to attract support from Hispanics and African Americans. Not a good time for big staff problems. Sanders (D)(1): Sanders Campaign Tells Volunteers to Back Off Phone Calls [The Intercept]. The move away from phone-banking comes as Sanders is surging in the polls in Iowa, New Hampshire, and nationally and is explained in a detailed memo sent via Slack to campaign volunteers by Claire Sandberg, the campaigns national organizing director. The directive applies to volunteers who live in states that vote in March, which together make up more than half the country. Sandberg, in the memo, urges volunteers to pivot either to door-to-door canvassing in their home state, or to friend-to-friend organizing through the campaigns Bern app. It is far more effective, campaign leaders have argued, to have friends and relatives urge those close to them to come out to caucus known as relational organizing than to carpet-bomb phone lines. The campaigns original goal for phone calls before Iowa was 5 million, but volunteers have already surpassed 7 million. Sanders (D)(2): Sunrise Movement to Host Nationwide House Parties to Boost Sanders, Demand Green Green New Deal [Common Dreams]. Youth led climate advocacy group the Sunrise Movement is asking supporters to host launch parties on Wednesday for the 2020 effort to pass the Green New Deal and back the presidential candidacy of Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has made addressing the climate crisis a major issue in his campaign. The launch is aimed at raising energy around the Our Plan to Win strategy the group is employing to help Sanders win the Democratic nomination and then the White House The launch parties are scheduled across the U.S. all day Wednesday, January 29. If any readers attend one of these meetings, a field report would be welcome. Sanders (D)(3): Can Bernie Beat Trump? [The American Conservative]. Sanders might actually be able to do a little of both: turn out Democrats who didnt vote in the pivotal states in 2016 while also competing for Obama-Trump voters. Sanders could more effectively run on Trumps failure to fully keep his campaign promises on foreign policy and trade (though hes had to capitulate on immigration) than Joe Biden or most of the other Democrats running. This populist pitch could win over some Trump 2016 voters while at the same time heightening progressive enthusiasm. And Trumps fundamentals outside of managing the economy are shaky enough he is not invincible head-to-head. Does that mean Democrats are wrong to worry about what would happen after the Sanders platform is exposed to a barrage of Trump campaign ads? Barring a recession, of course not. Sanders could have a higher ceiling than Biden, but he also almost certainly has a lower floor. Nevertheless, the political conditions that made Trumps election possible could do the same for Bernie. It seems that conservatives are more clear-eyed about their enemies than liberals. Sanders (D)(4): Bernie Is the Opponent Trump Wants [William Saletan, Slate]. Sanders has major liabilities that havent been exploited in the primaries. If hes the nominee, those liabilities could hand the election to President Donald Trump. David Frum made this case on Monday in the Atlantic, and Jonathan Chait, writing for New York magazine, has backed it up with evidence from recent elections. But polls suggest that Trump has already identified a theme that would destroy Sanders: his socialism. I suppose, however, that if youre a volatility voter, socialism ZOMG!! is the ultimate volatility vote. Sanders (D)(5): Democrats court doom by backing Bernie Sanders. His ideas are toxic outside blue America [Third Way, USA Today]. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.? We know that the Trump campaign will seek to label any Democratic nominee a socialist a regular Republican tactic that usually goes nowhere because Democratic nominees have never really been socialists. Sanders is different, though. As he said in a 1983 political debate: I am a socialist; of course Im a socialist. The charge would stick, because this is an identity that he himself has proudly trumpeted. And most Americans view socialism negatively, by a margin of 42-55%. That would be quite a weight around a nominees neck in a general election. The potency of this pending attack is also underscored by Sanders central policy proposal: Medicare for All. His plan would hand the government control over nearly a fifth of the American economy. It doesnt take much Trumpian demagoguery to label that socialized medicine.' If the election is about change vs. more of the same, its hard to see how more of the same on health care is anything but a loser. UPDATE (D)(6): The Democrats Bernie Bind [Politico]. Republican presidential candidates found themselves in a similar pickle in 2016. They feared Trump was unelectable, but they didnt want to anger his supporters by trashing him or his positions. By bowing to Trump and his devout fans, Republicans won the White House. Sanders makes a parallel argument today: that excitement and energy are needed to defeat Trump. One South Carolina elected official Dalhi Myers recently switched her support from Biden to Sanders on that logic. As the Associated Press reported, Myers, a member of the Richland County Council, said she started to feel that Bidens candidacy, while familiar and perhaps comfortable, wasnt going to be enough to inspire the young voters whom she sees as necessary to a Democratic general election win. We cant know today whether Sanders could blaze a Trump-like path to the White House. We do know that the Republican acquiescence to Trump in 2016 changed the complexion of the GOP, perhaps for a generation. How Democrats react to the rise of Sanders today may similarly determine what kind of party they are going to be. Surprisingly balanced for Politico. Trump (R)(1): Thousands in line for Trumps rally in Wildwood [NJ.com]. A line that snaked back and forth outside the Wildwoods Convention Center continued to grow early Tuesday as hundreds and hundreds of people from across New Jersey and other states joined to stand in the biting Jersey Shore cold for hours for a chance to see President Donald Trump. Bundled up in sleeping bags, hats and gloves, and sitting on folding chairs many of them planned to toss later, the crowd which started to form Sunday afternoon quickly grew to a few thousand people trying to be among those admitted inside to see Trump speak tonight. Impressive. Trump (R)(2): Trump allies are handing out cash to black voters [Politico]. Allies of Donald Trump have begun holding events in black communities where organizers lavish praise on the president as they hand out tens of thousands of dollars to lucky attendees. The first giveaway took place last month in Cleveland, where recipients whose winning tickets were drawn from a bin landed cash gifts in increments of several hundred dollars, stuffed into envelopes. A second giveaway scheduled for this month in Virginia has been postponed, and more are said to be in the works. [T]he cash giveaways are organized under the auspices of an outside charity, the Urban Revitalization Coalition, permitting donors to remain anonymous and make tax-deductible contributions. Urban, I love it. Seriously, this is Third World, clientelist stuff. Take the money, and voter however you want * * * IA: Age Of Voters, Not Candidates, Could Decide Who Wins The Iowa Caucuses [HuffPo]. The political fortunes of former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders could hinge on how many young voters show up to next weeks Iowa caucuses, which are historically dominated by older voters with the ability to dedicate a full night to participating in the lengthy, labor-intensive process. Age has emerged as the crucial dividing line ahead of the Democratic caucuses here, neatly dividing the coalitions of the two septuagenarians in a way education, class and geography do not. Sanders, whose bold agenda includes aggressive plans to wipe out student debt and battle climate change, disproportionately draws support from millennials and members of Generation Z. Biden, who has unveiled more cautious policy proposals, is heavily reliant on the gray-haired. Note that the shift by the Sanders campaign to relational organizing dovetails neatly with a requirement to get people to the caucuses. 2020 Impeachment But what did Bolton actually write: Bolton news is fuzzy. Bolton isnt saying Trump tied Ukraine weapons $ to opening a Burisma/2016 probe. Bolton says Trump wanted Ukraine to [turn] over all materials they had about the Russia investigation that related Mr. Biden & and supporters of Mrs. Clinton in Ukraine. Huh? pic.twitter.com/RNiBM6ANwT Aaron Mate (@aaronjmate) January 26, 2020 If only Michelle had given John Bolton candy: .many more mistakes of judgement, gets fired because frankly, if I listened to him, we would be in World War Six by now, and goes out and IMMEDIATELY writes a nasty & untrue book. All Classified National Security. Who would do this? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2020 World War Six. Youve gotta respect it. Red state Democrat says hes open to having Hunter Biden as witness in impeachment trial [CNN]. Joe Manchin. Of course. Kind of pointless: In battleground Michigan, impeachment takes back seat to everyday issues [Reuters]. Youve got elderly who need help. Youve got veterans who need help. Youve got poor people who need help. Impeachment doesnt really help a person who is struggling, said [Victor] Burch, 40, who took up cutting hair after he lost his job at a plastics factory in the 2007-2009 financial crisis. Burch, an undecided African-American voter, added: Close up the barber shop and say: Lets just sit and hold hands and watch and see if Trump is going or not? We cant do that. We dont live in that type of tax bracket . Voters like Burch and places like Livonia will be at the epicenter of Novembers presidential contest. Michigan itself is a crucial battleground state that Trump carried unexpectedly in 2016 by about 11,000 votes, propelling him to the White House along with wins in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. But interviews with two dozen voters in Livonia over recent days showed that months of impeachment hearings, testimony and political storms in Washington had done almost nothing to alter their views. Instead, many were focused on issues of the day, such as jobs, healthcare, immigration and education. Who knew? Stats Watch Employment Situation: Hiring at U.S. Firms Showed Signs of Cooling in Fourth Quarter [Bloomberg]. A survey of U.S. companies showed that hiring was flat in the fourth quarter, the first unchanged reading in a decade and the latest signal that the labor market is cooling off. Eighteen percent of 95 firms reported that employment had risen over the past three months, while an equal share said it had fallen, according to a National Association for Business Economics survey of member firms released Monday. The Bezzle: Shady Bitcoin Transactions Hit All-Time High [PYMNTS.com]. Bitcoin prices, trading and shopping are down but criminal activity involving the cryptocurrency is at an all-time high, the New York Times (NYT) reported on Tuesday (Jan. 28). Drug sales on the dark web are particularly high, up 60 percent and hitting $601 million from January to March 2019, according to blockchain analysis firm and government advisor Chainalysis. Bitcoin has also been pivotal in the rise in ransomware cyberattacks. Criminal activity accounted for $3.5 billion stolen from millions of victims in 2019, over three times more than in 2018, according to the Chainalysis data. Three billion is hardly real money. Why dont these people go into banking? Thats where the real money is. The Bezzle: Salesforce Encouraged Employees to Expense Co-CEO Marc Benioffs Book [Bloomberg]. Because of course it did. Tech: Apple Inc.s shift from devices to services as the top revenue source will have to wait. The electronics behemoth posted record revenue and a return to profit growth in its latest quarter. behind strong sales of iPhones, apps and its AirPods wireless earbuds [Wall Street Journal]. The results marked a return to form for Apple, which for the first time last year failed to report a quarterly revenue record since the iPhones 2007 release. [T]he iPhone still accounted for 61% of Apples revenue last quarter, and the company plans to release a low-priced phone this year that could give sales and a new jolt. Manufacturing: Consolidation is spreading across automotive supply chains as the race toward electric vehicles picks up speed. BorgWarner Inc. is buying fellow auto parts maker Delphi Technologies PLC in an all-stock transaction that values Delphi at about $3.3 billion [Wall Street Journal]. The companies are giants in components manufacturing, with nearly $15 billion in combined revenue last year. But sales at BorgWarner and Delphi fell in 2019 amid the broader overhaul that has seen car makers rush toward startups and new suppliers focused on electrification and autonomous technology. That has pushed some traditional suppliers of auto components into a corner. Both BorgWarner and Delphi have been working on electric propulsion systems, but combining forces will allow them to share their resources and costs as they help auto makers go electric. Manufacturing: Does Tesla make solar glass roof tile in its Buffalo, New York factory? Or in China? [PV Magazine]. However, while photographing day 6 of this roof installation in Northern California: We noticed these boxes full of solar glass roof tiles: Based on that label, one might conclude that these boxes of solar roof tiles were coming from Changzou Almaden Co. on Qinglong East Road in Changzou, Jiangzhou, China 7,135 miles from Buffalo, New York. * * * Todays Fear & Greed Index: 56 Greed (previous close: 53 Neutral) [ CNN ]. One week ago: 74 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Jan 28 at 12:59pm. Health Care Wuhan Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Global Cases [Johns Hopkins CSSE]. This is a very good, dynamically updated map using ArcGIS mapping software. Data sources: WHO, CDC, NHC and Dingxiangyuan. Consider bookmarking. The Total Confirmed Cases chart at bottom left is certainly an attention-grabber. * * * Meanwhile, one wonder how our own health care system would cope with an equivalent challenge: Ive always had a voice, but it was not heard in this wayMy daughter died and it wasnt Gods work. Policy killed her. Politicians killed my daughter. -Callie Greer @AlabamaPPC, whose daughter died because she didnt have healthcare. #PoorPeoplesCampaign pic.twitter.com/3yJyvGubtz Poor Peoples Campaign (@UniteThePoor) January 29, 2020 (Incidentally, pandemics provide the strongest possible use case supporting universal health care for residents, not just for citizens.) Class Warfare A West Coast union faces bankruptcy. Heres why unions nationwide are unnerved [Los Angeles Times]. But a $94-million federal jury award Nov. 4 to ICTSI Oregon Inc., a cargo terminal operator, has forced union leaders to warn that a filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection may be ahead. The details are complex; the whole article is worth a read, especially for those who view the supply chain as a chokepoint for working class activism. Blog Review of Quinn Slobodians Globalists [International Economic Law and Policy Blog]. It is possible that we are at a crossroads with the trading system, although I dont really think so and my guess is that most of the apparent political difficulties of the moment are being overstated. But if there is a choice as to which direction we should be going, Ill be interested to see what left wing critics choose. There is a group on the left that seems to really want to dislike trade liberalization and trade agreements. And there are some issues (e.g., IP, ISDS) where I think they have a point, and Ive said so publicly many times. But do they really want to support an anti-globalist/economic nationalist alternative? Theres a lot of baggage that comes with that. I would have thought that self-proclaimed progressives would be looking for ways to promote a different version of international economic integration, rather than completely dismantle the system, and some of them are doing so. As for others who may feel inclined to reject trade liberalization and trade agreements, I would just encourage them to take a more nuanced look at the existing trading system before they decide what they think of it. News of the Wired The environmental cost of keeping mail and files online keeps rising [Japan Times]. More and more, people rely on their electronic mailbox as a life organizer. Old emails, photos and files from years past sit undisturbed, awaiting a search for a name, address or photo of an old boyfriend. The problem is that all those messages require energy to preserve them. And despite the tech industrys focus on renewables, the advents of streaming and artificial intelligence are only accelerating the amount of fossil fuels burned to keep data servers up. Right now, data centers consume about 2 percent of the worlds electricity, but that is expected to reach 8 percent by 2030. Moreover, only about 6 percent of all data ever created is in active use today, according to research from Hewlett Packard Enterprise. That means 94 percent is sitting in a vast landfill with a massive carbon footprint. Its costing us the equivalent of maintaining the airline industry for data we dont even use, said Andrew Choi, a senior research analyst at Parnassus Investments, a $27 billion environmental, social and governance firm (ESG) in San Francisco. Ha ha. We blew away all our paper records. Soon, well blow away all our digital records. Who needs a collective memory? Who needs oldthink? * * * 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 (EH): EH writes: Euonymus americanus (Hearts a Busting) photographed Oct. 20 on woodland edge in Eastern Shore of Maryland in October. USA version of spindle tree. What a great name for a plant! * * * : 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! Netiquette Die Kommentare auf weltwoche.ch dienen als Diskussionsplattform und sollen den offenen Meinungsaustausch unter den Lesern ermoglichen. Es ist uns ein wichtiges Anliegen, dass in allen Kommentarspalten fair und sachlich debattiert wird. 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Unzulassig sind Wortmeldungen, die Nichts mit dem Thema des Artikels zu tun haben Kommerzieller Natur sind andere Forumsteilnehmer personlich beleidigen einzelne Personen oder Gruppen aufgrund von Rasse, Ethnie oder Religion herabsetzen in Rechtschreibung und Interpunktion mangelhaft sind verachtliche Abanderungen von Namen oder Umschreibungen von Personen enthalten mehr als einen externen Link enthalten einen Link zu dubiosen Seiten enthalten Nur einen Link enthalten ohne beschreibenden Kontext dazu Als Medium, das der freien Meinungsausserung verpflichtet ist, handhabt die Weltwoche Verlags AG die Veroffentlichung von Kommentaren liberal. Die Online-Redaktion behalt sich jedoch vor, Kommentare nach eigenem Gutdunken und ohne Angabe von Grunden nicht freizugeben. Es besteht grundsatzlich kein Recht darauf, dass ein Kommentar veroffentlich wird. Weiter behalt sich die Redaktion das Recht vor, Kurzungen vorzunehmen. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 16:18:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close As the epidemic that has infected thousands sweeps across the country, villages are one of the weakest links in the chain of prevention and control, but the measures there are often some of the toughest and smartest. JINAN, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Village chiefs patrolling with loudspeakers, long alert banners hanging on walls, and cars blocking the roads, this is what many Chinese villages are doing in the battle against the new coronavirus. As the epidemic that has infected thousands sweeps across the country, villages are one of the weakest links in the chain of prevention and control, but the measures there are often some of the toughest and smartest. A man disinfects a vehicle at an entrance to Qianzhangjiazhuang Village in Jiangshan Town of Laixi City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) "Fellow villagers, please wear masks, wash your hands regularly and avoid paying New Year visits to others, a phone call is enough!" This message is broadcast three times daily in Li Village in Jiaxiang County, east China's Shandong Province. Paying visits to neighbors and relatives and sharing New Year's greetings is a Chinese New Year tradition. It is preserved better in villages than in urban areas. Wei Deli, Party head of Li Village, said that in order to prevent the spread of the epidemic this year, he urged the villagers to stay at home and launched a plan to block roads to the village. Vehicles are parked in the middle of four roads in and out of the village, its population just 2,000 in number, as two to four village officials patrol the area around the clock. At one road where a car is not wide enough to block the whole road, a villager even lent his own tanker. "Villagers agree with these methods," Wei said. "Epidemic prevention comes first and foremost for everyone." People inspect passengers and vehicles at Sancun Village in Jiangshan Town of Laixi City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Ziheng) China, with around 40 percent of its population living in rural areas in 2018, has nearly 700,000 villages. Medical facilities in the villages are often not as advanced as those in the cities, and as migrant workers return home during the Spring Festival, the risk posed by the epidemic is high. "At present, the prevention and control of the pneumonia situation is in a crucial period," said He Qinghua, an official with the National Health Commission, on Jan. 27. "We must give full play to the mobilization ability of primary-level communities, including rural communities." Chinese villages are governed by village committees elected by villagers above the age of 18. The committee is an autonomous body that governs all of the village's public issues. This allows for more direct methods for mobilizing and informing local residents. A doctor explains a leaflet on the prevention and control of the novel coronavirus to a resident at Tumen Village of Shuiquan Town in Zaozhuang City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 27, 2020. (Photo by Liu Mingxiang/Xinhua) Loudspeakers, which were used to disseminate information in rural areas during the era of the collective economy in the 1960s and 1970s, have come in handy in the fight against the epidemic. Shi Xijun, Party head of Yaojiapo Village in Tai'an City, Shandong Province, said he uses the loudspeakers to remind villagers of the newly released diagnostic and treatment plans and raise their awareness of the epidemic. Many of these nostalgic methods have been circulated online. A video showing a village chief in Bozhou City, east China's Anhui Province using a loudspeaker to remind villagers in local dialect not to pay New Year visits has gained 1.59 million views. "They (the measures) appear coldhearted, but in essence, they show care," read one comment. Measures initiated by villages are also trending on China's microblogging site Weibo, with over 500 million views. A medical personnel inspects a driver at an expressway entrance in Tengzhou City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 26, 2020. (Photo by Song Haicun/Xinhua) Apart from the loudspeakers, other conventional methods were also used. In Shibuzi Village in Linshu County, Shandong Province, there are seven roads in and out of the village and it is difficult to patrol around the clock, so villagers suggested using stones and sand to build up a roadblock. "These are all efforts that rural villagers are making to actively prevent and control the epidemic," said Feng Zijian, deputy head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. "I believe they will all help block the transmission of the disease." Enditem (Video editor: Zhu Cong; video reporter: Wu Feizuo.) Washington President Donald Trump unveiled his long-awaited Mideast peace plan Tuesday alongside a beaming Benjamin Netanyahu, presenting a vision that matched the Israeli leader's hard-line, nationalist views while falling far short of Palestinian ambitions. Trump's plan envisions a disjointed Palestinian state that turns over key parts of the West Bank to Israel. It sides with Israel on key contentious issues that have bedeviled past peace efforts, including borders and the status of Jerusalem and Jewish settlements, and attaches nearly impossible conditions for granting the Palestinians their hoped-for state. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas dismissed the plan as "nonsense" and vowed to resist it. Netanyahu called it a "historic breakthrough" equal in significance to the country's declaration of independence in 1948. "It's a great plan for Israel. It's a great plan for peace," he said. He vowed to immediately press forward with his plans to annex the strategic Jordan Valley and all the Israeli settlements in occupied lands. Netanyahu said he'd ask his Cabinet to approve the annexation plans on Sunday, an explosive move that could trigger harsh international reaction and renewed Palestinian violence. "This dictates once and for all the eastern border of Israel," Netanyahu told Israeli reporters later. "Israel is getting an immediate American recognition of Israeli sovereignty on all the settlements, without exceptions." Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Trump called his plan a "win-win" for both Israel and the Palestinians, and urged the Palestinians not to miss their opportunity for independence. But Abbas, who accuses the U.S. of bias toward Israel, rejected it out of hand. Under the terms of the "peace vision" that Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner has been working on for nearly three years, all settlers would remain in place and Israel would retain sovereignty over all of its settlements as well as the strategic Jordan Valley. "The Israeli military will continue to control the entire territory," Netanyahu said. "No one will be uprooted from their home." The proposed Palestinian state would also include more than a dozen Israeli "enclaves" with the entity's borders monitored by Israel. It would be demilitarized and give Israel overall security control. In addition, the areas of east Jerusalem offered to the Palestinians consist of poor, crowded neighborhoods located behind a hulking concrete separation barrier. Register with JOC.com and receive 5 free pieces of content for the first thirty days. After thirty days, you will receive 3 pieces of content and after sixty days you will receive 1 piece of content. To receive full access, Subscribe Today . You can also subscribe to our daily newsletter. Register The US House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a bill strengthening Washington's support for human rights and environmental protection in Tibet. This becomes the latest legislation challenging Beijing's treatment of its citizens to get the Congressional seal of approval in recent months. Among other terms, the Tibet Policy Support Act of 2019 requires that the US government reject any applications from Beijing for a new consulate on American soil until the Chinese government allows Washington to build its own diplomatic station in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital It also establishes a US policy that the selection of Tibet's future religious leaders should be decided by themselves, free from the Chinese government, NHK reported. The bill also states that Beijing will face sanctions if it interferes in the process of recognizing a successor of the Dalai Lama. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has been one of Washington's most vocal campaigners for the protection of civil and religious liberties in Tibet, said: "I rise in support of the Tibetan Policy Act of 2019: strong, bipartisan and urgently-needed legislation to strengthen America's commitment to the Tibetan people and their right to safeguard their distinct identity." Stating that the US is sending a 'clear signal' to China, Pelosi said, "We are sending Beijing a clear signal that they will be held accountable for interfering in Tibet's religious and cultural affairs. We are making clear that Chinese officials who meddle in the process of recognizing a new Dalai Lama will be subject to targeted sanctions, including those in the Global Magnitsky Act." She also alleged that China has cruelly accelerated its outrageous aggression against the Tibetan people in these many years. "As the CECC, the Congressional-Executive Committee on China, concluded in its most recent report that Beijing is increasing 'sinicization' efforts and restricting religious freedom of Tibetan Buddhists including with mandatory political education for religious leaders, large-scale evictions from Buddhist monasteries and by replacing images of His Holiness the Dalai Lama with past and current party leaders," Speaker said. She added, "The report also concludes that Beijing is expanding a mass surveillance regime to intimidate Tibetans and prevent them from practicing their culture and observing their religion." Further, she said that international journalists have stated that the isolation of Tibet is worse than North Korea, allowing the Chinese government to conceal human rights abuses and environmentally damaging large-scale projects. "Today, the House is taking action to update and strengthen the [Tibet] Policy Act to address these growing threats. We are supporting the Tibetan people's right to religious freedom and genuine autonomy by formally establishing as US policy that the Tibetan Buddhist community has the exclusive right to choose its religious leaders, including a future 15th Dalai Lama," Pelosi said. She also asserted that Washington is working with international governments and the business community to ensure the self-sufficiency of the Tibetan people, protect the environment and water resources on the Tibetan Plateau. "This legislation also deploys America's diplomatic weight to encourage a genuine dialogue between Tibetan leaders and Beijing. It is unacceptable that the Chinese government still refuses to enter into a dialogue with Tibetan leaders," the Speaker said. She added, "We also see human rights abuses. In Hong Kong, millions are fighting for the democratic freedoms they were promised, and on the mainland, where journalists, human rights lawyers, Christians and democracy advocates languish in jail cells." "If we don't speak out for human rights in China because of commercial interests, then we lose all moral authority to speak out for human rights in any other place in the world," Pelosi said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Torkham border crossing, the main trade link between two neighbours, was shut down following mortar attack. Pakistan says it has reopened the main border crossing with Afghanistan after it was briefly shut down following mortar fire from across the border. On Wednesday, Pakistan said it closed the Torkham border crossing in order to ensure safety and security of vehicles and pedestrians. The Torkham border crossing, at the top of the Khyber Pass, through which thousands of vehicles pass every week, is the main trade link between the uneasy neighbours. The Pakistan side immediately contacted Afghan authorities and conveyed serious concerns over the incident, which could have caused casualties. The routine border terminal operations resumed in the afternoon, the Pakistan government said in a statement late on Wednesday. In September last year, Pakistan opened the crossing for 24 hours a day to boost trade. Some mortars were fired from across the border in Afghanistan and landed inside Pakistan. They caused some damage to vehicles, Mahmood Aslam Wazir, deputy district commissioner of the area on the Pakistani side, told Reuters news agency. Pakistan and Afghanistan are both allies of the United States but their relations have rarely been close. A Pakistani soldier at the border post in Torkham [File: Salahuddin/Reuters] Afghanistan has for years accused Pakistan of supporting the Taliban armed group. Pakistan denies doing so and in turn accuses Afghanistan of supporting armed groups fighting the Pakistani government. Exchanges of fire across a border Afghanistan has never recognised are common. An Afghan official denied that Afghan forces had fired into Pakistan. Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province, on the Afghan side of the border, suggested that Pakistani forces had fired the mortar bombs as a ruse. In the past, Pakistan has played the same game whenever they want to close the Torkham crossing, Khogyani told Reuters. Pakistan was angered earlier this week when Afghan President Ashraf Ghani condemned the arrest of a Pakistani ethnic Pashtun rights activist. Pashtuns live on both sides of the border. Pashtuns in Pakistan have been protesting recently against their government in a campaign for greater rights that many Pashtuns in Afghanistan support. It was not clear how long the border would remain closed. Pennsylvania received some of the worst marks in the country in a national report card on states efforts to combat smoking and nicotine addiction. The report card from the American Lung Association gives Pennsylvania Fs for its spending on programs to prevent tobacco use or help people quit, and its level of taxes on tobacco products, saying some arent taxes at a level that discourages use. The state received Ds for its laws against smoking in public places and for its efforts to help people overcome nicotine addiction. Pennsylvania came close to a good mark resulting from its recently-passed law banning tobacco sales to most people under 21. But the law doesnt take effect until July 1, resulting in a grade of I for incomplete. Discussing Pennsylvanias report card, lung association officials said it results from putting the priorities of the tobacco industry above those of public health and above embracing proven strategies for reducing tobacco and nicotine addiction. According to the report, here are some of the major areas of poor performance for Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania spends only about 13 percent of the federally-recommended amount on tobacco prevention and cessation. While Pennsylvania has bans on smoking in various public places, it has loopholes which allow smoking in some bars and casinos, and no ban on electronic cigarettes. Pennsylvania lacks parity in its level of taxes on tobacco products, with some taxed at a level considered too low to serve as a deterrent. The full report can read here. In a written response, the Pennsylvania Department of Health noted the new, Gov. Tom Wolf-backed law raising the minimum smoking age to 21. It further said it runs assorted programs to educate people about the dangers of smoking and vaping, and to help them quit. The lung association report card also gave a failing mark to the federal government as a result of backing away from a promise of a total ban on flavored electronic cigarettes. However, the federal government received As for its media campaigns against smoking and for passing legislation increasing the federal minimum age for tobacco products to 21. The report further blamed electronic-cigarettes and vaping for undercutting a hard-won decline in tobacco and nicotine use. According to the American Lung Association, e-cigarette use among high school students rose form 11.7 percent in 2017 to 27.1 percent in 2019 a 135 percent increase. Many of those students end up using tobacco products, according to lung association officials, who also said theres no evidence switching to e-cigarettes helps people break free of tobacco addiction. The report card says that, based on federal surveys: 17 percent of Pennsylvania adults smoke and 23 percent use tobacco; 8.7 percent of Pennsylvania high school students smoke and 18.7 use tobacco, and 1.3 percent of Pennsylvania middle school students smoke. The association said no states received straight As, and three states Alabama, Mississippi and North Carolina received all Fs. Hundreds of people queued up for face masks across Hong Kong on Wednesday amid a shortfall of protective gear in a city gripped by the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak. At some outlets of Thai lifestyle chain AbouThai which has 14 stores citywide some buyers showed up as early as 7am five hours before new batches of masks arrived for retailers. Many accused the government of failing to assuage fears after Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced a partial border shutdown with the mainland, instead of a complete closure as suggested by lawmakers and health care workers unions. Hong Kong recorded two more cases of infections after a two-day lull, bringing the local total to 10, while on the mainland, the number of cases has crossed 6,000, with more than 130 deaths. Some people started queuing as early as 7am for masks. Photo: May Tse In a statement, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said it had met members of the retailing and business sectors over the availability of protective products on Wednesday, but did not give updates on the governments pledge to ramp up supply of surgical masks in the city. The government will do everything possible, and through discussing and cooperating with the business sector, increase the supply of protective resources, it said. The bureau added that importers who had problems with shipment clearance could provide information for follow-ups. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam in a press briefing earlier on border control measures. Photo: Nora Tam University of Hong Kong microbiologist Dr Ho Pak-leung estimated that the city would consume about 300 million surgical masks monthly amid the outbreak. For a person who needs to go outside they will use up to three disposable masks, Ho said. If 1 million belong to this category, thats 3 million masks per day, 90 million per month. He also said health care workers in public hospitals used as many as 300,000 masks daily at the peak of the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic. Lam Wai-man, chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Pharmacy, said 80 per cent of surgical masks sold in the city were manufactured on the mainland. As the virus has spread to almost all provinces in China, he said the internal demand for masks was large and Hong Kong will have to queue. Story continues Weve asked Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan, who all said they have no stock, Lam added. He also said while the bureau had promised to help importers on matters of clearance, this depended on whether there were any shipments at all. Not all who got in line for masks went home with one, however, as quotas were imposed. Photo: May Tse At AbouThais Tai Koo outlet, hundreds of people formed a massive queue, but only 300 boxes of masks were distributed, leaving many disappointed. Its outlets at Tai Po, Hang Hau and Diamond Hill were also crowded on Wednesday morning before opening hours. Each customer was limited to one box of 50 masks. A box cost HK$68, but prices varied depending on type and brand. Jeffrey Chen, 28, who works in the creative industry, said he was the 21st person in a line of 300 at Tai Koo. He started queuing at 8.30am and the first few before him had arrived at 7am. Chen, who lives with his family of five including his wife, who is pregnant, said he had been searching for masks nearly every morning over the past few days, but always left empty-handed. They were all sold out, and it was not just masks, but also disinfection products such as alcohol and bleach, he said, adding that his family had avoided going out, and were down to three or four boxes of masks at home. Another man, in his 60s and who gave his surname as Sit, had queued up for more than four hours from 8am. We dont know when the epidemic is going to end, and we also dont know whether there will be a continuous mask supply in future, he said. While the retail chain has given staff from the Hospital Authority, as well as health, immigration, and customs officers priority to buy masks, such government workers were also required to queue up at the Tai Koo outlet because of the surge in demand. An immigration officer surnamed Ho, 25, said he felt saddened by the scenes, criticising the government for only closing six of 14 border checkpoints. These measures are too late, although thats still better than nothing Its worrying especially for people like us who have to work at borders and come into contact with many people from the mainland, he said. A nurse, who identified herself as Mary Chan, said she worked at an isolation ward in a public hospital. Chan said the government should have done more to ensure a steady supply of masks for the public. If the government can make such a promise, at least everyone wont be so worried, for instance, they could have followed in the footsteps of Taiwan, which stopped exporting masks, or act like Macau, which has officially imposed quotas on individual purchases. They could have followed in the footsteps of Taiwan, which stopped exporting masks, or act like Macau, which has officially imposed quotas on individual purchases May Chan, nurse Meanwhile, two distributors of surgical masks in Hong Kong said they were out of stock and unsure of when next shipments were due. In a message to private clinics, the Hong Kong office of medical supply firm Henry Schien said it was out of masks and alcohol hand sanitisers. As to when we can restock and ship orders out, we do not know at this moment. A staff member said the companys local office had tried to get more stock globally, but in vain. Another distributor, Full Yield (Asia), said all its stock had been reserved by the government. A staff member said he was uncertain about future supply, as the factory in mainland China had not fully resumed work amid the Lunar New Year holiday. He expected the next shipment to come in mid to late February, and described the local supply of masks as scarce. The mask shortage has also affected those in the medical equipment business, where staff members frequent local hospitals for client calls. John Szeto Yat-sing, 45, owner of a medical equipment trading firm, went as far as Poland to source 15,000 surgical masks for his employees and their families. Szeto said he found a Polish site to place the order on, but needed help from a native firm to overcome language and shipping barriers. He said it was easier to order surgical masks during the 2003 Sars epidemic, adding: Now everyone can shop online and the demand is global. The cost of a box of 50 masks from Poland was about HK$16 before shipping, he said, adding he was not sure if his elaborate plan would work out. The owner said the government should have done more for Hongkongers. The government and the Hospital Authority should have used their bargaining power and made batch orders directly from manufacturers earlier. This article Long queues at outlets across Hong Kong selling masks, as panic buying continues amid Wuhan coronavirus outbreak first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. My line of questioning was simple: Tell me about the nuclear material you were transporting. His answers also were simple: I wasnt transporting nuclear material; I didnt do it. For a while I assumed his tears were a ploy. I applied greater pressure: Stop lying to me; tell me where you got it; we know everything. His crying intensified. In the famous deck of cards that depicted Husseins henchmen, my subject wouldnt even rank as a two of clubs. The truth is that this old man caught with car parts patched together to look like a small radioactive-material container was no more than a con artist. He probably just wanted to make some cash by selling the fake material to a sucker. Almost certainly he was crying in front of me out of genuine despair. But my questions were unrelenting. I was determined to eke out any details that could offer clues about Al-Zarqawi. A colleague in the tent gave me a confused look, and later commented that my face was indecipherable during the interrogation. My subject protested his innocence and even tried to take my hands in his, pleading for his familys security. In the end, I turned to the interpreter and whispered, He doesnt belong here. He promised to tell the commanding officer. My comment was as much about the absurdity of the whole situation as it was about the prisoners innocence. I had risked the lives of a dozen soldiers to be there only to find a small-scale confirmation of the ludicrous false premises under which we had invaded and occupied Iraq. The Iraqi weapons of mass destruction were no more than a bit of improvised sham, a con mans counterfeit goods. In the process I had stumbled into one of the darkest places in wartime Iraq and into the most revealing truth of the conflict: Nobody belonged there. When I returned to Washington, some weeks later, it was clear to me that people who hadnt served in Iraq knew little of what was really going on. A friend asked me how the search for weapons of mass destruction was going. I responded wryly, Well, Im back, arent I? I avoided explaining the enormity of it. I relied on funny stories of swimming in Udays pool or peeing in Husseins golden toilets to escape the conversation. When the Iraq Survey Groups interim progress report was released, in October 2003, the truth became unavoidable. It offered a thinly veiled admission of failure to find any convincing evidence of recent W.M.D. activity. I had often justified my participation as my duty, but that claim began to sound more and more like an excuse for blind adventurism. It became impossible to square my American sense of free will our image of ourselves as empowered citizens participating in informed choices with the reality of the way that we were hoodwinked into going along with the invasion of Iraq. I had been taught throughout my childhood and my military training that America conducts wars based on just cause, but the reality emerging from Iraq was that we had been compelled by deception. A few months later, in April 2004, CBS News broke the story of torture at Abu Ghraib prison, revealing that American guards, maybe even some of the people whom I had seen at the prison, had beaten and abused prisoners. I was horrified. There had been little to stop me from harming my interviewee there, but doing so would have required moral bankruptcy. The actions of the guards at Abu Ghraib invalidated the American idea of liberation that I believed in. To me, the cruelty and abuse of power represented a perversion of American values. In that moment, it became clear to me that the administrations public narrative of the war was exactly what drove us to that dark place. The time-tested tropes of war for freedom and war of liberation had been used masterfully, and had been enabled by false claims of the Hussein regimes involvement with Al Qaeda. We were fighting in a fantasy and our leaders knew it, even while we were there, yet we persisted. I was repulsed by the idea that we could have been so easily manipulated. For a time I considered ending my government career. But I also felt that walking away would make me powerless to do anything to push back against the administrations dishonesty. Instead, I refocused my intelligence career on understanding the underlying causes of war. Later, as an adjunct professor, I spent time developing an assessment of historical false justifications, and taught on the subject. To this day, Im chastened by the memory of my experience at Abu Ghraib, and Im haunted by the unknown fate of my interviewee. Like many veterans, I carry a deep desire to prevent another conflict like the invasion of Iraq, fueled by my understanding of the wars absurdities. But Im struck by the power of our national momentum toward going to war especially unnecessary ones and alarmed that this momentum seems nearly impossible to halt. (Newser) President Trump on Wednesday signed into law a major rewrite of the rules of trade with Canada and Mexico that he said replaces the "nightmare" of a Clinton-era agreement and will keep jobs, wealth, and growth in America. "Together we are building a glorious future that is raised, grown, built and made right here in the glorious USA," Trump said in an outdoor signing ceremony at the White House, where the invitation list included more than 70 Republican members of Congress but no Democratic legislators. Canada and Mexico already represent the top two export markets for US goods. But the new pact, along with the signing of a phase one agreement with China, dials down trade tensions that contributed to slowing economic growth globally. Details from the AP: story continues below The leaders of the US, Canada, and Mexico signed the deal in late 2018. Legislation implementing it received overwhelming, bipartisan support in Congress after several months of behind-the-scenes negotiations between Democratic lawmakers and the Trump administration. Trump made a point of praising Republican legislators for their work in passing the deal but did not mention the role of Democrats, who said that even if they weren't invited to the signing ceremony, their influence was being felt. NAFTA, which took effect in 1994 under President Bill Clinton, tore down trade barriers between the three North American countries and commerce between them surged. But Trump and other critics said NAFTA encouraged factories to leave the United States and relocate south of the border to take advantage of low-wage Mexican labor. Trump threatened to leave NAFTA if he couldn't get a better deal, creating uncertainty over regional trade. His trade negotiator, Robert Lighthizer, pressed for a revamped pact designed to bring factory jobs back to the United States. The new agreement, for example, requires automakers to get 75% of their production content (up from 62.5% in NAFTA) from within North America to qualify for the pact's duty-free benefits. That means more auto content would have to come from North America, not imported more cheaply from China and elsewhere. The independent US International Trade Commission last year calculated that the US-Mexico-Canada deal would add 0.35%, or $68 billion, to economic growth and generate 176,000 jobs over six yearsnot much of a change for a $22 trillion economy with 152 million nonfarm jobs. (Read more President Trump stories.) SHANGHAI, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The coronavirus outbreak is having a potentially significant social and economic impact in China. WuXi Biologics is closely monitoring the coronavirus outbreak and is complying with guidance from the relevant authorities. Our management team is working vigilantly to execute our Business Continuity Plan to mitigate any potential risk. Overall, less than 6% of our staff have travelled to Wuhan, transited through Wuhan or had contact with people coming from Wuhan. No employee has been diagnosed of infection. We are closely monitoring the health of every employee. We have sufficient number of staff to resume operations after the holiday break. We do not operate in Wuhan and do not have major suppliers from Wuhan. Supplies for labs and manufacturing are not likely affected. WuXi Biologics is also working vigilantly to ensure the quality of the products we are manufacturing is not affected by this outbreak. We have a strong GMP quality system and a robust global supply chain. We do not expect to see any negative impact of this outbreak on our operations. Clients who plan to travel to China are recommended to conduct meetings via videoconferences or teleconferences. In addition, WuXi Biologics has already mobilized a large team to develop and manufacture multiple neutralizing antibodies to potentially treat the infection. WuXi Vaccines, a subsidiary of WuXi Biologics dedicated to vaccines, is also in discussions on manufacturing of multiple novel vaccines. This situation, which continues to evolve daily, reminds us that we must continue to do the right things for patients. We do not expect to see meaningful negative impact on our business operations. About WuXi Biologics WuXi Biologics (stock code: 2269.HK), a Hong Kong-listed company, is a leading global open-access biologics technology platform offering end-to-end solutions to empower organizations to discover, develop and manufacture biologics from concept to commercial manufacturing. Our company history and achievements demonstrate our commitment to providing a truly ONE-stop service offering and strong value proposition to our global clients. As of June 30, 2019, there were a total of 224 integrated projects, including 106 projects in pre-clinical development stage, 102 projects in early-phase (phase I and II) clinical development, 15 projects in late-phase (phase III) development and one project in commercial manufacturing. With total estimated capacity for biopharmaceutical production planned in China, Ireland, Singapore, and the U.S. exceeding 280,000 liters by 2022, we will provide our biomanufacturing partners with a robust and premier-quality global supply chain network. For more information on WuXi Biologics, please visit www.wuxibiologics.com. The politics of Azerbaijan were unusually dynamic in 2019, compared to recent years, shifting dramatically between January and December. President Ilham Aliyev notably continued the transformative reforms he began several years earlier. And almost every month, the Azerbaijani leader caught domestic and international observers by surprise by announcing a variety of reforms and new appointments. Jamestown Foundation reports in its article A Year in Review: Azerbaijan Pursues Internal Reforms and External Multilateralism that his actions throughout 2019 have nearly completed the transition of government management to the younger generation. Along with reforms, the economy of Azerbaijan improved according to several international organizations metrics. In neighboring regions, political dynamism has usually been triggered from the bottomup by protests of discontented massesin most cases leading to turmoil. But in the case of Azerbaijan, the president has been accelerating reforms from the topdown and enacting a smooth and uninterrupted transition to a younger generation of officials. Notably, on June 20, 2019, President Aliyev transferred the long-serving Ramil Usubov from the post of minister of internal affairs to the post of secretary of the Security Council of Azerbaijan. Usubov was instrumental in combating numerous coup detat attempts and tackling Azerbaijans widespread crime, transforming it into one of the safest countries in the region. For observers, one of the most important staff changes last year was within the office of the president. Namely, on October 23, Azerbaijans head of state dismissed Ramiz Mehdiyev, who had headed the Presidential Administration since 1995, and replaced him with Samir Nuriyev, a graduate of Duke University. Aliyev then appointed Mehdiyev to the Security Council. The entire structure of the Presidential Administration was also redesigned, and a new generation of young and energetic officials was brought in, including Anar Alakbarov as an assistant to the president; Gunduz Kerimov, a graduate of Indiana University, as the head of the Department of Legislation and Legal Policy; and Shahmar Movsumov, a graduate of Harvard University, to lead the Department of Economic Issues and Innovative Development Policy. Movsumov, in his former position as the CEO of the Azerbaijani State Oil Fund, was instrumental in efficiently managing oil revenues and several strategic regional infrastructure projects. Just last year, Azerbaijani State Oil Fund revenues increased by more than $4 billion, of which at least $1.8 billion was not from greater sales but from the more efficient management of existing revenues. On October 8, 2019, the president appointed Ali Asadov as the new prime minister, who presided over the further restructuring of the Cabinet. On October 23, President Aliyev merged the Ministry of Economy with the Ministry of Taxes and several other state agencies, and he appointed Mikayil Jabbarov, a graduate of the McGeorge School of Law, to oversee this expanded ministry. Jabbarov, in his previous positions as a minister of education (20132017) and a minister of taxes (20172019), demonstrated successful and efficient management and launched groundbreaking reforms at the governmental bodies under his control. Just last year, the Ministry of Taxes collected 415 million manat ($244 million) more than predicted thanks to a successful policy of fighting the shadow economy and building friendlier relations with business. In line with the presidents reform agenda and at his request, the ruling New Azerbaijan Party dissolved the parliament on December 2, 2019, and agreed to hold early parliamentary elections. The parliament stated that the purpose of the dissolution was to increase legislative efficiency and to adapt deeper reform strategies. On the same day, the Constitutional Court ruled that the chief executives request for the parliaments dissolution was legally valid, and the head of state, in turn signed a decree to schedule early elections for February 9, 2020. Opposition parties, including Musavat and REAL, have already nominated their candidates for the upcoming election. Since 1993, both the leadership and society of Azerbaijan have been cautious of any political moves that might be deemed irresponsible or uncalculated, which could destabilize the country and region. The learned lessons of the first two tragic years of independence instilled strategic patience and clear priorities that persist to this day. The inexperienced leadership of 19921993 brought the country almost to the brink of civil war, and Armenia took advantage of the political instability to occupy parts of Azerbaijan. Ever since, the highest priority of Azerbaijan has been not revolution, like in some other former Soviet states, but stability: continuty and predictability in domestic politics along with consistent relations with neighbors and international partners. Last year, the president underlined several times the importance of commiting to Bakus time-tested foreign policy. Despite the risks and pressures inherent to Azerbaijans complicated region, the long commitment to a consistent foreign policy has allowed the country to realize a number of groundbreaking energy and infrastructure projects that will continue to reshape the geopolitics of the region for decades to come. Illustratively, on November 30, 2019, the leaders of Azerbaijan and Turkey inaugurated the Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline, which is set to deliver Azerbaijani natural gas to Turkey and Europe. But perhaps the most notable event of 2019 for Azerbaijans foreign policy was the 18th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, held on October 2526, in Baku, and attended by delegations from more than 120 states. As a small country in an ever more complicated world, participation in the Non-Aligned Movement has become one of the central pillars of Azerbaijans multilateral foreign policy in recent years. In contrast, last year saw no real progress toward resolving the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, despite initial hopes at the beginning of 2019. Yerevan largely maintained its strategy of delay and deflection to prolong the conflict resolution process and preserve the status quo. Until late last summer, Armenian officials consistently argued that they could not speak on behalf of the ethnic Armenians of separatist Karabakh. But suddenly, on August 5, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared in front of a crowd in the occupied territories that Karabakh is Armeniaperiod, thus escalating tensions between the two countries. In response, the president of Azerbaijan said, on October 3, Karabakh is Azerbaijanexclamation point, in front of a large international audience, demonstrating his governments resolve to resolve the Karabakh conflict only in line with the principle of preserving the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. President Aliyev has declared on multiple occasions that Azerbaijan is pursuing proactive domestic and foreign policies aimed at strengthening the countrys regional leadership and making it a safer and more prosperous state. As such, in the coming years, Baku can be expected to continue the pace of the recently observed transformations, which, ultimately, will also help Azerbaijan in the resolution of its conflict with Armenia. The company applying for the dispensary is called NuMed, although it is in the process of changing its name to New Era. It currently operates six medical marijuana dispensaries in Illinois, and has applied for licenses to open 35 more. The plan is to open around Nov. 1 in 2,700 square feet of the Corporate Boulevard building - which is one of two business suites there - with the potential of expanding to 5,500 square feet if the rest of the building becomes available. SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pacificwide Business Group, Inc., dba. Pacificwide Real Estate & Mortgage is instituting travel restrictions to employees and agents as they respond to the outbreak of the coronavirus. Any employee or agent who have traveled offshore in these countries are recommended to consult with human resources and physicians for their regular health examination. In addition, individuals will be offered a free medical check-up and monitoring, with paid time off for 14 days upon their arrival back to the U.S. As of January 28, 2020, the Wuhan coronavirus has now taken the lives of at least 132 people in China and sickened nearly 6000 people worldwide, including in Vietnam, Australia, U.S. and Europe. "As the virus continues to spread throughout China and across borders, a measured caution for the safety of our staff who are working in and outside of Asia is our priority," said Leon Le, CEO of Pacificwide. Pacificwide said it will continue to monitor the situation closely and plans to take further action if needed. The company also announced that it is working with health authorities to ensure its employees and agents are healthy and safe from the virus outbreak. About Pacificwide Business Group, Inc. Founded in 2009 in the heart of Silicon Valley, California, USA, Pacificwide Business Group, Inc. is a full-service real estate and mortgage company specializing in residential and commercial real estate, financial and mortgage services, real estate construction and development, new home services and property management. The secret to our success is our agents and unique culture. We are a vast network of agents with diverse backgrounds and abilities, united in a passion to serve our community. Our focus is exceptional customer service as we aim to make our client's real estate experience as seamless as possible. We are not just your real estate professionals; we are also your trusted friends and neighbors within your own communities. For more information about Pacificwide Business Group, Inc., visit its website at http://www.pacificwide.com. For more information contact Pacificwide Business Group, Inc. Phone: (408) 532-1278 Fax: (408) 416-4565 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Pacificwide Business Group, Inc. Former Mossos chief Josep Lluis Trapero on Day One of the trial. FERNANDO VILLAR This week on our podcast we take a look at the second major trial covering the Catalan independence drive of 2017, which this time puts four figures connected to the regional police force, the Mossos dEsquadra, in the dock. We also consider a plan from far-right party Vox to give parents a veto over courses given to their students covering issues such as the prevention of homophobia, sexual abuse and teenage pregnancy. Que? is a podcast that tries to explain to an English-speaking audience the curious, the under-reported and sometimes simply bizarre news stories that are often in the headlines in Spain. If you have any comments or questions about the topics we discuss, or would like to suggest issues for future podcasts, email us at englishedition@elpais.es or tweet Simon Hunter at @simoninmadrid using the hashtag #quepodcast. And if you want more information about all the podcasts available from EL PAIS, visit this website. WARSAW, Poland - An Auschwitz survivors warning about indifference to discrimination is reverberating strongly in his native Poland, with some people praising the 93-year-olds World War II anniversary speech as wise but others criticizing it as overtly political. Marian Turski was one of the keynote speakers during observances held Monday to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. He addressed an international audience of world leaders and about 200 other survivors of the notorious Nazi German death camp. During his speech, Turski said the Holocaust did not fall from the sky all at once but took hold step by step as societys acceptance of small acts of discrimination eventually led to ghettos and extermination camps. Turski, who along with his family was forced into the Lodz ghetto and later deported to Auschwitz, called on people to not remain indifferent when minorities are discriminated against, when history is distorted and when any authority violates the existing social contract. The Warsaw resident never specifically mentioned Polands current nationalist government in his remarks. But many understood his words as criticism of Polish politicians and public officials who have used discriminatory language against migrants, LGBT people and religious minorities, and have sought to harness history as a political tool. While Turski received a standing ovation on Monday, some members of Polands conservative governing party, Law and Justice, who were in the audience did not applaud him. In the two days since, there have also been angry comments, with some suggesting Turski had no moral authority because he belonged to Polands communist party before 1989. Samuel Pereira, the head of Polish state news broadcaster TVP Infos website, wrote on Twitter that a former Auschwitz prisoner going on to work for the Polish United Workers Party showed that evil can be contagious. Far-right presidential candidate Krzysztof Bosak accused Turski of using the anniversary to attack the government. Pawel Jablonski, a deputy foreign minister, told The Associated Press in a statement Wednesday that the government appreciated Turskis warnings as a very important voice to remind us and future generations of the atrocities of World War II and preserving historical truth. But he also added in the statement we strongly disagree with any attempts at abusing or misusing survivors statements for todays political purposes. Such attempts are deeply insulting to the memory of the victims, the statement said. Turski began his speech by saying he did not want to talk about what he suffered while imprisoned at Auschwitz, during two forced death marches, or near the end of the war, when he weighed just 32 kilograms (70 pounds). Instead, Turski who lost 39 family members in the Holocaust delivered what he called a final warning to his grandchildrens generation, saying that because of his age it would likely be his last chance. Citing the words of another survivor, Roman Kent, he described what should be the Eleventh Commandment of the Bible: Though shalt not be indifferent. Because if you are indifferent, you will not even notice it when upon your own heads, and upon the heads of your descendants, another Auschwitz falls from the sky, Turski said. Michael Schudrich, chief rabbi of Poland, said Turskis message was very important because it reminded people that what allowed the Holocaust to happen was not only the evil of the Nazis, but also the indifference of the rest of the world. He said the stir Turskis words have caused, including negative reactions, meant he touched peoples souls. If somebody feels that he is speaking against them, then maybe that person needs to look into himself, Schudrich said. The fact is, this speech will be quoted for decades and decades, and I hope for centuries. It said what had to be said. Many others hailed Mondays speech as historic, with some comparing it to the one Pope John Paul II gave during a visit to his homeland in 1979, when Poland still was under communist rule. Dariusz Stola, the former head of the POLIN Museum of the History of the Polish Jews, called Turskis address a great speech, because of the way he translated Never again into a call for action now and against small wrongdoings. Rafal Pankowski, who heads Never Again, a Warsaw-based association that monitors hate speech and crimes, said amid a rise in xenophobia, the negative reactions to the speech were not surprising but still shocking. I and a lot of other people were really moved by the speech, and it will stay with us for a long time, Pankowski said. Turski didnt name anyone. It dealt with the universal and global challenges of xenophobia and intolerance. I think anybody could relate to it from any place in the world, and this is what made it so powerful. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 22:16:14|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close CHINGOLA, Zambia, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The creation of Multi Facility Economic Zones in Zambia by Chinese entrepreneurs will play a role in the economic growth of Zambia, a government official said on Wednesday. Lufwanyama District Commissioner Minniver Mtesa said the creation of business ventures by Chinese enterprises in Zambia as a move in the right direction. The establishment of economic zones has resulted in the creation of more jobs for the local people. "China still believes in its friendship with Zambia and keeps on strengthening is bilateral relations by investing in Zambia as a way to support the economic growth of our nation," she said. "Since the Chinese are innovative, we look forward to seeing them investment in agro processing plant in the farm bloc on the Copperbelt province of Zambia," she added. And Lufwanyama peasant farmer Morgan Mwape said farmers were ready to form co-operative schemes to supply raw materials to the would-be investors in the agro processing plant. Mwape is happy that increased Chinese investment in Zambia will bring about reduction in poverty levels through job creation. "The jobs that are being created by the Chinese counterparts are adding value to our economy," he said. On China and Zambia bilateral relations, Mwape said Zambia is bound to learn from China especially on how to grow its economy to benefit the citizenry. He has since called on Zambian government to ensure that Chinese investments are protected. Oil rebounded from its lowest level since mid-October as investors weighed the extent to which Chinas coronavirus would hurt fuel demand. Futures recovered 0.6% in New York on Tuesday after losing more than 9% across five straight days of declines. Investors found comfort in the possibility of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies extending and deepening production cuts at its March meeting to stave off any supply imbalances if the coronavirus outbreak worsens. Theres some short-covering after the worst-case demand scenario got priced in, said John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital LLC in New York. Sentiment improved after the sell off captured the attention of Saudi Arabia and China ramped up efforts to contain the outbreak, he said. Theyve shown the market theyre not going to take this lying down. Chinese authorities have locked down cities with a combined 50 million people around the outbreaks epicenter in Wuhan, and will stop individuals traveling to Hong Kong. Fatalities increased to 106 in China, and infections have been reported throughout Asia as well as in the U.S., France, Canada and Germany. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised travelers to avoid all non-essential trips to China. Chinas expanded efforts to contain the outbreak coupled with the response from Saudi Arabia, the worlds biggest oil exporter, acted as a support to prices and a recognition that demand could be lower going into the second quarter, said Marshall Steeves, energy analyst at IHS Markit. West Texas Intermediate for March delivery rose 34 cents to $53.48 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The U.S. benchmark has lost 12% so far in January, set for the biggest monthly decline since May. Brent for March settlement rose 19 cents to $59.51 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange, putting its premium over WTI at $6.03 a barrel. Flight activity in the five airports closest to Wuhan plunged 48% from the previous week, while aviation traffic in Shanghai and Shenzhen also fell, even though Lunar New Year holidays should have increased it, according to RBC Capital Markets. Profits from producing jet fuel in Asia fell to the lowest in nearly four years. Despite the gains on Tuesday, investors remain cautious of the pathogens potential to destabilize oil demand. Theres a wait-and-see attitude that seems to be driving markets right now, said Steeves. The virus fears are really a question of how much demand destruction occurs and how long that lasts, he said. With traders focused on demand, oil markets have largely shrugged off a political crisis in Libya that has choked off the OPEC nations exports. Eastern-based General Khalifa Haftar, the military leader whose faction controls the oil-rich east and south of the nation, blockaded the countrys ports earlier this month while haggling over a peace settlement with the national government. Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/29/2020 -- HTF Market Intelligence released a new research report of 76 pages on title 'Sweden Cigars and Cigarillos, 2020' with detailed analysis, forecast and strategies. The study covers key regions and important players such as STG, Bellman, Cortez/La Pa Moods, Cafe Creme Request a sample report @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/2463588-sweden-cigars-and-cigarillos-2020 #Summary: Sweden Cigars and Cigarillos, 2020 Sweden Cigars and Cigarillos, 2020 is an analytical report by GlobalData that provides extensive and highly detailed current and future market trends in the Swedish tobacco market. It covers market size and structure along with per capita and overall consumption. Additionally, it focuses on brand data, retail pricing, prospects, and forecasts for sales and consumption until 2029. Tobacco is a market that is in long-term decline in Sweden. A combination of rising prices, growing health awareness, and the recent arrival of safer alternatives, such as e-cigarettes, resulted in all sectors suffering a fall in sales. The Swedish cigar market is quite sizeable in Western European terms, although the overall market has contracted considerably in recent years. As of 2019, the market stands at 36 million pieces. Scope: - Snus took 55.9% of sales in 2019 to make them by far the largest segment within the Swedish market. - Swedish production is largely geared towards meeting domestic demand, although some output is for export markets. - Cigars and all other tobacco products are inclined to tax which is in conduct to the regulations set up by the EU. Buy this report @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=2463588 Reasons to buy: - Get a detailed understanding of consumption to align your sales and marketing efforts with the latest trends in the market. - Identify the areas of growth and opportunities, which will aid effective marketing planning. - The differing growth rates in regional product sales drive fundamental shifts in the market. - This report provides detailed, authoritative data on these changes - prime intelligence for marketers. - Understand the market dynamics and essential data to benchmark your position and to identify where to compete in the future. Companies Mentioned: STG, Bellman, Cortez/La Pa Moods, Cafe Creme Get customization & check for discount @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/request-discount/2463588-sweden-cigars-and-cigarillos-2020 Table of Contents: Introduction Executive summary Definitions Market context Tobacco products market, %, 2008 & 2018 Tobacco products market, tons, 2008-2018 Market size and structure Consumption of Cigars & Cigarillos, Million Pieces, 2008-2018 Per Capita Consumption, Pieces Per Year, 2008-2018 Cigars & Cigarillos: Market Segmentation ....Continued View Detailed Table of Content @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/2463588-sweden-cigars-and-cigarillos-2020 Thanks for reading this article; you can also limit the scope to only few countries or any specific regional level analysis. Centre, states need to think about reducing taxes on petrol, diesel: Thakur Anti-nationals should get bullet not biryani: Karnataka BJP minister backs Anurag Thakur India oi-Madhuri Adnal Bengaluru, Jan 29: Coming out in support of BJP MP Anurag Thakur, who is facing flak for his 'provocative' slogans against anti-CAA protesters at a rally in Delhi, Karnataka Tourism Minister C T Ravi has said anti-nationals should get bullet and not biryani. Ravi tweeted his support for the Union Minister, two days after the latter had egged on the crowd at a poll rally in Delhi, to raise an incendiary slogan -- "shoot the traitors" -- after he lashed out at anti-CAA protesters. "Those attacking Union MoS @ianuragthakur for His statement against Traitors are the ones who- Opposed death to Terrorists Ajmal Kasab & Yakub Memon, Supported Tukde Tukde Gang, Spread lies against #CAA. Anti-Nationals should get Bullet not Biryani. #IStandWithAnuragThakur," Ravi said in the tweet. Nirbhaya Case: Convict Akshay Kumar Singh files curative petition in SC | Oneindia News 'Goli Maaro Saalon Ko: Union minister Anurag Thakur stokes controversy The Election Commission on Tuesday had issued a show cause notice to Thakur for his alleged provocative slogan. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, January 29, 2020, 11:14 [IST] In the midst of a 'retail apocalypse', the administrator in charge of collapsed clothing brand Jeanswest has revealed the trends closing down hundreds of stores in Australia. KPMG partner James Stewart said Jeanswest had been losing money for many years, and cited consumers switching to online retailers as a reason for its demise. Mr Stewart, who was appointed administrator of the Australian operations of the fast-fashion retailer, also blamed flash sales for the collapse of brick and mortar stores. Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Click Frenzy sales that operate in November steer consumers online and away from stores. Jeanswest owes creditors up to $50million but the cost could spiral higher once staff of the collapsed clothing retailer are paid out 'If you're doing twice the sales in November at half the margin, I don't think that makes for a good Christmas,' Mr Stewart told the Australian Financial Review. Mr Stewart said online sales make up 17 per cent of non-food retail sales in the country, 3 per cent of food and grocery sales, and 9 per cent of total retail sales. Despite Bardot and Harris Scarfe - who both collapsed in the last year - having a large online presence, the change from in-store to web shopping hit their brick and mortar business hard. KPMG partner James Stewart - who was appointed administrator of the Australian operations of Jeanswest - said the retailer had been losing money for many years, and cited consumers switching to online retailers as a reason for its demise 'When retailers are working off an EBIT margin of two, three or five per cent and a big chunk of your sales go online ... and you're not doing the same productivity from your store network, that has a big impact,' Mr Stewart said. 'There's a sustainable model, which is a mix of online and physical stores but as the consumer is rapidly running towards a digital environment to do their shopping, many retailers find it very difficult to reduce their overheads and their fixed store infrastructure fast enough.' Mr Stewart said he is surprised by how much debt some companies have acquired. Jeanswest owes creditors up to $50million but the cost could spiral higher once staff of the collapsed clothing retailer are paid out. The retailer will close 37 stores across Australia, with 263 of its 988 staff to be made redundant, after it was placed into voluntary administration this month. Dropping like flies: Some of Australia's recent retail casualties 2016: Dick Smith, Masters hardware, Payless Shoes 2017: Topshop Australia 2018: Avon, Espirit, Toys 'R' Us, Max Brenner, Roger David 2019: Ed Harry, Diana Ferrari, Napoleon Perdis, Ziera, Bardot, Harris Scarfe, Jeanswest Advertisement An initial look at the company's financial state showed it owes 1,200 creditors and the majority of those are employees. The company's debt to creditors was between $40million and $50million according to KPMG. Staff are owed about $2.6million, however, that figure does not include any redundancy payouts, Mr Stewart said. HSBC Bank is owed about $11million - the largest amount for the company. Landlords are owed about $2million, but that figure might increase as there may be additional claims when the 37 stores are closed. (RNS) Plans for a proposed debate between liberal Christian leaders and representatives from Liberty University, a theologically conservative evangelical Christian school, have stalled, with participants unable to agree on a topic or a date for the event. The Rev. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, a North Carolina pastor slated to participate in the event, suggested Liberty University had backtracked. It seems Charlie Kirk and Jerry Falwell want to launch a center and fire people up about the dangers of an imagined socialism, but when they publicly challenged us and we said we would be glad to pay our own way to come and make the biblical case for taxing corporate wealth to address real human needs, they arent willing to back up their tweets, he told Religion News Service in a text. Liberty spokesman Scott Lamb disagrees. He told RNS the school wants to hold the debate which was originally planned for the spring but prefers to push it until after the Democratic and Republican conventions this summer. I think its a lot more interesting conversation after the RNC and DNC have their conventions and draft their platforms, he said. Talk of a debate between liberal faith leaders and representatives from Liberty first emerged in November 2017, when Wilson-Hartgrove and the Rev. William J. Barber II, co-chair of the activist group The Poor Peoples Campaign, joined other clergy in signing a public letter calling on Liberty to host a theological sparring session between themselves and school President Jerry Falwell Jr., a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump. Falwell and Liberty initially did not respond. Then, in November 2019, the school announced the creation of the Falkirk Center for Faith and Liberty a think tank with the goal of defending "Judeo-Christian" beliefs that is co-founded by Falwell and Charlie Kirk, the 26-year-old head of the conservative group Turning Point USA. A few days later, the Falkirk Twitter account challenged Wilson-Hartgrove and a partner to debate representatives from the center over the question "Was Jesus a Socialist?" Wilson-Hartgrove pushed back against the focus on socialism, agreeing instead to a public conversation about what the Lord requires of us in public life and saying that he would be accompanied by Barber. Wilson-Hartgrove said initial talks with the Falkirk Center about the debate went relatively smoothly. Representatives from Liberty agreed to expand the slate of participants to three debaters per side, allowing Barber and Wilson-Hartgrove to be accompanied by the Rev. Yvette Flunder, pastor of the City of Refuge United Church of Christ in Oakland, California. All three faith leaders have been vocally critical of Falwell, Trump, or both. Barber and Wilson-Hartgrove spoke at the Red Letter Revival convened in Lynchburg, Virginia, in 2018 right down the road from Liberty decrying both the leadership of the school and Trump. Flunder also joined both pastors in signing an open letter in October 2019 voicing support for an impeachment inquiry into the president. Wilson-Hartgrove proposed that the Falkirk Center be represented by Kirk, Falwell and a fellow from the Falkirk Center and that the event focus on disagreements over the role of Christian faith in public life. It would be hosted at Liberty University in March, be either televised or livestreamed, and each side was tasked with inviting its own moderator to ask questions. Moderators for the debate had not been agreed upon, although Wilson-Hartgrove said MSNBCs Joy Reid had tentatively said she would ask questions if she could make the scheduling work. (Reid did not respond to requests to confirm her involvement.) Wilson-Hartgrove said that Lamb contacted him on Monday to suggest pushing the event back until the fall semester. He said Lamb told him that Falwell did not want to participate and that the focus of the debate should be on socialism. We definitely want to have a debate about socialism with members of the religious left, Lamb told RNS. Lets have a conversation that enlightens the voters. Lamb clarified that there is no final word on whether Falwell would participate. If held, the debate at Liberty would have some precedent. In 1999, Fawell's father, Jerry Falwell Sr., debated the Rev. Tony Campolo about religion and politics in America on the television show "Crossfire." Campolo is the founder of the Red Letter Christians network, whose members also include Wilson-Hartgrove. The term "red letter" refers to the words of Jesus, which are printed in red in some Bibles. READ THIS STORY AT RELIGIONNEWS.COM Article originally published by Religion News Service. Used with permission. Publication date: January 29, 2020 Photo courtesy: Gage Skidmore/Creative Commons, Johnathan Wilson-Hartgrove Could New Mexico soon become the 12th state in the U.S. to legalize recreational cannabis? That outcome grew more likely on Tuesday, when the Cannabis Regulation Act, which would sanction this type of use and sale, won a narrow victory in state Senate's Public Affairs Committee. The 4-3 vote was strictly along party lines, with the quartet of Democratic members carrying the day. The bill still has a fair distance to go; it will have to be passed by two more state Senate committees (judiciary and finance) before the full legislative body takes it up for a vote. Although the New Mexico Senate is overwhelmingly Democratic with 26 members out of a total of 42, several prominent senators from that party have indicated that they are resistant to legalizing marijuana for recreational use. New Mexico already allows the sale and consumption of medical cannabis. And it has decriminalized recreational use -- being found in possession of small quantities is now punishable by a civil citation and a $50 fine, rather requiring a criminal charge -- but it technically remains illegal. In 2019, a bill similar to the one currently making its way through the Senate passed in the state's House of Representatives, but only got as far as the Senate Finance Committee before being quashed. At the moment, New Mexico's medical cannabis market is served by a clutch of dispensaries scattered throughout the state. Although most of these are fairly small operations, a number of companies have managed to build a presence in different municipalities. If and when recreational legalization occurs in New Mexico, it's likely that publicly traded marijuana companies in neighboring Colorado -- where cannabis is already fully legal -- will get involved. Perhaps the most prominent Colorado-based marijuana company is cannabidiol (CBD) products specialist Charlotte's Web Holdings (OTC:CWBHF). Several dispensaries in New Mexico already sell Charlotte's Web goods. Charlotte's Web stock closed Wednesday trading down by 2%. Washington: The Pentagon says 50 US service members are now diagnosed with traumatic brain injury after missile strikes by Iran on a base in Iraq this month, 16 more than the military had previously announced. President Donald Trump and other top officials initially said Iran's January 8 attack had not killed or injured any US service members. "As of today, 50 US service members have been diagnosed" with traumatic brain injury, Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Campbell said in a statement about injuries in the attack on the Ain Asad air base in western Iraq. US forces survey the damage from a barrage of Iranian rockets on the Ain Asad airbase in Anbar, Iraq. Credit:AP Symptoms of concussive injuries include headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light and nausea. Simeao Marcos De Oliveira-Neto was deported from the United States Wednesday and taken back to Brazil, where he faces attempted murder and firearm charges, immigration authorities said. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested Oliveira-Neto in Plymouth on Nov. 2, weeks after they learned the Brazilian national faced criminal charges, according to a news release. The agency did not elaborate on when or where exactly the incident occurred. Before Wednesday, he had been deported from the U.S. four times between 2006 and 2016, according to ICE. Were pleased to have removed this threat to our community after his repeated, disturbing history of illegal re-entries into this country, said Todd M. Lyons, acting field office director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston. Lyons said his capture is a result of the agencys work with authorities in foreign countries. He said, "foreign fugitives should be put on notice they will find no refuge here. Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/29/2020 -- HTF Market Intelligence released a new research report of 27 pages on title 'Malaysia Reinsurance: Key trends and Opportunities to 2023' with detailed analysis, forecast and strategies. important players such as Marsh, Aon, Tradewinds, Sime Darby Lockton Insurance Brokers Sdn Bhd. Request a sample report @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/2463605-malaysia-reinsurance Summary GlobalData's 'Malaysia Reinsurance: Key Trends and Opportunities to 2023' report provides in-depth market analysis, information and insights into the Malaysian reinsurance segment. This report provides a detailed outlook by product category for the Malaysian reinsurance segment. It provides values for key performance indicators such as premium accepted, premium ceded and cession rates, during the review period (2014-2018). The report brings together GlobalData's research, modeling and analysis expertise, giving reinsurers access to information on segment dynamics and competitive advantages, and profiles of reinsurers operating in the country. The report also includes details of insurance regulations, and recent changes in the regulatory structure. Key Highlights - Key insights into the dynamics of Malaysian reinsurance industry. - A comprehensive overview of the Malaysian economy, investment opportunities and enterprise structure. - Malaysia insurance regulatory framework's evolution, key facts, taxation regime, licensing and capital requirements. - Malaysian reinsurance industry's market structure giving details of premium accepted and premium ceded along with cession rates. - Details of the mergers and acquisitions in the Malaysian reinsurance industry. - Details of the competitive landscape, M&A and competitors' profiles. Scope This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the reinsurance segment in Malaysia - - It provides historical values for the Malaysian reinsurance segment for the report's 2014-2018 review period, and projected figures for the 2018-2023 forecast period. Buy this report @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=2463605 Reasons to buy - Make strategic business decisions using in-depth historic and forecast market data related to Malaysian reinsurance segment, and each category within it. - Understand the demand-side dynamics, key market trends and growth opportunities in the Malaysian reinsurance segment. - Identify growth opportunities and market dynamics in key product categories. - Gain insights into key regulations governing the Malaysian insurance industry, and their impact on companies and the industry's future. Companies Mentioned in the Report Marsh Aon Tradewinds Sime Darby Lockton Insurance Brokers Sdn Bhd Get customization & check for discount @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/request-discount/2463605-malaysia-reinsurance Table of Contents Chapter 1 Executive Summary Chapter 2 ....Continued View Detailed Table of Content @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/2463605-malaysia-reinsurance Thanks for reading this article, you can also purchase individual chapter/section or regional report version such as North America, Europe or South Asia, South America, Eastern Europe or Africa. NSW universities are making provision for students stuck in China due to coronavirus but will otherwise continue to operate normally, as some student organisations step up their responses to the outbreak. The universities of NSW, Sydney and Wollongong are giving students stuck in China the options to defer their studies or enrol late. Those at the University of Sydney who face "exceptional circumstances" will get the option of having their tuition fees refunded. A tourist from Hong Kong wears a mask in Sydney as a precaution against coronavirus on Wednesday. Credit:Getty Images Students at the University of Sydney will not be able to see caseworkers in person to help with their studies after the university's student representative council (SRC) decided the risk of coronavirus was so great that its staff would only be able to talk to students over the phone. "At the end of the day, people in this workplace have come to the view that there is a threat to their health, certainly reasonable enough that from an organisational perspective we have to listen to that," SRC president Liam Donohoe said. A shocking report has revealed that the cybersecurity company Avast tracked and sold the web browsing data of its users. As reported by New York Post, the Avast antivirus -- which is being used by hundreds of millions of people around the world -- handed over sensitive personal data to companies such as Google, Pepsi, Home Depot and McKinsey & Co., through the channel of its subsidiary named Jumpshot. A joint investigation by Motherboard and PCMag led to this revelation. The data that is being sold even includes the porn search history of the users and the videos that they finally watched. According to the New York Post, Avast claimed that it sought the prior permission of its users to opt-in to the tracking, and the data thus received was kept anonymous. However, Motherboard was told by experts that in some cases it "could be possible to deanonymize certain users". The investigation finally reached the conclusion that the users were being tracked and monitored online behind their backs. Avast -- which is no stranger to controversies similar to this -- responded by stating that: "implementing an explicit opt-in choice for all new downloads of our AV, and we are now also prompting our existing free users to make an opt-in or opt-out choice, a process which will be completed in February 2020." The company further said: "seriously the responsibility to balance user privacy with the necessary use of data for our core security products. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On Tuesday, 28 January 2020, the good people of Imo State in particular and Nigerians in general were shocked by the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Collins Chiji and about seven other legislators from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Action Alliance (AA) who said they were defecting and later that day actually defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Chiji was elected a member of the State House of Assembly representing Isiala Mbano constituency on the platform of the APGA in 2019. He defected to the PDP on 10 June in order to contest for the position of Speaker and was elected Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly on Thursday, 13 June 2019. On 28 January 2020, barely two weeks after the Supreme Court invalidated the election of the erstwhile governor, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha and installed Senator Hope Uzodinma in his place, he defected again from the PDP to the APC with these other lawmakers of the State Assembly. The Speaker announced his defection and that of his colleagues during a 15-minute plenary session that Tuesday which was said to have abruptly ended after he announced the names of the defecting lawmakers as Uche Ogbuagu representing Ikeduru constituency; Dominic Ezerioha representing Oru West constituency; Chigozie Nwaneri representing Oru East constituency; Kanayo Onyemaechi representing Owerri West constituency; Kennedy Ibe representing Obowo constituency; Onyemaechi Njoku representing Ihitte/Uboma constituency and Eddy Obinna representing Aboh Mbaise constituency. To put it mildly, those developments were a huge embarrassment to Imo people, especially when one of the defectors was a well known and beloved journalist and radio presenter who should have known better than betray the trust his people had on him. It all simply went to buttress the truth the Bible always postulated that the heart of man is continuously deceitful. Who would have thought of the possibility of such a betrayal while these opportunistic politicians were campaigning for votes? And what on earth could possibly have been the motif or even the rationale of Mr. Chiji and his co-political sojourners in defecting to the ruling party of the federal government from a party that clearly had the majority in the House of Assembly, and therefore could address Executive issues with one voice and some moral strength that could get the Executive to do well for the state? This was happening barely two weeks after the government of Senator Hope Uzodinma was sworn in to replace that of Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, a former Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, fondly called Mr. Due Process by the teeming population of Imo citizens, and his team. Since those nine members of the Imo Assembly defected to the ruling party, the question that has refused to go away from the lips of most Imo people is: who did this to us? They believe there are some powerful, invisible forces remote controlling the destiny of their state. Imo people are totally confused. They are worried. They are angry. They are asking questions. They are still not comfortable with the Supreme Court verdict that torpedoed Ihediohas government. From many quarters, challenges are being thrown at the Apex Court to review its decision on the governorship election results that stole into their state like an unforeseen night shadow. One very vocal advocate for transparency in the case is the Coalition of Civil Societies, a world-wide organization of legal luminaries that has branches in many countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and America which openly encouraged Ihedioha to file for a review of the judgment of the Supreme Court that sacked him as governor. The Coalition has insisted that the Supreme Court erred in law by recognizing Senator Hope Uzodinma as winner of the governorship election in the state. It said the judges proffered two divergent verdicts on the same case and that it was an unprecedented act in law for the Supreme Court to manipulate or doctor its own judgment in order to cover its track. The organization noted that in delivering its judgment, the Supreme Court overthrew all known legal and electoral jurisprudence and settled principles as they were applied in other similar election cases. It pointed out that on 14 January 2020 when the Supreme Court gave judgment in the Imo State governorship appeal, the respondents were shocked when they approached the court for a copy of the judgment delivered in an open court which lasted less than 10 minutes on that day and was contained in about six pages, only to be given a judgment of 46 pages on January 22, totally different from the full and final judgment read on January 14. The group said that Senator Hope Uzodinma failed to provide any evidence apart from a fake result sheet which was not even recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. The court should have aligned itself with the tribunal and appellate court by disregarding the results from the 388 polling units due to the high rate of electoral malpractices and violence that attended to them. Indeed, most Nigerians in general and Imo people in particular saw the judgment of the Supreme Court as lacking in common sense because, in actual fact, it did not seem to meet the ends of justice. They questioned how the Apex Court could have admitted a result that was numerically higher than the total accredited voters without verification. They questioned why some data in the document accepted by the court showed gross evidence of over-voting. A look at the table submitted by Senator Hope Uzodinma to the tribunal on the 388 polling units in question, for example, showed how unsettling the Supreme Court decision was. The group gave the instance of number 69 on the table, where registered voters were 492. APC scored 819 votes. PDP scored 7 votes. That was 334 voters more than registered voters. Another was number 377 on the table, where registered voters were 367. APC scored 367 and PDP 4. That was four voters more than registered voters. It then pointed at Number 285 on the table, where registered voters were 449. APC scored 780 and PDP 4. That was 335 voters more than registered voters. It noted that the document tendered by Senator Hope Uzodinmas table of results from 388 polling units did not have any scores for any other political party such as APGA, AA, Accord whereas there were 70 political parties that contested the election. Despite these anomalies, the group noted, the Supreme Court added 213,695 votes to Hope Uzodinma of APC from the fake 388 units and 1,903 votes to PDP, thereby making the total votes scored at the election 953,083. This was far in excess of the accredited voters clearly shown in the FORM EC8D before the tribunal which was 823,743. It meant that as many as 129,340 votes could not be accounted for by the Supreme Court decision. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha has put final touches to approach the Supreme Court to correct the obvious errors in their judgment to ensure that justice is not only done but manifestly seen to be done. And many observers are of the opinion that the Supreme Court would have the courage to recall the Imo State governorship issue, correct the anomaly, restore justice in the system, peace in Imo State and faith in Nigerias growing democracy. Indeed, it wont be the first time the Supreme Court would be revising its earlier judgment. In 1971, there was the case of Johnson v Lawanson. The Supreme Court found reason to overrule itself in the case. Justice G.B.A Coker of the Apex Court made the decision that when the court was faced with the alternative of perpetuating what it was satisfied was an erroneous decision which was reached per incuriam and would, if followed, inflict hardship and injustice upon the generations in the future or of causing temporary disturbances of rights acquired under such a decision, he did not think the judiciary should hesitate to declare the law as it found it. Again, in a watershed decision in Akeredolu v Abraham, the Supreme Court overruled itself on the question of what constituted 'outside jurisdiction' in relation to the Admiralty Court (Federal High Court) for the purpose of determining whether leave of court was required to effect service of an originating process. Even in America, the home of democracy, there have been at least ten cases where the Supreme Court had to reverse its earlier decisions. It is not obvious, but it will certainly be interesting to know why these seemingly impatient, self serving legislators decided to defect to the ruling APC soon after their candidate was pronounced governor by the Apex Court. Was it that Chiji and his colleagues did not realize that the Supreme Court could reverse itself on an erroneous judgment and re-instate Ihedioha in the face of all the agitations that his removal has generated? Was it that by their political assessment and sense of judgment, they did not realize they would do better for themselves and for their constituencies as a Responsible Opposition or Shadow Government having the greater number of representatives in the Assembly as against the ruling APC that had not even one member in the Assembly before their defection? Was it that they preferred to become the Executives puppets, willing to obey every of the governors command without resistance because they would now belong to the same ruling party? Honestly, in all my 44 years as a journalist in Nigeria and in the UK, I have never come across such a dumb political calculation as this. And I begin to ask all over again, a question I have asked time without number. Why do Nigerian politicians lack ideology and representative focus? For instance, all these politicians who defected to APC, did they consult their constituents before taking such serious decisions? Did their constituents meet to endorse their plans to defect? Or did they just wake up in the morning and believed they might get more money for themselves from the new governor if they belonged to the same party? And were they going to take their constituencies along with them to their new party? Did it not occur to these traders who call themselves politicians that they would do better for themselves and for their constituencies if they operated as a Responsible Opposition, guiding the minority government to do the right things for Imo people? And what if, with the level of pressure being put on the Supreme Court from across the world, it finally caves in and reverses its earlier verdict in the face of new evidences and restores Ihediohas mandate, would these guys have the face to come back to the PDP? Or would they still stay in the APC and from there, hope to reach out to Abuja over and above their governor? Chai! Democracy don suffer. Sorry for Imo people. They still have a long way to go. Chief Asinugo is a London-based journalist, author of The Presidential Years From Dr. Jonathan to Gen. Buhari and Publisher of Imo State Business Link Magazine (Website: www.imostateblm.com) They have stayed inside at their stepsons condo, relishing the time they get with their granddaughter. If they do go out, he said they take precautions: washing hands, wearing masks, trying to avoid contact with other people. The party for his mother-in-law, 15 minutes away, was canceled, he said. But some researchers question whether those fears are justified. They are not arguing that intensive use of phones does not matter. Children who are on their phones too much can miss out on other valuable activities, like exercise. And research has shown that excessive phone use can exacerbate the problems of certain vulnerable groups, like children with mental health issues. Commerce & Industry and Railways Minister, Piyush Goyal said that all must work collectively to achieve the vision of the founding fathers, for an effective multilateral trading system. He participated in an Informal Ministerial Gathering in Davos last week. Further, the agenda for WTO reforms should be balanced and inclusive, to address the historic asymmetries in the Uruguay Round Agreements stated Commerce and Industry Minister. A good starting point for the reform agenda, would be removing the imbalances in the Agreement on Agriculture, and ensuring a level playing field, particularly for developing economies added Piyush Goyal. He further said that as long-standing proponents of WTO reform, developing countries have,for almost 20 years, sought the elimination of unequal and trade-distorting entitlements in the Agreement on Agriculture. Another positive step will be, to build upon the work of the last several years, and to implement existing mandates such as a permanent solution for public stock holding for food security purposes suggested Commerce and Industry Minister. He further said that this will help in enhancing the trust of developing countries, in the WTO's negotiating arm. Commerce and Industry Minister also said that Developing countries, particularly the LDCs, have not been able to achieve an equitable share in world trade, therefore, the continued availability of special and differential treatment, for these countries, is imperative for them to address their development aspirations. The reform process should not be used, to further restrict the flexibilities, and policy space required by developing countries, to better integrate with the global trading system added Piyush Goyal. He further said that it should open more opportunities for them, taking into account the contrasting levels of prosperity, unequal levels of economic development, and vast disparity in human development indicators, so that global trade becomes sustainable. Commerce and Industry Minister underlined that a significant outcome at MC12 is essential, for further strengthening the role of the WTO in global trade. He also addressed India's concerns about fisheries subsidies to be adopted at MC12. Unregulated industrial fishing by some nations, has led to a major depletion of the global marine stock said Piyush Goyal and there is an urgent need for strong disciplines to regulate harmful fisheries subsidies in order to ensure the sustainable use of marine resources for securing inter-generational equity. At the same time, Minister cautioned that, countries need to be cognizant of the existence of a large population of subsistence and artisanal fishermen in LDCs and developing countries who rely on fishing for their basic livelihood. He urged that as they have no other livelihood options, all nations must collectively care for this vulnerable population of marginalised fishermen. This is precisely why both SDG 14.6 and the MC11 decision on fisheries, clearly mandate that there should be appropriate and effective Special &Differential treatment for developing countries added Piyush Goyal. This could be the basis for a forward looking outcome on fisheries subsidies he added. Adequate policy space, to ensure a decent standard of living for subsistence-level fishermen, by modernizing their fishing fleet and expanding their fishing capacity, is a critical outcome for India said the Minister. Commerce and Industry Minister in his intervention also said that as an overall objective, the WTO must ensure transparency and fair practices in global trade, to ensure that our mutual economic engagement results in growth and prosperity for all. He reiterated and re-assured all members that India remains a staunch supporter of the rules-based, multilateral, trading system, and will actively engage with members, to address the challenges before the WTO. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court said Monday it will allow the Trump administration to begin enforcing a controversial new policy making it harder for low-income legal immigrants to obtain green cards or visas. The administration's new, expanded public charge rule, which makes it easier for officials to bar immigrants who use, or are deemed likely to use, non-cash government benefits such as Medicaid or food stamps, is one of the most consequential policy changes by the Trump administration to date in its efforts to curtail legal immigration. (Under previous practice, the public charge rule was only applied to immigrants who were considered likely to receive cash welfare payments.) Like a number of controversial rules, it has been challenged in federal court by immigration advocates and several states. The lawsuits are still making their way through the judicial system, but a stay on enforcing the change imposed by a federal judge in the Southern District of New York was lifted by the high court Monday in a 5-4 decision that broke along familiar ideological lines. Other rules that have also been allowed to take effect pending a final resolution in the courts a process that can take years include the travel ban for nationals of several majority-Muslim countries, a change in asylum rules affecting Central American migrants who arrive at the southern border and the diversion of military appropriations for border wall construction. Photo: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters The Trump administrations approach of imposing its hard-line views by presidential proclamation, executive orders and regulatory changes rather than through Congress, has been met with lawsuits across the country and resulted in a much larger role for the courts in shaping immigration policy. Judges in federal district courts in Washington State, California, Hawaii and elsewhere have granted emergency requests for nationwide injunctions to block the government from implementing the policies in question while the case plays out in court. The administration has responded by asking higher courts to overturn the injunctions, and in cases that have reached the Supreme Court has generally prevailed. Story continues The first time the Supreme Court took the unusual step of weighing in on an immigration-related case during the Trump administration was in December 2017, when the court ruled that a third version of Trumps travel ban, which restricted entry to the U.S. for nationals of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Somalia and Yemen could fully take effect while legal challenges continued to make their way through the courts. The decision, issued nearly six months before the Supreme Court would actually hear arguments in the travel ban case, overturned earlier orders by federal judges in Maryland and Hawaii to block parts of the updated ban while the lawsuits against it proceeded. In June 2018 the Supreme Court ruled in the administrations favor on the merits of the travel ban. Trump signs a travel ban executive order as Vice President Mike Pence, left, and former Secretary of Defense James Mattis look on, Jan. 27, 2017. (Photo: Carlos Barria/Reuters) Since then, the Supreme Court has overturned injunctions by federal judges in a number of other immigration-related cases, granting the Trump administration permission to implement other policies amid ongoing litigation, including a requirement that asylum seekers who arrive at the U.S. southern border after traveling through another country in practice, Central American migrants by way of Mexico must show that they requested and were denied asylum in the country they transited. In another ruling over the summer, the justices once again voted along ideological lines to allow the Trump administration to continue using military funds to build sections of the border wall. The conservative justices of the Supreme Court arent the only ones ruling in Trumps favor. Last May, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the administration could continue forcing asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while awaiting hearings in the U.S., overturning a lower courts injunction blocking implementation of the policy formally known as the Migration Protection Protocols amid ongoing lawsuits. Karen Tumlin is a longtime civil and immigrant rights litigator who has served as counsel in a number of high-profile legal challenges to Trump administration actions on immigration, including the effort to terminate legal protections for so-called Dreamers and the various iterations of the Muslim travel ban. She told Yahoo News that the history of the travel ban case, in which the Supreme Court overturned an injunction that had been upheld by multiple lower courts and then eventually ruled in favor of the policy, raises concerns about the future of policies like the public charge rule. In the travel ban case, Tumlin said, It turned out the stay result was 100 percent predictive of what the Supreme Court ultimately did. In the public charge case, she admits it may be hard to find a justice among the five who voted to allow the rule to take effect to change his mind when the case finally reaches the court, especially if the government can show that the sky isnt falling. It shouldnt be that way, she told Yahoo News. Just because a divided court allows something to take effect, that shouldn't be the writing on wall for [the] ultimate decision. Demonstrators at a rally outside the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., Jan. 28, 2020. (Photo: Steve Helber/AP) Justice Neil Gorsuch, one of the five justices in the majority, wrote in a separate concurrence explaining his vote to allow implementation of the public charge rule that the real problem here is the increasingly common practice of trial courts ordering relief that transcends the cases before them. By their nature, universal injunctions tend to force judges into making rushed, high-stakes, low-information decisions, Gorsuch argued, writing that the increasingly widespread use of such orders in recent years is not normal. Hes right, said Jesse Bless, director of the litigation department at the American Immigration Lawyers Association. It's not normal because the administrations policies and the way theyre issuing them are not normal. Im not a historian, Im a trial lawyer, but Ive never seen a period in time when courts have been asked to do so much not as a result of legislation, but as a result of executive power, Bless told Yahoo News. He suggested that Gorsuchs comments reflect a growing frustration, by everyone, on the way in which [immigration policy] is being settled in the courts. Migrants from Honduras wait in line at the U.S.-Mexico border crossing in Tijuana, Mexico, Sept. 12, 2019. (Photo: Sandy Huffaker/AFP via Getty Images) Ultimately, the absence of congressional action on immigration has enabled the executive branch to push the boundaries of what is legal, said Sarah Pierce, a policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank. This trend began under President Barack Obama, whose administration faced legal challenges over a number immigration policies including the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, a work authorization extension for foreign students post-graduation, and the use of family detention. But, Pierce said, the amount the Obama administration was entangled in the court system is laughably small compared to the Trump administration. Pierce suggested that the new public charge rule could be one of the most problematic policies to go into place while legality is being questioned. Studies predict that the proposed changes will have serious impacts on many legal immigrants as well as their U.S. citizen children and spouses, giving it the potential to dramatically reshape who is allowed to immigrate to the United States. The White House praised the Supreme Courts decision on Monday as a massive win for American taxpayers, American workers and the American Constitution. This decision allows the government to implement regulations effectuating longstanding federal law that newcomers to this country must be financially self-sufficient. Bless argued that such victories emboldens an administration who wants to build an invisible wall in this country and sets the stage for immigration to become a very big part of the November election. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: We will still have a role, Rigg said. These will still be archdiocesan schools, the employees will still be employees of the archdiocese, but Big Shoulders will be a far more regular presence in the schools and will really be on the front lines of setting strategic goals for the future. A n air force veteran collapsed to the floor after discovering a Rolex watch he bought in the 1970s was now worth more than 500,000. The guest was told the time piece he paid $345.99 (265) in 1974 had increased massively in value on an Antiques Roadshow episode this week. In footage filmed in North Dakota, United States, expert Peter Planes said the former military man could today sell his watch for up to $700,000 (530,000). Mr Planes went on to explain the model was a lot like one worn by the late actor Paul Newman and the original paperwork and box had added value to the piece. As he heard the news, the unnamed veteran collapsed to the ground and waved his hands in the air. You gotta be s******* me. Unbelievable," he said after he got back to his feet. The ex-serviceman explained that he bought the watch through a military base exchange while in Thailand. The watch still looks brand new as he never got around to wearing it. President of the UN General Assembly Tijjani Muhammad-Bande has hailed a collaborative effort between his office and India for a school development project in Palau in the western Pacific Ocean as a commendable practical demonstration of partnerships and South-South cooperation. The project initiated under the India-UN Development Partnership Fund will help upgrade the infrastructure of an educational institution in Palau. The school will host the seventh Our Ocean Conference' in August 2020, a global, multi-stakeholder forum on ocean health and wealth. The collaboration by my office, with India and Palau, through the India UN Development Fund, for the implementation of a school renovation project in Palau will help bring to hundreds of children in that country, Muhammad-Bande said here. He said the school project is a practical demonstration of partnerships, South-South Cooperation and international collaboration, that I will continue to encourage. The President of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly made the comments while addressing a high-level interactive segment of the International Day of here last week. Muhammad-Bande, said he strongly believes in the role that partnerships can play in the implementation and attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals. This is why my office has placed strong emphasis on engendering partnerships across key priority areas. In this regard, I am grateful to member states who are engaging my office, by suggesting among other things concrete proposals to attend to some of the aforementioned issues. The India-UN Development Partnership Fund is a dedicated facility within the United Nations Fund for South-South Cooperation established in 2017. It is supported and led by the Indian Government, managed by the United Nations Office for South-South cooperation, and implemented in collaboration with the United Nations system. The Fund supports Southern-owned and led, demand-driven sustainable development projects across the developing world, with a focus on least developed countries and small island developing states. India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador K. Nagaraj Naidu highlighted that despite significant progress made in increasing access to basic to every child, more conventional challenges such as lack of funding, lack of physical and pedagogic infrastructure, exclusion due to disability and gender, poverty, hunger and lack of nutrition continue to pose formidable challenges. He was speaking at the interactive dialogue on Aligning Inclusive Quality Education Policies with Sustainable Development Goals'. It is estimated that 69 million new teachers are required to achieve universal primary and secondary education by 2030. Meanwhile, less than three-quarters of teachers are trained to national standards, he said. Naidu also noted that there is currently a USD 39 billion gap to providing quality education to all children by 2030. He said that developing countries need to allocate more resources to education, international aid and cooperation in education sector. Underscoring that the current education system is largely a product of brick and mortar industrial age, Naidu said there is need for fundamental reforms of the education system to meet the requirement of the digital age. Naidu told the interactive session that India has established the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme which provides capacity building assistance to 160 partner countries in the spirit of South-South cooperation. The programme offers around 13,000 scholarships every year to professionals across a wide range of expertise, with special focus on India's immediate neighbourhood and its African partners. India also launched the e-Vidya Bharti (Tele-education) project for Africa that enables students to access premier Indian education from their homes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Vietnamese company says it has been developing its own equipment to launch 5G mobile services nationwide. But some experts question whether the country has the ability to develop what it is claiming. The company, Viettel Group, announced earlier this month it is aiming to launch 5G services beginning in June. 5G is the next generation in wireless technology. The announcement came after Viettel which is run by Vietnams military demonstrated a test video call carried over its 5G network. Top officials from the government and Viettel attended the demonstration event in Hanoi. The officials said the equipment and software used to make the 5G call was developed by Viettel over a six-month period. The company says it plans to develop both civilian and military services based on its own 5G equipment and network. Viettel declared that with its technology development, it had become the sixth company in the world to produce 5G network equipment. The other companies working on the technology include Huawei, Nokia, Ericsson, Samsung and ZTE. China-based Huawei is the worlds largest telecommunications equipment supplier, capturing nearly 30 percent of the market. The company is a leader in 5G mobile networks and a top producer of smartphones. Huawei is currently working on building 5G systems in countries around the world. But in the United States, officials have urged American companies not to use Chinese technology, including Huawei equipment, in communications systems. The officials have expressed concerns about Huaweis links to the Chinese government, saying the companys network equipment could be used to help carry out spying activities. Huawei has rejected such accusations. The U.S. administration also placed a ban on American companies sharing technology with Huawei because of security concerns. It has also pressed other countries to ban Huawei from building 5G networks. Viettels Chief Executive Officer, Le Dang Dung, told Bloomberg last August that the company had no plans to work with Huawei. There were reports that its not safe to use Huawei, Dung said at the time. So Viettels stance is that, given all this information, we should just go with the safer ones. So we choose Nokia and Ericsson from Europe. Viettel did not name Nokia and Ericsson as partners during its demonstration of the new 5G equipment. Experts question claims of 5G Dimitris Mavrakis is the research director for ABI Research and an expert on the worldwide telecommunications industry. He told VOA he is doubtful about Vietnams new claims. "I would say that a home-developed 5G infrastructure is impossible. Not only improbable, but impossible. Because it is very difficult," Mavrakis said. If such a process was so easy, he noted, major American companies like AT&T and Verizon would have done it as well." Mavrakis said among the biggest problems Vietnam would face creating such a system would be huge research and development efforts and costly patents covering 5G technology. He added that Viettel most likely does not have any patents for intellectual property rights relating to the technology. And in fact, Viettel doesn't have a big enough research and development workforce in order to create this technology, Mavrakis said. "Even Huawei and Ericsson and Nokia had to spend billions to create this technology, he added. Murray Hiebert is a senior associate with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. He told VOA he is not surprised that Vietnam would be unwilling to cooperate with Huawei on its 5G development. This is because Vietnam has long felt pressure from China in a number of areas, particularly over issues involving the disputed South China Sea. Therefore, Vietnam is very, very sensitive to letting Chinese technology be used for developing 5G in Vietnam, particularly Huawei, Hiebert said. However, he said he is not sure what to think about Vietnams announced plans for homegrown 5G. I guess I'm a little surprised that they're declaring they have reached this goal when others are still striving for that goal who have been working at it a lot longer and have more experience. Hiebert noted that Viettel has already expanded its telecommunications services to other Asian neighbors and beyond, and may want try to do this with 5G technology as well. But whether that is realistic or not, I dont know, he noted. Hiebert said one reason he thinks Vietnam might have made the 5G announcement is to keep on a path of attempting to grow its international influence. The country takes over this year as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN. Vietnam is also serving until 2021 on the United Nations Security Council. In addition, Vietnam is preparing for its next Communist Party National Congress in January 2021. Hiebert said Vietnams announced 5G plans could be used in 2020 to help fuel political support both at home and abroad. So it's a big political year and some leaders may want to show that they are actually very capable of delivering on the economic and security front. Im Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn reported this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Quiz - Can Vietnam Successfully Launch Homegrown 5G Services? Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story network n. a system permitting people to communicate and share information through the internet using a computer or mobile phone stance n. an opinion or belief about something doubtful adj. unsure infrastructure n. the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) needed for an area to operate patent n. a legal right a person or company receives to make or sell a product intellectual property n. property such as inventions, research and media that carry rights for the owner to use, sell or gain from the property strive v. try very hard to do something capable adj. able to do something deliver v. to achieve something that was promised to do Popular cleric and the general overseer of the Redeem Christian Church of God(RCCG), Pastor E.A Adeboye has revealed that he once told his son to fire a secretary who excites him. The respected cleric made this known via his official Twitter handle on Wednesday. He wrote: Today, I will be focusing on the married. It is sad that many married people are still having crushes with persons apart from their spouses. One of my sons once told me that he was always excited to resume in the office every Monday because he would get to see his secretary again. I told him to fire her immediately. Nothing and no one is worth your marriage. So, he makes you become good friends with the fellow and before you know it, you would have fallen. May you not fall for any strategy of the devil in the mighty name of Jesus. If you have any friend that you talk to more than your spouse, break that friendship now. Today, I will be focusing on the married. It is sad that many married people are still having crushes with persons apart from their spouses. PastorEAAdeboye (@PastorEAAdeboye) January 29, 2020 One of my sons once told me that he was always excited to resume in the office every Monday because he would get to see his secretary again. I told him to fire her immediately. Nothing and no one is worth your marriage. PastorEAAdeboye (@PastorEAAdeboye) January 29, 2020 "Anyone who breathes air, drinks water, eats food, has or expects to have children, will be vitally interested in this program," says award-winning videographer Peter Sinclair. Sinclair will present "Climate Challenges and Solutions 2020" at 7 p.m. today in the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts. The event, sponsored by Michigan Technological University's Institute for Policy, Ethics, and Culture (IPEC), is free and everyone is welcome. SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 29, 2020 / TPT Global Tech, Inc. ("TPTG or the Company") (OTCQB:TPTW) announces the launch of its US Government Contracting division," TPT Federal LLC". The new company or Division will solicit State and Federal contracts focusing on four product silos, Telecommunications, Infrastructure, SaaS and Cyber Security. TPT Federal is developing relations with existing US Government Contractors, Latin American and European Cyber Security and infrastructure companies. "I have been looking forward to moving TPT Global Tech into the US Government contracting space for some time now. It is a natural migration for TPT Global Tech to launch a US Government division utilizing all of TPT Global Tech's technology assets. Along with our Domestic and International relationships we believe TPT Federal will be a great addition to TPT Global Tech core businesses." said Stephen Thomas CEO TPTG. This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of various provisions of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, commonly identified by such terms as "believes," "looking ahead," "anticipates," "estimates" and other terms with similar meaning. Specifically, statements about the Company's plans for accelerated growth, improved profitability, future business partners, M&A activity, new service offerings and pursuit of new markets are forward looking statements. Although the company believes that the assumptions upon which its forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these assumptions will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements should not be construed as fact. The information contained in such statements is beyond the ability of the Company to control, and in many cases the Company cannot predict what factors would cause results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements. All forward-looking statements in the press release are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and by reference to the underlying assumptions. About TPT Global Tech TPT Global Tech Inc. (OTC:TPTW) based in San Diego, California, is a Technology/Telecommunications Media Content Hub for Domestic and International syndication and also provides Technology solutions to businesses domestically and worldwide. TPT Global offers Software as a Service (SaaS), Technology Platform as a Service (PAAS), Cloud-based Unified Communication as a Service (UCaaS) and carrier-grade performance and support for businesses over its private IP MPLS fiber and wireless network in the United States. TPT's cloud-based UCaaS services allow businesses of any size to enjoy all the latest voice, data, media and collaboration features in today's global technology markets. TPT's also operates as a Master Distributor for Nationwide Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) and Independent Sales Organization (ISO) as a Master Distributor for Pre-Paid Cellphone services, Mobile phones Cellphone Accessories and Global Roaming Cellphones. CONTACT: Frank Benedetto 619-915-9422 SOURCE: TPT Global Tech, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/574463/TPT-Global-Tech-Launches-US-Government-Contracting-Division-TPT-Federal-LLC Amid concerns about the Coronavirus causing illness and deaths in China, many parade goers during New York City, New York's annual Lunar New Year parade wore surgical masks, January 25, 2020. EuropaNewswire | Gado | Getty Images The number of coronavirus cases in China has already surpassed that of SARS, and the economic impact of the new virus from Wuhan could be more severe than the 2002-2003 epidemic, or at least similar, according to economists. It took more than 6 months for the number of SARS cases to surpass 5,000 in mainland China. China had 5,327 SARS cases between Nov. 1 2002 and July 31 2003, according to the World Health Organization. On the other hand, it's taken about a month for the number of new coronavirus cases to climb past 5,000 on Tuesday. The new virus was first officially reported in the Chinese city of Wuhan on Dec. 31. According to China's National Health Commission, the number of cases in mainland China stood at 5,974 at the end of Tuesday, up from 4,515 the prior day. Initial figures from the government suggest that of the total confirmed cases in China, between 2% and 3% have died. The World Health Organization put the case fatality ratio for SARS at 7%. The Wuhan coronavirus, which could lead to a type of pneumonia, has sparked alarm as it comes from the same family of viruses as SARS which killed some 800 people. The latest outbreak has killed 132 in China as of Wednesday's update. "There are reasons to worry about this time around compared to SARS because first of all, the connectivity in terms of transportation and economy is much greater nowadays (as compared) to the SARS episode," Tommy Wu, senior economist at Oxford Economics, told CNBC on Wednesday. We believe the economic impact of the coronavirus could be bigger in comparison to SARS in 2003. Nomura The disease has spread beyond Wuhan to Beijing, Shanghai and other highly populated cities in the country. Cases in other parts of Asia such as Thailand, Japan, Singapore and South Korea, have also been reported. In Europe, cases have been reported in France and Germany, and the United States currently has 5 confirmed cases. Economic impact "We believe the economic impact of the coronavirus could be bigger in comparison to SARS in 2003," wrote analysts from Nomura in a Wednesday report. China's real GDP growth plunged by 2 percentage points (pp) from the first quarter to the second quarter of 2003 due to the SARS outbreak, Nomura analysts noted. "Based on our assumptions, real GDP growth in Q1 2020 could materially drop from the 6.0% pace achieved in Q4 2019, on a scale perhaps bigger then 2pp registered during the SARS outbreak in 2003." However, the analysts pointed out that "the coronavirus may prove to be only a temporary shock (both on the demand and supply sides) and may not necessarily leave a long-lasting impact." Still, "the scale of the current slowdown and timing of the recovery are mainly determined by the unfolding coronavirus, which remains uncertain," Nomura said. Oxford's Wu also flagged the timing of the outbreak, which took place just before the Lunar New Year holiday, when hundreds of millions of Chinese traveled domestically and internationally to be with their families during the festivities. "The timing is also important because this time around is during Chinese New Year, where there are mass movements of citizens around the country going back home for family reunion. And during the next couple weeks, there'll be a massive flow coming back from home to the cities they work," Wu said. "That's why it's possible that this time around the impact could be more severe than during the SARS episode." "Even if the coronavirus outbreak is brought under control quicker than SARS was in 2003, the economic impact now looks likely to be of at least a similar scale," wrote Mark Williams, chief Asia economist at Capital Economics in a note on Monday. According to an estimate by Capital Economics, SARS lowered China's growth by three percentage points in its worst-affected quarter. Overall, growth slowed from 8% year-on-year to 5% during that outbreak. "The very limited data available so far suggest that the current impact is not yet that severe but it could end up being similar," Williams said. "But it is now certain that the outbreak will have a significant impact on China's GDP this quarter." Travel restrictions and services halted Top image credit: Still from footage of a multi-ministry press conference on the Wuhan coronavirus, Channel NewsAsia (Jan 27th) At a press conference about the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak on Monday, 27th January, Minister Chan Chun Sing (who is also the deputy chairman of the Peoples Association), stated that one of the roles of the PA was to push out regular information to combat rumours and fake news about the virus. Trying to contain rumours that are already making the rounds is essentially responsive in nature. But Minister Chans comments acknowledge that there is value in being proactive and forthcoming from the start. This is quite a different tune from the one he was singing a couple of weeks ago, when he met MP Pritam Singhs questions about Singapores workforce with the now-infamous, What is the point of the question? When it comes to releasing data, the governments attitude has generally been that less is more. A few recent examples: when POFMA was being debated in Parliament last year, Minister K Shanmugam rejected MP Louis Ng and NMP Irene Quays calls for a Freedom of Information Act. His reasons? Civil servants would be inundatedwith odd requests, and such an Act would mainly benefit lawyers, businessmen, and journalists (never mind that its our job to ask questions). And on January 20th, in a speech at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) conference, Minister Chan (yes, him again) audaciously declared that sharing data will not be a panacea to policy issues. He then followed up with this gem: If people dont trust you, you can give as much data as you want, and you will not win over the hearts or the minds of the people. Im sorry, but this is absolutely bonkers. Saying that peoples trust is a prerequisite for releasing information is completely backwards. Being forthcoming with information is what creates trust. It is the ultimate gesture of transparency from a government which understands that a vice grip on information doesnt guarantee control. It only gives the impression of having something to hide. Story continues A public health crisis like the Wuhan virus outbreak shows how an open, communicative government is critical to maintaining public confidence. When authorities insist on withholding information, they effectively cede control of the narrative. And in the absence of clear direction, people will automatically assume the worst. When the virus was first detected in Wuhan, public health officials claimed that the illness posed little danger. According to the Guardian, the official line from Chinas national health commission was that the situation was controllable. Before you could so much as sneeze, hundreds of people were sick. Wuhan went into lockdown. People started speculating that millions had fled the city ahead of time, though nobody knew for sure (or if it was just Chinese New Year travel). Whistleblower videos began circulating on Weibo and WhatsApp, purportedly showing bodies lying on gurneys in Chinese hospitals and nurses claiming the body count was being wildly under-declared. Its possible that some of the rumours were trolls at work. Its also possible that some of them stemmed from ordinary people, badly spooked, who had resorted to filling information gaps with guesswork. To give the Singapore government credit, it has done a good job so far in keeping the public informed about the outbreak. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has been providing regular updates about suspected and/or confirmed cases, including contact tracing. News about travel restrictions, quarantine sites, mandatory leaves of absence for returning travellers, and enhanced screening and checks appears daily. Ministers have taken pains to appear on the ground, and reassure the public that robust measures are in place to manage the situation. All this goes to show that being forthright goes a long way towards maintaining peoples trust. This point stands whether or not there is an ongoing crisis. An emergency like the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak makes the need for transparency more obvious, but how an organisation responds in an emergency is only as good as its practices on an average day. If leaders are already cagey and defensive in the best of times, or dont trust their people to act sensibly, this probably wont change during the worst. Most recently, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong invoked POFMA against a Hardwarezone forum post, which falsely claimed that an elderly Singaporean man had died of the Wuhan coronavirus. The post was made at 5:50 PM on Sunday, January 26th. What followed was swift and painless: the POFMA office issued a Correction Notice that night, and SPH Magazines complied by Monday morning. The post was taken down and a correction posted in its stead. This was the sixth time POFMA was invoked since it came into force late last year. We can argue over whether the first five cases were ham-fisted bids to stifle political dissent, or good-faith attempts to combat disinformation. In this case, it was clear that MOH had good cause to act without delay. Exploiting peoples fears to stir panic in a crisis is utterly reprehensible. But a further point to be drawn from all this is that resistance to releasing information creates the perfect kind of breeding ground for rumours, conspiracy theories, and yes, fake news, that POFMA was meant to combat. Tackling fake news becomes even more challenging when there is a fundamental imbalance in access to information. Disinformation spread by malicious actors is one thing, but speculation born of ignorance is another. As NMP Walter Theseira pointed out during the Second Reading of POFMA in Parliament, differences in opinion are bound to arise when the public only has partial information. If only the government has the full picture, then it shouldnt be affronted when people try to fill the holes with guesswork. Of course some people will approach data with a confirmation bias (as Minister Chan raised in rebuttal at the IPS conference). Of course others will use it to prod the government with uncomfortable questions. But the formers blind spots will speak for themselves, and the latter is what engaged citizens are supposed to do. You cant cherry-pick when it comes to active citizenship. If our politicians want Singaporeans to be clear-eyed, digitally literate, and actively invested in this countrys future, then they need to give us the information we need to know what were doing. The reality of our world now is that social media will always be flooded with fake news. Even the most liberal use of POFMA (god forbid) would be like holding up a Band-Aid to a tidal wave. And ifas Im sure the government would agreewe all have an interest in distinguishing fact from fiction, then it should be more upfront in giving us the data to tell the difference. If youre wondering what the point of this op-ed was, direct your complaints to community@ricemedia.co . In the meantime, please wash your hands. The post The Wuhan Virus Outbreak Shows That To Combat Fake News, We Need Government Transparency appeared first on RICE. San Francisco business tax service Our economy is booming, and businesses have their hands full with new plans to get in on the action in 2020. Safe Harbor LLP, a team of top-rated CPA's and accountants in San Francisco, is proud to announce a post for the 2020 business tax season. Corporate leaders ready for a profitable 2020 year may need to focus on new business plans. Before moving ahead with new projects, however, managing business tax returns may need to come first. Time can move fast, and the April deadline could arrive before a VIP speaks to a professional CPA. "Our economy is booming, and businesses have their hands full with new plans to get in on the action in 2020. We understand their excitement about implementing new strategies, but the deadline to file business taxes will be here fast," explained Chun Wong, the Managing Partner at Safe Harbor LLP. "We are happy to help take a big business tax filing off of their hands and get it in before the due date." VIP's from large and small Bay Area companies can review the new post from Safe Harbor on corporate tax return preparation at http://www.safeharborcpa.com/the-new-year-happy-time-for-tax-preparation-here-in-san-francisco/. Corporate leaders can also learn more on the updated business tax preparation page at http://www.safeharborcpa.com/business-tax /. After reading that, they can reach out for a no-obligation consultation. SAN FRANCISCO BUSINESS TAX SERVICE HELPS CORPORATIONS BEAT THE CLOCK IN 2020 Here is the background to this release. A bustling Bay Area economy can seem to move at an alarming speed. New technologies can arrive in the marketplace daily, adding pressure on companies to keep up the pace. CFO's busy with financials might juggle several timely projects at once. Forecasting new business ventures and reviewing the solvency of a 2020 corporate plan could take up the bulk of a day. Critical 2019 corporate tax filings could compete for attention. A busy VIP might need the support of a seasoned business tax service to keep up with the demand. For these reasons, Safe Harbor is proud to announce a new post about looming deadlines for 2019 business tax filings. Corporate tax return preparation can take up valuable executive time better spent on lucrative projects. A smart solution to the problem could include allowing a business tax service to take over. Certified public accountants skilled in filing complicated business tax returns can help corporate leaders meet critical deadlines. ABOUT SAFE HARBOR LLP A PROFESSIONAL CPA FIRM IN SAN FRANCISCO Safe Harbor LLP (http://www.safeharborcpa.com) is a CPA firm that specializes in accounting and tax services for individuals and businesses throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and greater California. Safe Harbor CPAs help both individuals and businesses with tax preparation, IRS audit defense, and audited financial statements. The firm prides itself on friendly yet professional service and utilizes state-of-the-art Internet technology to provide quality customer service. Rumours Of Rajinikanth Getting Injured Shooting For Man vs. Wild With Bear Grylls Fake, Bandipur Official Clarifies Taking the fight to Arvind Kejriwal's hometurf, BJP leader Amit Shah on Wednesday said the Delhi chief minister is the "biggest liar" he has seen in his entire life. Addressing his first public meeting in the New Delhi constituency in support of party candidate Sunil Yadav, Shah asked the Delhi CM if he would give prosecution sanction against JNU student Sharjeel Imam who has been arrested over his controversial "cut off-Assam-from-India" remark. Shah said Kejriwal had lied that he won't take a government bungalow or a car. "Now, he has bungalow and car both. Kejriwal is the biggest liar I have seen in my 56 years," the BJP leader said. The Union home minister also questioned the achievements of the Kejriwal government in the education sector, saying when BJP lawmakers exposed the AAP dispensation's false claims, Kejriwal replied "We (BJP) are insulting Delhi". "Kejriwalji, have you been feeling like Indira Gandhi" Shah asked. "Indira used to say Indira is India and India is Indira. Kejriwal also thinks Kejriwal is Delhi and Delhi is Kejriwal," he added. Shah attacked Kejriwal "for not granting prosecution sanction" against those who raised "tukde-tukde" slogans in JNU in February 2016. "Now, Sharjeel Imam has threatened to cut off Assam from India. We have sent him to jail. I want to ask Kejriwalji whether he will grant sanction to prosecute him or not," he said. Shah said the government will change automatically if the people of the New Delhi constituency "overturn" things there. "Thirty-five seats are needed to change the government in Delhi. If you overturn the things here (New Delhi), it will change automatically. So, you alone can do the work of the people of 35 constituencies," he said. "Press the button so hard that protesters in Shaheen Bagh feel the current," Shah added. The Union minister exuded confidence that the BJP will win the Delhi Assembly elections will an absolute majority. "I declare from this stage that BJP will win an absolute majority and form the government in Delhi," he said. Shah also claimed that Kejriwal got the former chief secretary of Delhi, Anshu Prakash, assaulted after inviting him home. "Is this how an elected government should work? The officer did not want to work (in Delhi) ... we had to 'withdraw' him," he said. He also accused Kejriwal of deceiving social activist Anna Hazare by bringing in a "fraud" Janlokpal Bill. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) This survey was commissioned by AARP in Pennsylvania to gauge the support of registered voters for a publicprivate managed state retirement savings program. Top Findings Most (88%) Pennsylvania voters agree that state lawmakers should support legislation that makes it easier for workers to save for retirement. Over 3 in 5 (62%) Pennsylvania voters are anxious about having enough money to live comfortably in their retirement years and half (49%) are behind schedule in planning and saving for retirement. About one in seven (14%) registered voters say their employer does not offer a retirement savings plan and most (89%) would likely enroll in one if offered. Background A financially secure retirement is out of reach for millions of American workers and small business owners. Retirement savings plans can be costly to operate and challenging to manage, leaving many workers and small business owners without access to a retirement plan. To help workers better prepare for their retirement, AARP is supporting states in their efforts to create and implement a state retirement savings option that would enable businesses to offer employees a way to save via a payroll deduction. These publicprivate managed programs would be easy for employers to set up, and they would have low costs and low risks to the employer and the state. Methodology The sample of 600 registered voters ages 25 to 64 was drawn from a registered voter list. Half (300) of the interviews were conducted via landline phone and half (300) were conducted via cell phone. The survey was fielded in July 2019. All data are weighted by age, gender, and race/ethnicity according to the June 2019 Pennsylvania state voter database statistics. For more information, please contact Jennifer Sauer at jsauer@aarp.org. For media inquiries, please contact media@aarp.org. Suggested citation: Sauer, Jennifer. Pennsylvania State Retirement Savings Program: Survey of Registered Voters Ages 25 and Older. Washington, DC: AARP Research, January 2020. https://doi.org/10.26419/res.00333.001 (Newser) Magen Fieramusca has been officially charged with the murder of her close friend Heidi Broussard, whom she's accused of asphyxiating in the process of kidnapping Broussard's newborn daughter. Fieramusca was arrested on two counts of kidnapping and one count of tampering with a corpse after Broussard's body was found in the trunk of a car at her Houston-area home on Dec. 19. Broussard's healthy newborn daughter Margo Carey (variously reported as Margot) was also found at the home. On Tuesday, the Travis County District Attorney's Office said Fieramusca had been indicted on capital murder and kidnapping charges, per NBC News. A release notes that in the course of kidnapping Broussard and her daughter, "Fieramusca asphyxiated Broussard, intentionally causing her death" on or around Dec. 12. story continues below That was the day 33-year-old Broussard was last seen alive. Her boyfriend, Shane Carey, noted her car, identification, and diaper bag had been left at the couple's Austin apartment. He said Broussard and Fieramusca, 34, had been friends for more than 10 years. An affidavit claims Fieramusca faked a pregnancy before presenting Broussard's daughter as her own. But her lawyer says prosecutors haven't disclosed any evidence against her. "We cannot act to fairly and vigorously represent our Client when we start defending her with our hands tied and eyes blindfolded," Brian Erskine says, per CNN. Defense lawyers have urged patience "until all the facts are in," per NBC. In the meantime, bond is set at $1 million for the murder charge and $100,000 for the kidnapping charge. (Read more capital murder stories.) MELVILLE, N.Y., Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- North American Partners in Anesthesia (NAPA) , one of the leading single-specialty anesthesia and perioperative management companies in the U.S., commends NAPA physician Mark Bennett, MD, Chairman of Anesthesiology at Chestnut Hill Hospital (CHH)/Tower Health , and Susan Logan, CRNA, on facilitating an unusual surgery at the community hospital located in Philadelphia. Dr. Bennett and Ms. Logan, a NAPA Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), supported vascular surgeon Douglas A. Troutman, DO, in successfully performing an abdominal aortic endarterectomya high-risk surgical procedure rarely seen at a tertiary hospital. This surgery, which far exceeds the norm for community medicine, is a testament to the excellent quality, clinical collaboration and patient care found at Chestnut Hill Hospital, said Dr. Bennett. The success of this procedure, led by Dr. Troutman, was a true team effort that required significant planning and coordination between the surgeon, the Anesthesia Department, the Department of Medicine, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), nurses, the blood bank and pharmacy. I am privileged to work with highly experienced colleagues who elevated the hospitals capabilities with this procedure and demonstrated that CHH delivers superior perioperative care. As a NAPA physician, I share NAPAs mission to always do whats right for the patient. This procedure demonstrates what is possible when we put our patients needs first. Dr. Troutman added, Even though an abdominal aortic endarterectomy would typically be performed at a major medical center, I believed that in this instance my patient would receive the best care at CHH. After I approached Dr. Bennett, we presented the case to the anesthesia team, ICU, pharmacists and blood bank to ensure the patients safety. Upon careful consideration, Dr. Bennett was confident that CHH had the ability to proceed, and together we had the patient out of the operating room in four hours with optimal outcomes. I was impressed by the high level of clinical expertise, communication, collaboration and dedication among the NAPA anesthesia clinicians and everyone involved in making this surgery a success for my patient. CHH can be quite proud of this major surgical accomplishment. John Cacciamani, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Chestnut Hill Hospital/Tower Health, said, I am proud to congratulate Dr. Douglas Troutman, Dr. Mark Bennett, our Chief Medical Officer John Scanlon, DPM, Susan Logan, CRNA, and all the teams involved in this surgery on their success. At Chestnut Hill Hospital/Tower Health, our motto is Advancing Health. Transforming Lives. and thats exactly what this surgical procedure represents. As our anesthesia services provider, NAPA is very much a partner in all that we do to be a place of healing, caring and connection for patients and families. Without Dr. Bennetts leadership, this surgery would not have been possible. We appreciate NAPAs support in helping CHH raise the bar on what we can do at a community hospital. Ali Ekbatani, DO, Senior Vice President, Central Region of NAPA, said, On behalf of NAPA, we congratulate Dr. Mark Bennett, Dr. Douglas Troutman, Susan Logan, CRNA, and Chestnut Hill Hospital/Tower Health for this outstanding collaborative effort. NAPA is a patient-first company in which our entire clinical and corporate focus is on creating exceptional patient experiences, every day. One of the many ways we work to achieve this goal is through Inspired Leadership, which is embodied in Dr. Bennett and Susan Logan, and our anesthesia leaders nationwide, as well as our robust professional development programs that prioritize communication and collaboration among clinicians and administrators. We value our relationship with Chestnut Hill Hospital/Tower Health and are proud to partner with them in reaching ever higher to serve the community with superior care, close to home. About North American Partners in Anesthesia As a clinician-led organization, North American Partners in Anesthesia (NAPA) is redefining healthcare, delivering unsurpassed excellence to its partners and patients every day. Since its founding by physicians in 1986, NAPA has grown to become one of the nations leading single-specialty anesthesia and perioperative management companies, serving more than 1.2 million patients annually in more than 300 healthcare facilities nationwide. For more information, please visit www.NAPAanesthesia.com . Media Contact Judith Santana, Marketing Manager North American Partners in Anesthesia P: (516) 580-0094 E: JSantana@NAPAanesthesia.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fe31c78a-9dcd-4062-908e-e952ba0bd9eb According to Chinas CDC, over 30,000 people are being observed for possible Coronavirus infection. As of this writing, there have been 5,974 confirmed infections and 132 deaths in mainland China, predominately at the epicenter of the epidemic, in Hubei Province. In all, 6,053 people have been infected worldwide, with Germany confirming their first case and France three. In the US, though there are only five confirmed cases, more than 100 individuals across 22 states are being monitored. There is one confirmed case in Canada. Chinese authorities revelations drove the markets panic and sell-off on Monday when they disclosed that approximately 5 million residents left Wuhan before the citywide lockdown was enforced. Health officials and epidemiologists predict that there may be one infected individual for every 500 to 600 people. In other words, possibly close to 9,000 people who left Wuhan may be harboring the virus without knowing it. Epidemiologic models constructed by MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis indicate that, on average, each case has infected 2.6 other people, meaning that control measures need to block over 60 percent of transmissions to be effective in containing the outbreak. WHO Director-General Tedros and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday in Beijing [Credit: AP/Naohiko Hatt] In a press conference on Sunday, the mayor of Wuhan city, Zhou Xianwang, said that health officials have warned that the viruss ability to spread was getting stronger. Ma Xiaowei, the minister in charge of Chinas National Health Commission (NHC), endorsed these speculations at a press conference on Monday: Signs are showing the virus is becoming more transmissible. These walking contagious agents [asymptomatic carriers of the virus] make controlling the outbreak a lot more difficult. In another statement, Minister Xiaowei said, The epidemic is now entering a more serious and complex period. It looks like it will continue for some time, and the number of cases may increase. During the SARS coronavirus pandemic, which began in November 2002 and lasted until July 2003, there were 8,098 confirmed infections and 774 deaths reported across 17 countries, the majority occurring in mainland China and Hong Kong. This corresponded to a case fatality of 9.6 percent. In less than one month, the present epidemic has affected more than 5,500 people and will certainly surpass those affected by the SARS coronavirus, highlighting the rapid spread and contagious aspect of this epidemic. The fatality case in the present epidemic stands at 2.35 percent. There are more than 13 cities in essential lockdown in China, affecting more than 56 million people. There have been mixed responses to Chinese efforts to attempt containment of such magnitude. Infectious diseases specialist and director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security told the New York Times, If you continue to quarantine more and more places in China, youre going to start to break normal societal interaction, normal movement of goods and people and medical supplies and food and medicine. At a macro level, it seems to me that its more likely to be harmful than helpful in controlling the epidemic. The Lancet has given the Chinese government their endorsement, commending them on their quick response and sharing of data with the international community. They have also applauded the World Health Organization for not yielding to pressures to declare an international emergency without due cause. The director-general of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, traveled to China on Monday and met with President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Dr. Tedros said in a press conference, We appreciate the seriousness with which China is taking this outbreak, especially commitment from top leadership, and the transparency they have demonstrated, including sharing data and genetic sequence of the virus. Premier Li Keqiang of China speaking to medical workers in Wuhan [Credit: Reuters] In a show of damage control over the rising tensions that are spilling into social and news media, Premier Li Keqiang, the prime minister of the Chinese government, flew to Wuhan on Monday as a sign of support to medical workers, and promised to get highly needed medical supplies. His actions have met with both approval and disdain by local citizens, while Western news media have called it a political maneuver to quarter rising tensions. As one popular Wuhan-based blogger, Luo Bin, posted on YouTube, There is no celebratory mood this time, its kind of like going through an ordeal instead of the new year. He recounted the long lines for supermarket supplies after citywide food shortages. Professor Yuen Kwok-Yung, chair of infectious diseases at the University of Hong Kong, had indicated that his research team had developed a vaccine against the Wuhan coronavirus but he told reporters it would require several months to a year to conduct necessary trials in animals followed by clinical trials on humans. Chinese scientists and in the US are in a race to produce a vaccine. The Chinese have indicated they may have a vaccine ready in a record 41 days. Dr. Yuen was concerned that the Chinese scientists efforts to expedite the development of a vaccine could lead to major health risks and complications, potentially exacerbating the disease if people are exposed to the coronavirus after receiving the vaccine. He explained that such reactions have been reported for coronavirus vaccines. What is most required in the immediate sense is an international response in support of providing necessary aid and medical supplies that local authorities continue to request. Given the exponential rise in infection rates, the preliminary experience indicates that about 20 percent of those affected will need significant medical attentionoxygen, vital signs monitoring, possibly ventilator support and ICU admission. Such resources are not easy to come by and, even in large centers, access will soon be exhausted. Potentially, mild to moderate symptoms that could be managed conservatively could spiral into catastrophe for patients having access to care limited by lack of resources. Fundamentally, the poor and most vulnerable will pay the most severe price as poor nutrition, hygiene and access to care will weigh heaviest on their life expectancy. Patients should have more say in how they can easily access their medical information and how it is shared by hospitals, Joe Kiani, CEO of medical device manufacturer Masimo, told CNBC on Tuesday. "Privacy rules are there to protect patients, not to potentially harm them," he told Jim Cramer in a "Mad Money" interview, reacting to a medical records company's pushback to new rules proposed by the Department of Health and Human Services. "Patients should make the tradeoff between what's more important: privacy or having their data available in a way that can hopefully save their lives." Epic Systems, the private health-care software firm pushing back on the rules, last week began lobbying U.S. hospitals to stand against the pending regulations that have divided patient advocates and some doctor groups. In an email addressed to some of the country's largest hospital systems, CEO Judy Faulkner urged top brass to sign on to a letter voicing disapproval of the rules, which were proposed in 2019. The HHS rules intend to help patients access their medical information free of cost and limit companies' ability to block access to the records. Officials say the new regulation would help 125 million patients get access to their medical data this year. Dean Wells has addressed speculation he was gearing up to be the next Bachelor. The 41-year-old 'bad boy' of reality TV denied he was approached to star in the dating show during a radio interview on Wednesday. He told The Kyle and Jackie O Show: 'As far as I know there's nothing like that in the works.' 'There's nothing like that in the works!' MAFS' Dean Wells denied he was being considered as the Bachelor 2020 in an interview with the Kyle and Jackie O show on Wednesday 'That's all I really know about it. I probably know as much as you guys,' he added. Elsewhere in the interview, Dean said of the rumour: 'I think there's as much horse s**t in that promo as that last story that you just heard.' The speculation comes after he signed with Channel 10 to appear on Dancing with the Stars. New Idea then reported that he was being considered for The Bachelor 2020. Twinkle toes: Rumours about the former MAFS star being considered for The Bachelor 2020 came after he signed a contract with Channel 10 to appear on Dancing with the Stars It was claimed earlier this month that Bachelor producers were looking for a doctor to be this year's suitor. Casting agents reportedly contacted the Australian Medical Association trying to 'secure a male doctor who can pack a stethoscope as well as a six pack'. Production is reportedly set to begin next month, which coincides with filming of Dancing with the Stars. Due to the clashing schedules, Dean would have likely only be considered for the role if he was eliminated early from DWTS. The creative director had been cast as the 'villain' on Married At First Sight 2018 due to his chauvinistic views. Dancing with the Stars premieres Sunday, February 9 on Channel 10 By Jan. 29, 2020 Technical College February 6, beginning at 12:30 pm. Kim Davis, owner of Uniform Headquarters in Paducah, is collaborating with Nurse Kelly for her two-hour, free presentation for WKCTC students in the college's Clemens Fine Arts Center. "We're really excited to be working with our longstanding partner, Careismatic Brands, and their national Cherokee Uniforms' spokesperson, Nurse Kelley Johnson, in inspiring a future generation of healthcare providers at West Kentucky Community and Technical College," said Davis. "Our mission statement is to 'serve those who serve others,' so whatever we can do to inspire healthcare professions this year and beyond, will truly be our honor." Many may remember Kelley Johnson from the 2016 Miss America competition. She took the stage in the talent segment with her monologue, dressed in purple scrubs and a white stethoscope, about her passion for nursing and caring for Alzheimer's patients. Nurse Kelley also became a household name when that monologue went viral as an internet sensation after comments about her "Doctor's Stethoscope" by the cast of the television show "The View" sparked the #NursesUnite campaign and Show Me Your Stethoscope site. Nurse Kelley, a registered nurse, was second runner-up for Miss America 2016, as well as former Miss Colorado, Miss California USA and Top 10 Miss USA for 2018. She continues to be a nursing advocate and now travels extensively as a public speaker, spreading messages of nurse appreciation and education. Kelley's February 6 presentation at WKCTC is titled, "Why We Chose Nursing and How Nursing Continues to Choose Us." "The World Health Organization recently designated the year 2020 as the "Year of the Nurse and Midwife," in honor of the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale. Nurse Kelley's presentation is a wonderful testament to this designation and her advocacy of the nursing profession," said Shari Gholson, dean of nursing at WKCTC. "We encourage all nurses, novice and expert, to join us as we are reminded of why we chose nursing as a career." Kelley graduated Summa Cum Laude from nursing school at Iowa's Grand View University. She is currently studying to earn a doctorate degree. Kelley is currently living In Los Angeles as the chief nursing advocate for Wanderly, a traveling nursing technology company. She is also the national spokesperson for Careismatic Brands, which is representative of the nursing uniforms worn by WKCTC nursing students. She continues to host and emcee television shows and pageants across America. For more information about attending Nurse Kelley's presentation, contact Shari Gholson at shari.gholson@kctcs.edu, 270-534-3372 PADUCAH - Nurse Kelley Johnson will share her story with nursing and allied health students at West Kentucky Community and Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 10:44:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's centrally-administered state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have donated a large amount of money and supplies to central China's Hubei Province to combat the pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus. Direct donations from the SOEs to Hubei hit nearly 600 million yuan (about 86.5 million U.S. dollars) as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council. The SOEs in the fields of medicine, oil, aviation, power grid and logistics have donated large quantities of drugs, equipment, epidemic prevention materials and daily necessities to the province. China National Pharmaceutical Group donated 10 million yuan worth of drugs for disease prevention and control, as well as over 2.9 million pieces of medical masks and gloves. State Grid Corporation of China donated 60.28 million yuan worth of power supply facilities for the construction of the Huoshenshan and Leishenshan makeshift hospitals. Chinese health authorities announced Wednesday that 5,974 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus had been reported in 31 provincial-level regions by the end of Tuesday. A total of 132 people have died of the disease. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) A western New York woman who admitted to being distracted by her phone when she drove over two toddlers in a wagon pleaded guilty to eight charges on Tuesday. Letoya Palmo, 29, of Gates, a Rochester suburb, accepted a plea deal that calls for 2 1/2 years in prison. She pleaded guilty to assault, reckless endangerment and other charges for running over two toddlers in a wagon pulled by a father last July. The 2-year-old girl and 10-month-old boy suffered serious injuries but survived. The wagon was dragged about 50 feet beneath Palmo's car. Palmo initially told police she had been distracted by her two unrestrained sons acting up in her back seat. But she later admitted she was on her phone and taking a photo of a for rent sign when she lost control of her vehicle. Police said the car had bad brakes and was not mechanically safe. Palmo pleaded guilty to all charges in her indictment a week before her trial was scheduled to begin. Shell be sentenced in April. 10 confirmed cases of the Wuhan virus in Singapore The Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed 3 new cases of the Wuhan coronavirus in Singapore as of 2.00 pm on January 29. There were 7 confirmed cases prior to this, bringing the total number up to 10 in Singapore. Singapore now has 10 confirmed cases of the Wuhan virus. Photo courtesy: NCID All three new cases are Chinese nationals who travelled from Wuhan. This is consistent with our assessment that more imported cases are expected from Hubei province. There is currently no evidence of community spread in Singapore, said an MOH press release. The eighth and ninth cases are a married couple - a 56 year-old female and a 56 year-old male. The couple arrived together in Singapore on January 19. They were asymptomatic during the flight to Singapore but subsequently developed symptoms on January 24 and took a taxi to Tan Tock Seng Hospital on January 27. Prior to hospital admission, they stayed with their family at their home at Lorong Lew Lian. The couple are currently warded in isolation rooms at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID). Case number 10 is a 56 year-old male Chinese national who arrived in Singapore from Wuhan on January 20. He was asymptomatic during his flight to Singapore and subsequently developed symptoms on January 21. He was admitted to NCID on January 28 after being identified as a suspect case at a health screening station at Marina South Pier. Prior to hospital admission, he worked and lived on board a cargo vessel. Courtesy: Ministry of Health The MOH has said that the three new cases are currently stable, while the seven previously announced cases are all in stable condition, and most are improving. A 16-year-old who was killed at a busy south London train station felt he had become a walking target before his death, his friends said. Louis Johnson, 16, was ambushed after being lured to a bridge over platforms at East Croydon at about 4.45pm on Monday. He was killed in a violent attack lasting 40 seconds, said police who arrested a youth from Balham on suspicion of murder early today. Louis, who lived in South Norwood, was travelling home to his mother after attending a Youth Offending Team meeting in Battersea. The teenager was stabbed at East Croydon station / NIGEL HOWARD Friends said the teenager felt he had become a walking target after surviving another attempt on his life earlier that day. According to them, Louis had been excluded from school and was attending a Pupil Referral Unit in Wandsworth. They fear he may have become caught up in a postcode war between rival gangs. Police in East Croydon / Twitter / @M_CPFC It was reported that YOT workers had told him take a taxi home. Youth worker Marlon Sampson said Louis had been working towards achieving a construction qualification at Croydon College when he saw him just before Christmas. The 36-year-old had worked with the teenager for about a year at his Walking With Giants drop-in centre. He told the Standard: He was always polite, respectful and really shy, when he talked to you could tell he was taking on board everything you were saying. When I went down there I heard it was Louis, I just thought its such a waste. NIGEL HOWARD A Louis is the first teenager to be killed in the capital in 2020. British Transport Police Chief Inspector Mark Lawrie said: We are pursuing strong lines of enquiry and have CCTV footage at the scene. A spokesman for Croydon College said: "The Croydon College community was saddened by the tragic and needless loss of a young life at East Croydon station this week. The death has shocked the community as a whole. "While Louis Johnson was not a student at Croydon College we believe he had aspirations to train in construction with us, and are saddened that he lost his life before he could do so. OnePlus has announced that it is sending its Concept One handset on a world tour. This phone got shown off at CES 2020, and by sending it on a world tour, OnePlus wants many more people to experience the device. This makes the Concept One sound like a rockstar, in a way. Well, many people would say that this is an exaggerated move by the company, but there you go. OnePlus says that many people expressed the desire to use the phone in person. Well, many of them are interested in the companys ECMF technology, first and foremost. Advertisement The OnePlus Concept One will visit North America, Europe, and India during its world tour The company announced that the phone will kick off its world tour on February 5. It will travel to North America, Europe, and India. The device will ship to six different countries in Europe, one city in North America, and three cities in India. The first stop is Paris in France, on February 5. It will also come to Germany, The Netherlands, the UK, Finland, and Denmark, as far as Europe is concerned. The device will make a stop in Seattle, the US, as well. As far as India is concerned, youll be able to check it out in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. Advertisement If youd like to check out the exact dates and times when a device can be checked out in your city, click here. You can also RSVP via that link. The company says that the Concept One is a phone you should experience in person, which is why it decided to make this move. The OnePlus Concept One will not become available for purchase, so this is basically the only chance for people to check it out. The phones electrochromic glass will make its way to future OnePlus devices The devices electrochromic glass will make its way to future OnePlus devices, though. We do not know when, but you will get this disappearing glass at one point, just on a different phone. Advertisement The OnePlus Concept One managed to turn a lot of heads at CES 2020. Not only that its cameras disappear due to the electrochromic glass, but the phone also looks quite sleek overall. OnePlus decided to combine metal, glass, and leather in order to bring this phone to life. So, its basically the OnePlus 7T Pro, with electrochromic glass, and a leather back. The devices electrochromic glass almost certainly will not be included in the OnePlus 8 or 8 Pro. It will make its way to OnePlus devices at one point, maybe even with the OnePlus 8T series, well see. C++ is a general-purpose systems programming language that is now more than 40 years old, having been designed in 1979. Far from losing steam, C++ still ranks near the top of multiple programming language popularity indexes. Smoothing the path to C++ usage is broad support for the language among the makers of IDEs, editors, compilers, test frameworks, code quality, and other tools. Software developers also have at their disposal many excellent libraries to assist with building C++ applications. Here are 10 that C++ developers rely on. Active Template Library From Microsoft, Active Template Library (ATL) is a set of C++ classes for building COM (Common Object Model) objects, with support for COM features such as dual interfaces, standard COM enumerator interfaces, connection points, and ActiveX controls. Available with the Visual Studio IDE, ATL can be used to build single-threaded objects, apartment-model objects, free-threaded model objects, or both free-threaded and apartment-model objects. Asio C++ library The Asio C++ library is used for network and low-level I/O programming, offering a consistent asynchronous model. Providing basic building blocks for concurrency, C++ networking, and other types of I/O, Asio has been used in applications ranging from smartphone apps and games to highly interactive websites and real-time transaction systems. Projects using Asio include the WebSocketPP library and the DDT3 remote debugger for the Lua language. Asio is available as free open source under the Boost Software License, and supported on Linux, Windows, MacOS, and FreeBSD. Cinder Cinder is an open source library for creative coding in C++. Useful for applications such as audio, computational geometry, graphics, and video, Cinder supports platform-native windowing and event-handling, along with I/O abstraction, and has a built-in API for XML and JSON parsing. Designed around idiomatic C++ 11 features such as shared_ptr, the library ships with numerous samples. Cinder supports MacOS, iOS, Linux, Windows, and Windows UWP. Eigen Eigen is a C++ template library for linear algebra, including matrices, vectors, numerical solvers, and related algorithms. All matrix sizes are supported, from small, fixed matrices to arbitrarily large, dense matrices. Algorithms are selected for reliability. All standard numeric types are supported. For speed, Eigen features expression templates to intelligently remove temporaries and enable lazy evaluation. Freely available under the Mozilla Public License 2 and downloadable from the Eigen project page, Eigen has been fitted with an API described by proponents as expressive and clean and natural to C++ programmers. The test suite for Eigen has been run against many compilers to ensure reliability. FloatX FloatX, or Float eXtended, is a header-only library for low-precision, floating point type emulation. While natively compatible with C++ compilers, FloatX can be called by other languages such as Python or Fortran. Floating point types are extended beyond the native single and double precision types. Template types are provided that allow the user to select the number of bits used for the exponent as well as significant parts of the floating point number. FloatX is based on the idea of the FlexFloat library for emulating reduced-precision floating types, but implements a superset of FlexFloat functionality in C and provides C++ wrappers. FloatX emerged from the Open Transprecision Computing initiative. It is available free under the Apache License 2.0. OpenCV OpenCV, or Open Source Computer Vision Library, is a computer vision and machine learning library written natively in C++, and available under a BSD license. OpenCV was built to provide common infrastructure for computer vision applications and accelerate the use of machine perception in commercial products. More than 2,500 optimized algorithms for face recognition, object detection, object classification, 3D model extraction, image search, and much more, OpenCV has amassed a user community of more than 47,000 persons. Available from the OpenCV project website, the library provides C++, Java, Python, and Matlab interfaces and supports Windows, Linux, Android, and MacOS. CUDA and OpenCL interfaces are in development. Poco C++ Libraries Intended to simplify C++ development, the Poco (Portable Components) C++ Libraries are cross-platform C++ libraries for building Internet and network applications to run on systems ranging from desktops and servers to mobile and IoT devices. The libraries also can be used to build microservices with REST APIs for machine learning or data analytics. The Poco libraries are similar in concept to the Java Class Library, Microsofts .NET Framework, or Apple Cocoa. Developers can use Poco libraries to build application servers in C++ that talk to SQL databases, Redis, or MongoDB, or to build software for IoT devices that talk to cloud back-ends. Among the features of the libraries are a cache framework, HTML form handling, an FTP client for transferring files, and an HTTP server and client. The Poco libraries are available free under the Boost Software License and downloadable from GitHub. Windows Template Library Originally from Microsoft, the Windows Template Library (WTL) is (since 2004) an open source library for building lightweight Windows applications and UI components. Positioned as an alternative to the Microsoft Foundation Classes toolkit, WTL extends ATL and provides a set of classes for controls, dialogs, frame windows, and GDI objects. Wt Wt is a web GUI library in modern C++ that allows developers to build interactive web UIs with widgets, without having to write JavaScript. A server-side solution, Wt does request handling and page rendering, providing built-in security, PDF rendering, a 2D and 3D painting system, an object-relational mapping library, a charting library, and an authentication framework. The core library is open source, providing a hybrid single-page framework that can be deployed on Linux, Unix, or Windows. Developed by software engineering company Emweb, Wt is compatible with HTML5 and HTML4 browsers as well as with plain HTML user agents. And Wt can integrate with third-party JavaScript libraries. With Wt, an application is defined as a hierarchy of widgetsranging from generic widgets such as push buttons to specialized widgets such as an entire blog widget. The widget tree is rendered as HTML/JavaScript in the browser. Wt can be downloaded from the project webpage. Both open source and commercial usage terms are available. Yocto/GL Yocto/GL is a collection of small C++17 libraries for building physically-based graphics algorithms. It is written in a data-oriented style for ease of development, and split into small libraries to make code navigation easier. Data is stored in simple structs and accessed with free functions or directly. Yocto/GL includes code from the PCG random number generator, boost hash_combine , and external libraries from the public domain or that are included with their own licenses. The developers of Yocto/GL prefer a functional approach rather than an object-oriented one, favoring free functions to class methods. Functions and data are defined in sibling namespaces contained in the yocto namespace. Yocto/GL is released under the MIT license and available from GitHub. A C++17 compiler is required. HOUSTON, Jan. 28 -- A high school in Houston, U.S. state of Texas, held a Chinese New Year celebration on Monday with students performing in Mandarin Chinese. Nearly 200 students and teachers from Strake Jesuit College Preparatory attended the event that featured dragon and lion dance, stage play, Chinese calligraphy and Chinese food. During the celebration, a bronze statue of Italian priest Matteo Ricci was unveiled and dedicated to the school by local Chinese sculptor Willy Wang. In 1601, Matteo Ricci entered the Forbidden City in Beijing, the then Chinese imperial palace, opening up a path for East-West cultural exchange that many people set foot on. The highlight of the celebration was a playlet "Journey West and Matteo Ricci" written and performed by 13 students and their Chinese language teacher. Having studied Peking Opera in Beijing for four years, the Chinese language teacher, Ione Meyer, can speak fluent Chinese and has been teaching at the school for eight years. She told Xinhua that she has more than 130 students this year. "For the first grade (high school) students, I introduce Chinese tea tasting to them. For the second graders, I ask them to try Chinese food and the third graders can even cook some Chinese dishes," Meyer said. She believes combining cultural study with language learning is a good way for the students to better understand China and enjoy the Chinese culture with their friends and family. "Some students want to do business with China or even work in China in the future. I hope they can use what they have learned in high school," she said. Enditem Boeing swung to its first annual loss in more than two decades as the bill for tackling the 737 Max crisis ballooned. The US plane maker now estimates the total cost of the 737 Max fallout will come to 14.3billion, more than double its previous forecast of around 7billion. Around 6.4billion of this will be in payments to airlines for not delivering the jets and disrupting their flying schedules. Grounded: Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft are parked at Boeing's facility in Washington. The US plane maker now estimates the total cost of the 737 Max fallout will come to 14.3bn The company has been forced to ground the best-selling jet since last March, after a software fault caused two deadly crashes that killed 346 people. Boeing is still not sure when the planes will return to the skies, with many airlines now planning their summer routes on the assumption it will not be back in service until later in the year. And the crisis led to former boss Dennis Muilenburg being sacked in December. Boeing's reputation has suffered further amid damning criticism from US politicians, who dubbed the jets 'flying coffins', and the release of internal emails where staff mocked lax safety procedures and described the planes as 'designed by clowns' and 'supervised by monkeys'. New chief executive David Calhoun said: 'We recognise we have a lot of work to do.' He added: 'Safety will underwrite every decision, every action and every step we take as we move forward.' The former General Electric executive who has been on Boeing's board since 2009, also dismissed the idea of rebranding the Max as worries are mounting that customers might not want to fly on it after the crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia. Calhoun told CNBC: 'I'm not going to market my way out of this. This plane will recover with the flying public when airline pilots step on it, fly it, like it, and by the way, based on all the test flights we've had to date, which are many, they do.' Chicago-based Boeing booked a full-year loss of 489million in 2019, compared with a profit of 8billion the year before, on turnover of 59billion. This was a 24 per cent fall on the revenue in 2018. Between October and December, the final quarter of its financial year, revenue fell 37 per cent to 13.8billion and it lost 769million. Boeing plans to cut production of the 787 Dreamliner its major cash cow in the absence of the 737 Max jets to 10 per month from 12 as of next January, amid a fall in demand from Chinese buyers. It also took a 315million charge after its unmanned commercial spacecraft, the Starliner, failed to dock at the International Space Station. However, its shares climbed 2.5 per cent to $323 last night, as some analysts believed the Max charges would be far worse. Peter Arment, at US investment bank Robert Baird, said: 'Announcing all of these negative items removes major overhangs on the stock. This quarter's kitchen-sink report is a step in the right direction.' The 737 Max crisis meant European rival Airbus dethroned Boeing as the world's largest plane manufacturer for the first time in eight years in 2019. Airbus delivered 863 planes in 2019, compared to Boeing's 345. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 19:02:53|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close CAIRO, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Arab League (AL) Secretary General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit said on Wednesday the pan-Arab organization is "carefully considering the U.S. vision" about the Middle East peace plan. "We are open to any effort exerted for achieving peace," Aboul-Gheit said in a statement. However, he added "the first reading of the U.S. Middle East peace plan revealed big losses for the Palestinian legitimate rights on their lands." He reiterated that achieving fair and constant peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis is subject to the willingness of the two parties. He considered the peace plan of the U.S. President Donald Trump as "non-binding." He highlighted the basic criteria for the success of any peace plan depends on how the plan is consistent with the international laws and the principles of justice. "Any serious plan for achieving peace must meet the aspirations of the two sides with equal concessions of both parties," he added. Trump on Tuesday promised "a new dawn" which was angrily rejected as biased by the Palestinians. The plan recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided capital," while claiming that the Palestinians' capital will include areas of East Jerusalem. After Trump's announcement, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he will change the role of the current Palestinian Authority in response to the U.S. plan. Washington's role as an Israeli-Palestinian conflict mediator has been questioned with the Trump administration's pro-Israeli policies in the past three years such as recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital, moving the U.S. embassy to the city, and slashing hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars in humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. The Union on Wednesday asked Indians to refrain from travelling to China where the novel has claimed over 100 lives. The ministry issued a fresh travel advisory and also urged people travelling to China to monitor their health closely. It asked people to use 24x7 helpline (011-23978046) for queries related to respiratory infection. "In the view of the spurt of cases being reported in China and travel related cases appearing in many countries....all non-essential travel to China to be avoided," it said. As part of the preparedness, India has also increased the number of airports from seven to 21 where thermal screening of passengers is being done for a possible exposure to the deadly nCoV. These include airports at Gaya, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, Varanasi, Goa, Bhubaneswar and Lucknow besides the seven designated airports identified earlier. The also has established four more laboratories apart from the NIV-Pune for testing samples. The four labs for the testing samples have been made functional at Alleppey, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Mumbai. India is also planning to evacuate its nationals, mostly students, stuck in Wuhan, the epicentre of the viral outbreak. Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba had on Tuesday reviewed the preparedness to deal with the deadly virus after which the government said India has made a formal request to China for facilitating evacuation of Indians from Wuhan. The Civil Aviation Ministry will make necessary arrangements for evacuation after the approval of Chinese authorities is received. Asserting that there was no confirmed case of the nCoV, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had on Tuesday said India was making all efforts to detect and check the spread of the virus even asmore than a dozen countries around the world have confirmed cases. Several states, including Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan have kept some people, with travel history to China, under observation after they showed novel coronavirus-like symptoms. Apart from increasing the number of airports to conduct thermal screening of passengers, the Centre has stepped up vigil in areas bordering Nepal in view of a confirmed case of nCoV detected there. The health minister had said he has also written to all chief ministers, requesting them for personal intervention to review the states' preparedness for control and management of the spread of the virus. China had reported 24 more deaths on Tuesday from the epidemic, taking the number of fatalities to 106 as the confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the outbreak stood at 4,515, the Chinese health authorities said. ALSO READ: British Airways suspends all flights to China over coronavirus outbreak The health minister has urged passengers who have a travel history to China since January 1, 2020, to come forward for self-reporting to the nearest health facility if they experience any symptoms such as fever, cough, respiratory distress, etc., and also inform their treating doctor. Three persons with a travel history to China have been kept under observation at an isolation ward of RML Hospital in New Delhi for a possible exposure to novel A 24x7 NCDC Call Centre has been made operational to monitor the list of contacts furnished by the Ministry of External Affairs, provide details of district and state surveillance officers to those who seek them, and in case of any clinical query, direct the concerned to the relevant Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) officer. The has askedpassengers to follow certain dos and don'ts if they are in China or ifthey are travelling or returning from China. The advisory stated that during their stay in China, if they feel sick and have fever and cough, then they should cover their mouth while coughing and sneezing, seek medical attention promptly and report to the Indian Embassy in China. It said if they feel sick on flight, while travelling back to India from China, they should inform the airline crew about their illness, seek mask and self-reporting format from the airline crew, avoid close contact with family members or fellow travellers and follow other directions of crew and airport health officer. 17.12 - "Flight Plan Written by Brendan Fehily Directed by Tawnia McKiernan Reviewed by KathM I would like to apologize for my negligence, I thought I'd posted this review much earlier! Aaaand Ziva has left the series! We now return to our more normal-type episodes. So, we have two things going on this week: a story that ends up being more than it appears, and a story that annoyed me because it was so sophomoric. So, I will say this: McGee got a vasectomy, okay? He accidentally brought it up with the wrong person (Torres) and the next thing you know is what everyones opinion of what hes going to do and what theyd do or have done, etc. I found the whole thing boring and, I dont know, unnecessary. While I do see that having more children would be a concern for the McGees, I just thought the way it was handled was not to my taste. I would have preferred Tim be the calm one who made a decision he and Delilah were comfortable with, and see how the others reacted around him. Particularly Torres. But that isnt what they did, and now lets onto the more interesting plot. Navy Lt. Rebecca Weeks was on a routine training mission on the USS Franklin Roosevelt in an F-18 and never came home. Since she separated from the group of trainees she was flying with, didnt eject from her seat and radioed Im sorry, as she flew the plane down toward the water, it is assumed that she killed herself. Bishop and Gibbs investigate. They want to gather more information about what happened on the Roosevelt and talk to people on the ship who knew Weeks as well as her CO and those watching over the training mission from inside the ship who received her last radio message. Her super helpful but reticent roomie Lieutenant JG Harper Logan tells Bishop and Gibbs that Week's boyfriend had recently broken up with her because she was too old for him. Ouch. Logan opens the door to their quarters so NCIS can look around to see if theres a note or some explanation for Weeks's suicide and find Petty Officer First Class Fisher Patrick, Weekss former boyfriend, sprawled dead on her bed. Patricks death appears to be from an Oxycontin overdose, but where did he get it? From Rebecca, of course! Turns out she had a prescription due to an injury the previous month. Between finding some pills in her bunk and Logan reluctantly admitting that Weeks had talked about killing Patrick for breaking up with her, NCIS could now be looking at a murder/suicide. However, it seems that Weeks had disabled the tracker on her seat in the plane, so could her death may be more of a really expensive way to go AWOL? Gibbs and Co. begin to believe that Weeks might be alive after all. The gang makes their way to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where they encounter a Rebecca Weeks that is full of stealth. She is one step ahead of the gang at every turn. The Outer Banks is her place, and she knows it well. She appears to have rowed to shore in her raft, then bought warm clothes and the various tools required to hot wire a motorcycle at a local Bait and Tackle shop, where she then hot wires and steals the proprietors motorcycle and scurries away pretty much just as Gibbs comes in the front door. Sloane lets them know that Weekss godfather, Cmd. Jack Briggs (ret.), lives nearby, so they figure that is her destination. Cmd. Briggs is played by Patrick Duffy, who had too much moustache and too little story. Hes sure Rebecca didnt kill Patrick and manages to stall them just long enough for Rebecca to fly away in the tiniest little plane I have ever seen: its like a Smart Fortwo with wings. Weeks could have gone anywhere, or at least flown away from the Outer Bay. But when they track her plane they see she has only gone 30 miles away. It is at this point that both Leon and Kasie begin to think that Weeks is acting more like an innocent person who wasnt ready to be caught because she had numerous chances to escape and didnt take them. As if the gang isnt annoyed enough, Weeks calls Gibbs (via NCIS HQ) and tells them that she didnt kill Patrick and is actually doing their job for them. Shes calling from a nearby junkyard, where cameras show her taking something from a car totaled in an accident, then stealing another car and tearing through a gate to get away, leaving Gibbs and the Bullpen crew in the dust. So, why steal something from a car damaged beyond use when she had a perfectly good (enough) car to that didnt need any parts? A little research on the totaled car finds that it had been owned by Jill May, the wife of Weekss CO, who had died recently in a single-car crash. It had been ruled an accident, but Kasie thinks it looks like Rebecca took the onboard computer from Mays car. Perhaps she thought there might be something hinky about the accident? Gibbs and McGee rush back to the Theodore Roosevelt to find that Weeks somehow snuck back onto the ship and May is missing. Shes found holding a gun on May, trying to get him to confess to killing his wife. She wants his computer to prove that he hacked the car to turn off her brakes and the brake light while he was deployed so hed never be suspected. Weeks and Mays wife were close friends, and Jill had joked last month to her that if she ended up dead, it was her husband who did it. She confronted May about Jills death, then finds Patrick dead in her quarters, freaks out and flies a several million-dollar plane into the ocean to fake her death to find evidence that May is the perp. May denies everything. Weeks is persuaded to give up her gun while McGee hacks around Mays laptop and determines that yes, May did hack his wifes car. May is freaked out, as am I, because I do not want or need to know thats a thing. But you know what? May really didnt have anything to do with his wifes death. When Rebecca mentions that Patrick was her current boyfriend, not an ex, Gibbs looks a little harder at Harper Logan. She was the one who said that Patrick had broken up with Rebecca, and when they go to talk to her she basically falls apart like a slightly unhinged house of cards.: May and Logan had an affair, but he wouldnt leave his wife for her (despite the fact that Logan is sure he loves and wants only her); Logan then hacks into Mays wifes on-board computer, causing her accident and framing May; then kills Patrick to frame Rebecca. With May and Weeks exonerated and Logan arrested, that is the end of that. While I still think that Weeks could easily have done her sleuthing when she had leave and didnt have to take out an F-18, her heart was in a good place. Maybe if she isnt court-martialed she could join NCIS because, as she has proven, she has Ninja skills and can think outside of the box. And if she did, maybe we could see more of Patrick Duffy, too. 17.3 - "Sound Off Written by Lisa Di Trolio Directed by William Webb Reviewed by KathM Gunnery Sgt. Danny Backer (ret.), was showing his girlfriend, Marine Staff Sergeant Diana Murphy, a new sonic weapon that manipulated sound they would be testing for weapons contractor LanWar Defense Systems when the weapon misfired before Diana could get her earmuffs on. Her hearing was damaged (and eventually lost), and since she didn't want to leave the Marines, Danny helped her learn to read lips so that she could continue to do her job (piloting UAVs in the Marine Warfighting Lab). For months she's able to continue to work with no problems. None of her coworkers noticed anything different about Dianas job performance as she was losing her hearing due to her ability to read lips, but when she lost her hearing completely there could be times when she is unable to understand or possibly not "hear" an order when she wasnt able to lip read it. This nightmare unfortunately comes true when her inability to hear an order means she doesnt stop a weaponized drone test on what was supposed to be an empty bunker. The LanWar keeps telling her to abort the test, and since she cant see him she doesnt. The bunker is blown up successfully, but what her CO had been trying to tell her is that someone was in the bunker. And it turns out that someone was Danny. The subsequent NCIS investigation uncovers Dianas hearing loss (which she had been successfully hiding for months). When they then find out that she and Danny had a huge argument before he died, and that he was the one who had fired the weapon that had cost Diana her hearing, it looks like shes headed for Leavenworth. But then we find that she has an airtight alibi: she was at work potentially endangering others when Danny died. Also, he was dead before he was put into the bunker and time of death was when Diana was seen at work. So, shes in the clear. Still, I am angry at Diana. I feel awful for her because I agree with Kasie and Bishop that some accommodation could have been made for her to be able to continue to competently do her job. While yes, the US Military does need to become more flexible by recruiting and using existing soldiers with disabilities that would only require a slight accommodation (other country's have hearing impaired soldiers in their military), her negligence frustrates me. I know she loved her job, but she was a liability despite making her own accommodation. We come to find out that Danny had some of the weapons in his apartment, which he planned to give to an old professor of his to see if they would be truly safe for military use. He thinks that a design flaw might have caused the weapon to misfire before Diana was supposed to put her earmuffs on, and he was worried that the weapon wouldnt be safe in the field. He forges Dianas signature on the paperwork to take the drones, then wont tell her why (hence, the argument). This puts him in the role of a Whistleblower and puts LanWar, who created the weapon, back in the picture with a motive to kill Danny. And they are correct. The killer ends up being LanWars Chief of Development and NOT the President who was initially a suspect because he was trying to pressure Leon to clear his company because he needed to get his military contracts moving again. Diana is discharged and Gibbs and Leon helped her find a civilian job that can accommodate her deafness. Actually, shell be back at the Marine Warfighting Lab as a civilian coordinating training missions. Oh! And down in the morgue, Jimmy Palmer is looking for an assistant. Hes long overdue for one, hes been working himself to the bone. I was wondering whether or not hed end up hiring one, and given how hard it was to find just the three candidates Im not surprised that hes still alone with the cadavers. Candidate One was too unprofessional, Candidate Two seemed borderline psychotic (NO sharps for them!) and was way too interested in the idea of simply cutting people up, and Candidate Three was super Ducky-ish but turned down the job(!). Im hoping they do a-type rolling assistant thing, where we see a new one every week or so. We shall see what happens. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 01:21:37|Editor: yan Video Player Close BRUSSELS, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- In defiance of pressure from the United States, the European Union did not ban Chinese technology firms such as Huawei in its guidelines on 5G security issued on Wednesday. The European Commission, the EU's executive, issued the non-binding guidelines -- agreed by 28 member states -- known as a "toolbox" for 5G security, where the EU sets out detailed mitigation plans for each of the identified risks and recommends a set of key strategic and technical measures. Despite intense lobbying and threats from the U.S. aiming to ban Chinese suppliers, particularly the leading global vendor Huawei, from participating in building 5G infrastructure, the EU did not name either China or any specific company. Instead, the EU guidelines resorted to urging member states to "apply relevant restrictions for suppliers considered to be high risk, including necessary exclusions to effectively mitigate risks for key assets," as well as "using for an adequate balance of suppliers at national level and avoid dependency on suppliers considered to be high risk," without naming or specifying which supplier is "high risk". The guidelines followed London's decision on Tuesday to allow Huawei playing a role in building the United Kingdom's 5G network, albeit with some restrictions. The U.S. administration has launched intensive diplomatic offensives against Huawei, urging -- sometimes with explicit threats on intelligence sharing -- its European allies to get rid of Huawei for good. Huawei said in a statement after Brussels' guidelines that "Huawei welcomes Europe's decision, which enables Huawei to continue participating in Europe's 5G roll-out. This non-biased and fact-based approach towards 5G security allows Europe to have a more secure and faster 5G network." "Huawei has been present in Europe for almost 20 years and has a proven track record with regard to security. We will continue to work with European governments and industry to develop common standards to strengthen the security and reliability of the network," the statement added, quoting Abraham Liu, Huawei Chief Representative to the EU Institutions. The Chinese Mission to the EU said in a statement that it is studying and assessing the "toolbox", using the world's largest trading bloc to implement its much-touted multilateralism, free trade and market principles and uphold a fair, open, just and non-discriminatory environment. The statement urged the EU to join China in win-win cooperation and "resolutely resist" pressure from a small number of countries and politicians. Huawei is widely considered as the leading technology firm globally in terms of 5G, and experts and think-tanks have repeatedly said banning Huawei would be very costly and extremely time-consuming for the EU. Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for Internal Market, appeared to allude to the thinking by saying "Europe is not lagging behind" at a press conference after the issuance of the guidelines. A former Illinois state senator pleaded guilty Tuesday to accepting around a quarter-million dollars in bribes in exchange for protecting the interests of a red-light camera company, and promised to cooperate with federal prosecutors in ongoing public corruption investigations. Martin Sandoval, 56, entered his plea during an initial hearing in U.S. District Court in Chicago, just one day after prosecutors listed charges against the recent chair of the senates powerful transportation committee. According to the plea agreement, Sandoval accepted some $250,000 in bribes, though court filings dont name the company or other individuals who might have been involved. Sandoval is well connected in the Illinois Democratic Party. His decision to cooperate comes after more than a year of home and office raids against multiple Democrats, several of whom have been charged, and it increases the chances that more charges will follow. In Springfield, the news cast an uneasy pallor over the first day of the General Assemblys spring session. I dont know if Ive ever been more embarrassed than watching the federal government cart cardboard boxes out of the Capitol. It turned my stomach, newly elected Senate President Don Harmon said of the FBIs Sept. 24 raids of Sandovals offices. The chapter is certainly not over but I think its best that that Marty Sandoval is no longer a member of the Senate, Harmon said. Sandoval faces up to 13 years in prison, though his cooperation could shave years off his sentence. Charging papers say Sandoval corruptly solicited, demanded, agreed to accept and accepted payments for continued support for the operation of red-light cameras in the State of Illinois. The alleged bribery occurred between 2016 and 2019, when, as chair of the transportation committee, Sandoval wielded enormous influence in how state transportation funds were spent. The prosecutors filing offered few details, including which company or company officials paid bribes. Sandoval, who announced his resignation effective Jan. 1, also pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return. He is accused of misstating his income in a 2017 return when he indicated he made around $125,000. Sandoval knew his income substantially exceeded that amount, the filing says. In response to the Sandoval investigation and a federal bribery charge against then Rep. Luis Arroyo, a Chicago Democrat, the Legislature adopted greater reporting requirements for lobbying in November and created a commission to identify other ethics remedies by March 31. Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat who joined the Senate with Sandoval in 2003, said, We cannot pretend this is not a problem, but cautioned against wide-ranging ethics resolutions with unintended consequences. We have to identify what the problem is that were trying to solve, Harmon said. Im not afraid of tackling the tough issues, but I do want us to identify with some precision what problem were trying to solve and whether or not the proposed solutions solve them. Study on the impacts of the world's largest invasive animal in Colombia provides key insight into the future of a growing population Four hours east of Medellin in northern Colombia's Puerto Triunfo municipality, the sprawling hacienda constructed by infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar of "Narcos" fame has become a tourist attraction. When Escobar's empire crashed, the exotic animals housed at his family's zoo, including rhinos, giraffes and zebras, were safely relocated to new homes... except for the hippopotamuses. (Video: Researchers film invasive Colombian hippos: https://youtu.be/fY_8EM8V5Lw) With no safe or practical way to remove the animals, the original population of four hippos has since ballooned to more than 80, per the last estimate (background story: https://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/feature/drug-lords-hippos-make-their-mark-on-foreign-ecosystem). Now, scientists at the University of California San Diego and their colleagues in Colombia have provided the first scientific assessment of the impact the invasive animals are having on Colombian aquatic ecosystems. Their study is published in the journal Ecology. "This unique species has a big impact on its ecosystem in its native range in Africa, and we found that it has a similar impact when you import it into an entirely new continent with a completely different environment and cast of characters," said UC San Diego Biological Sciences Professor Jonathan Shurin. "It's clear that this effect might include negative consequences for water quality and water resources by fueling harmful algae and bacteria." Spanning two years, the research team completed a comprehensive assessment of water quality, oxygen levels and stable isotope signatures, comparing lakes with hippo populations to those without. The researchers also compared the microbiomes in the lakes, along with assessments of insects, crustaceans and other organisms. The study revealed that the hippos are changing the area's water quality by importing large amounts of nutrients and organic material from the surrounding landscape. Since the nocturnal animals feed on land most of the night and spend their days cooling off in the water, their large inputs of waste are altering the chemistry and oxygen of the lakes. "The effect of fertilizing all those bacteria and algae increases the productivity in the water," said Shurin. "We found that the lakes are more productive when they have hippos in them. This can change the kinds of algae and bacteria and can lead to problems like eutrophication, or excess algae production that can lead to harmful algal blooms similar to red tides." From an historical perspective, the hippos offer a rare opportunity to study the types of massive animals that have largely disappeared in the Americas and their influence on new ecosystems. They provide a snapshot of a period thousands of years ago when gigantic creatures such as mammoths and mastodons roamed the Americas. From a practical viewpoint, the new study provides Colombian officials with scientific evidence of how the hippos are disrupting the area's aquatic ecosystems. The researchers estimate that the hippo population will continue to grow dramatically in the years ahead. Their growth spurs many new questions such as how the expanding population interacts with local animals, including manatees, caymans and giant river turtles that inhabit nearby rivers. Hippos tend to be extremely difficult to catch and can be very dangerous to confront. "If you plot out their population growth, we show that it tends to go exponentially skyward," said Shurin. "In the next couple of decades there could be thousands of them. This study suggests that there is some urgency to deciding what to do about them. The question is: what should that be?" The answer, according to Shurin, is much easier to address when there are 80 hippos rather than thousands. ### Coauthors of the study include Nelson Aranguren Riano, Daniel Duque Negro and Adriana Pedroza Ramos of the Universidad Pedagogica y Tecnologica de Colombia; David Echeverri Lopez of the Corporacion Autonoma Regional de las Cuencas de los Rios Negros y Nare-CORNARE; Natalie Jones of UC San Diego and the University of Queensland, Australia; Oscar Laverde-R. of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Columbia and Alexander Neu (David V Goeddel Endowed Graduate Fellow) of UC San Diego. Trump Attended the March for Life Rally. What Does This Mean for the Pro-Choice Movement? March for Life, an annual assemly of pro-life, anti-abortion advocates to protest the practice of abortion and the legality of Roe v. Wade, was founded January 22, 1974. Nellie Gray, a pro-life activist known for her philosophy no exception, no compromise, founded the event a year after the historic Roe v. Wade decision. The march is held in Washington D.C. and is organized by the March for Life Education and Defense Fund. The first March for Life in 1974, was attended by an estimated 20,000 protestors, according to the March for Life website. Over the years, attendance has remained steady in the tens of thousands. Many high schoolers and college students have attended the march, usually bused in with church or youth groups. A Washington Post article in 2010 estimated that about half of the members of the protest were under the age of 30. ADVERTISEMENT This year, Trump became the first sitting president to attend the March for Life. It is my profound honor to be the first president in history to attend the March for Life. Trump said, giving a speech at the rally, As President of the United States, I am truly proud to stand with you. He continued, Were here for a very important reason: to defend the right of every child born and unborn, to fulfill their God-given potential. Unborn children have never had a stronger defender in the White House. And as the Bible tells us, each person is wonderfully made. In an interview with NBC News in 1999, Trump declared to be pro-choice in every respect. When campaigning for president, Trump shifted his opinion from pro-choice to pro-life after registering as a Republican. As president, Trump has approved and supported many pro-life laws and has spread many falsehoods about abortion, like his quote during a rally, They take care of the baby. They wrap the baby beautifully. Then the doctor and mother determine whether or not they will execute the baby. Attendees of the march, and Trump himself, have now declared Trump the most pro-life president ever. This is his way of gaining a bigger political base for the 2020 presidential election and to distract from his impeachment trial. This type of fanbase, white evangelical Christian voters, played an important role in his 2016 election win and Trump is hoping that they will help him with his second term. We are preserving faith-based adoption and to uphold our founding documents. We have confirmed 187 federal judges who apply the constitution as written, including two phenomenal supreme court justices: Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. Trump said about his pro-life plans for the future. Kellyanne Conway, who serves as counselor to the President, and Alex Azar, Secretary of Health and Human Services also attended the march. Azar was in the news recently after he called the Health and Human Services the Department of Life, which is especially ironic coming from the agency that played an integral part in putting children in cages at the border. That's definitely not pro-life. Presidents, from the Republican party, in the past have interacted with the March for Life movement. In 1987, Reagan called in to the march, saying that he would work with them to end this national tragedy. Bush praised protesters in 2003 for their devotion to such a noble cause.'' There have been other significant politicians that have attended the march. Mike Pence attended the rally in 2010 and 2011 as a Congressman and later attended in 2017 and 2019 as Vice President. Pence was the first Vice President to attend and, at the time, was the highest ranking official to attend the rally. Trump addressed the crowd at the 2018 and 2019 rally via satellite video feed. And this year, he addressed in person. Trump closed his speech with, They are coming after me because I am fighting for you and we are fighting for those that have no voice, and we will win because we know how to win. Together we are the voice for the voiceless. This is a very different way to address pro-choice and pro-life issues than presidents have used in the past. Presidents who opposed abortion never officially attended the march. They kept a safe distance, never wanting to be associated with the movement directly. By physically attending the rally, Trump is drastically changing the way pro-life and pro-choice issues are addressed. As mentioned before, Trump is attending this event to ensure the majority of his fanbase, white evangelical Christians, vote for him and support him during his impeachment. The Susan B. Anthony List recently announced that they will be donating 52 million dollars to reelect President Trump and other pro-life senators. This attack on personal freedom and bodily autonomy is very dangerous and unsettling news for women everywhere. As we all known, getting rid of legal abortions will not stop abortions, it will just stop safe abortions. Header image screenshot of YouTube video via CNBC Television More from BUST New Study Shows Sweeping Majority Of People Don't Regret Their Abortion 5 Years Later Abortion Is Normal Art Exhibitions Are Opening In NYC Google Maps Could Be Leading Women To Fake Abortion Clinics, But, Yelp Is Here To Save The Day Georgia is a journalism student at The New School in Manhattan who loves writing, watching cartoons and intersectional feminism. She is an avid napper and cat lover. Because she is behind on the times, follow her only recently made twitter @georgiagrdodd. Photo: Providence Doucet/Unsplash Looking for something to do this week? From live music to a walking tour, here's a lineup of options to help you get off the couch and out into the world. 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. An Evening with Pop Artist Ramzi Adek From the event description: Meet French pop artist Ramzi Adek during a special West Coast appearance. In French with simultaneous translation in English. You can now see him paint on canvas, but not exclusively cars, clothes or shoes are also perfectly acceptable media to apply his colorful spray paint. When: Thursday, Jan. 30, 6:30-8 p.m. Where: Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley, 1009 Heinz Ave. Admission: Free Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Howard Alden with Kit Eakles DjangoSphere From the event description: Celebrated guitarist Howard Alden joins violin master Kit Eakles group DjangoSphere to perform the music of Thelonious Monk and Django Reinhardt. The leader of DjangoSphere, Kit Eakle is known as one of the most original improvising violinists on the West Coast. When: Thursday, Jan. 30, 8-10 p.m. Where: The Back Room, 1984 Bonita Ave. Admission: $15 (Student with ID); $20 (General Admission) Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Booker T. Jones From the event description: Booker T Jones Celebrates the release of his memoir "Time Is Tight" and companion album "Note By Note." Booker T, a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, winner of four GRAMMY Awards and recipient of a GRAMMY Award for Lifetime Achievement, will treat fans prior to the musical performance to an intimate reading from his forthcoming autobiography, followed by a short Q&A opportunity. When: Friday, Jan. 31, 8 p.m. Where: Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison St. Admission: $31-$54 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Story continues Wonder Women of UC Berkeley Walking Tour From the event description: A walking tour to honor the many women who have contributed to the Bay Areas legacy. This edition walks through the University of California Berkeley campus and talks about women who shaped the school and beyond. The path spans about 1.5 miles, including some gradual hills (mostly heading down). When: Saturday, Feb. 1, 1-3:30 p.m. Where: Outside Phoebe Hearst Museum of Anthropology/Kroeber Hall, Outside Kroeber Hall Admission: Free Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Tempest & Avalon Rising From the event description: Since forming in 1988, Tempest has delivered a globally-renowned hybrid of high-energy Folk Rock fusing Irish reels, Scottish ballads, Norwegian influences and other world music elements. The last 26 years have seen the San Francisco Bay Area based act release fifteen critically acclaimed CDs and play more than 2,000 gigs. It's also enjoyed an evolving line-up that's enabled musicianship and creativity to rise with each new member. When: Saturday, Feb. 1, 8-11 p.m. Where: Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center, 1317 San Pablo Ave. Admission: $20 (General Admission Advance); $22 (Day of Show) Click here for more details, and to get your tickets This story was created automatically using local event data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/29/2020 -- The analysts forecast the global caffeine market to exhibit a CAGR of 5.24% during the period 2019-2024. The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global caffeine for 2019-2024. To calculate the market size, the report considers the caffeine sales volume and revenue. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: regional markets, and application. Get PDF Sample Copy @ https://www.marketgrowthinsight.com/sample/68510?utm_source=akshay&utm_medium=sbwire Geographically, the global caffeine market is segmented into North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa and South America. This report forecasts revenue growth at a global, regional & country level, and provides an analysis of the market trends in each of the sub-segments from 2019 to 2024. - North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico, etc.) - Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand, etc.) - Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia, Spain, etc.) - Middle East & Africa (Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Nigeria, UAE, Israel, South Africa, etc.) - South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Venezuela, Peru, etc.) Based on application, the caffeine market is segmented into: - Pharmaceuticals - Cosmetics - Beverages The Report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market. Some of the leading players in the global caffeine market are: - Aarti Industries Limited (AIL) - Bakul Aromatics and Chemicals Limited - CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. - Delta Synthetic Co., Ltd. - Jilin Shulan Synthetic Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. - Kudos Chemie Limited - Shandong Xinhua Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. - Shiratori Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. - Shizuoka Coffein Co., Ltd. - Siegfried AG - Youhua Pharmaceutical (Leshan) Co., Ltd. - request free sample to get a complete list of companies. Order a Purchase Copy @ https://www.marketgrowthinsight.com/checkout/68510?utm_source=akshay&utm_medium=sbwire Objective of the Study: - To analyze and forecast the market size of global caffeine market. - To classify and forecast global caffeine market based on region, and application. - To identify drivers and challenges for global caffeine market. - To examine competitive developments such as expansions, mergers & acquisitions, etc., in global caffeine market. - To conduct pricing analysis for global caffeine market. - To identify and analyze the profile of leading players operating in global caffeine market. The report is useful in providing answers to several critical questions that are important for the industry stakeholders such as manufacturers and partners, end users, etc., besides allowing them in strategizing investments and capitalizing on market opportunities. Key Target Audience are: - Manufacturers of caffeine - Raw material suppliers - Market research and consulting firms - Government bodies such as regulating authorities and policy makers - Organizations, forums and alliances related to caffeine The information contained in this report is based upon both primary and secondary sources. Primary research included interviews with caffeine suppliers and industry experts. Secondary research included an exhaustive search of relevant publications like company annual reports, financial reports, and proprietary databases. Access Full Report @ https://www.marketgrowthinsight.com/68510/caffeine-market-outlook?utm_source=akshay&utm_medium=sbwire 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 Us: 2nd Floor, Manikchand Ikon, B-Wing, Dhole Patil Road, Sangamwadi, Pune 411001 +1 347 767 5477 (US) +44 131 463 4161 (UK) + 91 8956 767 535 (IN) Email: sales@marketindustryreports.com Google Maps A Deer Park chemical company will be testing a new alarm system Wednesday afternoon, and residents should not be concerned, emergency officials said. Residents could hear the alarm, scheduled for 2 p.m. at Lubrizol Corporation, the Deer Park Office of Emergency Management said on Twitter. An aerial photo shows displaced Syrians driving through Hazano in the northern countryside of Idlib, after fleeing towards areas further north near the border with Turkey. Photo: Omar HAJ KADOUR / AFP Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces have targeted civilians trying to flee the fighting in the last rebel stronghold of Idlib, civil defence rescuers say. Air strikes hit queues of traffic as people tried to escape toward the Turkish border, local activists and the White Helmets civil defence said. "The regime warplanes [targeted] civilians' cars who are fleeing from bombardments on their houses in Idlib countryside," the White Helmets claimed. "This man left the car, covering his child to try to protect him after air strikes targeting the main road near Saraqib City." The White Helmets later posted a photograph on Twitter of a father shielding his son. 'Unnecessary' to evacuate foreigners from China: WHO Global Times By Wang Wenwen and Chen Qingqing Source:Globaltimes.cn Published: 2020/1/28 17:43:41 The Head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said he is confident in China's capacity to deal with the novel coronavirus outbreak, and plans by some countries to repatriate their citizens are unnecessary. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, said on Tuesday in Beijing that the organization and the international community highly appreciate the decisive measures that have been taken by the Chinese government, and thanked the Chinese side for its huge efforts in curtailing the spreading of the virus, according to the Xinhua News Agency. The WHO noted that some countries are planning to evacuate their citizens from China, saying there is no need to overact and the WHO is fully confident that the Chinese government can bring the spread of the disease under control, the Xinhua report said. Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang Yi told Ghebreyesus at their meeting on Tuesday that China appreciates WHO's objective and fair response to China's measures in fighting the infectious disease. China is willing to enhance cooperation with the international community in an open and transparent manner, said Wang. Xia Guohan, a Beijing-based research fellow with the Chinese think tank Grandview Institution, said that although foreign countries are free to evacuate their citizens, it is not a wise move and could have unforeseen consequences. "If foreign governments decide to evacuate their nationals, it shows that they lack confidence in the Chinese government's fight against the coronavirus. But since the 2003 battle against SARS, all levels of government have ability to handle the spread of an infectious diseases," Xia told the Global Times Tuesday. Xia also said that the evacuation may cause public opinion in foreign countries to exaggerate the problem. Xia suggested that foreign governments, especially France, enhance communication with Wuhan, considering that half of all French companies in China are based in Wuhan. The US and Japan should consider international humanitarian assistance, rather than incurring the expense of evacuating a few hundred people. On Tuesday, Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu held a briefing on the epidemic with foreign embassy representatives. Ma emphasized that in the face of the severe and complicated epidemic, the Chinese government has adopted strong and difficult measures, which no other country could do, and will implement them more resolutely and forcefully, according to a statement on the official website of the ministry. Considered the strong scientific and technological material foundation accumulated by the People's Republic of China over 70 years, the Chinese government has the determination, confidence, and ability to win the battle against epidemic prevention and control, Ma said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Coming out in support of BJP MP Anurag Thakur, who is facing flak for his provocative slogans against anti-CAA protesters at a rally in Delhi, Karnataka Tourism Minister C T Ravi has said anti-nationals should get bullet and not biryani. Ravi tweeted his support for the Union Minister, two days after the latter had egged on the crowd at a poll rally in Delhi, to raise an incendiary slogan -- shoot the traitors -- after he lashed out at anti-CAA protesters. Those attacking Union MoS @ianuragthakur for His statement against Traitors are the ones who- Opposed death to Terrorists Ajmal Kasab & Yakub Memon, Supported Tukde Tukde Gang, Spread lies against #CAA. Anti-Nationals should get Bullet not Biryani. #IStandWithAnuragThakur, Ravi said in the tweet. Those attacking Union MoS @ianuragthakur for His statement against Traitors are the ones who Opposed death to Terrorists Ajmal Kasab & Yakub Memon Supported Tukde Tukde Gang Spread lies against #CAA Anti-Nationals should get Bullet not Biryani.#IStandWithAnuragThakur C T Ravi (@CTRavi_BJP) January 28, 2020 The Election Commission on Tuesday had issued a show cause notice to Thakur for his alleged provocative slogan. He recently shocked fans by announcing he had become a father for the first time. And Jack Fincham has now revealed that he kept his baby news a secret so that his little girl Blossom's mother Casey Ranger could have a 'peaceful pregnancy'. The Love Island star, 28, said that he has known his baby mama since he was 17 and their co-parenting situation 'just works' due to their long-standing friendships. Happy: Jack Fincham has now revealed that he kept his baby news a secret so that his little girl Blossom's mother Casey Ranger could have a 'peaceful pregnancy' Speaking to The Sun, at the National Television Awards on Tuesday, he said: 'I kept the pregnancy a secret so her mum could have a peaceful pregnancy and she did.' 'Everyone from 'Love Island' has been in touch to wish me well and it made me cry.' Having taken to being a dad like a duck to water, Jack said: 'I'm loving fatherhood. But not nappy changing - it stinks. I can't stop staring at her though she's beautiful.' Sweet: The Love Island star, 28, said that he has known his baby mama since he was 17 and their co-parenting situation 'just works' due to their long-standing friendships During the night out, Jack looked dapper in a black jacket and suit trousers, which he accessorised with a patterned silk scarf and pocket square. Elsewhere at the event, speaking to the Mirror, he said: 'Because we've [himself and Casey] known each other a long time it just works. We've known each other for years, since I was 17.' The pen salesman also revealed he didn't think much about his announcement coinciding with ex Dani Dyers book tour and said: Precious: The Love Island star took to Instagram on Sunday evening to post a shot of his bundle of joy's little hand wrapped around his thumb as he branded her a 'little beauty' 'I was just so excited to tell everyone about my daughter. I wrote it all from the heart and afterwards I sat there holding her. Really I couldn't wait to let people know. It's been such a special time and I wanted everyone else to share it.' On Monday, the reality star took to Instagram to post a shot of his bundle of joy's tiny hand wrapped around his thumb as he branded her a 'little beauty'. The day prior, it was revealed that the mother of his child is health compliance officer Casey, who he has been pals with for 10 years. Wow! He took to Instagram on Saturday morning to reveal he now shares a daughter with a 'friend of many years' who he is not in a relationship with While revealing the identity of Blossom's mother, Jack explained that they shared a 'whirlwind romance' weeks after his split from Dani Dyer. And, although things 'didn't work out romantically' between the pair, they plan to co-parent their child. Jack told The Sun in a candid interview: 'Myself and Casey got together when we were both single. It was a whirlwind romance and shortly after had the amazing news that she was expecting which we were both over the moon about. 'It didnt work out romantically for us, however as Ive said previously we are still great friends and have been for around 10 years.' MailOnline has contacted Jack's representative for further comment. On Saturday evening, doting parent Jack shared several clips of him cradling his little girl, sweetly saying she was already 'just like her dad'. A drunken driver who narrowly missed six oncoming cars before crashing into a nurse on Christmas Eve has been sent to jail after his fully suspended sentence was deemed too lenient. Alan Craughwell, 35, with an address at Retreat Road, Athlone, Co Westmeath, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Michelle Fallon at Taghmaconnell, Co Roscommon on December 24, 2017. He was given a wholly suspended two-and-a-half-year sentence by Judge Francis Comerford on May 8, 2019, and banned from driving for 10 years. Judge Comerford also directed that Craughwell pay 1,400 that day to the injured party or a charity of her choice. The Court of Appeal found Craughwells sentence to have been unduly lenient today, Tuesday, January 28, and he was immediately jailed for 15 months. Giving judgement, President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham said it was not a case of isolated ill-judgement such as taking a bend at excessive speed or overtaking at the wrong place. It was sustained, rank bad driving by Craughwell, against the background of a heavy drinking session in the Christmas period. Gardai who came upon the scene noticed a strong smell of alcohol coming from Craughwell and he was subsequently found to have 105 mlgs of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, just over twice the legal limit. Before the collision, Mr Justice Birmingham said Craughwell narrowly missed six cars that were coming towards him. His behaviour caused another road user, a Ms Selena Harte, to pull in and call 999 to report the erratic and dangerous driving she had witnessed. A mile down the road, Ms Harte came upon the scene of the collision between Craughwells Toyota Avensis and Ms Fallons Toyota Corolla, which she had been driving with her husband and son as passengers. Ms Fallon suffered very significant injuries including fractures to both her ankles and was hospitalised for one week over the Christmas period. A nurse by profession, she had been a very active person, working full-time, raising a family and helping out on the family farm, Mr Justice Birmingham said. It took her a significant amount of time to return to work on a phased basis and the incident affected her quality of life very gravely indeed. Craughwell had been in contact with the probation service in 2003 for larceny, section 2 assault and public order offences, but the charges were dismissed under the Probation Act. In 2004 he was in contact again with the probation services for public order offences, and for further public order matters in 2008. It seemed alcohol was a factor in these court appearances, Mr Justice Birmingham said. More significantly, Craughwell was caught driving while under the influence of prescription medication in September 2017, which he linked to a back injury, prior to the present case, although the conviction was recorded after the present case. Mr Justice Birmingham said Craughwell had served as a member of the Defence Forces for 12 years. His service was just coming to an end when he appeared before the Circuit Court in relation to the present offence, and he had secured alternative employment as a sales representative, which continues to this day. He said Craughwells background was hardworking and challenging, according to a local priests testimonial, and there had been tragedy in his family. He had not driven a car since the date of the offence and he was actively addressing his problems with alcohol, attending AA meetings and a 12-week residential course in addiction treatment at Cuan Mhuire. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Cathal O Braonain BL, submitted that the headline sentence of three years was too low, and too much credit was given to Craughwell for the mitigating factors. Mr O Braonain said Craughwell made a deliberate decision to drive while having excessive alcohol in his system. It was a wet, unmarked, rural road and serious risk was caused to a large number of other road users. Mr Justice Birmingham said the sentencing judge fell into error in believing custody could be completely avoided. He said two-and-a-half years imprisonment with the final nine months suspended could not have been seen as severe. However, the Court of Appeal was conscious that sending Craughwell to prison now, having avoided custody in the Circuit Court, would be a deep disappointment to him. The court also considered his continued steps towards rehabilitation. Mr Justice Birmingham, who sat with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, resentenced Craughwell to two-and-a-half years imprisonment with the final 15 months suspended. Craughwell was required to enter into a good behaviour bond for the suspended period, and he undertook to be so bound. His 10-year driving ban remained in place. MUSKEGON, MI U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga toured the shoreline of Lake Michigan by helicopter last week and shared some photos and videos of the effects of erosion with MLive. The images taken on Friday, Jan. 24, show dramatic, sandy drops from houses to the dark lake waters and steep bluffs created from erosion that has intensified due to heavy storms and high lake levels over the last year. One shot, from northern Muskegon County, shows several homeowners attempts at solutions against the encroaching lake. Following his tour aboard a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter, Huizenga, R-Zeeland, spoke to reporters and said he believed Gov. Gretchen Whitmer should declare a state of emergency on the shoreline. Huizenga represents Michigans 2nd district, which includes the shoreline counties of Muskegon, Ottawa, Oceana and Lake, among others. He is a Republican chair of the bipartisan Great Lakes Task Force and recently sponsored legislation to bring $5 million in erosion-related federal funding to the Great Lakes region. Read more: Erosion claims home on Lake Michigan despite owners attempt to save it 1 tree, 7 months and 2 photos show drastic beach erosion US Congressman says lakeshore erosion is an emergency after helicopter tour Move houses near Lake Michigan bluffs or lose them, experts warn President Trump fixed up a new rule on Thursday instructing United States consular officials to deny pregnant women. Exceptions will be given if they can prove "to the satisfaction of the consular officer" either that they are not traveling to the U.S. to give birth, or that they have a legitimate medical reason to give birth in the country. The regulations will take effect on Friday. The new visa rules aim to restrict "birth tourism," in which women who travel to the United States to give birth so their children can have U.S. citizenship. Their goal is to alleviate foreigners who take advantage of the constitutional provision granting "birthright citizenship" to anyone born in the United States. According to Theresa Cardinal Brown, the director of immigration and cross-border policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, pregnant women should "overcome the presumption that they are traveling to the U.S. to give birth." Traveling to the U.S. for the direct purpose of giving birth was not previously banned. On the contrary, giving birth as a purpose for traveling was sometimes included in women's visa applications. This would determine how much legal authority the administration has to prevent foreigners from taking advantage of the 14th Amendment's protection of citizenship for anyone born in the U.S. According to a State Department official, this modification is intended to address the national security and law enforcement risks linked with birth tourism, including criminal activity associated with the birth tourism industry. However, according to Lynn Paltrow, executive director of National Advocates for Pregnant Women, the action this measure seems to be doing is creating another basis for discriminating against women in their decision to come to the United States of America. The new regulations said pregnant women applying for visitor visas are demanded to prove they have a specific reason for travel beyond giving birth, such as a medical necessity. The re-election will take place in November and the administration has made restricting legal and illegal immigration a focus of his 2020 campaign. The State Department was already directing embassies to deny visas to pregnant women they suspect are coming to the U.S. to give birth. However, consular officers will not be questioning all-female visa applicants of child-bearing age whether they are pregnant or plan to get pregnant but would ask the question only if they found evidence to believe the applicant is pregnant and planning to give birth in the U.S. The responsibility rests on U.S. consular officials to review the evidence pregnant women provide and identify whether they have a legitimate medical reason to give birth in the U.S. despite not having medical training. According to White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham last Thursday, the policy is "necessary to enhance public safety, national security, and the integrity of our immigration system." She added that the birth tourism industry burdens hospital resources and invites criminal activity. One flaw is that they are trying to charge immigration officers, who have no medical background, with adjudicating people's pregnancies, according to Carolyn Sufrin, a doctor and a fellow with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. RELATED ARTICLE: Small Alcohol Consumption in Pregnancy Won't Hurt Baby by Stefano Caprio His death (at just 51) somehow leaves a void in the Russian Orthodox community. It is unknown who will want to fill this space, especially those who will be able to combine the most explicit intolerance with the ability to forge relationships across the board, to provoke reactions and take advantage of them to inaugurate new diplomatic paths, to wish for rupture (also with the other Orthodox Churches) and then negotiate new opportunities for encounter. Moscow (AsiaNews) - Protoierej Vsevolod Chaplin died unexpectedly on January 26, just 51 years of age, due to an unexpected stroke that led to cardiac arrest. For many years the priest, one of the main collaborators of the patriarch of Moscow Kirill (Gundjaev), collapsed on the ground in the churchyard of St. Theodore Studita at the Nikita Gates, in the center of Moscow, where he had been parish priest for four years; the ambulance that arrived a few minutes later was only able to ascertain his death. After serving for more than twenty years in the Patriarchate's Department of Foreign Affairs, as head of relations with society, Father Vsevolod was relieved of the office in 2015, when the patriarch decided to dismiss representatives of the most radical tendencies inside the central structures, such as the journalist Sergej Chapnin, exponent of the more "pro-dialogue" wing, and precisely Chaplin, a point of reference for the most radical and uncompromising Orthodox. His death has aroused very contradictory and passionate reactions, being for years one of the best known protagonists in the public debate on the issues of national identity and the opposition between Russia and the liberal and "morally degraded" West. Patriarch Kirill has avoided expressing himself about the death of one of his first collaborators since the 1990s, when the young Vsevolod began already as a seminarian to make his presence felt in developing the social doctrine of the Russian Orthodox Church. In the Synod of 2000, this work produced an important document on the relationship between the Church and society, which somehow served as an ideological program for the newly begun presidency of Vladimir Putin. Chaplin enthusiastically supported the 2014 Putinian campaign in Ukraine, which brought Orthodox sovereignty to a much more extreme and aggressive level, and this provoked disagreement with Kirill himself, who did not share this political-religious ideology. In his youth Fr. Chaplin was not quite so radical, on the contrary he showed himself very favorable to the ecumenical dialogue and international relations of Orthodox Russia, as a member of the department led by the then Metropolitan Kirill and together with the current director of the same, Metropolitan Ilarion (Alfeev). In 2009, with the appointment of Kirill as patriarch, Chaplin became the best known face of the patriarchate, intervening in the media to illustrate the guidelines of the idea of an Orthodox Russia capable of standing up to the secularist and globalist decline imposed by the politics of the West. Since 2015 the protoierej worked in the parish as a simple parish priest, but he continued to intervene above all on social networks with increasingly threatening and apocalyptic proclamations, inciting the "Orthodox crusade" against Islamism and secularism, even inviting followers not to fear a nuclear war between Russia and America: Unlike the Americans, we are not afraid of the destruction of big cities: what should people who already live in the dimension of eternity have to fear? The deep Russia of the countryside will survive even without the metropolises with all their temptations, indeed they will live a purer life . In truth, those who knew Father Vsevolod closely, like this author, did not have the impression of a gloomy obscurantist, nostalgic for medieval civilization. He was good-natured and jovial, capable of sitting down to converse and share a meal even with his worst "enemy", cultured and sharp in his observations. He was also capable of helping anyone in need, spiritually and materially. Another great Russian publicist today, the deacon Andrej Kuraev, said that Chaplin had managed to build a model of "atomic orthodoxy", based on a "theology of death and hatred" that fascinated those looking for a strong identity in the disintegration of the contemporary world, of which many feel the need today. His death somehow leaves a void in the Russian Orthodox community. It is unknown who will want to fill this space, especially those who will be able to combine the most explicit intolerance with the ability to forge relationships across the board, to provoke reactions and take advantage of them to inaugurate new diplomatic paths, to wish for rupture (also with the other Orthodox Churches) and then negotiate new opportunities for encounter. Many of his faithful mourn him at the church where he celebrated his last years, and Russia today seems less able to explain itself, without the tremendous and fascinating prophecies of Vsevolod Chaplin. Popular media personality, Toke Makinwa has urged her fans to opt for separation if marriage appears to be threatening their peace, adding that nobody is worth throwing the rest of your life in jail or even worse a death sentence for Toke Makinwa was reacting to the trending topic of a young lady, Maryam Sanda who murdered her husband a few years ago and was sentenced to death by hanging. Reacting on her Instagram page, the media personality said those people who say divorce is against our tradition and encourage married folks with marital issues to stay put will only cry when they get killed. They say divorce isnt an option, its a sin. They say its not our tradition. But, if you die or kill someone in anger, the same people will only cry with you as you throw your life away, she wrote. Try separation first. If things dont get better, choose you. Life is tough, people are angry, theres frustration. The only sanity you can guarantee is yours. If someone is threatening your peace please separate from them. At least you can both be alive to raise your kids, and maybe one day find a resolve. Stop testing yourself. I know some conversations are tough but they must be had. I know some conversations are tough but they must be had, nobody is worth throwing the rest of your life in jail or even worse, a death sentence, anger is evil, choose your mental health and walk away always. Its hard, its tough but one minute of anger can take away everything. Meanwhile, Katsina State Police Command has arrested a 19-year-old housewife, Rabi Usman Shamsudeen, for allegedly stabbing her husband to death during heated argument. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) holds a campaign event at La Poste in Perry, Iowa, on Jan. 26, 2020. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Sanders Vows to Reverse Trumps Immigration Policies If Elected President Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) this week vowed to undo President Donald Trumps immigration policies if he were to be elected president this year. The Vermont senator and leading Democratic presidential candidate announced that his first executive orders as president would reverse all of Trumps immigration initiatives, which he described as racist and disgusting. My first executive orders will be to reverse every single thing President Trump has done to demonize and harm immigrants, including his racist and disgusting Muslim ban. Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) January 27, 2020 My first executive orders will be to reverse every single thing President Trump has done to demonize and harm immigrants, including his racist and disgusting Muslim ban, Sanders wrote on Twitter on Monday. His statement came after the Supreme Court gave the go-ahead on Monday for one of Trumps policies, which would allow his administration to implement a rule denying legal permanent residency to certain immigrants deemed likely to require government assistance in the future. The justices, on a 5-4 vote, granted the administrations request to lift a lower courts injunction that had blocked the so-called public charge policy while litigation over its legality continues. Under Trumps policy, immigration officers would consider factors such as age, educational level, and English proficiency to decide whether an immigrant would likely become a public charge who would receive government benefits such as the Medicaid health insurance program for the poor. The administration has said the new rule is necessary to better ensure that immigrants will be self-sufficient. Critics have said the rule would disproportionately bar low-income people from developing countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia from permanent residency. The new rule expands the public charge bar to anyone deemed likely to receive a much wider range of public benefits for more than an aggregate of 12 months over any 36-month period including healthcare, housing, and food assistance. The court in 2018 upheld Trumps travel ban targeting people from several Muslim-majority countries. Trump, in contrast with Sanders, has made his tough immigration stance a hallmark of his presidency and 2020 reelection campaign. Sanders, a self-described socialist, said at a debate in July that his Medicare for All plan would cover illegal immigrants. He also released an immigration plan in November that included a deportation moratorium, calling for a complete restructuring of the system through legislative action and a series of executive orders. The presidential candidate said he would place a moratorium on deportations, and end raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His plan also includes bringing construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall to a halt, ending family separations, and shutting down for-profit detention centers. Bernie will end the barbaric practice of ripping children from their parents and locking children in cages, thoroughly audit and close detention centers, and work to undo the damage President Trump has done to our immigrant community and our national character, the plan reads. Under his A Welcoming and Safe America for All plan, Sanders indicated that he will reverse guidance from the Trump administrations Department of Justice and permit asylum claims from those fleeing domestic or gang violence. In his proposal, Sanders expands on his support for extending legal status to the 1.8 million young people who are currently eligible for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program while pledging to provide relief to their parents. The plan also looks to make overarching changes to the current immigration system by restructuring the Department of Homeland Security. Sanders would absorb ICE into the Justice Department and Customs and Border Protection into the Treasury Department. He has, however, said that he opposes open borders. Sanders, who raised more than $34 million in the final quarter, on Jan. 22 canceled a rally in Iowa due to his obligations to the Senate impeachment trial, which began on Jan. 21. Justin Morgan and Reuters contributed to this report. Update 8:19 p.m.: A county coroner in Illinois and her husband, who had been an alderman and the mayor of Springfield, Illinois, are two of the three victims, according to News Channel 20/Fox Illinois. Sangamon County Coroner Cinda Edwards and former Springfield Alderman and Mayor Frank Edwards died in the crash, the outlet reported. The third victim in the crash has not yet been identified. Update 6:33 p.m.: Three people and one dog were killed in the crash, according to WCIA. Sagamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell said the plane had trouble with weather and flight instruments on board when the radio tower at the airport lost contact with the aircraft. Campbell said authorities have not yet identified the victims; its unclear whether they were Alabama residents. Original story: A plane that took off from Huntsville crashed Tuesday afternoon in Illiinois, according to local media reports. The twin-engine aircraft crashed in a field near a residential area southeast of Springfield, WCIA reported. Small Plane Crash near Springfield, IL WATCH LIVE: #BREAKING Small plane crash southeast of Springfield, IL. Mark Maxwell is on the scene with details. #WCIA #Springfield Springfield Firefighters Local 37 #Developing:https://www.wcia.com/news/authorities-respond-to-call-of-aircraft-down/ Posted by WCIA 3 News on Tuesday, January 28, 2020 The plane, a Piper Aerostar, was nearing its approach to the airport when it crashed, WGN reported. The FAA could not immediately be reached to confirm the reports or any injuries associated with the crash. With a team of more than thirty public and private organisations and a budget over 200 million euro, ERA4TB aims to radically transform the way in which new therapies are developed for the treatment of tuberculosis. Tuberculosis, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is the leading cause of death from infectious disease in the world. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it is estimated that 10 million people became ill with tuberculosis in 2018 and 1,6 million died from the disease. Although its incidence is decreasing, the drug-resistant variety of the infection constitutes a growing threat to the safety of the world's population. The UN has thus committed to ending the tuberculosis epidemic by 2030 through the joint action of its member states. The standard treatment of tuberculosis consists of the combined administration of three or four antibiotics, all of which were developed more than 60 years ago. The minimum duration of treatment is six months, although if the infection is of the resistant type, the treatment needs to be e extended to about two years. "The appearance of these bacteria resistant to conventional treatments forces us to look for new drugs which, in combination with others which are in use, can fight the new strains," the researchers explain. "This represents a challenge for Europe as well as a global issue, since if we do not fight against multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, the disease could become a global problem." ERA4TB focuses on a drug's development phase which begins once a new potentially effective drug has been identified and runs until the first clinical trials. This phase, in which the safety and efficacy of the compound are verified and the best dosage is determined, is a process that costs between 10 and 20 million euro and can last up to six years. Therefore, if a new treatment is developed in which four compounds are combined sequentially, the waiting time is more than twenty years. The ERA4TB project proposes abandoning this sequential scheme in order to adopt a parallel development pathway that allows for the simultaneous research of more than a dozen potentially effective molecules against tuberculosis. This approach, which would take the form of an adaptive collaborative network, will allow ERA4TB to optimise the costs of developing new drugs against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and, more importantly, to significantly reduce the times taken developing the new combined treatments needed to eradicate this epidemic, the researchers say. "We are very excited about the launch of ERA4TB, a unique collaborative project in the field of tuberculosis, in which the experience of public partners and a portfolio of promising preclinical candidate drugs from pharmaceutical companies come together in order to accelerate the development of new clinical candidates. The ultimate goal is to provide an innovative and distinctive combination regimen for the treatment of tuberculosis, which can play a key role in the programme for the eradication of the disease," says project leader David Barros, vice-president of Global Health R&D at GlaxoSmithKline and head of research at the tuberculosis unit. The project has two significant goals. First, to take at least six new antibiotics to clinical trials as well as two combinations of these which are safe and effective treatments against any form of tuberculosis. And, secondly, to guarantee that the network created in the project is sustainable so that the capacities and the collaboration built between experts and institutions last over time and become well-established in Europe, so it can also be used for the development of other drugs to fight antimicrobial resistance. One of the keys to achieving these objectives lies in the collaboration between the 31 partners that make up this consortium, who come from the academic world, the pharmaceutical industry and from non-profit organisations who specialised in the fight against tuberculosis. "This is a major initiative that consists of partners from Europe and the US and which will make Europe a centre of knowledge in this area of research. The collaboration between institutions is evident in that both industrial partners and non-profit entities bring to the consortium their own compounds which are potentially effective against tuberculosis, so that the research into the effectiveness of these molecules and their combinations might begin from the first day of the project," the researchers explain. Stewart Cole, scientific leader of ERA4TB and President of the Institut Pasteur, said "ERA4TB has assembled an impressive array of resources to seamlessly harness the agility and innovation of academia with the pragmatism and professionalism scientific expertise of pharma. I am confident that this powerful European initiative will speed the path to tuberculosis elimination." Spain, a force in the fight against tuberculosis "The ERA4TB project will turn Spain into an important pole of research against tuberculosis at a global level, due to the significance and the number of organisations that form the main core of the initiative," says Juan Jose Vaquero from the UC3M's Department of Bioengineering and Aerospace Engineering and coordinator of the project. Four of the Spanish participating entities are located in the Madrid region: the UC3M, the Madrid Health Service (SERMAS in its Spanish acronym), GlaxoSmithKline and Synapse Managers. In addition to coordinating the project, the group led by Professor Vaquero at the UC3M is responsible for the initiative's biomedical imaging activities. This group plays a very active role both in the development of new diagnostic imaging equipment and in the implementation of artificial intelligence technologies, such as deep learning, which allow the researchers to quantify the progression of the disease by interpreting the images acquired. The SERMAS, through the Pharmacology Department of the La Paz University Hospital and its Clinical Trials Unit (UCICEC) will be responsible for coordinating the studies of the first administration to humans planned within the project. It will also make its hospital infrastructure (La Paz and La Princesa University Hospitals and the San Carlos Clinic) available to the consortium to carry out the necessary studies. The GlaxoSmithKline company is leading the project and providing scientific resources and a significant number of the new compounds which are to be investigated in the project. The company Synapse Managers, specialised in international biomedical research projects, will be in charge of managing the consortium. Lastly, another Spanish organisation is participating in the initiative, a mixed team of researchers from the ARAID Foundation and the University of Zaragoza (UNIZAR). A facility will be fitted out in the latter organisation which is unique in Europe in the public field dedicated to Hollow-Fibre Infection Model (HFIM) technology, a bioreactor in a level 3 biological safety environment that allows for the manipulation and investigation of human pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In addition, the team from this university will develop a new system of analysis which will allow for the identification of antibiotics with the capacity to interfere with the systems by which the bacteria interacts with the infected patient. ### ERA4TB (European Regimen Accelerator for Tuberculosis) is funded by the European Union (EU) Research and Innovation Framework Programme, Horizon 2020 (GA853989) and by the European pharmaceutical industry through the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA). It is conducted under the auspices of the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), a public-private partnership between EFPIA and the EU to accelerate the development of better and safer medicines for patients. The kick-off meeting of the ERA4TB project is being held in Madrid on the 29th and 30th of January, 2020 and shall be attended by representatives from most of the member institutions, which are: in Spain, the UC3M, as coordinating entity of the project, and GlaxoSmithKline Research and Development SL (GSK), the Madrid Health Service (SERMAS), Synapse Research Management Partners S.L. and the University of Zaragoza (UNIZAR); in Germany, Evotec International GmbH (EVT), Forschungszentrum Borstel, Klinikum Der Universitaet Zu Koeln (UKO); in Belgium, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV (JANSSEN), Sciensano (SCI); in Denmark, Gritsystems AS (GRIT); in the US, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), TB Alliance (TBA); in France, Bioaster Fondation de Cooperation Scientifique (BAR), ImaBiotech SAS (IBT), Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (IDMIT), Institut Pasteur de Lille Foundation (IPL), Institut Pasteur (IPP); in Ireland, Critical Path Institute, Limited (C-Path); in Italy, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Universita degli Studi Di Padova (UNIPD), Universita degli Studi Di Pavia (UPV); in Latvia, Latvijas Organiskas Sint?zes Instit?ts (IOS); in the Netherlands, QPS Netherlands BV (QPS); in the United Kingdom, University of Dundee-Drug Discovery Unit (DDU), The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Public Health England - Department of Health (PHE); in Switzerland, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL), Foundation Innovative Medicines for Tuberculosis (iM4TB); and in Sweden, Lund Universitet (LUND) and Uppsala Universitet (UU). In addition, the project consists of five other collaborating partners from the US, which are: Cornell University (CORU), Colorado State University (CSU), Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH), Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). More information: Project website: http://www.era4tb.org Lunar New Year kicked off last week as millions of Chinese people left the cities they live for the homes they grew up in. For many, their trips coincided with the outbreak of the coronavirus, an epidemic that the government has responded to with intense travel restrictions in Wuhan, the city of 11 million, thats ground zero for a disease thats killed more than 100 people. The intensity of the quarantine has raised questions from outside observers like Emory University School of Medicine microbiologist Elaine Burd, who worry about the unintended consequences of the governments move. As the government has essentially ordered the people in Wuhan to wear protective gear, its caused a shortage of equipment for those actually treating patients, she says. The biggest problem is that health care workers, who are taking care of sick patients, don't have enough protective gear, and this puts them at greater risk of catching the virus while they're taking care of patients, said Burd. From reports that I've seen, that seems to have created some panic among the group we call the worried well. These people without symptoms but now don't have access to the protective equipment that the local government and public health officials said they should have. And so they feel vulnerable, maybe excessively vulnerable. So I think all of that really, it can create chaos. Burd joined digital media producer Morgan Lee and CEO and president Tim Dalrymple about what people should know about the coronavirus, Gods call for her to become a microbiologist, and how her experiences working with an Ebola patient inform how she understands Chinas ... 1 Short term exposure to low levels of air pollution is associated with a higher risk of sudden heart problems, especially among older people, according to a study. Researchers from the University of Sydney in Australia found that over 90 per cent cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) occurred at PM2.5 levels lower than the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline, a daily-average of 25 microgrammes per cubic metre. The study, published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal, shows an association between OHCA and exposure to gaseous pollutants such as those from coal burning or mining, bushfires and motor vehicles. The study of data from Japan, chosen for its superior monitoring, population density and relative air quality, is believed to be by far the largest of its kind, the researchers said. It provides comprehensive evidence of the relationship between PM2.5 and cardiac arrests, using a sample three times larger than all previous research combined, and demonstrating the impacts on groups such as the elderly, they said. Previous research into air pollution and acute cardiac events had been inconsistent, especially at air concentrations that met or bettered the WHO guidelines, said Kazuaki Negishi from the University of Sydney School of Medicine. "OHCA is a major medical emergency -- with less than one in 10 people worldwide surviving these events -- and there has been increasing evidence of an association with the more acute air pollution, or fine particulate matter such as PM2.5," Negishi said. The researchers analysed almost a quarter of a million cases of OHCA, and found a clear link with acute air pollution levels. The study supports recent evidence that there is no safe level of air pollution -- finding an increased risk of cardiac arrest despite air quality generally meeting the standards, they said. "Given the fact that there is a tendency towards worsening air pollution -- from increasing numbers of cars as well as disasters such as bushfires -- the impacts on cardiovascular events, in addition to respiratory diseases and lung cancer -- must be taken into account in health care responses," Negishi said. The elderly where generally at the risk of cardiovascular impacts, he said. "If you're young and healthy, there should be no immediate risk of devastating consequence," said Negishi. However, he noted these findings are only in relation to the short-term, and that the effects can last for up to five years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) If Kunal Kamra's behaviour towards Arnab Goswami is condoned then anyone might experience similar heckling from people opposed to them and that may lead to not only unsavoury but even dangerous situations Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra is in news for heckling journalist Arnab Goswami onboard an Indigo flight from Mumbai to Lucknow. In a video posted by the comedian himself, Kamra is seen berating the journalist. I did this for my hero... I did it for Rohit pic.twitter.com/aMSdiTanHo Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) January 28, 2020 While posting the video, the comedian tried to justify his act by attributing it a higher moral purpose that he was doing it for Rohith Vemula, a Dalit student at University of Hyderabad who had committed suicide in 2016. It isnt clear why Kamra cited the death of Vemula to justify his actions, but a quick glance at the words he used to accost Goswami while both were onboard a flight flouting ethics, civility and flight-safety norms makes for disturbing reading. Viewers want to know if Arnab today is a coward or a nationalist. Arnab, this is for national interest. I am part of the tukde-tukde narrative. You should deflate me. You should take the enemy of the states down. You should make sure that the country is in safe hands of Narendra Modi. You should fight against dynasts like Rahul Gandhi, who I support, on 10 Tughlaq Lane. Arnab, you should have a reply, Arnab. Arnab, are you a coward or are you a journalist? Are you a coward or are you a journalist or a nationalist? Who are you, Arnab? Who are you? ..., Kamra is heard saying in the video. Following the fracas, three airlines Indigo, Spicejet and Air India placed a temporary ban on Kamra from flying. Kamras behaviour and the ban have triggered a furious debate on social media that attracted the attention of foreign publications such as the BBC. Hereby, we wish to advise our passengers to refrain from indulging in personal slander whilst onboard, as this can potentially compromise the safety of fellow passengers. 2/2@MoCA_GoI @HardeepSPuri IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) January 28, 2020 Kamra claimed on Wednesday that he repeated the stance on the return flight when he ran into Goswami again and ended up getting banned from another airline GoAir. FYI - Arnab Goswami was in my flight again this morning while returning from lucknow... I again asked him politely if he wants to have a honest discussion he with his verbal arrogant hand jester he asked me to move away & I did that... Kunal Kamra (@kunalkamra88) January 29, 2020 GoAir has suspended Mr. Kunal Kamra from flying with the airline till further notice @MoCA_GoI @DGCAIndia @HardeepSPuri @IndiGo6E GoAir (@goairlinesindia) January 29, 2020 It is evident that Kamras act of heckling Goswami on an earlier flight was not an impulsive act. Kamra wasnt risking his reputation for a larger cause as the comedian would have us believe. His was a cynical and calculated act designed to publicly heckle an individual. It was a publicity stunt. That Kamra would be suffering the consequences of his action is not surprising. What is, is the support that he has received from the Congress party, a section of the media and some people. Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor appeared to justify the comedians behaviour by equating Goswami's journalism with Kamras stunt. The truth is that it was time someone gave him a taste of his own medicine. These are the words he regularly uses to berate his innocent victims, except he does so in a hectoring, bullying manner & at higher volume & pitch than @kunalkamra88 does in this video. https://t.co/e94B8WcEtj Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) January 28, 2020 Tharoor appeared to suggest that Kamras act of accosting Goswami and making provocative statements while both were on a flight was somehow justified because Goswami does the same thing with his guests on his show. His views have found support in some quarters. Couldn't agree more with @ShashiTharoor What @kunalkamra88 did was unacceptable under most circumstances but @republic's Arnab has made heckling/berating a new art form ... He asked for it Did @HardeepSPuri ask airlines to take action against Kamra bcoz Arnab is a BJP hack? https://t.co/kNazJiJqaM Sunil Jain (@thesuniljain) January 29, 2020 I dont for one minute condone what @kunalkamra88 did with #Arnav but why was no action taken against this journalist from @republic? Lets not have dual standards. If this precedent has been set for Kunal with airlines then it must apply to all! @HardeepSPuri https://t.co/93lr04VY8s Rishi Suri (@rishi_suri) January 29, 2020 Well done. I'll do the exact same thing. If I met any of the BJP leaders/God media who spew venom I will confront them. We must all do it. You don't extend polite nods and social niceties to those who set nation on fire from their safe spaces, studios, podiums. Sanjukta Basu (@sanjukta) January 29, 2020 This false equivalence must be called out. The insinuation is that Goswami somehow "invited" the harassment because of his brand of journalism that is unpalatable to some. Stretch a little more, and the argument absolves the aggressor, Kamra, of all responsibilities for his action because the victim deserved it. Even if one isnt a fan of Goswamis journalism, the TV anchor invites his guests to his show and they join him out of a free will. Disinterested guests or political leaders/spokespersons are not dragged into his show to be publicly flogged by Goswami. As for the viewers, they are free to turn off their television sets or switch channels if they find Goswamis journalism unacceptable. To equate this with Kamras heckling of Goswami when both were on a flight is immensely problematic. Tharoor argues that since he has faced heckling from journalists of Goswamis channel, therefore such an attack on Goswami is justified. This argument cannot be used to justify the harassment of an individual on an airplane flouting norms of public safety and mid-air behaviour. It also sets a dangerous precedent. If such actions are condoned, then anyone might experience similar heckling from people opposed to them and that may lead to not only unsavoury but even dangerous situations. Moreover, stand-up comedian Kamra is not a voiceless private citizen. He could have very well roasted Goswami from his platform and influenced public opinion. This act, therefore, is a desperate one. Faced with flight bans, Kamra later played the victimhood card by suggesting that he was being targeted for his political beliefs. That is the self-delusion of an individual who needs to take a long, hard look at his public behaviour. Senate Democrats recently unveiled their caucus priorities at a series of press events in Hartford. These priorities were determined primarily by the caucus leader, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney. While I agree with many of the proposals, I did not attend these press events because I think the agenda fails to address the biggest issues facing our state and country. In my opinion, the Senate Democrats agenda does not adequately address urgent issues for Connecticut such as: attracting businesses and creating jobs, fixing our crumbling infrastructure and reversing the exodus of taxpayers. Nor does it adequately address the top priorities for our country which include mitigating unsustainable health care costs and environmental destruction. While I support my colleagues efforts to advance good legislation, Im disappointed that the proposed solutions are so modest and short-sighted. When we face a true existential crisis such as the Climate Crisis why is the Agenda silent? The only environmental proposal is Protecting Water from Lead & Harmful PFAS. I introduced a bill last year, SB78, to ban PFAS so I clearly support this idea, but its just one of many urgent problems we must fix. What about reducing our reliance on fossil fuels? Carbon pricing is a hot topic that gained wide support at the World Economic Forum in Davos (and the subject of another bill I introduced in 2019 SB74 ) but it doesnt show up anywhere on the caucus agenda. Shouldnt we be setting state environmental priorities based on global priorities as well as pushing back on the gutting of environmental protections occurring at the federal level? Another problem with the agenda is that some proposed solutions are too limited in scope. For instance, the proposal regarding domestic violence is to expand Civil Gideon, create a bench book (for judges) and require proper training (for judges). Thats good, but its a partial solution that may actually solidify the status quo. A few weeks ago, I proposed a comprehensive solution to address issues experienced by victims of abuse in every part of Connecticut. Its called the Child Safety First bill and is based in part on House Congressional Resolution 72, which passed with bipartisan support in 2018. It tackles a range of problems including awarding child custody to abusers and the legal definition of Domestic Violence, which is so narrow in Connecticut that many victims are not believed when they ask the courts for protection. Shouldnt we design a system that believes victims? And craft solutions based on best practices and the recommendations of Congress? And finally, some of the caucus solutions are not solutions at all because they create an entirely new set of problems. For this reason, I remain firmly opposed to legalizing recreational marijuana. Until we have reliable detection technology and the ability to regulate the safety and use of this dangerous substance, which often falls into the hands of young people, damages brains and destroys lives, I cannot support full legalization. Marijuana is already legal for medicinal purposes in Connecticut and is decriminalized for small amounts. Thats far enough, in my opinion. The 2020 legislative session lasts just three months, from Feb. 5 through May 6. Individuals cannot introduce bills, only committees can. I hope we accomplish more than modest changes. My mission is to tackle the biggest issues and steer us toward a future of opportunity, equality, health and prosperity for all. And in a continued quest for government transparency and accountability, Im also proposing term limits for legislators. Because no individual should have the power to control our state or country. Democracy relies on all of us. State Sen. Alex Bergsteins 36th district includes Greenwich and parts of Stamford and New Canaan. US Senate on Wednesday (local time) began another session of impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. The new session kicked off after both sides wrapped up their opening arguments on Tuesday. Now there will be 16 hours for the senators to ask questions. The session will be scheduled for two days -- up to 8 hours each day. The questions will alternate between Republicans and Democrats and must be directed to either the House managers or the White House defence counsel. Republican Sens. Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Mitt Romney submitted the first question to the President's defence team asking "If President Trump had more than one motive for his alleged conduct, such as the pursuit of personal political advantage, rooting out corruption and the promotion of national interests, how should the Senate consider more than one motive in its assessment of article one?" Deputy White House counsel Patrick Philbin responded that "the standard" that Democrats have "set for themselves is establishing there is no possible public interest at all for these investigations." The US President is accused of abusing his power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, who served on the board of a gas company in Ukraine, as Trump withheld USD 391 million in military aid that he later released. The President is also accused of subsequently obstructing a congressional probe into his actions. The Republican Party holds a 53-47 majority in the chamber and conviction requires a two-thirds majority. This means if all Democrats voted to convict, then 20 Republicans will also have to vote for Trump to be convicted and removed from office. This is the third time in the country's 244-year history that a US President has been impeached and targeted for removal from office. Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998 were both impeached by the House but acquitted in Senate trials. Another President, Richard Nixon, resigned in 1974 in the face of certain impeachment in a political corruption scandal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) DETROIT, MI A woman who was set on fire nearly three months ago has awakened from a coma. According to FOX-2 Detroit, Dorothy Spinnela suffered third- and fourth-degree burns and was in a coma from Nov. 9 until two weeks ago. The family calls her waking up a miracle. Spinnela, 62, was leaving work at a Redford Township Coney Island when she was hit with the firebomb. Former boyfriend William Helmer, 63, is accused of the attack and is currently being held at the Wayne County Jail, FOX-2 reports. She is definitely above what anybody expected, said Anita Demings, the victims niece. She is talking just like her old self, so shes still there. READ MORE: Man accused of setting 62-year-old woman ablaze with firebomb arrested Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 28, 2020) - Cliff Grandison President of Alaska Hydro Corporation, (TSXV: AKH.H) is pleased to report that the BC Environmental Assessment Office (the "EAO") has given the Company the Sec. 11 Order needed to prepare an application for an Environmental Assessment Certificate. This Order lays out the information requirements for the Application. The information requirements covering the scope, methods and procedures for an assessment are posted on the EAO website. The information required includes generally a project description, potential impacts, First Nations and stakeholders consulted and mitigation measures. To start the Company will proceed with the collection of data currently available and necessary for the Application. The area, where the project is located, is where there have been several Environmental Assessments and Certificates granted for similar projects such as Axium's Forrest Kerr, Volcano Creek and McLymont Creek run of river projects. These projects are similar in nature and have had information requirements similar to that required for the More Creek Hydro project reducing the need to collect some non-project specific data while adding recent input from these studies. The project is located in the traditional territory claimed by the Tahltan First Nations with whom the Company will continue its efforts to consult and to enter into an agreement as prescribed by the EAO. The Company continues. it's search for additional financing through either new equity or partnership. The Company has engaged with potential investors who are strong supporters of renewables but are inclined to wait for B C Hydro's Integrated Resource Plan and Government of BC's policy on electricity generation. The Company however has extended this search for investors and has posted this search on a web platform dedicated to financing renewable energy projects at no cost to the Company. The platform is a vehicle which has successfully raised funds for major renewable projects. For further information, please contact: Cliff Grandison, President (604) 929-3961 Certain statements contained in this release may constitute forward-looking information. These statements may relate to future events or future performance, including receipt of a water licence in respect of the proposed project, receipt of land tenure in respect of lands relating to the proposed project, completion of a preliminary economic assessment, environmental assessments, prefeasibility and feasibility studies and project financing, receipt of TSX Venture Exchange acceptance, receipt of a satisfactory outcome in consultations with First Nations, receipt of applicable permits, anticipated project development timelines and anticipated demand for hydro electricity. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. Any forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. 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. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51910 WILDWOOD, N.J. - Winter typically leaves many parts of New Jerseys shore deserted, complete with blinking traffic lights and shuttered boardwalk shops, but President Donald Trumps rally for Rep. Jeff Van Drew jolted Wildwood to life Tuesday, with rally-goers flocking to the seaside resort. Vendors propped pop-up tents along the boards and main roads near the oceanfront convention centre, hawking all kinds of memorabilia, from red Make America Great Again hats to socks depicting the president, complete with a Trump-like tuft of hair sprouting at calf-height. Bars and restaurants overflowed with patrons wearing hats with the presidents signature slogan. In Wildwood, we are in the middle of winter. Theres nobody in the middle of winter, Trump said during the rally. But those streets are packed, he added. Rally-goers, some arriving as early as the weekend, stood in a line that snaked through part of the town. The mood among supporters was one of camaraderie. Denise Hayes came from Flemington, New Jersey, early Tuesday. She said she had been an independent until 2016 when Trump persuaded her to become a Republican in part because of his truth-telling tone. But she said she typically doesnt bring up politics with people because Trumps detractors sometimes dont tolerate his policies. Its really good to see all the support, she said from a bench, sitting while another supporter held her spot in line. Im just looking forward to all the energy in the room. Other Trump backers were eager to make pleas to any fence-sitting independents, or unhappy Democrats. Fred Conteh, an engineer from Morganville, New Jersey, immigrated to the United States in 2000 from Sierra Leone in West Africa. Conteh said hes a Democrat and implored voters to consider the economy when heading to the ballot box in November. He wore a Trump scarf and a pin that said CNN sucks. Im a registered Democrat, but I believe in common sense politics so thats why Im supporting Donald J. Trump, he said. Trumps rally at the more than 7,000-person-capacity convention centre came the same day his attorneys wrapped up their impeachment defence in the Senate and as a show of support for Van Drew, who left the Democratic Party last month over his opposition to impeachment. The 2nd District, which Van Drew represents, covers all or part of eight counties in southern New Jersey, and voted for Trump in 2016 after earlier backing Barack Obama. New Jersey is a reliably Democratic state in presidential elections. Van Drew, who Trump brought up to the podium, said the president asked what he could do to help and Van Drew told him he could hold a rally for him. The freshman congressman embraced Trump and lavished praise on him, calling the president a man who kept his word to ensure that the eyes of the world are in South Jersey and all of us. Democrats and their allies held a counter-rally just off the boardwalk, though they were outnumbered by Trump backers who heckled them. Wildwood in Cape May County is known for its wide beaches, amusement-lined boardwalk and many colorful motels. Its noted trolley-like people-mover, the tram-car, wasnt running along the boardwalk as it typically does in summer, when the citys population swells from 90,000 to about 670,000. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Indian company Suraksha Naturals releases their patented amino rich supplement, AMINO POWER for sale in the United States. Amino Acids play a vital role in every human body by creating muscle tissue to hormones, and neurotransmitters, amino acids are a necessary building block of holistic physical and mental wellness. While some amino acids, called "nonessential" amino acids, are made in the body, another type of amino acids, called "essential" amino acids, must be consumed from external sources. Whether they are "essential" or "non-essential" in name, all amino acids are necessary for human fitness and brain function. Branched Chain Amino Acids (or BCAA's) are essential amino acids, so they must be ingested from food or supplements. There are three BCAA's: Leucine, Isoleucine, and Valine. Branched Chain Amino Acids work together to aid in muscle repair, increasing energy, and shortening recovery times after physical exertion. Suraksha Naturals AMINO POWER comes as a powdered supplement, so it can easily be added to shakes and smoothies, or any post-workout drink. Often, post-workout food only serves to provide protein and calories, while neglecting the larger role that amino acids play in both physical and mental recovery from exercise. Suraksha Naturals has a history of focusing on the health advantages of treating the entire body. The first of their kind in the world of health and wellness, last year Suraksha premiered their Keto-Veyda product line. Keto-Veyda includes products that are keto-friendly while working with the body to promote and sustain natural balance. Suraksha Naturals seeks to pick up where other products leave off, filling in the nutritional gaps that traditional keto-friendly products can miss by utilizing Ayurvedic herbs and supplements. After experiencing rapid growth in their home market in India, Suraksha decided to make the move to the United States' health and wellness market, where Keto products are in high demand. Suraksha Natural's AMINO POWER is improving the world of supplemental health by providing a recovery powder that simply does more for the body. The amino acid powder can decrease muscle recovery time, while helping to increase cognitive function, providing a boost of energy to keep athletes going. AMINO POWER will be available through American retailers in 2020, as part of Suraksha Naturals' Keto-Veyda product line. Please direct inquiries to: Noel Ramune 954-399-2207 [email protected] SOURCE Suraksha Naturals The car struck a ComEd utility pole, traffic control device, fence and then the side of the high retaining wall which borders the driveway of the stations underground garage, police said. The car, which was airborne at this time, scraped the side of the driveways wall before landing at the bottom of the driveway and crashing through the garage door, coming to rest inside the underground garage, Tornabene said. The rush to evacuate British nationals from areas of China affected by the deadly coronavirus is apparently forcing the separation of some families, including that of a British man who has said he is being forced to leave his wife, who is Chinese, behind. Sindy and Jeff Siddle, who have a nine-year-old daughter, Jasmine, have described the situation as their worst nightmare after the UK Foreign Office told them Ms Siddle will not be allowed to board the plane evacuating British nationals out of Wuhan airport. The family had travelled to Hubei province in central China for the lunar New Year to spend time with Ms Siddles family, before warnings were issued about the outbreak. Almost 6,000 people have now been infected with the virus, which has spread from Hubeis capital Wuhan to countries around the world. The number is now larger than the 5,327 people infected in mainland China during the Sars outbreak in 2002-2003. At least 132 people are known to have died after contracting the new coronavirus, according to the latest figures from Chinese authorities. 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 Countries began evacuating their citizens from Wuhan on Wednesday. Writing on Facebook, Mr Siddle said: This ordeal just turned into our worst nightmare. I talked to the Foreign Office in London just now and there is a flight being organised out of Wuhan airport in the next couple of days. But it is only British nationals who are being allowed to leave. Myself and our nine-year-old daughter can leave because we are British citizens. But my wife is a Chinese passport holder so she is not allowed on the flight. The Foreign Office said Chinese authorities will not allow Chinese nationals to leave. So we have to make the decision that either we all stay in Hubei or we have to go without Sindy. He explained the Foreign Office said they had put a note on the familys file due to the fact Ms Siddle is the mother of a nine-year-old, but he said he had been told there are no guarantees. How can they put a family in this position having to leave Sindy in China would be the worst thing that anyone could be put through, he said. How am I going to tell Jasmine that her mum has to stay behind? TEMPE, Ariz. - Arizona State University has issued a travel restriction to China days after a case of a new virus was confirmed in the community near Phoenix. The ban is effective immediately for students, faculty and staff travelling on behalf of the university and will last until the outbreak is contained, university President Michael Crow said Tuesday. No institution-related travel, such as study abroad or other academic program visits, to China will be authorized or approved by the university. This travel restriction is similar to restrictions many businesses and organizations across the U.S. have implemented, the advisory said. University spokesman Jerry Gonzalez told The Arizona Republic that the policy does not apply to personal travel. The announcement comes after the state Department of Health Services diagnosed a person under the age of 60 in the university community with the virus Sunday and follows a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention against nonessential travel to China. Health officials said the person does not live in university housing and has been in isolation since returning from Wuhan, the central Chinese city thats the epicenter of the new virus that has sickened nearly 6,000 people and killed 132. Its a type of coronavirus, which includes those that can cause the common cold and more serious illnesses such as SARS. The person in Arizona had close contact with five people since returning, and those people also are being monitored closely, officials said. Chris Minnick of the state Department of Health Services said Tuesday that several samples have been sent to the CDC for testing. The samples are from people who have shown symptoms or came in direct contact with the confirmed patient. A representative for the CDC did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Employees at stores near the Tempe campus told other outlets that they were running out of face masks, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes, the Republic reported. University officials are working closely with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health and the Arizona Department of Health Services to monitor the situation, officials said. Some students have started an online petition, which has collected more than 18,000 signatures, to cancel class until areas are properly disinfected. Classes will not be cancelled, university officials said. Renault Group Executive Vice President for Manufacturing and Supply Chain Jose Vicente de los Mozos, center, speaks to Renault Samsung employees during his visit to the company's Busan plant in this February 2019 photo. Courtesy of Renault Samsung By Nam Hyun-woo Renault Samsung could see a "critical juncture" in its corporate sustainability in the near future, after the executive vice president of Renault Group made a visit, with the apparent purpose of allocating new vehicles to the carmaker. Since Renault Samsung's sustainability hinges on whether it can operate its key plant in Busan after receiving new models to manufacture, industry officials said the senior executive's visit may also serve as a catalyst for the domestic automobile industry. According to Renault Samsung, Renault Group Executive Vice President for Manufacturing and Supply Chain Jose Vicente de los Mozos visited Renault Samsung's Busan plant and met a number of senior company executives. Renault Samsung officials refused to disclose the specifics of his visit and downplayed its significance saying it was "a regular visit." However, sources knowledgeable on the matter said he used his closed-door meeting with company executives to elaborate Renault's adjusted business plans such as the launching of new models for the plant. "It seems that de los Mozos holds the key for Renault Samsung's sustainability, as it has an urgent need to secure new vehicles to keep its plant operating," a source said. Renault Samsung is facing rivalry with other Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi plants across the world to get more production orders from its headquarters. So far, the Busan plant has been largely relying on manufacturing the Nissan Rogue, which has accounted for nearly half of the plant's output. Since this manufacturing contract will expire in March, the company is seeking to secure the production of the Renault XM3 crossover which would be shipped to the European market. The company initially sought to win the XM3 production in the first half of last year and begin manufacturing in the second half of this year. However, little progress has been made following labor disputes and subsequent partial strikes, which aggravated the company's productivity. In February last year, when the union's strike was at its peak, de los Mozos visited the Busan plant and warned that the operating cost of Renault Samsung was the highest among all Renault plants, and the plant would lose its competitiveness in case of further increase in costs. Securing production of the XM3 for export is critical for Renault Samsung's sustainability, as the company's domestic sales continue to drop. The company sold 164,941 vehicles last year, down 23.5 percent from a year earlier. Renault Samsung's slump is expected to deal another heavy blow to the Korean automobile industry, which is already ailing from SsangYong Motor's financial difficulties. SsangYong Motor's largest stakeholder, Mahindra & Mahindra, is currently staging a tug-of-war with the state-run Korea Development Bank over a government aid package. Farouq Lawan According to Punch Metro, ex-chairman of the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee that investigated the fuel subsidy regime in 2012, Farouk Lawan, told the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Apo, Abuja, on Tuesday, that his first defence witness brother in his ongoing bribery case was killed by Lassa fever in Kano on Sunday. Lawan gave this as the reason for his inability to open his defence in the six-year-old bribery case instituted against him since 2012. The Kano-born politician, who was present in court, is being prosecuted for allegedly accepting $500,000 as a bribe for the removal of billionaire businessman, Mr Femi Otedolas companys name, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited, from the list of the firms indicted by the committee for alleged fraud in the subsidy scheme. Justice Angela Otaluka in her ruling on October 17, 2019, dismissed the no-case submission Lawan filed after the prosecution closed its case with five witnesses, including Otedola. The judge ruled that contrary to Lawans contention in his no-case submission, the prosecution made a prima facie case against him which he had to defend. The court directed him to open his defence on November 11, 2019. For undisclosed reasons, the trial was adjourned till Tuesday. But Mr Benson Igbanoi, who stood in for Lawans lead counsel, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), said despite being ready for the trial, they were unable to proceed to open the defendants case because his sole witness who was meant to testify at the hearing could not attend the proceedings because he was bereaved. Igbanoi said they were informed that the witness brother was killed by Lassa fever on Sunday. He said, We are very much ready to open our defence today (Tuesday). However, late Sunday night, we received news that the sole witness of the defendant lost a brother to the dreaded Lassa fever that hit Kano. My lord in the circumstance, regrettably, we are unable go on to open our defence today. We are therefore constrained to plead with my noble lord to grant us a short adjournment because our sole witness is so devastated. Igbanoi said his team had written a letter to the court and a copy of which was served on the prosecution stating the defence teams predicament and suggesting an adjournment of the case till February 11. The lead prosecuting counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), confirmed that he received the letter dated January 27, 2020 (Monday) from Ozekhomes law firm. He said he had to reluctantly concede to another adjournment since the reason for it involved the loss of a human being. But he urged the court to direct the defendant to keep to February 11 so that he does not come that day and say he is asking for another adjournment of the case. Justice Otaluka granted the request and adjourned the case till February 11. Access to social media remains blocked despite lifting of internet ban six months after regions autonomy was revoked. Last week, India restored limited internet access in Kashmir after close to six months the longest in a democracy but major social media sites remain blocked for seven million residents of the Muslim-majority region. People have resorted to virtual private network (VPN) apps in a bid to bypass the firewall to access social media websites. VPNs use proxy servers that allow users to change their location to circumvent regional internet blockades. Widely popular social media sites like Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram continue to be blocked. Authorities in India-administered Kashmir resumed slow-speed 2G services on Friday but granted access to only 300 odd whitelisted websites, which include tax collection, education, banking and government department websites. Sheikh Adnan, a film studies scholar based in the Indian capital New Delhi, could video call his parents back home in Kashmir for the first time in almost six months, thanks to VPN. It was very overwhelming. I hadnt seen my parents all these months. When I learned about this VPN thing, I asked my friend to rush to my home and fix VPN for my parents. They downloaded half a dozen VPN applications before one eventually helped in connecting a video call through WhatsApp, Adnan told Al Jazeera. I couldnt hold my tears nor could I look into her eyes. The call was very brief owing to poor connectivity issues, he said. Fearing widespread protests, internet services had been suspended in the conflict-wracked region since August 5, when India revoked the regions partial autonomy and statehood. Almost after 175 days, 21 hours and 20 mins, I am able to tweet directly from my home; using some VPN and having this simple pleasure with so complexity! Because maybe we live where silence has a value and questioning is seditious! #Kashmir Quratulain Rehbar (@ainulrhbr) January 28, 2020 On Monday, many of the Kashmiris could be seen announcing their arrival on social media portals like Facebook and Instagram with messages like Viva La VPN. If you see this post, please rate VPNs with 5 stars, wrote Aaqib Junaid on his Facebook page. Which VPN you are using has replaced Salam Alaykum [Muslim greetings] in Kashmir, wrote another user, Irfan Mehraj, referring to the most asked questions on social media. Audiovisual content Since authorities keep on blocking VPNs as well, many Kashmiris are downloading dozens of VPN apps on their gadgets in a bid to enhance and prolong their chance of using social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Tafheem Qadri, an engineering student, says VPN has become necessary to access websites, most of which remain blocked [Courtesy of Tafheem Qadri] I downloaded many VPNs, and when one is blocked I will simply switch to the next one, says Tafheem Qadri, a materials engineer from Srinagar who is travelling back to the Himalayan region from New Delhi. Qadri has downloaded 14 VPN apps on his mobile to access the internet. It is not only about social media. I am a student and need access to internet. What they [government] have done is that they have given us access to websites like Gmail. I have been looking at universities in order to apply for my masters degree. Now, for instance, if I apply and I get an offer letter, I will have to go to the website of the university. What if that university has not been put in the whitelisted list? This is where VPN becomes absolutely necessary, Qadri told Al Jazeera. Gowhar Farooq Bhat, from AJK Mass Communication Research Centre in New Delhi, told Al Jazeera that the ban on social media is primarily aimed at stopping the audiovisual content from the conflict zone to come out. People must have shot videos and audios on their mobile gadgets about what has happened in the region in last six months. Such content is powerful and often leads to mobilisation and social media helps in easy dissemination, so obviously government wouldnt want it to go viral, he said. Despite the increasing use of VPN, many people from the region complain that owing to poor speed of internet they can hardly access it, leave alone social media. The speed is so slow, it takes a few minutes for a picture to appear on screen. A simple 10MB file would take you an entire night to download, said Oman Ahmed, a resident of Srinagar. [January 29, 2020] INVESTOR ALERT: Law Offices of Howard G. Smith Announces Investigation on Behalf of Westpac Banking Corporation Investors Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces an investigation on behalf of Westpac Banking Corporation ("Westpac" or the "Company") (NYSE: WBK) investors concerning the Company and its officers' possible violations of federal securities laws. On November 19, 2019, Westpac was charged by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre ("AUSTRAC") with over 23 million violations of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act (the "AML-CTF Act"). Among other things, AUSTRAC's Statement of Claim contends that the Company failed to distinguish money laundering or risky payments to and from outheast Asia indicative of child sexual exploitation, despite Westpac senior management being "specifically briefed" in 2016 on how the bank's international digital payments service could be at risk for such abuse. On this news, the Company's share price fell $0.80, or over 4%, to close at $17.15 per share on November 20, 2019, thereby injuring investors. If you purchased Westpac securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020 by telephone at (215) 638-4847, toll-free at (888) 638-4847, or by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005775/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] (Natural News) The nefarious Democrats are at it again with their ultimate hypocritical stance on immigration. If you dont know by now, the Democrats want open borders for one reason and one reason only easy votes. The plan is to offer lots of free stuff, including medical coverage, food, income and the ability to vote for the same to continue. Thats the illegal immigration American dream. But theres a catch. Most Democrats are dumbed-down Americans who drink fluoridated water, eat GMOs, get flu shots and watch CNN, so theyre immune systems are also as compromised as their facts about reality. In their paranoia, they get all CDC-recommended vaccines while praying that Coronavirus doesnt get inside their delapidated bodies, and turn them into the next 2020 Plague CDC statistic. And so the absurdity continues, as Democrats beg and plead for open borders, but in the same breath, applaud Mongolia for closing their border to protect their people from the Chinese who may cross over infected with deadly Coronavirus. Close those borders and keep them closed until this pandemic is solved, but leave Americas borders wide open for other infected folks to come over and spread other dangerous, infectious diseases theyre all paranoid about getting, like Hep B, AIDS, measles, tuberculosis or influenza. Doesnt matter because they wont vote for Trump, right? Or will they? These liberals actually have no clue, no proof, no guarantee. Theyre so extreme they cant see straight or think straight. Theyre too worried about gender fluidity, Kobe Bryant and whatever script Wolfe Blitzer is reading off the teleprompter. Liberals would cut their nose off to spite their face just to keep from admitting Trump is right, about anything. Even when hes right about illegal immigrants bringing infectious diseases with them. Think about that for a minute. What happens when you eat bats, rats and scorpions from dirty buckets full of rotting chicken and fish? Anyone from China who eats bats, rats, porcupines and scorpions, then flies over to South America or Mexico, then walks across the open border with Coronavirus, is likely to infect a few million Americans after they share the same grocery cart or subway handrail. Plus, all those N95 masks arent doing squat because the virus can get into your eyes just as easily as it could enter your mouth or nose. Touch your eyes often when you go out in public, or to the doctors office, or to daycare? The Liberal hypocrites never make sense. They scream for whatever the Washington Post tells them to scream for, and they defend it to the death, literally. Youve got hundreds of millions of people in China who are living in the most industrially-polluted nation of the world, eating wild animals that should never be eaten, that live in unkempt quarters, that arent cleaned properly, that are slaughtered and cut up in buckets swarming with E. coli and salmonella germs. Talk about lowered immunity. And the people that are dying from Coronavirus are mostly (or all) immuno-compromised people. In America, the medical complex blames babies and the elderly, but its really anyone uneducated about clean food and clean medicine. Meanwhile, the libtards of America cant understand anything rational, medical or scientific that isnt served up as a hoax for race wars, global warming, dirty vaccines or chemotherapy. Which brings us back to the actual logic at hand. So now its okay, according to Liberals in America, to CLOSE the borders? According to Liberal logic, we can now totally close the American southern border in order to quarantine all Americans from catching Coronavirus from infected immigrants. China is reporting 4,000 infected people, but is it really 40,000? How many will or already did defect to other countries, just to escape the pandemic and the communist tyranny? How many Chinese are already in South America and Mexico, planning to cross into the USA through Arizona, Texas or New Mexico soon? Thats right, every Liberal idiot praising countries adjacent to China for closing their borders to protect their citizens should also be supporting Trump closing all USA borders and quarantining the whole country, until we figure out how to stop importing Ebola and Coronavirus (the CDC does it on purpose, by the way). It really all boils down to population reduction through vaccines, and since Bill Gates already funded the patent on Coronavirus, you can bet hes got the anecdotal vaccine stored away in his bunker. Maybe hell sell it for billions to all the elitist globalists who kiss his ring in order to survive the Corona plague. Tune into vaccines.news to find out why half of all Americans avoid vaccines like the plague, knowing the truth about injecting genetically modified viruses that Bill Gates says hes using to reduce the worlds population by about 5 billion people over the next decade. Maybe its time you go out and get some Vitamin D3, garlic, oregano oil and medicinal mushrooms and build up your immunity naturally so you can fight off Ebola (thats imported by the CDC on purpose) and the Coronavirus Apocalypse thats coming to a doc-in-the-box near you. Sources for this article include: Vaccines.news Multimedia.scmp.com NaturalNews.com ZeroHedge.com Breitbart.com RepublicWorld.com Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi on January 29 told his South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha that China would continue to make sure the safety of all foreign nationals in the country amid the widespread outbreak of the deadly new coronavirus, as per reports. The foreign ministry of China released a statement that said Wang Yi thanked his South Korean counterpart for her willingness to provide necessary assistance. It further stated that China will continue to boost its cooperation with the international community with a sense of responsibility and adhering to the principles of openness. READ: China Reports About 6,000 Confirmed Cases Of Coronavirus, Surpasses SARS China to take preventive measures: Wang Yi Wang added that China is taking preventive measures to ensure the safety of all foreigners in the country, including people from South Korea. The number of people infected by the deadly Coronavirus outbreak has risen to nearly 6,000 in China, reports on Wednesday said. The virus originating from China's Wuhan has claimed the lives of 132 people in the country, while 5,974 new cases have been confirmed. By the end of Monday, a total of 4,515 cumulative confirmed cases of novel virus had been reported in Hubei, while 2,567 patients are hospitalised, with 563 in severe conditions and 127 in critical conditions, the Hubei Provincial Health Commission said on Tuesday. Hospitals across the province received 31,934 fever patients on Monday, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Public health experts in Hong Kong had warned on Monday that there could be thousands of more carriers of this new and deadly virus from China, despite sweeping efforts to contain it. READ: Toyota Keeping China Plants Shut Through Feb 9 Over Virus More than 50 million locked down in Wuhan As the disease continues to spread rapidly, the health authorities around the world are taking action to prevent a global epidemic, with cases reported in Australia, France, the United States and several Asian countries besides China. The US and Japan airlifted hundreds of their nationals on Wednesday from China's Wuhan, which is the epicentre of the fatal virus. More than 50 million people have been locked down in and around Wuhan, in a bid by authorities to stop an infection that is spreading swiftly across the world. Thousands of foreigners are among those trapped in the city, and many countries are planning to get rescue their nationals. Moreover, many countries have begun screening of Coronavirus at every international airport in order to prevent it from spreading. Cases reported in countries have arranged isolation rooms in hospitals. READ: US Considers Cancelling Flights To China Amid Coronavirus Dread READ: Coronavirus Outbreak: Major Companies Restrict Travel To China For Employees (with inputs from agencies) Six politicians who were jailed last year for their part in the 2017 independence drive in Catalonia were taken to the regional parliament on Tuesday, where they were due to speak as part of an investigation commission covering the application of Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution that year. The measure, taken by the central government in Madrid, suspended the regional powers of the Catalan government in response to the illegal referendum on secession from Spain held on October 1, 2017 and the subsequent unilateral declaration of independence passed by the parliament. Speaking in the chamber on Tuesday, the jailed head of the Catalan Republican Left (ERC) party, Oriol Junqueras, reiterated his desire to hold talks with the central Spanish government about Catalonia and its place within Spain, and also argued that he did not commit any crimes in 2017. Junqueras was jailed by the Supreme Court for 13 years for the offenses of sedition and misuse of funds for his part in the secessionist drive that year. Jail is a part of the path toward freedom, it has a poetic beauty to it ERC leader Oriol Junqueras Junqueras and five other politicians were transferred early on Tuesday morning from two prisons in Catalonia to speak in the commission, which is being viewed by anti-independence parties in the parliament as a platform for pro-secessionist propaganda. We have some skepticism with the Socialists, Junqueras told the parliament. Because they have given us many reasons to [be skeptical]. But that is compatible and is not contradictory with the enthusiasm and willingness we have when it comes to talks. Jailed Catalan independence leaders Oriol Junqueras and other jailed Catalan politicians arrive at the regional parliament on Tuesday, where they are greeted by their former colleagues (Spanish captions). ERC played a key role in getting Socialist Party (PSOE) chief Pedro Sanchez voted back in as prime minister in Spains lower house of parliament, the Congress of Deputies. The pro-independence party agreed to abstain at Sanchezs investiture vote, in exchange for a commitment from the new PSOE-Unidas Podemos coalition government to enter into talks with Catalan politicians over the future of the northeastern Spanish region. It was announced on Tuesday that PM Sanchez will meet with the Catalan regional premier Quim Torra on February 6 in Barcelona as part of the promised talks. On Tuesday Torra was stripped of his role as deputy in the Catalan regional parliament while Spains Supreme Court considers his appeals against being barred from office. Torra was found guilty of disobedience for having refused to remove banners supporting the jailed politicians during an election campaign, thus violating Spains electoral law. For now, however, Torra is still serving as the regional premier but could be removed from that position depending on the top courts rulings. Regional deputies from the Catalan Socialist Party and the Popular Party did not participate in the commission The talks are a step forward, because this is the first time that the existence of a political conflict has been recognized, said Junqueras. For the ERC president, the flag of dialogue is the best thing to make the Catalan republic a reality. As for the application by the then-Popular Party (PP)-led government of Article 155 of the Constitution, Junqueras was unequivocal. It did nothing to stop us, he said. We are not scared, we never have been, and we are now less than ever. Jail is a part of the path toward freedom, it has a poetic beauty to it. He added: Those who said the most times that they had gutted us are no longer [in politics], but I am. He explained that he was referring to the then-deputy prime minister, Soraya Saenz de Santamaria, who has since left politics to work as a lawyer, and Albert Rivera, the former leader of center-right anti-independence party Ciudadanos (Citizens), who also left politics after his party suffered a crushing loss at the November 2019 general elections. Nothing that we have done is a crime, Junqueras continued. Not holding a referendum, nor defending the republic or independence. Jailing us is unfair, he said, before adding that the judicial rulings from a number of European courts have proved us right. Regional deputies from the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) and the PP did not participate in the commission, on the basis that they considered it to be partisan. Deputies from Ciudadanos also left the chamber after their spokesperson, Lorena Roldan, had spoken . Junquerass words were received with applause from deputies belonging to the pro-independence parties Together for Catalonia, the ERC and the far-left CUP. The politicians were also warmly welcomed on their arrival at the parliament building on Tuesday morning, with crowds shouting Freedom! in Catalan. English version by Simon Hunter. Nissan is planning aggressive cost cuts to deal with an unexpected slump in sales as the expansionist strategy it inherited from fugitive former Chairman Carlos Ghosn flounders, four people familiar with the plans said. Japan's second biggest carmaker is set to eliminate at least 4,300 white-collar jobs and shut two manufacturing sites as part of broader plans to add at least 480 billion yen ($4.4 billion) to its bottom line by 2023, two of the people told Reuters. The moves come on top of a turnaround plan unveiled in July and are likely to include cutting Nissan's range of ... BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 Trend: The award ceremony for the winners of Azercells Student Bursary Program was held on November 28, 2020. Azercells CEO, Vahid Mursaliyev, Azercells Human Capital Management Department director, Ziba Mustafayeva and Student services manager of SABAH Groups Project, Mehriban Nazarova welcomed the winners of the program and wished them success in their future activities. Azercells activities are aimed at creating new opportunities for individual and professional development of students. We are delighted to act as the initiator of a number of projects conducted in order to encourage the scientific activity of talented youth. During 12 years Azercell has been annually organising Internship and Bursary programs for students and has allocated the scholarship to more than 230 students up to date ,- said Vahid Mursaliyev. It should be recalled that, Azercell opened applications for Student Bursary Program earlier in September of the previous year and received 1750 applies, accordingly. 741 students meeting pre-set criteria were invited to participate in the multi-stage selection process. In order to create equal conditions for all students, the specialists of the Azercells Human Capital Management department met with the students of both capital and regional universities throughout three months, provided information about the program and answered their questions. It is worth mentioning that, this year 28 students have been awarded the title of Azercells Scholar. Thus, out of 28 students, 9 were selected from the universities in Baku, 10 - from the regional universities, and 9 - from SABAH group students, as a part of a memorandum of cooperation signed between SABAH groups under the Ministry of Education, and Azercell Telecom LLC in 2017. In addition to a monthly stipend of AZN 200, the winners will have a chance to enrich their knowledge about telco market, get closer to the latest trends of the digital world, participate in Azercells corporate events and social activities, receive various trainings, as well as take internship opportunity at Azercell. The leader of the mobile communication industry, the largest taxpayer and the biggest investor of the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan Azercell Telecom LLC was founded in 1996. Currently, 4.8 million subscribers choose Azercell services. Mobile operator controls 49% of market share; while its geographical coverage constitutes 99.2% (excluding the occupied territories); and population coverage 99.8%. Azercell was the pioneering mobile operator to introduce a number of innovations in Azerbaijan, including GSM technology, advance payment system, mobile internet services, 24/7 call center service (*1111), 7/7 Front Office service, Azercell Express offices, M2M services, 4G technology and pilot version of 5G, mobile, online customer care services and customer services through social media, mobile e-signature service ASAN Imza etc. Rapidly increasing 4G network of Azercell covers nearly 60 regions of the country, including Baku and Absheron peninsula. According to the results of mobile network quality and wireless coverage mapping surveys by international systems, Azercells 4G network demonstrated the best results among the mobile operators of Azerbaijan. Azercell is the only company in Azerbaijan and CIS region which has been awarded Gold Certificate of International Investors in People Standard. The state government will take developers who razed the historic Corkman Irish Pub to court again, seeking an order forcing them to build a temporary public park at the Carlton site. Developers Raman Shaqiri and Stefce Kutlesovski have failed to deliver on their promise to build the park by February under an agreement they reached with Planning Minister Richard Wynne last year. The Carlton site on Tuesday. Credit:Joe Armao The site remains closed off by a barbed-wire fence and the pair have not submitted plans to the City of Melbourne for approval. Mr Wynne on Wednesday said the state government and Melbourne council would seek an enforcement order at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to ensure Mr Shaqiri and Mr Kutlesovski delivered on their promise. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 20:24:03|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned on Wednesday the peace plan put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump, saying it represents a surrender to Israel. In a statement, the ministry said it condemns the so-called "Deal of the Century" that was announced on Tuesday by Trump. "The latest U.S. plan showed the clear alliance between the U.S. and the Zionist entity and their enmity to the Arab nation," the ministry said. It added that the U.S. policies in the region are designed to serve Israel and its expansionist schemes in the region. Trump on Tuesday revealed the long-awaited political aspect of his Middle East peace plan, a proposal that has already been repeatedly refused by the Palestinians. Trump also reiterated his administration's recognition of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights of Syria as an Israeli territory, a recognition that has been repeatedly condemned by Syria. China is battling a "demon" virus that has so far killed more than 100 people, President Xi Jinping said Tuesday, as foreign nations prepared to evacuate their citizens and the US said it was developing a vaccine. Xi made his remarks during talks with the head of the World Health Organization in Beijing amid growing global concerns about a novel coronavirus that has infected thousands in China and reached more than a dozen other countries. In a development that could cause more jitters abroad, Japan and Germany reported the first confirmed cases of human-to-human transmission outside of China. World markets outside Asia nevertheless rebounded following a global sell-off fuelled by the spread of the virus. The infection is believed to have originated in a wild-animal market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where it jumped to humans before spreading rapidly across the country, prompting authorities to enact drastic nationwide travel restrictions in recent days. Countries are also concerned about the fate of thousands of foreigners stuck in Wuhan, a city of 11 million that has been sealed off by Chinese authorities in a bid to contain the disease. A plane sent by Tokyo landed in the virus-stricken metropolis late Tuesday and was scheduled to repatriate Japanese nationals on Wednesday, the same day that a US aircraft is expected to bring American citizens back to their homeland. The European Union will fly its citizens out aboard two French planes this week, and South Korea was due to do the same. Several other countries were assessing their options. "Chinese people are currently engaged in a serious struggle against an epidemic of a new type of coronavirus infection," Xi told WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Beijing. "The epidemic is a demon, and we cannot let this demon hide," the Chinese leader said, pledging that the government would be transparent and release information in a "timely" manner. His comments came as anger simmered on Chinese social media over the handling of the health emergency by local officials in central Hubei province. Some experts have praised Beijing for being more reactive and open about this crisis than it was during the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) epidemic of 2002-2003. But others say local cadres were more focused on projecting stability earlier in January than in adequately responding to the outbreak during regional political meetings. Since then, the number of cases has soared -- doubling to more than 4,500 in the past 24 hours. In Washington, US health authorities said a vaccine was in the works but would take months to develop. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar called on Beijing to show "more cooperation and transparency," saying the US had offered its help three times -- so far without success. - Contagion abroad - The WHO last week stopped short of declaring the outbreak a global emergency, which could have prompted a more aggressive international response, such as travel restrictions. Following the high-level talks with Xi in Beijing, the WHO said the two sides had agreed to send international experts to China "as soon as possible... to guide global response efforts." "Stopping the spread of this virus both in China and globally is WHO's highest priority," Tedros said. Until Tuesday, all reported cases in more than a dozen countries had involved people who had been in or around Wuhan. But in Japan, a man in his 60s apparently contracted the virus after driving two groups of tourists visiting from the city earlier in January, the health ministry said. And a 33-year-old German man contracted the disease from a Chinese colleague from Shanghai who visited Germany last week, according to health officials. Vietnam has been investigating a possible case of human-to-human transmission. The development came after countries including Sri Lanka, Malaysia and the Philippines announced tighter visa restrictions for people coming from China. China has taken its own drastic steps to stop the virus, which health officials say is passed between people through sneezing or coughing, and possibly through physical contact. Zhong Nanshan, a renowned scientist at China's National Health Commission, told the official Xinhua news agency on Tuesday that the outbreak could peak in a week or 10 days. Authorities sealed off Wuhan and other cities in Hubei province late last week, trapping more than 50 million people. China has since extended the Lunar New Year holiday to keep people indoors as much as possible, and suspended a wide range of train services. On Tuesday, authorities urged Chinese citizens to delay any foreign travel "to protect the health and safety of Chinese and foreign people." - Ghost town - Wuhan, meanwhile, has been turned into a near ghost town under a lockdown that has largely confined the industrial hub's residents to their homes. With a ban on car traffic, the streets were nearly deserted apart from the occasional ambulance -- although the city's hospitals are overwhelmed. "Everyone goes out wearing masks and they are worried about the infection," said David, a Chinese man who works in Shanghai but found himself trapped in Wuhan after it was put under quarantine. He declined to give his family name. burs-lth-gle/sst/bbk 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 US Justice Department are pushing Apple to create a back door into the data on encrypted iPhones they want the untrustworthy FBI and any local cop to be able to see everything inside anyone's phone. Apple, mercifully, is resisting, just as it did the request of Barack Obama's 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 we 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 the location data of smartphones, tracking users so precisely that their databases could arguably compromise national security or political liberty. Loading 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 for less than $US100, my colleagues were able to identify people walking by surveillance cameras in Bryant Park in Manhattan. Shazam for faces This past weekend, there were reports on a company called Clearview AI that has created a tool that "could end your ability to walk down the street anonymously". By scraping pictures from Facebook, YouTube and other websites to create a huge database of faces, the company lets cops identify people just by snapping a photo. It's Shazam for faces, not very different from the kind of facial recognition tools we worry the authorities may be using in China and even though hundreds of police departments may have access to it, almost no one outside the company understands how it works. The Clearview AI story suggests another reason to worry that our march into surveillance has become inexorable: Each new privacy-invading technology builds on a previous one, allowing for scary outcomes from new integrations and collections of data that few users might have anticipated. I was recently confronted by this sort of cascade with my own smartphone tracking data. Late last year, with the help of Stuart Thompson, an Opinion editor, I set up my phone to monitor how certain apps were tracking me. I focused on apps that required me to grant them access to my physical location among them apps to find cheap petrol, coupons and nearby retail discounts, and to otherwise help me navigate and find deals as I wandered about the world. The upshot: As the location-tracking apps followed me, I was able to capture the pings they sent to online servers essentially recording their spying. I sent the data to Stuart and his team, who interpreted and mapped the pings the apps had collected about me. Their picture shocked me; the apps had followed me far more closely, capturing much more data and far more often, than I had imagined when I'd said yes to their tracking. Sure, I'm not a criminal but do I want anyone to learn everything about me? Is it wise for us to let any entity learn everything about everyone? The apps are essentially stalking me. They see me drive out one morning to the petrol station, then to the produce store, then to Safeway; later on I passed by a music school, stopped at a restaurant, then Whole Foods. But location was only one part of the data the companies had about me; because geographic data is often combined with other personal information including a mobile advertising ID that can help merge what you see and do online with where you go in the real world the story these companies can tell about me is actually far more detailed than I can tell about myself. Like a lot of people, I've long justified my apathy about privacy through innocence: I'm a stand-up guy what do I have to hide? But looking at the God's-eye-view that a few coupon apps can glean about me, I can no longer pretend I've got nothing to worry about. Sure, I'm not a criminal but do I want anyone to learn everything about me? And more to the point: Is it wise for us to let any entity learn everything about everyone? Loading 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. Will we allow the government and corporations unrestricted access to every bit of data we ever generate, or will we decide that some kinds of collections, like the encrypted data on your phone, should be forever off limits, even when a judge has issued a warrant for it? 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? On Monday the Supreme Court approved the Trump administrations public charge rule with a 5-4 vote. The highly contested rule, which was announced last August, altered existing immigration law to allow the administration to deny visas to legal immigrants if it determined that they were or could be a public charge, that is, someone who relies on the governments assistance. The Supreme Courts decision, which nullified an order from a federal judge banning the rule, not only intensifies the attacks on immigrants, affecting their health, public benefits, well-being and immigration status, but has dangerous implications for the rights of the working class as a whole. US Supreme Court [Source: Texas GOP] Although still being challenged in lower courts, the decision, which was issued as a response to the administrations emergency petition, lifts a nationwide injunction imposed by a district judge in New York. After immigrant rights groups and states had challenged the rule last year, many federal judges blocked the rules implementation. Chief Justice Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch were in the majority, since the order remained unsigned by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G. Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, although they said they would have ruled against the administrations request. The Supreme Court decision allows the government to immediately put into effect the public charge rules new standards, stopping immigrants from seeking public services, even if they qualify for it. Every immigrant using a social program is in danger of being labeled a public charge, which means permanent residency, citizenship or temporary visas can be denied to legal immigrants who might have accessed any kind of public benefits. This has already had disastrous consequences, with a large number of working class immigrants staying away from much-needed social services. While the rule doesnt apply to the use of such facilities by the US citizen children of immigrants, the prevailing confusion about it and the justifiable fear of being denied green cards has led families to even keep children away from medical treatment. A study by the Urban Institute showed that even before the rule took effect, About one in seven (13.7 percent) adults in immigrant families reported that they or a family member did not participate inmeaning they did not apply for or dropped out ofa non-cash benefit program in 2018 out of fear of risking future green card status. Among adults in low-income families earning less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level, this rate was one in five (20.7 percent). Although US officials claim the change exempts asylum seekers and refugees who fled persecution for safety in the US, is not retroactive and does not penalize immigrants for family members receiving benefits (e.g., a child who is a citizen), there is widespread confusion about the new policy. The criminality of this situation is further underscored by the fact that a large number of children in immigrant families are in fact US citizens, and therefore not bound by the public charge rule at all. It is estimated that in 2017, approximately 10 million American childrenabout 13 percent of the total child populationhad a non-citizen parent. While mass roundups of and expanding internment camps for so-called illegal immigrants has become the new normal, the number of legal immigrants being denied visas or permanent residency based on public charge grounds has increased under the Trump administration. In 2019, more than 12,000 visa applicants were denied on such grounds, after 1,033 people were denied in 2016 under Obama. The anti-working class bias for this new rule is patently obvious at every level. To a large extent, highly qualified, high earning immigrants tend to not depend on most government programs. But beyond that, the factors that will be considered by immigration officials who make a determination about visa eligibility include not only whether or not an applicant has actually used a government program, but also whether there is a chance that they would in the future. To determine the latter, the ruling lists a host of negative factors, including unemployment, absence of high school credentials, and fluency in English. The negative impact of such a program is far-ranging and has been catalogued by numerous public health activists. The deprivation of benefits including medical aid, nutritional aid, minimal cash benefits to low-income senior or disabled non-citizens hits the most vulnerable parts of society. Children in particular will feel a major impact. A wide range of benefits is intended to promote their development, well-being, health and nutrition, as well as prenatal care. Reduced access to health care, higher poverty levels in general, increase in severe and chronic health issues, limited early childhood education and negative psychological outcomes are likely to follow. In times of the most right-wing immigration policy in recent history, service providers have already reported decreased benefits use of those who are eligible out of fear of deportation. Ultimately, millions of workers will go without basic needsfood, housing and health carebecause they fear the possibility of losing legal immigration status. This extension of the war on immigrants, first from the undocumented population, now to those who have legal documents, can only be seen as part of the larger onslaught against the working class as a whole. Indeed, Roger was the leading philosophical defender of love of home and ones own, what he called oikophilia. Of course, as a humanist and Christian he recognized duties to all of humanity even duties of love (understood as being less about feeling than about willing): All are brothers and sisters under the fatherhood of God, who made us all in his own image. But Roger also held that one naturally and rightly has a special love for, and duties toward, members of ones family, tradition of faith, local community and region, and fellow citizens. Rogers oikophilia, and his rejection of multiculturalism (which he considered anti-cultural in that it melted the different cultures into a monoculture of contemporary upscale progressive ideology), provoked ignorant and excitable people to accuse him of xenophobia and racism. In fact, Roger respected other cultures a great deal more than most progressives of my acquaintance do. He learned Arabic in order to read the Quran, and he admired the tradition-transcending contributions of the great medieval Islamic philosophers. He made careful, in-depth studies of Hindu and other Eastern traditions of faith precisely in search of the wisdom he regarded them as possessing. Roger often explained his conservatism with a sound bite, which, naturally, oversimplified matters. He told the story of watching protesters in the streets from the window of his apartment in Paris in May 1968, and realizing that building things of value (communities, societies, nations, legal and economic systems, institutions of civil society) is hard and takes time, while destroying them is easy and often accomplished in a flash. It was then, he said, that he became, or realized that he was, a conservative. Moreover, he recognized that the most important things people build, even more important than the cathedrals and great works of art and music he so loved, are not primarily the result of planning. They develop organically over time, with trial and error, as the work of many hands (an example is the common law of England). Recognizing this, conservatives should, he argued, seek to protect these things against those who would tear them down out of a misguided zeal for what they saw as the demands of liberty, equality, social justice or even the free market. The conservative can cheer moderate reforms (organic things do grow and therefore change), but the conservatives fundamental goal is to conserve. That spirit, by the way, made Roger an ardent, but old-fashioned and therefore moderate, conservationist a kind of Green Tory who believed responsible stewardship of the natural order crucial. He thought that good stewardship begins with regard for the local landscape and architecture. Left-wing philosophers heirs, in a sense, to 1789 believe that philosophys point is to chart how the world should be remade. In Marxs words, The philosophers have thus far merely interpreted the world; the point is to change it. As if to play the role of Marxs straight men for one of his pithiest lines, some conservative philosophers have sought to explain that the social world is as it is (or was what it was until the left somehow changed it) because it had to be that way and cannot be substantially changed. Roger was a different kind of conservative philosopher. True, he did not think philosophy, or anything else, could usefully plan or radically reform the world. He was not a Marxist even in that limited sense. There was none of the spirit of 1789, or 1968, in him. But he believed that philosophy can help us see the value of good, if imperfect, things communities, institutions that have grown up organically, and that it can show us why we should fight to preserve them and how we can make our own contribution to their development, sometimes even by way of moderate reforms. Robert P. George is a professor of jurisprudence at Princeton University. Now in print: Modern Ethics in 77 Arguments, and The Stone Reader: Modern Philosophy in 133 Arguments, with essays from the series, edited by Peter Catapano and Simon Critchley, published by Liveright Books. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. The Commissioner for Older People has warned that not enough is being done to improve safeguarding in care homes in Northern Ireland. Eddie Lynch said he was concerned and frustrated at the pace of change in implementing recommendations that flowed from his damning 2018 report on Dunmurry Manor Care Home. Mr Lynchs investigation listed a litany of failings in the care provided in the home, prompting him to make 59 recommendations to seven relevant authorities related to care provision, inspections and management. The seven relevant authorities were the inspection body the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA); Dunmurry Manor Care Home; its owners Runwood Homes Limited; South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust; Belfast Health and Social Care Trust; Northern Health and Social Care Trust; Southern Health and Social Care Trust; and the Department of Health. Expand Close Relatives impacted by the Dunmurry Manor Care Home investigation protest following its publication in 2018 (David Young/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Relatives impacted by the Dunmurry Manor Care Home investigation protest following its publication in 2018 (David Young/PA) Mr Lynch said all the authorities responded to the proposed recommendations by an October 2018 deadline but he considered much of the information provided to be lacking in substance. The commissioner then asked for further responses, which he said did offer some assurance, but not enough. I remain concerned and frustrated by the pace of change, he added. The relevant authorities have had 16 months to demonstrate action on these recommendations and I am not assured that enough work has been done to make the necessary improvements to the safeguarding and care of residents in care homes. The majority of my recommendations have been accepted by the relevant authorities and I acknowledge there have been some changes in practice. I remain concerned and frustrated by the pace of changeEddie Lynch He added: I welcome these actions, but the pace and scale of change is not enough. There is still much work to be done by the authorities to fulfil their promises on paper and I welcome the Minister of Health (Robin Swann) coming into office at this time. Mr Lynch updated families impacted by his Dunmurry Manor Care Home probe, titled Home Truths, on Wednesday. He said many of the responses received from the authorities cited the need for a ministerial decision to implement a recommendation. These included the implementation of an Adult Safeguarding Bill; stronger financial penalties for providers who do not meet minimum standards; a ratings system for care homes; changes to complaints systems; the establishment of an independent body to encourage and support whistleblowers; and dementia-friendly standards to hygiene and cleanliness of care settings. I am frustrated that in 2020 we still do not have an Adult Safeguarding Bill, said the commissioner. I met with Minister Swann this week and I look forward to further discussions so that the above recommendations can be progressed as a matter of urgency. I call on the Minister and the Northern Ireland Assembly Health Committee to progress this work without any further delay and oversee the full implementation of all my recommendations. Expand Close Robin Swann said the restored executive would take legislative action to improve care home provision (Rebecca Black/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Robin Swann said the restored executive would take legislative action to improve care home provision (Rebecca Black/PA) Responding to the commissioners concerns, Mr Swann said much more needed to be done to restore public confidence in care home provision in Northern Ireland. While much of this frustration stems from the absence of an Executive and Minister, that is no comfort to the residents and families who were so badly let down, he said. I want to make clear that I agree with the Commissioner that much more needs to be done to rebuild public confidence. As Minister, I want to extend my apologies to residents and families for the failings at Dunmurry Manor. I also apologise for the fact there has been no Assembly in place to bring forward legislative change. With devolution restored, the Executive and the Assembly can now right this wrong. He said important reforms had been taken forward following Mr Lynchs initial investigation report. Overall, I want to see a far-reaching programme of change to improve the quality of nursing and residential homes and treatment of older people in Northern Ireland, said the minister. In a statement Runwood Homes said staff immediately and efficiently addressed all of the applicable recommendations highlighted by the commissioner following the Home Truths report published in June 2018, and provided responses and evidence required, as was assured, by October 2018. Operational management at Runwood Homes continues to firmly monitor and review all services in order to further develop and proactively improve overall performance, for the benefit of service users as well as staff; meeting peoples individual needs and wishes in a dignified, kind and respectful manner at all times, the statement added. The official @Android handle will provide the responses. Google has released a new hashtag #AndroidHelp to identify and resolve issues that Android smartphone users may be facing. Announcing the hashtag on Twitter through the official @Android handle, the company wrote that users can get assistance by tweeting their issue using the #AndroidHelp hashtag. In a separate Reddit post, Google explained that users can seek assistance with issues such as general troubleshooting, identity and authentication, accessibility, security, and other Android features. The official @Android handle will provide the responses. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. A husband and wife Chinese spy team were recently removed from a Level 4 Infectious Disease facility in Canada for sending pathogens to the Wuhan facility. The husband specialized in coronavirus research. #coronaviruschina #CoronaOutbreak. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. "A husband and wife Chinese spy team were recently removed from a Level 4 Infectious Disease facility in Canada for sending pathogens to the Wuhan facility. The husband specialized in coronavirus research. #coronaviruschina #CoronaOutbreak." A tweet by @Jkylebass spreading erroneous information this week The spread of the Wuhan Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has led to growing fears over the dangerous spread of a pandemic around the world. At the same time, that fear has prompted the sharing of a huge amount of misinformation on social media and throughout the internet that is spreading fake news to citizens, thus making a difficult situation even worse. On Jan. 25, a U.S. resident named Kyle Bass posted a tweet that suggested the husband and wife Chinese scientists who were removed from the Level 4 Infectious Disease facility last year in Winnipeg, no less were somehow connected to the spread of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus in China. The man also posted links to several CBC Manitoba stories about the two Chinese researchers after they were escorted out of the lab amid an RCMP investigation. While it is true that the two scientists were the subject of an investigation, the Public Health Agency of Canada this week denied any connection between the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg and the two Chinese scientists. "Baseless stories claiming that the two scientists are Chinese spies and that they smuggled the coronavirus to Chinas only Level 4 lab in Wuhan last year have been spreading on all major social media platforms and on conspiracy theorist blogs," reported the CBC yesterday, adding that the conspiracy theory appeared to be based on a distorted reading of the CBC News reporting from last summer. The Public Health Agency of Canada states that "the husband" in this case, Keding Cheng, who worked at the Winnipeg lab as a biologist, did not specialize in coronavirus research as claimed by @Jkylebass. This is just one example of the rumours and fears that are spreading like wildfire around the world. The American news website Axios claimed yesterday that misinformation about the coronavirus is "testing governments, tech platforms and health officials as well as a nervous public in both the U.S. and China." Some of this information has come from private Facebook groups that have been created after the virus began to gain more media attention. Meanwhile, Buzzfeed News has been busy exposing false information. Some of the fake news out there includes: Rumours that 112,000 people are dead from the virus. JONATHAN HAYWARD/THE CANADIAN PRESS British Columbia Health Minister Adrian Dix looks on as Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry addresses the media during a news conference at the BC Centre of Disease Control in Vancouver B.C, Tuesday, January 28, 2020. Dix and Dr. Henry announced Tuesday that British Columbia has confirmed its first case of coronavirus and the person in question is being treated. That the Federal Emergency Measures Agency in the United States suggested enacting martial law to contain the coronavirus. A photo circulating of Chinese citizens protesting in Wuhan. Claims that vitamin C will cure or prevent a coronavirus infection (it wont). Claims of the virus popping up on university campuses in Canada, such as Ryerson and McMaster. Even a WhatsApp message falsely claiming to show a list of Toronto schools affected by the coronavirus. These are all fake assertions being spread by social media to scare the public and cause panic. And unfortunately, it has worked, to a degree. Fears over the coronavirus prompted a school board in Ontario to warn parents about racism against the Chinese community, even as a moderate panic ensues among citizens. CTV reports that surgical face masks have been "flying off the shelves in several cities around Canada" since coronavirus reports started ramping up. Yet the World Health Organization maintains that the current coronavirus (SARS was also a coronavirus) has not turned into a global emergency. Yet. Thus far, a 2019-nCoV virus tracking map operated by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University shows that as of 2 p.m. on Tuesday, there were only 4,690 confirmed cases of the virus around the world, including two in Canada. (Note that this does not include a third confirmed Canadian case in B.C. yesterday, news of which broke shortly before writing this editorial). The official worldwide death toll stood at 106. Its worth reminding the public that each year in Canada, it is estimated that ordinary influenza cases cause about 12,200 hospitalizations and about 3,500 deaths according to the Canadian government websites public health page. In the United States, influenza kills 36,000 people and hospitalizes more than 200,000 each year, according to 2018 statistics. And yet, somehow, panic does not ensue among the populace as flu season approaches, and many people refuse to get seasonal flu vaccines. The best approach for anyone concerned about the new coronavirus or any contagious disease, really is to look to official sources of verified information, such as the Canadian and Manitoba governments that have tried to keep the public up to date, the World Health Organization, which has a wealth of information on disease and epidemic control, and the local regional health authority, which is the first responder to any potential outbreak. And while the public has given mainstream media less of its trust over the last decade, news sites like The Brandon Sun, CBC, CTV, the Winnipeg Free Press and other trustworthy national and international media use health information from verified sources. It should go without saying, but unfortunately, it cant as interesting as they may be, comments made on Twitter, Facebook, TikTok and any other social media platform that does not reference factual information should be treated as suspect. Its the only way to stifle the rumour mill. Burma ICJ Gives The Gambia, Myanmar Just Six Months to Prepare Pleadings in Genocide Case Public hearings on The Gambias request for provisional measures in its genocide case against Myanmar are held at the International Court of Justice in The Hague on Dec. 10, 2019. / ICJ YANGONThe International Court of Justice has announced the deadlines for initial pleadings in the genocide case The Gambia filed against Myanmar last year over its treatment of Rohingya Muslims. More than 700,000 Muslims from Myanmars western Rakhine State fled 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. Those who fled said the Rohingya were subject to extrajudicial killings, rapes and arson by security forces. UN investigators said the operations had genocidal intent. Both the Myanmar government and military have denied the accusation. The Gambia filed a case at the court in November on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, accusing Myanmar of committing genocide against the Muslims from Rakhine State. Last week, as requested by The Gambia, the ICJ ordered Myanmar to implement a number of provisional measures to protect Rohingya still living in the country. The court said the ruling would not influence the outcome of the main genocide case, in which the judges could take years to deliver a verdict. On Tuesday, less than one week after the ruling, the UNs top court announced that The Gambia must submit its initial pleading in the case by July 23, while Myanmar has until Jan. 25, 2021 to reply. In fact, the deadlines are sooner than both parties requested. During their public hearings before the court in December last year, The Gambia asked for nine months to prepare its pleading, while Myanmar sought the same length of time to prepare its counter-pleading. The ICJ announced the order effective Jan. 23, granting just six months preparation time to each party, taking into account the exceptional circumstances of the case and its gravity. Kingsley Abbott, coordinator of the International Commission of Jurists Global Accountability Initiative, told The Irrawaddy that the court seems eager for the case to proceed without delay. The fact that the court, citing the exceptional circumstances of the case and its gravity, gave the parties less time to file submissions than they requested tends to suggest it wishes to advance these proceedings as expeditiously as possible, he said. Following the ICJs ruling on provisional measures last week, Myanmars Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it took note of the decision, while reiterating its view that there was no genocide against the Rohingya, as alleged by The Gambia. Furthermore, Myanmar State Counselors Office Minister U Kyaw Tint Swe reaffirmed the statement during a roundtable discussion about the case on state media on Tuesday. We need to submit evidence to the court to make clear it didnt happen. We have hired the best legal team on the issue. They have accepted our case as they believe we didnt commit [genocide], he said. You may also like these stories: 46 Rohingya Return to Myanmars Rakhine State Myanmar Cannot Be Trusted on Rohingya Rights, ICJ Told ICJ to Rule on Emergency Measures in Myanmar Genocide Case on Jan. 23: Gambia Chennai, Jan 29 : The Tamil Nadu government will monitor the health condition of those returning from China for 28 days to see whether they are affected by Coronavirus, said a senior official in Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. He said passengers coming from Chine and landing in Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore and Trichy airports are monitored and their details are being collected. "Till Wednesday morning 78 passengers -- 68 Indians and 10 Chinese -- have landed in four airports in Tamil Nadu. A self-declaration form on their health condition has been obtained and their body temperature was also gathered," said P. Sampath, Joint Director-Epidemic, Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. He said the district-level health officials would daily visit the homes or the place of stay of those who have come from China to monitor their health condition. "This will be done for 28 days. Isolation wards have been set up in government hospitals in Chennai, Coimbatore, Trichy and Madurai," he added. He said passengers who show symptoms of being affected by coronavirus will be admitted in the any one of the four hospitals and samples of blood, nasal and throat secretions will be sent to National Institute of Virology, Pune. According to Sampath, none of the 78 persons who landed in the four airports in Tamil Nadu have shown symptoms of being affected by coronavirus. Lunar New Year is the busiest celebration at Chinatowns Dragon City Mall. On Saturday, the mall was busier than ever before, said Tonny Louie, chair of the Chinatown Business Improvement Area. Then, news broke that the first confirmed case of a novel coronavirus was diagnosed in Toronto. People got word there was one confirmation right in the evening at Sunnybrook. On Sunday we actually had a cancellation of one of the performers, scheduled for that evenings celebration, Louie said. From that day onward Chinatown has been quiet. There are fears that the coronavirus will spark the same public panic and xenophobia towards the Chinese community that swept Toronto following the SARS outbreak in 2003. Its not the normal business level, Louie said, speaking to the Star at Grossmans Tavern, his bar and music venue in the heart of Chinatown. It seems to be that people are staying home. Any time you have a new problem, a new virus, and you dont have a lot of facts people have a lot of fear and tend to stay home. Louie noted that the effect of this new virus on Chinatown isnt as extreme as SARS 17 years ago, but said its human nature to be fearful of the virus. SARS profoundly impacted Chinese-owned small businesses at the time. In 2003, business owners reported that once-long lineups had diminished, with Scarboroughs Ruby Chinese Restaurant telling the Star they had seen a 70 per cent drop in customers. In the downtown core, dim sum restaurants that typically hosted scores of diners sat empty. On Dundas Street West, Kim Lam is behind the counter at her shop, Great China Herbs Centre. Lams store, which specializes in herbs and traditional Chinese medicine, has been operating for 54 years and weathered the SARS crisis. The biggest change this time, Lam said, is the speed with which misinformation about the virus is spreading. This time because of social media (news travels) so fast. And some is true, some is not. Its hard to tell (whats real). Lam recounted reading messages on WhatsApp recently that said there were 11 confirmed cases in Toronto a drastically inflated number compared to the two cases actually diagnosed. Lam said that her business hasnt suffered as large a hit as it did during the SARS outbreak. Its not as bad as SARS. It might take a bit longer (for people to come in) but it should be OK. But this should be her busy season. Compared to last year, Lam said, business isnt quite the same. Officials have a handle on coronavirus in Toronto, but not on the spread of misinformation and xenophobia starting to target Chinese-Canadians, city and health officials said Wednesday. I hope that we do not have a repeat of SARS not just the virus, but the virus of racism, Avvy Go, director of the Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic, told a news conference at Toronto City Hall. Go recalled Chinese-Canadians being laid off over SARS fears during the deadly 2003 outbreak, and some fellow lawyers refusing to enter immigration courtrooms containing people from China. Dr. Allison McGeer, an infectious disease expert who helped lead Torontos response to SARS, said: We made a number of mistakes during SARS. One of them was not paying enough attention, not managing well enough the epidemic of fear. It is critically important that we dont repeat that because a great deal of harm was done. They joined Toronto Mayor John Tory, health board chair Councillor Joe Cressy and others in urging Torontonians to read coronavirus information and advice from experts and avoid spreading misinformation that can breed racism. We cant let fear or ignorance triumph over our values of community, understanding, respect and rejection of discrimination or stigmatization, Tory told reporters. The local appearance of coronavirus, which started in Wuhan, China, has triggered social media jokes about cancelled dim sum plans. More organized responses include a petition asking York Region schools to force children into 17-day quarantine if their families recently visited China, and a quarantine request to some parents from two GTA private schools. Fear is understandable, Tory said, but the science says such actions are unnecessary and create stigma against the 300,000 Torontonians with Chinese heritage. This is hurting our own children in Canada. It will increase the chance of them being bullied, Dr. Joseph Wong, physician and philanthropist, said of coronavirus misinformation and fear. There is so much panic in the community and people are not acting with evidence and fact. For their parts, both Louie and Lam stressed that its vital to listen to officials instead of social media. Dont listen to what (social media) has to offer listen to the board of health, listen to the professionals, Louie said. Information is the best weapon against racism, Louie said. We need more transparency. I think we need more advice from the health department to eliminate the fear and the guessing game about what this virus is all about. Louie urged people with questions to contact the hotline set up by Toronto Public Health. The hotline is available at 416-338-7600 weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Residents are encouraged to reach out with any questions. And if youre really fearful of getting sick, Louie said, just stay home for a few days. Pretend this is a big snow storm. With files from Rob Ferguson Read more about: The 70th anniversary of the Republic is turning out to be an especially fraught moment for one of its founding values: the equal participation and protection of individuals belonging to all faiths. This value is often called secularism, or more likely Indian secularism. But those labels do not do justice to the uniquely creative and challenging task that the Constitutions framers took upon themselves with respect to religion. Nor do they adequately capture the effortsmore or less successful, as the case may beof courts, legislators, citizens, and scholars to realize and improve upon those ideals, as with the Essential Practices Doctrine. As we pause to celebrate the longevity of Indias remarkable experiment with democracy, we ought also to ask ourselves some hard questions about the relationship between labels and values, ideals and realities, so that we may more honestly and confidently approach the next seventy years of the Republic. Disputes over the nature of the relationship between religion and the Indian state have reached a kind of a stasis among academics and lawyers. Most commonly, Indian secularism is understood to mean something like the equal treatment of all religions. There are particular variants on this theme, of course: Bhargava (2005) calls it a principled distance, Jha (2002) calls it equal respect, and Dhavan (2001) defines secularism using a conceptual trio of religious freedom, celebratory neutrality, and reformatory justice. However, virtually all commentators agree that India is secularwhich seems unarguable given the words inclusion in the Preambleand that Indian secularism means something decidedly different from the American-inspired notion of a wall of separation between religion and state. The truth, of course, is that secularism did not appear in the version of the Constitution whose anniversary we are now celebrating. Even though Indians have never been obsessed with this kind of original meaning in the way that Americans increasingly are, this original exclusion is worth remembering. It was not that the concept was unfamiliar to or ignored by the framers; on the contrary, the word secular did not appear in the document produced by the Constituent Assembly despite the fact that both KT Shah and Brajeshwar Prasad expressly advocated for its inclusion. This absence occurred in part because secularism was associated with an overly antagonistic relationship to religious life (Bhagwati 2005), in part because it conflicted with the Constitutions reformatory impulses (Austin 2008 [1966]), and in part because secularism was being used by Nehru and others to reference something much broadernamely, an antidote to the four isms threatening the new nation: casteism, communalism, linguism, and provincialism/regionalism (Austin 2006 [1999], 557). This broader understanding has been dominant ever since the word secular was introduced into the Preamble in 1976 via the Forty-Second Amendment, to considerable and often negative effect. The semantic trap (Austin 2006[1999], 558) of using a word to signal something besides its usual meaning has made Indias approach to religion-state relations confusing to those who would uphold it and easy fodder for those who seek to deviate from it. India has always been imagined as a place that would foster the equal participation and protection of individuals regardless of religious affiliation, but it has never beenand was never intended to bea secular state. What does it mean to say that India is not and was not meant to be a secular state? It means that the country is not founded on the ideal of separating religion and state after the manner of the American Constitution (if not American practice). It also means that governmental actorsjudges, legislators, statutory officialsare more involved in understanding, shaping, and regulating aspects of Hindu religious life than that of any other community. There are a multitude of sensible and progressive reasons for all of this. To begin with, India has never been in any danger of being anything save a Hindu theocracy, so the fact that its laws are more concerned with delimiting and regulating Hinduism than other faiths is eminently reasonable. Secondly, while there is no way for any state to engage with any faith without intruding on it enough to decide what counts (or not) as religion (Sullivan 2005), Hinduisms internal diversity and decentralised nature engenders more state engagement than usual. Many of the roadside altars and neighbourhood temples that are central to the daily lives of millions of Hindus would not exist without some state apparatus to manage or subsidise themor, as in Kerala, to redistribute some of the breathtakingly large income generated by a few elite institutions like Sabarimala. Above all else, the non-secular nature of the Indian state makes sense in a context where most individuals, be they constitutional framers or contemporary observers, do not feel that the good life is one where ones religious beliefs and practices are left resolutely in the private sphere. Over the years, Indiaand especially Indian courtshave developed innovative approaches to reconciling the non-secular nature of Indian democracy with those elements of the Constitution that promote a secular-liberal understanding of political belonging. Article 25(1), for instance, promises a conventional freedom of religion, while 25(2) allows the state to abrogate that freedom in the service of social reform. In response, the Supreme Court developed the Essential Practices Doctrine, which provides constitutional protection for essential aspects of religion as determined with reference to the religion itself. Admittedly, the doctrine has narrowed over the years from being concerned with identifying what is essentially religious to seeking and protecting only that which is essential to religion. But even in its transformed and damaged state, the Essential Practices doctrine offers an approach to boundary-drawing that sometimes swings in favour of religion and sometimes against it, with the net effect of creating a kind of dynamic equilibrium between the two positions. It now stands in considerable danger, as the Supreme Court prepares to hear review petitions on the Sabarimala dispute with a bench that is large enough to overrule the doctrine itself. The Essential Practices Doctrine does not promote secular governance. It can, however, promote the equal participation and protection of individuals from all faiths in the life of the nation, as the nation was intended to be. Like many other aspects of Indias legal infrastructure that are often puzzling or frustrating, it is more concerned with the spirit of the Constitution than with the labels we have occasionally attached to it. Clarity as to the real nature of that spirit will prove crucial if we are to carry over the founding ideals of the Republic into its next decade. (Deepa Das Acevedo is a legal anthropologist at the University of Alabama.) A married woman has set herself ablaze, because her husband married a second wife. The woman, identified as Rabi, was said to be unhappy with her husband, Malam Badamasi, for marrying an additional wife. Freedom Radio on Wednesday reported that the incident happened at Gayawa quarters, Ungoggo local government area of Kano State. Salisu Safiyanu, Ms Rabis brother-in-law, told journalists that he found the deceased in her matrimonial home, burnt beyond recognition. Speaking on the incident, Malama Mariya, a sister to the deceased told journalists that she was devastated as her sister lost her life due to extreme jealousy. The police spokesperson in Kano, Abdullhi Kiyawa, confirmed the incident. He told PREMIUM TIMES he is expecting additional information from the divisional police officer in charge of the area before he issues a statement. However, the spokesperson of Kano State fire service, Muhammad Ibrahim, said they are yet to receive a report on the incident. US disgraceful, imposed plan is treason of century: Iran Iran Press TV Tuesday, 28 January 2020 8:14 PM Iran has censured US President Donald Trump's so-called "Deal of the century" on the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict, describing it as "treason of the century." "The Zionist regime is an occupying regime and the only solution to solve the Palestinian crisis is a referendum among all main residents of the Palestinian land and such vicious plans are doomed to failure," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Tuesday. He called on all free nations and governments in the region and across the world to counter Trump's disgraceful scheme. Earlier in the day, Trump repeated his highly controversial endorsement of occupied Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel's "undivided capital" as he outlined his administration's self-styled plan for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which Palestinians have already dismissed. Defying international outcry, Trump announced the general provisions of the plan he calls "the deal of century" at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his side. He endorsed his contentious recognition in December 2017 of the al-Quds as Israel's "capital," a move he took in the face of Palestinian demands that the holy city should serve as the capital of their future state. He said the plan envisages the city as the Israeli regime's "undivided capital." The Iranian spokesperson further noted that Palestine and Jerusalem al-Quds are the main issues of the Muslim world and expressed regret that "some Muslim countries have forgotten this cause," voicing concerns that it is meant to harm "the future and prestige of Muslims and Islamic countries." "They have forgotten over 70 years of anti-human crimes by the Zionist regime [either] deliberately or due to strategic ignorance." Given the urgency and importance of the Palestinian issue and the major conspiracy behind the so-called deal against the Muslim ummah, the Islamic Republic of Iran, regardless of its difference with certain regional countries, is ready to cooperate at any level to forge unity in the Muslim world and thwart the big plot that has endangered Muslim nations, he added. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday dismissed the US president's "delusional" plan, stressing that it will be "dead on arrival." Zarif made the remarks in a tweet, noting that instead of promoting the so-called deal, the world must respect the rights of all Palestinian peoples to self-determination. "Instead of a delusional 'Deal of the Century'which will be D.O.A.self-described 'champions of democracy' would do better to accept Iran's democratic solution proposed by Ayatollah @khamenei_ir," Iran's foreign minister said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address As India prepares to airlift its citizens from Wuhan, the epicentre of the deadly coronavirus outbreak, China said on Wednesday that it would make all appropriate arrangements and provide necessary assistance if any country "insists" on evacuating its nationals. Besides India, several other countries including the US, France, Japan, South Korea, are making arrangements to airlift their nationals from central Hubei province and its capital city Wuhan. The coronavirus, which first emerged in Wuhan in late December, has killed 132 people, infected nearly 6,000 others and spread to at least 17 countries. Making final preparations for evacuation of over 250 Indians, mostly students and professionals, from Hubei province, the Indian Embassy on Wednesday circulated online forms seeking their consent for a 14-day mandatory quarantine in India and the likelihood of getting rejected for evacuation or "even placed in quarantine by Chinese authorities" based on the medical checks before boarding the plane. The Embassy also sought their details like full name, passport numbers and addresses etc to prepare a final list to fly back home. India has requested the Chinese government for permission to operate two flights to bring back its nationals from Hubei province, according to officials. Also, the Chinese Foreign Ministry which is coordinating the evacuation of the foreign nationals told PTI here on Wednesday that China would make appropriate arrangements if any country "insists" on evacuating its nationals. "China attaches great importance to protecting the lives and health of citizens of all countries in Wuhan, Hubei province, and will continue to take active and effective measures to address their legitimate concerns and demands in a timely manner," the foreign ministry said in response to a question. "If a country insists on evacuating its citizens in Wuhan, China will make appropriate arrangements and provide necessary assistance and convenience in accordance with international practice and China's relevant provisions on epidemic prevention," the ministry said. A large number of foreign nationals from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh from the neighbourhood besides African countries were reportedly stranded in Hubei province. World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday that the UN health body "does not recommend the evacuation" of foreign nationals from virus-hit Hubei province as he called on the international community to remain calm. The Indian Embassy has reportedly compiled a list of Indians to be flown out. The embassy has informed the stranded Indians that upon their arrival in India they need to undergo a 14-day quarantine in a designated city, the name of it which has not yet been revealed. The quarantine was necessary as experts say the incubation period of the new virus was on average three to seven days, with the longest being 14 days. The Indian embassy has opened three hotlines to help the Indians in Wuhan to cope up with the crisis. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Somerset County man who turned the license plate on his motorcycle upside down because "he thought it was cool violated state law and was justified in receiving a ticket, and the $139 fine it came with, a New Jersey appeals court ruled Tuesday. Scott DiRoma fought the traffic ticket in municipal court, and appealed it to Superior Court of Somerset County, in January 2019. When he lost there, he appealed to the states Appellate Division. DiRoma was driving his motorcycle on Mount Laurel Road in Warren Township in June 2018 when he was pulled over by a police officer who noticed his license plate was mounted upside down, the appeals decision says. When questioned by the officer, DiRoma said he liked the way the plate looked, and wanted to be different. In response, the officer handed him a ticket, that came with a $106 fine in municipal court, for violating a state motor vehicle law, which says license plates shall be kept clear and distinct and free from grease, dust or other blurring matter, so as to be plainly visible at all times of the day or night. (The judge also applied $33 in court costs.) He appealed, and a Superior Court of Somerset County judge sided with the municipal court. "The [state legislature] did not intend for drivers to mount their license plates upside down because it would impact law enforcements ability to protect the public on New Jersey roads and highways, the Superior Court judge wrote. DiRoma appealed again, to the Appellate Division, and argued that the state traffic law that addresses license plates does not prohibit an upside down license plate on a motorcycle, because the state legislature drew a distinction between motorcycle and automobile plates. He also said the law is unconstitutionally vague. But the appellate judges were also not swayed, and said an upside-down plate on any type of vehicle causes the reader to view characters in reverse order, which would lead to confusion, doubt, and mistake the opposite of clear and distinct. An upside-down plate clearly impedes law enforcements ability to perform its duties, the appeals court said. DiRoma told NJ Advance Media he thinks the appeals courts ruling is total nonsense," and plans to file a petition for the case to be heard before the New Jersey Supreme Court. On Wednesday, he doubled-down on his claim that there is no requirement that motorcycles have horizontal plates. I guess Ive just been kind of annoyed that the courts have just been making up the law as they go, he said. Jenna Wise may be reached at jwise@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JennaRWise. 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. At least 132 people are now dead in China and nearly 6,000 infected from the novel coronavirus, national health officials said on Wednesday. Several countries began evacuating their citizens from Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak. The total 5,974 confirmed cases in China surpasses that of the Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus, which infected 5,327 in the country. The death toll of 132 compares to 348 people killed in China by SARS, which killed nearly 800 people worldwide in 2002-2003. The new outbreak has now spread to all parts of China, with the first case being reported from the Tibet Autonomous Region. As many as 1,459 new confirmed cases were reported in 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities). Japan airlifted 206 of its nationals out of Wuhan in a chartered flight and the US evacuated about 240 Americans by air. European officials and businesses stepped up efforts on Wednesday to counter the spreading virus. Several European and other airlines cancelled flights to the Chinese mainland, businesses told employees to work from home and EU nations made plans to repatriate some 600 citizens from China. The British government is preparing to fly citizens back from Wuhan. British Airways announced it was immediately suspending all of its flights to and from mainland China . The spread of the virus could reach its peak in a week to 10 days, a leading Chinese respiratory expert heading Beijings efforts to contain the outbreak has told the state media. After seven to 10 days, the number of cases could plateau, Zhong Nanshan, who is heading the national team of experts set up to control and prevent the outbreak, told Xinhua news agency. The SARS outbreak lasted about six months, but I dont believe the novel coronavirus outbreak would last that long, said Zhong. Four members of a Chinese family who travelled to the United Arab Emirates are being treated for the new virus, in the first case in West Asia. A statement from health officials, carried by the state-run WAM news agency, comes after authorities acknowledged the first cases Wednesday in the country thats home to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The family came from Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak. Officials said Finland has its first case of a person who has tested positive for the virus, making it the first case in the Nordic region. The World Health Organization called a new emergency meeting on the deadly virus, warning that all governments should take action. Thursdays meeting will decide whether to declare an international health emergency. The Bombay high court (HC) on Wednesday summoned the collectors of Nagpur, Nandurbar and Parbhani districts after noticing that they had falsely stated that there were no wetlands in these districts. A bench of justices SJ Kathawalla and BP Colabawalla has asked the collectors to be present in the HC next Wednesday with their personal affidavits explaining why they gave false information about wetlands. Two weeks ago, a deputy secretary in the environment department had informed the HC that there were no wetlands in Nagpur, Nandurbar and Parbhani districts, on the basis of information received from these collectors. The judges, however, were annoyed when they noticed that a new affidavit filed by the department on Wednesday disclosed that there were 561 wetlands in Nagpur, 164 in Nandurbar and 78 in Parbhani. The affidavit was filed in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Vanashakti Public Trust, raising grievance over lack of action against builders who were illegally reclaiming land and carrying out construction after dumping debris on wetlands and mangrove areas, in violation of the Environment Protection Act, 1986. Given this eras low threshold for fury, Republicans, anticipating Democrats today, might have constitutionalized their indignation by charging President Trumps predecessor with impeachable abuses of power in waging unauthorized war in Libya, and rewriting immigration law under the guise of enforcement discretion. Abuse of power is inevitably somewhat in the eye of the beholder. Todays trial about abuses, and about obstructing Congresss investigation of them, is potentially a harbinger of the promiscuous use of impeachment. That is, a precedent for Congresss abuse of this power. However, for this reason todays impeachment might, for a while, make future presidents wary when wielding power with dubious justifications. Modern presidents, clad in the armor of imperial grandeur, are most tolerable when nervous. The mainstream media barely covered oral arguments in a critical Indian Child Welfare Act case last week but USA Today is here to make up for it with an opinion from a critic of the federal law. In a piece published on Wednesday, author Naomi Schaefer Riley blames the death of a boy from the Crow Tribe on ICWA. Antonio "Tony" Renova was only five years old when he was killed in November, allegedly by his biological parents and by another adult in the home. What Riley leaves out is that ICWA did not come directly into play in Tony's case. According to The Great Falls Tribune , he was placed in his parent's home by the Crow tribal court, whose activities are not governed by the 1978 law. ICWA, instead, was enacted by Congress to establish minimum requirements in state child custody proceedings, according to the National Indian Child Welfare Act Association . The Trump administration made the exact same point during the court hearing last week in Brackeen v. Bernhardt , the case being watched by tribes everywhere. "The Indian Child Welfare Act establishes minimum federal protections for the children of members of Indian tribes, with whom the United States maintains a government-to-government relationship," Eric Grant, a deputy assistant attorney general at DOJ, told the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 22. Riley acknowledges that the tribe's court made the decision to place Tony in the home where he died. However, she does not explain how ICWA guided the outcome and nothing reported about the boy's situation so far has indicated how any state court or state agency in Montana was involved. Riley also mentions Brackeen in her piece, noting that it is being challenged, in part, on the grounds that is based on "race" instead of the government-to-government relationship between tribes and the U.S., a political relationship. "For the sake of children like Tony Renova, lets hope they see the law for the unconstitutional and dangerous policy it is," Riley wrote of the judges who heard the case last week. In the past, Riley has written about Indian education tribal courts and boarding schools . Her 2016 book, The New Trail of Tears: How Washington Is Destroying American Indians , claims that American Indians who live on reservations would be better off by adopting Western standards and ideals, such as property rights and capitalism. Read More on the Story 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Documents ICWA and Congress In passing the Indian Child Welfare Act in 1978, Congress reacted to a crisis of Indian children being taken from their communities at high rates, often without input from their families or their tribal governments. Key findings from the law: "[T]here is no resource that is more vital to the continued existence and integrity of Indian tribes than their children and that the United States has a direct interest, as trustee, in protecting Indian children who are members of or are eligible for membership in an Indian tribe" "[A]n alarmingly high percentage of Indian families are broken up by the removal, often unwarranted, of their children from them by nontribal public and private agencies and that an alarmingly high percentage of such children are placed in non-Indian foster and adoptive homes and institutions" "The Congress hereby declares that it is the policy of this Nation to protect the best interests of Indian children and to promote the stability and security of Indian tribes and families by the establishment of minimum Federal standards for the removal of Indian children from their families and the placement of such children in foster or adoptive homes which will reflect the unique values of Indian culture, and by providing for assistance to Indian tribes in the operation of child and family service programs." ICWA and the Media The Native American Journalists Association recently updated its guide to ethical reporting on the Indian Child Welfare Act. "Its not a journalists duty to determine if a child is Native 'enough,' but whether or not they are citizens under Tribal law," the guide states. "Reporting phenotypes and blood percentages is culturally offensive, and disregards and diminishes the political rights of Indigenous people." The full document can be found on najanewsroom.com Join the Conversation Related Stories Bonville was Safe Step's original installer and got the attention of Safe Step's founder Mike Duffer, whose dream in 2008 to build the best walk-in tub available was being compromised by sub-optimum suppliers. Bonville facilitated a meeting between Oliver Fiberglass Products owner Daniel Oliver, also VP of Oliver Technologies, and Duffer. The meeting proved pivotal to Safe Step's success over the next decade and continues to this day. Safe Step is now the largest, most well-respected and third-party accoladed walk-in tub company in North America. With a significant milestone in sight last year (100,000 tubs being manufactured), Safe Step targeted Bonville based on his invaluable impact on the company. Duffer, Oliver and his family along with 100 team members gathered late last year in order to honor the man who very well may have triggered the company's prosperity. Safe Step created a program of giving in 2013, aptly named Safe Step Cares, which has been responsible for dozens of donations to those in need without the cost of the state-of-the-art tub. Bonville was the latest Safe Step Cares recipient. Rene never had the luxury to routinely experience the masterpiece he helped create, yet he basked in the reverence and respect he so rightfully deserved during his day attended by virtually all loved ones, team members, media and local dignitaries. "Safe Step is forever grateful for Rene," said Duffer. "I could always count on honest, candid feedback from him. He was as dear and kind as he was smart and his counsel ultimately led to Safe Step offering the best walk-in tubs on the planet." Rene's story and the partnership's success were gracefully covered by the small community's news sources such as the Lewis County Herald and the Columbia Times. The Herald's managing editor Ms. Becky Newbold attended the event and turned it into a front-page story of remembrance. Rene Bonville was honored, celebrated and laid to rest this past Saturday. About Safe Step Walk-In Tub Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co. is the largest walk-in tub company in North America and is known for quality, service and affordability. Safe Step Tubs have received the Ease-Of-Use Commendation by the Arthritis Foundation and are manufactured and built in America using American-made components. Their quality is backed with the best warranty in the business, including a lifetime warranty on the tub, the door seal and faucets. Servicing all of the US and all of Canada, Safe Step Walk-In Tub is a family company, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Its national program of giving, Safe Step Cares, which provides tubs to those in need, has been recognized as a top PR program in the US for the past 6 years. SOURCE Safe Step Walk-In Tub The Lynwood teen was found on the side of the street and was rushed to St. Margaret Hospital in Dyer, Indiana, where he was pronounced dead, police said. COLUMBUS, Ohio The Ohio Senate backed several changes to the states EdChoice voucher program just before midnight Tuesday, voting to trim by two-thirds the number of public schools that would be affected by vouchers in the fall while increasing the number of families that can use vouchers based on family income. The Senate bill, which goes to the House for approval this morning, saw changes come in three waves, the first in a compromise released Monday. Then the Senate made significant changes in committee Tuesday afternoon, followed by a third round late Tuesday night. The final version, which passed 26-7 after a long day and night of closed-door negotiations and maneuvering, makes a few key changes to the two main paths Ohio families can use to qualify for vouchers, which are tax-funded aid toward private school tuition. Nearly 50% more families could qualify for $4,650 for students in grades Kindergarten through eighth grade and $6,000 for students in grades 9-12 by virtue of having family income below certain levels, if the House approves the changes today. And fewer students would qualify due to their local public school being deemed underperforming by the state. This category of voucher has grown dramatically the last two years and threatened to more than double again by the fall due to tougher state tests and report cards and some controversial criteria to be deemed struggling. After the state declared 255 schools as underperforming for the 2018-'19 school year, 517 fell into that category for this ongoing school year. Next fall, more than 1,200 schools would be declared failing, making all of their students eligible for vouchers that the district would have to pay for. The Senate changes Tuesday would block any public school with an overall A, B or C grade from being named as underperforming and part of EdChoice. Schools with an F or D whose test scores fall into the lowest 20% statewide will still have students eligible, but those with an overall D that are not part of the lowest 20% will not have students eligible. Those eligibility changes would reduce the number of public schools in EdChoice from 517 this year to 425 in the fall. (See the list below.) I know there is not an individual in this room that wants to send a message that we have 1,200 buildings in our state that are underperforming," State Senator Matt Dolan, a Chagrin Falls Republican, told fellow senators before the vote. He instead blamed state report cards that need to be reworked to better reflect school performance. Our schools are not failing at that level," said Dolan, who pressed for the change in grades that trigger EdChoice eligibility. "What happened is our metric system is wrong, so its artificially inflating those numbers. Changes came in stages With some Senators wavering on passing the changes, particularly because of the increase in income-eligible families, a few adjustments were made in the afternoon and again in the evening. State Sen. Sandra Williams, a Cleveland Democrat, had tried Tuesday afternoon to reduce costs to the Cleveland school district for the Cleveland Scholarship program, a Cleveland-only voucher program. The Greater Cleveland Partnership, Clevelands chamber of commerce, also wrote to the legislature asking members to reduce the district share to previous levels. Williams failed to gain support in committee, but her request was granted in later negotiations. A late amendment would lower the districts cost from almost $24 million this school year to about $17 million a year, what it was before this summers state budget bill added the $7 million hike. There was also a larger shift in dollars from the afternoon to evening versions. The amendment that came out of committee in the afternoon had added $30 million to help school districts pay for new high school voucher recipients in the 2020-'21 school year. But the version that passed late Tuesday instead shifts those dollars to districts like Parma and Cleveland Heights-University Heights, which saw a large increase in voucher use this ongoing school year. The exact amount going to each district was not spelled out, though it comes close to the $34 million the Ohio Association of School Business Officials estimates districts saw their bills increase this year. Although they will not be made whole, they will receive some funding, Williams said. Whether the House will agree to the changes is still unclear, especially as a two-thirds majority is needed to pass the changes as an emergency. The House is scheduled to consider the bill at 10 a.m. Wednesday. A joint House-Senate session is scheduled right after to resolve any differences. Legislators want to make changes this week because the application period for those vouchers opens Feb. 1. State Rep. Kent Smith, a Euclid Democrat, said early Tuesday that House Democrats had five priorities they want before they would support a bill: The elimination of A, B and C schools from EdChoice; income eligibility needs to be at appropriate levels; families should have a child in a public school at least a year before being eligible; report card grades no older than three years should be considered; and the state should refund money to schools that had a jump in voucher bills this year. The final Senate version covers the first and final demands, not the others. Income-based vouchers increase Income eligibility remains a controversial issue. Currently, students qualify for full vouchers if their family income is 200% or lower of the federal poverty level. Thats $52,400 or less, under just-published federal guidelines, for a family of four. Higher incomes can receive reduced voucher amounts. State Senator Matt Huffman, a Lima Republican, had proposed in 2017 and again in recent weeks doubling that income cap to 400% of poverty to receive full vouchers. Dolan had proposed 250% and the compromise released Monday set it at 300%. That would allow a family of four with an income of $78,600 to be eligible. The 300% cutoff could make about 60% of Ohio families eligible to use vouchers, compared to 42% now. That estimate is three years old and new calculations were not immediately available. Families between 300% and 350% of the poverty line can receive 75% of the voucher amount, under the Senate plan, and families between 350% and 400% can receive 50% of the voucher amount. Both Huffman and Dolan said that increase is fair for families who have been counting on receiving vouchers because of their local public schools grades, but now cant. The bill also makes another significant change. State law used to require high school students to start using the vouchers as they start ninth grade only, and not use them in other years unless they had started using them as freshmen. The state budget bill this year let students in any year of high school use them, which gave some school districts a surprise bill. The Senate plan Tuesday reverts back to just letting 9th graders use them. Blogger denied reversal of sentence for threats against children of law enforcement RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 12:40 29/01/2020 MOSCOW, January 29 (RAPSI) The Second Cassation Court of General Jurisdiction on Wednesday dismissed a cassation appeal filed by blogger Vladislav Sinitsa against his 5-year jail sentence for online calls for violence against children of law enforcement officers, RAPSI reported from the courtroom. In his appeal Sinitsa asked to overturn the sentence as evidence laid in its basis, including results of an examination and witness testimony, were divergent and inadmissible. In early September, Moscows Presnensky District Court sentenced Sinitsa to 5 years in penal colony. The defendant was found guilty of public incitement of hatred and enmity against a group of people through threats and with the use of information and telecommunication networks. A prosecutor earlier demanded a 6-year prison sentence for the blogger, while his defense asked for a noncustodial sentence for him. Sinitsa said his case was related to his active public position. The man did not deny he had published conflicting statements but refused to plead guilty. He insisted that all his statements were wrenched out of the context and misinterpreted by police. According to investigators, Sinitsa distributed criminal posts on Twitter under a penname of Max Steklov. On July 31, he called people for violence against children of law enforcement officers after hard-hitting reports of an unauthorized rally held in central Moscow on July 27. Investigators claim that the defendant tried to destroy his cell phone when being arrested. Protest actions began in Moscow in mid-July after election commissions denied registration of certain opposition members as candidates for the Moscow City Duma elections reasoning that documents submitted by them contained numerous violations. The first unauthorized rally took place hear the Moscow City Election Commissions building on July 14 and looked like a provocation, according to law experts. Unauthorized rallies in support of candidates seeking to become lawmakers of the Moscow State Duma but refused registration by the Election Commission were also held on July 27 and August 3 in central Moscow. Over 1,000 people were arrested for various violations as a result. Following the 27 July rally, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case over mass riots. Investigators believe that the protest action was held with the use of force against representatives of authority. Several activists have been already convicted and sentenced. Prosecution of five defendants has been dropped. JERUSALEM For Mahmoud Abbas, the ailing octogenarian president of the Palestinian Authority, his lifes work a viable state side-by-side with Israel is quickly slipping away. President Trumps Middle East plan deprives the Palestinians of nearly everything they had been fighting for: East Jerusalem as their national capital, the removal of Jewish settlements on the West Bank, and territorial contiguity and control over their own borders and security that a sovereign state normally enjoys. While it was always presumed that such a state would be forged through talks with the Israelis, years of failure, a weak and divided Palestinian leadership, and an Arab world that has largely moved on have all emboldened Mr. Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to try to impose a solution of their own. The landscape has shifted so much in recent years that Mr. Abbas has few good options. With only muted reaction from Arab neighbors, a struggling Palestinian economy, little apparent appetite among Palestinians for a violent response and the United States having abandoned any pretense of neutral mediation, a proposal that might have been considered outlandish a decade ago landed with little serious opposition. WASHINGTON In a striking shift from President Donald Trumps claim of perfect dealings with Ukraine, his defense asserted Wednesday at his Senate trial that a trade of U.S. military aid for political favors even if proven could not be grounds for his impeachment. Trumps defenders relied on retired professor Alan Dershowitz, a member of their team, who told senators that every politician conflates his own interest with the public interest. It cannot be impeachable, he declared. Democrats pressed hard to force the Senate to call more witnesses to testify, but Republicans appeared intently focused on bringing the impeachment trial to a vote of acquittal, possibly in a matter of days. Even new revelations from former national security adviser John Bolton were countered by the presidents lawyers, who used Wednesdays unusual question-and-answer session to warn off prolonging the proceeding, insisting senators have heard enough. Democrats argued Boltons forthcoming book cannot be ignored. It contends he personally heard Trump say he wanted military aid withheld from Ukraine until it agreed to investigate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden the abuse of power charge that is the first article of impeachment. The vote on calling witnesses is expected by Friday. As Chief Justice John Roberts fielded queries, Texas Republican Ted Cruz asked if it mattered whether there was a quid pro quo? Simply, no, declared Dershowitz, who said many politicians equate their reelection with the public good. Thats why its so dangerous to try to psychoanalyze a president, he said. Rep. Adam Schiff, the Democrat leading the House prosecutors, appeared stunned. All quid pro quos are not the same, he retorted. Some might be acceptable, some not. And you dont need to be a mind reader to figure out which is which. For one thing, you can ask John Bolton. With voting on witnesses later this week, Democrats, amid the backdrop of protesters swarming the Capitol, are making a last-ditch push to sway Republicans to call Bolton and others to appear for testimony and ensure a fair trial. Trump faces charges from the House that he abused his power like no other president, jeopardizing Ukraine and U.S.-Ukraine relations by using the military aid as leverage while the vulnerable ally battled Russia. The second article of impeachment says Trump then obstructed the House probe in a way that threatened the nations three-branch system of checks and balances. Over two days, senators are grilling the House Democrats prosecuting the case and the Republican presidents defense team. Dozens of questions were asked and answered Wednesday in five-minute clips, with senators under orders to sit silently without comment, submitting their questions in writing. They finished shortly past 11 p.m. and were expected to keep going Thursday. Democratic leader Chuck Schumer asked whether the Senate could really render a fair verdict without hearing from Bolton or acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, both potential eyewitnesses to Trumps actions. Dont wait for the book. Dont wait til March 17, when it is in black and white to find out the answer to your question, Schiff told the Senate. That publication date is now in doubt. The White House on Wednesday released a letter to Boltons attorney objecting to significant amounts of classified information in the manuscript, including at the top secret level. Bolton and his attorney have insisted the book does not contain any classified information. The White House action could delay the books publication if Bolton, who resigned last September Trump says he was fired is forced to revise his draft. GOP senators are straining to balance the new revelations with pressure for quick acquittal. They have been sternly warned by party leaders that calling Bolton as a witness could entangle the trial in lengthy legal battles and delay Trumps expected acquittal. White House lawyers made exactly that point. Attorney Pat Philbin said in response to the Democrats first question, This institution will effectively be paralyzed for months. That was echoed by others. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell huddled privately with senators for a third consecutive day, acknowledging he didnt yet have the votes to brush back Democratic demands for witnesses now that revelations from Bolton have roiled the trial. But Republicans said they were making progress. Republican ideas for dealing with Bolton and his book were fizzling almost as soon as they arose among them, swapping witnesses with Democrats or issuing a subpoena for Boltons manuscript. Most Republican senators dont want to extend the trial by calling Bolton, and most Democrats would rather avoid dragging the Bidens further into the impeachment proceedings. The Bidens were a focus of defense arguments, though no evidence of wrongdoing has emerged. Bolton writes in a forthcoming book that Trump told him he wanted to withhold military aid from Ukraine until it helped with investigations into Biden. That assertion, if true, would undercut a key defense argument and go to the heart of one of the two articles of impeachment against the president. I think Bolton probably has something to offer us, said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. She met privately Wednesday with McConnell. Trump disagreed in a tweet Wednesday in which he complained that Bolton, after he left the White House, goes out and IMMEDIATELY writes a nasty & untrue book. All Classified National Security. The uncertainty about witnesses arises days before crucial votes on the issue. In a Senate split 53-47 in favor of Republicans, at least four GOP senators must join all Democrats to reach the 51 votes required to call witnesses, decide whom to call or do nearly anything else in the trial. Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine tried to give fresh momentum to a one-for-one witness deal, saying its very important that there be fairness, that each side be able to select a witness or two. But Democrats dismissed those offers. Its irrelevant. Its a distraction, said Schumer. Collins, Murkowski and Utah Sen. Mitt Romney signaled an interest in calling Bolton or other witnesses, and questions and answers at times appeared directed at them. Schiffs response to Dershowitz focused on one particular senator: He asked his audience to imagine what would have happened if then-President Barack Obama asked the Russians to dig up dirt on then-candidate Romney, the GOPs 2012 presidential nominee? Romney, standing at the back of the chamber, smiled occasionally at mention of his name. Far from voiding the last election, Schiff said, impeachment is protecting the next one, in 2020, from any future Trump efforts to ask foreign governments to intervene. Republicans tried to engage the presidents defense, at times raising the profile of the still anonymous government whistleblower whose complaint about Trumps July 25 call with Ukraine sparked the impeachment inquiry. Democrats kept focus on the case for Trumps conviction and removal, which would require 67 votes in the Senate and seems unlikely. At times, there were telling exchanges. In one, the White House team could not fully respond when Collins and Murkowski asked if Trump had ever pursued Biden investigations before the former vice president announced his presidential bid in 2019. Philbin argued that relying on foreign information in a U.S. campaign isnt necessarily a campaign law violation, drawing objections later from Democrats. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., who said he was flabbergasted. In another, Dershowitz acknowledged he has changed his thinking on what the Founders intended with impeachment and keeps refining his views. As the long night drew to a close, so did Schiffs remarks, warning senators they were lowering the bar for Trump, dressing it up with legalese. Corruption is still corruption, he said. One person watching from the sidelines Wednesday was Lev Parnas, the indicted associate of Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani. Parnas arrived at the Capitol but could not enter the Senate with his court-ordered electronic-tracking device. He has turned over evidence for the investigation, and said he wants to testify. ___ Associated Press writers Alan Fram, Andrew Taylor, Matthew Daly, Laurie Kellman and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report. When it comes to the great either/or of pet ownership, I am definitely a cat person. I would love to own a dog, but somehow a dog is just not me. Ive always had the distinct impression that they are less like a pet and more like another child. With three teenagers in the house already and a full-time job, I prefer the low maintenance requirements of a cat, who only wants your attention when they are hungry and who doesnt need your company to go outside. Suki, our 11-year-old black rescue cat, has always been a bit of a wanderer, and Im normally fairly relaxed about whether she is in or out of the house. But our casual domestic arrangement doesnt mean that my feelings for her are anything like casual. Yes, after years of kidding myself that I wasnt that bothered about the cat, I now have to admit that I care very much indeed. Susanna Reid (pictured, with her cat Suki) reveals how the thought of losing her beloved pet made her realise the integral role she plays That has been brought home to me with great clarity over the past few weeks, because it looked like we were going to lose Suki. On A stormy evening before Christmas, she spent the whole night outside before turning up the next day, bedraggled and limp and clearly having had a nasty shock. I dropped everything and rushed her to the vet. He warned us it didnt look good. She might have been attacked by a fox. As a child, I was devastated by the loss of three family cats who were all run over in our village and the fear of experiencing that grief again filled me with dread. The thought of not having Suki around made me realise how integral a role she plays in our home and how much I love her soothing presence. It felt like we were about to lose part of the family. When the vet couldnt work out what was wrong with her, I thought she was dying and it broke my heart. Theres no good way to lose a beloved pet, but surely the experience receives a unique twist of gall when theyre taken from you by someone else. So I feel terribly for the couple in West London who have had to wage a legal battle to stop their neighbour stealing theirs. Ozzy a Maine Coon is owned by John and Jackie Hall. But if you checked his collar, youd be forgiven for thinking he belonged to Nicola Lesbirel, who fed him, looked after him at her house and put her phone number around his neck alongside the words, My Home. The Halls hired a barrister and, following a 24,000 court case, settled after Miss Lesbirel agreed to legally binding restrictions on her contact with the cat. Yikes! Susanna (pictured) who believes cats are notoriously fickle, said she's lucky to have wonderful neighbours who've returned Suki on many occasions Cats are notoriously fickle. Regular feeding at a different house might be enough to tempt them away, insensitive to your own feelings of attachment. No wonder pet seduction like Miss Lesbirels causes great anxiety. Im lucky to have wonderful neighbours who have helped return Suki to me many times. Worst of all was the time we thought we might have lost her to one of those deranged individuals who deliberately set out to harm cats. These cases are more common than any sensible person would imagine. Theres a true crime documentary on Netflix, which I watched through my fingers in horror, called Dont Mess With Cats (it has a ruder title Ill let you look up). Dont watch it expecting cute kitten videos. Yes, it contains cute kittens, but they come to a dismal end and the film follows internet vigilantes who track down the disgusting individual they believe is responsible. Its all a bit too close to home for me and Suki, bringing back vivid memories of the days when all cat owners in South London lived in fear of a mysterious man attacking and mutilating cats. Dubbed the Croydon Cat Killer, he was said to have hurt 250 pets and the Metropolitan Police set up a special unit to investigate. Just as it all kicked off, Suki went missing and I went into a tailspin. I wandered the streets, sticking photographs to lampposts and putting them on car windscreens. British TV presenter (pictured at the NTAs) revealed she can't understand why women are being denied pain relief in labour Luckily, some children spotted her a few roads away. She had become disoriented, so they wrapped her up in one of their coats and took her to the vet, who scanned her microchip. After many months, Scotland Yard dismissed the idea that the Cat Killer existed at all and blamed foxes for all those damaged cat remains. But no matter how often Suki scares the living daylights out of me, Ill always adore her. I marvel at my attachment to a creature that remains so independent and ignores me until she needs food or a warm spot for a nap. Come to think of it, shes exactly like one of the teenagers. No wonder Id be so out of sorts with a dog. Don't come between a woman and her epidural The cult of natural birth strikes again, with reports that women are being denied pain relief in labour even when they plead for help. I cant understand why some people, including qualified, experienced experts who should know better, seem determined to force women to go through this awful time unaided. Having had three children myself, I simply cant imagine anything more horrifying. Its not uncommon for women who are pregnant to cherish idealistic visions of staying at home, water pool set up in the front room, only for their birthing plan to be ripped up at the last minute, followed by hospital and a forceps delivery or C-section when something goes wrong. I had three difficult births and I went to hospital and had an epidural or relief from Entonox gas each time. To be denied pain relief in those hours is an anxiety I couldnt have endured. Its a necessity not an optional extra. Susanna said rivals This Morning, presented by Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield (pictured centre), won Best Live Magazine Show at the NTAs for the tenth year running Glitter, gongs and gossip at the National Television Awards As Love Islands Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague arrived at the NTAs hand in hand, I asked Curtis Pritchard, from last years series, if the relationships are real or fake. Well, Im in love, he gushed about girlfriend Maura Higgins. But when you are in the villa you experience 1,000 emotions and when some come out, they realise it wasnt love at all. With more break-ups than marriages after the show, that seems right. Bumping into Michael Palin, we talked about how his Special Recognition Award was tinged with sadness after the loss last week of fellow Python Terry Jones. He was the best mate you could ever have, he said. Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan presented the award GMB was nominated for, Best Live Magazine Show. Our rivals, This Morning, presented by Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, won it for the tenth year running. Richard said he had divided loyalties: I was tempted to scribble out their names and write yours over the top, he winked. It might be the only way we can win. Wow, Meghans dad didnt look well Susanna who met Thomas Markle (pictured) on GMB this week, said he looked like he had been very unwell When I met Thomas Markle on GMB this week, I thought he looked like a desperate man he has clearly been very unwell. He insists he will do an interview every 30 days until Meghan and Harry speak to him, even though he acknowledges that this plan will not repair their damaged relationship. Sadly, their public family breakdown reflects the reality in too many homes. Many will sympathise with him and just as many will feel for his daughter. TariqMansoor, the Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has written an open letter to the students of the varsity, who have continued to boycott classes and examinations Tariq Mansoor, the Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has written an open letter to the students of the varsity, who have continued to boycott classes and examinations. In his letter on Wednesday, Mansoor said there was "no justification in keeping the university open if classes and examinations are prevented from being held by some misguided elements". The vice chancellor also made the "last appeal" to maintain peace on the campus and end the boycott of classes and examinations and said that "indiscipline" will be dealt with "as per rules". Amidst a deadlock, the AMU VC writes to students saying "If the examination and classes are prevented from being held by some misguided elements there will be no justification of keeping the University open and allowing 23,000 students to sit idle in the university campus. pic.twitter.com/8QPlpi5mVD The Leaflet (@TheLeaflet_in) January 29, 2020 Examinations did not take place at AMU's Zakir Husain College of Engineering and Technology for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, with students again blocking the entrance, reported PTI. Some posters put up by student groups on the campus described the situation as a "lockdown". The student groups are seeking the withdrawal of "false cases" against those who took part in protests against the amended citizenship act on 15 December. The protests appear to have intensified with female students from AMU Senior Secondary School joining the protest by boycotting classes. In his letter, the V-C chancellor also tries to clarify the sequence of events on 26 January, when students had heckled him during a Republic Day function. Four students had been removed by the security staff and later handed over to the police. While three of them had been released on 27 January, one continued to be in police custody. Demanding his release, students blocked the Aligarh Moradabad highway, following which exams were cancelled. In his letter, the V-C has claimed that the person who continued to be in police custody was released despite not being a "bonafide student." Terming as unfortunate the violence which occurred on the campus on 15 December, he said that he has "expressed regret" over the injuries suffered by students. The university has always allowed peaceful protests, he said, adding that measures have been taken to look into the 15 December incident. The incidents are being investigated by the NHRC and the university too has constituted a fact finding committee, he claimed in the letter. Violence had broken out in the AMU on 15 December when police had entered the campus in light of the protests against the CAA. He further alleged that "some misguided people, including outsiders" were not only preventing examinations from being held but were also threatening students. "These elements are threatening students and we will no longer allow disorder and chaos, which would tarnish the image of the university," he said. On Tuesday night, a group of students gathered at the university canteen to protest against the slapping of sedition charges against JNU student Sharjeel Imam, who was arrested from Bihar on Tuesday. The AMU campus has been witnessing protests against the amended Citizenship Amendment Act and over 1200 students, including those not identified, have been booked in about a dozen odd cases connected to different protests. The students are also demanding the resignation of top university officials for "failing" to secure justice for those students who were allegedly the victim of police excesses during anti-CAA protests. With inputs from PTI NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) has recommended Zearn Math for all grades K5 in Utah, labeling it as a "Recommended Primary" curriculumthe highest possible distinction. The top rating indicates that Zearn Math aligns with Utah state standards and meets all high-quality indicators, including focus, coherence, rigor, and balance. The USBE also highlights that Zearn Math makes grade-level math accessible to all learners by providing embedded remediation, concrete and pictorial representations, precise feedback, and other supportive features. Zearn Math builds deep understanding of concepts and flexible problem-solving skills through an emphasis on visualization, drawing to solve, and concrete representations of abstract concepts. The curriculum's focus on inclusivity and accessibility aims to create a sense of belonging in the math classroom for all students and foster the development of tenacious, lifelong learners. Each day, students learn in flexible and feedback-rich environments and are supported in accessing grade-level math with on-ramps and personalized feedback embedded throughout the curriculum. Utah's decision to recommend Zearn Math for all grades K5 corroborates findings from other state agencies. For example, the Louisiana Department of Education labeled Zearn Math a Tier 1 curricular resource that "exemplifies quality" across all review dimensions. Similarly, teacher reviewers for the New Mexico Public Education Department determined that Zearn Math is the only math curriculum recommended for all grades K5 in New Mexico. These findings are further corroborated by third-party reviewers like EdReports, an independent nonprofit that reviews instructional materials. EdReports gave Zearn Math a top rating across all review gateways. Utah's recommendation of Zearn Math coincides with a major milestone in the top-rated curriculum's viral growth journey: the comprehensive math program is now used in over 50% of districts nationwide to support daily differentiated instruction. Additionally, Zearn recently announced the launch of new features and resources for the coming school year to give teachers even more flexibility when using Zearn Math to support student learning. Shalinee Sharma, Zearn's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We began building Zearn Math seven years ago as a nonprofit to support teachers with helping all kids deeply learn and love math. We are so grateful to all those educators, from Utah and across the country, who have partnered with us and provided us feedback on this journey. We're honored to continue to support Utah teachers in further personalizing our top-rated materials to meet the needs of each student." About Zearn Zearn is a nonprofit curriculum publisher on a mission to ensure all children love learning math. Zearn publishes Zearn Math, a top-rated K5 paper- and software-based curriculum that transforms the daily math block to create engagement and differentiation for all students. In addition to curricular materials, Zearn Math offers comprehensive professional development and School Accounts to support district- and school-wide learning. Visit Zearn.org to learn more. Related Links https://about.zearn.org SOURCE Zearn Related Links https://about.zearn.org Rebecca Long-Bailey cemented her place in the final round of the Labour leadership contest this afternoon as she was endorsed by the Fire Brigades Union. The backing of the FBU means Ms Long-Bailey now has the support of three different unions - enough to make it to the crunch vote of Labour members. To make it onto the ballot paper candidates need to win the nominations of 33 local constituency Labour parties or three Labour affiliates, including at least two trade unions. Ms Long-Bailey had already been backed by the Unite union and the Bakers, Foods and Allied Workers union. Fellow leadership challengers Sir Keir Starmer and Lisa Nandy had already won enough backing to make it through to the final showdown. However, the last remaining candidate, Emily Thornberry, is facing an uphill battle to progress having so far failed to win any union backing. Rebecca Long-Bailey, pictured at a campaign event in Oxford on Tuesday, has been endorsed by the FBU Ms Long-Bailey, who has the backing of the current Labour leadership in the race and has been labelled the 'continuity Corbyn' candidate, said she was 'absolutely delighted' to be endorsed by the FBU. She said: 'Im delighted to make the next stage of the contest and I thank Unite, the Bakers Union and the Fire Brigades Union for their endorsements as well as the thousands of supporters who have volunteered and attended campaign events across the country. 'As leader I will unleash our movement, take power back from the gentleman's club of Westminster and build an aspirational socialism that speaks to people's hopes and dreams. 'The general election result was devastating, but our policies are popular and its clear we must not return to the politics of the past.' Matt Wrack, the FBU's general secretary, said the union's executive council had 'resoundingly voted to endorse' Ms Long-Bailey. He said: 'I was locked in Labours longest-ever composite meeting with Rebecca and her vision for a Green Industrial Revolution was clear. Climate change is an industrial issue for firefighters and were proud to have worked with Rebecca to secure Labours 2030 target for net-zero carbon emissions. Sir Keir Starmer, pictured in Edinburgh yesterday, was the first of the candidates to make it through to the final ballot of Labour members 'There can be no going back to the so-called centrism of New Labour we never again want to see our party turn its back on workers, public ownership, and its own members.' The FBU has also backed Richard Burgon for the role of deputy Labour leader which means he now has also made it into the final round of the contest. Ms Long-Bailey and Mr Burgon are widely viewed as being the candidates most likely to continue with Jeremy Corbyn's vision for the UK. 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. Renault has named Luca de Meo as CEO, picking a seasoned industry hand to turn the page on the Carlos Ghosn era and shore up the troubled alliance with Nissan Motors. The 52-year-old Italian will take up the role on July 1, the French car maker said. Mr De Meo, who helped turn around Volkswagen's Spanish arm, emerged as a frontrunner in November following the ousting of his predecessor, Ghosn protege Thierry Bollore. Mr De Meo's appointment comes as Renault is facing challenges on multiple fronts. The car maker is struggling to patch up its alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors, after Mr Ghosn's arrest 14 months ago on charges of financial misconduct left the partnership in disarray. At the same time, weakening demand in key markets has hurt sales and earnings. Renault's stock is trading near seven-year lows. Mr Ghosn, who formerly led all three companies, fled Japan almost a month ago for Lebanon, where he proclaimed his innocence and accused Nissan of colluding with Japanese prosecutors to topple him. He had harsh words for the alliance he built up over two decades, saying that he was not optimistic about its future. Renault is betting a new CEO can help clear the air with Nissan, which recently replaced its own CEO. Makoto Uchida has said the Japanese car maker wants to "move forward with our relationship with Renault, while preserving our independence". Mr De Meo has more than two decades of industry experience and speaks five languages, including French. He will have to work not only with Nissan, but also with France. Renault's most powerful shareholder, the state has intervened in strategic decisions in the past, and scuppered a plan last year to combine with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Before Mr De Meo begins to work on a strategy at Renault, chairman Jean-Dominique Senard has said the Franco-Japanese alliance is preparing to unveil measures later this week to deepen operational cooperation. The partnership is key to pooling resources to develop expensive new tech and electric cars, according to Mr Senard. An industry slump also presents challenges. CFO Clotilde Delbos, who temporarily took the helm in October after Mr Bollore left, has lowered the car maker's financial guidance for 2019. She blamed weakening economies, tougher rules on emissions and deteriorating results in markets such as Turkey. Bloomberg Cops in western Colombia busted a private psychiatric rehabilitation center last week and rescued 105 patients who were allegedly tortured, kept in cages and had their ankles chained together. Acting on an anonymous tip emailed to the Colombian Institute for Family Welfare, police in the Palmira, Valle del Cauca, raided the clinic last Thursday and uncovered horrifying conditions. Among the patients who were reportedly abused were 17 minors, two elders and two people with cognitive disabilities. Nine of the minors were reunited with their families. The local government child welfare agency took in four minors and two children were placed in foster care. Authorities rescued 105 patients, including 17 minors, from a private psychiatric rehab center in western Colombia last Thursday. Some on the victims (including person pictured) were held in an underground room where they were found tied up. Six administrators were arrested Still image from a video recorded by authorities showed a female psychiatric clinic patient with her ankles tied with a chain Authorities described the conditions at the shut down rehabilitation center in Valle del Cauca, Colombia, as inhumane after health officials received an anonymous tip. Officials rescued 105 patients, including 15 minors, two elders and two people with cognitive disabilities According to the Colombian Attorney General's office, the patients were at the facility for psychiatric and drug abuse issues. Workers at the rehab center reportedly placed shackles on patients' feet and hands, and tied them to poles. Authorities also discovered an underground lair that was covered with a metal gate to keep the patients from coming out. Several victims were found tied up in the cage. 'What we found there was an obvious violation of human rights,' said Clara Ines Sanchez, director of the Municipal Health Secretary, according to Colombian news outlet Publi Metro. Clara Ines Sanchez, director of the Municipal Health Secretary, said the patients' 'human rights' were violated Officials in Valla del Cauca, Colombia, lead some of the victims that were subjected to torture at a rehabilitation center for patients that suffered from psychiatric and drug abuse problems Colombian National Police agents lead some of the six administrators that were arrested last Thursday. They were charged with aggravated tortured and confined to pre-trial home detention and must appear before the local prosecutor's office every eight days She also added that some of the patients complained of the abusive treatment. Agents with the Colombian National Police in Palmira arrested four therapists, identified as Wilder Fabian Fernandez Caro, Carlos Andres Granada Ruiz, Alexander Caicedo Quintero and Juan Carlos Penaradonda De La Pua. Cops also apprehended Luz Damaris Lopez Rosales, the rehab center's psychologist, and Jhimbalin Rivas Gutierrez, who was employed as the auxiliary nurse. They were charged with aggravated tortured and confined to pre-trial home detention by a judge in the city of Cali. They cannot leave their homes between 6pm and 6am, and were also barred from traveling outside Colombia. All six suspects also have to appear before the prosecutor every eight days. In a video that has gone viral, a man and a woman were seen tied separately to a tree and a poll by the locals here. The incident is said to be of Tuesday. It is said that they were in love with each other. "We received a video of the incident via WhatsApp. We were informed that a man was held hostage here following which we sent a police team to the location. After reaching there, no man was found," said Gajvir Singh, Station In-Charge, Bugda. "Later, we asked the people about the video. They told us that the incident took place in the morning due to some misunderstanding. Later, the matter was resolved and the man was set free. We have arrested two people in this connection," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Drivers should never expect traffic to take a day off along the West Loop 610, but that will be especially true as construction workers close the freeway in both directions this weekend, making trips to the Galleria and Uptown more grueling than usual. As part of rebuilding the loops interchange with Interstate 69, the main lanes in both direction of Loop 610 will be closed at I-69, starting at 9 p.m. Friday. The lanes will not reopen until around 5 a.m. Monday, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. The Friday-night-to-Monday-morning closing will be repeated Feb. 14 to 17 and Feb. 21 to 24, weather permitting. TxDOT officials urged drivers to find alternate routes or avoid the area. What were telling people is know before you go and expect to spend extra time, said Danny Perez, a spokesman for TxDOT in Houston. Highway and Uptown officials are trying to balance their efforts to warn drivers without panicking them. We are open for business, we dont want to scare anyone away, said Delia Mizwa, director of marketing for the Uptown Houston Management District. That is a major interchange but we are still accessible, all the exits are open. You can absolutely still get here. None of the weekend closings affect I-69, which will remain open in both directions. The closings are necessary so workers can hang beams for the new main lanes and connector ramps between the two freeways both among the busiest in the state. Loop 610 from the I-69 interchange is the most congested segment in the state. I-69 inside Loop 610 to Interstate 45 is the third-most. PIERCE ELIMINATED: Three meetings this week could set course for $7 billion remake of Interstate 45 Williams Brothers Construction, the contractor on the $259 million interchange rebuild, is entering a phase where connector ramps and bridges will lead to complex and vehicle-choking closings. There are just some things that require us to close the entire freeway, Perez said. During the weekend closings, northbound Loop 610 traffic can exit at Westpark and travel along the northbound frontage road to re-enter the loop north of Richmond. Southbound traffic will detour from Loop 610 to southbound I-69, exit at Chimney Rock, make a U-turn and use northbound I-69 to reconnect with southbound Loop 610. Mizwa said Uptown officials who have been juggling their own construction pains as they rebuild Post Oak to add center bus lanes understand the freeway work is going to lead to some hiccups. It is like remodeling the kitchen, you just have to get it done, she said. Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Eventually, workers will need to close I-69 for some parts of the work, though those closings are expected to occur on nights and weekends when traffic is reduced. Perez said some long-term closures of key ramps between the freeways also are likely, with lengthy detours, though final plans and timing are not certain. The interchange work is meant to address some of the clogged conditions by untying some of the weaving between Westheimer and Bellaire as traffic moves to and from the frontage road and the freeway. In addition to rebuilding ramps between the freeways to make them all two lanes, the work re-configures some entrance and exit ramp locations so traffic merging from the freeway is not fighting against drivers trying to exit. Relief, however, will come after many more months of closings and detours. Completion of the interchange rebuild is expected in 2023, six years after the project began. dug.begley@chron.com Finland became the third European county with a confirmed coronavirus case on Wednesday, following cases in France and Germany. The young woman traveled to Finland from Wuhan on Jan. 23. Symptoms developed on Jan. 26. The 32-year-old from Wuhan came to the emergency room yesterday, and she was taken for evaluation and examination, Markku Broas, senior physician of the Health Care District of Lapland, said at a press conference at a hospital in Rovaniemi. Along with respiratory symptoms, the woman had a fever, he said. The woman remains in isolation in Laplands central hospital in northern Finland, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare said in a statement. The institute said that some 15 other people may have been exposed and that authorities are monitoring their condition. On Tuesday, national carrier Finnair became the first European airline to cancel flights to mainland China, after suspending its routes to Nanjing and Beijings Daxing airport until the end of March. Finnair, which sees its Asian connections as a cornerstone of its business strategy, is just one of the airlines affected by the growing fears about the spread of the new flu-like virus. While many travelers on Finnair flights from China fly on to mainland Europe after a stopover in Helsinki, Finnish Lapland is an increasingly popular winter travel destination among Chinese tourists who arrive to see the aurora borealis or to visit a Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi. The World Health Organization declined last week to declare a global health emergency over the coronavirus but said Wednesday it would reconvene to reconsider following the spate of new cases. Finland is the 17th country with at least one confirmed coronavirus case. The new virus has spread widely in Asia, infecting patients in Malaysia, Nepal, Japan, South Korea, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. Cases have also been confirmed in Australia, Canada, and the United States. The United Arab Emirates was the first country in the Middle East to confirm any cases of the coronavirus, saying a family of four Chinese tourists tested positive. The respiratory virus was first identified in Wuhan last month. The source has not been identified. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some of which cause illnesses in humans. Others infect animals. This virus probably originally emerged from an animal source but now seems to be spreading from person-to-person, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on its website. The analysis showed similarity to a coronavirus that circulates among bats, an official at the agency said this week. The last two significant coronaviruses to infect humans were SARS and MERS; the former came from civet cats, the latter came from camels. From The Epoch Times Reuters contributed to this report. A Hong-Kong-based airline was forced to apologize for making a 25-year-old Japanese woman take a pregnancy test in order to board a flight to Saipan, a a commonwealth of the United States in the western Pacific Ocean. The controversial incident reportedly took place in November of 2019, but was only covered in the media last week. Midori Nishida was checking at Hong Kong International Airport, with low-cost carrier Hong Kong Express, in order to fly to the island of Saipan to visit her parents. The Japanese national was not pregnant and said so on a check-in questionnaire, but her body shape apparently made airline staff question her honesty. The 25-year-old woman was asked to give permission to an authorized medical provider to conduct a fit-to-fly assessment, which in this case meant a pregnancy test. Photo: JuliaFiedler/Pixabay Nishida told the Wall Street Journal that being escorted to a public restroom and being handed a strip to pee on was very frustrating and humiliating. She tested negative and was allowed to board the airplane with the other passengers, but the airline has since issued an unreserved apology, claiming that it was only acting in response to concerns raised by authorities in Saipan, where so-called birth tourism. The island of Saipan has apparently become a popular destination for foreign women to give birth in, since under US law any child born on one of its territories is automatically granted American citizenship. Being admitted into the North Marian Islands commonwealth is much easier than entering the United States, so its not very surprising that 2018 saw more tourists giving birth on Saipan than there are residents on the island. Photo: Ethan McArthur/Unsplash Hong Kong Express Airways specified that Midori Nishidas pregnancy test was meant to help ensure US immigration laws were not being undermined. The airline has since apologized and suspended the practice of forcing women to take pregnancy tests. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Community Board 3 gave a thumbs up on Tuesday to upgrading the Kreischer Mansion as part of a proposal to build a 48-unit active adult community on the Charleston property. The proposal -- initiated by property owner Isaac Yomtovian -- seeks city approvals to upgrade the landmarked mansion and build 48 condominiums earmarked for active adults. Community Board 3 approved the portion of the proposal to upgrade the mansion according to city Landmark Preservation (LPC) guidelines. Im very pleased that Community Board 3 is supporting what we have been working for, for years," said Yomtovian, who has owned the mansion for two decades. Finally we have reached a point where we can go back once more for the second time to preserve, repair and bring back the glory of this historic and landmarked mansion." The project will go before the LPC on Feb. 4, said Yomtovian. The LPC has received permit applications for restoration and other facade work, roof work, additions and new construction, as well as barrier-free access work to the mansion, said Zodet Negron, an LPC spokesperson. Community Board 3 will vote at a later date on the proposal to build housing for people age 55 and older on the property, which will also need other city agency approvals. PLANS FOR THE PROPERTY Yomtovian said the condos will be divided into several buildings surrounded by a lot of open space and walkways. The mansion will be preserved, and it will be a place for residents to gather to socialize and eat, he said. He received approvals to construct 130 condos on the site in August 2006, according to city Buildings Department (DOB) records. Yomtovian said he revised the proposal to include more open space and less condominiums. The new development would be located adjacent another active adult community, The Tides, on Arthur Kill Road. PLANS THAT DIDN'T MATERIALIZE Yomtovian was already familiar with Staten Island when he bought the estate in 1999 for $1.4 million, with the vision of creating Kreischerville -- a 55-plus community that gave a nod to the 19th century brick magnate who built the mansion and for whom the town of Charleston was originally named. But delays in obtaining permits, which have since expired, coupled with an unstable real estate market, led Yomtovian to make the difficult decision to abandon the project. Before I even moved a shovel out there, I spent more than $1 million for renovations, repair and taxes for the mansion, he said. I had approvals and even secured two construction loans. I spent all the money on the renovation, and then there was the financial meltdown in 2009 (of the real estate market)." Yomtovian also previously had the mansion up for sale, but now he said he hopes to develop the site himself. MANSION HISTORY The home was built around 1885 by wealthy brick manufacturer Balthasar Kreischer for his son, Charles, and the property once housed a second identical house built for his son, Edward. That home was demolished, and the existing property was landmarked in 1968. The mansion also made headlines as the scene of a grisly 2005 murder of a Bonanno crime family associate. The Bonanno hit man found guilty of murder and sentenced to a mandatory life term in prison was a caretaker hired by Yomtovian. The Kreischer Mansion fell into disrepair after a Victorian restaurant failed there in 1997. Yomtovian, who has developed more than 200 custom-built homes and townhouses across the Island, purchased the property two years later. The property has had a history of stops and starts for development and grand plans. With the exception of a short-lived restaurant, none ever materialized. Most recently, the home was used as a recording studio. In addition, several videos were shot in the mansion by Deer God Productions. The property has been used for the last two years for special events, including haunted houses around Halloween, and summer concert series. FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK and TWITTER A West Australian man charged with the murder of another man in the Great Southern has pleaded not guilty. Greg Quartermaine appeared via video link from Hakea Prison in the WA Supreme Court on Monday, charged with murder over the death of 60-year-old Wilfred Williams in Tambellup in August 2019. Police were responding to reports of a disturbance when they found Mr Williams body inside his home in the early hours of August 4. Two women and five children were evacuated from the house and Mr Quartermaine was arrested and charged with Mr Williams murder. With his lawyer appearing via video link from Albany, Mr Quartermaine confirmed he was ready to enter a plea and said he was not guilty of Mr Williams murder. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Batam Wed, January 29, 2020 06:31 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad206166c3c 1 National Batam,Riau-Islands,tourism,coronavirus Free Batam Mayor Muhammad Rudi has expressed appreciation for the Chinese governments decision to cancel flights to several cities in Indonesia, including Batam in Riau Islands, amid fears of a possible domestic coronavirus outbreak. The decision, he said, showed that China had taken the outbreak, which originated in Wuhan, Hubei province, seriously. The recent cancellation of flights shows that China has taken it upon itself to stem the impact of the outbreak. The government has been very responsive in protecting its citizens based on good, long-term planning, Rudi said on Monday on the sidelines of an official inspection at the Batam International Ferry Terminal. We are grateful for the Chinese governments initiative. We no longer need to impose a ban on Chinese arrivals ourselves. He said the administration had previously received official information from the Hang Nadim International Airport in Batam that all flights from China to Batam had been canceled by the tour and travel agency that had been managing such flights. All there is left for us to do now is to take anticipatory measures to ensure that [Batam] remains free of the coronavirus. We pray that the situation will be swiftly resolved, Rudi said. Read also: Monitor wildlife trade as certain animals 'have potential' as coronavirus carriers, warns LIPI He went on to say that the local administration had officially designated two hospitals as the go-to medical centers for suspected coronavirus patients. Hang Nadim International Airport director Suwarso told The Jakarta Post that all flights from Batam to Shenzhen in Guangdong province and Xian in Shaanxi province had also been canceled or postponed indefinitely on Tuesday. He said the two flight routes were regularly serviced by Batik Air, a subsidiary of low-cost carrier Lion Air. Each flight could accommodate up to 150 passengers, he added. The tour and travel agency that handles the flights decided to call off all departures in light of the coronavirus outbreak in China, Suwarso said. Indonesian Tour and Travel Agency Association (ASITA) chairman in Batam Andika Lim said the Chinese governments decision to cancel all flights to and from Batam would have a significant impact on the citys tourism. We will learn the full extent of the impact next month, Andika said. (rfa) Actor Priyanka Chopra in a reflective Instagram post has written about the eventful beginning of the year she has had. Hinting at the love and hate she has received in January itself, the actor wrote that it has been crazy. She wrote in the caption of the post, I seem to be thinking what a crazy beginning of the year its been, and we are only in January. Love the ones you love. Live the life you want to live...with all the troubles in this world at the moment, be kind to yourself and everyone around you. Im so grateful for the kindness I have received, and even when I have not...I some how have. Be kind to the ones around you. It matters. Life is a gift. Several people reacted to Priyankas post with positive comments. Ur one of the kindest, most giving, most loving souls Ive ever known, one person wrote. Several others left heart emojis in the comments section. ALSO WATCH | Grammys 2020: Priyanka Chopra, Billie Eilish, Camila Cabello slay at red carpet Priyanka added a portrait of herself to go along with the post. In January, Priyanka has already made a splashy appearance at the 2020 Grammys, where her husband, Nick Jonas, performed with the Jonas Brothers. Priyankas navel-baring dress was quite the talking point after the ceremony, with fans and haters duking it out online. Also read: Priyanka Chopra trolled for dress at Grammys, Suchitra Krishnamoorthi hails actor for not trying to hide her belly Priyanka also made a trip to India, where she wrapped the filming of her upcoming Netflix film, The White Tiger, directed by Ramin Bahrani and co-starring Rajkummar Rao. On Wednesday, it was reported that the actor is in final negotiations to appear in the upcoming fourth instalment of the Matrix series, starring Keanu Reeves and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in lead roles. This will mark Priyankas latest, and most high-profile Hollywood project yet. She is also a part of an upcoming comedy drama series from Mindy Kaling, a Netflix superhero film directed by Robert Rodriguez, and a planned Maa Anand Sheela biopic directed by Barry Levinson. Follow @htshowbiz for more A woman who died after choking on a lamington at a packed pub on Australia Day has been remembered as 'kind', 'happy' and 'out going'. Megan Moon was taking part in an eating competition on Sunday at the Beach House Hotel in Hervey Bay, Queensland, when tragedy struck at about 2pm. The 51-year-old, who had a disability, was a regular customer at the pub and her family had lived in the area for decades. 'To give you an idea of Megan, she was more than her disability,' family spokeswoman Tamara McKillop told The Courier-Mail. Megan Moon (pictured), 51, died on Sunday after choking on a lamington during at Australia Day eating contest at the Beach House Hotel, Hervey Bay 'Megan, if you gave her something small she would make it grow. She loved big, she created big and she never gave up. She empowered those around her and accepted everybody.' In a statement released on Wednesday, the Beach House Hotel paid tribute to their valued patron and offered their condolences to her family and friends. 'Megan was a happy and friendly patron who enjoyed visiting our venue and an important part of the community,' it said. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends during this challenging time.' The Beach House Hotel released a statement on Wednesday paying tribute to Ms Moon as a 'happy and friendly patron' Ms Moon was the president of the client committee group president for the Hervey Bay Day Care and Respite Centre, a disability services and support organisation. In a tribute over their website, the organisation said Ms Moon 'realised the importance of having a voice and empowering [her] other friends to follow their dreams'. 'A voice does not have to be said, a voice can be communicated through many different ways,' they wrote. 'We thank Megan for [her] continued support to our organisation, friends of Lonsdale House, staff, students and our community to ensure that Imagination is just the beginning.' The pub released a statement over its Facebook page the day after the tragedy to offer their condolences to Ms Moon's family and friends The licensed venue provided counselling services on Monday for the shocked patrons who witnessed the tragedy unfold on the public holiday. Queensland Ambulance Service said on Sunday that Ms Moon had a seizure before choking on the lamington and later died at Hervey Bay Hospital. The day after her death, the pub praised the 'professional response' of paramedics through a statement on Facebook. 'The management and staff of the Beach House Hotel offer our deepest condolences to the friends and family of one of our patrons following the tragic event at our venue on Australia Day.' 'We acknowledge and thank our supportive patrons, staff, and the Queensland Ambulance Service for their prompt and professional response while this tragic incident was unfolding.' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) walks through the Capitol Building during the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol on January 29, 2020 in Washington, DC. In the next phase of the trial, senators will have the opportunity to submit written questions to the House managers and President Trump's defense team. (Photo by Zach Gibson/Getty Images) Republican Senators Believe They Have the Votes to Block Impeachment Witnesses Several Republican senators on Wednesday claimed the Senate may vote to end the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump by the end of the week after securing enough votes from key swing-vote senators. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told Fox News that the president will be acquitted, and I think it will be this week, but youve unleashed the forces of partisan hell on future presidents if we legitimize this. Were going to get it done by Friday, hopefully, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) told The Hill following a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Wednesday before the start of the impeachment trial. Rounds also told the same publication that they would be able to bypass calling witnesses. I think well be OK, he said. If I had to guess, no witnesses, Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) said. Well be in a place where I think everyone is going to have their mind made up and I believe that well be able to move to a verdict, and the witness question will be clear at that point, Braun added. McConnell has not publicly said if he officially has 51 votes to avoid calling new witnesses. But Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) said in a press conference on Wednesday after the first break in the trial that its obvious we dont have the votes yet. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), meanwhile, indicated that he will not support voting for witnesses. Gardner, ahead of the trial, was viewed as a possible GOP senator who would vote to call more witnesses, as Democrats have proposed. I do not believe we need to hear from an 18th witness, Gardner told Colorado Politics. I have approached every aspect of this grave constitutional duty with the respect and attention required by law, and have reached this decision after carefully weighing the House managers and defense arguments and closely reviewing the evidence from the House, which included well over 100 hours of testimony from 17 witnesses. Democrats have said they need four Republicans to force votes on additional witnesses. Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) have been floated as possible swing voters in favor of witnesses. Romney has said that he wants former national security adviser John Bolton to testify after the New York Times published details of his forthcoming book, alleging that the president told him about withholding aid to Ukraine in exchange for investigations into political opponents. Trump has strongly denied the latest claim on Twitter. Alexander told reporters Monday he would decide on witnesses after the question-and-answer period on Thursday. After weve heard all the arguments, after weve heard the questions and the answers to the questions, after weve studied the record, then well have that vote. And at that time I will make a decision about whether we need additional evidence, Alexander said. Murkowski, meanwhile, hasnt indicated how she would vote on witnesses, while Collins has suggested she would like to hear what Bolton has to say. Former Jammu and Kashmir Finance Minister Altaf Bukhari on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take measures to evacuate the residents of Jammu and Kashmir stranded in China's Hubei province and its capital city Wuhan after the outbreak of Coronavirus. Bukhari also requested the Union Ministry of External Affairs to make special arrangements for the safe evacuation of Indians, who are mostly students and professionals. The former minister gave the particulars of 32 student and demanded that they be brought home in a special flight, he said. It seems that the ground situation in Wuhan has worsened. I have information about 32 students who study in Hubei University of Medicine in Shiyan City," Bukhari said. He said the students are safe but fear they may contract the virus while being evacuated. Bukhari also requested the PM to give necessary directions to Indian Embassy in China to act proactively and provide necessary assistance to the residents of J&K. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bowling Green, Ohio January 29, 2020 - SIOP publishes white paper that informs and provides actionable insights for the I-O psychologists, business leaders, and HR practitioners who want to play active roles in co-creating and architecting the dynamic, ever-changing future of work. The SIOP White Paper series organizes and summarizes important and timely topics in I-O psychology. The newest white paper, "Automation," focuses the history of automation, the expected skill sets of working professionals in the age of automation, and the role various business professionals play in the future of work.. The term automation is the process by which a task or procedure is performed with decreasing human assistance. Automation will change work for employees with varied types of jobs, from CEOs to cashiers to fashion designers, because automation will affect parts of jobs rather than entire professions. This is contrary to what has been popularized by online media: that a certain percentage of jobs will be eliminated due to automation. Some jobs will be more at risk to change than others, but only 5% of jobs are candidates for full automation. Arman Hamamah, Naz Tadjbakhsh, Nathan Iverson, Tanya Thampipop, Joshua Fuller, Shiksha Shubham, and Paul H. Richardson, Jr. are young I-O professionals and educators who are passionate about the world of work. Their work ranges in industry and focus, but their common interest is in the future. Together, they facilitated an alternative session at the 2019 SIOP Conference in National Harbor to help business professionals develop an understanding of what the future of work might be and what steps they can take to prepare for it. The future of work is a vast and vague topic that to a certain degree cannot be predicted. However, in this paper, the authors set realistic expectations and deliver a jumping point for HR and business professionals to begin shifting their mindset in preparation for the future of work. Read the new white paper on the SIOP website. ### About SIOP White Papers The SIOP White Paper series organizes and summarizes important and timely topics in I-O psychology for business and HR professionals, members of the press, and interested individuals. SIOP White Papers are produced by three SIOP committees: International Affairs, Scientific Affairs, and Visibility. For more information about the SIOP white papers, click here: http://ow.ly/U0Jm50uo4xa About the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) is an international professional organization with an annual membership of more than 10,000 industrial-organizational (I-O) psychologists. SIOP's mission is to enhance human well-being and performance in organizational and work settings by promoting the science, practice, and teaching of I-O psychology. SIOP provides a platform for professionals to collaborate, implement, and evaluate solutions to workplace challenges. Visit SIOP at http://www.siop.org and follow us on Twitter at @SIOPtweets. MANILA, Philippines The Senate is taking on the proposal that seeks to suspend the operation of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) in the country. The move is due to an increase in Chinese prostitution dens involving POGO employees. In the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality hearing on Tuesday (Jan. 28), Senator Risa Hontiveros presented several screenshots of an alleged group chat in a messaging app, WeChat, where the transaction is taking place. Hontiveros said girls with a corresponding package price for their services are being offered to clients. The lady senator also presented alias Carina, a minor who had become a victim of human trafficking. Alias Carmina claims that she was made to believe that she would be working as a massage therapist. She found out later that her being a massage therapist also comes with what she said as extra service. Ang boss ko doon ay isang Chinese national at asawa niyang Filipina. Kinuhanan ako ng picture na sa pagkakaalam ko ay in-upload sa mga chat sa internet, alias Carina said. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said they have noticed the mushrooming number of Chinese prostitution dens since the establishment of POGO in the country, with POGO employees as clients. The Makati City Police also said that some of the workers in the prostitution dens that they had rescued did not have working visas and were just holding tourist visas. Yung mga passport nila, at saka yung mga visas, hawak-hawak ng mga maintainers. Hindi nila binibigay. Yun yung karamihang problema namin diyan, maam, said PMaj. Gideon Ines, chief of the Makati City Police Criminal Investigation Unit. Hontiveros said that they will also check how far the extent of the Chinese prostitution industry in the country has gone. The Makati City Police called on business establishment owners to coordinate with authorities for the arrest of operators of Chinese prostitution dens in the city. Story continues Malacanang, meanwhile, said that they will launch an investigation on the reported Chinese prostitution that has affected the POGO industry in the country. We will have that investigated, if that is true then we will have to do something about it, like stopping prostitution and arresting those who are involved in it, said Presidential Spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sec. Salvador Panelo. (from the report of Harlene Delgado) /mbmf The post Senate scrutinizes regulations on POGO ops amid rise of Chinese prostitution dens in Phl appeared first on UNTV News. PR-Inside.com: 2020-01-29 17:28:29 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 571 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Patnode is the Founder and CEO of Your Online Advisors LLCLOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 29, 2020 / Cyle Patnode, Founder and CEO of Your Online Advisors LLC, is pleased to announce that he was featured in magazine articles in Forbes, Inc. and Entrepreneur.To learn more about Your Online Advisors LLC and the services that they offer, please visit https://yoa.agency/ In the Forbes article, which is titled "6 Ways To Grow Your Local Business With Digital Marketing," the author interviewed six experts on the subject, including Patnode.As the article noted, while using social media can help with SEO, optimizing a website is one of the best ways to boost a company's internet presence."Regularly post on your Google My Business page and completely fill out the information section inside your Google My Business dashboard," Patnode was quoted as saying in the article. "These two simple actions, in addition to implementing a google review strategy, can place your business on the first Google results page." The Inc. article, which is titled "How Where You Live Can Impact Your Startup," features advice from a number of successful entrepreneurs, including Patnode. As he told the writer, being close to where a startup is located means the owner is also in proximity to more potential clients. Instead of communicating by phone or through emails, business owners can meet in person with their clients, which can be a major plus."There's a trust that's built immediately when you can meet with someone face to face," Patnode said, adding that when he moved to close to his startup, his monthly business revenue went up dramatically, due in large part to being able to meet clients in person."That always closes the deal." The article in Entrepreneur also allowed Patnode to share his insights about SEO, and how it can have either a positive or negative impact on sales."The smartest practice is to grab the less competitive markets, which helps sculpt your authority to Google and position you as the top option, creating the future path to showing up in major metropolitan cities," Patnode told the author of the article.The fact that Patnode has been featured in three highly regarded publications will not surprise the many satisfied clients at Your Online Advisors LLC. Since the company first opened for business, Patnode and his team have earned a well-deserved reputation for their ability to boost their clients' traffic.At Your Online Advisors LLC, they truly understand this foundational principle of digital marketing, and they strive to deliver innovative and effective solutions that can increase the visibility of their clients' websites.In addition, Patnode and his team also know the way modern day shoppers operate and what they are looking for in a website. Through their combination of top-notch content writers, copywriters, web designers and strategists, Your Online Advisors LLC can help create websites that will lead to more sales.About Cyle Patnode:Cyle Patnode is the President of Your Online Advisors LLC, a premier Digital Marketing agency. He has been running digital agencies since 2015 and has experienced tremendous growth for his ability to get his clients' websites visible on search engines fast. Cyle holds 8 Google certifications and Google Partner status. For more information, please visit https://yoa.agency/ Contact:Cyle Patnodecyle@ youronlineadvisors.com 1-800-443-4971SOURCE: Your Online Advisors LLC Dressed in pink, her hands flying about in eloquent gestures, excitement on her face, Indrani made quite a picture. There was pin-drop silence as she made strong points about why nothing in the hearings had uncovered anything against her. She spoke about there being "Not a shred of evidence... No scientific evidence because it didn't happen!" Vaihayasi Pande Daniel reports from the Sheena Bora murder trial. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com The cross-examination, in the Sheena Bora murder trial, on Thursday, January 21, and Tuesday, January 28, 2020, of Prosecution Witness 61 Dr Sudhir Kumar Gupta by Sudeep Ratnambardutt Pasbola at Courtroom 51 of the Mumbai city civil and sessions court, was perfectly civilised and courteous. No acrimony. Or anger. Both were in suits. Pasbola, debonair, in his well-cut lawyerly black. And Dr Gupta, a dapper dresser, in a striking brown suit with faint blue and red checks and a tie. It was more like a meeting of equals in a congenial gentleman's club. All ties and expensive suits. All bonhomie and respect. Pasbola struck the right chord with Dr Gupta and the cross-examination proceeded very smoothly and efficiently. For every on-point question the lawyer asked, the doctor, placidly, calmly, always offered a very measured, cautious answer, never entirely disagreeing or agreeing, always carefully and diplomatically keeping the door ajar for both possibilities. His favourite response was: "May or may not be." There was no heat. Or argument. His answers were too considered to stir controversy or for the doctor and lawyer to be at loggerheads. Rewind: Dr Gupta, 55, is the head of the forensic medicine department at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. He has 25 years of experience. He hails from Ranchi, Jharkhand, and did his medicine from Jamshedpur and his forensic specialisation from Benaras Hindu University. The Central Bureau of Investigation in 2015 invited the AIIMS to weigh in on the remains, believed to be Sheena's, exhumed from a quiet, forgotten spot in rural Raigad, Maharashtra. Dr Gupta organised a team ('medical board'), headed by himself, to do an examination. They submitted a report. The bones had already been examined by the forensic department at the B Y L Nair Hospital, Mumbai, headed by Dr Shailesh Mohite. 1. Pasbola, like he had in earlier cross-examinations of forensic experts, once again brought up the issue of the need for a forensic anthropologist in this case, since they were best at dating a skeleton and the time since death and unearthing the cause of death. The advocate wondered why none had been contacted. Dr Gupta didn't feel they had much better expertise -- his answer was "maybe" -- although he conceded that they may be better at dating the age of the skeleton. Pasbola: "You've written so many books. You've attended so many seminars. You have never met a forensic anthropologist at these conferences??" Dr Gupta: "I may have met a forensic anthropologist in a seminar/meetings. Never felt that forensic anthropologist was in a better position to carry out the examination." 2. Pasbola had a series of queries about the site visit conducted by three members of the AIIMS team to Raigad. Did the doctors prepare a report about it? How long were they there? Had they taken photographs? Did they do a bit of exhumation themselves? To most of these questions, Dr Gupta answered that he did not remember. But it emerged: "The three doctors did not scavenge the pit. I told them to look for smaller bones by taking assistance of CFSL (Central Forensic Science Laboratory) who were also part of the team." When Pasbola heard that the CFSL doctors had been there, he quizzed Dr Gupta about the details of this team, their report etc -- to no avail. 3. Before the court Pasbola highlighted how the first postmortem had revealed that dried organs were found in the thoracic region and in abdominal region (of the skeleton). The advocate asked: "You found they were not sent for histopathological examination... As a man of science these dried remains of tissues or organs should have been sent for chemical as well as histopathological examination (for the purpose of tracing poison etc)." Dr Gupta said "Yes" but did not expand on why they had not been sent for testing. 4. Since there had been -- in one of the postmortems -- a reference to burning of the body, the lawyer made enquiries about the traces of petrol/kerosene on the bones and conclusions about what inflammatory substance was used. Dr Gupta: "As a doctor I cannot find out which type of inflammatory material has been used for burning the skeleton." Pasbola: "Did it occur to you to send the bones for chemical analysis to find out the cause of burning?" Dr Gupta said yes, but he had not. 5. Pasbola asked Dr Gupta to see Page 12 of his report (submitted to the CBI). The lawyer said with a grin: "This is the only part of the report I am extremely in concurrence with you -- the cause of the death." The report stated since the body had been completely burned (as per the first postmortem), "The signs of strangulation are lost and could not be appreciated. The opinion of the board in absence of the laryngeal cartilages, muscles and hyoid bone (horseshoe-shaped bone in the neck) it could not be opined that the death was by strangulation." Dr Gupta nodded. Pasbola continued to read the report: "Manual strangulation or ligature could not be opined." Dr Gupta with a smile, in a soft tone: "Appreciated." Pasbola, also smiling, cajoled: "Opined," adding, in a conciliatory tone that that was a better word. Dr Gupta sticking to his guns, again softly: "I am adding could not be appreciated." 6. There was a packet of bones that the AIIMS doctors returned to the CBI unopened and unexamined. Pasbola checked why that had been done. These were the bones Dr Mohite had discarded saying they either belonged to another skeleton or were animal bones. Dr Gupta said his team had not opened it because (as per the Nair hospital report) these bones were "not pertaining to Sheena." It was further clarified that they had been returned to the CBI for onward transmission to the CFSI for investigation of the hair and skin, but Dr Gupta admitted he finally never received any such report. Pasbola: "You realise this report from the CFSL was necessary?" Dr Gupta confirmed: "Should have been done." 7. The cross-examination turned to the Karl Pearson method of estimating stature. The 20th century British mathematician/biostatistician derived a reconstruction formula for living stature from dry bones. The Nair report on Sheena's remains had utilised this formula to calculate her stature. He asked Dr Gupta: "Doctor, do you agree that Karl Pearson was used for establishing the stature of European and black population?" There was some confusion about the terms European and black. Pasbola emphatically: "White. Black population. We don't use the word negro," he explained because it was offensive. Pasbola continuing: "...the more favoured one (now) is the Trotter and Gleser (derived in 1952 that factors in an error margin based on difference in races)?" Dr Gupta nodded. Elaborating on this point, Pasbola asked if any formula had been "derived (taking into account) the varied population of our country. On one side you have the Punjabis and on the other the Bengalis..." Dr Gupta thoughtfully: "Studies have been done. No formula has been derived. Reference data has been given in almost all forensic textbooks." Pasbola: "This reference data which you have said is 'hidden' in various books you have said is also intervariable?" Considering the question for a moment, Dr Gupta agreed. He also agreed that data collected in India was still being analysed by the Karl Pearson formula. 8. Pre-lunch recess, Pasbola had his assistants quickly go back to his car/his office to retrieve various medical textbooks he had forgotten to bring to court. After a gap, three textbooks appeared: Jaising P Modi's A Textbook of Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology, K S Narayan Reddy and O P Murty's The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology and Parikh's Textbook of Medical Jurisprudence Forensic Medicine and Toxicology for Classrooms and Courtrooms. There was a laugh around the courtroom when the lawyer read the title of the last book. He added the book had many "quick solutions" in it. Before and after the lunch recess several passages from these books were given to Dr Gupta to read. He was asked if he agreed with the points put across in the highlighted paragraphs. Around then, the courtroom cat, nicknamed Sheena, strolled in, walking about the lawyers and around the witness. There was a bit of confusion. Pasbola paused, citing with a laugh, "Feline interference." The court peon, the tall Waghmare, in a white uniform, came in to gently chase the cat out, taking several minutes to do so. CBI Special Judge Jayendra Chandrasen Jagdale told him in Marathi: "You are chasing it so slowly, how will it go?" Finally, Sheena was sent on her way, not before causing a little disruption. Based on what was in these textbooks Pasbola asked: "Now doctor, estimation of age is not a proof, but a medical opinion? Opinion about age has to be given on the findings of a physical, dental and radiological examination? Multiple criteria should be used to (determine) the age of a skeleton?" Dr Gupta could not but agree with these points raised. 9. Pasbola brought up the topic of the skull superimposition tests and reports conducted by Dr Sunil Kumar Tripathi, Prosecution Witness 60 at AIIMS. This was a sensitive point because much had been said in this courtroom about the pointlessness of the skull superimposition tests ordered by the CBI. Dr Gupta seemed to be aware of it. Add to that: Dr Tripathi had been his professor when he was studying at BHU. The doctor navigated, tippy-toes, the advocate's questions with aplomb. Pasbola checked if AIIMS had been asked to conduct the superimposition. If skull superimposition was an imperfect science? Who had arranged how the test would be conducted? And so on. Dr Gupta gave the impression he had facilitated the conduct of the test at the CBI's request, but seemed to have not wanted to involve himself and his institution with the test. He acknowledged it was not an exact science and the test was not required. Pasbola: "Did you go through the report?" Dr Gupta: "Seen the report at the time." Pasbola, with a laugh: "Happy it was in alignment with the CBI case?" Dr Gupta, strictly judicious: "I was neutral." Pasbola, a mischievous smile playing on his face: "You don't agree with that report?" Dr Gupta, smiling broadly: "I have no comment." Laughter. 10. The final report from AIIMS, signed by Dr Gupta, had elaborated on four common causes of homicide as 'sharp force injuries, blunt force injuries, gunshot injuries and head injuries'. In the case of Sheena's skeleton it had ruled out all four, by elimination, because of an absence of blood and injury to the bones. Therefore it pointed to strangulation. Pasbola tackled this conclusion with Dr Gupta. He wanted to know how absence of blood was ruled out, when it was known, via Dr Mohite's testimony and 'cross', that he had washed the bones in water, rather than the preferred salt water, and could have, thusly, gotten rid of the blood. Pasbola's Q-&-A went like this: Pasbola, quizzically: "There are dozens of methods of homicide..." Dr Gupta: "Yes, yes, yes." Pasbola asked crucially: "Now, doctor, would it be correct to say that this opinion with regard to strangulation was a tentative opinion given based on the facts placed before you by the CBI?" Dr Gupta was in agreement, adding: "Circumstantial evidence placed before me by the CBI, along with expertise and experience." He added that exclusion was a way of determining the cause of death. Pasbola, a few questions later, asked about the washing of bones. Dr Gupta: "He had washed the bones with water to remove the entangled muds (mud) on the bones." Pasbola: "In view of this washing less likelihood of seeing bleeding on the bones to the naked eye?" Dr Gupta: "May or may not be appreciated." Pasbola then called attention to the fact that if it was not visible chemical tests needed to conducted. Pasbola: "But Dr Gupta, your report does not suggest any chemical tests. So I take it no chemical tests were done?" Dr Gupta, without elaboration, straight-forwardly, "Yes." Pasbola asked if over a period of time, especially in connection with a "body lying in a shallow grave" the blood composition "withers away." Dr Gupta said it "disappears" and subsequently added: "May or may not." Pasbiola again queried: "There is a word of caution introduced in your report when you say the same may be corroborated (by) carrying out further investigations. There is a word of caution to the investigators to conduct further tests to find out whether the report gets corroborated or not?" Dr Gupta offered an unequivocal: "Yes." Pasbola looked extremely satisfied. 11. Indrani Mukerjea's lawyer attempted to ask Dr Gupta about the complaint sent to the ethics committee of the Medical Council of India about the accusation of plagiarism against one of his papers. CBI Special Public Prosecutor Manoj Chaladan, normally a very quiet presence in the courtroom, shot out of his chair and firmly declared: "Scandalous questions cannot be asked!" Judge Jagdale immediately shut down this line of questioning by Pasbola too, angrily, his face thunderous, "It has already come on record. This is not the proper way." Referring to a previous case that had come before the Supreme Court, he mentioned how a lawyer had been disbarred for asking questions that were potentially aimed at character assassination. Judge Jagdale continued: "A person in authority always has to face allegations... Advocates have to also face these kinds of allegations." But since the Supreme Court had ruled that these kinds of questions were not allowed, he asked if Pasbola still felt it wise to put such a question on record. Finally Pasbola, given the presence of the media, agreed to give a written question to Dr Gupta. Dr Gupta then wanted it on record. He replied: "This issue has been finally dismissed by the Medical Council of India. No penalty was issued." Pasbola, in closing, offered his "suggestions" (courtroom term for accusations): "Doctor, it is my case to you that your opinion is erroneous and given only to favour the CBI. I put it to you that you hurriedly gave an opinion without examining the articles and conducting tests." After Dr Gupta got off the witness stand and was frantically collecting his belongings, because he had a 6 pm flight to catch back to Delhi, Pasbola concluded with a smile: "Let us say he has been quite fair compared to the other doctors who have been here." Smiles all around. Before the cross examination started up on Tuesday, Indrani took the stand to argue her fifth bail application. Dressed all in pink, her hands flying about in eloquent gestures, excitement on her face, Indrani made quite a picture. There was pin-drop silence as she took off, making strong points about why so far nothing in the court hearings had uncovered anything actually against her. She spoke very fast. The judge was slightly taken aback, but all ears, as she spiritedly belabored on. She spoke about the presence of two skeletons, none of which could be conclusively proved to have a connection with her and the missing "cut on the skull". I came from behind (in court) to see the skull it. Everyone thought it was awkward. I came here to see the cut." She spoke about how the alleged murder vehicle had been inaccurately identified as a Chevrolet when the last car her driver took had been an Opel Astra. She spoke about the missing petrol that was used to burn the body. "Did I and Sanjeev Khanna throw the petrol beside of the body? Where did the 20 litres of petrol go?" She spoke, nodding to Dr Gupta, about how no doctor in the world would give a false report about the cause of death. "They are doctors. Their job is to save lives. That is their first oath. They are not going to give a report which is untrue which will send innocent people to the gallows." She spoke about there being "Not a shred of evidence... No scientific evidence because it didn't happen!" She spoke about the poor quality of the CBI and police investigation and what she said was their concocted narrative or "story" and how "the forensics in the case against me have collapsed." Indrani was subsequently nudged out of the stand because Dr Gupta needed to complete his cross-examination first. Wednesday, January 29, was set aside for Indrani to continue her dramatic arguments. It was also suggested that these arguments are foolhardy and would undermine the defence's closing arguments. But Indrani -- always impulsive, incorrigible, reckless, a never-say-die character, ever the optimist, ever the fighter -- wants her day in court. Vaihayasi Pande Daniel covers the Sheena Bora Murder Trial for Rediff.com. You can read her brilliant coverage here. Everyone deserves to be treated fairly and with the utmost respect in the workplace. If you are a woman who is qualified to do your job, you should not be discriminated against because of your gender. Most employers acknowledge this principle and respect it. Others neither acknowledge nor enforce such a principle of equality. Indeed, federal and state laws make it mandatory for employers to root out gender discrimination. If you work for a company that allows it to flourish, then you should act to defend your right to be treated decently, humanely, and respectfully. You should always try to resolve such matters at the lowest possible level. If that doesn't work, you may need to hire a gender discrimination attorney and take legal action. What is Gender Discrimination? It is a form of discrimination that stems from an unequal distribution of power. It is a systematic unfairness that is directed at women and manifests itself in various ways, including restricted access to employment opportunities and advancement, and it can lead to unequal starting salaries and pay raises. This kind of discrimination can also create a hostile work environment in which women are subject to verbal abuse, sexual harassment, and other forms of mistreatment. Causes of Sexism in the Workplace For decades, social scientists have studied the root causes of sexism and misogyny. Here are some of the most common reasons for it: 1. Patriarchal cultural beliefs A patriarchal society is one in which men are given privileged status over women. As such, they are given more social, political, and economic power than them. It is often thought and said that Western societies have thrown off such attitudes, and that its male members see women as their equals. Nothing can be further from the truth. Although significant progress has been made, the structures of organizations in Europe and America still favor men. Women, for example, are still punished financially and career-wise for having children. Men are still viewed as being stronger, smarter, and tougher and thus more fit to occupy positions in management and leadership. And women are still denied the opportunity to fill roles traditionally occupied by men. 2. Objectification of women The way women are portrayed in the public sphere effects the way they are perceived and treated by their male counterparts. Hypersexualized images of women on television programs, films, and magazines overemphasize their physical aspects; they become mere objects for men to fawn over, protect, and desire. This demeans and de-humanizes women. Men who are exposed to such images from the time they are boys find it hard to accept their women colleagues as full and equal human beings. The objectification of women leads not only to discrimination, but also to sexual harassment and assault. If your boss or co-workers see you as a sexual object, they will try to make advances. Once rebuffed, they may continue to pester you until you are no longer able to work and be productive in the workspace. 3. Preferential treatment Sexism is also caused by preferential treatment. Men who come into a supervisory position with an innate bias toward other men will overlook more qualified women. This may include hiring a man for a job that should have been given to a more qualified woman. This kind of behavior can also include offering men better working conditions, higher salary for doing the same work, and more advancement opportunities. The First Step is the Hardest Step If you have been unfairly denied pay and advancement or are regularly subject to mistreatment and harassment, you should do something about it. However, you may be reticent to take that first step-and with good reason: you have everything to lose and very little to gain. Every woman who has ever contemplated coming forward with a complaint understands this. You joined the company to put your skills and talent to work and to be fairly compensated for it. You do not want to cause trouble, you do not want to be known as the woman who complains about harassment and unfair treatment, and you do not want to spend your time arguing and making statements against your co-workers. The fear of losing not only your job but the respect of your co-workers, and perhaps even being blacklisted in the industry, makes you reticent to speak out. However, if you don't act, the unfairness and mistreatment will continue and the perpetrators of it will probably be promoted and allowed to do the same things in a larger and more systematic way. How to Respond to Sexism in the Workplace Before you do anything, you should carefully review your company's policy on how to report such discrimination. You want to make sure that you do everything properly so the people responsible for the discrimination do not get off on a technicality. If you are permitted to report the offending person to your supervisor, then you should do so. If the person who has engaged in sex discrimination is your supervisor, then you will probably need to go directly to Human Resources. You may be able to get the issue resolved informally. This is the best outcome for all concerned. However, if the problem persists, then you may need to launch a formal complaint. At this point, the company is on the hook for acting to resolve the problem. Legal Action If the company fails to resolve your complaint in a way that is satisfactory to you, then you should hire a gender discrimination attorney. West coast employment lawyers specialize in helping people stand up for their rights against powerful corporate and public interests. West coast employment lawyers know how to manage situations like yours without putting you at risk. You need not file a lawsuit straightaway. In fact, before you can take legal action you will need to file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). This federal body will conduct its own investigation. If it has found wrongdoing, it will send its findings to your attorney along with an authorization to sue. Your gender discrimination lawyer may want to launch their own investigation into the company. In addition to your statement, they will want to get statements from other women in the company-present and past employees who may have been similarly mistreated. Only when your gender discrimination lawyer has gathered enough evidence will they approach the company itself to negotiate a fair settlement. Depending on the nature of the wrongdoing, you may be entitled to compensation, a promotion, or re-instatement if you were unjustly fired. Such a settlement can be negotiated without filing a lawsuit. The company will want to avoid the latter. They will want to resolve things informally. However, if they drag out negotiations or attempt to put pressure on you to accept an unfair settlement, then your attorney will advise you to file suit. This will put pressure on them, as they will probably want to avoid a jury trial-especially if the EEOC has found against them. The bottom line is that you should not put up with sex discrimination in the workplace. If you have been the target of such behavior and have exhausted your options within the company, then you should seek legal counsel. 2022 Mstars News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Advertisement Historian Bruce Pascoe, the Dark Emu author whose Aboriginal identity is at the centre of a fierce culture war, has withdrawn from the literary program of the Perth Festival and the Adelaide Writers Week. Mr Pascoe was scheduled to headline an event in Perth on February 21 as part of the festivals Literature and Ideas program and appear at Adelaides major literary festival later in the month but announced through his publisher late on Wednesday that he was unable to attend both events. Popular author Bruce Pascoe. Credit:Justin McManus Mr Pascoe told The Age that, for all the heat about Dark Emu and his Aboriginal heritage, his reason for pulling out of the event was the fire still burning near his Point Gipsy Point home outside Mallacoota. Its all fire, he said. We are only now able to take stock of what we have lost and how to fix it. By Adam Borowski Poles are highly critical of each other. Finding fault with others seems to be our national pastime. As a Pole, I know it all too well. For example, if you want to avoid a barrage of caustic comments when speaking English, you'd better make sure your pronunciation is perfect. We're usually nicer to foreigners, listening intently to their opinions. A somewhat humorous phrase describing this psychologically perplexing state is "polskie piekielko" which loosely translates as "a little Polish hell." An apt phrase, considering the Polish air quality. If you want to do business in Poland, it's crucial to be aware of the Polish mentality. Imagine my surprise when I learned some Koreans call their society "Hell Joseon." I see uncanny parallels between the two phrases, despite a dramatically different cultural context. As Poles, we often denigrate our own culture, while praising foreign influences. A sad status shift for a once powerful country. Some say the problems started with the liberum veto, where a member of parliament could end a session by shouting: "I do not allow!" The perfect recipe for chaos. The exact opposite of Confucianism. Over the last two hundred years, Poland was politically emasculated by its enemies on numerous occasions; as a matter of fact, the country was wiped off the map for more than a century. I'm amazed we managed to regain our independence in 1918. Romanticizing defeat, infusing it with "messianism," continues to be the coping mechanism for many Poles to this day. There's no better example of this than a Polish novella titled "Gloria Victis." Glory to the defeated rather than woe. I think you'll agree it's a noxious mindset, the antithesis of realpolitik. Too many Poles continue to wallow in victimhood, refusing to take a critical look in the mirror. South Korea is a shining example of global success. Hallyu, the Korean wave, is a marvelous example of a well-thought-out national branding strategy which has led to a potent soft power. Many foreigners love K-pop, as though they've been magically "Koreanized." Every successful nation on the planet has a product foreigners immediately recognize. Poland has one of the biggest diasporas in the world. As Poles, we usually adjust to new cultures with ease, using our intellects to thrive in a foreign environment. I know that Poles and Koreans get along well in the Vancouver metropolitan area. Joseph Conrad, a famous Polish-British novelist, wrote exclusively in English. Even the founder of SPECTRE, Bond's arch-villain, is Polish. Despite these advantages, Poland doesn't have a coherent soft power strategy. The potential of the Polish diaspora is often ignored, while the Polish government complains about the "brain drain." The current state of Poland is a result of the historical hecatomb. People sometimes say history isn't important. I disagree. Historical events shape a country's mentality which is then fossilized and becomes a culture. When you think about South Korea, what sorts of associations pop into your mind? Write them down, don't hold anything back. If they're positive, then the South Korean culture is conducive to change. The immutable fact remains: there's no positive change without a mentally healthy citizenry. The writer (adam.borowski1985@gmail.com) is a technical Polish-English translator and an international relations aficionado. He is the author of a novel titled: "Perfect lives. Perfect selves." The apprehension of a 32-year-old man, impersonating an octogenarian, by CISF personnel at the Delhi airport last year has made it to the CNN's 'most talked about aviation moments' of the world, a spokesperson for the airports guarding force said on Wednesday. "The extraordinary detection of passenger Jayesh Patel by Sub Inspector Rajveer Singh has found a place in this global list which is a matter of pride for CISF," Assistant Inspector General Hemendra Singh said. The impersonator's detection was possible as the force hugely invests in "behaviour detection skills and thorough frisking procedures" for its personnel deployed to guard 61 civil airports of the country at present, Singh said. The CNN publication, issued last month, has listed the event under the 'misfires and mischief' sub-title with a picture of the passenger in his disguised look --comprising a snowy white beard and turban -- using his cellphone to call someone after he was apprehended by the CISF on September 8 last year at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. Patel, a resident of Ahmedabad, had coloured his hair and beard white as he arrived on a wheelchair to board a flight to New York. He allegedly used a fake passport with the name Amrik Singh, aged 81 years. The Delhi Police later also apprehended a makeup artist from Rohini area of the national capital for allegedly helping the passenger in acquiring the 'old man' look. "In spite of the perfect makeup and all out efforts to imitate an old passenger, Patel was caught by SI Singh leading to detection of a major case of impersonation," the spokesperson said. The CISF SI has already been recommended for the top honour of 'director general commendation certificate' given by the paramilitary force, he said. Another incident at the same airport, where a 48-year-old man impersonating a Lufthansa Airlines pilot and was held last year, has also found mention in the list that has other titled events like 'cabin innovations', 'making the world a better place' and 'new airports, from Beijing to Berlin'. The about 1.70 lakh personnel strong Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is designated as the national civil aviation security force apart from securing vital infrastructure in the nuclear and aerospace domain. It is among the five Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) that function under the Union home ministry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov's center-right government has survived a vote of no-confidence called by the opposition over water shortages that have already cost Environment Minister Neno Dimov his job. Only 102 lawmakers in the 240-seat parliament voted in favor of toppling the government on January 29, while 124 deputies were against. It was the fourth attempt to defeat the government in a confidence vote since it took power in 2017. Dimov resigned from his post as environment and water minister on January 10 and has been charged with deliberate mismanagement of water supplies in a western region of the country. Prosecutors accuse him of providing water supplies to industrial users even when he had been informed that the water in a dam -- the only source of drinking water to Pernik and surrounding area -- had seriously decreased. Dimov, who faces up to eight years in prison, has denied any wrongdoing and blamed the water crisis on dry weather and poor management of the local water facility. A Brazilian national who pretended to be a dentist and carried out treatments in a makeshift clinic in his Sydney home has been found guilty and fined. Eduardo Soares Penques did not appear in Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday when he was fined $16,500 and convicted for claiming to be a registered health practitioner and carrying out a restricted dental act. Penques, 37, was also ordered to pay $3173 in professional costs to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Brazialian man, Eduardo Soares Penques, who posed as a dentist was fined and convicted in court on Tuesday after performing procedures on two 'patients' in his Sydney home (stock image) AHPRA on Wednesday said Penques carried out restricted dental acts on two patients including a tooth filling and an extraction. He also gave anaesthetic medications in a makeshift Surry Hills dental clinic in May and June 2019. Penques, who has never been registered as a dentist in Australia, falsely claimed to be a dentist to one of the patients, AHPRA said in a statement. 'Patients put their trust in properly qualified and registered practitioners, and it is a gross violation of that trust when someone falsely claims to be registered,' AHPRA chief executive Martin Fletcher said in a statement. The fate of the national race to build 5G wireless service depends on how effectively the guts of the network namely, hundreds of thousands of bulky antennas are placed in cities. Why it matters: While global tensions mount over pressure to build 5G networks as fast as possible, U.S. cities are in a fight of their own with telecom carriers and federal regulators over how new 5G antennas or small cells will be scattered throughout downtowns and neighborhoods. Driving the news: Next month, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, Calif., will hear the case between cities and the Federal Communications Commission over the placement of 5G antennas. Dozens of cities have sued the FCC over its 2018 order requiring faster permitting and limiting the fees communities can charge wireless companies to install backpack-sized antennas on city property. Context: Wireless companies say one of the biggest hurdles to deploying 5G networks is the need to negotiate with city officials for permission to install small cells, and that some cities were charging excessive fees for access to city property. FCC Republicans argue that uniform limits to streamline the permitting process will speed up 5G rollout, and that the money telecom companies save from paying lower permit fees in big cities will help build out the networks in underserved areas faster. "A lot of cities that had high fees have been able to reduce them and reach reasonable agreements with carriers," said Republican FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr. "Carriers that are building out need to compromise with cities. Cities need to understand the upside that comes with 5G." The other side: City leaders, however, say the one-size-fits all rules undermine their authority to charge market rates for property access. They also say the mandated fee structure weakens their leverage to negotiate wider 5G build-outs that, for example, cover poor neighborhoods as well as rich ones. What's happening: Two Georgia towns, 10 miles apart in the northern suburbs of Atlanta, have drastically different reactions to the realities of deploying 5G networks: Peachtree Corners, a city of 45,000, invested in early deployment of 5G in hopes it will bring new economic activity. a city of 45,000, invested in early deployment of 5G in hopes it will bring new economic activity. Brookhaven, a city of 57,000, is fed up with telecom companies' demands and is among the cities suing the FCC. Peachtree Corners In the 1960s, what is now Peachtree Corners was the site of the area's first "technology park," home to some of the region's early tech firms. The city now wants to be a high-tech hub. City manager Brian Johnson has been leveraging corporate partnerships including with Sprint to install 5G service to become a smart-city testing ground. The city wants to attract startups to its incubator space called Curiosity Lab, which includes an autonomous driving test track, and bring patrons to its restaurants and hotels. All utility lines are underground in the downtown area, so drones can fly freely. Smart street lights and and a self-driving trolley are on the main drag. Cameras are equipped with facial recognition software. In addition to setting up its network in the city, Sprint established its 5G "utilization lab" where its experts can meet with companies that want to learn how to utilize 5G. "We've created this sandbox, we put a bunch of toys in it, and we're inviting people to come play," Johnson said. Brookhaven Down the road, telecom carriers have installed a couple dozen 5G small cells. City leaders aren't happy that they have such little say over where the equipment gets placed. "People aren't against 5G. They're not against new technologies coming in, but they're definitely against having things willy-nilly plopped in their front lawn," said Christian Sigman, city manager of Brookhaven, Georgia. "And we're going to get the blame for it because rubber hits the road right here at City Hall." It's not just one telecom company he has to worry about multiple providers would all need to set up their own equipment to power their own networks. "My fear is that between a one-block segment, which is only maybe five or six addresses, you could have five or six poles ultimately from five different companies," he said. What's next: A decision in the case is expected later this year. Until then, the litigation creates uncertainty for both cities and carriers during what is supposed to be a critical time for 5G roll-outs. "I don't think, sitting here in Washington, we have the right to tell cities what to do," said Democratic FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, who voted against the 2018 order. "We've created a lot of anger in cities and states across this country who want to play a role in figuring out what the future of their infrastructure looks like." Former Lagos State Deputy Governor, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu has commended the president of United States, Donald Trump, for extending his visa restriction policy to Nigeria. KanyiDaily had reported that President Trump is planning to add seven countries to its travel ban list in order to restricts the flow of immigrants and visitors into the US. The affected countries included Nigeria, Sudan, Tanzania and Eritrea from Africa while Kyrgyzstan and Belarus from Eastern Europe and Myanmar from Asia. Reacting to the US visa restriction, Ojikutu said Nigerians would now learn to sit at home to develop and invest in their country rather than junketing around the world, searching for greener pastures. Ojituku stated this on Tuesday at a town hall meeting organised by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in collaboration with UKAid to sensitise and encourage citizens to participate in and embrace the war against corruption. Nigeria is a great country; we have no other place to go to. I have lived in England, lived in America. Those are the greatest nations but I was a stranger there. When I come to Nigeria, Im a queen; Im a princess. So, we should build our country such that people will love to stay here and not exit, she said. If we dont build our country, we are in trouble and its getting to that. And Im very happy with this President Trump on one issue; this issue of stay back home and make your home homely. Why are you coming to where we have made homely? And then, you not only come to where we have made homely, you also come to spoil it for us. The kind of things we buy in their shops, they always wonder where we get that kind of money from. Now, Trump is telling you, whatever you have stolen use it in your country. She equally commended the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, for blocking all the channels through which people use to steal public funds. Ojikutu said that to end corruption in Nigeria, the fight must start from the homes where parents negatively influence their children who then grow to hold public offices. We must start from the source; from the mother and the father, who need to make ends meet and are doing things that are not right in the presence of their children. These are the children who become policemen, judges, governors, legislators because right from home, they were shown that nothing is wrong in stealing, she noted. ALSO READ: Presidency Reacts To Planned Visa Restrictions On Nigerians By US President, Donald Trump The Thai woman hosted an Australia Day barbecue (pictured) two days before she was allegedly stabbed to death by her stepson A dispute over music may have sparked the alleged murder of a woman at the hands of her 16-year-old stepson. The 42-year-old Thai national was found in her home in Woolooware, south Sydney, at about 1.30am on Wednesday suffering multiple stab wounds to her back. A fight erupted when the boy asked his stepmother to turn her music down, before he allegedly pulled a knife and stabbed her to death, Seven News reported. The woman is understood to have a history of domestic violence and once pulled a knife on the boy's father, the network reported. The former aged care worker, who also did shifts in a bakery, was treated at the scene before being taken to St George Hospital in a critical condition where she died shortly after. Police arrested the teenager at the home and on Wednesday afternoon he was charged with murder. He faced a children's court on Wednesday and did not apply for bail. He will reappear in March. The 16-year-old (pictured) is alleged to have stabbed his stepmum A neighbour who gave his name as Louie said he heard loud arguments coming from the house nearly every weekend. 'I knew there were big problems with that house, but I never expected this,' he told Daily Mail Australia. Louie said the arguments had been going on for months if not longer. He said the house often hosted gatherings with loud music and many people showing up. Neighbour and family friend Payton Wilson, 23, said she and her boyfriend were awoken by screaming early in the morning. The former aged care worker (pictured), who also did shifts in a bakery, was treated at the scene before being taken to St George Hospital in a critical condition where she died shortly after 'I heard 20 or 30 seconds of screaming, high pitched, obviously a woman. She sounded like she was in a lot of pain. Then there was silence,' she said. 'There's a lot of yelling that comes from that house so I didn't think twice, I had no idea that was what was going down so we just went back to sleep and didn't do anything. 'Then I woke up this morning... it's just horrible.' Ms Wilson said the woman's partner, who was in the house during the alleged stabbing, had frequent loud arguments. 'They have arguments all the time, they get drunk and yell at each other, never when sober. They loved each other it was just a turbulent relationship,' she said. Ms Wilson said though the teenager was a stepson, they appeared as mother and son. 'She was so cute. They looked like mum and son,' she said. 'They were just a normal family, really nice. They got along with each other. So it's a massive shock. 'He was always up playing Xbox, he was very quiet. He's such a nice kid.' Ms Wilson said the victim worked at a bakery and vegetable shop and previously in aged care, and her partner sold truck parts. On Wednesday morning forensic officers poured over the scene as the murder probe continued Another neighbour said he also had to deal with the noise and that just after midnight on Wednesday he heard a 'scream'. On Wednesday morning forensic officers poured over the scene as the investigation continued. Her friend Em Levy said she was with the victim and her partner at their home for Australia Day and everything seemed fine. 'They were very happy, she was such a happy lady. I'm so shocked I can't believe it, I just saw her on Sunday,' she said through tears. '[Her stepson] is a very nice boy, very quiet. 'She has no family here, they are all in Thailand and her sister lives in Sweden.' Friends said the woman had been with the boy's father for at least 10 years and they had all lived in the same home for that time. Another friend said she often met with the victim and other Thai women for lunches and dinners. 'We are very sad, she was a very good person. Everyone loved her, everyone,' she said. 'We are so confused, they were such a nice family.' The new novel American Dirt, by Jeanine Cummins, is beautifully packaged and clearly destined for commercial success. Its back cover features breathless blurbs from some of Americas most popular and acclaimed novelists, including Stephen King, John Grisham, Sandra Cisneros, and Ann Patchett. Its front, in blue and white with an artful barbed wire motif, includes the most coveted seal of approval in contemporary American publishing: Its a pick of Oprah Winfreys book club. But American Dirt has been poorly received by many Latino writers and readers. And Tony Diaz, a Houston-based poet, professor and activist, thinks its notable that this novel is receiving the royal treatment, as he put it Monday. In his estimation, the book is poorly written, riddled with cliches and clumsy translations and, ultimately, an affront to the people its intended to help and its telling that no one flagged these problems before it was published. This appeals to the stereotypes for people that only know about the Mexican experience or the immigrant experience or the Hispanic experience from the news, Diaz said. We were at his home on a quiet street in northwest Houston, between the warehouse where a mercury spill was discovered in December and the manufacturing business where an explosion killed two people last week. Diaz told me that he had been awakened by the blast but figured it was lightning, and went back to sleep. He was still reeling, however, from American Dirt, which seemed tantamount to an assault on his reason as well as his aesthetic sensibilities. He contrasted American Dirt to James Micheners Mexico a similarly schlocky piece of work, in his assessment, but one that was published only after its author became famous and that made no pretenses to being fine literature, or politically relevant. At the same moment when Donald Trump is vilifying our community for votes, now its clear that the publishing industry is exploiting our people for a buck, Diaz said. He was, to that end, organizing a protest against a planned Feb. 3 appearance by Cummins at West Houstons Blue Willow Bookshop, to promote American Dirt. The novel, which was acquired for a reported seven-figure advance, tells the story of a woman, Lydia Quixano Perez, who owns a bookstore in Acapulco but is forced to flee her home along with her 8-year-old son Luca after 16 of their relatives are slaughtered by cartel members at a quinceanera. The casualties include Lydias mother and her journalist husband, who elicited the ire of the cartels chief by publishing an expose about his murderous career. Adding insult to injury is that the cartel chief had been a devoted patron of Lydias bookstore and she had, before learning about his day job, come to consider him a friend. Lydia and Luca fight to make their way north, hoping to find safety with an uncle who lives in Denver. The journey, needless to say, is an arduous one. And in an authors note, Cummins explains that she was drawn to the subject partly out of personal interest in characters who suffer inconceivable hardship, who manage to triumph over extraordinary trauma. But Cummins was also, she writes, frustrated by the tenor of our national discourse over immigration during the era of President Donald Trump. And American Dirt is unlikely to move the needle on that front, critics say. The backlash began with an essay by the Californian writer Myriam Gurba, who explained that she had been approached by an editor at a feminist magazine subsequently identified as Ms. to review the book. The project, Gurba explains, got off to a bad start after she read a gushing letter from the publisher explaining that Cummins wanted to give these people meaning, migrants at the Mexican border a face. The phrase these people pissed me off so bad my blood became carbonated, Gurba writes. The review Gurba submitted to Ms. described American Dirt as a perfect read for your local self-righteous gringa book club, among other things. It was killed by the editor, Gurba explained in the essay, after she refused to soften her criticism. Cummins identified the gringo appetite for Mexican pain and found a way to exploit it. With her ambition in place, she shoved the faceless out of her way, ran for the microphone and ripped it out of our hands, deciding that her incompetent voice merited amplification, Gurba concludes. A number of Latino writers and readers have since seconded Gurbas concerns about the novels white gaze, among other things. The controversy American Dirt might seem to be about identity Cummins identified as white until recently, although she notes that she is partly of Puerto Rican descent but its really about experience, expertise, opportunity and intended audience. These objections have been noted by the novels promoters. Oprah has announced that she will host a deeper, more substantive discussion of American Dirt, which will incorporate the perspectives of the books critics. The Mexican-born actress Salma Hayek, who endorsed the book in an Instagram post, apologized for having done so without reading it. And on Tuesday Valerie Koehler, who co-owns Blue Willow Bookshop along with her husband, told me that she had decided to rescind the invitation to Cummins. She had found the book moving in parts, she said especially in its depiction of Lydias fierce and protective love for her son and thought that it would provoke a meaningful conversation. But she also understood why American Dirt has elicited so much controversy, from members of the west Houston community. Were in a place where it has become personal, Koehler told me. Were not remote from the topics in this story. We read about them everyday. Diaz had warned me that I would lose IQ points, from reading American Dirt, and the jurys still out on that. I picked up American Dirt Tuesday morning, from a showcase display at the Barnes & Noble in River Oaks, where a clerk told me its been selling briskly since its release last week. From the first few chapters, though, I think its fair to say that the book suffers from a lack of cultural fluency, if nothing else and a similar deficit why the backlash to American Dirt seems to have caught its advocates, including no less than Oprah, by surprise. Its nice that Americans who work in the publishing industry are keen to promote a novel about Mexicans, and immigrants, and the immigrant experience. But the topics in American Dirt are not remote, for many Americans. erica.grieder@chron.com EDWARDSBURGH, Ontario, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Purplefarm Genetics Inc. ("Purplefarm Genetics"), a privately-held cannabis company, is pleased to announce a partnership agreement with WTTEC Systems Inc. (WTTEC) to adopt patented, next-generation waste disposal technologies in its facility, the first of its kind in Canada. We are truly excited about partnering with WTTEC, a company with the ability to reinvent the way the cannabis industry approaches its environmental impact, said Jonah Clifford, Director at Purplefarm Genetics. As the cannabis market in Canada matures, we can clearly see the need for innovative solutions to environmental problems within cannabis operations. Environmental stewardship in cannabis can no longer be optional, it is an ethical obligation. The amount of landfill waste the cannabis industry produces is exorbitant and unsustainable. There is a clear need to develop better solutions, said Jacob Brown, President of WTTEC. We are proud to be implementing, in partnership with Purplefarm Genetics, the first cannabis waste disposal system in Canada that effectively and cleanly eliminates all organic and non-organic waste which in turn, diverts 100% of all materials from landfills. WTTECs patented technology converts cannabis waste into biochar, while scrubbing particle emissions through a two-stage process. This process sequesters carbon while producing a rich bioproduct that is able to be reintroduced to cultivation processes, closing the loop. This process is compliant with Health Canadas regulations requiring cannabis to be denatured. The technology will significantly reduce costs of disposal and streamline operations. The technology is environmentally conscious and does not utilise water, chemical or biological treatment in its process. For more information about Purplefarm Genetics, visit their website at: www.purplefarmgenetics.com . Highlights Realme C3 could make a debut tomorrow in India. Realme C3s also likely to launch alongside. Both smartphones will be targeted at the entry-level users. Realme C3, C3s likely to launch in India tomorrow: What to expect? Realme CEO Madhav Sheth has begun teasing a new smartphone that will join the company's budget C series. The company is preparing to launch the successor of last year's Realme C2, called the Realme C3. Realme C3 has been doing the rounds on the internet in the form of leaks, including the device's certification in different countries. Besides, Realme could also launch an even cheaper variant called the Realme C3s alongside. On his Twitter feed, Sheth said that Realme's C series now has 10.2 million users across the globe and that it has been highly successful in disrupting the entry-level segment. He added that Realme will bring more to the C series tomorrow, which means Thursday, January 30. While the teaser by Sheth tells us the timeline for the launch of Realme C3, its specifications and pricing remain unknown. Realme C3 was spotted recently on the certification website of Singapore with a model number RMX1941. The listing on the website does not spill the beans on what the smartphone is going to pack inside. The looks of the Realme C3 are also not available. Separately, Realme is also allegedly planning to launch another device in the C series. Realme has got a device with model number RMX2020 certified in Thailand and the US. It is being speculated that this device could be Realme C3s. A little information is available for the Realme C3s, unlike the Realme C3. The smartphone is said to come with a fingerprint sensor at the back and could have more than one rear camera. Realme C3s is expected to come with Android 10 with the company's own skin on top. There will be standard connectivity options such as 4G VoLTE and the 2.4GHz band for Wi-Fi connections. Anyway, both smartphones will fall under the entry-level segment that starts at around Rs 5,000 in India. Entry-level or budget smartphones have shown steady growth over the years, as indicated in quarterly surveys from IDC. The category also sees brands such as Xiaomi, Samsung, and Nokia. Interestingly, HMD Global is reported to launch the successor in the Nokia 1 series. Samsung is also likely to expand its Galaxy M series this year, given the series has returned positive response. The US Senate on Wednesday will begin up to two days of questioning the prosecution and defense in President Donald Trump's impeachment trial ahead of a crucial vote later in the week on whether to call witnesses. The questions, which will alternate between Republican and Democratic senators, will be submitted in writing and read aloud by US Chief Justice John Roberts, who is presiding over the trial to determine if Trump should be removed from office. The questions can be directed at either the Democratic House prosecutors or Trump's legal team, and will take up to eight hours a day over Wednesday and Thursday. There is no time limit on the answers, which cannot be challenged by senators, Senate aides said. The questions follow the conclusion of three days of opening arguments by each side in the trial on charges Trump abused his office by pressuring Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden, a Democratic presidential contender, and impeded a congressional probe of the matter. Once the questioning wraps up, the Senate is expected to turn on Friday to a debate and vote on whether to call witnesses in the trial. The Republican president, who has denied wrongdoing and denounced the impeachment process as a sham, is expected to be acquitted in the Senate, where a two-thirds vote is required to convict and remove a president from office. No Republican has voiced support for his ouster. Democrats have pushed for witnesses including former national security adviser John Bolton, whose explosive allegations in an unpublished book manuscript about Trump's actions have increased pressure on wavering Republican senators to back witness testimony. "A fair trial involves witnesses and it involves documents," Representative Adam Schiff, the lead Democratic prosecutor in the case, told reporters. Republican senators met behind closed doors after Tuesday's trial session to discuss calling witnesses, but said as they emerged there was no resolution on the matter. Four Republicans would need to vote for witnesses, along with all 47 Democrats and independents. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told senators in the meeting that he did not currently have the votes to block Democrats from calling witnesses at the trial because some Republicans remained uncommitted, several media outlets reported. Republican Senator Kevin Cramer, a conservative defender of Trump who opposes witnesses, told reporters afterward that Republicans were "mostly united" against witnesses, but added: "I'm pretty sure it's not unanimous. But I don't know what the numbers are." OPENING ARGUMENTS OVER Trump said on Twitter on Tuesday night that "no matter how many witnesses you give the Democrats, no matter how much information is given," they will never be satisfied. "They will always scream UNFAIR." The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives impeached Trump in December on two charges in the Ukraine matter, setting the stage for the trial in the Republican-led Senate on whether to remove him from office. It is the third Senate presidential impeachment trial in US history. Trump's legal team wrapped up its opening arguments on Tuesday, calling for a quick acquittal of the president and accusing Democrats of trying to poison Trump's re-election bid in November and overturn the 2016 election. "It is time for this to end, here and now," White House Counsel Pat Cipollone told the Senate. Trump's legal team also sought to minimize the importance of Bolton's allegations about Trump's central role in the Ukraine pressure campaign, which directly contradict Trump's account of events. Bolton wrote that the president told him he wanted to freeze $391 million in security aid to Ukraine until Kiev pursued investigations into Democrats, including Biden and his son Hunter Biden, the New York Times reported. Trump has denied telling Bolton he sought to use the Ukraine aid as leverage to get Kiev to investigate the Bidens. (@FahadShabbir) Moldovan President Igor Dodon asked EU countries on Wednesday not to support political parties in his country that bill themselves as pro-European CHISINAU (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 29th January, 2020) Moldovan President Igor Dodon asked EU countries on Wednesday not to support political parties in his country that bill themselves as pro-European. In an address to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the president said that some Moldovan parties had blocked the country's progress by splitting it up along political lines to gain voters. "I would very much like the European institutions not to give blank checks to any political party in the Republic of Moldova ... I assure you that in this way the citizens will be able to appreciate at fair value the important support provided by EU countries," he said. Moldova wants to follow a European course and stay true to democratic values, while being on friendly terms with East and West, he said. This balanced foreign policy would prevent Moldova from being labeled as "pro-Russian, pro-European, pro-American, or pro-Romanian." Amazon has started restricting employee travel to China as the coronavirus continues to spread, a spokesperson confirmed to CNBC. "We place tremendous value and focus on the well-being and safety of our employees," an Amazon spokesperson said. "Out of an abundance of caution, we are restricting business travel to and from China until further notice and encouraging our employees to follow the health and safety guidelines provided by international health agencies such as the CDC and WHO." Amazon said it's banning all non-essential travel to the country, but if employees must travel to China, they have to receive approval first. The company also recommended that employees who are or expect to travel back from one of the affected provinces of China to work from home for two weeks. If they start to experience symptoms, Amazon has urged employees to seek medical attention before returning to the office. The company does not have offices in Wuhan, China, where the majority of coronavirus cases have been reported. But it does operate offices in other areas of the country, including Beijing, Shenzen, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Amazon's cloud-computing, retail and device divisions are among its businesses that have teams in the country. Amazon joins a growing list of U.S. technology companies that have limited work in China due to the coronavirus outbreak. Microsoft, Facebook, Google and Apple have all announced similar moves, while other companies including Disney, McDonald's, Starbucks and Ford Motor have either suspended operations or instituted travel restrictions there. More than 100 people have died from the disease, while total confirmed cases have risen to more than 6,000. The majority of confirmed cases are in China, but within the last week, five cases have been confirmed in the U.S. (Natural News) According to the mainstream media, about 4,500 people have contracted coronavirus (2019-nCoV) thus far, and another 100 have died. But these are just the official numbers, which one nurse says grossly underrepresent the actual number of cases, which is closer to 90,000. In a video she posted online, this nurse stated that in the Hubei Province where Wuhan is located, nearly 100,000 people have contracted coronavirus a figure nearly 22 times higher than what the communist Chinese government is claiming. A second nurse put up a similar video both videos are available for viewing at The Gateway Pundit that, while unconfirmed, corroborates the claims made by the first nurse. Responding to these claims, a Chinese publication known as Renwu published a report blaming shortages and bureaucracy for the disparity in numbers between what the government is saying and what these nurses are saying. Meanwhile, video footage continues to emerge showing people collapsing in the streets and panicking at empty grocery stores in China as coronavirus ravages the communist nation. Provinces are being locked down, roads are blocked with berms and large concrete blocks, travel being restricted and pop-up hospitals are being constructed, writes Kristinn Taylor for The Gateway Pundit. One such hospital pop-up began construction on January 23, and once completed will have 25,000 square meters of space and 1,000 beds. This hospital is expected to be in operation by February 3. Over in Wuhan, government officials have reportedly banned all private vehicles from entering the urban core. To keep up with the latest coronavirus news, be sure to check out Outbreak.news. Is the communist Chinese government intentionally withholding coronavirus testing kits from medical personnel to lie about infection numbers? As for the official infection and death numbers, reports are emerging to suggest that the communist Chinese government is keeping a lid on the truth by limiting the supply of diagnostic testing kits. According to The Epoch Times, these diagnostic kits are only being provided to certain qualifying hospitals, and in quantities that are inadequate for the number of patients being admitted. Medical personnel at these hospitals have said that the number of kits they are supplied is less than 10 percent of what they need to test patients, this report explains. Researchers from The University of Hong Kong (HKU) have come to a similar conclusion, estimating that at least 44,000 people are already infected with coronavirus. Here in the United States, the official number of coronavirus cases remains relatively low, but is increasing by the day. Thus far, there are five confirmed cases, according to the government: one in Washington state, one in Arizona, one in Illinois, and two in California. As of January 28, however, the mainstream media is reporting that the number of coronavirus cases more than doubled overnight, jumping 60 percent. The U.S. has since expanded its screening protocols for travelers coming from Wuhan into 20 different ports of entry, up from five previously. Right now, there is no spread of this virus in our communities at home, stated Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during a recent press briefing. The coming days and weeks are likely to bring more cases including the possibility of person-to-person spread, he added. Our goal is to contain this virus and prevent sustained spread of the virus in our country. As of this writing, the World Health Organization (WHO) still hasnt declared the coronavirus outbreak to be a global pandemic, but that could change in the coming days. To learn more about how to protect yourself against coronavirus and other deadly viruses, be sure to check out NaturalCures.news. Sources for this article include: TheDenverChannel.com TheGatewayPundit.com YouTu.be NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com NBCNews.com NYTimes.com NASA's Parker Solar Probe took one step closer to the sun Wednesday (Jan. 29) when it executed its fourth flyby of our star. This is the first such maneuver, called a perihelion, that the spacecraft has completed since swinging past Venus in December , a move that shrank the probe's orbit. That so-called gravity assist means Parker Solar Probe broke its own record today for the closest a spacecraft has come to the sun, as the probe will continue to do repeatedly over the course of its seven-year mission. At about 4:30 a.m. EST (0930 GMT), Parker Solar Probe's trajectory carried the spacecraft within about 11.6 million miles (18.6 million kilometers) of the sun, more than 3 million miles (5 million km) closer than previous flybys. Before Parker Solar Probe's launch, no spacecraft had come within 26.5 million miles (43 million kilometers) of the sun, a record set by the Helios 2 mission in 1976. Related: Hello, Venus! Parker Solar Probe Makes Second Planetary Flyby. Parker Solar Probe won't have competition for its records anytime soon. But it will have some company in its work studying our star. The European Space Agency and NASA's joint mission to the sun, dubbed Solar Orbiter , is currently scheduled to launch on Feb. 7. Augmenting the observations Parker Solar Probe is taking, Solar Orbiter will study the poles of the sun, which are out of view of the NASA probe. Solar Orbiter carries more instruments than Parker Solar Probe does, but the two spacecraft share a few tools, so scientists will be able to easily compare the data the probes gather from different locations around the sun. Related: NASA's Parker Solar Probe Mission to the Sun in Pictures In particular, scientists want to better understand why the sun's outer atmosphere is so much hotter than the star's visible surface and how the solar wind material that streams off the sun reaches such high speeds. If all goes well with the Solar Orbiter launch next month , some of that probe's instruments will be turned on by the time Parker Solar Probe makes its next perihelion, on June 7. Parker Solar Probe is making a series of 24 close flybys of the sun through 2025 in order to help scientists understand how the sun works. The first three flybys, conducted in 2018 and 2019, already introduced solar scientists to newfound phenomena . In a first batch of scientific papers from the mission, published in December 2019, researchers started pinning down new ideas about the solar wind. Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook . Legendary fund manager Li Lu (who Charlie Munger backed) once said, 'The biggest investment risk is not the volatility of prices, but whether you will suffer a permanent loss of capital. It's only natural to consider a company's balance sheet when you examine how risky it is, since debt is often involved when a business collapses. We note that Luks Group (Vietnam Holdings) Company Limited (HKG:366) does have debt on its balance sheet. But should shareholders be worried about its use of debt? When Is Debt A Problem? 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. However, a more frequent (but still costly) occurrence is where a company must issue shares at bargain-basement prices, permanently diluting shareholders, just to shore up its balance sheet. Having said that, the most common situation is where a company manages its debt reasonably well - and to its own advantage. When we think about a company's use of debt, we first look at cash and debt together. View our latest analysis for Luks Group (Vietnam Holdings) How Much Debt Does Luks Group (Vietnam Holdings) Carry? The image below, which you can click on for greater detail, shows that at June 2019 Luks Group (Vietnam Holdings) had debt of HK$80.0m, up from HK$76.5 in one year. But it also has HK$395.4m in cash to offset that, meaning it has HK$315.4m net cash. SEHK:366 Historical Debt, January 29th 2020 How Strong Is Luks Group (Vietnam Holdings)'s Balance Sheet? Zooming in on the latest balance sheet data, we can see that Luks Group (Vietnam Holdings) had liabilities of HK$232.7m due within 12 months and liabilities of HK$229.5m due beyond that. Offsetting this, it had HK$395.4m in cash and HK$64.1m in receivables that were due within 12 months. So these liquid assets roughly match the total liabilities. Story continues Having regard to Luks Group (Vietnam Holdings)'s size, it seems that its liquid assets are well balanced with its total liabilities. So while it's hard to imagine that the HK$768.1m company is struggling for cash, we still think it's worth monitoring its balance sheet. Despite its noteworthy liabilities, Luks Group (Vietnam Holdings) boasts net cash, so it's fair to say it does not have a heavy debt load! In addition to that, we're happy to report that Luks Group (Vietnam Holdings) has boosted its EBIT by 39%, thus reducing the spectre of future debt repayments. There's no doubt that we learn most about debt from the balance sheet. But you can't view debt in total isolation; since Luks Group (Vietnam Holdings) will need earnings to service that debt. So if you're keen to discover more about its earnings, it might be worth checking out this graph of its long term earnings trend. Finally, a business needs free cash flow to pay off debt; accounting profits just don't cut it. While Luks Group (Vietnam Holdings) has net cash on its balance sheet, it's still worth taking a look at its ability to convert earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to free cash flow, to help us understand how quickly it is building (or eroding) that cash balance. Over the last three years, Luks Group (Vietnam Holdings) recorded free cash flow worth a fulsome 95% of its EBIT, which is stronger than we'd usually expect. That positions it well to pay down debt if desirable to do so. Summing up While it is always sensible to look at a company's total liabilities, it is very reassuring that Luks Group (Vietnam Holdings) has HK$315.4m in net cash. And it impressed us with free cash flow of HK$214m, being 95% of its EBIT. So is Luks Group (Vietnam Holdings)'s debt a risk? It doesn't seem so to us. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. But ultimately, every company can contain risks that exist outside of the balance sheet. To that end, you should be aware of the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Luks Group (Vietnam Holdings) . Of course, if you're the type of investor who prefers buying stocks without the burden of debt, then don't hesitate to discover our exclusive list of net cash growth stocks, today. 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. WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Murray Energy Corp. may have filed for bankruptcy, but the coal companys political action committee is still banking on President Donald Trump. New filings at the Federal Election Commission show the PAC for the Ohio-based company that declared bankruptcy in October donated $160,000 in July to a Trump Victory fund dedicated to the re-election of a president who campaigned on bringing back the coal industry. The companys chairman, Robert Murray, hailed Trumps election as a great day for coal miners and their families and for all Americans who depend on reliable, low-cost electricity, which coal provides." Soon after Trump took office, Murray presented him with a list of policy requests. Trump acted on several of them, including pulling out of the Paris Climate Accord, repealing a Clean Power Plan implemented by the Obama Administration, and cutting staff at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. President Trump is supporting Americas uncompromising values, saving coal jobs, and promoting low-cost, reliable electricity for Americans and the rest of the world, said a statement Murray issued when Trump announced withdrawal from the Paris agreement. But the Trump administrations actions werent enough to halt a downturn in the U.S. coal industry, as coal exports slowed and lower cost natural gas, wind and solar power increasingly replaced coal as an electrical production source. Murray Energy declared bankruptcy in October. But the companys ailing fortunes didnt stop its political action committee from collecting in excess of $140,000 from more than 200 employees through biweekly payroll deductions during the second half of 2019 and giving the money to politicians whose policies favor the coal industry. Others who received money from Murray Energys PAC include the Republican Governors Association and a Republican Super PAC called Kentucky Tomorrow, which each got $50,000, the Republican Party of Kentucky, which got $10,000, and a political committee for former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, which got $6,000. Tallies by the Center for Responsive Politics indicate that Trumps 2016 campaign took in $240,000 from employees or PACs of coal companies, more than double the $104,000 that was received by the second-highest presidential aspirant, Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. Murray Energy employees donated almost $103,000 to Trumps 2016 campaign, the campaign finance watchdog organization says. Given that virtually all Democrats support the elimination of coal mining in the United States, and the thousands of jobs the industry provides, and that Hillary Clinton publicly stated that she was gonna put a lot of coal miners and coal companies outta business, Murray Energy Corporation had no choice but to support those politicians who have vowed to protect and defend the United States coal industry, said a statement the company sent to the Center for Responsive Politics OpenSecrets Blog. Read more coverage: Democrats including Rep. Marcia Fudge back lawsuit to fight food stamp cuts Retired carpenter challenges Rep. Dave Joyce in GOP primary New Trump administration water plan draws strong reaction from both sides of the issue Rep. Tim Ryan is hitting the presidential campaign trail for Joe Biden Trump public charge immigration rule would codify discrimination, says Rep. Marcia Fudge 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 Israeli prime minister did not mention the proposed Palestinian state in his speech but commended Trumps efforts in working towards peace. Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described US President Donald Trumps Middle East plan as a realistic path to durable peace. The timing of the Middle East plan, just before a third Israeli election in less than a year, is seen as a boost for Netanyahus campaign. But its effects could start being felt in the occupied West Bank well before the March 2 polls. Netanyahu said he agreed to negotiate with the Palestinians because the plan struck a balance between the sides. Al Jazeeras Harry Fawcett reports from West Jerusalem. Getting online quotes will help you find affordable coverage. Check our website for more car insurance tips, said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. Drivers all across the United States have to assume financial responsibility when driving a car. All states, except New Hampshire, require drivers to get car insurance. 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This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. For more information, please visit http://compare-autoinsurance.org. NASA's next great space observatory, the much-delayed James Webb Space Telescope, just got a scathing report card from a government watchdog agency that finds the mission has only a 12% chance of launching on schedule in March 2021 . The document, released yesterday (Jan. 28) by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), is the eighth in an annual series on NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. In this year's installment, the GAO finds that the padding in the project's schedule is in perilously short supply, and that the launch could slip to July 2021. The massive, complex observatory has faced countless budget and schedule overruns: All told, NASA has spent about $9.7 billion on the project , which has been delayed by more than six years in the past decade. That's in stark contrast to estimates for the project when it was approved, when it was meant to cost $1 billion to $3.5 billion and launch sometime between 2007 and 2011, according to the GAO report. Related: What's the Point of the James Webb Space Telescope? The new report is based on a host of documents and interviews relating to the JWST project and was reviewed by NASA personnel before publication, according to the document. Its publication comes just weeks after NASA's director of astrophysics assured a gathering of thousands of astronomers that the project was on track for a March 2021 launch. A key concern for the GAO in the new report is the project's schedule reserve, which is the padding time built into a development timeline to absorb unexpected delays. According to their findings, two issues with the telescope's communication system discovered in March and April 2019 ate up a concerning portion of the project's schedule reserve. Those delays have pushed the James Webb Space Telescope below the level of schedule reserve that NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center requires of its projects, according to the GAO. As a result, the auditors wrote, the JWST team reported in October 2019 that it has just a 12% confidence level it can launch the observatory in March 2021. That's far below the 70% threshold that NASA bases its schedules on. To meet that threshold would require a July 2021 launch. "The project does not currently intend to change the launch readiness date in response to this analysis alone," the GAO report read, "but plans to assess the feasibility of the launch readiness date again in spring 2020 after significant technical tasks are completed." The report also notes that NASA is monitoring 50 different risks for the project , three of which are new for this iteration of the report. NASA believes nearly half of those have been addressed and are under control, but wants to be sure. Despite the grim details included in the report, the GAO does not include any new recommendations for NASA to address and noted that the agency has worked with contractor Northrop Grumman keep the project on track. The full report is available on the GAO website. (Alliance News) - The European Parliament has set the seal on Britain's departure from the EU, voting overwhelmingly to back Boris Johnson's Brexit deal. MEPs, sitting in Brussels, voted by 621 to 49 in favour of the Withdrawal Agreement, paving the way for Britain to leave on Friday with a deal in place. There were emotional scenes in the parliament as the result was announced with MEPs linking hands to sing a final chorus of Auld Lang Syne. In contrast, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage was greeted by cheers and the waving of Union flags by his party's MEPs as he declared Britain was "never coming back". Their triumphal display drew a rebuke from the chair. For most MEPs, who have long wanted Britain to stay, it was a moment of deep regret. Addressing the parliament, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she was determined the EU and the UK should remain "good friends and good partners". She quoted the poet George Eliot, saying: "Only in the agony of parting do we look into the depth of love." She added: "We will always love you and we will never be far, long live Europe." The parliament's Brexit co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadt said the departure of a country which had "twice given its blood to liberate Europe" was a "sad" moment. He predicted, however, that the UK would eventually rejoin, with many British people deeply unhappy at the prospect of leaving. "In the last couple of days I have received hundreds of mails from British citizens saying they desperately want to stay or return," he said. "So this vote is not an adieu, this vote, in my opinion, is only an au revoir." He poured scorn on claims by supporters of Brexit that it would mean Britain recovering its sovereignty. "What is in fact threatening Britain's sovereignty most a the rules of our single market or the fact that tomorrow they may be planting Chinese 5G masts in the British islands?" he said. However in his final speech to the parliament, Farage insisted there could be no turning back once Britain was out. "This is it, the final chapter, the end of the road, a 47-year political experiment that the British frankly have never been very happy with," he said. The Brexit Party leader said he hoped Britain's departure would start a debate across the rest of Europe about the EU's future. "I'm hoping this begins the end of this project. It's a bad project, it isn't just undemocratic, it's anti-democratic." The vote in Brussels follows the completion last week of the passage of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill through the British Parliament at Westminster. The agreement settles the terms of Britain's departure, including future citizens' rights, the arrangements on the Northern Ireland border and the UK's divorce settlement. It also allows for an 11-month transition period, during which the UK will continue to follow EU rules while talks take place on a free trade agreement. Johnson has said he wants a comprehensive deal a covering all aspects of Britain's future relationship with the EU, including security a by the end of the year. He has been adamant that he will not contemplate any extension of the transition period beyond the end of 2020. However, senior EU figures have repeatedly warned that reaching such a wide-ranging agreement will not be possible within such a tight timetable. By Gavin Cordon, PA Whitehall Editor source: PA Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. YouTuber Onision (born Gregory James Daniel and also known as James Jackson), who has been active on the platform for a decade, has been a controversial figure for much of that time. From questionable comments about young girls bodies as part of a series on body image to eyebrow-raising polyamorous relationships with young women and his husband, Kai Avaroe (a trans man originally known as Laineybot who later identified as nonbinary and finally as male), Onision has sparked backlash for many years now. Most recently, investigative journalist Chris Hansen, formerly of NBC Datelines To Catch a Predator, has been interviewing a series of Onisions alleged victims on his YouTube channel, Have a Seat With Chris Hansen. Onision has since been banned from Patreon and Twitch, but remains active on YouTube. In response to Hansens series, as well as commentary by fellow YouTuber Repzion, about the allegations, Onision announced he would be seeking civil action against both men for alleged harassment. They, along with other content creators on YouTube, discussed a leaked police report from Sept. 2020 that revealed Onisions and Kais young daughter had fallen out of a window and sustained serious injuries. Onision called 911 on Hansen for arriving at his house with a camera crew, asking to hear his side of the story. But at Onisions court date at Pierce County District Court in Washington state on Jan. 24, the case for an order of protection from harassment was summarily dismissedby the YouTuber himself. Chris Hansen | Brad Barket/Getty Images Hansen has been interviewing alleged victims of Onision on his YouTube series Have a Seat With Chris Hansen For the past several months, Hansen has been interviewing Onisions alleged victims on his YouTube channel. A young girl named Sarah, who was under Kais and Onisions legal guardianship temporarily when she was underage, claimed both adults groomed her as a minor and slept with her as soon as she came of age. Meanwhile, Canadian pop artist Shiloh Hoganson, who now goes by the stage name Lyldoll, claimed Onision abused her while they dated, having met her online when she was still a minor and slept with her as soon as she turned the legal age in her state. Over the course of their relationship, she claimed Onision filmed her having seizures instead of seeking medical attention, in addition to shaving her head without consent. Several other alleged victims, including YouTuber Billie Dawn Webb, claimed Kai exchanged and solicited explicit pictures with them when they were under the legal age of consent. Onision served the wrong Chris Hansen At his Jan. 24 court date, there was an immediate problem with Hansens appearance, according to exclusive court audio from Hansens lawyer Mike Morse. Onision hadnt served the right Chris Hansen at all. You must have proper service of process, Morse said in a video about the case. And in this case, James Jackson served the wrong Chris Hansen in Connecticut. The Hansen who was served wrote a response to the judge, which read in part, I have nothing to do with this very public case and do not know the petitioner or the intended respondentI am not Chris Hansen from To Catch a Predator. Given that Im not the intended recipient of this complaint, there shouldnt be a case against me. As such, Hansen didnt have to appear in court, as he was never properly served. The YouTuber dismissed his own complaint against both Hansen and Repzion While Hansen wasnt officially served, YouTuber Repzion was, leading fans to flock to the courtroom to pack the seats. Still, though, Onision dismissed his own request for an order of protection against the YouTube commentator, saying his attorney had advised otherwise. When the police officer gave me advice, he suggested I take the avenue of petitioning for an anti-harassment order, Onision told the judge. I followed his advice, and when I consulted legal feedbackthey indicated that there are different options that would be more effective. And so I decided it would be best if I withdrew from this and moved forward with other [avenues.] Im interpreting your statement here to mean that youre asking for a dismissal? the judge asked. I am, Your Honor, Onision responded. The court date might be over, but the battle between Onision and other YouTube content creators likely isnt. While Onision and Kai havent taken any further legal action yet, theyve promised to do so on social media. INIT is a world market leader for Intelligent Transportation Systems in public transportation. With a credo of being the most innovative, reliable and sustainable supplier, INIT is the only worldwide supplier that covers the complete range of tasks that public transport companies face to provide their service. 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We expect our customers to improve efficiencies, enhance customer experience, and increase productivity. About Mize Mize enables companies to optimize key post-sale customer interaction events, such as product registration, warranty, service plans, parts, support, service, and maintenance, to increase customer satisfaction and retention. Mize Connected Customer Experience Platform and Smart Blox elevate customer experience and engagement with customers, build knowledge about customers and products, and increase revenue from the existing customer install base. Mize harnesses the web, mobile, cloud, IoT, and analytics technologies to maximize customer lifetime value. To learn more about the Mize visit www.m-ize.com About INIT Innovations in Transportation Since 1983, INIT has evolved from a university spin-off to the world market leader for ITS solutions in public transportation. Everything we do is based on our credo to be the most innovative, reliable and sustainable supplier. Our roots are in Karlsruhe, Germany. But we are at home all over the world with more than 20 subsidiaries and offices around the globe. As a worldwide leading supplier of integrated ITS and ticketing systems for buses, light rail, and trains, INIT has been assisting companies in making public transit more attractive, faster, and more efficient for more than 30 years. To learn more about INIT visit www.initusa.com. SOURCE Mize Related Links http://www.m-ize.com Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal Albuquerque tech company Lavu Inc. has tapped a new, homegrown human resources professional as its general manager and HR director, amid controversy over its employment levels. Albuquerque resident Jacquelyn Turcich, who joined Lavu in 2018, was promoted in December from senior manager of HR to GM and HR director, where she will focus on improving the companys workforce development and management as Lavu seeks to further build its local employment base, the company said Tuesday. Turcichs promotion comes during a dust up with Bernalillo County about the companys employment levels. The county sent a letter of noncompliance to Lavu in December for falling below workforce numbers it must maintain under requirements connected to $270,000 in Local Economic Development Act funding it received to open a new headquarters Downtown. The county is fiscal agent for the LEDA funding. Lavu had to have at least 94 full-time employees here as of last June and grow to 114 by next June. It did have 136 local employees as of June 2019, but that fell to 84 by fall, according to the county. Albuquerque Business First broke the news in December about the countys noncompliance letter, which it obtained through an Inspection of Public Records Act request. At that time, Lavu executives did not publicly address the issue. But in an interview with the Journal on Tuesday, Lavu CEO Saleem Khatri said the county letter surprised him, because Lavu was in compliance with its employment commitments as of last June, and the company expects to be in compliance when its next annual review occurs in June 2020. We have a great relationship with the county, Khatri told the Journal. Whether were meeting the numbers now is not critically important. Were flexible and theyre flexible and we will work through it. Im not worried about it at all. Khatri didnt say why Lavus employee count may have fallen. But he said the companys total workforce, including offices in Florida and India, is now about 150, with more than 50% of employees here. In fact, the state Economic Development Department apologized to Lavu in a Dec. 23 email the company shared with the Journal. The email said the noncompliance notification should not have gone out at this time, since Lavus annual performance assessment isnt until next June. We do quarterly reporting so we can see trends as they are happening so we can have conversations to address what may be concerns and potential claw backs that may occur at the annual review, the email says. Lavu was in compliance as of June 30, 2019 as you had reported 136 jobs and the compliance number was 94 and remains in compliance at this point. That being said, your most recent quarterly report of 84 employees does put you below the 114 total employee compliance number you need to be at by June 30, 2020. Bernalillo County spokesman Tom Thorpe said the noncompliance letter was just a courtesy to remind Lavu of its commitments and to offer county assistance to meet its goals. The company has until June to be in compliance on employment levels, and no action is being taken now, Thorpe told the Journal. Its strictly notification to them that theyre falling below compliance levels, Thorpe said. It sounds awfully official, but its really only a friendly reminder Were here to help them succeed, not crack a whip. As Lavus new GM and HR director, Turcich will work to integrate effective HR processes, programs and practices into Lavus daily operations, performing internal reviews and audits of current systems and policies, providing advice on all disciplinary review conferences and participating in the design, development and implementation of workforce retention programs, the company said Tuesday. Going forward, Lavu intends to hire more local, specialized talent, said Turcich, who earned undergraduate degrees from the University of New Mexico and an MBA in human resources from Highlands University. Were focusing more on specialized roles in hiring and moving current staff into areas theyre interested in, Turcich told the Journal. We may move some people, for example, from customer support roles to more technical areas. The Albuquerque-based HR training Turcich will lead isnt just for local employees, but for the companywide workforce, and will include training on all aspects of Lavus point-of-sale software for restaurants, Khatri said. It will also include training on the online accounting and ordering platforms Lavu has provided customers since its acquisition of companies Sourcery and MenuDrive last year. Lavu launched in 2010 with proprietary point-of-sale software for restaurants to manage all services on mobile devices in real time on a single, integrated platform. Table servers, for example, can take orders directly on smartphones, allowing cooks to instantly read them on screens in the kitchen. The meals are automatically logged and processed for payment at a tablet-based register. The company, which won a $15 million venture investment in 2015 from Washington, D.C.-based Aldrich Capital Partners, has grown its customer base to 100 countries, Khatri said. We grew our revenue base by about 60% last year, Khatri said. Were being more efficient and focusing on profit. Were doing very well. ST. PAUL When asked during a recent panel discussion to explain how the sexual abuse Ben Hoffman endured by former St. Paul priest Curtis Wehmeyer impacted his life, the 26-year-old didnt hold back. He described how he spent years feeling somehow responsible for the abuse he and his two brothers endured as children by Wehmeyer, and how he eventually turned to drugs, alcohol and work to "fill the void" left in him. He also found himself hating the church and the Catholic faith. But today Hoffman is a married father to a 2-year-old boy and has reclaimed his faith. In fact, he recently left a corporate job at Best Buy to devote more time to ministry work. Hoffman was among those attending a court hearing in the Ramsey County District Courthouse Tuesday, Jan. 28, alongside his brothers and mother. ADVERTISEMENT At the hearing Ramsey County dismissed its child protection case against the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. It brings to an end four years of court monitoring brought about after Ramsey County Attorney John Choi filed civil and criminal charges against the archdiocese for its failure in handing the clergy sex-abuse crisis. Settlement demanded sweeping changes Wehmeyer and his abuse of the Hoffman brothers was at the center of the charges. The case took more than 20 months, 17,000 documents and interviews with more than 50 archdiocese stakeholders to investigate. At the time, authorities said the Wehmeyer case was indicative of a larger and historic pattern within the archdiocese that valued protecting priests at the expense of children. Per the terms of the settlement agreement, Choi wound up dropping the charges against the archdiocese in exchange for a public apology from Archbishop Bernard Hebda for its mistakes. Hebda was appointed to the post after Archbishop John Nienstedt resigned in the midst of the scandal. The archdiocese had to commit to undergo a sweeping institutional change involving an exhaustive overhaul of its child-protection policies and practices these past four years. The archdiocese also was forced to implement a system of checks and balances, including enforced training requirements for all clergy, staff and volunteers on how to spot and report sexual abuse, as well as the creation of a new ministerial review board comprised mostly of laity including Patty Wetterling. ADVERTISEMENT Its a seismic shift from the days when only clergy reviewed such cases, often sweeping them under the rug as accused priests were quietly shuffled to other parishes. The archdiocese also hired staff with backgrounds in law enforcement for notable leadership roles, including Tim OMalley, a former director of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension who now heads up the archdioceses Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment Office. Its also made a commitment to helping survivors heal by appointing an ombudsman unaffiliated with the archdiocese to field their concerns and hired a victim outreach coordinator. Its held regular restorative justice sessions for survivors. Hebda vows to continue efforts Ramsey County District Judge Teresa Warner has ensured compliance of the settlement agreement by reviewing eight progress reports submitted to the court and three external audits. Tuesday marked the day the archdiocese will continue the work on its own, without the court making sure it's doing the right thing. Hebda vowed to continue the work in his remarks at a press conference after the hearing. "The conclusion of this period is a time for neither celebration or relief And this is certainly not a time to relax," Hebda said. ADVERTISEMENT He noted a report that the archdiocese submitted to the court Tuesday that outlines its plan to continue its commitment to safe environments for children in perpetuity. Among other elements, it includes continuing to bring in outside entities to conduct external audits. Judge, Choi commend progress Both Choi and Judge Warner lauded the archdioceses efforts, saying they exceeded both the expectations of the law and the spirit of the agreement. "Can we say no child will ever be abused again, no," Warner said during the hearing. "What we can say is the safeguards are in place in his archdiocese so that the protection of children is paramount before any protection of any clergy." Choi echoed those remarks after the hearing, giving credit to the leadership of Hebda, OMalley and deputy director of the archdioceses Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment Office, Janell Rasmussen. So long as those three remain involved, Choi said he has "great confidence" the archdioceses will continue its commitment to the work. He added what others have said, that the true test of the depth of the institutional change will come about five years from now, when new leaders take over. Everyone said children are safer The Ramsey County Attorneys Office conducted its own in-depth review prior to Tuesdays hearing, consisting of interviews with dozens of archdiocesan stakeholders to assess how far the the archdiocese has come. "Everyone said children are safer the change has embedded," Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Thomas Ring said of the findings. They were compiled in a report filed to the court Tuesday. Work, concerns remain Still, everyone who spoke during and after the hearing said plenty of work remains. The county attorneys report outlined weak spots within the archdiocese, including some outdated training materials, a lingering sense among survivors that the archdiocese needs to do more to reach out to them, and a concern among some that priests should be better trained in how to respond to trauma. Many also have expressed concern about some priests who remain in the ministry, in particular the Rev. Kevin McDonough, despite their suspected roles in helping to cover up abuses by fellow clergy. On Tuesday, OMalley said the archdiocese is continuing to investigate individual clergy members' responsibility. But he said to date the focus has been on priests accused of abuse. Others say they would like to see more leadership from the archdiocese in reminding those who wish to "move on" from the crisis. A woman who recently attended a restorative justice event held by the county attorneys office and the archdiocese spoke to the concern. "I feel like there needs to be a bigger voice then mine saying that this isnt ever going to be over for people, that this will never be done," she said. 'Reject these articles': Trump lawyers end impeachment defense Washington, Jan 28 (AFP) Jan 28, 2020 President Donald Trump's lawyers urged the US Senate Tuesday to reject the charges against him Tuesday, closing their impeachment defense by accusing the Democrats of placing him on trial for political reasons. "What they are asking you to do is to throw out a successful president on the eve of an election with no basis and in violation of the constitution," Trump's lead defense lawyer Pat Cipollone said. "The American people are entitled to choose their president," he said. "We urge the Senate to reject these articles of impeachment." Trump's lawyers wound up their three-day defense of Trump, who is charged with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, arguing that the allegations against him are too minor and too thinly-sourced to justify convicting and removing the US leader. "If partisan impeachment is now the rule of the day... future presidents, Democrats Republicans, will be paralyzed the moment they are elected," said Jay Sekulow, another Trump lawyer. "The bar for impeachment cannot be set this low." But the trial faced fresh controversy as Democrats demanded that Trump's former national security advisor John Bolton be called as a witness. A draft of a forthcoming book by Bolton, according to The New York Times, says that Trump told him in August that security aid to Ukraine had been held up to pressure the country to announce investigations into Trump's possible 2020 reelection rival Joe Biden -- the allegation at the heart of the impeachment case. "If you don't believe the newspaper report, call the witnesses," said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. "Let the chips fall where they may. Get the truth," he said. Botswana's court of appeal on Wednesday dismissed an opposition bid to challenge election results that enabled President Mokgweetsi Masisi to secure a five-year term. The ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) swept to a crushing majority in the October 23 general elections, securing 38 out of 57 seats in parliament. Runner-up Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC), which won only 15 seats, filed a lawsuit shortly after the announcement, citing alleged irregularities. "We have no jurisdiction to entertain these appeals," head judge Ian Kirby ruled on Wednesday, speaking on behalf of the five-member panel that oversaw the case. The court of appeal had agreed to hear the opposition earlier this month after a lower court rejected their petition for lack of evidence. The verdict has now drawn a line under the case. UDC spokesman Moeti Mohwasa would not comment on the judges' decision. "We have nothing to say at the moment until we study the ruling," he told AFP. Botswana, famed for its diamonds and wildlife, is hailed by many in Africa as a beacon of stability and democracy. The BDP has ruled the southern African country since independence from Britain in 1966. But the party was divided in May when former president Ian Khama unexpectedly renounced his hand-picked successor Masisi and backed a new party. That move had been predicted to offset the BDP's hold on power and see its majority in parliament drop. Both Masisi and his party have repeatedly dismissed claims of voting irregularities. Several BDP members, however, claimed to have taken part in a widespread vote-rigging operation in the run-up to the October polls. BDP spokesman Banks Kentse said the party was "delighted by the verdict" and called on the opposition to respect the court's decision. "We do hope that our friends at UDC will now put these issues behind and focus on playing their role as main opposition in a democratic state," Kentse said after the ruling. A Sweet Home High School student faces criminal charges after bringing a gun to school, prompting a lockdown, police say. Witnesses reported the student, 15, said he intended to use the gun on another student, according to Sweet Home police. He also showed the gun to other students, police said. The high school was placed in a lockdown, and officers and school staff found the student in a classroom. He was detained without incident, according to police. Officers found a loaded handgun and removed it from the school. The Sweet Home School District said no students were hurt and no additional threats were found. The lockdown was eventually lifted. The student is accused of charges including possession of a firearm in a public building, unlawful possession of a firearm and carrying a concealed weapon. Police said hed be lodged in a juvenile detention center. Police thanked the students who provided information about the case. The safety of students is of utmost importance to the Sweet Home Police Department and Sweet Home School administration, police said. Any and all threats received by the Sweet Home Police Department are taken seriously. We thank the courageous students who stepped forward with information. -- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015 Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Heartbreaking images of malnourished and starving lions in the Sudanese zoo had caused global concerns on social media. The poor animals have been receiving medical aid from the donations that poured in from around the world after the images surfaced on the internet. Many lions have reportedly died in Sudan's Al-Qureshi Park in Khartoum after the wildlife staff allegedly failed to feed them regularly. The staff later blamed the country's poor economic crisis is one of the major factors for the animals' neglect. READ: Minister; Sudan To Cut Fuel Subsidies In March #SaveSudanLions Our team is shocked by the conditions on-site! Yesterday our team visited the Al Qurashi Family Park zoo & found that the living conditions are horrendous - the animals have very little space to move. Keep your fingers crossed https://t.co/hOOMTKEd9A pic.twitter.com/jIpguI1Le0 FOUR PAWS (@fourpawsint) January 28, 2020 Animal lovers donated across the world When the horrific images went viral on social media, wildlife enthusiasts and animal lovers from across the world donated for the well-being of the lions. The doctors and veterinary experts from the animal welfare NGO Four Paws International have reportedly administered life-saving treatment to the animals. When a team of experts from the animal welfare NGO arrived at the zoo they were shocked to see malnourished animals living in uninhabitable conditions. The team took to Twitter to share some of the images of the procedure. READ: Lions Starving In Sudan Spark Global Concern #SaveSudanLions There is a ray of hope. After hours of infusions, Kandaka showed some improvement. She was able to stand up & walk for a while & was willing to eat. The team provided her with canned cat food, which is a good start after such a long time of malnutrition. pic.twitter.com/JU3E6LaVob FOUR PAWS (@fourpawsint) January 28, 2020 #SaveSudanLionsUpdate: infusion therapy for lioness goes on. Our team is ready to stay with her as long as it takes for Kandaka to get as much of the life-saving medication as she can. She is doing well, but it is too early to say whether she will be able to recover. pic.twitter.com/rfOh0LNEWk FOUR PAWS (@fourpawsint) January 28, 2020 Online campaign launched An online campaign launched on Facebook on January 18 helped save five malnourished and sick African lions at a park in Sudan's Khartoum. Osman Salih launched '#SudanAnimalRescue' on Facebook on being shaken after seeing the lions in the cages of Khartoum's Al-Qureshi park did not get enough food and medicine for several weeks. Salih further urged people and institutions to help the animals. The Park officials and medics reportedly said that the conditions of the lions have degraded over the past few weeks. According to Salih, they contacted the park administration who indicated that wildlife police are responsible for the animals and their care. He also wrote on Facebook that park holds the police responsible because the income of the park for a month is not enough to feed lions for more than seven days. In further updates, he even gave detailed improvements in some lions through medicines and care. READ: UN: Most Sudan Rebels And Neighbors Back Darfur Peace Hope READ: Online Campaign Initiated To Save 'malnourished, Sick' Lions At Sudanese Park SpendEdge has been monitoring the global warehousing services market and the market is poised to experience spend growth of more than USD 160 billion between 2019-2024 at a CAGR of nearly 6% during the forecast period. Request Free Sample Pages This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005468/en/ Read the 125-page research report with TOC and LOE on "The Global Warehousing Services Market Procurement Intelligence Report, Pricing Outlook in Geographies that include APAC, North America, South America, and MEA, and insights into best practices to optimize procurement spend." 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Insights into the market price trends The supply-demand imbalance in warehousing services will inflate the procurement costs for buyers. Factors such as trade tensions between China and the US will result in a significant rise in prices of construction materials such as steel and aluminum which will drive construction costs. This will impact the prices of warehousing services. What are the strategies to adopt to optimize procurement spend in this market? Bundling of services Buyers will benefit from engaging with service providers who provide one-stop solutions by bundling warehousing services with transportation and packaging services. This allows buyers to negotiate better on the price of services and reduce overall logistics costs and operational risks involved in coordinating with multiple vendors for different services. 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Some of the key topics covered in this report are: Warehousing services market spend segmentation by region Total cost of ownership analysis in the warehousing services market Regional spend opportunity for warehousing service providers Warehousing service providers cost structure Warehousing services pricing models analysis Warehousing services procurement best practices Category management objectives Cost saving opportunities in the warehousing services market Free sample of reports that you may like: Global Distribution Services Market Procurement Intelligence Report Global Cold Chain Industry Procurement Market Intelligence Report About SpendEdge: SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. To know more, https://www.spendedge.com/request-free-proposal View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005468/en/ Contacts: SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager US: +1 630 984 7340 UK: +44 148 459 9299 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh granted an interview to local media to share his thoughts on Vietnams foreign affair activities in 2019 and 2020. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh. 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). 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 Viet Nam as 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 Viet Nams 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, Viet Nam 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, Viet Nam has 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 Viet Nam has 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 Viet Nam is willing to play the role as a conciliator, which is one of the items in Directive No.25. In 2019, Viet Nam 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 Viet Nams profile in the forum of global issues and other important matters. This is not the first time that Viet Nam 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 Viet Nam 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 Viet Nam has tapped into the concerns of many. The first step is always the hardest, I hope that Viet Nam can 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, Viet Nam 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 Two persons were killed and one was injured in a clash between two groups in West Bengal's Murshidabad district on Wednesday, a senior police officer said. The incident occured after an argument broke out between the groups at Jalangi over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). The injured has been rushed to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital here, the officer said. (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 Karina M. Tehusijarana and Apriza Pinandita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 09:08 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20616e6ac 2 National coronavirus,#coronavirus,Indonesians-in-Wuhan,Wuhan-lockdown,Wuhan-coronavirus,wuhan,Foreign-Affairs-Ministry Free As new coronavirus cases are popping up as far away as Sri Lanka and Germany, lawmakers are calling on the government to quickly repatriate Indonesian citizens from Wuhan, China - the epicenter of the outbreak - and the surrounding Hubei province. "The Indonesian government has to take quick and appropriate measures to ensure the evacuation of Indonesian citizens who are currently in Wuhan," Golkar Party lawmaker Christina Aryani told The Jakarta Post in a statement on Tuesday. "Leaving our citizens there is just the same as letting them wait their turn to get infected." According to the Foreign Ministry, 243 Indonesians are currently in Hubei, with 100 of them are in Wuhan. Chinese authorities have quarantined the province and banned travel into and out of the region. Several Indonesian students there have already expressed their desire to return home. Christina, a member of the House of Representatives' Commission I, which oversees foreign affairs, cited a number of other countries that had already made plans to relocate their citizens, such as the United States, Japan, and France. "Unlike the US that is chartering an airplane to bring its citizens home, France will move its citizens to another province to be quarantined," she said. "Indonesia can follow France's move." Christina's call joins those of National Awakening Party (PKB) politician Syaiful Huda and Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) executive Hidayat Nur Wahid. Syaiful, a member of the House's Commission X, which oversees education, said he hoped the government would take "concrete steps" to rescue the students from the region. "The government should study the different options, given the real and deadly threat posed by the virus," Syaiful said. Hidayat echoed Syaiful and Christina's comments, saying the government had a duty to protect all of its citizens. "Given the requests of the Indonesian citizens [in Wuhan], as well as the state's responsibility to protect all Indonesian citizens, it is only right that the Indonesian government immediately relocate all Indonesian citizens [from areas affected by the virus in China], including students in Wuhan," Hidayat said in a statement on Monday. "Especially since the virus spreads so quickly." According to data compiled by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE), there were 4,474 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, as of Tuesday evening, resulting in 107 deaths. However, despite the spread of the virus and calls from lawmakers, Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy said that the Indonesian citizens currently residing in Hubei province did not need to be relocated just yet. "The government has prepared for evacuation if it is really needed. For now the evacuation scheme has not been carried out yet as it is not yet considered necessary," Muhadjir said after a joint meeting on the coronavirus at his office on Tuesday. Muhadjir's statement comes as other countries are preparing to transport their citizens from Wuhan, which is currently under lockdown. AFP reported on Tuesday that Japanese officials confirmed they are beginning to repatriate Japanese nationals from the city, while the US State Department has said a chartered flight would leave Wuhan on Wednesday with 240 American citizens on board, including consular staff. Australia, Sri Lanka, South Korea, India and France have all made preparations to evacuate their citizens from the area in the coming days. Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said that rescue of the Indonesians remained an "open option", but that it would not be easy because the area was under strict lockdown. "We have to speak to the Chinese authorities because there are a lot of regulations," she said after the meeting. She added, however, that the ministry had already made preparations for a possible evacuation, including the route they would take and the quarantine procedures both before departure and after arrival in Indonesia. She also said that the ministry was making arrangements to send food and other supplies to the quarantined Indonesians as many stores in Hubei have closed because of the outbreak. Retno also confirmed that as of Tuesday no Indonesians in the region were suspected to have contracted the virus. "It's normal for [the Indonesians] to be anxious, so we are regularly communicating with them and ensuring that their daily needs are met," she said. The Foreign Ministry has officially issued a travel warning for citizens intending to visit Hubei province. "A travel warning has been imposed for Hubei province, including its capital Wuhan," Foreign Ministry acting spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah said. The warning would only be revoked once the Chinese government announces that the region is safe, he added. In addition to issuing a travel warning, the Indonesian government also issued a travel advisory for those planning to visit other regions in China. A Lanner Falcon flies to its trainer's arm at a bird sanctuary in Laurel, Md., on June 14, 2012. (KAREN BLEIER/AFP/GettyImages) Court Finds Falconry Regulations Run Afoul of the Bill of Rights A group of falconry enthusiasts will be allowed to pursue their lawsuit against federal and state authorities challenging speech codes for birds and in which they claim government inspectors routinely run roughshod over their constitutional rights. A federal judge threw out the governments request last week to dismiss the lawsuit, which can now move forward against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Peter and Katherine Stavrianoudakis, Scott Timmons, Eric Ariyoshi, and the American Falconry Conservancy filed the federal civil rights action in an attempt to roll back regulations they consider intrusive. Falconers have few legal rights and are subject to strict regulations, according to Pacific Legal Foundation, a Sacramento, California-based public-interest law firm. In order to be licensed as a falconer, you have to agree to waive certain rights. Federal law forbids the making of profit from licensed birds of prey, but not other exotic birds, such as ostriches or toucans. Falconers are allowed only to charge what their costs are for any presentations they make. The law prevents falcon owners from using their falcons in movies, commercials, or in other commercial ventures that are not related to falconry. The falcons images cannot be used in logos or to endorse any kind of product unless it is related to falconry. Government rules also tightly regulate what a falcon owner can say about his falcon to another person. Government agents are allowed to show up at falconers homes unannounced and demand to carry out searches without a warrant, violating their privacy rights. Reasonable suspicion of illegal behavior or mistreatment of the birds is not required. If the agents dont like what they see, they can threaten to take the falcons away. In short, theyve created a regulation that says the Fourth Amendment doesnt apply to a citizen engaged in the sport of falconry, plaintiff Peter Stavrianoudakis told Reason last year. Im treated no differently from a common felon on parole. To threaten to take birds away, for falconers, its like a child protective services agency threatening to take your kids away, Timothy Snowball, the lead attorney on the case, told The Epoch Times. Snowball works for Pacific Legal Foundation. Timothy Snowball, lawyer with Pacific Legal Foundation. (Photo courtesy Pacific Legal Foundation) Ive been shocked by the horror stories about how the rules have been enforced over the years. Every American, including falconers, should have the right to be safe and secure in the privacy of their own home without being afraid of armed agents coming into their homes. The judges order last week cleared the way for the lawsuit to proceed. In an order sporting bird puns such as Toucan, of course, play at this game, U.S. District Judge Lawrence ONeill of the Eastern District of California ruled Jan. 24 in Stavrianoudakis v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to dismiss Fourth Amendment claims but allowed First Amendment claims. ONeill found that licensed falconers possess a First Amendment right to express themselves with their raptors that is subject to the strictest constitutional scrutiny, and that the plaintiffs claim that the federal government exceeded the scope of its authority to enact the speech restrictions can also proceed. He didnt rule on the Fourth Amendment claims because the plaintiffs havent recently suffered warrantless searches. The court thus didnt address the issue Snowball said is at the heart of their allegations: that the required waiver of their Fourth Amendment rights through their licenses is itself a constitutionally recognized injury. But now, at least, Snowball said the denial of Fourth Amendment rights is directly appealable to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, with the potential to protect all falconers Fourth Amendment rights in the entire western United States. In terms of the First Amendment, that is an absolute win, he said. The arguments about content-based prohibitions made by the federal and state governments were rejected. ONeill has not yet ruled on the plaintiffs motion for a preliminary injunction to halt enforcement of the regulations while the case is pending because, Snowball said, the judge first wants to see the defendants justification for violating licensed falconers First Amendment rights. The court wrote that the Federal and State Defendants briefing does not explain how the regulations are not more extensive than necessary to serve an important state interest. The Fish and Wildlife Service declined to comment. A fast-rising Yoruba actor, Juwon Awe, was killed by armed bandits in Ote, Kwara State, on Monday, according to report. Ibrahim Chatta, a Nollywood actor shared the news on social media. The young actor was shot dead by bandits on his way to Ilorin Read Also: Poor Treatment Of Upcoming Actors Needs To Change Comic Actor He was young and promising, full of HOPE. Juwon was working in my industry as a continuity manager and a driver trying to make ends meet. He was attacked and murdered today by the three Fulani and a Yoruba armed bandits while driving a known female Actor (Tooyosi Adesanya) @adesanyatoyosi_ileyemi to Ilorin. Adieu Juwon, Chatta wrote. She said it is a natural fit for them to expand to Florence since they continue to do business in the area. She said they have been impressed with the citys commitment to its downtown. It (Leaf Lounge) is a family business, she said. Their father, Jesse Wiles, and other brother, Jade Wiles, are also involved in the business, she said. But this is her brother Jesses passion, she said. I always wanted to do something like this, he said. Bridget said business is very promising. She said the lounge offers a nice, friendly environment where everyone is welcome. She said a special tobacco license is required for operating a cigar lounge, which only allows customers to smoke cigars. With 2020 comes some exciting events, Bridget said. We are rolling out our membership benefits in the first quarter, she said. And toward the end of the first quarter, she said to look for the calendar of events to come. Jon Hinojosa glides through his kitchen with a ruthless efficiency, slicing a rib-eye into ribbons, stirring a pot of beans and garnishing a platter of enchiladas in one fluid movement, not an ounce of energy wasted on hesitation. Minutes later, dinner is served. The San Antonio resident is a lifelong cooking enthusiast. His cabinets are painted the same blue-green shade the legendary Julia Child, who Hinojosa grew up watching on TV, used on her cabinets. His dozen or so favorite pans hang on a rack by the stove for easy access. His counter is crowded with containers of near-countless tongs, spatulas and other utensils. Jon Hinojosa Its also a puro San Antonio space. Hinojosa, 56, and his family live in a modest and established Northwest Side neighborhood off Hillcrest Drive he jokingly refers to as Baja Inspiration for its proximity to the posh Inspiration Hills area. Walking through the door is, in many ways, stepping into Mexico. The walls are covered with traditional artwork. Good luck counting all the representations of the Virgen de Guadalupe shes looking over the Hinojosas in statues and paintings throughout. His kitchen is far more Oaxaca market stall than Middle America with numerous escobetas, a traditional bristle scrub brush, strung as decoration, and a cluster of molinillos, the hand-carved whisks used to froth up hot chocolate, in a container on the counter. As much as Hinojosa has molded his kitchen to his personal aesthetic, his dinners run the gamut of classic American, Mediterranean, Asian and Mexican, but his family most appreciates his Italian cooking. The real passion behind all his cooking is a simple drive to feed his wife, Amanda, and their three now-grown daughters Sara, Olivia and Abby. Jerry Lara /Staff photographer The whole idea was that wed grow up as a family sitting down at the table and sharing a meal, Hinojosa said. Meals are important. Thats how we build relationships and community. Lets have dinner. To facilitate that, Hinojosa learned how to run a tight ship. Hes the artistic and executive director of the youth arts program SAY Si, and his cooking style mirrors both of those roles. Hes creative in the kitchen, often cooking intuitively without recipes. Hes also frugal and has mastered the art of stretching a limited grocery budget into a comforting bounty that he can make in a hurry. Most of his dinners take half an hour or less from prep to table. On ExpressNews.com: SAY Si will move to the West Side in 2020 Hinojosa prefers to cook from scratch, but he doesnt sneer at the occasional canned ingredient. Hell splurge on prime beef or higher-quality chicken but gravitates towards value-minded, store-brand products to form the base of many recipes. Jon Hinojosa Hinojosa shared several of his regular dinner dishes with us, and they cover a wide range of tastes: green chicken enchiladas, cheesy calabacita, caprese salad, chicken Parmesan and shrimp cocktail. All of these dishes can be completed in less than an hour, and most in about half that time. I like to be in here, and I like to get into the zone, Hinojosa said. But my goal is when I walk into this kitchen, 30 minutes later were going to have dinner. When his family gathers to enjoy the fruits of that labor, theyll almost always be dining off of one of Hinojosas other obsessions: traditional Mexican pottery. Hes collected about 175 plates, cups, cazuelas, bowls and platters. A wall of open-shelf cabinetry is packed to the brim with the stuff, and it overflows onto nearly every other available surface. On ExpressNews.com: Find all the Taste teams recipes here Jon Hinojosa Theres meaning behind that collection, as well. The Hinojosa family traveled to Mexico regularly when the girls were young, and pottery became an important way for the Hinojosas to connect with their Mexican heritage. My goal is to go to all the regions of Mexico and bring home indigenous pottery, Hinojosa said, adding with a resigned laugh, Im out of room. Maybe on his shelves. But theres always room at Hinojosas table. Recipe: Jon Hinojosas Seasonal Caprese Salad with Fruit Recipe: Jon Hinojosas Cheesy Calabacita 11 facts about Jon Hinojosas kitchen Rule 1: Always have a sharp knife and know how to use it. Tip for all cooks: Hinojosa suggests refreshing tired herbs and spices once a year. Don't be afraid to throw out the old stuff. Favorite kitchen tools: A knife, tongs and a large mixing bowl Go-to flavors: Hinojosa most often reaches for cumin and garlic powder when he wants to punch up a dish. Culinary inspirations: Julia Child provided the passion to cook, and Diana Kennedy influenced his love for Mexican food. Favorite ingredient: Fresh greens; the Hinojosas eat salad every day. Go-to potluck dish: Caprese salad made with ripe, seasonal fruit Brand loyalties: Hinojosa is a fan of cost-effective store-brand products, but he won't compromise when Velveeta is called for. Favorite grocery store: Hinojosa is loyal to the H-E-B at Interstate 10 and Wurzbach Road for its large selection of Indian and Middle Eastern ingredients. Tools he's rejected: Hinojosa received an Instant Pot for Christmas from his wife. It's already been returned, unused (with her blessing, of course). They're debating an air fryer. One cookbook he'd recommend for every kitchen: "The Way to Cook" by Julia Child See More Collapse Recipe: Jon Hinojosas Chicken Parmesan Recipe: Jon Hinojosas Green Chicken Enchiladas Recipe: Jon Hinojosas Shrimp Cocktail Paul Stephen is a food and drink reporter and restaurant critic in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | pstephen@express-news.net | Twitter: @pjbites | Instagram: @pjstephen WSFS Institutional Services will utilize Speedboat as its new tax lien custodian software solution WILMINGTON, Del., Jan. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WSFS Institutional Services, a division of WSFS Bank, is pleased to be working with Speedboat, an SDA Solutions LLC Product, to streamline its tax lien business including tax lien and deed investors, portfolio managers, and custodians. Were excited about utilizing Speedboat to streamline our rapidly growing tax lien custodian business unit, said Lou Geibel, Chief Trust Officer of WSFS Institutional Services. After reviewing the available options for our business, Speedboats ease of use, customization ability, reporting, and data security really stood out to us and is what ultimately made it a great fit. This new partnership allows SDA Solutions LLC to further enhance Speedboat for the banking sector and provide tax lien custodians with an off-the-shelf software solution previously unavailable in the tax sale industry. Bringing on a partner like WSFS Institutional Services is exciting for us, but also extremely beneficial for all of our customers. The security and infrastructure requirements of WSFS Institutional Services, and the banking industry, required us to further enhance data security for everyone on the platform, said Kiah Hochstetler, SDA Solutions LLC, Founder. To learn more about WSFS Institutional Services, visit wsfsinstitutionalservices.com. About WSFS Financial Corporation WSFS Financial Corporation is a multi-billion dollar financial services company. Its primary subsidiary, WSFS Bank, is the oldest and largest locally-managed bank and trust company headquartered in Delaware and the Delaware Valley. As of December 31, 2019, WSFS Financial Corporation had $12.3 billion in assets on its balance sheet and $20.7 billion in assets under management and administration. WSFS operates from 126 offices located in Pennsylvania (55), Delaware (49), New Jersey (20), Virginia (1) and Nevada (1) and provides comprehensive financial services including commercial banking, retail banking, cash management and trust and wealth management. Other subsidiaries or divisions include Arrow Land Transfer, Cash Connect, Cypress Capital Management, LLC, NewLane Finance, Powdermill Financial Solutions, West Capital Management, WSFS Institutional Services, WSFS Mortgage, and WSFS Wealth Investments. Serving the greater Delaware Valley since 1832, WSFS Bank is one of the ten oldest banks in the United States continuously operating under the same name. For more information, please visit www.wsfsbank.com . Story continues About Speedboat Speedboat is a powerful and secure cloud-based solution built specifically for tax lien & deed investors, custodians, and servicers. Combining a workflow management system, redemption calculator, document storage platform and flexible reporting, Speedboat enables greater efficiency and increased ROI. To learn more, or to schedule a demo of the Speedboat software, please visit http://speedboatsolution.com/ . About SDA Solutions LLC SDA Solutions LLC is a software development company that specializes in building modern, scalable, and reliable web applications. SDA Solutions LLC manages a robust team of experienced software development professionals who are well versed at building enterprise level and business unit solutions. Utilizing agile development methodologies and modern technical infrastructure, SDA Solutions LLC has the ability to deliver solutions on time and on budget to a wide customer base. To learn more about SDA, please visit http://sdasolutionsllc.com/ Media Contact: Rebecca Acevedo (215) 253-5566 racevedo@wsfsbank.com Be it with her films or red carpet looks, our 'desi girl' Priyanka Chopra Jonas is creating waves both nationally and globally. And now, the actress has given us one more reason to cheer! PeeCee has joined the cast of Keanu Reeve's much awaited Hollywood film Matrix 4. As per a report in Variety, Priyanka Chopra is currently shooting for the film, which resumed after the production was halted due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. The cast of Matrix 4 has been training for weeks for fight sequences in the film. Previously, the team had wrapped its shooting schedule in San Francisco before moving to Germany post the break. Besides Keanu Reeves and Priyanka Chopra, the star cast includes names like Jada Pinkett Smith, Carrie-Anne Moss, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Neil Patrick Harris in pivotal roles. The first Matrix film released in 1999 and was a huge blockbuster. A sequel, The Matrix Reloaded, and a third movie, The Matrix Revolutions, later followed in 2003. The fourth instalment of Matrix will be backed and directed by co-creator Lana Wachowski. She was quoted as saying in an official statement, "Many of the ideas Lilly and I explored 20 years ago about our reality are even more relevant now. I'm very happy to have these characters back in my life and grateful for another chance to work with my brilliant friends." Meanwhile, Keanu Reeves is 'absolutely' excited about returning to his role which made him a household name. Speaking about Matrix 4, he had said, "It's very ambitious. As it should be!" Coming back to Priyanka Chopra, she was last seen in Shonali Bose's The Sky Is Pink, also produced by the actress. She will be next seen in the Netflix film The White Tiger co-starring Rajkummar Rao. She is also developing an Indian wedding comedy with Mindy Kaling and Dan Goor for Universal, in which she is set to star and co-produce. Priyanka Chopra Copied Jennifer Lopez's Iconic Grammy Outfit: Here's Why It Didn't Work Priyanka Chopra At WEF: Women Aligning With Women Is The Biggest Reason Our Voices Are Being Heard She reflected on Kings message from his Riverside Church Speech, also known as the Beyond Vietnam speech. Dr. King was calling for an actual revolutiona radical reimagining of our economic systems, our political systems, and our social fabric." The crisis of our democracy and the crisis of our justice system is still rooted, she said, in the systems of racism, materialism, and militarism that King repudiated in that speech. Theres a way in which everything has changed and everything has remained the same, she said. The basic politics of white supremacy have remained a constant throughout our nations history. It gave birth to a system of mass incarceration, as well as a system of mass deportation, during a time when many of us thought our nation was color-blind. Many bought into faulty mainstream narratives around the criminal justice system. It wasnt until Alexander herself reckoned with the scale at which young black men were being locked up and stripped of basic civil and human rightsmany for the same nonviolent, minor drug offenses that are prevalent on college campusesthat she began to uncover and write about a new narrative. She pointed out the irrationality of subjecting vulnerable individuals to further violence and trauma in prison with the expectation that upon release they will be better citizens. The prison boom has more to do with the politics of race than it has to do with any serious attempt to reduce harm and suffering in our communities, she said. While Alexander has played a pivotal role in uncovering this fact, she said she doesn't think her book would have found the audience it did if it hadnt been for the acts of bravery seen in Ferguson and in protests throughout the nation. It opened up a conversation and a space for debate and dialogue that would have never existed if activists, academics, and policymakers all over the country didnt stand up, she said. Those acts of courage and radical solidarity, even when the cameras go away, is what honoring Dr. King is about. She added, Even people who have been locked up and locked out have been capable of organizing incredible movements and impacted their communities in nearly miraculous ways. Alexander closed her talk with a call to action: "We have to face our history and build movements that will shake the foundations of this country and help us to finally birth a truly inclusive, egalitarian democracy where every life truly matters," she said. Event to be held under the High Patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz Bin Faisal Al Saud RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sir Anthony Ritossa is making grand plans to host the 11th Anniversary Ritossa Global Family Office Investment Summit March 23-25, 2020 at the Ritz Carlton Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The event will be held under the High Patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz Bin Faisal Al Saud and with Nouf Al Haqbani, CEO of Dar Bedaya Group, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the Distinguished Grand Ambassador. Guests at the exclusive, invitation-only event will welcome more than 600 leading family offices and ultra-high net worth individuals, together with Sheikhs, Royals, Private Investment Companies and Sovereign Wealth Funds from across the Middle East and around the globe representing more than $4.5 trillion in wealth. Sessions will focus on topics related to global investment opportunities, Middle East trends and opportunities, succession planning, philanthropy suggestions, and family governance. The Summit's welcome address will be presented by Rayan Qutub .???? ??? Executive Chairman, Nama Al Baraka Investments, KSA, on behalf of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz Bin Faisal Al Saud. Rayan Qutub is a Saudi icon with his leading investment portfolio in Logistics, Mobility Solutions, ICT, E-commerce Development, Trading and Specialized Advisory Services with a focus on technology and Saudi Vision 2030 future growth sectors. "I am honoured to offer my patronage to such a noble cause. Together with Sir Anthony Ritossa, I believe that we are an ideal bridge connecting international companies and families seeking to expand their presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with aligned investors and co-investors. Saudi Arabia is unique in its culture. The platform that we are putting in place with the Summit in Riyadh is a perfect introduction to understand better how partnerships initiate and develop in the region. These are exciting times for Saudi Arabia with the implemented vision of 2030 actively in force," said H.R.H. Prince Abdulaziz Bin Faisal Al Saud. "We are privileged to have the High Patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz Bin Faisal Al Saud, and together we celebrate the Kingdom's mission to be a leading Nation in all aspects. Saudi Arabia's vision 2030 is an impressive achievement blueprint for a leading nation. It expresses the Kingdom's long-term goals, built upon its unique strengths and capabilities," said Sir Anthony Ritossa, Chairman of Ritossa Family Office, a family business dating back 600 years to the Venetian Empire in Europe. "It was a honour to welcome more than 600 visitors from around the world to Dubai for the 10th Anniversary Ritossa Global Family Office Investment Summit and I look forward to seeing everyone again in Riyadh. Sir Anthony Ritossa continually exceeds the high expectations of an important group representing over $4.5 trillion in investor wealth and every Summit is grander and more spectacular than ever," said Mohamed Al Ali, CEO & Advisor, Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum International Investments Enterprise, UAE, and Distinguished Grand Ambassador for the Dubai Summit. "I have been an active participant and currently a member of the board of advisory of this unique gathering that has brought together pioneers and leaders in many diverse industries from all around the globe. This year, we have decided to take things to a new level and have had the honor to collaborate with Sir Anthony Ritossa over the next year to support and endorse the summits as well as initiate a partnership that expands globally. This was done under the blessing and in presence of His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Abdulla Bin Sultan Al Qasimi and CEO & MD Mohamed Al Banna," said Faris M. Al Tahtamooni, Associate Director - Strategic Partnerships, LEAD Ventures - The Office of Sheikh Sultan Bin Abdullah Al Qasimi, UAE. "Congratulations to Sir Anthony Ritossa, Mohamed Al Ali, Vanessa A. Eriksson and all those that worked tirelessly on the 10th Ritossa Family Office Summit held in Dubai. The event brought together more than 600 exceptional families, managers, and innovators to share insights on the best global investment strategies, thought leadership, and governance. I was honored to represent Kallas and discuss Brazilian investment opportunities, real estate, sustainability, and bilateral relations on a panel with the likes of Aneel Ranadive (Sacramento Kings, Soma Capital), Grant Cardone (10X) and Ricky Husaini. We look forward to participating at the 11th Ritossa Family Office Summit held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in March 2020," said Matthew Wilkens, Senior Managing Director, Head of Capital Markets, Kallas Group, U.S. and Brazil. For more details on the invitation-only 11th Global Family Office Investment Summit in Saudi Arabia and future Family Office Summits, please visit www.SaudiSummit.org Media Contact: Charlotte Luer +1-239-404-6785 cluer@ljhfm.com The US Air Force reported Monday that it carried out more airstrikes in Afghanistan in 2019 than any year in the last decade. Manned and unmanned aircraft dropped 7,423 bombs, topping the previous decade high of 7,362 in 2018. Nearly two decades into its criminal neocolonial occupation, the United States government is dropping an average of 20 bombs on the country per day. The rise in airstrikes has resulted in an increase of civilian casualties at the hands of the US military, with a UN report from December finding that American attacks from January to October had claimed the lives of 579 civilians and wounded 306, a third higher than in 2018. An unmanned U.S. Predator drone flies over Kandahar Air Field, southern Afghanistan, on a moon-lit night [Credit: AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File] Among the US massacres that made headlines last year was a drone strike at the end of November that killed an entire family, including three women, in Khost province. The attack came just one day after President Donald Trump made a Thanksgiving Day photo-op appearance at Bagram Air Base, flying in and out in the dark of night. In September, a drone strike in Nangarhar province, along the border with Pakistan, killed 30 farm workers and injured 40 others as they were sleeping after a days work picking and shelling pine nuts. Highlighting the scope of ongoing US operations, one of the US Air Forces electronic surveillance jets used for coordinating airstrikes and ground attacks crashed in central Afghanistan on Monday, killing the two-man crew. While the Taliban took credit for shooting down the aircraft, the Pentagon told CBS News that the cause was under investigation, but that there were no indications the crash was caused by enemy fire. By conservative estimates, the 18-year-old US-led war and occupation of the country has directly resulted in the deaths of more than 157,000 people, including 43,000 Afghan civilians, with hundreds of thousands of others dying from the effects of the fighting. More than 3,500 US and other NATO soldiers have lost their lives in Afghanistan and thousands more have been wounded over the years. Seventeen American soldiers died in Afghanistan in 2019, the highest number since 2015. Even as the number of US troops in the country has fallen to 12,000down from a peak of 100,000 during Barack Obamas surge in 2009and 4,000 more are expected to leave the country soon, the Pentagon has pursued a dramatic increase in the pace of airstrikes as part of the Trump administrations efforts to pressure the Taliban into agreeing to a settlement in the longest war in American history. Trump threatened last year that he could quickly kill 10 million Afghans and wipe the country of 35 million off the face of the Earth, while insisting that he hoped for a negotiated agreement. The Afghan-Pakistan border was the chosen site for the dropping of the largest nonnuclear weapon in the US arsenal, the Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, in April 2017, demonstrating that there were no restraints on what the US military would do in pursuit of American imperialist interests. Talks that were abruptly called off by Trump via Twitter in September 2019, on the eve of a purported peace conference at Camp David, resumed in December, with the Taliban offering to scale back attacks on US and Afghan-puppet forces for a limited period of time. The Taliban now holds more territory than at any time since the US invasion began in 2001, with 67 percent of districts and 51 percent of the population under its control or actively contested, according to an estimate published by the FDDs Long War Journal. An online poll recently conducted by Pajhwok Afghan News found that 90 percent of Afghans want a peace deal with the Taliban and 68 percent desire a ceasefire ahead of possible intra-Afghan talks. Trump met with Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last week, telling the Afghan leader that only a significant and lasting reduction in attacks by the Taliban would facilitate negotiations. So far, the Taliban has refused to negotiate with the US-backed government, instead focusing on direct negotiations with US representatives in Doha. The Sunni fundamentalist movement, which controlled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, continues to insist that it will not share power with the Ghani regime, which is propped by US military support and funding. Despite the expenditure of trillions of dollars and millions of lives, two decades of imperialist war in Afghanistan, across the Middle East and throughout Africa have done nothing to achieve the aim of securing control over strategic oil- and mineral-rich regions and geostrategic energy transit routes. However, American imperialism is not backing down. A cease fire or peace deal and withdrawal of combat troops would not bring an end to US intervention in Afghanistan. As seen in Iraq and Syria, American imperialism will seek to maintain its military foothold with the use of special forces and drone assassinations, and the deployment of ground troops in violation of territorial sovereignty. This was made clear in testimony Tuesday by John Sopko, the special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction, who told members of the House Oversight Committee that efforts would be necessary to safeguard US taxpayers investments in the country from risks that will follow the day after a peace deal is signed. The Trump administrations effort to negotiate a settlement with the Taliban has nothing to do with bringing an end to endless wars, as Trump has claimed. It is instead aimed at preparing the stage for even bigger conflicts. Two decades after the launching of the so-called war on terror, the stage has been set for open conflict against great powers, foremost China and Russia. US Defense Secretary Mark Esper told reporters in December that the drawdown of troops in Afghanistan would facilitate their redeployment throughout the Asia-Pacific to confront China. The UKs decision to allow Huawei limited access to 5G networks sets it apart from its key intelligence-sharing allies. The US, Australia and New Zealand have already blocked the Chinese firm while Canada the other member of the Five Eyes alliance of English-speaking nations which have an agreement to share security information has yet to reveal where it stands. Last year, the US placed trade restrictions on Huawei, blocking American companies from doing business with it, and has called for its allies to ban the Chinese firm from their 5G networks. By allowing Huawei into U.K. 5G network, @BorisJohnson has chosen the surveillance state over the special relationship. Tragic to see our closest ally, a nation Ronald Reagan once called incandescent with courage, turn away from our alliance and the cause of freedom. @UKinUSA Rep. Liz Cheney (@RepLizCheney) January 28, 2020 In addition, none of the four largest network carriers in the US currently use Huawei equipment in their existing networks. The US has said using Huawei represents a security risk because of allegations the company has ties to the Chinese state and could be forced to spy on people through its telecoms equipment something Huawei has strongly denied. Australia has followed the United States lead and blocked Huawei from being a part of its 5G networks. When it announced the decision in 2018, the Australian government said the involvement of a company likely to be subject to extrajudicial directions from a foreign government presents too much of a risk. New Zealand has taken a similar position, its Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) having previously blocked a request from a New Zealand operator to use Huawei equipment in its 5G infrastructure because of what it said were security risks. Story continues Canada, however, is yet to announce its own verdict on the issue. The country is now the last of the Five Eyes nations to take a stance on the Chinese firm, with its own government review still to announce a decision, having been delayed for the countrys federal election, which took place late last year. The issue has complicated already strained relations between the country and China, following the arrest of Huaweis chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou the daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei in Vancouver in 2018, at the request of the United States. She is currently the subject of an extradition hearing and is wanted by the US on fraud charges that she misled banks about the companys business dealings in Iran. Beijing has accused Washington of engaging in a politically motivated attempt to hurt the company. A chartered plane carrying US evacuees, including diplomatic staff, from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan landed to refuel in Alaska on January 28. The plane was due to stop at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport before continuing to March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County, California, the Los Angeles Times reported. The plane had previously been scheduled to land at Ontario, California When announcing the evacuation flight, the State Department said that capacity was extremely limited and if there was insufficient ability to transport everyone who expressed interest, priority would be given to individuals at greater risk from the virus. Credit: Joe Vigil KTVA 11 News via Storyful COLLINSVILLE With the closure of Interstate 255 from I-55/70 to I-64 slated to occur at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, motorists will have a lot to get used to. The highway will be closed in two sections over the next 10 months for a $64 million renovation project, the first major project in the states Build Illinois capital improvement plan in this area At a news conference Tuesday morning, Illinois Department of Transportation officials discussed the need for people to consider which alternate routes they will use when the highway is closed. We understand that the first several weeks of this are going to be rough, Joel Cumby, IDOT District 8 construction engineer, said. Its going to take some time for everybody to figure out where theyre going, what route works best for them, and how much time its going to take. With all of these alternate routes and detours, if everyone will choose the best alternate route for them, we will all be better off, he said. Look at where youre coming from, and where youre going. We highly encourage everybody to start exploring those routes, start testing them out and see what works best for you. Tuesdays event was in a parking lot at Fairmount Park in Collinsville, with the I-255/Collinsville Road interchange in the background. As officials talked, a truck loaded with construction barriers rolled by and workers started setting them out. Cumby said there would be a lot of pre-positioning of barriers and equipment over the next few days. Officials described I-255 as one of the worst roads in the state, stating the section behind them has had no major work other than routine maintenance since it was opened in the 1980s. Both the northern and southern sections carry an average of about 55,000 vehicles per day. The northern section carries about 54,000 vehicles, about 7,250 of them heavy trucks, according to IDOT officials. The entire project will take 10 months to complete, rather than four years if traditional lane closures were used. It will also save the state about $14 million, which officials said could be used on other projects. The first phase will close the highway between I-55/70 and I-64 for approximately five months. The second phase from I-64 to Illinois State Route 15 will last about the same time. The work is set to be finished at 12:59 p.m. Nov. 24. Contractors have both incentives to finish early and penalties if the project is not done on time. Much of Tuesdays meeting centered on why the entire road would be closed, a move that has brought criticism. First and foremost is safety, Lora Rensing, project implementation engineer for IDOT District 8, said. Closing the road has proven to be the best way to protect our workers. It also saves us a lot of time. We cannot stress this enough: This project, that could take three to four years with standard staging methods, were going to get it done in 10 months, she said. Rensing said IDOT looked at a lot of options before deciding to do a complete shutdown. If we staged this project like we normally would for a resurfacing project, that would require all three lanes of traffic to utilize one lane, she said. The existing pavement would not be able to withstand that additional traffic. That would result in emergency closures without warning. That means we would have no plans, no detours, no alternate routes set up. One reason contractors will be able to speed up the process is, with no traffic, it gives them more options in how to set up and stage the work, Rensing said. When the road is closed, both the east and west southbound exits from I-55/70, and the east and west northbound exits from I-64 will be closed. Southbound I-255 exits to I-55/70 and northbound exits to I-64 will be open. At Collinsville Road, only the northbound ramp to I-255 will be open. The signed detour will take traffic along I-55/70 and I-64. In addition to the detour, there are numerous alternative routes for daily commuters, using Illinois Routes 3, 15, 157, 158, 161 and 111. Cumby said that, during the initial shutdown, they expect Illinois 157 to be at maximum capacity but that should level off as people find the best routes for them. Rensing added that the full closure was only possible because of the availability of alternate routes. Most are multi-lane, meaning they have additional capacity. Not all interstates have that supporting infrastructure to allow for that option, but this interstate does, she said. IDOT has been coordinating with the ISP, the Missouri Department of Transportation, and the Midwest Trucking Association. It has also sent information to map sites like Google and Apple. Cumby said truck traffic that does not begin or end in the area is being rerouted, and the Trucking Association has reached out to its member companies. If we can keep trucking out of the congestion and keep them separated, he said. Its safer for the motorists and better for the trucking companies because t keeps commerce moving through the area. Both he and Rensing said they will constantly monitor the detour and alternate routes, with staff present at key sites, using drone technology and coordinating with the Illinois State Police. Well adjust signal timing and be providing media updates to let everybody know which routes we see are being overused and which routes are being underutilized and have more capacity, Cumby said. Well adjust signal timing and be providing media updates to let everybody know which routes we see are being overused and which routes are being underutilized and have more capacity. He also said the detours and alternate routes would be priority for maintenance, and that they have developed plans for snow removal and emergency repairs. Weve done a lot of preemptive work, he said. Weve resurfaced routes. Weve improved shoulders. Weve done pavement repairs. Weve improved intersections. In the off chance that something does happen, we do have plans in place. Rensing said if the contractor finishes early, there is an incentive bonus of $50,000 per day, up to 20 days. However, if the contractor is late there is a $50,000 per day penalty, with no limit. Thats a big incentive to get it open early, she said. She noted the project is part of a larger plan for the region and cited several projects, including improvements planned for the northern I-270 corridor from Illinois 111 west, including a new I-270 bridge. For more information visit the I-255 project webpage at www.idot.illinois.gov/projects/i-255-resurface-project; follow @IDOTDistrict8 on Twitter; and IDOTs Twitter and Facebook pages. Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447. SOCIAL Democrats councillor Elisa ODonovan has said the Government shouldnt spend one more penny on beds in acute hospitals, including University Hospital Limerick. Cllr ODonovan made the controversial remark on social media, in response to a Green Party motion that called for emergency funding for more beds and staff at UHL. Taking issue with the Cllr Sean Hartigans motion, which was passed last week, Cllr ODonovan said on Twitter that she was frustrated at the current level of debate on healthcare during the election. We shouldnt spend one more penny on beds in acute hospitals or UL Hospitals. We need to prevent admission as much as possible and prioritise funding in community care and rehabilitation in primary care. We need to implement and resource Slaintecare. We also need to stop using crude measurements of trolley counts. These are very easy to measure and react too but tell us nothing about quality of care. People go to A+E because they dont feel like they can get that care in community, that is what we need to change. I am so frustrated at the current level of debate on health care in #GE2020 in Limerick. This is the singular issue at the doorstep and yesterday at @LimerickCouncil the @greenparty_ie put forward the following motion, a motion that I argued against to criticism from my fellow pic.twitter.com/T65zYQErCP Cllr Elisa O'Donovan (@elisaodonovan) January 21, 2020 I appreciate that this isnt a sound bite or wont win any votes in the short term but I am not afraid to say that money wont fix this and any politician who promises more beds, more funding for acute hospitals is not going to do anything to help healthcare in Limerick city. UHL, which serves up to 400,000 people, has around 200 fewer beds than better performing hospitals in Galway, Cork and Dublin. It also has around 1,000 fewer staff than Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. Cllr ODonovan, an allied health professional for 15 years, told The Leader that it something she would never put in a throwaway tweet. She said she has worked with people over the past six years, who have spent two years on hospital beds with acquired brain injuries and other neurological conditions who should be living out in the community but havent been able to because we dont have appropriate community residential facilities for people to live in. She believes that if they just fund 3,600 extra beds we are just going to see the same thing that people will be going to the A&E because it is the only place in the community that they can get appropriate healthcare. She said there needs to be more funding for accessible community healthcare. She said this will change under Slaintecare and is calling for political commitment to implement the cross-party initiative. Read MassLives coverage of untested rape kits in Massachusetts. ----------------------- A confidential online system that will allow survivors of rape and sexual assault to track their evidence kit as it moves through the testing process has launched in Massachusetts, officials said Wednesday. The sexual assault evidence collection kit tracking system, known as Track-Kit, has launched in six of the states counties. The system went live in southeastern Massachusetts on Jan. 6. A second regional launch for Central and Western is scheduled for next week. The entire state is expected to have the system by March, according to the office of Gov. Charlie Baker. Sexual assault evidence kits, also known as rape kits, are collected at hospitals. Medical professionals use cotton swabs and other materials to collect DNA from a survivors body. From the hospital, DNA should go to a crime lab for testing. Track-Kit is mobile-friendly and will allow survivors to follow their kit from collection through the testing process. The system will allow survivors to track kits collected after the regional launch date, the governors office wrote in a statement. The system also makes tracking information available to medical personnel, investigators, crime labs and prosecutors responsible for each kit. In addition to allowing survivors and authorities to track a kits progress, Track-Kit also offers information on local rape crisis center resources; specific contact information at the hospital, police department and district attorneys office involved in their case; and 24-hour access to technical tracking system support, according to the statement. The criminal justice reform act, signed by Baker in 2018, granted authority to the state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to establish the tracking system. EOPSS asked for input from survivors, victim advocates, public health and public safety officials, crime lab personnel and information technology specialists. After a procurement period, EOPSS contracted with STACS DNA, which has developed similar tracking systems for Arizona, Michigan, Washington, Nevada and Texas. This comprehensive tracking system is an important advancement in services that Massachusetts can now provide to survivors of sexual assault and the network of public health and public safety agencies that support them, Baker said. Southeastern Massachusetts, the first region to go live with the system, included Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket, Norfolk and Plymouth counties. The second region, Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester counties, is planned to go live on Feb. 3. Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk counties, the third region, are scheduled to go live a few weeks later. The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security is providing training for personnel from the State Police Crime Lab and stakeholder agencies including medical facilities, police departments and district attorneys offices. By providing accurate information at every stage of the process, Massachusetts kit tracking system is delivering transparency to survivors and enhancing efficiency for stakeholder agencies, said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Thomas A. Turco. This is a major development for anyone concerned with victim advocacy, services and support. The tracking system is rolling out as the state has counted hundreds of untested rape kits across Massachusetts. Officials have committed to testing those kits. Last year, the state said there were 387 untested kits in 13 of the states 14 counties. One kit dated back to 1971. New Englands second-largest city, Worcester, reported zero untested kits. Some of the states other large cities, like Springfield, Lowell, Quincy and Lynn reported zero untested kits. Advocates have said they believe 387 is far too small a number of untested kits to be accurate. Other states similar in size to Massachusetts have identified thousands of rape kits sitting untested on police evidence shelves. Bristol County was not included in the count because authorities there received a federal grant to count and test forgotten rape kits. In Bristol County, a preliminary inventory indicated 2,124 rape kits submitted by county law enforcement to the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab, which dated back to 1983, were never tested or were only partially tested. Legislation passed in 2016 that requires rape kits to be stored for 15 years, in line with the statute of limitations for sexual assault. Related Content: The event, part of activities to mark the 45th founding anniversary of the Vietnam-Germany diplomatic ties (1975-2020), is organised by Huong Viet magazine, which is among the best providers of online news in Vietnamese in Germany, in collaboration with the citys exhibition centre. Products and traditional cuisine of Vietnam are on display at the five-day fair, notably Vietnams famous literature works translated into German. Besides, the tens of photos on Vietnamese landscape and people taken by photographers of the two countries are also introduced at the event. Editor-in-chief of Huong Viet Pham Khanh Nam said the event aims to promote Vietnams landscape, people, culture and cuisine to German and international friends, as well as strengthen the links among Vietnamese people in Augsburg and the surrounding areas. Vietnamese Defence Attache to Germany Nguyen Tuan Minh said as Vietnam and Germany signed a strategic action plan for 2019-2021, the bilateral strategic partnership will continue to thrive this year. Reiner Erben, a member of the Augsburg city council, said the event has helped local people better understand the countries culture. The Vietnamese community in Augsburg plays a significant role in the local development, he added. Amidst growing concerns of security on WhatsApp, the United Nations on Thursday has warned its officials against using the messaging app to communicate as it lacks secure mechanisms, international media reported. On Wednesday, Amazon chief Jeff Bezos revealed that his phone was hacked in 2018 through a WhatsApp message that was purportedly sent by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia--Mohammed bin Salman himself. Read: Jeff Bezos' Phone Hacked By Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Bin Salman? All You Need To Know No secure mechanism Farhan Haq, a United Nation spokesman, speaking to international media revealed that UN officials were barred from using WhatsApp since June 2019. He added that the senior officials were instructed not to use the communication platform as it did not support a secure mechanism. This comes after two independent UN officials said on Wednesday that Bezos phone was likely hacked using a WhatsApp account associated with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in an attempt to influence news coverage of the kingdom. According to international reports, Amazon CEO's phone had mysteriously started sharing huge amounts of data immediately after receiving a video file from the de facto ruler of the Kingdom's WhatsApp account in May 2018. This file was sent a few weeks after the two had met for dinner at Los Angeles and exchanged numbers. Read: Jeff Bezos Remembers Khashoggi Hours After Saudi Hacking Report Furthermore, the relationship between one of the richest man in the world and Saudi Prince deteriorated after the murder of Washington Post columnist, Jamal Khashoggi. The gruesome killing was followed by a report on the newspaper on how a Saudi hit squad murdered the journalist in Istanbul and a Saudi Twitter campaign which targetted The Post and Bezos. The alleged involvement of Saudi Crown Prince and his inner circle in the hacking of The Washington Post owners phone gave another direction to Khashoggi's murder. This setback for MBS comes after it has been trying to portray the country in a better light. In December, Saudi Arabia court convicted eight people in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi but exonerated inner circle of MBS. However, with the increasing allegations, the Saudi Arabia Embassy to the United States has rejected the claims and called for an investigation. Read: Jeff Bezos Phone Hack Plan Took Off During Saudi Crown Prince's US Tour In 2018 Read: Saudi Crown Prince Messaged Jeff Bezos 'it's Not True' On Alleged Hack (With inputs from Agencies ) Prime Minister Ludovic Orban on Wednesday said he couldn't understand the reasons for which the PSD (Social Democratic Party) wants to submit a motion of censure, and that, in his opinion, the Social Democrats don't like the system in which the mayors would be elected by 50 per cent of the votes plus one because they fear their mayors didn't do their job in the local communities. "I saw that the PSD announced a motion of censure. Honestly, I don't understand what is the reason behind this motion of censure. I looked into the results of the local elections in 2016 and you must know, ladies and gentleman from the PSD, that more than 1,500 of the mayors who won the elections were elected by 50 per cent plus one votes. But this means you should support this system of election, unless you fear that your mayors didn't do their job in the local communities and that these mayors, who were also affected by the disastrous governing you brought as a plagues against Romanians. Maybe these mayors cannot obtain 50 per cent plus one, although you did pump a lot of resources from the state budget in them!," said Orban, at the meeting of the Parliament during which the Government assumed responsibility for the draft law on the election of mayors in two rounds.He told the PSD representatives that they won't change the viewpoint of the citizens who want democratic elections for mayors."You can submit 10 motions of censure if you want, but you won't change our view and you won't change the viewpoint of the more than 82 per cent citizens who want democratic elections for mayors and who want to elect their mayors who will truly represent them, legitimate mayors, and this is only possible if they have 50 per cent plus one of the votes," said Orban. In a bid to strengthen administration and fix their accountability at the grassroots level after its flagship "Back to Village" programme last year, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has ordered administrative secretaries to dedicate one day a week for public hearing to address their grievances. Scheduled to start next month, the exercise will see 25 officers comprising 22 from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and two in the Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS) attending to public grievances on four days every month -- two days each in Jammu and Srinagar, a government order said. Last year, the administration twice dispatched 5,000 officers for a week under the "Back to Village" programme covering nearly 4,500 panchayats across the Union Territory with the objective of empowerment and development of panchayats. The first-of-its-kind initiative to reach out to the people at the grassroots level was held from June 20 to 27 followed by the second phase from November 25 to 30 last year. "As a policy of the government to reach out to the common masses to address their grievances, the administrative secretaries shall dedicate one day in a week as public hearing day," the order, issued late on Tuesday by Secretary, General Administration Department (GAD), Farooq Ahmad Lone, said. The order, issued on behalf of Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu, said the administrative secretary would hold public hearings from 10 am to 4 pm as per the schedule of the public hearing. In addition, the order said administrative secretaries will also visit the districts allotted to them to oversee the programme once in a month to hear the public grievances. The latest step comes just days after 34 Union ministers visited different parts of Jammu and Kashmir from January 18 to 24 as part of the Centre's week-long public outreach programme post abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories in August last year. The Union ministers addressed nearly 60 public meetings, mostly in Jammu region, and explained to the people about the benefits of abrogating Article 370, developmental works initiated under various centrally sponsored schemes and inaugurated various developmental projects. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rarely has history felt as relevant as it has since the start of the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. Rummaging through the past to make sense of the present, politicians and pundits keep returning to the impeachment trials of Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton. Yet, while these historical events cast important light on our current situation, a far older event offers enduring insight as well as temporary light. That event, the siege of the island of Melos, occurred nearly 2,500 years ago in the midst of the long and tragic war between the Greek city-states of Athens and Sparta. The siege would have been a forgotten sideshow had it not been for the wars great historian, the Athenian general Thucydides. In the so-called Melian Dialogue, Thucydides recreates or, perhaps, simply creates the intense drama of the confrontation between the mighty Athens and miniscule Melos. More importantly, though, Thucydides uses the dialogue to distill human nature to its bare bones, stripping us of the comforting stories we tell ourselves about the ideals of right and justice. In the stark series of exchanges between the Athenian and Melian leaders on this small island, we encounter the bleakest, yet clearest analysis of power ever offered one that applies to events now unfolding in the Capitol building. When a vast Athenian fleet of ships appeared off the coast of tiny Melos in 416 BCE, its inhabitants knew the jig was up. They knew it was up even though Melos had maintained a strict neutrality during the war. They knew it was up even though Melos was a speck of rock in the Mediterranean without strategic value. And they knew it was up because the Melians mere allegiance to Sparta had long been enough to rankle the Athenians. Landing on Melos, the Athenian commanders demanded the surrender of the inhabitants. They also derided the question of whether their demand was right or wrong. You know as well as we do, they declared, that right is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must. Might, in short, makes right. As for upholding justice in the eyes of the gods, the Athenians shrugged. The gods, they replied, do the same. Besides, they told the Melians, we were not the first to act on this law, and we wont be the last. Instead, they were doing what anyone else would do if they were in the same situation. Still, the Melians appealed to justice, clung to hope and refused to submit. The siege began, the Melians surrendered, and the Athenians killed the men and enslaved the women and children. If right doesnt matter, then were lost. This now-viral line, spoken by the lead Democratic impeachment manager Adam Schiff, seems to come straight from the Melians. And, until now, its impact has been the same: Schiffs appeal slammed straight into an unflinching phalanx of Republican senators. They know, as their leader knows, that they have the numbers in the Senate. Neither witnesses nor evidence matters; all that matters is they have the numbers and the Democrats dont. This is why the White House lawyers on Saturday spoke as briefly as did the Athenians. Why bother with the pretense of justice when the stronger side can do what they want? In the marble chambers of the Senate as on the barren beach of Melos, the case was closed before it opened. But, crucially, this is not where Thucydides closes his history. One year later, in 415 BCE, the Athenians, filled with the hubris they showed at Melos, invaded yet another island, Sicily. But the city-states on Sicily were much larger and more powerful than Melos and, within two years, they had battered and bested the Athenian invaders. Like the Melians before them, the tattered and terrified remnants of the Athenian force surrendered and were enslaved. As for their commander, who had ironically invoked the hope that the gods would come to the rescue, he was executed. As was the case at Melos, so too in Sicily: the gods were not listening. But we are listening, as will future generations. Historians will always debate what lessons, if any, Thucydides tried to teach in his history. Sadly, the belief that might must always be in the service of right does not seem to be one of those lessons. But there is a more compelling, if less comforting lesson namely, that history always has, if not the last laugh, at least the last word. Barnes teaches classics and Zaretsky teaches history at the Honors College, University of Houston. A Jefferson County bank teller used customers money to shop online and have food delivered to her, authorities say. Amber Jones, a 24-year-old Birmingham woman was employed part time at Regions Bank in Clay, now faces three felony charges with the potential for many more, police said. Trussville police arrested Jones as she arrived at the bank for work on Friday morning on charges of trafficking in stolen identities and identity theft. When she was arrested, according to a police report made public Wednesday, she had a blank Regions bank slip in her pocket which contained a handwritten debit card number, expiration date and security code. Jones was booked into the Jefferson County Jail at 3:54 p.m. Friday and released at 9:02 p.m. after posting $55,000 bond. Investigators launched their probe after a Trussville teen saw a charge on his bank account from restaurant delivery service Trussville to Go that he didnt recognize. The delivery service then contacted Trussville police. Among the victims were a 95-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy. Authorities say she used more than $1,000 of the customers money but they expect that total to climb as more victims are discovered. The investigation led to Jones as a suspect, and detectives then carried out a search warrant at her home near Grayson Valley. In her vehicle they found a receipt from Childrenssalon, an online designer store for children that boasts brands such as Gucci, Burberry and Dolce & Gabbana. The name on the order matched two of the Trussville to Go orders in which debit cards were fraudulently used. Inside her home, according to the report, investigators found numerous Regions bank slips under her bed with handwritten debit card numbers on them. A couple of the slips included a victims names, debit card number, expiration and security code, as well as addresses. Two cell phones were seized during the search warrant. According to the report, Jones admitted to writing down the debit card information of customers after they came into the branch and she had their card information up on the screen. Jones admitted to making all purchases among others that we were unaware of at the time, police wrote in the report. Jones told them she had been doing so since earlier November due to lack of personal funds. She said she has stolen at seven to 10 individuals information over the last several months. The report stated Regions Bank corporate security will be conducting an internal investigation to determine the exact number of victims. One of the victims told police she had a package delivered to her home full of childrens clothes that she did not order. It is believed, the investigator stated, that that may have been the first order made by Jones and delivered to the wrong address. US President Donald Trump will sign a new North American trade agreement on Wednesday in an outdoor ceremony at the White House to be attended by about 400 guests - but not the key Democrats who helped secure congressional passage of the deal. Guests invited to the South Lawn signing include lawmakers from around the country, workers, farmers, and CEOs, as well as officials from Mexico and Canada, a White House official said. Not invited were House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal and other Democrats who negotiated for months to expand the pact's labor, environmental and enforcement provisions and ensure the approval of the Democratically-controlled House, said sources familiar with the situation. The event takes place in the middle of Trump's impeachment trial, amid signs that some of his fellow Republicans may allow the calling of witnesses like former national security adviser John Bolton. Trump's legal team on Tuesday sought to minimize the importance of an unpublished book manuscript by Bolton that describes Trump's central role in a pressure campaign aimed at getting Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden, a top contender for the Democratic nomination to face Trump in this year's election. Trump had made renegotiating the 26-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) a major campaign issue in 2016, and plans to tout its replacement at events in coming weeks as he campaigns for a second term in office. "Along with members of Congress, state and local leaders, and workers from across the country, including farmers, ranchers, and entrepreneurs, President Trump will celebrate another promise made, promise kept to the American people when he signs the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)," White House spokesman Judd Deere said. "USMCA rebalances trade in North America, replaces the job-killing NAFTA, ends the outsourcing of American jobs, and invests in the American worker," he said. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement must still be ratified by Canada before it can take effect. The U.S. Senate this month overwhelmingly approved the legislation, sending the measure to Trump for him to sign into law. The Mexican parliament has already approved the deal. Congressional aides said it could take several months before the trade accord is implemented, since the three countries must show they are meeting its obligations before the clock starts ticking on an effective date. The USMCA includes tougher rules on labor and automotive content but leaves $1.2 trillion in annual U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade flows largely unchanged. (CNN) A bright pink slug species, found only on one mountain in Australia, has survived the devastating bushfires that ripped through much of its habitat. The unique, eye-catching creature only lives on the slopes of an isolated inactive volcano in New South Wales, Mount Kaputar, from which they take their name. After recent rainfall, rangers from New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service found "about 60" Mount Kaputar slugs alive, according to a recent post on the organization's Facebook page. The survival of the Mount Kaputar slug comes after ecologists at the University of Sydney estimated that around half a billion animals in New South Wales alone have been affected by the bushfires. The Facebook post added that there had been fears for this "unusual species" after the fires impacted "much of its alpine habitat." "They may not be as cute as koalas or wallabies, but this species also plays an important role in its ecosystem," the post said. The Mount Kaputar slug, measuring up to 20 centimeters (7.9 inches), went mostly unstudied until 2013, when it was identified as a new species. Researchers had previously thought it was a variation of the red triangle slug, also found in New South Wales. The slugs have never been spotted anywhere but the summit area of Mount Kaputar, located in the state's northeast. The effects of a volcanic eruption on the mountain 17 million years ago kept that small summit area wet and full of greenery, as other areas of the country changed to dry desert-like conditions -- meaning the animals living on the mountaintop were marooned for millions of years, unable to live anywhere else. But these species are under threat -- including the pink slug, listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Their high-elevation habitat is especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and may shrink as temperatures increase, according to the IUCN. Frank Kohler, senior research scientist in malacology at the Australian Museum, told CNN that Mount Kaputar National Park is home to about 20 endemic species of slugs and snails, and is known to be an endangered ecological community. Kohler said: "This is good news that they've found these slugs. They give us hope that maybe the impact of some of the fires are not as great as we thought." However, he acknowledged that the park was not among the "more severely affected" areas of the Australian bushfires and can only provide "just a glimpse" of the overall picture of devastation. Kohler also cited the survival of the Wollemi pines, a prehistoric tree species in a national park near Sydney, as another rare piece of positive news. Speaking about the slugs, Kohler said that they, like many other species, have evolved to deal with fire. In their case, they would have retreated into "protective crevices," such as rocks. Although their main food source -- fungi and lichen -- will have been affected by the fire, Kohler believes that these will grow back "relatively quickly" under the right conditions. Mount Kaputar National Park is currently closed to members of the public because of the damage caused by bushfires. Since the fire season began in late July, large swaths of Australia have been devastated by the worst bushfires in decades. More than 20 people have been killed and millions of acres of land have been destroyed. The state of New South Wales is the worst-affected state, with thousands of homes destroyed or damaged. Ecologists at the University of Sydney estimate that more than 1 billion animals have been impacted across Australia -- meaning killed, displaced, without food or shelter, or otherwise affected. That number is likely to be even higher in reality, as these estimates don't include insects, frogs, and other invertebrates. "It's a monstrous event in terms of geography and the number of individual animals affected," said University of Sydney ecologist Christopher Dickman in a news release. "It's events like this that may well hasten the extinction process for a range of other species. So, it's a very sad time." This story was first published on CNN.com, "A unique pink slug feared wiped out by Australia's bushfires has been found alive and well" Businesses from Co. Leitrim had the opportunity to meet buyers from all over the world this week as part of the Local Enterprise Showcase at Showcase 2020 in the RDS in Dublin. Roy Humphreys, Artwood and Carol Mc Loughlin Calligraphy, were all exhibiting at the Local Enterprise Showcase, part of Showcase 2020, that saw over 2,700 buyers from retailers across the globe attend the four-day event in Dublin looking to secure new sales and partners for the year ahead. Roy Humphreys, Woodturner, uses native timber to handcraft a range of bowls, pens, tealights and clocks to name a few, while Artwood manufacture high quality, hand-crafted, wooden suncatchers and Carol Mc Loughlin Calligraphy has a beautiful range of calligraphy products . Dr Orlaigh Quinn, Secretary General at the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, officially opened Showcase 2020 at the RDS, Dublin. The show, which marked its 44th edition this year and ran until Wednesday 22 January, is one of Irelands largest and most important international trade fairs. Showcase is presented on behalf of Design & Crafts Council Ireland, with support from Enterprise Ireland in promoting the trade show internationally, and the Local Enterprise Offices nationwide. Dr. Orlaigh Quinn, Secretary General at the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation said: This world-class fair focused on Irish creativity is instrumental to sustaining and developing Irelands innovative design and craft sector which makes an immense contribution to our economy and culture and provides vital sustainable employment in every region. Showcase offers trade buyers a unique opportunity to meet with hundreds of enterprising Irish companies, ranging from brand new start-ups to family businesses established for generations. For exhibitors keen to diversify or extend their market presence internationally, this is where they can connect with buyers from around the world and secure orders, enabling them to build resilience and maximise their potential to scale and grow. I look forward to seeing the design and craft sector continue to evolve through the exciting opportunities that Showcase presents and wish all those involved a fruitful event this year. The Leitrim companies selected to take part in this years Local Enterprise Showcase at Showcase 2020, have been working closely with the Local Enterprise Office in recent months to ensure they are in the best possible position to maximise their appearance at the event including sales technique, marketing materials and stand production. Joe Lowe, Head of Enterprise, Leitrim County Council, said Showcase is a fantastic platform for Leitrim businesses to show potential buyers from around the world the exceptional range of crafts made locally. We are delighted to assist local businesses attend this event. Louise Allen, Managing Executive, Design & Crafts Council Ireland, said: Showcase is pivotal to developing the commercial potential of Irelands design and craft sector, providing innovative Irish companies with an unparalleled opportunity to meet and do business with buyers from across Ireland and around the world. This annual event also plays a crucial role in raising the profile of contemporary Irish design and craft internationally and we are continually developing the shows offering while delivering a uniquely Irish experience. It was a record-breaking year for Local Enterprise Showcase exhibitors as part of the Showcase Awards with seven Local Enterprise Office client companies securing awards and recognition through the Showcase awards programme. In the overall Best Product category, it was Badly Made Books from Local Enterprise Office Cork City who took home the award, while 29 Bride Street from Local Enterprise Office Dublin City were highly commended. In the overall Best Home Product category both Roy Humphreys with Local Enterprise Office Leitrim and Saille Baskets from Local Enterprise Office Cork North & West were highly commended. For more information on Local Enterprise Showcase 2020 and supports available to those operating in the design and crafts sector, log on to www.LocalEnterprise.ie and for more information on Showcase 2020, log on to www.ShowcaseIreland.com Seoul National University removed former Justice Minister Cho Kuk from his teaching position on Wednesday. By Kim Se-jeong Seoul National University said Wednesday that it has decided to remove former Justice Minister Cho Kuk from his position as a law professor at the school. "We believe it would be difficult for the indicted professor to carry on his role here," the university said in a statement. "We decided to remove him from the position. This doesn't mean he is either guilty or innocent. It is only an administrative measure to stop him teaching." The school also said it would monitor legal developments involving Cho until it makes a final decision. Cho left the university in 2017 as he was selected to work for the presidential office. He returned to the school briefly last August but left again after he was appointed to lead the Justice Ministry. In October last year after he resigned from his position as justice minister, he came back to the university. He was supposed to teach a class in the upcoming spring semester. Cho expressed his disappointment over the school's judgment but said he would accept it. "I think the school's decision is unfair in that it was based only on the prosecution's biased judgment which I am fighting against. Yet, I accept the school's decision. I suspect the school was worried about the possible fuss my presence in the classroom could create. Until I am able to stand before students, I will continue to write and prepare myself for teaching," Cho wrote in a Facebook post. On Dec. 31, the prosecution indicted Cho with 11 charges including taking bribes and forging documents for his daughter's university enrollment. On Jan. 17, he was again indicted for abusing his authority to stop the presidential office's internal probe into former Busan Vice Mayor Yoo Jae-soo over corruption allegations. Connecticuts Beardsley Zoo was selected to receive 15% of proceeds from wine sales from Fairfield-based Ardaso Wine. The companys CEO, Sonja Narcisse, named the zoo as a recipient of the companys corporate giving program beginning in January 2020, according to a news release. Narcisse said she founded the company with the goal of being a revenue stream for women, children and communities in need, and helping children thrive socially, academically and emotionally. The Zoo fit her corporate mission as a non-profit, educating 60,000 children each year on zoo grounds, and thousands more children and adults through Zoomobile visits and offsite education programs. Narcisse joined the zoos Board of Directors in November 2019. IT company NIIT Technologies Ltd (NTL) on Wednesday posted a 66.29 per cent jump in consolidated profit to Rs 123.3 crore for the quarter ended on December 31, 2019. The company had reported a net profit of Rs 100.2 crore in October-December 2018, NIIT Technologies said in a regulatory filing. The company's revenue from operations increased by 10.4 per cent to Rs 1,073.4 crore during the reported quarter from Rs 971.7 crore in the corresponding quarter of 2018-19. "The firm registered a robust performance in the quarter across key parameters including revenue, earnings, cashflow, and deal wins, in line with our stated intent to drive robust, predictable and profitable growth," NIIT Technologies CEO Sudhir Singh said. In April last year, NIIT Technologies had agreed to sell its 88.99 per cent stake in Esri India Technologies Ltd to Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc (Esri, Inc) for Rs 89.7 crore. Excluding that business, the net profit was up 33.8 per cent year-on-year, while revenue was higher by 16.1 per cent. The Board has recommended an interim dividend of Rs 10 per share, and the record date has been set for February 10, 2020. In addition to this, the company has distributed interim dividend amounting to Rs 62.4 crore during the quarter, the filing said. NTL said it secured fresh business of USD 218 million in the December quarter. "As a result, the order book executable over the next 12 months has also increased to USD 424 million," it added. In reported terms, Banking and Financial Services (BFS) contracted 1.3 per cent quarter-on-quarter contributing 16 per cent of revenue, NIIT Technologies said in a statement. Travel, Transportation and Hospitality (TTH) was up 6.2 per cent on quarterly basis contributing 28.5 per cent of the revenue, while insurance grew 0.2 per cent sequentially accounting for 30.2 per cent of overall revenues. Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and Rest of the World (RoW) contributed 48 per cent, 37 per cent, and 15 per cent of the revenue mix. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MONTREAL, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Following a thorough and rigorous selection process, the Board of Directors of Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) has appointed Charles Emond as President and Chief Executive Officer. In accordance with CDPQ's incorporating act, the appointment was made by CDPQ's Board of Directors and approved by the Government of Quebec today. His appointment takes effect on February 1, 2020. Charles Emond is appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CNW Group/Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec) Charles Emond is currently Executive Vice-President, Quebec, Private Equity and Strategic Planning at CDPQ, which he joined in February 2019 after nearly 20 years at Scotia Bank. In addition to leading the Quebec investment strategy, he heads the Private Equity (Quebec and International) teams, which include direct and indirect investments in nearly 800 companies. He also leads CDPQ's annual strategic planning process. When he left Scotia Bank, he was based in Toronto as Global Head, Investment Banking and Capital Markets, and Head of Canadian Corporate Banking. In these roles, he oversaw a team of over 500 professionals in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America. At the same time, he continued to lead Scotia Capital's Quebec activities, serving as the bank's most senior representative to world-class companies and their various stakeholders. See Charles Emond's complete biographical notes: https://www.cdpq.com/en/about-us/governance/executive-committee/charles-emond "For over 25 years, Charles has acquired extensive international experience and a deep understanding of Quebec's companies and business community. As a leader, he is recognized for his sound judgment, his technical and managerial abilities and for his communications skills. A seasoned negotiator, Charles has demonstrated throughout his career that he can successfully conclude complex and major projects by mobilizing his teams and managing stakeholder relationships with a long-term perspective. This rich combination of experience and skills led to the Board's decision," said Robert Tessier, CDPQ's Chairman of the Board. "I am very pleased that he has agreed to steer CDPQ through the next stage of its evolution and continue building an organization that is even more solid and resilient," he added. "Leading CDPQ is a challenge that I am incredibly proud and greatly humbled to accept. I also accept it with confidence, because I know I can count on the expertise and immense talent of our teams. CDPQ is a unique institution with a distinctive signature, as it plays a key role in our economy and exports its investment know-how around the world, to the benefit of Quebecers," said Charles Emond. "I want to continue building this organization to firmly position it to face the major challenges of our time, including developing our economy for tomorrow and investing sustainably while generating returns for our depositors in the future." "On behalf of my colleagues on the Board of Directors and all CDPQ employees, I would like to once again thank Michael Sabia for his vision and profound dedication, which have made CDPQ what it is today," concluded Mr. Tessier. ABOUT CAISSE DE DEPOT ET PLACEMENT DU QUEBEC Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) is a long-term institutional investor that manages funds primarily for public and parapublic pension and insurance plans. As at June 30, 2019, it held CA$326.7 billion in net assets. As one of Canada's leading institutional fund managers, CDPQ invests globally in major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private debt. For more information, visit cdpq.com, follow us on Twitter @LaCDPQ or consult our Facebook or LinkedIn pages. SOURCE Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec Related Links https://www.cdpq.com/ A lawyers commitment is to be a shepherd for his client and to help walk them through the shadow of the valley of death and sometimes you make a call that youre client is self-destructive based on your best judgment and I saw nothing in this case that made me think this would happen and I just am going back trying to see what I missed," Pattis said RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Brazilian miner Vale SA said on Tuesday it would suspend travel by its employees to and from China indefinitely as a precaution amid an outbreak of a new coronavirus. Vale, the world's largest iron ore miner, said its employees in China will work remotely and the company will continue to operate normally at Asian ports. (Reporting by Marta Nogueira Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) MADISON In his UW-Madison lab, Robert Kirchdoerfer studies proteins from six different types of coronaviruses, including SARS and MERS, which caused deadly human outbreaks in recent years. Within two weeks, he expects to get proteins from the new coronavirus that emerged late last year in China, sickening at least 6,000 people, killing at least 130 and last week showing up in the United States. Kirchdoerfer, who doesnt work with whole viruses, studies protein sites shared among different strains of coronaviruses. Our goal is to identify these sites and figure out how they work, and use those as targets to develop antiviral drugs, he said. As the new coronavirus outbeak continues to grow, mostly in Asia, state and campus experts in Madison are preparing for possible cases while cautioning against alarm. The new virus appears to be less deadly than SARS and MERS, and so far it presents much less of a threat in Wisconsin than seasonal flu, which has killed at least 23 people in the state since October. This is influenza season and there are many other viruses that also need to be taken into consideration, Dr. Nasia Safdar, medical director of infection control at UW Hospital, said Wednesday at a panel discussion about the new coronavirus at the university. State residents tested Dr. Ryan Westergaard, chief medical officer for the state Department of Health Services, said Wisconsin has no cases of the new coronavirus. Of seven people in the state who traveled to China, developed symptoms and were tested, one was negative and results for six are pending. No news is good news, Westergaard said. But any one of these travel-associated cases could really change the nature of our response in the coming days. The Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, at UW-Madison, has been sending samples to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for testing. Within two weeks, the state lab expects to be able to test samples on site, said Allen Bateman, an assistant director at the lab. UW-Madison, with more than 40,000 students, many of whom travel internationally, is prepared to react if things are changing, said Dr. Patrick Kelly, interim medical director at University Health Services. A campus message about the new coronavirus issued late last week was translated into five languages, Kelly said. Hundreds of viruses There are hundreds of different coronaviruses that infect various species, from mammals and birds to reptiles, scientists say. With the emergence of the new coronavirus from China, seven coronaviruses are known to infect humans, Kirchdoerfer said. Four human coronaviruses cause the common cold, accounting for about 30% of colds each year, said Kristen Bernard, a UW-Madison veterinary medicine professor. The other three can cause more serious disease, with symptoms resembling influenza. SARS, which caused an outbreak in 2003, and MERS, which emerged in 2012, originated in bats, said Christopher Olsen, a UW-Madison emeritus professor of veterinary medicine. The viruses are thought to have jumped to humans through intermediate species for SARS, cats; for MERS, camels. The new coronavirus appears to be structurally similar to SARS, though less deadly so far, and also is suspected to have come from bats, Kirchdoerfer said. No drugs or vaccines are approved against human coronaviruses. Researchers are working on a vaccine against the new virus, with clinical trials possible as early as April. Whether the new outbreak will be a global pandemic by then or die out after several months, as SARS did, is impossible to predict. The next two to four weeks will really tell, Olsen said. Xiaohai Hou became the CEO of China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited (HKG:291) in 2016. This report will, first, examine the CEO compensation levels in comparison to CEO compensation at other big 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. The aim of all this is to consider the appropriateness of CEO pay levels. Check out our latest analysis for China Resources Beer (Holdings) How Does Xiaohai Hou's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies? According to our data, China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited has a market capitalization of HK$124b, and paid its CEO total annual compensation worth CN3.9m over the year to December 2018. While this analysis focuses on total compensation, it's worth noting the salary is lower, valued at CN1.5m. Importantly, there may be performance hurdles relating to the non-salary component of the total compensation. We looked at a group of companies with market capitalizations over CN55b and the median CEO total compensation was CN6.5m. There aren't very many mega-cap companies, so we had to take a wide range to get a meaningful comparison figure. Most shareholders would consider it a positive that Xiaohai Hou takes less in total compensation than the CEOs of most other large companies, leaving more for shareholders. Though positive, it's important we delve into the performance of the actual business. The graphic below shows how CEO compensation at China Resources Beer (Holdings) has changed from year to year. SEHK:291 CEO Compensation, January 29th 2020 Is China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited Growing? Over the last three years China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited has grown its earnings per share (EPS) by an average of 9.4% per year (using a line of best fit). Its revenue is up 5.1% over last year. I'd prefer higher revenue growth, but I'm happy with the modest EPS growth. So there are some positives here, but not enough to earn high praise. It could be important to check this free visual depiction of what analysts expect for the future. Story continues Has China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited Been A Good Investment? I think that the total shareholder return of 147%, over three years, would leave most China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited shareholders smiling. As a result, some may believe the CEO should be paid more than is normal for companies of similar size. In Summary... It looks like China Resources Beer (Holdings) Company Limited pays its CEO less than the average at large companies. It's well worth noting that while Xiaohai Hou is paid below what is normal at large companies, the returns have been very pleasing, over the last three years. So, while it might be nice to have better EPS growth, on our analysis the CEO compensation is quite modest. CEO compensation is one thing, but it is also interesting to check if the CEO is buying or selling China Resources Beer (Holdings) (free visualization of insider trades). Important note: China Resources Beer (Holdings) may not be the best stock to buy. You might find something better in this 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. OMAHA (dpa-AFX) - Lee Enterprises, Incorporated (LEE) has reached an agreement with Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-B, BRK-A, BRKa) to acquire BH Media Group's publications and The Buffalo News for $140 million. BHMG owns the print and digital operations of 30 daily newspapers, as well as more than 49 paid weekly publications with digital sites and 32 other print products. Berkshire Hathaway is providing approximately $576 million in long-term financing to Lee at a 9% annual rate. The proceeds will be used to pay for the acquisition, refinance Lee's approximately $400 million of existing debt, and provide enough cash on balance sheet to allow for the termination of revolving credit facility. Lee anticipates the acquisition to be immediately accretive to earnings. Annual run-rate revenue and cost synergies are estimated at $20-25 million. 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. QUEBEC - The Quebec government has selected a relative newcomer at the Caisse de depot et placement to succeed Michael Sabia as its new head. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 29/1/2020 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Logo for the Caisse de Depot et Placements, Quebec's pension fund, is seen on February 21, 2018 in Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz QUEBEC - The Quebec government has selected a relative newcomer at the Caisse de depot et placement to succeed Michael Sabia as its new head. Charles Emond, 47, is poised to take over as president and chief executive of the province's pension fund manager starting this Saturday. "It's obvious when we look at the next decade, it will be different from the last," he said in a phone interview, referring to forecasts of economic sluggishness after 10 years of bull markets. Emond touted the successes of his predecessor and called the Caisse's portfolio as "solid," but said new ground must be staked out under crowded conditions. "There is a lot of competition for the same assets...There is a lot of capital compared to 10 years ago. Assets are expensive, rates are now very low. It is obvious that there is less room for manoeuvre." Seen as a rising star since he joined the Caisse last February, Emond will move up from his role as senior vice-president overseeing Quebec, private investments and strategic planning. He will retain that position on an interim basis. Emond spent 18 years at Scotiabank, where he led a team of more than 500 employees across three continents as global head of merchant banking and capital markets. Earlier, the HEC Montreal business school graduate oversaw Canadian corporate banking at Scotia Capital. Premier Francois Legault confirmed the appointment in a tweet Wednesday afternoon. "Mr. Emond will be able to reconcile the Caisse's dual mission, which is to grow the assets of depositors and contribute to the development of Quebec's economy," Legault said. Sabia, 66, announced in November he would move on from the Caisse after more than 11 years at the helm to become head of the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto. He had been appointed to lead the institution after it was shaken by the financial crisis, which resulted in $40 billion of losses. Under Sabia's guidance, the Caisse says it has produced annual returns of 9.9 per cent over 10 years, while the size of its net assets has almost tripled to about $330 billion. Over the last decade, the institution has diversified, focusing particularly on sectors such as infrastructure and private equity, while continuing to invest in real estate and adjusting its strategy. Investments outside of Canada now represent about two-thirds of Caisse assets compared to less than half 10 years earlier. 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. Michel Nadeau, executive director at the Institute for Governance of Private and Public Organizations, says Emond brings a breadth of experience to the revitalized pension fund, but must continue to exercise freedom from political concerns. "Mr. Emond knows Quebec business well," said Nadeau, a former executive with the Caisse. "He is someone who has a global perspective, who will not only invest in stocks and bonds, but will go into private placements, infrastructure and real estate. "For me, the most important challenge for Mr. Emond will be to show his independence, his autonomy. The president of the Caisse is someone who...does not take government orders," he said. Robert Tessier, chairman of the Caisse board, commended Emond for his "sound judgment, his technical and managerial abilities and for his communications skills." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 29, 2019. Companies in this story: (TSX:BNS) A woman has revealed how her twenty-seven-year age gap with her partner leads strangers to mistake him for her grandfather. New Product Development Engineer and law school student, Robert Owen Sr, 54, and model, Ada Olszewska, 27, both from Illinois, first connected with one another in March 2018, thanks to a Facebook post by Ada. At the time Robert had recently divorced his first wife and was living in Indiana. Outside of his nine-to-five job, he had developed his talents as an artist and was working on a new project combining his nature photography with acrylic painting. Ada, a single mother, originally from Bialystok in Poland, was living in the couple's now hometown and was looking for upcoming artists to feature as part of her job at an online magazine. Robert responded to her Facebook post and traveled to Chicago to be interviewed, and after weeks of talking online, they finally met face-to-face and fell in love. Model Ada Olszewska, 27, from Illinois, has told how her 27 year age gap leads strangers to mistake her partner, Robert Owen Sr, 54, for her grandfather (pictured together) Ada (left) and Robert (right) moved in together after a month of meeting for the first time and have been together for two years In 2019, Robert (pictured left) and Ada (right) welcomed their son Kodi (middle) into the world. When the couple met, Robert already had a child from his first marriage 'I knew I needed to differentiate my art for it to stand out against the crowd,' explained Robert. 'I started to paint on my nature photographs, thus adding a unique level of abstract feel, the warmth of acrylic paint mixed with a high definition photograph. 'The latest expansion of my artistic creations incorporated live models, that I would body paint and have them pose in a set that I had previously created and painted, then photograph the ensemble, print on a special medium, then add additional acrylic paint to that image. This is what I call "BodyPaintArt"'. 'At the time, Ada was working for an online magazine and had started doing Facebook Live interviews of artists, models and photographers. The couple (pictured together) first connected with one another in March 2018, thanks to a Facebook post by Ada Around the time they first met, Robert had recently divorced his first wife and was living in Indiana. Pictured, Robert and Ada 'She had made a post on Facebook about her interviews and I thought that might be a good way to better promote the BodyPaintArt.' 'So, I reached out to her and we started talking on a regular basis about the art, her modelling and our lives in general. 'We set up a time and date for me to come to Chicago to do the interview and we decided to create some BodyPaintArt together after the interview and how the saying goes, 'the rest is history'. 'We had an unusually comfortable chemistry with each other right of the bat, it was as if we had known each other forever.' Robert, who already had a child from his first marriage, uprooted his life and moved approximately 200 miles away to Illinois to live with Ada a month after they first met. In 2019 he and Ada welcomed their son Kodi into the world. Ada told that at first, her mother did not like the fact of her being with Robert, but added she is now happy for them. Pictured, Ada (left) and Robert (right) have an age difference of twenty seven years between them Standing at only 4ft 9in, Ada says that her youthful look often leads people to think she is much younger than she actually is. Pictured, Robert (left) and Ada (right) spending time together Robert (middle) pictured with his son Kodi (right) and his step-daughter (left) Standing at only 4ft 9in, Ada says that her youthful look often leads people to think she is much younger than she actually is, and often results in people believing Robert is her grandfather. Ada talks about how her family and strangers reacted to her relationship. 'People who do not know us, like to judge us,' she said. 'I am four-foot-nine tall and I am twenty-seven years old. I look fifteen. So from people's point of view I am underage and I am dating a grandpa or father.' 'At first my mother did not like the fact of me being with Robert. She got used to it, and she is very happy for us now. Especially now, that I gave birth to her second grandchild Kodi. 'It's the most perfect relationship I've ever been in. Sure, we have our little fights, just like everybody, but it doesn't stop me from loving Robert. Ada (left) was looking for artists to interview as part of a project for an online magazine she was working for when she met artist Robert (right) Ada (left) says that despite the almost three decade age gap between her and her partner Robert, (right) theirs is the most perfect relationship she has ever been in 'Age is just a number, it has never been a problem for me. It's not the age that counts, it's the heart and the mind of your significant other that should play a major role.' The couple plan to stay in Chicago while Robert finishes studying at law school where he and Ada will continue to raise their children until Robert retires, when he will take over the role of house-husband. Both of them keenly encourage others not to 'judge a book by its cover' and say that age is just a number. 'I realise that people have a tendency to mock what they don't understand, but the greatest advice would be that if the people look happy, why is it necessary to question why they are happy?' Robert said. 'To anyone who has been hesitant to enter into an age gap relationship, I would caution that it truly has to be the right person, just like any age normal relationship. 'Age is just a number, the mind, body and soul connect with those they are meant to connect.' New Delhi: In the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case, the Supreme Court on Wednesday (January 29) will pronounce the order on the plea filed by one of the convicts, Mukesh Kumar Singh, against the rejection of his mercy petition by President Ram Nath Kovind. Mukesh approached the top court on Monday seeking urgent hearing on his plea against the dismissal of his mercy petition. A three-judge bench of the apex court headed by Justice R Banumathi along with Justice AS Bopanna and Justice Ashok Bhushan heard the arguments on Tuesday and will pronounce its order at 10.30 am today. The four convicts, Mukesh Kumar Singh, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Vinay Kumar Sharma, and Akshay Kumar Singh, are facing execution on February 1 in the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case. Live TV Advocate Anjana Prakash, appearing on behalf of Mukesh, alleged that her client was physically and sexually assaulted in Tihar jail and put under solitary confinement, adding "He (Mukesh) was forced to have intercourse with Akshay (another death row convict in the case) in Tihar jail." The counsel told the court that the "Presidential pardon is a Constitutional duty of great responsibility, which must be exercised keeping in mind greater good of the people", adding "Solitary confinement and procedural lapses are the grounds for considering this case ... Undue delay in hearing the petition and the due and prescribed procedure was not followed in this case." She said that the documents were placed before the President of India without application of mind."I am not challenging the judicial verdict. The judicial verdict stands as it is. The courts can`t go into as how it was rejected, but the president can certainly go into the merits of the case," she added. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing on behalf of the Delhi government, said that even death convicts have to be treated fairly under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution but opposed the plea of the death row convict, adding "Delay can be a ground for considering a case, but expeditious disposal of case/petition, it can`t be a ground for challenging this before the court." He highlighted that the trial court, Delhi High court, and the Supreme Court had awarded and upheld the death penalty to the convicts in the case while considering their medical condition. Earlier, Mukesh Singh had moved the mercy petition before the President after the apex court had dismissed his curative petition against his death sentence. The court had also dismissed the curative petition of another death row convict, Akshay Thakur. The lower court has issued the warrant for the execution of death sentence for the convicts in the case that has been fixed for February 1 at 6 a.m. The other two convicts, Pawan Gupta and Vinay Sharma, are yet to file curative petitions before the Supreme Court. A 23-year-old paramedical student was brutally gang-raped by six men (including a juvenile) in a moving bus in the national capital on a chilly night on December 16, 2012. Another convict Akshay on Tuesday filed a curative petition in the Supreme Court, informed Tihar Jail officials. It was Australian architect Peter Hall who graced the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall with two of its most memorable objects: the acoustic clouds known as the "doughnuts" and its magenta coloured seats. Sydney Opera House CEO Louise Herron sits in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House, in seats by architect John Rourke. Credit:AAP From Saturday the Concert Hall will close for a $150-million upgrade, and by the time it reopens in two years, a group of Australian architects hope their request for an onsite memorial to Hall, the man responsible for the building's interiors will be granted. As part of the $275 million decade of renewal program, the most significant upgrade to the venue since it opened in 1973, the canopy of 21"doughnuts" which Hall helped design, were removed earlier this month. Some of the toroidal-shaped acoustic reflectors, each 1.8 metres in diameter, nicknamed "doughnuts" and "giant Life Savers" by the workers who installed them, and "calamari" by a visiting Italian conductor, may be auctioned to the public at a later date. A proposal to tear down the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts sailed through council on Wednesday without amendments or debate, paving the way for a redevelopment of the site. The St. Lawrence Centre, on Front St. E. opposite Berczy Park requires an estimated $42 million in repairs just to bring it up to current municipal code. TO Live, the agency that oversees publicly owned theatres in the city, had asked instead for permission to tear down the complex and rebuild. It got that approval from city council on Wednesday, without any opposition. City staff have been instructed to start consulting with key stakeholders in the cultural community and in the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood to help develop a building plan that reimagines the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts as a new cultural and civic hub. A cost estimate is to be prepared after the consultations, but in a submission to a city committee, TO Live proposed a $200 million investment, with $42 million coming from the city that would otherwise have been spent on repairs, $100 million in as-yet-unsecured city, provincial and federal money, and $38 million to $58 million raised by the newly created fundraising arm of TO Live. The new building will be a new reimagined centre as a state-of-the-art cultural and civic hub for the citys creative communities and the community at large, in particular not-for-profit performing arts organizations, centred on its historic role as a landmark centre for economic and cultural activities. The decision at City Council today is the beginning of a valuable and exciting process for the whole community; including the STLC neighbours, our current and potential future tenants, and the City at large. TO Live will now begin the conversations with all stakeholders to discuss the vision and desires of constituents which will ultimately build the foundation of a successful project, said Clyde Wagner, president and CEO of TO Live. Not everyone agrees. Len Racioppo, board chair at Factory Theatre and a former board member of Canadian Stage, says his organization has been trying to get city halls help updating their venue, located on Bathurst St. He doesnt understand why the city is willing to invest what is likely to be a lot of money to knock down a theatre building and replace it with something newer and more-up-to-date, but still with large theatres. These days, smaller theatres are more in use than larger ones, said Racioppo. I just dont think it makes a whole lot of sense to be rebuilding a structure that will probably not be used any more than the current one, he said. City council also: Agreed to move forward with the plan to expropriate, if necessary, the air rights over the train tracks in the citys south end in order to build Rail Deck Park. Weve been timid about things in the past that we knew in our heart of hearts that we needed, said Mayor John Tory, speaking to the issue at council. We need more big attractions in the city. Approved the ravine implementation strategy, which would invest more money, beginning this year, in ridding Torontos ravines of waste, rubbish and invasive species that are choking out native plants and trees. The strategy adds $2.7 million in funding to the task, beginning this year. Amendments to that motion included proposals to reach out to schools and private owners of ravine properties to engage them in the task of protecting the ravines from further degradation. Committed to a plan to dramatically increase the number of electric vehicles in Toronto. The EV plan sets targets of increasing ownership from .6 per cent now to 5 per cent in 2025 and 100 per cent in 2050. Big questions remain, however, over who will pay for public charges, how residents without driveways can access them, and if the Toronto Hydro grid can handle the change. Approved a Councillor Paula Fletcher (Ward 14, Toronto-Danforth) motion asking the province to consider alternative plans for the Ontario Line transit project, including putting it underground for its entire length. The near-unanimous vote came the morning after a Metrolinx public meeting where residents of Leslieville and nearby streets objected to plans to build a section in an elevated railway through the neighbourhoods. Residents said theyre worried elevating the section, rather than burying it as the citys relief plan envisioned, could mean the loss of Jimmie Simpson park and recreation centre as well as unbearable noise, with Ontario Line trains every 90 seconds. Dont bury the neighbourhood, bury the Ontario Line, Fletcher (Ward 14, Toronto-Danforth) told council. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon. (Warner Bros) While it's unlikely they'll be handcuffing people and jumping off buildings, the producer of the planned final movie in the Lethal Weapon series has revealed that Mel Gibson and Danny Glover are on board. Dan Lin, who has also produced movies like Sherlock Holmes, It, Gangster Squad and the Lego movies, was speaking to The Hollywood Reporter around his new movie The Two Popes when he dropped the bombshell. Read more: First poster for Fast & Furious 9 He also added that Richard Donner, the 89-year-old veteran director of the original movies, was back in the frame too. We're trying to make the last Lethal Weapon movie. And Dick Donner's coming back, he said during the round table chat. The original cast is coming back. And it's just amazing. The story itself is very personal to him. Mel and Danny are ready to go, so it's about the script. Danny Glover and Mel Gibson on the set of Lethal Weapon. (Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images) A potential fifth movie has been discussed for years, since at least 2007. Then in 2017, Gibson himself hinted that a new project was rolling, while Deadline reported that Donner would be back in the director's chair too. Donner also said last year that the movie, if it ended up being made, would be called Lethal Finale, and would be very dark and penned by Channing Gibson, who wrote the fourth movie. Read more: Priyanka Chopra set for The Matrix 4 He added on the Maltin on Movies podcast last year that he wasn't too confident of it getting the green light, but this news from Lin, who also produced the rebooted Lethal Weapon TV series, could mean that the landscape has changed. The original movie landed in 1987, with Glover as near-retirement homicide detective Roger Murtaugh, who's unexpectedly paired with wild narcotics detective Martin Riggs, who has suicidal tendencies. Three more movies emerged following the first hit, starring the likes of Gary Busey, Joe Pesci, Rene Russo, Chris Rock and Jet Li, to diminishing critical returns. KOD 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 Families concerned about both paying for college and tackling postgraduation student debt now have more options: The rules governing how 529 college savings plans can be used have expanded again. First introduced in 1996, 529 plans offer parents a way to save for college expenses for a designated beneficiary. Families contribute money after taxes to these accounts, which grows on a tax-deferred basis and can be withdrawn tax-free if it's used to pay for qualified education expenses. In addition, some states offer special tax benefits for 529 plan contributions. A law signed by President Donald Trump in December 2019 added a new qualified expense that can be paid for by 529 plans: student loans. The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act, a spending bill known as the SECURE Act, established a lifetime limit of $10,000 from a 529 plan that can be used without any penalties or tax consequences to repay the beneficiary's student loans, including federal and most private loans. An additional $10,000 can be used to repay student loans held by each of the beneficiary's siblings. Prior to these changes, any withdrawals for the purpose of student loan payments were subject to income taxes and other penalties. The new 529 plan rules begin retroactively, starting with the beginning of 2019. [Read: 6 Tips to Make Extra Student Loan Payments Correctly.] This is the second of two major additions to the list of qualified expenses in recent years. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2018, expanded the use of 529 plans to include paying for private school tuition for kindergarten through 12th grade, up to $10,000 per year. Other qualified 529 expenses include tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, and computers. Despite the advantages of 529 plans, just 30% of college savings are held in these accounts, according to How America Saves for College, a 2018 report from Sallie Mae. General savings accounts are the most commonly used account type by college savers. Story continues Awareness of 529 plans and their tax benefits has long been a problem. Per Sallie Mae's findings, 51% of college savers have not heard of 529 college savings plans, and 74% of individuals earning less than $35,000 say they have not heard of 529s compared with 35% of individuals with an income of more than $100,000. There are several possible scenarios in which it could be useful to pay off student loans through 529 plan distributions. According to Mark Kantrowitz, publisher and vice president of research for Savingforcollege.com, these could include using money left over from a sibling's 529 plan; tapping into surplus 529 funds that are available as a result of a student graduating from college in three years instead of four; repaying loans a parent borrowed to pay for a child's college education; or minimizing the impact of a grandparent-owned 529 plan on a student's eligibility for financial aid. [Read: Know the Tax Implications of Eliminating Student Loans.] The beneficiary of a 529 plan is typically the student, but the account owner can change the beneficiary to be a parent. This could be helpful in the case of those who took out Parent PLUS loans to pay for their child's college education, allowing them to use 529 money to repay the loans. In the case of a grandparent-owned 529 plan, any money withdrawn and used to pay for college expenses is considered income to the student that has to be reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, which could then affect the student's eligibility for need-based financial aid. Changes introduced in the SECURE Act offer grandparents a new way to help out without affecting financial aid eligibility. A grandparent can now wait until after the grandchild graduates to take a 529 plan distribution, which can be used to pay back any student loan debt that accrued, up to $10,000. The changes established by the SECURE Act expand the pool of individuals who can receive the tax benefits of a 529 plan, says Jason Delisle, resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a District of Columbia-based think tank. "If you didn't have the cash to save for a 529 and instead you or a dependent then had to take out a student loan, but later on you ended up with the cash, now you can get the 529 benefit," Delisle says. "But from the federal government's point of view, their benefit that they offer on these things is not that big relative to what some of the states offer." Though it may be rare, he says there are a few circumstances in which individuals have both leftover 529 funds and student loans. For example, individuals may try to avoid selling their 529 investments when the stock market is down, or they may borrow student loans they don't need in order to receive benefits including the ability to repay the debt using 529 funds. In certain cases, Kantrowitz says, it may even make sense for individuals who graduated from college years ago to open a 529 plan with the purpose of saving to pay off their student loans. This could be smart strategically if a student is in graduate school, for example. "Deferring the loans while one can afford to make payments now might not make sense, since the loans probably continue to accrue interest," Kantrowitz wrote in an email. "Still, maybe they are in graduate school or maybe their grandparents want to help them repay their student loans. More likely they have a younger sibling who was unable to use all their 529 plan money for some reason (say, the sibling got a full scholarship or is enrolled at a U.S. military academy) and the parents want to use the leftover money to help the student who already graduated to pay down their student loans." [Read: How to Choose a 529 Plan on Your Own.] Ultimately, the impact of the changes to 529 plans may not be significant for most families, according to Brent Weiss, a certified financial planner and chief evangelist at Facet Wealth, a financial planning firm. "It's a low impact benefit, but it does create flexibility for many American families. Saving for college can feel like a daunting task, and it's often hard, without the help of a professional, to understand how much to save and the best ways to do so," Weiss wrote in an email. "Giving families more flexibility with how they can access their funds will ease the anxiety around locking up money for a single purpose when it can be hard to predict what costs will ultimately be." Any parent who has invested in a tax-advantaged 529 plan only to find his or her child doesn't want to attend college also has a new option as a result of the SECURE Act. Previously, a parent's primary option in this situation would be to transfer the 529 plan to a family member such as a sibling, first cousin or aunt, or even to themselves, to use for qualified education expenses. Now, the law also allows individuals to use their 529 distributions to pay for apprenticeships, giving students a new route to take advantage of the savings accounts without risking penalties. Families and borrowers interested in taking advantage of the new law should check their specific plan before making any withdrawals, experts say. "The big unknown is how the states will react," Kantrowitz wrote. "We do not yet know which of the 30+ states with state income tax deductions or tax credits will allow them to be used with student loan repayment. If the addition of K-12 tuition by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 is any indication, probably 21 of the states will allow it. The others will treat using 529 plan funds for student loan repayment as an non-qualified distribution." Trying to fund your education? Get tips and more in the U.S. News Paying for College center. More From US News & World Report Saudi Arabia plans to use a new solar technology to desalinate seawater at Neom, a megacity that its developing along the countrys northern Red Sea coast. Neom will have the worlds first solar dome desalination plants, which it said will produce no carbon emissions and create less brine than facilities using conventional reverse osmosis technology, according to in a statement. The solar dome plants will also process drinking water more cheaply than conventional plants, at 34 cents per cubic meter, Neom said. The citys developer signed an agreement with U.K.-based Solar Water Plc to build the plants. Construction will begin in February and be completed this year, Neom said, without giving estimates for the cost of the project or the amount of drinking water it will process. Unlike reverse osmosis, in which seawater passes through plastic membranes that remove the salt, Neom will pump ocean water into a dome-like structure of glass and steel. There it will be heated until it evaporates and precipitates as fresh water, Neom said. The government envisions Neom as a $500 billion (U.S.) project that will include resorts, hi-tech manufacturing and automation. Its a showpiece of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans goal of curtailing the conservative kingdoms dependence on crude oil by diversifying the economy. Since it was announced in 2017, however, international investors have been slow to commit to Neom, citing concerns about its commercial viability and political risk. Read more about: Details added (first version posted on Jan. 27 at 21:50) BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 27 Trend: On January 20, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was interviewed by Rossiya-24 TV channel of Russia on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Rossiya-1 and Rossiya-24 TV channels broadcast the interview with the head of state. Trend presents the interview which was shown on Rossiya-24 TV channel. Presenter: OPEC+ is a successful format of multilateral cooperation, which has helped to determine the fair price for oil today. The deal between oil market participants has proved effective and should be extended. This opinion has been expressed by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in an interview with our channel on the sidelines of the Davos Economic Forum. - Given the tensions observed in the Middle East, what dynamics of the oil price can be expected this year? - It is difficult to make a prediction. I think that both producers and consumers are satisfied with the current price level. As for Azerbaijan, a price of $55 per barrel has been included in our budget for this year. But the price is much higher now. Therefore, I think that the price will remain within this range of $55 to 65 if there are no force majeure circumstances. Moreover, the OPEC+ format is proving very effective and Azerbaijan takes an active part in the work of this format. We are reducing production in connection with our obligations, and the countries that are not members of OPEC are essentially acting in the same way as OPEC members today. Therefore, OPEC+ is a very successful format for multilateral cooperation, which has essentially determined that the price of oil today is fair in our opinion. - In your opinion, should the OPEC+ deal be extended? - This will be discussed in the near future, of course. But given the fact that we are seeing specific results, of course, I consider it would be appropriate to extend it. Because in the event of non-extension, we do not know how the market will react and different speculative trends may appear again. Therefore, I believe that the extension would make sense. - In your opinion, are there any signs of multi-polarity in the world today? - Of course, the world is developing as a multipolar one today. There are several centers of power. Of course, there are issues of concern to us, the escalation of tension in our region. But we also see positive dynamics, when countries that did not previously have such close interaction are acting almost like allies today and making a great contribution to regional stability. Therefore, a multipolar world is already a reality. I think that these trends will be strengthened over time. And this is positive because it is a guarantee of stability in the world. - Are there any signs that one of the countries of the world is gravitating toward a more unipolar world? - You know, large countries always have their interests outside these own boundaries, and each country wants to secure better conditions for itself and expand its sphere of influence. This is nothing new in that. We have been observing this for centuries with a varying degree of intensity. Therefore, this is not the question. The question is that the current structure of the world order, including the structure of international relations, is such that it implies multi-polarity. If we look at permanent members of the UN Security Council, it is a reflection of the multi-polarity of the world. And no decision can be made without the consent of one of the permanent member-countries. Therefore, I think that countries shouldnt strive to ensure unipolarity for themselves, but, on the contrary, find elements of cooperation that will benefit everyone. - Will Azerbaijan supply oil to the Republic of Belarus? - I dont know. This question is not for me. This is probably a question for the oil company. We supplied oil to Belarus several years ago, but then this process was suspended at the initiative of the Belarusian side. If such a need arises again, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan will consider this issue. Today, SOCAR Trading is one of the largest trading companies, and a large portion of the oil it sells is not produced in Azerbaijan. Therefore, purely technically, the Azerbaijani company can supply anywhere. But the issue of price, the issue of logistics, the issue related to contractual obligations all this should be considered between respective companies. - Thank you very much! - Thank you! 33 items in this article 9 items on sale! Photo: Courtesy of the retailers By the time you reach your third wedding anniversary, youve likely survived a few Thanksgivings at the in-laws, perhaps an ill-fated beach vacation where it rained every day, and the occasional debate over what cleaning the kitchen actually entails. In other words, youve embraced your marriages flexibility and durability two qualities also found in leather, the traditional third anniversary gift. To help you find the perfect present, weve combed through our archive to find the best leather gifts for all types of spouses, from hiking boots for outdoorsy wives to jackets for style-savvy husbands. If you havent been married for three years yet, we also have guides for first and second anniversary gifts, as well as ones for fourth-, fifth-, sixth-, seventh-, eighth-, tenth-, 20th-, 25th-, and 50th-anniversary gifts if youre looking ahead. For the frequent-flyer couple For the frequent-flyer couple (with elaborate skin-care routines) For the stylish couple While a good one wont come cheap, a classic leather jacket will instantly up the cool factor of any outfit. Former Strategist deputy editor Jason Chen says that after buying his Schott motorcycle jacket, I was practically living in the thing. We also like the shearling-lined Arrivals jacket thats similar to (even more expensive) jackets from the likes of Helmut Lang and Acne. For the couple with a summer house For the couple with a home office For the couple who go on long walks together A go-with-everything wardrobe essential, white leather sneakers are an ideal gift for your fashionable spouse. Blogger Soraya, of Soul of Soraya, loves this Frye style because of its versatility and perfect fit, while Jake Woolf, a former GQ staffer, says the classic Stan Smiths are pretty unimpeachable style-wise. For the couple who go on long walks together (in the snow) Cold weather is no excuse to stop your romantic strolls. Take a cue from the Strategist team with these durable winter boots. Senior editor Anthony Rotunno calls the mens style his blizzard Red Wings, and writer Liza Corsillo says the suede-and-leather Sorel boots are what I wear when I want to stay dry and cozy but also look like an apres-ski influencer. For the couple who love their coffee table For the couple who like to drink wine in the park Leather Wine-Bottle Holder $65 $65 With this leather wine-bottle holder which comes with a stainless-steel bottle opener and a leather carrier handle you can bike (or walk) to the park for a nice date with your favorite Beaujolais in tow. $65 at Pedal Happy Buy For the couple with limited space For the #cloglife couple Writer Lauren Mechling coined the term cloggerati and maintains that the statusy No. 6 clogs are the Manolo of the increasingly crowded klompen field. Guys can embrace the #cloglife, too, with this Yuketen pair (an elevated version of the more ubiquitous Birkenstock Boston style) recommended by Olie Arnold, style director at Mr Porter. For the power couple For the couple with big plans Smythson Soho Agenda with Pocket $275 For plotting out work or personal goals, give your spouse a planner thats as nice-looking as it is functional. The weekly agenda devotes a sizable square to each day, and theres a weekly to-do list on the opposite page, says writer Leah Bhabha, who has long been a fan of the Smythson Soho agenda. $275 at Smythson Buy For the couple trying to stay organized Royce New York Travel Leather Catchall Valet Tray $90 If your days are organized but your apartment is not, give a leather catchall tray for corralling keys, sunglasses, and loose change. If your spouse is the type to dump the contents of their pockets as soon as they walk in the door, at least everything will look a little neater clustered inside. $90 at Kosterina Buy For the couple with Scandi style Anthropologie Kamara Leather-Loomed Chair $998 Modsy senior designer Joslynn Durant recommends this (surprisingly comfortable) armchair for fans of streamlined Scandinavian decor. The woven leather straps make it more affordable than a solid leather chair but just as durable, so it works well for families with children and those who entertain often, she says. $998 at Anthropologie Buy For the couple with mid-century style Article Sven Couch $1,899 Among the handful of new start-ups offering flat-pack sofas, Article has garnered the most attention among interior designers. The leather Sven sofa, specifically, was recommended to us by 11 different experts when we went hunting for the best couches you can buy online. Its got that iconic mid-century look that many clients are seeking, says designer Alexandra Kalita. $1,899 at Article Buy For the (vegan) couple with mid-century style Urban Vegan Leather Sofa, Saddle From $2,299 We get it: Leather isnt for everyone. Luckily, the world of vegan leather is massive and inclusive, meaning, whether you eat animals or not, you can still get a gorgeous leather sofa for your living room. From $2,299 at West Elm Buy For the Eames-enthusiast couple For the couple who just updated their phones For the couple who take pride in their plants For the couple whose dog has an Instagram account Fable Leash $65 $65 Your beloved pup deserves the best, and this Italian leather leash (available in colors like blush and light gray, with rose-gold or matte-black hardware) will make a statement at the dog park. $65 at Fable Buy For the couple whose cat has an Instagram account For the commuting couple Here are two styles that tick all the boxes for the perfect work bag: Theyre roomy enough to hold a laptop and your gym clothes, professional enough for the office, and not too fancy for a post-work happy hour. The Everlane tote is a favorite of Biz Lindsay, the director of brand marketing and communications at direct-to-consumer razor brand Harrys, while the messenger bag gets rave reviews from Amazon shoppers. For the couple who hike together Mountain climber Zina Bougri tells us these boots, with their one-piece leather design, can handle anything from a casual walk around Telluride to a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. And Alex Howard, the editor of Lonely Planet magazine, says he packs his pair for trips where Ill be spending as much time on the trails as I do in the city, since theyre also relatively stylish for hiking boots. For the couple who are always on time A sophisticated watch doesnt have to be expensive, as evidenced by these two under-$50 options we found on Amazon. For the couple looking to protect their leather get the strategist newsletter Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Terms & Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. Victoria's infrastructure spree is of a scale and cost never before seen in this state. While Premier Daniel Andrews is unlikely to be around long enough to cut the ribbon on all the projects, they furnish his government with its raison d'etre, illustrated most successfully in its thumping victory at the last state election. So when one of its biggest and most complex projects goes awry, it's worth taking a closer look. What doing so reveals is not exactly reassuring. The $6.7 billion West Gate Tunnel has come to a grinding halt after the state government, Transurban and the project's builders failed to come to an agreement on who should pay the extra costs of dealing with large amounts of contaminated soil. The builders, John Holland and CPB Contractors, threatened on Wednesday to pull out of the project altogether after having warned the government six months ago that they would jump ship if the issue was not resolved. While the wrangling goes on, the tunnel-boring machines sit idle and 140 construction workers have already been sacked. The West Gate Tunnel project is at a standstill. Credit:Simon Schluter The scale of the problem is best illustrated by the more than 1.5 million cubic metres of rock and soil, enough to fill the MCG to the top of the stands, that will be dug out to build nearly seven kilometres of tunnels. The contaminate of most concern is PFAS a group of more than 4000 chemicals used for resisting heat, stains, grease and water. The chemicals, which are now being phased out, were once used extensively in firefighting foams and led to the shutting down of the CFA training college in Fiskville. Exposure to PFAS is being linked to higher risks of cancer and liver damage. Transurban is pointing the finger for the cost blowout at the Environment Protection Authority's new regulations on PFAS, introduced last October. These tightened the rules around how contaminated soil must be stored, treated and eventually dumped. Unsurprisingly, the EPA is playing tit-for-tat, denying its rule changes should make any difference to the costs. The number of people under investigation for the coronavirus in Ontario has dropped by one-third but persistent questions about the illness that has left central China in lockdown have prompted Torontos chief medical officer to set up a telephone hotline. The hotline is aimed at concerned passengers of the China Southern Airlines flight that brought an infected man and his wife to Pearson International Airport last Wednesday. Dr. Eileen de Villa, Torontos medical officer of health, told the Star that most of the approximately 30 passengers sitting beside or within three rows of the couple have been contacted by her department, or by public health staff in other cities where the travellers live. To my knowledge, all is well with them, she said Tuesday. The Ontario government said the number of potential coronavirus cases dropped to 11 from the 19 it had announced on Monday as tests came back negative for patients in isolation at hospitals or in their homes. One of the cases ruled out was at the Niagara Health system hospital in St. Catharines. Health officials are erring on the side of caution when it comes to testing people who have been to the Wuhan area of China, because the viruss symptoms of cough and fever are similar to the flu and other respiratory infections common at this time of year. This means that most individuals who are tested are unlikely to be infected with the 2019 novel coronavirus, the Ontario Ministry of Health says on its website about the illness, which has killed more than 100 people in China as the number of cases there and around the world continues to grow. British Columbia has reported its first presumptive case, a man in his 40s who is recovering at home awaiting final test results after returning from a trip to Wuhan. The decision to limit the tracing of a limited group of passengers and aircrew instead of the entire planeload of people is based on the distance that infected droplets or secretions can spread from a cough or sneeze and time of exposure to anyone with the virus. Its passengers with more than 15 minutes of face-to-face contact, de Villa said. Faced with a barrage of calls, the citys health department is inviting people who were on China Southern Flight CZ311 from Guangzhou on Jan. 22 to dial 416-338-7600 weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with any questions. We have advised people who were not in that close contact zone if you develop signs an symptoms, well walk you through what you need to do, said de Villa. We have been doing this to inform these people that they have been exposed to a potential health risk, and so they know what signs and symptoms they should look out for, and when and what type of medical treatment they need to seek if that becomes necessary. The hotline is also open to members of the general public with questions about the new variant of coronavirus and is intended to keep Toronto public healths other lines free for other health concerns. De Villa said the risk to the public remains low. Outside China, health officials are aiming to limit the virus to people who contracted it in China, and to prevent it spreading from person-to-person. That has already happened in Germany, which confirmed its first case Tuesday a 33-year-old man in Bavaria who became infected after spending time with a colleague recently arrived from China. Some airlines are cutting back or cancelling flights to China, and Hong Kong has cancelled ferries to and from mainland China. The United States said Tuesday that it will expand screening of incoming passengers from China to 20 airports, up from five. The World Health Organizations latest report says there are 4,593 confirmed cases of the virus around the world, including 4,537 in China where 6,973 cases are suspected, with 976 people in severe condition and 106 deaths. Outside China, there are 56 cases confirmed in 14 countries and no deaths. With files from Star wire services By Trend Kazakhstan's embassy in Azerbaijan launched a special round-the-clock telephone line for Kazakh citizens who are currently in Azerbaijan, the embassy told Trend. The embassy noted that the line was launched due to the coronavirus outbreak. The phone number is +7 771 725 5555. The outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan - which is an international transport hub - began at a fish market in late December 2019, and since then more than 130 people have died, including a doctor who was treating the victims. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019. The symptoms include cough, headache, fatigue, fever, aching and difficulty breathing. It is primarily spread through airborne contact or contact with contaminated objects. Chinese health authorities say that the majority of the people who have died were either elderly or had underlying health problems. The virus is spreading at a rapid pace but researchers are far from finding a vaccine. Aside from Mainland China, the cases of coronavirus spreading have also been confirmed in Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, the US, France, Germany, South Korea, Canada, Vietnam, Cambodia, Nepal and Sri Lanka. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Tarunjeet Klair, M.D., of the Long School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, treats University Transplant Center patients at University Hospital. "For a healthy person to come and go through this for somebody else is not an easy thing." - Tarunjeet Klair, M.D., assistant professor of surgery in the Long School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and surgical director of the Living Liver Donor Program A major emphasis by the American Society of Transplant Surgeons is to increase organ donation in order to save the lives of patients suffering from end-stage organ failure. Currently an estimated 15% of patients die while on the waiting list in the United States because there are insufficient organs to meet this lifesaving demand. Decreasing the waiting list mortality requires more organs being procured from both deceased and living donors, which in turn requires innovation and organ preservation research. In San Antonio, Texas, transplant surgeons at the Long School of Medicine of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio innovated an effective approach to maximize the altruistic desire and contributions of living liver donors. A conundrum last April Anna Moreno hoped to donate part of her liver to save her father, Mark Blair. Natasha Sanchez felt led by God to give part of her liver to her friend, Sarah DAngelo. Then the tests came in. Anna wasnt a match for her father. Natasha, however, was a match for both DAngelo and Blair. What to do? Anna Moreno and Natasha Sanchez had both prepared to be living liver donors at University Transplant Center, a clinical partnership combining the excellence of physicians in the Long School of Medicine with the technology and support teams of University Health System. Tarunjeet Klair, M.D., assistant professor of surgery in the Long School of Medicine and surgical director of the Living Liver Donor Program, suggested an alternative swap donors so that both recipients could receive a transplant. On two days in April 2019, the transplant team performed the transplants that saved Mark Blair and Sarah DAngelo. Recovery progressed, and the following October, University Transplant Center welcomed the recipients and donors for a reunion of themselves and members of the transplant team. The paired exchange was the first in the U.S. for living liver transplants, as far as the transplant centers program directors are aware. The team performed a second paired exchange in July. Living liver programs are rare University Transplant Center is among only three dozen transplant centers nationwide including three in Texas that perform living liver transplants. In both 2018 and 2019, the transplant center was the second largest program in the United States in the number of living liver transplants. Many centers do not have experience with living liver donors, and paired exchanges require specialized surgical training and expertise. Given the large volume of very successful living donor transplant cases managed by our team, who also perform a large number of complex liver resections annually to remove cancers and other lesions in the liver, our center knew we had the safety record, standards and expert team members in place to save more patients through paired exchange, Dr. Klair said. Success in living donor liver transplantation requires four highly trained surgeons and a robust team of professionals including transplant hepatologists, nutritionists, nurses and social workers, to name a few. University Transplant Center comprises a cadre of professionals who follow the patients through their journeys from illness to recovery. Many team members, as faculty of the Long School of Medicine, are involved in transplant research and health professional education. The recent success with living donors is built upon a strong foundation of deceased donor liver transplantation over three decades and a comprehensive and talented team. Glenn A. Halff, M.D., professor of surgery in the Long School of Medicine, inaugurated the liver transplant program in 1993, and within five years the transplant center was performing more than 100 liver transplants a year, far exceeding expectations. Shortening the waiting list Long School of Medicine pediatric and transplant surgeon Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., who directs University Transplant Center, joins Dr. Halff, Dr. Klair and the entire team in promoting living liver donation as a long-term solution for the shortage of deceased donors. A transplant center needs to develop a broad culture of advocating for living donation and associated comprehensive education for interested living donors. Late last year, almost 13,000 people were on the national liver transplant wait list, including nearly 1,400 in Texas. We strive to shorten the waiting list to transplantation through multiple innovative approaches including living donor liver transplants, Dr. Cigarroa said. The liver is the largest organ in the body. Among its many functions, it secretes bile, which aids digestion. Because the liver possesses the amazing ability to regrow, surgeons may remove a portion of the liver of a healthy individual to transplant into a person whose liver is diseased. Within a couple of months, the donors remaining liver regrows to a normal size, while the portion of liver transplanted into the recipient also grows and restores healthy liver function. This is a lifesaver for recipients who need a liver transplant due to cancer, cirrhosis (scarring) or other disease. They can avoid having to become very sick while waiting for a matching liver from a deceased donor. It is a wait that unfortunately some patients dont survive. Surgeons vision The innovation of paired exchanges ensures compatibility of living liver donations between well-prepared donors and waiting recipients. Dr. Klairs inspiration made it happen. Dr. Klair has an unrelenting commitment to the safety and well-being of our patients, and where donor supply falls short, he is always looking for a solution to bridge the gap and make sure that we can give a safe alternative to our patients, said Jennifer Milton, RN, chief administrative officer of University Transplant Center. Accordingly, the center increased living liver transplants from six in 2017 to 39 in 2019. The living liver paired exchange also requires patients and families to trust their medical providers. For a healthy person who doesnt need an operation to come and go through this for somebody else is not an easy thing, Dr. Klair said. We recognize that. Mark Blair and Sarah DAngelo, with a new lease on life thanks to their liver buddies Natasha Sanchez and Anna Moreno, are among the grateful beneficiaries. The Long School of Medicine at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is named for Texas philanthropists Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long. The school is the largest educator of physicians in South Texas, many of whom remain in San Antonio and the region to practice medicine. The school teaches more than 900 students and trains 800 residents each year. As a beacon of multicultural sensitivity, the school annually exceeds the national medical school average of Hispanic students enrolled. The schools clinical practice is the largest multidisciplinary medical group in South Texas with 850 physicians in more than 100 specialties. The school has a highly productive research enterprise where world leaders in Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, cancer, aging, heart disease, kidney disease and many other fields are translating molecular discoveries into new therapies. The Long School of Medicine is home to a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center known for prolific clinical trials and drug development programs, as well as a world-renowned center for aging and related diseases. The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, dba UT Health San Antonio, is one of the countrys leading health sciences universities and is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. With missions of teaching, research, healing and community engagement, its schools of medicine, nursing, dentistry, health professions and graduate biomedical sciences have graduated more than 37,000 alumni who are leading change, advancing their fields, and renewing hope for patients and their families throughout South Texas and the world. To learn about the many ways We make lives better, visit http://www.uthscsa.edu. Stay connected with The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. DAKAR, Senegal As extremist violence grows across Africa, the United States is considering reducing its military presence on the continent, a move that worries its international partners who are working to strengthen the fight in the tumultuous Sahel region. The timing is especially critical in the Sahel, the vast arid region south of the Sahara Desert, where militants with links to al Qaeda and the Islamic State have carried out increased attacks in the past six months. In Niger and Mali, soldiers have been ambushed and at times overpowered by hundreds of extremist gunmen on motorcycles. More than 500,000 people have been displaced by violence in Burkina Faso. The pending decision is part of a worldwide review by Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who is looking for ways to tighten the focus on China and Russia. My aim is to free up time, money and manpower around the globe, where we currently are, so that I can direct it toward Asia or return forces to the United States to improve combat readiness, Esper said Monday after meeting with French Defense Minister Florence Parly, who traveled to Washington to urge the U.S. not to reduce forces in the Sahel. High-profile Republicans and Democrats have warned that such a decision would undermine national security. They argue that cuts in Africa could hand over influence on the booming continent of 1.2 billion people to China and Russia. The commander of U.S. forces in Africa, Gen. Stephen Townsend, is scheduled to testify Thursday to the Senate Armed Services Committee about the role of American forces in Africa. Talk of a possible troop reduction is reinforcing a view in West Africa that the U.S. is not interested, that it does not see it as a strategic importance and that it is going to cut and run and abandon its African allies, said Judd Devermont, director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies Africa Program. The U.S. has about 6,000 personnel on the continent. In West Africa, the Africa Commands mandate is to advise and assist, whereas in East Africa, where most of the U.S. troops are located, forces also accompany African troops on missions. More than 1,000 U.S. personnel are currently in the Sahel. The U.S. has also constructed a $110 million drone base in Niger. Carley Petesch is an Associated Press writer. Johnson defies Wallace to press ahead with Huawei deal Boris Johnson faced down opposition from his defence secretary yesterday as he allowed Huawei to help to build Britains 5G network in a decision that drew fierce criticism from US politicians. Ben Wallace told colleagues on the National Security Council to heed the warnings of America as its strongest ally on defence and security, The Times can reveal. He is said to have described China, by contrast, as a friend of no one during the 90-minute meeting. A source described Mr Wallace as a lonely voice in the discussion that preceded the formal announcement. Priti Patel, the other cabinet minister previously opposed to Huawei, made a limited contribution. Mr Wallace is understood to have accepted the decision to allow Huawei to build non-core parts of the telecoms network under the terms of cabinet collective responsibility. The Times Prime Minister moves to heal rift with the US Daily Telegraph Pompeo flies to UK for talks amidst Huawei concern BBC Risk is limited, says spy chief The Times Decision attacked by America and MPs The Sun >Yesterday: Ben Wallace: With a ban, cap and a cut we can have secure 5G The government is not naive about China. We have consistently called out acts of hacking and cybertheft. We have stood up for human rights in Hong Kong and will continue to work with our Five Eyes partners to uphold international rules based systems. In this century we will work to show China that joining the nations of the developed world means more than just trade. It means mutual respect for international law. The decision we have made this week means the ball is now in Huaweis and the Chinese governments court. As defence secretary I am committed to the defence of this nation and that is why I support our decision. The Times If I had any doubts about Huawei I would not have supported it Priti Patel MP, Daily Telegraph HS2 and Huawei are vital to keep pace with future David Willetts, The Times Fudge cant keep both China and the US happy Con Coughlin, Daily Telegraph The real decision about Huawei was made years ago Alex Hern, The Guardian Mays stare could have turned an elephant into a lump of stone Henry Deedes, Daily Mail Editorial: Why let a branch of Chinas Communist Party loose on a vital network? The Sun Points-based migration system dismissed as soundbite Ministers are to press ahead with an Australian-style immigration points system after effectively sacking their key adviser who described it as soundbite politics. Professor Alan Manning, chair of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), revealed on Tuesday that the Home Office had rebuffed his offer to stay on for a second three-year term and that he will step down next month. It came as he launched the MACs blueprint for a post-Brexit immigration system for skilled workers saying the Governments desire for an Australian points-based system was simply a soundbite for politicians to summarise their policy. You would make [the system] more complex, its not really clear what purpose it would serve, he said. A points based system is just wrapping around a policy its whats inside the tin that is really important. Daily Telegraph UK urged to lower migrant pay threshold after Brexit FT Skilled migrants should be allowed to come even without a job The Sun Editorial: Britain needs a balanced policy on immigration FT >Today: ToryDiary: The claim that the UK has become a more xenophobic country since the referendum is a damaging myth Peer warns that HS2 is not shovel-ready HS2 is not shovel ready despite claims to the contrary, the peer tasked by Boris Johnson with reviewing the project has said. On Tuesday Lord Berkeley presented the House of Lords with a list of alternative infrastructure projects which would cost significantly less. The work on some of the alternatives could begin in a few weeks time, according to the peer, who is the deputy chairman of the HS2 review commissioned by Mr Johnson. Lord Berkeley also challenged HS2 Ltds recent claims that alternatives would cause wide disruption. Instead he raised worrying examples of disruption which would be caused by HS2 on motorways and existing rail networks. Daily Telegraph Costs spiralled because chiefs wanted to make trains too fast The Sun Worst operator Northern Rail loses franchise five years early The Times Comment: Its time to bring back Beechings lost lines Tom Harris, Daily Telegraph Reverse rail cuts to reconnect the regions Alice Thomson, The Times >Yesterday: Andy Streets column: The Government is providing the investment we need to make our communities safer Scottish Conservative leadership contest descends into infighting The Scottish Tory leadership contest has descended into infighting over the partys general election losses, with Jackson Carlaws campaign accusing Michelle Ballantyne of insulting candidates and lacking political nous. Ms Ballantyne launched a thinly-veiled attack on Mr Carlaw, the favourite in the contest, saying the Tories lacked vision and ambition during the election campaign he spearheaded. They lost seven of their 13 seats. Writing in the Telegraph, she said Tory activists were desperate to talk to voters about something other than stopping a second independence referendum but the party had no credible policies for improving public services. In contrast, Ms Ballantyne said the Scottish Conservatives would stand for something under her leadership and outlined five policy pledges she would introduce after next years Holyrood election. Daily Telegraph Sturgeon red faced as Patel rejects Scottish visa proposal Daily Express More: Holyrood accused of lack of transparency over use of PFI FT Wales to ban parents smacking their children from 2022 The Guardian Jones warns Johnson over role for EU judges Boris Johnson must walk away from trade talks with Brussels if it lets EU judges police a deal with the UK, a former Brexit minister said yesterday. Insisting the European Court of Justice (ECJ) settles disputes on areas covered by a trading pact would mean there is no point continuing negotiations, argues David Jones. He said: You would be having disputes arbitrated by the court of one of the parties and it is a court that has got a political function, which is to advance the interests of the European Union. The EU has to realise it would be completely unacceptable and if they want to press that then there is no purpose in continuing the negotiations. Daily Express Business checks on Irish Sea trade loom as next flashpoint FT Comment: The abuse my family has faced means Brexit has never felt like a victory Sarah Vine, Daily Mail >Today: Mark Wallace in Comment: How Eurosceptics survived the wilderness years, and returned to win the day >Yesterday: Philip Davies MP in Comment: Better Off Out the campaign that shattered Westminsters taboo about leaving the EU Labour post-mortem report branded whitewash Labours post-election period of reflection has been branded a whitewash after an internal report praised a community organisers unit set up under Jeremy Corbyn. Despite Labour suffering its worst performance since 1935, an official briefing given to the partys National Executive Committee on Tuesday said the unit, which was created to rebuild support in the partys heartlands, had held the line. The meeting included a presentation by Mr Corbyns senior adviser Karie Murphy, who produced a document claiming that the role of community organisers was directly attributable to winning Putney, Labours only electoral gain. Officials and shadow cabinet ministers present were also addressed by Labours chairman Ian Lavery, who blamed the election disaster on the partys Brexit policy, media hostility and factional disputes between MPs. Daily Telegraph Leadership criticised over letter to defeated candidates The Times and Labour MPs claim party not being even-handed in leadership contest MPs supporting Keir Starmer and Lisa Nandy in Labours leadership battle have accused the partys hierarchy of handing fellow candidate Rebecca Long-Bailey an advantage by preventing parliamentarians from contacting constituency members. All Labour MPs have been told they are not allowed to contact their members using Labour party data; but an outside organisation, such as the grassroots group Momentum, can contact theirs even though there is much overlap. While Long-Baileys campaign is backed by Momentum with its large database of Labour members, Starmer and Nandys supporters in parliament say they cannot send literature to members explaining who they will support. The Guardian Thornberry criticised for defending Corbyns record on racism The Sun Long-Bailey claims Scot independence vote democratically right Daily Express Comment: As deputy leader, Id back policies rooted in peoples day-to-day lives Angela Rayner MP, The Guardian News in Brief: The Chinese state is already deeply embedded in Britain Robert Fox, Reaction Journalism is being eaten alive by opinion Jesse Singhal, UnHerd The problem with the big cost of Brexit numbers Julian Jessop, CapX Why Varadkars Brexit bashing is falling flat Finn McRedmond, The Spectator Flight shaming wont save the planet Bill Wirtz, 1828 P.S. Catholic Church officials asked the Dominican order Thursday to move an elderly priest out of his living quarters at St. Dominics Priory in Lakeview, a day after a victim-advocacy group exposed his presence on a list of Dominican religious order members who have been credibly accused of child molestation. The news about Richard Raphael Archer, 89, a retired priest, was contained in a letter that New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond sent to the parents of children at St. Dominic School on Memphis Street. The school serves students in pre-K through 7th grade and is attached to a church and priory on Harrison Avenue. Archer in December was among those listed in a 24-name roster of Dominican order members in the eastern and southern United States who were suspected child sex abusers, both living and dead. A board reviewing personnel files deemed an allegation of the sexual abuse of a minor against Archer as credible. He was removed from public ministry in 2002, when he was assigned to a Metairie-based Dominican province, his order said. Nonetheless, Archer was still listed as in residence at the St. Dominic Priory as of Wednesday, when the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests published a statement highlighting that fact. SNAPs statement also noted that, despite Archer's past, the Archdiocese of New Orleans marked the 50th anniversary of his ordination in a 2017 news release recognizing veteran priests. Archer's name was not among the 57 names on a list of credibly accused clergy in New Orleans that Aymond released on Nov. 2. The list was comprised of diocesan and religious order priests whom the archdiocese had removed from ministry, or would have removed had they been living. However, Aymond cautioned that the release did not include clergy and religious personnel who had been defrocked by their orders. Aymond wrote to parents of St. Dominic on Thursday that he hadnt learned of Archers status until that morning, but then acted immediately. I have been in touch with Dominican (leadership) and advised that Archer may no longer reside at the St. Dominics Priory, effective today, Aymonds letter said. Although it is my understanding that he has been confined to the priory and not in contact with the students of St. Dominic, I believe this decision to ask the Dominican Order to move him is the appropriate one. Dominican order officials didnt immediately respond to a request for comment about what they plan to do after Aymonds request. Archer was no longer listed as an in residence priest at St. Dominic as of Thursday evening. 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 Archers removal from public ministry came as the Catholic Churchs decades-long, clergy abuse scandal in the U.S. hit a fever pitch in Boston. The scandal has again boiled over in recent months as new cases of clergy abuse have continued coming to light worldwide. Deacon credibly accused of abuse by New Orleans Archdiocese added to Baton Rouge Diocese's list The Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge added a New Orleans deacon Wednesday to an evolving list of clergy members who have been credibly accused Catholic officials both locally and nationally have disclosed lists of credibly accused clergy and religious members in hopes of winning back the trust of parishioners disgusted by the latest aftershocks of the scandal. But new names continue to be revealed. Newspaper clips show Archer frequently officiated services at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ponchatoula throughout the 1990s. He also routinely presided over services at a Ponchatoula funeral home. Archer was one of four Dominican members from the December list who were assigned to a regional chapter that was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Metairie. The other three on the release are dead: Dominican brother John L. Malachy Cosgrove, and John Aquinas Powers and Bernardine George Dyer, both of whom were ordained as priests. Attempts to contact Archer on Thursday were unsuccessful. preschool Fremont, Danville, Dublin We wanted to begin 2020 with a fun, engaging website that reflects the full experience our young students enjoy at our Montessori schools. Learn and Play Montessori, a top-rated East Bay preschool program at https://www.learnandplaymontessori.com/, is proud to announce an upgraded website for 2020. Parents searching for a best-in-class preschool experience around the Fremont area as well as Dublin, Danville, and other East Bay cities, can review options. Videos, photos, and information about the Montessori Method can help families understand the program and schedule a tour. Reviews from other parents can help gain insight into the remarkable difference a Montessori-style environment can make for a young child, from daycare to childcare to preschool and even into kindergarten. "We wanted to begin 2020 with a fun, engaging website that reflects the full experience our young students enjoy at our Montessori schools. The new site can show parents how the Montessori Method has helped so many children begin their educational journey," explained Harpreet Grewal, director of Learn and Play Montessori. "We are very proud of the positive responses we've already received on the newly upgraded website." The newly revised website for Learn & Play Montessori is available for review at https://www.learnandplaymontessori.com/. A new Graphic User Interface (GUI) design combined with videos, maps, and informational pages may help Bay Area families discover the benefits of choosing the Montessori Method. Easy-to-find parent reviews can offer insight into the Montessori experience. Learn & Play schools serve children from daycare to preschool through kindergarten. Well-developed lesson plans, specially-trained teachers and attention to personal needs help children gain confidence and achieve learning milestones at an individual pace. Parents ready to schedule a campus visit can go to the School Tours page, as for example, at https://www.learnandplaymontessori.com/irvington-fremont/school-tours/. MONTESSORI PRESCHOOLS IN FREMONT, DANVILLE AND DUBLIN SHINE BRIGHT IN 2020 Here is the background on this release. January can be the time to start moving towards New Year's goals. Young families planning to enroll a child in an educational childcare program may be ready to research preschool options around the Fremont area. If the childcare sector is new to parents, navigating difficult websites could prove challenging. Daycare facility sites heavy on stock photos and short on program details might not be enough to make an informed decision. For these reasons, Learn & Play Montessori announces a fresh new website for 2020. ABOUT LEARN AND PLAY MONTESSORI Learn and Play Montessori (https://www.learnandplaymontessori.com/) aims to be one of the best Montessori schools in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Whether parents are looking for a Montessori School in Danville, a Blackhawk preschool, or a top-rated Montessori School in Dublin / San Ramon, Learn and Play has a campus for their child or children. Bay Area parents searching for Walnut Creek preschool options could find the right fit in Danville. All schools use the famed Montessori method, offering programs from childcare to daycare, preschool to kindergarten, in not only Danville, Fremont, Dublin, or San Ramon but also in nearby towns such as Alamo, Blackhawk, Diablo or San Ramon on the I-680 corridor as well as Walnut Creek. Learn and Play Montessori Media Relations https://www.learnandplaymontessori.com/ [January 29, 2020] Cyxtera Announces CXD Federal Edition, Achieves FedRAMP Ready Status at High Impact Level Cyxtera Technologies today announced the availability of its innovative on-demand data center services platform, CXD, as CXD Federal Edition, a version tailored for federal government workloads and designated as FedRAMP Ready at the High Impact level. CXD, Cyxtera's Extensible Data Center platform, combines the control, cost-savings, and security of dedicated colocation infrastructure with the provisioning speed, financial advantages, and agility of cloud. Organizations leverage CXD's rich interconnection ecosystem, software-programmable network, and on-demand infrastructure options to deploy secure private clouds, rapidly extend capacity, and expand into new markets. The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) is a government-wide program that provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services. The program establishes a core set of processes to ensure effective, repeatable cloud security for the government. CD's FedRAMP Ready status will allow federal agencies to deploy secure private infrastructure in Cyxtera's data centers with the speed and flexibility of cloud. The solution is now listed on the FedRAMP Marketplace. "We are proud to have secured FedRAMP Ready status for CXD Federal Edition, a platform that helps agencies meet I.T. modernization initiatives and the federal Cloud Smart mandate," said Leo Taddeo, president of Cyxtera Federal Group. "This achievement demonstrates our strategic commitment to providing government agencies and commercial organizations solutions that meet the highest standards for data security and operational integrity and controls." Key Benefits of CXD Federal Edition: Supports federal "Cloud Smart" policy mandates Tuned for Digital Transformation and I.T. Optimization initiatives Cloud-like deployment of hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) supports virtualization and containerization projects FedRAMP Ready status ensures highest levels of security and controls CXD Federal Edition is now available in the Northern Virginia and Dallas/Fort Worth markets. For more information about CXD visit https://www.cyxtera.com/data-center-services/on-demand-colocation. About Cyxtera Cyxtera is a global leader in data center colocation and interconnection services. The company operates a footprint of 60 data centers in 29 markets around the world, providing services to more than 2,000 leading enterprises and U.S. federal government agencies. Cyxtera brings proven operational excellence, global scale, flexibility and customer-focused innovation together to provide a comprehensive portfolio of data center and interconnection services. For more information about Cyxtera, visit?http://www.cyxtera.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005027/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Political circles in are abuzz with rumours that poll strategist is likely to join the ruling Trinamool Congress in the state after his expulsion from JD(U) on Wednesday. Top leaders when contacted did not confirm any such development but neither ruled out the possibility in the near future. Repeated calls by PTI to Kishor, who is a poll strategist for TMC, went unanswered. The JD(U) on Wednesday expelled Kishor, who was its vice-president and Pavan Varma, its general secretary saying their conduct in the recent past has made it clear that they do not want to abide by the party's discipline. Kishor like Chief Minister has been criticial of Citizenship Amendment Act and the Population Register. According to sources, Kishor shares a very good rapport and working relation with Banerjee, who is also the supremo. " as a poll strategist is doing a great job for the party. Now whether he will join TMC or not is to be decided by him and the party's top leadership," TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee told reporters. A senior TMC leader who did not wish to be named said if Kishor is willing he will be welcomed to TMC "with open arms" as a strategist like him would be an asset ahead of the 2021 Assembly polls. "If he wants to join, I don't think there will be any problem. He has been doing a great job for TMC and will be an asset for our party in the 2021 assembly polls, which is going to be a tough election," the senior TMC leader said. After its dismal performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls TMC had hired Kishor to plan the party's strategy and fix the lacunae before the next assembly polls. a, had Kishor's strategy worked for the party as it won all the three assembly seats in the by-election held in November last year, a few months after the general election. As the JD(U) vice-president Kishor had been critical of party president Nitish Kumar over his support to CAA and the NPR and was expelled from the party. The DNC should be ashamed of itself, because it really is a slap in the face to folks who were asking for reform, Nina Turner, the national co-chair of the Sanders campaign, said Monday in an interview with Status Coup. And if the DNC believes that its going to get away in 2020 with what it did in 2016, it has another thing coming. CARROLLTON, Texas, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- FASTSIGNS International, Inc., franchisor of FASTSIGNS, the leading sign, graphics, and visual communications franchise, announced today it has been ranked as one of the Top 100 Franchises of 2020 by Franchise Gator. Developed to assist prospective franchisees in their search for a franchise opportunity to invest in, the Top 100 Franchises ranked FASTSIGNS as #2 the only sign, graphics, and visual communications franchise to be recognized on this year's list for its strong growth, financial stability, experience, and several other criteria. "I've studied hundreds of franchise opportunities, and FASTSIGNS represents all of the traits we look for in a Top 100 franchise," said Eric Bell, General Manager, Franchise Gator and Vice President, Franchise Ventures. "Congratulations to FASTSIGNS for being an exemplary opportunity among many to choose from." "This recognition comes on the heels of FASTSIGNS being named the #1 franchise opportunity in our category on Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500, and we are thrilled to begin 2020 our 35th year in business with such strong validation that FASTSIGNS is the leader in our industry," said Mark Jameson, Executive Vice President of Franchise Support and Development. FASTSIGNS reported exceptional results in 2019, including the signing of over 35 franchise agreements in the U.S and Canada to develop new, co-branded, and conversion centers and the opening of more than 30 locations. Internationally, FASTSIGNS opened its first locations in Chile, Malta, and France, and signed an additional master franchise agreement to develop centers in the Dominican Republic. This year, FASTSIGNS is aiming to sign 45+ franchise agreements and enter several new countries. In the U.S., the brand is targeting growth in markets like Michigan, Southern California, Florida, New York City, Boston, and throughout the Northeast Corridor. FASTSIGNS also is continuing to seek qualified candidates to grow its international footprint in target markets throughout the world, including Quebec, New Zealand, and Brazil, as well as countries throughout North Africa, Southwest Asia, Latin America, and Europe. For any existing business looking to expand into this fast-paced market, FASTSIGNS offers co-brand and conversion programs to help owners diversify their product lines and services to meet the growing demand for comprehensive signage and visual communications solutions. FASTSIGNS has helped countless owners of print shops, photography studios, camera stores, embroidery shops, and more, add a FASTSIGNS to their existing business or fully convert their store to a FASTSIGNS franchise. FASTSIGNS franchisees receive ongoing training and support to stay ahead of the competition and exceed the needs of their local business community. Both the co-brand franchise opportunity and conversion can be started with only $15,000 down on the initial franchise fee. FASTSIGNS also offers a special incentive for first responders, including paramedics, emergency medical technicians, police officers, sheriffs, and firefighters, which includes a 50% reduction on the franchise fee a savings of $24,875. FASTSIGNS is consistently ranked as a top franchise opportunity. In 2020, Entrepreneur magazine named FASTSIGNS the #1 franchise opportunity in its category and #55 overall on its annual Franchise 500 list, making it the only sign, graphics, and visual communications franchise to be recognized in the top 100. In 2019, Entrepreneur named FASTSIGNS one of the Top Franchises for Veterans. Additionally, in 2019, FASTSIGNS was recognized in Franchise Business Review's Top Franchises for Veterans report, was named to the America's Best Franchises to Buy list by Forbes magazine, and made Franchise Direct's list of the Top 100 Franchises. Franchise Business Review also has recognized FASTSIGNS as one of the "Best of the Best" for franchisee satisfaction for the last 10 years and its Top 50 Franchises for Women and Top Service Franchise lists in 2019. The Canadian Franchise Association (CFA) awarded FASTSIGNS International, Inc. the Franchisees' Choice Designation for the seventh consecutive year for its strong relationship with Canadian franchisees, as well as extensive franchisee training and support. About FASTSIGNS FASTSIGNS International, Inc. celebrates its 35th anniversary in business in 2020 as the leading sign and visual communications franchisor in North America, and is the worldwide franchisor of more than 700 independently owned and operated FASTSIGNS centers in nine countries including the United States, Canada, Chile, England, Grand Cayman, Puerto Rico, the United Arab Emirates, Malta, and Australia (where centers operate as SIGNWAVE). FASTSIGNS locations provide comprehensive signage and visual graphic solutions to help companies of all sizes and across all industries attract more attention, communicate their message, promote their products, help visitors find their way and extend their branding across all of their customer touch points. FASTSIGNS has been ranked the #1 franchise opportunity in its category in Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500 for the past four years, a 2019 Top Franchises for Veterans by Franchise Business Review and a 2019 America's Best Franchises to Buy list by Forbes magazine. Learn more about sign and visual graphic solutions or find a location at fastsigns.com. Follow the brand on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/fastsigns, Twitter @FASTSIGNS or Facebook at facebook.com/FASTSIGNS. For information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity, contact Mark Jameson ([email protected] or call 214.346.5679). About Franchise Gator Franchise Gator, a unit of Dominion Enterprises' Franchise Ventures division, the leading demand generation platform for franchise growth. Launched in 2002, Franchise Gator has offered information on thousands of business and franchise opportunities available in more than 100 categories. Franchise Gator provides franchises with a performance-based model for franchise marketing. For more information, please visit www.GrowWithGator.com. Contact: Chelsea Bear Fish Consulting 954-893-9150 [email protected] SOURCE FASTSIGNS International, Inc. Related Links http://www.fastsigns.com File image Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit Kuala Lumpur next week to placate Malaysia after he skipped a major summit of Muslim nations reportedly under pressure from Saudi Arabia, according to a media report on Wednesday. Khan had confirmed Pakistan's participation in the December 19-21 summit hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, but skipped the event at the 11th hour due to pressure exerted by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - key financial backers of the cash-strapped country. The summit in Kuala Lumpur was seen by Saudis as an attempt to create a new bloc in the Muslim world that could become an alternative to the dysfunctional Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) led by the Gulf Kingdom. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan even visited Islamabad last month to convey the Saudi leadership's gratitude to Pakistan for not attending the summit. The Express Tribune on Wednesday reported that Khan is scheduled to travel to Kuala Lumpur on an official visit from February 3-4. After pulling out from the event, Khan spoke to his Malaysian counterpart over phone and offered him to visit after the summit. It is believed that Khan will use the visit to explain Prime Minister Mohamad the reason of Pakistan's pull out from the summit, the report said. Pakistan is also making efforts to reach out to Turkey after it blamed Islamabad of pulling out of the summit under threats from Saudi Arabia. The report said that the visit of Turkish President Recep Tayab Erdogan in February to Pakistan would help remove any mistrust between the two countries. Pakistan tried hard before the Kuala Lumpur summit to bring all Islamic countries on one platform. However, those efforts could not make any headway because of time constraints, the report said, adding that it would continue to strive for unity in the Muslim world to face common challenges. Khan's visit to Malaysia is part of those efforts, it said. Drinking alcohol at any point in pregnancy leads to poorer brain function in babies, a new study has confirmed. Researchers at the University of Bristol compared 23 published studies on drinking during pregnancy and found evidence it can also lead to lower birth weight. The findings backed up UK Chief Medical Officer guidelines not to drink during any trimester. Scientists compared children from the same families whose mothers cut down or increased their alcohol consumption between pregnancies. The research reviewed 23 published studies on drinking during pregnancy They also used randomised control trials instead of the traditional 'observational' approach where participants are already exposed to the risk factor and do not intervene to change who is or isn't exposed. All the studies included in the review tried to compare like-with-like groups of people, who were only different in terms of exposure to alcohol during pregnancy. The study fell short of being able to establish what level of alcohol leads to brain damage. Study lead Dr Luisa Zuccolo, from the University of Bristol, said: 'The body of evidence for the harm that alcohol can do to children before they are born is growing, and our review is the first to look at the full range of studies on the issue. 'This is unlikely to be a fluke result, as we took into account a variety of approaches and results. 'Our work confirms the current scientific consensus: that consuming alcohol during pregnancy can affect one's child's cognitive abilities later in life, including their education. It might also lead to lower birth weight. 'Our study reinforces the UK Chief Medical Officers' guideline: DRYMESTER is the only safe approach. 'This message is more important than ever, given recent research which shows the alcohol industry promoting confusing information about the real health implications of drinking during pregnancy.' The research was funded by the National Institute for Health Research and the Medical Research Council. Deputy chief medical officer Professor Jenny Harries added: 'If you are pregnant or you are planning to become pregnant, national guidelines recommend the safest approach is to not drink at all, to keep the risk to your baby to a minimum. 'We have been clear with the alcohol industry that we expect these guidelines to be reflected on the labelling of all alcoholic products. 'Public Health England, the NHS and local authorities continue to reinforce this advice through public health messaging.' The paper, Evidence of detrimental effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on offspring birth weight and neurodevelopment from a systematic review of quasi experimental studies, is published in the International Journal of Epidemiology. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-30 00:35:30|Editor: yan Video Player Close NAIROBI, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said Wednesday it requires 7 billion shillings (about 70 million U.S. dollars) to tackle the locust plague that has already infested the Horn of Africa. FAO said the funds will be used to support rapid control operations and measures to protect livelihoods and prevent deterioration of the food security situation. "It is the worst outbreak of Desert Locusts seen in the region for decades," FAO said in its latest update on the Desert Locust upsurge, warning of an unprecedented threat to food security and livelihoods especially in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. According to FAO's latest update, the current situation would be further worsened by new breeding that will produce more locust infestations in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. South Sudan and Uganda are at risk and there is also concern about new swarms forming in Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen. "As numbers continue to rise there is now serious concern that South Sudan and Uganda are under threat because some of the swarms in Kenya are only 200kms from the country's borders with its neighbors," the FAO said. Keith Cressman, FAO's senior locust forecasting officer, said locust swarms have started laying eggs and another generation of breeding will increase locust numbers. "Urgent efforts must be made to stop them from increasing to protect the livelihoods of farmers and livestock holders," Cressman said. According to FAO, tens of thousands of hectares of croplands and pasture have been damaged in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia with potentially severe consequences in a region where 11.9 million people are already food insecure. "A locust swarm of one square kilometer can eat the same amount of food in one day as 35,000 people," said FAO. In Kenya, said the UN agency, immature swarms are moving through northern and central areas and have so far invaded 13 counties. It said some swarms have started to lay eggs that will hatch in early February and new swarms are expected to form in early April. FAO said swarms are present and breeding in Somalia's north-east as well as in the south near the Kenyan border. Advertisement An evacuation flight bringing 195 Americans home from the Chinese city at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak has landed at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, California. The plane chartered by the US government to fly diplomats and private citizens - 195 evacuees and six crewmembers - back from Wuhan touched down at the air base just after 8am PST on Wednesday. Officials in hazmat suits were seen approaching the plane on the tarmac before passengers - including a number of small children - began filing out and stepping into awaiting buses. In a media call on Wednesday, Dr Nancy Messonnier of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the passengers have been 'screened, monitored and evaluated' for signs of coronavirus since landing. Dr Messonnier, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, also added the passengers are voluntarily under quarantine for 72 hours. Prior to this, passenger underwent four screenings over the course of the journey - two before departure in Wuhan and another two during a refueling stop in Anchorage, Alaska. The plane was originally scheduled to fly to Ontario International Airport in Ontario, California, but was diverted to the air base 25 miles away without explanation late on Tuesday night. Meanwhile in China, the coronavirus death toll has risen to 169 as of Wednesday evening and several countries - including the US and UK - have advised against non-essential travel to the nation. More than 7,000 people have been sickened by the deadly strain in at least 18 countries and territories amid an international effort to stop the spread. Passengers are seen deplaning after arriving at March Air Force Base in Riverside, California, on an evacuation flight from the coronavirus outbreak epicenter in Wuhan on Wednesday morning There were 195 passengers - including a number of small children - and six crewmembers onboard. They filed out of the plane and stepped into awaiting buses (left and right) Officials in hazmat suits met the flight when it landed at the air base just after 8am PST. Pictured: People in hazmat suits are seen outside of the Kalitta Air plane The flight touched down at the air base (left and right) just after 8am PST after stopping to refuel in Anchorage, Alaska, on Tuesday night Dr Nancy Messonnier of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told reporters on Wednesday that the passengers have been 'screened, monitored and evaluated' for signs of coronavirus. Pictured: The plane touches down at March Air Reserve Base in The passengers are currently under a voluntarily 72-hour quarantine on base. Pictured: Airport officials wears masks and full hazmat suits as they unloaded baggage from the plane's cargo hold The white cargo plane with red and gold stripes left Wuhan before dawn on Wednesday in China and arrived at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport just after 9.30pm on Tuesday. Dr Anne Zink, Alaska's chief medical officer, gave an early morning news conference after the plane took off from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport just after 2am. 'For many of us directly involved in this, it's become a moving and uplifting experience,' Zink said. 'The whole plane erupted into cheers when the crew welcomed them back to the United States.' State Health Commissioner Adam Crum called the successful screenings 'the best possible outcome'. 'We wish these passengers the best of luck as they complete their journeys home and I am deeply grateful to everyone who came together to assist us in helping with this repatriation effort,' Crum said in a press release. The state had initially said the plane could carry up to 240 passengers, and Zink said they were prepared for that number. 'At the end of the day, 201 passengers loaded and 201 passengers left Alaska,' she said, noting that one passenger received medical attention for a minor injury that happened before boarding the airplane in Wuhan. The CDC later corrected this, stating that 195 passengers were evacuees and the remaining six were crewmembers. Medical personnel were on the plane to monitor passengers for symptoms of the virus, which include fever, cough, and in more severe cases shortness of breath or pneumonia. The white cargo plane with red and gold stripes left Wuhan before dawn on Wednesday in China and arrived at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport just after 9.30pm on Tuesda. Pictured: The charter flight from Wuhan arrives in Alaska A pilot wearing a protective suit parks a cargo plane at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport on Tuesday The north terminal at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Anchorage, Alaska, where a flight plane carrying U.S. citizens being evacuated from Wuhan, China, made a refueling stop late Tuesday night The evacuation was originally scheduled to fly to Ontario International Airport in Ontario, California, but was diverted to the March Air Reserve Base (pictured) 25 miles away without explanation late on Tuesday night The US consulate in Wuhan began reaching out to all Americans registered as living in the locked-down city last week to offer them a seat on the rescue flight after Washington gained approval for the operation from China's Foreign Ministry and other government agencies. China has cut off access to Wuhan and 16 other cities in Hubei province to prevent people from leaving and spreading the virus further. In addition to the United States, countries including Japan and South Korea have also planned evacuations. There are said to be 1,000 Americans living in Wuhan, meaning the majority of citizens would be left behind. Ahead of the flight, the State Department said priority would be given to diplomats and staff from the US consulate in Wuhan, followed by 'individuals at a greater risk from coronavirus', according to the State Department. Wisconsin father Samuel Roth took to Twitter Monday, pleading: 'My family is currently in lockdown in Wuhan. When will my wife and two daughters, one of whom is only 10-months-old, be offered seats on the chartered flight?' The CDC and Department of Health and Human Service says screening will take place at 20 airports, for the deadly coronavirus that has sickened five patients in the US and three in Canada More than 7,000 people have been infected globally with the virus traced to a seafood market in the central city of Wuhan that was illegally selling wildlife and 169 people have died The State Department announced (pictured) that it is evacuating US citizens from Wuhan on Tuesday Travelers wearing masks exit the China Airlines flight at Ontario after arriving from Taipei Ontario fire department paramedics watch as China Airlines flight 24 arrives at Ontario International Airport after arriving from Taipei Sam's wife, Daisy, and daughters Adalynn and Abigail, flew to China last week to spend Lunar New Year with Daisy's family in Wuhan. Shortly thereafter, the city was put in lockdown, leaving the Roth family stranded. Now 'there's no telling when they will be able to get out,' Sam wrote on Facebook. Sources earlier said the US could suspend flights from China to the States amid the outbreak. CNBC reported that the White House has told airline executives that it's considering suspending flights. Government officials reportedly made phone calls to executives at major US carriers Tuesday and said a temporary ban is possible. United Airlines, which has around a dozen daily flights, on Tuesday said it would cancel more flights to China and Hong Kong as the outbreak worsens. Cases of coronavirus have surpassed 6,000 worldwide and the number of deaths has increased 24 percent from what was reported Monday. Eight of those cases are in North America including the third Canadian case which was confirmed on Tuesday. British Columbia's first victim is a man in his 40s, who 'travels regularly to China for work and was in Wuhan city on his most recent trip,' and developed symptoms after returning to Vancouver earlier this month. The North American cases include five diagnosed in the US, where screening has been expanded to 20 airports, authorities from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the CDC said in a press conference on Tuesday. 'Right now, there is no spread of this virus in our communities at home,' Dr Robert Redfield, director of the CDC told reporters. 'The coming days and weeks are likely to bring more cases including the possibility of person-to-person spread. Our goal is to contain this virus and prevent sustained spread of the virus in our country.' Five people in the US have fallen ill already and officials say there is evidence of human-to-human transmission, although new concerns have been raised that the virus can spread even when patients don't have symptoms. Encouragingly, Dr Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health said the agency is studying a 'candidate vaccine,' modeled after an experimental one developed amid the 2003 outbreak of SARS, a coronavirus cousin of the current infection. But the first stage of human testing isn't expected to begin for several months. He added that several drugs are being used in China to try treat coronavirus patients under 'compassionate use,' but there is no proof of the efficacy that the medications will work. The US Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday that they will begin trying to identify sick passengers from China at 15 other 'quarantine stations.' Pictured, left to right: CDC director Robert Redfield, HHS Secretary Alex Azar, Nancy Messonnier from the CDC and Anthony Fauci from the National Institutes of Health at a press conference on Tuesday During the press conference, HHS Secretary Alex Azar said the US was urging more cooperation from China with international health organizations. 'We are urging China - more cooperation and transparency are the most important steps you can take toward a more effective response,' he told reporters. Azar said that the US had tried three times to send assistance to China, but that the government declined. 'On January the sixth, we offered to send a CDC team to China that could assist with these public health efforts,' said Azar. 'I reiterated that offer when I spoke to China's minister of health on Monday, and it was reiterated again via the World Health Organization's leadership today in Beijing.' As Azar made these statements, the WHO revealed that China has agreed to allow the agency to send international experts there 'as soon as possible.' In a tweet, the WHO said its director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the two men discussed 'collaboration on containment measure, public health measures in other cities and provinces, and conducting further studies on the severity and transmissibility' of the virus. 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. Aside from China and the US, cases have been confirmed in Australia, Cambodia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, the UAE and Vietnam. Cases are also suspected in Mexico, Colombia, the Philippines and the UK. China has urged its own citizens to delay trips abroad, with at least 18 countries and territories having confirmed cases of the disease. The United Arab Emirates reported the first known case in the Middle East on Wednesday. British Airways was the first major airline to announce a total suspension of flights to and from China, citing the travel advice of the UK foreign office. 'We apologise to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority,' the airline said in a statement. Indonesia's Lion Air Group, Southeast Asia's biggest carrier by fleet size, then said it would halt services to and from China from Saturday 'until further notice'. Later on Wednesday, Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Lufthansa all announced that they were temporarily suspending flights to China to varying degrees. Meanwhile Kazakhstan, an important China trade partner, announced it would halt cross-border passenger train traffic, suspend regular flights between the neighbors, and stop issuing visas to Chinese citizens over the coming days. Officials say the risk to the general public is low but that it may be able to spread from human to human before symptoms appear. Pictured: Members of a military medical team head for Wuhan Jinyintan on Sunday Several drugs are being tried to treat people with coronavirus but there is no evidence of their efficacy. Pictured: Medical staff wearing protective clothing to protect against a previously unknown coronavirus arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital The National Institutes of Health is working on a vaccine, but warn it will be months before one will be tested on humans. Pictured: Paramilitary officers wearing face masks at Tiananmen Gate in Beijing on Monday HHS Secretary Alex Azar said the US has offered to send medical experts to China three times, but the government has declined. Pictured: Medical staff in Wuhan wear protective clothing and escort a patient (second from left) to a hospital Travelers are screened on a thermographic monitor at the Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport in Aceh Besar Regency in Indonesia for coronavirus on Monday On Tuesday, the WHO said China was finally allowing international experts to visit 'as soon as possible.' Pictured: Patients undergo treatment at Wuhan Central Hospital on Saturday RED TAPE COULD SLOW DOWN TESTING PROCESS FOR CORONAVIRUS IN US Red tape could slow down the testing process for 168 possible American cases of the coronavirus across at least 26 states and dozens of others in the future. Because the CDC's laboratory in Atlanta, Georgia, is the only place in the country currently equipped with a blood test that accurately diagnoses the virus, the true number of infected people could be higher. The federal health lab's test is fast - taking just four to six hours - but it's prioritizing only the sickest-seeming patients. So far, there have been 68 patients confirmed negative, but the testing process could be bottlenecked until the CDC and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can work around the bureaucracy that prevents the test from being distributed throughout the country. To that end, last week, the CDC requested emergency authorization from the FDA for the tests to be sent to the states. 'Part of the delay is the sample getting to CDC, and entirely one of the reasons we are focusing on the possibility of getting those tests out closer to the patients so the results can become available more quickly,' Dr Messonnier, said in a call to reporters last week. But there may be glimmers of hope. On Tuesday, Dr Messonier said the CDC hope to have the tests more locally available in a week or two. The CDC says it is currently prioritizing cases that are the most severe, meaning there may be early-stage cases that have fallen to 'back of the line' and patients that may be contagious and spread the virus before getting an official diagnosis. Despite health officials in the US saying the risk to Americans is low, a Morning Consult poll from last week found that 74 percent of Americans are as concerned about an outbreak as they were about Ebola in 2014. Members of the medical team communicate with a coronavirus patient at Hankou Hospital in Wuhan on Monday Police patrol a neighborhood in Wuhan, China s the virus continues to spread around the globe View of an empty Sanlitun area after the Chinese government discouraged public gatherings due to the coronavirus outbreak, in Beijing, China on Monday 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 infectio CASES REPORTED ACROSS SEVERAL US STATES It appears that all of the US patients currently awaiting test results showed symptoms consistent with the virus - such as fever, cough and runny nose - had either visited Wuhan recently or were in contact with someone who visited the city. CONFIRMED US CORONAVIRUS CASES 1. Man in Washington state The first US coronavirus case was confirmed on Tuesday, January 21. The patient - a Washington man in his 30s who lives in Snohomish County - has been quarantined at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, outside of Seattle. The man 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 on January 15, 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. He is said to be in stable condition. He is being treated in a bio-containment room by a few staff members and a robot to limit the spread of the virus. 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. Officials have also been monitoring more than a dozen people the man reportedly came into contact with in the five days between when he arrived back in the US and when he was diagnosed. 2. Woman in Chicago The CDC confirmed the second US case on Friday - a 60-year-old woman in Chicago, Illinois, who had traveled to Wuhan in late December. The woman, who has not been named, arrived at O'Hare International Airport on January 13 but did not begin experiencing symptoms until several days later. Health officials say the woman appears to be 'well' and in stable condition. The unidentified patient is currently in isolation at St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. 3. Patient in California Orange County Health Care Agency announced that a patient in California had tested positive for novel coronavirus. The agency said the patient had traveled from Wuhan and reached out to the health care agency prior to being diagnosed. They were given guidance to avoiding exposing the public to the virus while waiting for test results. 'The individual has now been transported to a local hospital and is in isolation in good condition,' added the agency who did not identify the patient. 'In consultation with the CDC and the California Department of Public Health, the HCA is following up directly with all individuals who have had close contact with the case and are at risk of infection.' 4. Los Angeles County Case Health officials say that the Los Angeles County patient, had recently returned from the epicenter of the outbreak in Wuhan, China. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said that the infected person presented themselves for testing after feeling unwell, and are 'currently receiving medical treatment'. 5. Arizona Case Officials confirmed a fifth case in Maricopa County, Arizona. No other information was immediately reported about the patient. Advertisement Those patients are believed to have all been isolated either in hospitals or in their homes to reduce the risk of exposing others. US health officials warned on Friday that the flu or other respiratory illnesses could complicate efforts to identify additional cases. 'We're really working to understand the full spectrum of the illness with this coronavirus,' Dr Messonnier said at a briefing. 'The problem with this time of year is it's cold and flu season and there are lots of cold and respiratory infections circulating.' The CDC recommended that anyone with symptoms contact a health-care provider before seeking treatment so the appropriate precautionary measures can be put in place. Two people from Minnesota and three people from Michigan are currently being tested. The patients from Michigan have reportedly agreed to remain in isolation until their tests results return, the Detroit Free Press reported. Also being monitored are two college students, one from Texas A&M University and another from Tennessee Tech University. The Tennessee Department of Health said it decided to test the TTU 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. 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. Medical supply stores around the Brazos Valley, where Texas A&M is located, are reportedly experiencing a medical mask shortage after the possible case was reported. Genese Smith, who works at MediCare Equipment in Bryan, just a few miles off campus, told KBTX that an influx of customers came to the store looking for masks on Thursday. 'Within about 30 minutes of word getting out, we started getting phone calls asking if we have the masks, what kind of masks did we have, and how many we had available,' Smith said. 'Quite a few people started coming in, asking, and purchasing.' Smith said the store typically stocks about 50 masks but has already ordered more. Other stores in the area, including Texas A&M's Health Services Department, are also awaiting new shipments of masks after their current stocks ran out, per KBTX. In California, Los Angeles International Airport has been 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, CBS Los Angeles reported. However, it remains unclear if the passenger is from Mexico City, or if they originated from another city. Several people in the state, 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. Four other potential cases are also under investigation in New York state. In Colorado, a patient with respiratory symptoms was placed in isolation at Lakewood's Centura - St Anthony Hospital after they were found to have recently traveled to Wuhan. In Washington state, where the first US case was confirmed, the Northwest Chinese school in Bellevue called off weekend classes for preschoolers through adults amid concerns about the virus. 'We take the health of our students and families very seriously and think that this is the best course of action,' officials wrote in an email announcing the cancelled classes. On the University of Washington's Seattle campus, a Chinese student association has been distributing face masks and asking students to contribute to efforts to send supplies such as face masks and protective suits to China. Public health entry screenings began 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. The CDC has expanded screenings to 20 airports total. At least 2,400 people have been screened from Hubei province and the CDC is continuing to track airline passengers who took connecting flights now that direct flights are no longer available. The screening begins with a survey to determine whether a traveler shows possible coronavirus symptoms and whether they visited the meat or seafood markets in Wuhan that have been tied to the outbreak. If they appear to have any symptoms associated with coronavirus, travelers are taken to on-site triage for further examination and a temperature check. On Monday, San Francisco Mayor London Breed said the city will be activating its emergency operations center in case any coronavirus patients are confirmed to be in the Bay Area, reported the San Francisco Chronicle. Screenings are also in place at Los Angeles International Airport. A staff member is seen wearing a face mask at LAX on Frida Dramatic video showed people collapsing on sidewalks in Wuhan, the Chinese city where the outbreak originated Preliminary research suggests the virus was passed to humans from snakes or bats. But Chinese health officials report that cases have been caused by human-to-human transmission. Pictured, left and right: The coronavirus strain YEREVAN. And who asks him if they want to work with him or not? Armenias Constitutional Court (CC) President Hrayr Tovmasyan said this in a TV program, responding to a question about PM Nikol Pashinyans unwillingness to work with him. "As much as he may or may not want, I, just as much," he added. In response to a question about whether his relationship with Pashinyan being inimical, the CC president said that he had no enemies in his country. "I have no enemies and I cannot have inimical relations inside Armenia," he said. My enemies are on the other side of the border. As President of the Constitutional Court, I have no right to have strained relations with anyone. The separation of powers does not mean that these institutions do not interact with each other. (...) And in our reality, it turns out that there are no personal relationships, there are only working relationships." President Donald Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate is set to resume Wednesday afternoon, with the upper chamber poised to question his legal team and the House managers. The new phase comes after the early completion of oral arguments from Trump's defense team on Tuesday. The team, led by White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump's personal lawyer Jay Sekulow, used approximately half of its allotted 24 hours to lay out the case for acquittal and urge senators not to call additional witnesses. Here's what to expect: The Senate reconvenes at 1 p.m. ET Wednesday. Senators will have 16 hours over two days to ask questions of the House managers and the defense team. Questions will be submitted in writing on small cards, and Chief Justice John Roberts, who is presiding over the trial, will read each question out loud, along with the name of the senator who asked it. Republicans and Democrats will have an equal opportunity to ask questions, and Roberts is expected to alternate between the two when posing the questions. In arguments Tuesday, Sekulow addressed for the first time a bombshell report revolving around former national security advisor John Bolton, whom House Democrats are pushing to have subpoenaed as a witness. According to Bolton's upcoming memoir, "The Room Where It Happened," Trump told him in person last summer that he planned to withhold nearly $400 million in U.S. foreign aid to Ukraine until the country agreed to launch investigations into Trump's political rivals, most notably, former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. The relationship between the abruptly halted aid and the investigations Trump wanted is at the heart of the impeachment case. Trump's lawyers have insisted the two issues were entirely separate, and the aid was not being withheld to exercise leverage over the Ukrainian president. On Tuesday, they also argued that Bolton's book amounted to an "inadmissible" allegation. "You cannot impeach a president on an unsourced allegation," Sekulow said Tuesday, although, notably, he did not deny the facts contained in Bolton's account. Read more: Trump impeachment trial: Defense wraps up oral arguments, urges Senate to acquit the president Trump has denied that he ever told Bolton the release of aid was dependent upon the launch of investigations. On Wednesday morning, the president went a step further, attacking Bolton in a series of tweets, calling his former advisor's memoir "nasty & untrue" and claiming without evidence that it contains "All Classified National Security" material. TWEET Following this past weekend's revelations about the Bolton book, moderate Republicans like Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine signaled an increased interest in voting to allow witness testimony at Trump's Senate trial. The GOP holds a 53-47 majority in the Senate, so Democrats would need four Republicans to join with them and vote to call new witnesses. Two additional potential GOP defectors are Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski and retiring Tennessee Sen Lamar Alexander. Neither has signaled how they plan to vote on witnesses. Following Tuesday's trial proceedings, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said a preliminary vote count among senators indicated that the GOP does not have enough votes to block witnesses or additional documents. Moderate Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia said in an interview Wednesday morning that he would consider Hunter Biden to be a relevant witness, effectively floating the idea of a swap Bolton's testimony, which would ostensibly harm the president's case, for Biden's, which some senators think could help it. Even if witnesses are called, it remains unlikely that the Senate will vote to convict Trump and remove him from office. The Senate is expected to vote Friday on whether to call witnesses or subpoena additional documents. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross postponed plans to possibly travel to China this week, a department spokesperson said. The decision was taken amid concerns by U.S. officials that the coronavirus was spreading, CNN reported. More than 130 people have died from the coronavirus and nearly 6,000 cases have been confirmed, according to official Chinese statistics. Jamia violence: Police release photos of 70 people involved in anti-CAA protests India pti-PTI New Delhi, Jan 29: Delhi Police on Wednesday released photos of 70 people who were allegedly involved in violence during the anti-CAA protests near Jamia Millia Islamia here last month, officials said. The university had turned into a battlefield on December 15 last year when police entered the campus and used force against students following the violent protest. According to police, two cases were registered in connection with the violence during a protest against the amended Citizenship Act near the university campus. One case was registered at Jamia Nagar police station under IPC sections for rioting, obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions and assault or criminal force to deter public servant from his duty while another case was registered at New Friends Colony police station under IPC sections for rioting, arson, unlawful assembly and damage to public property. Not a single citizen will be allowed to turn a refugee due to NRC, CAB: Mamata Both the cases are being investigated by the SIT of Crime Branch, police said, adding, the persons whose photos were released had actively participated in riots and any information about them would be suitably rewarded. Anyone who has information about them can contact Delhi Police at 011-23013918 and 9750871252, they added. The worst outbreak of desert locusts in Kenya in 70 years could grow 500 times bigger by June and invade even more countries unless it is immediately brought under control, says Oxfam. Swarms of billions of locusts have been sweeping across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia and could invade Uganda and South Sudan. A smaller swarm of millions of insects can get through enough food for 35,000 people in just one day, according to the UN. One swarm is estimated to contain billions of locusts and is big enough to cover Greater London. Incredible pictures show the scale of the worst outbreak of desert locusts in Kenya in 70 years as hundreds of millions of the insects leave helpless farmer heartbroken (pictured in Katitika village, Kitui county) The creatures (pictured in Katitika village) have invaded the East African country from Somalia and Ethiopia, destroying farmland and threatening an already vulnerable region with devastating hunger The Regional Director of Oxfam in Horn, East and Central Africa, said that 25.5million people are suffering from hunger and severe malnutrition. A large desert locust plague can contain up to 150 million individuals per square kilometre, with half a million locusts weighing approximately one tonne. One tonne of locusts eats as much food in one day as about 10 elephants, 25 camels or 2,500 people. The insects can destroy at least 200 tonnes of vegetation per day. 'Ethiopia has been in continuous drought since 2015 and then recently hit with floods that have all but destroyed the harvest. Ndunda Makanga, who spent hours Friday trying to chase the locusts from his farm, said: 'Even cows are wondering what is happening. Corn, sorghum, cowpeas, they have eaten everything.' Pictured: The critters in Katitika village When rains arrive in March and bring new vegetation across much of the region, the numbers of the fast-breeding locusts could grow 500 times before drier weather in June curbs their spread, the United Nations says A farmer walks through swarms of desert locusts feeding on her crops, in Katitika village, Kitui county 'This locust infestation has now destroyed hundreds of square kilometres of vegetation in the Amhara and Tigray regions since November 2019. The cyclone in early December 2019 made the presence of locusts stronger. 'Local authorities are addressing situation, but they need more help,' Zigomo said. The locust swarms have increased significantly over the past month in across 13 Kenyan counties including Isiolo, Samburu, Wajir, Garissa, Tana River, Marsabit, Laikipia, Mandera, Kitui, Baringo, Meru, Embu and Turkana. These same counties have experienced devastating droughts and floods in recent years and over three million people there have been facing extreme levels of food insecurity. Farmer Theophilus Mwendwa tries to chase away a swarm of desert locusts in the bush near Enziu, Kitui County, 200km east of the capital Nairobi The swarms are destroying pasture for livestock and which will likely devastate the upcoming planting season. In Somalia, tens of thousands of hectares of land have been affected in Somaliland, Puntland and Galmudug (Mudug), as mature swarms hit the Garbahare area near the Kenyan border. Locusts are also reported to be travelling south to Somalia's Gedo region leaving a trail of destroyed farms. Operations are underway in the northeast (Puntland) to control the swarms that continue to move towards the central and southern areas. About $54million is needed to step up aerial pesticide spraying, the only effective way to combat them, the UN says. Pictured: Near Enziu, Kitui County A desert locust sits on a tree branch in Katitika village, Kitui county, Kenya. Even a small swarm of the insects can consume enough food for 35,000 people in a single day, said Jens Laerke of the UN humanitarian office in Geneva Insecurity in some of these parts is hampering efforts to survey and control the infestations. Oxfam is part of a network of local partner organisations that is monitoring how much further damage the locusts will cause to local food crops. 'We are making plans that include providing cash assistance to people most-in-need, particularly small-holder farmers and pastoralists, so they are able to buy food and fodder for their livestock,' said Zigomo. The UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) estimates that Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia need $70million between them to tackle the plague. Oxfam is calling on donors to fund this response immediately, in order to avoid more people falling hungry and using up whatever assets they have to buy food. Passengers face up to three decades of travel chaos if the High Speed 2 (HS2) project is scrapped, officials warn. Abandoning the 100billion proposal would force rail bosses to launch costly upgrades on other lines to tackle overcrowding, causing 'significant' disruption to weekend services across the country, according to Network Rail. And it is estimated these schemes, which would create only two-thirds of HS2's extra seating at best, could take up to 29 years on the worst-affected route from London to Edinburgh. Threat: Abandoning HS2 would force rail bosses to launch costly upgrades on other lines to tackle overcrowding, causing 'significant' disruption to weekend services across the country HS2 is forecast to open to passengers in 16 to 20 years' time. Network Rail has also told the Government that plans to upgrade the North's rail network, a key election pledge of Boris Johnson, would be 15billion more expensive without HS2. The authority's chief, Andrew Haines, issued the warning to the Department for Transport (DfT) in a letter dated January 14 which has been seen by the Mail. He added that junking HS2 would force a 'fundamental' rethink of plans for Britain's railways and that alternatives would almost certainly face similar delays and complaints. Network Rail was asked by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps to set out the arguments for keeping the controversial project as Johnson weighs calls to scrap it. With ministers divided over the issue, the Prime Minister was expected to meet Sajid Javid, the Chancellor, and Shapps to hammer out a resolution this week. A draft review of HS2 that was leaked last year said the scheme, a decade behind schedule, should proceed despite costs spiralling to an expected 106billion. Business leaders and councils in the Midlands and the North say it is vital to support economic growth. Warning: Network Rail boss Andrew Haines But critics point to HS2's environmental impact and rising costs, originally estimated at 33billion, and say adding capacity on existing lines or building new ones would be better value. In the letter to the DfT, Network Rail said only HS2 could realistically deliver desperately-needed extra capacity. It said the West Coast Main Line, the East Coast Main Line and the Midlands Main Line were effectively full and that upgrading the routes would not deliver the same extra seating or journey times as HS2. In the scenario that delivers the most benefits, or 66 per cent of HS2's capacity, 51 improvement projects would need to be launched. Haines said: 'On the East Coast Main Line where, assuming continuous weekends of closures to complete the works, the route would be closed at one location every week for between 26 and 29 years. If closure at two locations were assumed, this would take 13-14 years.' Network Rail said the improvements could be shortened to at least ten years if it is allowed three sets of works on each line simultaneously. But it said there was no way to upgrade without significant disruption to weekend travel over a lengthy period. Similar work a decade ago on the West Coast Main Line, which has not addressed capacity issues, caused long-running disruption, with businesses complaining that it cost them tens of millions of pounds. This month, Birmingham mayor Andy Street and Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said: 'Modern railways such as HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail are the single biggest means to transform jobs and opportunities for people in the Midlands and the North.' Joe Rukin, of campaign group Stop HS2, said: 'HS2 delivers capacity where it is needed the least, decades in the future at maximum cost. The real need for capacity is in short-distance journeys in and around left-behind towns and cities.' Lord Berkeley, deputy chairman of a government-commissioned review into HS2, said improvements to existing mainline services would be a better use of public money than HS2. 'Quick wins on services in the North and Midlands are essential, as part of a 20-year programme of improvements for commuters,' he said. Arthur Griffith has been misjudged too often. Neglected since his sudden death in 1922, his legacy suited no political party neatly. Warts and all, he was a remarkable man whose loving wife Molly called him "a fool giving his all, others having the benefit". The founder of Sinn Fein and president of Dail Eireann when civil war erupted, Arthur Griffith was central to the creation of the present Irish state. Harry Boland, who fought against Griffith's side in the civil war is said to have exclaimed of him to a friend, 'Damn it, Pat, hasn't he made us all?' Griffith was 'the father of us all', Michael Collins likewise said. If so, he is an Oedipal father-figure whose reputation is slain to satisfy more heroic fantasies about Mother Ireland. It is time to do Griffith justice, not least because he was also president-substitute of Dail Eireann during de Valera's long absence in America for most of the War of Independence we are now commemorating. And in 1921 he courageously signed articles of agreement for an Anglo-Irish treaty. In reality, the battle against partition was then already lost. Partition rated few mentions in Dail debates about the treaty, despite their bitterness. Arthur Griffith defended the literary reputation of Oscar Wilde. The fact that he distinguished between Wilde's private and professional lives does not fit a caricature of Griffith preferred by his critics. Nor does the fact that Griffith has been praised for supporting women. They included Maud Gonne, and those like Chrissie Doyle and Mary Butler who wrote for his papers. In 1910 he affirmed the equality of women and stated that, "if in course of time we in Ireland and the remnant of the earth came to live under a gynocracy, I should not repine. I am weary living in a world ruled by men with mouse-hearts and monkey-brains, and I want a change." Griffith has been scapegoated variously for Irish anti-Semitism, for The Playboy "riots" at the Abbey Theatre, for the failure of the armed struggle to achieve a 32-county republic by 1922, and for the frustration of socialist revolution in Ireland. This is despite efforts by earlier biographers to do him justice. Reared among great poverty in central Dublin, Griffith was not glamorous but pragmatic. Ultimately a social democrat, he steadily articulated cultural and economic policies to achieve an independent Ireland. In 1921 Collins said that he used to think of him when young "as Ireland". As editor of the United Irishman Griffith damned "blooming censors" when urging people to read essays by James Joyce and Francis Skeffington rejected by a university literary magazine. He was the only editor who dared to publish in full Joyce's letter detailing problems in getting Joyce's Dubliners into print. His work inspired Joyce to write articles for the Italian media on Sinn Fein's aims. Griffith was an incisive journalist. To Yeats he was "an enthusiastic anti-cleric". Indeed De Valera, who boasted of his own orthodoxy, apologised to the rector of the Irish College in Rome for Griffith's tone in a letter sent to the rector during treaty negotiations in 1921. A libel action by a parish priest closed one of Griffith's papers. Video of the Day Despite this Griffith has been represented as a social reactionary, partly on the basis of his criticism of Synge's The Playboy of the Western World. But he simply did not find that play believable. He worried that it perpetuated a false idea of Irish people and could be used to support the claim that Ireland was not fit to govern itself. But he did also publish a defence of The Playboy and personally praised its actors, while approving some of Synge's other work. Griffith's publication of some anti-Semitic statements, including by F.H. O'Donnell and Oliver St John Gogarty, has damaged his reputation. He strongly denied he was anti-Semitic, and published the socialist Fred Ryan's condemnation of such "ravings" in his own paper. When Griffith died suddenly in 1922, the Dublin Jewish Students' Union expressed "dismay" and sent his widow their "sincere and respectful sympathy". His detractors usually ignore later favourable references to Jews that he also published, as well as his later affirmation that no nationalist would deny Irish Jews a place in any future Irish cabinet. Some who compare him unfavourably to Michael Davitt and James Larkin ignore unpleasant utterances about Jews by Davitt and Larkin themselves. While Griffith and James Connolly had a friendly relationship, Griffith did not like Jim Larkin. He considered Larkin a divisive danger. His antagonism to Larkin, and for a period to Yeats (whose early career he had strongly boosted), was based on his fear that their personal agendas might distract from his main objective. Likewise, he did not prioritise votes for women lest that demand derail the priority of national independence. In 1913 Griffith took part in the Howth gun-running. An old photo in the National Library of Ireland shows him (unidentified by name) drilling with the rifle that he got there. In 1914 the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) invited him to a small, high-level secret meeting that then agreed a policy for securing independence. Most of those present died in the 1916 Rising. Sean T. O'Kelly, a future president of Ireland, survived but found himself on the opposite side to Griffith in the Civil War. His accounts of that meeting and of Griffith's role then and subsequently are crucial eye-witness testimony in light of the loss of many of Griffith's personal papers. When Griffith dropped dead, O'Kelly was in Kilmainham Jail as a prisoner of the pro-Treaty government. He generously predicted of Griffith that, "Future generations of Irish men and women shall draw inspiration [from a man] whose political philosophy so eloquently taught, and whose long years of toil and sacrifice brought the present generation of Irishmen from their knees to their feet, and rekindled in their hearts the almost extinct flame of liberty." It is time once again to acknowledge Griffith's role as "father of us all". The Enigma of Arthur Griffith: 'Father of Us All', by Colum Kenny, is published by Merrion Press at 19.95 Attack on CRPF jawans in Jammu and Kashmir: One martyred, four injured in terror attack CRPF carries out vigilance check of 3 personnel in wake of Davinder Singh case India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 29: The Central Reserve Police Force has carried out a mega audit of its over three lakh personnel to check for any possible "subversive" elements in the wake of a Jammu and Kashmir Police officer being caught with terrorists recently, the chief of the paramilitary force said here on Tuesday. CRPF Director General (DG) AP Maheshwari said the incident involving Deputy Superintendent of Police Davinder Singh was "grave" and an "area of extreme concern" for the security forces, adding that all should see that these things don't occur. So it was "common sense" to carry out such an audit of its manpower, deployed as the lead force for counter-terrorist and anti-Naxal operations across the country, when any incident like this take place, he said. NIA gets 15 days custody of Davinder Singh "If something happens somewhere, it is a case to revisit ourselves and that is what we have done. We have no doubts about our personnel," the CRPF chief said. A senior official said the counter-intelligence units of the force were recently asked to check the credentials of the personnel after obtaining data from all available sources and they have been asked to be kept on "active mode" for some more time. NEWS AT NOON JAN 29th, 2020 "No security grid should be allowed to be weakened by such episodes. So, all forces have to keep an internal watch," he said on the arrest of DSP Singh. "All forces should maintain vigilance so that there is no such type of subversion or some sort of intrusion within the force...," the DG told reporters here. Jammu and Kashmir 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, on January 11. Maheshwari said that somebody from a security force trying to collaborate with adversaries is a "serious matter". However, he added that a lone incident cannot be used to "brand" the entire force which has done onerous work in the past. "An isolated incident should not be taken as branding of any particular force. The JK Police has tremendous contributions in normalising the situation (in Kashmir)," the DG said at a force camp here. Davinder Singh: Relative of terrorist detained One incident should not be used to cast "aspersions on the dignity of the force, on the strength of the force, and therefore I don't buy this is theory that there can be more such elements, but yes it is a matter of concern and all should see that these things don't occur," said the DG, a 1984-batch IPS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre who took over the reins of the force on January 15. "We are further strengthening our systems... which were already in place," he said referring to the vigilance and intelligence checks conducted on their personnel in Kashmir valley and other places. "When something happens in neighbourhood, then it is common sense to do it (check against subversive elements) quickly again," he added. From toothbrush to attar bottle to Ak-47: Here is what cops recovered from Davinder Singh The Central Reserve Police Force has deployed close to 70,000 personnel in Kashmir Valley for counter-terrorist and law and order duties. It is the country's largest Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) with 3.25 lakh personnel in its ranks and is categorised as the lead national internal security force. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, January 29, 2020, 7:35 [IST] Burma AA Releases Executive of Myanmar Military-Backed Mytel, Driver The Arakan Army released the director of the military-backed telecom operator Mytel and his driver on Jan. 29, 2020. / Arakan Army SITTWE, Rakhine StateThe Arakan Army (AA) rebel group on Wednesday released the Rakhine State director of the military-backed telecom operator Mytel and his driver, more than one month after detaining them. The AA abducted the Sittwe-based director of Mytels Rakhine State Office, U Zaw Tun Aung, and his driver, U Saw Thein Maung, on Dec. 23 in Kyauktaw Township, saying they posed a security threat. AA spokesman U Khaing Thuka said both men were released in Manaw Thiri Village in Pauktaw Township. We took them for questioning as we had security-related suspicions. It was only meant to be temporary, but due to the heavy offensives, we could not release them until today, he told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday. According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Maung Maung Soe of the Rakhine State Police Force, the two men arrived back in Sittwe on Wednesday with the help of authorities from Pauktaw Township. Mytel is Myanmars fourth telecom operator after MPT, Telenor and Ooredoo. It is a joint venture of Star High Public Co. Ltd, owned by Myanma Economic Corporation under the military-controlled Ministry of Defense; Myanmar National Telecom Holdings, a Myanmar consortium comprising 11 companies; and the Vietnamese telecom company Viettel. The two were making a field trip to improve Mytels communication services in Rakhine State, and were near Kyauktaw Township when contact with them was lost on the morning of Dec. 23, according a statement issued by the Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw, last month following their disappearance. The two, who are both ethnic Rakhine, left Sittwe on Dec. 17 and visited Ann, Thandwe and Minbya townships. They stayed overnight in Minbya on Dec. 22, and were en route to Kyauktaw the following day when they went missing. Due to the fighting, the government blocked internet access in eight townships in northern Rakhine as well as Chin States Paletwa Township on June 21 last year. Access was restored in five townships in September, but remains blocked in Kyauktaw, Ponnagyun, Mrauk-U and Minbya. The freeing of the Mytel employees followed Tuesdays release by the AA of Maung Htwe and Zaw Zaw, two army corporals captured in Paletwa on Nov. 19. They were among 13 detained soldiers from Hmawbi-based Light Infantry Battalion No. 313, which is under Division 77. On Jan. 21, the AA released U Whei Tin, an Upper House lawmaker from the National League for Democracy representing Paletwa Township, after detaining him for two-and-a-half months. U Khaing Thuka said the group has released a total of 66 people who have no links to the military since 2019, including employees of the Hsu Htoo San Construction Company; civilians captured from the Shwe Nadi ferry; firefighters and civilians detained in Mrauk-U Township; and drivers from the Transport Ministry abducted from the vessel Aung Takhon in Rathedaung Township. The rest of the soldiers abducted by the group remain in detention, he said. The AA proposed exchanging the Tatmadaw soldiers with ethnic Rakhine civilians and AA members detained by the government in a prisoner of war swap. If the government released the AA members and the others, the AA said, it would release the soldiers. The AA demanded the release of its members in exchange for 17 police and soldiers detained from the Shwe Nadi ferry, but the Tatmadaw rejected the offer, saying the situation does not fall within the rules and regulations governing prisoner exchanges, and that the military does not negotiate with terrorist groups. The AA does not make public the precise number of people, whether civilian or military, in its custody. Clashes continue to erupt in Rakhine State, with the AA and the Tatmadaw engaging in heavy fighting in Ingyin Village in Myebon Township on Monday and Tuesday. More than a year of military clashes between the AA and the Tatmadaw in Rakhine State have caused over 160,000 internally displaced persons to take shelter in temporary camps. The civilian death toll continues to grow as villagers houses, caught between the warring parties, are frequently struck by artillery shells. Both sides continue to arrest civilians. Nearly 200 Rakhine people have been arrested by the government on suspicion of affiliation with the AA and charged under the Counter-Terrorism Law. Those who have been sued under the law include the AA chief, Major General Tun Myat Naing, Dr. Nyo Tun Aung, Colonel Kyaw Han and the groups spokesman, Khaing Thuka. The brother, sister and brother-in-law of the AA chief have also been detained and brought before a court under the Counter-Terrorism Law. Translated from Burmese with additional reporting in English by Nyein Nyein BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 Trend: Both producers and consumers are satisfied with the current oil price level, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in an interview with Rossiya-24 TV channel of Russia on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trend reports. As for Azerbaijan, a price of $55 per barrel has been included in our budget for this year, the Azerbaijani president said. But the price is much higher now. Therefore, I think that the price will remain within this range of $55 to 65 if there are no force majeure circumstances. Moreover, the OPEC+ format is proving very effective and Azerbaijan takes an active part in the work of this format. We are reducing production in connection with our obligations, and the countries that are not members of OPEC are essentially acting in the same way as OPEC members today, Ilham Aliyev noted. Therefore, OPEC+ is a very successful format for multilateral cooperation, which has essentially determined that the price of oil today is fair in our opinion. The Azerbaijani president added that the extension of the OPEC+ deal will be discussed in the near future. But given the fact that we are seeing specific results, of course, I consider it would be appropriate to extend it, said Ilham Aliyev. Because in the event of non-extension, we do not know how the market will react and different speculative trends may appear again. Therefore, I believe that the extension would make sense. Those who would shout doom and gloom might be loud using social media bots and paid hacks to advance their false notions, but they are not many. You see, were wrestling the public conversation in Illinois back from people concerned with one thing and one thing only predicting total disaster, spending hundreds of millions of dollars promoting it, and then doing everything in their power to make it happen, Pritzker said. President Trump is trying to do what many other presidents have tried unsuccessfully to do: stop Palestinian efforts to try to drive Jews from Israel and claim the land of Israel for their own. On Tuesday, with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his side, and with approval from Netanhayu's political rival, Benny Gantz, Trump unveiled his plan, which he calls "Peace to Prosperity : A Vision to Improve the Lives of the Palestinian and Israeli People." The vision, said Trump in his prepared remarks, "is fundamentally different from past proposals" because it's not just a goal, but is instead a detailed 80-page plan for a two-state solution. It calls for Israel to cede some territory to the Palestinians. In return, Israel will get security, control over the Golan Heights, sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, and Jerusalem's continued status as Israel's undivided capital. As for the Palestinians, under his plan, said Trump, they will have a state twice the size of their current territory, a tunnel connecting Gaza and the West Bank, a capital of their own in East Jerusalem (complete with a U.S. embassy), the maintenance of the status quo on the Temple Mount, and a $50-billion commercial investment in the new Palestinian state: Over the next 10 years, if executed well, 1 million great new Palestinian jobs will be created. Their poverty rate will be cut in half. And their poverty rate is unacceptable now and only getting worse. Their GDP will double and triple. And much-needed hope, joy, opportunity, and prosperity will finally arrive for the Palestinian people. Our vision will end the cycle of Palestinian dependency upon charity and foreign aid. They will be doing phenomenally all by themselves. They are a very, very capable people. (Applause.) And we will help by empowering the Palestinians to thrive on their own. Palestinians will be able to seize the new future with dignity, self-sufficiency, and national pride. In exchange for these benefits, Trump emphasized that the Palestinians must change their ways: To ensure a successful Palestinian state, we are asking the Palestinians to meet the challenges of peaceful co-existence. (Applause.) This includes adopting basic laws enshrining human rights; protecting against financial and political corruption; stopping the malign activities of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other enemies of peace; ending the incitement of hatred against Israel so important; and permanently halting the financial compensation to terrorists. Trump pointed out that he'd already recognized Israel's needs by relocating the U.S. embassy and recognizing Israel's control over the Golan Heights, Judea, and Samaria. The proposed plan now gives something to the Palestinians. However, Trump threw in a cheerfully delivered threat that the plan represents the Palestinians' last chance to get what they claim to want: a state of their own. Ilhan Omar (of course) was the first out of the box saying that the plan is a no-go: This is not a peace plan. It is theft. It is erasure. https://t.co/N2rduGVnze Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 28, 2020 Omar's reflexive, shallow tweet is consistent with the Palestinian view. Critics are complaining that Palestinian Authority dictator Mahmoud Abbas wasn't involved in the plan, but the reality is that he has refused even to talk to Trump. Abbas has referred to Trump as "a dog, son of a b----, a violent man who wants to force us into a program we're not interested in." Instead of negotiating, Abbas called for greater violence (a call ISIS has answered): They called me from Washington and I did not pick up the phone. I said no and I will continue to say no[.] ... We are going for difficult days and we are beginning to bear the consequences of the refusal. Resistance must be escalated at all points of friction. All young people must be encouraged. Trump, Netanyahu, and Gantz are no fools. They all know that the Palestinians do not want peace they want a one-state plan that requires that all Jews be eliminated from the Middle East. Netanyahu and Gantz probably hope (and may already know) that Trump, having offered a good plan and made clear that refusing it would be a serious mistake, will no longer try to balance Palestinian and Israeli interests. He'll be on Israel's side and might even use economic sanctions to destroy Abbas and Hamas. Calgary, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Burn care in Calgary has seen significant advancements thanks to a partnership between the Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Society (CFBTS) and Calgary Health Trust. The burn unit at Foothills Medical Centre, appropriately named the Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Centre, cares for an average of 120 patients each year facing serious burns and other complex soft tissue injuries and skin loss as well treats an additional 700 outpatients with relatively minor burn conditions. CFBTS contribution of $1.3 million to Calgary Health Trust in support of burn care is the result of three years of effort by the organization to raise funds and awareness to improve outcomes and the quality of life for burn survivors and their families. This has been a very exciting three years for the CFBTS. We have seen the research that we support advance in ways that we could not have imagined when we first started raising money, says CFBTS President, Thomas Kerr. Everyone at the Centre outdoes themselves time and time again with care they provide for patients. We feel humbled to be part of such a great team and we hope that we can continue to provide support for burn care in Southern Alberta that will have a positive impact on outcomes for survivors. Funds from CFBTS have supported a number of initiatives, all putting Calgary on the forefront of burn care in Canada. According to the Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Centres Medical Director, the level of success patients are able to achieve would not be possible without the support of CFBTS and the community. The CFBTS is integral to both the delivery of state-of-the-art burn care and the support of cutting edge research into wound healing, explains Dr. Duncan Nickerson. They deserve the sincere gratitude of burn patients and care providers for their incredible generosity. Examples of how the CFBTS have supported advancements in care for burn survivors includes the creation of a Chair in Skin Rejuvenation and Wound Care in partnership with University of Calgarys Cumming School of Medicine. This has led to an initiative focused on improving the function of skin grafting, which is necessary for wound treatment and infection prevention, but can lead to scarring and chronic itching. Chronic itching can be one of the most common and frustrating conditions for burn survivors, so investments that improve outcomes in this area will have a drastic impact on the day-to-day quality of life for patients. Funds raised have also supported education initiatives for both staff and patients that allow for collaboration and best-practices from leaders across the world, as well as connecting survivors to peer-support networks. The support from the CFBTS has made investments in burn care that not only allow us to strive for better care in the future, but support care that impacts patients today, says Mike Meldrum, President & CEO of Calgary Health Trust. This group of individuals gives so much to our community through their profession, and to have their passion extend to their volunteer and philanthropic efforts to support burn survivors is a humbling example of how great it is to live in a city like Calgary. CFBTS partners with Calgary Health Trust, the charity affiliate for hospitals and health care programs across Calgary, to ensure that investments will have the biggest impact on quality care for patients and those on the front lines of the health system. It is through the support of committed and passionate donors and supporters to the CFBTS that the organization is able to raise funds through a variety of initiatives such as annual donations, events and their famous Hot Stuff Calendar. -30 - About Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Society (CFBTS) The Calgary Firefighters Burn Treatment Society (CFBTS) is a registered non-profit charity organization supported by 1400+ professional Calgary Firefighters. The vision of the CFBTS is to support initiatives that will improve outcomes and quality of life for burn survivors and individuals affected by other severe skin injuries. Our goal is to foster advancements in burn treatment, research, awareness, care and education. About Calgary Health Trust Calgary Health Trust fundraises for health care in Calgary. The incredible generosity of our donors has led to advancements in patient care, clinical research and education. Funds raised benefit Foothills Medical Centre, Peter Lougheed Centre, Rockyview General Hospital, South Health Campus and many community health programs and 12 Carewest care centres in our community. Swedish furniture giant Ikea said Wednesday it had temporarily closed half of its 30 stores in mainland China until further notice amid concerns over the deadly new coronavirus. "In response to the Chinese government's call for strict and effective disease control, Ikea Retail China will temporarily close around half of the stores in mainland China until further notice, effective from January 29," the company said in a statement. Ikea had last week closed its store in Wuhan, the city where the outbreak originated in late 2019. Chinese authorities said Wednesday that the number of confirmed deaths from the virus has risen to 132 nationwide, with the confirmed total of infections now nearly 6,000 worldwide. Ikea said it was working with authorities in the cities and regions where it operates and was monitoring the situation closely, and would "act in accordance with their recommendations as this situation is evolving." It said Ikea employees at the affected stores were "asked to stay at home until further notice with paid leave." The company has a total of 14,000 employees in China. The outbreak is feared to have a serious impact on the global economy, with air traffic already disrupted and industrial production, international trade and tourism affected. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As pressure mounts on Senate Republicans to allow John Boltons testimony in President Trumps impeachment trial following bombshell revelations from Boltons upcoming book, the president took to Twitter on Wednesday to trash his former national security adviser. For a guy who couldnt get approved for the Ambassador to the U.N. years ago, couldnt get approved for anything since, begged me for a non Senate approved job, which I gave him despite many saying Dont do it, sir, takes the job, mistakenly says Libyan Model on T.V., and many more mistakes of judgement, gets fired because frankly, if I listened to him, we would be in World War Six by now, and goes out and IMMEDIATELY writes a nasty & untrue book. All Classified National Security, Trump wrote in a pair of tweets. Who would do this? The presidents stream-of-consciousness rant was sent as reports surfaced that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell privately told GOP senators he currently doesnt have enough votes to block witnesses from testifying in the impeachment trial. Senate Republicans have blocked calls for new testimony from witnesses, including Bolton, who have firsthand knowledge of Trumps requests for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, his son Hunter and a debunked conspiracy theory involving the Democratic National Committees server. McConnell plans for the Senate to take up the question on Friday. John Bolton, President Trump. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Win McNamee/Getty Images, AP) On Sunday night, the New York Times reported that in an initial draft of his book, Bolton described Trump telling him in August that he wanted $391 million in aid to Ukraine frozen until that countrys government announced investigations into the Bidens an allegation that is at the center of the impeachment case against the president, and until the news of Boltons book had been mostly supported by secondhand testimony. Trump fired back on Twitter Monday morning. I NEVER told John Bolton that the aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into Democrats, including the Bidens, Trump tweeted. In fact, he never complained about this at the time of his very public termination. If John Bolton said this, it was only to sell a book. Story continues But the fallout from Boltons book bombshell put immediate pressure on Senate Republicans, including Mitt Romney, who told reporters Monday morning that he thought new revelations will increase the number of GOP senators who would support calling at least Bolton to testify. Bolton, a fixture in Republican administrations and the conservative movement since the 1980s, immediately became persona non grata on the right. Fox Business host Lou Dobbs, a reliable indicator of Trumps thinking, said he had been reduced to a tool for the radical Dimms and the Deep State. On Tuesday, Trumps defense lawyers argued that Boltons testimony was irrelevant, because even if his account of his conversation with the president is accepted, the facts dont support a conviction under the Constitution. You cannot impeach a president on an unsourced allegation, Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow said. Even if everything in there was true, it constitutionally doesnt rise to that level. It is unclear what Sekulow meant by unsourced allegation, as Boltons book recounts conversations he personally participated in. As a candidate in 2015, Trump said on NBCs Meet the Press that he watched television or the shows for foreign policy advice. When pressed to name a go-to military adviser, Trump said: Probably there are two or three. I like Bolton. I think hes a tough cookie, knows what hes talking about. In March 2018, Trump announced the appointment of Bolton as national security adviser his third in less than 14 months in a presidential tweet. A few weeks later the president tweeted that foreign and trade policy was in good hands, and it feels great to have Bolton on board. Bolton had reportedly been on Trumps shortlist of candidates for the post since the beginning of the administration, but officials said the president initially hesitated, in part because he didnt like Boltons mustache. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: A plane carrying around 200 American citizens who were evacuated from Wuhan, Chinawhere the new coronavirus outbreak startedwas diverted to March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County, California, late Jan. 28. The Boeing 747 stopped at a private terminal at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Alaska before taking off to its final destination. The plane was slated to land at Ontario International Airport, about 35 miles east of Los Angeles, but was diverted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Curt Hagman, chairman of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors and a commissioner at Ontario airport, said that CDC officials alerted him to the diversion. Ontario International is one of the repatriation airports for the West Coast and we are always prepared to receive our citizens abroad in times of emergencies, Hagman said in a video. We were prepared but the state department decided to switch the flight to March Air Force Base for logistics that they have. Those logistics werent clear. The CDC didnt immediately return a request for comment. Representatives of the city of Ontario were told by representatives of the CDC that the flight was diverted, the city said in a statement late Tuesday. This is all the information we have at this time, it said. San Bernardino County said in an earlier statement that the plane would be carrying up to 240 U.S. citizens, including nine children. The Ontario airport was designated by the federal government as the official repatriation center for California about a decade ago, and various county departments have participated in numerous comprehensive repatriation exercises with state and federal agencies during the past several years to ensure the county and all other agencies are prepared for this type of event, the county stated. The aircraft occupants consisted entirely of U.S. citizens, including American contractors and State Department employees. The aircraft will first arrive in Alaska, where occupants will be examined by personnel from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. No occupants who present symptoms of illness will be allowed to proceed into the continental United States. Upon arrival in the continental U.S., possibly ONT, aircraft occupants will again be screened by CDC personnel and monitored for up to two weeks, it said. Officials were ready to house the evacuees in a space at the airport. The CDC said in an earlier statement that the passengers will be screened before they take off; monitored during the duration of the flight by medical personnel on board; screened again on landing to refuel in Anchorage, Alaska; monitored on the last leg of the flight by medical personnel on board; evaluated upon arrival at March Air Reserve Base and then monitored for symptoms post-arrival. Anyone who showed symptoms in any of the screenings before landing at the base wouldnt be allowed on board, officials said. Alaska officials said all 201 passengers on board passed medical screening and continued onto California. For many of us directly involved, this has been a moving and uplifting experience, said Alaskas Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anne Zink in a statement (pdf). The whole plane erupted in cheers when the crew said, Welcome home to the United States. It is easy to stay focused on all that we had to do in a short period of time to prepare and respond, but at the end of the day, this mission was about people. It was about American citizens, some of whom were working to serve our country. It was about families, and it was about helping each other in a time of need. Several countries evacuated citizens from Wuhan even as the World Health Organization claimed that evacuations werent necessary. Japan, Australia, and South Korea also sent planes to evacuate passengers from the epicenter of the virus. Six Americans have tested positive for the virus; two in California, two in Washington state, one in Arizona, and one in Illinois. All six traveled to Wuhan. Asymptomatic transfer has been reported in other countries but U.S. health officials said on Jan. 28 that they havent been able to confirm the transfer, noting China hasnt made certain data available for examination. Over a dozen other countries have confirmed cases, including Canada, France, and Thailand. At least three foreignerstwo from Australia and one from Pakistanhave contracted the coronavirus in China, deputy head of the Guangdong Health Commission Chen Zhusheng said on Jan. 29. British Airways and All Nippon Airways, a Japanese airline, suspended flights to China. There were reports that the U.S. government was considering suspending flights from China amid the outbreak. Health Secretary Alex Azar said that the option is on the table but a final decision hasnt been made yet. Azar told reporters on Tuesday that screening would be expanded from five to 20 airports as officials continued to assess the rapidly evolving situation. From The Epoch Times Today's Paris Live gets underway with a closer look at the MidEast peace programme proposed by the United States, so far applauded by Israel but rejected outright by Palestinians. We take a look at the political situation in Spanish region of Catalonia, where the separatist president has threatened to call an early election after he after he lost his right to be a Catalan MP. This could have ramifications for the stability of Spain's central government. We hear about France's announcement that it will ban a culling practice known as chick shredding in farming by the end of next year as one of 15 measures to stop mistreatment of animals. There's an interview with the author of a report for the Conflict Armament Research group in London which found that in 2018, conflicts between pastoralists and farmers in northern Nigeria killed more people than Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa. The Paris Live special guest today is Nicholas Norbrook ,the managing editor of The Africa Report, who discussed two topics today - the first being the crisis in the Sahel region, and France's position in it. We also discussed the challenges faced by South Africa as it prepares to take over the African Union Chair next month. The Supreme Court on Wednesday turned down a plea by Mukesh Singh, one of the four convicts in the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case. Mukesh Singh had moved the SC challenging the rejection of the mercy plea by the president of India. A three-judge bench headed by Justice R Banumathi said that expeditious disposal of mercy plea by the President doesn't mean non-application of mind by him. The bench said all relevant material including judgments pronounced by the trial court, high court and Supreme Court were placed before the President when he was considering the mercy plea of the convict. "All the documents were taken into consideration by the President while rejecting the mercy petition," the bench said. The bench also dealt with submissions advanced by the convict's counsel, who had argued that the mercy plea was rejected at "lightning speed". The bench said that if a mercy petition is expeditiously dealt with, it cannot be assumed that it has been adjudicated upon in a pre-conceived mind. The court also said that alleged sufferings in prison can't be grounds to challenge the rejection of mercy petition. Singh had also pleaded the delaying of the executions, which is scheduled for February 1. The SC has turned down this plea also, which in effect means that Singh has exhausted all the legal remedies in front of him. However, the four convicts are trying their best to delay the hanging. On Wednesday another convict Akshay Kumar approached the Supreme Court with a curative petition. Advocate AP Singh, representing convict Akshay Kumar, said he has filed a curative plea and the apex court registry has sought some more documents along with the petition. I have approached the SC registry with curative petition today. The registry has asked me to file some additional documents along with the petition and I am in the process of completing the formalities, Singh said. The SC had earlier dismissed curative petitions filed by two convicts Vinay and Mukesh. The four men along with another accused, Ram Singh and a juvenile were arrested in December 2012 for the gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old paramedical student on a moving bus in Delhi. Ram Singh was found dead inside his jail cell in 2013 in an apparent suicide and the juvenile who was tried under the Juvenile Justice Act was released in December 2015. Reuters Facebook Inc recommended rules on Tuesday for how its independent oversight board will work and said a former human rights group director will lead the board's administrative staff. The content appeals board, which will grow to about 40 members and will be able to overrule Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, is one of the company's high-profile responses to criticism over how it handles problematic content on Facebook and Instagram. Facebook will name board members later in 2020, but it announced that Thomas Hughes, former executive director for freedom of expression rights group Article 19, will oversee the boards administrative staff, whose first offices will be in the United States and the United Kingdom. Brent Harris, Facebooks head of governance and global affairs, said the company had narrowed choices for board members down to "a few dozen people" but no formal offers had been made. He said Facebook hoped the board, which will also be able to recommend policy changes, will start hearing cases this summer. Facebook is under scrutiny ahead of the US presidential elections in November, after US intelligence agencies said that social media platforms were used in a Russian cyber-influence campaign aimed at interfering in the 2016 US election a claim Moscow has denied. In December, Facebook pledged $130 million to fund the board for about six years. The board's cases can be referred to either by Facebook or by a user who has exhausted the appeals process. The proposed bylaws give a 90-day period for the board to make a decision and Facebook to act on it. For cases with "urgent real-world consequences," there will a 30-day expedited review. Initially, Facebook said users will only be able to appeal to the board when their content has been removed, though in future it wants the board to also handle cases where content was left up. Evelyn Douek, a doctoral student at Harvard Law School who studies online speech legislation, told Reuters she was disappointed with this limitation. "A lot of the really controversial cases in the past few years have been not take-downs but leave-up decisions, things like the Nancy Pelosi video, hate speech in Myanmar," said Douek. "And at the moment those arent in scope for the board to review them unless Facebook itself refers them to the board." Facebook, which has recently come under fire over its decision not to fact-check politicians' ads, also said that the types of content that the board can review will later increase to include ads, Groups, and Pages. Sunny Sen At a time when startups are imploding globally and facing questions about inflated valuations, lack of governance and robust business models, Sanjeev Bikhchandani, co-founder of InfoEdge that owns Naukri.com, warns entrepreneurs against making the unicorn status the measure of their success. Company founders should not benchmark to unicorn valuation, said Bikhchandani, who has invested in startups like Zomato and Policy Bazaar, referring to term often used for private companies valued at a billion dollars or more. Startups should benchmark success against metrics of customer satisfaction, unit economics, the path to profitability and revenue growth, he said. Valuation is a consequence, it is not the main objective, said Bikhchandani who is also a board member of the non-profit organisation for startups, TiE Delhi-NCR. Divergence among private and public investors over valuation and expectations was a big issue facing startups, he said. Recently, WeWorks public offer got derailed after public investors valued the office space-sharing company at a third of what its investor, SoftBank, had during the pre-IPO funding. WeWorks valuation crashed from $47 billion to $15 billion. Other SoftBank portfolio companies, too, are in focus. Uber and Slack, which got listed in 2019, havent performed well on the bourses and their business model and governance have been called into question. In India, too, Softbank-backed OYO is facing backlash from hotel owners and former and present employees. Startups should look at proper governance and one way to do it was through transparency and disclosures, Bikhchandani said. Seeking convergence, and not conflict of interest, between founders and shareholders, too, would go a long way, he said. The board of a company will have a big role to play. Boards are important for governance and oversight, but ultimately founders and management teams run companies, Bikhchandani said. The Indian startup ecosystem was going through a point of inflection, the Naukri founder said. Great companies were built over one or two decades, not overnight. Great companies are being formed. There are 25 unicorns in India, some of them will get to profit and will go public, Bikhchandani said. While building great companies entrepreneurs should be capital-efficient and raise money as was required, perhaps a little more but not too much, he said. But at the same time, figure out how to sustain if you are unable to raise more money, he said. There should (always) be a plan B. How Bajaj, Colgate, Raymonds, Zee lost out.. Strategic errors have hurt many companies, says adguru Sandeep Goyal. IMAGE: A Bajaj Chetak advertisement. Photograph: Kind courtesy Bajaj Hamara Bajaj is possibly one of India's most memorable advertising campaigns. Unforgettable, more so since Bajaj scooters were ubiquitous, a part of every home, every family, when the campaign was first aired in 1989. In 2006, Chetak, the flagship scooter from the Bajaj stable, was withdrawn from the market. In 2010, the young scion of the Bajaj family, Rajiv Bajaj, decided to pull the brand entirely out of the scooter business, with the specific intent to focus on its motorcycles offering. IMAGE: Priyanka Chopra in a Colgate toothpaste advertisement. Photograph: Kind courtesy Colgate It was 2000 when Lara Dutta, Priyanka Chopra and Dia Mirza won the top three positions in the Miss India contest, paving the way for their respective Miss Universe, Miss World and Miss Asia Pacific crowns. What very few people would remember today is that almost 20 years ago, the title sponsor of that eventful Miss India contest was a brand called Palmolive, from the House of Colgate. Palmolive was then a significant player in the shampoo business. But Colgate was at that time under extreme stress from Hindustan Lever's Pepsodent and Close-Up brands that were pummeling its mainstay, Colgate toothpaste, in India. Jay Jayaraman, the chief executive officer of Colgate-Palmolive, took a momentous decision: To exit the shampoo business, so as to concentrate all company resources on the toothpaste line. Palmolive exited the India market. IMAGE: A Beetel Reflections mobile phone advertisement. Photograph: Kind courtesy Beetel Much before Bharti Airtel was born, the Mittal brothers used to make POTS (plain old telephone sets) under the Beetel brand name in the late 1980s and early 1990s out of Ludhiana. They were undisputed market leaders. Then came Airtel, a mobile service, first launched in Delhi in 1995. A service that belied all estimates and predictions, zooming to a subscriber base of nearly 180 million by 2010. In 15 years since its launch, Airtel subscribers had bought at least 1 billion handsets. IMAGE: A Raymond Ceremonial Collection advertisement. Photograph: Kind courtesy Raymond Raymond has been the preferred suitings and shirtings brand of The Complete Man for generations. In 2025, Brand Raymond will complete a hundred years. In the 1980s when the Indian male started to migrate from getting shirts and trousers stitched from tailors to ready-wear, Raymond decided to largely ignore the shift in consumer preference. It did make a half-hearted attempt in 1986 by launching Park Avenue but did not want to 'risk' the Raymond brand. Also, despite knowing that nearly 80 per cent of its volumes came from the wedding segment, Raymond never entered this 'ceremonial' business. Essel group's Subhash Chandra sold 49.9 per cent of his stake in the nascent but rapidly growing satellite channel Zee TV to Rupert Murdoch in the mid-1990s. The relationship was never easy. In 1999, Chandra bought back the entire stake from Murdoch for $1 billion, an astronomical sum 20 years ago. More importantly, the stake sale freed up Star TV from an important binding clause in the aborted joint-venture: That Star TV could not do programming in Hindi. IMAGE: A Honda Activa advertisement. Photograph: Kind courtesy Honda The scooter space exited by Bajaj was quickly occupied by the Honda Activa which has become the No. 1 scooter in the country. Hero (35.9 per cent), Honda (26.1 per cent), TVS (14.8 per cent) today are far ahead of Bajaj (12 per cent) in the two-wheeler business. Even in motorcycles Bajaj is a distant second. P&G almost filled in for Palmolive with its Pantene and Head & Shoulders shampoos launched in 1995 and 1997, respectively. Colgate just missed the bus completely in the hair-care segment which has grown exponentially in the past two decades. Micromax, Karbonn, Lava, Intex and the likes entered the handset space. For some years they all had a good run till the Chinese brands came and wiped them all out. Reliance Jio learned quickly from the Airtel error, however, and made LYF and JioPhone an integral part of its offering from day one. IMAGE: Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli in the Manyavar ad. Photograph: Kind courtesy Manyavar Raymond did eventually launch Raymond ready-wear around 2008-09. But by then others like Louis Philippe, Van Heusen, Arrow, Allen Solly and Peter England had already stolen a march. Gautam Singhania tried to make up for lost time by buying Color Plus in 2002, and by launching brands like Parx and Manzoni. But the race had already been lost. In wedding wear too, brands like Manyavar trumped Raymond who has only recently started to market Ceremonials. Star TV crushed Zee once it was allowed to be in the Hindi GEC space. Kaun Banega Crorepati and the Ekta Kapoor serials Kyunki and Kahaani just demolished Subhas Chandra's channel, never to recover to No. 1. Strategic errors -- acts of omission and commission -- have hurt many companies. Most have thankfully survived the disastrous decisions but sans those wrongs, each of them could have gone much much further, and farther. The mother of Delhi gangrape victim welcomed the Supreme Court order dismissing the plea of one of the convicts in the case Mukesh Singh against the rejection of his mercy petition. The three-judge bench said that the President took all relevant records into account before dismissing his mercy plea. I welcome the Supreme Court verdict, and want all the convicts should be hanged as soon as possible, said the 23-year-old womans mother Asha Devi. I have kept my faith in law for the last seven years, and still do, she added. The Supreme Court order came less than 70 hours before the scheduled hanging of the four convicts - Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay Sharma and Akshay Thakur. Singhs unsuccessful attempt to get a presidential pardon had necessitated a fresh death warrant and pushed the execution of the four convicts from January 22 to February 1 at 6 am. After the rejection of his mercy petition, Singh approached the Supreme Court on Saturday. Singh had relied on the guidelines laid down in the judgment by the top court in 2014 in the Shatrughan Chauhan vs Union of India case and assailed the manner in which the mercy plea was rejected. The President had rejected his petition on January 17 within a span of just four days - in the fastest decision ever on a such a plea. Mukesh Singh is one of the five men and one juvenile who had raped and brutally assaulted a 23-year-old woman in a moving bus in Delhi on December 16, 2012, leading to nationwide outrage. The victim died on December 29 from the injuries in a hospital in Singapore where she was airlifted for treatment. One of the accused committed suicide in Tihar jail during the trial while the juvenile accused was sent to a reform house and released three years later. Singh and three others were convicted and sentenced to death by the trial court in 2013. The conviction and sentence were confirmed by the Delhi high court in 2014 and the Supreme Court in May 2017. Plan to Bring Back Earmarks Gaining Steam Among House Democrats WASHINGTONKey House Democrats are moving forward with plans to bring back earmarkstaxpayer-funded special interest projects once dubbed the gateway drug to federal spending addictionalthough Senate Republicans show no signs of easing their opposition to the practice. House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) met Jan. 28 with her panels subcommittee leaders and a number of members facing tough reelection battles in November to discuss restoring earmarksrechristened as community projectsthat were banned by congressional Republicans in 2011. Chairwoman Lowey and Appropriations subcommittee chairs had a constructive discussion with a large group of freshmen and other members yesterday afternoon, a knowledgeable House Democratic aide who spoke on background told The Epoch Times on Jan. 29. There is general support for increased congressional involvement in funding community projects and for reforms to ensure public trust in such a process. Conversations on moving forward with community project funding in the fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills will continue in the coming days, the aide said. No fixed rules have been set, but strict guidelines on recipients and the kinds of projects that would be considered are reportedly being discussed. The current effort has support from House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), and the restoration has been talked about off and on by members of both parties since the 2011 ban. Appropriations Committee Benefits Earmarks were often obscure spending measures buried in congressional appropriations sought by individual senators or representatives for projects in their state or district. Earmarks have been around for decades but were banned due to multiple scandals in which members of Congress used the measures illegally to benefit campaign donors, friends, and family members. Several House members went to jail for crimes linked to earmarks in the early 2000s. Members of the congressional appropriations committee were often the biggest beneficiaries of earmarks, according to Citizens Against Government Waste President Tom Shatz. Earmarks were for many years anonymous, but, when names of the sponsors were made public from 2008 to 2011, the 81 members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, representing 15 percent of Congress, got 51 percent of the earmarks and 61 percent of the money, Schatz told The Epoch Times. Romina Boccia, a Heritage Foundation economics analyst, told The Epoch Times that before the earmark ban, this politically-driven spending was among Congress worst excesses, driving up spending, favoring personal agendas over taxpayers priorities, breeding corruption, and wasting money. It was that waste and corruption that prompted former Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) to devote much of his senatorial career to ending earmarks because, he said, they rendered members unable to resist voting for increased government expenditures, which he called federal spending addiction. Avoiding Chaos Democratic campaign strategists interviewed by The Epoch Times were circumspect about the prospect of earmarks returning. As a rule of thumb, I am in favor of re-installing earmarks. I would much prefer the elected members of Congress making the spending decisions instead of the unelected bureaucrats of the Trump administration, said Jim Manley, former communications director for then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). However, I think it would be better to put this aside until next year, as Democrats dont need any unnecessary distractions as we work toward keeping the House and defeating Trump. Similarly, California-based Democratic strategist Spencer Critchley said, Which do you prefer, chaos or corruption? As much as people hated the corruption that came along with them, earmarks made a certain kind of order possible by motivating members to compromise. The problem, Critchley said, is that the system may be cleaner without them, but its also broken. Since members can afford to be unbending purists, its harder to get anything done. However, he cautioned, I dont think Democrats want to be seen arguing for the return of pork barrel spending, even if the pork is a little less fatty. Lipstick on a Pig Republicans remain adamantly opposed to bringing back earmarks for any reason. You can put lipstick on a pig, but its still just a pig, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), the Senates most prominent foe of wasteful spending, told The Epoch Times on Jan. 29. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) told reporters on Jan. 28, Thats not going anywhere right now. Republican strategists and anti-waste advocates interviewed by The Epoch Times were aghast at the prospect of earmarks being revived. Well, here we go again. Every couple of years, we see an effort to bring back earmarks, said Taxpayers Protection Alliance President David Williams. Republicans tried this when they were in power in the House. Fortunately, they were quickly criticized for the effort and subsequently dropped the plan. Now, Democrats are trying to bring them back. This shows that earmarks went away because it was the will of the people and politicians were no longer rewarded for bringing home the bacon. This is becoming like a game of whack-a-mole. Equally adamant was Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist. Earmarks are the broken windows of corruption and overspending. If we dont stop earmarks, we will never reform the big spending challenges, he said. Earmarkstax dollars given to a congressman to shower on his political supportersbuy his or her vote for a bill they would otherwise oppose. They are bribes. Brian Darling, former counsel to Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and founder of Liberty Government Affairs, called earmarks incumbent protection measures and a means for politicians to show that they can funnel money to the district. That earmarks may now be returning reaffirms that Congress has no will to balance the budget, tackle the debt, or cut any aspects of federal spending, Darling said. Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.nyc Shortly before 10 a.m. Tuesday, 45 male detainees were being taken to hearings at the countys district courthouse at 5600 Old Orchard Road when three of them engaged in a physical altercation with two others, the sheriffs office said in a statement. skynews wall coronavirus virus_4904104 Sky News Chinese villages are cutting themselves off from the world to try to prevent the deadly Wuhan coronavirus from taking hold in their communities. Sky News documented six villages about 600 miles from the epicenter of the outbreak, Wuhan, in the Chinese province of Hubei who had taken defensive measures. Some erected tall brick walls to block roads, with signs saying "No outsiders allowed in." One village had winched in a cabin to serve as a guardhouse at a checkpoint. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Villages in central China are going to extreme measures to cut themselves off from the deadly Wuhan coronavirus. Images broadcast by Sky News, featuring the network's Asia correspondent Tom Cheshire, documented isolation attempts by six villages in the province of Hubei. The villages visited by Sky were about 600 miles from Wuhan, the city in Hubei where the virus originated. The virus, known as 2019-nCoV, broke out in Wuhan in December and as of Tuesday had killed 106 people, infected 4,500, and spread to more than a dozen countries, according to China's National Health Commission. Handwritten signs suspended over roads into some villages visited by Sky News warned: "No outsiders allowed in." skynews wall coronavirus cirus_4904113 Sky News "Our village built this," one villager told Sky News, referring to a tall brick wall across a main road. The villager said the wall was meant "to stop outsiders coming to our village, to reduce the number of people coming in." In one case a portable cabin was winched into a village in Hubei to act as a guardhouse at a checkpoint. A local resident Sky News identified as Yan Yang said: "It's because of the epidemic. I don't know how long it will last." "No one knows how the epidemic will process," the person added. "There's no policies from the top yet." Story continues Hubei village coronavirus Screenshot/Sky News He went on: "I can't say I'm not worried. But no one has another method." While the Chinese government has set up official checkpoints to screen people for the virus, these walls and barriers have been set up without the directive of the government, according to Sky News. Another image of people building a wall across a main road circulated on Chinese social media on Tuesday and spread to Twitter. Business Insider has not been able to independently verify the photo from social media. China wuhan checkpoint makshift Sky news China's neighbor Mongolia enforced a ban on people crossing the border from China on Tuesday, according to the country's Montsame state news agency. The World Health Organization convened an emergency meeting with Wuhan officials on Monday but said last week that it was too early to call the outbreak a global health emergency. Read the original article on Business Insider By Trend Despite that the 50th World Economic Forum was held on Jan. 24 in Davos, Switzerland, where international issues were discussed, it is still in the focus of attention of world politicians, economists and political scientists, Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party Ganja city organization, MP Nagif Hamzayev told Trend. The MP said that during more than 400 open and closed sessions of the Davos Economic Forum, more than 2,000 politicians, academics, businessmen, and representatives of non-governmental organizations discussed "Stakeholders in a cohesive and sustainable world." Like every year, Azerbaijan was highly represented at this important event, and President Ilham Aliyev's meetings with some of the world's most prominent politicians and heads of major transnational companies wrote a new page in the relationship between Azerbaijan and the World Economic Forum. He also noted that today Azerbaijan is one of the key factors in the global energy market. The forum, now considered a global platform, has a significant impact not only on the modern world economic policy, but also on international relations. The Davos Economic Forum has once again demonstrated that the world supports the visionary ideas of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the global energy market. At the World Economic Forum 5 years ago, the country's president took the initiative to unite and work together with the member countries of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and oil producers that are not members of OPEC. As a result of the joint efforts of the OPEC + coalition of OPEC and non-OPEC countries, the price of black gold today is around $ 55-60 / barrel. When the balance of supply and demand is disturbed, OPEC + countries, including Azerbaijan, react immediately. At the 50th Davos Forum, OPEC Secretary General Mohammed Barkindo stated that the foundations for cooperation in the OPEC + format were laid only at the invitation of the President of Azerbaijan, saying that this is the first time in history. Thanks to your leadership and your vision, we have done it, Barkindo added. We will never forget this, Mr. President. This is very important for us, and, as you mentioned, we have worked very closely with Azerbaijan over the past five years, and Azerbaijan adheres to all decisions made. The most noteworthy point is that the Davos Forum is not only a great platform for presenting the realities of Azerbaijan to the international community, but also to represent Azerbaijan as one of the fastest growing parts of the world economy, said Hamzayev. Undoubtedly, the basis of this is the transformation of Azerbaijan into a security island, thanks to the multi-vector policy of the head of state and great political will. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz But French officials have said U.S. support, including intelligence, surveillance and logistical support, is crucial to their own operations. If we lose support capacities from the U.S. side, if we dont have more international partners joining the fight, then obviously our capacity to make a difference in the next three to six months will be less, one senior French official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter frankly. Press Release 29 January 2020 Washington, D.C. - Today, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) led a national dialogue with hundreds of mayors around the country to advance solutions to stop human trafficking in hotels. President and CEO Chip Rogers hosted a panel of leading Mayors at the U.S. Conference of Mayor's 88th Winter Meeting to explore the coordination between the hotel industry and mayors as they partner to deploy targeted strategies and take action to combat trafficking in cities across the country. Advertisements Today's event builds on efforts throughout National Human Trafficking Awareness Month and AHLA's No Room for Trafficking campaign, which aims to build on the industry's strong record by training every hotel employee to spot the signs of trafficking and ultimately save lives. As part of this month's awareness activities, AHLA is convening the broader travel community to help raise awareness around this critical issue. The panel, which featured remarks from Houston MayorSylvester Turner and Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman focused on the unique efforts of their cities and ways local governments are coordinating with hoteliers to develop innovative tools and facilitate increased collaboration across the private and public sectors. "We know that eliminating human trafficking takes coordination and collaboration across all sectors and all levels of government. Through partnerships with leaders like Mayor Turner and Mayor Goodman, the hotel industry will continue to make a meaningful difference in the fight to end human trafficking. We are grateful for their leadership, and the leadership from Mayors all over the country on this issue that impacts more than 40 million people globally." said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA. "In Houston, collaboration and partnerships have redefined our great city from a hub for trafficking to a national model for successful anti-trafficking programs. This is a testament to what happens when government and the private sector work together, and I encourage all industries to follow the hotel industry's leadership," said Mayor of Houston Sylvester Turner. "In the fight to end human trafficking, this joint effort is how our country will move forward and continue to save lives." "Human trafficking is among the fastest growing crimes in the country and comprehensively addressing this issue takes coordination and leadership," said Mayor of Las Vegas Carolyn Goodman. "As a major destination for tourism, I understand how vital it is for government and industry to work in tandem, and I commend the hotel industry for convening this critical conversation and taking the lead on such an important issue." AHLA kicked off National Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Miami, FL, in partnership with the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) and the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA), with a half-day summit featuring key stakeholders and a training of hotel employees ahead of Super Bowl LIV. AHLA is continuing to leverage the power of the sports industry with a regional event and employee training in Chicago, Illinois with the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association (IHLA) to raise awareness before the NBA All Star Game. Looking further into 2020, AHLA will be highlighting the industry's on-going efforts with targeted events across the country including Massachusetts, Arizona, Nevada, Delaware, California, Rhode Island, Maryland, West Virginia and more. We will also be working with key states to advance legislation at the state level and continuing to provide our members and industry with on-going support and resources. AHLA will continue to grow and enhance the industry's efforts with partnerships and member engagement. Toddlers who spend hours in front of the TV or looking at tablets are more inactive a few years later, researchers have found. A study of 500 children tracked from the age of two discovered screentime habits set at a young age were ingrained later in childhood. Those who spent more than three hours a day watching TV or looking at tablets at the age of two and three did far less exercise aged five. They spent 40 minutes more sitting down each day when they had started school, adding up to four hours over a week. Toddlers who spend three hours a day in front of the TV or on screens exercise four hours less every week than their peers by the age of five, a study has found (stock) The study, published in the Lancet Child and Adolescent Health journal, was conducted by the National University of Singapore. The results suggest following the World Health Organisation's guidelines, which limit screentime to an hour or less per day among two- to five-year-olds, may promote healthier patterns for later in life. Researcher Professor Falk Muller-Riemenschneider said: 'We sought to determine whether screen viewing habits at age two to three affected how children spent their time at age five. 'In particular we were interested in whether screen viewing affected sleep patterns and activity levels later in childhood.' DOES WATCHING TELEVISION INCREASE CHILDREN'S RISK OF DEVELOPING DIABETES? Watching television for three or more hours a day may increase a child's risk of developing type 2 diabetes, research suggested in July 2017. Children who spend at least three hours in front of a screen are heavier and have greater insulin resistance, a study found. Both of these are risk factors for the condition. Such youngsters also produce impaired amounts of the hormone leptin, the research adds. Leptin is involved in regulating appetite. These results remained even after the study's participant's activity levels were taken into account, the study found. Study author Dr Claire Nightingale from St George's, University of London, said: 'Our findings suggest that reducing screen time may be beneficial in reducing type 2 diabetes risk factors, in both boys and girls, from an early age. 'This is particularly relevant, given rising levels of type 2 diabetes, the early emergence of type 2 diabetes risk, and recent trends suggesting screen-related activities are increasing in childhood.' The researchers analysed 4,495 children aged between nine and 10 years old. The children were assessed for factors that influence their risk of developing diabetes. Their body proportions, activity levels and the amount of time they spend in front of a screen - either watching television or using a computer - every day were also recorded. Advertisement Parents were asked to report how much time the children spent on average either watching or playing video games on TV, using a computer, or using a handheld device such as mobile phone or tablet. These screen habits were recorded when the children were aged two and again at age three. At age five, the children wore an activity tracker continuously for seven days to monitor their sleep, sedentary behaviour and physical activity. Children in the study spent an average of two and a half hours a day watching screens at age two to three. Television was the most commonly used device and was associated with the longest viewing time. Only a small number of children in the study met WHO recommendations of one hour per day or less. The children who were in front of screens for three hours a day at the age of two and three did 30 minutes less light physical activity each day and 10 minutes less moderate to vigorous activity each day by the age of five. Although more screentime led to a significant rise in sedentary behaviour a few years later, it did not appear to affect later sleeping habits. Dame Sally Davies, the former chief medical officer for England, said in guidance published last February that parents should ban mobile phones from the dinner table and their children's bedrooms to avoid the harm from spending hours on social media. She also proposed the first time limits for screentime, advising that children should have a break every two hours. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children younger than 18 months avoid all screen media other than video-chatting. Parents of children 18 to 24 months of age who want to introduce digital media should choose high-quality programmes, and watch it with their children to help them understand what they're seeing. For children aged two to five years, parents should limit screen use to one hour per day - and continue to watch with them. Previous research by the University of Calgary, published in January, found toddlers exposed to the most screentime at the age of two showed poorer development by the age of three. CHICAGO, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced a donation of 250,000 medical-grade respiratory masks to address medical supply shortages in China. The masks will be provided to local health officials battling the spread of the coronavirus in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, and Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province. "Our thoughts continue to be with all those in China dealing with the health impacts related to the coronavirus," said Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun. "Through our donation, it is our hope that we can help limit the spread of this virus and ease the burden on local aid workers and medical personnel." The health and well-being of Boeing employees and their families remains a top priority for the company. Boeing continues to monitor the situation closely and has advised employees to heed all local public health warnings. To date, the company has provided 25,000 medical-grade respiratory masks for employees working in the region. About Boeing Boeing is the world's largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, and global services. A top U.S. exporter, the company supports commercial and government customers in more than 150 countries. Boeing employs more than 150,000 people worldwide and leverages the talents of a global supplier base. Building on a legacy of aerospace leadership, Boeing continues to lead in technology and innovation, deliver for its customers and invest in its people and future growth. Contacts Michelle Mei Boeing China Office: +86 (10) 59255507 [email protected] Jason Capeheart Boeing Communications Office: +1 312 544 2568 [email protected] SOURCE Boeing Related Links http://www.boeing.com S tarbucks has closed around 2,000 outlets in China as businesses shut up shop in a bid to curb the spread of the killer coronavirus. The death toll from the infection has reached 132, while China has seen at least 5,974 cases since it broke out in the city of Wuhan. Starbucks has closed around half of its 4,292 outlets across China, following suit with a raft of other businesses and transport providers who have ceased operations in a bid to help contain the virus. McDonald's has also closed restaurants in five locations across China, while destinations such as the nation's Disney resort and certain hotel chains have also shut down. "Most" KFC and Pizza Hut restaurants in the Hubei province have also closed for the foreseeable future due to coronavirus concerns, a spokesman for fast food restaurant company Yum China said. 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 CEO of Starbucks Kevin Johnson said the chain is responding "in a thoughtful and responsible way to protect our partners and support health officials and the government as they work to contain this public health risk". He added: "I am proud of how Starbucks China is navigating a very dynamic situation." The chain has reported a financial hit due to the closures, with shares falling one per cent in extended trading. It has postponed an update to its financial forecast due to the outbreak. It expects the impact on its monetary situation to be material but temporary. [January 28, 2020] FIAT CHRYSLER 72 HOUR DEADLINE ALERT: Former Louisiana Attorney General and Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Remind Investors With Losses in Excess of $100,000 of Deadline in Class Action Lawsuit Against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. - FCAU 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 31, 2020 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (NYSE: FCAU), if they purchased the Company's securities between February 26, 2016 and November 20, 2019, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. What You May Do If you purchased securities of Fiat Chrysler 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 ([email protected]), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-fcau/ 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 31, 2020. About the Lawsuit Fiat Chrysler and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On November 20, 2019, General Motors (News - Alert) ("GM") filed a racketeering lawsuit against the Company in federal court alleging that high-level officers of the Company had authorized a bribery scheme with labor union representatives in order to win acceptance of cost concessions in 2011 and 2015 as well as pressure GM into a merger with the Company. On this news, the price of Fiat Chrysler's shares plummeted. The case is Kong v. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. et al., 1:19-cv-6770. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's 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. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200128005846/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The number of troops injured by an Iranian missile strike in Iraq this month has risen to 50, according to new figures released by the on Tuesday. The personnel have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI), Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Campbell, a spokesman, said in a statement. The military had said on Friday that 34 troops were injured in the strike on the Ain al-Asad base in western Iraq on January 8. President Donald Trump had initially said no Americans were hurt by the missiles, and Democrats later accused him of trying to downplay the injuries. fired on Iraqi bases housing troops in retaliation for an American drone attack that killed Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad, raising fears of war. Campbell said that of the 50, 31 were treated in Iraq and returned to duty while 18 were being evaluated in Germany. Another was transported to Kuwait and has already returned to duty, he said, adding that the numbers could still change. At the time of the strike most of the 1,500 soldiers at the base had been in bunkers, after advance warning from superiors. Prime Minister Narendra Modi presents the trophy to the winner during the Annual PM's National Cadet Corps (NCC) Rally 2020, at Cariappa Parade Ground, Delhi Cantt, in New Delhi on January 28, 2020. DG NCC Lt Gen Rajeev Chopra is also seen. (Image: PIB/PTI) Apple has posted record results for the final three months of last year, delivering gains in sales of iPhones even as the company transitions to digital services and wearables. Net profit hit an all-time high of USD 22 billion on record quarterly revenue of USD 91.8 billion, the California tech giant said of the results which were far stronger than most analyst estimates. "We are thrilled to report Apple's highest quarterly revenue ever, fuelled by strong demand for our iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro models, and all-time records for services and wearables," said Apple chief executive Tim Cook. Apple's net income in the holiday quarter ending December 28 set a new record for the California-based company, according to chief financial officer Luca Maestri. The results come with Apple seeking to shift its revenue mix amid a slumping smartphone market and growing competition in the segment, and relying more on services such as music, streaming television and other digital content. Shares in Apple jumped two percent in after-market trades that followed release of the fiscal first-quarter earnings, extending a remarkable streak for the company which a year ago had been dogged by concerns of a slowdown in smartphone sales. Apple shares have doubled from a year ago -- lifting its valuation to more than USD 1.3 trillion -- as the company has expanded its services with a streaming television offering, digital payments and wearable tech such as its AirPods and updated Apple Watch. Analyst Yoram Wurmser of the research firm eMarketer welcomed "a strong quarter for Apple, primarily driven by strong sales of the iPhone 11 lineup." Apple bought back USD 20 billion in shares during the quarter and paid some USD 3.5 billion in dividends as part of a stated mission to be "net cash neutral" some time in the future, Maestri said. Apple has stopped reporting unit sales for the iPhone, which has been the main cash-generator for the company in recent years, but sales revenue for its smartphone sales was up nearly eight percent in the quarter at USD 55.9 billion. Services revenue rose 17 per cent from a year ago to USD 12.7 billion, driven by the launch of its Apple TV+ service and its new credit card. The Apple TV+ on-demand streaming service launched in more than 100 countries at USD 4.99 per month, at a price lower than those offered by rivals such as Netflix. For the category of wearables and home accessories -- including its HomePod speaker, Apple Watch and other gadgets -- revenue increased some 37 per cent to USD 10 billion. Overall revenue was up slightly in its Greater China region, a keenly watched market for the company. Apple forecast revenue between USD 63.0 billion and USD 67.0 billion in the current quarter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A new homage to Greta Thunberg has been unveiled at a wax museum in the German city of Hamburg. The waxwork of the Swedish climate activist, created by artist Gottfried Krueger, went on display on Wednesday at the Panoptikum Wax Museum. Mr Krueger hailed the 17-year-old, who was named TIME Magazines Person of the Year 2019, as the "most relevant personality" in the world. His comments were echoed by Panoptikum museum CEO Dr Susanne Faerber, who called the teen one of the most "important protagonists of our time who therefore deserves her place here." The waxwork of Greta Thunberg carries her famous placard reading 'school strike for the climate' / dpa/AFP via Getty Images The museum also features waxworks of the likes of the Queen, Karl Lagerfeld and Henry VIII. The installation of the new artwork came as Greta announced plans to trademark her name and her Fridays for Future founder school strike movement. In an Instagram post shared with her 9.8million followers, the 17-year-old wrote: My name and the #FridaysForFuture movement are constantly being used for commercial purposes without any consent whatsoever. It happens for instance in marketing, selling of products and people collecting money in my and the movements name. Greta Thunberg - In pictures 1 /57 Greta Thunberg - In pictures Climate activist Greta Thunberg attends a protest ahead of the UN Climate Conference in London REUTERS Teenage activist Greta Thunberg delivers a speech surrounded by other student environmental advocates outside the White House in 2019 Getty Images Greta Thunberg: A Year to Change the World. AP Environmental activist Greta Thunberg, of Sweden, addresses the Climate Action Summit in the United Nations General Assembly, at U.N. headquarters Jason DeCrow/AP Swedish environment activist Greta Thunberg gives a speech at the plenary session during the COP25 Climate Conference Getty Images Climate activist Greta Thunberg waves as she arrives in Lisbon aboard the sailboat AP Greta Thunberg on the Time Magazine cover, as the climate activist has been named as Person of the Year by the publication PA Climate change activist Greta Thunberg is escorted by police on her arrived at Chamartin train station in Madrid Getty Images Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg delivers a speech after a mass climate march to demand urgent action on the climate crisis from world leaders attending the COP25 summit, in Madrid AFP via Getty Images Greta Thunberg arrives at the Santo Amaro docks in Lisbon onboard the catamaran La Vagabonde AFP via Getty Images Greta Thunberg waves as she stands onboard the catamaran La Vagabonde AFP via Getty Images Climate activist Greta Thunberg, foreground, gives a speech in Lisbon AP Greta Thunberg (C), 16, speaks during a "FridaysForFuture" climate protest AFP via Getty Images Teen Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg poses as she visits the Athabasca Glacier at the Columbia Icefield via REUTERS Swedish teen environmental activist Greta Thunberg poses on the La Vagabonde, a 48-foot catamaran, with those offering her a ride across the Atlantic ocean @GRETATHUNBERG / via REUTERS Greta Thunberg shows the placard "School strike for the climate" which she held outside the Swedish parliament Getty Images Swedish teen climate activist Greta Thunberg addresses supporters and journalists upon her arrival in Santo Amaro Recreation dock Getty Images Greta Thunberg on the Atlantic Ocean @gretathunberg Greta Thunberg in Stockholm, Sweden for BBC's Climate Change - The Facts BBC Swedish climate change activist Greta Thunberg (C) speaks at the Extinction Rebellion group's environmental protest camp at Marble Arch in London on April 21, 2019, AFP/Getty Images Chief Arvol Looking Horse greets Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg at Standing Rock High School in Fort Yates AP Greta Thunberg speaks during a press conference before the march for climate in Montreal AFP/Getty Images Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg watches as US President Donald Trump enters the United Nations Reuters Greta Thunberg (C), young activists and their supporters rally for action on climate chang Getty Images Greta Thunberg on the cover of GQ PA Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg speaks during a Blue Leaders breakfast briefing focused on the release of and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere In a Changing Climate AP Getty Images Greta Thunberg, Ivy-Fleur Boileau, Virgile Mouquet, Adelaide Charlier and Alicia Arquetoux, French activists from the Youth for Climate movement REUTERS Greta Thunberg stands next to Swedish parliament in Stockholm. AP Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg arrives for a meeting and a visit of the French National Assembly AFP/Getty Images 16-year-old Swedish climate change activist, Greta Thunberg (C) holds a placard reading in Swedish "school strike for the climate" as she takes part in the Fridays For Future rally in Piazza del Popolo in Rome AFP/Getty Images Greta Thunberg with Caroline Lucas and Jeremy Corbyn PA Environment Secretary Michael Gove, former Labour leader Ed Miliband and Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg PA Climate change activist Greta Thunberg speaks at a press conference before setting sail for New York in the 60ft Malizia II yacht from Mayflower Marina Getty Images Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg speaks during a debate with the EU Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee during a session at the European Parliament AFP/Getty Images Greta Thunberg addressed world leaders in Davos AFP/Getty Images 16 year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg (R) and other students participate in the 'School Strike for Climate' in front of the entrance of the Congress Center on the last day of the 49th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, WEF, in Davos EPA Prince Charles, Prince of Wales greeting Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos Clarence House/AFP via Getty Images Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg addresses guests at the World Economic Forum AP Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg AP PA Archive Climate activist Greta Thunberg arrives at Glasgow Central train station (Jane Barlow/PA) PA Wire Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon with Greta Thunberg and Vanessa Nakate POOL/AFP via Getty Images She added: Unfortunately there are still people who are trying to impersonate me or falsely claim that they represent me in order to communicate with high profile people, politicians, media, artists etc. I apologize to anyone who has been contacted - and even misled - by this kind of behavior. She went on: This action is to protect the movement and its activities. It is also needed to enable my pro bono legal help to take necessary action against people or corporations etc who are trying to use me and the movement in purposes not in line with what the movement stands for. I assure you, I and the other school strikers have absolutely no interests in trademarks. But unfortunately it needs to be done. Fridays For Future is a global movement founded by me, she concluded. It belongs to anyone taking part in it, above all the young people. It can - and must - not be used for individual or commercial purposes. Greta said she had also applied to trademark Skolstrejk for klimatet (the Swedish translation of school strike for the climate) which features on the placard she has held since she started her weekly protests outside the Swedish parliament in 2018. Sources have told the Chicago Tribune that Fergusons office obtained video footage showing Johnson drinking for a few hours on the evening of Oct. 16 with a woman who was not his wife at the Ceres Cafe, a popular restaurant and bar at the Chicago Board of Trade building. Later that night, when officers responded to a 911 call near Johnsons home, Johnson rolled down the window on his police vehicle partway, flashed his identification and drove off, the sources said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 15:32 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2061886f9 4 Entertainment Flavs-2020,Lil-Pump,Stormzy,music,music-festival,Iwa-K Free American rapper Lil Pump is the latest addition to the artists who are to perform at the FLAVS 2020, a hip-hop, soul and R&B festival to be held at Istora Senayan in Jakarta on April 4 and 5. Organized by Visicita Network and Dyandra Promosindo, the festival would be the first in Indonesia to recognize the fast growth of hip-hop communities in the country. International and Indonesian hip-hop artists who are to perform at the festival include Stormzy, Iwa K, Imaniar, Yura Yunita, Matter Mos, Rinni Wulandari, Gamaliel, Adrian Khalif, Dekat, Sade Susanto, D.P.M.B., Ramengvrl, Jamie Aditya, Laze and Ras Muhamad, Lil Pump is known for his 2017 hit "Gucci Gang" and has collaborated with Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Diplo. His latest studio album, Harverd Dropout, was released in February 2019. British rapper Stormzy has received numerous high-profile awards, including Artist of the Year at the 2017 BBC Music Awards, British Male Solo Artist at the 2017 Brit Awards and Album Award at the 2018 Ivor Novello Awards for Gang Signs & Prayer. Early-bird tickets are available at the festival's official website for Rp 1.3 million (US$95.53) for a two-day pass. More details can be found on the festival's social media and website. (gis/wng) When the officer approached the driver, he noticed that the drivers eyes were red and he smelled the odor of alcohol coming from within the vehicle, the towns statement said. Hurst soon was asked to step out of his vehicle and perform three sobriety tests and a breath test. While the breath test showed a higher-than-allowed blood-alcohol concentration, it was near enough that the officer determined it might well be within the legal limit by the time Hurst was taken to the magistrates office and given a formal test that would be admissible in court, the town statement said. Because of this, along with Hursts overall performance during the field sobriety tests and coupled with the fact that Hurst had a sober companion in the vehicle who could drive him home, the officer released Hurst without charging him, the town statement said. Hurst said that after he was released, he and his girlfriend went to Walmart for a period of time like the officer instructed, until he thought that we would both, you know, be, you know, even more able to get home safely. Bitcoin cash (BCH)the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market capshot up by nearly five percent over the last 24 hours and was trading at around $345 this morning. That price is down somewhat from BCHs six-month high, on January 17, which was $370 per cointhe highest it had been since last July. The currency is still traveling through the $300 range, but its momentum appeared to be slowing. Perhaps support from Kim Dotcom can change that. In a recent interview, the German-Finnish political activist and internet entrepreneur explained that the crypto industry is suffering from infighting, and that he supports Roger Vera proponent of bitcoin cashas a leader in crypto innovation. In addition, the asset is garnering newfound attention in South Korea. FXStreet reported that Vers Bitcoin.com is joining hands with Mecon Cash, a distributor of cryptocurrency ATMs in South Korea. There are roughly 13,000 in South Korea, and all are set to offer support for BCH withdrawals. Through our partnership with Bitcoin.com, we will grow the presence of bitcoin cash throughout the Korean market starting with ATM withdrawal services, Jo Joe Dothe chairman of Meconsaid in a statement. We have huge applications coming up where the close collaboration between Mecon Cash and Bitcoin.com will see positive synergies in the upcoming future. For the most part, today marks a green turn for many of the industrys top 20 cryptocurrencies, with assets like bitcoin SV (BSV) up nearly 16 percent and Dash (DASH) trading at 11 percent higher according to Messari. With the latest disinvestment move by the Indian Government, Air India is up for sale yet again. This time, the Government is inviting bids for 100 per cent stake sale in the national carrier. It may be recalled that in 2018, too, the Government had sought to sell Air India, but found no takers in the loss making airline. While the industry is hoping for rejuvenation for Air India post the disinvestment, it seems like an inglorious end of sorts for the airline. However, amid the heavy losses, it is this national airline that the Government is turning to yet again as it gears up to evacuate Indians stranded in a Coronavirus hit Wuhan in China. This brings back memories of the massive evacuation of Indians from Kuwait and Iraq in 1990 s Saddam Husseins forces invaded the oil-rich nation. Guinness World Record recognises that event as the biggest evacuation of civilians by air in the history of mankind. At that time, Air India operated 488 flights over two months flying out around 1.2 lakh passengers. The Akshay Kumar-starrer Airlift documents the memorable events and evacuation story. Its time to look back at the hey days of Brand Air India, the stature that it commanded among the global aviation industry, the rule of the Maharaja, the iconic campaigns and more. The early days The birth of Air India dates back to the early 1930s when it had its origins as Tata Air Services, which was later on rebranded as Tata Airline. The first flight of Tata Airlines took off from then Bombay to Trivandrum with a six-seater aircraft. A little later, the airline introduced a flight to Ceylon. During World War 2, the airline helped the Royal Air Force with troop movements, shipping of supplies and rescue of refugees and the maintenance of the aircraft. Immediately post-Independence, the Government of India acquired 49 per cent stake and the airlines was branded as Air India and the first international flight to London from Bombay was started. In 1953, when the airline was nationalised, the Government bought the stake from Tata Sons and the company was renamed as Air India International Ltd, while the domestic services were transferred to Indian Airlines thus, there was the birth of two new separate airline brands Air India for international travel and Indian Airlines for the Indian skies. The golden years Post-Independence till the early 1990s, brand Air India stood tall and powerful in the skies. It was the only airline available to fly both in India and overseas and held a monopoly position for a long time. The brand connected with the Indian audience well by keeping Indian culture alive and maintaining strong Indian values. The brand had a powerful image and presence and at times it was difficult to get a seat as the airline was invariably flying full across all destinations. The Maharaja mascot created by Bobby Kooka and his team at Air India was so memorable and impactful that people could instantly connect with the airline. Some memorable advertising was created for the brand, which won numerous awards, both in India and overseas, for its originality and subtle humour. The presence of Maharaja captured everything about brand Air India, starting from luxury, hospitality, services and about all royalty. The royalty, combined with an emotional touch of Indianness, was what helped the brand to sustain and connect intensely with the audience. The brand was enjoying great market share till the 1990s, but once the Government opened up the market for the private operators, thats when the brand slowly started to unravel and cracks appeared. Speaking about brand Air India, Business Strategist Lloyd Mathias said, Air India is one of the most iconic brands that was built over the years on the back of some great advertising and memorable experiences for Indians, who travelled overseas in the seventies, eighties and nineties. Furthermore, adding about its downfall, Mathias said, Sadly, the brand has lost a lot of its sheen in the past two decades and has barely been able to keep pace with the onslaught from the newer entrants in the private sector and the general opening up of the aviation space. Sharing his views, Manish Porwal, Managing Director, Alchemist Marketing and Talent Solutions, said, From a consumers perspective, Air India is still pretty good while you see other airlines cut cost left, right and centre. Having said that, Air India customers are aging and the newer generation might not want to even try the airline just for the brand. Beginning of the downfall The opening up of the skies permitted many private operators to start their operations, especially low cost airlines such as the now defunct Air Deccan. There were at least 4 to 5 airline brands who aggressively marketed their services. Most of these airlines initially launched their airlines as fully loaded services, but later on moved to the budget space with no frills attached. With competitive pricing and aggressive promotions, the travellers got a new choice and option to travel and this resulted in the loss of market share and Indian Airlines steadily started losing ground. There were a few private operators who also exited, but new players joined the bandwagon and the competition became intense for Air India to combat with the new players. As the market share started slipping and losses began accumulating, the Government had to bring in some tight measures to cut costs and reduce losses. One such move was the merger of Indian Airlines and Air India. However, even after this merger the survival of the airline was a big question mark. Finally, the Government made a firm move to sell off the airline in 2017. But there were no takers and no private companies came forward. One of the primary reasons for the lack of interest was the colossal debt that Air India has been burdened with. A new lease of life From the Governments point of view, it was very clear that it would like to off-load this huge white elephant. The first expression of interest did not see light of the day as it did not excite the private buyer saddled with such a huge debt. To make this sale happen, the Government had no choice but to further sweeten the offer by absorbing 2/3rd of its debt. The revised debt figure now reads Rs 23,286 crore from Rs 62,000 crore. Besides that, the liabilities will be adjusted to ensure that there are assets against them. While the bid will be for 100 per cent stake, about 3 per cent will be given as ESOPs by the new owners. According to industry sources, the Government has mandated that the new owners will continue to use the brand name Air India and cannot change the name after purchase. Of course, one will not know what will happen to the iconic mascot Maharaja. Brand Air India still has some equity both in India and abroad. There is a certain section of travellers who still prefer to travel by this airline. The brand has been in existence for over 60 years, so one need not have to build the brand from scratch. The new owner/s should have that core expertise to shoulder this brand and ensure that it is given a fresh outlook to fight competition with some strong differentiation. Will it again go into the original parent, the Tatas, is anybodys guess. Till fresh developments, it is a wait and watch. Leslie Wexner, the billionaire founder of L Brands, the parent company of Victoria's Secret, is in talks to step down as CEO, according to The Wall Street Journal. He also is exploring strategic alternatives for the Victoria's Secret brand, the newspaper said, citing people close to the matter. L Brands shares jumped 13% on Wednesday after the report. The company is aiming to reach a decision on the potential sale and decide succession plans in coming weeks, the report said. CNBC reported in November the company was exploring a spinoff of the Victoria's Secret brand or a "private investment in public equity" to help pay down the company's debt. At the time, it was exploring such deals with a structure that would keep Wexner in place. The 82-year-old Wexner's extensive history with accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein made some investors wary of such a deal, a person familiar with the situation at the time. Meantime, activist fund Barington Capital Group last year took a stake in L Brands and criticized the company's performance and questioned the independence of its board. L Brands and Barington later reached a truce that added the fund as a special advisor to the company. The agreement also added board members Anne Sheehan, chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission's investor advisory committee, and Sarah Nash, CEO of Novagard Solutions. The deal with Barington allowed Wexner to remain on the board, despite Barington's original contention the dual role of CEO and chairman gave him too much power. IndiGo airlines said on Wednesday that due to the novel coronavirus outbreak in China, it has decided to suspend its flights on the Bengaluru-Hong Kong route from February 1 and on the Delhi-Chengdu route from February 1 to 20. Similarly, Air India spokesperson said the national carrier is suspending its flights on Delhi-Shanghai route from January 31 to February 14. Meanwhile IndiGo also clarified that for now, it will continue to operate the Kolkata-Guangzhou flight which it is "monitoring on a daily basis". "And for our operating crew, we are ensuring that they return to India on the inbound flights without any layover in China," the low-cost carrier said in a statement. According to a source, India's largest airline -- Indigo -- has also told its crew members who are working on flights connecting India with East Asian countries like Thailand and Singapore to wear N95 masks at all times when they are on ground. "However, these crew members have been asked not to wear the mask when they are flying. They have also been told to avoid public places, meat from unverified sources and uncooked meat in East Asian cities. They have also been told to wash their hands frequently," the source added. According to an Air India official, all crew members working on flights between India and South East Asia have been asked to wear N95 masks. In India, many people are under observation in hospitals for suspected coronavirus infection including in Maharashtra, Goa, Odisha and the national capital. People returning to the country after visiting China are being regularly screened for the deadly virus at airports across the country. Novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from common cold to acute respiratory syndromes. The virus, which has killed 132 people and affected at least 6,000 others in China, is a novel strain not seen before. In its statement, IndiGo said on Wednesday, "After carefully assessing the current coronavirus situation in China, IndiGo is taking some safety measures for its customers, crew and staff. Due to China travel restrictions, we have seen a high number of cancellations from China on our Delhi-Chengdu route and vice versa." "Therefore, we are suspending our flights between Delhi and Chengdu from February 1 until February 20. We are also suspending our Bengaluru- Hong Kong flight effective February 1," it added. The low-cost carrier stated that these are purely temporary and precautionary measures. "We understand that these measures will cause inconvenience to our customers and we will be refunding the full amount to the impacted passengers," it clarified. IndiGo added that it is in "close touch" with the "relevant government authorities" and "we thank them and our partners in China for all the help and support that they have extended so far". Air India has kept a 423-seater jumbo plane ready in Mumbai to airlift Indian citizens from Wuhan city in China in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Wuhan is the capital of China's Hubei Province. As India started the preparations to evacuate over 250 Indians, mostly students, stuck in the Hubei province, its embassy in Beijing said these nationals will have to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine on their return. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By PTI NEW DELHI: US President Donald Trump will visit the Sabarmati Riverfront in Gujarat during his India trip in February, the state Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said on Wednesday. Rupani said this while addressing an election rally in north Delhi's Shastri Nagar. "In entire Asia, the Sabarmati river has become the cleanest river which was ensured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Prominent leaders like Japan and Israel prime ministers also visited the riverfront and got surprised to see it". "US President Trump will also come (to India) in February and he will also visit the riverfront," the Gujarat chief minister said. However, he did not specify the dates. Earlier this month, government sources said Indian and US officials were engaged in talks to finalise the dates for Trump's visit to India. READ| India holds trump card on Kashmir standoff "Both sides are in discussions to finalise the dates," a source said. Trump's two-day visit to India could take place on February 24-26. India had invited Trump to grace the Republic Day parade as the chief guest last year but the US president could not come due to scheduling issues. Probe into Moscow student involved in illegal rally case completed RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 17:27 29/01/2020 MOSCOW, January 29 (RAPSI) Investigators have completed a probe into the Moscow Aviation Institute student Andrey Barshay, who had allegedly given a National Guard officer a poke in the back during an unauthorized summer rally on July 27, 2019, his attorney Svetlana Bayturina has told RAPSI. According to the defense lawyer, the case has been forwarded to prosecutors for indicting. Barshay stands charged with using force against a representative of authority. He is in detention. The student pleads not guilty, denies involvement in the crime he is accused of, and claims that his detention is related to the escape of one more defendant in the 27 July riots case Aidar Gubaidillin. Protest actions began in Moscow in mid-July after election commissions denied registration of certain opposition members as candidates for the Moscow City Duma elections reasoning that documents submitted by them contained numerous violations. The first unauthorized rally took place hear the Moscow City Election Commissions building on July 14 and looked like a provocation, according to law experts. Unauthorized rallies in support of candidates seeking to become lawmakers of the Moscow State Duma but refused registration by the Election Commission were also held on July 27 and August 3 in central Moscow. Over 1,000 people were arrested for various violations as a result. Following the 27 July rally, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case over mass riots. Investigators believe that the protest action was held with the use of force against representatives of authority. Several activists have been already convicted and sentenced. Prosecution of five defendants has been dropped. Guest Column Ethnic Voters Face Disenfranchisement in Myanmar's 2020 Election A Kayan woman, from one of Myanmar's ethnic minority groups, shows her ink-stained finger after voting, in front of a polling station in Panpet Village, Demoso Township, Kayah State, on Nov. 8, 2015. / REUTERS There are about 3 million migrant workers from Myanmar in Thailand, with perhaps an additional million dependent family members. Some 2 million of these people are officially registered with the Thai authorities. A large proportion are from ethnic nationality communities, such as the Mon, Karen, Karenni and Shan, who have suffered disproportionately from decades of conflict and violence in Myanmar. In many cases, they fled to neighboring Thailand in desperation, because their livelihoods and basic security were threatened at home. In the 2015 elections, only 20,000 overseas Myanmar citizens votedof whom 19,000 were living in Singapore; only 600 people voted in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, where there is a Myanmar consulate. Myanmar overseas workers were effectively disenfranchised. In 2015 this fact was little noted, amid the euphoria of a National League for Democracy (NLD) win after decades of military rule in Myanmar. In the interests of equity, and to ensure that the 2020 election results are deemed credible by minority communities, it is crucial that the forthcoming polls are seen to be free and fair. Therefore, the Union Election Commission (UEC) should establish procedures for overseas-based Myanmar citizens to vote. At a minimum, arrangements should be made for them to vote at Myanmar embassies abroad. In order that the elections are seen as just and inclusive, such an initiative should be broader and permit migrant workers to vote in or near their place of work, as it is expensive and potentially illegal and risky for migrant workers in Thailand (for example) to travel to Bangkok, if they are not based there. If these measures are not put in place, millions of people will be disenfranchised, with significant impacts on the election results. This is particularly problematic as so many migrant workers are from ethnic minorities, who may vote for parties other than the ruling NLD. The problem is made worse by recent regulations allowing internal migrants within Myanmar to vote, if they have been resident in their new location for three months or more. Ethnic nationality/minority political parties worry that large numbers of ethnic Bamar migrants have moved to parts of the country where they have not traditionally lived, with a risk that large numbers of new arrivals will overwhelm the local population, distorting the election outcome in places where many of the original residents are outside the country because they cannot survive in their homeland. Although this may not have been the authorities intention, such distortions in voting arrangements could drive conflict between communities. Much better would be to ensure that these migrant workers too can vote in their original constituencies. Ethnic nationality political parties should be congratulated for trying to represent their communities within the legal political system, despite the many flaws and problems with the 2008 Constitution. Recent amalgamations of Mon, Karen, Karenni, Kachin and Chin parties should give them a better chance of taking part competitively in the 2020 polls. Although the election will likely be won by the NLD, probably with a slightly reduced majority, ethnic parties could hold the balance of power in a number of Myanmars 14 states and regions. In the 2015 election, voting was restricted in a number of constituencies (or parts thereof) because the military and UEC deemed the situation to be too insecure. Such restrictions on voting further undermined ethnic political parties prospects of success, as the areas in question were almost exclusively ethnic nationality-populated. In the 2020 elections, the focus will be less on transition from military rule in Myanmar, with more focus on the quality of democracy in the country. This years elections will be particularly interesting and important because a large number of ethnic nationality citizens last time voted for the NLD, not so much out of love for the party, but because this seemed the best way to get the reviled military out of power. If they are allowed to vote in the first place, a potentially large proportion of this electorate may switch their vote in 2020, to support ethnic parties. This is particularly likely in communities where previously fragmented political parties have managed to unify. However, without reforms to allow overseas workers to vote, the elections will lack credibility and legitimacy. If unfair election procedures alienate some ethnic nationality citizens, they may reject electoral democracy. The UEC faces significant political and logistical challenges in putting such procedures in place before the polls, likely to be held in November this year. Failure to do so effectively will jeopardize the credibility of the elections for large numbers of Myanmars citizens. Dr Ashley South is an independent author, researcher and consultant, and a research fellow at Chiang Mai University. You may also like these stories: Can Coordinated Attacks Be Calls for Ethnic Rights? Myanmar Military Chief Asks Is Myanmars Peace Process Dead? Whats in Store for Myanmar in 2020 and Beyond? - The United Kindgom (UK) has given Chinese telecommunications company, Huawei, the right to operate in the country - This follows a decision of the United States of America to block the company from operating in the West - There are however some restrictions on the arrangements such as capping the operations to 35% Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in Prime minister of the United Kingdom (UK), Boris Johnson, has revealed that Chinese technology firm, Huawei, can operate its 5G network in the country. This comes in the wake of an attempt by the United States of America (USA) to ensure that the Chinese company is excluded from next-communication generation plans by the West. In apparent defiance to Americas stance on the eve of Brexit, UK stated that Huawei, one of the high-risk vendors, would be allowed into the non-sensitive parts of the 5G network. Source: thenewstatesman.com Source: UGC READ ALSO: Heartbreaking video of school children using cement blocks as tables pop up online It has been disclosed that the involvement of such operations in UKs telecommunications space would be capped at 35%. Per a report by reuters.com, Huawei's service would be excluded from all critical networks and locations such as nuclear sites and military bases. USA is concerned that Huawei could be used as a conduit to steal Western secrets. It has however been confirmed that Johnson and Trump spoke shortly after UKs decision was made public. Before the call, however, an official of the Trump administration stated that There is no safe option for untrusted vendors to control any part of a 5G network. We look forward to working with the UK on a way forward that results in the exclusion of untrusted vendor components from 5G networks. In other news, Chinas tourism industry experienced a boost to up to 81.3 million trips in the first half of the year 2019, YEN.com.gh has learned. According to the Chinese Tourism Academy, this represents an increase of 14% year-over-year (YoY), per a report from Alipay and Nielsen. This, per a report by businessinsider.com, this presents payments providers with a valuable chance to rack up volume and build loyalty. Payment companies may, therefore, become a preferred option for merchants because the payment method has been recognized as the most popular factor that affects Chinese tourists overseas. This has been pegged at 37% which comes ahead of product quality, which was 36% and price, which was 36%. YEN.com.gh understands that 44% of Chinese tourists in some popular travel destinations like the UK, Singapore, and South Korea use mobile payments most often while just 13% of their general tourist populations do the same. This suggests that the international acceptance of mobile payments could help payment companies to attract Chinese tourists. For that reason, companies such as Alipay and WeChat Pay, which are major players in Chinas mobile payment markets, have been doing their best to expand their networks. READ ALSO: Apple's 2020 1st quarter profit of over GHc5 billion boosted by wearable sales Read the best news on Ghana #1 news app. Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana How convenient is it to use the new GHC 200 note at the market? | #Yencomgh Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish on YEN.com.gh? Please contact us on Facebook or Instagram now! Source: YEN.com.gh Day after Donald Trump announced his Middle East plan, protest calls by Palestinian groups go mostly unheeded. Ramallah, occupied West Bank A day after US President Donald Trump announced his Middle East plan to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, calls for mobilisation by various Palestinian factions have gone mostly unheeded. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas vowed popular mobilisations against the deal, as groups including the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) and Hamas, which has governed the occupied Gaza Strip since 2007, called for mass protests. But while Palestinians were angered by Trumps announcement on Tuesday, with some referring to it as a new Balfour Declaration, many brushed off the US-Israeli announcement as nothing new. The announcement brought us a lot of anger and disappointment, said Maan Musatafa, a 39-year-old taxi driver in the occupied West Bank. But the reality is, we have been living under this deal and under de facto Israeli occupation for decades. So, the announcement wasnt new or shocking, he told Al Jazeera. Seif Abdo, a 27-year-old student from East Jerusalem, agreed: Nothing is new. Nothing has changed. Its already our reality. Trump has already recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, moved the US embassy there, and implemented Israeli law in the Jordan Valley and Golan Heights, he added. Trumps plan calls for a two-state solution to the decades-old conflict and for a four-year freeze in new Israeli settlement construction, during which details of a comprehensive agreement would be negotiated. It suggests Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel, while promising the Palestinians a state of their own and a new capital in eastern Jerusalem. This proposal had been rejected by Palestinians in the past. For many Palestinians, the four-year window meant the plan had no immediate effect, one of the reasons why the protests on Wednesday saw a low turnout. Going to the streets wont change much. We arent taking this deal seriously especially that it wont take effect immediately, said Sami Fawzi, a 55-year-old business owner in Ramallah. We still have four years. Who knows what will happen? Despite his apparent sense of apathy, Fawzi vowed that Palestinians will fight against the plan. Palestine is not for sale. Especially when it comes to Jerusalem. Thats a red line. Sporadic protests Despite a low turnout across Palestinian cities amid heavy Israeli security presence, sporadic protests erupted across the occupied West Bank. Raising Palestinian flags, dozens of people gathered in the city of Tubas in the West Banks Jordan Valley. A large contingent of Israeli security forces, deployed in the area since Tuesday, responded with tear gas to disperse the crowd, witnesses told Al Jazeera Israeli forces also closed off roads leading to the Jordan Valley and stopped buses carrying demonstrators from across the West Bank headed towards the area, said witnesses. In Bethlehem a small group of Palestinians gathered in the streets in the early afternoon to denounce the plan, with some burning the flag of the United States and photos of Trump. Another small protest was held by school students in the Palestinian city of Tulkarem. At least 41 people were wounded in small-scale clashes after the Israeli forces used rubber bullets and tear gas in the Jordan Valley, the Al-Orub refugee camp and Tulkarem, said the Red Cross in a statement. Palestinian students protest against Trumps Middle East plan in occupied Gaza Strip [Ibraheem Abu Mustafa [Reuters] No trust in Palestinian leadership Palestinian academic Khalil al-Tafakji told Al Jazeera the low turnout on the streets was due to a lack of trust between the Palestinian people and their leadership. There is no trust between the Palestinian people and the Palestinian leadership, said Tafakji. They feel that even if they protest, their leadership might sell them out and agree to the deal in a few weeks. According to Yara Hawari, senior fellow at the Palestinian policy network, Al-Shabaka, the lack of mobilisation was due to the US-Israeli announcement being merely an articulation of a policy that has already been ongoing. She said political mobilisation has often proved to be costly for Palestinians, with a fear of Israeli repercussions being another cause behind the low turnout. We have seen in Gaza what happens when masses of Palestinians demand their rights in line with international law. They are met with brutal violence, said Hawari. Political mobilisation Still, the Palestinian Authority has vowed to act, calling for an emergency Arab League summit which the PA said will be held in Cairo on Saturday, while another meeting with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is scheduled on Monday. The PA also said it will be meeting the Hamas leadership in Gaza next week to discuss a joint plan for opposing the deal. The deal has no touch with reality or with international law. We have called on the Arab League and the European Union to support us, said Nabil Shaath, senior adviser to the Palestinian president. We are hoping for popular action on the street but it will take time. Its a long-term battle. And people wont mobilise until we (politicians) do our part, said Shaath. 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Newswire delivers press release and multimedia distribution software and services (SaaS) that empower the Earned Media Advantage: greater brand awareness, increased traffic, greater return on media and marketing communications spend and the competitive edge. With over a decade of experience, Newswire continues to provide its customers with the ability to deliver the right message to the right audience at the right time through the right medium.? To learn and experience Newswire, visit http://www.newswire.com. Contact Information Anthony Santiago ?Vice President of Marketing ?Newswire ?Office: 917-398-2622 Email: anthony@newswire.com SOURCE: Newswire View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/574325/Membrain-Continues-Elevating-the-Sales-Profession-Growing-Into-Its-Role-as-Leading-Innovator-in-CRM-With-Newswire A Delhi court on Wednesday sent JNU student Sharjeel Imam to five-day custody under Delhi Police Crime Branch. Earlier in the day, Imam, who was arrested from Bihar's Jehanabad was brought to Delhi. The JNU student, who was booked for sedition for his provocative speeches had stoked controversy with his "cut off Assam from India" remark. He has been slapped with charges of sedition and inciting enmity between communities under Sections 124A, 153A and 505 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Separately, a case has been registered against the JNU student by the Uttar Pradesh Police for his controversial speech delivered during the students' protest at Aligarh Muslim University on January 16 against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Register of Citizens (NRC). A series of videos have gone viral on social media in which Sharjeel is heard saying: "If we all come together, then we can separate the Northeast from India. If we cannot do it permanently, then at least for one to two months, we can do this." "It is our responsibility to cut Assam from India. When this happens, only then the government will listen to us," he is heard saying further in the video. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) McALESTER, Okla. An Oklahoma jury has found a Houston-based company 10% responsible for a January 2018 explosion and fire that killed five men. The Pittsburg County jury on Monday ordered National Oilwell Varco to pay $1 million each to the estates of Josh Ray of Fort Worth, Texas, and Cody Risk of Wellington, Colorado. The families of all victims that included Oklahomans Parker Waldridge of Crescent, Matt Smith of McAlester and Roger Cunningham of Seminole previously reached settlements with other companies involved in the rig at Quinton. Those were Red Mountain Operating; Red Mountain Energy LLC; Patterson-UTI Drilling Company LLC; and Patterson-UTI Energy Inc. NOV argued that the other companies and Ray shared the blame. From our clients standpoint, it wasnt about the money. It was about taking the case to the jury and allowing it to apportion responsibility, Jeff Wigington, an attorney for Rays family told The Oklahoman. And it was very important for the Ray family to clear the name of Josh Ray, because they (National Oilwell Varco) was blaming him for the death of his friends. The jury has spoken, NOVs attorney John Zavitsanos told the McAlester News-Capital. We very much respect their time. Our heart goes out to both these families and I wish neither side was here and I wish this had never happened. The Jan. 22, 2018, explosion, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) southeast of Tulsa, was the deadliest drilling accident since the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, killing 11 people. Flash United Airlines announced on Tuesday that it is suspending 24 flights between China and the US in the first week of February amid coronavirus travel warnings. "Due to a significant decline in demand for travel to China, we are suspending some flights between our hub cities and Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai beginning Feb 1 through Feb 8," United said in a statement. The affected US hubs include San Francisco International, Newark Liberty International, Chicago O'Hare International and Washington Dulles International. United said it usually operates 12 flights per day from the US to the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong. According to the reduction, between Feb 1 and Feb 8, three flights to Hong Kong, 10 flights to Beijing, and 11 flights to Shanghai would be canceled. The 2019 novel coronavirus, first identified in Wuhan, in central China's Hubei province, is an ongoing outbreak. The National Health Commission of China reported that as of Jan 27, there were 4,515 confirmed cases in 30 provinces; 106 deaths; 60 patients who have recovered; and 6,973 suspected cases. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported five confirmed cases in the United States. The CDC issued a level 3 travel warning, urging US citizens to avoid all nonessential travel to China. "We will continue to monitor the situation as it develops and will adjust our schedule as needed," United said in the statement. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Highlights The sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor is a rare type of cancer derived from the stromal component of the ovary and testis. This tumor comprises granulosa, thecal cells, and fibrocytes. Sex cord-gonadal stromal tumors are mostly of seven types, namely, granulosa cell tumor, Sertoli cell tumor, thecoma, Leydig cell tumor, gynandroblastoma, Sex Cord Tumor with Annular Tubules (SCTAT), and Sertoli Leydig cell tumor. In humans, this type of tumor accounts for 8% of the ovarian cancers and around 5% of testicular cancers. It is noted that the increasing cases of ovarian and testicular cancer, technological advancements, and increasing healthcare expenditure are the key factors driving the sex cord gonadal stromal tumor market. Various other factors such as the growing awareness about the cord-gonadal stromal tumor, unmet medical needs, enhancing regulatory framework, increasing government assistance, and rising funding and reimbursement are continuously contributing to the growth of the global sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market. Owing to the increasing cases of ovarian and testicular cancer, technological advancements, increasing healthcare expenditure, growing awareness about sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor, unmet medical needs, enhancing regulatory framework, increasing government assistance, and rising funding and reimbursement, the sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market has evolved significantly. However, huge capital investments with low-profit margins, strict FDA regulations, and poor healthcare system in low and middle-income countries are likely to hamper the growth of the sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market over the forecast period. It is estimated that the sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period of 2017-2023. Key Players Some of the key players in the global sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market are Abbott, Abcam plc, Affymetrix, Inc., Agilent Technologies, Inc., Beckman, Dickinson and Company (BD), Bio SB Inc., BioCurex, BioModa, Inc., Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Boston Scientific Corporation, Cell Signaling Technology, Inc., Clarient, Inc., CooperSurgical Inc., Correlogic Systems, Inc., Danaher Corporation, Epigenomics AG, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Gen-Probe, Inc., Hologic, Inc., Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., Karl Storz GmbH & Co. Kg, LiNA Medical USA, Merck Millipore, PerkinElmer, Inc., Qiagen, Radient Pharmaceuticals, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Veridex LLC, and others. Regional Analysis The Americas dominates the sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market owing to the increasing prevalence of ovarian cancer in this region and high healthcare expenditure. According to the American Cancer Society, around 22,240 women are likely to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and 14,070 women are likely to die from ovarian cancer, in 2018. Europe holds the second position in the sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market. The financial support provided by the government towards R&D and technological advancements are expected to drive the European sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market. The increasing healthcare expenditure is also boosting the European sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market. According to the data suggested by Eurostat, it is observed that among the EU Member States, the highest value of healthcare expenditure was recorded in Germany in 2014, i.e., EUR 321 billion which is further followed by France with EUR 237 billion and United Kingdom with EUR 223 billion. In 2016, the R&D expenditure in the pharmaceutical industry was EUR 35000 million, suggested by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Association. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market owing to a huge patient pool and development in the pharmaceutical sector. Healthcare expenditure is found to be boosting in various regions of Asia Pacific. As per the data suggested by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare during the year 2015-2016, the total health expenditure was nearly USD 170.4 billion, i.e., 3.6% higher than the expenditure of 2014-2015. The Middle East and Africa holds the lowest share of the global market due to slow development, lack of technical knowledge, and poor medical facilities. Segmentation The global sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market is segmented on the basis of type, diagnosis, treatment, and end-user. On the basis of tumor type, the sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market is classified as granulosa cell tumor, Sertoli cell tumor, thecoma, Leydig cell tumor, Sertoli Leydig cell tumor, gynandroblastoma, and Sex Cord Tumor with Annular Tubules (SCTAT). The granulosa cell tumor is further classified as functioning tumors and non-functioning tumors. On the basis of diagnosis, the sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market is classified as microscopy immunohistochemistry, tumor marker, ultrasound, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and others. The tumor marker segment is further classified as inhibin-alpha, calretinin, Melan-A, and others. On the basis of treatment, the sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market is classified as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and others. The surgery segment is further classified as salpingo-oophorectomy, abdominal hysterectomy, Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection (RPLND), and radical inguinal orchiectomy. The sub-segment of salpingo-oophorectomy includes unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. On the basis of end-user, the sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor market is segmented into hospitals and clinics, cancer research centers, research and academic institutes, and others. Get full report @https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/sex-cord-gonadal-stromal-tumor-market-5912 Intended Audience Medical Device Companies Research and Development (R&D) Companies Diagnostic Laboratories Government Research Institutes Academic Institutes and Universities Browse other healthcare related report Sex Cord Gonadal Stromal Tumor Market Endometrial Cancer Market About Market Research Future: 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. Contact: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com MANILA, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he is eyeing to withdraw the members of the police and military forces deployed in areas affected by the eruption of Taal Volcano. I am withdrawing my police in Taal, they have been there for so many weeks already, puno na ang lungs nila ng abo, Duterte said in a speech during the 69th Founding Anniversary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Quezon City. The president said he will leave the local government units and police assigned in areas surrounding Taal Volcano to enforce the law as mandated by higher authorities. The military and police sent some of their personnel to Batangas and nearby areas to help evacuate and secure residents who were fleeing their homes when Taal Volcano first belched thick smoke and ash column on January 12. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recently downgraded Taal Volcanos status to alert level 3, which prompted local authorities to allow residents from areas outside the seven-kilometer danger zone from the main crater to go back to their homes. Alert level 3 means a decreased tendency towards hazardous eruption but Phivolcs said: this should not be interpreted that the unrest has ceased or that the threat of a hazardous eruption has disappeared. RRD (with details from Correspondent Rosalie Coz) The post Duterte to recall cops, soldiers deployed in Taal eruption-hit areas appeared first on UNTV News. Advertisement The scramble to evacuate coronavirus ground zero is tearing families apart including one British man who says he is being forced to leave his Chinese wife behind and a mother who may have to abandon her three-year-old son. Britons are due to be evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan tomorrow and will be quarantined for two weeks in a UK military base - as the global death toll from the coronavirus outbreak hits 133 and the disease continues to spread across the globe. So far more than 6,000 infections have been recorded in 20 countries, with cases tripling since Sunday and China warning the epidemic will continue to get worse and peak 'in the next 10 days'. British teacher Jeff Siddle, from Northumberland, is among those due to be evacuated from Wuhan with his nine-year-old daughter Jasmine- but Beijing is barring his Chinese wife Sindy from boarding the rescue flight. Mr Siddle, 54, and his family flew to Hubei province to spend time with his partner's family and celebrate the Chinese New Year- before warnings were in place about the deadly coronavirus epidemic. Mr Siddle said today: 'My wife's a Chinese citizen, although she's got a permanent residency visa for the UK as a spouse. But what the Foreign Office is saying is they are going to be doing an airlift, possibly tomorrow, but it's only [for] British citizens. Chinese authorities are not allowing any Chinese residents to leave.' 'I was put in the position to make a decision to either leave my wife here in China, or the three of us stay here (in Wuhan). We have to basically have a nine-year-old child separated from their mother. Who knows how long that is going to be for?' Mother Natalie Francis, 31, who is working as an English teacher in Wuhan, was told today she can't bring her three-year-old son, Jamie, home with her because he owns a Chinese passport, despite being a British citizen. She said: 'This morning I got a call at 10am it was a gentleman in Londons foreign office saying while I could come back and there is a place for me there is nothing they could do for my son. It's not looking like I am going to be on that plane because I only want to leave to save my so. If I am not able to save my son Im not going to leave.' The Foreign Office says it is trying to get permission from Beijing to evacuate Mrs Siddle and little Jamie but so far the Chinese are putting their foot down and the families has been told not to hold out hope. Other expats stranded in Wuhan and the wider Hubei province - including PE teacher Kharn Lambert and Malcolm Lanyon - have chosen to stay in the region. Mr Lambert said he had given up his seat on the rescue flight because he does not want 'to come home and put everybody's health at risk', while Mr Lanyon refused to leave his Chinese wife behind. British citizens in Wuhan also face a struggle to even make it to their evacuation flight with the city of Wuhan on lockdown and public transport is banned. Mr Lanyon claims he couldn't get to the airport even if he wanted to because no buses, taxis or trains are running. In other developments in the Wuhan coronavirus crisis: Some 133 people have now died across China and more than 6,000 around the world have caught the highly infectious virus Cases of coronavirus have tripled since Sunday and jumped 30 per cent in the last 24 hours - now infecting people in 20 different countries Outbreak in mainland China is now bigger than the 2003 SARS epidemic, when 5,327 cases of the killer virus were confirmed Around 200 British nationals stuck in coronavirus-hit Wuhan are gearing up to be flown back to London on Thursday via chartered plane in a landmark evacuation mission Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who is orchestrating the rescue, said evacuees will be held in quarantine in a military base for two weeks to stop the virus spreading on home soil British Airways has cancelled all flights to and from mainland China until March, causing travel chaos for hundreds of passengers now trapped in China US evacuation flight that took off from Wuhan yesterday is on its way to a military base in Ontario, California, where its 200-plus passengers will be kept in quarantine for 'at least 72 hours' Health officials in Beijing fear the epidemic will continue to get worse and peak 'in the next 10 days' Sudan reported two suspected cases of the killer SARS-like infection in two citizens who returned from China, stoking fears it could devastate Africa Confirmed infections in the United Arab Emirates mark the first time the virus has spread to the Middle East Four people in Germany who contracted coronavirus after a colleague from China visited their workplace only had 'very mild' symptoms Jeff Siddle, his wife Sindy and their nine-year-old daughter Jasmine will be torn apart because Beijing won't allow his Chinese wife on tomorrow's British evacuation flight Mother Natalie Francis, 31, who is working as an English teacher in Wuhan, was told today she can't bring her three-year-old son, Jamie, home with her because he owns a Chinese passport, despite being a British citizen The couple and their daughter chose to fly to the Hubei province before it had been crippled by the coronavirus epidemic to spend time with his partner's family and celebrate the Chinese New Year The British teacher revealed his heartbreak in a Facebook post last night (left), in which he detailed how his wife and daughter (right) would be separated for an indefinite time World Health Organisation figures show just 2,014 patients had been struck down with the SARS-like infection by Sunday, January 26. This has now risen dramatically to 6,168, with cases in the US, Australia and Canada. As well as a dramatic increase in cases of the never-before-seen virus, figures also show the number of deaths have spiralled The killer coronavirus outbreak has now killed 133 people and struck down more than 6,000 in 20 different countries. Cases have been spotted in Canada, US, France and Australia A pilot wearing a protective suit parks a cargo plane at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province A Boeing 747 arrives at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Alaska after rescuing Americans from Wuhan yesterday Wuhan residents wear facemasks as they wait for medical attention at Wuhan Red Cross Hospital to prevent the spread of the deadly virus which began in the city British PE teacher Kharn Lambert is choosing to stay in the outbreak's epicentre Wuhan to 'give up his seat to others'. He revealed the Foreign Office told him Brits would have to make their own way home once they arrive back in London WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE ALREADY EVACUATED THEIR RESIDENTS FROM WUHAN? The US The US launched an emergency mission to repatriate 240 citizens yesterday, with a flight out of Wuhan Tianhe International Airport. On board the flight, which left before dawn local time, was diplomats from the US Consulate as well as other American citizens. One British dual national also boarded the flight. It is unclear whether any medics were on board to monitor passengers for signs of infection. It made a refuelling stop in Alaska and was due to fly on to Ontario, California but it has since been diverted to March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, California, where it is expected to land in the next few hours. Passengers were screened before initially boarding in Wuhan, and then went through follow-up checks at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Alaska. The will be screened again once they arrive in California. It is thought they will be quarantined for at least 72 hours. The Chinese partners of US citizens were banned from the rescue flight, reportedly at the demand of Beijing. Japan Japanese officials also chartered a flight from Wuhan Tianhe International Airport to rescue 206 citizens stuck in the coronavirus-hit city. The plane landed back at Haneda Airport in Tokyo this morning at around 9am local time after flying to Wuhan overnight. The flight was carrying emergency relief supplies including 15,000 masks, 50,000 pairs of gloves and 8,000 protective glasses for medics in Wuhan. Around four medical officials were also on board to monitor returning passengers. Officials confirmed passengers would be tested for the coronavirus strain. Japan Times the evacuees would be asked to remain at home and isolate themselves to prevent the potential spread. France France's health minister Agnes Buzyn confirmed a plane will be sent for its stranded citizens on Thursday, to return home on Friday or Saturday. No further details have been given. There are some 800 French citizens stranded in the Wuhan area. She said French nationals will be held in quarantine for two weeks on arrival to stop the virus spreading on home soil. The European Union meanwhile said it would co-fund an airlift effort at France's request, so that more than 100 nationals from other EU nations could be repatriated along with French citizens. Australia Australia is planning to evacuate its citizens from the epicentre of the deadly virus outbreak in China and quarantine them on an island used to detain asylum seekers. No confirmed details have been given, with officials still thrashing out details with Chinese officials. But it is thought Australia will work with New Zealand on the operation and would seek to help Pacific nations evacuate their citizens where possible. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said they would be held in quarantine for 14 days on Christmas Island, known for its notorious immigration detention centre used to detain asylum seekers attempting to reach Australia by boat. Morrison said 'vulnerable' Australians - including children and the elderly - and short-term visitors to Wuhan and surrounding Hubei province would be prioritised in extraction efforts. WHO ELSE IS PLANNING ON EVACUATING RESIDENTS FROM WUHAN? India Local media reported the Indian government will request clearance from Beijing to take more than 250 citizens out of Wuhan and that a Boeing 747 in Mumbai is on standby. Indonesia Jakarta said there are more than 230 Indonesians in China - roughly 100 in Wuhan and the rest in Hubei province. The foreign ministry said yesterday it has yet to decide on an evacuation plan. Malaysia Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said this morning that Kuala Lumpur was keen to send a plane to Wuhan to evacuate some 78 Malaysians stranded in the city. Philippines The foreign ministry said today it would evacuate citizens in Hubei on a chartered flight, and asked nationals in the area to contact the Shanghai consulate. Sri Lanka Colombo said yesterday there were roughly 860 Sri Lankan students in China. The foreign ministry said it is awaiting a response from the Chinese authorities to operate a Sri Lankan airlines charter flight to Wuhan to evacuate some 32 Sri Lankan students and their relatives. South Korea Seoul will send chartered planes to Wuhan this week, the foreign ministry said, to return hundreds of its citizens to South Korea on Thursday and Friday. Thailand Thailand's premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha said yesterday the country was waiting for authorisation from Chinese officials before evacuating people, but that aircraft and doctors were on standby. Germany Berlin has not confirmed any evacuation plan but said it is considering options for roughly 90 citizens reportedly in Wuhan. Spain Spanish officials are working with China and the European Union to take Spanish nationals out of the area, the foreign minister said. Algeria President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has asked the government to take all measures needed to bring home 36 Algerians, most of them students, living in Wuhan, according to state agency APS. Morocco About 100 people, mostly students in Wuhan, will be evacuated, according to local media.Ms Advertisement Mrs Francis said she, her husband and son Jamie have barely left in her flat in Wuhan for two weeks apart from three times to get supplies. She added: 'I am so worried about leaving my son. I am trying to get him a flight, and remain hopeful. 'The atmosphere is very scary and everything is becoming overwhelming and stressful. 'Myself and my husband both think it would be best for his health to go back to Britain. 'I don't know anyone who has contracted the virus but we have been inside for days, the atmosphere is very scary and everything is becoming overwhelming and stressful.' The mother is now anxious Jamie will contract the lethal virus because he suffered a bout of pneumonia in 2018. Mr Siddle - whose wife will be left behind in Wuhan - added: 'The way things are going that could be a prolonged period before my Sindy could leave China. My daughter's obviously been in flood of tears. She's absolutely devastated.' The IT software developer added that Sindy was trying to 'keep strong' but has been left 'absolutely distraught' at Chinese authorities tearing their family apart. He added: 'It was an awful decision.' Mr Siddle told the Guardian there were no health warnings in place when they flew out on January 15. He told the newspaper: 'My head is spinning. It's just horrendous. 'This ordeal just turned into our worst nightmare. How can they put a family in this position? Having to leave Sindy in China would be the worst thing that anyone could be put through. How am I going to tell Jasmine that her mum has to stay behind?' Mr Siddle said they have to make their own way to Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, where the US and Japan have flown residents out of the city from. But he added that he is a three-hour drive away from the airport, warning that all the roads are on lockdown. 'We've called the local Chinese office to get some details but they're saying the only way we can get a car through is if we have a special diplomatic note, so I've phoned the Foreign Office and asked for that but they said they can't do it. So that's put another stress on top of everything.' Ben Pinkerton, an English teach stuck in Wuhan, is currently cooped up in an apartment in the virus-hit city waiting to hear when the British government will send the rescue flight on Thursday. Mr Pinkerton, from Dungannon in Northern Ireland, believes he has secured his place on the evacuation flight due to leave tomorrow morning but said there had been 'very little practical advice given' to stranded expats. He is still unsure exactly when the flight is coming and how he is supposed to get to Wuhan airport with the city on lockdown and public transport ground to a halt. Mr Pinkerton told MailOnline the evacuation mission was a 'shambles' and admitted he is now begging for officials to get in touch and divulge more details. He told this website: 'During a time of usual celebration the city's streets are effectively empty, portraying a scene more connected to an apocalyptic movie than a time of New Year jubilation. 'Morale amongst the other British people I know is good, for now. However, with each passing day and very little practical advice given by the government I feel that there are some who will begin to feel nervous. 'We have faith in our leaders, everyone hopes that they will try and assist as best they can, but I implore those at the top to think not only of us but also our families still at home, in the majority of cases I would wager they are more worried than we are, and want nothing more than their relatives to return to safety. 'We spend all day with nothing to do so feeling sleepy is quite a rare thing at the moment. We haven't heard much about a rescue operation, however we received word today to contact the FCO and give our names and passport numbers if we were interested in leaving if the opportunity arose, which leads me to believe perhaps something is in the works. 'We were told that an evacuation was happening Thursday morning, but we haven't been given a time or anything, it's quite nerve wracking, just sitting here waiting. 'A vague time doesn't help us, we have travel arrangements planned with the company we work with, but the driver needs rest and we can't assure him of what time we get picked up. The whole arrangement seems like a shambles.' Nick House, a British national living in Wuhan with his Indonesian wife and two British children, told Sky News: 'We would like to be out of here. The man on the other end of the phone said, 'Yes, you are on the list, but unfortunately your wife probably won't be able to get on the plane because she doesn't have a visa at the moment'. 'I won't leave without my wife, so essentially the Government are leaving three British people here for the sake of one seat on a plane.' Lecturer Yvonne Griffiths, who is cooped up in a hotel room in Wuhan, said she received news in the early hours of Wednesday morning that there was to be a flight from Wuhan to the UK. She told BBC Breakfast that Stansted is a possible destination but that has not been confirmed, and timings had not been been firmed up either. 'We've to be on stand-by so that we can go to the airport very early,' she said. 'We've to be there six to seven hours before the flight leaves, and we would have a screening from some health people here in Wuhan, and if we are not showing any symptoms then we'll be able to board that plane. 'It has been frustrating up until today. I think the lack of certainty about the time of this flight isn't so worrying as long as we know that it's going to happen. 'Prior to that, we had quite a long period of silence from the UK Government about whether there was going to be any contingency plan to get people home.' It comes after the announcement that Britons will be quarantined at a UK military base for two weeks after they have been airlifted out of the Chinese city of Wuhan on a coronavirus evacuation flight, the government announced today in a screeching u-turn. Up to 200 British expats who have scrambled for a place on the emergency flight out have finally been told the government has chartered a plane to rescue them and it will leave tomorrow. But furious evacuees with a coveted seat on the flight say they have still not been told exactly when the flight it is or where it will land other than at 'a London airport'. They say they were also told by officials they would be expected to make their own way home, sparking fears they could infect thousands of British people by being allowed to walk around. Health Secretary Matt Hancock was today forced to announce that everyone on the emergency flight from Wuhan would be placed into quarantine at an undisclosed military airbase for 14 days upon landing. The Government has been under immense pressure to bring home citizens stranded in the city. In a tweet Mr Hancock said: 'We are working hard to get British nationals back from Wuhan. Public safety is the top priority. 'Anyone who returns from Wuhan will be safely isolated for 14 days, with all necessary medical attention.' Passengers may be asked to sign a contract before they board the plane saying they agree to being placed in quarantine or be left behind if they refuse. The US, which flew 240 Americans home from Wuhan last night, first took them to Alaska to have medical screening before being allowed home. Officials then diverted the plane to a military base in Riverside, California a local official in San Bernadino said only that they were 'prepared for the worst.' One British man in Wuhan who contacted the British embassy there said he was told he would have to make his own way home and stay there if he was flown back on the evacuation flight. PE teacher Kharn Lambert, who has since decided not to come back on the flight, told Sky News: 'This morning I was on the phone to the embassy and they've basically told us via a script they were given by the Foreign Office that the flight will be leaving tomorrow, they're not sure what time. Ben Pinkerton, pictured, is a British teacher from Northern Ireland and living Wuhan. He said it is 'nerve-wracking' to be in the city at the moment and the evacuation arrangements seem like a 'shambles'. It is unknown whether he will be on the flight tomorrow Chinese tourists wearing protective masks queue at Don Mueang airport in Bangkok, Thailand, as they wait to board flights back to China A family wear the masks in the Bangkok airport to prevent the highly contagious virus from spreading. It can transmit between humans by a simple cough or sneeze 'It will be arriving at a London airport and once we arrive there that basically the Government will not provide any transport whatsoever and we have to find our own way back to our hometowns and then self-isolate for 14 days, which is absolutely ludicrous. 'It's got a 14-day incubation period. Now, we've been inside for almost 14 days, we're going outside tomorrow and potentially coming into contact with someone that might have the virus, which would then mean we could potentially catch it and then without showing any symptoms could then spread disease around the UK as we travel from the airport to wherever we live in the UK.' Mr Lambert said he decided to stay in Wuhan so he didn't 'put everybody's health at risk' but said his grandmother would have to fly home because she was frail. The British government had come under increasing pressure to ramp up its rescue efforts after the US launched an emergency mission to repatriate 240 citizens yesterday and 206 Japanese citizens stuck in Wuhan landed back in Tokyo this morning. French officials confirmed a plane will be sent to Wuhan on Thursday and Australia said a plane will be sent for its citizens by the end of the week. Diplomats from the US Consulate as well as other American citizens boarded the flight out of Wuhan Tianhe International Airport yesterday afternoon. One British dual national also boarded the flight. It is unclear whether any medics were on board to monitor passengers for signs of infection. It made a refueling stop in Alaska and was due to fly on to Ontario, California but it has since been diverted to March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, California, where it is expected to land in the next few hours. Passengers were screened before initially boarding in Wuhan, and then went through follow-up checks at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Alaska. The will be screened again once they arrive in California. It is thought they will be quarantined for at least 72 hours. The Chinese partners of US citizens were banned from the rescue flight, reportedly at the demand of Beijing. Japanese officials also chartered a flight from Wuhan Tianhe International Airport to rescue 206 citizens stuck in the coronavirus-hit city. The plane landed back at Haneda Airport in Tokyo this morning at around 9am local time after flying to Wuhan overnight. The flight was carrying emergency relief supplies including 15,000 masks, 50,000 pairs of gloves and 8,000 protective glasses for medics in Wuhan. Around four medical officials were also on board to monitor returning passengers. Officials confirmed passengers would be tested for the coronavirus strain. Japan Times the evacuees would be asked to remain at home and isolate themselves to prevent the potential spread. France's health minister Agnes Buzyn confirmed a plane will be sent for its stranded citizens on Thursday, to return home on Friday or Saturday. No further details have been given. There are some 800 French citizens stranded in the Wuhan area. She said French nationals will be held in quarantine for two weeks on arrival to stop the virus spreading on home soil. Mr Lambert - who is stuck in Wuhan with his visiting 81-year-old grandmother Veronica Theobald and last week begged the Foreign Office to 'come and get them' - revealed he has been in contact with the British embassy in Beijing for the first time Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who is orchestrating the British rescue mission, said evacuees will be held in quarantine in a military base for two weeks to stop the virus spreading on home soil Desperate bid to keep virus panic out of Britain: Hancock says all expats returning from the worst hit city of Wuhan will be quarantined on military base for two weeks to prevent it spreading in UK People returning to the UK from the Chinese city of Wuhan on a coronavirus evacuation flight will be quarantined at a military base for two weeks. Up to 200 British expats may be brought home on an emergency flight tomorrow when the Government charters a plane to rescue them. Wuhan, the city at the centre of the deadly coronavirus outbreak, is currently on lockdown with no public transport and no international flights out of the city. The Government has been under immense pressure to bring home citizens stranded in the city. And it came under fire after one man said officials had told him he would have to make his own way home when the flight landed. But now Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said people will be properly quarantined a Government source added: 'I think it's going to be a military base'. In a tweet Mr Hancock said: 'We are working hard to get British nationals back from Wuhan. Public safety is the top priority. 'Anyone who returns from Wuhan will be safely isolated for 14 days, with all necessary medical attention.' The UK's Department of Health has confirmed that it is planning to take people travelling back from Wuhan on Thursday to a military base. Passengers may be asked to sign a contract before they board the plane saying they agree to being placed in quarantine or be left behind if they refuse. Advertisement The European Union meanwhile said it would co-fund an airlift effort at France's request, so that more than 100 nationals from other EU nations could be repatriated along with French citizens. MailOnline revealed today cases of the deadly coronavirus have tripled within three days, after China warned the killer outbreak will peak in the next 10 days. World Health Organisation figures show just 2,014 patients had been struck down with the SARS-like infection by Sunday, January 26. This has now risen dramatically to 6,168, with cases in the US, Australia and Canada. Figures also show there were just 445 cases by Wednesday last week - meaning the outbreak that is continuing to escalate has increased in size by almost 14-fold in the space of seven days. It means the outbreak in mainland China is now bigger than the 2003 SARS epidemic, when 5,327 cases of the killer virus were confirmed. However, it is still behind the total toll of the outbreak, which infected 8,000 people. It comes after a renowned scientist at China's National Health Commission warned the spread of the infection is only going to get worse. Dr Zhong Nanshan admitted he fears the crisis will peak 'in the next 10 days'. Health officials in the capital Beijing today warned cases are on the rise. Some 133 people have now died, most of whom lived in Wuhan the deserted city at the heart of the outbreak. Just nine deaths were recorded by Chinese officials at the end of Wednesday last week. This jumped to 17 overnight. Fifty-six deaths were recorded by the end of Sunday, meaning deaths have more than doubled in the same time that cases have tripled. Cases and deaths have also risen overnight, with a WHO situation report revealing there was 4,593 cases and 106 deaths by the end of yesterday. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Beijing and the risk of infection there are on the rise, a health official in the capital city said today. Pang Xinghuo, vice director of Beijing city's Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, made the comments during a press briefing. Beijing has confirmed 1 death and 102 confirmed cases of the virus so far. Evergreen Airways cabin crew - based in Taiwan - wear face masks for protection against highly contagious coronavirus as they walk out of San Francisco airport Medics in protective gear treat a patient with coronavirus at the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, in Wuhan - the outbreak's epicentre - on Tuesday Trapped British PE teacher refuses to get on rescue flight because safety is 'not up to scratch' Kharn Lambert, 31, secured a spot on Thursday's evacuation flight but has since given up his seat. He is trapped in Wuhan with his frail grandmother Veronica, 81. The teacher said he did not feel as though British officials had put enough screening in place for when the flight touches down in London, and fears he risks spreading coronavirus on home soil. Mr Lambert told Sky News on Wednesday morning: 'Today I was on the phone to the embassy and they've basically told us via a script they were given by the Foreign Office that the flight will be leaving tomorrow, they're not sure what time. 'It will be arriving at a London airport and once we arrive there that basically the Government will not provide any transport whatsoever and we have to find our own way back to our hometowns and then self-isolate for 14 days, which is absolutely ludicrous. Mr Lambert said he decided to stay in Wuhan so he didn't 'put everybody's health at risk' but said his grandmother would have to fly home because she was frail. Advertisement Leading scientists have made stark warnings that there could be tens of thousands of patients already infected far more than the official toll. Despite growing fears, China has been maintaining a positive front in its 'battle of Wuhan'. President Xi Jinping said the country would defeat the 'devil virus'. As cases continued to soar, British Airways suspended all flights to mainland China with 'immediate effect' over fears passengers travelling on its planes would be spreading the infection. The airline halted all bookings on its website for direct flights from London to Beijing and Shanghai until March, following the Foreign Office's unprecedented advice last night urging Britons not to travel to mainland China unless their visit is essential. Flights to Hong Kong will continue - but passengers will have to use a different airline to head on to the Chinese mainland. It is not yet clear how BA will bring back its thousands of customers booked on flights to the UK from China over the coming weeks. A BA spokesman said: 'We apologise to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority. Customers due to travel to or from China in the coming days can find more information on BA.com.' United Airlines, the biggest US carrier to China, has also announced it will be cutting 24 flights in near-term to China and the White House is said to be considering stopping all US-China flights completely to stop the virus spreading. Culture Secretary Baroness Morgan said BA's decision to suspend all flights to China would give 'more impetus' to the Government's bid to arrange for Britons to travel home - amid growing pressure on British ministers to step up the landmark evacuation mission. 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 Coronavirus cases have TRIPLED to almost 6,200 within three days Cases of the deadly coronavirus sweeping the world have tripled within three days, MailOnline can reveal after China warned the killer outbreak will peak in the next 10 days. World Health Organization figures show just 2,014 patients had been struck down with the SARS-like infection by Sunday, January 26. This has now risen dramatically to 6,168, with cases in the US, Australia and Canada. Figures also show there were just 445 cases by Wednesday last week - meaning the outbreak that is continuing to escalate has increased in size by almost 14-fold in the space of seven days. It means the outbreak in mainland China is now bigger than the 2003 SARS epidemic, when 5,327 cases of the killer virus were confirmed. However, it is still behind the total toll of the outbreak, which infected 8,000 people. It comes after a renowned scientist at China's National Health Commission warned the spread of the infection is only going to get worse. Dr Zhong Nanshan admitted he fears the crisis will peak 'in the next 10 days'. Advertisement 'The Foreign Office will be working with staff on the ground to identify UK nationals,' the Conservative peer told BBC Breakfast. 'We will get people home as soon as we can, as soon as we can make arrangements. 'Obviously, today's decision by British Airways provides more impetus to the Government to make other plans and communicate those. 'The health system is well prepared. We are not aware of any confirmed cases of the virus here in the UK but we do have the expertise to look after people, to treat and to test should that become necessary.' Rory Boland, travel editor for consumer watchdog Which?, said a lack of clear guidance from BA would spark panic for passengers stranded in China. He said: 'British Airways' decision to cancel flights to and from China is understandable following the Foreign Office travel warning. 'But a lack of clear information about what this means for BA passengers currently in China and due to fly home with the airline in the coming days is going to cause distress.' Meanwhile Japanese citizens evacuated from Wuhan have described the fear and confusion in the Chinese city with shops running out of food and everyone wearing masks to protect themselves from the deadly coronavirus. A total of 206 Japanese citizens landed at Tokyo's Haneda airport this morning, with health professionals carrying out checks on board and at the airport, but no mandatory quarantine was planned. Chauffeurs in face masks holding name cards were seen at the arrival gate as masked passengers came through security. Takeo Aoyama, center left, an employee at Nippon Steel Corp's subsidiary in Wuhan, China, and Takayuki Kato, center right, an employee at an information and communications technology company Intec, speak to journalists after returning home Chauffeurs wearing masks hold name cards in front of an arrival gate at Tokyo International Airport in Tokyo as evacuees from Wuhan arrived back in Japan A total of 206 Japanese citizens landed at Tokyo's Haneda airport this morning and were picked up in coaches and driven past waiting TV crews BA dramatically cancels all flights to China until at least March, but travel chaos is feared British Airways suspended all flights to mainland China with 'immediate effect' amid the escalating coronavirus crisis which has killed 130 people. The airline halted all bookings on its website for direct flights from London to Beijing and Shanghai until March, following the Foreign Office's unprecedented advice last night urging Britons not to travel to mainland China unless their visit is essential. Flights to Hong Kong will continue - but passengers will have to use a different airline to head on to the Chinese mainland. It is not yet clear how BA will bring back its thousands of customers booked on flights to the UK from China over the coming weeks. A BA spokesman said: 'We apologise to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority. Customers due to travel to or from China in the coming days can find more information on BA.com.' United Airlines, the biggest US carrier to China, has also announced it will be cutting 24 flights in near-term to China and the White House is said to be considering stopping all US-China flights completely to stop the virus spreading. Culture Secretary Baroness Morgan said BA's decision to suspend all flights to China would give 'more impetus' to the Government's bid to arrange for Britons to travel home - amid growing pressure on British ministers to step up the landmark evacuation mission. Rory Boland, travel editor for consumer watchdog Which?, said a lack of clear guidance from BA would spark panic for passengers stranded in China. He said: 'British Airways' decision to cancel flights to and from China is understandable following the Foreign Office travel warning. 'But a lack of clear information about what this means for BA passengers currently in China and due to fly home with the airline in the coming days is going to cause distress.' Advertisement Takeo Aoyama, a Nippon Steel employee who arrived on the evacuation flight, described confusion in Wuhan, with travel restrictions intended to contain the virus making it hard for those in the epicentre to know what was happening. 'The number of patients began increasing rapidly at a certain point. That was very worrying,' he told reporters at the airport. 'We were not able to move freely, so we only had partial information. The restrictions on the flow of goods and transport were extremely strict.' He said food was available, but supply was uncertain, with shops selling out on some days. 'It wasn't a situation where we couldn't get anything at all. But it wasn't a situation where you could get anything freely, either,' Aoyama said. Takayuki Kato, who worked in Wuhan for the firm Intec, said the atmosphere inside the city had changed as the scale of the crisis became clear. 'Everyone in the city began wearing masks. On the 23rd, when transport was shut down, I became very alarmed,' he said. The evacuation had gone smoothly, he added. The flight 'was quiet. People were cool-headed'. Five passengers who said they felt unwell were hospitalised on arrival, but there was no confirmation of whether they were infected with the virus. The flight arrived as several countries worked to extract their nationals from Wuhan, with an American charter flight also leaving the city on Wednesday, bound for an airport in the Los Angeles area. The Japan flight arrived in Wuhan overnight, carrying emergency relief supplies including 15,000 masks, 50,000 pairs of gloves and 8,000 protective glasses, the foreign ministry said. Four medical officials were also on board to monitor returning passengers and administer health questionnaires. All passengers will be tested for the new strain of coronavirus, which has killed more than 130 people and infected thousands. And while there were no plans to confine the arrivals, the evacuees would be asked to remain at home in 'self-quarantine' at least until the results of their tests were known, officials said. Those with somewhere to stay in and near Tokyo would be taken there by private transport, with others taken to local hotels initially. Japanese officials say there is no legal basis to forcibly quarantine people who have not tested positive. The health ministry has so far confirmed seven cases of the virus in Japan, including one man who had not travelled to China. The man from the western region of Nara had driven a tour bus with tourists from Wuhan twice in January, the health ministry said. Around 650 Japanese nationals have asked to be repatriated from Wuhan, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Wednesday that Tokyo was working to organise transport for those who remain. 'We will seek every measure for the return of all (Japanese) people who hope to come home from Wuhan,' he said during a parliament session. Japanese citizens evacuated from Wuhan described fear and confusion in the city, Residents in face masks are pictured here at Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan Coaches wait on the tarmac next to the chartered aircraft carrying Japanese nationals repatriated from Wuhan at Haneda airport in Tokyo, Japanese officials loaded supplies onto a charter plane Tokyo's Haneda airport before it flew to Wuhan, China, top evacuate Japanese nationals WUHAN 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 lung 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 the Wuhan coronavirus kill? Yes 170 people have so far died after testing positive for the virus. What are the symptoms? Some people who catch the Wuhan coronavirus may not have any symptoms at all, or only very mild ones like a sore throat or a headache. Others may suffer from a fever, cough or trouble breathing. And a small proportion of patients will go on to develop severe infection which can damage the lungs or cause pneumonia, a life-threatening condition which causes swelling and fluid build-up in the lungs. How is it detected? The virus's genetic sequencing was released by scientists in China and countries around the world have used this to create lab tests, which must be carried out to confirm an infection. Delays to these tests, to test results and to people getting to hospitals in China, mean the number of confirmed cases is expected to be just a fraction of the true scale of the outbreak. 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 around China and are known to have spread from person to person. 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. SCROLL DOWN TO SEE MAILONLINE'S FULL Q&A ON THE CORONAVIRUS Advertisement The government 'will do everything it can to prevent the new coronavirus from spreading', he added. Meanwhile, a British coronavirus patient who had returned from Wuhan was loaded into an ambulance by a hazmat-clad paramedic yesterday - hours after being sent home by his GP. Drew Bennett, 39, was feared to have contracted the potentially deadly virus during a recent holiday to the Chinese city at the heart of the outbreak and is currently in isolation at a Birmingham hospital. The sales worker returned from Wuhan on New Years' Eve and quickly developed flu-like symptoms before becoming too unwell to leave his bed. But he revealed that when he visited his GP on Monday he was told to go home - despite fears the highly contagious virus is poised to claim its first British victim. The advice given by his doctor contradicted health bosses' warning that suspected coronavirus patients must be 'locked in a room alone straight away'. Guidance issued to GPs by Public Health England last week ordered them to put patients in a separate room, close the door and 'don't let them touch anything or anyone'. At 4.20pm on Monday an ambulance carrying medics in hazmat suits was sent to Mr Bennett's address in Harborne, Birmingham. He was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to have blood tests, where he remains in isolation awaiting results. Video captured by a neighbour showed one medic wearing a white hazmat suit, blue apron, gloves and a mask with a visor, escorting him into the ambulance. But two West Midlands Ambulance Service crew could be seen without any protective clothing or masks - sparking fears British authorities are failing to take the threat of spreading the killer disease seriously. The latest video comes despite Health Secretary Matt Hancock just yesterday warning around 2,000 Britons who are thought to have returned from Wuhan since the start of the outbreak to 'self-isolate, stay indoors and avoid contact with other people' in a significant ramping up of precautions. Meanwhile in China, health workers have been hosing down streets, shops and public transport with disinfectant spray to try curb the spiralling epidemic. Coronavirus has been deemed highly contagious and can spread via a simple cough or sneeze. It has killed more than 130 people in under a month. West Midlands Ambulance Service has refused to answer any questions about why some staff were not wearing protective clothing while collecting Mr Bennett. A spokesman for the trust repeatedly told this website: 'We can't say a thing about the case.' Speaking from his hospital bed, Mr Bennett told Birmingham Live: 'Once I got back I was really ill with, what I thought, was a bad case of the flu. At that stage coronavirus hadn't really been mentioned so I thought nothing of it. 'However, when I went to the GP on Monday and he asked as a precaution if I had been to China, he seemed really concerned. 'I was sent home and before I knew it, ambulances and people in hazmat suits had turned up. 'I'm now in isolation at the QE [Queen Elizabeth] and just waiting to get my blood test results.' Mr Bennett said he 'did not feel particularly unwell' now but admitted he has 'not been 100 per cent' since returning from China. The salesman was sent home from his doctor practice on Monday despite admitting he was struck down with illness after visiting disease-ridden Wuhan last month. But just last week Public Health England told doctors to lock patients in a room and leave straight away if they suspect they have coronavirus. It reiterated that there were no confirmed cases of the virus in the UK. Nearly 100 people have now been tested for the virus, but all of them have come back as negative. Passengers wearing face masks walk out of the international terminal and greet family members at the San Francisco International Airport after flying from Taiwan ARE OTHER AIRLINES CANCELLING FLIGHTS? British Airways suspended all flights to mainland China with 'immediate effect' today amid the escalating coronavirus crisis which has killed 133 people. The airline halted all bookings on its website for direct flights from London to Beijing and Shanghai until March, following the Foreign Office's unprecedented advice last night urging Britons not to travel to mainland China unless their visit is essential. United Airlines, the biggest US carrier to China, has also announced it will be cutting 24 flights in the near-term to China and the White House is said to be considering stopping all US-China flights completely to stop the virus spreading. American Airlines, Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, Air KBZ (Myanmar), Urals Airlines, and Finnair are among carriers that have cancelled some or all China flights as countries expand travel warnings and demand plummets due to the coronavirus outbreak. And Air India and South Korean budget carrier Seoul Air are also halting all flights to the country, and Indonesia's Lion Air plans to do the same. Virgin Atlantic will continue to operate its flights between Heathrow and Shanghai, the company said, but passengers who no longer want to travel will be able to rebook or obtain a refund free of charge. Advertisement The extraordinary guidance read: 'If [the Wuhan coronavirus] is considered possible when a consultation is already in progress, withdraw from the room, close the door and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. 'Avoid physical examination of a suspected case. The patient should remain in the room with the door closed. Belongings and waste should remain in the room. 'Advise others not to enter the room. If a clinical history still needs to be obtained or completed, do this by telephone. 'The patient should not be allowed to use communal toilet facilities. Instruct them to not touch anything or anyone when walking to the toilet. Instruct the patient to wash their hands thoroughly after toileting.' Christian Diaz, 32, who lives across the hallway from Mr Bennett's flat, said he is now fearful for his own health after spending so long in close proximity to him. He added: 'I was absolutely terrified when I looked out of my window and saw people walking around in Hazmat suits. It looked like something out of a movie. 'An ambulance pulled up and then he was taken out wearing a mask. It seemed very serious. We are all very worried. Nobody has let us know what is going on. 'We don't know whether the building will be put into quarantine if it turns out that he does have the infection. Obviously, we hope that he is OK, but it's concerning for everyone.' Separate footage taken in the early hours of Monday showed an ambulance worker in a white protective suit outside an address in Spitalfields, east London. Details about the video are scarce and the London Ambulance Service Trust refused to comment, saying the Department of Health (DoH) is dealing with the incident. The DoH said it would not speak on individual cases. Meanwhile, China's first dedicated coronavirus hospital has opened in a city near Wuhan after workers and volunteers spent just two days converting an empty building to a 1,000-bed emergency facility. The first batch of coronavirus patients were transferred to the Dabie Mountain Regional Medical Centre in Huanggang at around 10:30pm local time on Tuesday. The extra capacity will be crucial for overwhelmed medical staff in Hubei, the locked-down province at the centre of the crisis. Another hospital is being purpose-built from scratch in Wuhan 47 miles (75km) away and is expected to be completed later this week after just a week of construction. The Dabie Mountain Regional Medical Centre is the first dedicated coronavirus hospital to have opened in China. Workers and volunteers spent two days revamping an empty building By Monday, all of the beds had been set up by volunteers, and water, electricity and internet had also been connected, according to the government of Huanggang A handout image from the Huanggang government shows workers from the city's electricity company working to connect the building to the grid so it can treat coronavirus patients UAE announces its first FOUR cases of killer Chinese coronavirus The United Arab Emirates has declared its first four cases of the Wuhan coronavirus, marking the first time the disease has been seen in the Middle East. Four people from the same family travelling to the UAE from Wuhan, the locked-down city at the centre of the crisis, have been taken into hospital after becoming ill. How the family managed to travel out of Wuhan and all the way to the Middle East is unknown but concerning because Dubai has the world's third busiest airport. The government has not yet commented on the details of the coronavirus spread to the country, Reuters reported. But it did say those diagnosed with the virus were in stable condition and under medical observation. Major UAE airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi last week said passengers arriving in China would be screened on arrival, a precaution taken by airports elsewhere. Emirati officials said they are taking 'all the necessary precautions in accordance with the scientific recommendations, conditions and standards approved by the World Health Organization.' Fears of the spreading virus have already pushed airlines to reduce flights to China. Emirates said on Wednesday its flights were operating normally. Advertisement The hospital building in the city's Huangzhou District was originally built as a new branch of Huanggang Central Hospital and expected to open in May. But on Friday, the local authority ordered the complete but empty building to be used for treating coronavirus patients only and began preparations on Saturday. By Monday, all of the beds had been set up by volunteers and water, electricity and internet had also been installed, according to the government of Huanggang. More than 500 workers and a dozen heavy vehicles worked two days and nights in order to complete the task on time. Situated 47 miles (75 km) south-west of Wuhan, Huanggang has a population of around 7.5million and is one of the cities hit hardest by coronavirus. It went into lockdown last Thursday, the same day as Wuhan, and has seen at least 213 confirmed cases and four deaths. Much of the Hubei province, which contains both of the cities, now has no public transport and limited road traffic. Anyone from the province who does manage to leave is likely to be turned away or quarantined at their destination many, such as Hong Kong, are banning visitors from Wuhan, while the UK has told anyone travelling out of the area to isolate themselves at home. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become the latest country to declare cases an unknown number among a family travelling from China and Germany has now diagnosed four people with the infection. Four people from the same family travelling to the UAE from Wuhan, the locked-down city at the centre of the crisis, have been taken into hospital after becoming ill. How the family managed to travel out of Wuhan and all the way to the Middle East is unknown but concerning because Dubai has the world's third busiest airport. The government has not yet commented on the details of the coronavirus spread to the country, Reuters reported. But it did say those diagnosed with the virus were in stable condition and under medical observation. Major UAE airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi last week said passengers arriving in China would be screened on arrival, a precaution taken by airports elsewhere. Emirati officials said they are taking 'all the necessary precautions in accordance with the scientific recommendations, conditions and standards approved by the World Health Organization.' Fears of the spreading virus have already pushed airlines to reduce flights to China. Emirates said on Wednesday its flights were operating normally. Wuhan's SECOND coronavirus hospital springs from the ground in time-lapse video as officials say it will be open in a week and global death toll hits 133A Amazing time-lapse footage has shown heavy-duty vehicles working in full gear in Wuhan to build the city's second coronavirus hospital which is expected to open in a week. The drone video emerged after China's first coronavirus hospital yesterday started to treat patients in Huanggang following just two days of building works. Beijing has sent more than 6,000 medical workers, including military doctors, to the province of Hubei in central China to help fight the lethal virus, which has killed at least 133 and infected more than 6,160 worldwide. Authorities from two provinces have ordered at least four emergency medical centres to be constructed in no longer than 10 days in a bid to contain the outbreak. Trending footage released by Chinese state media People's Daily shows construction works in full swing on the site of Leishenshan Hospital, the second coronavirus hospitals in Wuhan The second hospital in Wuhan, named the Leishanshan or Thunder God Mountain Hospital, is situated in Jiangxia District, a suburban area to the south of the city centre. In the picture above, construction machinery sits at the site of the second temporary hospital on January 26. Construction started on Saturday and the hospital is set to have two buildings Around 2,000 medical workers are expected to treat patients in the dedicated 14-acre, 1,600-bed centre, which is the second of its kind in Wuhan, the ground zero of the coronavirus outbreak in China. In the picture above, an engineering contractor walks in front of construction machinery on the construction site of the Leishenshan Hospital on January 26 The second institution is named the Thunder God Mountain Hospital because Chinese people believe the God of Thunder is the God who punishes the God of Evil, signifying that the locals wish the 'evil' coronavirus to be controlled as soon as possible The 50-second clip of the construction site of Wuhan's Leishenshan Hospital was shared today by People's Daily Online on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent to Twitter. The medical centre, also known as the Thunder God Mountain Hospital, is situated in Jiangxia District, a suburban area to the south of Wuhan, where the coronavirus first emerged late last month. Why are China's coronavirus hospitals called Huoshenshan and Leishanshan The names of both hospitals in Wuhan are inspired by the Chinese mythology. The first facility is named the Fire God Mountain Hospital because according to legend, fire can counteract gold, which is one of the five elements in traditional Chinese medicine that represents a person's lungs - indicating the coronavirus which mainly infects one's respiratory system. The second institution is named the Thunder God Mountain Hospital because Chinese people believe the God of Thunder is the God who punishes the God of Evil, signifying that the locals hope the 'evil' coronavirus can be subdued as soon as possible. Advertisement The facility will occupy about 60,000 square metres (14 acres), including 51,000 square metres (12 acres) of quarantine units and 9,000 square metres (2.2 acres) of dormitories to house around 2,000 medical workers, a spokesperson from China Construction Third Engineering Bureau told Xinhua News Agency. The hospital was originally designed to have 1,300 beds, but the the government of Wuhan has decided to have 300 extra beds installed after the outbreak accelerated in recent days. Building works officially started on Sunday and as of noon today, a third of the project has been complete, the same report said. The first coronavirus hospital to be built in Wuhan is the Huoshenshan or Fire God Mountain Hospital, which is situated in Caidian District in the western suburbs of the city. The city's officials instructed four construction companies last Friday to toil through the Chinese New Year holiday in order to complete the six-acre, 1,000-bed institution in the space of seven days. According to a previous report from CCTV, the Huoshenshan hospital was due to comprise a number of temporary buildings, but the officials were still deciding whether they would use pre-fabricated components to be assembled onsite or wards converted from shipping containers. The Chinese city ravaged by a deadly new virus has vowed to build two hospitals in less than a week to fight an outbreak that has left at least 133 people dead in the country. In the picture above, mechanical equipment are seen working on the construction site of the coronavirus hospital in the Caidian District in the western suburb of Wuhan, China, on January 24 China is building at least four coronavirus hospitals in a bid to curb the spread of the disease Two of the urgent projects are in Wuhan, one in nearby Huanggang and one in Zhenzhou The Huoshenshan Hospital is expected to open on February 2 while the Leishenshan Hospital is due to receive patients on February 5. Both will be run by military medics. China's President Xi Jinping today ordered his two-million-strong army to shoulder their responsibilities given by the people and fight the war that is the coronavirus outbreak. Another hospital is being built in Zhenzhou in central China's Henan Province, which borders Hubei. Workers started renovating an old hospital branch on Monday and the project is expected to finish within 10 days. All of them are modelled on a temporary medical centre in Beijing in 2003, which was built in seven days to tackle SARS and treated one-seventh of the country's SARS patient in the space of two months. China's first coronavirus hospital opened in Huanggang yesterday after workers and volunteers spent just two days converting an empty building to a 1,000-bed emergency facility. The first batch of coronavirus patients were transferred to the Dabie Mountain Regional Medical Centre in Huanggang at around 10:30pm local time Tuesday. The Dabie Mountain Regional Medical Centre is the first dedicated coronavirus hospital to have opened in China. Workers and volunteers spent two days revamping an empty building A picture released by the Huanggang government shows construction workers installing necessary facilities on the site of Dabie Mountain Regional Medical Centre on January 25 Everything we know we know about the deadly coronavirus in China: But how worried should we be? Someone who is infected with the Wuhan coronavirus can spread it with just a simple cough or a sneeze, scientists say. At least 133 people with the virus are now confirmed to have died and more than 6,000 have been infected in at least 18 countries and regions. But experts predict the true number of people with the disease could be 100,000, or even as high as 350,000 in Wuhan alone, as they warn it may kill as many as two in 100 cases. Here's what we know so far: What is the Wuhan coronavirus? A coronavirus is a type of virus which can cause illness in animals and people. Viruses break into cells inside their host and use them to reproduce itself and disrupt the body's normal functions. Coronaviruses are named after the Latin word 'corona', which means crown, because they are encased by a spiked shell which resembles a royal crown. The coronavirus from Wuhan is one which has never been seen before this outbreak. It is currently named 2019-nCoV, and does not have a more detailed name because so little is known about it. Dr Helena Maier, from the Pirbright Institute, said: 'Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that infect a wide range of different species including humans, cattle, pigs, chickens, dogs, cats and wild animals. 'Until this new coronavirus was identified, there were only six different coronaviruses known to infect humans. Four of these cause a mild common cold-type illness, but since 2002 there has been the emergence of two new coronaviruses that can infect humans and result in more severe disease (Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronaviruses). 'Coronaviruses are known to be able to occasionally jump from one species to another and that is what happened in the case of SARS, MERS and the new coronavirus. The animal origin of the new coronavirus is not yet known.' The first human cases were publicly reported from the Chinese city of Wuhan, where approximately 11million people live, after medics first started seeing infections on December 31. By January 8, 59 suspected cases had been reported and seven people were in critical condition. Tests were developed for the new virus and recorded cases started to surge. The first person died that week and, by January 16, two were dead and 41 cases were confirmed. The next day, scientists predicted that 1,700 people had become infected, possibly up to 4,500. Just a week after that, there had been more than 800 confirmed cases and those same scientists estimated that some 4,000 possibly 9,700 were infected in Wuhan alone. By that point, 26 people had died. By January 27, more than 2,800 people were confirmed to have been infected, 81 had died, and estimates of the total number of cases ranged from 100,000 to 350,000 in Wuhan alone. By January 29, the number of deaths had risen to 133 and cases were in excess of 6,000. 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 Where does the virus come from? Nobody knows for sure. Coronaviruses in general tend to originate in animals the similar SARS and MERS viruses are believed to have originated in civet cats and camels, respectively. The first cases of the virus in Wuhan came from people visiting or working in a live animal market in the city, which has since been closed down for investigation. Although the market is officially a seafood market, other dead and living animals were being sold there, including wolf cubs, salamanders, snakes, peacocks, porcupines and camel meat. Bats are a prime suspect researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences said in a recent statement: 'The Wuhan coronavirus' natural host could be bats but between bats and humans there may be an unknown intermediate.' And another scientific journal article has suggested the virus first infected snakes, which may then have transmitted it to people at the market in Wuhan. Peking University researchers analysed the genes of the coronavirus and said they most closely matched viruses which are known to affect snakes. They said: 'Results derived from our evolutionary analysis suggest for the first time that snake is the most probable wildlife animal reservoir for the 2019-nCoV,' in the Journal of Medical Virology. So far the fatalities are quite low. Why are health experts so worried about it? Experts say the international community is concerned about the virus because so little is known about it and it appears to be spreading quickly. It is similar to SARS, which infected 8,000 people and killed nearly 800 in an outbreak in Asia in 2003, in that it is a type of coronavirus which infects humans' lungs. Another reason for concern is that nobody has any immunity to the virus because they've never encountered it before. This means it may be able to cause more damage than viruses we come across often, like the flu or common cold. Speaking at a briefing in January, Oxford University professor, Dr Peter Horby, said: 'Novel viruses can spread much faster through the population than viruses which circulate all the time because we have no immunity to them. 'Most seasonal flu viruses have a case fatality rate of less than one in 1,000 people. Here we're talking about a virus where we don't understand fully the severity spectrum but it's possible the case fatality rate could be as high as two per cent.' If the death rate is truly two per cent, that means two out of every 100 patients who get it will die. 'My feeling is it's lower,' Dr Horby added. 'We're probably missing this iceberg of milder cases. But that's the current circumstance we're in. 'Two per cent case fatality rate is comparable to the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918 so it is a significant concern globally.' How does the virus spread? The illness can spread between people just through coughs and sneezes, making it an extremely contagious infection. And it may also spread even before someone has symptoms. It is believed to travel in the saliva and even through water in the eyes, therefore close contact, kissing, and sharing cutlery or utensils are all risky. Originally, people were thought to be catching it from a live animal market in Wuhan city. But cases soon began to emerge in people who had never been there, which forced medics to realise it was spreading from person to person. There is now evidence that it can spread third hand to someone from a person who caught it from another person. What does the virus do to you? What are the symptoms? Once someone has caught the virus it may take between two and 14 days for them to show any symptoms but they may still be contagious during this time. If and when they do become ill, typical signs include a runny nose, a cough, sore throat and a fever (high temperature). The vast majority of patients at least 97 per cent, based on available data will recover from these without any issues or medical help. In a small group of patients, who seem mainly to be the elderly or those with long-term illnesses, it can lead to pneumonia. Pneumonia is an infection in which the insides of the lungs swell up and fill with fluid. It makes it increasingly difficult to breathe and, if left untreated, can be fatal and suffocate people. What have genetic tests revealed about the virus? Scientists in China have recorded the genetic sequences of around 19 strains of the virus and released them to experts working around the world. This allows others to study them, develop tests and potentially look into treating the illness they cause. Examinations have revealed the coronavirus did not change much changing is known as mutating much during the early stages of its spread. However, the director-general of China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Gao Fu, yesterday said the virus was mutating and adapting as it spread through people. This means efforts to study the virus and to potentially control it may be made extra difficult because the virus might look different every time scientists analyse it. More study may be able to reveal whether the virus first infected a small number of people then change and spread from them, or whether there were various versions of the virus coming from animals which have developed separately. How dangerous is the virus? The virus has so far killed 133 people out of a total of at least 6,000 officially confirmed cases a death rate of around two per cent. This is a similar death rate to the Spanish Flu outbreak which, in 1918, went on to kill around 50million people. However, experts say the true number of patients is likely considerably higher and therefore the death rate considerably lower. Imperial College London researchers estimate that there were 4,000 (up to 9,700) cases in Wuhan city alone up to January 18 officially there were only 444 there to date. If cases are in fact 100 times more common than the official figures, the virus may be far less dangerous than currently believed. Experts say it is likely only the most seriously ill patients are seeking help and are therefore recorded the vast majority will have only mild, cold-like symptoms. For those whose conditions do become more severe, there is a risk of developing pneumonia which can destroy the lungs and kill you. Can the virus be cured? The Wuhan coronavirus cannot currently be cured and it is proving difficult to contain. Antibiotics do not work against viruses, so they are out of the question. Antiviral drugs can, but the process of understanding a virus then developing and producing drugs to treat it would take years and huge amounts of money. No vaccine exists for the coronavirus yet and it's not likely one will be developed in time to be of any use in this outbreak, for similar reasons to the above. The National Institutes of Health in the US, and Baylor University in Waco, Texas, say they are working on a vaccine based on what they know about coronaviruses in general, using information from the SARS outbreak. But this may take a year or more to develop, according to Pharmaceutical Technology. Currently, governments and health authorities are working to contain the virus and to care for patients who are sick and stop them infecting other people. People who catch the illness are being quarantined in hospitals, where their symptoms can be treated and they will be away from the uninfected public. And airports around the world are putting in place screening measures such as having doctors on-site, taking people's temperatures to check for fevers and using thermal screening to spot those who might be ill (infection causes a raised temperature). However, it can take weeks for symptoms to appear, so there is only a small likelihood that patients will be spotted up in an airport. Is this outbreak an epidemic or a pandemic? The outbreak has not officially been confirmed as either an epidemic or a pandemic yet. This is likely because, despite the global concern, the number of people who have been confirmed to be infected is still relatively low. A pandemic is defined by the World Health Organization as the 'worldwide spread of a new disease'. An epidemic is when a disease takes hold of a smaller community, such as a single country, region or continent. They may be without a permanent leader, and they may still be smarting over the results of the last election, but the federal Conservatives are suddenly in a prime position to make a couple of things right. For three years now, Canadas investors have been shaken to the core, as Donald Trumps unpredictability forced them to reconsider their assumptions about how the world works. Billions of dollars of potential investment in Canada have fled elsewhere or sat idle in the bank, as decision-makers tried to game out the consequences of tariff wars, protectionism and weaponized corporate tax policy in the United States. Meanwhile, on the domestic politics front, the Conservative Party has faced a separate disarray straining to define itself after the election exposed internal divisions around social values and how to protect the environment. Now a partial answer to both of these conundrums has emerged: quick ratification of the new NAFTA, already approved by Mexico and the United States. The ratification of the deal that will restore at least a bit of the pre-Trump certainty to Canadas economy is finally in Canadas hands if the Conservatives co-operate. The signs are that they will. At a time when the race to replace Andrew Scheer as leader is shrouded by questions about who the Conservatives really are and what they stand for, a dose of the economic policy that has tied them together for years could be just the balm they need. The Conservatives, after all, long defined themselves as the party of free trade and free enterprise in the modern era, driving trade deals in Europe and Asia. They were unanimous in their belief that government could open doors by negotiating fair rules, but that business needs to lead the country in economic growth by walking through those doors. Still, the Liberals arent taking their support for granted nor should they, given that one of the responsibilities of the Official Opposition is to scrutinize government actions, especially ones of this magnitude. But their fear is that the Conservatives will use their numbers in the House of Commons to make a point of slow-walking their support, demanding mountains of analysis, long lists of expert witnesses and compensation for all and sundry before they eventually say OK to it all. Not only would that be bad politics; it would be bad economics. Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association, has seen the effect of uncertainty from the front lines. Trumps vows to rip up the free-trade agreement that underpinned Canadas role in the North American auto market, followed by his tariffs on steel and aluminum, and then his threat to impose the same treatment on the auto market, rocked the normally stable sector, Volpe says. Investment decisions were cancelled and rearranged. Market valuations deteriorated. Canada paid a steep price, and with one exception (Toyota building a new Lexus in Cambridge, Ont.), new manufacturing commitments largely passed Canada by. Economy-wide, the trade upheaval is costing the Canadian economy billions every year in business that should have happened but didnt. Scotiabank figures uncertainty will knock economic growth this year down to 1.6 per cent instead of 1.9 per cent. Most of the pain is concentrated in lost investment, where the Bank of Canada pegs the cost at more than $10 billion in 2021 alone if the uncertainty were to persist. Now, that cloud has lifted, Volpe says. Auto money is moving into the Detroit area, re-establishing the Great Lakes market of cross-border auto manufacturing mainly because the new NAFTA allows companies to plot the future with some confidence. Theres a danger in parliamentarians taking their sweet time, the Liberals suggest, because the Canadian business community is at the end of its rope in dealing with uncertainty. But theres more to it than that. With Trump facing impeachment hearings, he has ramped up his tariff talk recently, and theres no guarantee that Canada wouldnt provoke a nasty response if it drags its heels on a deal that could help Trump regain some credibility at home. The Conservatives are well aware of the arguments in favour of a speedy approval, says MP Randy Hoback, the Conservatives point-person on the NAFTA file, and they dont intend to play games. Instead, they want to make sure there are no surprises in the deal, and make sure that theres a plan to mitigate the pain of any sector aluminum, agriculture that is inadvertently disadvantaged by the new deal. Lets hope they dont forget that reasonable approach in the heat of partisan politics in the next few weeks. Correction - Jan. 29, 2020: This article was edited from a previous version that included outdated economic growth forecast figures from Scotiabank. Read more about: In the wake of the outbreak of coronavirus, Air India (AI) has advised all its cockpit and cabin crew members, who travel to South East Asian cities, to wear N95 masks, an airline spokesperson said on Wednesday. A total of 33,552 passengers arriving in India from China in 155 flights have been screened at different airports till Monday. The virus for which there is no effective vaccine was reported on January 16 in Japan, the first case outside China and its territories. The toll from novel coronavirus in China has reached 130. Coronaviruses (nCoV) 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-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, the infection can cause 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.) We have not reached an agreement with Dean Foods for its assets, so it may be premature, but the Justice Department has a job to do, Ms. Massey said. If we reach a deal, we would fully cooperate with D.O.J. officials as we have with past transactions. The Justice Department appears to have been monitoring the situation since the early stages of the Dean Foods bankruptcy proceeding, when department lawyers filed notices of appearance in the case, effectively declaring that the government had an interest in the outcome. A spokeswoman for Dean Foods declined to comment. On Dec. 20, an antitrust official at the Justice Department, Karl Knutsen, called Mr. Zakarian and Joel G. Beckman, another lawyer working on the Dairy Farmers of America lawsuit in Vermont, asking them to waive a confidentiality provision to allow investigators to read depositions and other documents in the case. The Vermont suit alleges that Dairy Farmers of America has engaged in a wide range of anticompetitive practices over the years, striking deals with other co-ops not to poach one anothers members and sharing milk-pricing information to suppress payments to farmers. Dairy Farmers of America has denied those allegations. But in September, the judge overseeing the case allowed it to move to a trial, writing in her decision that the plaintiffs had presented evidence from which a rational jury could conclude that the D.F.A. management favored growth of its commercial operations and empire building over the interests of its farmer-members. The Justice Departments apparent interest in the Vermont case might indicate that government lawyers are weighing a broader investigation into Dairy Farmers of Americas practices that would go beyond the possible merger with Dean Foods, said Peter Carstensen, a former antitrust lawyer at the Justice Department. Theyre really focusing in on the impact on farmers and how this kind of transaction could greatly increase the capacity of D.F.A. to engage in anticompetitive practices, Mr. Carstensen said. And that line of inquiry could lead government investigators to take a much more critical look at the way D.F.A. is using its existing market positions and think about whether there are workable remedies for that conduct. Irish trawlers face being locked out of UK waters under a bill set to be introduced in the British Parliament. The UK Government's Fisheries Bill includes a legal guarantee that the UK will pull out of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy by the end of the year. LONDON, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Biometric checks are coming to St Kitts and Nevis this year as part of the compulsory due diligence process every applicant must pass to be considered for Citizenship by Investment (CBI). The news emerged from Prime Minister Timothy Harris' annual budget address for the year 2020. The government is planning to invest in stronger security checks under the CBI Programme, the PM reported, to ensure that its integrity remains intact. This is a proactive measure in response to the demand for second citizenship from St Kitts and Nevis, considered the Platinum Standard of the investment immigration industry. "The demand for economic citizenship in our country resulted in increased expenditure for Background Checks and other expenditure associated with the maintenance of a robust CBI Programme," said PM Harris. He added that St Kitts and Nevis continues to be "one of the best in the industry worldwide" and that the due diligence processes involved in checking each and every applicant for citizenship "remain robust and unwavering." Premier Harris added: "Our Platinum Brand is considered the most attractive and that is demonstrated by the confidence of our clients and agents." St Kitts and Nevis introduced its CBI Programme in 1984, shortly after gaining independence from the UK. It is the longest-standing economic citizenship programme in the world and has inspired other countries to adopt a variation of it, including countries like Canada, the US and most EU countries. PM Harris expressed confidence in the future of St Kitts and Nevis' "very successful Citizenship by Investment Programme." Applicants can obtain second citizenship from St Kitts and Nevis by making a contribution worth at least US$150,000 to the Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF), provided they first pass all the due diligence checks. SGF is designed to then support socio-economic initiatives on the twin islands, whereas new economic citizens can benefit from visa-free and visa-on-arrival travel to over 150 countries and territories, the convenience of family-friendly policies for education, healthcare and inheritance of citizenship, and enjoying the protection of a state that ranks in the world's top 30 most respectful as regards the rule of law. Contact: [email protected] www.csglobalpartners.com SOURCE CS Global Partners Related Links https://csglobalpartners.com A prominent American political philosopher from Harvard University will deliver a public lecture in Vietnam in March. Professor Michael Sandel, who teaches political philosophy at Harvard, will visit Fulbright University Vietnam and give the speech here, the university told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Wednesday. The visit will be undertaken around mid-March. His course Justice has been taken by thousands of students each year, placing it among the most highly attended in Harvards history. It is also the first Harvard course to be made freely available online and on television, the U.S.-based university says on its website. Sandels books relate enduring themes of political philosophy to the most vexing moral and civic questions of our time. He has published such fine books as What Money Cant Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets, Justice: Whats the Right Thing to Do?, and The Case against Perfection: Ethics in the Age of Genetic Engineering. All three have been published in Vietnamese. His writings on justice, ethics, democracy, and markets have been translated into 27 languages and embraced by tens of millions of readers around the world. The BBC News called him a philosopher with the global profile of a rock-star. He has delivered speeches across five continents and at iconic venues, including St. Pauls Cathedral in London, the Sydney Opera House in Australia, the Public Theater in New Yorks Central Park, and an outdoor stadium in Seoul, South Korea. His lecture at the stadium was heard by a live audience of 14,000 people. The coming visit to Fulbright University Vietnam is also his first to the Southeast Asian country. The Vietnamese government granted Fulbright University Vietnam an operating license in 2017. [The university] built on the effective public policy training of our graduate programs to launch Vietnams first not-for-profit, independent, liberal arts undergraduate program, according to its website. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Discover Mexican history, culture, heritage, and traditions with these 25 surprising facts about Mexico. If you thought you knew Mexico before, get ready to think again. This article was first published on theStacker.com Vancouver, January 29, 2020 - Max Resource Corp. (TSXV: MXR) (OTC Pink: MXROF) (FSE: M1D2) ("Max" or the "Company") is pleased to report the results of a petrographic study of the 1.4 km long AM Horizon, and four other locations within the Company's 100% owned Cesar copper-silver project, located 420 km north of Bogota, Colombia. The petrographic analysis of sample rocks was conducted by John G. Payne, Ph.D., P.Geo. of Vancouver Petrographics Ltd. Copper minerals observed in petrographic samples are chalcocite, covellite, native copper, azurite, malachite, chrysocolla and silver. The copper-silver mineralization identified on the Cesar property is a stratabound type and is hosted in siltstone and sandstone associated with reduced facies within the sediments of the Rancheria Basin (Refer to Figure 1 & 2). The Company cautions investors that grab samples are selected samples and are not necessarily representative of mineralization hosted on the property. Assay results of petrographic grab samples: 4.51% copper and 39.5g/t silver for AM Horizon; 3.11% copper and 27.5g/t silver for Target B; 2.71% copper and 6.3g/t silver for Target C; 3.0% copper and 35.6g/t silver for Target E; and Assay results are pending for Target D. "The petrographic study identified copper minerals and silver, an important by-product, which further reinforces the Cesar regional model. Our Phase II field program is underway and we will continue to conduct rock chip and panel sampling across stratigraphy which the Company considers to be representative of in-situ mineralization. This program will assist in prioritizing targets for our Phase III drilling program. We expect further assay results very soon," Max CEO, Brett Matich, stated. "The Max field team is currently investigating what appears to be another mineralized horizon located approximately 40 km north of the newly discovered AM Horizon which would be very significant from a regional prospective," he continued. Figure 1. The blue-green mineral observed on the thin section of AM Horizon is malachite. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/51916_f530c6ceb4c5f962_001full.jpg Figure 2. The blue mineral observed in the hand specimen and thin section of Target B is azurite. To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/51916_f530c6ceb4c5f962_002full.jpg Figure 3. Petrographic location map, rock chip panel assays and AM Horizon discovery. To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/51916_f530c6ceb4c5f962_003full.jpg The analysis of the petrographic grab samples was completed at the ALS Minerals Laboratory in North Vancouver, B.C. ALS has an ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accreditation. Max recently reported an entirely new discovery, called the AM Horizon, a NE-SW stratabound copper-silver horizon in excess of 1.4 km, which appears to continue under cover in both directions. The mineralized system dips approximately 40 degrees to the NW on the Company's 100% owned Cesar copper-silver project (Refer to Figure 3 & NR January 21, 2020). Rock chip and panel samples, considered to be representative samples across their reported widths, were collected across mineralized outcrop zones and included highlight values of: 2.7% copper and 17.9g/t silver over 0.5m; 2.1% copper and 8.8g/t silver over a 3m by 3m panel; and 1.6% copper and 8.2g/t silver over a 3m by 3m panel. Cesar Copper-Silver Project The 100% owned Cesar Project is located in north east Colombia within Jurassic sediments and volcaniclastics that run through the length of northern South America and host significant stratabound copper-silver mineralization in Ecuador and Peru. Worldwide deposit examples include the Copperbelt of Central Africa and the Kupferschiefer of Germany and Poland. Max cautions investors that the presence of stratabound copper-silver mineralization at Copperbelt and Kupferschiefer is not necessarily indicative of similar mineralization at Cesar. Historically, the Cesar copper belt has only been explored from a local context, but never in a broader larger-scale perspective. The initial exploration program identified 19 distinct mineralized copper occurrences over an area of 9 sq. km, which is open in all directions. The first part of the Phase 1 exploration program previously reported grab sample assays ranging from 0.3% to 4.2% copper with: 34 of the 43 assaying in excess of 1% copper, 15 of the 43 assaying in excess of 2% copper, and 4 of the 43 samples assaying in excess of 3% copper. Silver values ranged from 1 to 116g/t. The Company cautions investors that grab samples are selected samples and are not necessarily representative of mineralization hosted on the property. North Choco Gold-Copper Project North Choco consists of wholly owned mineral applications (150 sq. km), located approximately 80 km SW of Medellin, Colombia. The recent NW Gold-Copper Discovery (refer to 29 October 2019 news release) outcrop reported 1 meter of 49.8 g/t gold and 4.3% copper, which continues under cover in both directions. The target area is also coincident with a Long Wave InfraRed (LWIR) anomaly and with elevated gold-copper soil values. Future work would focus on mapping and sampling along strike to extend the zone and on locating additional parallel zones. Choco Gold Project Choco Gold project consists of wholly owned mineral applications (150 sq. km), located approximately 120 km SW of Medellin Colombia and cover or are adjacent to historic production of 605,110 ounces of gold by Choco Pacific Mining (1906 to 1990). Source; R.J. Fletcher and Associates (2011) Review of Gold and Platinum Exploration and Production in Choco Province Colombia Part 3. Private Report for Condoto. The Company has commenced discussions with a potential partner with the prerequisite expertise to assist with the gold bearing conglomerates. About Max Resource Corp. Max is a mineral exploration company with an experienced and successful management team focused on advancing the development of its landholdings in the rich mineral belts of Colombia, with significant potential for the discovery of important-scale mineral deposits that can attract major partners. Tim Henneberry, P Geo (British Columbia), a member of the Max Resource Advisory Board, is the Qualified Person who has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release on behalf of the Company. For more information visit: https://www.maxresource.com/ For additional information contact: Max Resource Corp. Tim McNulty E: info@maxresource.com T: (604) 290-8100 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. Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the TSXV. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the commercialization plans for Max Resources Corp. described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51916 White House adviser and President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner had some strong words for Palestinians on Tuesday. Kushner, who played a central role in devising the Trump administration's Middle East peace plan unveiled earlier in the day, said during an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour that the proposal offers Palestinians the best chance for a "better life," suggesting it'd be a mistake for them not to accept the offer. If they don't, he said while placing much of the blame on Palestinian leadership they'll "screw up" yet another opportunity like they've always done. Jared Kushner, senior adviser to the President, says the White House's Middle East plan is "a great deal" and if Palestinians reject it, theyre going to screw up another opportunity, like theyve screwed up every other opportunity that theyve ever had in their existence. pic.twitter.com/ABAI3gKjig CNN (@CNN) January 28, 2020 Palestine's President Mahmoud Abbas already said he "categorically rejects" the plan, and protests broke out in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Tuesday, so Kushner's harsh comments don't seem like the best bet to defuse tensions at the moment. Still, he went on to defend the plan elsewhere, telling Bloomberg if Palestinians "truly want a state," they should "come to the table." It's not just Palestinians who were disappointed in the White House's solution, though. Neighboring Jordan wasn't a fan, and several analysts felt it did little to curb Israeli settlement and annexation in the West Bank in the long run. Kushner, though, argued securing a four year freeze on Israeli settlements was the deal's biggest accomplishment. More stories from theweek.com The 3 kinds of Republicans that Bolton's testimony would reveal Did John Bolton actually do Trump a favor? It's 2020 and women are exhausted Dawar Battalion of Snow Leopard Brigade airlifted more than 100 stranded civilians including critically ill patients and elderly people from Gurez, which is presently cut off from Kashmir since November due to unprecedented heavy snowfall. "On January 26, Dawar Garrison of the Indian Army received an urgent request from civil administration for early evacuation of serious patients and other civilians. The Army and Air Force in a joint effort evacuated 27 females, 81 males and six children including three critical patients from Dawar and Sonarwain Helipads of Indian Army. The helipad at Dawar was made operational despite heavy snow cover in record time," an official release said. "The army also provided necessary succour and administrative support in the cold weather conditions at the helipads. The three critically ill patients were stabilised by the Medical Officer of the Dawar Battalion at the Helipad before they could be evacuated by air," it said. Locals expressed gratitude to the Snow Leopard Brigade for the support. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lanka will count on Angelo Mathews to steer them out of trouble after Zimbabwe off-spinner Sikandar Raza reduced the tourists to 226 for 5 at lunch on the third day of the second Test in Harare. All-rounder Raza collected the three wickets to fall in an extended morning session, including that of a well-set Dhananjaya de Silva, for 42, in the over before lunch. Mathews, who made his first Test double century in the series opener, reached the interval unbeaten on 53, with wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella new to the crease. Sri Lanka resumed on 122 for two after bad light and rain brought a premature close to the second day, and still trail hosts Zimbabwe by 180 runs at lunch. Raza made an early breakthrough to dismiss Kusal Mendis (22) but there was greater concern for Kevin Kasuza, who collapsed after he was struck on the helmet fielding at short leg for the second Test in a row. The ball looped off Kasuza's helmet after a firm pull from Mendis and was caught by Carl Mumba at square leg, although a stricken Kasuza had to be taken off the field on a stretcher. Kasuza was then sent to hospital for scans. He suffered a delayed concussion in the first Test and was eventually substituted out of that match after a similar incident. Raza snaffled a return catch offered by Dinesh Chandimal (six) to leave Sri Lanka on 142 for 4 before an 84-run stand between Mathews and De Silva steadied the reply. But Raza bowled De Silva three balls before lunch with a delivery that stayed low to give Zimbabwe renewed impetus. Sri Lanka lead the two-Test series 1-0 after winning the first match by 10 wickets. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) YEREVAN. One branch of power has no right to exert pressure on another. Taron Simonyan, a member of the opposition Bright Armenia faction in parliament, stated this at the January 29 briefing in the National Assembly, commenting on the situation around the Constitutional Court. According to him, if the restraining mechanisms for one of the branches of power do not work and it is beyond the framework of the Constitution, serious problems arise. "In this case, it turns out that there is pressure on the Constitutional Court," Simonyan said. Diane Keaton, 74, has forged a decades-long career for herself as an award-winning actress. Her younger brother, John Randolph Hall, has lived a life that couldnt be more different: on the other side of normal, as Keaton puts it, since childhood, Hall received a variety of diagnoses over the years (bipolar disorder, schizoid personality disorder) but nothing definitive. Now 71, he is suffering from dementia and lives in a care facility, where his sister visits him every Sunday. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Keaton shares memories of her brother and their relationship, the subject of her new memoir, Brother & Sister. The book reveals that Hall was the inspiration for Annie Halls scary brother Duane in the Woody Allen classic, and attempts to understand who Hall was before dementia took over: a talented poet and artist, a reclusive alcoholic and a man plagued by never-acted-on violent fantasies about women. Over the years people did a lot of measuring of Randys mental status, and it all came to naught, says Keaton, explaining why she decided to write her moving memoir. He was so hidden. I wanted to explore the mystery of him. Hall was born two years after Keaton. The star explains that she was initially close with her brother, though she thought his fears were odd. I wondered why he was always crying, Keaton says. Why was he afraid of the outdoors? Thats weird! RELATED: Diane Keaton On Why Shes Glad She Never Married: Im an Oddball Diane Keaton with her brother, Randy Hall | Courtesy Diane Keaton Peter Zambouros Jack and Dorothy Hall were concerned about their sons behavior but didnt seek professional help. It was a time when psychological issues were less talked about, and Keaton thinks her civil engineer father found the idea of therapy kind of threatening. But when the Vietnam draft began, they arranged for a psychiatrist to see him and he received a deferment. Meanwhile, from her late teens on, Keaton was busy developing her acting career and came home infrequently. She has regrets about not being a more attentive sister, and about her growing fames effect on Hall. Story continues I think its hard for anyone who has a sibling whos out there, throwing themselves into the world and getting recognition, says Keaton. I wouldnt be happy to have a sister like that. Nobody wants to be compared. Hall was married for several years. But after his wife left him, he lived alone in a house purchased by his parents. He drank heavilyand told his sister about his dark fantasy life. I became addicted to watching horror movies, hoping the films would have some gruesome murder of a woman. Hall wrote in a letter to Keaton, which she includes in her book. Keaton was deeply upset, but wasnt worried hed act on his fantasies. Diane Keaton's brother Randy Hall | Courtesy Diane Keaton RELATED VIDEO: Diane Keaton and Brendan Gleeson Star in New Romantic Comedy Hampstead There was no indication he would, in anything hed ever done. He didnt have that bone in his body, she says. He wrote about them and did collages instead. By the time he was 65, Hall was showing signs of dementia and had to be institutionalized. But, surprisingly, it wasnt a purely dark time for him. Before his dementia worsened, he continued to make art. When his sister visited on Sundays, Wed get vanilla cones and just walk around discovering things, she says. The walls hed kept people away with were down. It was like hed been set freeI got to know him in a whole new way. For the full Diane Keaton interview and an excerpt from her new memoir, pick up this weeks issue of PEOPLE, on stands Friday. Brother & Sister will hit bookshelves on Feb. 4. St Kevins College in Toorak is one of few Melbourne private schools directly following Education Department coronavirus advice, as others ask symptomless students returning from Hubei province to stay home. St Kevin's have told students and staff they should attend school unless they have either diagnosed with the coronavirus or been in close recent contact with someone who has. Private schools have been giving differing advice on whether students should attend if they have recently been in China. Credit:Simon Schluter Families who travelled to China recently have the option to keep their child home for a fortnight, but it is not compulsory, in line with the government's advice. The school is keeping a register of students who have travelled in China since January 1, 2020, and Australian residents who have been in direct contact with a visitor from China since January 15, 2020. (CNN) It appears iPhone sales really are on the mend. Apple posted record earnings for the last three months of 2019 on the back of the iPhone's resurgence. Written off as a fading giant whose best days were behind it, iPhone sales proved it still has some gas left in the tank. With the iPhone 11, Apple returned to basics, producing its cheapest phone in years with a stellar camera and some improvements over the somewhat derided iPhone XR that preceded it. The iPhone 11 was Apple's bestselling smartphone during the last three months of 2019, CEO Tim Cook said on a conference call with investors. That helped overall iPhone sales grow by nearly 8% to $56 billion in the quarter. It didn't quite hit a record (in the three months ending in December 2017, Apple sold $61 billion worth of iPhones), but it was a robust turnaround for a product that was in a serious slump: IPhone sales had fallen in each of the previous four quarters. "In 2019, the story was really Apple's efforts to diversify its business from the iPhone," D.A. Davidson, senior analyst Tom Forte, told CNN Business Tuesday. "In the December quarter and calendar 2020, it's really a story of the resurgence of the iPhone, or the iPhone exceeding expectations." However, Forte cautioned that Apple could struggle to maintain its stock momentum this year. The iPhone 11, he said, "had the lowest expectations of any iPhone ever." But this year, when Apple is widely anticipated to release 5G-enabled phones, expectations are much higher. "The additional upside in the stock is clear. The ability to execute on it, to be determined," Forte said. Services: the iPhone hedge Apple didn't need last quarter Although iPhones still make up the majority of Apple's overall revenue, massive growth in its services and wearables segments of its business also contributed to the successful quarter. Those divisions are widely heralded as the future of the company, because the cell phone market is so saturated that Apple can't expect iPhone sales growth every quarter. Apple's services segment, which includes Apple TV+, Apple Music, iCloud and Apple Care, among other products, grew 17% to $12.7 billion in the quarter. The company now has 450 million paid subscriptions across its services platforms. It increased its target for full-year paid subscription numbers to 600 million by the end of 2020, "given the tremendous momentum we're experiencing in services," CFO Luca Maestri said on the call. The company did not, however, break out subscriber numbers for Apple TV+, which launched in November. Cook did say that the service was off to "a rousing start." Airpods and the Apple Watch were hot holiday items Sales in the wearables division, which includes Airpods and the Apple Watch, grew 37% in the quarter. Three quarters of those who bought Apple Watches during the three months did so for the first time, Cook said on the call. "It's still very much selling to new customers at this point," Cook said. By the (big) numbers Overall, Apple posted record quarterly revenue of $91.8 billion, up 9% from the same period last year. It earned $22.2 billion in net income, the biggest quarterly profit for any American company in history. Apple's stock rose as much as 2.7% in after-hours trading Tuesday, after already having closed the day up 2.8%. A complicated story in China The stakes were high for Apple's performance in China this quarter. China makes up around 15% of Apple's overall revenue, but iPhone sales in the market tumbled last year. But in the holiday quarter, Apple's sales in the region returned to growth. The iPhone, wearables and services segments all increased by double digits, Cook said Tuesday, adding that "the iPhone 11 is doing particularly well there." It would be a notable turn of events, if not for the rapidly increasing spread of coronavirus throughout China, and elsewhere around the world. Fears about the disease have forced companies operating in the country to take action. Cook said Apple is "working very closely with our team and our partners in the affected areas, and we have limited travel to business-critical situations as of last week." He added that the company has closed one store in the city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus, has shortened operating hours at other stores and is deep cleaning them and performing temperature checks on employees. But the virus could take a toll on Apple's performance in China, which it acknowledged by providing a wider range than usual for its revenue projections for the current quarter. Apple also has manufacturing centers in Wuhan and elsewhere in China. "In and of itself the return to growth in China is very impressive," Forte said. "Were it not for the coronavirus, the sustainability of [its performance in China] would not be called into question ... It's an important risk that investors need to monitor." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Apple posts record quarter as iPhone sales make a comeback." Subscribe to the Wake Up, cleveland.coms free morning newsletter, delivered to your inbox weekdays at 5:30 a.m. Weather Mostly cloudy skies are expected today, but there is no snow or rain in the forecast. Look for highs in the low 30s. It will remain cloudy overnight with lows in the mid-20s. Read more. Local scores: New Orleans Pelicans 125, Cavs 111 The headlines Coronavirus: Two Miami University students who developed flulike symptoms after returning from their home country of China have been isolated as health officials test them for coronavirus, reports cleveland.coms Jeremy Pelzer. The students are not severely ill and have not been hospitalized. Medical samples have been sent to the federal Centers for Disease Control, which should notify Ohio health officials by the end of the week whether the students tested positive for coronavirus. Freaking out? Heres what you need to know to protect yourself from coronavirus, reports cleveland.coms Emily Bamforth. Advance Insights: Cleveland.com is interested in talking about local and national topics and issues with readers. The company is looking for Clevelanders to give their opinion in a closed-door setting. Sign up here. Juvenile court: Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael OMalley said Monday that his office had no choice whether to prosecute juveniles as adults in nearly half of such cases last year. OMalley and his staff members Brett Kyker, Joanna Winery and Mo Awadallah provided cleveland.com with extensive breakdowns of the countys juvenile bind-overs in 2019 in response to criticisms from the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio lodged in October. Cory Shaffer reports that the conversation Monday was of a juvenile justice system that has failed in its mission to link children accused of crimes with the resources necessary to keep them out of trouble. Mother-daughter attack: A mother and her 15-year-old daughter broke a John Marshall High School girls orbital bone during an attack last week, reports cleveland.coms Adam Ferrise. Averyanna Tarrant, 37, of Cleveland is charged with felonious assault. One of Tarrants friends and her 15-year-old daughter, also a student at the high school, were arrested at the scene. Cuyahoga County will lease space in the Justice Center to Cleveland police for another year after County Council on Tuesday approved an option for a lease extension. Justice Center: Cuyahoga County Council on Tuesday approved a lease renewal that calls for the city of Cleveland pay about $1.6 million this year to use a portion of the countys Justice Center as a temporary police headquarters, cleveland.coms Courtney Astolfi reports. Two years ago, the city sold its portion of the Justice Center to the county for $9.25 million. The city plans to build a headquarters in the Kinsman neighborhood on the East Side. HHS tax increase: The Greater Cleveland Partnership announced Tuesday it will support Cuyahoga Countys proposed tax increase for health and human services after getting a commitment from county leaders to examine more closely how well the money is spent. Cleveland.coms Peter Krouse reports the county proposes a 4.7 mill HHS tax to replace a 3.9 mill tax, an increase that would raise an additional $35 million. Bike, walking trails: Two proposed Cuyahoga County projects will include bike and pedestrian paths as part of County Executive Armond Budishs greenway plan, aimed at linking more neighborhoods into the countys network of trails and parks, cleveland.coms Courtney Astolfi reports. Backing Trump: The Murray Energy Corp. may have filed for bankruptcy, but the coal companys political action committee is still banking on President Donald Trump. Cleveland.coms Sabrina Eaton reports that new filings at the Federal Election Commission show the Ohio-based company that declared bankruptcy in October donated $160,000 in July to a Trump Victory fund. Medical marijuana: When Vincent Morano requested that Ohio allow medical marijuana for Bengals and Browns fans, he was only half-kidding. Cleveland.coms Laura Hancock reports state medical marijuana regulators on Tuesday made public the Browns/Bengals application. Kareem Hunt: Rocky Rivers police chief defended his officers treatment of Browns running back Kareem Hunt during a traffic stop where the officer found marijuana and a bottle of vodka in Hunts car. Cleveland.coms Evan MacDonald reports that Patrolman Mike Asbury cited Hunt with speeding during the Jan. 21 stop on Interstate 90, but did not cite him for marijuana possession or an open-container violation. Judge4Yourself: Judge4Yourself.com, the organization that rates judicial candidates in contested local races in Cuyahoga County, on Monday released its ratings in four contested races for judge in the March 2019 primary election. Cleveland.coms Cory Shaffer reports that Denise Rini and Emanuella Groves, both running for the same seat on the 8th District Court of Appeals, each received excellent ratings. The highest rated candidates in the other races are Lisa Forbes for the other 8th District Court of Appeals seat, Rick Bell for Common Pleas Court judge and Colleen Ann Reali for Domestic Relations court. Purell: Akron-based GOJO Industries, maker of Purell, is making changes to its online marketing after receiving a warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding unproven claims that its hand sanitizers combat certain diseases. Cleveland.coms Robin Goist reports the FDA took issue with several claims that some hand sanitizers are intended to reduce or prevent disease from the Ebola virus, MRSA, norovirus and influenza. Sewer project: A judge wants a review of Akrons compliance with a federally mandated sewer project after the city missed a deadline to finish a mile-long tunnel that would help keep sewage from overflowing into the Cuyahoga River. Cleveland.coms Robin Goist reports U.S. District Judge John Adams ordered the review be conducted by Craig Johnston, an environmental law professor in Portland, Oregon, who already has assisted in overseeing the consent decree signed by the city and the U.S. Department of Justice. Opioids: Federal prosecutors have charged an Akron doctor who previously gave up his medical license with dealing powerful opioid painkillers to people who did not medically need them. Cleveland.coms Eric Heisig reports Dr. Michael Tricaso is charged with conspiracy to distribute and dispense Oxycodone. Iowa caucuses: Paul Clark, former regional president for PNC Bank in Cleveland, will join the cleveland.com politics team for its coverage of the Iowa caucuses, reports cleveland.coms Seth Richardson. Clark and his wife, Jill, head to Iowa this weekend through the Feb. 3 caucuses. On the way, theyll provide their observations of the last-minute campaign push by the presidential candidates and the unique process that logs the first votes in the presidential election. Andrew Berry: Andrew Berry was officially announced Tuesday as the Browns 16th fulltime general manager, the sixth since the Haslams took over the team in 2012. Cleveland.coms Mary Kay Cabot reports Berry will be tasked with taking the Browns to the playoffs for only the second time since their rebirth in 1999, and snapping the streak of 12 straight losing seasons. Tells for lying: Theres no universal indicator of deception. Fidgeting, looking away and touching your clothing are all commonly thought of as tells. Jim Clemente, former supervisory special agent for the FBI, explains in a WIRED video how to tell when people are lying. The Bachelor: It didnt take long for Cleveland to win over the cast of The Bachelor, which visited the city in Mondays episode. Cleveland.coms Joey Morona recaps what everyone was talking about. Other headlines Richland County substitute teacher accused of inappropriate behavior with student Read more City leaders, vendors discuss West Side Markets future in front of packed house Read more Man found dead with hands bound in Cleveland was reported missing Christmas Eve Read more Man found dead in field near Streetsboro business district, police say Read more Parma Heights sends SWAT team to help landlord evict woman found hiding in the attic Read more Man robs Citizens Bank branch in Independence (video) Read more Northeast Ohio transit in 2045: Whats next? Read more 2 critically injured in multi-car crash on Clevelands East Side (video) Read more Elyria man arrested for squatting in apartment, charged with felony burglary Read more Drive-by shooting in Wickliffe; police investigating Read more Mayfield Heights seeks grant for walking, biking trail on Gates Mills Boulevard Read more Strongsville residents circulate petition calling for a ban on single-use plastic bags Read more Brunswick City Schools proposes staff, school transportation cuts Read more Thousands outraged over video showing autistic boy left out in the cold in Summit County Read more Akron Childrens Museum enters 10-year lease with city to expand space at Lock 3 Read more Families, schools using vouchers dont want them taken away Read more Heres where you can place Super Bowl bets just across the state line from Ohio Read more The Baton Rouge Community Police Ambassadors program's second class of recruits includes several local religious leaders, a former police officer, a retired juvenile correctional officer and many longtime parish residents with their own concerns about the relationship between cops and the communities they serve. The program, which aims to build trust and understanding, was launched in 2018 after years of planning. The second class of ambassadors all volunteers who applied and have been accepted to represent their police districts held their first meeting Tuesday evening. They'll complete a series of trainings over the next few months, learning about the criminal justice system, local law enforcement and policing best practices, among other topics. Baton Rouge community police ambassadors program looks ahead to 2nd class of recruits The Baton Rouge Community Police Ambassadors program is gearing up for its second class of recruits who will continue working to bridge the ga East Baton Rouge Metro Councilwoman Tara Wicker, who was instrumental in launching the program, said the first class has laid a foundation for progress and she's optimistic about what the future holds. She asked members of the group to share their reasons for joining and goals for the program. "I'm here because I'm mad," said James Riley, a Baton Rouge pastor and former U.S. Marine. "I've never had a relationship with a police officer that was positive. I don't know what happens in a police officer's mind before he or she pulls the trigger and I want to understand." Riley said he "did whatever young crazy people would do" growing up, then joined the Marines and spent two years in Iraq. Coming back to Baton Rouge opened his eyes to the violence around him and issues surrounding the public's perception of the police department. "I've always been told police officers take care of their own. You're either blue or you're not," he said. "I want to gain understanding so I can better inform the community I serve as a pastor every day why these things are happening and what we can do to circumvent some of those things." +2 'Race talks' series confronts racial tension head on, seeking to heal Baton Rouge communities After two hours of dialogue sometimes contentious and other times lighthearted Baton Rouge residents agreed on one major point: Race is an 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 Sharon Neapollioun, who retired from the state Department of Corrections several years ago, said she joined the program because working as a correctional officer in the state's juvenile justice system gave her a front row seat to some of the issues children face growing up in disadvantaged communities. "I talked to the young people and heard their cry," she said. "I'm here because I want to serve my community." Cothern Williams, a former Maringouin police officer, expressed a similar sense of wanting to help younger generations. "I see the community crying, crying for understanding," he said. "I want to let the community know police are here to help you, not against you. We've gotta get this mindset changed. How do we do it? With these ambassadors in here." The program grew out of public discussions after the fatal police shooting of Alton Sterling and subsequent ambush on Baton Rouge law enforcement that killed three officers and left three others wounded. Its first class was limited to districts within city limits, which fall under the Baton Rouge Police Department's jurisdiction, but the program is now expanding to include areas patrolled by the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office. Some have questioned how much the group has accomplished toward its mission of building trust and understanding. Wicker said that starts with open dialogue and happens one step at a time. "We've laughed, cried and shouted in this room," she said, referring to the previous group of ambassadors. "The reality is these tensions still exist and they're not going to vanish overnight. That's why we're here." One of Australia's biggest batteries will be built in Queensland under a deal involving energy giant AGL, which backers say will strengthen the grid's ability to shift from coal to renewable power generation by smoothing out the intermittent nature of wind and solar power. The giant new grid-scale battery at Wandoan, costing $120 million, will be built by independent power supplier Vena Energy in 18 months, the Queensland state government said on Wednesday. An artist's impression of the battery facility near Wandoan. The lithium-ion battery will be similar in size to Australia's biggest battery, the Tesla "Big Battery", built by US tech billionaire Elon Musk in remote South Australia in 2017. The new battery in Queensland will have capacity of 100 megawatts and store 150 megawatt hours of electricity, enough to power 57,000 homes for 1.5 hours. Although the grid-scale battery market is in its infancy, batteries are considered to be crucial in the nation's move away from heavy-emitting coal-fired power stations, due to their capacity to store electricity generated from renewable sources and dispense it at a later time when conditions for renewables are unfavourable. Supported by positive global cues, benchmark indices on January 29 snapped their two-day losing run. Sensex closed 232 points, or 0.57 percent, higher at 41,198.66 while Nifty rose 74 points, or 0.61 percent, to close at 12,129.50. On January 30, the market is expected to react to F&O expiry, US Fed meeting outcome and earnings of corporates, including Colgate, Dabur, Bajaj Auto, IOC, Marico and Tata Motors. We have collated 15 data points to help you spot profitable trades: Key support and resistance level for Nifty According to the pivot charts, the key support level for Nifty is placed at 12,099, followed by 12,068.5. If the index continues moving up, key resistance levels to watch out for are 12,164.8 and 12,200.1. Nifty Bank Nifty Bank closed 0.38 percent up at 30,877. The important pivot level, which will act as crucial support for the index, is placed at 30,780.93, followed by 30,684.87. On the upside, key resistance levels are placed at 31,027.93 and 31,178.87. Call options data Maximum call open interest (OI) of 50.73 lakh contracts was seen at the 12,200 strike price. It will act as a crucial resistance level in the January series. This is followed by 12,300 strike price, which holds 41.43 lakh contracts in open interest, and 12,500, which has accumulated 28.86 lakh contracts in open interest. Call unwinding was witnessed at 12,100 strike price, which shed 17.65 lakh contracts, followed by 12,500 which shed 10.32 lakh contracts. No significant call writing was witnessed on January 30. Put options data Maximum put open interest of 34.83 lakh contracts was seen at 12,000 strike price, which will act as crucial support in the January series. This is followed by 12,100 strike price, which holds 26.55 lakh contracts in open interest, and 11,900 strike price, which has accumulated 23.2 lakh contracts in open interest. Put writing was seen at the 12,100 strike price, which added 7.76 lakh contracts, followed by 11,900 strike, which added 1.3 lakh contracts. Put unwinding was seen at 11,800 strike price, which shed 2.5 lakh contracts, followed by 12,200 strike which shed 2.4 lakh contracts. Stocks with a high delivery percentage A high delivery percentage suggests that investors are showing interest in these stocks. 46 stocks saw long build-up Based on open interest (OI) future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which long build-up was seen. 22 stocks saw long unwinding Based on open interest (OI) future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which long unwinding was seen. 18 stocks saw short build-up An increase in open interest, along with a decrease in price, mostly indicates a build-up of short positions. Based on open interest (OI) future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which short build-up was seen. 58 stocks witnessed short-covering A decrease in open interest, along with an increase in price, mostly indicates a short-covering. Based on open interest (OI) future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which short-covering was seen. Bulk deals (For more bulk deals, click here) Quarterly results: Andhra Bank, LIC Housing Finance, Tata Motors, Bajaj Auto, Bajaj Holdings, Colgate Palmolive (India), Dabur, Dalmia Bharat Sugar and Industries, Delta Industrial Resources, Equitas Holdings, Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals, Bharti Infratel, Indian Oil Corporation, Jk Tyre, Jubilant Industries, Laurus Labs, Vimta Labs and Persistent Systems are among the companies that will release their December quarter earnings on January 30. Stocks in news: Pidilite: Q3 profit jumped 57.6 percent to Rs 346.1 cr, revenue rose 4.3 percent to Rs 1,926.6 cr YoY. Crompton Consumer: Q3 profit climbed to Rs 161 cr versus Rs 76.7 cr, revenue rose 4 percent to Rs 1,071.3 cr YoY. Ashoka Buildcon: Subsidiary executed a concession agreement with NHAI for a project worth Rs 1,382 cr. InterGlobe Aviation: Shareholders rejected amending the company's Articles Of Association. MOIL: Company got environmental approval to up ore output to 2.03 lakh tonne versus 90,000 tonne. FII and DII data Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold shares worth Rs 1,014.27 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares of worth Rs 1,520.9 crore in the Indian equity market on January 29, provisional data available on the NSE showed. Fund flow Stock under F&O ban on NSE No security is under the F&O ban for January 30. Securities in the ban period under the F&O segment include companies in which the security has crossed 95 percent of the market-wide position limit. On the Frontline Against China, the US Coast Guard Is Taking on Missions the US Navy Can't Do Competition with China has drawn more Pentagon resources to the Pacific, but the most visible U.S. military presence there... Teachers Spring Into Action After Mom Goes Into Labor in School Bathroom: 'A Moment of Pride' A team of Texas teachers is being praised for their quick thinking after they jumped into action to help a students mother who unexpectedly went into labor in a school bathroom. Janet Karina Soto-Rodriguez was at IDEA Bluff Springs School on Jan. 22 with her husband, Andres, at an award ceremony for their second-grader Luigiani when her bundle of joy decided it was time to stage her big arrival. She took refuge in the gym bathroom, and was soon found and helped by teachers Valentina Davalos, Amberlynn Balli, and Erica Beverly, Principal Virginia Callaway wrote in a statement on Facebook. Davalos, a second-grade math teacher, said she knew what was happening right away when she saw Andres standing outside the door. When I saw him at the bathroom door and saw his face, I just said, Oh no, the baby is here, she told Good Morning America. IDEA Bluff Springs The trio quickly took charge as each tackled a different role: Balli helped translate the 911 operator for the couple, as they speak Spanish, and Davalos helped care for the baby, while Beverly listened to the operators instructions and tended to Soto-Rodriguez. There were a lot of things that needed to take place in a matter of split seconds, Beverly, a support teacher, told GMA. It now seems like a huge thing that we did, but at the time, we didnt think of it like that. RELATED: Sheriffs Deputy Delivers Baby After Pulling Over Speeding Parents: A Reasonable Excuse Added Balli, a second-grade reading teacher: We wanted to make the delivery as comfortable and beautiful and private as possible no matter the circumstances. IDEA Bluff Springs Callaway wrote that both mom and baby were healthy and recovering from the adventure in the hospital, where they were taken soon after the impromptu delivery. Though the teachers went right back to their classrooms after the birth, they did stop by the hospital the next day to pay Soto-Rodriguez and her daughter whom she named Andrea a visit. Story continues Our biggest focus over the next 24 hours was, Did we do everything right to make sure they were safe? said Beverly. We thought about that until we were able to see them the next day. Once we knew they were safe and healthy, that was a moment of pride for us. RELATED VIDEO: Tenn. Woman Who Thought She Had Food Poisoning Delivers Own Baby in Turkish Hotel Using YouTube Soto-Rodriguez called her newborn an extremely brave girl who came out ready to tackle this world. Once shes ready to tackle college, shell have a little help Callaway revealed that little Andrea will have a full-ride college scholarship when she graduates from IDEA Public Schools, presumably as part of the class of 2038. The work we do with all of your children brings us such joy each day, Callaway wrote. We are over-the-moon to have this young scholar join our family. President Vladimir Putin has dismissed the governor of the Russian region of Chuvashia, Mikhail Ignatyev, who has faced harsh criticism recently for his public behavior. The Kremlin said on January 29 that Putin relieved Ignatyev of his duties due to a "loss of trust." Lawmaker Oleg Nikolayev was immediately appointed Chuvashia's acting governor, according to a decree signed by Putin. On January 28, the ruling United Russia party expelled Ignatyev from its ranks. Ignatyev sparked public criticism earlier in January by saying at a public event devoted to Press Day that "it is necessary to wipe out those journalists" who criticize the authorities. Last week, Ignatyev faced another wave of criticism across Russia after a video was broadcast on Russian TV channels showing him making a firefighter jump to get the keys to a new fire engine at a public event in Chuvashia's capital, Cheboksary. A Foley woman was sentenced Wednesday night to 20 years in federal prison on child pornography charges. Krystal Sanspree, 31, pleaded guilty to production of child pornography in June of 2019. Court documents show that Foley police received a tip on Sanspree from her co-defendant, Corey Steele, who was arrested for possession of child pornography. During the course of Foley polices investigation, detectives were able to determine that Sanspree and Steele were involved in a romantic relationship. During their relationship, Steele requested photos of Sanspree performing sexual acts on children, to which she complied. A child in several photos was known to Sanspree and was 4-years-old. When interviewed, Sanspree admitted to taking the photos for Steele. Both Steele and Sanspree were in possession of the images at the time of their arrest. The US District Court judge sentenced Sanspree to 20 years in federal prison with a 15 year term of supervised release after being discharged from prison. Sanspree will undergo mental health treatment while incarcerated as well. Corey Steele will be sentenced April 15, 2020. Peter Waldman in Bloomberg News: The dossier on cancer researcher Xifeng Wu was thick with intrigue, if hardly the stuff of a spy thriller. It contained findings that shed improperly shared confidential information and accepted a half-dozen advisory roles at medical institutions in China. She might have weathered those allegations, but for a larger aspersion that was far more problematic: She was branded an oncological double agent. In recent decades, cancer research has become increasingly globalized, with scientists around the world pooling data and ideas to jointly study a disease that kills almost 10 million people a year. International collaborations are an intrinsic part of the U.S. National Cancer Institutes Moonshot program, the governments $1 billion blitz to double the pace of treatment discoveries by 2022. One of the programs tag lines: Cancer knows no borders. Except, it turns out, the borders around China. In January, Wu, an award-winning epidemiologist and naturalized American citizen, quietly stepped down as director of the Center for Public Health and Translational Genomics at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center after a three-month investigation into her professional ties in China. Her resignation, and the departures in recent months of three other top Chinese American scientists from Houston-based MD Anderson, stem from a Trump administration drive to counter Chinese influence at U.S. research institutions. The aim is to stanch Chinas well-documented and costly theft of U.S. innovation and know-how. The collateral effect, however, is to stymie basic science, the foundational research that underlies new medical treatments. Everything is commodified in the economic cold war with China, including the struggle to find a cure for cancer. Behind the investigation that led to Wus exitand other such probes across the countryis the National Institutes of Health, in coordination with the FBI. Even something that is in the fundamental research space, thats absolutely not classified, has an intrinsic value, says Lawrence Tabak, principal deputy director of the NIH, explaining his approach. This pre-patented material is the antecedent to creating intellectual property. In essence, what youre doing is stealing other peoples ideas. More here. The chairman of one of Dublin's transport watchdogs has said it is "only a matter of time before a catastrophic incident" happens on the Luas. Former lord mayor Christy Burke has summoned senior Dublin City Council management and the National Transport Authority (NTA) to an urgent meeting on the rising number of "alarming incidents" on the Luas network. General election candidate and city councillor Mr Burke, who is chairman of the Transportation Strategic Policy Committee, is angry that there are "no full-time marshals and security personnel" on Luas trams to stop serious anti- social behaviour and "totally un- acceptable" overcrowding. He said measures need to be implemented without delay. Mr Burke made his remarks after the Herald revealed a gang of teenage thugs set a woman's hair on fire during a night of chaos on January 11 while a tram was en-route to Tallaght. Many residents in Dublin's south-central area are said to be afraid to use public transport following almost daily occurrences of anti-social behaviour and attacks. Luas operator Transdev has apologised for its security's "unsatisfactory" response after the January 11 incident. "Security is continually being called after anti-social incidents, but they need to be on the Luas trams full-time," said Mr Burke. "Overcrowding on the Luas, which occurs every day, is also dangerous. Those with dis- abilities, young children and people travelling with buggies are subjected to horrendous conditions. "In the interest of health and safety, marshals need to control the numbers getting on to trams. Review "If the operation of Luas lines continues like this, it will only be a matter of time before there is a catastrophic incident. "I want Luas senior management and representatives from the NTA to attend an meeting on this very serious matter and implement changes immediately." In response, a Transdev spokesperson said: "Security arrangements are continuously under review and have been recently reassessed, particularly in light of recently publicised incidents of anti-social behaviour involving groups of teens in local communities along the Grand Canal close to Luas stops." Call it a case of legislative deja vu, but some state lawmakers and Gov. Andrew Cuomo are once again teaming up to expand alcohol sales in movie theaters. While the effort has fallen short in past years, supporters are hopeful that the proposal can pass in the state budget they are aiming to pass by April 1. Cuomo hopes alcohol sales can lure customers, especially millennials, to help resuscitate struggling movie theaters rather than staying at home to watch streaming services like Netflix, which have contributed to an industry-wide decline in public cinemas. While lawmakers from both parties have backed the idea in recent years, some key legislators have been opposed due to concerns about underage sales and other implications of allowing drinking in a type of previously dry public venue. Getting the proposal through the state Legislature this time around will require addressing competing concerns to address the declining profit margins for movie theaters big and small while maintaining proper controls over alcohol sales, according to Assemblywoman Pat Fahy of Albany, who has proposed a bill to legalize sales. The idea here is trying to save theaters, particularly old theaters that are on our main streets, she said. (The bills has) been so carefully written to make sure that it's not abused and I always explain to people I am not trying to encourage alcohol. State law currently requires movie theaters to have a restaurant license if they want to serve alcohol. The proposal included in the governors State of the State proposals would allow beer, wine, cider, mead, and spirits one at a time. While Fahys would only allow beer and wine sales, another proposal from Assemblyman Dan Quart of Manhattan would leave it to the State Liquor Authority to decide whether a theater would be allowed to sell liquor as well. All three proposals would restrict sales to people who buy tickets to movies with a PG-13 rating or higher, to keep booze out of kids movies. A bill that would have allowed alcohol sales at movie theaters passed the state Senate by a large margin under GOP control in 2016, but the issue scrambled party roles, with Democrats more opposed than most Republicans. Then-state Senate Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins voted against the bill, along with arch-conservatives like state Sen. Robert Ortt of Western New York. A 40-22 vote in favor in the Senate made little difference in the other chamber of the Legislature. Assemblyman Robin Schimminger of Western New York was credited with blocking the proposal from moving out of the Assembly Economic Development Committee he has chaired for the past two decades. At the time, he said that allowing drinking in theaters would infringe on the rights of teetotalers to enjoy a booze-free show. He also pushed back against attempts in 2016 to allow alcohol sales before noon on Sundays. It remains unclear whether Schimminger, who did not respond to a request for comment by publication time, still holds those same concerns. The 21-term lawmaker, who has announced he would retire at the end of the year, is not the only opponent of expanding alcohol sales. When the governor pushed for the idea the following year, lawmakers were able to take it out of the final state budget. "Were not supporting that," Heastie told reporters towards the end of the 2017 legislative session. "We want people to be able to take their children to a movie theater and not have to worry about the sobriety of the people sitting next to them." A representative for Heastie did not respond for comment by publication time. Stewart-Cousins told City & State on Jan. 28 that she is open to the new proposal from the governor. This will be hashed out during the budget, she said. I'm always open to listening to good arguments and, obviously, conversations with my members. Given the past opposition of some of the most powerful lawmakers in the Legislature, the state budget process appears to be the easiest way to get move the proposal forward. Any governor has formidable budgetary powers and Cuomo in particular has demonstrated in the past an ability to assert his influence to pass his top priorities over his three terms in office. Cuomo is backing the idea as part of a three-part package that aims to update state alcohol laws. Fahys historical research points to the bygone political sway of vaudeville shows in the early 20th century as the reason why cinemas are not allowed to sell alcohol in 2020. Another proposal supported by the governor would overturn a 1933 law that restricts alcohol manufacturers from selling directly to consumers. Brewers and distillers currently need legislative approval to get a license to serve alcohol. (Small vineyards can apply for a Farm Winery License to serve on-site.) A third proposal aims to make it easier for educational institutions to train people in manufacturing alcoholic beverages without requiring a multitude of licenses and restrictions. While these might be niche issues, proponents of expanding alcohol sales say it could make an economic difference. Movie theaters are struggling nationwide and upstate communities could use a new tool to make their downtowns competitive in the digital age, according to Fahy. Trying to get people off their couches and out into our main streets, our upstate, small-town main streets and urban cores is no small feat, she said. Considering that live theaters and even Chuck E. Cheese allow alcohol sales, family values maybe just maybe can survive the intrusion of alcohol into cinemas. The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the petition of 2012 Delhi gangrape and murder convict Mukesh Kumar Singh against the rejection of his mercy petition by President Ram Nath Kovind saying there is no merit in the contention. The apex court stated that the alleged torture can't be ground and all documents were placed before the President and he had taken them into consideration. Live TV The convict had approached the top court on January 27 (Monday) seeking urgent hearing on his plea against the dismissal of his mercy petition. A three-judge bench of the apex court headed by Justice R Banumathi along with Justice AS Bopanna and Justice Ashok Bhushan heard the arguments on January 28 (Tuesday). The four convicts, Mukesh Kumar Singh, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Vinay Kumar Sharma, and Akshay Kumar Singh, are facing execution on February 1 in the gang-rape case. Advocate Anjana Prakash, appearing on behalf of Mukesh, alleged that her client was physically and sexually assaulted in Tihar jail and put under solitary confinement, adding, "He (Mukesh) was forced to have intercourse with Akshay (another death row convict in the case) in Tihar jail." The counsel told the court that the "Presidential pardon is a Constitutional duty of great responsibility, which must be exercised keeping in mind greater good of the people", adding "Solitary confinement and procedural lapses are the grounds for considering this case ... Undue delay in hearing the petition and the due and prescribed procedure was not followed in this case." She said that the documents were placed before the President of India without application of mind. "I am not challenging the judicial verdict. The judicial verdict stands as it is. The courts can`t go into as how it was rejected, but the president can certainly go into the merits of the case," she added. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing on behalf of the Delhi government, said that even death convicts have to be treated fairly under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution but opposed the plea of the death row convict, adding "Delay can be a ground for considering a case, but expeditious disposal of case/petition, it can`t be a ground for challenging this before the court." He highlighted that the trial court, Delhi High court, and the Supreme Court had awarded and upheld the death penalty to the convicts in the case while considering their medical condition. Earlier, Mukesh Singh had moved the mercy petition before the President after the apex court had dismissed his curative petition against his death sentence. The court had also dismissed the curative petition of another death row convict, Akshay Thakur. The lower court has issued the warrant for the execution of death sentence for the convicts in the case that has been fixed for February 1 at 6 am. The other two convicts, Pawan Gupta and Vinay Sharma are yet to file curative petitions before the Supreme Court. A 23-year-old paramedical student was brutally gang-raped by six men (including a juvenile) in a moving bus in the national capital on a chilly night on December 16, 2012. Another convict Akshay on January 28 filed a curative petition in the SC, informed Tihar Jail officials. Generally Ill admit when Im mistaken once Im thoroughly convinced its true. But good luck with the convincing! Come this April, however, Id like nothing better than to confess to being wrong with a smile on my face. During her Condition of the State address, Gov. Kim Reynolds voiced support for increasing the state sales tax by one cent, 3/8ths of which would be directed to the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund created via a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2010. She called for changes to the distribution formula for this fund that would, relative to the original enabling legislation, increase support for soil and water conservation and lake restoration while reducing funds for public recreation initiatives. The governors plan would nonetheless represent at least a 14% increase in conservation and outdoor recreation spending over current appropriations while increasing resources for water conservation by nearly 31%. After a decade of waiting, most conservation advocates are happy to accept these relatively modest changes to the formula in order to see the trust funded. With a Republican governor and environmental interests in general agreement regarding a path forward on an initiative that has long enjoyed Democratic support, this might seem like a slam-dunk. Yet when a longtime acquaintance and fellow conservation advocate asked if I thought this was finally the year we would see the trust funded, I told him I had serious doubts. Some staunchly conservative Republicans are philosophically opposed to new public land acquisitions in general and recreational trails through rural areas in particular. Reynolds plan would provide new money for both, albeit less than was originally proposed. Some Democrats, meanwhile, consider any changes to the formula presented in 2010 to be a breech of faith with voters who approved the trust. And then theres the rest of that penny to consider. Reynolds plan calls for a one-cent increase in the sales tax, with the first 3/8ths constitutionally earmarked for the trust under the 2010 amendment. The governor intends to use the additional revenue to fund a 10% income tax cut while also reducing local property taxes by having the state assume more responsibility for mental health care costs. Funding for the trust will total between $150 and $200 million annually. Reynolds has also proposed over $100 million in new education spending as well as increases for rural broadband access, job training and child care, among other initiatives. If the governor intends to return the entire penny sales tax increase to Iowans with comparable cuts to income and property taxes, it seems unlikely state revenue growth will be adequate to fund the new conservation spending as well as Reynolds other priorities. Should the governor or Republican legislative leaders propose budget cuts elsewhere to balance the books, theyll likely lose needed Democratic support. That Democratic support, it must be noted, is already lukewarm at best in the partys liberal wing. If only the leftover 5/8ths of a cent is used for tax relief, however, fiscally conservative Republicans will be reluctant to support what some will view as up to $200 million in new taxation and spending. Election-year politics will play a significant role in both camps as well. For this to pass, moderate Republicans and Democrats will have to forsake traditional party dogma, break with the most extreme elements in their respective caucuses and work together for the greater good. In an election year I just dont see that happening. Go ahead, Iowa leaders: prove me wrong. Please. Tim Ackarman, a regular columnist for the Globe Gazette, lives in Miller. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 'Persecuted even after death': China bans Christians from holding religious funerals Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Christians across China are prohibited from holding religious funerals for their deceased loved ones as the Communist Party continues to tighten its grip on the regulation of religion and religious activity. Bitter Winter, a magazine documenting human rights and religious freedom abuses in China, reported that authorities throughout the country are enforcing policies that prohibit religious customs and rituals to be used during funerals. In December, the government of Wenzhou citys Pingyang county in the eastern province of Zhejiang adopted the Regulations on Centralized Funeral Arrangement. Under the new rules, clerical personnel are not allowed to participate in funerals, and no more than ten family members of the deceased are allowed to read scriptures or sing hymns in a low voice. The new rules aim to get rid of bad funeral customs and establish a scientific, civilized, and economical way of funerals. Similarly, a village official from the central province of Henan told Bitter Winter that the local government convened a meeting for religious work assistants in April, informing them that all religious funerals are restricted. Soon after, officials issued a document stipulating that clerical personnel should be timely stopped from using religion to intervene in citizens weddings and funerals or other activities in their lives. In Wuhan, police stormed the funeral of a Christian member of a government-regulated Three-Self Church and arrested her daughter, who was praying for her mother at the time. The daughter was only released after the deceased was buried without Christian rituals two days later. Last April, officials broke up an 11-person Christian funeral in the province of Henan that was honoring a deceased member of the congregation. Officials accused attendees of hiding their actions in the countryside and threatened them with jail time. The police registered the personal contact information of the attendees and told them that they could be investigated at any time. When my father died, village officials threatened to arrest us if we didnt conduct a secular funeral. We did not dare to go against them, a villager from Gucheng town in Henans county-level city of Yuzhou told Bitter Winter. My father had been a believer for several decades. He is persecuted even after death. The crackdowns on religious funerals are part of the governments campaign to sinicize religion, or bring it into unity with Communist Chinese culture. In recent years, China has destroyed churches, burned down crosses, restricted religious expression online, and have attempted to rewrite the Bible and hymns so that the message reflects the Communist Party's ideology. Beginning in February, the government plans to implement harsh new measures requiring all religious personnel to support and implement total submission to the CCP. The Administrative Measures for Religious Groups, which consists of six sections and 41 articles, will control every aspect of religious activity within China and will complete the "Regulations on religious affairs" revised two years ago and implemented on Feb. 1, 2018. Religious organizations must adhere to the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, observe the constitution, laws, regulations, ordinances and policies, adhere to the principle of independence and self-government, adhere to the directives on religions in China, implementing the values of socialism, says Article 5 of the new policies. Persecution watchdog group International Christian Concern warns that the latest measures will be used by the Communist regime as a legal tool to further tighten space for religious groups. At a press conference earlier this month, David Curry, CEO of persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA, warned that the greatest threat, in his opinion, to human rights worldwide is China, which rose in the rankings from No. 27 to No. 23 in the 2020 report. Curry stressed that the implications lie in Chinas development of surveillance to control its people. Its implications are not just for Christians within China but for every country and for religious freedom generally, Curry said. Let me put it together. It is like a puzzle. The pieces are there but it is not until you put it together that you see it clearly. When you see it clearly, it is frightening. I saw with my own eyes the surveillance on the street but also in the churches, watching their congregation, he added. Facial scans when you come in and then tracking you and generating reports [with] assumptions built into their artificial intelligence system that is tracking Christian behavior. Curry said that the more often a person is seen going to church, the more often they are to be labeled a radical. They are shutting down house churches at a massive rate 5,596 churches shut down, many because they refuse to put surveillance cameras up to watch their congregation. Huawei is pushing for a reassessment of its ban in Australia, calling for a"more fact-based approach" to its future here after the UK decided to let the Chinese telecom giant build parts of its 5G infrastructure. Jeremy Mitchell, director of corporate and public affairs at Huawei Australia, said the company's acceptance in the UK made it clear that the Australian government had received some "incorrect technology advice" when it banned Huawei from providing 5G technology to Australia. It opens the way for everyone to look at a more fact-based approach," Mr Mitchell said. "Malcolm Turnbulls decision was clearly on some incorrect technology advice." One of the reasons the Turnbull government has banned Huawei from creating Australia's 5G infrastructure was due to concerns that its "core" network - or intelligence layer - could not be split from its "radio", or transmission, parts. Mr Mitchell said the UK decision made it clear that this was "incorrect". The wreckage of a missing light plane that crashed near Moreton Island, north-east of Brisbane, has been found in the water after a seven-day search. However, the bodies of the 70-year-old pilot and 52-year-old female passenger were still missing. The aircraft which crashed off Moreton Island - a Cessna 182 plane with registration number VH-WNR. Credit:Queensland Aviation Services - Inspire Aviation The couple from Wakerley had departed in a hired light aircraft from Caloundra, a Cessna 182 with registration number VH-WNR, about 3.30pm on January 22 for a scenic flight around Moreton Island. A mayday call was made about one hour after taking off before the aircraft dropped off the radar. Michael Flynn, former national security advisor for President Donald Trump, claims in a new legal filing that he is innocent as he seeks to undo his guilty plea for making false statements to the FBI about his talks with Russia's ambassador to the United States in the weeks before Trump's inauguration. "In truth, I never lied," Flynn said in the document, which was filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. Later Wednesday, federal prosecutors said in their own filing that they do not object to Flynn receiving a sentence of probation, with no jail time, if Judge Emmet Sullivan rejects his pending request to withdraw his guilty plea. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia said it agrees that a sentence of between zero and six months in jail "is appropriate and warranted in this case, agrees with the defendant that a sentence of probation is appropriate and does not oppose the imposition of a sentence of probation." The filings came two weeks after Flynn formally petitioned Sullivan to withdraw his guilty plea. Prosecutors are opposing that request. Flynn in his filing claimed that "I never would have pled guilty" if his first set of lawyers had told him that FBI agents wrote that he had a "sure demeanor" and "did not give any indication of deception" in a report they prepared after questioning him about the nature of his conversations with then-Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Instead, Flynn said that "I tried to 'accept responsibility' by admitting to offenses I understood the government I love and trusted said I committed." And he claimed that at the moment he does not recall whether he discussed sanctions on Russia with Kislyak, as the FBI has alleged. However, Flynn has previously affirmed at two court hearings that he had falsely told FBI agents in January 2017 that he did not ask Kislyak to refrain from escalating sanctions in response to the imposition of sanctions against Russia by the Obama administration. "I am innocent of this crime, and I request to withdraw my guilty plea," he wrote in the filing Wednesday. It is not clear whether Flynn's statements in the filing will be enough to convince Sullivan that he should be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea. Lawyers unconnected to the case say that Flynn, who is still tentatively scheduled to be sentenced next month, faces very long odds in getting Sullivan to undo the plea. Fast-food titans, embroiled in a chicken-sandwich battle, are trying to beat each other with small weapons. Little chickens, whose quarter-pound breasts fit perfectly inside a bun, are proving essential to the war effort. In the process, theyre getting harder to come by. A shortage of the smaller birds derailed the Popeyes challenge to reigning champion Chick-fil-A last summer, and most petite poultry are sold in grocery stores, not in chain restaurants. Now the supply will be further tested as more competitors jump into the fray. McDonalds Corp., the worlds biggest restaurant chain, is testing new fried-chicken sandwiches in four U.S. cities with the added pop of MSG, a controversial flavor enhancer it says it doesnt use in its national menu. Wendys Co. is going all in, spending $30 million to beef up its chicken supply chain. Consumers dont want tough and tasteless big chickens, said Scott Sechler, owner of poultry producer Bell & Evans. Theres increasing consumer demand for smaller, premium-quality birds. Chickens have been the most popular meat in America for a long time. More chicken is devoured in the U.S. than anywhere else in the world -- an average of 93.5 pounds per person last year, according to the National Chicken Council. The birds have been getting progressively bigger over the years. Todays broiler varieties, the ones raised for meat, average more than 6 pounds (2.7 kilograms) each. In 1925, they weighed 2.5 pounds. So how did these fast-food chains so quickly find success with their chicken sandwiches? Birds lighter than 4.25 pounds. Small is beautiful The summer skirmish focused Big Chickens attention on the smaller and less plentiful variety. Breasts from wee birds recently reached nearly triple the cost of breasts from a jumbo nine-pounder, a historically wide difference, according to Russ Whitman of commodity researcher Urner Barry. Jumbo boneless breasts on Tuesday were at a record low of 87 cents a pound, while prices for the smaller version jumped to $2.53, the highest in a year, Urner Barry said. When it comes to sandwiches, small is beautiful. Cutting up a bigger portion takes labor, and what does one do with the trim? Restaurants want product that comes ready to go at the right specifications, said David Maloni, executive vice president of analytics at supply-chain consultant ArrowStream. Its getting harder and harder to get that smaller bird, so theyre paying a premium, Maloni said. The fast-food chains wont settle for bigger birds, he said. Chick-fil-A total sales at its 2,470 locations rose 13% last year, boosted by the closely held chains fried-chicken sandwich, according to Technomic data. The companys ascendancy led Mark Kalinowski of Kalinowski Equity Research to say that Chick-fil-A poses the largest competitive threat to McDonalds in the U.S. Last week, Kalinowski upgraded McDonalds stock to a buy rating. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, owned by Restaurant Brands International Inc., said the demand for its new sandwich last summer was so overwhelming that it ran through what it thought would be several months of supply in 14 days. It took until November for the company to bring the sandwich back. In the third-quarter of 2019, same-store U.S. Popeyes sales rose 10% to one of the highest levels in two decades. Cheetos sandwich KFC, operated by Yum! Brands Inc., took a hit, with comparable sales dropping last quarter. In October, the chain said its limited-time Cheetos-chicken sandwich didnt catch on with customers and led to the decline. KFC didnt respond to requests for comment. McDonalds and Wendys, on the other hand, have been gearing up. Late last year, McDonalds began testing new chicken sandwiches in a couple hundred restaurants, mostly in Houston, Seattle, Knoxville, Tennessee, and Augusta, Georgia. Read more: McDonalds Sprinkles Some MSG in Chicken Sandwich Race Like Chick-fil-A, Popeyes and KFC -- but not Wendys -- McDonalds is adding monosodium glutamate to its sandwich. While MSG is generally safe, according to the Food and Drug Administration, its use is controversial because some people complain of side effects such as headache, numbness and heart palpitations. Tender juiciness In 2017, Wendys said it was slashing its average chicken size by 20% to improve its tenderness and juiciness. We saw instant feedback from our customers, who told us our sandwiches across the entire chicken lineup were juicier and more tender, said Liliana Esposito, chief communications officer for the chain. Popeyes and Chick-fil-A declined to comment. The biggest U.S. chicken producers were mum about their supplies of little chickens. Perdue Farms Inc., and Koch Foods Inc. declined to comment. Tyson Foods Inc., parent company of McDonalds supplier Keystone Foods, also declined to comment. Jayson Penn, chief executive officer of top producer Pilgrims Pride Corp., told investors last year that the market for small birds was very call-it-tight. The companys share price more than doubled in 2019. The little-chicken shortfall looks like itll persist. Last year through Nov. 16, the poultry industry raised 10% more birds above 7.76 pounds, considered jumbo, than they did in the same period in 2018, Urner Barrys Whitman said. The small ones saw a headcount drop of 2%. Whatever demand growth we might have on smaller breasts, theres no new supply to meet that demand, said Will Sawyer, an animal-protein economist at Colorado-based rural lender CoBank ACB. Everyone wants a bite out of that market. Democrats are bracing for the possibility that if President Donald Trump loses the 2020 election, he and his aides will bungle a smooth handover of power and maybe even try to outright sabotage the transition. At least one outside group that works with the 2020 Democratic campaigns has quietly launched a transition-related effort designed to offer an early look at the landscape that awaits them if they oust Trump. Separately, a prominent good government organization, the Partnership for Public Service, is openly appealing to Trump and his Democratic opponents to start thinking early about transition planning, even if it comes across as presumptuous. And one leading Democratic presidential candidate, Elizabeth Warren, just days ago unveiled a plan that, among other things, describes how she would move quickly to staff the government if she wins the White House. In the plan, Warren voices the fears of many Democrats. This will be no ordinary transition between administrations, she states. Unlike previous transitions, we will not be able to assume good faith cooperation on the part of the outgoing administration. That Democrats are making transition-related moves more than nine months before Election Day underscores not only their distrust of Trump but also the reality that taking over the U.S. government is a mammoth task with high stakes. Any government is especially vulnerable during a transition of power, and Democrats who deal with national security are among those most concerned about a Trump-to-Democrat handover. *** Every transition is tricky given the thousands of positions that need to be filled and the array of policy priorities a new team wants to pursue. But several Democrats attached to different 2020 campaigns mentioned very specific concerns about what a Trump departure could mean. All spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, and because no campaign wants to be seen as assuming that Trump will lose. Story continues The Democrats said they worry that Trumps political appointees wont meet with the incoming team, that there will be little, if any, paperwork left behind to guide them, and that what documents are shared will not be trustworthy. President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, in Wildwood, N.J., as Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., listens. (AP Photo/Mel Evans) Some fear that Trump aides will destroy paper trails related to controversial issues, not to mention quietly push through last-minute initiatives that could constrict the next administrations ability to tackle hot button issues such as immigration or relations with Iran. Some Democrats fear they will have to devote precious time in the early weeks of a new administration piecing together what happened under Trump on a range of areas. And thats all if Trump accepts the election results and agrees to leave. This could be the most hostile, least professional transition in American history, a former senior official in the Barack Obama administration said. And the new administration will have to spend the early period when it should be hitting the ground running unearthing buried bodies. One center-left organization, National Security Action, is already coordinating more than a dozen working groups focusing on specific areas such as climate change, China, and defense policy with the goal of producing transition-related information for the eventual Democratic nominee. The organization, which is led by former top officials in the Obama administration, declined to give many details about the initiative. But its leaders say the goal isnt to endorse particular policy positions for a future Democratic president; each candidate running now presumably already has those. Rather, what the nominee can hope to get from the working groups is a layout of what awaits them: for instance, compilations of various regulations rolled back under Trump; paths to recommitting to international pacts that Trump has abandoned; and what options executive order? legislation? nothing? a new president has to overturn other Trump moves. The initiative is called FP21 as in foreign policy in 2021. Each working group is led by a true expert, a representative of National Security Action said. The idea is to be nominee-agnostic" offering something useful to whoever winds up challenging Trump during the general election. *** The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for comment. A White House spokesman, however, said, The Trump administration will meet all requirements under the law as it relates to any needed transition between administrations. Some observers argue that if theres hostility during the potential transition, the Democrats are at least as much to blame as Trump and his aides. For one thing, many prominent Democrats not just presidential candidates have spent the past three years using social media and other means to publicly bash Trumps every move. That criticism fuels a bigger vicious cycle, a conservative foreign policy analyst said. Trump has often acted like the anti-Obama, reversing many of the former presidents signature actions. And now Democrats are suggesting theyll push the pendulum the other way. If you are part of that administration and you get shown the door, why would you be inclined to help the next guy dismantle something that you think is important? the analyst asked. Other supporters of Trump say Democrats are blowing things out of proportion. For one thing, they argue, there are plenty of think tanks and career government staffers who can guide an incoming administration. I would say Take a chill pill, said James Carafano, a foreign policy expert with the conservative Heritage Foundation who was involved in the 2016-17 transition from Obama to Trump. You can gain enormous situational awareness without having Cabinet secretaries sit down and debrief you. Carafano also contended that theres no legitimate reason to think Trumps political appointees would act in an unprofessional way. But Democrats transition-related fears are driven partly by how the Trump team handled the handover of power from Obama. The chaos of that transition and Trumps early months in office have been the subject of at least one book and in-depth reports in POLITICO and elsewhere. In spring 2016, Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, had to be coaxed into setting up a transition team. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie first led that team, even though Trump described having it as bad karma, according to an account by Christie. But after Trumps shocking win that November, Christie was pushed out of the top spot on the transition team amid a feud with Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, to be replaced by then-Vice President-elect Mike Pence. Much of the Christie-led teams work which included identifying potential nominees for key government jobs was junked as Pence and others, including Kushner, took a fresh look. In the run-up to Trumps inauguration, according to numerous officials who have spoken to POLITICO, representatives of the president-elect were unusually slow to arrive at various agencies to meet with counterparts. Those who did arrive expressed suspicion toward the departing political appointees, as well as the career government staffers who had served in multiple administrations. The Trump appointees spoke of the career staffers as a deep state determined to thwart Trumps agenda. Briefing books Obama aides had prepared for their successors gathered dust. Some nominees for top positions - such as Rex Tillerson, the man Trump named as his first secretary of State barely interacted with the people they were replacing. The handoff proved deeply unsettling for Obama political appointees, as well as career staffers at the National Security Council and elsewhere. They noted that the outgoing Democratic administration was already laying the groundwork for the transition by early 2016. In preparing so far in advance, Obama was echoing the president he succeeded, Republican George W. Bush. Bush got his transition plans going long before the 2008 election in part because he was scarred by the handoff hed experienced from his predecessor, Bill Clinton. The Clinton-Bush transition was harried because of the contested results of the 2000 election, which the Clinton team had hoped Vice President Al Gore would win. Bush, who oversaw the U.S. invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, also knew hed be handing off in a time of war, so he wanted to make the transition as smooth as possible. Bush and Obama also did transition planning toward the end of their first terms a more apt analogy for what Trump faces now. But people familiar with those efforts agree it was nowhere near the scale of what they did when they knew they were leaving office for good. Still, former officials and experts say, a transition is a transition, even when a president is booted after just one term, and its best to plan for the possibility of defeat. In an open letter posted by the Partnership for Public Services Center for Presidential Transition, a bipartisan group of former U.S. officials with experience in the topic point out that going through the motions is a good exercise for an incumbent even if he wins a second term. Effective planning is essential given the inevitable turnover, a Senate confirmation process which unfortunately is taking longer, and the fact that the fifth year of a presidents tenure typically provides a window for bipartisan policy development, the letter states. The stakes are high, especially for a new administration. If successful, a new president in short order will have to recruit 4,000 political appointees, including 1,200 who require Senate confirmation; prepare a $4.7 trillion budget; roll out and pursue a vigorous policy agenda; and learn how to manage a workforce of 2 million civilian employees and 2 million active duty and reserve troops, the letter notes. Trump has said nothing publicly to suggest hes preparing for a handoff. Some Democrats wonder whether Trump still views transition planning as bad karma, though it clearly didnt hurt last time. A White House official recently told POLITICO, however, that the administration is starting to think about staffing in a second term, but that no one has yet begun drawing up lists of potential hires. By May, Trump technically wont have a choice but to get a transition process going. Thanks to a 2016 law, the executive branch is required to set up transition-related infrastructure at the White House and agencies no later than six months before the election. Once formally nominated, Trumps Democratic challenger will be given access by the federal government to office space, secure computers and other support to go full-steam ahead with transition planning. Democrats expect Trump to greenlight many last-minute regulatory changes and other initiatives to solidify his legacy in case he loses reelection. Thats not unprecedented Obama did the same thing. The challenge for a Democratic successor will be figuring out what happened that wasnt made public, especially if Trump political appointees prove unhelpful and many top agency positions remain unfilled. There are, of course, laws that govern how an outgoing administration handles the records it has created what has to be archived, for how long it is classified, and what can be destroyed. The laws vary depending on whether they are being applied to specific White House offices or the executive branch agencies. But Democrats are still worried that Trump and his aides will disregard or take advantage of any loopholes in those statutes. I would not be surprised if they try to destroy things they worked on, hide evidence or whatever, the former senior Obama administration official said of Trump political appointees. Democrats say one saving grace is the deep involvement of career government staffers in the transition process. Those staffers are sworn to serve in a nonpartisan fashion, implementing the policies of whoever is in the White House. But Trump political appointees have never trusted them, denigrating career employees as members of a deep state. The relationship between Trump political appointees and career staffers frayed further as some such staffers obeyed subpoenas to testify in the House impeachment inquiry into Trump. At one point, the White House called those witnesses radical unelected bureaucrats. Democrats expect they will have to reach deep down into the career ranks to get basic information about policymaking under Trump. Democrats may want to start making lists now of career staffers so theyll know who to talk to, several people said. Another major concern is whether the documents produced by the Trump administration, not just for a possible transition but even sooner, are reliable. There have been many instances of the Trump administration including incorrect information in everything from news releases to internal communications. In one case, the administration acknowledged serious flaws in a report it issued implying a link between immigrants and terrorism, but it refused to take down the report or correct it. Tamil superstar Rajinikanth suffered no injuries during the shoot of Discovery Channels popular programme Man vs Wild in Bandipur Tiger Reserve, an official said on Tuesday. It is all false. As per the screenplay, there was a shot in which Rajinikanth had to fall, so while getting down from the rope, he just fell down and everybody rushed. It was all in the screenplay, T. Balachandra, the reserves director and conservator of forests, told IANS. Later, Rajnikanth got up, completed the shoot and left for Chennai, said Balachandra. According to the Bandipur Tiger Reserve director, the Tamil superstar was fine and did not suffer any injury. He was fine. That shot was from the Mysuru airport, Balachandra said, referring to a video which went viral, showing Rajinikanth walking to the airport in Mysuru. Balachandra dismissed the news of Rajinikanths injury as fake news. Earlier on Tuesday, Rajinikanth visited Karnatakas Bandipur Tiger Reserve to shoot an episode of Man vs Wild with host Bear Grylls. We gave permission for 6-8 hours to Discovery Channel to shoot in Bandipur Tiger Reserve, said Balachandra. He said the one-day shoot began at 11 am on Tuesday and ended by 4 pm. They paid as per the norms. Per day they have to pay documentary fee, vehicle fee and others. For four days, they paid Rs 10 lakh, Balachandra said. Balachandra said Rajinikanth spent five hours in the forest and will not return as his shoot was only for one day. Bandipur Tiger Reserve, an 874 sq km national park, was formed by integrating most of the forest areas of erstwhile Venugopala Wildlife Park established in 1941, and later enlarged to its current state in Chamarajanagar district, about 220 km southwest of Bengaluru. The tiger reserve lists 28 species of mammals to be present in the forest, including royal Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, common leopard, bonnet macaque, Indian pipestrelle and barking deer, among others. Meanwhile, the states chief wildlife warden Sanjay Mohan said that this was not the first time a Discovery Channel documentary was shot in the reserve. Lot of documentaries were shot in Bandipur. I have urged Discovery Channel that they must show the efforts being made by the Karnataka forest department day and night in saving the forest wildlife, Mohan told IANS. The chief wildlife warden is looking forward to a good name for the tiger reserve and recognition to the forest staff with this programme. In August 2019, Grylls had hosted Prime Minister Modi in the show, which was shot at the Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand in February last year. In Man vs Wild, former British serviceman Grylls showcases survival strategies in extreme challenging conditions in the most remote locations around the world. However, Discovery Channels India spokesperson Krapika Singh Jat told IANS that the channel had nothing to say when asked about Rajinikanth shooting for Man vs Wild with Grylls in Bandipur Tiger Reserve. In Belarus, there are growing questions about how drastic a shift Alyaksandr Lukashenka is making away from Russia and toward the West. In Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoev is struggling to persuade the outside world that his reforms are a genuine turn away from the corrupt authoritarian system that his country has long been shackled to. In Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy is trying to shed his country's reputation for corruption and mismanagement, while struggling with a six-year war against separatist fighters backed by Russia. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo heads to the region on January 30, visiting those three countries, plus Kazakhstan, on a trip aimed at cultivating political and economic ties with the former Soviet republics. Many of them are looking to the United States for support: financial, moral, and military. But the United States is gripped by the political turmoil surrounding the impeachment of President Donald Trump, raising questions about how stalwart its support for the countries is. And Pompeo himself is traveling under a cloud, due to an angry interview with a U.S. reporter, and what was widely seen as retaliation against the reporter's employer. Here is what's at stake on Pompeo's trip. Ukraine Kyiv is Pompeo's second scheduled stop. His first was London, arriving on January 29 for meetings with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other officials. Washington's relationship with Britain has been buffeted by the debates leading up to Britain's departure from the European Union on January 31, but on the whole, the relationship remains solid. Less so with Ukraine. Ukraine is at the heart of the impeachment proceedings in Washington, something that has befuddled many Ukrainians and left President Zelenskiy's administration struggling to manage. Zelenskiy continues to have high opinion-poll ratings nine months after winning last year's presidential election by a landslide, but there's growing impatience within Ukraine over whether he'll be able to root out endemic corruption or bring the country's oligarchs to heel. He has made notable steps toward trying to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has killed more than 13,000 people and displaced more than 1 million. There have been two big prisoner swaps. But a major meeting in December, which included his first face-to-face encounter with Russian President Vladimir Putin, yielded no breakthroughs. Though European nations have provided more overall financial aid, Washington has been the largest provider of military aid, sending Ukraine night-vision goggles, flak jackets, counterbattery radars, and, more recently, sophisticated anti-tank missiles known as Javelins. Last year, Trump's White House held up a congressionally authorized military aid package to Ukraine for months. The aid was released only after lawmakers complained. House lawmakers impeached Trump in December, accusing him of trying force Zelenskiy to investigate one of Trump's challengers for the presidency. The Senate is deciding whether to remove him from office. Trump also forced out the U.S. ambassador, Marie Yovanovitch. Democrats, and many U.S. diplomats, have criticized Pompeo for not doing more to defend her. That issue came up during an interview with National Public Radio reporter Mary Louise Kelly last week, prompting Pompeo to abruptly end the interview and then berate the reporter in a private session, according to the broadcaster. The State Department then barred another NPR reporter from traveling with Pompeo on his trip. Pompeo's visit to Kyiv, where he arrives on January 30, will "highlight U.S. support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the State Department said. He is the most senior U.S. official to visit since his predecessor, Rex Tillerson, did so in July 2017. (Read more about Pompeo's Ukraine trip here.) Belarus Following Kyiv, Pompeo travels to Minsk on February 1 to meet President Lukashenka, a wily politician who for 25 years has tried to thread the needle between the demands from his massive neighbor to the east and those from the European Union, NATO, and Washington to the west. Russia's seizure of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014 spooked Lukashenka and other regional leaders. He's made several gestures seen as conciliatory toward the West, where he had been considered a pariah for cracking down on Belarusian civil society and opposition groups. The result? Washington and Minsk announced the restoration of full diplomatic ties last year, 11 years after Belarus expelled the U.S. ambassador, and most of the U.S. mission as well. In September, John Bolton, then the White House national-security adviser, visited Minsk, the highest-level U.S. official to visit in more than a decade. The Kremlin ratcheted up its pressure on Belarus. In December, Lukashenka and Putin were expected to sign an agreement, a potentially big step to flesh out a Union State that for years has existed mainly on paper. In the end, Lukashenka balked. Moscow responded by suspending oil exports to Belarus -- something that has kept the Belarusian economy afloat for years. That made Lukashenka even more defiant. "We have our own country, we're sovereign and independent," he said on January 24. "With our brains and hands, we earn what we can, we're building our own country. And we can't be a part of some other country." Pompeo's visit is seen widely as a further effort by the U.S. administration to encourage Lukashenka and nudge Belarus further out of Russia's orbit. However, days prior to his departure, a list of a new countries that would be added to an existing U.S. travel ban leaked to reporters. Belarus was among the countries on the list. The White House has neither confirmed nor denied the new list, but the issue of whether Washington was seeking to penalize Minsk, even as it tried to encourage Lukashenka, was expected to loom over the visit. Pompeo will seek "to underscore the U.S. commitment to a sovereign, independent, stable, and prosperous Belarus, and affirm our desire to normalize our bilateral relations," according to the State Department. Kazakhstan After Minsk, Pompeo will travel to Kazakhstan, where he will meet with President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev. He'll also meet with Nursultan Nazarbaev, who stepped down in March 2019 after more than 27 years as president but still holds several powerful titles and positions, including head of a strengthened Security Council, and still commands wide authority throughout the government. His eldest daughter, Darigha, amassed both wealth and clout in the latter part of her father's rule. On the day that Nazarbaev's transition to what some have dubbed president emeritus was announced, Darigha assumed the position of head of the country's upper chamber of parliament. That was seen as a sign that she may ultimately succeed her father. The official State Department announcement does not mention if Pompeo will meet with Darigha. Washington has in the past looked to Kazakhstan as a natural counterweight to Russia in Central Asia. Major U.S. oil companies have made billions in investments in joint ventures to develop Caspian Sea fields, and the country has the region's largest proven reserves of oil and gas. Like Lukashenka in Belarus, Nazarbaev was rattled by the Russian annexation of Crimea. Much of the population of northern Kazakhstan, along the border with Russia, is ethnic Russian, and there were worries that Moscow could make claims on some border territories. To date, it has not. But, as with Belarus and Ukraine, that has afforded Washington a small opportunity to nurture ties. Pompeo's meetings are intended to "reaffirm our shared commitment to peace, prosperity, and security in Central Asia," the State Department said. Uzbekistan Pompeo is scheduled to land in Tashkent on February 2 and to meet with President Mirziyoev, Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov, and other officials before departing the next day. Uzbekistan is Central Asia's most populous country, and has sizable oil and gas reserves as well. In the past, it's been seen as a partial counterweight to Russian influence in the region. It's also allied with Washington in the war in Afghanistan and the fight against radical Islamist fighters. Under the autocratic rule of Mirziyoev's predecessor, Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan was isolated from the West, particularly after the 2005 massacre of civilians in the city of Andijon. The country also gained a reputation for unyielding corruption that put it at the bottom of many rankings. Since taking office after Karimov's death in 2016, Mirziyoev has sought to cultivate new economic and political relationships -- not just with Washington but with European nations, among others, and even financial centers like Wall Street and London. He has also pushed to change the country's cotton harvest, a key source of revenue and a perennial source of concern over the use of forced labor, including child labor. His administration has also fired scores of officials -- some senior-- held over from Karimov's era. It's unclear how deep or sustainable the reform agenda is. Some of his government ministers are holdovers, and some have been suspected of involvement in past corrupt deals. His government is also locked in a very public legal fight with Gulnara Karimova, the elder daughter of the late president. She is being held in a Tashkent prison, accused of bribery inside and outside the country, as the government seeks to recover hundreds of millions of dollars from Karimova that they say belongs to the state. The changes have yielded positive press, but some rights activists say they are merely window dressing. After years of being elbowed out of the region, the State Department launched the C5+1 initiative in 2015, in part to try and counterbalance Russia's dominance. Pompeo's visit to Tashkent will include meetings with the foreign ministers of all five Central Asian nations -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan -- to "stress U.S. support for a better connected, more prosperous, and more secure Central Asia, consistent with the U.S.'s new Central Asia Strategy," the State Department said. Ukraine exports record high 15.6 mln tonnes of wheat since July 1 15:30, 29.01.20 2251 Half of the 2019 wheat harvest has already been shipped abroad. Celebrity chef Ree Drummond is showing her husband some love on Instagram. The host of Food Networks The Pioneer Woman, Drummond took to social media on Jan. 23, 2020, to celebrate the birthday of her husband Ladd Drummond. The couple lives on a ranch in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, where Drummonds cooking show is filmed. Its also where she writes her popular blog of the same name. When the 51-year-old mother of four isnt in the kitchen filming episodes of The Pioneer Woman, Drummond is shuttling her kids she and Ladd have two sons and two daughters to and from activities or doing chores on the ranch. Ree Drummond on June 6, 2017, at The Pioneer Woman Magazine Celebration with Ree Drummond | Monica Schipper/Getty Images for The Pioneer Woman Magazine Ree Drummond says her husband has the best lips in the world In what appears to be a snapshot taken by the celebrity chef herself the 51-year-old is an avid photographer and can often be seen with a camera in-hand during episodes of The Pioneer Woman taking pictures of the food she cooks or her kids and beloved dogs Drummond posted a closeup of her husband wearing his signature cowboy hat and a blue shirt with what seems to the familys sprawling ranch in the background. The Oklahoma native, who has been on the Food Network since 2011, wrote a sweet and funny message to Ladd in honor of his birthday. Drummond refers to her husband as Marlboro Man but in this particular Instagram post, she couldnt help talk up her husbands lips. Best lips in the world, Drummond captioned the picture of Ladd. Probably sensing hed get embarrassed by her statement, she followed it up with, Im sorry, but its true. She ended the birthday message with I love you, honey. Happy birthday. Drummond and her husband cooked together A day later, the celebrity chef took to Instagram yet again to share a snapshot of her and Ladd standing in their kitchen surrounded by the dishes they cooked for what appears to be a future episode of The Pioneer Woman. FWH (Filming With Husband), Drummond wrote in the caption before adding, Or I guess that could be Filming with Honey, too. Or Filming with Hunk. Or Fritos With Hummus? That wasnt on the menu, but it actually sounds kinda good She and Ladd stood by what seemed to be a chocolate birthday cake complete with candles they probably dished it out with their kids and close family and a counter full of other mouthwatering eats. She previously celebrated Ladds birthday on her blog In a birthday blog post to Ladd on Jan. 22, 2019, Drummond celebrated her husband on a more serious note. She detailed what he does for their family, everything from keeping the ranch running smoothly to the different ways he talks to their kids. She described how he wears many hats including his literal cowboy hat and those of husband and helper and father and son. Watch Drummond on The Pioneer Woman and look out for her and Ladd (and that yummy looking cake) in what we hope is a soon-to-be-aired episode of the Food Network show. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal The Taxation and Revenue Department is trying to raise awareness about an increase to a much-used tax credit for working families. Last spring, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill increasing New Mexicos Working Families Tax Credit from 10% to 17%, among other changes to the tax code. When paired with the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, the maximum value of the credits could exceed $7,600 for certain low- and moderate-income families, according to Charlie Moore, a spokesman for the state taxation and revenue department. Moore said around 200,000 New Mexicans qualified for the two tax credits, which have the same qualifications for earned income and family size. However, officials are concerned some New Mexico families who qualify for the state credit are not taking advantage of it. We think there are more out there, Moore said. The Working Families Tax Credit, originally implemented by former Gov. Bill Richardson, follows the structure laid out by the federal tax credit. To qualify, individuals must earn income and meet a series of other criteria that vary depending on their income, whether or not they have children and how many children they have. For the 2019 tax year, the maximum value of the state and federal credits ranges from $618.93 to $7,671.69, according to the state taxation and revenue department. Moore said applicants and their children must have valid social security numbers. For a full list of criteria, visit the Internal Revenue Services website. On Monday, advocates for immigrant and worker rights visited the Roundhouse to ask for the state tax credit to be extended to immigrant taxpayers, among other priorities. Separately, Moore said a new deduction for taxpayers with two or more dependants, designed to offset impacts from the Trump Administrations federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, will also go into effect this tax season. New Mexicans with dependants may take a $4,000 deduction from net income for all but one of those dependants, Moore said. Additionally, taxpayers may deduct the first $1,000 in net capital gains income or 40% of all net capital gains, depending on which is greater. The IRS began accepting individual tax returns electronically Monday. The iPhone device that Rudy Giuliani sidekick Lev Parnas handed over to House investigators to expose their interactions in Ukraine also contained search information for porn and online hookup sites, according to a new report. Parnas and his attorney handed over a trove of information to the House Intelligence committee and his notes on conversations with Giuliani and a typed letter from Giuliani to the president of Ukraine quickly became part of the record of information transmitted to the Senate for the Trump impeachment trial. The device also indicated searches to Porn Hub and a site called FreeF***BuddyTonight.com, as well as to Backpage.com, a site whose online ads the FBI shut down in 2018, it was reported Wednesday. Lev Parnas, an indicted businessman who says he worked to pressure Ukraine to investigate one of U.S. President Donald Trump's political rivals, turned over electronics to the House Intelligence Committee. Along with The searches were conducted in London, as well as West Palm Beach, where Parnas lives, as well as other areas in the state, according to the Daily Caller, which reported the information, and cited its own review of the files. As the report notes, the information on the web searches does not contain any evidence of wrongdoing by Parnas who has become a key figure in the Ukraine affair. The publication says it paints 'a more complete picture of the information' that Parnas gave the committee. Parnas went on a media tour and made stunning revelations while he and his lawyer put out pictures and video information detailing interactions with President Trump, Trump family members, and Trump associates. The president has said he doesn't know Parnas, although a video published by ABC this past weekend shows him and Trump talking about the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, whom Trump wanted to 'get rid of,' saying: 'Take her out.' The tape, which according to the Parnas camp was recorded by fellow indicted Giuliani associate Igor Fruman, was the subject of a question at trial by Sens. Kamala Harris of California and Patty Murray of Washington. The report on the web searches came as Parnas visited the Capitol during the impeachment trial, where he wants to be interviewed but so far without success by Parnas and his attorney. The indicted Parnas need to receive a judge's permission to go to Washington. Parnas has been indicted by federal prosecutors in New York. Lev Parnas goes through a security check point at the Dirksen Senate Office Building Lev Parnas, the indicted associate of U.S. President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, walks to the U.S. Capitol after arriving in Washington, U.S., January 29, 2020 Members of the media surround Lev Parnas when he arrives on Capitol Hill He couldn't enter the Senate chamber because of a GPS tracking device attached to his leg. No electronics are allowed during the trial. After he and his attorney Joseph Bondy picked up tickets from Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer's office, Bondy said his client would be watching from a 'safe' place while he watched from the Senate chamber. 'My goal is hopefully to look at the senators and have them look at me and see that we need to call witnesses. The truth needs to come out. Im here. Im one of the most important witnesses. Me and John Bolton. The two of us put all the dots together,' Parnas told reporters. Bondy did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reported web searches. Parnas pictured with Rudy Giuliani The phone Parnas provided to the House reportedly also showed searches of porn and hookup sites Igor Fruman and Lev Parnas (second and third from left) pictured with Vice President Mike Pence, President Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan.29 By Tamilla Mammadova Trend: Georgia identifies four priority areas - security, economic development and jobs, education and human capital development, as well as open governance, Georgian Prime Minister Georgi Gakharia said, Trend reports citing Georgian media. He made the remarks speaking at the Annual Development Partnership Forum, which was chaired by Sabine Machl, UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia at the Ceremonial Palace of Georgia. Representatives from international organizations and financial institutions, diplomatic corps and Georgian officials attended the forum. A series of thematic coordination meetings were planned at the Annual Development Partnership Forum and specific dates were set. According to Gakharia, until 2018, various international organizations and financial institutions allocated over $7 billion to Georgia to carry out reforms. "It is extremely important for us to achieve agreement on strategic areas that are fixed in the governments action plan, said the prime minister. Gakharia said that participation in the Open Partnership Initiative in the following years is among the priorities of the state government. He added that Georgia has carried out many reforms and continues to do so. "It is important our partners and colleagues see the countrys progress and results of the reforms and support us on this path, Gakharia said. The second part of the forum was held in the format of a round table chaired by Head of the Georgian Government Administration Natia Mezvrishvili. The participants discussed the possibility of improving the mechanisms for coordinating external assistance. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Mila61979356 Inside the Democratic Partys infamous big tent, arguments against Medicare for All tend to hit the same few notes. Citing polling, Medicare for All critics argue that the policy, popularized by Senator Bernie Sanders in 2016, will cost the party votes; that the prospect of trading private health insurance for a government-run model would run afoul of the American peoples hatred for socialism. Reality complicates these arguments. Americans may say they dislike socialism as an abstract concept, but have proved remarkably open to politicians who adopted the label, and a majority of Americans say they support Medicare for All. The partys centrists, though, believe that not only will Medicare for All fail to draw primary voters, but that it will prove itself to be political poison in a general election. Former Vice-President Joe Biden has proposed a public option as an alternative; he, along with Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, have all attacked Sanders and Senator Elizabeth Warren from the right. But new research suggests that moderates may be overstating the political risks of Medicare for All, at least during the primaries. Seventy-seven percent of Democrats in South Carolina say that they strongly or somewhat support expanding Medicare so that it becomes the primary insurer for all Americans, according to a a poll produced by Data for Progress on behalf of Medicare for All NOW, an advocacy group founded by former Cigna executive Wendell Potter. Support for this definition of broadening Medicare to cover everyone was highest among black Democrats and among voters aged 55 to 64: 82 percent of both groups said they supported the plan. In a memo released to members of the press, the left-leaning Data for Progress says it put two related questions before 767 likely South Carolina primary voters. The first, which frames Medicare as the principal, but not the exclusive, insurer for all Americans, tracks closest to the definition of a public option or with Buttigiegs Medicare for All Who Want It plan. Sixty-five percent of Americans said they supported a public option in a 2019 poll released by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Medicare for All was less popular 53 percent of Americans said they supported it. Even so, the Data for Progress poll suggests that voters are receptive to the idea. When pollsters described a version of Medicare for All that would put everyone onto a single, government-run plan that would have no premiums, no co-pays, and no deductibles for all healthcare services, 77 percent of the states Democrats again said they would they would support such a policy. Though the top-line result for both questions is the same, the breakdown for each reveals some differences. Fifty-seven percent said they strongly supported Medicare as the nations primary insurer; 20 percent said they somewhat supported the proposal. By contrast, 49 percent strongly supported the mainstream definition of Medicare for All, and 28 percent somewhat supported it. Black support for the second, Sanders-like version was also somewhat lower, though not by much; 80 percent still strongly or somewhat supported it. These distinctions dont alter the overarching message of the poll. Medicare for All isnt a poison pill, at least not in South Carolina. Biden still enjoys a commanding lead over Sanders, his closest competitor, in the pivotal state, but the democratic socialist may not be completely doomed. Trump supporters stand on the boardwalk watching protestors before the President's rally in Wildwood, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Carrying signs and bundled up in winter coats and hats, a group of about 30 grassroots organizations gathered at the edge of the Wildwood boardwalk Tuesday afternoon, just hours before President Donald Trump was set to take the stage inside the convention center. The groups, led by Cape May County Indivisible, were there for what they called a peaceful protest against Trump and Congressman Jeff Van Drew, the U.S. Representative in the Jersey Shore district who switched to the Republican party late last year. Martin Luther King III gave the keynote speech. "I think this is a representation of America," King told the protesters. "Anything that's for unity, Im a part of. Anything that is talking about dividing and creating wedges I dont want to be a part of that," added King. Amy Kennedy, who is seeking the Democratic nomination against Van Drew, also spoke. "This is a good start. I want to see these crowds get bigger and bigger as we build up to the election," Kennedy told NJ Advance Media afterward. Not far from where the protestors gathered, some Trump supporters were chanting, "Four more years." Only 7,500 were expected to be admitted inside. The rest will be able to view Trump's rally from the large screens set up in the parking lot outside the convention center and in Fox Park across the street. Don't Edit People protest President Donald Trump's "Keep America Great Rally" in Wildwood, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit People protest President Donald Trump's "Keep America Great Rally" in Wildwood, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit People protest President Donald Trump's "Keep America Great Rally" in Wildwood, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit People protest President Donald Trump's "Keep America Great Rally" in Wildwood, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Don't Edit People protest President Donald Trump's "Keep America Great Rally" in Wildwood, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Trump supporters stand on the boardwalk watching protestors before the President's rally in Wildwood, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit People protest President Donald Trump's "Keep America Great Rally" in Wildwood, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit People protest President Donald Trump's "Keep America Great Rally" in Wildwood, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit People protest President Donald Trump's "Keep America Great Rally" in Wildwood, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Don't Edit Supporters of President Donald Trump stand on the boardwalk watching people protest the President before the "Keep America Great Rally" in Wildwood, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit People protest President Donald Trump's "Keep America Great Rally" in Wildwood, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit People protest President Donald Trump's "Keep America Great Rally" in Wildwood, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit People protest President Donald Trump's "Keep America Great Rally" in Wildwood, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit People protest President Donald Trump as his supporters stand on the boardwalk during the "Keep America Great Rally" in Wildwood, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Don't Edit People protest President Donald Trump's "Keep America Great Rally" in Wildwood, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit People protest President Donald Trump's "Keep America Great Rally" in Wildwood, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit People protest President Donald Trump's "Keep America Great Rally" in Wildwood, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Trump supporters stand on the boardwalk watching protestors before the President's rally in Wildwood, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit More Trump coverage here: Thousands in line for Trumps rally in Wildwood Trump often exaggerates crowds at his rallies. Heres what happened in the past. Roadwork could snarl traffic on bridges near Trumps rally in Wildwood Banned items, bathrooms, food. Everything to know about Trumps Wildwood rally. Don't Edit NORRISTOWN Describing him as the driving force behind events that ended with a fatal stabbing, a judge sent the Norristown man who wielded the knife to prison for up to 36 years. You were the catalyst. You were the driving force. You were in the drivers seat of violence. The words that come to mind for me are cold and angry and senseless, Montgomery County Judge Wendy Demchick-Alloy addressed Zariyus Z. Johnson as she sentenced him to 18 to 36 years in prison in connection with the 3:55 p.m. Sept. 23, 2018, fatal stabbing of 41-year-old Derrick Lynch during an altercation in the 500 block of DeKalb Street. Johnson, 21, of the 600 block of Walnut Street, showed no emotion as the judge said an alleged dust up he had with Lynch several days prior didnt give him a right to suit up with a weapon and confront Lynch, who was unarmed. You set things in motion, and for what? How cold and senseless this was. Perhaps this could have been a fair fight but you werent going to let that happen, Demchick-Alloy scolded Johnson. Johnson, who was 20 at the time of the killing, pleaded guilty to charges of third-degree murder, possessing an instrument of crime and conspiracy to commit third-degree murder, which is a killing committed with malice. Johnsons co-conspirator, Nafees Frazier, 20, of the 500 block of Green Street, Norristown, formerly of Pottstown, previously pleaded guilty third-degree murder and conspiracy and was sentenced to an identical term in prison for his role in the slaying. With the charges, prosecutors alleged Johnson initially encountered Lynch at the corner of DeKalb and Marshall streets and after an exchange of words sucker punched Lynch. Johnson then ran inside nearby La Romas Restaurant, where Frazier was waiting, and said, Come on lets get him. Both men then left the restaurant together and chased Lynch to a nearby parking lot where the fatal attack occurred, working together to prevent Lynch from escaping, according to testimony. According to prosecutors, the fatal attack in broad daylight on a Sunday afternoon stemmed from a minor feud three days earlier. Assistant District Attorney Allison Ruth alleged Frazier brandished a knife during the attack and handed it to Johnson who plunged the knife into Lynchs head, neck and chest, severing his jugular vein and penetrating his liver. The defendant is the one who instigated everything. It doesnt get any more serious than homicide, said Ruth, who argued for a sentence of 25 to 50 years in prison against Johnson. He is a grave risk to the people of Montgomery County. County Detective William Mitchell Jr. testified a knife was recovered at the scene and genetic tests on the handle uncovered DNA of which Johnson was the major contributor. Mitchell added there were several video surveillance cameras in the area that captured the killing on tape. As Mitchell narrated the footage that was played in the courtroom by co-prosecutor Roderick Fancher, members of Lynchs family watched with horror and wept. My dad was like my everythingthe one person I could go to, to talk about anything. He was my only hope, Lynchs 16-year-old son said during emotional and tearful testimony. Ill never see my dad ever again. Its not fair. When I cry, I cry alone. I just cry and cry and cry. Demchick-Alloy characterized the teenager as courageous for speaking in court and facing his fathers killer. That took strength. Thats a powerful young man. That is an honorable young man, said Demchick-Alloy, referring to the teenager, adding the pain and loss expressed by Lynchs relatives was palpable. I hope youre haunted every day by my brother. I hope you see my brothers blood on your hands every day, an emotional Ericka Davis, Lynchs sister, addressed Johnson in court. Hunting a person down, it wasnt called for. You gutted him like an animal, like his life didnt matter. Cheryl Smith, Lynchs aunt, said there was no reason to bring a knife to a fistfight. There was no reason to kill him. Other relatives called Johnson a coward and a punk. Calling the incident tragic, defense lawyer James Lyons asked the judge to sentence Johnson to no more than the term handed to Frazier, arguing Johnson is capable of rehabilitation. Lyons said Johnson was bullied by peers as a child, at 13 suffered the loss of his father in a motorcycle crash and suffered from post-traumatic stress and anxiety. What he did here should never have happened. He needs counselingso when he gets out hell be a different human being, Lyons argued. Johnson did not address the courtroom. However, in a statement to a presentence investigator that was read in court Johnson said, I own up to my participation. I apologize to the family living with the death of their relative. The judge characterized Johnsons statement as hollow. The investigation began when Norristown police were dispatched to the 500 block of DeKalb Street for a report of a stabbing. Arriving officers found Lynch suffering from multiple stab wounds and he was transported to Mercy Suburban Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. A blue handled folding knife was located in the grassy area near the victim, Mitchell and Norristown Detective Stephen Sowell wrote in the arrest affidavit. An autopsy determined Lynch died from multiple stab wounds and the manner of death was ruled homicide. Prosecutors alleged Lynch was stabbed at least three times, once in the head, once in the neck and once in the torso. Multiple witnesses positively identified the assailants in photo line-ups. New Delhi, Jan 29 : The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) on Wednesday launched two police-related, citizen-centric services on the Crime and CCTNS platform which will help people in searching for missing persons and generating vehicle NOC (No Objection Certificates). It is the first time that these services -- 'Missing Person Search' and 'Generate Vehicle NOC' -- are being launched centrally while such services were being provided through the state citizen portals so far. These services can be accessed through 'digitalpolicecitizenservices.gov.in' portal or through a link in the existing 'Digital Police Portal'. Intelligence Bureau Director Arvind Kumar presided over the launch of these services. NCRB Director Ram Phal Pawar, while addressing the gathering, said: "Citizens can search for their missing kin against the national database of recovered unidentified found persons or unidentified dead bodies from their homes. This will hugely benefit relatives of missing persons and save them from running around pillar to post, as all such details including photos are available in Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System (NCRB) and will now be accessible to citizens through this portal at their convenience." In this user-friendly search, a citizen may enter search criteria in the portal and the system will search for it from the available national database across the country and will display the result immediately with photograph and other details, he said. About Generate Vehicle NOC, the NCRB Director said that it allows citizens to ascertain the status of a vehicle before its second-hand purchase, as to whether it is suspicious or clean from police records. "This search could be made against national database based on vehicle's details. One can generate and download the relevant NOC required by the RTO before the transfer of ownership." A bank can continue to buy group insurance covers with any number of insurance companies for the insurance needs of its customers. The insurance regulator on Tuesday issued guidelines to protect the interest of customers of merging public sector banks covered under group health policies. Mumbai: The insurance regulator on Tuesday issued guidelines to protect the interest of customers of merging public sector banks covered under group health policies. The guidelines stated that the underlying group health insurance policies of customers of the merged banks will have to be serviced by the respective insurance companies which issued the policies till the end of policy period. It asked insurance companies to make suitable arrangements with the acquiring banks to this effect. The government has announced merger of 10 public sector banks (PSBs)Punjab National Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India; Union Bank, Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank; Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank; Indian Bank and Allahabad Bankunder four separate entities. The existing bancassurance regulations allow a bank to tie up with three life, three non-life and three health insurance companies. The regulator also said the arrangements of the merged banks can be continued with the respective insurance companies for a period of 12 months from the date of merger, subject to the willingness of the acquiring bank to function as the corporate agent for the respective insurance companies. Consequent to the merger of few PSBs, in order to protect the interests of the group insurance policyholders of the merged banks, the following guidelines are issued, the Insurance Regulatory and Develop-ment Authority of India (Irdai) said. A bank can continue to buy group insurance covers with any number of insurance companies for the insurance needs of its customers. The norms also said that at the end of the current policy period of the group insurance policy of the merged bank, the acquiring bank at its option may continue with the same group insurance policy with the same insurance company, for the customers of the merged bank. The acquiring bank may simultaneously continue to have insuranc coverage for its existing customers with its existing insurance company. The acquiring bank can also offer this insurance coverage to the customers of the merged bank with the consent of its insurer. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 02:38:27|Editor: yan Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Sporadic clashes between the security forces and anti-government demonstrators continued on Tuesday in Baghdad and other cities in central and southern Iraq, security sources said. In the capital Baghdad, clashes erupted in the city center's al-Khalani Square, where the riot police used tear gas canisters and fired bullets in the air to disperse dozens of protesters, leaving 15 of them wounded and suffocated, an Interior Ministry official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. Meanwhile, hundreds of demonstrators gathered at al-Tahrir Square, the epicenter of Iraq's anti-government protests, showing persistence in achieving their demands for reform in the political system, anti-corruption and better services through demonstrations. In Nasriyah, capital city of Dhi Qar Province, hundreds of demonstrators, including college students, rallied and blocked most bridges over the Euphrates River that bisects the city, a provincial security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. The protests have also continued since the morning in Diwaniyah, capital city of al-Qadsiyah Province, as well as in the provinces of Basra, Maysan, Wasit and Karbala, according to local media reports. In the holy Shiite city of Najaf, 160 km south of Baghdad, hundreds of demonstrators rallied in the city center and issued a statement that demanded the nomination of a new prime minister who meets the demands of the demonstrators. The demonstrators also demanded the parliament end the approval of the electoral law and set a date for early elections within six months, according to the statement. Mass anti-government demonstrations have continued across Iraq since early October 2019, demanding comprehensive reform, fight against corruption, better public services and more job opportunities. New Delhi, Jan 29 : Ten days ahead of Delhi polls, the Supreme Court on Wednesday began hearing on the turf war between Delhi government and Centre on the jurisdiction to transfer and post bureaucrats in accordance with expertise to streamline governance, but the latter's counsel did not show up. The transfer and posting of bureaucrats is a major bone of contention between the Arvind Kejriwal government and the Centre. The issue gains significance, as Delhi goes to the polls on February 8, without sorting this issue, which virtually cripples various initiatives of the government. Senior advocate K.V. Viswanathan, representing Delhi government, said without the transfer powers, it is "commissioning an artist without limb." A bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and Surya Kant during the brief hearing on the matter were surprised by the absence of any senior counsel from the Centre to make submissions on this issue. "Where are the Union lawyers...we need to settle this at the earliest," the Chief Justice inquired a few times, but there was no response for a while. Later the counsel informed the court the senior lawyer concerned is not available. Then, the bench posted the matter after two weeks. In February 2019, the Supreme Court delivered its verdict on six contentious issues on the division of powers between the Delhi government and the Centre represented by Lt Governor (LG). The Delhi government was given powers in three area -- Appointment of special public prosecutors or law officers; fixing land revenue rate, which was earlier with the LG; and power to appoint or deal with the electricity commission or board. The Centre was handed over Delhi Anti Corruption Branch (ACB), and the Centre has the power to appoint Enquiry Commission. The undecided issue, which was referred to a larger bench, was control over service matters involving transfers and posting of officers. Viswanathan vehemently contended before the three-judge bench, "Today, I cannot transfer officer as per expertise, for example an officer having expertise and practical exposure cannot be transferred to the department concerned. I also cannot set up cadre and services (which affects streamlining good governance)." Viswanathan also cited the difference of opinion in the two-judge division bench, comprising Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice Ashok Bhushan, and urged the top court to resolve this. Justice Sikri said transfer and posting of secretaries and heads of departments can be done by the LG, while in case of officer of Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS) and Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Police Service (DANIPS), the council of ministers will send the file to the LG. Justice Bhushan, however, differed with this opinion, and said under the law, the Delhi government has no power to exercise control over services. Since this issue is undecided, Delhi will go to the polls without fixing a crucial element to streamline good governance in the national capital. (Sumit Saxena can be contacted at sumit.s@ians.in) This is the latest in my occasional TrumPoems chronicling the rule of President Donald J. Trump, based, as always, on his acts and words. Food pantry network gives thanks To the editor: The Midland County Emergency Food Pantry Network held its first mobile food pantry of 2020 on Jan. 23 at the Midland Civic Arena, located on Fast Ice Drive. This food giveaway was funded by the Lions Club of Midland. Fifty-eight volunteers served 258 families (728 individuals) with food purchased from the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan. The 15,232 pounds of food included rice, apples, frozen meats, canned fruits and vegetables, cereal, milk, beverages, snacks, pastries and breads. The network is very grateful to the many donors of food, money and time throughout the year to the network's mission of "Always food in every home." Midland County residents in (financial) need of food and personal care items during the year may call the network number of 989-486-9393 to leave your name and phone number. The second MFP in 2020 is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located on the corner of West Sugnet and Eastman roads in Midland. Thanks again to the members of the Lions Club of Midland and to the staff of the Midland Civic Arena for their partnering support. SALLY ANN SUTTON Midland County EFPN Reader responds to letter to the editor To the editor: A rebuttal to Indi Heroland's letter, "Stopping the slaughter," in the Jan. 22 paper. The killing of animals is recorded from the earliest of times. God provided coverings of skin for Adam and Eve. God accepted Abel's fat portion of an offering rather than Cain's offer. Furthermore, there is nothing tastier than a steak dinner. What is more contemptuous to God's fifth commandment is the deprecate act of elimination of human life of the unborn by abortion. This alarming practice has eliminated millions of God's creations since the Supreme Court's ill-thought 1973 decree legalizing abortion. Satan has entered our courts in the most devious ways. Pray we return our behavior to God's propitious teachings of love for all humankind. JOE E. BENES Gladwin Bhopal gas tragedy: SC to hear Centre's plea for additional fund today India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Jan 29: Thirty-three years after the Bhopal gas tragedy, survivors are still fighting for adequate compensation and proper medical treatment for ailments caused by the toxic leak. The Supreme Court will on Wednesday hear Centre's plea, seeking Rs 7,844 crore as additional fund from successor firms of US-based Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) for giving compensation to the victims of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, after one of the judges offered to recuse himself from dealing with the issue. The matter came up for hearing before a five-judge bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra who said that Justice S Ravindra Bhat has "some difficulty" in hearing the matter. xpressing his unwillingness to be part of the bench to hear the matter, Justice Bhat said, "I had appeared for the Union of India in the matter when Union had sought review." 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy activist Abdul Jabbar passes away The bench, also comprising justices Indira Banerjee, Vineet Saran and M R Shah, said that Chief Justice of India S A Bobde would take a call on the composition of the bench to hear the matter. "We will not take it up today. We are waiting for CJI's order," the bench said, adding, "He (Justice Bhat) has some difficulty. Let us wait till evening today". The counsel appearing in the matter told the bench that they have no difficulty if Justice Bhat would be part of the bench. However, as per list of business for Wednesday, which was uploaded on the apex court's website, the matter has been listed for hearing before the same bench. The UCC, now owned by Dow Chemicals, gave a compensation of USD 470 million (Rs 715 crore at the time of settlement in 1989) after the toxic gas leak from the Union Carbide factory on the intervening night of December 2 and 3, 1984 killed over 3,000 people and affected 1.02 lakh more. Nirbhaya Case: Convict Akshay Kumar Singh files curative petition in SC | Oneindia News The bench was scheduled to hear the curative petition filed by the Centre seeking a direction to Union Carbide and other firms for Rs 7,844 crore for additional funds over and above the earlier settlement amount of USD 470 million for paying compensation to the Bhopal Gas Tragedy victims. Over 3,000 people had died in the tragedy due to release of methyl isocyanate gas. At the outset, when the bench assembled, Justice Mishra said that Justice Bhat has a difficulty in hearing the matter. "Let's wait till evening today. Let us wait for the CJI's order on whether we will hear it in some other combination. We will get to know," Justice Mishra said. The bench asked the parties to come on Wednesday before it at 10.30 am. The survivors of the 1984 tragedy have been fighting for long for adequate compensation and proper medical treatment for ailments caused by the toxic leak. The Centre had filed the curative petition in the apex court in December 2010 for enhanced compensation. UN report terms Bhopal gas tragedy as among world's "major industrial accidents" On June 7, 2010, a Bhopal court had convicted seven executives of Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) to two years' imprisonment in connection with the incident. The then UCC chairman Warren Anderson was the prime accused in the case but did not appear for the trial. On February 1, 1992, the Bhopal CJM court had declared him an absconder. The courts in Bhopal had issued non-bailable warrants against Anderson twice -- in 1992 and 2009. Anderson died in September 2014. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, January 29, 2020, 11:38 [IST] KYIV -- Ukraine's State Migration Service (DMS) says it never ordered the deportation of Azerbaijani opposition blogger Elvin Isayev to Baku. Azerbaijan's State Migration Service said on December 14 that Isayev was wanted by the Prosecutor-General's Office of Grave Crimes and had been deported two days earlier for "violating Ukrainian migration laws." The DMS told RFE/RL on January 29 that it had made "no decision to forcibly return or forcibly expel Elvin Isayev." Upon arrival in Azerbaijan, Isayev was placed in pretrial detention based on a Baku court ruling from August 22. Azerbaijan has not said on what grounds he was arrested and what charges he is facing. His deportation came ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's December 16-18 visit to Baku, where he met with President Ilham Aliyev. On December 23, the Ukrainian Prosecutor-General's Office informed RFE/RL that it had not approved Isayev's deportation. Isayev in 1998 moved to Russia, where he called Aliyev a "dictator" on his blog, while also writing about corruption in Azerbaijan. A court in St. Petersburg on August 26 ruled to expel Isayev and strip him of the Russian citizenship that he had acquired in 2001. Isayev was subsequently placed in a temporary jail for foreign citizens. His deportation to Azerbaijan in September was suspended based on an interim measure of the European Court of Human rights called "rule 39." That month he moved to Ukraine. On December 12, Ukrainian media started reporting about Isayev's disappearance from Kyiv, including a dead signal with the mobile phone he was using. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 04:34:38|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close CAIRO, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Egypt Tuesday called on the Palestinians and the Israelis to "carefully study" the peace vision announced by U.S. President Donald Trump earlier in the day. Cairo urges the two sides to start U.S.-sponsored talks to put forward their comments and vision on the U.S. peace plan so as to "reach an agreement that meets the aspirations of the two peoples in achieving a comprehensive and just peace," the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement. Egypt appreciates the continued efforts made by the U.S. government to reach a comprehensive and just peace for the Palestinian cause, the statement said. Trump revealed the long-awaited political aspect of his controversial Middle East peace plan, calling for a two-state solution while recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided capital." The U.S. President outlined the 80-page plan at the White House along with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying it proposes a "realistic" two-state solution. He said the new plan recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's "undivided capital," while claiming that the Palestinians' capital will include areas of East Jerusalem. The Trump administration has postponed several times the publication of its Deal of the Century for peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, a proposal that has been criticized repeatedly by the Palestinians who had little engagement in it. The Palestinian Authority said earlier in the day that the new U.S. Middle East peace plan aims to establish an isolated Palestinian entity in the Gaza Strip. Washington's role as an Israeli-Palestinian conflict mediator has been questioned with the Trump administration's pro-Israeli policies in the past three years such as recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital, moving the U.S. Embassy to the city, and slashing hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars in humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. The man responsible for the nations borders has defended a plan to transfer Australians from China to quarantine facilities on Christmas Island. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said people evacuated from the Chinese city at the epicentre of the deadly coronavirus would have access to medical treatment while under quarantine for up to 14 days. Dutton said the plan was also designed to keep the broader population safe. I cant clear a hospital in Sydney or Melbourne to accommodate 600 people. We dont have a facility otherwise that can take this number of people, he told the Nine Network on Thursday. I want to make sure that we keep Australians safe. Dutton said the plan was hatched in consultation with Australias chief medical officer, who receives frequent advice from the World Health Organisation. Australian diplomats are continuing negotiations with Chinese authorities to clear the way for the operation. More than 600 Australian citizens in Wuhan, where the deadly virus began, have registered for advice or assistance. Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese questioned the motivation for utilising Christmas Island. I think that it is unclear whether that is motivated by a genuine belief that is the only option, Mr Albanese told ABC radio. Or whether the embarrassment of the government opening Christmas Island having a husband, a wife from Biloela and their four-year-old and two-year-old daughters there at the cost of tens of billions of dollars. They need to be seen to be doing something at Christmas Island other than holding a press conference for Scott Morrison. Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne said it was a very complex health crisis. In the process of working on the public health and protection of all Australians, were also considering what we are able to do for those isolated in Wuhan, she said. The minister sought to alleviate concerns of Australians stuck in Wuhan about the standard of the Christmas Island facilities. Appropriate care will most definitely be provided and I can assure all Australians of that, but families will make their own decisions. Qantas has offered its aircraft for use in the evacuation, which is a joint operation with New Zealand. The government has confirmed those evacuated will have to contribute financially to the trip. China has so far logged more than 6000 cases of the respiratory illness and more than 130 deaths, mainly in Wuhan. New Delhi, Jan 29 : Indian passenger carriers Air India and IndiGo on Wednesday said that they will suspend some flight services to mainland China and Hong Kong owing to the outbreak of Coronavirus. Accordingly, IndiGo will suspend two of its flight services to China, including Hong Kong, from February 1. Similarly, Air India has cancelled its flight to Shanghai from January 31 to February 14. At present, Air India operates flights to Shanghai and Hong Kong. Currently, IndiGo operates four services to China and one to Hong Kong. IndiGo's flights connect New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Bangalore to destinations in China and Hong Kong. "Due to China travel restrictions, we have seen a high number of cancellations from China on our Delhi-Chengdu route and vice-a-versa," IndiGo said in a statement. "Therefore, we are suspending our flights between Delhi and Chengdu from February 1, 2020 until February 20, 2020. We are also suspending our Bengaluru-Hong Kong flight effective February 1, 2020." According to IndiGo, these are purely temporary and precautionary measures. "We understand that these measures will cause inconvenience to our customers and we will be refunding the full amount to the impacted passengers," the airline said. "We are in close touch with the relevant government authorities and we thank them and our partners in China for all the help and support that they have extended so far." Besides, the airline said that for now it will continue to operate the Kolkata-Guangzhou flight, which will be monitored on a daily basis. "And for our operating crew, we are ensuring that they return to India on the inbound flights without any layover in China," IndiGo said. Health ministry in its advisory has suggested to carry out only essential travel to China. Industry insiders say that services to Hong Kong might be completely suspended in the coming days. On its part, SpiceJet has waived cancellation, change fees for all flights to and from Hong Kong between January 24 to February 24. Additionally, international major airlines have either reduced or suspended their operations to China. European aviation agency EASA has also issued a set of precautions for airlines operating to and from China. The new virus, which is of the same genre as SARS of 2003, was first reported in WHO Disease outbreak news on January 5 in China's Wuhan. Till now it has progressively spread across many countries. However, the new virus has spread at a much faster pace than the 2003 SARS epidemic. In a bid to curb the spread of the virus, Chinese authorities have closed transportation services across many parts of the country, including Wuhan. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Four Vietnamese who recently returned from China through a land border gate in the northern province of Lao Cai have been put in quarantine after they showed symptoms of being infected with the novel coronavirus (nCoV). Three of the patients were suffering a fever while going through the Lao Cai International Border Gate. The other was detected with high body temperature by Chinese authorities. After entering Vietnam on Sunday and Monday, all four Vietnamese nationals have been quarantined at Lao Cai General Hospital, said Nguyen Van Suu, director of the provincial Center for Disease Control. Samples taken from the four patients have been sent for testing. Vietnam is among many countries with confirmed infected cases after a pneumonia outbreak, caused by nCoV - a new strain of the coronavirus family that also caused SARS and MERS, first surfaced in Wuhan City in December 2019. According to Vietnams health ministry, over 6,000 cases of the novel coronavirus infection have been reported in 17 countries and territories, resulting in 132 deaths as of Wednesday morning. In Vietnam, among the suspected cases, 25 have tested negative for nCoV and 35 are still isolated. The health ministry said on Tuesday 28-year-old Chinese Li Zichao, one of the first two nCoV-infected patients confirmed in Vietnam last week, had recovered from the disease. The provincial tourism department of Lao Cai on Monday asked local travel companies to temporarily stop taking tourists to and from China through its land border gate to prevent the spread of the deadly virus. Lao Cai shares its northern border with Chinas Yunnan Province. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 29 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: The plane of Kazakhstan's Air Astana airline company has returned to Kazakhstan instead of landing in Baku city, a representative of Air Astana told Trend. According to the official, the reason for the plane's return to Kazakhstan was icing and it is not linked to coronavirus outbreak. "The plane implementing flight on Nur-Sultan - Baku route on Jan.24, 2020 turned around while in the air due to the technical reason (failure in the anti-icing system)," the official said. The landing of the plane was carried out as usual. Established in 2001, Air Astana company is one of the largest airline companies in Kazakhstan. Currently, Air Astana operates a fleet of 34 aircrafts and over 60 domestic and international routes. The government has published an estimate of Ukraine's population. It was not a standard census, but rather an "electronic" one. The count says the population stands at 37 million. It's 15 million down from the previous figure. What do these numbers mean and will the Cabinet of Ministers change economic plans due to population decline? The government released data on the population of Ukraine as of December 1, 2019. It's 37,289,000 people, excluding the annexed Crimea and the occupied territories of Donbas. Thus, over 28 years of independence, it's 15 million down. In 1991, there were more than 52 million of us. The current "census" is the second one. The first one was held in 2001 when 48.457 million people lived in the country. Presenting the calculations, Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers Dmytro Dubilet reported on some more data. So, 3.7 million people live in Kyiv, of the total population of the country 15% are children, about 10% are people of early working age, 44% are of primary working age, 14% are of mature working age, and over 65 years old there's 6 million people. The current population estimate was counted in a non-standard, "electronic" way. Three mechanisms were used. But, according to Dubilet, "the maximum margin was 2.86% ... In order to make effective management decisions, greater accuracy is not needed." Information was collected as follows: firstly, from databases provided by mobile operators; secondly, with the help of the "Christmas tree" principle distribution by sex and age, for which the data of the State Statistics Committee, the Pension Fund and electronic registers were used, then they were extrapolated through age and sex; thirdly, the data of the State Register of individuals tax payers were counted. But the work did not end there. "We will work further in order to distribute this information among individual settlements. Next, we want to obtain the age and sex distribution of the population in certain regions, in individual settlements, and districts. Further we will get information on incomes," Dubilet said about the future plans of the government. In addition, he said, within one to two years it is planned to launch a single register of Ukrainians, which will be verified. Dubilet does not see the need for an official census: "The census, if we conduct it (we will still have discussions on this issue), will cost the state about UAH 3-4 billion. And, if we did this, we would get the result next year." The Minister is convinced that, as such, the census "will not be effective" for the state. "I will prove to other representatives of the authorities that, probably, we will not go this way," he concluded. The actions of the government are quite consistent. At the end of November 2019, Dubilet said that the census was scheduled for late 2020, almost 100,000 interviewers with tablets were supposed to go do to door. UAH 3.4 billion was provided from the state budget. But even then, he said that conducting a census in this format is an "inadmissible luxury" for Ukraine, and therefore it was decided to conduct an "electronic" census to save UAH2-3 billion. And that's what's been done. According to international economic rules, a census plays an important role in the development of socio-economic policies of the state. It is held in almost all countries as part of the World Population and Housing Census Program, implemented in accordance with the decisions of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The UN recommends conducting universal censuses at least once every 10 years. With such frequency they are carried out in the USA, Great Britain, China, Germany, and France. In Canada, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, censuses are held every five years. Based on the data obtained, social programs are formed, long-term plans are drawn up for the construction of clinics, kindergartens, the volume of housing stock and other infrastructure, and the creation of jobs. In general, the matter is important. The census has finally been held, although in a non-standard format. Can the figures received by the government be trusted and what do they mean for the future of Ukraine? New calculations and estimates The first thing that experts say is that, taking into account the government estimate, gross domestic product per capita has grown in the range of $500-$1,000. "It's $4,200. This is the actual GDP per capita for 2019. Not $3,700, as some economists thought. Plus $500 from the remote census," says Dmytro Boyarchuk, director of Case Ukraine analytical group. Coordinator with the expert platform of the National Bank, Andriy Blinov, estimated the growth of the indicator at $1,000, taking into account the population and the effect of hryvnia strengthening. "After revaluing and specifying the population numbers, Ukraines nominal GDP per capita jumped from about $3,100 in 2018 to about $4,100 in 2019," the expert notes. A number of experts believe that the announced data can serve as a basis for reviewing plenty of projects, especially in the social sphere, as well as plans to create new jobs. And now there is reason to reduce the number of people's deputies, which the pro-presidential party Servant of the People has proposed to do even earlier. The current number of parliamentarians, 450, was established based on the fact that the population of Ukraine is more than 50 million. But there are other opinions. Economic expert Oleh Pendzin doubts the reliability of the figures, and as for the possible government plans in view of the census, they do not need to be detailed as economic problems have long been known. This is what we need to address. "Final reliable census figures are provided only by the census according to Eurostat norms. What we have done is informal statistical study. The second question the assessment coincided with our expectations. We made an alternative calculation for the consumption of a number of food products, for example, of sugar. It turned out that the population is about 36 million. But we still need to be aware of the volume of illegal labor migration. What can change in government plans? Everyone speaks of the need to restore Ukrainian industry. What data may be missing here?" the expert noted. Economist Oleksiy Kushch also doubts the correctness of the government assessment. "There are doubts about the very figure, 37 million. It is conditional and raises more questions than it answers. It is not clear how it is calculated and in what analytical studies it can be used in. The methodology of this census is adapted to the collection of information from mobile operators, therefore, the study cannot be applied either in international ratings or in international calculations that would characterize Ukraine. For example, the simplest discrepancies: according to the State Statistics Service, in 2013, approximately 45 million people lived in Ukraine. We take the natural population decline or the so-called natural population movement the difference between fertility and mortality: in 2013, deaths exceeded the birth rate by 160,000, in recent years this indicator has increased to 250,000, not only due to mortality, but against the background of declining birth rates. Over the past five years, Ukraine has lost approximately one million two hundred - one million three hundred thousand people in natural movement alone. Ukraine lost another two million due to the annexation of Crimea and about four million as a result of the occupation of part of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. According to the statistics of the so-called DPR and LPR, in the first there are two million three hundred thousand of the implicit population, in the second one million seven hundred thousand. The total loss can be estimated at approximately seven million three hundred thousand people. We subtract this amount from 45 million and get something below 38 million. And this is without taking into account labor migration, which today amounts to several million people. It turns out that the figures of the Cabinet, in comparison with the proposed expert method, are incorrect. In fact, according to our calculation, provided that not a single person left Ukraine for work on an ongoing basis, there should be much fewer than 37 million people. And this is despite the fact that the stats agency's figures are correct. Most likely, they were overestimated. We can talk about 35 million now, at best," the expert explained. As for the statements about the lack of the need for a standard population census, Oleksiy Kushch notes that this census would give a huge amount of information in terms of the economic, social, cultural, linguistic, and ethnic status of the population. "It would also have shown a natural decline in population. Unfortunately, neither the previous nor the incumbent authorities are ready to show a true story, and this is a big problem. The state is interested in the truth if it plans to implement an effective, balanced socio-economic policy. If you look at any macroeconomic models that imply the development of the country, they have two main components production factors: on the one hand, these are capital investments, fixed assets, including material resources, on the other hand, there's human capital. To assess the latter, as well as the overall development of the economy, it is necessary to see the structure of human capital in terms of education, skills, etc. At least you need to understand the exact population numbers. The figure, which was published by the Cabinet, has not yet given an answer to any of those questions. So it turns out that the government is not able to form effective economic parametric models on the basis of which economic development can be predicted. And the reluctance to find out the truth suggests that the government, by and large, is not going to develop such models, moving like a log along the river stream. Their model is only the speed of the current and the direction of this current. Therefore, all the assurances by Oleksiy Honcharuk about the growth rate of 40% over five years are unfounded, such a result can be achieved only with high-quality modeling of economic processes in the country," said Kushch. In his opinion, on the basis of new data reducing the population to 37 million, Ukraine will not grow in any international ratings. The only indicator that can improve is gross domestic product per capita. It will grow by about 15%. But it will increase within the bottom basket of economies. "There are the poorer countries where the per capita GDP is in the range of $5,000 per year, dynamically developing countries from $5,000 to $10,000, and there's a pool of developed economies and "bordering" countries, for example, Turkey, with that starting from $10,000. We had $3,500, and now it will be $4,000 or so. Therefore, no major improvement in ratings is expected. Moreover, our government, with the strengthening of the hryvnia, came up with a unique way to increase GDP in 2019, the currency equivalent of the gross product grew by strengthening the hryvnia by 15% plus a deflator, which was at a level of 10% to 15%, so here is a GDP growth of 30% in dollar terms. It's all thanks to only monetary manipulations that cannot be stable in the long run," the expert noted. As for the new jobs, in his opinion, we did not have this problem no matter the census since the problem is not about the number of jobs, but labor poverty. In Ukraine it is easy to find work for UAH 4,000-5,000, but the problem is to get by with this money and feed the family. "I believe that the government should have the main task instead of creating new jobs, they must overcome labor poverty. This can be done by creating mechanisms to increase the welfare of Ukrainians," said Kushch. He also believes that the government should now work on the inclusiveness of GDP, as the gross product is distributed among the main social groups. "GDP may grow both per capita and in dollar terms, but the population will not notice this if redistribution occurs in favor of certain financial and industrial groups and creditors. This is what the Ukrainian authorities need to think about, rather than artificially raising GDP and population stats using manipulative, purely mechanical tools," summed up Kushch. Anyway, the figure of 37 million suggests that Ukraine is increasingly falling into the demographic hole. And this is a threat to the survival of the state as such. This is what the authorities must address. Nana Chornaya Apple hit a record high Wednesday after topping earnings and sales estimates in its recent quarter. Here's what five experts are watching now. Dan Ives, managing director of equity research at Wedbush Securities, said this quarter was a knockout for Apple bulls. "This is a jaw dropper in terms of results ... look at iPhones across the board and even China year over year up. Both major feathers in the cap for [CEO Tim] Cook and Cupertino going forward and I think ultimately, this really puts fuel in the bull thesis in terms of guidance and in terms of China. This is all the drumroll into a 5G upgrade cycle. In my opinion, A+ quarter and even more than even the bulls were expecting." Tom Forte, senior research analyst at D.A. Davidson, said this quarter shows Apple expanding beyond the iPhone for revenue. "I look at the December quarter as the story of calendar 2020 for Apple. So last year was a very challenging year for the company but a wonderful year for the stock as they basically focused on their non-iPhone revenue. To the extent that you have what looks to be a super cycle in the next-generation wireless network, 5G, that really plays to their strengths. So, the iPhone 11 really benefited from low expectations but, if you look at the setup for calendar 2020 with next-generation wireless network, I think Apple has got more gas in the tank for the stock." Dan Niles, founding partner of AlphaOne Capital Partners, said valuations have gotten too extended and investors need to take a breather. "I'm a hedge fund so for me the goal is to trade around positions and to get the best risk-adjusted return on it ... I'm glad I got out when I saw the numbers, because here's the thing, if you look at it ... all the beat is from iPhones, $4.5 billion of upside from that. Now the reason the multiple has gone up to 24 times and the stock has traded over its life at about 14 times PE is because people have sort of convinced themselves, 'Well, this is a services company and therefore the growth is more predictable.' They missed their services revenue by $300 million. It was supposed to be I think $13 billion, it came in at $12.7 billion. And the wearables piece, which is where I thought there'd be a lot of upside because you've heard a lot about Air Pods, that actually came in dead in line, so there's no upside. So, a hardware trades at a 10 PE, not a 25 PE." Krish Sankar, senior research analyst at Cowen, praised the ability of a multibillion-dollar company growing at such a fast pace. "No. 1, I think the iPhone momentum is still there, especially as you head into a 5G cycle. And what you have seen over the last six months is iPhone units get revised upwards. So, I think that momentum definitely helps the stock and the services are still holding up pretty well. ... You have a $15+ billion revenue business growing at mid- to high-teens growth rate which is pretty impressive." Jim Suva, senior tech analyst at Citi, said revenue and earnings growth should continue to benefit the stock this year. "If we look at the fundamentals about demand of what's happening with Apple, here's some dynamics that are very interesting. Some of their products such as Air Pods as well as Watch, are selling out. That's a great indicator for demand and it's not because they're having issues with production or yield issues. It's simply demand is so strong. We see this year's revenues growing about you know, 10% to 11% and earnings growing 20% to 21% and then we believe in April they're going announce another capital deployment of increasing the stock, buyback and dividend. So, we think estimates keep going higher, the company keeps making more money, and margins are also going higher. It's setting up for a very good opportunity and a reason why we think people should buy and own Apple stock." Disclaimer In another release, she fought back against claims that she had voted for an ordinance that would charge residents a fee for calling 911 and called on Cannon to denounce these lies. The 911 fee, as recommended by then-Police Chief Troy Williams, was for businesses that abuse the police department and use city officers as private security, she said. COUNCIL BLUFFS, IowaOver the course of the campaign, Suzy Forristall and her husband have been letting the basement rooms in their Council Bluffs house to campaign staffers who cycle in and out of the area. Pete Buttigieg staffers have one room, while Amy Klobuchars team gets the other. They share a bathroom. Hosting them was all fun and games until Forristall had to make her decision on which candidate to support. When that day arrived, she brought snacks to the four Buttigieg team members whove lived in her basement, and told them that she had gone with Klobuchar, whose experience and legislative record gave her the edge. Advertisement It was really hard, she said. There was a tactical way to soften the blow, though: reassuring the Buttigieg staffers that Pete was still her second choice. This wasnt her simply offering them a participation trophy. The backup plans for Klobuchar supporters, with less than a week to go before the first nominating contest of the cycle, are a big deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At most caucus precincts, if a candidate does not reach 15 percent of caucusers initial preferences, the candidate is deemed not viable, and their supporters are free to flock elsewhere for the next round. With Klobuchar in the high single digits in Iowa polling averages, she has a significant bloc of support that, when redistributed at precincts, could help her more viable rivalslikely her fellow moderates. Klobuchar supporters are a hot enough commodity that rival campaigns have begun pitching schemes to the Minnesota senators campaign about how best to use their influence. Advertisement Advertisement Klobuchar fans recognize their own importance, too. Of the likely caucus-goers Ive talked to, Klobuchars backers are the most likely to automatically share their second choices without prompt. Klobuchar, however, is not focusing on where her supporters should plan to land after the first alignment of caucus preferences. She is trying, in the last week, to convert her long-running pundit acclaim and recent slew of newspaper (semi-)endorsements into a surge to Iowas top tier. As a show of dedication to the cause, on Tuesday she became the first senator running for president to make a mid-week trip to Iowa after the days impeachment trial proceedings wrapped up. Advertisement We had a little break in the trial, Klobuchar said to a packed Barleys Taproom in Council Bluffs, a city on the western end of the state immediately across the Missouri River from Omaha, Nebraska. And Im sitting there in the Senate floor, as Im watching, and they go, Oh, were done. Advertisement Im going to Council Bluffs! she thought. It would be a quick trip, as she would have to return to D.C. for Wednesdays session. Klobuchar conceded she had not anticipated, when she announced her candidacy in a snowstorm last February, that she would miss most of the final two weeks of campaigning in Iowaher most natural fit among the four early statesto sit in a Senate impeachment trial. She told the attendees this was probably the last time she would be able to see them in Council Bluffs. Depending on how the trial continues, she might not make it back to Iowa at all until Saturday, two days before the caucuses. Advertisement Advertisement Though the impeachment obligations might frustrate her campaign plans, Klobuchar treated her day job as a juror differently than Sen. Bernie Sanders has during his rallies: She talked about it. While Sanders briefly mentions that he has been busy doing his constitutional duty, and then leaves it at that to get into discussing his platform, Klobuchar gave her crowd updates. She told them that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell might not have enough votes to block subpoenas of witnesses and documents, and that shes been having interesting conversations about the possibility with her Republican colleagues. These were things, too, that her crowd wanted to know about. At Sanders rallies, attendees werent excusing Trumps behavior towards Ukraine, but they treated the impeachment saga, with its outcome determined, as little more than a distractionhigh politics, as one Sanders supporter told me over the weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The personal and presidential shortcomings of Donald Trumphis lack of dignity for the office, his abuses of power, and his debasement of the public spheresit atop the list of concerns of many moderate Democratic voters, for whose support Klobuchar is competing with Buttigieg and Joe Biden. Were trying to find a moderate, John Behrendt, from nearby Dunlap, told me before Klobuchar spoke at the event. As I see it, its a referendum against the president, and weve got to find the person thats going to beat the president. Klobuchar was leading Behrendts prospective candidate list, but, with typical Iowa caucus-goer judiciousness, he said he wasnt going to caucus for her unless I got a chance to hear her speak. Advertisement Klobuchar appeals to moderates by telling moderates how she appeals to Republicans. Even her brief mention of how shes been talking to Republicans during the Senate trial fits into the genre. She spoke, repeatedly, about her relationship with John McCain, and how she visited Ukraine with him. She told a story about a rancher in Minnesota who told her he had voted for Trump but regretted it, first after seeing Trump deliver a partisan speech at the CIA the day after his inauguration and, second, when he gave a political speech at the Boy Scout Jamboree (where Trump also reminisced about a party with the hottest people in New York). Economic issues are important, Klobuchar said. But for those Obama-Trump voters, just as important is a patriotism check, or a decency check for the nation. Which brought her, eventually, to the necessary contrast. We need to have a candidate that brings people with her, she said near the end of her speech, rather than shutting them out. And thats why Joe Biden needs Amy Klobuchars supporters, too. There are, so far, no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Central Asia. But like governments around the world, especially those bordering China and those with significant economic and travel ties to the country, Central Asias capitals have taken various precautionary measures, The Diplomat writes in the article Wuhan Coronavirus: What About Central Asia? As of January 28, there have been 4,673 confirmed cases of the virus around the world. The vast majority, 4,473, and the only deaths, 107, have occurred in China. According to a live map created by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, which visualizes reports about the outbreak using data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization, Chinas CDC, and other sources, there have also been confirmed cases in Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, Singapore, Japan, Australia, the United States, Malaysia, South Korea, France, Vietnam, Cambodia, Canada, Germany, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. On Tuesday, Kazakhstan announced restrictions on Chinese citizens obtaining visas. Kazakhstans deputy foreign minister, Shukhrat Nuryshev, told reporters that the state would stop issuing electronic visas to Chinese citizens on arrival and would require medical certificates for those looking to get visas. Nuryshev also said there were no plans to close the border with China completely, but other reports stated that the Kazakh side of the Khorgos free trade zone will be shut down until at least February 15. Almaty regions six border checkpoints have been equipped with thermal scanners to screen those crossing. Nuryshev said Nur-Sultan had requested that Beijing allow 98 Kazakh students in Wuhan to leave. Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, has been on lockdown since January 23. Various other countries have made plans to evacuate their citizens; its not clear what Kazakhstans plan would be. Health Minister Yelzhan Birtanov told reporters that of the Kazakh citizens who have returned from China since the outbreak, four have been hospitalized with suspected infections but no cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed yet. Kyrgyzstan, which also shares a border with China, has taken measures to screen people returning from China and the Health Ministry set up a hotline for citizens to get more information. The Foreign Ministry recommended that Kyrgyz not travel to China and provided a bevy of phone numbers, for hotlines and consuls in China, should Kyrgyz run into trouble. According to official figures, there are 14 Kyrgyz students in Wuhan, and 4,600 elsewhere in China. On Tuesday, RFE/RL reported that six Kyrgyz students attending Xinjiang University in Urumqi arrived in Bishkek and are being kept in quarantine. The Kyrgyz-Chinese border, according to reports in 24.kg, has been temporarily closed from January 24 to January 30. The closing, however, isnt related to the coronavirus, but is instead an annual closure, at Beijings behest, during the Chinese New Year. (For example, here is a report on the 2018 closure). Tajikistan, the only other Central Asian state sharing a border with China, refuted rumors that the virus had spread to the country. Uzbekistan has introduced screening measures, especially for flights from China. There are more than 30 Uzbek students in Wuhan, according to a Kun.uz report; Uzbek officials have said they are working on bringing the students back. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the symptoms of the virus are mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Its not clear exactly how contagious the virus is, though person-to-person transmission has been confirmed in China. 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. 29, Trend reports. 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 Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas has shown up unexpectedly on Capitol Hill, where he is demanding to meet with senators to tell his side of the impeachment scandal story. Mr Parnas was spotted by reporters as he arrived, and asked what he would tell senators if he were able to get an audience with them. "Call the witnesses," Mr Parnas responded. "The president knew everything." He continued, claiming that there were "many quid pro quos" beyond the one apparently highlighted in the 25 July phone call between Donald Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in which the American asked for an investigation by the Ukrainian government into a domestic political rival. That phone call sparked a whistle blower complaint, and later the impeachment investigation that has led now to Mr Trump's trial in the Senate. A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that Mr Parnas, who has been indicted last year on charges of alleged campaign finance violations, could attend the Senate impeachment investigation, but that he would not be allowed to take off his GPS ankle monitor to do so. Because of that, it appears as though he would not be permitted to enter the Senate floor due to the chamber's rules. https://publish.twitter.com/?query=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FYamiche%2Fstatus%2F1222551218033168384&widget=Tweet 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 surprise visit isn't the first time that Mr Parnas has claimed Mr Trump as intimately aware of the scheme that he and Mr Giuliani engaged in to compel a Ukrainian investigation of Joe Biden, a potential 2020 Democratic nominee. And, in addition to Mr Trump, the businessman has claimed that other top level officials including Mike Pence, William Barr and John Bolton were all in the loop on the effort. "He lied," Mr Parnas said of Mr Trump, when asked during a recent MSNBC interview about the president's claims that he does not know the businessman or his fellow indicted associate, Igor Fruman. "I mean, we're not friends. ... But he knows exactly who we were. He knows exactly who I was, especially because I interacted with him at a lot of events." The Capitol Hill visit also comes days after a New York Times report was released detailing claims in an upcoming book by Mr Bolton, who was then the president's national security adviser. In that manuscript, Mr Bolton claims that the president was aware of the efforts to use a White House visit and US military aid to Ukraine as leverage to spark an investigation into the Bidens. Those claims have led to renewed demands that the Senate impeachment trial call on new witnesses, including Mr Bolton, who has signalled a willingness to testify before the trial should be be subpoenaed. In response to those manuscript claims, Mr Giuliani himself has responded, telling CBS News in an interview that Mr Bolton "never said to me, 'I've got a problem with what you are doing in Ukraine. Never once, never winked, never sent me a little note. He is a personal friend, I thought. So here's the only conclusion I can come to, and it's a harsh one, and I feel very bad about it: "He's a backstabber." [January 29, 2020] Global Courier Services Market and Global Courier, Express and Parcel (CEP) Market Share, Growth Trends, Business Opportunities, Strategies, Top Players, Regions, End-User Demand & Industry Forecast 2025 Dallas, Texas, Jan. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Courier Services Market Size, Status and Forecast 2019-2025 The Global Courier Services Market size was 299100 million US$ and it is expected to reach 464300 million US$ by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of 6.5% during 2019-2025. A courier can be a person or a company which delivers the couriers like messages, mails or any kind of parcel. A courier service is a service by which anyone can allow to send their parcel anywhere. From one location to another location parcel can be sent to anyone with the help of courier services. For these services we can book online and pay for the same. There is an option of pickup for the sender by which parcels can be collected by a courier or sender can drop off the parcels at any nearby location which then can be picked by courier later. There are many companies which provide postal services as well as logistic services. Also there are type of the courier services according to the weight and volume of the shipment. There is speedy delivery option available for the services as well. Some door to door basis services are provided by some companies. Top Companies: UPS, FedEx, Royal Mail, DHL, China Post, Japan Post Group, SF Express, BancoPosta, YTO Expess, ZTO Express, STO Express, Yunda Express, Aramex Request a sample of this report @ https://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/2856769 Advancement of technology, urbanisation, offering of enhanced services are one of the key growth contributors for global courier parcel services supply market. These services provide additional features like delivery guarantee, shorter time, safety guarantee and real time monitoring and more. Also some major factors like rise in demand for retail products and economic growth of the developing countries are driving growth of market. Global Courier Services Market can be classified on the basis of product type, applications, key companies and key regions. On the basis of product type market can be segmented into Courier, Express and Parcel. There are some companies which provide all Courier, express and parcel services which are door to door basis. Market segment by Type, the product can be split into Courier Express Parcel Market segment by Application, split into B2B B2C C2C Place a Direct Purchase Order @ https://www.orbisresearch.com/contact/purchase-single-user/2856769 Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report covers United States Europe China Japan Southeast Asia India Central & South America The study objectives of this report are: To analyze global Courier Services status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players. To present the Courier Services development in United States, Europe and China. To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their development plan and strategies. To define, describe and forecast the market by product type, market and key regions. Another Report: Global Courier, Express and Parcel (CEP) Market Size, Status and Forecast 2019-2025 The Global Courier, Express and Parcel (CEP) Market size was xx million US$ and it is expected to reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of xx% during 2019-2025. Courier, Express and Parcel are used for the delivery of parcels and documents to different types of customers. These customers can be business customers, government agencies and retail customers. The parcels or documents delivered by the CEP vendors are non-palletized products. Also there is a weight limit for such items which is less than 110 pounds. There is express delivery available which is time bound delivery process. In express delivery shipment is delivered within a mentioned time that can be a day or two as per the requirement of the customer. Top Companies: Allied Express, AK Express, Aramex, FedEx, United Parcel Service, Interlink Express Parcels, One World Express, DTDC, TNT Express, DX Group, Deutsche Post DHL, ONS Express & Logistics, Dynamic Parcel Distribution (GeoPost), Antron Express, City Link, Naparex, A1Express, Bring Couriers, Hermes Europe, Parcelforce Worldwide, General Logistics Systems Request a sample copy of this report @ https://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/3056340 Advancement of technology, urbanisation, offering of enhanced services are one of the key growth contributors for Global Courier, Express and Parcel (CEP) market. These services provide additional features like delivery guarantee, shorter time, safety guarantee and real time monitoring and more. Also some major factors like rise in demand for retail products and economic growth of the developing countries are driving growth of market. CEPs are used for the delivery of parcels and documents to various types of customers such as business customers, retail customers, and government agencies. The documents and parcels delivered by the CEP vendors are non-palletized items and weigh less than 110 pounds. Express delivery is a time-bound delivery, where the shipment is delivered within a day or two and also as per the requirements of a customer. Whereas, courier service providers deliver shipments that are in very short distance. In addition, CEP vendors provide various value-added services to customers, further enhancing the delivery process. Global Courier, Express and Parcel (CEP) market can be classified on the basis of product type, applications, key companies and key regions. On the basis of product type market can be segmented into Air, Ship and Road. Market segment by Type, the product can be split into Air Ship Road Market segment by Application, split into Business-to-business (B2B) Business-to-consumer (B2C) Consumer-to-consumer (C2C) Make an enquiry of this report @ https://www.orbisresearch.com/contacts/enquiry-before-buying/3056340 Major Points from Table of Content: Chapter One: Report Overview Chapter Two: Global Growth Trends Chapter Three: Market Share by Key Players Chapter Four: Breakdown Data by Type and Application Chapter Five: United States Chapter Six: Europe Chapter Seven: China Chapter Eight: Japan Chapter Nine: Southeast Asia Chapter Ten: India Chapter Eleven: Central & South America Chapter Twelve: International Players Profiles Chapter Thirteen: Market Forecast 2019-2025 Chapter Fourteen: Analyst's Viewpoints/Conclusions Chapter Fifteen: Appendix About Us: Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study Contact Us: Hector Costello Senior Manager Client Engagements 4144N Central Expressway, Suite 600, Dallas, Texas - 75204, U.S.A. Phone No.: +1 (972)-362-8199; +91 895 659 5155 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The on Wednesday asked the government to announce a national and a minimum income scheme in the upcoming Union Budget, as well as spell out measures to ensure farmers' income doubles by 2022. leader Prithviraj Chavan demanded reduction in GST rates on agriculture inputs to less than 5 per cent and said the government should announce measures like universal basic income to put more money in the hands of farmers and the poor so that their consumption increases. He demanded that the government bring petrol and diesel under the GST regime, saying it will help provide relief to farmers who have been paying higher rates. The Centre has earned over Rs 13.5 lakh crore by way of taxes on petroleum products, Chavan said. "The BJP government instead of producing any results, has only been busy in changing the goalposts during the past 5.5 years, sometimes by giving a target of year 2022, and sometimes by raising divisive issues for distracting the attention of people," he said. The BJP came to power with the promise of giving 50 per cent profit on cost of farm produce to farmers, he claimed. But, so far, farmers have been left at the mercy of their fate and "the government has been only trying to mislead them with false 'jumlas'", Chavan alleged. "In all the budgets of the BJP, till date, farmers have suffered deception of mirages and numerous promises were made to mislead them. In the Budget 2020, we hope and request the finance minister that the farmer who is the 'annadata' of this country should not be betrayed any more," he said. Chavan said the government must tell by how much income of farmers has increased in the last five years, as part of its promise of doubling their income by 2022. "We want to know, as we are aware that nothing has happened so far. The budget should also provide a detailed outline of how to double farmers' income by 2022 and what steps have been taken," he told reporters. The government should announce a national on the lines of the previous UPA government's step undertaken in 2008 to benefit 14 crore farmer families in the country, Chavan said. "We demand that the government should put more money in the hands of 95 per cent poor who live in rural areas and help improve consumption through schemes like "The government should also bring a universal basic income scheme to ensure that there is direct benefit to people and money should go into their accounts directly to help improve consumption levels," he said. Chavan, a former chief minister of Maharashtra, said for farmers' income to double by 2022 the agriculture sector has to grow by at least 12 per cent compounded annually. But, under the Modi government the agriculture sector has seen a growth of only 2.9 per cent in the last five years, he claimed, asking how this will double farmers' income. He said this has created doubts over the government's claims of making India a USD 5-trillion economy by 2024, as the agriculture sector has a contribution of over 15.5 per cent in the country's GDP but it is growing slowly. "How will India's dream of becoming a USD 5 trillion economy be accomplished," he asked. The leader alleged that the BJP government has given far lesser minimum support price to farmers than its commitment, yet they are not getting the declared MSP. He alleged that it is BJP's conspiracy to lock-out the Food Corporation of India (FCI) as its government has virtually stopped releasing food subsidy amount to the corporation during the past five years and Rs 1.74 lakh crore payable to FCI by the BJP government is still outstanding. Chavan also accused the central government of owing money to states, with Rs 15,000 crore to Maharashtra alone. The central government is not honouring its commitment to states, he alleged. He also said that the global community is also worried about the statistics provided by the central government on the economic parameters, including the GDP growth. "There is a lot of jugglery of figures going on and therefore, the credibility of India is being questioned," he alleged. The Congress leader said the zero budget natural farming is a "bogus scheme" and there should be a scientific investigation into it. He also alleged that the crop insurance scheme is a "failure", as only big insurance companies are benefitting, going by the compensation of only Rs 153 crore paid against premium collected to the tune of Rs 25,000 crore from farmers. "This is very unfair," he said. Add CoolSocial badge. Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: Kannurtoday.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. 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Basic Information PAGE TITLE KannurToday.com : The Largest business portal in Kannur, Kerala,kannur today,kannurtoday DESCRIPTION KannurToday.com: The Largest business portal in Kannur, Kerala, For business, For Tourism, For Buy, For sell, For real estate, Live local news ,kannurtoday.com,kannur today,kannurtoday KEYWORDS kannurtoday.com, kannur today, Kannur Today, Kannur Today, Kannur business info, Tourism information, Telephone Information, Kannur Location map, map, Tourism, Beach details, Kannur hotel information, Kannur Home stay information, Kannur hospital, inform OTHER KEYWORDS kannur, brand new buy from , brand new buy from, brand new buy, new buy from, price rs, brand new 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 keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The title found in the head section of the homepage. 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The URL of the found Facebook page. The total number of people who like website 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. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind (WLFI) - New findings report Tippecanoe County saw seven child fatalities for 2019. This is according to the Child Fatality Review Team. Three of the deaths were caused by unsafe sleeping practices in infants. Two of the child deaths have been attributed to suicide. Tenecia Waddell-Pyle with Mental Health America said there are resources available to help prevent suicide in children. She said talking to children about mental health and sharing feelings needs to start at a young age. Starting that conversation young about mental health is really important because that helps to destigmatize it overall, said Waddell-Pyle. So many times, people spend a lot of their time bottling things up, hiding them, or thinking that no one else is going through those issues when people actually are, and those conversations help people know that this is something that is normal. Libby Sheffield with West Lafayette Jr./Sr. High School said parents shouldn't be afraid to address any possible changes in their child's behavior or attitude. The best thing is to just be aware of signs and to not make excuses in your own head for things that maybe have changed about your own child, said Sheffield. Keep an ear out, keep an eye out. Just be sure that parents and other adults are aware of what students are talking about and what kinds of signs they might be presenting that could be troublesome. The Child Fatality Review team hopes to report zero deaths by suicide in children for 2020. For information on resources offered by Mental Health America, click here. Senators including three key Republicans began peppering House Democrats and Donald Trump's legal team with questions in his impeachment trial about his motives towards Ukraine and the bar the prosecution's case must clear to remove him from office. The three GOP politicians, who will have a major say in the shape of the trial, showed some of their cards right off the bat after another day of questioning, with one of Mr Trump's attorneys telling them the premise of their query should lead them to acquit the president. Democratic senators need four Republicans to vote with them to force votes on witnesses, with Maine's Susan Collins, Alaska's Lisa Murkowski and Utah's Mitt Romney on the list of GOP members who have yet to signal their plans. They got the question-and-answer period, which could last for 18 hours over two days, off to a quick start. Ms Collins read a joint question aloud, the first time a senator not named Mitch McConnell or Chuck Schumer the majority and minority leaders had spoken into a microphone inside the chamber in over a week. She asked Mr Trump's counsel whether, if the president had more than one motive in his actions towards Ukraine, could he be convicted? The crux of the inquiry was this: if part of his motive was acting in the interests of the United States and/or over worries about giving American monies to a corrupt government, should senators vote to acquit on the abuse of power article? 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 About such a "mixed motive," Patrick Philbin, deputy White House counsel, replied one "couldn't possibly be the basis for an impeachable offence". He pointed to a House Democratic-prepared report about its impeachment inquiry, saying the Judiciary Committee Democrats established a standard for their case for themselves in which they had to prove Mr Trump was asking Ukraine's government to announce a "sham" probe of the Bidens and there was "not a scintilla" of evidence "to look into" about then-vice president Joe Biden and son Hunter Biden's business dealings there. "That's a very demanding standard they've set themselves to meet," Mr Philbin said, noting that Obama administration officials raised concerns about Joe Biden's anti-corruption work in Ukraine while his son sat on the board of an under-investigation energy firm there. "And that means their case absolutely fails." Collins and Murkowski later jointly asked another question. But it was also not about calling witnesses, though they did seek information from the president's legal team about whether Mr Trump ever expressed worry about corruption in Ukraine before Joe Biden announced his 2020 presidential campaign. Mr Philbin was unable to say more than that Mr Trump spoke to senior Ukrainian officials about general corruption there. Notably, John Bolton, the former White House national security adviser whose coming book stating he heard Mr Trump link military aid to Ukraine probes of Mr Biden, could provide first-hand knowledge about that matter if the Senate called him as witness. Texas Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican who once harshly clashed with Mr Trump, asked the president's legal team if it matters whether Mr Trump was after a quid pro quo with Ukraine. Alan Dershowitz, a celebrity Harvard University professor working on Mr Trump's legal team, replied again, defying many in his own profession that such an action by a president only would be impeachable if the quid pro itself contained an illegal action. "If the president does something, in the public interest, that he thinks might help him get elected," Mr Dershowtiz told senators, the action would not be unlawful or meet the Constitution's impeachment standard. Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn and a handful of other Republicans asked Mr Trump's team about whether the standard for impeachment by the House is lower than that senators should use when considering whether to convict and remove a sitting commander in chief. Mr Philbin fielded the question, saying the Senate has a higher standard to consider than the House, returning to the defence team's week-long argument that Mr Trump committed no crimes. That means he cannot be impeached, he said, because the Constitution links impeachment to criminal actions. It is unclear if that argument, however, will sway any Democrats to vote with Republicans for an acquittal because their legal theory has been debunked by many legal scholars. The first day of questioning began with a cloud hanging over the proceeding will four GOP senators join Democrats later this week on whether to call witnesses, setting up a longer trial than Mr Trump would like and a possible legal battle. Mr Schumer told reporters, minutes before the trial resumed, that he is "hopeful" he can pick off four Republicans, but he said he views the task still as an "uphill fight". Not showing his cards, he merely described his side as "still in the ballpark" on calling witnesses. The New York Democrat denied Republican warnings that bringing in witnesses would drag the trial on for months especially if the question of whether Mr Trump can invoke executive privilege to block testimony heads to the courts. "I understand the pressure my Republican colleagues are under to wrap this up quickly because President Trump demands it," Mr Schumer said. "We could settle any questions of executive privilege right on the Senate floor. So we are not talking about a lengthy delay here. ... It could be reviewed expeditiously." The Democratic leader said such a determination would be made by Chief Justice John Roberts, but Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow later challenged him, saying there is no "historical precedent" for a chief justice to rule on executive privilege during an impeachment trial, creating even more confusion about just who would be the referee in such a complicated legal dispute. U.S. lawmakers and experts have expressed concern over the United Kingdoms decision to allow Huawei a limited role in its 5G network, saying it endangers national security. The UK government granted the Chinese telecom giant a role in building non-sensitive parts of its next-generation wireless network on Jan. 28. Huawei, however, was classified as a high-risk vendor, meaning it would be excluded from the sensitive core, where data is processed, and barred from all critical networks and sensitive locations such as nuclear sites and military bases. As a high-risk company, its involvement would be capped at 35 percent. The decision came despite repeated warnings from the United States that the Chinese regime could use Huaweis equipment for spying or disrupt communication networks. Such concerns stem from the companys close links with the military, and that Chinese law compels companies to cooperate with intelligence agencies when asked. Huawei, the worlds largest supplier of telecom gear, denies the allegations. U.S. officials had also previously said that such a decision would jeopardize intelligence sharing between the two nations. The UK and the United States are part of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network, which also includes Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Both Australia and New Zealand have banned Huawei from its 5G rollout, while Canada is currently still making its decision. However, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Jan. 28 that intelligence-sharing would not be impacted. How we construct our 5G, and full fiber public telecoms networks has nothing to do with how we will share classified data, Raab told lawmakers after a meeting of the National Security Council chaired by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Intelligence-sharing will not be put at risk. Johnson and President Donald Trump spoke by phone shortly after the British decision was made public. The Prime Minister underlined the importance of like-minded countries working together to diversify the market and break the dominance of a small number of companies, the British government said in a statement. Speaking before the call, a Trump administration official said: There is no safe option for untrusted vendors to control any part of a 5G network. We look forward to working with the UK on a way forward that results in the exclusion of untrusted vendor components from 5G networks. A British official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said excluding Huawei would have delayed 5G and cost consumers more, echoing warnings from the telecommunications industry. 5Gs much faster data speeds and increased capacity will make it the foundation stone of many industries and a driver of economic growth. Security Concerns U.S. lawmakers expressed disappointment with the UKs decision, with several calling for a review of intelligence-sharing with Britain. Allowing Huawei to build the U.K.s 5G networks today is like allowing the KGB to build its telephone network during the Cold War, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) wrote in a statement. The Chinese Communist Party will now have a foothold to conduct pervasive espionage on British society and has increased economic and political leverage over the United Kingdom. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), in an email to The Epoch Times, said the misguided decision ignores the considerable expenditure required to mitigate the risk of Huaweis involvement. While Chinese subsidies lower the initial price tag of Huawei, the long-term costs to security and in allies trust are high, Rubio said, adding that the United States should reevaluate economic and intelligence cooperation with Britain. Rubio, Cotton, and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) sent a genuine plea to Johnson earlier this week, urging him to exclude Huawei from Britains 5G infrastructure. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a statement that he was disappointed by the decision, adding that the United States remained committed to working with its allies such as the UK to build alternatives to Huawei. Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), in a statement, said, Heres the sad truth: our special relationship is less special now that the UK has embraced the surveillance state commies at Huawei. During the Cold War, Margaret Thatcher never contracted with the KGB to save a few pennies. Political Decision Robert Spalding, a former senior official at the White House National Security Council and senior fellow at Washington-based think tank Hudson Institute, described the move as a political decision designed to accommodate domestic telecom providers. The UK is siding with a totalitarian regime, Spalding told The Epoch Times affiliate NTD. Not because they believe wholeheartedly that they have no concerns, but rather because one of their main companies British Telecom, is saying, we need the subsidy from China so that we can have cheap equipment. Spalding rejected the distinction between core and edge, saying the risk remains the same as both parts of the network are primarily software-based. The idea that any part of that [software-based ecosystem] can be considered a safe area for technology to be introduced, where you have a concern about whos introducing that technologyI think thats incorrect, he said. I think they [the UK] are willfully trying to stay ignorant of what the possibilities are [if Huawei is introduced] because its too hard to accept the fact that there is no security in data anymore. He warned that specific sectors, such as tech and telecom industries, due to their desire for cheap products from China, are putting pressure on the governments of democracies to continue this behavior that is really counter to the national security interests and the freedoms and liberties of the people in the societies in which they live. Epoch Times reporter Eva Fu and Reuters contributed to this report. From The Epoch Times Three staff members from Newbridge Law Centre were recently honoured for their service of more than 20 years with the Legal Aid Board. Noel Kearney, Karen Barker and Edel Poole received their awards at an event in Dublin to mark the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Legal Aid Board (LAB). Established in 1979, LAB provides legal advice and representation to people with limited means. SEE ALSO: Marina Carr's challenging play for Kildare stage Speaking at the 40th anniversary celebration, CEO, John McDaid said the occasion of its 40th anniversary was an opportunity to acknowledge the contribution of all of those who have been instrumental in our achievements over the past four decades and those who continue to do so on a daily basis. Some of our staff have served with us for over 20 years, such as Noel, Karen and Edel. We are delighted that some of those involved in the establishment of the Legal Aid Board were honoured at our anniversary celebration. The Legal Aid Board (LAB) was established following the recommendations of a government-established Committee, the Pringle Committee, and also the influential Airey v Ireland case, which saw Johanna Airey take Ireland to the European Court of Human Rights. It currently employs 470 staff in 33 law centres, 16 family mediation offices and its Head Office. SEE ALSO: more Kildare stories Since its foundation, it has provided legal assistance to over 595,000 people. In 2016, it introduced the Abhaile, which helps people struggling to pay their debts or at risk of losing their homes. Mr McDaid said that as Irish society has changed, so too has the Boards work. This has been reflected in the expansion of our service provision to include support for asylum-seekers and refugees; the Abhaile scheme, which provides legal assistance for people at risk of losing their family home because of mortgage arrears; and the family mediation services, with 16 family mediation centres nationwide. The legal services provided by the Board are subject in most cases to the applicant paying a financial contribution and they are not free. The contribution for legal advice is assessed on the applicants disposable income. The minimum contribution is 30 for legal advice and 130 for legal aid. A waiver of the contribution may be granted in certain circumstances. Further information is available at: www.legalaidboard.ie. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 21:54:12|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close RABAT, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- From within an old apartment in Rachidia, a remote city in southern Morocco, happy laughter is often heard recently, as Chinese doctors there are making dumplings to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival. It is the second Spring Festival that the Chinese medical team has spent since they were sent from Shanghai in October 2018 to Rachidia, which was located at the southern foot of the Atlas Mountains on the edge of the Sahara Desert. Mao Anwei, chief of the Chinese medical team in Rachidia, told Xinhua that their team of 10 doctors shoulder heavy tasks and often need to work overtime on weekends. In view of the possibility of emergencies and surgical needs, most of the team members chose to stay in Rachidia during the Spring Festival holiday, Mao said. In 2019, the Chinese medical team in Rachidia diagnosed and treated more than 10,000 patients, carried out over 2,000 surgeries, and rescued more than 100 patients in critical conditions. The three obstetricians and gynecologists of the medical team often need to work a 24-hour shift as such doctors are in shortage in the region of Rachidia. With high work intensity and acclimatization problems, Ye Jun, an obstetrician and gynecologist, lost 15 kg in fewer than a year. However, Ye said, her work as a doctor has earned recognition of the Chinese doctors' medical skills and ethics from Moroccan patients. "As doctors, we have a strong sense of accomplishment here," she added. Ma Ling, another obstetrician and gynecologist, said the hard work of the medical team also won the respect of their Moroccan colleagues who often invited Chinese doctors to local weddings and festivals. Given that eye diseases such as cataracts and blepharitis are very common in the Moroccan region, Xiao Qiang, the only ophthalmologist in the team, often has to work on weekends. Xiao's grandmother died during his mission in Morocco but he failed to return to China because of the heavy work, which has made him feel guilty. "I cannot reunite with my wife and kids in China because of my mission in Morocco. I can only repeatedly tell them to take care of themselves through video chat," Xiao said. Air Canada announced it will be cancelling select flights to China for several weeks amid the breakout of coronavirus in the country. We are cancelling select flights to China to better match capacity with expected demand, wrote a spokesperson with the airline to the Star. Air Canada currently operates 33 flights a week to China and the resulting capacity reduction is relatively small. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will adjust accordingly. Customers travelling to Pudong Int. Airport, Beijing Capital Int. Airport, or Wuhan Tianhe Int. Airport can cancel their flight for a full refund, or change their flight plan free of charge subject to availability in the cabin. Correction January 28, 2020: This article has been amended from a previous version that misstated several facts. Air Canada is cancelling select flights to China, not all flights to China or Shanghai, and is offering customers the ability to refund or re-schedule flights to affected areas. Miriam Lafontaine is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @mirilafontaine Read more about: YEREVAN, JANUARY 29, ARMENPRESS. Professor Yoav Loeff of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who teaches Armenian history and culture at the University, recently published a detailed analysis in The Jerusalem Post, denying the fake claims of an anti-Armenian article published recently in the same newspaper obviously by the order of Azerbaijan. The anti-Armenian article has been published in The Jerusalem Post on January 21, the author is Maayan Jaffe-Hoffman who regularly publishes articles praising Azerbaijan. In his article published on January 28 Professor Yoav Loeff clearly states that Hoffman has not only used facts selectively, but even with some significant inaccuracies. Professor Yoav Loeff in his article attaches importance to the fact that the President of Armenia participated in the recent World Holocaust Forum in Israel, then he passes to the topic relating to Garegin Nzhdeh, stating that the latter is a hero in Armenia not for cooperating with the Nazi Germany, but for fighting against the Ottoman Empire, later also against Azerbaijan for the independence of Armenia. ARMENPRESS presents partially Professor Yoav Loeffs article: The article [of Maayan Jaffe-Hoffman] opens with the monument of Garegin Nzhdeh in Yerevan, giving the impression that the antisemitic Armenians chose to glorify his heritage as a Nazi collaborator. But Nzhdeh was first and foremost a military hero and a central leader of the Armenian liberation movement who sought to achieve independence for his nation after hundreds of years of occupation. He fought against the Ottoman Empire when it systematically slaughtered its own Armenian minority and played a major role in the establishment of the First Republic of Armenia (1918-1920) which, post-genocide, gave the suffering Armenian nation a short period of renewed hope. That hope was brutally cut off by invasion by the Red Army in 1920, and the fledgling Republic of Armenia was annexed by the Soviet Union. During that invasion, Nzhdeh led a struggle to prevent a Soviet attempt to hand over major areas in the south of Armenia to the newly established Azerbaijan, a country that was created by the Soviets. That struggle was partially successful, though two historically Armenian areas, Nagorno-Karabakh and Nachichevan (Nzhdehs birthplace) were handed to the Azeris [Soviet Azerbaijan] as part of the Soviet policy of divide-and-rule. It is true that Nzhdeh joined the army of Nazi Germany where he served for a short period. There is no justification for that collaboration, though it is quite clear that his motivation in joining the Wehrmacht had nothing to do with antisemitism, but an unrealistic hope that this collaboration might have led to re-liberation of the Armenian people. Hundreds of thousands of Armenians served in the Soviet Army and took an active part in the victory against the Nazis. Nzhdeh is not praised in Armenia for his collaboration with the Nazis, but for his unceasing, lifelong struggle to liberate the Armenian people. Jaffe-Hoffman goes on with her theory about antisemitism in Armenia. I travel quite a lot all over Armenia, both on my own and with other Jews and Israelis. I always make it clear that I am a Jew and an Israeli, and never heard a hint of antisemitic expression. If there is some criticism, it is usually about Israels hesitation to recognize the Armenian genocide that was perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire and led to the extermination of some 1.5 million Armenians during WW1, and was a kind of a general rehearsal for the Holocaust. The other criticism is about Israels alliance with the Azeri dictatorship, Armenias enemy Armenias small Jewish community never suffered antisemitism in their adopted homeland Jaffe-Hoffman refers to what she calls the brutal invasion of Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenia. She forgets to mention that this region has been inhabited since antiquity mainly by Armenians. They were still the majority there even after 70 years of Soviet Azeri sovereignty and Azeris striving to change that demographic situation. She also ignores the fact that Karabakhs Armenians demanded liberation after a long history of pogroms by Azeris in Baku, Shushi, Sumgait and other places, starting in the early 1900s, then around 1920, and again in 1988. History is a wonderful Hollywood-style movie with clear distinction between good guys and bad guys when you ignore facts that do not support your thesis. I will conclude with drawing the attention to three facts. The first is that for many years now there is a monument standing in the heart of Yerevan with inscriptions in Hebrew and Armenian, commemorating both the Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide. Unfortunately, there is no parallel such monument in Israel. Second, Armenia sent its highest-ranking citizen to the World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem, H.E. Armen Sarkissian, the president of Armenia. The third is that Armenia has decided to open an embassy in Israel soon, regardless of whether Israel opens one in Yerevan. There could be no clearer statements that Armenia opposes anti-Semitism. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan as 'absolutely unacceptable' today and accused it of 'legitimising Israel's occupation.' He said the US president's long-awaited deal 'will not serve peace or bring about a solution.' Erdogan was particularly scathing about the plan for Jerusalem to be Israel's capital, Turkish broadcaster CNN Turk reported. Erdogan said: 'Jerusalem is sacred for Muslims. The plan to give Jerusalem to Israel is absolutely unacceptable. 'This plan ignores Palestinians' rights and is aimed at legitimising Israel's occupation.' Erdogan's damning remarks came as violent protests continued in Gaza and the West Bank as Palestinians clashed with Israeli soldiers. Trump unveiled his 'vision' alongside embattled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House yesterday. He said there would be a 'two-state solution' with a tunnel linking the West Bank to the Gaza Strip. 'My vision provides a win win solution for both sides,' the president said to great applause from the pro-Israel audience at the White House. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan as 'absolutely unacceptable' today and accused it of 'legitimising Israel's occupation.' Palestinian students take part in a protest against the U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan, in the southern Gaza Strip Trump said it was a 'vision for peace, prosperity and a new future' for both Israel and Palestine as he spoke in the East Room of the White House, reading from a teleprompter and declining to take questions. Netanyahu called it the 'deal of the century' but in Palestine, the president, Mahmoud Abbas dismissed it as 'the start of the century.' The White House pointedly did not call it a 'plan,' and Trump himself said Netanyahu had agreed it was a basis for 'negotiation.' But there was confusion over exactly what it was with Trump also tweeting that it was a 'plan.' Trump claimed Israel had a taken 'a giant leap' by signing up to a two-state solution. 'We will also work to create a contiguous territory within the future Palestinian state, for when the conditions for statehood are met, including the firm rejection of terrorism,' he said. Two-state solution? Donald Trump embraced Benjamin Netanyahu, the embattled Israeli prime minister as he unveiled a Middle East peace 'vision' with confusion over whether it was a plan Side by side: Trump and Netanyahu arrive for the announcement on his peace 'plan' or 'vision' The 'vision' unveiled on Tuesday more than doubles the territory currently under Palestinian control, although it also recognizes Israeli sovereignty over major settlement blocs in the West Bank, something to which the Palestinians will almost certainly object. The Palestinians were not present, nor were Democrats, and neither was Netanyahu's chief opponent Benny Gantz, who he will face in an election in March. Netanyahu himself had hours earlier given up fighting for immunity from corruption charges and is now indicted on them. But Trump said: 'For the first time in many, many decades, I can say: This will work.' Netanyahu said he backed the starting point for talks because it 'recognized Israeli sovereignty over sections of Judea and Samaria' - meaning sections of what is currently defined as the West Bank - 'which are vital to our security.' He said Trump had recognized that 'Israel must have sovereignty in the Jordan Valley,' something which Palestinians have said they will never agree to. A Palestinian demonstrator gestures during clashes with Israeli soldiers following a demonstration in al-Aroub Palestinian refugee camp, between the West Bank towns of Hebron and Bethlehem Palestinian policemen loyal to Hamas wave their national flags as they protest against the US Middle East peace plan, in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip The plan does call for a four-year freeze in new Israeli settlement construction, during which time details of a comprehensive agreement would be negotiated. However, it was not immediately clear if the freeze could be extended if a final deal is not concluded in the four years. The 50-page political outline goes further in concessions to the Palestinians than many analysts had believed was likely. However, it would require them to accept conditions they have been previously unwilling to consider, such as accepting West Bank settlements. It builds on a 30-page economic plan for the West Bank and Gaza that was unveiled last June and which the Palestinians have also rejected. A future state of Palestine (left) and the state of Israel (right) drawn in maps released by the White House An Israeli soldier fires teargas towards Palestinian demonstrators during a demonstration in al-Aroub Palestinian refugee camp, between the West Bank towns of Hebron and Bethlehem Under the terms of the 'peace vision' that Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner has been working on for nearly three years, the future Palestinian state would consist of the West Bank and Gaza, connected by a combination of above-ground roads and tunnels. Trump use the speech to say he had been 'good for Israel.' He boasted about moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and recognizing the Golan Heights as Israeli territory - reversing decades of U.S. policy - and also boasted about leaving the Iran nuclear deal. KEY ELEMENTS OF TRUMP'S MIDDLE EAST PEACE 'VISION' Two-state solution meaning Israel will exist beside neighbor Palestine Palestinian-controlled territory is increased But they concede sovereignty in a series of areas including part of the Jordan Valley Palestinian state is 'demilitarized,' with Israel 'retaining security responsibility west of the Jordan River.' West Bank and Gaza Strip to be joined by a tunnel and roads to create a 'contiguous' state Palestinian capital is in East Jerusalem with a U.S. embassy built there, but the city of Jerusalem is 'undivided' Four-year freeze on Israeli settlements Advertisement He claimed it could be a 'last opportunity' for the Palestinians to achieve statehood and gave as the reason the 'smart team' who had worked on it, highlighting the role of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, whose wife Ivanka was in the audience. He also said he had told Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian prime minister that he needed to act while there was a four-year freeze on Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory. 'I explained to (Abbas) that the territory allocated for his new state will remain open and undeveloped for a period of four years,' Trump said. 'This could be the last opportunity they will ever have. 'Palestinians are in poverty and violence, exploited by those seeking to use them as pawns to advance terrorism and extremism.' U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman echoed the president's words, saying Palestinian had time to get on board. 'Our goal is to demonstrate to the Palestinians that it's a state to aspire to and achieve,' Friedman told reporters on a conference call after the president unveiled his vision. 'They have time. They have four years to figure this out,' he said, adding 'it's theirs for the taking.' But in the Occupied Territories, Palestinians rejected the plan. Rejection: Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, called the plan 'slap of the century' in a dig at Netanyahu, who called it 'deal of the century' Pointed: Abbas spoke in front of a picture of Jerusalem - saying the plan offering to divide it and put the Palestinian capital in urban sprawl outside a physical barrier which splits it - was a non-starter Abbas said he would not support any proposal that would not see a Palestinian capital in all of East Jerusalem, which includes the walled Old City and numerous sites holy to Muslims, Jews and Christians. Trump, in his remarks at the White House earlier on Tuesday, said that Jerusalem would remain the undivided capital of Israel. 'I say to Trump and Netanyahu: Jerusalem is not for sale, all our rights are not for sale and are not for bargain. And your deal, the conspiracy, will not pass,' Abbas said in a televised address in Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Abbas said it was 'impossible for any Palestinian, Arab, Muslim or Christian child to accept' a state without Jerusalem. Israel captured the eastern part of the city along with the West Bank and Gaza in a 1967 war. The Palestinians would only accept negotiations based on international law and supported by U.N. Security Council resolutions, said Abbas, whose Palestinian Authority has limited self-rule in parts of the West Bank. The plan proposes setting up a Palestinian capital in the urban sprawl to the north and east of a concrete wall that Israel built through East Jerusalem more than a decade ago, during the last Palestinian uprising. An Israeli soldier removes Palestinian flags during a protest against the U.S. president Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan, in Jordan Valley in the Israeli-occupied West Bank 'This physical barrier should remain in place and should serve as a border between the capitals of the two parties,' the document says. Hamas, whose stronghold is in Gaza, was scathing. 'Trump's statement is aggressive and it will spark a lot of anger,' Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters. At the White House Trump claimed widespread world support. He said that Britain's prime minister Boris Johnson was among world leaders who had called him, saying that leaders had offered 'to do anything to help.' He also praised Mike Pompeo, his secretary of state, who had been revealed to have threatened, berated and launched an f-word rant at an NPR reporter then complained because he thought she had agreed to keep it secret. 'You did a good job on her,' Trump said, a comment likely to be seized on by critics. WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT TRUMP'S MIDEAST PEACE PLAN More than two years after President Trump first proposed a plan to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, it lies stalled half in and half out of the starting blocks. Little has so far been revealed about the plan which will have to address issues that have defied decades of efforts by previous peacemakers. These issues include: -The status of Jerusalem - which includes sites sacred to Judaism, Islam and Christianity -Establishing mutually agreed borders. -Finding security arrangements to satisfy Israels fears of attacks by Palestinians and hostile neighbours. -The Palestinian demand for statehood, and an end to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory. -Finding a solution to the plight of millions of Palestinian refugees. -Arrangements to share scarce natural resources, such as water. -Palestinian demands that Israel remove its settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. More than 400,000 Israelis now live among roughly 3 million Palestinians in the West Bank, with another 200,000 settlers in east Jerusalem. Why revive the plan now? U.S.-Israeli relations are at a zenith, with Trump and Netanyahu the closest of allies. Both men face domestic troubles: Trump will likely be accused of trying to deflect attention away from his impeachment trial and Netanyahu was indicted on corruption charges in November, throwing him into legal limbo. Both men deny wrongdoing. And both face election campaigns - Trump for re-election, and Netanyahu because he failed to put together a governing coalition in two elections last year. What do we know about the plan? Palestinian and Arab sources who have been briefed on the draft plan fear that it seeks to bribe Palestinians into accepting Israeli occupation, a prelude to Israel annexing about half of the West Bank. Perhaps reflecting the business background of Trump and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, the plan's principal author, the first phase of the peace proposal was launched at an economic conference in Bahrain last June. It called for a $50 billion investment fund to boost the Palestinian and neighbouring Arab state economies. Kushner said he believed a deal could unlock prosperity for the Palestinians, and security for Israel. What are the plan's chances? Expectations are low. The last peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians collapsed in 2014. The elephant in the room is the two-state solution - the long-standing international formula to bring about peace by creating an independent Palestinian state living side-by-side with Israel. The United Nations and most nations around the world back the two-state solution, and it has underpinned every peace plan for decades. But the Trump administration has consistently refused to back the two-state solution. And in November it reversed decades of U.S. policy, when Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the U.S. 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 its security needs. Netanyahu has announced that he intends to annex all the settlements as well as most of the Jordan Valley, the strategic and fertile easternmost strip of the West Bank. Palestinians argue that the Jordan Valley, nearly 30 per cent of the West Bank, would be a vital part of their future state, as the breadbasket of the West Bank and its external border with Jordan. Can the U.S. be a broker? Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said Washington can no longer be regarded as a mediator in any peace talks with Israel. Since his election, Trump has made a series of moves that have delighted Israel but infuriated Palestinians. These include his 2017 decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The Palestinians fear the Trump plan will dash their hopes for an independent state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip - territories Israel captured in 1967. Abbas, whose Palestinian Authority exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank, has refused to engage politically with the Trump administration. Advertisement There was a standing ovation for Pompeo from an audience which included among others, prominent Jewish American including casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson, and Alan Dershowitz, fresh from defending Trump at his impeachment trial. Other members of his defense team including Mark Meadows, the North Carolina Republican congressman, and Lee Zeldin, the upstate New York congressman, as well as Republican House leaders Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise, and Texas GOP junior senator Ted Cruz. The proposals, which has been shrouded in secrecy, was revealed as the president's lawyers prepare to wrap his defense in his impeachment trial in the Senate. Netanyahu praised Trump for achieving 'the deal of the century'. Trump, whose team has long been working on the outlines of a plan, has repeatedly boasted that he is the most pro-Israeli U.S. president in history. The reaction of Jordan, which would retain its responsibilities over Jerusalem's al-Aqsa Mosque under the plan, will be particularly significant. And Jordan's foreign minister said on Tuesday the only path to a comprehensive and lasting Middle East peace was the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on 1967 lines and with East Jerusalem as its capital. 'Jordan supports every genuine effort aimed at achieving just and comprehensive peace that people will accept,' Ayman Safadi said in a statement issued after Trump's announcement. Palestinians, meanwhile, have already rejected the proposal. They say they were never included in crafting the proposals and they say it fails to address their wish to end Israeli occupation and the expansion, encouraged by Netanyahu, of Jewish settlements on Palestinian land. Last week, Trump said he had spoken to the Palestinians 'briefly.' 'We've spoken to them briefly. But we will speak to them in a period of time,' he said. 'And they have a lot of incentive to do it. I'm sure they maybe will react negatively at first but it's actually very positive for them.' Palestinian leaders have dismissed the U.S. peace initiative as one-sided. And Palestinian prime minister Mohammed Shtayyeh on Monday urged international powers to boycott the plan, which he said was designed 'to protect Trump from impeachment and protect Netanyahu from prison.' Netanyahu faces corruption charges in Israel for bribery, fraud and breach of trust. 'It is not a Middle East peace plan,' Shtayyeh told a cabinet meeting. 'This plan gives Israel sovereignty over Palestinian territory.' Trump has slashed aid to the Palestinians, while making big concessions to the Israelis, including formalizing U.S. recognition of the divided city of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital. The Palestinians seek the West Bank as the heartland of a future independent state and east Jerusalem as their capital. Most of the international community supports their position, but Trump has reversed decades of U.S. foreign policy by siding more blatantly with Israel. The centerpiece of his strategy was recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moving the American Embassy there. He's also closed Palestinian diplomatic offices in Washington and cut funding to Palestinian aid programs. Those policies have proven popular among Trump's evangelical and pro-Israel supporters and could give him a much-needed boost from his base as the Senate weighs whether to remove him from office and as he gears up for a reelection battle this year. Kushner, a Trump adviser and the Republican president's son-in-law, has been the architect for the plan for nearly three years. He's tried to persuade academics, lawmakers, former Mideast negotiators, Arab governments and special-interest groups not to reject his fresh approach outright. Trump's peace initiative was expected in the autumn but has been subject to multiple postponements. The Palestinians refuse to even speak to Trump, saying he's biased in favor of Israel, and they are calling on Arab representatives to reject the Tuesday event at the White House. The Palestinian leadership also has encouraged protests in the West Bank, raising fears that the announcement in Washington could spark a new round of violence. Ahead of the announcement, the Israeli military said it was reinforcing infantry troops along the Jordan Valley. DeAndre Arnolds dreadlocks are not a fashion statement or a teenage gesture of defiance. They are a connection to his Trinidadian heritage, a symbol of pride in who he is and where his family comes from. For the high school senior, as for many black people, hair is an integral part of identity. But right before winter break, the Barbers Hill High School principal told DeAndre and his mother that the teenager would face in-school suspension and be banned from walking in his graduation ceremony unless he cut his hair. The incident set off a firestorm on social media. Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins tweeted support: Never cut your locks Deandre Arnold. So did actress Gabrielle Union, who exhorted: KEEP FIGHTING!!! They truly believe if you stay quiet, they've won. Don't be quiet. Do not let this stand. DeAndre has since withdrawn from Barbers Hill ISD and enrolled in another school, the family told Fox 26, but the case illustrates how school dress policies, workplace regulations, and everyday interactions unfairly penalize black people for styles that are associated with culture and heritage. Last week, a second Pearland ISD student, who said school officials used a permanent marker in 2017 to fill in a design on his fade haircut, joined a federal lawsuit against the district. Last year, two black teenagers said they were denied jobs at Six Flags Over Texas because of their hairstyles. In a suburban New Orleans Catholic school, a video showing a sixth-grader in tears because of a policy banning hair extensions led to a lawsuit and public outcry. The lawsuit was dropped after the policy was rescinded. Whether its hair discrimination or other forms of barriers, these are proxies employed to limit the mobility of black people in public spaces, said Patricia Okonta, an attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. They really strike at the freedom and dignity of black people and they maintain this myth of white supremacy. On the surface, such policies dont seem directed at specific races or ethnicities, Okonta told the editorial board, but in practice, they profile a black person or person of color based on characteristics associated with them. Take a look, for example, at school dress codes. A 2018 National Womens Law Center report found that policies dictating student clothing and hair styles disproportionately target girls of color, leading to increased rates of suspension and feeding the school-to-prison pipeline. In Barbers Hill ISD, about an hour east of Houston, district officials contend that the discipline handed out to DeAndre was due to the length of his hair, not the dreadlocks. The dress code policy states that boys hair must be above the collar, earlobes and eyes. DeAndre, in fact, had been wearing his hair in a bun to abide by that policy. Superintendent Greg Poole further defended the district policy by conflating hair style with high expectations. BH has received scrutiny regarding our high level of expectations on all things & dress code, Poole tweeted. Yet our African American students beat the state average on passing STAR by 22% & our overall passing scores are the highest in the state. Sounds like high expectations work! As Bernice King, the daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., asked the Barbers Hill superintendent in a tweet: How is the length of locks connected to high expectations? Actually, meting out suspensions for dreadlocks, hair extensions, corn rows and other traditionally black hairstyles hurts academic performance by robbing students of valuable instructional time. My hair has nothing to do with my excellence, as we say in Barbers Hill, DeAndre, an A and B student, told KHOU-11. How smart I am, what job Im going to get my hair doesnt determine that. I determine that for my character. Instead of defending the policy, Barbers Hill officials should be examining how the current guidelines impact black students, who make up about 3 percent of the student body. That would put the district in line with a growing movement across the country to discard dress codes that unfairly single out black people and other racial and ethnic groups. In 2017, the U.S. Army revised a directive to allow dreadlocks, something black female soldiers had sought for years. In Houston, following the death of Harris County Sheriffs Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal, the police department changed its policy to allow religious minorities to wear clothes central to their faith. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) has also introduced the CROWN Act (Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair), that would ban workplace discrimination based on hair textures and hair styles. Similar legislation has also been passed in several counties and states, including Maryland, New Jersey and New York. An additional 20 states are considering similar bills. Texas must join those ranks and outlaw the policing of black hair. There should be no place in our schools or workplaces for discrimination disguised as a dress code. Terming India's amended Citizenship Act as anti-minority, a group of eminent human rights and social activists, including Magsaysay Award winner Sandeep Pandey, has claimed that the freedom of expression is under threat in the world's largest democracy. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed in December last year, prompting protests across India. According to the CAA, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014 following religious persecution there will get Indian citizenship. During a US Congressional briefing on the 'Implications of India's Citizenship Law' held at the Capitol Building on Monday, eminent human rights and social activists claimed that the freedom of expression is under threat in India. "In 27 years of working as an activist, I have experienced unprecedented curb on fundamental rights of freedom of expression, to assemble peaceably and to move about anywhere within India over the past six months," Pandey said. The Uttar Pradesh Police last week booked rights activist Pandey for allegedly making inappropriate comments against Hindutva ideologue Vir Savarkar while addressing anti-citizenship law protestors at the Aligarh Muslim University. The briefing was organised by the Indian American Muslim Council, the Hindus for Human Rights, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and American Muslim advocacy body Emgage Action. However, there was no panellist to represent the perspective of the other side. Pandey alleged the present dispensation has become the enemy of people who participated in protests against the CAA and the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC). The NRC exercise was conducted in Assam on the directions of the Supreme Court. Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month said his government has never discussed the NRC since coming to power for the first time in 2014 and it was done only in Assam. Harrison Akins, policy analyst (South Asia) from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), claimed the recent events in India have sparked great outrage not only by governments and international organisations, but also from citizens of all faiths across India who have been bravely exercising their democratic right of peaceful protest against the CAA. Indian officials have maintained that the CAA is a matter entirely internal to the country and the law was adopted through democratic means after a public debate in both houses of Parliament. Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday said his government brought in the CAA to correct "historical" injustices and recalled the Nehru-Liaquat pact to assert that the law fulfills India's "old promise" to religious minorities in the neighbouring countries. Speaking at the Congressional briefing, Akins alleged that in recent years, conditions for religious minorities have "deteriorated precipitously" in India. "From instituting more aggressive bans and stricter punishments for cow slaughter and religious conversion activities, minorities are increasingly marginalised and discriminated against," he claimed. Francisco Bencosme, Asia Pacific Advocacy Manager of the Amnesty International USA, demanded that the Indian government should "repeal the CAA" and "stop cracking down on protesters". "We ask here today for the Modi government to repeal the CAA and stop cracking down on protesters and ensure that its citizens have the right to peaceful assembly," he said. John Sifton, Asia Advocacy Director of Human Rights Watch, and Waris Hussain, adjunct professor, Howard University School of Law, also spoke at the Congressional briefing. In recent weeks, there have been series of rallies organised across the US both for and against the CAA. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Venturex Resources Limited's (ASX:VXR): Venturex Resources Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration and development of mineral resources in Australia. On 30 June 2019, the AU$31m market-cap posted a loss of -AU$2.7m for its most recent financial year. The most pressing concern for investors is VXRs path to profitability when will it breakeven? Ive put together a brief outline of industry analyst expectations for VXR, its year of breakeven and its implied growth rate. View our latest analysis for Venturex Resources VXR is bordering on breakeven, according to Metals and Mining analysts. They expect the company to post a final loss in 2020, before turning a profit of AU$12m in 2021. So, VXR is predicted to breakeven approximately a couple of months from now! How fast will VXR have to grow each year in order to reach the breakeven point by 2021? Working backwards from analyst estimates, it turns out that they expect the company to grow 51% year-on-year, on average, which is extremely buoyant. Should the business grow at a slower rate, it will become profitable at a later date than expected. ASX:VXR Past and Future Earnings, January 29th 2020 Underlying developments driving VXRs growth isnt the focus of this broad overview, but, take into account that typically metals and mining companies, depending on the stage of operation and metals mined, have irregular periods of cash flow. This means, large upcoming growth rates are not abnormal as the company is beginning to reap the benefits of earlier investments. One thing Id like to point out is that VXR has managed its capital judiciously, with debt making up 0.2% of equity. This means that VXR has predominantly funded its operations from equity capital,and its low debt obligation reduces the risk around investing in the loss-making company. Next Steps: There are key fundamentals of VXR which are not covered in this article, but I must stress again that this is merely a basic overview. For a more comprehensive look at VXR, take a look at VXRs company page on Simply Wall St. Ive also compiled a list of pertinent aspects you should further examine: Valuation: What is VXR worth today? Has the future growth potential already been factored into the price? The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether VXR is currently mispriced by the market. Management Team: An experienced management team on the helm increases our confidence in the business take a look at who sits on Venturex Resourcess board and the CEOs back ground. 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. 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. India continued its three-year-long silence on the contentious issue of making East Jerusalem the capital of Palestine, even as it cautiously reacted to American President Donald Trump's West Asia peace proposal on Wednesday. New Delhi stressed that Israel and Palestine should hold direct negotiation to reach a two-state solution for peaceful coexistence and suggested that they might include the US proposal in the agenda for talks. A day after Trump unveiled his West Asia peace plan at the White House in Washington, India reiterated that it had been consistently supportive of the cause of Palestine and had also called called for a two-state solution to settle the Israel-Palestine conflict. We reiterate our view that the final status issues should be resolved through direct negotiations between the two Parties and be acceptable to both, Raveesh Kumar, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said. Trump was joined by Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, when he formally made public his peace-proposal. No leader of Palestine was present on the occasion. The plan envisages creation of a State of Palestinian along with recognition of Israeli sovereignty over its settlements in West Bank. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rejected the peace plan, primarily because it sought to recognize Jerusalem as undivided capital of Israel. US President said that some areas of East Jerusalem could be part of the capital of the State of Palestine. It however failed to convince Palestinian President, who said that Jerusalem was not for sale. New Delhi on Wednesday urged both Israel and Palestine to engage with each other, including on the recent proposals put forward by the United States, and find an acceptable two-state solution for peaceful coexistence. India has since long been maintaining that Israel-Palestine conflict should be resolved through negotiation resulting in sovereign, independent, viable and united State of Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living within secure and recognized borders, side by side at peace with Israel as endorsed in the Quartet Roadmap and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. New Delhi's long-held view was last articulated in its statement presented at a committee of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on December 5, 2016. India, however, stopped calling for East Jerusalem to be the capital of Palestine in 2017. Hosting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in New Delhi in May 2017, Modi did call for a sovereign, independent, united and viable Palestine, co-existing peacefully with Israel, but avoided supporting the demand for East Jerusalem to be the capital of Palestine. He also carefully avoided referring to it during his visit to Israel in July 2017 the first by a Prime Minister of India, although the two countries had established formal diplomatic relations in 1992. His message on the occasion of International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian People on November 29 last year also had no reference to East Jerusalem to be capital of the future state of Pakistan. Netanyahu had called Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. They had exchanged views on global and regional matters of mutual interest and agreed to remain in touch, including in the context of the forthcoming initiatives and developments regarding the region, according to a press-release issued by the MEA. Generational Group Announces Refinitiv/Thomson M&A Rankings Generational Group, a leading middle market investment bank for privately held businesses is pleased to announce that for the 10th year in a row the firm is ranked #1 in transactions valued up to $25 million and for the 5th year it is ranked #2 in deals valued up to $100 million. This is according to the 2019 Refinitiv/Thomson Reuters transactional data. You can view the rankings here: - 2019 Refinitiv/Thomson Reuters Rankings The company is also ranked #9 in transactions up to $500 million in the U.S. according to Refinitiv/Thomson's (News - Alert) Global M&A Mid-Market Advisory Review. Serving more than 40,000 institutions in approximately 190 countries, Refinitiv/Thomson Reuters (News - Alert) provides information, insights and technology that drive innovation and performance in global financial markets. Their heritage of integrity enables their customers to make critical decisions with confidence whle their best-in-class data and cutting-edge technologies enable greater opportunity. Thomson Reuters was rebranded in 2019 as Refinitiv. The rankings are based on data submitted by investment banks, M&A advisory firms, business brokers and others to Refinitiv/Thomson who then verify the data and compile it into their database annually. Other notable M&A leaders in the rankings include: JP Morgan (News - Alert), Houlihan Lokey, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, CIBC World Markets Inc, Piper Jaffray Cos, Raymond James Financial Inc, and William Blair & Co to name only a few. Ryan Binkley, President & CEO of Generational stated, "It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team to be highly ranked in these M&A league tables. Although the rankings are important to us, we never lose sight of the fact that each deal we close represents a business owner and a family that we have successfully guided on their exit journey." Brenen Hofstadter, Chief M&A Officer for Generational Group added, "Each of the last three years ranks as one of our best three years in firm history based on number of closed transactions. This is reflective of our extraordinary deal team, investment in our M&A Buyer Marketing group, our DealForce App, and the M&A market as a whole. 2020 has also started strong." About Generational Group Generational Equity, Generational Capital Markets (member FINRA/SIPC), Generational Wealth Advisors, and DealForce are part of the Generational Group, which is headquartered in Dallas and is one of the leading middle market investment banks in North America. With over 250 professionals located throughout North America, the companies help business owners increase and release the wealth of their business by providing merger, acquisition, and wealth management services. Their five-step approach features exit planning education, business valuation, value enhancement strategies, M&A transactional services, and wealth management. The M&A Advisor named the company the 2016, 2017, and 2018 Investment Banking Firm of the Year. For more information, visit https://www.generational.com or the Generational Group press room. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200129005607/en/ WILMINGTON, Del., Jan. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rigrodsky & Long, P.A.: Rigrodsky & Long, P.A. announces that it has filed a class action complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware on behalf of holders of IBERIABANK Corporation (IBERIABANK) (NASDAQ GS: IBKC) common stock in connection with the proposed acquisition of IBERIABANK by First Horizon National Corporation (First Horizon) announced on November 4, 2019 (the Complaint). The Complaint, which alleges violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 against IBERIABANK, its Board of Directors (the Board), and First Horizon, is captioned Parshall v. IBERIABANK Corporation, Case No. 1:20-cv-00027 (D. Del.). If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, please contact plaintiffs counsel, Seth D. Rigrodsky or Gina M. Serra at Rigrodsky & Long, P.A., 300 Delaware Avenue, Suite 1220, Wilmington, DE 19801, by telephone at (888) 969-4242, by e-mail at info@rl-legal.com, or at http://rigrodskylong.com/contact-us/. On November 3, 2019, IBERIABANK entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the Merger Agreement) with First Horizon. Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, shareholders of IBERIABANK will receive 4.584 shares of First Horizon common stock for each share of IBERIABANK common stock they own (the Proposed Transaction). Among other things, the Complaint alleges that, in an attempt to secure shareholder support for the Proposed Transaction, defendants issued materially incomplete disclosures in a Form S-4 Registration Statement (the Registration Statement) filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The Complaint alleges that the Registration Statement omits material information with respect to, among other things, the Companys and First Horizons financial projections and the analyses performed by IBERIABANKs financial advisors. The Complaint seeks injunctive and equitable relief and damages on behalf of holders of IBERIABANK common stock. Story continues If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than March 30, 2020. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Any member of the proposed class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Rigrodsky & Long, P.A., with offices in Delaware, New York, and California, has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of investors and achieved substantial corporate governance reforms in numerous cases nationwide, including federal securities fraud actions, shareholder class actions, and shareholder derivative actions. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. CONTACT: Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, January 29, 2020 12:35 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20617c387 1 Art & Culture Leonardo-da-Vinci,exhibition,Italian-Cultural-Institute-Jakarta Free The Leonardo Opera Omnia, an exhibition marking the 500th anniversary of Italian polymath Leonardo da Vincis death, is scheduled to be held at the Bank Mandiri Museum in Central Jakarta from Feb. 6 to March 3. The Leonardo Opera Omnia exhibition would allow visitors to understand da Vinci's life by revealing it through his paintings, is part of a collaboration between the Italian Embassy in Jakarta, the Italian Cultural Institute and the museum. Curated by renowned Italian art historian Antonio Paolucci, Leonardo Opera Omnia is to display 17 high-definition reproductions of da Vincis paintings in their original scales, including his two most celebrated works, The Last Supper and Mona Lisa. Launched in February last year, the Leonardo Opera Omnia exhibition has been held in several places in other Asian countries, including China, Malaysia and Myanmar. Throughout this year, both the Italian Embassy in Jakarta and the Italian Cultural Institute will also hold a series of events related to the European Renaissance period that started in the 14th century in Florence, Italy. The period is said to mark the golden era of cultural achievements in Europe. Among the events to be held are a one-day seminar entitled "Study Day Dedicated to the Conservation and Valorization of Heritage" on Feb. 19 at the National Gallery of Indonesia that would feature an Italian conservation expert and a Renaissance costume exhibition from Feb. 10 to 22 at the Italian Cultural Institute in Central Jakarta. The organizers are also to hold a theater performance dubbed Maturina fantesca, erede di Leonardo da Vinci by Patrizia Balloni on Feb. 24 at Gedung 9 of School of Cultural Sciences in the University of Indonesia in Depok, West Java. (wir/kes) (Alliance News) - EUA lawmakers have overwhelminglyA approved legislation allowing Britain to leave the EU this week, removing the final major hurdle before Brexit can happen. The European Parliament voted in favour of the Brexit withdrawal agreement by 621 votes to 49 against. A simple majority was required in the 751-seat legislature. EUA member states must now give their final approval to the deal in a written procedure that should be a formality. Britain is due to leave the EU at midnight on Friday, three-and-a-half years after Britons narrowly voted in favour of leaving the EU in a 2016 referendum. Little will change in practice for the duration of an 11-month transitional phase. /hm/ejo/DP Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 11:39:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC), a top Chinese power generator, seeks to reap a higher net profit in 2020 amid the country's efforts to promote energy transition. Established in 2015 through a merger of the China Power Investment Corporation and the State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation, the SPIC pledged a net profit of 12 billion yuan (about 1.74 billion U.S. dollars) in 2020, higher than the record 10.8-billion-yuan mark in 2019. It will add 171 million kilowatts of energy capacity by the end of 2020, with the installed capacity of clean energy accounting for no less than 54 percent. China has adopted a slew of measures to encourage the development of clean energy with aims to make non-fossil energy meet 20 percent of its energy needs by 2030. In 2019, the proportion of China's clean energy sources in the total energy consumption mix rose to 24 percent, up from 23 percent in 2018. While subsidies to the new energy power generation sector are slumping, photovoltaic power, wind power and even offshore wind power generation will still become cheaper in the future, according to the president of the SPIC, Jiang Yi. A few days after the Gautam Buddh District Administration transferred 1,334 hectares of land required for the first phase of Jewar Airport project to the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), BN Singh, District Magistrate, GB Nagar, told Moneycontrol that the told cost of land acquisition, compensation and rehabilitation for the mega airport project is Rs 4,500 crore. "The district administration on January 27 transferred the last parcel of land acquired for Jewar airport to the Yamuna Authority. In total, 1,334 hectares of land has been transferred in the first phase. This acquisition was done in record time of just about six months. This is perhaps the fastest ever under the new Act," said Singh, adding that about Rs 3,060 crore have already been disbursed as compensation to farmers. As for the way forward, he said the next challenge would be to give compensation against assets acquired. "In case somebody is not willing to take up the job (option), we will have to give Rs 5 lakh per adult. That process will be completed within a month or so. The third phase will be re-habilitate and resettle these people for which we have identified the place Jewar Banger. It is about 48 hectares of land. The process is on. The rehabilitation and resettlement process should be over in the next one-and-half years," he said. The mega project will definitely boost the real estate market in the region, he told Moneycontrol. "This district was an industrial area. Both the activities (industrial and real estate) have stagnated. This mega infrastructure activity combined with the dedicated freight corridor, which is coming up in Dadri and is going to be a logistics hub, will give a fillip to all such activities, including real estate and industry," he said. Commenting on the circle rates in the area, Singh said: "Economic slowdown hurt the circle rates in areas where the land parcels were acquired for the development of the airport. However, we made sure we give the best price to the farmers." The collector decides on the circle rate every August under various categories residential, commercial, institutional and industrial. The circle rate of the area was not increased this year because of the overall slowdown in the market. Transactions had slowed down and therefore the circumstances were not conducive to increasing the circle rates," he said. "Despite slowdown, we did not reduce the circle rates as we did not want the compensation to farmers to be impacted. To ensure there was no loss to the farmers, we did not reduce the circle rates in the area," he added. It should be mentioned here that some farmers in six villages Ranhera, Rohi, Parohi, Kishorpur, Dayanatpur and Banwaribas had approached the Allahabad high court, seeking higher compensation for their land. While the administration has offered a price of Rs 2,500 per square metres, some farmers have demanded that they should get Rs 3,600 per square metres. "The compensation amount for those landowners, who did not accept compensation, has been deposited with the land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement tribunal set up in the district as per the Section 76/77 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013," he said. Going forward, the land will have to be handed over to Zurich International AG to develop the first phase of the project. The total land required for the entire project is 5,000 hectares. A special purpose vehicle Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL) has been constituted to execute the Jewar airport project. Retired Chief Special Operator Edward Gallagher, the Navy SEAL who was accused and acquitted of several war crimes, has posted a video on Facebook and Instagram attacking his former platoon members who testified against him during his court-martial. In the video, posted Monday, Gallagher called the men "cowards" and highlighted their "names, photos, and for those still on active duty their duty status and current units," the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. While covering Gallagher's case, the Union-Tribune reported the names of some of his platoon mates, but did not publish their photos. Gallagher was acquitted on several charges, including murdering a captured 17-year-old Islamic State suspect, but was found guilty on one charge related to posing for photos with the militant's corpse, resulting in his demotion. President Trump intervened in the case multiple times, saying Gallagher was being treated "very unfairly," and in November he overruled the SEAL commander and Navy Secretary and ordered Gallagher's rank restored. Gallagher now routinely appears on conservative programs and has appeared alongside Trump at political fundraisers. SEALs have been the targets of terrorist groups, and publicizing their names and photos endangers them and the Navy's mission, former SEALs told the Union-Tribune. David Shaw, a former petty officer 1st class, defended the men. "Each and every one of the guys who came forward were performers of the highest caliber and people of the highest reputations within the platoon," he said. "[One] was selected to serve at the most premier institution at Naval Special Warfare, and that tells you everything you need to know about his performance and speaks volumes about his character." More stories from theweek.com It's 2020 and women are exhausted Vanessa Bryant shares her family's grief: 'There aren't enough words to describe our pain' Did John Bolton actually do Trump a favor? According to Ponomarev, Putin has arranged the dissolution of the Russian government to calm the local elite. Former member of the Russian State Duma Ilya Ponomarev has said Russian President Vladimir Putin disbanded the government to boost his rating, although he did not really succeed. Read alsoRussia turning into totalitarian regime described by Orwell in '1984' novel Putin's ex-adviser "Any changes by people are perceived with confidence. But, as the latest polls show, his rating grew by a mere 2%. I think the main cause behind the government reshuffle in the short term is the effect of novelty. In the long run, when the president appoints as prime minister the person who is not too promoted as Dmitry Medvedev, but is a purely technical figure like Mikhail Mishustin, this means that Putin becomes fully responsible for the 'flubs.' The main cause behind the government's resignation is to take the heat off Medvedev, as well as to ensure that Medvedev is clean if it is necessary to implement another reshuffle," he told the Ukrainian-registered Apostrophe online media outlet. According to Ponomarev, Putin has arranged the dissolution of the Russian government to calm the local elite and throw dust in the eyes by the transfer of power, which in reality will happen no earlier than 2024. "Putin has time until 2024. He takes all decisions at the very last minute. Just those speculations in Russia exceeded a certain reasonable level, and therefore Putin has now tossed a bone to the entire Russian political elite: Look here is a certain scenario of the transition of power. Although it's clear that the word 'transition' is a false one since no matter what happens there, Putin will remain in power. The only question is in which position," the expert said. Last week, a well-connected Russian cybercrime boss, Aleksei Burkov, pleaded guilty to running an online criminal marketplace and a site that sold stolen credit and debit card data. What's even more intriguing, than the $20 million in fraudulent purchases that Burkov's site facilitated and the exclusive cybercrime ring he ran, is how badly Russia wanted to prevent Burkov from being extradited to the US. Burkov was arrested in 2015 at an airport near Tel Aviv. In 2017, an Israeli district court approved his extradition to the US, but Russia fought that decision for years. As Krebs on Security points out, the Russian government may be concerned that Burkov knows too much. In late 2019, Burkov was extradited to the US, and according to the US Attorney's Office, he pleaded guilty to access device fraud and conspiracy to commit computer intrusion, identity theft, wire and access device fraud and money laundering. He faces up to 15 years in prison when he's sentenced on May 8th. Burkov ran a website called Cardplanet, which sold card data, much of which belonged to US citizens. He also ran DirectConnection, an invitation-only website, where elite cybercriminals could advertise stolen goods, like personally identifying information and malicious software, as well as services, like money laundering and hacking. According to the US Attorney's Office, members had to be vouched for by three existing members and provide a sum of money, normally $5,000, as insurance. Other DirectConnection members included Maksim Yakubets of Moscow and Russian national Peter Levashov. In December, the FBI offered a $5 million reward for info leading Yakubets' arrest, and as you may remember, Levashov ran the notorious global spam botnet Kelihos. Burkov's plea represents another symbolic victory for American law enforcement's fight against international cybercriminals. Vietnam should prepare for all scenarios, including the worst-case one when thousands are infected with the novel coronavirus (nCoV), said Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam on Tuesday. The warning was given during a meeting of the Steering Committee for the Prevention and Control of Dangerous and Emerging Diseases, under the Ministry of Health, held in Hanoi. Vietnam is among several countries with confirmed infected cases after a pneumonia outbreak, caused by nCoV - a new strain of the coronavirus family that caused SARS and MERS, first surfaced in Wuhan City in December 2019. A report of the Vietnamese health ministry reveals that as of 6:00 pm on Tuesday, a total of 6,973 people had been suspected of being infected with the virus while 60 had been discharged from hospital after recovery around the world. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in China stands at 5,974 as of late Tuesday, Reuters quoted a report by Chinas National Health Commission. The death toll has climbed to 132, all in China, on Wednesday, according to the British news agency. In Vietnam, among the suspected cases, 25 have tested negative for nCoV and 35 are still kept in quarantine. Speaking at Tuesdays meeting, Deputy PM Dam assessed that Vietnam is doing well in controlling the acute respiratory disease caused by nCoV. However, he insisted functional forces work hard to prevent it from spreading, given the complex development of the disease in China. He asked the Ministry of Health to prepare medicines and necessary equipment and promptly detect and quarantine nCoV patients, urging centrally-run and provincial hospitals to swiftly set up emergency teams in different localities. Treatment methods for nCoV should be exchanged at online meetings to be jointly held by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Information and Communications, he said. According to Dang Quang Tan, deputy director of the Vietnam General Department of Preventive Medicine, those suspected of carrying the virus are being quarantined and supervised in Vietnam. Meanwhile, one of the two Chinese nationals who were the first confirmed cases of nCoV in Vietnam has recovered at Ho Chi Minh City-based Cho Ray Hospital, according to Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Truong Son. This proves that the Vietnamese medical sector has sufficient capacity to treat nCoV patients, Son underlined. At Tuesdays meeting, Deputy PM Dam also asked the Ministry of Health to complete and update its plans to deal with nCoV in specific situations on Monday. According to the health ministrys assessment, the nCoV epidemic in Vietnam currently stands at level 1, which means there are infected cases. The ministry also said that it is already ready to cope with level 2, when there is local contagion, and has a plan to respond to level 3 when there are over 20 infected cases according to ASEAN standards. Deputy PM Dam asked that the health ministry continue to follow the prepared plan while working to add more specific scenarios, including the worst-case one where the number of infected cases in Vietnam reaches into the thousands. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Sharjeel Imam, who was booked for sedition for his provocative speeches, was on Wednesday morning brought to Patna airport by Delhi police, who arrested him from Bihar's Jehanabad and have taken a transit remand. Meanwhile, chaos ensued outside the airport as mediapersons attempted to question Patna police personnel over shifting of Imam. Media personnel were manhandled by police at Patna Airport, while JNU student Sharjeel Imam was being taken to Delhi on transit remand. Four media personnel, including ANI camera persons, were injured in the incident. Arrested by a team of Delhi police from Bihar's Jehanabad area on Tuesday, Imam will be brought back to Delhi today. Yesterday, Jehanabad court had granted his transit remand to Delhi Police. "We are taking transit remand from Bihar and trying to bring him to Delhi from the shortest possible route," Rajesh Deo, DCP Crime Branch, Delhi Police told reporters after the court order. Sharjeel had stoked controversy with his "cut off Assam from India" remark. Jehanabad Police also detained Sharjeel's younger brother Muzammil Imam in the early hours of Tuesday. The Crime Branch of Delhi Police on Sunday booked Sharjeel for his controversial speech that he allegedly made a few days ago. He has been slapped with charges of sedition and inciting enmity between communities under Sections 124A, 153A and 505 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Separately, a case has been registered against the JNU student by the Uttar Pradesh Police for his controversial speech delivered during the students' protest at Aligarh Muslim University on January 16 against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Register of Citizens (NRC). A series of videos have gone viral on social media in which Sharjeel is heard saying: "If we all come together, then we can separate the Northeast from India. If we cannot do it permanently, then at least for one to two months, we can do this." "It is our responsibility to cut Assam from India. When this happens, only then the government will listen to us," he is heard saying further in the video. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) TO VIEW MORE NEWS STORY, PLEASE CLICK ON NEWS TAB ON MAIN MENU BAR Quim Torra in the Catalan parliament. ALBERT GARCIA The Catalan premier Quim Torra on Monday refused to give up his seat in the regional parliament, ignoring decisions by the Supreme Court and the Central Electoral Board stripping him of his credentials after he was found guilty of disobeying electoral rules. The separatist leader called on the speaker of the Catalan parliament, Roger Torrent, to also ignore these orders, but the latter refused and warned Torra that if he took part in the days voting, his vote would not be counted. Losing his seat in parliament does not automatically mean Torra could not continue to serve as the Catalan premier In the end, Torra got all the representatives from his own party, Together for Catalonia (JxCAT), to abstain from voting on four motions that were on Mondays agenda. The move evidenced the division between JxCAT and the Catalan Republican Left (ERC), the other main separatist force in the regional chamber, and took the region one step closer to early elections. Speaker Torrent, of ERC, had said that the parliament urgently needed to vote on important matters such as the budget or financial aid to repair the damage caused by Storm Gloria. But Torra argued that obeying the orders against him would be to dismantle the Catalan institutions. Torra demanded that he not be stripped of his seat in the regional parliament, after the speakers committee in the chamber backed a decision from the Barcelona Electoral Board to substitute him as a lawmaker. The general secretary of the Catalan parliament, Xavier Muro, had announced earlier on Monday that he had ordered the start of procedures to name another deputy from JxCAT party to take Torras place. Spains Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that Torra should lose his status as a deputy until it issues a final ruling on the politicians appeal against his 18-month 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. Catalan Socialist Party leader Miquel Iceta reiterated his call for early regional elections 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. 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 18-month ban from public office for disobedience. And the administrative bench must review the decision of the National Electoral Board (JEC) to strip Torra of his position as deputy in the Catalan parliament because of this ban from public office. At the start of a parliamentary session on Monday afternoon, Torra asked to take the floor and called on the speaker of the chamber, Roger Torrent, to guarantee his rights as a deputy as he has always done. Not doing so, the hardline Catalan separatist argued, would be to put the continuity of the institutions at risk. When he finished speaking, Torra was applauded by just a smattering of deputies in the chamber. The deputy premier, Pere Aragones of the Catalan Republican Left (ERC), remained in his seat and did not clap. When it was the turn of the opposition to take the floor, the speaker suspended the session for several minutes after deputies from center-right group Ciudadanos, which opposes independence for Catalonia, began to chant Criminal, criminal at Torra. Minutes later, the head of the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC), Miquel Iceta, took the floor, arguing that the division among the pro-independence forces in the parliament is stopping you from governing. Iceta reiterated his demand for regional elections to be called. Torra responded by claiming that the Spanish state wanted to usurp his role as deputy, and called on Torrent to respect the will of the voters who had put him in office. Earlier, the speaker told the parliament that he disagreed with the decision by the JEC, but that any votes passed in the chamber in which Torra participated would be declared null and void. Jessica Albiach, a deputy from Catalunya en Comu Podem, called on Torra to stop this disobedience, which doesnt lead anywhere. The speakers committee has backed the removal of Torras seat, but believes that he can continue to serve as premier under the governing rules of the chamber. In the wake of the decision, Together for Catalunya was seeking to hold a vote on whether or not the general secretary of the parliament has the powers to rule on the removal of Torra from his seat . Pro-independence groups in the parliament who are governing in coalition held meetings over the weekend in a bid to reach a unified response to the decision made by the JEC, but were unable to do so. The president of the ERC group, Sergi Sabria, said after the speakers committees decision emerged: We have to protect the role of premier, we will do all that we can so that he continues to be a deputy, but at the same time we have to guarantee the validity of votes as important as the budget and the sovereignty of parliament. The head of Ciudadanos in Catalonia, Lorena Roldan, welcomed the decision by the speakers committee, and warned that if Torra entrenched himself in the role, her party would do everything within its reach to have him removed. Both Ciudadanos and the conservative Popular Party (PP) no longer consider Torra to be the regional premier of Catalonia. English version by Simon Hunter. Fidelity Investments is the latest broker to offer partial stock trades to clients, as online trading platforms bid for investors in a crowded industry. The largest online broker said Wednesday its clients can now trade fractions of stocks and exchange traded funds. This "dollar-based trading" option will allow individual investors to own any company they want, regardless of the share price. If a client has $100 to invest, they can still own e-commerce giant Amazon, who's stock price is around $1,850 per share. "Customers can now own a piece of their favorite companies and ETFs based on how much they want to invest, independent of the share price," head of Fidelity's brokerage platform Scott Ignall said in the release. Fidelity, with $8.3 trillion in client assets, is not the first company to take a stab at offering partial stock trades. In 2019, competitor Charles Schwab announced it would offer fractional trading sometime this year. Plus, smaller companies like Stockpile, which was founded in 2010, have provided this type of service for 99 cents per trade. Other companies that offer partial trades are M1 Finance, Betterment and Stash. A major distributor in the online trading industry, Silicon-Valley startup Robinhood, paved the way for brokers dropping commission fees. It started offering fractional trading in December of 2019. The six-year old company told CNBC more than 200,000 Robinhood users were "already in line" for fractional stock trading on the app in the few hours of announcing the service. Bigger brokers such as Fidelity, with 23 million broker accounts, and Schwab, are bidding for Robinhood's millennial-focused client base. Robinhood topped 10 million accounts last year. "Fidelity will execute all fractional trades in real-time during market hours, meaning customers will always know the share price, unlike some firms that execute fractional trades at the end of a trading day or wait for multiple orders to add up to full shares," the firm said. GRAND RAPIDS, MI Sandy Point Beach House, a restaurant in West Olive, is opening a second location in Grand Rapids. Geoff Gaskin, president of CDKI Holdings, said he plans on Feb. 1 to close his restaurant, Zoko822, located at 822 Ottawa Ave. NW, and reopen the space by the second week of February as Sandy Point Beach House GR. He said he plans, at some point this year, to reopen Zoko822 at 2130 Plainfield Ave. NE. Zoko822 is a Spanish tapas and gin bar that opened in December 2017. Sandy Point Beach House GRs menu will feature items such as burgers, halibut, steak and frites, roasted chicken and mussels. The restaurant has seating for 99 people and an outdoor patio with space for 100 people, Gaskin said. Bringing Sandy Point Beach Houses standard of Live Jazz Thursdays, Easy Listening Music Fridays, and our renowned Reggae Saturdays to the new Grand Rapids location this summer should make for a great time, Gaskin said. Gaskin said he thinks Sandy Point Beach House Grand Rapids will be a better fit for the 822 Ottawa Ave. NW location than Zoko 822. Thats in part because Sandy Points menu and atmosphere will better complement Street Eats GR, a food truck court with a full-service bar located at a parking lot adjacent to 822 Ottawa Ave., he said. In addition to Zoko822 and Sandy Point Beach House, Gaskins company, CDKI Dining, also owns MeXo, a Mexican restaurant at 118 Fulton St. E in Grand Rapids. Read more: West Michigan county supports refugee resettlement after much public comment New mini doc offers view of $1M Lake Huron reef restoration project How to watch Gov. Gretchen Whitmers State of the State address 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: Indians stuck in China will have to mandatory undergo 14-day quarantine on arrival International oi-PTI Beijing, Jan 29: Over 250 Indians, mostly students, stuck in Hubei province, the epicentre of the deadly coronavirus, will have to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine on their arrival in India, the Indian Embassy said on Tuesday as it started preparations to evacuate them. The Indian nationals, mostly students, research scholars and professionals are working in Indian and international companies in central China's Hubei province for which Wuhan is the capital. China has reported 24 more deaths from coronavirus epidemic, taking the number of fatalities to 106 as the confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the outbreak stand at 4,515, the health authorities announced on Tuesday. 2019-nCoV: Delhi tourist suspected of coronavirus admitted in Goa medical college In a fresh communication to the stranded Indians, the Indian Embassy said, "Government of India has begun the process to prepare for evacuation of Indian nationals affected by the situation arising out of Corona-2019 virus outbreak in Hubei Province, China." "Embassy of India, Beijing is in touch with the Chinese government authorities to work out date and logistics of the evacuation," it said. "Please be informed that those availing of this option will have to undergo a mandatory 14 days' quarantine on arrival in India," it said. Nirbhaya Case: Convict Akshay Kumar Singh files curative petition in SC | Oneindia News Many of the stranded Indians have been representing to the Indian government to evacuate them at the earliest. The Indian Embassy has opened three hotlines to help them and collect the details of the Indian nationals. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said the government is planning to send a plane to Wuhan in China to evacuate Indians stuck there due to the outbreak of coronavirus. "Further details regarding date and logistics of the evacuation will be communicated in due course. You are requested to be patient and wait for further updates and instructions," the communication said. Thousands foreign nationals from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh besides large number of nationals from African countries were reportedly held up in the province. Chinese officials on Monday held talks with diplomats of India and other countries to discuss the evacuation arrangements. Coronavirus outbreak: China urges citizens to delay foreign travel over virus fears China has already permitted to evacuate US and various other countries which had Consulates in Wuhan. Barring Tibet, all Chinese provinces have reported the virus cases, posing a major challenge for the health authorities to contain it. Overseas confirmed cases have been reported in Thailand (7), Japan (3), South Korea (3), the United States (3), Vietnam (2), Singapore (4), Malaysia (3), Nepal (1), France (3), Australia (4) and Sri Lanka (1). SureFire CPR SureFire CPR, an organization dedicated to educating people in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation in Orange County California, has officially been named one of the Top Ten Small Businesses in the Top Workplaces 2019 survey conducted by the Orange County Register. The Top Workplaces awards have been based on the results of an employee feedback survey administered by a leading research firm, Energage LLC, which is connected with the Orange County Register, and which specializes in organizational health and workplace improvement. The survey measures several aspects of workplace culture, including Alignment, Execution, and Connection, all of which measure the health and wellbeing of employees within each company. Energages research has indicated that the top workplaces have a strong belief in where their organizations are headed, ways to achieve those goals, and the ability to work together to meet those achievements. The sense that all employees are in it together is a major contributor to the ability to become a Top Workplace. With our sixth win in a row, we must thank the team members that have maintained such dedication and faith in keeping SureFire CPR a Top Workplace, says Vanessa Zarrilli, CEO. Our team members have been instrumental in being able to promote safety and instruct people of all ages and experience levels to complete courses like CPR and First Aid and advanced medical training. This year, SureFire CPR has ranked ninth overall in the Small Business category, which included 80 small businesses with between 35 to 99 employees. The Orange County Register published results of Energages survey in December 2019. Additionally, the Orange County Register hosted a gala for winners, which saw a large attendee turnout. 2019 is the twelfth year of the survey and the sixth placement for SureFire CPR. SureFire CPRs employees are both instructors and first responders. They have been professional firefighters, paramedics, nurses, and emergency medical technicians who have responded to 911 emergencies on a daily basis, which informs each persons instructional expertise. SureFire CPRs employees have created a lifesaving course that is unparalleled and unrivaled. With training in training in CPR, AED (Automated External Defibrillator), and Basic First Aid for the general public and host a wide range of classes for Healthcare Providers, SureFire CPR instructors are able to provide educational experiences for all. About SureFire CPR: SureFire CPR offers professional, affordable and convenient CPR instruction to the greater Southern California area. At their industry leading training facilities in Orange County and Riverside County, CPR classes and other certification programs are available to the public are and taught by professional firefighters, paramedics, lifeguards, ER nurses and EMTs. SureFire CPR also offers onsite training and CPR certification in Southern California for those wishing to learn at their home or business. Interested in becoming a CPR instructor with Surefire CPR? Fill out the CPR instructor application form. More Chinese medical teams sent to aid coronavirus control People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 12:03, January 28, 2020 BEIJING, Jan. 27 -- More medical teams are rushing to central China's Hubei Province to aid the coronavirus control there. A team of 136 medical workers from 12 hospital run by the Beijing municipal health commission flew to Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province, on Monday, to join the fight against the coronavirus epidemic. By Sunday, a total of 1,423 cumulative confirmed cases of new pneumonia had been reported in Hubei, with 76 deaths and 221 cases in severe condition. "There are many unknown risks ahead, but the hospitals provide us with the best medical protection," said Li Tianshui, a team member from the Beijing Jishuitan Hospital. "We have the capability and also confidence in winning the battle against the epidemic as soon as possible." Shanghai sent another 50 medical workers to Wuhan by train on Monday night after sending a first batch of 136 medical workers three days ago on the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year. The country's southern-most island province of Hainan dispatched a team of 42 medical workers to Wuhan, the center of the coronavirus epidemic. The southeastern province of Fujian also sent a team of 135 doctors and nurses to Wuhan on Monday. The team arrived at the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport at noon, and soon joined the thousands of medical staff from all over the country to fight against the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). "Daddy is going to fight the monster. Take care of yourself and your grandparents," Wu Wenwei, a doctor of Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, told his 5-year-old daughter before leaving for Hubei. The 46-year-old team leader once served in the rescue work during the devastating Wenchuan earthquake in 2008 that left more than 80,000 people dead. Wu went to college in Wuhan, where many of his friends of good old days are working around the clock to treat patients of the novel coronavirus. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address It is hard to imagine that a species as charming as the cotton-top tamarin can end up being one of the worlds most threatened primates. Found only in the tropical forests of northern Colombia, this squirrel-sized New World monkey, one of the worlds smallest primates, is admired for its luscious white locks, described by BBC as the funkiest hair in the animal kingdom. Its good looks have, however, got it into trouble as demand for pets has drastically reduced its population in the wild. Medical research has also gnawed away a massive population of the cotton-top tamarin. And currently, habitat loss is its biggest enemy. Despite the innumerable challenges to its conservation, Proyecto Titi, a conservation organization based in Colombia, and founded by Dr. Anne Savage, is determined to protect the species. Proyecto Titi (Project Cotton-top Tamarin) has made gigantic strides in this direction since its inception in 1985. World Atlas was privileged to interact with Dr. Savage to learn more about the plight of the fascinating cotton-top and the conservation strategies adopted by Proyecto Titi to save them. Photo: Two playful otton-top tamarins on a tree branch. Photo credit: Proyecto Titi The Story Of Colombias Cotton-tops When I first started working in Colombia in the late 1980s very few people knew that cotton-tops were endangered or found only in Colombia, said Dr. Savage, Executive Director, Proyecto Titi, Inc. Like all other threatened species of wildlife, cotton-tops were once abundant in the forests of Colombia until populations of the species succumbed to human greed. In 1973, the species was declared Endangered when demand for medical research led to the removal of 20,000 to 40,000 tamarins from the wild to the United States to serve as laboratory animals. Despite the threatened status, threats to the species continued, diversified, and intensified. Clearance of the cotton tops habitat for agriculture, housing, and fuel, and the capture of these animals for the illegal pet trade further decimated its population. After disappointing figures obtained from a census of the species conducted from 2005 to 2006, in 2008, the IUCNs Primate Specialist Group was compelled to recommend the classification of the cotton-top tamarin as Critically Endangered. Proyecto Titi Hasnt Give Up The complex issues associated with the protection of the cotton-tops, however, did not discourage concerned conservationists but further boosted their resolve to defend them. Proyecto Titi continues to lead conservation efforts to conserve cotton-tops using a multi-disciplinary approach that involves working with communities, governments, and the general public to inspire more people to join in conserving this tiny monkey. Proyecto Titi has field sites in Santa Catalina and in San Juan Nepomuceno and managed under the Colombian non-profit organization Fundacion Proyecto Titi. Dr. Savage, its founder, believes that developing effective long-term solutions demands a multidisciplinary approach. With this vision, Proyecto Titi has made significant strides in the conservation of the Critically Endangered cotton-top tamarins. The organization has worked with the Colombian government to declare the first two protected areas for the species in Colombia. The construction of an airport that would have cut through vital cotton-top tamarin habitat was also stopped. The scientific team at Proyecto Titi also devised ways to locate the otherwise elusive and small-sized cotton-tops in the wild by capturing and dyeing their fur with a hair dye before re-releasing in the wild. It made it possible for field researchers to locate them in the dense greenery of the forest and monitor their population. Radio transmitters have also been fitted on some individuals to help track their whereabouts in the forest. Photo: Innovative methods used to create awareness about the plight of the species. Image credit: Proyecto Titi Proyecto Titi also believes in the importance of involving the local community in saving the species. As such, they conduct educational and awareness programs to incorporate the locals in conservation activities. They try to provide alternative sources of income for the locals so that their dependence on the forest for subsistence decreases. They have also educated the people about the need to distinguish between exotic and domestic pets and that keeping wildlife as pets is not good for the species. The efforts of the organization have also helped establish the Day of the Cotton-top Tamarin as a national holiday in Colombia every year on August 15. Photo: Cotton-top tamarin mother with babies. Image credit: Proyecto Titi The Future Looks Bright With all the humongous efforts undertaken to protect the cotton-top tamarin, significant progress has been achieved in its conservation. Dr. Savage throws some light on this. We have been able to see how our work has spread throughout Colombia and now more people than ever are working to protect cotton-tops, said Dr. Savage. Today, cotton-tops have become the symbol for conservation and Colombians are very proud of the efforts made to conserve them. Images of cotton-tops are now found painted on walls in communities, songs are written about them, and the cotton-top was chosen as the mascot for the Central American and Caribbean Games in 2018! This interest and concern have also helped to create more than 13,000 acres of protected forests for cotton-tops in the last 10 years! Dr. Savage also mentioned how cotton-tops have now earned global fame. They have been featured in movies. All the marketing material for Magia Salve (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5027202/) used the cotton-top. BBC Seven Worlds, One Planet (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_OnGV_43W8) and (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2425160391087463) also recently featured the species. With all the great work being done, it looks like this Critically Endangered species still has hope for a bright future. Greater global involvement in its conservation is needed, something not too difficult to achieve as the impressive cotton-tops are hard to ignore! Learn more about Proyecto Titi at www.proyectotiti.com While Deepak Garkhel has been elevated to Operations Director, APEC, Pratim Thakurta will be Operations Head in India & Kedar Padgaonkar will now lead Data Processing in India Ipsos India has rejigged roles of its top team in Operations. Deepak Garkhel, Operations Head of Ipsos in India, has been elevated to Operations Director, Ipsos Asia Pacific Excluding China (APEC) Region. Pratim Thakurta, National Field Head, has been promoted to Operations Head of Ipsos in India. Kedar Padgaonkar, responsible for Scripting, will now spearhead Data Processing for Ipsos in India. Amit Adarkar, CEO of Ipsos in India, who held the additional charge of APEC Operations Director has handed out the APEC Operations portfolio to Garkhel. It was extremely important to synchronise operations in the region and to tie up the loose ends, at the same time leverage opportunities, which I did for most part in 2019 and now that things are on a smooth grid, Garkhel will be adept at taking it forward. I have my hands full with my India role, said Adarkar. All these new roles in Operations, Field and Tab are further going to strengthen our position in the marketplace, ensuring our data quality sets highest benchmarks for clients, aiding them in decision making and competitiveness, added Adarkar. Deepak Garkhel Garkhel will be overseeing Operations of 12 markets in the APEC Region (India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, ANZ, Philippines, Taiwan and Japan). In Ipsos parlance, Operations includes Field, Quality Assurance and Budget & Planning. He will report to Hamish Munro, Global CEO, Ipsos Interactive Services (IIS) and Operations and on the dotted line to Christophe Cambournac, CEO, Ipsos AMEA (Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa). Garkhel in his 30 years in market research has led field, operations and even international research, making him the ideal choice for the role. He has held senior leadership positions with Ipsos, Millward Brown, TNS, MarketProbe, Pathfinders & Gallup. He is a management grad from IILM. Pratim Thakurta Thakurta, on the other hand, apart from leading the National Field Operations will also oversee Quality Assurance, Budget and Planning for Ipsos in India, and report to Amit Adarkar, CEO, Ipsos in India. Thakurta has about 27 years of work experience straddling Ipsos, Nielsen, TNS, Gallup and Indica in different capacities, within India and other geographies. Kedar Padgaonkar Patgaonkar, with almost two decades in data processing is credited with driving new initiatives for iField (data capture via tablets, completely eliminating pen and paper form of data gathering), automation and dashboards, interfacing with other Ipsos markets in the region. He reports to Raja Bunet, Executive Director, Mobile First & New Initiatives, Ipsos in India. Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India) Motsepe released a statement which reads in part: My remarks at the dinner with President Donald Trump were partly aimed at encouraging discussions between the Trump administration and African political and business leaders, particularly in the context of the increasing feedback from certain American political and business leaders that South Africa and some African countries are anti-America and its political leadership. This perception has had an impact on our ability to attract foreign investments and create jobs. Close 'You did a good job on her' Trump praises Pompeo after he is accused of bullying female journalist Donald Trump has raged at his ex-national security adviser John Bolton, saying the Ukraine claims made in his forthcoming new memoir are nonsense and declaring he would have started World War Six if he had not been removed from office last September as the Republican effort to discredit him continues. A new poll by Quinnipiac University has meanwhile found that 75 per cent of Americans want to hear from Mr Bolton at the presidents Senate impeachment trial as GOP majority leader Mitch McConnell is forced to admit he does not currently have the votes to stop Democrats calling new witnesses to speak out. And, as fallout has continued to come in from Mr Bolton's apparent book, a letter was released showing that the White House attempted to stop it from being published before the leaked manuscript, arguing that it contains classified information (others have pointed out that Mr Bolton has a long history handling US classified information, so it may be questionable that he would actually include such information in a book write-up). President Trump delivered his latest Keep America Great rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, last night after unveiling his highly controversial two-state solution to bring peace to the Middle East at the White House, which was cheered by Israel but met with angry protests by Palestinians. During the ongoing impeachment efforts on Wednesday, Mr Trump's lawyers argued that because the president believes it to be in the country's best interest to win re-election, he could not have done anything wrong by encouraging an investigation into his rival by a foreign government. 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 And, Lev Parnas showed up at the US Capitol demanding that he be called as a witness in the Senate. Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load Thankfully were kind of the exception to this (survey), he said. If I had been in my first job and making whatever I was making and same with (Lily) we would not have been able to afford this, so I get it 100%. Not everyone has parents to back them and a good enough job. I think its a lot tougher nowadays than it was for boomers. In 2008, there were so few people from Venezuela in Madrid that Jose Luis Marin and his son-in-law Fernando Rodriguez had to seek out their compatriots by driving their Opel Astra around the city with the trunk filled with the Venezuelan cheese they made. They struck lucky in Las Tablas district, where the headquarters of the oil firm Tecnicas Reunidas employs dozens of Venezuelan engineers. Venezuelans were the largest demographic immigrating to the Madrid region in the first half of 2019: 11,899 Nowadays, these same cheese-makers sell their products in the supermarket giants Carrefour and El Corte Ingles, and their company, Antojos Araguaney, employs 120 people. In fact, business is so good that they plan to move to a new 3,000-square-meter warehouse in Rivas-Vaciamadrid in the southeast of the capital, having outgrown their current 700-square-meter space. The success of Antojos Araguaney is due to both hard work and the expansion of their target market. Venezuelans were the largest demographic immigrating to the Madrid region in the first half of 2019: 11,899, according to the latest data released by Spains National Statistics Institute (INE) earlier this month. This marks a massive influx of people from a single country, one unparalleled in recent years. No other immigrant group has grown by more than 20,000 a year since 2008, when the INE began publishing relevant data. But over the past two years, Venezuelans have been coming in even greater numbers and there are now probably more than 100,000 living in the Madrid region. The exact figure will be released in April when the INE updates the census. Staff at the Antojos Araguaney factory in Rivas-Vaciamadrid making tequenos breaded cheese sticks that are popular in Venezuela. KIKE PARA Marin and Rodriguez left Venezuela during President Hugo Chavezs first years in power, before the situation got ugly. Since then, they have witnessed their compatriots flocking to the Spanish capital seeking refuge from the political and economic chaos. Now Antojos Araguaney is a source of pride for Venezuelans in Madrid, and Marin and Rodriguez have become role models for entrepreneurs seeking to prosper in Spain. I always give them the same advice work, work and work, says Marin, who, at 69, has no retirement plans. Madrid receives only a small portion of Venezuelans on the move. Others head for the US, neighboring Latin-American countries or other cities within Europe. According to the United Nations, 4.6 million citizens have left their homeland since 2015, a figure that could rise to 6.5 million this year. It is a scenario that has an impact on host cities comparable to that of the exodus from Syria. The cultural footprint is felt everywhere in Madrid: at the Maravillas Market, in the ubiquitous sale of arepas, a maize-based bread cake, and the soaring fortunes of the capitals softball league, Venezuelas favorite sport. But while Venezuelans are making their presence felt in Madrid, Romanians 136,661 and Colombians 100,732 remain the capitals largest ethnic minority groups. As the numbers have grown, the profile of the typical Venezuelan immigrant has changed; those coming now are doing so with fewer and fewer resources, according to Cristina Isacura, a Venezuelan immigration lawyer who caters to their needs in her office in the central Puerta del Sol square. Eight years ago, it was mainly young professionals with savings or members of the wealthy elite who bought luxury apartments in the Salamanca district. But for the last two years, many of those coming find themselves in desperate circumstances, putting pressure on the citys soup kitchens and shelters. Ive seen children sent alone by their parents, some of whom are malnourished thats happening a lot, says Isacura. I have talked to people who cannot imagine there are Venezuelans without enough money to buy a train ticket. Homeless engineers A number of older people are also coming the parents and grandparents of a younger generation already established in Spain. It is a form of insurance, given that medicine and healthcare are scarce back home. According to Tomas Paez, coordinator at the Observatory of the Venezuelan Diaspora, most of the young are university educated but work in manual jobs as deliverymen or waiters. They sell their homes at rock bottom prices to pay for the flight. Apartments measuring 200 square meters in previously sought-after areas of Caracas are selling for less than 60,000 euros, says Paez. Physiotherapist Erwuin Contreras makes a living playing guitar in the subway and on commuter trains. IAGO CORTON The wealthier immigrants are able to buy a home and obtain their legal residence permit thanks to the golden visa program. The rest usually enter into the long process of applying for asylum. If they have little to fall back on, they can end up on the street. Erwuin Contreras, a 33-year-old physiotherapist, sold his precious Volkswagen Beetle to pay for his airfare to Madrid. Things didnt go as planned and he spent some time sleeping in an ATM vestibule. He now sings on the subway and earns between 35 and 40 a day. My dream is to record my song On the rails of Madrid, so my story our story can be told, he says. Daniel Perez, a biomedical engineer, slept on the streets and in a church for his first month-and-a-half in Madrid. LAURA P. MERINO Daniel Perez is a 29-year-old biomedical engineer who has only been in Madrid for a month and a half. In that time, he has slept on the streets, in a church and is currently in a shelter along with his partner who is an accountant. Despite what theyve been through, he feels optimistic. I have met good people here and made good contacts that will help me when I get a work permit, he says. These stories contrast sharply with those of Perez and Contreras moneyed compatriots. For example, the Cohen family owns Spains largest outlet mall, the Sambil in the satellite city of Leganes. Others have bought apartments worth more than 2 million in the Salamanca district. At the same end of town, Kika Payares has opened InCasa, an interiors shop along with three business partners, appealing to the avant-garde tastes of wealthy Venezuelans. A sculpture of a pair of red lips that is almost half a meter wide is going for 1,170. Now, however, they are introducing more classical pieces designed to appeal to a wider clientele as the influx of wealthy Venezuelans threatens to dry up. The [rich Venezuelan] who wanted to leave has already done so, says Payares. Kika Payares, a partner in the InCasa interiors shop in the Salamanca district of Madrid. KIKE PARA Oscar Larrea, general manager in Madrid of real estate consultant Engel & Volkers, says that home purchases by Venezuelans in Salamanca and other high-end areas of Madrid have already peaked. Venezuelans accounted for 50% of property purchases over 1 million in the last quarter of 2017 and the first of 2018. That has since fallen to around 20%. Juan Carlos Gutierrez, a lawyer with Cremades & Calvo-Sotelo, believes that this is due in part to the fact that Spain has clamped down on Chavez-era money launderers. Growing pressure is forcing the Boliburgues [the Chavez elite] to take their money to Russia, Turkey and other countries where keeping money is much riskier, says Gutierrez. As the numbers have grown, the profile of the typical Venezuelan immigrant has changed Many Venezuelans in Madrid are less than comfortable living close to certain members of the Chavez business classes, such as Alejandro Betancourt, president of the Spanish Hawkers sunglasses chain who bought a mansion in Santa Cruz de Retamar, in Toledo in 2012. According to Rolando Seijas, the founder of SNB Capital, a Venezuelan real estate investment company in Madrid, his countrys elite has entered a new phase and moved into entrepreneurship. Having bought a home and settled in, they are rolling up their sleeves to get down to business. There is, says Seijas, a boom in new restaurants he himself has opened two in the capital, called The Lobstar, which specialize in US-style seafood cuisine. He explains that when an immigrant arrives in a new place, he inevitably goes through an adjustment period. The first three years of the immigration process are [spent] mourning, he says. You cant start a business when you are physically present in one country but your heart is in another. Statistics only half the story The data on Venezuelan immigrants in Madrid belies the real size of the community, according to experts. The official figures cover those born in Venezuela and now residing in Madrid, but do not include those born in Spain, Italy or Portugal who emigrated to Venezuela in the second half of the 20th century and have now made their way back, says Tomas Paez, coordinator at the Observatory of the Venezuelan Diaspora. There are also many second-generation Venezuelans in Madrid the children of newcomers who were born here. Many more Venezuelans come to Madrid than to any other region in Spain, including Catalonia and the Canary Islands. On January 1, 2019, there were 323,575 Venezuelan-born immigrants in Spain. In the next six months, 35,652 more will arrive, according to the INEs Migration Statistics. English version by Heather Galloway. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Validating the allegation that the police had reacted late to the distress call made by Sangeeth, who was murdered by illegal soil mining racket at Kattakada, the rural Special Branch has reported that the local police had made undue delay in reaching the place. The report said the police were informed about the threat of the mining mafia by Sangeeth at 12.50am, but the police reached the place only by 1.45 am. It was during this time that the murder took place. The report said the police station was at a distance of eight kilometres from Sangeeths house at Kanjiravila and the cops could have reached the spot in time before the murder occurred. The local police had claimed that the police jeep was not available at the station when Sangeeth made the distress call to the station seeking police protection after being threatened by the mafia. The Special Branch report said this claim was not reliable. The report was handed over to Rural SP B Asokan. Meanwhile, the departmental probe being carried out by Nedumangadu DySP is on and based on its findings, further action will be taken. Sangeeth was murdered on Thursday night by the mining mafia after he objected to illegal mining of soil from his property. When Sangeeth tried to block the tipper lorry and the earth mover that were used for mining, he was first knocked down by the lorry. As he got up, the earth mover operator hit him with the vehicles bucket. He later succumbed to injuries. Eight arrested so far One more accused, Baiju, was arrested by Kattakada police on Monday night. Baiju had allegedly removed the car that was parked in front of the tipper lorry by Sangeeth. So far, eight people have been arrested in connection with the case. SARATOGA SPRINGS - After almost 50 years, SUNY Empire State College has an official mascot. After a month-long, online campaign that resulted in a total of 9,922 votes cast, Blue the Bluebird beat out its competition and will represent the SUNY Empire community. Faculty, staff, students and alumni submitted more than 180 mascot concepts for consideration this past fall. The submissions were evaluated by a committee representing the college community and three were selected as finalists: Blue the Bluebird, Cam the Chameleon, and Van the Vanguard. The mascot and the finalists, represented some commons themes from the SUNY Empire community: resilience, independence, adaptability, a pioneering spirit and a positive outlook. These themes reflected the spirit of SUNY Empire students, a majority of whom earn their degrees while working full- or part-time, raising families and living busy lives. The bluebird, submitted by Charissa Naul, symbolizes intelligence, curiosity, rebirth and optimism. Its position as New York states official bird is fitting, as SUNY Empire is the only SUNY institution with a statewide footprint, offering the systems most online programs as well as more than 30 campuses and learning hubs in every region of the state. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Id like to thank everyone who submitted their thoughtful ideas for the first-ever representative of SUNY Empire State College, SUNY Empire President Jim Malatras said. And congratulations to each of our finalists Andrew Conroy, Jacqueline Eckelmann, and Charissa Naul for making it into the final round. This was an important exercise for the SUNY Empire family to think about and explore our mission to educational opportunity for all. And it shows you can even have a little fun when doing it. These were all strong contenders born from enthusiasm and commitment to the spirit and mission of the college. Our new mascot, Blue, will help unite and represent a diverse community that spans every region of New York, every state in the country and our alum in 96 countries around the world. Now lets make Blue this years Mascot Madness winner. Naul is an assessment specialist based in SUNY Empires Selden location. She received the top prize of $500, while second and third place were awarded $300 and $200, respectively. A special recognition will be held for the finalists and winner in March. Night Curfew in Maharashtra: Check guidelines, rules; what is allowed, what is not allowed Explained: What is the Armys sailing expedition India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 29: The Indian Army Ocean Sailing Expedition on Tuesday returned from Okha in Gujarat. The expedition was flagged off from Mumbai on January 15.said. The 14-day exercise tested the skill of sailors on high seas. The 43-member expedition, which included 27 support staff, was led by Lt Col M K Singh, and assisted by Lt Col Shashikant Waghmode, Sena Medal. It comprised four more officers, two Junior Commissioned Officers and 35 other ranks from various arms and services, Engineers, Electronic Mechanical Engineers, Signals, Sikh Light Infantry and Maratha Light Infantry troops. The team sailed in four non-motorised Seabird class boats, with a ground team which moved along the coastal land route for immediate support, the official said. It comprised four more officers, two Junior Commissioned Officers and 35 other ranks from various arms and services to include Engineers, Electronic Mechanical Engineers, Signals, Sikh Light Infantry and Maratha Light Infantry troops. Nirbhaya Case: Convict Akshay Kumar Singh files curative petition in SC | Oneindia News Explained: What are the Smog Towers, BJP has promised to install The team sailed in four non-motorised Seabird class boats, supported by ground support team, which will move along the coastal land route for immediate support, the official said. The expedition was flagged off by Lt General Michael Mathews, PVSM, VSM, Commandant of the Pune-based College of Military Engineering and Colonel Commandant, The Bombay Sappers and Brigadier M J Kumar, Sena Medal, Commandant, Bombay Engineer Group and Centre at Kirkee, the official said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, January 29, 2020, 8:31 [IST] By PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer President Donald Trump, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, and Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto, left, participate in the USMCA signing ceremony, Friday, Nov. 30, 2018 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)AP WASHINGTON When President Donald Trump signed a revamped trade agreement with Mexico and Canada into law Wednesday, he kept a campaign pledge to improve upon a deal that he had long condemned. His U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement replaces a 26-year-old version that he and other critics said was a job-killing disaster for the United States. The president's overhaul is designed to update the pact to reflect the rise of e-commerce and other technological changes and to do more to encourage factories to move production to the United States or keep it there. U.S. Rep. Greg Walden lauded the deal, saying in a released statement that it would support thousands of jobs in Oregon." This new agreement modernizes our trade polices with both Mexico and Canada, and supports nearly 7,500 Oregon jobs that rely on fair trade between American businesses, Mexico, and Canada, Walden wrote. "President Trumps signature will open new opportunities and markets for the $3.7 billion in wine, wheat, dairy, and other goods that Oregon businesses export to our neighbors. But the USMCA doesnt represent a revolutionary change in regional trade or assure that many Americans stand to receive financial gains. What it does, more than anything, is restore certainty to $1.4 trillion-a-year in North American commerce. And in that way, it could provide some economic benefit. Here are some questions and answers about the new deal: WHAT IS USMCA? The pact is Trumps replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement, which took effect in 1994. NAFTA slashed tariffs and erased most trade barriers within the continent. In doing so, NAFTA unleashed a burst of trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico. In the wake of NAFTA, American farmers, in particular, enjoyed increased access to their neighbors large markets. But NAFTA also encouraged U.S. manufacturers to move factories south of the border to capitalize on cheaper Mexican labor. Supporters of the deal said it created a powerful regional bloc a competitive counter to Europe and East Asia with each NAFTA country able to take advantage of its strengths: In Mexico, low-cost manufacturing in Mexico. In the United States and Canada, high-skilled labor and proximity to cutting-edge research. Trump demanded a revamped deal that reduced incentives for companies to move to Mexico. And he threatened to abandon NAFTA entirely if he couldnt get what he wanted. Negotiations on a replacement began in August 2017. The three countries signed USMCA in late 2018. After delays and intense negotiations between the administration and congressional Democrats, the House ratified the deal in December and the Senate this month, both with bipartisan support. HOW DOES USMCA CHANGE TRADE AMONG THE THREE COUNTRIES? Trumps version mostly continues to allow the free flow of trade across North American borders of the three countries. But it updates the pact to reflect the rise of e-commerce and other aspects of the digital economy that didnt exist when NAFTA was negotiated. For instance, USMCA prohibits tariffs on digital products. It lets companies transfer data across borders without encountering discriminatory barriers. And it bars countries from requiring firms to store data within their borders, thereby allowing companies to do so wherever it makes the most business sense. The deal also gives U.S. farmers more access to the Canadian dairy market. It forces the Canadian province of British Columbia to drop measures that prevented American wines from being sold on grocery shelves along with local vintages. DOES USMCA DO ANYTHING TO PROTECT U.S. MANUFACTURING JOBS? Yes. To qualify for USMCAs duty-free benefits, automakers must derive 75% of their automotive content from within North America, up from 62.5% under NAFTA. That means more content would have to be homegrown in higher-wage North America, not imported more cheaply from China and elsewhere. At least 40% of vehicles would also have to originate in places where workers earn at least $16 an hour. That would benefit the United States or Canada not Mexico, where auto assembly workers are paid a fraction of that amount. For car buyers, that wage requirement is likely to increase the cost of vehicles built in North America. Under USMCA, Mexico was required to formally authorize workers to form independent unions. Mexican unions had traditionally been co-opted by employers and the government and had done little for workers. Laborers have been fired, for example, for trying to bargain on their own for better pay and working conditions. That's one reason why Mexican wages remained so low and attractive to U.S. manufacturers that wanted to cut costs. WHAT CHANGES DID DEMOCRATS GET? Democrats complained that the deal that Trumps team originally negotiated with Canada and Mexico shared a defect with the treaty it was supposed to improve upon: It would be hard to enforce. In talks with Trumps top trade official, Robert Lighthizer, the Democrats managed to strike language that would have allowed countries or companies to avoid sanctions simply by refusing to take part in dispute-settlement panels. They also insisted on closing loopholes that would have made it hard to enforce provisions that protect workers from intimidation and violence. The also managed to establish a committee that will monitor Mexicos labor reforms. The Democrats also won a significant concession from the administration on drug prices. Gone is what Democrats considered a giveaway to the pharmaceutical industry: A provision that offered expensive biologic drugs which are made from living cells 10 years of protection from cheaper knockoff competition. WHAT COULD USMCA MEAN FOR THE U.S. ECONOMY? Probably not much. Trade is a relatively small part of the U.S. economy. And trade with Mexico and Canada is smaller still. In an analysis done last year, the independent International Trade Commission calculated that USMCA would add 0.35% or $68 billion, to economic growth and generate 176,000 jobs over six years mere blips in a $22 trillion economy with 152 million nonfarm jobs. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have lent their support to a charity campaign for the first time since stepping down as senior royals. Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, posted their support for Bell Let's Talk on an Instagram story this afternoon, an initiative run by Canadian Telecommunications company Bell Canada. The campaign shows people from around the world holding up signs with positive messages emblazoned on them, and was previously supported in a tweet by Prince William, Prince Harry and Kate Middleton in 2017. Sharing pictures of people taking part in the annual #Bellletstalk Day, they wrote: 'We are so happy to be supporting Bell's mental health campaign. Bell Canada is a Canadian telecommunications company headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, and the campaign Bell Let's Talk is described as the 'single largest corporate commitment to mental health in Canada'. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (seen at Canada House this month) have posted an Instagram story announcing a their new mental health charity collaboration. Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, posted the story to their Sussex Royal Instagram account, revealing a campaign with Canadian Telecommunications company Bell Canada Sharing pictures of people taking part in the campaign, they wrote: 'We are so happy to be supporting Bell's mental health campaign 'Each time you watch @bell_letstalk official video on Instagram, Bell will donate 5 cents towards Canadian mental health initiatives. 'So please share, please talk and be part of the solution', adding an emoji of the Canadian flag. The campaign is the first they have promoted on their account since they stepped down as senior royals and announced they would be splitting their time between London and Canada. This could be the Sussexes' path to collaborating with media and commerical companies, as they embark on their path to become financially independent. The campaign, called Bell Let's Talk, shows people from around the world holding up signs with positive messages emblazoned on them This could be the Sussexes' path to collaborating with media and commerical companies, as they embark on their path to become financially independent The campaign appears to be the couple's first new venture since they stepped down as senior royals and announced they would be splitting their time between London and Canada Mary Deacon, chairwoman of Bell Let's Talk, said: 'I am so excited to be celebrating the 10th anniversary of Bell Let's Talk Day with Canadians in every corner of the country and people all around the world. 'Over the last decade, we've worked together to reduce the stigma around mental illness, grow awareness of its wide-ranging impacts and build acceptance of the need for real change. 'Let's keep our momentum going by taking action in ways large and small to support people living with mental illness every day.' Bell is the incumbent local exchange carrier for telephone and DSL Internet services in most of Canada east of Saskatchewan and in the northern territories. Its $50 million mental health campaign was founded in 2010 with a view to create a 'stigma-free Canada' and 'drive action in mental health care', before being renewed in 2015 for another five years, with a target of raising $100 million. The initiative encourages social media platforms to engage individuals in raising awareness of mental illness. The annual 'Bell Let's Talk Day,' takes place today, and sees the corporation donating money to mental health funds, depending on the number of messages and social media posts shared that day with the hashtag #bellletstalk. Wikipedia cites Twitter as claiming 'the #BellLetsTalk hashtag was the most used Canadian hashtag of 2018 on Twitter'. The campaign was previously supported by Prince Harry, Pricne William and Kate Middleton in 2017 from Kensington Palace Bell Canada is a Canadian telecommunications company headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is the incumbent local exchange carrier for telephone and DSL Internet services in most of Canada east of Saskatchewan and in the northern territories The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have launched a new website, registered in March 2019 and developed secretly in Toronto, and it announced their desire to achieve financial independence. Prince Charles' 1.2billion Duchy of Cornwall estate pays his youngest son around 2.3million-a-year and Harry and Meghan said last night it covers 95 per cent of their office expenditure. Harry and Meghan say they will still 'proudly' carry out official overseas visits in support of the Queen, which are also covered by the Sovereign Grant. While in Britain they will also continue to use Frogmore Cottage as a base - the homes in the grounds of Windsor Castle gifted to them by the Queen. The Duke is said to be worth around 30million after inheriting from his mother Diana and the Queen Mother - but some of this is said to be tied up in trust funds until he is 40 and other investments. Harry's other wealth comes from his estimated 20million inheritance from his mother Princess Diana. He also banked around 7million from his great-grandmother the Queen Mother, who paid it into a trust fund in 1994. Meghan's net worth of around 4million came from having earned around 37,000 per episode as an actress in the US drama Suits. Until now Harry and Meghan have been 'prohibited from earning any income in any form', but this has now changed after they stepped down as senior royals. Oprah Winfrey has addressed the backlash surrounding her latest book club pick, Jeanine Cummins novel American Dirt. Last week, Winfrey announced shed chosen the novel, which tells the story of a mother and her son who leave Mexico for the United States after they are targeted by one of their home countrys most powerful drug cartel leaders, on Instagram. This book gutted me, she said at the time. Everything about this book was so extraordinary. However, not everyone had the same praise for the book, as the majority of reviews for American Dirt have been overwhelmingly negative - especially from members of the Latinx community. Following an outpouring of criticism over her pick, the former talk-show host has acknowledged that the book requires a deeper, more substantive conversation. In a video posted to her book club Instagram, Winfrey said: Theres been a lot of talk about this book lately. And I just wanted you all to hear directly from me, that I read an advance copy of American Dirt last summer before it even was an official book. And it was a visceral experience for me, a migrant story being told from a mothers perspective about the lengths she would go to to protect her child, to get to freedom in America. I was deeply moved. It had me riveted from the very first sentence, and I could hardly wait, really, to share it with all of you. Books of the decade Show all 40 1 /40 Books of the decade Books of the decade Toni Morrison God Help the Child (2015) Toni Morrison died in August; her final novel, 2015s God Help the Child, displays her award-winning powers of elegant prose and imagination. Children are mistreated and prejudice abounds in this disturbing modern fairy tale set around the enigmatic character of Bride, who makes a mistake that has devastating consequences. (MC) Books of the decade Ian McEwan Solar (2010) Solar, which was partly based on Ian McEwans own experiences during a trip to the Arctic island of Spitsbergen, is a darkly comic novel. Against the backdrop of the battle against climate change, McEwan tells the story of middle-aged Nobel laureate Michael Beard, a self-serving physicist whose own world is in danger of meltdown. (MC) Books of the decade Manning Marable Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention (2011) Columbia University professor Manning Marable died on 1 April 2011, just days before the publication of his Pulitzer Prize-winning biography Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention. Marable drew from letters, diaries and FBI files for a meticulous, incisive and balanced account of the life of the civil rights leader. The book cuts through the myths to reveal Malcolm X in all his conflicted complexity. (MC) Books of the decade . Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey She Said (2019) They wrote the story that changed the world and now theyve explained how they did it. In She Said, the Pulitzer Prize-winning duo explain how they managed to barge through Hollywoods ironclad gates and break the Weinstein story, publishing allegations from several women accusing the disgraced producer of sexual assault in The New York Times. While the details are sparse in terms of sources and specific tactics, there are some startling revelations, including how Gwyneth Paltrow became a helping hand and the extreme lengths Weinsteins team went to in order to thwart both reporters and silence the alleged victims. (OP) Books of the decade Emily Witt Future Sex (2016) Future Sex is perhaps one of the few nonfiction books about sex and relationships that came before #MeToo and somehow remains relevant today. Finding herself suddenly single at the age of 30, Witt immerses herself in the sexual subcultures of San Francisco, trying her hand at everything from polyamory to orgasmic meditation. Its a fascinating piece of work, one that illustrates Witts talents as an essayist and gives plenty of room to many astute observations on sexual liberation. (OP) Books of the decade Yuval Harari Sapiens (2011) Every now and then a book comes along that tilts your perspective on the world. This internationally best-selling phenomenon is one of them. Covering just about the entire sweep of human history, it makes you understand the fits, starts and savagery of progress. (CR) 36. Emily Witt Future Sex (2016) Books of the decade Emma Cline The Girls (2016) The Girls is about exploring the appeal of being in a cult. Inspired by Charles Mansons murderous family, the book serves up a more tense, richer depiction than Quentin Tarantinos Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, one that puts women at the centre, examining what motivates and captivates them. (OP) Books of the decade Marlon James: A Brief History of Seven Killings (2014) The Booker-winning A Brief History of Seven Killings, by Jamaican-born Marlon James, follows the lives and deaths of seven of the would-be killers in the failed 1976 assassination attempt on Bob Marley. The novel cleverly weaves fiction and fact and the language has a musical rhythm. Some of the epiphanies in the book are linked to songs. (MC) Books of the decade Raynor Winn The Salt Path: A Memoir (2018) Terminal illness and bankruptcy shouldnt make for an inspiring read but they somehow do in Raynor Winns poetic, provocative memoir. After losing the family home, Win and her husband set out to walk the South West Coast path, shaking a fist at his grim diagnosis. Its as much a meditation on the power of nature as Books of the decade Nina Stibbe Love, Nina: Despatches from Family Life (2013) Theres deadpan and then theres Nina Stibbe, who proves herself the heir to Adrian Mole in this novel written in the form of letters to her sister from a child-minding job in London. A provincial girl grappling with the strange salads of the metropolitan literary elite, Stibbe is comic gold. (CR) Books of the decade Patrick deWitt The Sisters Brothers (2011) The assassins Eli and Charlie Sisters were played by John C Reilly and Joaquin Phoenix in the film version of Canadian-born writer Patrick deWitts second novel. The narrator Eli captures the lawless, unpredictable nature of frontier life in the mid-19th century. The Sisters Brothers is a compelling, unsettling tale of the Gold Rush era. (MC) Books of the decade Gail Honeyman Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine (2017) Every office has its misfit, and this is the funny, deeply touching story of a woman whose aversion to social niceties and the work Christmas lunch hides a traumatic past. Common acts of kindness rekindle the protagonist in this beautifully told debut. (CR) Books of the decade Anna Burns The Milkman (2018) Anna Burns became the first writer from Northern Ireland to win the Man Booker Prize, when she triumphed with The Milkman in 2018. Burnss challenging, intriguing novel presents an unnamed 18-year-old girls perspective of her life during the Troubles in the Seventies. The 41-year-old paramilitary leader known as the Books of the decade Sophie Mackintosh The Water Cure (2018) Thanks to Margaret Atwood and the state of the world, feminist dystopian fiction is having a moment and Sophie Mackintoshs The Water Cure is a notable contribution to the genre. It is perhaps one of the most creative of additions, cleverly weaving mystery and murder with sex and sisterhood, all while Mackintosh seduces the reader into her Shakespearean realm. (OP) Books of the decade Anne Tyler A Spool of Blue Thread (2015) Anne Tyler is a master of stories about family life in middle-class America. A Spool of Blue Thread, the 20th novel from the author of The Accidental Tourist, adroitly shines a light on sibling rivalry, family secrets and the wounding power of grief. Her tale of four generations of the Whitshanks demonstrates again her gift for comic detail. (MC) Books of the decade Anne Enright The Green Road (2015) The Green Road, by Dublin-born Anne Enright, is set in County Clare, a wild place geographically and emotionally. Enrights keen gift for observation is at play in this family saga based around Hanna, Dan, Constance and Emmets Christmas return to the home that their scary matriarch, Rosaleen, is selling. A funny, painful tale of selfishness and compassion. (MC) Books of the decade Amor Towles A Gentleman in Moscow (2016) The gentleman in question is Count Rostov, a bon vivant and aristocrat placed under house arrest in a fancy Moscow hotel after the communists seize control. His wit and enduring humanity make this charming, quirky novel sing. (CR) Books of the decade Elif Batuman The Idiot (2017) When fact meets fiction, the result is almost always fascinating as the reader spends hours trying to discern which is which. Such is the appeal of The Idiot, Elif Batumans debut novel, which tells the semi-autobiographical tale of a young woman studying at Harvard in the mid-Nineties. After pontificating on the purpose of email, she soon becomes obsessed with an enigmatic Hungarian student whose insouciance will leave you spinning in a state of total frustration. (OP) Books of the decade Orhan Pamuk The Red-Haired Woman (2016) Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuks 10th novel was the short, stunning The Red-Haired Woman, which is at once a fable and a gripping tale of youthful obsession, exploring protagonist Cem Celiks desire for the red-haired, enigmatic member of a theatre troupe. The father-son relationship in the novel also allows Pamuk to deftly explore the changing nature of Turkey. (MC) Books of the decade Ariel Levy The Rules Do Not Apply (2017) A dazzling insight into the mind of one of The New Yorkers most prolific writers, Ariel Levys memoir will seem relatable to all those who have at one time or another felt a startling sense of dissociation from their life, which is probably most of us. Levys personal tragedies will leave readers reeling. There is one passage in particular that will stay with you for months in which Levy describes how she suffered a miscarriage on a hotel room floor while on an assignment in Mongolia. She was 19 weeks pregnant at the time and her son, born alive, died in her arms. It is a story of resilience to the highest degree. (OP) Books of the decade Marilynne Robinson Lila (2014) Lila was the third novel in Marilynne Robinsons Gilead Chronicles following Gilead (2004) and Home (2008) and tells, in unflinching terms, the story of Lila, the young woman who married the elderly Reverend Ames in a dusty Iowa town. Robinson writes beautifully and, as a sophisticated religious thinker, asks searching questions about faith and doubt. (MC) Books of the decade David Sedaris Calypso (2018) There are few writers as gloriously strange, acerbic, funny and faintly ruthless as Sedaris, who once again mines his family history in this collection of autobiographical short stories. It includes a tale in which he feeds his Books of the decade Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Americanah (2013) Both a love story and a look at how racial divides play out in the UK and the USA, Americanah is as enchanting as it is thought-provoking. Its impossible not to root for Ifemelu, the clever Nigerian ingenue who ends up struggling to find a minimum wage job as she studies in America. (CR) Books of the decade Julian Barnes The Sense of an Ending (2011) Julian Barness novella The Sense of an Ending is a subtle examination of the search for answers to lifes unresolved relationships. The divorced sexagenarian protagonist Tony Webster, is thrown into emotional turmoil when he receives an unexpected bequest that prompts him to reconnect with a college girlfriend. He is forced to face up to the accumulation, the multiplication, of loss. (MC) Books of the decade Tara Westover Educated (2018) No matter how many documentaries you watch or books you read on Mormonism, its almost impossible to understand such a community from the outside. Tara Westover opened peoples eyes with Educated, explaining how she went from growing up in a Mormon fundamentalist family in Idaho to studying for a PhD at the University of Cambridge. Its an inspiring story of grit and determination that doubles up as an homage to the power of self-education and, well, reading. (OP) Books of the decade Maggie Nelson The Argonauts (2015) Few things reinforce tired gender cliches like marriage and parenthood, so huzzah for Maggie Nelson with this subversive memoir. It subjects romantic love, pregnancy, motherhood and all the attendant tedious cultural baggage to an intensely intelligent, glittering critique. (CR) Books of the decade Richard Ford Canada (2012) In Canada, retired English teacher Dell Parsons, the son of hapless bank robbers, looks back on the heart-breaking events of his teenage years and tries to take account of how his life was shaped. The settings include Great Falls, Montana, and Saskatchewan in Canada, but its Richard Ford sure-footed journey over emotional terrain that is so utterly majestic. (MC) Books of the decade Donna Tartt The Goldfinch (2013) A 13-year-boy survives a terrorist bomb that kills his mother at an art museum, and as he stumbles through the wreckage, he takes a small painting called The Goldfinch. The tiny relic of the Dutch Golden Age becomes a source of both solace and enigma in Tartts superb, Pulitzer-winning third novel. (CR) Books of the decade Jonathan Franzen Freedom (2010) Walter and Patty Berglund, the seemingly perfect couple who meet at college in the 1970s, are at the heart of Jonathan Franzens fourth novel. The story of their unravelling marriage is explored in a rich, nuanced novel. Freedom is more than just a tale of wedded unbliss: it is about the messiness of love and longing in the modern world. (MC) Books of the decade Elif Shafak Honour (2011) A sprawling, multi-generational tale of a Turkish family who make a new life in London, this novel has a so-called honour killing as its centre of gravity. Shafak, a best-selling author in Turkey and many other countries, conjures up the hypocrisy that holds women to different standards, with devastating results. (CR) Books of the decade Helen Macdonald H Is for Hawk (2016) When Helen Macdonald lost her father, she acquired a hawk. This idiosyncratic approach to grief makes for a lyrical, moving probe into both the process of mourning and our relationship with the natural world. (CR) Books of the decade Margaret Atwood The Testaments (2019) Not just a novel but a fully fledged cultural phenomenon, the sequel to the Handmaids Tale was met with midnight readings and fans decked out in the creepy red and white gowns from the TV adaptation of the original. A superb and suspenseful expose of misogyny and the moral ambiguity at the heart of a fanatical regime. (CR) Books of the decade Jennifer Egan A Visit from the Goon Squad (2010) Time is a central theme of Jennifer Egans vibrant A Visit from the Goon Squad, which interconnects stories involving Sasha, a kleptomaniac New Yorker in her mid-thirties, and her music business boss Bennie Salazar. The problems of relationships are explored in a witty novel that has interesting things to say about the loss of vitality in the digital world. (MC) Books of the decade Matt Haig Reasons to Stay Alive (2015) Theres a reason why Matt Haigs writing on mental health has earned him such high praise, with the Duchess of Sussex among his fans. And it all started with this bestselling memoir in which the childrens fiction author describes falling into a deep depression in his early twenties that left him contemplating taking his own life. Its not an easy read, but in a society where suicide remains grossly misunderstood and gender stereotypes hinder men from speaking openly about their mental wellbeing, its a crucial one. (OP) Books of the decade Arundhati Roy The Ministry of Utmost Happiness (2017) Twenty years after her stunning debut The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy followed up with the mesmerising The Ministry of Utmost Happiness. With biting ironic wit, Roys epic dissects life in India in the wake of the partition conflict. The characters, including the transgender woman Anjum, are intimately drawn. Roys novel challenges you to care about life. (MC) Books of the decade Sally Rooney Conversations with Friends (2017) The feted 27-year-old author has acquired a reputation as a millennial literary powerhouse since her debut in 2017. While Rooney has gone on to publish a second novel, Normal People, which was shortlisted for this years Man Booker Prize, Conversations with Friends remains her best work. With its snappy short sentences, sophisticated plot and characters so complex that its hard to like any of them, the novel established Rooney as one of the most exciting new writers around. (OP) Books of the decade George Saunders Lincoln in the Bardo (2017) Lincoln in the Bardo tells the story of a single night in the life of Abraham Lincoln when his 11-year-old son was buried through an experimental tale involving 166 narrators in the bardo, the transitional state between ones death and rebirth, according to Tibetan Buddhism. George Saunders enchanting tour-de-force won the 2017 Man Booker Prize. (MC) Books of the decade Lisa Taddeo Three Women (2019) In 2019, female desire warrants shrewd examination more than ever. Thank goodness, then, for Lisa Taddeo, who spent eight years documenting the sexual experiences of three very relatable but very different women. The result is a powerful collection of interspersed narratives that probe the most intimate corners of the female psyche. I can think of nothing like it. (OP) Books of the decade Paul Beatty The Sellout (2015) An outrageous satire of contemporary race relations, Beattys The Sellout tells the story of a black man called Bonbon who is seeking to reinstitute slavery and segregation. When it won the Booker, the chair of the judges compared Beatty to Swift and Twain. (CR) Books of the decade . Hilary Mantel Bring Up the Bodies (2012) The sequel to Mantels Booker-winning Tudor tour de force, Wolf Hall, Bring up the Bodies did not Let Down the Readers. Her immersive prose takes us back into the poetic, rigorous mind of the archetypal career politician, Thomas Cromwell. The subject is the stuff of school days Henry Tudors marriage to Anne Boleyn, and her fatal failure to produce a male heir. To allow another marriage and safeguard the stability of the country, Cromwell engineers Boleyns downfall, constructing capital charges against the queen along with a few of his old enemies to boot. Despite the biggest spoiler in history, Mantels novel is so finely pitched that we feel all the tension of the luxurious, blood-tinged Tudor court. (CR) Now, it has become clear to me, from the outpouring, may I say, of very passionate opinions, that this selection has struck an emotional chord and created a need for a deeper, more substantive discussion. According to Winfrey, when she first began hearing criticisms of the novel and her decision to choose it, she initially questioned: What is offensive? Ive spent the last few days listening to members of the Latinx community to get a greater understanding of their concerns, and I hear them. I do, she continued. So what I want to do is bring people together from all sides to talk about this book, and who gets to publish what stories. And Im hoping that is going to resonate with many of you and your concerns. Winfreys hope is that the ensuing discussion, which will be streamed on Apple TV+ in March, will allow us to open up the conversation in unexpected, and, I really hope, meaningful ways. Criticisms of the book pointed to the use of Latinx stereotypes, as well as whether Cummins, who previously said she identifies as white, could authentically write the story. In a 2019 interview with Shelf-Awareness, the author identified as Latinx. As a Mexican immigrant, who was undocumented, I can say with authority that this book is a harmful, stereotypical, damaging representation of our experiences, author Julissa Arce Raya wrote on Twitter. Please listen to us when we tell you, this book isnt it. Amid continued backlash surrounding the book, its publisher Flatiron Books has cancelled two scheduled bookstore events with Cummins, reportedly due to safety concerns. While global airport retail sales are forecast to reach $48.2 billion in 2020, up 6.1 per cent on 2019, the escalation of coronavirus could impact airport passenger numbers causing concern for airport retailers, said GlobalData. While global airport retail sales are forecast to reach $48.2 billion in 2020, up 6.1 per cent on 2019, the escalation of coronavirus could impact airport passenger numbers causing concern for airport retailers, said GlobalData, a data analytics and consulting company. Honor Strachan, principal analyst at GlobalData said: The prevention of travel for Chinese consumers will impact the performance of airport retail worldwide. Over the last few years airport retailers, especially those in Europe, have tailored their propositions, integrated Chinese payment solutions and invested in Mandarin-speaking staff to target Chinese passengers and maximize sales growth opportunities. If outbound tourism from China suffers as a result of coronavirus, airport operators and retailers must adapt their strategies to target other passengers. In 2003, SARS caused tourism spend in China to collapse while visitor numbers to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong significantly dropped off, causing airlines to ground planes and reduce flight schedules. Coronavirus has already dented retail and leisure spending across the Chinese New Year holiday due to consumers being encouraged, and in some cases forced, to stay in and avoid travel. In response to the crisis, retailers are considering closing stores, with the China Duty Free Group closing its mall in Haitang Bay impacting the APAC duty free market in 2020. Should foreign offices extend their advice of avoiding travel to the Hubei province to other regions, then passenger numbers and airports in tourism hubs such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Xian will be negatively hit. BA has suspended all direct flights to mainland China until January 31, although the BA website shows no direct flights to mainland China through January and February, while the likes of United Airlines and Cathay Pacific Airways have also cancelled selected flights to China. Asia Pacific is forecast to be the fastest performing region for airport retail spend in 2020, with sales rising 8.4 per cent to $21.7 billion 45.1 per cent of the global channel, Strachan added. While this recent coronavirus outbreak cannot yet be compared to the impact of SARS, if the coronavirus continues to spread globally over the course of 2020 its impact on tourism and economies, particularly across APAC, could be severe. TradeArabia News Service Hindi News Local Himachal Shimla Snowfall Again Blocked The Roads, Disrupted Life. 5 619 , 270 , 4 2 - - , -3, 5, 300 305 1162 . 619 , , -, -, - , -, , 300 305 270 , 1162 3 35 72 63 - 163 11 270 15 78 142 38 - 2 22 850 27 8 A court here sent Sharjeel Imam, arrested on sedition charges, to five days of police custody on Wednesday, his lawyer said. Imam was produced at the residence of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Purushottam Pathak in the evening amidst high security, said advocate Mishika Singh, appearing for the JNU research scholar in the matter. Imam was arrested from Bihar's Jehanabad on Tuesday for allegedly making inflammatory speeches at the Jamia Millia Islamia University here and in Aligarh. He was brought to Delhi on Wednesday. The situation in the Patiala House Courts Complex was tense after the Delhi Police informed that Imam would be produced before the magistrate there. Some lawyers raised slogans against Imam, held up posters calling him a "traitor" and demanded that he be hanged. One of the lawyers said, "We are here to protest against those who talk about breaking the country. All lawyers are united against such traitors. He does not deserve to be outside jail. Strict action should be taken against him." Heavy security, including CRPF personnel, was deployed outside the court premises. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, is asking Parliament to drag the Health Minister before the House to answer on the deadly Coronavirus. He wants the Minister to brief the house on the situation in the country and the state of preparedness. We may want to in the course of this meeting invite the Health Minister to apprise us of what he is doing to avoid the occurrence of the Coronavirus in our country. He made this call during the opening of the 4th session of the 7th Parliament of the 4th Republic yesterday, Tuesday. The deadly virus since its outbreak has claimed over 100 lives in China with a suspected case recorded in Ivory Coast. Background The Ministry of Health announced that all passengers from China who come to Ghana will undergo enhanced screening and surveillance to prevent the spread of the new Coronavirus. The Ministry of Health subsequently designated the Ridge Hospital and the Tema General Hospital as centers to manage possible cases of coronavirus in the country. It said the move is part of Ghana's plans to prevent and control any case that may be detected in the country and ultimately protect the Ghanaian population. The virus, known also as 2019-nCoV, is said to be a new strain of coronavirus that has not previously been identified in humans. As of 27th January 2020, the total number of confirmed cases amounted to 4,515. ---citinewsroom The Indian government has set up a 24x7 helpline for queries about the virus and its victims, with the number of cases rising quickly in many Asian countries. On the last day of the year 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) was alerted to a "pneumonia outbreak" of unknown cause in Wuhan, in China's Hubei Province. Wuhan is the seventh-largest city in the most populated country in the world home to some 11 million people. The epicentre of the outbreak is thought to be a wet market in Wuhan that sells seafood, animal meat and unregulated wild game meat, which has since been shut down, sanitized and in lockdown. The earliest symptoms of respiratory infection in those who tested positive for the coronavirus (SARS-Cov-2) go back to 8 December 2019. The virus has had ample time to spread like any common respiratory illness would in people through coughs, sneezes, and close contact with an infected person. Scientists have found that the SARS-Cov-2 virus is most contagious in the week before and after symptoms start to appear. As of 24 March 2020, a total of 3,83,944 confirmed cases of the infection have been reported, in 165 countries/regions world over. Even now, as researchers work on potential treatments (nearly 70 FDA-approved drugs are currently being explored to treat Covid-19 infections) and a potential vaccine (40 reported candidates are at various stages of clinical trials), which is estimated to take between 12 and 18 months to develop, experts have stated. There's little that can be done about a coronavirus infection that has already spread in your district or city. But there's plenty you can do to avoid being infected by the virus. Below is a comprehensive guide to the coronavirus, information on how to prevent getting infected, and how to keep tabs/stay informed with the latest information on its spread. Q. What is the 2019 novel Coronavirus? A novel coronavirus (CoV), or a new coronavirus, is a respiratory virus humans are susceptible to that hasn't been previously identified. The 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV, or the SARS-CoV-2 for short) is a respiratory virus that was first discovered in Wuhan, a city in China's Hubei Province in December 2019. Q. Where did the coronavirus come from? Health officials and research institutions are still working on identifying the exact origin/source of the 2019-nCoV, but suspect that the first human victim(s) was infected by a snake. Coronavirus is a large family of viruses of which only six can infect humans. The 2019-nCoV is one of them, and so are the SARS and MERS viruses. The earliest reported cases of hospitalized people with the infection were a group of workers and customers at a local seafood wholesale market that also sold processed meats and live, consumable animals like poultry, donkey, sheep, pig, camel, fox, badgers, bamboo rats, hedgehogs and reptiles. The virus likely came from an infected animal; Chinese officials claim the virus jumped from snakes to humans. Two other widely-recognized coronaviruses SARS (which spread to humans from civet cats) and MERS (which spread to humans from camels) also originated in animals. (something about SARS & China connection and dates. MERS a date for the virus) Q. To what regions and countries has the infection spread to? As of 24 March, 3,87,382 cases of the coronavirus infection have been confirmed in the following countries: China (81,558) Italy (63,927) US (46,450) Spain (35,212) Germany (29,560) Iran (23,049) France (20,149) South Korea (9,037) Switzerland (8,795) United Kingdom (6,726) Netherlands (4,767) Austria (4,668) Belgium (3,743) Norway (2,625) Canada (2,088) Portugal (2,060) Sweden (2,059) Australia (2,044) Brazil (1,960) Denmark (1,699) Israel (1,656) Malaysia (1,624) Turkey (1,529) Czechia (1,289) Japan (1,140) Ireland (1,125) Ecuador (981) Pakistan (892) Luxembourg (875) Thailand (827) Poland (766) Chile (746) Cruise Ship (712) Finland (700) Greece (695) Indonesia (686) Iceland (588) Romania (576) Saudi Arabia (562) South Africa (554) Philippines (552) India (511) Singapore (509) Qatar (501) Slovenia (442) Russia (438) Peru (395) Bahrain (377) Estonia (369) Mexico (367) Egypt (366) Croatia (361) Panama (345) Colombia (306) Argentina (301) Lebanon (267) Iraq (266) Serbia (249) Dominican Republic (245) Armenia (235) Algeria (230) Taiwan (215) Slovakia (204) Bulgaria (202) United Arab Emirates (198) Latvia (197) Kuwait (191) Hungary (187) Lithuania (187) San Marino (187) Uruguay (162) Costa Rica (158) New Zealand (155) Bosnia and Herzegovina (150) Morocco (143) North Macedonia (136) Andorra (133) Jordan (127) Vietnam (123) Cyprus (116) Moldova (109) Malta (107) Albania (104) Burkina Faso (99) Sri Lanka (97) Brunei (91) Tunisia (89) Cambodia (87) Oman (84) Ukraine (84) Venezuela (84) Belarus (81) Senegal (79) Azerbaijan (72) Kazakhstan (68) Georgia (67) Cameroon (66) Trinidad and Tobago (52) Liechtenstein (51) Uzbekistan (49) Congo (Kinshasa) (45) Afghanistan (42) Kyrgyzstan (42) Cuba (40) Nigeria (40) Bangladesh (39) Mauritius (36) Rwanda (36) Honduras (30) Montenegro (29) Bolivia (28) Ghana (27) Paraguay (27) Cote d'Ivoire (25) Monaco (23) Jamaica (21) Guatemala (20) Guyana (20) Togo (18) Barbados (17) Madagascar (17) Kenya (16) Maldives (13) Ethiopia (12) Tanzania (12) Mongolia (10) Equatorial Guinea (9) Uganda (9) Seychelles (7) Benin (6) Gabon (6) Haiti (6) Suriname (6) El Salvador (5) Bahamas (5) Congo (Brazzaville) (4) Eswatini (4) Fiji (4) Guinea (4) Namibia (4) Angola (3) Antigua and Barbuda (3) Cabo Verde (3) Central African Republic (3) Chad (3) Djibouti (3) Liberia (3) Niger (3) Saint Lucia (3) Zambia (3) Zimbabwe (3) Bhutan (2) Dominica (2) Gambia (2) Laos (2) Mauritania (2) Nepal (2) Nicaragua (2) Sudan (2) Belize (1) Eritrea (1) Grenada (1) Holy See (1) Mozambique (1) Papua New Guinea (1) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1) Somalia (1) Syria (1) Timor-Leste (1) Q. What are some apparent symptoms of a coronavirus infection? The following symptoms could manifest within 2 to 14 days after exposure, according to the CDC, based on the incubation period of its close cousins, the MERS viruses. Fever Cough Shortness of breath (difficulty breathing) Q. How does nCoV-2019/SARS-Cov-2 spread? When breathed, sneezed or coughed out, people with a coronavirus infection release tiny droplets (aerosols) containing the SARS-CoV-2. These particles have been shown to linger in the air for several hours, as per a study published by The New England Journal of Medicine. The study also determined how long the virus can live on certain surfaces, such as plastic and steel. Every strain of coronavirus poses a different level of risk as far as transmission goes. Some are more easily passed on than others. Some may also be more virulent (dangerous) than others. Currently, there is no known way to predict how the virus will mutate in such a large population we just have to hope for the best, and brace ourselves for the worst. Scientists continue to look into the virus's transmission, the severity of infection in different cases, and other features of the virus and its behaviour to look for clues as to what vulnerabilities SARS-CoV-2 takes advantage of to replicate and cause severe infections/fatalities. Q. Can the infection via raw or cooked meat of an infected animal? In areas affected by the virus, WHO has advised taking extra precautions in live animal markets like that in the epicentre, Wuhan. Direct contact with live animals or surfaces they use, without having any protective equipment over your face and hands, is high-risk in an infected area. As a meat consumer, medical experts recommend avoiding any raw or undercooked animal products i.e., to cook all meat thoroughly and be extra cautious when handling raw meat, milk or organs of animals to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked food items. Q. Can you prevent a coronavirus infection? As of 24 March, no vaccine exists that can prevent coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection in someone who has been exposed to it. The most effective way of staying safe from the infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus entirely. Based on the behaviour of respiratory viruses in general, the CDC has outlined a bunch of everyday activities to steer clear of an infection: 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. Avoid leaving home if you are sick. Do not step out of self-quarantine without a mask. Cover your coughs or sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. Q. Can a mask help prevent coronavirus transmission? There are many reports of face masks and surgical masks flying off shelves in cities the coronavirus outbreak has spread to. Experts, however, are divided over whether they are useful in preventing transmission of the airborne virus. The most commonly available variant surgical masks, like the ones shown below, are not very good prevention tools, say experts. "Routine surgical masks for the public are not effective protection against viruses or bacteria carried in the air...they are loose, have no air filter and leave the eyes exposed," Dr David Carrington, a virologist at the University of London told BBC News. But there are some specific modes of transmission that masks can help prevent the "splash" from a sneeze or a cough, and transmission by hand-to-mouth contact. That said, wearing a mask limits the risk of transmission but doesn't guarantee safety. Dr Carrington maintains that the best way to avoid germs, as with any airborne illness, is to wash your hands thoroughly and frequently, avoid touching your face and eyes, and avoid contact with people displaying symptoms of respiratory illness. Wearing gloves isn't a very effective prevention method either, WHO says, since hand-washing is a far better prevention tool, and wearing gloves would make people less inclined to wash their hands. Q. Is the coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection treatable? As of 24 March, there is no suitable (or known) antiviral treatment for a SARS-CoV-2/2019-nCoV infection. Infected individuals have been told to self-quarantine and seek medical care to help with any symptoms they have. For severe cases of the infection, treatment might need additional care (ICUs, for example) to support normal functioning of vital organs. This bottleneck an insufficient number of available ICUs is a big bottleneck for the health services in developed and developing nations alike. That said, the genetic material of the virus has been sequenced in many countries and research labs around the world have free, open access to resources that can help understand the virus better, find treatments or vaccines against it. This greatly improves the chances of finding an effective treatment including a potential vaccine to avoid getting infected in the first place. "There are no approved vaccines or therapeutics for any of the respiratory coronaviruses," according to Vineet Menachery, professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of TexasGalveston told Popular Mechanics. Some promising candidates that are making their way into the human trials "would likely be effective against this novel virus," he adds. Also read: Australian scientists grow coronavirus in the lab game-changing tool to diagnose, develop vaccines Q. How can I track the spread of coronavirus in my country/city? The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins has launched an online dashboard to track the spread of coronavirus worldwide. The dashboard is updated live with data from multiple sources the WHO, and the Centers for Disease Control in the US, China and Europe. The resource displays a visualisation of the infection on a world map by country or region, along with a tally of confirmed cases, suspected cases, number of fatalities and number of patients that have recovered from the infection. Other reliable resources you can use to track the infection include the US CDC situation tracking page and the WHO's tracking page. Specifically for India, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has a frequently updated stats of the number of cases listed and displayed state-wise. Q. How can I report or enquire about a coronavirus infection? The Indian government has set up a 24x7 helpline for queries about the novel coronavirus, with the number of cases quickly rising across the world. "A 24X7 call centre is active for responding to queries on ncov2020. Anyone seeking information can call on the number 011-23978046," the Union ministry of health said in a tweet. "If you seek any help, you may call to know details about District and State surveillance officers and in case any clinical query connect with Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) Officer." Each year, more than 100 million newborns around the world receive vaccinations against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, or TB, which infects about one-quarter of the world's population. Facilities across the world produce several different formulations of these vaccines, known as Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccines. These are given interchangeably, yet new research from the Precision Vaccines Program at Boston Children's Hospital calls that practice into question. The study, published in the journal Vaccine, shows that BCG vaccines vary widely in their characteristics, including their ability to activate cytokines, potent elements of the immune system response. We found that licensed BCG vaccines differ dramatically, raising fundamental questions about whether the quality of these vaccines are equivalent and should be considered interchangeable." Ofer Levy, MD, PhD, co-senior investigator, director of the Precision Vaccines Program A global health threat According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 10 million people, including nearly 1.1 million children, became ill from TB in 2018, and nearly 1.5 million people died from it. TB infection in babiesis particularly serious, often causing sepsis, meningitis, and, frequently, death. For that reason, many newborns receive TB vaccination in areas where the disease is common. Vaccines against TB were first introduced in 1921. Today, more than 14 different BCG vaccine formulations are used, with five WHO-approved products dominating globally. All BCG vaccines use live, but altered or attenuated, Mycobacterium bovis (a bacterium related to TB) to spark the immune system to protect against TB. BCG vaccines strengthen overall immune response Previous research has shown that BCG vaccination not only protects against TB, but boosts the overall immune system, in what is called an 'off-target' effect. "BCG vaccine is a very interesting vaccine because it has been found to boost protection against other infections, bacterial and viral, that are very common in newborns and young infants," says Asimenia Angelidou, MD, PhD, a neonatologist at Boston Children's and the study's first author. "And it may be doing that by revving up the innate immune system." One recent study from the Precision Vaccines Program found that injecting BCG along with the hepatitis B vaccine strengthened the immune response to hepatitis B. "But until now, we have not directly compared these BCG vaccine formulations side-by-side for any standard measures of immunity or protection against TB," says Levy. Comparing BCG vaccines The new study looked at several formulations of the most commonly used licensed BCG vaccines: BCG-Denmark, BCG-India, BCG-Bulgaria, BCG-Japan, and BCG-USA (sourced from the Boston Children's Hospital pharmacy). The researchers compared several different vials from different manufactured lots of each formulation. They measured how each grew in culture and how many live bacteria each vaccine contained. "The data consistently shows that the Indian and Bulgarian formulations, both derived from the same mother BCG strain (BCG Russia), have more than 1,000-fold lower growth and fewer live bacteria compared to the others," says Angelidou. "This is pertinent clinically because there are numerous studies showing that live mycobacteria trigger the immune system in a different way compared to dead mycobacteria; they activate different downstream pathways." Cytokines vary by vaccine The team measured numerous cytokine proteins released from immune cells to fight infection after vaccination, including IL1 beta and interferon gamma (the latter is especially important for TB protection). "We found differences in terms of the cytokine responses each vaccine triggered," says Angelidou. In particular, BCG-India induced significantly less interferon gamma compared to the rest of the strains. The team also found that concentrations of the IL1 beta cytokine, which is heavily involved in boosting overall immunity after BCG vaccination, correlate with the amount of live bacteria contained in the BCG vaccine. "Upon recognition of a pathogen or vaccine, newborn immune cells are often less able to produce certain cytokines, such as interferon gamma, that are important for an immune response against TB," says Simon van Haren, PhD, co-senior investigator on this study. "Comparing the ability of each BCG formulation to induce interferon gamma production in newborn immune cells was therefore very important." All vaccines not equal Our findings raise really fundamental questions about whether these BCG vaccines should be considered interchangeable and whether the quality is equivalent because of differences in viability and in the numbers and kind of cytokines induced. The differences between the strains produced in different parts of the world are mainly due to manufacturing practices. "The mycobacteria in general are very sensitive to environmental conditions," says Angelidou, "so any environmental changes in their manufacturing process can really affect the growth of the mycobacteria." In their study, the researchers grew the mycobacterium cultures from each vaccine under the same environmental conditions. "This is key, as it is the first study that directly compares clinically relevant BCG vaccine strains used today in the same lab under the same conditions to see how many bacteria will grow and how they induce immune responses from human newborn white blood cells," adds Levy. Large comparative clinical trial needed This study shows significant differences between the BCG formulations when tested under very controlled conditions. But does it correlate with differences one might see clinically in real world situations? "We have not proven conclusively which BCG formulation is most effective," says Levy. "Rather, we present compelling evidence that head to head clinical trials of these very different BCG formulations are urgently needed to define which is most effective." At the turn of the century, Cipla had jolted the global pharmaceutical industry with its offer to sell anti-AIDS drugs at a fraction of the price charged by multinational drug makers in Africa. Now the Indian pharmaceutical major is readying a stockpile of medicines to combat the deadly coronavirus. Yusuf Khwaja Hamied, Chairman of Cipla, explains that two antiretroviral medications - lopinavir and ritonavir - are the protease inhibitors that are designed to block HIV viral replication. These drugs, which have been around for about 10 to 15 years and are off-patent, are now being repurposed to deal with coronavirus. "The combination of lopinavir and ritonavir has been recommended for coronavirus, and Cipla makes this combination in India under the name Lopimune tablets and Lopimune granules for children," Hamied told Business Today. "We are now approaching the Indian government that in case of any emergency, we will rise to the occasion and help." ALSO READ: Coronavirus update: Health Ministry launches special helpline, call centre to address queries Hamied said he is already receiving inquiries from outside India. "I have already got a phone call from our partners in China who wanted to know if we would be in the position to supply the medicines if necessary," he said. "Our product is also approved in America and I might even get inquiries from America." Availability, however, could be a sticking point. Hamied pointed out that the issue is not really about the ability to make Lopimune tablets, but it has more to do with the availability of raw materials because "some of it we make and some we buy." Moreover, because several drugs better at dealing with HIV have already hit the market, "the demand for these two drugs is not huge so there are no big stocks of these drugs available today," he said. "We have enough raw material to make 10 to 12 million tablets and keep it ready for emergency use if the government so desires," Hamied said. He was quick to remind that there are companies in India that make similar combinations, so there is hope. On the cost of Lopimune, Hamied said, "We are selling 60 tablets for Rs 2,000, which would work out to little over Rs 30 a tablet. For HIV patients, the recommended dose is two tablets a day." ALSO READ: Coronavirus outbreak: How prepared is India? There was never such perfect darkness. The blackness is absolute and the silence is broken only by the breathing of the other visitors in the group. We are hundreds of meters underground, in a small passage that connects two drifts in the Pozo Soton mine in Spains northwestern region of Asturias. There is very little space and it feels as though we are far from everything. The miner Nuria, who insists she is not a guide, has told us to turn off our helmet lamps. So we stand in the darkness in silence. The moment lasts just a few seconds, but there is something mystical about the experience, something metaphysical in the blackness and the absence that surrounds us. It is like not existing; like a brief journey to outer space, despite the fact we are actually occupying an inner space, deep within the Earth. The entrance to Pozo San Luis, the old mine in the town of La Nueva, which has been incorporated into the Samuno Valley Mining Ecomuseum in Asturias. Located near the Asturian town of El Entrego on the banks of the Nalon River, Pozo Soton sometimes called the cathedral of mining was a working mine from 1922 until 2014. At its entrance is a tribute honoring the hundreds of miners who lost their lives underground in the struggle against rock, landslides and explosions of firedamp, a flammable gas found in coal mines. Asturiass mines are close to becoming a thing of the past, despite the significant role they played in the regions economy; everything stemmed from the mines industry, railroads, steel, ports and shipyards as well as the labor movement. Now there is only early retirement; the mine produces nearly nothing. The Nalon River, once black from coal, is crystal clear. The Pozo Soton mine was opened to visitors in June 2015, not as a museum but as a real mine requiring visitors to don miners boots, overalls, a miners helmet, socks and even special underwear as the coal dust can reach up to the groin. Access to levels nine and 10 of the Pozo Soton mine near El Entrego. a. fuente Its quite a deal to go 556 meters underground. Its deeper than the height of many of the worlds most famous skyscrapers the Empire State Building in New York, for example, is 443.2 meters. In fact, underground Asturias could be Manhattan turned upside down, full of hollow interconnecting skyscrapers. You can enter one mine and emerge from another, as though you were wandering the tunnels of a subway network. Pozo Soton is connected to the legendary Pozo Maria Luisa mine, the protagonist of the famous mining anthem Santa Barbara Bendita (or, Blessed Santa Barbara). Up to 6,000 kilometers of drifts have been dug in search of precious minerals. Thats almost twice the distance between Madrid and Moscow, but contained within a small area of coal-mining areas in the Caudal and the Nalon valleys that lie lush and green under an invariably gray Asturian sky. Today there is a constant drizzle a fine, slow rain known in the Galician language as orbayu. A 300-million-year-old souvenir The first thing you hear when you go down in the cage the mines elevator is the loud metallic sound of the door closing. We are taken deep into the mine in the same way the miners once were, rapidly passing levels until we stop at level eight. Down here, it looks like a subway tunnel, only with worse lighting. Its not that impressive until we find ourselves in the narrow passageway, or climb down a steep set of stairs to the deepest part of the mine, or when we are in an extremely tight spot and are given an eight-kilo hydraulic drill to cut into the coal. A visitor drills for coal in the Pozo Soton mine. This is the first mine in the world that can be found on the Google Street View application even here, underground, the tech giant can reach us. Of course, there is no cellphone coverage or internet connection. Just as well, as we are entirely focused on working the jack to chip off pieces of coal that have been there since the Carboniferous period some 300 million years ago. Later, when you take this piece of Earths distant past back home, it is hard to know where to put it. When we squeeze again into a small, bumpy underground train, you try to imagine what these mines would be like filled with workers and the noise of drills, picks, guards, electricians and wagons. There is nothing left of that; the mine is like an empty mall in a zombie-style apocalypse. Its sad, even though we know we need to reduce our carbon emissions, that coal is still being bought from other countries. Mining has not only been an economic driver, it has also shaped the character of these Asturian valleys, which have seen so much war and suffering. Mining train at the Samuno Valley Mining Ecomuseum, near Langreo, Asturias. Leaving the mine on the 10th floor with coal-smudged faces, there is a sense of relief at having survived the journey to the center of the Earth. The work clothes come off and the water runs black as we shower off the dust. In 2018, Pozo Soton received just over 11,400 visitors, but it is far from being one of a kind in Asturias, as became clear at the Mining and Industrial Tourism Fair (Fetumi), which was held just six kilometers away from the Samuno Valley Mining Ecomuseum, near the town of Langreo. At the Samuno Valley Mining Ecomuseum, a small yellow train takes visitors through forests and inside tunnels until stopping at the ground level of Pozo San Luis in the small village of La Nueva. It is here that we encounter an imposing modernist building that once housed the large industrial machinery used in the mine, which was opened by the company La Nueva Coal, and remained active between 1928 and 1969. The old cooling tower, 45 meters high, in the Iron and Steel Museum in Langreo, Asturias. MUSI There is also the Asturias Mining and Industry Museum (MUMI), in the nearby town of El Entrego (LEntrgu in Asturian), which offers insight into the industrial revolution and the oldest mining practices, covering its history, manufacturing and use of explosives. It also features mock up of a mine dubbed the image mine, and information on the Mining Rescue Brigade, which was on hand to save the lives of workers when all-too-frequent accidents occurred down the pit the same brigade that made headlines for its role in the efforts to rescue two-year-old Julen Rosello, who fell down a borehole in Totalan, Malaga, last January. Also in Langreo is the Iron and Steel Museum (MUSI), which is located in what was once the factory of the long-established company Duro Felguera. The museum includes a thick 45-meter-high cooling tower, which is now decorated in lively colors. Around this feature, visitors are initiated into the ins and outs of this mine-dependent industry, in which workers handled incandescent materials at high temperatures to create the steel scaffolding common to building sites. Submarine mines On the coast there is a curious mine called Arnao, located in the municipality of Castrillon, on the outskirts of Aviles. Along with the mines in Cornwall, along Britains southwest coast, the Arnao mine is one of the few in Europe whose tunnels lie under the sea floor. Closed in 1915, it is considered the oldest preserved mine on the Iberian peninsula. A visit here offers insight into the use of the valuable wooden headframe, the history of the mine itself, the company that operated it, the engineering involved, but above all, the stories of those who spent their lives inside it at a time when mining was dangerous and poorly paid. Significant sections of the deepest drifts are now flooded, lending them an eeriness. Outside, the Cantabrian Sea tears away at the rocks, creating a rugged, romantic coastline. The outside of the Asturias Mining and Industry Museum (MUMI) in El Entrego, Asturias. david gato (alamy) But this tour would not be complete without a visit to the mining town of Bustiello, built in the municipality of Mieres between 1890 and 1925 by the Spanish Coal Mining Society in the spirit of industrial paternalism. The town was divided into a hierarchy reflecting the social differences specific to the era of the second Marquis de Comillas, a mining magnate of the late 19th and early 20th century, with the Church and God at the top, followed by the engineers while the most efficient miners occupied a rung above those considered to be revolutionaries. cova fdez. In Bustiellos local cider tavern, talk of a workers revolution was not allowed, and only Catholic and non-socialist newspapers could be read. A Civil Guard officer, stationed on the bridge leading into the town, controlled who could enter and leave Bustiello. Those who lived there, lived well, and were provided with both a school and a hospital. It was a kind of social engineering experiment or, some might say, an early version of the welfare state. In our current era of sophisticated technology and constant migration, the mining and industrial heritage stands as testament not only to manual work, other ways of exploiting natural resources and the trials and tribulations of wrestling with nature; but also tells of a different way of living, of companionship, effort and solidarity; of a culture that has all but been stamped out by the weight of progress and the unbearable lightness of bytes and networks. Sergio C. Fanjul is the author of La Ciudad Infinita (or, The Infinite City). English version by Heather Galloway. Universities are advising students to take a number of precautions to help limit the potential spread of the new strain of coronavirus until more is known about the infection. Amidst an outbreak of a new strain of the virus that has so far been linked to 132 deaths, students who have come to Ireland from Wuhan, China in the last 14 days, should notify the Department of Public Health. Those who have been in contact with someone who has the virus, or who has attended a healthcare facility where patients are being treated for the virus should also contact the department. Those who begin to develop symptoms of an acute respiratory illness within two weeks of travelling from China should stay at home and not attend college. Students are also asked to phone their doctors or student health centres rather than attend the surgery in person, according to advice issued by the Department of Education. The parents of preschool, primary school and secondary school students are also advised to contact the Department of Public Health if their child develops symptoms after travelling from Wuhan. This same advice applies if a child has been in contact with a person diagnosed with the coronavirus, or who has attended a healthcare facility where patients are being treated for the virus. University College Cork said it is monitoring the recommendations from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, and is acting on the recommendations as they emerge. Following the advice outlined by the Department of Foreign Affairs, UCC has advised its students to expect potential delays and checks when entering or leaving China, a UCC spokesman said. Students have also been advised to exercise the general precautions to limit the spread of any respiratory virus infection and to contact student health or their local health provider if they feel unwell. We are closely monitoring the Novel Coronavirus outbreak in China and we are taking proactive steps to safeguard the wellbeing of our community. For details visit the UL website via the link below. University Of Limerick (@UL) January 29, 2020 The University of Limerick (UL) has suspended all university-related travel by staff and students to and from China until further notice. UL does not currently have any students studying or on placement in China.Staff who are expecting visitors to the campus from China should indicate to them not to travel at this time. A spokesperson for Cork Institute of Technology said the institute is monitoring the situation as it progresses. The risk of infection spreading stems from anyone that may have been in contact with someone with the virus, she added. The ongoing coronavirus outbreak originated in Wuhan, the capital city of the Chinese province Hubei. It can take up to 14 days for the symptoms of this strain of the coronavirus, which has been named 2019-nCoV, to appear. Symptoms include fever, cough, breathing difficulties, shortness of breath and a sore throat. A hotel in China being used to quarantine people suspected of having coronavirus has employed a robot to deliver food. The Little Peanut robot was filmed carrying out its duties at a hotel in Hangzhou, China, where passengers from a flight carrying people infected with the deadly virus were staying. Hello everyone. Cute Little Peanut is serving food to you now, the robot states, according to a translation by China Xinhua News. Enjoy your meal. If you need anything else, please message the staff on WeChat. More than 300 people are currently being quarantined at the 16-story hotel, according to the report, with multiple robots used on each floor. 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 There have been around 6,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with the number of deaths currently standing at 132. It is believed to have broken out from the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, which sold illegally traded wildlife. Wuhan was put under lockdown by Chinese authorities on 23 January and several airlines have suspended flights to mainland China in an attempt to prevent the spread of the virus. Foreign nationals being evacuated from Wuhan are being placed into quarantine centres, including hundreds of Britons who will be forced to spend two weeks at a military base once they arrive back in the UK. We are working hard to get British nationals back from Wuhan, Health Secretary Matt Hancock tweeted on Tuesday. Public safety is the top priority. Anyone who returns from Wuhan will be safely isolated for 14 days, with all necessary medical attention. So far there have been no confirmed cases of the virus in the UK and it is not yet considered a high risk to public health in the country. A Millville man was killed this past Friday when his car left a highway and slammed into trees, according to a New Jersey State Police spokesman. Ernest L. Harris, 65, was driving northbound on State Highway 55 in Vineland just before 4 p.m. when his car veered off the road around milepost 29.7, entered the grassy median and struck several trees. Harris died of his injuries. He was alone in his car and no other vehicles were involved, police said. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Weather conditions were clear and dry at the time. 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. President Donald Trumps Deal of the Century -- his long-awaited Mideast peace plan -- didnt even make it to sundown on the day of its release. On Tuesday, Trump unveiled the details of his proposal, supposedly a new two-state solution. In general, this is the term used for plans that envision Israel and a newly formed Palestinian state living peaceably side by side. But the Trump plan is a two-state solution in name alone. In reality, it gives and gives and gives to Israel, and tells the Palestinian people that they are out of luck and out of time. So one-sided is the White House offering that there weren't even Palestinian representatives on hand for the announcement. Here was Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in response: "We say a thousand times, no, no, no to the deal of the century. "We will not kneel down," he continued, adding,"Annexation of 30% of our territory is nonsense." Such a harsh response is no surprise, of course. And not only because of the one-sided nature of Trump's proposal. Saying "no" has been what Palestinian leaders have long been best at, even when given a genuine opportunity for a real and lasting peace. Even the most fervent supporter of Israel has got to know that the plan is a non-starter. Though it could help Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu politically, and it's not unwise to see that as the biggest impetus behind the proposal. Trump, of course, is looking toward November, and wouldn't mind the boost his pro-Israel plan will likely get him with his conservative base voters. Netanyahu, who was indicted on corruption charges on Tuesday, and faces yet another in a seemingly endless string of elections in March, is looking for all the help he can get. If one were feeling particularly generous, it would be possible to give credit to the White House for having taken a swing. Nothing ventured, nothing gained and all of that. And it's worth noting that decade upon decade of earlier attempts at finding a workable solution all ultimately came to naught. Given that, why not take a crack at something truly different. Well, thats one way to look at the effort. But next time, it might be wiser to try to get some Palestinian buy-in on any sort of a plan. BRIDGEPORT A judge rejected a 45-year plea offer from the man accused of shooting a Bethel woman at the Bridgeport boat ramp after a dozen of the victims friends and family told her he should serve the rest of his life in prison instead. However, Judge Joan Alexander told them she didnt think that sentence would be appropriate, either. She said she would continue the case for six weeks to present 27-year-old Brandon Roberts with her own plea offer, as required by law. You can decide if you want to accept the courts offer or if you want to have a trial, Alexander told Roberts. Roberts is charged with murder, felony murder, first-degree robbery and carrying a pistol without a permit in the Dec. 8, 2018, killing of 25-year-old Emily Todd. The judges comments came after an hour of emotional testimony from those who knew Todd, many of whom expressed anger that the court was willing to consider letting him plead guilty and serve 45 years in prison. The thought of him having one ounce of hope that he could possibly set foot outside the prison walls is sickening and so unfair to me, Robin Delaney, an aunt of Todds, said. Please your honor, I beg you, no deals. The judge said that Roberts lawyer, Joseph Bruckmann, was obligated to relay his clients plea offer to her and she was obligated to consider it after inviting their comments, per the states victims bill of rights. More for you Murder victims family upset accused killer allowed to plead guilty That was not the courts offer, that was not the states offer, that was the defendants offer, Alexander said. I was willing to listen to your offer, the judge told Roberts. Im willing to listen to the victims family, who certainly want a much more substantial sentence. In the end, the court does not believe that either your offer or, Ill be candid, the victims (familys) request for life without release is the appropriate sentence. Roberts, who has been held on $2.5 million bond since his arrest in the case, is scheduled to return to court March 11, when he will hear Alexanders offer. Todds mother, Jennifer Lawlor, said after the hearing that her family left the courthouse having honored my child and not having a confessed killer in charge of his consequences. And we hope that when we come back, theres something much more firm being given, Lawlor said. Asked what she hopes the judges offer will be, Lawlor said, We are not comfortable living our lives with anything less than 60 years. That to me feels like an exceptional deal compared to mine, she said. Todd, a therapist at a Danbury senior center, was found lying face down in the sand along the shore in the morning of Dec. 9. She had been shot in the back of the head and a single spent bullet shell casing was found near her feet. Police said Todds mother later told detectives that her daughter had met Roberts, who was staying with relatives at a Stratford hotel, on an online dating app. After several dates, police said Todd called off the relationship. But, they said, Roberts convinced her to meet him one more time, luring her to the area of the boat ramp. On Dec. 14, police arrested Roberts at his fathers home in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and charged him with Todds murder. While being questioned in the Shaker Heights police station, police said Roberts told Bridgeport Police Lt. Chris LaMaine that he had killed Todd and shot another woman near Washington Park a year earlier. I dont know why I did it. I had a lot of hate in me, man, Roberts told police. He was also accused of shooting another woman June 9, 2017, near the intersection of Kossuth and Maple streets in Bridgeport. The 43-year-old woman was taken to Bridgeport Hospital with a bullet wound in her right shoulder. Roberts is charged in that case with attempted murder, first-degree assault and gun charges. By Express News Service BENGALURU: A 37-year-old Christian Bangladeshi woman has invoked the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, to obtain bail from the Karnataka High Court even as protests against the controversial law continue across the country. Justice John Michael Cunha on Monday granted bail to Archana Purnima Pramanik an undocumented immigrant from Bangladesh based on Section 2 of the Act which says that religious minorities of certain faiths from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, must not be treated as illegal immigrants. The court has imposed conditions that she should execute a bail bond of Rs 2 lakh and cooperate with the investigation. The judge noted that the allegations against her have to be proved during trial. Pramanik approached the High Court for bail stating that she was born on March 23, 1983, at Tanore in Rajshahi district of Bangladesh, and came to India in 2003 to pursue a nursing course. After completing her diploma in General Nursing and Midwifery in Ranchi in 2006, she worked at many reputed hospitals. In 2010, she got married to Rajashekaran Krishnamurthy. Her marriage was registered at Ranchi. She moved to Bengaluru and obtained PAN, voter ID and Aadhar cards. Authorities registered a case against her on March 28, 2019, on charges of obtaining those records and Indian passport fraudulently. She was arrested on November 7, 2019. Her bail plea was dismissed by a Sessions Court in city on December 4, 2019. The sister of an innocent passerby who was killed by a single punch in a late night street assault has described him as a "devoted dad, caring brother, fun uncle and a cherished friend". Jonathan Dargan (49) was found guilty of killing Patrick Mullally (56) by knocking him to the ground with a punch after the victim and another man had stopped to intervene in a drunken row with his girlfriend. The professional martial arts instructor has been jailed for five and a half years. Mr Mullally and another man Shane Cunningham had been out celebrating Mr Mullally's retirement from Guinness weeks earlier when they encountered Dargan on the Harold's Cross Rd., Dublin at around 4am on March 6, 2016. When Dargan began swinging punches Mr Mullally put his hands up to shield himself. At least one punch connected with him, shattering his jaw and cheekbone and knocking him to the ground. Mr Mullally suffered a subdural haemorrhage and brain trauma due to a blunt trauma to the face and head and died the next day. Expand Close The Mullally family following today's sentencing (Photo: Gerry Mooney) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Mullally family following today's sentencing (Photo: Gerry Mooney) The defendant, a Taekwondo instructor who has worked as a doorman at Lillie's Bordello nightclub for two decades, admitted lashing out with a punch. He claimed that he was surrounded by the men and felt in fear and was acting in self defence. In a statement today, Mr Mullally's sister Mary said the family would like to thank the judge and jury for their service. "We as a family would like to take this opportunity to thank Judge Pauline Codd, the jury of 12 people who came to a unanimous decision, the prosecution team - led my Fiona Murphy S.C., all the witnesses who came forward and who contributed to getting Paddy justice, all the volunteers at Victim Support at Court, the Gardai AdVIC, Dublin Fire Brigade and the medical team at St. James Hospital that cared so well for Paddy. We'll be forever grateful," she said. "Four years later we're still absolutely devastated by the loss of our beloved Paddy. "His life revolved around being a devoted dad, caring brother, fun uncle and a cherished friend. We as a family miss him everyday but there is also a huge group of friends who are grieving alongside us. "No matter what happened today, sadly we're left with a life sentence. Thank you." Expand Close Killer Jonathan Dargan. Photo: Collins Courts / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Killer Jonathan Dargan. Photo: Collins Courts Evidence Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Dargan shouted bang bang as he threw fairly powerful punches at the men. Justice Pauline Codd this was a particularly chilling aspect of the case and evidence of a man who was in control of the situation and not somebody in fear. She said the jury had rejected Dargan's defence that he was in fear and felt he was being surrounded and that the independent CCTV evidence also showed this not to be the case. She noted that Dargan's martial arts training meant he had a knowledge of the force and impact of his own strength and capacity. She said for a man with this strength and capacity to strike a defenceless and intoxicated man was an aggravating factor. She said the victims were entirely innocent and had approached Dargan to assist a woman and to do the honourable thing. The violence was unwarranted and Dargan was in a state of intoxication and an angry mood. A passing cyclist told the trial that when he had earlier stopped at the rowing couple, Dargan had told him he to f**k off and mind his own business and that he'd kill him or stamp on his head on the ground. Judge Codd noted in mitigation Dargan had led a blameless life up to this point and that he had shown great support and strength to his family when his own mother was the innocent victim of a fatal shooting by a neighbour. She suspended the final six months of a six year prison term. Dargan of Belfry Manor, Citywest, Dublin denied the unlawful killing of Mr Mullally. He also denied assault causing harm to Mr Cunningham and to Mr Mullally's niece, Lauren Mullally, during the same incident. He has no previous convictions and the court heard his own mother was killed by a neighbour a few years earlier. The killer was later found not guilty by reason of insanity. At the sentence hearing on Monday Vincent Heneghan SC, defending, told Judge Codd that his client accepts the jury verdict and that he indicated this to gardai in court on the day the guilty verdict was delivered. Mr Heneghan said his client was not a person who drank regularly but on the night he was very intoxicated, having consumed cocktails and double vodka drinks. Counsel said alcohol was not an excuse or a defence but it was a factor in the events. Reading from her own victim impact statement Mr Mullally's widow Joan Shields repeatedly broke down in tears as she described the the effects of the brutal killing. She said bringing their young daughter in the hospital to see her father one last time was the hardest thing she has had to do. Ms Shields' described having to wait over three years for the case to come to trial. When it did, her daughter asked why is there a trial, did he not admit he hit Daddy?. Ms Shields described reading a newspaper interview a week after the killing in which Dargan begged for forgiveness. She said Mr Mullally will now miss watching their daughter grow up and said I'll never be able to forgive him for that. Courtney Mullally told the court that the violent death of her uncle has left many of the family suffering from anxiety, depression and PTSD. She described the gut-wrenching loss and sadness of the family grief and said some family members have experienced suicidal thoughts. She described the deceased as a devoted Dad, caring brother, fun uncle and one of the happiest, friendliest persons you'd ever meet. She said the night of his retirement party was meant to be the first day of a new life but instead it became a shattering nightmare. He was killed trying to do the chivalrous thing. One person ripped several lives apart with his bare hands, she said. Mr Heneghan handed in a number of character references from family and employers and contacts from Dargan's role as a martial arts instructor. He said his client accepts fully his responsibility for the death of the victim but did not intend to kill him. When he heard of the death he immediately conveyed his apologies to the family. Last November the jury took a little over four hours to return a unanimous guilty verdict on the manslaughter charge. After deliberating for another hour the jury returned a majority verdict on the charge of assaulting Mr Cunningham. After the Election Commission of India (ECI) ordered the removal of Union Minister Anurag Thakur and BJP MP Parvesh Verma from the list of star campaigners of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with immediate effect, Verma said that he will respond to the poll body today and that he doesn't think the EC felt there was anything wrong in what he said. "If a political party files a complaint, then the Election Commission gives a notice. I don't think the Election Commission felt that I said anything wrong. I will give them a reply tomorrow (Thursday)," Verma said. The BJP leader had in a controversial statement said, "Lakhs of people gather there (Shaheen Bagh). People of Delhi will have to think and take a decision. They will enter your houses, rape your sisters and daughters, kill them. There is time today, Modi Ji and Amit Shah won't come to save you tomorrow..." The Election Commission has also sought a reply from Anurag Thakur by 12 pm on January 30. The Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi said in a report to the ECI on Tuesday that Thakur raised the slogan 'Desh Ke Gaddaro Ko, Goli Maaro Saalo Ko' (shoot the traitors) several times while addressing a public meeting here in Rithala on January 27. The statements of both the BJP leaders evoked sharp reactions from several quarters. The voting for the Delhi Assembly is scheduled to take place on February 8. The counting will begin on February 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WASHINGTON When it was his turn to speak, U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko's frustration bubbled over. For five years, the Amsterdam Democrat has been pushing bipartisan legislation to establish national anti-doping rules for horse racing, as deaths at race tracks in New York and around the country continue at high rates. In a hearing at the U.S. Capitol Tuesday, Tonko chastised opponents of his legislation for saying they support uniform regulations for the horse industry, but resisting his effort to resolve the current patchwork of rules. Each of you opposes the very piece of legislation that would make this a reality instead of a tired talking point, Tonko said. When can we actually expect results from this scheme? We've received countless promises from the industry for decades. And yet here we are in 2020, with more than 40 deaths on the tracks of Santa Anita [California], further tarnishing the sport in the eyes of the American public. When is enough, enough? Tonko targeted his comments at the head of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, the operator of a racetrack in Monmouth, New Jersey and an equine veterinarian based in Maryland. Each expressed reservations about the bill going too far to federalize medication and testing decisions currently made by state commissions, veterinarians, trainers and jockeys. The contentious hearing highlighted that voices across the horse racing industry agree change is needed to protect horses' and jockeys' lives and abolish the sport's reputation, merited or not, for widespread doping. But how to bring about that change is still disputed by corners of the industry. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle made favorable comments about the Horseracing Integrity Act of 2019, legislation drafted by Tonko, whose district includes the Saratoga Race Course, and U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky. Of the seven panelists in the hearing, four spoke in favor of the legislation, including the vice chairman of the Jockey Club and retired Hall of Fame Jockey Christopher J. McCarron. Tuesday's hearing came after the deaths of 35 horses while racing in New York in 2019, including five in Saratoga Springs, according to data from the state Gaming Commission. Thirty-five equine deaths during races is the lowest number in five years in New York. (The commission's data show another 38 race horses died last year in training incidents, while 26 more died due to other causes.) Tonko and Barr said their legislation would help reduce equine deaths by outlawing the medicating of horses on race days and conducting testing of horses before and during competitions. The bill would establish a private, non-profit corporation to oversee a national anti-doping and medication program for all race horses. At the moment, 38 different jurisdictions create horse racing regulations across the country. This commission would also investigate doping violations. Overall the U.S. race horse fatality rate is two-and-a-half- to five-times greater than in the rest of the horse racing world, the New York Times reported in June. Barr said the legislation would help restore U.S. international competitiveness and reputation in horse racing by putting the country on par with many others than ban race-day medication. Edward J. Martin, the president and CEO of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, said state racing commissions already conduct extensive testing of animals and prohibit the use or performance-enhancing drugs. He urged Congress to focus its attention on places where state regulatory bodies do not exist. Martin said there is already "substantial uniformity" across state racing jurisdictions and the bill "duplicates a framework that is already in existence. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. During the hearing, Martin and Executive Director of Animal Wellness Action Marty Irby sparred over whether trainers who violate one state's doping rules can simply hop state lines to continue racing. They also disagreed over whether pain-masking medications are widely used for race horses. The current system is not working and is not protecting our horses," said William M. Lear, Jr., vice chairman of the Jockey Club, who helped draft the bill. Dennis A. Drazin, operator of Monmouth Park Racetrack, said he would support amendments to the bill because it "doesn't go far enough." He wanted further changes including more attention to safe, consistent racing surfaces and care for horses after their racing careers end. The bill is supported by over 200 members of Congress, including U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville. A Senate version of the legislation is sponsored by U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Martha McSally, R-Ariz. New York Racing Association President and CEO Dave O'Rourke sent a letter to the Energy and Commerce Committee in support of the rules. O'Rourke wrote that horses can get hurt when horses must change their medical plans from state to state. "NYRA also believes a strong anti-doping system is a significant component of ensuring the integrity of the sport and better protecting our athletes," O'Rourke wrote. "In New York, we have adopted the National Uniform Medication Program (NUMP), which was developed by the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium. However, not all racing jurisdictions have adopted every part of the NUMP." Thoroughbred horse racing is responsible for 19,000 jobs and more than $3 billion in annual economic impact statewide, according to the Association. A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that part of Saratoga Springs is in New York's 21st District and that Martin and Irby disagreed over whether jockeys who violate state rules could race in other states. WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's legal team offered a startling defense Wednesday as senators debated his fate in the impeachment trial, arguing that a president could do nearly anything so long as they believe their reelection is in the public interest. The assertion from Alan Dershowitz, one of the attorneys representing the president, seemed to take GOP senators by surprise, and few were willing to embrace his argument. At the same time, Republican lawmakers were sounding increasingly confident about defeating a vote expected Friday over calling new witnesses in the trial, an issue that has consumed the Senate for the past several days. Dershowitz made his comments as the Senate launched into a question-and-answer session in the second week of the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history. Following a model established during President Bill Clinton's impeachment, senators wrote their questions on slips of paper that Senate pages passed to Chief Justice John Roberts Jr., who is presiding over the trial. Roberts then read the questions out loud from the dais, glancing over his glasses as he addressed the queries either to the White House defense team or the seven House Democratic impeachment managers. Dershowitz's remarks came in response to a question from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, about quid pro quos, one of the offenses Trump is alleged to have committed. Democrats impeached Trump last month on a charge of abuse of power alleging he withheld military aid and a White House visit from Ukraine until Kyiv announced investigations into his political opponents, and also charged him with obstruction of Congress. "If a president does something which he believes will help him get elected in the public interest, that cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that results in impeachment," asserted Dershowitz. The law professor went on to say that if a president were to tell a foreign leader he was going to withhold funds unless his foreign counterpart built a hotel with his name on it and gave him a million-dollar kickback, "That's an easy case. That's purely corrupt and in the purely private interest." "But a complex middle case is: 'I want to be elected. I think I'm a great president. I think I'm the greatest president there ever was. And if I'm not elected, the national interest will suffer greatly,'" Dershowitz said. "That cannot be an impeachable offense." Dershowitz's argument Wednesday extended a line of reasoning he had advanced earlier this week, when he contended that even if proved, the charges against Trump would not constitute impeachable offenses. Some GOP senators were quick to latch onto that earlier argument, especially in the wake of leaks from an unpublished book by former national security adviser John Bolton directly linking Trump to the conditioning of security assistance to Ukraine. Bolton wrote about a conversation in which Trump discussed delaying the aid until Ukraine announced politically charged investigations, including into former vice president Joe Biden, a front-runner for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, and his son, Hunter. But Dershowitz's new and more expansive line of defense left some Republicans uncertain how to respond, while infuriating Democrats. "I couldn't comment on that because I'm not a constitutional lawyer," said Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind. He also insisted that he put stock in Dershowitz's argument "only in the context of how it applies to the Ukraine, which has had corruption and that the Bidens were there with an argument that you can't say they had their hands clean." Earlier this week, Braun praised Dershowitz for giving senators a framework through which to look at all questions about the impeachability of presidential actions. On Wednesday, a few moments after insisting he only put stock in Dershowitz insofar as it related to Ukraine, he repeated that Dershowitz "gave everyone a framework within which to look at" questions of impeachability. Meanwhile, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., slowly separated himself from a defense of Dershowitz - before slipping away from the conversation entirely. "I think when you conflate all the issues, you can kind of, to a point when you're asking a question in a silo, which is inconsistent with what we just heard today," Scott said. "So I want to separate myself from that part of the conversation because ultimately, I think the premise itself is flawed and I don't want to agree with that necessarily." Multiple Democrats, including Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., skewered Dershowitz's argument to the point of mockery. "His argument was beyond absurd. I thought he made absolutely no sense - because he essentially said that if President Trump believes his election is for the good of the American people that he could do whatever he wants," Gillibrand said. "He is wrong, and I think he's made a laughable argument that undermines the president's case." The claims in Bolton's book, due out in March, go to the heart of Democrats' impeachment charges against Trump. But while prosecuting their case in the House, Democrats had no firsthand witnesses, leading Republicans to dismiss much of their case as hearsay. Bolton could provide that firsthand evidence, and the revelations from his manuscript Sunday set off heated debate among Senate Republicans over whether to call him as a witness. A few moderate Republicans have indicated they want to hear from Bolton, leading Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to privately caution colleagues Tuesday that he might not have the votes to shut down a motion expected Friday to call for new witnesses. Only four Republicans would need to defect and join Democrats in order for a vote to call witnesses to succeed. McConnell wants to avoid calling additional witnesses, since it could extend the contentious proceedings into unpredictable territory. But by Wednesday, leading Republicans were sounding more confident. Trump is set to deliver his State of the Union address Feb. 4, and Republicans would like to have the impeachment trial behind them by that point. "My sense is we will get there," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a key McConnell ally. "I'm pretty confident that people will say we heard from the 17 witnesses in the House and saw all the documents they generated," Cornyn added. "I don't know what any additional witnesses would add, other than prolonging the trial and leading to a months-long battle over executive privilege." For his part, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., sounded glum about the prospect of getting additional witnesses. "The president and Mitch McConnell put huge pressure on these folks," Schumer told reporters during a break in the proceedings. "So I hope we can get witnesses and documents. It's an uphill fight. Is it more likely than not? Probably no. But is it a decent, good chance? Yes." Republicans have insisted that if witnesses were allowed, they would insist on calling their own, such as the Bidens. But an initial vote on allowing witnesses would have to be followed by additional votes on which ones to call, and most Democrats insist they won't agree to witnesses for the White House. Either way, Trump remains highly likely to be acquitted by the Senate in the end, as a two-thirds vote would be required to convict him. Wednesday's question-and-answer session provided a window into the thinking of some members of the Senate, who have had to remain silently in their seats throughout the proceedings, instead of talking at length during occasional appearances in the Senate chamber, which is their usual practice. At one point late Wednesday afternoon, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, tried to ask a fact-finding question that would get into the president's motive in delaying the military aide to Ukraine - before that issue arose last summer, had Trump ever mentioned the Bidens in relation to corruption to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's predecessor? Deputy White House Counsel Patrick Philbin declined to answer, saying he would only answer questions that were related to issues in the record that House investigators had assembled. House Democratic impeachment managers repeatedly made the point that if senators want more direct information, all they need to do is call Bolton to testify. "The Senate can get to the truth by calling witnesses," said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., drafted a question that would name the anonymous whistleblower whose complaint about Trump's Ukraine dealings triggered the impeachment inquiry, but Roberts has declined to read it, according to two officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter. Toward the end of the night, Democrats bridled over comments by Philbin responding to a question from Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Del., about Trump's apparent public solicitation of Russia and China for compromising materials on his campaign rivals. Philbin argued that Trump's remarks did not, in fact, represent a violation of campaign finance laws that make it illegal to accept or solicit a "thing of value" from foreign sources. "Apparently it's OK for the president to get information from foreign governments in an election - that's news to me," said Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., a House manager, as fuming Democrats accused Philbin of engaging in a wholesale rewrite of federal law to cover for Trump. But many of the questions submitted by senators - more than 90 of them by the time the proceedings drew to a close around 11 p.m. - simply appeared designed to allow one side or the other to repeat points they have made over the past week and a half, as first the House managers and then the White House team presented their cases. There have been 16 hours total allotted for questions, eight for each side, and the questioning picks up again Thursday. Meanwhile Wednesday, away from the Senate chamber, representatives for Bolton disputed claims by the White House that his book contained classified information that could prevent its publication. And former attorney general Jeff Sessions, a frequent and public target of Trump's ire while he served in the administration, picked a fight with Bolton, declaring that he himself had chosen not to write a book because "I don't believe it is the honorable thing to do." - - - The Washington Post's Paul Kane, Rachael Bade, Seung Min Kim, Mike DeBonis, Robert Costa and Josh Dawsey contributed to this report. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 04:40:38|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Chinese language teacher Ione Meyer receives an interview with Xinhua during a Chinese New Year celebration held at a high school in Houston, the United States, Jan. 27, 2020. A high school in Houston, U.S. state of Texas, held a Chinese New Year celebration on Monday with students performing in Mandarin Chinese. Nearly 200 students and teachers from Strake Jesuit College Preparatory attended the event that featured dragon and lion dance, stage play, Chinese calligraphy and Chinese food. During the celebration, a bronze statue of Italian priest Matteo Ricci was unveiled and dedicated to the school by local Chinese sculptor Willy Wang. (Xinhua/Liu Liwei) HOUSTON, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- A high school in Houston, U.S. state of Texas, held a Chinese New Year celebration on Monday with students performing in Mandarin Chinese. Nearly 200 students and teachers from Strake Jesuit College Preparatory attended the event that featured dragon and lion dance, stage play, Chinese calligraphy and Chinese food. During the celebration, a bronze statue of Italian priest Matteo Ricci was unveiled and dedicated to the school by local Chinese sculptor Willy Wang. In 1601, Matteo Ricci entered the Forbidden City in Beijing, the then Chinese imperial palace, opening up a path for East-West cultural exchange that many people set foot on. The highlight of the celebration was a playlet "Journey West and Matteo Ricci" written and performed by 13 students and their Chinese language teacher. Having studied Peking Opera in Beijing for four years, the Chinese language teacher, Ione Meyer, can speak fluent Chinese and has been teaching at the school for eight years. She told Xinhua that she has more than 130 students this year. "For the first grade (high school) students, I introduce Chinese tea tasting to them. For the second graders, I ask them to try Chinese food and the third graders can even cook some Chinese dishes," Meyer said. She believes combining cultural study with language learning is a good way for the students to better understand China and enjoy the Chinese culture with their friends and family. "Some students want to do business with China or even work in China in the future. I hope they can use what they have learned in high school," she said. Michael Rozman/Warner Bros. Ellen Degeneres will have a former Barbers Hill ISD student on her show Wednesday after the east Houston-area district made national headlines by telling senior DeAndre Arnold to cut his dreadlocks to comply with the districts dress code. Barbers Hill officials told Arnold that he would face suspension or sent to an alternative campus and would not be able to walk at graduation unless he cut the dreadlocks. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 09:48:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Newly listed firms on China's National Equities Exchange and Quotations (NEEQ), also known as the "new third board," reported a nearly 20-percent growth in net profits in 2019, according to the exchange. A total of 249 companies debuted on the new third board in the period with their net profits growing at a 19.8-percent rate, faster than those registered in the previous three years, the exchange said. Firms listed on the NEEQ in 2019 had also seen improved cash flow, with more than 63 percent of them posting a positive net cash flow, higher than the percentages in the previous three years. Launched in 2013, the new third board is the third national equity trading bourse after the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. It is designed for innovative, start-up and high-growth micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises. China has outlined a series of reforms to better orient the NEEQ to the needs and features of small enterprises and support high-quality growth of the real economy, according to the China Securities Regulatory Commission in October. As of Monday, 8,870 companies had been listed on the NEEQ, including 666 on the innovation tier and 8,204 on the base tier. There were 397 companies forced to be delisted from the NEEQ in 2019 for failing to disclose regular reports on schedule. As part of the "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" initiative, the district administration here has attached as many as 10 girl school students with the officials for a day so as to give them a glimpse into the functioning of the administration and enrich their experience. These girl students from Government Inter College (GIC) were attached to various officials like IAS, IPS, judges, doctors, and engineers, etc on Tuesday. They were provided with an opportunity to have a close look at the functioning of the administrative apparatus of various departments. "Under the 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' scheme, 10 students from GIC are attached to the district officials. They were attached according to their preference and choices. 2-3 students were attached with IAS, 2 students with IPS, few with Judges, doctors, and engineers, etc," said a district official. "This will give them a glimpse into what can be done in life. It's a good opportunity for them to learn and help navigate their path for future," said the official. "I want to be a doctor and hence I am attached to a doctor here. It is a very good initiative as it boosts our morale and inspire us to achieve our goal," said Aakansha Chauhan. The girl students also appreciated the gesture and said that a closer look into professional life, further inspired them to work towards their goals. "I am attached with an IAS official. I want to be an IAS officer and this gives me an opportunity to have a close look into the life of an officer and how he functions," said Kashish Sharma. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Erik Quiroz Razo, 28, was sentenced to 21 months in prison Jan. 15 for helping a suspect try to escape to Mexico after officials say he killed Fijian Indian American police officer Cpl. Ronil Singh of Newman, Calif. (Stanislaus County Sheriffs Department/Facebook photo) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday sacked a regional chief who forced a firefighter to jump in the air to receive keys for new fire engines. The head of the central Russian region of Chuvashiya, Mikhail Ignatyev, at a public ceremony last week dangled keys over the head of a uniformed officer in the emergency ministry, forcing him to jump up to take them. After a video emerged on social media, Ignatyev's press service tried to play down the scandal, saying the men were friendly acquaintances. But the emergency minister Yevgeny Zinichev criticised Ignatyev's behaviour as unethical. "It's unacceptable for such a high-ranking official to behave in such a way," he was quoted as saying in a statement released by his press service. He also said the firefighter behaved inappropriately by playing along, since he represents an "agency respected not only in our country but in the whole world." Putin dismissed Ignatyev on the grounds that he had lost trust in him. He had held the post since 2010. The announcement came a day after the ruling United Russia party excluded him, with ethics committee secretary Yevgeny Revenko saying: "If that was meant to be a joke, it wasn't funny." Known for gaffes, Ignatyev once addressed then-Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev by the wrong name during a televised meeting, calling him Vasily. Earlier this month he caused a scandal by apparently recommending killing journalists who praise life in Europe. In a speech on January 13, he said such journalists "need to be rubbed out, as the ordinary folk say. They need to be rubbed out." He later apologised, saying his words had been misinterpreted. Putin appointed MP Oleg Nikolayev as acting head of Chuvashia pending elections of the new regional chief. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A presenter on Channel 4 show Food Unwrapped has shared her shock at being charged a whopping 334 to travel just two hours by train. Broadcaster Kate Quilton, 36, had been booked by a company she was working for to take the short train ride from London to Liverpool. After spotting the price on the rail ticket, a 334 return 'anytime fare', she shared a photo of it on Twitter. Scroll down for video Kate Quilton, a presenter on Channel 4's Food Unwrapped, expressed her shock at seeing the cost of her return ticket from London-to-Liverpool, taking to Twitter to question why 'carbon-efficient' travel costs so much more The anytime return ticket has a five-day window for travel on the London to Liverpool route - but only in standard class Exasperated by the high price and referencing the environmental impact of choosing a cheaper but less eco-friendly way to travel, the television star wrote: 'No wonder were up s*** creek without a paddle.' Revealing that she had not actually paid for the ticket herself, Quilton said she was angry on their behalf. She wrote: 'Eh??!! The drive would cost 60. A return flight from London would cost 150. And yet the most carbon-efficient way to travel costs this... No wonder were up s*** creek without a paddle. With a hole in the boat. Without a life vest. In our pants. Discuss. Others quickly shared their tips on how to get better fares, saying travellers who didn't book well in advance should prepare to be fleeced. The star, pictured second from left, presented the last series of Food Unwrapped with, from left, Jimmy Doherty, Dr Helen Lawal and Matt Tebbut @paulapg50 wrote: 'That's standard class, try seeing how much it is first class. Insane. Unless you can book weeks in advance for a specific journey time you should brace yourself to be fleeced.' Climate conscious @globalhlthtwit penned: 'Just booked a return train ticket from London to Geneva for 280 which saves a lot of carbon. The Easyjet return is 92. Ridiculous. It's very basic. We need CUTS in income tax, and INCREASES in carbon tax.' @Helvetistani added: 'That price would easily buy you four days' worth of first class travel in ALL of Switzerland. Any train, bus or boat, any time, anywhere with the country. Plus free museum entry.' And @BarbSturmfels said: 'Bonkers. For comparison, as a tourist from NZ I bought a First Class Britrail pass for a trip to UK last year. For approx 2.5x that money, I spent a month travelling by train all over England and Scotland. No reservations needed. Food and drinks provided free on most journeys.' The two-hour route from London's Euston to Liverpool's Lime Street station was taken over by Avanti West Coast from Virgin in December, after Sir Richard Branson's company had operated the line for 22 years. A spokesperson for Avanti West Coast said: 'Our advance fares between Liverpool and London start from 17.50 when booked in advance. Thats why we encourage all our customers to book early to get the best deals.' by Bernardo Cervellera Although the government has decreed to send 150 military medics experienced with SARS and another 4,000 from other parts of the country, in Hubei (and China), there are no protective suits, goggles, hygiene masks rendering the employment of these new doctors impractical, if not putting them at risk of contagion. Deaths rise to 132, confirmed infections are now more than 6 thousand. Rome (AsiaNews) - The news that comes in waves from China about the spread of the coronavirus shows how fragile the Chinese giant is. Exalted until a few days ago for its economic achievements and for its military and political power, it is now facing the epidemic with an inefficiency and fragility that have thus far, as of January 29, officially cost the lives of 132 people and infected over 13 thousand, of which 6000 confirmed. The charges of inefficiency arrives first of all from Wuhan's doctors, at the forefront of the fight against the virus, who for days have complained about the lack of instruments and test kits to discover the disease in the tens of thousands of patients who crowd the corridors of hospitals. With great heroism they work tirelessly for hours and hours and are on the verge of exhaustion. Although the government has decreed to send 150 military medics experienced with the SARS epidemic and another 4,000 from other parts of the country, in Hubei (and China), there are no protective suits, goggles or hygiene masks rendering the deployment of these new doctors impractical, if not putting them at risk of contagion. It is estimated that with the ongoing epidemic, at least 100 thousand protective suits are needed per day, but even at full capacity, China is able to produce only 30 thousand per day. Calculating that the lunar New Year is underway, production has now dropped to 15,000 suits per day. There may be a possibility that overalls made elsewhere will be sent from other parts of the world, but China's protected economy does not allow these imports to take place easily. This inefficiency also depends on a lack of information and the silence that was kept for too long before the alarm was raised. According to The Lancet, the first cases of coronavirus were registered on December 1 last. At least eight people reported the epidemic on January 1, but internet police arrested them as people who spread "fake news" and attacked social order. Only a week later, was there official dicussion of a possible Sars-like epidemic. This case has made it abundantly clear that the lack of free information has become a boomerang that has against the country. Control of information has led to delays in addressing the emergency, as the mayor of Wuhan declared two days ago. On January 27, in an interview with the national CCTV channel, Zhou Xianwang admitted that "not only did we not disclose the information [on the development of the coronavirus in the city] in time, but we did not use the information effectively to improve the our work." The ineffective use of information is due to the fact that the approval of the State Council is required before declaring an epidemic emergency. This centralized procedure and style do not allow immediate and effective decisions above all at the local provincial level. The same process has to be followed to officially declare a person as a coronavirus patient: the positive test must be sent to the provincial health boardwhich in turn studies the papers and gives permission to hospitalize the patient. In this case, precious days are lost to treat a patient who in the meantime, not being hospitalized, becomes a "mobile diffuser" of the virus. Then there was the absolute inconsistency of the Wuhan isolation measures - followed by other cities in Hubei - applied at the turn of the New Year, the period of greatest mobility of the Chinese. In fact, the mayor of Wuhan, Zhou Xianwang, said that at least 5 million people left the city after the blockade was imposed. To correct this transfer of possible carriers of the virus, many cities and provinces of China are now being isolated, even very far from Wuhan. We receive news of closed cities in Hebei, Heilongjiang, Shaanxi, ... Then there is also the news that industries, schools, universities, shops, shopping centers are postponing the reopening after the New Year holidays. Even the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges remain closed; the whole population is advised not to go to public places such as restaurants, cinemas, meetings. Even the Buddhist temples closed their doors, in the early days of the year precisely when people visit it to give thanks and ask for favors for the year that has begun. Catholic churches have stopped all celebrations and masses. The Beijing diocese and others have given special permits to remedy the precept of Sunday mass, advising families to gather at home, read the bible, say the rosary, recite prayers, devotions and florets to ask God to save China from epidemic. So far the majority of coronavirus victims are people between the ages of 40 and 60, who were already weakened by some disease (diabetes or otherwise). There are exceptions, however: in Hubei there is a 35-year-old victim and in Guangxi there are two girls aged four and two, who had visited Wuhan. An illustrious victim of the disease is Wang Xianliang, the head of the Wuhan Ethnic and Religions Committee, who is famous for persecuting many Christian Protestant communities in the city and Optical Valley. However, I believe that the greatest illustrious victim of the epidemic is President Xi Jinping who, in a departure from his typical protagonism, has been very silent throughout and has limited himself to saying that the epidemic is spreading. Against all expectations, the person who travelled to visit Wuhan and Hubei was Prime Minister Li Keqiang. The coronavirus epidemic is another blow to the much-publicized "Chinese dream". This foresees a "moderately wealthy society" by 2021, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party, and the modernization of the country into a fully developed nation by 2049, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic. In 2019 Xi had to face many challenges to this dream and he has always emerged the loser. The trade war has impoverished China and after the attempts - desired by Xi - to challenge the USA, Beijing had to accept the conditions imposed by Washington. Due to the tariff war and the global economic crisis, the Chinese economy is no longer as prosperous and an increasing number of experts think that the figures and statistics pitted by the government are false. For the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China, he promised "peaceful reunification" with Taiwan in October. But despite the lobbying carried out by Beijing, Tsai Ing-wen, from the progressive democratic party, won in the Taiwan elections: exactly what Xi did not want. In Hong Kong, although Xi praises the police and the violence it exerts on the population at all times, many people in the area continue to demand full democracy to elect parliament and head of the executive. Some reporters asked the mayor of Wuhan to resign. Immediately afterwards their newspaper apologized. But many in China think it is Xi Jinping who should go, even if he has managed to change the constitution to remain president for life. Citing 'several instances of undesirable public utterances' by political leaders during Delhi assembly election campaign, the Election Commission on Wednesday reminded parties of various provisions of the model code, including the one which bars politicians from indulging in activities that can create mutual hatred. The 'general advisory' issued by the poll panel also said criticism of other parties or their work based on unverified allegations should be avoided. It said religious places such as temples, mosques, churches or gurudwaras should not be used for propaganda by political parties and their candidates. Any action or deed that can be construed as being repugnant to the dignity of women should be avoided by parties and candidates. The advisory comes against the backdrop of controversial remarks by Union minister Anurag Thakur and Bharatiya Janata Party MP Pravesh Verma during campaigning. While EC has ordered that the two be removed from the list of BJP's star campaigners list, they have also been issued show cause notices for their comments. The EC had last week barred BJP candidate Kapil Mishra from campaignng for 48 hours for his inflammatory tweets. Ah, Steve. I admire your intellect, but your Jan. 26 column disappointed me. It has given me an opening to counter your anti-tax arguments, which I intended to write about anyway. However, you also included several other subjects to address plus a major slam at the liberal media. That is especially intolerable since you have worked as a journalist and presumably learned, as I did, that the opinion page is the only place a newspaper should use to press an agenda. Your broad brush is disingenuous. Your comment that the media always favors (marijuana) availability confuses reporting (legalization activism) with opinion as if their an editorial board agreed. You state as a certainty that people from California are leaving because of high taxes. You also use the appellation Californi-cation to embody the evil that will befall us. That word is trite. It was used in Colorado Springs and in Albuquerque when I lived there. It referred most often to the influx of population and the higher housing prices they were able to pay because of cash from the sale of former homes. Political preferences were rarely mentioned because both states were closely balanced in public officials political party. In fact, high taxes are likely the least of the reasons people leave. A high number of these migrants are retiring and looking to relocate mortgage free. An aging population prefers and is safer on highways where there is less congestion, less population. With more free time, outdoor recreation beckons. There is a popular stereotype that individuals become more conservative as they age. Republicans shouldnt worry. The young, who are taking advantage of job opportunities could be of more concern to you who want to maintain the status quo, arent always from California. Young people have disrupted social order since civilization began. I dont know how you can live in Twin Falls and not favor more flexible revenue sources for local government. How does local government pay for the services necessary to accommodate an urban population without taxes? If a small town wants to grow, how will they pay for the schools needed to attract employees for incoming business? People being forced out of their homes by taxes? That meme sold prop. 13 in California and TABOR in Colorado. In both states its now an impediment to growth, governments effectiveness, and quality of life. People make housing changes for a variety of reasons; they need less or more space, they are unable to or resent the care their current residence requires, they may become more minimalist in their thinking or want to reallocate their resources. Applying means testing to property taxes eliminates the concern of being forced out of their home. My husband ( a Trump voter) has advocated for a higher gas tax since moving to Idaho. You want to allow faith healing for minors? Even the Christian Scientists, who were the biggest proponents of the practice, no longer fight for that right. Modern medicine has advanced to a point where it is effective in ways that were only dreamed of by Mary Baker Eddy. Ive always considered it the mind of God in human hands. Not vaccinate? That negates the choice of parents who do vaccinate. It can harm individuals who cannot receive vaccinations for health reasons. When a choice is based on harmful misinformation it is dangerous to others and government has an obligation to act. The ballot initiative on Medicare expansion made no mention of work requirements. Only the bill signed by the governor did. Couch loungers who want benefit without effortreally? You are using pejorative language to cement a stereotype which has been statistically debunked. Constitutionality clear laws save money used to defend them. Let other states pay. Further restricting citizen initiatives? Changing the redistricting commission to prevent minority-party gerrymandering? Majority-party gerrymandering is better? Our state has been lauded for our process. These three positions take away from the thought that government should protect the minority from the majority. These positions are autocratic, if not totalitarian, thinking about the role of government. I expect better from you. Linda Brugger retired from the Air Force and is a former chairwoman of the Twin Falls County Democrats. Love 15 Funny 3 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 on Wednesday suspended stand-up comedian from flying with it after he allegedly heckled journalist aboard an Mumbai-Lucknow flight. is the third airline to take action against Kamra. While suspended Kamra from flying with it for a period of six months on Tuesday itself, banned him until further notice. Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had taken note of the incident on Tuesday and "advised" other airlines in India to impose similar restrictions on Kamra, stating "offensive behaviour designed to provoke & create disturbance inside an aircraft is absolutely unacceptable & endangers safety of air travellers". On Wednesday morning, said on Twitter, "SpiceJet has decided to suspend Mr from flying with the airline till further notice." An AirAsia India spokesperson said: "Our internal committee is reviewing this case and a decision will be taken soon. We will take action as per due processes." Kamra allegedly heckled Goswami, the editor of Republic TV, on IndiGo's Mumbai-Lucknow (6E5317) flight on Tuesday. CHICAGO, Jan. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Do contentious primaries have an effect on general election results? How does bigotry permeate public policy? What are the true forces driving polarization today? Not Another Politics Podcast delves into these questions and more in its first season -- not through opinion and anecdotes, but rigorous scholarship, massive data sets, and a deep understanding of what has actually happened. The show, which debuts today, is hosted by three scholars from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy who explore what the most important political research really tells us about the issues that are so often fiercely debated and often times obscured or misunderstood within our government and our broader society. Each episode features a guest scholar from around the world who will discuss their research with an eye toward the implications for politics today, with hosts Professor William Howell, one of the world's preeminent presidential scholars, and associate professors Wioletta Dziuda, who currently studies legislative bargaining, and Anthony Fowler, whose emphasis is on elections and representation. Not Another Politics Podcast can be found on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. Episode one, which is available now, examines research into the effects of party primary fights on who wins general elections. It's a question many are asking as the Democratic president primary heats up ahead of the Iowa caucuses. "The hope is that listeners who are keenly interested in politics will find Not Another Politics Podcast to be a valuable dialogue that cuts through the noise and dives into what we really know about the topics that drive our news cycle. This is a vehicle for serious people to examine the political topics that matter most in today's contentious atmosphere," Howell said. The three Harris Public Policy scholars who host Not Another Politics Podcast are: William Howell is the Sydney Stein Professor in American Politics at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and a professor in the Department of Political Science and the College, and the academic director of the Center for Effective Government at Harris . He has written widely on separation-of-powers issues and American political institutions, especially the presidency. Howell is the author, most recently, of Relic: How Our Constitution Undermines Effective Governmentand Why We Need a More Powerful Presidency (Basic Books, 2016). A new book will be released this year. is the Sydney Stein Professor in American Politics at the Harris School of Public Policy and a professor in the Department of Political Science and the College, and the academic director of the Center for Effective Government at . He has written widely on separation-of-powers issues and American political institutions, especially the presidency. Howell is the author, most recently, of (Basic Books, 2016). A new book will be released this year. Wioletta Dziuda is an associate professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Her main interests lie in applied game theory, political economy, and the economics of information. Her current research focuses on analyzing how legislative bargaining affects the nature and the efficiency of policies. She shows that in uncertain economic or political environments, policymaking may lead to legislators' polarization and inefficient policy inertia. She is currently applying her findings to the economics of regulations, in particular trying to explain the frequent use of inefficient economic instruments. is an associate professor at the Harris School of Public Policy. Her main interests lie in applied game theory, political economy, and the economics of information. Her current research focuses on analyzing how legislative bargaining affects the nature and the efficiency of policies. She shows that in uncertain economic or political environments, policymaking may lead to legislators' polarization and inefficient policy inertia. She is currently applying her findings to the economics of regulations, in particular trying to explain the frequent use of inefficient economic instruments. Anthony Fowler is an associate professor at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. His research applies econometric methods for causal inference to questions in political science, with particular emphasis on elections and political representation. Specific interests include the causes and consequences of unequal voter turnout, explanations for incumbent success, the politics of policymaking in legislatures, and the credibility of empirical research. SOURCE The University of Chicago Related Links https://harris.uchicago.edu The owner of a Wildwood Crest pizza shop pleaded guilty Wednesday in Camden federal court to five counts of filing a false income tax return after he admitted to underreporting the pizzerias taxable income by approximately $1.2 million, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Authorities said Giuseppe DArancio, 60, of Cape May Court House, and another owner, who is not named, of Sals Ristorante & Pizzeria kept two sets of accounting books from 2012 to 2016, DArancio admitted to underreporting the shops taxable income. As a result, DArancio failed to pay more than $425,000 in income taxes, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. According to the charging documents, DArancio falsely stated on his tax returns that the pizzeria never had an income of more than $300,000 from 2012 to 2016. When in reality, authorities said, the shop had an income of more than $600,000 each year during that time period. Each of the five counts of filing a false tax return carries a maximum potential penalty of three years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for May 4. DArancios attorney did not immediately return a message seeking comment. According to the restaurants website, the pizzeria was established in 1979 and DArancia began running it 14 years ago. The pizzeria is described as a little bit of Brooklyn and a lot of Sicily mixed together to create a delightful Italian restaurant filled with great food and family fun. The restaurant is closed for the winter season. A message left at the pizzeria was not immediately returned. 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. The lawyers representing Donald Trump at his impeachment trial said the abuse of power charges against the US President was "driven by political desires", as they wrapped up their opening arguments. "The articles of impeachment fall far short of any constitutional standard," White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, who led Trump's defence, said on Tuesday. "What they are asking you to do is to throw out a successful president on the eve of an election, with no basis and in violation of the Constitution," he said. Urging the Senate to acquit the president of the abuse of power charges, the White House counsel argued that overturning the last election and "massively interfering" with the upcoming one would cause serious and lasting damage to the people of the United States. "The Senate cannot allow this to happen. It is time for this to end, here and now," he said in his closing remarks at the Senate floor. The Senate is conducting Trump's trial as the House of Representatives voted last month to impeach him on articles of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, both related to his dealings with Ukraine. Trump is accused of cheating in his 2020 reelection bid by pressuring Ukraine, a US ally, to announce probe into Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden and his son Hunter and a conspiracy theory, promoted by Russia, that Kiev helped the Democrats in 2016. According to the impeachment charges, Trump froze military aid to Ukraine for two months last summer to put pressure on President Volodymyr Zelensky to publicly announce the investigations, illicitly drawing a foreign nation into American electoral Trump's legal team said he did nothing wrong and the articles of the impeachment are "constitutionally deficient and they fail to state impeachable offences". The lawyers said the entire process that led to the House of Representatives voting for the president's impeachment was "completely partisan" and was not based on any wrongdoing by Trump or any constitutionally sufficient theories for impeaching the president. "It was simply a partisan process that was driven by political desires to overturn the last election and to affect the 2020 election," the legal team said. Meanwhile, Democrats sought to have the Senate subpoena former national security advisor John Bolton as a witness, following leaks from his forthcoming book that suggested he could supply damning evidence against Trump. Republicans, however, exuded confidence that they have enough votes to thwart any such move. In the 100-member Senate, Republican Senators have a 53-47 lead over the Democrats. Bolton reportedly writes that Trump directly withheld security aid to Ukraine for his own political benefit. During the three days of arguments, Trump's lawyers painted him as a victim of a partisan attempt to undo the 2016 election. Referring to Bolton's allegations, Trump's personal attorney Jay Sekulow said, "It is not a game of leaks or unsourced manuscripts." With the conclusion of the opening arguments of Trump's legal team, the Senate trial now moves into a two-day period of questioning, during which each party will alternate questioning for up to 16 hours throughout Wednesday and Thursday. The senators will not ask questions themselves but submit them for Chief Justice John Roberts, who is presiding, to read. A vote on whether or not to call witnesses in the trial is expected on Friday. "No matter how many witnesses you give the Democrats, no matter how much information is given, like the quickly produced Transcripts, it will NEVER be enough for them. They will always scream UNFAIR. The Impeachment Hoax is just another political CON JOB!" Trump tweeted late Tuesday night. Senator Ted Cruz exuded confidence that Trump will be acquitted of all the charges at the end of the trial. Praising Trump's lawyers, Senator John Cornyn said the House managers made the mistake of allotting time to each of the managers. "It was more like they weren't talking to us, they were talking to the TV cameras and were enjoying their moment in the sun. I thought the President's lawyers presented a concise and persuasive case," he said. "Not only do they want to negate the 2016 election where President Trump was elected, they want to bar him from being on the ballot in 2020. That's what this impeachment trial is all about. That, to me, is a real threat to the American people's right to be heard at the ballot box, particularly here nine months before the election," Cornyn told Fox (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Donald Trump launched a vicious attack on John Bolton Wednesday, claiming Bolton 'begged' him for a job and wanted to take the country into 'World War Six' before writing his 'nasty & untrue book.' The president took to Twitter to throw his bombshells at his former National Security Adviser - a move that came after Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell warned his party he doesn't have the votes to prevent Democrats' from calling Bolton to the witness stand in Trump's impeachment trial. 'For a guy who couldnt get approved for the Ambassador to the U.N. years ago, couldnt get approved for anything since, begged me for a non Senate approved job, which I gave him despite many saying Dont do it, sir, takes the job, mistakenly says Libyan Model on T.V., and many more mistakes of judgement, gets fired because frankly, if I listened to him, we would be in World War Six by now, and goes out and IMMEDIATELY writes a nasty & untrue book. All Classified National Security. Who would do this?,' Trump tweeted Wednesday morning. Donald Trump launched a vicious attack on former National Security Adviser John Bolton on Wednesday morning Trump claimed John Bolton 'begged' him for a job and would have taken country into 'World War Six' Trump fired Bolton in September over reported disagreement in policy. Bolton's yet to be published memoir of his work in the White House - where he claims Trump said aid to the Ukraine should be held until that country agreed to investigate the Bidens - upended the president's impeachment trial. The president has denied Bolton's charges but they turned the tide among senators toward calling additional witnesses in the case. Bolton claimed he wasn't fired by Trump but the two men had notable disagreements in major foreign policy areas, including on Iran and North Korea. Trump's claim Bolton couldn't get confirmed as U.N. ambassador likely refers to Bolton's time at the United Nations during George W. Bush's presidency, a position he was given by a recess appointment. Bolton left the U.N. job at the end of his recess appointment - before he could go to the Senate for formal confirmation - amid questions about whether or not he had the support to be confirmed. The National Security Adviser position does not require Senate confirmation. Trump has expressed his frustrations with his former adviser but Wednesday morning's attack was his harshest to date. After the rally in New Jersey on Tuesday night, Trump tweeted that he wished Bolton had come forward with his complaints when he being 'very publicly terminated'. The tweet comes just days after Trump slammed Bolton's claims that he was instructed to withhold aid from the Ukraine, made in his forth coming memoir 'The Room Where It Happened.' The New York Times published details from the manuscript that turned Trump's impeachment trial on its head. 'Why didn't John Bolton complain about this 'nonsense' a long time ago, when he was very publicly terminated,' Trump said a tweet. 'He said, not that it matters, NOTHING!' Prior to the post, Trump slammed Democrats for trying to pull a 'con job' with impeachment proceedings. 'No matter how many witnesses you give the Democrats, no matter how much information is given, like the quickly produced Transcripts, it will NEVER be enough for them,' he said in the late Tuesday tweet. 'They will always scream UNFAIR. The Impeachment Hoax is just another political CON JOB!' Trump's mutterings come as senators prepare for the next phase in his trial - their turn to ask questions of the defense and prosecution. Trump tweeted early on Wednesday morning that he wished former National Security Adviser John Bolton would have came forward with his complaints when he was getting fired The tweet comes just days after he slammed Bolton's claims that President Trump told him to withhold aid from the Ukraine Senators get 16 hours spread over two days to make their inquiries. The questions will be submitted in writing and Chief Justice John Roberts will read them aloud, directing them to either the House impeachment managers or the president's lawyers. Democrats plan to ask about claims in Bolton's book that Trump said aid to the Ukraine should be held until that country agreed to investigate the Bidens, which the president has denied. Republicans plan to focus their questions on Hunter Biden and his work with the Ukrainian gas company Burisma along with Democrats' contact with the whistleblower. Members of both parties could also ask friendly questions to their respective sides to help counter elements that come up through the day. Leadership on both sides will coordinate the questioning - weeding out duplicate inquiries and rejecting outside-the-box ones. After the questioning comes the debate over whether to call Bolton and other witnesses. Bolton has said he will testify if subpoenaed. Senators have discussed a 'one-for-one' witness deal with Democrats would call Bolton and Republicans would call Hunter Biden but nothing formal has been announced. Meanwhile, McConnell on Tuesday warned there aren't the votes to block witnesses from being called. His warning came immediately after Trump's lawyers rested their defense, as party leaders stood firm on the question of keeping out impeachment trial witnesses. His acknowledgement came during a closed-door meeting with senators Tuesday and was reported by the Wall Street Journal. Senate Republicans huddled after Trump's lawyers made their final arguments that the president's conduct wasn't impeachable using only half their allotted time in a chamber the GOP controls with a 53-vote majority. Senate Majority Whip John Thune of South Dakota said Bolton's revelations which prompted a political battle over whether he should be believed don't matter. In this image from video, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks during the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. Later, he told fellow Republicans the votes 'I don't think anything he says changes the facts,' Thune said. 'Were kind of confident' the Trump impeachment trial won't extend beyond Friday, he added. 'The consensus is that weve heard enough and its time to go to a final judgement,' Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming told The Hill. Utah Sen. Mitt Romney says he wants to hear what Bolton has to say, and Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska have said they want to hear from witnesses. Democrats only need four Republican senators to vote with them on calling more witnesses. A small number of Republicans have either expressed potential support for hearing from witnesses, or said they were holding out until the end of the week. McConnell's comments is certain to focus minds and potentially bring more outside pressure from President Trump, who has called the trial a hoax and wants it to end. Senators acknowledge there is no deal yet on how to proceed, after Bolton's revelations prompted a series of potential proposals including deals to pair witnesses for each party, or efforts to subpoena his manuscript without putting the witness himself under oath. But with several key holdouts saying they are still waiting to make up their minds, Senate Majority Mitch McConnell is telling colleagues he doesn't have the votes to dispense with witnesses. Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, told Capitol reporters he won't make up his mind until the Senate spends Wednesday and Thursday taking written questions from senators. 'Then I'll make a decision about whether we need more evidence,' he said. One Democrat, Dianne Feinstein of California, appeared to hedge on whether she wold vote to remove Trump from office, only to issue a clarification via Twitter. Trump's defense team concluded its opening arguments Tuesday by taking a hit at Bolton's upcoming book, claiming it is 'unsourced' and insisting the manuscript of the memoir would not be admissible in the trial. The state Supreme Court opened the door Wednesday for food and beverage servers at hotels, country clubs and banquet rooms in California to receive the service charges that management commonly adds to customers bills. The hospitality industry typically tacks charges of 18% or more onto food and drink bills. To customers, the charges look like tips, but in California owners usually keep the money or share some of it with selected employees. But a state appeals court in San Francisco ruled in October that service charges can fit the legal definition of a gratuity, or tip, which under state law must go to the servers. Ruling on a 21% service charge by the Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco, the First District Court of Appeal said evidence in the case suggests that the charge is plainly perceived by the customer to be a gratuity and is intended by the customer to be a gratuity. It is also a fair inference, the court said, that a customer would not intend a gratuity to be pocketed by defendant, the ballrooms owner and operator. According to a class-action lawsuit by a former banquet server and bartender, the owner, Merchant Exchange Productions, kept part of the service charge and distributed the rest to managers and other non-servers. The ruling stopped short of ordering the owner to pay future service charges to the servers, but allowed the employees to proceed with a suit that seeks such payments, and set a legal standard for all such employers. The owners appealed the ruling to the state Supreme Court, and the California Restaurant Association asked the court to revoke the rulings status as a published decision for other courts to follow. But the court denied review Wednesday on a 5-2 vote, with Justices Ming Chin and Carol Corrigan dissenting. The court also left the appellate ruling intact as a precedent that is now binding on all trial courts in California. We will now be seeking court orders in this case and other cases to require hotels, restaurants and other establishments that charge a service charge to reimburse the proceeds of those payments to the workers, said Shannon Liss-Riordan, lawyer for the former banquet server. She said courts in New York and Hawaii had issued similar rulings after years of litigation. 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. Lawyers for the ballroom owner and the California Restaurant Association were not immediately available for comment. California protects servers rights to tips more strongly than other states. Federal law, and the laws of most states, allow employers to deduct tips from employees wages, which can drop to as little as $2.13 an hour as a result. Tips make up the rest of their minimum wages $7.25 an hour under federal law, higher in about half the states. California law allows no such deductions and requires a minimum wage, not including tips, of $13 an hour for employers with more than 25 employees, and $12 for smaller employers. The minimum wage in San Francisco is $15.59 an hour. The case is OGrady vs. Merchant Exchange Productions, S259381. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko Bengaluru, Jan 29 : Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddiyurappa will fly to Delhi on Thursday to meet Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President J.P. Nadda for discussions on cabinet expansion, a party spokesperson said. "Yeddiyurappa told in Shimoga that he would be going to Delhi tomorrow... He is going there for the very purpose (cabinet expansion)," BJP spokesperson G. Madhusudhana told IANS about the Chief Minister's travel plans. However, he said that all the 11 hopefuls may not get ministerial berths, with one or two being left behind. "One or two will be cut, it is usual. I don't know who will be cut. I think nine out of 11 may get the chance to become Ministers of State," said Madhusudhana. He also feels two more ministers could be inducted into the cabinet from among the BJP lawmakers. Madhusudhana said it would not surprising to see the losers to stay away from the swearing in ceremony or other forms of protests. On the speculation that Ramesh Jarkiholi may be appointed as Deputy Chief Minister, he said Yeddiyurappa did not relish the idea of 3-4 Deputy Chief Ministers in his cabinet. The much delayed cabinet expansion has already been postponed several times. The BJP won 12 of the 15 Assembly seats in the by-elections while the opposition Congress could win only two and an Independent won one. Julia DyReyes and her son Julian DyReyes-Kapp, who died of an opioid overdose while he was a student at Temple University. Read more Since 2018, Pennsylvania has been in a continuous state of emergency in the fight against heroin and opioid addiction. On April 23, 2019, that state of emergency became my nightmare as my only son, Julian DyReyes-Kapp, died from an overdose while a student at Temple University. I had no idea that he had ever used opioids or heroin. I had no indication as a nurse that my son, who had been a star athlete and student in high school, was introduced to drugs. After his death, I began pouring over texts, emails, and phone calls, looking for any way we couldve known this was happening. There were red flags on the part of Temple University, but nothing was done. This is my reality. Julians first two years at Temple were uneventful. He was going to classes and getting decent grades. During his junior year, Julian was placed on academic probation and referred to Temples CARE Team. His grades had declined and professors noticed he had stopped going to classes. The CARE Team tried to reach out to him two times. He never responded. They took no further action and told me that some students just dont respond. During his junior year at Temple, at Julians off-campus residence and within Temples police jurisdiction, there were three overdoses at this residence in the fall semester. All three students were resuscitated. Julian was the fourth call from this residence in the spring and did not survive. I learned that as a parent, I have no right to any information about my child while he is a student at a university as a result of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The law provides that a university may notify parents when they are concerned for the safety of a child, but it is not obligated. This is not unique to Temple. They followed the federal law. I have discovered that many institutions of higher education have similar programs in place. I believe there are opportunities for improvement. In light of parents limited access to critical information to intervene to try to save their children, universities must do more. Many universities, including Temple, have a medical amnesty program encouraging students to call for medical help secondary to alcohol or drug overdose without fear of disciplinary action or parental notification. This program encourages reporting and hopefully saves lives. However, there is much more that can be done. Data consolidation. The medical amnesty program generates critical data that can prevent deaths, but it is not utilized. If there are multiple calls from the same house in the same semester, this is a red flag to intervene. The data needs to be monitored for patterns, location, and frequency. An example: while offering help, send a counselor to assess. If the school had identified that residence as a concern, coupled with Julian being on the CARE Team and the professors concerns, this should have been a double red flag. If a university has a program to refer kids to a CARE Team because they are concerned, then they should not give up trying to reach them when they do not respond. This is unacceptable. Transparency. There are some laws in place to protect students. The Clery Act requires universities to disclose the number of violent crimes on campus. Megans Law requires transparency around sex offenders. However, no law exists providing transparency around opioid overdoses and deaths to keep students safe. We must demand transparency. Narcan. If there is any call for medical assistance as a result of an overdose, universities should leave Narcan (naloxone) behind at that residence. That should be standard practice. READ MORE: College campuses distribute condoms. Why not Narcan? | Opinion I would do anything to have my son back. All I can do is to make sure other kids do not fall through the cracks and demand universities do better. We are in a state of emergency, and its time for universities to act like it. Julia DyReyes is a nurse at Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center. Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 13:37:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Political and legal affairs organs across China will ramp up their work to tighten security at designated medical institutions and crowded places and combat crimes as the country fights the novel coronavirus epidemic. The Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the Communist Party of China Central Committee said Wednesday that it had ordered political and legal affairs organs and their personnel at all levels to view epidemic prevention and control work as the most important current task and to perform their duties well. They were also asked to strengthen cooperation with health and transport authorities to improve epidemic-related work including epidemic monitoring, checking and early warnings. Leading officials and Party members at political and legal affairs organs should take the lead in the fight against the novel coronavirus and personnel on front-line duty should be equipped with necessary protective gear, said the commission. Written by ACM *Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- The Unity of the Right continues to Rock in Italy, after marking Giant Wins of + 20% and + 30% of People's Votes in Elections at 2 Key Regions, Former Long-Time Strongholds of the Left, Both at the North and at the South of the Country, in Emilia Romagna and Calabria. The Turn-Coat manouver of the "5 Stars" movement Leftwards, desperately hanging at the Government with Only 4 MPs difference, and Vanished at the Polls, after Many Defections Last Year, resulted in its quasi-Disappearance at Regional level on 2020, left withOut Any Representative at all in both Emilia Romagna and in Calabria, while di Mayo Resigned from the Party's leadership at the Eve of these latest Elections. On the Contrary, Salvini's "League" marks the Biggest Win of People's Votes with +13% More now, followed by "Fratelli d'Italia" of Rightist Meloni with +7% more in Emilia Romagna, Reaching 32% and 9% respectively, at the Head of a Unity of the Right Coalition Totaling 44% for the First Time in History there, where the Left has reportedly been Discredited, inter alia, also by a Scandal of Local Politicians plotting with Medical Doctors and Social Workers in order to Slander Poor Families and Usurpate their Children, placed in "Foster Families" Paid by the State, (where the ECHR has already Sanctioned several Abuses, particularly in the UK and Sweden, etc). So that the formerly Long-Time PreDominant Leftist "Democratic" Party there Fell only at a Tiny Distance of 2% from "Lega", (32% - 34%), which could have Won even the Presidency of that Region, if one of its Allies, Berlusconi's "Forza Italia", had not followed the Local Trend of all Establishment Parties in Emilia Romagna to Fall Down - 5,8%... But, on the Contrary, in Southern Italy, at Calabria, it's this Salvini's Ally, Berlusconi's "Forza Italia", who Wins the Presidency of the Region, as the Coalition of the Unity of the Right Wins +36% of the Votes, (with 12,34% for "Forza Italia", almost Equal to the "League": 12,25%, followed by 10,9% of "Frateli d'Italia"), Added to anOther 25,5% by 3 More Allied Parties of the Right, so that it Totals Higher than ...57% in all ! In Fact, All the Right, taken Together, Advances, collectively, for More than +33% in total of People's Votes at Calabria on 2020, reaching an Outstanding electoral Change... (../..) ("DraftNews") Dr. Pham Thi Thu Ha is one of three Vietnamese scientists to receive LOreal UNESCO for Women in Science Awards for her achievements and contributions to the community. PhD Pham Thi Thu Ha (second left) and her students in the laboratory. Photo tuoitre.vn Ha, who is deputy director of the Institute for Genetics and Breeding under the Ton uc Thang University, successfully create the OM600 rice variety through cross-breeding. The rice variety was recognised as the national variety in 2011 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Ha talks about her work. Why are you interested in rice varieties? Im from a farming family, so everything related to fields and rice has been in my mind since I was small. I love working with rice and learning how to create better rice varieties. When I visited my hometown as part of a field trip, I was happy to hear local farmers tell each other about several good rice varieties, especially when they spoke about the varieties that I created. Do you often work outdoors? Working as scientist, you have to work on the field; transplanting rice seedlings and then analysing and assessing them. After 10 years, I had practical experience after going to Hiroshima University in Japan to study for my PhD. I understood what I needed to do and did not feel discouraged when coming back to home for research. In 2014, I went to South Korea to support short-term research about rice. Which project are you working on after receiving the award? New rice varieties must grow well in salty conditions, especially now the problem is becoming more and more severe in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta. In addition to rice, we pay attention to other kinds of plants, such as fruits and vegetables. Its one of my assigned duties when working at the institute. At present, many kinds of fruits and vegetables in Viet Nam are imported, needing a great amount of money per year. One of the reasons is that local farmers do not have a habit of storing seeds, whereas importing seeds is easier. Did you face any difficulties in research because you are a female scientist? When I returned to Viet Nam, I found it difficult when asking for research projects from provinces and organisations. Other young scientists, especially women, also face obstacles. Many organisations do not believe in us, or they only assess our capacity via articles. In my opinion, we should set up policies to promote female scientists. Do the difficulties prevent young people from working in the agricultural sector? In my institute, its difficult to find young people with a passion in agricultural research. Few students choose genetics in Viet Nam, only a few study in related sectors, for instance, planting. One more problem is income. Income from the work is quite low, so many accept jobs that are not suitable with their professions but offer better income. At university, I always create good conditions for students to take part in research, conferences and agricultural events so that they will have more passion for the work. I have used my own money to help two students go to Thailand and attend an agricultural conference so they can access experts and encourage them to do more research. VNS Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-29 13:27:20|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close KABUL, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. forces in Afghanistan on Tuesday recovered the remains of two personnel from the site in eastern Ghazni province, where a U.S. aircraft crashed on Monday, U.S. forces confirmed on Wednesday. "On January 28, U.S. Forces recovered the remains of two personnel from the site where a U.S. Bombardier E-11A aircraft crashed in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan on January 27," the U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, which is part of NATO-led Resolute Support, said in a statement. The remains were found near the crash site, treated with dignity and respect by the local Afghan community, in accordance with their culture, the statement added. "The forces also recovered what is assessed to be the aircraft flight data recorder. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, however there are no indications the crash was caused by enemy fire," the statement noted. The U.S. forces destroyed the remnants of the aircraft, according to the statement. The statement did not provide details about the identity of the victims, only saying "pending positive identification and in accordance with U.S. Department of Defense policy, the names of the service members are being withheld until 24 hours after notification of next of kin is complete." Taliban militants fighting coalition forces and government security forces have claimed that the insurgents shot down the aircraft in the province, with Ghazni city as its capital, 125 km south of Kabul. Since the beginning of this month, four Afghan army helicopters, including a contracted chopper, have gone down across Afghanistan, killing two Afghan army pilots and injuring 14 people. In the latest incident, four Afghan army personnel were wounded on Saturday after the contracted helicopter was shot down by Taliban in Kajaki district of southern Helmand province. afghanistan plane crash us air force Reuters The state-run IRINN TV network aired a report on Tuesday claiming that about 100 bodies had been found at the site of a US military plane crash in Afghanistan on Monday. IRINN cited an Associated Press (AP) report that said "nearly 100 corpses" were found at the site, according to BBC Monitoring. The AP has since said that such report did not exist. The aircraft, a US Air Force Bombardier E-11A, is widely believed to have been carrying no more than six people at the time of the crash. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Iranian state TV cited a report by the Associated Press (AP) claiming that 100 bodies were found at the site of a US military plane crash in Afghanistan, but the news agency says this report doesn't exist. The Islamic Republic of Iran News Network (IRINN), which is part of the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, reported Tuesday, according to BBC Monitoring: "US authorities have not yet released official casualty figures but the Associated Press, quoting local officials in Ghazni Province in Afghanistan, has announced that nearly 100 corpses have been found at the crash site." The AP has published reports on the disaster, but none of them have contained the 100-bodies figure. The AP told Business Insider it did not report this. Neither officials in the US nor in Ghazni, the Taliban-held province where the crash took place, have given a death toll so far. The Taliban claimed it shot down the plane, and said it contained high-ranking CIA officers. The US has disputed this claim, with defense officials warning on Monday that the "first report's always wrong." US officials on Tuesday recovered the remains and are confirming the identities of people involved in the crash, Reuters reported. The officials did not give a number. Story continues The plane, a US Air Force Bombardier E-11A, is widely believed to have been carrying no more than six people at the time of the crash. New York Times correspondent Mujib Mashal said on Tuesday that the most widely-cited figure is two. Ghazni provincial police chief Khalid Wardak told Reuters on Tuesday "there are four bodies and two onboard were alive and they are missing," but said Taliban fighters repelled Afghanistan's attempt to access the crash site. An image broadcast on Iran's state TV of actor Fredric Lehne, playing a character based on real CIA agent Michael D'Andrea, in the movie Twitter/BBC Monitoring Iran's state-run Channel One network also peddled a theory that a senior CIA official named Michael D'Andrea had been on the plane. In reports broadcast by the channel, a photo of actor Fredric Lehne who played a character inspired by D'Andrea in the 2012 movie "Zero Dark Thirty" was shown instead of D'Andrea himself. Channel One also claimed that D'Andrea who leads the CIA's activities on Iran played a key role in the US assassination of Iranian military general Qassem Soleimani, according to BBC Monitoring. It's not clear if this is true, and the CIA declined to comment when contacted by Business Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider Manila, Jan 29 : Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday that he will not attend the summit between the United States and leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Las Vegas in March. "I think by this time our foreign office must have advised Thailand that I am not going," Duterte told reporters, Xinhua reported. Thailand was last year's chair of the ASEAN meetings. Experts said Duterte's decision was possibly triggered by the US cancellation of Senator Ronald Dela Rosa's US visa on account of his involvement in the anti-drug war. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Miwa Suzuki (Agence France-Presse) Wed, January 29, 2020 08:34 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20616c04e 2 World Japan,#Japan,Wuhan-coronavirus,wuhan,#Wuhan,coronavirus,#coronavirus,evacuation Free The first Japanese nationals evacuated from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the center of a deadly virus outbreak, arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday aboard a charter plane. The plane landed at Haneda airport around 8:45 a.m. (11:45 a.m. GMT), with officials saying 206 people were on board. Airport workers wearing face masks immediately began unloading luggage from the aircraft, and several buses pulled up, but there was no immediate sign of passengers leaving the plane. Ambulances could be seen nearby. Earlier, health ministry officials said medical professionals on board the flight would carry out health checks but that there were no plans to quarantine the arriving passengers. The flight arrived as several countries work to extract their nationals from Wuhan, with an American charter flight also leaving the city on Wednesday, bound for an airport in the Los Angeles area. The flight chartered by the Japanese government had arrived in Wuhan overnight carrying emergency relief supplies including 15,000 masks, 50,000 pairs of gloves and 8,000 protective glasses, the foreign ministry said. Around four medical officials were also on board to monitor returning passengers. Government officials said Tuesday that evacuees would be asked to fill out a health questionnaire and that anyone displaying symptoms on the flight would be taken to hospital immediately upon arrival in Japan. All passengers were expected to be tested for the new strain of coronavirus, which has killed more than 100 people and infected thousands. The evacuees would be asked to remain at home and avoid crowds at least until the results of the test were known, officials said. Those who live in and near Tokyo will be allowed to head home, while those living further away will be taken to local hotels initially. Japan's health ministry has so far confirmed seven cases of the virus in the country, including one man who had not traveled to China. The man from the western region of Nara had driven a tour bus with tourists from Wuhan twice in January, the health ministry said. Japan's foreign ministry says around 650 Japanese nationals in the Wuhan area have asked to be repatriated, and local media reported Wednesday that Tokyo was preparing to send a second charter flight, possibly later Wednesday, to collect more people. Chinese authorities said Wednesday that the number of confirmed deaths in the outbreak has risen to 132 nationwide, with the confirmed total of infections now nearly 6,000. More than 50 million people have been locked down in and around Wuhan, the central industrial city where the outbreak first began, in a bid by authorities to stop an infection that has since spread to other cities in China and to other countries. Chinese President Xi Jinping called the virus a "demon" during talks on Tuesday with the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Beijing, and pledged a "timely" release of updates about the crisis. You must be logged in to participate in the Show Me the Errors contest. People in the West Bank settlement Efrat on Wednesday had mixed reactions to US President Donald Trump's plan aimed at ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The blueprint, jointly announced by the US and Israel on Tuesday, allows Israel to immediately annex virtually all of its settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are viewed as illegal by the Palestinians and most of the international community. Settlers in Efrat said the plan "would resolve a lot of our problems" such as borders. However others voiced their concerns about the creation of a Palestinian state. Nearly 430,000 Israeli settlers reside in the occupied West Bank and another 215,000 live in annexed east Jerusalem, territories the Palestinians want for their future state, according to Israeli anti-settlement watchdog Peace Now. The West Bank is home to more than 2.5 million Palestinians, and east Jerusalem is home to more than 300,000 Palestinians. (L-R) The Royal Melbourne Hospital's Dr. Julian Druce, Virus Identification Laboratory Head at the Doherty Institute and Dr. Mike Catton, Deputy Director of the Doherty Institute, announce having successfully grown the Wuhan coronavirus from a patient sample in Melbourne, Australia, on Jan. 28, 2020. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters) Australian Scientists Develop Coronavirus in Lab as Evacuated Aussies Sent to Christmas Island Scientists in Australia on Jan. 29 became the first to successfully develop a lab-grown version of coronavirus outside of China in what they called a significant breakthrough, as Australia announced it would help evacuate citizens from the epicenter of the outbreak for quarantine on Christmas Island. The team of scientists at the Melbourne-based Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity said they grew the coronavirus sample from a patient who had been infected since Friday. The researchers said they will now share it with the World Health Organization (WHO), which will then share it with laboratories around the world, as scientists race to create a vaccine for the virus to help curb the global spread of the illness. A laboratory in China had successfully grown the virus but had released only the genome sequence, not the sample itself, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. (ABC) reported. A still image taken from a time lapse video shows novel coronavirus 2019-nCov growing in Vero E6 cells, in Melbourne, Australia, released Jan. 29, 2020. (Dr Julian Druce Vidrl, The Doherty Institute via Reuters) Julian Druce, the Doherty Institutes virus identification laboratory head, highlighted the significance of the development of the Australia-grown virus sample, calling it a game changer for diagnosis. Its an exact match to the sequence from China, he said on Wednesday. Having the real virus means we now have the ability to actually validate and verify all test methods, and compare their sensitivities and specificities. The virus will be used as positive control material for the Australian network of public health laboratories, and also shipped to expert laboratories working closely with the World Health Organization in Europe, he added. Experts have said that the Chinese regime is likely underreporting the true scale of the coronavirus. The most common symptom of the virus is a high fever. However, other symptoms include breathlessness, a sore throat, and a cough. Severe cases of infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death, according to the WHO. It spreads in droplets from coughs and sneezes and has an incubation period of up to 14 days. The institute explained that the lab-grown virus sample would be used to generate an antibody test, which would allow detection of the virus in patients who had not shown symptoms, as well as contributing to the creation of a vaccine. Confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia now stand at five. Official travel advice for citizens was on Wednesday upgraded to reconsider all travel to China. Aussies to be Evacuated to Christmas Island News of the breakthrough came as Australia said it would help some citizens leave Hubei and quarantine them for 14 days on Christmas Island, a remote speck in the Indian Ocean best known for housing asylum seekers. Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the announcement on Wednesday, following a briefing by the Chinese regime. We have taken a decision this morning to prepare a plan for an operation to provide some assisted departures for isolated and vulnerable Australians in Wuhan and the Hubei province, he told reporters in Canberra. The United States, Japan, and South Korea have taken similar measures to evacuate their citizens. Morrison did not specify how many Australians the government would be able to assist out of the 600 Australians registered in Hubei province, but said individuals would be evacuated on a last-in, first-out basis. The elderly, children, and short-term travelers who have no support base in the region will be prioritized, he said. But I stress there is rather a limited window here and we are moving very, very swiftly to ensure we can put this plan together and put the operation together, he added. Morrison said the Australian Medical Assistance Teams will be sent to Christmas Island to provide medical support. I also want to stress that for Christmas Island, we will be ensuring there will be support provided directly to the Christmas Island community completely separate and quarantined from the support that is being provided in the quarantine zone, he said. The quarantine declaration will be made by the government to give effect to those arrangements. The defence forces have been tasked to identify overflow facilities where that may be necessary and also to provide whatever logistical and other support is necessary to support the operations on Christmas Island, he said. Reuters contributed to this report. US president Donald Trump has been railing against digital tax proposals. Photo: Getty Digital tax proposals are set to take centre stage at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, with US President Donald Trump expected to rail against Frances levy on tech giants and plans to introduce a similar one in the UK. In December, the Trump administration last month threatened to impose 100% tariffs on $2.4bn worth of French goods, including champagne and handbags, arguing that the 3% tax on the revenues of large digital services companies unfairly targets US firms. Frances digital tax proposal is just one just move in the battle to prevent US tech giants from shifting profits to low tax jurisdictions. In essence, digital tax initiatives tax large global firms on their revenue or sales in a particular country, rather than on their profits, which are often booked elsewhere. In France, any digital company with revenue of more than 750m (670m) of which at least 25m is generated in France must pay the 3% tax. But earlier this month, French economy minister Bruno Le Maire warned that any retaliation to his countrys new digital tax could deeply and durably damage relations between the United States and Europe. If the Americans decide to go ahead and impose sanctions against the digital tax ... in this case we would retaliate, Le Maire said, warning that in some cases the only alternatives to certain French goods are Chinese ones (paywall). France has signalled that it is hoping to reach agreement with the United States in Davos. We are ready to make steps towards the United States, and we have already proposed a certain number of measures. We hope to reach a resolution by Wednesday, Le Maire said this week. But Italy has recently introduced a similar tax, and the UK is expected to unveil a digital services tax, a 2% levy on the UK revenues of technology businesses, in the upcoming 11 March budget. The proposals in France, Italy and the UK are national tax proposals. But these countries would prefer if there was international agreement on this topic, and hope that OECD proposals come to pass. Progress had been made on these global digital tax proposals, but they have recently been derailed by the United States. The European Union has said, meanwhile, that it intends to bring forward its own digital tax proposals essentially picking up the mantle if the OECD discussions on the matter collapse. David Iben put it well when he said, 'Volatility is not a risk we care about. What we care about is avoiding the permanent loss of capital. So it seems the smart money knows that debt - which is usually involved in bankruptcies - is a very important factor, when you assess how risky a company is. We can see that ASML Holding N.V. (AMS:ASML) does use debt in its business. But should shareholders be worried about its use of debt? Why Does Debt Bring Risk? Debt is a tool to help businesses grow, but if a business is incapable of paying off its lenders, then it exists at their mercy. In the worst case scenario, a company can go bankrupt if it cannot pay its creditors. However, a more usual (but still expensive) situation is where a company must dilute shareholders at a cheap share price simply to get debt under control. Of course, the upside of debt is that it often represents cheap capital, especially when it replaces dilution in a company with the ability to reinvest at high rates of return. The first step when considering a company's debt levels is to consider its cash and debt together. Check out our latest analysis for ASML Holding How Much Debt Does ASML Holding Carry? The image below, which you can click on for greater detail, shows that at December 2019 ASML Holding had debt of 2.97b, up from 3.1k in one year. However, its balance sheet shows it holds 4.72b in cash, so it actually has 1.75b net cash. ENXTAM:ASML Historical Debt, January 29th 2020 How Healthy Is ASML Holding's Balance Sheet? We can see from the most recent balance sheet that ASML Holding had liabilities of 4.69b falling due within a year, and liabilities of 5.34b due beyond that. Offsetting these obligations, it had cash of 4.72b as well as receivables valued at 2.76b due within 12 months. So its liabilities total 2.56b more than the combination of its cash and short-term receivables. Of course, ASML Holding has a titanic market capitalization of 109.8b, so these liabilities are probably manageable. However, we do think it is worth keeping an eye on its balance sheet strength, as it may change over time. Despite its noteworthy liabilities, ASML Holding boasts net cash, so it's fair to say it does not have a heavy debt load! Story continues But the other side of the story is that ASML Holding saw its EBIT decline by 5.9% over the last year. That sort of decline, if sustained, will obviously make debt harder to handle. 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 ASML Holding 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, while the tax-man may adore accounting profits, lenders only accept cold hard cash. ASML Holding 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. Over the most recent three years, ASML Holding recorded free cash flow worth 77% of its EBIT, which is around normal, given free cash flow excludes interest and tax. This cold hard cash means it can reduce its debt when it wants to. Summing up We could understand if investors are concerned about ASML Holding's liabilities, but we can be reassured by the fact it has has net cash of 1.75b. And it impressed us with free cash flow of 2.4b, being 77% of its EBIT. So is ASML Holding's debt a risk? It doesn't seem so to us. We'd be motivated to research the stock further if we found out that ASML Holding insiders have bought shares recently. If you would too, then you're in luck, since today we're sharing our list of reported insider transactions for free. At the end of the day, it's often better to focus on companies that are free from net debt. You can access our special list of such companies (all with a track record of profit growth). It's free. 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 deputy claims the EU should not be judging Russia. A member of the Russian State Duma has called the European Union "Hitler's coalition", where all member states had once worked for Nazi Germany. Such a statement was voiced by head of the State Duma Committee on Education and Science, chairman of the board of the Russkiy Mir Foundation, MP Vyacheslav Nikonov (United Russia), who spoke at a round table titled "Spiritual, moral and patriotic education of youths in the light of the Great Victory", Ghall wrote citing a Russkiy Mir Foundation report. "After the UK withdrew from the European Union, there is practically no country left in the EU that was not either a member of the Nazi axis or allied with Nazi Germany. The whole European Union was in the past Hitler's coalition or those who bowed before him. There was not a single country opposing Hitler. France was also defeated, and its plants worked for Germany," Nikonov said. Read alsoRussia's attempts to bring separatist movements to international platforms threaten EU think tank "That's who is judging us right now. And they're telling us when Auschwitz had to be liberated, they're telling us about equal responsibility those who attacked us, who were with Hitler. This is obviously a Eurocentric, I'd even say racist view of history. So we also have to get rid of this Eurocentrism. We ourselves undermined foundations of our historical consciousness when we destroyed a united country the Soviet Union," said the deputy. It is worth noting that Vyacheslav Nikonov is the grandson the former Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs Vyacheslav Molotov, who signed the Non-Aggression Treaty with Nazi Germany counterpart Joachim von Ribbentrop. According to the agreement, the parties undertook to refrain from attacking each other and to maintain neutrality if one of them became the target of hostilities by a third party. The parties to the agreement were also bound to refrain from allied relations with other powers, directly or indirectly targeting the other side. Mutual exchange of information on issues affecting the interests of the parties was envisaged. The agreement was accompanied by a secret additional protocol on the delimitation of areas of interest in Eastern Europe in the event of a "territorial and political reorganization." The protocol provided for the inclusion of Latvia, Estonia, Finland, the eastern "regions that make up the Polish state", and Bessarabia in the sphere of interests of the USSR. Lithuania and the western part of Poland were assigned to Germany. In response to the recent outbreak of the new coronavirus in China, Tesla has announced that it will be offering free charging to owners of its vehicles who reside in the country.Tesla described the outbreak as an extraordinary period and said that the free charging will be offered until it is resolved, which is an undetermined date at this point. Drivers received notifications about the decision via their in-vehicle screens.Part of the hope is that this move will encourage people to avoid public transportation, which could help stem the spread of the disease. It also will hopefully make getting around easier for people in areas where public transportation has been shut down. Dallas, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - January 29, 2020) - Alternet Systems, Inc. (OTC Pink: ALYI) today confirmed company plans to release on Monday, February 2nd, 2020 a summary of the meetings in Malta this week with local legal representatives, crypto strategy experts and African electric vehicle partners to coordinate the launch of new business entity domiciled in Malta. The new Malta business is the target organization intended to launch a $100 million initial coin offering (ICO) to fund infrastructure for electric vehicle production in Africa. ALYI African Crypto Strategy Highlights The firm, IW Global (www.IW-Global.com) has proposed launching and managing an Initial Coin Offering (ICO) on ALYI's behalf specifically targeted at raising $100 million to fund infrastructure for electric vehicle production in Africa. ALYI has partnered with IW Global and ALYI's production and marketing partners in Kenya to form a new company (NewCo) with the specific focus of building a new, state of the art electric vehicle production plant. This NewCo will be a separate company apart from ALYI but exclusively contracted by ALYI for producing ALYI designed vehicles. The NewCo is the business entity that would initiate the proposed ICO. The funds would be dedicated to 1. Building the plant and 2. Funding the production of ALYI's vehicles. A successful ICO would permit ALYI to substantially accelerate and expand upon its existing $300 million in electric vehicle projects. Malta has been selected as the domicile for the NewCo. Malta is credited as the first country to create Cryptocurrency regulations. ALYI Institutional Commitment ALYI recently announced securing institutional commitment to support an annual African electric mobility technology conference and symposium to advance the deployment of electric powered transportation solutions specific to Africa. The focus includes environmental sustainability but also overall transportation efficiency applicable to the African transportation infrastructure, economy, and consumer. ALYI CEO, Dr. Randell Torno, contends that the immediate opportunity for electric powered transportation growth in Africa by far exceeds the electric powered transportation opportunity anywhere else in the world and that the electric mobility technology innovations that will be developed for Africa will ultimately form the foundation of commercial electric powered transportation everywhere. In short, Africa is the global proving ground for electric powered transportation. In December, Dr. Torno concluded meetings in London where he secured institutional brand name commitment that will serve as the anchor event and attraction at the annual African electric mobility technology conference and symposium. The planned conference and symposium location is Nairobi, Kenya. For more information, please visit: http://www.alternetsystemsinc.com Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that any of the companies mentioned herein will achieve significant sales, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the companies' contracts, the companies' liquidity position, the companies' ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur. Alternet Systems, Inc. Contact: Randell Torno info@lithiumip.com +1-800-713-0297 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51920 After six years as Paris mayor, Anne Hidalgos re-election bid is in full swing. With Parisians heading to the ballot box in March, the Spanish-born Socialist leads a crowded field on 23 percent in the polls. What do Parisians make of her time at City Hall? FRANCE 24 hit the streets of the French capital to find out. Nadir, tireless cyclist Nadir is busy looking for a bicycle that works at the Gare de Lyon train stations Velib bike-share stand. The chain is hanging off of one; the handlebars are stuck on another. He resigns himself to waiting for a fellow cyclist to drop off a set of wheels. The computer scientist gets around Paris exclusively by bike. Every morning, no matter the weather, Nadir rides to work from his home in the 7th arrondissement (district), near Invalides. It isnt always easy to power through the construction in the capital, he says. But one thing is certain: Since Nadir moved to Paris from suburban Villeneuve-Saint-Georges five years ago, he has seen the bike path network bloom. During his time in Paris, he's also appreciated the many urban planning changes, like seeing busy Seine-side highways given over to pedestrians in the heart of the city. On the other hand, he regrets the lack of progress in tidying up the city. There is still paper and dog poo on the sidewalks. I had the opportunity to live in London, where there is a big difference in that regard, says Nadir. But the mess wouldnt be enough to persuade him to move elsewhere. Nadir loves Paris. He even hopes to settle in the city permanently. Hed like to give up his studio to buy a bigger apartment. But he finds the prohibitive home prices in the capital discouraging. Hes looked, but he isnt finding anything. Does Nadir plan to vote for Anne Hidalgo in March? No, even though her record is satisfactory on the whole. He put a blank ballot in the box when he voted in 2014, but this year he is thinking of giving Les Republicains candidate Rachida Dati a chance. He thinks the conservative Dati, currently mayor of the 7th arrondissement, is a closer match with his ideas. Story continues A cyclist finally drops a Velib off at the stand. Nadir climbs on and rides off into the traffic. Solveig, a big fan of Anne Hidalgo A little further along, on the doorstep of the Jean Bouton primary school in the 12th arrondissement, 40-year-old Solveig is waiting for her son, Arsene. What does she think of Mayor Hidalgos record? Its super, she gushes, acknowledging that she mightnt be particularly objective. Ive always been Socialist and I really like Anne Hidalgo. Because she stayed faithful to the Socialist Party when so many others didn't. But I also like her for her management of the city. Rattling off some issues mobility, city debt, the culture options available in Paris Solveig has no quibbles with Hidalgos six-year term. There is, perhaps, just one fly in the ointment As a single mum with three children, aged 13, 9 and 5, Solveig has had some trouble securing suitable housing. Im renting and I registered a request for social housing years ago. But my dossier still hasnt amounted to anything. All the offers Ive received havent matched my criteria. Solveig and her children have been waiting for a more affordable apartment ever since. And yet, I work, she says, but the prices are much too high. Still, she isnt prepared to compromise on the neighbourhood. For lots of reasons, I want to stay at Bastille, she says. And the construction work in progress to renovate the area promises, to make the square even more pleasant than before with more greenspaces and pedestrian lanes, she says with delight. She concedes theres room for improvement in terms of cleanliness. But Im just back from Marseille and I tell myself it can be much worse elsewhere. No, truly, I am so comfortable in Paris. I wouldnt leave it for the world! Vivane, between the scooters and the Airbnbs Vivane, 78, is enjoying a pleasant retirement high upon Montmartre, the iconic hill in Pariss 18th arrondissement. After having left the capital for suburban Fontenay-sous-Bois for several years while raising their two daughters, Viviane and her husband returned to the Paris they loved. Unlike her husband, she considers the incumbent mayors record pretty positive. There is still some work to follow through on, the former teacher says. While things have improved with the number of bicycle paths, they arent always practical. Especially the ones designed to go against the flow of traffic. She also finds plenty of fault when it comes to scooters, saying they make life "difficult" for pedestrians as "those on scooters very often use the sidewalks... They are also too often abandoned just anywhere. But the biggest problem is another matter: The price of housing. We are currently renting and are looking for an 80m apartment in the 18th arrondissement. And you need to pay between 14,000 and 15,000 per square metre for a beautiful home in the very touristy Montmartre neighbourhood. Even with a 1.2 million budget, we arent finding it. Vivane blames tourism, specifically Airbnb. City Hall hasnt been aggressive enough in the face of the homesharing giant. Across the street from me, one whole building was just sold off to create Airbnb tourist rentals. It makes market prices rise considerably for Parisians looking to house themselves. Viviane takes solace in her daily strolls through Paris and the many cultural activities on offer in the city. Culture is everywhere in Paris. The museums are very expensive, the elegant retiree laments. When we go to Washington to see my daughter, all or almost all of the museums are free. Alix and the call of the wild Staring at her laptop screen, amid piles of notes and markers in every colour, third-year occupational therapy student Alix is studying. In the break room of the Sorbonnes faculty of medicine on the rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, where students write their final theses, Anne Hidalgos record is not their immediate concern. And yet, when they start thinking about it, they do have opinions. Take transportation. It is easy to get around in Paris. And culture is accessible. After 26, young people age out of student ticket prices. But Alix knows good tips for cheap museum visits, particularly for the permanent collections of the 14 museums run by the City of Paris, which are free of charge. There are, however, accommodation hassles for those who dont benefit from student social housing. The first year was tough for everyone. I had to move twice, leaving a squalid apartment in the 14th arrondissement and then a shared flat in the 10th before finding a little one-bedroom flat in the neighbourhood. And Alix was lucky; her friends sitting at neighbouring tables had to resign themselves to life in the suburbs. The capital is cruelly short on greenery for Alix, who hails from Frances southwest and misses the bucolic landscapes. There is too much concrete in the capital. I dont see myself staying here more than two or three years, she says. I need nature too much. Erai, a cobbler between two strikes In the little family shoe repair shop at 27 ter, boulevard Diderot in the 12th arrondissement, father and son are bustling. Nailing, gluing, cutting heels, licence plates, keys. There is no shortage of work for Erai, 28, who runs the small shop with his dad. Business hasnt always been booming, though. The street out front, which runs from the Seine to the Place de la Nation, is a frequent route for protest marches. The Yellow Vest demonstrations and now the pension reform strikes really hurt us, the young cobbler says. While some shops benefited from financial aid from Paris City Hall, we didnt see any. We didnt suffer any damage, but our revenue was cut in half. And yet, every month, we still have a 1,300 rent and other bills to pay, Erais father chips in. There is also the problem of all the roadworks in the city. Its appalling, the young shoe repairman grumbles. Before, for me to drive to our suppliers at Republique, Id take about 15 minutes, there and back. Today, because of the construction, it takes me more than 40 minutes. Another sensitive subject: The dirty streets. Since the summer, Erai has noted that the street-cleaning trucks dont come this way anymore. I called the municipal authorities and they assured me that the services still pass, but I can see for myself that is no longer the case. As a result, he begins his day by cleaning the shopfront, sullied by vagrants urine. When its cold out, its not so bad, but in the summer, it stinks, its unbearable, he says. There is a lot of begging in the neighbourhood, the shopkeeper notes, nodding to a pair of homeless people sitting on the sidewalk across the street. The city does do whats needed in that domain, but it cant make people do anything they dont want to do. This article has been translated from the original in French. (Photo : A Brief Guide On Construction Accident Cases) Working on construction sites is dangerous; you can get seriously hurt at any time. And last year there has been an alarming increase in construction accidents and deaths. Every year 200,000 construction workers are injured. However, earning a living is essential, but a construction worker should know his legal rights. If you are hurt on a long island by an electricity shock or in a crane accident, you should know; how a construction accident lawyer long island can help you. Different Types Of Construction Accident Claims And Lawsuits: Personal Injury Lawyer: In this type of lawsuit, you or your attorney have to prove that you are hurt by the negligence of the responsible party. Worker's Compensation Case: Most of the time, employees do not file a case against the company to take benefit of worker's compensation insurance. If you want the insurance, you have to prove that you are not injured because of the construction site. And if your claim is accepted the insurance is all yours. Wrongful Death On Construction Site: If a worker is killed on the job, then his family can file a claim against the company or employer. Product Liability Claim: If a construction worker is injured because of a faulty product or machinery, then he and his lawyer can file a claim against the manufacturer, retailer, company, etc. How Can Construction Accident Lawyer Help? If you are injured in a construction accident, and you need to file a claim, your lawyer will: Research and gather all the necessary information like medical bills or insurance policy information; this will help him build the case for compensation. To make your case, strong as possible, your attorney or his legal team will look into all the necessary information, this may include police records, security footage, etc. An experienced lawyer knows the power of negotiation; he will convince the responsible party to give you the compensation you deserve outside the courtroom. If the responsible party does not agree for outside court settlement, then he will take your case on trial. Your lawyer will do all the necessary paperwork and will present your case properly. Basically, with a lawyer, your winning chances are higher, and you don't have to worry about anything. 2015 Latinos Post. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Coordinating Group Established to Monitor Coronavirus A meeting was held yesterday at No 6 Convent Place to discuss the outbreak of the Wuhan Novel Coronavirus in China. A coordinating group of Government Departments, the Royal Gibraltar Police and Gibraltars Essential Services has been established as a precaution to monitor the situation and prepare for any possible effects that the virus could have on Gibraltar. During the meeting, the Director of Public Health, Dr Sohail Bhatti, briefed the group on the current state of the virus. The Acting Chief Minister the Hon Prof John Cortes who has responsibility for Public Health, chaired the meeting, which was also attended by Minister for Civil Contingencies Samantha Sacramento and Minister for Health Paul Balban. Advice on Coronavirus Only people who have been to China in the last 2 weeks are considered to have any risk of catching Coronavirus. If a person who has been there in the last 14 days and has the normal symptoms of a cold, but otherwise feels well, they should stay at home, keep warm, drink plenty of fluids, and call the PCC by telephone on 20072266. They will be promptly called by one of the infection control nurses and be given advice and help appropriate to their circumstances and condition. Going to hospital only increases the risk of spread. There are high levels of consultation at the moment for symptoms related to colds, so sitting in a waiting area only increases the risk of spread or of catching something else. People with the symptoms of a cold or flu should stay at home, keep warm and take paracetamol with a good fluid intake. Antibiotics cannot help, as they dont work on viruses. It appears that this disease may spread by droplets and so good hygiene with frequent hand washing will help stop its spread. Congratulations, nmce.com got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: Nmce.com scored 69 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 3.5/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 19 Dec 2012, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. nmce.com is very popular in Twitter. It is liked by 9 people on Facebook, it has 533 twitter followers and it has 1 google+ shares. Add a widget like this on your site: click here This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the nmce homepage on Twitter + the total number of nmce followers (if nmce has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the nmce 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 nmce homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if nmce has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the nmce homepage on Delicious. The total number of people who shared the nmce homepage on StumbleUpon. Basic Information PAGE TITLE Welcome to the NMCE Website DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS 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 URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The title found in the head section of the homepage. Domain and Server DOCTYPE XHTML 1.0 Transitional CHARSET AND LANGUAGE UTF-8 DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER Microsoft-IIS/7.0 (ASP.NET) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Windows Server 2008 Windows Server 2008 Operative System running on the server. The language of nmce.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Type of server and offered services. Character set and language of the site. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for nmce.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 type of 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 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. The URL of the found Facebook page. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK FOUND TWITTER PAGE twitter.com/#!/nmceil DESCRIPTION First state-of-the art National Multi Commodity Exchange set up by Public Institutions: NMCE ACCOUNT CREATED ON 24 Dec 2009 LOCATION Ahmedabad TWEETS 4086 FOLLOWERS 533 LISTED 7 KAMPALA The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah has ordered the Minister of Health, Dr. Ruth Aceng to present before Parliament a statement alerting Ugandans of the coronavirus that has claimed lives in China. Oulanyah issued the directive on Tuesday, January 28 in response to a concern raised by Apollo Masika (Bubulo County) who asked the government to take precautions about the prevailing coronavirus in China given the trading relationship the two countries have during the plenary sitting. Masika noted that a number of Chinese and Ugandans share relations in business that see the citizens of the respective nations make trips to the two countries, this puts Uganda country at high risk of contracting the virus if no control measures are put in place. The Legislators proposed to have all people coming from China through any entry point be issued with certificates that show they are free from the virus He explained, Supposing government doesnt take much alert on this and if this virus comes in with our business people and Chinese investors the situation will be alarming because last night, I heard that China has lost USD180Bn in this small space of time because of this virus. I request the Government to be more alert on the entry points to make sure that nobody enters Uganda with the virus. Indeed, Deputy Speaker concurred with Masika saying the situation is serious and there is need for the Ministry of Health to update the country on the safety measures they have put in place to control the disease from entering the country and this should be done not later than tomorrow. For sure this is a serious matter and the ministers responsible should inform the country about the problem and how they are dealing with it so we feel the protection of the state so we feel comfortable, said Deputy Speaker. The coronavirus outbreak that began in the central Chinese city of Wuhan has killed 106 people in China and infected more than 4,520 globally, most of them in China. The virus has caused alarm because it is still too early to know how dangerous it is and how easily it spreads between people. Minister of State for Planning, David Bahati pledged to have the Minister of Health brief the country over the matter, The minister for health will be briefing us if she comes in but we know that we are taking precautionary measures and she should be able to brief the country. Related Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sebastian Smith (Agence France-Presse) Washington Wed, January 29, 2020 08:19 714 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad20616a83d 2 World #Trump-peace-plan,trump,Israel,Palestine,#Israel,#Palestine,Trump-peace-plan,Israel-Palestine-conflict Free President Donald Trump released his long delayed Israeli-Palestinian peace plan Tuesday, promising "a new dawn," but angry Palestinians called it biased and deserving to go in the "dustbin of history". Standing alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House's East Room, Trump said his plan could succeed where decades of previous US attempts to intervene had failed. "Together we can bring about a [...] new dawn in the Middle East," Trump said to an enthusiastic audience that included throngs of Israeli and Jewish American guests -- but apparently no Palestinian representatives. Trump praised Israel for taking "a giant step toward peace" with the plan, which lays out a vision for future Palestinian statehood if a series of strict conditions are met. These include requiring the future Palestinian state to be "demilitarized," while formalizing Israeli sovereignty over settlements built in occupied territory. The US president, who was followed at the podium by Netanyahu, painted a future where some US$50 billion in investments would eradicate the misery gripping Palestinians today, while allowing Israel never "to compromise its security." Criticizing previous US diplomatic efforts as overly vague, Trump noted that his version was 80 pages long and contained a map depicting the proposed future neighboring states. However, the Palestinians angrily rejected the entire plan. "This conspiracy deal will not pass. Our people will take it to the dustbin of history," Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said. Trump promised a "contiguous" future Palestinian state, addressing the current situation where Israel controls broad territory separating the two main population centers of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. But the map showed the West Bank remaining riddled with Jewish settlements linked to Israel and only a long road tunnel connecting the area with the seaside Gaza Strip. The plan makes clear that Israel is free to annex its settlements on Palestinian lands right away. On the flashpoint issue of Jerusalem, Trump said Israel should retain control over the city as its "undivided capital," Trump said. At the same time, the Palestinians would be allowed to declare a capital within occupied East Jerusalem, he said. The Hamas Islamist movement, which runs the Gaza Strip, said it could never accept compromise on Jerusalem being capital of a future state. The announcement came as both Trump and Netanyahu fight for their political futures. Trump is in the midst of an impeachment battle over his alleged abuse of power and he faces a difficult reelection in November. Pro-Israel evangelical Christians form a key part of his voter base and they have backed his frequent moves to bolster Israel's position in the Middle East. Netanyahu was formally indicted on three corruption charges Tuesday after he abandoned an attempt to seek parliamentary immunity. His right-wing Likud faces a neck-and-neck race with rival Benny Gantz's centrist Blue and White party in a month. But he is expected to benefit from the high-profile partnership with Trump. Both men were interrupted by frequent applause and standing ovations during their speeches. Netanyahu called the proposal "the deal of the century" and said to Trump "you have been the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House." Trump said he had written Tuesday to Abbas to enlist his support. "I explained to [Abbas] that the territory allocated for his new state will remain open and undeveloped for a period of four years," Trump said. "This could be the last opportunity they will ever have." Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who authored the plan behind the scenes but had minimal contact with Palestinian negotiators, was similarly blunt, telling them not to "screw up this opportunity." "I think that they will have a very hard time looking at the international community in the face, saying they're victims," he told CNN. Trump's plan triggered immediate condemnation on the streets of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, with demonstrations expected to continue through the week. Thirteen people were wounded in the West Bank in clashes with the Israeli army, the Red Crescent said. There was also anger from Israeli hardliners. Transport Minister Bezalel Smotrich, from the far-right Yemina union, said his party "won't under any conditions agree to recognition, whether explicit or implicit, of a Palestinian state." The ambassadors from three Arab nations -- Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain -- were at the White House, providing some evidence of Trump's claim to have growing support around the region. But international reaction was at best cautiously positive. Russia, a growing force in Mideast politics, sounded skeptical. "We do not know if the American proposal is mutually acceptable or not," Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told Russian news agencies. Netanyahu's office said he would travel to Moscow on Wednesday to present the plan in person to President Vladimir Putin. Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell said the bloc would "study and assess" the US proposals, while Germany's foreign minister said "only a negotiated two-state solution, acceptable to both sides" would work. Britain, which is leaving the EU on Friday and has long had a special relationship with Washington, gave the warmest reaction. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab called it a "serious proposal, reflecting extensive time and effort". Among the strongest foreign condemnations were from Turkey, which branded the plan "stillborn" and Iran, which called it "doomed to fail." By contrast, Egypt urged "a careful and thorough examination of the US vision." TLK Fusion, Inc. the powerhouse global celebrity licensing and endorsement marketing agency hosted a celebratory gifting party centered on the Latin contribution to the Grammys. The afternoons festivities and gifting was hosted by five of todays hottest Latin superstars including, Luis Coronel, Chiquis Rivera, Lorenzo Mendez, Regulo Caro, and Bebe Coronel. TLK Fusion pulled from its extensive client base to bring together a collection of noteworthy products that were presented to more than 100 attending celebrities in the form of a non-traditional gifting party that allowed its clients to gain media and social media exposure through these introductions, gathering powerful testimonials for the hosted brands. The Latin contribution to the music industry has long, successful history that has continued to find its path in mainstream culture., stated CEO and Founder Ken Collis,With such a rich sound and history that is founded in diversity, I was excited to present this event to honor and celebrate the music that has been a staple in the Los Angeles area for decades. Bringing the Latino community and mainstream to celebrate this music and benefit the brands TLK Fusion represents is just one of the many services that is harnessed to further brand awareness. The celebration included a full house of celebrities that came to learn more about the exclusive brands that TLK Fusion represents. From a full Red Carpet event to the celebration inside, the visiting celebrities were treated to a lavish suite that allowed them to be gifted exclusive products while joining in the celebration of the Latin contribution and its influence with the Grammys. On hand for the day was SH!VR Founder, Kim Bradshaw and Brand Representative Michael Galante. As an advocate of the Arts, SH!VR welcomed the opportunity to support TLK Fusion's Grammy party. It was a day filled with music and celebration. We were thrilled to add to the fun with our frozen sparkling wine!, stated Kim. SH!VR is a new innovative frozen premium sparkling wine pop that has recently partnered with TLK Fusion to leverage its marketing expertise as it is emerging into the market. To learn more about TLK Fusion, Inc, visit http://www.tlkfusion.com ABOUT TLK FUSION, INC. TLK Fusion (http://www.tlkfusion.com), is an innovative, fast-paced, pop culture, Hollywood marketing firm based in Los Angeles, CA. Established in 2009 by successful entrepreneur, Ken Collis, TLK Fusion boasts not only an A List roster of celebrity talent, but also has an aggressive footprint in the Digital Marketing and Distribution in to Retail markets. TLK Fusion's unique out-of-the-box thinking and 360 degree service mix has proven successful throughout the past decade. As the recipient of many accolades and awards that include multiple Best in Biz Awards, The Rolling Stone Magazine Impact Award, the notorious Golden Bridge Award, a coveted Stevie Award, and recently multiple Clutch Awards. TLK Fusion now has proudly accepted the 2019 Entrepreneur 360 Award for the second year in a row. BUFFALO, N.Y. -- In the human body, proteins called enzymes help speed up chemical reactions that are vital for life. After you eat, enzymes help your body break down food and obtain energy. Enzymes are also responsible for helping your liver rid your body of toxins, as well as many other imperative functions. Now, a University at Buffalo-led research team is studying the details of how enzymes perform their job. The focus of the project is on understanding the molecular interactions that enable enzymes to accelerate chemical reactions. The new five-year $2 million Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), titled "Studies on enzyme activation and novel modes of inhibition," will allow the researchers to investigate a variety of problems related to the mechanism of enzyme action and inhibition. "The chemicals in living cells are stable until they need to undergo one of the many enzyme-catalyzed reactions that support and propagate life," explains lead scientist John Richard, PhD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of Chemistry in the UB College of Arts and Sciences. "Over the past century, scientists have made steady progress toward understanding the mechanism of action of enzymes, which are required to catalyze essentially every cellular reaction. This understanding has prompted advances on many fronts, including the development of interventions to cure metabolic diseases, the design of enzyme inhibitors with potential applications as drugs and the direct use of enzymes as therapeutic agents." Richard has received funding from the NIH since 1988 to support research on a variety of topics related to enzyme mechanisms. The results from this research have added to a body of fundamental knowledge, which serves as the underpinning for translational research in the health sciences. "Professor Richard has made seminal contributions in the elucidation of enzymatic reaction mechanisms," says David F. Watson, PhD, professor and chair of the UB Department of Chemistry. "His receipt of a MIRA from the NIH is a testament to the impact of his scholarship. The funds will support the training of researchers and will further enhance our department's stature as a home for cutting-edge research in chemical biology." Collaborators on the project include Andrew Gulick, PhD, associate professor of structural biology in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB, who will play the lead role in the determination of X-ray crystal structures for interesting enzyme complexes; Lynn Kamerlin, PhD, at Uppsala University in Sweden, who will direct computational studies to model the utilization of substrate binding interactions in enzyme activation; and Hiroaki Suga, PhD, at the University of Tokyo in Japan, who will develop libraries of cyclic peptides that show high specificity for inhibition of metabolic enzymes from parasitic compared with mammalian organisms. ### YEREVAN, JANUARY 29, ARMENPRESS. In nowadays in many countries even in Council of Europe space journalists who dare to speak the truth have to face life threats, get arrested, harassed, member of the Armenian delegation to PACE, My Step faction MP of the Armenian parliament Tatev Hayrapetyan said in her speech at PACE. Journalism can never be silent: that is its greatest virtue and its greatest fault. It must speak and speak immediately, while the echoes of wonder, the claims of triumph and the signs of horror are still in the air. These words belong to Henry Anatole Grunwald who was an Austrian-born American journalist and diplomat. Yes, journalism is about speaking up the truth, however unfortunately in nowadays in many countries even in Council of Europe space journalists who dare to speak the truth have to face life threats, get arrested, harassed. The horrible case of Daphne Galizia is a vivid example and this report perfectly reflects that reality, the MP said. She said the Freedom House, which releases an annual report ranking countries based on Freedom on the Net, has ranked Armenia in eighth place. The 2019 report says that In Armenia, positive changes unleashed by the 2018 Velvet Revolution continued, with reformist prime minister Nikol Pashinyan presiding over a reduction in restrictions on content and violations of users rights. In particular, violence against online journalists declined, and the digital news media enjoyed greater freedom from economic and political pressures. I think the example of Armenias PM Nikol Pashinyan when from the outspoken criticizing journalist and opposition politician he became the leader of revolution and the head of the country obviously shows how important and reality changing journalism can be. However, we face serious problems with journalism in our neighboring countries, particularly in Azerbaijan and Turkey where situation with media is a topic of serious concern, which is also mentioned in the following report. In Azerbaijan the cases of Khadija Ismayilova, Afgan Mukhtarli, Mehman Huseynov obviously show how ruling family reacts to criticizing journalism and how dangerous it is to bring up questions and conduct investigations showing the corrupted reality of Azerbaijan, MP Hayrapetyan said, adding: Of course we cant be silent and indifferent towards these cases. From one side we deal with human rights issue, from other side with freedom of speech. I hope as PACE members we should be the most possible to be the guarantors of media freedom, we should be watchdogs towards member countries and make respective measures to prevent the persecutions against the journalists. So either we speak up today and do our best to put a stop to this trend or we will have to face the repetitions of such terrible cases in future. We have already chosen the first path and we need to be committed to this. Flyers are expected to proceed towards boarding gates after check-ins at airports on their own and there is no obligation of airlines to escort every passenger, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday. The top court said that if a passenger encounters difficulty to report at the boarding gate, she or he should seek assistance of the ground- staff. A bench comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and Dinesh Maheshwari said if such request is made, there is no reason to presume that the ground- staff of the concerned airline will not extend logistical assistance to facilitate the passenger for reporting at the boarding gate in time. "After boarding pass is issued, the passenger is expected to proceed towards security channel area and head towards specified boarding gate on his own. There is no contractual obligation on the airlines to escort every passenger, after the boarding pass is issued to him at the check--in counter, up to the boarding gate," the bench said. "Further, the airlines issuing boarding passes cannot be made liable for the misdeeds, inaction or so to say misunderstanding caused to the passengers, until assistance is sought from the ground -staff of the airlines at the airport well in time," it said. The judgement came on an appeal challenging an order of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC). NCDRC, while hearing a review plea of the airlines against the Tripura state commission's order, had asked IndigoNSE 0.15 % to pay Rs 20,000 to Kalpana Rani Debbarma and her family. Debbarma, her husband and her two minor sons were travelling from Kolkata to Agartala availing Indigo flight services in 2017. The airline had issued boarding passes to all of them. Debbarma claimed in her plea that the airline left her family at the Kolkata Airport without informing them despite their being in the airport premises. She also claimed that the airport staff snatched away the tickets from her when she went to the office staff to file a written complaint. The family had to stay in a hotel and purchase new tickets the next day. The airline had contended that numerous announcements were made at regular intervals and that the passengers did not report at the boarding gate on time. The family had to stay in a hotel and purchase new tickets the next day. The airline had contended that numerous announcements were made at regular intervals and that the passengers did not report at the boarding gate on time. The apex court refused to agree with the observations of the State Consumer Commission that after issuing boarding pass, it is the duty of the airlines' authority to help the passengers so that they can board the flight well in time on completion of the security check. "This is a sweeping observation. We do not agree with the same. We have already taken the view that there is no obligation on the airlines to escort every passenger after issuing him/her a boarding pass at the check--in counter until he/she reaches the boarding gate. That would be a very tall claim to make. Indeed, in a given case, if the passenger encounters difficulty or impediment to report at the boarding gate, he/she is expected to seek assistance of the ground- staff of the concerned airlines well in time," the bench said The top court said that if such request is made, there is no reason to presume that the ground- staff of the concerned airlines will not extend logistical assistance to facilitate the passenger for reporting at the boarding gate in time. "That, however, would be a matter to be enquired into on case to case basis. That question does not arise in the present case, as no such plea has been taken in the complaint or the evidence given on behalf of the respondents," it said. The apex court said the approach of the consumer fora is in complete disregard of the principles of pleadings and burden of proof. "First, the material facts constituting deficiency in service are blissfully absent in the complaint as filed. Second, the initial onus to substantiate the factum of deficiency in service committed by the ground -staff of the airlines at the airport after issuing boarding passes was primarily on the respondents. "That has not been discharged by them. The consumer fora, however, went on to unjustly shift the onus on the appellants because of their failure to produce any evidence. In law, the burden of proof would shift on the appellants only after the respondents/complainants had discharged their initial burden in establishing the factum of deficiency in service," it said. The bench also refused to issue direction on the suggestion of senior advocate Rajiv Dutta, appointed amicus curiae in the case, for issuing directions to all the airlines to abide by uniform practice. "We refrain from doing so and leave that to the competent authority (DGCA) to consider the same and after interacting with all the stakeholders, take appropriate decision and issue instructions in that behalf, as may be advised. The competent authority (DGCA) may do so within a reasonable time, preferably within six months from receipt of a copy of this judgment or any representation in that behalf," it said. The court set aside the judgments and orders passed by the District Forum, State Commission and the National Commission saying it cannot be sustained. It held that the complainants were not accommodated in the next flight for Agartala without payment of airfare cannot be regarded as deficiency in service in relation to the contract which stood discharged and accomplished after 'Gate No Show'. Also read: Jabra Elite 75t review: Impressive wireless headset at Rs 14,999, but with a downside Also read: Railways seeks advance payments from premium freight customers By David Tizzard It has been said by Viktor Frankl and Friedrich Nietzsche among others that if man has a "why" to live for, he can endure almost any "how". So as South Korea enters the second decade of the 21st century, it is worth posing the question to the Korean people, "What is the "why" for which you are living?" From a materialist perspective, South Korea is a rip-roaring success. Yes, it might be struggling somewhat economically of late but more broadly the last half century has seen a remarkable transformation in the people's monetary fortunes. No longer is a casual greeting, "Have you eaten?" Now, houses are generally warmed, fridges are stocked, and the Wi-Fi runs freely and quickly. Moreover, people no longer fear the police or the authorities. The government is not a figure of totalitarian tendencies and torture to be avoided lest one be dragged to Namsan. Instead, policies are now being debated for the welfare and prosperity of the citizens. Of course the decisions and policies do not please everyone and nor should they but recent discussions have centered on a great many subjects, not least justice, order, and the protection of minorities. This is done in a democratic manner which puts much else of Northeast Asia to shame. For all those protesting about the perceived flaws of either the current or the previous administration here, it is worth remembering that such protests would not only not be allowed elsewhere in the region, they would not even be considered because of the suppressive and suffocating nature of the powers that be. South Korea for all its faults, which are many is still a fantastic country. As a journalist or a social media user, it is easy to go through the week highlighting the various injustices, incidences of perceived bigotry, or hypocritical behavior in the country. But to do so not only changes your big data algorithm, it also changes the way you see the world forever on the search for the next shocking story to retweet and gain those likes. But then we miss out on all that is good. All that is noble: filled with love. Things that carry meaning and thus symbolize the very heights of which humans are capable. South Korea is the freest country in Northeast Asia. You have a problem with the government? Write a song about it. You dislike a policy? Explain it on twitter. You don't like the way the news is presented? Start your own channel and say what's on your mind. That's a pretty cool thing. It's also pretty rare around here. And speaking of cool, in terms of soft power, with Bong Joon-ho, Son Heung-min, recent novelists, and a whole host of K-pop idols ready to dazzle, it leaves its neighbors and rivals squinting before its fabulous luminescence. No longer is the word "Korea" associated with bombs, gulags, totalitarianism, and ill-fitting communist suits on a succession of rather portly leaders from a country that regularly suffers famine and malnourishment. Korea is now beauty. It's style. It's Seouling-U whether you like it or not. And so where does it go next? I rarely, if ever, write prescriptively in my articles in the Korea Times because I believe it is not my place to suggest to Koreans how to run Korea. Nevertheless, at the risk of being accused of mansplaining or white privileging, I might today humbly put forward two things which would help the country better situate itself towards the goals "it" chooses. First, it's simply got to elect better leaders. Or, it's got to at least make politics more attractive to better people. A recent report showed that 1 in 3 candidates (447 out of 1593) for the Legislative Elections in April have been convicted of violent crimes such as the sexual assault of minors, distribution of pornography, assault, and prostitution. Add on to this a whole host of drink-driving and financial crimes. To repeat, they are the people running for election and asking for your support and votes. If one wonders why the sentences in the Korean judicial system often seem rather surprising and arbitrary be it 33 years for an ex-President or being let off with a slapped wrist for molka-related activities consider that all these people above with convictions are those responsible for making and carrying out the country's laws. The country needs to think rationally and logically about which people in wants in power and work towards making that happen, for we are risking the lives and well-being of our children if not. The second thing I think that would benefit the country is to abandon the current focus on gerontocracy. Yes age brings with it some wisdom, but it does not necessarily mean it always understands how the "modern world" works. There is far too big a focus on respect and authority only being given to those with gray hair, be it figuratively or literally. This, in turn, is making Korea a society that is still living with one foot in the past. Park Chung-hee's shadow still looms over the country in many ways, not least with the law stating that any president here must be over 40 years old a clause enacted to keep his young political rivals out of power, and that still holds today. It would be really interesting to see what this country would become were the keys to the house given to a group of 30-year olds as has been seen in other countries such as Finland and New Zealand. I'm not sure it could do much worse economically. And it would probably have a greater understanding of what's actually going on in the world be it on the subway, on the internet, in the universities, or on the computers and laptops we are now using to order our food in restaurants and coffee shops. Quite simply then, the country should focus on getting better and younger people moving towards positions of power rather than simply chasing money, fame, or wallowing in neologisms and nihilism. Everyone can still have different goals, different meanings in their lives, different hopes and aspirations, but perhaps it can happen under a younger, more vibrant, and technologically-savvy leadership. With the uniquely democratic setup here in South Korea, the choice is there for people. Choose ddeokbokki and die. Choose hell Joseon. Choose raymen and Netflix. Choose nothing. Or choose an even brighter and more infinite future. Today. David Tizzard (datizzard@swu.ac.kr) is an assistant professor at Seoul Women's University. He also presents economic and cultural issues on "Business Now" on TBS eFM (101.3FM) live every Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Prison officers forced to retire early due to the job's toll on their mental health are now being told to return up to 100,000 in mistaken pension payments. Money Mail has spoken to two officers who say they suffered further mental health problems when huge bills arrived out of the blue years after they retired on medical grounds. It comes after we reported last week that retirees were having their pensions slashed and were being ordered to pay back up to 250,000. 'Livid': Former prison officer Paul Davidson was forced to retire early in 2012. Seven years later his pension was slashed by 1,000 a month and he was hit with a bill for 101,000 Sweeping reviews of pension payments have uncovered tens of thousands of errors that date back decades meaning some pensioners are now being made to pay for someone else's mistakes. Former prison officer Paul Davidson, 62, was forced to retire early in 2012 after he suffered a breakdown. He spent a month in a clinic and his wife had to give up work to care for him. But seven years later the Civil Service Pension Scheme slashed his pension by 1,000 a month and hit him with a bill for 101,000. Paul says: 'It could have killed me. I had to go straight back on the medication again. There was no thought as to how I would feel or the impact on me.' Paul, from Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, worked in prisons in Dorset and Devon before moving to HMP Huntercombe in Oxfordshire where he was for ten years before his career ended. But in January last year his wife Wendy, 59, noticed his pension was around 1,000 short. After speaking to the CSPS, Paul found out he had been receiving more money than he should have, and would have to pay some back. He later received a letter to say he owed 101,000. The letter said: 'This was due to an administrative error and we have now taken steps to ensure it doesn't happen again.' Paul says: 'I couldn't speak, I was just livid. I was losing the plot.' The scheme has not revealed how many other pensioners were sent similar demands. The CSPS told Paul he was overpaid injury benefits and his pension. But Paul says he trusted it to get his payments right and had no reason to doubt that his monthly pension of around 2,500 was too much. He says: 'We just thought it is a good pension and we will be looked after. I was ill. I just wanted to get out and pick up the pieces.' Another retired prison officer told Money Mail he received a shock bill for 32,000 just before Christmas 2018. Another retired prison officer, who was attacked by a prisoner and suffered post-traumatic stress disorder, told Money Mail he received a bill for 32,000 just before Christmas 2018 The 50-year-old, who did not want to be named, had to end his 20year career in 2014 after he was attacked by a prisoner and suffered post-traumatic stress disorder. At the time, the CSPS wrote to confirm he was entitled to a pension and injury benefits totalling close to 2,000 a month. But four years later he received another letter to say he had been overpaid and owed the CSPS 32,000. He says: 'It completely threw me. I have really struggled to hold things together. It has been handled really poorly, especially the tone of the letter, which was basically accusing me of being deceitful.' He says the CSPS told him that he should have let it know that he was receiving both a pension and ill-health payments even though it was paying him both. He says: 'The right hand was not working with the left hand and they made a mistake.' His pension payments were cut from 1,980 a month to 1,350. The retired officer has had to put his home on the market because he can no longer afford the 825 mortgage payments. Former pensions minister Baroness (Ros) Altmann says: 'It is disgraceful that administrators would force pensioners to pick up the bill for their own mistakes. 'I've seen it so many times, where the person asked to repay is made to feel they have done something wrong.' Of the prison officers affected, she adds: 'They have had enough trauma in the first place doing a job that society asked of them.' A Government spokesman says: 'We sincerely apologise for this error and the inconvenience caused. We are obliged to recover any overpayment. 'We must ensure all pensioners are paid their correct entitlement. We do offer a number of repayment options to any one who has been overpaid.' b.wilkinson@dailymail.co.uk NEW YORK (LPC) - Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is jumpstarting new infrastructure and energy development projects in Latin America, while opening the door for more Chinese lending in the region. Initiated in 2013 by the Chinese government, the BRI seeks to build a modern version of the Silk Road to link China with the rest of Asia, Europe and beyond through large-scale projects. It is one of the most ambitious infrastructure initiatives conceived. Latin America is projected to be the bright spark for Chinese investment throughout 2020, according to a report from Fitch Solutions, as more countries sign up to the initiative and Chinese companies obtain new contracts to construct and finance infrastructure projects in the region. China is Latin Americas second-largest trading partner, after the US. Trade between China and the region grew 19% year-over-year to US$307.4bn in 2019 from 2018, according to Fitch Solutions. Since 2017, Ecuador, Chile, Uruguay, Trinidad & Tobago, Panama, the Dominican Republic and El Salvador have signed agreements to cooperate with China on the BRI. As Chinas President Xi Jinping seeks to strengthen ties with governments in the region, the countrys biggest state-owned firms are increasingly winning construction, energy and transportation projects. Earlier this month, utility China Yangtze Power completed a US$4bn bridge loan with the Bank of China, Industrial Commercial Bank of China, Santander in Hong Kong and MUFG supporting its proposed acquisition of Sempra Energys power assets in Peru. In November, power company State Grid Corp of China was seeking more than US$2bn in bank debt to finance the purchase of Sempras assets in neighboring Chile, sources told Refinitiv LPC at the time. The favorite strategy of the Chinese investor is to invest in a Latin American company that has a connection with China, and they (Chinas banks) prefer to lend bilaterally, said a managing director at a US investment bank, adding that the countrys banks generally fund deals directly or on a club basis. ICBC and the Bank of China, for example, are providing US$600m in debt to help construct an oil refinery at the Mexican port of Dos Bocas, Chinas Ambassador to Mexico Zhu Qingqiao told reporters on January 13 at a Mexican economy ministry event. The refinery is estimated to cost up to US$8bn, according to various media reports. China Civil Engineering Construction Corp on January 7, signed a contract to build the Regiotram de Occidente, an elevated rail line in Colombias capital Bogota, and the firm is after US$300m in debt to finance the operation, banking sources said. DUE DILIGENCE As Chinese-backed projects progress in Latin America, the pace of BRI-related works could slow down in 2020, as the Chinese government works to improve transparency and sustainability on financing with BRI-linked countries, according to the January 8 report from Fitch Solutions. Given that most countries linked to the BRI are characterized as emerging markets that pose higher risks for investors, the scheme has faced some criticism. Many observers are fearful that opaque financing arrangements could lead to unsustainable debt and question whether the initiative is more about promoting Chinese influence than bringing development. There has been criticism around the types of projects that were advanced and transparency around projects costs, sovereign debt and the sustainability of government finances impacted by loans, said Matteo Addonizio, an analyst at Fitch Solutions. In Ecuador, for instance, by the end of 2018, the government had borrowed up to US$19bn in loans from China to fast-track development projects. The loans, which were partially repayable with oil shipments, became expensive as oil prices dropped. Ecuador has since struggled to tighten its fiscal deficit. In February 2019 it resorted to a US$10.2bn bailout package from international financial institutions including the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Going forward, Chinas approach to each country is expected to be more customized, according to Fitch Solutions. And this is likely to reduce reputational risk for China and help gain the trust of other BRI countries. This increased focus on transparency will slow the advance of projects overall as the deal-making process will lengthen, said Addonizio, but added that these processes would be more stringent with heightened due diligence measures. An in-home health care worker from East St. Louis was indicted along with a second woman on federal charges that they stole from elderly clients. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Illinois on Tuesday announced the indictment against Erica S. Rose and Ashley N. McKinney. Court records show the indictments were made last Thursday. Rose, 30, lives in East St. Louis, and McKinney, 36, lives in Pheba, Mississippi. Online court records do not list an attorney for either woman. Prosecutors said a federal grand jury in Illinois returned a nine-count indictment against the pair that included charges of conspiring to commit bank and wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and other felonies. Rose worked for an in-home health care provider based in Belleville. Prosecutors allege that Rose stole bank account numbers and other identifying information from her elderly clients. She gave the information to McKinney, who withdrew money from ATMs and deposited fraudulent checks, prosecutors said. McKinney used the money and identity of one client to buy a car online for $28,000, according to federal prosecutors.